Saturday, August 15, 2020

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



Can Cambodia’s fragmented agriculture sector save the economy?

Sangeetha Amarthalingam | Publication date 13 August 2020 | 21:11 ICT

 

No rest for the wicked . . . Rice farmers in Kampot province’s southeastern Kampong Trach district begin the rainy season rice cultivation in August in the hope that it will yield a good harvest in December. Post staff

Ever since the pandemic razed the world, most sectors in the Kingdom were wrecked but there is hope in agriculture, only if the government takes stock of some system failures

Reminiscing the heydays of rice farming is a painful process for 60-year-old Chak En, a paddy farmer in Kampong Trach, Kampot, for most of her life.

“My family used to harvest 40 bags of rice from just 1ha. These days, we cannot even sustain that amount from 3ha,” said En, who despite the setback and her children’s plea to retire, stubbornly carries on in a bid to champion her birthright.

For the mother of eight and grandmother of eleven, farming is rooted in her ancestry, the same as millions of Cambodians whose families own farmlands, big or small, across the Kingdom.

“I cannot give up farming. It has fed my family throughout our lives. This is our lifeline,” she said.

Rice farming and agriculture, on a wider scope, has been the grounding force of Cambodia’s economy for many centuries.

So, when Prime Minister Hun Sen asked Cambodians to return to the humble sector to self-sustain and help the economy, it seemed like a viable solution for hundreds of thousands of workers in the garment, tourism and other service sectors who were made redundant or forced to take lower salaries.

But many went back dispirited, assuring themselves that it is only temporary until the pandemic tapers and industries re-open.

They did so because they know the industry is full of hardship as it is deeply entrenched with problems that stem from structural weaknesses.

They range from water management, lack of measures on climate change, high operating costs such as electricity tariffs, logistics and raw materials, loss of land to corporations, to dubious middlemen and market norms dictated by an oligopolistic market.

These are the very reasons which drove many out to seek alternative jobs that offered a higher and steadier income.

On average, Cambodian households own 0.5ha of paddy land for subsistence farming.

Overall, the sector is spread over four million hectares where three million of that is for rice planting, 170,000ha for multi-crop production and 30,000ha for vegetables.

Nearly three million people are employed in the sector which also acts as a barometer for poverty and economic vulnerability.

Some smallholders cultivate one crop per year on less than 5ha – usually rice for food security and export – based on the availability of water for agriculture.

To date, there is a surplus of about four million tonnes of milled rice a year for domestic consumption, said Council of Ministers spokesman Ek Tha last month.

Rice production grew to 7.9 million tonnes in 2019 from 7.4 million tonnes in 2018 with an average yield of 3.1 tonnes per hectare.

Similarly, exports from January to July 2020 rose 38.3 per cent to 426,073 tonnes, valued at $285 million, from 308,108 tonnes in the corresponding period in 2019 because of Covid-19 food security, lower rice tariff in the EU, and market diversification.

Rice exports are expected to climb to 800,000 tonnes this year, Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) said.

As for total agricultural exports comprising 61 products to 59 countries, the figure inched up to $1.5 billion last year from $1 billion in 2013.

Buoyant as it may seem, the total agriculture share of the economy has unfortunately decreased over the years. Last year, it fell to 16.7 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) from 28 per cent in 2009.

This year, the government thinks it will hit 32 per cent of GDP because of the expanded workforce by 40 per cent, underpinned by the loss of jobs due to the pandemic.

And with that, agricultural labour productivity (annual output per agricultural worker) could be on track to meet the target of $4,625 by 2030 from $1,839 in 2019.

All these are yet to be seen.

Overspending or underspending?

The issue remains that this economic pillar does not receive equal attention as the other three pillars (manufacturing, real estate and construction, and tourism), indicated by the paltry three to five per cent allocation from the annual national budget.

This is damning because the sector is susceptible to external factors, such as the imposition of a regressive rice tax by the EU and competitive pricing, which in the past has seen rice farmers dump their harvest out of fury when global prices collapsed.

According to the central bank’s Financial Stability Review 2019, extreme weather – floods and droughts – and the drop in prices of agriculture commodities, moderated its output growth to one per cent between 2014 and 2018 compared to 3.7 per cent (2009-2013).

https://www.phnompenhpost.com/special-reports/can-cambodias-fragmented-agriculture-sector-save-economy

 

Rice Federation upbeat about Cambodia-Korea FTA

The meeting to deliberate on rice exports to Korea and benefits which can be drawn from it. AKP

 

The Cambodia-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will expand Cambodia’s rice export potential, according to the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF).

The optimism was floated in a consultation meeting with concerned private sector chaired by  Sim Sokkheng, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Commerce, here at the ministry on Tuesday.

Market expansion, added the federation, would also mean the reputation of Cambodia’s milled rice, especially the organic and brown rice will be better recognised.

The consultation aims to mobilise inputs from the private sector to build the foundation for the Cambodia-Korea Free Trade Agreement negotiations.

From his end, Mr Sokkheng highly appreciated the commercial and legal inputs from the private sector especially the Cambodia Rice Federation for his team to work on the FTA negotiation. Phal Sophanith – AKP

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50754722/rice-federation-upbeat-about-cambodia-korea-fta/

Asia Rice-Supply squeeze lifts Vietnam rates to more than 8-year high

AUGUST 13, 2020 / 5:54 PM /

K. Sathya Narayanan

·        

·        

* No new export deals due to high rates-Vietnamese traders

* Thai rates jump to $465-$500 per tonne

* Indian mills operating at low capacity due to lack of workers

* Bangladesh to review flood’s impact on paddy- minister

By K. Sathya Narayanan

BENGALURU, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Vietnamese rice export prices climbed to their highest level since end-2011 this week, as supplies remained constrained due to coronavirus restrictions in top hubs including India and Thailand.

Vietnam’s 5% broken rice RI-VNBKN5-P1 rates on Thursday jumped to $480-$490 a tonne from $470 last week.

“The summer-autumn harvest has ended, and traders haven’t been able to buy paddy from Cambodia recently as many of the borders with Cambodia remain shut,” said a trader based in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta province of An Giang.

“Local traders used to buy around 1,000 tonnes of rice from Cambodia a day in the past.”

Preliminary shipping data showed 161,050 tonnes of rice is to be loaded at Ho Chi Minh City port in August, with most of the rice heading to Africa and Cuba.

However, no new export contracts have been signed recently because Vietnamese pieces now expensive compared with competitors, other traders said.

Top exporter India’s 5% broken parboiled variety RI-INBKN5-P1 was quoted at $382-$387 per tonne this week, up from last week’s $380-$385.

“Most rice mills are operating at lower capacity due to a scarcity of workers. Since supplies are limited for the exports, traders are raising prices,” said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

In Thailand, benchmark 5% broken rice RI-THBKN5-P1 prices increased to $465-$500 from $463-$485 last week, on a strengthening baht.

“Supply concern has kept prices higher as we are still not seeing much new supply entering the market from the off-season crop,” a Thai rice trader said.

Bangladesh will review the impact of floods on paddy before deciding on importing rice, Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque said.

“Currently, there’s no fear of food shortage in the country... A decision to import rice will be taken if the yield of rice is not good and the floods are prolonged.”

https://in.reuters.com/article/asia-rice/asia-rice-supply-squeeze-lifts-vietnam-rates-to-more-than-8-year-high-idINL4N2FF2ZJ

 

SunRice boss tips 250,000t rice crop as cotton competition loses ground

Andrew Marshall@BurrenAndrew13 Aug 2020, 5:30 p.m.

News

Dam filling rain in southern NSW, the tumbling wool market and uneasy expectations about cotton prices have combined to recharge the fortunes of Australia's drought-whacked rice sector.

Chances are the national crop will bounce back from just 44,000 tonnes this year to well above 250,000t of paddy in 2021 if current dam levels and grower planting intentions are any indicator.

"The indications we're hearing from rice growers who may also produce wool, or grow cotton, are that they'll be pushing the needle towards rice this season," said SunRice chairman Laurie Arthur.

"We're particularly positive about the growing season and water allocations in the Riverina given inflows into Burrinjuck Dam are now looking quite promising."

Water levels rising

Burrinjuck, in the Upper Murrumbidgee Valley, has enjoyed a 25 per cent increase in capacity to about 70pc in the past week.

The rebound cannot come fast enough for SunRice, which for the first time ever is likely to run out of Australian grown rice to supply domestic demand by early 2021.

The national processor and international marketer is currently operating its two southern NSW rice mills at a measly 5pc of capacity after irrigation water shortages and stiff competition for water from the cotton and almond sectors squeezed the past two seasons' production to the second and third smallest yielding crops in the company's history (54,000t and 45,000t).

In a more typical season SunRice anticipates a harvest of about 800,000t, but supplies a total global market of more than 1 million tonnes a year, with help from its overseas mills and other traders.

We're generally getting strong interest in next season's crop for a variety of reasons, not just water availability- Laurie Arthur, SunRice

Mr Arthur said despite rainfall and water storages in the Murray Valley being less exciting than the Murrumbidgee, his "gut feeling" anticipated a 250,000t-plus harvest next autumn.

To lock in an initial commitment from growers, SunRice has offered forward price contracts of between $475/t and $625/t, ensuring it had a base reserve of key varieties to promise customers next season.

The fixed price contracts, for a total volume commitment above a similar offer made last year, were quickly snapped up by growers last month.

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"We're generally getting strong interest in next season's crop for a variety of reasons, not just water availability," Mr Arthur said.

As the world grappled with the coronavirus pandemic and the related economic downturn, farmers and agribusiness marketers felt food commodities were likely to be a safer prospect than relying on diminishing demand from fibre and fashion markets.

With Australian cotton spot values for 2020 crop down from $630 a bale in February to about 485/bale this month, and wool down from 1700 cents a kilogram to below 1200c/kg in the same period, the southern Murray Darling Basin's historic reliance on rice in mixed farming operations was returning to the fore.

Irrigators rattled

The July collapse of Chinese-owned cotton merchant Weilin Trade, based at Coleambally, had also "rattled" southern NSW irrigators after leaving many growers out of pocket for cotton contracts which never paid up and other creditors also owed money.

Weilin Trade's receivers have suggested creditors across NSW and Queensland will likely only receive about 20 cents for every dollar they were owed.

"One of the reasons we're so confident about rice remaining a permanent fixture in the agricultural landscape here - if we get water management policies right - is because it's so very compatible with other ag sectors in the southern basin," he said.

"You can harvest an 11t/hectare crop in May and follow-up with oats or wheat planted into the residual moisture which will yield maybe six tonnes, and provide grazing for prime lambs.

"Farmers understand the market advantages of a diverse production base and that's being reflected in current levels of interest while wool and cotton signals aren't so strong."

Efficiency pays

Australia's irrigated rice sector also used less water for every tonne produced than any other rice industry in the world, averaging above 10t/ha.

That was at least a tonne better than nearest rivals the US or Egypt and was the foundation for a major regional value adding industry, which included world-leading rice milling efficiency.

"Obviously running at 5pc milling capacity won't work for long so we certainly need a good planting result this year, but we've still managed to stay profitable despite everything thrown at us in the past year or so," he said.

"There wouldn't be many companies making profit running at just 5pc throughput."

https://www.northqueenslandregister.com.au/story/6878289/sunrice-tips-planting-rebound-as-fibre-markets-falter-and-dams-refill/?cs=4750

 

PHL rice supply ‘sufficient’ even with return to stricter lockdown

August 13, 2020 | 8:01 pm

PHILSTAR

THE rice supply was deemed sufficient for the rest of the year despite the return of Metro Manila and nearby provinces to a stricter form of lockdown, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said that as of August, the rice inventory was good for about 53 days’ consumption, with more on the way from the late-September harvest.

Mr. Dar discounted potential disruptive factors like the Chinese floods, which could put pressure on international supply.

“Our second quarter palay production of 4.125 million metric tons (MT) is a testament that reforms being instituted under the Rice Tariffication Law are starting to bear fruit,” Mr. Dar said.

“Barring adverse typhoons and natural disasters in the remaining months of the year, we expect a record palay output this year of 20.34 million MT, which is 8% higher than the 2019 production,” he added.

Mr. Dar said that the DA evaluated various supply scenarios to arrive at its estimate for the rice inventory at year’s end.

“All scenarios show comfortable levels of rice supply by the end of the year, which at best would be good for 98 days, and at worst, 90 days,” Mr. Dar said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

https://www.bworldonline.com/phl-rice-supply-sufficient-even-with-return-to-stricter-lockdown/

 

PH rice imports seen to decline in 2021 – USDA

By CNN Philippines Staff

Published Aug 13, 2020 5:45:48 PM

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 13) — The United States Department of Agriculture has projected that the Philippines' rice imports will decline by 9 percent in 2021 due to lower production from its top suppliers.

In its Grain: World Markets and Trade report, USDA said rice imports of the Philippines could decline to 3 million metric tons compared to its previous projection of 3.3 million MT due to lower supplies from Thailand and Vietnam, two of the country’s top sources for the commodity.

“Global trade is expected to contract with reduced imports by the Philippines, Nigeria, and Cote d’Ivoire as major exporters Thailand, China, and Vietnam face tighter supplies,” it said.

USDA said global production next year is projected to decline 0.5 percent to 500.049 million MT linked to smaller harvests from Thailand (down 1.9 percent), China (down 1.3 percent), and Vietnam (down 0.7 percent).

However, the latest projection is still higher than its 2020 rice imports estimates at 2.6 million MT, which led to the Philippines replacing China as the world’s top importer with 2.3 million MT for this year, and 2.2 million MT for next year.

The agency also projected that the Philippines’ rice production this year will be at 11.91 million MT, up 1.5 percent from the previous year.

Government data showed that rice imports as of end-July has reached 1.457 million MT, slightly lower than the 1.491 million MT reported in the same period last year, which includes those that arrived prior to the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law in March.

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/business/2020/8/13/usda-2021-ph-rice-imports.html

 

 

Philippines to remain as world’s biggest rice importer

Louise Maureen Simeon (The Philippine Star 

) - August 14, 2020 - 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will still emerge as the world’s largest rice importer until 2021 with the expected decline in local production.

Based on the latest report of the United States Department of Agriculture-Foreign Agricultural Service, imports will slightly decline this year but will pick up next year.

This year’s rice imports are seen to reach 2.6 million metric tons, down 10 percent from a year ago.

For 2021, imports are expected to increase by 15 percent to three million MT. The USDA has already lowered the import projection for the Philippines from the earlier 3.3 million MT.

“Global trade is expected to contract with reduced imports by the Philippines, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire as major exporters Thailand, China and Vietnam face tighter supplies,” USDA said.

Next year, however, the Philippines will still be the top importer as China is expected to buy only 2.2 million MT.

The Rice Tariffication Law enacted last year has made imports more available in the market, depressing overall milled rice prices.

According to the USDA, farmers are likely to shift to other crops while others continue the trend of converting lands into other commercial purposes.

A year into rice tariffication, rice farmers are still struggling to compete with affordable imports from Southeast Asia although farm gate prices are now slowly recovering.

Milled rice production is forecast to improve to 11.9 million MT from last year’s 11.7 million MT as the government ramps up its Plant Plant Plant program amid the pandemic.

This, however, is seen to decrease to 11 million MT by 2021.

Rice area and yield are also expected to decline this year and in 2021 as some farmers decide to diversify their crops or convert lands to non-agricultural uses.

https://www.philstar.com/business/2020/08/14/2035086/philippines-remain-worlds-biggest-rice-importer#:~:text=MANILA%2C%20Philippines%20%E2%80%94%20The%20Philippines%20will,expected%20decline%20in%20local%20production.

 

Good progress of monsoon in August raises hopes of bumper kharif harvest

SECTIONS

Good progress of monsoon in August raises hopes of bumper kharif harvest

By

Jayashree Bhosale

, ET BureauLast Updated: Aug 13, 2020, 10:37 AM IST

According to the data compiled and updated till August 7 by the agriculture ministry, the area sown under rice increased 17% year-on-year while that under oilseeds went up more than 15%.

AgenciesThe condition of rice crop, which occupies the largest area among kharif crops, is reported to be healthy while the pulses sector is also satisfied with the progress of the monsoon.

With rainfall intensifying in August after some deficit in July, India is likely to harvest a record kharif crop if the rest of the monsoon season goes well. Till August 7, the overall area under kharif crops was 10% higher year-on-year, driven by factors such as early onset of monsoon, reverse migration of labour and higher minimum support price for some crops. Good temporal and spatial distribution of rainfall aided crop growth.

According to the data compiled and updated till August 7 by the agriculture ministry, the area sown under
rice increased 17% year-on-year while that under oilseeds went up more than 15% and area under groundnut shot up 44%. Area under pulses, coarse cereals and cotton increased 4.20%, 3.70% and 4.10% respectively.

The country received normal cumulative rainfall till August 11. The timely rains and spread of the rainfall satisfied the agrarian community.

“If the rest of the monsoon season goes well, we can expect a record kharif crop. The quantum and spread of monsoon rainfall has been good so far,” said Hanish Kumar Sinha, head of research and development at National Bulk Handling Corporation, which plays a major role in storage of the kharif and
rabi harvest. “There is some stress in parts of Uttar Pradesh, north Madhya Pradesh and parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan. However, there will be no major impact as Uttar Pradesh has a good network of irrigation, while elsewhere, either it is some minor crops or the rainfall is expected to revive.”

Prerana Desai, head of agri commodity research at Edelweiss Agri Value Chain, said: “This year the kharif sowing was dramatically faster. At most places, the weather is favourable. Though there are reports about pink boll worm and locust attack, I have yet to hear about any adverse impact on the crop.”

There were concerns about the condition of the oilseed crops in the second half of July. However, now the situation looks comfortable as the crop has received the required amount of rainfall when it was most needed, said industry veterans. “The crop condition looks good so far, though there is a need for a spell of rainfall around August 15, followed by some rains every fortnight till the crop is harvested,” said BV Mehta, executive director, Solvent Extractors’ Association.


The condition of rice crop, which occupies the largest area among kharif crops, is reported to be healthy while the pulses sector is also satisfied with the progress of the monsoon. “We just hope there is no excess rainfall at the harvest time like previous year, which had caused huge losses,” said Bimal Kothari, vice president,
Indian Pulses and Grains Association.

 

 

 

Costly inputs to affect Punjab’s rice crop

The Newspaper's Staff Reporter

Updated 13 Aug 2020

Overall, 52.2pc of the farmers reported an increase in the cost of farm inputs due to Covid-19. — APP/File

ISLAMABAD: Farmers in Punjab have lost earnings during the pandemic and may not be able to buy inputs for rice production due to higher prices, according to survey carried out by the Asian Development Bank on ‘Covid-19 Impact on Farm Households in Punjab’.

Rice is a major staple crop and an important export product, and increased input prices may cause significant problems for the country’s economy.

ADB conducted a computer-assisted telephonic survey of 668 farmers across 10 districts of Punjab and interviewed over 400 farmers. About 62 per cent of total respondents reported financial difficulties in recent months because of the Covid-19. Nearly 89pc of respondents who did so indicated the purchase of inputs as their primary concern, while a minority cited liabilities, including loans from banks and non-bank lenders.

Moreover, 33pc of respondents indicated that their households experienced losses in wages and non-farm earnings because of Covid-19, and 22pc reported that at least one family member had returned home from urban and other areas.

Farm households are burdened by increase in the number of household members and reduced cash income, which resulted in reduced non-food expenditures (11pc) and lower food consumption (9.8pc).

Overall, 52.2pc of the farmers reported an increase in the cost of farm inputs due to Covid-19. Majority stated that the cost of seed had increased, while a sizable share noted higher prices for fertilisers and pesticides.

Regarding labour availability, most responding farmers stated they did not have problems in finding workers for the next crop cycle. Most reported not having any trouble finding machines for preparing land or sowing crops.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2020

https://www.dawn.com/news/1574131

 

Kenya records high wheat and rice imports in July

Country had deficit across all major grain commodities, with increased imports recorded for maize, sorghum and wheat.

In Summary

• Food trade in East Africa in July was characterised by deficits across major commodities with a few countries recording exports.

• Import dependency was high in wheat and rice, where imports
accounted for more than 80 per cent of total supplies.

IMPORTS: Workers arrange bags of wheat in a godown at the Mombasa port
Image: FILE

Wheat and rice imports were high in July, according to a food security monitoring report.

The Alliance for a Green Revolution's July Food Security Monitoring report indicates that many countries in East Africa imported more than they exported.

The report released on Wednesday showed that Kenya had a trade deficit across all major grain commodities, with increased imports recorded for maize, sorghum and wheat.

“The country had a high import dependency recorded for rice and wheat with imports accounting for 81 per cent and 80 per cent of the country’s total supplies respectively,” the report states.

Neighbouring countries like Tanzania and Uganda also experienced trade deficit across all major commodities with exports recorded for maize, rice, sorghum, wheat and soybean.

Import dependency was high for wheat as imports accounted for 86 per cent and 85 per cent of the total supplies for Tanzania and Uganda.

Ethiopia had a trade deficit across most commodities except soybean. Exports were recorded for sorghum and soybean with high import dependency recorded for rice, where imports accounted for 86 per cent of the country’s total supplies.

Rwanda had a trade deficit across all the commodities, but with exports recorded only for maize. The country had a high wheat import dependency with imports accounting for 58 per cent of the country’s total supplies.

South Sudan recorded a negative trade balance across major grain commodities but with no exports recorded during the month.

The report reveals that as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to worsen, the impact on economies persists. This has seen governments implementing response measures which seek to minimise the spread of the pandemic while also minimising its impact on economic performance.

The food trade trends showed the commitment by governments to facilitate trade by implementing open trade policies, which are having varying impacts on food trade and food security.

The report says Kenya has maintained its dairy protectionist policy which restricts imports from Uganda.

“To this end, the Kenya Dairy Board continues to decline issuing permits to Ugandan milk producers and exporters. On the 29th of July, Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga stated publicly that producers of milk and other dairy products remain concerned about the continued imposition of non-tariff barriers affecting trade in the region," the report says.

"This dispute has resulted in a significant decline in milk exports between the two countries impacting various actors along the milk value chain.”

https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2020-08-12-kenya-records-high-wheat-and-rice-imports-in-july/

 


Kenya records high wheat and rice imports in July

Country had deficit across all major grain commodities, with increased imports recorded for maize, sorghum and wheat.

In Summary

• Food trade in East Africa in July was characterised by deficits across major commodities with a few countries recording exports.

• Import dependency was high in wheat and rice, where imports
accounted for more than 80 per cent of total supplies.

IMPORTS: Workers arrange bags of wheat in a godown at the Mombasa port
Image: FILE

Wheat and rice imports were high in July, according to a food security monitoring report.

The Alliance for a Green Revolution's July Food Security Monitoring report indicates that many countries in East Africa imported more than they exported.

The report released on Wednesday showed that Kenya had a trade deficit across all major grain commodities, with increased imports recorded for maize, sorghum and wheat.

“The country had a high import dependency recorded for rice and wheat with imports accounting for 81 per cent and 80 per cent of the country’s total supplies respectively,” the report states.

Neighbouring countries like Tanzania and Uganda also experienced trade deficit across all major commodities with exports recorded for maize, rice, sorghum, wheat and soybean.

Import dependency was high for wheat as imports accounted for 86 per cent and 85 per cent of the total supplies for Tanzania and Uganda.

Ethiopia had a trade deficit across most commodities except soybean. Exports were recorded for sorghum and soybean with high import dependency recorded for rice, where imports accounted for 86 per cent of the country’s total supplies.

Rwanda had a trade deficit across all the commodities, but with exports recorded only for maize. The country had a high wheat import dependency with imports accounting for 58 per cent of the country’s total supplies.

South Sudan recorded a negative trade balance across major grain commodities but with no exports recorded during the month.

The report reveals that as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to worsen, the impact on economies persists. This has seen governments implementing response measures which seek to minimise the spread of the pandemic while also minimising its impact on economic performance.

The food trade trends showed the commitment by governments to facilitate trade by implementing open trade policies, which are having varying impacts on food trade and food security.

The report says Kenya has maintained its dairy protectionist policy which restricts imports from Uganda.

“To this end, the Kenya Dairy Board continues to decline issuing permits to Ugandan milk producers and exporters. On the 29th of July, Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga stated publicly that producers of milk and other dairy products remain concerned about the continued imposition of non-tariff barriers affecting trade in the region," the report says.

"This dispute has resulted in a significant decline in milk exports between the two countries impacting various actors along the milk value chain.”

Edited by Henry Makori

https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2020-08-12-kenya-records-high-wheat-and-rice-imports-in-july/ 

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