REAP, LCCI congratulate Chela Ram Kewlani
By RECORDER REPORT
on
Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) and the Lahore Chamber of
Commerce & Industry (LCCI) has congratulated Chela Ram Kewlani, a leading rice
exporter and businessman of Pakistan, on his appointment as Chairman Minorities
Commission of Pakistan. REAP Chairman Shahjahan Malik and Pir Syed Nazim
Hussain Shah in a statement issued here Friday said that Chela Ram is a leading
rice exporter for two decades and led rice exporters' apex body too. He had
always played a very active role in promoting religious harmony and is a social
worker and generous philanthropist.Meanwhile, the LCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh in a separate statement thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan for appointing leading Rice Exporter of Pakistan Chela Ram Kewlani as Chairman of Minorities Commission of Pakistan.
PHILIPPINES
SEES END-2020 RICE STOCKS AT 3.3 MLN T, HIGHEST IN 10 YEARS
5/11/2020
MANILA, May 12 (Reuters) - The Philippines will
end the year with a rice inventory of 3.3 million tonnes, a government official
said on Tuesday, as the world's biggest rice importer ramps up purchases of its
staple food while also trying to boost domestic output.
An inventory of that size would be the
Philippines' biggest year-end stockpile in 10 years, data from the Philippine
Statistics Authority showed.
"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. The
lean months are from July to September, when the local rice harvest is usually low.
The projected year-end inventory can cover
national consumption for 94 days, he said.
The projection takes into account the
300,000-tonne rice imports now being undertaken by the government, the first by
the state since the Philippines lifted a two-decade-old quantitative
restrictions on rice imports last year.
The additional rice imports would raise the
Southeast Asian country's total imports so far this year to a record 3 million
tonnes, exceeding last year's purchases estimated at 2.9 million tonnes. (Reporting
by Enrico dela Cruz; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
© Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Click For
Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
PH
to import 300,000 MT of rice
By: Karl R. Ocampo - Reporter / @kocampoINQ
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 04:52 AM May 12, 2020
MANILA,
Philippines — The Philippine government will now push through with its plan to
import 300,000 metric tons (MT) of rice from Vietnam after the Vietnamese
government decided to finally resume exporting rice to Asean countries to maintain
adequate food supply in the region amid the new coronavirus pandemic.
The
volume is on top of the 2.7 million MT of rice approved by the Bureau of Plant
Industry this year, bringing the expected volume of rice imports to 3 million
MT.
ADVERTISEMENT
The
Department of Agriculture’s (DA) pronouncement came just after weeks of
assuring consumers that the country had enough rice supply. The DA projected
last month a 94-day buffer stock by yearend.
Since
the National Food Authority can no longer import rice under the rice
tariffication law, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the
government-to-government importation would be undertaken by the Philippine
International Trading Corp. under the Department of Trade and Industry
PhilRice warns farmers vs. rice plant viruses
Updated May
12, 2020, 8:58 AM
By
Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
Farmers
should watch out for certain types of viruses that may infect rice plants, as
there is no known treatment as yet to some of these viruses, according to an
expert of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).
(PIXABAY / MANILA BULLETIN)
Plant
pathologist Jennifer Niones of the Department of Agriculture’s PhilRice cited
four types of viruses — namely, tungro, dwarf, grassy stunt, and ragged
stunt — which farmers must guard against to minimize significant yield losses.
Tungro
virus is an extremely damaging rice disease occurring in South and Southeast
Asia that leads to 70-100 percent yield loss. Rice tungro bacilliform virus
(RTBV) and rice tungro spherical virus (RTSV) cause this disease, Niones said.
As infected plants cannot be
treated, farmers must consider preventive measures especially if their area had
past incidences of tungro infestation, she said.
Dwarf
virus, which was first observed in the rice fields of Midsayap, Cotabato, could
reduce yield by 50 to 80 percent, especially when it strikes down at vegetative
stage. Infected plants show pronounced stunting, increased tillering, and
shortened darker green leaves with fine
chlorotic specks, Niones said.
She
noted that the spread of dwarf virus could be prevented through plowing of the
fallowed rice field and synchronous planting.
She
added that applying insecticide to rice seedlings before transplanting could
also be an option, while areas infected during the previous cropping season
should be immediately plowed.
The
grassy stunt virus could cause stunting and yellowing of the plant. This virus
is commonly spread by nymph and adult brown plant hopper.
This
virus, Niones said, frequently affect fields where year-round and continuous
rice growing is practiced. Although plants can be infected in all growth
stages, infection usually happens during the tillering stage, she said.
Niones
pointed out that the virus can be managed through planting brown plant
hopper-resistant rice varieties.
The
populations of brown plant hopper should also be immediately managed, while
infected fields should be plowed right after harvest to reduce the virus
source, she added.
Another
virus also transmitted by the brown plant hopper, Niones said, is the rice
ragged stunt virus, which can bring up to 80 percent yield losses. It could
cause severe stunting during early crop stages, green leaves with darker than
the normal color that appears to have jagged uneven edges, and appearance of
yellow to yellow-brown leaves that twist into spiral shapes at the base of leaf
blades.
Like
the tungro virus, ragged stunt virus-infected plants cannot be treated so
preventive rather than direct-control measures should be implemented, she
added.
Niones
noted that to manage the four types of viruses, infected plants should be
immediately removed once the disease is detected.
“They can be
prevented by practicing a fallow period of at least one month between each crop
to reduce the pests’ food supply; reducing their populations. Resistant
varieties should also be considered but insecticide should only be applied when
needed,” she said.
Gov’t allots P313.5-M to boost rice output in E. Visayas
May 12, 2020, 5:42 pm
HIGHER YIELD. A
rice farm in Pagsang-an village Abuyog, Leyte. The Department of Agriculture on
Tuesday (May 12, 2020) said the national government allocated PHP313.5-million
to increase the rice production in Eastern Visayas amid the global health
crisis. (PNA photo by Gerico A. Sabalza)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is allocating PHP313.5-million
to increase rice production in Eastern Visayas.
This is part of the national
government’s PHP8.5-billion Rice Resiliency Project (RRP) to ensure food
sufficiency amid the coronavirus pandemic by boosting domestic production of
rice, DA Eastern Visayas director Angel Enriquez said Tuesday in a statement.
“From this, we will be starting
the distribution of hybrid seeds and fertilizer in time for the onset of
planting season in some areas in Northern Samar and Biliran,” she added.
The RRP will cover a total of
112,035 farmers in the region through its three component sub-projects.
A total of 139,249 bags of
inorganic fertilizers worth PHP139.2-million will be distributed under the Rice
Competitive Enhancement Fund (RCEF) that will complement the inbred seeds of
the Philippine Rice Research Institute involving 69,625 hectares of rice areas
in the region.
Those farmers excluded in the
RCEF will be supported through the Expanded Inbred Rice Production subproject,
with a corresponding target of 9,565 hectares for certified seeds and 9,603 for
good seeds.
Under the Expanded Hybrid Rice
Production subproject, at least 10,820 bags of hybrid seeds and 67,320 bags of
inorganic fertilizer will be distributed.
This is on top of the 11,620
hybrid seeds under the regular hybridization program implemented in the region
that will cover a total of 22,440 hectares of rice areas.
“We should not rely on other
countries for our rice requirements because there are indications that Thailand
and other Asian countries may not be able to export their rice as they need to
secure first their own domestic food requirements,” Enriquez said.
The RRP is part of the
PHP31-billion supplemental budget of the national government to bankroll the
Plant, Plant, Plant Program or Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) Covid-19
program.
This aims to increase the
country’s rice production by December 2020 by reaching 22.12 million metric
times (MMT) of palay equivalent to 13.51 MMT of rice or 93 percent of the
country’s total demand at 14.46 MMT. (PNA)
Rice farmers in parts of Philippines get cash subsidies
Philippine Information Agency
12th May 2020, 18:38 GMT+10
12th May 2020, 18:38 GMT+10
CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga,
Philippines, May 12 (PIA) - The Department of Agriculture in partnership with
local government units and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) is distributing a
P5, 000 cash subsidy to rice farmers tiling one hectare or less in three
municipalities and Tabukm to help augment their needs.
Provincial Agriculturist
Engr. Domingo Bakilan said the province is now on its second release through
LBP cash card.
"More than 1,200 farmers
that composed the second batch of recipients received today the assistance
under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) of the Department of
Agriculture", he said Tuesday.
The first release was
received by the first batch of 614 farmers.
He said the municipalities
covered under this program are Rizal, Pinukpuk, Tanudan and Tabuk City.
"The remaining beneficiaries will receive the same subsidy, maybe to reach
five batches," Bakilan said.
Aimed to help farmers
affected by the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law, 7,847 rice
farmers from the four covered areas are eligible to receive the assistance
based on the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture, said Fevelyn Apil
Macadaeg of DA-CAR-RFO.
Aside from RFFA, she said the
Department of Agriculture will continue helping small rice farmers boost their
productivity and increase their income through the department's other major
programs such as the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, the SURE Aid loan
assistance program, and continuous palay-buying through the National Food
Authority. (JDP/PAB-PIA CAR, Kalinga)
Vietnam
resumes rice exports to Phl, ASEAN countries
By
DAPublished on May 12, 2020
QUEZON CITY, May 12 --
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam has resumed rice exports to the Philippines
and other members of ASEAN to maintain adequate food supply in the region and
cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar said they welcome the
decision by Vietnam to resume its rice export policy and take into account the
difficulties faced by various stakeholders during this crisis. Photo by DA
“We welcome the decision
by Vietnam to resume its rice export policy and take into account the difficulties
faced by various stakeholders during this crisis,” said Agriculture Secretary
William Dar.
He thanked Finance
Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, who furnished him a copy of a letter by
Vietnam Industry and Trade Minister Tran Tuan Anh, dated 4 May 2020, assuring
the Philippines of delivery of 400,000 metric tons (MT) of rice contracted in
April.
In his letter, Minister
Tran said that on April 28, 2020, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc
approved the resumption of rice exports to the Philippines and other ASEAN
countries, starting on May 1, 2020.
“I hope the new decision
by our Prime Minister will contribute to the joint efforts by ASEAN Member
States in maintaining adequate food supply to ASEAN Community to cope with the
COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen ASEAN’s internal unity,” Minister Tran said.
For his part, Secretary
Dar said: “Indeed, Vietnam is making a valuable contribution in strengthening
ASEAN cooperation and internal unity. We need to keep the regional market open
for trade and ensure the sustainability of the supply chain among ASEAN
member-states, especially for food and other essential goods.”
From January 1 to May 1,
2020, the Philippines has contracted 666,480 MT of rice from Vietnam, of which
218,300 MT has been delivered, leaving a balance of 448,180 MT, according to
the DA’s Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) that issues the Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) for rice imports.
“This means that
Vietnamese rice exporters will commence fulfillment of their contracts with
Philippine importers, and consider future supply deals under an existing
bilateral trade agreement,” Secretary Dar said.
Since January 2020, the
DA-BPI has issued SPSICs covering 2.7 million MT, of which about 729,000 MT has
arrived, with 1.189 million MT to be delivered this month and the rest in
succeeding months.
In a related
development, Secretary Dar said that the DTI’s Philippine International Trading
Corp. (PITC) has officially opened the government-to-government rice
importation for the supply of 300,000 MT of rice, which will serve as buffer
stock during the lean months.
The PITC has already
sent communications to Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, India, and Cambodia, added
Secretary Dar, who also serves as chairperson of the IATF Task Group on Food Security.
(TM/DA
Vietnam reaffirms pledge to resume rice exports to PH
May 12, 2020
The Vietnamese government has reassured the Philippines of its commitment to resume rice exports beginning May 1, in fulfillment of the earlier consensus reached by the region’s economies to keep their markets open and enhance regional cooperation in strengthening the sustainability of regional supply chains, especially in this time of a global crisis spawned by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
In his letter to Finance Sec. Carlos Dominguez III, Vietnamese Industry and Trade Minister Tran Tuan Anh said this decision to carry out the earlier commitment by member-states of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations was reached last April 18 after “considering thoroughly assessment findings on (Vietnam’s) domestic rice supply” and the recommendations of his Ministry.“I hope the new decision by our Prime Minister (Nguyen Xuan Phuc) will contribute to the joint efforts by ASEAN Member States in maintaining adequate food supply to ASEAN Community to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen ASEAN’s internal unity,” Tran said in his letter to Dominguez last May 4.
An earlier letter received by the DoF chief from Tran last April 13 informed him of the Vietnamese Prime Minister’s approval of the Philippines’ rice export quota of 400,000 metric tons for the month of April.
In his May 4 letter, Tran said that as chairman of the ASEAN this year, Vietnam “attaches great importance to realizing its commitments” in the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Joint Statement on Strengthening ASEAN’s Economic Resilience in Response to the Outbreak of Covid-19 released last March 10, and to the Declaration of the Special ASEAN Summit on Coronavirus Disease 2019 by the ASEAN Leaders issued last April 14.
The Vietnamese minister noted that these accords “require us to keep ASEAN’s market open for trade and investment, enhancing cooperation among ASEAN member states in strengthening the resiliency and sustainability of regional supply chains, especially for food, medicines and other essential supplies.”
“In this spirit, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Viet Nam has seriously taken into account and reported to the Government of Viet Nam on the difficulties faced by various stakeholders as well as mounting concerns from importing countries being parts of the rice supply chains with import from Viet Nam, including particularly concerns from the Philippines,” he said in his letter.
“On 18 April 2020, after considering thoroughly assessment findings on domestic rice supply and recommendations by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Viet Nam, H.E. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc decided to fully resume rice export from 1 May 2020,” Tran added.
During the April 14 Special ASEAN Summit on Coronavirus Disease 2019 held online, President Duterte called on his fellow Southeast Asian leaders to ensure that the region is ready for future disease outbreaks by improving and expanding ASEAN’s mechanisms to cover public health emergencies,” and to keep trade open to “ensure the supply chain connectivity and the smooth flow of goods within our region”.
“We are particularly concerned with food security in this period of lockdowns. Our most urgent priority is ensuring sufficient supply of rice for our people. ASEAN must remain open for trade. Crisis or no crisis, as no country can stand alone,” the President said during the summit.
“Food security is key in maintaining socio-economic and political stability, especially at a time of great difficulty for our people. We can ignore this only at our own risk,” he added.
In their declaration following the Special ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN leaders resolved to “remain committed to keeping ASEAN’s markets open for trade and investment, and enhance cooperation among ASEAN Member States and also with ASEAN’s external partners with a view to ensuring food security, such as the utilization of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR), and strengthening the resiliency and sustainability of regional supply chains, especially for food, commodities, medicines, medical and essential supplies”.
The ASEAN leaders also
resolved to “task our Economic Ministers and Senior Economic Officials to
explore an arrangement to preserve supply chain connectivity, particularly
amongst ASEAN Member States, that provides for trade to continue for the smooth
flow of essential goods, including medical, food and essential supplies;
ensures our critical infrastructure for trade and trading routes via air, land
and sea ports remain open; and refrain from imposing unnecessary restrictions
on the flow of medical, food and essential supplies, in accordance with the
rights and obligations under the World Trade Organization covered agreements,
the ASEAN T
Rice Prices
as on : 13-05-2020 12:34:13 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)
|
2064.00
|
-54.69
|
89950.00
|
2664
|
2670
|
-21.07
|
|
Mandya(Kar)
|
617.00
|
111.3
|
909.00
|
2580
|
2680
|
-
|
|
Manjeri(Ker)
|
290.00
|
NC
|
8700.00
|
3500
|
3500
|
NC
|
|
Vasai(Mah)
|
193.00
|
451.43
|
1204.00
|
3250
|
3410
|
-5.80
|
|
Bangarpet(Kar)
|
117.00
|
-48
|
3694.00
|
2000
|
2100
|
-
|
|
Gondal(UP)
|
107.50
|
7.5
|
5055.50
|
2400
|
2400
|
-2.04
|
|
Allahabad(UP)
|
80.00
|
5.96
|
1776.50
|
2500
|
2520
|
8.70
|
|
Lucknow(UP)
|
79.00
|
-9.2
|
3881.00
|
2450
|
2460
|
-7.20
|
|
Solapur(Mah)
|
70.00
|
-
|
265.00
|
3670
|
-
|
-
|
|
Ghaziabad(UP)
|
70.00
|
16.67
|
1386.00
|
2700
|
2700
|
NC
|
|
Barhaj(UP)
|
64.00
|
-3.03
|
7650.00
|
2520
|
2520
|
8.15
|
|
Aligarh(UP)
|
50.00
|
25
|
3245.00
|
2550
|
2550
|
1.19
|
|
Varanasi(Grain)(UP)
|
50.00
|
11.11
|
1782.00
|
2600
|
2590
|
8.79
|
|
Sehjanwa(UP)
|
50.00
|
25
|
1927.50
|
2580
|
2600
|
19.44
|
|
Fatehpur(UP)
|
46.30
|
42.46
|
1852.70
|
2415
|
2410
|
5.00
|
|
Lakhimpur(UP)
|
45.00
|
12.5
|
1742.00
|
2420
|
2430
|
4.31
|
|
Firozabad(UP)
|
38.50
|
4.05
|
978.10
|
2590
|
2610
|
-
|
|
Pilibhit(UP)
|
38.00
|
26.67
|
46783.50
|
2590
|
2610
|
4.86
|
|
Puranpur(UP)
|
37.50
|
78.57
|
1895.00
|
2585
|
2615
|
4.66
|
|
Chintamani(Kar)
|
35.00
|
-14.63
|
1295.00
|
2200
|
2200
|
15.79
|
|
Manvi(Kar)
|
35.00
|
16.67
|
425.00
|
1950
|
1800
|
-
|
|
Jumpuijala(Tri)
|
30.80
|
-61.88
|
227.10
|
3100
|
3050
|
-
|
|
Holenarsipura(Kar)
|
25.00
|
150
|
74.00
|
2100
|
2200
|
-
|
|
Khalilabad(UP)
|
25.00
|
NC
|
1180.00
|
2540
|
2530
|
12.89
|
|
Asansol(WB)
|
25.00
|
-1.57
|
792.89
|
2850
|
2850
|
-6.56
|
|
Durgapur(WB)
|
25.00
|
4.17
|
705.35
|
2850
|
2850
|
NC
|
|
Jaunpur(UP)
|
24.50
|
36.11
|
1009.70
|
2500
|
2460
|
6.84
|
|
Basti(UP)
|
22.00
|
37.5
|
1025.50
|
2540
|
2550
|
8.09
|
|
Balrampur(UP)
|
22.00
|
NC
|
601.00
|
2400
|
2400
|
4.35
|
|
Honnali(Kar)
|
20.00
|
-37.5
|
231.00
|
3000
|
3140
|
-
|
|
Sangli(Mah)
|
20.00
|
-
|
20.00
|
4250
|
-
|
-
|
|
Muradabad(UP)
|
18.00
|
-21.74
|
954.00
|
2590
|
2600
|
2.57
|
|
Gazipur(UP)
|
17.00
|
-15
|
1771.00
|
3180
|
3170
|
-2.45
|
|
Sirsaganj(UP)
|
17.00
|
25.93
|
625.00
|
2600
|
2640
|
-5.45
|
|
Rasda(UP)
|
17.00
|
13.33
|
329.00
|
2410
|
2440
|
995.45
|
|
Jafarganj(UP)
|
16.00
|
-23.81
|
765.00
|
2420
|
2450
|
12.04
|
|
Atarra(UP)
|
15.00
|
-25
|
594.50
|
2380
|
2350
|
4.39
|
|
Sitapur(UP)
|
14.70
|
-2
|
805.00
|
2430
|
2430
|
2.97
|
|
Bahraich(UP)
|
11.00
|
NC
|
920.30
|
2410
|
2410
|
0.42
|
|
Amroha(UP)
|
10.00
|
-9.09
|
93.50
|
2600
|
2610
|
NC
|
|
Karvi(UP)
|
7.00
|
-22.22
|
431.00
|
2395
|
2380
|
5.27
|
|
Milak(UP)
|
6.00
|
20
|
75.80
|
2580
|
2590
|
-
|
|
Achalda(UP)
|
4.00
|
-33.33
|
217.10
|
2500
|
2450
|
13.12
|
|
Jhijhank(UP)
|
4.00
|
-50
|
175.50
|
2530
|
2530
|
-
|
|
Jahangirabad(UP)
|
3.50
|
NC
|
154.00
|
2650
|
2650
|
1.92
|
|
Dahod(Guj)
|
3.00
|
-88.97
|
688.40
|
4300
|
4400
|
2.38
|
|
Sindhanur(Kar)
|
3.00
|
NC
|
22.00
|
3100
|
3800
|
-
|
|
Khurja(UP)
|
3.00
|
-6.25
|
191.90
|
2665
|
2650
|
0.95
|
|
Mawana(UP)
|
3.00
|
50
|
105.20
|
2620
|
2615
|
-
|
|
Chitwadagaon(UP)
|
3.00
|
-14.29
|
405.00
|
2430
|
2450
|
15.71
|
|
Bharwari(UP)
|
2.80
|
7.69
|
59.10
|
2560
|
2550
|
-
|
|
Balarampur(WB)
|
1.81
|
-1.09
|
16.43
|
2680
|
2650
|
2.68
|
|
Islampur(WB)
|
1.70
|
21.43
|
612.30
|
3350
|
3450
|
-
|
|
Panichowki(Kumarghat)(Tri)
|
1.60
|
14.29
|
24.50
|
2960
|
2970
|
-
|
|
Anandnagar(UP)
|
1.60
|
23.08
|
179.50
|
2525
|
2515
|
7.45
|
|
Raiganj(WB)
|
1.60
|
6.67
|
518.00
|
3300
|
3350
|
-
|
|
Lalganj(UP)
|
1.50
|
50
|
227.50
|
2300
|
2300
|
-
|
|
Muskara(UP)
|
1.40
|
NC
|
46.10
|
2300
|
2360
|
1.77
|
|
Azamgarh(UP)
|
1.20
|
-99.14
|
3611.20
|
2565
|
2560
|
4.69
|
|
Alibagh(Mah)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
63.00
|
4200
|
4200
|
NC
|
|
Murud(Mah)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
62.00
|
4200
|
4200
|
NC
|
|
Atrauli(UP)
|
0.70
|
-
|
0.70
|
2540
|
-
|
-
|
|
Risia(UP)
|
0.60
|
-33.33
|
60.40
|
2420
|
2410
|
-
|
Italian rice puts pasta in the shade
during pandemic
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The Jakarta Post
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A picture taken on May 8, 2020 shows a rice plantation near
Robbio, Lombardy, during the country's lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of
the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus.
Europe's top rice
producer Italy has seen consumption of the staple rise throughout the
coronavirus pandemic, putting even pasta in the shade.
It's not just popular at home either -- China itself has even
signed a deal to import Italian rice.
The Chinese have their eyes on varieties used to make typical
risotto dishes such as medium-grained Carnaroli, Arborio, Roma or Baldo.
"It is because our rice is better quality than that
cultivated in China," says Stefano Greppi, Pavia province president at
Italy's main agricultural union Coldiretti.
Himself the owner of a nearby rice farm, Greppi welcomes the
recent signing, during the pandemic, of an agreement allowing Italy, which
produces more than half of European rice output, to export rice to China.
That is a boon for producers in the provinces of Pavia,
Lombardy, Vercelli and Novara (both in Piedmont) which account between them for
95 percent of national production.
"It's a bit like selling ice cream to the
eskimos," quipped daily Il Corriere della Sera the
day after the export protocol was signed in April.
"The doors of the huge Chinese market are opening to rice
(and risotto) cultivated in the countryside around Pavia," added the
newspaper, explaining that "native imitations of Italian risotto" already
exist in China.
Spread over 220,000 hectares and cultivated by 4,200 producers
in all, Italian rice production totals an annual 1.5 million tons. The country
boasts more than 200 varieties in all, each with its own peculiarities.
Even so, Europe is a mere lightweight when it comes to global
production. It has just 0.4 percent of the total world output of 500 million
tons a year, 90 percent of that Asia-based.
Read also: Book a table for fast food? Burger King trials
post-lockdown app in Italy
Outstripping pasta
With the wind in its sails internationally, Italian rice is also
making good headway at home. Consumption soared 47 percent during the first six
weeks of the coronavirus pandemic -- sometimes outstripping demand even for
pasta in that period, according to Coldiretti.
"During the COVID-19 emergency, people rediscovered rice
and also risotto, which has always been a bit snubbed in Italian cuisine,"
Stefania Buffa, a 27-year-old rice farmer from Robbio in Lombardy, told AFP.
Sergio Lombardi, 63, who owns a farm in the same area, explains
that "the region can count on water reserves and a constant supply
throughout the duration of rice cultivation, which is not possible in many
regions of Italy."
Sown in spring, Italian rice is harvested between September and
October.
Rice was introduced into the country's north in the 12th century
by Cistercian monks, who took upon themselves the task of improving what was
then unsanitary and wooded terrain prone to malaria outbreaks. The rice crop
benefited from the arrival of canals, whose layout Leonardo da Vinci designed.
Mechanization then brought further crop advances.
Up until the 1950s and 1960s, people came from the south of
Italy, particularly women, dubbed "mondine" or seasonal pruners, to
cultivate the Po plain.
Their harsh working conditions inspired the
famous protest song "Bella ciao" as well as neo-realist films
including Bitter Rice (Riso Amaro, 1949)
notably featuring Silvana Mangano and Vittorio Gassman.
World cereal utilisation reduced by 24.7 MT: FAO
Published:
May 12, 2020 7:17:06 AM
The reduction stems mainly from a 22.4 million tonne downward revision to the 2019-20 maize utilisation, mostly in the United States of America and China, reflecting a sudden slowdown in feed and industrial demand.
FAO’s estimate for 2019 world cereal production still stands at
around 2 720 million tonne, rebounding from the reduced 2018 level by 65.3
million tonne (2.5 %), mostly on increases in wheat, maize, and barley outputs.
World cereal utilisation for 2020 has been
reduced by 24.7 million tonne since the previous report of April, as a result
of Covid-19 impact on economic growth, energy markets, and, to a lesser extent,
feed demand, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations said
in a report.
The reduction stems mainly from a 22.4
million tonne downward revision to the 2019-20 maize utilisation, mostly in the
United States of America and China, reflecting a sudden slowdown in feed and
industrial demand.
The forecast for total wheat utilisation in
2019-20 has also been subject to a downward revision, with cuts to industrial
use, especially in the European Union, more than offsetting upward revisions
for Canada. World wheat utilisation in 2019-20 is expected to exceed the
previous season’s level by 9 million tonne (1.2%), supported by anticipations
of rising food consumption.
Lowered
food intake forecasts for Nigeria, combined with expected reduced industrial
use in China, have resulted in a 1.5 million tonne cut in the forecast for
world rice utilisation in 2019-20. Despite the
revision, world rice total use would still exceed the 2018-19 record by 0.7%,
largely on the back of an expansion in food intake in Asia.
FAO’s
estimate for 2019 world cereal production still stands at around 2 720 million
tonne, rebounding from the reduced 2018 level by 65.3 million tonne (2.5 %),
mostly on increases in wheat, maize, and barley outputs.
FAO’s
forecast for world cereal stocks by the close of the 2020 seasons has been
revised upwards by 22.6 million tonne to 884 million tonne, now pointing to a
likely increase of 13.6 million tonne (1.6 %) from their opening levels and a
global cereals stocks-to-use ratio of 31.6 %, up from 30.7 % published last
month.
The
anticipated Covid-19 induced contraction in industrial and feed uses could push
US maize stocks to a record 62 million tonne, which would be 5.6 million tonne
(10%) above their opening levels.
World
wheat inventories are still forecast to remain above their opening level, by 1
million tonne (0.4%), as downward revisions in the European Union are offset by
predicted increases in the Russian Federation and Turkey.
World
rice stocks are expected to approach an all-time high of 183 million tonnes.
India is foreseen to account for much of the anticipated rise in the major rice
exporters’ inventories in 2019-20, compensating for expected drawdowns in the
US and Vietnam, as well as in Bangladesh, China, Indonesia and Nigeria.
Rome-based FAO’s forecast for 2020 world
wheat production points to an output of roughly 762.6 million tonnes, a
comparable level to the 2019 production which, if materialized, would be the
second highest on record. Smaller harvests are expected in the European Union,
North Africa, Ukraine and the US. These declines will likely be compensated by
production rebounds foreseen in Australia and Kazakhstan as well as bigger
harvests in the Russian Federation and several countries in Asia, in particular
India.
PH to import 300,000 MT of rice
By: Karl R. Ocampo -
Reporter / @kocampoINQ
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 04:52 AM May 12, 2020
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine
government will now push through with its plan to import 300,000 metric tons
(MT) of rice from Vietnam after the Vietnamese government decided to finally
resume exporting rice to Asean countries to maintain adequate food supply in
the region amid the new coronavirus pandemic.
The volume is on top of the 2.7 million MT
of rice approved by the Bureau of Plant Industry this year, bringing the
expected volume of rice imports to 3 million MT.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Department of Agriculture’s (DA) pronouncement
came just after weeks of assuring consumers that the country had enough rice
supply. The DA projected last month a 94-day buffer stock by yearend.
Since the National Food Authority can no
longer import rice under the rice tariffication law, Agriculture Secretary
William Dar said the government-to-government importation would be undertaken
by the Philippine International Trading Corp. under the Department of Trade and
Industry.
Gov’t allots P313.5-M to boost rice
output in E. Visayas
By Gerico Sabalza May 12, 2020, 5:42 pm
HIGHER YIELD. A rice farm in Pagsang-an village Abuyog, Leyte. The
Department of Agriculture on Tuesday (May 12, 2020) said the national government
allocated PHP313.5-million to increase the rice production in Eastern Visayas
amid the global health crisis. (PNA photo by Gerico A. Sabalza)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department
of Agriculture (DA) is allocating PHP313.5-million to increase rice production
in Eastern Visayas.
This is part of the
national government’s PHP8.5-billion Rice Resiliency Project (RRP) to ensure
food sufficiency amid the coronavirus pandemic by boosting domestic production
of rice, DA Eastern Visayas director Angel Enriquez said Tuesday in a
statement.
“From this, we will be
starting the distribution of hybrid seeds and fertilizer in time for the onset
of planting season in some areas in Northern Samar and Biliran,” she added.
The RRP will cover a
total of 112,035 farmers in the region through its three component
sub-projects.
A total of 139,249 bags
of inorganic fertilizers worth PHP139.2-million will be distributed under the
Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund (RCEF) that will complement the inbred seeds
of the Philippine Rice Research Institute involving 69,625 hectares of rice
areas in the region.
Those farmers excluded
in the RCEF will be supported through the Expanded Inbred Rice Production
subproject, with a corresponding target of 9,565 hectares for certified seeds
and 9,603 for good seeds.
Under the Expanded
Hybrid Rice Production subproject, at least 10,820 bags of hybrid seeds and
67,320 bags of inorganic fertilizer will be distributed.
This is on top of the
11,620 hybrid seeds under the regular hybridization program implemented in the
region that will cover a total of 22,440 hectares of rice areas.
“We should not rely on
other countries for our rice requirements because there are indications that
Thailand and other Asian countries may not be able to export their rice as they
need to secure first their own domestic food requirements,” Enriquez said.
The RRP is part of the
PHP31-billion supplemental budget of the national government to bankroll the
Plant, Plant, Plant Program or Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) Covid-19
program.
This aims to increase
the country’s rice production by December 2020 by reaching 22.12 million metric
times (MMT) of palay equivalent to 13.51 MMT of rice or 93 percent of the
country’s total demand at 14.46 MMT. (PNA)
Rice farmers in parts of Philippines get cash subsidies
Philippine Information Agency
12th May 2020, 18:38 GMT+10
12th May 2020, 18:38 GMT+10
CITY
OF TABUK, Kalinga, Philippines, May 12 (PIA) - The Department of Agriculture in
partnership with local government units and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP)
is distributing a P5, 000 cash subsidy to rice farmers tiling one hectare or
less in three municipalities and Tabukm to help augment their needs.
Provincial
Agriculturist Engr. Domingo Bakilan said the province is now on its second
release through LBP cash card.
"More
than 1,200 farmers that composed the second batch of recipients received today
the assistance under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) of the
Department of Agriculture", he said Tuesday.
The
first release was received by the first batch of 614 farmers.
He
said the municipalities covered under this program are Rizal, Pinukpuk, Tanudan
and Tabuk City. "The remaining beneficiaries will receive the same subsidy,
maybe to reach five batches," Bakilan said.
Aimed
to help farmers affected by the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law,
7,847 rice farmers from the four covered areas are eligible to receive the
assistance based on the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture, said
Fevelyn Apil Macadaeg of DA-CAR-RFO.
Aside
from RFFA, she said the Department of Agriculture will continue helping small
rice farmers boost their productivity and increase their income through the
department's other major programs such as the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement
Fund, the SURE Aid loan assistance program, and continuous palay-buying through
the National Food Authority. (JDP/PAB-PIA CAR, Kalinga)
Easing of curbs: Mandi arrivals pick up, but harvesting hit by labour shortage
Published:
April 20, 2020 5:50:54 AM
Truck drivers, traders, retailers, transporters and other stakeholders, who were facing problems in inter-state movement of any commodities, have been asked to seek help from the call centre.
As on April 16, daily arrivals of rabi crops such as wheat, paddy,
masur, chana and mustard have been much below the levels a year ago.
By Prabhudatta Mishra
Daily arrivals of rabi crops have suddenly
improved over the past week – one-to-four times for wheat, masur, chana and
mustard and 10 times in the case of barley – after mandis across the country
reopened on April 15. However, more steps may be required to bring normalcy
into the agriculture supply chains as the arrivals are still 23-90% lower than
the year-ago levels (see chart).
“In
some places where harvesting is already done, farmers are not ready to bring
their crops to mandis due to the fear of getting infected by coronavirus. In
many other places, harvesting is yet to be in full steam, due to various
restrictions and non-availability or shortage of labour,” said a government
official. The easing of restrictions on the agriculture sector has shown some
results, but return to normalcy will take time, he said.
As
on April 16, daily arrivals of rabi crops such as wheat, paddy, masur, chana
and mustard have been much below the levels a year ago, even as record harvest
is expected of most of them. Only the arrivals of maize, largely grown in
Bihar, are above last year’s level.
“There
are no combine harvesters (machines) available for wheat. Without labour, it is
very difficult to harvest this key rabi crop,” said Anil Singh, a farmer in Mitai
village near Hathras. Many other farmers in the village too are waiting for the
arrivals of harvesters to do the cutting, he said.
Though
the government had relaxed the movement of combine harvesters during the
lockdown period as early as on March 25, the actual movement of these machines
haven’t started in most places yet as the police blocked inter-state movements
and the drivers haven’t reported for duty. The home ministry on April 4 allowed
the opening of “shops of agricultural machinery, its spare parts (including its
supply chain) and repairs and shops for truck repairs on highways, preferably
at fuel pumps, can remain open in order to facilitate transportation of farm
produce”.
“As
the lockdown was initially announced without any comprehensive plan, all sorts
of problems came out. While in many places, the police stopped farmers from
harvesting crops, trading of grains and oilseeds in mandis remained closed.
Only some quantity of fruits and vegetables were allowed,” said Sudhir Panwar,
president of Kisan Jagriti Manch. The phase-wise relaxations for the
agriculture sector proved that the government was not prepared, not even aware
of what was required, Panwar said.
On
April 15, the Centre launched a call centre to facilitate transportation of
agriculture produce for inter-state movement of perishables like fruits and
vegetables as also inputs like seeds, pesticides and fertilisers. Truck
drivers, traders, retailers, transporters and other stakeholders, who were
facing problems in inter-state movement of any commodities, have been asked to
seek help from the call centre.
Of
course, the farmer distress due to these steps have got partially addressed by
way of assorted sops delivered to them. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman
Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme, some `16,930 crore have been disbursed to nearly 8.5
crore farmers via the direct benefit transfer (DBT) route since March 24.
Railways have also introduced 67 new routes for running 236 parcel specials to
supply essential commodities, including perishable horticultural produce,
agricultural inputs like seed, fertiliser and pesticides, milk and dairy
products at fast speed which will facilitate FPOs/traders and companies for
continuity of supply chain across the country.
However, a plan to allow farmers trade outside
mandis through the e-NAM portal from the premises of warehouses and FPOs is yet
to be implemented. Panwar said such initiatives have to be publicised at a wide
scale so that farmers know there are options available outside mandis where they
can sell.
PhilRice warns farmers
vs. rice plant viruses
Updated May 12,
2020, 8:58 AM
By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
Farmers should watch out for certain types of
viruses that may infect rice plants, as there is no known treatment as yet to
some of these viruses, according to an expert of the Philippine Rice Research
Institute (PhilRice).
(PIXABAY / MANILA
BULLETIN)
Plant pathologist Jennifer Niones of the
Department of Agriculture’s PhilRice cited four types of viruses — namely,
tungro, dwarf, grassy stunt, and ragged stunt — which farmers must guard
against to minimize significant yield losses.
Tungro virus is an extremely damaging rice
disease occurring in South and Southeast Asia that leads to 70-100 percent
yield loss. Rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV) and rice tungro spherical
virus (RTSV) cause this disease, Niones said.
As infected plants cannot be treated, farmers
must consider preventive measures especially if their area had past incidences
of tungro infestation, she said.
Dwarf virus, which was first observed in the
rice fields of Midsayap, Cotabato, could reduce yield by 50 to 80 percent,
especially when it strikes down at vegetative stage. Infected plants show
pronounced stunting, increased tillering, and shortened darker green
leaves with fine chlorotic specks,
Niones said.
She noted that the spread of dwarf virus could
be prevented through plowing of the fallowed rice field and synchronous
planting.
She added that applying insecticide to rice
seedlings before transplanting could also be an option, while areas infected
during the previous cropping season should be immediately plowed.
The grassy stunt virus could cause stunting
and yellowing of the plant. This virus is commonly spread by nymph and adult
brown plant hopper.
Ghana's Rice Farmers Might Benefit From COVID Pandemic
By
Stacey Knott
May 12,
2020 02:26 PM
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.
Lack
of WTO Appeals Process May Invite Rice Trade Violations
BRUSSELS,
BELGIUM -- When a country believes another is violating its trade commitments,
it can take the issue to the World Trade Organization (WTO), that provides a
neutral forum to litigate and settle disputes. These disputes are
reviewed by panels of experts, who make recommendations to the WTO's Dispute
Settlement Body. If a country that's party to the dispute disagrees with
the panel, they can go to an appeals process, managed by the Appellate Body.
The U.S. has raised concerns with certain Appellate Body rulings and practices, and in an attempt to force change, the U.S. began blocking confirmations for Appellate Body members in 2017. As of December 2019, the Body had too few members to function and hear new appeals. However, member countries still have the right to appeal panel recommendations under WTO rules, so at this point any request to appeal effectively kills a dispute without a conclusion.
And now it seems the strategy may have backfired. In March, the European Union, Canada, China, and Mexico, along with 12 other WTO member countries joined together here to announce the formation of the "Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement" or MPIA for short. This new arrangement is just government jargon for "parallel appeals process without the U.S." Last month, the total members jumped to 19 and is likely to continue growing.
Why does this wonky international trade drama matter for U.S. rice? It is no secret that rice, as the world's most widely consumed grain, is also one of the world's most manipulated crops. With widespread reliance on rice comes government efforts to ensure adequate supply, often through incentives to farmers to plant rice and subsidies that guarantee profitability or encourage exports. Nearly every government provides some form of support for their rice farmers to make sure their industry stays afloat, and in many cases, these safety nets are legal under WTO rules, but in many cases, they are not.
USA Rice has never been shy about leveling the playing field when it comes to trade, the U.S. rice industry can be competitive on many levels if everyone played by the rules. After many years of calling on the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to "throw the flag" on the bad actors, they picked China and won at the WTO. Twice. Those important wins were just the start of building cases against leading rice exporters that have achieved their dominance by providing levels of support that violate WTO rules.
"The U.S. rice industry has clearly been hurt by WTO-inconsistent and trade-distorting policies in other rice-producing countries," said Ben Conner, partner at DTB Associates and USA Rice trade consultant. "India, China, Thailand, Bangladesh, Brazil, and others all come to mind when we think about rice export subsidies, heavy input subsidies, price support schemes, and other practices that drive overproduction and exports, while limiting market opportunities for U.S. producers."
Conner added that, "U.S. agriculture depends on a predictable and binding international dispute settlement system. The U.S. Trade Representative has identified some legitimate problems with the Appellate Body but convinced virtually no one that its goal is not a permanently crippled appeals system. New cases will still be possible and important, but until the appeals problem is fixed there will be the risk that these cases cannot conclude, and trade violations will continue to fester."
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, rice-producing countries are scrambling to shore-up stocks and instituting new and questionable policies, making the time ripe for trade distorting WTO violations.
The U.S. has raised concerns with certain Appellate Body rulings and practices, and in an attempt to force change, the U.S. began blocking confirmations for Appellate Body members in 2017. As of December 2019, the Body had too few members to function and hear new appeals. However, member countries still have the right to appeal panel recommendations under WTO rules, so at this point any request to appeal effectively kills a dispute without a conclusion.
And now it seems the strategy may have backfired. In March, the European Union, Canada, China, and Mexico, along with 12 other WTO member countries joined together here to announce the formation of the "Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement" or MPIA for short. This new arrangement is just government jargon for "parallel appeals process without the U.S." Last month, the total members jumped to 19 and is likely to continue growing.
Why does this wonky international trade drama matter for U.S. rice? It is no secret that rice, as the world's most widely consumed grain, is also one of the world's most manipulated crops. With widespread reliance on rice comes government efforts to ensure adequate supply, often through incentives to farmers to plant rice and subsidies that guarantee profitability or encourage exports. Nearly every government provides some form of support for their rice farmers to make sure their industry stays afloat, and in many cases, these safety nets are legal under WTO rules, but in many cases, they are not.
USA Rice has never been shy about leveling the playing field when it comes to trade, the U.S. rice industry can be competitive on many levels if everyone played by the rules. After many years of calling on the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to "throw the flag" on the bad actors, they picked China and won at the WTO. Twice. Those important wins were just the start of building cases against leading rice exporters that have achieved their dominance by providing levels of support that violate WTO rules.
"The U.S. rice industry has clearly been hurt by WTO-inconsistent and trade-distorting policies in other rice-producing countries," said Ben Conner, partner at DTB Associates and USA Rice trade consultant. "India, China, Thailand, Bangladesh, Brazil, and others all come to mind when we think about rice export subsidies, heavy input subsidies, price support schemes, and other practices that drive overproduction and exports, while limiting market opportunities for U.S. producers."
Conner added that, "U.S. agriculture depends on a predictable and binding international dispute settlement system. The U.S. Trade Representative has identified some legitimate problems with the Appellate Body but convinced virtually no one that its goal is not a permanently crippled appeals system. New cases will still be possible and important, but until the appeals problem is fixed there will be the risk that these cases cannot conclude, and trade violations will continue to fester."
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, rice-producing countries are scrambling to shore-up stocks and instituting new and questionable policies, making the time ripe for trade distorting WTO violations.
USA Rice
Daily
WASDE Report
Released
WASHINGTON, DC -- For the 2019/20 market year, exports are reduced 1 million cwt to 98 million and the all rice season-average farm price (SAFP) is lowered $0.20 per cwt to $13.00. The 2020/21 outlook for U.S. rice is for larger supplies, exports, domestic use, and ending stocks. U.S. 2020/21 all rice production is projected at 216.2 million cwt, up 17 percent from the previous year. Partly offsetting the increased 2020/21 crop is a 32 percent decrease in beginning stocks. The total 2020/21 rice supply is projected at 279.3 million cwt, up 7 percent from last year. U.S. 2020/21 total use is projected at 237.5 million cwt, up 3 percent from the previous year with both domestic and residual use and exports higher. All rice ending stocks for 2020/21 are projected at 41.8 million cwt, up 37 percent from the previous year's low level. The 2020/21 SAFP is projected at $12.90 per cwt, down $0.10 from the 2019/20 revised SAFP.
World production for 2020/21 is projected at 502.0 million tons, a record, and up nearly 2 percent from the previous year. Thailand and China lead production increases with crops raised 2.4 million tons and 2.3 million tons, respectively. The largest production declines are for the Philippines and Brazil. Global rice consumption is projected at a record-large 498.1 million tons, up 7.9 million from the previous year. Global exports for 2020/21 are projected at 45.2 million tons, up 2.8 million tons from the previous year. With supplies rising more than use, global 2020/21 ending stocks are a record- large 184.2 million tons with China and India respectively holding 64 and 21 percent.
Go here to read the full report.
DA probes reports of ‘foul-smelling’ NFA rice stocks
By:
Neil Arwin
Mercado - Reporter / @NAMercadoINQ
INQUIRER.net /
10:44 AM May 13, 2020
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) will investigate
reported cases of old or foul-smelling rice stock from the National Food
Authority (NFA), as the government tries to ensure food security amid
the coronavirus pandemic.During the online hearing of the House committee on agriculture and food, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said he will look into the allegations voiced by Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrellita Suansing, drawing from her personal experience in distributing rice subsidy for her constituents.
According to Suansing, they opted to buy rice from rice millers after receiving reports from their constituents about the off smell of NFA rice.
“I am sorry to tell you Secretary Dar, it’s from NFA. Kasi po kami ay namigay ng bigas (we distributed rice), I am supposed to buy from NFA—limited to 100 sacks so we opted to buy sa (from) rice millers at P1,850,” Suansing said.
“Mr. Chair, I would like to request Secretary Dar to do investigation. This is what is happening in the field,” she added.
This was backed by Quezon 1st District Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, who chairs the committee, and Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr.
“With the indulgence of the honorable Suansing, Secretary, I had the same predicament also. ‘Yung naranasan po namin but it was part of the first batch, so siguro around March or April, first week (Our experience was part of the first batch of distribution around March or first week of April),” Enverga said.
“‘Yun yung mga may ganung cases na may amoy yung NFA rice. But succeeding stocks were okay naman (There were similar cases with regard to smelly NFA rice but succeeding stocks were okay),” he added.
Dar said that NFA has stopped importing rice and that rice are bought from local farmers.
“Give us the details as an entry point kasi diba ang NFA hindi na po nag-import ng bigas. Lahat po ay binili dito sa local o domestic and dapat kung maganda ang warehousing nila, walang problema sa amoy,” Dar said.
(Give us the details as an entry point because NFA is no longer importing rice. All rice were bought locally so if their warehousing is okay, there should be no problem with the smell.)
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Suansing, however, said that the reported smelly rice were “Thai rice” that
were previously imported by the government, to which Dar vowed to conduct an
investigation.“Gusto po naming imbestigahan yun (We want to investigate it),” he claimed.
Meanwhile, Dar said they will work with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in controlling the price of rice.
“Mayroon tayong (We have a ) price freeze, actually ongoing, ire-revisit namin yun at (we will revisit that and) we will do what is possible,” Dar said.
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1,900mts rice being
produced every day at BSCIC industrial areas: Ministry
- UNB News
- Dhaka
- Publish- May 12, 2020, 06:48 PM
Bangladesh Small and Cottage
Industries Corporation (BSCIC) across the country has been producing 1,900
metric tonnes rice every day.
Rice mills at thirteen BSCIC
industrial areas among 76 across the country are producing rice in the country
to keep the market stable, said a press release from the Ministry.
Among those, Pabna BSCIC industrial
area is producing 600mts rice, Rajshahi 550mts, Dinajpur 400mts, Naogaon
120mts, Khulna 103mts, Kurigram, 27mts, Cox’s Bazar 25mts, Jamalpur 23mts,
Gaibandha 20mts, Sherpur 18mts, Rajbari 9mts, Gopalganj 3mts tonnes and
Bagerhat BSCIC is producing two metric tonnes of rice every day after
maintaining health directives.
Md Kamal Parvez, officer, Pabna
BSCIC industrial area, said 39 rice mills are producing 600mts rice worth Tk
2.76 crore are being produced every day.
Meanwhile, Tunnel Vitamin rice in
Khulna, rice production for Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF), World Food
Programme, Food Friend Programme, and government’s relief programme is ongoing.
Sheikh Riazul Islam, officer, Khulna
BSCIC industrial area, said rice from this industrial area is being provided in
30 district including Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat and Jashore.
Mohammad Ataur Rahman, president,
Naogaon BSCIC Industries Malik Samity, said the Boro paddy collection is
ongoing. The production will be increased when the collection is completed, he
added.
Md Anwarul Azim, officer, Naogaon
BSCIC Industrial area, said the government will procure rice from all the BSCIC
industrial areas of the country and a contact is already signed with rice mill
owners in this regard.
Rice mills at BSCIC industrial areas
have been contributing significantly during this coronavirus crisis.
Earlier on April 30, the government
announced that it will procure 11.5 lakh metric tonnes of rice (boiled and
non-boiled) and eight lakh metric tonnes of paddy during the current Boro
season.
Besides, some 10 lakh metric tonnes
of boiled rice will be procured at Tk 36 per kg, 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of
non-boiled (atap) rice at Tk 35 per kg and six lakh metric tonnes of paddy at
Tk 26 per kg from millers.
Meanwhile, the government will also
procure 75,000 metric tonnes of wheat from local markets in the season.
Telangana to regulate farming
Rythu Bandhu to only those who cultivate crops suggested by govt; regulated paddy farming from this monsoon
By Author | Published: 13th May 2020 1:02
amUpdated: 13th May 2020 1:24
am
As a first step towards the regulated farming, the Chief Minister said the government decided to take up paddy cultivation in about 50 lakh acres in the State commencing from this Vaanakalam season. Besides cultivating both fine and coarse varieties of paddy, Telangana Sona variety alone would be cultivated in about 10 lakh acres. It was also decided to cultivate cotton in 50 lakh acres and red gram in 10 lakh acres. The government would guide farmers on what crops should be cultivated in which area and to what extent. The State government would extend Rythu Bandhu benefits and ensure MSP only to farmers who follow the directions of the State government, Rao said.
The decisions were taken at a high-level meeting held by the Chief Minister at Pragathi Bhavan on crop colonies and cultivation of alternative crops. The Chief Minister would hold a video conference with field-level officers to discuss the issues in this regard on May 15.
The State government also decided to promote the cultivation of vegetables in farmlands near urban areas. Farmers would be guided on varieties of vegetables to be cultivated based on location and extent of area.
New Seed Regulatory Authority
The government also decided to set up a new Seed Regulatory Authority in the State that will ensure only seeds of crops identified by the government are sold. Seed producers and traders would also be instructed to strictly adhere to the State government guidelines in this regard. If required, the State government would bring about necessary amendments in the existing Telangana Seeds Act. Chandrashekhar Rao would soon hold an exclusive meeting with the representatives of seed companies in this regard.
Action against spurious seeds
Taking further steps to protect farmers, the State government decided to act stringently against those selling spurious and fake seeds. Observing that spurious seeds of cotton and red chilli were likely to enter the market, the Chief Minister directed flying squads to conduct surprise checks across the State commencing Wednesday. The Intelligence Wing would also keep surveillance on such cases. Cases would be registered under the Preventive Detention Act against those involved in the production and sale of spurious seeds.
Comprehensive Agriculture Policy
In tune with the new Comprehensive Agriculture Policy, both the Agriculture and Marketing Departments will be revamped. While Prof Jayashankar Telangana State Agriculture University will conduct more research on the required crops for cultivation in the State, the Rythu Bandhu Samithis will actively coordinate with the farmers on all agricultural issues. Apart from simplifying maintenance of godowns in the State, the government will also take measures to increase the capacity of rice mills in the State. The Chief Minister will soon hold a meeting with the representatives of the Rice Millers Association in this regard.
Video-conference with field-level officials
Further, Chandrashekhar Rao will convene a video conference with the field-level officials on May 15 and discuss the proposed regulated cultivation in the State to seek their suggestions. District Collectors, District Agriculture Officers, District Rythu Bandhu Samithi chairperson, Seed Development Corporation Officer and other district-level officers, besides mandal-level officers comprising Mandal Agriculture Officer and Agriculture Extension Officers, along with Rythu Bandhu Samithi chairpersons from mandal and village levels, will participate in the meeting.
Earlier, the Chief Minister observed that agriculture continues to be a major livelihood for a majority of citizens in the State as well as the country. While farmers were not getting remunerative price for their crop, he stated that people were shelling out huge amounts to purchase essential commodities. He emphasised the need to rethink and come up with a new strategy to make agriculture profitable for farmers.
“Unfortunately, none of the political parties which led the previous governments in India made no focussed attempts to bring agricultural reforms. But the Telangana government has been making numerous efforts to improve the conditions. Besides resolving all pending problems, we are bringing reforms to change the entire manner in which cultivation was taken up earlier,” he said. He pointed out that the State government had overcome power crisis and constructed several irrigation projects, besides purchasing the entire crop for Yasangi season during the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.
Chandrashekhar Rao reiterated that there was no other option but promote alternative crops through crop colonies to ensure the survival of farmers in the country. He attributed the lack of remunerative price for crops to cultivation of the same crop by all farmers without prior planning. “Farmers must cultivate crops to meet market demand. I have been suggesting this for the past 20 years to different national leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Radhamohan Singh, but none acted on it. It’s high time we took the leap,”
he added. He wanted Telangana to become a role model in crop colonies for the entire world.
The Chief Minister said farmers cannot cultivate the same crop en masse and dump it in the market seeking a remunerative price. Instead, he wanted them to cultivate crops as per the market demand and reap profits. “The State government will guide farmers in choosing the crop to meet the market demand and accordingly, they should cultivate only these crops. Farmers must change their mindset and be prepared for constructive reforms in agriculture,” he added.
________________________________________
Study finds only 2pc farmers benefit from govt's direct grain purchase programme
Special
Correspondent
File Photo
Only two percent farmers are getting the benefit
of the government's direct food grain procurement programme, says a survey
report on Boro farmers. The Bangladesh government has decided to procure 19.5
lakh tonnes of Boro paddy and rice — both boiled and non-boiled — from farmers
to ensure fair price of food grains.
Most of the public money is pocketed by the
country's rice mill owners and middlemen (popularly known as fariah) due to
lack of proper monitoring in the government's procurement policy.
As a result, the businessmen are benefitting
instead of the country's farmers, according to a survey report prepared by the
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Policy Research and
Strategy Support Program (PRSSP).
The study titled 'Boro Rice Procurement in
Bangladesh: Implications for Policy' was conducted with the consent of the
Ministry of Agriculture and financial support of the US Agency for
International Development (USAID).
The main objectives of the study was to—assess to
what extent Boro farmers were able to sell their paddy to the government at the
announced procurement prices; evaluate the efficacy of the direct paddy
procurement from farmers by the government, in order to help farmers overcome
low paddy prices in the future; and examine ways to improve the foodgrain
procurement system. This report presents IFPRI’s study findings and identifies
policy options to address the study objectives.
IFPRI Country Director Akhter U. Ahmed and its
Associate Research Fellow of Poverty, Health and Nutrition Division M. Mehrab
Bakhtiar made the study report after consulting with around 1,400 people of 43
highest Boro growing districts of the country.
While talking to The Independent, Akhter U. Ahmed
said they had submitted the study report to the ministries of agriculture and
food last Sunday.
"The high officials concerned have assured
us of taking necessary measures in this regard," he added.
Akhter U. Ahmed said the report also suggested
that the government should buy 31 lakh tonnes of paddy directly from the
farmers instead of buying rice from the millers.
"If the government buys paddy directly from
the farmers they will get its benefit," he said adding that it would also
help the government to ensure fair price of paddy during the harvest period.
When contacted, Food Ministry's Secretary Dr
Nazmanara Khanum told this correspondent that they had received the study
report of the IFPRI, an international agency.
“We are planning to analyze the report and take
necessary measures in this regard. However, we will need the consent of the
country's Food Planning and Monitoring Committee (FPMC)," she said.
The recommendation of the study will then be
placed before the committee for its approvals, she added.
She also informed that they had already taken
measures to buy paddy directly from the farmers.
"Earlier the government bought rice from the
rice millers. Now, the Food Ministry is buying 8 lakh tonnes of paddy directly
from the farmers to ensure fair price. If it's viable the government must
consider it," she said.
Boro paddy, a dry season irrigated crop, is
planted from December to early February and harvested between April and May.
In 2018-19, the total production of rice in
country was 3.64 crore tonnes, of which Boro rice accounted for 53.8 percent,
Aman 38.6 percent and Aus only 7.6 percent.
In 2019, paddy price in Bangladesh dropped due to
a bumper harvest of Boro. Average paddy price was only Tk 17.42 per kg in
January 2019 after Aman harvest but declined by 22 percent to Tk13.56 per kg in
May 2019, according to Department of Agriculture Marketing (DAM 2020) report.
Farmers complained that they did not receive
price support from the government, when paddy prices did not cover their
production costs.
While the farmers were not getting Boro production
costs, the Directorate General of Food (DGF) bought rice from its enlisted rice
millers following the allotment in districts and upazilas on their paddy
production, rice mill capacity, and target of procurement.
On April 25, 2019, the DGF instructed the
District Controllers of Food (DC Food) to procure 1.5 lakh tonnes of paddy from
farmers, 10 lakh tonnes of parboiled rice and 1.5 tonnes of atap (non-boiled)
rice from rice millers before 31 August 2019.
The prices were set at Tk 26 per kg for paddy, Tk
36 per kg for parboiled rice and Tk 35 per kg for atap rice.
Rice sector looks to up exports
Thou Vireak | Publication date 12 May 2020 | 22:45 ICT
The
government and the private sector are jointly studying the feasibility of
lowering paddy production costs and refining milled rice export plans to increase
the competitiveness of Cambodia’s market. POST STAFF
The government and the private sector are jointly studying the feasibility
of lowering paddy production costs and refining milled rice export plans to
increase the competitiveness of Cambodia’s market.Ministry of Commerce secretary of state Sok Sopheak on Monday said ongoing discussions are aimed at identifying the challenges and giving the Kingdom’s rice sector a competitive edge.
He was speaking at a meeting on rice production costs with representatives from the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) and the Cambodian Agricultural Value Chain Program.
“[The discussion] analyses the value chain of the rice sector, from farming, drying and milling processes until the export stage, as well as the shipping documentation process for exports to target countries in Europe and [elsewhere],” said Sopheak.
He said the stakeholders discussed the impact on the export value of Cambodian mill rice, including electricity issues, transport from warehouse to port, port costs, and shipping costs from ports to import destinations countries.
At the same time, he encouraged the private sector to continue to work with the ministry to address the challenges in the rice sector, he said.
CRF vice-president Chan Sokheang told The Post on Tuesday that the study aims to boost competition with major rice producers in the ASEAN region and promote the goal of one million tonnes of rice exports by 2022.
“We have a general overview of local production costs, focusing on Phka Romduol paddy, Sen Kra’op paddy, and white rice.
“We discussed this in order to bring the production value chains between Cambodia and our neighbours to similar levels, especially as we want to further increase Cambodia’s white rice exports,” he said.
At the same time, he called on the government to boost financial assistance to enable rice millers to buy and store paddy rice to process for export.
“We would like to request that the government, the National Bank of Cambodia and commercial banks provide loans to the agricultural sector because it contributes nearly $10 billion per year to the economy.
“But the loans that the banks offer to the agricultural sector are miniscule compared to what they provide for the industrial, garment and construction sectors,” said Sokheang.
Cambodia exported 300,252 tonnes of rice to the international market in the first four months of this year – equivalent to $210 million – the highest export volume in the past decade, said a CRF report.
The export volume is 40.46 per cent over the 213,763 tonnes reported in the same period last year, it said.
China accounted for 41 per cent of exports or 122,094 tonnes, the EU and the UK 32 per cent or 97,337 tonnes, ASEAN countries 13 per cent or 37,428 tonnes and other countries 14 per cent or 43,339 tonnes.
The Kingdom’s rice exports to international markets amounted to 620,106 tonnes last year, slightly down 0.97 per cent from 626,225 tonnes in 2018. Revenue was $501 million, down 4.3 per cent from $524 million in 2018.
PHL opens G2G rice importation round with Asean states, India
Workers unload tons of rice to be distributed to
Quezon City barangays affected by the COVID-19 lockdown. (NONOY LACZA)
In a statement on Monday, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said the PITC “has officially opened” the G2G importation, which seeks to boost domestic supplies during the lean months, or when harvest is minimal.
The PITC, the country’s trading firm, is an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry.
“The PITC has already sent communications to Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, India and Cambodia,” Dar said.
The government also welcomed Vietnam’s recent decision to resume its rice exports to keep food supply stable in the Asean region and help its neighbors cope with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We welcome the decision by Vietnam to resume its rice export policy and taking into account the difficulties faced by various stakeholders during this crisis,” Dar said.
Citing a letter of Vietnam’s Trade Minister Tan Tuan Anh to Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, Dar said Vietnam will resume the shipment of 400,000 MT of rice that were contracted in April to the Philippines.
“Indeed, Vietnam is making a valuable contribution in strengthening Asean cooperation and internal unity. We need to keep the regional market open for trade and ensure the sustainability of the supply chain among Asean member-states, especially for food and other essential goods,” Dar said.
“This means that Vietnamese rice exporters will commence the fulfillment of their contracts with Philippine importers, and consider future supply deals under an existing bilateral trade agreement,” Dar added.
The Philippines has imported over 700,000 MT of rice from January to April, with private traders and corporations cornering bulk of the volume, latest Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) data showed.
About 139 eligible rice importers—of which 86 are private traders, corporations and firms—brought in 728,979.07 MT of rice during the four-month period, latest BPI data analyzed by the BusinessMirror showed.
The rice imports were sourced from Cambodia, India, Italy, Myanmar, Pakistan, Spain, Thailand and Vietnam, BPI data showed.
The 86 private traders imported about 60 percent or 442,998.38 MT of the total volume, with Sodatrade Corp. leading the list with a total volume imported of 34,759.5 MT.
The rest, or 285,981 MT of rice, was imported by cooperatives and associations, mostly led by farmers, BPI data showed.
Only a little over a quarter was imported by all eligible importers out of the 2.702 MMT approved volume by the government. Due to this, around 1.973 MMT of rice is still expected to arrive this year, BPI data indicated.
Vietnam accounted for 86.76 percent or about 632,482.85 MT of the total imports from January to April, BPI data showed.
The DA has been urging the private sector to continuously apply for SPS-IC and bring in rice shipments to ensure that the country has sufficient stockpile during and beyond the enhanced community quarantine amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
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.
Smugglers machete Customs officer over
seized rice
On May 13, 20209:37 amIn Business,
News Kindly Share T
his Story: Facebook Twitter Email
WhatsApp Pinterest Share By Godwin Oritse Smugglers machete Nigeria Customs
Service OPERATIVES of the Ogun I Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS,
patrol team on surveillance were last week attacked by smugglers who matcheted
a member of the team after it seized 35 bags of 50kg of smuggled parboiled rice
at Ilashe village in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State. A statement
signed by the Command’s Public Relation Officer, Maiwada Abdullahi, said that
during the operation, the team intercepted 35 bags of 50kg rice each ferried by
a convoy of motorcyclists (popularly known as okada). READ ALSO:Rivers Police
rescue Nollywood actor from kidnappers’ den in Rivers According to Abdullahi,
on their way out of the area, the smugglers mobilised themselves in an
overwhelming number, launching a vicious attack on the team with assorted
weapons. In an effort to repel the attack and avoid bloodshed, one officer of
the Customs, Assistant Superintendent Chidi Johnson, was brutally matcheted,
sustaining deep cuts in various parts of his body. The wounded officer was
immediately rushed to the hospital for medical attention, and luckily he is
responding to treatment. Abdullahi stated that the operatives, however,
arrested five suspects in connection with the incident and that these suspects
were currently undergoing interrogation. The Command’s spokeman said: “It is
instructive to note that Friday, May 8, was a date set aside for total lockdown
in Ogun State due to the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic. We find it unfortunate
and strange, that the daredevil smugglers who have no regards for laws of the
land or the disease ravaging the global community resorted to crossing the
border through illegal routes to perpetrate such nefarious activites in total
disregard of the health and economic well being of Nigerians. “Principally, we
seize this opportunity to enjoin the faceless unpatriotic smuggling cartels to
stop using uninformed youths as cannon fodders in their nefarious trade. We
challenge them to bring their own biological children to attack personnel of
the service and have a taste of the consequences of such act.”
Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/05/smugglers-machete-customs-officer-over-seized-rice/
Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/05/smugglers-machete-customs-officer-over-seized-rice/
Basmati export down due to shortage of cargo containers
“The demand for basmati rice increases during April - June in the Middle East countries due to Ramadan. Generally, 4-4.5 lakh tonnes of basmati rice is exported monthly during this period. But now it has halved to 2 lakh tonnes due to non-availability of cargo containers,” Vinod Kaul, executive director of All India Rice Exporters Association, told ET.
By
, ET Bureau|
Last Updated: May 12, 2020, 11.21 AM IST
2Comments
Save
Exports of
basmati rice was halted for a week after the lockdown started on March 25.
KOLKATA: India’s basmati rice
exports have halved to 2 lakh tonnes per month on a shortage of cargo containers at the ports. The shortage of
containers comes at a time of ample demand from the Middle East countries. Basmati
rice exporters said there is a 50%-60% shortage in cargo containers
at ports, which slowed down movement of basmati rice from the country to export
destinations.
“The demand for basmati rice increases during April - June in the Middle East countries due to Ramadan. Generally, 4-4.5 lakh tonnes of basmati rice is exported monthly during this period. But now it has halved to 2 lakh tonnes due to non-availability of cargo containers,” Vinod Kaul, executive director of All India Rice Exporters Association, told ET.
Kaul said most basmati rice is exported through Mundra and Kandla ports in Gujarat. “Exports happen through other ports as well. Everywhere there is a shortage of containers as most of them used to come from China. Now that much imports are not happening from China, there is a shortage of containers.”
“Also, those who have imported goods have not been able to empty the containers due to shortage of labour,” said Gautam Miglani, owner of Haryana-based LRNK, a leading rice exporter. Exports of basmati rice was halted for a week after the lockdown started on March 25. Miglani said prices of container have shot up as there is scarcity in supply and demand is high.
“The demand for basmati rice increases during April - June in the Middle East countries due to Ramadan. Generally, 4-4.5 lakh tonnes of basmati rice is exported monthly during this period. But now it has halved to 2 lakh tonnes due to non-availability of cargo containers,” Vinod Kaul, executive director of All India Rice Exporters Association, told ET.
Kaul said most basmati rice is exported through Mundra and Kandla ports in Gujarat. “Exports happen through other ports as well. Everywhere there is a shortage of containers as most of them used to come from China. Now that much imports are not happening from China, there is a shortage of containers.”
“Also, those who have imported goods have not been able to empty the containers due to shortage of labour,” said Gautam Miglani, owner of Haryana-based LRNK, a leading rice exporter. Exports of basmati rice was halted for a week after the lockdown started on March 25. Miglani said prices of container have shot up as there is scarcity in supply and demand is high.
“Earlier, a 20 ft container to Dubai used to cost us Rs 62,000. Now the same container is being available at Rs 82,000, a 32% spike. The containers to European Union are costing us another Rs 30,000 more. But we cannot stop exports as we have entered into the contract and the letter of credits (LCs) have been opened,” he added.
Basmati export down due to shortage of cargo containers
“The demand for basmati rice increases during April - June in the Middle East countries due to Ramadan. Generally, 4-4.5 lakh tonnes of basmati rice is exported monthly during this period. But now it has halved to 2 lakh tonnes due to non-availability of cargo containers,” Vinod Kaul, executive director of All India Rice Exporters Association, told ET.
By
, ET Bureau|
Last Updated: May 12, 2020, 11.21 AM IST
0Comments
Exports of
basmati rice was halted for a week after the lockdown started on March 25.
KOLKATA: India’s basmati rice exports have halved to 2 lakh tonnes per month on
a shortage of cargo
containers at the ports. The shortage of containers comes at a time
of ample demand from the Middle East countries. Basmati rice exporters said there is a 50%-60% shortage
in cargo containers at ports, which slowed down movement of basmati rice from
the country to export destinations.
“The demand for basmati rice increases during April - June in the Middle East countries due to Ramadan. Generally, 4-4.5 lakh tonnes of basmati rice is exported monthly during this period. But now it has halved to 2 lakh tonnes due to non-availability of cargo containers,” Vinod Kaul, executive director of All India Rice Exporters Association, told ET.
Kaul said most basmati rice is exported through Mundra and Kandla ports in Gujarat. “Exports happen through other ports as well. Everywhere there is a shortage of containers as most of them used to come from China. Now that much imports are not happening from China, there is a shortage of containers.”
“Also, those who have imported goods have not been able to empty the containers due to shortage of labour,” said Gautam Miglani, owner of Haryana-based LRNK, a leading rice exporter. Exports of basmati rice was halted for a week after the lockdown started on March 25. Miglani said prices of container have shot up as there is scarcity in supply and demand is high.
“Earlier, a 20 ft container to Dubai used to cost us Rs 62,000. Now the same container is being available at Rs 82,000, a 32% spike. The containers to European Union are costing us another Rs 30,000 more. But we cannot stop exports as we have entered into the contract and the letter of credits (LCs) have been opened,” he added.
“The demand for basmati rice increases during April - June in the Middle East countries due to Ramadan. Generally, 4-4.5 lakh tonnes of basmati rice is exported monthly during this period. But now it has halved to 2 lakh tonnes due to non-availability of cargo containers,” Vinod Kaul, executive director of All India Rice Exporters Association, told ET.
Kaul said most basmati rice is exported through Mundra and Kandla ports in Gujarat. “Exports happen through other ports as well. Everywhere there is a shortage of containers as most of them used to come from China. Now that much imports are not happening from China, there is a shortage of containers.”
“Also, those who have imported goods have not been able to empty the containers due to shortage of labour,” said Gautam Miglani, owner of Haryana-based LRNK, a leading rice exporter. Exports of basmati rice was halted for a week after the lockdown started on March 25. Miglani said prices of container have shot up as there is scarcity in supply and demand is high.
“Earlier, a 20 ft container to Dubai used to cost us Rs 62,000. Now the same container is being available at Rs 82,000, a 32% spike. The containers to European Union are costing us another Rs 30,000 more. But we cannot stop exports as we have entered into the contract and the letter of credits (LCs) have been opened,” he added.
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
© Cogencis
Information Services Ltd. 2020. All rights reserved.
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)
Philippines seeks extra 300,000 tonnes of rice imports amid pandemic
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
https://writingideasstoriespicturesandothers.wordpress.com/2020/05/12/philippines-seeks-extra-300000-tonnes-of-rice-imports-amid-pandemic/
