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The District Administration of both the districts,
appreciated this gesture of CET and extended their sincere thanks and
appreciation on receipt of much needed commodities donated for the poor and
needy populace of their Districts. They also applauded this very gesture of
kindness and brother hood exhibited by the Company which will definitely make
the difference in creating harmonious and stronger friendship between China and
Pakistan.
It is worth mentioning that CET which is the
wholly owned subsidiary of State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) is executing
a CPEC Project in Pakistan by the name of Pak Matiari-Lahore ±660 KV HVDC
Transmission Line Project. The project which is the first of its kind in
Pakistan, with a total investment of US$1.7 billion will provide economical
solution for large distance bulk power transfer with low losses and enhanced
system reliability. The management of CET is committed towards completion of
this project in March 2021. In this regards, maximum possible efforts are being
made to follow the health and safety procedures even during ascending
coronavirus situation within Pakistan. Right now, about 4600 Pakistani workers
are employed in this project and after commissioning of its operation, it will
provide electricity to 4 million families of Pakistan.
Government, IMF reach consensus to increase
salaries, pensions
The third round of talks between the Pakistani
government and the International Monetary Fund also saw an agreement to not
increase electricity and gas tariffs until September 2020.
LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government and the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) reached a consensus on Tuesday, on not
putting a freeze on the increase in salaries and pensions of government
employees and keeping electricity and gas tarrifs at their current level, in
the upcoming budget.
The issues came under discussion during the third round of talks between the
Pakistani government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which ended on
Tuesday, June 9.
According to reports, the IMF had asked the Pakistani government to cut
spending during the previous meetings. However, the government refused to do so
citing the need to protect government employees and pensioners and the citizens
battling the Covid-19 induced economic meltdown, from the effects of
inflation.
The agreement to not put a hold on the increase in salaries and pensions
came after the government gave assurance to the IMF that it will not further
increase its deficit and will increase its non-tax revenues. Media
reports on May 30th had informed that the government was expected to raise
salaries and pensions by 15-20 percent. However, currently there has been no
official word from the authorities regarding the percentage raise to be
announced on June 12 during the presentation of the federal budget.
As per the consensus, the conditions of IMF related to the loan agreement,
would remain relaxed till September 30, and after October, Islamabad will
fulfill the conditions which are linked with the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) .
Earlier, The finance team had made it clear to the IMF that it will not be
able to achieve the previously fixed targets under the prevailing
circumstances.
Earlier on June 6, Director Communication Department IMF Gerry Rice stated
that the IMF and Pakistani authorities remain closely engaged to bring the
second review of the EFF to a positive conclusion, while taking into account
the new conditions the fund is facing in Pakistan, and to ensure the programme
delivers on its objectives.
“On the EFF, which was already in place with Pakistan, I can tell you that
technical discussions with the authorities continue. They remain fluid with a
view to bringing that second review of that program, that EFF, to a positive
conclusion, as soon as possible. We’re working with the authorities,
constructively, to ensure that that can be brought to a positive conclusion, as
soon as possible, while taking into account the new conditions that we’re
facing in Pakistan, and to ensure the program delivers on its objectives,” he
said.
The IMF has already provided emergency financing of about $1.4 billion in
April this year, in a bid to help the country deal with the COVID-19 crisis.
The Pakistan government is set to unveil the budget for the next year on
June 12.
It was revealed on June 6 that the federal government had decided to present
a tax-free budget for the fiscal year 2020-21. Sources privy to the matter said
that the government will not introduce any new taxes in the forthcoming budget
while harsh measures will be taken to curb tax evasion.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is expected to be given special powers to
stop tax evasion in the country.
https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/06/09/government-imf-reach-consensus-to-increase-salaries-pensions/
LONDON, ENGLAND — Members of the
International Grains Council (IGC) convened virtually for the 51st
Council Session on June 8 where it considered recent changes in national
policies, the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) measures on grains, oilseeds and
rice trade as well as activities of other international organizations relating
to the grains trade.
The IGC met via video conference due
to COVID-19 travel restrictions and current UK government restrictions on
social distancing.
The council officially welcomed
Serbia’s membership of the IGC and acknowledged the UK’s application letter to
join the IGC from Jan. 1, 2021, in accordance with the Agreement on the
withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, signed by Lord Zac
Goldsmith, UK’s Minister of State for DEFRA, DFID and FCO.
It was agreed that the program of
work for 2020-21 would continue to concentrate on its core economic and
statistical activities.
The Secretariat updated the council
on its ongoing projects which include:
Updating of the five-year S&D forecasts for the
main commodities, particularly demand for feed, food and industrial use;
Publishing a balance sheet for pulses for main
exporters;
Implementing Market Dashboards for the four main
commodities (wheat, maize, soybeans and rice) to show market developments
(prices, margins, trade).
Developing a methodology for building supply and demand
balances for maize-based ethanol, starting with the major producers;
Developing potential new partnership with organizations
from Eurasia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
At the council session members
agreed to sign a memo of agreement between the IGC and MED-AMIN, which would
include sharing information on harvests, pulses and the C&F price
monitoring system for the Mediterranean region.
The council appointed Corinne Roux,
policy advisor, Trade Relations Unit, Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG),
Switzerland as IGC’s chairperson for 2020-21. Taras Kachka, deputy minister for
Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture, Trade Representative of Ukraine
was appointed as vice chairperson for 2020-21.
World total grains production in
2020-21 was projected at an all-time high of 2.230 billion tonnes, an increase
of 54 million tonnes year-over-year, including record harvests of wheat (up 4
million tonnes) and maize ( up 50 million tonnes).
The first rise in global grains
stocks for four seasons was predicted, while world grains trade was expected to
be a record.
Given prospects for a much larger US
crop, 2020-21 global soybean production was predicted to rise by 8%
year-over-year, to 363 million tonnes. With another increase in China’s
purchases anticipated, world trade was projected to expand by 4%
year-over-year.
Tied to anticipated acreage
increases in Asia, the 2020-21 world rice outturn was predicted at a peak of
506 million tonnes, up 9 million tonnes year-over-year, with accumulation in
key exporters pushing up global carryovers to a record of 182 million tonnes.
The Virtual IGC Grain Conference
will launch on June 9, with access to pre-recorded video presentations from
more than 60 international government and industry speakers from the grains,
oilseeds, pulses and rice sectors and 14 live Q&A sessions on June 10.
The IGC Grains Conference is part of
the second London Grains Week organized by AHDB, GAFTA, IGC and IGTC to bring
together the key operators of the grains value chain to discuss the latest
trade issues and practices.
Vietnam wins
deal to supply 60,000 tons of rice to the Philippines
By Trung Chanh
Tuesday,Jun 9, 2020,18:42 (GMT+7)
Farmers harvest rice in the Mekong Delta province of Tien
Giang. Vietnam has won a deal to ship 60,000 tons of rice to the
Philippines – PHOTO: TRUNG CHANH
CAN THO – Vietnam will ship 60,000 tons of
rice to the Philippines after it won part of a 300,000-ton
government-to-government rice tender held on June 8, which also saw the
participation of India, Thailand and Myanmar, Nguyen Van Thanh, director of
Phuoc Thanh IV rice company, told the Saigon Times today,
June 9.
However, the Philippines only
purchased a combined volume of 189,000 tons of rice, which is much lower
than its target, as suppliers offered prices higher than the country’s
projected price. The Philipines may hold further tenders to purchase the
remaining volume of 111,000 tons of rice to meet its target.
Vietnam will ship 60,000 tons of
rice at US$497.3 per ton, which is higher than that offered by its rival
suppliers. Of this, Vietnam will ship 45,000 tons to the Manila port and
the remaining to the Davao port.
Among the suppliers, India won a
deal to supply the largest volume of rice at 96,000 tons to the ports in
the Philippines, at prices ranging from US$484.7 to US$485.7 per ton.
Myanmar secured a contract to
ship 33,000 tons of rice to the Manila port, with each ton valued at
US$489.3. Meanwhile, Thailand failed to clinch any deal as its offering
price exceeded the buyer’s projected price.
The Vietnamese bidder was
reportedly Vietnam Northern Food Corporation or Vinafood 1, while the
Philippine International Trading Corporation represented the Government of
the Philippines to organize the tender, instead of the country’s National
Food Authority, as in the past.
Prior to 2019, the Philippines had
imported rice under the quota regime. As a result, aside from allocating
annual quotas of some 850,000 tons of rice to the private sector in the
Philippines, NFA maintained domestic supply-demand balance to open bidding
for rice purchases from other countries, mainly Vietnam and Thailand.
However, President of the
Philippines Rodrigo Duterte on February 15 last year signed into effect an
act that turned the Philippines' rice imports from a quota-based system to
a tax-based one. The act abolished quotas in rice imports to the
Philippines to impose a 35% tax rate applicable to rice imports from ASEAN
countries. The import tariff is much lower than that imposed on non-ASEAN
nations, which is up to 180%.
With the Philippines resuming
importing rice under the government-to-government regime, the country hopes
to replenish its national rice reserves quickly amid the coronavirus
outbreak.
With rice futures approaching record high
levels, the USA Rice Daily asked Dr. Michael Deliberto, an assistant professor
in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the Louisiana
State University Agricultural Center in Baton Rouge, to provide some
context. The views expressed are the author's and not necessarily those
of USA Rice.
BATON
ROUGE, LA -- During the COVID-19 pandemic, international rice prices peaked
amid domestic supply concerns and the institution of export restrictions by
many foreign suppliers. As countries implemented measures aimed at
mitigating the effects of the coronavirus, delays and disruptions in their
supply chains were occurring. Although it is difficult to predict when
the global rice market will fully return to pre-COVID pricing levels and market
efficiency, global rice prices are becoming more competitive which, in turn, is
having a calming effect on rice prices.
In the U.S. rice market, futures prices remain elevated compared to pre-COVID
pricing levels driven, in part, by limited old crop rice supplies. The
2019 marketing year dynamics can be characterized by a manageable carry-in that
coincided with sales to Iraq, steady Latin American export shipments, and a
large volume of rough rice that was sold early in the 2019/20 marketing
year. These factors combined are believed to have been the leading drivers
in the rise in old crop rice prices.
However, understanding the present rice futures market situation requires a
deeper dive into the fundamental and technical drivers of the market.
One attractive feature of trading futures is that profits can be realized from
both declining prices (by selling) and/or rising prices (by buying). When
external forces related to COVID-19 began to negatively affect the corn,
soybean, and cotton markets, fund managers (speculators) looked to invest in
rice futures. Rice futures have performed exceptionally well since the
onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether or not this strong performance in
the futures market is the result of investors seeking a new commodity safe
haven, staple goods such as rice and wheat have fared relatively well.
It is important to note that rice futures are "thinly traded" as
compared to the grain and oilseed markets. Outside influence from
speculators can lead to a thinly traded market suddenly exhibiting distortions
in contract volume which is interpreted as implied volatility within the
market. As rice futures attracted interest from funds, the magnitude of
their interest is reflected in the daily volume of contracts.
July rice futures are approaching their highest level since 2008, when futures
traded near $25.00/cwt. Some of the underlying factors to the rice market
(and among traders, for that matter) include supply tightness and increasing
concerns over global food security as the coronavirus continues to affect
countries and their economies. With the slow-down in U.S. exports, it is
hard to make the argument that prices are being supported solely on foreign
demand. USDA export sales reports have been "light" in recent
weeks.
Fundamentally, the forces of supply and demand demonstrate that limited supply
leads to higher prices. This can be observed in the current marketing
environment. Tightness in old crop supplies are reflected in July 2020
rice futures contract prices which are hovering above $22.00/cwt. Futures
prices at these levels are very difficult to sell into the cash market.
Millers cannot equate these futures prices to a cash price paid on the grounds
that they either: a) do not need additional stocks to cover immediate
needs; or, b) will choose to secure supplies at a later date when prices
decrease.
New crop prices for the September 2020 contract are firm at the mid $12.00
level. This inversion between old and new crop futures prices reflects
short-term available supply versus a longer-term supply outlook. Given that
acreage and production is expected to increase in 2020, the latter is a logical
argument as to why the price inversion exists between the July and September
rice futures contracts and why the September contract reflects a $12.00/cwt
price.
It is a reasonable expectation that July futures will fall prior to the
delivery date for the contract. Outside speculators have entered the rice
market and established a short position for the July contract. This means
that these outside investors are expecting the futures price to decline and
would sell futures contracts in the hope of being able to buy back later
identical and offsetting contracts at a lower price.
As rice futures continue to reach new highs in July, September futures absorbed
some of the momentum and broke out of their sideways trading range on the
recent rally. It is true that market dynamics of the September contract
are different. It is possible that when the rally in July is over the
market is likely to fall and that will likely be bearish for September
contacts. This time of year, adverse weather can sometimes be a key
driver behind rallies in futures contracts. Under this scenario,
producers can take this as an opportunity to hedge anticipated new crop
production if this fits into their marketing strategy. Conversely, timely
rainfall coupled with expanded new crop acreage can cause a negative reaction
in futures as the growing season progresses. This scenario seems to be
materializing for the new crop rice (e.g., September contract), possibly
signaling that there is ample supply for 2020. However, a tropical storm
in the Gulf of Mexico may change that.
The futures price and the cash price received for a commodity are not the
same. While it would be fantastic for a producer to capture a $22.00/cwt
July futures price for their crop when it is harvested in August, new crop
marketing dynamics do not demonstrate that domestic rice supplies will be that
tight nor will export demand be drastically increased due to a major shortfall
of one of our export competitors. Simply put, $22.00/cwt rice does not
accurately reflect actual market conditions for the current marketing year.
For the producer, rice prices are based on grade, milling quality, and
transportation costs. Current season average farm prices are projected by
the USDA at $11.80/cwt for long grain rice for the 2020 crop. In
Louisiana, new crop bids are $12.00/cwt. In the Mid-South, bids are
$13.00/cwt C.I.F. (cost, insurance, and freight) to New Orleans. Cash
bids such as these can be considered somewhat strong given the supply and
demand outlook for the 2020 marketing year.
To cope up with
the labour scarcity amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the state government has stepped
up its efforts to encourage farmers to switch over to direct seeding of rice
(DSR) instead of the traditional transplantation of paddy this year.
This year,
nearly 25 per cent of the total area under paddy sowing is expected to come
under this technology which will help to slash cultivation cost in terms of
both labour and water.
To promote the
technology and motivate farmers to adopt it, the State Agriculture and Farmers
Welfare Department sanctioned 4,000 DSR machines and 800 paddy transplanting machines
to farmers on subsidy ranging from 40 to 50 per cent.
Secretary,
Agriculture, KS Pannu said Punjab had earlier fixed the target to bring around
5 lakh hectares under the DSR technique but given the labour shortage and keen
interest shown by farmers to adopt the advance technology, 6-7 lakh hectares of
area is expected to come under this technology, which roughly accounts for 25
per cent of the paddy grown in Punjab.
He further
stated that the DSR technique would be instrumental in saving about 30 per cent
of water besides cutting the cost of paddy cultivation by nearly Rs 6,000 per
acre. He said as per reports and research of Punjab Agriculture University, the
yield of paddy from the DSR is on a par with paddy crop grown by conventional
technique of transplanting.
He also
appealed to farmers that most critical element in new technology is the control
of weeds and as such, farmers must be careful that prior to undertaking DSR,
they must procure weedicide and spray the same within 24 hours of sowing the
crop.
Farmers from
across the state would cultivate paddy on 27 lakh hectares, which include 7
lakh hectares under high quality basmati rice.
To lower your cancer
risk, move more and skip the cocktails and steaks, guidelines say
To lower your
cancer risk, vegetables and whole grains should be on your menu and processed
and red meat should be off, according to updated guidelines publi...
Posted: Jun 9,
2020 9:04 PM
Updated: Jun
10, 2020 1:00 AM
Posted By: CNN
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To lower your
cancer risk, vegetables and whole grains should be on your menu and processed
and red meat should be off, according to updated guidelines published Tuesday
by the American Cancer Society.
It's best not
to drink alcohol, the group says in its updated guidelines, and people should
be getting more exercise than previously recommended.
The American
Cancer Society periodically reviews the science related to diet, exercise and
cancer, and updates its guidelines accordingly.
A good diet and
regular exercise is important, in part, because it can help people maintain a
healthy weight. Scientists are seeing more connections between cancer and
weight. The World Cancer Research Fund most recent report lists 12 cancers associated with being overweight or obese --
five more cancers than the last report published from the association a decade
ago.
Diets that seem
to lower cancer risk are heavy on vegetables that are dark green, red and
orange. Beans and peas are also supposed to lower cancer risk. Whole fruit,
rather than canned or in juice form is preferred. Whole grains are better than
refined flour.
Foods to avoid
or limit include processed meats or red meats, like steak. Don't drink sugar
sodas and juice with added sugar. Try to avoid all processed foods.
It's also best
not to drink alcohol, the guidelines say, but if you do drink, women need to
keep it to one a day, men to two.
'There is no
one food or even food group that is adequate to achieve a significant reduction
in cancer risk,' Laura Makaroff, the American Cancer Society senior vice
president for prevention and early detection, said in a statement. 'Current and
evolving scientific evidence supports a shift away from a nutrient-centric
approach to a more holistic concept of dietary patterns. People eat whole foods
-- not nutrients -- and evidence continues to suggest that it is healthy
dietary patterns that are associated with reduced risk for cancer, especially
colorectal and breast cancer.'
The guidelines
also say you'll also want to exercise more.
The updated
guidelines increase the recommended amount of exercise you need a week from 150
minutes of moderate-intensity exercise to 150 to 300 minutes.
If you are more
of a runner, then they've upped that amount of exercise you need too, from 75
minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity to encouraging you to get
between 75 and 150 minutes.
More than 300
minutes of either is optimal, the guidelines say.
The guidelines
encourage local communities to make these healthy lifestyle goals possible,
suggesting they create spaces for people to get out and exercise and make
affordable and nutritious food easily available.
Shifting from nutrients to whole foods
Lisa Drayer, an
award winning nutritionist and author and CNN health and nutrition contributor,
said these guideline updates reflect the latest science.
'These updated
guidelines reinforce what scientific research has been revealing -- that eating
a nutrient-rich diet, being physically active, and limiting alcohol is
associated with a reduced overall cancer risk, including lower risk for breast,
prostate, and colorectal cancer risk,' said Drayer.
'It's also
important to point out that the various contributions of a healthy, balanced
diet has been shown to be more significant in decreasing cancer risk than any
single dietary recommendation -- something nutritionists have been saying for
years,' Drayer said.
For example, eating a lot of fruits and vegetables may
deliver a healthy dose of antioxidants that could potentially help prevent
oxidative damage to DNA caused by red meat and processed meat, as well as
smoking, pollution and UV radiation, she said.
Fiber rich
foods may help protect against colorectal cancer, she said. That
means you can make some easy swaps to help your health. Instead of regular
pasta or white rice, try brown rice or lentil pasta or chickpea pasta, Drayer
suggests. As far as the exercise recommendations, she says, that can be fun
too.
'Being active
doesn't have to mean engaging in a high intensity workout each day,' Drayer
said. 'Talking a walk, going on a family bike ride, dancing or doing yoga all
count.'
The
Government of Liberia in partnership with stakeholders in the agriculture
sector celebrates the launch of the USAID Feed the Future Liberia Agribusiness
Development Activity’s cash voucher scheme aimed at distributing quality rice
seeds among 1,500 rice farmers in Bong, Nimba and Lofa Counties, respectively.
LADA, a
five-year initiative funded by the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) includes series of trainings, technical assistance and
investment grants to support technology upgrade and streamlining of supply
chains, increasing participation of women entrepreneurs, and boost domestic and
international market access to make rice, cassava, vegetables, cocoa, and
aquaculture profitable and competitive.As part
of efforts to complement the Ministry of Agriculture efforts in mitigating the
risk of food security impact from the COVID-19 crisis, LADA distributes
agricultural inputs to smallholder rice producers to enable them remain on the
production cycle during the pandemic.
The program targets approximately 1,500 food
insecure and progressive rice producers in the three counties. The
beneficiaries received quality rice seeds through community agricultural input
voucher fairs.
USAID launched the first seeds distribution
fair in Melekee, Jorquelleh District, Bong County, which brought together
public-private stakeholders including farmers, agro-dealers, processors and
government officials.
Speaking during the ceremony, Agriculture
Minister Jeanine M. Cooper said "empowering smallholder farmers most
especially during the coronavirus pandemic is essential to enable them overcome
the economic shock of the virus as well as make Liberia reduce its dependence
on rice imports."
Minister Cooper: "Although there are
challenges confronting agriculture and food security, we are able as a country
to produce our staple food to enable more food supply to many Liberians,
especially the vulnerable households. We therefore thank USAID-LADA for
buttressing government's effort to distribute quality seed rice within our
major rice producing counties. Farmers can now grow the rice and Government can
assure them that the rice they produce will be bought at a reasonable price to
supply the market". Editing by Jonathan Browne
Rajarata paddy cultivators who have
begun selling paddy stocks from their latest harvest are said to have turned
their guns on a prominent politico in the area.
This politico who once held a key portfolio in the government had drawn the ire
from the paddy cultivators for making public announcements against increasing
the rice prices. The thinking of paddy cultivators is that if there
was a marked increase in rice prices, it would have led to a proportionate
increase in paddy prices as well to their advantage and the politico’s protests
were responsible for measures taken to contain the upward swing in rice
prices.
Now this government politico elected from a district with a preponderance of
paddy cultivators has become the target of attacks, not only by paddy cultivators
but also by paddy millers and rice merchants, they say.
The politico had thought that he was championing the cause of consumers when he
protested against increasing rice prices forgetting that the majority of his
voters were paddy cultivators.
The politico’s preference vote bank has now shrunk to a great extent,
knowledgeable sources say.
Comments
will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion
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comments.
14,540 hectares of land were brought under
cultivation of aromatic Tulsimala this year, compared to 4,650 hectares last
year
Aromatic rice Tulsimala has had record yields
in Sherpur this year, as farmers have scaled up cultivation for a tidy profit.
According to the Department of Agriculture
Extension (DAE) 14,540 hectares of land were brought under cultivation of
aromatic Tulsimala this year, compared to 4,650 hectares last year.
The rice was cultivated on 4,800 hectares of
land in Sadar upazila, 2,590 hectares in Nakla, 4,060 hectares in Nalitabari,
2,110 hectares in Jhenaigati, 980 hectares in Sreebardi.
Total production in the district was 26,637
tons, while it was 6983 tons last year. Market prices for Tulsimala rice are Tk
80 to 82 per kg.
The demand for this aromatic rice is
increasing day by day at home and abroad, thanks to its alluring flavour, good
taste, and high food value, encouraging them to increase cultivation, said
farmers.
They also said medium low lying land
with sufficient irrigation is suitable for this rice cultivation and the soil
of Sher is ideal for the purpose.
Indigenous farmer Keya Nokhrek of Nalitabari
upazila said Tulsimala has been cultivated since a 100 years ago. "My
grandfather also cultivated this rice because of its distinctive scent and huge
demand, and my children will do so too. The paddy is also resistant to pest
attacks."
Upstream water often flood low lying areas,
but the floods cannot affect the paddy as it has a strong stem.
Jhenaigati upazila farmer Musa Miah said:
"I have been growing Tulsimala for 30 to 40 years. We always make a profit
on the rice as it is in high demand among rice traders. Wholesalers even pay us
in advance for the paddy."
Rice trader Mohadeb Nath of Nalitabari upazila
said : "We always need to pay money to mill owners for the rice in
advance. The rice is sold as soon as I bring this to my shop because of
its aromatic scent and unique taste."
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE)
Deputy Director (acting) Mobarak Hossain said: “The cultivation and demand for
Tulsimala has increased in the district because of its branding by the district
administration.
The district administration is campaigning on
Facebook to increase the sale of Tulsimala rice. Farmers are inspired and are
increasing cultivation.
THE average farmgate prices of palay (unmilled rice) reached the
level of P19.06 kilo during the second week of May, significantly higher than
its level in the previous week and in the same period in 2019, the Philippine
Statistics Authority (PSA) said.
In its latest price monitoring report, PSA said the buying price
of palay at the farmgate level went up from the previous week’s P18.81 per
kilo. Year-on-year, it was higher by 4.1 percent from P18.30 per kilo.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) had said that the increasing
prices of palay “could be a manifestation of the normalization of the rice
industry” following the “transition from quantitative restriction to a tariffed
trade regime.”The Federation of Free Farmers (FFF), however, cautioned the DA
against overimportation, saying that it may impact the recovering prices of
palay at the farmgate level.
In the same report, PSA said the average wholesale price for
well-milled rice slightly went down to P39.25 per kilo from P39.28 per kilo
week-on-week. Compared to its level last year, it also fell from P39.48 per
kilo.
At retail trade, its level of P42.28 per kilo went up from
P42.34 per kilo recorded in the previous week. On a yearly basis, the latest
quotation likewise increased by 1.8 percent from P42.18 per kilo.
For regular milled rice, on the other hand, the average
wholesale price was at P35.73 per kilo, nearly 1 percent higher than P35.40 per
kilo recorded in a week earlier. However, it was still lower from P35.80 per
kilo recorded in May 219.
Its equivalent price at the retail trade increased to P38.17 per
kilo from P37.90 per kilo on a weekly basis. Year-on-year, it was lower from
P38.71 per kilo or by 1.3 percent.
The drop in the palay prices at the farmgate level started in
early 2019 as an effect of the government’s implementation of the “Rice
Tariffication Law,” which allowed the unlimited entry of cheap imported rice
from other countries.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar had said that the DA was
banking on the various programs under the law’s Rice Competitive Enhancement
Fund (RCEF), which will be supplemented by the DA’s P8.5-billion Rice
Resiliency Project, to help the price of palay to further recover.
Relations between India and Malaysia are back on the upswing after
taking a hit under former premier Mahathir Mohamad, with Kuala Lumpur
increasing its purchases of rice and sugar from New Delhi in recent months.
India quietly initiated steps to reset the relationship after
Mahathir, who irked New Delhi with his repeated criticism of the situation in
Kashmir and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act , or CAA, resigned in March, people
familiar with developments said on Monday.
India’s ambassador to Malaysia, Mridul Kumar, was the first
foreign envoy to meet new Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and foreign minister
Hishammuddin Hussein within a week of the formation of the new cabinet in
March, and the two sides have worked behind the scenes to put ties back on an
even keel.
The people cited above, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said
India is buying 200,000 tonnes of palm oil for the June-July period from
Malaysia, the world’s second-biggest producer and exporter of the commodity
after Indonesia.
Earlier this year, India, the world’s largest buyer of edible
oils, had changed its rules to effectively bar imports of refined palm oil from
Malaysia, largely because of the position taken by Mahathir.
“This is the largest order for palm oil by India in the past few
months,” said one of the people cited above.
Indian importers will also benefit from Malaysia’s decision of
June 5 to fully exempt palm oil from export duty for the rest of this year as
part of efforts to help industries hit by the Covid-19 crisis.
“This move will benefit India’s refining industries, which had
been hit hard by the imposition of this duty earlier in the year. This duty has
been a focus of India’s commerce ministry,” the person quoted above said.
On the other hand, Malaysia has placed an order with India for
100,000 tonnes of rice for May-June, whereas its total import of rice from
India last year was around 85,000 tonnes, the people said.
MSM Malaysia Holdings, the country’s leading refined sugar producer,
bought around 88,000 metric tonnes of raw sugar from India last year, whereas
it procured 130,000 metric tonnes of raw sugar worth $50 million for the
January-March quarter this year, the people said.
Following the Covid-19 outbreak, the Indian government also
approved the supply of hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol for Malaysia, the
people said. External affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Malaysian
counterpart, Hishammuddin Hussein, also spoke in mid-April about the response
to the pandemic and efforts to assist citizens stranded in each other’s
country.
Malaysia is one of India’s key trading partners in Southeast Asia,
and bilateral trade was worth $17.25 billion in 2018-19, up from $14.71 billion
in 2017-18
However, bilateral ties were hit after Mahathir repeatedly
criticised CAA and the situation in Kashmir after the Indian government
scrapped the region’s special status last August.
Despite pushback from India, Mahathir continued his criticism and
the diplomatic spat led to India imposing curbs on palm oil imports that hit
Malaysia for some time.
‘Unplanned lockdown is worsening farmers’ condition’: Shashi
Tharoor
The Congress MP
said that the economic packages provided by the government have given nothing
to the farmers. “They need help!” he posted.
INDIAUpdated: Jun 10, 2020 15:13 IST
hindustantimes.com | Edited by Sparshita Saxena
Hindustan Times, New Delhi
File photo: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. (PTI)
The coronavirus lockdown has pushed India’s farmers in debt and
has broken the supply chain, Congress MP and senior leader Shashi Tharoor said
on Wednesday. Taking to Twitter, Tharoor said that the farmers’ condition is worsening
due to the “unplanned lockdown”.
“The condition of our farmers is worsening thanks to the unplanned
#lockdown & completely broken supply chain. Last harvest didn’t yield good
monetary value since farmers unable to sell,” Tharoor’s tweet read.
The minister also added that the economic packages provided by the
government have given nothing to the farmers. “They need help!” he posted.
The condition of our farmers is worsening
thanks to the unplanned #lockdown & completely broken supply
chain. Last harvest didn't yield good monetary value since farmers unable to
sell. They are heavily in debt &Govt's package provides them nothing. They
need help! #किसान_के_बोल
Tharoor called for the elimination of the
middlemen who he said “are profiting at the expense of our sweat-stained
farmers”.
“Why should they buy the farm products and exploit both growers
and consumers?” he questioned.
The Congress leader said that the Food Corporation of India should
purchase directly from farmers. The move will “give the aam aadmi cheaper food if parasitical middlemen
are eliminated!” he said. Tharoor’s comments came on the sidelines of the Kisan
Congress’ ‘Kisan Ke Bol’ social media campaign to raise the voice of the
farmers.
Last month, while announcing the details of Rs 20 lakh crore
economic relief package, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman focussed on
funding big-ticket reforms in the agricultural sector.
The government recently amended the Essential
Commodities Act to enable better price realisation for farmers,
resulting in deregulation of prices for foodstuffs including cereals, edible
oils, oilseeds, pulses, onions and potatoes.
“Farmers can now export or store these commodities as they wish.
These are our farmers’ demands pending for nearly 50 years now,” Union minister
Prakash Javadekar said while making the announcement earlier this month.
“As a result of this, farmers will get good returns,” the minister
said, adding that farmers will now be able to sell their produce anywhere and
to the highest paying party.
Rice is the most wasted foodgrain in Saudi: study
Rice is the topmost ceral grain in terms of consumption in Saudi
Arabia
A
seller displays rice bags for sale at a store. Image used for illustrative
purpose.
REUTERS/Kham
By Staff
Writer, Saudi Gazette
MAKKAH — Rice
topped the list of the most wasted foodgrains in the Kingdom, according to a
study conducted by specialists in all regions of the Kingdom. The study was
aimed at organizing food preservation operations.
According to the study, a copy of which was obtained by Makkah newspaper, the
annual volume of imported rice is 130,000 ton, of which 34 percent is wasted.
Rice is the topmost ceral grain in terms of consumption in Saudi Arabia, the
study acknowledged.
Flour and bread came second in terms of rates of wastage and loss reaching 30%
of the available quantity, followed by chicken with 29%, and then vegetables,
fruits, and meat.
The
rate of wastage and loss in flour and bread amounted to 917,000 ton during
distribution, manufacturing, consumption and due to damage.
The percentages of wastage in vegetables varied due to preservation factors and
damage of some of the vegetables, with the passage of time.
The quantities of wastage and loss of some foods annually, includes rice at
557,000 ton, sheep and goat mutton at 22,000, chicken meat at 444,000, beef at
41,000, camel meat at 13,000, potatoes at 201,000, tomatoes at 234,000, fish at
69,000, and onions at 110,000 ton.
Workers unload tons of rice to be distributed to Quezon
City barangays affected by the COVID-19 lockdown. (NONOY LACZA)
FOUR Asian countries have signified their interest to supply the
Philippines with rice as part of Manila’s “contingency” procurement for the
coming lean months.
The Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC) held on Monday
its 300,000-metric ton (MT) rice importation via government-to-government
transaction (G2G) with India, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar participating in
the bidding held via Zoom.
The four Asian countries were declared eligible bidders by the
PITC after they submitted all required documents, including financial
statements and authority letters from their respective states.
Under the updated terms of reference (TOR) for the G2G
transaction, only foreign governments or state-owned or -controlled enterprises
are allowed to participate in the bidding process.
Vietnam was represented by its state trading enterprise Vietnam
Northern Food Corp. 1 (VinaFood 1), while Thailand was represented by its
Department of Foreign Trade.
The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of
India Ltd. (Nafed) represented India in the bidding, while Myanmar Rice
Federation (MRF) was authorized to represent Myanmar.
The PITC’s TOR set the approved budget for the contract (ABC) at
P24,833.33 per MT of 25 percent brokens, well-milled long grain white rice.
Under the TOR, all bids should be converted to Philippine peso
at the prevailing exchange rate of the Central Bank on the bid opening date,
which was at $1 to P49.904.
The TOR also stipulated that bids shall be divided into five
lots based on the designated discharge ports and volume (Manila at 184,000 MT;
Cebu at 42,000 MT, Tacloban at 15,000 MT, Zamboanga at 24,000 MT, and Davao at
45,000 MT).
The winning suppliers shall deliver the first half of the volume
of their secured lots not later than July 14, while the remaining half must
enter the country not later than August 14, based on the TOR.
Bids
Myanmar offered to supply 33,000 MT (10,000 MT for the first
delivery and 23,000 for the second tranche) out of the 174,000 MT of Manila lot
at an offer price of $489.25 per MT or equivalent to P24,415.532 per MT.
Myanmar also bid to supply the whole Cebu lot at $494.25 per MT or about
P24,665.052 per MT.
India offered to supply 4 out of 5 lots except for Manila. For
the Cebu lot, India offered to supply it in full volume at a price of $484.7
per MT or P24,188.4688 per MT. India offered to supply the second tranche of
the Tacloban lot (7,500 MT) at $485.7 per MT or P24,238.3728 per MT.
The South Asian country offered to supply the Zamboanga lot in
full volume at a bid price of $484.70 per MT, equivalent to P24,188.4688 per
MT, while it offered to supply half (second tranche) of the Davao lot at $485.7
per MT or about P24,238.3728 per MT.
Thailand, which has been an active participant of the
Philippines’ G2G rice importation transactions in the past, only submitted an
offer to supply the full volume of Manila lot at $541 per MT (P26,998.064).
Lastly, Vietnam submitted supply offers for all the 5 lots. For
the Manila lot, Vietnam submitted a bid offer of $530 per MT (P26,449.12) for
the supply of 64,500 MT (divided in two tranches).
The Southeast Asian state offered to supply in full volume the
lots of Cebu, Tacloban and Zamboanga at a price of $530 per MT. Vietnam also
offered to supply 30,000 MT in two deliveries for the Davao lot at $497.30 per
MT (P24,817.2592)
Under the TOR, the Notice of Award shall be issued to the
prospective supplier within three days from bid opening, unless otherwise
advised by PITC in writing through an amendatory bulletin. Afterward, the PITC
shall issue the supply contract and the notice to proceed to the foreign
supplier.
TO save Nigeria from the effects of a
post-COVID-19 food crisis, Olam Nigeria has expressed its commitmentto make the country the agricultural hub on
thecontinent.
It added that it would produce a
total of 240,000 metric tons (Mt) of rice in the new farming season.
Olam Nigeria, one of the leading
players in theagriculture value chain,
said it will continue to cultivate its 5000 hectares which produces 40,000
metric tons of paddy.
However, the company off-takes paddy
from farmers across the country to balance its milling capacity of 240,000
metric tons for both its farms in Rukubi Doma, Nasarawa State and Amarava Agro
in Kano State which have milling capacities of 120,000MT respectively.
According to a statement in Abuja yesterday,
Olamsaid it is working with more than
20,000 direct outgrower famers and sensitising more farmers to plant rice and
hand-holding them with training and input in five states of Nigeria.
It said the move became even more
necessary as President Muhammadu Buhari has urged farmers to embark on massive
food production this farming season.
The statement reads in part: “The
farms, which have an integrated rice mills with a production capacity of
120,000 metric tonnes res are committed to producing only local and home grown
quality rice with the variants of Mama’s Pride and Mama’s Choice”
“In addition, Olam participates
across the country as the biggest off taker of paddy rice from Nigerian farmers
impacting livelihoods of more than 100,000 farmers directly and indirectly.
“We must not forget that the
COVID-19 pandemic is arguably the biggest challenge facing humanity today. It
is ravaging not only Nigeria but the global economy.
“As part of the efforts to support
Nigeria’s fight against Covid-19, Olam has successfully given palliatives to
host communities, women were given rice, and medical kits were given to the
Rukubi Clinic in Doma, Nasarawa State apart from undertaking various other
community support programs.
“Enlightenment and educational
campaigns in form of radio and tv jingles in local languages to stress the need
for social distancing , wearing of masks as well as washing and rinsing of
hands whilst ensuring they are all in line with Covid-19 protocols as espoused
by WHO and NCDC”, Olam said.
Furthermore, it said Olam Rice Farms
and Mills in Rukubi, Nasarawa State and Amarava Agro in Kano State have created
both direct and indirect employments to the tune of over 2500 people, thereby
helping the local community survive and enriching the farmers around and within
the environs.
LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government and the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) reached a consensus on Tuesday, on not
putting a freeze on the increase in salaries and pensions of government
employees and keeping electricity and gas tarrifs at their current level, in
the upcoming budget. 
Workers unload tons of rice to be distributed to Quezon
City barangays affected by the COVID-19 lockdown. (NONOY LACZA)
Workers unload tons of rice to be distributed to Quezon
City barangays affected by the COVID-19 lockdown. (NONOY LACZA)
