NE’s rice beer has
therapeutic value’
GUWAHATI: The humble rice beer, which is brewed
in many ethnic households across the northeast, has been found to have many
nutritional values including antioxidant properties that may be beneficial in
fighting several diseases.Researchers from the Jorhat-based College of Home
Science (CHS)'s department of food and nutrition, Assam Agricultural University
(AAU) and the Tamil Nadu-based Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology
(IICPT) have found antioxidant activity in rice beer samples in the laboratory.
The research on rice beer samples was carried out by Deep
Jyoti Bhuyan and Mridula Saikia Barooah of the CHS's department of food and
nutrition, Sudipta Sankar Bora of AAU and K Singaravadivel of IICPT."The
antioxidant activity in the rice beer samples was most likely caused by the
presence of phenolic acids, polyphenols and flavonoids from various indigenous
herbs used in the preparation of the starter culture cake. These compounds are
known to inhibit the oxidative mechanism that are responsible for many
disorders and diseases in humans such as infections, diabetes, arthritis,
cardiovascular diseases, cancer, Alzheimer's diseases, AIDS and so on,"
their research paper stated.
The researchers have pointed out that besides being consumed
as a beverage by different tribes in the region, rice beer is also
traditionally used for therapeutic purposes. They highlighted some traditional
therapeutic use of rice beer by the Karbi community of Assam, which uses the
brew called Hor Acho to cure dysentery and pharyngitis."If Japan's
traditional brew sake could become popular internationally, the northeast's
particular variety of rice beer has all the potential to become a value-added
beverage. That is why we made a scientific intervention on the traditional rice
beer of the northeast so that we could find out its nutritional and therapeutic
properties. We need to carry out more scientific studies on it for further
value-addition," Barooah said.
Different tribes have their own names and tradition of
brewing rice beer, which has an important role in their socio-cultural lives.
The northeast has over 150 tribes and 200 sub-tribes, each of them having
unique traditions of making rice beer. The preparation of the rice beer is an
intricate and sophisticated process handed down through the generations.
Usually, it is the women of the tribe who are involved in making the rice beer.
Source with thanks:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/NEs-rice-beer-has-therapeutic-value/articleshow/46014461.cms
Nigeria:
Rice Import Duty Debtors Must Pay - Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan has approved N16 billion to be deployed
for the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's 2015 dry season
farming.Announced this at AgriFest 2015 exhibition of Made-in-Nigeria
agricultural produce at the Eagle Square, Abuja, on Friday, the President
expressed appreciation to Nigerian farmers for taking up the opportunities
provided by his administration's agriculture reforms, which have boosted food
production in the country."Great farmers of Nigeria, you can rely on me as
the farmers' President. Be assured of my support at all times.
"To further boost your efforts to produce more food for our
country, I am pleased to announce here today, the release of N26 billion
towards the 2015 Dry Season Farming Programme," he said.The Federal
Government launched a National Dry Season Farming Programme in 2012 to facilitate
all-year round food cultivation and production.The President directed the
ministry to provide annual financial support to further spur the famous
traditional fishing competition and festival in Argungu in Kebbi State and
promote fishing eco-tourism.He declared that Nigeria "is producing more
food than ever before. Our national food production has grown by 21 million
metric tons within the past three years. Our food import bill declined from
N1.1 trillion in 2009 to N634 billion in 2013 and continues to decline.
"He disclosed that with government's support to private
refineries to process crude palm oil in the country, Nigeria hopes to become
self-sufficient in palm oil by next year.According to him, "Over N45
billion in private sector investments in new oil palm plantations are ongoing.
We expect 70,000 hectares of new plantations to allow Nigeria to become
self-sufficient in palm oil production by 2016."He noted that over six
million rice farmers have received improved rice seed varieties, thus boosting domestic
rice production by an additional seven million metric tons, adding that he
would not allow rice importers owing the government to go scot-free."High
quality Nigerian rice is now competing favourably with imported rice in the
markets.
"Our rice millers have taken advantage of these new
opportunities, and the number of integrated rice mills has expanded from one,
at the beginning of this administration, to 24 today."I eat Nigerian rice
and can tell you that it is better than imported rice. Nigeria, our dear
country, will not be held hostage by rice importers. There will be no sacred
cows under my watch. All those owing Nigeria on rice import duties must
pay."The President pledged that his administration would "continue to
support our livestock herders with improvement in grazing facilities, watering
points, establishment of ranches, stock routes and provision of veterinary
services."We will continue to work hard to end cattle rustling and rebuild
trust and cooperation between farmers and herders.
"Jonathan thanked the private sector agribusiness leaders, who
are working to boost agro-processing and add value to all the produce in the
agricultural sector to the tune of about N900 billion.His words: "I
celebrate the efforts of the financial institutions, from banks to
micro-finance institutions that have now begun to lend more to farmers and
agribusinesses."Our development partners have seen the turnaround in the
agriculture sector and are actively supporting the sector. Over N900 billion
($5 billion) of private investments have come into the sector in the last three
years."Selected Nigerian farmers, rice producers, seedling dealers and
other agro-allied operators on the occasion gave testimonies of their improved
production and conditions of services.The President toured exhibition stands at
the fair grounds featuring only Nigerian-made agricultural produce.
Hunt for new rice markets a priority
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION January 26, 2015 1:00 am
THE Thai Rice Exporters Association will join forces with the
Commerce Ministry for a business mission to potential new rice-import markets
such as Iran, Iraq, and other Middle East countries. The move will be a bid to
increase rice sales this year in the face of fears that falling oil prices will
affect the purchasing power of major importers of Thai rice.TREA president
Charoen Laothamatas said the association was scheduled to join many trade
missions with the Ministry of Commerce because Thailand needed to aggressively
promote its rice plans and activities to "knock on the doors" of
potential new importers.
"Due to the lowering oil price, some major import countries
such as Nigeria and other countries in Africa, where their incomes have relied
mainly on the oil price, could be affected and cause a lower order for
rice," he said."The ministry and the association thus have plans to
promote more rice sales to other potential markets such as Iran, Iraq, and
other countries in the Middle East to encourage them to buy Thai
rice."Charoen said that Iran and Iraq used to be major Thai rice
importers, but they suspended imports for a few years due to a defaulted
contract with a private exporter. Now was a good time to boost the confidence
of those countries, he added.
Under the Commerce Ministry plan, Commerce Minister General
Chatchai Sarikulya will visit Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait,
Oman, Egypt, Italy, and Indonesia. Charoen said that rice exports this year
should be as high as last year - up to 11 million tonnes - due to high demand
in the world market and drought problems in some rice-producing countries.He
said the price of Thai rice was expected to be steady this year. The price has
climbed slightly over the past few months due to the strengthening baht. At the
moment, the export price of rice is quoted at US$405-$410 (Bt13,200-Bt13,350)
for 5 per cent white rice, while Vietnamese rice is quoted $370 per tonne.
Source with thanks:http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Hunt-for-new-rice-markets-a-priority-30252635.html
Pakistani businessmen invited to invest in
Afghanistan
our
correspondent
Sunday, January 25, 2015
From Print Edition
Sunday, January 25, 2015
From Print Edition
KARACHI: Pakistani investors can set up their industrial units in
Afghan tax-free zones that would help them penetrate in the Afghan market along
with gaining access to the Central Asian Republics, said Janan Mosazai,
ambassador of Afghanistan.
Speaking at a meeting during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Saturday, the ambassador said the Afghan
government is ready to offer additional facilities to Pakistani investors as
compared to investors from other countries with a view to further strengthen
economic and trade ties between the two countries.Pakistan and Afghanistan must
work jointly to deal with common issues of terrorism, illiteracy, poverty,
water shortages, energy crisis and infrastructure development, etc, he said.
The ambassador asked the Karachi Chamber to organise a delegation’s
visit to Afghanistan to explore trade and investment opportunities.Identifying
various sectors for undertaking joint ventures, he said the business
communities of the two countries can undertake joint ventures in agriculture,
education, construction, mining, precious stones, natural resources and other
important sectors of the economy.“There is also a huge potential in Afghanistan
for Pakistani rice exporters who cannot only export rice to Afghanistan, but
also to the Central Asian Republics through Afghanistan,” he said.Mosazai
stressed the need to develop highways, railways and air links between two
countries.“Various memorandums of understanding and agreements had already been
signed in this regard, now it is high time to implement all these projects,” he
said.
Earlier, KCCI President Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra said the local
industry of Pakistan suffers badly due to misuse of Afghan Pakistan Transit
Trade Agreement. In order to effectively deal with the situation, he proposed
the duties and taxes on imported goods arriving at the Pakistani ports for
Afghanistan should be collected on behalf of the government of Afghanistan by
Pakistan Customs and transmitted to the Afghan government upon evidence of
transit goods reaching their declared destination, which would surely help deal
with the smuggling and misuse of APTTA.
Source with thanks:http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-3-297908-Pakistani-businessmen-invited-to-invest-in-Afghanistan
PRICES
of crops like onion, cotton, paddy and sugarcane are depressed in Sindh, while
farmers continue their outcry against the government, urging it either to
regulate prices or subsidise farm inputs.
Crop prices have recorded a decline, starting
from last year’s kharif to the current rabi season. To make matters worse,
cane-growers are being paid less than the officially notified rate, as millers
insist they can’t afford to buy the crop at official rate.Fluctuations in
commodity prices cannot be isolated from the subsidy and free-market
mechanisms, since multiple factors govern the agriculture sector. Unless the
underlying issues in farming are addressed, the price distortion will not go
away.Theoretically, a free market idea sounds good. But price distortion is
usually linked with the working of the free market.
The
developed world, including countries like the US and Japan and those in the EU
provide huge subsidy to their farm sector. This lends credence to the fact that
they lack comparative advantage and remain uncompetitive.On the other hand,
Pakistani farmers not only have the potential to get higher per acre yields,
but also the comparative advantage.Subsidy, say stakeholders, is opposed by the
developed world, but it subsidises its own farm sector.Presently, India’s
export of agri commodities to Pakistan is the main cause of the low prices
here. This is more a case of institutional support and an enabling marketing
environment in Pakistan rather than that of subsidy.
There is
a strong need to curb the exploitation of farmers by the market.India is a case
in point. It subsidises agriculture despite being part of the WTO. Some reports
put the annual amount of subsidy at 100bn Indian rupees.The cotton season has
just concluded in Pakistan, with farmers not getting a fair price — a fact
admitted by the Economic Coordination Committee. On the other hand, India
decided to procure 10m bales this season to keep its minimum support price
(MSP) intact in the larger interest of farmers.Out of 10m, about 5m bales have
already procured, says Mahesh Kumar, former chairman of the Pakistan Cotton
Ginners Association (PCA), while referring to cotton market reports.
The Indian government is ready to buy 15m bales
to support farmers, if needed.“Comparatively, the Trading Corporation of
Pakistan (TCP) lifted only 88,000 bales across Pakistan, despite the ECC’s
decision to buy 1m bales at Rs3,000 per 40kg for seed cotton producers.
Procurement has closed now after having lasted for just 11 days.”This is one
example of the government’s indecisiveness or inaction, and translates into
monetary losses for the farmers. So, growers remain reluctant to modernise
farms or use vital farm inputs. The cost of inputs continues to rise unchecked,
defeating the idea of subsidy or support price, and benefitting
input-suppliers.With poor investment, farmers don’t get the desired
productivity and find it hard to compete internationally. Access to free market
is not unhindered either.
According to Mahmood Nawaz Shah, a progressive
farmer, China slapped a quota on cotton imports this year to stabilise prices
domestically.India gives huge subsidy and developed countries create
inefficient producers by artificially reducing the cost of production. “The
European and American markets deny access to Pakistani textile products at the
pretext of regulatory duties. With tariff or non-tariff barriers, can we think
that the market is free and offers a level playing field to everyone?”
” Urea prices, he says, remain beyond the reach
of an average small grower. It was Rs560 per bag in 2008 and now stands at
Rs1,855. Urea was imported for Rs35bn in 2013-14, but never reached small
farmers, he says. “Urea factories increase their prices, saying they are not
getting gas and the government claims that 75pc of their gas needs are met.
This shows that the regulatory environment is non-existent.”Besides, the
government lacks the required storage capacity for the surplus output. Sindh
can’t procure wheat beyond 1.3m tonnes for want of storage. And it hires
private facilities to hold this 1.3m tonnes. Ad-hocism mars policymaking, which
affects producers.
Published
in Dawn, Economic & Business, January 26th , 2015
Japan proposes boosting imports of US rice
20150125_NikkeiAR_RiceJapUS.jpg
The minimum access quota for tax-free rice imports is 770,000 tons,
Japan currently imports just over 10 thousand tones of US rice.
These moves will likely help the two countries to reach an
agreement in spring, adding momentum to the conclusion of all TPP negotiations
among the 12 member countries.Japanese delegates, including the Ambassador in
charge of Economic Diplomacy Takeo Mori, will meet with the US Trade
Representative's acting deputy Wendy Cutler and others in Washington to work
out details, starting Wednesday.
Palay prices still declining, says
statistics agency
Ronnel W.
Domingo
10:00 PM |
Monday, January 26th, 2015
THE
SLIDE in the farmgate prices of palay persists, with a kilo fetching P18.63 as
of the third week of January, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority
(PSA).PSA monitoring showed that the average price of paddy rice had
fallen by P3.24 a kilo since peaking at P21.87 in June for the non-fancy
varieties.The price for rice in the husk is still above the National Food Authority’s
(NFA) procurement budget per kilo. NFA now relies almost exclusively on
importation of milled rice to maintain its inventory at required level.Mandated
to ensure stable supply and price of the staple grain, NFA buys palay at a
basic rate of only P17.
Including fees for delivery and drying, the
NFA’s effective buying rate is P17.70 a kilo.According to the Food and
Agriculture Organization, the Philippines is expected to again import 1.8
million tons of milled rice this year amid projections that growth in domestic
production will be insignificant if not nil.This would mean the Philippines—in
particular the NFA—will have to depend again on large volumes of imports in
order to meet consumer demand as well as maintain stockpiles, the FAO added.As
of Dec. 1, the nation’s stock of milled rice swelled for the third consecutive
month, gaining two days to be enough for 87 days of consumption.
The
supply grew to 3.03 million tons from 2.95 million tons in the previous month
amid the harvest season for the year’s main crop.Latest data from the PSA show
that the NFA’s inventory climbed to 490,000 tons, 96 percent of which is
imported.The NFA’s stock was good for 14 days of consumption, one day short of
the agency’s mandate of keeping at least 15-days’ supply.
Source with thanks:http://business.inquirer.net/185545/palay-prices-still-declining-says-statistics-agency
Thai Junta Unloading
Mountain of Rice Amid World Surplus
Jan
26, 2015 10:55 PM PT
Photographer:
Dario Pignatelli/Bloomberg
With global output poised to be near last
year’s record, Thailand will ship more this year than any country ever, U.S.
Department of Agriculture data show. The staple for half the world plunged to a
four-year low in Chicago, helping cut food
costs that the United Nations says are the lowest since 2010.
“We have plenty of rice,” said Mamadou Ciss,
who’s traded the grain since 1984 and is president of Alliance Commodities
(Suisse) SA in Geneva. “Thailand still has huge stocks available, compared with
world trade. Anything more than 10 million tons will take time to clear. Prices
will stay weak.”
Photographer: Dario Pignatelli/Bloomberg
Global reserves are 30 percent above a 10-year
average, UN Food & Agriculture Organization data show. Production for
2014-2015 in the U.S., the fifth-largest exporter, is seen rising by the most
in a decade, expanding global grain inventories already at all-time highs
following record global harvests of wheat, corn and soy.
Buying
Spree
Photographer:
Dario Pignatelli/Bloomberg
Every Election
Junta
leader Prayuth Chan-Ocha is seeking to clear the warehouses without torpedoing
the market, saying on Jan. 26 the government wants to accelerate sales to
reduce inventory costs while ensuring prices are acceptable. Since government
buying began, Thai 5
percent broken rice, an
Asia benchmark, tumbled 35 percent from a three-year high of $647 a ton in 2011
to $420 on Jan. 21.
On theChicago Board of Trade, futures reached $10.81 per 100
pounds on Jan. 26, the lowest since 2010, and traded at $11.035 on Tuesday.The
government may get unexpected help from a dry spell that’s reducing output. In
the central basin north of Bangkok, irrigation officials shut the taps after
reservoir levels fell to a 15-year low. Farmers are growing the smaller of two
annual harvests that normally accounts for a quarter of production. The lack of
water may cut output 31 percent to 6.7 million tons, the lowest in a decade,
government data show.
‘Welcome
Development’
“The
reduction in production this season would be a welcome development for the Thai
government, whose priority is now to get rid of the surpluses,” said Concepcion Calpe, a
senior economist at the Rome-based FAO.Kwanchai Mahachuenjai, a 54-year-old
farmer in Ayutthaya, said he cut planting almost in half to 120 rai (47.4
acres) because he’s getting less water. Yields will drop to 300 to 400
kilograms per rai from 700 to 800 kilograms, he said.
A
decline in the quality of the stockpiles also may limit the impact of sales on
prices, which reflect food-grade grain. An audit in 2014 found about 80 percent
was substandard and almost 4 percent was poor quality, destined for non-food
uses.Most is still food-grade quality and can be sold as long as it’s kept dry
and fumigated, said Somkiat Makcayathorn, secretary-general of the Thai Rice
Exporters Association.
While
the government doesn’t want to buy rice, it plans other support. About 40
billion baht ($1.2 billion) has been earmarked for payments to the poorest
farmers, and officials are encouraging the growing of other crops, including
sugar.For now, the government is focused on unloading 10 million tons this year
and 7.8 million tons in 2016. This week’s auction will be the biggest amount
since 2004, said Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general at Department of Foreign Trade.“It’s good
timing to sell because of low supply ahead of second-crop harvests,” Somkiat
said. “Prices will stay under pressure until the government clears the huge
inventories.”
To
contact the reporter on this story: Supunnabul Suwannakij in Bangkok atssuwannakij@bloomberg.net
To
contact the editors responsible for this story: James Poole at jpoole4@bloomberg.net Jake Lloyd-Smith, Steve Stroth
Source with thanks:http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-26/thai-junta-unloading-mountain-of-rice-amid-world-surplus.html
Yingluck will be arrested if she
tries to flee: NACC
The Nation
January 26, 2015 1:00 am
Former PM faces IndIctment from attorney general over rIce scheme,
while EC probes her spending on trip prior to election last year
Former
prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who now faces criminal charges over the
rice-pledging scheme, could be arrested if she shows any intention of leaving
the country to avoid the court trial, the anti-graft body said
yesterday.Impeachment by the junta-installed National Legislative Assembly
(NLA) on Friday was not the end of her troubles because the Office of the
Attorney General has decided to indict her in the Supreme Court's Criminal
Division for Political Office Holders in connection with the rice-pledging
scheme.
The
Election Commission is also looking at evidence to decide whether or not she
used state funds and resources for a political campaign ahead of the February 2
election last year, which was the subject of major street protests.National
Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) secretary-general Sansern Polajiak said the
public prosecutor has one month to write and submit a criminal writ to the
Supreme Court.After drafting of the writ is completed, prosecutors have to
coordinate with the NACC to inform Yingluck that she has to report to the
Attorney General on the day the suit is filed at the court.
If
Yingluck fails to turn up, the Attorney General will ask the NACC to fetch her.
If it looks like she intends to flee the country, the NACC would ask the police
to issue a warrant for her arrest. However, Sansern said he believed the former
PM was ready to stand trial to fight the charges.Former Pheu Thai Party MP
Amnuay Khlangpha said the party would not protest over the prosecution of
Yingluck on criminal charges or her impeachment because the party wanted peace
and stability. He believed Yingluck would not flee the country because she has
already announced her intention to fight the charges in accordance with justice
procedures.
While
some have said they see Yingluck's impeachment as a chance to open the door for
an amnesty and reconciliation, Amnuay believes it would be "extremely
appropriate" to issue an amnesty law."Reconciliation is just 'lip
service' without amnesty. These two must go hand in hand," Amnuay said.National
Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) spokesman Winthai Suvari said Yingluck's
prosecution was a separate matter that had nothing to do with reconciliation.
The NLA voted freely without any influence from the NCPO.He said Yingluck must
still observe the NCPO's rules and seek permission if she wants to travel
abroad, which she has not made done since she was impeached and indicted on
criminal charges over the rice-pledging scheme.
Winthai
said there were no political "undercurrents" that might spark a new
round of political conflict after Yingluck's impeachment. There had been only
comments from people with different political attitudes.Former education
minister Chaturon Chaisang posted on his Facebook page that Yingluck's
impeachment was not carried out democratically and the intent was to get the
Shinawatra family out of politics.He foresaw more "ill intentions" of
the May 22 coup, such as hitting the strength of Pheu Thai Party, reducing the
role and power of elected parties, allowing an unelected prime minister,
senators and independent agencies, and increasing the authority of the
Constitutional Court.
"I
am not instigating protests but the voice of the people is always meaningful
and once the collective voice gets louder, it would be strong enough to suspend
disaster to democracy,'' he said.Pheu Thai's acting deputy spokesman Anusorn
Iam-saard denied reports that Yingluck would hold a press conference at
different places over her impeachment. He said Yingluck would prove her
innocence through the justice system.He said the party hopes that once
democracy returns to the country, justice will prevail. "What happened
[with her impeachment] is the torment that must be kept in our heart.
We
will wait till the day the election comes," he said.Inquiries into
Yingluck's activities are not over yet. Election Commission chairman Supachai
Somcharoen said the EC sub-panel had not completed its probe into the
allegation that Yingluck used state funds and resources while campaigning in
the North and Northeast prior to the February 2 election. He said five panel
committees would tentatively finish their probe before the end of January but
he had no idea if they could wrap up the probe as expected, as he could not
interfere.
Source with thanks:http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Yingluck-will-be-arrested-if-she-tries-to-flee-NAC-30252666.html
Hunt for new rice markets a
priority
ECONOMIC 2015/01/26 11:31:23HePingSiJie.comPETCHANET
PRATRUANGKRAITHE NATION January 26, 2015 1:00 am
THE Thai Rice Exporters Association will join forces with the
Commerce Ministry for a business mission to potential new rice-import markets
such as Iran, Iraq, and other Middle East countries. The move will be a bid to
increase rice sales this year in the face of fears that falling oil prices will
affect the purchasing power of major importers of Thai rice.
TREA president Charoen Laothamatas said the association was scheduled
to join many trade missions with the Ministry of Commerce because Thailand
needed to aggressively promote its rice plans and activities to “knock on the
doors” of potential new importers.“Due to the lowering oil price, some major
import countries such as Nigeria and other countries in Africa, where their
incomes have relied mainly on the oil price, could be affected and cause a
lower order for rice,” he said.“The ministry and the association thus have
plans to promote more rice sales to other potential markets such as Iran, Iraq,
and other countries in the Middle East to encourage them to buy Thai
rice.”Charoen said that Iran and Iraq used to be major Thai rice importers, but
they suspended imports for a few years due to a defaulted contract with a
private exporter. Now was a good time to boost the confidence of those
countries, he added.
Under the Commerce Ministry plan, Commerce Minister General Chatchai
Sarikulya will visit Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt,
Italy, and Indonesia. Charoen said that rice exports this year should be as
high as last year – up to 11 million tonnes – due to high demand in the world
market and drought problems in some rice-producing countries.e said the price
of Thai rice was expected to be steady this year. The price has climbed
slightly over the past few months due to the strengthening baht.At the moment,
the export price of rice is quoted at US$405-$410 (Bt13,200-Bt13,350) for 5 per
cent white rice, while Vietnamese rice is quoted $370 per tonne.
Credit
- http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Hunt-for-new-rice-markets-a-priority-30252635.html
Thailand: Financial losses
from rice pledging scheme likely to exceed estimated 682 billion baht, says
Finance Ministry
26.01.2015
Financial losses incurred from rice subsidy
schemes dating back to 2004 are likely to exceed the estimated 682 billion
baht, says the Finance Ministry, the Bangkok Post reports.If rising
depreciation and missing milled rice from warehouses are taken into account,
the combined losses will be higher than the recent estimate, finance permanent
secretary Rungson Sriworasat said on January 21.
The subcommittee overseeing accounting affairs
of all rice subsidy schemes earlier estimated losses from buying 84 million
tonnes of milled rice in the 15 schemes from 2004-14 amounted to 682 billion
baht, with the Yingluck Shinawatra government's programme alone accounting for
518 billion.But that estimate did not take into account depreciation or missing
rice from warehouses inspected by a team working for PM's Office Minister ML
Panadda Diskul.According to the inspection of 17 million tonnes of milled rice
bought under the previous government's scheme, only 2.19 million tonnes were
deemed of standard quality and classified as Grade A rice.
Some 14.4 million tonnes were judged to be
substandard Grade B, while the rest was classified as Grade C because it was
either rotten or had been registered incorrectly.The rice-pledging scheme was a
major policy that helped to sweep Ms Yingluck to power in the 2011 general
election.However, its guaranteed purchase of every single grain at a pledging
price of 40-50% above marketprices incurred a substantial cost to
taxpayers.Thailand also lost its crown as the world's biggest rice exporter, as
the scheme, which ran for five crops, encouraged farmers to grow low-quality
rice that normally took less time to cultivate.
The joint committee of the National
Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the Office of the Attorney-General on
Tuesday agreed to press criminal charges against Ms Yingluck for alleged
dereliction of duty in overseeing the rice scheme and causing massive damage to
the state.The NACC also recommended that former commerce minister Boonsong
Teriyapirom, his ex-deputy Poom Sarapol and 19 others be indicted for graft for
their roles in government-to-government rice sales.
Manas Jamveha, director-general of the
Comptroller-General's Department, said his department, which is responsible for
seeking compensation from those alleged to have caused damage to the state, was
awaiting the Commerce Ministry's report."Damaged state agencies must
submit a summary report of the charge to verify all information," he
said."They must set up a committee to launch the probe again before
arranging the report."
Source
with thanks:http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/thailand-financial-losses-from-rice-pledging-scheme-likely-to-exceed-estimated-682-billion-baht-says-finance-ministry
Unending Controversy About Nigeria’s Rice
Policy
Saturday,
24 January 2015 17:28
Written
by Joke Falaju, Abuja
Stakeholders
Seek Investigation Of Quota Regime
Also,
MIKAP rice got an allocation of 82,897mt as an investor and existing
miller, while Stine Rice, an investor with existing rice mill, got allocation
of 30,000mt. Although a group of rice millers told The Guardian
that the policy is the best any government can venture into to encourage local
investors at the expense of stiff competition from foreign products, many of
them have faulted the manner by which the policy is being
implemented. But President Goodluck Jonathan, during the
AgriFest 2015 Celebration of Nigeria’s Agriculture, held at Eagles
Square, Abuja on Friday, read the riot act, insisting that “all those owing
Nigeria on rice import duties must pay.
” “Nigeria,
our dear country, will not be held hostage by rice importers. There will be no
sacred cows under my watch. All those owing Nigeria on rice import duties must
pay,” said Mr. President. According to him, “high quality Nigerian rice is
now competing favourably with imported rice in the markets. Our rice millers
have taken advantage of these new opportunities, and the number of integrated
rice mills has expanded from 1 (one) at the beginning of this administration,
to 24 today. And they are all here today. I celebrate you all. I eat Nigerian
rice and can tell you it is better than imported rice.
” In
his opening speech, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, said:
“We have here today over 20,000 farmers and agribusinesses from the 36 states
of Nigeria and the FCT. Today, they are here to celebrate the achievements of
your Agricultural Transformation Agenda. The agricultural transformation
agenda has turned around the lives and destinies of millions of farmers.
‘Farmers
from across the country daily besiege my office asking to have an opportunity
to thank the President who has done so much for them. If I were to request for
appointments for the delegations that daily want to meet you, your calendar for
two years cannot accommodate them,” Adesina said. Co-chairman
of the rice investor Group, Mr. Tunji Owoeye, took sides with government, stating
that the view being expressed by some stakeholders are unfair to government
officials, who have worked hard to midwife the policy.Indeed, the government
had come up with the new rice policy as part of its efforts to ensure
self-sufficiency in production, and to protect local investors, to the point
they can reasonably stand on their feet.
The
policy was developed based on what is produced presently against the obvious
shortfalls. Supposedly, the policy should encourage local investors against
those whose core interest was importing and selling locally without the mind of
contributing to the national dream of self-sufficiency; but some stakeholders
allege that ‘portfolio investors” without clear investments on ground are
truncating the policy by reselling their quotas.
The Nigeria Rice Investor Group had explained
that the quota allocation given to both existing rice miller and investors in
equity was based on the supply gap of import grade rice of 1.5million metric
tonnes, “existing millers and others with expressed interest submitted Domestic
Rice Production Plan (DPP) and based on the submissions, a total of 1.3million
metric tones of rice import quota was issued to 25 qualifying millers at the
preferential levy of 20 percent and duty of 10 percent. The remaining 0.2 million
metric tonnes of rice imports was given at a higher levy and duty of 10
percent. To the group, government should be commended for its
transparency, “This is the first time that the government is so transparent in
allocation of quota in this industry, because they ensure that nobody is shut
out, farmers, millers, traders and outgrowers (smallholder farmers) have all
being considered”.
Owoeye
said that the government had contacted them as an association to provide a list
of their investments in the rice value chain. “We contacted all our members to
send details of their investment to the government, which they all complied
with; and, based on this list, allocations were given. If government had wanted
to sweep the allocation of quota under the carpet they wouldn’t have contacted
the association.” He, however, agreed that some quota beneficiaries
are trading their slots to interested buyers at 60 to 80 percent levy having
got the same at 20 percent.
He said
it implied that 60 percent levy is lower than what is charged as penalty,
otherwise why would anyone pay above that to buy from those who got the
waiver. “It may not be the best policy, but we moved from a static
position to a position where investors were encouraged, and government came up
with the criteria for assessing and qualification to be part of the investment
concession. Government had looked at four areas in assessing investment in
local rice value chain. They looked at Domestic Rice Production Plan, Paddy
Purchase Outlook –from paddy Application Center, Paddy Purchase from out-grower
scheme and farmers purchase and ownership of milling facility.
Owoeye
submitted that it was not possible for any investor without veritable
production plan to benefit from quota allocation, as the ministry has a team
that goes to verify this fact, in terms of production, rice farming, milling
capacity and outgrowers scheme. Chairman Mikap Rice and former
Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Andoaka, said before the
administration of President Jonathan came on board, the issue of quota was not
made public, as nobody knew how it was being distributed.
“But
this government changed; and now, local rice millers are getting the quota. So
people who monopolised it feel that something is wrong.” He alleged that it was
the cabal (the big-time rice importers) that are faulting government’s
action. He said he was not going to speak as if he is taking sides with
the government on the new rice policy, but maintained that no government in
recent times have given attention to agriculture like the current
administration is doing, “because I am a direct beneficiary of the
transformation in that sector, I started a small mill and in less than five
years I have expanded to 8.5 tonnes because of the support have received from
the government.
On the
Rice Quota, he said he never knew what it was all about. “I was surprised when
I got a call from the Ministry of Agriculture that, based on what the Minister
saw in my factory and Ashi Rice owned by the Governor of Benue State, we should
come over and get the rice quota. I never lobbied for it, even when I was in
government, it never happened. I am the Secretary of the Rice Millers
Association, many of our members have confirmed to have gotten the quota. We
simply went to the registry and were given the quota. Anybody who doubts this
level of transparency has other things in mind,” he noted.
Meanwhile, another rice investor commended the backward integration policy, but
faulted the manner in which the policy was being implemented.
He noted
that government applied the backward integration policy in an effort to stop
cement importation and today, Nigeria has not only attained self-sufficiency in
cement production but will soon become a net exporter.” He said:
“During the period, government did not allow investors to import finished
goods; it had to be the unfinished ones, so that it is brought to their factory
and processed, and gradually importation of cement was reduced. That was the
same advice we gave to the minister to discourage importation of finished rice
and then encourage importation of brown rice so that it is milled and packaged
in the country. However, the reverse is the case.”
He
expressed the fear that, with the way government is going about the
implementation of the policy, local rice millers may be forced out of business,
because they may not be able to compete favourably with the foreign rice,
thereby discouraging many of the farmers from growing paddy, which would in
turn affect plans to attain self sufficiency in rice production. It
would be noted that presently there is glut in the rice market, as it is
flooded with foreign rice. Distributors would rather buy cheaper foreign rice
at N6500, as against the local rice which gets to the market at the price of
N8,700.
The rice
investor disclosed that due to late release of the quota allocation, and the
removal of the embargo placed on rice importation, many of the investors went
ahead to import rice at 30 percent duty, having seen that they qualify for
quota allocation, thereby flooding the market with over 1.2million mt of
rice. He lamented that because of the present glut in the rice market,
many local millers have stopped production, because there is no market for
their produce. On the way out of the crisis, the investor said the
Federal Government should do all it can to end smuggling, as foreign rice still
makes its way into the Nigerian market through the Cotonou/Seme borders. He
also called for proper management of the import regime and the quota allocation.
The
source urged government to provide mechanisation and irrigation facilities, as
well as planting materials for rice farmers across the country. He said with
the glut in paddy rice in the north, there is still less production in the
Southeast, as rice farming is still being done with hoe and cutlass; and, since
there are no irrigation facilities, rice farming is done once a
year. Chairman of Stine rice, Akai Egwuomwu, noted that the
policy was a good one that could ensure self sufficiency in rice
production.
However, government need to look into the
manner in which it was being implemented, especially in the area of granting
waivers. He said waivers should not be given randomly, rather government should
anchor it on the milling capacity of the so-called investors. He
lamented that government was giving preferential treatment to investor, who had
planned investment against some others that have been in the business for the
past four years. He said: “A miller spend not less that N2billion in
establishing a mill, and after spending so much money, it would be unfair if
government do not give them consideration.”
He also advised that waiver should be given
for brown rice as this would further strengthen the capacity of the local
millers. A representative of one of the rice farms, told The Guardian
that there is no truth in the claim that they are owing the Federal Government,
as the minister cannot retroactively impose a quota in December 2014 and
request payment of excess duties for importations made when quota was not in
place and then want to impose penalty on them.He said: “There are about 10-11
of them who imported beyond the allotted quota and their names were not
mentioned.
The
importation we did was based on our level of investment in the rice value
chain. We have an existing investment of $100million.” He said
though the government mean very well, the way quotas are being given to people
without established mills, as against those with established mills, needs to be
checked. He further observed that there is an existing production
gap of 3million metric tonnes, with government only giving concession of
1.3million mt. He wondered what would happen to the remaining gap of 1.7million
metric tonnes.
On the way out of the crisis, he said there is
the need for the Ministry of Agriculture, Finance, Trade and Investment,
National Planning to do a thorough investigation of the quota regime and also
streamline the method in which it is being granted, and ensure that it is not
done randomly. He, however, frowned at the granting of
waiver to import brown rice, saying it would affect paddy production.
Source with thanks:http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/business/195183-unending-controversy-about-nigeria-s-rice-policy#sthash.ogLIxiTC.dpuf
Small scale rice dealers slam Trade Ministry
The
Small Scale Rice Dealers Association of Ghana (SSRIDA-GH) has said the
assertion by Ministry of Trade and Industry that the total ban of rice
importation is detrimental to the state is not nationalistic.The media report
attributed to Mr Ibrahim Murtala, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry said
Ghana’s rice self sufficiency is about 30 per cent and government consider as a
high priority to see the country productivity high.He, however, said a total
ban on rice importation is not the ideal thing to do and would also be in
violation of World Trade Organisation regulations.
Mr
Murtala said the country must also improve the quality and quantity of rice
production.The Minister was reacting to a call by SSRIDA-GH to Ministry of
Trade and Industry to ensure an outright ban of rice importation.It said the
ban on inland rice importation is not only having negative impact on the
traders but also discriminatory and in favour of the major players in the industry.A
statement issued by Yaw Korang, National Coordinator of SSRIDA-GH said given
monopoly of large scale importation of the commodity to foreigners is unfair,
and so if government finds it untenable for small-scale rice dealers to be in
business then an outright ban would be necessary .
“The
ban as it stands now is pushing poor Ghanaians out of business and helping
foreign traders to thrive,” the statement.The statement said the ministry on
October 14, 2013 served a notice of ban on inland importation of rice stating
that with effect from November 1, 2013, all imports of rice shall be done
through only the Kotoka International Airport, Tema and Takoradi Ports.“This
directive gave SSRIDA-GH only two weeks ultimatum to fold up our trading
business through the border. As petty traders, our capital base would not allow
us to do our business through the air or by the sea. The directive also came at
a time when we had made orders with loans for goods for the Christmas
festivity.
“We
humbly wish to state that our business is only a threat to the monopoly being
practiced by foreign rice importers, whose activities are a threat to the
nation`s economy because they do the importation under the cover of warehousing
and sell their products for high prices in dollar equivalence before paying
their revenue and sometimes run-off without paying.We do our business in the
CFA-FRANC and pay our duty into the consolidated fund at the borders before we
are allowed to bring our goods into the country to sell.The statement asked Dr
Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, the sector Minister to review the ban on inland importation
of rice or prohibit the trade in Ghana.
However
another statement by the SSRIDA-Ghana says the 500 million dollars spent
annually to import rice is a drain to the national economy and could be used to
step up the productivity of the crop.It said great rice producing nations like
Thailand dreamt big and were nationalistic enough to go great length to achieve
the feat.The statement said: “Nigeria was able to do it and now local rice is
in high demand in the West African nation.”It said for the Ministry to say that
total ban of rice importation is not feasible is “too simplistic, unpatriotic
and uninspiring. It can be done if we embrace the challenge”, the statement
said.
Source with thanks:http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/artikel.php?ID=343839
Nigeria: Agriculture Will Soon Overtake Oil
- Adesina
By Christiana Nwaogu
The minister of agriculture and rural
development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has boasted that the agricultural sector
would topple the nation's oil sector in no distant time.According to him, this
is feasible because the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) which is a
brainchild of President Goodluck Jonathan's Transformation Agenda, is geared
towards ushering in agricultural sector-led economic growth.Speaking on the
AGRIFEST 2015, an international Agriculture Exhibition organised by his
ministry to aid the sector in achieving green revolution, Adesina said that as
the price of crude oil plummets, he is convinced that agriculture will be the
new mainstay of the nation's economy.
The minister reeled out the achievements of his
ministry to include the recent disbursement of N122million grant to 27
Nagropreneurs across the six geo-political zones as a measure of boosting
agricultural production and also promoting its newly established project, the
Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme (YEAP).Noting that Nigeria's greater
future for inclusive growth lies in agriculture, he said food production had
risen massively and as a nation, Nigeria has produced additional 21 metric tons
of food within the last three years.Adesina listed other milestones of the
ministry under him to include the establishment of Marketing Corporation, nationwide
census of farmers and supply of subsidised fertilisers to 14million farmers.
Explaining that the elaborate event is aimed at
creating a distinct platform that will further boost the country's agriculture,
he added that it will also keep Nigerians abreast of the latest evolution in
technologies and food production.Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan
commended the minister at the event, saying agriculture is now the lifeline for
Nigeria.He said, "As crude oil prices decline, we must create new wealth
from the richness of our soils, the vastness of our rivers and the abundance of
our cheap labour. We will produce more, and we will industrialise the
agricultural sector."When I appointed Dr Akinwumi Adesina as the minister
of agriculture, I charged him to turn agriculture around. My vision was clear -
turn agriculture away from being a sector for managing poverty to one for
creating wealth. We now see agriculture as a business, not as a development
programme".
Noting that the rice revolution is taking place
across the country, the president said while high quality Nigerian rice is now
competing favourably with imported rice in the markets, rice importers cannot
hold the country hostage.He said, "Nigeria, our dear country will not be
held hostage by rice importers. There will be no sacred cows under my watch.
All those owing Nigeria on rice import duties must pay.""Rice farmers
across the country have a new lease of life, due to the transformation taking
place in the sector.
Over 6 million rice farmers have received
improved rice seed varieties, boosting domestic rice production by an
additional 7 million metric tons.""Our rice millers have taken
advantage of these new opportunities, and the number of integrated rice mills
has expanded from 1 (one) at the beginning of this administration, to 24 today.
And they are all here today. I celebrate you all. I eat Nigerian rice and can
tell you it is better than imported rice".
Source with thanks:http://allafrica.com/stories/201501260511.html
California
Rice Commission, Rice Farmers Hold Annual Grower Meetings
West
coast info session
YUBA CITY & WILLIAMS, C
Randy Russell, long time consultant for CRC,
discussed farm policy and the political atmosphere in Washington as it relates
to agriculture. Russell highlighted
issues for rice farmers to be aware of in the new Congress, including budget
and debt ceiling issues, trade, and tax reform.
Finally, Jeff Yasui, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk
Management Agency in Davis, California, talked about new and existing crop
insurance policies."With the political landscape shifting beneath our
feet, these face-to-face meetings are invaluable," said Mosely. "Excellent information was provided and
I think everyone came away more prepared to tackle challenges ahead."
Contact:
Evan Spencer (703) 236-1476
Source
with thanks:USA Rice Federation
Japanese rice: the new, safe luxury food in
China
By By Alexandra
Harney and Yuka Obayashi | Reuters – Sun,
25 Jan, 2015
By Alexandra Harney and Yuka Obayashi
SHANGHAI/TOKYO
(Reuters) - First it was European infant formula, then New Zealand milk. Now
Chinese consumers are adding Japanese rice to the list of everyday foods they
will bring in from abroad at luxury-good prices because they fear the local
alternatives aren't safe.The volume of rice imported from Japan remains small -
160 tonnes last year, according to Japan's National Federation of Agricultural
Cooperative Associations.
But that
is more than triple the total in 2013, a trend that illustrates Chinese
consumers' dwindling confidence in the safety of the country's own agricultural
produce."Chinese rice farmers use pesticides," said a seller
identified as Ying Ying, who started offering Japanese rice on the Taobao
online marketplace last August. "Japanese rice isn't polluted by heavy
metals."Pollution from industrialization has exacted a heavy toll on
China's soil and water. In May 2013, officials in Guangdong province in
southern China said 44 percent of rice samples contained excessive levels of
the metal cadmium.
A study
by the Ministry of Environmental Protection last April estimated that 16.1
percent of China's soil was contaminated. In parts of the country, soil
pollution is so bad that some rice farmers refuse to eat what they grow.After
the cadmium revelations, some Chinese consumers began to see rice from Thailand
as an affordable and safe substitute.In contrast, Japanese rice is neither
cheap nor easy to find in China. Japanese rice imported by Chinese grain trader
COFCO sells for 74 Chinese yuan ($12) a kg on PinStore, an online supermarket
run by Japanese trading house Sumitomo Corp.
Domestic rice sells there for as little as 7.5
yuan per kg.As demand grows, Chinese consumers are increasingly turning to
online platforms such as Taobao, run by Alibaba, to buy rice directly from
individuals in Japan.One person seems to have paid as much as 1,499 yuan ($241)
for five kg, according to Taobao.
Steep
prices, though, are no deterrent for some."Much tastier than Chinese rice.
Worth every cent - great texture and taste," one delighted buyer wrote on
Taobao.To meet demand, some Chinese producers now say they use Japanese seeds
and promote their rice as a safer alternative to purely domestic
strains.Zhejiang Xinxie Yueguang Agricultural Science and Technology says its
Echizen brand rice is safe and grown with "water from pure sources and
strict quality control". The packaging says the rice is a Japanese
variety.
But
Echizen rice is grown in Changxing county, a hub of lead-acid battery
production in eastern Zhejiang province. Battery production can be highly
polluting.Li Jun, general manager at Zhejiang Xinxie Yueguang, insisted the
company's rice had passed tests for lead, cadmium, mercury, pesticides and
other chemicals by state inspectors.The company had also found other areas to
grow rice where there was less concern about pollution, Li said.The Chinese eat
around 120 million tonnes of rice a year and the country imported more than 2.2
million in the first 11 months of 2014, including 1.2 million tonnes from
Vietnam and 626,000 tonnes from Thailand, customs data shows.
Japan is
a small rice exporter - just 3,777 tonnes in January to November 2014,
according to agriculture ministry data - but it is looking to boost shipments
to Asian countries as part of a wider push to export more agricultural
products.However, if the trend to China looks encouraging, any further increase
through normal export channels may be slow: the Chinese authorities have given
just one Japanese rice mill clearance to send polished rice.Others have begun
an application process but that has stalled. Some would-be suppliers have been
waiting for three years, a Japanese government official said.
($1 =
6.2275 Chinese yuan)
(This
version of the story corrects paragraph 2 to make clear the reference is to
imports from Japan)
(Additional
reporting by Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Alan Raybould)
Source
with thanks:http://news.yahoo.com/japanese-rice-safe-luxury-food-china-211610709--finance.html
Efficient rice farming to curb emissions
New
water- and cost-efficient farming techniques will allow Vietnam to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions in wet rice production by 15 to 20 percent by 2020,
said Mai Van Trinh, Director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development's Institute for Agricultural Environment.Trinh was speaking at a
recent conference on the first phase of the Project on Reduced CH4 Emissions in
Wet Rice Cultivation in Vietnam , jointly held by his institute and the
Manila-based International Rice Research Institute in Hanoi .
To
achieve the target, the ministry will use the System of Rice Intensification
(SRI), a plan in which farmers will increase productivity, quality and economic
effectiveness, while reducing pesticides and nitrogenous fertilisers, he
said.In addition to these measures, the ministry will also encourage farmers to
use green production methods. The sector will also apply Good Agricultural
Practices (GAP) in cultivation, which means using techniques that consume less
fertilisers and water, employing better land preparation techniques and
reducing methane emissions.
Another
technology mentioned at the conference was Alternative Wetting Drying
(AWD)."Actually, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in rice growing, the
institute has tried AWD while implementing a project on reducing CH4 emissions
in wet rice cultivation," Trinh said, adding that AWD is no longer strange
to rice growers in Vietnam, as it has already been incorporated in several
other programmes, including SRI.Vu Duong Quynh, the project coordinator, said a
major challenge with SRI is water management. Most problems are caused by the
unfavourable terrain in many areas, fragmented rice fields and a lack of
cooperation between irrigation staff and farmers.
This
is especially troublesome considering the fact that efficient irrigation is the
best way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.To overcome these difficulties,
Quynh said that in its first phase, from October 2014 to June 2016, the project
intends to collect lessons learnt from efficient irrigation models and to
gather data on land and infrastructure in each province, to make a
water-efficient irrigation map."When looking at this map, one can read out
which province can apply AWD, as not all types of land are suitable for this
technology," Quynh said. In the second phase, the project will incorporate
other technologies.
VNA
Tags:rice farming
to curb emissions
Source with thanks:http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/environment/122110/efficient-rice-farming-to-curb-emissions.html
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures
|
source with thanks:USA Rice Federation
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