World Rice Production 2014/2015
March 2015
This month the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that the World Rice Production 2014/2015 will be 474.86 million metric tons,
around 0.3 million tons more than the previous month's projection.
Rice Production last year (*) was
477.08 million tons. This year's 474.86 estimated million tons could represent
a decrease of 2.22 million tons or a 0.47% in rice
production around
the globe.
Rice
Production by Country
(Values in Metric Tons)
China: 144,500,000
India: 102,500,000
Others: 38,918,000
Indonesia: 36,500,000
Bangladesh: 34,600,000
Vietnam: 28,250,000
Thailand: 19,150,000
Philippines: 12,200,000
Burma: 12,150,000
Brazil: 8,300,000
Japan: 7,679,000
United States: 7,068,000
Pakistan: 6,500,000
Cambodia: 4,700,000
Egypt: 4,500,000
Korea, South: 4,241,000
Nepal: 3,100,000
Next Update will be April 09, 2015
https://www.worldriceproduction.com/?Referer=Newsletter
Rice farmers hurt by high imports,
unrest
Submitted by jakir1912 on Wed, 11/03/2015 -
1:14pm
Soaring rice imports and ongoing political
unrest have dampened paddy market sentiments, with many farmers having to sell
off their stock at lower prices.Prices of paddy -- mainly medium and coarse
grains -- have fallen by Tk 70-Tk 80 a maund (40kg) in more than two months,
since the harvest of aman paddy in December, farmers and millers said.Traders
are unenthusiastic about buying paddy due to shutdowns and slow demand at
mills.Paddy of the coarse quality sold at Tk 700 a maund at the same time last
year and they made some profit,one farmer said. However, he was unable to make
a profit this year as he had to pay more for pesticides and labour wages.
Farmers grew aman paddy on 54 lakh hectares
last season and harvested a good crop, according to agricultural extension
workers, growers and millers.A rice miller said prices of medium and coarse
grains were higher during the aman harvest. But prices fell gradually since the
end of December, by up to Tk 100 a maund."The main reason behind the fall
is a rise in imports, particularly from India. The ongoing blockade has also
affected the market."Rice imports hit a four-year high as traders find
foreign produce, mainly from India, cheaper.Private traders imported 8.75 lakh
tonnes of rice between July 1 last year and March 4 this year, the highest
since fiscal 2010-11.
The government did not import any rice during
the period, according to food ministry data. Majumder said prices of coarse
paddy, such as guti swarna, have now dropped to Tk 600-Tk 650 a maund from more
than Tk 700 after the aman harvest in December.Rice millers are already stuck
with unsold stocks of locally grown coarse and medium rice because of higher
demand for imported rice.Farmers said to have big stock of medium and coarse
paddy this year. But they are unable to sell as prices do not support. Only
price of scented rice has seen upward slope.Nirod Boron Saha, president of an
association of rice and paddy wholesalers at Naogaon, said paddy prices fell by
Tk 70-Tk 80 a maund since the end of aman harvest.
Bangladesh produced 3.44 crore tonnes of rice
in fiscal 2013-14, up from 3.38 crore tonnes a year ago, according to
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.Production was higher than the domestic food
grain requirement of nearly three crore tonnes, according to an estimate by
Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies. The government also claims that
the country has achieved self-sufficiency in rice production.
Source: Daily
Star/http://news.priyo.com/2015/03/11/rice-farmers-hurt-high-imports-unrest-128015.html
Familiar brands at work in Ukraine
Ukrainian farmers are
increasingly choosing Western and even Canadian-built machinery
Not many people would expect it, but rice is grown in Ukraine. And
to harvest it, many farmers are buying combines built by Western equipment
brands. Photo: Igor Pavlyuk
Ukraine is potentially one of the
largest markets for high-quality agricultural machinery. It’s a huge country,
at least by European standards, with varied soil and climatic conditions. And
the equipment Ukrainian farmers often opt for includes brands familiar to
Canadians, such as Versatile, Bourgault, Kello-Bilt, Schulte and Massey
Ferguson.
Two months ago I was on a business trip in the southern part of
Ukraine — very close to occupied Crimea — and took these photos. Ukraine is one
of the few countries in the region where it is possible to grow an exotic crop
such as rice. To grow it, this field is a depression in the ground of three
hectares (about 7.4 acres). In the spring water is poured in from an irrigation
canal, and in the fall it’s drained.
Canadian-built equipment brands are also becoming increasingly
common in Ukraine.
photo: Igor Pavlyuk
photo: Igor Pavlyuk
It is very difficult to find a combine able harvest rice in wet
soil. After testing a few models, these Ukrainian rice farmers chose a Massey
Ferguson 7347 S on tracks. Interestingly, rice can be harvested even in cold
weather, so the 7347 S has to work in conditions ranging from high humidity and
heat to freezing temperatures.Along with combines, Massey Ferguson tractors are
also becoming more popular in Ukraine. Equally popular are Kello-Bilt disc
harrows, which are used by farmers who often have to develop soil that has sat
idle for several years
http://www.grainews.ca/2015/03/10/familiar-brands-at-work-in-ukraine/
Women's unheralded role in rice
farming
A WOMAN farmer harvests the native
rice variety “kintoman” in the rice terraces of Maligcong in Bontoc town,
Mountain Province. EV ESPIRITU
As a babysitter in Hong Kong,
Margarita Allado was earning P9,000 monthly for two years. In 1992, she decided
to come home in Ilocos Norte province to help her husband tend their
1.5-hectare rice farm in the village of Pias Norte in Currimao town.She did not
regret her decision. The success of the farming venture gave her time to raise
their children well and provide for their education.“There’s personal
gratification, such as providing food for your family and selling the harvest,
in helping your husband tend the farm. You feed your family and you earn by
helping others put something in their stomach,” Allado said in a Philippine
Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) documentation of women involved in
farming.Allado, who is chair of the barangay council of Pias Norte, is among
the many women involved in rice farming in the country. Others tend their own
farms or support their husbands in farm work.
Male domain
Women’s roles in rice farming have
not been talked about since the work has always been considered a male
domain.PhilRice, through its Rice Science Museum in the Science
City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija province, has given women the recognition
they deserve by featuring them in a section of an exhibit, called
“Bountiful Harvest,” which opened recently.The exhibit is mounted with
assistance from the PhilRice Foundation Inc.Diadem Gonzales-Esmero, the museum
curator, said women’s roles in agriculture had not often been recognized based
on findings of several surveys.
“Through this exhibit, we hope the
public will appreciate more this unheralded women’s role [in rice farming],”
she said.Ten panels, quoting statistics based on a survey conducted by the
Philippine Center for Rural Development Studies (Centro Saka Inc.), showcased
in pictures the participation of women in different aspects of rice
production.“In planting, women outnumber the men, and months after, they lend
helping hands in harvesting and drying the produce, logging 2.33 more days in
harvesting and 2.75 more days in drying rice than the period men spend for
them,” one panel caption read.
On top of keeping the home and
ensuring that family members are nourished and children properly reared, women
spend as long as 11 hours a day during planting and harvesting seasons, another
panel said.“The woman … does not count the hours or the wages of her work on
the farm. But on top of them, whether life’s a breeze or a storm, the apt
rearing of her children and keeping the home are her top priorities. Off farm,
she prepares the tools for farm labor, does gardening, food foraging, wood
gathering and raises poultry or livestock and even endures ‘paglalabada’
(laundry work) for additional income,” it said.The wife leads in securing
capital for farm operation, but the husband has the bigger decision in spending
it.
“The husband depends on the wife on
her sound decision on household matters, medication in times of illness, what
food to prepare, appliances to buy, where to get money in times of emergencies
and even on whom to vote during elections,”another panel said.Other sections in
the museum display tools and other implements used in rice farming, which were
lent by the agricultural museum of Central Luzon State University, and the
technology used in achieving bountiful harvests.“Our exhibit is meant to spread
the history, culture, arts and sciences behind the Filipino staple,” Esmero
said.
Ifugao rice culture
The Rice Science Museum first
showcased rice science with the Ifugao rice culture as centerpiece when it
opened in September.Baguio City-based artist Roger Vibal, who was assisted by
PhilRice in-house artist Carlito Vibal, helped Esmero in planning and setting
up the exhibits.Agriculture Undersecretary Segfredo Serrano, who was guest
during the inauguration, said the project had put in right perspective the important
roles of the rice sector in the economy and society.“[We hope] that this museum
can address the concerns in rice production and the industry without much of
the sentimentality. Instead, [we focus on] realities and challenges faced by
the sector, rice farmers and consumers and their place in society, culture and
our common future,” Serrano said.
Half rice law crafted
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
RICE is a primary food source and the rice-based systems
are essential for food security, poverty alleviation, and improved
livelihoods.The theme for the International Year of Rice says, "Rice is
life".These are among the reasons why the city of Baguio, specifically
Vice Mayor Edison Bilog, crafted an ordinance that seeks to support such
campaign.An ordinance called "Half Rice Ordinance of the City of
Baguio" has been crafted in conformity to Department of the Interior and
Local Government Memorandum Circular No. 2015-06, which mandates the
documentation of ordinances of local government units in support of the
National Year of Rice and the "Be Riceponsible" Campaign.
Presidential Proclamation No. 494, declares National Year
of Rice in 2013 and onwards.In the explanatory note of the proposed ordinance,
it says "[t]here is a need to [support] this campaign because the Food and
Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI
– DOST) data shows that each Filipino wastes an average of 3.29 kilograms of
rice annually."The ordinance states it is a declared policy of the City
Government of Baguio's to support the "Be Riceponsible" campaign of
the Philippine Rice Research Institute and the Department of Agriculture in
order to achieve rice sufficiency.
Further, all establishments in the city offering food to
the public, including food chains, are required to include brown rice or
one-half cup serving of rice in their menu with its corresponding one-half
price as an option for the public customers.Those who violate the ordinance
shall face fines from P1,000 to up to P5,000 and possible cancellation of their
business permit.The ordinance is at its first reading at the Baguio City
Council and will undergo a series of public consultations. (Pryce Quintos)
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/local-news/2015/03/10/half-rice-law-crafted-396786
Favourite dishes of celebrated Pakistani and foreign leaders
Sabir
Shah
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
From Print Edition
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
From Print Edition
LAHORE: Pakistan’s incumbent Premier Nawaz Sharif and country’s
former president Asif Ali Zardari have not only displayed a great appetite for
delicious cuisines, but the duo has also earned a well-deserved reputation for
throwing sumptuous parties — showing the world a good number of times in recent
times how “food diplomacy” can even unite the worst political foes of
yesteryear on the same table.
Like Nawaz and Zardari, many renowned Pakistani and world leaders
have also had fabulous food tastes.While it is not uncommon abroad for food
journalists and biographers to scrutinize the eating habits of their leaders,
not much has been written in Pakistan in this context.A research conducted by
the Jang Group and Geo Television Network reveals that the former Indian
Premier Indira Gandhi did not seem to have been hugely interested in food,
though she had always showed great interest in the dishes of regions where she
was campaigning. However, her personal staff knew she was fond of small
sandwiches of smoked salmon.
She did not like chicken at all.(Reference: The November 3, 2009
edition of the “Economic Times”)According to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s
only daughter Dina Jinnah, her father mostly liked to have curry and rice
served on his dining table. He always had two cooks, an Indian and an Irish.He
always smoked his favorite “Craven A” cigarettes, one of the finest and the
most expensive brand at the time. Another account says he preferred dry
continental type food with bread. He would also have a piece of naa’n at
lunch.Allama Muhammad Iqbal was fond of rice pulao, mash-ki-daal seasoned with
ghee and bitter gourd (Karela) stuffed with minced meat.
Former Pakistani premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s all-time favourite
food was qeema, daal, pickle and chatni.His daughter and late Pakistani premier
Benazir Bhutto, according to the December 29, 2007 edition of “The Guardian,”
liked eating an English chocolate brand “Bendicks Bittermints.” She also
relished the delights of peppermint ice cream and apple cider during her stay
in England.The first-ever US President George Washington is often associated
with cherries. According to his biographers, he simply loved cherries, besides
being very fond of a wide variety of fruits, nuts and fish.
Interestingly, at the first-ever American State Dinner of May 29,
1789, General George Washington had feted his country’s vice-president, the
governor of New York, the ministers of France and Spain, the secretary of the
United States for Foreign Affairs and Speaker of the House of Representatives
of the United States with just a boiled leg of mutton, as it was his custom to
eat only one dish.After the dessert, a single glass of wine was offered to each
of the guests. When the president rose, the guests followed.
(Reference: William Baker’s 1898 book “Washington After the
Revolution”)
Sitting American President Barack Obama loves eating nuts, seeds
and raisins, besides having a strong appetite for “Fran’s Chocolates,” an
artisan chocolate brand from Seattle. While he prefers Fran’s Smoked Sea Salt
Caramel in Milk Chocolate ($24 for a 16-piece box); his wife Michelle prefers
dark chocolate.
(Reference: Sean Seedlock, the Fran’s marketing chief and USA
Today’s November 6, 2008 edition)
In drinks, Obama is a fan of the organic Black Forest Berry Honest
Tea.
(Reference: Seth Goldman, CEO of Honest Tea)
Former US President Ronald Reagan loved jelly beans and his
predecessor, Jimmy Carter, munched peanuts.George W. Bush is a pretzel lover. A
pretzel is a type of baked bread product made from dough most commonly shaped
into a knot.Former British premier Winston Churchill loved Continental tastes
when it came to drinking.
Churchill’s favorite brandy was “Hine,” his preferred Champagne
“Pol Roger,” and his top Scotch was “Johnnie Walker Red Label.” He would drink
champagne at all meals, and buckets of soda in between.During Queen Victoria’s
rule, as her biographers have mentioned, multicourse French menus used to be
served, although she herself was a frugal eater and showed little interest in
food.At least five different courses were served for her royal breakfast. Bacon
and eggs, chickens, chops, cutlets, sausages and steaks etc were just some of
the dishes on offer on the British monarch’s table.
However, Victoria would only eat one egg, served in a gold egg cup
with a gold spoon.One particular course she insisted should be made available
for lunch was a dish of curry and rice, served with considerable ceremony by
two Indian servants.The royal supper was undoubtedly the most elaborate meal of
the day. It was customary to serve both thick and clear soups, as well as fish
either plainly cooked or prepared according to elaborate recipes requiring
complicated sauces and flamboyant dressing.Mahatama Gandhi was the simplest of
all.
In his book “Key to health,” Gandhi had written: “Now let us
consider how often and how much should one eat. Food should be taken as a
matter of duty-even as a medicine-to sustain the body, never for the
satisfaction of the palate. Thus, pleasurable feeling comes from satisfaction
of real hunger.”Former US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s favourite dish
was scrambled eggs, cooked by his wife. At Sunday night suppers, besides at
breakfast, scrambled eggs were the main White House dish.
(Reference: The January 15, 1939 edition of the New York Times)
Another former US President Harry Truman was not a picky eater,
but he preferred traditional farm style food like roast and fried chicken. When
pushed to comment on his food preferences, he had once stated: “Never notice
what’s put before me. Learned in the army to eat what could be obtained and
like it. In my outfit when a man kicked about the food, he was given a chance
to improve it.
That soon cured the kickers and they took what was put before them
and liked it.”Dwight D. Eisenhower, another celebrated American President, was
an accomplished cook who enjoyed preparing food for family and guests.President
Eisenhower was fond of apple pie, rice pudding cooked the British way and a
pitcher of heavy cream passed with dessert.French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte
loved eating alone. He liked eggs fried in butter, potatoes, beans and lentils.
He was fond of soup too. He never drank alcohol, but ended every meal with a
cup of coffee.
(Reference: Christian Guy’s 1962 book “An Illustrated History of
French Cuisine from Charlemagne to Charles de Gaulle.” This book was translated
by Elisabeth Abbott in English)
US President James Monroe, like his former teacher and mentor
President Thomas Jefferson, was fond of Continental cuisines, but he was
equally fond of fried chicken with rice.President John Quincy Adams, with all
his exposure to diverse European cuisines, showed little interest in
food.President Andrew Jackson liked hot water corn cakes served with caramelized
onions, roasted lamb chops with rosemary, cheese and grapes.President James
Polk had a great liking for Tomato Omelette.
(Reference: “The Presidents’ Cookbook” by authors Poppy Cannon and
Patricia Brooks)
Research reveals that Mongolian rulers of the Yuan Dynasty were
especially fond of mutton, and 80 per cent of the dishes in their palace were
made of mutton.Similarly, the Qing Dynasty rulers ate pork and their cooking
methods included stewing, roasting and boiling of meat.
(Reference: Chinese government’s official guide to the city of
Beijing)
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-306147-Favourite-dishes-of-celebrated-Pakistani-and-foreign-leaders
Basmati rice exports to Iran likely to resume soon
After several rounds of discussions, Iran is likely to start
issuing permits to Indian exporters, paving the way for basmati exports.“India
may resume exports of basmati rice exports to Iran early next year,” said Ajay
Sahai, Director General of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations
(FIEO).Basmati rice exports from India in 2013-14 are likely to decline 10 per
cent due to Iran’s temporary stoppage of fresh order issuances. The country has
not issued any fresh import permits after October 2014. However, execution of
existing and past orders has continued.
“India does not face any ban in terms of basmati rice exports to
Iran. Only thing is Iran has not issued import permits, which it does to any
country before bringing consignments into its territory, since October due to
oversupply. During past years, Iran had imported large quantity of basmati rice
from India,” said A K Gupta, Director, Agricultural & Processed Food
Products Export Development Authority (Apeda).Once, import permit is issued, India
would commence exports of basmati rice to Iran, said Gupta.India’s overall
basmati rice exports declined by over six per cent at 2.57 million tonne during
April and December 2014 as compared to 2.74 million tonnes reported in the
corresponding period last year.
In value terms, overall basmati rice exports declined by 2.64
per cent to $3373.23 million in the first nine months of the current financial
year as compared to $3465 million in the same period last year. But average per
tonne realisation increased to Rs 80,000 this year as compared to Rs 75,000
during the previous year.While country-wise bifurcation is not available,
experts believe, exports to Iran has declined by 15-20 per cent this year.Iran
is the largest basmati rice importer, accounting for around 60-65 per cent of
total premium rice exports from India. India exported 1.44 million tonne of
basmati rice worth $1,834 million to Iran in 2013-14. During 2012-13, however,
basmati rice shipments to Iran totaled 1.08 million tonnes worth $1187 million.
Basmati was India’s second largest export commodity after
buffalo meat.A recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations estimated Iran’s rice output in 2014 at all time record of three
million tonnes as compared to 2.9 million tonne and 2.8 million in the two
subsequent previous years. Total cereal output in Iran, however, is estimated
to decline by 4.4 per cent to 20.4 million tonne in 2014 as compared to 21.4
million tonnes and 21.3 million tonnes in 2013 and 2012, respectively.Apart
from basmati, India exports non-basmati rice and other cereals to Iran to the
tune of around $150 million annually.
Source: Business Standard
Source: Business Standard
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/basmati-rice-exports-to-iran-likely-to-resume-soon/
PH scientists,
farmers chide Canada-based group over alleged refusal to debate on GMO rice
safety
MANILA, Philippines – Filipino
farmers and scientists based in Laguna province criticized a Canada-based lobby
group over its alleged refusal to engage in a public debate on the safety of
genetically engineered rice.
“The rabid Golden Rice lobby group,
Allow Golden Rice Now! has left the Philippines with their tails behind their
legs, and cowed by the intense resistance showed by the farmers opposing the
unsafe and unwanted Golden Rice,” said Masipag, a nework of farmers’ groups,
scientist and non-government organizations in the Philippines.
Masipag said the lobby group from
Canada had toured the Philippines from March 3 to 10 to campaign “for the
adoption of the genetically modified ‘Golden Rice’.”The visit was part of the
group’s Asia campaign tour. They will also travel to Bangladesh and India to
promote Golden Rice. Headed by Patrick Moore, the group “peddled the
genetically modified rice while demonizing the farmers and other sectors who
had expressed their opposition to the Golden Rice,” according to Masipag.“It
appears (that) Patrick Moore and his cohorts chose not to face the farmers in a
debate because they know that they will be exposed as frauds and agents of disinformation,”
said Dr. Chito Medina, Masipag national coordinator.
“Instead they sneak around the
country spewing misleading claims on the technology, and even on organizations
that are critical to Golden Rice,” added Medina.According to Masipag, Golden
Rice “has been modified to express beta-carotene, a precursor of Vitamin
A…which is being developed by the International Rice Research Institute” to
supposedly address Vitamin A Deficiency in developing countries such as the
Philippines.”But Filipino farmers allied with Masipag insisted that there were
enough Vitamin A-rich foods in nature and in cultivated farms “making
Golden Rice unnecessary and unwanted.”“We cultivate a number of vegetables and
fruits that are safe sources not only of Vitamin A, but also other nutrients
that our body needs to be healthy,” said Lolit Saberola, a farmer from Tayabas,
Quezon. “As a mother, I would not want to expose my children and grandchildren
to Golden Rice.
”More than 70 farmers from the
provinces of Quezon, Nueva Ecija, and Pangasinan trooped to the Department of
Agriculture last March 6 to urge the agency to stop the commercialization of
Golden Rice in the country.Masipag farmers, along with the Resist
Agrochemical TNCs alliance displayed vegetables such as malunggay (moringga),
sweet potato, water cabbage, lettuce, yellow potatoes as examples of local and
natural foods that are rich in important nutrients. The group likewise called
for a genuine agrarian reform, as most Filipino farmers do not even have their
own land to till, as well as access to other basic agricultural services.
“The sneaky ways of Allow Golden
Rice Now shows that their lobbying is based (neither) on principles nor
science, but are underhanded and deceiving,” said Medina.“They would be better
off to go back home and understand first the core issue of hunger and poverty
in the developing countries rather than pontificate on technologies that are
not appropriate, unnecessary and unwanted," he added.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/106728/ph-scientists-farmers-chide-canada-based-group-over-alleged-refusal-to-debate-on-gmo-rice-safety
Understanding plants' immune systems could lead to better tomatoes,
roses, rice
posted by news on march 11, 2015 - 8:00pm
Spring is just around the corner and for millions of
Americans, that means planting a garden with plenty of fruits and vegetables,
including tomatoes. However, some of the plants will be infected by bacteria,
leading to stunted growth and less nutritional value. Now, a University of
Missouri research team has uncovered new regulations of defense pathways for
plants. This discovery could lead to helping those home-grown tomatoes fight
off certain bacteria better and has implications for pear trees, roses,
soybeans and rice."Each year, millions of dollars are lost from damage to
crops and ornamental plants caused by pathogens, which include a bacteria known
as Pseudomonas Syringae," said Antje Heese, assistant professor of
biochemistry at MU.
"This bacteria
directly affects tomatoes and causes speck disease that permanently damages the
fruit and leaves. In our study, we used Arabidopsis thaliana, a plant that has
the same immune response as tomatoes but grows at a faster rate, to study the
immune responses of plants."Previously, researchers thought that a plant
defended itself against bacteria by activating a specific, several-step
process. However, Heese's team found that if the plant is exposed to bacteria,
it actually activates its immune system using three separate mechanisms.Heese
and her research team, including MU graduate student John M. Smith, confirmed
that each mechanism responding to the infection is doing so independently of
the other two mechanisms, and that each of these mechanisms must have the right
amount of specific proteins, called immune receptors, in the right place to
respond appropriately.
Having the right combination provides the plant with an
effective and efficient immune response. This discovery could allow future
scientists to create new strategies to help plants fight disease and lead to
better crops."Like any living organism, plants have limited resources and
they have to use those resources effectively," Heese said. "If the
plant makes too much of the proteins responsible for these mechanisms, they
will suffer in other areas, such as creating quality fruit. This same discovery
can be applied to many crops, including rice and soybeans, and ornamental
plants, including roses, pear and apple trees.
The information discovered in this study gives scientists
something new to study in plants, with the eventual goal of better crops and
ornamental plants."The study, "Loss of Arabidopsis thaliana
Dynamin-Related Protein 2B Reveals Separation of Innate Immune Signaling
Pathways," was published PLOS Pathogens. Sebastian Bednarek, professor of
biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and MU assistant professors
Abe Koo and Peter Cornish contributed to this research. The study was supported
by grants from the National Science Foundation (No. 1147032 and No. 0446157)
and the University of Missouri.
http://www.sciencecodex.com/understanding_plants_immune_systems_could_lead_to_better_tomatoes_roses_rice-152698
Basmati rice exports to Iran likely to resume soon
After several rounds of discussions, Iran is likely to start
issuing permits to Indian exporters, paving the way for basmati exports.“India
may resume exports of basmati rice exports to Iran early next year,” said Ajay
Sahai, Director General of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations
(FIEO).Basmati rice exports from India in 2013-14 are likely to decline 10 per
cent due to Iran’s temporary stoppage of fresh order issuances. The country has
not issued any fresh import permits after October 2014. However, execution of
existing and past orders has continued.“India does not face any ban in terms of
basmati rice exports to Iran.
Only thing is Iran has
not issued import permits, which it does to any country before bringing
consignments into its territory, since October due to oversupply. During past
years, Iran had imported large quantity of basmati rice from India,” said A K
Gupta, Director, Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development
Authority (Apeda).Once, import permit is issued, India would commence exports
of basmati rice to Iran, said Gupta.India’s overall basmati rice exports
declined by over six per cent at 2.57 million tonne during April and December
2014 as compared to 2.74 million tonnes reported in the corresponding period
last year.In value terms, overall basmati rice exports declined by 2.64 per
cent to $3373.23 million in the first nine months of the current financial year
as compared to $3465 million in the same period last year.
But average per tonne
realisation increased to Rs 80,000 this year as compared to Rs 75,000 during
the previous year.While country-wise bifurcation is not available, experts
believe, exports to Iran has declined by 15-20 per cent this year.Iran is the
largest basmati rice importer, accounting for around 60-65 per cent of total
premium rice exports from India. India exported 1.44 million tonne of basmati
rice worth $1,834 million to Iran in 2013-14. During 2012-13, however, basmati
rice shipments to Iran totaled 1.08 million tonnes worth $1187 million.Basmati
was India’s second largest export commodity after buffalo meat.
A recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations estimated Iran’s rice output in 2014 at all time record of three
million tonnes as compared to 2.9 million tonne and 2.8 million in the two
subsequent previous years. Total cereal output in Iran, however, is estimated
to decline by 4.4 per cent to 20.4 million tonne in 2014 as compared to 21.4
million tonnes and 21.3 million tonnes in 2013 and 2012, respectively.Apart
from basmati, India exports non-basmati rice and other cereals to Iran to the
tune of around $150 million annually.
Source: Business Standard
Source: Business Standard
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/basmati-rice-exports-to-iran-likely-to-resume-soon/
California Agricultural Leadership Group Visits USA Rice
From left: Sarah Moran,
Rick Rhody, Betsy Ward, and
Jeff Milinovich with
California Central Packing Company
ARLINGTON, VA -- Class 45 of the California Agricultural
Leadership Program visited USA Rice Federation headquarters today to learn
about the work of the national rice organization. The 17-month program provides advanced
leadership development for emerging agricultural leaders and exposes
participants to a wide array of ag business and technical interests. The current class members represent a broad
spectrum of California crops and agribusiness, and include Rick Rhody with The
Sun Valley Rice Company, and rice grower Correen Davis from Gorrill Ranch in
Durham, CA.
The program includes an international session,
so much of today's meeting with USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward, COO
Bob Cummings, and International Promotion Director Sarah Moran focused on trade
issues facing the rice industry and U.S. ag interests in general. "The
group was very engaged and asked excellent questions," said Ward. "As with our industry's Rice Leadership
Program, the investment in California's future ag leaders will pay enormous
dividends going forward and we were happy to share our knowledge and experience
with the group."
Contact: Trish Alderson (703) 236-1472
Japan Announces 14th Ordinary Import Tender in FY 2014
|
Announcement: 10
March 2015
Tender: 13
March 2015
Offer
details: 64,368
mt
Shipping
period: (U.S.A.)
from 20 September 2015 to 20 October 2015
(Thailand)
from 10 July 2015 to 20 August 2015
from 20 July 2015 to 31 August 2015
from 10 August 2015 to 20 September 2015
|
CCC Announces Prevailing World Market Prices
|
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Department of Agriculture's
Commodity Credit Corporation today announced the following prevailing world market prices of
milled and rough rice, adjusted for U.S. milling yields and location, and the
resulting marketing loan-gain (MLG) and loan deficiency payment (LDP) rates
applicable to the 2014 crop, which became effective today at 7:00 a.m.,
Eastern Time (ET). Prices are unchanged from the previous announcement.
This week's prevailing world market prices and MLG/LDP rates are based on the following U.S. milling yields and the corresponding loan rates:
The next program announcement is scheduled for March 18. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures
|
Californian water crisis set to
maintain global rice prices
Updated
Rice harvest in southern New
South Wales starts this month, but all eyes appear to be on Australia's
competition overseas.
Media player: "Space" to play, "M" to mute,
"left" and "right" to seek. 00:0000:00
California is heading into its fourth year of
drought, which is expected to hurt its rice production again this year.The US
state is Australia's main competitor in medium-grain rice markets.In 2014,
farmers in the Sacramento Valley harvested 53,000 hectares of rice, a 23 per
cent decline on the previous season.Rob Gordon, CEO of Australian rice
processor SunRice, said reservoirs in some of California's key rice growing
areas were extremely low."Rainfall has been lower than average," he
said.
"As a consequence, the dams that were lower and
coming into the wet season have not filled up and are about half to three
quarters of their average."Importantly, the Californians rely on snowpack,
as it melts and comes down into their reservoirs. That's running at around 24
per cent of their average."People that are looking to buy water for the
use in the city are starting to make very attractive pricing decisions on
purchasing water."In reality, it means that to grow a rice crop you have
to have a very high price to make sense of that, versus selling your water for
town use."So what did this mean for global rice prices in 2015 ?
Mr Gordon was still optimistic
returns would remain firm for local growers."Prices this year we think
have been strong," he said."We anticipate there are some factors that
could weigh against it and some that will weigh for it."There's some way
to go before we can put an absolute number on it."We're just striking
budgets, as we speak."
Rice, rubber deals with China expected to be inked in May
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION March 12, 2015 1:00 am
THAILAND and China are expected to sign a contract in May
for China to purchase 2 million tonnes of Thai rice and 200,000 tonnes of
rubber, following further discussions between the countries.After a meeting
between Thai Commerce Minister General Chatchai Sarikalya and Wang Xiaotao,
vice minister of China's National Development and Reform Commission, in Bangkok
yesterday on agricultural trading cooperation, Thailand is confident that China
will soon ink the rice-purchase agreement, along with an agreement regarding
the construction of dual-track railways in the Kingdom.
The next meeting between the countries' officials is set
for May 6 in Beijing, when a purchasing contract could be signed for rice and
rubber. Thailand and China inked a memorandum of understanding for the purchase
of 2 million tonnes of rice and 200,000 tonnes of rubber, as well as dual-track
railways, last December.Under the planned deal, China will purchase 2 million
tonnes of rice over two years, 2015 and 2016.China will purchase 1 million
tonnes of 5-per-cent rice from the new harvest season, and the same amount from
previously harvested rice. For the trading of rubber, Thailand's Rubber Estate
Organisation and China's Sino-ken agency will discuss an agreement for China to
purchase 200,000 tonnes at a friendship price, said Chatchai.
During the Chinese delegation's current mission to
Thailand, talks will be held today about a dual-track railway construction
contract.Chatchai added that the government would also encourage the Chinese
authorities to continue importing rice from Thailand under a previous MoU
concerning the purchase of 1 million tonnes of produce.So far, China has
imported 300,000 tonnes under the deal.Meanwhile, the Commerce Ministry and the
Finance Ministry will set up a working committee to follow up a case for the
government in seeking compensation for individuals and companies in connection
with four illegal government-to-government rice contracts, said the commerce minister.He
added that his ministry would today also make a final decision on whether to
discharge two government officials found to have been involved in the illegal
contracts. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Rice-rubber-deals-with-China-expected-to-be-inked--30255822.html
VIETNAM PRESS-Rice output to dip to 11.86 mln T - Hanoi Moi
The winter-spring rice crop,
Vietnam's largest, is expected to provide 11.86 million tonnes of paddy in the
southern region, down 0.6 percent from a year earlier, due mainly to a drop in
the planting area, according to an agriculture ministry report, the Hanoi Moi
(New Hanoi) newspaper reported.Vietnam is the world's third-largest rice
exporter after Thailand and India.
----
NOTE: Reuters has not verified this
story and does not vouch for its accuracy. (Compiled by Hanoi Newsroom; Editing
by Prateek Chatterjee)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-2989087/VIETNAM-PRESS-Rice-output-dip-11-86-mln-T--Hanoi-Moi.html#ixzz3UD5fjXZD
India's food
exports dip, wheat hit hardest
India’s food export volumes have shrunk in the current
fiscal with other countries eating into its business share by offering lower
prices for their agricultural and food products.
PUNE: India's food export volumes have shrunk in the current
fiscal with other countries eating into its business share by offering lower
prices for their agricultural and food products. European Union's ban on Indian
mangoes, though lifted now, and other agri produce also contributed to the
slide.
A recent report of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority ( APEDA) has showed that exports of some major commodities in agricultural and food products from India dipped in 2014-15 as compared to last year.
The highest drop in export volumes has been recorded for wheat (36%), pulses (37%) and fruits and seeds (33%) in the April to December period last year as compared to the same period in 2013. Exports of fresh vegetables fell by 3%, fruits by 7% and basmati rice by 6%, the report stated.Officials in the agricultural and processed food authority said that the demand for Indian produce came down this year in particular, because other exporting countries were selling their produce at a much lower price than India.Apart from basmati rice and wheat, other cereals registered an export drop of about 10%. Exports of non-basmati rice from India, however, increased by 12% last year in the April-December period as compared to the same period in 2013.
A senior official from the agricultural and processed food authority said that general demand for Indian produce has come down internationally due to competition from other countries. "Devalued currency in Russia, Latin America, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) among others had these countries exporting the same produce at a lower price than India," the official said.Other factors too led to the drop. For instance, India's rice is exported to Iran, but this time Iran had old stock and better domestic production of rice, which led to a dip in rice exports from India to the country.
PUNE: India's food export volumes have shrunk in the current
fiscal with other countries eating into its business share by offering lower
prices for their agricultural and food products. European Union's ban on Indian
mangoes, though lifted now, and other agri produce also contributed to the
slide.A recent report of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority ( APEDA) has showed that exports of some major commodities in agricultural and food products from India dipped in 2014-15 as compared to last year.
The highest drop in export volumes has been recorded for wheat (36%), pulses (37%) and fruits and seeds (33%) in the April to December period last year as compared to the same period in 2013. Exports of fresh vegetables fell by 3%, fruits by 7% and basmati rice by 6%, the report stated.Officials in the agricultural and processed food authority said that the demand for Indian produce came down this year in particular, because other exporting countries were selling their produce at a much lower price than India.Apart from basmati rice and wheat, other cereals registered an export drop of about 10%. Exports of non-basmati rice from India, however, increased by 12% last year in the April-December period as compared to the same period in 2013.
A senior official from the agricultural and processed food authority said that general demand for Indian produce has come down internationally due to competition from other countries. "Devalued currency in Russia, Latin America, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) among others had these countries exporting the same produce at a lower price than India," the official said.Other factors too led to the drop. For instance, India's rice is exported to Iran, but this time Iran had old stock and better domestic production of rice, which led to a dip in rice exports from India to the country.
India's fruits and vegetables are exported to all the major countries, mainly to the Middle East, Far East and SAARC countries.Officials in the state agriculture department, however, said that the dip in exports was also due to a ban by EU on mangoes, eggplant, the taro plant, bitter gourd and snake gourd and on chillies by UAE in 2014."Also, this year, India did not have a good supply season. Every item is exported in a particular supply period. If before India's supply season, other supplying countries are able to sell their produce in a big way and at lower prices, then the importing countries do not exhibit much demand for Indian produce at competitive prices. At this juncture, selling the produce in the local or domestic market is more viable for the exporters," the official added.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Indias-food-exports-dip-wheat-hit-hardest/articleshow/46523309.cms
Rice market hinges
on China
By Su Phyo Win
| Wednesday, 11 March 2015
International rice prices have declined steadily in the past six
months, driven lower partly by a flood of Thai rice following last year’s coup.Local exporters say they initially weathered the competition well,
given strong and expanding demand from China.U Lu Maw Myint Maung, one of the
country’s top rice exporters and joint secretary of the Myanmar Rice
Federation, said world prices for local rice had been about US$360 a tonne,
though this dropped to $300 once the Thai floodgates open.“But Myanmar has a strong
market with a good price in China. Yunnan province is far closer to Muse, and
that route saved market prices from dropping too much,” he said.
The Ministry of Commerce had targeted exports of 2 million tonnes
for this fiscal year, though exports have reached about 1.5 million tonnes,
with less than a month left in the fiscal year. About 1 million tonnes were
exported to China.The Bangkok Post reported last week that Thailand has held
five auctions since last May that have sold over 1 million tonnes of stored
rice, with more auctions planned.The previous Thai administration had
stockpiled rice in a failed attempt to corner the world market, though this
policy was reversed following the 2014 military coup.The road to China has not
been without trouble, however.Starting last September, Chinese authorities
began a clampdown on the trade. While it is technically illegal from Beijing’s
point of view, its officials at the Muse crossing often turned a blind eye to
imports.
Myanmar and Chinese officials have now been discussing legalising
the trade. As part of the deal, the Myanmar Rice Federation chose nine
companies qualified to begin legal trade by sea to China’s eastern seaboard.The
selection of the nine companies prompted criticism, as rice traders took to social
media to vent their frustration at begin left out.U Lu Maw Myint Maung said the
plan had always been to register 10 companies at a time, until the
more-than-100-member companies of the Myanmar Rice Federation are registered
for the China trade.
Following the initial outcry, a second round of licensing was
organised after the first round, but no companies submitted bids – while over
100 had submitted bids the first time around.U Law Myint Maung said that
companies may be satisfied with the usual way of conducting experts overland in
Muse, which has so far taken place unlicensed.“Some companies are not too
interested in normal [official] exports so that may be the reason why no
companies applied the second time,” he said.He added that rice traders, SMEs and
the Myanmar Rice Federation are now attempting to tackle the disputes to
developing the China trade.
http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/13461-rice-market-hinges-on-china.html
Rice farmers hurt by high imports, unrest
Sohel Parvez
An increase in imports from India
as well as the low demand from millers due to the ongoing blockade is forcing
rice farmers to sell the crop at lower prices than last year. Photo: Star/File
Soaring rice imports and ongoing
political unrest have dampened paddy market sentiments, with many farmers
having to sell off their stock at lower prices.Prices of paddy -- mainly medium
and coarse grains -- have fallen by Tk 70-Tk 80 a maund (40kg) in more than two
months, since the harvest of aman paddy in December, farmers and millers
said."Paddy prices usually go up at this time.
But the market is behaving just the
opposite this year," Hafizur Rahman Dilu, a farmer from the southwest
district of Bagerhat, told The Daily Star by phone.With hopes of getting better
prices, the 35-year-old farmer did not sell his coarse paddy despite getting an
offer of Tk 670 a maund from a trader last month.However, prices plummeted and
Dilu had to sell his stock of 150 maunds of paddy at Tk 630 a maund last
week."Traders are unenthusiastic about buying paddy due to shutdowns and
slow demand at mills."Paddy of the same quality sold at Tk 700 a maund at
the same time last year and they made some profit, he said. However, he was
unable to make a profit this year as he had to pay more for pesticides and
labour wages.
"All my handwork went in
vain," Dilu said.Farmers grew aman paddy on 54 lakh hectares last season
and harvested a good crop, according to agricultural extension workers, growers
and millers.Chitta Majumder, a rice miller, said prices of medium and coarse
grains were higher during the aman harvest. But prices fell gradually since the
end of December, by up to Tk 100 a maund, he said."The main reason behind
the fall is a rise in imports, particularly from India. The ongoing blockade
has also affected the market."Rice imports hit a four-year high as traders
find foreign produce, mainly from India, cheaper.Private traders imported 8.75
lakh tonnes of rice between July 1 last year and March 4 this year, the highest
since fiscal 2010-11.
The government did not import any
rice during the period, according to food ministry data. Majumder said prices
of coarse paddy, such as guti swarna, have now dropped to Tk 600-Tk 650 a maund
from more than Tk 700 after the aman harvest in December."The demand for
local coarse and medium rice dropped due to imports. So, no rice mill is
willing to purchase coarse paddy amid worries of stockpiles for low demand,"
said Majumder, also a rice importer.Rice millers are already stuck with unsold
stocks of locally grown coarse and medium rice because of higher demand for
imported rice, he said.
"If the situation continues,
rice and paddy prices will decline further after the start of the boro paddy
harvest," Majumder said. Farmers will begin harvesting boro, the main
crop, by the end of next month."Farmers still have a huge stock of coarse
paddy," said ASM Sishnabi Mandal, a grower from Dinajpur. Only the price
of scented rice has gone up, he added.Nirod Boron Saha, president of an
association of rice and paddy wholesalers at Naogaon, said paddy prices fell by
Tk 70-Tk 80 a maund since the end of aman harvest.
"The sluggish demand for
locally grown coarse and medium rice means that a huge amount of paddy and rice
will remain unsold with big farmers, stockists and millers."Saha said
increasing imports might push prices of rice and paddy further down and affect
farmers."It will be tough for farmers to recover their investment. The
recent paddy harvests were good and the government should discourage imports
for the sake of the farmers."Bangladesh produced 3.44 crore tonnes of rice
in fiscal 2013-14, up from 3.38 crore tonnes a year ago, according to
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
Production was higher than the
domestic food grain requirement of nearly three crore tonnes, according to an
estimate by Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies.The government also
claims that the country has achieved self-sufficiency in rice production.Saha
said any supply in excess of demand puts downward pressures on prices. "We
are seeing this effect.”
http://www.thedailystar.net/business/rice-farmers-hurt-high-imports-unrest-70833
Nigeria: Olam Unveils Locally Produced Rice in Nigeria
Tagged:AgribusinessFood and
AgricultureBusinessCommoditiesNigeriaWest Africa
By Femi Adekoya
TO bridge the demand-supply gap in the rice industry, Olam
Nigeria Limited has unveiled its locally produced rice to the Nigerian
market.Speaking at the official launch of the 50kg bags of rice in Lagos,
recently, Olam's Business Head for Rice, Anil Nair explained that the launch
was designed to meet growing local demands for the commodity as well as reduce
its importation.He explained that the launch of the commodity in Lagos was
strategic since the state holds the largest market of consumers of rice.
He said, "There are lots of paddy been produced and
Lagos being the biggest market in the country is having local rice coming to
it. It is a sign of good things to come and we hope that two years from now, we
will be able to bridge the gap. We have a milling capacity of about 800,000
tonnes in the country and we hope to help this country eliminate import
completely."Although, moving the commodity through the road network has
been a major challenge affecting the cost of production but we believe
overtime, we will overcome this challenge. It is just a matter of time for all
these to be put in place.
The transformation
agenda of the federal government is commendable, there are many people working
with agenda and others too will come in the nearest future".On the
perception that imported brands of rice are of higher quality than locally
produced ones, Nair explained that the issue is just a mindset issue, adding
that, "it is a practice of milling. If you have state-of-the-art
machineries, you can eliminate stones and dust completely. The Nigerian rice is
more nutritious than the rice from anywhere else.
The quality of the
soil and fertilizers are very good and perfect. The company has been into
backward integration of rice since 2004."The initial challenge we had in
our facility in Benue State was having paddy of good quality and varieties but
this in the last four years has reduced. We also have thousands of outgrowers
working with us and we also buy paddy from the market."The challenges are
being eliminated slowly. Smuggling is also one of the biggest concerns that we
have because if you go round the Nigerian market, you will see a lot of
smuggled rice in the market. I believe farmers and manufacturers are finding it
difficult to compete with imported rice".
It could be recalled that Olam had raised its stake on
investment in rice cultivation to close the gap in rice importation and
increase the nation's chances in rice self sufficiency with the inauguration of
its state-of-the-art rice mill at its large-scale pioneering rice farm in
Nigeria's Nasarawa State last year.The integrated rice milling facility is
expected to provide 36, 000 metric tonnes (MT) of milled rice yearly to the
domestic market, contributing to the Federal Government's goal to improve rice
self-sufficiency.National President, Rice Traders Association of Nigeria, Mrs
Olufunmilayo Akinsanya said: "We are very happy to see that this type of
high quality rice can be grown here in Nigeria.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201503111284.html
India to start exporting basmati rice to Iran: KRBL
India
may soon start exporting basmati rice into Iran as the country, which had
stopped the same last year due to oversupply, is set to restart imports into
the country, according to media reports. In an interview with CNBC-TV18, Anil
Mittal, CMD of KRBL, discussed the development.
India to start exporting basmati rice to Iran:
KRBL India may soon start exporting basmati rice into Iran as the country,
which had stopped the same last year due to oversupply, is set to restart
imports into the country, according to media reports. In an interview with
CNBC-TV18, Anil Mittal, CMD of KRBL, discussed the development. Midcap Radar
01:30 pm India may soon start exporting basmati rice into Iran as the country,
which had stopped the same last year due to oversupply, is set to restart
imports into the country, according to media reports.
India
exported basmati rice of 2.57 million tonne between April and December last
year, down 6 percent year-on-year. In an interview with CNBC-TV18, Anil Mittal,
CMD of KRBL , discussed the development. KRBL stock price On March 12,
2015, at 15:19 hrs KRBL was quoting at Rs 144.45, up Rs 1.25, or 0.87 percent.
The 52-week high of the share was Rs 146.00 and the 52-week low was Rs 44.80.
The company's trailing 12-month (TTM) EPS was at Rs 12.89 per share as per the
quarter ended December 2014. The stock's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio was
11.21. The latest book value of the company is Rs 43.33 per share. At current
value, the price-to-book value of the company is 3.33
Watch video on:
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