Declining prices: governments weigh
up option to protect agriculture sector
September 03, 2015
The federal government and
provinces on Wednesday weighed various options to protect the agriculture
sector from declining prices of agriculture products in the international
market. An official said that a consultative meeting on agriculture products
and Basmati rice was held on Wednesday with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the
chair and various options were discussed during the meeting. The official said the issue of high
costs of agricultural inputs was discussed. He said the Prime Minister directed
to devise proposals to bring down the cost of inputs to improve per acre yield
and profitability after he was given a detailed presentation on the present
situation as well as on future scenarios. Secretary Food Department of Sindh
government told Business
Recorder that the meeting was
a follow-up of a meeting held in August. He said the meeting has not taken any
decision and decided to hold another meeting in this regard to further discuss
the proposals.
He said the decline in agriculture
products prices in the international market has created problems of exports. He
said that farmers are suffering due to high input prices at home and low output
prices. Secretary Agriculture Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government said a committee
was constituted by the Prime Minister to suggest as to how to support small
farmers. The meeting discussed implications of the government interventions to
manage the price fluctuations while keeping in view the interests of both
producers and consumers. A
statement issued by the Prime Minister''s office after the meeting says that
the surplus stocks of agricultural products in international and domestic
markets have put pressure on the support price mechanism and profitability of
the agricultural production has been affected.
The Ministry of National Food
Security and Research informed the meeting that in Pakistan agriculture is
mainly a small farmers'' business, living in rural areas and any price shock
has damaging effects on millions of small farmers earning their livelihood from
agriculture sector. The meeting agreed that the Pakistani agriculture is
suffering from global phenomenon and a strategy is required to come out of this
economic situation. The Planning
Commission organised a forum on agriculture pricing trends and its possible
implications on rural economy in August 2015. The forum presented a set of
recommendations for consideration by the government on Wednesday''s meeting.
The meeting deliberated in detail on the recommendations of the forum regarding
problems faced by the producers of major crops like rice, sugarcane, cotton,
wheat and vegetables.
The Prime Minister directed that
the Ministry of National Food Security may initiate measures to attract
investment in high-tech seed industry and asked if any legislation is required
to do that. The Prime Minister also directed to develop standards for use of
agricultural machinery to improve its efficiency. Provincial governments were
directed to initiate a process for implementation of the recommendations for
the agriculture forum. The
meeting was attended by Engineer Khurram Dastgir, Minister of Commerce,
Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Finance, Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Minister for
IPC; Sikandar Hayat Bosan, Minister for National Food Security; Ahsan Iqbal,
Minister for Planning and Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the PM, federal secretary
National Food security, Secretary agriculture from Punjab, Sindh, KPK and
Balochistan.
Business Recorder
Senate Summons CBN, NCS over Abuse of
Import Waivers
05 Sep 2015
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki
Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja
The Senate ad-hoc Committee on Waivers has summoned the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), over alleged sharp practices on the application of waivers' policy on rice and other food items.The summons followed the upper legislative chamber's mandate to the committee in July to thoroughly review federal government's policy on waivers with the intention to determine federal government's losses to indiscriminate granting of waivers to unscrupulous importers.In another development, the Senate yesterday appealed to the international community to throw its weight behind Nigeria's efforts to reposition and grow the economy.
This appeal was made by a Senate delegation led by the senate president, Bukola Saraki, to separate bilateral meetings with German and French delegates at the just concluded Fourth United Nations (UN) International Conference for Heads of Parliaments in New York.After its meeting in Abuja yesterday, the committee said it found that the policy was being used by importers and relevant government agencies to defraud the country of billions of naira.
According to the committee chairman, Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), details of rots uncovered by the committee would be made public during forthcoming public hearing and in the final report of the committee.
"We have sent letters of invitation to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) like the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Nigeria and of course, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to give us relevant information that will help us to carry out the assignment given us very effectively and in fact, unearth the rots waivers have caused in the system.
"We are very happy with the responses we have gotten so far from the MDAs. What we are doing now is to start compiling the reports and make our recommendations before which a public hearing will be held where the abuse of the policy either by importers or relevant government agencies will be made open to Nigerians," he said
He also said the decision of the committee on public hearing would be taken at its meeting next Tuesday.
The Senate had in July asked the committee to investigate the allegation of abuse of waiver's policy on rice importation and other food items which it said had robbed the nation of whopping N585 billion between 2011 and 2014.According to the motion entitled: "Indiscriminate Use and Abuse of Waivers for Rice Importation and Others," abuse of waiver's scheme has had adverse effects on federal government's policy on rice production, resulting in the importation of large quantities of rice in excess of the policy's requirement.
The CBN had recently also revealed that importers had overshot
their quota on rice importation and consequently owing the federal government
import duties amounting to billions of naira.
It also revealed that importers, under the guise of the policy, have defrauded the federal government of 70 per cent duties and levies adding that instead of punishing defaulting importers, the immediate past administration opted to grant them fresh waivers to import more in its twilight.The senators also alleged that the federal government had lost as much as N71 billion to duty waivers to importers of rice, palm oil, energy equipment, steel and vegetable oil annually adding that the federal government gave import duty waivers to rice and palm oil importers amounting to N150 billion in 2011.
It also revealed that importers, under the guise of the policy, have defrauded the federal government of 70 per cent duties and levies adding that instead of punishing defaulting importers, the immediate past administration opted to grant them fresh waivers to import more in its twilight.The senators also alleged that the federal government had lost as much as N71 billion to duty waivers to importers of rice, palm oil, energy equipment, steel and vegetable oil annually adding that the federal government gave import duty waivers to rice and palm oil importers amounting to N150 billion in 2011.
APEDA Commodty News from
India
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Price
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Fisher
Delta Center Field Day Attracts a Crowd
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PORTAGEVILLE, MO - USA Rice was a sponsor of the
University of Missouri Fisher Delta Research Center's 54th annual field day held here Wednesday. More than 500
people, including producers, agribusiness representatives, and local, state,
and national elected officials attended an appreciation breakfast before the
field day tours.
Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Congressman Jason Smith
(R-MO) were keynote speakers at the event. Each addressed the growing
importance of agricultural research with today's growing global population
and highlighted Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) overreach, which they
said is hurting American farmers.
USA Rice's Chuck Wilson and Kristen Dayton
participated in the event and also met with Missouri rice producers from
around the region, including Cape Girardeau's Blake Gerard, the newly elected
chairman of USA Rice Farmers.
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CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures
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Rice Prices Soar Due to Poor Rains
By
Published: 04th September 2015 04:50 AM
Last Updated: 04th September 2015 04:50 AM
SRIKAKULAM/VISAKHAPATNAM:People have been facing a tough time
getting quality rice at affordable price as the prices of all rice varieties
have zoomed in the open market. As the government is not taking any measures to
control the prices, the wholesalers and millers are havinh a field day by
increasing the rate by Rs 5 to 6 a kg on all rice varieties.What with the fuel
charges having come down thrice during the past six months, the cost of rice
also should have technically reduced. However, the opposite is happening right
now. Though there is no scarcity of stocks, the price in the open market
increased abnormally over the past one month.
The traders in the region alleged that the millers in East and
West Godavari districts increased the prices on the pretext that there is less
stock of polished rice. The millers deny the charge however, stating that they
did not increase the price at their end.But the fact remains that this is the
second time that the price of the staple grain shot up in the last four months
in the region. The minimum price of rice per kg (lowest variety-semi polished)
which was Rs 22 in June/July, is Rs 28 now. The fine quality rice ‘Old Sona
Masuri’ which was Rs 42 a kg, is now selling at Rs 48. There are reports that
the government’s subsidised Rs 1 a kg rice is purchased by middlemen and sold
to the millers.
The millers polish the same rice and sell it in the open market
as ‘Sannalu’. The prices of all the Masuri varieties have increased in all
markets, including hyper and super markets.The price of a 25-kg bag quality
rice ranged from Rs 550 to 650 in the retail market in June/July, now sells at
Rs 650 to 700. Fine quality branded rice, which was Rs 1,050 in June, is now Rs
1,200. What is worse is, the traders forecast further hike in prices.A leading
wholesaler, G Venkatramudu, opined that the millers might resort to hoarding
because of the poor monsoon. The millers expect low yields in the current
kharif because of drought, leading to a crisis in paddy.Though essential
commodities and rice have gone out of reach of the commoners, the officials
concerned are least bothered. No Civil Supplies or Revenue official has
enquired about the price rise.
Visakhapatnam, joint collector J Nivas said that he would convene
a meeting of wholesalers and millers. “Though the millers offer their share of
levy rice to the government, it is no justification to sell rice at a high
price,” Nivas Said.Sources say that because of the millers in Godavari
districts, traders increased the prices. In fact, the price of Srikakulam
Sannalu, a local variety cultivated in Srikakulam district, has not increased
much, while the rice varieties being imported from Kurnool, Nellore and
Godavari districts shot up abnormally.District civil supplies officer
Anandakumar said that he would convene a meeting with the wholesalers and
millers and control the prices of rice.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/Rice-Prices-Soar-Due-to-Poor-Rains/2015/09/04/article3009621.ece
Gov’t urges millers to pay paddy farmers
The
Guyana Government yesterday said that it empathises with the frustrations of
rice farmers and hopes that the rice millers can make arrangements to have
outstanding amounts to rice farmers remitted to them at the earliest possible
time.
A release from GINA said that consultations with the …to continue
http://www.stabroeknews.com/2015/news/stories/09/04/govt-urges-millers-to-pay-paddy-farmers/
Govt advisor cautions against irrational resistance to GM crops
R Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Advisor to
Government of India
NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 3:
A senior Government advisor on Thursday pitched for “no
irrational resistance” to genetically-modified (GM) crops and believed that
nanotechnology could help Indian agriculture overcome problems of declining
landholdings, increasing numbers of marginal cultivators and land degradation.
(This article was published on September 3, 2015)
BUSINESS LINE
There should be no irrational resistance to GM crops:
Principal Scientific Advisor
Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of
India, Dr R. Chidambaram, while speaking at an event organised by industry
body, Assocham in New Delhi said that there should be no irrational resistance
to GM crops, after the completion of careful research, field trials and
approval of Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC).Whilestressing on
the need for climate resilient agriculture he said that mitigation and
adaptation strategies must include soil health restoration and development of
new crop varieties including genetically modified (GM) crops.
In
Focus
Hestressed
on the need for more widespread techniques to improve irrigation facilities in
India. While saying highlighting that farmers in India consume about 80 per
cent of state water supply, he said there was a need to make a saving there.On
the need for developing high-yielding basmati rice varieties, R. Chidambaram
said that he would love to have a Grid for basmati rice research.While
inaugurating the '4th Bio-Nano Agri Summit' the Principal Scientific Advisor to
the Government, according to a press release by the Assocham,also pitched for
using 'agricultural drone with appropriate sensors' while citing an example of
NETRA, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) that was used to track damage and marooned
people.
He
said that nanoscience based viable advanced technologies (that are both
economic and scientific) must be developed to counter negative effects of
declining landholdings, increasing number of marginal farmers and land
degradation."Agriculture contributes less than 20 per cent of India's GDP,
accounts for over 10 per cent of India's exports and employs over half of our
workforce, the latter number is three per cent for the USA," said R.
Chidambaram.
http://www.merinews.com/article/there-should-be-no-irrational-resistance-to-gm-crops-principal-scientific-advisor/15909323.shtml#sthash.GTPlo67N.dpuf
Corruption in the distribution of bardana will
not be tolerated:Bilal Yasin
Lahore: Provincial Minister for Food Bilal Yasin has said that
Punjab government has fixed wheat procurement target of 40 lakh metric ton in
the province. He said that district administration and Food Department will
extend complete cooperation to the farmers for transparent purchase of wheat.
He said that corruption and irregularities in the distribution of bardana will
not be tolerated. He said that strict disciplinary action will be taken against
government machinery if found negligent in this regard.
He said that the aim of wheat procurement is not to fill the
godowns of wheat but the real objective is to give due return to the farmers to
their hard work so that we should remain self-sufficient in food. The
Provincial Minister said that the administration and Food Department should
take vigorous steps for providing facilities to the farmers including tent for
sitting, cold water for drinking, chairs and keeping the revenue matters
transparent.
Earlier, Secretary Food Pervaiz Ahmed Khan stressed upon Food
Department and district administration to hold meetings with farmers for
knowing their problems and proposals. He said that the record of distribution
of bardana is available in Punjab Information Technology Board and Chief
Minister Punjab is personally monitoring it. He said that Chief Minister can
get information about any procurement center by contacting the farmers on
telephone at any time. He said that the wheat procurement target is a big
target for which administration and Food Department will utilize all their
resources.
The meeting was told that government has fixed the price of
wheat 1300 rupees per maund, 10 percent moisture ratio whereas weight 101.100
kg. Delivery charges will be Rs. 7.5 per 100 kg bag. It was told that control
rooms and committees have been constituted for monitoring of procurement and
redressal of complaints of farmers.
http://lahoreworld.com/2015/04/20/corruption-in-the-distribution-of-bardana-will-not-be-toleratedbilal-yasin/
Global agricultural research network is
overhauled again
By
3 September 2015 5:16 am
A key guardian of global food security is looking shaky. Funding
for the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the
world's premier group of agricultural research centers, is sagging in the
global economic downturn. Its flagship backer—the World Bank—threatened to pull
the plug on its contributions. And now CGIAR is about to undergo internal
convulsions: It's reorganizing for the second time in just 5 years. Backers say
the move will give CGIAR a more coherent strategy and make the most of
available funding. Critics argue that greater effort should go into securing
stable funding and prioritizing research.
http://news.sciencemag.org/environment/2015/09/global-agricultural-research-network-overhauled-again
NFA rice imports
slammed
PNASep. 05, 2015 at 12:01am
THE announced importation of 2.1-million metric tons of rice by
the National Food Authority may pose serious repercussions to local farmers, a
non-government organization said on Friday.“[This over importation of rice] is
caused by the incoherent direction in addressing the rice problem with two
different agencies running the rice commodity,” said Au Regalado, lead convenor
of Rice Watch and Action Network (R1).According to R1, the Department of
Agriculture is focused more on raising productivity and incomes of farmers,
whereas the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and
Agriculture Modernization currently linked to NFA is just looking at the market
side of the equation.“We raised in the Food Staples Committee in the Department
of Agriculture our concern for the very high target for importation set by the
NFA,” Regalado said.R1 noted that such rice importation is alarming,
considering the increase in rice output in the last season as reported by
Philippine Statistics Authority.
Their alarm is doubled by the fact that the NFA’s target
importation does not even include the target for Minimum Access Volume for the
year.“This over importation of rice would set major drawbacks to local
farmers,” Regalado said.“We all know that oversupply of imported rice will
spell the death of livelihood for our local rice farmers. The traders will
exploit this situation to drive the farm gate prices of palay (unmilled rice)
at its lowest possible rate,” he said.Regalado further justified R1’s claims by
citing reports that “traders cornered the procurement of palay in the last
season because NFA focused on rice importation.”Aside from farmers, the
consuming public would also suffer from possible price hikes of rice and other
related commodities.Despite the overstock, prices of rice in the market remain
at P37 to P45 a kilo. Hence, R1 poses a challenge to the NFA to flood the
market to press the prices down so that the consumers will benefit from the
oversupply during the lean season.
“A major leap in rice production is [still] possible especially
if the government will seriously implement its programs designed to achieve
rice self-sufficiency,” said Regalado.Recently, the NFA was also under scrutiny
by lawmakers for excessive rice importation, arguing that it was “highly
irregular and doubtful” given the rice self-sufficiency figures.Last June 1,
2015, DA officials claimed that the country has attained a self-sufficient
total rice stock inventory of 3.02-million MT; hence, the need for imported
rice this year was questionable, the lawmakers said.
Bayan Muna Party-list Representatives Neri J. Colmenares, Carlos
and Isagani T. Zarate have already sought a congressional investigation through
House Resolution 2231.Zarate said officials of NFA, the Bureau of Customs, and
the Food Security Council should be summoned to clarify issues relative to the
importation and the country’s rice self-sufficiency.“Overstocking [of rice]
results not only in expiration of these stocks but in potential abuse and
supply manipulation as well,” Colmenares said.Rice Watch and Action Network is
a non-government organization that focuses on the welfare of small
farmers and the improvement of their living conditions. It also promotes a
sustainable agriculture aimed at fostering an economically and environmentally
viable rice industry.
http://manilastandardtoday.com/mobile/2015/09/05/nfa-rice-imports-slammed/
Rice Fields at Risk in Western Cambodia With Lack
of Rainfall
2015-09-03
The drought has dried up a reservoir in central
Cambodia's Kampong Thom province, June 14, 2015.
RFA
Rice crops in western Cambodia will die from drought if the
region does not receive rain within the next month, officials said Thursday, as
a development organization urged the government to do more to assist farmers
with irrigation.A delay to the beginning of the rainy season, which typically
lasts from the end of May through the first half of October, has devastated
provinces that are home to the country’s largest area of rice fields and
plantations, vice president of the National Committee for Disaster Management
Nhim Vanda told RFA’s Khmer Service.“In my experience, if there is no rain in
September, the rice in Pursat and Battambang provinces will be destroyed,” he
said.
According to Nhim Vanda, several thousand hectares (one hectare
= 2.5 acres) of rice fields across Pursat and Battambang—as well as in the
provinces of Banteay Meanchey, Takeo, Kampot, Kampong Speu and Siem Reap—are at
risk of failure if the rains do not come.The government can only assist certain
areas suffering from reduced seasonal rainfall with crop mitigation, he said,
but can do little to help in regions where there is no rain.
Chhun Chhorn, governor of central Cambodia’s Kampong Thom province, told RFA that the little rain his region had received was insufficient to sustain farmers’ rice crops.He said provincial authorities were devising a plan to help pump water into farmers’ fields in order to save their seasonal harvest.“
Chhun Chhorn, governor of central Cambodia’s Kampong Thom province, told RFA that the little rain his region had received was insufficient to sustain farmers’ rice crops.He said provincial authorities were devising a plan to help pump water into farmers’ fields in order to save their seasonal harvest.“
There is not enough rain—we only receive rain every once in a
while,” he said.But Yang Saing, president of the Cambodian Centre for Study and
Development in Agriculture (CEDAC), said the government must do more to help
farmers prepare for problems such as the current drought—one of the country’s
worst in years.He called on authorities to dig more reservoirs and irrigation
systems that would help counteract a lack of rainfall ahead of the rainy
season.“And if the authorities don’t have any plans to dig more reservoirs,
they should provide other methods to reserve water at the end of the rainy
season,” he said. Yang Saing also
suggested farmers seek crops that don’t rely on much water to grow.
Ongoing drought
Ongoing drought
In July, Sivann Botum, secretary of state for Cambodia’s Ministry of Women’s Affairs and a member of the National Committee for Disaster Management, told RFA that the severe drought would deepen poverty in the developing country.At the time, Heng Kim Sreang, the agriculture director of Kampong Chhnang province, told RFA it was beyond her department to help farmers obtain enough water to plant rice. Because many fields lie on higher land, they are difficult to get water to, she said, and no other farmers had volunteered to allow their plantations to be used as a reservoir.The rainy season provides about three-quarters of Cambodia’s annual rainfall, and daily rain is common during its peak between July and September.Parts of Vietnam, Laos and Thailand also are experiencing a severe lack of rain and higher-than-normal temperatures that have resulted in lower rice production than usual because of the El Niño effect, in which changes in weather patterns can produce droughts and floods in the Mekong region.
Reported by RFA’s Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/rice-09032015171451.html
CAMBODIA PRESS-Rice millers request exemption from VAT - Phnom Penh
Post
As Cambodia continues to struggle with its cost competitiveness in
the rice sector, rice millers and exporters met the General Department of
Taxation on Wednesday asking for an exemption from paying the 10 percent value
added tax (VAT), the Phnom Penh Post reported.The exemption will help ease
prices in the sector, the newspaper reported, citing Kim Savuth, vice president
of the Cambodia Rice Federation. (http://bit.ly/1OfjiJf)
----
NOTE: Reuters has not verified this story and does not vouch for
its accuracy. (Phnom Penh Newsroom; Editing by Anand Basu)
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Sept 04
Nagpur, Sept 4 Gram prices showed weak tendency in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and
Marketing Committee (APMC) here on poor demand from local millers amid high moisture content
arrival. Downward trend in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and release of stock from stockists also
pulled down prices, according to sources.
* * * *
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Desi gram raw firmed up in open market here on good festival season demand from
local traders amid tight supply from producing belts.
TUAR
* Tuar Karnataka reported strong in open market here on good seasonal buying support
from local traders amid thin arrival from producing regions.
* Wheat Mill quality recovered in open market on good demand from local traders amid
weak supply from Punjab and Haryana.
* In Akola, Tuar - 9,700-10,100, Tuar dal - 13,800-14,100, Udid at 9,100-9,300,
Udid Mogar (clean) - 10,900-11,400, Moong - 7,600-7,800, Moong Mogar
(clean) 9,200-9,800, Gram - 4,600-4,900, Gram Super best bold - 6,100-6,300
for 100 kg.
* Other varieties of wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market
in thin trading activity, according to sources.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction 4,000-4,840 4,000-4,930
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction n.a. 8,000-9,200
Moong Auction n.a. 6,000-6,400
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800
Gram Super Best Bold 6,500-6,800 6,500-6,800
Gram Super Best n.a.
Gram Medium Best 5,900-6,100 5,900-6,100
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a.
Gram Mill Quality 5,800-5,900 5,800-5,900
Desi gram Raw 5,100-5,180 5,000-5,100
Gram Filter new 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400
Gram Kabuli 6,400-7,500 6,400-7,500
Gram Pink 6,800-7,000 6,800-7,000
Tuar Fataka Best 14,000-14,500 14,000-14,500
Tuar Fataka Medium 13,500-13,800 13,500-13,800
Tuar Dal Best Phod 12,500-13,000 12,500-13,000
Tuar Dal Medium phod 12,000-12,300 12,000-12,300
Tuar Gavarani New 10,100-10,300 10,100-10,300
Tuar Karnataka 10,400-10,700 10,300-10,600
Tuar Black 12,100-12,400 12,200-12,400
Masoor dal best 8,200-8,700 8,200-8,700
Masoor dal medium 7,900-8,300 7,900-8,300
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold 9,600-9,900 9,600-9,900
Moong Mogar Medium best 8,200-8,800 8,200-8,800
Moong dal Chilka 8,700-8,900 8,700-8,900
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 8,400-9,200 8,400-9,200
Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 11,200-11,800 11,200-11,800
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 10,400-10,800 10,400-10,800
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 9,100-9,600 9,100-9,600
Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,200-5,600 5,200-5,600
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 4,000-4,200 4,000-4,200
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,250-3,500 3,250-3,500
Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,300 3,100-3,300
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,600 3,200-3,600
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,400-1,500 1,400-1,500
Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,650-1,750 1,600-1,700
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,350-1,550 1,350-1,550
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,250-2,400 2,250-2,400
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,950-2,100 1,950-2,100
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,700 3,400-3,700
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,750-2,900 2,750-2,900
Rice BPT New(100 INR/KG) 2,800-3,000 2,800-3,000
Rice BPT (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,100 2,900-3,100
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,900 1,700-1,900
Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,450 2,300-2,450
Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG) 2,700-2,800 2,700-2,800
Rice HMT new(100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,800 3,400-3,800
Rice HMT (100 INR/KG) 3,900-4,300 3,900-4,300
Rice HMT Shriram New(100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,500 4,200-4,500
Rice HMT Shriram old (100 INR/KG) 4,600-5,100 4,600-5,100
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,000-10,000 8,000-10,000
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,000-7,500 7,000-7,500
Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,900 4,500-4,900
Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG) 5,400-5,700 5,400-5,700
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,350 2,100-2,350
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 34.0 degree Celsius (93.2 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
23.2 degree Celsius (73.7 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : nil
FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky. Rains or thunder-showers likely. Maximum and minimum temperature
would be around and 34 and 24 degree Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)
ATTN : Soyabean mandi, wholesale foodgrain market of Nagpur APMC and oil market in Vidarbha willbe closed tomorrow, Saturday, on the occasion of Janmashthami
Rice Prices Soar Due to Poor Rains
By
Published: 04th September 2015 04:50 AM
Last Updated: 04th September 2015 04:50 AM
SRIKAKULAM/VISAKHAPATNAM:People have been facing a tough time
getting quality rice at affordable price as the prices of all rice varieties
have zoomed in the open market. As the government is not taking any measures to
control the prices, the wholesalers and millers are havinh a field day by
increasing the rate by Rs 5 to 6 a kg on all rice varieties.What with the fuel
charges having come down thrice during the past six months, the cost of rice
also should have technically reduced. However, the opposite is happening right
now. Though there is no scarcity of stocks, the price in the open market
increased abnormally over the past one month. The traders in the region alleged
that the millers in East and West Godavari districts increased the prices on
the pretext that there is less stock of polished rice.
The millers deny the
charge however, stating that they did not increase the price at their end.But
the fact remains that this is the second time that the price of the staple
grain shot up in the last four months in the region. The minimum price of rice
per kg (lowest variety-semi polished) which was Rs 22 in June/July, is Rs 28
now. The fine quality rice ‘Old Sona Masuri’ which was Rs 42 a kg, is now
selling at Rs 48. There are reports that the government’s subsidised Rs 1 a kg
rice is purchased by middlemen and sold to the millers. The millers polish the
same rice and sell it in the open market as ‘Sannalu’. The prices of all the
Masuri varieties have increased in all markets, including hyper and super
markets.
The price of a 25-kg bag quality rice ranged from Rs 550 to 650
in the retail market in June/July, now sells at Rs 650 to 700. Fine quality
branded rice, which was Rs 1,050 in June, is now Rs 1,200. What is worse is,
the traders forecast further hike in prices.A leading wholesaler, G
Venkatramudu, opined that the millers might resort to hoarding because of the
poor monsoon. The millers expect low yields in the current kharif because of
drought, leading to a crisis in paddy.Though essential commodities and rice
have gone out of reach of the commoners, the officials concerned are least
bothered. No Civil Supplies or Revenue official has enquired about the price
rise.
Visakhapatnam, joint collector J Nivas said that he would
convene a meeting of wholesalers and millers. “Though the millers offer their
share of levy rice to the government, it is no justification to sell rice at a
high price,” Nivas Said.Sources say that because of the millers in Godavari
districts, traders increased the prices. In fact, the price of Srikakulam
Sannalu, a local variety cultivated in Srikakulam district, has not increased
much, while the rice varieties being imported from Kurnool, Nellore and
Godavari districts shot up abnormally.District civil supplies officer
Anandakumar said that he would convene a meeting with the wholesalers and
millers and control the prices of rice.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/Rice-Prices-Soar-Due-to-Poor-Rains/2015/09/04/article3009621.ece
Rice-pledging: Wissanu breaks down scheme legal
process
RICE-PLEDGING SCHEME
Wissanu breaks down scheme legal process
The Nation
Wissanu breaks down scheme legal process
The Nation
BANGKOK: — The fact-finding
process of the rice-pledging scheme’s legal process will be completed by the
beginning of next year at the latest, said Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu
Krea-ngam.
Everyone would be afforded a proper
defence, he said.Wissanu said that two fact-finding committees had been
established.This first committee is investigating former Prime Minister
Yingluck Shinawatra – the chairwoman of the National Rice Policy Committee –
and the second committee is probing six Ministry of Commerce officials.The
investigation process would be completed by the end of September, Wissanu said,
adding that the investigation report would be submitted to Prime Minister
Prayut Chan-o-cha.He said the case file would be submitted to the committee on
civil liability and compensation, which had until February 2017 to work on it
before the statute of limitations on the case expired.He believed, however,
that the entire process would be completed early next year.He added that those
found guilty would have to pay compensation, but would not face prosecution.
Source:
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Wissanu-breaks-down-scheme-legal-process-30268103.html
Focus on Iran
9/1/2005 - by Melissa Alexander
Agricultural production
increase fueled by country’s motivation to achieve self-sufficiency and
diversification
by Mario Sequeira
In the 25 years since the Iranian revolution,
agricultural production has increased significantly. This has been primarily
due to strong government support of agriculture as part of its policy to
achieve self-sufficiency and, more recently, diversification in an economy
heavily reliant on oil.Iran’s economy is essentially centrally controlled.
Government measures that support agriculture have resulted in production
largely maintaining a growth of 4 to 6% annually through the past 25 years.Action
directly affecting farmers includes guaranteed purchase prices, access to
foreign currency to buy imported machinery, low-interest loans and subsidies
for inputs. The government has also improved the economic environment by
phasing in liberalization and encouraging privatization.
In 2004-05, the country declared self-sufficiency
in wheat. In March, the government announced a one-year, 15 billion Iranian
rials (U.S.$1.5 million) pilot plan called the "rice production
development scheme," aimed at achieving rice self-sufficiency.Wheat and
rice are two staples that are considered strategic commodities and are targeted
for self-sufficiency. Iran’s diverse terrain and climatic conditions enables
production of tropical and cool climate commodities, from grains such as wheat,
rice, barley, maize, pulses and oilseeds to fruits, nuts and vegetables,
including dates, pistachios, sugarcane, rice, apples, cherries and walnuts.
Iran is the world’s largest pistachio producer.The country’s terrain and
climate are diverse. Much of it is arid to semi-arid. About 20% of Iran’s land
area of 165 million hectares, or about 32 million hectares, is arable. Only
about 15 million hectares are farmed, with more than half depending on
irrigation and the rest on rainfall.
In fact, one of the biggest constraints to
agricultural expansion is not a lack of available land but rather a lack of
irrigation. Most dryland farming is carried out in the west and northwest. In
central and southern Iran, farming survives on irrigation.Agriculture remains a
strategic sector in Iran’s economy because of the desire to achieve
self-sufficiency. The other major sectors — industry and services — have grown
at a much faster pace than agriculture.Today, agriculture accounts for 19% of
Iran’s gross domestic product, while industry and services account for 26% and
55% respectively. Agriculture employs 30% of the workforce, while industry
employs 25% and services 45%.Since 1990, Iran’s economy has been managed under
five-year plans that have aimed for a gradual move towards a market-orientated
economy and development of the private sector.
One of the plans involved the formation of rural
production cooperatives to enable farmers to avail themselves of economies of
scale. Progress has been slow, but one international report estimated that by
2022 nearly all of Iran’s farms would be part of a cooperative.The third plan
(2000-05) committed the government to an ambitious program of liberalization,
diversification and privatization. Major third-plan goals for agriculture
included the allocation of 25% of bank loans to water and other agricultural
projects, building new water pumps using new technology and upgrading farm
machinery. Current mechanization rates in the farm sector are very low.
The latest plan (2005-2010) sets goals of
creating 700,000 new jobs and increasing oil output and exports through foreign
direct investment.Some of Iranian agriculture’s most important hurdles are the
shortage of water and inefficient irrigation.Because the water cost to farmers
is so heavily subsidized, it is debated that there is not the incentive for
farmers to be efficient. According to one newspaper report, only half of
irrigated farms run efficient irrigation systems with full or partial control.Other
issues debated in the country’s newspapers include obsolescence of farm
machinery, the lack of raw materials, the practice of subsistence farming,
waste in the production and distribution cycle, inadequate scientific and
technical support to farmers, inadequate capital formation and infrastructure,
and degradation of natural resources due to inefficient cropping patterns.
WHEAT AND FLOUR MILLING
Wheat is the dominant crop in the grains sector, owing to strong government support in the form of input subsidies and guaranteed purchase prices.Wheat accounted for 6.4 million hectares of land in the 2004-05 crop year. Of this, 2.5 million hectares are under irrigated farming. The cost of production is high, but the government has opted to promote and protect the industry at all costs in the drive to reach self-sufficiency.Production has increased by 75% in the past 15 years, more through productivity gains than increased planted area.
For 62 years, Iran imported wheat. But this year,
with a harvest of 14 million tonnes, the government declared self-sufficiency
and has even approved exports of a small parcel of 200,000 tonnes to Iraq.Production
has increased to meet high consumption, as wheat bread is a staple in the
Iranian diet. Per capita wheat consumption was 170 kilograms per year in 2001.
Bread is heavily subsidized by the government, second only to fuel.Demand is
expected to increase as the economy grows and gives Iran’s population, 68% of
which is between 15 and 64 years of age, higher disposable income.
The milling sector comprises a mix of modern and
traditional stone mills and continues to become more sophisticated. According
to a 2003 report, the milling industry has a (collective) daily capacity of
50,000 tonnes. Four types of flour are produced in the 284 mills in Iran. The
most popular type is used to make Sangak bread, a mild sourdough type of bread.
Sangak flour accounts for 45% of production.The next most common use of flour
is for European style breads and other manufactured products, accounting for 25
to 30% of production. The other two flour types are used in the baking of
confectioneries and pasta and the traditional flat bread, which is ground at
stone mills at close to whole wheat extraction rates.The industry’s apex body,
the Federation of Iranian Associations of Flour Milling, was formed in November
1999 to communicate industry issues.Iran has two other milling organizations.
Research and Engineering Services Inc. is charged with importing wheat and
milling machinery and exporting flour. The Self-Sufficiency and Research Center
carries out research on milling and baking, production technology and
equipment, marketing and flour quality.
LIVESTOCK AND FEED
The livestock industry accounts for about 25% of total agricultural production. The main commodities are chicken, red meat and dairy products.Generally, migratory tribes run large herds of sheep and goats, but demand has pushed the growth of large commercial farms. The number of animals (sheep, goats and cattle) in Iran has been reported at about 120 million, of which 8 million cattle and 81 million sheep and goats are grazed on Iran’s 90 million hectares of rangelands by nomadic tribes.Production has increased significantly in the past 25 years. In 1979, chicken production was 195,000 tonnes annually and per capita consumption was 5.1 kg a year. By March 2005, the figures were 1.1 million tonnes and 17.3 kg, respectively.Red meat production has increased to 784,000 tonnes annually this year from 375,000 tonnes in 1980. Per capita consumption has increased to 11.6 kg a year from 9.8 kg in 1980.
Milk production has jumped to 6.7 million tonnes
this year, a tenfold increase from the 1980 production of 620,000 tonnes.
Annual per capita consumption has increased from 69 kg to 99.6 kgPer capita
consumption of animal protein in the country is 22 grams daily. The fourth
five-year plan (2005-10) has set a target of increasing that figure to 29 grams
daily by the end of the plan. The plan notes that to reach that goal, livestock
production would have to increase by an average 6.5% annually over the next
five years.
The plan has set production growth targets of
6.5% for chicken meat, 3% for red meat and 7% for dairy production. Barley and
maize are the two major components of the feed industry. Feed wheat use has
averaged about 300,000 tonnes annually in the past five years. Barley and maize
production has not been enough to meet domestic consumption, so the country has
been importing these coarse grains. Feed barley demand has been averaging
slightly above 2 million tonnes in the past five years while production has
been slightly under that, forcing imports. The production of maize, which is
the major feed for the poultry industry, has been targeted for expansion by the
government. The 2004-05 harvest came in at 1.95 million tonnes, compared to
25,000 tonnes in 1979.
http://www.world-grain.com/departments/country%20focus/iran/focus%20on%20iran.aspx?cck=1
Monsoon begins withdrawal process, confirms Met Office
VINSON KURIAN
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, SEPTEMBER 4:
The India Met Department has
confirmed on Friday that the South-West monsoon has started withdrawing from
the western parts of Rajasthan in what is a month-long process.This came on a
day when the all-India rain deficit shot up for the first time beyond the 12
per cent forecast by the Met for the entire season this year.
Deficit worsens
The gradual drying of the
North-West and adjoining Central India is expected to worsen the overall
deficit figure over the next three to four days, according to indications.An
anti-cyclonic circulation that heralds the dry weather was present at the lower
levels of the atmosphere over north-west India on Friday.The anti-cyclone has
clock-wise winds around it, has high-pressure, and sits heavy over the ground,
suppressing the formation of clouds and precipitation.This is the exact
anti-thesis of the monsoon feature of lower pressure, ascending motion of air
into higher levels of atmosphere where it cools, and condenses the vapour
mopped up by winds from the ocean. This is what precipitates as rain.
Bay humming?
Wind profile projections that a
western disturbance (low-pressure system) coming in from across the border will
dig south into North Arabian Sea and emerge with moisture to be rained down
over Gujarat/Rajasthan.This may unsettle the anti-cyclone during the next week
but it will come back into shape by the weekend, according to these
projections.Meanwhile, global models also suggest the possibility of the East
Bay of Bengal springing a surprise by hosting a likely low-pressure area by
middle of the month.A couple of cyclonic circulations trackers featured by the
US Climate Prediction Centre suggested that the ‘low’ may pick up in strength
and hit the East Coast.But they seemed to differ as to which part of the coast
might take the hit.One model suggested the southern
tip of peninsula and adjoining Sri Lanka while another pointed to the Andhra
Pradesh-
Odisha coast.
(This article was published on September 4, 2015)
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/monsoon-begins-withdrawal-process-confirms-met-office/article7616244.ece
Productivity worries plague Kharif crop prospects on rainfall
deficit
TOMOJIT BASU
NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER
4:
With the start of withdrawal of
the South-West monsoon from parts of western Rajasthan, doubts are being raised
with regard to crop productivity and the possible impact on the Rabi season
even if Kharif acreage is just about two per cent higher vis-Ã -vis last year.The
four-month long South-West monsoon, which provides 75 per cent of India’s
annual rainfall and waters more than half of India’s crop land, has recorded a
13 per cent shortfall between June 1 and September 4, according to the data
provided by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
“Various areas in central,
southern and western India are currently facing water stress. Rain is required
and needs to be well distributed if sown crops are to be saved,” said a senior
Agricultural Ministry official.The amount of rainfall recorded during the
period is 645.7 millimetres (mm) against a normal of 742.5 mm due to a strong
El Nino. The peninsula has registered a 22 per cent shortfall, while central
and north-west India has had deficiencies of 17 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively.
Driest
year
The IMD had predicted
precipitation at 88 per cent of the Long Period Average of 89 cm this year.
However, a 16 per cent and 22 per cent deficit in July and August, which
account for a bulk of monsoon rainfall, threaten to make this the driest year
since 2009 and a second straight drought year.Out of 36 sub-divisions, 18 have
received deficient rainfall this year and only two have recorded an excess. The
situation is most dire in Marathwada and central Maharashtra, north interior
Karnataka, Kerala, Goa and the Konkan coast, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
“An early withdrawal is not an
issue since the monsoon arrived 15 days early, particularly in north-west
India. That’s why there is no adverse effect on area. But this long dry spell
and overall deficiency is a matter of serious concern and will impact
productivity,” said Ramesh Chand, Director, National Institute of Agricultural
Economics and Policy Research.
Rain-fed crops such as pulses,
coarse cereals and oilseeds were particularly at risk, said Chand, adding that
rice was not likely to be hit due to cultivation in areas which either received
sufficient rain or were well irrigated.
Water
storage levels
Importantly, water levels across
91 major reservoirs have also dipped by 16 per cent below the normal and a poor
monsoon will affect replenishment – particularly across Maharashtra, Andhra
Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala, among others.“September
rains crucial since moisture levels in the soil need to be higher not just for
good yield with regard to the Kharif crop but also for the Rabi season which
accounts for a bulk of pulses production,” said Pravin Dongre, Chairman, Indian
Pulses and Grains Association.
(This
article was published on September 4, 2015)
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/productivity-worries-plague-kharif-crop-prospects-on-rainfall-deficit/article7616247.ece
Rice exports resumed with annual 1m tonne limit
FEI says rice exports generate
$600m for Egypt every year
September 3, 2015
The
Egyptian government has resumed rice exports of 1m tonnes per year, the
Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI) announced on Thursday.
In an statement to thank the
government for responding to their demand, the FEI explained that Egypt
produces 4m tonnes of rice per year, with the market consuming 3m tonnes.However,
Ministry of Agriculture figures said that Egypt’s rice production this year was
2.7m tonnes, with rice consumption at 3.6m tonnes.Last Thursday, Minister of
Industry and Foreign Trade Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour issued a decision to stop
exporting rice beginning in September. He explained in a statement that the
decision came to meet the domestic requirements for rice.
The FEI pointed out that exporting
rice generates $600m for Egypt every year, adding that it will help reduce the
budget deficit by EGP 2bn.In 2013, the decision to export rice was a cause of
disagreement. On the one hand, A
bdel Nour had issued a decision in
November 2013, announcing that the government planned to export 100,000 tonnes
of rice between mid-November 2013 and January 2014.Meanwhile, former minister
of supply Mohamed Abu Shady made a contradictory announcement to Abdel Nour’s,
saying that rice
exports would be halted “until all
ration needs of the grain are met”.The Rice Division at the (FEI) had at that time
wanted to export rice to make profits.
http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2015/09/03/rice-exports-resumed-with-annual-1m-tonne-limit-%E2%80%A8/
Myanmar rice exports to resume
4 Sep 2015 at 15:59
WRITER: DEMOCRATIC VOICE OF BURMA
A Myanmar woman walks pass
through the paddy field at outskirt area of Yangon on Friday. (EPA photo)
The Myanmar Commerce Ministry
plans to lift a temporary ban on rice exports, which was imposed due to
shortages and inflation during last month’s flood disaster across the country,
a senior official said.Permanent secretary to the ministry Toe Aung Myint said
the government was moving ahead with the measure following a proposal by the
Myanmar Rice Federation. The ban on rice exports was originally set until Sept
15.“The ban was introduced due to the nationwide flood disaster. However, the
government also wishes to maintain its strength in the export market, so we are
weighing these factors and coordinating procedures with the concerned
departments and organisations,” theDemocratic
Voice of Burma on
Friday quoted him as saying.
“More importantly, we do not want
to disrupt our existing market, especially in Europe, and to capitalise on the
rising popularity of parboiled rice, which is actually in low demand
domestically.
The ministry, however, raised the
possibility of the ban being extended to November, after it announced that some
1 million acres (about 4,000 square kilometres) of paddy fields, accounting
for 10-15% of the total rice fields in the country, were damaged by the
floods. It added that Myanmar needs around 34.8 million tonnes of paddy rice
for domestic consumption yearly.Myanmar’s rice exports have been rising
consistently for the past few years. The country sent abroad around 1.8 million
tonnes of rice in 2014. The federation said it expects a paddy output of around
14 million tonnes in 2015.The government has been targeting exports of around 2
million tonnes of rice this year.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asean/681384/myanmar-rice-exports-to-resume
Declining prices: governments weigh
up option to protect agriculture sector
September 03, 2015
The federal government and
provinces on Wednesday weighed various options to protect the agriculture
sector from declining prices of agriculture products in the international
market. An official said that a consultative meeting on agriculture products
and Basmati rice was held on Wednesday with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the
chair and various options were discussed during the meeting. The official said the issue of high
costs of agricultural inputs was discussed. He said the Prime Minister directed
to devise proposals to bring down the cost of inputs to improve per acre yield
and profitability after he was given a detailed presentation on the present
situation as well as on future scenarios. Secretary Food Department of Sindh
government told Business
Recorder that the meeting was
a follow-up of a meeting held in August. He said the meeting has not taken any
decision and decided to hold another meeting in this regard to further discuss
the proposals.
He said the decline in agriculture
products prices in the international market has created problems of exports. He
said that farmers are suffering due to high input prices at home and low output
prices. Secretary Agriculture Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government said a committee
was constituted by the Prime Minister to suggest as to how to support small
farmers. The meeting discussed implications of the government interventions to
manage the price fluctuations while keeping in view the interests of both
producers and consumers. A
statement issued by the Prime Minister''s office after the meeting says that
the surplus stocks of agricultural products in international and domestic
markets have put pressure on the support price mechanism and profitability of
the agricultural production has been affected.
The Ministry of National Food
Security and Research informed the meeting that in Pakistan agriculture is
mainly a small farmers'' business, living in rural areas and any price shock
has damaging effects on millions of small farmers earning their livelihood from
agriculture sector. The meeting agreed that the Pakistani agriculture is
suffering from global phenomenon and a strategy is required to come out of this
economic situation. The Planning
Commission organised a forum on agriculture pricing trends and its possible
implications on rural economy in August 2015. The forum presented a set of
recommendations for consideration by the government on Wednesday''s meeting.
The meeting deliberated in detail on the recommendations of the forum regarding
problems faced by the producers of major crops like rice, sugarcane, cotton,
wheat and vegetables.
The Prime Minister directed that
the Ministry of National Food Security may initiate measures to attract
investment in high-tech seed industry and asked if any legislation is required
to do that. The Prime Minister also directed to develop standards for use of
agricultural machinery to improve its efficiency. Provincial governments were
directed to initiate a process for implementation of the recommendations for
the agriculture forum. The
meeting was attended by Engineer Khurram Dastgir, Minister of Commerce,
Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Finance, Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Minister for
IPC; Sikandar Hayat Bosan, Minister for National Food Security; Ahsan Iqbal,
Minister for Planning and Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the PM, federal secretary
National Food security, Secretary agriculture from Punjab, Sindh, KPK and
Balochistan.
Business Recorder
Senate Summons CBN, NCS over Abuse of
Import Waivers
05 Sep 2015
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki
Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja
The Senate ad-hoc Committee on Waivers has summoned the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), over alleged sharp practices on the application of waivers' policy on rice and other food items.The summons followed the upper legislative chamber's mandate to the committee in July to thoroughly review federal government's policy on waivers with the intention to determine federal government's losses to indiscriminate granting of waivers to unscrupulous importers.In another development, the Senate yesterday appealed to the international community to throw its weight behind Nigeria's efforts to reposition and grow the economy.
This appeal was made by a Senate delegation led by the senate president, Bukola Saraki, to separate bilateral meetings with German and French delegates at the just concluded Fourth United Nations (UN) International Conference for Heads of Parliaments in New York.After its meeting in Abuja yesterday, the committee said it found that the policy was being used by importers and relevant government agencies to defraud the country of billions of naira.
According to the committee chairman, Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), details of rots uncovered by the committee would be made public during forthcoming public hearing and in the final report of the committee.
"We have sent letters of invitation to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) like the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Nigeria and of course, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to give us relevant information that will help us to carry out the assignment given us very effectively and in fact, unearth the rots waivers have caused in the system.
"We are very happy with the responses we have gotten so far from the MDAs. What we are doing now is to start compiling the reports and make our recommendations before which a public hearing will be held where the abuse of the policy either by importers or relevant government agencies will be made open to Nigerians," he said
He also said the decision of the committee on public hearing would be taken at its meeting next Tuesday.
The Senate had in July asked the committee to investigate the allegation of abuse of waiver's policy on rice importation and other food items which it said had robbed the nation of whopping N585 billion between 2011 and 2014.According to the motion entitled: "Indiscriminate Use and Abuse of Waivers for Rice Importation and Others," abuse of waiver's scheme has had adverse effects on federal government's policy on rice production, resulting in the importation of large quantities of rice in excess of the policy's requirement.
The CBN had recently also revealed that importers had overshot
their quota on rice importation and consequently owing the federal government
import duties amounting to billions of naira.
It also revealed that importers, under the guise of the policy, have defrauded the federal government of 70 per cent duties and levies adding that instead of punishing defaulting importers, the immediate past administration opted to grant them fresh waivers to import more in its twilight.The senators also alleged that the federal government had lost as much as N71 billion to duty waivers to importers of rice, palm oil, energy equipment, steel and vegetable oil annually adding that the federal government gave import duty waivers to rice and palm oil importers amounting to N150 billion in 2011.
It also revealed that importers, under the guise of the policy, have defrauded the federal government of 70 per cent duties and levies adding that instead of punishing defaulting importers, the immediate past administration opted to grant them fresh waivers to import more in its twilight.The senators also alleged that the federal government had lost as much as N71 billion to duty waivers to importers of rice, palm oil, energy equipment, steel and vegetable oil annually adding that the federal government gave import duty waivers to rice and palm oil importers amounting to N150 billion in 2011.
APEDA Commodty News from
India
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Fisher
Delta Center Field Day Attracts a Crowd
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PORTAGEVILLE, MO - USA Rice was a sponsor of the
University of Missouri Fisher Delta Research Center's 54th annual field day held here Wednesday. More than 500
people, including producers, agribusiness representatives, and local, state,
and national elected officials attended an appreciation breakfast before the
field day tours.
Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Congressman Jason Smith
(R-MO) were keynote speakers at the event. Each addressed the growing
importance of agricultural research with today's growing global population
and highlighted Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) overreach, which they
said is hurting American farmers.
USA Rice's Chuck Wilson and Kristen Dayton
participated in the event and also met with Missouri rice producers from
around the region, including Cape Girardeau's Blake Gerard, the newly elected
chairman of USA Rice Farmers.
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CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures
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Rice Prices Soar Due to Poor Rains
By
Published: 04th September 2015 04:50 AM
Last Updated: 04th September 2015 04:50 AM
SRIKAKULAM/VISAKHAPATNAM:People have been facing a tough time
getting quality rice at affordable price as the prices of all rice varieties
have zoomed in the open market. As the government is not taking any measures to
control the prices, the wholesalers and millers are havinh a field day by
increasing the rate by Rs 5 to 6 a kg on all rice varieties.What with the fuel
charges having come down thrice during the past six months, the cost of rice
also should have technically reduced. However, the opposite is happening right
now. Though there is no scarcity of stocks, the price in the open market
increased abnormally over the past one month.
The traders in the region alleged that the millers in East and
West Godavari districts increased the prices on the pretext that there is less
stock of polished rice. The millers deny the charge however, stating that they
did not increase the price at their end.But the fact remains that this is the
second time that the price of the staple grain shot up in the last four months
in the region. The minimum price of rice per kg (lowest variety-semi polished)
which was Rs 22 in June/July, is Rs 28 now. The fine quality rice ‘Old Sona
Masuri’ which was Rs 42 a kg, is now selling at Rs 48. There are reports that
the government’s subsidised Rs 1 a kg rice is purchased by middlemen and sold
to the millers.
The millers polish the same rice and sell it in the open market
as ‘Sannalu’. The prices of all the Masuri varieties have increased in all
markets, including hyper and super markets.The price of a 25-kg bag quality
rice ranged from Rs 550 to 650 in the retail market in June/July, now sells at
Rs 650 to 700. Fine quality branded rice, which was Rs 1,050 in June, is now Rs
1,200. What is worse is, the traders forecast further hike in prices.A leading
wholesaler, G Venkatramudu, opined that the millers might resort to hoarding
because of the poor monsoon. The millers expect low yields in the current
kharif because of drought, leading to a crisis in paddy.Though essential
commodities and rice have gone out of reach of the commoners, the officials
concerned are least bothered. No Civil Supplies or Revenue official has
enquired about the price rise.
Visakhapatnam, joint collector J Nivas said that he would convene
a meeting of wholesalers and millers. “Though the millers offer their share of
levy rice to the government, it is no justification to sell rice at a high
price,” Nivas Said.Sources say that because of the millers in Godavari
districts, traders increased the prices. In fact, the price of Srikakulam
Sannalu, a local variety cultivated in Srikakulam district, has not increased
much, while the rice varieties being imported from Kurnool, Nellore and
Godavari districts shot up abnormally.District civil supplies officer
Anandakumar said that he would convene a meeting with the wholesalers and
millers and control the prices of rice.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/Rice-Prices-Soar-Due-to-Poor-Rains/2015/09/04/article3009621.ece
Gov’t urges millers to pay paddy farmers
The
Guyana Government yesterday said that it empathises with the frustrations of
rice farmers and hopes that the rice millers can make arrangements to have
outstanding amounts to rice farmers remitted to them at the earliest possible
time.
A release from GINA said that consultations with the …to continue
http://www.stabroeknews.com/2015/news/stories/09/04/govt-urges-millers-to-pay-paddy-farmers/
Govt advisor cautions against irrational resistance to GM crops
R Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Advisor to
Government of India
NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 3:
A senior Government advisor on Thursday pitched for “no
irrational resistance” to genetically-modified (GM) crops and believed that
nanotechnology could help Indian agriculture overcome problems of declining
landholdings, increasing numbers of marginal cultivators and land degradation.
(This article was published on September 3, 2015)
BUSINESS LINE
There should be no irrational resistance to GM crops:
Principal Scientific Advisor
Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of
India, Dr R. Chidambaram, while speaking at an event organised by industry
body, Assocham in New Delhi said that there should be no irrational resistance
to GM crops, after the completion of careful research, field trials and
approval of Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC).Whilestressing on
the need for climate resilient agriculture he said that mitigation and
adaptation strategies must include soil health restoration and development of
new crop varieties including genetically modified (GM) crops.
In
Focus
Hestressed
on the need for more widespread techniques to improve irrigation facilities in
India. While saying highlighting that farmers in India consume about 80 per
cent of state water supply, he said there was a need to make a saving there.On
the need for developing high-yielding basmati rice varieties, R. Chidambaram
said that he would love to have a Grid for basmati rice research.While
inaugurating the '4th Bio-Nano Agri Summit' the Principal Scientific Advisor to
the Government, according to a press release by the Assocham,also pitched for
using 'agricultural drone with appropriate sensors' while citing an example of
NETRA, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) that was used to track damage and marooned
people.
He
said that nanoscience based viable advanced technologies (that are both
economic and scientific) must be developed to counter negative effects of
declining landholdings, increasing number of marginal farmers and land
degradation."Agriculture contributes less than 20 per cent of India's GDP,
accounts for over 10 per cent of India's exports and employs over half of our
workforce, the latter number is three per cent for the USA," said R.
Chidambaram.
http://www.merinews.com/article/there-should-be-no-irrational-resistance-to-gm-crops-principal-scientific-advisor/15909323.shtml#sthash.GTPlo67N.dpuf
Corruption in the distribution of bardana will
not be tolerated:Bilal Yasin
Lahore: Provincial Minister for Food Bilal Yasin has said that
Punjab government has fixed wheat procurement target of 40 lakh metric ton in
the province. He said that district administration and Food Department will
extend complete cooperation to the farmers for transparent purchase of wheat.
He said that corruption and irregularities in the distribution of bardana will
not be tolerated. He said that strict disciplinary action will be taken against
government machinery if found negligent in this regard.
He said that the aim of wheat procurement is not to fill the
godowns of wheat but the real objective is to give due return to the farmers to
their hard work so that we should remain self-sufficient in food. The
Provincial Minister said that the administration and Food Department should
take vigorous steps for providing facilities to the farmers including tent for
sitting, cold water for drinking, chairs and keeping the revenue matters
transparent.
Earlier, Secretary Food Pervaiz Ahmed Khan stressed upon Food
Department and district administration to hold meetings with farmers for
knowing their problems and proposals. He said that the record of distribution
of bardana is available in Punjab Information Technology Board and Chief
Minister Punjab is personally monitoring it. He said that Chief Minister can
get information about any procurement center by contacting the farmers on
telephone at any time. He said that the wheat procurement target is a big
target for which administration and Food Department will utilize all their
resources.
The meeting was told that government has fixed the price of
wheat 1300 rupees per maund, 10 percent moisture ratio whereas weight 101.100
kg. Delivery charges will be Rs. 7.5 per 100 kg bag. It was told that control
rooms and committees have been constituted for monitoring of procurement and
redressal of complaints of farmers.
http://lahoreworld.com/2015/04/20/corruption-in-the-distribution-of-bardana-will-not-be-toleratedbilal-yasin/
Global agricultural research network is
overhauled again
By
3 September 2015 5:16 am
A key guardian of global food security is looking shaky. Funding
for the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the
world's premier group of agricultural research centers, is sagging in the
global economic downturn. Its flagship backer—the World Bank—threatened to pull
the plug on its contributions. And now CGIAR is about to undergo internal
convulsions: It's reorganizing for the second time in just 5 years. Backers say
the move will give CGIAR a more coherent strategy and make the most of
available funding. Critics argue that greater effort should go into securing
stable funding and prioritizing research.
http://news.sciencemag.org/environment/2015/09/global-agricultural-research-network-overhauled-again
NFA rice imports
slammed
PNASep. 05, 2015 at 12:01am
THE announced importation of 2.1-million metric tons of rice by
the National Food Authority may pose serious repercussions to local farmers, a
non-government organization said on Friday.“[This over importation of rice] is
caused by the incoherent direction in addressing the rice problem with two
different agencies running the rice commodity,” said Au Regalado, lead convenor
of Rice Watch and Action Network (R1).According to R1, the Department of
Agriculture is focused more on raising productivity and incomes of farmers,
whereas the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and
Agriculture Modernization currently linked to NFA is just looking at the market
side of the equation.“We raised in the Food Staples Committee in the Department
of Agriculture our concern for the very high target for importation set by the
NFA,” Regalado said.R1 noted that such rice importation is alarming,
considering the increase in rice output in the last season as reported by
Philippine Statistics Authority.
Their alarm is doubled by the fact that the NFA’s target
importation does not even include the target for Minimum Access Volume for the
year.“This over importation of rice would set major drawbacks to local
farmers,” Regalado said.“We all know that oversupply of imported rice will
spell the death of livelihood for our local rice farmers. The traders will
exploit this situation to drive the farm gate prices of palay (unmilled rice)
at its lowest possible rate,” he said.Regalado further justified R1’s claims by
citing reports that “traders cornered the procurement of palay in the last
season because NFA focused on rice importation.”Aside from farmers, the
consuming public would also suffer from possible price hikes of rice and other
related commodities.Despite the overstock, prices of rice in the market remain
at P37 to P45 a kilo. Hence, R1 poses a challenge to the NFA to flood the
market to press the prices down so that the consumers will benefit from the
oversupply during the lean season.
“A major leap in rice production is [still] possible especially
if the government will seriously implement its programs designed to achieve
rice self-sufficiency,” said Regalado.Recently, the NFA was also under scrutiny
by lawmakers for excessive rice importation, arguing that it was “highly
irregular and doubtful” given the rice self-sufficiency figures.Last June 1,
2015, DA officials claimed that the country has attained a self-sufficient
total rice stock inventory of 3.02-million MT; hence, the need for imported
rice this year was questionable, the lawmakers said.
Bayan Muna Party-list Representatives Neri J. Colmenares, Carlos
and Isagani T. Zarate have already sought a congressional investigation through
House Resolution 2231.Zarate said officials of NFA, the Bureau of Customs, and
the Food Security Council should be summoned to clarify issues relative to the
importation and the country’s rice self-sufficiency.“Overstocking [of rice]
results not only in expiration of these stocks but in potential abuse and
supply manipulation as well,” Colmenares said.Rice Watch and Action Network is
a non-government organization that focuses on the welfare of small
farmers and the improvement of their living conditions. It also promotes a
sustainable agriculture aimed at fostering an economically and environmentally
viable rice industry.
http://manilastandardtoday.com/mobile/2015/09/05/nfa-rice-imports-slammed/
Rice Fields at Risk in Western Cambodia With Lack
of Rainfall
2015-09-03
The drought has dried up a reservoir in central
Cambodia's Kampong Thom province, June 14, 2015.
RFA
Rice crops in western Cambodia will die from drought if the
region does not receive rain within the next month, officials said Thursday, as
a development organization urged the government to do more to assist farmers
with irrigation.A delay to the beginning of the rainy season, which typically
lasts from the end of May through the first half of October, has devastated
provinces that are home to the country’s largest area of rice fields and
plantations, vice president of the National Committee for Disaster Management
Nhim Vanda told RFA’s Khmer Service.“In my experience, if there is no rain in
September, the rice in Pursat and Battambang provinces will be destroyed,” he
said.
According to Nhim Vanda, several thousand hectares (one hectare
= 2.5 acres) of rice fields across Pursat and Battambang—as well as in the
provinces of Banteay Meanchey, Takeo, Kampot, Kampong Speu and Siem Reap—are at
risk of failure if the rains do not come.The government can only assist certain
areas suffering from reduced seasonal rainfall with crop mitigation, he said,
but can do little to help in regions where there is no rain.
Chhun Chhorn, governor of central Cambodia’s Kampong Thom province, told RFA that the little rain his region had received was insufficient to sustain farmers’ rice crops.He said provincial authorities were devising a plan to help pump water into farmers’ fields in order to save their seasonal harvest.“
Chhun Chhorn, governor of central Cambodia’s Kampong Thom province, told RFA that the little rain his region had received was insufficient to sustain farmers’ rice crops.He said provincial authorities were devising a plan to help pump water into farmers’ fields in order to save their seasonal harvest.“
There is not enough rain—we only receive rain every once in a
while,” he said.But Yang Saing, president of the Cambodian Centre for Study and
Development in Agriculture (CEDAC), said the government must do more to help
farmers prepare for problems such as the current drought—one of the country’s
worst in years.He called on authorities to dig more reservoirs and irrigation
systems that would help counteract a lack of rainfall ahead of the rainy
season.“And if the authorities don’t have any plans to dig more reservoirs,
they should provide other methods to reserve water at the end of the rainy
season,” he said. Yang Saing also
suggested farmers seek crops that don’t rely on much water to grow.
Ongoing drought
Ongoing drought
In July, Sivann Botum, secretary of state for Cambodia’s Ministry of Women’s Affairs and a member of the National Committee for Disaster Management, told RFA that the severe drought would deepen poverty in the developing country.At the time, Heng Kim Sreang, the agriculture director of Kampong Chhnang province, told RFA it was beyond her department to help farmers obtain enough water to plant rice. Because many fields lie on higher land, they are difficult to get water to, she said, and no other farmers had volunteered to allow their plantations to be used as a reservoir.The rainy season provides about three-quarters of Cambodia’s annual rainfall, and daily rain is common during its peak between July and September.Parts of Vietnam, Laos and Thailand also are experiencing a severe lack of rain and higher-than-normal temperatures that have resulted in lower rice production than usual because of the El Niño effect, in which changes in weather patterns can produce droughts and floods in the Mekong region.
Reported by RFA’s Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/rice-09032015171451.html
CAMBODIA PRESS-Rice millers request exemption from VAT - Phnom Penh
Post
As Cambodia continues to struggle with its cost competitiveness in
the rice sector, rice millers and exporters met the General Department of
Taxation on Wednesday asking for an exemption from paying the 10 percent value
added tax (VAT), the Phnom Penh Post reported.The exemption will help ease
prices in the sector, the newspaper reported, citing Kim Savuth, vice president
of the Cambodia Rice Federation. (http://bit.ly/1OfjiJf)
----
NOTE: Reuters has not verified this story and does not vouch for
its accuracy. (Phnom Penh Newsroom; Editing by Anand Basu)
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Sept 04
Nagpur, Sept 4 Gram prices showed weak tendency in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and
Marketing Committee (APMC) here on poor demand from local millers amid high moisture content
arrival. Downward trend in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and release of stock from stockists also
pulled down prices, according to sources.
* * * *
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Desi gram raw firmed up in open market here on good festival season demand from
local traders amid tight supply from producing belts.
TUAR
* Tuar Karnataka reported strong in open market here on good seasonal buying support
from local traders amid thin arrival from producing regions.
* Wheat Mill quality recovered in open market on good demand from local traders amid
weak supply from Punjab and Haryana.
* In Akola, Tuar - 9,700-10,100, Tuar dal - 13,800-14,100, Udid at 9,100-9,300,
Udid Mogar (clean) - 10,900-11,400, Moong - 7,600-7,800, Moong Mogar
(clean) 9,200-9,800, Gram - 4,600-4,900, Gram Super best bold - 6,100-6,300
for 100 kg.
* Other varieties of wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market
in thin trading activity, according to sources.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction 4,000-4,840 4,000-4,930
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction n.a. 8,000-9,200
Moong Auction n.a. 6,000-6,400
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800
Gram Super Best Bold 6,500-6,800 6,500-6,800
Gram Super Best n.a.
Gram Medium Best 5,900-6,100 5,900-6,100
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a.
Gram Mill Quality 5,800-5,900 5,800-5,900
Desi gram Raw 5,100-5,180 5,000-5,100
Gram Filter new 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400
Gram Kabuli 6,400-7,500 6,400-7,500
Gram Pink 6,800-7,000 6,800-7,000
Tuar Fataka Best 14,000-14,500 14,000-14,500
Tuar Fataka Medium 13,500-13,800 13,500-13,800
Tuar Dal Best Phod 12,500-13,000 12,500-13,000
Tuar Dal Medium phod 12,000-12,300 12,000-12,300
Tuar Gavarani New 10,100-10,300 10,100-10,300
Tuar Karnataka 10,400-10,700 10,300-10,600
Tuar Black 12,100-12,400 12,200-12,400
Masoor dal best 8,200-8,700 8,200-8,700
Masoor dal medium 7,900-8,300 7,900-8,300
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold 9,600-9,900 9,600-9,900
Moong Mogar Medium best 8,200-8,800 8,200-8,800
Moong dal Chilka 8,700-8,900 8,700-8,900
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 8,400-9,200 8,400-9,200
Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 11,200-11,800 11,200-11,800
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 10,400-10,800 10,400-10,800
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 9,100-9,600 9,100-9,600
Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,200-5,600 5,200-5,600
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 4,000-4,200 4,000-4,200
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,250-3,500 3,250-3,500
Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,300 3,100-3,300
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,600 3,200-3,600
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,400-1,500 1,400-1,500
Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,650-1,750 1,600-1,700
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,350-1,550 1,350-1,550
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,250-2,400 2,250-2,400
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,950-2,100 1,950-2,100
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,700 3,400-3,700
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,750-2,900 2,750-2,900
Rice BPT New(100 INR/KG) 2,800-3,000 2,800-3,000
Rice BPT (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,100 2,900-3,100
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,900 1,700-1,900
Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,450 2,300-2,450
Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG) 2,700-2,800 2,700-2,800
Rice HMT new(100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,800 3,400-3,800
Rice HMT (100 INR/KG) 3,900-4,300 3,900-4,300
Rice HMT Shriram New(100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,500 4,200-4,500
Rice HMT Shriram old (100 INR/KG) 4,600-5,100 4,600-5,100
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,000-10,000 8,000-10,000
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,000-7,500 7,000-7,500
Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,900 4,500-4,900
Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG) 5,400-5,700 5,400-5,700
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,350 2,100-2,350
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 34.0 degree Celsius (93.2 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
23.2 degree Celsius (73.7 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : nil
FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky. Rains or thunder-showers likely. Maximum and minimum temperature
would be around and 34 and 24 degree Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)
ATTN : Soyabean mandi, wholesale foodgrain market of Nagpur APMC and oil market in Vidarbha willbe closed tomorrow, Saturday, on the occasion of Janmashthami
Rice Prices Soar Due to Poor Rains
By
Published: 04th September 2015 04:50 AM
Last Updated: 04th September 2015 04:50 AM
SRIKAKULAM/VISAKHAPATNAM:People have been facing a tough time
getting quality rice at affordable price as the prices of all rice varieties
have zoomed in the open market. As the government is not taking any measures to
control the prices, the wholesalers and millers are havinh a field day by
increasing the rate by Rs 5 to 6 a kg on all rice varieties.What with the fuel
charges having come down thrice during the past six months, the cost of rice
also should have technically reduced. However, the opposite is happening right
now. Though there is no scarcity of stocks, the price in the open market
increased abnormally over the past one month. The traders in the region alleged
that the millers in East and West Godavari districts increased the prices on
the pretext that there is less stock of polished rice.
The millers deny the
charge however, stating that they did not increase the price at their end.But
the fact remains that this is the second time that the price of the staple
grain shot up in the last four months in the region. The minimum price of rice
per kg (lowest variety-semi polished) which was Rs 22 in June/July, is Rs 28
now. The fine quality rice ‘Old Sona Masuri’ which was Rs 42 a kg, is now
selling at Rs 48. There are reports that the government’s subsidised Rs 1 a kg
rice is purchased by middlemen and sold to the millers. The millers polish the
same rice and sell it in the open market as ‘Sannalu’. The prices of all the
Masuri varieties have increased in all markets, including hyper and super
markets.
The price of a 25-kg bag quality rice ranged from Rs 550 to 650
in the retail market in June/July, now sells at Rs 650 to 700. Fine quality
branded rice, which was Rs 1,050 in June, is now Rs 1,200. What is worse is,
the traders forecast further hike in prices.A leading wholesaler, G
Venkatramudu, opined that the millers might resort to hoarding because of the
poor monsoon. The millers expect low yields in the current kharif because of
drought, leading to a crisis in paddy.Though essential commodities and rice
have gone out of reach of the commoners, the officials concerned are least
bothered. No Civil Supplies or Revenue official has enquired about the price
rise.
Visakhapatnam, joint collector J Nivas said that he would
convene a meeting of wholesalers and millers. “Though the millers offer their
share of levy rice to the government, it is no justification to sell rice at a
high price,” Nivas Said.Sources say that because of the millers in Godavari
districts, traders increased the prices. In fact, the price of Srikakulam
Sannalu, a local variety cultivated in Srikakulam district, has not increased
much, while the rice varieties being imported from Kurnool, Nellore and
Godavari districts shot up abnormally.District civil supplies officer
Anandakumar said that he would convene a meeting with the wholesalers and
millers and control the prices of rice.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/Rice-Prices-Soar-Due-to-Poor-Rains/2015/09/04/article3009621.ece
Rice-pledging: Wissanu breaks down scheme legal
process
RICE-PLEDGING SCHEME
Wissanu breaks down scheme legal process
The Nation
Wissanu breaks down scheme legal process
The Nation
BANGKOK: — The fact-finding
process of the rice-pledging scheme’s legal process will be completed by the
beginning of next year at the latest, said Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu
Krea-ngam.
Everyone would be afforded a proper
defence, he said.Wissanu said that two fact-finding committees had been
established.This first committee is investigating former Prime Minister
Yingluck Shinawatra – the chairwoman of the National Rice Policy Committee –
and the second committee is probing six Ministry of Commerce officials.The
investigation process would be completed by the end of September, Wissanu said,
adding that the investigation report would be submitted to Prime Minister
Prayut Chan-o-cha.He said the case file would be submitted to the committee on
civil liability and compensation, which had until February 2017 to work on it
before the statute of limitations on the case expired.He believed, however,
that the entire process would be completed early next year.He added that those
found guilty would have to pay compensation, but would not face prosecution.
Source:
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Wissanu-breaks-down-scheme-legal-process-30268103.html
Focus on Iran
9/1/2005 - by Melissa Alexander
Agricultural production
increase fueled by country’s motivation to achieve self-sufficiency and
diversification
by Mario Sequeira
In the 25 years since the Iranian revolution,
agricultural production has increased significantly. This has been primarily
due to strong government support of agriculture as part of its policy to
achieve self-sufficiency and, more recently, diversification in an economy
heavily reliant on oil.Iran’s economy is essentially centrally controlled.
Government measures that support agriculture have resulted in production
largely maintaining a growth of 4 to 6% annually through the past 25 years.Action
directly affecting farmers includes guaranteed purchase prices, access to
foreign currency to buy imported machinery, low-interest loans and subsidies
for inputs. The government has also improved the economic environment by
phasing in liberalization and encouraging privatization.
In 2004-05, the country declared self-sufficiency
in wheat. In March, the government announced a one-year, 15 billion Iranian
rials (U.S.$1.5 million) pilot plan called the "rice production
development scheme," aimed at achieving rice self-sufficiency.Wheat and
rice are two staples that are considered strategic commodities and are targeted
for self-sufficiency. Iran’s diverse terrain and climatic conditions enables
production of tropical and cool climate commodities, from grains such as wheat,
rice, barley, maize, pulses and oilseeds to fruits, nuts and vegetables,
including dates, pistachios, sugarcane, rice, apples, cherries and walnuts.
Iran is the world’s largest pistachio producer.The country’s terrain and
climate are diverse. Much of it is arid to semi-arid. About 20% of Iran’s land
area of 165 million hectares, or about 32 million hectares, is arable. Only
about 15 million hectares are farmed, with more than half depending on
irrigation and the rest on rainfall.
In fact, one of the biggest constraints to
agricultural expansion is not a lack of available land but rather a lack of
irrigation. Most dryland farming is carried out in the west and northwest. In
central and southern Iran, farming survives on irrigation.Agriculture remains a
strategic sector in Iran’s economy because of the desire to achieve
self-sufficiency. The other major sectors — industry and services — have grown
at a much faster pace than agriculture.Today, agriculture accounts for 19% of
Iran’s gross domestic product, while industry and services account for 26% and
55% respectively. Agriculture employs 30% of the workforce, while industry
employs 25% and services 45%.Since 1990, Iran’s economy has been managed under
five-year plans that have aimed for a gradual move towards a market-orientated
economy and development of the private sector.
One of the plans involved the formation of rural
production cooperatives to enable farmers to avail themselves of economies of
scale. Progress has been slow, but one international report estimated that by
2022 nearly all of Iran’s farms would be part of a cooperative.The third plan
(2000-05) committed the government to an ambitious program of liberalization,
diversification and privatization. Major third-plan goals for agriculture
included the allocation of 25% of bank loans to water and other agricultural
projects, building new water pumps using new technology and upgrading farm
machinery. Current mechanization rates in the farm sector are very low.
The latest plan (2005-2010) sets goals of
creating 700,000 new jobs and increasing oil output and exports through foreign
direct investment.Some of Iranian agriculture’s most important hurdles are the
shortage of water and inefficient irrigation.Because the water cost to farmers
is so heavily subsidized, it is debated that there is not the incentive for
farmers to be efficient. According to one newspaper report, only half of
irrigated farms run efficient irrigation systems with full or partial control.Other
issues debated in the country’s newspapers include obsolescence of farm
machinery, the lack of raw materials, the practice of subsistence farming,
waste in the production and distribution cycle, inadequate scientific and
technical support to farmers, inadequate capital formation and infrastructure,
and degradation of natural resources due to inefficient cropping patterns.
WHEAT AND FLOUR MILLING
Wheat is the dominant crop in the grains sector, owing to strong government support in the form of input subsidies and guaranteed purchase prices.Wheat accounted for 6.4 million hectares of land in the 2004-05 crop year. Of this, 2.5 million hectares are under irrigated farming. The cost of production is high, but the government has opted to promote and protect the industry at all costs in the drive to reach self-sufficiency.Production has increased by 75% in the past 15 years, more through productivity gains than increased planted area.
For 62 years, Iran imported wheat. But this year,
with a harvest of 14 million tonnes, the government declared self-sufficiency
and has even approved exports of a small parcel of 200,000 tonnes to Iraq.Production
has increased to meet high consumption, as wheat bread is a staple in the
Iranian diet. Per capita wheat consumption was 170 kilograms per year in 2001.
Bread is heavily subsidized by the government, second only to fuel.Demand is
expected to increase as the economy grows and gives Iran’s population, 68% of
which is between 15 and 64 years of age, higher disposable income.
The milling sector comprises a mix of modern and
traditional stone mills and continues to become more sophisticated. According
to a 2003 report, the milling industry has a (collective) daily capacity of
50,000 tonnes. Four types of flour are produced in the 284 mills in Iran. The
most popular type is used to make Sangak bread, a mild sourdough type of bread.
Sangak flour accounts for 45% of production.The next most common use of flour
is for European style breads and other manufactured products, accounting for 25
to 30% of production. The other two flour types are used in the baking of
confectioneries and pasta and the traditional flat bread, which is ground at
stone mills at close to whole wheat extraction rates.The industry’s apex body,
the Federation of Iranian Associations of Flour Milling, was formed in November
1999 to communicate industry issues.Iran has two other milling organizations.
Research and Engineering Services Inc. is charged with importing wheat and
milling machinery and exporting flour. The Self-Sufficiency and Research Center
carries out research on milling and baking, production technology and
equipment, marketing and flour quality.
LIVESTOCK AND FEED
The livestock industry accounts for about 25% of total agricultural production. The main commodities are chicken, red meat and dairy products.Generally, migratory tribes run large herds of sheep and goats, but demand has pushed the growth of large commercial farms. The number of animals (sheep, goats and cattle) in Iran has been reported at about 120 million, of which 8 million cattle and 81 million sheep and goats are grazed on Iran’s 90 million hectares of rangelands by nomadic tribes.Production has increased significantly in the past 25 years. In 1979, chicken production was 195,000 tonnes annually and per capita consumption was 5.1 kg a year. By March 2005, the figures were 1.1 million tonnes and 17.3 kg, respectively.Red meat production has increased to 784,000 tonnes annually this year from 375,000 tonnes in 1980. Per capita consumption has increased to 11.6 kg a year from 9.8 kg in 1980.
Milk production has jumped to 6.7 million tonnes
this year, a tenfold increase from the 1980 production of 620,000 tonnes.
Annual per capita consumption has increased from 69 kg to 99.6 kgPer capita
consumption of animal protein in the country is 22 grams daily. The fourth
five-year plan (2005-10) has set a target of increasing that figure to 29 grams
daily by the end of the plan. The plan notes that to reach that goal, livestock
production would have to increase by an average 6.5% annually over the next
five years.
The plan has set production growth targets of
6.5% for chicken meat, 3% for red meat and 7% for dairy production. Barley and
maize are the two major components of the feed industry. Feed wheat use has
averaged about 300,000 tonnes annually in the past five years. Barley and maize
production has not been enough to meet domestic consumption, so the country has
been importing these coarse grains. Feed barley demand has been averaging
slightly above 2 million tonnes in the past five years while production has
been slightly under that, forcing imports. The production of maize, which is
the major feed for the poultry industry, has been targeted for expansion by the
government. The 2004-05 harvest came in at 1.95 million tonnes, compared to
25,000 tonnes in 1979.
http://www.world-grain.com/departments/country%20focus/iran/focus%20on%20iran.aspx?cck=1
Monsoon begins withdrawal process, confirms Met Office
VINSON KURIAN
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, SEPTEMBER 4:
The India Met Department has
confirmed on Friday that the South-West monsoon has started withdrawing from
the western parts of Rajasthan in what is a month-long process.This came on a
day when the all-India rain deficit shot up for the first time beyond the 12
per cent forecast by the Met for the entire season this year.
Deficit worsens
The gradual drying of the
North-West and adjoining Central India is expected to worsen the overall
deficit figure over the next three to four days, according to indications.An
anti-cyclonic circulation that heralds the dry weather was present at the lower
levels of the atmosphere over north-west India on Friday.The anti-cyclone has
clock-wise winds around it, has high-pressure, and sits heavy over the ground,
suppressing the formation of clouds and precipitation.This is the exact
anti-thesis of the monsoon feature of lower pressure, ascending motion of air
into higher levels of atmosphere where it cools, and condenses the vapour
mopped up by winds from the ocean. This is what precipitates as rain.
Bay humming?
Wind profile projections that a
western disturbance (low-pressure system) coming in from across the border will
dig south into North Arabian Sea and emerge with moisture to be rained down
over Gujarat/Rajasthan.This may unsettle the anti-cyclone during the next week
but it will come back into shape by the weekend, according to these
projections.Meanwhile, global models also suggest the possibility of the East
Bay of Bengal springing a surprise by hosting a likely low-pressure area by
middle of the month.A couple of cyclonic circulations trackers featured by the
US Climate Prediction Centre suggested that the ‘low’ may pick up in strength
and hit the East Coast.But they seemed to differ as to which part of the coast
might take the hit.One model suggested the southern
tip of peninsula and adjoining Sri Lanka while another pointed to the Andhra
Pradesh-
Odisha coast.
(This article was published on September 4, 2015)
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/monsoon-begins-withdrawal-process-confirms-met-office/article7616244.ece
Productivity worries plague Kharif crop prospects on rainfall
deficit
TOMOJIT BASU
NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER
4:
With the start of withdrawal of
the South-West monsoon from parts of western Rajasthan, doubts are being raised
with regard to crop productivity and the possible impact on the Rabi season
even if Kharif acreage is just about two per cent higher vis-Ã -vis last year.The
four-month long South-West monsoon, which provides 75 per cent of India’s
annual rainfall and waters more than half of India’s crop land, has recorded a
13 per cent shortfall between June 1 and September 4, according to the data
provided by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
“Various areas in central,
southern and western India are currently facing water stress. Rain is required
and needs to be well distributed if sown crops are to be saved,” said a senior
Agricultural Ministry official.The amount of rainfall recorded during the
period is 645.7 millimetres (mm) against a normal of 742.5 mm due to a strong
El Nino. The peninsula has registered a 22 per cent shortfall, while central
and north-west India has had deficiencies of 17 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively.
Driest
year
The IMD had predicted
precipitation at 88 per cent of the Long Period Average of 89 cm this year.
However, a 16 per cent and 22 per cent deficit in July and August, which
account for a bulk of monsoon rainfall, threaten to make this the driest year
since 2009 and a second straight drought year.Out of 36 sub-divisions, 18 have
received deficient rainfall this year and only two have recorded an excess. The
situation is most dire in Marathwada and central Maharashtra, north interior
Karnataka, Kerala, Goa and the Konkan coast, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
“An early withdrawal is not an
issue since the monsoon arrived 15 days early, particularly in north-west
India. That’s why there is no adverse effect on area. But this long dry spell
and overall deficiency is a matter of serious concern and will impact
productivity,” said Ramesh Chand, Director, National Institute of Agricultural
Economics and Policy Research.
Rain-fed crops such as pulses,
coarse cereals and oilseeds were particularly at risk, said Chand, adding that
rice was not likely to be hit due to cultivation in areas which either received
sufficient rain or were well irrigated.
Water
storage levels
Importantly, water levels across
91 major reservoirs have also dipped by 16 per cent below the normal and a poor
monsoon will affect replenishment – particularly across Maharashtra, Andhra
Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala, among others.“September
rains crucial since moisture levels in the soil need to be higher not just for
good yield with regard to the Kharif crop but also for the Rabi season which
accounts for a bulk of pulses production,” said Pravin Dongre, Chairman, Indian
Pulses and Grains Association.
(This
article was published on September 4, 2015)
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/productivity-worries-plague-kharif-crop-prospects-on-rainfall-deficit/article7616247.ece
Rice exports resumed with annual 1m tonne limit
FEI says rice exports generate
$600m for Egypt every year
September 3, 2015
The
Egyptian government has resumed rice exports of 1m tonnes per year, the
Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI) announced on Thursday.
In an statement to thank the
government for responding to their demand, the FEI explained that Egypt
produces 4m tonnes of rice per year, with the market consuming 3m tonnes.However,
Ministry of Agriculture figures said that Egypt’s rice production this year was
2.7m tonnes, with rice consumption at 3.6m tonnes.Last Thursday, Minister of
Industry and Foreign Trade Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour issued a decision to stop
exporting rice beginning in September. He explained in a statement that the
decision came to meet the domestic requirements for rice.
The FEI pointed out that exporting
rice generates $600m for Egypt every year, adding that it will help reduce the
budget deficit by EGP 2bn.In 2013, the decision to export rice was a cause of
disagreement. On the one hand, A
bdel Nour had issued a decision in
November 2013, announcing that the government planned to export 100,000 tonnes
of rice between mid-November 2013 and January 2014.Meanwhile, former minister
of supply Mohamed Abu Shady made a contradictory announcement to Abdel Nour’s,
saying that rice
exports would be halted “until all
ration needs of the grain are met”.The Rice Division at the (FEI) had at that time
wanted to export rice to make profits.
http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2015/09/03/rice-exports-resumed-with-annual-1m-tonne-limit-%E2%80%A8/
