Saturday, March 26, 2016

4 march 2016 daily global regional local rice enewsletter by riceplus magazine

Today Rice News Headlines...
News Detail...
·         UNISAME URGES MINISTRIES OF COMMERCE,INDUSTRY AND OTHERS TO SAVE RICE INDUSTRY
·         Export earnings fall 6% in 2015, down 19% in Dec: Stats
·         USA Rice Champions Birth Defects Prevention 
·         Tales of new beginnings
·         PDS rice scam draining State coffers
·         Creamy Indian cheese and peas from Indian cook Mallika Basu
·         Rice not a problem – NFA-Iloilo
·         Egypt's poorest struggle to find rice amid hoarding
·         03/04/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report
·         Rice Prices

UNISAME URGES MINISTRIES OF COMMERCE,INDUSTRY AND OTHERS TO SAVE RICE INDUSTRY


Mar 5, 2016 |  Thaver

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has invited the attention of the ministries of commerce, industry, science and technology and agriculture to the urgent need to join hands for the modernization of rice farming, milling,processing and marketing and to enable it to meet the global challenges.President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said it is very unfortunate that rice industry which is ranked as the second biggest after textiles is left mercilessly neglected. Regardless of the fact that it employs huge number of entrepreneurs from farm land to factories. The SME rice farmers, millers, processors, traders and exporters are in turmoil due to the step motherly treatment of the government. The cost of production has gone high and this has made the rice industry noncompetitive. The farm inputs have become costly. The only answer to survival is value addition, quality bench mark and entering non traditional markets.Thaver urged the ministries of agriculture, commerce, industry and science and technology to co-ordinate with one another for the uplift of the rice sector.
UNISAME after carrying out a study of the requirements for the uplift of the sector stated that dedicated efforts are required from grass root level from modernization of farming, milling, processing,packing and marketing.

The union called upon the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) under the ministry of industries and the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) under the ministry of science and technology to join hands for modernization of the rice industry.It also requested SMEDA and PCSIR to take up the issues of paddy drying, parboiling, steaming and preparation of iron and vitaminized rice and also pre-cooked rice. Various products can be made from rice flour and rice grains if PCSIR could educate the sector on increasing shelf life of the products. PCSIR is capable of doing great work for the sector Thaver said.
The Rice Research Institute under the ministry of agriculture also needs to do more and develope new varieties.We have only a handful of varieties whereas our neighbour India has many and we need to compete in the global markets.The ministry of commerce needs to intervene in the basmati Geographical Indication (GI) matter and also the basmati trade mark issue and resolve the matter with the Intellectual Property Organization and the Registrar of Trade Marks in national interest.
Another very important aspect is the marketing, we have lost the markets of Iran, Gulf and Middle East. Although we have never really entered Europe and USA, there is scope as our super basmati rice is far superior to the 1121 non basmati rice of India. The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) will need to make great efforts to popularise our super basmati rice which is tasty, aromatic and cooks exceedingly well and is undoubtedly the best rice in the world.Another very important facility required for the exporters is the finance facility for export to third world countries and to buyers who are banking with low rating banks. There is urgent need for export credit insurance at low premium just like India has done to promote exports to third world countries. The third world countries have rice as their staple food. India has captured their markets and we are lagging behind. Same is the case with Iran unless the facility for smooth transactions exist there can be no break through. India developed the currency agreement with Iran long ago whereas we were not yet ready to displease the sanction authors.

Now with the re-entry of Iran in the SWIFT international currency exchange the possibilities look bright nevertheless Pakistan will have to re-enter the Iranian market with deligence to promote our super basmati rice


Export earnings fall 6% in 2015, down 19% in Dec: Stats

By Azhar Razak -

Mar 4, 2016Sri Lanka’s earnings from exports continued its downward trend for the tenth consecutive month in December 2015 recording an 18.7 per cent decline, year-on-year, to US dollars 817 million, the Central Bank said today.
Releasing the External Sector Performance statistics for December 2015, the Central Bank said that expenditure on imports on the other hand weakened for the sixth consecutive month in December 2015 by 8.5 per cent to US dollars 1,645 million, year-on-year deviating from the normal seasonal trend of increased expenditure on imports towards the end of the year.
“Reflecting the subdued global demand and lower commodity prices, earnings from exports during 2015 decreased by 5.6 per cent to US dollars 10,505 million while expenditure on imports declined by 2.5 per cent to US dollars 18,935 million,” the Bank noted highlighting the summary of performance in the year 2015.
The deficit in the trade account increased to US dollars 827 million in December 2015, compared to US dollars 792 million in December 2014. On a cumulative basis, the trade deficit during 2015 expanded marginally by 1.7 per cent to US dollars 8,430 million over 2014.
Following is the full statement on External Sector Performance issued by the Central Bank today.
External Sector Performance – December 2015
Overview
Sri Lanka’s external sector showed a mixed performance in the month of December 2015 with a widened trade deficit, continued high growth in tourist earnings and moderate workers’ remittances. On a cumulative basis, the trade deficit widened marginally during 2015, while earnings from tourism increased significantly. Meanwhile, workers’ remittances recorded a marginal decline in 2015. The major source of inflows to the financial account of the BOP during 2015 were the issuance of two international sovereign bonds and swap arrangement of the Reserve Bank of India.
Export Performance
Earnings from exports continued its downward trend for the tenth consecutive month in December 2015 recording an 18.7 per cent decline, year-on-year, to US dollars 817 million, led by textile and garments and tea exports. Export earnings from textile and garments, which contribute nearly 48 per cent to the total exports, declined for the third consecutive month by 12.8 per cent in December 2015, reflecting low exports to both EU and USA markets. However, garment exports to non-traditional markets such as Canada, China and UAE increased slightly by 1.7 per cent, year-on-year, during the month.
Lower demand for tea exports continued throughout the year 2015 due to economic and geo-political developments in the main tea export destinations. Accordingly, earnings from tea exports in December dropped by 24.7 per cent reflecting declines in both export volume and average price levels compared to the corresponding month in the previous year. Further, transport equipment, rubber products and gems, diamonds and jewellery exports also contributed significantly to the drop in December exports. The substantial drop shown in transport equipment was largely as a result of base effect due to the export of a cruise ship in December 2014.
Earnings from rubber product exports continued to weaken and recorded a 19.8 per cent decline, year-on-year, in December 2015. However, petroleum product exports recorded a 24.5 per cent increase as a result of a substantial increase in bunkering quantity by 186.4 per cent, year-on-year, in December 2015. Adding to that, earnings from chemical products also showed a growth of 10.5 per cent while sub categories of cinnamon, woven fabrics and fruits showed a growth in the month of December 2015, over the corresponding month in 2014.
Import Performance
Deviating from the normal seasonal trend of increased expenditure on imports towards the end of the year, expenditure on imports weakened for the sixth consecutive month in December 2015 by 8.5 per cent to US dollars 1,645 million, year-on-year.
A large part of this decline in growth was attributable to the drop in imports of intermediate goods led by fuel imports, while the drop in imports of consumer goods and investment goods also contributed.
In December 2015, expenditure on fuel imports decreased by 15.5 per cent, year-on-year, to US dollars 216 million mainly due to the considerable decline in import prices. In line with the downward movement in international oil prices, average import price of crude oil dropped to US dollars 41.21 per barrel in December 2015, compared to US dollars 75.98 per barrel recorded in December 2014.
Consumer goods imports decreased by 9.1 per cent to US dollars 384 million, in December 2015. Substantial decline recorded in imports of personal motor vehicles and rice imports contributed largely for the reduction of expenditure on consumer goods imports. Expenditure on rice imports declined for the eighth consecutive month in December 2015 to US dollars 1.7 million compared to US dollars 50.0 million in December 2014, owing to the increased local production of rice.
Expenditure on importation of personal motor vehicles dropped significantly by 41.1 per cent to US dollars 66 million in December 2015, reflecting declines recorded in all sub categories including motor cars and motor cycles. Expenditure on transport equipment such as trishaws, buses and agricultural tractors, categorized under investment goods, declined significantly by 49.8 per cent, year-on-year. However, import expenditure on vegetables, textile and textile articles and machinery and equipment, which is categorised under consumer goods, intermediate goods and investment goods, respectively, increased significantly during the month.
Trade Performance for the year 2015
Reflecting the subdued global demand and lower commodity prices, earnings from exports during 2015 decreased by 5.6 per cent to US dollars 10,505 million while expenditure on imports declined by 2.5 per cent to US dollars 18,935 million. Lower performance in tea, rubber products, textile and garments and seafood exports contributed mainly for the drop in exports. Significant decline recorded in fuel import bill due to lower oil prices and lower thermal power generation caused for the decline in import expenditure.
The leading markets for merchandise exports of Sri Lanka during 2015 continued to be the USA, UK, India, Germany and Italy accounting for about 51 per cent of total exports, while the main import origins continued to be India, China, Japan, UAE and Singapore accounting for about 60 per cent of total imports.
Trade Balance
The deficit in the trade account increased to US dollars 827 million in December 2015, compared to US dollars 792 million in December 2014. On a cumulative basis, the trade deficit during 2015 expanded marginally by 1.7 per cent to US dollars 8,430 million over 2014. Earnings from Tourism
Tourist arrivals continued its growth momentum in January 2016 with 194,280 arrivals, registering a year-on-year growth of 24.3 per cent. India and China continued to lead the top ten source countries for tourist arrivals with Indian and Chinese tourists recording the highest growth of 25.9 per cent and 122.3 per cent, respectively, during the month. Earnings from tourism grew by 24.3 per cent, year-on-year, to US dollars 322 million in January 2016.1
Workers’ Remittances
Workers’ remittances declined by 12.7 per cent, year-on-year, to US dollars 618.5 million in December 2015 from US dollars 708.8 million in December 2014. This substantial decline in the growth rate may be partly attributable to the base effect as workers’ remittances increased at a record high rate in December 2014.
On a cumulative basis, workers’ remittances decreased marginally by 0.5 per cent to US dollars 6,980.3 million in 2015 compared to US dollars 7,017.8 million in 2014. This marginal decline of workers’ remittances during this period could be partly attributable to the continued decline in international oil prices and the stagnating growth in the Middle Eastern countries.
Financial Flows
Foreign investments in the government securities market recorded a net outflow of US dollars 118.3 million in January 2016 compared to a net outflow of US dollars 29.5 million during the corresponding month of 2015.
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) recorded a net outflow of US dollars 18.8 million up to end January 2016, which comprised net outflows of US dollars 19.0 million of foreign investment from the secondary market and inflows to the primary market amounting to US dollars 0.2 million. The long term loans to the Government registered a net inflow of US dollars 463.1 million in 2015, compared to the net inflow of US dollars 645.7 million recorded in 2014.
Overall Balance of Payments (BOP) Position
For the year 2015, the overall BOP is estimated to have recorded a deficit of US dollars 1,489 million compared to a surplus of US dollars 1,369 million recorded in 2014.
International Reserves and Exchange Rate Movements
Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves as at end December 2015 amounted to US dollars 7.3 billion, equivalent to 4.6 months of imports while total foreign assets amounted to US dollars 9.3 billion, equivalent to 5.9 months of imports.
During 2016 up to end February, the rupee depreciated by 0.2 per cent against the US dollar. Based on cross currency exchange rate movements, the Sri Lankan rupee appreciated against the pound sterling by 6.8 per cent, the Australian dollar by 2.3 per cent and the Indian rupee by 3.3 per cent, while depreciating against the Japanese yen by 6.1 per cent and the euro by 0.3 per cent during this period
http://nation.lk/online/2016/03/04/export-earnings-fall-6-in-2015-down-19-in-dec-stats.html
 USA Rice Champions Birth Defects Prevention  

ARLINGTON, VA -- Yesterday USA Rice joined with more than 60 groups in observing "World Birth Defects Day" to let consumers know about the importance of folic acid in preventing birth defects and about rice as a source of folic acid.  USA Rice used social media posts and the hashtag #WorldBDDay to help spread the word about the importance of folic acid for moms-to-be and that one-cup of enriched white rice delivers 80 of the recommended 400 micrograms of folic acid, which is 20 percent of the Daily Vitamins and minerals used in the enrichment process prevent neural tube birth defects and anemia caused by nutritional deficiencies.  Since January 1, 1998, all enriched grains in the United States are required to be fortified with folic acid.  The Centers for Disease Control reports that fortification of folic acid in enriched grains has resulted in a decrease in neural tube birth defects by 36 percent in the U.S, making it one of the top ten health initiatives in the first decade of this century.
As a result, Dr. Keith-Thomas Ayoob, a pediatric nutritionist, recommends U.S. rice to his patients, saying:  "All enriched grains are now fortified with folic acid but I am partial to enriched rice because rice is such a great vehicle for adding other nutrient-rich foods to the diet.  It's a great way to get vegetables, lean meat, and even fruit into kids - and expectant moms.  These foods can also contain folic acid and most people need more fruits and vegetables in their diets anyway, so a meal that contains enriched rice can be a real win-win."
"As you can see from the map above, rice from other origins is not likely to be fortified," said USA Rice Director of Domestic Promotion Katie Maher.  "This is especially important for pregnant women to keep in mind when they're grocery shopping and preparing meals.  Rice grown and milled in the U.S. is always enriched, and eating U.S.-grown white rice is an easy, affordable way to increase the level of folic acid in your prenatal diet."
USA Rice Daily

Tales of new beginnings

News of Syrian refugees arriving in Canada brings back memories for a first-generation family of Canadians, writes Uzma Jalaluddin.

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Uzma Jalaluddin, left, is grateful she didn't have to go through the same efforts her mother, Azmat Jalaluddin, did when she originally immigrated from India to Canada.
By: Uzma Jalaluddin Special to the Star, Published on Thu Mar 03 2016
Saturday night dinner at my parents’ house is a family ritual. It doesn’t happen every week, but more often than not, that’s where you’ll find us. The ritual starts when I drop my kids off in the afternoon to spend time with their grandparents and uncle. I try not to whoop too loudly as I leave; that sort of behaviour is unbecoming in a doting mother.When my husband and I return, dragging our heels, to pick them up, we usually stay for dinner.
My mom is a good cook. She makes simple Indian dishes — basmati rice, dhal, sautéed okra or beans, chapli kabob, chicken curry, biryani, sometimes a roast. Her most common Saturday night meal is not Indian, but Italian — spaghetti and meat sauce.
A good cook knows her audience.
We update each other on our week. We’re not a very interesting bunch, so this is mostly relegated to work stories, gossip and current events. If my parents are feeling nostalgic, they reminisce about growing up in India, or their early years in Canada.
I’ve heard that memory is an imperfect thing. When you remember something, you’re not actually remembering the thing that happened but rather recalling the last time you remembered it. My parents’ stories have been told and retold so often, they have the polished patina of antique silver. Sometimes they feel like family legends.
But this week is different. This week, the first batch of Syrian refugees have landed in Toronto, welcomed by well wishers, even our new Prime Minister. Tonight we are thoughtful. From this pensive spirit, my mom starts a story I haven’t heard before.“When you leave a country, your whole life changes,” she begins. “I was raised in a closed environment, closely supervised. When it was time to fly to Canada, I had to travel to the airport in Bombay by myself. My plane was delayed for one night in London. I didn’t know what a shuttle bus was, or how to operate an elevator. I had never stayed in a hotel before. I couldn’t understand what the airport officials in London were saying. They thought I couldn’t speak English. I was just scared.”My dad moved first to the United States in 1969 to pursue a Master’s degree. Afterwards, he applied for immigration to Canada. He’d heard good things about Pierre Trudeau. My mother moved to Canada in 1977 to join him.“There were no opportunities for us in India at the time,” my dad explains.When she landed in Canada after a draining two-day journey, she couldn’t understand a word the Canadian Customs Officer said either. And she is fluent in English, Hindi, Urdu, and Telugu, and holds a Master’s degree.The Customs Officer had to call my dad, who was anxiously waiting in the lounge for his bride.
My dad was quite embarrassed. “You know how to speak English!” he said to her. “Did you forget already?”My mom is irate as she tells this part of the story. “I was exhausted!” she says hotly. “I hadn’t eaten in two days because I didn’t know if the airplane food was halal!” My dad just smiles at her.They don’t have to tell me that those early years were hard. Still, they found jobs, made friends, raised their family and put down roots.When I was a new mother, I used to marvel at them — how did they do this all by themselves, in a country so different from their own? I’m not sure I could have done the same thing. I’m grateful I don’t have to.Dinner always ends with dessert. My family has a sweet tooth. Today it’s pistachio ice cream, ice cream bars for my kids.“It will be difficult for the refugees. They have so much uncertainty. I had uncertainty too, but not like them. I had a place to live, and my husband was working,” my mom says. “But I missed my family, my friends. It takes time to get used to things. It takes time to get used to being alone. But they’ll manage. This is a good place to live.”My parents have been married for almost 40 years. They have lived together in Canada for 39 of those years. A very good place to live indeed.
Uzma Jalaluddin is a high school teacher in the York Region. She writes about parenting, and other life adventures.

 

PDS rice scam draining State coffers

·         Hindu

·         Hyderabad

·         Fri,04 Mar 2016
·          
 Summary: Those who purchase this rice are persuaded by ration shop dealers to sell the rice back to them for Rs. Some employees of Civil Supplies Department, ration shop dealers and millers had formed into organised gangs to divert the rice being supplied through PDS. 2 kilo rice. This rice is sold by ration shop dealers to businessmen who supply the same to poultry farms or roadside eateries for Rs. Telangana government losing hundreds of crores of rupees every yearA scam of diverting rice supplied through Public Distribution System with the nexus of rice millers, ration shop dealers and businessmen is denting the Telangana State exchequer to the tune of hundreds of crores of rupees.Telangana government losing hundreds of crores of rupees every year A scam of diverting rice supplied through Public Distribution System with the nexus of rice millers, ration shop dealers and businessmen is denting the Telangana State exchequer to the tune of hundreds of crores of rupees. Taking advantage of the lacunae in PDS, the racketeers are minting money and ‘silencing’ the officials concerned by greasing their palms. Sources said that even Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao got wind of the sabotaging of PDS — meant for the poorest of the poor. With a few days left for the Budget session to being in the Assembly, Mr. 

Rao reportedly directed the police of Hyderabad and Cyberabad to crack a whip on all the persons connected to the scam. “There is no single person or group responsible for this scam. It is more localised,” said a police officer. Some employees of Civil Supplies Department, ration shop dealers and millers had formed into organised gangs to divert the rice being supplied through PDS. 
Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/pds-rice-scam-draining-state-coffers/article8314264.ece
http://www.nyoooz.com/hyderabad/378591/pds-rice-scam-draining-state-coffersValue. 

Creamy Indian cheese and peas from Indian cook Mallika Basu

This recipe, also known as Malai Matar Paneer, is a great mid-week fix
·         MALLIKA BASU 
·         Wednesday 2 March 2016

Ingredients (feeds 4)

•    Kasoori methi or garam masala
•    1 tbsp tomato puree
•    8 cashewnuts
•    3 tbsp Greek-style natural yoghurt
•    2 tbsp whole milk
•    225-250gm paneer
•    2 fat cloves garlic
•    1 tbsp oil
•    1 tsp mild chilli/Kashmiri chilli powder
•    Half tsp turmeric powder
•    Handful of peas (frozen is just fine)    •    Salt to taste

Soft cubes of paneer, Indian cheese, nestling in a tomato cream with peas, may look like it’s the result of hours of labour. But this recipe is a quick fix that will hit a spot mid-week, as well as impress guests at the weekend.
Malai is usually used to describe a dish with cream in Indian food. I’ve used cashews, yoghurt and milk instead to give the dish the necessary creamy texture without the heavy feeling you get after cream. Serve this with a stash of rotis, or a dal and some steaming hot Basmati rice.

Bengali Cashew and Coconut fish curry by Indian cook Mallika Basu

Method
If using Kasoori methi, soak a pinch in a tablespoon of warm water. This is fenugreek and it balances the tomato beautifully. 
Next, blitz the tomato puree, cashewnuts, milk and yoghurt together in a hand blender or small smoothie maker until you get a silky paste.
Chop the paneer into even bite-sized pieces. Now bring the oil to heat on medium in a sauté pan or large frying pan. Gently fry the paneer pieces on two opposite sides to seal it. It will hiss and spit, so loosely cover the pan with the lid and be careful. When done, remove them with a slotted spoon.
Now, peel and finely grate or chop the garlic and stir it through the same oil the paneer was fried in. As it turns golden, mix through the chilli powder and turmeric. Then pour in the tomato cream. 
The tomato cream will split and this is perfectly normal, it will reconstitute and give the dish its lovely texture and look. As oil oozes through the pores in a couple of minutes, stir through the paneer and the peas. Cover and simmer for a minute. You can add half a cup of water if you want more curry.
Now stir through the kasoori methi with the water its been soaking in, if using. If not, half a teaspoon of garam masala will do the job too.
Add salt to you taste to finish.
Mallika Basu is a London-based food writer, cookbook author and cookery personality; quickindiancooking.com. Follow her on Twitter@MallikaBasu_ and find more of her recipes for the Evening Standard here
Evening standard


Rice not a problem – NFA-Iloilo


March 4, 2016
ILOILO City – “We have enough supply of rice in Iloilo despite of the El Niño phenomenon,” said National Food Authority (NFA) provincial manager Erna Abello.Abello, one of the panelists during the recent agricultural information caravan on El Niño in Cabatuan, Iloilo, said NFA has a total of buffer stock of 2,591,092 bags good for 121 days.“We are encouraging farmers to avail themselves of our support price of P17.40 per kilo for clean and dry rice delivered to NFA warehouses,” said Abello.Abello also said the province has an allocation of 240,000 bags of imported rice from Thailand as part of the contingency measures for El Niño and other natural calamities.The first shipment containing 120,000 bags arrived on Feb. 20, 2016.The remaining rice import was expected to arrive yesterday. This would be distributed to NFA accredited rice retailers all over the province of Iloilo.

Meanwhile Glenn Carbon, insurance underwriter II of Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC), encouraged farmers affected by El Niño to report their farm damage to their municipal agriculturists or directly to PCIC 20 days before harvest.PCIC Underwriters will assess all reported damage and recommend insurance claims for processing and payment to the affected farmers, said Carbon.Damage reported beyond 20 days and farmers not listed in the master list under the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBSA) program will not be eligible for insurance claims.RSBSA is a nationwide database of baseline information of farmers, farm laborers and fisher folk, as well as geographical coordinates of agricultural and fishery workers households. (JEE Ogatis, DA-6/PNEgypt's poorest struggle to find rice amid hoarding
ABU DHABI/CAIRO | BY MAHA EL DAHAN AND ERIC KNECHT



A farmer flattens the soil using a horse to prepare his land for growing rice in the 6th of October village in the Nile Delta province of Al-Baheira, northwest of Cairo, Egypt in this May 22, 2014 file photo.
REUTERS/ASMAA WAGUIH/FILES


Egypt has more rice than it needs but little available for those who need it most.The price the government pays for rice has surged by about 50 percent in the past two months because traders are holding back supplies and expect prices to rise further following the government's failure to replenish its stockpiles.Imported commodities such as cooking oil have been in short supply for weeks at outlets that offer subsidized goods to poor Egyptians as a dollar shortage makes it harder for state importers to secure regular supplies.

But rice is widely grown in Egypt and farmers are actually producing a surplus.
Mostafa al-Naggari, head of the rice committee of Egypt's agricultural export council, estimates the country produced 3.75 million tonnes of rice in the 2015 season and carried over 700,000 tonnes from 2014. With consumption at 3.3 million tonnes, that leaves a surplus of more than 1 million tonnes.But the government's failure to stockpile rice has left it at the mercy of traders, who are unwilling to sell when prices are rising daily, Naggari said.With an eye to the overall rice surplus, the government has allowed exports to resume, but its failure to accumulate its own stocks has encouraged traders to hold back supplies in the expectation of rising prices while discouraging exports.At the same time, the government has imposed a tariff of 2,000 Egyptian pounds ($255) per tonne tariff, which has kept exports low."One of our vital recommendations to the government before opening the door for rice exports in October was for it to stock up on around half a million tonnes," Naggari said."But that didn't happen and hence we find ourselves in the situation we are in today."

STOCKPILE
Previous governments have stockpiled between 200,000 to 500,000 tonnes of rice, but Naggari said supplies minister Khaled Hanafi had refused to buy any reserves.Critics say Hanafi ignored advice to stockpile rice, saying it was plentiful and he could buy it when he needed it.Hanafi and the Supplies Ministry did not respond to calls for comment.Growing shortages and rising prices carry immense political risk for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, as tens of millions of the country's poorest rely on state subsidies for their basic food. Economic discontent helped stoke public unrest instrumental in unseating two presidents in the last five years."This month I couldn't get any subsidized rice at all," Cairo resident Sabrine said after returning from a government food outlet empty-handed. "They said we can take juice instead of rice -- what are we going to do with juice?"

The more desperate the government gets in its attempts to buy rice, the more traders are likely to hold back."The rice is there but it's being stockpiled, traders are storing it as they can see the prices go upwards and they are waiting to sell at the highest price," said one trader, who declined to be identified.The government has this week tried to strike back, imposing penalties on suppliers it finds are hoarding, said Adham El Welely, managing director of Unicom for Investment and Development, a rice supplier that has been visited by government officials.
"We've had several visits in the past two days," he said. "They are just trying now to push you to sell or make some movement."(Additional reporting by Ola Noureldin; Editing by Lin Noueihed, Veronica Brown and Giles Elgood)
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-rice-idUSKCN0W61BK

03/04/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report

Rice
High Low
Long Grain Cash Bids
Long Grain New Crop


Futures:
ROUGH RICE

High Low Last Change
Mar '16 1034.0 1026.0 1026.5 +0.5
May '16 1060.5 1048.0 1050.5 0.0
Jul '16 1084.0 1075.0 1077.0 -0.5
Sep '16 1095.5 1095.5 1093.0 -0.5
Nov '16 1110.0 0.0
Jan '17 1125.5 0.0
Mar '17 1125.5 0.0

     
Rice Comment
Rice futures were mostly unchanged today. The market continues to absorb disappointing export news. Weekly export sales of 91,200 tons weren't enough to generate any upward momentum. The loss of the Iraqi tender, which had originally been for 90,000 tons US origin rice only, was the impetus for the negative undertone this week. The market needs to see better movement in order to gain any upward momentum. USDA pegged US acreage at 2.8 million acres, up from last year's 2.6 million. Depending on the weather, though, that total could be even higher. May came within a penny of the recent contract low of $10.43 before finding support and ending the day closer to the middle of the day's trading range.



Rice Prices
as on : 04-03-2016 08:10:36 PM

Arrivals Price
Current %
change Season 
cumulative Modal Prev.
Modal Prev.Yr
%change
Rice
Bazpur(Utr) 4664.50 345.49 22098.41 2089 1941 11.89
Bangalore(Kar) 1877.00 3.36 91546.00 4150 4150 -2.35
Gadarpur(Utr) 1839.00 133.08 72701.00 2120 2100 6.00
Mumbai(Mah) 1158.00 - 1158.00 3200 - -
Varanasi(Grain)(UP) 680.00 4.62 7125.00 1960 1960 -1.75
Kanpur(Grain)(UP) 400.00 NC 6645.00 2140 2125 -2.28
Manjeri(Ker) 290.00 NC 6960.00 2900 2900 -12.12
Faizabad(UP) 190.00 -2.56 3151.50 2085 2085 -
Azamgarh(UP) 172.50 -1.43 3181.50 2060 2085 -
Allahabad(UP) 160.00 -5.88 4910.00 2150 2125 3.37
Sitapur(UP) 160.00 -1.23 5041.00 2160 2140 -0.23
Bahraich(UP) 148.00 -5.13 2761.50 2080 2070 NC
Agra(UP) 138.00 4.55 3759.00 2100 2120 3.96
Ballia(UP) 130.00 -18.75 5850.00 1970 1970 -0.25
Mathabhanga(WB) 120.00 9.09 2780.00 1950 1950 2.63
Lucknow(UP) 108.50 9.6 2981.50 2140 2150 1.90
Bareilly(UP) 106.00 22.54 5920.00 2190 2200 4.29
Pilibhit(UP) 100.00 2.04 16706.00 2190 2185 -6.61
Dhing(ASM) 89.00 NC 2133.20 1800 1800 -18.18
Aligarh(UP) 85.00 NC 1885.00 2160 2150 13.09
Nalbari(ASM) 84.00 -5.08 441.50 2000 2000 NC
Saharanpur(UP) 80.00 6.67 3576.00 2040 2040 -2.63
Kalipur(WB) 78.00 -2.5 3278.00 2000 2000 -9.09
P.O. Uparhali Guwahati(ASM) 75.00 1.35 2516.50 2100 2100 -19.23
Thodupuzha(Ker) 70.00 NC 1470.00 2650 2650 8.16
Goalpara(ASM) 69.70 24.46 224.10 1800 1800 -
Coochbehar(WB) 64.50 3.2 720.50 2100 2100 -2.33
Junagarh(Ori) 63.97 -1.49 718.91 2100 2100 -4.55
Beldanga(WB) 62.00 3.33 1021.00 2275 2275 -10.78
Wahiajer(Meh) 60.00 - 60.00 3500 - -
Achalda(UP) 60.00 -14.29 2724.50 2250 2270 3.21
Dahod(Guj) 55.60 49.87 853.30 3900 3900 -8.24
Gauripur(ASM) 54.00 14.89 1990.50 4500 4500 -
Samsi(WB) 50.00 -75 14910.00 2900 2900 -
Kasimbazar(WB) 45.00 4.65 1052.50 2340 2370 -8.24
Mangalore(Kar) 42.00 - 125.00 2900 - -2.68
Jorhat(ASM) 40.00 -23.08 883.00 2700 2700 -
Gangavathi(Kar) 40.00 -4.76 125.00 1720 2480 -
Bishnupur(Bankura)(WB) 40.00 -38.46 1560.00 1950 1950 -9.30
Khatra(WB) 38.00 -2.56 648.00 2250 2250 -8.16
Taliamura(Tri) 35.00 9.38 275.00 2300 2300 -
Balrampur(UP) 35.00 -24.73 1073.50 2010 2040 -1.23
Kolhapur(Laxmipuri)(Mah) 30.00 NC 975.00 3000 3000 -
Sirsa(UP) 26.00 4 322.00 2075 2075 -
Garbeta(Medinipur)(WB) 26.00 -7.14 319.00 2350 2400 -1.26
Shikohabad(UP) 25.00 NC 307.50 1985 1985 -6.81
Jhargram(WB) 25.00 4.17 208.00 2700 2700 -3.57
Ramkrishanpur(Howrah)(WB) 25.00 3.31 718.60 2300 2300 -11.54
Lohardaga(Jha) 24.50 22.5 557.00 1850 1760 8.82
Dhekiajuli(ASM) 24.00 -20 629.50 1900 1900 -1.04
Sambhal(UP) 24.00 -11.11 110.00 2175 2200 8.75
Mekhliganj(WB) 22.50 12.5 391.00 2050 2050 -
Gulbarga(Kar) 22.00 - 64.00 2125 - 3.66
Kendupatna(Ori) 20.00 - 20.00 1800 - -
Jasra(UP) 20.00 -4.76 379.50 2025 2075 1.25
Diamond Harbour(South 24-pgs)(WB) 20.00 -4.76 308.00 1850 1850 -13.95
Bohorihat(ASM) 18.00 -18.18 186.40 2100 2075 -14.29
Tamluk (Medinipur E)(WB) 18.00 NC 426.00 2300 2300 9.52
Kolaghat(WB) 16.00 NC 386.00 2300 2300 4.55
Mirzapur(UP) 15.00 -6.25 1036.00 1935 1935 0.78
Pukhrayan(UP) 15.00 -6.25 85.50 2020 1975 -4.49
Bijnaur(UP) 14.00 27.27 363.00 2200 2200 -
Kannauj(UP) 14.00 21.74 220.30 2190 2210 0.92
Jahanabad(UP) 13.50 NC 165.50 2289 2280 15.90
Naugarh(UP) 12.50 8.7 453.50 2065 2060 8.97
North Lakhimpur(ASM) 12.10 -5.47 954.70 1900 1900 -
Champadanga(WB) 12.00 -25 517.00 2300 2300 -14.81
Kasganj(UP) 11.00 -8.33 392.00 1910 1900 -7.06
Tanakpur(Utr) 10.50 -12.5 158.60 2200 2150 -2.22
Palghar(Mah) 10.00 400 426.00 2125 2200 -
Bhivandi(Mah) 10.00 11.11 200.00 3200 3050 90.48
Raibareilly(UP) 10.00 -4.76 223.50 2070 2065 3.50
Kaliaganj(WB) 10.00 -16.67 405.00 2550 2550 10.87
Raiganj(WB) 10.00 NC 585.00 2850 2850 18.75
Dibrugarh(ASM) 9.00 -30.77 742.30 2400 2400 -
Pundibari(WB) 9.00 -10 120.50 2050 2050 -3.53
Chalakudy(Ker) 8.00 NC 68.00 2530 2480 -3.62
Jeypore(Kotpad)(Ori) 7.80 116.67 160.20 1500 4100 -53.85
Hazaribagh(Jha) 7.50 -21.05 74.75 2995 2595 1.35
Tusura(Ori) 7.00 16.67 123.00 2200 2300 -8.33
Bolangir(Ori) 6.50 -13.33 127.00 2200 2300 -8.33
Chengannur(Ker) 6.00 20 368.50 2400 2500 -7.69
Baberu(UP) 6.00 -33.33 111.00 2125 2100 13.33
Khairagarh(UP) 6.00 33.33 243.50 2110 2120 4.46
Karanjia(Ori) 5.50 NC 179.30 2600 2600 4.00
Silapathar(ASM) 5.30 -10.17 465.50 3000 3000 NC
Buland Shahr(UP) 5.00 -28.57 285.00 2050 2050 0.49
Jeypore(Ori) 4.30 330 165.80 325 325 -
Rura(UP) 4.00 -11.11 53.60 2220 2190 5.71
Imphal(Man) 3.50 -12.5 131.00 2900 2900 NC
Arakalgud(Kar) 3.00 -50 9.00 1920 1910 -
Aroor(Ker) 3.00 NC 138.70 6700 6900 -27.96
Bonai(Bonai)(Ori) 3.00 50 66.10 2000 2000 -9.09
Islampur(WB) 3.00 -25 188.20 2150 2150 -
Perinthalmanna(Ker) 2.90 NC 56.80 2500 2500 -
Darjeeling(WB) 2.70 NC 54.90 2800 2800 3.70
Bharuasumerpur(UP) 1.50 50 4.50 1840 1780 -
Lamlong Bazaar(Man) 1.50 -6.25 45.20 2800 2800 -3.45
Thoubal(Man) 1.30 -27.78 61.30 2800 2800 180.00
Shillong(Meh) 0.60 NC 35.30 3500 3500 NC

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article8313680.ece
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http://panaynewsphilippines.com/2016/03/04/rice-not-a-problem-nfa-iloilo/












Egypt's poorest struggle to find rice amid hoarding

ABU DHABI/CAIRO |  MAHA EL DAHAN  ERIC KNECHT


A farmer flattens the soil using a horse to prepare his land for growing rice in the 6th of October village in the Nile Delta province of Al-Baheira, northwest of Cairo, Egypt in this May 22, 2014 file photo.
REUTERS/ASMAA WAGUIH/FILES

Egypt has more rice than it needs but little available for those who need it most.The price the government pays for rice has surged by about 50 percent in the past two months because traders are holding back supplies and expect prices to rise further following the government's failure to replenish its stockpiles.Imported commodities such as cooking oil have been in short supply for weeks at outlets that offer subsidized goods to poor Egyptians as a dollar shortage makes it harder for state importers to secure regular supplies.

But rice is widely grown in Egypt and farmers are actually producing a surplus.
Mostafa al-Naggari, head of the rice committee of Egypt's agricultural export council, estimates the country produced 3.75 million tonnes of rice in the 2015 season and carried over 700,000 tonnes from 2014. With consumption at 3.3 million tonnes, that leaves a surplus of more than 1 million tonnes.But the government's failure to stockpile rice has left it at the mercy of traders, who are unwilling to sell when prices are rising daily, Naggari said.With an eye to the overall rice surplus, the government has allowed exports to resume, but its failure to accumulate its own stocks has encouraged traders to hold back supplies in the expectation of rising prices while discouraging exports.At the same time, the government has imposed a tariff of 2,000 Egyptian pounds ($255) per tonne tariff, which has kept exports low."One of our vital recommendations to the government before opening the door for rice exports in October was for it to stock up on around half a million tonnes," Naggari said."But that didn't happen and hence we find ourselves in the situation we are in today."

STOCKPILE
Previous governments have stockpiled between 200,000 to 500,000 tonnes of rice, but Naggari said supplies minister Khaled Hanafi had refused to buy any reserves.Critics say Hanafi ignored advice to stockpile rice, saying it was plentiful and he could buy it when he needed it.Hanafi and the Supplies Ministry did not respond to calls for comment.Growing shortages and rising prices carry immense political risk for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, as tens of millions of the country's poorest rely on state subsidies for their basic food. Economic discontent helped stoke public unrest instrumental in unseating two presidents in the last five years."This month I couldn't get any subsidized rice at all," Cairo resident Sabrine said after returning from a government food outlet empty-handed. "They said we can take juice instead of rice -- what are we going to do with juice?"

The more desperate the government gets in its attempts to buy rice, the more traders are likely to hold back."The rice is there but it's being stockpiled, traders are storing it as they can see the prices go upwards and they are waiting to sell at the highest price," said one trader, who declined to be identified.The government has this week tried to strike back, imposing penalties on suppliers it finds are hoarding, said Adham El Welely, managing director of Unicom for Investment and Development, a rice supplier that has been visited by government officials.
"We've had several visits in the past two days," he said. "They are just trying now to push you to sell or make some movement."(Additional reporting by Ola Noureldin; Editing by Lin Noueihed, Veronica Brown and Giles Elgood)
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-rice-idUSKCN0W61BK

03/04/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report

Rice
High
Low
Long Grain Cash Bids
Long Grain New Crop


Futures:
ROUGH RICE
High
Low
Last
Change
Mar '16
1034.0
1026.0
1026.5
+0.5
May '16
1060.5
1048.0
1050.5
0.0
Jul '16
1084.0
1075.0
1077.0
-0.5
Sep '16
1095.5
1095.5
1093.0
-0.5
Nov '16
1110.0
0.0
Jan '17
1125.5
0.0
Mar '17
1125.5
0.0
   
Rice Comment
Rice futures were mostly unchanged today. The market continues to absorb disappointing export news. Weekly export sales of 91,200 tons weren't enough to generate any upward momentum. The loss of the Iraqi tender, which had originally been for 90,000 tons US origin rice only, was the impetus for the negative undertone this week. The market needs to see better movement in order to gain any upward momentum. USDA pegged US acreage at 2.8 million acres, up from last year's 2.6 million. Depending on the weather, though, that total could be even higher. May came within a penny of the recent contract low of $10.43 before finding support and ending the day closer to the middle of the day's trading range.

7 March,2016 daily global regional local rice enewsletter by riceplus magazine

Today Rice News Headlines...
·         Unisame urges ministries to join hands to promote rice export
·         Good advice from WB
·         Need for better rice farming, milling, processing, marketing
·         Scots only at their best for a few hours
·         Iron House Kopitiam: Pulling in the crowd with delicious local food
·         What to do with agriculture in 2016 and beyond (Part VII)
News Detail...
Unisame urges ministries to join hands to promote rice export

Our Staff Reporter
March 06, 2016

KARACHI - Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has invited the attention of the ministries of commerce, industry, science and technology and agriculture to the urgent need to join hands for the modernization of rice farming, milling, processing and marketing and to enable it to meet the global challenges.President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said it is very unfortunate that rice industry which is ranked as the second biggest after textiles is left mercilessly neglected.Regardless of the fact that it employs huge number of entrepreneurs from farm land to factories.The SME rice farmers, millers, processors, traders and exporters are in turmoil due to the step motherly treatment of the government.
The cost of production has gone high and this has made the rice industry noncompetitive.
The farm inputs have become costly.The only answer to survival is value addition, quality bench mark and entering non traditional markets, he stressed.Thaver has urged the ministries of agriculture, commerce, industry, science and technology to work in coordination for the uplift of rice sector.UNISAME after carrying out a study of the requirements for the uplift of the sector stated that dedicated efforts are required from grass root level to modernization of farming, milling, processing, packing and marketing, for the boost of rice sector.The union called upon the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) under the ministry of industries and the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) under the ministry of science and technology to join hands for modernization of the rice industry.It also requested SMEDA and PCSIR to take up the issues of paddy drying, parboiling, steaming and preparation of iron and vitaminized rice and also pre-cooked rice.
Various products can be made from rice flour and rice grains if PCSIR could educate the sector on increasing shelf life of the products.

PCSIR is capable of doing great work for the sector, Thaver said.The Rice Research Institute under the ministry of agriculture also needs to do more and develop new varieties.
We have only a handful of varieties whereas our neighbour India has many varieties to compete in the global markets.He suggested that the ministry of commerce needs to intervene in the basmati Geographical Indication (GI) matter and also the basmati trade mark issue and resolve the matter with the Intellectual Property Organization and the Registrar of Trade Marks in national interest.nother very important aspect is the marketing; we have lost the markets of Iran, Gulf and Middle East.Though we have never really entered Europe and USA, there is scope as our super basmati rice is far superior to the 1121 non basmati rice of India.

The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) will need to make great efforts to popularise our super basmati rice which is tasty, aromatic and cooks exceedingly well and is undoubtedly the best rice in the world.He said now with the re-entry of Iran in the SWIFT international currency exchange the possibilities look bright nevertheless Pakistan will have to re-enter the Iranian market with diligence to promote our super basmati rice
http://nation.com.pk/business/06-Mar-2016/unisame-urges-ministries-to-join-hands-to-promote-rice-export
Good advice from WB
Posted by Online on Mar 6th, 2016
THE World Bank has added its voice to the calls for the Philippines to focus on agriculture as the best way to confront the country’s biggest problem of mass poverty.If the Philippines can bring down the price of rice from the present P35 per kilo, to P15 which is the equivalent of rice prices in Thailand and Vietnam today, the poor, who spend 20 percent of their income on rice, get an immediate increase in their spending power, World Bank’s Roger Van den Brink said. Van den Brink, lead economist of the World Bank Poverty Reduction and Economic Management for East Asia and the Pacific, was speaking at the Arangkada Philippines Forum in Pasay City the other day.

It has long been asked why Thailand and Vietnam farmers are able to produce rice at costs that are less than half of what it costs us in the Philippines, when it was at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños, Laguna, where they learned the modern production techniques they use today. IRRI developed high-yielding rice varieties and the planting and harvesting techniques that are now in wide use in those two countries. In contrast, many Philippine farmers cling to their traditional practices, producing little more than their own needs.
Former Senator Francis Pangilinan, who once served as Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization, said last week that the government has to work very closely with Filipino farmers to win them over to the new high-yielding rice varieties and to the modern production techniques needed for these varieties – to hold their hand, so to speak, as they leave the comfort of their traditional farm practices.
Van den Brink, in his talk at the World Bank forum, also stressed the importance of extension work among farmers – along with greater investments in research and development, more farm infrastructure such as roads and irrigation, and securing farmers’ property rights and improving their health and education.
The World Bank official called on the Philippine government to revisit its present policies on agriculture and manufacturing which, he said, have failed to grow sustainably. The next administration, he said, should focus on the needs not only of small farmers but also of small and medium enterprises.There are indeed less than four months before the end of the current administration. But that should not stop it from stepping up, even now, its extension work with farmers, with the approach of the next planting season which begins with the rains this May.

http://www.tempo.com.ph/2016/03/06/opinion/editorial/good-advice-from-wb/#bIeC5LqkoWUKSKXO.99

Need for better rice farming, milling, processing, marketing


Amanullah Khan
Karachi —Despite having a huge rice crop and export surplus Pakistan rice lagging behind due to gross negligence of this sector, said President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver. It is very unfortunate that rice industry which is ranked as the second biggest after textiles is left mercilessly neglected. Regardless of the fact that it employs huge number of entrepreneurs from farm land to factories. The SME rice farmers, millers, processors, traders and exporters are in turmoil due to the step motherly treatment of the government. The cost of production has gone high and this has made the rice industrynon-competitive.

The farm inputs have become costly. The only answer to survival is value addition, quality bench mark and entering non traditional markets. Thaver urged the ministries of agriculture, commerce, industry and science and technology to co-ordinate with one another for the uplift of the rice sector. UNISAME after carrying out a study of the requirements for the uplift of the sector stated that dedicated efforts are required from grass root level from modernization of farming, milling, processing, packing and marketing. The union called upon the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) under the ministry of industries and the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) under the ministry of science and technology to join hands for modernization of the rice industry.

It also requested SMEDA and PCSIR to take up the issues of paddy drying, parboiling, steaming and preparation of iron and vitaminized rice and also pre-cooked rice. Various products can be made from rice flour and rice grains if PCSIR could educate the sector on increasing shelf life of the products. PCSIR is capable of doing great work for the sector Thaver said. The Rice Research Institute under the ministry of agriculture also needs to do more and developed new varieties. We have only a handful of varieties whereas our neighbour India has many and we need to compete in the global markets. The ministry of commerce needs to intervene in the basmati Geographical Indication (GI) matter and also the basmati trade mark issue and resolve the matter with the Intellectual Property Organization and the Registrar of Trade Marks in national interest.

Another very important aspect is the marketing, we have lost the markets of Iran, Gulf and Middle East. Although we have never really entered Europe and USA, there is scope as our super basmati rice is far superior to the 1121 non basmati rice of India. The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) will need to make great efforts to popularise our super basmati rice which is tasty, aromatic and cooks exceedingly well and is undoubtedly the best rice in the world. Another very important facility required for the exporters is the finance facility for export to third world countries and to buyers who are banking with low rating banks.

There is urgent need for export credit insurance at low premium just like India has done to promote exports to third world countries. The third world countries have rice as their staple food. India has captured their markets and we are lagging behind. Same is the case with Iran unless the facility for smooth transactions exist there can be no break through. India developed the currency agreement with Iran long ago whereas we were not yet ready to displease the sanction authors. Now with the re-entry of Iran in the SWIFT international currency exchange the possibilities look bright nevertheless Pakistan will have to re-enter the Iranian market with deligence to promote our super basmati rice.

Scots only at their best for a few hours

Dawn Renton

dawn.renton@jpress.co.uk
11:00Saturday 05 March 2016
Residents of Scotland spend just four-and-a-half hours ‘at their best’ per day according a recent survey.

The poll, by Tilda Basmati rice, found that a lack of energy is having a massive effect on our daily lives, with the average adult making five mistakes a week at work due to tiredness or a slump – 260 per year. Tiredness, energy slumps and constant distractions from our colleagues mean we are only functioning at our best for just a few hours per day.
So what is holding residents of Scotland back from being at their best in the day? Three out of five people reported that they felt low on energy in the workplace, with 85 per cent of respondents adding that they struggled to shake off the workplace energy slump even when back home.
Constant access to the internet and phone calls emerged as the two most common distractions in the day for Scottish residents, leading to 32 per cent of people forgetting why they entered a room in the first place. For a quick energy boost, 42 per cent of people in Scotland grabbed a cup of coffee to battle the mid-afternoon lull with, despite more than half confessing to this being an unhealthy habit.
Dr Sarah Schenker, dietitian, said: “It’s not surprising to hear that many people turn to sugary snacks in an attempt to boost energy levels, but actually this is a mistake as the energy is short-lived and they quickly feel just as tired as they did before. Sometimes this can lead to a negative cycle of snacking and feeling lethargic, which could ultimately lead to weight gain.
“Breaking deeply-ingrained snacking habits to make sensible food choices that reflect lifestyle and energy needs can be the turning point for many to overhaul energy levels and improve wellbeing

Iron House Kopitiam: Pulling in the crowd with delicious local food

BY LEE KHANG YI
Sunday March 6, 2016
08:44 AM GMT+8
The must-eat here is their signature nasi lemak with fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk and served with crispy golden fried chicken, sambal, hard boiled egg, cucumbers, ikan bilis and peanuts. — Pictures by Choo Choy MaySERI KEMBANGAN, March 6 — If you thought Seri Kembangan is the other end of the world, you will be surprised to discover it isn’t. With the Seri Kembangan exit on the MEX highway, it’s actually just a mere 30 minutes from Damansara or even Shah Alam. This makes eateries around the new village like the super popular Iron House Kopitiam incredibly accessible.
Opened last August, the kopitiam is run by millenials Wong Yun Soon (or Soon as he prefers to be called) and his girlfriend, Tan Mei Syn. The 24-year-old accounting and finance graduates swapped their corporate lives to run their own F&B business. Rather than falling into the cafe scene, Soon who is a self-confessed foodie decided to open this kopitiam with a menu that preserves his own heritage.
Iron House Kopitiam is run by the young couple, Wong Yun Soon and Tan Mei Syn.Prior to opening this place, he picked up his cooking skills from his mother Yin Yoke Keng who ran a pan mee stall.
Soon keeps things safe with local crowd-pleasers like pan mee, nasi lemak, Hainanese chicken chop and steamed items paired with rice. Desserts are icy creations like cendol, ABC and tangy ai yu jelly with canned longans. A daily tong suiis also available.
Adding the final touches to the ABC, one of their cold desserts (left). You can order additional side dishes like sambal sotong and chicken rendang with your nasi lemak (right).Prices for their dishes are kept affordable, their small portion of pan mee is RM5.50. Originally, Soon’s target audience was young college kids from the nearby universities. To his surprise, his food won him fans like families and even older folks.
Taste the food served and you know why there’s always a queue for a table here... it’s delicious and well executed. Soon uses top quality ingredients and the cooking skills in the kitchen are exemplary. Case in point, the sambal sotong is perfectly cooked without any rubbery bits that often plague this dish.
Pan mee is a big thing in this area, hence you have Iron House Kopitiam’s signature chilli version served with poached egg, crispy ikan bilis, minced meat and aromatic dried chillies (left). Comfort food: Steamed pork patty with salted fish served with rice mixed with fried shallots (right).It’s a smart move to introduce pan mee since the locals here can’t get enough of the Hakka noodles which can be found at every corner of the village. The pan mee is a stand out — textbook perfection with an al dente texture that makes you want to slurp down a whole bowl. You have three choices for the noodles; classic soup with a sweet tasting broth, classic dry or their signature chilli where it’s tossed with a poached egg and a mix of fragrant dried chillies and dried shrimps. The pan mee is also available with the pinched type or a choice of thick or thin strands.
The busy kitchen at the back of the kopitiam.Their best seller is the nasi lemak with their signature fried chicken leg served on an enamel plate. At RM10.50, it’s the most expensive item and also found on every table here. As Soon wanted his nasi lemak to be authentic, the rice has a rich coconut milk taste.
Here he uses basmati rice for fluffier healthier grains making each spoonful of that fragrant rice a little less sinful. Their fried chicken also gets top marks for its juicy tender meat paired with crispy golden skin. Rather than go full-on with the spices usually found in the Malay versions, he decided to be cautious and reduce them to appeal to the Chinese palate. That has worked as diners are lapping up the fried chicken, as it’s a must-eat here for everyone.
A tribute to the owner’s heritage, the Hainanese chicken chop has a home cooked feel with its use of fresh tomatoes in their brown sauce.Soon also has a real respect to his heritage. As his mother is Hainanese, he insisted on serving the Hainanese chicken chop. Here it’s interpreted in a better way — the deep fried chicken chop is slathered with a homemade brown sauce made with tomatoes rather than the usual ho-hum bottled tomato ketchup.
He also prefers to not use any colouring with the dish. There is also none of those commercial French fries served on the side but homemade potato wedges. Even the simple salted fish pork patty is well executed here — aromatic with the use of salted fish blended with the minced pork and with a nice texture that has a slight bite to it. This is paired with rice cooked with fried shallots to give it an extra oomph.
Look for the zinc roofed kopitiam next to the badminton centre.The kopitiam’s décor is rather simple as Soon admits they were on a tight budget. He decided to use zinc roof sheets to recreate those old-fashioned Chinese kampung homes, hence the name for the kopitiam. Appealing to those who remember the “good old days”, they also have old school decorations like an old television set, PVC cord chairs and even long forgotten snacks like haw flakes. There is also an extensive use of enamel plateware to further remind diners of those old days. As Soon adds, “it’s like going back to the past when we were still kids.”
Iron House Kopitiam, Lot 65639, Jalan BS 3/1, Section 1, Taman Bukit Serdang, Seri Kembangan, Selangor.
Open: 6pm to 12.30am
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/eat-drink/article/iron-house-kopitiam-pulling-in-the-crowd-with-delicious-local-food#sthash.J4NtpDpW.dpuf

What to do with agriculture in 2016 and beyond (Part VII)

by Dr. Emil Javier
March 5, 2016
 ‘There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why… I dream
of things that never were, and ask why not?’
– Robert Kennedy
What to do with rice
For the most part policies, legislation and public appropriations needed to make our agriculture more productive, competitive, equitable and sustainable are in place. The appropriate policies, directions and priorities have been dealt with comprehensively by the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) of 1997, the Fisheries Code of 1998 and other related enactments by Congress. The appropriations of the Department of Agriculture (DA) have more than doubled to P90 million during the last five years.
What is sorely lacking is smart program planning, execution and coordination by the many agencies of government, both national and local, particularly by the DA.
However, there remain a number of very important but contentious issues for which we have yet to attain closure. Among them are rice policy, agrarian reform, devolution of extension services, subsidized interest rates for farmers, promotion of organic agriculture versus conventional farming, and adoption of genetically modified crops, livestock and fishes (GMOs).
Easily the most contentious is the long-standing national policy of rice self-sufficiency. Some academics, mostly economists, contend that the rice self-sufficiency policy stands in the way of a more productive and competitive agriculture. Public resources monopolized by the rice program could have been better spent on other commodities and concerns with higher rates of return.
The National Food Authority (NFA) which is tasked with: 1) securing our rice suppl,y 2) making affordable rice available to consumers, and 3) supporting  the price of palay to protect incomes of farmers is seen as miserably failing in accomplishing its three objectives. Worse NFA is incurring huge losses in the process.
Since the domestic cost of producing rice is higher than the landed cost of imported rice, to critics of the current policy, the better policy is simply importing rice to bring down the cost of food in order to make more people food secure and to moderate the demand for higher wages. Filipino rice farmers will be encouraged and assisted to shift to other crops and enterprises where they can be competitive.
Can we attain 100 percent self- sufficiency in rice? Yes, we can! We are perennially short by 10 percent each year. We can cover the extra tonnage by raising our national average palay yield from 3.3 tons to 3.7 tons per hectare. In fact the average palay yield of the top ten rice producing provinces is already 4.0 tons per hectare (L. Gonzales, STRIVE Foundation 2014 survey).
But the real challenge is at what cost?! Our average cost of producing a kilogram of palay is P12.38, way above the P10 per kilogram and P7 per kilogram costs of Thailand and Vietnam from whom we import rice.
Philippine rice is not competitive with Thailand and Vietnam rice mainly because of labor cost. The man-days required to grow a hectare of irrigated rice are 69, 23 and 10 man-days, respectively, for the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
In order to dramatically reduce labor costs we need to do the following: 1) introduction of more tractors for land preparation, 2) wider adoption of direct seeding technology to replace hand transplanting of seedlings which is very labor intensive, and 3) introduction of more mini-combines which perform harvesting and threshing in one operation.
Major Strategy 1: Further intensification of rice production in favorable areas
Rice is the staple for majority of Filipinos. This cultural reality is not going to change any time soon. Therefore the more prudent course of action is to produce as much rice as we can, as cheaply as we can, and import the rest from our neighbors – Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar.
In truth, this had been effectively the national policy for rice all along. The rice self-sufficiency timeline of 2013 of the current administration was just rhetoric and hot air. Unfortunately, the current administration committed the folly of promising rice self-sufficiently by 2013 with a little surplus for surplus for export. Had they modestly targeted 95 percent rice adequacy, they will have crowned themselves with glory by now.
Even now the better farmers in the top ten rice producing provinces are able to produce rice at P7 per kg (L. Gonzales, STRIVE Foundation 2014 survey) which is competitive with imported rice. The main strategy therefore is further intensification of rice production in the favorable areas through 1) universal adoption of high yielding hybrids and certified inbred varieties, 2) higher rates of fertilization i.e. closer to the recommended rate of 150 kilograms of NPK nutrients per hectare, 3) further mechanization and adoption of direct seeding technology to reduce labor costs, and 4) more effective management of irrigation and drainage systems.
Major Strategy 2: Crop Diversification and Multiple Cropping for Higher Incomes
It will be a mistake to focus on rice cropping alone to improve the welfare of farmers and landless workers, who constitute the majority of poor Filipinos. Income from rice monocropping from an average two-hectare irrigated rice farm can barely meet the food needs of a family of five. Diversification into and multiple cropping with other higher value crops both to create more employment and more value added should be fully developed as options.
Major Strategy 3: Substitution with brown rice, white corn grits and cassava
Rice self-sufficiency can be attained both by increasing supply and by reducing demand through greater consumption of substitutes like brown rice, white corn grits and other starchy foods like cassava, sweet potato and cooking banana.
Brown rice is not a variety of rice. It is rice with only the husk removed and not polished white. It gets its name from the rice bran or aleurone layer which covers the whole grain. Rice bran is rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals thus making brown rice more nutritious than polished white rice.
Brown rice likewise requires 65 percent less energy to process and results into 10 percent more grain recovery. In fact, if all the palay we produce were processed into brown rice (i.e. not polished), we should be self-sufficient in rice.
The other significant way of moderating demand for rice is the promotion of white corn grits. For many Filipinos in Eastern Visayas and parts of Mindanao, their preferred staple is white corn grits either alone or mixed with rice. Not only are white corn grits cheaper, they are also more healthful than polished rice because of their higher dietary fiber content and lower glycemic index which should be welcome wellness traits to increasing number of Filipino diabetics.
The third option is promoting production and consumption of other starchy foods. Cassava is the preferred staple in some parts of Muslim Mindanao. Sweet potato and cooking banana (saba) can replace rice as breakfast food.
Gradual lifting of quantitative restrictions on rice imports
Under the World Trade Organization rules to which we are committed, the quantitative restrictions on rice imports will have to be completely lifted by 2017. Simulation studies show that rice farmers will suffer a 29 percent decline in income. Many of the three million rice farmers who are poor in the first place will further swell the ranks of beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer program.
It is grossly unfair to impose on the poor rice farmers alone the full burden of adjustment. The prudent and humane course is to sue for time, say a period of ten years, within which period the rice quantitative restrictions will be gradually lifted to give time to the rice farmers in favorable areas to attain higher levels of productivity to compete with imports. Likewise, to give time to the other farmers to shift from rice farming to other enterprises.
What to do with NFA
To rely on private industry to maintain the country’s strategic food reserve is risky and irresponsible. At the minimum we need an agency to hold our food reserve and manage momentary food shortages after calamities and natural disasters. Better yet the Philippines should lead in the effort to establish a regional food reserve to which all the ASEAN members can subscribe.
The huge losses that NFA incurs is allegedly due to the policy of buying high and selling low (there could be other reasons!) NFA should be relieved of the conflicting burdens of lowering the retail price of rice but providing price support for palay at farmgate. NFA will no longer have any excuse for losing money.
Since rice traders make money from cheap rice imports, the least NFA should be expected to do is not to lose money.
As we always did in the past, the national government should assume the debts of NFA, reconstitute it and baptize it with a new acronym.
To be continued. . . (Part IX)
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Dr. Emil Q. Javier is a Member of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and also Chair of the Coalition for Agriculture Modernization in the Philippines (CAMP). For any feedback , email eqjavier@yahoo.com

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