Monsoon may shrug off delay; cover whole country ahead of time
The Hindu
Thiruvananthapuram, June 22:
The
monsoon covered Madhya Maharashtra, east Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, most parts
of west Madhya Pradesh, east Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh on
Wednesday.
It has
already covered Jammu & Kashmir and parts of west Uttar Pradesh as rains
pushed in from the Bay of Bengal.
Normal schedule
The
monsoon continues to be delayed in Gujarat by more than a week; on Wednesday, it
has entered its border with neighbouring west Madhya Pradesh.
But the
thrust from the Bay has taken it to parts of west Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
and Himachal Pradesh around the normal onset date.
It is
this context that its coverage during the last week of June assumes
significance. The normal schedule suggests that the national coverage is
complete as rain pushes past Rajasthan by July 15.
Forecasts
put out by global models indicate that this could happen even ahead, which
would mean that the eight day drag from a delayed onset over Kerala will have
been more than made up.
Likely ‘low’
Crucial
to this scenario is the assumption that a helpful weather system would form in
the Bay of Bengal over the next few days to blow in even more monsoon easterlies
into North-West India.
A
familiar storm tracker featured by the US Climate Prediction Centre maintains
that such a system would drop anchor over the ‘Head Bay’ (around Kolkata), the
sweet spot for monsoon systems.
The US
agency suggested that the system (which is expected to grow into a low-pressure
area) would form over the next four days. From here, it is forecast to travel
in a west-northwest direction along the plains in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh
before heading into Rajasthan.
This
makes for a copy-book style propagation of the monsoon from the Bay of Bengal
into the farming heartland over East and North-West India.
The
India Met Department appears to concur with this outlook. A preliminary
circulation has already formed in the Bay, located on Wednesday off north Tamil
Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh.
The
system is expected to drive the monsoon to a fresh peak during the week
beginning on Wednesday. The rains will now be concentrated over East, Central
and North-West India
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/monsoon-may-shrug-off-delay-cover-whole-country-ahead-of-time/article8760710.ece
With an eye on export to Iran, the agriculture department advises farmers to sow high-quality ‘PB-6’ variety of Basmati rice. This year, a large number of farmers are sowing this variety as it has high demand in Gulf countries including Iran, which is now importing the commodity after lifting of sanctions by the United Nations. In the current financial year, 40 traders have secured export licences in the state
http://www.indiafoodbrief.com/337849-lifting-of-sanctions-against-iran-fuels-hope-for-bijnor-basmati-farmers-times-of-india
Thai rice exports to benefit from increased
demand, struggling competitors
BANGKOK,
24 June 2016 (NNT) – The Ministry of Commerce has forecast rice exports to rise
during the second half of this year, reaching its annual output target of 9.5
million tons.
Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said the
expected increase is due to continuous demand in both domestic and foreign
markets, such as the government-to-government deal with China for one million
tons of rice, which commences in August. Other notable rice importers, such as
the Philippines and Indonesia, will be seeking additional G2G rice
procurement.Meanwhile, India, one of Thailand’s main competitors globally, is
currently suffering from drought. The country has shifted to storing rice for
domestic consumption, compromising its export capabilities.
Due to these factors, the Ministry of Commerce
has concluded that Thailand will be able to achieve its annual output target of
9.5 million tons.In the first half of 2016, Thailand exported 4.71 million tons
of rice worth 1.55 billion dollars or 73.90 billion baht. The amount marks an
11.42% increase in rice exports and a 7.81% increase in export value, compared
to the same period last year.Thailand’s major export markets consist of Africa,
Asia, the Americas and Europe
http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/thai-rice-exports-to-benefit-from-increased-demand-struggling-competitors/146591/
Monsoon to end late, benefit farmers
NEW DELHI | By Sankalp
Phartiyal and Mayank Bhardwaj
Labourers plant saplings in a paddy field on
the outskirts of the eastern Indian city of Bhubaneswar in this July 19, 2014
file photo.
Reuters/Stringer
Monsoon
rains are likely to end in India later than usual this year, with plentiful
showers towards the latter stages of the season helping farmers recover from
two straight droughts, the chief of the country's weather office told Reuters
on Friday.onsoon rains are the lifeblood of India's agriculture-dependent
economy and a week's delay in their onset this year has caused the planting of
summer-sown crops such as cotton, rice, soybean and sugar cane to drop by
nearly 24 percent.The monsoon has remained 15 percent lower than average in June, but the deficit is expected to narrow in the days to come, Laxman Singh Rathore of the Indian Meteorological Department said in an interview.The weather office forecasts monsoon rains to be above average this year after the droughts ravaged crops and worsened rural distress.Finance Minister Arun Jaitely on Friday singled out good rains as one of the factors helping India when Britain's vote to leave the European Union is roiling world markets.
Monsoon rains typically arrive at the southern coast of Kerala state by June 1 and start retreating by September from the western state of Rajasthan. But a late start is no guarantee of a delayed end."There is a strong possibility that the terminal phase will be wetter and the withdrawal will be later than normal," Rathore said.Farmers will need to adjust their sowing period to reap a good crop, Rathore added.
An extended monsoon leaves the soil moist for the sowing of winter crops such as rapeseed, wheat and lentils.(Reporting by Sankalp Phartiyal and Mayank Bhardwaj; Editing by Malini Menon and Keith Weir)
http://in.reuters.com/article/india-monsoon-rains-retreat-idINKCN0ZA28N
Rice exports to get a boost in the second half of this year
THE NATION June 24, 2016 1:00 am
THE
COMMERCE Ministry expects rice exports to increase in the latter half of this
year and meet this year’s target of 9.50 million tonnes, amid the constant
demand for the staple.Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said yesterday that
local and overseas markets continued to have demand for rice with good signals
from major importers like China, the Philippines and
Indonesia.Government-to-government rice deals with the Chinese government are
also continuing.
Under
the new contract, about 1 million tonnes of rice will be shipped to the Chinese
government in August.Major buyers including the Philippines and Indonesia are
expected to want more government-to-government rice deals in the rest of the
year.
Drought
in India
Thailand's
key rival India is suffering from drought and needs to stock more rice to
ensure sufficient domestic supplies to meet consumption needs in the
country.Under the marketing plan, promotional activities will be prepared
consistently to drive up rice exports and rice products.Delegations will be
dispatched to Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Mozambique and Kenya.For the first
six months of this year, rice exports rose 11.4 per cent year on year to 4.71
million tonnes worth US$1.55 million or Bt73.90 billion.
White
rice topped the list, amounting to more than half of exports, followed by
jasmine rice, steamed rice, sticky rice, Pathum Thani rice and brown rice.Most
of Thailand's rice exports go to Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Rice-exports-to-get-a-boost-in-the-second-half-of--30288942.html
Wheat remains weak on adequate stocks
PTI | Jun 24, 2016, 03.20 PM IST
New
Delhi, Jun 24 () Wheat prices fell further by Rs 10 per quintal at the
wholesale grains market today due to adequate stocks position on improved
supplies from producing belts against reduced offtake by flour mills.However,
other grains including rice basmati continued to move in a narrow range in
scattered deals and settled around previous levels.Traders said reduced offtake
by flour mills against ample stocks position on increased supplies from
producing regions kept pressure on wheat.In the national capital, wheat dara (for mills) shed another 10 to Rs 1,800-1,805 per quintal. Atta chakki delivery followed suit and traded lower by a similar margin to Rs 1,805-1,810 per 90 kg.
Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal):
Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,285-2,835, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,800-1,805, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,805-1,810, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 275, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 275, Roller flour mill Rs 970-980 (50 kg), Maida Rs 1,020-1,030 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs 1,070-1,080 (50 kg).
Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal
Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,700, Basmati common new Rs
5,800-6,000, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 4,700-5,650, Permal raw Rs 2,000-2,050, Permal
wand Rs 2,175-2,250, Sela Rs 3,000-3,050 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,870-1,880, Bajra Rs
1,660-1,670, Jowar yellow Rs 1,900-2,000, white Rs 3,500-3,600, Maize Rs
1,625-1,635, Barley Rs 1,680-1,685. SUN KPS PRB MR
Rice is Guyana’s major export to Brazil under preferential trade accord
Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge (centre) flanked by technical officers at
the Foreign Relations Sectoral Committee meeting that examined the status of
the Guyana-Brazil Partial Scope Agreement.Rice has been making up the bulk of
Guyana’s exports to Brazil under a preferential trade agreement mainly, the
Foreign Relations Sectoral committee was told Thursday.Briefing the committee
under the chairmanship of opposition People’s Progressive Party Civic’s (PPP),
Gail Teixeira, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Guyana, Carl Greenidge said
since the Rupununi-based Santa Fe mega-farm, owned by Sir Kyffin Simpson and
family of Barbados, began exporting rice to Brazil, that grain has been
Guyana’s major export to the neighbouring South American country.
“The main factor contributing to that jump…in
this case the increase in Guyana’s exports to Brazil seem to be accounted for
by the exports by Simpson’s Santa Fe Farm as well as Guyana Rice Development
Board and Pak and Sons exports of rice to Brazil,” reenidge said.Figures
presented to the sectoral committee show that Guyana sold GYD$1.8 billion worth
of rice to Brazil in 2015 and GYD$264 million up to June, 2016.Trade Officer at
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sherwyn Naughton said that so far all of
Guyana’s exports to Brazil for this year have been been rice, and of the
GYD$1.881 billion worth of exports to Brazil in 2015, GYD$1.842 was for
rice. Naughton said other exports to Brazil included wheat, pasta,
alcohol, bauxite, textiles and wooden furniture. “They are in very small
quantities so rice has been the major export to the Brazilian market making up
ninety percent or more of the exports,” he said.
Guyana is allowed to sell, among other
products, 10,000 tons of rice and sugar to Brazil under the Partial Scope
Agreement that allows for either duty free or 50 percent or less duty-free
access for some categories of products manufactured in either country.
The Parliamentary Committee on Foreign
Relations in session on Thursday under the chairmanship of the PPPC’s Gail
Teixeira (backing camera in blue dress).The Foreign Affairs Minister said trade
has improved between Guyana and Brazil since Bon Fim was approved as a port of
entry and the Takatu Bridge was built in 2009.Figures presented to the sectoral
committee show that Guyana purchased more than GYD$5.1 billion in goods from
Brazil in 2011 with about GYD$2.32 billion to date in 2016. There was a
decline in 2014 and 2015 possibly due to a depreciation of the Brazilian
currency.
“It is very much in favour of Brazilian,” said
Greenidge. While the private sector has not requested an addition to the list
of the 830 tariff lines, he acknowledged the suggestion by Teixeira to conduct
periodic outreaches to chambers of commerce in the Rupununi and elsewhere to
ascertain if there are other products that they would like to have added. An
administrative commission that monitors implementation of the Partial Scope
Agreement is supposed to meet annually but there has been no meeting since
2010.
Under the Partial Scope Agreement, Guyana is
entitled to sell red peppers, bottled rum, copra fruits and vegetables,
calcined bauxite, PVC pipes, corrugated cardboard, and alu-zinc sheets. Brazil
is entitled to sell machinery parts, building materials, agro-based products,
pastas noodles jams, jellies, rum and spirits, and pharmaceuticals. In some
instances, there is a quota system to ensure that there is no market distortion
and domestic producers are not displaced. In apparent response to the fact that
Brazil has a larger number of product lines compared to Guyana 127 tariff
lines. “Guyana has a relatively limited range of products that it can export,
almost a feature of our under-development but also a feature of the limited
capacity of our exporters,” he remarked.
http://demerarawaves.com/2016/06/23/rice-is-guyanas-major-export-to-brazil-under-preferential-trade-accord/
Students learn rice production
While visiting, the students learned about a variety of subjects studied at the two facilities including utilizing rice germplasm diversity from Dr. Anna McClung; use of wild species in breeding from Dr. Georgia Eizenga; rice breeding from Dr. Karen Moldenhauer, UA RREC; marker assisted selection by Melissa Jia and Aaron Jack...
Dawn Teer/Stuttgart Daily LeaderAaron Jackson, geneticist (left), explains a
process to Olivia Leaven and
Summer Buckley during their tour learning about rice production systems and
research issues.
By Dawn Teer
Stuttgart Daily Leader
Stuttgart Daily Leader
Posted
Jun. 23, 2016 at 12:21 PM
STUTTGART —
STUTTGART —
Recently, three students, Demetris Anderson, Summer Buckley and
Olivia Leaven, came to Stuttgart to spend a week at the Dale Bumpers National
Rice Research Center (DBNRRC) and the University of Arkansas Rice Research
Center (UARRC) as part of an outreach project funded by the National Science
Foundation and awarded to Dr. Venkatesan Sundaresan at the University of
California at Davis. Sundaresan partnered with the Univeristy of Arkansas at
Pine Bluff (UAPB), and Dr. Bihu Huang, for an outreach event. These undergraduate
students from UAPB visited the DBNRRC and the UARRC the week of June 6-10.
The purpose of their visit here was
to learn about rice production systems and research issues. They were chosen by
having a GPA of 3.0 or higher, their interest in plant or biological sciences
and plans to go to graduate school after graduation. After a week here, they
will go to UC Davis for a two-week in-lab genomics training known as the Plant
Discovery Genome program.
While visiting, the students
learned about a variety of subjects studied at the two facilities including
utilizing rice germplasm diversity from Dr. Anna McClung; use of wild species
in breeding from Dr. Georgia Eizenga; rice breeding from Dr. Karen Moldenhauer,
UA RREC; marker assisted selection by Melissa Jia and Aaron Jackson;
bioinformatic analysis from Dr. Jeremy Edwards; grain inspection service and
assuring quality from Sandra Metheny; diseases of rice from Dr. Yulin Jia and
Dr. Yeshi Wamishe; physiological stress and photosynthesis from Dr. Jai Rohila;
weed management from Dr. David Gealy; irrigation management from Dr. Chris
Henry; the role of extension and prominent production issues from Dr. Jarrod
Hardke; mineral uptake and milling quality from Dr. Shannon Pinson;
nutritional, sensory and cooking quality from Dr. Ming-Hsuan Chen; quality lab,
budget sheets, tracking inputs and income from Brad Watkins; and foundation
seed production from Dr. Glenn Bathke.
On the final day the students and a
few members of the DBNRRC staff held a roundtable discussion to better help the
students understand what they do there. Dr. Anna McClung explained a little
about the purpose of the roundtable and gave them an opportunity to ask
questions about how they got to where they are and what they do at DBNRRC. Jace
Everett, biological science technician, spoke next because he was working on
research that was time sensitive. Everett told the students he had a chemistry
background, started at UAPB and then received his master’s from the University
of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR). He currently works under Dr. Ming-Hsuan
Chen. He explained what his project group works on. He told them he is
currently working with starch, starch fractions and different compounds found
in rice bran. At this point Everett had to leave to go back to his research
project.
Matt Schuckmann then spoke to them
about his history and he went on to speak about projects he has worked on. He
discussed different fields he has worked in doing research. He discussed AIDS
research and what they learned as a result. He also discussed the seriousness
of Hepatitis C, which afflcits more people than HIV. With his research he
worked in cloning, mutating, expressing and purifying active enzymes that led
to a job with Monsanto. He discussed working in industry and how he began
working at DBNRRC. Rachel Vargas spoke next on how to seek internships and jobs
with the government. Jonathon Moser spoke next regarding finding your passion,
getting job experience and volunteer experience. Moser also spoke to them about
making contacts.
“Never underplay things that you do because they could play a
critical role in getting what you want down the line,” Moser said. He then
stressed the importance of education, not just a Bachelor’s degree, but also a
Master’s and Doctorate. He went on to say that sometimes it just comes down to
luck — being in the right place at the right time. Dr. Anna McClung closed out
the roundtable session with recommendations on how to make job searching
easier. She then asked them what they thought about their tour of the Rice
Research Center.
Buckley discussed how very much she enjoyed it, how helpful the
scientists and technicians were and she went on to say how impressed she was
about what she learned about rice. Anderson agreed with Buckley and said there
were a few highlights to the week for him. The trip to see Sandra Metheny with
GIPSA was one. When asked what he liked about it, he said, “Almost everything.”
His field of study is regulatory science and it was right up his alley. They
were able to watch the process of grading rice.
On Friday Dr. Jarrod Hardke took
them out to see the rice plots. Leaven said she learned so much about the rice
world. She liked the fact that the two facilities collaborated together on
research. "Every aspect of rice, literally from farm to fork is right
here.” she said. Anderson and Buckley agreed the whole week was amazing.
Anderson went on to say he didn’t really want to go to California, he wanted to
stay here. McClung then told
them the facility they would be touring in California is top notch. She also
shared some of what she has been working on in her research. McClung asked if
they felt they needed to improve on the way they did things. The students
shared they thought it worked great, they enjoyed the scientists sharing their
backgrounds and being so willing to answer questions. Buckley said she enjoyed
how they had life references that they shared. McClung told them, “No matter
what your path is don’t get discouraged. When I look at where I started out and
where I ended up, it is not a straight line.”
Buckley had this to say about her experience, “I enjoyed it so
much! This was out of my realm of study but it opened so many new doors in the
world of science. I learned so much about rice in such a short amount of time
and I really do thank Dr. McClung for putting it together. I had a lot of
favorite parts of the tour but I enjoyed the hands on labs and talking with the
doctors about their specialties of study. Going to the field was fun, too, even
though I had a hole in my boots! Overall it was a great experience and
hopefully next summer I'll be working with Dr. Jia because his area of study
sparked my interest the most.” She attends UAPB and is majoring in biology and
pre-medicine
http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/news/20160623/students-learn-rice-production
PH achieves ‘historic best’ in farm output
By: Ronnel W. Domingo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
12:26 AM June 24th, 2016
When the Aquino administration assumed office in 2010, government officials said the agriculture sector registered low productivity after years of over-importation of rice, farmers continued to get low returns for their labors, and farm infrastructure was in poor condition and not built to face the challenges of climate change.Six years later, the Department of Agriculture claims to have achieved the country’s “historic best” in farm production, particularly for staple grains rice and corn.
Data from the DA show that palay output exceeded 18 million tons yearly from 2012 to 2015, even during the worst of what was considered as one of the three strongest occurrences on record of the El Niño phenomenon.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala declares that, although the country failed to achieve self-sufficiency in rice, the Philippines is now producing 97 percent of the country’s requirement. He says this is significantly better than the 81 percent self-sufficiency rate in 2010.
Agriculture officials also say farm incomes rose across commodities in the last six years. Palay farmers now earn twice as much—P31,375 per hectare from P15,830 in 2010. Corn farmers now earn about thrice, P16,712 per hectare from the previous average of P5,760.
As for infrastructure, the DA says this has improved through sustained concreting of farm-to-market roads (2,922 kilometers) and irrigation canal linings to make them “climate resilient.”
In terms of resource conservation, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) closed fishing grounds during spawning seasons to allow different species to reproduce undisturbed.
BFAR also ramped up its campaign against illegal fishing, helped tremendously by an amended fisheries code that imposed stiffer penalties for violations.
But the DA acknowledges that agriculture continues to face major challenges. Foremost among these is the relatively high cost of production, especially of palay.
The situation becomes more problematic as import curbs—a quota system—will expire in mid-2017. This is expected to result in the flooding of cheaper rice from neighboring countries.
The International Rice Research Institute has warned about this possibility and said the Philippines had to prepare farmers for competition.
“One of the reasons why the country’s rice is not as competitive as the commodity in Vietnam, Thailand and other rice-producing countries is the high cost of production,” says Bruce Tolentino, IRRI’s deputy director general for communication and partnerships.
“This can be attributed largely to high labor costs,” Tolentino adds. “Once we’re able to manage rice production and make it less expensive and comparable to, say, Vietnam, we will then be able to manage production costs.”
Farmers in Thailand and Vietnam produce palay at a cost of about P6.50 per kilo, while Filipino farmers spend an average of P11 per kilo.
While the DA says Filipino farmers can achieve competitive prices and costs, only demonstration farms seem able to do it.
Another issue that has to be addressed is the confusing food policy of the government. Cabinet officials have argued publicly in the past few years on whether it was better to pursue self-sufficiency in production or to allow a healthy flow of imports.
The early years of the Aquino administration saw the DA limit the importation of milled rice as it pushed for self-sufficiency, following the President’s initial strong stance against excessive importation done by the National Food Authority during the Arroyo administration.
But by mid-term, key members of the economic team including then Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan dismissed the policy of attaining rice self-sufficiency, pushing instead for a renewed inflow of imported rice to ensure enough supply and to let market forces determine prices.
This even led to the creation of the Office of the Presidential Assistant on Food Security and Agricultural Mondernization, which brought back the NFA — and the Philippines — among the world’s largest importers of rice.
SPECIAL REPORT: Nigeria’s Elephant Group in $5.5 million rice import mess
Elephant Group, one of Nigeria’s biggest
commodity traders, is enmeshed in a fresh scandal following a near clandestine
import last week of a vessel-load of rice using expired import papers.In what
would amount to a double exploitation of the already weak Nigerian economy, the
company used questionable documents to by-pass approval for $5.52 million in
foreign exchange from the Central Bank to import a commodity clearly listed by
the Federal Government as unqualified for forex approval.Under the current
fiscal policy of the President Muhammadu Buhari government, aimed at conserving
scarce foreign currencies and at relaxing pressure on the already weak Naira,
rice is one of the 41 import items on the exclusion list of the Federal
government and as such is excluded from forex approval.
Documents obtained by PREMIUM TIMES show that
the name of the vessel that brought in the rice imported by Elephant Group is
Auckland Spirit. The import which came in through Apapa Port was for 30,650
metric tonnes of rice.
The Rice Racketeering
Disturbed by the
nation’s huge import bill, the President Goodluck Jonathan administration in
2014 came up with a new rice policy to fast-track national self-sufficiency in
rice production.
The policy specified
that owners of existing rice mills and new investors with verifiable backward
integration in the rice value chain will be allowed to import rice at 10 per
cent duty and 20 per cent levy (30 per cent); while merchants who have nothing
to contribute to local production in the form of rice farms or mills will be
charged 10 per cent duty and 60 per cent levy (70 per cent). Technically, it
was a subsidy aimed at building local capacity in rice production.
In an investigation
published in December 2015, PREMIUM TIMES had detailed the corruption that
plagued the 2014 Rice Import Quota Allocations. This newspaper reported that 26
companies were involved in the N117 Billion rice subsidy. Not all
of the 26 companies selected for the scheme made the list on merit. Elephant
Group was among those not deemed qualified for the subsidy at the time. It,
however, found a smart way to benefit from the programme by soliciting and
obtaining a quota originally given for “donated foodstuff” to a religious
organization, the Jama’tul Nasril Islam (JNI).Some industry players had at the
time cried out that the bulk of the rice imported by Elephant using the quota
was sold in the open market. The company denied any wrongdoing.
The 2014 rice import quota expired in December
of the same year. A botched attempt to obtain new import quota was made in
April 13, 2015 when a list of 22 beneficiary companies was released by the
Federal Ministry of Agriculture after what was supposed to have been a
laborious due process.However the joy of the new beneficiaries were short-lived
when nine days later, on April 22, the same Agric Ministry reversed itself and
cancelled and withdrew all allocations.
Permanent Secretary of the ministry, S. T
Echono, had hinged the cancellation on a new information reaching the ministry
to the effect that some Nigerian rice farmers were unable to sell their paddy
to local rice millers due to a flooding of the market with imported rice, which
he said was threatening the objectives of the quota policy.
PREMIUM TIMES had also reported that a few
hours to the expiration of President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure, papers for a
huge rice import quota worth billions of Naira were rushed in for the
president’s accent, ostensibly as parting gifts to cronies and businessmen
close to the power corridor. That import quota was signed by the President on
his last day in office. However, the new government of President Muhammadu
Buhari failed to recognize the quota and thus Customs refused to honour it.Because
the two quotas issued in 2015 were both cancelled, the Central Bank had since
the advent of the Buhari administration not opened Form M for any company to
import rice. But that did not stop the Elephant Group from testing the resolve
of the new government.
Shipping documents obtained by PREMIUM TIMES
show that in late November 2015, weeks before Christmas when rice is usually in
high demand, the Elephant Group made its first attempt to discharge 33,000 MT
of rice import using an expired import quota.
The company met a brick wall in the form of the
new Comptroller General of Customs, Retired Colonel Hameed Ali, who turned down
Elephant’s request to clear the import by paying 31.5 per cent duty instead of
71.5.Had the Customs boss compromised, the Elephant Group would have succeeded
in getting a cash-strapped Federal Government to subsidize its private business
by 40 percent.
Buzz in Apapa Port
Since the berth last week of the vessel Auckland
Spirit, tongues have been wagging inside and outside the Apapa Port. With the
throwing away of the two rice import quotas issued in 2015 by President
Jonathan, the Buhari government has so far not announced any new quota.Indeed
the government has placed a technical ban on rice import.Barely one month after
the new government came in, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced in June
2015 that it would no longer approve forex for rice imports. For importers,
this meant an indirect ban on rice. Since import of rice from overseas has to
be paid for in foreign currency, usually the US dollar, the pronouncement from
the CBN was seen as a technical embargo.
Even though the CBN also mentioned that people
can import rice if they have their own source of forex, the same apex bank
ceased to approve Form M, which is mandatory before anyone can import any
commodity into the country.Prospective importers that went further to declare
they have their own forex and will not seek foreign exchange from the government
or banks in Nigeria failed to get Form M approval from the CBN.After its
failure to get the Customs to allow it discharge rice at 31.5 per cent duty,
Elephant Group then chose to dust up an old Form M originally valid for forex.
PREMIUM TIMES investigation reveals that this Form M was obtained by Elephant
Group on May 22, 2015, seven days to the exit of the Jonathan government.
The validity of this Form M was for one year.
It expired on May 16, 2016. Elephant claimed it got the Form M extended by six
months but there was no proof of that in the accompanying documents. The
process of the said extension remains hazy.A Customs source told this newspaper
that it is puzzling how Elephant Group got its Form M extended.“I say it is
puzzling because you have to look at the technical details. By the time the
Form M expired, the CBN had discontinued with the old import regime, so how can
something that was legally no longer in existence be extended and by who?” the
Customs source queried.
In searching for why and how the old Form M got
extended, PREMIUM TIMES discovered that some companies that also got, in the
same manner as Elephant, Form M approval in the dying days of the Jonathan’s
administration had theirs rejected for import. One of the companies is Viscous
Global.A closer scrutiny of Elephant’s import documents reveals other anomalies
that raise serious questions about due process. It was discovered that the Form
M used for the import expired in May 2016.
The rice cargoes were stated in one document to
have been loaded in April and May 2015, yet in another document the Manifest
was filed with the Nigeria Customs Service, 13 months later, on June 10, 2016.
At the time the Manifest was filed, Elephant Group was doing so using an
expired Form M.In what is probably the clearest case of a fraudulent process,
the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) number was given as20150509514/TOT and
dated May 25, 2015. Although PAAR can be issued before the Manifest is filed by
the importer, the same cannot be said of the Single Goods Declaration (SGD).
In the case of Elephant Group, the Manifest was
filed on 10th June 2016 while the PAAR was dated a year earlier on May 25,
2015.The SGD used for the rice import by Elephant Group was dated May 25, 2016.In
shipping procedures the SGD can only be filed after the Manifest is filed,
esperts said. This is because the Manifest must be referenced while filing the
SGD. The Manifest in this case was filed on June 10, 2016, about 16 days after
the SGD.A Customs official with a deep knowledge of shipping procedure explained that a Manifest must capture all
the details of the ship, the cargoes it is carrying and the port of discharge
among other things.It is after the Manifest is filed that the importer is given
a rotation number by the Customs, he said. This rotation number must be quoted
on the SGD and the same number is needed for duty assessment.
In the controversial import made by Elephant
Group, the SGD appeared to have been filed before the Manifest to show that the
transaction happened before the Form M expired or on a date not too far off.
Elephant Group reacts
Contacted by PREMIUM TIMES, Mr. Tunji Owoeye,
Founder/Group Managing Director of Elephant Group insisted that the allegations
against his company were “false and baseless and possibly the handiwork of
those who do not mean well for the economy of our great country. We are a
company that believes in this country.”Steering him back to specifics, PREMIUM
TIMES asked to know how an expired Form M issued in the old regime could had
been valid for $5.52 million forex, especially when CBN had ceased to issue or
allow forex from whatever source for importation of certain items including
rice. This newspaper also sought to know why all the documents used for
clearing the rice cargo brought in by MV Auckland Spirit were filed in reverse
order.
Mr. Owoeye was silent on the forex transaction
but said that his Form M was valid for one year and could not be said to have
expired. His answer contradicts the information on the documents supplied by
his own company one of which was that the Manifest was filed on June 10, 2016
at which time the Form M obtained on May 22, 2015 had, after one year, expired
on May 16, 2016.
Stating that he was not too familiar with
shipping and Customs technicalities, the Elephant boss was unable to explain
how his SGD came before his Manifest when the later was a requisite for the
other to be decided. He only added that the documents were computer generated
and that if there was any irregularities, the system would have rejected it.
“In any case, Manifest is an independent thing.
Manifest is handled by government, not us,” Mr. Owoeye submitted.Speaking to
PREMIUM TIMES on the transaction, a staff member of Elephant Group, Mr. Murphy
Alabi added a twist to the controversy saying the rice import was paid for in
Naira, not in US dollars. He said his company had an agreement with its trading
partner in Thailand to accept Naira.Mr. Murphy however refused to name the
trading partner.
Nna Godwin, a freight forwarder of over 23
years in experience told PREMIUM TIMES that he had never seen a clearing process
that generates first the SGD before the Manifest.
“I have never seen that before. It is like
working from the answer. Even when we were using the Risk Assessment Report
(RAR) which is now replaced by PAAR, you still needed to have your Manifest
before the assessment can be done. So what will the assessment be based upon
when you don’t have your Manifest?” Godwin pondered.Reminded that before the
current import brought in by MV Auckland Spirit, Elephant Group had been
involved in two controversial rice imports, all aimed at beating the system,
Mr. Owoeye explained that his company got involved with the religious
organization JNI because the later had neither the experience nor capacity to
directly utilize the quota given to it by President Jonathan.
He insisted that of the 100,000 MT approved,
only 16,000 MT was imported before the expiration of the quota in 2014. He
denied that the rice imported in the name of JNI was sold in the open market.Mr.
Owoeye also denied any wrongdoing in November 2015 when Elephant Group,
claiming quota status when none existed at the time, attempted to make the
federal government to fund 40 per cent of its import.He did not explain why his
company wrote a letter to a new Comptroller General of Customs asking to be
allowed “on compassionate ground” to pay only 31.5 per cent duty when
government had cancelled every form of rice subsidy and when Elephant Group was
not involved in local rice production and had no investment in the rice value
chain that needed government protection through subsidy.He owned up to aborted
deal but said the transaction was disallowed by Customs not because it was
fraudulent; rather because the new Customs Comptroller insisted that his
mandate was to generate revenue for government and nothing else
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/business/business-news/205880-special-report-nigerias-elephant-group-5-5-million-rice-import-mess.html
25 companies sign MoU to particpate in ECOWAS rice programme
Twenty-five seed companies on Friday in
Gwagwalada, FCT, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Seed
Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (SEEDAN) to produce certified rice seeds
for farmers in the country.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the
MoU is under the recently launched ECOWAS Rice Seed Up-scaling Project, aimed
at boosting local production of paddy rice.
It is being implemented by SEEDAN in
collaboration with the West and Central African Council for Agricultural
Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD) and other regional partners.
The project is targeting the production of
60,000 metric tonnes of paddy rice by December 2017 using 1,200 metric tonnes
of certified seeds to be produced by the companies.The United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) is funding the project with 800,000 dollars,
30 per cent of which is set aside as grant to the seed companies.
NAN reports that the MoU signing event also saw
the distribution of breeder and foundation seeds to the companies by SEEDAN.Speaking
at the event, the President of SEEDAN, Mr Richard Olafare, urged the companies
to justify the confidence reposed in them by ensuring strict compliance with
the terms of the contract.Olafare said that the country could not afford to
disappoint USAID and other development partners, hence the need for them to
produce and deliver the seeds on schedule.
He told NAN after the event that the project
was strictly a private sector affair, designed to help seed companies from
over-reliance on government for survival.“Over the years, our major market has
been government, which has not been sustainable.“But what we are trying to do
with this project is look at a more sustainable way to be in business, by
creating the market for ourselves.“This involves coordinating the farmers at
one end of production, linking them to the off-takers or rice millers, who have
agreed to buy off whatever they produce under this project.
“We feel in this manner there is a better
sustainable way of doing our business, because it is now strictly business.
“We are linking ourselves with farmers who
actually want to see farming as business.
“So, with this arrangement, if we can get
support for our farmers through the commercial banks or Bank of Agriculture,
then we are in business,’’ Olafare
said.http://www.financialwatchngr.com/2016/06/25/25-companies-sign-mou-particpate-ecowas-rice-programme/
PhilRice reaps scientific awards in national confab
Posted
on Jun - 24 - 2016
Three teams of PhilRice experts won awards in
the 46th Crop Science Society of the Philippines (CSSP) Scientific
Conference held in General Santos City, June 13-18.The study titled Potential
of Algae as Aquaculture Feed Ingredient won the Best Paper award
for downstream category. It was authored by researchers from the Rice Chemistry
and Food Science Division (RCFSD) of PhilRice, the Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources – National Freshwater Fisheries Technology Center
(BFAR-NFFTC), and the Institute of Biological Sciences – University of the
Philippines Los Baños (IBS-UPLB).
“Algae is abundant in bodies of water such as
in ponds and rice paddies. But it is often neglected and underutilized,” said
Evelyn Bandonill, main author.The study has shown feasibility of mixing algae
in aquaculture feeds and recommended further research on the “economic
viability of manufacturing algal-incorporated animal feed” that can potentially
increase farmers’ income.Meanwhile, the Best Poster for downstream category was
awarded to the study Suitability of Adlai in Complementing Rice as
Staple Food. With the aim to help achieve rice self-sufficiency
through alternative staple, RCFSD researchers Henry Mamucod, Amelia Morales,
Rosaly Manaois, and Marissa Romero explored the potential of adlai,
an indigenous food crop, as a complementing staple food to rice.
The study showed that ginampay,
a variety of adlai, can be a good source of
carbohydrates substituting rice at 50:50 ratio while providing the consumer the
same eating satisfaction and higher amount of protein and fats.
On the
other hand, researchers from the FutureRice Program won the Best Poster in the
technology extension, dissemination, and education category. The researchers
explored the challenges and opportunities of building a rice agri-tourism farm
in line with the recently signed Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016. The team
is composed of Jan Lois Zippora Libed, Roger Barroga, Marian Rikka Anora, and
Nehemiah Caballong.The team has integrated recreational facilities, hands-on experience, and educational facilities in the 5-ha FutureRice farm. It was also the site where “AlDub Rice” was created as a form of rice paddy art. The farm was formally opened April this year and has stirred public interest on rice innovations.
PhilRice delegation joined over 200 crop science researchers, academicians, development professionals, and students from public and private institutions in the CSSP with this year’s theme, Empowering Crop Scientists for ASEAN Leadership.
http://www.philrice.gov.ph/philrice-reaps-scientific-awards-national-confab/#sthash.j0VNnRLO.dpuf
Foodgrain production expected to be 270 million ton this year: ICAR
Director General, ICAR, T Mohapatra, made the announcement while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of 23rd ICAR Regional Committee Meeting in Hyderabad.
By: PTI | Hyderabad |
Published:June 25, 2016 11:16 am
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research
(ICAR) on Friday said a production of 270 million tons of foodgrains was
expected during the kharif and rabi seasons this year, thanks to the forecast
of a normal monsoon.Director General, ICAR, T Mohapatra, made the announcement
while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of 23rd ICAR Regional Committee
Meeting in Hyderabad.“270 million tons production is forecast this year due to
normal monsoon,” he said.He said that several rice varieties which can
withstand heavy downpour have been developed by researchers, and
submergence-tolerant rice varieties like `Swarna sub 1′ should be cultivated to
withstand heavy rains/flash flood situations.
Similar
“calamity-tolerant” varieties were being developed by Centre for Rice Research
Institute, Bhubaneshwar, he said.ICAR was also getting ready to commercialise
rice varieties ‘Bina Dhan 8’ and ‘Bina Dhan 10′, he said.Mohapatra said even
though there was normal monsoon this year, cotton cultivation in rain-fed areas
should be discouraged.
Regarding
GM technologies, he said ICAR was increasing investment in research to resolve
bio safety analysis issues.Pulses promotion was also being taken up in a big
way and there was special focus on high yielding varieties. Rs 500 crore has
been allocated for pulses’ promotion, he added
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/foodgrain-production-expected-to-be-270-million-ton-this-year-icar-2874817/
Nineteenth Annual U.S.-Japan Rice
Technical Meeting Held
SACRAMENTO,
CA -- Representatives of the U.S. and Japanese rice industries met here Wednesday and Thursday for the 19th
annual U.S.-Japan rice technical meeting. "These annual meetings are
an important part of strengthening the rice trade between our two countries by
providing an opportunity to discuss and resolve technical issues," said
Alex Balafoutis of PGP International, Inc. and the U.S. chairman of the Japan
Technical Group.
The two
sides reviewed rice production, trade, and utilization in both countries; key
upcoming supply and demand developments in both markets, and discussed quality
characteristics of U.S. rice exported to Japan.
Following
a day-long session on Wednesday, the Japanese delegation
toured a rice farm on Thursday with U.S. delegation
member and farmer Michael Rue, who provided information on rice production,
drying, and storage, followed by a mill tour of Farmers' Rice Cooperative.
"USA
Rice also participates in technical meetings with Korea and Taiwan, however having
19 years of technical meetings with Japan has resulted in more transparency of
trade between our two countries by working together to rectify technical
issues," concluded Balafoutis.
Japan
imports about 325,000 metric tons of U.S. rice each year with a value of more
than $275 million dollars, making it one of the largest markets for the United
States. Both sides agreed that the 20th U.S.-Japan Rice
Technical meeting will be held in Japan next year.
APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1502
International Benchmark Price
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Rice Prices
as on : 24-06-2016 08:10:23 PMArrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
Arrivals
|
Price
|
|||||
Current
|
%
change |
Season
cumulative |
Modal
|
Prev.
Modal |
Prev.Yr
%change |
|
Rice
|
||||||
Bazpur(Utr)
|
200.00
|
-9.09
|
44907.21
|
1850
|
2636
|
-2.63
|
Azamgarh(UP)
|
118.00
|
-7.45
|
5306.00
|
2210
|
2190
|
11.62
|
Indus(Bankura Sadar)(WB)
|
50.00
|
42.86
|
185.00
|
2150
|
2100
|
-
|
Khatra(WB)
|
38.00
|
2.7
|
989.00
|
2150
|
2200
|
-4.44
|
Cachar(ASM)
|
30.00
|
50
|
2280.00
|
2500
|
2500
|
-7.41
|
Bishnupur(Bankura)(WB)
|
20.00
|
-
|
20.00
|
2150
|
-
|
-
|
Kolaghat(WB)
|
18.00
|
NC
|
739.00
|
2300
|
2300
|
4.55
|
Tamluk (Medinipur E)(WB)
|
18.00
|
NC
|
758.00
|
2300
|
2300
|
9.52
|
Robertsganj(UP)
|
17.50
|
NC
|
437.50
|
1870
|
1865
|
0.54
|
Chengannur(Ker)
|
7.00
|
-6.67
|
621.50
|
2300
|
2300
|
-8.00
|
Silapathar(ASM)
|
5.00
|
-3.85
|
630.40
|
3000
|
3000
|
NC
|
Karanjia(Ori)
|
5.00
|
-9.09
|
293.80
|
2600
|
2600
|
4.00
|
Mirzapur(UP)
|
5.00
|
11.11
|
1358.60
|
1980
|
1975
|
NC
|
Nimapara(Ori)
|
4.50
|
NC
|
231.50
|
1900
|
1900
|
NC
|
Karimpur(WB)
|
3.00
|
NC
|
85.00
|
3150
|
3150
|
NC
|
Sardhana(UP)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
89.30
|
2340
|
2340
|
9
|
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article8768593.ece
06/24/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report
Soybeans
High
|
Low
|
|
Cash
Bids
|
1151
|
1064
|
New
Crop
|
1131
|
1057
|
Riceland Foods
Cash
Bids
|
Stuttgart: - - -
|
Pendleton: - - -
|
New
Crop
|
Stuttgart: - - -
|
Pendleton: - - -
|
Futures:
|
|
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Soybean Comment
Soybeans like other commodities moved lower
today as they were influenced by outside forces. Yesterday's vote by Britain to
leave the EU surprised the market and left financial markets in ruin. Sharp
increases in the dollar and threats of collapse in global market led to bearish
moves in most commodities. Soybeans are likely to move back to trade on
fundamental as we approach next week's USDA acreage report. Most expect
soybeans see larger acreage in this report which could see further losses.
High
|
Low
|
|
Cash
Bids
|
465
|
397
|
New
Crop
|
459
|
434
|
Futures:
|
|
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Wheat Comment
Wheat prices were one of the few markets to
close with positive gains today. Wheat remains near contract lows and today's
gains were surprising given the sharp increases in the dollar. Wheat may need
additional bearish fundamentals before wheat will move below contract lows.
High
|
Low
|
|
Cash
Bids
|
352
|
277
|
New
Crop
|
360
|
283
|
High
|
Low
|
|
Cash
Bids
|
408
|
357
|
New
Crop
|
403
|
373
|
Futures:
|
|
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Corn Comment
Corn prices closed lower again today. While
weather forecasts continue to improve, today's' losses were the result major
losses in major financial markets following Britain's vote to leave the EU
yesterday. As we head into next week's acreage report, corn prices could get a
boost if the USDA forecasts lower acreage, but with the improvements in weather
the market will need to continue to see robust demand to keep losses in check.
Futures:
|
|
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Cotton Comment
Cotton futures were mostly lower today.
December failed at resistance at Friday’s high of 66.64 cents earlier this
week. Uprtending support is near 63.31 cents. Better exports this week gave the
market a boost Thursday, thanks to some weakness in the
dollar. Weekly export sales of 178,100 running bales boosted 15-16 commitments
to 9.137 million bales.
High
|
Low
|
|
Long
Grain Cash Bids
|
- - -
|
- - -
|
Long
Grain New Crop
|
- - -
|
- - -
|
Futures:
|
|
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Rice Comment
Rice futures were mostly lower at mid-day. Crop
conditions remain generally favorable, with 68% of the crop rated good to
excellent. July is testing support at $10.75. A close below that level could
signal a move toward support a dollar below that level. The market needs to see
better export movement to generate buying interest. Net sales for this week
totaled 50,100 tons for the 15-16 marketing year cancellations resulted in -100
tons for 2016-2017 delivery.
Futures:
|
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Live Cattle:
|
|
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Feeders:
|
|
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Cattle Comment
Cattle prices closed sharply lower today.
Weakness in global financials caused by Britain's exit from the EU led to cattle
prices giving back gains over the last 2-days. Cattle prices have tried to
establish lows after setting new contract lows last week. So far the market is
holding those lows, but will need new support new week to prevent further
losses.
Futures:
|
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