Good News??? Nigerian Customs Lifts
Ban On Rice Imports
Post by Precious
Nwanganga October
The Nigerian Customs Service has lifted its ban
on rice imports.A statement released by the Customs Comptroller-General
confirmed the development.Customs Comptroller-General, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd),
has ordered the immediate removal of rice from the import restriction
list.Consequently, importers of the commodity will now have to pay an import
duty at land borders wherever they choose to route through.
This was made known by the Customs Public
Relations Officer, Mr. Wale Adeniyi in an interview in Abuja.
Mr. Adeniyi disclosed that before now, the
restriction was only applied at land border stations.He further stated that the
customs boss had lifted the restriction on rice imports at border
stations.Adeniyi said that all rice imports through land borders by rice
traders would attract the prevailing import duty of 10% with 60% levy.
Customs Lifts Ban On Rice Imports
He also stated that rice millers (preferential
levy) with valid quota allocation would also attract duty rate of 10% with 20%
levy on rice importation.Speaking to newsmen, Mr. Adeniyi said:
“Over the years importation has been restricted
to the seaports because border authorities have found it difficult to
effectively monitor and control importation of rice.
READ ALSO:
Nigeria Customs Re-imposes Ban On Rice Import
“When the decision to ban it (rice) was taken,
it was not an effective measure.“Because smuggling of the product thrives with
people using different means of conveyanceincluding:small trucks, bicycles and
even animals – putting them on donkeys and some actually carry it on their
heads.
“These new measures will be for customs to
re-organise their anti-smuggling operations in the border areas.
“And ensure that all those importers through
the borders bring their rice through approved routes and pay their extant
duty.”Meanwhile, as a result of the earlier ban, market prices of rice
skyrocketed from an average N9,000 to N23,000 per baghttp://buzznigeria.com/nigerian-customs-lifts-ban-rice-imports/
Rice Seen
Extending Biggest Loss in Three Years on India Monsoon
October 10, 2016 — 5:01 AM PKT
Global rice production forecast to reach
record, USDA says
Rice prices may extend losses after the biggest
quarterly drop in three years as a revival in India’s monsoon rainfall helps
boost global production to a record.The price of 5-percent broken white rice,
an Asian benchmark, may decline as much as 10 percent in the last three months
of the year as harvests start in coming months and demand remains depressed,
according to Jac Luyendijk, chief executive officer of SAT Swiss Agri Trading
SA. Prices slumped 14 percent in the three months ended Sept. 30, the biggest
decline since the third quarter of 2013.
Global milled rice production may total a
record 481.7 million tons in the 2016-17 season, according to the U.S.
Department of Agriculture. Output in India, the top rice exporter since 2012,
will be the second-highest ever as farmers increase planting. The country
recorded its first normal monsoon rainfall in three years, rebounding from
back-to-back shortfalls.
“We have many exporting countries fighting for
the same bone, which automatically puts pressure on prices,” Luyendijk said via
e-mail. “Our price outlook for the coming 4-6 months is negative.”The USDA in
September said India will export 10 million tons of rice this year and boosted
its forecast for shipments next year to 9.5 million tons from 8.8 million tons
estimated a month earlier. Thailand’s main crop, which is harvested starting
this month, will increase about 4.5 percent to 25 million tons, according to
Jantida Meedech, deputy secretary general at the Office of Agricultural
Economics. About 80 percent of the output will come on to the market this
quarter. The export price of rice from India is about $20 a ton cheaper than
from Thailand, according to the Thai Rice Exporters Association.
“Increasing crop arrivals in Asia and thin
international demand will likely continue to pressure prices,” said Jade
Savage, analyst at International Grains Council. Shipments to Nigeria, the
world’s second largest buyer, have been limited by government efforts to
prevent cross-border trades and a reduction in purchasing power, he said.
Start your day with what’s moving markets.
Nigeria’s central bank stopped importers of 41
items, including rice and palm oil, from accessing official foreign-exchange
markets in June 2015. The measure was part of a plan to prop up the naira after
it plunged against the dollar following a drop in the price of crude oil, the
country’s biggest source of foreign-exchange. Nigeria’s imports may drop 4.5
percent to 2.1 million tons this year, and decline to 1.9 million tons next
year, according to the USDA.“Only unexpected demand from Asia or the reopening
of rice imports into Nigeria could have some stabilizing impact on prices,”
said Luyendijk. “As long as this demand is not around we really look to an
extremely bearish scenario.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-10/rice-seen-extending-biggest-loss-in-three-years-on-india-monsoon
Custom Milling Rice dues
collection 98 p.c.
STAFF REPORTER: The Civil Supplies Corporation
has set an all-time record by collecting 98 per cent of the dues of Custom
Milling Rice (CMR), a press release from the department informed on Saturday. A
total of 1.58 lakh metric tonnes of rice worth Rs. 421 crore has been collected
from millers within a month’s time during the special drive launched by the
commissioner C.V. Anand, the note informed. This is part of the 15.65 lakh
metric tonnes of total custom milled rice collected by September 30 for this
year, out of 15.88 lakh metric tonnes due.
The State government had purchased 23 lakh MT of paddy grain
from various purchase centres, and gave them to the millers subject to the
central government’s guidelines of 68 kilograms of boiled or 67 kgs of raw rice
for every quintal of paddy. The delivery has to be done on 15 days, but the
rice millers delayed it, the note said. Total dues were recovered in
Karimnagar, Medak, Nizamabad, Khammam and Ranga Reddy districts, the note said,
and praised the role of Joint Collectors in achieving the result.
Instructions were also issued to prepare an action plan for
recovery of dues worth Rs.133.99 crore for non-delivery of 57,781 MT of paddy
by 115 rice millers between 2010-11 and 2014-15. The commissioner has directed
for stringent action against the defaulting millers, it said. Furnishing of
bank guarantees by millers to avoid delays is being mulled over, the note
warned
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/custom-milling-rice-dues-collection-98-pc/article9203357.ece
Agriculture
University develops diabetic-friendly rice
TNN | Updated: Oct 9, 2016, 05.24 AM IST
COIMBATORE: Scientists at
theTamil Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU), Coimbatore, have created a
rice variety that would allow diabetics relish idlis and dosas, owing to low
carbohydrate content.The rice which was developed by crossing the traditional
black rice and white rice is also expected to delay the release of glucose into
the body so that the consumer's sugar does not shoot up.
Scientists at TNAU say the new rice variety, likely to be called 'Kovai Kavuni', when cooked correctly, tastes almost like white rice. But it also retains 80% of the original Kavuni rice's health benefits."We crossed the original kavuni rice with the popular and widely consumed CO 50 variety of white rice way back in 2005," said P Jeya Prakash, head of the rice department at TNAU. "It took us almost nine years to keep crossing them to finally arrive at a variety that had the properties we expected," he said.
Cultivation trials of the rice are currently under way across the state.The traditional Kavuni rice is grown in small scale in the Karaikudi region, and gives a yield of hardly 800kg to 900kg per acre. It is mainly used to make sweet dishes."There is a belief that despite being a sweet or dessert, consumption of the rice does not increase the sugar levels in the body," said Jeya Prakash. "But since the rice can only be used to make sweet dishes, specifically requires shorter days to mature, flowers only between October and November and easily gets dislodged by wind, it was cultivated in just small patches," he said.
Scientists at TNAU say the new rice variety, likely to be called 'Kovai Kavuni', when cooked correctly, tastes almost like white rice. But it also retains 80% of the original Kavuni rice's health benefits."We crossed the original kavuni rice with the popular and widely consumed CO 50 variety of white rice way back in 2005," said P Jeya Prakash, head of the rice department at TNAU. "It took us almost nine years to keep crossing them to finally arrive at a variety that had the properties we expected," he said.
Cultivation trials of the rice are currently under way across the state.The traditional Kavuni rice is grown in small scale in the Karaikudi region, and gives a yield of hardly 800kg to 900kg per acre. It is mainly used to make sweet dishes."There is a belief that despite being a sweet or dessert, consumption of the rice does not increase the sugar levels in the body," said Jeya Prakash. "But since the rice can only be used to make sweet dishes, specifically requires shorter days to mature, flowers only between October and November and easily gets dislodged by wind, it was cultivated in just small patches," he said.
TNAU began studying this rice in 2005 to see if it can be made commercially viable. "We conducted biochemical studies on the rice to confirm if it actually contained anti-diabetic properties," said S Robin, the head researcher for the project and current dean of post-graduate studies at TNAU.
"We then discovered that it contains less carbohydrates. The colour consists of phenols which inhibit the enzymes which break down the starch. So the starch breakdown and glucose release process is delayed by almost 30 minutes," he said. "It also contains anthocyanin which fights stress and carotenoids which strengthens muscles in the eyes," Robin said.
"The crop duration is 135 to 140 days, it can be cultivated year round, requires regular irrigation and does not get dislodged easily," Robin said. "The yield is also 2,000kg per acre which is close to average white rice yield which is around 2,400kg per acre," he said.The rice is to be cooked by taking equal quantities of the Kovai Kavuni rice and white rice and boiling it to make idlis and dosas. While they do still retain the brown colour, they taste similar to the normal white rice dishes
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Agriculture-University-develops-diabetic-friendly-rice/articleshow/54759886.cms
Rice exports to reach 4.4m tonnes: FAO
ISLAMABAD: Rice exports by Pakistan this year are poised to
exceed the 2015 level by 7 per cent to reach 4.4 million tonnes, according to
the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.In a report
on Pakistan, the FAO said cumulative rice deliveries in the first seven months
of 2016 are officially put at 2.5m tonnes, up 13pc from the same period in
2015.Harvesting of the 2016 monsoon season crops, including rice and maize, is
currently under way and will continue until early December. The FAO forecasts
the 2016 paddy and maize outputs will remain close to their 2015 levels --
10.3m tonnes and 4.9m tonnes, respectively.These output levels are the result
of generally favourable weather conditions during the cropping season coupled
with adequate water supply for irrigation and availability of fertilisers, the
report said. Wheat exports for the 2016-17 marketing year are forecast to
increase from last year’s low level to 850,000 tonnes.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1288913/rice-exports-to-reach-44m-tonnes-fao
Rice
imports remain banned land borders customs
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BREAKING NEWSTRANSLATE HOME » NEWS » Rice
imports remain banned through the land borders – Customs Rice imports remain
banned through the land borders – Customs ON OCTOBER 9, 201612:28 PMIN
NEWSCOMMENTS The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) said on Sunday that it effect a
total ban on the importation of rice into the country by 2017. The disclosure
was made in Abuja just as the Service denied reports circulating posting in the
online media that the Customs had lifted the ban on importation of rice into
the country.
Deputy
Controller, Wale Adeniyi who made the disclosure, explained that rice
importation through land borders remained banned and prohibited warning that
those especially smugglers caught violating the law will be arrested and
prosecuted. Chairman of Pearl Universal Impex Limited, Pulkit Jain, the new
Emir of Borgu, Muhammed Sani Haliru Dantoro, Independent Director, Pearl
Universal Impex , Kamal Pandey; Jubril Bokani Yeman, Consultant Community and
Publishing Sector and Mr. Vaibhav Sinha, Accountant, Pearl Universal Impex at
the first rice harvest ceremony of the Pearl Universal Impex Limited in
Saminaka, Borgu LGA, Niger state recently.
He however said those coming into the country
legitimately through the seaports where proper duties and extant charges are
paid will continue through the end of 2016. Adeniyi attributed the circulation
of wrong information on the true situation of the commodity to the activities
and ploy of a cabal engaged in rice smuggling and recycling, to confuse the
public and set it against the federal government. The NCS through a statement
by Adeniyi, Public Relations Officer said, “Our attention has been drawn to
publications on various online platforms indicating that the Nigeria Customs
Service has reversed the ban on Rice importation through the land borders.
“These reports were attributed to a press interview purportedly granted by the
Service Public Relations Officer, Deputy-Comptroller Wale Adeniyi.
“It has
become necessary to re-state the true position in view of the confusion which
these online publications may create in the industry. “It is even more
expedient to provide this clarification given that the fact that the Service
has taken a firm position earlier in the week through a joint press conference
with Stakeholders. “First, we like to reiterate the position that importation
of Rice remains banned through our Land Borders, and we have the commitment of
Partner Government Agencies and Stakeholders to enforce this restriction.
“While this restriction is in force, Rice imports through the Ports are still
allowed subject to payment of extant charges. Continuing Adeniyi said, “It is
equally important to restate the confidence of the Nigeria Customs Service in
the ability of Nigerian Rice Producers to fill the existing sufficiency gaps in
the supply of the product. “The Service has noted with satisfaction the ongoing
Rice Revolution undertaken by many State Governments, and Strategic
Interventions by Federal Government Agencies.
“The Service is convinced that the bumper
harvests expected from these efforts will address the supply gap in 2017. “It
is our belief that continuous waste of scarce forex on a commodity that can be produced
locally makes no economic sense, most especially at a period of recession. “The
Service will therefore advocate a total Ban on Rice Importation into Nigeria
with effect from 2017. “It is worrisome that the publications that resurfaced
this weekend were being attributed to a Press interview granted in October
2015. “We strongly suspect that some powerful forces behind Rice Smuggling are
at work, recycling an old report under a different circumstance to create
confusion. “We urge Nigerians to watch out for similar antics as the firm stand
on Rice smuggling will pitch their selfish interest against our national
interest
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/10/rice-imports-remain-banned-land-borders-customs/
Scientists find lower arsenic
Bangladeshi rice strain
BANGLADESH - Aromatic rice from Bangladesh's
Sylhet region has a lower arsenic content than many other grains -- offering a
safer alternative in a country with a huge poisoning burden from rice grown in
contaminated water, scientists said Wednesday.The Sylheti rice also contained
higher levels of the essential nutrients selenium and zinc, according to a
study published in the journal Biomedical Spectroscopy and Imaging.Rice is the
main staple in Bangladesh, where a study published in The Lancet in 2010 found
that as many as 77 million people out of a population of some 160 million may
have been exposed to toxic levels of arsenic in contaminated ground water.The
UN's World Health Organisation has called the country's arsenic crisis "the
largest mass poisoning of a population in history".
Under a 1970's campaign to provide villagers
with clean, germ-free water, millions of wells were dug -- unfortunately many
of them into soil heavily laced with naturally occurring arsenic.Chronic
exposure to arsenic is linked to cancers of the liver, kidney, bladder and
skin, as well as heart disease.Rice is highly efficient at absorbing arsenic
from soil and water, and is reported to be the highest arsenic-containing
cereal, said the latest report.Compared to several other regions of Bangladesh
already tested, rice from the greater Sylhet region had lower arsenic levels.
The arsenic content dropped even lower in aromatic strains of the grain such as
Basmati or Jasmine, than in non-aromatic types.
The region includes areas around the
settlements of Sylhet, Moulvibazar and Habiganj and has lower arsenic
concentrations in its groundwater, wrote the team from Britain and
Libya."For someone consuming 500g (1.1 pounds) of non-aromatic or aromatic
rice from Sylhet, the daily intake of As (the chemical symbol for arsenic) from
consumption of rice would be reduced by approximately 48 per cent and 69 per
cent, respectively, compared to non-aromatic rice from other parts of
Bangladesh thus far investigated," the scientists said.
Half-a-kilogramme is the average daily
consumption per person."Also the daily intake of As from consumption of
aromatic rice is 40 per cent lower compared to non-aromatic rice sourced from
the Sylhet region," said the team.This may be due to a genetic difference,
but further research is needed.Study co-author Parvez Haris from the De
Montfort University in Leicester, England, said the study offers good
news."Consumption of certain types of aromatic rice will not only reduce
human exposure to arsenic, but will also increase their intake of zinc and
selenium," he said.Bangladeshis generally are deficient in zinc and
selenium.Sylhet is one of Bangladesh's top rice-producing regions, Haris told
AFP."Unfortunately, there is no labelling requirement for arsenic content
in rice. That is an issue that needs to be addressed."
Rice OMS in Dhaka, Ctg, Khulna soon
Millers' Boro supply deadline Oct 31
FE Report
The government will soon restart selling of
coarse variety of rice through open market sale (OMS) in the capital,
Chittagong port city and Khulna.Food Minister Advocate Md Quamrul Islam
informed this on Sunday while addressing a press briefing at his secretariat
office.He said, "There is no shortage of rice in the country. We will
restart selling of rice through OMS in Dhaka, Chittagong and Khulna
soon."The government decision to sell rice through OMS came amid recent
price hike of different varieties of rice in the retail market.
According to analysts, the government move will
help contain price stability in the market.The price of rice has been fixed at
Tk 15 per kilogram (kg) for the OMS scheme with the provision for a person to
buy five kgs of rice at a time.The coarse variety of rice price has increased
by Tk 2-3 per kg at retail level over the last few months, they added.A kg of
coarse rice was sold between Tk 33 and Tk 36 on Sunday which was Tk 33-Tk 36
during the corresponding period of last month.
The fine variety of rice was sold between Tk 46
and Tk 56 on the day which was Tk 45-Tk 55 during the same period of previous
month, according to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) data.
The government has also extended deadline for
Boro procurement until October 31 as the millers are yet to supply 1,24,000
tonnes of rice to the government.
The government has so far procured 6,50,000
tonnes of Boro rice from the millers with the procurement price from the
millers fixed at Tk 32 per kg.
The Food Minister said, "The millers must
supply the remaining amount of Boro rice by October 31. Otherwise, they will be
blacklisted for five years."
Regarding irregularities in card distribution
among the ultra poor by the dealers for buying rice at Tk 10 per kg under the
'Food-Friendly Programme (FFP),' he said, "If any one is found involved in
irregularities over distribution of cards among the ultra poor, the dealer in
question will face stern punishment."
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally
inaugurated the new food-friendly scheme last month in Chilmari of
Kurigram.Country's 5 million ultra poor people will be benefited under the
FFP.The programme aims at providing the ultra poor families with opportunity to
buy 30-kg rice at Tk 10 per kg a month for five lean months only during the dry
season.
Under the programme, selected cardholders will
get 30-kg rice every month through the village ration dealers at a rate of Tk
10 per kg.The ultra poor families have been chosen through the local public
representatives.They will get 30-kg rice in September, October and November in
2016 and March and April in 2017.These five months were chosen in view of
non-availability of work for the day-labourers during the period.The government
has so far imposed fines and sentenced 10 dealers across the country to jail
while it has cancelled dealership of Al Mamoon Hossain of Kushola union under
Kotalipara of Gopalganj district for alleged involvement of card
irregularities.
Two dealers of Titas upazila of Comilla
district were given jail term. One dealer of Badalgachi upazila of Noagaon was
given 15 days in jail and Tk 50,000 was slapped as fine.The Food Ministry
sources said cases were filed against union parishad Chairman and member of
Domar upazial of Nilphamari district and Panchbibi upazila of Joypurhat
district for their alleged involvement in irregularities over card
distribution.
http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2016/10/09/48819/Rice-OMS-in-Dhaka,-Ctg,-Khulna-soon
Loans trickle out to rice millers
A rice farmer in Tuol Tamim village in Battambang province sifts
through freshly harvested rice paddy in January 2015. Heng Chivoan
Mon, 10 October 2016
Three weeks since Prime Minister
Hun Sen approved $27 million in emergency loans to prop up the struggling rice
sector, the state-owned bank charged with disbursing the funds said yesterday
that it has only granted $1 million in loans, claiming that the number of
eligible applications has been lower than expected as millers have failed to
meet the necessary collateral requirements.Kao Thach, CEO of the Rural
Development Bank (RDB), said that only two loans have been approved for rice
millers in Pursat and Battambang province so far, while he expected the number
of eligible loan applications to pick up as the harvest season goes into full
swing.
“So far, we have approved one
loan for around $800,000 and another for around $200,000,” he said, adding that
the millers applying for loans have been “a bit slow”.“Maybe [the loans] are
not yet necessary because millers still have capital to purchase paddy stock,”
he suggested.He added, however, that due to the requirement that millers must
place a certain amount of rice paddy down as collateral, and have a fire
insurance policy, the process for issuing lines of credit was “complicated”.
“It does not take a long time to actually receive the loan
package, however, after we inspected some applications and our team went to
inspect the amount of stock, we found millers were relying on purchase orders
rather than what they actually had,” Thach explained.Due to this discrepancy,
he said that numerous loans have been postponed until they have sufficient
stock to cover the collateral, or cancelled. Nevertheless, he stressed that all
loans would need to be repaid to the government by May of next year as the
capital is needed for the national budget.“These are short-term loans that need
to be repaid,” he said, confirming that the loans come with a low 7 percent
interest rate.Sok Puthyvuth, president of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF),
said that it was still an imperative that the government speeds up the lending
process to ensure that both millers and farmers have reliable capital to keep
up with supply.
He said the CRF will hold meetings with the RDB and the Ministry
of Economy and Finance this week in hopes of lobbying the government to nix its
paddy stock requirements, as the sector still desperately needs quick access to
capital.
“We will have discussions to speed up lending,” Puthyvuth said.
“It is not necessary [for millers] to have paddy rice in stock before getting
the loan, but we do need to insure that the loans are used properly and will
help rice farmers.”
Phuor Sokleang, marketing manager for Phour Kokky rice miller in
Pursat province, said her company was one of the few to receive an emergency
loan from the RDB. She said the bank approved the loan application in just one
week, disbursing $680,000 against 3,500 tonnes of paddy rice as collateral.“I
am happy to get the loan package and it takes just a short time compared to
commercial banks,” she said.
With the loan from the RDB, she believes that her company will
be able to export 50,000 tonnes of rice this year, compared to only 20,000
tonnes last year.“The most important thing is having [sufficient] stock of
paddy rice in order to get the loans,” Sokleang said, acknowledging that
smaller rice millers could find this limits their access to credit.“Many small
rice millers are in trouble and if the RDB could ease up their criteria, it
would help them solve their problem of purchasing paddy stock,” she said
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/loans-trickle-out-rice-millers
4k rice mills to close shop from Oct 16
Sun,09 Oct 2016
Summary: A decision to the effect has been taken by the Uttar
Pradesh Rice Millers Association in response to “flawed policies” of the
government regarding the mills. Pilibhit: Around 4,000 rice mills of Uttar
Pradesh have decided to shut down operations and not accept paddy from
government procurement agencies for processing from October 16. This, in turn,
will put the entire paddy procurement system in jeopardy.”Meanwhile, Pilibhit
district president of rice millers association, Girish Kumar said the
association had issued a six-point list. According to him the mills physically
derive 63% to 65% of rice out of paddy after processing whereas they have to
give 67% of rice to the government. According to him, the established
processing capacity of a rice mill is higher than the daily purchase targets of
the government procurement agencies.
Pilibhit: Around 4,000 rice mills
of Uttar Pradesh have decided to shut down operations and not accept paddy from
government procurement agencies for processing from October 16. A decision to
the effect has been taken by the Uttar Pradesh Rice Millers Association in
response to “flawed policies” of the government regarding the mills. The
statewide closure of rice mills, it is feared, will bring paddy procurement
system of the state government to a virtual halt.Talking with TOI over the
phone, Hardoi-based state president of the Rice Millers Association Rakesh
Agrawal said private traders had been made an integral part of the government
procurement system during the previous year’s kharif season but this year, they
had been segregated from it.
According to him, the established processing capacity of a rice mill is higher than the daily purchase targets of the government procurement agencies. This situation was liable to inflate physical cost of paddy processing and cause losses to the mills, he claimed.Agrawal said, “The millers were left with no other option but to stop operations from October 16. This, in turn, will put the entire paddy procurement system in jeopardy.”Meanwhile, Pilibhit district president of rice millers association, Girish Kumar said the association had issued a six-point list.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/4k-rice-mills-to-close-shop-from-Oct-16/articleshow/54768756.cms
Custom Milling Rice dues collection 98 p.c.
Sun,09 Oct 2016
Summary: This is part of the 15.65 lakh metric tonnes of total
custom milled rice collected by September 30 for this year, out of 15.88 lakh
metric tonnes due. A total of 1.58 lakh metric tonnes of rice worth Rs. The
delivery has to be done on 15 days, but the rice millers delayed it, the note
said. : The Civil Supplies Corporation has set an all-time record by collecting
98 per cent of the dues of Custom Milling Rice (CMR), a press release from the
department informed on Saturday. Instructions were also issued to prepare an action
plan for recovery of dues worth Rs.133.99 crore for non-delivery of 57,781 MT
of paddy by 115 rice millers between 2010-11 and 2014-15.
: The Civil Supplies Corporation
has set an all-time record by collecting 98 per cent of the dues of Custom
Milling Rice (CMR), a press release from the department informed on Saturday. A
total of 1.58 lakh metric tonnes of rice worth Rs. 421 crore has been collected
from millers within a month’s time during the special drive launched by the
commissioner C.V.
Anand, the note informed. This is part of the 15.65 lakh metric tonnes of total custom milled rice collected by September 30 for this year, out of 15.88 lakh metric tonnes due. The State government had purchased 23 lakh MT of paddy grain from various purchase centres, and gave them to the millers subject to the central government’s guidelines of 68 kilograms of boiled or 67 kgs of raw rice for every quintal of paddy. The delivery has to be done on 15 days, but the rice millers delayed it, the note said.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/custom-milling-rice-dues-collection-98-pc/article9203357.ece
4000 rice mills
to close shop from October 16
Keshav Agrawal| TNN | Updated: Oct 10, 2016, 08.23 AM IST
Rice
Talking with TOI over the phone,
Hardoi-based state president of the Rice Millers Association Rakesh Agrawal said private traders had been made an
integral part of the government procurement system during the previous year's
kharif season but this year, they had been segregated from it. According to
him, the established processing capacity of a rice mill is higher than the
daily purchase targets of the government procurement agencies. This situation
was liable to inflate physical cost of paddy processing and cause losses to the
mills, he claimed.
Agrawal said, "The millers were left with no other option but to stop operations from October 16. This, in turn, will put the entire paddy procurement system in jeopardy."
Meanwhile, Pilibhit district president of rice millers association, Girish Kumar said the association had issued a six-point list. If these are not met, mills would be closed. According to him the mills physically derive 63% to 65% of rice out of paddy after processing whereas they have to give 67% of rice to the government. Pilibhit has 104 mills.
Kumar went on to add that the government had fixed processing charges for the mills at the rate of Rs 10 per quintal in 2010-11 and till date this has not been revised despite rise in cost of labour, electricity, maintenance of plant and transportation costs.
The miller said when the provisional rates of acquisition cost of custom milled rice which had been announced in 2010-11 were finalized this year, drying charges were dropped. Earlier mills were paid drying charges at the rate of Rs 10 per quintal. Now, the government wanted millers to refundthe drying charges which government had paid them during the past five years .
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/4000-rice-mills-to-close-shop-from-October-16/articleshow/54768756.cms?
http://leadership.ng/business/553952/dangote-moves-to-rejuvenate-rice-production-in-nigeria
Dangote
Moves To Rejuvenate Rice Production In Nigeria
Olushola Bello
— Oct 10, 2016 4:41 am | Leave a comment
The aggressive manner in which Alhaji Aliko
Dangote is investing in local rice production and the effort of government in
enhancing the domestic production of rice, Nigeria may soon return to the
international market as a net-exporter of rice.
Years ago, Nigeria was among the top rice
producers until an aversion for home-grown rice sets in. This has turned
Nigeria to the second largest importer of rice in the world, buying at least
five million metric tons per year from exporting countries like China and
Thailand. Yet Nigeria’s fertile land and rich agro-climatic conditions could
easily produce rice to feed the entire country and generate surplus for the
region
Rice remains an integral part of the average
Nigerian’s diet.
As such, there is no surprise that the country
import is heavy on this food crop. The FGN’s estimates show demand at 6.3
million metric tons per year (mmt/y) while domestic supply is estimated at 2.3
mmt.
According to the FGN’s Agriculture Promotion
Policy, rice import still exceed $1 billion per annum.
It was
gathered that the CBN’s policy, which focused on limiting the importation of 41
items (rice inclusive) led to a 300,000 metric ton decline in rice import in
first quarter, 2016.
The inclusion of rice on the list of 41 items
excluded from accessing foreign exchange (FOREX) from the official window as
well as the general issues with sourcing of FOREX has led to a drop in rice
supply to the domestic market and a spike in prices.
Considering that the FGN’s set minimum wage
currently stands at N18,000 per month, a bag of rice currently priced at
between N18,000 to N19,000 per bag is almost not affordable to the average
household.
Despite the ban on rice imports through land
borders, there has been increased smuggling. The Nigeria Customs Service has
recorded a pick-up in seizures since January 2016.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development (FMARD) has expressed its commitment to improving rice
productivity. Local rice production has been projected to hit 2.7 mmt in 2017.
On the public- private partnership sphere,
Dangote inaugurated its 8,000-hectare rice out-growers’ scheme in Hadejia,
Jigawa state early this year, when he distributed rice seedlings to farmers.
The scheme is said to help reduce the level of Nigeria’s imports and
potentially provide direct and indirect jobs to about 10, 000 Nigerians.
Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) also recently
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development (FMARD) to invest $1 billion on establishment of fully
integrated rice production and processing operations across Nigeria.
Farmlands in Edo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, and
Niger states totalling 150,000 hectares have been penciled down for the
commercial production of rice paddy.
Rice is one of the viable investments in
agriculture, as a high yield crop, the return on investment for rice farming is
high and it takes just four months to plant and harvest rice.
Starting with 20,000 hectares of rice
cultivation under scheme known as outgrowers, to be expanded to cover 800, 000
hectares over the next three years, the president of Dangote Group, Alhaji
Aliko Dangote said time is now to turn to agriculture to save the nation’s
economy.
The business mogul commenced the scheme with
the distribution of treated rice seedling for planting to some 5,000 farmers
expected to participate in the scheme.
He explained, “We are committed to the
development of outgrower scheme by providing local, value added products and
services that meet the basic needs of the populace. To this end, the Dangote
Rice Farm, will run an initial pilot in Hago-Fadama, Kafin Hausa and Auyo areas
which would see Dangote Rice developing small hold farmers by providing quality
inputs, certified seeds, fertilizers, agro-chemicals and petrol improved
agricultural practices and technology to increase yield and produce quality
rice paddy which would also be bought back from them by Dangote Rice Limited.
The Outgrower programme in Jigawa state is expected to create more than 10,000
direct and indirect jobs to the host communities.”
Aside the outgrowers aspect of the investment,
he explained, Dangote Rice is planning to plant approximately 150,000ha of long
grain white rice and produce near one million tons of high quality par boiled
white rice for sale into the Nigerian market.
“Our internal policy within Dangote Rice is to
procure 30 per cent of our rice production from local farmers who will be
developed into outgrower groups. These outgrowers will be simultaneously
developed alongside our commercial farming operations.” he said.
The business mogul justified his investment in
rice cultivation pointing out that the situation the country has found itself
needs a reversal, saying “Nigeria spends nearly $1.8 billion per annum
importing approximately 3.2 million MT of rice to feed its population. These
are dollars that could be used on more impactful social development
interventions if they were not needed for food imports.”
During the rice seedling distribution by the
company, the minister of state for Agriculture, Senator Heneiken Lokpobiri
lauded the initiative of Dangote, saying intervention in the government efforts
at providing food security for the citizenry, creating jobs and reducing
dependency on food importation are being boosted.
While expressing the government readiness to
provide all the needed support to make the Dangote Rice Outgrowers Scheme a
success, the minister said the government is putting in place a strategy that
will make farmers have greater access to farm implements to help them produce
with ease.
Also, the special adviser to Dangote on Rice
and Coordinator of the Outgrowers Scheme, Mr. Lulu Carlos explained that 6.1
mmt of rice is consumed annually but not more than 2.6 million metric tons are
produced locally leaving the rest to importation.
Lulu said, “We are happy to start today the
partnership with the first Outgrowers bloc of 200 hectares, shared among eight
communities.”
He pointed out that the same project was
applied by Brazil, which transformed the country from a net importer of rice in
the year 2000 to a net exporter in the year of 2009, saying “This was achieved
through a big outgrower scheme in the rice region, which, today involves thousands
of independent farmers responsible for 80 per cent of the 12 million tons
locally produced rice and a small number of large commercial farms supplying
the remaining 20 per cent.”
Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Badaru Muhammed
Abubakar thanked the Dangote Rice Limited for choosing Jigawa as the pilot
state for the project.
He pledged the readiness of his administration
to provide all necessary support to the project.
With the federal government rice production
scheme, stakeholders have expressed hope that the scheme will stop the massive
importation of rice in Nigeria, in the next three years.
Apart from large entities like Dangote, there
has been increased participation by small holder rice farmers. However, access
to credit still remains a challenge.
There are other areas within the rice value
chain which are largely untapped, they include processing, storage, packaging
and distribution. Insufficient supply chain integration was highlighted as a
core issue within the rice segment by the federal government.
While the supply deficit is huge, closing the
gap could be accelerated through increased private sector participation.
However the onus is on the government to create an enabling environment.
Excluding the job creation potential, this would also ease pressure on the
country’s import bill
Rising food prices: Sales
drop, buyers lament
NEWS ›
Business and Economy Rising food prices: Sales drop, buyers lament Esther Odili
Yesterday 76882 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Send email – As recession
bites harder, the prices of food items continue to rise daily in various
markets across Lagos state – A survey conducted by NAIJ.com reveals the
availability and cost of food items in Onigbongbo Market, Maryland, Lagos – Buyers
and sellers lament on the increasing prices of food items attributing it to the
present economic challenges As recession bites harder, the price of foodstuffs
continues to rise daily in various markets across the state.
The
availability and cost of food items are considered important in ensuring the
well-being and survival of the human society. The current situation where
prices of food items have continued to rise on a daily basis, becomes a source
of concern to all and sundry in the last five months. Buyers and sellers of
perishable and non-perishable goods in the markets lament the hike in purchase
of the items from manufacturers to their various market locations. This has
raised worry that the situation may soon go beyond what they can handle.
Traders groan
as prices of food increases at popular market They groaned that the cost of
transportation, weather condition, market force are the causes of the upward
pressure on prices of food items which thereby creates an untold hardship in
many homes. Now, most families eat what is available and affordable compared to
what was nutritional or desirable to them before. This present development has
resulted into malnutrition among people, especially children, thereby making
people spend more and eat less. The price of items like rice, beans, vegetable
oil, flour, yam, Maggi, have continued to rise as observed in the market.
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter It is quite expensive to buy tomatoes
and pepper in the market these days. Photo: Esther Odili A bag of rice, which
sold for N8, 000, before now, sells for 11,000 naira; vegetable oil which sold
for 10,000 upward, now sells for 15,000 and above as observed in the market. A
trader in Onigbongbo market, Maryland identified as Iyke, attributed the increase
in the price of beans of beans, rice and garri to the on-going fall in the
economy. He said: “The demand is more and the supply is low but the purchasing
power and cost of transportation led to the increases in the price of the
items. A bag of rice ranges from N17,000, N18,500 and N19,500.
A big bag of
beans (Oloyin) costs N22,000, a big bag of Olotun beans costs 40,000. While a
bag of red garri costs N8,000 and a big bag of white garri costs N14,000.”
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Even the cost of palm oil is becoming
unbecoming. Photo: Esther Odili Mummy Faith, a trader who sells
consumable items like, semolina, sachet tomatoes, salt, sugar, poundo
yam, margarine, seasoning and flour attributed the hike in price in goods to
the current economic situation. She said: “For Kings oil, 25-litre is N10,600
before, but now, N15,800 and we sell at N16,000. A pack of Maggi cube before is
N350 but now is N450. Ola poundo yam before is N1,800, but now it is N3,000.
People are buying because they don’t have choice. The patronage is low.
The price is
too much for the less privilege. Like spaghetti costs N80 before but now it
costs N180. A carton before was N1,800 but now it costs N3,300. “Things like
flour are very expensive. Before, the bag was N8,000 but now it costs N11,200.
Also, items like butter, sugar and some other items for cooking are very
expensive. We buy from the company directly and they give us the fixed price.”
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Beans, rice, garri and other foodstuffs have
now become really exorbitant. Photo: Esther Odili Musibau Kehinde Olanrewaju, a
representative of the chairman of Onigbongo meat sellers association,
attributed the rise in the price of Beef (Meat) to the present economic
situation. “Things are quite expensive now. What we buy is greater than the
profit we make .The cost of purchase is higher than the profit actualised.
At the end of
the day, you end up in debts. Only God can help us. The patronage is
encouraging, but the purchasing price of cow is higher. “It has not been the
usual amount. We go to the market every day. There is no fixed price in the
purchase of cow, but it depends on your purchasing power. The price fluctuates.
Sometimes it is expensive while other times it is not. The present economic situation
is the cause of the hike. We appeal to the government and pray to God for a
change,” Mr Olanrewaju lamented. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Cartons of
noodles being piled up without a buyer in the market. Photo: Esther Odili. READ
ALSO: After Sallah celebrations, prices of goods crash badly A cow skin (Ponmo)
seller who pleaded anonymous, said the rise in price of cow skin (Ponmo) is as
a result of the rise in dollar. She said: “The rise in dollar has really
affected the price of cow skin (Ponmo). The ones we buy at N3,000 then, now
costs N3,500.
The ponmo we
sell for N50 is now sold for N100.” A trader identified as Mrs Ojo also
lamented on the hike in price of foodstuffs, saying: “Before we buy bags
of egusi, ogbono and crayfish, but now we don’t buy anymore. We buy plastics
(Paint). “Before now, a plastic was sold for N1,800 but now it costs N4,000.
While a paint of egusi costs N800 but now it costs N1,200. A paint of crayfish
cost N1,000 but now it is sold for N1,500. We are just managing to buy and
sell. Now customers, who come to buy from us, only beg before purchase, at the
end of the day, the profit is low. People buy with begging. We do not even know
the cause of the hike, since I was born and started selling foodstuffs; I have
not witnessed this type of thing happening now.” “25-litre of palm-oil before
is N11,000 but now N14,000. We sell but there is no money to buy it.
They are
telling us things will be okay, is it when people die that things will turn out
for good. We plead with the government to come to our aid, and do the right
thing.” A tomato seller identified simply as Tope, blamed the present
administration on the increase in price of goods in the market. According to
him: “The fight against corruption brought about the increase in the various
items. Things are expensive, the government should work harder I do not believe
things will change for good, but I know Nigerians will adapt to this system, in
due time. “In previous months, we buy a basket of tomato at the rate of N5,000
but for now we do buy it at the rate of N8,000 and above. A bag of pepper
before costs N10,000 but now it costs N15,000 and above. And for onion the
price is determined according to its season.
The
availability, determines its price. Before we buy a bag of onion at N18,000 but
now it costs N26,000. The patronage is low and not encouraging. But despite the
hike, people still turn up.” Traders decried a drop in sales, which they blamed
on the economic condition in the country and delay in payment of workers’ salaries.
Aina, a trader who sells items like sugar, salt and other basic items for
baking said the prices of items continue to rise daily. “The amount you
purchase an item, differs from the amount you get it the next day. A bag of
sugar costs N7,000 before, but now, we are buying it N15,500 and above.
We buy three
bags before but now, we buy only one bag. We ca not really trace the cause of
the rise in prices of food items. Now people, who come to buy in large
quantities, go for the ones they can afford.” Also, a small tuber of yam, which
was sold for N150 before, is sold for between N250 and N300 now. While a big
tuber of yam costs N600, as observed in the market. The current situation where
prices of food items have continued to rise on a daily basis has become a
source of concern to all and sundry. In a similar development, the prices of
essential food items have risen significantly in connection with the rising
level of inflation in the country. Traders in various markets across the state
have complained that the prices of food items increase each time they go to
purchase a new one by the suppliers.
The hike in
food prices has been attributed to the poor state of the economy occasioned by
the declining supply of commodities, rise in fuel price and the devaluation of
naira. Before
Now Beans: A bag of Oloyin beans (big) N
18,000
N22,000 A bag of Olotu beans (big)
N35,000
N40,000 Rice: A bag of Special rice
N18,500
N19,500 A bag of Agric rice
N18,000
N18,500 A bag of Zion/stallion rice
N17,000
N19,000 Garri: A bag of red garri
N7,000
N8,000 A bag of white
garri
N12,500
N14,000 25- Litre of groundnut oil
N10,600
N15,800 25-Litre of palm oil
N13,000
N14,000 2KG of Honeywell semolina N500
N600 A bag of sugar flour
N8,000
N11,200 A bag of sugar
N7,000
N15,500 A carton of tomato paste
N2,800
N3,300 Noodles: A carton of Chikki small
N1,600
N1,900 A carton of Super pack
N2,600
N2,800 A carton of Onion super
N2,600
N2,900 A carton of Hungry man
N2,800
N2,900 Fish: A carton of titus
fish
N12,000
N20,000 A carton of croaker
fish N17,000
N22,000 A carton of
chicken
N5,500
N8,000 A carton of Turkey
N8,000
N11,000 Yam: Five tubers of small yam
N1,000
N1,500 Five tubers of big
yam
N2,000
N3,000
Read more: https://www.naij.com/1000002-naij-weekly-price-check-as-confusion-trails-rice-import-ban-market-prices-soar.html
Read more: https://www.naij.com/1000002-naij-weekly-price-check-as-confusion-trails-rice-import-ban-market-prices-soar.html
Nigeria: Customs Advocates Total
Ban On Rice Imports By 2017
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)
is advocating a total ban on rice imports with effect from 2017 to encourage
local producers, says the Service Public Relations Officer, Mr. Wale Adeniyi.This
is contained in a statement signed by Adeniyi, on Sunday in Abuja.He said that
the service was disturbed by various reports indicating that customs had
reversed the ban on rice importation through the land borders.Adeniyi said that
the reports were attributed to a press interview purportedly granted by the
service PRO, Deputy-Comptroller, Wale Adeniyi.
He said that the reports that resurfaced this
weekend were being attributed to a press interview granted in October 2015.Adeniyi
said that the service strongly suspected that some powerful forces behind rice
smuggling were at work, recycling old report under a different circumstance to
create confusion.According to him, "It is necessary to restate the true
position in view of the confusion which these publications may create in the
industry."It is even more expedient to provide this clarification, given
that the service has taken a firm position earlier in the week through a joint
news conference with stakeholders.
"We
like to reiterate the position that importation of rice remains banned through
our land borders and we have the commitment of partner government agencies and
stakeholders to enforce this restriction."While this restriction is in
force, rice imports through the ports are still allowed, subject to payment of
extant charges."The service will therefore advocate a total ban on rice
importation into Nigeria with effect from 2017." It is our belief that
continuous waste of scarce forex on a commodity that can be produced locally
makes no economic sense, most especially at aperiod of recession," Adeniyi
said.He said that it was important to restate the confidence that customs had
in the ability of Nigerian Rice Producers (NRP) to fill the existing
sufficiency gaps in the supply of the product.Adeniyi said that customs had
noted the ongoing rice revolution undertaken by many state governments and
strategic interventions by FederalGovernment agencies.According to him,
"the service is convinced that the bumper harvests expected from these
efforts will address the supply gap in 2017."We urge Nigerians to watch
out for similar antics as the firm stand on rice smuggling will pitch their
selfish interest against our national interest.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201610090238.html
Iran keen to resume Thai rice imports
10 Oct 2016
Iran has expressed an interest in buying rice
from Thailand once again as part of an effort to boost bilateral trade in the
next five years.Iranian President Hassan Rouhani showed an intention to buy
Thai rice in talks with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday at
Government House, deputy government spokesman Werachon Sukondhapatipak said.Mr
Rouhani arrived in Thailand on Saturday to attend the Asia Cooperation Dialogue
(ACD) summit which is set to begin at the Foreign Ministry today.The meeting
did not go into details, but Gen Prayut did ask for information regarding a
previous rice agreement reached by both countries, Lt Gen Werachon added.
Thailand stopped selling rice to Iran after
that country was hit with United Nations sanctions. However, as Iran has
started to open back up, both countries signed a memorandum of understanding
earlier this year to resume sales of 300,000 tonnes of rice worth 4.3 billion
baht.Mr Rouhani said the transaction's approval awaits Iran's move to review
its hygiene standards for importing rice, said Lt Gen Werachon.As Thailand
plans to increase the amount of rice it exports, Iran is targeted as a
potential customer.Thailand shipped 4.8 million tonnes overseas in the first
half of this year, up 9.3% from the same period a year ago.To boost bilateral
trade and rice sales, the two countries will hold the Joint Trade Committee
today at the Commerce Ministry aimed at boosting bilateral trade between the
countries from US$300 million (10.4 billion baht) last year to $3 billion in
the next five years, a government source said.
With a population of about 80 million, Iran is
a potential target in the Middle East for expanding trade. Iran is the 11th
biggest trade partner for Thailand in the Middle East in terms of value, and
65th globally.Last year, trade value between Thailand and Iran reached $309
million. Thai exports to Iran were valued at $217 million and imports from Iran
into Thailand at $92 million.Lt Gen Werachon said the Iranian delegation
includes its commerce, agriculture, and energy ministers."This will be the
new face of the relationship between Thailand and Iran," he said.In term
of financial issues, Mr Rouhani wants greater cooperation between commercial
banks in both countries to smooth bilateral trade and Gen Prayut has ordered
state agencies to study the issue.
In addition, the two countries expressed an
interest in cooperating on energy projects, potentially resuming oil exploration
by Thai companies in Iran, said Lt Gen Werachon.In a meeting with Asian
business leaders yesterday, Gen Prayut urged closer cooperation between the
public and private sectors to bolster Asian growth. He singled out
infrastructure investment as a key to driving the continent.The ACD was created
by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2002. It started with 18 members
and has since grown to grown to include 34 members.
The Bangkok Post
