India to nudge Iran to resume Basmati imports
Iran has been one of the largest importers of Indian basmati rice in recent years. But in 2015-16, however, basmati rice exports from India to Iran almost halved to $571 million from $1.1 billion in the previous financial year. In the first half of this fiscal, basmati rice exports from India to Iran amounted to $356 million. Both India and Pakistan have claimed geographical indication on aromatic long grained basmati rice, saying the variety is unique to the respective countries. Uruguay is another rice exporter to the West Asian country.
Iran has
seen a spurt in trading ties with a large number of countries since January
last year, when it was freed of economic sanctions imposed by the West for its
nuclear programme. "We need to promote exports of basmati rice in Iran
especially because other countries are aggressively promoting their varieties
of rice," said another official.
India is keen to quell any concerns over quality of its basmati rice even as Iran has strict preshipment quality checks for all imports.
India is keen to quell any concerns over quality of its basmati rice even as Iran has strict preshipment quality checks for all imports.
"We need to dispel rumours about basmati rice which are being made by parties with vested interests," said Rajen Sundaresan, executive director, All India Rice Exporters Association. "Iran is a stable but important market for us. They have not opened the permits for imports till now even though this should have happened in November."
Iran has a permit system of imports. However, no major consignments have been shipped from India in the past six months. India is the leading exporter of basmati rice, having shipped 4.05 million tonnes of the aromatic long grain basmati rice worth Rs 22,718.44 crore in 2015-16. The industry pegs exports to Iran at 1 million tonnes. Satish Goel, managing director of Shree Jagdamba Agrico Exports, which exports 50,000 tonnes of basmati rice to Iran annually, said that the country needs to dispel rumours that Indian rice is plastic. "Our image is being hampered and we need to put things in order," he said.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/india-to-nudge-iran-to-resume-basmati
Arkansas Rice Research and
Extension Center: Focus on real-world challenges
Photo: Kevin Quinn/University
of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Rice Research and Extension Center at
Stuttgart, Ark.As the nation’s number-one rice producer, the economy of
Arkansas places a premium on every aspect of the crop’s production, from the
the availability of unique and hardy varieties, to the financial success of our
producers in the field, to the impeccable quality of the finished product.
As the nation’s number-one rice producer, the
economy of Arkansas places a premium on every aspect of the crop’s production,
from the the availability of unique and hardy varieties, to the financial
success of our producers in the field, to the impeccable quality of the
finished product.As the primary institution of higher education in support of
agriculture in the state, the University of Arkansas System Division of
Agriculture spends a significant portion of its resources and efforts working
to make sure rice, and the people behind it, succeed.Nathan McKinney, interim
director of the Rice Research and Extension Center (RREC), came to the research
station in the summer of 2016, after serving various roles in the Division of
Agriculture’s Cooperative Extension Service and Agricultural Experiment
Station.
McKinney said he encourages his researchers —
there are about a dozen scientists attached to the RREC — to take a “portfolio”
approach to their research. Solving problems that rice growers face today is
the highest priority.“That’s what I call ‘applied’ research,” McKinney said.
“Most of our effort is targeted towards answering present-day questions or
applying a new approach, a new variety or technology to solve a problem.“However,
part of that research portfolio is also forecasting what problems producers may
see 10 years from now,” he said.
“Some of our far-reaching, basic research is
trying to answer the question, ‘what happens when rice is exposed to high
nighttime temperatures?’” McKinney said. “And what causes the physiological
stress in rice under various climate conditions? What physiological pathways
can we exploit to overcome heat stress? We have fundamental questions that we
currently have no answers for — we have some blank spots in our knowledge of
the physiology of rice.”
Focus on rice
Although researchers at the RREC conduct
studies on other crops essential to Arkansas and the region including corn,
soybeans and wheat, the focus is on rice.Jarrod Hardke, Extension rice
agronomist for the Division of Agriculture, has been with the RREC since 2012.
He described his applied agronomic work at the research center as research
aimed at affecting production-based recommendations.
“We look at every variety of rice available to
us, from both commercial seed companies and those varieties we breed ourselves,
to see what works best under a range of conditions,” Hardke said. “One of the
biggest points of emphasis is on-farm cultivar trials — actually comparing the
different varieties and hybrids a grower has to choose from to observe their
relative differences on various farms under different production systems.”
Over the course of multiple years and weather
cycles, Hardke said, the Division of Agriculture is able to synthesize data
that gives growers the best shot at success, from choosing the best cultivar
for their soil to dealing with pests and environmental pressures as they arise.
Hardke said that over the long term, rice
research in the state evolves through the extension and feedback process, as
agronomic data is pushed out to growers through Cooperative Extension Service
agents, and agents deliver feedback back to researchers.McKinney said the
research has also been guided by challenges specific to Arkansas and the
region, such as a potential scarcity of groundwater in the near future.“Our
irrigation engineer, Chris Henry, has introduced a wealth of ideas new to
Arkansas farming, and various water conservation measures for rice production,”
McKinney said. “So that’s broadened the scope of the station’s research.
“We’ve also had a rice breeding program here
for 60 years or so, but we’ve recently added a hybrid breeding emphasis. A new
hybrid breeder joined us in November of 2015,” he said. “Hybrid seed production
in rice is relatively new, and it has broadened the scope of our breeding
program.”
Research umbrella
McKinney said all the researchers working under
the RREC’s umbrella are to some degree involved in evaluating constant and
increasing environmental stresses, and taking measures to help growers overcome
those challenges.“For example, this year and in some recent years, it’s turned
out that high nighttime temperatures created a lot of yield and grain quality
problems for rice producers,” McKinney said. “It’s robbed us of millions and
millions of dollars. And we’re attempting to solve that problem. Some of the
pieces of the puzzle are falling in place, but there are still other pieces
we’re trying to discover.“Everybody on this station is involved with that,
either directly or indirectly. All of our scientists have their hands in it,”
he said.
Researchers and staff at the RREC also work
closely with U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Dale Bumpers researchers at the
nearby Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center, also located in Stuttgart,
as well as other entities, including the Mid-South Breeding Consortium.“We’re
bringing in the best resources to collaborate with, and to give us ideas and
input,” McKinney said.Hardke said the facility is unique in that it remains the
only fully faculty-staffed research Extension center in the state.“We house all
relevant disciplines in the faculty here at the station, permitting us to be
housed right in the heart of the rice-growing region of the state, performing
our work,” Hardke said. “We’re here, we’re accessible. Our full-time job is
rice, the rice industry and its improvement. That’s how all our time is spent —
that’s unique to this location.
http://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/arkansas-rice-research-and-extension-center-focus-real-world-challenges
Winter rice clinics scheduled for Louisiana
Bruce Schultz
| 12/20/2016 3:06:49 PM (12/20/16) CROWLEY, La. – The LSU AgCenter will conduct a series of rice clinics in January and February throughout the rice-growing areas of Louisiana to help farmers get ready for the upcoming crop year.
Farmers will be able to get advice about key decisions that must be made early in the year, including variety selection and field preparations for the 2017 crop, said Steve Linscombe, director of the LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station.“Topics to be covered in the clinics will include controlling weeds, insects and diseases,” Linscombe said. “We also will talk about our research for variety development and agronomic practices in addition to an economic outlook for rice.”
The sessions will be held at various locations on the following dates:
– Jan. 5 at the Acadia Parish Education Center in Crowley, 2122 N. Parkerson Ave., behind Gatti’s Pizza restaurant, starting at 8:10 a.m.
– Jan. 10 in Welsh at the Welsh Community Center, 101 Palmer St., starting at 8:15 a.m.
– Jan. 11 in Ville Platte at the Civic Center, 704 N. Soileau St., starting at 8 a.m.
– Jan. 12 in Abbeville at the Vermilion Parish Library, 405 E. Saint Victor St., starting at 8 a.m.
– Jan. 17 at the DeWitt Livestock Facility adjacent to the LSUA campus south of Alexandria, starting at 8:20 a.m.
– Feb. 8 at the Rayville Civic Center, 827 Louisa St., starting at 9 a.m.
http://www.lsuagcenter.com/profiles/rbogren/articles/page1482246408618
Rice exports to Africa grow
Submitted by Eleven on Sun,
01/01/2017 - 16:18
Writer: Nilar
About 60 per cent of rice
exports via sea from 2012 to 2016 are being exported to African markets with
China second, according to the Myanmar Agribusiness Public Corporation (MAPCO).MAPCO
exported over 86,000 tonnes of rice to Africa nations, more than 17,885 tonnes
to China, in excess of 13,000 tonnes to Indonesia, more than 11,000 tonnes to
Japan, more than 7,000 tonnes elsewhere and more than 6,800 tonnes to the
European Union.Exports to China decreased this year due to the instability in
the border areas and increased security checks. MAPCO chose instead to export
rice by sea. The weak kyat has driven up exports. Sea exports struggled in the
past because of the policies of the former government.
Myanmar is exporting about
60,000 tonnes a month to various African markets. Myanmar exported about
600,000 tonnes until mid-December compared with less than 150,000 tonnes during
the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
Translated
by Aung Kyaw Kyaw
http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/business/7251
Nepal headed for largest paddy
harvest in history
, Kathmandu
Jan 1, 2017- Nepal is headed for the largest
paddy harvest in history as the heavens have smiled on farmers and sent down an
above average monsoon, according to a preliminary crop production report
released by the Agricultural Ministry on Sunday.Paddy production has been
projected to jump 21.66 percent to 5.23 million tonnes this fiscal year, after
two consecutive years of falling harvests triggered by drought. The country
produced an additional 931,248 tonnes of paddy this year. In the last fiscal
year, a crippling drought hit paddy production severely, dragging it down by
10.22 percent to 4.29 million tonnes.
Based on the average price of Rs21.45 per kg
set by the ministry, this year’s output is valued at Rs113 billion, excluding
the value of straw and husk. Ministry officials said that the record harvest
was expected to bring down the country's rice import bill, and help the GDP to
grow as the economy was strongly dependent on farm production. “Timely and
regular monsoon was a key factor behind the robust paddy output,” said Ram
Krishna Regmi, chief statistician at the ministry. “The average monsoon
rainfall this year was the best in the last eight years.”
Besides, increased use of improved seed
varieties, timely availability of chemical fertilizers and growing farm
mechanization have helped the country to record a high paddy output, he said.The
bumper harvest has also halved the annual food deficit to 400,000 tonnes from
800,000 tonnes in the last fiscal year. “If the winter wheat crop harvest
remains the same as last year, we may be able to record a 800,000-tonne food
surplus,” he said.
According to the ministry, the country had the
highest food deficit of 485,000 tonnes in 1994-95. In the fiscal years 2009-10
and 2008-09, the food deficit reached 330,000 tonnes and 132,000 tonnes
respectively.However, in 2010-11, the government had projected higher food
reserves as the census had shown the population to be lower than estimated. As
a result, Nepal’s food reserves increased to 443,057 tonnes. In 2011-12, food reserves jumped to 886,307
tonnes due to a bumper harvest. In 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15, Nepal had
surplus food reserves of 455,000 tonnes, 789,890 tonnes and 155,012 tonnes
respectively.
The ministry said that good rains this year
allowed the country’s paddy acreage to increase 13.91 percent to 1.55 million
hectares. Paddy productivity rose 6.81 percent to 3.36 tonnes per hectare. “Fiscal
2016-17 has been a productive year in the agricultural sector,” said Yogendra
Kumar Karki, spokesperson for the ministry.
“We expect production to grow in the next
fiscal year too as the government has implemented the Rs130-billion Prime
Minister Agriculture Modernisation Project, which envisages adopting modern
farm techniques to increase output.”
He added that increasing productivity remained
the main challenge. “We have the lowest productivity in South Asia, and this is
both a challenge and an opportunity for us,” he said, adding that if Nepal
could increase productivity, it could be in a position to export rice. The
country's average paddy productivity in the last 10 years was 3 tonnes per
hectare. The statistics show that the summer crops -- maize, millet and
buckwheat -- are also likely to grow. Maize output is expected to grow 1.25
percent to 2.25 million tonnes, millet by 1.26 percent to 306,215 tonnes and
buckwheat by 1.78 percent to 11,847 tonnes.
Published: 01-01-2017 19:10http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2017-01-01/nepal-headed-for-largest-paddy-harvest-in-history.html
NFA allows
groups, firms to import rice
JANUARY 2, 2017
The National Food Authority (NFA)
said it has approved the request of 210 traders to import rice, which would
come in at a higher duty under the minimum access volume (MAV) scheme.As of
December 21, 2016, the NFA has allowed 210 farmers’ organizations and private
firms to import 692,340 metric tons (MT) of rice, 110,160 MT less than the
country’s annual MAV of 802,500 MT.
The NFA list available on its web
site also showed that 194 qualified rice traders, including AgriNurture Inc.
and Pilmico Foods Corp., will import 642,340 MT of rice under the country
specific quota (CSQ). Of the total rice to be imported under the CSQ, 293,100
MT of rice will be bought from Thailand and Vietnam.Meanwhile, 16 qualified
applicants will import a total of 50,000 MT of rice under the “omnibus origin”
category, according to the NFA list.Under the importation guidelines released
by the NFA, rice traders are allowed to source from countries with specific
quota and from omnibus origin or from any country.
Rice traders and farmers’ groups
can import 293,100 MT of rice from Thailand and Vietnam. They can also import
50,000 MT of rice from China, India and Pakistan; 15,000 MT from Australia; and
4,000 MT from El Salvador.
An additional volume of 50,000 MT
is allowed to be imported from any country.
The NFA said it allows each organization or firm to import
20,000 MT.The rice imports by the qualified traders must arrive in the country
not later than February 28, according to the official guidelines of the NFA.Currently,
the government allows rice imports within the MAV scheme to enter the country
at a lower tariff of 35 percent. Imports in excess of the MAV are slapped a
higher tariff of 50 percent
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/nfa-allows-groups-firms-to-import-rice/
Indonesian Agricultural Programs
Deemed Successful in 2016
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - One of the aims of the
Indonesian governments programs in 2016 was to advance the agricultural sector,
in order to regain the country`s self-sufficiency in rice, as in the past. Due to its efforts to introduce mechanized
agricultural technology, repair damaged agricultural infrastructure, and open
new rice fields, the government has been able to change the countrys rice
planting season from one to two, and even three times, per year.
With its success in carrying out
these programs in 2016, the government increased unhusked rice production to 79
million tons, exceeding its target of 76 million tons of unhusked rice, and
stop importing rice in 2016."Indonesia will not need to import rice, and
it could even export the commodity to other countries, " Agriculture Minister
Andi Amran Sulaiman said in the village of Bhakti Rasa, Sragi subdistrict,
South Lampung, on Thursday (Dec 29, 2016).National production of unhulled rice
rose to 79 million tons in 2016, from 74 million tons of unhulled rice in 2015
and 70 million tons in 2014.
In order to maintain and advance
the agricultural sector, the Ministry of Agriculture will continue to promote
the use of agricultural technology.
Indonesian farmers should now
become skillful in the use of technology and the use of hybrid seeds. Thus,
they are expected to see harvest seasons two to three times per year.
Additionally, the use of technology
will continue to be promoted by the Agriculture Ministry in order to improve
the welfare of the farmers.
"Through the use of
technology, including agricultural mechanization, rice production is expected
to increase by 200 percent," Minister Amran Sulaiman said, conducting a
rice grand harvest in Margorejo Village, Metro Selatan Subdistrict, Metro City,
Lampung on Friday (Dec 30).
According to the minister, his
ministry will continue to make efforts to increase agricultural production
through mechanization, such as providing machine tools for farmers.
Through measures, such as the
provision of agricultural machinery (alsintan) to farmers, the ministry
encourages mechanization of agriculture, a policy that will continue to further
improve agricultural productivity.
The minister said the use of
agricultural technology resulted into reductions in production costs by 50
percent. The production cost of one hectare, which usually reached Rp12
million, has now been reduced to Rp6 million. In addition, in one year a farmer
can plant two to three times.
In order to regain the countrys
former high levels of food production, the government has also overhauled
various regulations in the food sector and repaired damaged rice growing
infrastructure, which reached three million hectares. President Joko Widodo
(Jokowi) has asked the minister to finish the repairs within three years, but
the Minister of Agriculture said his staff has been trying to complete this in
one year.
The government is also improving
the distribution of fertilizers and has taken action against those who
distribute fake or mixed fertilizers, which harm farmers.
Self-sufficiency in food can be
achieved through efforts to modernize agriculture, while new regulations and
infrastructure are improved. The officials have worked hard to boost production
and control exports and imports. Organic agriculture is very attractive and
prices for this produce could increase ten times and improve the welfare of
farmers.
The government has distributed some
160,000 agricultural machine tools in the regions. Also, in 2016 Indonesia
tried to open up 200,000 hectares of new rice fields.
By increasing the acreage of the
countrys rice fields by 200,000 hectares, rice farms in Indonesia now cover
some 9.0 million hectares.
Chairman of the Peoples
Deliberative Assembly (MPR) Zulkifli Hasan praised the efforts of the
agriculture minister to increase agricultural production through various
measures, including mechanization.
"We both know, at this time,
to increase agricultural land was very difficult. But the population will
surely continue to grow so that food production should be increased. Therefore,
I appreciate the performance of the Minister of Agriculture and his efforts to
increase production, especially through technology mechanization," he
said.
The assembly speaker also expressed
his gratitude to Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman, whose efforts
during the past two years, he said, had lifted agricultural production and
ensured that the country did not have to import rice.
"It must be recognized that I
am grateful for the performance of Amran, who has proven his ability to
increase agricultural production. And, this is the reality this year, as the
government did not import rice after 32 years of importing the commodity. It
should be appreciated because, with our current condition, it is not easy to
do," he said.
According to Zulkifli, providing
agricultural machinery to farmers is a very effective, helpful policy, and in
accordance with current requirements.
"It is inevitable that
mechanization is really required. Farmers used to set off into the fields while
it was still dark, they are exposed to the sun and their skin became dark, and
they returned home very late, again when it was dark. By using new tools, such
as hand tractors, farmers can finish cultivating one hectare of land in three
hours, where it used to take 11 days to cultivate," said Zulkifli
www.antaranews.com/.../indonesian-agricultural-programs-deemed-successful-in-2016
Rice worth $557.578m exported
in five months
ISLAMABAD - Rice export from the country
during first five months of current financial year was recorded at 1,316.44
million tons as compared to exports of the corresponding period of last year.
According to the data of Pakistan Bureau of
Statistics, the country earned $557.578 million by exporting rice during the
period from July-November, 2016. The rice exports in first five months of last
financial year was recorded at 1,545.578 million tons valuing $688.322 million
tons, it added.
During first five months of current financial
year, the country earned $132.110 million by exporting 151,339 metric tons of
basmati rice as against the exports of 202,334 metric tons worth $19.777 of
same period of last year.
Meanwhile, 1,164.651 metric tons of rice, other
than basmati rice, exported and earned $245.468 million as compared to
1,343,638 million of $497.308 million of same period of last year. On month on
month basis, rice exports during the month of November, 2018 was recorded at
438,399 million tons valuing $165.92 million as against the exports of 5,339
metric tons worth $203.844 million of same month of last year.
About 30,400 metric tons of basmati rice worth
$24.704 million exported in months of November, 2016 as against 38,618 metric
tons of $32.986 million of same month of last year. In month of November, 2016
exports of rice, other than basmati, was recorded at 407,999 metric tons
valuing $141.216 million as compared to exports of 501,129 metric tons worth
$170.858 million of same month of last year.
http://nation.com.pk/business/03-Jan-2017/rice-worth-557-578m-exported-in-five-months
Celebrating rice
Mexican Holiday Cookbook
By Sarah Moran
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- In time for Christmas,
USA Rice released a special edition holiday cookbook titled "Celebremos
con Arroz" (Let's Celebrate with Rice).
The deluxe full-color cookbook includes ¬¬¬40 rice recipes for special
celebrations and holidays. Although the
magazine is released in November/December for the popular Christmas season, the
magazine features recipes for various holidays and will be a collector's
edition for consumers to use year-round.
The dishes are easy to prepare and offer a
great variety of ideas for consumers to use rice in their favorite celebrations
and special events. The holidays featured are Valentine's Day, Mother's Day,
Father's Day, Mexican Independence Day, Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos),
and Christmas. The cookbook was designed
to serve as a valuable resource for consumers with extensive information,
including tips and techniques to guarantee perfectly cooked rice, nutritional
information, informative graphics, and a special section dedicated to parties
and special events, and features elegant rice canapes.
"The target audience of the magazine are
home cooks, who enjoy preparing traditional and contemporary rice dishes, as
well as the food service industry," says Gaby Carbajal, USA Rice's
representative in Mexico. "Because
readers share recipes, tips, and our entire magazine, publishers report 195,000
media impressions for the book."Fifty thousand copies of this special
edition cookbook will be sold at newspaper stands nationwide as well as online
in printed and electronic versions at the publisher's website, toukanmango.com
Agri dept.
targets to increase rice prod next year
Saturday, December 31, 2016
By
THE
Department of Agriculture (DA)-Davao region targets to increase rice production
for 2017 by enhancing rice mechanization.During a weekly press conference at Abreeza Mall, DA-Davao Regional Director Ricardo Oñate, Jr. said that one of the ways to increase rice yield in the region is through the enhancement of mechanization in rice production.
The nationwide average yield is at 3.9 metric tons per hectare, which Davao Region had surpassed with its 4.6 metric tons per hectare average rice yield. However, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol wanted to increase nationwide average yield to six metric tons per hectare which makes the need for rice production in Davao region to still be increased despite the current sufficiency.
Oñate also said that with today’s generation, less and less young people are going into farming. He thinks that with proper education and campaign for mechanization, particularly of rice production, the youth will recognize that technology made it less difficult. He is hoping that mechanization will encourage more young people to go back to farming.
As for other farmers who are hesitant to use modern technology, Oñate said that trainings and seminars had been conducted to introduce the benefits of the equipment to them. He also added that by 2017, a thorough campaign drive will also be conducted.
Combined harvester is a machine that aids with the harvesting of grain crops. Compostela Valley had already started using this technology.
According to Oñate, Combined Harvester is a great help for rice farmers as it does not only aid with the harvesting but also with threshing. It serves two operations in a single machine. It lessens the time consumed in processing.
Oñate added that not only is the region equipped with harvesting facility. The Rice Processing Complex (RPC) is a post-harvest machine that aids with rice milling. RPC provides better production with 65 percent rate of recovery for the rice produce in comparison with the 50 percent rate by small rice millers. The machine also provides efficient rice production, milling, and even drying and storage. An RPC in the region is located at Matanao, Davao del Sur.
Increased rice yield will not be a problem of overstock as President Rodrigo Roa-Duterte already expressed plan to provide 20 kilos of rice per month to Filipinos under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program care of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/business/2017/01/02/agri-dept-targets-increase-rice-prod-next-year-517722
Control price on
imported rice
The cabinet has decided to impose a control price
for imported rice.Rural Economic Affairs Minister P. Harrison during a
press conference said that rice will be imported in the future to control the
rising prices.
www.goldfmnews.lk Sowing of rabi crops rises
27% despite note ban
By ET Bureau | Updated: Dec 03, 2016, 12.43 AM
IST
|
|
The area under pulses, oilseeds and wheat increased from a year earlier, that with coarse cereals and rice fell.
Water levels in key reservoirs were also higher than last year, according to the Central Water Commission that monitors 91 major reservoirs in the country. The reservoirs held 102.841 billion cubic metres of water, 26% more than at the same time last year, suggesting better availability for winter crops. However, the level was 2% less than the 10-year average. Wheat planting has fallen in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, but increased in Rajasthan and Bihar, the ministry said.
Planting increased largely in gram (chana), lentil (masoor) and field pea (lobia) pulses, while that in kulthi, urad bean and moong bean fell. Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Haryana have reported a fall in area under pulses.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/sowing-of-rabi-crops-rises-27-despite
Soldiers,
cops to get rice subsidy
(The Philippine Star) | Updated January 1, 2017 - 12:00am
Congress has included funds for the
subsidy in the P3.35-trillion 2017 national budget, which President Duterte
signed Thursday last week. File photo
MANILA, Philippines – Soldiers, policemen, jail guards and firemen
will finally get a regular monthly rice subsidy starting this
month. Congress has included funds for
the subsidy in the P3.35-trillion 2017 national budget, which President Duterte
signed Thursday last week.Under special provisions in the appropriations of
concerned agencies of the Department of National Defense (DND) and Department
of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the rice incentive “shall be given
in the form of cash allowance equivalent to 20 kilos per month.”The provisions
ban the distribution of “rice, rice voucher and/or its equivalent.”Lawmakers
imposed the ban apparently to avoid corruption in the procurement of rice or
rice vouchers.The rice allowance is chargeable against the agencies’
maintenance and other operating funds.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/01/01/1658526/soldiers-cops-get-rice-subsidy
U.S. rice exports to Colombia slide in 2016
January 3, 2017 - by Eric
Schroeder
Decline reflects strong U.S. dollar and larger Colombian domestic
production.
WASHINGTON, D.C.,
U.S. — U.S. rice exports to Colombia declined 66% in 2016, reflecting a strong
U.S. dollar, larger Colombian domestic production, and increased competition
from Mercosur and other cheaper markets, according to a Dec. 21 report from the
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service.
The decline in exports dropped Colombia to the ninth largest market for U.S. rice exports, down from the fourth largest market in 2015, the USDA said.“Colombian rice imports vary in direct correlation to the quality and quantity of its domestic rice crop, which increased in 2016 thanks to high local prices and government incentives,” the USDA noted in the report. “In the first semester of 2016, Colombia imported rice for the first time from Uruguay and Paraguay after granting phyto-sanitary access to Mercosur countries at the end of 2015.”
Rice is one of the key basic staple foods in Colombia, with per capita consumption of about 40 kilograms (80 pounds). The country only is able to supply about 10 months of its consumption needs through locally grown rice, though, forcing the country to look to outside sources for the grain.
As domestic prices for rice have increased, so too has domestic production, according to the USDA. In 2015, average grower prices increased by more than 32% over 2014, which prompted rice growers to enlarge dry-land rice area planted for the 2015-16 growing seasons.
According to the Colombian Rice Growers Federation (Fedearroz), over the past two years the area planted expanded by 177,000 hectares, resulting in a forecast 2016 production of 2.5 million tons, 32.3% higher than last five year average production, the USDA noted.
“Although the rice area planted increased, the El Niño drought phenomena slightly affected production in 2015 and pushed the first planting season of 2016 to the end of February/early March resulting in a late main harvest for 2016,” the USDA said. “Difficult weather conditions affected not only rice but other agricultural products, resulting in problematic food supplies, increased consumer prices and a higher inflation rate.” http://www.world-grain.com/articles/news_home/
The decline in exports dropped Colombia to the ninth largest market for U.S. rice exports, down from the fourth largest market in 2015, the USDA said.“Colombian rice imports vary in direct correlation to the quality and quantity of its domestic rice crop, which increased in 2016 thanks to high local prices and government incentives,” the USDA noted in the report. “In the first semester of 2016, Colombia imported rice for the first time from Uruguay and Paraguay after granting phyto-sanitary access to Mercosur countries at the end of 2015.”
Rice is one of the key basic staple foods in Colombia, with per capita consumption of about 40 kilograms (80 pounds). The country only is able to supply about 10 months of its consumption needs through locally grown rice, though, forcing the country to look to outside sources for the grain.
As domestic prices for rice have increased, so too has domestic production, according to the USDA. In 2015, average grower prices increased by more than 32% over 2014, which prompted rice growers to enlarge dry-land rice area planted for the 2015-16 growing seasons.
According to the Colombian Rice Growers Federation (Fedearroz), over the past two years the area planted expanded by 177,000 hectares, resulting in a forecast 2016 production of 2.5 million tons, 32.3% higher than last five year average production, the USDA noted.
“Although the rice area planted increased, the El Niño drought phenomena slightly affected production in 2015 and pushed the first planting season of 2016 to the end of February/early March resulting in a late main harvest for 2016,” the USDA said. “Difficult weather conditions affected not only rice but other agricultural products, resulting in problematic food supplies, increased consumer prices and a higher inflation rate.” http://www.world-grain.com/articles/news_home/
World_Grain_News/2017/01/US_rice_exports_to_Colombia_sl.aspx?ID=%7B7E0E363B-3ED1-42CB-92E0-75A6C019A962%7D&cck=1
Controlled price for imported rice
Wednesday, January 4, 2017 -
01:00
A Cabinet decision was taken to impose
a control price on imported rice, Rural Economic Affairs Minister P. Harrison
said.The government is to import rice to counter the escalation in rice prices
within the last few months. “The government is planing to import both Samba and
Nadu rice stocks,” Minister Harrison said at a media briefing at the ministry
yesterday.He also said that the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) has 73,901 metric
tons of white nadu, 68,875 metric tons of red nadu, 5,045 metric tons of white
samba, 5,068 metric tons of red samba and 5,945 metric tons of kiri samba in
its possession.
Minister Harrison said President
Maithripala Sirisena along with the Cabinet was planning to impose a fixed rice
price to counter the future price hikes in rice and paddy market, as well.“President
Sirisena has appointed a Cabinet sub-committee headed by Minister Dr. Sarath
Amunugama to draw up a procedure to reduce the rice prices. I am a member of
that sub committee as well,” Minister Harrison said.The minister said the
importing of rice will take place within the next two weeks. “SATHOSA has
already called for a tender in this regard. The tender is open to all qualified
bidders. We are ready to take a decision by today,” Minister Harrison said.
Harrison said as imported rice come
into the market with a fixed price, the rice prices are expected to go down.He
said the government was planing to release the imported rice to the market
through SATHOSA.Large scale mill owners are to be held responsible for the
rice-mafia operating in the country, Minister Harrison said.“The PMB issued
about 52,000 metric tons of paddy to small scale mill owners. Not all have
returned the rice after milling to SATHOSA. It has been reported that some have
sold paddy stocks for a higher price. We are taking legal steps against such
mill owners,” Harrison said.Asked on the accusation directed at him, Minister
Harrison said that he is ready to resign if anyone could prove that he has
taken commissions from mill owners.
“Now there are all crime and
corruption fighting institutes such as the FCID, the CID and the Police. If any
single mill owner should testify against me, and if I am to be convicted of
corruption, I am ready not only to step down from my post but to give up my MP
post as well.”Minister Harrison also said President Maithripala Sirisena unlike
the former President does not extend favours for his siblings’ businesses.“President
Sirisena has never demanded me or my Secretary to favour his siblings.
President Sirisena always abides by the vision of a Yahapalana government
directing us to distribute the paddy stocks fairly and transparently,” Harrison
said.
Asked on the allegation that the
PMB has granted a paddy tender to a Katharagama Basnayaka Nilame who does not
own a rice mill, Minister Harrison said that such transactions were immediately
terminated.“I can assure the PMB has not issued paddy to persons who do not own
mills. There were certain instances where such issuing has taken place. We have
immediately terminated such transactions,” he said.Asked on the allegation that
rice stocks are stashed to cause a price hike, Minister Harrison said that it
is the responsibility of the Consumer Affairs Authority to look into the
matter.“After inspecting if such stashing has taken place, the Consumer Affairs
Authority should make a complain in this regard to us,” he said.Minister
Harrison also said that they are to settle all loans taken by the PMB, within
President Sirisena’s term of office by the end of 2017.He said the PMB had
debts running into Rs. 7,000 million taken by the previous regime
http://dailynews.lk/2017/01/04/local/103765
Sri Lanka: President Brother Dudly kicked the asses of poor by
playing rice monopoly
|
Jan 4, 2017
Sirisena recently claimed that
had paddy stocks in the state-owned godowns been released properly to rice mill
owners, the country wouldn’t have faced the present rice shortage. Sirisena
alleged that paddy stocks had been released to middlemen. He blamed Minister
Harrison for selling a kilo of paddy at Rs. 43.65 a kilo to middlemen who
re-sold it at Rs. 55 a kilo to millers thereby making a huge profit.Minister
Harrison said that he hadn’t taken money from millers or middlemen or sought
profits at the expense of the people.The UNPer said that Dudley Sirisena had
received the lion’s share of paddy stocks held by the government on the basis
of the highest price quoted by his enterprise. The Minister said that Sirisena
had obtained 17,000 MT of paddy
http://www.slguardian.org/2017/01/sri-lanka-president-brother-dudly-kicked-the-asses-of-poor-by-playing-rice-monopoly/
Price control
on imported rice: Harrison
2017-01-03 15:31:56
The Cabinet has decided to impose
a price control on imported rice to prevent the price of rice from
sky-rocketting, Rural Economic Affairs Minister P. Harrison said today.“President
Maithripala Sirisena and the Cabinet will decide on the price of imported
rice,” he said adding that stocks of imported rice would arrive in the country
within two weeks on tenders selected by Sathosa.The minister said it was
decided to import rice after several local rice millers failed to supply rice
to Sathosa.“Nearly 138 rice millers had been issued stocks of paddy and hand
over the rice to Sathosa. But only 28 millers had done so. Others have sold
their rice to the private sector and as such have been blacklisted and cases
filed against them,” the minister said. “President Maithripala Sirisena plays
no part in the family-run company and in no way nurtures his brothers, unlike
what the previous government did,” he said.The minister said rice mill owners
were behind the rice mafia in the country and are attempting to gain a huge
profit through the rice market.He said the largest stock of 17,000 metric tons
of paddy was released to Araliya Rice Mills proprietor Dudley Sirisena because
he had made the highest bid. (Chaturanga Pradeep)
Video by Janaka
http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Price-cap-on-rice-imports-Minister-121599.html
Millers call for VAT exemption on
rice imports
THE Grain Millers’ Association of
Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has called on the government to reconsider its decision to
impose value-added tax (VAT) on imported rice, saying it will affect the
country’s nutritional needs and affect companies that had invested in
repackaging of the commodity.GMAZ chairperson, Tafadzwa Musarara recently wrote
to Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa asking for the extension of VAT exemption
that was brought by Statutory Instrument 9 of 2016, arguing that a tax will
force an increase in the cost of the product to the consumers.
“An increase in price will regrettably trigger a decline in
demand of about 40% from the 200 000 metric tonnes consumed annually. The
current consumption levels account for over 10 000 jobs of direct and indirect
employees, who will undoubtedly be severely affected,” he wrote. “Companies in the pre-packaging
industries have invested more than $8 million in retooling in the past six
years and a decline in consumption of rice will be unviable to investment.”GMAZ
said it was not consulted about the reintroduction of VAT on rice imports,
arguing its continued importation did not harm any farmers, as there is no rice
production in the country.
“The industry was not consulted on this particular matter.
Further, there is no rice farming in Zimbabwe that is being prejudiced by the
importation of rice and continued suspension of VAT on rice causes no harm to
our economy,” the letter further read.The association noted that rice has grown
to become the second staple food after maize, considering that the publics that
consume rice includes boarding schools, tertiary institutions, work canteens,
restaurants and several households
https://www.newsday.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Tafadzwa-Musararaa.gif
Specialty rice
program approaches release of two aromatic lines
By Ryan McGeeney, U of A System
Division of Agriculture
The Division of Ag's Rice
Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart, Arkansas, is at the forefront of
agricultural research. (U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture courtesy
photo by Kevin Quinn.).
of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s specialty rice
program, seated in the Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart, is
planning to release two varieties of aromatic rice in the coming years, researchers
said this month.
Debra Ahrent Wisdom, a program and research associate for the
Division of Agriculture in Stuttgart, said two jasmine-type aromatic rices,
currently known simply as AR-1105 and AR-1102, are scheduled to be released in
2017 and 2018, respectively.
“These are really the first lines we’ve released through the
specialty rice program,” Ahrent Wisdom said. “We determined there was a demand
for these aromatics through conversations with growers, millers and marketers,
and also by simply looking at rice imports across the country.”Ahrent Wisdom
said that while the United States (and Arkansas in particular) doesn’t
typically import much long- or medium-grain rice, imports of aromatics such as
jasmine and basmati are strong.“There’s an interest among consumers for
aromatic rice,” she said, noting that immigrants and foreign nationals,
particularly from Asian counties such as India and Thailand, overwhelmingly
prefer the rice grown in their countries of origin.
“We can’t grow the varieties they grow in Thailand and India,
because of the photo period sensitivities,” Ahrent Wisdom said. “We can’t just
say, ‘send us some seed and we’ll grow it here.’ It doesn’t work that way.
There’s something about the environment in Thailand and India that makes those
aromatic lines just pop. And it’s not everywhere in those countries—it’s just
certain pockets where the soil and the environment just works.“We don’t happen
to have that particular environment here—so we work around the environment we
have,” she said.
Ahrent Wisdom said both of the new varieties claim Jazzman, a
jasmine aromatic line originally developed by Louisiana State University, as a
parent. In three years of test trials, AR-1105 and AR-1102 have averaged yields
of 170 and 150 bushels per acre, respectively. While the yields aren’t
comparable to most long-grain rice varieties, the numbers represent a strong
showing among aromatics, she said.Jarrod Hardke, Extension rice agronomist for
the Division of Agriculture, said specialty rice like Ahrent Wisdom’s aromatic
lines make up less than 1 percent of overall rice production in Arkansas, the
leading rice state in the country. Nevertheless, producers are always looking
for an edge in marketing opportunities, he said.
“Our growers do want some investment,” Hardke said. “Any kind of
value-added product, anything we can find a fit for, at a premium, and can grow
and sell, that’s great. But to date, specialty rice markets are still pretty
small.”
Karen Moldenhauer, a professor of Crop, Soil and Environmental
Science for the Division of Agriculture in Stuttgart, said the RREC has been
working with aromatic varieties for more than a decade, although the specialty
didn’t become a focus of the program’s research until Ahrent Wisdom transferred
from Fayetteville to Stuttgart in 2009.
Moldenhauer said that since the Division of Agriculture’s rice
breeding program was established in 1931, it has released about 45 lines of
rice, only one of which has been an aromatic.Glen Bathke, assistant director of
the RREC, said that the specialty rice program’s pursuit of unusual lines
provides an avenue for growers to find new markets in which to pursue revenues.
To learn more about the Division of Agriculture’s specialty rice
program, rice breeding program or the Rice Research and Extension Center, visit https://aaes.uark.edu/research-locations/rice.aspx.
http://www.hpj.com/crops/specialty-rice-program-approaches-release-of-two-aromatic-lines/article_60346c6e-0023-59e3-85aa-aef4ea01defe.html
Arkansas
Agriculture Hall of Fame to Induct Five
Mark Simmons (Northwest Arkansas Council)
The Arkansas Farm Bureau on Tuesday announced five people who
will be inducted into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame at its 29th annual luncheon, set for 11:30 a.m. March 3 at
Little Rock's Embassy Suites Hotel.The newest class includes forester Allen
Bedell of Hot Springs, former state Sen. Neely Cassady of Nashville, rice
farmer Gary Sebree of Stuttgart, poultry company executive Mark Simmons of
Siloam Springs and the late Bobby Wells, a plant breeder who developed many
varieties of rice that have positively impacted Arkansas farmers.
The new inductees will bring to 158 the number of those honored
by the hall of fame.Bedell was a long-time forester for Georgia-Pacific in
Fordyce and owned whole-tree chipping operations Circle B. Logging and Quality
Stand Density Control Inc. He is a former chairman of the Arkansas Forestry
Commission, a past president of the Arkansas Forestry Association, an organizer
of the Arkansas Timber Producers Association, serves as the forestry
representative on the Arkansas Department of Agriculture board and helped start
the Log a Load For Kids program.
Cassady took over his father’s hatchery at the age of 18 and
expanded it into a vertically integrated poultry company. He built and sold two
companies that are now part of Pilgrim’s and Tyson Foods. He was elected to the
Arkansas Senate in 1982 and served for 14 years. Cassady was president of the
Arkansas Poultry Federation, served on the Tyson Foods Board of Directors and
was a long-time member of the Central Baptist College Board of Trustees.
Sebree, a third-generation rice farmer, spent 43 years as a
farmer representative on the Producers Rice Mill board of directors, 24 of
those as chairman. USA Rice presented the 2016 Rice Lifetime Achievement Award
to him. He was on the first Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board,
chairman of the USA Rice Producers Group and chairman of the USA Rice
Federation.Simmons has been chairman of the board for Simmons Foods since 1987
and was named president in 1974, following the death of his father. The
company has grown from a single plant with roughly $20 million in sales and 350
employees to approximately $1.4 billion in sales and nearly 6,000 employees in
more than 20 facilities. He was also a founding member of the Northwest
Arkansas Council, serves on the board of trustees at John Brown University and
is a board member of the Walton Family Charitable Support Trust.
Wells was a world-renowned expert on rice production, with
special emphasis on rice nutrition and soil fertility. After receiving his
Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas in 1964, he worked for two years as an
assistant professor at Murray State University in Kentucky. Wells then spent 16
years at UA’s Rice Research Station in Stuttgart before moving to the
Fayetteville campus in 1982. He received numerous education and research
awards. Wells passed away on Dec. 22, 1996
http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/114837/arkansas-agriculture-hall-of-fame-to-induct-five#
Five to be inducted into Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame
Wednesday:Posted at 12:01 AM
By Arkansas News
Bureau
LITTLE
ROCK - Five people whose leadership and service have brought distinction to the
state's largest industry will be inducted into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of
Fame in March, the Arkansas Farm Bureau said Tuesday.
The
newest class of honorees includes forester Allen Bedell of Hot Springs, former
state Sen. Neely Cassady of Nashville, rice farmer Gary Sebree of Stuttgart,
poultry company executive Mark Simmons of Siloam Springs and the late Bobby
Wells, who was a plant breeder.
The
five will be honored at the 29th annual Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame
induction luncheon March 3 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Little Rock.
Bedell
was a longtime forester for Georgia-Pacific in Fordyce and owned two whole-tree
chipping operations, Circle B Logging and Quality Stand Density Control. He is
a former chairman of the Arkansas Forestry Commission, a past president of the
Arkansas Forestry Association and current forestry representative on the
Arkansas Department of Agriculture board. He has an undergraduate degree in
forestry from Louisiana State University and a master's degree in forest
management from Yale.
Cassady
took over his father's hatchery at the age of 18. He built and sold two poultry
companies that continue today as part of Pilgrim's and Tyson Foods. He was
elected to the Arkansas Senate in 1982 and served the people of southwest
Arkansas for 14 years. He is a former president of the Arkansas Poultry
Federation, a former member of the Tyson Foods board of directors and a
longtime member of Central Baptist College board of trustees.
Sebree,
a third-generation rice farmer, spent 43 years as a farmer representative on
the Producers Rice Mill board of directors, 24 of those as chairman. He was on
the first Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board and served as chairman of
the USA Rice Producers Group and the USA Rice Federation. He attended Hendrix
College majoring in chemistry/pre-med, but had to leave due to tuberculosis,
leading to his life's work on the farm.
Simmons
has been chairman of the board of Simmons Foods since 1987. He first joined the
family business in 1968 after graduating from the University of Arkansas. He
was named president in 1974, following the death of his father. He was a
founding member of the Northwest Arkansas Council, serves on the board of
trustees at John Brown University, and is a board member of the Walton Family
Charitable Support Trust.
Wells,
who died in 1996, was a world-renowned expert on rice production and worked
closely with others in the rice cultivation improvement program in Arkansas and
adjoining states. After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas in
1964, he worked for two years as an assistant professor at Murray State
University in Kentucky. He then came to UA's Rice Research Station in
Stuttgart, where he spent 16 years before moving to the Fayetteville campus in
1982.
http://www.swtimes.com/news/20170104/five-to-be-inducted-into-arkansas-agriculture-hall-of-fame
Basmati rice
stocks rally; LT Foods, KRBL hit 52-week high
|
Basmati rice stocks gain; Kohinoor Foods, LT Foods up over 5%LT
Foods rallies on acquisition of 817 Elephant rice brandLand routes opened for
basmati exports to Bangladesh, NepalRice scrips gain as China opens
marketHeritage Foods hits record high; stock zooms over 70% in two months.Shares
of basmati rice producers rallied by up to 15% on the BSE on back of heavy
volumes on expectation of higher realisations despite short-term impact of
demonetisation, due to lower production volume and stable global demand.
LT Foods, KRBL, Kohinoor Foods and Chaman Lal Setia Exports were
up in the range of 5% to 15% on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), as compared to
0.34% decline in the S&P BSE Sensex at 11:26 pm.According to rating agency
ICRA, there has been a steady growth in the domestic market, although
demonitisation should adversely impact the demand in the near term.
With regard to the international demand, Q1 FY2017 has reported
some improvement, resulting in an increase in export realisations; however, the
overall demand scenario has not changed much. The demand in the export market
is expected to witness some pickup in the coming months when a majority of the
export orders are received.This would help the industry, which is currently
reeling under stress, owing to losses suffered in past. There is a likelihood
of an increase in realisations in H2 FY2017 and FY2018 and the players holding
inventory, which had been bought at low prices, are expected to benefit from
this, ICRA said in recent report.
LT Foods, the company engaged in the manufacture and sale of rice
under the brand DAAWAT, has rallied 15% to Rs 331, also its 52-week high on BSE
in intra-day. The trading volumes on the counter jumped more than 10-fold with
a combined 561,135 shares changed hands on the BSE and NSE so far.Chaman Lal
Setia Exports (up 11% at Rs 107) and KRBL (6% at Rs 317) too hit their
respective 52-week highs, while Kohinoor Foods was up nearly 10% to Rs 80 on
the BSE in intra-day trade.
http://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/basmati-rice-stocks-rally-lt-foods-krbl-hit-52-week-high-117010300226_1.html
