10th January,2017 daily global,regional and local rice enews letter

Slowing Rice Export Growth ‘Worrisome’

by Chhorn Phearun | January 9, 2017

An Agriculture Ministry official said on Sunday that slowing growth in Cambodian milled rice exports—increasing just 0.7 percent last year—was the result of outdated policies and was a concerning trend.

“It is a most worrisome figure,” said Hean Vanhan, the ministry’s director of the general directorate of agriculture.

Rice is displayed at a shop near Phnom Penh’s Central Market last year. (Siv Channa/The Cambodia Daily)

“There are many reasons, arising from policy adopted in 2010 and which hasn’t been updated,” he added. “Its target was for 2015, and we’re still complying with that previous policy.”

Cambodia’s year-on-year milled rice exports reached 542,144 tons last year, up from 538,396 tons in 2015, according to a report released by the general directorate on Thursday.

The increase of fewer than 4,000 tons was far smaller than the bumper growth of more than 150,000 tons from 2014 to 2015.

According to the figures, exports to Europe made up 63 percent of the total, while China was the largest single export market at 127,460 tons, or about 24 percent. Exports to China grew more than 6 percent last year.

Mr. Vanhan said a new rice export policy was being formulated by the Supreme National Economic Council, and would take into account the ways the last five-year plan had failed.

He said last year’s drought could not be blamed for the slowing exports, noting that the industry had hit its target of producing 4 million tons of surplus rice. By contrast, exports are still barely over half the 2015 target of 1 million tons.

phearun@cambodiadaily.com

https://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/slowing-rice-export-growthworrisome-123114/

Ministry ditches reserve rice plans

Submitted by Eleven on Mon, 01/09/2017 - 16:17

The Union Minister for Commerce Dr Than Myint has said that the ministry will not buy reserve rice this year, as local rice prices have become stable.

The government usually buys reserve rice from farmers to avoid a drop in local rice production when local rice prices decline. Then, the government resells reserve rice when local rice prices are unstable, stabilising the price. In addition, reserve rice also has the role of distributing rice to the people in case of natural disasters, and private entrepreneurs buy reserve rice after the rice harvest has ended in order to export them.

Thanks to the scheme, local rice prices have become stable, and additionally, it has helped support rice exports and the distribution of rice to ASEAN member countries in the case of emergency.

In 2015-2016 fiscal year, the country had 7.21 million sown acres and produced around 12.20 million metric tonnes.  Till October of the 2016-2017 FY, 7.52 million acres was put under paddy.

http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/local/7345

Sri Lanka govt. decides to reduce tax for imported rice

Author LBO
Posted on January 9, 2017 | Agriculture, In Pictures

(PRESS RELEASE) – The government decides to reduce tax on imported rice with effect from midnight today in order to bring relief to the people who are affected by the current soaring rice prices due to drought.

This decision was taken by the Cabinet sub Committee on cost of living which met today (January 6) at the Ministry of Finance. The Committee was patronaged by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Special Task Force Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Mahinda Amaraweera and Industry and Commerce Minister Rishard Badi udin. The soaring prices of rice in the current market were widely discussed during the meeting.

Accordingly, Customs duty of Rs.50, 15% VAT, 7.5% Port and Airport Levy and 2% Nation Building Tax per kilogram of rice have been removed. However a special commodity levy of Rs.15 per kilogram of imported rice will be imposed instead. This move will be effective from midnight today.

Taxes have been reduced for rice varieties such as Samba, Nadu and Brown raw rice. However, tax reduction is not applicable to imported Basmati.

The Cabinet sub Committee on cost of living has taken this decision as a measure to bring relief to the people. Rice prices have been increased due to the prevailing dry weather in the country. This will simultaneously prevent the unscrupulous traders, who hoarded rice stocks and created an artificial shortage in the market to exploit the consumers.

http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/sri-lanka-govt-decides-to-reduce-tax-for-imported-rice/

Governor to Headline Louisiana Rice State Meeting

By Randy Jemison

JENNINGS, LA -- Governor John Bel Edwards will be the featured speaker at the Louisiana Rice Council (LARC) and the Louisiana Rice Growers Association (LARGA) annual joint membership meeting on February 7. 

The meeting of the state's two largest grower organizations will be held at the Grande Marais Center here, and opens at 4 p.m. with a reception hosted by the Louisiana Rice Political Action Committee and a trade show devoted exclusively to rice-related equipment, technology, products, and services.  The meeting program follows at 5:45 p.m.  Dinner will be served.

"We are greatly honored that the Governor has accepted our invitation," said Michael Fruge, LARGA president who farms in St. Landry Parish.  "Our members are anxious to hear his vision for the state, specifically as it relates to agriculture."

"We are proud of our industry and are excited to have the Governor become more personally acquainted with its stakeholders," said Eric Unkel, a farmer from Allen Parish and LARC president.  The meeting provides an annual report to rice farmers on programs funded by the Louisiana rice promotion check-off as well as timely information on other important issues.

The word of the year last year was "change" and USA Rice staff will discuss what the change in Washington is going to mean for rice.  There also will be reports on domestic and international promotion activities.

Dinner will be provided courtesy of Falcon Rice Mill and Louisiana Rice Mill of Crowley, Farmers Rice Mill of Lake Charles, and Kennedy Rice Mill of Mer Rouge.

USA Rice also will participate in the Northeast Louisiana Rice Growers Association Rice Forum on February 8.  The meeting begins at 9:00 a.m. at the Rayville Civic Center, 817 Louisa Street, Rayville, LA 71269

Ministry ditches reserve rice plans

Submitted by Eleven on Mon, 01/09/2017 - 16:17

The Union Minister for Commerce Dr Than Myint has said that the ministry will not buy reserve rice this year, as local rice prices have become stable.The government usually buys reserve rice from farmers to avoid a drop in local rice production when local rice prices decline. Then, the government resells reserve rice when local rice prices are unstable, stabilising the price. In addition, reserve rice also has the role of distributing rice to the people in case of natural disasters, and private entrepreneurs buy reserve rice after the rice harvest has ended in order to export them.

Thanks to the scheme, local rice prices have become stable, and additionally, it has helped support rice exports and the distribution of rice to ASEAN member countries in the case of emergency.

In 2015-2016 fiscal year, the country had 7.21 million sown acres and produced around 12.20 million metric tonnes.  Till October of the 2016-2017 FY, 7.52 million acres was put under paddy.

http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/local/7345

Rice Prices

as on : 09-01-2017 08:10:14 PM

Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.

	Arrivals			Price
	Current	% change	Season cumulative	Modal	Prev. Modal	Prev.Yr %change
Rice
Gondal(UP)	225.00	-1.32	3201.50	2150	2050	NC
Dibrugarh(ASM)	8.00	14.29	281.30	2250	2250	-
Jeypore(Ori)	7.00	105.88	151.50	4300	4100	4.88
Jeypore(Kotpad)(Ori)	7.00	16.67	147.00	4400	4100	6.02
Mirzapur(UP)	7.00	-22.22	252.50	2015	2000	4.68
North Lakhimpur(ASM)	6.80	13.33	449.10	1900	1900	NC
Chengannur(Ker)	6.50	8.33	140.50	2400	2400	-4.00
Chandoli(UP)	6.00	-14.29	197.00	1990	2000	-
Darjeeling(WB)	3.00	30.43	75.10	2950	2950	-
Bonai(Bonai)(Ori)	1.00	NC	8.60	2500	2500	25.00

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article9467903.ece

Rice Prices

as on : 10-01-2017 01:42:38 PM

Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.

	Arrivals			Price
	Current	% change	Season cumulative	Modal	Prev. Modal	Prev.Yr %change
Rice
Gadarpur(Utr)	420.00	-76.14	48650.00	2238	1805	21.63
Jaunpur(UP)	240.00	-	890.00	2165	-	11.60
Sultanpur(UP)	217.50	-	3159.00	2300	-	6.48
Badayoun(UP)	200.00	-	270.00	2090	-	-
Hardoi(UP)	200.00	-	1554.00	2260	-	-
Baxirhat(WB)	200.00	-	1125.00	2300	-	-
Gondal(UP)	166.00	-26.22	3367.50	2150	2150	NC
Ballia(UP)	160.00	60	1070.00	2130	2130	-
Basti(UP)	102.00	-1.45	795.00	2110	2110	1.93
Siliguri(WB)	95.00	1.06	1300.00	2700	2700	-
Aligarh(UP)	85.00	13.33	1615.00	2550	2560	18.06
Kalipur(WB)	62.00	3.33	2651.00	2200	2200	4.76
Vasai(Mah)	60.00	-	466.00	2740	-	-
Devariya(UP)	55.00	NC	697.00	2065	2055	-
Gazipur(UP)	52.00	30	843.50	2150	2165	13.16
Saharanpur(UP)	50.00	6.38	1493.00	2290	2280	12.81
Dadri(UP)	50.00	-	682.00	2260	-	9.18
Samsi(WB)	50.00	NC	150.00	3200	3200	14.29
Pandua(WB)	48.00	6.67	674.00	2950	2950	22.92
Cachar(ASM)	40.00	-33.33	1450.00	2200	2200	-18.52
Raiganj(WB)	40.00	NC	544.50	2450	2500	-5.77
Chintamani(Kar)	37.00	-	387.00	2200	-	15.79
Jayas(UP)	36.00	-	71.00	1960	-	-
Yusufpur(UP)	35.00	-12.5	420.00	2170	2170	16.04
Beldanga(WB)	32.50	-7.14	1591.00	2400	2425	4.35
Fatehpur(UP)	31.00	-	168.50	2150	-	0.94
Jalpaiguri Sadar(WB)	23.00	4.55	117.00	2500	2500	-9.09
Alipurduar(WB)	20.00	-	140.00	2250	-	-
Giridih(Jha)	18.95	-	242.81	3500	-	-
Falakata(WB)	18.90	-	65.30	2000	-	-
Dhekiajuli(ASM)	18.00	-	318.50	2200	-	15.79
Rampur(UP)	15.00	-	234.00	2500	-	14.42
North Lakhimpur(ASM)	13.20	94.12	462.30	1900	1900	NC
Champadanga(WB)	10.00	-16.67	264.00	2650	2700	10.42
Deogarh(Ori)	9.00	-	126.50	2500	-	NC
Dibrugarh(ASM)	7.00	-12.5	288.30	2250	2250	-
Cherthalai(Ker)	7.00	-12.5	47.50	11600	12350	-
Sheoraphuly(WB)	7.00	-12.5	157.50	2900	2900	16.00
Chengannur(Ker)	6.50	NC	147.00	2400	2400	-4.00
Jeypore(Kotpad)(Ori)	6.00	-14.29	153.00	4400	4400	6.02
Mirzapur(UP)	6.00	-14.29	258.50	2010	2015	4.42
Jeypore(Ori)	5.50	-21.43	157.00	4300	4300	4.88
Uluberia(WB)	4.80	4.35	100.60	2300	2350	-
Melaghar(Tri)	3.00	50	37.50	2350	2450	-2.08
Jahangirabad(UP)	2.50	NC	23.50	2260	2270	-
Bonai(Bonai)(Ori)	2.00	100	10.60	2500	2500	25.00
Kalimpong(WB)	1.40	NC	22.30	2600	2600	8.33
Bangarmau(UP)	0.80	-46.67	86.30	2050	2050	-
Kasipur(WB)	0.80	14.29	11.00	2200	2200	-3.51

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article9470682.ece

Government reduces tax of imported rice with immediate effect

Published inPolitical & Current Affairs

The government has decided to reduce tax on imported rice with effect from Friday midnight to bring relief to the people who are affected by the current soaring rice prices due to the drought.

This decision was taken by the Cabinet Sub Committee on cost of living which met on Friday (January 6) at the Ministry of Finance. The Committee was patronaged by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Special Assignments Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, and Industry and Commerce Minister Rishard Bathiudeen. The soaring prices of rice in the current market was discussed during the meeting.

Accordingly, Customs duty of Rs.50, 15% VAT, 7.5% Port and Airport Levy and 2% Nation Building Tax per kilogram of rice have been removed. However, a special commodity levy of Rs.15 per kilogram of imported rice will be imposed instead. This move will be effective from midnight yesterday.

Taxes have been reduced for rice varieties such as Samba, Nadu and Brown raw rice. However, tax reduction is not applicable to imported Basmati.

The Cabinet Sub Committee on cost of living has taken this decision as a measure to bring relief to the people. Rice prices have increased due to the prevailing dry weather in the country. This will simultaneously prevent the unscrupulous traders, who hoarded rice stocks and created an artificial shortage in the market to exploit the consumers.

http://www.news.lk/news/political-current-affairs/item/15503-government-reduces-tax-of-imported-rice-with-immediate-effect

Bank plans $10 million for rice investment

Cambodian Rice Bank (CRB) plans to invest about $10 million in building a rice silo and a drying kiln in Battambang province, state news agency AKP reported Thursday. Bank chairman Phou Poy said his company would invest about $10 million in the sector this year to tackle lack of grain silos and kilns. “This project has support from private banks and from the government because if we do not have enough drying kilns and rice warehouses, the problems in this sector cannot be solved,” he said. 

CRB plans to create a farming association through contracts with farmers to make their agricultural products more valuable and of a stable market price to avoid the price depreciation through brokers, according to Mr. Poy. He said Cambodia has about 270 mills that could produce rice of export quality. According to a report last year, Cambodia’s Ministry of Economy and Finance sent a draft memorandum of understanding to the Chinese government seeking a loan of about $300 million to build 10 large silos, which could store a total of 1.2 million tons of paddy rice to ensure both millers and exporters could have a continuous supply.

The Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) has been urging the government to build silos for storing paddy rice to boost rice exports. It has also asked for help from the government to provide emergency loans to millers and exporters who are in financial doldrums due to cheaper rice flooding the market from neighboring countries.Hun Lak, vice-president of CRF, said recently that the project to build silos was under the Ministry of Commerce, and the Chongqing Grain Group was responsible for the project study.
 “Chongqing sent their representatives to do a joint study with us for the loan application from the Chinese government.

http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/34011/bank-plans--10-million-for-rice-investment/

Decline in transfers linked to rice prices

Mon, 9 January 2017

Hor Kimsay

International fund transfers to Cambodia through Acleda Bank, which claims to handle a quarter of all inbound fund transfers to the country, decreased slightly last year as a result of lower rice prices, a bank executive said yesterday.
In Channy, president and group managing director of Acleda Bank, said inbound fund transfers, including remittances, declined to $1.52 billion last year, from $1.54 billion in 2015. He said the decrease – which bucked Cambodia’s steady 7 percent GDP growth – was largely due to the lower value of international trade in agricultural products, particularly rice.
“Total fund transfers for international trade in the industrial sector in 2016 increased as usual, but the value of rice transactions declined noticeably,” he said.
The decline in fund transfers to Cambodia through Acleda Bank reflected a slowdown in the growth of rice exports last year, while the commodity’s price fell. Government data showed Cambodian rice exports grew by just 0.7 percent last year to 542,144 tonnes, while prices declined between 5 to 18 percent compared to 2015.
Hun Lak, vice president of the Cambodia Rice Federation, confirmed that falling rice prices cut into both the profit and revenue of rice exports last year, denting overall trade value.
“Though we maintained the same quantity of rice exports last year, the value declined noticeably and lowered our profit margin,” he said, adding that this was a global issue affecting all rice-exporting countries.
Soeng Sophary, spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce, said while Acleda Bank was the country’s largest bank for international fund transfers, its figures should not be taken to represent the trend of the country as a whole. She suspects that total inbound fund transfers from abroad increased last year, though much of it was conducted in cash.
“The figure of money transfer via banks is not 100 percent reflective of the real situation in Cambodia because our traders along border are not fully using banking services yet,” she said, adding that commercial activities in the agricultural sector typically occur along the border with traders using cash.
A Ministry of Commerce annual report released late last month estimated that Cambodia’s total exports reached $9.86 billion in 2016, up 3 percent compared to 2015

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/decline-transfers-linked-rice-prices

Government reduces tax of imported rice with immediate effect

Published in Political & Current Affairs

The government has decided to reduce tax on imported rice with effect from Friday midnight to bring relief to the people who are affected by the current soaring rice prices due to the drought.
This decision was taken by the Cabinet Sub Committee on cost of living which met on Friday (January 6) at the Ministry of Finance. The Committee was patronaged by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Special Assignments Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, and Industry and Commerce Minister Rishard Bathiudeen. The soaring prices of rice in the current market was discussed during the meeting.

Accordingly, Customs duty of Rs.50, 15% VAT, 7.5% Port and Airport Levy and 2% Nation Building Tax per kilogram of rice have been removed. However, a special commodity levy of Rs.15 per kilogram of imported rice will be imposed instead. This move will be effective from midnight yesterday.

Taxes have been reduced for rice varieties such as Samba, Nadu and Brown raw rice. However, tax reduction is not applicable to imported Basmati.

The Cabinet Sub Committee on cost of living has taken this decision as a measure to bring relief to the people. Rice prices have increased due to the prevailing dry weather in the country. This will simultaneously prevent the unscrupulous traders, who hoarded rice stocks and created an artificial shortage in the market to exploit the consumers

http://www.news.lk/news/political-current-affairs/item/15503-government-reduces-tax-of-imported-rice-with-immediate-effect

Rice output cuts, export boost on agenda

•           9 Jan 2017 at 18:50 2,037

•           WRITER: REUTERS

The government will aim again to cut rice production this year while also increasing exports, an official said on Monday.The country failed in its attempt to get farmers to grow less in 2016 despite weak prices. It still holds a stockpile of eight million tonnes resulting from a previous government's subsidy scheme.

Thailand will target paddy rice production of 25 million to 26 million tonnes for 2017/18, Wiboonlasana Ruamraksa, the commerce ministry's permanent secretary told reporters after a meeting of the government's rice management committee.The country produced about 30 million tonnes of rice in the last crop year.

"The government seeks to reduce rice-growing areas," Ms Wiboonlasana told reporters.She said Thailand wanted to increase exports to 10 million tonnes, from 9.63 million tonnes in 2016, when it was second only to India.The agriculture ministry would be in charge of drawing up this year's rice production plan, Ms Wiboonlasana said.

Thailand announced a similar goal of curbing production at 27 million tonnes last year, but failed to get farmers to grow less rice and turn to other crops.Prices of Thai benchmark 5% broken rice are close to where they were nine years ago. The grain was quoted at $360-$365 per tonne, FOB basis, on Monday.Ms Wiboonlasana said the government will start auctioning rice in state stockpiles to private companies shortly. It held its last auction in August.

The stockpile was built up under the previous government of Yingluck Shinawatra, which spent billions of dollars to subsidise farmers. That elected government was ousted by the army in 2014.

The junta has said it plans to clear the stocks by the end of this year.

Fears mount as Yom's water levels drop

• 8 Jan 2017 at 07:22 6,000 viewed3 comments
• NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS | WRITER: CHUDET SIHAWONG AND SITTHIPOJ KEBUI

Rice farmers and irrigation officials have become gravely concerned over a drought that looks set to hit farmland in the North and upper Central regions, following a decrease in water levels in the Yom River and some other natural water sources.

Parts of the Yom River that run through Phichit have begun to dry up, said Chaeo Intharasun, a rice farmer in tambon Rang Nok in the province's Sam Ngam district, who expects that the difficult situation will become clearer after January when people can walk across some parched sections of the river.
The Yom, originating from mountains in Phayao and Phrae, is one of five major rivers in the North that flow into the Chao Phraya River.
Making matters worse, a section of the Chao Phraya in front of Wat Wongphat, a riverside temple in Ang Thong's Chai Yo district, reportedly prompted concern when a sandbar in the middle of the river was observed.
Ms Chaeo said that farmers in her neighbourhood have no choice but to continue to drain water from the Yom at full speed.
"I hear pumping noises everywhere I go in the rice field," she said.
Phichit irrigation officials are using three weirs to keep water for later use. Each of them can draw between three and four million cubic metres from the river.
However, it is apparent the amount of water is limited while there are large numbers of farmers who rely on the irrigation system, the officials said.
They suggest that rice farmers change their crops, turning to plants which demand less water, or otherwise dig artesian wells or ponds in their fields that will be their "only way out" for growing rice off the rainy season.
Rice farmers in Chai Nat's Manorom district believe a change to other crops is only a good idea on paper as practically all new plants fail to improve their living conditions.
One farmer said that farmers have tried planting maize for use as animal feed and some beans but they were not suitable for the local soil, making it not worth the investment.
Also, he said, there were no markets to ensure the farmers their produce would be bought.
So many families have been forced to grow rice though they have to "risk facing drought and low rice prices", he said.
The situation is also difficult for farmers in Ang Thong's Chaiyo district. Many have begun to face some degree of water scarcity.
"What farmers fear is that the drought is coming unusually sooner," said Sane Misap, who has rented 40 rai for rice cropping.

Rice sowing down by 39 pc in TN due to poor NE monsoon

 

January 8, 2017 | UPDATED 16:15 IST

New Delhi, Jan 8 (PTI) Area sown to rice in Tamil Nadu fell by over 39 per cent to 7.18 lakh hectare so far in the 2016-17 rabi season due to poor northeast (NE) monsoon.Sowing of rice and other rabi crops begins from October-November and harvesting starts from April.As per the latest data released by the Union Agriculture Ministry, rice was sown in 7.18 lakh hectare till last week of the current rabi season, down by 39 per cent from 11.82 lakh hectare in the year-ago period.

"Rice coverage has been lower in Tamil Nadu and other southern states because of deficient rains from northeast monsoon," Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Deputy Director General J S Sandhu told PTI.Rainfall was lower by 39 per cent than the normal rainfall and this has affected sowing activity largely in Tamil Nadu, he added.

Sowing of rice in adjoining states, especially Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, too has impacted but not to the extent of Tamil Nadu, Sandhu said.Apart from rice, pulses acreage has also declined to 3.48 lakh hectare till last week of the ongoing rabi season, as against 3.94 lakh hectare in the year-ago period.

Even coarse cereals coverage was lower at 3.55 lakh hectare from 4.23 lakh hectare, while oilseeds acreage was down at 38,000 hectare from 89,000 hectare in the said period.

Total rabi crops were covered an area of 15.08 lakh hectare till last week of this rabi season, which is down by 30 per cent from 21.42 lakh hectare in the year-ago period. PTI CPB LUX ABI JM MVV