Friday, January 13, 2017

تیرہ جنوری ۱۳،۲۰۱۷ ڈیلی رائس ای نیوز لیٹر

Philippines buys 40,000 tonnes of rice from Thailand

JANUARY 12, 2017

– + MANILA – Philippine grains traders have purchased just over 53,000 tonnes of rice from Thailand and Vietnam in recent weeks, looking to boost supply in the wake of typhoons that destroyed local crops in the last quarter of 2016, the government said on Thursday. The shipments, comprising 41,464 tonnes from Thailand and 11,580 tonnes from Vietnam, were part of the 90,760 tonnes covered by import permits the state grains agency National Food Authority (NFA) issued before the end of 2016. The NFA is expected to issue more import permits for traders to bring in rice from Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan and India over the next few weeks. Rice stocks in the Philippines, one of the world’s biggest importers of the grain, in December stood at 3.34 million tonnes, covering 98 days of consumption, down 3% from the year before, the country’s statistics agency said.

The NFA has the authority to import another 250,000 tonnes of rice via government-to-government deals, in addition to the 250,000 tonnes it bought in August from Vietnam and Thailand. A decision will be made later this month whether additional purchases should be made sooner rather than later, said Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo, who represents the central bank in the NFA Council, a government panel that approves rice importation. Timely rice importation in 2015 and 2016 helped temper domestic inflation despite crop losses from typhoons, the government has said.

https://www.aseanbreakingnews.com/2017/01/philippines-buys-40000-tonnes-of-rice-from-thailand/

Philippines buys around 50,000 T of rice from Thailand, Vietnam

Thursday, 12 Jan 2017 | 1:34 AM ET

MANILA, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Philippine grains traders have purchased just over 53,000 tonnes of rice from Thailand and Vietnam in recent weeks, looking to boost supply in the wake of typhoons that destroyed local crops in the last quarter of 2016, the government said on Thursday.

The shipments, comprising 41,464 tonnes from Thailand and 11,580 tonnes from Vietnam, were part of the 90,760 tonnes covered by import permits the state grains agency National Food Authority (NFA) issued before the end of 2016.

The NFA is expected to issue more import permits for traders to bring in rice from Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan and India over the next few weeks.

Rice stocks in the Philippines, one of the world's biggest importers of the grain, in December stood at 3.34 million tonnes, covering 98 days of consumption, down 3 percent from the year before, the country's statistics agency said.

The NFA has the authority to import another 250,000 tonnes of rice via government-to-government deals, in addition to the 250,000 tonnes it bought in August from Vietnam and Thailand.

A decision will be made later this month whether additional purchases should be made sooner rather than later, said Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo, who represents the central bank in the NFA Council, a government panel that approves rice importation.

Timely rice importation in 2015 and 2016 helped temper domestic inflation despite crop losses from typhoons, the government has said.

(Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz; Editing by Joseph Radford)

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/12/reuters-america-philippines-buys-around-50000-t-of-rice-from-thailand-vietnam.html

Cambodia exports 540,000 tonnes of rice in 2016

VNA THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2017 - 19:07:00

Phnom Penh (VNA) – Cambodia has exported 540,000 tonnes of rice in 2016, up 0.7 percent from the previous year, but far below the target of one million tonnes set by the Government.Hun Lak, Vice President of the Cambodia Rice Federation, attributed the low volume to difficulties, including lack of financial support and price competition with other regional countries.Besides, low capacity in rice husking, transport and procurement, poor infrastructure and high production cost were reasons behind the country’s low volume of rice exports in two consecutive years.

Although China has doubled the import quota of Cambodia’s rice to 200,000 tonnes, it remains difficult for Cambodia to meet its target of one million tonnes in 2017.Over 70 percent of the population of 15 million people in Cambodia are farmers whose rice cultivation mainly depends on rainwater. Cambodia’s rice-growing area is about three million hectares, accounting for 85 percent of total farming land. Currently 85 private businesses operate in rice export. The country’s rice has been shipped to 65 countries, with China, France and Poland being the major importers.-VNA

http://en.vietnamplus.vn/cambodia-exports-540000-tonnes-of-rice-in-2016/105737.vnp

Rice Prices

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

	Arrivals			Price
	Current	% change	Season cumulative	Modal	Prev. Modal	Prev.Yr %change
Rice
Pilibhit(UP)	4000.00	14.29	91120.00	2245	2245	2.28
Gadarpur(Utr)	2003.00	376.9	50653.00	2098	2238	5.27
Mumbai(Mah)	1794.00	-	6306.00	3800	-	-
Allahabad(UP)	330.00	-13.16	2920.00	2250	2240	14.50
Bazpur(Utr)	327.40	58.51	8981.45	1823	1450	28.74
Gorakhpur(UP)	325.00	-	325.00	2130	-	-
Varanasi(Grain)(UP)	268.50	-	518.50	2135	-	-
Hardoi(UP)	190.00	-5	1744.00	2240	2260	-
Ballia(UP)	170.00	6.25	1240.00	2130	2130	9.23
Azamgarh(UP)	160.00	-3.03	1622.00	2135	2130	2.15
Akbarpur(UP)	140.00	12	952.50	2190	2190	-
Bahraich(UP)	134.00	8.06	1589.00	2215	2220	6.75
Basti(UP)	115.00	12.75	910.00	2115	2110	2.17
Dhing(ASM)	105.00	-12.5	755.00	2100	2000	16.67
Agra(UP)	105.00	-	1315.00	2520	-	16.67
P.O. Uparhali Guwahati(ASM)	94.10	30.69	1702.90	2230	2230	6.19
Aligarh(UP)	90.00	5.88	1705.00	2550	2550	18.06
Thodupuzha(Ker)	70.00	NC	840.00	3000	3000	15.38
Mathura(UP)	62.00	-	257.00	2520	-	17.21
Cachar(ASM)	60.00	50	1510.00	2200	2200	-18.52
Devariya(UP)	55.00	NC	752.00	2055	2065	-
Mainpuri(UP)	55.00	27.91	747.00	2240	2250	10.89
Vasai(Mah)	47.00	-21.67	513.00	2840	2740	-
Saharanpur(UP)	47.00	-6	1540.00	2290	2290	12.25
Dadri(UP)	40.00	-20	722.00	2270	2260	9.66
Gazipur(UP)	33.00	-36.54	876.50	2160	2150	13.09
Balrampur(UP)	32.50	22.64	334.00	2125	2125	-0.70
Auraiya(UP)	30.00	-	94.10	2130	-	-
Lakhimpur(UP)	30.00	-	225.10	2150	-	2.38
Bareilly(UP)	26.00	-18.75	358.20	2270	2275	39.69
Diamond Harbour(South 24-pgs)(WB)	26.00	-	133.00	2000	-	-
Jayas(UP)	25.00	-30.56	96.00	1950	1960	-
Jambusar(Guj)	21.40	-	48.30	2900	-	-
Meerut(UP)	19.00	-	307.00	2385	-	11.45
Divai(UP)	14.00	-	76.00	2280	-	10.68
Rampur(UP)	14.00	-6.67	248.00	2500	2500	13.90
Muradabad(UP)	11.00	37.5	122.00	2325	2310	3.79
Nilagiri(Ori)	10.00	-	132.00	2300	-	-4.17
Banda(UP)	10.00	-37.5	147.50	2220	2200	-
Firozabad(UP)	9.00	-25	73.50	2540	2500	19.81
Khair(UP)	8.00	-20	23.00	2540	2540	17.59
Buland Shahr(UP)	8.00	128.57	79.00	2250	2240	10.29
North Lakhimpur(ASM)	7.80	-40.91	470.10	1900	1900	NC
Chandoli(UP)	7.50	25	204.50	1975	1990	-
Jeypore(Kotpad)(Ori)	7.40	23.33	160.40	4400	4400	6.02
Mirzapur(UP)	7.00	16.67	265.50	1995	2010	4.18
Dibrugarh(ASM)	6.00	-14.29	294.30	2250	2250	-
Chengannur(Ker)	5.50	-15.38	152.50	2400	2400	-4.00
Kalyanpur(Tri)	5.00	-37.5	38.60	2800	2800	-
Jeypore(Ori)	4.90	-10.91	161.90	4400	4300	7.32
Kannauj(UP)	4.80	6.67	24.60	2200	2200	-0.45
Hailakandi(ASM)	4.00	NC	47.00	2200	2200	-18.52
Santir Bazar(Tri)	1.50	-	3.10	2900	-	-
Shillong(Meh)	1.00	66.67	23.60	3700	3700	5.71
Jumpuijala(Tri)	0.90	-	1.90	2800	-	-

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article9475920.ece

Lisa Hanna shares 'plastic' rice experience

Wednesday, January 11, 2017 | 6:15 PM

Lisa Hanna

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Although the panic surrounding the “plastic” rice phenomenon has died down somewhat, former minister of youth and culture and Member of Parliament for South East St Ann Lisa Hanna today took to social media with a 50-second video describing her recent experience with "plastic" rice.In the video, posted to Instagram, Hanna stated that the rice was bought at a “well known bulk place that is more international than local”.“…[I] had started cooking the rice yesterday. It cyaah cook, all we can do is roll it into a ball. We actually thought that the rice was burnt because we left it on the stove,” Hanna explained.

“We even added some coconut milk [to] it [but it] won’t shell. [However], you can roll it, you can bounce it, you can do a number of things with it,” Hanna added.

Obamas To Move Into $6M MansionReuters TV

Men's Shopping Festival 80% Off - Buy Online Cash On DeliveryBlog HeBazar

She described it as being “very, very big as a white grain rice”.

“It’s like candle wax. By the time we finished kneading it we can probably put a wick in there and light it!” Hanna exclaimed, adding that it is crazy.

“Anybody that tell you that it’s still not on the market, check me,” Hanna said.

She also stated that she has submitted samples of the rice for testing.

Reports of “plastic” rice being on the local market surfaced last month after a Television Jamaica newcast showed a woman cooking it. Immediately following the reports of the distribution of “plastic” rice, the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) temporarily ceased the clearance of rice at all ports of entry in order to verify the breach and the mechanisms for moving forward.

The JCA had said that the source of the product could not be located nor could they say if the product had actually hit the shelves of wholesalers and supermarkets.

However, they said samples had been taken from the shelves of supermarkets in Manchester, the parish in which the fake rice was allegedly bought.

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Karl Samuda later said samples of rice tested did not return any adverse findings.

At the same time, the minister said that it is very important that Jamaicans not be denied the staple food. As a result, clearance was allowed for rice imported from Guyana and Suriname.

Jamaica currently imports rice from Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Guyana, Suriname, Thailand, China, Vietnam, and India.

To date, there has been no confirmation from authorities that “plastic” rice is being sold locally

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Lisa-Hanna-shares--plastic--rice-experience

Iran lifts Indian rice import ban

Iran lifted its ban on imports of basmati rice from India, a report said.According to the report in the Economic Times, Iran has lifted its ban on imports of basmati rice from India that had been in place for five months."Basmati rice prices have started increasing as Iran has allowed imports from India," said Angshu Mallick, the chief operating officer at India's Adani Wilmar Company.He added that a formal notification is awaited, but exporters and companies have started getting queries from Iran and some have even started signing contracts.

Iran has been one of the largest importers of Indian basmati rice in recent years. But in 2015-16, 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 the current fiscal year, 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 Iran

http://www.iran-daily.com/News/175562.html

Paddy farmers at the mercy of millers: Cong

THE HANS INDIA | Jan 12,2017 , 02:21 AM IST

Vijayawada: State Congress official spokesperson Kolanukonda Sivaji demanded that the State government provide Minimum Support Price (MSP) to paddy farmers. In a press release here on Wednesday, Sivaji said farmers were being denied MSP in the kharif season and they were at the mercy of rice millers.

Farmers cultivating black gram, tobacco, cotton and maize are losing investments due to failure of government in providing MSP, he pointed out. He alleged that paddy produce of farmers was being rejected at Paddy Purchase Centres for various reasons as there was understanding between Paddy Purchase Centres and millers.

On the other hand, retail prices of rice in open market increasing day by day and traders were fleecing consumers by selling rice at highest rates even as new produce was flowing into the market.

The fate of farmers cultivating commercial crops was not different, he said. Cotton farmers did not get Rs 5,000 per quintal against the fair price Rs 8,000, Sivaji said. He demanded the State government release white paper on the production of paddy and purchase of the same at Paddy Purchase Centres.

http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Andhra-Pradesh/2017-01-12/Paddy-farmers--at-the-mercy-of-millers-Cong/273291

PH seeks early opening of 2017 rice imports under MAV

BY JAMES KONSTANTIN GALVEZ, TMT ON JANUARY 13, 2017BUSINESS

The government is now studying the early opening of what could possibly be the last private sector importation of rice under the minimum access volume this year, the Office of the Cabinet Secretary said on Thursday.Halmen Valdez, undersecretary for the Office of the Cabinet Assistance System, a unit tasked to supervise the
National Food Authority, said the early opening of MAV, among other options, will allow the Philippines to fill its rice requirement before the quantitative restrictions expire in July 2017.

“If there will be a need to import under the MAV scheme, this should be done before June 30. After that, it will be tariff-based restriction,” Valdez told The Manila Times in a telephone interview.“President Rodrigo Duterte has announced that he will honor all international commitments, and MAV is one of those commitments,” she added.

MAV is the minimum volume of farm produce allowed to enter the country at reduced tariff of 35 percent. Shipments outside the scheme carry tariff rates of 40 percent and must be approved by the NFA.The Philippine has set a limit of 805,000 metric tons on rice under the MAV scheme.The interagency National Food Security Committee has determined that there is no urgent need to import additional rice, considering that importations under the 2016 MAV is still ongoing.

“About 600,000 metric tons of rice, through private sector importation, just starting to arrive,” Valdez said.
“Traders have until end of February to complete the arrivals. Only then can we determine the volume that we need should there be additional importation,” she added.The official noted that government-owned warehouses have more than the 15-day mandated rice stock.Valdez, however, said the food security council is scheduled to meet this month to discuss the possible scheme for the next rice importation, including a government-to-government deal.“At present, there is still no need to utilize the remaining 250,000 metric tons under the standby authority. Within this month, the NFSC may already decide whether there is a need to import rice in consideration of the damage sustained from the previous typhoons,” she said.

“It’s a numbers game. We still have to determine whether the G2G will hav e an effect on the financial viability of the NFA, or should we just allow the private sector to import under the 2017 MAV,” she added.According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country has enough rice to last 98 days from the following:

• 49 days in households stocks

• 32 days in commercial warehouses

• 17 days in NFA warehouses

As of December 1, 2016, the total rice inventory was at 3.34 million MT, up 1.11 percent or 3.30 million MT in November but down from 3.44 million MT in December 2015

Validation of importers

Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. said the government is now validating traders for the private sector rice importation scheme to weed out unscrupulous traders and importers from the NFA database.

“The current validation scheme will help the NFA to determine legitimate importers for future importation,” Evasco said.

Evasco noted unscrupulous traders and importers have used farmer cooperatives as dummies under the private sector rice importation scheme to corner the bulk of imports.

“There are also reports that traders have been unloading at port more than what is allowed in their permits,” he said.

Ready for competition

The government is prepared for the lifting of the quantitative restriction on rice next year, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said earlier.

“Understand that if we want to extend [the QR on rice], it should have been two years ago. We are asking for two more years, but this may not pass,” Piñol said, referring to the policy direction of the Cabinet economic cluster.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, NEDA Director General Ernie Pernia and consultant Ciel Habito want to do away with the QR on rice to liberalize trade.

Evasco was also quoted as being in favor of scrapping the NFA.

“While certain quarters have called for the tariffication of the QR, the Department of Agriculture is of the position that it should be extended for at least another two years to allow this Administration’s support programs to firmly take root and set the sector on the proper path of sustained self-sufficiency at competitive levels,” Piñol said.

“Exposing the sector, particularly the small rice farmers, to unbridled international competition from heavily subsidized exporters will cost the country huge social and economic consequences,” he added.

Rice has direct links to food and livelihood security as well as rural development in developing countries like the Philippines.

Unlike other agriculture products, basic staple of Filipinos was not tariffied. Instead, farmers were protected by the quantitative restrictions on imported rice

http://www.manilatimes.net/ph-seeks-early-opening-2017-rice-imports-mav/306678/

Finance Ministry announces new price for rice

Jan 12, 2017

size=0 width="100%" noshade style='color:#545454' align=center>

The Rice Importers Association says that the price of a kilogramme of rice in the local market has dropped by eight rupees.Secretary of the Association Hemaka Fernando said, the government’s decision to allow the import of rice without a tender process, has resulted in the drop in the prices of rice.Meanwhile, the government took steps to reduce the import tax on rice which was Rs.85 per kilogram to 65 rupees from January 6.Accordingly, the new import tax on rice is Rs.15 per kilogramme. The government has also authorised any businessman in the private sector to import rice.Issuing a communique, the Ministry of Finance said that a kilogramme of rice can now be sold to consumers at a price below Rs.76

http://newsfirst.lk/english/2017/01/finance-ministry-announces-new-price-rice/159452

British agency taps IRRI to develop rice seeds

By Jasper Y. Arcalas

JANUARY 12, 2017

The United Kingdom-based Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) has tapped the expertise of Philippine-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) for six projects aiming to develop rice seeds, including the country’s indigenous heirloom rice.

“Several research projects that ensure the long-term sustainable production of rice, one of the world’s most important food crops, received financial support from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council [BBSRC],” the Irri said in a statement.

“The projects cover a wide range of important issues, including rice quality; resource use and photosynthetic efficiency; resilience to pests, diseases and environmental stresses; and novel research tool and technology development,” it added added.

The Newton Fund’s Sustainable Rice Programme will fund the 13 identified projects by the BBSRC, in collaboration with research teams in China, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, according to the Irri. Six of 13 identified projects will be undertaken in collaboration with the Irri.The total funding for the six rice-focused researches is £3.417 million, or around P179.193 million, according to BBSRC.

The amount will fund these projects:

· Molecular characterization and genetic analysis of nutritional components of Philippine indigenous pigmented rice germplasm (£644,834);

· Real-time deployment of pathogen resistance genes in rice (£479,403);

· Enhanced Rice quality for Health (EnRicH) (£493,525); Rhizo-Rice: a novel ideotype for deeper roots and improved drought tolerance (£325,299);

· Developing rice with increased resistance to salinity and drought (£684,773) and climate-ready rice; and

· Optimizing transpiration to protect rice yields under abiotic stresses (£789,275).

“In the context of meeting the global sustainable development goals, it is crucial to accelerate science and explore possible innovations from sharing of resources, data and information,” said Achim Dobermann, Rothamsted Research director and former deputy director general for research at IRRI.BBSRC is one of seven research councils that work together as Research Councils UK and provides a range of funding opportunities to enable individuals and groups to pursue world-class bioscience research, according to the IRRI.In 2015 and 2016, it invested £473 million in bioscience, people and research infrastructure.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/british-agency-taps-irri-to-develop-rice-seeds/

Extesion service fully staffed

Thursday

Posted Jan 12, 2017 at 3:42 PM

Phil Horton was welcomed to the staff in October with the title of Arkansas County Agent - Agriculture. Horton is a native of St. Charles and was formerly employed at the University of Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center, where his main duties involved assisting extension specialists with research and demonstration work in irrigation projects.

By Staff Report / Stuttgart Daily Leader

The University of Arkansas System Cooperative Extension Service in Arkansas County started off the new year with a full staff of agents for the first time in recent years, according to Grant Beckwith, Arkansas County agent and interim staff chair.

Horton is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM). He has already been involved in several agriculture programs in the county and is looking forward to working with local farmers and agriculture consultants in the farming industry.

Horton's wife, Susan, is a special education teacher at DeWitt High School (DHS). They have two children, Drew, who also works with the DeWitt School District, teaching health and physical education along with being the DHS baseball coach and DeWitt Junior High School football coach. Lindsey, their daughter, lives in Memphis with her husband, Jacob Spears, and they are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their first child in April.

Alta Lockley began the new year with a change in responsibilities in the office as well. She took over the position of Arkansas County Agent - 4-H/Family and Consumer Sciences effective Jan. 3.

Lockley has been employed with the extension service since 1985 when she began working as a part-time secretary. In 2003, she added 4-H Program assistant to her title and became a full-time employee dividing her work between 4-H and secretarial duties.

For the past several years she has taken college classes and recently received her bachelor degree in applied science from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.

As the 4-H/FCS agent she will be involved with he 4-H youth programs, along with having responsibility working with Extension Homemakers, Extension GetFit/Strong Women programs and working with county clientele in the areas of health and nutrition, resource management, family relations, clothing, home safety and other areas of interest to individuals and families.

She is married to Johnny Lockley, who is the area manager for CenterPoint Energy. Their family includes daughter, Jena, of DeWitt and son Heath and his wife, Ashtyn, and grandson, Kade, of Marion.

The Arkansas County staff is complete with Beckwith and Onita Watson is the administrative support supervisor.

Beckwith added that they invite everyone to stop by the office to visit or contact them with any questions the public may have at 1009 Liberty Drive in DeWitt or by calling (870) 673-2346 or (870) 946-3231.

RICEPLUS MAGAZINE

Riceplus

Menu-1

Menu-2

Menu-3