Iran terms
Pakistan as 'trusted brother'
April 24, 2017, 3:53 pm
President Hassan Rohani of the Islamic Republic
of Iran has reiterated his country’s unflinching support and friendship to
Pakistan, terming it a “trusted brother”. In a Message received from Iran, he
made these remarks during his meeting with the Speaker National Assembly
SardarAyaz Sadiq and the members of his delegation here in Tehran.
The over one hour meeting with President Rohani
was termed as “President’s special gesture for Pakistan” given the fact that
Presidential elections have been announced in Iran and President Rohani came
specially for this meeting from his critical election campaign.
Speaker SardarAyaz Sadiq stressed Pakistan’s
policy of unity among the Muslim World and assured President Rohani that
Pakistan would never take any step that could go against the interests of the
brotherly country of Iran. “Our region is worst affected by terrorism. We must
pool our resources to jointly curb this menace, which is not only affecting our
progress but also threatening our future generations,” explained Speaker
AyazSadiq.
While referring to the recent news reports on
the brutalities of Indian Forces in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, Speaker asked
Iran to play its role in the early implementation on the United Nations
Security Council Resolutions for the prompt settlement of the Kashmir dispute
as per the wishes of the Kashmiri People. He also thanked the President for
Iran’s continued support to Pakistan on Kashmir issue.
He also stressed on the Iranian President to
turn the fraternal relations between the two neighbouring countries into a
mutually benefiting partnership. The Speaker called for enhancing the trade
volume, which currently stands at a considerably low level of mere USD 500 Million.
“The two countries have immense potential and can help each other in areas like
energy, petroleum products, agriculture, citrus and fruit trade, surgical
equipment and defence,” said AyazSadiq. He laid emphasis on lifting of tariff
and non-tariff barriers on Pakistani products such as rice and citrus.
President Rohani, while agreeing with the
Speaker, stated that the two countries should take benefit of the
complementarities enjoyed by the two countries and forge cooperation where they
can benefit from each-other’s comparative advantage. He showed immense
interest in Iran’s joining the CPEC.
Both sides expressed satisfaction on the
recently concluded banking agreement, which would pave the way for expanded
bilateral trade between the two countries through the banking channels.
The Bilateral Payment agreement (BPA) was signed between Iran and Pakistan last
week in Tehran. The two leaders also took stock of the advancements in the
completion of Iran-Pakistan Gas pipeline. The Speaker informed that from the
Pakistani side, it was taken up on priority as work on Nawabshah-Gawadar
section is in the process, which would then be linked from Gawadar to Iran. The
project was likely to be completed in two years.
President Rohani, on his part, conveyed his
warm wishes to Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif and the people of Pakistan and hoped
that both nations would come further closer in near future. Iranian President
was introduced to the Pakistani delegation comprising MNAs, Mr.Shahbaz Babar,
Mr. Najaf Sial, Mr.Nadeem Abbas Rabhera, Mr.Ali Gohar KhanMehr, Syed Ayaz Ali
Shah Sherazi, Mr.KhyalZamanOrakzai and Saman Sultana Jafari.
Basmati
prices rise on foreign demand
Illustration by Khalida Haq
TO the relief of farmers, the domestic rice market is finally
looking up. The paddy prices (basmati) have risen by almost 50pc over a year —
from Rs1,500 per maund to current Rs2,200 per maund — and are still climbing.
With the cost of production down because of the subsidy package and
the market prices going up, the farmers see some silver lining for the next
season. Since the nursery sowing time starts by the end of April, the country
may see some rise in rice acreage.
And the hope for a better basmati crop has come from China.
Traditionally consumers of coarse varieties, the Chinese have lately started
importing basmati as well. In November 2016, they formally certified 14 Indian
factories for importing the variety.
According to
basmati market watchers, China, with its increasing middle class and changing
dietary habits, is now opting for finer and expensive rice varieties — and
basmati becomes the natural choice
According to the basmati watchers, China, with its increasing
middle class and changing dietary habits, is now opting for finer and expensive
rice varieties — and basmati becomes the natural choice.
However, none of the Pakistani processing factories so far gone
through the certification process. According to market reports, some containers
bringing import items from China are stuffed with the basmati rice on their way
back. The Basmati Growers Association (BGA) recently wrote to the Ministry of
Commerce to take the matter of certification up with the Chinese authorities.
The REAP feels that price improvement has come from two sources: Iran and the
changing pattern of sowing.
Though, coarse rice varieties are still being preferred by the
Chinese, the price of basmati has improved. The recent opening of the Iranian
market, which absorbs over 70pc of total formal and informal exports, has given
a big boost to Pakistan’s domestic market prices.
The other factor is that a new variety (1121), which is also
treated as basmati, though not super basmati, has taken over more than 32pc of
the sowing area, eating directly into the super basmati acreage. With sliding
super basmati production and the rising Iranian demand for it, it is natural
for the price to go up.
The Pakistani basmati has had a tough time recently: exports
dropped by almost 70pc — from 1.2m tonnes to a paltry 400,000 tonnes while the
Indian exports rose simultaneously from 1.2m tonnes to over 4m tonnes.
Pakistan produces world class rice and has a well developed rice
processing industry as proved by its exports to high-end and the most sensitive
markets around the world. However, one of the major weaknesses of Pakistani
basmati has been its brand development.
China, with its massive and relatively easy market, offers a unique
opportunity to develop such brands then spread them across the region.
Published in Dawn, Business & Finance
weekly, April 24th, 2017
Plan
For A Successful Rice Harvest With Modern Irrigation Technology (Apr 24, 2017)
1
• Multiple Inlet
Rice Irrigation offer significant savings in input costs
• Often a required
component for federal financial assistance programs
• Use of gates and
proper hole spacing is key to success
The key to success is often rooted in a solid plan, and experts
with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture are encouraging
Arkansas rice producers to start that plan with the technology known as
Multiple Inlet Rice Irrigation, or MIRI.
Chris Henry, an irrigation engineer and assistant professor with
the Division of Agriculture, said MIRI technology has been around since the
1990’s, and has many benefits.
“MIRI reduces the cold water effect on the first levee, reduces
total water use by 25 percent, allows for the implementation of alternating
wetting and drying, and a faster flood time than the traditional cascade
system,” he said. “Being able to quickly flood up a field is beneficial for
being able to get the flood established for water management as well as weed
control and ensuring fertilizer efficiency.”
Henry said both the Division of Agriculture and Delta Plastics have
programs designed to promote the implementation of MIRI, as well as support
growers throughout the process.
MIRI is a required component of a Natural Resource Conservation
Service, Irrigation Water Management plan, which frequently provides financial
assistance to growers, including those participating in alternating wetting and
drying or carbon credit programs.
MIRI has also been shown to increase yields by five to 10 bushels
per acre over cascade fields.
“All in all, there’s more than $100 an acre available through
incentive programs, yield advantages and pumping cost savings,” Henry said.
Blue gates — the 2.5-inch gates used in poly-pipe to control water
flow — are an essential element to the MIRI system that are sometimes ignored
during the installation process. Properly set levee gates are also key to
optimum performance of a MIRI system.
“Two-and-a-half inch blue gates and a plan are required to use MIRI
successfully,” Henry said. “The blue gates allow for a wide range of flow and
for the irrigator to adjust and balance the flow to each levee, so that the
field floods up evenly.
“Leave the ‘piranha puncher’ in the truck when you are in a flooded
rice field,” he said, referring to the commonly-used hand tool used for
punching small holes in poly-pipe. “It may be chewing through your profit. If holes are punched without any way to
adjust them, then some levees will cascade over the other.”
Effective implementation of MIRI should only have water going over
levee gates when more than an inch of rainfall has occurred, and levee gates
should be set higher than they would be for cascade irrigation, because they
are essentially overflow devices when MIRI is used. Some MIRI irrigators no
longer put in levee gates, instead using a simple overflow, further reducing
cost and labor. When properly executed, MIRI eliminates the in-season chore of
wading through rice fields to adjust levee spills.
A mobile app developed by the Division of Agriculture in 2015, Rice
Irrigation, helps takes the guesswork out of MIRI implementation. Levee files
can quickly be created from aerial maps, uploaded from survey programs, or
uploaded from the tractor GPS monitor to provide an effective MIRI plan on even
the most complicated contour levee fields.
Pipe requirements and blue gate settings are provided and can be
shared easily with other mobile devices. Flow rate for the field is also
needed, but portable flow meters are available for checkout from your local
Cooperative Extension Service office, Conservation District offices, NRCS
offices, and even some irrigation dealers.
Funding to develop the mobile app was provided by the Arkansas Rice
Research and Promotion Board. Assistance using the app is available through
your local Cooperative Extension Service office. Search for “Rice Irrigation”
in the Apple App Store or in the Google play store on android devices.
Source: uaex.edu
Asian farmers reject trials of 'golden
rice,' other crops
Gathering in Philippines accuse genetically modified crops of wreaking havoc among farmers
Farmers and civil society groups from around Asia hold a media
briefing in Manila on April 20 to express concern over the spread of genetically modified crops in the region. (Photo by Robert Gines)
Mark Saludes, Manila
Asia
April 24, 2017
Farmers and civil society groups from around Asia called for an
end to field trials of genetically modified rice or "golden rice" during a gathering in Manila last
week.
"We are deeply concerned about the imminent commercialization
of golden rice and other genetically modified crops,"
said Ana Christina Bibal, project coordinator of Stop Golden Rice Network.
She said genetically modified crops "adversely affect the staple food crop of billions of people
across Asia."
In the Philippines, applications for the field-testing and the
commercial use of "golden rice" are presently awaiting approval by
the Department of Agriculture.
Cristino Panerio of Masipag, a network of peasant groups and
scientists in the Philippines, said "inherent defects" associated
with the modification of the rice has disrupted its native structure.
"The worst thing that could possibly happen is that the trait
can transfer to other rice varieties through cross-contamination once the field
testing is approved," said Panerio.
A study done by the International Rice Research Institute in 2014
revealed that the average yield of "golden rice" was "lower than
that from comparable local varieties already preferred by farmers."
Panerio warned that the introduction of the new rice variety will
"prove disastrous to our already volatile rice production."
Narasimha Reddy Donthi of the Pesticide Action Network in India
said that in recent years Asia has become a "huge market for the
bioscience industry."
She said genetically modified crops "have wreaked havoc among farmers," and has led to
suicides in India after they failed to recover losses in their production of genetically modified cotton.
"Contamination of traditional crops and food systems by under-quality genetically modified seeds are leading to loss of genetic purity, environmental problems, and health concerns," he
said.
In Vietnam, an estimated 1.1 million hectares of land has been
planted with genetically modified corn in 2016, resulting in "massive land use
conversion."
Thi Tran Lanh of the Community Entrepreneur Development Institute
of Vietnam estimated that in 2020 up to 50 percent of Vietnam's agricultural
lands would be planted with genetically modified crops.
The civil society groups called on people around Asia to
"mobilize against genetically modified crops"
and press their governments to act in favor of farmers.
Panerio said it is "high time" for farmers and activist
groups "to strengthen resistance against the increasing corporate control
in agriculture and fight for food sovereignty.
http://www.ucanews.com/news/asian-farmers-reject-trials-of-golden-rice-other-crops/79014
Farm scientists shd encourage youths to take up farming:
Mon,
24 Apr 2017-10:07pm , PTI
Director General of Indian Council of
Agricultural Research (ICAR) Dr Trilochan Mohapatra has called upon farm scientists to
encourage youths to take up farming in large scale.
Speaking at 'Dhaan Diwas', the
foundation day celebration of National Rice Research Institute here today,
Mohapatra, who is also the secretary of Department of
Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), said farm scientists and farm workers of the country are
now determined to fulfil the aspiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in doubling the income of farmers by 2020.
"It is our responsibility to
fulfil the aspiration of our PM by doubling farmers' income in the next three
years," Mohapatra said while addressing a gathering of farm scientists
drawn from several ICAR institutes located in the state and farmers from Odisha, Assam and Jharkhand.
He said despite the challenges of
climate change and weather hazards, productions of crops, milk, poultry, eggs,
fish, vegetables and fruits have increased in the country in 2016-17.
"Most importantly, the country
has been able to export 9 MT of rice, including 4.5 MT of Basmati rice last
year," Mohapatra said.
Cautioning the farm scientists to
remain alert to face the challenges of climate change, he batted for proper
water management in the agriculture sector.
He also stressed on a vibrant value
chain to ensure that minimum support price (MSP) is provided to the farmers.
"Diversification of
agriculture and an industrious approach towards farming are also vital aspects,
which need to be addressed properly for a strong farm economy," Mohapatra
said.
(This article has not been edited
by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-farm-scientists-shd-encourage-youths-to-take-up-farming-2414660
Rice: Global geopolitical uncertainties weigh heavy on
prices
It's difficult to justify planting more rice when the demand
outlook is so dismal.
Global
exporters face historic challenges
(NOTE: See accompanying charts
for look at latest supply and demand fundamentals and technical analysis.)
As “Global Geopolitical
Uncertainties” intensify, global exporters, especially rice exporters, find
themselves facing a historically, post-World War II, unpredictable global
business environment, due to economic, social and political change.
After years of embracing the
globalization model, businesses are now, with an eye on survival, accelerating
the restructuring process to enhance efficiency and profitability given today’s
business realities.
·
It
is difficult to find any market sector not under-going major restructuring,
just a sign of the times.
Why do global
geopolitical uncertainties continue to evolve?
Poor economic performance – global
and domestic – over extended periods of time guarantee to produce social
unrest, evolving “Populists Movements” and political change.
Poor domestic and global economic
performance, in this case, is a function of: chronic slow growth, low to
negative interest rates and building debt, all of which remain domestically and globally problematic.
Leave these forces unchecked, and
a global recession will emerge, which would intensify an array of geopolitical
concerns:
To lessen the ever-present
geopolitical concerns, current governments and central banks globally have an
objective to orchestrate an accelerated move away from:
·
Chronic
low inflation to an aggressive simulative reflation economic setting
·
S.
Central Bank’s monetary accommodation to managing economic activity in a rising
interest rate environment
Subpar global growth for almost a
decade is due, in no small part, to building global debt to sustain expanding
social programs in country after country around the world.
Therefore, what we find is that today’s
populists movements are accelerating a transition:
·
All
countries are increasingly focused on economic, food, energy and homeland
security, especially “food security.”
·
Rice’s
“global food security” importance, as a food grain, used in feeding the world’s
global population is second to none. Globally negotiating rice trade agreements
have their challenges:
·
Some
countries will not even negotiate rice trade agreements due to food security
priorities and concerns and other issues;
·
Even
countries that do negotiate trade deals are not likely to agree to open and
free trade, and;
·
A
country may negotiate a fairly open trade agreement, but challenging economic
times (like today) may limit their level of compliance and enhance their
protectionism.
·
Countries
increasingly embrace
·
Nationalism
·
Protectionism
·
Regionalism
over globalism or the economic and foreign policy planning activities on a
global basis
·
Farm
and business consolidation will continue, until the most efficient or predatory
emerge
·
In
any commercial business sector agricultural or otherwise, notice that the
sector is contracting toward the most efficiency or highly structured.
·
Status
quo or business as usual will likely fail.
World rice
supply exceeds demand
World
rice-Cliff Note version
·
World
rice acreage at 161.5 million hectares is the 2ndhighest on record.
·
World
rice yield at 4.4 metric tons per hectare is consistent with previous four
periods.
·
World
rice rough production at 717.5 million metric tons is the highest on record.
·
World
rice milled production at 481.1 million metric tons is the highest on record.
·
World
trade at 41 million metric tons is the 3rd highest on record.
·
World
rice total use at 479.2 million metric tons is the highest on record.
·
World
rice ending stocks at 118.1 million metric tons are the highest since 2001.
NASS
Prospective Planting Report
1.
S. - Cliff Note version
·
2017
Arkansas long grain rice planted acres estimated at 1,050,000 acres or 25.5 per
cent below 2016; 5-year average 1,150,000; 10-year average 1,202,000; 15-year
average 1,250,000 acres.
·
2017
California long grain rice planted acres estimated at 9,000 acres the same as
2016, 5-year average 7,000, 10-year average 6,800, 15-year average 7,067 acres.
·
2017
Louisiana long grain rice planted acres estimated at 375,000 acres 9.2 percent
below 2016, 5-year average 387,000, 10-year average 405,500, 15-year average
415,467 acres
·
2017
Mississippi long grain rice planted acres estimated at 375,000 acres, 9.2
percent below 2016, 5-year average 156,000, 10-year average 185,000, 15-year average
197,667 acres.
·
2017
Missouri long grain rice planted acres estimated at 200,000 acres, 13 percent
below 2016, 5-year average 194,400, 10 year average 193,200, 15 year average
197,667 acres
·
2017
Texas long grain rice planted acres estimated at 155,000 acres 16.2 percent
below 2016, 5 year average 150,000, 10 year average 158100, 15 year average
165,000 acres
·
2017
United States long grain rice planted acres estimated at 1,909,000 acres, 21
percent below 2016, 5-year average 2,044,400, 10-year average 2,150,600,
15-year average 2,229,267 acres.
Long grain rice Cliff Note version:
·
2016-17
long grain rice production is estimated at 166.5 million cwt, 25 percent above
last year, 5-year average 138 million cwt., and 10-year average 147 million
cwt.
·
2016/17
long grain rice total supply is estimated at 209.7 million cwt, 3rd largest on
record, 16 percent above last year, 5-year average 182 million and 10-year
average 189 million cwt.
·
2016/17
long grain rice domestic and residual use is estimated at 102 million cwt, 3rd
largest on record, 5-year average 91 and 10-year average 94 million cwt.
·
2016/17
long grain rice total exports is estimated at 78 million cwt., 5-year average
70 million cwt., and 10-year average 72.94 million cwt.
·
2016/17
long grain rice total use is estimated at 180 million cwt, 2nd largest on
record, 5-year average 160 million cwt., and 10-year average 166.94 million
cwt.
·
2016/17
long grain rice ending stocks are estimated at 29.7 million cwt, 3rd largest
since 1985, 5-year average 22.3 million cwt., and 10 year average 23.8 million
cwt.
Conclusion: U.S. long grain rice producers
certainly do not need to plant beyond the March 31, 2017 Prospective Planting
Report intentions given fundamentals and no new demand source on the horizon.
Overplanting in a world intently focused on regional rice self-sufficiency and
an array of food security concerns will likely provide huge market challenges
during the 2017 marketing period.
Please view accompanying Rice Slide Show.
Bobby Coats is a professor in the
Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Division of Agriculture,
University of Arkansas System. E-mail: recoats@uark.edu.
http://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/rice-global-geopolitical-uncertainties-weigh-heavy-prices
Rice imports deferred
(The Philippine Star) | Updated
April 24, 2017 - 12:00am
3 128 googleplus1 0
The government has decided to formally defer the
importation of 250,000 metric tons of rice despite the continued insistence of
the National Food Authority (NFA) to buy from international sources. File
MANILA, Philippines - The
government has decided to formally defer the importation of 250,000 metric tons
of rice despite the continued insistence of the National Food Authority (NFA)
to buy from international sources.
NFA administrator Jason Aquino had
been pushing for an immediate government-to-government importation of 250,000
MT of rice despite a projected bumper harvest from local farmers.
But during the NFA Council meeting
last week, members decided not to approve the NFA’s proposal to import the
volume via government-to-government scheme anytime soon.
“We did not receive any approval.
If we did, we would have received the letter saying we can proceed with the
importation,” NFA spokesperson Marietta Ablaza said.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)
deputy governor Diwa Guinigundo warned that a government-to-government
importation may expose the NFA to further indebtedness.
“I think all of us what to make
sure on one hand, the price of rice will be maintained and be stable, while at
the same time avoid exposing the NFA to further indebtedness. We are also
cognizant of the need to avoid getting more rice when you have the so-called
summer harvest coming in,” he said. Guinigundo serves as the BSP governor’s representative to the NFA
Council, which also include the Cabinet Secretary, the NFA administrator,
chairman of the Development Bank of the Philippines, president of the Land Bank
of the Philippines, finance secretary, trade secretary, the National Economic
and Development Authority and a representative of a farmer’s group.
The 250,000 MT of rice is supposed
to serve as the country’s buffer stock in preparation for the onset of the lean
months.
Under the law, the NFA is tasked to
buy the palay produce of local farmers as buffer stock for calamities and other
contingencies.
President Duterte already ordered
the NFA to prioritize rice purchase from local farmers, but the agency
maintained that it can no longer buy more and hit its target following higher
prices offered by private traders.
NFA’s field monitoring shows
traders are buying palay (unhusked rice) from the summer harvest at an average
of P18-P20 per kilogram while the government support price remains at P17 per kg.
The NFA targets to procure 4.6
million bags or about 230,000 MT of palay from local farmers nationwide until
yearend to boost buffer stock and rice distribution requirements.
As of the end first quarter, the
NFA has bought approximately 21 percent of its 2017 procurement target.
The palay-buying for the first
three months of the year is significantly lower by almost 80 percent as it only
bought 134,355 bags compared to the 603,915 bags in 2016 due to higher than
average farm-gate price of palay.
This year, the agency has a
P5-billion budget for the procurement of palay.
The NFA is mandated to maintain a
food security reserve good for at least 15 days at any given time.
By July 1, which marks the onset of
the lean season for rice, the NFA must have at least a 30-day buffer stock to
meet the requirements of victims of calamities and emergencies.
Latest data from the Philippine
Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the country’s rice inventory in March
declined by 19 percent to 2.18 million MT, from 2.67 million MT recorded a year
ago.
The agency reported that total rice
inventory as of March was also five percent lower than the 2.3 million MT
posted in February.
‘Rice stock still sufficient’
But Guinigundo allayed fears of a
possible uptick in rice prices amid the issues that hound the country’s rice
importation, asserting that the country has ample supply until the end of
harvest season.
He said based on data from the PSA,
the country’s rice inventory is still sufficient for 69 days. This rice buffer
would be further augmented by the summer harvest, which will last until June.
“We don’t believe rice prices will
move up in a very significant way,” Guinigundo said during a briefing on the
country’s first quarter 2017 inflation.
Concerns of a possible rice inflation
surfaced as Duterte decided to stop all rice importations in the country.
Officials have also argued over rice import policies, whether to import through
the private sector or through a government-to-government scheme.
Guinigundo said the government also
allows private sector importation through the minimum access volume (MAV)
scheme, which is the country’s commitment to the World Trade Organization while
its quantitative restriction on rice has not been lifted yet.
In terms of the MAV, some of the rice
imported by traders from abroad has not yet entered the country.
“The decision of the council is to
extend (MAV) to end-March 2017. But there were issues because some of the rice
from abroad has not entered yet. Hopefully, this will be resolved soon so additional
supply will be available and that will provide additional support to stability
of rice prices,” he added.
Soc Trang
advised to expand high-yield rice, fruit tree farming
The Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang should expand the
cultivation of high-yield rice varieties and fruit trees of its strength, Prime
Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has told provincial officials.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the working session with
Soc Trang officials on April 23 (Photo: VNA)
At the working session on April 23, he elaborated that each hectare
of green-skin grapefruit and King orange here reportedly generates an economic
value 10 times higher than that of one hectare of rice.
The farming of cattle on a large scale, which is a traditional
practice of local residents, is also an advantage of Soc Trang as the global
demand for beef is big, he said, considering this another measure to reduce
poverty that is still high among ethnic minorities.
He asked the province to strive to become a shrimp production hub of
the Mekong Delta while paying more attention to industrial development to
create more jobs. He also highlighted the need to develop renewable energy –
another advantage of Soc Trang.
Representatives from ministries and central agencies said Soc Trang
has developed many high-yield rice varieties, 10,000 dairy cows, and 40,000
hectares of brackish water surface for shrimp farming – the largest area in
Vietnam.
PM Phuc said as it is one of the three most disadvantaged provinces
in the Mekong Delta, Soc Trang should pay more heed to encouraging start-ups
and improving human resources quality.
The number of businesses here is just one in every 565 people,
compared to the national average of 1/140. While infrastructure hasn’t been
developed well enough, the province ranks 40th among the 63 provinces and
cities in terms of favourable public administrative procedures.
The Government leader suggested Soc Trang capitalise on its own
advantages that cannot be found in other localities amid limited resources. It
should be more active and creative to find out the growth momentum for itself,
instead of waiting for support from the Government.
He promised that more autonomy will be granted to local administration
so that they can design their province’s development plans to fully tap local
potential.
Soc Trang is home to nearly 1.3 million people, about 65.2 percent
of which are Kinh people, another 28.9 percent are Khmer ethnics, and the
remaining 5.9 percent are from the Hoa ethnic group.
In 2016, it attracted 1.13 million tourists, including more than
34,000 foreigners, and recorded 339 new businesses, raising the total number of
enterprises to 2,366. The household poverty rate declined to 15 percent under
the multidimensional poverty criteria.
However, due to severe impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion,
the province suffered total loss of almost 1 trillion VND (44 million USD) last
year, leading to an economic growth rate of 5.22 percent – lower than the
target of 5.62 percent, statistics show.
Also on April 23, PM Phuc visited the Thanh Tin food processing
factory in Soc Trang city and a shrimp farm of the Khanh Sung Co. Ltd in Dai
Tam commune of My Xuyen district.
On April 22, he attended a ceremony marking 25 years since the
re-establishment of Soc Trang province.
USA Rice Delegation Meets with Mexican Rice Council, Kicking Off
Week of Meetings
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- Amidst
heightened rhetoric from the White House about the North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA), a USA Rice delegation of growers, millers, merchants, and
exporters is meeting with officials and customers here to reassure them of the
U.S. industry's commitment to the number-one market for U.S.-grown rice in the
world.
The 12-member delegation is being led by USA Rice Chair Brian King and USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward, and is holding meetings with the Mexican Rice Council (MRC), the leading organization representing Mexican producers and millers, as well as with importers, wholesalers, distributors, and Mexican brand representatives.
"We are pleased and honored to have this opportunity to demonstrate our strong commitment to our loyal customers in Mexico who purchase the lion's share of our exports," said King. "For many years, Mexico has been our top market both in terms of volume and value, and we want to keep it that way."
Delegation members will review and analyze current promotion programs, and meet with customers and U.S. government officials to discuss opportunities to expand U.S. rice sales here. Additionally, the USA Rice group will seek to allay Mexican concerns over difficult trade issues, including the future of NAFTA.
Ward plans to tell her counterpart at MRC, "Make no mistake, to us, NAFTA has been a success on both sides, and we have been steadfastly communicating this to the Trump Administration - 'update what you need to, but do no harm to what works.'"
"I'm looking forward to a week of very productive meetings," said Louisiana rice farmer John Owen, who is a part of the delegation. "It's important that we enhance and build on the strong customer relationships we have here, and I'd like to come away from this week with a mutual understanding that the U.S. and Mexican rice industries are in this together."
Mexico is currently the top destination for U.S. rice, with 825,000 metric tons heading here in 2016. The United States enjoys an almost 90 percent market share, but Ward said trade between the countries could easily become disrupted as the countries trade barbs over various issues.
"We do not want to become a casualty of a broader trade war," Ward said
The 12-member delegation is being led by USA Rice Chair Brian King and USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward, and is holding meetings with the Mexican Rice Council (MRC), the leading organization representing Mexican producers and millers, as well as with importers, wholesalers, distributors, and Mexican brand representatives.
"We are pleased and honored to have this opportunity to demonstrate our strong commitment to our loyal customers in Mexico who purchase the lion's share of our exports," said King. "For many years, Mexico has been our top market both in terms of volume and value, and we want to keep it that way."
Delegation members will review and analyze current promotion programs, and meet with customers and U.S. government officials to discuss opportunities to expand U.S. rice sales here. Additionally, the USA Rice group will seek to allay Mexican concerns over difficult trade issues, including the future of NAFTA.
Ward plans to tell her counterpart at MRC, "Make no mistake, to us, NAFTA has been a success on both sides, and we have been steadfastly communicating this to the Trump Administration - 'update what you need to, but do no harm to what works.'"
"I'm looking forward to a week of very productive meetings," said Louisiana rice farmer John Owen, who is a part of the delegation. "It's important that we enhance and build on the strong customer relationships we have here, and I'd like to come away from this week with a mutual understanding that the U.S. and Mexican rice industries are in this together."
Mexico is currently the top destination for U.S. rice, with 825,000 metric tons heading here in 2016. The United States enjoys an almost 90 percent market share, but Ward said trade between the countries could easily become disrupted as the countries trade barbs over various issues.
"We do not want to become a casualty of a broader trade war," Ward said
Novadrone and Sevilla University research rice crop optimisation
25 April 2017
Novadrone and
Sevilla University researchers are collaborating in a Research and
Development project to help the rice crop industry to optimise rice
production. During two years several flights will be conducted. The
research study has two main objectives.
The first
objective is to compare in real time, satellite captured images with drone
captured images, in the aim to find better correlations between satellite
images and the health of crops.
The second
objective is to analyse nitrogen and health status of plants. Images captured
with an agricultural drone and using PPK (Post-processing Kinematics)
technology, high precision georeferences of the images will be obtained. At the
same time, stem samples are taken at the field to be analysed in the laboratory
and map health of the rice crops and correlate nitrogen levels. Agricultural drone bring benefits to rice
crops optimisation researchers. Rice was first grown in Spain by the Arabs
about the year 800. For many years rice cultivation was confined to a limited
number of rivers and estuarine areas which run into Mediterranean sea. Valencia
was the leading region. In 1860 approximately rice was introduced in Tarragona
in the Ebro river delta and around 1930 rice cultivation spread to
non-Mediterranean regions (Font de Mora, 1939).
Since 1970
Seville, in the Andalucia region, is the leading rice-producing region in the
country. In the last season, the cultivated area of rice in Andalusia stands at
23,687 ha (58,531Acres), with 89% of it concentrated in the province of Seville
and a total production of 208,080 tonnes.
Rice
production in Spain will depend on the capacity of the rice sector to confront
forthcoming challenges stemming from a more competitive environment. Presently,
there are three circumstances which can negatively affect the competitiveness
of Spain rice sector:
a) the
inadequacy of its farm structure;
b) the
scarcity of irrigation water and the potential increase in the price of this
resource; and
c) the
growing restrictions environmental regulations. However, these circumstances do
not affect all rice producing regions equally.
In addition,
both Seville and Extremadura are well suited for growing indica rice in high
demand in Europe. It has the largest farms and it has been the leading region
in introducing indica rice.
Seville has
been the most innovative region in rice farming. However, future developments
in rice production will depend on the capacity of the industry to introduce new
technologies to optimise rice crops.
Because its
greater precision and resolution than the satellite image, its flexibility to
capture images even daily basis and its lower costs, the use of drones and
multispectral sensors is the best tool available today to optimise rice
cultivation.
Find out more
about Novadrone
https://www.suasnews.com/2017/04/novadrone-sevilla-university-research-rice-crop-optimisation/
USDA Estimates 0.4 percent Increase In Bangladesh Rice Production For MY
2017-18
capital market | Mumbai | April 24, 2017
11:50 IST
USDA Estimates 0.4 percent
Increase In Bangladesh Rice Production For MY 2017-18
As per the latest from U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA), Rice production in Bangladesh is expected to increase 0.4% to 34.7
million tonnes in the 2017-18 marketing year, driven by higher yields in the
region, according to an April 13 report from the Foreign Agricultural Service
(FAS) of the Meanwhile, planted area for the country is forecast down 0.3%, to
11.7 million hectares, on lower Boro and Aus rice planted area, the agency
said.
Rice imports for 2017-18
are forecast at 125,000 tonnes, up from 100,000 tonnes in 2016-17, on
expectations of better pricing from regional suppliers, the USDA said.
Bangladesh importers and
rice millers have requested the government of Bangladesh (GOB) reduce import
tariffs to ensure adequate domestic supplies, but the GOB believes domestic
supplies of paddy rice in the wholesale market still are sufficient. Sources
indicate that the spread between high domestic prices and lower international
prices is great enough that importers are still netting profits despite the
high import tariffs. Bangladesh primarily imports rice from China, Thailand,
and India, with India being the largest supplier in recent years
http://www.indiainfoline.com/article/capital-market-commodity-futures-mid-session-commentary/usda-estimates-0-4-percent-increase-in-bangladesh-rice-production-for-my-2017-18-117042400106_1.html
‘No truth to NFA claim of high
palay-buying price’
APRIL 23, 2017
A non-governmental
organization said the National Food Authority (NFA) lied when it said it
was unable to buy paddy rice from local farmers because private traders bought
their crop at a higher price.
Arze G. Glipo, executive director
of Integrated Rural Development Foundation (IRDF), said the NFA “deliberately
rejected” the option of buying palay from local farmers as it was purportedly
decided on importing rice to fill up the country’s buffer stock.
“The government can actually
raise the buffer stock to 15 days, but it opted not to,” Glipo told the
BusinessMirror.
She said farm-gate prices were
relatively high when local farmers have not yet fully harvested all their
crops.
Advertisement
“At first, it was really beyond
the NFA’s price cap of P17,” she noted, “but now, it is reasonably lower.”
Citing the Bicol region, Glipo said farmers there were selling their palay at
P14 per kilogram, which was almost P5 lower than the P18.60 per kilo farm-gate
price the NFA declared last Tuesday.
“Our member-farmers in Central
Luzon told us they were selling their palay at P15 to P16 per kilo,” the IRDF
chief added. Glipo said the NFA is defying President Duterte as it continues to
insist on importing rice to beef up its buffer stock.
Earlier the NFA said it could not
purchase paddy rice from farmers as private traders were buying their crop for
P18 to P20 per kg, higher than its support price of P17 per kg. The NFA cited
data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.
The NFA had warned that sans
importation, it would be hard-pressed to meet the 30-day buffer stock
requirement of the Interagency Legislative Executive Development Advisory
Council during the lean months, which would kick off in July.
The food agency is also required
to maintain a buffer stock equivalent to 15 days of consumption at any given
time
Nagpur
Foodgrain Prices Open- April 18, 2017
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices –
APMC/Open Market-April 18
Nagpur, April 18 (Reuters) –
Major rice varieties reported higher in open market on increasedfestival season
demand from local traders amid weak supply from producing regions like MadhyaPradesh
and Chhattisgar. Notable rise in demand from South-based traders also jacked up
prices.
No auction reported in tuar and
gram in Nagpur APMC as brokers failed to give payments i time,according to
sources.
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was
poor.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties quoted static in open market here on subdued demand
from local
traders amid ample stock in ready
position.
* Watana varieties reported higher in open market on good festival
season demand from
local traders.
* In Akola, Tuar New – 4,350-4,450, Tuar dal (clean) – 6,800-6,900, Udid
Mogar (clean)
– 9,500-11,200, Moong Mogar (clean)
7,100-7,400, Gram – 6,100-6,300, Gram Super best
bold – 8,200-8,600 for 100 kg.
* Wheat, rice and other commodities moved in a narrow range in scattered
deals and
settled at last levels in weak trading
activity.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market
prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction n.a. 5,650-6,000
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction n.a. 3,500-4,000
Moong Auction n.a. 4,000-4,400
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800
Wheat Mill quality Auction n.a. 1,500-1,620
Gram Super Best Bold 8,700-9,000 8,700-9,000
Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.
Gram Medium Best 7,800-8,000 7,800-8,000
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a
Gram Mill Quality 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000
Desi gram Raw 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400
Gram Yellow 8,200-8,400 8,200-8,400
Gram Kabuli 12,400-13,500 12,400-13,500
Tuar Fataka Best-New 7,000-7,200 7,000-7,200
Tuar Fataka Medium-New 6,600-6,800 6,600-6,800
Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 6,000-6,300 6,000-6,300
Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 5,600-5,900 5,600-5,900
Tuar Gavarani New 3,900-4,200 3,900-4,200
Tuar Karnataka 4,200-4,400 4,200-4,400
Masoor dal best 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000
Masoor dal medium 5,600-5,700 5,600-5,700
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold (New) 7,200-7,500 7,200-7,500
Moong Mogar Medium 6,800-7,000 6,800-7,000
Moong dal Chilka 6,000-7,000 6,000-7,000
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 6,800-7,400 6,800-7,400
Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New)
9,900-11,500 9,900-11,500
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 8,000-9,000 8,000-9,000
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 6,100-6,600 6,100-6,600
Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,600-6,200 5,600-6,200
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 3,600-3,800 3,600-3,800
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,350 3,000-3,100
Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,300-3,500 3,200-3,400
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,900-4,400 3,800-4,300
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100
Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,800 1,700-1,800
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,300 2,100-2,300
Wheat Lokwan new (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,100 1,900-2,100
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,400-4,000 3,400-4,000
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,800 2,600-2,800
Rice BPT new (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,400 3,000-3,400
Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,500-4,000 3,200-3,700
Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,200 2,700-3,000
Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,800 2,400-2,700
Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,500 2,300-2,500
Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,800 2,600-2,800
Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500
Rice HMT New (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,000 3,600-4,000
Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,500 4,000-4,500
Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,800-3,900 3,700-3,900
Rice Shriram New(100 INR/KG) 4,600-4,800 4,600-4,800
Rice Shriram best 100 INR/KG) 6,500-7,000 6,500-6,800
Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 6,000-6,400 6,000-6,300
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 10,000-14,000 9,500-13,500
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,500-7,000 5,200-6,700
Rice Chinnor New(100 INR/KG) 4,600-4,800 4,600-4,800
Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,200 5,600-6,000
Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 5,500-5,700 5,400-5,600
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,200 1,900-2,200
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,800-1,900 1,800-1,900
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 44.0 degree
Celsius, minimum temp. 26.5 degree Celsius
Rainfall : Nil
FORECAST: Mainly clear sky.
Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 44 and 26 degree
Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are
excluded from plant delivery prices, but
included in market prices)
http://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL3N1HQ367
How
Agricultural Priorities Could Help Haiti
·
·
·
·
Agriculture is the lifeblood of
the Haitian economy, and one of the most important priorities for the new
president. Millions of Haitians depend on the land, so it makes sense to
examine how to expand the rural economy.
The research project Haiti Priorise is releasing new research papers on agricultural priorities. Along
with a paper on agro-forestry, the research provides more data about different
approaches to improve Haiti’s agriculture.
The research stems from roundtable
meetings with the government, farming leaders, businesses and civil society, to
identify challenges and promising solutions. It is part of a large project that
asks economists to examine different investments and policies for their costs
and benefits. Starting later this week, all of the research will be studied by
an eminent panel of Haitian experts, as well as by a forum of young Haitians.
Researchers Professor Travis J.
Lybbert of UC Davis and Abbie Turiansky of Mathematica Policy Research have studied rice production in the Artibonite Valley, where 75-80% of rice is grown.
National rice production relative
to rice consumption has fallen five-fold since 1985. There are many well-known
challenges, including poor infrastructure, limited access to agricultural
technologies, inadequate drying, harvesting, and storage facilities, and poorly
managed, inefficient marketing systems.
In 2012, an approach called “System
of Rice Intensification” or SRI was introduced to some farmers in the
Artibonite.
Over 2014-16, scientists closely
examined the results. This has informed the researchers’ proposal.
SRI aims to update farmers’
practices. Instead of transplanting older seedlings, they are encouraged to
transplant younger seedlings. Instead of randomly spacing out seedlings, they
plant in a grid pattern. And they allow their fields to dry out periodically.
These initiatives represent a
radical departure from traditional practices, and contradict conventional
wisdom of generations of rice farmers – but if followed, they do lead to
increased rice yields.
Based on the Artibonite experience,
the researchers propose setting up demonstration plots along with a training
program and technical support. There would need to be coordination by local
irrigation user associations, and an expansion of agricultural credit so that
credit unions can lend directly to farmers.
The intervention would fund the
dredging of primary irrigation canals by the ODVA, and provide financial
incentives to mototiller (two-wheeled tractor) service providers, because there
are too few service providers.
SRI is labor-intensive and
therefore labor is the largest single cost, followed by land preparation,
fertilizer, and harvesting, milling and transportation. There are costs for the
scheme such as direct support to the irrigation associations for coordination
and training. The total cost is around 3.9 billion gourdes, or $57 million.
For farmers with access to cheap
labor, SRI generates better rice yields and profits. For other farmers, it can
make less financial sense, but the researchers point out they are still likely
to improve some farming practices.
The researchers suggest that
overall the intervention would lead to an initial rice yield gain of 14%. On
average, this means benefits of about 23,000 gourdes ($330) for each hectare
each year. This sounds positive. However, costs go up as well. There are higher
private costs for labor, land preparation, fertilizer and transport, and in
addition substantial costs in technical support. For each hectare, costs
increase by about 30,000 gourdes ($430). That is why the researchers find that
the project does not ‘break even’ in terms of its investment: the overall
returns to Haiti are less than what is spent.
This might seem surprising: SRI has
many enthusiastic supporters. While the overall picture is not positive, SRI
might make better sense for some farmers with access to especially cheap labor.
It’s also worth pointing out that alternative configurations of SRI
interventions might be more effective.
And some elements of SRI might make
sense as stand-alone interventions. For example, ensuring that the ODVA
maintains canals and drains would almost certainly have benefits higher than
costs. Extending access to agricultural credit in the Artibonite Valley may
similarly have important impacts.
A key to boosting Haiti’s rural
economy is increasing agricultural productivity. While rice productivity is among
the lowest in Latin America, yields of maize, rice, and sorghum have been
declining since the 1990s.
Agricultural research and
development can improve the types of crops that are grown so they are more
resilient to local conditions, and identify practices that would raise yields.
While there have been sporadic
attempts to set up research entities, there has been no formal, consistent
investment in Haitian agricultural research and development. Foreign
organizations have spent a lot on various activities with little evidence of
systemic benefits.
Dr. Subir Bairagi, an agricultural
economist from the International Rice Research Institute, examines the impact of spending 1.7 billion
gourdes ($25 million) each year for 20 years to establish a research
institution to help transfer cutting-edge agricultural technology to Haiti’s
farmers.
Dr. Bairagi finds that this
investment would result in approximately 210% increases in maize, 109%
increases in rice, and 104% increases in sorghum yields.
The increase in supply would push
down market prices for consumers, but not significantly. Nevertheless,
consumption would increase. Haitians would be slightly more food secure.
The benefits vary depending on how
many farmers adopt new technologies. Experience elsewhere shows that the
adoption of any new agricultural technology generally takes about 15-20 years
to reach the maximum level, which ranges between 50% and 70%. If 60% of farmers
in Haiti adopted new practices, it would mean that every 100 gourdes spent
would achieve 140 gourdes worth of good.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-agricultural-priorities-could-help-haiti_us_58fe1ad7e4b0f420ad99ca3c
