Vietnam
rice export back on track
Vietnam’s
rice export growth has regained momentum this year after a year of slowdown,
according to a report by the Vietnam Food Association (VFA).
Stevedores
at work at a rice storehouse in the Mekong Delta. Vietnamese rice export has
regained growth momentum this year after a year of plunge
Vietnam
exported 2.3 million tons of rice worth US$1 billion in the first five months
of the year, up 1.6% in volume and 1.2% in value year-on-year.China remained
Vietnam’s largest rice importer, accounting for 47.5% of the nation's total
rice exports. More than 815,000 tons of rice costing over US$376 million went
to the northern neighbor in January-April, up 16.1% and 16.2% against the same
period last year respectively.
Vietnam
shipped 4.89 million tons of rice valued at US$2.1 billion in all of 2016, a
respective decrease of 25.54% and 20.57% against 2015.China was still
Vietnam’s biggest importer of the food staple last year despite a 19.79%
decline. It purchased more than 1.8 million tons of rice from Vietnam last
year, 36.97% of Vietnam's total rice shipments.The domestic rice price has
improved by VND200-300 a kilo, supported by the recent signing of a memorandum
of understanding to export one million of rice a year to Bangladesh until 2022.
The South Asian country will import 300,000 tons at first.
In
addition, the National Food Authority (NFA) of the Philippines has announced to
buy 250,000 tons of rice from Vietnam in June.Nguyen Thanh Tho, a rice trader
at Ba Dac wholesale market in Tien Giang Province, told the Daily that IR 50404
rice is sold at VND4,350-4,400 a kilo, an increase of VND200-300, helped by the
Bangladesh rice deal.Besides, IR 50404 material rice is purchased at
VND6,350-6,450 a kilo in the Mekong Delta, up VND200.Major importing markets,
especially Bangladesh and the Philippines, have helped buoy the price. The Free
On Board (FOB) price of 5%-broken white rice from Vietnam is US$370-380 a ton,
up US$5-10 compared to a week ag
Rice prices will fall after
imports arrive, says agriculture minister
Published: 2017-06-02 22:54:06.0 BdST Updated: 2017-06-02 22:54:06.0 BdST
The rising prices of rice due to
the loss of the Haor harvest will drop once imports arrive in the market, says
Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury.
“No one will deny that the price
of rice has risen a bit recently,” she told reporters at a press conference at
the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka on Friday.But there is a tendency to
‘exaggerate the extent’ of the rise in prices, the minister said.The food
ministry has officially proposed the import of rice and more is to come on a ‘G
to G’ basis, eventually stabilising the market, she said.
“No one can say the market prices have spiralled out of people’s
ability to purchase,” Matia said, “The fact is everyone is buying and eating
rice. There will not be a shortage in the future either.”
According to the calculations by the food ministry, the flooding
in the Haors or backswamps has led to the destruction of approximately 600,000
tonnes of rice.
But non-government agencies say the amount of rice destroyed is
close to 2.2 million tonnes
http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2017/06/02/rice-prices-will-fall-after-imports-arrive-says-agriculture-minister
Japan starts growing genome-edited rice plants
outdoors in national first
(Mainichi
Japan)
TSUKUBA,
Ibaraki -- A food research body here has started growing genome-edited rice
plants outdoors on a trial basis for the first time in Japan.The trial by the
National Agriculture and Food Research Organization is a step toward practical
application of genome editing, a new technology that is expected to
significantly increase the yield of rice plants. However, it is not yet clear
whether Japan will classify these plants as genetically modified crops, and the
country has yet to formulate rules, so it remains unknown whether such crops
can be introduced smoothly.
In
the editing process, two genes in the rice plant are stopped from functioning
through the addition of other genes that serve as "molecular
scissors." By changing the plants' hormonal balance, the number of husks
in each ear of rice increases, as does the size of the rice grains themselves.
The
process is part of a national strategy to further develop agriculture and
expand exports. The final target is a 50 percent increase in the yield of crops.
The
central government approved genome editing of rice plants in April, after
experts gave the green light. On May 23, the National Agriculture and Food
Research Organization planted the rice in an isolated experimental paddy. The
rice will be harvested in October, and officials will check whether the genome
editing has had the desired effect, whether pollen is being dispersed from the
plants, and whether there have been any unintended changes.
In
the meantime, it remains uncertain whether crops produced through genome
editing will be subject to the law restricting the release of genetically
modified crops into the environment, commonly referred to as the Cartagena Act.
In
the latest experiment, external genes are added to the rice plants at the
cultivation stage, but as a result of repeated cross-fertilization, by the time
rice becomes food, none of the added genes remain. Researchers say this is no
different from natural mutation.
The
question of how to deal with modified crops when none of the external genes
remain has been a point of focus across the world. New Zealand, for example,
restricts such crops, but Argentina does not. Full-scale discussion on the
issue has not yet begun in Japan.
Resistance
to genetically modified food remains strong in Japan. Consumer groups have
raised concerns about the latest experiment, with one of them, Seikatsu-Club,
warning that the modified crops could cross with other ones.
Hideaki
Karaki, director of Japan's Foodservice Industry Research Institute, however,
says there is no need for alarm.
"In
cases where the added genes do not remain, it's no different from natural
mutation. It's strange to focus one's worries on the process."
Akira
Komatsu, a senior researcher at the National Agriculture and Food Research
Organization, commented, "China is developing rice plants through genome
editing at an unstoppable pace, and we're wary of international competition. We
want to improve our results through trial cultivation, and strive to provide
accurate information.
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20170603/p2a/00m/0na/002000c
A warning whose time has come
azera parveen
rahman
Danger in the water: Like hundreds of children in Assam’s Hojai
district, farmer Dilwar Hussain’s son is crippled by fluorosis azera parveen
rahman
Threat of fluoride contamination
in crops looms large in Assam
Dilwar
Hussain may not be able to give you the exact scientific explanation for how
excessive fluoride can harm one’s bones and teeth, but he knows that it
crippled his young son, causing his legs to bend.
Children suffering from skeletal
and dental fluorosis — marked by stained and crooked teeth, and bent legs — are
a common sight in Hussain’s village, Tapatjuri, in Assam. Fluoride-contaminated
water, as the State’s Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) has found
out, is the main culprit, and the entire Hojai district is among the
worst-affected.
What is more worrisome now is the
high fluoride content in agricultural produce as well, including rice and tea,
the two main crops of the State.
Dharani Saikia, secretary of
voluntary organisation Environment Conservation Centre, has been working on the
issue for more than a decade and government agencies approach him for his
expertise. He recalls that the first time they detected high fluoride levels in
food produce was in 2012. Until then, public awareness was limited to
discouraging the use of groundwater from tube-wells. Ring-wells were
recommended instead.
“On a hunch, we decided to test
the rice grown on a 10-bigha field in the village. We took samples to the
Pollution Control Board office in Guwahati and found they had a fluoride level
of 74 ppm. The borewell water that was used for irrigation had 12 ppm
fluoride,” Saikia said. The WHO standard for permissible fluoride limit is 1
mg/l (0.6-1.5 ppm). Since the same water source was used over and over again
for irrigation, the levels were escalated in the crop.
A wake-up call
The findings led to officials
finally sitting up and taking note of the problem. Saikia says the PHED set up
a Fluoride Mitigation Centre, led by the district collector. Saikia, too, was
part of the intervention.
“Climate change is a major reason
for high fluoride levels in groundwater. Less rainfall means less water
replenishes the water table... Bore-wells are being drilled closer to the
granitic rocks that are rich in minerals like fluoride. So that’s how the
concentration of fluoride is increasing in groundwater,” he explains.
In Tapatjuri, farmers like
Hussain, Lakhmi Kalita and Indra Basomatary were reliant on groundwater, which
had been pumped up by drilling down to 250-300 ft. After the findings, the use
of such water was stopped even for agriculture. All groundwater had to be
tested first for safety.
“We are not taking any more
chances. We have many ponds in our village from which we now source water for
agriculture,” Hussain says. After Hojai, a Fluoride Mitigation Centre was also
set up in the adjoining Nagaon district.
But the problem of fluoride
contamination is not Tapatjuri’s alone. An official survey found water with
fluoride levels above the permissible limit in 11 districts in the State.
Dread in a teacup
Saikia says that in 2016 he
tested tea from the local market at the health department’s lab and found 5.6
ppm fluoride. Green tea, he adds, is known to have 2 ppm fluoride.
AK Barooah, director of the
Tocklai Tea Research Institute in Assam, however shrugged off any worry over
the threat of fluoride contamination in the ‘cup that cheers’. “Tea naturally
contains fluoride, which it absorbs from the soil, and there is nothing to be
concerned about it at the moment.”
Experts like Najibuddin Ahmed,
former additional chief engineer of the Assam PHED, call for extensive studies
on food contamination. “The Jorhat-based Rice Research Centre is studying
contamination of rice. But there isn’t enough data,” he says.
Scientist RN Bhagat, who was
associated with Tocklai until recently, agreed. “There has been some research
on the correlation of water contamination with tea. But such studies are
sporadic.”
Saikia believes that along with
research, coping mechanisms have to be developed. “Going back to nature and to
surface water, like ponds and rivers, after it is treated is the way forward,”
he says
Recent rains concern rice growers
MAMOU — Continual rainfall
in the past few days has farmers worried about disease problems in their rice
crop, an LSU AgCenter plant pathologist said at rice field days held in
Jefferson Davis and Evangeline parishes.“In the last week and a half, I’ve
probably had 20 to 30 disease calls,” said LSU AgCenter plant pathologist Don
Groth, speaking at the Evangeline Parish rice field day on June 1.Groth also
spoke about those concerns at the field day held the previous day in Fenton.
Groth urged farmers to scout
their fields and to use fungicides on time, usually at the boot stage with 2-
to 4-inch panicles in the head. But a treatment for blast disease should be
applied at heading.“Once an epidemic gets going, it takes a lot more to stop it
than if you catch it in the beginning,” he said.Sheath blight is showing up in
some fields, but occurrence is erratic. Fields where soybeans are planted in
rotation with rice are more likely to have the disease than rice fields
following crawfish, Groth said.
Blast disease has not been a
problem so far.“If you see it, make sure everything is flooded,” he said.Fungicide
applications should be avoided immediately after or before a rain, he added.AgCenter
rice breeder Adam Famoso said a new genetics lab funded by the Louisiana Rice
Research Board is providing new benefits with improvements in the foundation
seed program. Varieties grown for seed at the AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice
Research Station can be screened to minimize off-types.
AgCenter rice breeder Steve
Linscombe said last year’s flooding resulted in some rice seed with low vigor.
Some of the plots at one of the field day locations were seeded with low-vigor
seed, and those plots were more adversely affected by recent heavy rainfalls.A
Clearfield Jazzman line under development will have improved yield from
previous versions of Jazzman. “I think this market will slowly continue to
expand,” he said.AgCenter rice specialist Dustin Harrell said the rice crop got
off to a good start this year with a warm winter and spring that allowed early
planting.
This year’s crop of 400,000 acres
in Louisiana is about 8 percent lower than last year.“Everything was looking
good until late April when we got significant rainfall,” he said.About 4,000
acres of rice were lost in Louisiana because of floods, but rice acreage in
Missouri and Arkansas had more significant losses, with more than 150,000 acres
ruined in Arkansas.Harrell said a new product to prevent nitrogen fertilizer
losses will be available in 2018.AgCenter entomologist Blake Wilson said a high
percentage the for Louisiana rice acreage was treated with Dermacor, suggesting
that heavy dependence on the product could lead to resistance problems.
No insecticides can be used in fields where crawfish are raised, but farmers
can reduce stinkbugs by keeping levees and ditches mowed, he said.The rice leaf
miner is showing up this year, he said, but it poses little threat to yield.AgCenter
weed scientist Eric Webster said the herbicide benzobicyclon could be available
in Louisiana next year as Rogue. The product is good for controlling aquatic
weeds, but it does not have the broad spectrum weed control of another new
product, Loyant, he said.AgCenter plant pathologist Boyd Padgett said this
year’s soybean crop looks good so far. “I’m impressed with the crop overall,”
he said.
The U.S. Department of
Agriculture estimates that 94 percent of the Louisiana soybean crop is planted,
and 14 percent is blooming.
Farmers are concerned about how
long soybeans can survive flooded conditions, Padgett said. Research indicates
soybeans can survive 48 to 96 hours of flooding, but it depends on growth
stage, temperature after drainage and water clarity.AgCenter plant pathologist
Trey Price said the soybean disease called taproot decline is caused by a
fungus. LSU graduate students have several studies underway on the problem.Taproot
decline is unlikely in south Louisiana because the disease is found in fields
where soybeans are planted in consecutive years, he said.Work is ongoing to
find a solution to Cercospora that is resistant to fungicides. “I think
resistant varieties will be our ultimate solution to resistant Cercospora
blight,” Price said
http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/local/2017/06/02/recent-rains-concern-rice-growers/365868001/
Governors blame jonathan substandard rice Nigeria
- The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) expresses concern
over the quality of rice being imported and consumed by Nigerians - The 36
governors urge the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to bring the situation under
control - The governors frown at the situation where Nigerians snub
locally-produced commodity in preference for foreign ones which are most of the
time, stale, contaminated or even fake The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has
blamed the Jonathan administration for the huge consignment of substandard rice
still finding its way into the Nigerian market.
Presidency reveals why Osinbajo postponed
budget signing The governors on Thursday, June 1, expressed concern over the
quality of rice being imported and consumed by Nigerians. The Forum said the
consignment of rice still finding its way into the market was imported into
Nigeria since 2014. It said at the time, the Jonathan administration issued a
very liberal import licence regime to its election financiers who were able to
bring a substantial quantity of rice into the country using a waiver from the
presidency at the time, The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The governors said some Nigerians were either
falling sick or losing their lives to the consumption of this substandard rice
The governors in a statement issued by the head, media and public affairs of
the NGF Abulrazaque Bello- Barkindo, urged the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to
bring the situation under control. The 36 governors stated some Nigerians were
either falling sick or losing their lives to the consumption of this substandard
rice. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 new app ADVERTISING
ADVERTISING inRead invented by Teads inRead invented by Teads They also frowned
at the situation where Nigerians snubbed locally-produced commodity in
preference for foreign ones which were most of the time, stale, contaminated or
even fake. Meanwhile, the Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service
(NCS) on Thursday, May 26, said it has impounded 941 bags of foreign per boiled
rice valued at about N6.8 million. The Controller of the command, Sarkin Kebbi,
said this at a news conference in Lagos.
”The impounded rice is valued at N6,830,719, a
Duty valued N4, 781,503 and duty paid valued N11,612,322. NAIJ.com learnt that
the controller, who displayed the commodity, said the feat was achieved through
a renewed resolve of the officers to stamp out smuggling. ADVERTISING inRead
invented by Teads ADVERTISING ADVERTISING inRead invented by Teads inRead
invented by Teads Kebbi said that on resumption of duty a month ago, he made known
to the officers the mandate given to him from the customs headquarters. In the
NAIJ.com video below, traders lament bitterly over prices of goods, as they
accuse President Muhammadu Buhari's administration of turning things upside
down. READ MORE by Taboola Sponsored Links YOU MAY LIKE
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SHARE ON FACEBOOK SEND VIA EMAIL RECOMMENDED NEWS Ex-president Jonathan’s aide,
3 other ex-Nigerian officials named in $20million bribery scandal in
Switzerland Ex-president Jonathan’s aide, 3 other ex-Nigerian officials named
in $20million bribery scandal in Switzerland No Nigerian can point to a single
lie from me - Lai Mohammed No Nigerian can point to a single lie from me - Lai
Mohammed Read more: https://www.naij.com/1107871-governors-blame-jonathan-substandard-rice-nigeria.html
https://www.naij.com/1107871-governors-blame-jonathan-substandard-rice-nigeria.html
Traders
and importers present their grievances on Maximum Retail Prices to Minister
Sat, Jun 3, 2017, 04:45 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Sat, Jun 3, 2017, 04:45 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Colombo
Traders Association (CTA) in a meeting with the Minister of Industry and
Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen on Thursday has pointed out that Maximum Retail
Prices (MRPs), imposed by the government have become an impediment, hampering
Sri Lankan consumer's well-being, rather than improving it.
Minister
Bathiudeen has called the meeting with the CTA to especially to hear the
grievances of supply side of the retail sector.
|
|
The
210- member CTA, 90 percent of which are large volume importers and
distributors and committed tax payers, regularly pays taxes to the Inland
Revenue Department in multi-billion Rupee levels.
Top
CTA representatives attended the meeting included Chairman of CTA YM Ibrahim
(Chairman, Ishana Exports Pvt Ltd-a leading exporter of spice), CTA Deputy
Chairman SM Zaneer (Chairman, KTC Group-the main importer of dates, raisins
& sultanas for Lankan market and also a leading rice miller), and CTA
Secretary Sooriyar (Chairman of Sooriyan Traders-large scale importer of
essential food items to Sri Lanka).
The
meeting was also attended by Minister's top officials in charge of retail
across such institutions as the Consumer Affairs Authority, the CWE and Lanka
Sathosa).
CTA
Deputy Chairman Zaneer said the MRP on an imported product cannot be fixed as
the prices change seasonally and the dollar rate too fluctuates and therefore,
the MRPs should be changed very often to give the best to the consumers
"We
at CTA support that there should be an MRP for rice varieties which is our
staple food. More importantly, there is a large local industry of farmers and
millers who should be safeguarded. Rice MRPs therefore prevent consumer
exploitation. But should other essentials too be given MRPs? Only small amounts
of other items are locally produced but large volumes are imported," he
asked.
He
said that even for rice, there should not be a practice of different prices for
imported and domestic rice.
Zaneer
said a main reason for illegal mixing of rice is the arbitrary price structure
and proposed equal prices for both imported and domestically milled rice in the
local market.
He
said it can be done by a simple move -by increasing the duty on imported rice
by as little as Rs 10.
"Raids
are needed to prevent abuse but the present system of raiding is harsh and they
show no mercy. Once my raided stocks were taken and destroyed even though all
criteria fulfilled and the labels were in order. Then the wrong party was
accused once -one of my product packs purchased by a seller that was unsold and
kept in a corner in seller's shop then later expired, was detected and instead
of the seller I, the original manufacturer was accused since the label shows me
as the manufacturer."
Chairman
of CTA, YM Ibrahim explained how MRPs often do not result in the 'best price'
as intended.
"The
MRPs are imposed to safeguard the consumers, which we believe to be important.
However, some members in our association do not see any benefit in maintaining
the same MRP on certain products (other than rice) over a longer time. Our MRPs
are not changing in line with the global market rates. In that, the MRPs are
effective in the market at times of shortages, maintaining the price of the
essential item without increasing it further. But unfortunately, often our MRPs
continue to be enforced long after international market price of the same
commodity has fallen even below the local MRP. As a result we find local consumers
continue to pay higher prices for the item when the actual price of the
commodity should be much lower. Also, when the international market price of
the commodity is higher than local market MRP, then the importer is not able to
import since the importer is bound to sell at the lower MRP incurring losses
since they are compelled to sell at lower MRP than the international price.
Therefore we are compelled to not to import at such times, which creates
shortages in the market, hampering the consumer well-being and us also losing
business in the meantime," he explained.
Ibrahim
said the way to overcome this is by opening more towards global and dollar
rates for essential items other than rice, and for rice, allowing a uniform
price for both imported and locally milled rice."We propose a single, flat
price tag for both locally milled and imported rice of same varieties by
bringing in a simple import duty."Minister Bathiudeen thanking the CTA for
bringing these issues to his attention said since MRPs and raids on errant
traders are to safeguard consumers and directed by the Cost of Living
Committee, CAA and higher levels of the government, he on his own, will not
change its implementation.
"MRPs
also need more study and closer watch. We are here to safeguard consumers and
we focus on the market/demand side. Today for the first time we hear the supply
side situation from CTA and these issues too need to be studied," the
Minister said.He instructed the CTA to make these representations and
recommendations in writing immediately to him so that he can present it to
higher levels to decide the way forward on giving best price & quality on
all essential items.Selling essential items above the designated MRPs is an
offense in Sri Lanka. Chicken meat, red Dhal/lentils, sprats, chickpeas, green
grams, canned fish, white sugar, white flour, full cream milk powder, potatoes,
Sustagen, B-onions, dried chilies, dried fish, and Maldive fish are among the items
gazetted by the government as "Essential".
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_17A/Jun03_1496488518CH.php
Higher market
rate puts damper on Boro procurement drive in Rangpur
Our Correspondent
RANGPUR, June 03: Boro rice
procurement target may not be achieved in the district during this season due
to higher price of rice in local markets compared to that of government rate.
According to sources government
procurement drive began in the district on May 1 with a target to purchase
17,648 tonnes of Boro rice in the season. But so far 220 millers signed
contract for supplying 4,905 tonnes of rice which is one fourth of the target,
sources alleged. The millers so far supplied only 300 tonnes of rice to
government warehouse, sources further alleged.
Sources said the government decided
to buy rice from millers at Tk 34 per kg but presently per kg coarse rice is
selling at Tk 44 to Tk 45 in local markets which is higher than government
procurement rate.
As the market price of rice has
remained high, millers, who signed contract with the government, are showing
their reluctance to supply rice to the government godowns, sources said. number
of millers said as market price of rice is higher than the government
procurement rate they prefer selling rice at local markets instead of selling
it to government purchase cenres.
Requesting anonymity a rice mill
owner said he has signed a contract to supply 30 tonnes of rice to government
go downs. If he supplies the rice to government warehouse presently, he will
have to incur around Tk 0.2 million to Tk 0.3 million. Whereas he can earn good
profit by selling it in local markets, he added.
General Secretary of Rice Mills
Owners' Association, Rangpur Shamsul Alam said he signed a contract to supply
50 tonnes of rice to government godowns. But presently he is not eager to do
that because of higher price of rice in local markets than government rate.District
food controller, Shahjahan Bhuiyan said rice procurement drive started in the
district last month and it is expected to continue till August 31.
Presently it is going on at slow
pace due to the apathy of the millers to sell rice to government purchase
centres. He hoped that the millers would supply rice to government warehouse
within the stipulated time.
Decision
time for rice brand
The
debate continues on the single brand to be used for Cambodian rice exports.
KT/Chor Sokunthea Government task forces will meet this week to finalise a
single brand under which Cambodian rice will be exported. Those at the meeting
will include the Cambodia Rice Federation, the Agriculture Ministry and the
Commerce Ministry. “We don’t know when
the exact date for registration will be because they just applied for
registration last week,” said Op Rady, director of the intellectual property
rights department of the Ministry of Commerce. “We have talked several times.
The CRF wants to use the name Angkor Malis but the Agriculture Ministry
suggested it reconsider the name. Hean Vanhan, director-general the general
directorate of agriculture, said registration of a single rice brand was the
duty of the commerce ministry. Agriculture officials said Cambodia had more
than 10 varieties of fragrant rice, and should not single out one as a single
brand. “The CRF selected ‘Angkor Malis’
as the brand, but this is not right because there is already a rice seed called
malis,” Mr Vanhan said. “What the
private sector wants to do is to steal foreign branding to make the rice
similar to Thailand, since the Thai Hom Mali is already famous. “If we use ‘Angkor Malis,’ which is specific
only to Cambodian premium rice ‘malis,’ it has a different taste to Cambodian
fragrant rice such as phka romduol, phka chansensor and phka khnei. “If customers buy Angkor Malis one day, it
may have a different taste when they buy it in the future, even though it
carries the same brand,” Mr Vanhan said.
He suggested that a non-specific ‘Angkor Rice,’ with the specific
variety written underneath would help clear up the confusion and prevent people
from thinking they were buying a specific rice variety when they might be
buying a different premium rice. CRF secretary-general Moul Sarith said all
documents for brand registration had been prepared but the CRF wanted a common
name and agreement from stakeholders.
“We have already summited to the Ministry of Commerce for registration
on the national rice branding and we plan to finish by June. “Now we have to
meet with Agriculture Ministry to decide the common name and we want all
relevant stakeholders to agree a single name,” Mr Sarith said. Mr Sarith added that after several talks
involving CRF management and studies both of the local and international
market, the CRF wanted the rice to be branded ‘Angkor Malis’. “However, the Ministry of Commerce asked us to
recheck the name while Ministry of Agriculture suggested that we get a better
name. “Thus, we want to have a meeting with Agriculture Ministry and Commerce
Ministry to decide the name. We have enough documents for registration. When we
finish the meeting, we want to register at the same time,” Mr Sarith said. Song Saran, CEO of Amru Rice (Cambodia) said
previously that the long delay in choosing a brand name meant that exporters
were still using their own names for
Cambodian rice, such as jasmine rice or fragrant rice. “We suggest having one name to identify
Cambodian premium rice since we don’t want each company having different names
and standards for export to foreign countries,” Mr Saran said. “We want
Cambodia to have a single brand and standard.”
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39025/decision-time-for-rice-brand/
A jump in subsidy to contain rice price
Subsidies on food will rise to 20.10% year-on-year to Tk1,215cr due
to a hike in staple prices though the international market rates remain
unchanged SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN
For the agricultural sector, the subsidy was cut by Tk3,000cr to
Tk9,000cr in the revised budgetary outlay as fertiliser prices fell in the
international market
As the government will hike subsidy expenditure from Tk23,830cr in
this year to Tk28,045cr in the next fiscal year, subsidy spending is likely to
increase by 17.69% due to the impending food shortage and supply of rice at low
prices to the poor, according to the Finance Ministry. Around Tk4,545cr has
been allocated for food subsidy. In the original budget for the current fiscal
year, the allocation was Tk2,820cr, which was revised upwards to Tk3,721cr to
accommodate a programme introduced last year to sell rice at Tk10 a kilogram to
the poor. Fuel and power dominated the state’s subsidy policy in the last some
years. Now, food and agriculture will get priority as the country is likely to
see a food shortage because of the recent floods, a Finance Ministry official
said. For the agricultural sector, the subsidy was cut by Tk3,000cr to
Tk9,000cr in the revised budgetary outlay as fertiliser prices fell in the
international market. Food related subsidies will rise to 20.10 % year-on-year
to Tk1,215cr owing to an increase in
staple prices despite the rates remaining unchanged in the international
market. The subsides will be required as the government plans to sell rice and
wheat at lower prices in the upcoming fiscal year, as it is doing in the
current one. Each kg rice and wheat sells under the government’s Open Market
Sale programme at Tk15 and Tk17 respectively, while the government’s latest
procurement price for rice is Tk 32 a kg. Exports and jute subsidies will
remain the same as the current year’s amounts of Tk4,000cr and Tk500cr
respectively. As Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation made lofty profits for
several years as fuel prices in the international market were comparatively
lower, no subsidies have been given to fuel sector. The state-owned
organisation received a total of Tk42,000cr in subsidies in the last eight
years. Petrobangla will likely get Tk2,500cr as cash credit to purchase gas
from international oil companies (IOCs). The national oil company will use the
credit to partially pay Tk5,500cr of its
dues to the National Board of Revenue. Petrobangla buys gas from the IOCs at
Tk292 per 1,000 cubic metres, which include their income tax, but it sells the
same volume of gas at Tk176, including taxes. Hence, the company pays a subsidy
of Tk126 for every 1,000 cubic metres of gas. Also, the government last year
started waiving taxes on gas at the time of import or purchase including 15%
VAT. The power sector will get a subsidy of Tk5,500cr, which is the same as
allocated in the FY2016-17. Before the budget announcement, Finance Minister
AMA Muhith made his yearly rhetoric that the total subsidy would drop to a
minimum level, but his assumption failed in the last two fiscal years as the
subsidy outlay saw a rise
http://ricenewstoday.com/?p=117029
