Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Rice News June-2017

Empowering the agriculture sector

Shah Faisal Afridi - Pakistan has a rich and vast natural agriculture resource base, covering various ecological and climatic zones. Pakistan is an agro based economy that has direct and indirect role in generating economic growth. The country has great potential for producing all types of food commodities. The importance of agriculture to the economy is seen in three ways: first, it provides food to consumers and fibres for domestic industry; second, it is a source of scarce foreign exchange earnings; and third, it provides a market for industrial goods.

During the last 50 years this sector is realised as a major productive sector of Pakistani economy. At present, Agricultural sector contributes 20.9pc to GDP, employs 45pc of total labour force with export contribution mainly Food group 8.62pc. Pakistan depends on one of the world's largest irrigation systems to support its agriculture production. Punjab is one of the main provinces contributing to these exports. Pakistan is one of the world's largest producers of raw cotton. The main agricultural products are cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, and vegetables, in addition to milk, beef, mutton, and eggs.

In Pakistan, out of the total land area of 80 million hectares, barely 21 million hectares is cultivable in which merely 2-3pc of that land is used for agriculture and cultivation, whereas the rest stands wasted. The cultivable waste lands offer good possibilities of crop production amounting to 8.9 million hectares. The development in this sector will have a major effect on rural development. It can help to reduce poverty, supply of food will also increase, there will be availability of more opportunities for surplus labour, extension of market size (import and export), and it will be opening new vistas for foreign investment government revenue will be generated. This all will lead to the improvement in living standards of individuals.

Despite huge potential and sufficient resources, agriculture sector of Pakistan is still lacking and there are many reasons for it. The main problems include; lack of modern facilities, conventional cultivation methods, untrained farmers, low quality fertilisers, need of crop rotation, water logging and salinity, erosion and importantly massive industrialisation near agricultural lands. The quality of yields is improving slowly due to the problems related to climate and soil. The food production is still largely a backward sector where skills, research and technology are completely missing.

The factors that are generating further complications in agriculture development are lack of proper agricultural training and knowledge amongst local farmers that has rendered crop rotation in Pakistan. Every year 40,000 hectares of flooded area is lost to water logging and saltiness. On top of that, lack of suitable and imported manure in Pakistan and excessive use of substandard local manure makes soil prone to erosion. Lastly, excessive industrialisation in Punjab, especially an urban metropolis like Lahore is a pervading menace. This has not only given rise to uncontrollable pollution, but also illegal dumping of toxic wastes in agricultural land is heavily deteriorating soil.

These glitches can be dealt if we take an integrated approach to managing soil and crops that could resultantly help meet the demand of rapidly rising population while reducing greenhouse gases that drive climate change. Farm mechanisation is the foremost need to resolve the problems of agriculture sector. Sowing, cultivation and harvesting of crops through agricultural machines increase the productive quality and quantity. Agricultural research is compulsory to remove the backwardness of agriculture sector. Major agricultural colleges and universities are only about 16 in Pakistan. Government should increase the research work in the field of agriculture. Government should give tax concession on imports of agricultural technologies to enhance the process of farm mechanisation.

There is a need to promote cooperative farming for the growth of agriculture and economic progress besides evolving a comprehensive policy for bright future of agriculture. Cooperative farming could increase agriculture productivity and national income while practical steps were required to promote research in agriculture sector. There is a need of comprehensive policy for the agriculture sector, besides giving price support and subsidies.

The importance of agriculture sector in Pakistan’s economy is crucial but there is a need to correct its direction. Medium and long-term policies for agriculture are needed with special incentives to agriculture scientists. Marketing of agriculture produce is also the need of the hour which was ignored previously. Agriculture policy should be made in accordance with the ground realities to achieve better results. The world has become global shelf and needs to work in those lines to promote local agriculture produce globally.

For more improvisation, Chinese assistance could be attained. Advanced Nutrient Management System should be introduced as it is used in China. China has achieved a remarkable success in increasing its crop yield with different techniques modelled as “Eco-Farming”. China with only 10 percent of arable land, producing food for 20 percent of the world’s population and is first in worldwide farm output. Ecological Farming is the ultimate solution to all agriculture and health problems. It ensures healthy farming and healthy food for today and tomorrow, by protecting soil, water and climate, and does not contaminate the environment with chemical inputs.

A recent analysis showed that globally, ecological farming can produce, on average, about 30 percent more food per hectare than conventional agriculture. Pakistan’s per hectare rice yield is 3.1 ton whereas China is the largest producer of rice with per hectare yield of 6.5 ton, similarly Pakistan produces pulses per year with per hectare yield of 0.6 ton and China produces 1.2 ton per hectare which is twice that of Pakistan. Pakistan’s sugarcane production is 52.4 ton per hectare whereas China obtains a yield of 65.7 ton per hectare.

The balance of trade in agricultural products was in favour of Pakistan as in 2015 China imported agri-products, of which rice constituted 85pc, worth $430 million from Pakistan and exported fruits and vegetables valuing $320 million. Pakistan, the second largest exporter of rice to China, has every opportunity to grab a sizable share in the halal food market as well as meet the demand for fruits, primarily mangoes, through better competitiveness in terms of quality and price.

Apart from the million ton production and growing export there is still room of development in Pakistan’s agriculture. China is the best friend of Pakistan and it can help Pakistan to grow to its full potential by not only working for economic development but also sharing wisdom of its agricultural revolution and organic farming technology. Satellite technology for monitoring crops can be installed, Up-gradation and Establishment of Animal Quarantine Stations, improved trade and competitiveness systems can be established with mutual ventures, and even Pak-China Cooperation for Agriculture Research and Development and can be made to improve the standards and quality of the yield production.

Use of modern techniques, provision of credit facilities, basic infrastructure and agriculture research facilities are needed to remove all the problems of agriculture sector. This is so heartbreaking that Pakistan is far behind to achieve agriculture produce targets despite the fact that nature had bestowed it with all resources. There is a need to adopt 21st century standards for the development of agriculture sector. Pakistan’s agriculture sector is not actually facing production issues but lacking behind in agriculture management policy.

The writer is a founder president of Pak China Joint Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Haier Ruba Pakistan.

Shah Faisal Afridi

http://nation.com.pk/business/19-Jun-2017/empowering-the-agriculture-sector

USA Rice Millers' Association Announces New Chairman, Vice Chairman

By Deborah Willenborg

CARLSBAD, CA - Last week at its annual convention, the USA Rice Millers' Association (RMA) announced the election of Alex Balafoutis, Vice President of Sales for the Rice Business Unit at PGP International in Woodland, California, and Keith Gray, Vice President of Supply Chain at Riviana Foods, as chairman and vice chairman, respectively. Each will serve a two-year term that begins August 1, 2017.

Chairman-elect Balafoutis presented outgoing RMA Chairman Robbie Trahan with a plaque to commemorate his tenure and thanked Trahan for his outstanding service and dedication to the organization. In accepting the plaque, Trahan said, "The RMA has faced numerous challenges over the past two years and what I have found most impressive about this organization is our ability to work together when we're grappling with an issue. We have long-standing traditions and relationships, and you can really see that come into play when we're trying to find a way forward to a solution."

We are importing poison, not rice – Presidential committee Author: Nnenna Ibeh UPDATED: A DAY AGO VIEWS: 18218 SHARE ON FACEBOOK SEND VIA EMAIL SHARE ON FACEBOOK SEND VIA EMAIL - The presidential committee on rice and wheat production has on Sunday, June 18, said Nigeria has been importing poison in place of rice - Bagudu said imported rice is no longer good for human consumption - He said the importers of rice in Nigeria specialize in importing cheap and auctioned rice into the country The presidential committee on rice and wheat production has on Sunday, June 18, said Nigeria has been importing poison in place of rice.

The chairman of the committee Abubakar Bagudu speaking to journalists in Birnin-Kebbi said imported rice is no longer good for human consumption, Punch reports. NAIJ.com gathered that Bagudu while condemning the continuous importation if rice into Nigeria said imported rice contained preservatives which are poisonous. Noting that there are three major importers of rice in Nigeria, Bagudu, the governor of Kebbi state said these people specialize in importing cheap and auctioned rice into the country.

The presidential committee on rice and wheat production has on Sunday, June 18, said Nigeria has been importing poison in place of rice He further decried Nigerians' patronage for imported 'foreign' rice more than localled produced ones. He said: "Countries, particularly Thailand, India, China and Vietnam, buy a lot of paddy from their farmers and keep in storage sometimes, as long as nine years so that by so doing, they are supporting their farmers.

" “A country like Thailand, for example, may have eight million tonnes of rice in storage; so occasionally, they will auction the ones that are almost going bad that is, the one that is not fit for human consumption," Bagudu said. “They sell the paddy as low as 20 per cent less than the international market price. “Those that import rice into Nigeria will go and buy the paddy and clean them up," he said.

The governor also said that Thailand had in April 2017, auctioned 1.62 million tonnes of rice at about $140 per tonne while the market price of it was $700 per tonne. NAIJ.com earlier reported that thousands of rice farmers in Kebbi state had staged a protest against rice importation in Nigeria. The farmer with their placards said the importers of rice in Nigeria were destroying their business of rice production. Read https://www.naij.com/1110591-we-importing-poison-rice-presidential-committee.html

Vietnam's rice exports return to growth

Monday, 2017-06-19 04:19:27

NDO - After months of significant reductions, Vietnam’s rice exports have finally returned to growth thanks to positive market news.According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam shipped 2.3 tonnes of rice in the first five months of 2017, bringing in US$1 billion, up 1.6% in volume and 1.2% in value. Thanks to such positive figures, the rice sector has escaped a long period of shrinking exports and re-joined the club of commodities with respective export values reaching over US$1 billion.

China is currently the largest buyer of Vietnamese rice, importing 815,000 tonnes worth US$376 million, up 16% over the same period of 2016. Shipments to China, which has a preference for glutinous and jasmine rice from Vietnam, account for 47.5% of Vietnam’s total rice exports. Although rice exports are still experiencing some difficulties, shipments to China remain strong, especially through official channels.

Vietnam has also received good news from Bangladesh after a memorandum between the two countries was renewed until 2022, under which Vietnam will provide Bangladesh with one million tonnes of rice of different strains depending on the South Asian country’s demand and market prices.

Immediately after this agreement was signed, Bangladesh placed an order for 250,000-300,000 tonnes of Vietnam’s 5% broken white rice this year. The Bangladesh side has also invited a Vietnamese representative to visit Bangladesh as soon as possible to discuss the price, quantity and delivery method for the order.

In addition, the National Food Authority of the Philippines recently announced that it would hold a bidding session in June to purchase 250,000 tonnes of rice to increase its national reserve ahead of typhoon season. Enterprises from Thailand, Vietnam, India and Pakistan can all offer their bids. In addition, the Philippines will have to import at least 1.5 million tonnes of rice from now until the first quarter of 2018 to meet domestic demand, which is a good opportunity for Vietnamese rice exporters.

There are also some bright signs from the supply side as Thailand has unloaded most of its stockpile, a significant factor which will help the global rice trade to return to normal without a strong pressure on prices as of late.

Thanks to such positive news, Vietnam’s rice export prices have been on the rise. According to the Vietnam Food Association, the price for a tonne of 5% broken rice has increased from US$360-380 at the end of May to US$390, the highest level since December 2014. Domestic prices have also risen by VND250-550 per kilogram.

However, it is predicted that Vietnam’s rice sector will continue experiencing numerous difficulties. For example, China is tightening cross-border rice trade and increasing imports through official channels. The Philippines has also changed to a new rice import mechanism in which rice will be bought by private enterprises instead of through government bidding. Although this may make Vietnamese enterprises more proactive in approaching foreign customers but if the quality is not improved and Vietnamese brands remain unknown, Vietnamese exporters will find it hard to compete with other suppliers from regional countries.

Therefore, it is necessary to fine-tune existing policies to facilitate rice exports, in addition to the immediate task of finding new orders. Recently the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) finished compiling a new decree on rice trading with many amendments such as loosened requirements on warehouses and supportive measures to develop high-quality rice growing areas. The new decree, expected to create the most favourable conditions for rice exporters, has been publicised for feedback and will soon be promulgated.

Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the MOIT’s Export-Import Department, said the majority of feedback from rice exporters and local governments in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam’s rice bowl, has been positive due to the MOIT’s more relaxed conditions for rice exports.http://en.nhandan.org.vn/business/item/5285002-vietnam-s-rice-exports-return-to-growth.html

NFA Quirino supports rice importation program

June 19, 2017

Thelma C. Bicarme

CABARROGUIS, Quirino, June 7 (PIA)— The National Food Authority here has expressed full support to the immediate importation of rice for fear of rice shortage in the province come lean months.Provincial Manager Corazon Pangan said she is happy that the NFA council has already decided to import rice through the private sector to augment the country’s buffer stock of its staple food in the coming lean season.The provincial manager said NFA Quirino did not meet its procurement target of palay during the harvest season due to the high buying price offered by the private traders.

Pangan said although the farmers benefited from the high buying prices of the private traders, she feared that the NFA might not be able to maintain stability of commercial prices at levels within the reach of poor families.“Our stocks will only last until July and if there’s no rice importation, we might not be able to stabilize prices in the market because private traders inventory or rice supply is high so they could easily command prices,” Pangan said.

Pangan said they targeted to buy 10,000 bags of palay but only 130 bags were procured despite their efforts to encourage farmers to sell their produce to NFA.NFA buying price remains at P 17.00/kg for clean and dry with an additional incentive of P0.20-0.50/kg for delivery, P0.20/kg for drying and P0.30 for cooperative development incentive fund (CDIF) for farmers’ organizations. (MDCT/TCB/PIA 2-Quirino)

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/451497587950/nfa-quirino-supports-rice-importation-program#sthash.rdmIPPKJ.

Vietnam's rice exports return to growth

Monday, 2017-06-19 04:19:27

http://en.nhandan.com.vn/business/item/5285002-vietnam-s-rice-exports-return-to-growth.html

Lagos govt resumes sale of LAKE Rice ahead of Eid-el-fitr

June 18, 2017Agency Report

The Lagos State Government said it would resume the sales of LAKE Rice at approved retail outlets across the state from Monday, June 19, ahead of the Eid-el-fitr.The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Oluwatoyin Suarau, said this on Sunday while reviewing the modalities for the distribution of the rice across the state.

Mr. Suarau said that the sales would be part of the state government’s commitment to ensure food security and help residents sail through the current economic recession.According to him, the rice which has been subsidised to ensure affordability is fresh and safe for consumption.“The selling of the rice is auspicious, especially, with regards to the forthcoming Eid-el-fitr.

“The ministry will ensure a fair distribution of the rice across the state and ensure that the product is available during the festive period.“’The prices of the product have not changed: a 50kg bag will sell for N12,000 while each bag of the 25kg and 10kg are going to be sold for N6,000 and N2,500 respectively,’’ he said.

The commissioner listed the approved sales’ outlets to include: Lagos State Agric Input Supply Authority Centres at Ojo, Ajah, Odogunyan in Ikorodu, and Epe.

Other will include the secretariats of all the 57 local government and local council development areas in the state.He said they would also be available at the Agricultural Development Area Complex at Oko-Oba, Agege; LTV8 Complex in Agidingbi; the State Universal Basic Education Board complex at Maryland; the Government Technical College premises at Idimu-Alimosho and the Eko Farmers Mart, in Surulere.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/234435-lagos-govt-resumes-sale-lake-rice-ahead-eid-el-fitr.html

Iran Produces 61% of Central, West Asian Rice

Monday, June 19, 2017

With around 54% of Central and West Asia's paddy fields located in Iran, the country accounts for 61% of the regions' combined rice production, the Central and West Asia Rice Center said.

According to CWARice, in order to meet growing demand, achieve food security and reduce poverty in Central and West Asia, a 25% increase in rice production is needed by 2035, IRNA reported.

CWARice was officially established in 2010 at the Rice Research Institute of Iran in the city of Rasht in Iran's northern Gilan Province. Its member states include Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The mission of CWARice is to conduct advanced rice research with an emphasis on new production technologies that will be required to adapt rice production systems in the region to climate change, the center's official website said.

The International Rice Research Institute has estimated that rice consumption in Central and West Asia will rise from the current 9 million tons to around 16.5 million tons in 2035.

The International Rice Research Institute is the world’s premier research organization dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science; improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers; and protecting the rice-growing environment for future generations.

IRRI is an independent, nonprofit, research and educational institute, founded in 1960. Headquartered in Los Banos, the Philippines, IRRI has offices in 17 rice-growing countries in Asia and Africa.

Iranians consume 3.2 million tons of rice a year, of which more than 2.2 million tons are supplied by domestic farmers.

The Agriculture Ministry expects domestic rice production to increase by 10-15% in the current Iranian year (started March 21), because of favorable weather condition and timely distribution of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, machinery and equipment among local farmers.

The government periodically places a ban on imports during the harvest season to support local farmers. Import tariffs have increased from 22% four years ago to 40% at present for the same reason.

The two northern provinces of Gilan and Mazandaran are home to the majority of Iran’s paddy fields.

Director General of Grains and Staple Foods Office with the Ministry of Agriculture Kaveh Khaksar said about 81% and 70% of rice harvest in the two provinces respectively were mechanized in the last Iranian year (ended March 20, 2017), Mehr News Agency reported.

“The figures are estimated to increase to 86% for Mazandaran and 80% for Gilan in the current year. Mechanization expansion is done with the aim of increasing productivity and achieving self-sufficiency. A 100% automation of rice harvest is projected by the end of the sixth five-year development plan (2017-22),” he said.

Khaksar added that out of the 185,000 hectares of paddy fields in Mazandaran, 38,000 hectares went under mechanized rice planting. In Gilan, mechanized rice planting was carried out over 95,000 hectares from the total of 238,000 hectares of paddy fields.

According to Kambiz Abbasi, an official with the Ministry of Agriculture, the government of President Hassan Rouhani invested 6 trillion rials (about $156 million) on mechanization of rice production, which investment is “unprecedented”.

He added that mechanization would cut rice harvesting costs by up to 70%.

Abbasi also noted that in view of water shortage in Iran, the administration is not willing to expand paddy fields in provinces other than the northern Mazandaran and Gilan

https://financialtribune.com/articles/economy-domestic-economy/66736/iran-produces-61-of-central-west-asian-rice

Bangladesh Bank relaxes rice import rules to ensure supply after crop losses

Chief Economics Correspondent, bdnews24.com

Published: 2017-06-19 20:17:46.0 BdST Updated: 2017-06-19 21:05:43.0 BdST

Bangladesh Bank has instructed banks to allow private traders to import rice without any deposit against letters of credit or LC margin.The decision is meant to ensure rice supply to local markets in the aftermath of crop losses in recent flash-floods, the central bank said in a notice on Monday.The new rules will remain in force until Dec 31, which will allow the traders to import rice first and make the payments afterwards. The LC margin varies from bank to bank depending on relations between bankers and customers.

In a letter to the chief executives of all banks, Bangladesh Bank said the loss of crops caused by recent floods and heavy rains in parts of the country have created some instability in the market.Rice imports by private traders slumped 58 percent year-on-year to 103,200 tonnes between July 1 and May 25 of the outgoing fiscal year.In December 2015, the government increased customs duty on rice imports from 10 percent to 25 percent to discourage imports. But the total duty amounts to 28 percent when 3 percent regulatory duty is added.

As a result, private traders have been avoiding rice imports for the past one and a half years.However, Bangladesh's stock of rice has also shrunk as 750,000 tonnes of rice were distributed following the loss of harvest in haor areas and as part of a project aiming to provide rice to the poor at Tk 10.The government had some 193,190 tonnes of rice in stock until June 12, compared to 593,020 tonnes at the same time last year.These have led the prices of rice to spiral out of control as wholesalers and millers continued the blame game.The government initially planned to import 600,000 tonnes of rice to keep the market stable.It has floated three tenders to buy 150,000 tonnes of rice and plans to import 250,000 tonnes of the grain from Vietnam under government-to-government deals.

The government hopes rice prices will ease once imports arrive in the market.Government data, often lower than market prices, shows a 47 percent rise in the price of coarse rice while a fine variety saw around 20 percent rise in a year.The fine variety is currently on sale at no less than Tk 60 per kg. Last three months were the worst period when people saw a steep rise in prices of rice of almost all varieties.According to figures by the food ministry, the flash floods damaged Boro crops, which would have yielded around 600,000 tonnes of rice. Unofficial estimates put the number at 2.2 million tonnes.

http://bdnews24.com/business/2017/06/19/bangladesh-bank-relaxes-rice-import-rules-to-ensure-supply-after-crop-losses

Kenya receives relief food from China

SUNDAY JUNE 18 2017

Devolution CS Mwangi Kiunjuri (left) helps offload a bag of relief food from a lorry in Garbatulla, Isiolo South on May 25, 2017. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATON MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

· Mr Kiunjuri also warned businessmen against selling subsidised two-kilogramme packet of maize flour beyond the stipulated price of Sh90 and a one-kilogram packet at Sh47.

· He also took a swipe at National Super Alliance (Nasa) presidential flagbearer Raila Odinga claiming the ODM leader was inciting Kenyans.

By WINNIE ATIENO
r

The government has received 55,000 tonnes of relief food from China, Devolution Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri has said.The CS said the rice which is at the port of Mombasa will be distributed to counties facing acute food shortage.“We have done clearance and exemptions have been provided. From next week, we will plan on how to supply the foodstuff to Kenyans who are facing food shortage due to famine,” he said.

Mr Kiunjuri also warned businessmen against selling subsidised two-kilogramme packet of maize flour beyond the stipulated price of Sh90 and a one-kilogram packet at Sh47.

“We also want to ensure posho mills are getting enough maize supply to grind maize to ensure there is sufficient flour,” said the CS.

POLITICS

Weak conditions prevail at the wholesale grains market

PTI | Jun 17, 2017, 02.27 PM IST

New Delhi, Jun 17 () Weak conditions emerged at the wholesale grains market today as prices of wheat and other bold grains fell by up to Rs 20 per quintal due to reduced offtake against sufficient stocks position.

Traders said reduced offtake by flour mills against adequate stocks position mainly led to decline in wheat prices.

They said muted demand from consuming industries helped other bold prices to trade lower.

In the national capital, wheat dara (for mills) declined by Rs 15 to Rs 1,745-1,750 per quintal. Atta chakki delivery followed suit and enquired lower by a similar margin to Rs 1,750-1,755 per 90 kg.

Other bold grains like, bajra and barley also moved down by Rs 20 each to Rs 1,280-1,290 and Rs 1,560-1,580 per quintal respectively.

Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal):

Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,100-2,345, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,745-1,750, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,750-1,755, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Roller flour mill Rs 950-960 (50 kg), Maida Rs 960-970 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs 1,040-1,050 (50 kg).

Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,800, Basmati common new Rs 6,600-6,800, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 5,500-5,800, Permal raw Rs 2,225-2,250, Permal wand Rs 2,275-2,300, Sela Rs 2,500-2,600 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,850-1,900, Bajra Rs 1,280-1,290, Jowar yellow Rs 1,500-1,550, white Rs 3,000-3,200, Maize Rs 1,320-1,330, Barley Rs 1,560-1,580. SUN KPS ADI MKJ

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/weak-conditions-prevail-at-the-wholesale-grains-market/articleshow/59191588.cms

Rice can be imported without deposit

Star Online Report

The rice importers will be allowed to import rice without making any advance payment for stabilising rice price and increasing supply in the local market.The rice importers will be given the facilities till December 31 this year, according to a circular of Bangladesh Bank. The BB issued the circular to all commercial banks advising to open Letter of Credit (LC) with zero margin importing rice to ensure adequate supply in the local market.

The BB circular said, the recent floods in haor areas, excessive rainfall and natural disaster have created instability in the rice market.The central bank has relaxed the conditions for LC margin to encourage import of rice in the private sector.http://www.thedailystar.net/business/rice-can-be-imported-without-deposit-1422460

Bangladesh Bank eases rice import rules to ensure supply

BB eases rice import rules

Bangladesh Bank has instructed banks to allow private traders to import rice without any deposit against letters of credit or LC margin.The decision is meant to ensure rice supply to local markets in the aftermath of crop losses in recent flash-floods, the central bank said in a notice on Monday, reports bdnews24.com.The new rules will remain in force until Dec 31, which will allow the traders to import rice first and make the payments afterwards. The LC margin varies from bank to bank depending on relations between bankers and customers.

In December 2015, the government increased customs duty on rice imports from 10 per cent to 25 per cent to discourage imports. But the total duty amounts to 28 per cent when 3.0 per cent regulatory duty is added.As a result, private traders have been avoiding rice imports for the past one and a half years.

However, Bangladesh's stock of rice has also shrunk as 750,000 tonnes of rice were distributed following the loss of harvest in haor areas and as part of a project aiming to provide rice to the poor at Tk 10.

The government had some 193,190 tonnes of rice in stock until June 12, compared to 593,020 tonnes at the same time last year.These have led the prices of rice to spiral out of control as wholesalers and millers continued the blame game.The government initially planned to import 600,000 tonnes of rice to keep the market stable.

It has floated three tenders to buy 150,000 tonnes of rice and plans to import 250,000 tonnes of the grain from Vietnam under government-to-government deals.The government hopes rice prices will ease once imports arrive in the market.Government data, often lower than market prices, shows a 47 per cent rise in the price of coarse rice while a fine variety saw around 20 per cent rise in a year.

The fine variety is currently on sale at no less than Tk 60 per kg. Last three months were the worst period when people saw a steep rise in prices of rice of almost all varieties.According to figures by the food ministry, the flash floods damaged Boro crops, which would have yielded around 600,000 tonnes of rice. Unofficial estimates put the number at 2.2 million tonnes

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2017/06/20/74388/BB-eases-rice-import-rules

BB moves to stabilise rice market

Staff Correspondent

12:00 AM, June 20, 2017 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:50 AM, June 20, 2017

Bangladesh Bank yesterday took two major steps to stabilise rice prices and increase its supply in the local market.The move comes at a time when price millers are not selling rice to the government as the price of the staple is higher in the local markets.Yesterday, the central bank issued a circular to all commercial banks directing them to realise the loans given to rice traders and mill owners within 30 days.

The BB officials said the directive has been issued so that the rice millers cannot hoard rice.In another directive, the central bank told the banks that the importers will be allowed to import rice without making any advance payment.In the circular, the BB advised the banks to open LC with zero margin in importing rice to ensure adequate supply in the local market. The rice importers will enjoy the facility till December 31 this year.The circular said, in recent times, floods in haor areas, excessive rainfall and natural disasters have created instability in the rice market.The central bank has relaxed the conditions for LC margin to encourage import of rice in the private sector.

http://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/bb-moves-stabilise-rice-market-1422751

Vietnam’s rice granary endangered by water shortage

VietNamNet Bridge - The weaker water flow towards the downstream Mekong River has caused drought in The Mekong Delta, affecting the livelihood of millions of people in the area.

The rains in June 2017 helped cool down the land in the Delta. The Central Hydrometeorological Forecast Center said the floods this year may be a little higher than previous years.

This is a great opportunity for locals to store water in the context of big changes in the Mekong water flow due to water exploitation in the upper course by hydropower plants and water diversion projects.

Both farmers and scientists are concerned about the development of Mekong Delta, the rice granary of the country, amid attempts to change the current of the river.According to Nguyen Nhan Quang, a river basin management expert, Thailand has had 990 more projects in the northeast on using Mekong’s water to serve irrigation in the area.

Both farmers and scientists are concerned about the development of Mekong Delta, the rice granary of the country, amid attempts to change the current of the river.

In Cambodia, the strategy on stepping up rice cultivation for export is being implemented, with the country seeking cooperation with foreign countries, mostly from China, to expand the irrigation network.In Laos, the current total irrigation area is 166,476 hectares, but the figure is expected to increase by 213,062 hectares by 2030. As upstream countries try to expand water use, this will be a great challenge for Vietnam’s Mekong Delta.

Fresh water is a valuable resource, compared with ‘white gold’. It is needed for daily life, food production, industrial production and other purposes.

Le Anh Tuan from Can Tho University cited international research as reporting that hydropower dams will change the current in the lower course and lead to a loss of tens of millions of tons of alluvium.Therefore, the Mekong Delta needs to take the initiative in storing water for reasonable use in dry season. The development of agriculture production in Mekong Delta depends heavily on investment policies on irrigation.

The weak point of interior-field irrigation is the lack of support systems such as pump stations and canals. Scientists have emphasized solutions of storing and saving water.Nguyen Van Dong, director of the Hau Giang provincial agriculture department, said the province is taking full advantage of major tributaries to store water. When drought and saline intrusion come, the stored water will serve people’s daily life and agricultural production.

Scientists warn that Mekong Delta should get ready to prepare to fight against floods, which not only come from nature, but also from hydropower plants. It is necessary to build a strategy on ‘living together with floods’.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/environment/180361/vietnam-s-rice-granary-endangered-by-water-shortage.html

India raises rice, cotton buying prices as farmers’ protests mount

India raised minimum purchase prices for rice, cotton and other crops by the most since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, according a government circular seen by Reuters, amid ongoing protests in the country's biggest farming states. Prices paid to local farmers for common grade paddy rice are to be raised by 5.4 percent to 1,550 rupees ($24.03) per 100 kg for the year starting on July 1, while long staple cotton prices have been hiked by 3.8 percent to 4,320 rupees per 100 kg.

The increases for rice, cotton and other crops follow an outburst of discontent in the heartland states of Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring Maharashtra as farmers sought higher prices and debt relief. Five protesting farmers were shot dead this month in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, which along with Maharashtra is ruled by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The unrest has posed a challenge to regional BJP leaders and Modi, who have promised to double farmers' incomes over the next five years.

India is the world's biggest rice exporter and buys the grain from local farmers to protect them from distressed sales and to build stocks for welfare programmes. The government fixes minimum prices for more than two dozen farm commodities, although it mainly procures wheat and rice. Growers of other crops like onions, tomatoes and potatoes are also protesting due to steep falls in the prices of their produce and the absence of the government buying.

The government has also raised soybean prices by 9.9 percent to 3,050 rupees per 100 kg, and corn by 7.1 percent to 1,425 rupees per 100 kg, effective from July 1. The increases for these two grains were also the greatest since 2012/13. ($1 = 64.5125 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav in MUMBAI and Nidhi Verma in NEW DELHI; Editing by Tom Hogue)

https://www.reuters.com/article/india-farmers-prices-idUSL3N1JH1WM

Govt floats more tenders to import rice, wheat in desperate bid to bring down local prices

Government data shows a 47 percent rise in the price of coarse rice while a fine variety saw around 20 percent rise in a year. File photo

Bangladesh seeks to import more food grains as the government has floated new tenders to procure 100,000 tonnes of rice and wheat in a desperate bid to bring down local prices.The Directorate General of Food posted two separated tender notices on its website on Tuesday, just ten days before this fiscal year ends.

The government has invited bids from international traders to import 50,000 tonnes of non-basmati parboiled rice. The rice tender, which closes on Jul 9, is the fourth in the outgoing fiscal 2017. The latest tender brings the amount of rice to 200,000 tonnes Bangladesh is seeking to procure from outside in the year ending Jun 30.

The second tender floated by the state grains buyer on Tuesday is to import 50,000 tonnes of wheat. Suppliers have been told to submit bids by Jul 11. Bangladesh initially planned to import 600,000 tonnes of rice to keep the market stable. Until Jun 18, the government had 486,000 tonnes of food grains in stock, with rice amounting to around 181,000 tonnes. The depleting reserves have caused rice prices to spiral out of control with millers and wholesalers blaming each other. Bangladesh also gave the green light for a purchase of another 250,000 tonnes of rice from Vietnam under a government-to-government deal. The government hopes rice prices will ease once imports arrive in the market.

Government data, often lower than market prices, shows a 47 percent rise in the price of coarse rice while a fine variety saw around 20 percent rise in a year. The fine variety is currently on sale at no less than Tk 60 per kg. Last three months were the worst period when people saw a steep rise in prices of rice of almost all varieties. According to figures by the food ministry, the flash floods damaged Boro crops, which would have yielded around 600,000 tonnes of rice. Unofficial estimates put the number at 2.2 million tonnes.http://ricenewstoday.com/?p=117267

No sign of stability in rice market

Private sector import hits 4-year low as 28pc import duty discourages importers amid rising price in global market

Reaz Ahmad and Rejaul Karim Byron

Rice import by the private sector has dropped to a four-year low at a time when its prices have shot up in the domestic market. Traders imported only 1.2 lakh tonnes of rice till mid-June in the current fiscal year against 2.56 lakh tonnes in the previous fiscal year. Its import has not dipped so low since 2012 when 29,000 tonnes of rice were imported. Importers blame the existing 28 percent tariff on rice import for the decline.

As the domestic rice market has become volatile, the government is trying to replenish its depleting stock through quick import. But it hasn't yet made any move to encourage rice import by the private sector.

Last week, the government decided to import parboiled rice from Vietnam for more than Tk 39 a kg. The state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh recorded 47 percent hike in the prices of coarse rice this month compared to that in the corresponding month last year.

TARIFF DISCOURAGING IMPORT

Government statistics show letters of credit were opened for import of 2.25 lakh tonnes of rice in the current fiscal year but the private sector imported only half the quantity till mid-June. Market sources told The Daily Star that though import of more rice is in the pipeline, the importers are making delay in bringing shipments with the hope that the government would soon go for a tariff cut.

With rice prices going up in the global market, local traders are increasingly finding it difficult to make a profit after paying high tariff on import. Market sources said rice import is no longer lucrative for traders as they have to pay 28 percent tariff on top of high import costs. They are not showing interest in importing rice though its prices have shot up in the local market (coarse rice Tk 48 a kg). They are still waiting for the government to withdraw the import duty.

PRICES UP IN INT'L MARKET

A food ministry document shows that price of parboiled rice rose to $410 a tonne this month from $384 a tonne in June last year and $397 in the previous month. In May-June this year, parboiled rice prices rose by 3.3 percent in India, 5.6 percent in Thailand and 2.4 percent in Pakistan, while the price of Vietnamese white rice (atap) went up by 8.2 percent, show yesterday's data by the Food Planning and Monitoring Unit (FPMU) of the food ministry.

Last month, Bangladesh struck two deals to import 50,000 tonnes of parboiled rice for $427.85 a tonne and another 50,000 tonnes of white rice for $406.48 a tonne. Only two weeks later, it signed a deal with Vietnam for importing 2.5 lakh tonnes of rice (50,000 tonnes of parboiled and two lakh tonnes of white rice) at a higher price. It agreed to pay $470 a tonne for parboiled rice and $430 a tonne for white rice. Food ministry sources said that apart from Bangladesh, at least six other countries sought to import rice from Vietnam in recent weeks, resulting in a hike in demand and the price. The six countries are the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cuba and China.

RATIONALE BEHIND TARIFF

The government didn't have to import rice since fiscal 2011-12 due to successive good yields of rice in harvest seasons. But taking advantage of the zero-tariff import facility, private importers brought in 3.75 lakh tonnes of rice in fiscal 2013-14 and nearly 15 lakh tonnes in the following fiscal year, flooding the domestic market with cheap Indian rice. To protect local rice growers, the government imposed a high tariff of 28 percent on rice import in two phases in 2015. Talking to The Daily Star, agricultural economist Dr Jahangir Alam said import tariff should not be static.

The government should adjust it according to the given situation. Omer Azam, general secretary of Chittagong Rice Traders Association, said rice production is likely to fall short of the target and the domestic market now requires an increased supply through import for price stabilisation. But importers are waiting for a government decision on tariff cut, he added. Though the food ministry has proposed a tariff cut on rice import, the finance ministry is yet to decide on it.

WHY RICE PRICES SOARED?

In addition to open market sale, vulnerable group feeding and other social safety net programmes, the government late last year introduced Tk 10-a-kg rice programme for five million ultra poor.

Over the last one year, many such government programmes have led to the depletion of food reserve with rice stock falling to a six-year low of 1.9 lakh tonnes. On the other hand, the food department's initiative to replenish rice stock by procuring Boro fizzled out. Millers refused to sell rice to the department for Tk 34 a kg set by the government. In the first 11 months of this fiscal year, 14.83 lakh tonnes of rice were distributed under various government programmes against 11.75 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period of fiscal 2015-16.

Under the fair price programme alone, 6.84 lakh tonnes of rice were distributed. An unusual early flashflood that struck the haor region in late March caused a loss of Boro rice totalling one million tonnes. According to market sources, blast attacks (fungi attack) also led to a loss of Boro rice in 19 districts. But the agriculture department claimed that the loss was nominal. Experts and agricultural economists say the government's temporal inability to go for market intervention due to its current low stock allowed rice millers and traders to hike the prices. Rice prices would be stable if supply of the staple is increased in the domestic market quickly through imports by both the government and private channels, they noted.

http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/no-sign-stability-rice-market-1422736

Upturn in fortunes forecast for Thai rice

20 Jun 2017 at 09:00 2,041

NEWSPAPER SECTION: BUSINESS | WRITER: PHUSADEE ARUNMAS

With state rice stockpiles nearly sold off and major rice-producing nations suffering bad weather, Thai rice exports are likely to hit a record high this year, say government and industry officials.

Mrs Duangporn says rice exports are likely to hit a record high this year. SOMCHAI POOMLARD
Thailand's 2017 rice exports are tipped to reach 11 million tonnes, the most ever, because of rising demand in rice-importing countries at a time that production in grower countries is falling.Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general of the Commerce Ministry's Foreign Trade Department, said several rice-importing countries have approached Thailand asking to buy more rice.She said falling state rice stocks have ignited concerns that supply in rice-exporting countries is falling, spurring buyers to rush to secure supply.
"The decline in Thai state rice inventories has helped cut the pressure on global rice prices and also created more room for the price to rise further this year," said Mrs Duangporn.State rice stocks rose to a historical high of 18.9 million tonnes prior to 2014 after an aggressive rice subsidy scheme, whereby the state offered to buy rice directly from farmers at higher-than-market prices.
The stocks have since fallen sharply to 2.1 million tonnes, of which 1.6 million tonnes was edible-grade white rice and 500,000 tonnes was inedible-grade rice suitable for ethanol production.Falling government rice stocks also helped cut pressure on global prices, exporters said, adding the prices were expected to rise further over the next few months as there was fresh demand from traditional importing countries that have approached Thailand at a time of limited supply.
Charoen Laothamatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said those countries include Iran, Iraq, Bangladesh and the Philippines.
"Some clients that used to import Thai rice but stopped buying over the past several years because of quality issues have come back," said Mr Charoen.But Thai rice supply is limited because of the 2016 drought and the government's policy to encourage farmers to switch to other lucrative crops such as sugar, which has substantially cut supply from the off-season rice crop.
Rice production from the off-season crop dropped by more than 40% from 9-10 million tonnes on average over the past few years to just 5 million tonnes this year, according to data supplied by the Agriculture Ministry.That has pushed the price of Thai 5% broken grade white rice to US$462 (15,684 baht) a tonne, up from last month's $416 a tonne, according to the Thai Rice Exporters Association."We can say that the Thai rice industry has passed through the crisis and is now on the rise," said Mr Charoen.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1271979/upturn-in-fortunes-forecast-for-thai-rice

RICEPLUS MAGAZINE

Riceplus

Menu-1

Menu-2

Menu-3