Kharif rice output may dip by 1.9mn ton; pulses down 70,000 ton
September 25, 2017 CTBUREAU_NAV 34 Views 0 Comments Kharif rice output expected to drop
Agrarian News, Nation (New Delhi), September 25:-India’s rice output is likely to fall by 1.9 million tonnes (MT) to 94.48 MT in kharif season this year on account of poor rain as well as floods, official sources said.
The production of pulses and coarse cereals is estimated to have fallen, dragging the overall food grains output in kharif (summer-sown) season to 134.67 MT from record 138.52 MT in last kharif, as per the sources. Kharif food grain basket comprises rice, pulses and coarse cereals. Harvesting will start from next month.
Barring sugarcane, the production of all major kharif crops is likely to decline.
The Union Agriculture Ministry will release its first advance estimate on Monday.
Rice output is estimated to fall at 94.48 MT in the kharif season of the 2017-18 crop year (July-June) from the record 96.39 MT in last kharif, the official who did not wish to be named said.
Pulses output could drop to 8.71 MT from the record 9.42 MT due to depressed prices and poor rains.
The production of tur and urad are pegged at 3.99 MT and 2.53 MT, respectively.
Coarse cereals output is also seen lower at 31.49 MT against 32.71 MT in last kharif season.
Among cash crops, cotton output is estimated to be slightly lower at 32.27 million bales (of 170 kg each) in the 2017-18 crop years (July-June) from 33.09 million bales.
However, sugarcane output might rise to 337.69 million tonnes from 306.72 million tonnes.
Oilseeds output is estimated to be down at 20.68 MT in the kharif season of this year from 22.40 MT in the year-ago period. Soyabean output has been pegged at 12.22 MT.
The fall in kharif output is attributed to dry spell as well as floods in some parts of the country.
The overall southwest monsoon, crucial for rain-fed kharif crops, was projected normal, but till first week of this month it was less by five per cent.
Assam, Bihar, Gujarat and Rajasthan witnessed floods, while parts of Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu faced dry spell.
The kharif output estimates might be revised later taking feedback from states. The ministry releases four estimates before the final one at different stages of harvesting
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Septmember 25, 2017
SEPTEMBER 25, 2017 / 1:06 PM
Reuters Staff
•
•
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-September 25
Nagpur, Sept 25 (Reuters) – Gram prices moved down in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing
Committee (APMC) here on poor demand from local millers amid good supply from producing regions.
Sharp fall on NCDEX, downward trend in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and high moisture content
arrival also affected prices here.
About 100 of gram and 300 bags of tuar were available for auctions, according to sources.
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Gram varieties reported weak in open market here on subdued demand from local
traders amid release of stock from stockists.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties declined in open market here in absence of buyers amid profit-taking
selling by stockists at higher level.
* Moong varieties reported down in open market on poor demand from local traders amid
good supply from producing regions.
* In Akola, Tuar New – 3,900-4,050, Tuar dal (clean) – 6,000-6,200, Udid Mogar (clean)
– 7,700-8,700, Moong Mogar (clean) 6,600-7,000, Gram – 5,400-5,600, Gram Super best
– 7,800-8,300
* Wheat, rice and other foodgrain items 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 4,850-5,575 4,850-5,640
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction n.a. 3,700-3,950
Moong Auction n.a. 3,900-4,200
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800
Wheat Mill quality Auction 1,575-1,640 1,600-1,695
Gram Super Best Bold 8,000-8,500 8,300-8,800
Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.
Gram Medium Best 7,400-7,600 7,600-8,000
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a
Gram Mill Quality 5,700-5,800 5,800-6,000
Desi gram Raw 5,700-6,000 6,000-6,200
Gram Kabuli 12,500-13,200 12,500-13,200
Tuar Fataka Best-New 6,200-6,400 6,500-6,800
Tuar Fataka Medium-New 6,000-6,200 6,200-6,400
Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 5,600-5,800 5,800-6,000
Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 5,000-5,400 5,500-5,700
Tuar Gavarani New 4,100-4,200 4,300-4,400
Tuar Karnataka 4,500-4,700 4,700-4,900
Masoor dal best 5,200-5,400 5,200-5,400
Masoor dal medium 4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold (New) 6,800-7,200 7,000-7,500
Moong Mogar Medium 6,300-6,600 6,500-7,000
Moong dal Chilka 5,500-6,200 5,500-6,400
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 6,900-7,400 6,900-7,400
Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 8,000-9,000 8,000-9,000
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,000-7,000 6,000-7,000
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,500-6,500 5,500-6,500
Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,200-5,800 5,200-5,800
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 2,900-3,100 2,900-3,100
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,100 2,900-3,100
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,400 3,800-4,400
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000
Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,850 1,700-1,850
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,300 2,100-2,300
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,400 2,200-2,400
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,100 1,900-2,100
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,600 3,100-3,600
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,700 2,200-2,700
Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,300-3,400 3,300-3,400
Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,800-3,200 2,800-3,200
Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,600 2,400-2,600
Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600
Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400
Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,000 3,800-4,000
Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,500-3,800 3,500-3,800
Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG) 4,800-5,200 4,800-5,200
Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,700 4,500-4,700
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 9,500-13,500 9,500-13,500
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-7,500 5,000-7,500
Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000
Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 4,300-4,500 4,300-4,500
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,700-2,000 1,700-2,000
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 35.0 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 24.0 degree Celsius
Rainfall : Nil
FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. It may be partly cloudy towards evening or night. Maximum and
minimum temperature would be around and 35 and 24 degree Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but
included in market prices)
https://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-septmember-25-2017-idINL4N1M62WH
Bangladeshi gov't launches fair price rice outlets to stabilize market
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-24 20:35:51|Editor: Zhou Xin
DHAKA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Bangladeshi government has launched its countrywide open market sales (OMS) of rice at the subsidized rate in wake of the recent surge in prices of rice.
Under the OMS program, Abdul Mazid, a salesman of a fair price outlet in Dhaka, told Xinhua Sunday the rice price has been fixed at 30 taka (0.37 U.S. dollars) per kg, much lower than that in outside markets.
The OMS price of rice is lower by at least 20 taka a kg from the current retail market price.
According to the salesman, each customer can buy a maximum of 5 kg of rice every day from such outlets.
"So far we know the outlets will continue selling rice throughout city and elsewhere in the country until further notice," he said.
Bangladeshi Food Minister Quamrul Islam last week said the government decided to start OMS of rice to support the poorer segment of people as rice prices are soaring after floods wiped out crops in recent months.
Bangladesh last month announced to cut import duty on rice further to 2 percent amid flash floods
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-09/24/c_136634454.htm
Kharif rice output may dip by 1.9mn ton; pulses down 70000 ton
PTI|Updated: Sep 24, 2017, 04.30 PM IST
Rice ouptut is estimated to fall at 94.48 MT in the kharif season of the 2017-18 crop year (July-June) from the record 96.39 MT in last kharif,
NEW DELHI India's rice output is likely to fall by 1.9 million tonnes (MT) to 94.48 MT in kharif season this year on account of poor rain as well as floods, official sources said.
The production of pulses and coarse cereals is estimated to have fallen, dragging the overall foodgrains output in kharif (summer-sown) season to 134.67 MT from record 138.52 MT in last kharif, as per the sources.
Kharif foodgrain basket comprises rice, pulses and coarse cereals. Harvesting will start from next month.
Barring sugarcane, the production of all major kharif crops is likely to decline.
The Union Agriculture Ministry will release its first advance estimate on Monday.
Rice ouptut is estimated to fall at 94.48 MT in the kharif season of the 2017-18 crop year (July-June) from the record 96.39 MT in last kharif, the official who did not wish to be named said.
Pulses output could drop to 8.71 MT from the record 9.42 MT due to depressed prices and poor rains. The production of tur and urad are pegged at 3.99 MT and 2.53 MT, respectively.
Coarse cereals output is also seen lower at 31.49 MT against 32.71 MT in last kharif season.
Among cash crops, cotton output is estimated to be slightly lower at 32.27 million bales (of 170 kg each) in the 2017-18 crop year (July-June) from 33.09 million bales.
However, sugarcane output might rise to 337.69 million tonnes from 306.72 million tonnes.
Oilseeds output is estimated to be down at 20.68 MT in the kharif season of this year from 22.40 MT in the year-ago period. Soyabean output has been pegged at 12.22 MT.
The fall in kharif output is attributed to dry spell as well as floods in some parts of the country.
The overall southwest monsoon, crucial for rain-fed kharif crops, was projected normal, but till first week of this month it was less by five per cent.
Assam, Bihar, Gujarat and Rajasthan witnessed floods, while parts of Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu faced dry spell.
The kharif output estimates might be revised later taking feedback from states. The ministry releases four estimates before the final one at different stages of harvesting.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/kharif-rice-output-may-dip-by-1-9mn-ton-pulses-down-70000-ton/articleshow/60816268.cms
Rice price yet to come down
UNB . Dhaka | Update: 20:13, Sep 25, 2017
Although the government has taken various steps to arrest the skyrocketing price of rice in the local market, city dwellers are yet to get any benefit as retailers have not slashed its price.The retailers said although the wholesalers have cut the price of coarse rice by Tk 3-4, they have only reduced Tk 2 per kg.
While visiting retail markets at Karwan Bazar, Sukrabad, Segunbahicha and Hatirpool in the city on Monday, this correspondent found retailers selling different varieties of rice at higher prices than that of previous week although the wholesalers have claimed to have cut the price by Tk 100-200 per sack containing 50 kg.
Basmati and Jira Nazir varieties of rice were selling at Tk 75 per kg in the city markets while Nazir at Tk 70, Miniket Premium at Tk 65, Balam at Tk 58, BR 28 at Tk 55-56 and Swarna or coarse rice was selling at Tk 52-53 per kg.
According to the data of Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), Nazir or Miniket varieties rice were sold at Tk 60-65 per kg last week while the price was Tk 60-62 in the previous week and Tk 45-48 last year. Paijam or Lata variety of rice was selling at Tk 54-56, up from previous week's Tk 50-52.
The retailers were sellingSwarna,ChinaIRRI or coarse rice at Tk 50-52 per kg, hiking Tk 3-5 from the price of last week. The price of coarse rice was Tk 46-Tk 48 in July and Tk 33-36 during the corresponding period of the last year, showing a 47.33 per cent year-on-year increase.
Amid the depleting stock of the rice following devastating floods in the country's northern and northeastern parts which damaged huge croplands, the government has moved to import rice from the international market.
Besides, it slashed the import duty on rice import in the private sector twice -- from 28 per cent to 10 per cent first and then to 2 per cent -- to replenish the stock of rice and cut its price.
Food secretary Md Kaikobad Hossain recently said the government has so far ensured the import of 900,000 tonnes of rice from the international market.
Of the amount, 200,000 tonnes have already been brought in, while another 150,000 tonnes will arrive in the country soon and the remaining 550,000 tonnes will be coming by November next, he said after a meeting of the Cabinet Purchase Committee which approved a proposal to import 50,000 tonnes of rice on Wednesday last.
Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed on 17 September said the district and police administrations were directed to arrest those hoarding rice illegally across the country.
"The rice price is soaring due to the illegal hoarding. Actions will be taken against the illegal hoarders. The owners will be arrested if there's any illegal hoarding of rice," he had said while talking to reporters after a meeting with the leaders of Auto Mill Owners' Association at the Secretariat.
Mobile court drives are being conducted against illegal hoarding of rice at warehouses across the country.
On Thursday, a mobile court seized 4,000 tonnes of rice from a warehouse in Sagorika area of Chittagongcity.
At a meeting on 19 September, rice traders said rice prices would see a cut by Tk 2-3 per kg in a couple of days.
"Rice prices will be slashed by Tk 2-3 per kg from tomorrow (Wednesday)," KM Layek Ali, general secretary ofBangladeshAuto Major and Husking Mill Owners' Association, had told a meeting on the rice prices at the food ministry.
Food, agriculture and mommerce ministries sat with the rice mill owners, traders and importers amid its skyrocketing prices.
At the meeting, traders and mill owners blamed the use of jute bags for packaging rice for the price hike, demanding allowing them to use plastic bags.
Following the demand, Tofail announced to put on hold the ban on the use of plastic bags for the next three months.
President of Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Ghulam Rahman said the government should boost the rice stock to 9-10 lakh tonnes at the state-owned silos to resolve the ongoing crisis. "If the government can't do this, it'll increase the inflation," he said.
He also underscored the need for a clear idea about how much rice has so far been imported and how much will be procured under both government and private initiatives, saying it will be possible to control the rice price within two months if this is done.
The government has already signed deals with several countries to import rice, the CAB president said, adding that more deals should be inked before the rice price witnesses a worldwide trend.
Besides, the government should reduce import duty on rice to encourage the private importers, he added.
State minister for finance and planning MA Mannan said when the price of a particular product increases, traders hike the price with much enthusiasm but it takes time to decrease it.
The rice price has started to come down as the government has been working to control the market, Mannan added.
The inflation will affect the prices of regular food items, the junior minister said, adding that Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics has been working to determine the exact impact.
Meanwhile, restaurants in the city have hiked the price of cooked rice, taking the advantage of the rice price hike.
While visiting hotels and restaurants at Fakirerpool, Shantinagar, Bangshal and Baitul Mukarram North Gate in the city, it was found that the price of cooked rice has been increased by Tk 2-5 per plate.
President of Bangladesh Restaurant Owners' Association Khandaker Ruhul Amin said they are yet to take any decision about the increase of the price of cooked rice.
However, medium or average quality hotels in densely populated areas and office areas might have increased the price, Amin told UNB
http://en.prothom-alo.com/economy/news/160771/Rice-price-yet-to-come-down
CROPS>RICE
Deadline for Rice Leadership applications approaching
Growers, industry members should submit their information by Oct. 7.
Sep 21, 2017
Rice producers and industry-related professionals who meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to complete the application process for the 2018 Rice Leadership Development program soon. Deadline for applying is Oct. 7.
Members of the next class of rice producers and industry members will be announced during an awards luncheon at the 2017 USA Rice Outlook Conference, which will be held in San Antonio in December.
“The Rice Leadership Development Program gives young men and women a comprehensive understanding of the U.S. rice industry with an emphasis on personal development and communication skills training,” says Chuck Wilson, who has directed the program for the USA Rice Federation.
During a two-year period, class members attend four one-week sessions that are designed to strengthen their leadership skills.
“Board rooms across the country, as well as leadership positions all around the rice industry are populated with alumni of the program,” says Wilson. “Every graduate agrees, time spent in this program is well worth it, resulting in a better, more complete understanding of the industry, and it opens participants’ eyes to practices and customs going on beyond their farm gate or company, but that are supremely relevant to their development as an industry leader.”
The class is comprised of five rice producers and two industry-related professionals chosen by a committee of agribusiness leaders evaluating their applications, reviewing letters of recommendation and conducting personal interviews with the finalists.
Candidates must be 25-45 at the time of application and derive their primary livelihood from some aspect of the rice industry.
The program is sponsored by John Deere Company, RiceTec, Inc., and American Commodity Company through The Rice Foundation and managed by the USA Rice Federation. For more information on the program and an application form, visit usarice.com and click on the Leadership Program icon
http://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/deadline-rice-leadership-applications-approaching
Rice goes on sale from Phitsanulok farms sacrificed to floodwaters
Around Thailand September 25, 2017 12:00
By The Nation
Phitsanulok province began selling rice on Monday to help farmers in three districts who had sacrificed their fields for the retention of floodwater.
Deputy Governor Thawatchai Srisuwan said the province was selling 500 kilograms of rice at Bt28 per kilogram.The rice comes from the fields of farmers participating in the “Bang Rakam Model 2017” project, named for one of the three districts, the others being Prom Phiram and Muang.
Farmers there planted their rice earlier than normal so it could be harvested before the rainy season peaked and before floodwater from upstream began flowing south past Phitsanulok.
Floodwater was diverted into their fields in a bid to prevent business areas in downstream provinces being inundated.
Thawatchai said Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna was asked to seal the rice in 1kg vacuum packs for sale.
Each pack contains hom mali rice and Phitsanulok rice in equal measure.
It can be ordered from the Wat Chan Cooperative or (055) 259 581.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30327603
NFA’s rice-procurement program gets P7-B budget
By Jovee Marie de la Cruz
September 25, 2017
A member of the House Committee on Appropriations said last Sunday the national government has allocated P7 billion to enable the National Food Authority (NFA) to buy 388,889 metric tons (MT) of unhusked rice from farmers next year.
Rep. Johnny T. Pimentel of Surigao del Sur said the P7 billion is included in the 2018 P3.7-trillion national budget, which is set to be approved on Tuesday by the lower chamber.
“The fresh subsidy will allow the NFA to buy an extra 388,889 MT of unhusked rice, or palay, from local growers at P18 per kilogram. The supply will then form part of the country’s Strategic Rice Reserve,” Pimentel said in a statement.
Pimentel, also a chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, added the new funding is in accordance with President Duterte’s directive for the NFA to buy more locally produced rice.
Under the Strategic Rice Reserve, the NFA is mandated to keep stockpile rice equal to at least 15 days of national consumption at any given time, and equal to at least 30 days consumption by the start of the lean season on July 1 of every year.
After serving its purpose as stockpile, the lawmaker said the NFA then sells the rice to accredited outlets at P30 per kg to help keep retail prices down.
Next year Pimentel said the NFA intends to procure up to 1.2 million MT (MMT) of palay from local planters and distribute up to 1.35 MMT of rice.
Based on documents submitted to Congress, he said the NFA also indicated it may import another 580,050 MT of rice next year, if needed.
“Under the law, obtaining additional rice supplies from abroad is always an option, in case of calamities, fortuitous events, or shortfall in local production,” Pimentel said.
“But we would really prefer that the NFA buy as much palay as possible from local farmers, who are under tremendous pressure owing to the flood of rice supplies from abroad due to trade liberalization, as well as outright smuggling,” he added.
The NFA is targeting to purchase some 1.2 MMT of unmilled rice from farmers in 2018. The volume is significantly higher than the 255,000 MT the food agency is targeting to buy this year.
“Palay is a better buffer stock than milled rice because the NFA can store it longer and we can schedule the milling whenever we need to. Plus, we want to support our farmers,” NFA Spokesman Marietta J. Ablaza earlier told the BusinessMirror.
Citing NFA data, Pimentel said only 31 of the country’s 81 provinces are actually producing more rice than they are consuming.
In Luzon, he said, the “rice surplus” provinces are: Abra, Ifugao, Kalinga, IIocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan and Camarines Sur.
He added the surplus provinces in the Visayas, include: Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Biliran and Leyte.
“In Mindanao, the surplus provinces are Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Bukidnon, Compostela Valley, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Agusan del Sur and Maguindanao”, Pimentel said
https://businessmirror.com.ph/nfas-rice-procurement-program-gets-p7-b-budget/
U.S. Could Export Rice to China for First Time, But Is It a Done Deal?
SEPTEMBER 24, 2017 08:00 AM
By Tyne Morgan
US Farm Report
As U.S. rice farmers bring in a new crop, rough rice prices have rallied a dollar since June. While U.S. prices vary, farmers rely heavily on consistent consumption at home each year.“The biggest market is the domestic U.S. market overall,” said Johnny Sullivan, Producers Rice Mill, located in Stuttgart, Ark. “That's where I'd say about 60 percent of the rice grown in the U.S. stays in the U.S.”
September is National Rice Month, celebrating the various uses of rice. The grain is gluten free, and also features whole grain qualities. It’s those traits that mills say are helping the crop grow in popularity domestically.
“Many ingredients that are made from rice are also gluten free for additives, for nutritional bars and different things such as that,” said Sullivan.
Once the American made rice leaves the field, it’s processed in the mill and turned into popular products like beer. Sullivan says consumers of Budweiser or Bud Light are already a big supporter of home-grown rice.
“Anheuser-Busch is virtually the largest buyer of rice in the world,” said Sullivan.
From brews to puppy food, milled U.S. rice is growing in use.
“Even puppy rations use a large amount of rice now because they found that it's very soothing to the puppy's tummies,” said Bill Reed of Riceland Foods, the world’s largest rice miller.
What doesn’t get consumed domestically needs a home, and today, there are a few countries that top the export list.
“Most of our rice is marketed into the export markets in the Western hemisphere - many of the Caribbean Islands, as well as Central America are big rice eaters,” said Reed.
“Most of that rice in California is consumed domestically, and then about 25 percent is shipped to Japan,” said Chris Crutchfield, CEO of American Commodity Company, based in Williams, Calif.
The rice industry says they’re lockstep with the rest of agriculture on current trade deals like NAFTA, urging the administration to do no harm in agriculture’s slice of current trade pacts.
“Mexico is our largest market,” said Crutchield. “Almost of its rough rice market or raw material market, and then Canada’s is our third largest.
Another scrutinized deal that Crutchfield fears could potentially pose fallout for rice is South Korea.
“That’s a deal that rice was excluded from,” said Crutchield. “While we don't necessarily have a say in the technical aspect of the agreement, we do export a lot rice to South Korea every year, and if we get into some sort of a trade, that could have a negative effect on the overall trade aspect.”
Crutchield says rice producers want to protect current markets already in place, but as some key buyers wane, it’s encouraging the industry to find new markets.
“Iraq is still purchasing U.S. rice, but four years ago [the country] was buying several hundred thousand tons of rice a year - this past year they bought 30,000 tons,” said Crutchfield. “With the loss of those markets, you either need a resumption of trade or you need to pick up new markets.”
In Sullivan’s eyes, Cuba is one market that could come back on board, ideally positioned to take on more exports from the rice belt in the Southeast.
“Cuba buys somewhere between 500,000 and 600,000 tons per year,” he said. “They import that much rice U.S. rice crop, and the U.S. proximity to Cuba is the closest that there is which takes out the logistic issues.”
An even bigger potential buyer would be the world’s most populous country – China.
“China is a monster of a market,” said Sullivan. “The facts are based on the consumption rates of rice in China that in a 14-day period they could eat the entire U.S. crop. So, it's an unreal market.”
“There's no doubt that China needs rice,” said Crutchfield. “Over the last 10 years they’ve gone from being a competitor of the U.S. and others on the export stage, to being the world's largest importer of rice”
The Trump administration paved the path for trade to China this year when leaders signed a deal in July, agreeing to start exporting rice to China for the first time ever. It was a deal more than a decade in the works and happened after both U.S. and China agreed on “phytosanitary protocol,” which helps put more parameters around terms of sanitary conditions for U.S. milled rice.
“One of the things that was unique about this phytosanitary agreement was this is first time the United States government has ever allowed a foreign government to send inspectors to the United Sates to review and inspect potential facilities or individual companies,” said Crutchield.
The U.S. calling the deal a major win, but the reality is little progress has been made since that initial step with the signing in July.
“Taking 11 years to get the first step behind us and being able to see how many steps we have in front of us is a little disconcerting,” Crutchfield said.
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue recently set an aggressive timeline, saying the first shipment of U.S. rice could hit within the next three months. Crutchield is hopeful that’s the case.
“If they move forward in any kind of a timely fashion, we can see that happen,” he said. “My most realistic estimate would be to say that I’m confident we'll see some rice from the 2017 crop be exported from the United States to China.
Once the first shipment breaks through, Crutchfield thinks the demand growth is huge, possibly turning into a 6 figure market in the future.
https://www.agweb.com/article/us-could-export-rice-to-china-for-first-time-but-is-it-a-done-deal-naa-tyne-morgan/
SCA demands action against sale of fake hybrid rice seed
Hyderabad
The Sindh Chamber of Agriculture (SCA) has complained that up to 60 companies are allegedly selling fake hybrid seeds of rice in Sindh where farmers spend around Rs. 6 billion annually on that purchase.
At a meeting at its office here on Sunday, which was attended by SCA’s representatives from Karachi, Sukkur, Sanghar and other districts through video link, the chamber requested the provincial government to take action, according to a statement issued here on Sunday.
Vice president of the SCA Dr. Syed Shahnawaz Shah, who chaired the meeting, said each year rice was grown on between 700,000 to 750,000 hectares in Sindh.
He added that around 95% of the seed being sold by those 60 companies was spurious in quality and resulted in low yields and bad crop.
The meeting also protested that against price of the hybrid rice seed in the international market, the farmers in Sindh were being sold the seed at a higher price of $9 to $10 per kilogram.
The farmers representatives regretted that the original rice seed of Sindh had become difficult to find as the fake hybrid seed had taken its place.
According to the SCA, the federal government had initially allowed those companies to market the seeds on experimental basis and that the official approval for permanent marketing had still not been given.
“In the name of imported hybrid rice seed from China, the companies are selling locally produced sub-standard hybrid seeds,” the statement further added.
The meeting passed a resolution demanding that the federal and Sindh government should take instant action against those companies.
The resolution also called for ensuring supply of quality hybrid seed in the market.
Syed Aijaz Nabi Shah, Nabi Bux Sathio, Muhammad Khan Sarejo, Mir Abdul Kareem Talpur, Agha Khadim Hussain Shah and other office bearers and members of the SCA attended the meeting.—APP
https://pakobserver.net/sca-demands-action-sale-fake-hybrid-rice-seed/
Kharif rice output may dip by 1.9mn ton; pulses down 70000 ton
NEW DELHI India's rice output is likely to fall by 1.9 million tonnes (MT) to 94.48 MT in kharif season this year on account of poor rain as well as floods, official sources said. The production of pulses and coarse cereals is estimated to have fallen, dragging the overall foodgrains output in kharif (summer-sown) season to 134.67 MT from record 138.52 MT in last kharif, as per the sources. Kharif foodgrain basket comprises rice, pulses and coarse cereals. Harvesting will star ..
Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/60816268.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
U.S. Could Export Rice to China for First Time, But Is It a Done Deal?
As U.S. rice farmers bring in a new crop, rough rice prices have rallied a dollar since June. While U.S. prices vary, farmers rely heavily on consistent consumption at home each year. “The biggest market is the domestic U.S. market overall,” said Johnny Sullivan, Producers Rice Mill, located in Stuttgart, Ark. “That's where I'd say about 60 percent of the rice grown in the U.S. stays in the U.S.”
September is National Rice Month, celebrating the various uses of rice. The grain is gluten free, and also features whole grain qualities. It’s those traits that mills say are helping the crop grow in popularity domestically. “Many ingredients that are made from rice are also gluten free for additives, for nutritional bars and different things such as that,” said Sullivan.
Once the American made rice leaves the field, it’s processed in the mill and turned into popular products like beer. Sullivan says consumers of Budweiser or Bud Light are already a big supporter of home-grown rice. “Anheuser-Busch is virtually the largest buyer of rice in the world,” said Sullivan. From brews to puppy food, milled U.S. rice is growing in use. “Even puppy rations use a large amount of rice now because they found that it's very soothing to the puppy's tummies,” said Bill Reed of Riceland Foods, the world’s largest rice miller.
What doesn’t get consumed domestically needs a home, and today, there are a few countries that top the export list. “Most of our rice is marketed into the export markets in the Western hemisphere - many of the Caribbean Islands, as well as Central America are big rice eaters,” said Reed. “Most of that rice in California is consumed domestically, and then about 25 percent is shipped to Japan,” said Chris Crutchfield, CEO of American Commodity Company, based in Williams, Calif.
The rice industry says they’re lockstep with the rest of agriculture on current trade deals like NAFTA, urging the administration to do no harm in agriculture’s slice of current trade pacts. “Mexico is our largest market,” said Crutchield. “Almost of its rough rice market or raw material market, and then Canada’s is our third largest. Another scrutinized deal that Crutchfield fears could potentially pose fallout for rice is South Korea.
“That’s a deal that rice was excluded from,” said Crutchield. “While we don't necessarily have a say in the technical aspect of the agreement, we do export a lot rice to South Korea every year, and if we get into some sort of a trade, that could have a negative effect on the overall trade aspect.” Crutchield says rice producers want to protect current markets already in place, but as some key buyers wane, it’s encouraging the industry to find new markets. “Iraq is still purchasing U.S. rice, but four years ago [the country] was buying several hundred thousand tons of rice a year - this past year they bought 30,000 tons,” said Crutchfield.
“With the loss of those markets, you either need a resumption of trade or you need to pick up new markets.” In Sullivan’s eyes, Cuba is one market that could come back on board, ideally positioned to take on more exports from the rice belt in the Southeast. “Cuba buys somewhere between 500,000 and 600,000 tons per year,” he said. “They import that much rice U.S. rice crop, and the U.S. proximity to Cuba is the closest that there is which takes out the logistic issues.” An even bigger potential buyer would be the world’s most populous country – China. “China is a monster of a market,” said Sullivan. “The facts are based on the consumption rates of rice in China that in a 14-day period they could eat the entire U.S. crop. So, it's an unreal market.”
“There's no doubt that China needs rice,” said Crutchfield. “Over the last 10 years they’ve gone from being a competitor of the U.S. and others on the export stage, to being the world's largest importer of rice” The Trump administration paved the path for trade to China this year when leaders signed a deal in July, agreeing to start exporting rice to China for the first time ever. It was a deal more than a decade in the works and happened after both U.S. and China agreed on “phytosanitary protocol,” which helps put more parameters around terms of sanitary conditions for U.S. milled rice.
“One of the things that was unique about this phytosanitary agreement was this is first time the United States government has ever allowed a foreign government to send inspectors to the United Sates to review and inspect potential facilities or individual companies,” said Crutchield. The U.S. calling the deal a major win, but the reality is little progress has been made since that initial step with the signing in July. “Taking 11 years to get the first step behind us and being able to see how many steps we have in front of us is a little disconcerting,” Crutchfield said. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue recently set an aggressive timeline, saying the first shipment of U.S. rice could hit within the next three months.
Crutchield is hopeful that’s the case. “If they move forward in any kind of a timely fashion, we can see that happen,” he said. “My most realistic estimate would be to say that I’m confident we'll see some rice from the 2017 crop be exported from the United States to China. Once the first shipment breaks through, Crutchfield thinks the demand growth is huge, possibly turning into a 6 figure market in the future.
Author Name: http://www.agprofessional.com/news/industry/us-could-export-rice-china-first-time-it-done-deal
Guyana exports rice to Cuba for the first time in 18 years
Posted by: Denis Chabrol in Business, News September 25, 2017
White rice being loaded in the vessel’s hatch for shipment to Cuba.
Approximately 7,500 tonnes of white rice is being exported to Cuba, following an announcement made by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) of possible exports to that Caribbean country. Government’s Department of Public Information reported that on Monday, September 25, 2017 the rice was loaded on a vessel docked at Muneshwer’s Wharf in Georgetown. General Manager (ag) of the GRDB, Allison Peters said that it has been close to two decades since rice was exported to Cuba. “This is the first shipment to Cuba since 1999 when the MARDS rice milling group sent about 400 tonnes of white rice to Cuba at a price of $345US per tonne”, Peters said. Representative of the Cuban firm ALIMPORT, Reynaldo Aguirre Labora, who is purchasing the rice on behalf of the government of Cuba, said that there has always been the need for quality rice to be sourced. This is one of the main reasons for the purchase of Guyana’s rice. “We always make tenders, we look for better conditions for rice, the better quality, so we found that with some Guyanese exporters like Nand Persaud, we can have a good reasonable relationship with Guyana itself. It’s a Caribbean country, it’s very close to Cuba so it’s very convenient”, the representative said.
ALIMPORT (Cuba) representative, Reynaldo Aguirre Labora.
According to Peters, the GRDB plays an integral role in ensuring that product quality is maintained. “The Guyana Rice Development Board is responsible for the quality and we will also do fumigation and we are confident with our preparations so we don’t expect any issues with the rice being loaded here or on arrival in Cuba.” The ALIMPORT’s representative said that more shipments to the Cuba can be expected. “We are confident that this will be the beginning of a longstanding relationship. We trust also in the Guyana Rice Development Board and they show they are very serious in handling the quality of this shipment”, Labora noted. The GRDB Head concluded the shipment deal is the first part of an existing contract between Guyana and Cuba for rice trade between the two countries. “There is a contract with this company for rice to be sent to Cuba so this is the first part of that contract and we hope that another one will be sent soon…not only the government of Guyana would do contracts but also private investors who are constantly looking for buyers with good prices to purchase rice.” This consignment follows the first shipment of rice to Mexico in July 2017. More markets continue to be sought for the export of seed paddy and rice in the near future. Paddy production for the first crop of 2017 was recorded at 518,667 metric tonnes. It is projected that local rice production will increase by 1.3 percent for 2017.
https://demerarawaves.com/2017/09/25/guyana-exports-rice-to-cuba-for-the-first-time-in-18-years/
USA Rice Meets with WTO Delegations Ahead of Ministerial
By Deborah Willenborg
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND -- The World Trade Organization (WTO) has been out of the news for a while. Bickering between developing and developed countries over who should cut tariffs and farm subsidies more, and divisions over compliance and enforcement of existing WTO trade rules have all but stopped negotiating progress among the 164 members.
"Freer trade, reducing trade distorting domestic subsidies, enforcing trade rules, and liberalizing global trade are among the core objectives of the WTO, so it's not surprising that lack of consensus among the members has frozen progress towards a successor trade deal to the Uruguay Round Agreements, which are over 20 years old," said Bob Cummings, USA Rice COO.
Cummings recently returned from meetings at WTO headquarters with delegations from the United States and other countries. He joined representatives from the U.S. Grains Council, U.S. Wheat Associates, and DTB Associates.
WTO members will meet in Buenos Aires, Argentina at the end of this year for the organization's 11th Ministerial Conference. Each of the two previous Ministerials failed to produce a comprehensive trade agreement to match the ambition of the Uruguay Round, and the pressure is on to show the relevance of the organization.
"It can be tempting to write-off the WTO, but that leaves the organization in the hands of those who will write global trade rules that are not in our interest. We showed up in Geneva and delivered a strong message that USA Rice will except nothing short of new agricultural market access and disciplines on trade distorting domestic farm supports in major competitor exporting countries which are currently not living up to their obligations. There is no support for allowing countries to use public stockholding schemes as a way to skirt subsidy limits," said Cummings.
"We delivered a strong message that USA Rice will except nothing short of new agricultural market access and disciplines on trade distorting domestic farm supports in major competitor exporting countries which are currently not living up to their obligations. There is no support for allowing countries to use public stockholding schemes as a way to skirt subsidy limits," said Cummings.
Recent statements by administration officials have called into question the utility and relevance of the WTO, particularly in the area of dispute settlement.
"A functioning WTO is critical to the economic health of export dependent sectors like agriculture. The Uruguay Round's Agriculture Agreement opened up new export markets for U.S. rice in Japan and Korea, and was the basis of additional market opening in Taiwan and China when they joined," continued Cummings. "Although time consuming, the WTO's dispute settlement process has a proven track record. The United States prevailed in cases against Mexico and Turkey that, for example, preserved access for U.S. rice. An important case against China's excessive grain subsidies, led by the United States, will be heard early next year and a positive outcome should be a critical enforcement lever against several advanced developing countries engaged in global farm trade that provide producer subsidies well in excess of WTO rules."
"We have two big challenges going forward - preventing undue influence by some advanced developing countries that want to turn back the clock on global trade liberalization that will hurt U.S. rice, and at the same time educating our government that the WTO process has value and is deserving of U.S. leadership," concluded Cummings
USA RICE DAILY
In the Philippines, a Chinese hybrid rice program highlights the 'win-win' policy
By Jenny Lei Ravelo @JennyLeiRavelo25 September 2017
The center’s vision: Prosperous Filipino farmers adopting modern and appropriate agricultural technologies jointly developed and/or evaluated by Filipino and Chinese scientists on hybrid rice, agricultural mechanization, and biogas technology. Photo by: Jenny Ravelo / Devex
MANILA — Three hours from traffic-choked Manila is the Science City of Muñoz in the province of Nueva Ecija, a land of lush greenery and known as the center of agricultural research and innovation in the Philippines.
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Among the city’s structures is the Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Training (PhilSCAT), launched in 2003 and a result of technical cooperation between China and the Philippines. The program’s aim is to explore the potential of Chinese hybrid rice varieties in the country, as well as introduce China’s modernized farming technologies to local farmers. The center is a 10-hectare property composed of buildings that serve as a workshop, lodging for Chinese experts and office space for PhilSCAT staff members. Part of the property is an experimental land area for hybrid seed varieties.
While other Chinese aid-funded projects here have come under fire for alleged corruption, PhilSCAT’s work has avoided such accusations. The center is a rare development program between China and the Philippines. In its office lobby is a wall-to-ceiling painting showing two white birds and a shower of rice grains on Philippine farmers. On the adjacent wall hangs a plaque that says, in Filipino, that the artwork serves as a symbol of friendship between the two nations.
PhilSCAT through the decade
The need to rapidly grow more food in the Philippines is dire. With more than 100 million people to feed, the country ranks 13th in the world in terms of population. Prime agricultural land is increasingly being converted to highways, residential areas and commercial centers. In order to address this, the government placed a two-year moratorium on the conversion of 4.7 million hectares agricultural land in 2016. The Department of Agriculture, meanwhile, is eyeing 1 million hectares for hybrid rice production by 2018.
The government believes hybridization is a key element in reaching the Philippines’ rice self-sufficiency goals. Many agronomists and industry players believe hybrid rice varieties produce higher yields than inbred ones, whose yield performance, they said, had plateaued over the years. Some hybrid varieties produce twice as much rice per hectare, making them an attractive option for a heavy rice-consuming country such as the Philippines. The country’s population growth and dwindling space for agriculture due to industrialization have created an imbalance between rice demand and supply and PhilSCAT fits perfectly into the country’s push for seed hybridization.
The PhilSCAT center was built with a $5 million grant from China’s Ministry of Agriculture, and an estimated $2.9 million of counterpart funding from the Philippine government. It is one of the few known Chinese-aid funded projects in the Philippines that come in grant form and whose establishment is far from the showy economic and infrastructure projects China is often known for in countries where it has an aid presence. The project has been renewed twice and is set to continue into its third phase after China’s Ministry of Commerce approved a new $10 million grant to expand its operations.
“We will build a laboratory to develop super hybrid rice, which we will test for quality, resistance to pests and diseases, and yield,” said Dr. Carlos Abon, Jr., head of technology and product development at the center.
There are also plans to “recreate” PhilSCAT or set up a satellite branch in Davao Oriental in the island of Mindanao.
Photo by: Jenny Ravelo / Devex
In over a decade of operations, PhilSCAT has made a number of breakthroughs. The center was able to identify Chinese hybrid rice lines that can be adapted in the Philippines and were eventually certified by the country’s National Seed Industry Council as seed varieties. It was also able to produce hybrid seed varieties using local seeds.
The center distributed farm machinery from China to cooperatives in the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Isabela, all in grant form. Its staff members conduct regular technological training and demonstrations for farmers, sometimes in collaboration with experts from the the Central Luzon State University and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), a government research and development entity that creates high-yielding rice varieties, but at a lower cost. Over the years, hundreds of farmers have received training on everything from hybrid rice seed production to modernized ways of rice farming, including the repair and maintenance of farm machinery that was provided by the Philippines’ Department of Agriculture. Mechanized agriculture is a priority of the President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
Due to its modest budget and set mandate, PhilSCAT’s contributions to the Philippines’ goal of rice self-sufficiency has been limited. The center has developed a number of hybrid rice varieties that have received approval from the NSIC, but because of its mandate as a research facility, it has a smaller land area for production.
PhilSCAT has turned to the private sector for assistance in expanding production. For its Mestizo 38 hybrid rice variety, for example, PhilSCAT entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with two seed entities, Prasad Seeds Philippines Inc. and the Davao Oriental Seed Producers Cooperative, to produce and commercialize the said variety.
Private sector involvement in hybrid rice production is common in the Philippines, and is often welcomed by the government given the private sector’s resources and capacities to produce at a much larger scale. Private sector companies are seen by the government as partners in the push for rice self-sufficiency. Industry watchdogs, however, warn of downsides to over-reliance on the private sector. It allows for wider corporate control over the food system.
“Seeds are a political commodity. If you own them, you’re very powerful,” Jean Lugasip, program manager for Visayas and Mindanao at NGO Rice Watch and Action Network (R1), told Devex. R1 advocates more government support for grassroots-led innovation on the research and development of high-yielding, high-quality rice seed varieties.
The transfer of Chinese technology in agriculture is not new. In Africa, training centers have been operational for decades. Since the turn of the century, China has regularly launched or incorporated hybrid rice programs in technical cooperation.
This technology transfer, however, has been criticized by civil society organizations and perceived as openings for Chinese business interests, even though China has often labeled such programs as assistance for countries trying to reach rice self-sufficiency.
Genetic Resources Action International, a small international nonprofit that analyzes trends in food systems, captured the business aspect of China’s hybridization promotion in an article published in 2010.
“It is often not realized that China’s international hybrid rice activities are almost always led by private Chinese seed companies, and mostly often by one company — LPHT,” according to the article. “Over the years, with the support and blessing of the government, this state-owned company has grown into a major multinational corporation, with 26 subsidiaries, and a listing on the Shenzhen stock exchange, with a large stake now owned by the world’s fourth-largest seed company, Vilmorin Limagrain of France.”
The article identifies the different Asian countries — such as Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar — that import most of the seeds for their hybrid rice programs from China.
PhilSCAT’s case is no different. The parental lines the center has been using to develop hybrid rice varieties come from China’s Yuan Longping High-Tech Agriculture Co. Ltd.
As hybrid seeds lose their vigor when replanted — they won’t be able to produce the same number of yields — PhilSCAT will require imports of the Chinese hybrid rice lines to continue producing the same hybrid rice varieties. Not only will this create reliance on imports, it is also in contrast to the government’s goal of rice self-sufficiency, one that is not measured by the ability to meet the country’s rice demands alone.
“Self-sufficiency is about ensuring food being served is safe and that farmers are earning enough for producing them,” R1’s Lugasip said.
Patricia Bernal, information officer for knowledge management at PhilSCAT said, however, that not all of their varieties were produced using Chinese hybrid rice lines. Mestizo 38, she noted, is produced using local hybrid parental rice lines — and that is done with help from modern technologies and knowledge shared by Chinese experts.
“We were able to see and develop local hybrid rice varieties for our own purposes,” she said.
Of the 79 hybrid rice varieties currently available in the Philippines and approved by the NSIC, however, it is unclear how many were developed using local versus imported hybrid parental rice lines. Breeders of these varieties — public or private — often don’t disclose parental lines to the public, said Joanne Caguiat, senior science research specialist and head of the three-line hybrid rice breeding project at PhilRice.
PhilRice and the International Rice Research Institute continue to develop the genetic diversity of local hybrid parental lines. Most of the seven hybrid rice varieties PhilRice was able to develop from 2011 onwards were mostly produced using local hybrid parental lines, said Caguiat.
“The Philippines can produce and develop its own hybrids using local parental lines,” Caguiat told Devex. “It’s just that China’s seed lines can produce higher yields. In addition, China has a long and vast research and experience when it comes to hybrid rice production compared with the Philippines.”
Locally bred hybrid rice varieties produce 6 tons per hectare on average while those from China can produce as much as 14 tons per hectare, she said.
Part of the land area for PhilSCAT’s rice seed hybridization work. Photo by: Jenny Ravelo / Devex
Altruism or business?
Bernal stressed that under the terms of their agreement with seed companies, hybrid rice varieties developed by the center will need to be sold at a low price given that the variety is cultivated by a public entity.
This means the Indian company, Prasad Seeds, and the Davao Oriental Seed Producers Cooperative will have exclusive rights to market Mestizo 38, but they will have to do so at a rate of 3,800 Philippine pesos ($75) for 18 kilograms of hybrid seeds — good for one hectare. By comparison, private companies usually sell hybrid varieties at PhP4,800 to PhP5,000 (roughly $100) for the same amount of seeds, Bernal said.
This is clearly not the case for other of their cultivated hybrid rice varieties.
During PhilSCAT’s first five years, staff members and experts tested more than 50 Chinese hybrid rice lines on different farms across the country. The goal was to find varieties that could adapt well to local conditions. At the end of this period, scientists were able to select three Chinese hybrid rice lines that would become Mestizo 12, Mestizo 13 and Mestizo 14 rice varieties in the Philippines.
But for all its efforts, PhilSCAT did not get to keep any of the three hybrid rice varieties. Yuan Longping High-Tech, which supplied the Chinese hybrid rice seeds PhilsCAT tested, sold them to the private sector, said PhilSCAT’s Abon. Mestizo 12 was procured by vegetable seed producer Allied Botanical Corp. Mestizo 13 was sold to Pioneer, a U.S.-owned hybrid rice seed company.
Abon said he doesn’t know what happened to Mestizo 14 or what the terms for selling the two other hybrid rice varieties. He said PhilSCAT didn’t get any royalties from both sales.
“I don’t know why. They said there was no Memorandum of Agreement [barring Longping from selling the varieties],” he told Devex in Filipino.
Bernal agreed.
“We can’t run after it since there weren’t any signed MOAs,” she told Devex. She did say the negotiations were under the guidance and supervision of PhilSCAT’s Chinese co-director, Cheng Liangji.
Mestizo 14, it turns out, is also now with Longping-Allied Hybrid Research and Development Inc., a merger between Yuan Longping High-Tech and Allied Botanical. It has exclusive distribution rights for Mestizo 14 in the Philippines.
Bernal said Yuan Longping High-Tech has also ventured into seed production in the Philippines as they now know the areas and networks where PhilSCAT conducted technology demonstrations and adaptability trials for hybrid seed varieties.
Different project, same rhetoric
Activities at PhilSCAT underscore a familiar perception often associated with Chinese assistance: mixing aid with commercial interests.
China is known to use development assistance for diplomacy, as well as business. It is not uncommon for Chinese-funded projects to be contracted to Chinese companies or state-owned enterprises. Materials used for infrastructure projects come from China, and the government often insists on hiring its own experts on any of these projects and programs.
In PhilSCAT’s case, materials for the buildings in the 10-hectare property came from China, as did the hybrid seed varieties they tested, the machinery they use for farming, and the experts who conduct hybrid testing and machinery training.
Dennis Trinidad, professor of international relations at De La Salle University in Manila, explains the logic behind China’s strategy:
“The main concern [of China] is to simply look for opportunities for its state-owned enterprises. So, if there’s a state-owned enterprise that would want to get the contract, the Chinese government is willing to finance. And this is because the nature of the project is tied. It’s always tied. And the projects are always awarded to a Chinese company,” he told Devex. “It’s primarily business. Chinese state-owned enterprises get contracts because of Chinese assistance, so imagine, that’s a huge [sum of] money.”
Trinidad said it is “always beneficial” for the Philippines to have a wide variety of financing sources given its immense development needs. But given the corruption often linked to Chinese aid programs, he emphasized the importance due diligence in recipients’ contracts and engagements with the nontraditional donor.
“It’s up to the recipient country. [If they don’t provide due diligence], then, basically, China will just implement. Then after implementing, they will run. After they get the money, they will run,” he said.
The Philippines’ due diligence practices will be tested as several Chinese-funded projects are set to be implemented in the country in the next few years. President Duterte secured a multibillion aid package and several investment projects during his visit to Beijing in 2016. Some of these ventures are in the area of agriculture — hybrid rice production even — but many of them are huge infrastructure projects worth billions of dollars.
PhilSCAT’s case, however, exemplifies China’s win-win approach to development.
“The assistance provided was tied to Chinese agricultural equipment. It was also an opportunity to promote Chinese technology in agriculture,” Trinidad said.
He noted that very few donor countries under the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Development Assistance Committee provide technical assistance on agriculture because many of them have little or no experience in rice cultivation. China has a vast resources in this area.
“It's a win win for the Philippines obviously because there is a need to increase our agricultural productivity and self-sufficiency,” he added.
PhilSCAT’s Abon agrees. The center comes with strings attached, such as its right to sell the hybrid rice varieties Mestizo 12, 13 and 14, whose profits could have been in the range of millions of dollars. But he insists that the Philippines has benefited massively, though not always in monetary terms. Chinese assistance was key in training researchers and farmers on modernized hybrid rice production and farming technologies.
“When it comes to rice, they are helpful,” he said. But of course some of their deals, he noted, “involve large sums of money.”
The grassroots organizations Devex reached out to — those working with and for the benefit of farmers — remain wary.
Cris Panerio, national coordinator for Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura, a farmer-led network composed of people’s organizations, NGOs and scientists “working towards the sustainable use and management of biodiversity through farmers’ control of genetic and biological resources, agricultural production and associated knowledge,” admit they are not familiar with PhilSCAT and its work, but they are against the generally aggressive push for hybridization in the country.
“The common argument with hybrids is that they produce higher yields and are necessary for rice self-sufficiency,” he said. “But hunger in rural areas is not a function of production, but a function of distribution.”
The approach to the Philippines’ agricultural problem should be holistic and not entirely just about technologies. Until then, the impact of such development projects will remain minimal, Paneiro said. But with the Philippine government’s continued push for hybridization and mechanized farming, programs such as China’s agricultural assistance is likely to continue and expand.
In this special series, Devex examines China's expanding role in aid and development across the globe. From tensions in Ghana to projects in Pakistan, from climate financing to donor partnerships, from individual philanthropy to state-financed investment, this series traces the past, present and future of Chinese aid and development. Join the conversation on our Facebook discussion forum.
About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex senior reporter based in Manila. Since 2011, she has covered a wide range of development and humanitarian aid issues, from leadership and policy changes at DfID to the logistical and security impediments faced by international and local aid responders in disaster-prone and conflict-affected countries in Africa and Asia. Her interests include global health and the analysis of aid challenges and trends in sub-Saharan Africa.
https://www.devex.com/news/in-the-philippines-a-chinese-hybrid-rice-program-highlights-the-win-win-policy-90976
The Earliest City in China - Lixian held World Chengtoushan Rice-Farming Civilization Forum
PR NEWSWIRE ASIA
Sep 26, 2017
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CHANGDE, China, Sept. 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The first Chengtoushan World Rice-Farming Civilization Forum was held in Lixian, a district country under Changde municipality from September 21-23, 2017. The forum was hosted by the Changde municipal government, the China National Hybrid Rice R&D Center / Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center, and the Caijing Magazine, and organized by the Lixian government. The forum was chaired by Professor Yuan Longping, the "Father of Hybrid Rice".
Chengtoushan is the site of the earliest city in China according to archaeology studies, the unearthing of Chengtoushan ruins provided evidence of Chinese civilization to 6,500 years, 1,000 years earlier than the previously recognized record. The world earliest farming and irrigation system ruins were also unveiled in the Chengtoushan site.
The forum attracted the attention of leading archaeology scholars from Chinaand overseas. It also invited guest speakers including Ms. Caroline Legros, the Deputy Director of the World Food Programmer's (WFP) China office to speak at the opening ceremony, Professor Luo Xiwen, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Professor Zhao Hui, former Dean of the School of Archaeology and Museology.
The forum featured the Origination and Development of the World Rice-Farming Civilization, leading scholars and functional experts from Agriculture, Farming, and Heritage Protection, it also discussed the potential of the World Heritage of the Liyang Plain.
Food Security and Food Safety
"Food Security and Food safety have been two important subjects in the forum, Yuan Longping's hybrid rice farming scheme shows the potential for harvests of 15 tons per hectare. It provides inspiration for countries still struggling to achieve food security - it resulted in a significant contribution to global food security" said Caroline Legros in her keynote speech to the forum.
The World Culture Tourism Destination
Lixian has a history dating back to 6,500 years and it has 14 national heritage sites. Chengtoushan represents the early civilization of the Yangtze river area, and was demonstrated in the Chinese pavilion of the World Expo.
The Chengtoushan Consensus - an advocacy of heritage protection
As an outcome of the forum, scholars and experts signed "The Chengtoushan Consensus", which fully agreed on the unique value of Chengtoushan site, especially the rice fields in the Tangjiagang period, as the origin of rice culture. The Consensus also suggested to protect and utilize the site with archaeological research and kick off the initiative of applying World Culture Heritage for Lixian sites.
http://www.asiaone.com/business/the-earliest-city-in-china
Huge quantity of PDS rice seized from rice mill at Anandapuram
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
VISAKHAPATNAM, SEPTEMBER 24, 2017 23:10 IST
Officials of the Vigilance and Enforcement Department conducted raids on Balaji Rice Mill at Anandapuram and seized huge quantity of rice, around 20 tonnes, meant for the Public Distribution System in Visakhapatnam city, on Sunday.
Adulteration
The officials said some mill owners on the city’s outskirts had been procuring PDS rice at cheaper rate from a few ration shop dealers in the city.
The millers then mix the PDS rice with boiled rice and sell the adulterated stuff for ₹50 per kg.
Sometimes, the millers were also polishing the PDS rice to make it look like fine rice and sell it by neatly packing it in branded bags, the officials alleged.
Jute millers fearful of plastic packaging of rice
Star Business Report
Jute millers and traders are apprehensive that permitting use of plastic instead of the natural fibre in rice packaging would hurt farmers and affect the jute sector's revival.
The worries surfaced after the agriculture, commerce and food ministers at a meeting last week promised rice millers that the government would relax the provision of mandatory packaging of rice with pricey jute bags to curb the price spiral of the staple food.
“This is a step aimed at destroying the jute industry,” said Abdul Quayyum, secretary of Bangladesh Jute Association (BJA).
On Saturday, Bangladesh Jute Mills Association (BJMA) echoed BJA.
BJMA said people have started using jute bags complying with a packaging law framed in 2010.
The use of jute bags has increased with many handlooms and power looms in jute mills having started making bags to cater to rice millers.
Many entrepreneurs have installed modern machines with loans from banks after the enactment of the law and employed many people, said BJMA.
The jute sector has been on a turnaround thanks to the use of jute sacks in rice packaging, said BJMA Chairman Muhammad Shams-uz-Zoha.
“So, if people revert to plastic bags, the jute sector will seriously be affected,” he said, warning that many people would lose jobs.
Shams-uz-Zoha said farmers may even feel discouraged to grow the natural fibre if they do not get fair prices.
The government is yet to issue any notification on relaxation of the use of jute bags for rice packaging for the time being.
“We are yet to receive any instruction to this effect,” said a senior official of the textiles and jute ministry yesterday.
Operators said jute bags for rice packaging are available. Besides, the cost of jute bags will be less than that of plastic bags as a jute sack can be used several times, said BJMA.
“Farmers will be able to survive if the use of jute bags continues,” said Quayyum.
Prices of raw jute fell to Tk 1,200-1,700 a maund this year from Tk 1,400-1,900 the previous year, according to Quayyum.
The suspension of the mandatory use of jute bags will affect prices of the natural fibre under these circumstances, he said.
Quayyum said the use of jute in mills increased to 45-60 lakh bales from 40 lakh bales earlier owing to the implementation of the mandatory packaging law.
The jute industry involves about 40 lakh farmers and 150,000 workers.
http://www.thedailystar.net/business/jute-millers-fearful-plastic-packaging-rice-1467235
Defaulting millers trash one-time settlement, dashing govt hopes
Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 24
The state government is likely to miss the target to recover Rs 2,200 crore from politically-connected defaulter rice millers, if the response to its one-time settlement (OTS) scheme is any indication.
So far, only a handful of around 1,500 defaulting millers with none from the top have come forward to pay their dues that the Congress government plans to utilise for its farm loan waiver scheme.
Officials maintain that negotiations are on with the millers to prevail upon them to pay the dues. Since paddy will start arriving in mandis from October 1, a meeting of the millers has been called by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on September 29 to sort out the issue.
Officials admit that due to political patronage over the years, the principal outstanding amount that millers owe to the five state procurement agencies – Pungrain, Markfed, Punsup, Punjab Agro Foodgrains Corporation (PAFC) and the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation (PSWC) — has swelled to Rs 2,182.92 crore and the compounded interest amount has multiplied to Rs 5,218.89 crore.
In some cases, the recovery is stuck due to legal proceedings or arbitration from either side.
Among the top defaulters are millers owing allegiance to the Congress or the SAD.
They owe anywhere between Rs 10 crore and Rs 100 crore to the agencies.
“The money is due as millers failed to return milled rice to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and instead sold it in the open market. Some even sold the government quota of the unmilled rice straight from the mandis,” said an official.
Not ready to buy the OTS scheme as approved by the government last month, Tarsem Saini, president, Punjab Rice Millers Association, said different categories of defaulters had been clubbed together.
“There are over 80 sick units that have closed down and the owners are not in a capacity to pay. There are cases where there is a dispute over the pending interest amount. There are also cases where the dues are on account of gunny bags, quality cut or loss on account of sale,” he said.
Under the scheme, the millers have been given the option to pay the outstanding principal amount within 45 days without any interest or in three installments with 10 per cent compound interest. http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/defaulting-millers-trash-one-time-settlement-dashing-govt-hopes/472422.html
Government to hike paddy MSP by Rs 80
THE HANS INDIA | Sep 26,2017 , 12:40 AM IST
Government to hike paddy MSP by Rs 80
Amaravati: The state government has decided to hike minimum support price (MSP) for paddy by Rs 80 per quintal. With this, the MSP per quintal will reach to Rs 1,590. The government had increased MSP Rs 60 per quintal in the last kharifseason.
Minister for Agriculture PrathipatiPulla Rao made this announcement in a review meeting with rice millers and Food Corporation of India officials at Secretariat on Monday. The minister warned the millers who have not supplied custom milled rice (CMR) and said they have to face arrests following cases under PR Act would be registered.
According to the Ministers, the millers have to supply CMR worth Rs 102 Cr till 2015-16 and they did not submit any bank guaranteeeven to the government. He also said the mills which did not supply the CMR would be ceased soon. Besides, around 77,000 tonnes of custom milled rice has to be supplied this year by rice millers. Most of the rice mills that have due in supplying rice are in Nellore district. However, the millers told the minister that they were unable to supply the CMR due to insufficient space at FCI godowns.
Civil Supplied Corporation managing director K Ram Gopal said submitting of bank guarantee was compulsory by the millers who have to supply the CMR. He also said receipts through tabs would be given to farmers immediately after the civil supplies corporation or other agencies buy paddy produce in paddy fields.
FCI officials wanted the ministers to give directions to rice millers to increase supply of paddy to the FCI. The rice millers brought several issues to the notice of minister
http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Andhra-Pradesh/2017-09-26/Government-to-hike-paddy-MSP-by-Rs-80/
No rice for a rainy day
Ali Imam Majumder | Update: 22:00, Sep 24, 2017
The price of rice suddenly took on an upward spiral in the markets, particular the price of coarse rice. Now, after the government clamped down hard, the price rise has abated somewhat. It will take time for the market to be stable again. It is the lower-income bracket that suffers, while certain unscrupulous quarters make big bucks.
The rice traders blame the government for not taking due measures in due time. And the government, in turn, blames the rice mill owners, the traders and even the media. There is no shortage of rice in the market, so the price hike is rather mysterious.
The crisis began towards the end of March when the boro rice crop was destroyed by floods in the haor (marsh) region. Up north too, large amounts of the crop was destroyed by the blast fungus. This caused a 2 million tonne fall in rice production, according to the food minister.
We are more or less self-sufficient in rice production. At the outset of our independence, there was a food shortage for the 75 million people of the country. The success of this country, now with a population of 160 million, is amazing. Production has tripled. According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, in 2016 rice production was 35 million metric tonnes, of which 19.2 million tonnes was of the boro crop. This is our main crop. The government carries out a massive food grain procurement drive during this period.
The drop in food production naturally affected the government’s grain procurement drive. While the target for collection was about 900,000 tonnes, so far only 260,000 tonnes has been collected. This has pushed prices up in the open market. The millers are not able to provide rice at the government rate of Tk 32 per kg.
The inter-ministerial food planning monitoring unit determines the procurement target and price. The demand, stock and storage capacity is taken into consideration when determining the target. The procurement price is fixed by adding incentive to the production costs. But conditions on the ground can change. If the price of paddy and rice goes above the procurement price in the market, then it is unrealistic to expect to procure rice at the price agreed upon. If the procurement price is immediately readjusted, then there would be more rice in government stock. With sufficient stock, the government can intervene in the market system. Instead, the government opted to import rice. It is invariably difficult for the government to import rice during times of crisis.
When the traders take advantage of the situation and unfairly raise the price of rice, then there is very little to do if the stock is low. According to the food ministry website, on 19 September the stock was 356,000 tonnes of rice and 117,000 tonnes of wheat. Another 111,000 tonnes of rice waits unloading at the port.
The government has a storage capacity of 1.9 million tonnes of food grain. From rations to relief, all the government food distribution is from this stock. In order to keep the market stable, the government had a successful programme of Open Market Sales (OMS), selling food grain at low prices. If this can be run extensively for a month, the price of rice should fall.
Rice import by the private sector also has a positive impact on the market prices. That is why such import can be encouraged from time to time. It was done this time. Import duty on rice import was slashed from 28 per cent to 2 per cent. The banks were instructed to open LCs without any margin.
All this was done, but a bit too late. When the floods inundated the crops in the haors in March, it should have been realized then that a food shortage was looming large. Floods destroyed crops in the north too. Now those who grow rice, themselves have to be given rice trough the VGF system. This has put pressure on the stock. Rice for the 450,000 Rohingya refuges will also go from this stock. Duty was lowered from 1 July and there was an immediate flurry of import by the private sector. They have reportedly imported 600,000 tonnes of rice and 1 million tonnes of wheat according to updates.
Duty and taxes had been imposed on rice import in consideration of the farmers. Had the decisions of July been taken in April, this would have yielded greater results. The government could have procured rice through tender from the local importers too. They do so in the case of chemical fertiliser. That has proven to be successful and sustainable.
Food stock is piling up again. It is imperative to expand the OMS programme. There is a vast section of people who do not collect relief or VGF, yet they are needy. In consideration of them, the OMS programme must be run extensively. The government reportedly will do so shortly. But what has happened? Had there been adequate stock, the millers and traders could have been quelled. It seems that the decision of the latest high level meeting may yield results.
It needs to be seen who is responsible for this situation. There has been discussion on the government’s delayed measures. Lack of coordination among the ministries led to the delay. Then there are the unscrupulous traders who don’t miss the opportunity to cash in on the crisis. Legal measures need to be taken in such circumstances. Mobile courts have fined traders and mill owners who violate the law. Some DCs and SPs also have inspected the food stock in the mills. This is all very well, but long-experience as a DC says that the presence of rice-filled OMS trucks is more effective than the presence of the DCs and SPs. Extensive distribution of rice through VGF among the poor lowers pressure on the open market.
The mahajote or grand alliance government of Bangladesh Awami League (AL) is ruling the country at present. Awami League was in power during the 1998 floods too. For over a month at the time, 75 per cent of the country, including the capital city, was under water. Railway, road and air communication is disrupted. Some foreign media predicted that 20 million people would face famine. But in reality, we did not hear of even two people dying. The price of rice did not go up. No one could take advantage of the situation due to extensive government programmes.
It seems that the ruling party is shifting away from its previous priorities. This party had always placed the lower and lower middle class at the forefront. But now priority is being given to the traders and industrialists, Perhaps this is required to become an industrially developed wealthy country! But official statistics indicate that almost half of the government labour force is still involved in agriculture.
The media has also been held responsible for creating panic over the hike in rice prices. Some reports have an adverse effect on the market, no doubt. But the government website updates information on its food stock daily, so there can be no harm in reporting on this. Renowned economist Amartya Sen said that there can be no famine in a country that has a strong media and democracy. We were not even near a famine. But there was a shortfall in government food stock. Discussion in the media has helped the government in this regard. It is not untrue that the crisis was caused by the government’s failure to save up for the proverbial rainy day.
*Ali Imam Majumder is a former cabinet secretary and can be reached at majumderali1950@gmail.com. This column, originally published in Prothom Alo Bangla print edition, has been rewritten in English by Ayesha Kabir.
http://en.prothom-alo.com/opinion/news/160651/No-rice-for-a-rainy-day
RDB closes bidding on rice storage facilities
Tue,
Employees use a forklift to stack pallets of rice at a storage and processing plant on the outskirts of Phnom Penh in 2015. Heng Chivoan
26 September 2017
Cheng Sokhorng
The state-run Rural Development Bank (RDB) received a total of 10 proposals from Cambodian agricultural firms expressing interest in developing rice storage and drying facilities across three provinces using government-backed low-interest loans, a bank official said yesterday.
Kao Thach, chief executive of RDB, said six more companies submitted proposals for the $15 million finance package after the bank extended the application deadline from September 8 to September 22 due to a low response. Only four companies submitted proposals during the initial three-week call for submissions.
“Now that we have received enough proposals for selection, we will finalise the agreements and announce the [awarded] companies in October, as well as the location of the facilities,” Thach said, adding that the loans would be disbursed to only three companies.
The three proposed facilities are set to be constructed in the provinces of Kampong Thom, Prey Veng and Takeo, each with the capacity to store 50,000 tonnes of paddy rice and dry approximately 1,500 tonnes of rice daily.
The storage facilities are intended to alleviate the stress on farmers and millers when rice stockpiles begin to stack up and are expected to be operational by the start of the next harvest season in January.
Song Saran, CEO of Amru Rice, said his firm submitted a proposal to build and operate a $5 million facility in Kampong Thom province on 25,000 square metres of land that would include four different warehouses.
“My proposal shows a five-year and 10-year plan that would insure the capacity of storage and stabilise the market for farmers,” he said.
Saran added that the construction of adequate storage and drying facilities was imperative if Cambodia’s rice sector hopes to compete internationally on price when dealing with government-to-government bids.
Earlier this year RDB awarded a $15 million low-interest loan to Thanakea Srov (Kampuchea) Plc, the operator of the Cambodian Rice Bank, to expand its rice storage warehouse in Battambang province.
The warehouse is set to be the first privately owned centralised storage facility with a capacity to store 200,000 tonnes of wet paddy rice and to process 3,000 tonnes of paddy rice daily.
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/rdb-closes-bidding-rice-storage-facilities A healthy indulgence: Quinoa delicacies for the Indian palate
Quinoa is a super health food that can be adapted to any dish, even your favourite Indian dishes.
Updated: Sep 25, 2017 12:31 IST
Quinoa meals cover up to 70% of one’s daily nutritional needs.(KRBL)
India’s top rice millers and Basmati rice exporter, KRBL launched India Gate Quinoa earlier this year. Quinoa is a highly nutritious product that is meant for people of all age groups. Although actually a seed, it is prepared like whole grains such as rice and barley, and is often called a ‘pseudo grain’.
Nutritional powerhouse
Quinoa is rich in protein, calcium, dietary fibre, folic acid, and iron, and can cover up to 70% of one’s daily nutritional needs. It boosts growth in children, keeps blood sugar levels under control, and aids in tissue repair. As it is low in calories, it is ideal for those looking to lose weight. Here’s a look at how this superfood can help all members of the family:
COOKING WITH INDIA GATE QUINOA
• Pre-cooking: Soak quinoa in fresh water for 5 minutes. Drain the water before cooking. Measure: 1 cup quinoa for 2 cups of water.
• Cooking instructions:
• Stove: Place drained quinoa and water in a medium-size saucepan, and bring it to boil. Add salt if desired. Reduce to simmer. Cover and cook until water is absorbed (12-15 minutes). Let it sit for 6-8 minutes and fluff with fork before serving.
• Microwave: Place drained quinoa and water in a microwave-safe bowl. Cook on high mode for 10 minutes. Cover and allow the quinoa to absorb water for 2-3 minutes.
• For added flavour, use your favorite cooking stock in place of water. Quinoa is ready to serve when it turns from white to transparent.
•Working professionals: Quinoa meals cover up to 70% of one’s daily nutritional needs.
•Kids: Boosts growth with essential nutrients like protein and calcium.
•Expecting mothers: Folic acid and iron provide vital nutrients to body.
•Diabetics: Low Glycemic Index (GI) keeps blood sugar in control.
•Recovering patients: Accelerates tissues repair and recovery with its protein-rich and fibrous content.
Cooking with quinoa
Quinoa is delicious and easy to digest. It has a nutty flavour, and can be boiled and eaten plain, like rice or barley. It can also be replaced as the key ingredient in any dish. So, perk up your burger by peppering the mashed vegetables with quinoa. You can also make brownies, dosas, poha, upma, and dhokla with quinoa. The best part about the grain is that it does not change the authentic flavour of the dish.
To get you started, we have two mouth-watering quinoa recipes below, that are not only packed with nutrition but also delicious all the way.
Recipe 1: Quinoa methi tikki
Ingredients:
Quinoa: 100 gms
Boiled potatoes: 50 gms
Ginger: 10 gms
Green chilli: 10 gms
Kasoori methi: 5 gms
Yellow chilli powder: 5 gms
Roasted chana dal powder: 20 gms
Salt: as per taste
Method:
1.Boil the quinoa with salt, strain it, and keep it aside.
2. Add boiled and grated potatoes in the quinoa, salt,chopped ginger,chopped green chilli, kasoori methi, yellow chilli powder, and roasted chana dal powder.
3. Make tikkis out of the mixture and fry them in a non-stick pan.
4. Serve it with mayonnaise.
Total Calories: 216.6 kcals
Carbohydrates: 44.9g
Fats: 2.3g
Proteins: 8.65g
Fibre: 3.2g
Recipe 2: Chocolate coffee quinoa cake
Preparation time:15 mins
Baking time: 30-40 mins at 180°C
Ingredients (Wet / Dry):
1 cup flour ;1/2 cup oil
1 cup quinoa; 1/2 cup water
1 cup powdered sugar ; 1/4th cup milk
1/3rd cup cocoa powder; 1/4th cup curd
1 tsp baking soda ; 1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder; 2 tsp coffee essence
½ tsp salt
Method:
1. Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl.
2. Mix all wet ingredients in another bowl.
3. Mix the wet and the dry ingredients thoroughly with a beater for 2 minutes.
4. Pour the mixture into a greased mould and bake for 30-40 minutes at 180°C.
Total calories: 1519 kcals / 1132 kcals [with splenda]
Carbohydrates: 222.6 g / 122.6gms [with splenda]
Proteins: 34.3g
Fats: 57.5 g
Fibre: 5.7 g
For more details on this highly versatile and nutritious super food, log on to www.quinoa.life
http://www.hindustantimes.com/brand-stories/a-healthy-indulgence-quinoa-delicacies-for-the-indian-palate/story-rQmhLvrCrnPwQBSfBGFrjI.html
Eggua rice community: Ogun goose laying golden egg
Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture (middle), Mrs Peju Adebajo with members of the state’s rice revolution team on routine inspection to Eggua Rice Farms.
The agricultural sector in Nigeria has in recent times focused on rice production to reduce the millions of naira used on importation of the product which is a common staple in Nigeria. OLAYINKA OLUKOYA reports that to make this vision possible, Eegua community in Yewa North Local Government of Ogun state is already poised to take local rice production to international level.
As the demand for rice increases in Nigeria and riceproduction rises continually, reaching 15 million metric tonnes annually, a development that the government insists will save the country the sum of N300 billion previously used annually on importation of the commodity. And as the demand soars, government continues making concerted efforts to promote local production of rise.
This significant increase in local productions and the efforts to make the local variety qualitative and more attractive to Nigerians has led to more states engaging fully in riceproduction and packaging it in a way that would make it presentable for export. And as more states now produce rice around three times a year, it is the vision of government and farmers alike that the product will soon become part of the produce being exported to other West African countries
And like other riceproducing states, Ogun state, the foremost producer of rice in the South-western part of the country is billed to be one of the expected exporters of rice as rice farmers in the agrarian town of Eegua, in Yewa North Local Government Area of the state, have vowed to make it so provided they get the required assistance from government at all levels.
Eggua is an ancient town in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State. The town is linked to Ilase and Oja Odan, it is purely an aggrarian
September 26, 2017
Olayinka Olukoya The South West
Senator Ibikunle Amosun
community; a quiet and peaceful town.
The journey from Abeokuta to the town ordinarily should not be more than an hour and a half but with the deplorable state of the road, the journey might be longer than necessary.
Ogun which prides itself as one of the highest cotton and cassava growers in the entire South West region of the country; is also known for its prowess in local rice farming. Indeed, the state is popular for its production of brown rice popularly referred to as Ofada rice. But at present, the state has moved beyond mere Ofada riceproduction and has evolved to the production of the NERICA 8 rice and FARRO 44 rice which is now planted in some parts of the state.
Some have attributed this development to one of the cardinal programme of the Senator Ibikunle Amosun led administration in the state; agricultural development which goes hand-in-hand with industrialization. This seems to be yielding the anticipated result as plans to flood the Nigerian market with branded rice in the next few months is already underway.
To ensure that the country stops being a consumer nation that depends on other nations for rice which is a part of the daily staple for the average Nigerian family, farmers in Eegua town are determined to make Ogun state the highest producer of rice if government and other stakeholders give real support to them financially and materially.
The business of rice growing in Eegua has gone beyond sustenance farming and the farmers are producing on a commercial scale by utilizing fully, land and other inputs provided by the government for all farmers that are ready to go fully into riceproduction. The combined efforts of government and the farmers is positioning the state as a viable food basket of the nation which will not only produce food but also create employment opportunities in diverse forms for the people.
Ojo Matthew
A visit to Eegua by Nigerian Tribune revealed revealed that the farmers in partnership with the state government are determined to brave the odds and do everything within their power to boost riceproduction and uplift the economic situation of the state and Nigeria as a whole. There was a clear presence of commercial riceproduction which has a source of funding beyond the grasp of the people.
Though government also has rice farms in Onigbedu town, Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state and Iloti-Ijebu in Ogun East Senatorial District, the Eegua farmers believe their production is better positioned for export as they are more commercial oriented in production on the rice farm that presently occupies 500 hectares of land but will be expanded to 2,000 hectares in the next planting season.
The riceproduction project is not a partnership between the Ogun State Government and the farmers alone but also in conjunction with the International Food for Agricultural Development (IFAD). This may be the basis of the farmer’s belief that their production will catapult Ogun state beyond the realm of local rice producers that produce only for the immediate communities to commercial rice farmers who have international recognition and the farmers are not timid to express this confidence.
Those that spoke with the Nigerian Tribune on its visit were optimistic that with their plans and efforts, the state will grow economically though they agreed that a lot still needs to be done to achieve optimal result in the areas of modern day equipment as they still employ old methods and crude outputs during harvest.
However, most of the farmers that spoke with Nigerian Tribune lauded the Ogun State Government for its interest and commitment to promoting riceproduction which is already putting the state in line as force to be reckoned with when it comes to rice production in all its stages.
Adedoyin Babatunde
Speaking on how riceproduction has given people in the community a new lease of life, Mr. Adedoyin Babatunde, a rice farmer stated that the project had provided employment opportunity for the unemployed youths in the locality, adding that government considered the rice business as one of the ways to achieve food sufficiency in the state by providing the land and other items for the project to be a successful one.
He however explained that more support is still being expected from government, especially in the areas of financing, adding that many of them are willing to expand the project if they get assistance in form of soft loans from the Bank of Industry (BoI) and other relevant agencies of government.
He advised government to provide them with irrigation system on the farms in order to have all year planting, adding that, “we appreciate government for providing us with this opportunity of making the unemployed youths and retirees gainfully engaged. We need government support more than ever. The Ogun State Government under the leadership of Senator Ibikunle Amosun has done well. Like Oliver Twist, we are asking for more. The little that we have achieved thus far is by the benevolence of the state government through the provision of land and inputs needed. It was the state government that cleared the land for planting. The rice seeds, fertilizers and herbicides were also provided by them.
“We intend to go far with this project, but we need capital to sustain it.
Rice planting is far beyond land clearing which is major. It requires labourers that will do the planting, weeding of grasses, spraying to avoid pests and harvesting,” Babatunde said.
Olugbenga Popoola
Another rice farmer, Mr. Ojo Matthew, corroborated Babatunde’s assertion in the area of need for more assistance from government. According to him, they are ready to plant rice three times annually if the government takes the business seriously, noting that, “the state government deserves commendation. Having said that, I think government should give adequate attention to the project if it wants to enlist itself as the highest grower of rice the country.
“The government team should come up on time to clear the land against the next planting season. Apart from inputs, we need capital to perform optimally.” Matthew stated.
For Mr. Olugbenga Popoola, Ogun State will soon become the “Thailand” of Nigeria in rice production. He explained that the state is committed to promoting local riceproduction, adding that there are three varieties of rice being planted across rice farms in the state.
He equally lent his voice to that of his colleagues soliciting for government assistance in the area of financing. “This rice project is a laudable one. We appreciate government for giving us inputs and clearing of the land which is a major factor. But these are not enough. If government could assist the farmers the more, the state would soon be adjudged as the highest producer of rice in the country, I mean the ‘Thailand’ of Nigeria,” Popoola added.
The Special Assistant to Governor Amosun on Agriculture, Mr. Tosin
Ademuyiwa, assured the farmers that the next phase of the project would be more mechanized than what it obtained this year and enjoined the younger generation to key into the agricultural revolution of the state government in the rice project,
saying that more machineries had been purchased by government to boost production.
One of the equipment used for rice processing
On her part, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Adepeju Adebajo, stated that, “This is a pilot scheme of 500 hectares planted at 3 nearby locations in Eggua environs. Ogun State Government supported the farmers by land clearing and preparation, provision of herbicides and fertilisers, extension agents and harvesting storage and processing equipment.
“Through the pilot the farmers and ministry are planning improvements to be implemented in Eggua which will be one of the rice clusters to be established by the government. Already the irrigation channels started at Eggua a few years ago are being revived and government has facilitated acquisition of rice processing equipment and mills for private sector operators.
The government recently procured 20 bulldozers which are being made available for land clearing which is one of the biggest challenges faced by farmers. More equipment will be purchased before the next planting season and there are plans to provide irrigation.
“Ogun State is very suitable for rice growing and there are at least 3 large clusters with suitable soil conditions to support rice. Government will act as a catalyst in the sector to encourage more private investors and farmers to go into rice.
“Ogun State is particularly proud of our own indigenous specialty of Ofadarice which has extensive markets at home and abroad and is working towards setting quality standards and certification of Ofada rice,” she said.
And as the nation gears up for major riceproduction in the coming months, Eegua community has started the process of leading the pack in southwest Nigeria.
http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/eggua-rice-community-ogun-goose-laying-golden-egg/
Rice Flour Market Forecast by Type, Application, Production, Market Share and Region
SEPTEMBER 25, 2017 BY ARUN PATIL
Rice Flour Market report provides Emerging Market trends, Manufacturer Share, Market Segmentation, regional outlook and comprehensive analysis on different market segments.
The Rice Flour Market provides detailed analysis of Market Overview, Segmentation by Types/Potential Applications and Production Analysis.
With the slowdown in world economic growth, the Rice Flour industry has also suffered a certain impact, but still maintained a relatively optimistic growth, the past four years, Rice Flour market size to maintain the average annual growth rate of 2.01% from 6350 million $ in 2013 to 6740 million $ in 2016, Market analysts believe that in the next few years, Rice Flour market size will be further expanded, we expect that by 2021 , The market size of the Rice Flour will reach 7560 million $.
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Rice Flour industry drives A strong trend of R&D investments in Rice Flour industries. Other growth drivers include the need to curtail costs, growth and increased use of shifting commodity prices, strength of private label brands and increased competition from players in Rice Flour market. The Rice Flour market report gives an overview of Rice Flour industries by analysing various key segments based on Product Type Level, Industry Level and Channel Level. The regional distribution of Rice Flour industries is across the globe are considered for this market analysis, the result of which is utilized to estimate the performance of the International market over the period from 2017 to forecasted year.
Key Points discussed in Rice Flour Market Report:
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• What will be status of Rice Flour market in 2021?
The Rice Flour market report shed light on Foremost Regions: North America Country (United States, Canada), South America, Asia Country (China, Japan, India, Korea), Europe Country (Germany, UK, France, Italy), Other Country (Middle East, Africa, GCC).
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Rice Flour Market in World, presents critical information and factual data about Rice Flour Industry, with an overall statistical study of this market based on market drivers, market limitations, and its prospects. The widespread trends and opportunities are also taken into consideration in Rice Flour Market study. The product range of the Rice Flour industry is examined based on their production chain, pricing of products and the profit generated by them. Various regional markets are analysed in Rice Flour market report and the production volume and efficacy for Rice Flour market across the world is also discussed
http://www.satprnews.com/2017/09/25/rice-flour-market-forecast-by-type-application-production-market-share-and-region/
GuySuCo using Wales for seed paddy as aquaculture still being developed
By Staff Writer 1 day ago 11 Comments
While one of the plans for the rice planted at the Wales Estate was for aquaculture, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) says that it is currently using it to produce seed paddy to sell to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).
In a letter published in the September 16, 2017 edition of Stabroek News, industry expert Anthony Vieira pointed out that the project’s origin ran in line with GuySuCo’s intention to kick start an aquaculture project.
He made the disclosure in response to a letter from PPP/C Member of Parlia-ment Ganga Persaud, who wrote that the Wales lands have been converted by the Ministry of Agriculture for the sole purpose of propagating new strains of seed paddy through the GRDB and the Burma Rice Research Station. Persaud dubbed it a “government ploy to go into paddy production in order to fully occupy the vast unutilised cane lands at Wales Estate. The whole concept is for the state to go into competition with the country’s peasant rice farmers.”….
https://www.stabroeknews.com/2017/news/stories/09/25/guysuco-using-wales-for-seed-paddy-as-aquaculture-still-being-developed/
RICE FARMING: A green way to cut cost
12:00 AM, September 26, 2017 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:18 AM, September 26, 2017
Reaz Ahmad
Bangladeshi scientists have developed the perfect blend of decomposable waste, biochar, friendly bacteria and rock phosphate to make two most-used chemical fertilisers in the country's paddy fields largely unnecessary.
A group of soil scientists at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) yesterday said use of the newly developed bio-organic fertiliser would eventually eliminate 100 percent usage of triple super phosphate (TSP) and reduce urea usage for rice production by 30 percent.
Not only would this help reduce the use of chemical fertiliser, it would significantly cut the government's yearly fertiliser subsidy of Tk 9,000 crore.
It would also help keep the environment clean and green as it would use kitchen waste and cut down carbon emission.
The Soil Science Division of BRRI successfully field-tested the efficacy of this bio-organic fertiliser on paddy in all three rice-growing seasons -- Boro, Aus and Aman.
The tests were done over the last one year at BRRI's compound and the fertiliser is now on trial at farmers' fields in Barisal, Patuakhali, Rajshahi and Kishoreganj.
Umme Aminun Naher, a BRRI principal scientific officer (PSO) and mastermind behind the bio-organic fertiliser, told The Daily Star yesterday that the blend has 10 beneficial bacteria.
About 15 percent of it is biochar (charcoal used as a soil amendment) and five percent rock phosphate, she said, adding that the rest was decomposable household vegetable waste.
She said their trials had shown that the use of bio-organic fertiliser did not have any impact on rice yields and was at par with production level achieved through chemical fertiliser usage.
Naher pointed out that the fertiliser would help reduce carbon emissions. Greenhouse gasses are emitted during chemical fertiliser production and its use, she said.
Research revealed that the production of one kg of urea and TSP fertiliser emits about six kg of CO2 in the air, said the Unesco-ISTIC (International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation) award-winning scientist.
She said, "We are using the same rock phosphate, which is a key ingredient in TSP, but in our process the beneficial bacteria make the rock phosphate soluble. Other bacteria that we are using help compost waste, fix nitrogen from the air and help the paddy plant grow."
The biochar is produced by burning rice husk, she added.
Neither Naher nor Jatish Chandra Biswas, the head of the BRRI Soil Science Division, could give a clear idea on the cost of the fertiliser.
They, however, said the cost of production should be much lower than chemical fertilisers as "we are using household wastes, cheap biochar and bacteria and little amount of rock phosphate, which is available in the market for Tk 5 per kg".
They said the fertiliser would add organic matter and beneficial microbes to maintain soil health. Soil quality would increase with direct application of carbon via biochar.
Research findings indicate that application of chemical fertilisers for a long time decreases the populations of free-living nitrogen fixing bacteria, organisms that solubilise phosphate as well as other beneficial bacteria.
Md Imran Ullah Sarkar and Afsana Jahan are the two other soil scientists of the BRRI team that developed the fertiliser after several years of research, lab tests and field trials.
Jatish told The Daily Star that to move forward with the product, BRRI would first make a patent application. Once they had the patent, they would provide interested enterprises with the technology so that the fertiliser reached all farmers in the country.
The decomposing process of the waste, bacteria, biochar and phosphate would generate a considerable amount of biogas and people would be able to tap into it, once it is produced commercially on a large scale, he said.
BRRI Director General Md Shahjahan Kabir told The Daily Star yesterday that as a first step, BRRI would soon approach the Gazipur City Corporation to go for bio-organic fertiliser production.
"We are (BRRI headquarters) located in Gazipur and we will approach the local city authorities to make the best use of the decomposable waste collected each day. That will have a demonstrative effect on other places in the country," said Kabir.
http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/rice-farming-green-way-cut-cost-1467745
2017 Global Rice Husk Ash Market - Usher Agro ,Guru Metachem ,Agrilectric Power Company
09-25-2017 01:20 PM CET - Advertising, Media Consulting, Marketing Research
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Silica Content Between 85-89%
Silica Content Between 90-94%
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NFA shoots for overhaul of rules on rice imports
By Jasper Y. Arcalas
September 25, 2017
The National Food Authority (NFA) is seeking to have the exclusive right to import rice from Asean member-countries at lower tariffs to boost its buffer stock after the quantitative restriction (QR) on the staple is lifted by Congress.
The food agency attached to the Office of the President made this proposal in a position paper it submitted to the House of Committee on Agriculture and Food chaired by Party-list Rep. Jose T. Panganiban of Anac-IP. The committee is currently reviewing a draft bill that would amend Republic Act (RA) 8178, or the Agricultural Tariffication Act.
NFA Administrator Jason Laureano Y. Aquino said the proposed bill should contain a provision retaining the food agency’s power to manage the country’s rice imports.
“However, even with the lifting of the QR, the NFA should still be given the ‘exclusive’ authority to import and manage the country’s food-security and buffer-stock requirements, which is the volume of rice requirement that cannot be served by the NFA with locally produced palay/rice”, Aquino said in the position paper, a copy of which was obtained by the BusinesMirror.
“Such authority should include the country’s commitments under Asean trade agreements,” he added.
Aquino said the government should be in charge of addressing the food-security requirement of the country, particularly in times of calamities and emergencies, as the private sector could be “unreliable in critical situations”.
“We cannot rely solely on the private sector to operate for ‘humanitarian reason’, or social responsibility more than their business/profit concern,” he said.
“The NFA has available logistics strategically located nationwide, hence it can immediately address food security concerns and respond to emergency situations,” Aquino added.
The NFA chief said the food agency should have the “exclusive” authority to import the annual in-quota minimum
access volume (MAV) of rice, particularly from Asean. Under the Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (Atiga), rice is slapped a tariff of 35 percent.
“The NFA shall have the exclusive authority to import the in-quota MAV and its Asean commitments at 35-percent tariff, at volumes equivalent to its buffer-stock requirement of at least 15 days, at any given time and 30 days, by July 1 of each year,” he said.
“Any excess volume after satisfying the buffer requirement, under the MAV in-quota rate of 35 percent, may be allocated to the private sector, subject to NFA rules and conditions,” he added.
Aquino also said the agency supports the proposal to allow the NFA to import rice at any given time sans a recommendation from the NFA Council (NFAC).
“The NFA agrees with the proposal to remove the need for a certification of shortage from the NFAC after consultation with the Office of the President to warrant importation,” Aquino said.
The NFAC is the highest policy-making body of the NFA. Under Presidential Decree 4, the NFA could only conduct state-facilitated rice importation upon the recommendation of NFAC whenever there is a foreseen “shortfall in domestic production, a critical demand-supply gap, a state of calamity or other verified reasons that may warrant the need for importation”.
In a separate position paper submitted to Panganiban, the Department of Agriculture (DA) supported the proposal of the NFA to let the food agency handle the government’s rice-importation scheme.
The DA said the importation of rice within the MAV from members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and out-MAV from Asean member-countries should be exclusive to the NFA or whichever government agency is concerned. The private sector may only import rice at the MFN out-quota rate, currently pegged at 50 percent, subject to the rules and conditions of the NFA, according to the DA.
The DA also proposed that the President, upon the recommendation of the NFAC, shall have the power to adjust tariff rates as a measure to address the country’s food security requirements. This power, the DA noted, could be exercised by the President without consultations and even when Congress is in session.
“The President, upon the recommendation of the NFAC, is empowered to increase or decrease tariff rate to meet emergency requirements, to secure the government’s rice-buffer stocking and distribution program, and to meet the country’s trade commitments,” the DA’s position paper read.
The DA also said the bill amending Republic Act (RA) 8178 should include a provision that may authorize the NFA, upon the recommendation of the NFAC and approval of the President, to import rice at zero tariff rate. “The NFA may be authorized to import rice tariff-free upon recommendation of the NFA Council and approval of the President,” the position paper read.
“In the event that the NFA imports rice at zero tariff, half of the net income earned from the said importation shall be used to augment the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund. For this purpose, the NFA must have a separate accounting for its tariff-free rice imports,” it added.
Under RA 8178, the NFA is the sole government authority mandated to regulate the importation and export of agricultural goods, particularly rice and corn.
The NFA implements the MAV commitment of the Philippines to the WTO. The NFAC determines whether it will be the private sector or the government that shall utilize the MAV allocation.
The Philippines’s MAV for rice will revert to 350,000 metric tons (MT), from the current 805,000 MT, once its QR on the staple is abolished, according to Agriculture Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Segfredo R. Serrano.
The NFA and the DA also said in their respective position papers that the agriculture secretary must be reinstated as a member of the NFAC. But the heads of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Land Bank of the Philippines and Development of Bank of the Philippines (DBP) should be removed from the council, according to Aquino.
Aquio said the NFAC must be chaired by a representative from the Office of the President with the rank of Cabinet secretary, while the food agency’s administrator would still serve as vice chairman. The rice and corn sectors should also be represented in the NFAC, according to Aquino.
At present the NFAC is chaired by Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B. Evasco Jr., with Aquino serving as vice chairman.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/nfa-shoots-for-overhaul-of-rules-on-rice-imports/
Urgent rice import needed
Biplob Biswas, Faridpur
12:00 AM, September 26, 2017 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:00 AM, September 26, 2017
Rice is an extremely important and sensitive food item for Bangladesh because it is the country's most important staple food. The recent rice price hikes have, therefore, created a serious problem for the country's poor population.
Floods in recent months across 21 districts have caused extensive damage to both Aman and Boro crops. It was, therefore, only normal that there would be a shortage of food in the aftermath. However, the food ministry failed to anticipate the crisis beforehand. If the authorities concerned had taken appropriate measures in time, perhaps the crisis could have been averted. Besides, those hoarding rice illegally should have been detected earlier.
Now, to mitigate the damage, the authorities should take steps against illegal hoarders and facilitate the process of importing rice on an urgent basis.
http://www.thedailystar.net/letters/urgent-rice-import-needed-1467640
No rice for a rainy day
Ali Imam Majumder | Update: 22:00, Sep 24, 2017
The price of rice suddenly took on an upward spiral in the markets, particular the price of coarse rice. Now, after the government clamped down hard, the price rise has abated somewhat. It will take time for the market to be stable again. It is the lower-income bracket that suffers, while certain unscrupulous quarters make big bucks.
The rice traders blame the government for not taking due measures in due time. And the government, in turn, blames the rice mill owners, the traders and even the media. There is no shortage of rice in the market, so the price hike is rather mysterious.
The crisis began towards the end of March when the boro rice crop was destroyed by floods in the haor (marsh) region. Up north too, large amounts of the crop was destroyed by the blast fungus. This caused a 2 million tonne fall in rice production, according to the food minister.
We are more or less self-sufficient in rice production. At the outset of our independence, there was a food shortage for the 75 million people of the country. The success of this country, now with a population of 160 million, is amazing. Production has tripled. According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, in 2016 rice production was 35 million metric tonnes, of which 19.2 million tonnes was of the boro crop. This is our main crop. The government carries out a massive food grain procurement drive during this period.
The drop in food production naturally affected the government’s grain procurement drive. While the target for collection was about 900,000 tonnes, so far only 260,000 tonnes has been collected. This has pushed prices up in the open market. The millers are not able to provide rice at the government rate of Tk 32 per kg.
The inter-ministerial food planning monitoring unit determines the procurement target and price. The demand, stock and storage capacity is taken into consideration when determining the target. The procurement price is fixed by adding incentive to the production costs. But conditions on the ground can change. If the price of paddy and rice goes above the procurement price in the market, then it is unrealistic to expect to procure rice at the price agreed upon. If the procurement price is immediately readjusted, then there would be more rice in government stock. With sufficient stock, the government can intervene in the market system. Instead, the government opted to import rice. It is invariably difficult for the government to import rice during times of crisis.
When the traders take advantage of the situation and unfairly raise the price of rice, then there is very little to do if the stock is low. According to the food ministry website, on 19 September the stock was 356,000 tonnes of rice and 117,000 tonnes of wheat. Another 111,000 tonnes of rice waits unloading at the port.
The government has a storage capacity of 1.9 million tonnes of food grain. From rations to relief, all the government food distribution is from this stock. In order to keep the market stable, the government had a successful programme of Open Market Sales (OMS), selling food grain at low prices. If this can be run extensively for a month, the price of rice should fall.
Rice import by the private sector also has a positive impact on the market prices. That is why such import can be encouraged from time to time. It was done this time. Import duty on rice import was slashed from 28 per cent to 2 per cent. The banks were instructed to open LCs without any margin.
All this was done, but a bit too late. When the floods inundated the crops in the haors in March, it should have been realized then that a food shortage was looming large. Floods destroyed crops in the north too. Now those who grow rice, themselves have to be given rice trough the VGF system. This has put pressure on the stock. Rice for the 450,000 Rohingya refuges will also go from this stock. Duty was lowered from 1 July and there was an immediate flurry of import by the private sector. They have reportedly imported 600,000 tonnes of rice and 1 million tonnes of wheat according to updates.
Duty and taxes had been imposed on rice import in consideration of the farmers. Had the decisions of July been taken in April, this would have yielded greater results. The government could have procured rice through tender from the local importers too. They do so in the case of chemical fertiliser. That has proven to be successful and sustainable.
Food stock is piling up again. It is imperative to expand the OMS programme. There is a vast section of people who do not collect relief or VGF, yet they are needy. In consideration of them, the OMS programme must be run extensively. The government reportedly will do so shortly. But what has happened? Had there been adequate stock, the millers and traders could have been quelled. It seems that the decision of the latest high level meeting may yield results.
It needs to be seen who is responsible for this situation. There has been discussion on the government’s delayed measures. Lack of coordination among the ministries led to the delay. Then there are the unscrupulous traders who don’t miss the opportunity to cash in on the crisis. Legal measures need to be taken in such circumstances. Mobile courts have fined traders and mill owners who violate the law. Some DCs and SPs also have inspected the food stock in the mills. This is all very well, but long-experience as a DC says that the presence of rice-filled OMS trucks is more effective than the presence of the DCs and SPs. Extensive distribution of rice through VGF among the poor lowers pressure on the open market.
The mahajote or grand alliance government of Bangladesh Awami League (AL) is ruling the country at present. Awami League was in power during the 1998 floods too. For over a month at the time, 75 per cent of the country, including the capital city, was under water. Railway, road and air communication is disrupted. Some foreign media predicted that 20 million people would face famine. But in reality, we did not hear of even two people dying. The price of rice did not go up. No one could take advantage of the situation due to extensive government programmes.
It seems that the ruling party is shifting away from its previous priorities. This party had always placed the lower and lower middle class at the forefront. But now priority is being given to the traders and industrialists, Perhaps this is required to become an industrially developed wealthy country! But official statistics indicate that almost half of the government labour force is still involved in agriculture.
The media has also been held responsible for creating panic over the hike in rice prices. Some reports have an adverse effect on the market, no doubt. But the government website updates information on its food stock daily, so there can be no harm in reporting on this. Renowned economist Amartya Sen said that there can be no famine in a country that has a strong media and democracy. We were not even near a famine. But there was a shortfall in government food stock. Discussion in the media has helped the government in this regard. It is not untrue that the crisis was caused by the government’s failure to save up for the proverbial rainy day.
http://en.prothom-alo.com/opinion/news/160651/No-rice-for-a-rainy-day
U.S. Could Export Rice to China for First Time, But Is It a Done Deal?
SEPTEMBER 24, 2017 08:00 AM
As U.S. rice farmers bring in a new crop, rough rice prices have rallied a dollar since June. While U.S. prices vary, farmers rely heavily on consistent consumption at home each year.
“The biggest market is the domestic U.S. market overall,” said Johnny Sullivan, Producers Rice Mill, located in Stuttgart, Ark. “That's where I'd say about 60 percent of the rice grown in the U.S. stays in the U.S.”
September is National Rice Month, celebrating the various uses of rice. The grain is gluten free, and also features whole grain qualities. It’s those traits that mills say are helping the crop grow in popularity domestically.
“Many ingredients that are made from rice are also gluten free for additives, for nutritional bars and different things such as that,” said Sullivan.
Once the American made rice leaves the field, it’s processed in the mill and turned into popular products like beer. Sullivan says consumers of Budweiser or Bud Light are already a big supporter of home-grown rice.
“Anheuser-Busch is virtually the largest buyer of rice in the world,” said Sullivan.
From brews to puppy food, milled U.S. rice is growing in use.
“Even puppy rations use a large amount of rice now because they found that it's very soothing to the puppy's tummies,” said Bill Reed of Riceland Foods, the world’s largest rice miller.
What doesn’t get consumed domestically needs a home, and today, there are a few countries that top the export list.
“Most of our rice is marketed into the export markets in the Western hemisphere - many of the Caribbean Islands, as well as Central America are big rice eaters,” said Reed.
“Most of that rice in California is consumed domestically, and then about 25 percent is shipped to Japan,” said Chris Crutchfield, CEO of American Commodity Company, based in Williams, Calif.
The rice industry says they’re lockstep with the rest of agriculture on current trade deals like NAFTA, urging the administration to do no harm in agriculture’s slice of current trade pacts.
“Mexico is our largest market,” said Crutchield. “Almost of its rough rice market or raw material market, and then Canada’s is our third largest.
Another scrutinized deal that Crutchfield fears could potentially pose fallout for rice is South Korea.
“That’s a deal that rice was excluded from,” said Crutchield. “While we don't necessarily have a say in the technical aspect of the agreement, we do export a lot rice to South Korea every year, and if we get into some sort of a trade, that could have a negative effect on the overall trade aspect.”
Crutchield says rice producers want to protect current markets already in place, but as some key buyers wane, it’s encouraging the industry to find new markets.
“Iraq is still purchasing U.S. rice, but four years ago [the country] was buying several hundred thousand tons of rice a year - this past year they bought 30,000 tons,” said Crutchfield. “With the loss of those markets, you either need a resumption of trade or you need to pick up new markets.”
In Sullivan’s eyes, Cuba is one market that could come back on board, ideally positioned to take on more exports from the rice belt in the Southeast.
“Cuba buys somewhere between 500,000 and 600,000 tons per year,” he said. “They import that much rice U.S. rice crop, and the U.S. proximity to Cuba is the closest that there is which takes out the logistic issues.”
An even bigger potential buyer would be the world’s most populous country – China.
“China is a monster of a market,” said Sullivan. “The facts are based on the consumption rates of rice in China that in a 14-day period they could eat the entire U.S. crop. So, it's an unreal market.”
“There's no doubt that China needs rice,” said Crutchfield. “Over the last 10 years they’ve gone from being a competitor of the U.S. and others on the export stage, to being the world's largest importer of rice”
The Trump administration paved the path for trade to China this year when leaders signed a deal in July, agreeing to start exporting rice to China for the first time ever. It was a deal more than a decade in the works and happened after both U.S. and China agreed on “phytosanitary protocol,” which helps put more parameters around terms of sanitary conditions for U.S. milled rice.
“One of the things that was unique about this phytosanitary agreement was this is first time the United States government has ever allowed a foreign government to send inspectors to the United Sates to review and inspect potential facilities or individual companies,” said Crutchield.
The U.S. calling the deal a major win, but the reality is little progress has been made since that initial step with the signing in July.
“Taking 11 years to get the first step behind us and being able to see how many steps we have in front of us is a little disconcerting,” Crutchfield said.
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue recently set an aggressive timeline, saying the first shipment of U.S. rice could hit within the next three months. Crutchield is hopeful that’s the case.
“If they move forward in any kind of a timely fashion, we can see that happen,” he said. “My most realistic estimate would be to say that I’m confident we'll see some rice from the 2017 crop be exported from the United States to China.
Once the first shipment breaks through, Crutchfield thinks the demand growth is huge, possibly turning into a 6 figure market in the future.
https://www.agweb.com/article/us-could-export-rice-to-china-for-first-time-but-is-it-a-done-deal-naa-tyne-morgan/
Global Basmati Rice Market 2017 REI Agro Ltd, KRBL Ltd, LT Foods Ltd, Kohinoor Foods Ltd, Lakshmi Group, Pari India – 2022
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The Basmati Rice report covers the precisely studied and evaluated data of the global market players and their scope in the market using a number of analytical tools. The analytical tools such as investment return analysies, SWOT analysis and feasibility studyare used to analyze the key global market player’s’growth in the Basmati Rice industry.
The report focuses on regional as well as global market, its key players, along with market segments including detailed study on various divisions and its applications. The report provides comprehensive information on each and every segment covered of the Basmati Rice market.
The Basmati Rice report is a useful documentation that aids distributors, manufacturers, suppliers, customers, investors & individuals who are interested in this market
http://www.worldofwallstreet.us/global-basmati-rice-market-2017-rei-agro-ltd-krbl-ltd-lt-foods-ltd-kohinoor-foods-ltd-lakshmi-group-pari-india-2022/13577
