Monday, January 15, 2018

15th January,2018 daily global regional local rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine

Indonesia: Do not exceed price ceilings, ministry tells rice stakeholders
2018/01/15

The government has required retailers, distributors and suppliers of rice to sell the commodity at no higher than the set price ceilings, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said on Friday, stressing that the ministry would punish those found in violation of the policy."I invite all retailers, distributors and suppliers to take part in maintaining the price of premium and medium-quality rice at the [price] ceilings,” Enggartiasto said during a press conference in Jakarta on Friday.
He said the policy would apply to all stakeholders in the rice industry, and the Trade Ministry would monitor its implementation in the field, inclunding by watching suppliers and distributors who keep their rice in warehouses."So, if you come across suppliers who don't distribute their rice, please statement them to me. I will find out who they are,” he said, adding that his ministry had teamed up with the National Police to enforce the law against violators of the new policy.
The ministry’s price ceilings for rice were introduced in August 2017 to stand at between Rp 12,800 (89 US cents) per kilogram and Rp 13,600 per kilogram for premium-quality rice and between Rp 9,450 and Rp 10,250 per kg for medium-quality rice.
In markets, however, prices have exceeded the ceilings.
Enggartiasto as well required all relevant firms to statement the location of their respective warehouses, adding that unreported warehouses would be considered illegal by the ministry.
 http://globserver.cn/en/middle-east/press/Trade%20Minister%20Enggartiasto%20Lukita


Matco Foods looks to raise Rs758m through IPO
 KARACHI:  Matco Foods Limited, one of the basmati rice exporters in Pakistan, is targeting to raise close to Rs758 million through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) that would be held towards the end of the current month. It intends to issue 25% of its shares to public and high net-worth individuals. Through the IPO, the company is going to issue approximately 29 million shares at a floor price of Rs26 per share. The company is going to invest the capital in its two rice glucose plants at Port Qasim in Karachi. Glucose is the main ingredient for pharmaceutical, confectionery and juice industries.

 The company is going to offer an issue size of 29,143,000 ordinary shares representing 25% of the total post-IPO paid-up capital of the company, Matco Foods Pvt Limited Director Faizan Ali Ghori told a group of journalists visiting the newly-installed plant with the help of a Chinese company. The transaction size of the IPO is going to be Rs757,718,000. The issue is being made through the book-building process on January 23 and 24. Successful bidders will be allowed to make bids for an allocation of 75% shares while the remaining 25% shall be offered to retail investors. In case the retail portion remains unsubscribed, its share will be allotted to the successful bidders on pro rata basis, he said. The company will utilise the proceeds raised from the IPO to finance the expansion of its rice glucose/syrup and rice protein plant. Matco exports 75% of its production, since it prefers international markets where glucose is priced at $11,000 per ton against a price range of just $400-500 per ton in the local market, said Ghori. “There are only two rice glucose factories in Pakistan. The organised sector of consumer goods is growing here and this phenomenon has a great impact on our product so we want to take advantage through value addition,” he added. At present, domestic demand of glucose in Pakistan is being met 90% by corn glucose, which contains gluten. Meanwhile, Pakistan has a good chance to grab the Indian share of Basmati rice in global markets. The European Union (EU) has made stringent policies against hazardous pesticides used to grow rice crop by Indian farmers, and this could go in Pakistan’s favour. The EU has stopped accepting more than 0.01mg per kg of a pesticide called tricyclazole, from the January 2018. Up till now, the EU was accepting 0.03mg per kg from different countries, including India. “India could overcome the crisis in three years so we have this time period to grab the international market through value-added and quality service.”
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1608202/2-matco-foods-looks-raise-rs758m-ipo/
Milled-rice output seen hitting 12 MMT
By  Jasper Y. Arcalas
 January 14, 2018
 In Photo: A farmer piles up grain harvested from a rice field in Nueva Ecija. The United States Department of Agriculture projected that Philippine milled-rice output this year would increase by more than 2 percent. FILE PHOTO
Philippine milled-rice production could reach a record high of nearly 12 million metric tons (MMT) this year, as the continued implementation of the quantitative restriction (QR) on rice will encourage more farmers to plant the staple.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the projected milled-rice output this year is 2.69 percent higher than the 11.686 MMT estimated production in 2017.
“The USDA estimates 2017/18 Philippines rice production at a record 12 million tons [milled basis], up 800,000 metric tons, or 7 percent from last month, and up 2 percent from last year,” the Washington-based agency said in its report, titled “World Agricultural Production,” which was published recently.
“The QR on rice imports remains in effect, incentivizing producers to stay in rice,” it added.
The USDA also said the use of high-yielding varieties and favorable weather conditions would help boost milled-rice output this year.
“Additionally, there were noticeably fewer typhoons with the potential to damage rice passing through the major production areas compared to previous years,” it added.
The USDA said the total rice area harvested this year would reach 4.8 million hectares, 1.69 percent higher than last year’s 4.72 million hectares. The country’s national average palay yield will slightly increase to 3.96 MT per hectare from the estimated 3.93 MT per hectare yield in 2017.
“Harvested area is estimated at 4.8 million hectares, tied with the previous record in 2013/14. Estimated harvested area and production were both raised based on estimates from the Philippines Statistics Agency [PSA],” the USDA said.
Because of the expected hike in output this year, the USDA trimmed down its projection for Philippine rice imports to 1.3 MMT, from 1.7 MMT.
However, the figure is still 18.18 percent higher than the 1.1 MMT estimated total import volume last year.
The USDA estimated that the country’s beginning rice stock this year is at 1.996 MMT. It pegged the country’s total rice requirement for 2018 at 12.9 MMT, while total rice stock could reach 15.266 MMT.
The Department of Agriculture said it is targeting to harvest 20.341 MMT of paddy from 4.84 million hectares this year. At this production level, the DA noted that the Philippines would be 96-percent
self-sufficient in rice.
At a milling recovery rate of 65 percent, milled-rice output this year could reach 13.22 MMT, based on the BusinessMirror’s computation.
In a report, the PSA estimated that the country’s paddy output for 2017 likely reached 19.4 MMT, 10.11 percent higher than the 18.15 MMT produced in 2016.
“Probable palay production for the October-to-December period may surpass the 2016 level by 6.26 percent.
The anticipated increment in output may be attributed to increase in yield resulting from sustained use of high-yielding varieties coupled with sufficient water supply during the early stages of crop development,” the PSA said.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/milled-rice-output-seen-hitting-12-mmt/
Indonesia to import rice from Việt Nam 


Workers load rice onto a ship docked at Sài Gòn Port. — VNA/VNS Photo Đình Huệ
Viet Nam News
HÀ NỘI — Indonesia will import 500,000 tonnes of rice from Việt Nam and Thailand to contain rice price hikes and declining supply in the local market.
The imported rice will be of premium quality, not grown in Indonesia; so it will not affect local farmers and rice production, said Indonesian Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita. The country’s current rice stocks were estimated at some 950,000 tonnes, most of which is low-grade rice to be distributed as aid for low-income people.
Meanwhile, rice stocks for commercial purposes were only 11,000 tonnes. Previously, Indonesia’s Vice President Jusuf Kalla had called on the National Logistics Agency (Bulog) to consider importing rice to bring down domestic prices.
According to the National Strategic Food Prices Information Centre (PIHPSN), medium-quality rice is currently fetched at 14,100 IDR or US$1 per kg.
Rice prices vary among regions. West Papua reported the highest price of 14,250 IDR per kg, while the lowest price of over 9,700 IDR per kg was found in West Nusa Tanggara. — VNS



http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/421176/indonesia-to-import-rice-from-viet-nam.html#pASCIfGzjII4l2yV.99http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/421176/indonesia-to-import-rice-from-viet-nam.html#L6lC9PTRuhb7IXLC.97


Unreliable data prompted govt to import rice: Analyst

News Desk
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta | Mon, January 15, 2018 | 01:02 pm
 Workers unload rice from a delivery truck on Aug. 8, 2017 at the Cipinang Rice Central Market in East Jakarta. A senior analyst has questioned the reliability of the government's data on rice, theorizing that inaccurate rice data had led to its sudden decision to import rice last Thursday. (Antara/Muhammad Adimaja) 
The head of research at the Centre of Reform on Economics (CORE) Indonesia has questioned the validity of the government's rice data. Unreliable rice data has forced the government to import the commodity to ease prices, although the Agriculture Ministry claimed that the country's rice production was adequate.
“One of the problems is the limited funds for carrying out ice stocks surveys,” CORE research head Mohammad Faisal said in Jakarta, as reported by tempo.co on Monday.
The government announced last week that it would import 500,000 tons of rice in late January, although the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) had said earlier that 2.8 million tons of rice was produced last year against an annual demand of only 2.6 million tons. Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman claimed further that rice production had reached 3 million tons.
Faisal said the government needed to look to other ASEAN countries on monitoring food commodities, by obtaining data from both state-owned enterprises and private companies.
He said several ASEAN countries also required commodity distributors to submit monthly reports, so governments had alternative data on food distribution.
Faisal said that the government currently relied on data solely from the National Logistics Agency (Bulog), which controlled only10 percent of the rice distribution. He said the government had no data on the other 90 percent of the rice distribution.
He believed that the government had to make an urgent decision to import rice, because it had referred to inaccurate data on rice supply and demand. (bbn
AI is here to stay and here's what you need to know

Arridhana Ciptadi
Machine learning scientist at Amazon USA
Jakarta | Thu, October 26, 2017 | 08:34 am
 We are at the beginning of the next wave of an industrial revolution. This time, the wave is being driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI). (Shutterstock/File)
We are at the beginning of the next wave of an industrial revolution. This time, the wave is being driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Look around, AI is already present in many parts of our lives. Do you have any pressing questions? Google can answer them better than anybody you know. Want to know the latest stories? Facebook and Instagram give you personalized streams of information that are more relevant for you compared to what is on television. In large part, the rise of these big technology companies is due to the successful application of AI, and what we have seen is just the beginning of this new age.
So, what is AI? In short, AI is a capability that allows a computer or machine to reason and perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.
While currently, we are still very far from a sci-fi-like AI that can emulate every single aspect of human intelligence, there are some domains where AI has clearly made immense progress. For example, areas like semantic search, natural language understanding, visual perception, and personal recommendation have been greatly affected by AI, and all of the big technology companies are racing against each other to deploy more AI capabilities to various aspects of their operations.
To put it simply, proper use of AI allows these tech companies to create new experiences and operate more efficiently. Consider this: the top five tech companies in the United States (Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Amazon) generate US$ $550 billion in annual revenue with only 660,000 employees. This means, each employee generates approximately $833,000 in revenue per year, which is 15 times higher than the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of the US.
This big gap in productivity will only increase as these companies apply more and more AI in their operations. Just as the previous industrial revolution brought great benefits to those who master the technology, the increasing application of AI will have a tremendous impact on the economy, society and social order.
Some of us might be skeptical about the potential impact of AI. After all, AI has a history of overpromising and under delivering. So, what caused this seemingly rapid progress and why should we expect it to continue? The big advances in AI today come from machine learning, a field that studies how we can train a computer to perform certain tasks by using a large amount of data.
Three things — that are different today compared to the past —drive the success of machine learning.
The first is better algorithms. Researchers have come up with better machine learning models and better ways to train these models from data.
Next, is the big increase in computing power. We have a lot more powerful machines today that allow us to train more complex machine learning models.
The last aspect is the availability of a vast amount of data. Every day there is more and more data being collected, and data is the key to training a useful machine learning model. Some companies are even willing to provide their services free of charge to users as a means to collect valuable data.
AI can be used to create better products, gain meaningful insight from data and automate existing operations. As the technology develops, AI will disrupt more and more industries.
Certainly, there are limitations on the kinds of jobs that can be automated with today’s AI, but here is a good rule of thumb: tasks that can be solved with two to three seconds of thought can most likely be automated either now or within the next two years.
It is just a question of investing the time and resources to build specialized AI for those tasks. We will soon start seeing more and more automation in labor-intensive jobs, especially those that require the application of repetitive skills.
Menial jobs are not going to be the only ones affected by AI. For one, the medical field is an area that is also ripe for disruption. A number of research projects demonstrate that we can train a computer to detect certain diseases in medical images as well as the best doctors. This is certainly something that can have tremendous value to society, as this technology can be a step toward bringing quality medical services to the masses.
AI will also greatly affect numerous other industries, such as manufacturing, logistics, automotive and even agriculture. It is safe to say that AI will become an increasingly larger part of our lives.
As a developing country, Indonesia should start thinking about how to position itself in this era of technological revolution. Recall the three components that drive the success of AI today: algorithms, computing power and data. It is fair to say that Indonesia is still lagging behind in all those areas.
We lack experts in this domain and also the computing infrastructure. Data can be one area that we can build upon, provided that we start thinking carefully about collecting the right kinds of data.
Overall, we need to think strategically about how we can invest more resources in these three areas, so that our country will not be just a consumer, but also a master and contributor in AI.
Expertise in AI will create a comparative advantage for those countries that have it, but it can also serve as a great equalizer among countries that master it. Let’s make sure that we will be able to stand equally among the experts.
***
The writer is a machine learning scientist at Amazon USA and holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He has published multiple papers in top conferences on machine learning and computer vision. The views expressed are his own.
---------------
Interested in writing for thejakartapost.com? We are looking for articles and opinions from experts in a variety of fields, as well as others with strong writing skills. Submit your original piece to community@jakpost.com on the following topics: lifestyle (beauty, fashion, food), entertainment, science & technology, health, parenting, social media and sports. Click here for more information.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2017/10/26/ai-is-here-to-stay-and-heres-what-you-need-to-know.html

Peak rice harvest in February, says minister
News Desk
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta | Mon, January 15, 2018 | 11:26 am
 Taking part in a paddy harvest event in Ciamis, West Java, on Oct. 9. are (right to left) Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman, State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno, Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Minister Eko Putro Sandjojo, West Java Deputy Governor Dedy Mizwar, Ciamis Regent Iing Syamarifin and Bank Mandiri president director Kartika Wirjoatmodjo. (Antara/Adeng Bustomi)
Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman has said a peak rice harvest would occur in February, hoping that the country would see a substantial increase in rice stocks next month.
The government has just announced that it would import 500,000 tons of premium-grade rice from Thailand and Vietnam late this month to ease the increasing price of the commodity.
“October to December last year was the planting season, so we will see a peak harvest next month,” said Amran after visiting the Economic Coordinating Ministry over the weekend.
Previously, the minister said Indonesia produced 3 million tons of rice last year, while the local demand of the commodity was only 2.6 million tons.
Speaking about the increasing rice prices, an official previously said many farmers were reluctant to sell their unhusked rice at regular prices, particularly for those who produced high-quality rice that could be made into premium-quality rice.
Amran added that the National Logistics Agency (Bulog) had only absorbed 58 percent of the total local production last year, which is far from the minister’s initial target of 90 percent. He hoped that Bulog would absorb the local farmers’ rice production in order to boost food security in the country.
Meanwhile, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukito said after the meeting that the imported rice was classified as premium-grade rice with a broken rice rate of 5 percent. (fny/bbn)
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/01/15/peak-rice-harvest-in-february-says-minister.html


Move over paddy purchase resented
By Express News Service  |   Published: 15th January 2018 04:35 AM  | 
Last Updated: 15th January 2018 07:02 AM  | 
JEYPORE: Resentment is brewing among farmers of Koraput after the district civil supply officials allowed some rice millers to participate in paddy procurement in neighbouring Malkangiri. They alleged that at a time when farmers are resorting to distress sale of paddy due to closure of mandis following dispute over delivery of custom milled rice (CMR), the district administration’s move has irked them.
Instead of procuring paddy in the home district, rice millers have been allowed to purchase the produce from Malkangiri.
As a result, the paddy procurement in Koraput will be delayed. While only seven lakh quintals have been procured so far, more than 10 lakh quintals are yet to be purchased from farmers.
 Sources said the Odisha State Civil Supply Corporation (OSCSC) had recently stopped paddy procurement for kharif marketing season abruptly over the dispute. This year, the district administration had targeted to procure 14 lakh quintals of paddy from the registered farmers through 46 mandis. Initially, 43 millers, who have delivered their CMR by September, were allowed to participate in the procurement process. They were asked to procure paddy in the ratio of 1:6 over their security deposits with the Civil Supply department.
Later, 47 millers, who had failed to deliver their CMR target by September, approached the department and sought more time. Following this, the Corporation allowed the millers to deliver their rice by December and participate in the procurement process. However, the millers were asked to procure paddy in the ratio of 1:1 ratio over their security deposits with the department.
Later, the department also restricted 24 millers from participation in the procurement as they failed to deliver 10 per cent of CMR against their paddy. After purchasing around 7 quintals of paddy, their targets were achieved and the corporation closed the mandis. Though the managing director of the corporation had recently visited Koraput to review the situation, the mandis are yet to be opened.
Sources said after the millers of Malkangiri decided not to take part in procurement process in their own district, Koraput millers have been allowed to purchase paddy which triggered anger among the farmers.
Farmers alleged that the civil supply department officials are conducting  procurement according to their wishes and opposed the move of sending millers to Malkangiri district. Farmer leaders here on Sunday demanded reopening of mandis in Koraput by Monday to check distress sale.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2018/jan/15/move-over-paddy-purchase-resented-1754075.html

2017: Rice import from Thailand drops to 23,192mt
January 14, 2018

Benin Rep imports rose to 1.647mmt
Against the backdrop of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s policy of zero allocation of dollars for the importation of 41 items, including rice; import of rice from Thailand to Nigeria dropped from 1.23 million metric tonnes in 2014 to 23,192 metric tonnes as at November 2017. According to data on the Thai Rice Exporters Association website, the value of these exports also dropped to 324 million Thai baht (from 8.2 billion Thai bhat).
Curiously though, Nigeria’s neighbours, Republic of Benin, recorded an astronomical increase in rice imports from Thailand, from 805,765 metric tonnes in 2015 to 1,647,387 million metric tonnes as at November 2017 — leading to suspicion that the drop in Nigeria’s import may not have to do with the claim by the Federal Government that the country now produces enough rice for domestic consumption, but the zero dollar allocation that has placed the burden of sourcing foreign exchange for the importation of the effected 41 items on the importer.
Though no government official could confirm, Sunday Telegraph notes that the staple may have been smuggled to Nigeria through land borders. The Comptroller General of Customs, Hammid Ali (rtd) had in 2006 announced a ban on the importation of rice from the nation’s land border, even as government has also disclosed that it would further place the staple on import prohibition list this year.
He argued that the move would encourage patronage of locally made goods, but it led to immediate increase in the price of the staple. “I have directed a zero-tolerance to rice imports through the land borders irrespective of volume with immediate effect. Importers who have already initiated import processes will have a grace period ending Friday March 25, 2016 to clear their consignments,” Hameed Alli, said in 2016.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) had last week told journalist in Lagos that in line with a directive given by President Muhammdu Buhari, it has donated a total of 421 trailer loads of rice totaling 252,666 units of 50kg bags valued at N3, 789,990,000 in the last 22 months to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in four states of the country.
This was announced by NCS in Lagos at a media briefing by its Spokesman, Mr. Joseph Attah, on the activities of the agency in the year 2017. Attah, a Deputy Comptroller of Customs, disclosed that the sustained customs anti smuggling efforts have kept customs warehouses filled with seizures despite the various donations made by the agency to the IDPs.
He said: ‘’Despite tonnes of rice and other relief items already transferred to the IDPs, Some NCS warehouses are still filled with rice.
This only shows that the sustained onslaught against unrepentant rice smugglers continues to yield positive results.
‘’The ones in the warehouses now are either awaiting court condemnation or forfeiture to the Federal Government or have been already allocated to governments of the affected states who pay the Army Corp of Transport and Logistics for their transportation to the IDPs ‘’Eventually , the seized rice and other perishable items presently in the warehouses will be given to fellow Nigerians affected by the unfortunate insurgency in the North -East.”
He further disclosed that while the agency collected over N56 billion as duty from imported rice in 2014; it could only collect slightly above N500 million duty from rice in 2017, meaning that aside the locally produced rice, most the rice eaten in the country this year were smuggled.
On June 23, 2015, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced that it would no longer provide foreign exchange for 41 items including rice, cement and tooth picks.
The CBN also stepped up the anchors borrowers programme to create a linkage between companies involved in the processing and small holder farmers (SHFs) of key agricultural commodities.
The programme provides inputs to farmers to improve production and the farmers supplies produce to the processing company at harvest in exchange for the cash equivalent.
Last year, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, said the country’s rice imports from Thailand had dropped to 20,000 metric tones from 644,000 metric tonnes it was importing by September 2015 Thailand used to be one of the three major exporters of parboiled rice to Nigeria until a policy by government banned the export in 2015, to stimulate local production of the food staple.
The minister said the figures were released by Thai Rice Exporters Association, which complained that customs curbs in smuggling had led to reduction in rice importation.
He also said some Thai investors had indicated interest in establishing rice milling plants in Nigeria. The step is one of the ways to end Nigeria’s dependence on imported rice and ensure self-sufficiency in rice production by next year. The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at an other forum said Nigeria is inching towards achieving its 7 million targets in rice production by 2018.
Mohammed said attaining that target would leave the country with a surplus of 700,000 metric tones as the current local demand for rice is 6.3 million metric tonnes.
He premised his optimism on the inauguration of two private owned rice mills in the country this year. The mills include the WACOT Mill in Argungu, Kebbi State, with an installed capacity to process 120,000 metric tonnes of parboiled rice annually, and the integrated Dangote Rice Mill, projected to produce 1,000,000 metric tonnes per annum.
“Today, in continuation of these efforts, we are happy to tell Nigerians of a giant stride made by the administration in the agriculture sector, specifically rice production: Nigeria is inching closer to achieving self-sufficiency in rice, due to the success recorded by the administration in the local production of rice. There is more good news to report,” Mohammed said.
https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/01/2017-rice-import-thailand-drops-23192mt/

Commerce Minister: Rice Imports Chosen to Stabilize Soaring Price
Sunday, 14 January 2018 | 11:28 WIB
 

Commerce Minister Enggartiasto Lukito.
🔊 Listen to this
JAKARTA, NNC - Minister of Commerce Enggartiasto Lukita said government policy move to import rice will not impoverish Indonesian farmers.Moreover, he said, farmers are a consumer group. This is plus the indication of skyrocketing domestic rice prices making the import of 500 thousand tons is chosen so that the price of rice is stable again.
"We should not argue that imports will impoverish farmers. Farmers remain consumers. Soaring rice price boosts inflation rate because rice give high contribution to inflation," said Enggar in Jakarta on Saturday (1/13/2018).
Enggar added from his notes, farmers reduce their consumption of rice. "In my village, people eat aking rice [leftover dried rice]. Will we leave it like so? I enact import policy to fill the market," he added.
He said imports are not something taboo to do because basically, in trading there must be import and export.
Not to mention, Indonesia is currently experiencing a shortage of rice supply, so import becomes a temporary solution to make the price again stable.
"So, this is a temporary solution until the price is stable and stocks start to be harvested. With this import, I also give warning to all rice players never stockpile and store empty rice," he said.
"I appeal to rice merchants, bring out [rice] from the warehouses and never upgrade its price," he added.
http://www.en.netralnews.com/news/business/read/17404/commerce.minister.rice.imports.chosen.to.stabilize.soaring.price

Pelican Spiders: Researchers Discover 18 New Assassin Spider Species In Madagascar
The creatures may be around the same size as a grain of rice, but are able to stealthily kill other spiders with their beak-like pincers.
GARMASHEVA NATALIA / SHUTTERSTOCKSCIENCE

Lorenzo Tanos
Pelican spiders are well-known for their many unusual qualities. Named as such for their uncanny resemblance to pelicans, these arachnids are tiny creatures that are just about as small as a grain of rice, but capable of taking out other spiders with quiet, venomous precision. As such, they are oftentimes alternately known as “assassin spiders.” And while they may seem to be among the most unique arachnids out there, new research suggests that there are close to 30 species of these spiders, making them far more diverse than originally believed.
In a study published Thursday in the journal Zookeys, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History curator of arachnids and myriapods Hannah Wood and fellow researcher Nikolaj Scharff of the University of Copenhagen detailed their findings, which suggest that Madagascar and South Africa are home to at least 26 separate species of pelican spiders, including 18 from the former country that had yet to be described prior to the publication of the study. According to Wood, there’s a chance that there may be even more species out there that have yet to be discovered and documented.
As explained by a report from Live Science, pelican spiders first existed about 165 million years ago during the Jurassic era, and are recognizable for their fanged pincers. These pincers, which are known as chelicerae, make the creatures look more like birds at certain angles, and when they aren’t hunting, the chelicerae are folded into a long appendage that connects their heads to their bodies. The spiders, however, differ from birds, as their mouths are found at the bottom of their necks, allowing them to be at an ideal range to eat whatever their pincers are able to catch.
View image on Twitter




Twitter Ads info and privacy
Citing the years she spent observing pelican spiders from Madagascar and examples of the species found in museum collections, study lead author Wood noted in the new paper that the creatures are active hunters. While spiders typically focus on spinning their own webs, pelican spiders become active at night as they stalk silk trails from other spiders, moving in a slow and a stealthy motion that usually finds them upside down. The two front legs are responsible for feeling if there are any spiders to prey on, while the six rear legs handle the walking. This is a process that could last for hours, as the creatures are known to wait long periods at the edge of another spider’s web, looking to time their attacks perfectly.
“They wander through the forest at night and they wave their first pair of legs like a pair of large antennae,” Wood explained in a statement quoted by National Geographic.
“They make these big figure-eights with them as they walk, and I think they’re searching for draglines.”
Once they find the right opportunity to strike, pelican spiders quickly impale their prey with their pincers by swinging them away from their bodies at a 90-degree angle. The spiders then hold their prey at arm’s length, waiting until enough venom is pumped into their system before they start feasting.
Although Wood’s study offered some interesting insights into pelican spiders and confirmed that there are almost 20 previously undocumented species out there in Madagascar, there are still some unanswered questions about the peculiar arachnids, specifically regarding their ability to distinguish their fellow pelican spiders from potential prey.
For instance, Wood admitted that she had never witnessed the spiders preying on their own kind, as experiments with multiple examples of the species had seen the creatures mainly “try to give each other space.” She believes there’s a chance that the animals have some sort of immunity to their own venom, or recognize the fact that their protective armor makes it hard for them to stalk each other.

https://www.inquisitr.com/4734270/researchers-discover-18-new-pelican-spider-species-in-madagascar/

Select edible oils down in mixed trade
New Delhi, Jan 13 The wholesale oils and oilseeds market depicted a mixed trend during the week as select edible oils drifted lower owing to slackened demand from vanaspati millers, while a few others edged up on scattered enquiries from retailers.
Castor oil in the non-edible oil section, slipped on reduced offtake by consuming industries.
Marketmen said besides easing demand from vanaspati millers, adequate stocks position on increased supplies from producing regions mainly led to decline in select edible oil prices but mild demand from retailers helped others to end higher.
Meanwhile, palm oil imports remained flat at 7,22,857 tonne in December because of increase in the import duty, industry body Solvent Extractors Association (SEA) said.
India, the world's leading vegetable oil buyer, had imported 7,23,158 tonne palm oil in December 2016.
In the national capital, groundnut mill delivery(Gujarat) oil fell by Rs 200 to Rs 9,500 per quintal.
Mustard expeller (Dadri) oil also declined by Rs 100 to Rs 7,950 per quintal.
Palmolein (RBD) and palmolein (Kandla) oils too shed Rs 50 each to Rs 6,250 and Rs 6,300 per quintal respectively.
On the other hand, soyabean refined mill delivery (Indore) and soyabean degum (Kandla) oils edged up by Rs 50 each to Rs 7,500 and Rs 7,100 per quintal respectively.
Coconut oil quoted higher at Rs 3,000-3050 instead of Rs 2,950-3,000 per tin.
In the non-edible section, castor oil dropped by Rs 200 to Rs 8,200-8,300, while linseed oil held steady at Rs 8,900 per quintal respectively. (MORE)
t adequate stocks position.
Traders said muted demand from stockists and rice mills demand against sufficient stocks position mainly weighed on rice basmati prices.
They said subdued demand from flour mills against sufficient stocks position kept pressure on wheat prices.
In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa- 1121 variety fell by Rs 100 each to Rs 7,800-7,900 and Rs 6,400-6500 per quintal respectively.
Non-basmati rice permal raw and wand also shed Rs 25 each to Rs 2,275-2,325 and Rs 2,325-2,375 per quintal respectively in line with rice basmati trend.
Wheat dara (for mills) shed Rs 5 to Rs 1,795-1,810 per quintal. Atta chakki delivery followed suit and traded lower by a similar margin to Rs 1,805-1,810 per 90 kg.
Other bold grains like, bajra and maize too slipped to Rs 1,200-1,205 and Rs 1,320-1,325 from previous levels of Rs 1,225-1,230 and Rs 1,340-1,345 per quintal respectively on reduced offtake by consuming industries.
However, barley edged up by Rs 10 to Rs 1,490-1,500 per quintal.(MORE)
losses for yet another week by plunging by up to Rs 1,400 per quintal due to fall in demand from retailers and dal mills against sufficient stocks position.
However, arhar and its dal managed to close higher on selective buying.
Marketmen said considerable drop in demand from retailers as well as dal mills against ample stocks position on increased supplies from producing regions, mainly dragged down kabuli gram other pulses prices.
In the national capital, kabuli gram small variety suffered the most by tumbling Rs 1,400 to Rs 6,000-7,000 per quintal.
Masoor small and bold also declined by Rs 50 each to Rs 3,650-3,800 and Rs 3,750-3,900 per quintal respectively. Its dal local and best quality traded lower by Rs 100 each to Rs 3,800-4,200 and Rs 3,900-4,300 per quintal respectively.
Malka local and best quality too lost Rs 200 each to Rs 4,000-4,200 and Rs 4,100-4,400 per quintal respectively.
On the other hand, arhar and its dal variety edged higher by Rs 50 and Rs 100 to Rs 4300 and Rs 6,200-8,100 per quintal respectively.(MORE)
market in the national capital today with prices falling by up to Rs 20 per quintal, pulled down by adequate stock positions amid slackened demand from stockists as well as bulk consumers.
On the other hand, prices of a few sugar mill gate, strengthened on increased offtake.
Marketmen said besides mounting stocks on persistent supplies from mills, higher output reports, mainly weighed down sugar prices.
In contrast, a few sugar mills prices enquired higher on better offtake, they added.
Sugar ready M-30 and S-30 prices traded lower by Rs 20 each to settle the week at Rs 3,400-3,630 and Rs 3,390-3,620 per quintal.
Similarly, mill delivery M-30 and S-30 prices eased by Rs 5 each to conclude the week at Rs 3,210-3,415 and Rs 3,200- 3,405 per quintal.
In the mill gate section, sugar Modi nagar dropped by Rs 15 to Rs 3,300, Asmoli and Sakoti slipped by Rs 10 each to Rs 3,370 and Rs 3,290 per quintal.
Sugar Dhanora, Dhampur, Baghpat, Nazibabad, Shamili and Ramala shaded by Rs 5 each to Rs 3,355, Rs 3,280, Rs 3,250, RS 3,210, Rs 3,295 and Rs 3,220 per quintal.
On the other hand, Sugar Dorala rose by Rs 20 to Rs 3,340, Budhana and Thanabhavan gained by Rs 15 each to Rs 3,335 and Rs 3,330, while Mawana and Simbholi edged up by Rs 10 each to Rs 3,330 and Rs 3,380 per quintal. (MORE)
us levels.
In contrast, Muzaffarnagar and Muradnagar gur markets showed a fall of up to Rs 100 per quintal in gur prices on bloated stocks on regular supplies amid scattered buying.
Marketmen said comfortable position of stocks in the market on persistent supplies from manufacturing belts amid some buying by stockists and retailers, mainly brought down the gur prices at Muzaffarnagar and Muradnagar markets.
In Delhi, gur Chakku, Pedi, Dhayya and Shakkar prices were unalatered at Rs 2,800-2,900, Rs 2,900-3,000, Rs 3,000- 3,100 and Rs 3,100-3,200 per quintal.
At Muzaffarnagar, the biggest drop of Rs 200 revealed in gur Khurpa priceses plunged by Rs 200 to Rs 2,400-2,500 per quintal, while gur Chakku prices declined by Rs 50 to Rs 2,500-2,700 per quintal.
Gur Raskat prices too fell by Rs 100 to finish the week at Rs 2,200-2,300 per quintal on weak demand for beer makers.
Meanwhile, gur Laddoo prices remained flat at Rs 2,700- 2,800 per quintal during the period.
Coming to Muradnagar, gur Pedi prices drifted lower by Rs 100 to finish the week at Rs 2,550-2,600, while gur Dhayya lost Rs 50 to settle at Rs 2,650-2,700 per quintal.(MORE)
Sufficient stocks following increased arrivals from producing belts also put pressure on the prices, traders said.
Almond California prices fell by Rs 100 to end the week at Rs 17,000-17,200 per 40 kg and its kernel traded lower by Rs 10 at Rs 605-615 per kg.
Almond gurbani and girdhi prices dropped by Rs 100 each to conclude at Rs 11,900-12,400 and Rs 4,900-5,000 per 40 kg, respectively.
Cashew kernel (No 180, 210, 240 and 230) prices were down by Rs 5 each to finish the week at Rs 1,070-1,080, Rs 970-980, Rs 905-910 and Rs 805-815 and its kernel broken (2, 4 and 8 pieces) also traded lower at Rs 655-760, Rs 630-745 and Rs 550-660 against last week's closing of Rs 660-765, Rs 640-750 and Rs 550-670 per kg, respectively.
Copra fell Rs 200 to finish at Rs 15,800-18,300 per quintal.
Coconut powder declined by Rs 100 to conclude at Rs 4,800-5,500 per 25 kg bag.
Kishmish Indian yellow and green traded lower at Rs 3,700-4,400 and Rs 6,500-8,500 against previous mark of Rs 3,800-4,400 and Rs 6,800-10,400 per 40 kg bag.
Pistachio hairati and peshwari also eased up to Rs 45 to end at Rs 1,400-1,475 and Rs 1,560-1,600 per kg. (MORE)
such as cardamom and chilli, firmed up in the national capital during the week following increased buying by stockists, triggered by rising domestic and export demand.
Besides, tight stocks positions too supported the uptrend.
However, pepper and jeera turned weak owing to lack of buying interests and lost some grounds.
Cardamom brown jhundiwali and kanchicut traded higher at Rs 740-750 and Rs 840-1,100 against previous week's closing of Rs 650-670 and Rs 770-1,020 per kg.
Cloves prices rose by Rs 25 to conclude at Rs 575-650 per kg.
Coriander, dry ginger and kalaunji prices higher by Rs 100 each to conclude at Rs 6,400-13,000, Rs 12,000-17,000 and Rs 11,500-12,000 per quintal, respectively.
Poppyseed China, U.P and MP-RAJ increased up to Rs 20 to conclude at Rs 540-570, Rs 540-560 and Rs 550-570 per kg, respectively.
Red chilli prices rose by Rs 100 to finish at Rs 6,500- 14,000 per quintal.
However, black pepper (inferior quality) declined by Rs 20 to close at Rs 450-600 per kg.
Mace-red (superior quality) fell Rs 30 to conclude at Rs 900,1,150 per kg.
Turmeric prices traded lower at Rs 8,500-11,600 as compared with Rs 8,800-11,800 per quintal.
Jeera common and jeera best quality also fell by up to Rs 700 to end at Rs 20,200-20,400 and Rs 22,900-23,400 per quintal on pick up in arrivals against subdued demand. (MORE)
Bullion: Maintaining its upward march for yet another week, gold prices advanced to hit seven week high of Rs 30,750 per ten grams at the bullion market, tracking a firm global trend amid brisk buying by local jewellers.
However, silver after moving between gains and losses, ended lower by Rs 100 to Rs 39,900 per kg.
Bullion traders said sentiment bolstered on the back of a positive global trend where gold hit their highest since September, with a slump in the US dollar helping drive bullion towards its fifth-straight weekly gain.
Globally, gold ended the week higher at USD 1,337.40 an ounce and silver at USD 17.21 an ounce in New York.
Besides, increased buying by local jewellers at the domestic markets too supported the upmove in gold prices, they said.
In the national capital, gold of 99.9 and 99.5 per cent purity commenced the week higher and day-to-day sustained buying by local jewellers along with strong global cues it surged to close at seven- week high of Rs 30,750 and Rs 30,600 per 10 grams, a level last seen on November 18 last year, showing a gain of Rs 300 each.
Sovereign, however, moved in a narrow range in scattered deals and settled at previous level of Rs 24,700 per piece of eight gram.
In volatile movements on alternate bouts of buying or selling, silver ready ended the week down by Rs 100 to Rs 39,900 per kg and weekly-based delivery by Rs 130 to Rs 39,120 per kg.
Silver coins, however, spurted by Rs 1,000 to Rs 74,000 for buying and Rs 75,000 for selling of 100 pieces
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/select-edible-oils-down-in-mixed-trade/1229135

Pak-Saudi trade deal
RECORDER REPORT

JAN 13TH, 2018

EDITORIAL
Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs Rana Mohammad Afzal Khan recently chaired several meetings focused on enhancing bilateral economic cooperation with Saudi Arabia. Reportedly signing a preferential trade agreement with Saudi Arabia also came under discussion - an agreement which has remained pending for the past several years. Additionally, it was agreed that during the next meeting of the Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) discussions would be initiated on (i) setting up a display centre in Jeddah (delayed for several years); (ii) single country exhibition in Saudi Arabia; (iii) seeking a market for Pakistani skilled workers particularly in the automobile sector; (iv) exchange programme for university students and faculty; and (v) establishing a refinery in Pakistan.

Around 90 percent of all imports from Saudi Arabia consist of oil and oil products while Pakistan exports rice, meat, meat products, spices, fruits and textile products. The balance of trade is tilted heavily in favour of Saudi Arabia with around 11.7 billion dollar Saudi exports to Pakistan during July-November 2017 while Pakistan's exports to the kingdom were around 3 billion dollars according to the State Bank of Pakistan website. Given that the bulk of Pakistan's imports from Saudi Arabia are of petroleum and products this implies that, subject to international price fluctuations of oil, the volume of our imports from the kingdom are unlikely to decline; thus, the focus of any trade deal has to be on expanding Pakistan's exports to the kingdom.

Pak-Saudi ties are legendary and in the past, the kingdom had not only agreed to deferring payments for our oil imports during periods when Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves dwindled to dangerously low levels, but also provided oil at special rates. The kingdom has also been a major source of remittances for Pakistan and accounted for a little over 29 percent of total remittances received or a total of 4.07 billion dollars in fiscal year 2017. However, disturbingly remittances from the kingdom declined by 6.23 percent during the last fiscal year in comparison to the year before - a decline that is sourced to the economic challenges facing Saudi Arabia today.

Analysts however point to the Pak-Saudi ties having suffered a setback during the ongoing PML-N administration in spite of the Saudis 'gifting' around 1.5 billion dollars early 2014 with the objective of assisting Pakistan to shore up our foreign exchange reserves, meet our debt obligations and undertake mega infrastructure projects. The rupee value was strengthened as a consequence of this 'gift' to a nine-month high of 97.40 rupees from 105.40 rupees against the dollar between March 4 and 12. The setback to these close ties began in 2016 after the former Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, while conforming to the resolution passed by Parliament, stated during a briefing to the National Assembly that Pakistan will not send ground troops to Saudi Arabia or any other country. In what was seen as a sign of Saudi displeasure at this decision the then Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, was visibly ignored during the US-Arab Islamic summit in Riyadh in May 2017. Later, the PML-N administration approved the appointment of the recently retired Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif to head the 42-country Saudi-led military coalition though there is a consensus that relations between the two countries have not reached the levels that were clearly evident during early 2014.

Be that as it may, one must underscore the fact that economic ties between the two countries have great potential for further expansion and one would hope that an agreement to that effect is reached in the next JMC.
https://fp.brecorder.com/2018/01/20180113335149/


Indonesia to import rice from Vietnam to curb price hikes

Indonesia will import 500,000 tonnes of rice from Vietnam and Thailand to contain rice price hikes and declining supply in the local market, said Indonesian Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita.

Rice loading at Sai Gon Port in HCM City.
The type of imported rice will be of premium quality, not grown in Indonesia, so it will not harm local farmers and rice production, Lukita said on January 12. The country’s current rice stocks were estimated at about 950,000 tonnes, most of which is low-grade rice to be distributed as aid for low-income people. Meanwhile, the rice stocks for commercial purposes were only 11,000 tonnes. Previously, Indonesia Vice President Jusuf Kalla had called on the National Logistics Agency (Bulog) to consider importing rice to bring down domestic prices. According to the National Strategic Food Prices Information Centre (PIHPSN), the medium-quality rice is currently fetched at 14,100 IDR, or 1 USD, per kg.  The rice prices varied among regions. West Papua reported the highest price of 14,250 IDR per kg while the lowest price of over 9,700 IDR per kg was found in West Nusa Tanggara.-VNA
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/193872/indonesia-to-import-rice-from-vietnam-to-curb-price-hikes.html
Rice Starch Market Overview Till 2023 Forecast Research Report
JANUARY 15, 2018 BY DECISIONDATABASES
Rice Starch Market Report added by DecisionDatabases.com offers industry size, share, growth, trends and forecast analysis upto 2023. Rice Starch Market Report also covers top key players, porter’s five forces analysis and market segmentation in detail. The report on global rice starch market evaluates the growth trends of the industry through historical study and estimates future prospects based on comprehensive research. The report extensively provides the market share, growth, trends and forecasts for the period 2016-2023. The market size in terms of revenue (USD MN) is calculated for the study period along with the details of the factors affecting the market growth (drivers and restraints).
Get FREE Sample Report Copy With FULL Segmentations and TOC @ http://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-23233
The rising demand for rice starch from cosmetic and personal care industry and growing demand from pharmaceutical industry are the major factors pushing the market uphill. But availability substitute like corn starch might restraint the growth in the coming years.
Furthermore, the report quantifies the market share held by the major players of the industry and provides an in-depth view of the competitive landscape. This market is classified into different segments with detailed analysis of each with respect to geography for the study period 2016-2023. The comprehensive value chain analysis of the market will assist in attaining better product differentiation, along with detailed understanding of the core competency of each activity involved. The market attractiveness analysis provided in the report aptly measures the potential value of the market providing business strategists with the latest growth opportunities.
The report also covers the complete competitive landscape of the worldwide market with company profiles of key players such asAGRANA, Bangkok Starch Industrial Co., Ltd., Beneo, Ingredion, Jiangxi Golden Agriculture Biotech Co., Ltd., Thai Flour Industry Co., Ltd, and WFM Wholesome Foods. Geographically, this market has been segmented into regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa. The study details country-level aspects based on each segment and gives estimates in terms of market size.
Major Table Of Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Executive Summary
3. Market Analysis
4. Rice Starch Market Analysis By Grade
5. Rice Starch Market Analysis By Application
6. Rice Starch Market Analysis By Geography
7. Competitive Landscape Of The Rice Starch Companies
8. Company Profiles Of The Rice Starch Industry (Company Overview, Financial, Major Products & Recent Development)
Purchase Complete Global Rice Starch Market Research Report:http://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-23233
About Us:
DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research reports provider, enriching decision makers and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research report, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains.
Our expert research analysts have been trained to map client’s research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed.
For more details:
DecisionDatabases.com
E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com
Phone: +91 99 28 237112
Web: www.decisiondatabases.com
http://www.satprnews.com/2018/01/15/rice-starch-market-overview-till-2023-forecast-research-report/ JANUARY 15, 2018 BY PR@LETSBRANDCONSULTANCY.COM
Organic Rice: Asia-Pacific Market Sales, Consumption, Demand and Forecast 2018 2023
MarketResearchNest.com adds “Asia-Pacific Organic Rice Market Research Report 2018” new report to its research database. The report spread across 118 pages with multiple tables and figures in it.
Asia-Pacific Organic Rice Market Research Nest 2018 offers a comprehensive study on Organic Rice Industry including the current Organic Rice market trends and market status. Asia-Pacific Organic Rice Market 2018 Research refines essential aspects of the Organic Rice market and presents them within the form of a united and all-inclusive document. Worldwide Organic Rice market report focuses on the top leading manufacturers industry.
 Browse full table of contents and data tables athttps://www.marketresearchnest.com/Asia-Pacific-Organic-Rice-Market-Report-2018.html

Major players in the market are identified through secondary research and their market revenues determined through primary and secondary research. The major players in Asia-Pacific Organic Rice marketinclude
Doguet’s Rice, Randallorganic, Sanjeevani Organics, Kahang Organic Rice, RiceSelect, Texas Best Organics, CAPITAL RICE, YINCHUAN, URMATT, Vien Phu, SUNRISE foodstuff JSC, KHAOKHO TALAYPU, BEIDAHUANG, Yanbiangaoli, Jinjian, HUICHUN FILED RICE, Dingxiang, Heilongjiang Taifeng, Heilongjiang Julong

Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate of Organic Rice in these regions, from 2012 to 2023 (forecast), covering
China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, India, Southeast Asia, Australia.

Highlights of the report:           
1. A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent market
2. Important changes in market dynamics
3. Market segmentation up to the second or third level
4. Historical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volume
5. Reporting and evaluation of recent industry developments
6. Market shares and strategies of key players
7. Asia-Pacific Organic Rice niche segments and regional markets
8. An objective assessment of the trajectory of the market
9. Recommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the market
 Request a sample copy athttps://www.marketresearchnest.com/report/requestsample/293569
 On the basis of product, the Organic Rice market is primarily split into
1. Polished Glutinous Rice(Sticky Rice)
2. Indica(Long-Shaped Rice)
3. Polished Round-Grained Rice.
 On the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption, market share and growth rate of Organic Rice   for each application, including:
1. Direct Edible
2. Deep Processing.
 The research document will answer following questions such as:
1. How is the Asia-Pacific Organic Rice market evolving?
2. What are the key next-generation Organic Rice technologies/applications?
3. What are the main applications of Organic Rice? How do the Organic Rice fit into the market?
4. At what stage of development are the key Organic Rice? Are there any planned, existing or successful demonstration and pilot projects going?
5. What key challenges do Asia-Pacific Organic Rice have to overcome to become fully commercially viable? Is their development and commercialization dependent on cost reductions or seeks technological/application wise breakthroughs?
6. What is the outlook for key Asia-Pacific Organic Rice?
7. What difference does performance characteristics of Organic Rice creates from those of established entities?
8. Which companies, organizations are involved with Asia-Pacific Organic Rice growth story?
9. Which market spaces are the most active in the development of Asia-Pacific Organic Rice market? How do the conditions for the development and deployment of differ in key regional markets?
10. What is driving and restraining factors affecting the development and commercialization?

Reasons for Buying this Report:
1. This report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamics.
2. It provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growth.
3. It provides a technological growth map over time to understand the industry growth rate.
4. It provides a five to seven-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to grow.
5. It helps in understanding the key product segments and their future Outlook.
 This research study involved the extensive usage of both primary and secondary data sources.  The research process involved the study of various factors affecting the industry, including the government policy, market environment, competitive landscape, historical data, present trends in the market, technological innovation, upcoming technologies and the technical progress in related industry, and market risks, opportunities, market barriers and challenges. The following illustrative figure shows the market research methodology applied in this report.
 All possible factors that influence the markets included in this research study have been accounted for, viewed in extensive detail, verified through primary research, and analyzed to get the final quantitative and qualitative data. The market size for top-level markets and sub-segments is normalized, and the effect of inflation, economic downturns, and regulatory & policy changes or other factors are not accounted for in the market forecast.

HTTP://WWW.SATPRNEWS.COM/2018/01/15/ORGANIC-RICE-ASIA-PACIFIC-MARKET-SALES-CONSUMPTION-DEMAND-AND-FORECAST-2018-2023/

Saturday, January 13, 2018

13th January 2018 daily global regional local rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine

Reap to acknowledge contribution of int’l buyers of Pak rice
January 12, 2018

Our Staff Reporter
LAHORE - The Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan has announced to acknowledge the contribution of international buyers of Pakistani rice by giving them awards with a view to promote rice exports.
This was stated by REAP Chairman Samee Ullah Naeem while addressing a press conference here on Thursday. He hoped that the awards, named as ‘International Buyers Recognition Trophy 2018’ will provide a chance to the buyers to interact with Pakistani government departments so as to have a feel that they are in safe hands while interacting with the Pakistani ricesellers. He said such an award would also promote soft image of the country besides winning the loyalty and trust of the international buyers .
REAP chairman said that the total awards would be 30 which would be distributed on the basis of maximum import by any region and import on the basis of quantity.
He said that services of 30 top international buyers will be acknowledged at an event to be held on February 20, 2018 in Dubai, (third day of Gulf food: the biggest international annual food exhibition). Federal Minister for Commerce Pervaiz Malik will be the chief guest of this occasion which will be participated by around 100 international buyers , ambassadors, representatives of different departments of Gulf States, representatives of different government departments including TDAP, federal ministry for food security, provincial agriculture department and members of the REAP .
We are planning to make it a regular annual feature which will eventually be turned in to a ‘Rice Conference’ providing a platform not only to acknowledge the buyers but also to discuss the future trends and new technologies in rice sector, Samee added. Samee said, “We would be discussing the rice issues and a documentary would also be shown to the participants showing that Pakistan is the original house of Basmati; our agronomic practices are traditional and close to organic, ratio of using pesticides is low and Pakistani growers comply Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary practices thus product is healthy and safe for human consumption.
He claimed that closest competitor of Pakistan had betrayed from the original Basmati while the original Basmati Rice 370 was found in 1923 in District Hafizabad area of Pakistan.
https://nation.com.pk/12-Jan-2018/reap-to-acknowledge-contribution-of-int-l-buyers-of-pak-rice
Gov’t Set to Import 500,000 Tons of Rice by end of January
JAKARTA, NNC - The Indonesia Ministry of Commerce has kept its promise by allowing the import of 500,000 tons of rice to strengthen the domestic rice supply. “I have conveyed that I do not want to take risks in supply shortage, thus I have sanctioned the import of rice not planted in Indonesia,” said Commerce Minister Enggartiasto Lukita in Jakarta on Thursday (01/11). The imported rice will be sourced from Vietnam and Thailand.

The imported rice will be delivered to Indonesia by the end of this January to avoid disrupting the domestic rice harvest season on February-March. The imported rice will be set at a price equivalent with medium quality rice. In addition, Enggartiasto affirmed that his side’s decision to  import rice was to address the issue on food supply shortage. He clarified that he did not want the issue of supply shortage to become a concern. “We supply imported rice, as the issue on food is a priority,” the Minister affirmed. Meanwhile, state-owned Perusahaan Perdagangan Indonesia (PPI) has been appointed as the importer of the imported rice from Vietnam and Thailand. (*)

Uttar Pradesh clocks 250% rise in paddy procurement at 3.5 mn tonnes
Farmers paid Rs 52 bn through direct benefit transfer
 Uttar Pradesh continues to perform robustly in ongoing paddy procurement with total purchases in the current kharif marketing season hitting almost 3.5 million tonnes (MT) mark.This year, the Yogi Adityanath government is eyeing procurement of 5 MT of paddy, which is an ambitious target considering the state could purchase only about 70 per cent or 3.5 MT of the targetted 5 MT of paddy last season.The procurement centres established by the state agencies and Food Corporation of India (FCI) directly purchase paddy from farmers against the standing Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 1,550 per quintal (100 kg).About 3,375 procurement centres had purchased almost 3.5 MT of paddy, which is over 250 per cent higher compared to purchases during the corresponding period last year at 1.35 MT.About 400,000 state farmers had been paid Rs 52 billion for paddy through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to their bank accounts.
The main aspect of paddy procurement season has been the brisk pace at which it has been undertaken this year, resulting in higher procurement figures, a senior UP food and civil supplies department official told Business Standard.Meanwhile, the aggregate paddy production in UP, the rice bowl of India, is estimated at 21.812 MT this year, which is about 3 percent short of the initial target.UP is not only one of the largest paddy producers, but a big consumer of rice under the public distribution system (PDS).
 The state needs almost 4 MT of custom milled rice for PDS annually.One of the main reasons of direct purchase is to contribute to the central PDS pool, apart from giving remunerative prices to farmers and providing base price for their produce.If the paddy procurement targets are met this year, the UP farmers would pocket nearly Rs 77.50 billion from direct sale to government agencies. Farmers are also free to sell paddy to private purchasers or traders.
The procurement process had started in October and would continue till February 2018.Last month, the Yogi cabinet had extended the UP rice export promotion scheme (2017-22) for another five years, exempting direct and indirect rice exporters from UP mandi fee and development levy on both basmati and non-basmati rice brands.UP rice millers association president Ramakant Modi had said the promotion scheme would spur exports from the state, although he felt that Yogi government should have accorded some more benefits to indirect exporters as well to help the small and medium enterprises.
There are about 3,000 rice millers in UP. Mostly, coarse rice is exported from the state to developing or third world countries, including Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka etc. The state basmati is primarily exported to Dubai and other West Asian markets, he informed.
http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/uttar-pradesh-clocks-250-rise-in-paddy-procurement-at-3-5-mn-tonnes-118011200585_1.html
Judge rejects PCA’s proposed sulfate limit for wild rice waters
By John Myers on Jan 11, 2018 at 6:15 p.m.
71
 Wild rice harvested on Perch Lake on the Fond du Lac Reservation gleams in the sunlight. (file photo / News Tribune)
A state administrative law judge has flatly rejected a plan by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to abandon the statewide 10 parts-per-million limit for sulfate pollution in wild rice waters in exchange for a lake-by-lake system with varying limits.
Administrative Law Judge LauraSue Schlatter, in an 82-page opinion approved by the state’s chief administrative law judge and released Thursday, considered 1,500 written comments on the proposed changes in state law and held five public hearings that drew a combined 300 people.
Schlatter ruled against repealing the existing, statewide 10 ppm limit due to the PCA’s “failure to establish the reasonableness of the repeal, and because the repeal conflicts” with the federal Clean Water Act.
The judge also ruled against the PCA plan to develop “equation-based” limits for specific lakes and rivers that hold wild rice because it wasn't firm enough, it “fails to meet the definition of a rule” under state law “and is unconstitutionally void for vagueness.”
Schalter even rejected the state’s preliminary list of 1,300 lakes and rivers where the agency believes viable wild rice stands exist, places where the new rules would have applied, because the list itself violated federal law.
“The MPCA has not presented facts adequate to support the reasonableness of the proposed repeal of the 10 (ppm) sulfate standard without a replacement standard that is equally or more protective of wild rice waters,” the judge concluded before warning the PCA against re-submitting a similar plan. “Because some of the defects in the rule are defects in foundational portions of the proposed rules, the Administrative Law Judge advises the Agency against re-submitting the rule for approval ... unless it addresses the defects in the wild rice water sulfate standard and the list of wild rice waters.”
The judge’s ruling appears to leave the statewide 10 ppm limit for sulfate pollution in effect, but it remains unclear if or when that rule will ever be enforced. A current state law prevents the PCA from enforcing the limit in any pollution discharge permit. While the old sulfate law has been on the books since 1973, it has not been widely enforced, and several taconite iron ore operations and some municipal wastewater treatment plants upstream of wild rice stands are believed to be in violation.
PCA officials said they were still reading the decision Thursday and weren't ready to interpret the impact.“We just received the ALJ report. We will need to read and evaluate what the ruling says before offering any public comment,” said Dave Verhasselt, the agency’s director of communications.
Kelsey Johnson, president of the Iron Mining Association of Minnesota, which opposed the PCA’s plan, said the PCA’s “first brush” at changing the sulfate rule “clearly wasn't adequate.”“I think the formula really had a lot of flaws and errors in the way they (PCA) approached it. They didn’t look at all the factors that impact wild rice other than sulfate — things like water depth,” Johnson said, adding that she believes the judge’s ruling now puts the issue back in the hands of the Legislature to decide how to regulate sulfate.
But environmental groups also were claiming victory, saying the judge rejected the rule because it abdicated the state’s responsibility to protect wild rice and human health from the impacts of sulfate pollution under the federal Clean Water Act.
“We’ve been moving ahead since 2011 under a threat that there would be a change in the state law that would remove the need for the mining industry to meet any sulfate standard. But the judge has clearly rejected that on its face. … She said a rule is needed to protect wild rice and protect water quality,” said Paula Maccabee, attorney for the group Water Legacy, which has pushed to retain the statewide sulfate limit. “We now have a neutral third party who said that (the PCA's proposal) doesn’t meet state rules and doesn't meet the Clean Water Act. The good news is that the rule of law still matters.”
Scientists have found that sulfate — which can come from sewage effluent, mine discharges and other industrial processes — is converted to sulfides in the sediment of many wild rice lakes and rivers. The rate of that conversion changes depending on the amount of carbon and iron in the water (generally, more sulfides with high carbon, fewer sulfides with high iron). It's those sulfides that prevent wild rice from thriving in some areas; the proposed new rule would have studied the water chemistry of each wild rice lake and river to determine what sulfate level they could handle and still grow wild rice.
Research also appears to show that higher sulfate and sulfide levels increase toxic methyl mercury, a pollutant already targeted because of its potential impact on human health.
Mining supporters have both worked to repeal the old limit and stop the PCA’s proposed changes, saying no limit is needed — that there is no major crisis with wild rice downstream of where mines operate. Business and government groups say the rule would be too costly to meet.
Iron Range leaders warned during comments on the rule change that enforcing sulfate limits could end mining as we know it, closing taconite plants and putting thousands of people out of work. Larry Sutherland, head of U.S. Steel's Minnesota mining operations in Keewatin and Mountain Iron, which employ some 1,700 miners, testified in October that adding reverse osmosis treatment to remove sulfate at Keetac's wastewater system could cost $200 million, a price tag that would be prohibitive for the plant to remain competitive in the global iron ore market. The implication is that the plant would close if sulfate limits are enforced.
The PCA said about 135 facilities are within 25 miles upstream of wild rice waters and would be the most likely ones affected by any sulfate rule enforcement.Environmental groups and tribal resource officials want to stick with the current, statewide sulfate standard of 10 parts per million, saying it's simple and potentially effective at protecting wild rice if it's enforced.
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/science-and-nature/4386707-judge-rejects-pcas-proposed-sulfate-limit-wild-rice-waters
Police in Mombasa in search of two suspects over illegal importation of rice
By Cyrus Ombati | Published Thu, January 11th 2018 at 15:32
Updated January 11th 2018 at 18:43 GMT
Police are looking for two Kenyans over imported rice. (Photo: Courtesy) IN SUMMARY Police are looking for two Kenyan businessmen wanted over claims of importing illegal rice and sugar. The two are being investigated for allegedly assisting unscrupulous foreign businessmen engaging in transitional crime in the country.   Mombasa, Kenya: Police are looking for two Kenyan businessmen wanted over claims of importing illegal rice and sugar from Pakistan through the port of Mombasa. The two are being investigated for allegedly assisting unscrupulous foreign businessmen engaging in transitional crime in the country, police said. ALSO READ: Joho hints at imposing waste collection levy Police claim that the two businessmen of Somali origin are wanted for assisting 11 Pakistanis arrested on Tuesday during a raid within Kizingo and Nyali estates, Mombasa.
The 11 suspects were arrested after an intelligence report of their unlawful presence in the country. They were presented in court and detained for three days as investigations go on. The prosecution said Dot.com Ali Mustaqim and Air Menzies international are under probe from DCI officers and Kenya Revenue Authority. “The two Kenyans are working in-cahoots with the foreigners to register companies and processing of working permits for the foreigners who are engaging in unlawful business in the country,” police said. Preliminary police finding indicates that the foreigners repackage the imported rice and sell it at subsidized prices thus affecting local dealers. Police said the repackaging is done within Shimanzi area, police claim.
 The prosecution led by assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Yamina Jami, said police were probing if  these businesses are used in funding of terror activities in the country or globally. Jami said if the suspects are released, there was a possibility of them interfering with investigations.
KRA loses Sh2.6 billion sugar import case Mombasa police commandant Johstone Ipara said the detectives are investigating if the foreigners are engaging in money laundering and drug trafficking. "We are still interrogating the suspects, we suspect they are illegally in Kenya and carrying out commercial activities without permits," Ipara said. He added that they are looking for other suspects who are at large to help in investigations.
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001265635/police-in-mombasa-in-search-of-two-suspects-over-illegal-importation-of-rice

Rice Farming Half a World Away 
By Robert Petter
 The following is a trip report from Arkansas rice farmer Robert Petter who spent part of his winter break traveling through Southeast Asia.DEVALLS BLUFF, AR -- My wife, Karen, and I are just back from a vacation, not a business trip, on a Mekong River cruise through Cambodia, plus a week in northern Viet Nam prior to the cruise and a few days in Ho Chi Minh City, post-cruise.  As we were preparing to leave      home a couple weeks ago, people here would ask about our vacation plans and when we told them where we were headed, everybody posed one of three questions:  Are we going there on purpose?  Are we crazy?  And why?
When people in the United States hear 'Southeast Asia,' the first thought is of the Viet Nam War, also known as the Second Indochina War that occurred in Viet Nam, Laos, and Cambodia, and lasted twenty years, from 1955 to 1975.  However, the local people we met on our trip had a very different sentiment.  As they would explain, both countries are very proud of their history and culture, but the people in Southeast Asia feel that that war was only a few years out of thousands of years of their history. 
Making rice paper wrappers over a steam table
Every individual we encountered had a story about how they were affected by the war but they would quickly point out that they are trying to recover and move forward.  No one we met was angry or upset at the United States, and all said it was time to move on.  Everyone we had contact with throughout our two and a half week trip was friendly, accepting, and happy, and at no time did we feel threatened or in any kind of danger.
As far as their rice, the Mekong Delta rice growing region is absolutely beautiful!  The small paddy fields with various crops in different stages of maturity present a colorful, welcoming, pleasant picture.  We did see numerous workers in the rice fields but, since we were traveling with other folks who aren't U.S. rice farmers, I didn't feel I could interrupt the trip to stop and visit with the local farmers as often as I would have liked. 
 At one point in Viet Nam, I was able to finally get my feet in a rice field where I met a local farm lady and we had a good time trying to talk to each other about her operation.  Needless to say, communication was challenging, but I did show her video and pictures of our rice farming operation here in Arkansas and gave her a USA rice hat to repay her for her time and patience with me.
Loading bagged, milled rice
Most of the crops we saw were very clean, even, and looked really good.  We also saw several fields being harvested, some with machinery, and others with hand-held sickles.  From one end  of Viet Nam to the other everyone dried their rice in the sun, either on or near the road, turning it several times for even drying.  Most rice is shipped in small wooden barges that carry 200 tons. 
In Cambodia, we had the opportunity to visit two schools.  At the school in the village of Koh Chen, we gifted the students with USA Rice giveaway bags left over from years past.  I had packed these out of date bags in my luggage to share with the students to use as book bags or for their parents to haul groceries.  They were a huge success!
I also donated 1,000 Riceland Food pencils to the school.  Our guide explained how valuable a pencil was to each family as it enabled their children to participate in class.  The guide said one pencil was the equivalent of one chicken. 
Learning how one simple pencil could change a child's life made me realize just how much we, in our part of the world, take for granted.  The rural areas we visited on this trip didn't have any of the modern conveniences we can't seem to live without.  It gave me a real appreciation for how fortunate I am to live where I do, and, as a farmer, to have access to the latest equipment and technology that makes my job a lot easier than it would be using a sickle and a drying rake.
Karen Petter (left) makes some new friends
Thanks to Robert & Karen, USA Rice makes an impact half a world away

WASDE Report Released
WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. 2017/18 all rice production is 178.2 million cwt, down fractionally from the previous estimate and down 20 percent from last year.  The all rice average yield is estimated at 7,507 pounds per acre, up 46 pounds from the prior estimate.  Long-grain production is raised to 127.9 million cwt and medium- and short-grain production is lowered to 50.4 million.  All rice domestic and residual usage is increased by 5 million cwt to 120 million on higher-than-expected usage for August-November as implied by the NASS Rice Stocks report.  Projected U.S. all rice exports are reduced by 3 million cwt to 100 million, all for long-grain on slower-than-expected exports to Western Hemisphere markets.  Projected 2017/18 all rice ending stocks are reduced 1.8 million cwt to 29.2 million, the lowest level since 2003/04.  The projected 2017/18 season-average farm price for all rice is reduced 20 cents at both ends of the range to $12.10 to $13.10 per cwt, primarily due to lower-than-expected long-grain prices reported to date by NASS.
Global 2017/18 rice supplies are increased by 1.3 million tons to 622.8 million, primarily on larger crops for the Philippines and Pakistan.  Philippine rice production is projected at a record 12 million tons, mainly on larger harvested area, also a record.  World 2017/18 consumption increases 1 million tons to 481.8 million on higher expected usage in China, Ecuador, Nigeria, Vietnam, and the United States.  Global 2017/18 trade is raised to 45.8 million tons on higher exports by China and India more than offsetting lower U.S exports.  Trade is slightly below the 2016/17 record of 46.0 million tons.  World ending stocks are projected fractionally higher to 141.1 million tons for 2017/18 and are at the highest level since 2000/01 with China holding over 66 percent of total stocks.
Go here to read the full report
US Rice Daily
Rice imports to ease high prices
Stefani Ribka
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta | Sat, January 13 2018 | 12:10 am
The government has finally allowed the importation of rice to ease the stubbornly high price of the staple food over the past two months.

Premium-grade rice totaling 500,000 tons will be sourced from major producing countries, such as Thailand and Vietnam, and is set to reach Indonesia late January through state-owned trading firm PT Perusahaan Perdagangan Indonesia.

The move has t...
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/01/13/rice-imports-ease-high-prices.html
Indonesia to import rice from Vietnam to curb price hikes
VNA FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2018 - 20:22:00
Rice loading at Sai Gon Port in HCM City. (Photo: VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia will import 500,000 tonnes of rice from Vietnam and Thailand to contain rice price hikes and declining supply in the local market, said Indonesian Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita.

 The type of imported rice will be of premium quality, not grown in Indonesia, so it will not harm local farmers and rice production, Lukita said on January 12.

The country’s current rice stocks were estimated at about 950,000 tonnes, most of which is low-grade rice to be distributed as aid for low-income people. Meanwhile, the rice stocks for commercial purposes were only 11,000 tonnes.

Previously, Indonesia Vice President Jusuf Kalla had called on the National Logistics Agency (Bulog) to consider importing rice to bring down domestic prices.

According to the National Strategic Food Prices Information Centre (PIHPSN), the medium-quality rice is currently fetched at 14,100 IDR, or 1 USD, per kg.

The rice prices varied among regions. West Papua reported the highest price of 14,250 IDR per kg while the lowest price of over 9,700 IDR per kg was found in West Nusa Tanggara.-VNA
https://en.vietnamplus.vn/indonesia-to-import-rice-from-vietnam-to-curb-price-hikes/124799.vnp
 Sri Lanka Customs seizes a consignment of banned agrochemical glyphosate hidden in rice
Fri, Jan 12, 2018, 10:56 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Jan 12, Colombo: Sri Lanka Customs has seized a consignment of banned agricultural weedicide glyphosate, illegally imported to the island. The stock of glyphosate had been smuggled into the country under the guise of importing broken rice.Officials of the Central Cargo Examination Directorate of Customs during an inspection seized 2,820 kilograms of glyphosate powder packed similar to rice packings and hidden among bags of rice.The glyphosate stock has been imported from Tuticorin, India by a food commodity importer in Pettah. The stock is valued at Rs. 3.22 million, according to the Customs Media Spokesperson Deputy Director Sunil Jayaratne.The officials have also found 21,850 kilograms of broken rice, valued at Rs. 1.34 million in the container that has brought glyphosate.Glyphosate has been declared as a prohibited agrochemical in a special gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Finance On 11th June 2015.
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_18A/Jan12_1515777987CH.php
Walk the historic rice fields at The Ponds in Summerville Sun. Jan 28
History talks
Posted by Mary Scott Hardaway on Fri, Jan 12, 2018 at 12:30 PM
Provided by Charlie Philips of Brockington and Associates
Discover the early history of Carolina rice fields during this history walk and talk at The Ponds in Summerville.Led by professional archaeologist and historian Charles Philips of environmental consulting company Brockington and Associates, the event is free and open to the public. At the  end of the history discussion, Philips, who is one of the principal researchers into rice culture at The Ponds, will take the group on a tour of The Ponds rice fields near Schulz Lake.

The tour is presented by The Ponds Conservancy, a not for profit community organization that manages and guards Summerville's historic Schulz-Lotz Farmhouse and more than 1,000 acres of open space as well as a wildlife refuge. In 2015, the Conservancy won the South Carolina Historic Preservation award.

To reserve a spot on the tour, email pondsevents@associa.us or call (843) 900-8556.
https://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/CultureShock/archives/2018/01/12/walk-the-historic-rice-fields-at-the-ponds-in-summerville-sun-jan-28
Do not exceed price ceilings, ministry tells rice stakeholders
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta | Fri, January 12, 2018 | 09:22 pm
 Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita (JP/srs)
The government has required retailers, distributors and suppliers of rice to sell the commodity at no higher than the set price ceilings, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said on Friday, stressing that the ministry would punish those found in violation of the policy.
"I invite all retailers, distributors and suppliers to take part in maintaining the price of premium and medium-quality rice at the [price] ceilings,” Enggartiasto said during a press conference in Jakarta on Friday.
He said the policy would apply to all stakeholders in the rice industry, and the Trade Ministry would monitor its implementation in the field, including by watching suppliers and distributors who keep their rice in warehouses.
"So, if you come across suppliers who don't distribute their rice, please report them to me. I will find out who they are,” he said, adding that his ministry had teamed up with the National Police to enforce the law against violators of the new policy.
The ministry’s price ceilings for rice were introduced in August 2017 to stand at between Rp 12,800 (89 US cents) per kilogram and Rp 13,600 per kilogram for premium-quality rice and between Rp 9,450 and Rp 10,250 per kg for medium-quality rice.
In markets, however, prices have exceeded the ceilings.
Enggartiasto also required all relevant firms to report the location of their respective warehouses, adding that unreported warehouses would be considered illegal by the ministry. (srs/bbn)
Experts, farmers optimistic for rice season
Thursday, January 11th 2018, 11:13 pm PKTFriday, January 12th 2018, 2:15 am PKT
By Candy Rodriguez, Reporter
WELSH, LA (KPLC) -
It's the beginning of a new year, which also means the start to a new rice crop season.However, for the past couple of years, rice farmers across the state have experienced a drop in yields due to weather conditions impacting the cash crop."Yields were down about 12 percent across the board," said Paul Johnson a rice farmer.The Welsh native's rice fields are located in Cameron Parish near the Hayes area, but when rice season is over he does not flip his field into a crawfish pond due to the demand for property during hunting season.
In 2016, August flooding left a devastating impact on the area's rice production – the state's southern parishes suffered about $68 million in losses. Crops in 2017 didn't fare too well either after a wet summer with Tropical Storm Cindy hitting at a critical time for rice growth.
"The rice is pollinating at that time and with the high winds and excessive rain it tends to knock the flowers off and provide blanking," he said. But experts and farmers are optimistic about the upcoming season."The 2018 season for rice production looks very favorable," said Dustin Harrell, LSU AgCenter's rice specialist. "We have a lot of new technology that a lot of our rice farmers are going to be able to utilize."
Harrell said farmers will have access to new fungicide, four new herbicides, and a new herbicide-resistant rice variety – Provisia.
However, the weather conditions are not the only thing farmers have to worry about. Rice prices have dropped in recent years. Producers saw a small increase in 2017, but nothing compared to what they need it to be in order to break even.
"In conjunction with a little bit lower yields, it makes for a tough situation," said Johnson, when discussing the decreased prices and lowered yields. "We're really just hoping we get back to normal growing conditions, whatever normal is."
Farmers are expecting to start planting sometime in late February or early March.More than 30 parishes grow rice in Louisiana, making the state the third largest producer in the country, according to the LSU Ag Center. To take a look at the LSU AgCenter's 'Louisiana Rice Research Board Annual Report' click HERE.
http://www.kplctv.com/story/37245924/experts-farmers-optimistic-for-rice-season

Be vocal about NAFTA,’ Implores U.S. Rice Producers Association CEO
NAFTA a crucial trade agreement for U.S. farmers says rice association executive
Ron Smith | Jan 12, 2018
 Farmers must “get vocal about NAFTA,” Dwight Roberts, president and CEO, U.S. Rice Producers Association, Houston, Texas, charged farmers and ag industry representative at the 21st Annual Conservation Systems Cotton and Rice Conference Thursday in Memphis.
“That’s the message we will be taking to Washington, DC,” he said during the conference opening session. “NAFTA, we hafta,” he added, noting that he and others are concerned about the Trump Administration’s views on the trade agreement. He said the “administration has a lack of understanding,” of how important NAFTA is to agriculture and the U.S. economy.
“At the American Farm Bureau Convention last week in Nashville, the President’s comments about NAFTA scared me. That’s why I encourage anyone who plants rice, wheat or raises cattle or other commodities to be vocal about NAFTA.”
Roberts has spent years working with South American and Mexican interests. “I know Mexico almost as well as I know Texas,” he said. He added that he understands the advantage of strong trade alliances with our closest neighbors, especially in light of a global market that has changed dramatically over the past generation.
“This is not your grandfather’s market,” he said. “We have so many challenges in agriculture, and we have a world market that we used to dominate. That’s not the case anymore.” He said Brazil and Asian countries are strong competitors.“Farmers must examine prices and the cost of operation,” he added.
Roberts praised growers who attend the Conservation Systems conferences. “You’re here because you are trying to get ahead,” he said. “You are the tough ones who have weathered the storms.”It will take toughness and commitment, he said, to thrive in an increasingly competitive agriculture marketplace. Trade agreements like NAFTA, he said, are crucial to market what U.S. farmers produce.
http://www.deltafarmpress.com/legislative/be-vocal-about-nafta-implores-us-rice-producers-association-ceo
Maungdaw rice loses value in face of limited demand
THIHA KO KO 12 JAN 2018

Rice prices are falling in Maungdaw on low demand. Aung Htay Hlaing/The Myanmar Times
Rice prices in Maungdaw township, Rakhine State, have fallen this year, according to merchants and residents from the region.
The change in price is due to decrease in demand. Bangladesh, which borders Myanmar, is having a decent yield this year and Yangon-based traders have decided to directly export rice to import rice from there. Hence the demand for Maungdaw rice has fallen, according to U Aung Myint Thein, chair of Maungdaw Border Trade Chamber of Commerce.
Border trade with Bangladesh is a big part of Maungdaw’s economy. The price of rise is not faring well because there isn’t any demand within the area, U Han Soe, a local resident, commented.
The price of 50kg of medium-grade rice was over K30,000 during the last rainy season. Currently, it is only  slightly over K20,000, representing a drop of 30 percent of the price. Likewise, the lower-quality rice cost, which was over K25,000 during the last rain season, has dropped to K15,000, according to the local merchants.
The lack of stability in the region, coupled with poor transport  infrastr-ucture, has made it difficult for traders to sell rice from Maungdaw and other regions, businesses suggested.
https://www.mmtimes.com/news/maungdaw-rice-loses-value-face-limited-demand.html
Sri Lanka farmers cautioned on water use in 2018 despite La Niña
Jan 12, 2018 06:57 AM GMT+0530 |
ECONOMYNEXT - Sri Lanka is expected to receive normal rains in the first three months of 2018, but the period is the driest in the year, and farmers should use water sparingly, the island's agricultural authorities have said in a weather update.
Meteorologists have forecasted a few days of rain after January 09, including in the dry and intermediate zones of the island.
"Meanwhile, prevailing ocean-atmospheric conditions in the Central Eastern Pacific Ocean favors a La Nina type circulation while the Indian Ocean remains at neutral conditions," the Agro-climatology & Climate change Division said.
 "These ocean atmospheric conditions again favor to generate expected amounts of rains during next three months from January to March."
But the first three months generally get the least amount of rain.But, it should be noted that even though normal or slightly above normal rains would experience in coming three months, the quantum of such rains that would receive during each month of this period is the least compared to other months of the year across almost entire island."Hence, any significant increase in inflow to tanks and reservoirs cannot be expected in forthcoming months still late March," the statement said.
"Thus, it is highly advisable to use water available in irrigation tanks and reservoirs of the country very sparingly to ensure adequate water storage for the rest of 2017/2018 season."Sri Lanka's agriculture was hit by two years of drought with floods in some parts of the island.In the Yala minor crops season Sri Lanka was estimated to have sown about 400,000 hectares, down 33 percent of the average of the three previous years.About 1.04 million metric tonnes of rice was expected from the Yala season, the lowest in 10 years.
In the 2017 Maha season about 383,000 hectares of rice were sown producing 1.47 million tonnes of rice, about half the 2.9 million tonnes a year earlier. (Colombo/Jan11/2018)
http://www.economynext.com/Sri_Lanka_farmers_cautioned_on_water_use_in_2018_despite_La_Niña-Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- January 12, 2018
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-January 12, 2018
Nagpur, Jan 12 (Reuters) – Gram prices moved down in Nagpur Agriculture Produce Marketing
Committee (APMC) on poor demand from local millers amid high moisture content arrival. Easy
condition in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and release of stock from stockists also pulled down
prices, according to sources. 

    FOODGRAINS & PULSES
        GRAM
   * Desi gram raw showed weak tendency in open market here in absence of buyers amid
     good supply from producing region.
      TUAR
         * Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here on subdued demand from local traders
     amid ample stock in ready position.
   * Moong Chilka and Moong Chamki recovered in open market here on good demand from
     local traders.                                                                 
   * In Akola, Tuar New – 4,100-4,200, Tuar dal (clean) – 6,000-6,200, Udid Mogar (clean)
    – 7,800-8,800, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,300-7,600, Gram – 4,300-4,400, Gram Super best
    – 6,400-7,000
   * 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                  3,200-3,550         3,200-3,670
     Gram Pink Auction            n.a.           2,100-2,600
     Tuar Auction                N.a.                3,500-3,935
     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        1,580-1,728        1,600-1,695
     Gram Super Best Bold            6,800-7,500        6,800-7,500
     Gram Super Best            n.a.            n.a.
     Gram Medium Best            6,000-6,300        6,000-6,300
     Gram Dal Medium            n.a.            n.a
     Gram Mill Quality            4,000-4,100        4,000-4,100
     Desi gram Raw                4,500-4,650         4,550-4,700
     Gram Kabuli                12,400-13,000        12,400-13,000
     Tuar Fataka Best-New             6,200-6,500        6,200-6,500
     Tuar Fataka Medium-New        5,900-6,100        5,900-6,100
     Tuar Dal Best Phod-New        5,700-5,900        5,700-5,900
     Tuar Dal Medium phod-New        5,300-5,600        5,300-5,600
     Tuar Gavarani New             4,450-4,550        4,450-4,550
     Tuar Karnataka             4,700-4,900        4,700-4,900
     Masoor dal best            4,900-5,100        4,900-5,100
     Masoor dal medium            4,600-4,800        4,600-4,800
     Masoor                    n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Mogar bold (New)        7,500-8,000         7,500-8,000
     Moong Mogar Medium            6,500-7,000        6,500-7,000
     Moong dal Chilka            5,900-6,500        5,800-6,500
     Moong Mill quality            n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Chamki best            7,600-8,100        7,500-8,000
     Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 8,000-8,500       8,000-8,500
     Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)    5,800-7,000        5,800-7,000   
     Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)        5,000-6,200        5,000-6,200   
     Batri dal (100 INR/KG)        5,100-5,500        5,100-5,500
     Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)          2,500-2,600         2,500-2,600
     Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)            3,300-3,400        3,300-3,400
     Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)    3,400-3,800        3,400-3,800 
     Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)        1,900-2,000        1,900-2,000
     Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG)    1,750-1,850        1,750-1,850 
     Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)         2,150-2,350           2,150-2,350       
     Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)    2,250-2,450        2,250-2,450   
     Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)   2,000-2,200        2,000-2,200
     Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)    n.a.            n.a.
     MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)    3,200-3,800        3,200-3,800   
     MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)    2,400-2,800        2,400-2,800         
     Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG)        3,200-3,600        3,200-3,600   
     Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG)        2,700-2,800        2,700-2,800   
     Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG)         2,300-2,500        2,300-2,500     
     Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)      2,500-2,600        2,500-2,600 
     Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG)      2,350-2,450        2,350-2,450 
     Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG)        4,100-4,500        4,100-4,500   
     Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)        3,500-3,900        3,500-3,900   
     Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG)      5,000-5,400        5,000-5,400
     Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG)    4,400-4,900        4,400-4,900 
     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)    5,800-6,000        5,800-6,000   
     Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG)    5,200-5,500        5,200-5,500 
     Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)        2,000-2,200        2,000-2,100   
     Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)         1,800-2,000        1,700-2,000
WEATHER (NAGPUR) 
Maximum temp. 30.7 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 11.0 degree Celsius
Rainfall : Nil
FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 31 and 11 degree
Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices)3-9554-13.html
https://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-january-12-2018-idINL4N1P734D
Côte d’Ivoire to set an agency for the development of rice sector
 Friday, 12 January 2018 - 12:14
(Ecofin Agency) - Côte d’Ivoire will set an agency for the development of the rice sector (ADERIZ). This has been announced on January 10, 2018, at the end of a ministerial council by the executive which revealed the adoption of a decree on the agency.This measure should accompany the country’s strategy for the development of rice production (Stratégie Nationale de Développement de la Riziculture-SNDR) from 2012 to 2020. Indeed, through SNDR, the government aims to make Côte d’Ivoire a self-sufficient milled rice producer and exporter. “Specifically, The agency will help strengthen the capacities of trade organizations in the sector, invest in infrastructures for rice production and establish a sustained mechanism to continually meet national demand for certified rice seeds and improved varieties” the government indicates.
In the country, rice which accounts for 65% of cereal production is mainly produced on irrigated, rainfed and flooded systems.
According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), during the rice campaign 2016/2017, Côte d’Ivoire has produced about 1.3 million tons of rice while the local consumption averages 2.9 million tons.
Rice Importation Drops By 91 Percent

Official figures on rice exportation from Thailand to Nigeria between 2014 and 2016, has revealed that the volume of rice imported to Nigeria has dropped.
According to the figures, the importation dropped from 1.24 million tonnes in 2014, to 58,260 tonnes in 2016, representing a 91 per cent decline. The drop in importation has been attributed to President Muhammadu Buhari New Year broadcast, to ban the importation of rice import in 2018.
Industry sources believe that the reduction in Nigeria’s importation trend was facilitated by the successful implementation of the Anchor Borrowers’ scheme of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), from which many states had benefited.
He said: “We have got to get used to discipline and direction in economic management. The days of business as usual are numbered. Two years ago, I appealed to people to go back to the land. “I am highly gratified that agriculture has picked up, contributing to the government’s effort to restructure the economy.“Rice imports will stop this year. Local rice, fresher and more nutritious variants would be on our dishes from now on.”
According to Buhari:
“Great nations are built by enterprising people who turn their hands to anything that circumstances dictate.”
To intensify local production, Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agriculture (NIRSAL) is deploying an innovative nation-wide field structure to support 225,000 farmers under the CBN Anchor Borrowers Scheme.
However, the report added that Benin Republic’s rising rice export figures is posing a challenge in its border with Nigeria. A USDA review of the agricultural situation in Benin, published in March 2014, stated: “Benin serves as a delivery corridor for West Africa, reaching more than 100 million people in the landlocked countries of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad and the northern states of Nigeria.”
http://www.osundefender.com/rice-importation-drops-91-percent/
Take a grain check: There’s more to the Indian diet than polished rice and wheat
Soumya Sarkar
JANUARY 13, 2018 16:17 IST

It is now forgotten that before the Green Revolution, millets made up 40% of all cultivated grains
Hunger is on the rise after many years, particularly in developing countries like India. The threat of climate change in lowering farm productivity can make the situation worse unless we take immediate steps to grow more eco-friendly food.
India is particularly vulnerable to global warming, and it is now well established that rising temperatures make for anaemic harvests. India’s long struggle with hunger and food security may have become tougher. In the peninsula, temperatures may rise by as much as 6° Celsius by the end of this century, according to research by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.
In the southern states, rice yields may decline by 5% in the 2030s, 14.5% in the 2050s, and 17% in the 2080s, the ADB study predicts. This is bound to affect food security in India with climate change set to make food production in South Asia more difficult and push production costs upwards. Food shortages are expected to increase the number of malnourished children in South Asia by seven million.
In the crosshairs
To compound woes, scientists have found that higher temperatures hamper the nutritional value of harvests, particularly rice and wheat — staples for most Indians. Greater levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would lead to protein deficiencies, according to a study in Environmental Health Perspectives. In a few decades, as many as 53.4 million Indians may be newly at risk of protein deficiency.
Experts at the UN’s Climate Change Conference in Bonn last November argued for faster and further investment in agriculture to support livelihoods of small farmers, and to curb emissions.
Small farmers, herders and fishing communities in developing countries provide the bulk of the planet’s food, but they are also disproportionately affected by global warming.
The problem of nutrition security has not entirely escaped attention. Eminent agriculture scientist M. S. Swaminathan has said India needs a nutrition revolution.
The architect of India’s Green Revolution has been advocating for a greater reliance on millets, not only to provide better nutrition but to also ensure farmers are well-equipped to deal with climate change. Calling millets ‘orphan crops,’ Swaminathan has called for greater investment in millet research to add variety to India’s food basket.
Ironically, it is now mostly forgotten that before the Green Revolution of the 1960s, millets made up around 40% of all cultivated grains, contributing more than wheat and rice. The production of rice has doubled and wheat tripled since then, while that of millets has declined.
Millets were the major staple in central and southern India, as well as the mountain States since ancient times.
After the relentless advance of high-yielding varieties of rice and wheat, which guzzled water and needed large amounts of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, harmful to the environment, millets gradually vanished from our plates.
The government was also complicit in this by pushing only rice and wheat in the public distribution system, rendering the cultivation of millets economically unviable. This has resulted in high consumption of polished rice and refined wheat flour, which are nutritionally poor and bad for ecosystems as well.
The time has come to recognise that India was never a two-grain nation. We need to expand our food basket for the nutritional security of our young, and for future generations. And millets can be the climate-resilient future crop for millions of Indians. They can counter the worst effects of climate change better than most other crops.
Since millets require much less water than other crops — pearl and finger millets, for instance, can grow well with a fourth of the rainfall that rice requires — they are much better adapted for droughts.
Superior grain
They are known for their climate-resilient features, including the ability to adapt to a wide range of ecological conditions, low irrigation requirements, better growth and productivity even without fertilisers and minimal vulnerability to environmental stresses. Millets are also nutritionally superior to other major cereals because they are rich in dietary fibres, resistant starches, vitamins and essential amino acids.
Although is it difficult to get people to change their diets, the scene for millets might be changing for the better. The Food Security Act has stipulated that beneficiaries of India’s public distribution system, which constitute about 813 million of the country’s poorest, will get millets at ₹1 per kg.
But framing a law is not enough. The government must ensure that millets are adequately available at fair price shops.
In times of climate change, millets are often the last crop standing, the central government has said in a recent release, while asking the U.N. to declare 2018 as the International Year of Millets. These words must be followed by effective action.
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/agriculture/take-a-grain-check-theres-more-to-the-indian-diet-than-polished-rice-and-wheat/article22429984.eceASEAN nations flags Photo: Getty Images
India and ASEAN countries agree to tackle climate change, price volatility
 Breaking News January 13, 2018 10:12
By The Statesman
Asia News Network
New Delhi
India and ASEAN countries on Friday agreed to cooperate in agriculture and forestry to tackle challenges of climate change and price volatility, along with seeking intervention for livelihood opportunities, exchange of farm machinery and development of heterotic rice hybrids.
In a joint declaration at the 4th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry here, they also sought cooperation on exchanging expertise as to promote enhanced resilience of natural systems, and improve the adaptive capacities of people to cope with environmental hazards.
“We supported the prioritization of joint collaborative projects in the areas of (i) Agroforestry interventions for livelihood opportunities, (ii) Demonstration and exchange of farm implement and machinery, and (iii) Genetic improvement of parental lines and development of heterotic rice hybrids,” it said.
“We look forward to the implementation of more capacity building programmes in 2018 on the empowerment of ASEAN and Indian women through cooperatives, and managing food security and price volatility”.
As a part of Medium Term Plan of Action for ASEAN-India Cooperation in Agriculture and Forestry for 2016-2020, they said: “We underscore the importance of addressing climate change as it negatively impacts food security.”
The declaration also sought implementation of the 3rd exchange visit for farmers between ASEAN and India in order to provide opportunities for ASEAN and Indian farmers and fishers, including young and women farmers, to learn and develop more efficient farming practices and management skills through information sharing.
The 5th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry will be held in Brunei Darussalam in 2019.
Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Malaysia Laos and Brunei are the members of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30336157
India and ASEAN countries agree to tackle climate change, price volatility
New Delhi– India and ASEAN countries on Friday agreed to cooperate in agriculture and forestry to tackle challenges of climate change and price volatility, along with seeking intervention for livelihood opportunities, exchange of farm machinery and development of heterotic rice hybrids.
In a joint declaration at the 4th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry here, they also sought cooperation on exchanging expertise as to promote enhanced resilience of natural systems, and improve the adaptive capacities of people to cope with environmental hazards.
“We supported the prioritization of joint collaborative projects in the areas of (i) Agroforestry interventions for livelihood opportunities, (ii) Demonstration and exchange of farm implement and machinery, and (iii) Genetic improvement of parental lines and development of heterotic rice hybrids,” it said.
“We look forward to the implementation of more capacity building programmes in 2018 on the empowerment of ASEAN and Indian women through cooperatives, and managing food security and price volatility”.
As a part of Medium Term Plan of Action for ASEAN-India Cooperation in Agriculture and Forestry for 2016-2020, they said: “We underscore the importance of addressing climate change as it negatively impacts food security.”
The declaration also sought implementation of the 3rd exchange visit for farmers between ASEAN and India in order to provide opportunities for ASEAN and Indian farmers and fishers, including young and women farmers, to learn and develop more efficient farming practices and management skills through information sharing.
The 5th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry will be held in Brunei Darussalam in 2019.
Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Malaysia Laos and Brunei are the members of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). (IANS)
http://indusbusinessjournal.com/2018/01/india-asean-countries-agree-tackle-climate-change-price-volatility/
Judge rejects change to Minnesota's wild rice water standard
EnvironmentDan Kraker •
 Minneapolis • Jan 11, 2018
Wild rice seeds float on the St. Louis River shortly after being thrown by Conservation Corps workers Tuesday, September 13, 2016 in Duluth, Minn. Derek Montgomery for MPR News 2016
1.
LISTEN Story audio
Jan 12, 2018
3min 32sec
 Updated: 8:45 p.m. | Posted: 5:11 p.m.
In a ruling with potential implications both on the health of Minnesota's culturally vital wild rice and on mining and other industry critical to northern Minnesota's economy, a state administrative law judge ruled Thursday that state regulators failed to justify a proposed change to a controversial water quality standard for protecting wild rice.
In her report, Administrative Law Judge LauraSue Schlatter said the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency failed to justify changing the current wild rice sulfate standard, which limits discharges of sulfates into waters where wild rice grows to 10 milligrams per liter.
The rule has its roots in the 1930s and 40s, when a University of Minnesota scientist found that wild rice didn't grow well in water that contained a lot of sulfate, a pollutant released by industries like iron ore mines and paper mills, as well as wastewater treatment plants.
Based on that research, Minnesota adopted a standard in 1973 that limited how much sulfate could be discharged into wild rice waters.After environmental groups and Indian tribes pressured regulators to start enforcing it, the state legislature in 2011 asked the MPCA to study the rule and see if it needed changes.
Last year the agency proposed a complex, flexible formula that would determine what standard would be appropriate for each specific lake or stream.But Schlatter wrote that the agency failed to demonstrate that repealing and replacing the current standard would be equally or more protective of wild rice.
The agency also "failed to recognize the proposed rule's burden on the Native American community in its discussion of classes of people who will be burdened by adoption of the proposed rule," the judge wrote.
The ruling was cheered by both environmental groups and industry groups, although the two sides still disagree on the validity of the state's current standard."This is a day we can celebrate," said attorney Paula Maccabee with the environmental group WaterLegacy. "Because what we've seen is the administrative law judge...affirming the protection of wild rice, and the protection of clean water and human health from the increased risk of mercury contamination that would result if sulfate levels were increased."
The judge also rejected the MPCA's proposal to count 1,300 wild rice water bodies in the state.
"She concluded that there was no adequate or defensible reason for excluding nearly 1,000 other wild rice water bodies that were on the DNR's list and the tribal lists as well," said Nancy Schuldt, water projects coordinator with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.
Industry groups, meanwhile, also praised the decision.The difference is that they also disagree with the state's current wild rice sulfate rule — the so-called "10 standard" — which environmental groups and tribes want the state to enforce."I think the MPCA understands the '10' is not a workable option," said Kelsey Johnson, president of the Iron Mining Association of Minnesota. "It's a matter now of finding out what is a workable option."
Industry groups argue that complying with either standard could cost tens of millions of dollars, if not more. They say that could potentially put mines and other industry out of business, and impose huge costs on wastewater treatment plants.State Rep. Jason Metsa, DFL-Virginia, said spending all that money wouldn't even guarantee protection of wild rice."Because the answer we kept getting back even from the MPCA was, 'We don't know.' 'Will it help future crops prevail?' and the answer was always, 'We don't know,'" he said.
Metsa said he and other lawmakers are considering a legislative solution to this longstanding controversy over Minnesota's most famous and culturally significant grain.Meanwhile the MPCA said it needs to evaluate the report before commenting.Chief Administrative Law Judge Tammy Pust said that if the agency chooses not to correct the defects, it must submit the proposal to legislative leaders for further review.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/01/11/judge-rejects-change-to-minnesota-wild-rice-water-standard