Rice News August 2019 Eid UlFitr Days

Chinese scientists complete high-resolution 3D genome map of rice Source: Xinhua| 2019-08-15 19:32:25|Editor: Li Xia WUHAN, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists completed a high-resolution three-dimensional genome map of rice, which is a breakthrough in the crop's genetic improvement, according to the research team. The team from Huazhong Agricultural University in central China's Hubei Province aimed to investigate the genome architecture and its effects on the growth of rice through the map. The study will help reveal the genome architecture of rice and promote research on the genetic improvement of rice and other crops, according to the research team. The study has been published in the international academic journal Nature Communications. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-08/15/c_138311743.htm Mangoes make money: Bangladeshi farmers abandon rice August 14, 2019 | Filed under: News | Posted by: The Bangladesh Chronicle Mangoes make money: Bangladeshi farmers abandon rice Many are putting their faith in the country’s most popular fruit because it is more profitable and cheaper to produce Dr. Dalim Biswas, an agricultural scientist and manager of an agro food company, inspects a mango orchard in the Nachol area of Chapai Nawabganj district on July 29. In parts of northern Bangladesh, mango orchards have replaced traditional rice fields as farmers seek better profits. (Photo by Stephan Uttom/ucanews.com) Stephan Uttom, Rajshahi, and Rock Ronald Rozario, Dhaka Bangladesh August 14, 2019 For Ismail Hossain, 45, rice farming twice a year has been a tradition for generations and the only source of income for his family of five. Two years ago, the Muslim father of three decided to quit traditional rice farming in favor of mangoes, so he planted mango saplings all over his 2.80 acres of agricultural land at Talanda village in the Tanore area of Rajshahi district in northern Bangladesh. Various reasons forced Hossain into the switch, including high production and harvesting costs, the water crisis and a fall in the price of rice. “Over the past five to seven years, rice production in my fields has reduced for various reasons: the water shortage, unfavorable weather and a decline in land fertility,” Hossain told ucanews.com. “Also, the price of fertilizer, pesticides and labor doubled. The last time I made a profit from my rice was seven years ago.” When Hossain cultivated rice, his profit was just 50,000 taka (US$592) a year; his financial burden seems likely to continue — on average, it takes about two years for mango trees to yield fruit, so he will only know how profitable his mango orchard is next summer. He is however, making money by utilizing the spare space to grow lentils and garlic — they are already bringing in a profit of about 90,000 taka a year. Hossain believes his orchard will yield good profits as mango is the most popular fruit in Bangladesh and it is less expensive to maintain and produce. “You don’t need a lot of workers to look after a mango orchard and you don’t need to spend a lot on extensive irrigation and pesticides. Many local farmers like me have already started making the move,” he said. Dr. Dalim Biswas has been an agricultural scientist and taught in various agricultural universities in the country for years. He joined T. Islam Agro Food Industries in the Nachol area of Chapai Nawabganj district two years ago as a manager. Under his supervision, the company has planted 13,000 mango, 300 guava and dozens of banana trees on about 25 acres of land. “Even five years ago, these were rice fields but the company was making losses every year. Now it is making a net profit of about 100,000 taka a year,” Biswas, a Muslim, told ucanews.com. Biswas started planting mangoes on eight acres of his own land three years ago and this summer made 150,000 taka net profit from them. “In the current circumstances I think I could barely have made 20,000 taka if I had planted rice in the fields instead,” he said. A mango orchard in the Nachol area of Chapai Nawabganj district in northern Bangladesh on July 29. Many farmers in the region are switching from rice farming to more profitable mangoes. (Photo by Stephan Uttom/ucanews.com) A changing agricultural trend In largely agrarian Bangladesh, rice is the staple food grain for most people. Bangladesh ranks fourth in the world in rice production after India, China and Indonesia. Occupying about 75 percent of cropland and an estimated 8.57 million hectares of arable land, rice plays a vital role in the Bangladesh economy, according to the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI). Rice farming offers employment for about 48 percent of households or about 13 million rural families, the BRRI says. Bangladesh produced 36.2 million tons of rice in 2017-18, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), which estimated that rice production hit a new high with an additional 1.3 million tons this year. However, high production costs and low prices are forcing many farmers to prefer working with such fruit as mangoes, guavas and bananas. Many farmers have started planting mango trees on their own land, while others have leased out their land for the same purpose. Some locals have also found renewed interest in fish farming. The northern districts of Rajshahi, Natore, Naogaon and Chapai Nawabganj are known as being the rice hub of Bangladesh. In the past 10 years, rice cultivation area in the four districts shrank by 200,000 hectares, but over the same period mango orchards have doubled to 70,346 hectares, according to the DAE. Good or risky? The scarcity of water for irrigation and financial losses due to low prices are driving away farmers from rice cultivation in the north, says Shamsul Haque, a deputy director of the DAE in Rajshahi district. “There is no problem with fertility of the land, but water scarcity is a serious headache in many places. Due to low rainfall, farmers need to rely on underground water for irrigation, which is not readily available everywhere. Also, the low price of rice forced many farmers to incur losses and debts,” Haque told ucanews.com. In the past 10 years, thousands of farmers have switched from rice farming to fruit and vegetables, including potato, onion and garlic, and their production has increased three to four times, he said. “As long as farmlands are properly utilized, the environment is unhurt and farmers can make a profit; there is no problem in having a diversity of cultivation. This is so far a positive trend,” he added. People’s interest in horticulture is a direct result of adverse circumstances, noted Sukleash George Costa, regional director of Catholic charity Caritas Rajshahi, which covers northern Bangladesh. “This region is famous for rice but rice fields require lots of water. As the surface water has not been sufficient, people have relied heavily on groundwater, causing significant depletion. Now water has become even more scarce and people are struggling to cultivate rice,” Costa told ucanews.com. The decline in the price of rice is also a major factor behind changing agricultural trends, he added. However, Costa warns that changes in the agricultural cycle poses a risk to food security in Bangladesh. “Even now, the northern region produces 30-40 percent of total rice cultivated and contributes to the near self-sufficiency in food in a densely populous country like Bangladesh,” he said. “A gradual decline in rice cultivation might result in a food crisis, especially during natural disasters.” Source: UCANEWS.COM Share this: http://bangladeshchronicle.net/mangoes-make-money-bangladeshi-farmers-abandon-rice/ August 14, 2019 18:48 Seasonal Ban on Rice Imports Lifted ..... The Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade has lifted its seasonal ban on rice imports. The decision has been communicated to all customs bureaus across the country in a letter signed by Ali Vakili, the director general of Imports and Free Trade Zone Department of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration, Fars News Agency reported. Every year, during the rice harvest season, the government bans rice imports in support of domestic farmers and production. Referring to the rise in prices of local rice varieties and the importance of meeting domestic needs, Abbas Qobadi, deputy minister of industries, mining and trade, underscored the need for allocating subsidized foreign currency to import rice in a letter to the Central Bank of Iran’s Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati. Iranians consume more than 3 million tons of rice per annum. “Domestic rice production is expected to reach 2.5 million tons by the end of the current Iranian year [March 19, 2020],” said Director General of the Agriculture Ministry's Grains and Essential Goods Department Faramak Aziz Karimi. The difference between domestic production and local need is imported from the UAE, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey and Iraq. https://financialtribune.com/articles/domestic-economy/99420/seasonal-ban-on-rice-imports-lifted Russian scientists start testing 14 breeds of rice in Uzgen AKIPRESS.COM - Scientists from Russia started testing 14 breeds of rice in Uzgen district, Turmush reports... https://akipress.com/news:623757:Russian_scientists_start_testing_14_breeds_of_rice_in_Uzgen/ Please use the sharing tools found via the share button at the top or side of articles. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.com T&Cs and Copyright Policy. Email licensing@ft.com to buy additional rights. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service. 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Choose your FT trial Latest on Nigeria Nigeria to be last African nation declared polio-free London court opens way to start $9bn clawback against Nigeria Nigeria’s grazing crisis threatens the future of the nation Africa to propel world’s population towards 10bn by 2050 Nigeria Add to myFT Muhammadu Buhari sparks dismay over policy shift on food imports Critics say Nigerian president’s move threatens to send prices skyrocketing Muhammadu Buhari has long touted the success of the forex import ban on rice in particular © Andrew Esiebo Share on Twitter (opens new window) Share on Facebook (opens new window) Share on LinkedIn (opens new window) Save Neil Munshi in Lagos AUGUST 14, 2019 Print this page0 Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is coming under fire after calling for the central bank to stop providing the foreign currency needed to pay the country’s vast food import bill. Mr Buhari this week “directed” the central bank to cease providing dollars and other currencies to importers as part of his efforts to spur domestic agricultural production and attain “full food security” for Africa’s most populous nation. But he drew withering criticism from economists and analysts who said the move threatened to send food prices skyrocketing and brought the central bank’s independence into question. Since 2015 the central bank has enforced a controversial policy that denies foreign currency for dozens of imported products from cement to toothpicks to rice, but Mr Buhari’s call would represent a vast expansion of the prohibition. “Don’t give a cent to anybody to import food into the country,” the president said, according to a statement from his spokesman, who added that “the foreign reserve will be conserved and utilised strictly for diversification of the economy, and not for encouraging more dependence on foreign food import bills”. The central bank has not said whether it will follow the directive and did not respond to a request for comment. Analysts said that instead of inspiring a renaissance of Nigerian agriculture, the foreign currency import ban would create food shortages, drive further smuggling, and send prices higher. Recommended Nigeria Smuggled rice makes mockery of Nigerian quest to boost farming Amaka Anku, Africa director for the Eurasia Group, said that whether the policy was implemented or not it sent a troubling message for an economy suffering from high unemployment, low foreign direct investment and sluggish growth. “Most actors, especially the central bank, should know that a total ban of food imports is not practical and I doubt that will be the policy,” she said. “But his comments will continue to drive home the sense that Buhari has no idea how to manage an economy and will raise uncertainty about what other [foreign exchange] restrictions are coming, and contribute to already low business confidence.” The central bank is led by Godwin Emefiele, who became the first central bank governor to be reappointed to a second term after Mr Buhari won re-election earlier this year. His reappointment was widely seen as a signal of the president’s approval of his handling of foreign exchange policy. Nigeria’s foreign reserves have risen under Mr Emefiele, and he has pursued unorthodox policies aligned with Mr Buhari’s protectionist instincts. Soon after his reappointment, Mr Emefiele added milk to the list of items banned from forex. But Mr Emefiele has been dogged by questions about the bank’s independence. Cobus de Hart, chief economist at NKC African Economics, said the president’s call for a currency ban raised more “serious concerns”. Recommended Laila Johnson-Salami Nigeria’s grazing crisis threatens the future of the nation Mr de Hart said it also cast doubt on Nigeria’s commitment to a landmark continent-wide trade agreement, which it signed last month after more than a year of delay. The move “stands in stark contrast to the strategy outlined in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area agreement, and this policy will certainly not set Nigeria’s agricultural sector up to take full advantage of a liberalisation of trade barriers across the continent,” Mr de Hart wrote in a research note. A senior executive in the commercial capital Lagos said Mr Buhari had approached forex policy similarly when he was military dictator in the 1980s. “The main difference is that in 1984 the central bank was more or less a department of the ministry of finance, and today the central bank is nominally independent, at least constitutionally,” the executive said. “But [it seems] that as far as the president is concerned the central bank is not independent.” Mr Buhari has long touted the success of the forex import ban on rice in particular, claiming that Nigeria no longer imports rice. But critics point out that markets across the country are flooded with Thai rice smuggled in from neighbouring Benin. https://www.ft.com/content/e09f8c92-beac-11e9-b350-db00d509634e Discovery Could Pave the Way for Disease-Resistant Rice Crops 15-Aug-2019 10:00 AM EDT American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Add to Favorites More News From This Source ________________________________________ MEDIA CONTACT Available for logged-in reporters only CITATIONS BB/P012574; BB/M02198X; 743165; 15H05779; 18K05657; Journal of Biological Chemistry TYPE OF ARTICLE Research Results SECTION SCIENCE CHANNELS Agriculture, Plants, Chemistry, Food Science, All Journal News, Grant Funded News KEYWORDS Agriculture, Plant Science, rice, rice agriculture, Rice Blast, Plant Disease, Plant Immunity, Gene Editing, GMO Download PDF Newswise — Researchers have uncovered an unusual protein activity in rice that can be exploited to give crops an edge in the evolutionary arms race against rice blast disease, a major threat to rice production around the world. Magnaporthe oryzae, the fungus that leads to rice blast disease, creates lesions on rice plants that reduce the yield and quality of grain. The fungus causes a loss of up to a third of the global rice harvest, roughly enough to feed more than 60 million people each year. Various strategies to ward off the fungus have been employed, but a sustainable approach has not yet been developed. Cost and environmental concerns have limited the success of toxic fungicides. And a phenomena called linkage drag, where undesirable genes are transferred along with desired ones, has made it difficult for breeders to produce varieties of rice that exhibit improved disease resistance but still produce grain at a desired rate. Gene-editing technologies could eventually be used to precisely insert genes in rice plants, overcoming the issue of linkage drag, but first, genes that boost rice immunity need to be identified or engineered. A team of researchers in Japan and the U.K. report in the Journal of Biological Chemistry that a particular rice immune receptor—from a class of receptors that typically recognize only single pathogenic proteins—pulls double duty by triggering immune reactions in response to two separate fungal proteins. The genes that encode this receptor could become a template for engineering new receptors that can each detect multiple fungal proteins, and thereby improve disease resistance in rice crops. Rice blast fungus deploys a multitude of proteins, known as effectors, inside of rice cells. In response, rice plants have evolved genes encoding nucleotide binding–leucine-rich repeat proteins, or NLRs, which are intracellular immune receptors that bait specific fungal effectors. After an NLR receptor’s specific fungal effector binds to the bait, signaling pathways are initiated that cause cell death. “(The cells) die in a very localized area so the rest of the plant is able to survive. It’s almost like sacrificing your finger to save the rest of your body,” said Mark Banfield, professor and group leader at John Innes Centre in Norwich, England, and senior author of the study. After learning from previous work that the fungal effectors AVR-Pia and AVR-Pik have similar structures, the researchers sought to find out whether any rice NLRs known to bind to one of these effectors could perhaps also bind to the other, Banfield said. The scientists introduced different combinations of rice NLRs and fungal effectors into tobacco (a model system for studying plant immunity) and also used rice plants to show if any unusual pairs could come together and elicit immune responses. An AVR-Pik-binding rice NLR called Pikp triggered cell-death in response to AVR-Pik as expected, but surprisingly, the experiments showed that plants expressing this NLR also partially reacted to AVR-Pia. The authors took a close look at the unexpected pairing using X-ray crystallography and noticed that the rice NLR possessed two separate docking sites for AVR-Pia and AVR-Pik. In its current form, Pikp causes meager immune reactions after binding AVR-Pia, however, the receptor’s DNA could be modified to improve its affinity for mismatched effectors, Banfield said. “If we can find a way to harness that capability, we could produce a super NLR that’s able to bind multiple pathogen effectors,” Banfield said. As an ultimate endgame, gene-editing technologies could be used to insert enhanced versions of NLRs—like Pikp—into plants, Banfield said, which could tip the scale in favor of rice crops in the face of rice blast disease. ### DOI: 10.1074/jbc.RA119.007730 This work was supported by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, grant numbers BB/P012574, BB/M02198X; the ERC (proposal 743165), the John Innes Foundation, the Gatsby Charitable Foundation and JSPS KAKENHI 15H05779 and 18K05657. Other authors on this study include Freya A. Varden, Hiromasa Saitoh, Kae Yoshino, Marina Franceschetti, Sophien Kamoun and Ryohei Terauchi. About the Journal of Biological Chemistry JBC is a weekly peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes research "motivated by biology, enabled by chemistry" across all areas of biochemistry and molecular biology. The read the latest research in JBC, visit http://www.jbc.org/. About the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology The ASBMB is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization with more than 11,000 members worldwide. Most members teach and conduct research at colleges and universities. Others conduct research in government laboratories, at nonprofit research institutions and in industry. The Society publishes three journals: the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the Journal of Lipid Research, and Molecular and Cellular Proteomics. For more information about ASBMB, visit www.asbmb.org. https://www.newswise.com/articles/discovery-could-pave-the-way-for-disease-resistant-rice-crops2 RPT-Asia Rice-Vietnam struggles to find new buyers as Chinese demand dwindles Arpan Varghese 4 Min Read (Repeats with no changes to text) * Sharp decline in Vietnamese exports to China-customs data * Worst drought in a decade keeps Thai prices high * Indian market sees improved demand from Africa * Traders in Bangladesh demand cash incentives for exports By Arpan Varghese BENGALURU, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Export prices of rice from Vietnam fell this week as the country struggled to find new buyers amid waning demand from China, while a drought continued to squeeze supply in Thailand and a weak rupee weighed on rates for the Indian variety. Prices for Vietnam’s 5% broken rice RI-VNBKN5-P1 fell to $335-$345 a tonne on Thursday from $340-$350 last week. “Vietnam is struggling to find new markets to compensate for the sharp decline in shipments to China,” a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said. Exports to China in the first seven months of this year fell 65.7% from the corresponding period last year, to 318,100 tonnes, Vietnamese customs data showed. “We heard from Chinese importers that China’s demand for rice remains high but the importers cannot buy from Vietnam because of new technical barriers the Chinese government has imposed,” the trader said. Vietnam’s Ministry and Industry and Trade said on Wednesday it would organise several trade promotion trips this year to boost rice exports. Meanwhile, Thailand’s benchmark 5% broken rice RI-THBKN5-P1 prices narrowed to $415-$425 a tonne on Thursday from $406-$425 last week, with traders attributing the relatively high prices to concerns over supply as the country grapples with its worst drought in a decade. “Domestic prices are up due to fears over possible shortage of rice because of the drought,” a Bangkok based trader said. AFRICAN MARKET ACTIVE Demand, however, remained relatively flat and the strong baht — Asia’s best performing currency this year — has kept Thai prices higher than those of other Asian hubs. “It’s hard to find new buyers as the price will likely increase going forward due to the foreign exchange as well as domestic supply situation,” another trader said. Top exporter India saw prices of its 5% broken parboiled variety RI-INBKN5-P1 ease to about $374-$377 per tonne from last week’s $377-$381. “Africa market is again active now, said Nitin Gupta, vice president for Olam India’s rice business. “Due to the currency depreciation in the last couple of days, prices have corrected.” India’s rice exports in April-June dived 28.2% from a year ago to 2.35 million tonnes, a government body said on Monday, due to subdued demand for non-basmati rice from Africa. In neighbouring Bangladesh, traders demanded cash incentives for rice exports as the country has been unable to secure any deals since a long-standing ban was lifted in May. “At present, we’re not in a position to compete with India or Thailand for parboiled rice. It’s almost impossible to export any rice unless the government provides at least 20% cash subsidy on exports,” a Dhaka-based trader said. (Reporting by Khanh Vu in Hanoi, Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok, Ruma Paul in Dhaka and Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai; editing by Deepa Babignton) 0 : 0 https://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL4N25B2VR AUGUST 14, 2019 / 12:36 PM / 7 DAYS AGO CORRECTED-Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- August 14, 2019 6 MIN READ • • * * * * * * (.) Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-August 14, 2018 Nagpur, Aug 14 (Reuters) – Gram and tuar prices zoomed up again in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) on increased festival season demnad from local millers amid weak supply from producing regions. Sharp rise on NCDEX in gram, upward trend in Madhya Pradesh pulses and reported demand from South-based millers also helped to push up prices. About 1,500 bags of gram and 350 bags of tuar reported for auction, according to sources. GRAM * Desi gram raw recovered further in open market here on good seasonal buying support from local traders. TUAR * Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here on subdued demand from local traders amid ample stock in ready position. * Udid varieties and mot prices recovered strongly in open market here on good seasonal demand from local traders. * In Akola, Tuar New – 5,600-5,800, Tuar dal (clean) – 8,000-8,100, Udid Mogar (clean) – 7,200-7,800, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,800-8,600, Gram – 4,200-4,300, Gram Super best – 5,800-6,200 * Wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in scattered deals and settled at last levels in thin trading activity. Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close Gram Auction 4,000-4,432 3,900-4,300 Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction 5,100-5,885 5,000-5,850 Moong Auction n.a. 3,950-4,200 Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction n.a. 2,200-2,500 Wheat Lokwan Auction 2,050-2,110 2,000-2,130 Wheat Sharbati Auction n.a. 2,900-3,000 Gram Super Best Bold 6,200-6,500 6,200-6,500 Gram Super Best n.a. n.a. Gram Medium Best 5,800-6,100 5,800-6,100 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a Gram Mill Quality 4,500-4,600 4,500-4,600 Desi gram Raw 4,450-4,500 4,400-4,500 Gram Kabuli 8,300-10,000 8,300-10,000 Tuar Fataka Best-New 8,400-8,500 8,400-8,500 Tuar Fataka Medium-New 8,100-8,250 8,100-8,250 Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 7,600-7,850 7,600-7,850 Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 7,200-7,500 7,200-7,500 Tuar Gavarani New 5,900-6,000 5,900-6,000 Tuar Karnataka 6,250-6,450 6,250-6,450 Masoor dal best 5,600-5,700 5,600-5,700 Masoor dal medium 5,100-5,300 5,100-5,300 Masoor n.a. n.a. Moong Mogar bold (New) 8,000-8,800 8,000-8,800 Moong Mogar Medium 6,800-7,600 6,800-7,600 Moong dal Chilka New 6,500-7,500 6,500-7,500 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a. Moong Chamki best 8,200-8,700 8,200-8,700 Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,000-7,800 6,800-7,500 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,500-6,200 5,400-6,200 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 4,300-4,700 4,100-4,600 Mot (100 INR/KG) 5,500-6,500 5,300-6,500 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 4,900-5,000 4,900-5,000 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 5,700-5,850 5,700-5,850 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 7,200-7,500 7,200-7,500 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,300 2,200-2,300 Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,700 2,600-2,700 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,650 2,500-2,650 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a. MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,400-4,000 3,400-4,000 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,100 2,700-3,100 Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,300 2,200-2,300 Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,800 3,200-3,800 Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,100 2,700-3,100 Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,000 2,900-3,000 Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,750 2,600-2,750 Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,500 2,200-2,500 Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,400 3,800-4,400 Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,600 3,400-3,600 Rice HMT new (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,200 3,800-4,200 Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG) 5,500-5,800 5,500-5,800 Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,800 4,500-4,800 Rice Shriram new (100 INR/KG) 4,400-5,000 4,400-5,000 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,500-13,500 8,500-13,500 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-7,000 5,000-7,000 Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 6,500-7,200 6,500-7,200 Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400 Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG) 5,200-5,800 5,200-5,800 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,350-2,550 2,350-2,550 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 2,050-2,250 2,050-2,250 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 29.9 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 23.5 degree Celsius Rainfall : 10.4 mm FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky with moderate rains. Maximum and minimum temperature likely to be around 28 degree Celsius and 23 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.—not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices) No Nagpur report tomorrow: Soyabean mandi, wholesale foodgrain market of Nagpur APMC and oil market in Vidarbha will closed tomorrow, Thursday, on the occasion of Independence Day. Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. https://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain/corrected-nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-august-14-2019-idINL4N25A29W Rice export earnings decline by over 350 m USD BUSINESS PUBLISHED 14 AUGUST 2019 Export earnings from rice and broken rice reached 597.369 million US dollars, down over 350 million US dollars during over 10 months of the current fiscal year, according to an official of Ministry of Commerce. From October 1 to August 2 of 2018-2019 fiscal year, Myanmar earned 597.369 million US dollars from exports of 1.978 million tons of rice and broken rice. In the same period last year, Myanmar earned 950.661 million US dollars from exports of 1.801 tons of rice and broken rice. “This year, the rice and broken rice export volume declined by 822,904.197 million tons and the export earnings, by 353.022 million US dollars,” the official said. Myanmar exports rice to the EU and African markets via sea route and to China via Muse Border trade camp. Thanks to the market expansion in 2017-18 FY, Myanmar exported nearly 3.6 million tons of rice. It is a record-breaking export within over 50 years. Now, Myanmar’s rice exports have declined due to low demands from China and the EU. The private sector alone is unable to deal with the relatively low border trade and a decline in rice export, according to the Myanmar Rice Federation. “In the past, there were 11 companies which officially export rice to China. Myanmar has chosen more than 40 rice export companies and can resume its rice export to China after sending the list of these chosen companies to China,” said Deputy Commerce Minister Aung Htoo who replied to the questions raised by the farmers at a meeting between farmers and Myanmar State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, in Danuphyu Township in Ayeyawady Region on June 28. https://elevenmyanmar.com/news/rice-export-earnings-decline-by-over-350-m-usd GIEWS Country Brief: Malaysia 14-August-2019 REPORT from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Published on 14 Aug 2019 —View Original Download PDF (177.19 KB) FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT • The 2020 cropping season started in June with planting of main season paddy crop • Paddy production in 2019 is estimated at near-average level • Cereal import requirements in 2019/20 marketing year estimated to be above average The 2020 cropping season started in June with planting of main season paddy crop Planting of the 2020 main season paddy crop started in June 2019 in parts of Sabah and is expected to continue in Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia until December 2019. Average to above-average rainfall in June and July across most of Sabah boosted moisture reserves and benefitted the ongoing planting operations. Planting of the 2020 secondary season paddy crop will take place from March to May next year. Paddy production in 2019 estimated at average level The 2019 cropping season was concluded at the end of July and the aggregate paddy production is forecast at an average level of 2.8 million tonnes, comparable to 2018’s outturn. The stable output reflects an unchanged area planted and average yields for both the main and secondary crops, supported by favourable weather conditions. Cereal import requirements in 2019/20 marketing year estimated to be above average The country relies on cereal imports to satisfy its domestic needs as local production covers only about one-fourth of the total national cereal consumption. In the 2019/20 marketing year (July/June), the total cereal import requirement is forecast at 6.6 million tonnes, about 6 percent above the five-year average. Maize imports in the 2019/20 marketing year, which account for the bulk of the imported cereal quantity, are forecast at an average level of 3.8 million tonnes. Wheat import requirements in 2019/20 marketing year (July/June) are forecast at 1.7 million tonnes, about 12 percent above average on account of rising demand for quality bread and bakery goods. Rice import requirements in the 2019 calendar year are estimated at 1.1 million tonnes, 8 percent above the previous year’s near-average level. https://reliefweb.int/report/malaysia/giews-country-brief-malaysia-14-august-2019 GIEWS Country Brief: Indonesia 14-August-2019 REPORT from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Published on 14 Aug 2019 —View Original Download PDF (236.93 KB) FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT Paddy production from 2019 second season is forecast at average level Cereal imports in 2019/20 marketing year are forecast at a level close to average Prices of rice declined moderately, while prices of wheat flour levelled off Paddy production from 2019 second season is forecast at an average level The 2019 first (main) season paddy output, which accounts for about 45 percent of the total output, was harvested by April and production was estimated at a level close to the average. Harvesting of the 2019 secondary paddy crop, which accounts for about 35 percent of the annual output, is underway. The season started with some delays, due to the below average rainfall between March and April, which hampered planting operations in parts of Java, Sumatera and Sulawesi. The average to above average precipitation in May alleviated the moisture deficits, allowing plantings to take place and benefitting an early crop development. During June and July, which marks the onset of the dry season, localized parts of the southern Sumatera, west and central Kalimantan and Java have reported a well below average rainfall and higher than normal temperatures. Official reports, as of early August, indicate that in Java, which produces the bulk of the secondary season output, irrigation water availability in the main reservoirs was adequate. This is expected to limit the impact of the dry weather on crop development. As of late July, remote sensing data indicated satisfactory vegetation conditions in most of the country (see ASI map), inferring generally favourable yield prospects for the paddy crop. In August, farmers began planting the 2019 third season paddy crop, which accounts for about 20 percent of the total annual output. The harvest will take place towards the end of the year. Harvesting of the 2019 off season maize crop recently started, while the 2019 main maize crop was harvested in March. Overall, weather conditions since October 2018 until May 2019 benefitted planting and overall growth of the main and off season maize crops. Outbreaks of Fall Armyworm in maize producing areas, including parts of Sumatra, Java and Kalimantan provinces coupled with the ongoing dry weather conditions, could negatively affect yields in localized parts of the country. Overall, the 2019 aggregate maize output is expected to remain close to the previous year’s above average level, reflecting an expansion in the planted area for both the main and off season crops, driven by strong demand from feed industry. Cereal imports in 2019/20 marketing year forecast at average level The country is one of the largest importers of cereals in Southeast Asia. Total cereal import requirements, mainly wheat, in the 2019/20 marketing year (April/March) are forecast at 12.9 million tonnes, close to the five year average and about 10 percent below the previous year’s record high. Regarding wheat, which is not produced in the country, import requirements are forecast at 11.2 million tonnes, close to the previous year’s high level and 14 percent above the five year average, on account of sustained demand for food and feed use. Rice imports in the 2019 calendar year are forecast at 850 000 tonnes, well below the five year average and the previous year’s high level, on account of adequate domestic supplies from the 2018 bumper output. In 2018, the imported quantity of rice reached a well above average level, due to significant purchases by the Government, with the aim to replenish the low public inventories and contain rising domestic prices. For maize, import requirements are estimated at 750 000 tonnes, well below the five year average, mostly reflecting domestic ample supplies following two consecutive bumper harvests in 2017 and 2018. Prices of rice declined seasonally, while prices of wheat flour levelled off Prices of rice increased moderately in January and February 2019, in line with seasonal trends, and declined between March and June due to the improved availabilities from the main season harvest. Overall, prices of rice in June 2019 were close to the levels of the previous year. Prices of wheat flour have followed a mild upward trend, increasing by only 3 percent between September 2018 and April 2019. They levelled off in the subsequent two months and in June were slightly higher on a yearly basis, as adequate imports of wheat grain limited stronger price increases. Primary country Indonesia Ongoing Southeast Asia: Drought - Feb 2019 Other disasters • Asia: Armyworm Infestation - 2018-2019 • Content Format: o News and Press Release • Language: o English • Theme: o Agriculture o Food and Nutrition • Disaster Type: o Drought o Insect Infestation Related content • INDONESIA Jakarta Post: Indonesia prepares for battle with fall armyworm 17 Jul 2019 • WORLD FAO: Crop Prospects and Food Situation, No. 2, July 2019 04 Jul 2019 • CHINA FAO: GIEWS Country Briefs: China 12-June-2019 12 Jun 2019 • SRI LANKA FAO: GIEWS Country Brief: Sri Lanka 27-May-2019 27 May 2019 • WORLD FAO: FAO Early Warning Early Action report on food security and agriculture (April - June 2019) 12 Apr 2019 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/giews-country-brief-indonesia-14-august-2019 Wednesday, August 21, 2019 • • Archives • Advertise • Contact Us • About Us • Privacy Policy • • • • FRONTPAGE • NATION • OPINION • BUSINESS • WORLD • SPORTS • MORE Dar to NFA: Step up palay buying, selling BY EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ AUGUST 14, 2019 • HOME • / • BUSINESS • / • TOP BUSINESS • / • DAR TO NFA: STEP UP PALAY BUYING, SELLING AGRICULTURE Secretary William Dar urged on Monday the National Food Authority (NFA) to step up efforts to procure palay (paddy rice) from local farmers to increase the presence of cheap rice in the market and achieve food security. Farmers dry palay on a road in San Rafael, Bulacan. PHOTO BY RUSSELL PALMA Dar instructed NFA administrator Judy Carol Dansal to ensure that the P7-billion procurement funds of the agency will be properly used. “The turn around of procurement of palay… once it has been processed, let’s put it already in the market. Bring it out [so that] your money will return to you [and] you have something to buy more palay from farmers,” Dar said. “There is no [other] way to do that but to accelerate the buying, processing and marketing. Don’t stock up only for buffer. You buy and sell,” he added. The national government, through the General Appropriations Act, allocated P7 billion to the NFA for the implementation of the Food Security Program through buffer stocking. The NFA is mandated to maintain a 15-day rice reserve at any given time and a 30-day buffer stock during the lean season. Under Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Liberalization Law, the NFA will adopt the “rolling buffer stocking” scheme–buy palay from local farmers all-year round with an optimal level of buffer stocks good for 30 days and release the aged stocks once they reach the optimal level. Last year, President Duterte ordered the NFA to have at least 60 days’ worth of buffer stocks to prevent a repeat of the supply shortage that pushed the staple’s price to as high as P60 per kilo in Metro Manila and P70 per kilo in Zamboanga City. Latest data from the NFA showed it has bought a total of 286,805 metric tons (MT) or 5,736,100 bags of palay worth P5.936 billion from January to July 2019. For 2019, the NFA is targeting to procure about 7.78 million bags or 389,000 MT of locally-produced palay. Meanwhile, Dar defended his department’s proposal for an unconditional cash transfer (UCT) program for rice farmers affected by plunging prices of their produce. This after farmers and rice stakeholders trooped to the Department of Agriculture (DA) to oppose DA’s proposal. He said the UCT program aims to aid rice farmers from the initial impact of low palay prices as they transition to a liberalized rice system. The program is “not a proof of failure. It’s part of [Republic Act 11203 or Rice Liberalization Law] to give assistance if necessary,” Dar said. The proposal is just a “band-aid solution” and does not answer the problem created by the law, according to rice watch group Bantay Bigas and Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women. Following the passage of the law, average farmgate price of palay has tremendously gone down. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the average farmgate price of palay reached P17.76 per kilo, down 18.6 percent year-on-year. Prices of the staple also reached to as low as P14 to P12 per kilo in some provinces. The Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) earlier said farmers have foregone around P40 billion in revenues as of end-June due to the 23-percent decline in palay prices year-on-year. Comments are posted instantaneously through the use of the FindShare login system. If you want to remain anonymous, please select a screen name upon login. OTHER TOP BUSINESS TOP BUSINESS BoI investments hit P313B in Jan-July TOP BUSINESS 6 govt programs get P357B of 2020 budget • 2019 MIDYEAR ECONOMIC REVIEW • • The Manila Times | August 21, 2019 • • • • • • • • Social Connect Manila Times Palace denies hand in Sanchez’s impending release MALACAÑANG on Wednesday denied any role in the impending release of a former mayor who was a convicted rapist and murderer . READ: Convicted ex-Laguna mayor Sanchez may be free…READ 3 h The Manila Times 3 members of kidnap group targeting Chinese die in Cavite shootout THREE members of a kidnap-for-ransom group were killed in a police operation in Cavite on Wednesday. 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Read More.I Agree↑ ↑ ↑ https://www.manilatimes.net/dar-to-nfa-step-up-palay-buying-selling/599896/ https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/giews-country-brief-indonesia-14-august-2019 TOP ARTICLES2/5READ MOREIn photos: Gerard Butler, Jada PinkettSmith attend 'Angel Has Fallen' premiere TOP NEWS ODD NEWS ENTERTAINMENT SPORTS PHOTOS MORE TRENDING Invasive fish 'Porsche' auction Marijuana seized Planned Parenthood Iran Ezekiel Elliott School stabbing Dwight Howard CBD Kathleen Blanco WORLD NEWS AUG. 13, 2019 / 12:59 PM North Korea drought intensified in July, agency says By Elizabeth Shim (0) North Korea's crops are being damaged due to worsening weather conditions. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo Aug. 13 (UPI) -- North Korea experienced worsening drought through July, a sign extreme weather conditions have been amplified due to record high temperatures and a heat wave affecting the region. International agency GEOGLAM, the Group on Earth Observations Global Agricultural Monitoring Initiative, formed under a G20 mandate in 2011, said the drought situation is worsening in North Korea, particularly in the central and southern regions, Radio Free Asia reported Tuesday. GEOGLAM's report confirms North Korean state media reports. Earlier this year, state media said the area most seriously hit includes South Hwanghae Province, also known as the rice basket of the country. GEOGLAM's findings were made public in its August agricultural report. The international agency said Pyongyang, the capital, in addition to North and South Hwanghae provinces, have not received rain for three months from May to July. RELATED North Korea blasts Nancy Pelosi for support of Hong Kong protests The dry weather has damaged crops, and surveys indicate this year's corn crops are showing lower levels of above-ground biomass, compared to 2018. "Main season maize and rice crops are in growing phases and rough conditions worsened in July, primarily in central and southern parts of the country," GEOGLAM said in its August early warning report. Water reservoirs are at lower levels than a year ago, according to the report. RELATED North Korean nuclear scientist promoted after test of 'new weapons system' "Hwanghae Namdo, for instance, received only 35 percent of average rainfall during the period from June 21-July 20, and 50 percent of average rainfall from April 21 to July 20," the international agency said. Drought is affecting North Korea at a time when the regime continues to mobilize youth in state construction projects. Pyongyang's news agency KCNA reported Tuesday more than 4,800 university students from more than 110 universities are engaging in manual labor in Samjiyon county. RELATED North Korea threatens to leave South Korea out of U.S. talks The students are being directed to dig and lay concrete for new roads, according to North Korean state media. https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2019/08/13/North-Korea-drought-intensified-in-July-agency-says/3061565714731/ Trump asked Japan to buy farm products: report Aug. 14 06:00 am JST 35 Comments TOKYO U.S. President Donald Trump has directly asked Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to buy farm products worth a 'huge amount', Kyodo news agency reported on Tuesday, citing unidentified Japanese and U.S. government sources. Japan and the United States have agreed to target a broad deal on bilateral trade by September, seeking to bridge differences of opinion over tariffs on beef and the automobile sector, the Nikkei business daily reported earlier this month. Trump had requested that Japan buy specific products such as soybeans and wheat, Kyodo reported, adding that the request was separate from the framework of current trade talks between Washington and Tokyo. Kyodo said the Japanese government would consider its response and one proposal floated was to purchase the farm products as food support for African countries. The purchase would be worth several hundred million dollars including transport costs, Kyodo said. © (C) COPYRIGHT THOMSON REUTERS 2019. ________________________________________ • Sort by • Oldest • Latest • Popular 35 Comments Login to comment Samit BasuAug. 14 06:39 am JST I keep telling you, any trade deal with Trump administration involves the US opening no new market to Japanese product and services while Japan opening up its agricultural product and services market to the US businesses, including rice. If Japan resists, then Japan gets slapped with a 25% auto tariff on Japanese auto exports. Right now, Trump must find buyers for American soybeans and other produces to satisfy his rural community supporters in the wake of Chinese boycott of American soybeans, so Trump has decided that Japan would be his substitute market for agricultural product originally meant for Chinese market. https://japantoday.com/category/politics/update-1-u.s.-president-trump-asked-japan-pm-to-buy-farm-products-kyodo Western Foods acquires rice flour manufacturer 08.13.2019 By Sam Danley Gluten- and allergy-free ingredients supplier obtains California processing facility https://www.world-grain.com/articles/12457-western-foods-acquires-rice-flour-manufacturer AUGUST 14, 2019 / 12:36 PM / 7 DAYS AGO CORRECTED-Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- August 14, 2019 6 MIN READ • • * * * * * * (.) Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-August 14, 2018 Nagpur, Aug 14 (Reuters) – Gram and tuar prices zoomed up again in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) on increased festival season demnad from local millers amid weak supply from producing regions. Sharp rise on NCDEX in gram, upward trend in Madhya Pradesh pulses and reported demand from South-based millers also helped to push up prices. About 1,500 bags of gram and 350 bags of tuar reported for auction, according to sources. GRAM * Desi gram raw recovered further in open market here on good seasonal buying support from local traders. TUAR * Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here on subdued demand from local traders amid ample stock in ready position. * Udid varieties and mot prices recovered strongly in open market here on good seasonal demand from local traders. * In Akola, Tuar New – 5,600-5,800, Tuar dal (clean) – 8,000-8,100, Udid Mogar (clean) – 7,200-7,800, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,800-8,600, Gram – 4,200-4,300, Gram Super best – 5,800-6,200 * Wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in scattered deals and settled at last levels in thin trading activity. Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close Gram Auction 4,000-4,432 3,900-4,300 Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction 5,100-5,885 5,000-5,850 Moong Auction n.a. 3,950-4,200 Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction n.a. 2,200-2,500 Wheat Lokwan Auction 2,050-2,110 2,000-2,130 Wheat Sharbati Auction n.a. 2,900-3,000 Gram Super Best Bold 6,200-6,500 6,200-6,500 Gram Super Best n.a. n.a. Gram Medium Best 5,800-6,100 5,800-6,100 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a Gram Mill Quality 4,500-4,600 4,500-4,600 Desi gram Raw 4,450-4,500 4,400-4,500 Gram Kabuli 8,300-10,000 8,300-10,000 Tuar Fataka Best-New 8,400-8,500 8,400-8,500 Tuar Fataka Medium-New 8,100-8,250 8,100-8,250 Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 7,600-7,850 7,600-7,850 Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 7,200-7,500 7,200-7,500 Tuar Gavarani New 5,900-6,000 5,900-6,000 Tuar Karnataka 6,250-6,450 6,250-6,450 Masoor dal best 5,600-5,700 5,600-5,700 Masoor dal medium 5,100-5,300 5,100-5,300 Masoor n.a. n.a. Moong Mogar bold (New) 8,000-8,800 8,000-8,800 Moong Mogar Medium 6,800-7,600 6,800-7,600 Moong dal Chilka New 6,500-7,500 6,500-7,500 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a. Moong Chamki best 8,200-8,700 8,200-8,700 Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,000-7,800 6,800-7,500 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,500-6,200 5,400-6,200 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 4,300-4,700 4,100-4,600 Mot (100 INR/KG) 5,500-6,500 5,300-6,500 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 4,900-5,000 4,900-5,000 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 5,700-5,850 5,700-5,850 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 7,200-7,500 7,200-7,500 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,300 2,200-2,300 Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,700 2,600-2,700 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,650 2,500-2,650 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a. MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,400-4,000 3,400-4,000 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,100 2,700-3,100 Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,300 2,200-2,300 Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,800 3,200-3,800 Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,100 2,700-3,100 Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,000 2,900-3,000 Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,750 2,600-2,750 Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,500 2,200-2,500 Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,400 3,800-4,400 Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,600 3,400-3,600 Rice HMT new (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,200 3,800-4,200 Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG) 5,500-5,800 5,500-5,800 Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,800 4,500-4,800 Rice Shriram new (100 INR/KG) 4,400-5,000 4,400-5,000 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,500-13,500 8,500-13,500 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-7,000 5,000-7,000 Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 6,500-7,200 6,500-7,200 Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400 Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG) 5,200-5,800 5,200-5,800 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,350-2,550 2,350-2,550 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 2,050-2,250 2,050-2,250 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 29.9 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 23.5 degree Celsius Rainfall : 10.4 mm FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky with moderate rains. Maximum and minimum temperature likely to be around 28 degree Celsius and 23 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.—not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices) No Nagpur report tomorrow: Soyabean mandi, wholesale foodgrain market of Nagpur APMC and oil market in Vidarbha will closed tomorrow, Thursday, on the occasion of Independence Day. Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. https://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL4N25A29W AUGUST 13, 2019 / 1:10 PM / 8 DAYS AGO Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- August 13, 2019 6 MIN READ • • * * * * * * Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-August 13, 2018 Nagpur, Aug 13 (Reuters) – Gram and tuar prices reported strong in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) on good buying support from local millers amid tight supply from producing regions. Healthy rise on NCDEX in gram, good rise in Madhya Pradesh pulses and repeated enquiries from South-based millers also pushed up prices. Reports about weak monsoon in the region also activated stockists. About 1,500 bags of gram and 250 bags of tuar reported for auction, according to sources. GRAM * Gram varieties firmed up in open market here on increased demand from local traders amid tight supply millers. TUAR * Tuar varieties reported higher in open market here on good festival season demand from local traders amid weak supply from producing belts. * Moong prices declined in open market here on poor season demand from local traders. * In Akola, Tuar New – 5,600-5,800, Tuar dal (clean) – 8,000-8,100, Udid Mogar (clean) – 7,200-7,800, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,800-8,600, Gram – 4,200-4,300, Gram Super best – 5,800-6,200 * Wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in scattered deals and settled at last levels in thin trading activity. Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close Gram Auction 3,800-4,370 3,750-4,200 Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction 5,000-5,850 5,000-5,700 Moong Auction n.a. 3,950-4,200 Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction n.a. 2,200-2,500 Wheat Lokwan Auction 2,000-2,130 2,000-2,140 Wheat Sharbati Auction n.a. 2,900-3,000 Gram Super Best Bold 6,200-6,500 6,000-6,400 Gram Super Best n.a. n.a. Gram Medium Best 5,800-6,100 5,600-6,000 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a Gram Mill Quality 4,400-4,500 4,400-4,500 Desi gram Raw 4,400-4,500 4,300-4,400 Gram Kabuli 8,300-10,000 8,300-10,000 Tuar Fataka Best-New 8,400-8,500 8,300-8,400 Tuar Fataka Medium-New 8,100-8,250 8,000-8,200 Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 7,600-7,850 7,600-7,800 Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 7,200-7,500 7,000-7,500 Tuar Gavarani New 5,900-6,000 5,800-5,900 Tuar Karnataka 6,250-6,450 6,200-6,400 Masoor dal best 5,600-5,700 5,600-5,700 Masoor dal medium 5,100-5,300 5,100-5,300 Masoor n.a. n.a. Moong Mogar bold (New) 8,000-8,800 8,000-9,000 Moong Mogar Medium 6,800-7,600 7,000-7,600 Moong dal Chilka New 6,500-7,500 6,500-7,600 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a. Moong Chamki best 8,200-8,700 8,200-8,700 Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 6,500-7,500 6,800-7,500 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,400-6,200 5,400-6,200 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 4,100-4,600 4,100-4,600 Mot (100 INR/KG) 5,300-6,500 5,300-6,500 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 4,900-5,000 4,900-5,000 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 5,700-5,850 5,700-5,850 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 7,200-7,500 7,200-7,500 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,300 2,200-2,300 Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,700 2,600-2,700 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,650 2,500-2,650 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a. MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,400-4,000 3,400-4,000 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,100 2,700-3,100 Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,300 2,200-2,300 Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,800 3,200-3,800 Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,100 2,700-3,100 Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,000 2,900-3,000 Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,750 2,600-2,750 Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,500 2,200-2,500 Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,400 3,800-4,400 Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,600 3,400-3,600 Rice HMT new (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,200 3,800-4,200 Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG) 5,500-5,800 5,500-5,800 Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,800 4,500-4,800 Rice Shriram new (100 INR/KG) 4,400-5,000 4,400-5,000 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,500-13,500 8,500-13,500 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-7,000 5,000-7,000 Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 6,500-7,200 6,500-7,200 Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400 Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG) 5,200-5,800 5,200-5,800 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,350-2,550 2,350-2,550 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 2,050-2,250 2,050-2,250 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 33.8 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 24.6 degree Celsius Rainfall : 2.3 mm FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky with heavy rains. Maximum and minimum temperature likely to be around 32 degree Celsius and 25 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.—not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices) https://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-august-13-2019-idINL4N2591TO Deccan ChronicleNational Tamil Nadu: Delta farmers gear up for rice cultivation Tuesday, 13 Aug, 1.43 am Thanjavur: Farmers' representatives of Cauvery delta districts welcomed the decision of the Tamil Nadu government to open the Mettur dam for 'samba' paddy cultivation on Tuesday. 'With the level touching 82-ft on Monday afternoon and as there is every likelihood of level reaching 100-ft by Tuesday, it is a 'fair judgment' on the part of state government to open the dam on Tuesday. But care should be taken that water released should be utilised mostly for raising nurseries and a judicious management of water should be done to keep the flow till the end of the season,' said S. Ranganathan, secretary, Cauvery delta farmers welfare association. S.S. Palanimanickam, Thanjavur MP, said that he welcomed the decision to open the dam on Tuesday as it was the opinion of all party leaders in delta districts to open the dam when the level reaches 100-ft. Surplus water from Bhavanisagar and release from Mettur should be ultilised for raising 'samba' and sustaining it, he said. The 'Kudimaramathu (desilting and restoration of tanks/lakes)' works taken up should be completed within a week before water reaches the canals, the DMK MP urged. Payment for incomplete works should not be done and should be made only next year after completing the works, he stressed. Tamil Nadu government also should get the due share of Cauvery water from Karnataka as per the Supreme court order. 'Karnataka is releasing only surplus waters. But the sharing should be on the available storage and during distress. Karnataka should not account the surplus as the share of water it has given,' said Palanimanickam. P.R. Pandian, coordinator of the 'Thamizhaga Anaithu Vivasaya Sangangalin Oruginaippu Kuzhu' welcomed the decision of the Government. 'As nine sluices got damaged across Kollidam at Mukkombu last year, there is every likelihood of pressure on Grand Anicut. A committee under the head of a government secretary should be formed to ensure safe flow of water and safety of Grand Anicut,' Pandian said. Sami Nadarajan, district secretary of 'Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam' affiliated to the CPI(M) said that works that can be completed within one week should be completed under 'Kudimaramathu'. Rest of the works should be postponed, he urged. Nadarajan also made the point that Cooperative department should make available necessary credit for farmers to take up 'samba' cultivation. Agriculture department should ensure availability of certified seeds and fertilisers. 'Crop insurance compensation for 2018-19 had not reached many farmers. it should be disbursed immediately as farmers can use that amount for cultivation expenses,' Nadarajan said. https://web.dailyhunt.in/news/india/urdu/deccan+chronicle-epaper-deccanch/tamil+nadu+delta+farmers+gear+up+for+rice+cultivation-newsid-130444154 High-yield rice seen as savior to Japan's rising food costs Aug. 13 06:00 am JST 0 Comment TOKYO The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below. https://japantoday.com/category/national/high-yield-rice-seen-as-savior-to-japan%27s-rising-food-costs Erosion of Doon Valley's pride: Basmati rice Aug 13, 2019 (9 days ago) | IANS Dehradun, Aug 12 : Rice trader Ummed Bora, a resident of Dudhli Ghat in Uttarakhand here, has just started sowing seeds for the Kasturi rice crop, an aromatic variety of rice. While there was hardly any rain during June, steady rainfall in the second week of July has given respite to the farmers in the region. July is when seeds of Kharif crops are sowed. Bora has also planted a Type-3 paddy crop, which is popularly known as Basmati rice. Known for its aroma, Doon Basmati is slowly losing its place in markets all over the world owing to the increasing urbanisation, pollution and lack of support from the government. Vinod Bora, a resident of Dehradun, claimed that at one point the fragrance of the crop used to envelop the whole area. When Basmati rice would be prepared, the aroma would reach the adjoining houses as well, he reminiscenced. While Basmati is still being grown in the area, he mentioned, the area under cultivation and the income generated from the crop have shrunk. Even other types of Basmati rice -- Haridwar-Saharanpur -- is sold as Doon Basmati rice, he claimed. Whether it is Dudhli Ghat or Majra, the vast farms growing Basmati rice have transformed into residential complexes and flats. Bora claimed that farmers don't get proper compensation for their crops, but they get good prices for the land. The farmers are attracted by the profits the selling of their land garners, asserted Ummed. He said that after selling their land, they move to the towns for a job or child's education, leaving their farms behind. In 2017, Bora revealed that he used to export a consignment of Basmati rice worth Rs 1.5 crore to Germany. The next year it came down to Rs 50 lakh. The expected yield this year is only Rs 20-22 lakh. Chaman Lal, a farmer, said the Basmati rice crop is very fragile and cannot withstand heavy winds. Rains are always playing havoc and it rains at a time when it affects the crop, he claimed. He also blamed the Suswa river for the low yield. There used to be a time when the water from the river could be consumed without giving it much thought, but now it is unfit for consumption, even for animals, he added. As a testament to the rising pollution, he informed, the water has also turned black and is being circulated to the farms in Dudhli Ghat through canals for irrigation. The water brings garbage and medical waste to the farms, resulting in the low yield. The contaminated water from Suswa river has affected the aroma, for which it used to be famous, stated Surya Prakash, another farmer. "The river whose water we used to drink out of our cupped hands has turned into sewer. "Nature has changed, the weather has changed, rain patterns have changed and thus, the scent of the Doon Basmati has also vanished," he said. S.S. Rasaily, Member Secretary of the Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board, informed that a study has been sanctioned to find the reasons behind the decreasing yield of Doon Basmati rice and the report was expected within a few months. He informed that there was no provision for the storage of Basmati rice seeds and farmers take turns for storage and preparation of the seeds. While this ensures quality control, there is no way for someone to procure the seeds from the market, he stated. Rasaily said there is no record of how much the yield was 10 years ago, and thus there is no way to find out how much it has declined. He said even the Agriculture Department has no record of the trade. The Biodiversity Board member even alleged that the Agriculture Department has not been taking any step to save the Doon Basmati. Vinod Bhatt, a member of Navdanya -- an NGO focusing on agricultural issues -- and part of the study by Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board, said the area where the Basmati rice was being grown has reduced considerably in the last two decades. Bhatt said the yield of varieties like Kasturi, Pusa, Basmati 1, Pant 4 has also dropped. In addition, he said, rising temperature, declining fertility of the soil, shortage of water for irrigation, change in rain patterns and usage of chemical fertilizers have affected the taste and production of Doon Basmati. At one point, the air around Dudhli Ghat and Majar used to be heavy with the fragrance of Basmati that rivalled sandalwood or flowers. Doon Basmati, which had created a space for itself in the international market, is disappearing from the farms. Urbanisation, lack of awareness, water pollution and lack of support from the government has taken the crop to the verge of losing its place from plates across the globe. https://www.newkerala.com/news/read/191907/erosion-of-doon-valleys-pride-basmati-rice.html Myanmar landslide death toll hits 57 Residents look at an area affected by a landslide in Mutkyi, Myanmar, on Aug 12, 2019. PHOTO: AFP PUBLISHED AUG 12, 2019, 6:23 PM SGT FACEBOOKTWITTEREMAIL Tan Hui Yee Indochina Bureau Chief BANGKOK - The death toll from a horrific landslide in southern Myanmar reached 57 on Monday (Aug 12) as rain continued to pound the region and submerge villages. Myanmar's coastal Mon state was among the worst-hit areas, with houses and a school washed away. In nearby Cambodia's coastal Preah Sihanouk province, floods opened up a sinkhole on a highway over the weekend and left three people dead, the Khmer Times reported. In Vietnam's Phu Quoc island also in the Gulf of Thailand, locals are picking up the pieces from floods that caused over US$4 million worth of damage and forced its international airport to close briefly on Friday (Aug 9), according to local media outlet VN Express. In Mon state's Paung township, where a mountainside loosened by continuous rainfall collapsed on Friday (Aug 9) and buried over two dozen homes, the death toll continued climbing. "We are still searching for the victims. As of this morning, we have found 57 bodies in total," Mr Zaw Moe Aung, a general administrative officer in Paung township told The Straits Times. According to Mr Zin Min Ko, a deputy director in the General Administrative Department in Mon state, rising waters have displaced 16,000 people. Apart from giving immediate aid, the government plans to support survivors with both their mental and physical rehabilitation, he told The Straits Times. Related Story One million moved into camps, 184 dead in India monsoon floods Related Story Monsoon chaos kills dozens in India and Nepal, more than 1.5 million affected According to a bulletin put out by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on Monday, more than 134,000 people in Myanmar have been affected by flood since last month. Among them are 86,000 affected by an earlier round of flooding who have been able to return home. As of Sunday (Aug 11), over 48,000 were sheltering in evacuation sites from floods in Ayeyarwaddy, Tanintharyi and Yangon regions, and Kayin, Bago, Mon states. Locals are bracing for more wet - and possibly dangerous - weather. Myanmar's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology warned on Monday (Aug 12) of a low-pressure area forming over the northwest Bay of Bengal, creating strong monsoon conditions over the Andaman Sea. Mr Knut Ostby, the United Nations resident and humanitarian coordinator in Myanmar, told The Straits Times: "Our main worry is that we are still at the peak of the monsoon season, so the heavy rains are more than likely to continue. All the forecasts currently show more rain for the next few days across the region." In Mon state, "the authorities have done an excellent job of moving people to evacuation sites, getting the injured to hospital, and they are providing food, cash for rice, and non-food items such as blankets, sleeping mats and other essentials", he said. A UN-led inter-agency team will travel to Mon state on Tuesday (Aug 13) to assess how it can complement existing aid efforts, he said. As clean water is essential, the UN Children's Fund is already providing jerry cans to store water, water purification supplies and hygiene kits, while the World Health Organisation is helping with water purification tablets, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and snake venom treatment because floodwaters increase the risk of snakebites. The World Food Programme is also preparing to help with ready-to-eat meals where might be lack of cooking facilities, he said. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/myanmar-landslide-death-toll-hits-57 PH rice stocks swell due to imports By: Karl R. Ocampo - @inquirerdotnet Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:06 AM August 13, 2019 The country’s rice stocks inventory for July increased by more than 31 percent from year-ago levels as more imports came in following the passage of the rice tariffication law. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s latest monthly report, the country’s rice buffer during the period reached 2.62 million metric tons (MT), exceeding the previous year’s level of 1.99 million MT and enough to meet the country’s daily requirement for 81 days. Of the total inventory, 41.9 percent came from commercial warehouses while 38.4 percent were in the households. NFA depositories contributed 19.7 percent of the total stocks, a majority of which were imports commissioned by the agency last year. A total of 967,000 MT of rice had passed through the Bureau of Customs since the passage of the rice tariffication law, generating about P5.89 billion in taxes. That number is expected to swell as the country enters the lean months when local rice harvest is almost nil. Stakeholders see no shortfall happening in the country’s rice supply anytime soon, while palay and rice prices continue their downtrend. As of the third week of July, the average buying price of palay decreased by 0.06 percent and 17.55 percent from month-ago and year-ago levels, respectively, to P17.80 a kilo. Similarly, a kilo of regular milled and well-milled rice was sold at an average of P38.35 and P42.86 during the period, respectively—down 7 percent and 4.9 percent from the same period last year. Business Related Videos Read more: https://business.inquirer.net/276668/ph-rice-stocks-swell-due-to-imports#ixzz5xF4BnmNa Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook New Myanmar-China barter trade offers rice producers a rough deal TOPICS:Barter DealBelt And Road ForumMandalay Rice Development CompanyMyanmarRice ExportsRice Farmers Photo: Myanmar Ministry of Information AUGUST 13, 2019 0 Rice merchants in Myanmar are struggling to adapt to a new barter trade deal with China. The barter deal aims to stabilise border trade but risks depriving Myanmar’s rice industry of much-needed income. By Skylar Lindsay Myanmar recently signed a trade deal with China to increase rice exports across its northern border fourfold to 400,000 tonnes per year. But under the new trade agreement, Chinese traders will pay for a quarter of the sum with bartered goods. The barter deal offers a boost to farmers and traders in Myanmar by regulating trade and reducing costly border closures and unpredictable tariffs on the Chinese side. But the terms of the deal also impose a burden for everyone along Myanmar’s supply chains. Myanmar and China signed the agreement on agricultural trade at the Belt and Road Forum in April. Mandalay Rice Development Company (MRDC) agreed to export 100,000 tonnes of rice to Kunming Green Color Trade Co in exchange for construction materials, appliances, fertilizers and agricultural machinery. But many merchants in Myanmar find they’re unable to sell the bartered goods. U Htay Lwin, chair of the Rice Millers Association in Mandalay, has advocated for a barter system, saying that it would help reduce the power imbalance between the trading partners. But the current agreement may fall short of this goal. Rice farmers in Myanmar. Photo: Myanmar Ministry of Information To succeed, the barter element of the new agreement will need to take its cues from Myanmar’s rice farmers, processors and merchants. If the bartered goods from China can’t be easily sold in Myanmar, traders will continue to turn to smugglers and illegal deals to sell their wares across the border, which could result in more border closures and disruption. The new rice deal expands opportunities for merchants in an attempt to reduce smuggling The deal is a major step towards formalising agricultural trade along the border of China’s Yunnan province and has the potential to increase the income of Myanmar rice farmers and processors. Annual exports across the border to China amount to over US$2 billion per year or 33% of Myanmar’s total exports, but rice merchants have been pushing to increase their export quota to China since a 2016 agreement capped exports at 100,000 tonnes. The new agreement expands formal rice exports to China to 400,000 tonnes and also addresses long-standing instabilities in trade along the border. In recent years Chinese officials have often imposed unpredictable tariffs on incoming trade from Muse and merchants in Myanmar have turned to smuggling goods into China in order to skirt regulations. If fully implemented, the barter deal will account for about one-fifth of Myanmar’s total rice exports. The deal also helps Myanmar to export varieties of long-grain rice that are difficult to sell in European markets. Photo: Myanmar Ministry of Information Most rice exported at the border is traded illegally – Myanmar merchants sold about 2.5 million tonnes across the border in the 2017-18 fiscal year, or over six times the new legal quota. Authorities have responded by arresting smugglers, shutting down Myanmarese bank accounts in China and sometimes closing the trade route at the border, forcing rice mills in Myanmar to temporarily close. In 2018, China imposed a month-long ban on imports of rice, maize and sugar. Workers in Myanmar who process and transport these crops for a living were cut off from much-needed income. Standardised trade will provide workers and merchants with a more stable income that isn’t subject to border closures and the volatility of smuggling. The barter system allows Myanmar’s rice exporters to mitigate the impact of Chinese import taxes on profits. Barter trade may end up burdening Myanmar’s rice industry While formal barter deals may be more secure than informal smuggling, the current arrangement doesn’t support Myanmar’s rice producers as well as it might. Merchants working with the MRDC are struggling to sell the goods from China to secure much-needed income. Myanmar used to have an agreement with India facilitating barter trade between the two countries until India pushed to end the deal in 2015. The two countries formally legalised barter trade at the border for exports up to US$20,000 in 1997. The agreement functioned because the governments left the specifics of barter arrangements up to local traders. However, the new China-Myanmar deal dictates which goods will be exchanged for rice. The central bank of India eventually called for an end to barter trade because banking services along the border had sufficiently expanded to meet traders’ needs. Though Myanmar’s cross-border trade with China is many times larger than that with India, the idea of letting merchants in Myanmar determine which goods are appropriate for barter would make the arrangement more sustainable. Over the past 15 years, tractors imported from China have helped many farmers reduce labour costs. But according to Ministry of Commerce Permanent Secretary U Aung Soe, many Myanmar farmers object to the deal because they say Chinese agricultural equipment is low quality. To succeed, the agreement will need to address the concerns of Myanmar’s producers who are being repaid in goods that are hard to sell and that may be low-quality. If Yunnan traders can offer Myanmar producers more in-demand goods, such as household products, it would do more to offer a guaranteed income, deter smuggling and provide better-regulated and formalised cross-border trade. Companies and government officials on both sides of the border need to turn to Myanmar’s rice producers and the agricultural sector at large to determine what goods are valuable and formalise an agreement around these products. If not, the new agreement offers Myanmar little income stability and smuggling will reign once again. Related https://www.aseantoday.com/2019/08/new-myanmar-china-barter-trade-offers-rice-producers-a-rough-deal/ This is Google's cache of http://www.chicoer.com/continuing-tariff-trouble-worries-butte-county-farmers. It is a snapshot of the page as it appeared on 20 Aug 2019 01:04:59 GMT. The current page could have changed in the meantime. Learn more. Full versionText-only versionView source Tip: To quickly find your search term on this page, press Ctrl+F or ⌘-F (Mac) and use the find bar. • News o News o Local News o News Alerts o Crime & Public Safety o Camp Fire o Wildfires o State o Nation o World o Business o Weather o Oroville Dam o Salaries • Sports o Sports o Local Sports o Oakland Athletics o Oakland Raiders o San Francisco 49ers o San Francisco Giants o San Jose Sharks o Golden State Warriors • Lifestyle o Lifestyle o Entertainment o Chico Art Map o Movies and TV o TV Listings o Food & Drink o Home & Garden o Horoscopes o Comics o Puzzles • Obituaries o Obituaries o Death Notices o Submit Obituaries • Opinion o Opinion o Columnists o Editorials o Letters o Submit Letters o Blogs • Advertising o Advertise with us o Classifieds o Local Guide o Jobs o Freelance Jobs o Real Estate o Open Houses o Today’s Ads o Special Sections • SUBSCRIBE NOW Continuing tariff trouble worries Butte County… • • • NewsAgriculture Continuing tariff trouble worries Butte County farmers • • • Silos at the Butte County Rice Growers Association on June 21, 2019, in Richvale, California. (Matt Bates — Enterprise-Record) By Brody Fernandez | bfernandez@chicoer.com | Chico Enterprise-Record August 13, 2019 at 4:00 am CHICO — As the U.S. and China trade wars continue, farmers are still feeling the brunt of the consequences. The long standing tariffs placed on imported Chinese goods are affecting local farmers in Butte County, forcing growers and farmers to make necessary financial safeguards in the event the trade wars worsen. A recent announcement by the President Donald Trump’s administration laid out a newly proposed 10 percent tariff on $300 billion worth of Chinese goods, effective Sept. 1. The news sent the market into a tumble as trade tensions continue with China. Many fear that more Chinese retaliations mean more tariffs placed on U.S. agricultural products as a result. Monday’s announcement from the White House also expressed a sentiment that China has improperly manipulated the yuan’s value, which is China’s national currency. That would pave the way for new potential penalties on top of tariff hikes already imposed on Chinese goods. This announcement comes after previous negotiations over trade between the U.S. and China reached an impasse in Shanghai over the last several months. The next round of negotiations are scheduled for September in Washington D.C. In order to alleviate the pain of U.S farmers feeling the economic pinch of the tariff troubles, the Trump administration directed the United States Department of Agriculture to help struggling farmers. Several federal loan programs and grant assistance initiatives in the amount of $16 million have been rolled out by the USDA recently, in an effort to calm tensions with America’s farmers. The main program aimed to help struggling farmers is the 2501 program overseen by the USDA’s office of advocacy and outreach. The 2501 program is designed to help with outreach, technical assistance and education efforts help socially disadvantaged farmers. Since 1994, the 2501 program has awarded 451 grants totaling more than $103 million. The 2018 Farm Bill boosted mandatory funding for the program through 2023 for farmers and ranchers. “I only hope this issue does not drag out for an extended period of time,” said local Chico grower Les Heringer, of M&T Chico Ranch. “Midwestern U.S. farmers that grow soybeans, livestock feed, wheat and raise hogs, cattle, chickens or dairy products are major suppliers of commodities to China and are as interested as anyone for both sides to get together and negotiate a resolution to the dispute.” Related Articles • U-Pick Peaches event resumes with fresh fruit • What’s the status of Butte County’s bark beetle? • U-Pick Peaches event at Chico State planned for mid-August • Chico State, Stanford University helping county analyze water basin management • Project eyed for moving gravel near Big Chico Creek As many local farmers gear up for more tariff ridden prices on their crops, they bear down in hopes that a resolution is reached sooner than later. “The ongoing tariff dispute is frustrating for anyone who depends on the export market, including Butte County farmers,” said Butte County Farm Bureau Executive Director Colleen Cecil. “We know that negotiations are ongoing and we are eager for a resolution. Until then our processors will continue to work on maintaining relationships with buyers in China and foster new and expanding market relationships elsewhere for our California specialty crops, including north state almonds and walnuts.” Rice, almonds and walnuts continue to be the top three producers for the county’s number one economic driver: agriculture. With many farmers now unsure about the future and what it holds in regards to further trade disputes with China, the only thing they can do is apply for more federal grant and loan programs. The deadline for farmers to apply for federal funding is Thursday, according to the USDA’s website. There applicants can view the full details of the funding and federal aid relief they may eligible for. Most Popular 1. A mother of two disappeared 27 years ago in Butte County. Detectives have tracked down her suspected murderer 2. Man breaks into apartment, allegedly assaults sleeping woman, police say 3. Gavin Newsom signs landmark police use-of-force bill 4. Paradise hires Laura Page as recovery manager 5. Paradise football set to begin unprecedented year | Countdown to Kickoff 6. Willows sees chance to grow in the midst of housing woes 7. Death notices received Aug. 16 8. Retired administrator stabbed to death at Cal State Fullerton, with police looking for the suspect • Tags: • Agriculture • Newsletter Brody Fernandez Brody Fernandez is a regional reporter for the Chico Enterprise-Record. He covers Butte County government, water, agriculture and breaking news. He is a Placer County native and alumni of the University of California, Davis with degrees in Communication and American History. Sponsored Links • Magic Air Conditioner Takes Pakistan By Storm. 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PHOTO: AFP PUBLISHED AUG 12, 2019, 6:23 PM SGT FACEBOOKTWITTEREMAIL Tan Hui Yee Indochina Bureau Chief BANGKOK - The death toll from a horrific landslide in southern Myanmar reached 57 on Monday (Aug 12) as rain continued to pound the region and submerge villages. Myanmar's coastal Mon state was among the worst-hit areas, with houses and a school washed away. In nearby Cambodia's coastal Preah Sihanouk province, floods opened up a sinkhole on a highway over the weekend and left three people dead, the Khmer Times reported. In Vietnam's Phu Quoc island also in the Gulf of Thailand, locals are picking up the pieces from floods that caused over US$4 million worth of damage and forced its international airport to close briefly on Friday (Aug 9), according to local media outlet VN Express. In Mon state's Paung township, where a mountainside loosened by continuous rainfall collapsed on Friday (Aug 9) and buried over two dozen homes, the death toll continued climbing. "We are still searching for the victims. As of this morning, we have found 57 bodies in total," Mr Zaw Moe Aung, a general administrative officer in Paung township told The Straits Times. According to Mr Zin Min Ko, a deputy director in the General Administrative Department in Mon state, rising waters have displaced 16,000 people. Get exclusive insights into Asia from our network of correspondents Keep up with the latest in the region with the ST Asian Insider newsletter, delivered to your inbox every weekday Sign up Apart from giving immediate aid, the government plans to support survivors with both their mental and physical rehabilitation, he told The Straits Times. Related Story One million moved into camps, 184 dead in India monsoon floods Related Story Monsoon chaos kills dozens in India and Nepal, more than 1.5 million affected According to a bulletin put out by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on Monday, more than 134,000 people in Myanmar have been affected by flood since last month. Among them are 86,000 affected by an earlier round of flooding who have been able to return home. As of Sunday (Aug 11), over 48,000 were sheltering in evacuation sites from floods in Ayeyarwaddy, Tanintharyi and Yangon regions, and Kayin, Bago, Mon states. Locals are bracing for more wet - and possibly dangerous - weather. Myanmar's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology warned on Monday (Aug 12) of a low-pressure area forming over the northwest Bay of Bengal, creating strong monsoon conditions over the Andaman Sea. Mr Knut Ostby, the United Nations resident and humanitarian coordinator in Myanmar, told The Straits Times: "Our main worry is that we are still at the peak of the monsoon season, so the heavy rains are more than likely to continue. All the forecasts currently show more rain for the next few days across the region." In Mon state, "the authorities have done an excellent job of moving people to evacuation sites, getting the injured to hospital, and they are providing food, cash for rice, and non-food items such as blankets, sleeping mats and other essentials", he said. A UN-led inter-agency team will travel to Mon state on Tuesday (Aug 13) to assess how it can complement existing aid efforts, he said. As clean water is essential, the UN Children's Fund is already providing jerry cans to store water, water purification supplies and hygiene kits, while the World Health Organisation is helping with water purification tablets, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and snake venom treatment because floodwaters increase the risk of snakebites. The World Food Programme is also preparing to help with ready-to-eat meals where might be lack of cooking facilities, he said. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/myanmar-landslide-death-toll-hits-57 Erosion of Doon Valley's pride: Basmati rice Aug 13, 2019 (9 days ago) | IANS Dehradun, Aug 12 : Rice trader Ummed Bora, a resident of Dudhli Ghat in Uttarakhand here, has just started sowing seeds for the Kasturi rice crop, an aromatic variety of rice. While there was hardly any rain during June, steady rainfall in the second week of July has given respite to the farmers in the region. July is when seeds of Kharif crops are sowed. Bora has also planted a Type-3 paddy crop, which is popularly known as Basmati rice. Known for its aroma, Doon Basmati is slowly losing its place in markets all over the world owing to the increasing urbanisation, pollution and lack of support from the government. Vinod Bora, a resident of Dehradun, claimed that at one point the fragrance of the crop used to envelop the whole area. When Basmati rice would be prepared, the aroma would reach the adjoining houses as well, he reminiscenced. While Basmati is still being grown in the area, he mentioned, the area under cultivation and the income generated from the crop have shrunk. Even other types of Basmati rice -- Haridwar-Saharanpur -- is sold as Doon Basmati rice, he claimed. Whether it is Dudhli Ghat or Majra, the vast farms growing Basmati rice have transformed into residential complexes and flats. Bora claimed that farmers don't get proper compensation for their crops, but they get good prices for the land. The farmers are attracted by the profits the selling of their land garners, asserted Ummed. He said that after selling their land, they move to the towns for a job or child's education, leaving their farms behind. In 2017, Bora revealed that he used to export a consignment of Basmati rice worth Rs 1.5 crore to Germany. The next year it came down to Rs 50 lakh. The expected yield this year is only Rs 20-22 lakh. Chaman Lal, a farmer, said the Basmati rice crop is very fragile and cannot withstand heavy winds. Rains are always playing havoc and it rains at a time when it affects the crop, he claimed. He also blamed the Suswa river for the low yield. There used to be a time when the water from the river could be consumed without giving it much thought, but now it is unfit for consumption, even for animals, he added. As a testament to the rising pollution, he informed, the water has also turned black and is being circulated to the farms in Dudhli Ghat through canals for irrigation. The water brings garbage and medical waste to the farms, resulting in the low yield. The contaminated water from Suswa river has affected the aroma, for which it used to be famous, stated Surya Prakash, another farmer. "The river whose water we used to drink out of our cupped hands has turned into sewer. "Nature has changed, the weather has changed, rain patterns have changed and thus, the scent of the Doon Basmati has also vanished," he said. S.S. Rasaily, Member Secretary of the Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board, informed that a study has been sanctioned to find the reasons behind the decreasing yield of Doon Basmati rice and the report was expected within a few months. He informed that there was no provision for the storage of Basmati rice seeds and farmers take turns for storage and preparation of the seeds. While this ensures quality control, there is no way for someone to procure the seeds from the market, he stated. Rasaily said there is no record of how much the yield was 10 years ago, and thus there is no way to find out how much it has declined. He said even the Agriculture Department has no record of the trade. The Biodiversity Board member even alleged that the Agriculture Department has not been taking any step to save the Doon Basmati. Vinod Bhatt, a member of Navdanya -- an NGO focusing on agricultural issues -- and part of the study by Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board, said the area where the Basmati rice was being grown has reduced considerably in the last two decades. Bhatt said the yield of varieties like Kasturi, Pusa, Basmati 1, Pant 4 has also dropped. In addition, he said, rising temperature, declining fertility of the soil, shortage of water for irrigation, change in rain patterns and usage of chemical fertilizers have affected the taste and production of Doon Basmati. At one point, the air around Dudhli Ghat and Majar used to be heavy with the fragrance of Basmati that rivalled sandalwood or flowers. Doon Basmati, which had created a space for itself in the international market, is disappearing from the farms. Urbanisation, lack of awareness, water pollution and lack of support from the government has taken the crop to the verge of losing its place from plates across the globe. Like This Article? Erosion of Doon Valley's pride: Basmati rice https://www.newkerala.com/news/read/191907/erosion-of-doon-valleys-pride-basmati-rice.html Tamil Nadu: Delta farmers gear up for rice cultivation DECCAN CHRONICLE. | G.SRINIVASAN PublishedAug 13, 2019, 1:43 am IST UpdatedAug 13, 2019, 1:43 am IST Surplus water from Bhavanisagar and release from Mettur should be ultilised for raising 'samba' and sustaining it, Thanjavur MP said. Tamil Nadu government also should get the due share of Cauvery water from Karnataka as per the Supreme court order. (Representational image) Thanjavur: Farmers' representatives of Cauvery delta districts welcomed the decision of the Tamil Nadu government to open the Mettur dam for 'samba' paddy cultivation on Tuesday. “With the level touching 82-ft on Monday afternoon and as there is every likelihood of level reaching 100-ft by Tuesday, it is a “fair judgment” on the part of state government to open the dam on Tuesday. But care should be taken that water released should be utilised mostly for raising nurseries and a judicious management of water should be done to keep the flow till the end of the season,” said S. Ranganathan, secretary, Cauvery delta farmers welfare association. S.S. Palanimanickam, Thanjavur MP, said that he welcomed the decision to open the dam on Tuesday as it was the opinion of all party leaders in delta districts to open the dam when the level reaches 100-ft. Surplus water from Bhavanisagar and release from Mettur should be ultilised for raising 'samba' and sustaining it, he said. The 'Kudimaramathu (desilting and restoration of tanks/lakes)' works taken up should be completed within a week before water reaches the canals, the DMK MP urged. Payment for incomplete works should not be done and should be made only next year after completing the works, he stressed. Tamil Nadu government also should get the due share of Cauvery water from Karnataka as per the Supreme court order. “Karnataka is releasing only surplus waters. But the sharing should be on the available storage and during distress. Karnataka should not account the surplus as the share of water it has given,” said Palanimanickam. P.R. Pandian, coordinator of the 'Thamizhaga Anaithu Vivasaya Sangangalin Oruginaippu Kuzhu' welcomed the decision of the Government. “As nine sluices got damaged across Kollidam at Mukkombu last year, there is every likelihood of pressure on Grand Anicut. A committee under the head of a government secretary should be formed to ensure safe flow of water and safety of Grand Anicut,” Pandian said. Sami Nadarajan, district secretary of 'Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam' affiliated to the CPI(M) said that works that can be completed within one week should be completed under 'Kudimaramathu'. Rest of the works should be postponed, he urged. Nadarajan also made the point that Cooperative department should make available necessary credit for farmers to take up 'samba' cultivation. Agriculture department should ensure availability of certified seeds and fertilisers. “Crop insurance compensation for 2018-19 had not reached many farmers. it should be disbursed immediately as farmers can use that amount for cultivation expenses,” Nadarajan said. https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/130819/tamil-nadu-delta-farmers-gear-up-for-rice-cultivation.html Western Foods acquires rice flour manufacturer 08.13.2019 By Sam Danley Gluten- and allergy-free ingredients supplier obtains California processing facility. BUSINESSSUPPLIERSMERGERS AND ACQUISITIONSFLOURRICE Requires registration This content requires being logged in to view. Registration is FREE. https://www.world-grain.com/articles/12457-western-foods-acquires-rice-flour-manufacturer USDA to undertake rare extra data collecting on crops AGRICULTURETALK POLITICS by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net) August 11, 2019 9:34 pm 251 views • Tags: • USDA 1 SHARES Share Tweet Photo courtesy of UA System Division of Agriculture. Arkansas’ weather-volatile planting season has been reflected in the recently released United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service acreage report, with the agency saying it would be collecting additional information on the state’s soybeans and cotton. NASS reported that in July it would collect information on crops in 14 states, including a recount on soybeans and cotton in Arkansas, since neither had reached 100% completion in planting when the acreage report was issued. “Excessive rainfall had prevented planting at the time of the survey, leaving a portion of acres still to be planted,” the NASS report noted. If new data justified changes, updated acreage estimates would be published on August 12. The last time NASS had to go back to the fields for info was in 2015. Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said he could see this coming months ago. “Starting back in January, I felt this was going to be the hardest year in recent memory to predict,” he said. “And then the year got worse.” Corn Corn was estimated at 810,000 acres, down from the 830,000 acres in the March report. Scott Stiles, extension economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the corn acreage surprised him. Based on the Friday report, this would be the highest corn acreage for the state since the 880,000 reported in 2013. “I really thought we’d be down below 700,000 and about unchanged from last year … I think a strong price rally in corn encouraged growers to keep planting later than normal,” Stiles said. “From mid-May to mid-June, September corn futures rallied over $1 per bushel — trading up $4.68 on June 17.” Cotton NASS reported 580,000 acres of cotton, matching its estimate from the March “Prospective Plantings” report. “This would be the fourth year of increasing cotton acreage and the highest planted acreage since 2012, when Arkansas had 595,000 acres,” Stiles said. Extension Cotton Agronomist Bill Robertson said that according to the Arkansas Boll Weevil Eradication Program, Arkansas growers enrolled 583,770 acres, just above NASS’s report. “This number could change some as a result of flooding,” he said. Peanuts “NASS delivered the peanut acreage we were expecting in March,” Stiles said. “45,000, versus 25,000 predicted in March.” Travis Faske, extension plant pathologist for the Division of Agriculture, said an increase of “approximately 20,000 acres over last year was due to the new peanut company, Delta Peanut.” Delta Peanut was planning to build two buying points and a shelling plant in Arkansas. Soybeans Extension Soybean Agronomist Jeremy Ross said he wasn’t surprised by the 3 million acre figure. However, “it is shocking to see the number of fields across the state that have bare ground with no crop planted,” he said. NASS estimated that 89% of the Arkansas soybean crop has been planted. Producers can still plant and harvest a soybean crop with July planted soybeans, but time is running out, he said. “Compared to the optimum planting date, we have already reduced our maximum yield potential by 25 to 30% with late plantings. Every day we delay planting is reducing the yield potential.” Ross said another concern was that planting soybean maturity groups IV and V, much later than mid-July would run the “risk of not being fully mature by the time we typically have a frost in late October to early November.” Stiles said that “as recently as mid-May, November soybean futures were trading down at $8.15 per bushel — at decade lows. Slow export demand and record large supplies have kept basis levels weak.” “The market hasn’t had to encourage growers to plant soybeans,” he said. “Progress on trade talks with China has been slow as well. That continues to be an overhang on the soybean market.” The soybean acres were the lowest since the 2.85 million planted in 2007. Rice “Rice acres were really surprising,” Stiles said. “The March intentions had Arkansas at 1.4 million total for long and medium grain. Today’s numbers came in just 100,000 acres below that. Maybe improving rice prices kept growers adding acres.” Hardke said he thought the number of acres was high. “There are plenty of areas in the state that had high prevented planted acres,” he said. “Based on conversations with growers, I still feel like our total rice acreage number will be about 1.1 million.” “There’s so much variability out there in what happened in small regions of the state and how much they were impacted by the weather and what percent they were able to get planted,” Hardke said. He was also predicting a record high number of prevented planting acres for rice when then numbers come out in August. The previous record was 302,000 “and change” in 2013, he said. “We’re going to beat that number.” NASS hasn’t predicted that Arkansas rice planting is at 100% complete. September rice futures increased about $1.50 per hundredweight from late April through early June — trading just over $12 per hundredweight at its peak. “With soybeans not providing an economical alternative, growers continued to plant rice,” Stiles said. “When the calendar flipped to June, there were indications that folks weren’t through planting their intended rice acres.” Comments https://talkbusiness.net/2019/08/usda-to-undertake-rare-extra-data-collecting-on-crops/ Tags #Agriculture #India Comments No comment Category Industry Economy Agriculture Date 8/12/2019 Most popular stories Day | Week | Month 1. Maguire calls for social media clampdown over Pogba racist abuse 2. Bangladesh- The Westin Dhaka designates new Director of Sales and Marketing 3. Bangladesh- Grand finale of Shera Rondhonshilpi competition held at The Westin Dhaka 4. Plane damage forces Israeli PM to extend trip to Warsaw 5. How to Trade Forex Without Watching the News 6. In high-tech Japan, cash is still king 7. SOCAR announces methanol production volumes 8. Afghanistan- Taliban extort vehicles on Mazar-Shiberghan road: MP 9. Cann Global Limited (ASX:CGB) Reinstatement to Official Quotation - 23/08/2019 10. Kuwait- KCCI issues 116 warnings against violating companies - Abide by law No.106/2013 https://menafn.com/1098873314/Iran-awaits-domestic-rice-sale-before-rice-imports-distribution India set to seek deadline extension on Saudi rice exports Indian rice exporters want more time to follow guidelines set by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority India is expected to ask the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) to extend the September deadline for Indian rice exporters to follow certain guidelines, including registration of farms with the Saudi authority, for export of rice to the kingdom. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the nodal Indian agency for export of rice and other processed foods, which held discussions with the Indian rice exporters’ body on Saturday on the proposed norms, is understood to have decided to ask SFDA for more time for implementation of these guidelines. "APEDA is also expected to send a note to SFDA to apprise it on what all proposed guidelines India is already ready and what are the norms on which India needs a review by the Saudi authority,” Vijay Setia, president, All India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA), told Arabian Business. SFDA has framed a 6-point guideline for Indian rice exporters, including mandatory labeling of exporters details and quality certification by laboratories approved by the designated authority on pesticide residues with each consignment. SFDA has set September 1 this year for Indian rice exporters to follow these guidelines for their exports to the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia is a major export destination for Indian basmati rice and along with GCC countries accounts for about three quarters of Indian exports. A delay in resolving the import guideline issue with the Saudi could affect Indian exports to that country. India’s total export of basmati rice amounted to $4.71 billion in 2018-19. Top officials at the Indian rice exporters' body said two of the proposed guidelines – mandatory registration with SFDO of farms from which they export the rice and the extend of ‘other grains’ allowed in basmati rice consignments – are problematic and APEDA is expected to request the Saudi authority to reconsider/relax these proposed norms. “Unlike in the West, sizes of farms in India vary vastly, with large number of them being small in sizes. Owners of the small farms are neither equipped nor can afford registration of their farms with authorities in foreign countries,” officials said, adding that they hope Saudi authorities would realize the practical problem and may make an exemption to this proposed norm. On the issue of presence of non-basmati rice in basmati rice consignments, while SFDA guideline proposes consignments should have 93 percent basmati rice, Indian exporters want this limit to be reduced to 85 percent. “Basmati and non-basmati rice are transported to ‘mandis’ (wholesale markets) from farms in same vehicles and therefore a bit of mixing of the two occur. We have apprised this issue to the authorities and expect a satisfactory resolution of this issue,” Setia said. Indian exporters said while they do not have any issue on labeling of their details on consignment bags, their importers in Saudi, especially the leading ones, have a problem with this because of commercial reasons. “This is an issue for the Saudi side to sort out,” exporters’ body officials said. For all the latest retail news from the UAE and Gulf countries, follow us on Twitter and Linkedin, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube page, which is updated daily. https://www.arabianbusiness.com/retail/425686-india-set-to-seek-deadline-extension-on-saudi-rice-exports AUGUST 12, 2019 / 4:38 PM / 9 DAYS AGO India's April-June rice exports dive 28.2% 2 MIN READ • • Workers spread rice for drying at a rice mill on the outskirts of Kolkata, January 31, REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri/Files MUMBAI (Reuters) - India’s rice exports in April-June dived 28.2% from a year ago to 2.35 million tonnes, a government body said on Monday, as demand for non-basmati rice was subdued from African buyers. The country’s non-basmati rice exports plunged 43% during the period to 1.2 million tonnes, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) said in a statement. India’s rice exports in 2019/20 are likely to fall to their lowest level in seven years, industry officials said last month, as weak demand from African countries weighs and shippers absorb the absence of government incentives that supported previous sales. New Delhi is the world’s biggest exporter of rice, buffalo meat and guar gum. The country’s buffalo meat exports during the period eased to 275,398 tonnes from 276,450 tonnes a year ago, it said. India’s guar gum exports dropped 5.5% to 127,700 tonnes on lower demand from the United States, while pulses exports more than halved to 45,344 tonnes, the APEDA said. Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav, Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. https://in.reuters.com/article/india-rice-exports/indias-april-june-rice-exports-dive-28-2-idINKCN1V212X Myanmar - Monsoon rains update (ECHO Daily Flash of 14 August 2019) REPORT from European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Published on 14 Aug 2019 —View Original • Heavy monsoon rain, floods and landslides continue to affect the country resulting in additional deaths and displacing thousands. • According to UN OCHA, at least 80,000 people are displaced and sheltering in 170 evacuation sites across the country. Media report that the number of deaths from the landslide in Paung Township (Mon State) has risen to 61. The mudflow destroyed dozens of houses and displaced 150 people. • For the next 24 hours, heavy rainfall is forecast across the country, particularly in the Lower Sagaing Region. Ongoing Primary country Myanmar Ongoing Myanmar: Floods - Jul 2019 • Content Format: o News and Press Release • Language: o English • Theme: o Shelter and Non-Food Items • Disaster Type: o Flood • Vulnerable Groups: o IDPs Related content • MYANMAR OCHA: Myanmar Monsoon Floods Update - As of 15 August 2019 [EN/MY]16 Aug 2019 • MYANMAR Irrawaddy: As Some Temporary Shelters Close, Others Open 13 Aug 2019 • MYANMAR OCHA: Myanmar Monsoon Floods Update - As of 11 August 2019 (Corrigendum) 12 Aug 2019 • MYANMAR IFRC: Myanmar: Floods and Landslide - Information Bulletin 12 Aug 2019 • MYANMAR ECHO: Myanmar - Floods (UN OCHA, DG ECHO, media) (ECHO Daily Flash of 12 August 2019) 12 Aug 2019 • HOME • UPDATES • COUNTRIES • DISASTERS • TOPICS • ORGANIZATIONS • JOBS • TRAINING • TERMS & CONDITIONS RELIEFWEB Informing humanitarians worldwide. A service provided by UN OCHA ReliefWeb has been the leading online source for reliable and timely humanitarian information on global crises and disasters since 1996. Learn more about ReliefWeb ReliefWeb da un paso más hacia el multilingüismo Los visitantes recientes del sitio móvil de ReliefWeb habrán notado que contamos con una nueva herramienta… En la esquina superior derecha del sitio ahora está disponible un selector de idiomas. VISIT THE BLOG CONNECT WITH RELIEFWEB Receive news about us RELATED SITES SUBMIT CONTENT Share information through ReliefWeb to better inform humanitarians worldwide. https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/myanmar-monsoon-rains-update-echo-daily-flash-14-august-2019 Over 40 businessmen licenced to export rice following new decree VNA MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2019 - 18:48:00 PRINT Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – A total of 42 businessmen have been licenced to export rice after the Government’s Decree 107 issued on August 15 last year on rice export took effect. Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the Import and Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said the decree enables wholesalers to export rice, while loosening the conditions for enterprises to become wholesalers. Accordingly, the elimination of the condition on owning rice mills and warehouses has allowed firms to lease such facilities to reduce costs and make use of other businesses’ available ones. Enterprises also do not have to register their export contracts as previously. Vietnam exported 4.01 million tonnes of rice worth 1.73 billion USD in the first seven months of this year, up 2.1 percent in volume but down 14.3 percent in value year on year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The figures include 651,000 tonnes worth 285 million USD in July. In the year’s first half, the Philippines was the biggest buyer that purchased 33.7 percent of Vietnam’s rice exports. Meanwhile, markets with strong growth in rice imports from Vietnam included Ivory Coast (up 67 percent), China’s Hong Kong (60 percent) and Saudi Arabia (38 percent).-VNA https://en.vietnamplus.vn/over-40-businessmen-licenced-to-export-rice-following-new-decree/157693.vnp August 12, 2019 Cambodian rice to achieve worldwide fame, new CRF president promises Chea Vannak / Khmer Times Share: Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chhay Ly (centre) at CRF’s annual meeting and election ceremony. CRF Cambodian rice will be recognised around the world for its quality and sustainability, the newly-elected president of the Cambodia Rice Federation has promised. For in depth analysis of Cambodian Business, visit Capital Cambodia . Song Saran, CEO of Amru Rice and now also president of CRF, said last week during CRF’s annual meeting and election ceremony that he aims to turn the rice sector into a sustainable and competitive industry that improves the lives of all involved. Mr Saran, who will hold the new position until 2022, said the federation should be run as a public-private-producer partnership, and that modernising the industry, diversifying markets and enhancing access to finance will be prioritised. “In the decade ahead, I believe the most important challenges for the sector will be globalisation, digitalisation, populism, and protectionism. These have the potential to negatively impact low-income producers and farmers as well as the competitiveness of the sector,” Mr Saran said. “[To overcome these challenges], we must work closely with all stakeholders, including government agencies, non-government agencies, local and international institutions, agriculture cooperatives, and the private sector, particularly rice millers, to improve the competitiveness of the value chain, from the farm to the market, and create innovation, extra value and new products,” he said. The Cambodian Rice Federation was established in 2014 with 213 member representing exporters, farmers and millers. The number of members has now reached 292. The association’s establishment followed the government’s pledge to reach one million tonnes in rice exports. Although the Kingdom is now an important rice exporter, it has yet to reach that goal. The association’s first president was Sok Puthivuth, who held the position until Mr Saran took over last week. Mr Saran said the federation must work to overturn a system that exploits farmers and produce chemical-doused goods that may harm consumer health. “We will promote partnerships between private actors and low-income producers that address inefficiencies in rice production and trade and nurture innovation, sustainability, fair trade, and competitiveness. “These business initiatives promote inclusion as well as innovation and market growth,” Mr Saran added. Minister of Agriculture Veng Sakhon praised the sector for its achievements in recent years but called for greater cooperation among all actors to continue developing the industry. “The Ministry of Agriculture has been working to reform policies, modernise the sector and promote public-private-producer partnerships that focus on increasing quality and competitiveness through contract farming schemes,” Mr Sakhon said. The country’s exports of milled rice rose 3.7 percent during the first seven months of the year to reach 308,013 tonnes. China continues to be the Kingdom’s biggest market, purchasing 123,361 tonnes from January to July, a 40 percent increase. https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50632528/cambodian-rice-to-achieve-worldwide-fame-new-crf-president-promises/ Strengthening institutions for development BENEL D. LAGUA 7/25/2019 Style over substance Contextualizing lectures © Provided by The Manila Times Publishing Corp.BENEL D. LAGUA Agencies and organizations involved in development effort in emerging countries are often characterized by multilateral agencies as weak. Hence, there is concerted effort to identify, prioritize and understand institutional and capacity gaps. International finance agencies like the Asian Development Bank, for example, believes in evaluating core performance and addressing the gaps to strengthen the partner institutions’ role in handling development loan and aid. How should development entities respond? Strengthening institutions for development starts with the organization’s major resource, its core officers and staff who should assiduously abide by the norms of professional behavior. Their intense commitment to development has to be substantiated by competent service, by unquestioned integrity, by ability to innovate, and by willingness to exploit change for the wider cause of nation building through conscious and dedicated teamwork. The institution’s role in nation building can be properly played only if it can zealously protect its professional autonomy. This means less political interference for its professional ranks. Merit, as attested by high marks in training and actual work performance, should be the critical passport for people moving up in ranks. Increased productivity should be clear determinant of personal development. The organization must put strong emphasis to the efficiency of its operations and in the high standards of quality its service delivery. This is the people facet. Good financial management systems are powerful instruments in the organizational strengthening. Clear responsibilities for managing resources, creation of defined authorities for the approval of expenditures, and well conceived audit trails will help ensure integrity in the organization. Modern systems like automation and digitization, where appropriate, will improve productivity within the organization. Aside from people and finance, the processes in carrying out the operations of the organization must be both effective and efficient. The institution’s chain of command or the lines of accountability, authority, decision-making and reporting relations must be well defined. It should be able to deliver the results that would bring the organization towards realizing its visions. Operational processes which constitute the core business and create the value streams must lead to stakeholder satisfaction and be agile enough to respond to change. A strengthened institution shifts itself from the traditional focus on personalities to a governance focused on its long term strength and sustainability. Personalities, no matter how good and important, eventually pass on but the organization stays put and should be sustainable especially if it delivers an important development mandate critical to nation building. The strengthened institution must apply the core principles of good corporate governance: fairness, accountability, responsibility and transparency. Fairness refers to equal treatment to all stakeholders. Accountability refers to the obligation and responsibility to provide appropriate explanations for the company”s actions and conduct. Those with authority should accept full responsibility for the powers given to and exercised by them. Transparency means openness, or willingness to provide clear information to stakeholders so that there is confidence and trust in decision making of the organization. The institution must remain committed to ethical leadership and good governance, including firm commitment to compliance requirements of regulatory agencies. It must define its core values and live up to it or walk the talk. Some such values with universal appeal include integrity, competence, excellence, teamwork, professionalism and service to constituencies. The institution must be grounded on sound policies, guidelines, procedures and controls. Any organization doing development work must aim to build an institution that can deliver on its promise as a functioning organism that can adapt and respond to change. Its strength will ultimately depend on how it is structured so that it is immune from the vagaries in the political environment. In fact, it is seen to be strong enough if it can be built to absorb political changes and still be systematically empowered with a structure and system faithful to its vision-mission. Benel D. Lagua is Executive Vice President at the Development Bank of the Philippines. He is an active FINEX member and a long time advocate of risk-based lending for SMEs. The views expressed herein are his own and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of his office as well as FINEX. https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/opinion/strengthening-institutions-for-development/ar-AAER2Hx ‘Hanna’ leaves P11.3-M damage to rice farms in NegOcc By Erwin Nicavera, Philippine News Agency on August 10, 2019 DAMAGED RICE FARMS. Flooded rice farms in southern Negros. Heavy rains and flooding caused by the southwest monsoon enhanced by Tropical Storms Falcon and Hanna have damaged a number of rice farms in southern Negros in recent weeks. (PNA Bacolod file photo) BACOLOD CITY — Rice farmers in 18 villages of Bago City, Negros Occidental incurred a total of PHP11.28 million in crop damage due to Tropical Storm Hanna, a report of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) released on Friday showed. Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said the farms affected by the southwest monsoon or “habagat” enhanced by the typhoon included those in maturing and reproductive stages, and a small portion in seedling and vegetative stages. As of August 9, damage was reported in the area of about 9,058 hectares of Bago City, known as the rice granary of Negros Occidental for producing about 25 percent of the local production output. In the past months, farmers in Negros Occidental also reported almost PHP19 million in damage and crop production losses due to heavy rains and flooding caused by the southwest monsoon enhanced by Tropical Storm Falcon. A final report of OPA showed 1,636 rice and corn farmers were affected in 61 barangays of seven localities, with total planted areas of 2,580 hectares. The rice sector recorded the highest amount of losses at PHP17.7 million. The corn sector reported losses worth almost PHP1.3 million, affecting 52 farmers in 50.70 hectares of plantation in two barangays of San Carlos City. Under the Negros First Universal Crop Insurance Program, in partnership with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp., farmers may avail of the PHP17,000 claim per hectare of damaged farms. The enrollment premium per cropping season is pegged at PHP840, and the whole amount is shouldered by the provincial government as a loan. https://www.canadianinquirer.net/2019/08/10/hanna-leaves-p11-3-m-damage-to-rice-farms-in-negocc/ Thailand’s problems continue as rice price SOARS by P1 News editorAugust 10, 2019 Rice export prices in Thailand rose sharply this week on worries that the country’s worst drought in about a decade could reduce supply. Thailand’s benchmark 5-percent broken rice prices rose to 406-435 USD per tonne this week from 395-405 USD quoted last week. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s rates for this rice remained unchanged from last week at 340-350 USD per tonne. India’s 5-percent broken parboiled variety prices fell to around 377-381 USD per tonne this week from 381-384 USD last week due to a depreciation in the rupee. A strong bath contributed to Thai higher rice prices than other Asian hubs. The dry conditions have also affected the quality of rice, which led to an increase in domestic rice prices, a Bangkok-based trader said https://www.pattayaone.news/thailands-problems-rice-price-soars/