Vietnam Exports Rice Worth US$2.5 Billion
HANOI, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- Vietnam exported 5.55
million tonnes of rice worth US$2.56 billion in the first 11 months of 2014,
according to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA).According to Vietnam News
Agency (VNA) news website ndh.vn quoted the VFA as saying that in the first 20
days of November, the nation shipped 190,000 tonnes of rice, and from the first
day of this year until Nov 20, it exported 5.55 million tonnes of rice worth
US$2.56 billion.
The average export price in the first 20 days of this
month stood at US$474.5 per tonne, which was lower than the US$486.6 per tonne
price in the same period last October.At the domestic rice market, the VFA
reported that rice prices dropped sharply from November 14 to 20, by 300 VND to
450 VND per kilo to 8,450 VND per kilo for rice with five-per cent broken
grains, 8,100 VND for rice with 15-per cent broken grains, and 7,700 VND for
rice with 25-per cent broken grains.This year, Vietnam expects to export 6.5 to
seven million tonnes of rice, worth about US$3 billion, revealed the VFA.
Traditional export markets for Vietnamese rice include
Singapore, mainland China, Hong Kong and Cote d'Ivoire, as well as Algeria and
Indonesia.The VFA has also predicted 2015 to be a tough year for Vietnam's rice
exporters in the face of fierce competition from their Thai rivals because
Thailand has concentrated on recovering traditional rice markets in Africa and
expanding its markets in Asia, especially the Philippines, Indonesia and China.
Source with thanks: BERNAMA
B50bn govt
bond issue to help pay rice debt
Published: 26 Nov 2014
Online news: General
Writer: Online Reporters
A
50-billion-baht government bond issue was floated through the Bank for
Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) on Wednesday to help cover the
losses occurred from the the rice price schemes of previous governments. Officials inspect rice stockpiled in a
warehouse in Pathum Thani in July 2014.
(Bangkok Post file photo)
Deputy finance permanent secretary Pongpanu
Svetarundra, said it was the policy of the current government to urgently solve
the debt problem incurred by the rice pledging scheme of the previous
government, so the Finance Ministry, the Budget Bureau and the BAAC had agreed
on a bond issue.
The BAAC is the issuer, with the capital amount
plus the interest to be fully guaranteed by the government.The first tranche of
42 billion baht will have a maturity period of three years and 10 months, at
interest of 2.75% per annum. The second tranche of eight billion baht, offering
3.01% interest, will be over seven years. The bonds are offered only to
financial institutions.Accordng to Mr Pongpanu said the bond offer was warmly
received by the new non-bank segment, particularly asset management
firms.Kritsda Udyanin, director-general of the Public Debt Management Office,
said it is the largest single bond issue ever by a state-owned enterprise.
The proportion of non-bank firm buying into the
BAAC bonds had increased from 8.7-14.2% of total subscribers to 27.3%, which
indicated the confidence in the bonds, he said.Liabilities incurred from the
subsidy schemes for farm products by previous governments amount to 780 billion
baht, the lion's share stemming from the rice subsidy.Of the total of 780
billion baht, 580 billion resulted from the costly rice-pledging scheme
sponsored by the Yingluck Shinawatra government and the rest from preceding
governments.
The Pheu Thai government's rice subsidy, which
offered a pledging price 40-50% above market prices, has cost 878 billion baht
since it was unveiled in the 2011-12 main crop, with 580 billion of debt
outstanding.The rice-pledging scheme suffered a monumental setback when it
failed to boost market prices as the government had promised it would.The rice
scheme is also subject to a corruption investigation.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission ruled
that Ms Yingluck was guilty of negligence in office for failing to stop the
corruption and losses in the rice pledging scheme. She chaired the National
Rice Policy Committee (NRPC) when she was prime minister.The National
Legislative Assembly is set to consider the proposed impeachment of Ms Yingluck
in connection with the controversial rice pledging scheme at a meeting on
Friday.
Reversal of levy rice procurement
policy irks AP millers
CH RS. SARMA
KAKINADA, NOVEMBER 25:
The kharif paddy crop is being
harvested in the two Godavari districts in Andhra Pradesh, which contribute the
bulk of levy rice to the FCI, and the arrivals in the market will usually
gather momentum from the first week of December and touch the peak by
mid-January. However, this crop year a shadow has fallen across the scene as
the Union Government has reversed the procurement policy.Hitherto, till October
this year, the FCI was procuring levy in the ratio of 75:25, with the millers
milling and giving 75 per cent of the paddy they have bought from the farmers
to the FCI as levy and selling the rest in the open market, either in the
domestic market or for export purposes to other countries. However, the ratio
has now been reversed and the FCI will now take only 25 per cent as levy and
the millers have to sell the rest in the open market in accordance with the new
policy. The millers are not ready for the sudden policy reversal and have
appealed to the State Government and the Union Government to change the ratio
to at least 50:50.
Explaining the position of the
millers, East Godavari Rice Millers’ Association President A Ramakrishna Reddy
said, “We are not questioning the policy of the Union Government but the
decision has been taken without taking into account certain market realities.
The millers in the two Godavari districts have always bought paddy from the
farmers at the MSP or even at a slightly higher price. It was possible because
of the assured 75 per cent levy given to the FCI. Millers could buy paddy
briskly from farmers but it would not be possible now, as the levy is only 25.
It is not easy for the millers to find a ready market for the rest of 75 per
cent and most of the millers do not have the holding capacity. Even a big
miller will be put to great hardship,” he said.
He said it should also be borne
in mind that some of the varieties grown in the Godavari districts such as
Swarna are not consumed locally but given to the FCI as levy or sold in other
States or countries. Therefore, it was not easy for the millers to find market
for these varieties in a hurry.
AP Rice Millers’ Association
President G Venkateswara Rao said the Government should offer some relief to
the millers at least in the implementation of the new policy and the millers
should be allowed to sell to the FCI the fixed levy quota immediately and then
buy the rest from the farmers at the MSP. Otherwise, the stocks would be stuck
with the farmers.
(This article was published on November 25, 2014)
Finance
Ministry issues bonds to restructure rice mortgage scheme debts
Date : 26 พฤศจิกายน 2557
BANGKOK, 26 November 2014 (NNT) – The Finance
Ministry has issued bonds worth 50 billion baht, the biggest-ever bond issuance
in history, in its latest move to restructure the debts incurred from the
rice-mortgage scheme from the previous administration.
The bonds, which are issued by Bank of
Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), are divided into two
categories. The first category, which is worth 42 billion baht offers an
interest rate of 2.75 percent per year. The latter, which is worth eight
billion baht, offers an interest rate of 3 percent per year.
The Finance Ministry will underwrite both the
capital and the interest. The government will undertake the responsibility to
repay the debts along with the interest. According to the Finance Ministry,
non-bank operators, particularly securities companies managing mutual funds
have expressed interest in the bond investment. Aside from BAAC, the bonds are
available in Krung Thai Bank, CIMB Thai Bank, Standard Chartered Thailand, and
the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) in Bangkok.
Thailand to
lose share of China market under AFTA, survey suggests
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation November 26, 2014 1:00 am
Thailand could lose Bt118 billion worth of
export opportunities under the Asean-China Free Trade Agreement over the next
five years (2015-2019) because of tougher competition from Cambodia, Laos,
Myanmar and Vietnam, according to a study by the University of the Thai Chamber
of Commerce (UTCC).The study found that Thailand would lose market share and
trade opportunities in rice, aquaculture products, paper, wood and products,
electronics and electrical appliances, textiles, clothing, footwear, and
jewellery. Products that will enjoy higher export growth are tapioca, fruits,
and processed food.
"Overall trade from Asean to China will
increase over the next five years, as well as exports from Thailand to China.
However, Thailand's share of the China market will increase by only 0.02
percentage point, from 1.95 per cent to 1.97 per cent [by 2019], while Asean's
will rise by 1 percentage point, from 10 to 11," said Aat Pisanwanich,
director of the UTCC's International Trade Studies Centre.According to the
study, of China's trading market value of US$250 billion (Bt8.2 trillion) this
year, Asean has a share of about 10 per cent. The value of the total China
market is expected to increase significantly by 2019, of which Asean's share
will be 11 per cent.
Asean is expected to face higher trade deficits
with China as the value of its imports from that country grows faster that that
of exports. It is projected that Asean could face an annual trade deficit as
high as $30 billion within five years.
Currently, Malaysia is the largest exporter to
China in Asean, followed by Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam.
However, between 2015 to 2019, Malaysia's share of Asean's total export to
China will drop from 31.2 per cent to 26.3 per cent, Thailand's from 20.2 per
cent to 18.2 per cent, Indonesia's from 15.5 per cent to 14.9 per cent,
Singapore's from 15 per cent to 14.4 per cent. Vietnam's share, however, will
grow from 6.8 per cent to 10.1 per cent, while Myanmar's will increase from 0.9
to 4.6 per cent, Laos' from 0.4 to 1.3 per cent, and Cambodia's from 0.1 to 0.2
per cent. The Philippines and Brunei will remain unchanged at 9.8 and 0.1 per
cent respectively.
Aat said Thailand would face lose a lot of
China's rice market because of tougher competition from Vietnam, Cambodia and
Myanmar. Thailand's share of China's rice market will drop from 45.4 per cent
this year to 27.4 per cent in 2019. For aquaculture products, its market share
will drop from 32.4 per cent this year to 24.3 per cent.Its share of China's
import market for electrical appliances and electronics will drop from 18.3 per
cent to 12 per cent.
Aat suggested that Thai enterprises carefully
study Chinese consumers' behaviour and demand in each city, establish Thai
distribution centres in each major city, focus on quality products, and target
export promotions directly at Chinese consumers.
Bangladesh
farmers turn back the clock to combat climate stresses
BY SYFUL ISLAM
Wed Nov 26, 2014 7:52am EST
DHAKA, Bangladesh,
Nov 26 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - I ndigenous varieties of rice are making
a comeback in Bangladesh as farmers abandon high-yielding hybrid rice in favour
of more resilient varieties that can cope with more extreme climate conditions,
researchers say.About 20 percent of the rice fields
planted in the low-lying South Asian nation now contain indigenous varieties
that can stand up to drought, flooding or other stresses, said Jiban Krishna,
director general of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute.At its peak, high
yielding varieties of rice are accounted for 90 percent of total rice grown in
Bangladesh.
"In places where newly invented varieties fail to cope with
stresses, farmers cultivate local varieties," Krishna told the Thomson
Reuters Foundation in an interview.Bangladesh's government first introduced
high-yielding rice in the 1960s, in an effort to promote food security and meet
rising demand, Krishna said. Over time, most farmers adopted the new varieties,
which brought in higher incomes.But in recent years, as climate change has
brought more irregular rainfall - including worsening floods and droughts -
farmers have had more difficulty producing consistent crops of high-yielding
varieties.
That has led to a growing share of farmers returning to more
resilient varieties capable of coping with the extreme conditions, or planting
both old and new varieties side by side.The switch back to traditional
varieties has happened with the help of non-governmental organisations that
have reintroduced the varieties in an effort to protect "heritage"
species and help farmers cope with adverse weather conditions , Krishna said.In
C'Nababaganj district, for instance, the Bangladesh Resource Centre for
Indigenous Knowledge has helped farmers return to planting varieties that had
almost vanished.
'Saika' rice, for instance, ripens in just 60 days - well short of
the 90 to 110 days needed by hybrid varieties used in the area - and 'Sashi
Mohon' needs hugely less water, said Pavel Partha, coordinator of the centre's
food security programme.
CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT POLICY
The government previously never promoted such varieties,
considering them too low-yielding, he said. But in the face of growing climate
impacts, it is now actively encouraging their cultivation as part of efforts to
help farmers adapt to climate change, Partha said.Farmers say returning to the
old varieties has been a big help in ensuring they get a harvest each
season."Cultivation in this area is facing immense trouble due to low and
irregular rainfall. Even cultivation of rain-fed Aman (rice) is now totally
dependent on irrigation which raises production costs," said Hasan Ali, a farmer
in Barandra village.
"In this situation we have brought in these indigenous
aromatic varieties which are tolerant to many stresses," he said.Another
farmer, Anisur Rahman, said cultivation of the old varieties is expanding in
part because they need almost no chemical fertiliser or pesticides - which
makes them cheaper and easier to grow - and because their yields are good in
tough conditions.Abdus Sattar Hiru, a farmer in Traltalia village in Tangail
district agreed that the 'Afsara' traditional rice he is now cultivating has
brought in consistently good crops.
"The variety (grows over a) short duration and can be
cultivated once the rainy season is over and water starts receding. In that
period, modern or high yielding varieties can't be cultivated but this local
variety can," he said.Returning to 'Afsara' rice has also allowed him to
bring back into production land previously left barren because high-yielding
rice varieties did not grow there, he said.
Philippines
keen to import rice from Bangladesh
Governor of the Southeast Asian
country’s central bank Amando M Tetangco expressed Manila’s interest during a
meeting with Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman on Tuesday.He said at the
meeting, held at his official residence, “Bangladesh is producing more rice
than its demand. We need to import huge quantity of rice. We want to import it
from Bangladesh.”The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) governor also expressed
his country’s interest in importing potato from Bangladesh and to promote trade
with Dhaka.
Rahman said Bangladesh had
attainted self-sufficiency in rice production and the government had already
decided to export the staple to Sri Lanka.He said initiatives could be taken
now to export rice to the Philippines as well and the two governments could
begin discussion on the mater.Bangladesh Ambassador to Manila John Gomes, who
was present at the meeting, said a high-level trade delegation from Bangladesh
would visit the Philippines next month and may discuss on export of rice and
potato then.The process to export rice to Sri Lanka has already started
following a government decision.The government approved a proposal on Oct 27 to
export 50,000 tonnes of rice to the South Asian nation at $450 a tonne.
Source with thanks ;http://bdnews24.com/business/2014/11/25/philippines-keen-to-import-rice-from-bangladesh
USDA Ag Attache: "India Monsoon
2014 Wrap up report"
USA Rice Weights in on Trade Barriers
What's
going on over there?
What's
going on over there?
ARLINGTON, VA - Last month, USA Rice made a submission to the
United States Trade Representatives (USTR) for the 2015 National Trade
Estimates (NTE) Report on Foreign Trade Barriers. Each year, interested parties
submit comments to USTR on any issues they have had exporting goods and
services so that they may be further examined.
I
n the past few years, USTR's NTE Reports have focused on sanitary
and phytosanitary (SPS) issues, as well as standards-related measures.For the
2015 report, USA Rice focused its comments on import policies in the EU, Japan,
and Taiwan, as well as domestic support programs in Thailand and Vietnam.
"Vietnam and Thailand are net exporters of rice, but the other
areas we commented on are importers," said Betsy Ward, president and CEO
of USA Rice. "We're estimating the trade barriers in these regions could
be costing the U.S. rice industry as much as $150 million annually, so we'd
very much like to see our concerns addressed."
Contact: Kristen Dayton (703) 236-1464
|
Agricultural Prices Received for the Month of November
|
|
October 2014
|
Preliminary November 2014
|
|
Long
Grain Rice
|
12.90
|
13.50
|
|
Long
Grain Marketing
|
13,468
|
N/A
|
|
Medium
and Short Grain California Price
|
21.30
|
20.80
|
|
Medium
and Short Grain Mid-South Price
|
15.30
|
14.80
|
|
Medium
and Short Grain Marketing
|
2,870
|
N/A
|
|
|
CCC Announces Prevailing World Market Prices
|
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Department of Agriculture's Commodity
Credit Corporation today announced the
following prevailing world market prices of milled and rough rice, adjusted
for U.S. milling yields and location, and the resulting marketing loan-gain
(MLG) and loan deficiency payment (LDP) rates applicable to the 2014 crop,
which became effective today at 7:00 a.m., Eastern Time (ET). Rough
rice prices decreased $0.14 per cwt for long grain and $0.15 per cwt for
medium/short grain.
|
|
World Price
|
MLG/LDP Rate
|
|
|
Milled Value ($/cwt)
|
Rough ($/cwt)
|
Rough ($/cwt)
|
|
Long-Grain
|
17.12
|
10.86
|
0.00
|
|
Medium-/Short-Grain
|
16.56
|
11.15
|
0.00
|
|
Brokens
|
10.33
|
----
|
----
|
This week's prevailing world market prices and MLG/LDP rates are based on the
following U.S. milling yields and the corresponding loan rates:
|
|
U.S. Milling Yields
Whole/Broken
(lbs/cwt)
|
Loan Rate
($/cwt)
|
|
Long-Grain
|
55.83/12.59
|
6.50
|
|
Medium-/Short-Grain
|
62.39/7.92
|
6.50
|
The next program announcement is scheduled for December 3rd.
|
|
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice
Futures
|
CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for November 26
|
January 2015
|
$12.280
|
- .090
|
|
March 2015
|
$12.545
|
- .100
|
|
May 2015
|
$12.785
|
- .100
|
|
July 2015
|
$12.985
|
- .105
|
|
September 2015
|
$12.235
|
- .010
|
|
November 2015
|
$12.135
|
- .010
|
|
January 2016
|
$12.135
|
- .010
|
|
Source with thanks :US Rice
Federation
1 1/4 cups uncooked long-grain rice
Click to see savings
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
Click to see savings
1 cup chopped celery
Click to see savings
4 green onions, sliced
Click to see savings
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can beef broth
Click to see savings
1 (4-ounce) can sliced mushrooms, undrained
Click to see savings
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon Beau Monde seasoning
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
Stir together first 4 ingredients in a 13- x 9-inch baking dish.
Stir in broth and remaining ingredients.
Bake, covered, at 350° for 50 minutes, stirring occasionally
Source with thanks :www.myrecipes.com/recipe/holiday-rice
World’s Best Rice' Title Could Boost
Cambodian Rice Exports
RELATED
ARTICLES
Robert Carmichael
November 25, 2014 12:43 PM
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA—
For the third year in a row, Cambodia’s premier rice has been
voted the world’s best at the World Rice Conference.The award, which it shares
this year with Thailand, comes at a time when Cambodia is looking at rice
exports as a way to increase incomes for its many impoverished subsistence
farmers.Although Cambodia is a minnow in the world rice stakes, producing just
1 percent of global output in 2012, the award for its fragrant romduol varietal
should help promote exports.
The rice industry, though small-scale and inefficient, remains key
to the economy. Most Cambodians survive in part by growing rice on small plots.
Inefficiencies mean large amounts of unmilled rice -- known as paddy -- go to
neighboring Thailand and Vietnam where they fetch a higher price.Sok Puthyvuth,
the president of the Cambodia Rice Federation, which represents all players in
the industry, said, “We need better seeds, we need a better collection process,
we need better storage, we need better logistics, and also our exports need to
brand Cambodian rice to be one of the top brands in the world.”
Higher target
The target is 1 million tons of milled rice exported by 2015. So
far this year Cambodia has exported about 400,000 tons -- mostly to the
European Union.Deputy Prime Minister Keat Chhon said a central tenet -- to
boost farmers' incomes -- remains key to government efforts to improve the
industry.“I want to emphasize that the purpose of the rice policy is to reduce
poverty, to ensure people in rural areas earn more, and to reduce the
development gap between rural and urban areas,” Chhon said.To help develop the
industry, China is loaning $300 million to improve warehousing.
Premium branding
Yet longstanding problems remain, said exporter David Van, including the high
cost of electricity and a lack of quality seedlings.Van also wants better
branding for the award-winning rice, which currently is marketed as “Cambodian
Jasmine Rice.” He said that name is too close to Thailand’s fragrant variety.“You
need to differentiate your product from your competitor next door, otherwise
you will keep on being compared automatically to what the next-door competitor
is offering," Van said.
"If you are talking about jasmine rice, we have a variety
that has won consecutively the world’s best rice, which is the romduol. So
maybe it is high time that we really develop a branding based on the
romduol variety," he said.Challenges remain: Thailand’s rice
stockpile has driven down prices, making it harder to compete; meantime
countries like Myanmar also want to increase exports.
But even if Cambodia doesn’t reach the million-ton target next year, its
award-winning rice should appear on more plates around the world, lifting
incomes for millers, exporters and its millions of impoverished farmers.
CIDRAP:
Ebola overview
November 25,2014
In other news, the Ebola epidemic has boosted food prices in the
three hardest-hit countries. especially in rural areas, according to a report
yesterday from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Ayodele
Odusola, chief economist in the UNDP's African bureau, said in a statement,
"Border closures, movement restrictions and a slowdown in farming activity
are shaking food markets badly." Farmers have been unable to make a living
and families are seeing fluctuating prices at the markets, with those in rural
and remote areas seeing the biggest drop in their purchasing power, he
said.
Since the outbreak began in March, purchasing power has dropped
20% in Sierra Leone and more than 25% in Liberia, according to the report.
Guinea was able to stabilize a surge in rice prices through imports. Coordinated
action is needed to stabilize prices and ensure that people can buy and sell
food, the UNDP said. It called for a four-part strategy that includes keeping
borders open, providing safety nets such as farming subsidies and cash
payments, stepping up support to help farmers prepare for the next planting
season in February and March, and using fiscal policies to boost currencies and
keep prices down.
Happy
Thanksgiving from all of us at Arkansas Rice Depot
2014 has been a year of many
challenges in our efforts to feed the hungry. As we have shared those
struggles with you, our friends and supporters, you have been quick to
respond. You have given of your time, repackaging and sorting food; of
your finances, writing checks and collecting funds; and of your resources,
sharing your talent with us and spreading the word. So this Thanksgiving,
we want to say we are thankful for you.
Thank you for giving, for sharing
our message and the need in order that families, seniors and children all
across our state might have something to eat—not just at Thanksgiving but
throughout the year.
"Thanks be to God for his
indescribable gift!" - II Corinthians 9:15
Written
by IVN
Published:
24 November 2014
Washington,
DC - Consumer Reports (CR) is issuing new consumption guidelines for consumers
based on its latest analysis of data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) and its own testing for arsenic levels, particularly inorganic arsenic
(IA), a carcinogen, in rice and other grains and has developed a point system
to help adults and children reduce their exposure to arsenic without
eliminating rice. CR also says children should rarely eat hot rice cereal
or rice pasta and those under the age of 5 should not replace milk with rice
drinks based on elevated arsenic levels.
The latest analysis and updated recommendations from Consumer
Reports come nearly two years after the organization released its original
report on arsenic in rice in 2012. These latest tests found that the IA
content of rices varies greatly depending on the type and where it was grown.
CR has identified better choices with much lower levels of inorganic
arsenic, including white basmati rice from India, Pakistan or California and
U.S. sushi rice. CR tests also found lower arsenic options for other grains
such as amaranth, millet, and quinoa.The full report, “Arsenic in Your Rice:
The Latest,” is available online at ConsumerReports.org and in the
January 2015 issue of Consumer Reports, which hits newsstands next week.
“We are very pleased to learn that there are lower arsenic
choices when it comes to rice and alternative grains. This is great news
for consumers who can now use our information to make better decisions for
themselves and their families and reinforces our advice to vary your grains,”
said Dr. Urvashi Rangan, Director of Consumer Safety and Sustainability at
Consumer Reports. “In the meantime, we continue to call on the FDA to set
standards for arsenic in rice-based foods and are particularly concerned about
the effects on children.”
Consumer Reports’ Findings & Recommendations
Consumer Reports tested 128 samples of basmati, jasmine, and
sushi rice for arsenic and combined the results with findings from its 2012
tests and data from the FDA’s analysis of arsenic in rice for a total of 697
samples and determined that the inorganic arsenic content of rice varies
greatly depending on the type of rice and where it was grown. CR also looked at
IA levels in 114 samples of nonrice grains and analyzed FDA data on the IA
content of 656 processed rice-containing products.
Below are some important findings based on CR’s new analysis:
·
White basmati rice from
California, India, and Pakistan, and sushi rice from the U.S., on average has
half of the IA amount of most other types of rice. Brown rice has 80
percent more IA on average than white rice of the same type; brown basmati from
California, India, or Pakistan is the best choice because it has about a
third less IA than other brown rices.
·
All types of rice (except sushi
and quick-cooking) with a label indicating that it’s from the U.S., Arkansas,
Louisiana, or Texas had the highest levels of IA in Consumer Reports’ tests.
White rices from California have 38 percent less IA than white rice from
other parts of the country.
·
Organic rice takes up arsenic the
same way conventional does, so don’t rely on organic to have less arsenic.
·
Gluten-free grains, including
amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat, millet, and polenta (or grits) had much lower
average levels of IA. Bulgur, barley, and farro, which contain gluten, also
have very little arsenic. Consumer Reports recommends that consumers vary
the type of grains they eat.
Consumer Reports is the world’s largest independent
product-testing organization. Using its more than 50 labs, auto test center,
and survey research center, the nonprofit rates thousands of products and
services annually. Founded in 1936, Consumer Reports has over 8 million subscribers
to its magazine, website and other publications. Its advocacy division,
Consumers Union, works for health reform, food and product safety, financial
reform, and other consumer issues in Washington, D.C., the states, and in the
marketplace.
French ambassador assures REF of assistance
November 26, 2014
KAMOKE
France Ambassador in Pakistan Mrs
Martin Dorance said that her country enjoyed historic and cordial relations
with Pakistan and both countries were successfully doing business in many
fields. The ambassador emphasized that there vast scope for Pakistani rice in
EU market and joint venture in rice field would be beneficial for businessmen
of both the countries. France
Ambassador in Pakistan Mrs Martin Dorance expressed the views while talking to
a delegation of Rice Exporter Forum (REF). She said that the REF would be
facilitated to explore the markets of France and other EU member countries.
Mrs Dorance assured REF Vice Chairman Mian
Mohsin Aziz that joint meetings of the forum with French businessmen would be
organised to find ways for enhancing rice exports.Rice exporters including Mian
Waqar Aziz, Mian Amir Aziz, Mian Usman Aziz, Mian Iqbal Aziz and Senator Pir
Nazim Hussain Shah were also present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, Mohsin Aziz
urged the Ambassador to woo French businessmen and experts to help REF in
improving quality of rice and provide state of the art lab facilities.
Zinc enriched paddy harvest in Sylhet
Iqbal Siddiquee, Sylhet
Farmers harvesting new variety of paddy at Dakshin Surma upazila
under Sylhet district. Photo: Star
Zinc enriched paddy farming has generated much hype among
farmers of Dakshin Surma upazila under Sylhet, since the new variety gave them
a good yield this year.According to Chunu Miah, he harvested about 17 mounds of
paddy on a bigha of land this year. Chunu cultivated the variety for the first
time on an experimental basis. The variety BRI-62, was released by the
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) in 2013.
The crops were harvested at Noikhai village on Wednesday. About
a hundred farmers of neighbouring villages attended the event as officials from
the DAE spoke about the farming and preservation of the new variety seeds and
the procedure to gain the highest yield.District Agriculture Training Officer
Abu Naser said, “BRRI scientists stated the BRI-62 paddy can be harvested
within 100 to 105 days, after which the land can be used again during the
winter for another crop. Had the farmers maintained their timetables
accordingly, they would have had a better yield.
”Moglabazar union parishad chairman Mahmudul Haque chaired the
event, while interested farmers shared their experiences with the new variety.BRRI
invented this breed, the world's first zinc enriched rice variety capable of
fighting diarrhoea, pneumonia-induced child deaths and stunted growth as zinc
plays an important role in preventing intestinal diseases, said Sylhet region's
additional director of the Department of Agriculture, Kazi Nurul Islam.Each
kilogram of this rice will contain 19 milligrams of zinc and a protein
percentage of 9 which will ensure nutrition and help prevent diseases.
Reversal of
levy rice procurement policy irks AP millers
CH RS. SARMA
KAKINADA, NOVEMBER
25:
The kharif paddy crop is being harvested in the two Godavari
districts in Andhra Pradesh, which contribute the bulk of levy rice to the FCI,
and the arrivals in the market will usually gather momentum from the first week
of December and touch the peak by mid-January. However, this crop year a shadow
has fallen across the scene as the Union Government has reversed the
procurement policy.
Hitherto, till October this year, the FCI was procuring levy in
the ratio of 75:25, with the millers milling and giving 75 per cent of the
paddy they have bought from the farmers to the FCI as levy and selling the rest
in the open market, either in the domestic market or for export purposes to
other countries. However, the ratio has now been reversed and the FCI will now
take only 25 per cent as levy and the millers have to sell the rest in the open
market in accordance with the new policy. The millers are not ready for the
sudden policy reversal and have appealed to the State Government and the Union
Government to change the ratio to at least 50:50.
Explaining the position of the millers, East Godavari Rice
Millers’ Association President A Ramakrishna Reddy said, “We are not
questioning the policy of the Union Government but the decision has been taken
without taking into account certain market realities. The millers in the two
Godavari districts have always bought paddy from the farmers at the MSP or even
at a slightly higher price. It was possible because of the assured 75 per cent
levy given to the FCI. Millers could buy paddy briskly from farmers but it
would not be possible now, as the levy is only 25. It is not easy for the
millers to find a ready market for the rest of 75 per cent and most of the
millers do not have the holding capacity. Even a big miller will be put to
great hardship,” he said.
He said it should also be borne in mind that some of the
varieties grown in the Godavari districts such as Swarna are not consumed
locally but given to the FCI as levy or sold in other States or countries.
Therefore, it was not easy for the millers to find market for these varieties
in a hurry.AP Rice Millers’ Association President G Venkateswara Rao said the
Government should offer some relief to the millers at least in the
implementation of the new policy and the millers should be allowed to sell to
the FCI the fixed levy quota immediately and then buy the rest from the farmers
at the MSP. Otherwise, the stocks would be stuck with the farmers.
(This article was published on November 25, 2014)
Filipino Farmers Protest Government
Research on Genetically Modified Rice
By Diana
Mendoza
Filipino rice farmers claim that
national heritage sites like the 2,000-year-old Ifugao Rice Terraces are
threatened by the looming presence of genetically modified crops. Credit:
Courtesy Diana Mendoza
MANILA, Nov 26 2014 (IPS) - Jon Sarmiento, a farmer in the Cavite province in southern
Manila, plants a variety of fruits and vegetables, but his main crop, rice, is
under threat. He claims that approval by the Philippine government of the
genetically modified ‘golden rice’ that is fortified with beta-carotene, which
the body converts into vitamin A, could ruin his livelihood.
Sarmiento, who is also the
sustainable agriculture programme officer of PAKISAMA, a national movement of
farmers’ organisations, told IPS, “Genetically modified rice will not address
the lack of vitamin A, as there are already many other sources of this
nutrient. It will worsen hunger.
It will also kill diversification
and contaminate other crops.”Sarmiento aired his sentiments during a protest
activity last week in front of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), an office
under the Department of Agriculture, during which farmers unfurled a huge
canvas depicting a three-dimensional illustration of the Banaue Rice Terraces
in Ifugao province in the northern part of the Philippines.“We challenge the government to walk the talk and
‘Be RICEponsible’." -- Jon Sarmiento, a farmer in the Cavite province in
southern Manila
Considered by Filipinos as the eighth wonder of
the world, the 2,000-year-old Ifugao Rice Terraces represent the country’s rich
rice heritage, which some say will be at stake once the golden rice is
approved.The protesting farmers also delivered to the BPI,
which is responsible for the development of plant industries and crop
production and protection, an ‘extraordinary opposition’ petition against any
extension, renewal or issuance of a new bio-safety permit for further field
testing, feeding trials or commercialisation of golden rice.“We challenge the
government to walk the talk and ‘Be RICEponsible’,” Sarmiento said, echoing the
theme of a national advocacy campaign aimed at cultivating rice
self-sufficiency in the Philippines.Currently, this Southeast Asian nation of
100 million people is the eighth largest rice producer in the world, accounting
for 2.8 percent of global rice production, according to the Food and
Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
But it was also the world’s largest rice importer in 2010,
largely because the Philippines’ area of harvested rice is very small compared
with other major rice-producing countries in Asia. In addition to lacking
sufficient land resources to produce its total rice requirement, the
Philippines is devastated by at least 20 typhoons every year that destroy
crops, the FAO said.However, insufficient output is not the only thing driving
research and development on rice.
A far greater concern for scientists and policy-makers is
turning the staple food into a greater source of nutrition for the population.
The government and independent research institutes are particularly concerned
about nutrition deficiencies that cause malnutrition, especially among poorer
communities.According to the Philippines-based International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI), “Vitamin A deficiency remains a public health problem in the
country, affecting more than 1.7 million children under the age of five and
500,000 pregnant and nursing women.”The vast majority of those affected live in
remote areas, cut off from access to government nutrition programmes. The IRRI
estimates that guaranteeing these isolated communities sufficient doses of
vitamin A could reduce child mortality here by 23-34 percent.
Such thinking has provided the impetus for continued research
and development on genetically modified rice, despite numerous protests
including a highly publicised incident in August last year in which hundreds of
activists entered a government test field and uprooted saplings of the
controversial golden rice crop.While scientists forge ahead with their tests,
protests appear to be heating up, spurred on by a growing
global movement against GMOs.
Last week’s public action – which received
support from Greenpeace Southeast Asia and included farmers’ groups, organic
traders and consumers, mothers and environmentalists – denounced the
government’s continuing research on golden rice and field testing, as well as
the distribution and cropping of genetically-modified corn and eggplant.Monica Geaga, another protesting farmer who is from the group
SARILAYA, an organisation of female organic farmers from the rice-producing
provinces in the main island of Luzon, said women suffer multiple burdens when
crops are subjected to genetic modification.
“It is a form of harassment and violence against women who are
not just farmers but are also consumers and mothers who manage households and
the health and nutrition of their families,” she told IPS.Geaga said she
believes that if plants are altered from their natural state, they release
toxins that are harmful to human health.Protestors urged the government to
shield the country’s rice varieties from contamination by genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) and instead channel the money for rice research into
protecting the country’s biodiversity and rich cultural heritage while ensuring
ecological agricultural balance.
Though there is a dearth of hard data on how much the Philippine
government has spent on GMO research, the Biotechnology Coalition of the
Philippines estimates that the government and its multinational partner
companies have spent an estimated 2.6 million dollars developing GM corn alone.Furthermore,
activists and scientists say GMOs violate the National Organic Law that
supports the propagation of rice varieties that already possess multi-nutrients
such as carbohydrates, minerals, fibre, and potassium, according to the
Philippines’ National Nutrition Council (NNC).
The NNC also said other rice varieties traditionally produced in
the Philippines such as brown, red, and purple rice contain these nutrients.Danilo
Ocampo, ecological agriculture campaigner for Greenpeace Philippines, said the
“flawed regulatory system” in the BPI, the sole government agency in charge of
GMO approvals, “has led to approvals of all GMO applications without regard to
their long-term impact on the environment and human health.”“The problem with
the current regulatory system is that there is no administrative remedy
available to farmers once contamination happens. It is also frustrating that
consumers and the larger populace are not given the chance to participate in GM
regulation,” said Ocampo
.“It is high time that we exercise our right to participate and
be part of a regulatory system that affects our food, our health and our
future,” he asserted.Greenpeace explained in statements released to the media
that aside from the lack of scientific consensus on the safety of GMOs on human
health and the environment, they also threaten the country’s rich biodiversity.Greenpeace
Philippines said genetically modified crops such as corn or rice contain
built-in pesticides that can be toxic, and their ability to cross-breed and
cross-pollinate other natural crops can happen in an open environment, which
cannot be contained.
Last week saw farmer activists in other cities in the
Philippines stage protest actions that called on the government to protect the
country’s diverse varieties of rice and crops and stop GMO research and
field-testing.In Davao City south of Manila, stakeholders held the 11th
National Organic Agriculture Congress. In Cebu City, also south of Manila,
farmers protested the contamination of corn, their second staple food, and
gathered petitions supporting the call against the commercial approval of
golden rice.
SunRice
closes Coleambally mill
SHRINKING water allocations and
competition from other summer crops have forced SunRice to put its Coleambally
rice mill back into mothballs for the harvest in 2015 - just two years after re-opening the site.
Farmer-owned SunRice has
confirmed operations at Coleambally Mill will be placed in care and maintenance
from February 27 in response to "changing business needs".The
decision follows close on the heels of SunRice taking over the fledgling
Burdekin region specialist rice processing assets of the Blue Ribbon Rice Group
in North Queensland.Chief executive officer Rob Gordon said a review of
SunRice's operational footprint took into account the smaller rice crop to be
processed in NSW following this year's autumn harvest, and an even smaller crop
expected next year.Southern NSW growers grew about 800,000 tonnes of rice last
summer.
SunRice chairman Gerry Lawson
recently confirmed ricegrowers were likely to produce less than 700,000t in the
coming year unless water allocations and seasonal conditions favoured a late
lift in yield potential.Nine permanent Coleambally staff will be offered jobs
in SunRice's Leeton mills. One contracted employee will continue in their role
until the site moves to its care and maintenance phase.When a big upswing in
rice production prompted the company to re-open its Deniliquin and Coleambally
operations in 2012, SunRice estimated it needed about 34 staff at Coleambally
to handle the big post-drought harvest.
Mr Gordon said the site had
played an important role in supporting the larger mills in Deniliquin and
Leeton.However, changing circumstances in the industry had forced the company
to change its operations and make its decision public at the earliest possible
time to ensure a seamless transition.
Source with thanks: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-25/collie-rice/5915058
Arkansas County Extension Service hosts
farm bill workshop
Several speakers presented
information to the attendees and answered questions about the new farm bill.
Submitted PhotoOver 250 farmers, landowners and interested individuals attended a
farm bill workshop at the Rice Research and Extension Center.
By Dawn Teer
teer@stuttgartdailyleader.com
Posted Nov. 25, 2014 @ 6:01 pm
STUTTGART —According to Arkansas County Extension Agent
Grant Beckwith, over 250 farmers, landowners and other interested parties
attended the farm bill workshop held Wednesday at the Rice Research and
Extension Center auditorium. Several
speakers presented information to the attendees and answered questions about
the new farm bill. Danny Hoots, Arkansas County FSA executive director, gave an
overview of the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC),
along with yield updates and base reallocations. Tony Franco, Farm Programs
Division chief of the Arkansas State FSA office, discussed PLC and ARC on the
county level. Dr Bobby Coats discussed the farm bill decision making process,
and Dr. Brad Watkins discussed the web-based farm bill decision aid
Beckwith invited producers with questions about the 2014 Farm Bill
to also contact Bobby Coats at (501) 671-2195; Brad Watkins, professor of
agricultural economics, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture,
at (870) 673-2661; Archie Flanders, assistant professor of agricultural
economics, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Keiser,
at (870) 526-2199 Ext. 108; or Scott Stiles, instructor of agricultural
economics, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Jonesboro, at
(870) 972-2481
The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to
all eligible persons regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual
orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran
status, genetic information or any other legally protected status, and is an
Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer
