Reap team returns from China with huge rice export orders
01.04.2016
A trade delegation of Rice Exporters Association of
Pakistan (Reap), led by the association's Senior Vice-Chairman Noman Ahmed
Shaikh, has returned with huge export orders from China. The delegation visited
Beijing, Schenzhen and Guangzhou during 17 to 26 March. China is a very
attractive market of Pakistani rice, as approximately 500,000 metric tons of
rice is exported to China annually."Dr Erfa Iqbal, Commercial Secretary at
Embassy of Pakistan, Beijing, and her team facilitated the Reap delegation and
arranged a seminar at the Embassy, which was attended by the officials of
Chinese Chamber of Commerce and a large number of Rice buyers," Noman
said. He said that the Embassy had made wonderful arrangements and extended its
full cooperation in facilitating business to business (B2B) meetings of the
rice exporters with their Chinese counterparts.
"During the visit, a meeting with a Chinese government
body, COFCO, was also held which remained very fruitful and we are hopeful that
COFCO will again consider buying rice directly from Pakistan," he added.
Noman said that the Reap delegation visited Guangzhou and Schenzhen and with
the support and cooperation of Pakistan Consulate held meetings with Schenzhen
Cereal Association, Guangzhou Grain Association, Chamber of Commerce, Foshan
Grain Reserve Corporation and other leading Chinese rice importers and "we
are hopeful to receive good rice export orders".Talking about a future
strategy, Noman said that Reap and COFCO would organise a seminar with the
support of the Embassy of Pakistan in near future and invitations would be sent
to the government authorities, chamber officials and leading rice buyers from
China.
This seminar, he added would be very instrumental in
promoting Pakistani rice in Chinese markets."We are thankful to S M
Muneer, Chief Executive TDAP, and Dr Muhammad Usman, Director General, TDAP,
for their co-ordination with Pakistan Missions in China and playing a crucial
role in making the visit a great success," he Noman said. On behalf of
Reap, he also thanked the officials of Embassy and Consulate of Pakistan in
Beijing and Guangzho
Envoy
for Pak rice exporters role in trade with Germany
31.03.2016
German Ambassador to Pakistan Ms Ina Lepel
has asked the rice exporters to play role in promoting bilateral trade and
hence further strengthening economic ties with Germany.Addressing members of
Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) on Wednesday, Ina said there was
a great need for diversifying the two-way trade, as $2.3 billion trade volume
recorded in 2014 was not up to the real potential both countries had.“We have
good economic relations but there is more room to further enhance these
relations,” the ambassador said, adding, “Germany has more strong trade
relations with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Malaysia as compared to Pakistan.”She
added that Germany had financially supported major hydropower projects and also
the up-gradation of distribution system in Pakistan.
She said that Germany was currently
focusing on renewable energies and energy efficiency in Pakistan. “The German
Embassy is working with the Pakistani business community to strengthen business
institutions,” the ambassador told REAP members.Ina hoped the granting of
licence to Pakistan-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry would further
improve bilateral trade and economic relations.She urged the exporters to pay
attention to organic rice export, as Germans were very conscious about
nutrition and health.REAP Chairman Chaudhry Muhammad Shafique, in his address, said
that in 2012-13, Pakistan exported 127,953 metric tonnes of Basmati and
non-basmati rice varieties to the EU countries, which came to $111.812 million,
while the current export to the EU countries stood at 206,000 metric tonnes per
annum.“In 2013-14, Pakistan’s exports to Germany were recorded at 9393 metric
tonnes, which rose to 11,986 metric tonnes in 2014-15,” he informed.
He requested the German ambassador to
relax visa policy for genuine businessman so that rice exports to Germany could
be increased.Shafique pointed out that developing countries were the largest
rice producers as well as exporters and accounted for more than 80 percent of
the world’s rice export.“Especially, the Southeast Asian countries dominate the
industry because of their diverse varieties and best quality of rice,” he
informed.He said since rice was an important staple food that was why it was
mostly consumed in the country where it was cultivated, and less than 8 percent
of that production was traded internationally.“REAP has an incredible track
record of earning $2 billion for the fourth consecutive year,” REAP chairman
said, adding, “Different varieties of rice were grown in Pakistan such as Super
Basmati, 1121 Kinat, Basmati PK-385, Irri-6, Irri-9 and KS-282 extra-long grain
rice and PK-386.”He said Pakistan was known for its aromatic rice (Super
Basmati/Basmati PK-385).“While Punjab has abundant Basmati Rice, Sindh, on the
other hand, has the Irri varieties,” Shafique informed.He added that currently
Pakistan was the world’s fourth largest exporter of rice, with an annual
production of more than 7 million tonnes, out of which 4 million tonnes were
exported around the world; hence capturing around 15 percent of world’s total
rice trade.
Basmati
exports likely to touch 40 lakh-tonne mark
Lower prices,
increase in demand to push sales of Indian variety
Basmati
fetches higher returns than other rice varieties
- Exporters
cite high realisation, which is aroundRs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 per quintal, as
the mainreason behind farmers opting for the basmati variety
- Iran’s
resumption of import from India since December 15, 2015 may also provide
some cushion to exporters
Vijay C Roy
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 31
Thanks to lower global prices and increase in
demand from countries like the UAE, Iraq, Iran etc, basmati exports from India
is likely to touch a historic high of 40 lakh tonne in 2015-16 against 37 lakh
tonne in 2014-15 while it was 37.5 lakh tonne in 2013-14.
Experts said despite the low
realisation to farmers this fiscal as compared to 2013-14, the area under
basmati cultivation in Punjab and Haryana, which accounts for around 70% of the
total basmati production in India, would be more or less the same in
2016-17.Basmati fetches higher returns than other varieties. The exporters cite
high realisation, which is around Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 per quintal, as the main
reason behind farmers opting for the crop.
In 2015,
the total area under basmati cultivation was 21 lakh hectares as compared to
21.3 lakh hectares in 2014.
According
to the data, in 2014-15, the basmati prices hovered between Rs 1,150 and Rs
4,000 a quintal, while in 2015-16, due to bumper harvest in Punjab and Haryana,
the price of the crop crashed and with the government’s intervention it was
between Rs 925 and Rs 3,100 per quintal.
“This year
the exports would cross 40 lakh-tonne mark. However, prospects for the next
year are worrisome as it depends upon a lot of factors. Having said that, I
believe the price of the crop would be more or less the same,” said Gurnam
Arora, joint managing director, Kohinoor Foods Ltd.
He said the
buffer stock with millers who are having assured supply chain is around 5% more
than last year. As far as the exports for 2016-17 is concerned, the exporters
are optimistic and expect that the market will respond favourably on account of
GI tag and other factors.According to the Agricultural and Processed Food
Export Development Authority (APEDA), in 2015-16 (April-December), it was 30.6
lakh tonne while in 2014-15, the total exports were 37 lakh tonne.
R
Sundaresan, executive director, All India Rice Exporters Association, said, “It
is beyond doubt that the aromatic rice variety offers high returns to farmers,
so farmers are more inclined to it. Even during last year, when there was
significant increase in area and production, it gave higher returns to farmers.
Moreover, it consumes less water than the non-basmati varieties. So, we foresee
acreage under basmati would be more or less same and so as the
exports.”Exporters also feel that Iran's resumption of import from December 15,
2015 may provide some cushion to exporters. Due to sanctions imposed on Iran,
basmati exports to Iran were suspended from October 2014 to December 2015.
FDA Proposes Limit for Inorganic Arsenic
in Infant Rice Cereal
Constituent
Update
April 1, 2016
FDA is taking steps to reduce inorganic arsenic in infant
rice cereal, a leading source of arsenic exposure in infants. Through a draft
guidance to industry, the FDA is proposing a limit or “action level” of 100
parts per billion (ppb) for inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereal. FDA
testing found that the majority of infant rice cereal currently on the market
either meets, or is close to, the proposed action level.The proposed limit
stems from extensive testing of rice and non-rice products, a 2016 FDA risk
assessment that analyzed scientific studies showing an association between
adverse pregnancy outcomes and neurological effects in early life with
inorganic arsenic exposure, and an evaluation of the feasibility of reducing
inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereal.
http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm493714.htm
FDA Issues Warning on
Arsenic in Infant Rice Cereal
After several years of study, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
today advised parents to stop feeding their infants so much rice cereal,
warning that the latest research now suggests that arsenic concentrations in
the grain can interfere with cognitive development.It was the agency’s
strongest acknowledgment yet that arsenic in the food supply poses a measurable
risk to American citizens.In a “Consumer Update” posted early this afternoon,
titled
“Seven Things Parents and Pregnant Women Need to Know about
Arsenic in Rice and Rice Cereal,” the
agency stated that it had found that “exposure may result in a children’s
decrease performance on
certain developmental tests that measure learning.”
The FDA issued new warnings on arsenic
levels in rice products, including infant rice cereal. Gerber quickly assured
consumers that its foods were safe. Visual by Melissa Doroquez/Flickr
The FDA also advised pregnant women to avoid a diet high in
rice products, again because of arsenic exposure, citing a “growing body of
scientific studies linking adverse pregnancy outcomes to intake of relatively
high levels of inorganic arsenic during pregnancy.”Research has shown, the
agency acknowledged, that
rice takes up more
arsenic from soil and water than any other grain. It is particularly effective
at vacuuming up inorganic arsenic. The term “inorganic” is used by chemists to
describe a compound that does not include the element carbon; inorganic arsenic
compounds
appear to possess an
unusually wide range of cell-damaging abilities at the part-per-billion
level.The news of the FDA decision prompted one of the nation’s leading
baby-food manufacturers, Gerber, to immediately post a note of reassurance
online to its “Dear Gerber Families,”
assuring parents that
its product was safe and, in fact, met the new FDA proposed guideline for
arsenic in rice — which is recommended at 100 parts per billion. That 100 ppb
limit is, at this point, considered an advisory number rather than a legal
standard.Public comments will be solicited by the agency for the next 90 days
before taking more official action.In 2012, Consumer Reports, the public health
advocacy and research organization, published an
expose of arsenic in
rice products, launching a national discussion of the issue. The organization’s
report, as well as other widely publicized studies of related problems,
including troubles with
organic
rice products, led to an FDA decision to review the problem.
Consumer Reports had recommended a safety level of 90 parts per billion to be
applied to a wider range of products.Today, the organization issued a cautious,
and slightly unenthusiastic, response to the FDA’s new guidance.“While Consumer
Reports is pleased to see that the FDA has finally proposed a limit on arsenic
in infant rice cereal, and it is close to the level we recommended more than
three years ago,” said Urvashi Rangan, director of the organization’s Food
Safety and Sustainability Center, in an emailed statement, “we remain concerned
that so many other rice-based products consumed by children and adults remain
without any standards at all.”“This is particularly true of children’s
ready-to-eat cereals,” Rangan continued. “We believe the FDA can act swiftly to
protect public health and set levels on these products based on the risk the
agency has acknowledged in its announcement today, and we intend to continue to
push them on behalf of consumers to do so.”Both she and the FDA officials
agreed that parents should feed their children — and themselves — a diverse
diet to ensure good health. Although the recent FDA announcement focused
primarily on arsenic risks linked to possible developmental issues, in its list
of seven main issues, the agency also noted that arsenic exposure has been
calculated to slightly increase the rate of both lung and bladder cancer in the
United States.
It was, perhaps, with that in mind, that Rangan added to
the recommendation for a diversified diet: “Focus on alternatives to rice.
http://undark.org/2016/04/01/fda-issues-warning-on-infant-rice-cereal/
Philippine
rice farmer killed as drought protest turns violent: demo leader
Technology | Fri Apr 1, 2016
3:08am EDT
Philippine police opened fire as a protest by thousands
of rice farmers who lost their crops turned violent on Friday, killing one and
wounding about a dozen, a leader of a farming group said.About 6,000 farmers
blocked a portion of the main highway in North Cotabato province on the
southern island of Mindanao, demanding government assistance after drought
linked by some to El Nino hit hundreds of thousands of hectares of
farmland."Loud bursts of gunfire erupted," Norma Capuyan, leader of a
farmers' group, told reporters. "There was heavy volume of fire. We ran to
a church compound and the police surrounded us."A farmer died on the spot
and about a dozen others were wounded in the legs and shoulders, Capuyan said,
adding the police first tried to disperse them with water cannon but started
shooting when they held their ground.North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza
said about 20 police were wounded when the farmers attacked them with sticks
and stones. She said the first shot was fired by the protesters.
The police issued a statement saying it was
investigating."Any violation of national police rules and regulations
shall be meted (out) with the appropriate penalty," national police
spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor said in a statement.The protest
began on Wednesday when farmers barricaded the highway in Kidapawan, demanding
a dialogue with the governor and the release of 15,000 sacks of rice she had
promised to them as relief.The agriculture ministry said more than 300,000
hectares of farmland had been affected by drought, causing loses of about 5.3
billion pesos ($115.09 million) in rice and corn. It said the effects of El
Nino were minimal.
(Reporting
by Manuel Mogato and Enrico dela Cruz; Editing by Nick Macfie)
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-farmers-idUSKCN0WY3SV
Rice Prices Drop Throughout March 2016: BPS
Friday, 01 April, 2016 | 19:36 WIB
TEMPO.CO,
Jakarta-Head of Statistic
Indonesia (BPS) Suryamin said that throughout March 2016, the average price of
premium quality rice in huller level experienced a decline. “Down by 2.18
percent compared to the previous month,” Suryamin said in his office on Friday,
April 1.
Suryamin said the average prices of
premium rice on March 2016 was Rp9,572 per-kilogram or lower than the previous
month of Rp9,785 per-kg. The price of low and medium-quality rice also
experienced the same.Medium-quality rice experienced an average decrease of
1.84 percent from Rp9,622 to Rp9,440 per kg in the previous
month. Low-quality rice experienced a decrease of 0.93 percent compared to
January 2016 from Rp9,280 to Rp9,185 per kg.Compared to March 2015, the rice
average prices in huller level on March 2016 for premium, medium and low
quality rice have slumped by 1.19 percent; 1.57 percent; and 1.58 percent.
BPS has announced that grain price
had experienced a decline in March 2016 compared to February 2016, both for
dried harvested grain (GKP) and dried unhusked grain (GKG).
The price of GKP in farmer level in
March 2016 is down by 9.76 percent to Rp4,703 per kg compared to last
February. Meanwhile, GKG price in March 2016 is down by 4.39 percent
compared to last February to Rp5,501 per kg.
http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2016/04/01/056759033/Rice-Prices-Drop-Throughout-March-2016-BPS
South Africa increasing corn
acreage due to record high prices
01.04.2016
South Africa is
forecasted to plant about 460,000 hectares of wheat in the market year 2016-17,
as the declining trend in hectares planted with wheat will continue and record
high local corn price should motivate an increase in corn area planted rather
than an increase in wheat area, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA)
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) said in a March 24 report.An area of 460,000
hectares will, on average yields and normal climatic conditions, realize a
wheat crop of about 1.7 million, 17% higher than the market year 2015-16 crop
of 1.5 million tonnes.
As a result, South Africa’s wheat imports for
the market year 2016-17 could be 5% lower than in the market year 2015-16 at
1.9 million tonnes.he area to be planted with corn later in 2016, for the
market year 2016-17, will be influenced in a positive manner by record high
local corn price levels, especially for white corn prices. Hence, the report
forecasts that around 2.8 million hectares of corn will be planted later in
2016 under normal climatic conditions, which is about 10% higher than the
five-year average in area planted. Under normal climatic conditions and taking
into account the subsistence farming sector, South Africa’s corn crop for the
market year 2016-17 could reach 12.6 million tonnes.
As a result,
South Africa should return to be a net exporter of corn in the market year
2016-17 of about 1 million tonnes of corn.The report lowered its previous total
corn crop (including commercial and subsistence farming) estimate for the
market year 2015-16, by 13% or 1 million tonnes to 7 million tonnes on 2.2
million hectares. The report estimates that due to the drought, only about 70%
of the normal corn area will be harvested. As a result, South Africa will have
to import approximately 3.5 million tonnes of corn in the market year
2015-16.In market year 2016-17, South Africa’s rice imports are expected to
increase by 10% to 1.1 million tonnes on increased demand. The report forecast
a 10% increase in South Africa’s rice consumption in market year 2016-17.
Consumers can substitute rice, wheat and corn products on price and taste
preferences.
Basmati
exports likely to touch 40 lakh-tonne mark
Lower prices, increase in demand
to push sales of Indian variety
Basmati fetches higher returns
than other rice varieties. Exporters
cite high realisation, which is aroundRs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 per quintal, as the
mainreason behind farmers opting for the basmati variety. Iran’s resumption of import from India
since December 15, 2015 may also provide some cushion to exporters
Vijay C Roy
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 31
Thanks to lower global prices and
increase in demand from countries like the UAE, Iraq, Iran etc, basmati exports
from India is likely to touch a historic high of 40 lakh tonne in 2015-16
against 37 lakh tonne in 2014-15 while it was 37.5 lakh tonne in
2013-14.Experts said despite the low realisation to farmers this fiscal as
compared to 2013-14, the area under basmati cultivation in Punjab and Haryana,
which accounts for around 70% of the total basmati production in India, would
be more or less the same in 2016-17.Basmati fetches higher returns than other
varieties. The exporters cite high realisation, which is around Rs 2,000 to Rs
2,500 per quintal, as the main reason behind farmers opting for the crop.
In 2015, the total area under
basmati cultivation was 21 lakh hectares as compared to 21.3 lakh hectares in
2014.According to the data, in 2014-15, the basmati prices hovered between Rs
1,150 and Rs 4,000 a quintal, while in 2015-16, due to bumper harvest in Punjab
and Haryana, the price of the crop crashed and with the government’s
intervention it was between Rs 925 and Rs 3,100 per quintal.
“This year the exports would cross
40 lakh-tonne mark. However, prospects for the next year are worrisome as it
depends upon a lot of factors. Having said that, I believe the price of the
crop would be more or less the same,” said Gurnam Arora, joint managing
director, Kohinoor Foods Ltd.
He said the buffer stock with
millers who are having assured supply chain is around 5% more than last year.
As far as the exports for 2016-17 is concerned, the exporters are optimistic
and expect that the market will respond favourably on account of GI tag and
other factors.
According to the Agricultural and
Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA), in 2015-16
(April-December), it was 30.6 lakh tonne while in 2014-15, the total exports
were 37 lakh tonne.
R Sundaresan, executive director,
All India Rice Exporters Association, said, “It is beyond doubt that the
aromatic rice variety offers high returns to farmers, so farmers are more
inclined to it. Even during last year, when there was significant increase in area
and production, it gave higher returns to farmers. Moreover, it consumes less
water than the non-basmati varieties. So, we foresee acreage under basmati
would be more or less same and so as the exports.”
Exporters also feel that Iran's
resumption of import from December 15, 2015 may provide some cushion to
exporters. Due to sanctions imposed on Iran, basmati exports to Iran were
suspended from October 2014 to December 2015.
|
International Benchmark Price
|
|
Price
on: 31-03-2016
|
|
Product
|
Benchmark Indicators Name
|
Price
|
|
Honey
|
|
1
|
Argentine
85mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
|
2145
|
|
2
|
Argentine
50mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
|
2200
|
|
3
|
Argentine
34mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
|
2225
|
|
White Sugar
|
|
1
|
CZCE
White Sugar Futures (USD/t)
|
838
|
|
2
|
Kenya
Mumias white sugar, EXW (USD/t)
|
691
|
|
3
|
Pakistani
refined sugar, EXW Akbari Mandi (USD/t)
|
583
|
|
Peanuts
|
|
1
|
South
Africa, HPS 70/80 peanuts CFR main European ports (USD/t)
|
1875
|
|
2
|
South
African, HPS 40/50 peanuts CFR main European ports (USD/t)
|
1000
|
|
3
|
Argentinean
38/42 runners, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
|
1485
|
|
Source:agra-net
|
For more info
|
|
|
Market Watch
|
|
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 29-03-2016
|
|
Domestic Prices
|
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
|
|
Product
|
Market
Center
|
Variety
|
Min Price
|
Max Price
|
|
Jowar(Sorghum)
|
|
1
|
Mandvi
(Gujarat)
|
Other
|
1000
|
1250
|
|
2
|
Gulbarga
(Karnataka)
|
Hybrid
|
1475
|
1909
|
|
3
|
Ahmednagar
(Maharashtra)
|
Other
|
1700
|
2500
|
|
Maize
|
|
1
|
Bellary
(Karnataka)
|
Local
|
1272
|
1417
|
|
2
|
Dahod
(Gujarat)
|
Yellow
|
1475
|
1510
|
|
3
|
Beed
(Maharashtra)
|
Other
|
1384
|
1384
|
|
Orange
|
|
1
|
Thodupuzha
(Chala)
|
Other
|
3300
|
3500
|
|
2
|
Aurangabad
(Maharashtra)
|
Other
|
1000
|
2500
|
|
3
|
Phagwara
(Punjab)
|
Other
|
2600
|
2600
|
|
Cabbage
|
|
1
|
Aroor
(Kerala)
|
Other
|
2800
|
3000
|
|
2
|
Bolangir
(Orissa)
|
Other
|
1500
|
1600
|
|
3
|
Solan
(HimachalPradesh)
|
Other
|
400
|
600
|
|
|
For more info
|
|
|
Egg
|
Rs per 100 No
|
|
Price on 31-03-2016
|
|
Product
|
Market
Center
|
Price
|
|
1
|
Ahmedabad
|
335
|
|
2
|
Hyderabad
|
320
|
|
3
|
Namakkal
|
350
|
|
|
|
|
Other International Prices
|
Unit Price : US$ per package
|
|
Price on 31-03-2016
|
|
Product
|
Market
Center
|
Origin
|
Variety
|
Low
|
High
|
|
Potatoes
|
Package: 50 lb cartons
|
|
1
|
Atlanta
|
Colorado
|
Russet
|
16.50
|
17.50
|
|
2
|
Chicago
|
California
|
Russet
|
21
|
21
|
|
2
|
Detroit
|
Idaho
|
Russet
|
12.50
|
13.50
|
|
Cucumbers
|
Package: cartons film wrapped
|
|
1
|
Atlanta
|
Mexico
|
Long
Seedless
|
11
|
13
|
|
2
|
Dallas
|
California
|
Long
Seedless
|
14.50
|
15
|
|
3
|
Chicago
|
Canada
|
Long
Seedless
|
10
|
11
|
|
Apples
|
Package: cartons tray pack
|
|
1
|
Atlanta
|
Virginia
|
Red
Delicious
|
25.50
|
26
|
|
2
|
Chicago
|
Washington
|
Red Delicious
|
21
|
22.50
|
|
3
|
Miami
|
Virginia
|
Red
Delicious
|
18
|
22
|
|
Source:USDA
|
|
04/01/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report
Rice
|
High
|
Low
|
|
Long Grain Cash Bids
|
- - -
|
- - -
|
|
Long Grain New Crop
|
- - -
|
- - -
|
|
|
|
Futures:
|
|
|
ROUGH RICE
|
|
|
High
|
Low
|
Last
|
Change
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May '16
|
978.5
|
952.5
|
975.5
|
+6.5
|
|
Jul '16
|
1005.0
|
983.0
|
1002.5
|
+6.0
|
|
Sep '16
|
1017.5
|
1000.0
|
1019.0
|
+4.0
|
|
Nov '16
|
1033.0
|
1019.0
|
1036.5
|
+1.5
|
|
Jan '17
|
1053.0
|
1047.0
|
1055.5
|
0.0
|
|
Mar '17
|
|
|
1073.0
|
+2.0
|
|
May '17
|
|
|
1073.0
|
+2.0
|
|
|
Rice Comment
Rice
futures were lower at mid-day, but trading in a narrow range within Thursday’s wide range. The market charted a huge bearish
reversal on Thursday in reaction to USDA's planting intentions
report. Rice acres are expected to be up 17% from 2015 at 3.064 million acres. All
of that gain and then some will be in long grain rice, while medium grain
acreage will actually be down 17% across the country. Arkansas is expected to
plant 1.581 million acres of rice consisting of 1.43 million acres of long
grain and 150,000 acres of medium grain. Flooding this week could delay
planting, but it's still early and traders know there is plenty of time to get
this huge crop in the ground. Technically, May looks headed for a retest of
support at $9.22 on the continuation chart.
Rice Prices
as on : 01-04-2016 08:10:35 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in
Rs/quintal in domestic market.
|
Arrivals
|
Price
|
|
Current
|
%
change
|
Season
cumulative
|
Modal
|
Prev.
Modal
|
Prev.Yr
%change
|
|
Rice
|
|
Bangalore(Kar)
|
1503.00
|
-3.72
|
105634.00
|
4050
|
4000
|
-4.71
|
|
Kanpur(Grain)(UP)
|
250.00
|
8.7
|
8230.00
|
2150
|
2165
|
-0.46
|
|
Gorakhpur(UP)
|
190.00
|
5.56
|
3672.00
|
2070
|
2060
|
5.08
|
|
Azamgarh(UP)
|
182.00
|
1.11
|
3878.50
|
1975
|
1930
|
-
|
|
Sainthia(WB)
|
168.00
|
0.54
|
847.20
|
1780
|
1755
|
-
|
|
Guskara(Burdwan)(WB)
|
157.00
|
-1.26
|
2614.00
|
2150
|
2150
|
-0.46
|
|
Agra(UP)
|
152.00
|
2.7
|
4828.00
|
2090
|
2100
|
4.76
|
|
Memari(WB)
|
147.00
|
-4.55
|
2598.00
|
1700
|
1740
|
-4.49
|
|
Birbhum(WB)
|
145.00
|
1.54
|
1879.00
|
1785
|
1780
|
-9.39
|
|
Allahabad(UP)
|
140.00
|
-22.22
|
5700.00
|
2165
|
2180
|
1.64
|
|
Durgapur(WB)
|
133.00
|
1.92
|
928.50
|
2250
|
2250
|
-6.25
|
|
Asansol(WB)
|
132.00
|
NC
|
1714.50
|
2200
|
2200
|
-
|
|
Sitapur(UP)
|
131.00
|
0.77
|
6407.00
|
2220
|
2225
|
8.29
|
|
Gondal(UP)
|
121.00
|
0.83
|
11197.10
|
2050
|
2060
|
1.99
|
|
Ballia(UP)
|
120.00
|
20
|
6470.00
|
2015
|
2010
|
2.28
|
|
Etawah(UP)
|
120.00
|
26.32
|
18615.00
|
2270
|
2280
|
1.34
|
|
Faizabad(UP)
|
120.00
|
20
|
3711.50
|
2125
|
2100
|
-
|
|
Lucknow(UP)
|
107.00
|
-6.14
|
3411.50
|
2165
|
2170
|
3.10
|
|
Pilibhit(UP)
|
94.00
|
-6
|
17896.00
|
2195
|
2190
|
0.69
|
|
P.O. Uparhali Guwahati(ASM)
|
91.50
|
15.09
|
3147.50
|
2100
|
2100
|
-19.23
|
|
Saharanpur(UP)
|
91.00
|
8.33
|
4147.00
|
2165
|
2160
|
2.12
|
|
Bareilly(UP)
|
87.00
|
-7.45
|
6708.60
|
2285
|
2275
|
11.46
|
|
Aligarh(UP)
|
80.00
|
-5.88
|
2700.00
|
2140
|
2120
|
10.88
|
|
Kalipur(WB)
|
76.00
|
8.57
|
4345.00
|
2050
|
2050
|
NC
|
|
Thodupuzha(Ker)
|
70.00
|
NC
|
2100.00
|
2650
|
2650
|
8.16
|
|
Coochbehar(WB)
|
67.00
|
3.08
|
1250.00
|
2050
|
2050
|
-4.65
|
|
Barasat(WB)
|
60.00
|
9.09
|
2160.00
|
2300
|
2300
|
NC
|
|
Dahod(Guj)
|
56.80
|
-56.77
|
1099.80
|
3900
|
3900
|
-7.14
|
|
Goalpara(ASM)
|
56.50
|
12.33
|
445.90
|
1800
|
1800
|
-
|
|
Mainpuri(UP)
|
50.00
|
-33.33
|
1033.00
|
2015
|
2000
|
4.40
|
|
Nadia(WB)
|
50.00
|
25
|
1140.00
|
3250
|
3250
|
4.84
|
|
Gazipur(UP)
|
47.00
|
4.44
|
1470.00
|
1950
|
1945
|
-1.52
|
|
Kasimbazar(WB)
|
44.00
|
NC
|
1408.50
|
2300
|
2300
|
-8.00
|
|
Beldanga(WB)
|
42.50
|
6.25
|
1534.00
|
2280
|
2280
|
-8.80
|
|
Koderma(Jha)
|
42.00
|
16.67
|
373.00
|
3500
|
3300
|
NC
|
|
Gauripur(ASM)
|
41.00
|
-4.65
|
2390.00
|
4500
|
4500
|
-
|
|
Cachar(ASM)
|
30.00
|
-25
|
1410.00
|
2700
|
2700
|
NC
|
|
Kolhapur(Laxmipuri)(Mah)
|
30.00
|
3.45
|
1349.00
|
3200
|
3200
|
-
|
|
Shikohabad(UP)
|
30.00
|
50
|
445.50
|
1950
|
1960
|
-5.57
|
|
Muzzafarnagar(UP)
|
27.00
|
12.5
|
1073.00
|
2170
|
2180
|
4.58
|
|
Dadri(UP)
|
25.00
|
-10.71
|
1655.00
|
2130
|
2140
|
0.95
|
|
Ramkrishanpur(Howrah)(WB)
|
23.20
|
5.45
|
926.80
|
2300
|
2300
|
-11.54
|
|
Mekhliganj(WB)
|
22.50
|
12.5
|
598.00
|
2050
|
2050
|
10.81
|
|
Jalpaiguri Sadar(WB)
|
22.00
|
NC
|
743.00
|
2750
|
2750
|
1.85
|
|
Dinhata(WB)
|
21.00
|
-2.33
|
103.50
|
2050
|
2050
|
-15.46
|
|
Palghar(Mah)
|
20.00
|
-53.49
|
514.00
|
2310
|
3851
|
-37.16
|
|
Meerut(UP)
|
20.00
|
5.26
|
479.50
|
2210
|
2200
|
3.76
|
|
Diamond Harbour(South 24-pgs)(WB)
|
20.00
|
-4.76
|
539.00
|
1850
|
1850
|
-17.78
|
|
Dibrugarh(ASM)
|
19.00
|
90
|
964.30
|
2400
|
2400
|
-
|
|
Alipurduar(WB)
|
19.00
|
NC
|
384.00
|
2200
|
2200
|
2.33
|
|
Falakata(WB)
|
18.00
|
44
|
326.80
|
2020
|
2020
|
-6.05
|
|
Uluberia(WB)
|
17.00
|
-5.56
|
134.00
|
2200
|
2300
|
-4.35
|
|
Tamluk (Medinipur E)(WB)
|
17.00
|
NC
|
493.00
|
2300
|
2300
|
15.00
|
|
Jajpur(Ori)
|
16.00
|
-71.43
|
346.00
|
2200
|
2200
|
-15.38
|
|
Champadanga(WB)
|
16.00
|
33.33
|
675.00
|
2350
|
2350
|
-9.62
|
|
Tinsukia(ASM)
|
15.00
|
-25
|
100.00
|
2200
|
2200
|
-12.00
|
|
Baraut(UP)
|
15.00
|
114.29
|
215.00
|
2150
|
2150
|
2.38
|
|
Firozabad(UP)
|
14.00
|
-6.67
|
517.00
|
2070
|
2060
|
4.02
|
|
Medinipur(West)(WB)
|
14.00
|
16.67
|
505.00
|
2400
|
2400
|
2.13
|
|
Kannauj(UP)
|
13.00
|
-1.52
|
306.50
|
2185
|
2180
|
-0.23
|
|
Pundibari(WB)
|
11.50
|
15
|
177.00
|
2050
|
2050
|
-3.53
|
|
Pukhrayan(UP)
|
11.00
|
-21.43
|
164.50
|
2040
|
2035
|
-6.42
|
|
Sahiyapur(UP)
|
11.00
|
-
|
11.00
|
2000
|
-
|
-
|
|
Jiaganj(WB)
|
11.00
|
-
|
42.00
|
2250
|
-
|
-5.46
|
|
Lalbagh(WB)
|
10.80
|
13.68
|
65.80
|
2250
|
2250
|
NC
|
|
Khairagarh(UP)
|
10.00
|
11.11
|
310.00
|
2070
|
2080
|
4.55
|
|
Mirzapur(UP)
|
9.50
|
-5
|
1182.00
|
1960
|
1955
|
-0.25
|
|
Muradabad(UP)
|
9.00
|
12.5
|
431.70
|
2270
|
2275
|
12.38
|
|
Chalakudy(Ker)
|
8.00
|
NC
|
92.00
|
2580
|
2580
|
6.39
|
|
Hazaribagh(Jha)
|
7.50
|
NC
|
82.25
|
2550
|
2995
|
-12.37
|
|
Etah(UP)
|
7.00
|
-12.5
|
86.00
|
1900
|
1890
|
-5.94
|
|
Karsiyang(Matigara)(WB)
|
5.20
|
-20
|
72.00
|
2600
|
2600
|
-
|
|
Nimapara(Ori)
|
4.00
|
-11.11
|
151.00
|
2200
|
2200
|
15.79
|
|
Gulavati(UP)
|
4.00
|
100
|
40.00
|
1525
|
2085
|
-25.25
|
|
Hardoi(UP)
|
4.00
|
-98.58
|
2154.00
|
3500
|
2150
|
59.09
|
|
Baberu(UP)
|
3.50
|
-12.5
|
112.50
|
2125
|
2125
|
-
|
|
Farukhabad(UP)
|
3.50
|
NC
|
191.20
|
2170
|
2170
|
-0.69
|
|
Alibagh(Mah)
|
3.00
|
NC
|
105.00
|
4000
|
4000
|
150.00
|
|
Murud(Mah)
|
3.00
|
NC
|
177.00
|
3750
|
3000
|
134.38
|
|
Islampur(WB)
|
3.00
|
-25
|
234.90
|
2150
|
2150
|
-
|
|
Siyana(UP)
|
2.00
|
-20
|
64.00
|
2060
|
2045
|
0.49
|
|
Jhagadiya(Guj)
|
1.00
|
-66.67
|
8.00
|
2575
|
2600
|
0.19
|
|
Punalur(Ker)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
12.50
|
1600
|
1600
|
-
|
|
Penugonda(Mah)
|
1.00
|
-
|
3.00
|
4070
|
-
|
-0.25
|
|
Khliehriat(Meh)
|
1.00
|
-50
|
8.50
|
4500
|
2700
|
-
|
|
Bonai(Bonai)(Ori)
|
1.00
|
-50
|
92.10
|
2000
|
2000
|
-9.09
|
|
Mawana(UP)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
19.20
|
2175
|
2175
|
5.07
|
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article8423256.ece
|
Published : 01 Apr 2016,
22:03:23
|
Incentives for Aus
cultivators
The attention that the government
has been paying lately to Aus rice output is quite encouraging if considered in
the context of the country's food security. In contrast to spectacular growth
in the production of two other rice crops -- Aman and Boro -- both area under
Aus crop and its production have declined continuously during the last three
decades or more. The area under Aus rice declined by 68 per cent and output by
22 per cent. The rate of decline in output has not been in commensurate with
shrinking of area, mainly because of the farmers' switchover to high-yielding
varieties. During the same period, Aman yield increased nearly 70 per cent with
acreage under the crop remaining unchanged during past three decades. The
record of Boro rice was even better. The area under Boro went up 1.5 times and
yield, three times. These two rice crops have helped the country attain near
self-sufficiency in food.With a view to reversing the ongoing trend in Aus
production, the government in recent years has been offering special incentives
to farmers. Last year, the ministry of agriculture extended support, in both
cash and kind, to rice growers. This year the programme has been expanded to
some extent. The minister concerned last Sunday unveiled a programme in this
connection at a news conference. Under the programme, nearly 0.25 million Aus
cultivators in 49 districts would get incentives worth Tk 310 million. In
addition to the distribution of rice seeds and fertilizers, the agricultural
ministry would provide the farmers with cash money to support the expenses on
irrigation of their crop fields, particularly in the drought-prone
districts.The programme, designed to support Aman production, also includes a
special package for the farmers who would be cultivating drought-tolerant
hybrid rice, named, Nerica (new rice for Africa), developed at the African Rice
Centre using one African and one Asian varieties of rice. The new variety is
considered to be high-yielding and drought and pest resistant. Though local
rice researchers and environmentalists are opposed to the introduction of the variety
in Bangladesh, the government appears to be determined to go ahead with Nerica.
Local researches have an aggrieved feeling, for, what they allege, government's
reluctance to promote, at least, two varieties of drought-resistant high
yielding varieties, BIRRI 56 and BIRRI-57. The BIRRI scientists claim that the
locally developed varieties are better than Nerica.The debate apart, the
country needs to boost its rice output to feed its ever-increasing population
against the backdrop of a continuous shrinking of its farm land, estimated at
1.0 per cent a year. The per-acre rice yield in Bangladesh is still at one of
the lowest in the region. There is scope to raise the same with further
expansion of agriculture based on the latest technology. However, a time will
come when the production of two main rice crops -- Aman and Boro -- would reach
a point of saturation. Under the circumstances, Aus crop offers greater scope
to boost production. The programme initiated in support of Aus growers needs to
be strengthened, expanded and monitored better to derive results up to the
desired level.
http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2016/04/01/24155
Feeding the world:
Uncovering a key regulator of flower head development in rice
posted by news on april 1, 2016 - 6:30pm
Rice is a staple food for more
than 3.5 billion people worldwide. Meeting the demand for high-yielding rice is
an urgent task for breeders. Superior, high-yielding hybrid plants are often
produced by crossing two diverse parental lines. This task is quite complicated
in rice, a self-pollinating plant. One approach to solving this problem
originated in the 1970s, when Chinese scientists figured out how to produce
male sterile (MS) rice lines. The use of MS lines allows breeders to perform
controlled pollination, leading to successful hybrid rice production.
Unfortunately, in these MS lines, the panicle (flower head) often remains
enclosed in the surrounding leaf sheath because the region of the stem that
supports it (the uppermost internode) is short, leading to blocked pollination
and reduced seed production. To allow panicles to elongate and emerge from the
leaf sheath, breeders use rice plants with a mutation in the gene ELONGATED
UPPERMOST INTERNODE1 (EUI1), which encodes an enzyme that deactivates the plant
hormone gibberellin (GA). This deactivation allows GA to stimulate uppermost
internode extension, leading to panicle extension, as well as increased plant
height. Understanding what regulates the enzyme EUI1 in normal (wild type)
plants is crucial, as according to Dr. Chengcai Chu of the Chinese Academy of
Sciences, "A further understanding of the molecular mechanism through
which EUI1 activity is regulated during development will provide a more
flexible way to fine-tune panicle extension, which may greatly help breeders
improve hybrid rice seed production".By isolating and exhaustively
analyzing a dwarf mutant with impaired panicle extension, Dr. Chu and
colleagues uncovered a critical regulator of EUI1 gene expression in rice, as
discussed in this week's issue ofThe Plant Cell. This regulator, HOX12, binds
directly to regulatory elements of the EUI1 gene, functioning as a
transcription factor, or central regulator. The scientists propose that HOX12
helps regulate plant growth in response to environmental cues through its
effect on EUI1, which acts as a switch to regulate the migration of
floral-derived GA from the panicle to the stem. The next step will be to
determine the upstream initiators of the HOX12-EUI1 regulatory cascade and the
physiological conditions under which these modulations occur.
Source: American Society of Plant Biologists
http://www.sciencecodex.com/feeding_the_world_uncovering_a_key_regulator_of_flower_head_development_in_rice-179217
Beaumont rice growers optimistic for end of trade embargo
with Cuba
Updated
11:21 am, Friday, April 1, 2016
Photo: Guiseppe Barranco, Photo
Editor
A worker fastens a load of rice to
a tractor trailer at Beaumont Rice Mills on Thursday. Photo taken Thursday,
March 31, 2016 Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise
White bags printed with the U.S. flag and
bearing the legend "From the American People" were adroitly heaved
from a conveyor belt onto flatbed trucks, 6,300 bags in all, bound for the Port
of Houston, to be packed into shipping containers headed for Mauritania in
western North Africa.
The bags, containing rice, were part of a
U.S. Agency for International Development food shipment for poor countries.If Southeast Texas rice
growers have their way, rice shipments soon will be on their way again to Cuba,
a market Texas producers once monopolized.Growers saw President
Barack Obama's recent visit to Cuba as an
encouraging sign that a Cold War-era embargo could be near its end, but
Congress must still vote for repeal."I think it was a positive
event," said
Louis Broussard, whose
Beaumont Rice Mills once sold its Sunset Rice product to Cuba, of Obama's
visit. "We're slowly working on getting rice into Cuba, but there are
still lots of hurdles."
Photo: Ramon Espinosa, AP
In this Monday, March 21, 2016 photo,
Cuban President Raul Castro, right, lifts up the arm of President Barack Obama
at the conclusion of their joint news conference at the Palace of the
Revolution in Havana, Cuba. Brushing off decades of distrust, Obama and Castro
shook hands, a remarkable moment for two countries working to put the
bitterness of their Cold War-era enmity behind them.For a time, during the
George W. Bush administration, a complicated credit
system allowed sales of the U.S.-grown grain to Cuba. But that came to an
end.Cuba's main rice supplier is Vietnam, which gives no-interest credit for a
year to ease sales, Broussard said."We've been talking about getting rice
in since 1999. We need a total removal of the embargo," he said.The Cubans
like "hard-milled" long-grain rice, which is what Beaumont Rice Mills
can deliver. Hard-milled refers to rice grains that are found in U.S.
supermarkets.As
Andy Hewes, co-owner of
Coastal Rice and Futures Inc. in Houston, said, "Cubans
like to say, 'If it's not rice, it's not a meal.'"Hewes said he thinks a
post-embargo market in Cuba could result in the sale of almost a half-million
metric tons per year, which would benefit U.S. taxpayers, farmers, millers, implement
dealers and other services that rice farmers need.Cuba also would benefit from
tourism, which would put money directly into the pockets of Cuban people, who
would have greater income to buy U.S. rice."Embargoes don't work.
Sanctions don't work," he said.
John Gaulding, who is about a third of the
way through planting his almost 700-acre rice crop in Jefferson County,
supports ending the embargo."It was ours (the Cuban market) years and
years ago. It's critical for Southeast Texas and the U.S.," Gaulding
said."We need something to stimulate our market," he
said.Re-establishing the Cuban market would help the Port of Beaumont, he said.
Gaulding sells his harvest to Beaumont Rice Mills.Broussard, who is an elected
Beaumont port commissioner, said he has shipped 8,000 tons of rice through the
port in the past few months.President
John F. Kennedy signed the trade embargo on Feb. 3,
1962. Later that year, the Soviet Union placed nuclear missiles in Cuba that
were capable of striking the United States. The embargo remains in
place."Let's go ahead and do it," Gaulding said of ending the
embargo. "It's 90 miles off (the Florida) coast. We need it, and their
people need it."
http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Beaumont-rice-growers-optimistic-for-end-of-trade-7222477.php
Trump Wall, Like Its Chinese
Counterpart, Could be Made with Rice
By April Fewl
SOMEWHERE ON THE BORDER BETWEEN
THE U.S. AND MEXICO -- Citing new project cost estimates that show the proposed
Trump Wall between the U.S. and Mexico costing more than six times initial
estimates, prospective designers have taken a play out of an ancient Chinese
book and turned to rice as a possible lower cost building material."It's
pretty well documented that the Great Wall of China has rice husks as one of
the binding agents and that it worked really well," said Art Vandalay, a
professor of architecture and urban planning at Whassamatta University in
Saskatchewan, Canada. "They had a
massive public works project and a natural supply of a very hardy material - it
was an ingenious solution to a complex engineering problem."
The Department of Operational
Planning Expenses (DOPE) has reported that the Trump Wall, first estimated to
cost about $4 billion, is now looking at conservative cost estimates of $25
billion, and that materials and transportation of those materials is a major
factor."You have a lot of rice being grown and milled right there in Texas
and in neighboring Louisiana that could keep a steady flow of rice husks to the
1,000 mile job site," Vandalay explained.
"Of course this would mean using bricks and cinder blocks rather
than tall slabs of concrete to make up the wall itself, but it is an option
that could prove cost effective, environmentally friendly, and tasty."
Ambassador Vetter (third from
right) meets with Arkansas farmers and millers
USTR Ag Chief Visits
Arkansas to Talk TPP and Hear Rice Concerns
By Michael Klein
LITTLE ROCK, AR -- The chief agricultural negotiator for the
U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Ambassador Darci Vetter, spent much of this
week in Arkansas, visiting with rice farmers and millers participating in the
Arkansas Farm Bureau meeting, and other agriculture groups as she continues to
make the case for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, signed earlier
this year.
"The U.S. rice industry has not taken a formal position
on TPP yet," explained Dow Brantley, an Arkansas rice farmer and chairman
of both USA Rice and Arkansas Rice Farmers.
"But I was pleased Ambassador Vetter made time to come here to talk
about the deal and hear straight from the growers about our concerns with
unfair global competition and the need for USTR to help the rice industry
address this critical issue."
Brantley also serves as a formal agriculture advisor to the
U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and as such
has met with both Vetter and the USTR himself, Ambassador Michael Froman.
"On TPP, Ambassador Vetter heard our concerns about the
side deal between our top customer, Mexico, and one of our chief competitors,
Viet Nam; that we don't actually see all the gains in Japan that are being
reported; and that we aren't clear how this agreement will be enforced when
there are so many existing trade agreements out there that are not being
enforced."
Brantley said USA Rice has pointed to studies that show
countries like Viet Nam, India, Turkey, and China are not living up to World
Trade Organization (WTO) commitments and that these directly harm U.S. rice
farmers. Vetter has said that her agency
is looking hard at foreign subsidies impacting all of U.S. agriculture.
The next step in the TPP process is for Congress to consider
the massive trade agreement, but nothing is currently scheduled and many think
any real action will take place after the November elections.
Wheat eases on increased supply, reduced
offtake
PTI | Apr 1, 2016, 02.40 PM IST
New Delhi, Apr 1 () Wheat
prices eased by Rs 5 per quintal in an otherwise steady wholesale grains market
today following increased supplies from producing regions against reduced
offtake by flour mills.Elsewhere, other grains including rice basmati traded in
a tight range on little doing and settled around previous levels.Traders said
besides reduced offtake by flour mills, adequate stocks position on higher
supplies from producing belts kept pressure on wheat prices.In the national
capital,wheat dara (for mills) and wheat MP (desi) fell by Rs 5 each to Rs
1,645-1,650 and Rs 2,010- 2,615 per quintal respectively. Atta chakki delivery
followed suit and traded lower by a similar margin to Rs 1,650-1,655 per 90 kg.
Following are today's
quotations (in Rs per quintal):
Wheat MP (desi) Rs
2,010-2,615, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,645-1,650, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs
1,650-1,655, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 230, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 230, Roller
flour mill Rs 855-865 (50 kg), Maida Rs 940-950 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs
1,010-1,025 (50 kg).Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs
11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,700, Basmati common new Rs 5,500-5,600, Rice
Pusa (1121) Rs 4,250-5,200, Permal raw Rs 1,850-1,900, Permal wand Rs
2,050-2,100, Sela Rs 2,200-2,300 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,600-1,620, Bajra Rs
1,590-1,595, Jowar yellow Rs 1,800-1,900, white Rs 3,400-3,500, Maize Rs
1,700-1,710, Barley Rs 1,300-1,310. SUN KPS ABI
Amira Nature Foods
announces new distribution with Cost Plus World Market stores
Amira Nature Foods Ltd has announced that its Amira
branded products will now be available in Cost Plus World Market stores across
the US.Cost Plus World Market, a subsidiary of Bed Bath & Beyond Inc, sells
a wide variety of goods that are imported from more than 50 countries around
the world. Headquartered in Oakland, California, the chain operates more than
250 stores in over 30 states across the U.S. The nationwide retailer will carry
two SKUs of Amira branded products in its stores: Amira Natural Brown Basmati
Rice and Amira Smoked Basmati Rice."We are excited to expand our
distribution in the United States with the addition of Cost Plus World Market
stores," said Karan A Chanana, Chairman of Amira Nature Foods Ltd.
"We are working to expand the Amira brand across the country, and the
addition of Cost Plus with its focus on goods from around the world and
international food products is a perfect fit for our Amira branded rice
products."
Source: Company Press Release
Profitability
of basmati rice exporters to remain under pressure in H1FY17
Price situation to improve on short supply to elevate
exporters' realisation in the second half
Dilip Kumar Jha
| Mumbai April 1, 2016 Last Updated
at 20:06 IST
Basmati rice exports to US might
be hitExporters expect Iran to issue fresh Basmati rice permits by DecRice
exporting companies rally as Iran opens up market for IndiaBasmati rice and
sugar stocks up on favourable fundamentalsBasmati rice exports to Iran via
Dubai soar
India’s basmati rice exports are
likely to remain under pressure till the first half of the financial year
2016-17 on excess supply in destination markets. Improvement, if any, would be
seen only in the second half with gradual receding in inventory resulting into
price increase, said a recent Icra report.Importing countries led by Saudi
Arabia, Iran and United Arab Emirates (contributing nearly half of India’s
exports) stepped up their inventory building on sharp fall in the prices of the
aromatic rice. Consequently, India’s basmati rice exports shot up by 20% to
3.07 million tonnes between April–December 2015 as compared to 2.57 million
tonnes in the corresponding period last year, data compiled by Apeda showed.
Interestingly, falling prices have lowered exporters’
realisation from overseas sales. While the realisation has declined by 14% to
Rs 17,588 crore, the same tanked further in dollar to $2,717 million resulting
into per unit realisation declining to $885 a tonne between Apr–Dec 2015 as
compared to $1,312 a tonne in the comparable period last year.“Supply of
basmati paddy is expected to witness some moderation as farmers are likely to
shift away from basmati, given the non-remunerative prices in the last two crop
cycles. Moreover, since Iran has removed the ban on import of rice, demand is
also expected to witness some improvement, going forward,” said the report.
Meanwhile, the current scenario of excess supply (weak
demand) is expected to continue in the near term and exporters are likely to
continue facing financial stress in the near term. Weak sales growth and
decline in profitability, along with inventory losses, are expected to be the
key trends in the financials (to be reported) of basmati rice players in
2015-16. This is expected to further weaken the leverage profile of industry
players. Any improvement in the situation is likely only from the next basmati
paddy harvest season, that is, the second half of 2016-17.
The industry has reported steady growth in its revenues till
2013-14 given the rising demand in the market leading to high volume of sales
and high realisations. However in FY15, the industry witnessed a decline in
demand following the ban imposed by Iran on import of rice. Consequently,
Indian basmati rice industry reported decline in value of sales in 2014-15.
The industry remains vulnerable to inventory price risk
given sizeable stock levels of the players. As witnessed in FY15, weakness in
demand led to correction in prices which impacted the inventory positions of
the players and hence their profitability. The decline in profitability and
industry’s inability to liquidate its sizeable stocks resulted in increased
working capital borrowings. Thus, the industry reported increase in leverage
and weakness in coverage metrics in FY15.
The significant impact was witnessed in quarter ending March
2015 when the sales did not grow (unlike same quarters in previous years) and
profitability and hence interest coverage declined significantly. This was
largely driven by decline in realisations in the aftermath of ban imposed by
Iran on import of rice. Further, as reflected in the first three quarters of
2015-16, the pressure on revenue and profitability is expected to continue in
the near term.
Business standard
John Teodoro’s concept of a leisure farm
In many leisure farms, especially in Taiwan, the main purpose is to generate
income by offering good food, recreational and educational do-it-yourself (DIY)
activities, souvenir items and a lot more.
In the case of John Teodoro of Solsona, Ilocos Norte, the reason for his
leisure farm is for the enjoyment of his family and to entertain friends. There
is no intention to make money. Just enjoyment for all. That’s what John has
made of his farm in Brgy. Maan-anteng. Of course, he has other farm projects
for business like a nursery of forest trees and flowering plants in another
barangay. He is also the manager of the Ilocos Norte Water District.
One other purpose is to inspire other people, especially those with idle
land, to start making their property productive by planting fruit and forest
trees, vegetables and other crops. One reason why he has a lot of plants grown
in container is that if someone is really interested in coming up with his own
project, John can give the fellow a few plants to start with. And that is for
free!
In his Maan-anteng leisure farm, John has ponds for growing giant gourami
and colored tilapia. When visitors arrive, they are usually served with newly
caught fish that is grilled, cooked in coconut milk or some other preparation.
He really serves the big ones, often with chilled beer, although he himself
does not drink wine or beer for a very special reason he usually tells his
visitors but not for print. Aside from fish, he serves the authentic
Ilocano pinakbet and other special dishes.
John is really proud of his many fruit trees that are grown in containers
like balimbing, calamansi, lemon, makopa, guava and several others. He has also
mature carabao mangoes of which he quips he needs them for their shade and not
for their fruits. That’s what he said when a close friend told him the mango
trees were quite close to each other. He has a low wide spreading duhat tree
near one of his ponds. He said it really produces giant fruits.
In one of his tilapia ponds, John has also placed a small rubber boat for
kids. One young fellow who enjoys boating is his nephew, Lanz Carlyle T.
Peralta.
John keeps his farm really spic and span. It is something that can inspire
others to come up with their own projects either for leisure or profit, or
both.
**** **** ****
AANI FARM TOUR TOMORROW – Participants of the AANI Farm Tour will
visit this Sunday, April 3, the experimental farm of Agrichexers in Sta.
Maria, Bulacan. Agrichexers is one of the biggest feed millers in the country
which manuractures feeds for pigs, chickens and quails.
The experimental farm is where the company tries out its feed formulations
and some practical techniques in growing livestock and poultry.
The participants will be briefed on opportunities in raising quails and
other livestock. Agrichexers which is headed by Gil SP Garcia is the biggest
manufacturer of quail feeds.
The participants will also be able to learn about the new technique of
raising pigs in pens with a mixture of rice hull, carbonized rice hull and
other raw materials as flooring instead of concrete. The system also eliminates
the usual foul odor often encountered in ordinary piggeries because the hog
house is sprayed with probiotic products.
Those interested to join the farm tour may contact Jocelyn Mahipus at
0932-442-5025. They may also go direct to the AANI office at the Quezon
Memorial Circle in Quezon City
John Teodoro’s concept of a
leisure farm
In many leisure farms, especially in Taiwan, the
main purpose is to generate income by offering good food, recreational and
educational do-it-yourself (DIY) activities, souvenir items and a lot more.In
the case of John Teodoro of Solsona, Ilocos Norte, the reason for his leisure
farm is for the enjoyment of his family and to entertain friends. There is no
intention to make money. Just enjoyment for all. That’s what John has made of
his farm in Brgy. Maan-anteng. Of course, he has other farm projects for
business like a nursery of forest trees and flowering plants in another
barangay. He is also the manager of the Ilocos Norte Water District.One other
purpose is to inspire other people, especially those with idle land, to start
making their property productive by planting fruit and forest trees, vegetables
and other crops.
One reason
why he has a lot of plants grown in container is that if someone is really
interested in coming up with his own project, John can give the fellow a few
plants to start with. And that is for free!In his Maan-anteng leisure farm,
John has ponds for growing giant gourami and colored tilapia. When visitors
arrive, they are usually served with newly caught fish that is grilled, cooked
in coconut milk or some other preparation. He really serves the big ones, often
with chilled beer, although he himself does not drink wine or beer for a very
special reason he usually tells his visitors but not for print. Aside
from fish, he serves the authentic Ilocano pinakbet and other special dishes.John
is really proud of his many fruit trees that are grown in containers like balimbing,
calamansi, lemon, makopa, guava and several others.
He has
also mature carabao mangoes of which he quips he needs them for their shade and
not for their fruits. That’s what he said when a close friend told him the
mango trees were quite close to each other. He has a low wide spreading duhat
tree near one of his ponds. He said it really produces giant fruits.In one of
his tilapia ponds, John has also placed a small rubber boat for kids. One young
fellow who enjoys boating is his nephew, Lanz Carlyle T. Peralta.John keeps his
farm really spic and span. It is something that can inspire others to come up
with their own projects either for leisure or profit, or both.
**** ****
****
AANI FARM TOUR TOMORROW – Participants of the
AANI Farm Tour will visit this Sunday, April 3, the experimental farm of
Agrichexers in Sta. Maria, Bulacan. Agrichexers is one of the biggest feed
millers in the country which manuractures feeds for pigs, chickens and quails.The
experimental farm is where the company tries out its feed formulations and some
practical techniques in growing livestock and poultry.The participants will be
briefed on opportunities in raising quails and other livestock. Agrichexers
which is headed by Gil SP Garcia is the biggest manufacturer of quail feeds.
The participants will also be able to learn about
the new technique of raising pigs in pens with a mixture of rice hull,
carbonized rice hull and other raw materials as flooring instead of concrete.
The system also eliminates the usual foul odor often encountered in ordinary
piggeries because the hog house is sprayed with probiotic products.Those
interested to join the farm tour may contact Jocelyn Mahipus at 0932-442-5025.
They may also go direct to the AANI office at the Quezon Memorial Circle in
Quezon City
