India rice prices gain as Bangladesh traders
lap up new crop
January 4, 2018 / 4:59 PM
“Bangladeshi traders are aggressively buying new crop in eastern India. That is giving support to prices as African demand is weak,” said a dealer based in Pune in the western state of Maharashtra.
Farmers in India cultivated winter-sown rice on 1.63 million hectares by December-end, 41 percent higher than a year ago. The country’s non basmati rice exports rose 35 percent in April-November from the corresponding period in the previous year, to 5.57 million tonnes.
The appreciating rupee is also forcing exporters to raise prices to keep their margin intact, said an exporter in Kakinada in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
The Indian rupee was trading near its highest level in about 30 months, slashing exporters returns from overseas sales.
Bangladesh, which emerged as a major rice importer in 2017 after floods damaged its crops, imported 2.3 million tonnes in the July-December period, food ministry data showed.
Despite hefty imports, domestic prices have not budged, with officials and traders expecting more imports of the staple grain in the coming months.
In August 2017, Bangladesh cut a duty on imports of the grain for the second time in two months, prompting purchases by private dealers, with most of the deals being struck with India.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s benchmark 5 percent broken rice was quoted at $393-$396, free-on-board (FOB) Bangkok, from $398-$400 last week, with traders attributing the price changes to currency fluctuations.
The Ministry of Commerce revealed that in 2017, in the Jan 1-Dec 26 period, Thailand exported 11.25 million tonnes of rice, a 14.77 percent increase from the previous year and a record high.
Traders said it was too soon to ascertain how strong exports of Thai rice would be this year as last year’s increase in exports was due to stockpiles the government was offloading into the market.
“I doubt 2018 figures will be as impressive because government stockpiles are running low now,” said a Bangkok-based trader.
On potential deals this year, some traders were optimistic about exporting to Sri Lanka as droughts and floods caused a drop in production of the crop in the country..
“Perhaps there is an opportunity for Thai rice to be exported to Sri Lanka,” said a Bangkok-based trader.
Meanwhile, Vietnam’s rice market remained quiet amid thin trading, with the benchmark 5 percent broken rice extending its flat trend at $390-$395 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Saigon.
Exporters did some trading with buyers in the Philippines at this price range, a trader based in Ho Chi Minh city said
Reuters
New Fortified
Rice Document Hints at Increased Tonnage in 2018
By Rebecca Bratter
ARLINGTON, VA -- For the past three years, USA Rice has worked
closely with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA), and their partner, The World Food Programme
(WFP) to help formulate specifications for a nutritionally superior rice
product for use in global food assistance programs. At long last, the dialogue, field testing,
and peer review, has borne fruit as USAID recently announced the publication of
a new commodity specification document for the procurement of fortified rice
that can address not just hunger but the long-term debilitating effects of
malnutrition.
While fortified rice has been approved for use in global feeding
programs for the past two years, only extruded fortified rice was specified in
the commodity document, therefore limiting the amount of fortified rice
actually used.
As of December 31, 2017, the use of coated fortified rice has been
incorporated into the document as an alternate and equally effective
micronutrient fortified product. This
means more fortified product availability, greater economies of scale, and
efficiency for U.S. government food assistance programs.
Additionally, some of the other rice specifications have been
updated and simplified, including new specifications allowing vendors to
identify suitable packaging that limits infestation and waste.
"While the use of all rice in global feeding programs has
increased significantly over the last year to more than 100,000 MT, we believe
the addition of coated fortified rice to feeding programs will result in greater
use of fortified rice in all food aid programs," said Bobby Hanks,
chairman of the USA Rice Food Aid Subcommittee.
In the last year, the USDA's McGovern Dole Food For Education
Program went from using negligible amounts to more than 25,000 MT of fortified
rice in School Feeding programs in Asia and Africa.
"Reducing and eliminating rampant malnutrition is a goal of
all global food assistance programs, and implementing agencies will be looking
to fortified rice as a key component of food rations in their ongoing and
future programming," Hanks said.
"USA Rice is pleased with the timely release of the new
commodity document and the ongoing strength of its partnership with both USAID
and USDA that made this possible," said Sarah Moran, USA Rice vice
president international. "While the
specification is in effect as of the new year, we will continue to work through
a six-month transition period allowing for any new feedback on the
specification, particularly on packaging and product shelf life."
Moran said she anticipates the trend of increased rice usage in
these programs will continue in 2018 which provides a lift for the entire U.S.
industry
AAU bid for GI tag to Assam lemon, phulam gamosa, komal chaol
WASIM RAHMAN
JORHAT, Jan 4 - After successfully facilitating the fetching of Geographical Indication (GI) for the aromatic joha rice variety of Assam in April last year, the Assam Agricultural University (AAU) is now trying to acquire the same tag for kadji nemu (Assam lemon), phulam gamosa and komal chaol (soft rice). Geographical Indication is a mechanism employed to identify agricultural, natural or manufactured goods which possess certain special qualities or characteristics based on climatic or production conditions unique to a geographical location. In India, the GI is granted by the GI Registry Office based in Chennai, established under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 that came into force with effect from September 15, 2003.
WASIM RAHMAN
JORHAT, Jan 4 - After successfully facilitating the fetching of Geographical Indication (GI) for the aromatic joha rice variety of Assam in April last year, the Assam Agricultural University (AAU) is now trying to acquire the same tag for kadji nemu (Assam lemon), phulam gamosa and komal chaol (soft rice). Geographical Indication is a mechanism employed to identify agricultural, natural or manufactured goods which possess certain special qualities or characteristics based on climatic or production conditions unique to a geographical location. In India, the GI is granted by the GI Registry Office based in Chennai, established under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 that came into force with effect from September 15, 2003.
Muga silk, Assam (orthodox) tea, Karbi Anglong ginger and
Tezpur litchi are the other products from Assam that have acquired the GI tag.
Director of Agri Research, AAU, Dr GN Hazarika told The
Assam Tribune that the university has undertaken an initiative to
offer its expertise to organisations seeking GI for indigenous products of the
State to protect the identity and originality of these products to tackle the
threat of other organisations from outside Assam laying claim of ownership over
the products by applying for GI.
“We think it is our responsibility to offer assistance to
organisations seeking GI for indigenous products,” Hazarika said, adding that
success for the AAU came in April year after joha rice (40 varieties) got the
GI tag. Seuj Satirtha, a farmers’ organisation registered at Demow in Sivasagar
district, received the GI. The AAU director said the university had assisted
the organisation in preparing a comprehensive report to claim GI in 2013 in
terms of history and scientific data.
Scientists from the university accompanied the farmers’ team
to deliver a power-point presentation to experts deputed by the GI office. The
name of the AAU is mentioned in the certificate awarded to Seuj Satirtha,
granting the GI tag.
Hazarika said that in December, 2017, the AAU, after
preparing the proposal report to claim GI for kadji nemu (Assam lemon) for
Na-Dihing Nemutenga Unnayan Samity, a registered farmers’ organisation of
Tinuskia, submitted an application to the GI office in Chennai.
Similarly, in October 2017, after preparing the proposal
report to seek GI for Assam’s phulam gamosa for the Dergaon-based Institute of
Handicraft Development, the AAU submitted an application to the GI office.
Hazarika said that the university was now working on the presentations to be
given to the GI authorities to substantiate the claim for acquiring the GI
status for both the products (Assam lemon and phulam gamosa).
He added that the AAU, in December, 2016, had applied for GI
for komal chaol on behalf of Seuj Satirtha (the same organisation that received
GI for joha rice). In August, 2017, a team of AAU scientists, along with
representatives of Seuj Satirtha, gave a presentation in Delhi to experts
selected by the GI office.
He said the university was hopeful of receiving the GI for
komal chaol, which is cultivated only in Assam and is among the favourite
traditional food items. Hazarika said that unlike other types of rice that need
to be boiled and cooked before eating, komal chaol can be consumed by soaking
in water for just a few minutes. The director said the product has a huge
potential for commercial production and marketing.
Asia Rice-Indian prices gain as Bangladesh traders lap up
new crop
India’s 5 percent broken
parboiled rice prices rose by 3 per tonne to $421-$424 per tonne this week.
“Bangladeshi traders are
aggressively buying new crop in eastern India. That is giving support to prices
as African demand is weak,” said a dealer based in Pune in the western state of
Maharashtra.
Farmers in India cultivated winter-sown
rice on 1.63 million hectares by December-end, 41 percent higher than a year
ago. The country’s non basmati rice exports rose 35 percent in April-November
from the corresponding period in the previous year, to 5.57 million tonnes.
The appreciating rupee is also
forcing exporters to raise prices to keep their margin intact, said an exporter
in Kakinada in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
The Indian rupee was trading near
its highest level in about 30 months, slashing exporters returns from overseas
sales.
Bangladesh, which emerged as a
major rice importer in 2017 after floods damaged its crops, imported 2.3
million tonnes in the July-December period, food ministry data showed.
Despite hefty imports, domestic
prices have not budged, with officials and traders expecting more imports of
the staple grain in the coming months.
In August 2017, Bangladesh cut a
duty on imports of the grain for the second time in two months, prompting
purchases by private dealers, with most of the deals being struck with India.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s benchmark 5
percent broken rice was quoted at $393-$396, free-on-board (FOB) Bangkok, from
$398-$400 last week, with traders attributing the price changes to currency
fluctuations.
The Ministry of Commerce revealed
that in 2017, in the Jan 1-Dec 26 period, Thailand exported 11.25 million
tonnes of rice, a 14.77 percent increase from the previous year and a record
high.
Traders said it was too soon to
ascertain how strong exports of Thai rice would be this year as last year’s
increase in exports was due to stockpiles the government was offloading into
the market.
“I doubt 2018 figures will be as
impressive because government stockpiles are running low now,” said a
Bangkok-based trader.
On potential deals this year,
some traders were optimistic about exporting to Sri Lanka as droughts and
floods caused a drop in production of the crop in the country..
“Perhaps there is an opportunity
for Thai rice to be exported to Sri Lanka,” said a Bangkok-based trader.
Meanwhile, Vietnam’s rice market
remained quiet amid thin trading, with the benchmark 5 percent broken rice
extending its flat trend at $390-$395 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Saigon.
Exporters did some trading with
buyers in the Philippines at this price range, a trader based in Ho Chi Minh
city said.
https://www.brecorder.com/2018/01/05/390791/asia-rice-indian-prices-gain-as-bangladesh-traders-lap-up-new-crop/
Indian rice exporters to gain market share:
Ind-Ra
PTI | Jan
4, 2018, 16:52 IST
Mumbai, Jan 4 () The credit
profile of rice exporters is likely to improve over the near-to-medium term due
to increase in market share following production shortfall in parts of South
Asia, India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) said in a report.
"Credit profile of rice
exporters to improve over the near-to-medium term on the back of increased
market share, higher realisations and improved liquidity. Significant
production shortfall in parts of South Asia is likely to result in a
substantial gain in market share by various Indian exporters," Ind-Ra
said.
Ind-Ra expects Indian rice
exports to account over 29 per cent of the global rice trade in marketing year
(MY) 2017-18 compared to 26.70 per cent in the MY 2016-17.
The rating agency said subdued
yields across major South and East Asian rice producers should result in higher
realisations and marginal improvement in export volumes.
Weak output levels in Vietnam and
other parts of South Asia have resulted in a sharp spike in international
prices, primarily on the back of increased demand from exporters to deliver
forward export orders, it added.
The agency expects demand to
remain strong on the back of higher paddy procurement target and minimum
support price.
In June 2017, the government had
decided to increase the minimum selling price of common grade paddy by 5.4 per
cent to Rs 1,550 per quintal, it said.
The procurement target was also
increased to 37.50 million tonnes in MY 2016-17 from 34.34 million tonnes in
the previous year, it added.
Indian Basmati exports grew 35
per cent annually to Rs 136 billion in the first half of FY18 on the back of a
significant growth in offtake by Iran.
While the timely lifting of the
temporary import ban by the Iranian government on November 22, 2017 is expected
to augur well for Indian rice exporters, yet, significant volume gain is
unlikely due weak demand from countries like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, it said.
Iran is likely to replace Saudi
Arabia as the largest exporter of Indian Basmati rice.
Saudi Arabia reported a 13 per
cent decline in rice imports in the first quarter of FY18.
Despite
the recovery in demand from Iran and the US, Ind-Ra expects total growth in
Basmati export volumes to remain range bound between 3 per cent and 5 per cent.
SM DSK DSK
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/indian-rice-exporters-to-gain-market-share-ind-ra/articleshow/62366721.cms
DOF sees
7-percent growth, manageable inflation this year
January 4, 2018
Growth averaging at least 7
percent should prove within reach this year with the implementation of the Tax
Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law along with the planned
tariffication on rice and the buildup of public infrastructures under President
Duterte, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).
In an economic bulletin, Finance
Undersecretary Gil S. Beltran said this would also enable the government to
sustain a manageable inflation environment going forward.
“Low inflation is an indication
that the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals remain strong. Solid fundamentals
backed by TRAIN 1 implementation, rice-sector reform and the ‘Build, Build,
Build’ policy will push the country’s growth to 7 [percent] to 8 percent this
year and sustain manageable inflation,” said Beltran, also chief economist at
the DOF.
The TRAIN was signed into law by
President Duterte on December 19 and took effect last January 1. The law
exempts compensation earners and self-employed individuals with an annual
taxable income of P250,000 and below.
For December 2017 alone, Beltran
said inflation likely eased further to 3.2 percent from the previous month’s
3.3 percent, on the back of more stable food prices and lower power costs.
Citing estimates from the
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Beltran said price increases of food and
nonalcoholic beverages last month likely remained unchanged at 3.2 percent.
Rice prices were also seen unchanged at 1 percent. Communication, education,
and restaurant and miscellaneous services were likewise seen to stay at their
levels.
The commodity groups that likely
recorded slower price increases last December are housing, utilities and fuels,
3.7 percent, from 4.2 percent a month ago; electricity, gas and other fuels,
8.1 percent from 9.7 percent; transport, 2.8 percent from 4.4 percent;
recreation and culture, 1.5 percent from 1.6 percent.
Also, data showed that Meralco’s
per-kilowatt-hour rate for households consuming 200 KW for the month of
December declined to P9.25, from P9.63 last November. Meralco’s generation
charge for the month decreased to P4.60, from P4.91 a month ago.
Prices of diesel per liter in the
National Capital Region increased to P36.20 last month from P35.46 last
November. But prices of gasoline per liter in NCR declined to P48.12 from
P48.48 a month ago.
Inflation in the first 11 months
of 2017 averaged 3.2 percent, well within the government’s official target
range of 2 percent to 4 percent for the year. Inflation peaked at 3.5 percent
last October.
The interagency Development
Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) last December 22 kept the current
inflation target of 2 percent to 4 percent from 2018 to 2020.
The economy grew by 6.7 percent
in the first three quarters of 2017, mainly driven by robust domestic demand,
higher fiscal spending and investments. This was well within the target range
of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent for the year.
The P8.44-trillion Build, Build,
Build infrastructure program of the Duterte administration is seen creating
multiplier effects in terms of employment aside from further spurring economic
activities.
Under the program, the government
aims to build more roads, bridges, airports, seaports, railways, water and
irrigation projects nationwide. Also included is a 24-kilometer subway train in
Metro Manila in a bid to decongest the metropolis of heavy traffic that has
been causing billions of pesos in economic losses daily.
Earlier, Beltran said the lifting
of quantitative restrictions (QRs) on rice imports in favor of tariffs would
bring several benefits to the economy, among them, slashing the retail price of
the food staple by as much as P7 per kilo and help helping free some 730,000
Filipinos from poverty.
Beltran said a 35-percent import
tariff on rice in lieu of restricting rice import volumes would encourage
private traders to bring in the staple into the country, which would, in turn,
allow the influx of cheaper rice in the domestic market.
“Pulling down rice prices is
crucial to poverty reduction because this staple is a major driver of
inflation,” Beltran said.
The QR policy will allow the
country to limit the volume of rice imports entering the Philippines with a
tariff of 35 percent. Importing outside the volume restrictions will entail a
higher import tariff.
The economic managers decided to
allow the expiration of the QR without applying for another extension before
the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Beltran said that at an expected
import rate of 35 percent, the proposed tariffication would generate P27.3
billion, which the government could use to augment funding for
social-protection projects like cash transfers for the poorest families, as
well as for palay-productivity programs.
Finance Secretary Carlos G.
Dominguez III said among the key objectives of the government’s inclusive
growth agenda was to transform the Philippines into an upper middle-income
economy and cut the poverty rate from the current 21.6 percent to 14 percent by
the time the Chief Executive leaves office in 2022.
The WTO granted the Philippines
an extension of its QR on rice importation until June 30 to give local farmers
more time to prepare for free trade. It first allowed the Philippines to impose
a 10-year QR in 1995. It was extended in 2004 until 2012, and then was renewed
again in 2014.
REAP to send delegation to Saudi Arabia
ISLAMABAD (Online): Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan
(REAP) will send a delegation to Saudi Arabia to further increase the export of
Pakistani rice as there is great demand for Pakistani rice there. This was
disclosed by Senior Vice Chairman, Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan
(REAP) Rafique Suleman during a meeting with Secretary Trade Development
Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Inamullah Khan held at TDAP office in
Karachi. Director General, TDAP Rafeo Bashir Shah, and Secretary REAP Altaf
Hussain Shaikh were also present during the meeting. He said REAP is planning
to send a high profile delegation to Saudi Arabia in March for promoting the
export of the Pakistani rice which is in great demand there. He said the export
of Basmati rice to Saudi Arabia is over one billion dollars per year. Rafique
Suleman expressed with pleasure that the REAP is seeing positive growth in rice
exports, however, there are several measures to be taken for the betterment of
the 2nd largest export trade. He shared the suggestions with TDAP Officials.
He said that since long time Pakistan did not have any good rice
seed, that is why many companies are importing hybrid seeds of rice. He
emphasized for proper check and balance on import of hybrid seeds, as it has
been observed that some companies are importing low quality rice seeds which
are not good for our agricultural environment. He also requested to give some
relief to rice exporters as they are making huge investments for value addition
in rice and struggling hard to compete in international markets, particularly for
the survival of Basmati rice exports. He suggested to give farmers latest rice
equipments, such as Dryers etc. on easy installments, so that rice growers can
get good quality rice for export purpose. He also suggested to organize
Awareness Programme by TDAP for farmers for adopting latest techniques in rice
farming.
Data centre planned to
secure farm prices
· 5 Jan 2018 at 07:00
· NEWSPAPER SECTION: BUSINESS | WRITER: PHUSADEE ARUNMAS
Chutima: New ways of dealing with
rice
The Commerce Ministry plans to build a real-time commodity data
centre to manage inventories, production and marketing strategy to prevent prices
from falling, said Chutima Bunyapraphasara, the deputy commerce minister.
The data management centre will be distinct from data centres,
jointly set up with the Agriculture Ministry, to manage plantations and
agriculture zoning, she said.
"The joint data centre will need more specified information
technology and will take longer time to set up. But we plan to have another
data centre to help us form a clearer picture for each commodity to better deal
with them," said Ms Chutima.
Initially, the data centre will collect information about
production, stocks and commodity demand, she said.
The Commerce Ministry wants to start with rice and palm oil,
which are major commodities that usually face price dips and oversupply
problems.
Thailand faces a 500,000 tonne glut in crude palm oil. That
supply is weighing on prices, forcing the Energy Ministry to try and ramp up
the proportion of palm-based biodiesel sold to motorists to 7%, up from 3-5%.
Another commodity that needs to be managed is rice, said Ms
Chutima.
"We need to find new ways to deal with rice as several
related factors have changed significantly," she said.
For instance, domestic rice consumption is changing due to the
growth in foreign tourists.
"The number of foreign visitors has risen to over 30 million.
That could push us to put aside more rice for domestic consumption. But
external factors could also affect our exports, pushing us to need a new data
centre to analyse these changes," said Ms Chutima.
Thailand normally produces 30-33 million tonnes of paddy and 20
million tonnes of milled rice each year. Around 10 million tonnes is for
domestic consumption and the rest for export.
She said the Commerce Ministry still holds 2 million tonnes of
rice stocks, built up during the Yingluck government's 2011 rice buying scheme.
The present stock is well below the record high of 18 million tonnes.
But Ms Chutima said the ministry had stopped releasing rice
stocks for several months in order to buoy domestic prices during the
harvesting period of November-January.
"We will think about releasing supply again in
February," she said.
Trade with China on the upswing
May Kunmakara / Khmer Times
Cambodia’s exports to China, the
second largest economy in the world, rose sharply during the first 11 months of
2017, by as much as 18 percent compared with the same period in 2016, according
to the latest data from the Ministry of Commerce.
Total exports to the Chinese
market reached $634 million from January to November 2017, an 18 percent
increase.
Meanwhile, Cambodian imports from
the East Asian giant experienced a more moderate growth, going from $4.33
billion in 2016 to $4.48 billion last year, a five percent hike.
Cambodian shipments to the
Chinese markets consisted mostly of agricultural products, primarily rice,
cassava, cashew nuts, semi-processed palm oil and rubber.
Imports from China were mainly
cars, motorcycles, construction material, fabric for garment factories,
cigarettes and fertilizers.
Song Saran, the president of Amru
Rice (Cambodia), one of the largest rice millers and exporters in the country,
told Khmer Times yesterday that China is an essential market for Cambodian
products.
“Despite being a relatively new
market for us, there is great potential in the agriculture sector,” he said,
adding that as one of the largest importers of agricultural products, China is
a key market for milled rice, cassava, corn and rubber.
“However, when it comes to
industrial products, I don’t think there is so much room for us, as they
already produce them at home.”
Mr Saran said that in the past
Cambodia could not sell directly to China, instead having to sell its products
to Thailand or Vietnam, where they would eventually be sold again to China.
“But now China has opened up its
market to Cambodia and we can sell directly there,” he said. “This is an
excellent starting point.”
In November last year, Cambodia
signed two memorandums of understanding (MoU) with Export-Import Bank of China
and CITIC Group Cooperation to help the kingdom increase paddy production and
boost rice exports.
The agreements aim to increase
rice exports to China beyond the 300,000 tonnes now allowed by the quota in
place.
The new partnership will result
in the development of 15 warehouse and silos across 11 provinces. The
envisioned warehouse and silo network will have the potential to process up to
19,500 tonnes of rice per day and store nearly one million tonnes.
Mr Saran said the current quota
system with China is curtailing the kingdom’s potential in trade.
“If we can negotiate with the
Chinese government and eliminate quotas, we will be able to export to China as
much or even more than our neighbours,” he said.
“We hope the Chinese government
will eliminate quotas for Cambodia as the European Union and the US have done.
It will boost our economy.”
January 05 2018
Year 2017 was not one of the best years for the state’s farm
sector. Farmers across Orissa suffered multiple adversities through last kharif
season starting from a monsoon shortfall that led to a near-drought situation
to massive pest attacks on ripe paddy crops to unseasonal rains that almost
washed away ready-to-harvest crops in most districts. The government did its
bit to ameliorate farmers’ woes by way of aid packages. Yet, the year saw
deaths of a number of farmers owing to alleged crop failure and under debt
burden. The majority of deaths were reported from high production districts such
as Bargarh and Bolangir, while stray cases of farmer suicides were also
reported from some other districts.
Having said this, what has come as a surprise is the steep
revision the government has effected in paddy procurement (both kharif and
rabi) target this year although the sector faced serial vicissitudes. The
government has upgraded paddy procurement target by a steep 25 per cent from 56
lakh metric tonnes to 70 lakh metric tonnes. The new target has stoked doubts
in the minds of many. The total land under cultivation in the state has not
gone up substantially to warrant the figure nor was there a rise in land
productivity. Secondly, a bumper harvest will not be shorn of its attendant woes
such as more procurement snags besides milling and preservation issues. The
administration has not been able to open mandies when they are required forcing
farmers to approach traders or resort to distress sale. A number of rice
millers have defaulted to deposit custom-milled rice, leading to blacklisting
of many. Crores of rupees that the government borrows from the open market to
pay minimum support price to farmers for their paddy are ensnared in court
cases. Acting tough on erring rice millers, the government Tuesday suspended
supply of paddy to 81 rice millers in the state. This is on top of nearly a 100
rice millers that have been already disallowed by respective district
administrations to participate in the procurement programme.
The state requires about 20 lakh metric tonnes of rice
equivalent to about 32 lakh metric tonnes of paddy to meet its welfare
programme. The remaining rice is sold to the FCI. However, the latter may not
be willing to receive so much of surplus rice from the state government.
Thousands of crores of rupees are still pending with the corporation. Farmers
will continue to play into the hands middlemen until the government builds up
adequate storage infrastructure in the state. More procurement will not
necessarily be merrier for the state.
632 total views, 111 views today
AAU
bid for GI tag to Assam lemon, phulam gamosa, komal chaol
WASIM RAHMAN
JORHAT, Jan 4 - After successfully facilitating the fetching of Geographical Indication (GI) for the aromatic joha rice variety of Assam in April last year, the Assam Agricultural University (AAU) is now trying to acquire the same tag for kadji nemu (Assam lemon), phulam gamosa and komal chaol (soft rice). Geographical Indication is a mechanism employed to identify agricultural, natural or manufactured goods which possess certain special qualities or characteristics based on climatic or production conditions unique to a geographical location. In India, the GI is granted by the GI Registry Office based in Chennai, established under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 that came into force with effect from September 15, 2003.
WASIM RAHMAN
JORHAT, Jan 4 - After successfully facilitating the fetching of Geographical Indication (GI) for the aromatic joha rice variety of Assam in April last year, the Assam Agricultural University (AAU) is now trying to acquire the same tag for kadji nemu (Assam lemon), phulam gamosa and komal chaol (soft rice). Geographical Indication is a mechanism employed to identify agricultural, natural or manufactured goods which possess certain special qualities or characteristics based on climatic or production conditions unique to a geographical location. In India, the GI is granted by the GI Registry Office based in Chennai, established under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 that came into force with effect from September 15, 2003.
Muga silk,
Assam (orthodox) tea, Karbi Anglong ginger and Tezpur litchi are the other
products from Assam that have acquired the GI tag.
Director of
Agri Research, AAU, Dr GN Hazarika told The Assam Tribune that
the university has undertaken an initiative to offer its expertise to
organisations seeking GI for indigenous products of the State to protect the
identity and originality of these products to tackle the threat of other
organisations from outside Assam laying claim of ownership over the products by
applying for GI.
“We think it is
our responsibility to offer assistance to organisations seeking GI for
indigenous products,” Hazarika said, adding that success for the AAU came in
April year after joha rice (40 varieties) got the GI tag. Seuj Satirtha, a
farmers’ organisation registered at Demow in Sivasagar district, received the
GI. The AAU director said the university had assisted the organisation in
preparing a comprehensive report to claim GI in 2013 in terms of history and
scientific data.
Scientists from
the university accompanied the farmers’ team to deliver a power-point
presentation to experts deputed by the GI office. The name of the AAU is
mentioned in the certificate awarded to Seuj Satirtha, granting the GI tag.
Hazarika said
that in December, 2017, the AAU, after preparing the proposal report to claim
GI for kadji nemu (Assam lemon) for Na-Dihing Nemutenga Unnayan Samity, a
registered farmers’ organisation of Tinuskia, submitted an application to the
GI office in Chennai.
Similarly, in
October 2017, after preparing the proposal report to seek GI for Assam’s phulam
gamosa for the Dergaon-based Institute of Handicraft Development, the AAU
submitted an application to the GI office. Hazarika said that the university
was now working on the presentations to be given to the GI authorities to
substantiate the claim for acquiring the GI status for both the products (Assam
lemon and phulam gamosa).
He added that
the AAU, in December, 2016, had applied for GI for komal chaol on behalf of
Seuj Satirtha (the same organisation that received GI for joha rice). In
August, 2017, a team of AAU scientists, along with representatives of Seuj
Satirtha, gave a presentation in Delhi to experts selected by the GI office.
He said the
university was hopeful of receiving the GI for komal chaol, which is cultivated
only in Assam and is among the favourite traditional food items. Hazarika said
that unlike other types of rice that need to be boiled and cooked before
eating, komal chaol can be consumed by soaking in water for just a few minutes.
The director said the product has a huge potential for commercial production
and marketing.
Rice Radio
By Kurt Richter
To listen to an audio podcast, mouse over the title and click
Play. Open iTunes to download and subscribe to podcasts.
Description
Rice Radio is an inside look at
all things related to the California Rice Industry and the Sacramento Valley.
Produced and Hosted by California Rice Grower, Kurt Richter, Rice Radio covers
the crop, the market, water, water and property rights, conservation,
regulations, and much more.
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Description
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Released
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Price
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1
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The USA Rice Outlook Conference: Growing Rice, Selling Rice,
and Telling That Story.
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The USA Rice Federation held its annual Outlook Conference in
early December. It's a change for people from all avenues of the
industry to get the latest on what's going on with rice in the United States
and globally. What's happening in...
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12/27/2017
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Free
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2
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Episode 4: The Oroville Dam: Past, Present, and Future
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In February of 2017, the residents of
Oroville, California,
along with other
downstream communities of the Feather
River, had their lives turned upside down
by the threat of flooding from failed
structures at the Oroville Dam site.
It was a...
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11/28/2017
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Free
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3
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Episode 3: Harvest ’17, Waterfowl & Water Storage Outlook
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Lodged rice, equipment breakdowns, parts
shortages, crazy geese! In this episode
of Rice Radio, we recap a California
Rice Harvest that has
been called one
of the most difficult
of the last 40 years.
I also talk to Fish and Wildlife about...
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10/27/2017
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Free
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4
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Episode 2: Harvest, Shorebirds, and Roxy
|
It's autumn in California, which means rice
harvest is in full swing. In this episode
of Rice Radio, we check in at harvest
and see how things are
coming along.
I'll also introduce you
to a new
development in California Rice,
which could change how...
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9/26/2017
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Free
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5
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Episode 1: Welcome to Rice Radio!
|
The premiere episode of the new podcast,
Rice Radio. Topics covered include a recap
of the 2017 rice
season, including
wild weather and
flooding.
Also covered, army worms,
weedy red rice, and the
Chinese market finally
opening up to U.S. Rice.
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8/25/2017
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Free
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For the thousands of drivers that
head up and down the monotonous i5 corridor and want to know more about the sea
of rice fields they are passing through, this will inform and entertain you on
your journey. For those in the industry, hearing Mr. Richter’s fresh
perspectives may give you something new to consider. Whether you are in the
industry or not, this podcast will hook you in.
Indian rice exporters to gain market share: Ind-Ra
PTI | Jan
4, 2018, 16:52 IST
Mumbai, Jan 4 () The credit
profile of rice exporters is likely to improve over the near-to-medium term due
to increase in market share following production shortfall in parts of South
Asia, India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) said in a report.
"Credit profile of rice
exporters to improve over the near-to-medium term on the back of increased
market share, higher realisations and improved liquidity. Significant
production shortfall in parts of South Asia is likely to result in a
substantial gain in market share by various Indian exporters," Ind-Ra
said.
Ind-Ra expects Indian rice
exports to account over 29 per cent of the global rice trade in marketing year
(MY) 2017-18 compared to 26.70 per cent in the MY 2016-17.
The rating agency said subdued
yields across major South and East Asian rice producers should result in higher
realisations and marginal improvement in export volumes.
Weak output levels in Vietnam and
other parts of South Asia have resulted in a sharp spike in international
prices, primarily on the back of increased demand from exporters to deliver
forward export orders, it added.
The agency expects demand to
remain strong on the back of higher paddy procurement target and minimum
support price.
In June 2017, the government had
decided to increase the minimum selling price of common grade paddy by 5.4 per
cent to Rs 1,550 per quintal, it said.
The procurement target was also
increased to 37.50 million tonnes in MY 2016-17 from 34.34 million tonnes in
the previous year, it added.
Indian Basmati exports grew 35
per cent annually to Rs 136 billion in the first half of FY18 on the back of a
significant growth in offtake by Iran.
While the timely lifting of the
temporary import ban by the Iranian government on November 22, 2017 is expected
to augur well for Indian rice exporters, yet, significant volume gain is unlikely
due weak demand from countries like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, it said.
Iran is likely to replace Saudi
Arabia as the largest exporter of Indian Basmati rice.
Saudi Arabia reported a 13 per
cent decline in rice imports in the first quarter of FY18.
Despite
the recovery in demand from Iran and the US, Ind-Ra expects total growth in
Basmati export volumes to remain range bound between 3 per cent and 5 per cent.
SM DSK DSK
CBN to make Nigeria global rice
giant
Rice: Thailand, India to lose $8m daily
…as Nigeria bans imports
Thailand and India, the biggest
exporters of rice to Nigeria, may lose over $8 million per day, following the
country’s plan to stop importation of rice this year, New Telegraph has learnt.
President Muhammadu Buhari hadm in his New Year message, last Monday, said that Nigeria will stop rice importation this year.
A report obtained by our correspondent put the exports to Nigeria by the pair at $8 million per day.
Besides, statistics from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) revealed that government was already pruning rice importation quota to importers in order to pave the way for massive local production.
The report stated that this was already causing panic in the two countries’ economies.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, was quoted as saying in the report that the plan to stop rice importation was also sending jitters into the international market, especially major countries benefitting from Nigeria’s rice importation.
Ogbeh said Nigeria’s annual food import bill of around $20 billion could not be sustained under the current economic atmosphere, adding that backward integration programme was the solution to attaining industrialisation.
He said that Nigeria was the largest rice producer in Africa and also the continent’s biggest importer of the grain.
The report revealed that Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote’s announcement last year that he was making a $1 billion investment in Nigeria’s rice production seemed to vindicate government’s approach.
It stated that Dangote Group planned to produce one million tons of parboiled milled rice over the next five years, equivalent to 16 per cent of domestic demand.
Other big players in the production chain include Lagos-based conglomerate, TGI, which opened a rice mill in August with a capacity of 120,000 tons and Olam Nigeria, part of Singapore-based Olam International, which plans to boost its existing rice output.
Also, it stated that Dangote’s rice initiative planned to provide inputs such as seeds and fertiliser, as well as training for nearly 50,000 medium and smallholder farmers, who will then provide their land and labour.
The report added that some of the government initiatives were in place to promote small-scale agriculture.
They include the CBN’s $300 million Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, introduced in 2015 to provide cheap loans and input subsidies for hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers.
In addition, the World Bank is also supporting government’s agricultural transformation strategy with a $200 million loan to support small-to mid-scale rice production. Government’s grow-your-own push seems to be working, according to the report.
However, in his response to the country’s bid to end rice importation this year, the Managing Director of Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, Mahmoud Daneji, said that government may have a laudable programme on the table on rice self-sufficiency, but many of the smallholder farmers, who produce over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s food face an uphill battle to maintain that supply.
“You may have a very laudable programme, but in as much as there is no input from the potential beneficiaries, it will definitely fail,” he revealed.
Daneji listed the problems farmers face to include lack of access to quality seeds, fertiliser, effective agricultural extension systems and access to credit for those who need it.
He explained that despite the raft of initiatives aimed at boosting output, farmers still typically worked with their bare hands in fields lacking irrigation, live in areas with poor roads that limit their access to markets and are facing a growing threat of climate change without advice on how to adapt.
“In a survey last year, farmers cited the lack of fertiliser as their biggest problem by far, despite a long-running government input programme. Nearly three-quarter of respondents said they were unaware of any government interventions aimed at helping them,” he said.
Also, the Kano State chair of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Abdulrashid Magaji, said the bulk of government programmes rarely reached their intended target.
“They go instead to political favourites and close associates of politicians,” he alleged.
President Muhammadu Buhari hadm in his New Year message, last Monday, said that Nigeria will stop rice importation this year.
A report obtained by our correspondent put the exports to Nigeria by the pair at $8 million per day.
Besides, statistics from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) revealed that government was already pruning rice importation quota to importers in order to pave the way for massive local production.
The report stated that this was already causing panic in the two countries’ economies.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, was quoted as saying in the report that the plan to stop rice importation was also sending jitters into the international market, especially major countries benefitting from Nigeria’s rice importation.
Ogbeh said Nigeria’s annual food import bill of around $20 billion could not be sustained under the current economic atmosphere, adding that backward integration programme was the solution to attaining industrialisation.
He said that Nigeria was the largest rice producer in Africa and also the continent’s biggest importer of the grain.
The report revealed that Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote’s announcement last year that he was making a $1 billion investment in Nigeria’s rice production seemed to vindicate government’s approach.
It stated that Dangote Group planned to produce one million tons of parboiled milled rice over the next five years, equivalent to 16 per cent of domestic demand.
Other big players in the production chain include Lagos-based conglomerate, TGI, which opened a rice mill in August with a capacity of 120,000 tons and Olam Nigeria, part of Singapore-based Olam International, which plans to boost its existing rice output.
Also, it stated that Dangote’s rice initiative planned to provide inputs such as seeds and fertiliser, as well as training for nearly 50,000 medium and smallholder farmers, who will then provide their land and labour.
The report added that some of the government initiatives were in place to promote small-scale agriculture.
They include the CBN’s $300 million Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, introduced in 2015 to provide cheap loans and input subsidies for hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers.
In addition, the World Bank is also supporting government’s agricultural transformation strategy with a $200 million loan to support small-to mid-scale rice production. Government’s grow-your-own push seems to be working, according to the report.
However, in his response to the country’s bid to end rice importation this year, the Managing Director of Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, Mahmoud Daneji, said that government may have a laudable programme on the table on rice self-sufficiency, but many of the smallholder farmers, who produce over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s food face an uphill battle to maintain that supply.
“You may have a very laudable programme, but in as much as there is no input from the potential beneficiaries, it will definitely fail,” he revealed.
Daneji listed the problems farmers face to include lack of access to quality seeds, fertiliser, effective agricultural extension systems and access to credit for those who need it.
He explained that despite the raft of initiatives aimed at boosting output, farmers still typically worked with their bare hands in fields lacking irrigation, live in areas with poor roads that limit their access to markets and are facing a growing threat of climate change without advice on how to adapt.
“In a survey last year, farmers cited the lack of fertiliser as their biggest problem by far, despite a long-running government input programme. Nearly three-quarter of respondents said they were unaware of any government interventions aimed at helping them,” he said.
Also, the Kano State chair of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Abdulrashid Magaji, said the bulk of government programmes rarely reached their intended target.
“They go instead to political favourites and close associates of politicians,” he alleged.
https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/01/rice-thailand-india-lose-8m-daily/
Bulog to adopt new approach for better
absorption of farmers' rice
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta | Thu, January 4, 2018 | 11:54 am
The National Logistics Agency (Bulog) has said
on Wednesday that it will change its approach in purchasing rice to enable it
to absorb more unhusked rice from farmers, according to a kompas.com report.
Bulog purchased 2.1 million tons of unhusked
rice from farmers last year, or a mere 57 percent of its 2017 target of
3.7 million tons.
Bulog procurement director Andrianto Wahyu Adi
said on Wednesday at the Agriculture Ministry that the agency could not
optimally purchase rice from farmers as part of the government’s
mechanism to control the prices of unhusked rice from farmers, as it had
to wait for the farmers to sell their rice.
In terms of the agency's change in approach, he
said Bulog would no longer use the public service obligation (PSO) mechanism,
with prices determined by the government, to purchase unhusked rice
from farmers this year. Instead, the agency would buy the commodity at
commercial prices.
“If we use commercial prices, we can buy rice
according to market prices. We hope that the prices will [thus] be
more competitive,” Andrianto said.
He said Bulog planned to buy 2.7 million tons
of unhusked rice in 2018, after taking into account last year's absorption
rate, which fell well below target.
He said the agency was no longer tasked with
distributing subsidized rice to low-income households, following the
government's decision to distribute assistance through a cashless
mechanism. (bbn)
Rice, guar gum lead 11% farm
goods export surge in April-Nov
BENGALURU, JANUARY
4:
Maintaining the growth momentum,
farm products in the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export
Development Authority’s (Apeda) export basket have clocked an increase of 11
per cent in rupee terms and 15 per cent in dollar terms for the April-November
period this fiscal. The growth is led by a surge in shipments of non-basmati
and basmati rice, guar gum and dairy products.
However, buffalo meat — the
single largest product accounting for 23.4 per cent of Apeda’s export portfolio
— saw a marginal dip in both volumes and value.
The curbs imposed on export of
onion, a key product in the fresh vegetables category, have slowed despatches.
Rice shipments surge
“Non-basmati rice is witnessing a
good growth. In fact, the growth in non-basmati is higher than basmati. Also,
the demand for guar gum, mainly from the US, has pushed up the exports. Except
for fresh vegetables, there is growth in all other categories,” said Apeda
chairman DK Singh.
MEP drags exports
Onion, he said, accounts for
about half of fresh vegetable exports and is mainly shipped to Bangladesh.
The imposition of the minimum
export price (MEP) by the Centre to boost domestic supplies amidst rising
prices has pulled down the export growth in fresh vegetables, which slumped in
value terms by over 21 per cent to ₹3,153 crore.
Demand from Iran and West Asian
nations continued to push up basmati shipments. Purchases by Sri Lanka, where
drought has impacted the local rice production, and Bangladesh have contributed
to the growth of non-basmati rice exports.
Shipments of dairy products grew
15 per cent in value to ₹1,179 crore during the period, while other animal products such
as sheep/goat meat, animal casings and processed meat too performed better.
Exports of wheat and groundnuts
lost out on the price front.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-guar-gum-lead-11-farm-goods-export-surge-in-aprilnov/article10012235.ece
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- January 5, 2018
·
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-January 5, 2018
Nagpur, Jan 4 (Reuters) – Gram prices showed weak tendency in Nagpur Agriculture Produce
Marketing Committee (APMC) on lack of demand from local millers amid high moisture content
arrival. Fresh fall in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and release of stock from stockists also
pulled down prices.
About 150 bags of gram reported for auctions in Nagpur APMC, according to sources.
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Desi gram raw moved down in open market on lack of demand from local traders.
TUAR
* Tuar gavarani and tuar Karnataka recovered in open market on increased demand
from local traders.
* Moong Chamki reported weak in open market on poor demand from local traders amid
good supply from producing regions.
* In Akola, Tuar New – 4,100-4,200, Tuar dal (clean) – 6,000-6,200, Udid Mogar (clean)
– 7,800-8,800, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,300-7,600, Gram – 4,300-4,400, Gram Super best
– 6,400-7,000
* Wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in
scattered deals and settled at last levels in thin trading activity.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction 3,200-3,700 3,200-3,790
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction n.a. 3,500-4,201
Moong Auction n.a. 3,900-4,200
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800
Wheat Mill quality Auction 1,600-1,706 1,600-1,686
Gram Super Best Bold 7,000-7,500 7,000-7,500
Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.
Gram Medium Best 6,000-6,500 6,000-6,500
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a
Gram Mill Quality 4,100-4,200 4,100-4,200
Desi gram Raw 4,650-4,750 4,700-4,800
Gram Kabuli 12,400-13,000 12,400-13,000
Tuar Fataka Best-New 6,200-6,500 6,200-6,500
Tuar Fataka Medium-New 5,900-6,100 5,900-6,100
Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 5,700-5,900 5,700-5,900
Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 5,300-5,600 5,300-5,600
Tuar Gavarani New 4,300-4,400 4,200-4,300
Tuar Karnataka 4,600-4,800 4,500-4,700
Masoor dal best 5,000-5,200 5,000-5,200
Masoor dal medium 4,700-4,900 4,700-4,900
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold (New) 7,500-8,000 7,500-8,000
Moong Mogar Medium 6,500-7,000 6,500-7,000
Moong dal Chilka 5,800-6,500 5,800-6,500
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 7,400-7,900 7,500-8,000
Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 8,000-8,500 8,000-8,500
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,800-7,000 5,800-7,000
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,000-6,200 5,000-6,200
Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,500 5,000-5,500
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,300 3,200-3,300
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,800 3,400-3,800
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000
Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,750-1,850 1,750-1,850
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,150-2,350 2,150-2,350
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,400 2,200-2,400
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,950-2,150 1,950-2,150
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,700 3,200-3,700
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,800 2,400-2,800
Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,600 3,200-3,600
Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-2,800 2,700-2,800
Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,500 2,300-2,500
Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600
Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,350-2,450 2,350-2,450
Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 4,100-4,500 4,100-4,500
Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,500-3,900 3,500-3,900
Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,400 5,000-5,400
Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 4,400-4,900 4,400-4,900
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 9,500-13,500 9,500-13,500
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-7,500 5,000-7,500
Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000
Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 5,200-5,500 5,200-5,500
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,200 2,000-2,100
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,800-2,000 1,700-2,000
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 27.2 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 9.1 degree Celsius
Rainfall : Nil
FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 27 and 09 degree
Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, butincluded in market prices)
India
rice prices gain as Bangladesh traders lap up new crop
“Bangladeshi traders are aggressively buying new crop in eastern India. That is giving support to prices as African demand is weak,” said a dealer based in Pune in the western state of Maharashtra.
Farmers in India cultivated winter-sown rice on 1.63 million hectares by December-end, 41 percent higher than a year ago. The country’s non basmati rice exports rose 35 percent in April-November from the corresponding period in the previous year, to 5.57 million tonnes.
The appreciating rupee is also forcing exporters to raise prices to keep their margin intact, said an exporter in Kakinada in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
The Indian rupee was trading near its highest level in about 30 months, slashing exporters returns from overseas sales.
Bangladesh, which emerged as a major rice importer in 2017 after floods damaged its crops, imported 2.3 million tonnes in the July-December period, food ministry data showed.
Despite hefty imports, domestic prices have not budged, with officials and traders expecting more imports of the staple grain in the coming months.
In August 2017, Bangladesh cut a duty on imports of the grain for the second time in two months, prompting purchases by private dealers, with most of the deals being struck with India.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s benchmark 5 percent broken rice was quoted at $393-$396, free-on-board (FOB) Bangkok, from $398-$400 last week, with traders attributing the price changes to currency fluctuations.
The Ministry of Commerce revealed that in 2017, in the Jan 1-Dec 26 period, Thailand exported 11.25 million tonnes of rice, a 14.77 percent increase from the previous year and a record high.
Traders said it was too soon to ascertain how strong exports of Thai rice would be this year as last year’s increase in exports was due to stockpiles the government was offloading into the market.
“I doubt 2018 figures will be as impressive because government stockpiles are running low now,” said a Bangkok-based trader.
On potential deals this year, some traders were optimistic about exporting to Sri Lanka as droughts and floods caused a drop in production of the crop in the country..
“Perhaps there is an opportunity for Thai rice to be exported to Sri Lanka,” said a Bangkok-based trader.
Meanwhile, Vietnam’s rice market remained quiet amid thin trading, with the benchmark 5 percent broken rice extending its flat trend at $390-$395 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Saigon.
Exporters did some trading with buyers in the Philippines at this price range, a trader based in Ho Chi Minh city said.
Rice imports hit two-decade high
12:00
AM, January 04, 2018 / LAST MODIFIED: 11:04 AM, January 04, 2018
Soaring imports fail to rein in
prices
Rice
imports scaled a two-decade high in the first half of the fiscal year as
private importers rushed to make profit from higher prices resulting from huge
crop losses amid three episodes of floods.
Imports of the staple stood at
22.59 lakh tonnes in July-December of fiscal 2017-18, the highest since 1998-99
when a record 30.67 lakh tonnes of rice were bought from external sources in
the full fiscal year, according to food ministry data.
The government imported 5.08 lakh
tonnes of rice in July-December.
Analysts said imports soared in the
face of speculation of a decline in yield of current aman and low stocks of
previous boro rice at private mills. A slash in import duty to 2 percent from
10 percent in August gave a boost to imports.
Analysts said higher imports will
increase supply, thus helping to stabilise the market and benefit consumers.
But the government should be watchful so that higher imports do not hurt
farmers by creating a glut in the market, they added.
“Imports will continue as prices
are higher in Bangladesh compared to India,” said Citta Majumder, managing
director of Majumder Group of Industries.
Food ministry data showed letters
of credits to import 32 lakh tonnes of rice were opened until December 23 last
year.
The buoyancy in imports continues
at a time when farmers have harvested most of the aman crop, which accounts for
38 percent of the country's annual rice production.
The soaring imports and the harvest
of aman crop have increased the availability of rice. However, prices of the
staple still remain high.
In Dhaka, retail prices of the
coarse and medium quality rice, consumed by the majority of the population,
were Tk 44 to Tk 56 a kg yesterday, according to data from the state-run
Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).
Yesterday's prices of coarse and
medium quality grain were 6 percent and 4 percent higher from a month ago, show
TCB data.
Majumder said there is high
speculation that aman output declined in 2017 from a year ago.
The government decision to buy rice
at Tk 39 per kg and millers' rush to buy aman paddy contributed to the higher
prices, he said.
Majumder said the number of buyers
is high this year. Many millers don't have any stock of previous boro paddy and
entered the market to buy aman paddy to keep their mills running.
A US Department of Agriculture
report in November forecasted a drop in aman production to 1.3 crore tonnes in
the fiscal year. The agency also said overall output will decline.
In December, the Food and
Agriculture Organization said total paddy production would fall in 2017 by 3
percent to 5.08 crore tonnes, a five-year low. It estimated paddy output at
5.21 crore tonnes in 2016.
“In Bangladesh, three episodes of
severe floods during 2017 affected large areas of the country, particularly
northern districts, causing losses to the two main boro and aman crops, which
together account for more than 90 percent of total annual output,” said the
FAO.
Rezaul Karim Talukder, poverty and
social protection policy adviser of the FAO Bangladesh, said the floods and a
disease infestation in aman crop might have caused a loss of 15-20 lakh tonnes
of rice.
He said imports are rising as there
is demand from the private and public sectors.
Talukder expected the prices of
rice to become stable for increased imports and the harvest of aman.
Quazi Shahabuddin, a former
director general of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, said the
private sector is importing because of the price gaps between domestic and
international markets.
He stressed ensuring a bumper boro
harvest in the coming season to bring down prices of rice
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Organic
Rice Market research report is a professional and
in-depth study on the current state of the Organic Rice Industry. The process
is analysed thoroughly with respect three points, viz. raw material and
equipment suppliers, various manufacturing associated costs (material cost,
labour cost, etc.) and the actual process of whole Enterprise Organic Rice
market.
Short
Detail About Organic Rice Market Report: Organic
farming is defined as a production system which largely excludes or avoids the
use of fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators, preservatives and livestock
feed additives and totally rely on crop residues, animal manures, legumes,
green manures, off-farm wastes, mechanical cultivation, mineral nutrient
bearing rocks and biological pest control to maintain soil health, supply plant
nutrients and minimize insects, weeds and other pests.
Top
Manufacturer Included in Organic Rice Market:
Doguet̢۪s Rice, Randallorganic, Sanjeevani Organics, Kahang Organic
Rice, RiceSelect, Texas Best Organics, CAPITAL RICE, YINCHUAN, URMATT, Vien
Phu, SUNRISE foodstuff JSC, KHAOKHO TALAYPU, BEIDAHUANG, Yanbiangaoli, Jinjian,
HUICHUN FILED RICE, Dingxiang, Heilongjiang Taifeng, Heilongjiang
Julong And
More……
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sample Report @http://www.360marketupdates.com/enquiry/request-sample/10396777
Organic
Rice Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers: North America (USA, Canada
and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy),Asia-Pacific (China,
Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia),South
America, Middle East and Africa
Organic
Rice Market Segment by Type, covers: Polished
glutinous rice(sticky rice), Indica(long-shaped rice), Polished round-grained
rice
Organic
Rice Market Segment by Applications, can be divided into: Direct
edible, Deep processing
Scope of
the Organic Rice Market Report: This
report focuses on the Organic Rice in Global market, especially in North
America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This
report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and
application.
Browse
Detailed TOC, Tables, Figures, Charts and Companies Mentioned in Organic
Rice Market Research Report @ https://www.360marketupdates.com/10396777
Key
questions answered in the report:
· What
will the market growth
rate of Organic Rice market in 2022?
· What
are the key factors driving the
global Organic Rice market?
· Who
are the key manufacturers in
Organic Rice market space?
· What
are the market opportunities, market risk and market
overview of the Organic Rice market?
· What
are sales, revenue, and price analysis of top manufacturers of Organic Rice
market?
· Who
are the distributors, traders and dealers of Organic Rice market?
· What
are the Organic Rice market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in
the global Organic Rice market?
· What
are sales, revenue, and price analysis by types and
applications of Organic Rice market?
· What
are sales, revenue, and price analysis by
regions of Organic Rice market?
The Organic Rice market analysis report speaks
about the growth rate of Organic Rice market in
2022 manufacturing process, key
factors driving the Global Organic Rice market, sales, revenue, and price analysis of
top manufacturers of Organic Rice Market, distributors,
traders and dealers of Organic Rice Market.
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Period offer, 12% Discount on Organic Rice Market, Request at: https://www.360marketupdates.com/enquiry/request-discount/10396777
Next part of Organic Rice Market Research
Report contains additional information like key
vendors in Organic Rice Market
space, Organic Rice Market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in
the Global Organic Rice Market, opportunities,
market risk and market overview of the Organic Rice
Market. The process is analysed thoroughly with respect three points, viz. raw material and equipment suppliers, various
manufacturing associated costs (material cost, labour cost, etc.) and the
actual process.
Purchase Organic
Rice Market Report at $ 3480
REAP
delegation to visit Saudi Arabia
Masroor
Afzal Pasha
Karachi
The rice exporter has sought the help of all concern government
departments dealing in the affairs of rice crop to its exports to device a
bail-out plan that would help boost declining trend of Pakistani Basmati rice
exports in the international market. In a meeting the Senior Vice Chairman,
Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), Rafique Suleman with Inamullah
Khan, Secretary, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) at TDAP Head
Office here on Thursday. He also urged to give some relief to rice exporters
are they are making huge investments for value addition in rice processing and
struggling hard to compete in international markets, particularly for the
survival of Pakistani Basmati rice exports. “We are foreseeing positive growth
in rice exports, however; there are several measures to be taken for the
betterment of the second largest export trade,” he said, adding, since a long
time we don’t have any good rice seed that is why many companies are importing
hybrid seeds of rice. He emphasized for proper check and balance on the import
of hybrid seeds, as it has been observed that some companies are importing
low-quality rice seeds which are not good for our agricultural environment.
After the visit of REAP Delegation to the Philippines in 2015, International
Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has sent new GSR-1 & GSR-2 rice seeds,
further NIBGE Faisalabad has introduced New Basmati Rice Seed BR-1 which is
also useful in the low quantity of water.
Global CEO for RiceTec AG: The
Evolution of Hybrid Rice
The
next University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Food and
Agribusiness Webinar is Jan.
Webinar Title: The Evolution of Hybrid
Rice
Webinar Date and Time: Jan. 11, 7 p.m. Central
Standard Time (CST)
In his presentation, Gumina will
chart the evolution of hybrid rice development starting with the fundamental
need for more calories in China during the 1970s. Next, he will explain the
20-year journey of the germplasm development to meet the needs of Western
Hemisphere markets.
The program will provide an
update on the global adoption of hybrid rice in production systems. Gumina will
provide an update on the effort and progress on improving grain quality in
conjunction with high yields and the grower’s role in driving quality.
Finally, he will provide a view
on how hybrid breeding can tailor grain quality to meet the needs of specific
markets and how that will improve overall competitiveness for US exports.
Gumina has been engaged
with production agriculture and the seed industry for over 35 years. He is
currently the lead executive for RiceTec AG, which is a privately held, leading
global hybrid rice seed business.
Webinar Registration Link: http://bit.ly/UAEX-RiceTec-Webinar
Prior to joining RiceTec, Gumina
was an executive with DuPont Pioneer, where he was responsible for global seed
production operations and a member of several key global and regional
management teams.
Gumina has played an active role
in the broad seed industry as a member of the American Seed Trade Association
Board of Directors (chairman 2011-12) and the International Seed Federation
board of directors.
He has been a member of numerous
non-profit boards and advisory panels including the Iowa State Seed Science
Center, Iowa 4-H Foundation, ChildServe and most recently the First the Seed
Foundation.
Gumina is a graduate of Iowa
State University with a degree in agronomy.
Bobby Coats is a professor in the Department of Agricultural
Economics and Agribusiness, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas
System, Cooperative Extension Service. E-mail: recoats@uark.edu.
http://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/global-ceo-ricetec-ag-evolution-hybrid-rice
