Rice prices
still high
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:05 AM December 18,
2018
Although
rice prices have continued to decline, a member of the country’s monetary board
said it was difficult to say whether prices will go back to year-ago levels.
Monetary
board member and former International Rice Research Institute executive
director Bruce Tolentino said there were many variables that need to be
considered.
“One answer
is to apply the anticipated inflation rates for 2019 and 2020 to the price of
rice moving forward from now. That should provide a fair approximation of the
range,” he said.
The Bangko
Sentral ng Pilipinas expects the country’s inflation rate in 2019 and 2020 to
hit 3.18 percent and 3.04 percent, respectively.
As of the
first week of December, the average price of regular-milled and well-milled
rice declined to P42.17 and P45.73 a kilo, respectively, data from the
Philippine Statistics Authority showed.
However,
compared to prices a year ago at P38.06 and P42.24 a kilo, respectively, these
are still higher by 10.80 percent and 8.74 percent.
Prices are
also still higher than the suggested retail prices of P39 and P44 a kilo for
local regular-milled and well-milled rice.
Paddy output to rise: FAO
12:00 AM,
December 18, 2018 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:06 AM, December 18, 2018
The overall production of the
staple food would be higher than the five-year annual average of 5.17 crore
tonnes (equivalent of around 3.53 crore tonnes of rice) between 2013 and 2017.
The forecast comes as farmers are
harvesting the aman paddy crop, the second biggest crop after boro, in various
parts of the country and ample supply pushes down the prices of rice in the
market.
The United Nations agency said data
involving aman paddy, which accounts for about 40 percent of the annual
production, would be finalised in January.
“Production prospects are
favourable reflecting an above average area planted, supported by remunerative
producer prices at planting time and expectations of bumper yields following
beneficial weather conditions,” it said.
The FAO referred to harvest of boro
and aus earlier this year, saying that official estimates indicate record
outputs reflecting the high level of plantings due to strong domestic prices
and bumper yields facilitated by favourable weather conditions.
The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics
(BBS) estimated that boro rice production rose 8.67 percent year-on-year to
1.95 crore tonnes in 2018 from that a year ago.
An estimate for aus rice production
is yet to be released by the BBS.
But the Department of Agricultu-ral
Extension (DAE) puts the aus rice production figure at 29 lakh tonnes, up 7
percent from that a year ago.
The FAO said, because of ample supply
from record output, Bangladesh's rice imports may decline to 8.50 lakh tonnes
in fiscal 2018-19. Total rice import hit a record at 38.92 lakh tonnes the
previous year. During the current fiscal year, one lakh tonnes of rice were
imported between July 1 and December 12, according to food ministry data.
However, wheat import requirements are estimated at a record level of 60 lakh
tonnes in the current fiscal year, said the FAO.
“The strong demand for wheat
reflects a shift in consumers' diet preferences as well as the increased use as
a substitute for more expensive rice,” it said, adding that maize imports were
expected to increase to 17 lakh tonnes due to sustained demand for feed.
Overall, cereal import requirement
in the July-June period of 2018-19 is estimated at 86 lakh tonnes, almost 30
percent above the five-year average and 22 percent less than the previous
year's unusual high, FAO said.
Apart from increased imports, maize
production also rose 6 percent year-on-year to 32 lakh tonnes in 2018, reflecting
increased plantings to meet rising demand.
The FAO also forecasts that wheat
production may drop to 13 lakh tonnes, slightly below the five-year average,
due to a contraction in plantings as farmers preferred to shift to more
remunerative crops such as paddy.
Rice tariff bill not expected to significantly raise imports — USDA
A worker is seen at an NFA warehouse in Quezon City. -- PHILSTAR/MICHAEL VARCAS
THE US Department of Agriculture does
not expect significant growth in the volume of rice imports in Markey Year (MY)
2018-2019 even with the passage of the rice tariffication bill.
The USDA said sufficient overseas
orders have been made, though the law would favor imports from ASEAN countries.
The USDA said that potential
imports over the long term will depend mainly on the Philippines’ domestic
production. The USDA said the law, which lberalizes the rice importation
process, will bring down rice prices by P2 to P7 per kilo, helping contain
inflation.
The Philippine Statistics
Authority (PSA) reported that palay production for the three months to December
may decline 1.3% to 7.22 million metric tons (MT), due to a decline in the area
planted to rice. The yield per hectare may also fall 0.51% to 3.91 MT.
The PSA added that the average
farmgate price of palay fell 0.20% from a week earlier to P20.01 per kg in the
first week of December.
The average wholesale and retail
prices of well-milled rice also fell, according to PSA.
The average wholesale price of
well-milled rice fell 0.26% from a week earlier to P42.43 per kg in the first
week of December. The average retail price of well-milled rice fell 0.26% to
P45.93 per kg.
The average retail and wholesale
prices of regular-milled rice, also fell, the PSA said.
The average wholesale price of
regular-milled rice fell 0.56% from a week earlier to P39.21 per kg. The
average retail price of regular-milled rice fell 0.66% to P42.17 per kg.
The average farmgate price for
yellow corn in grain form rose 1.35% week-on-week to P14.23 per kg, the PSA
said. The average wholesale price rose 0.49% to P20.63 per kg.
The average retail price was
unchanged week-on-week at P25.73 per kg.
The average farmgate price for
white corn in grain form rose 1.11% from a week earlier to P14.55 per kg.
The average wholesale price for
white corn in grain form rose 0.97% week-on-week to P20.90 per kg. The average
retail price rose 0.07% to P27.84 per kg. — Reicelene
Joy N
China may park $2
billion in Pakistan reserves this month
ISLAMABAD: In a positive development, China is most
likely to park $2 billion in Pakistan reserves sometime in the ongoing month of
December, and, more importantly, the economic diplomacy with the UAE is also
going to fetch the dividends. And in the month of January 2019, the country is
most likely to attain $6 billion facility as is managed from Saudi Arabia, a
senior official, privy to the development, told The News.
“UAE will also deposit $3 billion in Pakistan reserves, but in
installments’ mode, and would also extend oil facility of $3 billion on
deferment payment too.”
To a question the official said that China will deposit $2 billion
not in installments but most likely in one-go. He further explained saying that
apart from it, Pakistan authorities are also in process to finalise the
purchase of 15 billion RMBs (Yuan) at commercial rate almost at the cost of
over $2 billion for trade with China in local currency which will help Pakistan
come out of US dollar’s pressure too.
The expected relief from China in December and from the UAE in
January next year will provide mammoth solace to the PTI government. However,
he said, China wants Pakistan not to highlight its assistance for strengthening
the reserves.
The official said that the latest statement by Asad Umar that
Pakistan is not in a hurry for the IMF bailout package indicates that impending
relief from China and UAE to support the foreign reserves is on the cards.
The official, while referring to Asad Umar, the Finance Minister
of Pakistan, who is also on the record saying balance of payment issue is over,
said that Mr Umar was in knowledge that things are moving with China and UAE in
positive trajectory and now behind-the-scene talks with both the countries have
got matured indicating that China and UAE are all set to come forward to
bailout Pakistan from the current economic morass.
Pakistan has already got $2 billion out of $3 billion promised by
S Arabia to strengthen the foreign exchange reserves. Only $1 billion is left
that Pakistan is yet to receive from S Arabia. According to State Bank of
Pakistan Abid Qamar country will get remaining $1 billion from S Arabia in the
month of January 2019. Apart from it, Pakistan has started availing the oil
facility of $3 billion on defer payment.
However, the official said that Pakistan’s authorities are still
in touch with IMF for about $6-7 billion package. Pakistan direly needs the
comfort letter for the Fund for move financial ties with international
financial institutions (IFIs).
It is pertinent to mention here that The News, in its edition of
November 7, 2018, had published the story of this scribe quoting a cabinet
member that China has indicated that it will place $2 billion in Pakistan
reserves to provide Pakistan’s financial managers a sense of confidence with
regard to reserves situation.
The News also broke the story while quoting Federal Commerce
Minister Razzak Dawood that Beijing offered Pakistan to double its exports to
China from $1.2 to $2.2 billion by end of ongoing financial year 2018-19 and in
case Pakistan succeeds to do that, China will also encourage Pakistan to
increase it exports by one billion dollars more.
In addition, Beijing also indicated to extend to Pakistan a
special quota for export of sugar and rice which will also help Pakistan have a
massive surge in exports to China. This will help reduce trade deficit with
China which stands at over $14 billion. The official said that Pakistan can
increase its exports by just $500 million by sending to Chinese market one
million tons sugar and one million tones rice.
He said China’s imports stand at $2 trillion, but Pakistan entrepreneurs
lack the ability to harness even one percent share in China’s total imports.
But, unfortunately, Pakistan has not required export surplus to avail the
Chinese offer to triple its exports to China.
Nigeria has
potential to become giant in rice production-Expert
Mr Babatunde Ajibola, Head, Media
and Communication, Elephant Group Plc, a local rice producing company in Lagos
says Nigeria has everything to become giant in rice production in Africa.
Ajibola, who said this in a statement to in Lagos on Monday,
expressed delight that local rice producing companies were solidly
supporting the Federal Government to ensure availability of local rice
for consumption and export.
”The Group, along with major rice stakeholders, is in full
support of the Federal Government plans for food security and adequate rice
production for the citizens,“ he said
He commended the present administration for giving serious
consideration to the production of local rice instead of relying mainly on oil.
”Once the nation’s potential in rice production is harnessed,
smuggling of rice into the country will be a thing of the past.
”Many farmers, through the Federal Government support, have up
scaled their cultivation of paddy rice nationwide. Their harvest of paddy rice
is what is processed by rice producing companies and bagged for sale in the
local markets,” he said.
Ajibola noted that many rice milling plants were being
established while the moribund ones were being acquired and put to meaningful
uses.
He said that the Elephant Group acquired one of such mills,
Elele Alimini Rice processing mill, in Rivers and had been making effective use
of it to produce its own brand of local rice.
According to him, the Elele Alimini rice mill has the capacity
to process 201 metric tonnes of paddy rice per day.
Ajibola said that local rice producers patronising of farmers
for paddy rice had encouraged the local rice growers to cultivate more rice
through the Out-growers Scheme of the Federal Government thereby leading to the
expansion of the nation’s agricultural value chain.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria consumers
demand for rice currently stands at 5.8 million tonnes per annum.
By Raheem Ayobami and Chidinma Agu
https://www.primepost.ng/2018/12/17/nigeria-has-potential-to-become-giant-in-rice-production-expert/
Rice exports hit
over US$ 495 million in eight months
PUBLISHED 16 DECEMBER 2018
From
April 1 to November 30, this year, the country earned US$ 495.577 million from
exports of 1450728.850 tons of rice and broken rice, according to the figures
released by the Commerce Ministry.
During eight months, rice exports
via the marine trade hit US$ 225.07 million while the border trade reached US$
270.507 million.
The rice export sector earned US$
551 million from exports of 1.423 million in 2012-2013 fiscal year, US$ 475
million from exports of 1.262 million in 2013-2014 FY, US$ 660 million from
exports of 1.840 million in 2014-2015 FY, US$ 526 million from exports of 1.493
million in 2015-2016 FY and US$ 553 million from exports of 1.750 million in
2016-2017 FY.
The rice exports via the border
trade camps exceed the marine trade. The rice exports via the border trade
camps hit 60 per cent in 2012-2013, 72 per cent in 2013-2014, 77 per cent in
2014-2015, 81 per cent in 2015-2016, 72 per cent in 2016-2017 and 52 per cent
in 2017-2018 FY.
Thanks to the market expansion in
2017-2018 FY, the total rice exports hit nearly 3.6 million tones. In 2017-2018
FY, the rice exports via sea routes accounted for 48 per cent.
During this fiscal year, the border
trade accounts for 53.62 per cent and the marine trade for 46.38 per cent.
According to the main objective of
the local rice sector, Myanmar is expected to fetch US$ 1.5 billion from
exports of four million tons of rice in the next three years.
https://elevenmyanmar.com/news/rice-exports-hit-over-us-495-million-in-eight-months؎
Company-to-company
deal signed for rice, maize
Farmers
harvesting paddy in the outskirts of Yangon. Zarni Phyo/The Myanmar Times
He said the agreement signed on
December 14 allows the Chinese companies to buy the maximum stipulated amounts
allowed by China’s government.
“China’s government has quotas
for rice and maize imports. We would like to sign deals for 100,000 or one
million tonnes, however, we signed deals for the amount that our Chinese
partners can officially obtain import licences for. It is first step. If it is
successful, other deals may come,” he said.
Shan State (Northern) Rice and
Paddy Development’s rice mills are among mills approved by China’s General
Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the
People’s Republic of China.
Myanmar’s is still negotiating
with the Chinese government on quotas for rice exports.
The signing of the contract
earlier this month was on a business-to-business basis, but the Myanmar Trade
Promotion Organisation is negotiating with Chinese government for broader
arrangements in terms of rice exports.
Revenge of the antique rice grain
A group rallies against hybrid seeds to save the heirloom
varieties- Published 16.12.18,
2:21 AM
- Updated 16.12.18,
3:03 AM
That left Das and his two friends — Sudipta Mukherjee, an officer with the fire services department in Calcutta, and Rupak Kumar Paul, a college teacher — intrigued. Das says, “That is the first time we learnt about paddy that is flood-resistant.” Thereafter, the three decided to follow up the revelation with some serious research. In due course, they came to know about paddy varieties that are drought-resistant and others that can grow in brackish water.
They also learnt that these indigenous or folk varieties with names such as Kalli, Changa, Kochi, Malsera, Kakri, Bahurupi had ceded place to high-yielding hybrid rice, a hot market favourite. Five years later, Das and his friends launched the Forum for Indigenous Agricultural Movement or Fiam, a platform to rejuvenate lost varieties of rice.
The first step was finding as many varieties of seeds as possible. One stop was the Agriculture Training Centre at Phulia; it had over 400 varieties of heirloom seeds. The other thing to do was identify individuals with collections.
Nutritionists
have called a kind of rice that protect against weight gain
By paradox
18.12.2018
Black
rice slows the growth of fat tissue.
Journal of Medicinal Food published a report on the study of
South Korean scientists from Seoul University and Sejong University, have
studied the properties of black rice. As a result of scientific experts came to
the conclusion that the addition of germinated black rice in the diet protects
against obesity against eating foods high in fat.
Biologists from South Korea have been exploring the mechanisms
of development of obesity, and also are searching most effective methods of
protection against this violation. The experts have conducted a number of
laboratory studies, allowing to understand, whether sprouted black rice have a
tangible impact on the appearance of excess weight.
The interest of scientists to this product is not accidental.
Black rice is known for the large amount of protein. In addition, it includes
vitamins b, E, folic acid, significant amounts of magnesium, phosphorus, zinc
and manganese. In addition, black risk is a source of anthocyanins antioxidants
– substances that help people deal with diseases of the heart and brain, cancer
and other serious illnesses. Also, experts indicate that the black rice
compared to the usual half the sodium that contribute to the development of
heart failure.
The authors of the new project experimented with mice. Animals
were divided into four groups. The first group received normal feed, the second
feed with a high fat content, the third and fourth groups of fatty food, in
which was added sprouted black rice. In the diet of rodents from the third
group black figure was 2.5% of the daily food ration of mice from the fourth
group – 5%.
As a result, scientists were able to ascertain that the
inclusion of black rice in saturated fats diet effectively protects against the
growth of fat tissue. The effect of black rice experts connect with a high
content of protein and dietary fiber. When the assimilation is a slowdown in
the metabolism of sugar. Black rice in this regard can be very useful for
diabetics.
“The results of the eight-week experiment showed that adding
black rice in the diet significantly reduced the lipid accumulation in liver
and adipose tissue,” – said experts.
‘Polished’ PDS rice racket busted
ANANTAPUR, DECEMBER 18, 2018 00:19 IST
Vigilance and Enforcement officials on Monday here seized 283.35
quintals of public distribution system (PDS) rice that was allegedly to be
polished with palm oil and sold in Karnataka.
Sale in Karnataka
Regional Enforcement Officer G. Ramanjaneyulu said following a
tip-off from officials in Kadapa that a gang was bringing the rice from there
to Anantapur to polish it behind a temple at a godown belonging to Mudra
Venugopal and Anjaneyulu, officials seized an autorickshaw- APD4 TU 8879 - and
the rice. Mehboob Basha used to buy PDS rice from beneficiaries at ₹10 per kg and sell at ₹13 a kg to Anjaneyulu, who, with
his partner, allegedly repackaged it under brand names: India Gate, Helicopter,
Krishnaveni, Mother Gold, Apple, Gemini and Saroj Agro and sold it in Kadiri in
the district and in Karnataka.
Cases have been registered under section 420 (cheating and
dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and
6A (confiscation of essential commodities) of the Essential Commodities Act.
Official: Expect
Lake Rice in Lagos markets soon
December 17, 2018
The Lagos State Government says its indigenous rice called “Lake
Rice” would be available in markets before the year ends at the rate of N12,000
per bag.
Mr Okanlawon Sanni, the Special Adviser to Gov. Akinwumi Ambode
on Food Security, made the assertion while speaking with the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.
Sanni told NAN that though the commodity was not available in
the markets now, efforts were being made to ensure its availability to buyers
during the Yuletide.
“The Lake Rice is not in the market for now but any moment from
now, it will arrive from Kebbi and Lagosians will have enough of it during the
festive period for N12, 000.
“The rice will be available at all local government areas across
Lagos and in designated centres, retail markets and super stores,” he said.
“The state government had taken stocks of the equipment for the
up calling of the Imota rice mill and that the installation will commence soon.
“One of the areas we are looking at to ensure all year round
availability of the commodity is to build our mill.
“The equipment have arrived and installation will commence in
earnest because that is the only way we can address the hiccups experienced in
the supply chain of the commodity,” Sanni said.
NAN reports that the Lagos State Government had said it
subsidized LAKE Rice to the tune of N1.049 billion from December 2016 till
date, as part of efforts aimed at sustaining food sufficiency and food
security.
During his annual Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the third
anniversary of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration, the Commissioner for
Agriculture, Mr Oluwatoyin Suarau, said that LAKE Rice, which was being sold at
a highly subsidised rate of N12,000 per bag of 50kg, had helped to crash the
skyrocketing price of rice in the country.
“The government has subsidized LAKE Rice under this review
period with over N1 billion. This is targeted toward ensuring food
sustainability and food security in the state and as an end result, making Lake
Rice a national brand,’’ he said.
Suarau explained that the subsidy included cost of
transportation, bagging and difference in cost price of the rice from other
brands.
He added that 150 marketers and other ancillary service
providers had been empowered through the sale of LAKE Rice.
LAKE Rice is being produce from the partnership venture between
Lagos State and Kebbi governments whereby, Kebbi produces the paddy and Lagos
mills the rice.
NAN also reports that it is estimated that the partnership,
which began in March 2016, will facilitate the creation of 274,000 jobs across
the agriculture value chain.
“It will also bring about the cultivation of 32,000 hectares of
farm land to produce rice paddy, equating to an estimated 130 million
kilogrammes of processed rice per year which is an equivalent of 2.6 million
50kg bags of rice,’’ he said.
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Seven arrested for allegedly
mislabeling rice for sale
By Wendy Amarteifio
Category:
Seven arrested for allegedly mislabeling rice for sale
Seven have been arrested and in police
custody over alleged mislabeling of rice for sale.
Two owners of
a warehouse and their five employees have been arrested in a joint operation by
the police and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) for allegedly mislabeling low
quality and low cost rice as popular and high cost brands and selling them to
the unsuspecting public.
The names of the owners of the warehouse have been given by the police as Alhassan Fuseni, 40, and Sumaila Sudique, 50.
The names of their five employees have been withheld by the police.
According to the Public Relations Officer of the FDA, Mr. James Lartey said some officers of the Accra Regional Police Command and the FDA received information that some traders were re-packaging rice of low-cost brands and selling them as high cost brands at the Okaishie Market in Accra.
On December 12, 2018 a joint team from the Ghana Police Service and FDA went to the said venue and found the suspected traders, believed to be the owners of the warehouse, busily re-packaging the rice from unknown brands to some other bands which were popular and high priced in the market.
The names of the different brands of the high quality and high priced rice have been withheld by the police to protect consumers, while investigations continue.
However, the names of the low quality and low priced rice were given as Dio and Aroma rice.
Mr. Lartey said during initial investigations, the joint team found about 2,000 bags of assorted low priced rice in the warehouse, which were going to be re-packaged as high quality brand for sale to the public.
READ ALSO: Tema Police arrest 15 drug dealers with the use of Drones
The team, he said, arrested the seven persons for interrogation, while officials of the FDA took samples of the rice for testing and locked up the warehouse.
The illegal activity, according to the FDA, was known as misbranding of food, a practice which contravenes the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851 section 103).
The FDA warned all persons economically motivated to adulterate food to put a stop to it because it was an offence under the Public Health Act, 2012 ( Act 851)."Offenders will face the full rigours of the law when apprehended," it stated
https://www.primenewsghana.com/general-news/seven-arrested-for-allegedly-mislabeling-rice-for-sale.html
