Thai Hom Mali rice - A favourite for Hong Kong foodies
PR NewswireJune 20, 2019
BANGKOK, June
20, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of
Commerce, Thailand, has introduced a project called "Think RICE,
Think THAILAND" to encourage international community to pay attention
to consumer health and to raise awareness on the national crop by providing a
wider range of knowledge, ranging from national agricultural history, standards
and Thai rice quality.
Mr.
Kenneth Chan, Executive Director of Kui Fat Yuen Limited and Chairman of The
Rice Merchants’ Association of Hong Kong
More
Mr. Kenneth
Chan,
Executive Director of Kui Fat Yuen Limited and Chairman of The Rice Merchants'
Association of Hong Kong, shared how Thai Hom Mali rice has become a
favourite for Hong Kong foodies.
"Hong
Kong people love to eat and they choose the best quality of food," he
says. "Rice is no exception. And Thai Hom Mali rice has the
highest quality among all the Thai rice."
Of
all the varieties, Thai Hom Mali rice is preferred by Chinese communities for
its "softness, aromas and appearance," according to
Mr. Chan "Hong Kong importers are buying more Thai Hom Mali
rice. Before it is cooked, it already has a unique smell. After cooking, the
aroma emerged from the rice cooker is a distinct and very fresh fragrance for
us."
"Once
the Thai Hom Mali rice arrives in Hong Kong, we will immediately unload it
in our warehouse. There is constant temperature of 18 degrees and humidity of
70 degrees to make sure the rice is as fresh as possible and to keep weevils
away,"
In Hong
Kong, Thai Hom Mali rice is the most popular variety of any rice
globally. According to Hong Kong government figures, Thai rice
had a 52.3% share of all global imports into the city and 90.4% of total Thai
rice imports are Thai Hom Mali rice. "Because Thai Hom Mali rice only has
one crop a year, it's quite valuable."
Global
health trends show consumers are eating less carbohydrates such as rice, pasta,
and bread. But Mr. Chan believes this won't have an impact on Thai Hom Mali
rice. "People are more concerned about health and will often choose red or
brown rice to eat but as a whole people still choose to eat Thai Hom Mali rice
because of taste and smell," Mr. Chan says. "Once you try Thai
Hom Mali rice you will not find another one to compare it with."
Think
Rice, Think Thailand.
Cambodia, China
to jointly build rice warehouses and silos
May Kunmakara / Khmer Times Share:
Cambodia and China on Wednesday
signed a commercial agreement to boost the production of Cambodian paddy rice
and milled rice for export by building 12 warehouses and 10 silos in 11
provinces in a move to boost the country’s rice exports to the Chinese market.
The agreement was signed between
Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak and Chen Xiaojia, president of China’s CITIC
Construction, at the Economy and Finance Ministry.
“The project is designed to help
farmers, businessmen and milled rice exporters as well as to support the
government’s rice export policy that targets to export 1 million tonnes of
milled rice per year by constructing warehouses and silos at the designated
areas,” a statement from the Ministry of Economy and Finance said. “At the same
time, it also helps to curb the price fluctuation made by the brokers and helps
farmers to store their paddy rice longer so that they can sell their paddy in
an appropriate price.”
. .
The statement noted that the
agreement does not cover rice mills to avoid any competition with local
millers.
Song Saran, president of Amru
Rice Cambodia, one of the largest rice millers and exporters, welcomed the move
saying that it will help to boost the country’s rice storage capacity for
export.
“We in the private sector,
welcome the move and will cooperate with the government to improve the quality
of our rice and boost our exports,” he said. “With this agreement, I think we
need to have good management of the warehouses and silos because it is very
important to maintain the quality of the rice to meet Chinese standards.”
“I do believe that CITIC
Construction will build warehouses and silos in line with the needs of the
Chinese market,” Mr Saran added.
He said that the country faces a
problem to meet the export quota set by China because China only wants to buy
good quality rice, conforming to its sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS)
standards, and also pricing.
. .
“So, we need to conduct studies
on our farming, seeding, storage and milling methods and cooperate with the
Chinese to ensure that the whole supply chain meets their market standard,” Mr
Saran noted.
In April, China agreed to buy
400,000 tonnes of jasmine, fragrant, and white rice from Cambodia from August
2019 to December 2020, an increase of 300,000 tonnes from last year’s quota.
According to the announcement
from the Ministry of Economy & Finance, under the agreement, state-owned
Green Trade and Chinese-owned CITIC Construction will jointly build 12
warehouses that can store 827,000 tonnes of rice and 10 silos that can dry some
13,000 tonnes per day.
The warehouses and silos will be
built in Pursat, Battambang, Takeo, Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap, Kampong Thom,
Kampong Cham, Prey Veng, Kandal, Kampong Speu, and Preah Sihanouk provinces.
Cambodia exported 75,214 metric
tonnes of milled rice to China in the first quarter of this year, a 59 percent
rise over the same period last year, according to an official report from
ministry of agriculture.
China was the biggest buyer of
Cambodian rice during the January-March period this year, accounting for 44
percent of the country’s total rice export.
According to the report, Cambodia
exported a total of 170,821 tonnes of milled rice in the first three months of
this year, up six percent over the same period last year. It showed that the
Kingdom exported 51,552 tons of milled rice to the European markets during the
period, down 33 percent because European Union tariffs, imposed earlier this
year, on rice exports from Cambodia in a bid to curb a surge in rice imports
from the Kingdom.
Cambodia produced 10.8 million
tonnes of paddy rice last year, up 3.3 percent year-on-year, according to the
Ministry of Agriculture.
UK scientists
develop drought-tolerant wheat plants
Scientists have developed wheat
plants engineered to better survive drought conditions associated with climate
breakdown.
Researchers at the University of
Sheffield found that engineering bread wheat to have fewer microscopic spores –
called stomata – helps the crop to use water more efficiently, while
maintaining yields.
Like most plants, wheat uses
stomata to regulate its intake of carbon dioxide for photosynthesis, as well as
the release of water vapour. When water is plentiful, stomatal opening helps
plants to regulate temperature by evaporative cooling – similar to sweating.
In drought conditions, wheat
plants normally close their stomata to slow down water loss – but wheat with
fewer stomata has been found to conserve water even better, and can use that
water to cool itself.
During the study, published
in the Journal of Experimental Botany, the
scientists grew wheat in conditions similar to those expected under climate
breakdown – with higher levels of carbon dioxide and less water.
Compared with conventional wheat,
the engineered plants used less water, while maintaining photosynthesis and
yield.
Julie Gray, professor of plant
molecular biology at the University of Sheffield’s Institute for Sustainable
Food, said: “Wheat is a staple food for millions of people around the world –
but as extreme droughts become more frequent, farmers face the prospect of
dwindling yields.
Explore moreKnow How
“Developing wheat that uses water more
efficiently will help us to feed our growing population, while using fewer
natural resources – making our food systems more resilient in the face of
climate breakdown.”
Water scarcity
Agriculture accounts for 80-90%
of freshwater use around the world, and on average it takes more than 1,800
litres of water to produce a single kilogramme of wheat.
Yet, as water supplies become
scarce and more variable in the face of climate breakdown, farmers will need to
produce more food than ever to feed a growing population.
The discovery raises hopes that
drought-prone regions, such as Africa, will be more capable of feeding
themselves in the future.
The research builds on the
institute’s work to develop climate-ready rice, which found rice with
fewer stomata used 40% less water than conventional breeds and was able to
survive drought and temperatures of 40C.
In a separate study published
in Plant,
Cell and Environment, scientists at the institute also found that
plants engineered to have fewer stomata are less susceptible to diseases. They
hope to be able to replicate these findings in crops such as wheat and rice.
Opinion: China eager
to take cooperation with Belarus to next level Politics 20.06.2019 | 17:10
fvkoktgm Ambassador Cui Qiming. Archive photo MINSK, 20 June (BelTA) – China is
eager to take cooperation with Belarus to the next level, Chinese Ambassador to
Belarus Cui Qiming said at a meeting of a debate club in the House of
Friendship in Minsk timed to the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the
People's Republic of China, BelTA has learned. The ambassador pointed out that
China and Belarus have become strategic partners in a lot of areas. “Thanks to
personal involvement of China President Xi Jinping and Belarus President
Aleksandr Lukashenko, China-Belarus relations have reached a high level. China
is ready to constantly step up friendly cooperation with Belarus in various
areas and continue strengthening relations,” Ambassador Cui Qiming said.
The ambassador noted
that this year celebrates the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the
People's Republic of China. “Since its founding, our country has achieved
considerable success in all areas, has begun a new stage of socialism
development with Chinese characteristics. We have created an efficient national
economy and have reached an unprecedented speed of economic development. China
had second-largest GDP in the world in 2018,” Cui Qiming noted. The world has
also recognized achievements of Chinese researchers in science and technology.
“High-temperature superconductivity, nanotechnology, and other breakthroughs in
fundamental science, super hybrid rice, high-performance computers, and other
engineering achievements facilitate economic and social development of China,”
Cui Qiming said. “Development of the Belt and Road initiative is another step
to open China to the world. Since the launch of the initiative, China has been
cooperating with other countries including Belarus to facilitate political
contacts and free trade, develop economic infrastructure necessary for
cooperation. The Belt and Road initiative is not only about economic
cooperation. It also aims to improve the global development and governance
model and help healthy development of economic globalization,” the ambassador
added.
Read full text at: https://eng.belta.by/politics/view/opinion-china-eager-to-take-cooperation-with-belarus-to-next-level-122015-2019/
If you use BelTA’s materials, you must credit us with a hyperlink to eng.belta.by. https://eng.belta.by/politics/view/opinion-china-eager-to-take-cooperation-with-belarus-to-next-level-122015-2019/
Read full text at: https://eng.belta.by/politics/view/opinion-china-eager-to-take-cooperation-with-belarus-to-next-level-122015-2019/
If you use BelTA’s materials, you must credit us with a hyperlink to eng.belta.by. https://eng.belta.by/politics/view/opinion-china-eager-to-take-cooperation-with-belarus-to-next-level-122015-2019/
Cambodia,
China to jointly build rice warehouses and silos
June 21, 2019
May Kunmakara / Khmer Times
Cambodia and China on Wednesday
signed a commercial agreement to boost the production of Cambodian paddy rice
and milled rice for export by building 12 warehouses and 10 silos in 11
provinces in a move to boost the country’s rice exports to the Chinese market.
The agreement was signed between
Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak and Chen Xiaojia, president of China’s CITIC
Construction, at the Economy and Finance Ministry.
“The project is designed to help
farmers, businessmen and milled rice exporters as well as to support the
government’s rice export policy that targets to export 1 million tonnes of
milled rice per year by constructing warehouses and silos at the designated
areas,” a statement from the Ministry of Economy and Finance said. “At the same
time, it also helps to curb the price fluctuation made by the brokers and helps
farmers to store their paddy rice longer so that they can sell their paddy in
an appropriate price.”
. .
The statement noted that the
agreement does not cover rice mills to avoid any competition with local
millers.
Song Saran, president of Amru
Rice Cambodia, one of the largest rice millers and exporters, welcomed the move
saying that it will help to boost the country’s rice storage capacity for
export.
“We in the private sector,
welcome the move and will cooperate with the government to improve the quality
of our rice and boost our exports,” he said. “With this agreement, I think we
need to have good management of the warehouses and silos because it is very important
to maintain the quality of the rice to meet Chinese standards.”
“I do believe that CITIC
Construction will build warehouses and silos in line with the needs of the
Chinese market,” Mr Saran added.
He said that the country faces a
problem to meet the export quota set by China because China only wants to buy
good quality rice, conforming to its sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS)
standards, and also pricing.
. .
“So, we need to conduct studies
on our farming, seeding, storage and milling methods and cooperate with the
Chinese to ensure that the whole supply chain meets their market standard,” Mr
Saran noted.
In April, China agreed to buy
400,000 tonnes of jasmine, fragrant, and white rice from Cambodia from August
2019 to December 2020, an increase of 300,000 tonnes from last year’s quota.
According to the announcement
from the Ministry of Economy & Finance, under the agreement, state-owned
Green Trade and Chinese-owned CITIC Construction will jointly build 12
warehouses that can store 827,000 tonnes of rice and 10 silos that can dry some
13,000 tonnes per day.
The warehouses and silos will be
built in Pursat, Battambang, Takeo, Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap, Kampong Thom,
Kampong Cham, Prey Veng, Kandal, Kampong Speu, and Preah Sihanouk provinces.
Cambodia exported 75,214 metric
tonnes of milled rice to China in the first quarter of this year, a 59 percent
rise over the same period last year, according to an official report from
ministry of agriculture.
China was the biggest buyer of
Cambodian rice during the January-March period this year, accounting for 44
percent of the country’s total rice export.
According to the report, Cambodia
exported a total of 170,821 tonnes of milled rice in the first three months of
this year, up six percent over the same period last year. It showed that the
Kingdom exported 51,552 tons of milled rice to the European markets during the
period, down 33 percent because European Union tariffs, imposed earlier this
year, on rice exports from Cambodia in a bid to curb a surge in rice imports
from the Kingdom.
Cambodia produced 10.8 million
tonnes of paddy rice last year, up 3.3 percent year-on-year, according to the
Ministry of Agriculture.
Agri varsity releases
pest-resistant seeds
DECCAN CHRONICLE.
PublishedJun 21, 2019, 12:50 am IST
UpdatedJun 21, 2019, 12:50 am IST
The committee has approved three rice varieties and
one each of sorghum, red gram, groundnut, sesame and cotton.
Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural
University
Hyderabad: Eight new varieties of rice, sorghum, red gram, millet and
other crops have been developed by Professor Jayashankar Telangana State
Agricultural University (PJTSAU) and released by State Varietal Release
Committee 2019.
The committee has approved three
rice varieties and one each of sorghum, red gram, groundnut, sesame and cotton.
Four years ago, 13 high-yielding
crops had been developed by the agricultural scientists and now eight new
disease resistant, high-yielding crops have been developed.
The earlier varieties of Sona,
Bathukamma, and KNM rice, Makka 1 in maize and red and green gram varieties are
very popular in TS and adjoining states.
The eight new varieties have been
developed after clinical trials. The scientists have found that making the
plant disease resistant in terms of bacteria, virus, and damage to the leaves
helps to improve the yield of the crops.
Chinese scientists complete chromosome-scale
assembly of fall armyworm genome
Source:
Xinhua| 2019-06-20 20:52:47|Editor: ZX
KUNMING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists have announced
that they had completed chromosome-scale sequencing and assembly of the genome
of an invasive alien species -- spodoptera frugiperda, which is commonly known
as fall armyworm, a species that causes heavy damage to crops.
The research was jointly conducted by several organizations
including Yunnan Agricultural University, Shenzhen-based BGI (China's top
gene-sequencing provider,) the Institute of Zoology under the Chinese Academy
of Sciences, and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
Scientists have assembled two chromosome-scale genomes of the
fall armyworm, one male and one female, according to researchers from the
Yunnan Agricultural University.
Liu Huan from BGI life science research institute said data
related to the raw sequencing and chromosome-level genome assemblies have been
uploaded to China National GeneBank and are freely accessible to the world.
Researchers said further population analyses of corn strain and
rice strain revealed that the Chinese fall armyworm is most likely invaded from
Africa.
Fall armyworms are native to the Americas, but they have been
moving eastwards since 2016, sweeping across Africa before arriving in Asia.
The pest has wreaked havoc in many countries, leading to a 20-30 percent reduction
in corn and sugarcane output in parts of Africa and Asia. Some areas even
witnessed complete crop failures.
It has spread across China's southern and southwestern areas
since January, affecting farmland in more than 10 provincial-level regions
including Yunnan, Guangxi, Guizhou and Henan.
"Preliminary estimates suggest that the armyworms may cause
more than 200 million yuan (around 29 million U.S. dollars) of losses in
agriculture of Yunnan without any effective control," said Gui Furong, a
professor with Yunnan Agricultural University.
However, scientists have now identified effective chemical
pesticides, a biopesticide, and several natural enemy insects to manage the
spread of fall armyworms.
Cereal grains scientists fight hidden hunger with new approach
IMAGE: GLOBAL DEMAND FOR STAPLE CROPS LIKE MAIZE, WHEAT, AND RICE IS ON
THE RISE -- MAKING THESE CROPS IDEAL TARGETS FOR IMPROVING NUTRITION THROUGH
BIOFORTIFICATION. BIOFORTIFICATION IS THE PROCESS OF... view more
CREDIT: N. PALACIOS AND V.
GOVINDAN
After a prolonged decline, global
hunger is on the rise--affecting more than 820 million individuals in 2017.
Additionally, more than 2 billion people suffer from "hidden hunger,"
which occurs when individuals eat foods that don't provide the nutrients they
need to lead healthy, productive lives. Children who suffer from hidden hunger
have more difficulty developing to their full mental and physical potential.
Hidden hunger is more prevalent
in developing countries that rely heavily on staple crops like wheat, maize,
and rice. These populations often do not have access to nutrient-rich foods,
such as fruits, vegetables, and fish, and tend to suffer from vitamin A and
zinc deficiencies. Vitamin A deficiencies can lead to vision-related disorders,
such as corneal scarring and blindness, while zinc deficiencies increase the
risk of diarrheal diseases, pneumonia, malaria, and even mortality.
Global demand for staple crops
like maize, wheat, and rice is on the rise--making these crops ideal targets
for improving nutrition through biofortification. Biofortification is the
process of developing micronutrient-dense staple crops by combining traditional
breeding practices with modern biotechnology.
Biofortification crop systems are
highly sustainable one-time investments--the varieties developed and released
will continue to grow annually, even without government attention or external
funding, and breeding for higher levels of vitamin A and zinc does not penalize
yield. There are currently 290 varieties of 12 biofortified crops, including
rice, wheat, maize, that target the low-income households who rely on these
staple crops and may suffer from hidden hunger.
"Maize and wheat are
excellent targets for biofortification because they are widely cultivated, have
wide agroecosystem coverage, are important in diets and trade, have useful
native genetic variation for improving micronutrient density in the grain, and
have a long history as subjects of breeding and genetic research,"
according to the authors of "Improving Nutrition
through Biofortification: Preharvest and Postharvest Technologies," published in Cereal Foods World.
Organizations such as the
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), HarvestPlus, and the
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture have worked to develop
provitamin A-enriched maize varieties and zinc-enriched maize varieties, which
have been released in South America and Africa. These organizations have also
worked on enhancing levels of iron and zinc in wheat grain, releasing six
biofortified wheat varieties in Pakistan and India in recent years.
Nutritional studies have found
these biofortified varieties to be effective. A study in India found that young
children who ate zinc-biofortified wheat experienced 17% fewer days with
pneumonia and 39% fewer days vomiting than those children who ate conventional
wheat products. Provitamin A-biofortified maize is a proven source of vitamin
A. Additional studies are likely to reveal more positive effects of
biofortified staple crops on nutrition.
Biofortification is one way to
address hidden hunger, but it is not without challenges. According to the Cereal Foods World article, "To realize their full potential,
biofortified maize and wheat varieties must be integrated as a core products in
research, policy, and food value chains for these crops, which implies that all
participants in the value chain, particularly farmers and consumers, must be
convinced of their value."
###
Consumer Materials Now
Available in Spanish
By Deborah Willenborg
ARLINGTON, VA -- USA Rice has strengthened its arsenal of consumer
resources with the addition of Spanish-translated versions of the popular RD
Guide to U.S.-Grown Rice nutrition toolkit and a new recipe brochure. The Spanish language materials are now
available along with the rest of the USA Rice consumer resources collection
regularly requested by members, extension agents, educators, nutrition
professionals, and others for promotional purposes at events.
"Every time we are able to add new consumer-facing information
such as recipe brochures, nutritional information, and infographics, we make
strides toward our ultimate goal of increasing consumer awareness and
consumption of U.S.-grown rice," said Cameron Jacobs, USA Rice manager of
domestic promotion programs. "The
more recipes and resources we get in front of consumers, the more we should see
U.S.-grown rice plated and USA Rice positioned as the go-to source for all
things rice."
The new recipe brochure titled, "Rice: The Grain to Go
With," incorporates Think Rice branding and U.S. rice messaging, and
reiterates the theme of rice as the go-to grain for delicious and trendy meals
any time of the day. A major highlight
is the versatility of rice across meal parts with recipes that include a Super
Foods Bowl, Pesto Chicken & Rice Salad, Rice Pudding Pear Tart, Cheesy
Bacon Rice Tots, and Crispy Rice Pot Pie.
The translated RD Guide (see USA Rice Daily, October 19, 2018) will
increase exposure and circulation of the nutrition toolkit by reaching
Spanish-speaking registered dietitians and consumers.
"We create these resources on behalf of our members to spread
U.S. rice messaging across various audiences," said Jacobs. "I encourage anyone who is participating
in a tradeshow, conference, presentation, or in-store demo to reach out and
take the opportunity to utilize these new additions from domestic
promotion."
Requests for physical copies of all USA Rice resources can be made
by emailing USA Rice.
Market In
S. Korea to
provide 50,000 tons of domestic rice to N. Korea via WFP
Posted on : Jun.20,2019 16:27 KST Modified on : Jun.20,2019
16:27 KST
Unification
minister announces plan to provide food aid in press conference in Seoul;
suggests additional aid in near future
On June 19, South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul
announces the government’s plans to provide 50,000 tons of domestic rice to
North Korea through the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) at the Central
Government Complex in Seoul. (Noh Ji-won, staff reporter)
The South Korean government plans to provide 50,000 tons of
domestic rice as aid to North Korea through the UN’s World Food Programme
(WFP).
“Following close discussions with the WFP in light of the North
Korean food situation, the government has decided to provide initial support of
50,000 tons of domestic rice to North Korea,” said Minister of Unification Kim
Yeon-chul in a press conference at the Central Government Complex in Seoul on
the afternoon of June 19.
“The government looks forward to the food provided through the
WFP being conveyed to the North Korean people as quickly as possible,” Kim
said, adding that the “schedule and scope for additional food aid to North
Korea will be decided at a later date after we observe the results of this
support.”
First and foremost, the announced measures were intended as a
fraternal and humanitarian gesture in response to the North Korean food
shortage, which has been characterized as the “worst in the past 10 years” amid
a shortfall of anywhere from 1.36 million tons (according to a joint WFP/FAO
study) to 1.48 million tons (according to North Korean Ambassador to the UN Kim
Song) compared to its needs. They represent a “goodwill pump-priming” measure
aimed at ushering inter-Korean relations toward improvement amid their deadlock
since the North Korea-US summit in Hanoi.
They are also poised to serve a stepping stone role to minimize
the negative impact of a possible long gap between the provision of US$8
million from Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund for WFP and UNICEF nutrition aid and
mother-and-child health support projects by WFP and UNICEF – the transfer of
which was completed on June 11 – and large-scale direct aid with domestic rice,
which has yet to be finalized.
Seoul reportedly decides to provide large-scale direct aid to
the North with domestic rice
Internally, the South Korean government has reportedly decided
in principle on providing large-scale direct aid to the North with domestic
rice. It previously spoke publicly about the possibility of direct aid during
an NSC standing committee meeting presided over on May 17 by National Security
Office Director Chung Eui-yong.
“Regarding food aid to North Korea, we have decided to examine a
specific support plan involving support through an international organization
[WFP] or direct support while also amply investigating public opinion,” the
government said at the time. While announcing the plans to provide 50,000 tons
in domestic rice as aid, Kim Yeon-chul added the word “initial” to describe the
support.
The government gave five reasons to justify the need for food
aid: “① A food shortage that has been described as the ‘most severe in
the past 10 years,’ ② our inability to ignore the survival struggles experienced by
our fellow Koreans in the North, ③ contributing to inter-Korean reconciliation and
cooperation and restoring homogeneity, ④ unrelatedness to the international community’s
sanctions [against North Korea], and ⑤ contributing to establish trust and a positive
atmosphere between North Korea and the US.” In effect, the aid has a
multi-purpose function.
The chief reason for the South Korean government adopting the
approach of aid through an international agency rather than direct aid for the
first time in 12 years has to do with the intensive sanctions in place from the
UN and the US and the resulting difficulties in transportation. Because of the
large volume, the food aid would have to be transported by sea rather than by
land, which would require a decision by the UN Sanctions Committee on North
Korea to grant an exception for the vessel in question. The policy
determination appears to be that it would relatively easier to clear the
sanctions barrier for WFP – a UN-affiliated humanitarian agency that is
currently operating in North Korea – than for the South Korean government
itself.
Workers pile bags of rice in a North Korean storage facility
sponsored by the World Food Programme (WFP) in 2016. (provided by the WFP)
The decision to provide 50,000 tons of domestic rice – as
opposed to relatively inexpensive Vietnamese, Thai, or Chinese rice – reflected
a combination of policy considerations, with the aim of reducing some of the
difficulties for South Korean farmers and agriculture, and political
considerations, with the hope of enlisting the tacit support of lawmakers from
the Liberty Korea Party and other conservative opposition parties who represent
agricultural communities.
Around 1.3 million tons of domestic rice has currently been
stockpiled. With annual storage fees amounting to over 480 billion won
(US$411.66 million), the result has been a severe waste of money and vocal
complaints from farmers. The budget to cover the 50,000 tons in domestic rice
aid would be paid by the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund, which is operated by
the Ministry of Unification for the unhindered execution of North Korea policy
efforts, and the Grain Management Special Account, which is administered by the
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to support domestic farmers and
agriculture – reflecting the project’s status as both aid to North Korea and
support for domestic farmers and farming.
Observers are predicting the government will use the aid as a
stepping stone toward proceeding with large-scale direct domestic rice aid at
an appropriate time in the near future and leveraging that for improvements in
inter-Korean relations – including progress on the divided family issue, which
is seen as having a major impact on public opinion.
By Lee Je-hun, senior staff writer, and Noh Ji-won, staff
reporter
Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
Karam
Shyam clarifies on irregularities of rice distribution
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Imphal,
June 19 2019: CAF&PD
Minister Karam Shyam has conveyed that the State Government makes sure that the
distribution of rice to the 60 ACs of Manipur is done on a regular basis
through Fair Price Shops (FPS) and that the whole record and utilization
certificate of distribution, are well-maintained.
He made the clarification during a press conference at his Old Secretariat office in connection with the claims made by Khurai Kendra MLA L Susindro Meitei on various TV channels on the June 17 that he had already taken 6 months worth of rice for 2017-18 and 2018 -19 and no positive actions have been undertaken even after registering a police complaint by the public.
The Minister also assured that he sincerely feels that NFSA rice items should reach the hand of the deserving citizens of the State and as such, necessary action will be taken up to nab those responsible in case of any leakage, with the help of Pradhans, Zilla Parishads and Councillors.
Talking to media persons, K Shyam explained that the Government made sincere efforts to clear the public dues with a huge sum of Rs 24 crore they received as subsidies from the Centre in 2017-18 and Rs 19 crore and another 5 crore in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
At present, a maximum of 87 percent foodgrains are distributed to the public, he added.
The Minister further elaborated that they had requested the Central Government to review the pending process in the distribution of the Welfare Institute of Hostel Scheme due to the recent election Model Code of Conduct and communication lapse.
Stating that the scarcity of local foodgrains is mainly due to floods and insecticides attack, he said that such grains are not priced below Rs 40 in any State of the country.
They are mostly sold in the price range of Rs 40-50 in the market, he said.
The Minister also assured that they will pressure the Centre to make the food grains available at minimum support rates (i.e.Rs 24.76 per kg) after discussion with related officials and work towards minimizing the burden on the public.
CAF&PD Commissioner Bobby Waikhom, Director Ranjan Yumnam and other officials were also present at the press conference.
http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=18..200619.jun19
He made the clarification during a press conference at his Old Secretariat office in connection with the claims made by Khurai Kendra MLA L Susindro Meitei on various TV channels on the June 17 that he had already taken 6 months worth of rice for 2017-18 and 2018 -19 and no positive actions have been undertaken even after registering a police complaint by the public.
The Minister also assured that he sincerely feels that NFSA rice items should reach the hand of the deserving citizens of the State and as such, necessary action will be taken up to nab those responsible in case of any leakage, with the help of Pradhans, Zilla Parishads and Councillors.
Talking to media persons, K Shyam explained that the Government made sincere efforts to clear the public dues with a huge sum of Rs 24 crore they received as subsidies from the Centre in 2017-18 and Rs 19 crore and another 5 crore in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
At present, a maximum of 87 percent foodgrains are distributed to the public, he added.
The Minister further elaborated that they had requested the Central Government to review the pending process in the distribution of the Welfare Institute of Hostel Scheme due to the recent election Model Code of Conduct and communication lapse.
Stating that the scarcity of local foodgrains is mainly due to floods and insecticides attack, he said that such grains are not priced below Rs 40 in any State of the country.
They are mostly sold in the price range of Rs 40-50 in the market, he said.
The Minister also assured that they will pressure the Centre to make the food grains available at minimum support rates (i.e.Rs 24.76 per kg) after discussion with related officials and work towards minimizing the burden on the public.
CAF&PD Commissioner Bobby Waikhom, Director Ranjan Yumnam and other officials were also present at the press conference.
http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=18..200619.jun19
Consumer Materials Now Available in Spanish
Arroz is arroz is arroz
Jun 20, 2019
ARLINGTON, VA -- USA Rice has strengthened its arsenal of
consumer resources with the addition of Spanish-translated versions of the
popular RD Guide to U.S.-Grown Rice nutrition toolkit and a new recipe
brochure. The Spanish language materials are now available along with the
rest of the USA Rice consumer resources collection regularly requested by
members, extension agents, educators, nutrition professionals, and others for
promotional purposes at events.
“Every time we are able to add new consumer-facing information such as recipe brochures, nutritional information, and infographics, we make strides toward our ultimate goal of increasing consumer awareness and consumption of U.S.-grown rice,” said Cameron Jacobs, USA Rice manager of domestic promotion programs. “The more recipes and resources we get in front of consumers, the more we should see U.S.-grown rice plated and USA Rice positioned as the go-to source for all things rice.”
The new recipe brochure titled, “Rice: The Grain to Go With,” incorporates Think Rice branding and U.S. rice messaging, and reiterates the theme of rice as the go-to grain for delicious and trendy meals any time of the day. A major highlight is the versatility of rice across meal parts with recipes that include a Super Foods Bowl, Pesto Chicken & Rice Salad, Rice Pudding Pear Tart, Cheesy Bacon Rice Tots, and Crispy Rice Pot Pie.
The translated RD Guide (see USA Rice Daily, October 19, 2018) will increase exposure and circulation of the nutrition toolkit by reaching Spanish-speaking registered dietitians and consumers.
“We create these resources on behalf of our members to spread U.S. rice messaging across various audiences,” said Jacobs. “I encourage anyone who is participating in a tradeshow, conference, presentation, or in-store demo to reach out and take the opportunity to utilize these new additions from domestic promotion.”
Requests for physical copies of all USA Rice resources can be made by emailing USA Rice.
“Every time we are able to add new consumer-facing information such as recipe brochures, nutritional information, and infographics, we make strides toward our ultimate goal of increasing consumer awareness and consumption of U.S.-grown rice,” said Cameron Jacobs, USA Rice manager of domestic promotion programs. “The more recipes and resources we get in front of consumers, the more we should see U.S.-grown rice plated and USA Rice positioned as the go-to source for all things rice.”
The new recipe brochure titled, “Rice: The Grain to Go With,” incorporates Think Rice branding and U.S. rice messaging, and reiterates the theme of rice as the go-to grain for delicious and trendy meals any time of the day. A major highlight is the versatility of rice across meal parts with recipes that include a Super Foods Bowl, Pesto Chicken & Rice Salad, Rice Pudding Pear Tart, Cheesy Bacon Rice Tots, and Crispy Rice Pot Pie.
The translated RD Guide (see USA Rice Daily, October 19, 2018) will increase exposure and circulation of the nutrition toolkit by reaching Spanish-speaking registered dietitians and consumers.
“We create these resources on behalf of our members to spread U.S. rice messaging across various audiences,” said Jacobs. “I encourage anyone who is participating in a tradeshow, conference, presentation, or in-store demo to reach out and take the opportunity to utilize these new additions from domestic promotion.”
Requests for physical copies of all USA Rice resources can be made by emailing USA Rice.
Why We Need To
Talk About Microbes And Climate
Sea ice in Antarctica showing a brown layer of algae. Credit:
Rick Cavicchioli, UNSW Sydney
We may refer to Earth as “our planet,” but it really belongs to
the microbes. All the plants and animals on Earth are relatively new additions
to the planetary ecosystem. But despite living basically everywhere on the
planet, and playing a role in many of the processes that affect the climate,
the connection between microbes and the climate is often ignored.
That needs to change, says a consensus
statement published this week by researchers in the journal Nature Reviews: Microbiology.
Take the issue of methane
emissions from agriculture, particularly beef production. “The methane doesn’t
come from the cows,” said David Mark Welch, director of the Division of
Research at the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole. “It comes from
microbes in the cows.” In a similar way, emissions coming from rice paddies
aren’t caused by the rice—they are caused by microbes living in stagnant water
around the rice.
David Mark Welch, one of the
co-authors of the consensus statement, joins Ira to discuss the deep
connections between microorganisms and the climate, and why scientists and
policymakers should pay more attention to microbes in the climate arena.
Revival of basmati brand: Rice exporters seek
government’s help to develop
Revival of basmati brand: Rice exporters seek government’s help to
develop Kalar Belt Rice exporters sought the government's assistance to develop
Kalar Belt to produce more of the crop to help the country grow the commodity
export to $5 billion annually, as Federal Economic Adviser, Dr Abdul Hafeez
Shaikh, has affirmed his support to the sector. A meeting on Thursday with
Hafeez Shaikh, convener FPCCI Standing Committee on Rice, Rafique Suleman
sought a certain help from the government to develop Kalar Belt in a bid to
revive the basmati brand. Rafiq Suleman, who is also the former Chairman of
Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap), said that the basmati has the
potential to fetch alone $2 billion, as its existing export stands at $750
million. He told the adviser that the export of rice is over $2 billion a year,
which makes it second largest sector following hosiery sector's export, saying
that it, however, showed restrained while reacting on fiscal budget 2019-20.
Advising to the exporting sectors, he said that business community should act
responsibly and shun escalating the negativity on the country's already ailing
economy.
"While we have our reservations the rice export sector
represented by Reap continues to work on possible solutions which should come
out as a win-win solution for rice sector and the government," the
convener of the FPCCI Standing Committee on Rice said, showing a full trust and
faith in the PTI's government and its Mincom Team and Finance Team. He hoped
the government's endeavor will help it succeed against all the economic challenges.
Showing satisfaction, Rafiq Suleman said that the Mincom and Hafiz Shaikh with
his team are making headways to stabilize the economy through multiple PTAs and
FTAs with different nations.
"PTAs and FTAs with Indonesia and China have immediately starting
bearing results," he said, adding that in the long-run, the efforts of
Mincom will start yielding results in a span of three years. However, he asked
the Mincom to set up a stage for fair-play for all private sectors through
correct policy decisions in consultation with the Federal Finance Ministry. He
also demanded of the government to set up technical institutes on a full time
basis to equip manpower with skills through professionals.
He said that the private sectors should remain only as consultative
bodies to extend their feedback and advisories to the government in this
connection. The former Reap head also highlighted the energy crisis in the
meeting that the rice producing sector is faced with, saying that "this
remains the most neglected area by all governments including the incumbent PTI
one". He said that from a small rice miller in Gujranwala to those
endeavoring in Shadadkot and Larkana are faced with extremely poor supplies of
utilities and this continues to grip the entire agriculture value chain of the
country. He said that the agriculture value chain continues to face the
pre-and-post harvest losses between 3 times and 10 times. He demanded of the
government to step up working on a war footing to revive the basmati heritage,
saying that the development of Kalar Belt is expected to grow the country's
export of this variety of rice to $2 billion from $750 million at present.
"We are glad both Federal and Provincial Departments have given positive
response and implementation has already started," he added. Showing
disappointment, he said that the 80 percent of the KPT and PQA infrastructure
is focused on import oriented as the exports suffer from lack of a priority.
He said that the Ports and
Shipping Ministry needs to work close with the Mincom to ensure the priority
for exports in every planning that it undertakes. He said that all the
country's container terminals operating with the world class infrastructure has
brought excessive costs to trade in general and exports in particular. The Federal
Finance Ministry, Mincom and Ports and Shipping should review all the existing
agreements with the container terminals since the exorbitant tariffs they
charge to have been hurting trade and the economy, Rafique Suleman said. He
also recommended to Hafeez Shaikh to have the federal government to work with
the provincial governments to promote agri-clusters to ensure developing plug
and play facility for the stakeholders.
He also pleaded to the associations protesting against the budget
announcements, saying that such an act is self-destructive to the businesses
and exports besides to the country's economy. "I request all our business
association brothers to please stop publicly issuing statements against the
government or budget 2019-20 as it only causes more uncertainties and damage
the market, which brings more loss to the business and economy as well,"
Rafique Suleman added.
JUNE 20, 2019 / 10:24 AM
S.Korea buys 20,000 T of rice for
July-Aug arrival
SEOUL, June 20 (Reuters) - South Korea bought 20,000 tonnes
of non-glutinous brown rice for arrival between July and August
via a tender that closed on Monday, state-run Korea
Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp said on its website (www.at.or.kr).
Details of the purchase are as follows:
TONNES(M/T) SUPPLIER ORIGIN PRICE($/T)
20,000 Posco International China $759.68
*Note: The rice produces will arrive at the port of Gunsan.
(Reporting By Jane Chung; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
A program for Filipino rice farmers, consumers
Published
Many have long wondered why we cannot meet the
rice needs of our own people, why we have to import from Vietnam and
Thailand hundreds of thousands of metric tons a year.
The answer is that it costs an average of P12 to produce a kilo
of palay in the Philippines; it only costs half that much, P6, in
Vietnam. The big difference is largely due to mechanization, which has
drastically reduced labor costs in Vietnam and
Thailand.
Sen. Cynthia Villar, chairman of the Senate
Committee on Agriculture, told a forum of the Philippine Chamber of
Commerce and Industry last Friday that another reason for low Philippine
rice production is the continuing reliance of Filipino farmers on
low-yielding traditional rice varieties.
Our scientists in the Philippine Rice Research
Institute have developed new rice varieties that are resistant to
diseases, to drought, and to flooding, and produce greater
harvests, but their findings have not reached down to the level of
most Filipino farmers.
Some years ago, Secretary of Agriculture Emmanuel Pinol
said his department’s efforts to modernize Philippine agriculture were
held back by inadequate government funding.
Rice is at the center of life among Filipinos.
When prices started shooting up last year, with inflation reaching
6.7 percent in September, the government stopped the rise in market
prices by ensuring adequate supplies of rice at low prices
through the Rice Tariffication Law. Former import restrictions were
abolished and all importations, mostly from Vietnam and Thailand,
were allowed as long as they paid proper tariffs.
Unfortunately, however, while that law ensured
an adequate supply of imported rice for consumers, it was at the
expense of local farmers.
In the remaining years of the Duterte administration, we
urge that the Philippine rice production be given the full support
it needs – widespread distribution of
high-yielding rice varieties to our farmers, increased mechanization to
bring down labor costs, wider use of irrigation to reduce dependence on rain
water, and organizing the farmers and giving them the
needed financial support and helping them in their marketing.
Senator Villar can play a big role in this total
effort by getting the Senate to enact more laws to provide more funding
for agriculture. The administration itself should see that while “Build,
Build, Build” will push the overall national economic development
program, a “Plant, Plant, Plant” program focused on rice will
benefit Filipino farmers and the masses of rice-eating Filipinos.
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- JUNE 21, 2019
JUNE 21,
2019
* * * * * *
Nagpur
Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-June 21, 2018 Nagpur, June 21 (Reuters) –
Gram and tuar prices firmed up again in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and
Marketing Committee (APMC) on good seasonal demand from local millers amid
tight supply from producing regions. Reports about delay in monsoon arrival in
the regions, fresh hike on NCDEX and good recovery in Madhya Pradesh pulses
also helped to push up prices. About 800 bags of gram and 250 bags of tuar
reported for auction, according to sources.
GRAM
* Desi gram
reported higher in open market on good buying support from local traders.
TUAR
* Tuar
varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor.
* Wheat
mill quality reported down in open market on lack of demand from local
traders
amid good supply from producing belts.
* In Akola,
Tuar New – 5,900-6,100, Tuar dal (clean) – 8,400-8,600, Udid Mogar (clean)
–
6,700-7,600, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,700-8,400, Gram – 4,500-4,600, Gram Super
best
–
6,200-6,400 * Wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in
scattered
deals and settled at last levels in thin trading activity.
Nagpur
foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS
Available prices Previous close
Gram
Auction 4,000-4,215 3,900-4,180
Gram Pink Auction
n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar
Auction 5,000-5,585 5,000-5,550
Moong
Auction n.a. 3,950-4,200
Udid
Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor
Auction n.a. 2,200-2,500
Wheat
Lokwan Auction 1,850-1,948 1,800-1,895
Wheat
Sharbati Auction n.a. 2,900-3,000
Gram Super
Best Bold 6,400-6,600 6,400-6,600
Gram Super
Best n.a. n.a.
Gram Medium
Best 6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200
Gram Dal
Medium n.a. n.a
Gram Mill
Quality 4,300-4,400 4,300-4,400
Desi gram
Raw 4,450-4,550 4,400-4,500
Gram Kabuli
8,300-10,000 8,300-10,000
Tuar Fataka
Best-New 8,700-8,800 8,700-8,800
Tuar Fataka
Medium-New 8,300-8,500 8,300-8,500
Tuar Dal
Best Phod-New 8,000-8,200 8,000-8,200
Tuar Dal
Medium phod-New 7,500-7,800 7,500-7,800
Tuar
Gavarani New 5,750-5,950 5,750-5,950
Tuar
Karnataka 6,050-6,250 6,100-6,300
Masoor dal
best 5,400-5,600 5,400-5,600
Masoor dal
medium 5,200-5,300 5,200-5,300
Masoor n.a.
n.a.
Moong Mogar
bold (New) 7,800-8,500 7,800-8,500
Moong Mogar
Medium 6,800-7,200 6,800-7,200
Moong dal
Chilka New 6,500-7,600 6,500-7,600
Moong Mill
quality n.a. n.a.
Moong
Chamki best 8,000-9,000 8,100-9,000
Udid Mogar
best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,000-7,800 7,000-7,800
Udid Mogar
Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,600-6,500 5,600-6,500
Udid Dal
Black (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,400 4,000-4,400
Mot (100
INR/KG) 5,100-6,600 5,100-6,600
Lakhodi dal
(100 INR/kg) 4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000
Watana Dal
(100 INR/KG) 5,400-5,600 5,400-5,600
Watana
Green Best (100 INR/KG) 6,700-6,900 6,700-6,900
Wheat 308
(100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200
Wheat Mill
quality (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,100-2,200
Wheat
Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600
Wheat
Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500
Wheat
Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,300 2,200-2,300
Lokwan Hath
Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati
Best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,600 3,000-3,600
MP Sharbati
Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-2,900 2,700-2,900
Rice Parmal
(100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200
Rice BPT
best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,500 3,100-3,500
Rice BPT
medium (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,900 2,500-3,000
Rice BPT
new (100 INR/KG) 2,800-3,200 2,800-3,200
Rice Luchai
(100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,000 2,900-3,000
Rice Swarna
best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,700 2,500-2,700
Rice Swarna
medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400
Rice HMT
best (100 INR/KG) 4,100-4,600 4,100-4,600
Rice HMT
medium (100 INR/KG) 3,600-3,900 3,600-3,900
Rice HMT
New (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,400 4,000-4,400
Rice
Shriram best(100 INR/KG) 5,600-5,800 5,600-5,800
Rice
Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 4,600-5,000 4,600-5,000
Rice
Shriram New (100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,500 5,000-5,500
Rice
Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,500-13,500 8,500-13,500
Rice
Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-7,000 5,000-7,000
Rice
Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 6,500-7,200 6,500-7,200
Rice
Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400
Rice
Chinnor New (100 INR/KG) 4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000
Jowar
Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,350-2,550 2,350-2,550
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 2,050-2,250 2,050-2,250
WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 40.6 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 26.1 degree
Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. One or two spells of rains
or thunder-showers likely. Maximum and minimum temperature likely to be around
40 degree Celsius and 26 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.—not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but
included in market prices)
RPT-Asia Rice-Demand lulls in top hubs; Bangladesh
hopes for a deal with Philippines
JUNE 21, 2019
Diptendu Lahiri
(Repeats Thursday’s story with no changes to the text)
* Indian prices rise to $367-$370/tonne vs $365-$367 last week
* Bangladesh may export 200,000-300,000 T to Philippines-minister
* Thai baht hits near 6-year high, dampening rice demand
* Vietnam rates down with abundant supplies from ongoing harvest
By Diptendu Lahiri
BENGALURU, June 20 (Reuters) - Export prices for Indian rice edged
up this week on the back of an appreciation in the rupee even as demand was
lacklustre in most exporting centres, while Bangladeshi traders looked for an
export deal with the Philippines.
For top rice exporter India, prices for the 5% broken parboiled
variety RI-INBKN5-P1 were quoted around $367-$370 per tonne this week, up from
last week’s $365-$367.
Export demand is weak and unlikely to revive in the next few weeks
unless prices correct, said one exporter based at Kakinada in the southern
state of Andhra Pradesh.
In neighbouring Bangladesh, traders are in talks with the
Philippines to strike a deal for rice exports, the country’s agriculture
minister Abdur Razzak said earlier this week.
The South Asian country could export 200,000 tonnes to 300,000 tonnes
of rice to the Philippines, he added.
Bangladesh, which usually produces parboiled rice, has lifted its
long-standing ban on rice exports, hoping to sell as much as 1.5 million tonnes
to support farmers after a sharp drop in prices.
However, it still finds it difficult to export rice even after a
fall in domestic prices, given the produce is more expensive than in India and
Thailand.
In Thailand, the world’s second largest rice exporter, prices
widened to $390-$407 a tonne on Thursday, free on board Bangkok (FOB), from
$393-$404 a tonne last week.
Traders say the increase in prices can be attributed to a seasonal
decline in rice supply.
“It is normal that the price increases during the rainy season,
there is less supply and the logistic cost is higher,” a Bangkok-based rice
trader said.
Thailand’s baht, which hit its highest in nearly six years against
the U.S. dollar on Thursday, is also boosting prices for the staple, which
continue to dampen demand for Thai rice.
“Demand has been flat since the start of the year and exporters are
only selling to their usual customers,” another Bangkok-based rice trader said.
“Supply will continue to decline through the rainy season until at
least August, when a new batch of rice will enter the market.”
Demand was uninspiring in Vietnam as well, where rates for the 5%
broken rice variety RI-VNBKN5-P1 fell to $340-$345 a tonne on Thursday from
$345-$350 last week, traders said.
“Trading activities are quiet this week on lacklustre demand,
though supplies from the ongoing summer-autumn harvest are abundant,” a trader
based in Ho Chi Minh City said.
Traders said the harvest will end in two to three weeks. (Reporting
by Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok, Khanh Vu in Hanoi, Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai,
Ruma Paul in Dhaka; Additional reporting by Swati Verma; Editing by Jan Harvey)
Cambodia awards Chinese firm to build rice
warehouses, drying machines in 11 provinces
Source:
Xinhua| 2019-06-20 22:39:33|Editor: yan
PHNOM PENH, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Thursday awarded
China's state-owned CITIC Construction, to build rice warehouses and drying
machines in 11 provinces, according to a statement from the country's Ministry
of Economy and Finance.
The Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract was
inked here between Cambodian Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak and CITIC
Construction's Chairman Chen Xiaojia, the statement said.
The project is made possible under the concessional loan from
the Chinese government, it said.
Under the contract, the Chinse firm would construct 12 rice
storage facilities with a total capacity of 827,000 tons and 10 rice drying
machines with a total capacity of 13,000 tons per day in 11 Cambodian
provinces, the statement said.
Those provinces include Pursat, Battambang, Takeo, Banteay Meanchey,
Siem Reap, Kampong Thom, Kampong Cham, Prey Veng, Kandal, Kampong Speu, and
Preah Sihanouk, it said.
"With this project, the government hopes that Cambodia will
have enough capacity to increase its rice export to the international markets
and to enhance Cambodian rice's reputation," the statement said.
It added that the construction of rice warehouses and drying
machines would help Cambodia to achieve its target of exporting at least one
million tons of milled rice a year in the future.
Cambodia exported a total of 250,172 tons of milled rice in the
first five months of 2019, in which 109,234 tons, or 43.6 percent, were shipped
to China, according to Cambodian government data.
The Southeast Asian country produced 10.8 million tons of paddy
rice last year, up 3.3 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of
Agriculture.
A program for Filipino rice farmers, consumers
June 20, 2019, 12:50 AM
Many have long wondered why we cannot meet the
rice needs of our own people, why we have to import from Vietnam and
Thailand hundreds of thousands of metric tons a year.
The answer is that it costs an average of P12 to produce a kilo
of palay in the Philippines; it only costs half that much, P6, in
Vietnam. The big difference is largely due to mechanization, which has
drastically reduced labor costs in Vietnam and
Thailand.
Sen. Cynthia Villar, chairman of the Senate
Committee on Agriculture, told a forum of the Philippine Chamber of
Commerce and Industry last Friday that another reason for low Philippine
rice production is the continuing reliance of Filipino farmers on
low-yielding traditional rice varieties.
Our scientists in the Philippine Rice Research
Institute have developed new rice varieties that are resistant to
diseases, to drought, and to flooding, and produce greater
harvests, but their findings have not reached down to the level of
most Filipino farmers.
Some years ago, Secretary of Agriculture Emmanuel Pinol
said his department’s efforts to modernize Philippine agriculture were
held back by inadequate government funding.
Rice is at the center of life among Filipinos.
When prices started shooting up last year, with inflation reaching
6.7 percent in September, the government stopped the rise in market
prices by ensuring adequate supplies of rice at low prices
through the Rice Tariffication Law. Former import restrictions were
abolished and all importations, mostly from Vietnam and Thailand,
were allowed as long as they paid proper tariffs.
Unfortunately, however, while that law ensured
an adequate supply of imported rice for consumers, it was at the
expense of local farmers.
In the remaining years of the Duterte administration, we
urge that the Philippine rice production be given the full support
it needs – widespread distribution of
high-yielding rice varieties to our farmers, increased mechanization to
bring down labor costs, wider use of irrigation to reduce dependence on rain
water, and organizing the farmers and giving them the
needed financial support and helping them in their marketing.
Senator Villar can play a big role in this total
effort by getting the Senate to enact more laws to provide more funding
for agriculture. The administration itself should see that while “Build,
Build, Build” will push the overall national economic development
program, a “Plant, Plant, Plant” program focused on rice will
benefit Filipino farmers and the masses of rice-eating Filipinos.
