30th December (Tuesday),2014 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Agri body lauds Vizcaya leaders

By Jessica M. Bacud | Dec. 30, 2014 at 12:01am

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—Governor Ruth Padilla and her husband, Rep. Carlos Padilla along with Director General Dr. William Dar, of the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), have launched a Building Resiliency and Rural Livelihood Development Project to improve productivity and income in the agriculture sector.They are truly innovators in looking for opportunities to empower our farmers,” said Dar following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement in Ammungan Hall of the provincial capitol. “ICRISAT will be your partner.”According to Mrs. Padilla, the project aims to boost farm yield and returns on investment on the part of planters.

“The implementation of a joint resiliency program and rural livelihood development project here is expected to boost agricultural productivity and income among farmers in the province,” she said.Congressman Padilla has advocated countryside development through infrastructure particularly bridges and farm-to-market roads, agriculture geared to smallholders, mechanization and postharvest management among other key concerns to cope with climate change.He said the  project will be piloted in Bagabag, Quezon, Diadi, Kasibu, and Dupaxdel Norte in coordination with the Nueva Vizcaya State University, municipal governments and farmer’s organizations.

Using Dar’s expertise, the project’s components are soil analysis and mapping and agro-forestry and watershed management among other activities in the scope of ICRISAT research and development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world.Covering 6.5 million square kilometers of land in 55 countries, the semi-arid or dryland tropics has over 2 billion people, and 644 million of these are the poorest of the poor.Tropical dryland areas are usually seen as resource-poor and perennially beset by shocks such as drought, trapping dryland communities in poverty and hunger and dependent on external aid.A native of Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, Dar took up horticulture, receiving his doctoral degree from the University of the Philippines at Los Banos.

He served as the first director of the Philippine Bureau of Agricultural Research after teaching at the Benguet State University about the period of initiatives led by institutes, such as the Philippine Rice Research Institute, PhilRice.Dar led the Philippine Council for Agricultural Research and Rural Development and served on the  boards of institutions such as International Rice Research Institute before a short government stint as Acting Secretary of Agriculture and as Presidential Adviser on Rural Development of then President Joseph Estrada.

He was selected to head ICRISAT in 2000 and authored the book, “Feeding the forgotten poor”.“I will share my experience with Filipino farmers to transform dryland areas into productive, sustainable and climate-smart farms through Inang Lupa social movement,” Dar said in a statement.Under his leadership, the ICRISAT became a leading agricultural research institute in terms of  financial stability, with income and investments since 2000, from $21 million to $85 million in 2014.

Source with thanks:http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/12/30/agri-body-lauds-vizcaya-leaders/

China agrees to transfer high-yield rice technology to Bangladesh

Senior Correspondent,  bdnews24.com

Published: 2014-12-29 19:31:48.0 BdST Updated: 2014-12-29 23:19:28.0 BdST

The technology will help Bangladesh to boost production, the foreign minister says.China will transfer technology of its indigenous high-yield rice variety to Bangladesh as part of agricultural cooperation. Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, briefing journalists about the just-ended visit of Wang Yi, said on Monday his Chinese counterpart also informed him about taking “necessary steps” for setting up a rice research centre in Bangladesh.He said the visit had been “very successful” as new areas of cooperation emerged and believed that it had strengthened the existing Dhaka-Beijing relations further.

“It’s a big development (transferring technology of high-yield rice),” he said.He said Bangladesh would need to increase food production by the day on this small arable land.He said the technology transfer of a variety of rice would help in this regard.Ali mentioned Bangladesh’s rice export to Sri Lanka, its first to any country, and said they would also export to India’s north-eastern Tripura state to meet its need.

The Chinese foreign minister’s visit was aimed at reviewing the progress of the commitments both sides had made during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Beijing visit in June.It was also aimed at mapping out the details of joint celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties next year when Dhaka expects the Chinese president down here.The foreign minister said China would take 100 young Bangladeshi to visit the country as part of the celebrations next year.He said they were expecting a “top level visit” during the inauguration of the work of building a tunnel beneath the Karnafuli River.China would finance the nearly $1.2 billion project.

He said China also endorsed Bangladesh’s vision of acting as a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia due to its strategic geographical location.It also assured Dhaka of helping it to become a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).Both sides also agreed to work closely during next year’s multi-lateral discussions for adopting post-2015 development agenda and climate change talks.They also stressed the need for quick implementation of the proposed Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar, or BCIM, economic corridor.

During the bilateral meeting, China proposed to initiate free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations to what the foreign minister said narrow down the trade imbalance.Ali said they would discuss with stakeholders before starting negotiations on the matter as some analysts say FTA could widen the trade gap even further.He said the Chinese side during the bilateral talks told them that they would address any concerns when the talks begin.He said the Chinese foreign minister termed Bangladesh an “important neighbour” and stressed on bilateral cooperation to strengthen the friendly relations.Five priority areas of cooperation – trade, agriculture, industry, energy, and infrastructure – have been identified.

China also welcomed Bangladesh’s proposal of forming a joint working group on trade and industry and bilateral investment forum.The issue of the Specialised Economic Trade Zone that Bangladesh offered to China during Hasina's visit was also discussed.The Chinese foreign minister said their companies were also eager to relocate factories to Bangladesh.He promised Chinese cooperation in setting up power plants and exploring oil and gas.

Source with thanks:http://bdnews24.com/economy/2014/12/29/china-agrees-to-transfer-high-yield-rice-technology-to-bangladesh

Russians See Costlier Food as No Crisis

By CELESTINE BOHLENDEC. 29, 2014

KHOTKOVO, Russia — In the early days of 1992, prices here exploded by an average of 350 percent as post-Communist Russia crash-landed into a free market economy. Six years later, in August 1998, prices again gyrated wildly after the Russian government devalued the ruble and defaulted on its debts.In comparison, this year’s plunge in the value of the ruble seems positively tame, which may explain the relative stoicism among shoppers here as they shuffled along snow-covered paths, making the rounds of the shops and getting ready for the long holiday season.That isn’t to say that inflation — now above 10 percent — is not on everyone’s mind.

Several store managers said the same thing: Prices have been going up with each delivery. In a store in the nearby village of Akhtyrka, the sales clerk advised a couple of elderly shoppers to come back later, after she had updated the price list.For consumers and retailers alike, Russia’s latest economic crisis has come in stages. The first impact was felt last summer, when Russia retaliated against the West for Ukraine-related sanctions by imposing a ban on food imports from the United States, the European Union and several other trading partners. The second blow came after the value of the ruble took a deep plunge in mid-December, before bouncing back somewhat.

A third is expected as rising interest rates choke off credit.Here in Khotkovo, a town of 23,000 people 60 kilometers, or about 35 miles, northeast of Moscow, tracking the impact of the self-imposed sanctions is like proving a negative. A variety of goods — from basmati rice to imported hard cheeses — have simply vanished, leaving consumers with fewer and less desirable choices.A store on the main square that specializes in food from Belarus, Russia’s western neighbor and an ally of sorts, dodged the first bullet. Belarus never imposed sanctions, but now the drop in the value of the ruble is having an effect, said the store’s manager, who declined to give his name.He estimated that prices had over all increased 10 percent to 15 percent in the last month, and like others, he didn’t dare venture a prediction for 2015.

After a decade of sustained economic growth, Russian consumers are more resilient than they were in 1992 or 1998, and as they shop for their traditional New Year’s Eve feasts, many are shrugging off the higher prices.Housewives standing in line at a meat counter said they were prepared to make do with less. Marina, who declined to give her last name, said that beef prices — now at 600 rubles a kilo (roughly $5.40 a pound) — had probably gone up at least 25 percent but that this wouldn’t stop her from serving it for the traditional New Year’s Eve feast. “We’ll manage,” she said.Several shopkeepers said they were running through old stocks, which would explain why such anomalies as Finnish dumplings or Italian coffee can still be found on the shelves.

Others explain that importers have figured out ways around the ban, bringing European goods through Belarus, where they are relabeled and brought across the border to Russia. Countries like Brazil have also stepped up exports to Russia, although typically at higher prices.Ever since the food ban was introduced last summer, the Russian government has used the opportunity to encourage local producers to fill the gap. That has already had some effect: By October, domestic meat production was up 12 percent, according to government statistics.Until this crisis hit, Russian consumers said, they were not aware of their dependence on imported food.

Now, as their currency loses value, putting Western goods out of reach, they welcome government-backed efforts to step up domestic production.“We were living in some kind of dream world,” said a man who identified himself only as Alexei, who owns a food emporium on the edge of town. “They should have made this effort long ago, instead of living off oil and gas.”

Source with thanks: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/30/world/europe/russians-see-costlier-food-as-no-crisis.html

Amira Nature Foods receives USD90m contract with repeat customer in EMEA region

Dec 30, 2014 (M2 EQUITYBITES via COMTEX) -- 

Amira Nature Foods Ltd (NYSE:ANFI), a provider of packaged Indian specialty rice, announced on Monday that it has entered into a USD90m contract to supply third party branded basmati rice to a key repeat customer in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region.

Comments on this story may be sent to info@m2.com

Source with thanks: http://www.individual.com/storyrss.php?story=199931027&hash=dab595d67383c0dfab7b6472226e8476

Using Weedy Rice Traits to Boost Cultivated Rice Yields

30 December 2014

US - Genetic traits in weedy rice may someday be used to develop sturdy, high-yield varieties of cultivated rice that will flourish in the face of climate change, thanks to findings by scientists at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).This work, conducted by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) plant physiologist Lewis Ziska and his colleagues.Ziska, who is with ARS's Crop Systems and Global Change Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland, studied several rice cultivars to determine if changes in temperature and CO2 levels affected seed yields. He also looked for visible traits that could signal whether a plant cultivar has the genetic potential for adapting successfully to elevated CO2 levels.

The investigation included weedy red rice, which infests cultivated rice cropland. Despite the plant's downsides, previous assessments indicated that weedy rice growing under elevated CO2 levels had higher seed yields than cultivated rice growing under the same conditions.Ziska monitored the different rice cultivars at current and future projections of atmospheric CO2 and a range of day/night air temperatures. He observed that on average, all the rice cultivars put out more aboveground biomass at elevated CO2 levels, although this response diminished as air temperatures rose.

For seed yield, only weedy rice and the rice cultivar 'Rondo' responded to elevated CO2 levels when grown at optimal day/night air temperatures of 84 °F and 70 °F. In addition, only the weedy rice gained significant increases of aboveground biomass and seed yield under elevated CO2 levels at the higher temperatures expected for rice-growing regions by 2050.Seed yield is a trait linked to seed head and tiller production. Tillers are stalks put out by a growing rice plant. As the plant matures, the seed heads-where rice grain is produced-develop at the end of the tillers. This suggests that crop breeders might someday be able to use this weedy rice trait to develop commercial rice cultivars that can convert rising CO2 levels into higher seed yields.

TheCropSite News Desk

Source with thanks:http://www.thecropsite.com/news/17168/using-weedy-rice-traits-to-boost-cultivated-rice-yields#sthash.dWw2lciL.dpuf

Rice import on the rise

Statistics from Ningbo Inspection and Quarantine Bureau shows that up to Dec. 18 the bureau has inspected 167 batches of imported rice, of 105,300 tons and worth $45.92 million, up 0.92, 1.81 and 2.04 times respectively over last year. The import of rice from Ningbo Port has been on the rise since two years ago. The total volume this year exceeds 100，000 tons, surpassing the total of 2007 and 2013, the historical high. According to statistics, the imported rice from Ningbo Port in 2014 is mainly from Vietnam, Thailand, Pakistan and Cambodia. 70% of the total is from Vietnam, which are mainly for sale or used as production material.  The huge price gap is the major cause for the rapid increase of imported rice.

Since 2012, the rice price in China is obviously higher than countries like Vietnam. The imported rice has price advantage. As a result, the domestic food processing factories are more likely to replace domestic rice with imported one, which leads to the rapid increase of the rice import. Thanks to the geographical advantage of Ningbo Port and the preferential polices by the Municipal Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, the customs clearance of Ningbo Port has been optimized and thus attracted numerous rice importers. Ningbo Port has become a major port for rice import in East China

Source with thanks: http://www.ningbolife.com/index.php/nb-business-2/3905-rice-import-on-the-rise.html

Pakistani kebabs, Bangladeshi Hilsa big hits at Kolkata fair

Kolkata, Dec 30 (IANS): Grilled marinated chicken tikkas and smoking seekh kebabs from Pakistan and rice dishes from Bangladesh with Ilish (hilsa fish) are not only tasty but healthy too, according to chefs from the two countries who are here for a fair.Two stalls from the neighbouring countries are not only rustling up delicacies at the ongoing 27th Industrial India Trade Fair here, but also dispelling myths about traditional foods.Be it the warm platters of aromatic Sindhi Dum Biriyani, or the slow cooked chicken or mutton Nahari stew, the 15 dishes served at the kiosk of Pakistan's Warsi chain of restaurants are much in demand.

Despite the rich creamy texture, the items are surprisingly high on nutrition, said chef Md. Arif of the Warsi restaurant that has outlets in Karachi, Lahore and Faizabad."The cooking techniques that we use across the border, such as grilling and slow cooking, ensure that the nutritive properties of poultry and vegetables are retained," Arif, a resident of Karachi, told the media here.Arif also swears by the combination of spices used.

"The garam masala that we use is very different from the Indian version. When mixed in proper proportions with powdered dry fruit, it doesn't heat up the body too much.""In fact, in the chilly winter, spices and dry fruits are necessary. Our families have been surviving on this for generations without any side-effects," the 49-year-old Arif said about his family's secret spice mix.

At the other end, the smell of oil squeezed out from the prized Hilsa fish has been a big draw.From Ilish biriyani to Ilish pulao and Ilish khichdi, the fish reigns supreme at the Bangladeshi food outlet."We use all parts of the fish in our cooking. While the khichdi and pulao have boneless fish pieces, the biriyani has pieces with bones but no eggs. The oil that is used is also derived from the fish," said Atanu Pandit of the Bangladeshi food stall.This ensures no extra oil is needed during the cooking, and the fish in itself is nutritious due to the presence of Omega-3 fatty acids."Ilish is very good for the brain and nervous system. The fusion of rice and fish is healthy. For the set-up here, we have used the Ilish caught in Bangladesh rivers," said Pandit.

Source with thanks: http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=287254

Sacramento Valley’s powerhouse rice crop one step closer to cap and trade

BY EDWARD ORTIZ

EORTIZ@SACBEE.COM

12/29/2014 7:23 PM 

 12/30/2014 12:10 AM

California environmental regulators are exploring how rice farmers can reduce carbon emissions, paving the way for crops to become part of the state’s greenhouse gas reduction program and affecting one of the Sacramento Valley’s powerhouse agricultural industries. The California Air Resources Board this month directed staff to begin the process for including rice in the state’s cap-and-trade program, marking the first time crop farmers could receive credits for reducing emissions through a change in growing practices.

To sell carbon emission allowances, rice farmers would be required to flood their fields for shorter periods. This would reduce the rice straw decomposition process that leads to the emission of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Most of the rice in the Sacramento Valley is grown by farmers who flood their rice fields, typically to a depth of 4 to 5 inches, prior to seeding.The board action is no small matter for rice growers in the Sacramento Valley who grow most of the 550,000 acres of rice cultivated in the state. Including a crop into the program would also resonate across the state since the board would likely follow suit with other crops, said Robert Parkhurst, director of greenhouse gas markets for the Environmental Defense Fund.

“What has been done with the rice protocol can be leveraged to other crops.” Parkhurst said. “Rice is definitely a gateway crop.”The CARB comment period on including rice in the cap and trade program begins in late February and lasts 15 days. It will then be followed by a 45-day information-gathering period before a board vote is taken on whether to approve adoption. That vote is not expected until the summer, said Dave Clegern, spokesman for the Air Resources Board.Before the board can decide, it will have to determine what greenhouse gas emissions are produced during different stages of rice cultivation, such as when rice straw is baled and taken off a farm, Clegern said.

“We need more data,” Clegern said.Farmers would join the program on a voluntary basis and would participate for a 10-year period, said Clegern. Farmers would get paid a market price for each carbon credit sold at auction. Each credit is equal to a ton of carbon dioxide.Other factors come into play and complicate the issue, including the fate of migratory birds and the will of duck hunters, both of which use flooded rice fields as surrogate wetland. Shortening the time rice fields are flooded will remove crucial wetland habitat for birds and force them to congregate in smaller areas, increasing the risk of avian disease.

Questions also abound for rice farmers, who stand to receive a new revenue stream but must consider impacts on crop production.“It’s unclear at this time how many rice growers will change production practices to qualify for the offsets,” said Paul Buttner, environmental affairs manager of the California Rice Commission.

“At the current price of carbon, we would expect the revenue potential would be quite modest – likely less than five dollars an acre,” said Buttner.California’s cap-and-trade program was launched in 2013 as an outgrowth of the state’s emissions-reducing law, Assembly Bill 32. The 2006 law seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.The price of carbon in California’s cap-and-trade program has dipped markedly. In September 2012, the price of a California carbon allowance future peaked at $23.75, according to the market tracking firm Intercontinental Exchange.

As of Dec. 24, the carbon allowance future had fallen to $12.58.It is the first such program in the United States that caps all greenhouse gas emissions from major industries and includes penalties when those industries are in noncompliance.The program allows industries and other entities that produce greenhouse gases to offset what they produce by purchasing credits or allowances from activity elsewhere that reduces greenhouse gas emissions. If rice were approved for the program, it would join five sectors that include U.S. forests, livestock, urban forests, ozone depleting substances and mines.

Most of California’s major greenhouse gas emitters – those that emit more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year – are required to comply with cap-and-trade regulations. Under AB 32, a company or utility may only emit as much carbon as it has purchased allowances for, over a set period of time.Purchases, sales or trades of offsets or allowances take place during quarterly auctions run by the Air Resources Board. There have been eight such auctions since the program began.California’s cap-and-trade program has already operated in the agricultural realm through the livestock industry.

In that effort, methods have been put into place to quantify and report greenhouse gas emission reductions on dairy, cattle and swine farms where biogas control systems have been installed to reduce manure methane emissions.The livestock effort started in January 2012 and has generated 712,000 offsets, according to CARB data.

Call The Bee’s Edward Ortiz, (916) 321-1071. Follow him on Twitter @edwardortiz.

Image:The California Air Resources Board this month directed staff to begin the process for including rice in the state’s cap-and-trade program, marking the first time crop farmers could receive credits for reducing emissions through a change in growing practices. RICH PEDRONCELLI AP

Source with thanks: http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/health-and-medicine/article5151954.html#storylink=cpy

China’s Low-Tech Smuggling Fad: Vietnamese Rice

Dec 30, 2014

 

Smuggling in the world’s second largest economy might conjure images of small-package, high-value commodities coveted by Chinese urbanites, such as iPhones, cocaine or even lobsters. But another contraband of a more common variety has been flowing in vast quantities across China’s 800-mile border with Vietnam: rice.

How much? It’s likely that more rice is being smuggled from Vietnam into China than the volume sent in legal shipments, the chief of China’s cabinet-level State Council’s rural policy unit Chen Xiwen said at a university conference over the weekend. That means there may be at least 1.2 million metric tons of rice smuggled into the mainland in the first 11 months this year – a quarter of the total amount of rice the U.S. consumes in a year.

By official volumes, Vietnam is already China’s largest rice supplier, accounting for slightly more than half of China’s total rice imports.The contraband trade has already been partly responsible for triggering “Green Wind,” aChinese government crackdown on illegal trade earlier this year that netted $1.16 billion in tax evasion on all contraband recovered.High prices in China are drawing the illegal rice cargoes. Rice in China is currently selling for about 4,000 yuan ($643) a ton, well above the 3,100 yuan ($498) that Vietnamese rice can fetch, said Shanghai JC Intelligence Co. analyst Zhang Yan. It’s not the first time this sort of arbitrage has encouraged Southeast Asian smugglers –sugar has in the past also seen similar trends.

Much of this price discrepancy is thanks to Beijing’s support policy for farmers, who get to sell to the government at pre-fixed rates if market prices fall below its floor. Analysts say the government isn’t likely to change this policy anytime soon, given its political sensitivity among rural communities. Mr. Chen couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.The volume of rice smuggled, if made through legal channels, would tip China closer toward breaching an import quota agreed with the World Trade Organization in 2000. Currently, China officially imports around 2.2 million tons of rice, well below the 5.32 million tons it set up as its import quota for the grain.

If smuggled rice is taken into account, China may have to slap punitive tariffs of 65% on any amount imported outside the quota – compared to 1% within the quota – to meet its consumption needs.Even without policy changes, it doesn’t mean the smuggling will continue forever. Vietnam’s rice is in surplus now, so exporters can afford to keep illicit pipelines to China full. “But if there’s a shortage and international prices go up, that won’t last,” Ms. Zhang said.

– Chuin-Wei Yap. Follow him on Twitter @YapCW.

Image: Rice is sold in a street of Hanoi, Vietnam, 07 October 2014

European Pressphoto Agency

Source with thanks: http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/12/30/chinas-low-tech-smuggling-fad-vietnamese-rice/

NFA assures ample supply of rice

by Mike Crismundo

December 30, 2014

Butuan City — The National Food Authority (NFA) yesterday assured Caraganons of enough rice supply despite the effects of Typhoon “Seniang” which left thousands of flood victims in the region.The NFA also assured Caraganons that the bulk of rice supply now being kept at various NFA warehouses and the NFA rice already in the market will remain to be sold at P27 per kilo for regular-milled and P32 for well-milled.Officials from the regional office of NFA also assured of ample rice supply during the New Year’s Day celebration.

The NFA also assured local government unit (LGU) officials and their respective disaster risk reduction and management councils (DRRMCs) of immediate assistance to flood victims brought about Typhoon “Seniang.”In Surigao del Sur alone, the NFA reported that a total of 102,449 bags in stock inventory were available in all their warehouses located in Cantilan, Bislig City and Tandag City.NFA Provincial Manager May Sara Atomar said this bulk of rice supply were broken down into local rice at 5,171 bags and imported rice at 97,278 bags.

Source with thanks: http://www.mb.com.ph/nfa-assures-ample-supply-of-rice/

Vietnam should stop cross-border trade with China: WTO Center

TUOI TRE NEWS

UPDATED : 12/30/2014 15:01 GMT + 7

Vietnam should reduce and eventually cease cross-border import and export activities with China in order to narrow its trade gap with the country, a unit under the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry has proposed.

Import-export transactions between the two countries should only be done via the official mechanism rather than across the border, the WTO Center said in a report, which also outlines many other strong suggestions to narrow Vietnam’s trade deficit with China.

Cross-border trading is a legal international economic activity between people of two neighboring states. The products usually are traded in small volumes and values, and require less paperwork than official trading activities.The cross-border trading mechanism has been designed to facilitate traders in border areas to manufacture and exchange goods in small volumes, but the policy has in fact failed to attain its objective, according to the WTO Center.

Many traders have made use of the cross-border trade to dodge taxes, it elaborated.Vietnam’s trade deficit with China widened to US$28.9 billion this year, up 21.8 percent from the $23.7 billion recorded last year, according to the General Statistics Office.The WTO Center functions as a channel of online consultation, discussion and support for Vietnamese business associations and enterprises about the World Trade Organization and other legal international trade issues.The center provides legal documents, updated information, publications and training materials on WTO and other legal issues of international economic integration, according to its website.

Many Vietnamese agricultural products are mostly exported to China across the border.In 2013, for instance, China imported 2.1 million tonnes of rice from Vietnam, most of which was done via cross-border transactions, according to the Vietnam Food Association.In the first five months of this year, China’s imports of Vietnamese rice rose 50 percent from a year earlier to 600,000 tonnes.However, 64 percent of the rice export contracts with China have been canceled, and Chinese traders usually force Vietnamese exporters to sell at low prices, the association noted.

Economic experts have attributed the huge shipments of Vietnamese agricultural products to China to the low requirements of the Chinese importers for product quality.The simple paperwork and short distance of transport via cross-border trade are also a plus for local traders to focus on selling goods to China.Muoi Son, a rice trader in the southern province of Tien Giang, said he prefers selling to China across the border as “it is an easy market with high demand.”Son admitted to a local newspaper that he does acknowledge there are payment risks in cross-border trade.“But we got used to this method so it’s hard to get rid of it,” he said.

Source with thanks: http://tuoitrenews.vn/business/25054/vietnam-should-stop-crossborder-trade-with-china-wto-center

Rough Rice January 2015 (ZRF15)

 

11.615-0.025 (-0.21%) 2:51A CST (CBOT) 

Commodity Price Quote as of Wed, Dec 31st, 2014 High 11.615 Low 11.615 14.89552Wk High  (-22.02%)Since 04/29/14 11.37552Wk Low  (+2.11%)Since 10/28/14 Open 11.615 Prev Close 11.640 Volume 20 Open Interest 1,311 Weighted Alpha -20.30 Standard Dev -0.17 20-Day Average12.106 100-Day Average12.533 33.95%14-Day Rel Strength 0.00%14-Day Stochastic Trend Spotter Sell Trend Strength Maximum

Source with thanks: http://www.barchart.com/quotes/futures/ZRF15

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30th December (Tuesday),2014Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

30th December(Tuesday),2014 Daily Exclusive ORYZA Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Bangladesh Receives China Support to Boost Rice Production

Dec 29, 2014

Bangladesh will receive China’s support to boost rice production in the country under an agricultural cooperation agreement, according to local sources.Under the agreement, China has agreed to transfer the technology of its indigenous high-yielding rice variety to Bangladesh and will also set up a rice research center in Bangladesh.The decision was taken during the recent visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister to Dhaka, according to local sources. The Bangladesh Foreign Minister told local media sources that discussions with his Chinese counterpart have been successful and would help Bangladesh in increasing food production significantly. China agreeing to transfer technology of high-yield rice is "a big development," he said.

The China-Bangladesh collaboration also includes several other trade and bilateral issues.Bangladesh produced around 34.36 million tons of rice in 2013-14, up about 2% from around 33.76 million tons last year, according to data from Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). USDA estimates Bangladesh to produce around 34.6 million tons of milled rice and import around 500,000 tons in MY 2014-15 (July – June).  

Italian Rice Farmers Prefer Re-use of Self Produced Seeds Over Certified Seeds

Dec 29, 2014

Italian rice farmers are reportedly reducing the use of certified seeds for the last couple of years, according to the data from Nazionale Risi, the National agency for rice, the use of certified seeds in the crop year 2013-14 remained unchanged from the previous year despite an increase in the rice acreage. The data also shows that area for growing certified seeds in 2013-14 has declined by about 20% y/y due to reduction in the usage of certified seeds. Total area for seed production (including certified seeds and self-produced seeds) in Italy during the year stood at around 9,581 hectares. Italy produced 42,884 tons of seeds and exported around 8.470 tons during 2013-14. The European country also imported around 241 tons of rice seeds during the year.

Farmers are understood to be preferring the re-use of self-produced seeds to reduce production costs. However, analysts say though re-use of self-produced seeds reduce production costs, they may affect the quality of paddy output as they may need increased use of chemical fertilizers to reduce infections transmitted through the seeds. They also noted that with the use of such seeds, it becomes difficult to test for the absence of genetically modified (GM) contaminations.

Global Rice Quotes

December 29th, 2014

Long grain white rice - high quality

Thailand 100% B grade   420-430                ↔

Vietnam 5% broken        380-390                ↓

India 5% broken               385-395                ↔

Pakistan 5% broken        375-385                ↑

Cambodia 5% broken     460-470                ↔

U.S. 4% broken                 510-520                ↔

Uruguay 5% broken        595-605                ↔

Argentina 5% broken     595-605                ↔

Long grain white rice - low quality

Thailand 25% broken      NQ         ↔

Vietnam 25% broken      350-360                ↔

Pakistan 25% broken      335-345                ↑

Cambodia 25% broken   435-445                ↔

India 25% broken             350-360                ↔

U.S. 15% broken               495-505                ↔

Long grain parboiled rice

Thailand parboiled 100% stxd     405-415                ↔

Pakistan parboiled 5% broken stxd          405-415                ↑

India parboiled 5% broken stxd                 375-385                ↔

U.S. parboiled 4% broken             580-590                ↔

Brazil parboiled 5% broken          570-580                ↔

Uruguay parboiled 5% broken    NQ         ↔

Long grain fragrant rice

Thailand Hommali 92%   895-905                ↑

Vietnam Jasmine             510-520                ↓

India basmati 2% broken              NQ         ↔

Pakistan basmati 2% broken       NQ         ↔

Cambodia Phka Mails     805-815                ↔

Brokens

Thailand A1 Super            330-340                ↔

Vietnam 100% broken   330-340                ↔

Pakistan 100% broken stxd          300-310                ↔

Cambodia A1 Super        385-395                ↔

India 100% broken stxd                 295-305                ↔

Egypt medium grain brokens      NQ         ↔

U.S. pet food     390-400                ↔

Brazil half grain NQ         ↔

All prices USD per ton, FOB vessel, oryza.com

Oryza Overnight Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Future Sharply Lower this Morning as Buying Interest Disappears

Dec 29, 2014

Chicago rough rice futures for Jan delivery were trading 33.5 cents per cwt (about $7 per ton) lower at $11.830 per cwt (about $261 per ton) during early floor trading in Chicago. The other grains are seen trading mixed: soybeans are currently seen 0.4% higher, wheat is listed unchanged and corn is currently trading unchanged.U.S. stocks traded in a narrow range on Monday, amid some pressure on European stocks from Greece's failure to elect a president in a third round of elections. The Russell 2000 and the Dow Utility Average traded at new highs, up 4.84% and 31% for the year, respectively.

Both indices have led market gains since the S&P 500 closed at a 1.5-month low on Dec. 16. Oil prices edged higher on concerns about disruption to output from Libya. U.S. stock index futures signaled a softer open on Monday, with stocks in Europe trading lower after third-round elections in Greece failed to secure a new president. Volumes are expected to be light after the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 posted record gains last week. The Dow advanced 1.4 percent in light volume on the week after consistent record closes, but uncertainty in Europe weighed on stocks amid the political turmoil in Greece. Gold is currently trading about 1.1% lower, crude oil is seen trading about 0.6% higher,  and the U.S. dollar is currently trading slightly lower at 10:10am Chicago time.

Oryza Afternoon Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Tumble as Iraq Passes on US Rice in Latest Tender Announcement

Dec 29, 2014

Chicago rough rice futures for Jan delivery settled 34.5 cents per cwt (about $8 per ton) lower at $11.820 per cwt (about $268 per ton). Rough rice futures tumbled on news that the Iraqi Grain Board has passed on US origin rice in its latest tender awards, instead turning to Brazil and Argentina in its latest round of buying. The US futures market immediately reacted to the negative news as prices once again slipped below $12.000 per cwt (about $265 per ton). The other grains closed mostly lower today; Soybeans closed about 0.5% lower at $10.4875 per bushel; wheat finished about 0.8% higher at $6.1550 per bushel, and corn finished the day about 0.5% lower at $4.1275 per bushel.

U.S. stocks traded slightly higher on Monday, shaking off declining oil prices and earlier pressure from Greece's failure to elect a president. The Dow Jones Industrial Average held to the smallest trading range of December. The Russell 2000 and the Dow Utility Average traded near new highs, up about 4.7% and 31% for the year, respectively. Both indices have led market gains since the S&P 500 closed at a 1.5-month low on Dec. 16. On the S&P 500, the defensive utilities sector rose more than 1.20% to lead gains. After edging higher on concerns about disruption to output from Libya, WTI Crude hit $53.32 a barrel, the lowest since 2009.

 Low oil prices have hurt the energy-sensitive region of Texas, according to December figures from the Dallas Manufacturing Survey. The general business activity index fell to 4.1 from 10.5, the weakest level since March. With many traders on vacation between the Christmas and New Year's holidays, composite volume on the New York Stock Exchange was 1.3 billion in early afternoon trade. Earlier, stocks opened lower, following the lead of U.S. stock index futures, amid some pressure on European stocks from Greece's failure to elect a president in a third round of elections. Greek stocks fell as much as 11% on the news, paving the way for a snap election on January 25, 2015.

 The result did not come as a surprise, with many analysts saying prior to the vote that the Greek government needed a "miracle" to avoid a general election. The Dow Jones Industrial Average traded down 6 points, or 0.03%, to 18,047. The S&P 500 reversed opening losses to trade up 2.5 points, or 0.11%, at 2,091, with utilities leading gains in half of the sectors and telecommunications the greatest laggard. The Nasdaq traded down 1.3 points, or 0.03%, to 4,805. Gold is trading about 1.1% lower, crude oil is seen trading about 2.6% lower, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading about 0.2% higher at about  1:00pm Chicago time.Friday, there were 634 contracts traded, down from 672 contracts traded on Wednesday. Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on Friday decreased by 218 contracts to 9,000.

Nigeria's New Rice Policy Criticized for Creating $216 Million Losses to Exchequer

Dec 29, 2014

Experts have slammed Nigeria's new rice policy of granting waivers and concessions to importers as part of efforts to bridge supply-gap of import-grade rice of around 1.5 million tons in the country, according to local sources. In order to encourage investment in the rice sector and support its rice self-sufficiency plan, the Federal government has decided to provide duty waivers to existing millers as well as new investors in the country. According to the new rice policy, existing millers and investors have been receiving a preferential levy of 20% and duty of 10% while other importers are required to pay a higher levy of 60% and 10% duty to the government. Accordingly, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has been allocating rice import quotas to various importers, millers and investors.

Experts say this policy has some flaws. First, investors who do not have a strong base in the country's rice sector have been applying for preferential import quotas. They noted that of the 28 beneficiaries so far, only 16 have invested in mills and the remaining 12 did not have investment in mills but have accounted for higher imports than those who really have mills. They also noted that most of the investors who got import allocations have been trading their quota, which they got at 20% levy, to other stakeholders between 60 - 80% levy. They have slammed the government for granting import quotas indiscriminately and creating losses to the extent of N20 billion (around $108 million) to the exchequer.They said the new policy of the government would encourage rice smuggling in the country leading to another N20 billion (around $108 million) losses.

However, the Agriculture Minister denied the experts' claims saying the Ministry has not been granting import quotas indiscriminately and they have been following a specific methodology to do so. He noted that that importers/millers/investors applying for preferential import levy are required to submit a  Domestic Rice Production Plan (DRPP) to prove that they have been working towards increasing rice production in the country.

Oryza U.S. Rough Rice Recap - Market Softens after IGB Passes on U.S. in Favor of South American Origin

Dec 29, 2014

The U.S. cash market was softer today, despite extremely limited buy/sell interest, after it was announced that the Iraqi Grain Board overlooked U.S. origin rice in favor of more expensive South American rice.It was reported that IGB purchased 40,000 MT of Brazilian rice at $669 per MT CIF Liner Out Umm Qasr as well as 30,000 MT of Argentine rice at $675 PMT CIF Free out where as the offer 75,000 MT at $624 PMT CIF Liner out and 30,000 MT at $647 CIF Free out.

With IGB passing on the U.S. offer, analysts expect prices to remain subdued until the U.S. is able to secure some more export business from either Iraq or Venezuela however at the moment no one in the industry is holding their breath.

Italy Exports 632,930 Tons of Rice in 2013-14; Down 6% from Previous Year

Dec 29, 2014

Italy has exported around 632,930 tons of rice, basis milled, in the crop year 2013-14 (September 1, 2013 - October 31, 2014), down about 6.3% from around 675,434 tons exported in the crop year 2012-13, according to data from the Ente Nazionale Risi, the National agency for rice.Italy's rice exports to EU countries during 2013-14 accounted for around 524,604 tons, down about 5.6% from around 555,924 tons exported last year. Exports to non-producing EU countries declined about 7.6% y/y.

 Exports to non-rice producing countries declined by about 1%. Among rice producing countries, exports to France registered highest decline of about 11.1% y/y.Italy's rice exports to Non-EU countries during the year accounted for around 108,326 tons, down about 9.4% from around 119,510 tons exported during the previous year. While exports to European non-EU countries increased about 17.3% y/y, those to Asia, including Turkey and Syria, declined about 21.7% y/y. Exports to Africa, America and Oceania also witnessed a downward trend.

Thailand, Pakistan Rice Quotes Up Today; Vietnam Rice Quotes Down

Dec 29, 2014

Thailand rice sellers increased their quotes for Hommali rice by about $5 per ton to around $895- $905 per ton today. Vietnam rice sellers lowered their quotes for 5% broken rice and Jasmine rice by about $5 per ton and $15 per ton to around$380 - $390 per ton and around $510 - $520 per ton, respectively, today. Pakistan rice sellers increased most of their quotes.  India rice sellers kept their quotes unchanged today.

5% Broken Rice

Thailand 5% rice is quoted at around $405 - $415 per ton, about $25 per ton premium on Vietnam 5% rice shown at around $380 - $390 per ton, down about $5 per ton from Friday. India 5% rice is quoted at around $385 - $395 per ton, about $10 per ton premium on Pakistan 5% rice quoted at around $375 - $385 per ton, up about $5 per ton from Friday.

25% Broken Rice 

Thailand 25% rice was last quoted at around $350 - $360 per ton, on par with Vietnam 25% rice shown at around $350 - $360 per ton.

India 25% rice is quoted at around $350 - $360, about $15 per ton premium on Pakistan 25% rice quoted at around $335 - $345 per ton, up about $5 per ton from Friday.

Parboiled Rice

Thailand parboiled rice is quoted at around $405 - $415 per ton.

India parboiled rice is quoted at around $375 - $385 per ton, about $30 per ton discount to Pakistan parboiled rice quoted at around $405 - $415 per ton, up about $10 per ton from Friday.

100% Broken Rice

Thailand broken rice, A1 Super, is quoted at around $330 - $340 per ton, on par with Vietnam 100% broken rice shown at around $330 - $340 per ton. India's 100% broken rice is shown at around $295 - $305 per ton,  about $5 per ton discount to Pakistan broken sortexed rice quoted at around $300 - $310 per ton.

Vietnam Exports About 6.04 Million Tons Rice During January 1 – December 26, 2014

Dec 29, 2014

Vietnam exported around 6.036 million tons of rice during January 1 - December 26, 2014, down about 10% from around 6.71 million tons of rice exported in full year of 2013, according to data from the Vietnam Food Association (VFA). Average rice export price so far in this year stands at around $440 per ton (FOB), up about 1.6% per ton from about $433 per ton recorded same time last year.

During December 1- 26, 2014, Vietnam exported around 195,747 tons of rice, down about 64% from around 540,378 tons rice exported in full month of December 2013, and down about 60% from around 484,513 tons rice exported in full month of November 2014. Average export prices in so far in December stand at around $478 per ton, up about 5% from a year ago, and up about 3% per ton from a month ago.

Philippines Plans to Release New Heat-Tolerant Rice Varieties by 2017

Dec 29, 2014

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is developing new rice varieties that can endure high temperatures and provide high yields, according to a news release on its website.Normally, rice grows optimally between 20-35 degrees centigrade and becomes sensitive to increasing temperatures especially during the flowering stage and eventually, yields may be affected.

A team of researchers from PhilRice have been developing new rice genotypes that can tolerate and adapt to temperatures as high as 37-39 degrees centigrade under irrigated lowland conditions. They identified N22 (Nagina 22 from India), Dular (India), and Nipponbare (Japan) as donor parents and generated new high temperature tolerant breeding varieties using conventional breeding and molecular marker-assisted selection processes. The lead researcher of the project noted that they established breeding nurseries in high temperature regions under field conditions. They set the timing of planting such that the flowering stage coincided with the highest temperature during the growing season.  

They researchers identified twenty five new breeding lines which are tolerant to high temperatures. These breeding lines will be evaluated for other traits and depending on the results, they will be nominated to the National Cooperative Test for Multi-Environment testing, said the lead researcher of the project.He expressed confidence that a new heat-tolerant rice variety would be released in 2016-17. Developing rice varieties that can tolerate high temperatures is important part in dealing with climate change in rice growing areas, he added.

Separately, the Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) is planning to incorporate climate smart technologies in its programs to help local agriculture sector adapt to extreme weather conditions.The DA is currently testing the adaptability of three varieties of Green Super Rice, which is jointly developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the PhilRice, for different climatic conditions. Green Super Rice is developed by combining the superior traits of 250 rice varieties and hybrids for tolerating extreme weather/growing conditions such as drought, floods and low inputs, including zero pesticides and less fertilizers. The National Seed Industry Council has to certify thper Rice for commercial use.  

Get all above news in pdf format: just click the following link

30th December(Tuesday),2014 Daily Exclusive ORYZARice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine