Tuesday, June 16, 2015

15th June (Monday),2015 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

California rice plantings down 32 percent - 375,000 acres


Estimate based on seed sales
Jun 13, 2015Todd Fitchette | Western Farm Press
California rice plantings down 32 percent - 375,000 acres
Planted California rice acreage estimate based on seed sales
Additional water curtailments could impact harvested acres more than first suspected
Impacts of reduced rice water will be seen in local economies and to wildlife
Rice fields like this one just north of Sacramento, Calif. support a host of jobs an economic activities, including Farm AIr Flying Service just across the canal from this rice field.
Description: California rice benefits local economies and multitude of wildlife species The California Rice Commission (CRC) expects crop plantings at 375,000 acres this year, down from the annual 550,000 average - or a 32-percent reduction, largely tied to the ongoing extreme drought.
The CRC prediction came just days before the State Water Resources Control Board began another round of closing irrigation taps to farmers. Actual harvested acreage could be vastly different with water curtailments now extending to senior water rights holders. Many have already made planting decisions that could require them to walk away from crops leading to dead plants.The planted rice estimate is solely based on seed sales, according to Tim Johnson, CRC president.Mike Daddow, a grower of rice in the Sacramento, Natomas and Nicolaus areas, hopes to plant 450 acres of rice this season. He typically plants about 600 acres of medium grain, short grain and sweet rice.The loss of water has also impacted the custom farming that he does. He expects to be down about 300 acres in custom farming work this year.The loss of rice land not only impacts whole economies in the northern San Joaquin and southern Sacramento valleys of California. It also means lost habitat for millions of birds and other wildlife.“We’re managing water for a lot of purposes here,” says David Guy, president of the Northern California Water Association, an organization whose mission is to “advance the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the Sacramento Valley by enhancing and preserving its water rights, supplies and water quality.”
Description: Rice harvester
http://westernfarmpress.com/rice/california-rice-plantings-down-32-percent-375000-acres

NFA wants private sector to participate in rice importation
By Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star) | Updated June 14, 2015 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines - The National Food Authority (NFA) is inviting the private sector to participate in the importation of an aggregate volume of 805,200 metric tons (MT) of rice under the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) for this year.The total importation volume comprises 755, 200 MT of country-specific quota (CSQ) and 50,000 MT of omnibus origin volume.The CSQ is broken down as follows: China, 50,000 MT; India, 50,000 MT; Pakistan, 50,000 MT; Australia 15,000 MT; El Salvador 4,000 MT; Thailand 293,100 MT; and Vietnam 293,100 MT.In its bid invitation published in The STAR on Friday, NFA stated that each application for importation under the 2015 MAV shall cover a volume of not more than 20,000 MT.
All rice imported under the 2015 MAV rice importation program shall be levied with a tariff of 35 percent to be paid in advance to the Land Bank of the Philippines, with the Bureau of Customs making the final assessment and valuation.Importers are allowed to import well-milled rice with quality not lower than 25 percent brokens or other special rice varieties. The NFA shall accept applications for importation under the 2015 MAV 15 days from publication of the notice beginning yesterday. Interested parties should submit pertinent documents to the Grains Marketing Operations Department at the NFA central office in Quezon City and pay a non-refundable processing fee of P50,000.Corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorship, farmers’ cooperatives and joint ventures can apply under the program. Importers should be able to deliver the imported rice on or before Nov. 30, 2015.The Philippines agreed last year to increase the volume of rice imports at a reduced tariff of 35 percent to 805,200 MT from 350,000 MT in exchange for the extension of its special tax treatment on rice by the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Within the MAV scheme, rice importers enjoy a lower tariff beginning this year until 2017.As Southeast Asian economies attain full integration this year, Filipino rice farmers would be pitted against agricultural powerhouses like Thailand and Vietnam, which can easily bring in rice to the Philippines at low tariff.Thus, the government is grooming rice growers to increase production and improve the quality of produce to maximize the benefits of free trade within the region.
The opening of the 2015 MAV rice importation program sees the Philippines importing nearly two million MT of rice this year as the prevailing dry spell is expected to reduce rice production this year.In February, NFA awarded the supply contract for a total of 500,000 MT of rice to Vietnam and Thailand, which delivered in March and April.The agency also approved the importation of 250,000 MT for arrivals between July to August and the importation of a standby supply of 250,000 MT.Earlier, the Department of Agriculture revised this year’s palay production target to 19.02 million MT from the original target of 20 million MT as the prevailing dry spell is expected to cause delays in planting
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/06/14/1465664/nfa-wants-private-sector-participate-rice-importation

PHL reissues tender for 100,000-MT rice imports


THE NATIONAL Food Authority (NFA) said yesterday it has reissued a tender to import an additional 100,000 metric tons (MT) of rice as it seeks to boost its buffer stock ahead of the lean harvest season in the country beginning July.
The tender is again open only to the governments of Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, with sealed bids to be opened on June 16, the NFA said in a statement.It comes after June 5 bidding that saw the NFA agreeing to buy 150,000 MT of rice, with Vietnam winning the deal against Thailand. Cambodia did not submit a bid. The NFA had planned to import as much as 250,000 MT of 25% broken white rice via the June 5 tender, but the initial price offers were higher than its budget.
 Vietnam had agreed to revise its bid but for only 150,000 MT while Thailand had backed out in the second round of bidding.Vietnam, the Philippines’ traditional main supplier, last week cut its export price floor for 25% broken rice by 2.9% to $340/MT amid a lack of fresh buying demand.Dry weather brought by the current El Niño weather episode has prompted the Philippines, one of the world’s top rice importers, to further cut its estimated output of the staple grain in the second quarter. The NFA already has government approval to buy another 250,000 MT later this year if drought brought on by El Niño hurts its harvest. -- Reuters
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=TopStory&title=phl-reissues-tender-for-100000-mt-rice-imports&id=109660

Gov't to try to import rice again

ABS-CBNnews.com
Posted at 06/15/2015 1:03 PM
MANILA - Government is taking a second shot at importing rice ahead of the lean season that starts next month after failing to buy as much as it wanted two weeks ago.A report from Reuters said the Philippines will invite bids for 100,000 tons of rice from Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia.Government bought 150,000 tons from Vietnam earlier this month when it wanted to buy 250,000 from any or all of the three countries.The Philippines needs to import rice as dry weather from El Nino cuts local production, raising the possibility of shortages.A failure to import last year resulted in a spike in rice prices and general inflation. – ANC

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/06/15/15/govt-try-import-rice-again
Mekong Delta farmers well profit from summer autumn rice

Farmers earn a profit of VND10-15 million (US$459-688) per hectare of summer autumn rice crop which is amid peak harvest time in the Mekong Delta.Description: http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/dataimages/original/2015/06/images238430_he%20thu.jpgOn Sunday, traders paid VND4,100-4,200 a kilogram of fresh normal rice and VND4,400-4,600 a kilogram of fresh long grain variety in Dong Thap, Hau Giang and Vinh Long provinces and Can Tho city.Farmer Vo Van Rot from Can Tho said that he had reaped one hectare of summer autumn rice and sold them out at VND4,500 a kilogram to pocket VND14 million.According to departments of agriculture and rural development in the delta, the rice price is not high but farmers still profit from bumper crop and high productivity.The Vietnam Food Association reported that businesses have exported over 2.1 million tons of rice worth US$874.9 million in the first five months this year.
Farmers harvest rice in Thoi Lai district, Can Tho (Photo: SGGP)
http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Business/2015/6/114132/
Pakistani rice exporters seek enhanced trade

GROUP PHOTO: Members of the REAP delegation led by Rafique Suleman, third from right, with Ambassador of Pakistan to Qatar Shahzad Ahmad, centre, front row.    Photo: Umer Nangiana

By Umer Nangiana


Pakistan being an agro-based economy has natural abundance of all agricultural products including food items. Rice is the third largest crop after wheat and cotton.Grown over 10% of the total cropped area, rice is highly valued cash crop and is also major export item. It accounts for 6.7% in value-added agriculture and 1.6% in GDP. Pakistan grows enough high quality rice to meet both domestic demand and allow for exports of around one million ton per annum.The country has been consistently exporting its high quality rice to Qatar for many years. In 2011-12, Pakistan exported over 50,000 metric ton of Basmati rice for over US$50 million besides more than 36,000 metric ton of non-Basmati rice worth more than US$21 million.

Description: Pakistani rice exporters seek enhanced tradeHowever, the trend in exports went downwards from there on and only 15,000 metric ton of Basmati rice was exported to Qatar from Pakistan between July 2014 and May 2015.A delegation comprising leading rice exporters from Pakistan — members of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) — is in town, seeking enhanced export of Pakistani rice to Qatar. Led by Rafique Suleman, the Chairman of REAP, the delegation was invited to Qatar by the Ambassador of Pakistan to Qatar Shahzad Ahmad.

During the two-day visit, the delegation met with representatives of leading rice importing companies in Qatar and officials of the Government of Qatar, facilitated by the Embassy of Pakistan.“Trade in rice with Qatar has been really good till 2010 but then it dropped for some reasons,” Suleman told Community at a dinner reception hosted by the Ambassador of Pakistan at his residence here recently.“We are here to determine the reasons for that drop and would try get the problems fixed in order to bring the rice import to Qatar from Pakistan back to its high once again,” the delegation leader added.

He praised the efforts of the ambassador and urged him to provide continued support to the Pakistani exporters, assuring him that Pakistan has the potential to export large quantity of good quality rice to Qatar.“We have all latest laboratories available in Pakistan to test rice for any standards applicable in the world at present. We export almost 4 million ton of rice to different parts of the world and are 4th largest exporters in the world,” said Suleman.He said they just needed a bit of support from the Qatari government and the exporters of rice in Pakistan are capable of enhancing the current rate of rice export to Qatar from Pakistan to almost US$100 million.
He hoped to hold a meeting with the officials of Central Tenders Committee (CTC) in Qatar that floats the tenders for import of rice for local companies in Qatar. The delegation leader said they would urge the CTC to include Pakistan’s name in the list of countries as ‘Pakistan origin,’ to facilitate the import of rice by local companies directly from Pakistan.“Our Basmati rice is considered as best in the world. It sells at top price in United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA) and many other countries. We know that the market in Qatar is almost 100,000 ton of rice and we can deliver this quantity,” said the delegation leader.He said the REAP delegation went to Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines before arriving in Qatar. From there, they would head to Bahrain before proceeding to China and Britain.

“We have more than 30 qualities of rice in Pakistan and the non-Basmati variety is our biggest export. The delegation’s mission is to gain contracts directly from countries’ governments so that the exports of top-quality Pakistani rice can be increased manifold to [its full potential].”The REAP delegation includes prominent exporters of rice and other agriculture products from all over Pakistan.In 1988-89, REAP came into existence and started interacting with the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock and also the Planning Division of the Government of Pakistan.  It is, Suleman said, the second largest export trade body registered with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of Pakistan. It has an active membership of 1,500 throughout the country.

http://www.gulf-times.com/culture/238/details/443247/pakistani-rice-exporters-seek-enhanced-trade
650,000 tons of stockpiled Thai rice declared rotten, to be used as fuel 
BY EDITOR ON          2015-06-15 THAILAND
PWO: 650,000 tons of stockpiled rice declared rotten, to be used as fuel
BANGKOK, 15 June 2015, (NNT) – The Public Warehouse Organization (PWO) is working with police regarding the inferior rice in its stock, which totals one million tons.Of this amount, 650,000 tons are unfit for both human and animal consumption, as well as ethanol production. They can however used as fuel in electricity generation.300,000 tons are an 80:20 mix of good quality rice and Grade C rice, and the remaining 54,000 tons are white rice mislabeled as jasmine and sticky rice.PWO Chairman Jintana Chaiyawonnagal estimated the police investigation would be completed within this month, after which the organization can sell its stock for various purposes.

Paddy farmers’ dues to be paid in 15 days

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Paddy farmers will be paid their dues within 15 days, Minister for Civil Supplies Anoop Jacob said here on Saturday.He was cited in a press release from the Public Relations Department as saying that Rs. 275 crore was due to the farmers for the paddy procured last season. The Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation will avail a loan of Rs. 225 crore to meet the outgo. The remaining portion of the dues, Rs. 50 crore, would be provided by the State government, the press release added. Supplyco has already completed payment to paddy farmers in six districts in the State.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/paddy-farmers-dues-to-be-paid-in-15-days/article7314491.ece

Thailand asks rice farmers to delay wet season planting

BANGKOK, JUNE 15
Thailand has asked rice farmers to delay planting their main crop in the fertile Chao Phraya River Basin area as the country battles drought in dozens of provinces, the agriculture ministry said on Monday.Thailand is one of the world's top rice exporters, and despite the drought the U.S. Department of Agriculture expects output to nudge up in 2015-2016 from the previous year.
The wet or monsoon season has begun but 22 out of 76 provinces are still contending with drought conditions, affecting around 7.45 million hectares of rice farm land, said Agriculture Minister Petipong Pungbun Na Ayudhya.That's around 80 percent of the land dedicated to rice farming during the wet season, according to Reuters calculations."The agriculture ministry and irrigation department have requested that farmers delay rice planting in the Chao Phraya area because the Chao Phraya area is a large rice growing area... and we need to organise the water that is being used," Petipong told reporters in Bangkok.Farmers had begun planting rice in May over 3.44 million hectares of land.

 The government has urged farmers to suspend planting in the remaining 4 million hectares, he said.Reservoirs in some areas remain low.The Chao Phraya, Thailand's main river, flows south through the central rice-growing region and on to Bangkok.The basin is the most important in Thailand, covers 30 percent of the country's land area and is home to 40 percent of its population, according to the United Nations.Deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said there was a prospect of drought conditions worsening."It is expected that the drought this year may be worse than last year so we ask all parties not to be complacent and for our farmer brothers to delay planting their crops," he said.Thailand's military government has said it plans to invest $7.5 billion in urgent water management projects over the next two years.The projects are part of a 10-year water management plan across the country after the military government scrapped a 350-billion baht ($10.4 billion) water plan initiated by the previous government.The USDA expects Thailand to produce around 19.8 million tonnes of milled rice in the 2015-2016 crop year, up from 18.8 million in 2014-2015 as farmers improve yields. ($1 = 33.7100 baht) (Reporting by Pracha Hariraksapitak; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Simon Webb and Ed Davies)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/15/thailand-rice-drought-idUSL3N0Z12HX20150615


Paddy sowing begins in Punjab, Haryana
Chandigarh, June 15
IANS
Paddy transplantation has started in food grain states Punjab and Haryana, agriculture department officials in both states said on Monday.The transplantation is likely to continue for the next 15-20 days.Both state governments had issued a ban on farmers from sowing paddy before June 15.Punjab Agriculture Minister Tota Singh reviewed arrangements for the crop sowing on Monday and issued instructions to power department officials to ensure eight-hour power supply to farmers in the state."The state government is fully prepared to meet the challenge of deficit monsoon and the irrigation department has been directed to run all canals to the full capacity so that farmers at tail end could get full water supply for their crop," the minister said here.
The paddy crop requires constant watering of agricultural fields for the first few weeks.The Punjab government has been urging farmers to shift from the wheat-paddy crop cycle. Farmers are being offered schemes to diversify especially from cultivating paddy since the crop requires lot of watering and power supply.Under its agriculture diversification mission to conserve depleting ground water, the Punjab government has announced that area under water-gulping paddy cultivation will be cut from the present 26.50 lakh hectare to 14.50 lakh hectare.The reduced area of 12 lakh hectare is being shifted to alternative crops like maize, sugarcane, cotton, pulses, fruits and vegetables, besides agro-forestry in next five years, said an official spokesperson of the agriculture department.
http://www.newkerala.com/news/2015/fullnews-73872.html

CORRECTED-Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Jun 15


Mon Jun 15, 2015 2:56pm IST
(CORRECTED-Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Jun 15)
Nagpur, June 15 Gram and tuar prices recovered in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and
Marketing Committee (APMC) here on increased demand from local millers amid thin supply from
producing regions. Notable rise in Madhya Pradesh pulses and fresh enquiries from South-based
millers also jacked up prices, according to sources. 
 
               *            *              *              *
 
    FOODGRAINS & PULSES
    GRAM
   * Gram varieties moved down in open market here on lack of demand from local traders 
     amid release of stock from stockists. 
 
     TUAR
   * Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here matching the demand and supply 
     position.      
 
   * Moong varieties declined sharply in open market here on poor demand from local 
     traders amid good supply from producing regions. Government decision to import 
     pulses also affected prices.
                                                                                             
   * In Akola, Tuar - 7,300-7,700, Tuar dal - 10,100-10,500, Udid at 9,100-9,600, 
     Udid Mogar (clean) - 10,700-11,100, Moong - 9,000-9,200, Moong Mogar 
    (clean) 10,700-11,100, Gram - 4,200-4,500, Gram Super best bold - 6,100-6,300 
     for 100 kg.
 
   * Wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market in poor trading 
     activity, according to sources.
       
 Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
 
     FOODGRAINS                 Available prices     Previous close   
     Gram Auction                   3,560-4,560         3,500-4,490
     Gram Pink Auction            n.a.           2,100-2,600
     Tuar Auction                6,500-7,210         6,500-7,150
     Moong Auction                n.a.                6,000-6,300
     Udid Auction                n.a.           4,300-4,500
     Masoor Auction                n.a.              2,600-2,800
     Gram Super Best Bold            5,800-6,000        6,000-6,200
     Gram Super Best            n.a.                
     Gram Medium Best            5,500-5,600        5,500-5,900
     Gram Dal Medium            n.a.            n.a.
     Gram Mill Quality            5,200-5,400        5,500-5,650
     Desi gram Raw                4,400-4,450         4,500-4,550
     Gram Filter new            5,600-5,800        5,800-6,000
     Gram Kabuli                5,500-7,000        5,500-5,700
     Gram Pink                6,400-6,600        6,400-6,600
     Tuar Fataka Best             10,500-10,800        10,500-10,800
     Tuar Fataka Medium             9,900-10,300        9,900-10,300
     Tuar Dal Best Phod            9,500-9,700        9,500-9,700
     Tuar Dal Medium phod            8,800-9,300        8,800-9,300
     Tuar Gavarani New             7,400-7,500        7,400-7,500
     Tuar Karnataka             8,000-8,100        8,000-8,100
     Tuar Black                 11,000-11,300           11,000-11,300 
     Masoor dal best            8,000-8,200        8,000-8,200
     Masoor dal medium            7,500-7,900        7,500-7,900
     Masoor                    n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Mogar bold               10,500-10,800       10,800-11,000
     Moong Mogar Medium best        9,800-10,300        10,000-10,500
     Moong dal Chilka            9,200-9,600        9,400-9,700
     Moong Mill quality            n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Chamki best            9,600-9,900        9,600-9,900
     Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG)    11,500-11,750       11,500-11,750
     Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)    10,600-10,800        10,600-10,800
     Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)        8,900-9,200        8,900-9,200
     Batri dal (100 INR/KG)        4,200-4,400        4,200-4,400
     Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)           3,300-3,350         3,300-3,350
     Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)        3,400-3,500        3,400-3,500
     Watana White (100 INR/KG)        3,100-3,150         3,100-3,150
     Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)    3,600-4,500        3,600-4,500
     Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)        1,400-1,600        1,400-1,600
     Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG)    1,550-1,650        1,550-1,650
     Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)        1,400-1,600           1,400-1,600
     Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)    2,200-2,400        2,200-2,400
     Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)    1,900-2,100        1,900-2,100
     Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)    n.a.            n.a.
     MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)    3,100-3,600        3,100-3,600
     MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)    2,700-2,900        2,700-2,900
     Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG)        1,400-1,500        1,400-1,500
     Wheat Best (100 INR/KG)        1,900-2,100        1,900-2,100     
     Rice BPT New(100 INR/KG)        2,600-2,800        2,600-2,800
     Rice BPT (100 INR/KG)               2,900-3,100        2,900-3,100
     Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG)        1,500-1,750        1,500-1,750
     Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG)      2,100-2,300        2,100-2,300
     Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG)      2,400-2,700        2,400-2,700
     Rice HMT new(100 INR/KG)        3,000-3,600        3,000-3,600
     Rice HMT (100 INR/KG)               3,700-4,100        3,700-4,100
     Rice HMT Shriram New(100 INR/KG)    4,200-4,500        4,200-4,500
     Rice HMT Shriram old (100 INR/KG)    4,400-4,900        4,400-4,900     
     Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)    8,200-10,200        8,200-10,200
     Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)    6,000-7,200        6,000-7,200
     Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG)    4,600-4,800        4,700-4,900
     Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG)        5,400-5,900        5,500-6,000
     Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)        2,200-2,450        2,200-2,450
     Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)        2,500-2,600        2,500-2,600
 
WEATHER (NAGPUR)  
Maximum temp. 34.7 degree Celsius (94.5 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
23.8 degree Celsius (74.8 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : 5.2 mm
FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Rains or thunder-showers likely towards evening or night. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 36 and 24 degree Celsius respectively.
 
Note: n.a.--not available
 
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)

http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/06/15/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL3N0Z138I20150615

RDA seeks rice board’s revival

June 15, 2015

HAFIZABAD
The Rice Dealers Association (RDA) has called upon the Federal government to revive Rice Board to steer out rice trade from crisis and earn precious foreign exchange for the country. 
Addressing a press conference, Rice Dealers Association (RDA) Punjab president Haji Sheikh Muhammad Ishaq said that superior-quality rice of Pakistan used to export and earn billion of rupees as foreign exchange every year in the past. But due to abolition of Rice Board and unrealistic policies, the rice stock of last two years has been rotting in warehouses owing to which rice rates in the current season has plummet to the prices of paddy. This scenario has caused multiple problems for all the stakeholders and inflicted huge financial losses on cultivators, rice dealers, millers and exporters alike, he regretted.

 He urged the government to ensure export of coarse rice to China and Super Basmati to Iran. He further said that rice millers were unable to even pay mark-up to banks. He called upon the government to take appropriate steps for the export of rice to save dealers/millers/exporters from further losses. He also demanded prompt support prices for different verities of paddy so as to provide incentives to the paddy growers. CITIZENS OPPOSE BAZAAR: The TMA and District Administration have decided to arrange Ramazan Bazaar in front of TMA Office near Fawara Chowk. Scores of local, political, social and commercial organisations have disapproved the decision to arrange Ramazan Bazaar in one of the busiest roads near Fawara Chowk and have called upon the authorities to review its decision for smooth flow of traffic on this busiest road. They suggested to arrange the Ramazan Bazar in old Sabzi Mandi which were lying deserted and is a safe place for the proposed bazaar.

http://nation.com.pk/national/15-Jun-2015/rda-seeks-rice-board-s-revival

Rice mills owners to initiate nationwide protest

June 14, 2015
ISLAMABAD

The Pakistan Rice Mills Association has announced nationwide protest to draw attention of the authorities to the plight of collapsing sector linked to thousands of jobs and two billion dollars of annual exports.Rice millers have decided to stop purchasing paddy from growers and lock the mills putting thousands of jobs and billions of bank loans in jeopardy.President Pakistan Rice Mills Association Mukhtar Ahmed Khan Baloch said this while talking to Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President Pakistan Economy Watch.

He said that an emergency meeting of three thousand owners of rice mills has been summoned at Kamonki where plan for sit-in in front of the Parliament and other details would be finalised.Baloch said that authorities have turned a deaf ear to the plight of this sector as they are focused on welfare of exporters only putting interests of planters and growers on the back burner.Government needs to bail out sinking rice sector responsible for over two billion dollars of exports, largest outside textiles, otherwise country may lose export market to neighbouring country.He said that Pakistan is fourth largest exporter of rice and millions of jobs are linked to that critical sector which merits full attention of the policy makers.

Description: http://nation.com.pk/print_images/large/2015-06-13/rice-mills-owners-to-initiate-nationwide-protest-1434221673-9097.jpgBaloch said that situation is turning against Pakistan and in favour of India which has introduced its own brand lacking aroma but increased in length. Indian rice is cheaper due to hidden subsidies which has resulting in lost Iranian and Middle Eastern markets.He said that some 3000 rice mills are facing problems while those 1000 are on the brink that have failed to sell rice in last two years.At the occasion, Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that exporters are not cooperating with millers to cope with the problem while government is ignoring the critical issue.He said that the steps taken for rice sector in the budget are insufficient, adding that TCP should buy rice from millers for export, their mark-up should be waived and rice mills should be declared sick industry.

http://nation.com.pk/business/14-Jun-2015/rice-mills-owners-to-initiate-nationwide-protest
Main rice crop delay ordered as water dries up
15 Jun 2015 at 16:24
WRITER: POST REPORTERS
 The flow of water into the Chao Phraya dam in Chai Nat province keeps falling and authorities are instructing rice farmers to delay planting their main crop until next month. (Photo by Chudate Seehawong)
Rice growers who have not started their main crop are being instructed to delay planting until next month, or see their crops shrivel in the fields as they fight over the increasingly scarce water supply.Deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said on Monday that farmers should postpone planting crops that require excessive amounts of water.Farmers who did not follow the instruction would see their crops wither as the water supply dried up.He asked for cooperation in conserving water not only from farmers but also households, which were asked to cease activities that consume a lot of water, such as operating home swimming pools."The government asks the governors of all provinces to persuade people to save water to protect their own living and to keep water in the reservoirs so that the Royal Irrigation Department can supply  farmland and the Chao Phraya river basin as planned."I believe that if all Thai people cooperate, we can get through the water shortage crisis," Maj Gen Sansern said.
"The water shortage this year may be more severe than that of late last year. So everyone should cooperate and must not be careless," he said.The Royal Irrigation Department reported that as of Monday medium and large reservoirs held 34.495  billion cubic metres of water, or 46% of their total capacity, but only 10.692 billion cubic metres could be used.Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Pitipong Phuengboon Na Ayudhaya said farmers who had not planted their main crop rice should postpone doing so until the end of July."The government does not want to see people fighting for water.
The main crop of rice is grown on 3.44 million rai in irrigated areas... To prevent damage, farmers who have not yet planted their main crop are asked to delay it," Mr Pitipong said.Lertviroj Kowattana, director-general of the Royal Irrigation Department, admitted on Monday that it was difficult to manage the water supply at this time.Suchart Charoensri, irrigation director in Manorom district of Chai Nat province, said that unless those farmers who had not yet started their main crop delay planting, then both previously and freshly sown paddy fields would all be damaged. He supervises irrigation in the eastern side of the Chao Phraya River.Ekasit Sakdeethanaporn, director of the Chao Phraya dam, said the flow of water into the dam was declining because farmers upstream were actively pumping water directly into their paddy fields. Under these circumstances the remaining water would be enough for only 36 days of consumption.About 1.2 million rai of paddy fields had not been planted this main crop season yet, he said.Get full Bangkok Post printed newspaper experience on your digital devices with Bangkok Post e-newspaper. Try it out, it's totally free for 7 days.
                 
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/592997/main-rice-crop-delay-ordered-as-water-dries-up
APEDA (NEWS) India
International Benchmark Price
Price on: 12-06-2015
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Garlic
1
Chinese first grade granules, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
2100
2
Chinese Grade A dehydrated flakes, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
2000
3
Chinese powdered, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
1800
Ginger
1
Chinese sliced, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
4600
2
Chinese whole, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
5100
3
Indian Cochin, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
3000
Guar Gum Powder
1
Indian 100 mesh 3500 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
4680  
2
Indian 200 mesh 3500 cps basis, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
2100
3
Indian 200 mesh 5000 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
3200
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 13-06-2015
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Barley (Jau)
1
Dahod (Dahod)
Other
1200
1300
2
Deoli (Rajasthan)
Other
1100
1150
3
Mandsaur (Madhya Pradesh)
Other
1130
1130
Maize
1
Dhing (Assam)
Other
1320
1500
2
Amreli (Gujarat)
Other
1050
2430
3
Theni(Tamil  Nadu)
Other
1350
1450
Mango
1
Bharuch (Gujarat)
Other
2000
5000
2
Bonai(Orissa)
Other
1000
1000
3
Zira(Punjab)
Other
2900
3100
Carrot
1
Solan (Himachal Pradesh)
Other
1200
1800
2
Bonai (Orissa)
Other
2000
2000
3
Gumla (Jharkhand)
Other
3600
4000
Source:agra-net
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 13-06-2015
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Ahmedabad
392
2
Chittoor
413
3
Hyderabad
377
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 12-06-2015
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Onions Dry
Package: 50 lb sacks
1
Atlanta
California
Yellow
23
23
2
Baltimore
Arizona
Yellow
23
24
3
New York
Canada
Yellow
19
20
Cabbage
Package: 50 lb cartons
1
Atlanta
Florida
Round Green Type
14
14
2
Detroit
Michigan
Round Green Type
12
14
3
Miami
Canada
Round Green Type
11
12
Apples
Package: cartons tray pack
1
Atlanta
Virginia
Red Delicious   
19
19
2
Baltimore
Washington
Red Delicious   
20
22
3
Miami
Washington
Red Delicious   
24
26
Source:USDA

 

Preempting Indian GI move


 A SENIOR vice-president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry has sought the commerce minister’s intervention in preventing India from getting its basmati rice registered as Geographical Indication (GI) in the subcontinent in the name, style and title of ‘basmati’.If India succeeds in its intent, Abdul Rahim Janoo says, it may deprive Pakistan of using the title of basmati for its basmati rice which, in terms of value, happens to be the second highest export commodity after textiles. It is time, he says, the ministry preempted Indian move in order to protect interests of Pakistani farmers who had been growing ‘the long-grained aromatic rice’ for centuries.
There is no denying the fact that India is currently in a hurry to get its basmati registered as a GI. A. K. Gupta, director of the state-run Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Agency (Apeda), a wing of the commerce ministry, says “We must have the GI for basmati before others start claiming.The GI registration should be seen from a ‘national interest’ perspective, as Pakistan is also claiming rights over basmati.” His attitude shows that the idea of a joint registration of basmati as a Geographical Indication is no more on table.However, it is Apeda’s legal battles with Madhya Pradesh which is delaying the process. The two have been locked in a dispute on whether the basmati grown in parts of the state has the characteristics of original basmati, claimed for inclusion in GI registry.

Apeda is defending the GI status of basmati grown in two districts of Jammu and Kashmir, undivided Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, western Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. If Apeda includes MP, other states will claim it, too. Three years ago, it was proposed that both India and Pakistan apply for a joint GI but for various political and legal reasons, the plan was dropped.One may note that the problem doesn’t arise from any non-recognition by India of GI rights of basmati being grown in areas of Pakistani Punjab such as Gujarat, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, etc. The problem arises from lack of serious efforts on the part of bureaucracy to resolve a serious issue. One can witness an indifferent attitude and a half-hearted approach in pursuing negotiations with the Indians whenever the occasion came.To begin with, an obvious deficiency Pakistan suffers from is the absence of GI registry in the country, nor is one planned in the near future.

The argument advanced is that the GI-related work in Pakistan is too little, hence no need for registry.Instead, trademark is seen a good substitute for GI and a trademark for basmati has been granted to the Basmati Growers Association (BGA), investing it with exclusive ownership of the commodity. But this has not been accepted by the European Union and some other countries.Earlier it was in 2006 that talks on joint GI registration were initiated. Following detailed discussions between the commerce secretaries of India and Pakistan, the two nations had agreed to form a joint study group to explore the possibility of a joint registration of basmati as a geographical indication.

The move also had the support of the All India Rice Exporters Association and the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan.Under WTO rules two countries can apply together for registering a product or good as a GI under the ‘homonymous’ provision.A year later a senior official in Indian High Commission at Islamabad, told reporters that Indian Commerce Minister Kamal Nath too had taken up the proposal of a joint GI registration of basmati with his Pakistani counterpart Mr Humayun Akhtar but nothing came off.This ‘ non-response’ from Pakistan side forced India to go ahead to claim intellectual property rights for ‘super basmati’ which Pakistan had been exporting to the EU and enjoying a good market position.

In May 2010, Apeda, which like BGA in Pakistan, is also invested with exclusive ownership of basmati until the commodity is granted GI status, filed an application for registering the basmati growing regions for grant of GI tag under the GI Goods (Registration and Protection) Act 1999. On October 25, 2010, BGA served a notice to oppose Apeda’s move.In fact, the Lahore-based BGA also opposed the grant of GI tag ‘basmati’ to India ‘in totality’. It said in its appeal, “Any registration of basmati as GI under Indian statutes would be in clear violation of BGA’s rights as only the parties concerned in Pakistan are rightfully entitled to GI basmati.”Four months later, Apeda filed its counter statement.

Despite providing two extensions, BGA failed to provide evidence in support of its claims within the stipulated period, according to India media. Apeda then moved an interlocutory petition seeking directions to quash the opposition petition.The GI registry on December 31, 2013, set aside BGA’s petition. Meanwhile, the Chennai-based Intellectual Property Appellate Board on March 30 this year allowed the appeal of Basmati Growers Association to contest the award of GI tag for basmati rice to Madhya Pradesh to be heard sometime this month.

Published in Dawn, Economic & Business, June 15th, 2015

http://www.dawn.com/news/1188190/preempting-indian-gi-move

 

Southern parts of Pakistan to experience harsher droughts’


THIS map, released by the SASCOF, shows that except the northern parts of the country, most of Pakistan will see below normal rainfall this year. International weather experts predict that Pakistan may face harsher drought conditions than last year. -Photo courtesy of Al Mustafa Welfare Trust

Description: International weather experts predict that Pakistan may face harsher drought conditions than last year. -Photo courtesy of Al Mustafa Welfare TrustISLAMABAD: International weather experts predict that Pakistan may face harsher drought conditions than last year.Their prediction, reported by the South Asian Climate Forum (SASCOF) after its yearly study of the altering climate in the region, has experts at home worrying.“We expect lesser rains in the southern half of the country, which is already in the grip of drought-like conditions,” chief of the Pakistan Meteorological Department, Dr Ghulam Rasul, told Dawn.“The situation in Cholistan, Tharparkar and parts of Balochistan is likely to worsen,” he said, partly agreeing with the study.

A sub-regional arm of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the SASCOF is dedicated to monsoon-specific predictions and monitoring the climate outlook needs of South Asian countries. It has warned that the deficient summer monsoon could affect agriculture-based economies in the region.“Below normal rainfall is likely over broad areas of western, central and southwestern parts of South Asia,” said the seasonal outlook sketched by the climate experts, drought managers and flood forecasters of the forum members who met in April.“We, in Pakistan, are looking at very less rain - about 20 to 25mm.

Description: THIS map, released by the SASCOF, shows that except the northern parts of the country, most of Pakistan will see below normal rainfall this year.That may sound relief in severe drought conditions but the relief will not be sustainable due to the high evaporation rate of 10mm per day,” said the Met chief.Though the study suggests “normal” showers in the northern parts of the country, it brings no relief to the worrying environmentalists. They say heavy precipitation in Kashmir and upper Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are likely to cause flash flooding as experienced last year.Hopes, in fact, lay in flawed forecasts.“It is not possible to make 100 percent seasonal predictions. It is still a very big challenge, made more so by the fast changing climate patterns around the world,” said one expert.“Which is why the amounts of precipitation might look different later in the season. Only medium range forecast of seven to ten days has attained sufficient accuracy,” the expert added.

Indeed, Dr Rasul recalled that last year the month of September saw heavier than normal rains, although the forum had predicted drier spells.Nonetheless, the Met chief sent out a warning to the farming community, especially to rice growers.Experts would soon meet to analyse data collected from the eight weather centres around the country “to finalise” seasonal forecast for Pakistan.“Meanwhile, we are also concerned about rice zones such as Sheikhupura, Gujranwala and Sialkot because these areas will receive less rain. Farmers will have to irrigate their fields, a challenging task,” said Dr Rasul.Pakistan saw 30 to 60 percent less monsoon rains last year, and has experienced 11 such episodes in the past.A deficient monsoon this year could significantly impact agriculture and life pattern, particularly in Sindh which is also deficient in irrigation system.Some of the worst drought events recorded by the Pakistan Meteorological Department occurred in 1969 and 2002 when rainfalls decreased more than 90 percent. In 1987 and 1991, 75 percent less rain fell.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2015

Trade Mission Bolsters Export Opportunities               
Preparing for an increased flow of U.S. rice
PANAMA CITY, PANAMA -- USA Rice participated in USDA Under Secretary Michael Scuse's Agricultural Trade Mission to the Dominican Republic and Panama from May 31 to June 5.  Nearly 20 U.S. agribusinesses/organizations and six state agriculture departments participated in order to expand export opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products in the region.
 
"Since the United States implemented trade agreements with the Dominican Republic and Panama, trade has flourished," Scuse said. "U.S. market share in this region averages more than 40 percent, the highest outside of Canada and Mexico." USA Rice met with almost a dozen companies that either currently import U.S. rice or are interested in doing so soon. Both countries have tariff rate quotes (TRQs) which limit the amount of U.S. rice that can enter duty free.
Those quotas will increase each year for the next ten years, when they are ultimately eliminated. Last year, both Panama and the Dominican Republic imported U.S. rice above and beyond the TRQ levels, indicating great interest in U.S. rice. "A strong preference for American goods and a quality image of U.S. rice are prevalent in these two countries, indicating strong potential growth markets particularly once rice is duty free," said Brian King, chairman of USA Rice's Western Hemisphere Promotion Subcommittee. "In the meantime, USA Rice continues trade servicing efforts in Central America to develop and strengthen relationships with rice importers and retailers."
 Contact:  Sarah Moran (703) 236-1457 USA Rice Millers' Association Announces New Chairman, Vice Chairman 
USA Rice Millers' Association Announces New Chairman, Vice Chairman
Happy to serve: Alex Balafoutis (l) and Robert Trahan

WAILEA, HAWAII - Last week, the USA Rice Millers' Association (RMA) announced the election of Robert Trahan of Falcon Rice Mill in Crowley, Louisiana, and Alex Balafoutis, Vice President of Sales for the Rice Business Unit at PGP International in Woodland, California, as chairman and vice chairman, respectively. Each will serve a two-year term that begins August 1, 2015.
 
Chairman-elect Trahan presented outgoing RMA Chairman Chris Crutchfield with a plaque to commemorate his tenure. Trahan thanked Crutchfield for his outstanding service and dedication to the organization. In accepting the plaque, Crutchfield said, "The RMA is more than a trade association - it is a family. Our connections are strong and deep and long-standing. Outside of being a father and a husband, the ability over the last two years to represent an industry full of people I respect and admire has been the most rewarding and humbling experience of my life."
 Contact: Deborah Willenborg (703) 236-1444


CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures  
CME Group (Preliminary):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for June 15
Month
Price
Net Change

July 2015
$9.775
+ $0.095
September 2015
$10.035
+ $0.090
November 2015
$10.305
+ $0.095
January 2016
$10.565
+ $0.095
March 2016
$10.760
+ $0.090
May 2016
$10.760
+ $0.090
July 2016
$10.760
+ $0.090

 

Basmati exports to Iran will pick up after October

TOMOJIT BASU
A view of Basmati rice field.
Teheran policy requiring Indian mills, exporters to register causing delay in shipments
NEW DELHI, JUNE 12:  

First quarter numbers for basmati rice exports to Iran – the biggest buyer, accounting for a fourth of sales overseas – are yet to be released, but industry sources say that volumes are likely to pick up only after October even if issuance of import permits may be undertaken from July.

Policy hassles

The current delays are due to the Iranian government’s policy of Indian units and exporters being required to be registered with the Teheran’s Health and Medical Education Ministry. The process can only be initiated by an Iranian importer, who has to furnish a list of intended exporters.“The main factor is the initiation of a new process which requires Indian mills to be assessed for good manufacturing practices. They will be eligible to export to Iran and it’s a slow process, since few units have got themselves registered so far,” said R Sundaresan, Executive Director, All India Rice Exporters’ Association (AIREA).
Description: A view of Basmati rice field.
“Exports to Iran are on, but not at the same quantity or speed as the same time last year. We expect sales to pick up after October, since their own produce is available currently,” he added.While there is no guarantee of basmati sales gathering pace, the issuing of import licenses should begin next month.“A resumption of issuing import permits will take place after Ramadan, which is in July,” said AK Gupta, Director, Basmati Export Development Foundation, APEDA.Iran stopped issuing authorisations last October which saw India’s basmati rice exports slide from $1.4 billion in 2013-14 to $600 million last fiscal.By volume, exports fell from 1.44 million tonnes (mt) to 0.94 mt over the same period.

Importer cartel
Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh met with his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Hojjati on the sidelines of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation conference in Rome earlier this week to enhance agri-cooperation and increase farm trade.Some domestic millers alleged that political intervention in granting these import permits is partly responsible for dragging basmati prices down to around $1,000/tonne from $1,400-1,500/tonne during the same period a year ago.“A syndicate has been created in Iran on the pretext that it’s easier to monitor quality of Indian basmati.

There are 5-10 importers who work with a few exporters from here. It’s skewing the market in favour of the buyer and driving prices down,” said Vijay Setia, Executive Director, Maharani Rice, toldBusinessLine.The process of selling basmati on a loan-basis under a clean direct-advance (DA) system needed to be corrected as well, he said. “It’s a matter of judgment, once you have a system of import permits, how many people will get them and the number issued is up to the Iran government since it’s their system,” said Gupta.

Prices dip
With the acreage under Basmati expected to rise 5 per cent this year in the counrty against 2.1 million hectares coverage last year, prices could come under further pressure.“The association has no confirmed reports of a cartel operating in Iran. Prices are lower mainly due to huge production of 8.1 mt last year, up from 6 mt the year before and there’s a lot available at the moment,” said Sundaresan.

http://agriculture.einnews.com/article/270524395/sR3UGjsy_p3CgxUd
Search for best rice campaign on
Public and private sectors are preparing for the search for RICEponsible champions, an initiative that encourages the national and local sectors to promote non-wastage of rice and consumption of healthier forms of rice in their communities.With about P10M at stake, the search is open to government offices, local government units, and learning institutions.“We intend to join in this competition not just for the prize, but because we believe in the campaign messages. We are responding to the call of achieving rice self-sufficiency by conserving rice, eating brown rice and other rice staples such as corn, and encouraging farmers to adopt new rice farming technologies,” Cecille Palisoc, an elementary school teacher in Metro Manila said.Hazel V. Antonio, director of the Be RICEponsible campaign, said the contest banks on the effectivity of local campaigns.“We are encouraging our local stakeholders to participate because they know better how to gain support in their respective areas,” said Antonio.

Details about this contest are available at the Be RICEponsible website: http://www.bericeponsible.com/downloads.  Deadline of submission of entries is on 30 June 2015. Campaign starts on 1 August 2015 and will run for a year.Antonio said the participants will be provided with basic campaign material designs, which can be downloaded from the Be RICEponsible website.“Participants can use the materials available or custom-fit the messages and designs to their audience to instill behavior change more effectively,” she said.Taking off from the National Year of Rice 2013, the Be RICEponsible campaign engages all Filipinos to do their part in achieving rice self-sufficiency in the country.

Phil Rice News


New tech for rice nutrient status explored

Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija – Researchers from PhilRice are exploring a new way of analyzing rice leaf nitrogen. A study titled Rapid estimation of rice leaf nitrogen contents using low-cost visible-near-infrared (Vis-NIR) Spectroscopy, aims to develop and evaluate the performance of a visible-NIR spectroscopy technology to estimate the leaf nitrogen contents of some Philippine irrigated lowland rice cultivars. Spectroscopic analysis is being used in the United States and Australia to analyze nutrients in plants.The Vis-NIR spectroscopy, with its immediate transmittal of recommendations, could bring down the costs of analysis for more accurate and timely fertilizer development.
The technology also has potential for soil, chemical and grain quality analyses. These instruments are versatile to simultaneously analyze data in less than 1 minute.“I was intrigued if this kind of technology could work in our country. It exists but I don’t think we are taking advantage of its full capacity,” said Jasper G. Tallada, lead researcher.There are existing tools in the country to guide farmers with application rates of fertilizers and minimize environmental pollution such as the Soil Test Kit and Leaf Color Chart.“There are limitations in using these tools. The more technical approach is to determine the nutrient status from tissue analysis of the plants at different growth stages to quantify the nutrient demand and correspondingly apply the needed fertilizers,” Tallada said.One main hesitation for the use of NIR spectroscopy is the high initial costs in acquiring the instrument due to the high manufacturing costs, significant tariff, and custom duties.Currently, commercial NIR instruments in the Philippines cost about P4 to 5 million.Tallada and co-researcher Maricel A. Ramos suggest that the instrument can be developed locally. The LR1-based instrument system can be produced somewhere between P 100,000 to 150,000.

Cheaper land prep possible—PhilRice
Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija – Comprising about 19% of the total labor cost in rice production, there, indeed, is a pressing need to look for new ways of doing land preparation. 
The Reduced Tillage Technology (RTT) is an alternative system of land preparation for irrigated areas where plowing is not applied.Rice stubbles, weeds, and the scattered rice straws are pressed two to three times using the hand tractor’s paddy wheels attached with riding-type leveler or by drop down-spiked tooth harrow. The pressing is done at a 5 to7-day interval.
After the final leveling, crop establishment is done either by transplanting, direct seeding using the drumseeder, or by manual broadcasting.RTT was piloted in 2012 in Talavera and Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. After the success of its initial implementation, 14 more towns in Pangasinan, Pampanga, and Ilocos Sur were added as demonstration sites .“Yield increase relative to using the conventional tillage method and savings generated on land preparation were the parameters used in measuring the success of the study,” said Ruben Miranda, study lead.
He explained that for 3 consecutive seasons, the average yield of the demonstration sites were relatively higher at 5.35 t/ha, 4.92 tons/ha for conventional tillage. In addition, farmers saved P3, 380.00/ha per season.“Savings can be attributed to the faster operation time and lesser fuel consumption. In RTT, farmers can save more than 5 hours per ha in their farming operations. Savings on fuel is up to 50% or 14 l/ha lesser than in conventional tillage,” Miranda explained.
Aside from the savings and ease of land preparation, RTT also mitigates impacts of climate change.
The reduced diesel consumption and scattering of rice straws, which are usually burned by farmers, result in lesser methane and carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere.Celia Abadilla, Julian Macadamia, Mark Angelo Abando, Melvin Ruiz, Laarnie Mandia, and Marvin Manalang are the study team members.RTT is a collaborative project of PhilRice, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), DA-Regional Field Office in Central Luzon, and participating local government units.
Texting OK in ag ex – PhilRice researcher
Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija – Access to farming information is now taking a new trend as modern technology plays pivotal roles in reaching Filipino farmers. According to Dr. Ronan G. Zagado, development communicator at PhilRice, use of short message service (SMS) allows an alternate and easier route for farmers in obtaining agricultural information.Zagado explained that aside from being a social communication medium, SMS is also used massively in agriculture.“The PhilRice Text Center (PTC) is a good example of this. From merely 11 text messages in 2006 to more than 100,000 SMS queries in 2010,” he said.PTC provides information in the form of farm advisories, technology updates, market information, how-to’s, and other farm insights. Texters, predominantly farmers, consult to PTC in every cropping season and even during fallow period.Furthermore, the information provided by PTC translates into additional income for farmers. In a study conducted by PhilRice development communicator Hazel V. Antonio in 2011, the use of SMS in getting agricultural information could give up to P39,730 additional income.
A different view of agri-extension
In a study titled Texting as a discursive approach for the production of agricultural solutions by Zagado and Michael Wilmore of the University of Adelaide, the meaning of agricultural knowledge varies and depends on its use to the user or client.An example of this is the meaning of rice variety. As reported, ‘which rice variety to grow’ was the most frequently asked topic received by the PTC.“Varietal recommendations will vary depending on farmers’ requirements relating to yield potential, pest resistance, varietal maturity, location, and eating quality,” Zagado said.
Zagado said SMS now provides an entirely different view and process of agricultural extension particularly in the production and distribution of agricultural knowledge.Several factors play vital role in this process such as content, clarity, length, timing and cultural factors.Queries received within working days from 8am to 5pm get speedy response. As for the content of the message, it is preferred if it is shorter and easier messages receive faster reply.It is advised to make queries concise and direct to the point, and send it during office hours to receive faster response. Longer messages or difficult queries may take longer time for the operator of the PTC to respond.While texting has indeed provided an alternate route in getting agricultural knowledge, Zagado stressed, improvements can still be made to make it more effective.Capacity enhancement for extension workers on how to optimize SMS-ing in their work is in the right direction, he said.Zagado’s thesis on “Human Agency, Power and Discourse: Accomplishing Farm Work through Short Messaging Service (SMS) in the Philippines” received the Thesis Excellence Award at the University of Adelaide.


Smarter, cleaner heat

 

Description: downdraft rice hull furnace

If the searing heat wasn’t enough, the thick, dark smoke that engulfed the area surrounding the furnace made the workers want to give up. The smoke wasn’t confined only to the immediate vicinity, but it affected neighboring areas as well. This “smoke machine” was the inclined-grate design of a rice hull furnace used to provide heat to a flatbed dryer that is used to dry rice.“The workers couldn’t stay long near the furnace because it was too hot,” says Jose Gagelonia, a flatbed dryer operator in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines, about the old furnace of his dryer.

“The smoke and ash coming from it irritated our neighbors, who said that they ended up smelling like smoked fish.”The furnace, a key component in flatbed dryers, greatly affects the quality of the seeds and grains dried in it. Rice farmers and seed producers who came to Mr. Gagelonia to have their produce dried often ended up with grains that were unevenly dried and reeked of smoke. Because of this, they opted to have their grains sun dried.

 

Cleaner heat

Now, thanks to the new semi-automated downdraft rice furnace (dRHF) designed by experts at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), farmers and seed producers have a better choice.
In the old updraft furnaces, ashes were sucked from the top of the burning husk, especially when the grill bed was stirred or fed with rice hull. The new dRHF allows hot air to go down into the chamber and blower (“downdraft”) instead of being blown upward and outward. This produces clean hot air because the burning husk on the combustion grill filters the ashes.

The dRHF has an automatic feeding mechanism that controls the amount and frequency of the rice hulls fed into the combustion grill using a programmable electronic timer connected to a motor. This produces a clean and steady combustion, resulting in a constant drying air temperature.The cleaner combustion greatly reduces machine operators’ exposure to heat and smoke because they need to check on the new furnace only every half hour (instead of the old practice of every 5 minutes) during an 8-hour operation.

Perseverance and perfection

Description: Luis Soliban Jr. and his downdraft rice hull furnace
The dRHF was first developed through collaboration between IRRI and Hohenheim University in Germany, in the 1990s. It was intended to be used for drying systems with small energy requirements. However, the concept was not successfully introduced to its target market in Southeast Asia, setting back the testing of the furnace’s design.Fortunately, Nong Lam University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, an IRRI collaborator, continued working on the design of the dRHF.

Its improved design was tested for commercial use in three 4-ton-capacity flatbed dryers in Vietnam before IRRI adapted it for further testing at Philippine pilot sites.Although the development of the dRHF was partly supported by the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium— through the IRRI Postharvest Unit—a lack of funds and ideal test sites for adaptive research in the Philippines proved to be a challenge. The solution arrived in 2010 when Generoso Bautista, an agricultural engineer by education and a commercial airline pilot by profession who had just acquired a rice farm in the province of Batangas, became interested in flatbed dryers.“I wanted to build a more efficient flatbed dryer for my own rice farm,” explains Capt. Bautista.
“Then I came across an online Rice Today article, Machines of progress, which featured IRRI’s postharvest technology package and its impact on the lives of farmers. He contacted Martin Gummert, head of IRRI’s Postharvest Unit, who referred him to Pat Borlagdan, the engineer in charge of the testing of the dRHF in the Philippines.On his farm in Batangas, Capt. Bautista and Engr. Borlagdan spent hours going over the design and discussing the parts that needed tweaking. “I financed the construction of the furnace, while Pat provided technical assistance,” says Capt. Bautista.After 2 years of hard work, Capt. Bautista is now the proud owner of a rice hull furnace with aerodynamic fan blades.“We could safely work around the new furnace without worrying about the heat and smoke,” says farm manager Luis Soliban, Jr.

Other beneficiaries


In Kidapawan, North Cotabato, the National Food Authority, one of the first recipients of the dRHF, suffered from high costs of drying and grain quality losses until the new furnace was installed in its warehouse.In Peñablanca, Cagayan Valley, Don Lister, an entrepreneur, wanted to learn more about rice postharvest losses. While searching the Internet, he read a story about mechanical dryers using rice husk furnaces. He wasted no time in contacting Engr. Borlagdan, who sent him diagrams of the flatbed dryer, blower, and dRHF. After months of coordination, the 6-ton-capacity flatbed dryer with the dRHF was finally launched in March 2012.“If the family can harvest rice, that’s good,” says Mr. Lister. “But, if we can help other farmers save their harvest, that’s even better.”Interest in the furnace has continued to spread. Early technology adopters believe that the dRHF is a simple technology that the government should support and disseminate.

Marketable technology

Description: Jose Gagelonia with the downdraft rice hull furnace
Mr. Gagelonia runs a semi-automated dRHF and he manufactures made-to-order furnaces after he and 19 others attended training provided by IRRI on rice husk furnace manufacturing.All materials used for fabrication are sourced locally, making them more affordable. He has already sold 12 rice hull furnaces to farmer groups and seed growers from all over the Philippines. He has also made smaller furnaces to fit dryers with lower capacity.Capt. Bautista, on the other hand, still wants to continue improving the machine and he is now in the process of developing another type of furnace. In fact, an all-steel furnace sits in a shed on his farm, waiting to be taken to another farm for further testing.Other training participants have also started making and marketing their own machines. Mr. Eugene Manalo from Laguna and Mr. Antonio Caspillo from North Cotabato have manufactured and sold the dRHF in their respective provinces.

Partnership forged in heat


Engr. Borlagdan, though no longer with IRRI, still provides technical assistance and shares his experiences to help improve the operation and maintenance of the furnace. He credits the public-private partnerships that had been formed for the successful adoption of the dRHF technology.“Partnering with the private sector during the early testing stages became a valuable reference point when technological trials by government agencies failed,” Engr. Borlagdan explains. “It was easier to show that the dRHF works, and  is actually being used by the private sector.” The IRRI postharvest team, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank, has now taken steps to transfer the dRHF technology to other countries such as Cambodia and Indonesia.“Farmers should be aware that the technology is available to them,” adds Capt. Bautista. “With support from both the private and public sector, technologies such as the dRHF could go a long way in improving the quality of rice— and life—of farmers.”

http://irri.org/rice-today/smarter-cleaner-heat?utm_source=IRRI+email+subscriptions&utm_campaign=228bbade96-RiceToday_Weekly6_01_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c803adc7cf-228bbade96-40925885

Green fuel from rice

Written by Paula Bianca Ferrer.


Farmers typically grow two or three crops a year. Since they don’t have enough turnaround time before beginning the next planting season, they resort to the quickest and easiest solution to get rid of the rice “waste,” that is, the residue—by burning. This releases methane, a greenhouse gas that remains in the atmosphere for 9–15 years and contributes to global warming. On top of this, exposure to smoke and soot causes respiratory problems among farmers and townspeople alike.

Waste not, want not

Description: bioenergy using rice straw and husks
“Rice straw and husks offer an immense potential to create bioenergy, an alternative renewable source of power,” said Dr. Stephan Stephan Haefele, senior researcher at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). He and his scientific team have been exploring ways to turn rice residues into useful and valuable by-products to support more efficient, productive, profitable, and sustainable rice farms.“Rice residues can produce bioenergy and at the same time reduce the negative effects of rice production systems on the environment; they could also be a source of extra income for farmers,” said Dr. Haefele.
Description: burnt rice waste
Moreover, rice residues and production systems have several decisive advantages over many other bioenergy crops, he explained. Unlike crops grown exclusively for biofuels, using rice residues to generate energy would not divert land use away from food production. It has also been shown that, even if all rice residues are removed, the quality of rice soils is unaffected. Residue removal for energy production directly reduces the emissions of greenhouse gases caused by field burning or by residue incorporation into the soil. Also, the high cropping intensity in irrigated rice systems ensures a constant residue supply and keeps transportation time to processing centers short.

Backyard fuel


In 2011, Dr. Haefele and his collaborators analyzed the energy and carbon life-cycle of existing gasifiers that turn rice residues, without burning them, into gases that can be used as an energy source. Such gasifiers are increasingly common in Cambodia, where rice millers want to make use of the husks that pile up in their backyards.Each ton of husk gasified can save about 1 ton of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) compared to current uses. The energy needed to build and operate a gasifier was produced by the gasifier within 245 days of operation. And, it took only 109 days of gasifier operation to save as much carbon as was emitted to build and establish it. Looking at the rice production system, a 1-hectare irrigated rice field can produce 12 tons of husk and straw per year, which can be converted to clean energy in a medium-sized gasifier equivalent to about 1,800 liters of diesel.

More power to farmers

“These results show the potential of residues as an energy source, and as an option to make rice cultivation even more sustainable,” said Dr. Haefele.“We now intend to investigate rice straw. Quite a lot of research has been done on rice husks but little is known about the use of rice straw. We will try to answer how best to collect straw, how to store it, and whether pretreatments, such as leaching, drying, and/or briquetting, are necessary.“For the most promising systems, we plan to conduct a life-cycle analysis and to develop complete business models,” he added. “We are also testing what effects biochar—a by-product from straw and husk burning—has on soil quality in various rice production systems, and determine its optimal uses and look at how to participate in emerging carbon markets.”

http://irri.org/rice-today/green-fuel-from-rice?utm_source=IRRI+email+subscriptions&utm_campaign=228bbade96-RiceToday_Weekly6_01_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c803adc7cf-228bbade96-40925885

Laser-guided dreams

Written by Trina Leah Mendoza.

With her tiny frame, blunt-cut bangs, and trendy outfits, 28-year-old Truong Thi Thanh Nhan looks more like a school girl than a farmer. Nhan earned her degree in software programming from the University of Science in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in 2010. But, after graduation, she agreed to her parents’ wishes to oversee their family farm in Dak Lak Province in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. In December 2011, Nhan started the daunting task of managing their almost 70 hectares of land. She started planting rice twice a year on 20 hectares of their farm. Once a year, Nhan also grows maize and pumpkin on 10 hectares each. Although her family’s farm is located on a steep slope, bringing water into the field was easy because the field was next to a water canal. It was managing the water—making sure that higher areas were reached—that was the problem. Most of the rice plants in higher areas die because they lacked sufficient water. She had no choice but to hire many laborers to replant the field.

 

A flair for laser

Description: laser leveler equipment
In early 2012, Nhan chanced upon a show on a Vietnamese TV channel that featured rice farmer Nguyen Loi Duc from Tri Ton District, An Giang Province. She found herself glued to the channel as Nguyen was sharing his experiences and the benefits from laser leveling his 150-hectare field. With her interest piqued, she searched the Internet to learn more about the technology.With laser leveling, a transmitter placed at the side of the field sends a laser beam to a receiver, which is attached to a leveling bucket drawn by a tractor. Then, a control panel mounted on a tractor interprets the signal from the receiver and opens or closes a hydraulic valve, which in turn raises or lowers the bucket. The bucket then drags and drops soil across the field to make it even.

Nhan, together with her family, visited Nong Lam University (NLU) in Ho Chi Minh City. They were briefed on the technology by NLU staff member Tran Van Khanh, a principal lecturer on agricultural machinery, and Phung Anh Vinh Truong, a researcher who became Nhan’s husband in 2013 and now helps her manage the farm.Engr. Khanh emphasized the benefits of the technology and assured Nhan’s family that the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) also provides technical support. Nhan’s family was convinced and decided to buy laser-leveling equipment and a drag bucket from a Saigon-based distributor, Ideal Farming Corporation.

 

Loads of benefits

They began using laser leveling in their rice-growing area. “Now that 9 hectares of our rice field have been laser-leveled, the benefits have been tremendous,” Nanh says. “We save on water because we don’t need to pump more water to reach the once-high areas. With even water coverage, the crops are healthy and thriving—and we don’t need to hire laborers for replanting.”Laser leveling their land had other benefits too. Fertilizer is now spread evenly among the crop, saving as much as 77 kilograms per hectare. Pests, which used to hide in uneven spots, can no longer do so, resulting in less pesticide applied. Weed control is also easier. Herbicide spraying has been reduced to one, before the emergence of rice, unlike before when they sprayed herbicide twice during the season. The yield from the laser-leveled field during the dry season, from January to May 2013, was higher at 6.7 tons per hectare compared with 4.5 tons per hectare for the unleveled field.

The laser-leveling equipment, however, is subject to wear and tear. Nhan’s husband, Truong, shares that the usual challenges they face with laser leveling have more to do with fixing the equipment when it breaks down. It usually takes a week to repair the system, and Truong, being an agricultural engineer by profession, does it on his own in their workshop. However, since they live in a rural area where power shortages are common, repairing broken equipment takes more time and effort.

Spreading the word

Description: Farm couple Nhan and Khan

But, overall, Nahn’s decision to purchase the equipment is proving to be a very wise one. As the neighboring farmers witnessed the improvements on Nhan’s rice farm, it wasn’t long before they sought her help. She already provided laser-leveling services to one farmer’s 2.7-hectare rice field in December 2012 and she has plans to do more.“After I finish leveling our 20 hectares of rice farm and our maize farm, we plan to rent out our equipment to other farmers, not only for rice but for other crops as well,” says Nhan.Nhan is now also on a mission. An advocate of laser-leveling technology, she shares her experiences in adopting laser leveling with representatives from both the public and private sector during meetings and seminars on postharvest technologies organized by the Asian Development Bank-IRRI Postharvest Project.

A role model


Although Nhan is not a typical Vietnamese farmer, she has managed to turn their farm into a productive and efficient business. But, many people are surprised by Nanh’s decision to be a farmer. They do not understand why a young lady like her, with a background in software programming from a prestigious university, would want to go back to agriculture.For Nhan, it was no surprise. Her parents both grew up on farms, and agriculture was part of their family tradition. Going back to her roots made her happy and she is optimistic about her future. She hopes that, with a new generation of farmers like her, it will be possible to change the general perception of farming.
“Nowadays, young people think that farmers are old-fashioned, poor, and lack social standing, and that returning to the farm is a last option,” says Nhan. “I am a smart, young, dynamic person, and even though I am a farmer living in an area without many comforts and I face difficulties with finances and managing people, I know that I am on the right path toward a stable income and a sustainable future.“I am contributing to food sustainability for my region and country, which young people now rarely do. And, I have my family to thank for helping me be the farmer that I am now.”

http://irri.org/rice-today/laser-guided-dreams?utm_source=IRRI+email+subscriptions&utm_campaign=228bbade96-RiceToday_Weekly6_01_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c803adc7cf-228bbade96-40925885
PetroCaribe money was never spent in the Region Two rice areas
Dear Editor,
From the inception of the PetroCaribe deal I know that something was amiss, and that farmers and millers would have to bear the brunt of the Jagdeo-Hugo Chávez agreement. The polished rice and paddy sold to Venezuela was going to pay for oil; the remaining money was for the payment of farmers’ paddy and millers’ rice. The previous government was using this fund for other projects outside of the rice industry rather than paying the millers for their rice and paddy so they in turn could not pay the farmers for their produce.
PetroCaribe had to run into bankruptcy; the previous government was receiving US$130M for every 200,000 tonnes of rice and paddy. How could it divert Region Two PetroCaribe funds to the Hope canal when Essequibians wouldn’t benefit from this project? Last year’s production exceeded a whopping 635,000 tonnes. 501,000 tonnes were exported according to the GRDB. I can only speak for Region Two since I worked as an extension rice officer in the rice industry there. This region is cultivating 31,500 acres of rice with a yield of some 3 million bags of paddy.
Not a cent of this PetroCaribe fund was ever spent here to develop this region’s rice industry, and still millions of dollars are owed to rice farmers in the region. No wonder the previous government claimed that they were bailing out rice millers; they were not bailing them out, since they were the ones who owed these millers for their rice and paddy. The former administration should tell the millers and farmers what they did with the money they received from the PetroCaribe fund. They used some of it to buy standby generator sets for GPL which was totally wrong; none of these sets was ever placed in the rice growing region to cushion the effects of blackouts.
GRDB was misleading the farmers and people of Guyana when they said they had other markets outside Venezuela. No wonder the millers still have a surplus of rice and paddy in their warehouses crop after crop; they were only depending on the Venezuelan market and never sought other international markets. Guyana’s rice farmers have been expanding rice production on the assurance of receiving higher prices for the rice and paddy sold in the Venezuelan market according to the agreement. However, recent changes in the agreement have sharply reduced the price for rice and paddy.
There has been a general decline in rice and paddy prices from $4000 to $3000 for Ex-A Grade paddy since the agreement was signed in 2005.This trend of $2000 a bag for this coming crop paddy is non-uniform, and will have more serious consequences for rice farmers. Government should move to protect the interests of our rice producers and millers.This could be expedited by finding new markets for Guyana’s rice and paddy on the international market. Further the new government should seek to tap into the EU market.
 Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan
http://www.stabroeknews.com/2015/opinion/letters/06/15/petrocaribe-money-was-never-spent-in-the-region-two-rice-areas/

Arsenic shield for rice
Description: http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2015/jun/images/EA106onriceroots.jpg

Clumps of bacteria (soil microbe EA106) and iron plaque begin forming on the roots of a rice plant. This "iron shield" blunts the uptake of arsenic. Image by Venkatachalam Lakshmanan and Deepak Shantharaj taken with the scanning electron microscope (SEM), UD Bioimaging Center.

11:03 a.m., June 15, 2015--University of Delaware researchers have discovered a soil microbe that mobilizes an “iron shield” to block the uptake of toxic arsenic in rice. Arsenic occurs naturally in rocks and soils, air and water, plants and animals. It’s used in a variety of industrial products and practices, from wood preservatives, pesticides and fertilizers, to copper smelting. Chronic exposure to arsenic has been linked to cancer, heart disease and diabetes.The UD finding gives hope that a natural, low-cost solution — a probiotic for rice plants — may be in sight to protect this global food source from accumulating harmful levels of one of the deadliest poisons on the planet. Rice currently is a staple in the diet of more than half the world’s population. 

Harsh Bais, associate professor of plant and soil sciences, led the UD team that conducted the study, which is reported in the international journal Planta. The work was supported by the National Science Foundation. His co-authors include professors Angelia Seyfferth and Janine Sherrier and postdoctoral researchers Venkatachalam Lakshmanan, Gang Li and Deepak Shantharaj, all in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.The soil microbe the team identified is named “EA106” for UD alumna Emily Alff, who isolated the strain when she was a graduate student in Bais’ lab.

The microbe was found among the roots of a North American variety of rice grown commercially in California. It belongs to a group of gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria called the Pantoea, which form yellowish mucus-like colonies. Because rice is grown underwater — often in water contaminated with arsenic in such hot spots as Bangladesh, India and China — it takes in 10 times more arsenic than do other cereal grains, such as wheat and oats. As rice plants absorb phosphate, a nutrient needed for growth, they also take up arsenic, which has a similar chemical structure.

“This particular microbe, EA106, is good at mobilizing iron, which competes with the arsenic, effectively blocking arsenic’s pathway,” Bais explains. “An iron plaque forms on the surface of the roots that does not allow arsenic to go up into the rice plant.” The researchers conducted the study with hundreds of rice plants — some grown in soil, others grown hydroponically — in UD’s Fischer Greenhouse. Inoculations with EA106 improved the uptake of iron at the plant roots, while reducing the accumulation of toxic arsenic in the plant shoots.While the results are promising, Bais says the next steps in the research will determine if a natural solution to this serious issue is at hand.  

“We’re not all the way to the grain level yet. We are working on that now, to see if EA106 prevents arsenic accumulation in the grain. That is the ultimate test,” Bais says.If the next phase of the research shows success, Bais says inexpensive technologies (think even a cement mixer) exist for coating rice seeds with beneficial bacteria. He also sees an added plus — fortifying rice plants with iron would not only reduce arsenic, but also increase the grain’s iron content as a nutritional benefit. “I grew up very near to a rice field in India, so I have a different interest in this problem,” Bais says. “Basically, these small farmers don’t have much to feed their families. They grow rice on small plots of land with soil and water contaminated with arsenic, a poison.

The work we are doing is important for them, and to the global security of rice.” In related research, Bais wants to assess the performance of plants inoculated with EA106 when they face multiple stresses, from both arsenic and from rice blast, a fungus that kills an estimated 30 percent of the world’s rice crop each year. Bais’ group previously isolated a natural bacterium from rice paddy soil that blunts the rice blast fungus. His group is evaluating how a natural alliance between benign microbes and rice can strengthen the plant’s disease resistance. Both plant threats face rice farmers near his parents’ home in India. Bais plans to start field tests there when he visits with family this summer. “The whole world is waking up to biologicals,” Bais says. “It’s an exciting time for researchers in this area.”

Article by Tracey Bryant
Photo of researchers by Lindsay Yeager

http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2015/jun/soil-microbe-rice-061515.html

Rainfall 11% higher than normal till now

 

East and North-east receive 20% more rainfall during June1-14

By: fe Bureau | New Delhi | June 15, 2015 11:25 pm

Widespread rainfall witnessed on Sunday across the country has pushed overall rains received so far in the current monsoon season to 11% higher than the normal and is expected to boost kharif sowing activities.The quantum of rainfall during June 1-14 (61.6 millimetres) is above the normal benchmark of 55.7 mm for the period arrived on the basis of a 50-year average shower. This is despite south-west monsoon entering Kerala coast on June 5, instead of usual June 1. Even before the monsoon reached the Indian shores, there had been pre-monsoon showers in various regions, particularly in southern and north-eastern parts.According to  India Meteorological Department data, during June1-14 period, the regions such as North-east, central India and southern peninsula have received 20%, 12% and 1% more rainfall, respectively compared to normal benchmark while north-west region got 6% less volume of rainfall.

Description: rainfallAccording to a senior official with the agriculture ministry, most of the regions which are vital for agricultural sector such as Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Marathwada, Vidarbha, Saurahstra, Kutch, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rayalseema have received more than normal rainfall so far.“Paddy sowing have commenced in key growing regions, but the monsoon rainfall during next two months would be crucial for kharif output,” Trilochan Mohapatra, director, Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI), a Cuttack-based institute under ministry of agriculture, told FE.As per the latest agriculture ministry data, rice has been sown in only 4.7 lakh hectare till now which is marginally higher than last year.

The agriculture ministry official said that rice is usually sown in close to 36 million hectare in kharif season and the farmers in majority of rice growing areas have been preparing their field taking the help of monsoon rains in the last few days.Sowing of other kharif crops — pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals, sugarcane and cotton — has just commenced.Meanwhile, private weather forecaster Skymet on Monday said “third week of June is expected to get good amount of rain in most parts of the country”.It stated that “the first monsoon system that is being formed in the Bay of Bengal. When it crosses coast, it will trigger monsoon activity across most parts of North-east, Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, along with parts of central India, including Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra”.

While moderate to heavy rainfall has been witnessed in central and eastern regions, Skymet has stated that south-west monsoon is likely to reach Jharkhand and West Bengal anytime soon and cover some more parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. North-eastern states continue to record moderate to heavy rainfall.The IMD earlier this month had revised downward its forecast of seasonal rainfall (June-September) for this year to 88% of a long-period average (LPA), from 93% reported last month. However, Skymet has predicted a normal monsoon, with showers at 102% of the LPA.LPA is calculated  on the basis of the average annual rainfall recorded between 1951 and 2000.m for the four-month period from June to September.Monsoon rains are crucial for agriculture as about 40% of the cultivable area is under irrigation and around 55% of the foodgrains production mainly paddy and coarse grains is contributed by kharif or summer crop.

First Published on June 16, 2015 12:10 am© The Indian Express Online Media Pvt Ltd

Farmers getting older, study shows


June 15, 2015 10:05 pm
by LEANDER C. DOMINGO 
CORRESPONDENT

OLDER FARMERS
Ilocano farmers from Candon City, Ilocos Sur are harvesting the palay in their fields. A study by the Philippine center for Post-harvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) showed that more rice farmers are between 40 and 50 years old but there are plans to attract young people to be involved in agribusiness. PHOTO BY THOM F. PICAÑA

MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija: A study conducted by the Philippine Center for Post-harvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) showed that most of the country’s farmers are getting older and warned of an eventual shortage of farm workers.But efforts are afoot and are focused on getting the youth sector’s involvement in agri-business through equipment modernization and developing agribusiness.In collaboration with the University of the Philippines Los Baños-Agricultural Mechanization Development Program (UPLB-AMDP), PhilMech’s study in 2014 reveals that farmers are above 40 years old.“Most rice farmers were within [the] 40-59 age bracket although a high percentage of farmers aged 60 and above was noted in Camarines Sur and Iloilo,” the study said.

The PhilMech and UPLB-AMDP study covered 13 provinces where rice is grown showing that many old farmers are no longer doing actual farm work and warned that “there would be a shortage of farm labor in the future if the agriculture sector does not get new young farmers.”Last year, two studies, one done by PhilMech and UPLB-AMDP and another by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) entitled, “Benchmarking Philippine Rice Economy Relative to Major Rice-Producing Countries in Asia” also showed that Filipino rice farmers are among the oldest in Asia.For the 2014 study, PhilMech is optimistic that more young people will be more interested in agriculture as more post-harvest and mechanization technologies are now available.

Description: OLDER FARMERS  Ilocano farmers from Candon City, Ilocos Sur are harvesting the palay in their fields. A study by the Philippine center for Post-harvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) showed that more rice farmers are between 40 and 50 years old but there are plans to attract young people to be involved in agribusiness. PHOTO BY THOM F. PICAÑARex Bingabing, PhilMech Executive Director, said the agency has developed new technologies for the country’s agriculture sector.For example, he said, there are technologies for rice mechanization that would ease the drudgery that goes with rice farming by developing a tractor-mounted rice transplanter and mini-combine harvester.He said PhilMech has also produced other technologies in which the youth can be involved as entrepreneurs in agriculture such as the coco water extraction-pasteurization system that can transform mature coconut water into refreshing energy drink.He said the young farmers can also invest in cacao, cashew, soybean and coffee processing system or a multi-commodity solar tunnel dryer-based business enterprise.“These agribusiness enterprises are good start-up for young agribusiness entrepreneurs as they require low level of investment,” Bingabing said.
APEDA India (News)
Price on: 15-06-2015
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Garlic
1
Chinese first grade granules, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
2100
2
Chinese Grade A dehydrated flakes, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
2000
3
Chinese powdered, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
1800
Ginger
1
Chinese sliced, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
4600
2
Chinese whole, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
5100
3
Indian Cochin, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
3000
Guar Gum Powder
1
Indian 100 mesh 3500 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
4680  
2
Indian 200 mesh 3500 cps basis, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
2100
3
Indian 200 mesh 5000 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
3200
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 15-06-2015
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Rice
1
Cachar (Assam)
Other
2000
2500
2
Kheda (Gujarat)
Other
1740
3320
3
Bargarh (Orissa)
Other
2100
2300
Wheat
1
Dhing (Assam)
Other
1500
1700
2
Amirgadh (Gujarat)
Other
1250
1500
3
Bonai(Orissa)
Other
1450
1600
Mousambi
1
Dasuya (Punjab)
Other
2500
3000
2
Rudrapur(Uttrakhand)
Other
1800
2000
3
Mechua(West Bengal)
Other
2400
3000
Cabbage
1
Aroor (Kerala)
Other
2600
2800
2
Koraput (Orissa)
Other
1500
1600
3
Talalagir (Gujarat)
Other
1100
1130
Source:agra-net
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 13-06-2015
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Ahmedabad
392
2
Chittoor
413
3
Hyderabad
377
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 15-06-2015
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Potatoes
Package: 50 lb cartons
1
Atlanta
Colorado
Russet
20
24
2
Baltimore
Idaho
Russet
16
18
3
Detroit
Wisconsin
Russet
19
19.50
Cucumbers
Package: cartons film wrapped
1
Atlanta
Canada
Long Seedless
7
8.50
2
Dallas
California
Long Seedless
12.50
13
3
Detroit
Canada
Long Seedless
5
8
Package: 18 lb containers bagged
Source:USDA


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Monday, June 15, 2015

15th June (Monday),2015 Daily Exclusive ORYZA Rice E-Newsletter by RiceplusMagazine

Chinese Researchers Develop Rice Strain That Increases Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency

Jun 12, 2015
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology in Beijing have developed a new rice strain by cloning a gene called NRT1 (nitrogen booster gene) from indica rice into the japonica's gene structure, according to South China Morning Post.The new strain increases yield as well as nitrogen use efficiency in the rice plants. It requires only half of the fertilizer normally required by the traditional Japonica varieties.Farmers growing japonica varieties in the northern provinces resort to heavy use of fertilizers because the rice plants absorb nitride from soil and water at a very slow rate. However, such high use of fertilizers has led to severe pollution of the soil, water and air in most of the China's northern provinces.
Moreover, when nitric oxides are released in to the atmosphere, they undergo a series of petrochemical reactions that transform them into harmful material called 'smog'. Farmers have been reluctant to cut down the use of fertilizers despite several warnings as plants need nitride in order to grow healthy.On the other hand, Indica rice variety, which is mostly grown in southern China provinces as well as in India, Thailand and the Philippines, can absorb nitrogen more easily than the Japonica variety. But it cannot survive in the cold climate.Therefore the scientists have used nitrogen booster gene from the Indica variety and cloned into the Japonica variety to get the best results. The study is published in the latest edition of the Nature Genetics journal.The researchers noted that the discovery represents an important milestone for the “green super rice project," an international effort to develop new species of rice to meet the growing global demand for food resources.

Oryza U.S. Rough Rice Recap - Prices Continue to Weaken amid Weak Demand and Burdensome Stocks

Jun 12, 2015
The U.S. cash market was slightly weaker again today as seller’s grow more concerned about the bearish USDA WASDE report and the lack of export demand heading into new crop.Analysts note that many of those with old crop rice left to sell will only have a couple more months to make room for new crop and many will have to sell below their target price unless there is a substantial increase in demand which has yet to be seen.

Indian Basmati Rice Exports May Pick Up Only After October, Say Exporters

Jun 12, 2015
Indian rice exporters are expecting Iran to begin issuance of rice import permits after Ramadan in July, according to local sources. However, they say Indian basmati shipments to the Middle East nation may not pick up until October as stocks would be sufficient until then. Iran banned rice imports in last November citing adequate stocks.They also say the Iranian government requires Indian millers and exporters to register with the Tehran's Health and Medical Education Ministry. The process of registration has to be initiated by importers by furnishing a list of intended exporters. The process may take a while say exporters. So far, very few exporters are registered with the Iranian Ministry, according to the Executive Director of the All India Rice Exporters' Association (AIREA). Currently, the basmati export prices have fallen to around $1,000 per ton from around $1,400 - $1,500 per ton during the same time last year. The Executive Director of the AIREA told local sources that prices are lower because of a higher production in FY 2014-15. Basmati rice production increased by about 35% to around 8.1 million tons in 2014-15 from around 6 million in 2013-14.Exporters are expecting prices to further fall due to an expected increase in basmati acreage this year as well. Basmati acreage in 2015-16 is expected to increase about 5% from around 2.1 million hectares last year.According to data from the All India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA), India exported around 900,000 tons of rice to Iran in FY 2014-15, down about 36% from around 1.4 million tons exported last year. 

India 2015-16 Main Paddy Rice Sowing Picks Up Amid El Nino Threat

Jun 12, 2015

Planting for India 2015-16 Kharif (main) rice crop (June - December) which began on May 8, 2015 is picking up fast and stands at around 471,000 hectares as of June 12, 2015; up about 4% from around 452,000 hectares planted during the same period last year, and up about 36% from last week’s 346,000 hectares, according to preliminary data released by the Indian Agriculture Ministry.The total Kharif crop sown area stands at 7.51 million hectares as on June 12, 2015, down about 9% from around 8.227 million hectares during the same period last year, according to the Agriculture Ministry.A likely drought-inducing El Nino this year is expected to lower production prospects this year.
In its second forecast for 2015, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has its estimate for this year's monsoon rains to 88% of normal, from a previous estimate of 93% due to reports of a strengthening El Nino. It is expecting rainfall to be 85% of the normal in the states of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The IMD expects the El Nino pattern to reach to moderate to a strong one during the monsoon season.The government of India, in its third advance estimates for major crops, has estimated India's rice production for 2014-15 marketing year (October 2014 - September 2015) at around 102.54 million tons, down about 4% from an estimated 106.65 million tons in 2013-14, according to a statement from the agriculture Ministry.

Myanmar Seeks to Strike a Trade-Off Between Rice Exports and Prices

Jun 12, 2015
Economics says as exports increase, domestic prices increase thereby affecting the purchasing power of local consumers. If we relate the same principle to Myanmar rice exports and prices, we understand that Myanmar, which was once a leading producer and exporter of rice, is finding ways to balance the export and price scenario.Myanmar's rice exports have been increasing for the last few years, though most of them are targeted to China through the country's northern borders. The imports were considered as illegal by the Chinese authorities. Recently, rice trade between Myanmar and China has been legalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). According to the MOU, Myanmar will export 100,000 tons of rice this year to China legally.Though the south-east Asian nation is overtly depending on China to increase its rice exports, it is also exploring other markets such as African markets and is keen on reaching a 3 million ton rice export target shortly. Authorities are expecting Myanmar to export 2 million tons of rice in FY 2015-16 (April - March).
Myanmar's rice exports have been increasing consistently for the last three years, according to the Ministry of Commerce. Myanmar exported about 1.7 million tons of rice in FY 2014-15, about 1.2 million tons of rice in FY 2013-14 and about 1.4 million tons of rice in FY 2012-13.As Myanmar is trying to ramp up its rice exports, the domestic rice prices are said to be increasing considerably. The General Secretary of the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) says a balance should be struck between exports and domestic consumption.An official with the Myanmar Rice Industry Association (MRIA) noted that when domestic prices increase, farmers would benefit as paddy prices also tend to increase. But imposing price controls would deter benefits to farmers. He noted that instead of imposing price controls, other means of adjusting local rice prices should be sought.
He says the government could consider importing cheap rice from Thailand or any other country for domestic consumption. This would separate exports and domestic consumption and local prices would be relatively unaffected by increasing exports. He reminds that currently, Thailand is attempting to sell off its buffer rice stocks accumulated from the rice pledging scheme introduced by the previous government.USDA estimates Myanmar to produce 20 million tons of paddy rice (around 12.8 million tons, milled basis) and export around 2 million tons of rice in MY 2015-16 (January - December 2015).

Oryza Overnight Recap – Chicago Rough Rice Futures Little Changed as Market Lacks Direction

Jun 12, 2015
Chicago rough rice futures for Jul delivery are currently seen trading 1 cent per cwt (about $0.22 per ton) lower at $9.785 per cwt (about $216 per ton) during early floor trading in Chicago. The other grains are seen trading mixed this morning; soybeans are currently seen trading slightly lower, wheat is listed about 0.5% higher and corn is currently noted about 0.6% lower.U.S. stocks opened lower on Friday as negative news out of Greece weighed on sentiment and investors kept an eye on bond yields. The Dow Jones industrial average quickly lost 100 points in the open.
 The standoff between Greece and its creditors worsened on Thursday after the International Monetary Fund walked out on talks with Athens, citing "major differences" over how to save the country from bankruptcy. The news pressured stocks, with European and U.S. equities closing with mild gains. European stocks traded lower on Friday, with the German DAX off 1%. The ATHEX Composite traded about 5% lower. Senior European Union officials have formally discussed for the first time a possible Greek debt default as negotiations between Athens and its creditors have stalled ahead of an end-month repayment deadline, several officials told Reuters.
The Producer Price Index increased 0.5% for May, topping expectations for 0.4%. The gain was the largest since May 2012. The ex-food and energy read was 0.1%. Later in the morning the Michigan consumer sentiment figure for this month is due. The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened down 77 points, or 0.43%, at 17,963. The S&P 500 traded down 9 points, or 0.41%, at 2,100. The Nasdaq opened down 24 points, or 0.48%, at 5,058. Gold is currently trading about 0.1% lower, crude oil is seen trading about 0.9% lower,  and the U.S. dollar is currently trading about 0.3% higher at 9:00am Chicago time.

Oryza Afternoon Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Tumble in Afternoon Trading, Add to Losses for the Week

Jun 12, 2015
Chicago rough rice futures for Jul delivery settled 11.5 cents per cwt (about $3 per ton) lower at $9.680 per cwt (about $213 per ton). The other grains continued with mixed results; Soybeans closed unchanged at $9.4000 per bushel; wheat finished about 0.1% lower at $5.0375 per bushel, and corn finished the day about 1% lower at $3.5300 per bushel.U.S. stocks traded lower on Friday as uncertainty over Greece weighed on sentiment and investors kept an eye on bond yields ahead of next week's Federal Reserve meeting. Stocks trimmed losses amid a Reuters report that the Greek government is ready to submit counter-proposals and that Athens and its creditors are closer than ever to a deal, a Greek official said.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras also spoke on the telephone with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker about the next steps in negotiations. The official added Greece expects a deal by June 18 when the euro group of regional finance ministers meets, Reuters said. The standoff between Greece and its creditors worsened on Thursday after the International Monetary Fund walked out on talks with Athens, citing "major differences" over how to save the country from bankruptcy. The news pressured stocks, with European and U.S. equities closing with mild gains. Senior European Union officials have formally discussed for the first time a possible Greek debt default as negotiations between Athens and its creditors have stalled ahead of an end-month repayment deadline, several officials told Reuters.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average traded down 143 points, or 0.80%, at 17,895. The S&P 500 traded down 14 points, or 0.66%, at 2,095, with energy leading all 10 sectors lower. The Nasdaq traded down 29 points, or 0.56%, at 5,054. Gold is trading about 0.1% lower, crude oil is seen trading about 1.3% lower, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading nearly even at about  2:00pm Chicago time.Thursday, there were 964 contracts traded, down from 1,048 contracts traded on Wednesday. Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on Thursday decreased by 134 contracts to 11,898

Oryza Weekly Recap: Philippines Planning for More Imports This Month

Jun 12, 2015
The Oryza White Rice Index (WRI), a weighted average of global white rice export quotes, ended the week at about $403 per ton, down about $2 per ton from a week ago, down about $4 per ton from a month ago and down about $60 per ton from a year ago.
In its June World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates reports, the USDA forecasts the U.S. MY 2015-16 all rice beginning stocks to increase to around 2.06 million tons, up about 43% from last year and up about 6% from last month’s forecasts. It forecasts the U.S. 2015-16 all rice exports to increase to around 4.99 million tons, up about 5% from last year's 4.76 million tons and up about 1.8% from last month's forecast of around 4.9 million tons. The USDA forecasts the U.S. MY 2015-16 all rice imports to increase to around 1.13 million tons, up about 4% from around 1.09 million tons last year and up about 1.18% from its last month's forecasts of 1.11 million tons. However, the USDA has kept its forecasts for U.S. all rice production unchanged from last month.
Thailand
Thailand 5% broken rice is today shown at about $360 per ton, down about $5 per ton from a week ago, down about $15 per ton from a month ago and down about $25 per ton from a year ago.
Thailand’s rice exports declined sharply in April after increasing continuously for three months.  Thailand has exported about 700,011 tons of rice in April, down about 11% from March and down about 5% from April 2014.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce will allow potential bidders to inspect the quality of the stockpiled rice before the third auction scheduled for June 16.
In efforts to reduce rice stocks in the country as quickly as possible, the government is considering selling stockpiled rice directly to consumers.
The USDA Post forecasts Thailand to export about 11 million tons of rice in 2015, with exports accelerating in the second half of the year due to an increase in the sales of G2G contracts.
Thailand’s National Council for Peace and Order has decided to sell stockpiled rice at affordable prices to low-income earners in efforts to clear the deteriorating government rice stocks as soon as possible.
Thailand’s Royal Irrigation Department has advised farmers to delay in-season/main season (April-January) rice planting due to persisting drought conditions and depleted water reserves.
India
India 5% broken rice is today shown at about $380 per ton, Unchanged from a week ago, up about $5 per ton from month ago, and down about $60 per ton from a year ago.
Rice stocks in India’s central pool as of June 1 were around 22.485 million tons, down about 20% from the same period last year.  Month-over-month, rice stocks are slightly up.
Vietnam
Vietnam 5% broken rice is today shown at about $355 per ton, unchanged from a week and a month ago and down about $55 per ton from a year ago.
Vietnam exported about 2.081 million tons of rice in the first five months of calendar year 2015, a decrease of about 11% from the same time last year.  Average rice export price so far this year is about $420 per ton (FOB), down about 3% per ton from the same time last year.
Vietnam exported about 71,993 tons of rice to Africa in April, over two times more than the amount exported in March but down about 29% from April 2014.  The increase is attributed to export promotion strategies implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Pakistan
Pakistan 5% broken rice is today shown at about $385 per ton, down about $15 per ton from a week ago, down about $10 per ton from a month ago and down about $65 per ton from a year ago.
Pakistan basmati rice prices have declined for the third consecutive month in May 2015 after increasing continuously for two months, according to the UN’s FAO.
A former Provincial Minister who is now the President of the Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum has urged the Pakistan government to bail out the sinking rice sector, which is facing losses due to higher production costs and reduced export demand.
Pakistan is targeting to produce 6.9 million tons of milled rice in 2015-16, according to a SUPARCO-FAO report.
Pakistan rice exporters plan to increase rice exports to Iran in efforts to meet the export target of 3.5 million tons this year.
Central & South America
Brazil 5% broken rice is today shown at about $550 per ton, unchanged from a week and a month ago and down about $115 per ton from a year ago.
Rice stocks in Brazil stood at around 128,119 tons in May, down about 4% from April and down about 77% from May 2014, according to Conab.
In the first five months of 2015, Brazil has exported about 482,926 tons of rice, according to the Rice Institute of Rio Grande do Sul.  In May, Brazil exported about 171,567 tons of rice, about 3.5 times more than in April 2015.
The Brazilian paddy rice index maintained by CEPEA reached around 33.18 real per 50 kilograms as of June 8, 2015, down about 3% from around 34.25 real per 50 kilograms recorded on June 1, 2015.
In terms of USD per ton, the index reached around $213 per ton on June 8, 2015, down about 1.3% from around $215.5 per ton recorded on June 1, 2015.
In the first three months of 2015, Argentina exported around 92,512 tons, down about 25% from the same period in 2014.
Five percent broken rice from Uruguay and Argentina is today shown at about $565 per ton, unchanged from a week and a month ago, and down about $60 per ton from a year ago.
U.S.
U.S. 4% broken rice is today shown at about $470 per ton, unchanged from a week ago, down about $15 per ton from a  month ago and down about $110 per ton from a year ago.
Other Markets
In the beginning of this week, the Philippines reportedly was considering private rice imports this month under the WTO minimum access volume rule after failing to secure government-to-government contracts for the requisite 250,000 tons last week.  Rice imports under the MAV quota aren’t typically considered until the third quarter.
In May, rice stocks in the Philippines increased for the second consecutive month after declining for three consecutive months.
The Philippines Statistics Authority forecasts the Philippines 2015 second quarter (April-June) production to decline by about 4.3% to around 3.898 million tons from last year’s 4.073 million tons, due to a decline in harvest area prompted by a dry spell and insufficient water supply as well as incidence of pests and diseases in some growing areas.
Following this report, the National Food Authority (NFA) of the Philippines is planning to purchase the additional 250,000 tons of rice, it is still authorized to import this year in case of production uncertainties due to drought-inducing El Nino weather pattern, in government-to-government (G2G) deals. Meanwhile, the NFA is also reportedly considering conducting G2G rebidding for the remaining 100,000 tons from the June 5 tender on June 16. 
In the first five months of 2015 Cambodia’s rice exports increased about 64% from the same period last year, with the country exporting about 243,025 tons of rice.
The government of Indonesia has replaced the state logistics agency Chief with the former Bank Rakyat Indonesia Director for not being able to meet the government rice procurement target of about 3.2 million tons.
Italian paddy quotes showed diverse trends as on June 9, 2015, with prices of Japonica varieties increasing and Indica prices declining or remaining stable compared to quotations on May 26, 2015. Since June 2 was a public holiday, no quotations were available as on that date. Italy's paddy market is still buying Japonica varieties from the 2014 crop (September - August). Nearly 90% of the 2014 crop has been sold out and about 141,970 tons of the last year's crop are still available.
Paddy rice production in Australia in MY 2014-15 (April-March) is estimated to decline to around 720,000 tons, down about 11% from MY 2013-14.
In Bangladesh, a new high-yielding and early maturity rice variety known as 'Soru balam' or BRRI-dhan 63 introduced by the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) is understood to gain popularity among Boro rice farmers.
Myanmar is seriously planning to ramp up its rice exports but increased exports are leading to high domestic prices. Therefore the government is seeking means to balance the export and price scenario.
South Korea and the UN's Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) will jointly work towards developing the rice value chain in the West African countries as part of efforts to help them increase their national rice production. Both South Korea and the FAO have agreed to implement a project called “Capacity Development and Experience Sharing for Sustainable Value Chain Development in Africa through South-South Cooperation” in West African countries.
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology in Beijing have developed a new rice strain by cloning a gene called NRT1 (nitrogen booster gene) from indica rice into the japonica's gene structure, according to South China Morning Post.

Pakistan Rice Sellers Increase Some of Their Quotes Today; Other Asia Rice Quotes Unchanged

Jun 12, 2015
sellers increased their quotes for 25% broken rice by about $10 per ton to around $345-$355 per ton today. Other Asia rice sellers kept their quotes mostly unchanged.                                                          
5% Broken Rice
Thailand 5% rice is indicated at around $355 - $365 per ton, about a $5 per ton premium on Vietnam 5% rice shown at around $350 - $360 per ton. India 5% rice is indicated at around $375 - $385 per ton, about a $5 per ton discount to Pakistan 5% rice shown at around $380 - $390 per ton.
25% Broken Rice
Thailand 25% rice is shown at around $340 - $350 per ton, about a $10 per ton premium on Vietnam 25% rice shown at around $330- $340 per ton. India 25% rice is indicated at around $360 - $370, about $15 per ton premium on Pakistan 25% rice shown at around $345 - $355 per ton, up about a $10 per ton from yesterday.
Parboiled Rice
Thailand parboiled rice is indicated at around $360 - $370 per ton. India parboiled rice is indicated at around $355 - $365 per ton, about a $55 per ton discount to Pakistan parboiled rice shown at around $410 - $420 per ton.
100% Broken Rice
Thailand broken rice, A1 Super, is indicated at around $315 - $325 per ton, on par with Vietnam 100% broken rice shown at around $315 - $325 per ton. India's 100% broken rice is shown at around $280 - $290 per ton, about a $15 per ton discount to  Pakistan broken sortexed rice shown at around $295 - $305 per ton.



New High-Yielding, Early Maturity Rice Variety Gains Popularity in Bangladesh

Jun 12, 2015
The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has developed a new high-yielding and early maturity rice variety known as 'Soru balam' or BRRI-dhan 63, according to local sources.The new rice variety, which is a hybrid between the BRRI dhan-28 and Iranian rice Amul-23, yields about 7 to 7.5 tons per hectare and can be harvested within 145-148 days, seven days earlier than compared to other hybrid varieties such as BRRI dhan-28 and BRRI dhan-29 varieties.Some farmers who used this variety in the 2015 Boro season have told local sources that they achieved an yield of 8 tons per hectare in 148 days. They also noted that the grain in fine, tall and non-aromatic and can be exported as well as sold at a higher price in the market.BRRI dhan-63 was originally introduced in 2013 and has been tried in the 2014 and 2015 Boro seasons. Officials expressed hope that more number of farmers may adopt the new variety in the next Boro season given its success rate. The Chief Agronomist of BRRI's breeding department noted that the new variety is expected to replace BRRI dhan-26, BRRI dhan-28 and BRRI dhan-29 in next Boro season.
Bangladesh produced around 34.449 million tons of rice, basis milled, in FY 2013-14 (July - June), up about 2.7% from around 33.833 million tons produced in FY 2012-13, according to DAE data.USDA estimates Bangladesh’s MY 2015-16 (July 2014 – June 2015) milled rice production to slightly increase to about 35 million tons from an estimated 34.5 million tons in MY 2014-15. It estimates Bangladesh to import 1.1 million tons of rice in 2015.  

South Korea and FAO to Develop Rice Value Chain in West Africa

Jun 12, 2015
South Korea and the UN's Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) will jointly work towards developing the rice value chain in the West African countries as part of efforts to help them increase their national rice production, according to local sources.Both South Korea and the FAO have agreed to implement a project called “Capacity Development and Experience Sharing for Sustainable Value Chain Development in Africa through South-South Cooperation” in West African countries.South-South Cooperation (SSC) is a cost-effective means of sharing knowledge and resources among various entities. Asian countries, which have developed a reasonably good level of rice production systems can share their experiences with the African nations and help them develop their rice production systems as well.South Korea has agreed to provide about 42 million to support the project in three countries in West Africa and the FAO will facilitate the implementation of the project through its Regional Office in Africa. The project will focus on developing the rice value chain by increasing production and productivity, adding value, enhancing quality and improving market access. It aims to create more modern and profitable agricultural sector through the design and implementation of evidence-based agriculture and rural development approaches, policies and programs for rice in these countries, according to the Director of South-South Cooperation and Resource Mobilization Division of the FAO. 

Philippines Plans to Import Additional 250,000 Tons of Rice Through G2G Negotiations

Jun 12, 2015
The National Food Authority (NFA) of the Philippines is planning to purchase the additional 250,000 tons of rice, it is still authorized to import this year in case of production uncertainties due to drought-inducing El Nino weather pattern, in government-to-government (G2G) deals, according to BusinessworldOnline.The NFA Public Affairs Director told reporters that the agency is planning to import the remaining volume of rice in G2G deals through negotiated procurement.
He noted that Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, which hold bilateral agreements with the Philippines, have been invited for G2G negotiations next week.The official also noted that the NFA is also reportedly considering to conduct G2G rebidding for the remaining 100,000 tons from the June 5 tender on June 16. Though the NFA invited tenders from Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia for 250,000 tons, it imported only 150,000 tons from Vietnam. Thailand backed out from the tender as the price offered by the NFA was deemed to be too low. Cambodia did not participate in the bid. He added that Vietnam is required to ship about 60% of the 150,000 tons before July 15 and the remaining before August 15.
The decision reportedly follows the Philippine Statistics Authority's (PSA) forecasts that the Philippines's 2015 second quarter (April - June) production to decline by about 4.3% to around 3.898 million tons from last year's 4.073 million tons and about 0.1% from its April forecast of around 3.902 million tons due to a decline in harvest area prompted by dry spell and insufficient water supply as well as incidence of pests and diseases in some rice growing areas.Last month, the PSA forecasted paddy production in the first half of 2015 (January - June) at around 8.27 million tons, down about 1.32% from around 8.38 million tons last year.Last week, the NFA told that it is planning to import 805,200 tons of rice through private importers under the WTO minimum access volume (MAV) rule at 35% duty. Imports over and above the MAV quota attract a 50% duty.

The NFA is likely to open the applications for MAV any time this month and traders are expected to deliver rice between September and October. Earlier this year, the Philippines imported 500,000 tons of rice from Vietnam and Thailand this year to curb price increases and boost buffer stocks during the lean season (July - September). Last year, the NFA imported more than 1.8 million tons of rice (including 1.5 million tons of 2014 imports and 300,000 tons of 2013 residual imports) in 2014 to replenish rice stocks and control price hikes.USDA estimates Philippines MY 2015-16 (July - June) paddy rice production at around 19.683 million tons (around 12.4 million tons, basis milled), slightly up from around 19.365 million tons (around 12.2 million tons, basis milled) produced in the previous year. It estimates the Philippines to import 1.7 million tons of rice in 2015.

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