Friday, June 26, 2015

25th June (Thursday),2015 Daily Exclusive ORYZA Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine


Global Rice Quotes
June 24th, 2015
Long grain white rice - high quality
Thailand 100% B grade   375-385                ↔
Vietnam 5% broken        345-355                ↔
India 5% broken               385-395                ↔
Pakistan 5% broken        385-395                ↔
Myanmar 5% broken      415-425                ↔
Cambodia 5% broken     NQ         ↔
U.S. 4% broken                 450-460                ↔
Uruguay 5% broken        565-575                ↔
Argentina 5% broken     555-565                ↔

Long grain white rice - low quality
Thailand 25% broken      345-355                ↔
Vietnam 25% broken      325-335                ↔
Pakistan 25% broken      340-350                ↔
Cambodia 25% broken   NQ         ↔
India 25% broken             350-360                ↔
U.S. 15% broken               440-450                ↔

Long grain parboiled rice
Thailand parboiled 100% stxd     365-375                ↔
Pakistan parboiled 5% broken stxd          395-405                ↔
India parboiled 5% broken stxd                 365-375                ↔
U.S. parboiled 4% broken             555-565                ↔
Brazil parboiled 5% broken          570-580                ↔
Uruguay parboiled 5% broken    NQ         ↔

Long grain fragrant rice
Thailand Hommali 92%   815-825                ↔
Vietnam Jasmine             480-490                ↔
India basmati 2% broken              NQ         ↔
Pakistan basmati 2% broken       NQ         ↔
Cambodia Phka Mails     NQ         ↔

Brokens
Thailand A1 Super            315-325                ↔
Vietnam 100% broken   310-320                ↔
Pakistan 100% broken stxd          285-305                ↔
Cambodia A1 Super        NQ         ↔
India 100% broken stxd                 280-290                ↔
Egypt medium grain brokens      NQ         ↔
U.S. pet food     350-360                ↔
Brazil half grain NQ         ↔


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

Myanmar Exporters Struggle to Meet European Rice Standards

Jun 24, 2015
Currently Myanmar exports milled rice to the European Union (EU) at zero percent duty under the Everything But Arms (EBA) agreement, which was extended in 2012, and the EU has been assisting the South east Asian nation to develop its rice sector and supply them quality rice.In order to export to quality rice to the EU, the government of Myanmar needs to invest sufficiently in expanding and upgrading domestic mills and other domestic infrastructure, according to a World Bank report released last year.
The Secretary General of the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) told local sources that Myanmar's rice lacks quality compared with some neighboring countries. “We need to think about quantity and quality to promote exports. But quantity is tough to increase, so we should look at improving quality and exporting Europe to receive a good price,” he was quoted as saying.Experts have suggested that though Myanmar seeks to improve the quality of rice, certain practical challenges have been arising in upgrading rice mills and improvement of quality checks in line with international demands.
Recently, a delegation from the EU reportedly visited Myanmar seeking to purchase fragrant rice. “If there is market interest, we will grow fragrant rice and export it to Europe,” said the Vice Chair of the MRF.According to the MRF data, Myanmar exported around 100,000 tons of rice to the EU in 2014 and the government is targeting to export 200,000 tons this year.The EU statistics show that Myanmar's rice exports to the EU increased about 81% to around 144,552 tons during September 2014 - April 2015 from around 79,942 tons during the same period last year. 

Government of Togo Takes Measures to Boost Rice Production

Jun 24, 2015
The government of the West African nation Togo has distributed 300 tons of improved rice seeds to farmers as part of efforts to increase rice production in the country, Bloomberg quoted the  Agriculture Minister.The Togo government also provided 300 tons or improved corn seeds to the farmers. It reportedly spent about 600 million CFA francs (around $1.023 million) on the operation.
Togo is a net importer of rice and imports about half of its rice consumption needs annually. USDA estimates Togo to produce about 95,000 tons of milled rice and import about 100,000 tons of rice in MY 2014-15 (October- September) to meet an annual consumption of about 195,000 tons.

Oryza Overnight Recap – Chicago Rough Rice Futures Continue to Drift Sideways on Lack of Fundamental News

Jun 24, 2015
Chicago rough rice futures for Jul delivery are currently seen trading 2.5 cent per cwt (about $1 per ton) lower at $9.810 per cwt (about $216 per ton) during early floor trading in Chicago. The other grains are seen trading lower this morning; soybeans are currently seen trading about 0.2% lower, wheat is listed about 0.7% lower and corn is currently noted about 0.4% lower.U.S. stocks traded lower on Wednesday as discouraging developments in the Greece debt talks weighed on investor sentiment, amid domestic data. A Greek government official said that Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had told associates that Greece's proposed measures had not been accepted by creditors, Reuters reported on Wednesday. Prior to the news, recent reports had indicated progress towards a resolution ahead of Greece's June 30 payment deadline to the International Monetary Fund on June 30.
The Eurogroup meets in Brussels on the matter at 1 p.m. ET Wednesday. In U.S. economic news, the final read on first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) data showed a decline of 0.2%, in-line with expectations and above a previous estimate of a 0.7% contraction. The improved read supports the improving trend in more recent economic reports that indicate moderate growth in the second quarter. Better performance strengthens the Federal Reserve's case for raising short-term interest rates as early as September. The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened down 67 points, or 0.37%, at 18,077. The S&P 500 opened down 3 points, or 0.18%, at 2,120, with materials leading nine sectors lower and utilities the only gainer. The Nasdaq opened down 10 points, or 0.20%, at 5,150. Gold is currently trading about 0.3% lower, crude oil is seen trading about 0.3% higher,  and the U.S. dollar is currently trading about 0.1% lower at9:00am Chicago time.
Oryza U.S. Rough Rice Recap - Offers Jump with Futures while Bids Hold Steady
Jun 24, 2015

The U.S. cash market was firmer today with offers increasing in tandem with the futures market while bids remained at the same levels seen earlier in the week.Analysts note that despite the run up in the futures today, buyers insist that there is not enough demand to justify paying the prices farmers are willing to sell at.Analysts remain doubtful that tomorrow’s USDA exports sales report will show a substantial increase from the previous three weeks sales figures, all of which were uninspiring .

Pakistan Rice Exporters Seek Special Package from Government

Jun 24, 2015
Members of the Rice Exporters Rice Association of Pakistan (REAP) have urged the government to provide a special package for the rice sector to help alleviate the problems of rice growers and exporters, according to local sources.At a meeting in the Ministry of National Food Security and Research on June 23, the REAP members put forth their demands to the government. In the light of increasing rice surplus stocks, the exporters sought a subsidy on rice exports and removal of withholding tax on loans taken by rice growers and exporters.  They also demanded for procurement of surplus stocks by the Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) Limited.
Pakistan consistently produces around one million tons of basmati rice annually, but is unable to export all the produced output due to a competition from India. Pakistan’s basmati rice exports have declined to around 630,035 tons in 2014 from around 968,941 tons in 2012 and from around one million tons in 2011. Local sources say the unsold stock is being accumulated as stocks. Currently, Pakistan has around 600,000 tons of basmati stocks and traders are expecting to add another 400,000 tons this year taking the stock level to about one million tons by the end of this year.
Decline in global rice export prices also contributed to a fall in rice export earnings. While export prices of Pakistan 5% rice declined about 12% to around $390 per ton from around $445 per ton last year, basmati rice export prices declined about 34% to around $895 per ton from around $1,350 per ton last year.The South Asian nation produced a record 7 million tons of rice in 2014-15 (July - June), up about 3% from last year due to an increased acreage under high-yielding rice varieties and increased availability of irrigation water. However, local consumption of rice is only 3 million tons and the remaining is for export.

Oryza Afternoon Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Rocket Past $10.000 on Last-Minute Buying Frenzy; Wheat and Corn Unable to Maintain Early Gains and Slip to a Loss by the Close

Jun 24, 2015
Chicago rough rice futures for Sep delivery settled 29 cent per cwt (about $6 per ton) higher at $10.125 per cwt (about $223 per ton). Rough rice futures shot higher in the closing moments of trading today as aggressive buying pushed price beyond previous resistance just below $10.000 per cwt (about $220 per ton) which had held since mid-April. Traders will now watch for follow-through buying and continue higher as a signal that the recent sideways trend has truly come to an end and that a bullish move is underway. The other grains closed lower as afternoon selling saw a day of back-and-forth trading slip into the red for all products of the complex; Soybeans closed about 0.6% lower at $9.8175 per bushel; wheat finished about 0.7% lower at $5.1800 per bushel, and corn finished the day about 0.3% lower at $3.6650 per bushel.U.S. stocks traded lower on Wednesday as discouraging developments in the Greece debt talks weighed on investor sentiment, amid domestic data. The Dow Jones industrial average traded about 150 points lower in early afternoon trade.
The Dow transports fell more than 2% as railway stocks dragged all components lower. Euro zone leaders struck a mostly negative tone in their remarks on the negotiations Wednesday. European Union Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said progress is being made but a long night of talks is likely as many issues remain, Reuters reported. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said he did not expect an agreement on Greece Wednesday. Speaking before a meeting of European finance officials in Brussels, he added he didn't feel much had changed on the Greece issue since Monday. In U.S. economic news, the final read on first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) data showed a decline of 0.2%, in-line with expectations and above a previous estimate of a 0.7% contraction.
Encouragingly, consumer spending was revised up to 2.1% from the initial 1.8%.The improved read supports the improving trend in more recent economic reports that indicate moderate growth in the second quarter. Better performance strengthens the Federal Reserve's case for raising short-term interest rates as early as September. The Dow Jones Industrial Average traded down 145 points, or 0.80%, at 17,998. The S&P 500 traded down 13 points, or 0.60%, at 2,111, with materials leading all 10 sectors lower. The Nasdaq traded down 31 points, or 0.60%, at 5,129. Gold is trading about 0.3% lower, crude oil is seen trading about 1.6% lower, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading at about 0.2% lower at about  1:00pm Chicago time.Tuesday, there were 1,491 contracts traded, up from 1,167 contracts traded on Monday. Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on Tuesday decreased by 284 contracts to 9,610.

Philippines Weather Agency Expects Onset of Rainy Season Soon

Jun 24, 2015
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has announced on June 23 that it is expecting the onset of the rainy season within the next few days, according to a news release on its website.It noted that in the coming days, moderate to heavy rains are expected over most parts of Western Luzon and Western Visayas due to the Low Pressure Area (Area) due to the southwest monsoon. However, it noted that monsoon breaks or periods of no rain are expected during the rainy season. In the first week of June, the PAGASA predicted a weak El Nino affecting the regualr monsoons.“Farmers should plant early, they should start the land preparation right now,” the Agricultural Secretary was quoted as saying.
Currently, the country's rice self-sufficiency is at 96-97%. In the second week of June, the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) estimated 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 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

Government of Tanzania Urged to Settle Rice Export Issue with EAC

Jun 24, 2015
The Chairman of the Rice Council of Tanzania (RCT) has urged the government to settle the rice export issue with the East African Community (EAC), as Kenya and Uganda banned rice imports from Tanzania for its rice shipments being mixed up with low quality Indian and Pakistani rice, according to local sources.Speaking at a meeting on the challenges faced by the country's rice sector, the official noted that most of the low quality rice from India, Pakistan, Thailand and China is smuggled through porous borders. Such unofficial imports have not only denied requisite tax revenue to the Tanzanian government but also spoilt the reputation of the Tanzanian rice, he said.
He also reportedly emphasized that since importers of rice from these countries do not pay taxes, they sell rice cheaply in the local market depriving requisite income to farmers, who incur heavy costs to produce their rice. Also rice production in Tanzania is not subsidized unlike in most of the Asian rice producing countries.The official reminded that in 2014, Tanzania produced over 700,000 tons of paddy but could not export anything to the EAC markets. Therefore, he urged the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) to ensure that low quality rice does not enter the country's borders and also improve its collection particularly in porous borders.
The Executive Director of Agricultural non- state actors Forum (Ansaf) added that if the government does not act promptly, apart from Tanzania further losing its reputation, its economy might be impacted significantly due to loss of income for rice producers as well as export revenues for the government.USDA estimates Tanzania to produce around 1.386 million tons of rice, basis milled, and export around 30,000 tons in MY 2015-16 (June 2014 - May 2015).

Thailand to Auction One Million Tons of Rice in July

Jun 24, 2015
Description: Description: Description: http://oryza.com/sites/default/files/field/image/150624thairicestocks.jpg The government of Thailand is planning to sell about one million tons of rice in an open tender in early July as part of its efforts to cut down its rice stocks accumulated from the rice pledging scheme introduced by the previous government in October 2011, according to Reuters.The Deputy Director-General of the Commerce Ministry's Foreign Trade Department told reporters that the exact date of the tender would be decided on June 26 in a meeting.The upcoming rice auction is the fourth one this year and the eighth auction since the military government took over in May 2014. The Commerce Ministry sold about 2.73 million tons of rice in the first seven auctions since it took power, raising over $888 million.The Thai military government currently holds over 16 million tons of rice in its warehouses and is planning to sell about 10 million tons this year about six million tons next year.

Thailand Advises Farmers to Further Delay Rice Planting Till August
Jun 24, 2015
Description: http://oryza.com/sites/default/files/field/image/150624thaireservoir.jpgThe government of Thailand has requested farmers in the Central region to further delay rice planting till August from the earlier set July as 22 of the 76 provinces are still fighting drought conditions, according to Reuters.The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment told local sources that the government would dig 500 new wells near the Chao Phraya River, in addition to the 300 wells already in place, to help store water along the river.The Irrigation Department is planning to reduce water supply in the Chao Phraya basin due to exceptionally low levels of water in the Chao Phraya reservoir, according to Bloomberg. Supply is expected to decline by 5 million cubic feet per day to 28 million cubic feet per day. On June 12, it reduced water supply to about 30-35 cubic feet per day from the earlier 62 million cubic feet per day. At this pace the Department expects to use the available water till August 10, by when it expects rains to resume.

About 850,000 rai of rice land (around 136,000 hectares) may be affected due to the additional water cut. Initially around 3.44 million rai (about 550,400 hectares) of rice land was expected to be unaffected by the cut in water supplies.A decline in production in Thailand is expected to push up rice prices, which have declined significantly since the beginning of the year. Export prices of Thai 5% rice are currently ruling at about $370 per ton compared to about $410 at the beginning of the year.
Download/View On-Line the above News in pdf for
mat,just click the following link

24th June (Wednesday),2015 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

UNISAME URGES GOVT TO STUDY PROS & CONS PRIOR TO RICE BOARD DECISION
The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) urged the government to prior to deciding to set up the Pakistan Rice Board (PRB) as suggested by the vested interest must first examine the pros and cons and question those suggesting it as to the injury caused to the rice industry by the Quality Review Committee (QRC) set up by the government on their recommendations and supported by them.The QRC eliminated the SME rice exporters and those adding value to the grains.UNISAME was against the QRC from day one and time and again requested the authorities to remove this committee which was used as an instrument to eliminate the SME rice exporters.
UNISAME again appeals to the ministries to carry out the good work through the ministries of agriculture (MINFAL) and commerce (MINCOM) and promote exports through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan ( TDAP) and not let this group again destroy the rice markets and make a mess of it.President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said ever since they have lost control of QRC they are trying to find ways and means to regain control in a different form and MINCOM must not let them have another government sponsored tool for their vested interest like they did with QRC. Fortunately MINCOM finally comprehended the futility of QRC and decided to disband it but after the damage was done. UNISAME kept informing MINCOM about its negative role and is on record.
Thaver said the SME rice exporters even filed petitions and law suits against this defective body.Even if the government decides to form the PRB it must include experts from the growers, millers,processors and exporters to avoid conflict of interest but it is very important that the government must first study the role and function of the PRB as it would simply duplicate the functions of MINCOM & MINFAL and will entail huge expenditure in maintaining it when the matter of rice cultivation to its final exports are in the domain of the ministries of agriculture and commerce. Only thing which is needed is co-ordination between the two. If co-ordination is achieved and integrated efforts are made a positive policy could be made for the betterment of the rice industry which is on the verge of collapse.The PRB will be another institution not worth its name because it entails policy making which is the function of the government through the MINFAL and MINCOM based on the recommendations of the Rice Commissioner in the MINFAL, the Rice Research Institute and the stakeholders.
APEDA India (News)
Price on: 23-06-2015
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Apricots
1
Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)
5975
2
Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)
5375
3
Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t)
4375
Raisins
1
Californian Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK (USD/t)
2683
2
South African Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK (USD/t)
2287
Sultanas
1
Australian 5 Crown, CIF UK (USD/t)
3038  
2
Iranian natural sultanas (Gouchan), CIF UK (USD/t)
1874
3
Turkish No 9 standard, FOB Izmir (USD/t)
2150
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 23-06-2015
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
1700
3350
3
Chala (Kerala)
Other
2500
3100
Wheat
1
Dhing (Assam)
Other
1600
1800
2
Amirgadh (Gujarat)
Other
1275
1450
3
Bonai (Orissa)
Other
1450
1600
Mousambi
1
Batala (Punjab)
Other
2400
3200
2
Manjeri (Kerala)
Other
3500
3700
3
Mechua (West  Bengal)
Other
2400
3000
Cucumbar
1
Chala (Kerala)
Other
1700
1750
2
Banki (Orissa)
Other
1600
1800
3
Shahapur (Maharashtra)
Other
1500
2000
Source:agra-net
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 23-06-2015
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Ahmedabad
409
2
Chittoor
440
3
Hyderabad
402
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 22-06-2015
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Onions Dry
Package: 50 lb sacks
1
Atlanta
Mexico
Yellow
23
24
2
Baltimore
California
Yellow
15
15
3
Dallas
Texas
Yellow
19
20
Carrots
Package: 20 1-lb film bags
1
Atlanta
California
Baby Peeled
18.50
20.50
2
Dallas
Arizona
 Baby Peeled
20
20
3
Detroit
California
Baby Peeled
17
17.50
Apples
Package: cartons tray pack
1
Atlanta
Washington
Red Delicious
24
24
2
Baltimore
Pennsylvania
Red Delicious 
17
18
3
Detroit
Washington
Red Delicious 
21.50
22
Source:USDA

Parkash Singh Badal demands maize be included in procurement list

IANS, Chandigarh
| 
Updated: Jun 23, 2015 18:06 IST
Description: http://www.hindustantimes.com/images/2015/6/32a16ee9-36fa-4f94-86e5-a2294ba68130wallpaper1.jpg

Parkash Singh Badal, chief minister, Punjab


 Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday asked the central government to include the maize in the procurement list.
"I have already taken up the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure procurement of maize at minimum support price (MSP) through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India," an official statement quoting Badal as saying.He said the state government has designated Punjab Agro as its agency for the procurement of maize on the prevailing MSP as announced by the central government.Presiding over separate meetings of the state maize and the basmati development boards here, the chief minister asked the Basmati rice growers not to sow the '1509' variety before July 15 as the pre-mature sowing of this variety hampered the yield, both in terms of quality and quantity.
At the meeting, Principal Secretary to the chief minister, S.K. Sandhu, who met a delegation of state rice millers and exporters in Amritsar last week, apprised Badal about their concerns on the probable fall in the export volumes of Basmati rice from the state during the current kharif marketing season in wake of stringent parameters imposed by Iran, the major importer of the rice variety from India.Sandhu suggested that in order to safeguard the interest of Basmati growers, the state government should pursue the matter regarding GI (geographical indications) related to Basmati rice in Punjab with the central government.Punjab, India's green revolution state, is the biggest contributor to the national food grain kitty despite having just 1.54 percent geographical area of the country.Farmers in the state mainly rely on growing wheat and paddy every year. This has led to depletion of the ground water level, especially due to paddy cultivation.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/parkash-singh-badal-demands-maize-be-included-in-procurement-list/article1-1361988.aspx
House Ag Committee Pushes Back on Administration Efforts to Gut Food Aid Programs
Wants answers
WASHINGTON, DC -- The House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing today with Phil Karsting, Administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and Thomas Staal, Acting Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, USAID to review international food aid programs in light of controversial efforts to reform the programs by the Obama Administration and some Members of Congress.USA Rice has been working in conjunction with a coalition of leading U.S. agricultural commodity groups to oppose the Food for Peace Reform Act and the Administration's proposal that will result in in-kind food aid programs being replaced with cash vouchers and the local and regional purchase (LRP) of food.
In-kind food aid, or the donation of commodities to countries facing food insecurity, hunger, malnutrition, and civil conflict, has been a critical pillar of U.S. foreign policy and a symbol of the commitment and generosity of U.S. farmers for more than sixty years.Based on testimony presented, it was clear that in-kind food aid has saved countless lives, fed millions of school children, and helped several nations transition during times of crisis and disaster. U.S. food assistance programs are constantly seeking to achieve greater efficiencies and impact and have recently introduced several new micronutrient fortified products, including fortified rice, to help greater numbers of women and children achieve health and become productive citizens. nd while there may be situations where other forms of food assistance can be helpful, it also became clear based on questions from Committee Members during the hearing, that there remain several unanswered questions regarding the transparency, effectiveness, and implementation of both cash voucher and local and regional purchase programs.

"I represent probably the largest row crop district in the nation ... we grow corn, soybeans, and a lot of rice ... Can you provide an explanation of how you will police the use of cash vouchers for LRP and make sure that money is not being diverted?" asked Louisiana Congressman Ralph Abraham during the hearing."If the goal of food assistance is helping nations achieve food security and transition during times of crisis, it remains unclear to us whether any alternate approaches can reach the same number of beneficiaries and impact as in-kind food aid," said Betsy Ward, president & CEO of USA Rice.  "Food aid remains an important pillar of USA Rice's programming and keeping in-kind food aid as part of U.S. government assistance programs will continue to be a top line policy initiative for our work this year."Ward pointed out that food aid is also a significant component of U.S. foreign policy and that switching from in-kind food programs could result in a loss of control on the ground."We all want aid going to where it's needed and where it should be going," she said.  "It's too easy to divert cash for other non-aid uses."

Contact:  Rebecca Bratter (202) 492-0522

Texas crop, weather: Rice situation varies widely; much never got planted
By Robert Burns, Texas A&M
Jun 24, 2015
 COLLEGE STATION – After years of having not enough water to grow rice, many of the major production areas of the state got too much, according to reports by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service personnel in the major rice growing counties.The frequent rains prevented plantings and/or damaged crops and encouraged diseases in planted fields, according to the reports.But it wasn’t all bad news. In Matagorda County, the rice crop was in pretty good shape, said Brent Bachelor, AgriLife Extension agent for Matagorda County.“We were later than normal planting, probably by 15 to 20 days at least, but we did get it all in,” Bachelor said.
Another rain came after the planting, and other than some disease issues from the high humidity, much of the already established crop is progressing well, he said.However, he noted the 3,000 acres of rice planted this year was severely reduced from the average of about 25,000 acres typically planted before the drought and the resulting water restrictions the Lower Colorado River Authority.“From the big picture standpoint, we haven’t farmed much rice since 2011 and the water usage restrictions from the lower Colorado River and the Highland Lakes,” he said. “But we haven’t had to pump this year, and that’s a bright star in the picture.”Other counties weren’t so fortunate, Bachelor said.“I know that in Wharton County, they had some issues with the rain and the floods, particularly with this last round, because they had some fields that were heading,” he said. “If it’s heading and not blooming, it can go underwater for a short period of time. But it’s certainly important for it not to be completely submerged if it’s blooming, because once flowers are open, and they get wet, then we see blanks in spikes where rice kernels should be developing.
Description: http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/uploads/1a1a1a1a1acrop-weather4_001.jpg”Stephen Janak, AgriLife Extension agent for Colorado County, said about 60 to 70 percent of the county’s rice crop was in pretty good shape. These fields were already established before Tropical Storm Bill.“When Bill came through, the levees blew out in a lot of the fields of where younger rice hadn’t been established yet and was still flooded,” he said.The rain also created problems where the levees held, including completely submerging some rice, he said.“The fields were saturated before Bill, which added 10 to 15 inches of rain on top of that,” Janak said. “There’s some organic rice that never got planted. It’s just a hodgepodge of conditions, depending on the situation, the soil type and when it was planted.”In Jefferson County, a large percentage of the crop was not planted, and much of what was planted varied widely in development, said Emilee Bean, AgriLife Extension agent for Jefferson County.
As in other areas, the condition Jefferson County rice that got planted varied widely in development. In her weekly report, Bean rated 45 percent of the crop as good, 45 percent fair and 10 percent excellent.According to the Chambers County weekly report, about 45 percent of the crop was planted and emerged, with most of the crop in good condition and 25 percent in fair condition.Brazoria County rated 85 percent of the rice crop as being in good condition, and the rest fair to excellent.
The condition of Texas rice varied widely this past week, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county agent weekly reports. (Texas A&M AgriLife Communications photo by Robert Burns)
AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following crop and weather summaries:
Central: Soil moisture, rangeland and pastures, and livestock were generally in good condition. Overall, crop conditions were rated as fair. The region generally had scattered showers, but heavy downpours caused severe flooding in isolated areas. The condition of the corn crop varied widely, with some fields drowned out while other fields looked good. Sugarcane aphid pressure on grain sorghum remained low. Lakes and stock-water ta nks were full, and rivers were running strong. Many producers were still trying to get the first cutting of hay moved out of fields. Some producers reported getting four to six rolls of Bermuda grass hay per acre. Livestock were in good condition. The wheat and oat harvests wrapped up, with yields lower than expected. Grain sorghum was still struggling, but some fields bounced back from excessive moisture and were growing.
Coastal Bend: Winds brought by Tropical Storm Bill caused only minor damage and brought moderate flooding to row crops and pecans. Corn was maturing. Sorghum was flowering. Cotton development varied greatly, from full bloom to the six-leaf growth stage. There was some insect pressure in grain sorghum. The mixed maturity of sorghum caused management of the crop to be challenging. Hay harvesting was shut down by the rain. Rangeland was in excellent condition.
East: Most counties in the region received substantial rainfall from Tropical Storm Bill. Jasper County received the most at 10 inches. Henderson County got 3 to 5 inches, and Shelby County reported 5 to 8 inches. Several counties changed their subsoil and topsoil moisture ratings from adequate to surplus. The Jasper County towns of Kirbyville, Buna and Evadale were flooded. The Trinity River bottom remained flooded. The continued wet conditions were causing disease and insect infestations on some crops. Pecan scab infestation was heavy, and there were some reports of powdery mildew. Many trees were stressed because of saturated soils; some were losing leaves. In Anderson County, corn and grain sorghum fields were lost. Blueberry and blackberry harvests were behind due to the rains. Vegetable harvesting was slowed, and crop quality was diminished by the muddy conditions. Forage pastures and hayfields were in mostly good to ex cellent condition, but producers were unable to make hay due to the rains. Rain and wet conditions prevented some producers from marketing cattle. Otherwise, cattle were in good condition, and the market continued to be strong. The horn fly population exploded.
Far West: Thunderstorms in Brewster, Jeff Davis and Presidio counties brought as much as 1.5 inches of rain. The thunderstorms also produced high winds and lightning, which increased wildfire danger. Winkler and Loving counties had scattered showers. Upton County rangeland conditions improved, but broomweed took over ground that had been left bare from the previous drought. Cattle were in good condition. Cotton, corn, sunflowers and alfalfa were all doing well. Wheat producers were finishing up harvesting. Pasture and rangeland were in fair to good condition. Topsoil and subsoil moisture was adequate.
North: Topsoil moisture was mostly adequate. Tropical Storm Bill brought 3 inches of rain during the middle of the week, which halted planting of soybeans, cotton and grain sorghum. Bill also stopped the hay and wheat harvests, and other fieldwork. Fields and pastures were saturated. Corn was growing quickly, but there were issues with non-uniformity in the fields that were underwater for long periods. Summer pastures were growing really well. Livestock were in good condition. The cattle market was strong. Grasshopper numbers were high in some areas. Wild hogs continued to cause damage.
Panhandle: Most of the region was hot and windy for the most of the week, with near-average temperatures. Soil moisture was mostly adequate. The warm and dry conditions allowed Collingsworth County farmers to catch up on fieldwork. Cotton there appeared to be overcoming too much moisture and was emerging. Acres not able to be planted in cotton were being switched over to grain sorghum or haygrazer. Dallam Hartley corn was progressing good under irrigation. Wheat looked good, and producers were taking a second cutting of alfalfa. Isolated storms in Deaf Smith County hailed out some wheat and cornfields. However, the corn crop in general was in good shape. Even the late-planted fields were in from three-to-four leaf to eight-to-ten leaf growth stage, so there will be a wide variance in the crops maturing. The condition of wheat there was also widely variable with many fields affected with disease issues and a wide range of mat urity levels – even in the same field. Some grain sorghum acres were just being planted, while others were at the five-to-six leaf stage. Due to wet, damp and cool weather very few cotton acres were planted in Deaf Smith County. In Hansford County, areas north of Spearman and Gruver received the 2 inches of rain along with strong winds and hail. Corn, sorghum and cotton were doing great. The wheat harvesting started over the weekend south of Spearman. Irrigated and some dryland wheat looked really good, but weeds were starting to become a problem. Wheeler County producers finished planting cotton. Some cotton was just emerging. The crop was expected to be late to mature. Cattle were in good shape, but horn flies were troublesome in most all herds.
Rolling Plains: More rain fell across parts of the region. Montague County received 16 inches of rain, which brought the total rainfall since the beginning of May to more than 45 inches. Severe flooding displaced cattle, downed fences, and destroyed ponds and personal property. The wheat harvest was on hold because of the rain. Some cotton planting was prevented due to the rain. Hay producers were having trouble getting hay baled because of rain, but most weren’t complaining after four years of drought. Where hay could be harvested, yields were excellent. Livestock remained in good to excellent condition. Area reservoirs and stock-water tanks were full. Rangeland and pastures were in good to excellent condition. Farmers were focusing on weed and insect pest issues. The peach crop was looking very good with harvesting starting. The harvesting of most peaches will begin in two weeks and continue through July.
South: Tropical Storm Bill brought widespread thunderstorms and rain to much of the region, but no damaging winds. In the northern part of the region, corn and cotton were in good condition. Peanut and grain sorghum were in fair condition. Rangeland and pastures were in excellent condition. Frio County had warm days and minimal rain, which allowed producers to complete the wheat harvest and continue potato harvesting. In Live Oak County, conditions remained very wet, and many crops were damaged by too much moisture. Soil moisture conditions were generally adequate throughout the northern counties. In the eastern part of the region, Tropical Storm Bill brought 5 to 10 inches of rain in some areas, and many fields in those areas remain flooded. In Kleberg and Kenedy counties, cotton and sorghum fields looked great, and rangeland and pastures continued to improve. Weeds, though, continued to be a problem for many cattle produ cers in that area. Soil moisture was adequate in Jim Hogg and Jim Wells counties, and 100 percent surplus in Kleberg and Kenedy counties. In the western part of the region, there were reports of webworms in pecan orchards, but spraying controlled the pests. In Zavala County, timely and substantial rains resulted in big savings on irrigation costs. Cotton, corn, sorghum and pecans made excellent progress. Soil moisture conditions were generally adequate throughout the western counties. In the southern part of the region, Hidalgo sunflower harvesting was interrupted by heavy rains. Starr County grain producers were baling hay. Soil moisture was adequate in the southern counties.
South Plains: Some areas received rain — from light and isolated showers to widespread storms — with certain areas receiving from 2 to 5 inches. The moisture benefited crops, but made field work difficult. Earlier planted sorghum and corn looked very good. The wheat harvest was underway and yields are average to slightly above. Farmers were running sand-fighters cultivators over fields to stop blowing topsoil on some fields and to break crust to help seedling emergence on others. Pastures and rangeland were in good condition, and winter wheat harvest was in various stages, from just starting to being completed. Lubbock County cotton ranged from having one to five true leaves. Corn and sorghum were progressing well with exception of a few sorghum fields that were stunted in appearance. All Garza County cotton acres were planted, with crop development ranging from just emerged to the four-true-leaf stage. Some dama ge has been seen in cotton due to wet weather blight. In some low-lying areas, the crop showed signs of a lack of oxygen due to excessive soil moisture. Rangeland and pastures were in excellent condition, and cattle were mostly in good to excellent condition. Mitchell County received rain at the beginning of the week, which again kept farmers out of the fields. Scurry County also received rain that prevented cotton planting.
Southeast: Soil moisture throughout the region was mostly adequate to surplus, with San Jacinto, Chambers, Galveston and Hardin counties having 100 percent surplus levels. Rangeland and pasture ratings varied widely too, but were mostly good to excellent, with good ratings being the most common. San Jacinto County and Hardin County reported 100 percent excellent conditions. Brazos County got from 0.75 inch to 2.5 inches. Pastures and hayfields continued to benefit from abundant moisture. Brazoria County soybeans were blooming. In Chambers County, Tropical Storm Bill dropped from 4 to 11 inches of rain atop of already saturated ground. Some parts of the county had already met average rainfall totals for a full year. Some early rice that did not have to be replanted in late April was starting to head. Any more rains will make herbicide and fertilizer applications on rice difficult. In Fort Bend County, the tropical storm brought 3 to 6 inches of rain. Although producers got more rain than they wanted, they were spared the 12 inches of rain that fell to the south, so the extra moisture was manageable. Galveston County received heavy rains from Tropical Storm Bill too.
Southwest: Though Tropical Storm Bill brought rains, no major damage or flooding occurred. Rainfall totaled for the week ranged from 3 to 4 inches. Corn was in poor condition from too much water. Pasture conditions continued to improve, and rangeland was in good condition. Crops looked good as well, with above-average yields expected. Livestock were in fair condition.
West Central: The region had hot and very humid days with warm nights. Scattered showers fell in some areas, while others remained dry. Subsoil moisture remained good. Field activities increased as rain-soaked fields dried out. Producers were spraying for weeds. Cotton planting and wheat harvesting was nearly completed, though some wheat fields had to be abandoned due to poor quality and weeds. All row crops were off to a fine start due to good moisture conditions. Producers were cutting and baling hay, with the first-cutting yields above average with good quality. Grain and forage sorghum, and corn were in excellent condition. Rangeland and pastures were also in great shape. Livestock remained in good to excellent condition. Horn flies required some control in most herds. Stock-water tanks and ponds were in good condition. Cattle prices remained very good. Peaches were ready to harvest. Pecans were progressing well, with a heavy nut crop in some areas and light in others.
http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/article_96063.shtml?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+June+24%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email
CCC Announces Prevailing World Market Prices 
WASHINGTON, DC --The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporationtoday announced the following prevailing world market prices of milled and rough rice, adjusted for U.S. milling yields and location, and the resulting marketing loan gain (MLG) and loan deficiency payment (LDP) rates applicable to the 2014 crop, which will become effective today at 7:00 a.m., Eastern Time (ET). Rough rice prices decreased $0.22 per cwt for long grain and $0.23 per cwt for medium/short grain.

World Price
MLG/LDP Rate

Milled Value ($/cwt)
Rough ($/cwt)
Rough ($/cwt)
Long Grain
14.59
9.45  
0.00
Medium/Short Grain
14.21
9.57  
0.00
Brokens
  8.80 
----
----

This week's prevailing world market prices and MLG/LDP rates are based on the following U.S. milling yields and the corresponding loan rates:

U.S. Milling Yields
Whole/Broken
(lbs/cwt)
Loan Rate
($/cwt)
Long Grain
57.21/12.55
6.64
Medium/Short Grain
61.89/8.83
6.51

The next program announcement is scheduled for
 July 1, 2015.

UCCE Rice Production Workshop, July 24, Yuba City


Main Agriculture  UCCE Rice Production Workshop, July 24, Yuba City
06.22 / 16:58 westernfarmpress.com

Location The Refuge Restaurant 1501 Butte House Rd. Yuba City, CA United States 39° 8' 54.3048" N, 121° 38' 31.6032" W See map: Google Maps The UCCE Rice Production Workshop covering the principles and practices of rice production will be held July 24 in Yuba City, C…
Description: http://tpl.myinforms.com/tpl/mi/images/staricon.png 
The UCCE Rice Production Workshop covering the principles and practices of rice production will be held July 24 in Yuba City, Calif.
The workshop location is The Refuge Restaurant, 1501 Butte House Rd.
Agenda:
8:30 - Sign in, pick-up class material
9:00 - Introduction, workshop overview
9:10 - Rice growth and development
9:30 - Land formation, water management
9:50 - Tillage, planting, stand establishment
10:10 – Break
10:30 - Variety selection
11:00 – Invertebrates
11:30 – Diseases
12:00 – Lunch
1:00 – Fertility
2:00 - Weeds
3:00 – Adjourn
A $100 prepaid enrollment is required…
Rice Production Workshop
Date: July 24, 2015
Time: 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Contact: Luis Espino • laespino@ucanr.edu
Sponsor: ANR, UC Cooperative Extension, UC Davis

Event Details

UCCE Rice Production Workshop

An in-depth workshop that covers the principles and practices of rice production 

Friday, July 24, 2015 • 8:30 AM — 3 PM
The Refuge Restaurant
1501 Butte House Road
Yuba City, CA 95993 
Program:
  8:30 ••• Sign in, pick up class materials
  9:00 ••• Introduction and Workshop Overview
  9:10 ••• Rice Growth and Development
  9:30 ••• Land Formation, Water Management
  9:50 ••• Tillage, Planting and Stand Establishment
10:10 ••• Break 
10:30 ••• Variety Selection
11:00 ••• Invertebrates
11:30 ••• Diseases
12:00 ••• Lunch
  1:00 ••• Fertility
  2:00 ••• Weeds
  3:00 ••• Adjourn 
Enroll/Register on-line at http://ucanr.edu/2015riceworkshop. Prepaid enrollment ($100) is required, and enrollment is limited to 75 people. Please enroll by July 21st to ensure your participation. 
Seats will be filled on a first-come basis.
DPR and CCA continuing education credits requested. 
For more information, contact Cass Mutters (530-538-7201), Luis Espino (530-458-0578), or Michelle Leinfelder-Miles (209-953-6120), Farm Advisors, UC Cooperative Extension.

The Refuge
1501 Butte House Road
Yuba City, CA

http://agric.ucdavis.edu/?calitem=292444&g=75579

Ramadan boosts Britain's big supermarkets with £100million sales uplift as Muslims prepare lavish sundown meals 

 

Britain’s biggest supermarkets have been boosted with a £100million sales uplift thanks to Ramadan.Three million Muslims in the UK will break their fast with lavish sundown meals during the Islamic holy month, which began last Thursday and ends with the Eid celebration on July 18 this year.And this is welcomed by supermarkets, with retail consultants saying the religious festival is now the third most important to stores behind Christmas and Easter - with meat, rice and fruit the big sellers.
Description: Specials: Tesco runs Ramadan promotions in more than 300 stores in Britain, and said demand for key products including chapati flour, oil and dates rises by 70 per cent
+
Specials: Tesco runs Ramadan promotions in more than 300 stores in Britain, and said demand for key products including chapati flour, oil and dates rises by 70 per cent
Morrisons is expected to sell more than two million tons of rice, Sainsbury’s says rice sales are up at least 100 per cent year on year, while Tesco believes sales will jump by £30million during the month.Sainsbury’s world foods expert Hennah Baseer told MailOnline today: ‘Ramadan is becoming an increasingly important calendar date for us. ‘This year we've already seen an increase in customers buying Asian products from our stores. Sales are up on key ingredients that are used to cook meals during Ramadan.‘We have a promotional event for Ramadan taking place in 270 stores until July 21 - geographically specific to stores that have a higher proportion of customers that take part in Ramadan.’Meanwhile, Tesco runs Ramadan promotions in more than 300 stores in Britain, and said demand for key products including chapati flour, oil and dates rises by 70 per cent.
Description: Evening eating: Three million Muslims in the UK will break their fast with lavish sundown meals during the Islamic holy month, which began last Thursday and ends with the Eid celebration on July 18 (file picture)
+2Evening eating: Three million Muslims in the UK will break their fast with lavish sundown meals during the Islamic holy month, which began last Thursday and ends with the Eid celebration on July 18 (file picture)

A spokesman said: 'Ramadan is an important time in the calendar for many of our customers and colleagues and sees friends and families gathering together around the dinner table.'Food plays a hugely significant role during this month, which is why we are proud to offer a delicious range of meals and products to meet the needs of our customers.’Morrisons shifts 80,000 boxes of dates during Ramadan, while it also experiences a 40,000 per cent sales uplift on its 10kg Amira rice, which is sold at half price for the month.George Scott, of retail consultancy Conlumino, told The Times: ‘In terms of religious festivals, Ramadan is second now to Christmas and Easter in its importance to food retailers.‘It's very lucrative. It's a growing market because the country is becoming more diverse - and if the supermarkets want to win customers, they have to cater to every taste.’Ramadan - during which eating and drinking is forbidden from sunrise to sunset - is observed as a period of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Koran to the Prophet Mohammed.

A time of reflection and fasting: what is Ramadan?
Description: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/06/12/01/video-undefined-298D6A5800000578-871_636x358.jpg
The NHS warns that feasting during the pre-dawn and dusk meals can actually be unhealthy and cause Muslims to gain weight. It recommends food intake to be simple, and similar to a normal diet.Ramadan is becoming an increasingly important calendar date for us

Oxford-based anaesthetist Dr Razeen Mahroof said: ‘The underlying message behind Ramadan is self-discipline and self-control. This shouldn’t fall apart at the end of the day.’This Ramadan is expected to bring the most challenging fast in decades because the holy month is coinciding with the Summer Solstice in the northern hemisphere for the first time in more than 30 years.The longer days mean the fasting period last Thursday stretched to almost 19 hours in Britain, compared to the Middle East where it lasted between 15 and 16 hours.

 

 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3135796/Ramadan-boosts-Britain-s-big-supermarkets-100million-sales-uplift-Muslims-prepare-lavish-sundown-meals.html#ixzz3e3wx9MYs 


Surplus stock: Rice body seeks export subsidy

Published: June 24, 2015
Description: 3m
tons of rice is annually
consumed in the country and
the remaining quantity is
exported. STOCK IMAGE
3m tons of rice is annually consumed in the country and the remaining quantity is exported. STOCK IMAGE

ISLAMABAD: Attempting to alleviate the dire conditions of farmers, the Rice Exporters Association has sought a special package from the government that aims to provide subsidy on exports. In addition, the association suggested that the surplus stock be procured by Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Services Corporation Limited (Passco)

In a bid to negotiate these terms, a high level meeting was held in the Ministry of National Food Security and Research on Tuesday where rice related issues being faced by growers and exporters were discussed.A senior officer, who was part of the meeting, told The Express Tribunethat three key demands were put forward by the rice exporters: subsidy on the export of rice, procurement of the surplus stock by Passco and waiving off of withholding tax on loans taken by rice growers and exporters. Exporters justified the demand for subsidy by citing the grant offered to wheat farmers.
Description: http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/3m.jpg
It was also learnt that federal minister Sikander Hayat Khan Bosan and other senior officers have scheduled a meeting with the prime minister to discuss these issues further.The rice exporters have expressed concern over the surplus stock that is proving difficult to export. In light of this, the association has requested a special package to alleviate this issue.Rice recorded its highest ever production at 7.003 million tons during 2014-15 and it has increased by 3% as compared to last year due to increased area sown under rice, besides timely availability of irrigation water and more acreage under high yielding hybrid rice varieties.

About 3 million tons of rice is annually consumed in the country and the remaining quantity is exported. Rice export for the last few years has remained over $2 billion; however, during the current year 2014-15, rice exports earned foreign exchange of $1.5 billion and this is primarily due to significant decline in price of rice and other food commodities in the world market.Currently, rice prices in the domestic market are ranging from Rs2,000 to Rs2,200 per 40 kg for coarse types while for basmati the prices are ranging from Rs2,700 to Rs3,000 per 40 kg. Whereas as in the international market, the price is Rs39.2 per kg, while Basmati super kernel is Rs92.82 per kg.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th,  2015.

SunRice posts 47pc profit lift

ANDREW MARSHALL
24 Jun, 2015 12:15 PM
Description: Print RICE marketer and processor SunRice will pay its B-Class shareholders a record 31 cents a share dividend after posting a big 47 per cent jump in net profit after tax to almost $50m and an 8pc lift in group revenue to $1.25 billion for the year to April 30. The announcement follows the Description: SunRice's Rob Gordon.company's 34.4pc increase in full-year medium grain paddy price payment total to $394.62 a tonne for the 2014 harvest year, and $524.62/t for Koshihikari rice.Chief executive officer Rob Gordon regarded the farmer-owned company's full-year financial performance as an outstanding result, driven largely by the success of its focus on premium branded markets and building capacity and capability at its sites."Since introducing the growth strategy in 2011-12, results have exceeded expectations," he said.
"We have grown consolidated revenue by $250m or 25pc with a strong compound annual growth rate of 7.6pc; lifted net profit after tax by $26.5m or 117pc, and increased the full year paddy price for medium grain (Reiziq) by 43.5pc from $275 per tonne to $394.62/t."The strong final calendar 2014 paddy price represented more than $330m in payments to growers. This year's 35pc dividend increase included a special payment of 5c made in January.Chairman Laurie Arthur said it represented a dividend payout ratio of 40pc and a dividend yield of 6.7pc.
"This demonstrates SunRice's ability to generate the best possible returns for both our growers and shareholders," he said."In our rice pool business, performance was driven by impressive sales and profit growth across international markets, combined with improved milling yields for the C14 crop and strong global pricing."The record dividend reflects the strength of our non-rice pool businesses."Mr Gordon said SunRice had strengthened its global position in 2014-15, implementing a strategy to grow branded sales in key international markets.The move from production-led to market-driven sales was underpinned by consumer-insights research, improved business capabilities and a new centres of excellence in new product development and marketing.

http://adf.farmonline.com.au/news/nationalrural/agribusiness/general-news/sunrice-posts-47pc-profit-lift/2735921.aspx

Govt seeks solutions to torrid drought


Erich Parpart
The Nation June 25, 2015 1:00 am
500 groundwater wells to counter water crisis
A SERIES of measures will be adopted to ensure that the country has enough water resources at least until April next year, including a provision for 500 groundwater wells in drought-hit provinces.Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday chaired a meeting of economic ministers that also approved four urgent measures to cope with the drought.These measures include a further delay in the rice crop to July or August, a switch to crops that consume less water, a switch to multiple crops and a debt payment suspension for farmers in affected areas.By the middle of July, 500 additional groundwater wells are expected to be operational in drought-hit provinces, while the Irrigation Department will lessen the release of fresh water for farmland by five million cubic metres per day to save inventory.About 3.44 million rai of farmland in the central and other regions would be affected, but there would be some relief from groundwater supply.
The focus is on rice farmers in 22 provinces near the Chao Phraya River basin.For example, an area of around 850,000 rai that has already started off-season farming is expected to have a shortage of water due to the El Nino phenomenon following a lack of rainfall in the central region.A budget of Bt84 million is earmarked for the groundwater project covering equipment and manpower, including the 2,000 local farmers asked to delay their off-season farming to the beginning of July, along with the procurements of 80 water pumps and 60 well-drilling machines."What we have to do first is to save the rice and the farmers. We cannot let them die," said Prayut, adding that the money for the 500 wells would be allocated from the 2016 fiscal budget.
The government earlier urged rice farmers to delay their off-season farming to the beginning of July instead of June because of the shortage of water.Overall, there is around 7.45 million rai of rice farmland near the Chao Phraya River basin, of which around 3.44 million started farming at the beginning of June - but the amount of water left in major irrigation dams is not enough to support them all.The remaining 3.45 million rai will have to wait until the rainwater comes.Around 850,000 rai is expected to face a shortage of water because it is an area higher than sea level when compared to areas next to the river or other areas closer to the dams in the central region.
The artesian wells will be built near areas where water is still expected to be in short supply and they could service only around 100,000-130,000 rai.As a result, farmers in the areas will be encouraged to grow other crops that require less water, such as corn and green peas.Petipong Pungbun Na Ayudhya, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, said the corn could be sold to feed domesticated animals. The green-peas could be sold to retail and export operators who claim there is currently a demand for around 100,000 tonnes of green peas. The ministry has a supply of seeds that farmers could purchase."The crop switch programme is expected to be finalised in two weeks when the rain is expected to fall. The farmers will then know what to do this season," he said.
Interior Minister General Anupong Paojinda has reassured that the water shortage will not affect supplies for consumption and other purposes.The Thai Meteorological Department expects the shortage of rain to gradually recover from around a deficit of 18-20 per cent in July, to 10 and 8 per cent in August and September respectively - before returning to the normal rainfall average in October.

Special package to be sought for paddy growers in rain-fed areas

P.M. Veerendra
Prakash Kammaradi, chairman of the Karnataka Agriculture Price Commission, speaking at a workshop in Shivamogga on Tuesday.— Photo: VAIDYA

‘Support price announced for crop less than cultivation cost’

Description: Prakash Kammaradi, chairman of the Karnataka Agriculture Price Commission, speaking at a workshop in Shivamogga on Tuesday.— Photo: VAIDYAThe Karnataka Agriculture Price Commission will urge the State government to announce a special package for the benefit of farmers engaged in cultivation of paddy in rain-fed areas, said chairman Prakash Kammaradi.The cultivation of paddy in rain-fed areas, including Malnad, is no more a lucrative venture, and as a result many farmers are switching over to commercial crops like ginger and maize, he said at a workshop on cultivation of paddy held at the University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences (UAHS), Shivamogga, here on Tuesday.The minimum support price of Rs. 1,360 for a quintal of paddy announced by the government was much less than the actual cultivation cost incurred by the farmers, he added.
Along with posing a threat to food security, the trend to switch over to cultivation of commercial crops has also resulted in shortage of fodder for cattle. In Kerala, the government has announced a special package for cultivation of paddy in rain-fed areas. It includes providing inputs for farmers for subsidised price and extending financial assistance for farm mechanisation. A similar package should be announced in Karnataka, he said.The native varieties of paddy cultivated in rain-fed areas in Malnad including sanna valya, mattaga, hegga, and gandhasale are known for their special aroma and taste.
The rice from such varieties is also rich in fibre and nutrient qualities. It was possible to undertake sustainable cultivation of paddy in Malnad region under natural farming method, he suiggested. The commission would request the government to explore the possibilities of payment of wage for labourers who work in paddy fields in rain-fed areas with funds available under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, he said.C. Vasudevappa, Vice Chancellor of UAHS, Shivamogga; K.T. Gangadhar, working president of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha; and H.C. Basavarajappa, general secretary of the KRRS were present.
The cultivation of paddy in rain-fed areas is no more a lucrative venture, and many farmers are switching over to commercial crops.
Prakash Kammaradi
Chairman, Karnataka Agriculture Price Commission
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/special-package-to-be-sought-for-paddy-growers-in-rainfed-areas/article7348895.ece

Monsoon poised to cover whole country in 2 days

VINSON KURIAN
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JUNE 24:  
The monsoon is expected to cover the entire country in the next two days, an India Meteorological Department update said on Wednesday evening.This is more than two weeks ahead of the timeline of July 15 when it normally completes its run over the Indian landmass and advances beyond the international border in the North-West.
Frenzied run

The rains covered Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, east Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, entire Jammu and Kashmir, most of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and parts of Punjab and east Rajasthan in a frenzied run overnight.This was facilitated mainly by the deep depression that crossed the south Gujarat coast last evening, stood its ground for quite sometime while engaging a western disturbance over north-west India.The deep depression has weakened one round into a depression by the evening and was located over Ahmedabad and neighbourhood. It is still capable of kicking up a lot of rain over north-west India. Heavy to very heavy rainfall has been warned of in the area during the next two days even as the system keeps moving east-northeast, weakens another round before hitting the foothills of the Himalayas.
‘Low’ in East

Meanwhile, the low-pressure area over West Bengal (erstwhile Bay of Bengal depression) persisted on Wednesday.Model predictions suggest that it may flare up as the Arabian Sea-born system loses strength in the foothills. India Met sees the ‘low ’retracing its track back towards Bihar/Jharkhand and leading another round of rain. Otherwise, the monsoon is forecast to pause for breath after a scorching run over the past two weeks. It may wind down activity drastically during the first week of July.
Most of the peninsula has already started drying up, and there is no forecast yet of any significant weather system taking shape in the neighbouring seas.
Drier westerlies

Comparatively barren westerly winds are forecast to fill north and north-west India after the ongoing wet session ends.Meanwhile, the rain surplus recorded for the country as a whole as on date is 24 per cent – 52 per cent in central India; 32 per cent in south peninsula; 4 per cent in east and north-east India.The only Met subdivision with a shortage of rainfall is north-west India (-5 per cent). Even here, the extent of deficit has come down by a couple of notches from overnight.The position should improve over the next two days given the outlook for heavy to heavy rain at many places.
(This article was published on June 24, 2015)

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/monsoon-poised-to-cover-whole-country-in-2-days/article7350613.ece?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS_Syndication

Union of Small and Medium Enterprises urges Pakistani Pre shipment inspection companies to offer matching services like multinationals
June 22, 2015 at 9:22 AM      
Karachi, June 22, 2015 (PPI-OT):he Union of Small and Medium Enterprises ( UNISAME ) urged the Pakistani pre shipment inspection (PSI ) companies to be prepared to increase their efficiency and level of service to serve the SME sector in lieu of disbandment of Quality Review Committee (QRC ).President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said with the decision to disband the QRC the Pakistani PSI companies will get an opportunity to get the PSI job of the SME rice exporters and it is therefore very necessary that they gear up for prompt and speedy inspection of rice and commodities and equip themselves with modern laboratories to carry out PSI with high level of inspection according to international standards.
Thaver said there are multinational companies carrying out PSI jobs but they are a little expensive and it is therefore very necessary that Pakistani companies offer competitive rates for the job and match their service and standard with the international companies.QRC was entrusted with the task of PSI for basmati rice but became futile due to majority of shipments being of non basmati rice and the exporters have developed their own brands of blended rice. QRC became an impediment and the exporters did not get a free hand to export their own brands of rice prepared according to the buyers requirements.
The majority of rice exported is of 1121, 386 and rice skillfully blended with basmati rice under the brands of the exporters or the buyers. The rice industry is in deep turmoil due to lowered global demand and Iran not buying rice from Pakistan. The prices fell to almost half of last year resulting in huge losses for the growers, millers and the exporters and more than 1000 units have closed down.The exporters have now to look for new markets, the growers need to modernize their farming to reduce cost and the millers need to improve their standards then only we will be able to compete.
For more information, contact:
Tel: +92-21-35884225-6 -Fax: +92-21-35380642

Cell: +92-300-8245307, +92-321-8245307 Email: unisame@gmail.com


Download/View On-Line the above News in pdf format,just click the following link