Wednesday, July 15, 2015

14th July (Tuesday),2015 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

TRADE POLICY CANNOT IGNORE BARTER, CURRENCY SWAP, BORDER, E_COMMERCE & TRANSACTION COST

 Jul 14, 2015 |  Thaver
The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) urged federal commerce minister Engineer Khurram Dastagir to ensure the trade policy is well aligned and comprehensive to include and promote barter trade, currency swaps, border trade and measures to curb increasing transaction cost.President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver invited the attention of the federal minister to the proposals submitted by UNISAME through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and reminded him of the importance of the ministry’s best consideration for the proposals from the majority sector.
Thaver pointed out that the ministry of commerce ( MINCOM) cannot afford to ignore the barter trade in view of the changing global practices and the crisis being faced by the commodities market. Many industries of rice, wheat, maize,spices, food processing and cotton ginning have closed down due to the global commodities crisis. MINCOM also needs to facilitate third country trading whereby Pakistani entrepreneurs could secure orders of goods manufactured by other countries and sell them to their customers in another country. The entrepreneurs need the facility of switching the bill of lading and opening back to back letter of credit. There is no gateway facility for e-Commerce and the opening of merchant account and its maintenance is very high in Pakistan as only very few banks are offering this facility in Pakistan.
Secondly the MINCOM needs to work hard on the currency swap agreements with the neighbouring friendly countries to promote handsome trade.Thirdly the MINCOM needs to facilitate the border trade to puncture the benefits of smuggling.Fourthly the transaction cost has become unaffordable due to the advising, discounting and negotiation charges of banks and documentation charges of shipping companies. Even the courier charges are beyond comprehension.Fifthly the role of the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TDAP) and the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) must be revisited and reinforced on modern lines.
 The TDAP needs to set up the SME export house with complete infrastructure to promote the export of wares of the sector.UNISAME had earlier recommended to MINCOM to make doing business easy and implement the one window operation in letter and spirit. Needless to say the overseas Pakistanis and foreign investors are looking forward to incentives and tax exemptions for innovative and import substitution industries besides agro based industries.Now that the law and order situation has improved and the government is endeavouring to improve the energy supplies with alternate energy especially the solar programme, the investors are inclined to invest in Pakistan to set up industries and effort must be made to facilitate them.
http://www.unisame.org/trade-policy-cannot-ignore-barter-currency-swap-border-e_commerce-transaction-cost/

Fertilizing rice in a very wet year: Part I


Jul 13, 2015Forrest Laws  | Delta Farm Press
Certain years stand out in farmers’ minds because of the events that occurred in the growing season. 1980, 1987 and 2012, for example, will go down as extremely dry years that hammered crops for some and brought higher prices for those fortunate enough to harvest a crop.2015 likely will be remembered for just the opposite – it was the year when it wouldn’t stop raining, according to LSU Ag Center and University of Arkansas researchers who spoke at the LSU Rice Research Station’s annual field day in Crowley, La.
“2015 will be remembered as the year it started raining before we ever got rice in the ground, and it didn’t quit raining until we were well past mid-season,” says Dustin Harrell, Extension rice specialist for Louisiana. “We normally receive 26 inches of rainfall from planting to harvest at this station. This year we got those 26 inches in the first three months of the season.”Dr. Harrell and Dr. Jarrod Hardke, Extension rice specialist with the University of Arkansas, talked about the problems the rain caused for growers trying to fertilize rice in both of their states during a tour stop at the at the field day July 1.As a result, much of the state’s rice acreage stayed wet or muddy. “We had problems in a lot of cases where we couldn’t get the water off the field,” said Harrell. “So all this water really caused a lot of problems with the management decisions we have to make as a producer or consultant.”
The water interfered with stand establishment, resulting in calls to Drs. Harrell and Hardke about whether to replant; it played havoc with herbicide applications because growers couldn’t get ground rigs across the field; and the water and overcast skies led to more disease incidence, including any early episode with blast in Jupiter and CL 151 rice.It also caused problems with nitrogen fertilizer applications. “If you think about what we recommend, we want you to apply nitrogen on dry ground, at least for that first shot,” said Harrell. “That’s why I invited Dr. Hardke to come here to talk about what we can do to modify our nitrogen fertilizer recommendations to accommodate these wet years.”

Fertilizing rice in a very wet year: Part II

Jul 14, 2015Forrest Laws  | Delta Farm Press
LSU Ag Center and University of Arkansas scientists recommend farmers apply nitrogen fertilizer for their rice on a dry soil, just ahead of the establishment of a “permanent” flood on their fields, normally three or four weeks after rice emergence.Research shows putting on the flood helps incorporate the nitrogen into the soil and can help prevent the loss of up to 30 percent of the N through a process called volatilization. Dr. Justin Harrell, Extension rice specialist for Louisiana, talked about the recommendations during a tour stop at the LSU Rice Research Station Field Day.“In Louisiana, if we’re talking about a drill-seeded or a dry broadcast or any type of a delayed-flood rice production system, we’re going to recommend you apply your nitrogen at two application timings,” said Dr. Harrell. “We will recommend you apply your first timing generally before the permanent flood is established when the rice is about 4 leaves to the first tiller stage of development.“We’re going to recommend you apply the second shot at mid-season when the rice is at the green ring stage of development. That’s what we will use to make our determination to call the airplane and make that mid-season application.”
The scientists recommend growers apply two-thirds of the nitrogen at the first pre-flood timing and one-third at the mid-season timing, says Harrell.“The first application is the most important because this is where we have the greatest potential for nitrogen loss,” says Harrell. “We will tell you we want you to make that first application on a dry soil. Then we’re will recommend you get the flood across the field as soon as possible after that application.”
As water moves across the field not only does it move laterally, but it also helps push the nitrogen into the soil, “incorporating” it where the rice plants can make optimum use of the fertilizer as they continue to develop.“We know that if we can incorporate that nitrogen deeper into the soil, once we get anaerobic conditions, it’s going to stabilize that nitrogen,” he says, “and that’s exactly what we want to do.”
If, on the other hand, if the flood is delayed, “We’re going to leave that nitrogen exposed to the environment, and, in that situation, we have a lot of nitrogen loss through a process called ammonia volatilization.”Research has shown that up to 30 percent of the nitrogen applied can be lost if it is not incorporated into the soil as quickly as possible. “That’s up to 30 percent of a farmer’s nitrogen dollars that are gone if the nitrogen is not moved into the soil.”If farmers need more than two or three days to get the flood across their larger fields, LSU soil scientists recommend they treat their urea with a urease inhibitor or a product containing a product called NBPT. The NBPT delays the breakdown of the urea and thus limits nitrogen losses through ammonia volatilization.
http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/fertilizing-rice-very-wet-year-part-ii

Jakarta farmers earn living harvesting rice

Description: City farm:: Sarif, a worker from Indramayu, West Java, works in a rice field in Semanan, West Jakarta, on Monday. The Jakarta administration says that the total area of rice fields in West Jakarta has declined sharply from 250 hectares in 2013 to 141 hectares in 2015 due to the rapid expansion of the property sector. (JP/RBK)The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Headlines | Tue, July 14 2015, 5:05 PM

Darkono, 35, pulled a toy rifle’s trigger to shoo away birds that were making an attempt to land on his paddies in a 4.5-hectare rice field in Semanan, Kalideres, in West Jakarta.“Birds are farmers’ number one enemy in Jakarta. The rice fields are small in the city, but there are lots of birds and they are a big worry,” he said.Darkono is one of the few farmers left in Semanan. The farmers in the area work on somebody else’s land because the land is already owned by either a rich individual or a property developer.“We only need to pay Rp 7 million [US$525] to a middleman after each harvest for the use of the land,” he told The Jakarta Post recently.

He and his father Sukra, 60, who have worked on the land since 2001, manage to bring in two or three harvests a year. They plant what they call IR-Kerbau paddy that matures in about 125 days.“Last May we harvested 24 tons of paddy that were sold for around Rp 4,500 per kilogram. Thus we got around Rp 108 million, from which we put Rp 50 million into our savings,” Darkono said.Rice at the market is priced at between Rp 9,000 to Rp 15,000 per liter, which is less than a kilogram.He explained that the family incurred only Rp 6 million in expenses on each hectare of the farm, expenses that include labor, fertilizer and pesticides. They save much by having their own tractor and hiring cheap workers from Pemalang, Central Java, during every planting and harvest season.

“We use water from the drainage for irrigation, channeling it from underground drains into our rice fields,” he said.The main problem, besides the birds, is the procurement of diesel fuel for their tractor. They have to buy the fuel in bulk to transport it to their farm.“We are not allowed to buy it by the jug so we have to pay to rent a truck,” he said.

Besides earning a living by farming, the family does other jobs. Darkono still goes back to Indramayu because he is a mechanic there. He will just go to Jakarta when his father does not have enough laborers during the planting and harvest seasons.“My sibling, Zulaeha, 27, opens a warteg [sidewalk food stall] and Andriana, 18, works as a laborer in a nearby factory while studying in a university,” the oldest from the three said.The farming idea came to the family in 1995 when they sold their 3,000-square-meter farmland in Indramayu to get business and living capital for the big city. They first moved to Serpong, in Tangerang, before moving to Semanan in 2001.“Farming a small tract of land is not cost effective,” said the tanned man.Darkono’s opinion might prove true. A few hundred meters from their land, behind the Kopti housing complex, is a 16-hectare paddy farm cultivated by Indramayu people.

Sarif, 45, is one of them. He works on a 1.5-hectare plot of land from which he got around six tons of Ciherang paddy in May and earned Rp 22 million from the sales.“However, I have to pay at least Rp 12 million in expenses including for tractor rental so I earn less than Rp 3 million a month,” he told the Post.The municipality’s Maritime Affairs, Agriculture and Food Security Agency head Renova Ida Siahaan said recently that the area of rice fields in West Jakarta had shrunk to 141 hectares this year from 250 hectares in 2013.She noted that the paddy farmland only existed in three subdistricts, namely Semanan, Pegadungan and Kalideres.The decline is inevitable as property developers are using the land to construct new buildings as it is actually already owned by them,” she said as quoted byberitajakarta.com.
 (rbk)

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/07/14/jakarta-farmers-earn-living-harvesting-rice.html#sthash.dQN1jH1M.dpuf



Vietnam posts biggest trade value with China of US$32b

7/14/2015 
Shanghai Daily (Benchmark)
VIETNAM posted US$32 billion in trade value with China in the first half of 2015, posting the largest amount among the country’s trading partners, Vietnam’s General Statistics Office said yesterday.During the six-month period, China remained the biggest supplier of commodities for Vietnam with some US$24.4 billion, up 23.9 percent year on year, the GSO said on its website in the June monthly report.Meanwhile, Vietnam exported some US$7.7 billion worth of products to China in the period, up 3.6 percent year on year, said the GSO.
Vietnam mainly exports farm products to China whileimporting fruits and vegetables, fertilizers, machinery, phones and accessories, steel and materials for the garment and textile industry, among others.In the first half, Vietnam earned US$77.7 billion fromexports to foreign markets, said the GSO, adding that the country spent US$81.5 billion on imports.China remained Vietnam’s largest consumer for its exportsof major agri-forestry-fishery products.

According to a report released by Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the country in the first half earned US$1.32 billion from
 exporting 3.055 million tons of rice, down 10.5 percent in value and 6.2 percent in volume year on year.China remained the largest importer of Vietnamese rice in the six-month period, taking up 36 percent of market. However, during the period, Vietnam’s rice exports to China fell 19.6 percent in volume and 22.6 percent in value year on year, the ministry said.
In the first half, Vietnam exported 422,000 tons of rubber worth US$614 million, up 22.3 percent in volume and down 5.1 percent in value year on year.China, Malaysia and India remained the three largest consumers of Vietnamese rubber, taking up 72.3 percent of the market.
http://www.world-grain.com/news/news%20home/LexisNexisArticle.aspx?articleid=2405465158
Drought-hit farmers urged to shift from rice to other crops
HA NOI (VNS) — The agriculture ministry has called on central and northern provinces hit by the worst drought in 40 years to encourage a major shift from rice cultivation to drought-resistant crops.The ministry's Plant Cultivation Department has asked all localities in these regions to advise farmers and issue policies supporting this shift, according to Tin Tuc (News) newspaper.
Description: http://vietnamnews.vn/thumbnail/450/tan-thang.jpg?url=Storage/Images/2015/7/14/tan-thang.jpg
The field was dry after many weeks of drought in Tan Thang Commune, Ham Tan District of Binh Thuan Province. About 50,000ha of farmland across the country have been rendered barren by the prolonged drought, mostly in the provinces of Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan, Khanh Hoa and Quang Tri. — Photo tuoitre.vn
It said the area that would switch from rice cultivation for the 2014-2015 winter-spring crop and the 2015 summer-autumn crop would account for about 60 per cent of the originally planned 8,527ha.However, the report also expressed some skepticism of the plan, because the prolonged water shortage has made it difficult for localities to grow even drought-tolerant plants.An earlier report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) said that about 50,000ha of farmland across the country have been rendered barren by the prolonged drought, mostly in the provinces of Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan, Khanh Hoa and Quang Tri.
It said localities have taken various measures to cope with the drought including digging ponds, sourcing underground water, and dredging canals to try and provide water for irrigation and daily use. They have also worked with hydropower plants to release water from their reservoirs and asked residents to save water.Furthermore, the ministry has proposed that the Government provides financial assistance to help provinces overcome consequences of the drought. Emergency mitigation measures carried out by the ministry is said to have cost VND57.5 billion (US$2.6 million) so far.The Tin Tuc (News) report quoted Nguyen Xuan Dinh, head of the agriculture department in Quynh Luu District, Nghe An Province, as saying nearly 500ha of 7,500ha of rice fields have been switched to other crops.
The department has asked provincial authorities to provide capital support to compensate for losses suffered by farmers and help them restructure their farming activities. Ho Duc Hai, who lives in Quynh Luu District's An Hoa Commune, said his family had finished transplanting rice seedlings on nearly 1,000sq.m for the summer-autumn crop, but these had wilted and died in the heat."My family had to switch to growing corn on that land," Hai told Tin Tuc."I hope that the government will issue policies to support people in shifting from rice to other crops," he said.In the central province of Ninh Thuan, where reservoirs have almost completely dried up with water below 10 per cent of their design capacity, officials plan to stop planting rice on 10,229ha for the summer-autumn crop.
The province has received some rainfall in recent days, but not enough for farmers to irrigate their rice fields. The province, therefore, plans to grow corn, beans and grass for livestock on the rice fields, said Phan Van Thuu, deputy director of the Ninh Thuan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.Households shifting from rice to other cash crops will receive assistance with seeds as well as application of modern technology in production, he said. — VNS
http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/273025/drought-hit-farmers-urged-to-shift-from-rice-to-other-crops.html

Vietnam loans for H1 rice business up 31.6% from end-2014

Description: Vietnam loans for H1 rice business up 31.6% from end-2014HANOI: Banks in Vietnam extended a total of 37 trillion dong ($1.7 billion) of loans for the purchase, production and export of rice in January-to-June, up 31.6 percent from end-2014, the Vietnam Economic Times newspaper said, citing central bank data.Vietnam is the world’s third-largest rice exporter after India and Thailand.

http://www.customstoday.com.pk/vietnam-loans-for-h1-rice-business-up-31-6-from-end-2014/





RICE INSURANCE SCHEME EXPANDED TO 2M RAI
 July 14, 2015 1:00 am
The Insurance Commission will expand its 2015 target for insurance policies for in-season paddy fields by 500,000 rai to 2 million rai (320,000 hectares) to fulfil rising demand from farmers facing the drought."Sales of insurance policies for in-season paddy fields as of July 8 reached 1.33 million rai or 89.1 per cent of the old target of 1.5 million rai," secretary-general Pravej Ongartsittigul said yesterday.
The decision to increase the area came after discussions with agencies such as the Finance Ministry, the Agriculture Ministry, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, and the Thai General Insurance Association.The policy covers damages incurred from natural disasters as well as pests and epidemics. The insurance policy is available until August 14, except for the South, where it will be available until December 11.
'NO WATER SHORTAGE YET'
The Commerce Ministry insists there is no shortage of drinking water yet, calling on consumers not to panic or hoard water, as the government will closely monitor the situation. Commerce Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya said the Irrigation Department insists the drought affecting much of the company has not resulted in a shortage of water for household use. However, he acknowledged that the prices of some vegetables had increased because of the drought. Other goods, including drinking water, are still available as normal.
He added that the government was preparing for the worst and had water in reserve in case of emergency. He urged consumers to stay confident that water would be supplied in the case of a shortage and noted that rainfall was expected by late this month to relieve the impacts from the drought.Boonyarit Kalayanamit, director-general of the Internal Trade Department, said a survey by the agency found that drinking water was still being traded as normal. He warned that if any traders or consumers were found hoarding or increasing prices unfairly, they could be subject to Bt140,000 fines and/or a maximum of seven years in jail.
Meanwhile, a grocery store in Nonthaburi said many customers had brought more drinking water than usual because of concerns about the drought."Normally, consumers will buy only one [six-bottle] package of water, but now they will buy two to four packages. Suppliers have also delayed delivery as they receive more orders from grocery stores because of high demand," the retailer said.
RELIEF PLAN APPROVED

The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives' board of directors gave a green light to relief measures for farmers hit by drought, including a maximum debt-repayment schedule of 12 months.Finance Minister Sommai Phasee, who is also the BAAC chairman, said other measures included Bt30 billion in short-term loans and Bt10 billion in loans for resuming production after the drought.The long-term loans, totalling Bt10 billion per year for three years, will be extended to farmers who enhance production efficiency or shift to more appropriate crops.About a million troubled farmers are expected to benefit from the relief measures, Sommai said.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/RICE-INSURANCE-SCHEME-EXPANDED-TO-2M-RAI-30264376.html

VIETNAM PRESS-Loans for H1 rice business up 32 pct - Vietnam Economic Times

 

Banks in Vietnam extended a total of 37 trillion dong ($1.7 billion) of loans for the purchase, production and export of rice in January-to-June, up 31.6 percent from end-2014, the Vietnam Economic Times newspaper said, citing central bank data.Vietnam is the world's third-largest rice exporter after India and Thailand.----
NOTE: Reuters has not verified this story and does not vouch for its accuracy. (Compiled by Hanoi Newsroom)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/14/vietnam-press-idUSL4N0ZU16020150714

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-July 14

 
Nagpur, July 14 Gram and tuar prices firmed up again in Nagpur Agriculture Produce
and Marketing Committee (APMC) here on good demand from local millers amid thin arrival from producing belts. Fresh rise on NCDEX, upward trend in Madhya Pradesh pulses and weak monsoon in all over Maharashtra also jacked up prices, according to sources. 
 
               *            *              *              *
 
    FOODGRAINS & PULSES
    GRAM
   * Gram filter new jacked up in open market on increased demand from local traders 
     amid tight supply from local millers.
 
     TUAR
   * Tuar black recovered strongly in open market here on good seasonal demand from local 
     traders amid weak arrival from producing regions.          
 
   * Udid varieties showed firm tendency in open market on good buying support from local 
     traders. Weak monsoon in other regions too also activated stockists.
                                                                                    
   * In Akola, Tuar - 6,900-7,100, Tuar dal - 9,700-9,900, Udid at 9,500-9,900, 
     Udid Mogar (clean) - 11,000-11,400, Moong - 7,000-8,000, Moong Mogar 
    (clean) 9,800-10,100, Gram - 3,900-4,100, Gram Super best bold - 5,500-5,700 
     for 100 kg.
 
   * Wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market 
     in thin trading activity, according to sources.
       
 Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
 
     FOODGRAINS                 Available prices     Previous close   
     Gram Auction                   3,600-4,510         3,600-4,420
     Gram Pink Auction            n.a.           2,100-2,600
     Tuar Auction                6,450-7,330         6,290-7,330
     Moong Auction                n.a.                6,000-6,400
     Udid Auction                n.a.           4,300-4,500
     Masoor Auction                n.a.              2,600-2,800
     Gram Super Best Bold            5,900-6,100        5,900-6,100
     Gram Super Best            n.a.                
     Gram Medium Best            5,700-5,800        5,700-5,800
     Gram Dal Medium            n.a.            n.a.
     Gram Mill Quality            5,250-5,450        5,250-5,450
     Desi gram Raw                4,450-4,550         4,450-4,550
     Gram Filter new            5,900-6,100        5,750-5,950
     Gram Kabuli                5,600-7,100        5,600-7,100
     Gram Pink                6,500-6,700        6,500-6,700
     Tuar Fataka Best             10,600-10,800        10,600-10,800
     Tuar Fataka Medium             10,200-10,400        10,200-10,400
     Tuar Dal Best Phod            9,600-9,800        9,600-9,800
     Tuar Dal Medium phod            9,000-9,400        9,000-9,400
     Tuar Gavarani New             7,500-7,600        7,500-7,600
     Tuar Karnataka             8,000-8,200        8,000-8,200
     Tuar Black                 11,000-11,300           10,900-11,200 
     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               9,600-10,000        9,600-10,000
     Moong Mogar Medium best        8,800-9,200        8,800-9,200
     Moong dal Chilka            8,200-8,600        8,200-8,600
     Moong Mill quality            n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Chamki best            9,700-10,000        9,700-10,000
     Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG)    11,400-11,800       11,300-11,800
     Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)    10,600-10,900        10,500-10,900
     Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)        9,200-9,600        9,100-9,600
     Batri dal (100 INR/KG)        4,400-4,800        4,400-4,800
     Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)           3,300-3,400         3,300-3,400
     Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)        3,100-3,350        3,100-3,350
     Watana White (100 INR/KG)        3,100-3,200         3,100-3,200
     Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)    3,700-4,500        3,700-4,500
     Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)        1,400-1,500        1,400-1,500
     Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG)    1,600-1,700        1,600-1,700
     Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)        1,300-1,500           1,300-1,500
     Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)    2,200-2,400        2,200-2,400
     Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)    1,800-2,100        1,800-2,100
     Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)    n.a.            n.a.
     MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)    3,200-3,600        3,200-3,600
     MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)    2,500-2,850        2,500-2,850        
     Rice BPT New(100 INR/KG)        2,750-2,900        2,750-2,900
     Rice BPT (100 INR/KG)               3,050-3,300        3,050-3,300
     Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG)        1,600-1,750        1,600-1,750
     Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG)      2,200-2,450        2,200-2,450
     Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG)      2,500-2,700        2,500-2,700
     Rice HMT new(100 INR/KG)        3,100-3,600        3,100-3,600
     Rice HMT (100 INR/KG)               3,800-4,200        3,800-4,200
     Rice HMT Shriram New(100 INR/KG)    4,200-4,500        4,200-4,500
     Rice HMT Shriram old (100 INR/KG)    4,500-5,100        4,500-5,100     
     Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)    8,000-10,000        8,000-10,000
     Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)    7,000-7,500        7,000-7,500
     Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG)    4,500-4,800        4,500-4,800
     Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG)        5,100-5,500        5,100-5,500
     Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)        2,100-2,350        2,100-2,350
     Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)        2,400-2,500        2,400-2,500
 
WEATHER (NAGPUR)  
Maximum temp. 35.8 degree Celsius (96.4 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
25.2 degree Celsius (75.4 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : 1.1 mm
FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 37 and 26 degree Celsius respectively.
 
Note: n.a.--not available
 
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)
http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/07/14/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL4N0ZU3CP20150714

Venezuela/Guyana deal not in jeopardy -Says Agriculture Minister

Written by  Gina Webmasters
 Description: Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder meeting with members of the Guyana Rice Millers and Exporters Marketing Association
The Guyana/Venezuela rice agreement under the PetroCaribe deal is not in jeopardy, and there is no question of Venezuela putting a halt on rice shipments before this year’s supply contract comes to an end in November, Agriculture Minister Hon. Noel Holder told members of the Guyana Millers and Exporters Marketing Association today.The delegation, which was headed by Chairman of the Guyana Millers and Exporters Marketing Association, Dr. Peter De Groot, sought an update from the Minister, as to whether the Guyana/Venezuela rice deal was in jeopardy.  
The Minister explained that Guyana had varied from its schedule of shipments by increasing the rate of rice shipments. This has caused problems at the receiving end in Venezuela and Guyana has been asked to revert to the agreed schedule. The total quantity under the existing contract will be accepted until the contract comes to an end in November.   The Venezuelan Authorities have indicated to Guyana that they are prepared to discuss continued shipments of rice and other commodities as part of a revised agreement for 2016.  

A high level team, inclusive of representatives from the Guyana Millers and Exporters Marketing Association is expected to visit the Spanish speaking country shortly, to discuss the way forward for the supply of commodities in exchange for oil under the PetroCaribe agreement.“Venezuela has assured us that rice shipments from Guyana have not been stopped. However, the rate of supply has to be adjusted in keeping with the agreed schedule,” Minister Holder said.Chairman of the Guyana Millers and Exporters Marketing Association, Dr. Peter De Groot, welcomed the announcement, alluding to the fact that the Association will be working collaboratively with the Guyana Government and Venezuela, to ensure that all avenues are looked at and that the present misconception is cleared.The meeting was also attended by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Mr. George Jervis.
http://www.gina.gov.gy/home/index.php/home/all-news/item/2871-venezuela-guyana-deal-not-in-jeopardy-says-agriculture-minister
Image: Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder meeting with members of the Guyana Rice Millers and Exporters Marketing Association
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/621696/rice-insurance-selling-like-hot-cakes-as-drought-hurts
USA Rice Producers' Group, USA Rice Council Elect Officers      
Gerard and Owen
Gerard (l) and Owen
DALLAS, TX - Two USA Rice member organizations elected officers during annual business meetings here last week.  Blake Gerard, a rice farmer from Cape Girardeau, MO, is the incoming chairman for the USA Rice Producers' Group, the national association representing U.S. rice farmers.  Joe Mencer, a rice farmer from Lake Village, AR, was elected vice chairman.  Both will serve a two-year term starting August 1.  On behalf of the association's members, Gerard thanked Louisiana rice farmer John Owen, who has chaired the organization since 2013, for his dedicated service and leadership.

Zaunbrecher and Doherty
Zaunbrecher (l) and Doherty

The USA Rice Council also elected officers for the 2015-2017 term.  Rice farmer Sean Doherty from Dunnigan, CA, was elected chairman, along with four farmers who will serve as vice chairs:  Byron Holmes, Forrest City, AR; Josh Sheppard, Biggs, CA; Eric Unkel, Kinder, LA; and Curtis Berry, Robinsonville, MS.  Carl Brothers with Riceland Foods, Stuttgart, AR, was elected secretary, and James Warshaw with Farmers Rice Milling Company, Lake Charles, LA, was elected treasurer.  Chairman-elect Doherty expressed the Council's appreciation to Fred Zaunbrecher, a Louisiana rice farmer, for his outstanding service as chairman the past two years.
"The hard work of John Owen and Fred Zaunbrecher in their respective organizations has benefited rice farmers in all states and our entire industry," said USA Rice Chairman Dow Brantley, an Arkansas rice farmer.  "I want to add my appreciation for their exceptional leadership and commitment and I look forward to working with their successors, who also will be great assets to their organizations and USA Rice as a whole."

Contact: Trish Alderson (703) 236-1472
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures   
CME Group (Prelim):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for July 14
Month
Price
Net Change

July 2015
$10.905
+ $0.200
September 2015
$11.080
+ $0.145
November 2015
$11.345
+ $0.135
January 2016
$11.615
+ $0.140
March 2016
$11.775
+ $0.140
May 2016
$11.955
+ $0.140
July 2016
$11.955
+ $0.140

APEDA India News
International Benchmark Price
Price on: 13-07-2015
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
Sultanas
1
Australian 5 Crown, CIF UK (USD/t)
2989
2
South African Orange River, CIF UK (USD/t)
2620
3
Turkish No 9 standard, FOB Izmir (USD/t)
2250
White Sugar
1
CZCE White Sugar Futures (USD/t)
825 
2
Kenya Mumias white sugar, EXW (USD/t)
690
3
Pakistani refined sugar, EXW Akbari Mandi (USD/t)
623
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 13-07-2015
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Rice
1
Jhagadiya (Gujarat)
Other
1930
3100
2
Bonai (Orissa)
Other
2200
2400
3
Cachar (Assam)
Other
2000
2500
Wheat
1
Amirgadh (Gujarat)
Other
1325
1605
2
Dhekiajuli (Assam)
Other
1500
1600
3
Bonai (Orissa)
Other
1450
1600
Pine Apple
1
Harippad (Kerala)
Other
2000
2500
2
Ropar (Punjab)
Other
2000
2500
3
Shillong (Meghalaya)
Other
2000
2200
Carrot
1
Nilagiri (Gujarat)
Other
1700
1900
2
Solan (Himachal Pradesh)
Other
1500
2000
3
Manjeri (Kerala)
Other
3200
3400
Source:agra-net
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 13-07-2015
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Ahmedabad
326
2
Chittoor
323
3
Nagapur
293
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 10-07-2015
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Onions Dry
Package: 50 lb sacks
1
Atlanta
Mexico
Yellow
23
24
2
Baltimore
California
Yellow
26
26
3
Detroit
Texas
Yellow
21
22
Cauliflower
Package: cartons film wrapped
1
Atlanta
California
White
19
19.75
2
Baltimore
Mexico
White
15
15
3
Detroit
Michigan
White
13
15
Grapes
Package:  18 lb containers bagged
1
Atlanta
Mexico
Red Globe
23.50
24.75
2
Baltimore
Mexico 
Red Globe
22
24
3
Miami
Mexico
Red Globe
26
27
Source:USDA


Hog heaven: Wild pigs pose problems for La. farmers

KEN STICKNEY, kstickney@theadvertiser.com3:42 p.m. CDT July 13, 2015
Description: Farmlanddamageferalhogs
An LSU AgCenter economist estimates that feral hogs caused more than $30 million in damages to crops on Louisiana farms in 2013, a problem that may increase around the state as the hog population grows.Shaun Tanger of the AgCenter said much of the trouble has been localized, but with a mobile feral hog population of at least 500,000 in Louisiana, hogs can cause damage in most parts of the state. Worse, the hogs are capable of rapid breeding — females can bear up to two litters a year of four to eight — which makes it difficult to control the population.Farmers told the AgCenter wild hogs root up crops and eat them, damage farm equipment and spread disease. Soybean farmers — they reported $9 million in damages — were most beset with feral hog woes. But the animals also laid heavy waste to hay fields, $7 million; rice, $5 million; and corn, $5 million.
Tanger said sugarcane farmers reported about $500,000 in damages in 2013.Although farmers in Lafayette and surrounding parishes did not report heavy damages from wild hogs, they are present across parts of Acadiana.Steven Linscombe, director of the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Center in Crowley, said he has found evidence of feral hogs in a northern section of the property, near woodlands and a bayou, and has trapped juvenile hogs.“It’s not widespread,” Linscombe said. “But if you get a herd they can destroy two or three acres of rice.” Total that up around the state, he said, and $5 million in rice damage sounds reasonable.Glen Gentry at the LSU AgCenter in Clinton said the Spanish introduced hogs to North America. Hogs escaped captivity and now move in what are called “sounders,” typically two female hogs and their piglets. Boars, he said, are more solitary. Females grow to 180-215 pounds, but boars can grow to 300 to 500 pounds.
He said hogs are nomadic. They’ll move to find new food sources and generally travel along waterways.They are not usually aggressive toward humans unless they are cornered. When cornered, Gentry said, “They are not fearful.”He also said they are savvy, intelligent animals. “They learn pretty quick,” he said, and if they can escape or elude capture, they can become more difficult to recapture.He said the wild hog population cannot be easily controlled or managed. In Louisiana, hot spots for wild hogs are in the northeastern and south central part of the state. Because of their rapid breeding, the state needs to capture, kill or trap 70 percent of the population to hold their numbers even.Gentry said the state encourages hunting wild hogs, which are edible if cooked thoroughly.
http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/local/2015/07/13/hog-heaven-wild-pigs-pose-problems-la-farmers/30101371/

Global and China agricultural machinery industry fact, research analysis and forecast for 2014 to 2016 shared in new research report
WhaTech Channel: Agriculture Market Research Reports
Published on Tuesday, 14 July 2015 00:37
Since the implementation of policy of subsidies for purchasing agricultural machinery in 2004, China agricultural machinery industry has maintained double-digit growth, even with the operating revenue growth rate of 33.8% in 2011. However, China agricultural machinery industry transferred to a new situation (“New Normal”) in 2014 as the in-depth adjustment of industrial structure accelerated.
Global and China Agricultural Machinery Industry Report, 2014-2016 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. In 2014, the operating revenue only went up by 8.8% year on year, and the growth rate fell by 7.5 percentage points from 2013.

After years of rapid growth, China’s tractor, wheat& rice harvester, transplanter and other markets declined to varied extent in 2014, in which the tractor market slumped most evidently, especially small tractors.
Although China agricultural machinery industry witnesses landslide, the total subsidies and agricultural mechanization level continue to rise. In 2014, the subsidies amounted to RMB23.755 billion, setting a new record high; the total power of agricultural machinery reached 1.076 billion kilowatts, representing a year-on-year increase of 3.6%; the agricultural mechanization level hit 61.0%, fulfilling the goal of "Twelfth Five-year" Plan in advance.
At the same time, the mechanization level of three major crops (wheat, corn and rice) has improved significantly, especially corn and rice. The mechanization rate of corn harvesting jumped from 10.6% in 2008 to 55% in 2014; and that of rice harvesting soared from 51.2% to 81.0%.In contrast, the mechanization of potato, cotton, rapeseed, peanut and other crops still stays at a low level, which will be the development focus of the industry in future.
In addition, national industrial policies, market potentials and other factors have propelled almost all of well-known foreign agricultural machinery enterprises and powerful Chinese machinery and equipment manufacturers to successively access into the Chinese agricultural machinery market.
John Deere: This leading agricultural machinery manufacturer in the world achieved the sales of USD32.96 billion in FY2014, of which USD27.12 billion came from agricultural machinery. Currently, it has set up plants in Tianjin, Harbin, Ningbo, Jiamusi and other places of China as well as established joint ventures with Tianjin Tractor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.and XCG to produce 20-to-120 horsepower tractors and 75-to-203 horsepower combine harvesters.
CNH: As of June 2015, it has established eight companies in China, including four manufacturing plants located in Harbin, Shanghai, Foshan and Urumqi. Harbin Base was officially put into operation in July 2014 as Northeast China's largest manufacturing base of agricultural machinery.YTO Group: The business of the largest tractor producer in China is mainly conducted by its listed subsidiary -- First Tractor Company Limited. Impacted by the fast-declining domestic tractor market, the tractor sales volume of YTO fell by 22.6% year on year to 82,037 in 2014; the annual revenue from agricultural machinery dropped 18.7% year on year to RMB7.38 billion.
FotonLovol: In 2014, FotonLovol gained the revenue of RMB21.98 billion, wherein Lovol agricultural equipment revenue exceeded RMB10 billion. In 2015, the company develops medium and high-end agricultural machinery aggressively.
In January, it acquired Matt Mark which is an European high-end agricultural machinery enterprise; in March, the phase I of its high-end agricultural machinery (mainly balers, grain dryers and the like) project with the total investment of RMB2 billion was officially put into operation.
Zoomlion Heavy Machinery: Formerly known as Chery Heavy Industry, ZoomlionHeavy Machinery changed its name in October 2014.The parent company Zoomlion holds 67.51% stake. The construction of ZoomlionBozhou Industrial Park commenced in February 2014 and ended in December of the same year, with the planned annual capacity of 1,500 large-scale forage harvesters, 10,000 self-propelled corn harvesters, 6,500 sets of large-sized agricultural machinery and 14,500 sets of key agricultural equipment parts.

http://www.whatech.com/market-research/agriculture/74722-global-and-china-agricultural-machinery-industry-fact-research-analysis-and-forecast-for-2014-to-2016-shared-in-new-research-report

 

Lifting of Iran sanctions: Boon or bane for Indian companies?

  
Description: Iran-N The comprehensive agreement was clinched between Iran and P5+1 - Britain, China, France, Russia and the US plus Germany — after torturous talks in the Austrian capital.The comprehensive agreement was clinched between Iran and P5+1 - Britain, China, France, Russia and the US plus Germany — after torturous talks in the Austrian capital. The deal would specify that the related UN resolutions on economic and financial sanctions against Iran will be terminated all at once under a UN resolution and in an agreed framework, Iranian media reported. 

Trade ministry officials say that the economic boost to Iran from the lifting of sanctions could offer opportunities for Indian pharmaceutical, IT and commodity firms.
 In May, for example, the two countries signed a deal to develop the Iranian port of Chabahar, on the Gulf of Oman, that would open up a new trade route to Central Asia. "We may lose some engineering exports, but new opportunities could come up for products currently covered under sanctions," said an official. Some officials favour extending soft loans to exporters and lobbying for infrastructure deals. 


India can freely buy crude oil from Iran
 

The easing of sanctions would mean India can freely buy crude oil from Iran.
 

Sanctions had meant that New Delhi could import no more than 9 million tonnes of oil this fiscal, the same volume it had shipped from Iran in 2013-15.

Oil prices fall as Iran, global powers reach nuclear deal


India to seek rights for developing Iranian gas field
 

Buoyed by Iran's historic nuclear accord with world powers to end sanctions, India will ask Tehran for rights to develop ONGC-discovered Farzad-B gas field in the Persian Gulf even as it prepares to pay USD 6.5 billion in past oil dues.
 

Indian firms have so far shied away from investing in Iran for the fear of being sanctioned by the US and Europe. The same was deterring New Delhi from claiming rights to invest nearly USD 7 billion in the biggest gas discovery ever made by an Indian firm abroad.
 

But with Iran and six world powers sealing an accord to curb the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme in return for ending sanctions, India is making a renewed pitching for rights to develop 12.8 Trillion cubic feet of gas reserves ONGC Videsh Ltd had found in 2008.
 

"We have been in negotiations with Iran over development of Farzad-B gas field. Now that sanctions will ease, we expect Iran to give us the developmental rights," OVL managing director Narendra K Verma said.
 

Exporters to face renewed competition for Iran market
 

Indian businessman Pankaj Bansal is losing sleep. He says lifting of sanctions against Iran could wipe him out.
 

"I have been forced to take sleeping pills now to avoid nightmares as my business with Iran has drastically come down," said Bansal, 43, from his base in a teeming commercial district of south Delhi.
 

Bansal's trading firm, TMA International, has expanded from metals into motors, auto parts and chemicals as rivals were shut out of Iran by Western sanctions aimed at forcing Tehran into a nuclear compromise.
 

He is one of thousands of exporters who enjoyed a three-year run because India did not back the sanctions. In that time, India's exports to Iran doubled to $5 billion, helping to halve its bilateral trade deficit.
 

Farmers to lose price premium
 

A delegation of Indian exporters met finance minister Arun Jaitley last week to lobby for support to help them cope with a revival of competition for the Iranian market. They came away empty handed.
 

"The lifting of Western sanctions on Iran would have an adverse impact, particularly on non-agricultural commodities," said SC Ralhan, president of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO).
 

Yet millions of farmers too would face a hit from the easing of sanctions on Iran, a buyer of basmati rice, soymeal, sugar, barley and meat. Under sanctions, Iran paid a premium of up to 20 percent over global prices to buy from India.
 

"Iran is shifting to other suppliers like South American countries. They are supplying at much lower prices compared to India. We cannot compete," said BV Mehta, executive director at the Solvent Extractors' Association of India.
 

Europe may gain at India's cost
 

Indian exporters say firms from Germany, Italy and France that once dominated in Iran will be back selling consumer products ranging from clothing to cars, and pitching for big-ticket contracts like the delayed Tehran metro.
 

"Traditionally, Iranians have a liking for European products. With the weakening of the euro, it will not be easy for us to compete," said Rafeeq Ahmed, a Chennai-based exporter who used to head the Indian export federation.
source with thanks: Times of India

Craft sake the latest trend brewing in U.S

Published: July 13, 2015, 2:00 pm  Updated: July 13, 2015, 2:00 pm
In this photo taken, Friday, June 12, 2015, Dan Ford, founder of the Blue Current Brewery, poses with a bottle of sake at the brewery in Kittery, Maine. Steamed rice is inoculated in a sauna-like koji room for two days as part of the six week brewing process to make "rice wine." (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
KITTERY, Maine (AP) — First came boutique wineries. Then microbreweries and craft distilleries. Now Japanese sake aficionados are hoping to transform the so-called “rice wine” into the next artisan alcohol-of-the-moment in the U.S.Dan Ford, whose Maine-made sake is just hitting the market, has bet his retirement savings that consumers will be sold on his premium sake once they give it a try.
Description: In this photo taken, Friday, June 12, 2015, Dan Ford, founder of the Blue Current Brewery, poses with a bottle of sake at the brewery in Kittery, Maine. Steamed rice is inoculated in a sauna-like koji room for two days as part of the six week brewing process to make "rice wine." (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)“We see it as a market that’s untapped,” said Ford, who developed a taste for sake while working in Japan, then later returned there to learn from a sensei, or teacher, before launching Blue Current Brewery, one of about a dozen craft producers operating — or gearing up to — in North America.Sake has been around for centuries in Japan, but consumption has dropped in recent years. Meanwhile, it’s ticking upward in North America, benefiting from the overall popularity of Japanese foods — from ramen and soba to sushi and yakitori — as well as riding the trend of consumers seeking far-flung flavors and artisanal products.Premium ginjo sake is nothing like the rough-tasting stuff sometimes served warm at low-end sushi shops, craft brewers say. Top-notch sake — best served chilled — has a clean flavor profile that can be full-bodied and robust or light and fruity, sometimes with a subtle hint of licorice.
“Its depth and subtlety are tops, but the range of flavors that can come from rice, koji, water and yeast are amazing to many. It just tastes darn good,” said John Gauntner, a sake expert from Ohio who has written books on the beverage and has taught sake production in the U.S. and Japan.Though it’s often called rice wine, sake actually is brewed like beer. The rice is milled to remove the husk, then a type of mold called koji is sprinkled into the steamed rice to break starches down into sugars, a process that takes place in a room where the temperature tops 100 degrees.
The rice and koji are fermented with water and yeast in casks for about 30 days before being pressed, leaving a yellow-hued liquid that looks like huangjiu, the Chinese word for “yellow wine,” Ford says. When it is bottled, it looks like white wine. Unlike wine, though, sake generally is consumed fresh and isn’t aged for long periods.
Those who love the beverage say further success in the U.S. will require educating consumers. They’re also trying to win over those who may have had a bad experience with cheap sake, asking them to give it another try.“My favorite phase is, ‘Wow, I didn’t know sake could be like this.’ I’ve heard that many times, and I have only 110 million to go,’” said Greg Lorenz, head brewer at SakeOne, a brewery that produces about 80,000 cases a year in Forest Grove, Oregon.Restaurateurs, meanwhile, are getting more serious about proper pairings.
“Wine sommeliers are getting a taste and realizing where it can fit. It’ll never overtake the wine world, but people are starting to respect it and realizing that it has its place. It has a great fit in the jigsaw puzzle of beer and wine. There is a lot of room for growth,” said Tim Sullivan, founder of urbansake.com.
As the story goes, sake came to the U.S. when American soldiers stationed in Japan after World War II returned home with a taste for it, prompting Japanese sake makers to open the first U.S. breweries in Hawaii and California. Blake Richardson’s moto-i in Minneapolis is credited with launching the microbrew trend with the first sake brewpub in the U.S. in 2008.Richardson, whose sister company is now milling rice for several sake producers, including Blue Current, believes sake will grow as consumers become educated and feel less intimidated by the Japanese characters on bottles.“We need education to get the terminology correct so they can walk up and say, ‘I’d like a junmai nama genshu,’” he said. That translates to sake made from rice that’s unpasteurized and undiluted.
For Ford, he’s overcome some big hurdles to make it this far.He received help from the University of Maine and used a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to get his rice shipped from Minnesota. Now he has an agreement with a distributor to sell his sake at $25 for 750-milliliter bottles or $15 for 350-milliliter bottles.“It’s going to be slow in the beginning. We hope by this time next year that we’ll be talking crazy growth in our category,” he said

Rice insurance selling like hot cakes as drought hurts

14 Jul 2015 at 06:26
insurance coverage target for rice-growing areas has been raised by 500,000 rai to 2 million for the 2015 harvest year, given strong demand as Thailand faces the worst drought in a decade.The coverage target was increased from 1.5 million rai as farmers cultivating 1.33 million rai of rice paddy bought crop insurance as of July 8, said Pravej Ongartsittigul, secretary-general of the Office of the Insurance Commission.The new target has been approved by the Finance Ministry, the Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives Ministry, the state-owned Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives and the Thai General Insurance Association. The target will soon be put up for cabinet approval.
Rice insurance offers protection from floods, drought, storms, pests and diseases. Besides drought, farmers also face low crop prices and high household debt."Rice farmers are concerned their production will be lower than normal, resulting in insurance policies selling quickly. With increased risks, we expect this trend to continue," Mr Pravej said.Insurance policies will be sold until Aug 14 for most of the country, but until Dec 11 in the South. Policies are sold by seven non-life insurance companies — Bangkok Insurance, Chao Phaya Insurance, Dhipaya Insurance, Navakij Insurance, Thaivivat Insurance, Tune Insurance and Viriyah Insurance.
The top three regions buying rice insurance are the upper Northeast with 569,665 rai, the lower Northeast at 506,553 rai and the lower North at 175,449 rai.       This year's insurance programme divides farmland into five areas depending on risk exposure. Farmers with the lowest risk are required to pay 60 baht a rai while the government contributes 64 baht a rai.In the highest-risk locations, farmers are required to pay 100 baht a rai while the government contributes 383 baht a rai. Insurers will pay 1,111 baht a rai for damaged crops from a natural disaster and 555 baht a rai for damage from pests or diseases.

Millers reject new basmati variety-1509

 Parveen Arora
Tribune News Service
Karnal, July 13

Concerned over the export quality of rice in the international market, the All-Haryana Rice Miller and Dealers Association have rejected the newly introduced Basmati variety-1509. They have also decided not to procure this variety in the upcoming season as it does not fit the export parameters and owing to high breakage.Vinod Goyal, state-vice president of the association, said this decision has been taken due to high breakage of grain. This variety also does not meet the export parameters, which results in high rejection by the buyer of various countries.However, due to its high yield farmers prefer this variety. They even cultivated it last year in huge quantities, but faced a number of challenges during its export, he said.Only a few buyers from Middle East countries prefer this variety in comparison to other varieties such as Pusa-1121, due to which it isn’t feasible, he added.

The millers have decided not to procure this variety and they would approach farmers not to cultivate it as it did not meet the parameters while exporting, said Naresh Bansal, president, Taraori Rice Miller Association.However, sources said the basic reason for the rejection of this variety by the exporters was that they could not mix non-basmati varieties with this variety, which is generally easy with other varieties. This variety of paddy has been introduced recently and is popular among farmers because of its long and thin grain and the high yield.Sewa Singh Arya, state president of Bhartiya Kisan Union, said this variety was profitable for farmers and they have been getting a high yield. They would cultivate it and the rice millers should think about the farmers’ profit, before taking any hasty decision, he added.


http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/millers-reject-new-basmati-variety-1509/106228.html

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

Thursday, July 09, 2015

9th July (Thursday),2015 Daily Exclusive ORYZA Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine


Central Bank's Forex Restriction Policy May Push Up Rice Prices in Nigeria, Say Analysts

Jul 08, 2015
The Central Bank of Nigeria's policy to restrict foreign exchange to rice importers is likely to have negative repercussions on rice prices in the short-run, according to local sources.
They noted that though the Central Bank defended its move saying the denial of foreign exchange to importers would encourage local production, create jobs and reduce pressure on the country's depleting forex reserves, the action would lead to increase in rice prices in the short-run as import substitution is not possible immediately. Moreover, importing rice in this situation may prove costly and the effect is to be borne by the consumers, said an expert.
However, they agreed that the policy would enhance local rice production in the country as well as improve living standards of farmers in the long run. Increased prices would force consumers to seek more locally produced rice, which in turn would encourage farmers to grow more.
They also noted that importers would experience difficulties in adjusting to the policy and a parallel market for dollars may develop forcing importers to pay more for dollars. These actions would lead to a spike in inflation, they said.
Currently, naira is trading at about N230 per dollar in the black market, about 16% above the official trading rate of N197 per dollar.
Nigeria has been a net importer of rice and imports over 50% of its annual rice consumption needs. USDA estimates the country to produce 2.83 million tons of milled rice in the MY 2014-15 (October 2014 - September 2014) and import about 4 million tons. The country's consumption needs during the year are estimated at around 6.4 million tons.
The UN's FAO estimated Nigeria's rice imports to decline by about 3.3% to around 2.9 million tons in 2015.

Thailand, India, Pakistan Rice Sellers Increase Some of Their Quotes Today; Vietnam Rice Quotes Unchanged

Jul 08, 2015
Thailand rice sellers increased their quotes for 5% broken rice and 25% broken rice by about $5 per ton each to around $380-$390 per ton and $355-$365 per ton respectively today. India rice sellers increased their quotes for 100% broken rice and parboiled rice by about $15 per ton and $5 per ton to around $295-$305 per ton and $370-$380 per ton, respectively. Pakistan rice sellers increased their quotes for 25% broken rice by about $5 per ton to around $335-$345 per ton. Vietnam rice sellers kept their quotes mostly unchanged today.                                   
5% Broken Rice
Thailand 5% rice is indicated at around $380 - $390 per ton, up about $5 per ton from yesterday and about $35 per ton premium on Vietnam 5% rice shown at around $345 - $355 per ton. India 5% rice is indicated at around $380 - $390 per ton, about $5 per ton premium on Pakistan 5% rice shown at around $375 - $385 per ton.
25% Broken Rice
Thailand 25% rice is shown at around $355 - $365 per ton, up about $5 per ton from yesterday and about $30 per ton premium on Vietnam 25% rice shown at around $325- $335 per ton. India 25% rice is indicated at around $350 - $360, about $15 per ton premium on Pakistan 25% rice shown at around $335 - $345per ton, up about $5 per ton from yesterday.
Parboiled Rice
Thailand parboiled rice is indicated at around $385 - $395 per ton. India parboiled rice is indicated at around $370- $380 per ton, up about a $5 per ton from yesterday and about a $45 per ton discount to Pakistan parboiled rice shown at around $415 - $425 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 $295 - $305 per ton, up about $15 per ton from yesterday and about $10 per ton premium on Pakistan broken sortexed rice shown at around $285 - $295 per ton.

EU Average Milled Rice Prices Show Slight Movements in May 2015

Jul 08, 2015
Average monthly milled rice prices in all 28 countries of the European Union (EU) showed some slight movements in the beginning of May 2015, according to Community Price Dashboard issued by EU on July 1, 2015.
Average monthly Japonica milled rice varieties increased about 1.2% to around 860 euros (about $946) per ton from previous month, and increased about 57.8% from their year ago levels.
Average monthly Indica milled rice varieties declined about 0.8% to around 635 euros per ton (around $698 per ton) from the previous month, but increased about 32.3% from their year ago levels.
The Community price dashboard provides a monthly summary of commodity price data for the most representative agricultural inputs, agricultural products and consumer food prices, at EU and world level.
Rice data refer to Japonica Italy and Indica Italy, according to DG Agriculture and Rural Development, data based on EU Member States communications.
Global Rice Quotes
July 8th, 2015
Long grain white rice - high quality
Thailand 100% B grade          390-400           ↑
Vietnam 5% broken    345-355           ↔
India 5% broken         380-390           ↔
Pakistan 5% broken    375-385           ↔
Myanmar 5% broken   415-425           ↔
Cambodia 5% broken             425-435           ↔
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 355-365           ↑
Vietnam 25% broken 325-335           ↔
Pakistan 25% broken 335-345           ↑
Cambodia 25% broken           410-420           ↔
India 25% broken       350-360           ↔
U.S. 15% broken         440-450           ↔
Long grain parboiled rice
Thailand parboiled 100% stxd            385-395           ↔
Pakistan parboiled 5% broken stxd    415-425           ↔
India parboiled 5% broken stxd         370-380           ↑
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%          825-835           ↔
Vietnam Jasmine         490-500           ↔
India basmati 2% broken        NQ      ↔
Pakistan basmati 2% broken   NQ      ↔
Cambodia Phka Mails             835-845           ↔
Brokens
Thailand A1 Super      315-325           ↔
Vietnam 100% broken            315-325           ↔
Pakistan 100% broken stxd    285-295           ↔
Cambodia A1 Super   350-360           ↔
India 100% broken stxd         295-305           ↑
Egypt medium grain brokens NQ      ↔
U.S. pet food 350-360           ↔
Brazil half grain          NQ      ↔
All prices USD per ton, FOB vessel, oryza.com

Indigenous Rice Varieties Regaining Popularity in India

Jul 08, 2015
Indian rice farmers, especially in the state of West Bengal, have been preferring planting old, traditional indigenous rice varieties instead of high-yielding rice varieties, which were introduced as part of the green revolution in 1960s and 70s, due to their aromatic taste, low production costs and resilience to climate change, according to local sources.
Farmers have been trying to popularize the traditional/folk varieties before they disappear forever. They say though the yield from the traditional varieties in low, their production cost is also low and they fetch a higher price in the market. Particularly, they require less amount of fertilizer, says Assistant Director of Agriculture in Nadia district.
"More and more consumers are asking for the folk varieties these days as the taste is better. Farmers are also showing lot of interest in these varieties, which they had once forgotten," the Joint Director of Agriculture at the Chinsurah rice research station was quoted.
Farmers in West Bengal's rice growing areas of Burdwan, South and North 24 Parganas, Midnapore, Nadia and Howrah have reportedly given up high-yielding modern rice varieties and are using traditional varieties for the last couple of years. The aromatic rice variety 'Gobindobhog' has become more popular among the farmers.  
The Agriculture Training Center in Nadia district has nearly 300 traditional varieties , of which 51 are aromatic.

Oryza Afternoon Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Add to Recent Gains as Market Breaches $11.000 per cwt Level; Corn and Beans Turn Higher while Wheat Continues to Lag

Jul 08, 2015
Chicago rough rice futures for Sep delivery settled 10.5 cents per cwt (about $2 per ton) higher at $11.000 per cwt (about $243 per ton). The other grains closed mostly higher today; Soybeans closed about 0.3% higher at $9.8825 per bushel; wheat finished about 1.3% lower at $5.7750 per bushel, and corn finished the day about 0.3% higher at $4.2450 per bushel.
Trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange was suspended in late-morning trade on Wednesday. U.S. stocks held lower, plunging more than 1% as continued concerns about Greece and the extended selloff in the Chinese market weighed on investor sentiment. Other exchanges, however, continued trading normally. The NYSE later said that all open orders amid the halt will be cancelled. U.S. officials also said there were no indications of a cyberattack. In China, the Shanghai Composite closed nearly 6 percent lower despite supportive government measures. The index has fallen more than 30% from its mid-June peak amid frequent bouts of extreme volatility.
Analysts say the turbulence is starting to unnerve regional investors. European stocks traded higher on Thursday amid hopes of a Greece deal. However, the indices are more than 2% lower for the week so far. The Greek government has until Friday morning to present detailed reform proposals to allow a bailout deal by a Sunday summit. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras addressed the European Parliament on Wednesday, lambasting Europe's advocacy of austerity and the efficacy of Greece's bailout programs since 2010, but promised a detailed, "concrete" deal would be presented in the next two to three days.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average traded down 187 points, or 1.05%, at 17,589. The S&P 500 traded down 23 points, or 1.11%, at 2,058, with materials leading all 10 sectors lower. The Nasdaq traded down 68 points, or 1.38%, at 4,928. Gold is trading about 0.9% higher, crude oil is seen trading about 1.8% lower, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading at about 0.5% lower at about  1:00pm Chicago time.
Tuesday, there were 1,033 contracts traded, down from 2,154 contracts traded on Monday. Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on Tuesday decreased by 218 contracts to 9,302.

FAO Estimates 2015 Global Milled Rice Trade to Decline Slightly Due to Lower Import Demand

Jul 08, 2015
Description: Description: Description: http://oryza.com/sites/default/files/field/image/150708globalriceproduction.jpg
The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates 2015 global rice trade to decline about 2% to around 42 million tons from around 42.8 million tons in 2014 due to lower demand from most of the rice importing countries reflecting generally good crops this year.
The decline can also be attributed to imposition of new protective measures by some governments, amid concerns of cheap imports undermining local production. In Asia, rice imports are expected to decline in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Timor Leste. Imports in African countries are also expected to fall, depressed by currency depreciations and large carryovers from large imports in 2014. The FAO expects rice imports to increase in Latin America, Europe, North America and Australia.
On the exports side, the FAO estimates supplies from India, Vietnam, Argentina, Australia, Brazil and Uruguay to decline due to stiff competition and uncompetitive prices. On the other hand, it projects exports by Cambodia, China (Mainland), Ecuador, the European Union, Guyana, Myanmar, Pakistan, Paraguay, the Russian Federation and the U.S. to increase. The FAO expects Thailand's exports to remain at last year's level of 10.9 million tons despite production falls as the auctioning of rice from stockpiles is expected to ease the supply tightness.
The FAO estimates 2015-16 global paddy production to increase about 0.9% to around 749.1 million tons (around 499.3 million tons, basis milled) from around 741.8 million tons (around 497 million tons, basis milled). Asia paddy production is estimated at 678 million tons, up about 1.1% from last year. Production increases are expected in Indonesia, China, Iran, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor Leste and Turkey. However, it expects declines in India, Bangladesh, the Chinese Province of Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines and Viet Nam, amid a combination of unfavourable weather and/or unattractive prices. African output is forecast at 28.7 million tons, up about 1% from last year.
Production increases are likely in west African countries and Madagascar. Production declines are anticipated in Egypt and Nigeria. In Latin America and the Caribbean, production is estimated at around 28.4 million tons, up about 2.4% from last year. Production is expected to increase in Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay and Peru, and decline in Central America and the Caribbean. It expects production to decline in the U.S. by 6% due to less attractive prices and a four year-long drought in California. Production is also expected to increase in the EU and the Russian Federation but decline in Australia by 12%.
The UN agency estimates 2015-16 global rice utilization at around 507.2 million tons (basis, milled), up about 6.9 million tons from last year on expectations of a greater use of rice for feed and industrial processing. It expects about 419.6 million tons to be consumed as food, an increase of about 5.8 million tons from last year. It estimates global per-capita food use at around 57.4 kilograms.
The FAO estimates global rice stocks at 169.4 million tons, down about 4.4% from last year due to offloading of inventories in the five major exporting countries. Stock declines are expected in India, Bangladesh, Iran, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam and the U.S.
The world stocks-to-use ratio is forecast at 32.8%, down from last year's 34.9%.

Vietnam Rice Exports Decline Sharply in May 2015

Jul 08, 2015
Vietnam's rice exports have declined sharply in May 2015 reportedly due to a decline in export demand and stiff competition from India and Thailand. While share of Vietnam's rice exports to Asian, American and Australian destinations declined in May 2015, its share of exports to Africa and Europe increased during the month.
Vietnam has exported around 526,133 tons of rice in May 2015, down about 21% from around 668,177 tons exported in April 2015, and down about 10% from around 585,346 tons exported in May 2014.
Asia accounted for around 375,569 tons (about 71% of total rice exports by Vietnam in May 2015) in May 2015. Month-on-month, Vietnam's rice exports to Asian destinations declined about 28% from around 520,386 tons exported in April 2015. Year-on-year, they declined about 24.5% from around 497,526 tons exported in May 2014.
Vietnam exported around 84,371 tons of rice to Africa (about 16% of total May 2015 exports) in May 2015, up about 17% from around 71,993 tons exported in April 2015, and over two times from around 35,008 tons exported in May 2014, according to USDA.
Vietnam exported around 58,239 tons of rice to American destinations (about 11% of May 2015 exports), down about 14% from around 67,757 tons exported in April 2015, and up about 35.5% from around 42,961 tons exported in May 2014.
Vietnam's exports to Australia (about 0.6% of May 2015 exports) declined about 28% to around 3,391 tons in May 2015 from around 4,729 tons exported in April 2015 and increased about 4.3 times from around 797 tons exported in May 2014.
Vietnam's exports to Europe and CIS countries (about 0.8% of total May 2015 exports) accounted for around 4,563 tons in May 2015, up about 38% from around 3,312 tons exported in April 2015 and down about 50% from around 9,054 tons exported in May 2014.
In terms of grade, 5% broken rice exports accounted for around 174,132 tons (or, about 33% of total May 2015 exports); Jasmine rice exports accounted for around 114,903 tons (or, about 22% of total May 2015 exports); 15% broken rice exports accounted for around 73,940 tons (or, about 14% of total exports in May 2015); 25% broken rice exports accounted for around 3,265 tons (or, about 0.6% of total exports in May 2015); glutinous rice exports accounted for around 69,611 tons (or, about 13% of total May 2015 exports); and 10%, 100% and other varieties accounted for around 90,282 tons (or, about 17% of total exports in May 2015).

South Korea Buys 44,104 Tons of Non-Glutinous Brown Rice in Tender

Jul 08, 2015
South Korea's state run Agro Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (KAFTC) has purchased 44,104 tons of non-glutinous brown rice of Chinese, U.S. and Thai origins for delivery between October and December, according to a statement on its website.KAFTC originally sought to purchase about 59,104 tons of non-glutinous rice via six tenders for which the bidding took place on July 3, 2015.It announced results for 15,000 tons of non-glutinous brown rice via one tender on the same day. The results for the remaining 44,104 tons of non-glutinous brown rice are as follows:

Oryza Overnight Recap – Chicago Rough Rice Futures Hold Steady Overnight While Most Commodities Soften on Concerns over China and Greece

Jul 08, 2015
Chicago rough rice futures for Sep delivery are currently seen paused 1.5 cents per cwt (about $0.33 per ton) higher at $10.910 per cwt (about $241 per ton) ahead of 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 1.4% lower and corn is currently noted unchanged.
U.S. stock index futures indicated a sharply lower open on Wednesday as worries over China's relentless selloff and Greece's debt crisis weighed on investor sentiment. Dow Futures trimmed losses, trading about 140 points lower amid news that Greece was closer to submitting concrete proposals. Earlier, futures were as much as 200 points lower, following another painful trading session in China which saw stocks close down nearly 6%, following an 8% slide earlier in the session. The Shanghai Composite has fallen more than 30% from its mid-June peak amid frequent bouts of extreme volatility and analysts say the turbulence is starting to unnerve regional investors.
Commodities were hit on Tuesday on mounting China fears and remained under pressure in Wednesday trade. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) minutes will also be in focus, with traders scanning the Federal Reserve's June meeting report for hints on interest rate rise timing. Greek- and Chinese-related developments should continue to dominate market focus, but the minutes of that FOMC meeting Wednesday should get the market's attention when released at 2 p.m. ET. Gold is currently trading about 0.5% higher, crude oil is seen trading about 0.5% higher,  and the U.S. dollar is currently trading about 0.4% lower at 8:15amChicago time.

Drought-Inducing El Nino Won't Affect Cambodia Rice Production, Say Officials

Jul 08, 2015
Description: Description: http://oryza.com/sites/default/files/field/image/150708cambodiaricefield.jpgCambodia is less likely to be affected by the El Nino weather pattern and the country is expected to receive rainfall this week, the local sources quoted the spokesman of the Ministry of Water Resource and Meteorology.The Ministry spokesman told reporters that a dry spell associated with the El Nino weather pattern, which is expected to lower rice output in Thailand, wouldn't have same impact on Cambodia. “The rainfall is expected to be even better than last year," he said. The official also noted that dry spell, which usually occurs in the month of July every year is not expected to occur this year and the country will receive heavy rainfall from this week until September encouraging the rice planting operations.
The Director of the Rice Department under the Ministry of Agriculture noted that planting has already been started in nearly 30% of over 2 million hectares of rice area. “The ministry is pushing to increase rice cultivation area this year, and with enough rainfalls, we hope to receive better amount of rice output from last year,” he said.

USDA estimates Cambodia MY 2014-15 (January 2015 - December 2015) paddy rice production at around 7.344 million tons (around 4.7 million tons, milled basis), slightly down from around 7.383 million tons (around 4.725 million tons, milled basis) in MY 2013-14. It estimates Cambodia to export around 1.1 million tons of rice in 2015, up about 10% from an estimated 1 million tons in 2014.  

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