Friday, November 20, 2015

20th November,2015 Daily Exclusive ORYZA Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Indonesia Plans to Import 500,000 Tons of Rice from Pakistan

Nov 19, 2015

The government of Pakistan is planning to import around 500,000 tons of rice from Pakistan to increase the buffer stocks and protect prices from increasing, according to local sources.
The country's Trade Minister reportedly told the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum that the government is planning to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of Pakistan in this regard. He also noted that after reaching an agreement with Pakistan, a Bulog team would verify Pakistan's rice supply. The Minister stated that the rice would enter Indonesia in early 2016.
Though the government of Indonesia has been stating that imports of one million tons from Vietnam are secured and plans for 500,000 tons from Thailand are in the pipeline, it is concerned that a huge volume of rice imports, of around 1.5 million tons, by the Philippines from Vietnam and Thailand are understood to have become a cause of concern. The government is reportedly concerned if two exporting nations would be able to supply rice i stipulated time. Therefore, it is understood to be securing about 500,000 tons from Pakistan.
The Vice-President told the APEC forum on Wednesday that rice imports are inevitable for Indonesia as the domestic production is severely impacted by the drought-inducing El Nino weather phenomenon. He however, expressed hope that the nation may not require to import rice in 2016, if the weather conditions improve.
The government rice stocks reportedly stood between 1.3 and 1.4 million tons as of October 25, 2015, enough to meet only half of the country's monthly demand of around 2.5 million tons.

Oryza CBOT Rough Rice Futures Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Go Nowhere as Supportive Export Sales Report Balanced by Tepid Demand Forecast

Nov 20, 2015

Chicago rough rice futures for Jan delivery settled 0.5 cents per cwt (about $0.11 per ton) higher at $11.845 per cwt (about $261 per ton). The other grains finished the day higher, supported by strong export sales; Soybeans closed about 0.3% higher at $8.6000 per bushel; wheat finished about 1.5% higher at $4.9225 per bushel, and corn finished the day about 0.5% higher at $3.7025 per bushel.
U.S. stocks traded in a range Thursday, following solid gains Wednesday, as investors eyed some corporate news and sought further indications of support for a December rate hike from data and Fed speakers. The major averages fluctuated between slight gains and losses, but remained on track for gains of more than 2.5% for the week. Federal Reserve speakers Thursday continued to emphasize a gradual pace of tightening. Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart said he is "comfortable with moving off zero soon.
" On the data front, initial jobless claims came in at 271,000. The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing survey's diffusion index for current activity came in for November at 1.9, its first positive reading in three months. U.S. October leading indicators rose 0.6%, slightly more than expected. Overnight, the Bank of Japan kept monetary policy unchanged. In early afternoon trade, the Dow Jones industrial average traded down up 13 points, or 0.08%, to 17,751. The S&P 500 traded down less than a point, or 0.01%, at 2,083, with information technology leading seven sectors higher and health care the greatest laggard. The Nasdaq traded up 8 points, or 0.17%, at 5,083. Gold is seen trading about 1% higher, crude oil is seen trading about 1.2% lower, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading about 0.7% lower at about  1:00pm Chicago time.
Wednesday, there were 314 contracts traded, down from 829 contracts traded on Tuesday. Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on Wednesday decreased by 16 contracts to 12,419.

Thailand Plans to Sell 37,413 Tons of Rotten Rice from Stockpiles on December 1, 2015

Nov 19, 2015

Thailand is planning to sell around 37,413 tons of rotten rice from stockpiles to industrial users on December 1, 2015, Bloomberg quoted the Department of Foreign Trade (DFT).
Interested buyers can submit the relevant documents on November 30, 2015 for qualification checks. Qualified buyers can propose prices on December 1, 2015, according to the DFT.
The government has been planning to begin sale of about 2 million tons of rotten rice from stockpiles from the end of November 2015. It reportedly decided to begin the auctions in lots of between 1,000 and 6,000 tons.
Thailand holds about 13 million tons of rice stocks, of which about 6 million tons are "below-standard or rotten" and are judged unfit for human consumption, according to a Commerce Ministry statement. The Ministry decided to sell these stocks for industrial uses as ethanol production. 
The government of Thailand sold around 4.6 million tons of stockpiled rice raising around 49 billion baht (around $1.4 billion) in the ten auctions conducted since it took over in May 2014.

The Gambia Defers Plans to Ban Rice Imports to September 2016

Nov 19, 2015

The Gambia government has deferred it plans to ban rice imports to September 2016, Bloomberg quoted the local sources.
The government initially planned to ban rice imports from the end of 2015. However, the President had last year hinted that the government would consider retraction of the import ban based on the production levels in 2014 and 2015. He noted that the import ban would hold good only if the country produced sufficient rice to meet local demand by the end of 2015.
The country imported rice worth 1.9 billion dalasi (around $47 million) in 2014, according to the Minister of Trade and Industry.
The President had declared in June 2013 that he aims to make the country self-sufficient in rice production and reduce its dependency on imports. His stance invited several criticisms as The Gambia produces only 20% of its rice consumption needs and it would need to increase its rice production by five-fold or more to reach the self-sufficiency target. Some have also warned that any ban on rice imports without sufficient production may result in rice smuggling as in the case of Nigeria.
USDA estimates The Gambia to produce around 35,000 tons of rice and import around 155,000 tons in MY 2015-16 (October - September) to meet consumption needs of around 185,000 tons.

Oryza U.S. Rough Rice Recap - Market Seen Unchanged after No Iraqi Tender News

Nov 20, 2015

The U.S. cash market was unchanged today with little to no trading to report following the absence of news regarding the Iraqi Grain Board’s tender award announcement.
Analysts note that it is not is not uncommon for the Iraqi Grain Board to request an extension for offers to remain good until sometime next week although usually this doesn’t bode well for the U.S.
In the meantime, cumulative net export sales for the week that ended on November 12th, totaled 43,600 tons, an increase of 22% from the previous week but 41% lower than the prior 4-week average.
Increases were reported for the following destinations including: 28,300 ton to Haiti, 6,600 tons to Guatemala including 6,000 tons switched from unknown destinations, 2,700 tons to Mexico, 2,400 tons to Canada, and 1,600 tons to Jordan, while a reductions of 1,000 tons and 600 tons were reported for unknown destinations and Iran, respectively.
U.S. rice exporters shipped 110,200 tons, which was a considerable higher than last week and the prior 4-week average. Increases were reported for the following destinations including: 29,400 tons to Iran, 22,500 tons to Honduras, 21,300 tons to Haiti, 10,400 tons to Mexico, and 6,900 tons to Colombia.
Global Rice Quotes
November 19th, 2015

Long grain white rice - high quality
Thailand 100% B grade          360-370           ↔
Vietnam 5% broken    370-380           ↔
India 5% broken         345-355           ↔
Pakistan 5% broken    315-325           ↔
Myanmar 5% broken   405-415           ↔
Cambodia 5% broken             415-425           ↔
U.S. 4% broken           490-510           ↔
Uruguay 5% broken    535-545           ↔
Argentina 5% broken 530-540           ↔

Long grain white rice - low quality
Thailand 25% broken 335-345           ↓
Vietnam 25% broken 355-365           ↔
Pakistan 25% broken 290-300           ↔
Cambodia 25% broken           400-410           ↔
India 25% broken       325-335           ↔
U.S. 15% broken         500-510           ↔

Long grain parboiled rice
Thailand parboiled 100% stxd            350-360           ↔
Pakistan parboiled 5% broken stxd    405-415           ↔
India parboiled 5% broken stxd         340-350           ↑
U.S. parboiled 4% broken       590-610           ↔
Brazil parboiled 5% broken    545-555           ↔
Uruguay parboiled 5% broken            NQ      ↔

Long grain fragrant rice
Thailand Hommali 92%          705-715           ↓
Vietnam Jasmine         450-460           ↔
India basmati 2% broken        NQ      ↔
Pakistan basmati 2% broken   NQ      ↔
Cambodia Phka Mails             830-840           ↔

Brokens
Thailand A1 Super      325-335           ↔
Vietnam 100% broken            330-340           ↔
Pakistan 100% broken stxd    280-290           ↔
Cambodia A1 Super   355-365           ↔
India 100% broken stxd         285-295           ↔
Egypt medium grain brokens NQ      ↔
U.S. pet food 330-340           ↔
Brazil half grain          NQ      ↔
All prices USD per ton, FOB vessel, oryza.com



Wholesale Basmati Rice Prices in India Increase on Higher Demand and Lower Supplies


Nov 19, 2015
Wholesale basmati rice prices in India's capital increased by about Rs.300 per quintal (around $45 per ton) today due to increased demand from stockists but lower supplies, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI).
Prices of common basmati rice increased to around Rs.5,000-Rs.5,400 per quintal (around $756 - $816 per ton) from around Rs.5,000-5,100 per quintal (around $756 - $771 per ton) yesterday.
Prices of Pusa 1121 increased to around Rs.4,200-5,000 per quintal (around $635 - $756 per ton) from around Rs.4,100-4,800 per quintal (around $620 - $725 per ton) yesterday.
Farmers' reluctance to sell basmati paddy at low prices to millers is understood to be resulting in fewer supplies of milled rice in the markets.

Thailand, India Rice Sellers Alter Some of Their Quotes Today; Other Asian Quotes Remain Unchanged

Nov 19, 2015

Thailand rice sellers lowered their quotes for 25% broken rice by about $10 per ton to around $335 - $345 per ton and lowered their quotes for Hom Mali rice by about $20 per ton to around $705 - $715 per ton today. India rice sellers increased their quotes for parboiled rice by about $5 per ton to around $340 - $350 per ton. Other rice quotes remain unchanged today.
5% Broken Rice
Thailand 5% rice is indicated at around $350 - $360 per ton about $20 per ton discount on Vietnam 5% rice shown at around $370 - $380 per ton. India 5% rice is indicated at around $345 - $355 per ton, about $30 per ton premium on Pakistan 5% rice shown at around $315 - $325 per ton.
25% Broken Rice
Thailand 25% rice is indicated at around $335 - $345 per ton, about $20 per ton discount on Vietnam 25% rice shown at around $355- $365 per ton. India 25% rice is indicated at around $325 - $335 per ton, about $35 per ton premium on Pakistan 25% rice shown at around $290 - $300 per ton.
Parboiled Rice            
Thailand parboiled rice is indicated at around $350 - $360 per ton. India parboiled rice is indicated at around $340 - $350 per ton, about $65 per ton discount to Pakistan parboiled rice last shown at around $405 - $415 per ton.                          
100% Broken Rice
Thailand broken rice, A1 Super is indicated at around $325 - $335 per ton, about $5 per ton discount to Vietnam 100% broken rice shown at around $330 - $340 per ton. India's 100% broken rice is shown at around $285 - $295 per ton, about $5 per ton premium on Pakistan broken sortexed rice shown at around $280 - $290 per ton.

 Conntents have been shared with permission of ORYZA.com with Thanks

19th November,2015 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine-Latest Rice News Updates

RI considers importing 
rice from Pakistan

Khoirul Amin, The Jakarta Post, Manila, The Philippines | Business | Thu, November 19 2015, 5:28 PM
The government will soon sign a rice import deal with Pakistan to secure a food supply for Indonesians after its earlier plan to import the staple from Vietnam and Thailand failed when the Philippines bought out the commodity from them beforehand.Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong said during this week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders meeting in Manila that his ministry had been trying to accelerate discussions with Pakistan’s Trade Ministry to formulate a legal framework for rice imports.
“So far, we’re still ‘chasing’ Pakistan’s trade minister to immediately sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU),” he said.

He went on to say that once an agreement was reached with Pakistan, Indonesia would send a team from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) to verify Pakistan’s rice supply.According to Thomas, Pakistan has previously stated that it could potentially supply 500,000 tons of rice to Indonesia. The supply, however, would probably just enter into the Indonesia’s market next year as there were only six weeks left before the end of this year, while negotiations were still ongoing, he added.Bulog’s rice reserves stood at between 1.3 and 1.4 million tons as of Oct. 25, which was estimated to meet only half of the country’s monthly consumption of 2.5 million tons.
The situation has sent a signal that there is an insufficient supply to meet the growing domestic demand for the staple food.The government had previously announced it planned to import a total of 1.5 million tons of rice from Thailand and Vietnam this year, with around 1 million tons already secured.The country was, however, overtaken by the Philippines, which bought the 1.5 million tons of rice from the two rice producers. The Philippines’ import figures are far higher than its normal annual imports of between 500,000 and 700,000 tons.Vice President Jusuf Kalla said in front of business leaders at the APEC summit that importing rice this year was inevitable for Indonesia because its domestic production has slumped because of the El Niño weather phenomenon.

El Niño could lead to severe droughts, floods and fluctuating crop yields in the Pacific equatorial region, including Indonesia.“But for next year, if the weather is good, I think we will not import more rice,” Jusuf said.Meanwhile, Thomas said the government would be more closely monitoring national rice supply and demand next year to prevent soaring prices caused by an insufficient supply within the domestic market.He said that his ministry would start formulating annual import plans for essential food commodities, such as beef, sugar and rice.“Secondly, we will develop market intelligence that will review possibilities to find international sources of rice, even if [it has to be] Brazil. Bulog has also previously attempted to include Myanmar and Cambodia,” he said.

An insufficient supply of rice in the country has caused soaring prices, which are expected to hit low-income people hard, as about 60 percent of their cost of living will be taken up by food.
Average price of medium-quality rice hit Rp 10,536 (76 US cents) per kilogram (kg), far higher than its normal price of Rp 8,500 per kg, according to data from the Trade Ministry.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/11/19/ri-considers-importing-rice-pakistan.html#sthash.oGpxpIU3.dpuf

 

Rice price escalation unlikely, says Fadnavis

11/19/2015 
Free Press Journal (India)
Mumbai : Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that the state has enough stocks of rice and the prices are unlikely to escalate, and also appealed to people not to worry.Industry body Assocham, in its study earlier this week, had predicted that due to the failed Kharif season rice prices may escalate just like those of pulses and onion earlier this year.However, the statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office said that the state government is already providing rice at Rs 3 per kg to over 7.5 crore people of the state and will continue doing so as there is adequate stock of rice in the state and the government has also made good purchases of rice.While implementing the National Food Security ordinance, the state decided to give the benefit of the scheme to 7.17 crore beneficiaries of the public distribution system.
The beneficiaries of the Antyodaya scheme are getting 35 kg per family per month and beneficiaries of food security scheme are getting 5 kg per person per month.A total of 1,68,425 tonnes of rice is being distributed under these schemes every month at the rate of Rs 3 per kg. Moreover, the government is also providing over 13,600 tonnes of rice for the farmers' families in drought hit districts, the statement said.
"The fact that the government is able to distribute over 1.82 lakh tonnes of rice to over 7.68 crore beneficiaries at subsidised rates itself suggests that most of the people of the state have benefitted from the scheme. The state has adequate stock to continue running the scheme and the purchases too are adequate," Fadnavis said in his statement.Current price trend in the rice market, too, is lower compared to last year's prices, a CMO official pointed out. While the prices of non-basmati rice are around 15% lower than the last year's rates, the prices of basmati rice have declined sharply by about 30%.The Assocham study had said rice stocks have declined in last three years from 24.59 million tonnes in 2012 to 13.89 million tonnes (plus unlimited paddy 3.61 tonnes) in stocks at present.
"Increasing export outgo on account of PDS (Public Distribution System) and other welfare schemes will continue to weigh on availability in the open market. Unless government is able to handle the situation prudently, depleting stocks will soon reflect on the open market prices," the study had argued.

http://www.world-grain.com/news/news%20home/LexisNexisArticle.aspx?articleid=2484893404

 

Rice basmati remains up on increased buying

Press Trust of India  |  New Delhi 

 

Rice basmati prices rose further up to to Rs 300 per quintal at the wholesale grain market today on increased stockist buying against restricted supplies from producing regions.
However, maize eased on reduced offtake by consuming industries. Traders said increased buying by stockists in the face of restricted supplies from producing regions mainly kept rice basmati prices higher. The said reports of a likely fall in its kharif output further fuelled the uptrend in rice basmati prices.
In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa-1121 variety edged higher to Rs 5,000-5,400 and Rs 4,200-5,000 from previous levels of Rs 5,000-5,100 and Rs 4,100-4,800 per quintal respectively. Shri Lal Mahal rice moved up by Rs 300 to Rs 10,800 per quintal. Non-basmati rice permal raw, wand, sela and IR-8 also finished higher at Rs 1,800-1,825, Rs 1,950-2,050, Rs 2,350-2,450 and Rs 1,680-1,700 from previous close of Rs 1,700-1,750, Rs 1,850-1,870,Rs 2,250-2,350 and Rs 1,600-1,615 per quintal respectively in line with rice basmati firming trend. On the other hand, maize fell by Rs 30 to Rs 1,500-1,550 per quintal.

Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal):

Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,000-2,600, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,685-1,715, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,705-1,720, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 230, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 230, Roller flour mill Rs 900-905 (50 kg), Maida Rs 945-950 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs 1,090-1,095 (50 kg).

Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 10,800, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,700, Basmati common new Rs 5,000-5,400, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 4,200-5,000, Permal raw Rs 1,800-1,825, Permal wand Rs 1,950-2,050, Sela Rs 2,350-2,450 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,680-1,700, Bajra Rs 1,285-1,295, Jowar yellow Rs 1,600-1,700, white Rs 3,100-3,200, Maize Rs 1,500-1,550, Barley Rs 1,440-1,450.

http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/rice-basmati-remains-up-on-increased-buying-115111900432_1.html

 

Fadnavis assures there is adequate stock of rice


Press Trust of India  |  Mumbai 

Allaying fears of spurt in prices of rice, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said there is adequate stock of rice in state. Besides this, the state government has purchased fresh rice stock and is now distributing rice to people at Rs 3 per kg through the Public Distribution System, he said in a statement issued here. Fadnavis stated that the National Food Security scheme covers 7.17 crore population and 68 lakh farmers in 14 suicide prone districts of the state. "In all, 1.82 lakh metric tonnes of rice will be distributed to 7.68 crore population at Rs 3 per kg through the 52,000 fair price shops in the state," the Chief Minister said. He termed reports appearing in a section of the media about possibility of rise in prices of rice as "baseless" and added that there is no cause of worry for the people.

http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/fadnavis-assures-there-is-adequate-stock-of-rice-115111801387_1.html




Bio-fortified rice, food crops to hit market in 2 years

Bio-fortified rice and other food crops will be made available in the market within two years, said V. Ravindra Babu, director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research. The rice variety developed in IIRR will have zinc and protein content.The institute is also conducting bio-fortification research on eight other crops including wheat, sorghum and bajra among others. Bio-fortified crops have medical properties and are good for newborns and nursing mothers. He was speaking on the sidelines of a media conference held to announce the dates for International Rice Symposium- 2015 where farmers, academics, researchers and industry experts collaborate and hold dialogues with one another.



USA Rice Attends Annual Trade Workshop   

Telling USA Rice's positive trade story

BALTIMORE, MD -- The U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council (USAEDC) held its annual workshop here earlier this week where over 70 commodity trade associations/stage regional trade groups and nearly a dozen marketing/research companies met to hear the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) updates and current agricultural, economic, and political trends.

The keynote speaker, USDA's Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Deputy Under Secretary Alexis Taylor, shared the Department's positive view of the recently concluded Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement as well as the Department's continued efforts to expand trade opportunities for U.S. agriculture.  In addition to agriculture updates, Charlie Cook, an entertaining political speaker, gave his predictions for the 2016 presidential election which promises to be a unique race.

There were several panel discussions on USDA's current Global Broad-based Initiatives (GBIs), programs designed to help industry partners engage in common areas across specific markets.  USA Rice is participating in four GBIs.  USA Rice Vice President of International Promotion Jim Guinn gave an update for the "GBIs in Africa" panel, reporting that USA Rice is the lead organization for the consumer promotion activities in Ghana, conducting three seminars involving rice, poultry, and peanut butter to Ghana's burgeoning foodservice sector.  Each seminar brought in 230-350 foodservice attendees.

"Thanks to the assistance from FAS, we are able to conduct meaningful activities in the Golden Triangle, an area which represents an estimated 85 percent of food consumption in Ghana," said Jim Guinn.  "These activities are efficient at increasing awareness and preference for U.S. products."  The final event of this GBI was held yesterday in Accra (see USA Rice Daily November 18, 2015).

Contact:  Sarah Moran (703) 236-1457



Weekly Rice Sales, Exports Reported 

WASHINGTON, DC -- Net rice sales of 43,600 MT for 2015/2016 were up 22 percent from the previous week, but down 41 percent from the prior four-week average, according to today's Export Sales Highlights report.  Increases were reported for Haiti (28,300 MT), Guatemala (6,600 MT, including 6,000 MT switched from unknown destinations), Mexico (2,700 MT), Canada (2,400 MT), and Jordan (1,600 MT).  Reductions were reported for unknown destinations (1,000 MT) and Iran (600 MT). 

Exports of 110,200 MT, up noticeably from the previous week and from the prior four-week average, were reported to Iran (29,400 MT), Honduras (22,500 MT), Haiti (21,300 MT), Mexico (10,400 MT), and Colombia (6,900 MT). 

This summary is based on reports from exporters from the period November 6-12, 2015.

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures   

CME Group (Prelim):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for November 19
Month
Price
Net Change

January 2016
$11.845
+ $0.005
March 2016
$12.110
+ $0.005
May 2016
$12.395
UNCH 
July 2016
$12.650
+ $0.005
September 2016
$12.350
+ $0.005
November 2016
$12.350
+ $0.005
January 2017
12.350
+ $0.005

The importance of rice breeding in the Mid-South

A chat with Jarrod Hardke
Nov 19, 2015David Bennett | Delta Farm Press

Arkansas produces the most rice of any state and it stands to reason that state researchers are hard at work to keep it that way. One key piece to that puzzle: making sure a breeding program remains robust.In early November, Jarrod Hardke, rice Extension agronomist for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, spoke with Delta Farm Press about the program, the process for bringing a new variety to producers and an extremely promising cultivar waiting in the wings. Among his comments:
On the rice breeding process and research in Arkansas…
“I lead the Arkansas Rice Performance Trials (ARPTs), which are our standardized trials for evaluating commercial cultivars, releases from other universities we may not have a great deal of information on, and a vast number of lead experimental lines out of the University of Arkansas. This is our most advanced yield testing program so, once entries make it that far they’ve shown great promise in the preliminary processes of variety development.
“We try to plant in five or six ARPT locations throughout the state each year. There are a total of 90 entries of which there are about 20 commercial and 70 experimental entries annually. Really, we have developed consistent ‘homes’ for the five or six locations. Among them, one is always planted at the Rice Research and Experiment Station in Stuttgart; one is at Pine Tree Station near Colt; one at the Northeast Research and Extension Center in Keiser.
spots with different soil types. However, because they don’t reach the full extent of the state, we plant another trial on a grower’s field in Clay County. That gets us to the most northern part of the state. Another trial goes in a grower field in Desha County, which puts us in the southern part of the state.
“In those trials we’re evaluating grain yield and milling yield for quality. Samples are sent off to check all the industry grain characteristics including chalk, amylose content, gel temperature, all the things that will have an effect on how the rice will be processed.”

Rice importation ban extended to September 2016 - Minister Jobe


Thursday, November 19, 2015
Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment has said the banning of rice importation, which was to take effect by the end of December 2015, has been extended to September 2016.Minister Abdou Jobe made this revelation in an interview with The Point yesterday at his office in Banjul.The extension of the deadline for importing rice into the country is an executive decision from the Presidency, the Trade minister said.“Based on the President’s wisdom for his overreaching global holistic view in the interest of the country, he decided to extend the banning of rice importation from December 2015 to September 2016,” the minister announced.
Minister Jobe said that as a minister, working under the guidance and advice of the President, he has notified all players in the business community, especially those dealing in rice importation, of the latest development.“We have notified all the stakeholders, including rice importers, as well as the Gambia Chamber of Commerce Industry (GCCI), which is responsible for dealing with the private sector, to inform them of the executive decision about the extension of the deadline on banning rice importation into the country,” Minister Jobe said.“I believe that The Point newspaper, being a very proactive media company and coming to enquire about the veracity of the information; if it is published in the paper, people would be fully informed.”It would be recalled that about US$50 million was being spent annually on rice importation from Thailand, India and Brazil, for about 175,500 metric tonnes of rice, while local production of rice stood at 24,895 metric tonnes.
On EU’s €1.8 billion to curb migration
Minister Jobe also commented on the €1.8 billion the European Union has decided to give African countries to control and limit the undesirable migration from Africa to Europe through the ‘back way’, especially undertaken by African youths.“I represented the President as a head of (The Gambian) delegation accompanied by two ministers and permanent secretaries to attend the AU-Summit in Malta, where the European Union has pledged 1.8 billion euro and other member countries pledged to top up the amount that the EU has pledged.
”As a beneficiary country, he added, The Gambia has developed an action plan, which will be concretized to support job creation and skills development for Gambian youths.The minister continued: “Prior to the summit, the Ministry of the Interior, which is a focal point for migration in The Gambia, has been coordinating project proposals on youth empowerment. This will be concretized for job creation opportunities and skills development for Gambian youths.”Since it is also the responsibility of the Gambia government to do something about it, the ministries have been tasked to carry out the project initiatives, he went on.“We will continue to work together as a country and rally behind President Jammeh to achieve the laudable development objectives for sustainable development,” Minister Jobe said.
Author: Abdou Rahman Sallah
Source: Picture: Minister Abdou Jobe







Farmers in state receive $160.4M

2014 farm bill, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.This is the first time farmers have gotten payments under the legislation, which provides assistance only when markets or yields are down. Previous farm bills issued payments regardless of market conditions or crop yield to provide farmers with a minimum guaranteed income.Randy Veach, president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation, said Wednesday that the safety-net payments would provide some help to Arkansas farmers hurt by falling commodity prices and lower yields. But he said the payments wouldn't enable farmers to make a profit."We'd a lot rather have better prices in the market than to have [the safety-net] payments," said Veach, who farms cotton, rice and soybeans in northeast Arkansas.
Operators of 16,339 Arkansas farms will receive safety-net payments for the 2014 market year, the USDA said in a news release. A total of 74,694 Arkansas farms participated in the programs, which means 58,355 farms in the state didn't qualify for payments.The payment total will rise over the next few weeks. About 80 percent of the checks due to Arkansas farmers had been mailed as of Nov. 3, a USDA spokesman said Wednesday.The 2014 farm bill was written at a time of high commodity prices, and supporters said it would save the federal government billions of dollars over 10 years. Since then, commodity prices have plunged, and the USDA now forecasts that net farm income in the United States, adjusted for inflation, will fall 53 percent from where it was two years ago, from $123.7 billion in 2013 to $58.3 billion in 2015.
The net farm income figure includes profits from beef, pork, poultry and crops, but the head of AgHeritage Farm Credit Services in Arkansas said recently that average crop prices were down 35 percent this year.Under the 2014 farm legislation, farmers had to choose between two safety-net programs for five years. The Price Loss Coverage Program, which the USDA says was selected by more than 90 percent of the state's rice growers, makes payments when market-year average prices are below reference prices."For example, 29 counties in Arkansas harvest long-grain rice, and long-grain rice producers have experienced a 15 percent drop below the historical benchmark price established by the PLC program," said Linda Newkirk, executive director of the USDA's Arkansas Farm Services Agency.
Through Nov. 3, Arkansas farmers have received $146,695,326 under the Price Loss Coverage Program, according to the USDA. The payment rate for rice was about 2 cents per pound, compared with a rate of 2.35 cents per pound in 2014 under the old direct payment system, a USDA spokesman said.The second program, called Agriculture Risk Coverage, created payment rates for each county by comparing historical average crop yields and prices with 2014 actual yields and prices. Payment rates can vary among counties.Through Nov. 3, Arkansas farmers have received $13,714,515 in Agriculture Risk Coverage payments, according to the USDA. Most of the money went to soybean, corn and grain sorghum growers, the agency said.
Nationwide, payments for both programs through Nov. 3 totaled more than $4.5 billion, the USDA said.The payments were subject to a 6.8 percent reduction as a result of the mandatory federal budget cuts known as sequestration.Veach said it was still too early to judge the effectiveness of the 2014 farm legislation. He said 2015, for which farmers will receive safety-net payments in late 2016, would provide a good test because it combined low prices in the markets with generally low crop yields in Arkansas."We're just now getting a glimpse of the kind of safety net we have or don't have," he said.
Prices for January 2016 rice fell 22.5 cents Wednesday, to close at $11.84 per hundredweight.
Rice prices were about $14 per hundredweight at this time last year, Veach said, adding that it was unlikely they would return to that level in the near future.
Business on 11/19/2015

http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2015/nov/19/farmers-in-state-receive-160-4m-2015111/




Discovering Pakistan









Mahander Dev leads a group of students in a traditional dance. Photo by Alex Bertsch/ The Dakota Student.Members of the UND community gathered last week to celebrate Pakistan Culture Night in the Memorial Union.The event offered an opportunity for attendees to learn more about Pakistan.It opened with the Pakistan’s national anthem, the Qaumi Taranah (“The Sacred Land”). Kaleemullah Sandhu, a Pakistani exchange student studying mechanical engineering at UND, gave a presentation on life in Pakistan.Pakistan became an independent country in 1947, and more than 95 percent of the population of Pakistan is Muslim. With a population of just under 200 million people, it is the seventh most populous country in the world. It borders India, China, Afghanistan, Iran and the Arabian Sea.Sandhu clarified that while many people think people in Pakistan speak Arabic, the national language is actually Urdu. English is widely spoken and there are dozens of local regional languages. The name Pakistan means “Land of the Pure” in Urdu.“The Pakistani flag, the green portion represents that Pakistan is a Muslim country, and the white portion represents the minorities,” Sandhu said. “The flag symbolizes that we respect the minorities that live in Pakistan.”Sandhu studies at the National University of Science and Technology in Islamabad, which is the capital city of Pakistan. The country is home to more than 170 universities.A music video of the song “Tamasha” by Khumariyaan was played to show an example of popular modern music in Pakistan. The group is known in Pakistan for their ability to combine traditional folk style of pakistani music with a modern twist.Sandhu highlighted several well known Pakistanis, including Abdul Sattar Edhi and Abdus Salam. Edhi is considered to be one of the greatest humanitarians in the world and has been running his foundation in Pakistan since 1947.This foundation includes many initiatives to help the poor and sick, including the largest ambulance service in the world. Salam was the first pakistani to receive a Nobel Peace prize, which he received for his study in physics in 1979.Mahender Dev, an electrical engineering exchange student from Pakistan, led a group of students in a traditional dance to conclude the presentation. Ifrah Wali, a marketing student at UND, displayed some Pakistani clothing for attendees to examine after the presentation. Dev, Wali and Sandhu all expressed the positive experience they have had so far at UND, and they will be returning to Pakistan at the end of the semester to finish their studies in Pakistan.Following the presentation, the attendees enjoyed Chicken Biryani, rice, and Kheer. Chicken Biryani, like other popular Pakistani cuisine, is spicy and highly seasoned. Kheer is a a sweetened rice pudding that is commonly served through south Asia.Sean Cleary is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. He can be reached at sean.d.cleary@my.und.edu
- See more at: http://dakotastudent.com/7245/news/discovering-pakistan/#sthash.zLvzl7nw.dpuf

http://dakotastudent.com/7245/news/discovering-pakistan/








JUDGE ORDERS UNITED COMMODITIES TO PAY US42M IN DAMAGES


 Written by Bettie Johnson/ betty.johnson@frontpageafricaonline.com
Published: 17 November 2015
Monrovia - The presiding judge of the Civil Law Court has ordered the United Commodities Incorporated a dealer in rice on the Liberian market to pay US$2,385,800.00 to the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) instead of US$6,679,503 as claimed by the Bank in a petition filed before the court. The ruling of the judge followed 15 counts for declaratory judgment filed by the United Commodities Incorporated relying upon section 43 of the Civil Procedure law.In its petition, UCI (petitioner) stated that that rice were under the control of a collateral manager, the ACE Global, an agent of the respondent (EBID) adding that they cannot be held responsible to answer for such damages or pay the value of the damage goods caused by the outbreak of the Ebola virus.“That once the damaged portion of the consignment were disposed of by the competent authorities in the presence of representatives of the respondent represented by LBDI or ACE Global, the collateral manager, the ministry of Commerce and other stakeholders, the petitioner or borrower cannot be held liable to pay such damage portion of the rice,” UCI argued.“The rice was stored in a warehouse under a collateral management arrangement, any damage thereto based on nature causes, should be the responsibility of insurance company that insured the consignment.” The petitioner prayed the Court that they should be responsible to pay to the Respondent herein the amount generated by the petitioner from the auctioned portion of the rice which totaled US $2,386,000.00.“That the value of the damaged rice which totals US$6,679,503.78 cannot and should not be the responsibility of the petitioner giving the fact and circumstances of the case,” UCI stated in its petition. The petitioner disclosed that the value of the damaged rice which total US$6,679,503.78 cannot and should not be the responsibility of the petitioner giving the fact and circumstances of the case, said UCI.According to the petitioner, they requested or apply to EBID for a 12 million letter of credit for the importation and distribution in Liberia of the total of 21 thousand metric tons of rice at the price of US$ 596.06 or metric tons CIF Monrovia. A loan agreement was executed and several documents were signed including a field warehousing and storage agreement contract where the parties agreed to place the rice to be imported under the loan agreement under a collateral manager.Citing section 11.1 of the field warehousing and storage agreement, the petitioner or the respondent on behalf of the petitioner shall at all cost obtain an insurance company approved by the respondent, insurance for the goods. Section 11.4 of the same agreement also provided that where no insurance had been procured whatsoever in terms and on the conditions set out in that agreement, the obligations hereunder shall be assumed at the sole risk of the respondent and that the respondent bears the risk of lost in the absence of any such insurance.In counter argument, the respondent filed a twenty counts return challenging the jurisdiction of the court over its persons for reason that the writ of summons was served on them through the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment as the respondent’s purported agent adding that the bank was not an agent for the respondent for the purpose of receiving court’s precepts. A motion to dismiss the petitioner’s petition was filed by the respondent but was dismissed by the court.In the court’s ruling Judge Yussif Kaba said the terms and condition of the contract consummated by and between the petitioner herein and the respondent freely and in the absence of undue influence, is fully binding on the parties and all terms and condition contain therein are binding upon the parties.“That in the face of article 11 of the warehouse and storage agreement, more specifically section 11.4 thereof it was the obligation of the respondent bank under the binding agreements executed by and between the parties, to ensure that all times especially during the period when the respondent bank invoked article 10.2 of the loan agreement, to have procure an insurance policy to cover the goods that were covered by the loan agreement and therefore the failure of the respondent bank to secure such insurance policy to cover the goods as provided for by section 11.4 of the warehousing and storage agreement.”
Continued Judge Kaba: “the petitioner cannot and should not be held for damages sustained as the consequent of the 3,2945.95 metric tons of rice, and the 3,356 metric tons of rice which all of which were damaged and disposed at the value of US$6,679,503.78. He said the portion of the rice which was turned over to the petitioner herein and auctioned by the petitioner in the tune of US$2,385,000.00 should be the responsibility of the petitioner and the petitioner shall be held to pay. Following the ruling, the respondent ECOWAS Bank took exception to the judge’s ruling announcing an appeal to the Supreme Court.


CBE regulates exporting rice

New decision by the bank lists rice among the commodities that should be exported through Egyptian banks
 Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) issued new instructions to regulate exporting rice to abroad.
The CBE’s instructions stipulate listing rice among the commodities that exporters must complete exporting procedures for through the banks operating in the Egyptian market. Moreover the exporter must obtain a document proving that the exporter did so to submit it to the concerned customs office before the shipping.The CBE issued in April 2013 instructions to banks to adhere to decision No. 235/2013 of the Ministry of Industry that stipulates exporting 13 commodities through one of the banks operating in Egypt.The commodities subjected to these instructions include gold and gold jewellery, urea, copper rolls, iron or steel plates, iron or steel sticks, carbon black, anhydrous ammonia, cotton, crude aluminium, cane or beet sugar, cement, raw marble and granite, or that which is initially polished, or only cut through sawing or other methods.
The CBE’s instructions stipulate that the bank should issue a document for the exporters of these commodities, as long as the banks receive a written guarantee from the exporter including the period for the exports’ proceeds, and that the proceeds will be placed in accounts at the bank that issued the document.
If the proceeds are not received within a maximum of 180 days from the shipping date, or the exporter does not provide the date of receiving the proceeds, within a maximum of a year from the shipping date, and after following up with the client, the bank that issued the document must report to the CBE. The defaulting client’s data will then be circulated in the banking sector, and the client is listed as a defaulter, in order to prevent any future operations.
The bank must also report also Ministry of Trade and Industry, the foreign trade sector, and the Egyptian Customs Authority, to take the necessary procedures towards the defaulting client.



New restaurant brings authentic taste of the Holy Land to Utah Valley

GALILEE GRILL & BAKERY OPENS IN LINDON


New restaurant brings authentic taste of the Holy Land to Utah Valley

Galilee Grill & Bakery opens in Lindon

We heard it through the grapevine.Lindon residents have been raving about a new restaurant that recently opened, bringing new food flavors to the area. Galilee Grill & Bakery has centered its menu around foods from the Holy Land. The owner, Ehab Abunuwara, sought to share family recipes and experiences from Nazareth -- his hometown -- and Jerusalem with Utah Valley. He was particularly frustrated with the lack of decent pita bread here -- I don't blame him. 
But alas, we no longer have to suffer stiff store-bought pita from the supermarket because Abunuwara is supplying fresh, homemade pita, after having a machine designed by his father in Israel and engineered in Lehi, in the restaurant. 
This pita! While waiting for my abnormally large order to be served, I snatched my one pita bread offered with two flavors of olive oil or balsamic vinegar. While the selection of oils and vinegars was exciting and varied, I settled on sampling the Blood Orange Olive Oil and Pistachio Balsamic. Every bite was tasty; I could see diners making the trip to this restaurant solely to stock up on pita and delicious dipping sauces. 
I tried Middle Eastern cuisine for the first time while studying in Israel several years ago. I believe the moment I became enamored was my first bite of fresh baklava -- a pastry made of flaky layers often filled with nuts and syrup -- that was served in a corner store in the evenings during Ramadan. It was sticky and sweet and covered in honey, and we proceeded to dine on it every night like it was our bread and butter instead of the dessert it was.
Since then, I've also dreamed of the five shekel falafel sandwiches I'd grab in the Old City from my favorite vendor, and whenever I've stumbled upon a Middle Eastern restaurant in the U.S., I'd stop and pray the food would be authentic enough to take me back to those busy streets in Jerusalem filled with bustling people and narrow alleys perfumed with the smell of a dozen spices.
So, logically I ordered a falafel sandwich, among other plates from Galilee's menu. The sandwich included falafel -- fried balls typically made with ground chickpeas -- with hummus, tahini sauce, various fresh and pickled vegetables and sauces wrapped in pita. I asked the worker for a little hot sauce on mine, and when I took my first bite and closed my eyes I could almost feel Jerusalem's uneven stone streets beneath me; I've yet to find an American place that stuffed a falafel sandwich with french fries like my favorite Israel joint did. Nonetheless, I'll be going back for the falafel.
And on my next trip, I'll be coming back for the lamb as well. Those familiar with Middle Eastern cuisine will know lamb is just as much a staple and commonality as falafel, hummus and sesame seeds. In thinly sliced strips, the lamb in the Lamb Shwarma Plate was tender and tangy. Paired with the restaurant's offering of Jasmine or Basmati Rice, it's a rare delicacy in these parts that I hope and anticipate will be embraced.
Galilee's special at the time featured Turkish Chicken with a side of rice, salad and hummus. The chicken was served as a juicy drumstick cooked with simple spices, a unique plate considering many restaurants forgo this part of the chicken nowadays.
The Kebab Plate came served with red onion and half a Roma tomato over tasty, yet standard rice. The blackened outside of the kebabs had a strong charred flavor, while the insides were juicy and well spiced, with a bit of a bite to the flavor without being too hot. The onion and tomato were also char grilled, which paired well with the meat.
The soup offerings stand out as perhaps the most traditional menu items; the hearty Red Lentil Soup will attract those well acquainted with this cuisine while first-comers might be better off starting with other popular menu items.
The homemade baklava, while not quite like my idealized memory of the desserts I ate in Jerusalem, was much better than the Greek versions of the dessert available at other local restaurants. Typical of Middle Eastern cuisine and desserts, it was topped and filled with finely chopped pistachios. 
For those who love cheese and more savory treats, the fatayer (a pastry that can be stuffed with anything from spinach and meat to cheese) was cut and made like the baklava, except the fatayer toned down the sweetness and added cheese to the pastry along with chopped pistachios on top.
Lindon residents should consider themselves lucky to have this Middle Eastern jewel tucked in their shopping area by Oteo, Magleby's Fresh and Big Island Sam's. For those that haven't made the 7,000-mile trip to the Holy Land, the 7 or so miles to Galilee Grill is one "foodcation" you can make frequently. 
Daily Herald Managing Editor and Digital Director Jordan Carroll can be reached at jcarroll@heraldextra.com or on Twitter @jordanec



http://www.heraldextra.com/entertainment/dining/restaurants/new-restaurant-brings-authentic-taste-of-the-holy-land-to/article_56fcabb9-d6ab-52aa-afd6-b1f6ab662d4a.html

Cereal Science: Crushing Rice Krispies Reveals New Insight for Materials (VIDEO)

First Posted: Nov 18, 2015 10:11 AM EST
Scientists have used breakfast cereal to discover a new phenomenon in materials science: highly porous, brittle materials can deform in different ways depending on compaction velocity. (Photo : Flickr/Amy)
There's more to cereal than you might think. Scientists have used breakfast cereal to discover a new phenomenon in materials science: highly porous, brittle materials can deform in different ways depending on compaction velocity.In this latest study, the researchers investigated compaction by using Rice Krispies in an acrylic tube. As a piston crushed the cereal, the experimenter could see the material being compacted. The scientists then used microphones at the bottom and top of the tube in order to record the crushing sounds and identify which parts of the cereal pack would crush when.
Surprisingly, though, the researchers didn't find the crackling pattern that they expected. Instead, the microphones recoded an alternating wave of popping.Not quite believing their ears, the researchers ran the experiment again, watching it this time. The scientists saw that as the cereal compacted, there was a rising band in the tube, indicating where the material was being crushed, or deformed."It was the first time anyone had seen a propagating compaction band in granular matter," said Julio Valdes, one of the researchers, in a news release. "We could see it clearly. It was beautiful."
The researchers then repeated the original experiment with the piston depressing at different velocities. They found that, depending on the velocity, they could see three different types of deformation in the cereal.The findings explain the complex mechanics underlying porous, brittle material. More specifically, the results could have applications in manufacturing as well as in assessing the stability of snowpack after an avalanche.The findings are published in the journal Nature Physics.

Want to learn more? Check out the video below, courtesy of YouTube.
http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/33262/20151118/cereal-science-crushing-rice-krispies-reveals-new-insight-materials-video.htm

 

Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report

 

Rice
High
Low
Long Grain Cash Bids
- - -
- - -
Long Grain New Crop
- - -
- - -


Futures:
High
Low
Last
Change
Jan '16
1197.5
1175.0
1184.5
+0.5
Mar '16
1223.0
1207.5
1211.0
+0.5
May '16
1247.0
1247.0
1239.5
0.0
Jul '16
1265.0
+0.5
Sep '16
1235.0
+0.5
Nov '16
1235.0
+0.5
Jan '17
1235.0
+0.5

Rice Comment

Rice futures were fractionally higher. January will have resistance near $12.50 and support begins around $11.75 . Global ending stocks for 15/16 were raised by 3 percent (2.7 million tons) due to an increase in beginning stocks and a decrease in consumption in the November report. The average long-grain price is projected down $1.30 from last month to $11.50 to $12.50.

http://www.arfb.com/ag-markets-statistics/report/

APEDA Rice Commodity News

 

 

International Benchmark Price
Price on: 17-11-2015
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
White Sugar
1
CZCE White Sugar Futures (USD/t)
847
2
Kenya Mumias white sugar, EXW (USD/t)
691
3
Pakistani refined sugar, EXW Akbari Mandi (USD/t)
559
Raisins
1
Californian Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK (GBP/t)
1700
2
South African Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK (GBP/t)
1615
Guar Gum Powder
1
Indian 100 mesh 3500 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
2190
2
Indian 200 mesh 3500 cps basis, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
1530
3
Indian 200 mesh 5000 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
2630
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 17-11-2015
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Rice
1
Alappuzha (Kerala)
Other
3800
3900
2
Solapur (Maharashtra)
Other
2115
5225
3
Dhing (Assam)
Common 
1700
2000
Wheat
1
Cherthala (Kerala)
Other
2350
2500
2
Nagpur (Maharashtra)
Other
1500
1640
3
Sainthia (West Bengal)
Other
1615
1640
Pine Apple
1
Chala (Kerala)
Other
2000
2060
2
Ropar (Punjab)
Other
1600
2000
3
Nagpur (Maharashtra)
Other
1000
2000
Cabbage
1
Barnala (Punjab)
Other
1000
1200
2
Shillong (Meghalaya)
Other
1500
1800
3
Samsi (West Bengal)
Other
990
1020
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 16-11-2015
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Ahmedabad
386
2
Chittoor
375
3
Hyderabad
353
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 16-11-2015
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Onions Dry
Package: 50 lb sacks
1
Atlanta
Washington
Yellow
19.50
22
2
Chicago
Nevada
Yellow
11
13
3
Dallas
Colorado
Yellow
14
17
Cauliflower
Package: cartons film wrapped
1
Atlanta
Mexico
White
23.25
23.50
2
Dallas
California
White
26.50
30
3
Miami
California
White
20
24
Grapefruit
Package: 4/5 bushel cartons
1
Atlanta
Florida
Red
17.50
18
2
Dallas
Florida
Red
23
23.50
3
New York
Florida
Red
26
26
Source:USDA

 




 

 

Iran’s rice import hikes despite official ban

18 NOVEMBER 2015, 17:20 (GMT+0
http://en.trend.az/iran/business/2458111.html