Wednesday, November 25, 2015

24th November,2015 daily global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine-Latest Rice News Updates

Rice News Headlines...
ü  Rice growers take to the streets for reasonable, timely support price
ü  Wheat exports post 100% increase in four months
ü  ‘Last-minute’ basmati price surge fails to enthuse farmers
ü  Farmers hurt by low aman prices
ü  Rural distress: Madhya Pradesh faces the brunt of monsoon failure
ü  Sanwaria Agro Oils Ltd to form Dubai subsidiary to market Basmati rice
ü  Iran Defaults on Rice Payments to India: Traders
ü  Smugglers flood Nigeria with expired rice
ü  Vietnam’s medicinal rice selling like hot cakes
ü  Sale of rotten rice to go ahead on December 1 despite protest
ü  Cereal imports expected to hit record 855,800 tonnes
ü  Govt to double import duty on rice
ü  Climate-Friendly Rice Recognized as a Top Science Development of 2015
ü  APEDA Rice Commodity News
ü  11/24/2015 Farm Bureau Market Report
ü  Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-November 24
ü  Rice Prices
ü  CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures  
ü  Domestic Usage Report:  Per Capita Rice Consumption Increases in 2014   
ü  USA Rice Publishes Student Chef Cookbook in Mexico  

News Detail...

Rice growers take to the streets for reasonable, timely support price

Rice growers hold a rally in Shahdadkot on Monday for reasonable support price of their crop.—Dawn
LARKANA: The Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB) along with some other organisations of growers organised a rally in Shahdadkot on Monday against what they described as “government’s apathy” towards them which was ruining their investment and labour in the cultivation of rice — the only major crop in this belt — by not fixing a reasonable support price on time.The rally was taken out from Koto Moto Chowk located at a section of Tanveri Shakh (irrigation channel) in the city.Qambar-Shahdadkot SAB president Ishaque Mughiri, Comrade Uris Selro, Wahab Pandrani and others who led the rally reminded the government that a majority of the district’s population had no alternative livelihood and, as such, they solely depended on the rice crop.

The rally participants held a three-hour sit-in at the protest venue demanding timely fixing of the support price for their crop as per the recommendation of growers’ representatives.Mr Mughiri said that on the one hand, the government had turned a deaf ear to their demand and, on the other, rice millers and traders were fleecing growers with a meagre procurement rate, i.e. below Rs650 for 40 kilogram.

Description: Description: Rice growers hold a rally in Shahdadkot on Monday for reasonable support price of their crop.—DawnThe yawning difference between the procurement price and the cost of production with increased rates of agricultural input was causing a huge loss to growers who, he said, were not even able to pay off their loans extended to them by banks.The protesters raised slogans urging the federal government to come to their rescue on the support price issue as it had recently done in the case of sugar cane crop.Referring to the recent Sindh High Court decision fixing Rs900 and Rs1,300 per 40 kilogram support price for paddy and wheat, respectively, the SAB leaders called for ensuring the implementation of the order.

They also demanded lifting of paddy through the Trade Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) and Pakistan Agricultural Stores and Services Corporation (Passco) and urged lawmakers to pursue their case on the floor of the elected houses through resolutions in order to save a big population from losses.They also urged the federal government to explore export orders in the international markets for rice. The government should procure Basmati rice at the minimum rate of Rs1,800 per 40 kilogram, they said.
Wajid Chandio, Khalid Umar Khoso, Atta Hussain Junejo, Hazar Khan Jamali, Tarique Khuhawar and others also spoke.Meanwhile, Larkana Deputy Com­m­­­i­ssioner Javed Ahmed Jagirani held a meeting with representatives of rice growers and millers to discuss the practice of causing one-kilo loss on every 40-kilo to growers during the paddy buying process.Mr Jagirani asked millers to immediately stop the practice. He said that the matter would also be communicated to provincial government.SAB vice president Gada Hussain Mahisar and representatives of the Bureau of Supply and Prices, Larkana Chamber of Commerce and Industry and agriculture department also attended the meeting.
Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2015

Wheat exports post 100% increase in four months

Description: Description: final
ISLAMABAD (APP) – Wheat exports from the country during first four months of current financial year registered 100 percent increase as compared to the corresponding period of last year.About 1,061 metric tons of wheat were exported during the period from July-October, 2015 and earned US$ 0.220 million, said data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics here Tuesday.Meanwhile, exports of rice also witnessed 10.78 percent increase during the period under review as compared to same period of last year as about 898,603 metric tons of rice worth US$ 339.92 million as against 657,420 metric tons of US$ 306.89 million exports of last same period last year.
The data revealed that vegetable exports during last four months has also witnessed an increase of 89 percent as the country was able to export 195,659 metric tons of fish vegetables of different kind and fetched US$56.779 million for the country.The vegetable exports during first four months of last financial year was recorded at 85,420 metric tons valuing US$ 28.689 million, the data revealed.During the period from July-October, 2015, meat and meat preparations exports grew by 36.32 percent about 25,925 metric tons of meat and meat products worth US$ 90.218 million exported, it added.Meat and meat preparation exports from country was recorded at 21,433 metric tons valuing US$ 66.183 million in first four months of last financial year, the data said.However, overall food group exports from the country during first four months remained to declining trend as it reduced by 8.17 percent as compared to same period of last year.During the period under review, food exports came down from US$ 1.205 billion to US$ 1.107 billion as exports of some items including rice basmati, fish and fish preparations, fruits and leguminous recorded negative growth in their exports.

It may be recalled here that food group imports in country decreased by 12.89 percent as compared to same period of last year which were recorded at US $1.705 billion as compared to the imports of $1.954 billion in July-October (2014-15).The food imports on year-on-year basis also decreased by 3.42 percent from $524.363 million in October 2014 to $506.438 million in October 2015

 ‘Last-minute’ basmati price surge fails to enthuse farmers

Prices double after 80% procurement | Hooda smells scam, to meet Guv
Jind: The price of 1121 paddy has increased to Rs 3,000 per quintal from the last week’s rate of Rs 2,600 per quintal in Jind. “Of late, rates have improved. Still, the government should keep a check on activities of its officers, millers and commission agents to curb hoarding,” said Ram Kishan, a farmer of Pandu Pindara. Farmers alleged that initially commission agents did not purchase their produce at the MSP (Rs 1,450 per quintal) and they were forced to sell it at low rates. — TNS
Description: Description: ‘Last-minute’ basmati price surge fails to enthuse farmers
Pusa 1121 basmati that sold for Rs 1,600 per quintal last month fetched Rs 3,050 in Sirsa and Rs 3,200 in Taraori on Monday. file photo

Sushil Manav
Tribune News Service
Sirsa, November 24
Basmati farmers across the state are feeling let down over a “untimely” rise in prices of various varieties in the past couple of days after a majority of them have already sold their produce at low prices.Alleging it a scam at the instance of the BJP government, former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said he would meet Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki on November 27 and request him to order a probe into it.Pusa 1121 basmati that sold at Rs1,600 per quintal last month fetched Rs3,050 per quintal in Sirsa and Rs3,200 per quintal in Taraori mandi on Monday.
 Prices of the Muchhal variety too shot from Rs1,550 last month to Rs2,800 per quintal.Though the prices came down by 5 per cent today, these are still almost double of the last month’s rates.“Nearly 80 to 85 per cent of farmers have sold their crop,” said Gurdial Mehta, former president of the Sirsa Arhtiya Association.Lala Sewa Ram, patron of the Haryana Rice Millers Association and owner of Hanuman Rice Mill at Taraori, said less quantity of basmati was coming to the markets now.Haryana Kisan Manch state president Prahlad Singh Bharukhera said farmers had been fleeced with the connivance of the BJP government. Swaran Singh Virk, general secretary, Haryana Kisan Sabha, demanded a bonus of Rs500 per quintal to those farmers who have already sold their crop.“After a scam in special girdawari, the paddy scam has come to fore in the first year of the BJP government’s rule.
Under a plan, the government announced to buy PB-1509 variety of basmati at the minimum support price (rates of parmal) allowing millers and hoarders to fleece farmers at will. Farmers were forced to sell their produce in distress at Rs1,200 per quintal for which payment was claimed from the government at Rs1,450 per quintal,” Hooda said.The former CM said farmers and the state exchequer suffered the loss of Rs4,000 crore by first preparing separate records for the purchase of parmal and PB 1509 basmati and then making joint entries of the varieties.“Millers are preferring parmal as levy rice (mandatory supply by millers to public distribution system) which is available in MP and other states at Rs20 a kg,” Hooda said.Terming the BJP of working against the interests of farmers to benefit hoarders and black-marketers, Hooda demanded a probe into “paddy and girdawari scams”.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/-last-minute-basmati-price-surge-fails-to-enthuse-farmers/162606.html

Farmers hurt by low aman prices


Sohel Parvez
Farmers have started harvesting aman paddy but prices remain below the last year's level mainly for sluggish demand from millers.Growers and traders said paddy prices increased marginally after the government had announced its purchase plans for the current aman harvest season. But it is still lower than last year's prices."There was good demand for paddy in the market last year. But it is unclear to me why the demand has waned this year," said Fazlul Haque, a farmer at Dimla of Nilphamari, a northern district.He grew aman paddy on 6.6 acres of land and received Tk 470 a maund for hybrid or coarse paddy earlier this month. Growers are selling the same coarse paddy at around Tk 500 a maund now, he added.
Description: Description: http://www.thedailystar.net/sites/default/files/styles/big_5/public/feature/images/farmer_1.jpg?itok=HuCpEitcHe and his peers sold hybrid varieties at more than Tk 550 a maund during the same period last year.Overall, coarse or hybrid paddy is being sold at Tk 500-Tk 530 a maund at rural markets in the north, down from Tk 550 a year ago, said Nirod Boron Saha, president of a platform of rice and paddy commission agents at Naogaon.Swarna, a relatively slimmer or medium variety of rice compared to the hybrid, is also being traded at prices lower than last year's, he said. "It seems that prices may fall further in the coming weeks, as harvest has begun in full swing and paddy is arriving at local markets,” Saha added.
"Crop yield is very good in some growing regions. So, supply will also be good. Under the circumstances, prices may fall further unless the government raises its procurement quantity and hikes duty on rice imports."On November 12, the government announced its plans to buy two lakh tonnes of aman rice this season at Tk 31 a kilogram.Last year, it targeted to buy three lakh tonnes of aman rice at Tk 32 a kilogram, and began purchasing from November 15.This year, the government plans to start purchasing from December 15, which will be too late to ensure fair prices for farmers, said Saha.Mohammad Mokhlesur, a farmer at Adamdighi in Bogra, another northern district, said, "The government will buy at a time when poor farmers like us will not have paddy to sell.

A majority of us will have to sell paddy to meet our immediate needs just after harvesting."He grew swarna paddy on one acre of land, including a portion that was rented.However, prices of the variety stand at around Tk 600 a mound; he sold the same at Tk 650 last year."The demand is low. Many large farmers still hold good quantities of paddy from last season," said Mokhlesur."We, the small farmers, would have been benefitted had the government purchased paddy now. But the present purchase plan will only benefit the rich farmers."Md Layek Ali, general secretary of Bangladesh Auto, Major and Husking Mills Association, said mills still hold a high quantity of carry-over stock from last season.

"That is why the prices of aman paddy are low," he said, urging the government to increase duties on rice imports to 30 percent from 10 percent at present, to safeguard local farmers."Unless the government increases the duty, imports will rise, dampening aman paddy prices," Ali said.Rice imports slumped 60 percent to 1.21 lakh tonnes from July 1 to November 12 this fiscal year, from 3.06 lakh tonnes in the same period a year ago, according to Food Planning and Monitoring Unit (FPMU) under the food ministry.Aman accounts for 38 percent of annual rice output. The Department of Agricultural Extension targeted to ensure production of 1.35 crore tonnes of rice during the current aman season, up from 1.31 crore tonnes of actual production last year.The government expects to meet the target for conducive weather, despite some early setbacks due to floods in the northern districts, according to a report by FPMU.
http://www.thedailystar.net/business/farmers-hurt-low-aman-prices-177064

Rural distress: Madhya Pradesh faces the brunt of monsoon failure

November 24, 2015 10:52 IST
Description: Description: http://imads.rediff.com/0/default/empty.gifMost farmers depend on rainwater for farming; depleting groundwater has exacerbated the matters.

Image: Monsoon 2015 marks a period when India suffered back-to-back droughts, a phenomenon which had happened only four times in the past 100 years. 

Photograph: Reuters
 Farmers across India are faced with a multitude of problems, posing a serious challenge to the country's development narrative. Cotton and basmati rice growers in Punjab, sugarcane farmers in west Uttar Pradesh are all under stress due to the non-payment of insurance and state compensation. Growers in Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra are also hit by consecutive monsoon failures. 
In a two-part series, Business Standard looks at the problem: 

When Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh (MP) received good rainfall during the early days of monsoon season, thousands of soybean farmers were overjoyed as this was the best in the past two years. They dreamt of a good income and plan for family weddings and better schools for their children. They were happy to see a bumper crop standing in their fields. This proved short-lived as the cumulative rainfall turned out to be below average, making it a second consecutive year of drought. 
Description: Description: http://im.rediff.com/money/2015/nov/24farm1.jpg
In MP, the soya crop had ripened but the pods were without seeds, making it worthless. Worse, a yellow virus attacked the white lentil (urad) for the first time and destroyed the second Kharif crop (sown between July and October). District magistrate M B Ojha blames "irregular rainfalls" and "rise in the temperature in August" for the reduced yield of soybean and white lentils in the district, which is currently represented by external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj in Parliament and is the hometown of state chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.Unofficial reports suggest the loss of 14 lives either due to cardiac arrest or suicide in this one district.The situation is not much different elsewhere in the state - and indeed in much of the country. The state government has declared drought conditions in 40 out of 51 districts and sought Rs 10,000 crore (Rs 100 billion) in Central assistance. 

Officials from the drought-affected states will meet the Central government in New Delhi on Tuesday to seek help. "Some states are reluctant to declare the crisis as a natural disaster and are delaying sending the memorandums, which is impacting the farmers," a senior agriculture ministry official remarked. Agriculture growth in 2014-15  was 0.2 per cent, while growth in 2015-16 is also not expected to improve by much and might in fact see agriculture contract. Description: Description: http://im.rediff.com/money/2015/nov/24farm.jpgIndia's average annual farm growth in the 12th Plan period (2012-13 to 2016-17) is set to be far below the targeted four per cent.

REDIFF.COM

Sanwaria Agro Oils Ltd to form Dubai subsidiary to market Basmati rice
Posted On: 2015-11-23 21:51:43
The Board of Directors of Sanwaria Agro Oils Ltd informed that it has been decided to form a subsidiary Company in Dubai to cater specific business needs for export and marketing of Basmati Rice for Middle East Market. Further, Iran, Iraq and African markets will also be catered through this subsidiary.Presently, the Company is introducing its Basmati Rice Brand "Nashira" for the Middle East Market and others with a local partner there.
The Board of Directors noted further that presently the paddy processing capacity of the Company under operation is 600 Metric tonnes (MT) per day and a substantial portion of revenue of the forthcoming Quarters including the running Quarter will come from Paddy / Rice business.Shares of SANWARIA AGRO OILS LTD. was last trading in BSE at Rs.7.09 as compared to the previous close of Rs. 7.5. The total number of shares traded during the day was 62061 in over 77 trades.The stock hit an intraday high of Rs. 7.74 and intraday low of 7.09. The net turnover during the day was Rs. 444221.
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Source: Equity Bulls

Iran Defaults on Rice Payments to India: Traders

 

By Raymond Ronamai @raymondronamai on February 07 2012 9:13 AM EST


Iranian buyers have defaulted on payments for about 200,000 tonnes of rice from their top supplier India, exporters and rice millers said on Tuesday, a sign of the mounting pressure on Tehran from a new wave of Western sanctions.The default prompted the head of the All India Rice Exporters' Association to call on members to stop rice exports to Iran based on credit, which would be a fresh blow to a country where imports of staple foods are already being hampered by sanctions.It is a serious issue and we do not rule out further payment defaults by Iran, said Vijay Setia, the association's president.Indian sources said the Iranian buyers had defaulted on payments worth about $144 million for rice shipments under long-term supply deals. Iran shipped the cargoes from Indian ports in October and November.

Most Indian rice exporters allow 90 days credit.In other supply disruptions, five deliveries of grain to Iran were diverted to new destinations because payments were held up, ship tracking data showed last week. Other cargoes are sitting offshore Iran because of difficulty with payments.Under a tightening grip of sanctions, the country of 74 million people is finding it increasingly difficult to repatriate the hard currency from its crude oil exports, its major foreign currency earner, that it needs to pay for shipments of food and other imports.A sharp drop in the value of the rial is adding to Iran's import costs and the financial sanctions make it difficult for traders in the country to channel import payments through unofficial routes involving middlemen based in Dubai.
India is Iran's top rice supplier, accounting for some 70 percent of its annual requirement of 1-1.2 million tonnes of the grain, mainly the aromatic variety called Basmati.Traders and officials in Iran could not be immediately reached to comment.The United States slapped fresh sanctions on Tehran from the start of this year, targeting financial institutions that deal with the central bank, hoping to stem oil revenues and persuade Iran to abandon a suspected nuclear weapons program.U.S. President Barack Obama tightened those sanctions on Sunday, again targeting Iran's central bank and giving U.S. banks new powers to freeze assets linked to Tehran.The European Union has agreed to ban Iranian oil imports, a measure expected to take full effect within six months.of crude exports, are under pressure from U.S. sanctions to cut back their purchases.China has already cut Iran imports in the first three months of this year over a pricing dispute and a flurry of U.S. diplomats has discussed the sanctions with Asian government officials.South Korea is paying Iran for crude in its local currency, but difficulty repatriating the funds under the weight of sanctions means won worth an estimated $5 billion has piled up South Korean banks.

www.reuters.com/article/2012/.../us-india-rice-idUSTRE8160CX201202

Smugglers flood Nigeria with expired rice


Posted By: Lucas Ajanakuon: November 25, 2015
Smugglers seem to have taken over the Nigerian rice market, flooding it with substandard and expired brands.Hundreds of trailers have been crossing the porous borders unchallenged – a development that is endangering the country’s plans to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production.Industry sources and consumers have urged the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to curb smuggling. They also want the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to step up the inspection of rice stored at several locations in the country. Supply of expired and poisonous rice to unsuspecting consumers could rapidly develop into a major health disaster if left unchecked, a source said yesterday.Stakeholders have urged the Presidency to urgently step in by directing the regulatory agencies to take action to prevent the outbreak of diseases.
Given the unmet demand of more than three million tonnes annually and owing to inadequate local production, rice consumption needs are currently limited to legal imports with high import tariff and lack of cohesive policy.Legal importers paying full tariff of 70 per cent will never be able to compete with smugglers who enjoy a free ride into the market, aided by negligible tariffs in neighbouring Cameroon and Republic of Benin and taking advantage of porous borders. To add to these woes, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also barred rice importers from accessing foreign exchange through its window.The resultant shortage in the market is now being exploited by smugglers, who prospered significantly in 2013 when they smugled around 2.5 million tonnes of rice into the country through the borders, without paying any duty. In 2013, the Federal Government increased rice importation tariff to 110 per cent as against zero duty regime administered in Benin and Cameroon.
The National Rice Millers Association of Nigeria (NRMAN) has complained that the NCS erred in its decision to lift the ban on rice importation through land borders. Its chairman said if the NCS succeeds in its decision, it would erode the gains achieved by the previous administration in the country’s rice value chain.
http://thenationonlineng.net/smugglers-flood-nigeria-with-expired-rice/

Vietnam’s medicinal rice selling like hot cakes
VietNamNet Bridge - Rice with a high nutrition content, known as medicinal rice, developed by some Vietnamese food companies, has been selling well in Vietnam and the world market.

Description: Description: Vietnam, medicine rice, Loc Troi, vietnam economy, vietnamnet bridge, english news about Vietnam, Vietnam news, news about Vietnam, English news, vietnamnet news, latest news on vietnam
In late September, Docimexco collected all the Ngoc do huong dua (Red gem with pineapple flavor) fresh rice harvested by Dinh An Cooperative in Dong Thap province at VND7,000 per kilo. The price was far higher than the other specialty rice varieties, including Jasmine, sold for VND5,200 per kilo.Tran Quoc Nam, general director of Docimexco, said in Tuoi Tre that the trading company bought all the harvested rice to fulfill contracts signed with partners from France, the UK, Italy, Switzerland and Turkey.“It is sold for $750-800 per ton,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jasmine, also a specialty rice variety, can be sold for $530 per ton.Ngoc do huong dua was accidentally discovered by Nguyen Anh Dung, the cooperative’s director in 2012, when he kept a close watch over the development of LD2012 rice variety on the fields. Dung then found that the rice has red grain and has natural pineapple flavor.Dung decided to grow the rice variety on a trial basis on one hectare of land in the 2014 autumn-winter crop. Since people said what most attracts them in the rice is the pineapple flavor, Dung decided to name it Ngoc do huong dua, which means the gem with red color and pineapple flavor.
Ngoc do huong dua is one of the new specialty rice varieties developed recently by Vietnamese scientists and cooperatives.Loc Troi Group, for example, has Vibigaba, suitable to diabetes patients.Loc Troi’s president Huynh Van Thon said on VnExpress that the rice is produced on the basis of BN1 variety which the company has developed after three years of conducting research.Thon went on to say that Loc Troi is working on a new rice variety beneficial to human health, which helps stabilize blood sugar level, prevent atherosclerosis and provide high nutrients. Meanwhile, Vo Minh Khai, director of Vien Phu Trade and Production, said the company has marketed an organic Japonica brown rice.
The rice can help regulate blood pressure, help people have deep sleep and support cardiovascular health.Vien Phu now churns out 11 rice products of different kinds, including the organic black sprout gaba rice, priced at VND100,000 per kilo.Hoa, a housewife in Binh Thanh district in HCM City, said her family members previously only favored Thai fragrant rice. However, they have shifted to use medicinal rice for the last six months.“A kilo of medicinal rice is priced at VND40,000, twice as much as normal rice. But it is affordable. Besides, it is safe for my mother, who suffers from diabetes,” she said.

Sale of rotten rice to go ahead on December 1 despite protest

PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI

November 24, 2015 1:00 am

THE Commerce Ministry will open bidding for 37,412 tonnes of rotten rice on December 1, despite opposition from rice quality surveyors who called for the suspension of the auction as they believe the rice could be sold for human consumption rather than for the industrial sector.Representatives of the Thai Agricultural Surveyors Association marched to the ministry yesterday to express their concerns that the government would sell this rice too cheaply. The rice surveyors said some of it was of high enough quality to be sold for human consumption, but the government has insisted that most was not fit for consumption.Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, said the government would proceed with the auction as rice from the stockpile had been checked by the military's ruling National Council for Peace and Order, the government rice inspection committee and private enterprises.

"It has been proved that this rice stock is not suitable for consumption. "Some rice may be in good condition but it has mixed with rotten rice, and the government would need to spend more [time] managing this rice stock if it does not release it for industrial use. Thus the government will go ahead and open this lot of rice for industrial supply," Duangporn said.She added that rice surveyor companies had also taken part in the rice inspection. If they wanted to oppose the auction, they should have done so earlier.Duangporn added that those rice surveyor companies would face legal action by the government as they were contributed to poor oversight of the rice stocks that caused the rotting.However, Montatip Vaiyawanna, president of the Thai Agricultural Surveyors Association, said rice surveyors had not taken part in the government's rice inspection. She insisted that some of the rice from this lot could be sold for human consumption or feedmeal production, bringing in more money for the government.

More than 170 industrial enterprises attended a session yesterday explaining the regulations and conditions for joining the bid on December 1.

THE NATION

Cereal imports expected to hit record 855,800 tonnes

Sangam Prasain, Kathmandu
Description: Description: http://assets-cdn.ekantipur.com/images/the-kathmandu-post/money-finance/24112015085304rice-1000x0.jpgNov 24, 2015- Nepal’s cereal imports are expected to swell to a record 855,800 tonnes in 2015-16, a whopping 35 percent jump over last year’s level, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations said in its latest report.In terms of value, the import figure could reach Rs48 billion. The country’s cereal import bill amounted to Rs35.12 billion in the last fiscal year.Most of the total projected food imports are rice, the FAO said. Rice shipments are anticipated to amount to 640,000 tonnes in 2016, up 14 percent from the previous year’s level.The expected sharp rise in imports has been attributed to the reduced production in 2015 and sustained demand. Similarly, a lower 2015 maize output is expected to boost imports to 190,000 tonnes from last year’s low level of 50,000 tonnes.
According to the statistics of Nepal Rastra Bank, the rice and paddy import bill jumped 43.4 percent to Rs24.75 billion in the last fiscal year, largely due to disappointing summer harvests. All the rice imports were made from India. The rice import bill stoodat Rs13.14 billion in 2012-13.and surged to Rs17.26 billion in 2013-14.   The FAO has forecast Nepal’s 2015 rice production to reach 4.6 million tonnes, 4 percent below last year’s reduced level, as a result of a light contraction in the area planted and yields, following below-average rains over the central and eastern Tarai areas, which account for the bulk of rice production at the national level. Harvesting of the 2015 rice crop started in mid-October and will continue until December.
 However, the government estimates that the production of cereal crops could drop sharplyby at least 15 percent, withpaddy production expected to fall 10 percent.According to Hem Raj Regmi, chief statistician of the Ministry of Agricultural Development, the paddy production areas contracted 4 percent this year, while 3 percent of the paddy fields has been left unused due to lack of water.Likewise, the ministry has reported the level of crop failures at 1 percent of the total paddy fields due to seed failure and untimely transplantation.
Paddy is cultivated on 1.5 million hectares of arable land in NepalAfter having endured drought and erratic rain throughout the June-August transplantation period, Nepali farmers have been hit by a shortage of vital farm inputs and subsequent crop failure this season. “We are currently doing a crop assessment in 20 districts, and preliminary reports show a record drop in output this year,” said Regmi, adding that the winter crop output, particularly wheat, could also be discouraging if fertilizers are not distributed on time. So far, the government has released 13,000 tonnes of chemical fertilizers in the last three weeks out of the shipments stuck at Birgunj dry port due to the ongoing Tarai unrest. The requirement of chemical fertilizers for the winter crops amounts to 50,000 tonnes. 
The FAO estimate of the 2015 maize crop, harvested by September, indicates a 7 percent year-on-year decline with an output level of 2 million tonnes. The drop is mainly due to reduced seed and fertilizer availability, following losses caused by the earthquake in April.
Published: 24-11-2015 08:53
http://bit.ly/1N55Zsx
http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2015-11-24/cereal-imports-expected-to-hit-record-855800-tonnes.html

Govt to double import duty on rice


The government has decided to double the import duty on rice – to discourage import of the staple and encourage domestic crop growers. Star file photo
Star Online Report
The government has decided to double the import duty on rice – to discourage import of the staple and encourage domestic crop growers.The duty, hiked to 20 percent from the existing 10 percent, will be Description: Description: http://www.thedailystar.net/sites/default/files/styles/big_4/public/feature/images/rice_5.jpg?itok=29IrhsBgimplemented soon, Food Minister Quamrul Islam said at a meeting today.A gazette notification will be issued in this regard, he told the meeting of Bangladesh Auto, Major and Husking Mills Association in response to their demand.Soaring rice imports have been affecting farmers all over the country – compelling the authority to slap a 10 percent import duty after the first quarter of this year.The hike, 4 percent, was made effective from May 11, after a gap of eight years.The mill-owners’ association have been demanding 30 percent import duty on rice, for what they said “to ensure fair pricing for the farmers”.

Climate-Friendly Rice Recognized as a Top Science Development of 2015

 

Methane emissions dramatically reduced compared to common rice

Released: 24-Nov-2015 1:05 PM EST 
Available for logged-in reporters only
Newswise — RICHLAND, Wash. – The creation of a new kind of rice which gives off nearly zero greenhouse gas emissions during its growth has earned kudos for a team of scientists from three continents, including the lead investigator at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.The new kind of rice grows in a manner that nearly eliminates the production of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. And rice is a big source of methane: Scientists estimate that somewhere in the neighborhood of 8 to 15 percent of global methane emissions come from rice paddies around the world. Methane is 20 times more efficient at trapping heat in atmosphere than its better-known counterpart, carbon dioxide, making the team’s contribution especially important for climate issues.The research has been recognized with a “Best of What’s New” award for 2015 by Popular Science. The work was named the grand prize winner in the magazine’s engineering category, one of 10 categories in which a total of 100 research developments around the globe were recognized.

The awards are described in the December issue of the magazine.PNNL scientist Christer Jansson led the team; he is director of plant sciences at EMSL, the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a DOE user facility at PNNL. For more than a decade he has worked closely with Chuanxin Sun of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, who has contributed significantly to the research on rice. The two published a research paper about the rice in July in Nature, together with other researchers at the Swedish institution and colleagues at China’s Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Hunan Agricultural University.To create the rice, the team identified a gene in barley that directs how that plant uses carbon, then spliced that gene into common rice.

Description: Description: The new strain of rice (right) compared to common rice (left). The new rice creates much less methane during its growth and produces more grains.The change redirected the way the rice plant uses the carbon it pulls from the atmosphere, causing the plant to send more carbon into the plant’s grain and stems and less into its roots.That change increases the amount of starch and the yield of rice and reduces the carbon available to the roots, where bacteria convert much of the substance into methane.“This is a win-win finding,” said Jansson, a plant biochemist. “The process results in reduced methane emissions, which helps to mitigate climate change, and also results in more biomass – more food. This dual effect is very positive.
”Much of Jansson’s work focuses on understanding how plants absorb light and tap water and carbon to carry out photosynthesis. The work is central to scientists who investigate “bioenergy,” which involves creating or tapping biological materials for energy. Jansson has worked with crops like sorghum, rice and tobacco to discover new ways to create plants that offer novel energy traits.Funding for this research was provided by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning, the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Carl Tryggers Foundation. Most of Jansson’s current research is funded by the Department of Energy’s Office of Science and ARPA-E.The new strain of rice (right) compared to common rice (left). The new rice creates much less methane during its growth and produces more grains.

(Photo courtesy of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences)


http://www.newswise.com/articles/climate-friendly-rice-recognized-as-a-top-science-development-of-2015
APEDA Rice Commodity News
International Benchmark Price
Price on: 23-11-2015
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Rice
1
CZCE Early Rice Futures (USD/t)
393
2
Pakistani 100%, FOB Karachi (USD/t)
318
3
Pakistani 25% Broken (USD/t)
383
Garlic
1
Chinese first grade granules, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
2100
2
Chinese Grade A dehydrated flakes, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
2000
3
Chinese powdered, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
1800
Ginger
1
Chinese sliced, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
4600
2
Chinese whole, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
5100
3
Indian Cochin, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
3000
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 21-11-2015
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Rice
1
Mangalore (Karnataka)
Fine
2700
3280
2
Rayagada (Orissa)
Other
1700
1800
3
Samsi (West Bengal)
Fine 
2790
2820
Wheat
1
Soundati (Karnataka)
Local
1670
1670
2
Sangli (Maharashtra)
Other
1700
2800
3
Dahod (Gujarat)
147 Average
1750
1850
Papaya
1
Barnala (Punjab)
Other
2500
2900
2
Kangra (Himachal Pradesh)
Other
2400
2600
3
Bharuch (Gujarat)
Other
800
1250
Onion
1
Jatni (Orissa)
Other
3200
3600
2
Barnala (Punjab)
Other
1600
2200
3
Barasat (West Bengal)
Other
2800
3300
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 23-11-2015
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Ahmedabad
386
2
Chittoor
378
3
Nagapur
354
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 23-11-2015
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Onions Dry
Package: 40 lb cartons
1
Atlanta
Peru
Yellow
24
26
2
Chicago
Nevada
Yellow
22
24
3
Detroit
Peru
Yellow
25
26.50
Carrots
Package: 20 1-lb film bags
1
Atlanta
California
Baby Peeled
20
20.75
2
Dallas
Arizona
Baby Peeled
17
18.50
3
Detroit
California
Baby Peeled
17
17.50
Grapes
Package: 18 lb containers bagged
1
Atlanta
Peru  
Red Globe
24.50
24.75
2
Dallas
California 
Red Globe
24
24
3
Philadelphia
Peru
Red Globe
21
24
Source:USDA
11/24/2015 Farm Bureau Market Report

                Rice
High
Low
Long Grain Cash Bids
Long Grain New Crop


Futures:
ROUGH RICE
High
Low
Last
Change
Jan '16
1229.0
1209.5
1219.0
+8.5
Mar '16
1249.5
1239.0
1245.0
+8.0
May '16
1273.5
+8.0
Jul '16
1298.5
+7.0
Sep '16
1270.0
1270.0
1261.5
0.0
Nov '16
1261.5
0.0
Jan '17
1261.5
0.0
Description: Description: DTN Description: Description: CME Group Description: Description: Click here for info on Exchange delays.

Rice Comment

Rice prices closed higher today. Prices remain volatile as the market has little change in the fundamental situation. While U.S. exports remain sluggish along with global demand, the threat of El Niño continues to provide underlying support for prices.
                                                      http://www.arfb.com/ag-markets-statistics

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-November 24
 Tue Nov 24, 2015 2:39pm IST
Nagpur, Nov 24 Gram prices moved down in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing
Committee (APMC) here on poor buying support from local millers amid increased supply from
producing regions. High moisture content arrival and fresh fall in Madhya Pradesh gram prices
also affected prices, according to sources.

               *            *              *              *

    FOODGRAINS & PULSES
    GRAM
   * Gram super best bold and medium varieties recovered in open market on good seasonal
     demand from local traders amid weak supply from millers.

     TUAR
   * Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here on subdued demand because of high
     prices and good overseas supply.

   * Rice HMT Shriram and Chinnor varieties zoomed up in open market on increased
     seasonal demand from local traders amid tight supply from producing regions like
     Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. 
                                                                                               
   * In Akola, Tuar - 10,000-10,300, Tuar dal - 15,800-16,200, Udid -
     13,600-14,000, Udid Mogar (clean) - 17,000-17,700, Moong -
     9,700-9,900, Moong Mogar (clean) 11,000-11,400, Gram - 4,200-4,300,
     Gram Super best bold - 6,000-6,200 for 100 kg.

   * Wheat, other varieties of rice and other commodities remained steady in open market
     in weak trading activity.
      
 Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg

     FOODGRAINS                 Available prices     Previous close  
     Gram Auction                4,000-4,800         4,150-4,800
     Gram Pink Auction            n.a.           2,100-2,600
     Tuar Auction                n.a.                7,000-8,000
     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            6,700-6,900        6,600-6,800
     Gram Super Best            n.a.            n.a.
     Gram Medium Best            6,300-6,400        6,200-6,300
     Gram Dal Medium            n.a.            n.a
     Gram Mill Quality            5,100-5,200        5,100-5,200
     Desi gram Raw                4,800-4,900         4,800-4,900
     Gram Filter new            5,500-5,700        5,500-5,700
     Gram Kabuli                6,000-8,000        6,000-8,000
     Gram Pink                        6,800-7,500        6,800-7,500
     Tuar Fataka Best             16,000-16,500        16,000-16,500
     Tuar Fataka Medium             15,000-15,500        15,000-15,500
     Tuar Dal Best Phod            14,000-14,500        14,000-14,500
     Tuar Dal Medium phod            12,500-13,000        12,500-13,000
     Tuar Gavarani New             10,700-11,200        10,700-11,200
     Tuar Karnataka             11,100-11,600        11,100-11,600
     Tuar Black                 17,000-17,400        17,000-17,400
     Masoor dal best            7,500-7,800        7,500-7,800
     Masoor dal medium            6,900-7,400        7,100-7,400
     Masoor                    n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Mogar bold            10,800-11,700       10,800-11,700
     Moong Mogar Med            10,200-11,000        10,200-11,000
     Moong dal Chilka            8,600-9,600        8,600-9,600
     Moong Mill quality            n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Chamki best            9,000-9,800        9,000-9,800
     Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG)    16,700-18,200       16,700-18,200    
     Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)    14,200-16,200        14,200-16,200   
     Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)        10,300-11,100        10,300-11,100    
     Batri dal (100 INR/KG)        5,800-6,200        5,800-6,200
     Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)          4,800-5,000         4,800-5,000
     Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)            3,200-3,400        3,200-3,400
     Watana White (100 INR/KG)              3,000-3,100           3,000-3,100
     Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)    3,200-3,500        3,200-3,500  
     Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)        1,600-1,700        1,600-1,700
     Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG)    1,550-1,650        1,550-1,650  
     Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)         1,550-1,750        1,600-1,800
     Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)    2,000-2,400        2,000-2,400   
     Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)   1,850-2,100        1,950-2,100
     Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)    n.a.            n.a.
     MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)    3,400-4,000        3,400-4,100   
     MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)    2,600-2,800        2,600-2,900          
     Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG)        2,800-3,200        2,800-3,200   
     Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG)        2,600-2,800        2,600-2,800   
     Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG)         1,600-1,800        1,600-1,800
     Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)      2,100-2,450        2,100-2,450  
     Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG)      1,800-2,200        1,800-2,200  
     Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG)        3,500-3,800        3,500-3,800   
     Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)        3,100-3,300        3,100-3,300   
     Rice HMT Shriram best(100 INR/KG)    4,500-4,800        4,200-4,500   
     Rice HMT Shriram med.(100 INR/KG)    3,900-4,400        3,600-4,100   
     Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)    9,200-11,200        9,200-11,200    
     Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)    7,200-7,600        7,200-7,600   
     Rice Chinnor best(100 INR/KG)    5,300-5,600        5,200-5,500   
     Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG)    4,700-5,200        4,600-5,000   
     Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)        1,900-2,200        1,900-2,200   
     Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)         1,700-1,900        1,700-1,900

WEATHER (NAGPUR) 
Maximum temp. 31.4 degree Celsius (88.5 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
16.9 degree Celsius (62.4 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : n.a.
FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 31 and 17 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/2015/11/24/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL3N13J2Q720151124




Rice Prices


as on : 24-11-2015 08:11:24 PM

Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
Arrivals
Price
Current
%
change
Season 
cumulative
Modal
Prev.
Modal
Prev.Yr
%change
Rice
Shahjahanpur(UP)
2005.70
-29.08
72166.50
2150
2115
3.37
Etawah(UP)
1200.00
22.45
16020.00
2260
2260
4.15
Pilibhit(UP)
950.00
-5
22450.50
2190
2195
-3.74
Bharthna(UP)
600.00
650
4548.50
2240
2250
4.67
Samsi(WB)
600.00
NC
22700.00
2800
2800
-9.68
Sultanpur(UP)
380.00
90
5540.00
2150
2150
14.67
Varanasi(Grain)(UP)
320.00
3.23
113821.10
1990
2010
1.53
Bangarpet(Kar)
253.00
-35.13
19435.00
1620
1620
-11.96
Saharanpur(UP)
172.00
14.67
9025.50
2010
2000
-4.74
Allahabad(UP)
160.00
-5.88
14962.50
2285
2275
11.46
Srirampur(ASM)
150.00
-25
4810.00
2980
2980
-
Bahraich(UP)
138.00
0.36
8271.50
2080
2085
1.96
Sitapur(UP)
110.00
-19.71
3672.50
2110
2100
0.24
Bishnupur(Bankura)(WB)
110.00
-12
3435.00
1900
1900
-22.45
Kalipur(WB)
102.00
-11.3
6056.00
2000
2000
-14.89
Kesinga(Ori)
100.00
-20
956.00
2500
2400
4.17
Rampurhat(WB)
95.00
5.56
474.40
1800
1800
-
Barasat(WB)
65.00
-7.14
2300.00
2200
2200
-10.20
Sealdah Koley Market(WB)
63.00
NC
1478.30
2200
2200
-15.38
Dahod(Guj)
59.30
59.41
3268.20
3700
3600
-7.50
Agra(UP)
45.00
15.38
6757.00
2200
2210
8.37
Dadri(UP)
45.00
-18.18
3850.00
2050
2060
-5.53
Indus(Bankura Sadar)(WB)
42.00
-40
997.00
2250
2250
-
Gazipur(UP)
38.00
5.56
3929.80
2025
2025
1.25
Khatra(WB)
38.00
-2.56
2257.00
2300
2300
-8.73
Sirsa(UP)
34.00
277.78
532.00
2010
2110
-2.90
Jagraon(Pun)
26.50
-72.11
357.00
2495
1950
1.84
Farukhabad(UP)
22.00
33.33
247.00
2215
2225
3.02
Jasra(UP)
20.00
25
661.00
2050
2055
-3.07
Palghar(Mah)
18.00
-63.27
1033.00
2350
2523
-
Ramkrishanpur(Howrah)(WB)
17.70
-1.12
1698.40
2400
2400
-22.58
Dhilwan(Pun)
17.00
-58.54
164.00
2650
1750
-
Kasganj(UP)
16.00
-38.46
857.50
1970
1970
-6.41
Nilagiri(Ori)
15.00
25
2811.00
2300
2400
-
Bankura Sadar(WB)
15.00
-6.25
606.00
2150
2100
-14.00
Meerut(UP)
14.00
-50
1074.50
2040
2040
-2.86
Lakhimpur(UP)
12.00
20
315.50
2145
2210
-
Kolaghat(WB)
12.00
NC
653.00
2400
2400
-
Tamluk (Medinipur E)(WB)
12.00
NC
719.00
2400
2400
-
Holenarsipura(Kar)
10.00
-83.87
94.00
2100
1500
-
Mannargudi(Ker)
10.00
NC
760.00
2600
3100
-
Chengannur(Ker)
10.00
25
843.00
2500
2500
-13.79
Bampada(Ori)
10.00
NC
340.00
2500
2400
-3.85
Barikpur(Ori)
10.00
NC
400.00
2400
2400
-7.69
Champadanga(WB)
10.00
-33.33
807.00
2450
2500
-10.91
Jeypore(Ori)
7.80
387.5
74.80
3250
4100
NC
Chalakudy(Ker)
7.00
NC
626.00
2750
2580
-8.33
Ajuha(UP)
7.00
-22.22
1102.00
2120
2070
6.80
Silapathar(ASM)
6.70
48.89
425.40
3000
3000
NC
Imphal(Man)
6.00
-27.71
184.10
2900
2900
-9.38
Karanjia(Ori)
5.50
-1.79
489.40
2900
2900
16.00
Nimapara(Ori)
4.50
12.5
333.30
2200
2200
NC
Islampur(WB)
3.20
-20
325.50
2150
2150
-14.00
Melaghar(Tri)
3.00
7.14
101.10
2450
2350
-9.26
Fatehpur(UP)
3.00
-25
2244.50
2250
2260
7.14
Jeypore(Kotpad)(Ori)
1.80
38.46
431.00
3250
3250
-9.72
Darjeeling(WB)
1.80
-10
132.60
2800
2800
-
Karsiyang(Matigara)(WB)
1.80
12.5
38.70
2300
2300
-
Lamlong Bazaar(Man)
1.30
8.33
36.00
2900
2900
-9.38
Shillong(Meh)
1.20
20
58.50
3500
3500
NC
Mawana(UP)
1.20
20
85.60
2050
2060
NC
Thoubal(Man)
1.20
-7.69
59.10
2600
2600
NC
Sardhana(UP)
1.00
-33.33
83.90
2060
2060
-0.48
Bishenpur(Man)
1.00
NC
33.30
2900
2900
-6.45
Kalimpong(WB)
0.80
-33.33
64.30
2350
2300
-2.08
Aroor(Ker)
0.70
-
1.40
2900
-
-
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article7912542.ece


CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures   
CME Group (Prelim):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for November 24
Month
Price
Net Change

January 2016
$12.190
+ $0.085
March 2016
$12.450
+ $0.080
May 2016
$12.735
+ $0.080
July 2016
$12.985
+ $0.070
September 2016
$12.615
UNCH
November 2016
$12.615
UNCH
January 2017
$12.615
 UNCH
Usa rice daily
Domestic Usage Report:  Per Capita Rice Consumption Increases in 2014   
  ARLINGTON, VA -- According to USA Rice's annual U.S. Rice Domestic Usage Report, which tracks shipments and consumption of U.S. milled rice from August 2013 to July 2014, U.S. rice mills shipped 9.78 billion pounds of rice to domestic and export markets.  American consumption of rice increased to 26 pounds per capita, a one-pound increase compared to last year, with growth contributed by increases in both imported and domestically grown rice.
 
While imports increased from the 2012-13 milling year, the report found that more than 81 percent of the rice consumed domestically was American grown.  Imports from Thailand saw the largest increase and made up 58 percent of total imported rice, followed by India and Viet Nam.  Fifty percent of rice milled within the U.S. was distributed domestically; and more than six billion pounds of rice were shipped domestically (63 percent went towards direct food use and 37 percent towards pet food, processed food, beer, and sake).
"We are pleased to release the completed report which identified several interesting trends in the domestic rice market," said Ken Cox, Louisiana rice miller and chairman of the USA Rice Domestic Usage Report Subcommittee.  "Domestic rice shipped within the retail grocery category saw a significant jump by 22 percent and military shipments were up 17 percent from the last report.  Shifts in the market were also evident with increased consumption of rice types like parboiled, instant/pre-cooked, and rice flour."USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward said, "This report is extremely useful to us because it not only identifies positive trends we can help the industry capitalize on, but negative ones as well that we need to focus resources against - such as apparent rising imports of rice."
 Ward concluded, "We continue to strongly urge rice industry members to label their rice as "Grown in the U.S.A." since we know American consumers want to buy local and support American farmers."The full report can be purchased for $500.00 per company.  For more information and to purchase the report, contact Peter Bachmann.
Contact:  Peter Bachmann (703) 236-1475
USA RICE DAILY
USA Rice Publishes Student Chef Cookbook in Mexico  
  Restaurant-quality rice recipes
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- This month, USA Rice released a special edition cookbook featuring student chefs who have participated in USA Rice competitions.  The deluxe full-color "Future Chefs Cooking with Rice" cookbook is in a magazine format and includes 43 recipes using U.S.-grown rice as the main ingredient.  Along with restaurant-quality recipes of contemporary Mexican cuisine, international dishes, desserts, and more avant-garde cuisine, there is an information section that includes rice cooking techniques, rice varieties, nutritional information, creative plating and molding, informative graphics, and invitations to USA Rice's Spanish language websites and social media."The dishes demonstrate the wide range of possibilities rice offers in the food service industry and share upscale ideas that foodies and readers of the magazine can prepare at home," said Leticia Escobar, the editor of the publishing company that produced the book.
 The special edition cookbook is being sold online, at newspaper stands nationwide, and at Sanborns, a major department store chain with more than 100 restaurants in Mexico City and the Metropolitan area frequented by approximately one million customers each month.These special edition magazines are very popular in Mexico and are considered luxury collector's items.  USA Rice published 50,000 copies of the 50-page cookbook magazine targeting home cooks who enjoy preparing traditional and contemporary rice dishes as well as the food service industry.
 Contact:  Sarah Moran (703) 236-1457

USA RICE DAILY

25th November,2015 Daily Exclusive ORYZA Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magaizne

Iraq Buys 40,000 Tons of Indian Rice from Olam International
Nov 24, 2015

Iraq's Trade Ministry had purchased 40,000 tons of Indian rice from the Thai exporting company Olam International, Bloomberg quoted a statement by the Minister.
The purchase is reportedly part of a tender, issued on October 21, 2015, to buy at least 30,000 tons of rice from U.S., Uruguay, Argentina and India. The tender closed on November 11, 2015 and offers remained valid till November 19, 2015


Demand Surges for Vietnam's Medicinal Rice Varieties
Nov 24, 2015

Demand for Vietnam's medicinal rice varieties is increasing significantly, according to local sources. Ngoc do huong dua (Red gem with pineapple flavor), Vibigaba, an organic Japonica brown rice, and organic black sprout gaba rice are some of the popular medicinal rice vaireties currently.
The medicinal rice varieties are priced a bit higher than the premium jasmine rice. Yet, consumers are preferring medicinal rice varieties as they are safe for health.
Demand for these rice varieties is said to increase both within and outside the country. Several rice cooperatives are into the production of medicinal rice varieties.
The Vibigaba rice variety (produced by Loc Troi Group) is known to control diabetes. The company is working on a new rice variety beneficial to human health, which helps stabilize blood sugar level, prevent atherosclerosis and provide high nutrients, according to the company's President.
Another company Vien Phu Trade and Production is marketing an organic Japonica brown rice, whichcan help regulate blood pressure, help people have deep sleep and support cardiovascular health.
Oryza CBOT Rough Rice Futures Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Trade Higher despite Lower U.S. Grain Prices which were Led by Decline in Wheat
Nov 25, 2015

Chicago rough rice futures for Jan delivery settled 8.5 cents per cwt (about $2 per ton) higher at $12.190 per cwt (about $269 per ton). The other grains finished the day lower; Soybeans closed marginally lower at $8.6375 per bushel; wheat finished about 1.9% lower at $4.8850 per bushel, and corn finished the day about 0.9% lower at $3.6950 per bushel.
U.S. stocks traded in a range Tuesday, attempting to shake off most of an earlier decline following news of a downed Russian warplane near the Syrian border. European stocks ended more than 1 percent lower after news of the downed plane. A Russian warplane was shot down near the Syrian border Tuesday after it reportedly entered Turkish airspace. State-run Turkish news service Anadolu Agency said that the downed warplane was a Russian-made SU-24 and had been engaged by two Turkish F16 jets Russian President Vladimir Putin said the incident would have serious consequences for Moscow's relations with Ankara.
In economic news, revised third-quarter GDP came in as expected, up 2.1% from the original reading of 1.5%. Consumer confidence came in at 90.4 for November, missing expectations for 99.5 and below October's 99.1 print. In early afternoon trade, the Dow Jones industrial average gained 41 points, or 0.23%, to 17,833. The S&P 500 traded up 2 points, or 0.14%, to 2,089, with utilities and financials leading five sectors lower and energy the greatest advancer. The Nasdaq composite traded down 4 points, or 0.08%, to 5,098. Gold is seen trading about 0.9% lower, crude oil is seen trading about 0.3% lower, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading about 0.2% higher at about  1:45pm Chicago time.
Monday, there were 314 contracts traded, down from 348 contracts traded on Friday. Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on Monday increased by 10 contracts to 12,530.





Italy Researchers Find Means of Avoiding Weeds in Rice Crops Without Using Herbicides




Nov 24, 2015

Researchers from the Academy of Agriculture of Turin have evaluated possibilities of reducing or avoiding the growth of weeds in the rice crops without the use of herbicides or synthetic fertilizers.
They used the following four means as part of their study.
- Sowing buried in files, with rows spaced 14 centimeters, and repeated passages with tine harrow;
- Sowing buried in double rows, with spacing of 10 and 30 centimeters, and repeated operations by a specially modified drill;
- Seeding in-ground in double rows, with row spacing of 10 and 30 centimeters, with over sowing soy in the middle, and subsequent processing by means of a specially modified cutter;
- Mulch with biodegradable fabrics. The researchers used two types of mulching film, of different thickness, produced by BASF.
The researchers used a land, which typically had features of a paddy field. They ensured that the ground was levelled properly and remove all weeds including barnyard grass before sowing the seeds.
After executing all the four alternate methods, they found that the first method using tine harrow controlled weeds by 78%. Production was reduced by 1/12 compared to the control field. The third method, in which soy was over-sown in between rice plants, produced more weeds and the production reduced by 1/4 of the witness field. However, the mulched area method produced more rice and totally controlled the weeds.
Researchers concluded that the results are not very effective in testing fields as rains are too random and it often makes the areas unworkable for several days. However, the mulching method can be used in direct sowing as well.
FAO Forecasts Nepal Rice Imports to Increase Sharply in 2016 on Lower Production
Nov 24, 2015

The UN's Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) forecasts Nepal's 2016 rice imports at around 640,000 tons, up about 14% from an estimated 561,400 tons in 2015 due to an expected decline in this year's paddy rice production.
The FAO forecasts Nepal's total cereal imports in the 2015-16 marketing year (July - June) at around 855,000 tons, up about 35% from last year.
The FAO forecasts Nepal's 2015 paddy rice production at around 4.6 million tons, down about 4% from around 4.789 million tons in 2014 due to a slight contraction in area planted as well as an expected decline in yields following below-average rains over the main rice producing regions in the central and eastern Terai areas.
Harvesting of the 2015 rice crop started in mid-October and will continue till December. Paddy rice production is said to decline for the second consecutive year according to the FAO.
FAO Forecasts Pakistan 2015 Paddy Rice Production to Decline on Lower Acreage
Nov 24, 2015

The UN's Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) forecasts Pakistan 2015 paddy rice production at around 9.9 million tons, down about 6% from around 10.502 million tons in 2014.
The FAO attributes the decline to a 5% decline in area planted in response to large stocks and high production costs.
Harvesting of the 2015 kharif rice crop (mid-May to mid-December) is currently underway and is expected to be completed in early December.

Asian Rice Quotes Remain Unchanged Today
Nov 24, 2015

Asian rice sellers kept their quotes unchanged from yesterday.
5% Broken Rice
Thailand 5% rice is indicated at around $350 - $360 per ton about $15 per ton discount on Vietnam 5% rice shown at around $365 - $375 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.

Global Rice Quotes
November 24th, 2015
Long grain white rice - high quality
Thailand 100% B grade 360-370
Vietnam 5% broken 365-370
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 445-455
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



Thailand to Continue with Rotten Rice Auction on December 1, 2015 Despite Opposition from Quality Surveyors
Nov 24, 2015

The government of Thailand has decided to continue with the auction of about 37,412 tons of rotten rice from the stockpiles as scheduled on December 1, 2015 despite recommendations from the Thai Agricultural Surveyors Association (TASA) to suspend the auction, according to local sources.
The rice quality surveyors from the TASA expressed concern that the government would sell the rice too cheaply. They noted that the rice intended to be sold as rotten rice is of high quality and can be used for human consumption.
However, the government insisted that the rice was unfit for human consumption. The Director-General of Foreign Trade Department clarified that the decision had been taken after the stockpiled rice was checked by the rice inspection committees set up by the military government as well as private enterprises.
"It has been proved that this rice stock is not suitable for consumption. Some rice may be in good condition but it has mixed with rotten rice, and the government would need to spend more [time] managing this rice stock if it does not release it for industrial use. Thus the government will go ahead and open this lot of rice for industrial supply," she said. She noted that the rice surveyor companies also took part in the rice inspection but did not oppose the auctions then. She warned that they would be subject to legal action by the government if their contribution proved wrong.
The President of the TASA noted that they are concerned that the government could earn more money as some of the rice from this lot could be sold for human consumption or feed meal production.
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.
Government of Bangladesh to Double Import Duty on Rice, Says Food Minister
Nov 24, 2015

The government of Bangladesh has decided to double the import duty on rice to 20% from the current 10% to discourage imports and protect local rice farmers, local sources quoted the Food Minister.
The decision will be implemented soon, said the Minister at a meeting with the Bangladesh Auto, Major and Husking Mills Association. He stated earlier this month that that farmers would be harmed if duty is not increased. Restriction of imports is necessary to protect local rice prices from falling during the Aman (July - December) harvest, which has just begun, according to the Minister.
Rice farmers are already expressing concern about the falling Aman paddy prices due to lower demand from millers. Some farmers noted that millers hold stocks from last year and so are not keen on purchasing this year. Farmers are afraid that prices would fall further as output from the Aman harvest increases.
They are urging the government to increase its procurement target or hike duty on rice imports to protect prices. The government will reportedly procure 200,000 tons of 2015 Aman rice from millers at Tk 31 per kilogram (around $388.5 per ton) between December 15, 2015 and March 15, 2016.
The Bangladesh government imposed a duty of 10% on rice imports in May 2015 after rice imports by private traders surged significantly due to low global prices. Bangladesh traders imported over 1.4 million tons of rice in FY 2014-15 (July - June) compared to only 374,560 tons imported in the whole year of 2013-14.
Bangladesh imported 121,000 tons of rice during the period July 1 - November 12, compared to around 306,000 tons imported during the same period last year, according to Food Planning and Monitoring Unit (FPMU) under the Food Ministry.


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