Wednesday, December 23, 2015

22nd December 2015 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine-Latest Rice News Updates

Today Rice News Headlines...
·         Rice export & farmers
·         Bengal, AP Traders Make Hay As Govt Goes Slow
·         Logistic agency distributes 53 thousand tons of rice through market operations
·         Rice Stakeholders Set Agenda for FG on Agric Devt
·         Imported Rice This Year Halved to 60,000 Tons
·         Counterpoint: Yes, it's time ¬— to uphold, not raise, sulfate limits
·         Louisiana rice farmers challenged by 2015 weather conditions
·         Commodity Report-Dec. 22
·         Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-Dec 22
·         Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity
·         APEDA Rice Commodity
·         News $m boost for rice farming
·         Yield increase: GRFs provide the key
·         Sales Drop at Rice Milling Machine Maker
·         VINECO to launch rice brand in time for 2016
·         Vietnam, Timor Leste sign MoU on rice trade
·         Fighting rice fungus
·         FG reviewing Ali’s counter-productive policy on rice imports
·         Gov’t subsidies surge as funds channeled to aid agriculture
·         FIU scientists discover how arsenic builds up in plant seeds
·         Subscribe to Gene Silencing/Gene Editing
·         Japanese Scientists Perform CRISPR/Cas9 Editing on Fungus Used in Sake, Soy Sauce Production

 


News Detail...














Rice News detail...

Rice export & farmers


BASMATI rice is a long, slender grain aromatic variety of rice
traditionally grown in Pakistan and India. The two countries are
the exclusive grower and exporter of this superior quality of rice.
Because of its aroma and well-favoured taste, it is not only liked in Pakistan and India, there is a growing demand for basmati rice in Aghanistan, Iran, the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries. Pakistanis and Indians living in Europe and America use basmati rice as their choice food.
Owing to incentives and support of the government, India controls over 70pc of the overseas market, while Pakistan accounts for the remaining 30pc.For the last two years there has been a considerable decrease in the export of basmati rice from Pakistan while India, being the only competitor, has fully exploited our failure and increased its export of basmati rice in the world market.Basmati rice is largely grown in Gujranwala and Lahore where agricultural holdings of farmers are small and there are no big landlords or feudals who may raise their voice in parliament or influence the government policy.
The small rice farmer is merely promised a small amount of Rs5000, which only a few of them are able to procure. Why can’t the government also grant a subsidy of Rs13,000 a ton it has announced for the export of sugar? The minister for commerce belongs to Gujranwala. He must look after the interests and be fair to the people of his area.
Maj (r) Mumtaz Bashir
Lahore
http://www.dawn.com/news/1227931

Bengal, AP Traders Make Hay As Govt Goes Slow

By Express News Service
Published: 22nd December 2015 03:41 AM
Last Updated: 22nd December 2015 03:41 AM
BALASORE: With Bhadrak district administration going slow on paddy procurement, rice millers and private traders from West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh have gone for a kill by purchasing paddy much below the MSP.The administration has set a target to procure seven lakh quintals of paddy through 111 Primary Agriculture Co-operative Societies (PACS) and Markfed. Although the mandis were supposed to be opened by December 18, only seven PACS have opened procurement centres so far.
Farmers said traders from West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh have already started procuring paddy through their agents in seven blocks of the district at `400 to `500 less than the MSP of `1,410 per quintal.Bidyadhar Patra, a farmer from Dhamnagar, said the traders are lifting paddy directly from their houses and paying them instantly.Apparently, paddy procurement in the district has been  delayed as many millers, who were given paddy for milling last year, are yet to deliver rice. At least 13 unscrupulous millers have not yet supplied 60,000 quintals of rice and it is suspected that the stock has been misappropriated. As they are allegedly being shielded by influential political leaders, no punitive action has been initiated against them yet.
Officials concerned said most of the PACS have not opened procurement centres as harvesting is continuing in many areas.Civil Supply Officer Ramakanta Ranasingh said so far, 44,000 farmers have registered for paddy procurement against the last year’s 35,000. Share croppers have also been asked to get their names registered so that they can sell paddy.This time, all seven blocks of the district along with 153 others in the State have been included in the Paddy Purchase Automation System (PPAS) under which, registered farmers will get the payment directly within seven days.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Bengal-AP-Traders-Make-Hay-As-Govt-Goes-Slow/2015/12/22/article3190064.ece

Logistic agency distributes 53 thousand tons of rice through market operations

Selasa, 22 Desember 2015 19:39 WIB |
Photo document of workers move sacks of rice in Cipinang Rice Market, Jakarta. (ANTARA/Wahyu Putro A.)
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Rice distribution during market operations conducted by state-owned logistics firm Bulog through the Cipinang Rice Market in Jakarta from November 21, 2015, until now has reached 53 thousand tons.Director of Operations and Public Service Bulog Suparyono stated while overseeing the market operations at the Cipinang Rice Market on Tuesday that market operations are being conducted to stabilize the price of medium-category rice, which has increased to over Rp nine thousand per kilogram (kg).
"We have prepared 75 thousand tons of rice for market operations in Jakarta. As of today, 53 thousand tons of rice has already been distributed through the Cipinang Rice Market," he noted.He was accompanied by Commercial Director of Bulog Fazri Sentosa, Chairman of the Traders Association of Rice and Rice Milling (Perpadi) for Jakarta Nellys Soekidi, and Director of Food Station Cipinang Arief Adi Prasetyo.According to Suparyono, the market operations were not only conducted in Jakarta but also in 26 regional Bulog divisions throughout Indonesia. Some 25 thousand tons of rice was made available for distribution in these divisions. He said the monitoring results revealed that the national rice prices remained relatively stable despite slight fluctuation.
However, he added that Bulog continued to conduct market operations to ensure adequate supply of rice ahead of Christmas and New Year."People should not harbor concerns, especially during Christmas and New Year, so that consumption is maintained, and they could celebrate these special days in peace," he affirmed.He said market operations would continue until the price of medium-quality rice became stable at around Rp8,300 per kg in accordance with the price at which Bulog sold rice to the public.
(Uu.A014/INE/KR-BSR)

http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/102162/logistic-agency-distributes-53-thousand-tons-of-rice-through-market-operations


Rice Stakeholders Set Agenda for FG on Agric Devt

22 Dec 2015

Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Audu Ogbeh


Stakeholders in the rice industry have tasked the new Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Audu Ogbeh, on various initiatives and policies, towards driving the nation's agricultural sector particularly rice to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of the commodity.

Group Managing Director, Elephant Group, Mr. Tunji Owoeye, explained that rice stakeholders want government to step up the access to credit for the value chain operators in the rice industry, improve the capacity of the Nigeria Incentive Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NISRAL) and also build more storage facilities to guard against food insecurity in the nation.Owoeye during a press briefing, pointed out the need for government to also increase the provision of processing facilities for all products in the country, stating that the ten rice mills approved by the then administration must come on stream to boost the processing of rice paddy in the country.

"We want government to continue with what they did in the past to continue working with stakeholders and together we believe 2016 will be a successful year for the country.
We want government to step up the access to credit for the value chain operators, improve the capacity of NISRAL to take on insurance and risks much more to support the teeming value chain operators across all the products, agribusiness must be technologically driven as it is done in the western world," he said.In his words: "Ten rice mills where approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) of the previous administration.

We must ensure that those mills come on stream. If we put those 10 mills on stream with the capacity of 35,000 metric tonnes per mill, that is about 350,000 metric tonnes, added to the nation's paddy processing."This is going to encourage our farmers, create employment and also bring down the pressure on the foreign exchange. This should not only be done for rice but for all products.
"He however commended the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in its tireless effort in combating the smuggling of rice into the country by ensuring smugglers pay duties rather than go unchallenged, saying that this move by the current Comptroller General, NCS has helped to reduce the menace."We have started engaging the new government to ensure that smuggling is minimised and we are also happy about the appointment of the new Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in his effort to ensure that smuggling is tackled, he got approval to say instead of this smugglers to bring in rice unchallenged, he got them to pay duty, but we have seen that smugglers have taken advantage of that policy by circumventing the policy, but I am happy to tell you that the customs is addressing this challenge and I am sure before the next quarter, we would look back on the progress we have made," he stressed.

He also stated the need to provide a market outlet for locally produced goods, saying that as a group it is willing and have also expressed its desire to work with the current minister to lend support in creating additional market outlets and marketing companies in order to get sales outlet for the products in the country."There is also a need to review the land reforms, because without it we cannot have a sufficient increase in the nation's scale of production and the need to also develop entrepreneurial capacity to generate more employment and wealth," he said.According to him, a lot of attention needs be paid to value creation, saying that processing is one of the areas where the country has serious challenges."We need to take processing to the next level. These are things our new minister of agriculture should focus on.

 The government should lay emphasis on some products, provide enough funding to create employment for the nation's teeming population and also earn foreign exchange for us," he advised.Also speaking at the event, the Group Executive Director, Mr. Akin Ogunbiyi, said the the focal point of this administration is to boost agriculture as a means of creating alternatives to oil, creating employment and also diversifying the economy, stating the urgent move by the ministry to swing into action by taking immediate decisions that will impact positively in the industry.

"We should also look at research development in the agricultural sector and also boosting agriculture extension programmes. These are areas that needs to be focused on. We also need to need to narrow down on a number of products. Every economy of the world has what it is known for. I do not see the reason why Nigeria cannot focus on a few number of products. All we need to do is motivate and encourage farmers and everybody down the value chain to begin massive export of these products," he said.

"One of the things I expect to start happening in the non-oil sector is that agric export has to be incentivised. We need to revisit the existing incentives of government to boost the non-oil sector. Everywhere in the world there are incentives for export. Every economy must encourage and createincentives for export. Agriculture and everything that has to do with the value chain has to be encouraged. The Export Expansion Grant (EEG) has not been well managed. This is a major source of encouragement to the farmers and the players in the sector," he added.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/rice-stakeholders-set-agenda-for-fg-on-agric-devt/228602/

Imported Rice This Year Halved to 60,000 Tons

Write : 2015-12-22 15:13:41 Update : 2015-12-22 15:14:50

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has called for overseas bidders from whom the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation will import 30-thousand tons of rice to be sold to consumers. The decision follows a similar move in July, when the ministry announced an invitation to tenders to purchase 30-thousand tons of rice under the tariff rate quota system. The ministry said it decided to import 60-thousand tons of rice to be sold to consumers, after taking into consideration World Trade Organization regulations and domestic demand. The amount is approximately half of what was imported last year.  Given that the process from bidding to actual importation takes as long as five months, the Agriculture Ministry expects the rice to arrive in the country by the second quarter of next year. 

Counterpoint: Yes, it's time ­— to uphold, not raise, sulfate limits

Don't believe the mining industry's bluster. Believe the science, and stick to our values. 
By Paula Goodman Maccabee
 DECEMBER 22, 2015 — 6:41PM
BRIAN PETERSON • STAR TRIBUNE FILE 1991
Canoes pushed off for a day of wild-rice harvesting on the White Earth Indian Reservation.The Great and Powerful Oz was just a scared little man with a big microphone. All it took to expose him was ordinary brains, heart and courage.Minnesotans are intelligent, compassionate, brave people. With a bit more information about our state’s sulfate standard, they will see beyond the mining industry’s bluster, as in a recent commentary (“It’s time for the MPCA to raise the state’s sulfate standard,” Dec. 14). Minnesotans will realize that it’s time for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to upholdour existing limit on sulfate pollution as reasonable and necessary to protect wild rice and the water quality of lakes and streams we all hold dear.

Let’s start with the science. Even in the 1940s, when field research on thousands of Minnesota lakes found that wild rice beds thrived only when the water had 10 milligrams or less of sulfate, scientists suspected that the chemistry affecting wild rice was complicated. Recent groundbreaking studies by University of Minnesota researchers supported by $1.5 million of taxpayer funds have proved how sulfate harms wild rice.Sulfate becomes toxic to wild rice when it turns into sulfide in the mucky bottom of lakes and streams where wild rice grows.
 Sulfide can harm nearly every part of the wild-rice life cycle — from stunting seedlings to reducing viable seeds for next year’s plants. Sulfide is toxic to wild rice in very small amounts. Minnesota research shows that when sulfide in the rooting area of wild rice is only 0.165 milligrams per liter — less than 2 percent of our 10-milligrams-per-liter limit on sulfate in water — virtually no wild rice will survive.After Minnesota’s recent wild rice studies were completed (but before mining industry pressure went into overdrive), the MPCA concluded: “The 10 [milligrams per liter] sulfate standard is needed and reasonable to protect wild rice production from sulfate-driven sulfide toxicity.”
If an industry lobbyist tries to tell you that Minnesota’s wild rice sulfate limit isn’t needed because wild rice can survive a couple of weeks in a test tube with lots of sulfate in it, tell them you know better.Next, let’s look to what we value in Minnesota. Many of us care that wild rice is Minnesota’s state grain and that it is vital to Ojibwe tribes as well as to the ecosystem that supports fish and wildlife.In addition, as a result of the same chemistry that harms wild rice, sulfate from mining and other industrial pollution increases the release of phosphates, turning clear lakes into eutrophic green, slimy waters. Sulfate pollution also increases methylation of mercury, allowing mercury to concentrate in the food chain up to a million times and contaminate the fish we eat.

 Although we are all at risk, the developing brains of unborn children are most vulnerable to mercury toxicity. In Minnesota’s Lake Superior region, 1 out of 10 infants is already born with mercury in the blood exceeding safe levels.Finally, along with brains to understand why the sulfate standard is needed and heart to care, we need to help the MPCA find the courage to stand up to the mining industry and defend the existing sulfate limit of 10 milligrams per liter. Pollution already has decimated wild rice, degraded some northern Minnesota streams and lakes so they can’t support fish, and harmed Minnesota’s children. It is bad policy and just plain wrong to let the mining industry decide what limits should be placed on sulfate and other pollutants.It is time to pull away the curtain of corporate self-interest and protect Minnesota’s wild rice, fish, lakes, streams and the developing brains of our next generation.

Paula Goodman Maccabee is advocacy director and counsel for the nonprofit group WaterLegacy.

http://www.startribune.com/counterpoint-yes-it-s-time-to-uphold-not-raise-sulfate-limits/363312791/

Louisiana rice farmers challenged by 2015 weather conditions

ADVOCATE NEWS SERVICES
Dec. 22, 2015; 4:37 p.m.
Excessive rainfall in south Louisiana and hot temperatures in the north were a challenge this year for many rice farmers, who saw a decline in their first crop but an exceptional bounceback in the second crop in south Louisiana.“Most everybody I’ve talked to is pleased with the second crop yields,” said Steve Linscombe, director of the LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station. “Numerous producers say this is by far their best second crop from the standpoint of yield, and the quality is very good, too.”

That will take some of the sting out of low prices and the lower first crop yield, he said.Linscombe estimated the 2015 first crop harvest was down 10 to 15 percent from last year. But the per-acre average for the second crop would probably fall in the low to mid-20 barrel range, although he heard of many who cut more than 30 barrels an acre.“I even heard of a few 40-plus in the second crop,” he said.He said the north Louisiana rice crop endured unusually hot, dry weather that could affect grain quality.

The crop year in south Louisiana started with heavy rainfall that interfered with planting and spraying.“This has been one of the most difficult years for rice producers that they’ve seen in a long time,” said Dustin Harrell, LSU AgCenter rice specialist, who estimated the first crop yield decrease at 10 percent.Harrell said the excessive spring rainfall complicated the season because fertilizer applications were delayed.

In addition, early in the season, small rice plants were submerged for a considerably long time, he said.Linscombe said disease also was a factor for the first crop.Even though planting was delayed by weather, the first crop harvest went smoothly with few rain interruptions, and dry weather prevented farm equipment from rutting the fields, Linscombe said. That meant a good start for farmers growing a second crop.

http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/news/14367612-75/louisiana-rice-farmers-challenged-by-2015-weather-conditions

Commodity Report-Dec. 22


Published 
In today’s commodity report we have the National Weekly Rice Summary, the California Shell Eggs: Daily Egg Report, the California F.O.B. Price for Extra Grade and Grade A Nonfat Dry Milk and other commodity end of the day market numbers.

National Weekly Rice Summary

In California, medium grain milled rice prices steady to weak. Second heads and Brewers prices steady. Rice by-products: Rice Bran prices mostly steady. Ground rice hulls spot trade lightly tested, mostly all hulls already sold.CME Rough Rice settlements for Friday Dec 18th, Jan 16 closed .03 lower at 11.08; Mar 16 closed .03 lower at 11.35; May 16 closed .025 lower at 11.645. US dollar index on Friday settled at 98.72 Rice market is very quiet for both buyers and sellers. We don’t foresee anything major happening until well into the New Year 2016.
USDA National Weekly Rice Summary (.pdf) with all prices for al areas.

California Shell Eggs: Daily Egg Report

Prices are steady. Trade sentiment is lower. Loose egg sales range light to good with retail movement moderate to good. Offerings are moderate to heavy. Supplies are light to moderate and reported as usually adequate for anticipated needs. Market activity is slow to moderate. Monday’s shell egg inventories declined 6.4% in the Southwest and increased 5.9% in the Northwest.
Shell egg marketer’s benchmark price for negotiated egg sales of USDA Grade AA and Grade AA in cartons, cents per dozen. This price does not reflect discounts or other contract terms.
RANGE
JUMBO
251
EXTRA LARGE
219
LARGE
215
MEDIUM
172

California F.O.B. Price for Extra Grade and Grade A Nonfat Dry Milk

Week Ending
Avg. Price($/lb.)
Total Sales (lb.)
December 18, 2015
$0.7864
8,836,061
December 11, 2015
$0.7985
9,590,696
Check the December USDA Commodity Report Calendar for today’s commodity reports released by USDA.

Now Tuesday’s Commodity Market ending market numbers for other commodities:

Corn
March Corn ended at $3.66 1/4 losing 5 3/4 cents, May ended at $3.72 1/2 down 5 1/2 cents.
Soybeans
January Soybeans ended at 8.85 1/4 down 6 cents, March ended at 8.85 1/2 decreasing 6 cents.
Wheat
March Wheat ended at $4.71 3/4, decreasing 7 1/4 cents, December Wheat ended at $4.79 dropping 7 1/4 cents.
Rough Rice
January Rough Rice ended at 10.835 losing 0.115, March ended at 11.085 down 0.12.
Live Cattle
December Live Cattle ended at $125.60 increasing $2.20 and February ended at $131.80 up $1.775 and April ended at $133.125 gain $1.55.
Feeder Cattle
January Feeder Cattle ended at $158.65 gaining $3.15 and March ended at $155.90 increasing $1.525 and April ended at $156.575 up $1.475.
Lean Hogs
February Lean Hogs ended at $56.85 increasing $0.40, April ended at $62.80 up $0.80
Class III Milk
December Class III Milk ended at $14.53 unchanged, January ended at $13.41 decreasing $0.07 and February ended at $13.39 losing $0.02.
#2 Cotton
March #2 Cotton ending at 63.16 losing 0.16, May ended at 63.94 down 0.17.
Sugar #11
March sugar #11 ended at 15.04 up $0.07 and May ended at 14.65 increasing 0.06.
Orange Juice
January Orange Juice ended at 147.40 gaining $3.70, March ending at 145.55 up $2.15.
Crude Oil WTI
February Crude Oil WTI ended at $36.14 increasing $0.33, March ended at $37.05 up $0.19 and April ended at $37.83 gaining $0.10.
Brent Crude
February Crude Oil Brent ended at $36.11 losing $0.24, March ended at $36.57 decreasing $0.24 and April ended at $37.41 down $0.24
http://agnetwest.com/2015/12/22/commodity-report-december-22/

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-Dec 22

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices - APMC & Open Market-December 22
 
Nagpur, Dec 22 Gram prices firmed up in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and MarketingCommittee (APMC) here on increased demand from local millers amid weak supply from producingregions. Upward trend on NCDEX, fresh rise in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and reported demand
from South-based millers also jacked up prices, according to sources. 
 
               *            *              *              *
 
    FOODGRAINS & PULSES
    GRAM
   * Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here on subdued demand from local traders
     amid ample stock in ready position.
 
     TUAR
   * Tuar gavarani recovered marginally in open market on renewed seasonal demand from
     local traders amid tight supply from producing regions.  
 
   * Rice Basmati reported down in open market on poor demand from local traders amid 
     supply from producing regions.    
    
   * In Akola, Tuar - 9,000-9,300, Tuar dal - 15,300-15,700, Udid - 
     13,600-13,900, Udid Mogar (clean) - 17,000-17,600, Moong - 
     9,100-9,400, Moong Mogar (clean) 10,500-10,700, Gram - 4,200-4,400, 
     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 thin trading activity. 
       
 Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
 
     FOODGRAINS                 Available prices     Previous close   
     Gram Auction                4,000-4,450         3,920-4,400
     Gram Pink Auction            n.a.           2,100-2,600
     Tuar Auction                n.a.                6,350-8,990
     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            6,000-6,500        6,000-6,500
     Gram Super Best            n.a.            n.a.
     Gram Medium Best            5,800-5,900        5,800-5,900
     Gram Dal Medium            n.a.            n.a
     Gram Mill Quality            4,700-4,900        4,700-4,900
     Desi gram Raw                4,500-4,600         4,500-4,600
     Gram Filter new            5,100-5,300        5,100-5,300
     Gram Kabuli                5,900-7,900        5,900-7,900
     Gram Pink                        6,400-7,300        6,400-7,300
     Tuar Fataka Best             15,500-16,000        15,500-16,000
     Tuar Fataka Medium             13,000-14,000        13,000-14,000
     Tuar Dal Best Phod            12,500-13,000        12,500-13,000
     Tuar Dal Medium phod            11,800-12,000        11,800-12,000
     Tuar Gavarani New             8,250-9,250        8,200-9,200
     Tuar Karnataka             10,000-10,500        10,000-10,500
     Tuar Black                 16,200-16,600        16,200-16,600 
     Masoor dal best            7,200-7,600        7,200-7,600
     Masoor dal medium            6,600-7,200        6,600-7,200
     Masoor                    n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Mogar bold            10,200-10,500       10,200-10,500
     Moong Mogar Med            9,300-9,500        9,300-9,500
     Moong dal Chilka            8,800-9,600        8,800-9,600
     Moong Mill quality            n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Chamki best            8,800-8,700        8,800-8,700
     Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG)    16,700-18,000       16,700-18,000     
     Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)    14,200-16,000        14,200-16,000    
     Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)        10,000-11,200        10,000-11,200     
     Batri dal (100 INR/KG)        5,600-6,000        5,600-6,000
     Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)          4,600-4,800         4,600-4,800
     Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)            3,100-3,300        3,100-3,300
     Watana White (100 INR/KG)              3,200-3,400           3,200-3,400
     Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)    3,300-3,800        3,300-3,800   
     Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)        1,600-1,700        1,600-1,700
     Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG)    1,850-1,900        1,850-1,900   
     Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)         1,600-1,800        1,600-1,800
     Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)    2,100-2,300        2,100-2,300    
     Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)   1,950-2,150        1,950-2,150
     Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)    n.a.            n.a.
     MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)    3,400-4,000        3,400-4,000    
     MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)    2,700-3,000        2,700-3,000           
     Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG)        3,000-3,300        3,000-3,300    
     Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG)        2,600-2,800        2,600-2,800    
     Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG)         1,800-2,000        1,800-2,000
     Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)      2,200-2,550        2,200-2,550   
     Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG)      1,900-2,300        1,900-2,300   
     Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG)        3,600-3,900        3,600-3,900    
     Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)        3,200-3,400        3,200-3,400    
     Rice HMT Shriram best(100 INR/KG)    4,400-4,900        4,400-4,900    
     Rice HMT Shriram med.(100 INR/KG)    3,900-4,300        3,900-4,300    
     Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)    9,800-11,700        9,800-11,900     
     Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)    7,800-8,000        7,800-8,100    
     Rice Chinnor best(100 INR/KG)    5,400-5,900        5,400-5,900    
     Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG)    4,800-5,500        4,800-5,500    
     Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)        1,800-2,200        1,800-2,200    
     Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)         1,700-1,800        1,700-1,800
 
WEATHER (NAGPUR)  
Maximum temp. 30.5 degree Celsius (86.9 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
17.0 degree Celsius (62.6 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - 92 per cent, lowest - 55 per cent.
Rainfall : n.a.
FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 31 and 15 degreeCelsius respectively.
 
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, butincluded in market prices.)
Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity
Rice
High
Low
Long Grain Cash Bids
- - -
- - -
Long Grain New Crop
- - -
- - -


Futures:
High
Low
Last
Change
Jan '16
1098.0
1080.5
1083.5
-11.5
Mar '16
1127.5
1105.5
1108.5
-12.0
May '16
1145.5
1140.0
1138.0
-12.0
Jul '16
1172.0
1168.5
1165.0
-11.5
Sep '16
1174.0
1174.0
1164.0
-12.5
Nov '16
1166.0
-12.5
Jan '17
1166.0
-12.5

Rice Comment

Rice futures were lower across the board, with January returning for a retest of support at $10.76. Domestic sales remain quiet and exports are also lagging. Weekly export sales were uninspiring at 37,000 metric tons, which is down 29% from the prior four week average. Shipments were 55,700 metric tons, down 20% from the prior four-week average.
APEDA Rice Commodity News
International Benchmark Price
Price on: 22-12-2015
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Apricots
1
Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)
4875
2
Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)
4375
3
Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t)
3625
Sultanas
1
Australian 5 Crown, CIF UK (USD/t)
2867
2
South African Orange River, CIF UK (USD/t)
2558
3
Turkish No 9 standard, FOB Izmir (USD/t)
1900
White Sugar
1
CZCE White Sugar Futures (USD/t)
851
2
Kenya Mumias white sugar, EXW (USD/t)
691
3
Pakistani refined sugar, EXW Akbari Mandi (USD/t)
516
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 22-12-2015
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Rice
1
Manjeri (Kerala)
Other
2800
3800
2
Solapur (Maharashtra)
Other
2125
5165
3
Samsi (West Bengal )
Fine 
2790
2820
Wheat
1
Haveri (Karnataka)
Local
1620
1620
2
Alappuzha (Kerala)
Other
1850
1950
3
Siddhpur (Gujarat)
Other
1500
1990
Mousambi
1
Sirhind (Punjab)
Other
2000
2700
2
Manjeri (Kerala)
Other
3000
3200
3
Mechua (West Bengal)
Other
3000
3500
Brinjal
1
Manjeri (Kerala)
Other
2400
2600
2
Nagpur(Maharashtra)
Other
2500
3000
3
Ahmedabad (Gujarat)
Other
1500
2500
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 21-12-2015
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Pune
443
2
Hyderabad
403
3
Nagapur
400
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 21-12-2015
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Potatoes
Package: 50 lb cartons
1
Atlanta
Colorado   
Russet
16
17.50
2
Chicago
Idaho  
Russet
13
16.50
3
Dallas
Idaho
Russet
14
19
Carrots
Package: 20 1-lb film bags
1
Atlanta
California
Baby Peeled
18.50
20.50
2
Chicago
California
Baby Peeled
17
17.50
3
Dallas
Arizona
Baby Peeled
16
16.75
Apples
Package: cartons tray pack
1
Atlanta
Virginia
Red Delicious
27
28
2
Chicago
Washington 
Red Delicious
26
26.50
3
Miami
Washington
Red Delicious
22
24
Source:USDA


International Benchmark Price
Price on: 18-12-2015
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Garlic
1
Chinese first grade granules, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
2100
2
Chinese Grade A dehydrated flakes, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
2000
3
Chinese powdered, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
1800
Ginger
1
Chinese sliced, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
4600
2
Chinese whole, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
5100
3
Indian Cochin, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
3000
Guar Gum Powder
1
Indian 100 mesh 3500 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
3685
2
Indian 200 mesh 3500 cps basis, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
1085
3
Indian 200 mesh 5000 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
2205
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 17-12-2015
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Maize
1
Davangere (Karnataka)
Local
1300
1450
2
Rahata (Maharashtra)
Other
1350
1375
3
Dahod (Gujarat )
Yellow 
1475
1525
Paddy(Dhan)
1
Pulpally (Kerala)
Other
1800
2000
2
Dehgam (Gujarat)
Other
1320
1375
3
Sainthia (West Bengal)
Common
1030
1050
Orange
1
Ropar (Punjab)
Other
1000
1800
2
Chala (Kerala)
Other
2000
2100
3
Mechua (West Bengal)
Other
2300
2700
Cauliflower
1
Thodupuzha (Kerala)
Other
2800
3200
2
Shillong(Meghalaya)
Other
1700
2300
3
Ahmedabad (Gujarat)
Other
1000
1600
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 21-12-2015
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Pune
443
2
Hyderabad
403
3
Nagapur
400
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 21-12-2015
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Potatoes
Package: 50 lb cartons
1
Atlanta
Colorado   
Russet
16
17.50
2
Chicago
Idaho  
Russet
13
16.50
3
Dallas
Idaho
Russet
14
19
Carrots
Package: 20 1-lb film bags
1
Atlanta
California
Baby Peeled
18.50
20.50
2
Chicago
California
Baby Peeled
17
17.50
3
Dallas
Arizona
Baby Peeled
16
16.75
Apples
Package: cartons tray pack
1
Atlanta
Virginia
Red Delicious
27
28
2
Chicago
Washington 
Red Delicious
26
26.50
3
Miami
Washington
Red Delicious
22
24
Source:USDA

$m boost for rice farming

Losalini Bolatagici

Tuesday, December 22, 2015
THE Chinese Government last week handed over machinery worth $5million to the Fijian Government to help revitalise the rice industry. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, who officiated at the handing over ceremony at the Fiji National University grounds in Koronivia, said the machines would help bring Fiji's rice industry closer to self-sufficiency by helping our farmers meet domestic demand and reducing dependence on imports.
"When we are able to provide Fijians with crops grown right here in Fiji, we improve our food security and make ourselves more resilient to changes in the global marketplace," Mr Bainimarama said.He also thanked the Chinese Government for their continuous support saying the technical co-operation between the two countries, the China Shandong International Economic and Technical Co-operation Group Ltd has provided much-needed assistance to rice farmers in Dreketi and Koronivia ."Government's commitment to building a robust rice industry does not begin or end with this hand-over. We will continue to research new rice varieties and rice cultivation techniques because we recognise the importance the rice industry holds for our economy," he said.
"If this effort lacks our full dedication, our rice industry will not live up to its potential. We need to get every stakeholder involved and improve coordination among everyone involved in the industry to unite us in our goal of achieving a self-sustaining rice sector," he added.Chinese Ambassador Zhang Ping said Fiji was endowed with favourable climate and environmental conditions for rice farming.The machinery consists of 336 sets of farming machines of 11 categories with the total value of $5million.They include excavators, bulldozers, tractors, graders, disc trenchers, ploughs, trans-planters, harvesters, sprayers, water pumps and many others.They are essential for different kinds of jobs of agricultural production, particularly for each and every step of rice farming.
Image:Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama tries out one of the 348 rice-farming machines given by the Chinese Government at a ceremony at the Koronivia Research Station in Nausori last week. Picture: ELIKI NUKUTABU
Fiji Times 

Yield increase: GRFs provide the key

Three independent genetic studies reveal that the GRF–miR396 module regulates rice grain yield by controlling the number of spikelets or the size of individual grains. These findings provide promising targets for significantly increasing crop yiel
http://www.nature.com/articles/nplants2015210

Sales Drop at Rice Milling Machine Maker

Khmer Times/Sok Chan

Tuesday, 22 December 2015

A Japanese-owned company that assembles rice milling machines and processing equipment here is seeing sales decline due to lack of demand from rice millers, many of which are operating at a loss or just scraping by, its president said yesterday.
Vuthy Monyrath, president of Taiwa Seiki (Cambodia) Corporation, which assembles and provides spare parts for rice milling and processing machinery, said sales are falling because the price of rice is declining and some rice exporters have shut operations. High production costs are making trice millers unprofitable, which is having a knock-on effect on Taiwa Seiki’s business, Mr. Monyrath said, adding that his company can assemble 10 rice milling machines per month. He also said that although the government’s move to remove all taxes on the import of agriculture machinery was welcome, his company has to pay taxes to import some machines and accessories it uses to assemble agricultural machines here, including small motors. Other costs include fees for import lists submitted to officials, Mr. Monyrath said. 

Uy Rasy, deputy director of Phnom Penh General Department of Customs and Excise Tax, told Khmer Times that agricultural equipment that can be imported tax free includes harvesting machines, rice milling machines, tractors, rice processing machines, and other agricultural spare parts and accessories. “If they [imported companies] have a specific master list to import those agricultural accessories, they can do so tax free,” Mr. Rasy said. “But they have to pay tax for some parts and accessories, such as motors and tires, and large machines that could be used for uses other than agriculture,” he added.  

Hean Vanhan, a deputy general director at the agriculture ministry, said the government has many tax incentives to boost the agriculture sector including duty-free imports of agricultural equipment. He also said that the government sets the tax policy but it is up to the customs and excise officials to implement it Economist Srey Chanthy said the government should do more to help companies that assemble or make milling machines in Cambodia because it saves the cost of importing them, creates jobs, sparks entrepreneurship and broadens the manufacturing base.
What the government can do to accomplish this is provide technical support and tax incentives, facilitate registration, encourage trademark registration and protect intellectual property rights, he said. A report by the Agriculture Ministry found over 80 percent of farms now use some motorized equipment, including tractors and machines for cultivation, while the rest rely on traditional cultivation methods. 
VINECO to launch rice brand in time for 2016
 HA NOI (VNS)  — VINECO will launch its brand of rice on December 26 in co-operation with Trung An Company.VINECO, which is Vingroup's agriculture company, said the rice will be distributed exclusively on the group's Vinmart super markets and Vinmart+ convenience stores in the southern region from December 26, and in the rest of the country four days later.VINECO said the rice is grown on 8,000 ha of land belonging to the Trung An company, one of the leading rice producers with a most advanced and modern processing system in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta. The entire cultivation process is under VINECO's production, which is tightly controlled under ISO 22000, HACCP and Global GAP, ensuring the maximum food safety and nutritional content.During the launch, VINECO will supply the market with six types of rice meeting the demand of the global GAP. It expects to serve the local customers with organic rice products in 2016. — VNS
Image:VINECO in co-operation with Trung An Company grow rice in Mekong Delta. – VNS Photo
Vietnam, Timor Leste sign MoU on rice trade

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and Timor Leste Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment signed a memorandum of understanding on rice trade in Hanoi on December 21.
At the signing ceremony.
Addressing the signing ceremony, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh said Vietnam will not only be a trustworthy partner of Timor Leste in the fields of farm produce, fisheries and rice but also in garment, leather and footwear and electronics.Vietnam will also provide all possible support for Timor Leste’s business operations, he said, adding that there remains room for cooperation in energy, oil and gas, and processing.


He said Vietnam wants the Timor Leste government to continue refining policies that encourage investment.Timor Leste Minister of Commerce, Industry and Environment Constancio da Condeicao Pinto, for his part, affirmed that Timor Leste welcomes Vietnamese enterprises to the country to do business.He hoped that both countries would work closely together in the areas of oil and gas and mining in the future.The guest also vowed to complete procedures to approve the bilateral free trade agreement as soon as possible.According to the MoIT, Vietnam imported goods worth roughly 31 million USD from Timor Leste this year and exported 34 million USD, ranking sixth among 35 countries exporting to the country.
VNA
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/government/149083/vietnam--timor-leste-sign-mou-on-rice-trade.html

Fighting rice fungus

Research may lead to new control for devastating rice disease
UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE  

IMAGE: THE RICE BLAST FUNGUS M. ORYZAEINFECTS RICE PLANTS THROUGH A STRUCTURE CALLED AN APPRESSORIUM. IT EXERTS PRESSURE ON THE PLANT LEAF UNTIL IT PUNCTURES IT. PLANT SCIENTISTS AT THE..
CREDIT: UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE/BAIS LABORATORY
In a "clash of the microbes," University of Delaware plant scientists are uncovering more clues critical to disarming a fungus that is the number one killer of rice plants.The findings, published in December inFrontiers in Plant Science and in Current Opinion in Plant Biology, may lead to a more effective control for Magnaporthe oryzae, the fungus that causes rice blast disease.The studies were led by the laboratory of Harsh Bais, associate professor of plant and soil sciences in UD's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
The first author of both research articles was graduate student Carla Spence. The co-authors included postdoctoral researcher Venkatachalam Laksmanan and Nicole Donofrio, associate professor of plant and soil sciences, in addition to Bais."Rice is a food the world relies on -- it accounts for about one-fifth of all the calories humans consume," says Bais. "So it's critical to find ways to reduce the impact of rice blast disease, especially as global population is expected to exceed 9 billion by 2050, and the need for more food increases."Previously, Bais and his research team isolated Pseudomonas chlororaphis EA105, a bacterium that lives in the soil around the roots of rice plants and found that this beneficial microbe can trigger a system-wide defense against the rice blast fungus.Now, they have identified a stress hormone that appears to play a crucial role in increasing the virulence of the fungus.
When little water is available, rice plants make more abscisic acid in their roots. This stress hormone travels up to the plant leaves to close off tiny pores, halting the evaporation of water from the plant to the atmosphere.Bais and his team have shown that when the rice blast fungus invades a rice plant, an increase in abscisic acid occurs. But rather than boosting the plant's defense mechanisms, the abscisic acid actually suppresses them, making the pathogen even more potent."It's like a double-edged sword," Bais says. "Abscisic acid can save the plant during drought. But when a pathogen is present, this same molecule blocks the plant's innate defense response."In studies at the Delaware Biotechnology Institute at UD, Bais and his team treated spores of the rice blast fungus with abscisic acid. In 10 hours, 84 percent of these spores had germinated and formed a specialized infection structure called the appressorium, which acts like a battering ram, exerting pressure on a rice leaf until the fungus punches through the surface.
However, when spores of the fungus were treated with both the beneficial bacterium EA105 and abscisic acid, only about 23 percent of the spores formed this attack machinery."The rice blast fungus uses abscisic acid to its own advantage, which is absolutely wild," Bais says. "People have been struggling to find targets for controlling rice blast, and now we have one, with abscisic acid. It's one of those classic holy grails because this fungus affects not only rice, but also barley and wheat."Although abscisic acid may be responsible for virulence in the rice blast fungus, the molecule itself is not a feasible target for fungicides because of its crucial roles in plants, from seed development to its modulating effect during temperature extremes and high salinity, to its well-studied role in drought tolerance.
However, targeting specific genes in the fungus that biosynthesize abscisic acid could deliver the real knockout punch."Plants and their microbial neighbors have this beautifully complex and intricate system of communicating through chemical signals, with each trying to manipulate the situation to maximize their own fitness," Bais says. "We want to be able to manage some of these interactions, too, to enhance food security."
###
The research is supported by the National Science Foundation.

FG reviewing Ali’s counter-productive policy on rice imports

The Federal Government is reviewing the recent lifting of restrictions on rice importation by the Nigerian Customs Service, with a view to reversing the policy seen as counter productive to the economy and a disincentive to local production. It was learnt that Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who has been…
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Gov’t subsidies surge as funds channeled to aid agriculture


SUBSIDIES paid out by the national government surged month on month in October as it raised releases for three state-run firms geared towards helping farmers, data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed.
AFP
Releases to government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) stood at P6.48 billion for the month, much higher than the P729 million it handed out in September after a rise in allocations to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC), and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PRRI).Based on Treasury data, the national government raised its subsidies to the NIA by P2.55 billion in October, a sharp rise from the P271 million it released to the agency a month earlier.PCIC, a state-run firm that gives loan credits and insurance cover for farmers of rice, corn, livestock, and high-value crops, also received P831 million in subsidies after two months without any funding support from the state, while the PRRI -- a research unit of the Department of Agriculture -- got hold of an additional P182 million.
It was in October when typhoon Lando, internationally known as Koppu, lashed parts of palay-rich Northern Luzon. This was also a month into the “severe” El Niño expected to hit the country until mid-2016.The National Electrification Administration also received P1.69 billion, the second biggest allocation for the month.Other firms that received additional subsidies in October were the train operator Light Rail Transit Authority with P530 million, the agency’s biggest so far for the year; private sector pension Social Security System at P375 million; the National Power Corp. at P86 million, and the Philippine National Railways at P65 million.
The October subsidies brought year-to-date releases to P62.3 billion, down slightly from the P63.64 billion seen a year earlier.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. has received the biggest subsidies so far at P32.62 billion, making up more than half of the total.Subsidies form part of public expenditures, which were at P1.82 trillion as of end-October. The government plans to release a total of P118.62 billion in GOCC subsidies for 2015. -- Melissa Luz T. Lopez
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=gov&8217t-subsidies-surge-as-funds-channeled-to-aid-agriculture&id=120598

FIU scientists discover how arsenic builds up in plant seeds

Researchers from FIU’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine are part of an international team that has identified how arsenic builds up in the seeds of plants similar to rice. The discovery holds the promise of the future development of healthier rice grains.
Distinguished Professor Barry P. Rosen, Ph.D.
“While the process of how arsenic is taken into roots and shoots of plants is fairly well understood, little is known about how arsenic gets into seeds,” says Distinguished Professor Barry P. Rosen, Ph.D. “Understanding how arsenic is accumulated in seeds such as the rice grain is of critical importance in population health.”Rosen and colleague Jian Chen, Ph.D., both from the Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology are among the team of scientists who discovered how arsenic accumulates in the seeds of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, which is used as a model for food plants such as rice.
Arsenic is both a toxin and a carcinogen that comes from minerals and is used in some herbicides, animal growth promoters, and semiconductors. It is a pervasive environmental contaminant of food and water that threatens the health of tens of millions people worldwide. Rice is the staple food for more than half of the people in the world. Even here in the U.S. where we are not large consumers, the average American eats 25 pounds of rice per year, according to the U.S. Rice Producers Association.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks arsenic first on the U.S. Priority List of Hazardous Substances (http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/SPL/index.html). The EPA asserts that it pervades our drinking water, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is concerned about arsenic endangering the safety of our food supply.
The major source of dietary arsenic is from eating plants such as rice that have accumulated arsenic. And rice is a major component of the diet of more than 2.5 billion people worldwide. In China, for example, about 60 percent of daily dietary arsenic comes from rice consumption.
As reported in an upcoming article in the prestigious journal Nature Plants, Rosen’s team discovered that the plant, A. thaliana, uses transport systems for inositol, a type of sugar, to load arsenite, the toxic form of arsenic, into seeds. This is the first identification of transporters responsible for arsenic accumulation in seeds.
Rosen predicts that the same pathway is how arsenic accumulates in the rice grain and that discoveries such as these will enable the development of new rice cultivators with less arsenic in the grain, a major advance toward minimizing the global health risks posed by arsenic in rice and possibly, in the near future, in other food sources.

Japanese Scientists Perform CRISPR/Cas9 Editing on Fungus Used in Sake, Soy Sauce Production

Dec 22, 2015
  NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Japanese scientists have developed a technique to do CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in Aspergillus oryzae, a filamentous fungus used in several industrial applications, including brewing rice wines such as sake.By introducing plasmids carrying the Cas9 protein and guide RNAs for targeted mutagenesis, the scientists were able to get mutation efficiencies between 10 and 20 percent. The scientists, led by Jun-ichi Maruyama of the University of Tokyo, published their results this week in Biotechnology Letters.
A. oryzae is the latest filamentous fungus to get the CRISPR treatment. Other scientists have recently gotten the genome editing system to work in Trichoderma reesei and Aspergillus aculeatus. Filamentous fungi are used in a variety of industrial applications, including the production of sugar-degrading enzymes, pigments, and pharmaceuticals. A. oryzae is instrumental to the production of soy sauce, rice vinegar, sake, and other fermented soybean and rice products. Its genome sequence was released in 2005. Genome editing could help increase enzyme efficiency as well as enzyme yield.
https://www.genomeweb.com/gene-silencinggene-editing/japanese-scientists-perform-crisprcas9-editing-fungus-used-sake-soy-sauce
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