· Today Rice News Headlines...
·
Pakistan, Indonesia ink $400m rice export deal
·
Indian rice export may decline
·
Unit to boost farming below sea level
·
Govt mulls rice imports from India
·
Rice farmers hear optimistic outlook for coming
year
·
Chinese hybrid rice taking trip overseas
·
China tops importers of Cambodian rice in 2015
·
New Thai rice plan aims to cut rice production
to 25 million tonnes this crop year
·
Rice imports aimed at curbing poverty rate: VP
·
Indonesia, India to collaborate on rice and
pharmaceuticals
·
2016 Food Aid Funding Increase Part of
Bipartisan Omnibus Bill
·
Liberia: UCI Increases Rice Import
·
Rice remains Japanese staple, despite
popularity waning
·
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-Jan 08
·
Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report
Pakistan
secures $400 million rice export pact with Indonesia
January 08, 2016
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has concluded an agreement
with Indonesia to export one million metric ton of rice, estimated at around
$400 million over four years, a government statement said on Thursday.The
agreement for export of rice will be implemented by Trading Corporation of
Pakistan (TCP) and Indonesian government organisation BULOG (State Logistic
Agency), a statement issued by the Commerce Ministry said.The TCP has finalised
the first tender of 15,000 metric tons of rice export to Indonesia, which includes
5,000 metric tons of basmati rice and 10,000 metric tons of non-basmati rice.
The
finalisation of this tender has a positive effect on the rice prices in
Pakistan and the prices have started to stabilise.Commerce Minister Khurram
Dastgir Khan said that the export order of one million metric ton would end the
uncertainty prevailing in the domestic rice market and lucrative prices would
prove to be an impetus for growers to expand rice production in the coming
years.Dastgir said the Commerce Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of
National Food Security and Research will bring in new legislation for high
yielding varieties of rice and law for Geographical Indication for Pakistani
basmati rice.
Pakistan
was the first country out of the Association of South East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) to have rice export agreement with Indonesia.Pak-Indonesia trade rose
215 percent to 2.2 billion in 2014 from 700 million in 2010 after the
conclusion of Preferential Trade Agreement. Earlier Indonesian government said
it mulling to import rice from Pakistan amid low rice stocks following a
prolonged dry season. Indonesian Trade Minister Thomas Lembong said his
government was preparing a government-to-government Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) on rice imports with the Pakistani government. The Indonesian rice planting season had been put
back from October to November because of last year’s prolonged El Nino. As a
result, harvest time in several areas across Indonesia suffered delays, leading
to depleted rice stocks in the first quarter of 2016. The government there calculated that it has
only 1.35 million tons of rice in March. Normally, the government has 1.5
million tons of stocks. To fulfill the shortage of rice, the government was
keen to sign import MoUs with Myanmar and Pakistan.
Indonesian
officials said the agreements were a precaution measure to anticipate reduced
rice stocks, which could in turn lead to surging prices of basic commodities. The
estimated domestic production of rice at the end of March this year will be
1.35 million tons in the Southeast Asian country.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/88651-Pakistan-secures-400-million-rice-export-pact-with-Indonesia#sthash.jNG65g9I.dpuf
Published: January 8, 2016
Jakarta will purchase 1m tons of
rice over four years. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: In a bid to boost the rice industry,
Pakistan has concluded an agreement with Indonesia for export of one million
tons of rice valuing around $400 million over the next four years.The agreement
for rice export will be executed by the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP)
and Bulog (state logistics agency) of Indonesia.
TCP has
finalised the first export tender for 15,000 tons of rice which includes 5,000
tons of basmati and 10,000 tons of non-basmati rice.The finalisation of the
tender has had a positive effect on rice prices in the country as they have
started stabilising.Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan said the intensive
trade diplomacy of the Ministry of Commerce had resulted in securing a large
export market for Pakistani rice for the period 2016-19.
He said the
export order for one million tons would end uncertainty prevailing in the
domestic rice market and lucrative prices would prove to be an impetus for
growers to increase paddy production in coming years.Dastgir said the commerce
ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of National Food Security and
Research would bring new legislation for high-yielding rice varieties and for
geographical indication of Pakistani basmati rice.Pakistan is the first country
compared to members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) that
has a rice export agreement with Indonesia. Trade between Pakistan and
Indonesia rose 215% to $2.2 billion in 2014 from $700 million in 2010 after
conclusion of a preferential trade agreement.
Published in The Express
Tribune, January 8th, 2016.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1023775/joining-hands-pakistan-indonesia-ink-400m-rice-export-deal/
Indian rice export may decline
India’s rice exports for the current financial year are headed
for a decline, both in value and volume terms, over the previous year on
reduced purchases by large buyers, such as Iran and Nigeria, and drop in
realizations, according to report by The Business Line of India
Latest export trends suggest that total rice shipments – basmati
and non-basmati – have declined 7.3 per cent in volumes and 18 per cent in
value terms for the April-November period over the corresponding period last
year. While basmati shipments were up 23 per cent in volume terms, realisations
were down 13 per cent in rupee terms and 18.5 per cent in dollar terms, on
account of decline in grain prices. Non-basmati rice shipments dropped by a
fifth in volume terms and by a fourth in rupee terms. This was largely on
account of stoppage of imports of parboiled rice by Nigeria due to the foreign
exchange issue in the African nation. “Going by the current trend, our exports
may see a decline.We may end up shipping 10.5-11 million tonnes (mt) of rice,
both basmati and non-basmati put together this year,” said Rajen Sundaresan,
Executive Director, All India Rice Exporters Association. India had exported a
total of 11.92 mt rice in 2014-15.
Basmati shipments to
Iran, the largest buyer of the Indian aromatic rice variety in recent years,
have dropped 25 per cent to 3.9 lakh tonnes during the April-October period of
the current financial year against 5.18 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period
last year. Iran, which had stopped issuing fresh import permits for basmati in
November 2014, began issuing new permits from December 2015, Sundaresan said.As
a result, basmati shipments were likely to pick up in the coming months.
However, the quantum of permits issued by Iran so far could not be ascertained.
“Our basmati shipments, in volume terms, may increase by about 10 per cent this
year, while in value terms there could be a decline of 20-25 per cent on lower
realisations,” said AK Gupta, Director, Basmati Export Development Foundation.
Non-basmati rice exporters, who rely mainly on the African markets, are not
optimistic about the outlook for exports in the absence of demand from Nigeria
and the firming trend in domestic prices.
“The market is not very buoyant because of low prices in
countries, such as Pakistan and Vietnam,” said BV Krishna Rao, Managing
Director of Pattabhi Agro Foods Pvt Ltd, a large rice exporter in Kakinada. Rao
said Indian rice is not competitive in the global market compared to rice from
Thailand and Pakistan.The Centre should provide some incentive to rice
exporters to help maintain their market share, he added. Rao expects the
overall non-basmati shipments to be in the region of around five million tonnes
this year. Tejinder Narang, a grains trade analyst, said a depreciating Thailand
currency (baht) will pose a challenge to Indian exporters, who are already
battling a firming trend in domestic rice prices. “Lack of demand from Nigeria
is bound to impact Indian exports,” he added.Source: The Financial Express
Unit to boost farming below sea level
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will
inaugurate the international centre on agriculture and training in ‘below sea
level farming system’ at the Moncompu Rice Research Station near Alappuzha on
February 6. The centre will function as an autonomous body under the
Agriculture Department.The Chief Minister will be the chairman of the governing
body. Agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan will be the vice-chairman.
Agricultural scientist K.G. Padmakumar will be the director of the new centre.
The centre will be first of its
kind in the country. The State government will spend Rs.10 crore to establish
the centre, according to District Collector N. Padmakumar. The centre will be
associated with the Moncompu Rice Research Station and the Regional Agriculture
Research Station, Kumarakom.The centre will collaborate with SAARC countries
under the guidance of Food and Agriculture Organisation.
Centre to come
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/unit-to-boost-farming-below-sea-level/article8079938.ece
Govt mulls rice imports from India
Khoirul Amin, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Business | Thu,
January 07 2016, 5:32 PM
Business News
The government is considering
importing rice from India, the world’s second-largest rice producer, in
anticipation of insufficient supply in the near future.Trade Minister Thomas
Lembong said on Wednesday his ministry was seeking to diversify import sources
for rice, the country’s main staple food.“We also encourage the signing of a
memorandum of understanding [MOU] with India, because India has become the
largest rice exporter in recent years,” he said.India’s rice exports had
reached a value of US$3 billion to $4 billion per year, he added. According to
data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), India exported around 10
million tons of rice both in 2013 and 2014, displacing Thailand as the world’s
largest exporter.
Thailand is, however, forecast to
reclaim its top spot this year. The data has also reveals that
India has become the second-largest rice grower, after China.The Trade Minister
recently signed an MOU with Pakistan to secure rice imports from the South
Asian country after previously failing to secure commitments for more imports
from Vietnam and Thailand, because the Philippines had already bought the
commodity from the two countries.In the fourth quarter of last year, the
government was a little too late in securing additional rice imports to
stabilize domestic prices amid insufficient domestic supply, giving enough time
for the Philippines — which also experienced a lack of supply —―to secure
commitments from Vietnam and Thailand.
Indonesia had planned to import a
total of 1.5 million tons of rice from Thailand and Vietnam last year, but only
1 million tons were realized.On the other hand, the Philippines, which used to
import around 500,000 to 700,000 tons of rice a year, imported an unusually
large volume of 1.5 million tons from the two Southeast Asian rice exporters
last year.Thomas said previously that while imports from Pakistan had not been
realized yet, the Pakistani government had explained that it could supply
around 500,000 tons of rice to Indonesia.“The State Logistics Agency [Bulog] is
studying detailed Pakistani rice supply,” he said.Meanwhile, Bulog procurement
director Wahyu said Bulog’s rice stocks stood at 1.38 million tons as of
Wednesday, and he estimated that the country would not need to import in the
next four months.
“There hasn’t been any order for additional
imports from Pakistan so far,” he added.Separately, Agriculture Minister Amran
Sulaiman said he was upbeat that rice production would increase, as his
ministry had been taking precautionary measures for possible La Niña weather
phenomenon this year. La Niña, widely seen as El Niño’s opposite, typically
brings more rainfall, threatening crops with flooding
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/01/07/govt-mulls-rice-imports-india.html#sthash.4B81IO0m.dpuf
Rice farmers hear optimistic outlook for coming
year
Posted: Thu 5:15 PM, Jan 07, 2016
By: News Staff - Email
Courtesy: LSU AgCenter / MGN
CROWLEY,
La (Press Release) - Rice farmers attending the first three of a series of LSU
AgCenter producer meetings came away with reasons for optimism this year, with
the start of planting season only two months away.The good news includes the
potential for higher prices and federal approval of a bird repellent for rice
seed.Meetings were held in Welsh on Jan. 5, Ville Platte on Jan. 6 and Crowley
on Jan. 7. Additional sessions are scheduled for Jan. 19 in Mansura, Feb. 2 in
Rayville and Feb. 25 in Breaux Bridge.LSU AgCenter economist Mike Salassi said
rice stocks have declined by 22 percent from last year, and higher prices are
anticipated. “It’s slowly moving up to $20 a barrel,” he told farmers at the
meeting in Crowley.
The projected average price for long-grain rice
is $19.44 a barrel, or $12 per hundredweight, he said. The projected average
for medium-grain rice is $19.93 a barrel, or $12.30 per hundredweight.A
decrease in rice acreage nationwide last year halted a price decline that
started in 2014, Salassi said. Louisiana rice acreage in 2015 was 415,000, down
by roughly 40,000 acres from the previous year.
Conditional approval for the bird repellent was
signed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Jan. 5.AgCenter rice
specialist Dustin Harrell said the EPA granted the approval for two years for
the bird repellent AV-1011. The material does not hurt the birds, but it prevents
them from eating seed treated with the natural chemical after they have
consumed a small amount of the repellent-treated seed.Also at the meetings,
farmers learned about two new varieties developed at the LSU AgCenter H. Rouse
Caffey Rice Research Station.
A long-grain Clearfield variety, CL153, has
good grain quality and good disease resistance, said LSU AgCenter rice breeder
Steve Linscombe. The variety is in seed production this year, and it will be a
good alternative to CL151 when it is available for commercial production next
year.A new Clearfield medium-grain variety, CL272, will be an improvement over
CL271, he said, with better yields and improved grain appearance and
uniformity.Linscombe said work continues at the station on hybrid development
with the expectation that a commercially viable hybrid might be in the pipeline
in two to three years. In addition, a potential Clearfield Jazzman variety is
ready for harvest now in Puerto Rico.A seed increase for the
herbicide-resistant Provisia rice is also being produced on a seven-acre field
in Puerto Rico.
AgCenter weed scientist Eric Webster advised
farmers that tank mixing the Provisia herbicide with other herbicides can
result in damaged rice. “I can’t tell you when it’s going to happen or when
it’s not going to happen,” he said.Webster said he also is testing the
herbicide Rinskor, which has a new mode of action that works well on broadleaf
weeds and grasses.Harrell said last year’s heavy rainfall challenged farmers
during planting time. In addition, the unusually wet spring caused problems
with fertilizer applications that are recommended for dry soil.AgCenter plant
pathologist Don Groth reminded farmers that planting early is advised for
disease-susceptible varieties. “Once you get into April planting, you are
creating more risk.”Late-planted rice needs to be treated earlier with a
fungicide, Groth said.
And applying only the recommended amount of
nitrogen can reduce disease severity.AgCenter entomologist Mike Stout said
insect problems can be reduced by planting early and using a seed treatment for
rice water weevils.Stout said the Mexican rice borer continues its spread into
Louisiana, with adults found in St. Landry Parish in the fall. It was first
found in Calcasieu Parish in 2008.Stout also said a new threshold for stinkbugs
probably will be recommended this year.AgCenter soybean specialist Ron Levy
said severe flooding in north Louisiana and heavy rainfall and drought in south
Louisiana were problems for many farmers.
But he
said farmers who grew their crops on raised beds with irrigation had good
results.Salassi said soybean prices will probably not increase in 2015, with a
projected Louisiana average of $9.20 per bushel. He said two years of record
crops have boosted ending stocks.“Unless we have a significant drop in acreage,
it’s going to take a while to move those soybeans out of the market,” Salassi
said.
__
Bruce Schultz wrote this article for LSU
AgCenter
http://www.knoe.com/home/headlines/Rice-farmers-hear-optimistic-outlook-for-coming-year-364575861.html
Chinese hybrid
rice taking trip overseas
Xu WeiChina Daily/Asia News NetworkFriday, Jan 08, 2016
China's National Rice Research
Institute is looking to tap into seed markets in Southeast Asia, Africa and
South America as it promotes its hybrid rice varieties over the next five
years.Cheng Shihua, director general of the institute, said it will promote its
hybrid rice seeds in emerging markets."We have conducted a number of tests
on new rice varieties in rice paddies overseas. More often than not, our
hybrids produce 30 per cent higher yields than local varieties," he said.The
Hangzhou-based institute, which emphasizes genetic studies of rice and genome
research for improving rice yields, grain quality, pest resistance and stress
tolerance, is set to launch a joint venture seed company in Indonesia to
develop new hybrid rice varieties for farmers.
Cheng said the institute will
partner with Chinese seed companies to promote its technology overseas."We
need to ensure that the rice companies make a profit and that local farmers
improve their yields," he said.During the 13th Five Year Plan period
(2016-20), the institute will go further than simply setting up demonstration
centres for Chinese technologies, he said."We need to establish ourselves
in the local seed markets, and this will offer us a starting point to establish
ourselves further in the agricultural sector," he said.He said the cost to
export Chinese rice seeds to foreign markets remains high, so the institute
wants to develop local rice varieties overseas with a local labour force.
The concept must go through a
very complicated administrative approval procedure from the Ministry of
Agriculture."We are hoping that the approval procedure will be simplified
in the near future," he said.Development of local rice varieties overseas
will also help China improve its own rice research, as it will help enrich its
rice gene pool, he said.Hu Peisong, deputy director general of the institute
and a researcher in rice genetic studies and genome research, said the country
still lags behind other major rice-producing countries in the world in terms of
improving grain quality.
He said the institute will put
more focus on the improvement of rice quality over the next five years in order
to meet the nation's growing demand."International academic exchanges with
Southeast Asia and India are also getting more frequent, and that will help the
country improve its rice quality as well," he said.
http://business.asiaone.com/news/chinese-hybrid-rice-taking-trip-overseas#sthash.upzjuXvd.dpuf
China tops
importers of Cambodian rice in 2015
20160108T000000Z
Philippines News Agency
PHNOM PENH, Jan. 8 -- A surge in Chinese purchase
orders helped boost the growth of Cambodia's rice export in 2015, according to a government's report
released on Friday.Cambodia exported a total of 538,396 tons of milled rice to over 50
countries and regions last year, up 39 percent from the 387,061 tons in the
year before, said the report compiled by the Secretariat of One Window Service
for Rice Export.China is the top
buyer of Cambodian rice, followed by France and Poland, the report said.The
world's second largest economy imported some 116,831 tons of milled rice from Cambodia
last year, up 138 percent year-on-year, it said.Hean Vanhorn, director of the
Secretariat of One Window Service for Rice Export, attributed the
remarkable growth to good quality rice and excellent relations between Cambodia
and China. (PNA/Xinhua)
Published by HT Syndication with permission from
Philippines News Agency. For any query with respect to this article or any
other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com
New Thai rice plan aims to cut rice production to 25 million
tonnes this crop year
New rice plan aims to cut rice
production to 25 million tonnes this crop year
BANGKOK: — About 25 million
tonnes of rice will be produced during 2516-17 crop years instead of the normal
production output of between 31-32 million tonnes to correspond with
anticipated consumption demand.
Commerce permanent secretary Chutima Boonyaprapat said Thursday
that the private and farming sectors had been invited to join the government
sector in working out an integrated rice production and market plan for the
2516-17 croup years. The plan is divided into short-term or six-month, medium-term or
12-month and long-term or 18-month programmes.Ms Chutima said it was agreed by
the three parties that the yield for the 2516-17 croup years would be capped at
25 million tonnes instead of 31-32 million tonnes as the government wanted to
reduce rice-farming areas due to drought and also to correspond with market
demand. The plan is expected to be completed within a month, she added.
Regarding production, Ms Chutima said the Commerce Ministry would
see to it that production costs are to reduce such as the costs of fertilizer,
pesticides and harvesting as well as upgrading the standard of rice mills.As
for domestic marketing, the ministry will try to secure more rice markets and
to ensure fairness in rice trading which may include inspection of rice
weighing and humidity measurement, price tagging and setting the standard of
rice trade.The Agriculture Ministry has been tasked with rice cultivation
zoning to set different zones for different types of rice and water management
as well as choosing the right rice types for different zones.
http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/new-thai-rice-plan-aims-to-cut-rice-production-to-25-million-tonnes-this-crop-year/127329/
Rice imports aimed at curbing
poverty rate: VP
Jumat, 8 Januari 2016 23:15 WIB |
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla defended rice
imports from Pakistan and India, saying they are aimed at curbing poverty rate
in Indonesia."Rice price has the deciding factor. If it is not stable, the
poverty rate will go up. So the imports prevent the price and poverty rate from
rising and needs can be met," he said at the Vice Presidential Office here
on Friday.Rice price plays a deciding role in the peoples life and thus, the
government has the obligation to stabilize it, he said."The problem is
that we have to stabilize rice price because it plays a deciding role. No
matter whether the rice is imported from Pakistan or elsewhere, we must have
sufficient stocks," he said.
Trade Minister Thomas Lembong said earlier the government is
looking into the possibility of cooperation with Pakistan to import rice from
the country."The process is going on. We have signed a MoU with the
Pakistani government (to import rice) under a government to government
partnership. Right now the state logistics agency (Bulog) is studying technical
details of rice stocks in Pakistan," he said. The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said on Monday that the
number of Indonesians living in poverty rose by 780 thousand to 28.51 million
in September 2015, from 27.73 million in September 2014, The number of poor people rose significantly during the
September 2014-March 2015 period due to a fuel price hike in November 2014 and
the impact of economic slowdown, BPS Chairman Suryamin said.
"Compared to September 2014, (the number of poor people) in
September 2015 rose by 0.78 million," he said.According to BPS data, the
inflation rate in the September 2014-March 2015 period was recorded at 4.03
percent, with rural inflation reaching 4.4 percent over the same period.Compared
to September 2014, rice prices rose 14.48 percent to Rp13,089 per kilogram and
farmers exchange rate weakened by 1.34 percent in March 2015.However, he added
that the number of residents not belonging to poor category began to increase
in March 2015 after the governments social program was implemented.
The decline was also the result of the governments efforts to
anticipate inflation in March 2015, he said.Therefore, the number of poor
people dropped by 80 thousand during the March 2014-September 2015 period."Admittedly,
if we look at data in September last year, the number of poor people did
increase but if we look at data in March 2015, it declined," he said. (*)
http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/102410/rice-imports-aimed-at-curbing-poverty-rate-vp
Indonesia, India to collaborate on rice and pharmaceuticals
Anton Hermansyah, thejakartapost.com | National | Fri, January
08 2016, 11:24 AM
Spicy affair: Indian Ambassador to Indonesia Gurjit Singh (center) poses with a number of writers of
a book entitled Masala Bumbu: Enhancing the India-Indonesia Partnership,
including (from left to right) former deputy foreign minister
Dino Patti Djalal, businesswoman Shinta Kamdani, pastry chief Farah Quinn and
former trade minister Gita Wirjawan, at the book’s launch in August last year.
(JP/DON)
Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih
Lembong is scheduled to visit India and meet with Indian Trade Minister on Jan.
28-29 to follow up on a pledge to collaborate, Indonesian Ambassador to India
Rizali Wilmar Indrakesuma has said.In the trade collaboration with India,
Thomas said Indonesia would focus on two things, namely pharmaceuticals with a
focus on generic medicine and rice imports from India.Collaboration in
pharmaceuticals was initiated by President Joko "Jokowi" Widowo after
meeting with Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari on Nov. 11, 2015. The
plan to import rice was confirmed on Thursday by Thomas, who said he would
propose an MoU to India.
Collaboration in pharmaceuticals is seen as a positive step as India is the
biggest producer of generic medicine in the world. Indonesia AIDS Coalition
(IAC) executive director Aditya Wardhana expressed hoped that Indonesia could
also learn something from India."Indian medicinal policy really supports
its people. It utilizes the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property
Rights [TRIPS] agreement by the World Trade Organization to produce affordable
generic medicine," Aditya told thejakartapost.com recently.He gave as an
example Sovaldi, a branded medicine to treat hepatitis C. He stressed that it
cost US$1,000 per pill, not per box. Hepatitis C patients around the world
protested the price, but no country openly supported the protest except for
India.
Utilizing the TRIPS agreement flexibility, if
there are public objections to a patent, a patent registration can be canceled.
"From there the Indian pharmaceutical company could produce the generic
version called Sofosbufir, and it is affordable, around $7 per pill,"
Aditya explained.In reference to trade, Ambassador Rizali voiced hope that it
would enhance relations between two countries. He said that many things had
been initiated, the last being the India-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic
Cooperation Arrangement (CECA) in 2011 by then trade minister Mari Elka
Pangestu.
"But results of the follow
up cannot be felt now. Chemistry must be built not only between governments but
also between Indonesian and Indian businesspeople. Indonesian businesspeople
remain wary of Indian businessmen and vice versa," said Rizali.Rizali also
expressed hope that pharmaceutical and rice trade would help Indonesian and
Indian businessmen get to know each other better."India is a big market
and has the highest economic growth in Asia. Maybe it won't replace China as
Indonesia's main trading partner, but by looking more to India, we could have
alternatives and diversification for our economy," Rizali explained.
(dan)(+)
2016 Food Aid
Funding Increase Part of Bipartisan Omnibus Bill
By Peter
Bachmann
WASHINGTON, DC -- Before Congress concluded
business for the year in December, they passed the Fiscal Year 2016 Omnibus
which provided the first significant increase in PL-480 (Food for Peace)
funding in many years.
The program
received $1.466 billion in initial funding from 2015 but the Omnibus bill also
provided a one-time appropriation of $250 million of "Food for Peace Title
II Grants" to be used directly toward international food aid in conflict
zones like the Middle East or Syria. The
funds are to be used toward the purchase and shipment of U.S. commodities, such
as rice, and not to be converted to cash or vouchers.
Sarah Moran,
USA Rice director of international promotion, said, "We've been asking for
increases in Food for Peace funding for years and we're glad that USA Rice and
our partners' efforts have paid off this year."Moran added, "USA Rice
is continuing efforts and exploring new options to prioritize U.S.-grown
fortified rice as part of international food aid commodity shipments."
The Omnibus bill provides funding for federal
programs for the remainder of the fiscal year and averted a government
shutdown. The massive document outlining
2016 appropriations has several beneficial provisions for agriculture including
a $925 million increase from last year's funding level.
Liberia: UCI
Increases Rice Import
Gambia: Papa Gassama is African Referee of
the Year for Second Time
Since emerging as the largest importer of
Liberia's staple food, rice, the United Commodities Incorporated (UCI) has
persistently proved that it can meet the demands of millions of consumers.Even
during the outbreak of the Ebola virus when a number of companies shut down,
UCI kept its wheel of supply turning. This was confirmed when Mr. Anwar
Ezzeddine, UCI Chief Executive Officer declared that, "UCI has never
realized any shortage even during the Ebola crisis."
The UCI further made a major breakthrough in
September 2015 when a ship loaded with 33,000 tons of rice with approximately
1.2 million bags, onboard M.V. AL MUKTHTAR from Kakinada in India was docked at
the Freeport of Monrovia to augment the strength of an already huge stockpile
of the commodity in many UCI warehouses on Bushrod Island.The additional supply
by UCI was a way of assuring the general public that the company was still a
giant as far as meeting the demands of rice consumers was concerned.At present,
the UCI boasts of huge stockpile of rice that the public can rest assured that
there would be no shortage on the part of the company with efforts being made
to import additional huge amount of the country's staple food.
Founded in 2008, UCI is an international soft
commodities trading company with its headquarters in Monrovia. The company has
an extensive knowledge of the Liberian and other neighboring markets.UCI's
vision is to establish a company that forges close bonds with main suppliers
and offers quality goods at affordable prices. This lays the foundation for its
business code of conduct, close collaboration, exchange of information and
transparency, risk management, allocation and shared growth.Since its
inception, UCI has enjoyed continuous and sustainable growth at all levels, and
boasts of being a leading importer of key commodities in the country.
The UCI team has extensive field knowledge,
giving it the flexibility and capacity to adapt to the customers' specific
situations and requirements. UCI aims to provide effective services and offer
innovative solutions to the challenges that each day brings.With more than 100
employees representing five different nationalities, UCI has a diverse and
proficient team of employees at all levels in the company.The company's assets
and ensuing customer satisfaction places UCI at a competitive edge in the
rapidly transforming Liberian market place. This advantage promotes
diversifying activities and the range of products offered.
UCI, which originally specialized in rice
trading, now has a presence in the Liberian wheat flour, sugar, cooking oil,
cement and steel rod markets.The workforce has also grown substantially from an
original staff of five to more than a hundred employees. Constant development
of its turnover demonstrates a successful business model.UCI plans to develop
its position as a first-class partner by increasing and diversifying commodity
trading operations from and to the emerging economies of the Mano River Union
(Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea and Sierra Leone).
| BLOOMBERG
JAN 8, 2016
Rice remains a
Japanese staple but per-head consumption has fallen consistently for more than
half a century as diets have diversified.Since the end of World War II, the
dinner table has undergone significant changes in Japan.In the aftermath of the
war, many Japanese still suffered from serious food shortages. Rations of rice
were delayed, while substitute foods, such as sweet potatoes and corn, were
also in short supply.City dwellers traveled to farming villages or the black
market to acquire food and to stave off hunger. While receiving food aid from
overseas, Japan pushed ahead with a national drive to boost the production of
rice and other foods.
In 1955, 10 years after the war ended, the
infant mortality rate was still high, with 39.8 of every 1,000 babies dying
within a year of birth.The Japan Nutrition Association was established in the
year as an affiliate of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the predecessor of
the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.In 1956, the association launched a
nutrition improvement campaign, with “kitchen vehicles,” or revamped buses
equipped with cooking facilities, visiting many locations across Japan.In
efforts to promote Western-style dishes, staff demonstrated cooking methods,
including the use of a frying pan and oil, a cooking style still not in wide
use in the country.Traditional washoku (Japanese cuisine) consists of rice,
miso soup, fish, vegetables and potato. Experts warned this could result in
excessive intakes of carbohydrates and salt.
“The campaign was aimed at improving meals
that were nutritiously ill-balanced due to the heavy weighting of rice, said
Ritsuko Uetani, chief of the Tokyo-based association.In 1955, the electric rice
cooker revolutionized the household chore of steaming rice in a pot. Due to its
labor-saving benefits, rice cookers proved a smash hit. Within four years,
about half of all households owned at least one, allowing many Japanese to eat
white rice easily.Around the same time, a theory that eating rice makes people
dull provoked controversy.The late Takashi Hayashi, an expert in
cerebrophysiology and a then professor at Keio University, noted in his book
published in 1958 that white rice does not contain the vitamin B group, which
is found in wheat, a key ingredient of bread. Arguing that eating white rice
impedes the proper functioning of the brain, Hayashi proposed bread as a staple
food.
According to Uetani, the production of 12 “kitchen
vehicles” used in the nutrition improvement campaign was financed with
assistance from the Oregon Wheat Growers League. The aid reflected the U.S. aim
of developing Japan as a major export market for its surplus agricultural
produce.The Oregon league did not set any conditions on the association’s
campaign in exchange for its financial assistance, Uetani said.A 1961 brochure
by the Japanese association reported that laver sandwich, miso paste sandwich
and mackerel hot dog were the most popular items with the Japanese public
during cooking demonstrations.In the high-growth period, a bread-centered diet
came to be widely accepted in Japan as life became increasingly Westernized.
Meat, eggs, milk and dairy products started to appear regularly on menus, while
intakes of fruit and vegetables increased.
Average annual rice consumption reached a
postwar peak of 118 kg in fiscal 1962. Consumption fell in the late 1960s,
however, resulting in large amounts of unused rice. In a turnaround, the
government adopted in 1970 the gentanpolicy of reducing the acreage under
cultivation to promote carefully planned production cuts.It was not long before
obesity and lifestyle-related diseases became a problem due to excessive
intakes of animal protein and fat. People started to take a fresh look at the
good aspects of the traditional Japanese diet centered on rice.Still, the shift
away from rice showed no signs of stopping. By fiscal 2012, average annual rice
consumption had fallen to 57 kg, decreasing by half in half a century.“In my
childhood, I usually ate two or three bowls of rice in each meal, but nowadays,
people use small bowls and few have second helpings,” said Yoshiaki Tanaka,
managing director of Shinmei Holding Co., a major rice wholesaler based in
Kobe.
Tanaka believes there is little likelihood of
rice consumption recovering in Japan amid a declining and aging population.Washoku
was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2013, while
rice-centered meals have gained popularity overseas as a healthy diet.
But Issei Maeda, president of Tokyo-based
Agri Holdings, which operates anonigiri (rice ball) shop in Singapore, said,
“Even ramen noodles are considered healthy as they are Japanese food.”
Image:A farmer operating a combine harvester
loads a truck with rice in a paddy in Katori, Chiba Prefecture, in September.
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-Jan 08
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices - APMC & Open Market-January 8
Nagpur, Jan 8 Gram and tuar prices showed weak tendency in Nagpur Agriculture
Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) here on poor buying support from local millers good high
moisture content arrival. Downward trend on NCDEX, easy condition in Madhya Pradesh pulses and
increased supply from producing regions also pushed down prices, according to sources.
* * * *
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Desi gram raw declined marginally in open market on lack of demand from local
traders amid good supply from producing regions.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here on subdued demand from local traders
amid ample stock in ready position.
* Lakhodi dal moved down in open market on poor buying support from local traders amid
increased supply from producing belts.
* In Akola, Tuar New - 8,400-8,700, Tuar dal New - 14,000-14,400, Udid -
12,600-13,100, Udid Mogar (clean) - 15,700-17,200, Moong -
8,700-8,900, Moong Mogar (clean) 9,900-10,200, Gram - 4,300-4,500,
Gram Super best bold - 5,800-6,200 for 100 kg.
* Wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market
in limited trading activity.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction 3,600-4,000 3,700-4,100
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction 7,000-8,950 7,100-9,070
Moong Auction n.a. 6,400-6,600
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 5,700-5,800 5,700-5,800
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a
Gram Mill Quality 4,700-4,900 4,700-4,900
Desi gram Raw 4,700-4,850 4,750-4,900
Gram Filter new 5,100-5,300 5,100-5,300
Gram Kabuli 5,800-7,800 5,800-7,800
Gram Pink 6,400-7,300 6,400-7,300
Tuar Fataka Best-New 14,300-14,800 14,300-14,800
Tuar Fataka Medium-New 13,400-14,000 13,400-14,000
Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 12,500-13,200 12,500-13,200
Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 11,000-12,000 11,000-12,000
Tuar Gavarani New 8,350-9,250 8,350-9,250
Tuar Karnataka 9,200-9,500 9,200-9,500
Tuar Black 15,100-15,500 15,100-15,500
Masoor dal best 6,500-6,800 6,500-6,800
Masoor dal medium 6,100-6,300 6,100-6,300
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold 10,000-10,500 10,000-10,500
Moong Mogar Med 9,200-9,800 9,200-9,800
Moong dal Chilka 8,700-9,300 8,700-9,300
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 8,500-8,700 8,500-8,700
Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 16,000-17,500 16,000-17,500
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 13,500-16,000 13,500-16,000
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 9,700-11,000 9,700-11,000
Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,700-6,100 5,700-6,100
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 4,300-4,500 4,400-4,600
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) 1,725-1,775 1,725-1,775
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,650-1,850 1,600-1,800
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,450 2,100-2,450
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,950-2,200 1,950-2,200
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,300-3,800 3,300-3,800
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,900 2,600-2,900
Rice BPT best New(100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,800 2,600-2,800
Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,300 2,100-2,300
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,800-2,000 1,800-2,000
Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,250-2,600 2,250-2,600
Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 1,950-2,350 1,950-2,350
Rice HMT best New (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,400 3,000-3,400
Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,900 2,600-2,900
Rice Shriram best New(100 INR/KG) 4,400-4,600 4,400-4,600
Rice HMT medium New(100 INR/KG) 3,700-4,000 3,700-4,000
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 9,800-11,700 9,800-11,700
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,800-8,000 7,800-8,000
Rice Chinnor best New(100 INR/KG) 4,700-5,000 4,700-5,000
Rice Chinnor med. New (100 INR/KG) 4,100-4,600 4,100-4,600
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. 30.6 degree Celsius (87.1 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
12.1 degree Celsius (53.8 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : n.a.
FORECAST: Cloudy sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 31 and 14 degreeCelsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, butincluded in market prices.)
http://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL3N14S3E520160108
Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report
Rice
|
High
|
Low
|
Long Grain Cash Bids
|
- - -
|
- - -
|
Long Grain New Crop
|
- - -
|
- - -
|
|
Futures:
|
|
|
|
|
High
|
Low
|
Last
|
Change
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jan '16
|
1148.0
|
1135.5
|
1161.5
|
+23.0
|
Mar '16
|
1186.5
|
1156.5
|
1184.5
|
+22.5
|
May '16
|
1213.0
|
1210.5
|
1212.5
|
+22.0
|
Jul '16
|
|
|
1239.0
|
+21.5
|
Sep '16
|
|
|
1221.5
|
+21.5
|
Nov '16
|
|
|
1239.5
|
+21.5
|
Jan '17
|
|
|
1239.5
|
+21.5
|
|
|
Rice Comment
Rice futures
regained yesterday's losses and then some. March found support at $11.56 1/2
for the second day in a row. Yesterday's losses were sparked by disappointing
export sales of 51,300 metric tons and shipments of 33,700 metric tons. There
is a chart gap between $12.31 and $12.41 that could be an upside target for
bulls. The market is finding support from tightening world stocks and concerns
about the current El Nino weather pattern impacting production.
http://www.arfb.com/ag-markets-statistics/report/
