Wednesday, November 30, 2016

30th November,2016 daily global regional and local rice enewsletter by riceplus magazine





                      USA Rice Lets the Trade Do the Talking in the UK
By Eszter Somogyi

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - USA Rice has launched a print media campaign here using the UK trade itself to endorse the virtues of U.S.-grown rice in the UK.  The campaign features four branded and five generic spokespeople and covers all areas of the UK trade from wholesalers, importers, and millers, as well as key members of the restaurant trade to communicate the qualities of U.S. rice and build around the critical message of consistency.

"This is the first time our new brand, Double 8, has been involved with USA Rice in the UK and the benefits this collaboration brings are exciting" said Olive Chafer, Director of Riceworks in the UK.  "It will be interesting to see how the testimonial will help drive interest and hopefully further sales of our Double 8 brand."

Daniel Wo, Director of a leading Oriental foods supplier also took part in the campaign with the China Chef brand of U.S. long grain rice, and said, "This is the first time we've been involved with the USA Rice Federation and its marketing efforts in the UK.  We're hoping to see a sales lift from this campaign" 

The campaign, that includes print and online editions of the magazines with a circulation of nearly 70,000, will continue running until the end of the year to include the Christmas holiday and the all-important build up to Chinese New Year celebrations.
Market Information
Daily Rough Rice Prices
(updated daily)

                     



Rice exporters for boosting trade with US

November 29, 2016
KARACHI - Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Chairman Mahmood Moulvi has emphasized on increasing bilateral trade with the United States, especially in agriculture sector.“Pakistan exports good quality rice to the US and still there is a good potential to increase market share there,” he said in his speech to welcome United States’ Consul General in Karachi Grace W Shelton at a lunch hosted by REAP’s Patron-in-Chief Abdul Rahim Janoo.
The REAP chairman also suggested to send a high profile delegation to the US for aggressive marketing of Pakistan rice there. He requested the US consul general to extend cooperation from his Consulate to make this visit productive.At this reception, former Senate chairman and former prime minister Mohammad Mian Soomro, Consul General of Indonesia Hadi Santoso, deputy high commissioner of United Kingdom, vice consul of Malaysia in Karachi as well as a large number of REAP members and Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) were present.
The REAP patron-in-chief apprised the participants that Pakistan and the US were enjoying close relationship since the country’s independence on 14th August, 1947. The US was one of the largest bilateral trading partners of Pakistan. USA has provided Pakistan with economic aid through loans and debt relief and was a major supplier of military equipment.
The USA’s civilian assistance to Pakistan facilitated cooperation and helped bring a stable, democratic, and prosperous Pakistan and the region; which was in the interest of both the countries.
This aid focused on energy, economic growth including agriculture, community stabilisation of underdeveloped areas, education and health. He also proposed to hold a ‘Biryani’ festival in the US by REAP members, which would be instrumental to increase the rice exports to the US.
The US consul general appreciated the proposal of Rahim for holding ‘Biryani’ festival and assured to extend full cooperation. She thanked him for organising a wonderful gathering in her honour and said the US would continue to extend their support for the betterment of trade
http://nation.com.pk/business/29-Nov-2016/rice-exporters-for-boosting-trade-with-us

July-October rice exports down 19 percent YoY

Friday, 25 November 2016 11:07

RIZWAN BHATTI
KARACHI: Pakistan's rice exports declined sharply by 19 percent during July-October of this fiscal year (FY17) mainly due to stiff competition in the world market. Exporters said on Thursday that the exports of the country's second largest foreign exchange earner are on the decline for the last two years and need immediate attention of the government to overcome the current crisis.

According to Pakistan Statistics Bureau, Pakistan's overall rice exports posted a 19 percent sharp decline in first four months of this fiscal year. The country earned foreign exchange amounting to $391.65 million in July-October of FY17 compared to $484.478 million in the corresponding period of last fiscal year (FY16), depicting a decrease of $92.822 million.

During the period under review, exports of Basmati rice fell by 34 percent to $103.743 million. Non-Basmati rice exports declined by 12 percent to $288 million. Rice exports not only declined in terms of value, but also decreased in terms of quantity. Overall, some 883,074 tons of rice (Basmati and Non-Basmati) was exported during the first four months of the current fiscal year against one million tons in the same period of last fiscal year.

However, month-on-month basis, rice exports showed some improvement. The country's total rice exports mounted by 79 percent during October 2016 compared to September 2016. During October 2016, Pakistan earned $149 million by exporting rice (Basmati and Non-Basmati) compared to $83 million in September 2016. In addition, rice exports in October 2016 are also one percent higher than October 2015 exports, in which overall rice exports stood at $147.5 million.

Mahmood Moulvi, Chairman Rice Exports Association of Pakistan (REAP), told
Business Recorder that due to lower international prices and rising competition in the world market, this year will remain very challenging for the country's rice trade. "Some appropriate and timely measures are required to save the country's second largest export," he added. He said China is the world's largest rice importer and mainly buying from other countries as Pakistani rice is costlier in the international market.
http://www.brecorder.com/pakistan/business-a-economy/329650-july-october-rice-exports-down-19-percent-yoy.html

A number of imported rice brands contain high levels of pesticides

Can we really be confident in what we’re eating?
byEllie McDonald
Nov 25, 2016

In an SBS investigation, two of the four rice samples the broadcasting service had tested by Australia’s National Measurement Institute failed to comply with Australian regulations.These rice varieties can currently be bought in supermarkets across the country, as well as South Asian grocery stores.Worryingly, an insecticide called buprofezin, which is not permitted in rice in Australia, was found in Kohinoor Basmati rice, imported from India.
Not only that, but made-in-Pakistan Indus Basmati Rice contained chlorpyrifos – an insecticide that is reported to be in breach of the Australian and New Zealand food code.And it seems that these brands of rice aren’t the only products under scrutiny. Earlier this year, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission announced that they are now forcing brands like ALDI and Menora to carry out annual testing of the composition of their herb and spice products. This comes after testing uncovered that ALDI’s Stonemill Oregano and Menora-branded oregano also contained primary ingredients (like olive leaves and sumac leaves).

http://www.aww.com.au/latest-news/health/sbs-report-finds-some-imported-rice-contains-pesticides-29844

PH-developed IR8, world’s first high-yielding rice, turns 50



ed November 29, 2016, 5:02 PM
WATCH: IR8 – the rice variety that fed the world

Video produced by the International Rice Research Institute

November 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of IR8; the world’s first high-yielding rice variety and the first rice variety released by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
IR8 sparked the Green Revolution in Asia—a phenomenon that saved the region from famine in the 1960s and 70s. This scientific innovation was soon followed by other high-yielding varieties that each offered increasing vigor and resistance to pests and disease—the major scourges of that period. These varieties were also adaptable where they were most urgently needed: the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar (then Burma), Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the biggest of them all—India.
In the 1950s, Asia was on the brink of famine and millions of people were in danger of starving. In 1960, IRRI was established with one pressing mission: To develop high-yielding rice varieties.
Thus began intensive research and breeding work that sought ultimately to enable the production of more—much, much more—rice than previously possible in order to stave off predicted mass food shortages across the continent.
IR8 is the first offspring of these efforts. It is a semidwarf rice and was the result of a cross between Peta, a tall vigorous variety from Indonesia, and Dee-geo-woo-gen, a dwarf variety from Taiwan.
In the 1960s, average yield in the Philippines was at about a ton per hectare. In initial tests at the IRRI fields in Los Baños, IR8 produced an average of 9.4 tons per hectare.
In the business of growing food, this breakthrough is no small deal. The Philippine press dubbed the grain a befitting “Miracle Rice.”
In the late 1960s, IR8 was introduced in India at about the same time another variety, ‘Jaya,’ was released. Quick field evaluations and rapid promotion of the two varieties by the Indian government, with the help of some pioneering Indian farmers, started the country’s own Green Revolution in rice.
Jaya, bred from an IRRI-introduced variety and an indica variety, is a high-yielding semidwarf rice that produces long, bold grains—preferred qualities of the Indian palate. It was a product of intensive breeding under the All-India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project (AICRIP), a collaboration between India and IRRI launched by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in 1965.
IR8 rice variety / Photo courtesy of IRRI /Manila Bulletin
http://newsbits.mb.com.ph/2016/11/29/ph-developed-ir8-worlds-first-high-yielding-rice-turns-50/



Rice variety on your platter with extra zinc

THE HANS INDIA |   Nov 29,2016 , 04:04 AM IST
   
Hyderabad: Do you know that the rice we normally consume is shorn of its actual nutritional elements by the time it comes on to your platter?

Rice loses 90 percent of nutrients when polished and around 5 percent to 10 percent while being washed before cooking. And ultimately, whatever remains in the rice after cooking are carbohydrates. However, the recent development of a new variety of rice fortified with extra dose of zinc has proved to be the solution to minimise the loss of crucial nutrients during all these processes.

The Hyderabad-based Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR) has developed a new rice variety - DRR Dhan 45 - in which the zinc content is retained even after polishing and washing. According to Dr Ravindra Babu, Director, IIRR, this variety has been released in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. “By next year we want to distribute it to 10,000 farmers in these four states,” he told The Hans India.

Elucidating on its intrinsic values, Dr Ravindra Babu said that the content of zinc retained in the IIRR variety is 22 PPM (parts per million), which is higher than the international standard of 20 PPM required in the polished rice. “Moreover, it is also a high-yielding variety,” he said and added, “We have already achieved food security, and now with this new variety we have moved another step ahead to accomplish nutritional food security.

Zinc is an important nutrient for cell physiological activities. More than 200 cell activities are dependent on zinc. “Women need zinc four times more than men. Zinc is a necessity for conceived women for the growth of the child in the womb.

It is important for the development of the brain and other organs of the child,” Dr Ravindra Babu pointed out and said that children up to five years of age who have sufficient zinc will have resistance to diarrhoea.

By:Satyapal Menonhttp://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Telangana/2016-11-29/Rice-variety-on-your-platter-with-extra-zinc/266077




DOST teaches packaging, labeling to Negros farmers

Members of the Pacita Agricultural Workers Association (PAWA) of Don Jorge Araneta in Bago City, recently attended a seminar on food safety and food packaging and labeling by the Department of Science and Technology.PAWA is the pilot site of the PalaYamaNayon of the Philippine Rice Research Institute or PhilRice, a strategy of the institute’s Rural Transformation Movement that envisions a holistic, inclusive and sustainable rural development in a rice-based community.

 Also,PalaYamaNayon aims to engage the community in various expertise and organizations, thus the seminar for packaging and labelling for their rice produce.

Aside from rice, the community is also into hog-fattening and later went into processed meat production when PhilRice trained them on meat processing for additional incomes.

The seminar on food safety taught them food handling and other food safety practices so their products will not cause harm to consumers. The packaging and labeling seminar teached  them the value-adding effect if the product produced follows the traceability requirements, excellent designs, and product  appearance. 

The seminar ended with the DOST pledging to provide the participants free design and initial packaging materials to start the operations of the group.*MNM
           
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2016/November/29/businessnews4.htm

Kaiima and Horizon Ag Announce Their Collaboration to Develop New Rice Varieties for the U.S. Market Using the EP™ Technology Platform



News provided by
Nov 28, 2016, 09:00 ET

MOSHAV SHARONA, Israel and MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Nov. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaiima Bio-Agritech Ltd., a genetics and breeding technology company, and Horizon Ag LLC, a leading technology provider for the U.S. rice industry, today announced their collaboration to develop new, high-performing rice varieties. The multi-year project, initiated in 2015, combines U.S. adapted germplasm sourced by Horizon Ag and Kaiima's proprietary EP™ technology platform.
Horizon Ag and Kaiima have recently completed the development phase and are entering the new EP™ rice varieties in first year yield trials in 2017 in select locations across the U.S. rice growing belt.   The companies are considering the possibility of adding additional germplasm conversion projects in the future.
EP™ technology is a breeding tool developed by Kaiima that enhances plant performance by inducing novel diversity within the genome, using the plant's own DNA.  The technology works with all major crops and plant species.   Kaiima collaborates with multinational and leading regional seed companies to apply its technology to their elite germplasm.   Technology benefits include yield increases, a unique ability to create genetic diversity, improved tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, efficient project development timelines and improved seed production.
"We are excited about our collaboration with Horizon Ag and are eager to obtain favorable initial yield results from our collaboration in 2017," said Rick Greubel, CEO of Kaiima.  "Kaiima's EP™ technology platform is a powerful tool for breeding programs and we look forward to continuing to work with Horizon Ag to develop better rice varieties that create value for rice growers."
"We believe that Kaiima's vision for sustainable rice production complements Horizon Ag's strengths," said Timothy Walker, General Manager of Horizon Ag.  "The combination of Kaiima's EPTM technology with Horizon Ag's proven performance of bringing novel rice seed technologies to market has the potential to bring significant new efficiencies to the rice industry of the Southern United States, and we are pleased to be a part of this effort."
About Horizon Ag
Horizon brings novel rice seed technologies and advanced germplasm to the southern USA rice market, creating unique partnerships with technology providers, seed companies and universities, allowing for more profitable production at the farm level.  To learn more about Horizon Ag, please visit www.horizonseed.com.
About Kaiima
Kaiima Bio-Agritech is a plant genetics and technology company that has developed a proprietary technology platform called EP™.  EP™ is a new breeding tool that enhances plant performance by inducing novel diversity within the genome, using the plant's own DNA.  The technology works with all major crops and plant species.  Kaiima's research and development currently covers corn, soy, rapeseed, rice, wheat, tomatoes and peppers.  Kaiima collaborates with leading multinational and regional seed companies to apply its EP™ technology to their elite germplasm.  To learn more about Kaiima, please visit www.kaiima.com
Media Contacts:

Horizon Ag: Tim Walker, phone:  +1-901-818-3070
e-mail:  twalker@horizonseed.com

Kaiima: Avi Maidenberg, phone: +972-4-953-0148
e-mail: avi@kaiima.com

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161124/442762LOGO

SOURCE Kaiima & Horizon Ag
http://www.kaiima.com







Counce works to improve quality of rice

Monday

Posted Nov 28, 2016 at 2:12 PM
By Dawn Teer / Stuttgart Daily Leader

Editor's Note: This is the eighth article in a series of question and answer sessions with local scientists at the University of Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center (UARREC) in Stuttgart.Name:​ Paul CounceEducation:​ B.S. — University of Tennessee at Martin, M.S. — Purdue University and ​​PhD — University of Georgia

Field of study or expertise: ​Crop and plant physiology
Hometown:​​​ Counce, Tennessee
Family: ​Wife, Paula Moore Counce; sons, Joshua Counce and Caleb Counce


When did you become interested in rice research?

​Primarily when I was hired at the University of Arkansas. Growing up I was active in 4-H, raised rabbits, swine and chickens. After high school I joined the army and while in the army, I read an article about agriculture and how important food was to the entire world. I decided that's what I wanted to do when I got out of the service. I went to the University of Tennessee at Martin and studied agriculture and plant science.
What courses did you take that steered you into the field that became your career?
Plant physiology, crop ecology and adaptation



What do you do at UARREC?
Research on rice physiology. This is the study of how things function. I work with Dr. Karen Moldenhauer and Dr. Terry Siebenmorgan on saving water, producing higher yields, producing better quality yields at times of year when nights are shorter and hotter. They have found that during these times the grains have a lower quality. We have done a series of studies looking at the grains and the enzymes which fill the grain out.
What are you currently working on or developing?
And why?​One of the main things I am working on is determining the causes of reduced quality of rice. I'm actively pursuing ways to reduce affects of shorter, hotter nights on rice.
What research that you have done has been able to help the average rice farmer?
1. Work, which allows many Arkansas rice producers to save money and water while improving harvesting efficiency by earlier draining permitted in many situations by our growers.
2. The rice growth staging system.
3. I work to discover limits to improve grain quality.
4. Working with a series of scientists on improving quality of rice during shorter, hotter growing seasons.
What are some of the research differences between what you do and the Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center (DBNRRC)?
I work on the end product of what DBNRRC does. They work on improving seed, I work on improving quality after the seed grows.
What are some of the collaborations with DBNRRC?
Former collaboration with Rolfe Bryant and Yulin Jia.

What would people be surprised to learn about your job and what you do?That we can understand the reasons for various yield responses in different years and why yield and quality vary so much from year to year with almost the same production practices.

Do you have a support staff that assist you in your research? Who are they and what do they do?Only one person now — Lavonda Mitchel
http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/news/20161128/counce-works-to-improve-quality-of-rice


Supply pangs hit rice markets

CHENNAI: November 30, 2016 07:29 IST
Updated: November 30, 2016 07:30 IST
Trucks carrying paddy have stopped arriving at the Redhills Rice market since demonetisation of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes.   | Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam
Traders say sales have declined by nearly 60% as consignments no longer reach Red Hills
For the past few days, the paddy and rice markets in Red Hills — the backbone of the city’s rice supply — have witnessed a drastic drop in business. Traders say sales have declined by nearly 60 per cent. With cash being the only mode of transaction, many trucks from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and surrounding Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts have stopped transporting produce.
Instead of the heavy 25-tonne laden trucks, empty vehicles line the roads leading to the markets that are usually bustling with activity in the early hours. On an average, the markets, which are located on the same road get 100-150 trucks from Andhra Pradesh daily. During peak season, the numbers go up to 250 trucks a day. These wholesale markets, where cash is the backbone of transactions, are severely hit as merchants cannot use old currency notes and are unable to carry out transactions due to the ceiling in the withdrawal limit.
M. Jayapalan, vice-president, Red Hills Paddy and Rice Wholesale Merchants Association, said: “We need to pay at least Rs. 35,000 towards freight charges and labour for every truck. We will also have to make a payment of nearly Rs. 5 lakh for 320 bags of produce.” Truckers are diverting produce to other places including Arani, Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram as traders here are unable to pay them in cash.
“Rice wholesalers and retailers from the city also do not visit the market as we cannot accept old currency notes. There has not been much of an increase in the prices as there is no sales,” he said. M. Muthu of Radha Paddy Mandy said payments for workers and truckers was also an issue. “They refuse to take the high denomination notes, both new and old ones. There are over 100 rice mills in Red Hills and all of them have been affected,” he said.
D. Thulasingam, president of Federation of Tamil Nadu Rice Mill Owners and Paddy-Rice Dealers Association, said that recently, they had convened a meeting of paddy suppliers and rice millers. “Many of them do not have bank accounts. And even if they have and if we transfer cash, farmers can withdraw only Rs. 25,000 at a time and others Rs. 2,500. They say they would rather not do any business and wait till things clear up,” he said.
Harvest season
Though there is enough stock in the mills, the harvest season, particularly of the Bapatla rice variety, is on. Wholesale merchants demanded that the government must either increase the withdrawal limit for traders or allow the use of old notes. “Rice is more important than fuel. When they allow de-notified currencies in fuel outlets, they should allow it in the rice markets too,” said a trader.
Meanwhile, lorry operators noted that only 15,000 of the 50,000 trucks operated across the State were plying now. R. Sugumar, president of Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Federation, said only 30 per cent of the sales is happening. “We are forced to halt operations as we are unable to even meet the daily expenditure of drivers,” he said
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/Supply-pangs-hit-rice-markets/article16728842.ece


China allows 14 Indian firms to export rice

The companies include LT Foods, maker of the Dawat brand, KRBL, maker of the India Gate brand, and Kohinoor Foods

Sanjeeb Mukherjee & Jyoti Mukul  |  New Delhi  November 30, 2016 Last Updated at 01:01 IST
 

China has agreed to import basmati rice from 14 companies in India, opening a new vista for the country’s rice exports.The companies include LT Foods, maker of the Dawat brand, KRBL, maker of the India Gate brand, and Kohinoor Foods. Five companies that wanted to export to China and were registered with the authority for phytosanitary certification, the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO), did not qualify and have been told to improve their quality before applying afresh.China is one of the world’s largest importers of rice, but it had so far not allowed imports of basmati rice. Chinese prefer low aroma and shorter grain rice from India.

The Chinese had earlier claimed basmati rice consignments contained beetles and were unfit for consumption, an allegation Indian authorities have denied. The Chinese finally agreed to inspect all 19 basmati rice-making companies in India registered with the NPPO in September. With this clearance, India can look to lower its trade deficit with China that has ballooned from $1.1 billion in 2003-04 to $52.7 billion in 2015-16.


www.indiafinancenews.com/china-allows-14-indian-firms-to-export-rice


Vietnam’s rice exports see record low in 2016
VietNamNet Bridge - Contrary to optimistic forecasts given earlier this year, rice exports have plunged recently. The total export volume would be less than 5 million tons in 2016, a record low since 2009.
Lao Dong cited a VFA report as saying that Vietnam had exported 4.117 million tons of rice by the end of October with export turnover of $1.836 billion, a decrease of 21.2 percent in volume and 16.9 percent in value compared with the same period last year. VFA emphasized that the problem not only lies in the sharp fall in exports, but also in the abnormally high inventory volume. It is estimated that 1.2 million tons of rice are still in stocks.

Gana, the second largest export market for Vietnam, imported 387,700 tons of rice from Vietnam, worth $189.6 million, which represented an increase of 41.8 percent in volume and 36.2 percent in value.

Indonesia, Vietnam’s fourth largest export market, imported 359,400 tons of rice in the first nine months, worth $142.5 million.

However, the increases in exports to the two markets could not offset the decreases in exports to China, the largest export market.

Nguyen Dinh Bich, a trade expert, in an article on Thoi Bao Kinh Te Saigon, stressed that only Vietnam had a bad export season in 2016, while its rivals had satisfactory business.
Contrary to optimistic forecasts given earlier this year, rice exports have plunged recently. The total export volume would be less than 5 million tons in 2016, a record low since 2009.
If the export volume in the last two months of the year is less than 400,000 tons as forecasted in October, Vietnam’s total export volume in 2016 would be less than 5 million tons.

Meanwhile, India leads the world in rice exports with 8.1 million tons in the first nine months of the year, a drop of 9.9 percent compared with the same period last year. Thailand has been firm in the second position with 6.9 million tons, a slight increase of 3.7 percent.Bich pointed out that exporters were wrong when believing that Thailand’s move to sell its stockpile would not affect Vietnam’s exports.

Reports showed that in order to export 6.9 million tons of rice in the first nine months, Thailand offered the low price of $449 per ton, or $31 per ton lower than the price of the same period last year. Meanwhile, the average price for 5.2 million tons of white rice dropped to $351 per ton. The average price of 1.7 million tons of Thai Hom Mali rice dropped to $751 per ton, down by 17.7 percent.After the selling price dropped for old rice, Thailand also offered low prices for new rice to lure customers.Meanwhile, Vietnam’s average export price of 4.2 million tons in the first 10 months was still at $449 per ton, up by 5.5 percent

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/167515/vietnam-s-rice-exports-see-record-low-in-2016.html


Gov`t to Stop Paddy Field Conversion


Tuesday, 29 November, 2016 | 09:08 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Agriculture and Spatial Planning Minister Sofyan Djalil said that the Government is mulling a policy to maintain eternal paddy fields and prevent paddy field conversion.“We will develop incentive and disincentive system,” he said after a coordination meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs building in Jakarta on Monday, November 28, 2016.Sofyan added that incentives would be given to paddy field owners to dissuade them from converting their fields. Indonesia has seen an increasing rate of paddy field conversion into both industrial and property land. The Government may provide some tax cut as an incentive, among others things.
Local governments wanting to develop industrial area will also be given incentives to stop them from acquiring paddy fields.Sofyan said that the minimum area of eternal paddy field shall be maintained to meet people’s need for food.He said that eternal paddy field program is stipulated in Law No. 41/2009 on Sustainable Agricultural Land Protection. Local governments are authorized to establish bylaws on eternal paddy field. “But local governments have been reluctant to issue such bylaw,” he said.Sofyan pointed out to the example of Japan who maintained paddy fields through a substantial amount of subsidy, even though it has resulted in soaring rice prices
http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2016/11/29/056823870/Govt-to-Stop-Paddy-Field-Conversion

Thai army continues to help rice farmers

ByNNT
-
November 29, 2016


CHIANG RAI – Army units in various provinces continued to lend support to cash-strapped farmers in an effort to help them cope with price slump.In Chaing Rai, the 35th mobile development unit of the Royal Thai Armed Forces and the Veterinary and Agriculture Division 3 of the Veterinary and Remount Department mobilized 20 harvesting trucks to rice fields in Mae Chan district to help the farmers collect grains as the renting of such vehicle would cost as much as 1,000 baht per rai.
Meanwhile, Lampang Governor Suwat Promsuwan and Deputy Chief of the 32nd Military Circle Col Surakol Tuamsem led a group of soldiers, police officers and local residents in a traditional rice harvesting activity at a rice paddy located in Hang Chat district.

Phan Suthapa, the rice field owner, needed help because he did not have enough manpower to harvest the crop. The 32nd Military Circle also brought a small rice refining machine to help the owner

http://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/thai-army-continues-help-rice-farmers-156725


Haryana sees record paddy procurement at 53.24 lakh mt

Paddy procurement in Haryana so far in the current kharif season crossed 53.24 lakh metric tonnes (lakh mt) -- an all-time high. | 1 Comments Haryana sees record paddy procurement at 53.24 lakh mt Paddy procurement in Haryana so far in the current kharif season crossed 53.24 lakh metric tonnes (lakh mt) -- an all-time high. This compares with 42.69 lakh mt of paddy procured by the agencies during the same period last year, Haryana Minister of State for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Karan Dev Kamboj Minister said today. According to Kamboj, a total of 65.37 lakh mt of paddy has so far arrived in grain markets of the state as against 58.14 lakh mt in the corresponding period last year.

The procurement of paddy is going on smoothly, he said in a release. Out of the total arrival this year, 53.55 lakh mt of paddy is leviable, he said. Millers and dealers have procured about 12.13 lakh mt of paddy during the current season. Giving a break-up, Kamboj said the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has procured over 22.59 lakh mt of the crop and HAFED 18.35 lakh mt. Haryana Agro Industries Corporation has picked over 6.30 lakh mt of paddy and Haryana Warehousing Corporation 5.67 lakh mt while Food Corporation of India has gone for 31,801 mt. Referring to arrival of paddy in various districts of the state, the minister said a maximum of about 12.42 lakh mt of the crop had arrived in grain markets of Karnal, followed by 11.42 lakh mt in Kurukshetra and about 7.81 lakh mt in Kaithal.



http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/economy/haryana-sees-record-paddy-procurement-at-5324-lakh-mt_8035301.html

Rice Prices

as on : 29-11-2016 08:10:54 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.

Arrivals
Price

Current
%
change
Season
cumulative
Modal
Prev.
Modal
Prev.Yr
%change
Rice
Bhivandi(Mah)
3400.00
-39.29
221435.00
2250
2250
9.76
Bangalore(Kar)
2217.00
-27.22
215331.00
4550
4550
8.33
Gadarpur(Utr)
653.00
-67.35
199120.00
2410
2160
14.60
Rasda(UP)
460.00
820
1070.00
2200
1960
10.00
Bangarpet(Kar)
409.00
-19.49
13686.00
1830
1780
12.96
Burdwan(WB)
365.00
41.47
9589.00
2100
2200
20.00
Pilibhit(UP)
300.00
-91.43
175557.50
2240
2235
2.28
Shahjahanpur(UP)
195.00
-70
50151.00
2350
2325
9.30
Gondal(UP)
186.00
-6.06
14828.50
2130
2130
1.43
Guskara(Burdwan)(WB)
180.00
16.88
5452.00
2300
2400
11.65
Kanpur(Grain)(UP)
175.00
-30
26585.00
2150
2000
-1.38
English Bazar(WB)
164.00
-2.38
1911.00
2200
2100
15.79
Sultanpur(UP)
162.50
-54.23
8774.50
2300
2335
6.98
Faizabad(UP)
150.00
36.36
5103.00
2225
2200
6.97
Bazpur(Utr)
150.00
-93.94
73091.06
2067
2188
-2.22
Asansol(WB)
133.00
NC
3700.50
2650
2650
15.22
Basti(UP)
110.00
2.33
5594.50
2125
2120
2.66
Bahraich(UP)
106.00
11.58
6357.50
2220
2200
6.73
Kalna(WB)
96.00
NC
762.00
2970
2970
-
Bareilly(UP)
91.20
98.26
5832.60
2250
2275
-0.44
P.O. Uparhali Guwahati(ASM)
86.70
9.75
6259.00
2230
2230
6.19
Srirampur(ASM)
80.00
60
3280.00
3000
3000
0.67
Kalipur(WB)
80.00
6.67
9113.00
2400
2400
20.00
Memari(WB)
75.00
36.36
4745.00
1900
2100
8.57
Solapur(Mah)
64.00
28
315.00
3150
3105
-10.00
Mainpuri(UP)
63.00
NC
2691.00
2250
2250
13.64
Barasat(WB)
55.00
-8.33
3545.00
2450
2450
11.36
Dadri(UP)
52.00
4
2892.00
2250
2260
9.76
Gazipur(UP)
45.00
45.16
3922.00
2200
2230
8.64
Haathras(UP)
45.00
-18.18
995.00
2500
2500
15.74
Kasimbazar(WB)
41.00
NC
3499.00
2480
2480
10.22
Karimganj(ASM)
40.00
NC
2120.00
2350
2350
14.63
Bishnupur(Bankura)(WB)
40.00
14.29
756.00
2300
2300
-
Yusufpur(UP)
38.00
26.67
1726.00
2150
2140
9.41
Khatra(WB)
38.00
NC
1747.00
2300
2300
6.98
Beldanga(WB)
35.00
-6.67
5345.00
2475
2500
15.12
Ballia(UP)
30.00
-57.14
6380.00
2225
2125
11.53
Balrampur(UP)
30.00
27.66
1648.50
2185
2185
4.55
Katwa(WB)
27.50
-
55.00
2300
-
-
Raiganj(WB)
27.00
NC
1357.00
2600
2600
-5.45
Lanka(ASM)
25.00
-64.29
4310.00
2000
2000
15.94
Rampur(UP)
25.00
NC
1461.00
2600
2575
20.93
Meerut(UP)
24.00
4.35
1109.00
2275
2300
10.98
Dhekiajuli(ASM)
22.00
10
1651.10
2300
2300
15.00
Ghatal(WB)
22.00
-4.35
202.00
2350
2370
9.81
Golaghat(ASM)
20.00
100
411.50
2200
2300
-10.20
Lakhimpur(UP)
20.00
-20
1003.00
2130
2110
1.43
Islampur(WB)
20.00
NC
758.90
2350
2350
9.30
Kaliaganj(WB)
20.00
33.33
1435.00
2600
2600
-3.70
Alipurduar(WB)
20.00
NC
784.00
2350
2350
6.82
Dinhata(WB)
20.00
33.33
405.50
2250
2300
12.50
Ramkrishanpur(Howrah)(WB)
20.00
75.44
1583.40
2500
2500
4.17
Fatehpur(UP)
16.00
14.29
551.20
2120
2130
-5.78
Shahganj(UP)
15.00
-34.78
342.00
2040
2020
0.49
Haldibari(WB)
15.00
50
622.00
2250
2300
-2.17
Dibrugarh(ASM)
12.50
38.89
371.60
2250
2250
-
Kolhapur(Laxmipuri)(Mah)
12.00
NC
2556.00
3000
3000
-14.29
Saharanpur(UP)
12.00
-20
7209.00
2280
2285
12.87
Jiaganj(WB)
11.00
13.4
147.80
2325
2325
-
Lalbagh(WB)
10.50
-4.55
224.30
2325
2325
3.33
Nilagiri(Ori)
10.00
NC
678.00
2300
2400
NC
Deogarh(Ori)
9.00
NC
676.00
2500
2500
NC
Tileibani(Ori)
9.00
260
37.50
2500
2500
NC
North Lakhimpur(ASM)
8.90
34.85
2383.50
1900
1900
NC
Pune(Mah)
8.00
-60
36.00
5950
8900
-
Pukhrayan(UP)
8.00
14.29
480.00
2150
2135
-2.71
Kolaghat(WB)
8.00
-11.11
1387.00
2500
2500
4.17
Ranaghat(WB)
8.00
NC
191.00
2200
2300
2.33
Chengannur(Ker)
7.50
NC
694.00
2400
2400
-4.00
Champadanga(WB)
7.00
-56.25
1341.00
2800
2800
14.29
Tamluk (Medinipur E)(WB)
7.00
NC
1350.00
2500
2500
4.17
Cherthalai(Ker)
6.00
-25
520.00
2200
2200
-4.35
Kottayam(Ker)
6.00
-40
232.00
3700
3800
8.82
Farukhabad(UP)
6.00
100
148.90
2280
2300
2.93
Uluberia(WB)
6.00
50
309.20
2450
2400
-2.00
Karanjia(Ori)
5.50
14.58
505.60
2800
2800
-3.45
Imphal(Man)
4.80
20
136.70
2900
3100
3.57
Chintamani(Kar)
4.00
-55.56
26.00
4350
4400
-
Alibagh(Mah)
3.00
NC
207.00
4000
4000
14.29
Murud(Mah)
3.00
NC
291.00
3000
3000
87.50
Jeypore(Ori)
3.00
-40
415.70
4100
4100
26.15
Bishalgarh(Tri)
3.00
20
58.00
3100
3000
6.90
Melaghar(Tri)
3.00
NC
142.00
2650
2750
10.42
Buland Shahr(UP)
3.00
-25
466.50
2230
2240
9.31
Balarampur(WB)
2.50
13.64
140.20
2520
2520
17.76
Jeypore(Kotpad)(Ori)
2.30
-47.73
394.50
4100
4300
26.15
Arakalgud(Kar)
2.00
100
59.00
2400
2850
-
Bangarmau(UP)
2.00
-50
166.00
2050
2050
-
Rahama(Ori)
1.41
12.8
59.84
2500
2500
8.70
Lamlong Bazaar(Man)
1.20
-7.69
65.80
3000
3000
3.45
Aroor(Ker)
1.00
NC
209.70
6900
6900
-5.48
Akola(Mah)
1.00
NC
7.00
3890
3900
-
Mawana(UP)
1.00
-33.33
32.00
2290
2270
11.71
Kalimpong(WB)
0.90
-10
64.80
2600
2650
10.64
Shillong(Meh)
0.80
-20
95.80
3500
3500
NC
Thoubal(Man)
0.60
-60
47.90
3100
3000
19.23

Nigeria will begin to export rice next year – CBN


By Sylvester Ugwuanyi on November 29, 2016
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has stated that with the progress so far recorded through its agricultural financing policies, Nigeria will begin exporting rice to other countries before the end of next year.This was disclosed on Tuesday by CBN’s Acting Director, Corporate Communication, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor, during a sensitisation/awareness programme for farmers in Bayelsa State on the apex bank’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, ABP.Stating that the CBN’s ABP had started yielding fruits, he said the harvest in rice this year has already exceeded the projections, noting that if the tempo was sustained, by the end of 2017, Nigeria would not only meet its national demands but would export to other countries.
Okoroafor said, “We started a pilot programme in Kebbi State with 78,000 farmers, cultivating an average of one hectare and that was when President Muhammadu Buhari launched the programme in March last year.
“The programme was to enable farmers to plant three times in year – two dry seasons cropping and one rainy season cropping. I am telling you now that Kebbi State has exceeded one million tonnes of rice.
 “Not only Kebbi, Ebonyi State has keyed into it. We were there last week and Ebonyi is to give us over 1.2million tonnes of rice in one year. They are harvesting now, they are bagging and they are milling. Nigerians are booking their Christmas rice in Abakaliki.“Abia State has ordered rice from Ebonyi State Government. Other states are keying in. In Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Cross River, rice is coming up. Nigerians are planting rice, producing rice. You need to taste Nigerian rice, it is fresh. Not the nine year old rice from Vietnam, Thailand and India. Let us feed ourselves. Our rice is healthier; it is not preserved with chemicals.
“We have been to Anambra, Niger, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, Cross River and Ebonyi just to ensure that this is not another talk show. We have seen harvest of rice which brought me to say that the harvest in rice for this year has so far outstripped our projections.
“By the end of 2017, Nigeria will not only meet our national demands which is between six and seven tonnes per year, but we will exceed it that we will have rice to export to other countries.”
The CBN spokesman called on the people of Bayelsa state to look beyond oil, saying that the state was capable of feeding the country.
http://dailypost.ng/2016/11/29/nigeria-will-begin-export-rice-next-year-cbn/


Nigeria: Ebonyi High Producer of Rice


By Benjamin Nworie
Abakaliki — The Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh has described Ebonyi farmers as the real heroes of President Muhammadu Buhari's push to diversify the nation's economy, especially through agriculture in rice production.The minister also promised that the federal government would rehabilitate the Ettem Amagu Ikwo Dam to encourage dry season rice cultivation in the state.He explained that under Operation 1,037 of the federal government, a minimum of 10 dams per state and the FCT would be built.
Ogbeh, who was in accompanied by the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Rice production, Abubakar Bagudu and Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele, commended Umahi for his agricultural policy, particularly in ensuring massive rice production in the state.The minister called on youths to key into agriculture to diversify the economy and see it as a way out of the present economic recession in the country. He promised to bring agricultural equipment like rice harvesters, threshers, par- boiling drums to Ebonyi State."Next year, we shall plant for you 1,500 hectares of cashew nuts; five hundred hectares per the three senatorial districts in your state. We shall also build you two factories here for roasting cashew. Next year, we shall plant for you 1,500 hectares of cashew nuts. "By the middle of last week, I had some machines ready for you (Ebonyi State).
These include threshers and even new par-boiling drums which operate differently from what women are using. When those machines come, youngmen will be thought how to enter a farm and harvest rice for farmers. These young men and farmers will make so much money to the extent that they will become millionaires in the villages. So wealth is here (in farming)", Ogbeh said.
He also promised that the federal government would rehabilitate the Ettem Amagu Ikwo Dam to encourage dry season rice cultivation in the state, even as he explained that under Operation 1,037 of the federal government, a minimum of 10 dams per state and the FCT would be built.The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Rice production and governor of Kebbi State, Bagudu, said what he saw in rice producing states showed that the country had achieved self sufficiency in rice production and should therefore commence plan for rice export. "Success recorded in the last one year is phenomenal. What we have seen, in terms of rice output seems to suggest that the goal of self sufficiency which we hitherto thought will be achieved in 2017, might have already been achieved," he stated.
Emefiele, in his remark explained that the apex bank's Anchor Borrowers Programme would commence next year to boost farming and tackle challenges confronting farmers.Emefiele also pledged the bank's readiness to participate in the clearing and re-dredging of the Ettem Amagu Dam.Governor Umahi had while welcoming them in the state, commended President Buhari for reviving agriculture in the country.He expressed the readiness of the state government to partner the federal government in all season farming. He said, "There are over 30 dams in this state. They are recharged by very near streams. So we want assistance from the Federal Government in the area of irrigation.
We want assistance in the area of money to the farmers. We want assistance in the area of biomass plants. The cost of buying diesel and maintenance is too high; we also need harvesters to assist our farmers."The team also visited the state's modern rice mills in Oso-Edda and Ikwo where they saw live processed rice rolling out of the machines
http://allafrica.com/stories/201611290584.html

Country Briefs

  Egypt

Reference Date: 28-November-2016
FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
·         Average levels of cereal crop production; import requirements estimated to remain at same level during 2016/17 marketing year
·         Inflation rates increasing, subsidy allocation decreased

Planting of 2017 winter grain crop underway


Sowing of the winter wheat usually takes place in November, while sowing of winter barley starts in mid‑November and concludes in mid‑December. In general, normal climatic and supply conditions were reported although in some areas of Delta and Upper Egypt flash floods following heavy rainfall submerged prepared agricultural land and claimed lives of 25 people.Egypt set the wheat procurement price for next year's harvest at EGP 450/ardeb (150 kg), 7 percent higher than in the past years in local currency terms and slightly above the current level in the international market.

 However, following the sharp currency depreciation in early November, after the decision of the Central Bank of Egypt to let float the Egyptian Pound (EGP), the current purchasing price in USD (corresponding to about USD 195/tonne) is significantly lower than the last year’s purchasing price of about USD 280/tonne. In November 2015, the Government considered replacing the procurement price policy with direct subsidies to farmers and the purchasing of the local wheat harvest at the average international price prevailing during the harvest time (April‑June). However, the decision was subsequently reversed and the procurement policy reinstated to encourage farmers to increase the area planted to wheat.
The Government also increased the rice procurement price by 25 percent. To preserve water, Egypt will decrease the land area used for rice cultivation in the 2017 season by a third decree issued by the Ministry of Irrigation. Only selected governorates will be allowed to cultivate rice and unauthorized fields will be fined.

Average cereal harvest gathered in 2016


Harvesting of the 2016 winter crops was completed in early June. The 2016 cereal harvest, at 22.1 million tonnes, is slightly up from the level of the previous year and about the same as the past five-year average. At 9 million tonnes, wheat production is estimated to remain at the same level as the previous year and the five‑year average.
Since the 2013/14 season, the Government maintained high the procurement prices of wheat, at EGP 420/ardeb (USD 315/tonne) to encourage additional planting and discourage switching to other crops. In the 2016 wheat procurement season, the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade procured close to 5 million tonnes of local wheat compared to 3.7 million tonnes purchased in 2015, above the previously-stated goal to buy 4 million tonnes. Some millers and traders expressed concerns that the figures may have been misreported.

Cereal import requirements forecast to remain stable


Egypt remains the world’s largest wheat importer. Wheat imports for the 2016/17 marketing year (July/June) are estimated at 12 million tonnes, about the same as the previous year and about 1.3 million above the average for the last five years.

The overall cereal import requirements in the 2016/17 marketing year (July/June) are forecast at around 20.6 million tonnes, about the same as the previous year and 11 percent higher than the five‑year average.

Inflation rates increasing

The annual food and beverage inflation rate was 13.8 percent in October 2016, compared to 11 percent in September 2015. Following the sharp currency depreciation in early November 2016, increases in inflation are expected.

To mitigate the impact of the rising inflation due to the devaluation of the Egyptian Pound, the Government increased its food subsidy allocation by 20 percent per beneficiary in May 2016. As of 1 June 2016 each beneficiary is entitled to EGP 18/month (approximately USD 2) instead of EGP 15/month (approximately USD 1.7). Reports indicate that tens of thousands Egyptians, once well-off, now struggle to cope in a collapsing economy and survive on handouts. The Egyptian Food Bank, one of the largest aid organizations feeding the hungry, increased handouts by one-fifth and launched a programme to support middle-class families falling into poverty.Currently, 67 million citizens (out of a total population of 92 million) are carrying the smart cards to benefit from the food subsidy system. The Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade is committed to reviewing eligibility criteria.
http://www.fao.org/giews/countrybrief/country.jsp?code=EGY




Egypt- Supply Ministry looks to obtain 6-month strategic supply of food commodities  


MENAFN - Daily News Egypt - 28/11/2016


 (MENAFN - Daily News Egypt) The Ministry of Supply and Internal and Domestic Trade has a plan to obtain a six-month strategic supply of food commodities, according to minister Mohamed Ali Moselhi. He said that, over the course of a week, the ministry is conducting international tenders to increase the 800m allocated in funding by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) through meetings with heads of sectors and affiliates. The minister called heads of directorates to follow up with goods balances that are delivered daily to governorates, and to monitor any shortages of food commodities and supply rations. He asked for their cooperation in covering citizens requirements in supply goods and to communicate with the Holding Company for Food Industries and its subsidiaries in case of any shortage.

Moselhi disclosed that the recent economic decisions raised the subsidy budget to EGP 49bn for supply commodities and bread. In the past three months, the ministry has provided 170,000 tonnes more sugar through its outlets than usual. The ministry has also provided 35,000 tonnes of rice to its outlets, consumer complexes, and supply shops. A further 75,000 tonnes of rice will be received and delivered to outlets. The ministry is posing domestic and global tenders to compose a strategic supply of at least 50,000 tonnes of rice.

In his meeting with heads of directorates, Moselhi issued instructions to wholesale companies to provide remote governorates with supply rations, at 15% of its share of basic commodities. Moselhi asked heads of directorates to intensify regulatory campaigns to ensure that quantities of these goods are distributed in exchange for bread points on subsidy cards, after allowing them to purchase these points from the private sector. The ministry will create advanced commercial chains in the provinces, according to the latest international standards and the expansion of logistics' projects that help to reduce the circulation loops to keep commodity prices from rising

http://menafn.com/1095081255/Egypt--Supply-Ministry-looks-to-obtain-6-month-strategic-supply-of-food-commodities