Basmati exports to EU face
fungicide blockade
New
Delhi fights proposed norms
NEW DELHI, MARCH 1:
India’s basmati exports to the European Union
(EU) could be significantly hit if the bloc implements a proposal to bring down
the tolerance level for tricyclazole, a chemical used in India to treat rice.
New Delhi is trying to convince the EU not to
go ahead with the “unnecessary” safety precaution, as it argues that it has
been scientifically proved that present levels do not pose a threat to
consumers, a government official said.
“The EU plans to bring down the MRL (Maximum
Residue Limit) for tricyclazole to the default level of 0.01 ppm (parts per
million), which could prove to be disastrous for Indian exports of basmati.
But it is supposed to happen only in 2018, so
we have time to convince them not to implement the change,” the official told BusinessLine.
EU initiative
India is in talks separately with European
countries, such as Italy and Portugal, which do not support the EU initiative
of raising the tolerance limit to put pressure on the bloc not to go ahead with
its plan, the official added.
The MRL for tricyclazole, a fungicide used by
rice-growing countries to protect the crop from a disease called ‘blast’, is at
present fixed at 1 ppm by the EU.
This level does not prove to be a problem for
Indian exports at the moment, as levels detected in Indian basmati consignments
are much lower.
Export of basmati
However, if the MRL is brought down to 0.01
ppm, as indicated by the EU, a large part of India’s $3 billion export of
basmati to Europe could be affected.
Rice exporters from India are preparing for
the worst by arranging for pre-testing of shipments, but are hopeful that the
EU will change its mind, said Rajen Sundaresan from the All India Rice
Exporters Association.
“I believe that the matter will be sorted out
favourably, as it is not just Indian exports that are at stake.
Even rice growers in EU countries such as
Italy and Spain use the fungicide,” said Sundaresan.
Dow Agro Sciences, the owner of the molecule
used in the fungicide, has already submitted scientific and technical evidence
to the US Environmental Protection Agency in 2011 supporting a tricyclazole
tolerance level of 3.0 ppm in rice.
MRL limit
Following this, the MRL limit for the
fungicide in the US was raised.
Japan, too, has an MRL level of 3.0 ppm for
tricylozole.
Sundaresan said that once Dow carried out
tests and submitted proof that the existing levels were not carcinogenic, the
EU might relent.
The Commerce Ministry has taken up the issue
with the India-EU joint working group on Sanitary & Phytosanitary and
Technical Barriers to Trade and hopes to reach a settlement soon
Iran may
soon permit import of rice from India: Commerce Ministry
|
MENAFN - KNN India - 28/02/2017
|
|
(MENAFN - KNN India)
New Delhi, Feb 4 (KNN) Government of Iran
may soon issue the notification about resumption of issuance of permits for
import of rice from India, Commerce Ministry said in a statement.The Ministry said this after a 20 member trade delegation led by Chairman, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) visited Iran from January 28-30, 2017. The delegation met various departments in the government of Iran including Food and Drug Organisation, Governmental Trading Corporation and Trade Promotion Organisation. Meetings were also held with Iran Chamber of Commerce and Rice Importers Association. The deliberations helped to dispel the negative publicity which appeared in some part of Iran media causing doubts about the health and safety of rice from India. The main purpose of the visit related to promotion of export of rice since Iran is one of the largest importers of Basmati rice from India. About 250 people participated in the sales promotion event held at Hotel Espinas Palace, Tehran. On the spot preparation of Iranian dishes prepared by Iranian Chefs with use of Indian rice was demonstrated and served as part of the lunch. Participants included about 30 media personnel, importers, inspection agencies and government officials from Food and Drug Organisation (FDO) etc.
To supplement domestic production of about 2 million MT, Iran
imports about 1 million MT of rice every year out of which about 7 lakh MT is
exported from India. (With PIB Inputs)
|
Huge global crop swamps SunRice
profit outlook
Thursday March 2, 2017
1 Mar 2017, 11:38 a.m.
Global rice prices are now at their lowest point in a decade and
rice stockpiles have shot up to their highest levels since 2001-02.
The world’s increasing grain
stockpiles have started hurting the Australian export rice industry just
as it prepares for its biggest harvest season in three years.
National exporter SunRice has
warned its net profit after tax for the current financial year is likely to be
pruned as much as $10 million to between $30m and $35m.
The farmer-owned company said it
expected pool payments to growers for the coming harvest will be down on
last year, but still above $300 a tonne (as previously forecast), despite
global paddy production heading for record levels of about 480m tonnes.
Payments still owed to
farmers for the 2016 medium grain, guaranteed to total $415/t (for
reiziq variety), were also assured.
However, global prices are now at
their lowest point in a decade and rice stockpiles have shot up to their
highest levels since 2001-02, according to SunRice chief executive officer, Rob
Gordon.
Ironically a wet winter last year
provided a big boost to irrigation water supplies for NSW ricegrowers who
responded to SunRice’s earlier calls for more production and are now on
track to harvest 800,000 tonnes in autumn.
The 2017 crop will be well up on
last season’s 245,000t crop and the 690,000t stripped in 2015.
Adding to export market unease is
continuing uncertainty about prospects in the big Papua New Guinea market as
the nearby nation’s economy struggles.
PNG’s weak exchange rate and
political uncertainty surrounding plans to bring in import quotas and
effectively nationalise rice production and marketing represent a big
danger for SunRice.
The company generates about 30pc
of its revenue from its Trukai joint venture in New Guinea.
Back in Australia SunRice group’s
earnings have also being weighed down by difficult trading conditions for its
CopRice stockfeed business which suffered reduced dairy sector demand, and
stiff competition for food service and imported grocery products division,
Riviana Foods.
Last year’s lean rice harvest and
poor throughput volumes at its mills have also restricted revenue potential.
Mr Gordon described the global
rice market as now experiencing a “once in a decade commodity cycle trough” due
to record production levels and fierce selling competition.
Weak macro economic conditions in
key Middle East markets and the Pacific were also hurting.
Although January’s overall
trading performance exceeded expectations, December had been disappointing, Mr
Gordon said.
Despite the company’s improved
business resilience achieved by enhanced value adding activities and growth in
the branded products market overseas, he said global forces would
hit SunRice’s 2016-17 financial result.
“Nevertheless, it should be
highlighted that, although global prices continue to decline, Australian
growers will receive a strong paddy price for the 2016 crop and the dividend
for 2016-17 is anticipated to be maintained at a similar level, subject to the
year-end audit and formal declaration by the board.
http://www.southernweekly.com.au/story/4500540/huge-global-crop-swamps-sunrice-profit-outlook/
Researchers seek new rice varieties
The Philippines-based
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has agreed to help Cambodia plant
new high-yielding rice varieties that are also able to survive extreme climatic
events.Cambodia asked for cooperation with IRRI on rice planting and new
climate-resilient varieties that are suitable to withstand conditions in
Cambodia, said Hean Vanhan, director-general of the Agriculture Ministry’s
general directorate of agriculture.
“We asked IRRI to conduct research on rice-seed varieties that suit climate patterns here in Cambodia and to meet current market demand,” Mr. Vanhan said.“We asked them for more assistance by sending experts to conduct studies on conditions in Cambodia.”
Mr. Vanhan said the new rice-seed
varieties would not be first planted in the fields, but would be bred with
local varieties so that the genetic material from the IRRI line-breeds could be
transferred, making the new varieties more resilient to climate change.
“Our local varieties are poor to adapt to climate change,” he said.In 1985, the Ministry of Agriculture requested IRRI to assist in developing Cambodia’s rice research system.An IRRI mission to Cambodia in January 1986 identified potential areas of cooperation and aid. A memorandum of understanding for collaboration was signed between the two partners in July of the same year. Progress in research and institutional development was soon established to improve the potential for a rice-based farming system in Cambodia.
In 2016, Cambodia and IRRI marked
their 30th year of partnership.During a visit to the Philippines last year,
Cambodian agriculture officials met local agriculture officials and exchanged
ideas about the development of new seed varieties and knowledge of rice
farming.Mr. Vanhan said Cambodia wanted to learn about rice-seed varieties
after the two countries reached a memorandum of understanding on the sector.
Despite the MoU, Cambodia did not
join a bid last August to supply milled rice to the Philippines as it planned
to import an additional 750,000 tons of rice to secure the country’s supplies
through 2017.The Philippines is one of the world’s top rice buyers and
stockpiles rice – taking advantage of low global prices – to prepare for
shortfalls caused by natural disasters like floods and typhoons.
Hun Lak, vice-president of CRF,
said Cambodia did not join the bid to supply the Philippines with the staple
grain because the country’s current rice production was riddled with problems
ranging from falling exports, high transportation and production costs, to the
lack of warehouses to store paddy rice to be milled.
“We are happy to see IRRI help Cambodia with more rice-seed varieties which provide high yield and are resilient to climate change,” Mr. Lak said.But he said Cambodia should focus on making new rice-seed varieties which are unique, of high quality, climate resilient and easy to plant, rather than distributing cheap seeds to farmers.Philippines Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Manny Pinol intends to visit Cambodia in September to explore agriculture joint ventures and to learn more about Cambodian rice farming technologies, Mr. Vanhan said.The Philippines is one of the major destinations of rice import countries but Cambodia has to ship milled rice to the archipelago country.
Rollback for
rice auctions
1 Mar 2017 at 10:48
WRITER: PHUSADEE ARUNMAS The
government is likely to approve the sale of just 1 million tonnes of rice in
the first general auction of state rice stocks in 2017 after the bidding prices
offered on another 1-million-tonne lot were deemed too low. 
The Foreign Trade Department
announced on Feb 16 that the first general auction of state rice stocks in 2017
had drawn active interest, with 48 qualified bidders offering the highest combined-price
of 18.6 billion baht for 2.03 million tonnes of rice.
Hom mali fragrant rice attracted the
most interest, accounting for 26.1% of the total or 745,236 tonnes, followed by
white rice 5% at 479,761 tonnes or 16.8%.The panel handling state rice stocks
chaired by Wiboonlasana Ruamraksa, permanent secretary for commerce, looked at
the results of the auction yesterday and found that the bidding prices for some
hom mali rice stocks were below those for white rice 5% and broken rice.
Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general
of the Foreign Trade Department, said the panel yesterday had thus agreed to
sell only 1 million tonnes out of the 2.03-million-tonne total and will later
submit that proposal to the national rice policy committee for final approval.
She said the department would call
the auction for an unapproved amount as soon as possible.Mrs Duangporn said the
authorities are also scheduled to soon call an auction for around one million
tonnes of poor-quality grain unfit for human consumption.Prime Minister Prayut
Chan-o-cha said in January that the government wanted to dispose of its
existing rice stocks this year.Most of the existing 8 million tonnes are white
rice, 5 million tonnes of which is poor-quality.The remaining 2.87 million
tonnes was mixed grade in quality and suitable for human consumption.
Sustainability the key focus of 2017
International Temperate Rice Conference in Griffith, March 6-9
2 Mar 2017, 1:03 p.m.
Sustainability will be the key
focus of the 2017 International Temperate Rice Conference in Griffith next
week.
Russell Ford, Rice Research
Australia manager and head of the conference organising committee, said
the theme was inspired by the growth and development of the industry.
“In the past 20 years, Australian
growers have become world leaders in water use efficiency, production
efficiency and environmental management,” Mr Ford said.
The March 6-9 conference returns
to Australia for the first time in more than 20 years.
It brings local and international
delegates together to hear about the latest research, technology and innovation
in temperate rice production.
This year’s program will also
focus in this year’s program on sustainability, water efficiency and
productivity.
The full program is at itrconference.com/conference/program.aspx
http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/4503645/future-of-rice-on-table-at-griffith/
GMO golden rice trials fail: stunted plants, reduced grain yield
GMWatch
1st March 2017
The troubled project to develop GMO
'golden rice' cultivars has just hit a serious obstacle. An attempt to breed
the 'event' responsible for carotenoid production into a commercial rice
variety has produced widespread genomic instability, causing weak plants and
poor grain production. Has the golden rice hype bubble finally burst?
Most worrying for the developers, the chlorophyll deficit
appears to result from a deep, systemic problem with the primary GE 'event' on
which the entire golden rice project depends.
A new study reports unintended effects in GM
golden rice, which is engineered to produce precursors of vitamin A called
carotenoids.
Crossing the GM rice with the Indian variety
Swarna, a step necessary for commercialization, led to a nasty surprise.
The resulting plants were stunted, showed
extensive abnormalities in their growth, and had reduced grain yield, as compared with the
non-GM Swarna variety.
The researchers identified several reasons for the unexpected effects, all indicative of genomic instability in offspring plants resulting from 'breeding out' the parent golden rice with non-GMO in-field cultivars.
The researchers identified several reasons for the unexpected effects, all indicative of genomic instability in offspring plants resulting from 'breeding out' the parent golden rice with non-GMO in-field cultivars.
First, the new gene constructs interfered with
the plant's own gene for producing growth hormones. Second, the additional gene
constructs were not, as intended, active solely in the kernels, but also in the
leaves. This led to a substantial reduction in the content of the chlorophyll
that provides the plants with energy from sunlight.
The reduction in chlorophyll may be to blame for
the plants' stunted growth and poor grain yields. And most worrying for the
developers, the chlorophyll deficit appears to result from a deep, systemic
problem with the primary GE 'event' on which the entire golden rice project
depends.
These unintended effects were not detected in previous investigations, and it was assumed that the genetically engineered plants used in these trials would show genetic stability. In fact, these detrimental genomic effects remained undetected until the transgenic plants were crossed with the variety called Swarna, which is grown widely in India.
These unintended effects were not detected in previous investigations, and it was assumed that the genetically engineered plants used in these trials would show genetic stability. In fact, these detrimental genomic effects remained undetected until the transgenic plants were crossed with the variety called Swarna, which is grown widely in India.
'Years of research work and millions of dollars
wasted'
London-based molecular geneticist Dr Michael
Antoniou commented on the new findings: "I
have always asserted that the GM transformation process as used in
the development of GMO crops selects for the insertion of the GM gene into
active regions of the genome - areas where plant host genes are switched on and
functioning.
"This bias in the GM gene insertion into
active regions therefore maximises the possibility of disrupting the function
of one or more host genes, with potentially adverse effects such as poor crop
performance or even toxicity.
"This latest finding of the GM gene insertion into a vital host gene in the golden rice is a graphic illustration of this principle. If the developers of golden rice had conducted a proper molecular characterisation of this GM event at the time it was generated, they would have identified the host gene disruption that led to the stunted and deformed growth of the rice plants.
"This latest finding of the GM gene insertion into a vital host gene in the golden rice is a graphic illustration of this principle. If the developers of golden rice had conducted a proper molecular characterisation of this GM event at the time it was generated, they would have identified the host gene disruption that led to the stunted and deformed growth of the rice plants.
"Then they could potentially have avoided
this negative outcome at such a late stage in the development and release of
golden rice. Now it's back to square one, with years of research work and
millions of dollars wasted."
The authors of the study conclude: " ... we discovered that the insertion of
transgene for pro-vitamin A trait in the donor GR2-R1 event in Kaybonnet, had
disrupted a native OsAux1 gene, which resulted in phenotypic abnormality and
poor agronomic performance of the backcross derived Golden Swarna lines, making
them unfit for commercial cultivation inspite of having high provitamin A
content.
"The study conclusively demonstrates the
importance of event characterization and event selection before adopting the
transgenic germplasm into introgression breeding."
Failed golden rice could endanger whole rice
harvest
The new findings are highly relevant for the risk
assessment of the plants. Once released, the transgenic plants could spread
their gene constructs into populations of weedy rice as well as other
cultivated varieties.
In addition, genomic effects not found in the
original plants can occur in plant offspring. At the stage when the hazards are
identified, it can be impossible to remove the transgenes from the environment.
"Instead of helping people to combat malnutrition, these plants, if grown on the fields, might endanger their whole rice harvest", said Christoph Then of the German research platform Testbiotech. "It is worrying that effects that can arise from crossing genetically manipulated plants with other varieties are, as yet, not included in risk assessment."
It is not the first time that such problems have been reported: Some other golden rice lines are already known to show irregular patterns of inheritance, according to Testbiotech. Furthermore, there are uncertainties regarding the biological quality and safety of the plants. For example, additional changes in the metabolism of the rice kernels were described in 2016.
So far, there are no varieties available for commercial cultivation. According to the International Rice Research Institute IRRI, the safety and usefulness of the plants for nutrition needs further investigation.
"Instead of helping people to combat malnutrition, these plants, if grown on the fields, might endanger their whole rice harvest", said Christoph Then of the German research platform Testbiotech. "It is worrying that effects that can arise from crossing genetically manipulated plants with other varieties are, as yet, not included in risk assessment."
It is not the first time that such problems have been reported: Some other golden rice lines are already known to show irregular patterns of inheritance, according to Testbiotech. Furthermore, there are uncertainties regarding the biological quality and safety of the plants. For example, additional changes in the metabolism of the rice kernels were described in 2016.
So far, there are no varieties available for commercial cultivation. According to the International Rice Research Institute IRRI, the safety and usefulness of the plants for nutrition needs further investigation.
'Years of misplaced hype'
GM golden rice is much hyped by GMO proponents as
a triumph of GM that will save people in the third world from nutritional
deficiencies and vitamin A deficiency-related blindness. The new study casts
doubt on the viability of the golden rice project, which has produced nothing
of value despite years of misplaced hype.
In contrast, common-sense approaches to combating
vitamin A deficiency are working in the Philippines, the country
targeted for GMO golden rice release - they just need to be rolled out more
widely
http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_round_up/2988704/gmo_golden_rice_trials_stunted_abnormal_plants_reduced_grain_yield.html
Poland keen to take part in CPEC projects: Piotr
|
|
02/28/2017 | 08:16pm EST
Ambassador of Poland to Pakistan, Piotr A.
Opalinski on Monday said Polish
companies were keen to take part in the gigantic China Pakistan Economic
Corridor (CPEC) projects. Delivering a lecture on Pakistan-Poland relations here at Preston University he said there were vast possibilities
of progress for Pakistan in the CPEC framework.The ambassador traced long history of friendship and cooperation between Pakistan and his country. He recalled that the two countries started cooperation in vital areas of defence soon after Pakistan came into being in 1947.
Polish Air Force pilots and technicians helped Pakistan air force in becoming an efficient and reliable force for the country. The services of Polish personnel have been recognized and appreciated by the founders of Pakistan Air Force, he added.
The ambassador said that Polish companies were actively engaged in oil and gas exploration in Pakistan and some more were interested to work in the country.
Polish companies were also working in Pakistan to promote the energy sector, he added. He said Pakistan was a country of talented people and its products were excellent in quality. Pakistan had won repute in exporting high quality surgical and sports goods as well as textiles, leather garments and high quality Basmati rice, he added.
There was extensive scope for expansion of trade between Pakistan and Poland, he added. The ambassador highlighted strategic importance of his country in the current global scenario, saying that Pakistan was also very important strategically.
The two countries were working together in such sensitive areas as fighting extremism and terrorism, he added. Ambassador Piotr A. Opalinski agreed with the mission of the Society of Global Civilizations (SGC), Islamabad which was working to promote understanding and goodwill among various cultures and civilizations of the world. He was appreciative of the initiative of Dr Abdul Basit, Chancellor Preston University, who patronized the society. Ambassador Fauzia Nasreen, Executive Member of the society presented vote of thanks at the function. The Senior Vice President and other office bearers of the society were also present on the occasion. Patron SGC, Dr Abdul Basit presented souvenir to the Polish ambassador.
Nagpur
Foodgrain Prices Open-March 02,2017
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-March 2
Nagpur, Mar 2 (Reuters) – Gram and tuar prices reported higher in Nagpur Agriculture Producing
and Marketing Committee (APMC) on good demand from local millers amid thin arrival from
producing belts. Notable hike in Madhya Pradesh pulses and repeated enquiries from South-based
millers also boosted prices, according to sources.
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Desi gram recovered in open market on renewed demand from local traders amid weak
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.
* Udid varieties firmed up in open market on good seasonal demand from local traders
amid weak from producing regions.
* In Akola, Tuar New – 4,300-4,400, Tuar dal (clean) – 6,500-6,700, Udid Mogar (clean)
– 8,500-9,000, Moong Mogar (clean) 6,600-6,900, Gram – 4,900-5,000, Gram Super best
bold – 7,300-7,500 for 100 kg.
* Wheat, rice and other commodities moved in a narrow range in scattered, deals,
settled at last levels.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction 4,300-4,590 4,200-4,485
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction 3,800-4,210 3,800-4,180
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 7,500-7,800 7,500-7,800
Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.
Gram Medium Best 6,500-6,800 6,500-6,800
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a
Gram Mill Quality 4,400-5,000 4,400-5,000
Desi gram Raw 4,750-5,050 4,750-5,050
Gram Yellow 7,600-8,000 7,600-8,000
Gram Kabuli 11,600-12,800 11,600-12,800
Tuar Fataka Best-New 6,600-6,800 6,600-6,800
Tuar Fataka Medium-New 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400
Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000
Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 5,300-5,600 5,300-5,600
Tuar Gavarani New 3,950-4,150 3,950-4,150
Tuar Karnataka 4,350-4,550 4,350-4,550
Masoor dal best 5,600-5,800 5,600-5,800
Masoor dal medium 5,300-5,500 5,300-5,500
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold (New) 6,800-7,200 6,800-7,200
Moong Mogar Medium 6,200-6,500 6,200-6,500
Moong dal Chilka 5,800-6,500 5,800-6,500
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 6,000-6,500 6,000-6,500
Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 8,900-9,600 8,800-9,500
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,600-8,100 7,500-8,000
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,300-5,600 5,200-5,500
Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,500 5,000-5,500
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 3,650-3,850 3,650-3,850
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,100 3,000-3,100
Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,400 3,200-3,400
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,300 3,800-4,300
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100
Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,300 2,100-2,300
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,700 2,500-2,700
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,500 2,200-2,500
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,200 3,600-4,200
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,200 2,700-3,200
Rice BPT best New(100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,800 3,200-3,800
Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,000 2,700-3,000
Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,500 2,200-2,500
Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,600 2,400-2,600
Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400
Rice HMT best New (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,500 4,000-4,500
Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,600 3,400-3,600
Rice Shriram best New(100 INR/KG) 5,200-5,500 5,200-5,500
Rice Shriram med New(100 INR/KG) 4,700-5,000 4,700-5,000
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 9,200-13,300 9,200-13,300
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-6,200 5,000-6,200
Rice Chinnor best New(100 INR/KG) 5,600-5,800 5,600-5,800
Rice Chinnor med. New (100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,300 5,000-5,300
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,300 2,000-2,300
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 36.5 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 15.6 degree Celsius
Rainfall : Nil
FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 36 and 16 degree
Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but
included in market prices)
http://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL3N1GF2WW
WOTUS Down
the Drain in New Trump Executive Order
By Lydia Holmes
WASHINGTON, DC -- On Tuesday,
President Trump signed an executive order directing the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to review the
Obama administration's "Waters of the United States" rule (WOTUS),
"paving the way for elimination" of the rule.
The rule, issued by the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during the Obama administration and formally known as the Clean Water Rule, is currently on hold due to legal challenges. Included in Trump's order are instructions for the attorney general to freeze those courtroom proceedings while the review is underway.
It is unclear how long the review will take and exactly how the process will unfold, but Trump administration officials say an opinion on the case, written by late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, argued that federal jurisdiction extends only to bodies of water with a permanent flow or non-navigable waterways that connect via surface water with areas with permanent flow - definitions with a more limited approach than the Obama EPA established in its WOTUS rule-making.
New EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt spoke at an American Farm Bureau Foundation conference Tuesday after Trump issued the order, and said he already signed the paperwork to begin the review.
The executive order is a huge win for agriculture and USA Rice looks forward to working with the new administration on a revision
The rule, issued by the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during the Obama administration and formally known as the Clean Water Rule, is currently on hold due to legal challenges. Included in Trump's order are instructions for the attorney general to freeze those courtroom proceedings while the review is underway.
It is unclear how long the review will take and exactly how the process will unfold, but Trump administration officials say an opinion on the case, written by late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, argued that federal jurisdiction extends only to bodies of water with a permanent flow or non-navigable waterways that connect via surface water with areas with permanent flow - definitions with a more limited approach than the Obama EPA established in its WOTUS rule-making.
New EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt spoke at an American Farm Bureau Foundation conference Tuesday after Trump issued the order, and said he already signed the paperwork to begin the review.
The executive order is a huge win for agriculture and USA Rice looks forward to working with the new administration on a revision
Colombia to
Remove Import Restrictions on U.S. Rough Rice
By Bob Cummings
WASHINGTON,
DC -- The Colombian government informed the United States in early February
that it has begun the process of removing existing restrictions on the import
of U.S. paddy rice. USA Rice was informed of this positive news by USDA's
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently.
"This is tremendous news, and a success that we have worked hard to achieve," said USA Rice Chairman Brian King, with rice merchant Erwin-Keith, Inc. in Wynne, Arkansas. "This development will allow U.S. exporters to maximize marketing opportunities under the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement."
In a letter to APHIS, the General Manager of Colombia's counterpart organization, known as ICA, stated that the disease Tilletia horrida (rice smut) is prevalent in several rice growing areas of Colombia. As a consequence, Colombia will begin the process of deregulation of the disease and updating of the current phytosanitary import requirements for rice seed and paddy coming from the United States. Since 2012, Colombia has restricted the import of U.S. paddy to the port of Barranquilla and requires burning of rice hulls to control the spread of T. horrida.
"We waited several years for Colombia to complete its study on the prevalence of this disease, and the results confirm what many suspected. Our task now is to encourage U.S. and Colombian officials to work quickly toward removing import restrictions on the import of U.S. rice. We understand that U.S. and Colombian plant health officials will meet later this month, and we look forward to continued progress from this session," concluded King.
Colombia has emerged as a significant market for U.S. rice, primarily long grain milled, since the trade agreement came into effect in 2012. U.S. exports were 140,000 MT of rice in 2016, valued at $58.2 million. Import duties on U.S. rice phase out gradually, and end in 2030. In exchange for this phase out, increasing amounts of U.S. rice enter the country duty free each year under what is called a tariff rate quota (TRQ) - 98,448 MT in 2017 - and, significantly, research activities in the six rice-producing states share the profits from auctioning access under the TRQ. In 2016, revenue to the six states exceeded $13 million.
"This is tremendous news, and a success that we have worked hard to achieve," said USA Rice Chairman Brian King, with rice merchant Erwin-Keith, Inc. in Wynne, Arkansas. "This development will allow U.S. exporters to maximize marketing opportunities under the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement."
In a letter to APHIS, the General Manager of Colombia's counterpart organization, known as ICA, stated that the disease Tilletia horrida (rice smut) is prevalent in several rice growing areas of Colombia. As a consequence, Colombia will begin the process of deregulation of the disease and updating of the current phytosanitary import requirements for rice seed and paddy coming from the United States. Since 2012, Colombia has restricted the import of U.S. paddy to the port of Barranquilla and requires burning of rice hulls to control the spread of T. horrida.
"We waited several years for Colombia to complete its study on the prevalence of this disease, and the results confirm what many suspected. Our task now is to encourage U.S. and Colombian officials to work quickly toward removing import restrictions on the import of U.S. rice. We understand that U.S. and Colombian plant health officials will meet later this month, and we look forward to continued progress from this session," concluded King.
Colombia has emerged as a significant market for U.S. rice, primarily long grain milled, since the trade agreement came into effect in 2012. U.S. exports were 140,000 MT of rice in 2016, valued at $58.2 million. Import duties on U.S. rice phase out gradually, and end in 2030. In exchange for this phase out, increasing amounts of U.S. rice enter the country duty free each year under what is called a tariff rate quota (TRQ) - 98,448 MT in 2017 - and, significantly, research activities in the six rice-producing states share the profits from auctioning access under the TRQ. In 2016, revenue to the six states exceeded $13 million.
Rice sector awaits
government help
FEBRUARY 28, 2017
THE government announced last
week it has decided to extend an executive order (EO) that reduces the tariffs
on raw materials used for making processed-meat products, such as offal and
mechanically deboned meat (MDM).
This announcement came barely a
few months after meat processors have sounded the alarm bells over the adverse
impact of reverting the tariff of MDM to 40 percent once the quantitative
restriction (QR) on rice expires on June 30. The government made the decision
to extend EO 190 just a week after the Tariff Commission held its first
consultation on the matter.
Meat processors had warned that
if the tariff on MDM is raised again to 40 percent, the poor would be most affected.
For one, canned goods remain as one of the cheapest sources of protein for the
poor who cannot afford to shell out P200 for a kilogram of pork or P140 for a
kilo of chicken. This warning may have prompted the government to immediately
act on the petition of meat processors to extend EO 190 so the 5-percent tariff
on MDM would be retained even after the rice QR lapses on June 30.
However, the same cannot be said
for the rice sector, which continues to await the government’s pronouncement
for measures to mitigate the impact of the removal of the rice QR. The
reduction of the MDM tariff was one of the concessions given by the government
so the World Trade Organization will allow the Philippines to retain
rice-import caps until this year. The Duterte administration, however, had
already decided not to extend the rice QR. Under EO 190, the tariff on MDM
would revert to 40 percent once the QR on rice expires, prompting meat
processors and other affected sectors to intensify their lobby to extend the
EO.Unfortunately, the rice sector does not have the same recourse. That is why
during the Tariff Commission hearing on EO 190 held on February 16, the Rice
Watch Action Network appealed to the government to immediately put in place
measures to help Filipino rice farmers become competitive after the import caps
are removed. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol himself had admitted the
government failed to prepare rice farmers for this, despite the existence of
the rice QR for more than two decades. The QR on rice had effectively served as
the Philippines’s protection from the deluge of cheap imports from neighboring
Southeast Asian countries, which are efficient rice producers.
The Philippines is practically
racing against time to find ways to cushion the impact of the removal of the
rice QR on local farmers. State-owned think tank Philippine Institute for
Development Studies (PIDS) urged the government to set aside P18 billion a year
from tariffs, that will be collected from rice imports once the government
replaces the QR with a specific duty. At a tariff rate of 35 percent, PIDS said
the government could collect as much as P28 billion in duties from 2.26 million
metric tons of rice imports.
Before this happens, the Duterte
administration should first craft a solid plan that would ensure the smooth
transition of the Philippines from having a protected rice industry to one that
will become virtually open to cheap rice imports
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/rice-sector-awaits-government-help/
NEWEST’
Rice Will Lead To Food Sufficiency In Africa – Kyetere
Feb 28, 2017 1:52 pm The Executive Director of the African Agricultural Technology
Foundation (AATF), Dr Denis Kyetere has said the nitrogen-use efficient,
water-use efficient and salt tolerant rice (NEWEST) will lead to food
sufficiency in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Speaking at the annual review and planning meeting held at the
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, he said the
NEWEST rice soon to be developed and disseminated by the foundation and its
partners would reduce the risk of drastic food shortage in Africa.
Kyetere said the goal of the project was to develop, disseminate
farmer preferred, locally adapted rice varieties with enhanced nitrogen, water
use efficiency and salt tolerance. He contended it would lead to food
sufficiency which would redirect limited foreign exchange used to import rice.
“There will be improved rice yields resulting in enhanced household
food security and production of marketable crop surplus.
“Also abandoned croplands will be reclaimed reducing land
shortages; an additional 1.3 million tons of rice will be produced in Africa
each year, reducing the current deficit by 10 percent,” Kyetere said.
In his remarks, the director, information and documentation
department, National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI), Dr Mohammed Ishiaq,
emphasized that rice demand exceeded production in most Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ishiaq who represented the NCRI executive director, Dr Samuel Agboire, said
insufficient rice production affected well-being of over 20 million smallholder
farmers who depend on rice as a staple.
“SSA countries are spending more than US$5 billion annually on rice
imports, rice production deficit along with large outflow of foreign exchange
presents great development challenge to governments in SSA. Low yields
experienced by farmers are responsible for rice imports in SSA where over 40
percent of the rice consumed is imported. Also nitrogen deficiency has been
cited as a major constraint to rice production; nitrogen is difficult to
maintain when applied in lowland areas due to floods,” he said.
According to the project manager, Dr Kayode Sanni, the project
started in 2008 and the essence was to have excess rice production and reduce
its importation by or before 2020.
“Improving the nitrogen use efficiency of rice is one means of
achieving this goal. With the utilization and application of water use
efficient component, the rice will require less water and this will offer an
appreciable coping mechanism against drought,” he said.
Sanni noted that the project was funded by the United States Agency
for International Development (USAID).
Scientists from AATF, National Cereal Research Institute, NCRI,
Badegi, Nigeria, Crop Research Institute, CRI, Kumasi, Ghana, National Research
Organisation, NARO, Uganda, Arcadia Biosciences, USA and International Centre
for Tropical Agriculture, CIAT, Colombia form the team that is working on the
development of this variety.
https://www.leadership.ng/news/574562/newest-rice-will-lead-to-food-sufficiency-in-africa-kyetere
Government
extends arrival date for rice imported under MAV
FEBRUARY 28, 2017
The
interagency National Food Authority (NFA) Council has extended the deadline for
the arrival of rice imported under the minimum access (MAV) scheme of the World
Trade Organization to March 31.
Office
of the Cabinet Secretary Undersecretary Maia Chiara Halmen Reina A. Valdez said
the NFA Council agreed in a meeting on February 27 to move the deadline for the
2016 MAV arrivals by a month.
“The
deadline for private sector-led importation [MAV arrivals] has now been
extended to March 31 as approved by the NFA Council,” Valdez said in a text
message to reporters.
Valdez
said the NFA Council has authorized Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, who sits
as the NFA Council chairman, to approve rice-import permits.“Previously, the
administrator has given the sole authority to sign import permits. This time,
the chairman of the NFA Council has also been authorized by the council,” she
added.
The
NFA Council is comprised of the Cabinet secretary as the chairman, while the
NFA administrator sits as vice chairman. The other members of the NFA Council
are the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor, Development Bank of the
Philippines chairman, the president of the Land Bank of the Philippines,
finance secretary, trade secretary, the National Economic and Development
Authority, and a representative from a farmers’ group.
Earlier,
NFA Spokesman Marietta J. Ablaza told the BusinessMirror farmers’ cooperatives
and private companies asked the NFA for a one-month extension of the
deadline.“The import permits were distributed only last December and with the
holidays, farmers’ cooperatives and firms had very limited time to prepare the
necessary paperwork,” Ablaza said.
Under
the NFA guidelines, rice imports under the 2016 MAV must arrive in the
Philippines not later than February 28.
Last
December the NFA allowed 210 farmers’ organizations and private firms to import
692,340 metric tons (MT) of rice, 110,160 MT less than the country’s annual MAV
of 802,500 MT.
The
NFA list available on its web site also showed that 194 qualified rice traders,
including AgriNurture Inc. and Pilmico Foods Corp., will import 642,340 MT of
rice under the country specific quota (CSQ). Of the total rice to be imported
under the CSQ, 293,100 MT of rice will be bought from Thailand and Vietnam.
Meanwhile,
16 qualified applicants will import a total of 50,000 MT of rice under the
“omnibus origin” category, according to the NFA list.
A
separate list posted on the NFA web site showed 345,435.90 MT of imported rice
have already arrived in the country, nearly half of the 692,340 MT approved
under the 2016 MAV
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/government-extends-arrival-date-for-rice-imported-under-mav/
House wants to extend QR
on rice–Piñol
MARCH 1,
2017
By Jasper Emmanuel Y.
Arcalas & Elijah F. Rosales
The House of Representatives is
not keen on amending a law that would pave the way for the scrapping of the
quantitative restriction (QR) on rice, despite its scheduled expiration on June
30, based on what Manila committed to the World Trade Organization (WTO),
according to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol.
In a meeting on February 20,
Piñol said House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez expressed support for the
Department of Agriculture’s (DA) bid to extend the QR on rice for two years, or
until 2019.
Aside from Alvarez, Piñol
said Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael V. Mariano and
former National Irrigation Administration (NIA) chief Peter Tiu Laviña also
joined the meeting.“The last time I spoke with Speaker Alvarez about the
lifting of the QR, the position of Congress is that they don’t want to lift it.
Thus, I think, Congress will not move to amend Republic Act [RA] 8178,” he told
reporters in a recent interview.
“The DA has to fast-track our
solar-powered irrigation projects, because the Speaker has committed to support
our goal of making the country rice sufficient in two years,” Piñol added.
Earlier, the DA chief made an
assurance the Philippines will not be flooded with cheap rice imports after the
QR on rice expires on June 30. The QR is a nontariff barrier that the WTO has
allowed the Philippines to enjoy for more than two decades.Piñol said RA 8178,
or the Agricultural Tarrification Act of 1996, would serve as the “saving
grace” and “refuge” of Filipino farmers. Under RA 8178, rice is the only farm
commodity that is protected by the QR.
Sans an amendment, Piñol said
earlier the Philippines should not be forced to allow the entry of more rice
imports. “There cannot be an unregulated entry of imported rice to the country
until such time that the law is amended.”
However, the Cabinet Committee on
Tariff and Related Matters (CTRM) has already decided to abandon plans to ask
for an extension of the rice QR, according to the DA chief. The CTRM is
cochaired by the secretaries of trade and the National Economic and Development
Authority (Neda).
‘No consultation’
An alliance of agricultural
workers in the country lambasted the Neda for not pursuing the extension of the
QR on rice in a forum held at the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
Romeo C. Royandoyan of Alyansa
Agrikultura said the alliance is “strongly opposed” to the scrapping of
rice-import caps, saying this would expose farmers to “unfair competition”.
“Before the government even
considers terminating the QR, they should prepare programs to make our rice
farmers competitive,” Royandoyan said.
He said he is “angered” by the
Neda’s proposal to just lift the QR on rice and replace import caps with a
specific tariff.
Royandoyan said his group sought
to hold a consultative meeting with the Neda in 2011, 2013 and 2016, but they
were “ignored” by the agency. “If only the discussion materialized, the
government and stakeholders could have prepared measures on how to address the
impending expiration of the QR.”
“Before they decide on what to do
with the QR, they should have consulted the rice farmers first,” Royandoyan
added.
In a presentation, the Neda said
it had recommended the provision of financial support for rice farmers who will
be affected by the scrapping of the import caps.
However, Royandoyan said this
would not materialize, as the government cannot even afford credit support and
seed funding for rice farmers. “I don’t know what’s complicated for the Neda to
understand. We cannot open our country to rice importation as long as our local
industry is uncompetitive.”
Last year Neda Secretary Ernesto
M. Pernia said the extension of the QR on rice would entail the grant of
concessions to member-countries of the WTO that would agree to Manila’s
request.
“The Philippines could be forced
to bring down tariffs on other commodities, such as pork and milk, as a trade
off. Negotiators need to bargain. Also, rice will become more expensive and
farmers will continue to be complacent due to the absence of competition,”
Pernia said.
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/house-wants-to-extend-qr-on-rice-pinol/
Soaring rice price forces Kerala to eye Rs
100 cr worth buy from West Bengal
Kerala
government, for instance, is set to shop for rice in West Bengal in order to
supply the food grain to southern kitchens where rice is a staple diet.
By: M Sarita Varma | Updated: March 1, 2017
3:24 AMSHARES
Kerala government, for instance, is set to shop for rice in West
Bengal in order to supply the food grain to southern kitchens where rice is a
staple diet. (Source: Reuters)
As price of rice in south India climbs northward, West Bengal
grocers see a beeline of buyers. Kerala government, for instance, is set to
shop for rice in West Bengal in order to supply the food grain to southern
kitchens where rice is a staple diet. “We have formed a consortium of
representatives from Primary Agricultural Co-operative Societies to undertake
procurement from West Bengal. The procurement will be completed by March 10,”
Kerala minister for Cooperation K Surendran told the state Assembly here. The
consortium has been entrusted with R100 crore for the rice shopping assignment.
The price of all premium brands in Kerala supermarkets have
beeen shooting through the roof. Jaya rice costs R48 per kilo, matta rice costs
R43 per kilo and surekha rice costs R37 per kilo. “Only in West Bengal, the
rice is currently selling at a fair price. In southern states, there is huge
shortage of the premium rice brands. ‘Suvarna’, the rice brand that’s popular
in Karnataka is not relished in Kerala market,” Surendran said. Rice varieties
from Uttar Pradesh and Punjab cost only around R32 per kg and R33 per kg in the
retail markets. However, the consumer preferences in the south are yet to match
to these varieties.
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In northern Kerala, there is a slow switchover in taste
preferences to ‘swarna’ rice from Bengal and ‘cherumani’ and ‘kurava’ rice
varieties that are sold at price below R24 per kilo. Kerala has a history of
buying rice and potatoes from West Bengal, whenever there is price letdown from
the Andhra market. Traders say there has been over 26% increase in the price of
the premium brand jaya. Kerala consumes about 40 lakh tonnes of rice per annum.
Of this, jaya and surekha rice from Andhra account for consumption upto 22 lakh
tonne.
“Since jaya rice is a brand with much demand, traders in Andhra
might also be creating an artificial demand,” says Kerala food minister P
Thilothaman.
http://www.financialexpress.com/market/commodities/kerala-government-to-buy-rice-worth-100-crore-from-west-bengal/570436/
