Thursday, May 25, 2017

25th May,2017 daily global,regional local rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine


پاکستان نے 5 سال بعد چاول کی عراقی منڈی بھارت سے چھین لی

24 مئی 2017 (14:14)
کراچی (ویب ڈیسک) پاکستان نے پانچ سال بعد عراق کی چاول کی منڈی بھارت سے واپس حاصل کر لی ، رواں سال عراق کو ڈیڑھ لاکھ ٹن چاول برآمد کیا جائے گا۔ تفصیلات کے مطابق پاکستان نے پانچ سال بعد عراق کی چاول کی منڈی بھارت سے واپس لے لی، رائس ایکسپورٹ ایسوسی ایشن چیئرمین محمود مولوی نے بتایا کہ پاکستان سے عراق کو پانچ سال بعد چاول کی برآمد شروع ہو جائے گی، رواں سال دس ارب روپے کے ڈیڑھ لاکھ ٹن سے زائد چاول عراق کو بھیجا جائے گا۔ انہوں نے بتایا کہ عراق کو پاکستانی چاول کی وارئٹی پر تحفظات تھے جن کو دور کر لیا ، اب پاکستانی چاول کی مختلف ورائٹیزکو عراقی فوڈمنسٹری نے منظور کیا ہے۔ خیال رہے کہ عراق اس وقت بھارت اور یوروگوئے سے چاول خرید رہا تھا لیکن پاکستان نے ایک بار پھر عراق کی منڈی واپس لے لی ہے۔ واضح رہے کہ پاکستان دنیا میں چاول کا چوتھا بڑا برامد کنندہ ہے ، جس سے لاکھوں افراد کا روزگار وابستہ جو مسائل سے دو چار رہا ہے۔
Experts suggest increase in rice production by sustainable practices
[The Nation] 24 May, 2017
ISLAMABAD - The global rice production is likely to fall in coming years due to climate change and its impacts, so it is a high time for Pakistan to avail benefit from the upcoming demand by increasing its rice production through sustainable practices.
These views were expressed by the participants of the first Sustainable Rice Platform National Stakeholder Dialogue held here on Tuesday. They said, according to recent studies, climate change and its impacts on extreme weather and temperature swings is projected to reduce the global production of corn, wheat, rice and soybeans by 23 percent until 2050.
They said the time is ripe for us to adopt sustainable practices in the rice sector like increased organic production and efficient use of water which could help offset climate-induced losses. “Our rice exports have more than quadrupled from 1990 to 2010 but it has come with a price— depleting a quarter of our country’s non-renewable groundwater. This process spells havoc for the future if not addressed now,” they said.
The panel discussions focused on how alternative methods for growing rice should both be commercially and economically viable. The need for galvanizing an important and rapidly growing demand in the marketplace for sustainably produced products was also discussed. Unsustainable water use in rice supplier nations has the potential to ripple outward causing food crises half way across the globe. The situation demands adoption of improved practices and techniques to promote sustainable rice production and consumption in Pakistan, they said.
To truly identify sustainable production methods and move beyond statements of principles to measurable conservation results, robust, scientifically-based measures or indicators are needed to assess impacts and evaluate tradeoffs between different kinds of production systems in regard to an environmental criterion.
The objectives of the one-day workshop were to highlight sustainability challenges in the country’s rice sector at both field and policy levels. The workshop was attended by Minister of State for Information Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb, Agriculture Secretary Muhammad Abid Javed, Ministry of National Food Security and Research along with academicians and experts from various universities of the country.
Rice is the country’s largest export crop (3.8 million Metric Tonnes per annum). The country has more than a thousand rice mills catering to the need of farmers growing 5.54 million tonnes per annum on an area of 2.5 million hectares. This important crop accounts for 6.7pc of value added in the agricultural sector, and 1.6pc of national GDP. Pakistan enjoys a strong competitive advantage in the export sector due to consumer preference in destination markets for aromatic and long grain rice.
http://www.hamariweb.com/finance/news/experts_suggest_increase_in_rice_production_by_sustainable_practices_nid2008731.aspx

Climate change will adversely hit rice roductivity, say Indian scientists

LivingIndia Science Wire
By Sunderarajan Padmanabhan
New Delhi: Global climate change is projected to have wide ranging effects on the environment and on socio-economic and related sectors. Indian agriculture scientists have found that rising temperature will adversely hit rice productivity in the country.
Experiments done in Tamil Nadu show that elevated temperature will have a negative impact on rice productivity, even nullifying the positive effects of higher level of carbon dioxide.
Researchers at the Coimbatore-based Tamil Nadu Agricultural University conducted a study on rice which is a staple food for most people in the region. According to Manila-based International Rice Research Institute, rice provides 23 percent of global human per capita energy and 16 per cent of global human per capita protein.
. Reuters
The study involved actual cultivation of the cereal in a climate control chamber (CCC) where the temperature was maintained at four degrees above the ambient temperature and a carbon dioxide enrichment level of 650 parts per million (ppm). The experiment was carried out with four different days of planting – 1 June, 15 June, 1 July and 15 July.
It was seen that crops grown under the projected conditions attained panicle initiation, flowering and maturity much earlier than those grown under the ambient condition. But, recorded reduced growth characters such as leaf area index, dry matter production and number of tillers. In addition, lesser percentage of dry matter was partitioned towards grain and more for the roots. Subsequently, they recorded lower grain and straw yields.
Overall, elevated temperature was found to have a negative impact on rice productivity, even nullifying the positive effects of higher level of carbon dioxide. The researchers have published a report on their work in the latest issue of journal Current Science.
The study was conducted by V.Geethalakshmi, K.Bhuvaneswari and A. Lakshmanan of  TNAU and N. Udaya Sekhar of  Bioforsk, Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research.

Published Date: May 25, 2017 03:47 pm | Updated Date: May 25, 2017 03:48 pm
http://www.firstpost.com/living/climate-change-will-adversely-hit-rice-productivity-say-indian-scientists-3480359.html

Basmati exporters expect higher output on good monsoon forecast
No change seen in shipment volumes; basmati output in the country is roughly 6.6 million tonnes
Virendra Singh Rawat  |  Lucknow May 24, 2017 Last Updated at 23:53 IST
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After Trump sanctions, currency crisis in Iran hits India's basmati exportsCurrency crisis in Iran hits India's basmati rice exportsBasmati sowing likely to go up 25% in FY18 on high demand, normal monsoonBasmati exporters' scrips rise on high shipment, price outlook
The forecast of a good monsoon and projected rise in basmati paddy sowing is likely to mean more earnings for its exporters in the current season, though the volume of shipments is not expected to change.

Of all paddy production, basmati accounts for about 6.6 million tonnes (mt); last year's sowing was on 1.6 mn hectares.

This year’s monsoon forecast and farmers' better realisation last year is projected to result in more sowing. That translates to a lower purchase price for processors and exporters. The volume of export is not expected to go up, due to difficult economic conditions in the key markets of the Gulf and European Union.

In 2016-17, basmati export was about four mt, with almost 80 per cent to the Gulf countries, Iran and Iraq. “Our projection is that export would remain at last year’s level; new markets have not been explored,” says Gurnam Arora, joint managing director, Kohinoor Foods, which send out 150,000 tonnes a year. The domestic basmati market is also expanding and likely to see close to five per cent growth this financial year.

“China is a big market and if we are able to market and distribute our product properly, it would expand export volumes significantly,” Arora added.

R Sundaresan, executive director, All India Rice Exporters Association, said Haryana and Punjab accounted for 40-45 per cent of total basmati production, followed by Uttar Pradesh at 10-15 per cent. In UP, sowing is likely to expand by almost 30 per cent, feels UP Rice Millers’ Association patron Sanjeev Agarwal.


WWF Pakistan holds dialogue on sustainable rice growing practices
WWF-Pakistan, in cooperation with the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP), HELVETAS Swiss Inter-cooperation and Mars Food/Rice Partners Ltd, convened the first sustainable rice platform national stakeholder dialogue and workshop in Islamabad, bringing together high-level stakeholders across the spectrum to foster sustainable rice growing. The objectives of the one-day workshop was to highlight sustainability challenges in the country’s rice sector at both, field and policy levels and to develop a collaborative multi-stakeholder action plan which includes an institutional framework for all stakeholders to incentivise adoption of sustainable best practice among rice smallholders.
The workshop was attended by Minister of State for Information Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb, Secretary of Agriculture Muhammad Abid Javed, Ministry of National Food Security and Research Saeed Ahmad Mangnejo, Secretary of Agriculture Government of Sindh James Lomax, Chairman Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) Muhammad Mahmood, Secretary of Agriculture Government of Punjab Muhammad Irfan Tariq, Director General (Environment) Ministry of Climate Change Imitiaz Ali Gopang, National Food Commissioners Dr Syed Waseem ul Haque and Director Trade Development Authority Pakistan Khalid Rasool along with academicians and experts from various universities of the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Director General WWF-Pakistan Hammad Naqi Khan said, “The time is ripe for us to adopt sustainable practices in the rice sector like increased organic production, efficient use of water and tilling less which could help offset climate-induced losses.
“Today I feel proud to say that I’ve remained a part of WWF-Pakistan and without any bias I admit the organisation is working hard towards achieving a smart and sustainable agricultural policy, the dividends of which we shall reap in years to come,” Minister of State for Information Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb said.
The panel discussions focused on how alternative methods for growing rice should both, be commercially and economically viable. The need for galvanizing an important and rapidly growing demand in the marketplace for sustainable produced products was also discussed.
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/05/23/wwf-pakistan-holds-dialogue-on-sustainable-rice-growing-practices/

Iraq mulls importing Pakistani rice

THE NEWSPAPER'S STAFF REPORTER
KARACHI: The Iraqi government has agreed to change its rice specification in order to enable Pakistan rice imports which have been suspeded for the past five years.
The decision was taken during a meeting in Iraq on Monday when a Pakistani delegation – led by Director General Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Rafeo Bashir Shah and accompanied by Chairman Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Mahmood Moulvi – met with Under Secretary Ministry of Trade, Republic of Iraq Walid Habib Al-Moswee.
Chairman REAP informed the Iraqi officials that Pakistani long grain rice has not been exported to Iraq for last 4-5 years due to specifications of rice varieties.
Upon this, Mr Walid assured the Pakistani delegation that rice specifications would be changed accordingly to accommodate Pakistani rice for imports to Iraq

Growers rush to finish rice planting after field work delays

Rice growers in California are scrambling to get their planting done by June 1 after winter and early spring rains made many fields too wet to work in until recently.
Capital Press
Published on May 24, 2017 8:12AM
Tim Hearden/Capital Press
A rice field near Williams, Calif., is prepared in late April for planting. Rice growers are scrambling to finish planting by June 1 after early spring rains delayed their field work.
WILLOWS, Calif. — Rice growers are scrambling to finish planting after persistent winter and early-spring rains delayed their ability to prepare their fields.
Growers face an unofficial June 1 deadline for getting their rice seed down, as planting any later would likely push harvests into the rainy season.
Rice is typically planted between mid-April and mid-May, with harvests coming six months later. But soggy fields prevented growers from working in them until recently — particularly on the west side of the Sacramento Valley, where fields were flooded by torrential rains in February.
“I’ve got a little bit left (to plant), but for the most part we’re wrapping it up,” said Charley Mathews, a Marysville area grower and a USA Rice Federation executive committee member.
“I don’t know what normal is anymore,” he said of the weather. “We didn’t get to start field work until about the 28th of April. Usually we like to start around the first week of April.”
Willows farmer Larry Maben said he’ll get all his 800 rice acres planted, but he’s aware of other area growers in low-lying areas that have struggled to get going because of wet ground.
“I’m a couple of weeks behind, but we should be fine unless we have an early fall,” Maben said.
The delays could cause a dip in overall acreage. California rice farms are expected to plant 539,000 acres this year, down slightly from the 541,000 acres planted in 2016, according to the USDA.
Rice planting rebounded last year from the 421,000 acres planted at the height of the drought in 2015, the agency reported. That year, planting was delayed because of the slow pace of water deliveries as exchange contractors along the Sacramento River agreed to shift their delivery schedules to maintain the right river temperatures for winter run salmon.
Growers with crop insurance could seek compensation for any ground they can’t get to by June 1, the California Farm Bureau Federation advises.
Among other field crops in California, according to a USDA prospective plantings report:
• Growers expect to plant 430,000 acres of corn, up from 420,000 acres planted last year.
• Cotton acreage continues to rebound after the drought stifled planting. Growers expect to plant 85,000 acres of upland cotton in 2017, up from 66,000 last year and 47,000 in 2015. In addition, growers were seeding 190,000 acres of American Pima cotton, up from 117,000 and 155,000, respectively, the last two years.
• Producers intend to harvest hay of all types from 1.1 million acres, down from 1.2 million acres last year.
• Acreage planted to winter wheat is forecast at 350,000 acres, down from 425,000 acres last year, while another 40,000 acres are planted to Durum wheat, down from 55,000 acres in 2016.
• California growers plan to plant 27,000 acres of spring potatoes and 21,000 acres of sweet potatoes, up from last year’s 26,000 and 20,000, respectively.
• Growers intend to plant 25,300 acres of sugar beets, unchanged from last year.
• Plantings of sunflowers for oil are expected to total 39,000 acres in California, down from last year’s 45,000 acres. Non-oil sunflower acres are expected to total 4,000, up from 1,600 in 2016.
Upbeat signs for Vietnamese rice exports
Encouraging signs for rice exports after a down-period have boosted the Vietnamese rice market.


According to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), the country earned free-on-board (FOB) export value of more than US$701 million from shipping 1.6 million tonnes of rice to foreign countries in the first four months of the year, down 14.2% in volume and 10.6% in value from the same time last year.
However, Vietnamese rice exports recovered somewhat in April after a big slump in the first quarter. Exporters sold nearly 510 tonnes of rice abroad last month on FOB value of US$220 million, a year-on-year increase of 14.6 percent in volume and 9.75 percent in value.VFA Chairman Huynh The Nang said that the Philippines plans to import 250,000 tonnes to augment its buffer stock for lean months from July to September.Some exporters have won tenders to supply 40,000 tonnes of the grain for Malaysia. Meanwhile, 40,000 tonnes of Jasmine rice was shipped to Iraq.

Also, Bangladesh plans to buy 600,000 tonnes, including 50,000-100,000 tonnes of white rice with the remainder parboiled rice to offset crop damage caused by torrential rains.
Lam Anh Tuan, director of Thinh Phat Food Co., Ltd, predicted a bright future for rice exports. He said that the fall in Thailand’s rice inventories will help the Vietnamese and global rice trade recover.

Furthermore, Vietnamese enterprises are more competitive than their competitors as each tonne of Vietnamese rice sells for US$350-360 while Thai, Indian and Pakistani rice is purchased at more than US$390 per tonne, he added.The VFA said that drop in rice price has triggered an increase in the number of rice export contracts.
However, enterprises are unsure if the positive signs are enough to significantly boost Vietnamese rice exports, with worries of being unable to meet demand from foreign countries rife.Improving rice quality and building rice brand names will make Vietnamese rice more competitive.
VNA

Ricegrowers : 2017 Riverina Rice Harvest Video

05/23/2017 | 11:46pm EDT
The largest Riverina rice harvest in three years is almost complete, with more than 800,000 tonnes expected to be harvested - an uplift of over 240% from last year. Check out how this year's crop is performing, new varieties being trialled and some amazing drone footage of harvest.
The largest Riverina rice harvest in three years is almost complete, with more than 800,000 tonnes expected to be harvested - an uplift of over 240% from last year.
Check out how this year's crop is performing, new varieties being trialled and some amazing drone footage of harvest.
Ricegrowers Limited published this content on 24 May 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained he
http://www.4-traders.com/RICEGROWERS-LIMITED-20703509/news/Ricegrowers-2017-Riverina-Rice-Harvest-Video-24475445/

Stakeholders put heads together to foster sustainable rice production



24-May-17
EWS
PML-N also accepts funds from abroad, PTI tells SC
ISLAMABAD: WWF-Pakistan, in cooperation with the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP), HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation and Mars Food/Rice Partners Ltd, convened the first Sustainable Rice Platform National Stakeholder Dialogue and Workshop in Islamabad, bringing together high-level stakeholders across the spectrum to foster sustainable rice growing.
The objectives of the one-day workshop was to highlight sustainability challenges in the country's rice sector at both field and policy levels and to develop a collaborative multi-stakeholder action plan which includes an institutional framework for all stakeholders to incentivize adoption of sustainable best practice among rice smallholders.
The workshop was attended by Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister of State for Information Broadcasting and National Heritage; Muhammad Abid Javed, Secretary of Agriculture, Ministry of National Food Security and Research; Saeed Ahmad Mangnejo, Secretary of Agriculture, Government of Sindh; James Lomax, Chairman Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP); Muhammad Mahmood, Secretary of Agriculture, Government of Punjab; Muhammad Irfan Tariq, Director General (Environment) Ministry of Climate Change; Imitiaz Ali Gopang and Dr. Syed Waseem ul Haque, National Food Commissioners; and Khalid Rasool, Director Trade Development Authority Pakistan, along with academicians and experts from various universities of the country.
Rice carries significant economic importance for Pakistan; it is the nation's second most important food staple after wheat, and is the country's largest export crop (3.8 million Metric Tonnes per annum).
The country has more than a thousand rice mills catering to the need of farmers growing 5.54 million tonnes per annum on an area of 2.5 million hectares.
This important crop accounts for 6.7% of value added in the agricultural sector, and 1.6% of national GDP. Pakistan enjoys a strong competitive advantage in the export sector due to consumer preference in destination markets for aromatic and long grain rice.
Speaking on the occasion Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General WWF-Pakistan, said that according to recent studies climate change, and its impacts on extreme weather and temperature swings, is projected to reduce the global production of corn, wheat, rice and soybeans by 23% until 2050.
"The time is ripe for us to adopt sustainable practices in the rice sector like increased organic production, efficient use of water and tilling less which could help offset climate-induced losses.
Whereas, our rice exports have more than quadrupled from 1990 to 2010 but it has come with a price- depleting a quarter of our country's non-renewable groundwater. This process spells havoc for the future if not addressed now."
Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister of State for Information Broadcasting and National Heritage, praised WWF-Pakistan's efforts in promoting sustainable practices across the country and has played a vital role in familiarizing farming communities with basics of sustainable agriculture.
"Today I feel proud to say that I've remained a part of WWF-Pakistan and without any bias I admit the organisation is working hard towards achieving a smart and sustainable agricultural policy, the dividends of which we shall reap in years to come," she added.
The panel discussions focused on how alternative methods for growing rice should both be commercially and economically viable. The need for galvanizing an important and rapidly growing demand in the marketplace for sustainably produced products was also discussed.
Unsustainable water use in rice supplier nations has the potential to ripple outward causing food crises half way across the globe.
The situation demands adoption of improved practices and techniques to promote sustainable rice production and consumption in Pakistan.
To truly identify sustainable production methods and move beyond statements of principles to measurable conservation results, robust, scientifically-based measures or indicators are needed to assess impacts and evaluate tradeoffs between different kinds of production systems in regard to an environmental criterion.
http://dailytimes.com.pk/business/24-May-17/stakeholders-put-heads-together-to-foster-sustainable-rice-production


Tax evasion of crores unearthed in Karnal
Bogus bills, Rs 1.11 crore seized from arhtiya
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Parveen Arora
Tribune News Service
Karnal, May 24
The Income Tax Department has unearthed tax evasion of hundreds of crores of rupees by rice millers after it seized bogus sale and purchase bills. A commission agent, identified as Hitesh, allegedly provided millers with bogus bills. In return, he got one to two per cent commission.
The tax evasion came to light on Monday when a team of the department raided Hitesh’s shop in the old grain market here as part of a survey operation. Besides bogus bills, Rs 1.11 crore and several documents, including signed blank cheque books of Delhi-based bogus firms, were seized.
Now, the investigation wing of the department has taken over the survey operation. It is scrutinising documents and ascertaining the source of cash.
“Rice millers evaded VAT and mandi tax, which is 7 to 8 per cent, causin g loss to the exchequer,” said Vandana Mohite, Joint Commissioner, Income Tax, Karnal range.
“The entire operation is being conducted under the guidance of KC Jain, Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, North-West Region. He has issued directions to officers of the north-west region to carry out surveys on the basis of refund and self-assessment analysis, following which the department unearthed tax evasion,” she said.
The survey operation was conducted under the supervision of Sunita Puri, Chief Commissioner, Income Tax, Panchkula, and PS Tomar, Principal Commissioner, Income Tax, Karnal.
“The Principal Commissioner has converted the survey operation into a search operation. A team of investigation wing searched the arhtiya’s shop today,” Mohite said, adding that the department would verify the bank accounts and cheques to identify persons who evaded tax. http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/tax-evasion-of-crores-unearthed-in-karnal/412275.html

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5.        IT raid expose firm siphoning funds, sleuths seize Rs 1cr from premises
IT raid expose firm siphoning funds, sleuths seize Rs 1cr from premises
TNN | Updated: May 25, 2017, 08.03 AM IST
Representative image
CHANDIGARH: Income tax department sleuths on Wednesday claimed to have laid hands on a firm allegedly involved in 'accommodation entries' to siphon off taxable amounts under the garb of sale purchase of rice to mill owners in Karnal.
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The raid, which began on Monday, continued till Wednesday evening. The firm, identified as MitraSen Rajesh Kumar of Karnal, is a broker for rice shellers and commission agents. The nexus came to light after the a team headed by joint commissioner of income tax (JCIT) Vandana Mohite raided the firm's premises at the new grain market in Karnal.


The team, which included three income tax officers, recovered a cash of Rs 1.11 crore from the premises. The investigations wing headed by a deputy director level officer too was rushed to the premises. The entire operations were closely monitored by K S Jain, principal chief commissioner of income tax, Northern Western Region, and chief commissioner of income tax, Haryana, Sunita Puri, principal commissioner, Karnal, P S Tomar supervised the field operations.


"The team had gone for a routine survey during which documents like signed blank cheque books of Delhi-based bogus parties were found from whom only bills were taken. It was detected that the proprietary concern was giving fake entries to the tune of several hundreds of crores of rupees of rice purchase and sales to different rice millers and shellers after obtaining a commission from them. This raised an eyebrow and we informed our bosses in Chandigarh,'' said Vandana.


The investigation team is on the job and accommodation entries and the number of beneficiaries will be quantified after investigation is over. With the help of accommodation entries, the beneficiary rice millers have reduced taxable income causing huge loss to the state exchequer by evading VAT and Mandi Tax, etc, Vandana added

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/it-raid-expose-firm-siphoning-funds-sleuths-seize-1cr-from-premises/articleshow/58831059.cms

 

 

Ag doing its part to help point out global trade barriers

 By Bill Tomson
WASHINGTON, May 24, 2017 - The Trump administration wants a complete picture of why the U.S. is running a $740 billion trade deficit in goods. That’s why the Commerce Department and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative are working on a massive analysis, to be titled “Omnibus Report on Significant Trade Deficits,” and asking industry representatives to help.
The U.S. agriculture sector is mostly in agreement that farm-product exports are a bright spot in international trade, but groups like the National Biodiesel Board, the USA Rice Federation, the North American Wheat Growers Association and others are doing what they can to help point out difficulties with foreign markets.
Seven of the 39 people to testify at an all-day hearing held by Commerce last week represented farmers or farm products, but written testimony is also being filed.
“U.S. food and agriculture is one of the biggest success stories for U.S. trade, one that predates the nation’s founding,” the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) and North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA) said in a joint submission to Commerce and USTR. “Time and again over its rich history, U.S. agricultural producers and agribusinesses have ably demonstrated their ability to compete successfully in the global market for agricultural products ranging from raw commodities to value-added goods such as meat, dairy and biofuels.”
It’s a common sentiment in the agriculture sector, which commands an overall trade surplus, according to USDA data. The value of U.S. farm-product exports is now projected at $136 billion for fiscal 2017, compared to $114.5 billion in imports, according to the latest forecast from USDA’s Economic Research Service.
But there are problems. Global trade barriers that include everything from sanitary and phytosanitary restrictions on U.S. commodities to massive and sometimes complex domestic subsidies play a substantial role in constricting U.S. exports of wheat, corn, potatoes, soybeans, catfish, pork, shrimp and other products.
Anne Steckel, a vice president at the National Biodiesel Board, was one of the witnesses at the hearing last week. She called attention to a growing trade deficit created by Indonesia’s substantial domestic subsidies for the renewable fuel, much of which is made from soybean oil.
“Unfairly traded Indonesian imports account for a substantial proportion of imported biodiesel,” Steckel said. “Forced to compete with Indonesian producers’ dumped and subsidized prices, U.S. biodiesel producers’ financial condition has declined significantly. This has caused U.S. producers to pull back on investments to expand production capacity in what continues to be a growing market.”
While Indonesia is accused of doing significant damage to U.S. biodiesel producers and exporters, China is the center of most complaints.
The country continues to maintain substantial domestic price supports for wheat, corn and rice, distorting world markets and causing billions of dollars in losses every year for U.S. farmers and exporters. China’s subsidies – which the U.S. is challenging at the World Trade Organization – are particularly damaging to U.S. wheat farmers, who say they could be selling much more to the country if it didn’t promote overproduction.
China’s policies are also hurting U.S. rice farmers who rely heavily on exports to survive. China is the world’s largest rice producer as well as the world’s largest rice importer, but the U.S. continues to be locked out of that market.
“China’s domestic support of rice prices has distorted the internal market, with prices well above world levels,” USA Rice said in a submission to Commerce and the USTR. “The result has been a surge of imports, such that China has emerged as a major rice importer, with imports of 4.8 million tons,” the group said. “U.S. exporters have been unable to take advantage of this demand because Chinese officials refuse to sign a phytosanitary protocol with the United States covering imports of milled rice, even though the protocol was agreed to by both sides in November 2015.”
The complaints against China go far beyond domestic subsidies, non-tariff barriers and the failure to fulfill WTO quotas.
China continues to refuse to overhaul its biotech approval process, causing massive delays in the U.S. commercialization of new seed traits and threatening U.S. exports of corn, soybeans and other commodities. In recently renewed trade talk, however, China agreed to finalize the approval of eight biotech traits that had been in regulatory limbo for years.
Vietnam is another target for trade complaints. The country heavily subsidizes its rice and catfish production, and U.S. producers say the impacts are devastating.
U.S. rice has been completely pushed out of Cuba due to the low prices offered by Vietnamese exporters, who are selling subsidized grain. And U.S. catfish farmers have seen their domestic market slashed as cheaper product from thousands of miles away floods the U.S. market.
“The U.S. catfish industry has been struggling in the U.S. market due to the unrelenting flood of unfairly low-priced Vietnamese imports,” Danny Walker, CEO of the Mississippi-based Heartland Catfish Co., told Commerce and USTR in testimony. “Those imports have crippled our industry.”
Reducing imports and creating jobs are among top goals expressed by the Trump administration, which continues to spotlight overall deficits with countries like China, Mexico, Germany and Japan.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the Omnibus report – meant to “produce a comprehensive analysis of the economic realities and details of America’s trading partners” – will be completed no later than June 30.
But despite all the grievances the U.S. ag sector has with countries like China, the reality for U.S. farmers is that the U.S. exports more corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, beef, pork, sorghum, apples and potatoes than it imports.
“While we understand the need to examine the underlying causes of trade deficits to various sectors of the U.S. economy, it also remains essential that the United States continue to recognize the economic principle of comparative advantage and the benefits that two-way trade contribute to advancing U.S. and world economic well-being and global security,” the National Grain and Feed Association and the North American Export Grain Association said in testimony.
Foreigners are importing rice, destroying our business - Rice farmers protest
Rice farmers are protesting in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi state - The farmers said foreigners importing rice into Nigeria are sabotaging local farmers - They vow to keep protesting until something is done about it Thousands of rice farmers under the aegis of Kebbi State Rice Farmers Association staged a peaceful protest in Birnin Kebbi to protest rice importation. The farmers marched through the streets of Birnin Kebbi carrying placards before retiring to the Government House, to lodge their complaints to Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.
The state chairman of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Alhaji Muhammad Sahabi Augie, while delivering his speech to the governor, said the proposed importation of foreign rice into the country was not in the best interest of local farmers. Governor Bagudu who is the chairman presidential committee on rice and wheat production in Nigeria, said he would convey the farmers’ message to the president. Meanwhile, the national president of RIFAN, Alhaji Aminu Goronyo, in an interview with Daily Trust on Tuesday, May 24, said the protest would continue all over the country

Bangladesh to speed up rice imports in wake of flooding
May 25 Bangladesh will speed up plans to import rice that it brought in to build reserves and rein in local prices after flash floods hit domestic output, government officials said on Thursday.
As part of that, a Bangladeshi delegation is now in Vietnam to finalise imports of the staple grain in a government-to-government deal, said a procurement official, declining to be identified as he was not authorised to speak with media. He did not give further details on the transaction.
Ramped up demand from Bangladesh, the world's fourth-biggest rice producer, could underpin prices in major exporters Vietnam, Thailand and India.
"We are making frantic efforts to boost state reserves and bring down prices of rice," said the procurement official.
Local rice prices have reached record highs and state reserves are at six-year lows in the wake of flooding in April that wiped out around 700,000 tonnes of output.
The state grains buyer earlier this month said it would ship in 600,000 tonnes of rice after the flooding, initially issuing two tenders for a total of 100,000 tonnes of rice, its first such tenders since 2011.
Meanwhile, the procurement official said the government had decided not to withdraw duty on private rice imports, looking to protect farmers.
Bangladesh produces around 34 million tonnes of rice annually but uses almost all its production to feed its population of 160 million. It often requires imports, however, to cope with shortages caused by natural calamities like floods and droughts. (Reporting by Ruma Paul; Editing by Joseph Radford)
http://in.reuters.com/article/bangladesh-rice-imports-idINL4N1IR2LK


Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- May 24, 2017

Reuters | May 24, 2017, 02.00 PM IST
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices - APMC/Open Market-May 24 Nagpur, May 24 (Reuters) - Gram and tuar prices firmed up again in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) auction on good seasonal demand from local millers amid weak supply from producing regions. Healthy hike in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and reported demand from South-based millers also boosted prices. About 1,600 bags of gram and 1,500 bags of tuar were available for auctions, according to sources. FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Desi varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor. TUAR * Tuar gavarani and tuar Karnataka reported higher in open market on increased demand from local traders. Government has re-opened tuar procurement centres in the region which increased tuar prices. * Wheat mill quality and wheat Sharbati moved down in open market on poor buying support from local traders amid good supply from producing belts. * In Akola, Tuar New - 4,000-4,100, Tuar dal (clean) - 6,000-6,200, Udid Mogar (clean) - 9,000-10,000, Moong Mogar (clean) 6,800-7,200, Gram - 5,800-6,100, Gram Super best * Other varieties of wheat, rice and other commodities moved in a narrow range in scattered deals and settled at last levels in thin trading activity. Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close Gram Auction 5,200-5,510 5,100-5,450 Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction 3,500-5,050 3,500-5,000 Moong Auction n.a. 3,900-4,200 Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800 Wheat Mill quality Auction 1,500-1,652 1,500-1,620 Gram Super Best Bold 8,200-8,500 8,200-8,500 Gram Super Best n.a. n.a. Gram Medium Best 7,600-7,900 7,600-7,900 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a Gram Mill Quality 5,600-5,700 5,600-5,700 Desi gram Raw 6,350-6,550 6,350-6,550 Gram Yellow 8,000-8,200 8,000-8,200 Gram Kabuli 12,300-13,400 12,300-13,400 Tuar Fataka Best-New 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400 Tuar Fataka Medium-New 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000 Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 5,700-6,000 5,700-6,000 Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 5,000-5,500 5,000-5,500 Tuar Gavarani New 4,200-4,300 4,100-4,200 Tuar Karnataka 4,300-4,400 4,200-4,300 Masoor dal best 5,500-5,700 5,500-5,700 Masoor dal medium 5,200-5,400 5,200-5,400 Masoor n.a. n.a. Moong Mogar bold (New) 7,000-7,500 7,000-7,500 Moong Mogar Medium 6,500-6,800 6,500-6,800 Moong dal Chilka 5,500-6,300 5,500-6,300 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a. Moong Chamki best 7,000-8,000 7,000-8,000 Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 10,000-11,000 10,000-11,000 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 8,000-9,000 8,000-9,000 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,200 5,800-6,200 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,500-5,600 5,500-5,700 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 3,300-3,500 3,300-3,500 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,000 2,900-3,000 Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,600 3,400-3,600 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,500 4,000-4,500 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,950-2,050 1,950-2,050 Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,650-1,750 1,750-1,850 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,150-2,350 2,150-2,350 Wheat Lokwan new (100 INR/KG) 1,850-2,050 1,850-2,050 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,350 2,200-2,350 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,150 2,000-2,150 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a. MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,400 3,300-3,600 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,800 2,600-2,800 Rice BPT new (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,400 3,100-3,400 Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,500-4,000 3,500-4,000 Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,200 3,000-3,200 Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,800 2,500-2,800 Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,450 2,300-2,450 Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,800 2,600-2,800 Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500 Rice HMT New (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,000 3,600-4,000 Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,800 4,500-4,800 Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,200 4,000-4,200 Rice Shriram New(100 INR/KG) 4,650-4,850 4,650-4,850 Rice Shriram best 100 INR/KG) 6,800-7,000 6,800-7,000 Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 6,300-6,500 6,300-6,500 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 11,000-15,000 11,000-15,000 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,500-8,000 6,500-8,000 Rice Chinnor New(100 INR/KG) 4,600-4,800 4,600-4,800 Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,300 5,800-6,300 Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 5,400-5,600 5,100-5,300 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,200 1,900-2,200 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,800-1,900 1,800-1,900 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 44.7 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 28.0 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 45 and 29 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices)


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-may-24-2017/articleshow/58821985.cms


Vietnam, Bangladesh extend rice trade deal
24.05.2017
| UkrAgroConsult
Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh and Bangladeshi Minister of Food Advocate Md Quamrul Islam have signed a document extending the two countries’ memorandum of understanding (MoU) on rice trade that will allow Vietnam to sell up to 1 million tonnes of rice to Bangladesh each year.Vietnam, Bangladesh extend rice trade deal, vietnam economy, business news, vn news, vietnamnet bridge, english news, Vietnam news, news Vietnam, vietnamnet news, vn news, Vietnam net news, Vietnam latest news, Vietnam breaking news

The MoU, inked on May 23 in Hanoi during the Bangladeshi official’s visit, will last five years to 2022. The provision of rice will depend on Bangladesh’s yearly demand.It took Vietnam and Bangladesh only two weeks to discuss and reach the deal.Right after sealing the deal, the Bangladeshi side wanted to buy 250,000-300,000 tonnes of 5-percent broken rice immediately and a total of 500,000 tonnes by the end of 2017.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister Anh spoke highly of Minister Quamrul Islam’s visit, expressing his hope that it will help connect businesses and strengthen bilateral partnership and friendship between the two countries.The MoU was signed for the first time on April 18, 2011 in Hanoi and expired on December 31, 2013. On January 2, 2014, the two sides re-signed the deal that was valid until December 31, 2016.

In 2011 and 2012, Vietnam shipped over 300,000 tonnes of rice to Bangladesh. As Bangladesh was then able to produce enough rice, it ceased the import of Vietnamese rice.However, in two recent years, Bangladesh faced consecutive natural disasters that have affected its crops and resulted in a shortage of rice for domestic consumption.On the day, Minister Tran Tuan Anh and Minister Quamrul Islam also discussed measures to enhance their coordination in the future to improve bilateral economic, trade and industrial cooperation, especially in the trading of rice.

Việt Nam to supply up to 1 million tonnes of rice to Bangladesh a year


Rice bags loaded for export at a Kiên Giang Import-Export Co factory in Kiên Giang Province. - VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đạt HA NOI — Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade (MoIT) Trần Tuấn Anh and Bangladeshi Minister of Food Advocate Qamrul Islam signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the extension of rice trading in Hà Nội on Tuesday.
The memorandum came as part of Bangladeshi minister’s May 22-25 visit at Anh’s invitation.
Under the MoU--which will be extended till 2022--Việt Nam will supply up to one million tonnes of rice to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh announced its expectation to buy around 250,000 to 300,000 tonnes of 5 per cent broken milled white rice from Việt Nam after the signing. The amount could be increased to 500,000 tonnes this year. In addition, Bangladesh invited Vietnamese official rice suppliers to their country for negotiations of prices, amount and transaction methods.
Việt Nam Southern Food Corporation will implement the export contracts.
The MoU on rice trading between the two countries was signed for the first time on April 18th 2011 and had been extended once in 2014 till the end of 2016.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Anh said Việt Nam always highly valued its traditional and friendly co-operation with Bangladesh.
The two countries have exchanged several high ranking delegations and businesses for trade promotion and business opportunities.
The two sides have signed many important agreements on economic, trade and investment co-operation. In this way, they’ve been a force for sustainable development in recent years, according to the minister.
Last year, the two-way trade between the two countries reached $608 million, posting a 3.1 per cent year-on-year increase.
However, the trade exchange has not reached its potential. The two countries could further enhance trade co-operation. In addition, Việt Nam and Bangladesh have potential in industrial co-operation, especially in agricultural machinery manufacturing in Bangladesh.
In the context of the difficult consumption market, the MoIT has promoted activities to search for export markets of local products, especially agricultural products. The ministry has sought the signing of a MoU to facilitate exported products.
In addition to traditional markets, the ministry has focused on new markets with big potential, large population, high rice consumption and stable purchasing power. The MoU was negotiated in around 2 weeks.
Bangladesh is a market with more than 170 million people and high rice consumption. The country’s rice supply is modest, and it often faces disaster. — VNS

http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/377000/viet-nam-to-supply-up-to-1-million-tonnes-of-rice-to-bangladesh-a-year.html#LFXzCR7tSWrpxCkS.99
Vietnam to Sell Bangladesh 1 Million Tons of Rice Annually

Hanoi. Vietnam will sell 1 million tons of various types of rice to Bangladesh annually between 2017-2022 as part of a memorandum of understanding signed by the two countries on Tuesday (23/05), Vietnam's Trade Ministry said.
Bangladesh, facing a rice shortage due to natural disasters and crop failures, wants to buy around 250,000 to 300,000 tons of Vietnam's 5-percent white rice immediately and plans to increase rice imports from Vietnam to 500,000 tons by end-2017, the ministry said in a statement.



Uncertainty about U.S. long grain rice acreage supportive of prices

Domestic and global rice fundamentals remain bearish while U.S. acreage decrease may help firm near-term prices.
Bobby Coats | May 23, 2017
Note: For the latest information, please see the accompanying Rice Outlook Slide Show, U.S. and World, May 22, 2017
Presently, I am cautiously bullish on U.S. long grain rice prices.  The U.S. and global long grain rice market is a highly complex and a challenging marketplace, due to the extreme importance of the rice food grain in feeding the world’s population.Rice is one of the most protected food grains in country after country around the world, as countries limit U.S. market access and competition. Most countries’ rice food security concerns will take priority over trade agreements.  
Some key factors impacting global long grain rice trade and long grain rice prices are:
·         Bearish 2016-2017 domestic and global rice fundamentals
·         Global geopolitical challenges, uncertainties and food security issues
·         The currently supportive price impact of excessive rain, flooding, etc. on U.S. 2017 acreage, yield, production and quality
·         2017-18 global production is expected to exceed consumption, and currently there is no expectation of a major disruptive weather event to change that outlook
·         Uncertainty about U.S. and global fiscal, monetary, trade and regulatory policy initiatives near term impact on reflating sluggish domestic and global growth. This has allowed global deflationary forces strong continued negative influence on the aggregate commodity sector.
2017/18 World Rice Supply and Demand
World Rice-Cliff Note Version
·         World rice acreage at 161.8 million hectares is the highest on record
·         World rice yield at 4.4 metric tons per hectare is consistent with previous four periods
·         World rice rough production at 717.8 million metric tons is the 2nd highest on record
·         World rice milled production at 481.3 million metric tons is the 2nd highest on record
·         World trade at 42.2 million metric tons is 3rd highest on record and, in-part, reflects global uncertainties
·         World rice total use at 480.1 million metric tons is the highest on record
·         World rice ending stocks at 119.8 million metric tons is the highest since 2001-02
·         2017/18 world rice production of481.3 million tons is forecast to exceed 2017-18 total use of480.1 million tons by 1.2 million tons
Long Grain Rice Supply and Demand -- Cliff Note Version:
USDA’s June 30, 2017 Acreage Report will provide an estimate that more nearly reflects current weather and flooding impacts.
·         2017 long grain rice planted acres estimated at 1,909,000 acres 21 percent below 2016
·         5-year average 2,044,400 acres
·         10-year average 2,150,600 acres
·         15-year average 2,229,267 acres
·         2017-18 long grain rice beginning stocks at 28.7 million cwt.
·         Previous 5-year average was 22 million cwt.
·         Previous 10-year average was 24 million cwt.
·         2017-18 long grain rice production is estimated at 142 million cwt.
·         15 percent below 2016-17
·         5-year average 148 million cwt.
·         10-year average 149 million cwt.
·         2017-18 long grain rice total supply is estimated at 191.7 million cwt.
·         9-percent below 2016-17
·         5-year average 190 million cwt.
·         10-year average 191 million cwt.
·         2017-18 long grain rice domestic and residual use is estimated at 95 million cwt,
·         6th largest on record
·         5-year average 95 million cwt.
·         10-year average 94.5 million cwt.
·         2017-18 long grain rice total exports is estimated at 76 million cwt,
·         3 million cwt. below last year
·         5-year average 72
·         10-year average 73
·         2017-18 long grain rice total use is estimated at 171 million cwt.
·         10 million cwt below 2016-17
·         5-year average 167 million cwt.
·         10-year average 167 million cwt.
·         2017-18 long grain rice ending stocks are estimated at 20.7 million cwt.
·         28-percent below 2016-17
·         5-year average 23 million cwt.
·         10-year average 24 million cwt.
NASS Prospective Planting
1.      S. - Cliff Note Version
As previously stated USDA’s June 30, 2017 Acreage Report will provide an estimate that more nearly reflects current weather and flooding impacts.
·         2017 Arkansas long grain rice planted acres estimated at 1,050,000 acres, 25.5 percent below 2016, 5-year average 1,150,000, 10-year average 1,202,000, 15-year average 1,250,000 acres
·         2017 California long grain rice planted acres estimated at 9,000 acres the same as 2016, 5-year average 7,000, 10-year average 6,800, 15-year average 7,067 acres
·         2017 Louisiana long grain rice planted acres estimated at 375,000 acres, 9.2 percent below 2016, 5-year average 387,000, 10-year average 405,500, 15-year average 415,467 acres
·         2017 Mississippi long grain rice planted acres estimated at 375,000 acres, 9.2 percent below 2016, 5-year average 156,000, 10-year average 185,000, 15-year average 197,667 acres
·         2017 Missouri long grain rice planted acres estimated at 200,000 acres, 13 percent below 2016, 5-year average 194,400, 10-year average 193,200, 15-year average 197,667 acres
·         2017 Texas long grain rice planted acres estimated at 155,000 acres, 16.2 percent below 2016, 5-year average 150,000, 10-year average 158100, 15-year average 165,000 acres
·         2017 United States long grain rice planted acres estimated at 1,909,000 acres, 21 percent below 2016, 5-year average 2,044,400, 10-year average 2,150,600, 15-year average 2,229,267 acres
Rice Webinar
Date and Time: May 25, 2017 2:00 PM in Central Time (US and Canada)  
Host: Dr. Bobby Coats
Producer: Mary Poling          
·         Topic: S. Rice Supplies Expected to Tighten in 2017-18; U.S. Prices Projected Higher (45 minutes)
Presenter: Dr. Nathan Childs, Agricultural Economist with USDA’s Economic Research Service
Description: This webinar will focus on USDA’s projections for the 2017-18 U.S. and global rice markets. The main themes: A 10-percent decline in U.S. rice production is expected to reduce U.S. rice supplies 7 percent in 2017/18. Tighter supplies and higher projected prices are behind expectations of smaller domestic use and U.S. exports in 2017-18. In the global market, production is expected to again exceed use, with global ending stocks in 2017-18 projected to increase to the highest level since 2001-02.
·         Topic: Arkansas Rice Production Update –
Presenter: Dr. Jarrod Hardke, Associate Professor and State Rice Extension Agronomist, Crop, Soil & Environmental Science Department, University of Arkansas System-Division of Agriculture
Conclusion:
Please view accompanying Rice Slide Show.
As far as 2017 U.S. long grain rice acreage is concerned and its impact on the U.S. long grain rice balance sheet now we wait on USDA NASS’s June 30 acreage report.
Present uncertainties about U.S. and global fiscal, monetary, trade and regulatory policy initiatives near term impact on reflating sluggish domestic and global growth allows global deflationary forces to remain problematic for the commodity sector. Watch the commodity sector in general and the grain sector specifically for signs of supportive price behavior related to government and Central Bank intervention.
The U.S. rice farmer needs additional demand from outside the Western Hemisphere.
Consider: Given the weakness of global rice prices, then 2017 U.S. long grain rice acreage needs to be adequate to maintain rice infrastructure and not encourage expanded long grain rice imports.   
Be sure to join us Thursday May 25, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. for our Rice Webinar over the internet or join by phone.
Webinar Registration Link:
1.      Bobby Coats is a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas System. E-mail: recoats@uark.edu.
Hybrid rice harvest in Arkansas in 2016. Fewer acres of the hybrids will be available in 2017
http://gulfnews.com/guides/life/ramadan/iftars/130-uae-iftars-this-ramadan-2017-1.1520406

The rice industry is furious at the existence of “cauliflower rice”

Cauliflower just got dragged. (Reuters/Nguyen Huy Kham)
WRITTEN BY Chase Purdy
May 23, 2017
The fight over the US government’s definitions for certain foods has flared up again. It’s no longer just a fight for milk farmers, who’ve grown increasingly angry about plant-based food companies (think soy, almond, and cashews) calling their liquid products “milk.”
For the first time, vegetables are being roped into the debate—all because of the arrival and popularization of “cauliflower rice.”
“Only rice is rice, and calling ‘riced vegetables’ ‘rice,’ is misleading and confusing to consumers,” Betsy Ward, president of industry lobby USA Rice, said in a statement earlier this month. “We may be asking the Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies to look at this.” Ward added that Scott Gottlieb, the new Trump-appointed FDA commissioner, could use his power to enforce the agency’s existing definitions for food, the so-called “standards of identity.”
Cauliflower by the truckload. (Reuters/Khaled Abdullah)
Only recently did cauliflower rice appear in the freezer section of the grocery store—and in close proximity to frozen rice and vegetable packages, Michael Klein, a spokesman for the rice lobby, told Quartz. Klein adds that one company, Green Giant Fresh, used a “Move over, rice” marketing campaign.
But the cauliflower side isn’t worried. “Using the FDA to combat merchandising efforts? That’s a story they’re telling their retail partners,” said Gina Nucci of the California-based produce company, Mann Packing, which sells cauliflower products. “Every section of the grocery store is fighting for the same food dollar. Same share of stomach. Consumers are smart. I don’t think anyone is going to mistake regular rice for a riced cauliflower product, frozen or fresh.”
She says consumers are on the lookout for rice alternatives because there’s a demand for ready-to-eat products that take less time to prepare than whole-head cauliflower rice.
Still, this isn’t a clean case for the rice lobby, which now finds itself in the unenviable position of appearing to speak out of both sides of its mouth. While the industry group frets over shredded cauliflower, some of its members benefit from relaxed enforcement of standards of identity. Rice milk and yogurt can be found at nearly all major supermarket retailers, including Costco and Whole Foods 365 brand. Yet greater enforcement of the FDA’s standards of identity would likely give those rice products companies trouble.
For its part, the rice lobby says the goal should be to avoid confusing consumers—but it does not want to be the arbiter of deciding whether consumers are confused when they see rice milk on the shelves of the dairy section. (The dairy industry has been vocal about this matter: “Milk is a product that comes from cows,” it contended (pdf) in February.)
“Just as with milk, no one owns the word ‘rice,'” said Michele Simon, executive director of the Plant Based Foods Association. To date, in at least two US lawsuits (one against Whitewave Foods Company in 2013 and the other against Trader Joe’s Company in 2015) judges have dismissed cases in which plaintiffs sought to have companies stop using the word “milk” when marketing soy milk.
“As long as consumers are not confused,” Simon added, “I doubt USA Rice will get very far with FDA.”
The Good Food Institute earlier this year submitted to the government a request that it clarify how foods can be named. “This is what’s so frustrating about this issue,” Joanna Grossman, a lobbyist for the group, told Quartz. “Everybody wants to pick and choose what should come under greater enforcement and, in my mind, there’s a broader problem. So many of these definitions haven’t caught up with the times. We’re operating in a sphere where some of these definitions are
https://qz.com/

Conservation Programs Take a Hit in Trump Budget 


WASHINGTON, DC -- President Trump's $4.1 trillion budget has received a rough reception from the agriculture community since it appears to gut programs important to his core ag-based constituency and leans disproportionately heavily on agriculture to find "savings."  As the onion is further peeled, more draconian cuts to conservation programs are coming to light. 

For Fiscal Year 2018, the budget proposes $766 million for Conservation Operations, the account that funds conservation planning and technical assistance.  That is nearly $100 million less than FY17 and significantly below historic norms for the program. 

In addition, the budget proposes cuts to FY18 mandatory farm bill conservation programs (CHIMPs) which include an authorized level of $1.4 billion for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) - a $350 million cut from what was authorized in the Farm Bill.

The budget proposal also has legislative proposals that would cut more than $5 billion over ten years in a "conservation streamlining initiative."  The budget certainly picks winner and losers with EQIP receiving a $250 million bump and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) getting a $450 million annual increase.  The losers are the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) - no new sign ups; the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) - eliminated; and a few cuts to the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).  In addition, there is a new Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) for conservation programs of $500,000 down from the current $900,000. 

"While the proposed increase in funding for EQIP is warranted, the proposal appears to pay for the increase by scaling CSP down and eliminating RCPP, both of which are important programs for rice production and the habitat rice farms provide for migrating waterfowl," said Louisiana rice farmer Jeff Durand, who also co-chairs the USA Rice-Ducks Unlimited Rice Stewardship Partnership.

"The Administration says they are attempting to better target conservation funding, but what they're really doing is arbitrarily gutting programs that work - for both the environment - specifically for wildlife habitat and water quality - and for growers who are facing staggeringly tough times and use these programs to pursue sustainability goals," said Ben Mosely, USA Rice vice president of government affairs.

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

24th May,2017 daily global,regional,local & National Rice E-Newsletter by riceplus magazine

 

 

 

 

Rice basmati slides on fall in demand

23 MAY 2017  Last Updated at 2:14 PM

Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,800, Basmati common new Rs 7,100-7,200, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 5,900-6,500, Permal raw Rs 2,250-2,275, Permal wand Rs 2,300-2,350, Sela Rs 2,700-2,800 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,875-2,000, Bajra Rs 1,360-1,370, Jowar yellow Rs 1,600-1,650, white Rs 3,300-3,500, Maize Rs 1,425-1,435, Barley Rs 1,565-1,585

New Delhi, May 23 Rice basmati prices fell by up to Rs 300 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today owing to slackened demand against adequate stocks position.
Maize also eased on reduced offtake by consuming industries.
Traders attributed the fall in rice basmati prices to easing demand against ample stocks position.
In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa- 1121 variety slipped to Rs 7,100-7,200 and Rs 5,900-6,500 from previous levels of Rs 7,400-7,500 and Rs 6,000-6,800 per quintal, respectively.
Maize also shed Rs 10 at Rs 1,425-1,435 per quintal.
Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal):
Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,100-2,345, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,735-1,740, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,740-1,745, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 240, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 240, Roller flour mill Rs 950-960 (50 kg), Maida Rs 960-970 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs 1,030-1,040 (50 kg).
Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,800, Basmati common new Rs 7,100-7,200, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 5,900-6,500, Permal raw Rs 2,250-2,275, Permal wand Rs 2,300-2,350, Sela Rs 2,700-2,800 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,875-2,000, Bajra Rs 1,360-1,370, Jowar yellow Rs 1,600-1,650, white Rs 3,300-3,500, Maize Rs 1,425-1,435, Barley Rs 1,565-1,585.

http://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/rice-basmati-slides-on-fall-in-demand/1057718

 

Iraq mulls importing Pakistani rice

KARACHI: The Iraqi government has agreed to change its rice specification in order to enable Pakistan rice imports which have been suspeded for the past five years.
The decision was taken during a meeting in Iraq on Monday when a Pakistani delegation – led by Director General Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Rafeo Bashir Shah and accompanied by Chairman Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Mahmood Moulvi – met with Under Secretary Ministry of Trade, Republic of Iraq Walid Habib Al-Moswee.Chairman REAP informed the Iraqi officials that Pakistani long grain rice has not been exported to Iraq for last 4-5 years due to specifications of rice varieties.Upon this, Mr Walid assured the Pakistani delegation that rice specifications would be changed accordingly to accommodate Pakistani rice for imports to Iraq

https://www.dawn.com/news/1334960/iraq-mulls-importing-pakistani-rice

Government must ensure ample supply of affordable rice

After months of uncertainty surrounding the country’s rice supply-and-demand situation, the government finally announced last week its decision to buy rice from foreign private suppliers. The National Food Authority Council (NFAC), the interagency body vested with the power to decide on the timing and volume of rice importation, has also given its nod to the private sector’s initiative to buy 805,000 metric tons (MT) of rice via the minimum access volume (MAV) scheme. The announcement came after revelations that the NFA’s buffer stock had fallen to eight days’ worth of national consumption, nearly half of the 15 days buffer mandated by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac).
Days after the NFAC made its announcement, however, it has yet to determine the final volume of rice the government would buy via the so-called government-to-private (G2P) scheme. Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B. Evasco Jr. said the rationale behind this is to ensure that the purchases would be covered by Republic Act 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act. As we go to press, the NFAC has yet to decide on the final volume of rice imports and when it would conduct the bidding.
It is now becoming more apparent that the National Food Authority (NFA) would not be able to build up a stockpile equivalent to 30 days of national rice consumption before the start of the lean season in July. It could take anywhere from one to two months for the rice imports to arrive in the country and this would depend on how fast the government would conduct the bidding and award the right to supply rice, as well as the origin of the imports.
The decision not to import rice undoubtedly benefited the farmers during the dry season harvest as traders in some areas were buying paddy rice for as much as P22 per kilogram. There is nothing wrong in favoring local producers because it is the obligation of the State to safeguard the livelihood of its citizens. But some members of President Duterte’s Cabinet seems to have conveniently forgotten or refused to recognize the nature of the Philippine rice industry.
Given its mandate, the NFA continues to act as the “big, bad wolf” to private traders because its intervention prevents price spikes, which could hurt producers or consumers. Until and unless this function is scrapped via the amendment of pertinent laws, this should not be swept under the rug or disregarded and should have been used to the government’s advantage.
For one, the Duterte administration should have embarked on massive palay-buying and raised the NFA’s support price to boost the food agency’s stockpile. This is cheaper than importing rice and would benefit more farmers. Also, importations should be timed to ensure that the price of unmilled rice during the dry season and main harvest in the fourth quarter would not go down. The announcement of the government’s decision to import rice last week would no longer affect rice farmers but it could have an impact on prices during the main harvest, particularly if the arrival of the imports via G2P and the MAV scheme are ill-timed.
It takes about three months to grow rice so the government would have ample time to estimate the possible shortfall in the country’s rice requirement. Importation should be the government’s last resort, but if it is certain that local production would not be enough to support its citizens’ needs, then it should do what’s necessary to ensure the availability of affordable rice.


            Trump Budget Declares War on Agriculture
By Michael Klein

WASHINGTON, DC -- President Trump released his detailed, $4.1 trillion federal budget today, and while every area of the federal government except defense and infrastructure saw cuts, the cuts to agriculture and rural areas are disproportionately severe by anyone's standards.

The total mandatory spending cuts proposed far exceed those signaled earlier this year in the President's Skinny Budget:  $240.7 billion over 10 years, or a 27.5 percent budget cut.  Of that, crop insurance is targeted for $28.562 billion in cuts over 10 years, or a 36 percent reduction and more than 10 percent of the total cuts.  This includes a $40,000 payment limit on premium discounts, a $500,000 AGI means test, and the elimination of premium discounts on the Harvest Price Option (HPO).

With respect to the Commodity Title, the Administration proposes cuts of $653 million over 10 years through the imposition of a $500,000 AGI means test, down from the current $900,000.

The Conservation Title is cut by $5.755 billion over 10 years, or 9.6 percent through the "streamlining" of programs. 

The Nutrition Title is slated for cuts to the tune of $193.287 billion over 10 years, or 28.7 percent.  This includes reforms to SNAP ($190.932 billion) and retailer user fees ($2.355 billion).

Some other notable cuts include $11.571 billion over 10 years through the elimination of "small" programs, and user fees being imposed by FSIS, APHIS, GIPSA, and AMS, as well as the elimination of interest payments to electric/telecom utilities, and the elimination of the Rural Economic Development Program.

The budget also proposes eliminating the Foreign Market Development Program (FMD) and the Market Access Program (MAP), both of which are important to the rice industry that exports about 50 percent of the crop annually.  At a February, 2017 House Agriculture Committee hearing on international market development in the next Farm Bill, Dr. Gary Williams of Texas A&M said that according to a study done by Texas A&M, Oregon State University, Cornell University, and Informa Economics, eliminating the FMD and MAP programs would result in the value of U.S. agricultural exports dropping by an annual average of $14.7 billion.  Since eliminating the programs reduces government spending by about $250 million annually it is difficult to see the return on this cut - especially since the President needs as much economic growth as he can get.  The full budget only balances with 3 percent annual economic growth, despite current economic indicators pointing to a maximum of 2 percent growth into the next decade.

The President's budget also proposes extending budget sequestration for the period of FY2025-2027 ($911 million).  Note that cuts to agriculture accounted for 30 percent of total sequestration cuts in FY2016 so these cuts would fall disproportionately upon agriculture.

The President's budget makes no attempt to hide its low view, or misunderstanding, of agriculture programs, saying, "[t]he 2018 President's Budget targets commodity assistance, crop insurance subsidies, and conservation assistance to producers that have an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $500,000 or less.  It is hard to justify to hardworking taxpayers why the Federal government should provide assistance to wealthy farmers with incomes over a half a million dollars.  Doing so undermines the credibility and purpose of farm programs.  The Budget also eliminates funding for a number of programs for which there is no Federal purpose, those programs include the Market Access Program [and] the Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program...In a time of belt tightening, the Government should not be subsidizing the advertising and promotion of commodities...Lastly, the Budget targets conservation funding to the most sensitive agricultural land, by maintaining acreage in the Conservation Reserve Program at the current statutory cap of 24 million acres, eliminating distortionary signing and practice incentive payments, and focusing near-term enrollment on higher-value continuous acreage."

The budget has not been well received by lawmakers on Capitol Hill, many of whom characterized the proposal as "dead on arrival."

"President Trump's budget proposal finally addresses our growing national debt while still prioritizing our armed forces, which currently face a readiness crisis after years of neglect," said Representative Rick Crawford from Arkansas' First District, the largest rice producing district in the country.  "However, the severe cuts to USDA programs don't fully consider the current state of rural economies and the significant savings already generated by the last Farm Bill.  As the House of Representatives builds upon the Administration's budget blueprint, I will work with my colleagues on the House Agriculture Committee to advocate for producers and other programs vitally important to rural economies and a safe, reliable food source in the United States." 
The Chairmen of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, Representative Mike Conaway and Senator Pat Roberts released a joint statement saying, "As we debate the budget and the next Farm Bill, we will fight to ensure farmers have a strong safety net so this key segment of our economy can weather current hard times and continue to provide all Americans with safe, affordable food."

"The proposal is disappointing considering the level of support President Trump received from the parts of the country his budget is hurting most," said USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward.  "If these cuts were ever enacted, they would devastate rural America and our farmers.  But the President does like to negotiate, so I guess this is his opening offer.  He won't be surprised we're rejecting it.
USA Rice Daily, Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Rice import restriction extended

PHILIPPINE: The Philippines is keeping the quantitative restriction on rice purchases in place for three more years, limiting supplies from major sellers like Thailand and Vietnam, according to an executive order released on Monday. The maximum volume of rice that private traders can ship in annually will remain at 805,200 tons until 2020, with the tariff also kept at 35%, the order signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on April 27 showed.
The Philippines, one of the world’s top rice importers, is supposed to lift the import restriction by July 1 this year under an agreement with the World Trade Organization (WTO). It was not immediately clear if Manila needs to seek another waiver from the trade body from its obligation to open up the domestic rice market. In 2014, Manila won WTO approval for a waiver but, as part of the agreement, it pledged to increase the annual import volume from 350,000 tons and reduce the rice tariff from 40%. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol, who believes the Philippines could be self-sufficient in rice production by 2020, had been pushing for a two-year extension of the restriction, saying local farmers are not ready to compete with cheap imports.
The Philippines imports more than 1 million tons of rice every year, with Thailand and Vietnam its key suppliers. Socio-economic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia had pushed for the lifting of the restriction, arguing that introducing competition in the domestic market would encourage local farmers to improve efficiency and bring down local prices. Both Messrs. Piñol and Pernia did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comments on the executive order. The Southeast Asian nation has kept the restriction in place since 1995 when it acceded to the WTO treaty. It has won three extensions since then.
 The missive was numbered Executive Order No. 23 and was released yesterday simultaneously with three other executive orders that extended zero tariff rates on information technology products (IT) and capital equipment imported by enterprises registered with the Board of Investments, while setting a new tariff schedule in the next three years for other imported products under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA). EO 23 now directs that agricultural products that are “entered or withdrawn from warehouses in the Philippines” to be still subject to the rates indicated in an earlier EO 190, which the new directive replaces. EO 23 was released after the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) “approved the extension of the reduced rates of duty on agricultural products in EO No. 190 for another three (3) years.”
Rice Farmers are Concerned
MAY 22ND, 2017   DEVIN BAYLISS ACADIA
Rice farmers in Louisiana are worried. Last week congress officially notified the Trump administration of plans to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement but this renegotiation has local rice farmers concerned.
“Rice as you know in Acadia parish and southwest Louisiana is a major driver of the economy.” says local Acadia rice farmer, Jackie Loewer. What once was good is now a concern for rice farmers. “When President Trump was elected, he spoke very negatively about NAFTA and NAFTA has been a very good trade agreement for rice.”
The NAFTA trade agreement is between the U.S., Canada and Mexico.“Mexico is our largest exporter, they buy more from us than any other country in the world. And Canada the other partner with NAFTA is our 4th largest customer. So these are significant trading partners that we want to maintain.” says Loewer. He adds when President Trump was elected he threaten to do away with NAFTA because of some of the other products that are being imported into the United States.
“We feel that our exports our products off the farm are as valuable as the products that come out of the factories.” Loewer adds. So for now, NAFTA isn’t completely done for yet, but is being renegotiated by the Trump administration.“Which we think after 23 years is probably not a bad thing. but we want to make sure and monitor it so that the good part pf NAFTA isn’t thrown away with the good part.” says Loewer.
Jackie Loewer says luckily the Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue is working to keep farmers off the chopping block. Congress has less than 90 days to give input on the trade deal
watch video by clicking next link
https://kadn.com/rice-farmers-are-concerned/
https://kadn.com/rice-farmers-are-concerned/

Rice import quota extended for 3 yrs

MAY 23, 2017   
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed an order extending the quota on imported rice for three more years, heeding the recommendation of the National Economic and Development Authority and the Agriculture department despite longstanding calls to remove quantitative restrictions (QR) on the staple.
Executive Order 23, signed by Duterte on April 27 but released by the Palace only on Monday, also extended the effectivity of tariffs on a number of agricultural products.
The Philippines had secured permission from the World Trade Organization (WTO) to impose quotas on rice imports, to protect Filipino farmers, only until June 30.
Under the new EO, the quota under the Minimum Access Volume scheme remains at 805,200 metric tons. The in-quota tariff was also kept at 35 percent. Outside the quota, the tariff is 40 percent.
Economists, including those from the state-run Philippine Institute for Development Studies, have long called for the removal of rice quotas to comply with WTO rules, and also to remove corruption at the National Food Authority, the state monopoly on grains importation.
But Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol in December called for at least a two-year extension, saying Filipino farmers were not prepared for an influx of cheap rice imports.
Usually, however, negotiations with affected rice-exporting countries take place before the rice quota is extended.
The Philippines had earlier granted greater market access – not limited to rice – to countries affected by the previous extension of the special treatment on rice. In exchange for the QR extension, Manila offered other rice-producing countries certain trade concessions, such as greater access to the Philippine market for other products.
Without the extension, tariff rates will revert to higher levels and the MAV for rice will revert to the original 350,000 MT.
Duterte also signed EO 20 modifying the nomenclature and rates of import duty on various products under Section 1611 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
“There is a need to ensure that the high economic growth currently being enjoyed by the country is sustainable and inclusive, and will benefit future generations of Filipinos,” Duterte said in the EO.
“It is the policy of government to create an enabling environment for the growth and international competitiveness of Philippine industries that will create and preserved employment opportunities and increase incomes,” he added.
The new EO states that a new multi-year tariff schedule will promote transparency and stability, facilitate trade and enhance consumer welfare

Philippine agency orders private sector to import cheap rice

Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-23 19:42:40|Editor: xuxin
MANILA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' National Food Authority (NFA) Council has approved the importation of 805,000 tons of Minimum Access Volume rice this year, a government statement said on Tuesday.MAV refers to the volume of commodities that is allowed to be imported by a member country of the World Trade Organization. The 2017 Minimum Access Volume is the last of its kind before the lifting of the quantitative restriction on rice by June 30 this year.
Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco said the council has also directed the NFA Management to amend the Minimum Access Volume guidelines to require participating traders to import 25 percent broken rice from the 25 to 35 percent quota.
"This will ensure adequacy of supply and stability of consumer prices at levels within the reach of low-income families," he said.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-05/23/c_136308353.htm

Thailand to open second rice auction in 2017

VNA Print
Illustrative image (Source: AFP/VNA)

Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s government has announced a plan to organise the second rice auction in 2017 with a total volume of up to 1.82 million tonnes. Interested buyers could examine the rice’s quality before bidding on May 24. The result of the auction is scheduled to be announced in the first week of June.
The auction is expected to attract many businesses as it is the final batch of rice put for sale this year, said Duangporn Rodphaya, Director General of the Ministry of Commerce’s Department of Foreign Trade.  To date, the Thai government has stocked 4.82 million tonnes of rice, much lower than the volume of 18.7 million tonnes between 2011-2014.
A total of 11.7 million tonnes of rice was sold by auction for 112 billion THB from May 2014 to mid April 2017. In the first five months of this year, Thailand exported 4.1 million tonnes of rice, up 9 percent, earning 1.74 billion USD, up 6 percent against last year.-VNA
http://en.vietnamplus.vn/thailand-to-open-second-rice-auction-in-2017/112151.vnp

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- May 23, 2017

Reuters | May 23, 2017, 02.20 PM IST
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices - APMC/Open Market-May 23 Nagpur, May 23 (Reuters) - Gram and tuar prices reported higher in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) auction on increased buying support from local millers amid thin supply from producing belts. Notable rise in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and enquiries from South-based millers also jacked up prices. About 1,200 bags of gram and 1,900 bags of tuar were available for auctions, according to sources. FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Desi gram raw recovered in open market on good seasonal demand from local traders. TUAR * Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market on subdued demand from local traders amid ample stock in ready position. * Udid varieties, Lakhodi dal and Batri dal moved down in open market on poor buying support from local traders amid increased arrival from producing belts. * In Akola, Tuar New - 4,000-4,100, Tuar dal (clean) - 6,000-6,200, Udid Mogar (clean) - 9,000-10,000, Moong Mogar (clean) 6,800-7,200, Gram - 5,800-6,100, Gram Super best * Wheat, rice and other commodities moved in a narrow range in scattered deals and settled at last levels in thin trading activity. Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close Gram Auction 5,100-5,450 5,050-5,450 Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction 3,500-3,960 3,500-3,910 Moong Auction n.a. 3,900-4,200 Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800 Wheat Mill quality Auction 1,500-1,652 1,500-1,620 Gram Super Best Bold 8,200-8,500 8,200-8,500 Gram Super Best n.a. n.a. Gram Medium Best 7,600-7,900 7,600-7,900 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a Gram Mill Quality 5,600-5,700 5,600-5,700 Desi gram Raw 6,350-6,550 6,300-6,500 Gram Yellow 8,000-8,200 8,000-8,200 Gram Kabuli 12,300-13,400 12,300-13,400 Tuar Fataka Best-New 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400 Tuar Fataka Medium-New 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000 Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 5,700-6,000 5,700-6,000 Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 5,000-5,500 5,000-5,500 Tuar Gavarani New 4,100-4,200 4,100-4,200 Tuar Karnataka 4,200-4,300 4,200-4,300 Masoor dal best 5,500-5,700 5,500-5,700 Masoor dal medium 5,200-5,400 5,200-5,400 Masoor n.a. n.a. Moong Mogar bold (New) 7,000-7,500 7,000-7,500 Moong Mogar Medium 6,500-6,800 6,500-6,800 Moong dal Chilka 5,500-6,300 5,500-6,300 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a. Moong Chamki best 7,000-8,000 7,000-8,000 Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 10,000-11,000 10,200-11,200 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 8,000-9,000 8,200-9,200 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,200 6,000-6,400 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,500-5,600 5,500-5,700 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 3,300-3,500 3,400-3,700 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,000 2,900-3,000 Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,600 3,400-3,600 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,500 4,000-4,500 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,950-2,050 1,950-2,050 Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,750-1,850 1,750-1,850 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,150-2,350 2,150-2,350 Wheat Lokwan new (100 INR/KG) 1,850-2,050 1,850-2,050 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,350 2,200-2,350 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,150 2,000-2,150 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a. MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,300-3,600 3,300-3,600 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,800 2,600-2,800 Rice BPT new (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,400 3,100-3,400 Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,500-4,000 3,500-4,000 Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,200 3,000-3,200 Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,800 2,500-2,800 Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,450 2,300-2,450 Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,800 2,600-2,800 Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500 Rice HMT New (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,000 3,600-4,000 Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,800 4,500-4,800 Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,200 4,000-4,200 Rice Shriram New(100 INR/KG) 4,650-4,850 4,650-4,850 Rice Shriram best 100 INR/KG) 6,800-7,000 6,800-7,000 Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 6,300-6,500 6,300-6,500 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 11,000-15,000 11,000-15,000 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,500-8,000 6,500-8,000 Rice Chinnor New(100 INR/KG) 4,600-4,800 4,600-4,800 Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,300 5,800-6,300 Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 5,400-5,600 5,100-5,300 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,200 1,900-2,200 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,800-1,900 1,800-1,900 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 44.9 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 30.0 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 44 and 30 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices).

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-may-23-2017/articleshow/58804387.cms