Sindh need lag
behind in industrialization
The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) held a
meeting on 5th October 2016 with Sindh Enterprise Development Fund (SEDF)
and Small Medium Industrial Leasing Estates Pvt Ltd (SMILE) to encourage,
support ,facilitate and motivate the shy SME agro based industries to obtain
subsidized finance for their units in Sindh.
The meeting aimed at stimulating the entrepreneurs to modernize
their units and expand their lines of trade and to this effect it ended in a
firm resolution to revive all closed rice and commodities units in Sindh
in the shortest possible time with the help and support of SEDF, SMILE and
UNISAME.
The SMILE Pvt Ltd is a facilitating company with the aim and
objective to facilitate the SME farmers, shellers, processors and exporters of
rice, spices and commodities and enjoys the institutional support of SMEDA and
SEDF and the farmers associations.
Mehboob ul Haq the CEO of SEDF said that Sindh Enterprise
Development Fund (SEDF) has been created by the Government of Sindh to
encourage investment in the Agro sector both for On-Farm and Off-Farm
activities with a view to facilitate efficient production, processing and
marketing for wider economic gains. It has the aim and objective to
promote agro based industries in Sindh.
Khush Junejo co-ordinator projects SEDF said the fund provides
technical and financial support to SMEs in the rural economy by providing
opportunities for value addition in the agriculture sector for multiple
economic benefits on intermediary services and productivity on fast track basis
Zulfikar Thaver president UNISAME and chairman Capacity Building
Group , Technical Committee National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) said
the fund would provide markup (KIBOR Portion) subsidy to such enterprises which
intends to upgrade their basic industry by introducing technology or setup new
projects in the agro sectors by introducing value addition on the basis of
modern trends and techniques. It would also provide the balancing,
modernization and replacement
( BMR) finance to rice mills.
( BMR) finance to rice mills.
He and other participants urged the CEO SEDF to simplify the
documentations and ensure prompt disbursements.
There is need to accommodate new entrants and guide them to do
business profitably and SMILE Pvt Ltd offered to help the new entrants and
carry out the incubation for their training.
Procurement pangs for paddy farmers at Sec 39
grain market
Posted at: Oct 5, 2016, 1:50 AM; last updated:
Oct 5, 2016, 1:50 AM (IST)
More than 8,000 quintal produce
has arrived over the past four days
Labourers clean paddy at the grain market in Sector 39, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. Tribune Photo: Pradeep Tewari
Ramkrishan Upadhyay
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 4
While nearly 8,140 quintal of paddy has arrived
at the new grain market in Sector 39 over the past four days, the slow pace of
procurement has irked farmers who have come to sell their produce from the
nearby areas of the city.The UT State Agricultural Marketing Board had started
paddy procurement at the new grain market on Saturday. Besides the Food
Corporation of India (FCI), owners of rice shellers are also purchasing paddy
at the rate of approximately Rs 1,510 per quintal. Jasbir Singh, a farmer,
said the process of procurement was slow. And in case the FCI rejected paddy
due to some reason like moisture content, they had to wait for private parties
to buy it, which took a lot of time. He demanded more facilities at the
mandi.
Jaswant Singh, another farmer, said in absence
of toilets they were forced to use the open space in the vicinity. He said
though toilets had been constructed, these were not made functional.On the
other hand, Rajinder Kumar, secretary of the Market Committee, said proper
arrangement had been made for the procurement process. He said tents had been
pitched and water arrangements had been made at the mandi for the convenience
of farmers. He said the Market Committee had written to the Municipal
Corporation for providing mobile toilets. Besides, the committee would also
arrange mobile toilets soon.
The Market Committee official said the new
grain market was being construction by the UT State Agricultural Marketing
Board and after completion of the construction work, farmers would get all
facilities. He said Market Committee staff had also been deputed there to help
farmers
Thailand rice shipments
arrive in Zamboanga
Wednesday, October 05, 2016
AN
OFFICIAL of the National Food Authority (NFA) announced that 344,000 bags of
Thailand rice of 50 kilograms each are arriving this month in Zamboanga City.NFA
Provincial Manager Nieves Toca said 164,000 of the 344,000 bags of rice already
arrived in two shipments.Toca said that 44,000 of the 164,000 bags of rice arrived on Saturday, October 1, and the 120,000 on Tuesday, October 4.
The shipment of the remaining 180,000 bags is expected to arrive between the periods from October 15 to 20.
Toca said the rice shipments are intended for Zamboanga Peninsula, including Zamboanga City, as well as for the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
He said they have at present a total of 55,000 bags of rice stored at the NFA warehouse in the village of San Roque, Zamboanga City.
They have two kinds of rice variety. The first one is the 15 percent broken sold at P32 per kilogram and second, the 25 percent broken variety sold at P27 per kilogram. (Bong Garcia/Sunnex)
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/local-news/2016/10/05/thailand-rice-shipments-arrive-zamboanga-501831
DA Eastern Visayas reports
slight increase in 1st half rice yield
Wednesday, October 05, 2016
THE
total rice output for the first six months of the year in Eastern Visayas
registered a 3.3 percent increase, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in
its July round survey noted.From 149,867 hectares in the same period last year, the total area harvested climbed to 154,805 hectares or a total of 3.29 percent increase. From a total production level of 528,247 metric tons (MT) in 2015, it grew up to 545,696 MT this year.
"A positive growth in the rice production is somehow compensating to the Department of Agriculture. It means that there is a positive production performance in rice, but we have to take note that what we really want is rice sufficiency," said Rodel Macapañas, rice program report officer.
The region is targeting a total area harvested of 290,356 hectares and one million metric tons in terms of total production for the entire year.
Before the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), the total production level was at 994,972 MT, but because of the typhoon and other calamities that affected the region, it declined to 955,709 MT in 2015.
"Among the factors that contributed to the region’s positive growth in rice production are favorable weather conditions and interventions provided to the famers, such as seeds and fertilizers," he added.
However, a decline in terms of area harvested and the overall productivity for the provinces of Southern Leyte and Northern Samar was noted. Accordingly, this was caused by the onslaught of dry spell that happened sometime in the end of 2015 and lasted up to April this year.
Despite this, there is a possibility that for the entire year, the region will achieve a positive growth level of 0.57 percent in terms of area harvested, meaning from 154,805 hectares, it could reach up to 269,853 hectares; an increase in total production output of 0.73 percent or from 955,709 MT to 962,712 MT; and increase in yield level increment of 0.16 percent or 3.56 MT to 3.57 MT.
Eastern Visayas is primarily an agricultural region where its population of more than four million population largely depend on rice as staple food.
Out of the region's 723,048 hectares agricultural land area, 22 percent is devoted to rice cultivation or 157,632 hectares. This, coupled with some other factors affecting production thus, makes rice account for the largest contribution at 21.86 percent to the region’s total agricultural output, according to DA. (PNA)
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/tacloban/business/2016/10/05/da-eastern-visayas-reports-slight-increase-1st-half-rice-yield-501747
Neda assures stable price of
rice despite higher inflation in September
Wednesday, October 05, 2016
THE
National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) assured Wednesday stable
price of rice despite the increase in inflation in September.Citing the data of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Neda Officer-in-Charge Rosemarie Edillon said inflation last month rose to 2.3 percent from 1.8 percent in August.
"The increase in inflation can be attributed to the decline in production since August and the low base effect for non-food items," she said.
Food inflation accelerated to 3.1 percent in September from 2.5 percent in the previous month. This is due to the adverse effects brought about by the series of tropical cyclones that devastated the country.
But Edillon said, "rice prices will remain stable since the 250,000 MT (metric ton) of rice imported from Thailand and Vietnam is expected to arrive by the end of October."
However, the risk of La Niña developing during the fourth quarter of 2016 is still looming over the country at 41 percent in September to November and 40 percent in October to December, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Full-year inflation for 2016 is expected to be slightly lower than the government's inflation target of 2 to 4 percent, Edillon said.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2016/10/05/neda-assures-stable-price-rice-despite-higher-inflation-september
Govt revises moisture content formula for
paddy, with riders
Deepender Deswal
Tribune News Service
Hisar, October 4
In a major relief to farmers, the moisture
content in paddy has been increased from 17 per cent to a maximum limit of 22
per cent with imposing a value cut as per the percentage of the moisture.Sources
said that the state government had taken a decision in this regard in a meeting
yesterday. The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and
attended by Agriculture Minister Om Prakash Dhankar and Food and Supplies
Minister Karan Dev Kamboj.
Arhtiyas were not purchasing the crop which had
moisture content above 17 per cent, said the sources. Citing the moisture
content, the arhtiyas were also imposing cuts in an arbitrary manner, forcing
the farmers to dispose of their produce at distress prices.The Union government
has fixed the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of paddy at Rs1,470 per quintal for
the common variety and Rs1,510 per quintal for the grade ‘A’ variety. The
procurement started from October 1 with the onset of Kharif Marketing Season
(KMS) this year.
As per the revised formula of the moisture
content in paddy, there would be 1 per cent cut in the value above 17 per cent
moisture which is a cut of Rs15.10 per quintal. In this way, there would be a
cut of 1 per cent additional on every percentage of moisture content upto 22
per cent.
Confirming changes in the paddy procurement
formula, Agriculture Minister Om Prakash Dhankar said that the government had
also decided to set up Kisan Sahayata Kendras in the mandis to facilitate
farmers in selling their produce.
He said that the state government had also
allocated 13 paddy-producing districts to the Administrative Secretaries of
different departments for the inspection of mandis. “In case farmers face any
problem during the procurement process, they can directly contact these
officers on their phones,” he said.
BKU finds excess paddy in bags
Kaithal: BKU activists visited the local anaj
mandi on Tuesday and found that 500 gm to 1.3 kg of excess paddy was being
packed in 50-kg bags. BKU leader Jia Lal along with other activists found that
500 gm of excess paddy was being packed in bags at a shop. On Jia Lal's
complaint, market committee assistant secretary Chander Singh reached the spot
and got the bag reweighed and found the BKU allegation correct. At another shop
when a packed bag was weighed, 1.300 kg of excess paddy was found in it. The BKU
activists alleged that farmers were being cheated of Rs 15 to Rs 20 per
quintal. Sanjeev Sachdeva, Secretary of the market committee, said a
show-notice would be issued to the erring commission agents and action taken,
including the cancellation of their licences."
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/govt-revises-moisture-content-formula-for-paddy-with-riders/304937.html
MARD
requires controls for rice exports to US
Update:
October, 05/2016 - 10:39 The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has ordered Viet Nam's rice exporters to closely control the quality of rice exported to the US, after some exports were rejected. — Photo danviet.vnHÀ NỘI – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has required Việt Nam’s rice exporters to closely control the quality of rice exported to the US, after some exports were rejected.
The ministry has warned that enterprises having rice exported to the US should inspect and carefully assess residues of pesticide in rice shipped to that market to avoid future problems, reported vneconomy.vn.
According to the ministry, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier inspected Việt Nam’s rice exports to the US market and found Vietnamese rice had eight active chemical elements that exceeded allowable limits.
However, all eight elements were pesticides permitted for use in Việt Nam. Since then, the ministry has sent a delegation to the US to solve problems related to Vietnamese rice lots being rejected. This incident has created an urgent demand to coordinate lists of pesticides permitted for use in Việt Nam, and also the US, to avoid future rejections.
Meanwhile, the Việt Nam Food Association reported, according to the FDA, that in the first four months of this year 95 containers of Vietnamese rice, or 1,700 tonnes, were returned from the US, including jasmine fragrant rice, jasmine broken rice, brown rice and high-quality white rice.
The US is a potential rice market for Việt Nam, but this market has presented high demands in quality, as well as many technical barriers.
The FDA reported that from 2012 to August 2016 some 412 containers of exported Vietnamese rice, or 10,000 tonnes of rice sent from 16 enterprises, were rejected for hygiene or safety reasons.
Further, Việt Nam’s General Department of Customs said that in the first eight months of this year, Việt Nam exported 3.37 million tonnes of rice, earning US$1.51 billion. Also during this period, rice exports fell by 16.6 per cent in volume and 13 per cent in value, year-on-year.
The main export markets for Vietnamese rice in the first eight months included China, with 1.18 million tonnes, Ghana, with 343,000 tonnes, Indonesia, with 359,000 tonnes, and Cuba, with 294,000 tonnes.
The US accounted for a small volume of the total national volume of exported rice, with 22,084 tonnes worth $12.2 million in the first eight months of this year. Rice exports had a strong drop against a volume of 33,000 tonnes, and a value of $18.7 million in the same period last year. — VNS
http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/343921/mard-requires-controls-for-rice-exports-to-us.html#sfh0xmfpGBrCU2a8.99
Cambodia Rice Sector ‘Crisis’
Patched, But Not Fixed
Cambodia Minister of Agriculture Veng Sakhon has delivered a
stinging broadside to the country’s agriculture and business sectors in the
wake of what can only be described as the world’s shortest “crisis.” Just over
a week ago the Cambodia rice sector was said to be in ‘crisis’. The tumbling
price of rice in Battambang saw farmers take to the streets as prices tumbled
from about $250 per ton in mid-August to $192 in early September.
With just 10 per cent of the rainy season crop harvested and
millers saying they did not have the funds to buy rice, the future for the
economically vital Cambodia rice sector was looking bleak. This despite the
Cambodian Rice Federation (CRF) announcing in June that the government had
agreed to disperse up to $30 million in emergency loans for the purchase of
paddy rice from farmers this season.
However, with the harvest already underway and the funds still nowhere
to be seen, CRF finance manager, Horn Theara, told The Phnom Penh Post, ‘“millers do not have enough
working capital to purchase rice paddy stock”’.
Hun Sen the Crisis Buster
With photos of Battambang protesters dumping their harvest over the
roadway being posted on social media, Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen called on
officials to immediately begin dispersing $27 million dollars in funds, at the
same time calling on wealthy business owners and government officials who could
afford it to purchase paddy from farmers.
The government also asked China to fulfill its promise to purchase
300,000 tons of milled rice annually, with deputy prime minister Hor Namhong
proclaiming, ‘“the Cambodian people are facing a crisis of rice prices which
fell rapidly. I asked the Chinese ambassador to report this to the Chinese
government so they would hurry up and buy rice as they had promised.”‘Ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) cadré,
government ministers, and the country’s largest business owners leapt into action
to save the Cambodia rice sector, many buying ten tons or more. Within the days
the Cambodia rice ‘crisis’ was declared over, amply demonstrating the power
that Mr Hun has in Cambodia.
Making no attempt to hide the involvement of the CPP, spokesman Sok
Eysan told The
Cambodia Daily ‘“All
of those who bought rice are members of the CPP. It is the party’s principle…
for all of its members to be linked to farmers and to be generous in supporting
their standard of living”’.Acknowledging that the expectation is that the
farmers will return the favor at next year’s commune elections due to the
prevailing Buddhist culture of gratitude, Mr Sok added, ‘”It is also the policy
of the government to increase the popularity of the CPP to attract support
in response to the upcoming election”.
According to Kao Thach, CEO of the Rural Development Bank (RDB)
some 2,700 tons of rice had been purchased in the days following the Prime
Minister’s call, while 7,000 tons of paddy had been purchased by mills using
the low-cost loan funds.For many millers though the government stimulus loan
remains unappealing. Originally offered at an annual interest rate of 8 per
cent, only marginally below commercial rates, the money also came with a
condition that millers must pay a minimum of $210 per ton.
With paddy selling for just $150 per ton in the lead up to last
week’s four-day Phchum Ben holiday, millers are unlikely to see a profit for
some time even at the reduced rate of 7 per cent per annum. In
July the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN-FAO) forecast the total
worldwide trade of rice for 2016 as 43.9 million tons, the second successive
year of contraction due to oversupply.‘Much of the projected fall would reflect
import reductions in the Far East, where key buyers such as Bangladesh, China
(Mainland), the Philippines and Sri Lanka may lower their purchases amid ample
availability on store and/or increased border protection’, the agency said.
Cambodia
Rice Sector Gets Band-Aid Solution
The stimulus package and ‘good Samaritan’ purchases are little more
than a band-aid solution. The Cambodia rice sector is noncompetitive and fails
to take advantage of other options and is in urgent need of modernisation.
A recent farm economics study by the World Bank and Livelihoods and
Food Security Trust Fund (Lift) showed yield by Cambodia rice farmers a distant
third to counterparts in Vietnam and Thailand. According to the study one day
of work generates only 62kg (136lb) of monsoon season paddy in Cambodia,
leading Myanmar at 23kg (51lb), but far behind the 429kg (946lb) in Vietnam and
547kg (1,206lb) in Thailand (See: Unlocking Myanmar’s
Agriculture Sector potential).
Even with the world awash in cheap rice, many exporting countries
are planning to increase production. Myanmar is looking to triple rice exports
in the coming three years, while Cambodia is still pining for its elusive
one-million-tonnes a year export goal – about double what the country shipped
last year.
Chinese import restrictions
drive rice prices down
Submitted by Eleven on Wed, 10/05/2016 - 15:00
A field in Wakema. (Photo-EMG)
Ayeyawady
Region, Oct 4Myanmar’s rice industry is facing losses from falling rice prices, industry sources say.The rice market, which is heavily dependent on Chinese buyers, has been hit hard since China banned imports. Farmers, rice millers and merchants have all suffered losses.China has yet to permit rice trading with Myanmar.
Since China stopped buying, last year’s rice remains in warehouses in Myanmar. When the new harvest hit the shelves, prices began falling due to the growing supply.A merchant in Myaungmya, Ayeyawady Region, said: “We have stockpiles in warehouses, but there are no buyers. The Chinese are seizing rice from our side. The merchants sold brokers rice on credit. When the brokers got arrested in China, merchants lost both their goods and money. The old rice is priced at Ks 400,000 (US$320) per 100 baskets (2.05 tonnes). The new rice is around Ks 350,000 for the same volume. These prices are below production costs.”
However, the price of rice in local markets is not as low as in the export market.
Pakokku, a rice trading hubs in central Myanmar, is facing the same situation as the delta region.
Khin Zaw, a Pakokku-based merchant, said: “It’s unfortunate that the market is highly dependent on Chinese buyers. Even if official trading contracts are signed [between Myanmar and China], we won’t make much profit if the tax is heavy. There should be another market besides China.”
Many farmers worry they may go into debt if the situation continues.
http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/business/6134
Gov't, ruling party mull
purchasing surplus rice for price stability
2016/10/05
10:51
SEOUL, Oct. 5 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean
government and the ruling Saenuri Party have agreed to consider purchasing
surplus rice produced in the country in bulk to ensure price stability amid
concerns of falling prices caused by a better-than-expected harvest.
"We urged the government to purchase the
surplus production in bulk within this year to separate them from the
market," said Rep. Kim Gwang-lim, the policy official of Saenuri, after
the meeting, adding the government also said it will make efforts to reflect
such a move.
The two sides also agreed to find ways to
promote exports of locally produced rice in order to maintain the price while
improving distribution networks.
Saenuri said it is necessary for the government
to buy up the surplus in bulk, since small separate purchases will benefit
retailers rather than smaller farms.
They also agreed to reorganize the country's
agriculture-only zones, inducing more farmers to utilize their land for other
purposes.
Rice prices in the country have been falling
throughout this year on the back of favorable weather coupled with rising
stockpiles.
A record 4.32 million tons of rice was
harvested last year, and it is expected to be similarly robust this year. The
strong numbers come as good weather conditions and an absence of typhoons
hitting the country helped grain production, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food
and Rural Affairs said last month.
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2016/10/05/55/0200000000AEN20161005003500315F.html
Govt expects rice sufficiency
by 2020
posted October 05, 2016 at 11:10 pm by
Anna Leah E. Gonzales
Agriculture
Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the government expects to achieve rice
sufficiency by 2020, instead of 2019.Piñol said the rice sufficiency status would
not be achieved by 2019 because the funds for the Rice Productivity Enhancement
or Ripe program was not approved.The Agriculture Department is seeking a total
budget of P71 billion for 2017 to achieve higher rice production. The budget includes the first tranche of the three-year Ripe program which aims to achieve rice sufficiency by 2019.The Ripe program calls for a review of the water management and irrigation policies.Piñol said the rice program would cost the government P64 billion over the next three years. The first tranche of the budget covers P31 billion.
Under the rice program, the government aims to achieve rice sufficiency by 2019.It set the rice production target at 18.517 million metric tons for 2017, 20.342 million MT for 2018 and 21.626 million MT for 2019.
“The Ripe was not approved. With the implementation of this program, I am positive that by 2020, we can achieve rice sufficiency,” Piñol said.
Piñol said instead of Ripe, the government would implement the corporate farming system which aimed to establish an assured market for rice farmers.Under the corporate farming system, 20 kilograms of rice for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries will be supplied by the Filipino farmers.
Piñol said the DSWD would contract rice farmers to produce the rice requirements for the 4Ps families. LandBank will provide financing while DA would provide equipment and post-harvest facilities.
http://thestandard.com.ph/business/218044/govt-expects-rice-sufficiency-by-2020.html
Lifting rice ban unfortunate –
Importers
They are now urging inspection agencies to be extra-vigilant to ensure that all rice imported into the country conformed to standards.The Vice President, Ghana-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce, Mr Michael Ntim-Addo and Mr John Owusu told the GRAPHIC BUSINESS on the sidelines of the Ghana-Vietnam business forum in Accra. The forum was held as part of a trade and investment visit by a Vietnamese delegation to explore opportunities in rice farming, processing, storage, marketing and distribution.
The trip was organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Ghana-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Treat ban with caution
Mr Ntim-Addo said inspection agencies must treat the lifting of the ban with caution to prevent unscrupulous importers from importing substandard rice onto the Ghanaian market.
“The ban was put in place basically to check the quality of rice that comes into the system because of smuggling, so if the ban is lifted, then the Food and Drugs Authority, the Ghana Standard Authority and other agencies must collaborate to ensure rice imported conformed to standard,” he said.
The vice president indicated that on average, Ghana imported about 400,000 metric tonnes of rice yearly which is equivalent of US$300 million.
He said government policy was to increase local production of rice and reduce importation so as to improve the country’s balance of trade.
Mr Ntim-Addo said the Ghana-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce would continue to work as the referee for businesses that would want to come together to move the rice trade and investment forward and create more jobs.
Disappointment
For his part, Mr Owusu also expressed disappointment in the Ministry of Trade and Industry for lifting the ban on the inland importation of rice into the country.
He said the decision by government was very surprising since persons who did inland importation did so illegally.
According to him, those into the inland importation of rice usually used the Elubo, Sampa and Nkrankwanta borders and as such did not pay tax unlike those who used the ports and paid taxes to the government.
He said the Food and Drugs Authority would not be able to check whether the rice was of good quality and healthy for consumption since they had no personnel at the borders to do the inspection.
The importer explained further that the move would also escalate smuggling into the country since the Ivorian taxes were lower than taxes collected in Ghana.
He said although some importers preferred bringing in goods through the Tema and Takoradi ports, such moves would influence such importers to use the borders.
Lifting of ban
The disagreement follows the lifting of a ban placed on inland importation of rice by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism that importers of rice into Ghana can now do so through the land borders from August this year.
The ban, which has been in force for about three years now, prevented the importation of rice into the country through the Elubo, Sampa and Nkrankwanta borders in the Wesrwen.
The move was to curb the numerous unfair trade practices such as evasion of import duties and other taxes, under-invoicing, infringement of trademarks and smuggling.
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Lifting-rice-ban-unfortunate-Importers-474840
Benoni Urey Attempts to Expose
Liberian Rice Importers
Monrovia - Liberian politician, Benoni
Urey, has reacted to comments from his political rivals and critics who
condemned him for his advocacy on the reduction on the price of rice which he
said was profitable for few importers.
Report by Willie N. Tokpah - willie.tokpah@frontpageafricaonline.com
“Insult was rained on me because I said when I am elected
President, I will make sure that the price of rice is reduced in order to ease
the suffering of our people. I stand by my statement!
It doesn’t take a magician to
lower the price of rice. It only takes a government that cares about the
livelihood of its people.” Presidential aspirant Benoni Urey
Rice is Liberia’s staple food but the price of the commodity
continues to increase, something Urey said was burdensome to the citizens.Recently,
outgoing Deputy Information Minister Isaac Jackson, who has been named as
Liberia’s Representative to the International Maritime Organization, criticized
Urey for making a comment about the reduction in the price of rice. Jackson
further stated that Liberians were not suffering anymore and that they could
afford to buy food to eat.
But Urey, who has a background in agriculture, resounded that it
was not magical to reduce the price of rice, especially when government cares
about the livelihood of its citizens.“Insult was rained on me because I said
when I am elected President; I will make sure that the price of rice is
reduced, in order to ease the suffering of our people. I stand by my statement!
It doesn’t take a magician to lower the price of rice.""It only takes
a government that cares about the livelihood of its people,” said Urey.
In a FrontPage Africa conversation Wednesday in Careysburg at
the climax of vacation job for youth, the All Liberian Party (ALP) political
leader said the increase in the price of rice on the Liberian market was due to
huge profits importers intend to gain.
He said opening the rice market to all importers would create
competition that would lead to the reduction in the price of rice.“Today in
Liberia, rice is not expensive because the importers are buying it at a high
price from international rice suppliers,” Urey said.“It is expensive
because these importers are making millions in profit every month by selling
rice at a high price to our people."
"This is something that our government is doing nothing
about! Secondly, the government has refused to open the rice market to anyone
who wishes to import rice into the country to sell at a cheaper price,” he
added.
Urey said it is unfair for importers of rice to continuously
benefit huge profit at the expense of Liberians.
According to him, the current price of rice on the Liberian
market is exorbitant thus making the country’s stable food a “luxury”.“Why must
rice be a business that a few people get rich on, considering the dire state
that the country is in?
Consider the fact that on each bag of rice, these importers make
up to $3.00USD profit ($285.00LD). Don't you think that this is too much?”
The ALP Political leaders cautioned his critics, especially
those in government, to begon crafting policies that would improve the lives of
citizens.At the same time, Urey noted that condemnations and insults from the
public could in no way deter him from pointing to odds in the Liberian society,
thus stressing the need for job creation, improved education and healthcare
among others to be prioritized for Liberians.Rice has an infamous history in
Liberia, as on April 14, 1979, violence over the price of rice jolted the
Liberian capital, marking a new political beginning in the country’s
history.
http://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/business/2206-benoni-urey-attempts-to-expose-liberian-rice-importers
Egypt to import 500,000
tonnes rice, 400,000 tonnes sugar to boost reserves
05 October, 2016
Workers carry sacks of rice in
the Nile Delta town of Mansoura city
Reuters/Nasser Nuri
CAIRO/ABU DHABI Oct 5 (Reuters) -
Egypt will look to import 500,0000 tonnes of rice and 400,000 tonnes of sugar
in order to boost strategic stocks and keep prices down, the prime minister
said.
The government buys commodities and sells them at subsidised prices to the country's poorest citizens. But prices of sugar and rice have been climbing on Egypt's local market in the past few weeks partly due to shortages, traders have told Reuters.
The additional imports are part of an "urgent plan to guarantee the stability of strategic stocks of essential food items and ensure there is at least six months in stock at all times," a cabinet statement said.
The government buys commodities and sells them at subsidised prices to the country's poorest citizens. But prices of sugar and rice have been climbing on Egypt's local market in the past few weeks partly due to shortages, traders have told Reuters.
The additional imports are part of an "urgent plan to guarantee the stability of strategic stocks of essential food items and ensure there is at least six months in stock at all times," a cabinet statement said.
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Egypt said in August it would buy 450,000-550,000 tonnes of sugar in local and
foreign markets to cover needs until the end of February, when the local
harvest begins.
It has since purchased 170,000 tonnes in tenders held by its state grain buyer GASC and is set to hold a tender for an additional 100,000 tonnes on October 8.
It was unclear if the 400,000 tonnes of sugar announced by the prime minister Sherif Ismail would be in addition to what has already been purchased and no time frame for the imports was given.
Egypt is traditionally a rice exporter, with its local crop exceeding annual consumption, but local producers hoarding stocks have pushed up domestic prices and created shortages, traders said.
(Reporting by Eric Knecht and Maha El Dahan. Editing by Jane Merriman) ((eric.knecht@thomsonreuters.com; +20 2 2394 8102; Reuters Messaging: eric.knecht.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
It has since purchased 170,000 tonnes in tenders held by its state grain buyer GASC and is set to hold a tender for an additional 100,000 tonnes on October 8.
It was unclear if the 400,000 tonnes of sugar announced by the prime minister Sherif Ismail would be in addition to what has already been purchased and no time frame for the imports was given.
Egypt is traditionally a rice exporter, with its local crop exceeding annual consumption, but local producers hoarding stocks have pushed up domestic prices and created shortages, traders said.
(Reporting by Eric Knecht and Maha El Dahan. Editing by Jane Merriman) ((eric.knecht@thomsonreuters.com; +20 2 2394 8102; Reuters Messaging: eric.knecht.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/story/Egypt_to_import_rice_sugar-TR20161005nL5N1CB1IZX2/
REGISTRATION OF ‘FARMER RICE MILLS' NOW
COMPULSORY FOR MILLING
Thursday, 06 October 2016 | Staff
Reporter | Naya Raipur | in Raipur
The
State Government has issued detailed guidelines in the context of custom
milling policy of paddy procured at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) in Kharif
Marketing Year 2016-17, officials said.
The
State Food Civil Supply and Consumer Protection Department has issued circular
in this context to all the District Collectors on October 4 from the Mantralaya
here.
As per
the circular issued, paddy procurement at support price will commence from
November 15 of Kharif Marketing Year 2016-17. This year, paddy procurement of
nearly 65 lakh metric tonnes has been estimated.
Nearly
21 lakh metric tonnes of rice is the annual requirement of State for public
distribution system, concerned schemes of Government of India and Chhattisgarh
Food and Security Scheme.
For meeting
this requirement, nearly 31.50 lakh metric tonnes of paddy has been stored by
MarkFed for custom milling. Remaining paddy will be converted into rice and
transferred to Food Corporation of India in Central pool.
After
custom milling, rice will be delivered to State Civil Supply Corporation and
Food Corporation from November 15 to June 30, 2017.
As per
the circular, entire stock of paddy procured in Korba district and districts of
Bastar and Surguja Division will be transported for custom milling on March 15,
2017.
Likewise,
paddy procured in districts of Raipur, Durg and Bilaspur Divisions (except
Korba district) will be transported for custom milling on April 30, 2017.
Entire
stock of paddy from all paddy procurement centres of the State will be loaded
for transportation by February 20, 2017 compulsorily. Under Custom milling
policy, farmer rice mills operated by MarkFed will be provided paddy for custom
milling in Kharif year 2016-17. For this, registration of farmer mill is
mandatory, officials stated.
Miller
will have to collect paddy within 10 days from the day District Marketing
Officer releases delivery order. In case of delay, there is a provision of
penalty in the contract.
In the
circular, District Collectors have been directed to call a meeting for
discussion over immediate custom milling of paddy procured from rice mill
associations of respective districts. Before the commencement of paddy
procurement, applications for milling should be received by November 10 and
permission should be given in advance, and accordingly contract should be
prepared. In the meeting, millers should be encouraged to collect paddy in
maximum quantity directly from societies.
The
State Seed Corporation should arrange for warehouses for State Civil Supply
Corporation and Food Corporation of India for storage of rice as per the
requirement. State Seed Corporation will make arrangements for scientific
storage of rice collected.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/registration-of-farmer-rice-mills-now-compulsory-for-milling.html
Rice prices shoot up due to
syndicate in Kushtia
Published at 01:10 AM October 06,
2016
The wholesale
and retail markets of rice in Kushtia have witnessed a sharp rise in prices due
to an alleged manipulation of wholesalers and rice millers
In last one and a half month,
prices of different varieties of rice have risen by Tk6 to Tk9 per kilogram in
Khajanagar of Kushtia, one of the large wholesale markets of rice in the
country, affecting the retail markets.
Miniket was sold at Tk46 per kg,
Kajol Lata at TK43 and Atash at Tk40 at Millgate in Khajanagar on September 30,
while the price of Miniket was Tk40, Kajal Lata Tk34 and Atash Tk34 per kg on
August 10, said the members of the district’s mills’ owners’ association.
The rice are being sold at higher
prices at retail markets in Kushtia town, eight kilometre away from Khajanagar,
than the Milgate, reports our correspondent after visiting the markets.Housewife
Romana Akter and van puller Abbas Mia, who came to Kushtia municipal market to
purchase rice, told the Dhaka Tribune that prices of rice rose by Tk4 to Tk5
per kg once again.They had to buy rice at high prices before Eid-ul Azha.They
urged the government to take necessary measures in this regard.
There are around 364 government
registered rice mills in Khajanagar. Among them, 31 are automatic rice mills,
according to the district’s mills’ owners’ association.Around 150 trucks with
15 tons of rice each go to different parts of the country, including Dhaka and
Chittagong, from Khajanagar every day.Muktarul Islam Mukti, general secretary
to Bangladesh Krishak Shangram Samity (an association that works for farmers’
rights), Kushtia unit, said there was no rice in farmers’ houses. The farmers
were now buying rice from markets, he added.
The wholesalers and millers
stocked paddy after buying from the farmers at Tk500 per maund four months ago
and now, they were selling rice at Tk1000 per maund, said Mukti.They have paddy
and rice in their stocks, as they possess sufficient numbers of storehouses,
according to some small mills’ owners in the region.Nishan Ali, a retailer in
the town, said the rice market was unstable right now due to a syndicate of
wholesalers.Joynal Abedin Shadhu, general secretary to Bangladesh Auto Major
and Husking Mills’ Owners’ Association, Kushtia unit, and the owner of Dada
Rice Mill, said all of the allegations that had been raised
against the mills’ owners were not true.
“The mills’ owners are purchasing
paddy at higher prices from small traders, who stocked the paddy after buying
from farmers, earlier,” said Joynal.Their storehouses had a capacity of
stocking paddy for three months, he added.Seeking anonymity, an official of
Food Department said the prices of rice should not rise now, as there were
sufficient stocks of rice in the country.
Besides, the government was
selling rice at TK10 per kg to ultra poor people, he added.Omar Faruk, owner of
a big rice mill named Fresh Agro Food Product in Khajanagar, said the prices of
rice might not fall till a new harvest.Jahir Raihan, deputy commissioner of
Kushtia, said a discussion would be held with the mills’ owners in this regard.If
proper evidence of manipulating the prices was found against anybody, strict
measures would be taken, he added.
http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2016/10/06/rice-prices-shoot-due-syndicate-kushtia/
Pinoy farmers not ready
for lifting of WTO rice import limits: Agri Chief
Posted On Wednesday, October 5, 2016
By : BMI Online Editor
Comment: Off
COCONUT WEEK. Senator Cynthia Villar,
chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture & Food, tours the
exhibits during the 29th National Coconut Week and 2nd International Coconut
Festival & Trade Fair at the Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong
City. The senator was the guest speaker in the said event organized by the
Philippine Coconut Authority. In her keynote address, Villar undercores the
importance of supporting the coconut industry especially the micro, small,
medium enterprises (MSMES), to be more competitive. She also cites the need to
help our farmers who belong to the country’s poorest sector. (MNS photo)
MANILA, Oct 4 (Mabuhay) – The Philippines is
not ready to have the rice importation quota lifted, considering that Filipino
farmers must be prepared for such an eventuality, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel
F. Piñol said Tuesday.“I disagree with the view that will lift the QR
(quantitative restriction) at this point in time, because the Filipino farmer
is not prepared,” Piñol told a Senate hearing on the department’s proposed
budget for 2017.
The government plans to lift the QR on rice
importation, which is supposedly good for the economy. The QR has been in place
since the country joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995, capping
the amount of Philippine rice imports.
The country has a minimum access volume (MAV)
of 805,000 metric tons (MT). The MAV is “the volume of a specific agricultural
product that is allowed to be imported with a lower tariff as committed by the
Philippines to the WTO under the Uruguay Round Final Act.Of the total volume,
755,000MT is country-specific with Vietnam and Thailand accounting for the bulk
while 50,000 MT is omnibus volume which may be imported from other sources.The
MAV carries a 40 percent tax, while imported rice exceeding the quote is taxed
at 50 percent.
These were the conditions approved by the WTO
in 2014, when the Philippines able to extend its QR to July 2017.
Removing the QR at this point would have a
negative impact on the livelihood of rice farmers, Piñol noted. “Ang problema,
pag nasaktaan ang mga Filipino farmers at umayaw sa farming, there will come a
time when the country will be vulnerable to the manipulations of top
rice-importing countries.”The Cabinet official said he need to prepare the rice
farmers until 2019. “Hindi naman ako nagmamadali pero bigyan niyo naman ako ng
dalawang taon. Give me two years before you lift the QR.”For her part, Senate
Committee on Agriculture and Food Chair Cynthia Villar said Piñol must
renegotiate the terms with the WTO, considering that the QR is set to expire
July next year. (MNS)
http://www.balita.com/pinoy-farmers-not-ready-for-lifting-of-wto-rice-import-limits-agri-chief/
Rice Prices
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in
domestic market.
Arrivals
|
Price
|
|||||
Current
|
%
change |
Season
cumulative |
Modal
|
Prev.
Modal |
Prev.Yr
%change |
|
Rice
|
||||||
Bangalore(Kar)
|
1947.00
|
-6.57
|
154867.00
|
3900
|
3900
|
-9.30
|
Bazpur(Utr)
|
1249.00
|
-64.82
|
61081.86
|
1897
|
1831
|
-1.20
|
Dhing(ASM)
|
120.00
|
NC
|
3180.20
|
2000
|
2000
|
5.26
|
Cachar(ASM)
|
80.00
|
33.33
|
2830.00
|
2200
|
2200
|
-18.52
|
Gauripur(ASM)
|
53.00
|
6
|
2311.00
|
4500
|
4500
|
NC
|
Beldanga(WB)
|
45.00
|
-10
|
3014.00
|
2450
|
2450
|
5.38
|
Lanka(ASM)
|
40.00
|
NC
|
2780.00
|
2000
|
1900
|
12.68
|
Garbeta(Medinipur)(WB)
|
28.00
|
12
|
190.00
|
2500
|
2500
|
-
|
North
Lakhimpur(ASM)
|
18.00
|
205.08
|
1775.90
|
1900
|
1900
|
NC
|
Kolhapur(Laxmipuri)(Mah)
|
10.00
|
11.11
|
2122.00
|
3200
|
3200
|
-
|
Cherthalai(Ker)
|
8.00
|
-5.88
|
377.00
|
2200
|
2350
|
-12.00
|
Sheoraphuly(WB)
|
8.00
|
-11.11
|
389.15
|
2850
|
2850
|
14.00
|
Dibrugarh(ASM)
|
7.80
|
-30.36
|
1542.40
|
2450
|
2450
|
-
|
Mirzapur(UP)
|
7.50
|
15.38
|
1542.10
|
2180
|
2175
|
9.82
|
Chandoli(UP)
|
6.00
|
-20
|
65.50
|
2180
|
2190
|
15.34
|
Pakur(Jha)
|
4.12
|
-19.22
|
46.95
|
3300
|
3143
|
5.03
|
Jeypore(Kotpad)(Ori)
|
3.50
|
-12.5
|
196.70
|
4100
|
4100
|
-3.53
|
Jeypore(Ori)
|
3.20
|
6.67
|
194.50
|
4100
|
4100
|
26.15
|
Darjeeling(WB)
|
3.00
|
20
|
109.30
|
2950
|
2950
|
9.26
|
Kalyanpur(Tri)
|
2.80
|
12
|
8.10
|
2900
|
2700
|
16.00
|
Lakhimpur(UP)
|
2.00
|
-4.76
|
179.35
|
2250
|
2260
|
3.21
|
Ernakulam(Ker)
|
0.56
|
NC
|
8.06
|
3500
|
3500
|
|
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article9192619.ece
10/05/2016 Farm
Bureau Market Report
Rice
High
|
Low
|
|
Long Grain Cash Bids
|
- - -
|
- - -
|
Long Grain New Crop
|
- - -
|
- - -
|
Futures:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rice Comment
Rice futures
were a bit lower today, but the trade continued to be confined to a relatively
narrow range within Monday’s huge range. 82% of the crop has been harvested
nation-wide, well ahead of the 5 year average of 69%. In Arkansas, 91% of the
crop was in the bins as of Sunday, compared with a 5 year average of 74%. Export sales were
46,800 tons for the week. November closed back below $10, which could signal a
test of the short term trendline currently at $9.72.
APEDA
AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1571
Market Watch
|
||||
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 30-09-2016
|
||||
Domestic Prices
|
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
|
|||
Product
|
Market Center
|
Variety
|
Min Price
|
Max Price
|
Rice
|
||||
1
|
Aroor (Kerala)
|
Other
|
3100
|
3300
|
2
|
Dhekiajuli (Assam)
|
Common
|
2100
|
2300
|
3
|
Khatra (West Bengal)
|
Other
|
2450
|
2550
|
Wheat
|
||||
1
|
Dehgam (Gujarat)
|
Other
|
1690
|
1750
|
2
|
Satna (Madhya Pradesh)
|
Other
|
1550
|
1680
|
3
|
Sangli (Maharashtra)
|
Other
|
2000
|
2800
|
Papaya
|
||||
1
|
Jagraon (Punjab)
|
Other
|
2100
|
2500
|
2
|
Jalore (Rajasthan)
|
Other
|
1500
|
2000
|
3
|
Jajpur (Orissa)
|
Other
|
800
|
1000
|
Cabbage
|
||||
1
|
Chala (Kerala)
|
Other
|
2200
|
2254
|
2
|
Panposh (Orissa)
|
Other
|
1200
|
1600
|
3
|
Taura (Haryana)
|
Other
|
1000
|
1300
|
Source:agmarknet.nic.in
|
||||
Following Pesticide Violations, Rice Imports from Viet Nam Down
ARLINGTON, VA -- Viet Nam, one of the largest producers and
exporters of rice in the world, and one that comes under frequent suspicion of
violating World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations, is under new scrutiny for
violating U.S. food safety regulations. Between January and August of
this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected 95 shipping
containers of jasmine rice and rice products from Viet Nam citing illegal
pesticide residue in all but one of the cases.
"Having a safe and abundant food supply is something
Americans expect, but can also take for granted, so hats off to the FDA for
testing these imports and rejecting this adulterated rice," said USA Rice
President & CEO Betsy Ward. "The good news for U.S. consumers is
twofold. First, this dangerous rice has been turned away, and second,
U.S. rice farmers sustainably grow jasmine rice right here."
For the three marketing years from 2013-2015, rice imports from
Viet Nam have averaged more than 63,500 metric tons with annual value of more
than $33 million. Rice imports from Viet Nam for the 2016 marketing year,
which concluded in July and include this most recent period of rice shipment
rejections, were just over 35,600 metric tons with a value of almost $21
million.
"We are, frankly, happy with
the disruption," Ward said. "There is no need to import jasmine
rice from more than 11,000 miles away when we grow it in the United
States. Especially if the imported rice is not up to U.S. safety
standards."
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How the TPP Would Affect
Agriculture
OCTOBER 5, 2016 09:28 AM
US Farm Report
As the two Presidential hopefuls
went head to head in their first debate, trade was caught in the middle,
specifically, the controversial Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) yet to be
approved by Congress.“The facts are I did say I hoped it would be a good deal,
but when it was negotiated, which I was not responsible for, I concluded it
wasn't,” Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said in the first 2016
Presidential debate.
“Is it president Obama’s fault? Because he's pushing it.” pressed GOP Nominee Donald Trump.
Although views differ on the campaign trail, to many in agriculture, trade is a main lifeline for agricultural goods.
“About 20% of the volume of all products grown in the United States are exported; about 30% by value,” says Veronica Nigh, Economist for American Farm Bureau Federation.
“Is it president Obama’s fault? Because he's pushing it.” pressed GOP Nominee Donald Trump.
Although views differ on the campaign trail, to many in agriculture, trade is a main lifeline for agricultural goods.
“About 20% of the volume of all products grown in the United States are exported; about 30% by value,” says Veronica Nigh, Economist for American Farm Bureau Federation.
As more products are shipped,
American Farm Bureau says it's having a direct impact on the U.S. economy, with
USDA’s calculations pointing to 7,500 jobs created for every $1 billion in
trade. Trade may be a buzzword for some, but for corn growers, it's something
they see as essential and would like to see grow.
“If you look at the world, there
are hundreds of trade agreements, and the U.S. is in about 20, and so we have
very few trade agreements,” says Wesley Spurlock, Vice President of National
Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and farmer in Stratford, Tex.
A pending trade deal for which
many ag groups are rooting is the TPP. Farm groups are hopeful Congress will
take up the issue in the lame-duck session, trying to beat the calendar before
a new President is elected. However, booth chambers have nearly written off
that idea, saying it won’t happen in 2016. That’s not stopping grower leaders
from pushing the major trade deal.
“We're very focused on TPP,” says
John Weber, a farmer in Dysart, Iowa and Vice President of National Pork
Producers Council (NPPC). “It would be huge for the U.S. pork industry.”
“We've estimated that it'll add $4.4 billion to net farm income in the United States each year,” Nigh says.
“We've estimated that it'll add $4.4 billion to net farm income in the United States each year,” Nigh says.
TPP involves 12 countries lining
the Pacific Rim, including the United States. While the U.S. already trades
with some, Nigh says the agreement would help reduce hefty tariffs currently in
place.
“Probably the biggest fish among
those 11 is Japan, which is already our fourth largest export market, but
there’s a lot of room to grow,” Nigh says. “Japan has a lot of high tariffs on
a number of products that the U.S. specializes in.”
On that list is beef. Nigh says
the U.S. currently faces a 39% tax on beef exports to Japan. Through TPP, that
would drop to 9%. Meanwhile, as wheat prices hit 10-year lows, wheat
growers say TPP could help give prices some life, opening up the door to key
markets.
“It would allow us to gain better access into Korea with some tariffs that are in place now that are really stopping our ability to be a competitive exporter into that market,” says David Schemm, National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) Vice President and Kansas Wheat Grower.
“It would allow us to gain better access into Korea with some tariffs that are in place now that are really stopping our ability to be a competitive exporter into that market,” says David Schemm, National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) Vice President and Kansas Wheat Grower.
Game changers?
But it's more than just trade with the 11 other TPP countries that are attractive to agriculture. Rice groups also want access to more consumers hungry for U.S. rice.
But it's more than just trade with the 11 other TPP countries that are attractive to agriculture. Rice groups also want access to more consumers hungry for U.S. rice.
“We need more demand,” says
Johnny Sullivan of Producers Rice Mill in Stuttgart, Arkansas. “We have ample quality
supply, and we don't have the demand we need. That's hurting us.”
Today, Mexico and central America are the top buyers of U.S. rice. Sullivan says countries like Cuba hold potential, and could virtually change the demand picture over night, but if China would start buying, that would be a game changer.
“China is a monster of a market,” he says. “The facts are based on consumption rates of rice in China, the short version is in 14 day period, they could eat the entire U.S. crop.”
It's more than just rice looking to China to pick up demand. Pork producers say China’s shortage of pork products isn’t inhibiting them from keeping up with demand, which creates an opportunity for U.S. pork. For soybean growers, China is a top buyer, but balancing that demand is a concern moving forward.
“Twenty-five percent have to continue to be active in other markets globally to make sure that if that happens, we can still move our soybeans into the marketplace,” says Ron Moore, Vice President of American Soybean Association (ASA) and Iowa soybean farmer.
No matter the destination, many ag groups say the U.S. must grow demand to help farmers’ bottom lines.
“Our domestic consumption is strong but virtually flat,” says Becca Nepple, Vice President of International Marketing for the National Pork Board (NPB). “Even if our consumers were to consume two more pounds of pork product a year, that would not compensate for the amount of pork we will have on the market.”
“At one time, we were growing exports by 10 or 20% some years,” says Steve Meyer, Vice President of Pork Analysis for EMI Analytics. “That just isn't happening anymore.”
Not everyone in agriculture is a fan of trade or these major trade deals, saying it's a double-edged sword for certain commodities, including sugarbeets.
“We're not exporting any sugar,” says Duane Maatz, Executive Director of Red River Sugarbeet Growers Association. “So for us, we would just assume temper all of these agreements, and if you ant to trade something with someone else, that's fine, but you could leave us out and we'd be happy with that.”
Sugarbeet growers say they aren't against current trade deals, knowing many areas of ag benefit. However, when other countries subsidize production, undercutting the U.S. price, that's when groups like sugar and rice say some deals are unjust.
“We want to create a level playing field and anytime another country is allowed to subsidize and export, we know that's not fair to our growers,” Maatz says
Today, Mexico and central America are the top buyers of U.S. rice. Sullivan says countries like Cuba hold potential, and could virtually change the demand picture over night, but if China would start buying, that would be a game changer.
“China is a monster of a market,” he says. “The facts are based on consumption rates of rice in China, the short version is in 14 day period, they could eat the entire U.S. crop.”
It's more than just rice looking to China to pick up demand. Pork producers say China’s shortage of pork products isn’t inhibiting them from keeping up with demand, which creates an opportunity for U.S. pork. For soybean growers, China is a top buyer, but balancing that demand is a concern moving forward.
“Twenty-five percent have to continue to be active in other markets globally to make sure that if that happens, we can still move our soybeans into the marketplace,” says Ron Moore, Vice President of American Soybean Association (ASA) and Iowa soybean farmer.
No matter the destination, many ag groups say the U.S. must grow demand to help farmers’ bottom lines.
“Our domestic consumption is strong but virtually flat,” says Becca Nepple, Vice President of International Marketing for the National Pork Board (NPB). “Even if our consumers were to consume two more pounds of pork product a year, that would not compensate for the amount of pork we will have on the market.”
“At one time, we were growing exports by 10 or 20% some years,” says Steve Meyer, Vice President of Pork Analysis for EMI Analytics. “That just isn't happening anymore.”
Not everyone in agriculture is a fan of trade or these major trade deals, saying it's a double-edged sword for certain commodities, including sugarbeets.
“We're not exporting any sugar,” says Duane Maatz, Executive Director of Red River Sugarbeet Growers Association. “So for us, we would just assume temper all of these agreements, and if you ant to trade something with someone else, that's fine, but you could leave us out and we'd be happy with that.”
Sugarbeet growers say they aren't against current trade deals, knowing many areas of ag benefit. However, when other countries subsidize production, undercutting the U.S. price, that's when groups like sugar and rice say some deals are unjust.
“We want to create a level playing field and anytime another country is allowed to subsidize and export, we know that's not fair to our growers,” Maatz says
Rain and rice
make a muddy mix
1/5
Under a cloudy sky with rain looming, the
annual rice harvest was on hold Monday. Manuel Perex, foreman on Tennis Lance
Inc. rice farm and Alfredo Gonzales use the time to put a new engine on the
fuel tank along Aguas Frias Road in Butte County.
By Heather Hacking, Chico Enterprise-Record
POSTED: 10/03/16, 6:37 PM
Under a cloudy sky with rain looming, the
annual rice harvest was on hold Monday. Manuel Perex, foreman on Tennis Lance
Inc. rice farm and Alfredo Gonzales use the time to put a new engine on the
fuel tank along Aguas Frias Road in Butte County.Many
farmers in the Sacramento Valley took a “rain day” Monday, idling their
harvesters after a quick, cold storm blew through the valley.Before the rains,
rice harvest had been in “full tilt” and buzzing along since mid September, said
Cass Mutters, farm adviser for the University of California Cooperative
Extension.
When
storms move across the land, one storm cell could dump a large amount of rain
in an isolated area, but land a mile away could be dry. Chico residents near
the North Valley Plaza Mall had thumbnail-sized hail bang onto their rooftops
Sunday evening. Just a few miles away the storm brought only a drizzle.
The same
hit-and-miss also applies to farmers.Lundberg Farms, based in Richvale, did not
fire up the harvesters Monday, said Mike Denny, vice president of farm
operations. He stopped due to rain and is thankful his fields did not receive
hail.Chunks of ice, or even wind and rain, can cause tall rice to flop over.
Farmers call this “lodging.” If the rice is flat, its much more difficult to
harvest. The matted straw will clog the harvesting spikes of the machinery.
A hard
hail can strip the rice from the plants, and ruin the entire year of work,
Denny explained. He’s witnessed this on field twice in the past seven or eight
years, he said.
Other
farmers contacted Monday said they were waiting for the gray clouds to go away.Southwest
Butte County received only a few sprinkles, said Gridley farmer Ryan Schohr,
but that was enough to stop harvest for the day. In his case, the rice was
still standing tall, which means less wear and tear on the machinery than rice
that flopped over in the storm.
He
considered Monday a nice break for employees. He planned to have a nice day
with his young son, Brock.Out near Nelson, the rice combines were also parked,
said Anjanette Shadley, whose office building overlooks the Gorrill Ranch.Western
Canal Water District has a webcam that
points out into rice land. In the winter, viewers can watch birds frolic in the
flooded fields.
Monday,
the webcam was pointed at a machine that crisscrossed a field that had already
been harvested. The machine was shredding the rice stubble before the fields
are flooded for the winter. The winter rains help the rice straw decompose.
If the
skies clear today, farmers will be back in their harvesters by midweek, said
Gorrill Ranch office manager Michelle Pisenti.
The Durham area received about half an hour of
heavy rains, said Butte County Agricultural Commissioner Louie Mendoza.
RAIN AND OTHER CROPS
Just south of Durham, the soil is heavy clay
and suitable for rice farming. Closer to Durham, farmers grow walnuts and
almonds.Rain can help in the walnut harvest because moisture helps the outer
walnut hull to split, Mendoza explained. This “allows for a better shake.”
Growers will harvest later-season Chandler walnuts through the end of October,
he said.A few almond orchards still remain to be harvested, he said. Rain can
cause more headaches for almond growers if the nuts are already on the ground.
Wet nuts need to dry, and farmers will turn the
rows for a few days before collection.This year, the estimate for rice planted
in California is 550,000 aces, which is up about 50,000 acres from last year,
Mutters said.Rice has been grown in Butte County for more than 100 years, and
about 88,000 acres were planted in the county in 2015, for a total of $139
million on sales.
WEATHER FORECAST
As for the weather, the National Weather
Servicepredicts today will be mostly sunny, with a high of 71 degrees. More sun,
mostly, is predicted for Wednesday through Saturday.
Contact reporter Heather Hacking at 896-7758http://www.chicoer.com/article/NA/20161003/NEWS/161009923
