PH gov't halts 300,000
MT rice importation due to sufficient supply
Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jun
29 2020 05:50 PM
Stall owners start to pack up their goods at
the Trabajo market in Sampaloc, Manila, April 23, 2020. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN
News MANILA-- The government will no longer push through with its plan to import 300,000 metric tons of rice under a government-to-government scheme, Malacañang said Monday as it assured Filipinos of enough supply of the staple grain.
The importation
of rice was approved by the government's pandemic task force in March as a
contingency. The Philippine International Trading Corp was supposed to arrange
the purchase through government-to-government arrangements.
“Wala na pong
rice importation munang mangyayari. Sapat po ang ating supply ng bigas,"
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in a Palace press briefing.
(There will be
no rice importation. We have enough supply.)
The development
comes just a month after President Rodrigo Duterte received assurance from
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc of unimpeded rice imports as the
coronavirus crisis continues.
Ensuring the
supply of the staple grain is among the Philippine government's key concerns as
the public grew wary over access to food in light of lockdowns.
But Agriculture
Secretary William Dar has assured the public that the Philippines has enough
supply of food, including rice, until the end of the year.
On average, a
Filipino consumes 118.81 kilograms of rice annually, the Philippine Statistics
Authority (PSA) reported. This is equivalent to 325.5 grams of milled rice
daily.
With a current
population of 108.66 million Filipinos, the country’s total annual consumption
would amount to 12.9 million metric tons, the Department of Agriculture said.
PhilMech seeks
P5.6-billion budget for 2021 to fund farm mechanization
June 29, 2020 |
7:38 pm
PHILSTAR/MICHAEL VARVCAS
THE Philippine
Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) told Congress
on Monday that it is proposing a P5.6-billion budget for next year to support
mechanization programs under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
In a
presentation to the House Committee on the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle,
PhilMech Executive Director Baldwin G. Jallorina said that the P5.6 billion
includes allocations for programs under RCEF (P5.1 billion), personnel services
(P133 million), overhead (P87 million) and research (P302 million).
RCEF is
designed to help farmers better compete with imported rice and is funded with
P10 billion per year in tariffs collected from rice imports.
RCEF also
includes programs for seed development, propagation and promotion; credit
assistance to farmers and cooperatives; and farmer training.
Asked by House
Deputy Speaker Deogracias Victor B. Savellano if PhilMech has programs to
repair machinery, Mr. Jallorina replied, “Right now the RCEF mechanization
program gives away brand new equipment but no provisions for repair.”
Agriculture
Undersecretary Rodolfo V. Vicerra said Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar has
ordered regional offices to monitor farm machinery that can be repaired.
“In the last
two weeks kasama po ito sa mga priority na in-order po ni
Secretary William Dar sa lahat ng ating mga regions na i-monitor
‘yung mga pwedeng ma-activate na mga farm machineries. Dapat
po talaga mabigyan natin ng tulong ’yung mga farmers natin kasi nga po
farm machineries are not their primary area of competence and we need to be
able to assist them (This was among the priorities set in the last two weeks by
the Secretary — for the regions to look out for machinery that can be
activated, to help the farmers, because repair is not their primary area of
competence),” Mr. Vicerra said.
The Northern
Luzon regional offices of the Department of Agriculture (DA) proposed budgets
worth P24.3 billion for next year.
DA-Region I
proposed a P8-billion budget, well above its actual P1.7 billion allocation
this year. Personnel services will get P178 million, maintenance and other
operating expenses (MOOE) P1.8 billion, and capital outlays P5.9 billion.
DA-Region II
proposed an P11-billion budget, including personnel services of P225 million,
MOOE P6.9 billion, and capital outlays of P4.8 billion. It had a budget of
P1.74 billion this year.
DA-Cordillera
Administrative Region proposed P5.34 billion, against its 2020 budget of P1.28
billion, with a personnel services allocation of P143 million, MOOE P1.39
billion, and capital outlays P3.80 billion.
Budget
deliberations in Congress are usually held after the President’s State of the
Nation Address in July. — Genshen L. Espedido
https://www.bworldonline.com/philmech-seeks-p5-6-billion-budget-for-2021-to-fund-farm-mechanization/
Wandile Sihlobo |
Forecasts of bumper harvests suggest subdued food prices this year
Wandile Sihlobo
Machines
storing soy in a truck after harvest.
Getty
The
high-frequency data on both domestic and global markets reinforced our
view that grain prices could be under pressure this year and that
this, in turn, could lead to subdued food price inflation.
This past week,
the International Grains Council (IGC) lifted its estimate for 2020/21 global
maize production from the last monthly estimate to 1.2 billion tons, which is
the largest harvest on record, and up 5% from the previous season.
The downward
swing in global maize prices saw a 21% y/y decline by 25 June 2020, with prices
trading around $162 per ton. Low global maize prices are probably going to
remain the theme for the rest of the year.
The season is
underway in the northern hemisphere, with the crop in most countries reportedly in good condition.
Meanwhile, in the southern hemisphere, the 2020/21 production season will start
around October 2020. The focus is still on the 2019/20 season, with the harvest
process in full swing in all major southern hemisphere maize producing
countries such as South Africa, Brazil and Argentina.
What’s more,
all these countries are forecast to have large harvests, which will improve
supplies ahead of another expected good 2020/21 season starting in October. In
the case of South Africa, the maize harvest is estimated at 15.5 million
tons, which is the second-largest harvest on record, and well above the
annual domestic consumption of about 11 million tons.
This not only
means that domestic maize prices could be under pressure in the coming months,
but also that exports could also increase, which may positively boost the
agricultural trade balance.
In terms of
wheat, the IGC lifted its 2020/21 production estimate further from 766 million
tons last month to a new record of 768 million tons. This is underpinned by the
anticipated largest harvest in Russia, Canada, Australia, Argentina, China and
India, amongst others.
While some
European countries reported dryness last month, the weather conditions have now
improved somewhat, specifically in the Black
Sea region, which is conducive for the crop. As a consequence of the
expected improvement in production, the 2020/21 global wheat stocks could
increase by 6% y/y to 290 million tons.
This means that
global wheat production could be under pressure in the coming months. On 25
June 2020, the global wheat price was down 8% y/y, at US$212 per ton (I’m using
here the US Hard Red Winter wheat).
Wheat importing
countries such as South Africa stand to benefit from such an optimistic
outlook, more so, because South Africa’s 2020/21 season might lead to yet
another small crop because of a potential reduction in area planted.
Planting is set
to fall by 8% y/y to
495 000 hectares, mainly due to a decline in area in the Free State. This
means that South Africa will continue to have a large dependence on imports,
about 50% of annual consumption.
Rice prices
could come down
In the case of
rice, the 2020/21 global production was revised down marginally from 507
million tons last month to 505 million tons, which is still a record harvest.
This is boosted by an expected large crop in India, Vietnam, Thailand,
Indonesia and Bangladesh, amongst others.
The anticipated
large production could subsequently lead to a 2% y/y increase in global rice
stocks to 180 million tons. Similar to the aforementioned commodities, rice
prices could also ease in the coming month. Global rice prices harvest already
come off higher levels observed in April, where there were prospects of trade
restrictions and a higher degree of uncertainty about the 2020/21 season
harvest. South Africa, as a rice importing country, stands to benefit from this
positive outlook. The IGC currently forecasts South Africa’s 2020 rice imports
at 1.1 million tons, up by 10% y/y.
Soybeans are
another important crop for global food security, as a key input in animal feed.
The IGC forecasts 2020/21 global soybeans production at a new peak of 364
million tons, which is up 8% y/y. This is supported by expected large harvests
in the US, Argentina and Brazil, amongst others. This expected uptick in
production could lead to a 3% y/y increase in stocks to 45 million tons.
This means, the
global soybeans prices could also be under pressure in the coming months, but
this could be eased by a rapid push to rebuild the Chinese pig industry, which
has been devastated by the African Swine Fever. We doubt that might be the case
though. From a South African perspective, the country stands to benefit as it
imports around half a million tons of soybean oilcake (meal). On average, 97%
of soybean meal originated from Argentina over the past 10 years.
These positive
global grain and oilseed prospects support our
view that food price inflation could be subdued this year, hovering
around 4% y/y (from an average of 3.1% y/y in 2019). The key upside risk within
the food price inflation basket will mainly be meat, in part, because of base
effects and a possible uptick in poultry prices following the recent increase
in import tariffs.
Overall,
however, grains, and also fruit prices could offset the potential increases in
inflation and keep the headline number at lower levels.
Wandile
Sihlobo is chief
economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) and author
of FINDING
COMMON GROUND: Land, Equity and Agriculture.
Cuba’s Rice Hunt
By Pedro Pablo MorejonHAVANA TIMES – Everybody here knows that rice is the mainstay in the Cuban people’s diets. So much so, that there is a saying that goes: he won’t eat anymore rice, to refer to the death of an unpleasant animal.
Well, what’s happening with rice in Cuba today reminds me of that dark time in the 1990s that was euphemistically known as the “Special Period in Times of Peace.”
Markets are empty and many farmers normally only plant enough for their own consumption. You can’t find this precious grain pretty much anywhere. If by some luck, you do find somebody willing to sell it to you, after traveling half of the world to find it, your pocket will need to be ready to take a big hit, because you can be charged 20 CUP (0.80 USD) or more per pound, a little more or less than most Cubans daily earnings.
Many people blame the global economic crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic for this situation, which has caused serious problems for rice imports. However, these shortages existed some months before the new Coronavirus stepped foot in our country, which makes me think it was because of the Cuban government’s lack of financial liquidity. The reality is that things have now gotten worse, and the end doesn’t seem to be anywhere in sight.
In April, Cuba’s official press published an announcement that Vietnam was donating 5000 tons of rice. According to the prime minister of this Asian country, this gift is to “alleviate the severity of the blockade’s sanctions and to tackle problems that the new Coronavirus poses.”
Regardless of this gesture, we know that this amount isn’t even enough to lighten our current situation, much less help us fix the problem. It only serves to highlight chronic shortages, not only of rice, but of any food product, as the manifestation of an economic crisis that our country has been suffering for decades.
What is the government’s explanation for this tough situation? Let’s take a look, shall we.
An article recently published Granma, the Communist Party daily, with the headline “Food production is a matter of national security” deals with the subject of rice production, as well as of other foods.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the causes of the current shortage are problems with farm supplies, which led to harvests falling short of targets, some 22,000 hectares, in the winter season, and that the spring planting of 4,600 hectares was late..
In order to give a glimpse of hope, he argued that meetings had been held with national government rice companies, advising that they meet with rice farmers. “People want to produce rice, we have a rice program, we have land, water in some places. Cuba needs to produce rice,” he said.
In another article published by the official Cubadebate website, under the headline “Can Cuba produce all of the rice it needs?”, this minister deduced that it can, saying that we can produce the 700,000 tons the country needs per year, thereby eliminating imports of this much-needed staple.
Going beyond government explanations and unfulfilled promises, the reality is that we have been suffering widespread shortages for decades, and not just of food. However, in this regard, it is utterly unacceptable that citizens are unable to find enough to eat in a country with water resources and vast fertile lands. The real cause of so much hardship lies in an economic model, which has only proven its incompetence, without a shadow of a doubt.
Havana Times Needs Your Help To Continue Publishing in 2020 |
Pedro Morejón
“According to the Ministry of
Agriculture . . . “People want to produce rice, we have a rice program, we have
land, water in some places. Cuba needs to produce rice,” he said.”
No kidding? And Cuban farmers didn’t
know that fact?
That is the problem. According to
this political elite the problem does not lie with the inefficient,
incompetent, totalitarian state , but with others, namely in this case,
indirectly implying the fault lies with the down to earth Cuban rice farmers.
After all the Agricultural Ministry did hold “meetings” with national
government rice companies (are they not part of the inefficient bureaucracy?)
and advised they meet with Cuban rice farmers. So, don’t blame the government
if things didn’t work out. Not our fault.
Cuban rice farmers do not need more
meetings nor ad infinitum advice. Enough is enough. It’s been years and years
of “meetings” and propaganda advice yet the country currently cannot produce
enough food, rice in this instance, to meet the drastic devouring demand of its
hungry population. No, not more meetings or advice is needed. Urgent action on
the fertile ground is what is required – at all costs.
Cuba does a fantastic job of sending
– exporting – its medical expertise abroad where ever there is a worldly crises
and is applauded worldwide for its commendable efforts and its humanitarian
work. Great! Fantastic!
Why hasn’t this emergency method of
expertise exportation been applied in the Cuban food industry? This could have
been done decades ago so that the food crisis isn’t as paramount today. Why not
send a squadron of Cuban agricultural experts along with Cuban farmers to
Vietnam, a Cuba ally, and grasp the technical expertise to grow rice
efficiently and effectively and follow the Vietnamese method of market supply
and demand in their successful agricultural sector? Likewise, bring into the
Cuban country side a group of Vietnamese agricultural professionals to work
alongside their Cuban counterparts and together bring about much needed rice to
feed the country. Seems like a win – win scenario to me.
Of course this scenario would
require a small move towards capitalist principles which would not suit the
present administration‘s philosophy; therefore, the government simply sends out
an elite to talk the talk and do little with walking the walk and in the
meanwhile the population suffers shortages of food, rice, in this instance.
No, Cuban rice farmers do not need
more meetings and advice coming from a political bureaucracy (national
government rice companies, for example) whose only purpose is to follow the
Party line and blame government inaction, incompetence, ineptness,
inefficiencies, you name it, on those very people who have the wherewithal and
motivation for change but are castrated by government inaction.
Govt apathy takes its toll on rice production, imports to surge
Published On: June 29, 2020 07:07 PM NPT By: RAJESH KHANAL
File
photo: Republica
Just celebrating ‘National Paddy Day’ won’t
help the country become self-reliant in staple food
KATHMANDU, June 29: Nepal on Monday is
celebrating the ‘National Paddy Day,’ the main day to mark a nationwide paddy
transplantation, celebrated with the vision of making the country self-reliant
in rice against the fact that the import of the staple food is surging year on
year.
With a shortfall in domestic production, Nepal
imported rice worth around Rs 31 billion in the first 11 months of the current
fiscal year, according to the statistics maintained by the Department of
Customs. Given the fact that rice worth Rs 32.59 billion was imported in the
review period of 2019/20, it is almost certain that the country’s import
expense for the agricultural product will surpass that of the last fiscal year.
Every year, the government makes and breaks its
own promise for providing logistic supports needed in the sector. In his speech
to mark the National Paddy Day, Prime Minister KP Oli on Monday also reiterated
that the government has focused on ensuring the expansion of irrigation
facilities, research of paddy seeds, availability of subsidized seeds and
fertilizers and necessary technical support to farmers and improvement of
distribution system to make the country self-reliant in rice.
However, because of government apathy, rice
production has been declining year on year. According to the Ministry of
Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), Nepal’s rice production fell to
5.55 million tons in 2018/19 against 5.61 million tons in 2017/18. The
country’s annual demand for rice stood at more than 6 million tons while its
contribution to the GDP is around 12 percent.
In Nepal, rice farming largely depends on rain
water during monsoon that normally takes place between June and August end.
Rice cultivation takes place in around 50 percent of the total arable land of
the country. According to the MoALD, rice was planted in 1.5 million hectares
of land in 2003/04, which was down to 1.3 million hectares in 2015/16.
Lack of timely and adequate rainfall, plotting
of arable land, inundation in the Tarai/Madhes during monsoon, lack of
sufficient irrigation facilities, shortage of fertilizers and youth population
leaving agricultural activities are among the underlying problems.
Despite the government’s claim, the farmers
this year too are reeling under the shortage of fertilizers amid mean monsoon.
Besides, farmers are facing a threat of swarms of locusts that entered the
country a few days ago.
With the onset of the monsoon on June 12, the
farmers are now busy in transplantation of paddy across the country. The
records of the MoALD show, as of last Wednesday, rice transplantation was
carried out in 275,029 hectares - 20.05 percent of the paddy plantation
area. Province 5 has observed the completion of 36.26 percent of paddy
plantation.
In Nepal, all districts except Manang and
Mustang grow rice. Of these, four districts - Morang, Sunsari, Kailali and
Kanchanpur - are the pocket areas with notable quantities of rice
production.
Mexican labor lawyer's arrest hangs over USMCA's big day
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— The USMCA will go into effect on Wednesday amid continued concern over how Mexico will enforce its labor reform commitments. The arrest of a major Mexican labor lawyer this month ahead of USMCA implementation is a “bad indicator” of compliance, unions like the UAW say.— U.S. food exporters are increasingly concerned about China’s calls for foreign suppliers to guarantee their products are free of the coronavirus. Some exporters are holding off on signing new safety protocols, instead sending their own commitment forms saying their products are coronavirus-free.
— The U.S. rice industry wants the Trump administration to drop duty-free treatment for all rice imports under the Generalized System of Preferences program that benefits less-developed countries.
IT’S MONDAY, JUNE 29! Welcome to Morning Trade, where your hosts hope everyone had a great weekend leading up to USMCA's entry into force. Any news tips to share? Let us know: srodriguez@politico.com, dpalmer@politico.com and gbade@politico.com.
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Driving the Day
MEXICAN LABOR LAWYER’S ARREST HANGS OVER USMCA’S BIG DAY: U.S. labor and advocacy groups are capitalizing on this week’s implementation of Trump’s pet project, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, to call for the release of Mexican labor lawyer Susana Prieto, who was arrested earlier this month on what critics say are phony charges of inciting riot, threats and coercion.“Ms. Prieto’s detention is casting a pall over the proposed July 1, 2020 start of the revised North American Free Trade Agreement,” the United Auto Workers, the United Steelworkers, Public Citizen and other groups said in a letter to Mexico’s National Commission on Human Rights. “Her arrest on trumped up charges and then the punitive denial of bail in retaliation for her advocacy … violate the labor rights provided for by Mexico’s constitution and laws.”
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is expected to visit Washington in early July to meet with Trump and mark the USMCA taking effect. Lawmakers and U.S.-Mexico observers say it's unlikely López Obrador's could go without mention of Mexico's ongoing labor issues.
Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) pressed U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Prieto’s case earlier this month during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing. Lighthizer, who has promised tough and early enforcement of the USMCA’s labor provisions, told Pascrell he thought Prieto’s arrest was a “bad indicator” of Mexico’s commitment to labor reform.
“We are going to take this very seriously,” Lighthizer said.
Bigger picture: The USMCA takes effect on Wednesday. The Trump administration has already made clear that it is ready to enforce the deal’s new provisions as soon as it enters into force. U.S. lawmakers have said they plan to strongly enforce the deal’s labor provisions to make sure that Mexico treats its workers better.
CHINA’S COVID-19 IMPORT CONCERNS GROW: Some U.S. food exporters are balking at a demand from China’s General Administration of Customs for foreign suppliers to guarantee their products are free of the coronavirus. Groups like Western Growers, which represents food producers in four states, are reluctant to sign on to new safety protocols when they say it is highly unlikely their products can carry the virus.
“The recent move by Chinese authorities to require a statement of undertaking for food importers is not based on any legitimate food safety concern,” said Western Growers CEO Dave Puglia. “The very food safety guidance referenced in the required statement — issued by the United Nations and World Health Organization — affirms that there is ‘no evidence to date’ of COVID-19 being transmitted through food or food packaging.”
Instead of signing the Chinese government’s form, some U.S. exporters are sending their own “commitment statements” along with their cargo, saying it is coronavirus-free. The Agriculture Transportation Coalition, which represents U.S. food exporters, offered three alternative statements on its website Friday. “We are hearing that exporters sending these statements have not encountered any issues so far with their customers clearing cargo in China,” the coalition said in an email to members. Other U.S. exporters are waiting for clarity as to whether new import restrictions apply only to consumer food products, or if broader farm products are also covered.
China’s officials inspected more than 32,000 samples of food and agricultural imports between June 11 and June 17 but did not find any cases of coronavirus contamination, the customs authority said in a statement.
ALUMINUM ANGST CONTINUES: The Trump administration decided against moving forward with reimposing tariffs on imports of Canadian aluminum — for now — after pressing Canada to impose quotas on its exports.
Sources close to the aluminum talks say the two sides are working on an agreement before the USMCA goes into effect on Wednesday.
Tariffs could be reimposed at any point, as Canada has not agreed to quotas on its imports. However, Canada argued all last week (and over the past year) that it is not contributing to an overflow of aluminum imports into the United States.
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GROUP STILL CONCERNED ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA’S IP
PRACTICES: The International Intellectual Property
Alliance, which represents U.S. movie, music, book and other copyright holders,
says it still has deep concerns about South Africa’s overall intellectual
property protection regime despite recent action by President Cyril Ramaphosa
to reject two bills IIPA considers inadequate.IIPA “applauds President Ramaphosa for recently referring two bills that would further weaken that legal regime back to Parliament for redrafting,” the group said in a filing last week with USTR. However, “significant reforms” are needed to bring the country’s legal framework into compliance with international intellectual property agreements, the group added.
Ramaphosa expressed concern in a letter to lawmakers that the proposed amendments could violate South Africa’s constitution, as well as international treaties that the country is in the process of joining, including the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Copyright Treaty, the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty and the Marrakesh Treaty, which makes published works more accessible to the blind.
Former RIAA executive Neil Turkewitz called Ramaphosa’s decision a victory for South African musicians, authors and songwriters in a battle against American tech companies and others that are trying to expand fair use exceptions to copyright laws around the world.
GSP investigation: USTR, acting on a petition filed by IIPA, launched a review of South Africa’s eligibility last year for continued duty-free access to the U.S. market for a long list of goods under the Generalized System of Preferences program. It held a hearing in January where South Africa’s former ambassador to the WTO, Xavier Carim, stressed the benefits of duty-free trade under the GSP program for businesses in both countries.
USTR has not commented on Ramaphosa’s decision on the bills, which had been sitting on his desk for over a year, even though that was a major issue at the hearing. However, it may not matter since Lighthizer recently expressed reservations about renewing the entire GSP program, which expires at the end of the year. Non-renewal would eliminate USTR’s ability to use the potential withdrawal of GSP benefits to pressure countries to make reforms.
RICE FARMERS SEEK TARIFF GIFT FROM TRUMP: Speaking of GSP, the American rice industry wants the Trump administration to eliminate duty-free treatment for all rice imports under the program, including for least-developed countries like Cambodia and Myanmar.
The USA Rice Federation filed a petition in March asking for the action. Current U.S. duties on rice from non-GSP countries range from about 1 percent to 11.2 percent, depending on the type.
Total U.S. rice imports topped $1.1 billion last year, up sharply from $577 million in 2010. Only $21 million of those imports received duty-free treatment under GSP. That includes some of the $230 billion worth of rice imports from India, which Trump kicked out of the program last year because of other trade concerns.
The U.S. rice group complains the GSP shipments contributed to a larger problem of “underpriced imports” that are threatening the domestic rice market. About 90 percent of rice imports under GSP are “parboiled” rice, which would face an 11.2 percent duty if the federation’s request is granted.
Some skepticism: USTR, in a set of questions to the rice group and countries that would be affected by the action, noted the U.S. rice industry was still a “significant rice exporter,” with foreign shipments of $1.9 billion last year.
“Could you please advise whether increased rice imports have harmed U.S. rice production or exports, and if so, how specifically?” USTR asked. “Please describe for us the U.S. parboiling industry, its employment levels and locations, and the degree to which it might be injured by imports.”
Roses want in: USTR is also examining a request from the government of Ecuador and U.S. floral industry groups to provide duty-free treatment for certain roses.
PH halts Vietnam rice
imports
posted June 30, 2020 at 12:40 am by
Manila Standard
The
Philippines, an erstwhile rice-exporting country, has mothballed plans to import
rice from Vietnam, a fellow member in the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations after what Malacanang said was enough supply of the staple grains amid
the COVID-19 pandemic.
But
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque stopped short of giving out figures on the
volume of the country's current stocks.
The country was
supposed to import 300,000 metric tons of rice from Vietnam after it lifted its
ban on rice exportation, but Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said last Friday this
would no longer push through.
Vietnam serves
as a major import source of the Philippines, accounting for over 90 percent of
the country’s rice imports, the Department of Trade and Industry said.
It also said
that the Philippines imports around 7 percent to 14 percent of its total rice
requirement.
Under the
implementing rules and regulations of the Rice Tariffication Law, the
President, in the event of a rice supply shortage, may direct the Secretary of
Trade and Industry and the Philippine International Trading Corporation to
purchase the needed rice supplies from domestic and foreign sources to enhance
market competition and stabilize rice prices.
Following the
notice from Agriculture Secretary William Dar, Lopez said the Department of
Trade and Industry-attached agency Philippine International Trading Center
abandoned the rice importation plan, which was initially targeted to arrive
during the lean months of July and August.
The PITC is the
agency tasked to implement any directive from the Department of Agriculture to
import rice under a G2G arrangement, pursuant to the Rice Tariffication Law.
“The provisions
of the RTL basically opens up rice importation to any private group,” Lopez
said.
“It will be
recalled that the initial decision for the G2G importation plan was a result of
the potential threat to maintaining a good buffer supply of rice for the
country. Earlier computations from DA showed a threat to the targeted level of
buffer stock following the imposed ban of rice exportation of Vietnam in
April,” Lopez said.
U.S.
Rice Highlighted in Support of COVID-19 Healthcare Workers
By
Sarah Moran
SINGAPORE - The
number of COVID patients in the hospital here has fallen dramatically in recent
weeks, but the warriors in the healthcare industry push on relentlessly caring
for these patients. USA Rice continues to show support for the community by
helping to feed front line health workers during this pandemic.
USA Rice is
back for the second round of the World Gourmet Summit Unsung Heroes Initiative
to show its appreciation this time to the healthcare heroes of Tan Tock Seng
Hospital Singapore and the National Centre for Infectious Diseases. USA Rice is
working with U.S. rice importers to provide the rice to 19 partner restaurants
that are preparing bento meals using U.S. rice. This initiative began on June 22nd
and will cater more than 1,600 meals by the time the program concludes on June
30th.
"This is a
great opportunity to not only show support for these vital health care workers
in some small way, but also for more restaurants to experience the versatility
of U.S. rice in different cuisines," explained Jim Guinn, USA Rice
director of Asia promotion programs. "We are happy to see many interesting
new dishes and hope that the restaurants enjoy working with U.S. rice. In
addition, there will be opportunities to promote U.S. rice participation in
this activity to the general public.
WFP Tanzania Country Brief, May 2020
Source
29
Jun 2020
Originally
published
31
May 2020
Origin
Attachments
In Numbers
USD 18 million six-month funding shortfall for Country Strategic Plan
USD 34 million estimated funding requirement for WFP COVID-19 response
238,000 refugees and asylum seekers in camps supported with food assistance
in April
Operational Updates
Support to refugee communities: WFP provides a general food basket to
approximately 238,000 Congolese and Burundian refugees hosted Nyarugusu, Nduta
and Mtendeli Refugee Camps in Kigoma region.
The food basket consists of cereals, fortified nutritious products, pulses, vegetable oil and salt to meet a minimum dietary requirement of 2,100 Kcal per person per day. WFP assistance is the main source of food for refugees, thereby making its uninterrupted continuation essential.
The food basket consists of cereals, fortified nutritious products, pulses, vegetable oil and salt to meet a minimum dietary requirement of 2,100 Kcal per person per day. WFP assistance is the main source of food for refugees, thereby making its uninterrupted continuation essential.
As a precaution regarding the COVID-19 global pandemic, WFP began
distributing maize meal, rice and pules in pre-portioned quantities for the
food distribution starting 18 May. WFP had already moved from a 28-day
distribution cycle to a 42-day cycle to decrease the frequency of large groups
in the camps.
Additionally, the number of distribution days has been doubled from five to ten to further reduce the number of individuals at distribution centres at any one time.
Social distancing measures and handwashing stations are also in place at distribution sites.
Additionally, the number of distribution days has been doubled from five to ten to further reduce the number of individuals at distribution centres at any one time.
Social distancing measures and handwashing stations are also in place at distribution sites.
Food Security: In April 2020, a food security assessment in Dar es Salaam
was jointly undertaken by WFP, Tanzania Red Cross Society (TRCS) and the
Government to understand food security status and market functionality to
inform potential COVID-19 response in Tanzania. A summary of key findings was
released in May and can be found here.
Humanitarian Air Service: As of 01 June, commercial airlines began resuming
regular passenger flights to Tanzania. Therefore, WFP has discontinued its
flights between Addis Ababa and Dar es Salaam. The humanitarian air service was
launched on 15 May and performed three flights in and out of Tanzania,
transporting UN officials, diplomats and health personnel at a time when no
commercial passenger planes were servicing the country.
Nutrition: In May, WFP and Japan issued a news release marking a
contribution of US$1.5 million from Japan to the Boresha Lishe Nutrition
project. More information can be found here: https://www.wfp.org/news/japan-and-wfp-partner-fightmalnutrition-tanzania The
Boresha Lishe project aims to improve access to and use of nutritious food by
30,000 women and children through social behaviour change communication,
diversification of food production and distribution of specialized nutritious
foods. The project also works to improve knowledge on nutrition, dietary
diversity and practices in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Activities are
complemented by promoting the raising of small-scale livestock, planting
diverse crops and mobilizing VICOBA.
In the interest of social distancing, nutrition education activities have been postponed. However, the treatment for moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) continues.
In the interest of social distancing, nutrition education activities have been postponed. However, the treatment for moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) continues.
Smallholder Farmers: In the interest of social distancing, trainings for
farmers have been postponed on post-harvest management and nutrition-sensitive
agriculture. WFP is looking into different strategies to address this. More
emphasis is being placed on aggregation and marketing activities to ensure that
farmers continue to sell their crops and generate income.
Supply Chain: WFP is
leading the logistics pillar to support the Ministry of Health, Community
Development,
Gender, Elderly and Children led COVID-19 response.
WFP was also requested to coordinate the logistics response of development partners and agencies by identifying logistical needs, bottlenecks and gaps of the international community in the COVID-19 response.
Gender, Elderly and Children led COVID-19 response.
WFP was also requested to coordinate the logistics response of development partners and agencies by identifying logistical needs, bottlenecks and gaps of the international community in the COVID-19 response.
FCI procured total 388.34 LMT wheat and 745.66 LMT rice till June
June 29, 2020
New Delhi: As per the Food
Corporation of India report dated 28.06.2020, FCI currently has 266.29 LMT rice
and 550.31 LMT wheat. Hence, a total of 816.60 LMT food grain stock is
available (excluding the ongoing purchase of wheat and paddy, which have not
yet reached the godown). About 55 LMT food grains is required for a month under
NFSA and other welfare schemes.
Since the lockdown, about 138.43 LMT food
grains have been lifted and transported through 4944 rail rakes. Apart from the
rail route, transportation was also done through roads and waterways. A total
of 277.73 LMT has been transported. 21,724 MT grains was transported through 14
ships. Total 13.47 LMT food grains have been transported to the North-Eastern
States.
Food grain distribution to migrant labourers:
(Atma Nirbhar Bharat Package)
Under Atma Nirbhar Bharat package, Government
of India has decided that 8 LMT food grains will be provided to about 8 Crore
migrant labourers, stranded and needy families, who are not covered under NFSA
or State scheme PDS cards. 5 Kg of food grain per person is being distributed
free of cost for the months of May and June to all migrants. The states and UTs
have lifted 6.39 LMT of food grains. States and UTs have distributed 99,207 MT
of food grains to total 209.96 lakh (in the May 120.08 lakh and in June 89.88
lakh) beneficiaries.
The Government of India also approved 39,000 MT
pulses for 1.96 crore migrant families. 8 Crore migrant labourers, stranded and
needy families, who are not covered under NFSA or State scheme PDS cards will
be given 1 kg of gram/dal per family for the month of May and June for free.
This allocation of gram/dal is being done according to the need of the states.
Around 33,968 MT gram/dal have been dispatched to the states and UTs. A total
31,868 MT gram has been lifted by various States and UTs. 4,702 MT gram has
been distributed by the states and UTs. The Government of India is bearing 100%
financial burden of approximately Rs. 3,109 crores for food grain and Rs 280
crores for gram under this scheme.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana:
Food grain (Rice/Wheat)
Under the PMGKAY, for the 3 months April-June a
total of 104.3 LMT rice and 15.2 LMT wheat is required of which 101.02 LMT rice
and 15.00 LMT wheat have been lifted by various States and UTs. A total of
116.02 LMT food grains has been lifted. In the month of April 2020 , 37.02 LMT
(93 %) food grains have been distributed to 74.05 crore beneficiaries, in May
2020, total 36.49 LMT (91%) food grains distributed to 72.99 crores
beneficiaries and in the month of June 2020, 28.41 LMT (71%) food grains have
been distributed to 56.81 crores beneficiaries. The Government of India is
bearing 100% financial burden of approximately Rs. 46,000 crores under this
scheme. Wheat has been allocated to 6 States/UTs, – Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan,
Chandigarh, Delhi and Gujarat and rice has been provided to the remaining
States/UTs.
Pulses
As regards Pulses, the total requirement for
the three months is 5.87 LMT. The Government of India is bearing 100% financial
burden of approximately Rs 5,000 crore under this scheme. So far, 5.79 LMT
Pulses have been dispatched to States/UTs and 5.58 LMT have reached the
States/UTs, while 4.40 LMT pulses has been distributed. A total of 08.76 LMT
pulses (Toor- 3.77 LMT, Moong-1.14 LMT, Urad-2.28 LMT, Chana-1.30 LMT and
Masur-0.27 LMT ) is available in the stock as on 18.6.2020.
Food grain Procurement:
As on 28.06.2020, total 388.34 LMT wheat (RMS
2020-21) and 745.66 LMT rice (KMS 2019-20) were procured.
Open Market Sales Scheme (OMSS):
Under the OMSS, the rates of Rice is fixed at
Rs.22/kg and Wheat at Rs.21/kg. FCI has sold 5.71 LMT wheat and 10.07 LMT rice
through OMSS during the lockdown period.
One Nation One Ration Card:
As on 01 June 2020, the One Nation
One Card scheme is enabled in 20 States/UTs, namely – Andhra Pradesh, Bihar,
Daman & Diu (Dadra and Nagar Haveli), Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal
Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram,
Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Tripura. By 31st
March 2021 all remaining States will be added to One Nation One Ration Card
scheme and the scheme will be operational all over India. The details and
status of the scheme in remaining States/UTs under One Nation One Ration Card
is as follows: –
COVID-19 leads to possible food crisis in Cambodia
Tamanna Dahiya / OneWorld South Asia
New Delhi: In Cambodia, where a large part of the economy is
dependent on fisheries and agricultural food processing, COVID-19 has deeply
impacted the industry resulting in reversing the developments related to SDG 8
of decent work and economic growth with respect to its farmer community,
especially along the Mekong basin.
Cambodia’s agriculture sector is
responsible for generation of more than 20% of its GDP and employs around 30%
of the population. Its position on the Global Food Security Index is below
average at 90 out of 113 countries.
Furthermore, UNDP estimates that
around 70% of Cambodia’s farms engage in subsistence agriculture by primarily
taking loans and repaying them after the harvest season. There’s a wide-spread
poverty in the country, with the nation coming under the low per-capita income
category.
After the Mekong River crisis, around 45,000
hectares of rice farms were damaged creating a debt crisis for poor farmers.
Consumers on the other side of the spectrum have been hit hard by lack of food
supplies, rise in prices of staple foods and a halt in income caused due to COVID-19.
The failure of last monsoons and the presence
of Chinese dams in the Northern part of the basin have unleashed drought-like
conditions leading to poverty and food insecurity. It has affected farmers
growing rice on their fields as well as the fishermen, who reported a fall in
fish volume by 60-70% due to the drought-like conditions in the Mekong Basin.
Despite the government working towards ensuring
a continuous operation of supply chains, food security is affected by lack of
safety income-net for these Mekong delta inhabitants who are at the mercy of
natural events and weather.
In the long-term, this region will face a
two-pronged attack on its food security. Firstly, the lockdown measures under
the COVID pandemic having caused an unprecedented shortage of labour for
agriculture coupled with the drought the region will be facing, there will be a
slowdown in its supply-side activities.
This would affect income equalities and food
supply-chains for the larger public in Cambodia, Lao, Vietnam, Myanmar and
Thailand. Secondly, due to the pandemic, unemployment and price rises will
result in income shortages. Prices of staple foods in areas like Siem Reap have
been estimated to have shot up by 33.33% in Cambodia. This will impact the
demand due to inability of the buyers to pay for the food items like rice and
fish.
As countries strive to be more self-sufficient
and reduce import-dependency by promoting local supply chains, the Mekong River
Basin could be heading towards post-COVID-19 food insecurity. Furthermore,
water shortage is also a reason behind slow progress in sanitation in rural
areas, which could cause a major health-crisis.
In this scenario, adopting sustainable
agricultural practices and latest irrigation techniques that reduce reliability
on weather, especially when the globe is facing an acute climate change crisis,
will be beneficial. If not tackled timely, the Mekong River Crisis coupled with
the COVID-19 could see rollback of any progress made not only on SDG goals 1, 2
and 6 regarding no poverty, zero hunger and water sanitation, but also on SDG
13 and 14 regarding climate action and sustainable usage of water resources.
(Tamanna Dahiya is an intern with OneWorld
Foundation India). This article was first extracted from One World.net and originally
published in Global Goals 2030
Prey Veng highest rice-producing province of 2020
Som Kanika /
Khmer Times
Prey Veng province has been the
highest rice-producing province in the country thus far this year, a position
usually held by Battambang.
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Veng Sakhon said this year, 1.4 million tonnes of rice was cultivated from Prey
Veng province, making Prey Veng the largest rice producer in the Kingdom.
An overall increase in rice production across
all provinces bodes well for the Kingdom amid food security concerns caused by
the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Sakhon said that each day Prey Veng province
is capable of exporting about 300-500 tonnes of rice.
He said these figures are nearly matched by
Kampot, Takeo and Svay Reang Provinces.
“As of June 25, Prey Veng has sowed 165,228
hectares with rice, equivalent to 66.09 percent of its agricultural plain.”
“From May 22 to June 25, Prey Veng exported
72,425 tonnes of rice to Vietnam,” he said.
“The reason behind these large yields is good
geographical locations and favourable weather conditions, which has allowed
farmers to plant and cultivate rice in every season so far,” he added.
Prey Veng province cultivates around
4,888 hectares of crops which includes 2,740 hectares of corn; 92 hectares of
beans; 1,035 hectares of cassava; 35 hectares of peanuts; 293 hectares of
sesame; 602 hectares of sugarcane and 883 hectares of horticultural crops.https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50739349/prey-veng-highest-rice-producing-province-of-2020/#:~:text=Prey%20Veng%20province%20has%20been,position%20usually%20held%20by%20Battambang.
Prey Veng highest rice-producing province of 2020
Som Kanika / Khmer Times
Vietnam's
H1 coffee exports increase 3.7%, rice up 5.6%
Rice
exports in the first half of this year from Vietnam were forecast to have
increased 5.6%
Labourers
work at a coffee warehouse of the coffee company Simexco Dak Lak Limited in the
town of Di An in Binh Duong province, Vietnam July 8, 2019.
Reuters/Yen
Duong
By Phuong Nguyen, Reuters
News
HANOI
- Vietnam's coffee exports in the first half of this year are expected to have
increased 3.7% from a year earlier to 955,000 tonnes, and rice exports are seen
up 5.6%, government data released on Monday showed.
COFFEE
Coffee exports from Vietnam likely increased an estimated 3.7% in the first
half from a year earlier to 955,000 tonnes, equal to 15.9 million 60-kg bags,
the General Statistics Office said in a report on Monday. Coffee export revenue
for Vietnam, the world's biggest producer of the robusta bean, likely increased
2.5% to $1.61 billion in the six-month period, the report said. The country's
coffee shipments in June were estimated at 140,000 tonnes valued at $237
million, it said.
RICE
Rice exports in the first half of this year from Vietnam were forecast to have
increased 5.6% from a year earlier to 3.5 million tonnes. Revenue from rice
exports in the period was expected to show a surge of 19.3% to $1.73 billion.
June rice exports from Vietnam, the world's third-largest shipper of the grain,
totalled 450,000 tonnes, worth $228 million
ENERGY
Vietnam's first-half crude oil exports were seen rising 24.6% from the same
period last year to an estimated 2.5 million tonnes. Crude oil export revenue
in January to June is expected to show a fall of 30.3% to $621 million. Oil
product imports in the first half were estimated at 6.35 million tonnes, up
46.7% from the same period last year, while the value of product imports fell
0.1% to $2 billion .
(Reporting
by Phuong Nguyen Editing by Ed Davies) ((haphuong.nguyen@thomsonreuters.com;
+84-24-3852-9623;))
What can
SunRice offer Riverina rice growers?
On
Breakfast with Sally Bryant
With
the water year about to start, irrigators in the Riverina are contemplating
what crops they may grow, if the allocation levels are favourable, and the
question is, will rice be in the commodity mix?
SunrRice
Chief Executive Rob Gordon says he believes the company has been serving the
best interests of the industry and its farmers and rejects any suggestion that
rice growers are unhappy with the way they have been treated.
He
also discusses the current concerns around possible cyber attacks on Australian
government and business, in the post Covid world.
Duration: 9min 32sec
Broadcast: Mon 29 Jun 2020, 6:35am
Australia to run out of locally grown rice by Christmas
29/06/2020
11:53 AM / 08:30
Back-to-back years of severe drought, water costs
through the roof, and a global pandemic has made for trying times for most in
the agriculture sector.
When panic buying peaked in Australia, we saw a number of
products in short supply including rice.
SunRice Chief Executive Rob Gordon told rural editor Eddie
Summerfield it put a strain on supply.
“Orders go to about 250% of normal, which pulled through all of
the inventory we had on hand, and we had trouble keeping up with it,” Mr Gordon
said.
The 2019 crop was the second smallest on record at 54,000
tonnes, down by 91 percent year on year.
It means Australia is likely to run out of locally grown rice by
Christmas.
“With demand levels at the moment we’re likely to run out of
Australian rice before the next harvest, probably around Christmas time we
think,” Mr Gordon said.
Listen to the full interview above or Subscribe to the National
Rural News podcast: http://bit.ly/RuralNewsPodcast
DA welcomes DTI’s decision to drop PITC rice import plan
By DAPublished on June 29, 2020
QUEZON
CITY, June 29 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) welcomes the decision
of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Philippine
International Trading Center (PITC), to no longer pursue its planned
government-to-government (G2G) rice importation scheme.
Photo by DA
In
a letter to DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez on 24 June 2020, Agriculture Secretary
William Dar said that the G2G importation is “no longer necessary under the
current situation.”
To
recall, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious
Diseases (IATF-MEID) approved the recommendation to import 300,000 metric tons
(MT) of rice, as Vietnam decided to temporarily suspend the signing of new rice
export contracts while it assesses its own rice requirements amid the COVID-19
pandemic.
The
recommendation was based on the DA’s study using 10 different scenarios of the
rice supply and demand situation for the entire 2020.
Under
the study’s best scenario, the country would have an ending stock of 100 days,
while the worst case scenario would have a lower, but still a comfortable stock
of 78 days at the end of the year.
Meanwhile,
the Philippines imports around seven to 14 percent (%) of its rice
requirements, with 90% coming from Vietnam.
As
the National Food Authority (NFA) is no longer allowed to import rice under the
Rice Tariffication Law, it was proposed that another government agency, in
DTI’s PITC, be designated to undertake importation to ensure that the
Philippine will not experience a tight rice supply situation during the lean
months.
“The
situation, however, has been properly addressed with the lifting of the rice
export ban by Vietnam and the rice import arrivals of around 1.3 million MT as
of third week of June,” said secretary Dar in his letter to DTI Secretary
Lopez.
The
DA chief is confident that the remaining import requirement can be secured
within the remaining six months of the year by the private sector.
“With
the DTI, through the PITC, no longer proceeding with the planned imports, the
government will be able to generate P8.5 billion savings, a sum which can be
tapped to support productivity-enhancing activities in agriculture that can
assist in ensuring food security for the country,” Secretary Dar said.
Besides
the savings, the resumption of the private sector-led importation is also
expected to generate greater revenue stream for the government, which can be
used to fund the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Program under the Rice
Tariffication Law, the DA chief concluded. ### (DA Strategic Communications)
With enough rice, gov’t stops current importation
Updated June 29, 2020, 8:47 PM
By Genalyn Kabiling
The government will no longer
push through with its planned importation of rice due to the country’s
sufficient supply of the staple at present, Malacañang announced on Monday.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque
(OPS / MANILA BULLETIN)
(OPS / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential spokesman Harry
Roque made the statement after the Philippine International Trading Corp.
dropped its plan to import 300,000 metric tons of rice under a
government-to-government scheme.
The Palace earlier said any rice
importation of PITC, an agency attached to the Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI), must first obtain the consent of President Duterte even if the bidding
has taken place.
“Wala na pong rice importation
munang mangyayari. Sapat po ang ating supply ng bigas (There will be no rice
importation that will happen for now. We have sufficient rice supply),” Roque
said during the Palace press briefing.
The latest government decision
came after Vietnam resumed exporting rice to Southeast Asian nations last May
after a brief suspension to assess its local stocks during the coronavirus
pandemic.
Back in March, the Inter-Agency
Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases approved the Department of
Agriculture’s recommendation to import an additional 300,000 MT of rice through
government-to-government arrangement with Southeast trading partners to boost
domestic stocks if necessary. The standby authority came after Vietnam
temporarily suspended the signing of new rice contracts.
G2G rice imports no longer needed, Dar says
June 29, 2020 | 12:04 am
REUTERS
GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT (G2G) rice
imports are no longer necessary, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said,
after Vietnam lifted its restrictions on rice exports.
In a statement, Mr. Dar said he
wrote Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez on June 24 recommending that the
government no longer pursue the plan to import 300,000 metric tons (MT) of
rice, and will rely on private imports instead.
The Philippine International
Trading Center (PITC), an arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI),
was originally tapped to strike a G2G deal with Vietnam, but announced the
abandonment of import plans Friday.
In March, the Inter-Agency Task
Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) approved
plans to import 300,000 MT, after Vietnam suspended the signing of new rice
export contracts while it assessed its own requirements in light of the
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“The situation, however, has been
properly addressed with the lifting of the rice export ban by Vietnam and the
rice import arrivals of around 1.3 million MT as of the third week of June,”
Mr. Dar said in the letter to Mr. Lopez.
According to the DA, the
Philippines imports between 7% to 14% of its rice requirements, with Vietnam
accounting for 90% of that total.
The DA evaluated 10 scenarios for
rice supply by the end of the year, with the best-case scenario leading to a
year-end stock equivalent to 100 days’ consumption requirements. The worst case
was 78 days.
Mr. Dar said he is confident that
private-sector imports will be sufficient to meet demand in the last half of
the year.
“With the DTI, through the PITC,
no longer proceeding with the planned imports, the government will be able to
generate P8.5 billion in savings, a sum which can be tapped to support
productivity-enhancing activities in agriculture that can assist in ensuring
food security for the country,” Mr. Dar said.
The Rice Tariffication Law, or
Republic Act 11203, had removed the National Food Authority’s rice import
functions and left the international trade in rice to private firms, who are
obliged to pay import duties of 35% on Southeast Asian grain. The tariffs
generate revenue for the government instead of leaving it with the need to set
aside cash for G2G purchases. The tariffs in turn fund government efforts to
make domestic rice production more competitive. — Revin Mikhael D.
Ochave
Philippines halted rice importation due to sufficient supply — Palace
Published June 29, 2020 3:13pm
By VIRGIL LOPEZ, GMA News
The Philippines shelved plans to import rice from Vietnam after
the government found there is enough supply of the staple food amid the
COVID-19 pandemic, Malacañang said Monday.
“Sapat po ang ating supply ng bigas kaya po hindi na tinuloy ang
pag-aangkat,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised
briefing.
Roque did not give figures.
The country was supposed to import 300,000 metric tons (MT) of
rice from Vietnam after the Southeast Asian country lifted its ban on rice
exportation, but Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said last Friday that this would no longer push through.
Vietnam serves as a major import source of the Philippines,
accounting for over 90% of the country’s rice imports, the Department of Trade
and Industry said. It also said that the Philippines imports around 7% to
14% of its total rice requirement.
Iran trade: Stakeholders explore non-oil avenue to boost fund flow
Under the India-Iran trade deal, local oil refiners used to import crude oil from the middle east nation and make payments to the designated rupee-account at Uco and IDBI. This was till the time crude oil was in the exempted list of US sanctions. These banks, in turn, use that fund to settle payment to exporters.
Last
Updated: Jun 29, 2020, 03.21 PM IST
India which had a major trade deficit with Iran earlier, now also looks at
the barter trade possibility to avert payment imbalances.KOLKATA: The Uco BankNSE -0.67 % and IDBI Bank-controlled payment mechanism
to Indian exporters to Iran is facing hurdles. The funds lying with these
Indian banks, received from oilNSE -1.52 % importers earlier, is depleting since there
was no inflow since May 2019 as India stopped importing oil from Iran post the
US sanction. So much so, that these banks and traders are exploring the possibility of importing non-oil goods such as fruits from Iran to revive fund inflows to the rupee-accounts designated for India-Iran trade. There was no US sanction on Iran’s fruits and vegetable exports.
“There has been no fresh inflow into the rupee-account for India-Iran trades since May 2019,” said Uco chief executive AK Goel, adding that a possibility of importing fruits from Iran is being explored. He did not share the details but said the bank still has funds to pay exporters.
Under the India-Iran trade deal, local oil refiners used to import crude oil from the middle east nation and make payments to the designated rupee-account at Uco and IDBI. This was till the time crude oil was in the exempted list of US sanctions. These banks, in turn, use that fund to settle payment to exporters.
Fruit Imports from Iran can generate anything between Rs 3000-4000 crore a year, traders said. Iran grows 50 different varieties of fruit including apple, pomegranate and oranges.
"Fund position with Uco and IDBI BankNSE 5.00 % is low. They have funds to meet payment of 1.5 million tonnes of rice exports to Iran,” said Satish Goel, vice president of All India Rice Exporters Association and chairman of the Iran committee on rice.
India which had a major trade deficit with Iran earlier, now also looks at the barter trade possibility to avert payment imbalances.
"The bank is also looking at the barter trade option. India can import fruits and saffron from Iran and in return can export tea," a senior tea industry executive said.
Iran, on the other hand, has seen its non-oil exports, amounting to $41.3 billion in 2019-20, exceeding oil exports for the first time in its modern history.
Iran mostly imports rice, tea and pharmaceutical goods from India and is the largest importer of Indian basmati rice with the country buying 4.4 million tonnes annually at an estimated value of Rs 1.6 billion.
At present, consignments of over 2 lakh ton of basmati rice worth about Rs 1700 crore are lying at Iranian ports as the Central Bank of Iran is yet to make any allocation.
The rice exporters have sought the government’s help to ensure steady payments.
Overseas
shipments of agro-commodities to increase with rupee depreciation
Exports of cotton could
increase by up to 16%, basmati rice up to 10% and soyabean by nearly a sixth,
trade participants said.
Last
Updated: Jun 29, 2020, 10.52 AM IST
Exports of basmati rice
have also revived and the industry expects the rupee to touch Rs 78 to Rs 80 to
a dollar, said Vijay Setia, former president of the All India Rice Exporters
Association.
Commodity Summary
MCX
|
COTTON30-Jun-2020
|
15450.00
|
0.00
(0.00%)
|
The depreciation of the rupee
is expected to enhance the competitiveness of Indian agro-commodity exporters,
likely increasing overseas shipments of cotton, basmati rice
and soyabean.
Exports of cotton could increase by up to 16%, basmati rice up to 10% and soyabean by nearly a sixth, trade participants said.
“The Indian rupee has depreciated and has lent a big support to cotton exports. In the beginning of the season (from October 1) we had projected cotton exports to be 42 lakh bales, which we have now revised to 47 to 50 lakh bales. This 12% to 16% growth in exports is due to the weak rupee,” said Atul Ganatra, president, Cotton Association of India. Each bale equals 170 kg.
Ganatra said there was increased buying by China, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Indonesia.
In the last three months, the rupee depreciated by almost 5% to Rs 75.50 against the dollar, said Anuj Gupta, deputy vice president of commodities research at Angel Commodities Broking. Gupta expects the currency could slide to Rs 77- Rs 80 in a month.
"We will now recover the lost export market for soyabean and soyameal due to the weak rupee," said Davish Jain, chairman of the Soyabean Processors Association of India. “Exports for the 2019-20 season beginning October have been slow due to various reasons, but now we see an upswing. Last month, we had targeted exports for the season to be 6 lakh tonne, which can likely go up to 7 lakh tonne. This will make us competitive in global markets compared to the Latin American countries,” he added.
Exports of cotton could increase by up to 16%, basmati rice up to 10% and soyabean by nearly a sixth, trade participants said.
“The Indian rupee has depreciated and has lent a big support to cotton exports. In the beginning of the season (from October 1) we had projected cotton exports to be 42 lakh bales, which we have now revised to 47 to 50 lakh bales. This 12% to 16% growth in exports is due to the weak rupee,” said Atul Ganatra, president, Cotton Association of India. Each bale equals 170 kg.
Ganatra said there was increased buying by China, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Indonesia.
In the last three months, the rupee depreciated by almost 5% to Rs 75.50 against the dollar, said Anuj Gupta, deputy vice president of commodities research at Angel Commodities Broking. Gupta expects the currency could slide to Rs 77- Rs 80 in a month.
"We will now recover the lost export market for soyabean and soyameal due to the weak rupee," said Davish Jain, chairman of the Soyabean Processors Association of India. “Exports for the 2019-20 season beginning October have been slow due to various reasons, but now we see an upswing. Last month, we had targeted exports for the season to be 6 lakh tonne, which can likely go up to 7 lakh tonne. This will make us competitive in global markets compared to the Latin American countries,” he added.
Soyabean and meal demand is coming from the US, Canada, France, Iran, Japan and South Korea.
Exports of basmati rice have also revived and the industry expects the rupee to touch Rs 78 to Rs 80 to a dollar, said Vijay Setia, former president of the All India Rice Exporters Association.
“We are not entering into future contracts due to the volatility in the currency. However, we expect exports to easily increase by 7% to 10% from our previous target of 42 lakh tonne of rice this year. Indian exporters will be able to cash in on the lucrative market of the US, Europe and Middle East,” he said.
The falling rupee has also lifted the exporter’s margins, said guar exporter BD Aggarwal, managing director of Vikas WSP. “I have got a Rs 2-crore benefit for a current order of over Rs 100 crore, with the rupee weakening. Demand for guar in the food processing sector has slowly started picking up,” he said.
The Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the International
Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the Department of
Agricultural Extension (DAE), on Monday distributed agricultural machinery and
rice seed as part of a joint emergency response to the coronavirus
pandemic.
The machinery,
including power tillers, threshers, and diesel generators, will benefit 500
farmers who belong to 25 farmer groups in Ukhiya.
They will
receive full training to use the machinery, as well as financial investment
advice, and technical training aimed at boosting production.
DAE will be
responsible for providing operational support, said IOM.
In addition,
around 24,000 farmers will receive rice seed and household hygiene items from
FAO while IOM will provide 48,000 cloth face masks. The face masks and
hygiene kits, which include soap for hand washing, will help protect the
farmers from catching COVID-19 while at work.
The emergency
assistance, which is line with government priorities on supporting agriculture
and food security, will provide much needed support to farmers who have been
dealing with the combined impact of the coronavirus and Cyclone Amphan.
Movement
restrictions imposed to restrict the spread of COVID-19 have caused labour
shortages on farms and also meant that farmers have found it difficult to buy
agricultural inputs, including more expensive items such as machinery.
“This joint
effort from two UN agencies will support government efforts to improve
agricultural production at an important and sensitive time,” said Robert D.
Simpson, FAO Representative in Bangladesh.
He stressed
that FAO is committed to supporting increased agricultural mechanisation as a
means to boost productivity and support food security.
He added: “Some
500 farmers will have access to the machinery that we are distributing
today.
The machinery
will help safeguard farmers against COVID-19 because they will not be so
reliant on hiring labour, which may be in short supply.
Machinery makes
it possible to produce more food much more efficiently and is key to the country’s
long-term food security.
'Support to
continue'
Patrick
Charignon, Head of Transition and Recovery Division, IOM Cox’s Bazar, praised
the collaboration.
He said: “FAO
and IOM have been working together closely since the beginning of the Rohingya crisis,
in coordination with government. The partnership of the two agencies is highly
recognized at a global level. We will continue supporting affected populations
and expand areas of collaboration.”
The UK is
supporting the agro-machinery distribution while Canada, Sweden, and the
Netherlands are funding FAO for seed distribution and capacity building of
farmers.
“The Government
welcomes this joint partnership that addresses agricultural needs of local
farmers during lockdown and COVID-19. This support will ensure food security
and economic improvement of the upazila,” said Abul Kashem, the Deputy
Director, Department of Agricultural Extension, Cox’s Bazar.
“Supporting
farmer groups through mechanisation is one of the successful livelihoods
programmes in the Upazila. I hope this exemplary activity can benefit
marginalised farmers as an example of effective community-driven agricultural
intervention which can increase productivity of not only the own communities
but also neighbours,” said Md Nikaruzzaman, Upazila Nirbahi Officer,
Ukhiya.
FAO and IOM
continue to strengthen cooperation at the global and national levels to meet
the needs of Rohingya and the host community in Cox’ Bazar and across
Bangladesh.
Along with the
World Food Programme, they implement the Safe Access to Fuel and Energy Plus
Livelihoods (SAFE Plus) project.
The project
addresses environmental degradation through avenues such as distribution of
liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and stoves, reforestation, and improved access to
food production through livelihoods programming.
PhilMech seeks P5.6-billion budget for 2021 to fund farm mechanization
June
29, 2020 | 7:38 pm
PHILSTAR/MICHAEL
VARVCAS 
THE Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) told Congress on Monday that it is
proposing a P5.6-billion budget for next year to support mechanization programs
under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).In a presentation to the House Committee on the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle, PhilMech Executive Director Baldwin G. Jallorina said that the P5.6 billion includes allocations for programs under RCEF (P5.1 billion), personnel services (P133 million), overhead (P87 million) and research (P302 million).
RCEF is designed to help farmers better compete with imported rice and is funded with P10 billion per year in tariffs collected from rice imports.
RCEF also includes programs for seed development, propagation and promotion; credit assistance to farmers and cooperatives; and farmer training.
Asked by House Deputy Speaker Deogracias Victor B. Savellano if PhilMech has programs to repair machinery, Mr. Jallorina replied, “Right now the RCEF mechanization program gives away brand new equipment but no provisions for repair.”
Agriculture Undersecretary Rodolfo V. Vicerra said Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar has ordered regional offices to monitor farm machinery that can be repaired.
“In the last two weeks kasama po ito sa mga priority na in-order po ni Secretary William Dar sa lahat ng ating mga regions na i-monitor ‘yung mga pwedeng ma-activate na mga farm machineries. Dapat po talaga mabigyan natin ng tulong ’yung mga farmers natin kasi nga po farm machineries are not their primary area of competence and we need to be able to assist them (This was among the priorities set in the last two weeks by the Secretary — for the regions to look out for machinery that can be activated, to help the farmers, because repair is not their primary area of competence),” Mr. Vicerra said.
The Northern Luzon regional offices of the Department of Agriculture (DA) proposed budgets worth P24.3 billion for next year.
DA-Region I proposed a P8-billion budget, well above its actual P1.7 billion allocation this year. Personnel services will get P178 million, maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) P1.8 billion, and capital outlays P5.9 billion.
DA-Region II proposed an P11-billion budget, including personnel services of P225 million, MOOE P6.9 billion, and capital outlays of P4.8 billion. It had a budget of P1.74 billion this year.
DA-Cordillera Administrative Region proposed P5.34 billion, against its 2020 budget of P1.28 billion, with a personnel services allocation of P143 million, MOOE P1.39 billion, and capital outlays P3.80 billion.
Budget deliberations in Congress are usually held after the President’s State of the Nation Address in July. — Genshen L. Espedido
