Monday, December 07, 2015

30th November,2015 Daily Global Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine-Latest Rice News Updates

Rice News Headlines...

1.      Saudi Arabia consumes more Indian rice these days than Iran

2.      Rice exports post 10.78pc growth in July-October

3.      Thailand, Iran target bilateral trade of $1.2 bn within 3 years

4.      Asia rice prices high in Vietnam on tight supply

5.      Additional rice imports now expected to be ‘much lower’ than first estimated

6.      Govt claims surplus in rice production in 2015

7.      Trade Ministry Orders Bulog to Stabilise Rice Prices

8.      227,000 Tons of Rice Imported from Vietnam

9.      Japan, VN developing new rice resistant to disease, bugs

10.  El Nino Shrinking Rice Crop Worldwide to Spur Vietnamese Sales

11.  Over 1 million rai of off-season rice farming in Chao Phraya River Basin

12.  In rice-exporting Vietnam, consumers growing fond of Cambodian grain

13.  Paddy growers await payment from procurement agencies

14.  Seoul seeks ways to deal with huge rice stockpile

15.  Venezuela supports rice production in Guinea-Bissau

16.  Price of rice declines in Ghanaian markets

17.  New Abu Dhabi rice mill to start operations next year

18.  Apeda Rice Commodity News 

19.  CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures 

20.  El Nino Shrinking Rice Crop Worldwide to Spur Vietnamese Sales

21.  Drought-hit India's quest for water hampered by thirsty crops


News Detail...

Saudi Arabia consumes more Indian rice these days than Iran
By S V Krishnamachari
| Updated: November 30, 2015 17:48 IST
Labourers work at a rice mill on the outskirts of Agartala, capital of TripuraReuters file
Saudi Arabia continues to be the largest importer of rice from India, importing more than Iran during the first six months of 2015-16, a trend that was first set last fiscal.Saudi Arabia imported 598,001 tonnes of rice valued at $527.16 million during the April-September period, as against Iran which imported 361,474 tonnes of rice valued at $319.71 million.Till 2013-14, Iran was the largest importer of rice from India, buying 15.32 lakh tonnes valued at $1.98 billion, but slipped to second position, importing 10.04 lakh tonnes valued at $1.16 billion next year. Saudi Arabia bought 11.48 lakh tonnes valued at $1.29 billion.In terms of overall rice exports, India exported 55.26 lakh tonnes valued at $ 3.17 billion, during the first six months of the current financial year, with basmati accounting for $1.91 billion.Besides Saudi Arabia and Iran, other rice Description: IB Timesimporters include the UAE, Iraq and Kuwait.The details were given by Nirmala Sitharaman, minister of state for commerce and industry, in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

http://www.ibtimes.co.in/saudi-arabia-consumes-more-indian-rice-these-days-iran-657363

Rice exports post 10.78pc growth in July-October
  Friday, November 27, 2015 - From Print Edition
  ISLAMABAD: Rice exports from the country during the first four months of the current financial year posted 10.78 percent growth as compared to the exports of the corresponding period last year, as per Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) data published Thursday.
 During the period from July-October 2015, about 898,603 metric tons of rice worth $339.92 million exported as against exports of 657,420 metric tons valuing $306.89 million in the same period last year.According to the PBS data, rice exports on month basis also grew by 24 percent during the month of October as compared to the same month of last year. During October, about 347,685 metric tons of rice worth $121.66 million was exported as compared to 22,948 metric tons valuing $9.493 million of the same month last year.However, the data revealed that exports of basmati rice decreased by 31.22 percent in the first four months of the current financial year and reached at 131,160 metric tons from 174,191 metric tons in the same period of the last financial year.

During the period under review, the country managed to earn $145.43 million by exporting the basmati rice as against $11.319 million in the same period last year, the PBS data adds.Meanwhile, wheat exports registered 100 percent increase, as about 1,061 metric tons of wheat was exported during the period from July-October 2015 and earned $0.220 million.The data revealed that vegetable exports during the last four months also witnessed an increase of 89 percent, as the country was able to export 195,659 metric tons of vegetables of different kinds and fetched $56.779 million for the country.The vegetable exports during the first four months of the last financial year were recorded at 85,420 metric tons, valuing $28.689 million, the data revealed.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-3-353576-Rice-exports-post-10.78pc-growth-in-July-October

Thailand, Iran target bilateral trade of $1.2 bn within 3 years


Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation November 27, 2015 1:00 am
Thailand and Iran are aiming at boosting two-way trade to US$1.2 billion in three years, up from $300 million in 2014, after the Thai government sent its first mission there to form closer economic ties now that trade sanctions on that country have been lifted.After meeting with key economic ministries - Trade, Petroleum, Roads and Urban Development, and Industry - in Tehran, Deputy Commerce Minister Suvit Maesincee said the two countries had great opportunities to strengthen trade and investment, and cooperate in the tourism industry.
"Thailand is being considered as a source of food for Iran and a gateway to Asean markets, particularly Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, while Iran could be a gateway for Thailand to penetrate the Middle East market," he said.
The two countries agreed to reorganise the meetings of the Joint Commission between the two sides to drive closer cooperation on various issues starting next February.Deputy Prime Ministers Pravit Wongsuwan and Somkid Jatusripitak will lead Thai delegations to Iran again in early February.Bilateral trade averaged about $600 million a year in the past, but fell to about $300 million last year on lower oil prices. During the first 10 months of this year, Thailand's exports to Iran were worth $181 million. With strong demand from Iran for many products and many investment projects, Thailand will also have greater opportunities to strengthen bilateral ties in promoting business-to-business, government-to-government and government-to-private cooperation in investment and in service businesses.Iran has shown strong interest in drawing more investment from Thailand in infrastructure development projects.
The Thai government led by the National Housing Authority and ItalThai has good potential to join G2G and G2P projects launched by Iran's new town-development corporation.Iran also would like to form a closer relationship with Thailand in promoting and developing its tourism industry, as its sees that Thailand has high expertise in this field.Thailand could invest in building hotels and shopping malls. It could set up a hotel-management school.It will also encourage more Iranians to visit the Kingdom, which is one of the desired destinations for Iranian tourists for entertainment and medical services.

Each year, about 100,000 Iranians travel to Thailand. The Thai government will also speed up approval of visas for Iranians. Visa applications run about 300-400 each day.To facilitate trade for both sides, the Central Bank of Iran and the Bank of Thailand are developing banking and financial-transaction systems. Payments should be easier to make in the near future.Thailand will have a greater possibility of exporting rice to Iran. Iran demands about 1 million to 1.5 million tonnes of imported rice each year.Initially, Thailand through both government and private exporters should be able to ship about 200,000 tonnes of rice to Iran next year. Iran has been buying rice from India and Pakistan.After 53 Thai companies participated in a business-matching function with Iran, $7.2 million (Bt260 million) worth of immediate purchase contracts were clinched.

Asia rice prices high in Vietnam on tight supply

Thursday, November-26-2015
Description: http://pakissan.com/uploads/news/asia-rice-prices-high.jpg

Asian rice markets saw little movement over the past week due to thin demand, while tight supply kept prices high in Vietnam and purchases by China and some Middle East clients failed to move up Thai prices, traders said on Wednesday.The rice export markets in Thailand and Vietnam, the world's second and third biggest exporters of the grain after India, could stay quiet until early 2016 as most demand has been met before the holidays, traders said.
"Vietnamese prices are high and they won't decrease as supply is tight," said a trader in Ho Chi Minh City.Vietnam's 5-percent broken grain has been idle over the past month at $375-$380 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Saigon Port, while the 25-percent broken grain fell to $360-$365 a tonne from $362-$365 a tonne a week ago.The next harvest is due to start in late February 2016 in the southern Mekong Delta food basket.Prices have been firm due to tight supply, especially of the 15-percent broken rice bought by Indonesia in a deal involving 1 million tonnes, traders said.

Rising rice prices following Vietnam's sales to the Philippines and Indonesia have contributed to a 0.31 percent gain in the country's November food prices, the first month-on-month rise since February 2015, the government said.China, the biggest buyer of Vietnamese rice, imported 199,350 tonnes from its southern neighbour in October, up 81 percent from a year ago, Chinese customs data shows.This brought China's total purchases from Vietnam in the first 10 months of 2015 to nearly 1.6 million tonnes, up 42 percent from a year ago.Overall, Vietnam's rice exports in January-November rose 3.6 percent from a year ago to 6.24 million tonnes, the Agriculture Ministry said on Wednesday.
China and several buyers in the Middle East have also been buying small lots of Thai rice, traders said.Thai 5-percent broken grain was unchanged at $360-$365 on Wednesday, FOB basis."All the rice needed for holidays like Christmas and New Year's Day has already been bought months earlier," said a trader in Bangkok, adding that the sale slump was expected to last until early January 2016.In another development, Indonesia was expected to sign a memorandum of understanding soon with Pakistan on rice imports, the Jakarta Post reported last Thursday without giving any details on price or volume.
http://pakissan.com/english/news/newsDetail.php?newsid=30248

Additional rice imports now expected to be ‘much lower’ than first estimated



THE PHILIPPINES’ imports of additional volumes of rice in 2016 will be “much lower” than the initial estimate of 1.3 million tons due to better-than-expected domestic output, the country’s economic planning chief said on Thursday.


Lesser purchases by the Philippines, one of the world’s biggest rice buyers, could dent export prices in Vietnam and Thailand, the country’s main suppliers.The forecast for Philippines’ paddy output in the coming months is “better than what we initially estimated,” said Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, who heads the government’s food security council.
Earlier this month, Mr. Balisacan said he was recommending an additional 1.3 million tons of rice imports following crop losses from recent typhoons and dryness linked to an El Niño weather event.he government expects paddy output this quarter to hit 7.42 million tons based on standing crop, some 1.84% lower versus the harvest in the same period last year.
But unmilled rice output should recover slightly in the first quarter of 2016 and grow a modest 0.31 percent from a year earlier to 4.38 million tons.The National Food Authority, the state agency overseeing imports, has yet to approve any additional rice purchase on top of the 500,000 tons that the Philippines has already bought from Vietnam and Thailand for shipment in the first quarter, Mr. Balisacan said.“What we will have to worry about is the second quarter,” he told reporters after announcing third-quarter economic growth data. -- Reuters
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=TopStory&title=Additional-rice-imports-now-expected-to-be-&145much-lower&8217-than-first-estimated&id=119321

Govt claims surplus in rice production in 2015


Jumat, 27 November 2015 10:46 WIB |
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Ministry of Agriculture claimed that Indonesia had achieved a rice production surplus in the October 2014 - October 2015 period because it did not import rice for public consumption during the period."Rice production was surplus. This is the best achievement over the past five years," Director General for Food Crops Plantation Hasil Sembiring said here on Thursday evening.In October 2014, state logistics board Bulogs rice stock was 1.7 million tons which was reached with imports of 800 thousand tons. But in October 2015, without optimal absorption during grand harvest peak in the January - May 2015 period, Bulogs rice stock remained at 1.7 million tons, he said.
He said that the achievement was made even with an increase in the number of population by 3.7 million which consumed 460 thousand tons of rice. "Although Indonesia was hit by strong El Nino, rice increased to 1.26 million tons from that in 2014," he said. In 1998, with strong El Nino (1.9 percent intensity), Indonesia was forced to import 7.1 million tons of rice. At that time the number of Indonesia population was only 202 million. But in 2015, the number of population reached 252 million with an El Nino intensity of 2.4 percent. In such a condition, Indonesia should have imported 9.0 million tons of rice but instead it had a stock of 1.3 million tons, the director general said.(*)
Trade Ministry Orders Bulog to Stabilise Rice Prices
MONDAY, 30 NOVEMBER, 2015 | 19:28 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Trade Minister Thomas Lembong has instructed state logistics agency, BULOG, to intervene in the rice market by using the government's rice reserves to bring rice prices under control. The instruction was contained in Trade Ministry's Decree No. 944/M-DAG/SD/11/2015, which instructs BULOG to sell off its' rice reserves at Rp7,500 per kilogram in Java, or Rp7,600 per kilogram outside Java. The letter - dated November 13, 2015 - also puts a cap on retail prices in the market. The instruction stated that prices cannot exceed Rp8000 per kilogram over BULOG's prices, and that the cap will be effective until prices have gone down. That said, the Decree does not specify how much rice reserves have been set aside for the interventions, which will be done across the archipelago - with priorities given to areas where rice prices have fluctuated way above the average.

 Through the Decree, government asks BULOG's deputies to work together with provincial and district heads to coordinate the intervention, and to report the result of the intervention to the Trade Ministry,the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, as well as the Agricultural Minister as the Head of the Food Security Council. According to the Trade Ministry's Basic Goods Price Description: Trade Ministry Orders Bulog to Stabilise Rice PricesSurveillance System on Monday, November 30, rice prices have reached around Rp10,602.21 per kilogram - up from last month's average that stood at Rp10,436.76 per kilogram.
227,000 Tons of Rice Imported from Vietnam
SUNDAY, 29 NOVEMBER, 2015 | 16:38 WIB
Description: 227,000 Tons of Rice Imported from VietnamTEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Djarot Kusumayakti, president director of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), said on Sunday, November 29, 2015 that his institution had imported 227 tons of Vietnamese rice since November 7, 2015. Earlier, the state logistics company gained a license to import 1 million tons of medium-quality rice from Vietnam to anticipate famine that was predicted to occur in early 2016.Djarot revealed that the rice was distributed in several regions based on their demands.“In total, there are 16 ports handling the arrival of the rice,” Djarot said.However, the distribution was hampered by infrastructure limitations and capacities at the ports. For instance, rice that arrived in Tanjung Perak, Surabaya, was unable to be distributed to East Nusa Tenggara since the port in the province could only accommodate small vessels.

According to Djarot, such a condition would not occur if the decision to import rice was made earlier. Therefore, Bulog would have more time to plan the distribution.Djarot revealed that the rice imports had increased Bulog’s stock to 1.3 million tons. However, the government was still concern with crop failures caused by this year’s El Nino. Djarot added that the government had considered importing more rice from other countries.“Rice imports from Pakistan have been considered, but no agreement has been reached yet,” Djarot explained.

http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2015/11/29/056723214/227000-Tons-of-Rice-Imported-from-Vietnam
Japan, VN developing new rice resistant to disease, bugs
HCM CITY (VNS) — Vietnamese and Japanese researchers have completed an international project to develop a new rice variety that is disease- and insect-resistant with a high-yield, short-growth duration.The rice variety was developed by using certain genes and the most advanced molecular bio-technology.The project, called the "Development of Crop Genotypes for the Midlands and Mountain Areas of North Viet Nam" was implemented from December 2010 to November this year.
Financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the project was carried out by Viet Nam National University of Agriculture (VNUA), Kyushu University and Nagoya University of Japan.Dr. Pham Van Cuong, vice president of VNUA, said: "Plant breeding in Viet Nam has for years not been based on rigorous science. It has had a lack of scientific proof. But with the new technology transferred by Japan, we can make long-selling products with authentic proof based on science, and we can guarantee stable production and profit for producers."The improved rice line has been well received because of its short-growth duration as it can help farmers avoid the flood season, minimise damages caused by annual typhoons and lead to more diverse cash crops during the winter crop season.More than 50 promising rice lines, which have been genetically guaranteed to have good performances, have been developed.
Description: http://vietnamnews.vn/thumbnail/450/khang-dan1.jpg?url=Storage/Images/2015/11/30/khang-dan1.jpg
The ecological adaptability of the selected lines was proven in Thai Nguyen and Lao Cai provinces. The rice varieties showed adaptability to not only the northern mountainous region but also to other environments in Viet Nam.The enthusiastic investment by the provincial government and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nghe An (DARD Nghe An) has led to sustainable production of such improved lines and provided a prototype for other provinces in the country for development from promising rice lines from VNUA.The technology, which can be applied to other crops such as soybeans, sorghum and maize as well as vegetables, helps to improve the quality of agricultural products. — VNS
Scientists visit a new rice variety field in Nam Dan District, Nghe An Province. Vietnamese and Japanese researchers have completed an international project to develop a new rice variety that is disease- and insect-resistant with a high-yield, short-growth duration. — Photodangcongsan.vn
http://vietnamnews.vn/society/279221/japan-vn-developing-new-rice-resistant-to-disease-bugs.html

El Nino Shrinking Rice Crop Worldwide to Spur Vietnamese Sales


November 27, 2015 — 11:14 AM PKT
 First quarter shipments seen jumping 14% to 1.3 million tons

Global rice output forecast to drop in 2015-16 on El Nino
Rice exports from Vietnam may increase 14 percent in the first quarter as the strongest El Nino in almost two decades shrivels crops in some countries, spurring importers to build reserves.Shipments will jump to 1.3 million metric tons in the three months ending March from 1.14 million tons a year earlier, said Tran Tuan Anh, Vietnam’s deputy minister of industry and trade. The world’s third-biggest exporter is already seeing a spurt in demand, he said in an e-mail on Nov. 25. October rice shipments surged 43 percent to 859,000 tons from a year earlier, the highest level since July 2012, government data show.

Indonesia and the Philippines are among nations importing rice after dry weather induced by the strongest El Nino since the record event in 1997-98 hurts crops. Prospects for the event to further strengthen may prompt buyers to secure supplies before prices run up as the United Nations’ Food & Agriculture Organization predicts a decline in global rice output in the 2015-16 season with consumption surpassing production.“Rice supply and stockpiles will decline, and demand for imports will rise because of unfavorable weather conditions,” Anh said. “The El Nino event occurring this year and prolonging into 2016 will affect production in many countries, especially Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.”Rough-rice futures on the Chicago Board of Trade have rallied 29 percent from the lowest level in more than eight years in May on concern that the El Nino will shrink global harvest. The contract for delivery in January closed at $12.13 per 100 pounds on Wednesday.

Output Decline
Production in Thailand may decline to the lowest in 19 years as dry weather may prompt the world’s top exporter to further restrict plantings to preserve water supply. The Philippines is monitoring rice production closely to see whether there’s need to import more on El Nino after purchasing 750,000 tons from Vietnam and Thailand for delivery from November to March 2016. Indonesia this month agreed to import 1.5 million tons from Vietnam and Thailand and is in talks with Cambodia and Myanmar for additional supplies, according to state-run food company Bulog.

Vietnam’s paddy rice output may increase 0.3 percent to 45.1 million tons this year, VietnamPlus reported in September, citing the Agriculture Ministry. Exports may climb to 7 million tons in 2016 from 6.2 million tons this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.Boosting rice exports will still be a challenge for Vietnam as Thailand is looking to draw down the stockpiles it accumulated under a state purchase plan, Anh said. Major importers, especially in Southeast Asia, are also diversifying supply sources and boosting domestic production, he said.Thailand has about 13.7 million tons of rice in state stockpiles after the military government sold 5 million tons, Chutima Bunyapraphasara, permanent secretary for commerce, said Nov. 16.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-27/el-nino-shrinking-rice-crop-worldwide-to-spur-vietnamese-sales

Over 1 million rai of off-season rice farming in Chao Phraya River Basin


BY EDITORON 2015-11-30THAILAND
Over 1 million rai of off-season rice farming in Chao Phraya River Basin
BANGKOK, 30 November 2015 (NNT) – Water management for the Chao Praya River Basin continues to be challenging with decreasing water inflows, while all sides have been urged to conserve water consumption during this drought season.

The four major dams in the Chao Phraya River Basin currently contain an accumulated water reserves at 10,891 million cubic meters. The amount of water flowing into these dams has continued to decline, with 7.35 million cubic meters inbound, against a consumption rate of 15 million cubic meters per day.Water reserves available for usage are reported to be at 4,195 million cubic meters.From 1 November 2015 until now, 419 million cubic meters of water has been used, with 13 percent allocated to the Chao Phraya River Basin. This drought season’s water allocation plan dictates that 2880 million cubic meters can still be allocated for usage for the remainder of the season.
Although the water consumption has proceeded according to plan, farmers have cultivated a total of 1 million rais of off-season rice, and are at risk of suffering water shortages in the near future if off-season rice farming continues to expand.However, the Royal Irrigation Department and related agencies have continued their task in providing knowledge and understanding to the farmers and water users, so that the limited supply of water is sufficient for consumption and ecosystem conservation throughout the dry season; until the early rainy season next year.All sectors have been asked to use water as sparingly as possible so that this year’s drought crisis can be overcome.

http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/over-1-million-rai-of-off-season-rice-farming-in-chao-phraya-river-basin/122907/
In rice-exporting Vietnam, consumers growing fond of Cambodian grain

TUOI TRE NEWS
Updated : 11/26/2015 14:13 GMT + 7
While Vietnam is among the world’s top rice exporters, many consumers in some southern markets now prefer several types of Cambodian rice to the domestically grown produce.
Some rice businesses in the southern province of Tien Giang have begun sourcing rice from Cambodia to distribute to Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring localities, instead of that grown in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, known as the country’s granary.Trung, who runs a major rice firm in the province, said he sells an average of 500 metric tons of Cambodian rice on a monthly basis.He always comes to Cambodia to directly buy paddy there, and the rice processing and packaging are done at his own facility.“So I can ensure competitive prices and good quality for the produce,” he said.

Many Tien Giang-based rice businesses say consumers in southern Vietnam are fond of four types of Cambodian rice, namely Sa Mo, Sa Ri, Mong Chim and Soc Mien, even though there is nothing special about their flavor and aroma.“Cambodian rice fetches stable prices, so you do not have to worry about suffering losses,” Nguyen Thi Tim, a Tien Giang rice seller, said.“The demand for Cambodian rice is also growing so it sells easier than the domestic grain.”Kiet, who runs a rice-husking plant in Tien Giang, explains that the four most popular types of Cambodian rice in Vietnam are winter rice, which requires longer growing duration than the summer grain so “there are only two crops per year.”“The short-grain Cambodian rice is less sticky when cooked, so those who do not like sticky and aromatic rice will prefer it,” he added.

His explanation is supported by Do Thi Mui, who runs two rice stores in Phan Thiet, the capital of the south-central province of Binh Thuan.“The cooked Cambodian rice is soft and not sticky, which is easy to eat and digest, therefore largely enjoyed by local eateries and those doing heavy physical work,” Mui said.Many eateries that sell cooked rice in Long An Province and Tien Giang admit that they can reap bigger profits by selling Cambodian rice over Vietnamese grain, as most consumers prefer soft to sticky rice.Nguyen Thi Kieu Nga, a rice seller in Long An, also located in the Mekong Delta, said farmers usually do not use pesticide on the winter rice crops, which helps the Cambodian grain to win new customers.Professor Vo Tong Xuan, a seasoned rice expert, confirmed that many Vietnamese consumers are eating Cambodian rice as the grain is ‘cleaner’ than that grown in Vietnam, thanks to the sparse use of insecticides.

“Many officials in the Vietnamese provinces bordering Cambodia have told me that they choose Cambodian or Thai rice for safety reasons,” he said.“This illustrates the importance of growing rice under best practice methods such as VietGAP or GlobalGAP.“People now eat for their health, not for a full stomach.”Last year Vietnam exported 7.5 million metric tons, but the figure this year is expected to be only 6.7 million metric tons, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.In the Jan-Oct period, the country’s rice export reached 5.03 million metric tons, according to the Vietnam Food Administration.
tuoitrenews.vn/.../in-riceexporting-vietnam-consumers-growing-fond-of

Paddy growers await payment from procurement agencies

 

Govt yet to clear Rs 70-crore dues, arhtiyas face problems
Sushil Goyal
Tribune News Service
Sangrur, November 27
The farmers have been waiting for the payment in respect of their paddy crop which they had sold to government procurement agencies about 15 days ago in local grain market and nearby procurement centres.It is learnt that the state government’s procurement agencies could not make the payments to the arhtiyas during the past about 15 days as the Central government has not released the funds for the purpose.As per information, all five government procurement agencies, namely Pungrain, Markfed, Punsup, Warehouse and Punjab Agro, have yet to make the payment to the tune of Rs 70 crore to the arhtiyas of the Sangrur district so far. During this paddy season, these agencies had procured paddy worth over Rs 2,350 crore in Sangrur district while the agencies had already made payments to the tune of over Rs 2,280 crore to the arhtiyas.
Pardeep Singla, an arhtiya of Sangrur grain market, said he was yet to receive the payment, worth Rs 95 lakh, from three procurement agencies — Punjab Agro, Pungrain and Markfed — though his ‘Rupay Card’ had been swiped about 15 days ago by these agencies to make the payment. He said due to the non-payment of dues, the arhtiyas had been facing problems as the farmers were demanding money from them.The accountant of an arhtiya of Sangrur grain market said their firm was yet to receive about Rs 2 crore from the procurement agencies for the paddy crop of farmers, sold to agencies more than a fortnight ago. He said the procurement agencies had swiped their “Rupay card” but amounts had not been credited into their bank accounts so far.The District Food Supply Controller (DFSC), Sangrur, Manish Narula, said the payments would be credited into the accounts of arhtiyas by Monday or Tuesday as the Central government had released funds for the purpose. He said in Sangrur district, the government procurement agencies had already made 97% payment of the procured paddy to the arhtiyas.


http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/paddy-growers-await-payment-from-procurement-agencies/163864.html

Seoul seeks ways to deal with huge rice stockpile

PUBLISHED
NOV 28, 2015, 5:00 AM SGT

Falling local demand amid bumper crop = 1.36m tonne surplus

Chang May Choon South Korea Correspondent In Seoul
Rice, which used to be a Korean staple eaten three times a day, has lost so much of its appeal that South Korea is now stuck with a huge rice surplus of 1.36 million tonnes after a record bumper crop this year.With South Koreans eating less and less rice - only 9.6 times a week according to a recent study - the government is now trying to create new rice-based products in a bid to increase consumption.The latest is rice-based penne pasta, after rice bread and rice noodles. But habits may be hard to change as people have become used to eating such products made from wheat.
http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/seoul-seeks-ways-to-deal-with-huge-rice-stockpile

Venezuela supports rice production in Guinea-Bissau

NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015

Description: Food Stuffs NewVenezuela will support the production of rice and other grains in Guinea-Bissau, said Wednesday in Bissau the Venezuelan ambassador to Guinea-Bissau, at the end of an audience granted by President José Mário Vaz.Ambassador Eddy José Cordova Corcega gave assurances that Venezuela would find mechanisms, which he did not detail, to support the production of rice, maize and sorghum as well as other agricultural products, to improve the diet of the Guinean population.Corcega said the issue of support to Guinea-Bissau would be discussed further at the next Africa/South America summit, to be held in May 2016 in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, which the Guinea-Bissau head of state will attend. (macauhub/GW)

 

Price of rice declines in Ghanaian markets


The price of rice has declined in Ghanaian markets within the last week of November.It dropped by 9 percent to close the week at an average price of GHS 25.00 for “one small bag of 5kg (imported-Unclesam).” This was followed by Maize which made a 5 percent drop to close the week at GHS 4.00 per olunka. Yam (Pona) also followed with 4 percent drop to close the week at GHS 3.60 and Soya bean dropped by 2 percent to close the week at GHS 6.40 per olunka. 


Cassava (Gari) and Groundnut dropped by a percentage point each to close at GHS 4.40 and 12 .90 per olunka respectively.
 Esoko Ghana reported that tomato gained 4 percent to close the week at GHS 11.70 per “medium size tomato tin”. Cowpea followed with 2 percent gained to close the week at GHS 7.80 per olunka and Cassava (fresh tubers) also gained a percentage point to close the week at 3.60 per 3-4 tubers. The other commodity prices remained the same.On the various markets, the price for an “olunka” of maize dropped by 20 percent in Dambai to close the week at GHS 4.00, by 16 percent in Bawku to close the week at GHS 3.00 and by 2 percent in Kumasi to close the week at GHS 5.00; in the other markets the price remained the same.

Techiman
 

A “medium size tomato tin”, full of fresh tomatoes lost 11 percent in Techiman to close the week at GHS 11.50. The commodity however made some gains in Kumasi and Dambai.

Kumasi
 

In Kumasi, it gained 14 percent to close at GHS 9.10 and in Dambai by 76 percentage to close the week at GHS 7.90. In the other markets prices remained the same
.

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Price-of-rice-declines-in-Ghanaian-markets-396883

New Abu Dhabi rice mill to start operations next year


Reuters
November 29, 2015 Updated: November 29, 2015 05:17 PM

A rice mill with a production capacity of 80,000 tonnes a year will start operations in Abu Dhabi in the second quarter of 2016, a senior executive said on Sunday.The Al Dahra Kohinoor facility, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi’s agribusiness firm Al Dahra Holding and India’s Kohinoor Foods, will be located in the Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad).“Al Dahra Kohinoor facility will ensure the sustainable and undisrupted supply of essential food commodities into the Emirate (Abu Dhabi) and we are eager to launch operations by the second quarter of 2016,” Khadim Al Darei, vice chairman and managing director of Al Dahra Holding said in a statement.Al Dahra is the government’s strategic partner on food security matters. The UAE relies on imports for 85 per cent of its food consumption.The facility will handle the full production cycle from milling, storing, packing and distributing the rice within the UAE and exporting to foreign markets via Khalifa Port.
The Dh140 million facility will have a storage capacity of 50,000 tonnes of rice, the statement said.
Apeda Rice Commodity News
International Benchmark Price
Price on: 30-11-2015
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Apricots
1
Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)
4875
2
Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)
4375
3
Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t)
3625
Raisins
1
Californian Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK (USD/t)
2514
2
South African Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK (USD/t)
2440
White Sugar
1
CZCE White Sugar Futures (USD/t)
887
2
Kenya Mumias white sugar, EXW (USD/t)
691
3
Pakistani refined sugar, EXW Akbari Mandi (USD/t)
518
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 30-11-2015
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Maize
1
Kottur (Karnataka)
Local
1295
1526
2
Dahod (Gujarat)
Yellow
1525
1580
3
Palthan (Maharashtra)
Yellow 
1325
1600
Paddy(Dhan)
1
Dehgam (Gujarat)
Other
1165
1330
2
Jajpur (Orissa)
Other
1410
1500
3
Bareta (Punjab)
Other
1700
2450
Guava
1
Batala (Punjab)
Other
1600
2200
2
Kolhapur (Maharashtra)
Other
600
1400
3
Kangra (Himachal Pradesh)
Other
2500
3000
Cauliflower
1
Palayam (Kerala)
Other
3000
3300
2
Nagpur (Maharashtra)
Other
600
900
3
Shillong (Meghalaya)
Other
1600
1800
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 30-11-2015
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Ahmedabad
397
2
Mysore
375
3
Namakkal
357
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 30-11-2015
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Onions Dry
Package: 40 lb cartons
1
Atlanta
Peru
Yellow
24
26
2
Chicago
Nevada
Yellow
22
25
3
Dallas
Washington
Yellow
27.50
27.50
Carrots
Package: 20 1-lb film bags
1
Atlanta
California
Baby Peeled
20
20.75
2
Dallas
Arizona
Baby Peeled
17
18.50
3
Philadelphia
California
Baby Peeled
15
16
Apples
Package: cartons tray pack
1
Atlanta
Washington
Red Delicious
24
26.50
2
Dallas
Washington 
Red Delicious
25.75
26.25
3
Miami
Washington
Red Delicious
22
23
Source:USDA


International Benchmark Price
Price on: 27-11-2015
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Garlic
1
Chinese first grade granules, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
2100
2
Chinese Grade A dehydrated flakes, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
2000
3
Chinese powdered, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
1800
Ginger
1
Chinese sliced, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
4600
2
Chinese whole, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
5100
3
Indian Cochin, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
3000
Sultanas
1
Australian 5 Crown, CIF UK (USD/t)
2905
2
South African Orange River, CIF UK (USD/t)
2598
3
Turkish No 9 standard, FOB Izmir (USD/t)
2075
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 28-11-2015
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Rice
1
Manjeri (Kerala)
Other
2800
3800
2
Srirampur (Assam)
Common
2950
3200
3
Gajol (West Bengal)
Fine 
2600
2800
Wheat
1
Rajkot (Gujarat)
Other
1690
2250
2
Sangli (Maharashtra)
Other
1700
3500
3
Bolpur (West Bengal)
Other
1590
1730
Mousambi
1
Manjeri (Kerala)
Other
2700
2900
2
Barnala (Punjab)
Other
3500
4000
3
Solan (Himachal Pradesh)
Other
2000
2500
Carrot
1
Chala (Kerala)
Other
3700
3750
2
Jalgaon (Maharashtra)
Other
1800
2200
3
Ahmedabad (Gujarat)
Other
1000
1500
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 28-11-2015
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Pune
390
2
Chittoor
373
3
Hyderabad
353
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 25-11-2015
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Potatoes
Package: 50 lb sacks
1
Atlanta
Idaho
Russet
15.50
15.50
2
Chicago
Idaho
Russet
9
11
3
Miami
Washington
Russet
13
14
Cucumbers
Package: cartons film wrapped
1
Atlanta
Mexico
Long Seedless
14
14
2
Dallas
California
Long Seedless
17
18.50
3
Detroit
Canada
Long Seedless
10
12
Grapefruit
Package: 4/5 bushel cartons
1
Atlanta
Florida
Red
24
25
2
Detroit
Florida 
Red
20
21
3
Philadelphia
Florida
Red
14
16
Source:USDA

Skyrocketing Support for RCPP in Missouri
Blake Gerard
COLUMBIA, MO -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project, Sustaining the Future of Rice, recently received further affirmation of its popularity among growers when the November 20 EQIP application deadline for Louisiana and Missouri saw more than 260 applications submitted across 63,800 acres for Missouri alone!
 The project is sponsored by USA Rice and Ducks Unlimited through their Rice Stewardship Partnership, along with more than forty supporting partners.  Covering the six major rice-growing states, the project has been dubbed the "National Rice RCPP project," funding approximately $10 million worth of conservation improvements on ricelands using the Natural Resources Conservation Service's Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).Project implementation began earlier this fall with more than 300 EQIP applications collected in Arkansas and Mississippi.  The tremendous turnout in Missouri applications comes following the first Rice Conservation Field Day in Portageville earlier this month.
 Blake Gerard, Missouri rice farmer and chairman of USA Rice Farmers, said, "The application numbers are overwhelming.  Although everything can't be funded, I think it speaks volumes about the demand for conservation funding to see hundreds of applications come out of only seven counties in our state."
 Gerard added, "Rice farmers in Missouri are looking forward to working with USA Rice and Ducks Unlimited throughout the coming years to continue funding these environmentally and economically beneficial projects on their operations."
 An EQIP application period for California and Texas will be announced later this winter. The planning process is currently underway and applications for CSP will be announced in late 2016.
 Contact:  Peter Bachmann (703) 236-1475
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures   



CME Group (Prelim):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for November 30 
Month
Price
Net Change

January 2016
$11.905
- $0.050
March 2016
$12.170
- $0.055
May 2016
$12.465
- $0.050
July 2016
$12.725
- $0.045
September 2016
$12.560
- $0.090
November 2016
$12.560
- $0.090
January 2017
$12.560
- $0.090

El Nino Shrinking Rice Crop Worldwide to Spur Vietnamese Sales


November 27, 2015 — 11:14 AM PKT
Global rice output forecast to drop in 2015-16 on El Nino
Rice exports from Vietnam may increase 14 percent in the first quarter as the strongest El Nino in almost two decades shrivels crops in some countries, spurring importers to build reserves.
Shipments will jump to 1.3 million metric tons in the three months ending March from 1.14 million tons a year earlier, said Tran Tuan Anh, Vietnam’s deputy minister of industry and trade. The world’s third-biggest exporter is already seeing a spurt in demand, he said in an e-mail on Nov. 25. October rice shipments surged 43 percent to 859,000 tons from a year earlier, the highest level since July 2012, government data show.
Indonesia and the Philippines are among nations importing rice after dry weather induced by the strongest El Nino since the record event in 1997-98 hurts crops. Prospects for the event to further strengthen may prompt buyers to secure supplies before prices run up as the United Nations’ Food & Agriculture Organization predicts a decline in global rice output in the 2015-16 season with consumption surpassing production.“Rice supply and stockpiles will decline, and demand for imports will rise because of unfavorable weather conditions,” Anh said. “The El Nino event occurring this year and prolonging into 2016 will affect production in many countries, especially Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.”Rough-rice futures on the Chicago Board of Trade have rallied 29 percent from the lowest level in more than eight years in May on concern that the El Nino will shrink global harvest. The contract for delivery in January closed at $12.13 per 100 pounds on Wednesday.

Output Decline

Production in Thailand may decline to the lowest in 19 years as dry weather may prompt the world’s top exporter to further restrict plantings to preserve water supply. The Philippines is monitoring rice production closely to see whether there’s need to import more on El Nino after purchasing 750,000 tons from Vietnam and Thailand for delivery from November to March 2016. Indonesia this month agreed to import 1.5 million tons from Vietnam and Thailand and is in talks with Cambodia and Myanmar for additional supplies, according to state-run food company Bulog.Vietnam’s paddy rice output may increase 0.3 percent to 45.1 million tons this year, VietnamPlus reported in September, citing the Agriculture Ministry. Exports may climb to 7 million tons in 2016 from 6.2 million tons this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.Boosting rice exports will still be a challenge for Vietnam as Thailand is looking to draw down the stockpiles it accumulated under a state purchase plan, Anh said. Major importers, especially in Southeast Asia, are also diversifying supply sources and boosting domestic production, he said.
Thailand has about 13.7 million tons of rice in state stockpiles after the military government sold 5 million tons, Chutima Bunyapraphasara, permanent secretary for commerce, said Nov. 16.

Drought-hit India's quest for water hampered by thirsty crops

 

RAMPUR, INDIA | 
A women uses a hand-pump to fill drinking water on the outskirts of Amritsar in Punjab, India, November 15, 2015.
REUTERS/MUNISH SHARMA
Description: A women uses a hand-pump to fill drinking water on the outskirts of Amritsar in Punjab, India, November 15, 2015. REUTERS/Munish SharmaPleas by local officials for farmers to switch from rice to oilseeds and pulses and protect dangerously low water levels are falling on deaf ears, and may be further undermined by government policies encouraging cultivation of thirsty crops.Back-to-back droughts for the first time in nearly 30 years mean some rural areas in the north are running out of water for human consumption and agriculture, prompting warnings of serious consequences if urgent action is not taken.

"It is unlikely that India will have another drought next year; three years in a row has never happened before," said Ashok Gulati, a farm economist who advised the last government."But with extreme events increasing due to climate change, you never know. If we don't wake up now then, God forbid, people will leave farming to become labourers at railways stations."With more than two-thirds of the 1.25 billion population living off the land, water scarcity could affect the majority and hit long term food supplies.

As world leaders meet in Paris next week to agree a deal on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, India says climate change is already hurting the agriculture and water sectors, and the impact is amplified by poverty and a heavy reliance on farming.Locally, officials are trying to change farming habits and enforce stricter rules on water usage."We are encouraging crop diversification; we are going for pulses," said Amit Kishore, chief development officer in Rampur, a farm belt city in Uttar Pradesh."We have been trying to convince farmers to shift to horticulture as well, but the uptake has not been satisfactory."Four out of Rampur's six administrative areas are so-called "dark zones", with 80 percent or more of groundwater exhausted. In those zones, the practice of boring wells has been banned this fiscal year.Without urgent action, the region risks going the way of Punjab and Haryana, two parched states where the groundwater has sunk even further.Some farmers in those states now need to dig 300 feet (91 metres) for water, compared to five feet (1.5 metres) in the 1960s, according to research by a local government scientist.

"RICE SELLS"
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged farmers to use water wisely, advocating a "per drop, more crop" approach that includes water-saving methods like drip irrigation.Yet his 18-month-old government has also boosted incentives to grow water-intensive rice, wheat and sugarcane that India exports, at the expense of crops like oilseeds or pulses that it has to import.Little wonder some farmers in the northern farming belt are ignoring the advice of local officials."We grow rice because that is what sells," said Babu Ram Saini, standing by a pond in Jiwai Jadid village in Rampur.

 "Productivity for lentils is so low that we'll not be able to sustain ourselves without massive government support," he said.Some experts are advocating tougher measures to force more efficient use of water. Wastage is encouraged by the supply of free or subsidized power which boosts politicians' popularity."We have been trying to tell farmers that if you continue growing rice, more places are going to become dark zones," said V.K. Mishra, a regional head of the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute in Uttar Pradesh's capital Lucknow."We should make a law that you can't grow rice in areas where the water table is very low."Rice covers 62 percent of Punjab's area under cultivation, up from 10 percent in 1970.

The expansion of rice has been similar in neighbouring Haryana.Though the droughts have hit crops, India still produces more rice, wheat and sugar than it consumes, drawing accusations from the World Trade Organization that stockpiling to provide cheap grain to the poor unfairly distorts trade."It is quite natural for our farmers to go for rice and cane when both power and water are almost free," said economist Gulati, adding that selling such produce abroad is like exporting "precious water for free".
(Additional reporting by Mayank Bhardwaj in NEW DELHI; Editing by Mike Collett-White)

http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/11/28/india-water-crops-rice-pulses-idINKBN0TG10S20151128