Friday, December 11, 2015

10th December 2015 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine-Latest Rice News Updates

Today Rice News Headlines...
§  Indonesia to Import 1m Tons of Pakistan Rice in New Deal
§  Slump in Basmati Rice Exports
§  Pakistan-Iran relations: Latest setback
§  Indonesia to import Pak rice
§  Cambodia fails to meet rice export target
§  Indonesia to import 1m tonnes of rice from Pakistan
§  Indonesia to import Pak rice
§  Paddy Price Increased to rs 1200 per 40kg
§  Slump in Basmati Rice Exports
§  PHILIPPINES TO IMPORT EXTRA 300,000-400,000 T RICE
§  Cambodia’s Rice Exports Miss Target
§  DOST, CSC welcome new scientist, promote 3 others
§  PH conditions dampen global rice output CROPS DAMAGED BY ‘LANDO,’ EL NIÑO
§  Louisiana rice better-than-usual second crop
§  Philippines to increase rice import in 2016
§  Rice Prices
§  Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report
§  S.Korea buys 55,555 T rice for March-April
§  APEDA Rice Commodity News
§  USA Rice Daily News
§  From Actress to Cookbook Author: The Lives of Madhur Jaffrey

News Detail...
Indonesia to Import 1m Tons of Pakistan Rice in New Deal

Jakarta. Indonesia will import 1 million metric tons of milled rice over the next four years from Pakistan, in a move to shield the country's food security against volatile weather patterns.The two governments, represented by Indonesia's Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong and Pakistan's Ambassador to Indonesia Mohammad Aqil Nadeem, signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday, according to a report from PkRevenue.com.The deal, with an estimated worth of $400 million in imports between 2016 and 2019, will be executed by Indonesia's procurement agency, Bulog, and Pakistan's Trading Corporation of Pakistan.Indonesia currently has similar MoU with Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, though only some of the deals have been realized.Pakistan is the world 11th largest rice producer with annual production of 6.9 million tons of milled rice.The country saw trade with Indonesia rise 27 percent to $2.2 billion last year following a Preferential Trade Agreement in 2013.Indonesia enjoyed $1.8 billion surplus in the trade, thanks to its palm oil exports.
http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/business/indonesia-import-1m-tons-pakistan-rice-new-deal/


Slump in Basmati Rice Exports

Tags: exports

A slump in the export of basmati rice is having a damaging effect on the economy of Pakistan. It has exacerbated rural poverty with often catastrophic consequences for small farmers. The causes of the slump are complex and both national and provincial governments are facing criticism for failure to act.Pakistan’s exports of basmati rice have declined by 40% in the past four years, from 1.1mn tons in 2011 to 676,630 tons in 2015. As a consequence, the domestic market has been overwhelmed by an unmanageable glut.
http://www.rwfreight.co.uk/news/2015/12/10/slump-in-basmati-rice-exports-123/


Pakistan-Iran relations: Latest setback

·                     5
Relations between Pakistan and Iran are often jittery as well as dysfunctional. Pakistan, in the last of November 2015, arbitrary and abruptly suspended 723 kilometer freight train service between Quetta, Baluchistan and Zahedan, Iran, citing the security and lack of trade activities between the two countries as main reasons for it.This was a major decision on Pak-Iran relations, taken by the Pakistan government after Lt. General (Retd) Nasser Khan Janjua's took over as National Security Advisor (NSA) on October 23, 2015. Lt. General Janjua has replaced a senior technocrat, diplomat and former Federal Minister Sartaj Aziz.
In Focus
Before retirement, Gen. Janjua was Corps Commander of Quetta based XII Corps and he claims to be fully conscious of security issues of Baluchistan, which is Iran's bordering and troubled province of Pakistan. He is, however, also known as a 'Butcher of Baluchistan' amongst nationalist and separatists Baluchis.Freight train service between Pakistan and Iran, which are two majority Sunni and Shia countries of the world, was earlier suspended in 2010, and was resumed in January 2015 and the service remain suspended since September 2015 due to law and order problem In Baluchistan and security reasons.
The freight train used to take about 30 hours to cover distance of about 700 km between Quetta and Zahedan. While Pakistan used to export rice and other goods, Iran used to export oil, Sulfur, chemicals and charcoal to Pakistan through the train.Incidentally, freight train service between Pakistan and Iran (Quetta-Zahedan) was at peak in 2005-06 but was virtually abandoned in 2010 due to certain technical problems, including poor infrastructure of railways from Quetta to Taftan, which is the starting point of Iran border as well as law and order problem in Baluchistan.Economically it was also not found viable to maintain the freight train service between Pakistan and Iran as annual trade through this mean between the two countries was eight thousand bogies per year in 2004-05, which came down at only hundred bogies in the year 2010.Moreover, Pakistan Railways, which has been facing annual deficit of over Pak Rs 26 billion annually, considered the running of freight train service between Pakistan and Iran as "useless" until peace was established in the disturbed province of Baluchistan.
Pakistan has negative trade balance with Iran. Pakistan's exports to Iran decreased from US$ 399 million in 2008-9 to US$ 161 million in 2010-11, indicating a decrease of 54 per cent. Meanwhile, Pakistan's imports from Iran also decreased from US$ 921 million in 2008-9 to US$ 572 million in 2010-11.While Pakistan exports textile, rice, fresh fruits, meat, wood, cotton, medicines, surgical equipments, it primarily imports oil, petroleum products, plastics, iron and steel and chemicals from Iran. In March 2004, Pakistan-Iran had also signed Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), which was implemented by Pakistan in September 2006 and by Iran in November 2006.Pakistan's Baluchistan province has a 700 km long border with Iran. Civil unrest, militancy, attacks on Shias and critical law and order situation in Baluchistan remained issues of major concern for Iran as there are about two million Baloch ethnic people live Iran. Baluchistan is highly infested with insurgency, sectarian violence, terrorism and subversive activities against Pakistan's federal government.
Rebel Bloch leaders have been demanding greater autonomy since Pakistan's inception. Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a militant organization ,which has strength of over ten thousand activists is involved in attacking Pakistani security personnel, civil and military establishments and disrupting supply of gas from Baluchistan to other areas of Pakistan. BLA has been designated as a terrorist organization by the Pakistan government. It is also accused of being supported by India.Use of Pakistani territory by some anti-Iranian Sunni militant groups to carry out militant attacks in Iran is main reason of tension between Iran and Pakistan. Some leading anti-Shia terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda, Tehrik-e-Taliban, Pakisan (TTP), Jundallah have been targeting Shias in Baluchistan in regular intervals. Iran, being a Shia state is concerned about attacks on Shias in Baluchistan.
Ethnic Baloch living in Iran feel discriminated at the hands of Shia majority government. Some Sunni militant groups having affiliation with Al-Qaeda, particularly Jundallah have been using Baluchistan's territory to carryout militant attacks in Iran for equal rights of Sunnis. Such anti-Iranian groups have reportedly support of ISI and Saudi Arabia.Jundallah, in a number of bomb attacks in Zahedan, between 2007-13, had killed hundreds of Iranian Shias. Likewise, Jaish-al-Adl also known as Army of Justice and Harakat Ansar Iran, are other Sunni organizations which are involved in militancy and have attacking on Iranian security men and Shias mosques inside the Iranian territory.Meanwhile, Iran has been erecting concrete wall on the shared borders with Pakistan, covering an area of over 700 km to illegal border crossing, smuggling of drugs into its territory from Pakistan and more importantly to stop militant and subversive activities by anti-Iranian Sunni groups, operating between Pakistan and Iran.
Although Pakistan has no boundary dispute with Iran, but latter's close relations with India are viewed suspiciously by Pakistan. India has been assisting Iran in developing Chabahar port and also involved in construction of some strategic roads in Iran. Pakistan, has been accusing India of helping Baluch separatists and providing arms to them and fears that India, through presence of Indians in Iran, India may further create problems in Baluchistan.Editorial NOTE: This article is categorized under Opinion Section. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of merinews.com. In case you have a opposing view, please click here to share the same in the comments section.
http://www.merinews.com/article/pakistan-iran-relations-latest-setback/15911827.shtml
Indonesia to import Pak rice

December 10, 2015

ISLAMABAD
Pakistan and Indonesia have signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) on rice import.
The MoU was signed by Indonesian Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong and Ambassador of Pakistan to Indonesia Mohammad Aqil Nadeem, said a Pakistan Embassy's message received here Wednesday.
Indonesian government will import up to 1 million metric tons of white rice from Pakistan from 2016 to 2019, which is estimated around 400 million dollars.The G2G agreement will be implemented by BULOG (State Logistics Agency) from Indonesia and Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) from the Pakistani side.
The import of rice will help Indonesian government's efforts to replenish the rice stocks in view of current rice shortage due to severe drought.
Indonesia has MoUs with Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar for rice imports already but Pakistan is the first country out of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to have such agreement with Indonesian government.Both countries for the first time crossed $2.2 billion mark since the bilateral trade in the year 2014.Pakistan and Indonesia have also concluded Preferential Trade Agreement in 2013 under which Indonesian exports to Pakistan increased manifold especially in crude palm oil.
This import agreement will also help in removing the trade imbalance between the two countries.
Pakistani exports of Kinnow to Indonesia had also seen increase in the recent years, due to PTA and Mutual Recognition Agreement signed in 2013 for trade of horticulture products. Under the PTA it is expected that the trade will also expand in other sectors.

http://nation.com.pk/business/10-Dec-2015/indonesia-to-import-pak-rice

Cambodia fails to meet rice export target


A Cambodian farmer throws fertiliser in a rice field in Kandal province, Cambodia Oct 16. In the first 10 months of this year Cambodia exported more than 400,000 tonnes of milled rice. (EPA photo)
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Thursday that his country has failed to export its targeted 1 million tonnes of milled rice this year.Speaking at an agriculture conference in Phnom Penh, Hun Sen said the government's failure to meet the quota was because of a shortfall in the budget for buying rice from farmers, along with other factors such as regional and international crises and regional competition in rice production, especially from Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos.The premier, meanwhile, said his country is also still short of well-equipped rice mills and storage facilities.In 2010, Cambodia set a target of exporting 1 million tonnes of milled rice, starting from this year. According to the government's statistics, in the first 10 months of this year Cambodia exported more than 400,000 tonnes of milled rice.The volume of exports, however, was higher than last year, as for the whole 2014 more than 370,000 tonnes of milled rice was exported.Agriculture remains a key sector in Cambodia, with some 75% of the country's 15 million people being farmers.

Indonesia to import 1m tonnes of rice from Pakistan


Indonesia will import 1 million metric tonnes of milled rice over the next four years from Pakistan.The two governments, represented by Indonesia’s Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Indonesia Mohammad Aqil Nadeem, signed a memorandum of understanding, an Indonesian news outlet reported on Thursday.The deal, with an estimated worth of $400 million in imports between 2016 and 2019, will be executed by Indonesia’s procurement agency, Bulog, and Trading Corporation of Pakistan.The import of rice will help Indonesian government’s efforts to replenish the rice stocks in view of current rice shortage due to severe drought.Pakistan is the world 11th largest rice producer with annual production of 6.9 million tonnes of milled rice.Bilateral trade has exceeded $2.2 billion since its start in 2014.Pakistan and Indonesia concluded Preferential Trade Agreement in 2013 under which Indonesian exports to Pakistan increased manifold especially in crude palm oil.
 http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/12/10/business/indonesia-to-import-1m-tonnes-of-rice-from-pakistan/

Indonesia to import Pak rice
December 10, 2015
ISLAMABAD
Pakistan and Indonesia have signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) on rice import.The MoU was signed by Indonesian Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong and Ambassador of Pakistan to Indonesia Mohammad Aqil Nadeem, said a Pakistan Embassy's message received here Wednesday.
Indonesian government will import up to 1 million metric tons of white rice from Pakistan from 2016 to 2019, which is estimated around 400 million dollars.The G2G agreement will be implemented by BULOG (State Logistics Agency) from Indonesia and Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) from the Pakistani side.

The import of rice will help Indonesian government's efforts to replenish the rice stocks in view of current rice shortage due to severe drought.Indonesia has MoUs with Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar for rice imports already but Pakistan is the first country out of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to have such agreement with Indonesian government.Both countries for the first time crossed $2.2 billion mark since the bilateral trade in the year 2014.

Pakistan and Indonesia have also concluded Preferential Trade Agreement in 2013 under which Indonesian exports to Pakistan increased manifold especially in crude palm oil.
This import agreement will also help in removing the trade imbalance between the two countries.
Pakistani exports of Kinnow to Indonesia had also seen increase in the recent years, due to PTA and Mutual Recognition Agreement signed in 2013 for trade of horticulture products. Under the PTA it is expected that the trade will also expand in other sectors.
Paddy Price Increased to rs 1200 per 40kg
December 10, 2015 12:33 pm
The price of Basmati paddy jumped from Rs 850 to Rs 1200 per 40 KG in ten days when 90% growers had already sold their produce at the rate of Rs 765 to Rs 850 per 40 KG, causing a net loss of Rs 20 billion to the farmers.Talking to Business Recorder here on Wednesday, Director Basmati Growers Association Farooq Bajwa said that this huge loss to the farmers occurred due to the mismanagement and apathy of the federal and provincial governments as they failed to arrange the financial limits from the banks to the rice millers and to the middle man in October, resulting crash of paddy price and cash starved growers had to sell their produce at the throw away price.
He said as the bank limits were renewed on 1st of December the prices have escalated with the improved financial availability to the middle man and the millers. Bajwa said that the growers of all variety have suffered a loss of Rs 70 billion in all over the country as compared to last year’s price.If the government had arranged the bank limits at the start of the paddy harvesting, the growers would have benefited instead of the middle man and millers Bajwa said the country produces 7 million ton rice per year which is the need of only two countries Iran and Saudi Arabia and this market has been captured by India in exchange of oil purchases.
News source: Business Recorder
http://www.agricorner.com/paddy-price-increased-to-rs-1200-per-40kg/#sthash.FcyTXCAx.dpuf http://www.agricorner.com/paddy-price-increased-to-rs-1200-per-40kg/

Slump in Basmati Rice Exports

Tags: exports

A slump in the export of basmati rice is having a damaging effect on the economy of Pakistan. It has exacerbated rural poverty with often catastrophic consequences for small farmers. The causes of the slump are complex and both national and provincial governments are facing criticism for failure to act.Pakistan’s exports of basmati rice have declined by 40% in the past four years, from 1.1mn tons in 2011 to 676,630 tons in 2015. As a consequence, the domestic market has been overwhelmed by an unmanageable glut.

http://www.rwfreight.co.uk/news/2015/12/10/slump-in-basmati-rice-exports-123/

 

PHILIPPINES TO IMPORT EXTRA 300,000-400,000 T RICE

Thursday, 10 December 2015 19:25
Posted by Shoaib-ur-Rehman Siddiqui
MANILA: The Philippines, one of the world's biggest rice importers, will buy an additional 300,000 to 400,000 tonnes of the grain to ensure adequate domestic supply as it braces for drier weather early next year because of the El Nino phenomenon.Additional demand from the Southeast Asian nation is good news for its neighbors and traditional suppliers, Vietnam and Thailand, at a time when rice export prices in the region are static in the absence of buyers.Local crop losses from storms and drought linked to El Nino have mounted in recent months, prompting the Philippines to buy nearly 1.8 million tonnes of rice this year. Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said the National Food Authority (NFA) Council and the Cabinet Task Force on El Nino have agreed on the additional volume for shipment in the second quarter of 2016."Preparations are in place to deal with the worst possible El Nino scenario," Coloma told reporters.
"The full effect of the current El Nino phenomenon will be felt in February and March 2016 when the entire country is projected to get only 20 to 30 percent of normal rainfall."The country's weather bureau has warned that the current dry weather episode could be more intense than the 1997-1998 El Nino conditions. The additional import volume is on top of the 500,000 tonnes that NFA, the state grains procurement agency, has already bought from Vietnam and Thailand for shipment in the first quarter.The Philippines was earlier looking to buy an additional 1.3 million tonnes after a strong typhoon hit major rice producing provinces in October.But last month Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, who heads the El Nino task force and is also a member of the NFA Council, said the additional requirement was likely much lower because paddy output in coming months will be higher than initially estimated.


Cambodia’s Rice Exports Miss Target

Khmer Times/Sok Chan

Thursday, 10 December 2015

Prime Minister Hun Sen announced yesterday that rice exporters had not met the government’s target of exporting 1 million tons of rice 2015, but hailed the policies that have moved Cambodia from a country with a rice shortage to a net producer. Speaking at the launching of a national census of agriculture, he blamed internal and external factors for the shortfall – namely, a lack of rice millers, warehousing and capital as well as rising competition with neighboring countries.

According to the report from the Ministry of Agriculture, Cambodia exported 450,000 tons of rice over the first 11 months of the year. Though only around half of the government’s goal, rice exports are up 36 percent year-on-year, despite some 242,416 hectares of rice fields in 16 provinces being severely affected by drought as of November.
“The external issue is that neighboring countries in the Mekong Sub-region are becoming significant rice producers, such as Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar, and that is the future challenge for Cambodia to exporting rice in the region and the world,” the prime minister said. 

“The government has set some measures to promote the agriculture sector such as investing in and expanding the irrigation system, encouraging the private sector to invest in rice exporting, and solving the lack of loans available to purchase rice and rice processing machinery by enhancing technical production, logistics, ports, railways, energy and land management,” Mr. Hun Sen said.
  
Song Saran, president of exporter Amru Rice (Cambodia), said that exporting more than the half million tons of rice this year would have been beyond the private sector’s production and processing capacity. He said that some milled rice exporters are almost bankrupt as these private companies make insufficient profits and suggested that the government provide more support to reach the higher targets. 

“We ask for government assistance to give some loans to rice exporting companies to expand their productivity and to be able to purchase more rice to stock for our warehouses to process,” he said. “Currently we lack sufficient warehouse storage space, crop dryers, and rice millers.” In some cases, he said, exporters would find themselves out of rice after finishing processing. 

“It is a big issue that we don’t have rice in stock… as farmers often sell to rice brokers in neighboring countries,” he said.

Mr. Saran called for a budget to implement the next export policy and asked the government to provide subsidies to reduce the processing price, which is high when compared to neighboring countries. Finally, the government should try to provide good quality seeds to meet client’s demands. 

Financial Support

Hun Lak, vice president of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CFR), says that the export increases are due in part to a joint venture with relevant stakeholders and the federation to work on rice promotion, logistics, energy issues, export documentation and to conduct field visits to rice millers in various provinces to assess concerns. They are working with the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Agriculture to smooth out the production process. 

“CRF has a team working on the current major issues and will submit a complete report to the government and relevant institutions to try and solve the problems for rice exporting,” Mr. Lak said. He says that the most important thing is to have more capital to purchase rice to stock in warehouses for export after harvest. 

Second, the country needs to find ways to lower electricity prices for rice millers, to expand irrigation systems and to identify strong seed varieties of high quality and productivity.

Mr. Hun Sen recently called on banks and microfinance institutions (MFIs) to suspend loan repayments by borrowers affected by this year’s drought, or make the loans interest free or reduce the rates. Acleda’s loans to the agriculture sector represent about 20 percent of the bank’s total outstanding loan portfolio of $2.4 billion, amounting to about $400 million. Of this $400 million, 18 percent is for growing crops, including rice, cassava and vegetables, and the rest is for raising animals and fish, In Channy, president and Group CEO of Acleda Bank, recently told Khmer Times.

According to a World Bank report, agricultural growth slowed to less than 2 percent in 2013-2014. It has to grow at 5 percent a year over the next 15 years to keep real farm income growth in line with forecasts. With such growth, farm wages are projected to triple from $1,200 currently to $3,760 in 2030. Growth of 3 percent would increase incomes to only $2,500 by 2030.

TAGS/KEYWORDS:

Cambodia’s Rice Exports, Sok Chan

DOST, CSC welcome new scientist, promote 3 others
December 10, 2015

MANILA, 10 Dec. (PIA) -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) conferred the Scientist I rank to Dr. Marilla G. Lucero, chief science research specialist at the Department of Health - Research Institute of Tropical Medicine during a ceremony last Dec. 9 at the Acacia Hotel in Muntinlupa City.The conferment was made under the Scientific Career System (SCS) program.Lucero, who specializes in epidemiology and infectious diseases, conducted significant trials on pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) to prevent pneumonia in children. Her research study contributed significantly to the decision to include PCV in the Philippine national immunization program, preventing pneumonia among Filipino children.

Three scientists were also upgraded in rank. Dr. Mudjekeewis D. Santos from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-National Fisheries and Development Institute and Dr. Claro N. Mingala from the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center were promoted from Scientist I to Scientist II while Dr. Dionisio G. Alvindia from Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization was upgraded from Scientist II to Scientist III.During the ceremony, SCS also recognized two scientists who recently retired from service, namely, Dr. Rolando Cruz from Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and Vivencio C. Gallego of Philippine Coconut Authority-Davao Research Center.

Dr. Cruz developed practical field diagnostic tools for plant nutrient status that led to the development of PalayCheck System, a PhilRice banner program for rice crop management.
Meanwhile, Gallego made various contributions on integrated pest management of coconut leaf beetle as well as coconut leaf miner, which is another type of insect, among others.In his message, National Academy of Science and Technology President and former DOST Secretary Dr. William G. Padolina said that the country has only 47 active scientists in service, a relatively small number in terms of the size of the country’s population, and compared to the number of workers engaged in research and development.

Padolina likewise highlighted science and technology policy issues and areas which our scientists can help address and underscored the need to reform the procurement system especially for research. “The rhythm of work in research and development is very different from ordinary government operation. There should be some adjustments and we should not adapt the one-size-fits all approach,” he said.The SCS was institutionalized in 1983 by the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos to establish a reward system for highly productive personnel in government who lack opportunities for promotion because of the limited number of available positions in the plantilla system. Since its institutionalization, a total of 147 career scientists have been conferred under the program.

Scientists conferred under the SCS are entitled to automatic increase in salary grade corresponding to the rank, benefits and entitlements under Republic Act 8439 or the Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and other S&T-related Personnel in the Government. An annual evaluation is conducted to determine performance and productivity of scientists, which serves as the basis for awarding additional incentives and grants. (DOST/RJB/JCP/PIA-NCR)
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/261449714683/dost-csc-welcome-new-scientist-promote-3-others#sthash.QWxucqht.dpuf

 

PH conditions dampen global rice output CROPS DAMAGED BY ‘LANDO,’ EL NIÑO

By: Ronnel W. Domingo

Philippine Daily Inquirer

03:43 AM December 10th, 2015


The decline in Philippine rice output due to Typhoon Lando (international name: Koppu) continues to weigh down on the global production outlook, with the volume for 2015 remaining one percent lower at 491 million tons.According to the latest monthly Market Monitor report of the Agricultural Market Information System (Amis) administered by the Food and Agriculture Organization, the situation in the Philippines was a major driver of decline along with those in India and Thailand.The outlook also remained in the shadow of the strong El Niño, which is expected to peak at the end of December.“Rice conditions remain mixed in part due to the El Niño event affecting large parts of Asia,” the Amis said.

“In the Philippines, conditions are poor in large parts of the northern and central regions due to widespread damage caused by Typhoon (Lando),” the organization said. “In the rest of the country, conditions are generally favorable, however there is some concern in the south over dryness.”Amis said conditions are drier than average in the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia.Last Tuesday, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (Abom) said the El Niño phenomenon was nearing its peak. However, it could fall short of being the worst on record as temperatures were already going down.“While sea surface temperatures remain close to record-high values, some El Niño indicators are now showing signs of easing,” the Abom said in its latest fortnightly update.

“However, the current El Niño is likely to persist well into 2016,” the agency added. “El Niño indicators, notably sea surface and sub-surface temperatures, westerly wind anomalies in the central Pacific, and cloudiness near the (international) date line, remain well above El Niño thresholds.”The bureau said while the current El Niño is likely among the three strongest occurrences of the phenomenon in the past 50 years, it has yet to surpass temperatures recorded in 1997-1998 and in 1982-1983.These include readings below the Pacific Ocean’s surface, which showed more than 12 degrees Celsius above average in 1982-1983 but has so far peaked at around 8 degrees Celsius above average this year.

Louisiana rice better-than-usual second crop

Dec 7, 2015Bruce Schultz, LSU AgCenter | Delta Farm Press

South Louisiana rice farmers have wrapped up their rice-growing season with an excellent second crop harvest.“Most everybody I’ve talked to is very pleased with the second-crop yields,” said Steve Linscombe, director of the LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station. “Numerous producers say this is by far their best second crop from the standpoint of yield, and the quality is good, too.”
Linscombe said quality of the second crop is typically lower.He said the percentage of fields used to grow a second crop appeared to be higher, and the stubble left from the first crop in most fields appeared to have been manipulated by mowing or rolling to boost yields.Research by Dustin Harrell, LSU AgCenter rice specialist and agronomist, has shown that manipulation results in a 5-barrel increase in second-crop yield.Linscombe also said farmers growing a second crop were more likely to fertilize and flood their fields as soon as the first crop was cut.

In the past, many farmers have delayed flooding and applying fertilizer until they see regrowth, he said.Linscombe said the per acre average would probably fall in the low-to-mid-20-barrel range on a green weight basis, although he heard of many who cut more than 30 barrels an acre. “I even heard of a few 40-plus in the second crop.”Linscombe said the good ratoon crop yields will take some of the sting out of the low prices and the lower first-crop yield.

Farmer Darrell Hoffpauir of Acadia Parish said his second-crop yield averaged 27 barrels an acre, and he had some fields with 34 barrels, which made up for a lower first-crop yield.“My first crop was off by 6 or 7 barrels an acre,” he said.He grew a second crop on 90 percent of his first-crop acreage and rolled all of the stubble, resulting in 21,000 barrels for the second crop, half as much as the first-crop yield.A second crop of rice is loaded onto a truck in Acadia Parish. Most farmers are reporting their best second crop yields ever in south Louisiana.
Photo: Bruce Schultz, LSU AgCenter

http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/louisiana-rice-better-usual-second-crop


Philippines to increase rice import in 2016

Xinhua News Agency
Dec 10, 2015 @ 9:28 AM

MANILA, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines is planning to import next year up to 400,000 metric tons of rice on top of its annual regular imports amid the threat of El Nino phenomenon, a senior government official said Thursday.Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said that increasing the buffer stock of rice through importation was one of the directives of President Benigno S. Aquino III when he met his cabinet officials to discuss efforts to ease the impact of El Nino.

According to National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, chairman of the Cabinet Task Force on El Nino, the National Food Authority Council has determined that 300,000 to 400,000 metric tons will be imported to boost the country's buffer stock and to augment local rice production, Coloma said.

The importation will take place in the second quarter of 2016 and "will be over-and-above the usual volume of rice that the country imports annually," he said.Coloma said the full effect of the current El Nino phenomenon will be felt in February and March 2016 when the entire country is projected to get only 20 to 30 percent of normal rainfall.According to the Department of Science and Technology and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, the projected worst-case scenario might exceed the most severe El Nino conditions experienced in 1997 and 1998.

http://www.globalpost.com/article/6702955/2015/12/10/philippines-increase-rice-import-2016

Rice Prices

  
as on : 09-12-2015 08:10:56 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
Arrivals
Price
Current
%
change
Season 
cumulative
Modal
Prev.
Modal
Prev.Yr
%change
Rice
Bangalore(Kar)
2562.00
3.31
163707.00
4200
4200
NC
Gadarpur(Utr)
1869.00
-30.85
223906.00
2010
1821
3.61
Pilibhit(UP)
800.00
14.29
28850.50
2185
2180
-4.17
Shahjahanpur(UP)
680.30
2.06
78200.30
2150
2145
7.23
Bazpur(Utr)
669.00
-21.18
42064.51
1570
1451
-
Samsi(WB)
500.00
NC
26720.00
2700
2700
-12.90
Varanasi(Grain)(UP)
410.00
7.89
115401.10
1970
1980
0.51
Gorakhpur(UP)
380.00
26.67
18682.80
2080
2180
2.97
Mathura(UP)
250.00
-28.57
3740.00
2000
2070
-2.91
Bangarpet(Kar)
220.00
-34.13
21235.00
1680
1620
-5.62
Allahabad(UP)
220.00
10
16062.50
2100
2150
2.69
Ballia(UP)
220.00
-12
18630.00
2000
2000
0.50
Azamgarh(UP)
203.50
16.29
5388.00
2075
2085
-
Bareilly(UP)
163.50
3.15
23825.00
2180
2200
1.40
Devariya(UP)
150.00
15.38
7970.00
2085
2020
7.47
Bahraich(UP)
139.00
0.72
8549.50
2085
2080
2.46
Sitapur(UP)
138.00
1.47
4740.50
2200
2190
4.51
Birbhum(WB)
132.00
-6.38
7666.45
1865
1840
-20.30
Asansol(WB)
132.00
4.76
1031.00
2450
2300
-3.92
Durgapur(WB)
132.00
-2.22
4269.50
2450
2250
2.08
Lucknow(UP)
125.00
5.93
10426.50
2060
2060
NC
Mathabhanga(WB)
120.00
-7.69
5850.00
1850
1850
-11.90
Kalipur(WB)
108.00
-3.57
6716.00
2150
2000
-4.44
Howly(ASM)
101.00
92.38
3782.10
1450
1450
-14.71
Faizabad(UP)
100.00
25
1538.00
2100
2080
3.96
Bariwala(Pun)
90.00
-50
540.00
2320
2300
-12.12
Saharanpur(UP)
90.00
2.27
10005.50
2050
2050
-3.30
Bindki(UP)
90.00
12.5
4816.00
2250
2275
9.76
Chandabali(Ori)
85.00
NC
3408.00
1800
1500
12.50
Kalna(WB)
85.00
3.66
2520.00
1840
1840
-7.54
Dhing(ASM)
82.00
7.89
5158.70
1800
1800
-5.26
Ghaziabad(UP)
80.00
14.29
5470.00
2065
2065
-3.05
Junagarh(Ori)
74.16
19.75
2432.98
2100
2100
-4.55
P.O. Uparhali Guwahati(ASM)
70.50
-0.7
5520.50
2100
2100
-19.23
Thodupuzha(Ker)
70.00
NC
3340.00
2600
2600
-1.89
Sealdah Koley Market(WB)
67.00
5.51
1739.30
2200
2200
-12.00
Sainthia(WB)
63.00
-7.69
13141.50
1840
1830
-21.70
Agra(UP)
61.00
12.96
7081.00
2220
2175
8.29
Purulia(WB)
60.00
42.86
4894.00
2320
2130
-5.31
Mainpuri(UP)
57.50
-11.54
3026.00
1955
1980
-4.17
Ramnagar(Utr)
56.10
-28.08
648.60
2100
2150
-
Jaunpur(UP)
55.00
-5.17
4695.00
1970
1980
-1.01
Pandua(WB)
54.00
NC
3509.00
2250
2250
-13.46
Gauripur(ASM)
53.00
47.22
3124.00
4500
4500
NC
Lanka(ASM)
50.00
-16.67
515.00
1725
1725
-9.21
Nadia(WB)
50.00
NC
2250.00
2950
2950
-4.84
Indus(Bankura Sadar)(WB)
50.00
-9.09
1207.00
2400
2250
-4.00
Egra/contai(WB)
49.00
2.08
2233.00
1700
1800
-32.00
Mangalore(Kar)
42.00
2.44
1550.00
3000
3000
3.45
Kalahandi(Dharamagarh)(Ori)
41.94
136.68
1453.40
2100
2100
-4.55
Karimganj(ASM)
40.00
-33.33
2250.00
2050
2050
-16.33
Palghar(Mah)
40.00
-35.48
1245.00
1950
3162
-
Beldanga(WB)
40.00
-6.98
3644.00
2250
2150
-11.76
Udala(Ori)
36.00
-25
1973.00
2800
2800
16.67
Ramgarh(Jha)
32.00
166.67
528.50
2600
2800
4.00
Kasganj(UP)
32.00
60
961.50
1850
1960
-10.19
Balurghat(WB)
32.00
14.29
1784.00
1900
1900
-34.48
Silapathar(ASM)
30.00
20
562.20
3000
3000
NC
Kolhapur(Laxmipuri)(Mah)
30.00
-14.29
202.00
3000
3500
-19.46
Baraut(UP)
30.00
66.67
726.50
2040
2075
-2.39
Ghatal(WB)
30.00
36.36
508.00
1860
1840
-
Chakdah(WB)
28.00
3.7
1216.00
2800
2800
-9.68
Jalpaiguri Sadar(WB)
25.00
4.17
1429.00
2775
2775
-0.89
Balrampur(UP)
24.50
-31.94
2697.00
2095
2095
0.24
Ramkrishanpur(Howrah)(WB)
22.30
-1.33
1855.60
2500
2500
-19.35
Dhekiajuli(ASM)
22.00
10
2386.00
1980
2000
-20.80
Gulbarga(Kar)
21.00
NC
337.00
2100
2100
5.00
Cachar(ASM)
20.00
-50
4335.00
2700
2700
NC
Farukhabad(UP)
18.00
-12.2
405.00
2215
2215
3.02
Muradabad(UP)
18.00
20
865.60
2210
2230
10.50
Mekhliganj(WB)
18.00
NC
1778.00
1850
1900
-11.90
Haldibari(WB)
17.50
16.67
748.00
2450
2300
-9.26
North Lakhimpur(ASM)
17.00
41.67
517.30
1900
1900
-
Bidar(Kar)
17.00
-37.04
399.00
2200
2100
-13.73
Pukhrayan(UP)
17.00
-5.56
345.50
2075
2070
-6.32
Falakata(WB)
16.80
-30
774.50
1925
1900
-
Ichapuram(AP)
16.00
NC
570.00
2800
2800
-
Jasra(UP)
16.00
-15.79
731.00
2000
2025
-5.44
Bankura Sadar(WB)
16.00
NC
702.00
2200
2200
-10.20
Tinsukia(ASM)
15.00
NC
246.00
2250
2400
NC
Nilagiri(Ori)
15.00
NC
2901.00
2400
2400
9.09
Firozabad(UP)
15.00
-6.25
995.00
2160
2140
5.88
Lakhimpur(UP)
14.00
7.69
878.50
2120
2125
-
Champadanga(WB)
14.00
-12.5
891.00
2450
2450
-10.91
Medinipur(West)(WB)
14.00
NC
1440.00
2350
2300
-11.32
Dinhata(WB)
13.00
NC
412.00
2050
2000
-18.81
Bohorihat(ASM)
12.00
-52
1381.00
2100
2300
-19.23
Khairagarh(UP)
12.00
50
747.00
2000
2080
-1.96
T. Narasipura(Kar)
10.00
400
39.00
1500
1500
-
Chengannur(Ker)
10.00
42.86
893.00
2500
2450
-13.79
Bampada(Ori)
10.00
NC
360.00
2500
2500
NC
Barikpur(Ori)
10.00
NC
420.00
2400
2400
NC
Buland Shahr(UP)
10.00
-9.09
1067.50
2040
2045
0.74
Kolaghat(WB)
10.00
NC
717.00
2300
2300
-
Tamluk (Medinipur E)(WB)
10.00
NC
783.00
2300
2300
-
Deogarh(Ori)
9.50
NC
985.50
2500
2500
-16.67
Mirzapur(UP)
9.00
12.5
1187.50
1980
1985
7.03
Ranaghat(WB)
8.00
-20
151.00
2150
2150
-
Bolangir(Ori)
6.50
8.33
362.50
2200
2200
-15.38
Nimapara(Ori)
6.50
62.5
354.30
2200
2200
NC
Tusura(Ori)
6.00
9.09
424.00
2200
2200
-15.38
Hoskote(Kar)
5.00
-37.5
34.00
4000
3800
-
Jajpur(Ori)
5.00
-68.75
243.00
2200
2200
-18.52
Jhansi(UP)
5.00
-16.67
494.50
2100
2100
12.90
Imphal(Man)
4.90
-2
213.90
2700
2700
-15.63
Thoubal(Man)
4.60
NC
80.10
2500
2500
-3.85
Alibagh(Mah)
4.00
NC
136.00
3500
3500
118.75
Bishenpur(Man)
4.00
-18.37
58.10
2400
2400
-22.58
Fatehpur(UP)
3.50
16.67
2257.50
2220
2250
6.47
Murud(Mah)
3.00
NC
33.00
2750
2750
-
Islampur(WB)
3.00
NC
357.70
2150
2150
-14.00
Karimpur(WB)
3.00
NC
80.00
3150
3150
NC
Rahama(Ori)
2.55
-5.56
64.25
2300
2300
4.55
Sardhana(UP)
2.50
25
103.90
2050
2060
-0.97
Siyana(UP)
2.50
NC
145.70
2050
2045
-0.73
Jowai(Meh)
2.40
33.33
16.40
2700
2700
NC
Lamlong Bazaar(Man)
1.60
NC
42.40
2700
2700
-15.63
Sahebganj(Jha)
1.20
-70
18.60
2600
2400
-
Jeypore(Ori)
1.20
-84.62
77.20
4200
3250
29.23
Udupi(Kar)
1.00
NC
15.00
2650
2450
-11.67
Penugonda(Mah)
1.00
NC
10.00
4080
4080
NC
Mangaon(Mah)
1.00
NC
35.00
2800
2800
NC
Jeypore(Kotpad)(Ori)
1.00
-44.44
433.00
3250
3250
-9.72
Shillong(Meh)
0.80
-46.67
68.50
3500
3500
NC
Kasipur(WB)
0.80
-33.33
63.06
2500
2240
-3.85
The Hindu
Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report
Rice
High
Low
Long Grain Cash Bids
Long Grain New Crop


Futures:
High
Low
Last
Change
Jan '16
1121.5
1098.5
1111.0
+10.5
Mar '16
1148.0
1125.0
1138.0
+10.5
May '16
1178.0
1169.5
1167.0
+11.0
Jul '16
1192.0
+10.0
Sep '16
1188.5
+14.0
Nov '16
1190.0
+14.0
Jan '17
1190.0
+14.0

Rice Comment



Rice futures may be attempting to stabilize after the recent downturn which took over $1.50 off the market in a matter of a few short days. January closed back above $11 today. The domestic cash market is quiet and export demand is slow as well, which is typically the case around the holidays. The monthly supply/demand report showed little change, with only a 1 million cwt decrease in imports into the U.S. and use unchanged. Exports were pegged at 98 million cwt, and ending stocks were cut to 38.8 million cwt. The average on farm price for long grain remained $11.50 to $12.50. Global rice stocks are forecast to decrease for the third year in a row as consumption is expected to outpace production. Production was lowered to 469.3 million metric tons, down approximately 8.9 million tons from the preceding year


S.Korea buys 55,555 T rice for March-April

Thu Dec 10, 2015 5:48am GMT

SEOUL, Dec 10 (Reuters) - South Korea's Agro-Fisheries &
Food bought a total of 55,555 tonnes of non-glutinous rice for
March and April arrival via tenders that closed on Dec. 9,
according to the agency's website (www.at.or.kr).
    Details of the purchases are as follows:
    
    TONNES   TYPE          SUPPLIER            ORIGIN   PRICE/T
    10,000   Brown Short   Daewoo Int'l Corp   China    $888.00
                           
    12,000   Brown Short   Sinsong Food Corp   China    $889.98
    11,333   Brown Short   Daewoo Int'l Corp   China    $890.00
                           
    10,000   Brown Medium  Philasun Co Ltd     U.S      $714.64
    5,555    Brown Medium  Philasun Co Ltd     U.S      $712.64
    6,667    Brown Medium  Philasun Co Ltd     U.S      $718.34
    
    * Note: Shipments will arrive at South Korean ports
including Busan, Gunsan, Mokpo and Gwangyang.
    
 
 (Reporting by Rebecca Jang; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath)

af.reuters.com 
APEDA Rice Commodity News

International Benchmark Price
Price on: 10-12-2015
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
Guar Gum Powder
1
Indian 100 mesh 3500 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
3790
2
Indian 200 mesh 3500 cps basis, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
1190
3
Indian 200 mesh 5000 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
2310
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 10-12-2015
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Rice
1
Manjeri (Kerala)
Other
2800
3800
2
Dhekiajuli (Assam)
Fine
2340
2650
3
Samsi (West Bengal)
Fine 
2790
2820
Wheat
1
Hoskote (Karnataka)
Other
1827
1827
2
Nagpur (Maharashtra)
Other
1480
1530
3
Palitana (Gujarat)
Other
1500
2000
Orange
1
Manjeri (Kerala)
Other
1500
1700
2
Nagpur (Maharashtra)
Other
300
900
3
Mechua (West  Bengal)
Other
1900
2200
Cucumbar
1
Manjeri (Kerala)
Other
1800
2000
2
Muktsar(Punjab)
Other
1000
1200
3
Nilagiri (Orissa)
Other
1500
1500
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 10-12-2015
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Pune
416
2
Chittoor
388
3
Nagapur
385
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 09-12-2015
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Potatoes
Package: 50 lb sacks
1
Atlanta
Colorado
Russet
15
15.25
2
Chicago
Idaho
Russet
9
11
3
Dallas
Washington
Russet
13
14
Cabbage
Package: 50 lb cartons
1
Atlanta
Georgia
Round Green Type
9
10.50
2
Detroit
Canada
Round Green Type
11
12
3
Miami
Georgia
Round Green Type
12
14
Grapefruit
Package: 4/5 bushel cartons
1
Atlanta
Florida
Red
17
17
2
Chicago
Florida
Red
18
22
3
Miami
Florida
Red
25
26
Source:USDA


USA Rice Daily News


Record-Setting USA Rice Outlook Conference Kicks Off    
 
Keynote speakers
NEW ORLEANS, LA -- The 2015 USA Rice Outlook Conference has attracted record crowds and got underway here last night with an opening reception in the exhibit hall and a very fundraising dinner for the USA Rice Political Action Committee.

Today the first of three General Sessions opened with a welcome from USA Rice Chairman Dow Brantley and inspirational remarks from Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Mike Strain.

Then attendees got a strong dose of politics with married keynote speakers Mary Matalin and James Carville in a discussion of politics, life, and predictions, moderated by Brian King of Ritter Grain Services. "I've never seen anything like this in American politics," said Carville when asked about the large field of candidates vying for the presidency."This is unprecedented - you could field two baseball teams," Matalin said. "we have produced a field that is uncharted territory."King sought insight and advice and pressed the pair on what would happen in the 2016 election.  Carville predicted a Hillary Clinton win. Matalin responded, "let's just say I disagree with him and pray that he is, as he often is, wrong."

 
Mike Dunn
Political consultant Michael Dunn took the stage next to talk about the importance of political engagement and paint a picture of how decisions get made in Washington.  He had specific advice for the rice industry about how to make an impact in policy discussions, and it ultimately all comes down to participating.Following a lunch in the exhibit hall, attendees had many options including rice outlook and research reports from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, a farm management learning sessiobn presented by Dick Wittman of Wittman Consulting Services, a look at global supply and demand from USDA's Andrew Aaronson, and an in depth weather and El Nino discussion with Joel Widenor of the Commodity Weather Group.
 Robbie Trahan does the honors for the Louisiana delegation

Contact:
  Michael Klein (703) 236-1458

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures   

CME Group (Prelim):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for December 10
Month
Price
Net Change

January 2016
$11.110
+ $0.105
March 2016
$11.380
+ $0.105
May 2016
$11.670
+ $0.110  
July 2016
$11.920
+ $0.100
September 2016
$11.885
+ $0.140
November 2016
$11.900
+ $0.140
January 2017
11.900
+ $0.140

 

From Actress to Cookbook Author: The Lives of Madhur Jaffrey

By Associated Press | October 20, 2015
Last Updated: December 8, 2015 10:07 pm
·        
< 
> 
Madhur Jaffrey is known to Americans—when she is known at all—as an author of Indian cookbooks. And with good reason: she has written more than two dozen of them.
But that’s just the start. The woman often called “the Julia Child of Indian cookery” was born in Delhi, India, and came to the United States in the late 1950s, eventually landing among the New York glitterati. She started her career as an actress—something she continues to do—but soon found herself deeply rooted in the world of food. She has hosted cooking shows both here and in Britain, and helped launch the renowned New York Indian restaurant Dawat.
Now 82, her newest book, “Vegetarian India: A Journey Through the Best of Indian Home Cooking,” will be released in October. We took the opportunity to talk with her about acting, her start in food, and her pivotal friendship with filmmakers Ismail Merchant and James Ivory. The conversation has been edited for clarity and length.
Associated Press: What was the impetus for “Vegetarian India?” Why this book and why now?
Madhur Jaffrey: I’ve never done a book that’s all Indian and all vegetarian. There are many areas of India that I don’t know and many cuisines I don’t know, and I thought this would be a good way to learn about the cuisines I don’t know anything about.
AP: When you came to the United States in the late 1950s, you landed first in Vermont, where you taught pantomime, correct? How did that happen?
Jaffrey: I needed a job. I was in the theater and was very kindly employed by the Catholic University theater team. They said “Why don’t you come in the summer and work with our summer stock company,” which used to live in Winooski, Vermont. I joined the company to do odd jobs with them. And get a visa. It was a technical way of coming.
AP: And from there you went to New York City. What were you hoping to find there?
Jaffrey: The theater brought me to New York. (My first husband) Saeed (Jaffrey) also studied at Catholic. He graduated and came to New York and I came with him. I was working as a guide at the U.N. at the time, and doing theater in the Village. We were doing off-Broadway. The way I could stay was to have a visa by working at the U.N. Then I could do theater, for which I was earning something like $10 a week.
AP: You and Saeed also introduced Ismail Merchant and James Ivory, the famous film duo. How did that come about?
Jaffrey: We were the only Indian actors in town at that time. Ivory had just done his first film—it was a short film—called “The Sword and the Flute,” about Indian miniature paintings. And he needed someone to narrate that. He went to see (Saeed’s) play and asked him to do it. That’s how Saeed brought him home for the first time. We all became very good friends.
Around the same time, Ismail Merchant was here, studying at (New York University) business school. He met us because he had dreams of doing theater, films, anything. He just wanted to be famous. He wasn’t sure how he was going to be famous, but it was going to be in the world of film and theater. His first idea was to get an Indian dancer and have her perform at Radio City Music Hall.
His dreams were so big. And to us ridiculous. But to him, everything was achievable. He brought that spirit of great adventure and far-sightedness to our little group.
AP: I imagine the Indian community in New York was very small at that time. Did everyone know each other? What was it like?
Jaffrey: All those (Indians) who came were doctors and statisticians and engineers. America wasn’t taking people who weren’t these things because that wasn’t what was needed. We were very rare, these people in the arts. We knew all the people in the arts because that’s where our interest lay. We knew the Indians who were around and other people who were actors but weren’t Indians. It was an intellectual bookish, artish world.
AP: Were you fully embraced by the non-Indian art scene?
Jaffrey: As curiosities, yes. But as somebody to give work to, no. It was very hard to get work. That’s why we needed other jobs, all of us. I am in the art world; I have one daughter who’s an actress, one who is a writer. The actress daughter has the same problem I did. But she is two steps ahead. Indians now are more in shows. People are writing more parts for Indians and they can play non-Indians. In “House of Cards,” my daughter played a Latino. (In my time) they never thought of us as secretaries or lawyers. We were just Indians, and they were always the shieky types. They came vaguely from the Middle East.
AP: What do you make of Mindy Kaling and Aziz Ansari and Indians on Pizza Hut commercials?
Jaffrey: It’s changing. This new generation is getting much more work. My daughter’s generation and her friends—all of these people you mention—she knows all these people because they’ve all been at it together for a long time.
AP: You once told the BBC you wanted to be the next Marlon Brando. What did that mean?
Jaffrey: Everybody dreams of saying “Thank you so much for the Academy Award.” But I left India with dreams of being another Marlon Brando. I adored his method of acting and I adored him. I had met him in India when he was passing through. I thought, “I want to have that intensity, that depth.” That you go into a part and you really find it inside you, and it comes out in this glorious rich form that it did with Marlon Brando. But there wasn’t the opportunity. There just wasn’t.
AP: How and why did you transition from theater to cooking?
Jaffrey: I said, “What else could I do to make money?” (I was getting divorced.) I had three little kids. I had no future. English literature was my major in college. I could write. I started writing about any subject that they wanted. Then one day, Holiday Magazine, which was a big magazine at that time, hired me to do a story about what I ate as a child in India. I did the story.
I had just done the (Merchant-Ivory) film “Shakespeare Wallah,” so my name was about. Then (New York Times food editor) Craig Claiborne did an article about me. That was Ismail’s doing. He had the ability to get to know anybody he wanted. He must have walked up to him at some point and said, “You must do an article about this woman who appears in my wonderful film.” After that story things took off.
AP: You’ve published roughly 30 cookbooks. But you’ve never really stopped acting. You’ve appeared in film, television, on stage, and you’re still acting today. Are you an actor who cooks, or a cook who acts?
Jaffrey: I always say, “I’m an actress who cooks.” I see myself as an actress.
AP: How do you think others see you?
Jaffrey: Totally differently. Some people say, “Oh you still act?” They’re not aware of that aspect of my life.

Berry Pilaf

“The restaurant where this pilaf is served has been in existence since 1923. It is a Bombay landmark,” Madhur Jaffrey writes in her new cookbook, “Vegetarian India.” ”The berry used here is the tiny Iranian barberry, or zareshk, sold by Indian and Persian grocers. If you cannot find it, use dried cranberries. The final flavors are sweet and sour.”
Start to finish: 4 hours (30 minutes active)
Servings: 6
2 cups basmati rice
1 teaspoon saffron threads
3 tablespoons sugar, divided
3 tablespoons very hot milk
About 1/2 cup barberries or dried cranberries
3 tablespoons olive or peanut oil
1 large yellow onion, peeled and halved lengthwise, then sliced into fine half rings
1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
5 cardamom pods
2 1/2-inch cinnamon stick
1 bay leaf
3 cloves
3 tablespoons butter, melted
Wash the rice in several changes of water. Put in a bowl, cover generously with water, then set aside to soak for 3 hours.
Meanwhile, in a mortar and pestle, combine the saffron and 1 tablespoon of the sugar. Pound together to create a fine powder. Transfer to a small bowl, then stir in the hot milk. Set aside for 3 hours.
Toward the end of the 3 hours, rinse the berries several times, then leave to soak in water for 20 minutes. Drain and pat dry.
In a medium skillet over medium-high, heat the oil. When the oil is hot, add the onion and cook for 5 minutes, or until they start to brown. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to cook until they are reddish brown. Add the drained berries and the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Stir once or twice, then remove from the heat.
Heat the oven to 325 F.
Bring about 10 cups of water to a boil. Add the salt, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, bay leaf and cloves. Stir once, then add the rice. Let it cook in the boiling water for about 5 minutes, or until it is three-quarters cooked but still has a thin, hard core. Drain in a colander.
Working quickly now, spread 1 tablespoon of the melted butter in a medium baking dish. Spread half the rice over it. Spread another tablespoon of the butter, plus half the saffron mixture and half the onion-berry mixture and some of its oil on top of the rice. Spread the remaining rice on top of the first layer. Pour the remaining tablespoon of butter over it, followed by the remaining saffron mixture and onion-berry mixture.
Cover tightly with foil and a lid and bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit undisturbed for 10 minutes. Toss the rice gently to mix before serving.
Nutrition information per serving: 410 calories; 110 calories from fat (27 percent of total calories); 13 g fat (4.5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 15 mg cholesterol; 170 mg sodium; 68 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 12 g sugar; 6 g protein.
(Recipe adapted from Madhur Jaffrey’s “Vegetarian India,” Knopf, 2015)
Epoch Times

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