Monday, December 28, 2015

28th December 2015 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine-Latest Rice News Updates

December 28,2015       Vol  5    Issue  XII
www.ricepluss.com                      www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com
mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com   92 321 3692874
Today Rice News Headlines...

ü  Local Rice Miller Denies Involvement in N117bn Rice Importation Scam
ü  C’GARH FARMERS GREATEST AGRI SCIENTISTS, CLAIMS CM
ü  Eating fish and meat before rice can help control blood sugar, researchers say
ü  Govt tightens rules of jute packaging
ü  Rice prices likely to skyrocket
ü  Plant protection team visits blast-affected paddy fields
ü  APEDA Commodity News
ü  Cambodia 2015 Paddy Rice Production Declines

News Detail...

Local Rice Miller Denies Involvement in N117bn Rice Importation Scam

28 Dec 2015

Omololu Ogunmade  in Abuja
The Chairman of Umza International Farms Limited, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Maifata, has denied the allegation that his company smuggled rice into the country through land borders.Maifata, in his reaction to an online report, with the headline, ‘Inside the massive fraud in Nigeria’s N117 billion rice import quota scheme,’ said instead of smuggling, his company had contributed immensely to Nigeria’s local rice production scheme through its Kano plant.He alleged that the report was sponsored by some foreign and local merchants who were disenchanted by the success being recorded in the country’s local rice production and wanted to frustrate it.
“It is most disheartening that Premium Times, an online newspaper, claimed to have conducted an investigation into the alleged  massive fraud in the rice import quota and even went ahead to publish their falsehood without even respecting the basic tenets of journalism of hearing from the other side that were maligned by their malicious falsehood before publication,” Maifata said in a statement in Abuja at the weekend.He said to underscore his argument that the report was untrue, the milling capacity of his rice plant is 72,000 metric tons per annum as against 30,000 metric tons  capacity as claimed in the report.“
 



















The truth of this matter is that Umza International Milling Plant has a current milling capacity of 72,000 metric tons per annum and the company is currently in the process of further increasing the milling capacity to about 120,000 metric tons per annum.
“In this vein, we challenge Premium Times, its paymasters and sponsors to a working tour of Umza International Rice Milling Plant in Kano at our expense in the company of independent experts from any part of this world to determine the true capacity of our mill,” Maifata added.According to him, Umza Farms has been partnering the United States Agency for International Department (USAID) in the last three years for the training and sponsorship of over 10,000 rice farmers.He also said Umza Farms has been partnering local rice production bodies as well in state such as Kebbi, adding that its success in rice production recently earned it 11,000 hectares of land from Niger State Government.
“Our partnership with Rice Farmers Association in Kebbi State is another area where Umza Farms has proven its investments in rice value chain where we are currently working with farmers especially from Suru Local Government Area in the cultivation of paddy.“Umza International Farms has also secured the approval from Niger State Government for 11,000 hectares of land in Agaie Local Government Area of the state for its backward integration programme,” he further said.Maifata described as laughable the claim in the report that Umza has been importing rice into the country from Thailand, saying it only imported rice when the Federal Ministry of Agriculture gave it the mandate to do so.
“It’s also very important that we state at this juncture that Umza Farms has only imported rice in occasions where the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development had genuine fears about the capacity of the local millers to meet the local rice consumption/demand and had encouraged the local rice millers to import rice in order to bridge the gap between what is locally produced and what is consumed.“Outside these occasions where Umza Farms is duly licenced to import rice for national interest, Umza Farms has not and never imported rice as part of its core business plan. Umza Farms is strictly a local rice milling plant and would never dabble into rice importation as its ordinary business.
“It’s so unimaginable to think that Umza Farms could be waging a war against its own business going by the falsehood perpetrated by Premium Times when it maliciously and literally stated in the said online publication that Umza Farms is involved in rice smuggling,” the statement added.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/local-rice-miller-denies-involvement-in-n117bn-rice-importation-scam/229000/

C’GARH FARMERS GREATEST AGRI SCIENTISTS, CLAIMS CM

Sunday, 27 December 2015 | Staff Reporter | Raipur | in Raipur
1
Chief Minister Raman Singh on Saturday heaped praise on farmers of the State for combining traditional methods and experience with modern technology for increasing agriculture output.
“Chhattisgarh’s farmers are actually the greatest agriculture scientists. It is because of their hard work that we have taken a leap from only rice export to the export of fruits and vegetables along with rice,’’ Singh remarked while inaugurating a three-day National Agriculture Fair at village Jora on the outskirts of capital Raipur.The fair has been organised by State Government's Agriculture Department, in association with CII.
Chief Minister dedicated new species of paddy- ‘Chhattisgarh Zinc Rice-1’, recently developed by Indira Gandhi Agriculture University Raipur, to farmers. He distributed 1500 mini-kits of this new species of paddy. Chief Minister also felicitated farmer Dushyant Singh of Janjgir-Champa district for individually preserving an old species of paddy- ‘Ramjeera’ for past 50 years.Agriculture and Water Resource Minister Brijmohan Agrawal presided over the inaugural programme of Farmers Fair. In the programme, Raipur MP Ramesh Bais, Parliamentary Secretary Tokhan Sahu, MLA Devji Bhai Patel, Apex Bank Chairman Ashok Bajaj and Chairman of Raipur Milk Federation Rasik Parmar were also present as special guests.
Chief Minister said in his speech that this national fair was one great opportunity to learn about the progress of Chhattisgarh in agro-sector in last 15 years. He said that with their perseverance and dedication, “our farmers have brought a revolution in the field of agriculture. Various schemes run by Agriculture Department in coordination with Indira Gandhi Agriculture University have also accelerated growth of agro-sector”.Chief Minister further added that agriculture and farmers are the strong pillars of our economy. Development of agriculture sector is empowerment our economy and also an important source of employment.
The credit of three Krishi Karman Awards conferred on Chhattisgarh Government in past also goes to the farmers of State, said Singh.
In this national fair, all the modern methods of agriculture have been put on display. State Government has organised this fair to educate farmers about advancement in agriculture methods around the world and encourage them to adopt the modern ways.Chief Minister informed that in this fair, farmers will get to know about soil test and modern ways of cultivation. Agriculture seminars will be organised in Agriculture Development Centres outside capital city. They will also be informed about method of cultivation with limited water supply during drought conditions.
Singh said that State Government is committed to bring practical experiments of laboratories to the field, in larger interest of farmers. He also talked about success in agriculture sector in remote areas of Bastar and Surguja, and also cited achievements of Kondagaon and Dantewada districts in organic farming.
While presiding over the programme, Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal said that nearly 50,000 farmers will visit the fair in three days. It is a great opportunity for farmers to learn and upgrade their ways of cultivation, as per the advancement in global technology. He mentioned that Chhattisgarh Government is the first Government to provide financial aid to drought-hit farmers under RBC.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/cgarh-farmers-greatest-agri-scientists-claims-cm.html
Eating fish and meat before rice can help control blood sugar, researchers say
DEC 26, 2015
OSAKA – Eating fish or meat ahead of rice can help curb spikes in blood sugar by slowing down the stomach, a Japanese study has found.“Dietary therapy focusing on the sequence of food intakes may lead to diabetes prevention and treatment,” said Daisuke Yabe, deputy director-general of the Kansai Electric Power Medical Research Institute.In a three-day research project involving 12 patients with type 2 diabetes and 10 healthy people, the group monitored changes in blood sugar levels four hours after the subjects had meals in which rice was consumed either first or last.
When boiled mackerel and grilled beef were eaten 15 minutes before rice, their sugar levels were about 30 percent and 40 percent lower, respectively, compared with when they ate rice first.According to their findings, eating fish and beef first promoted the secretion of incretin, a gastrointestinal hormone, which slowed stomach motility and thus the rise in blood sugar.This technique may become even more effective if vegetables are eaten ahead of fish, meat and rice, the group said.http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/12/26/national/science-health/eating-fish-and-meat-before-rice-can-help-control-blood-sugar-researchers-say/#.VoEMAPl94dX

Govt tightens rules of jute packaging

The government has tightened the rules of compulsory jute packaging for six commodities in an effort to ensure a wider use of the green fibre and support the jute sector.The textiles and jute ministry made jute bags and sacks compulsory for packing any quantity of paddy, rice, wheat, maize, fertiliser and sugar, cancelling its previous order that mandated the use of jute bags for packaging only 20kg of goods and above.
The move came after millers started selling rice in 19.5kg plastic bags or lower to circumvent the jute packaging law, industry stakeholders said."We discovered the practice after starting a drive to ensure compliance with the law,” said a senior official of the Department of Jute. "So, the use of jute is now a must for any quantity of these commodities.”The jute ministry has also formed a nine-member panel to look into the production and use of plastic bags. The committee's report, due by December 30, will be used to make recommendations for the control of plastic bagsIn the face of continued non-compliance, the jute ministry began a crackdown to enforce the law throughout Bangladesh.
In October, Bangladesh Bank asked all banks not to lend money to organisations and traders that do not use jute items to pack these commodities.The government in 2010 passed a law making jute packaging mandatory for certain percentage of food items and fertiliser, to cushion the jute sector against the vagaries of the global market and limit the use of environmentally harmful plastic bags.
In 2013, the government framed rules to implement the law, stipulating that all traders as well as government organisations must use jute bags to pack these commodities. It also asked all rice millers and traders to clear their stock of plastic bags by December 31 of the same year. However, private companies remained non-compliant, citing reasons such as higher cost of jute sacks compared to plastic bags and problems in branding.Millers said the added costs from compliance to the law will be passed on to consumers, in the form of higher rice prices. They also blame a lack of availability of jute sacks for non-compliance.Jute millers have claimed to have adequate stocks to meet rice millers' demand.
http://www.thedailystar.net/business/govt-tightens-rules-jute-packaging-192946

Rice prices likely to skyrocket


 December 27,2015, 12.40 AM  IST | | THE HANS INDIA
Hyderabad: Though new rice crop has arrived in city markets, there appears to be no relief for the consumer as the price of fine variety is sold at Rs 40 a kg. Last year the same variety was Rs 30 a kg.According to the Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy Rice Millers Association leader S Balaiah, this year the demand for rice stocks has seen a new high, particularly from super markets and retailers. There is near panic buying of rice in the backdrop of poor kharif yield.
 Balaiah said though at the moment the price of fine variety of rice is around Rs 55 a kg, but when the existing stocks were exhausted in next three months, the new stocks of rice would go up to Rs 70 or more a kg.   Last year, newly processed fine rice variety was sold at the rate of Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,400 a quintal and tis time the price went up to Rs 4,000 a quintal.
 The second grade quality was priced between Rs 3,500 and Rs 3,700 a quintal.    The officials of the State Agriculture Department told The Hans India that low paddy production led to the rice prices increasing abnormally.  After March, fine quality rice price may touch Rs 8,000 a quintal and the secondary quality grains may witness 30 to 40 per cent increase from the present rate.The officials said the total area under paddy cultivation was 6.15 lakh hectares only during kharif, which was almost half of the total target of 11. 70 lakh hectares
http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/2015-12-27/Rice-prices-likely-to-skyrocket--195683

Plant protection team visits blast-affected paddy fields

The team of scientists of Rice Research Station, Ambasamudram, and Agriculture Department officials in a paddy field near Vasudevanallur in Tirunelveli district recently.

Step taken on Collector’s order following representations from farmers

The newly formed district-level plant protection team, comprising scientists of Rice Research Station, Ambasamudram, and officials of Agricultural Department, has started inspecting blast-affected paddy fields in the district.After receiving representations from agriculturists during the recent farmers’ grievances day meeting, Collector M. Karunakaran ordered the officials to inspect the affected fields in Vasudevanallur block and prescribe suitable remedial measures.Subsequently, a district-level ‘Plant Protection Team’, headed by Joint Director of Agriculture L. Perumal, was constituted. The team includes Professor and Head, Rice Research Station, Ambasamudram, Arumugachamy, Professor of Entomology M.A.K. Pillai, Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology Rajini Mala and block-level officials of Agricultural Department.
The team visited Viswanathaperi village in Vasudevanallur block recently and inspected the blast-affected paddy fields.“We found that the paddy fields have been affected by Neck Blast Disease, which will manifest in grey colour dots in the neck of the panicle. It will affect the ‘grain filling’ in the panicle to hit the yield,” Mr. Perumal said.The blast disease first affected the weeds in the bunds and spread into paddy fields. Hence farmers should keep the bunds clean, he added.“Nitrogenous fertilizer should be applied in the affected field in split doses. Fungicides can also be mixed and applied in affected field,” Mr. Perumal said.
The spraying of fungicide can be repeated for 15 days after the first spray.Besides giving these plant protection recommendations to the farmers, the team members also explained them agronomic practices and plant protections measures to be adopted.“The joint field visits by scientists and the officials will also be done in other blocks if the situation demands,” Mr. Perumal added.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/plant-protection-team-visits-blastaffected-paddy-fields/article8035797.ece
APEDA Commodity News
International Benchmark Price
Price on: 22-12-2015
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
Sultanas
1
Australian 5 Crown, CIF UK (USD/t)
2867
2
South African Orange River, CIF UK (USD/t)
2558
3
Turkish No 9 standard, FOB Izmir (USD/t)
1900
White Sugar
1
CZCE White Sugar Futures (USD/t)
851
2
Kenya Mumias white sugar, EXW (USD/t)
691
3
Pakistani refined sugar, EXW Akbari Mandi (USD/t)
516
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 26-12-2015
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Maize
1
Hirekerur (Karnataka)
Local
1300
1430
2
Khargone (Madhya Pradesh)
Other
1053
1455
3
Dahod (Gujarat)
Yellow 
1525
1575
Paddy(Dhan)
1
Kasargod (Kerala)
Other
1500
1600
2
Junagarh (Orissa)
Other
1410
1450
3
Sindevahi (Maharashtra)
Other
1600
1700
Orange
1
Barnala (Punjab)
Other
1000
2000
2
Harippad (Kerala)
Other
2500
2500
3
Nagpur (Maharashtra)
Other
300
1000
Cabbage
1
Alappuzha (Kerala)
Other
2200
2300
2
Kolhapur(Maharashtra)
Other
800
1500
3
Ahmedabad (Gujarat)
Other
400
800
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 26-12-2015
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Ahmedabad
444
2
Chittoor
421
3
Nagapur
400
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 21-12-2015
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Potatoes
Package: 50 lb cartons
1
Atlanta
Colorado   
Russet
16
17.50
2
Chicago
Idaho  
Russet
13
16.50
3
Dallas
Idaho
Russet
14
19
Carrots
Package: 20 1-lb film bags
1
Atlanta
California
Baby Peeled
18.50
20.50
2
Chicago
California
Baby Peeled
17
17.50
3
Dallas
Arizona
Baby Peeled
16
16.75
Apples
Package: cartons tray pack
1
Atlanta
Virginia
Red Delicious
27
28
2
Chicago
Washington 
Red Delicious
26
26.50
3
Miami
Washington
Red Delicious
22
24
Source:USDA

Cambodia 2015 Paddy Rice Production Declines Slightly to 9.2 Million Tons, Says Agriculture Ministry

Dec 28, 2015
Cambodia's paddy rice production has declined slightly to around 9.2 million tons in 2015 from around 9.3 million tons in 2014, Khmer Times quoted preliminary data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.The slight decline in production is attributed to drought in some areas, according to the Deputy Director General of Department of Agriculture. The official expressed confidence that the decline would not impact exports or domestic supplies as the country has about 3 million tons of rice stocks.He also noted that the Ministry of Water Resources has alerted farmers to use water sparingly as it is anticipating lesser rains next year also. The Agriculture Ministry spokesman added that the government is ensuring uninterrupted water supplies for farming in about 420,000 hectares across 14 provinces along the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. 

Some farmers told reporters that they are continuing to grow rice during the 2015-16 dry season (October - April) despite harvesting lesser rice in the main season (May - February). They are however, concerned about the prices, which have declined to around $250 per ton this year from around $300 per ton in 2014.USDA estimates Cambodia to produce about 4.7 million tons of rice in MY 2014-15 (January - December 2015), down from around 4.725 million tons in MY 2013-14. It estimates Cambodia to export 1.1 million tons of rice (including official and unofficial exports to Vietnam and Thailand through borders) in 2015, up from an estimated 1 million tons in 2014.  Oryza.com