UNISAME URGES SMEDA TO RECOMMEND URGENT REVIVAL PLAN OF RICE SECTOR
The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises
(UNISAME) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority held a
special meeting yesterday at SMEDA Karachi office presided by Allamgir Chaudhry
general manager (GM) out reach to discuss the issues of the rice industry and
recommend measures to revive the sector on fast track basis before the arrival
of new crop to facilitate the stakeholders.
President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver invited the
attention of the GM SMEDA that the SME rice farmers, millers,processors and
exporters are in turmoil and more than 1000 SME units are closed due to lack of
demand from overseas buyers who have become very cautious in placing orders
because of down slide in commodities. They are waiting for the prices to
stabilize to place fresh orders. This lack of overseas demand is reflecting on
the entire rice sector as unlike wheat, rice is an export commodity. As wheat
is our staple crop but domestic rice consumption is much less than our exports
and all varieties of rice are being exported to global buyers. The rice exports
are next to textiles and need the immediate attention of the policy makers.
There is urgent need to regain lost markets for the rice industry to survive.
Secondly our rice is become noncompetitive as Indian rice is cheaper due to subsidy support from government Thirdly we have neglected research and development (R&D) on seeds to produce grains with less cost of production. The R&D side needs to be taken very seriously. Our super basmati rice which is our heritage is suffering a setback due to lack of R&D and we cannot afford to lose our share of basmati in world markets. Every aspect of basmati inclusive of packing, promotion, branding and marketing needs our immediate attention and needs immediate attention of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) on priority basis.
Other factors which are a setback are lack of finance for exports to third world countries and low premium insurance is unavailable.
The banks are not inclined to accept documents for negotiations for goods shipped to Iran and as such transactions with Iran are at a standstill. The ministry of commerce needs to work overtime to expedite the agreement with Iran and the matter needs immediate placement in the cabinet for prompt approval.
Thaver said SMEDA needs to advocate the cause of the SME millers ,processors and exporters of rice and urged the government to declare rice as an industry and grant relief on farm inputs
Secondly to impress upon the government to expedite the geographical indication of rice now that the Draft GI protection bill is drafted and also to expedite the basmati trademark ownership issue
Mukesh Kumar provincial chief SMEDA endorsed the views of UNISAME's chief and Maimoona Sattar an SME expert also agreed with the suggestions of UNISAME and both expressed strong feelings for the capacity building of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) and urged Thaver to work on the capacity building of REAP under the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) jointly with SMEDA.
Secondly our rice is become noncompetitive as Indian rice is cheaper due to subsidy support from government Thirdly we have neglected research and development (R&D) on seeds to produce grains with less cost of production. The R&D side needs to be taken very seriously. Our super basmati rice which is our heritage is suffering a setback due to lack of R&D and we cannot afford to lose our share of basmati in world markets. Every aspect of basmati inclusive of packing, promotion, branding and marketing needs our immediate attention and needs immediate attention of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) on priority basis.
Other factors which are a setback are lack of finance for exports to third world countries and low premium insurance is unavailable.
The banks are not inclined to accept documents for negotiations for goods shipped to Iran and as such transactions with Iran are at a standstill. The ministry of commerce needs to work overtime to expedite the agreement with Iran and the matter needs immediate placement in the cabinet for prompt approval.
Thaver said SMEDA needs to advocate the cause of the SME millers ,processors and exporters of rice and urged the government to declare rice as an industry and grant relief on farm inputs
Secondly to impress upon the government to expedite the geographical indication of rice now that the Draft GI protection bill is drafted and also to expedite the basmati trademark ownership issue
Mukesh Kumar provincial chief SMEDA endorsed the views of UNISAME's chief and Maimoona Sattar an SME expert also agreed with the suggestions of UNISAME and both expressed strong feelings for the capacity building of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) and urged Thaver to work on the capacity building of REAP under the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) jointly with SMEDA.
The GM SMEDA assured UNISAME of full support and promised a
comprehensive recommendations proposal for the uplift of the rice sector to be
submitted to the Ministry of Industries for remedial measures.
Philippines to import up to 805,200 tonnes of rice
MANILA:
The Philippines’ state grains agency said on Thursday it is set to accept
applications from private traders to import up to 805,200 tonnes of rice, more
than two-thirds of which must come from Thailand and Vietnam.The National Food
Authority (NFA), the agency regulating rice importation, said traders can ship
in up to 293,100 tonnes each from Thailand and Vietnam, with the rest to come
from other countries not later than Feb. 28, 2017. The additional demand from
the Philippines, one of the world’s biggest rice buyers, could underpin export
prices from the two countries.Thailand and Vietnam, the world’s second- and
third-largest rice suppliers after India, last month won supply contracts from
the Philippines’ NFA for 100,000 tonnes and 150,000 tonnes, respectively.
Traders in Vietnam expect Vietnamese rice prices to firm slightly thanks to the
potential new demand. Vietnam’s small initial deal with the NFA didn’t help to
lift its export quotations, which stood at multi-month lows given the country’s
high stocks.
The NFA
issued the import guidelines on Thursday, under which traders are to bring in
well milled rice with a quality not lower than 25 percent brokens or any
special variety. Shipments will be levied with a 35 percent tariff. The
importation is under a country-specific quota scheme covered by a 2014
agreement with the World Trade Organization (WTO), which allows the Philippines
to provide minimum market access for rice imports.Philippine rice importers can
also buy up to 50,000 tonnes each from China, India and Pakistan, up to 15,000
tonnes from Australia, up to 4,000 tonnes from El Salvador, and 50,000 tonnes
from any country. The Southeast Asian nation has kept import restrictions for
the grain in place since 1995, when it joined the WTO, to protect local
farmers.On Wednesday Socio-economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said the country will open its doors to higher rice imports by next year, by not seeking a further extension of the import restrictions that will lapse in June 2017
- http://www.customstoday.com.pk/philippines-to-import-up-to-805200-tonnes-of-rice/
Strange PNG quota plan threatens big SunRice market
ANDREW MARSHALL
08 Sep, 2016 02:00 AM
SunRice chairman Laurie Arthur says the company
has been in business in PNG for 46 years and intends to stay for the long-term,
despite the prospects of a new player receiving preferential treatment from a
new rice quota system.
Rice
industry officials are struggling to understand what is going on in one of
Australia’s best markets after just returning from an emergency mission to
Papua New Guinea (PNG). While national marketer, SunRice is revelling in the prospect of big 80,000 hectare rice planting in its southern NSW heartland this summer, much of its valuable PNG market for that crop may soon dissolve because of a contentious quota system flagged for next year.
SunRice has been told its majority-owned subsidiary, Trukai Industries, will have to share just 20 per cent of the PNG rice market with several other supplier rivals, while a new, unknown rice trading entity takes surprise responsibility for about 80 per cent of the market.
Trukai supplies about 75pc of PNG’s rice needs and generated more than a third of SunRice’s $1.3 billion revenue in 2015-16.
SunRice chairman, Laurie Arthur, led a company delegation to PNG last week to re-assure customers, retailers and Trukai’s 1000-plus employees his company would not be pushed out of PNG after 46 years.
Trukai has built supply networks into some of the country’s most remote regions and is also promoting rice production and variety trials.
“Our view is we’re in the PNG market for the long-term,” said Mr Arthur, whose trip included meeting farmers to pay 17,000 kina for a 20 tonne crop they grew this year.
“We don’t believe it’s good for consumers, our employees or the farmers we’ve build connections with if we don’t continue as an active part of the PNG economy.
“In short, the quota arrangements would be unfair for all concerned - it would be a very nasty situation.”
Indonesian-backed Naima Agro Industries, which has promised to spend up to 7 billion kina on agricultural business developments, including promoting a rice industry in PNG’s highlands, is set to take 80pc of the rice supply quota, according to PNG’s department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL).
However, Naima is understood to have no rice business experience, no known distribution infrastructure and, so far, no farming projects underway with PNG farmers to establish a local rice industry.
Page:
1
Andrew Marshall
is the national agribusiness writer for Fairfax Agricultural Media
http://www.farmweekly.com.au/news/agriculture/agribusiness/general-news/strange-png-quota-plan-threatens-big-sunrice-market/2753692.aspx
Rice Bound for Indonesia?
The Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) hopes to
export around 200,000 tons of milled rice a year to Indonesia, which is one of
the biggest rice markets in Asean. This comes after the CRF announced late last
month that it will not join the bid to supply milled rice to the Philippines as
it plans to import an additional 750,000 tons of rice to secure the country’s
supplies through 2017. CRF vice president Hun Lak told Khmer Times
that both Cambodia and Indonesia had a memorandum of understanding since 2012
for the export of milled rice and both countries had been in continuous talks
ever since.
“The negotiations have not expired, though we
have yet to work out details on the exact amount that Indonesia wants from us,
how we are going to store the rice for export, and sourcing paddy rice from
local farmers for milling,” he said.Though Mr. Luk could not give a precise
date of when Cambodia would be exporting rice to Indonesia, he said CRF was
prepared to ship between 150,000 to 200,000 tons each year if both sides
agreed.
“So, internally, we have to be ready with full
cooperation from rice farmers, rice millers and rice exporters. We also need to
find a way to bring down our production costs to make Cambodian rice more
competitive,” he said.According to Mr. Lak the price of locally grown Cambodian
rice is between $50 to $60 higher per ton compared to rice from neighboring
Vietnam and Thailand. Earlier, Mr. Lak told Khmer Times that high electricity
rates were eating significantly into the production costs of rice millers.
“We are trying to find ways to lower the cost
of electricity. We want the electricity rate to be reduced to less than 400.60
riel (10 cents) per kilowatt hour for the agricultural sector,” he said.
Late last month, Thailand and Vietnam won deals
to supply a total of 250,000 tons of rice to the Philippines at a tender after
revising down their offers to just within Manila’s budget. The Philippines, one
of the world’s top rice buyers, plans to stockpile rice now ‒ taking advantage
of low global prices ‒ to prepare for shortfalls caused by natural disasters
like floods and typhoons.Chray Son, a rice miller and director of Capital Food
in Battambang, said he welcomed CRF’s suggestion to export milled rice to
Indonesia.
“But we have to be realistic,” he cautioned.“It
is hopeless to grab new markets if our cost of production is still high and we
cannot be competitive in the international markets,” said Mr. Son.“Obviously,
Indonesia is going to ask for lower prices ‒ even if our rice is of better
quality than others. If we can’t offer lower prices, the Indonesians will get
their supply from Vietnam.
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/29485/rice-bound-for-indonesia-/
Asia Rice: Price Gap Widens; Buyers Turn to
Pakistan, Myanmar i
Hanoi. The
difference in export prices of a rice variety in Thailand and Vietnam widened
this week after the two nations won a tender to supply to the Philippines,
while buyers of Vietnamese and Indian rice turned to cheaper grain sources,
traders said. Thailand and Vietnam are the world's second- and third-largest rice exporters after India. The gap between their 5-percent broken grades has soared 74 percent in the past week to around $33 per tonne.
Thai benchmark 5-percent broken rice rose to $375-$376 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) basis, from $370-$375 last week, traders said.
Benchmark 5-percent broken rice prices in Vietnam eased to $340-$345 a tonne, FOB, from $345-$360 last Wednesday.
A tender on Aug. 31 has pushed up Thai rice prices, its commerce ministry said in a statement on Wednesday (07/09).
A trader in Bangkok said some new orders for old rice and parboiled grain have also boosted prices. "(The rise) will be temporary, as new rice is expected to come out next month," he said.
Vietnam will sell 150,000 tonnes of 25 percent broken rice to Manila at $424.85/tonne, including freight, insurance and other costs, after the Aug. 31 tender. Thailand will supply 100,000 tonnes at the same price.
In Vietnam, export quotations stood at multi-month lows as the volume to be loaded for Manila was tiny compared with current stocks, while buyers were looking at cheaper grain from Pakistan and Myanmar, traders said.
"Prices in Vietnam even dropped because of high stocks," a Vietnamese rice expert based in the Mekong Delta food basket said, adding slowing exports this year also meant higher inventory.
Vietnam's 25-percent broken rice fell to $330-$335 a tonne this week, the lowest in nearly seven months.
"While prices in Vietnam have dropped, buyers are still attracted by cheap rice in Pakistan, while some can even buy in Myanmar," a trader in Ho Chi Minh City said.
Pakistani 5 percent broken grain stood at $325/tonne, he said.
India's 5 percent broken parboiled rice prices eased this week to $372-$382/tonne, FOB basis, from $375-$385 in late October as buyers turned to Thailand, traders said.
"Prices are consistently falling due to poor demand," even though the Indian rupee strengthened, said an exporter in Kakinada, in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
The Indian rupee hit a four-month high against dollar on Wednesday, reducing exporters' earnings. Prospects of bumper summer-sown crop are also putting pressure on local prices, traders said
Japan reaches for rice imports amid price surge at home
Food-grade rice produced in Japan is becoming more
expensive as farmers give more land over to rice used as animal feed.
TOKYO --
Japan's government held its most successful sale of foreign rice in 31 months
on Wednesday as high domestic prices push restaurants to seek cheaper
alternatives.Wholesalers bought 10,416 tons of imported rice that day at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' first auction of the commodity in fiscal 2016. This comes to 35% of the 30,000 tons on offer. Both the amount changing hands and the share of the total sold are the highest since February 2014.
Medium-grain polished rice from the U.S., a leader among imported varieties destined for Japanese tables, accounted for 4,866 tons of the haul. California, where the grain is produced, is experiencing a bumper crop. The rice went for around 168 yen ($1.65) per kilogram, tax included -- 10 yen cheaper than at the last auction in March, thanks to an uptick in supply and lower global prices.
Food-grade rice produced in Japan is becoming more expensive as farmers give more land over to rice used as animal feed. This year's crop will likely come to 7.35 million tons, or 90,000 tons less than in 2015, according to the agriculture ministry. The National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations, known as Zen-Noh, on Wednesday set the wholesale price on a common dinner-table variety at 16,000 yen per 60kg, or 500 yen higher than for last year's crop.
A number of eateries substituted imported rice for domestic when the latter's price surged in 2012. When domestic prices subsided, those food-use imports all but disappeared. Now, the imported crop looks to hit tables once again. Wholesalers report greater interest in foreign rice by restaurant chains. Garden, the parent of a company running a casual rice-bowl chain, has said it has little choice but to consider using imported rice amid high domestic prices.
Japan imports 770,000 tons of rice each year under a minimum-access quota system. Up to 100,000 tons of that is sold for direct consumption, while the rest is used in applications such as processed foods and snacks.
(Nikkei)
http://asia.nikkei.com/Markets/Commodities/Japan-reaches-for-rice-imports-amid-price-surge-at-home
PHL to import up to 805,200MT rice
September 09, 2016
THE PHILIPPINES has opened to private traders the importation of an additional 805,200 metric tons (MT) of rice under the minimum access volume (MAV) scheme, the bulk of which will be sourced from Thailand and Vietnam, respectively the world’s second- and third-biggest suppliers of the grain.
In Memorandum Circular AO-2016-09-005, the
National Food Authority (NFA) said it will now accept applications from
NFA-licensed importers to ship up to 293,100 MT each from Thailand and Vietnam,
and the balance other countries.
Thailand and Vietnam last month won supply contracts from NFA for 100,000 MT and 150,000 MT under the state-to-state scheme.
Traders can also buy up to 50,000 MT separately from China, India and Pakistan, up to 15,000 MT from Australia and up to 4,000 MT from El Salvador.
Up to 50,000 MT can be ordered under the omnibus scheme, which means the volume can be bought from any country.
All rice under this importation scheme, expected to arrive in the country not later than Feb. 28 next year, is levied a 35% tariff to be paid in advance to the Land Bank of the Philippines.
NFA said “95% arrival of the importer’s authorized import quota shall mean substantial compliance with the allocated volume.”
“Failure to meet substantial compliance for the arrival of the allocated importations in accordance with prescribed delivery schedule... shall disqualify the importer from future importation programs of the NFA.”
In the event of force majeure, an importer can ask for extension of the import permit’s validity and arrival period, which in no case should exceed 15 days.
Importers seeking more time should submit a written notice within five days of force majeure occurrence.
“The NFA Administrator shall decide within three days from receipt of the written [notice]; otherwise, it shall be deemed approved,” the state grains agency said.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia earlier said that the Philippines was secure in its rice stocks “for the rest of the year” but that the country should take advantage of the prevailing low global prices of the grain to partly cover 2017 demand.
The Philippines imported around 1.8 million MT of rice in 2015, below a record 2.45 million MT in 2010. -- J. C. Lim
Thailand and Vietnam last month won supply contracts from NFA for 100,000 MT and 150,000 MT under the state-to-state scheme.
Traders can also buy up to 50,000 MT separately from China, India and Pakistan, up to 15,000 MT from Australia and up to 4,000 MT from El Salvador.
Up to 50,000 MT can be ordered under the omnibus scheme, which means the volume can be bought from any country.
All rice under this importation scheme, expected to arrive in the country not later than Feb. 28 next year, is levied a 35% tariff to be paid in advance to the Land Bank of the Philippines.
NFA said “95% arrival of the importer’s authorized import quota shall mean substantial compliance with the allocated volume.”
“Failure to meet substantial compliance for the arrival of the allocated importations in accordance with prescribed delivery schedule... shall disqualify the importer from future importation programs of the NFA.”
In the event of force majeure, an importer can ask for extension of the import permit’s validity and arrival period, which in no case should exceed 15 days.
Importers seeking more time should submit a written notice within five days of force majeure occurrence.
“The NFA Administrator shall decide within three days from receipt of the written [notice]; otherwise, it shall be deemed approved,” the state grains agency said.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia earlier said that the Philippines was secure in its rice stocks “for the rest of the year” but that the country should take advantage of the prevailing low global prices of the grain to partly cover 2017 demand.
The Philippines imported around 1.8 million MT of rice in 2015, below a record 2.45 million MT in 2010. -- J. C. Lim
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=TopStory&title=phl-to-import-up-to-805200mt-rice&id=133212
Philippines resolved to end import restrictions for rice
September 09, 2016
THE DUTERTE administration said it remains intent in scrapping rice import restrictions that will lapse in June next year, as such non-tarriff barrier clouds prospects for the Philippines’ inclusion in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal.
The quantitative restriction (QR) on the grain
has been in place since 1995, when the country joined the World Trade
Organisation, and has been extended at least twice.
“Protectionist policies like QRs are hindrance to trade agreements,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said in a text message.
Asked what trade deals the Duterte administration is eyeing to enter, Mr. Pernia cited the TPP deal which “we are still looking into.”
In February, the TPP, which is expected to make up 40% of the global economy, was signed by 12 member nations. It will see ratification if within two years, at least six countries -- that comprise 85% of the total gross domestic production of the 12 TPP nations -- approve to implement the final text of the deal.
The 12 TPP signatories are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.
The Philippines, under the Aquino administration, has already expressed interest in joining the trade agreement through some consultations done as early as last year with some of the TPP signatories.
“Time for competition to pressure our farmers to be more productive with government backing,” Mr. Pernia added, noting that Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez who heads the economic cluster, shares the same sentiment with him.
In his speech during a “Smart Agriculture Forum” at the SMX Convention Center on Thursday, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief said the country is under an “increasing pressure to open agriculture to agricultural trade.”
“It’s not good to extend... It doesn’t make us look good that we keep extending,” said Mr. Pernia, noting that there are proposals to continuously impose the QR on the “politically-charged” grain but that economic ministers “are opposing this extension.”
“We hope we are not going to be prevailed over by other members of the cabinet,” he added.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol, who was invited as the keynote speaker of the forum but was not present at the event, earlier expressed intent to seek a two-year extension to prepare rice farmers ahead of the influx of cheap imports.
“We believe that our farmers are still not ready for the removal of the QR,” said Noel A. Padre, director of DA’s Policy Research Service who was speaking in a panel discussion on Thursday to represent Agriculture Undersecretary Policy, Planning, Research and Development and Regulations Segfredo R. Serrano.
Mr. Padre added that the agency has conducted a research study where “we saw that only rice producers in Nueva Ecija are competitive with producers in rice in Vietnam, Thailand.”
Manila enjoyed the QR for ten years until 2004. It was stretched to 2012 after which the country sought for a second extension which was approved by WTO country-members in 2014. The waiver is due to expire July next year. -- Janina C. Lim
“Protectionist policies like QRs are hindrance to trade agreements,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said in a text message.
Asked what trade deals the Duterte administration is eyeing to enter, Mr. Pernia cited the TPP deal which “we are still looking into.”
In February, the TPP, which is expected to make up 40% of the global economy, was signed by 12 member nations. It will see ratification if within two years, at least six countries -- that comprise 85% of the total gross domestic production of the 12 TPP nations -- approve to implement the final text of the deal.
The 12 TPP signatories are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.
The Philippines, under the Aquino administration, has already expressed interest in joining the trade agreement through some consultations done as early as last year with some of the TPP signatories.
“Time for competition to pressure our farmers to be more productive with government backing,” Mr. Pernia added, noting that Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez who heads the economic cluster, shares the same sentiment with him.
In his speech during a “Smart Agriculture Forum” at the SMX Convention Center on Thursday, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief said the country is under an “increasing pressure to open agriculture to agricultural trade.”
“It’s not good to extend... It doesn’t make us look good that we keep extending,” said Mr. Pernia, noting that there are proposals to continuously impose the QR on the “politically-charged” grain but that economic ministers “are opposing this extension.”
“We hope we are not going to be prevailed over by other members of the cabinet,” he added.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol, who was invited as the keynote speaker of the forum but was not present at the event, earlier expressed intent to seek a two-year extension to prepare rice farmers ahead of the influx of cheap imports.
“We believe that our farmers are still not ready for the removal of the QR,” said Noel A. Padre, director of DA’s Policy Research Service who was speaking in a panel discussion on Thursday to represent Agriculture Undersecretary Policy, Planning, Research and Development and Regulations Segfredo R. Serrano.
Mr. Padre added that the agency has conducted a research study where “we saw that only rice producers in Nueva Ecija are competitive with producers in rice in Vietnam, Thailand.”
Manila enjoyed the QR for ten years until 2004. It was stretched to 2012 after which the country sought for a second extension which was approved by WTO country-members in 2014. The waiver is due to expire July next year. -- Janina C. Lim
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=philippines-resolved-to-end-import-restrictions-for-rice&id=133230
Rice Prices
as on : 08-09-2016 08:11:30 PMArrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
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Arrivals
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Price
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Current
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%
change |
Season
cumulative |
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Prev.Yr
%change |
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Rice
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||||||
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Bangalore(Kar)
|
2287.00
|
10.22
|
180204.00
|
3800
|
3800
|
-11.63
|
|
Kanpur(Grain)(UP)
|
740.00
|
12.98
|
13325.00
|
2150
|
2175
|
-1.15
|
|
Vadodara(Guj)
|
536.59
|
-
|
536.59
|
2500
|
-
|
-
|
|
Mysore (Bandipalya)(Kar)
|
492.00
|
173.33
|
672.00
|
1900
|
1900
|
26.67
|
|
Bangarpet(Kar)
|
362.00
|
-7.18
|
12991.00
|
1850
|
1830
|
20.13
|
|
Manjeri(Ker)
|
290.00
|
NC
|
12470.00
|
3200
|
3200
|
-3.03
|
|
Agra(UP)
|
235.00
|
11.9
|
7252.00
|
2260
|
2250
|
10.78
|
|
Jaunpur(UP)
|
220.00
|
NC
|
5810.00
|
2210
|
2200
|
9.41
|
|
Varanasi(Grain)(UP)
|
215.00
|
7.5
|
725.00
|
2200
|
2150
|
-
|
|
Sainthia(WB)
|
210.00
|
5.9
|
2166.50
|
2040
|
1930
|
-
|
|
Bolpur(WB)
|
190.00
|
-
|
190.00
|
2200
|
-
|
-
|
|
Gondal(UP)
|
172.00
|
-8.02
|
15484.10
|
2010
|
2010
|
-0.50
|
|
English Bazar(WB)
|
168.00
|
-6.67
|
3775.00
|
2100
|
2100
|
7.69
|
|
Birbhum(WB)
|
165.00
|
-14.68
|
3341.40
|
2060
|
1970
|
9.28
|
|
Memari(WB)
|
156.00
|
44.44
|
5498.00
|
2150
|
2150
|
19.44
|
|
Asansol(WB)
|
133.00
|
NC
|
3300.50
|
2600
|
2600
|
10.64
|
|
Durgapur(WB)
|
132.00
|
-0.75
|
2252.00
|
2550
|
2550
|
12.33
|
|
Jafarganj(UP)
|
120.00
|
-
|
120.00
|
2400
|
-
|
28.00
|
|
Mathabhanga(WB)
|
100.00
|
-9.09
|
5930.00
|
2450
|
2450
|
25.64
|
|
Aligarh(UP)
|
90.00
|
12.5
|
5515.00
|
2400
|
2420
|
12.15
|
|
Rampurhat(WB)
|
90.00
|
12.5
|
1434.00
|
2200
|
2250
|
17.02
|
|
Dhing(ASM)
|
85.00
|
18.06
|
4093.40
|
2000
|
2050
|
2.56
|
|
Bongiagaon(ASM)
|
76.00
|
-
|
76.00
|
3300
|
-
|
-8.33
|
|
Devariya(UP)
|
75.00
|
-6.25
|
2475.00
|
2260
|
2245
|
11.33
|
|
Thodupuzha(Ker)
|
70.00
|
NC
|
4200.00
|
2900
|
2900
|
16.00
|
|
Kalipur(WB)
|
70.00
|
-10.26
|
7865.00
|
2350
|
2350
|
20.51
|
|
Saharanpur(UP)
|
63.00
|
1.61
|
6501.00
|
2275
|
2300
|
5.32
|
|
Mathura(UP)
|
62.00
|
121.43
|
6395.00
|
2320
|
2300
|
14.85
|
|
Mainpuri(UP)
|
61.00
|
27.08
|
1690.50
|
2260
|
2250
|
13.57
|
|
Sealdah Koley Market(WB)
|
61.00
|
-18.67
|
762.40
|
3150
|
3150
|
36.96
|
|
Ballia(UP)
|
60.00
|
20
|
8020.00
|
2075
|
2070
|
5.06
|
|
Hapur(UP)
|
60.00
|
50
|
536.00
|
2270
|
2260
|
6.57
|
|
Barasat(WB)
|
60.00
|
NC
|
3265.00
|
2350
|
2400
|
-4.08
|
|
Vasai(Mah)
|
57.00
|
78.12
|
294.00
|
2100
|
2840
|
-19.23
|
|
Sangli(Mah)
|
56.00
|
47.37
|
200.00
|
4500
|
4500
|
-
|
|
Nadia(WB)
|
50.00
|
NC
|
1440.00
|
3350
|
3250
|
11.67
|
|
Gazipur(UP)
|
49.00
|
19.51
|
2918.50
|
2100
|
2100
|
3.96
|
|
Egra/contai(WB)
|
49.00
|
13.95
|
721.10
|
2400
|
2400
|
14.29
|
|
Kasimbazar(WB)
|
47.00
|
-3.09
|
2521.00
|
2500
|
2450
|
6.38
|
|
Gauripur(ASM)
|
45.00
|
-10
|
3173.50
|
4500
|
4500
|
NC
|
|
Coochbehar(WB)
|
45.00
|
NC
|
2014.50
|
2400
|
2400
|
11.63
|
|
Cachar(ASM)
|
40.00
|
NC
|
2920.00
|
2200
|
2500
|
-18.52
|
|
Karimganj(ASM)
|
40.00
|
NC
|
2060.00
|
2200
|
2200
|
NC
|
|
Balrampur(UP)
|
40.00
|
-11.11
|
1533.50
|
2060
|
2080
|
3.00
|
|
Garbeta(Medinipur)(WB)
|
26.00
|
-10.34
|
81.00
|
2550
|
2500
|
-
|
|
Mangalore(Kar)
|
25.00
|
NC
|
216.00
|
3450
|
3200
|
12.01
|
|
Yusufpur(UP)
|
25.00
|
-37.5
|
1095.00
|
2100
|
2140
|
5.79
|
|
Ghatal(WB)
|
24.00
|
4.35
|
91.00
|
2350
|
2370
|
9.81
|
|
Jhargram(WB)
|
24.00
|
NC
|
72.00
|
2350
|
2400
|
-
|
|
Ramkrishanpur(Howrah)(WB)
|
22.70
|
-6.97
|
1394.50
|
2400
|
2400
|
-4.00
|
|
Bidar(Kar)
|
22.00
|
-12
|
144.00
|
2300
|
2400
|
12.20
|
|
North Lakhimpur(ASM)
|
21.10
|
NC
|
1964.70
|
1900
|
1900
|
NC
|
|
Gulbarga(Kar)
|
21.00
|
NC
|
149.00
|
2100
|
2100
|
-2.33
|
|
Diamond Harbour(South 24-pgs)(WB)
|
21.00
|
NC
|
1253.50
|
2350
|
2350
|
17.50
|
|
Dhekiajuli(ASM)
|
20.00
|
185.71
|
1411.60
|
2100
|
2200
|
5.00
|
|
Shimoga(Kar)
|
20.00
|
-
|
50.00
|
2250
|
-
|
-4.26
|
|
Kaliaganj(WB)
|
20.00
|
33.33
|
1043.00
|
2700
|
2650
|
-1.82
|
|
Sambhal(UP)
|
19.00
|
-17.39
|
314.00
|
2410
|
2400
|
13.41
|
|
Achalda(UP)
|
18.00
|
-10
|
4303.50
|
2265
|
2260
|
1.12
|
|
Meerut(UP)
|
17.00
|
13.33
|
789.50
|
2345
|
2350
|
7.57
|
|
Bethuadahari(WB)
|
16.50
|
3.12
|
121.50
|
3300
|
3300
|
4.76
|
|
Palghar(Mah)
|
16.00
|
-48.39
|
861.00
|
2215
|
2801
|
-18.86
|
|
Kendupatna(Ori)
|
16.00
|
-20
|
127.50
|
2200
|
1870
|
18.41
|
|
Jasra(UP)
|
15.00
|
15.38
|
740.00
|
2375
|
2270
|
14.18
|
|
Sirsa(UP)
|
15.00
|
-11.76
|
616.50
|
2250
|
2260
|
3.45
|
|
Medinipur(West)(WB)
|
15.00
|
NC
|
85.00
|
2500
|
2500
|
-
|
|
Naugarh(UP)
|
14.50
|
NC
|
981.00
|
2115
|
2110
|
9.02
|
|
Solapur(Mah)
|
14.00
|
16.67
|
93.00
|
3275
|
3310
|
-4.24
|
|
Mekhliganj(WB)
|
14.00
|
12
|
905.50
|
2400
|
2350
|
28.00
|
|
Pundibari(WB)
|
13.50
|
12.5
|
346.50
|
2350
|
2350
|
13.25
|
|
Kolhapur(Laxmipuri)(Mah)
|
13.00
|
18.18
|
2197.00
|
3000
|
3600
|
-
|
|
Kolar(Kar)
|
12.00
|
9.09
|
191.00
|
4433
|
4260
|
-4.05
|
|
Nilagiri(Ori)
|
12.00
|
NC
|
635.00
|
2300
|
2500
|
NC
|
|
Lakhimpur(UP)
|
12.00
|
NC
|
679.50
|
2390
|
2390
|
11.42
|
|
Champadanga(WB)
|
12.00
|
100
|
1207.00
|
2700
|
2700
|
5.88
|
|
Rajam(AP)
|
10.00
|
-
|
10.00
|
2500
|
-
|
-
|
|
Alappuzha(Ker)
|
10.00
|
NC
|
230.00
|
4400
|
4550
|
13.55
|
|
Kendupatna(Niali)(Ori)
|
10.00
|
NC
|
46.00
|
2160
|
1950
|
-
|
|
Sheoraphuly(WB)
|
9.00
|
NC
|
558.65
|
2800
|
2800
|
5.66
|
|
Firozabad(UP)
|
8.00
|
NC
|
777.10
|
2250
|
2260
|
11.39
|
|
Dibiapur(UP)
|
8.00
|
14.29
|
255.50
|
2250
|
2230
|
-0.44
|
|
Raiganj(WB)
|
8.00
|
-11.11
|
1086.50
|
2750
|
2750
|
-3.51
|
|
Kannauj(UP)
|
7.50
|
15.38
|
423.80
|
2185
|
2200
|
-1.13
|
|
Raibareilly(UP)
|
7.00
|
-41.67
|
377.00
|
2100
|
2120
|
-0.94
|
|
Mirzapur(UP)
|
6.50
|
NC
|
1645.60
|
1985
|
1985
|
0.76
|
|
Silapathar(ASM)
|
6.00
|
NC
|
720.80
|
3000
|
3000
|
NC
|
|
Nimapara(Ori)
|
6.00
|
50
|
277.00
|
2100
|
2000
|
-4.55
|
|
Etah(UP)
|
6.00
|
-14.29
|
197.00
|
2240
|
2260
|
8.21
|
|
Khairagarh(UP)
|
6.00
|
-40
|
523.00
|
2240
|
2150
|
9.80
|
|
Uluberia(WB)
|
5.50
|
10
|
268.40
|
2400
|
2400
|
-4.00
|
|
Baruipur(Canning)(WB)
|
5.00
|
11.11
|
72.50
|
2800
|
2700
|
1.82
|
|
Haldibari(WB)
|
5.00
|
25
|
699.50
|
2300
|
2300
|
-14.81
|
|
Dahod(Guj)
|
4.60
|
-79.74
|
1587.20
|
4100
|
4100
|
7.89
|
|
Aheri(Mah)
|
4.00
|
-
|
4.00
|
3800
|
-
|
-
|
|
Karjat(Mah)
|
4.00
|
-
|
4.00
|
3000
|
-
|
NC
|
|
Farukhabad(UP)
|
4.00
|
25
|
228.40
|
2250
|
2225
|
3.21
|
|
Jahanabad(UP)
|
4.00
|
-20
|
349.30
|
2120
|
2180
|
NC
|
|
Islampur(WB)
|
4.00
|
NC
|
375.50
|
2400
|
2400
|
11.63
|
|
Kalyani(WB)
|
3.50
|
NC
|
118.00
|
3400
|
3400
|
NC
|
|
Hailakandi(ASM)
|
3.00
|
NC
|
149.00
|
2500
|
2500
|
-7.41
|
|
Alibagh(Mah)
|
3.00
|
NC
|
174.00
|
4000
|
4000
|
21.21
|
|
Murud(Mah)
|
3.00
|
NC
|
246.00
|
3000
|
3000
|
87.50
|
|
Buland Shahr(UP)
|
3.00
|
50
|
478.50
|
2250
|
2240
|
10.29
|
|
Melaghar(Tri)
|
2.50
|
25
|
132.80
|
2700
|
2700
|
8.00
|
|
Mangaon(Mah)
|
2.00
|
NC
|
52.00
|
2800
|
2800
|
12.00
|
|
Panisagar(Tri)
|
1.90
|
-
|
1.90
|
2500
|
-
|
-
|
|
Rahama(Ori)
|
1.70
|
-8.6
|
63.72
|
2450
|
2400
|
11.36
|
|
Pabiacherra(Tri)
|
1.60
|
33.33
|
2.80
|
3000
|
3200
|
-
|
|
Gulavati(UP)
|
1.50
|
NC
|
69.50
|
2300
|
2270
|
13.30
|
|
Shillong(Meh)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
72.00
|
3500
|
3500
|
NC
|
|
Badayoun(UP)
|
1.00
|
-50
|
9.50
|
2290
|
2265
|
7.51
|
|
Bharuasumerpur(UP)
|
1.00
|
-33.33
|
10.50
|
2100
|
1950
|
16.67
|
|
Mawana(UP)
|
1.00
|
-33.33
|
33.90
|
2290
|
2380
|
5.77
|
|
Sardhana(UP)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
97.10
|
2330
|
2330
|
8.12
|
|
Kasipur(WB)
|
0.70
|
NC
|
48.30
|
2360
|
2500
|
10.28
|
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article9085066.ece
State clears B7.2bn rice stock sale
8 Sep 2016 at 08:46 5,318 viewed1 comments
NEWSPAPER SECTION: BUSINESS | WRITER: PHUSADEE
ARUNMAS
The government yesterday approved the sale of
755,000 tonnes of rice stocks to 11 winning bidders for a combined 7.2 billion
baht.According to Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general of the Foreign Trade
Department, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha approved the amount in his
capacity as chairman of the National Rice Policy and Management Committee.
The sale accounted for 74.8% of the 1 million
tonnes put up at the latest auction.Of the 755,000 tonnes approved, 702,615 is
for human consumption and 52,397 is for industrial use.The Foreign Trade
Department called a bid last month to sell a combined 1 million tonnes of state
rice stocks.Interested bidders proposed their qualifications on Aug 25 and
submitted bid prices on Aug 29.Ms Duangporn said the department may call
another bid to sell outstanding rice stocks ahead of new supply from the annual
harvest season, which starts in November.
She said Thailand will vie to sell more rice to
the Philippines and to Indonesia after winning a bid last month to supply
100,000 tonnes of 25% white rice to the Philippines at US$424.85 a tonne.
The Philippine delivery is scheduled for
September and October. Vietnam also won a bid to supply 150,000 tonnes at the
same price.
The auction, the first under the two-month-old
government of President Rodrigo Duterte, is part of plans to import up to 1
million tonnes of rice to secure supplies of the staple through next year while
prices are low.
Of the total, 750,000 tonnes will be purchased
through government-to-government deals and 250,000 tonnes will be imported by
private companies.Under government-to-government transactions, the Philippines
usually buys rice from Vietnam, Thailand or Cambodia.
Nonetheless, the planned rice purchase, if it
goes forward, will be smaller than the Philippines' imported volume of 1.8
million tonnes for 2015.The government currently controls less than 9 million
tonnes in state stocks, a sharp drop from 18.7 million tonnes accumulated
through various rice-pledging schemes during 2011-14.
The government remains confident about
disposing of all state rice stocks next year.
APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1553
|
Market Watch
|
||||
|
Commodity-wise, Market-wise
Daily Price on 06-09-2016
|
||||
|
Domestic Prices
|
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
|
|||
|
Product
|
Market Center
|
Variety
|
Min Price
|
Max Price
|
|
Maize
|
||||
|
1
|
Amreli (Gujarat)
|
Other
|
1705
|
1720
|
|
2
|
Dhing (Assam)
|
Other
|
1350
|
1600
|
|
3
|
Haveri (Karnataka)
|
Local
|
1585
|
1585
|
|
Paddy(Dhan)
|
||||
|
1
|
Kasargod (Kerala)
|
Other
|
1650
|
1750
|
|
2
|
Savali (Maharashtra)
|
Other
|
2350
|
2400
|
|
3
|
Katwa (West Bengal)
|
Other
|
1512
|
1540
|
|
Banana
|
||||
|
1
|
Karad (Maharashtra)
|
Other
|
1000
|
1500
|
|
2
|
Chittorgarh (Rajasthan)
|
Other
|
1700
|
2000
|
|
3
|
Mechua (West Bengal)
|
Other
|
1400
|
1500
|
|
Brinjal
|
||||
|
1
|
Chala (Kerala)
|
Other
|
2200
|
2251
|
|
2
|
Dasuya (Punjab)
|
Other
|
1000
|
1300
|
|
3
|
Jajpur (Orissa)
|
Other
|
1400
|
2000
|
Quantitative restrictions: NEDA, DA clash on rice imports
(The
Philippine Star) | Updated September 9,
2016 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines - Trouble could be brewing between the departments of Agriculture and of Economic Development and Planning over the country’s rice imports.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia maintained the government would import more rice to comply with a World Trade Organization agreement to lift barriers on the staple food despite opposition from the Department of Agriculture.
“There are some moves in some sectors to extend again the QR (quantitative restrictions) on rice but we oppose. The economic ministers are opposing this extension,” Pernia said during the Smart Agriculture Forum yesterday.
“We are not going to be prevailed over by other members of the Cabinet,” he added.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, on the other hand, has made public its stand on seeking another extension of the so-called QR by least two more years.
“It’s not good to extend it for the fourth time, it doesn’t make us look good that we keep on extending it,” Pernia said.
Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1,
sectionmatch: 1
Piñol,
however, has been resolute on the issue, insisting that removing the QR will be
disastrous to local rice farmers, whom he claims are still not ready to compete
with cheap imports.In 2014, the Philippines under former president Benigno Aquino won approval of the WTO to keep import restrictions for three more years to June 2017.
Pernia, however, emphasized the removal of QR would result to lower prices, benefiting both consumers and farmers.
“It’s going to be better for consumers and it’s going to exert pressure on farmers and to others involved in the industry to not get into a vicious cycle where nothing gets done,” Pernia said.
“The competition is always good for people to get their acts together and deliver results. That should be our position,” he added.
Cost of producing palay (unmilled rice) in neighbouring countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia is around P6 to P10 per kilo compared to the significantly higher P10-12 per kilo in the Philippines.
Pernia and Piñol have not yet met to discuss the lifting of the QR. The Agri chief is currently out of the country and cannot be reached for further comment.
“We think differently but we are friends. There’s no Cabinet meeting yet regarding the extension. We will talk more about it,” Pernia said.
Although the local agriculture sector ranks second in ASEAN in terms of average share of government expenditure in total budget, Pernia said the industry remained in bad shape.
“Investment in agriculture has not been that measly, it just did not seem to translate into boosting the sector. This may indicate that we are not investing the right amount in the right areas,” he said.
Agriculture has been contracting for the last five quarters with the latest 2.1 percent decline in the second quarter of the year.
“It is not so much whether we should further increase investment in agriculture but more on how to strategically and smartly channel investment in areas that will enhance the sector’s competitiveness in the face of new challenges,” Pernia said
http://www.philstar.com/business/2016/09/09/1621728/quantitative-restrictions-neda-da-clash-rice-imports
Dangote
not importing killer rice: Adesina On September 8, 20167:36 pmIn NewsComments
Nigeria’s Federal Government on Wednesday in Abuja dismissed social media reports
linking it and Dangote group with a plan to ‘flood’ the country with
Genetically Modified rice (GMO) as extremely uncharitable. This is contained in
a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the
President, Mr Femi Adesina. Adesina described the report as the handiwork of
unscrupulous individuals who were bent on tarnishing the good image of the
government. He, however, confirmed that the Federal Government had in 2014
signed a one billion dollars Memorandum of Understanding, (MoU) for investment
in integrated rice project with Dangote Industries Ltd.
“Further
to this agreement, Dangote Industries Limited, this year cultivated over 8,000
hectares in Hadejia, Jigawa State, creating over 10,000 direct and indirect
jobs for farmers who are the major beneficiaries of the scheme.’’ Alhaji Aliko
Dangote Alhaji Aliko Dangote According to him, the Buhari-led administration is
also in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other
reputable companies to tap into the vast potential in the private sector. This
was aimed at broadening the economic base of the country. “The gains of the
diversification drive especially in the agriculture sector are already yielding
dividends as shown by the recent statistics in the sector published by the
National Bureau of Statistics.
“These engagements will continue until the
present administration has laid a solid foundation for the economic development
of the nation. “It is therefore ridiculous that a government that is wholly
devoted to the generation of employment for Nigerians, especially through
agriculture will turn around to get involved in an activity that will reverse
the gains of the same partnership,’’ he said. He noted that President Buhari
had said it repeatedly “we have the capacity to feed ourselves in Nigeria and
even export from what we produce in the country.’’ “He has also said that
through the provision of N200 billion by the CBN for small holder farmers and
processors involved in local production of rice and other grains, rice
importation will hopefully stop in the next three years.
“While
the Buhari administration is working assiduously with well-meaning Nigerians to
bring the country out of the current economic situation it has found itself, a
few self-serving individuals are bent on distracting the administration from
the avowed focus to reflate the fortunes of the country through the
diversification of the economy which, very soon, Nigerians will begin to see
and experience the results.’’ The Presidential aide warned purveyors of such
malicious information and those thinking of embarking on the same route to have
a rethink and retrace their steps
: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/dangote-not-importing-killer-rice-adesina/
: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/dangote-not-importing-killer-rice-adesina/
PHL to import up to 805,200MT rice
Posted on September 09, 2016
THE PHILIPPINES has opened to private traders the importation of an additional 805,200 metric tons (MT) of rice under the minimum access volume (MAV) scheme, the bulk of which will be sourced from Thailand and Vietnam, respectively the world’s second- and third-biggest suppliers of the grain.
In Memorandum Circular AO-2016-09-005, the
National Food Authority (NFA) said it will now accept applications from
NFA-licensed importers to ship up to 293,100 MT each from Thailand and Vietnam,
and the balance other countries.
Thailand and Vietnam last month won supply contracts from NFA for 100,000 MT and 150,000 MT under the state-to-state scheme.
Traders can also buy up to 50,000 MT separately from China, India and Pakistan, up to 15,000 MT from Australia and up to 4,000 MT from El Salvador.
Up to 50,000 MT can be ordered under the omnibus scheme, which means the volume can be bought from any country.
All rice under this importation scheme, expected to arrive in the country not later than Feb. 28 next year, is levied a 35% tariff to be paid in advance to the Land Bank of the Philippines.
NFA said “95% arrival of the importer’s authorized import quota shall mean substantial compliance with the allocated volume.”
“Failure to meet substantial compliance for the arrival of the allocated importations in accordance with prescribed delivery schedule... shall disqualify the importer from future importation programs of the NFA.”
In the event of force majeure, an importer can ask for extension of the import permit’s validity and arrival period, which in no case should exceed 15 days.
Importers seeking more time should submit a written notice within five days of force majeure occurrence.
“The NFA Administrator shall decide within three days from receipt of the written [notice]; otherwise, it shall be deemed approved,” the state grains agency said.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia earlier said that the Philippines was secure in its rice stocks “for the rest of the year” but that the country should take advantage of the prevailing low global prices of the grain to partly cover 2017 demand.
The Philippines imported around 1.8 million MT of rice in 2015, below a record 2.45 million MT in 2010. -- J. C. Lim
Thailand and Vietnam last month won supply contracts from NFA for 100,000 MT and 150,000 MT under the state-to-state scheme.
Traders can also buy up to 50,000 MT separately from China, India and Pakistan, up to 15,000 MT from Australia and up to 4,000 MT from El Salvador.
Up to 50,000 MT can be ordered under the omnibus scheme, which means the volume can be bought from any country.
All rice under this importation scheme, expected to arrive in the country not later than Feb. 28 next year, is levied a 35% tariff to be paid in advance to the Land Bank of the Philippines.
NFA said “95% arrival of the importer’s authorized import quota shall mean substantial compliance with the allocated volume.”
“Failure to meet substantial compliance for the arrival of the allocated importations in accordance with prescribed delivery schedule... shall disqualify the importer from future importation programs of the NFA.”
In the event of force majeure, an importer can ask for extension of the import permit’s validity and arrival period, which in no case should exceed 15 days.
Importers seeking more time should submit a written notice within five days of force majeure occurrence.
“The NFA Administrator shall decide within three days from receipt of the written [notice]; otherwise, it shall be deemed approved,” the state grains agency said.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia earlier said that the Philippines was secure in its rice stocks “for the rest of the year” but that the country should take advantage of the prevailing low global prices of the grain to partly cover 2017 demand.
The Philippines imported around 1.8 million MT of rice in 2015, below a record 2.45 million MT in 2010. -- J. C. Lim
Scientists Say Starchy Could Be Sixth Taste Sense Added To Sweet, Sour, Salty, Bitter, Umami
By Fox News // September 9, 2016Umami is meaty taste imparted by glutamate
ABOVE VIDEO: In addition to sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami, we can taste complex carbohydrates like starch – explaining our love for pasta, rice, potatoes and bread. (New Scientist Video)(FOX NEWS) – Wondering why a bread bowl full of pasta with fries on the side sounds like it would really hit the spot right now?
It could be a heretofore unknown sixth taste that a group of scientists claims to have discovered, Science Alert reports.Up until now, the five tastes humans were known to be able to sense were sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami.According to New Scientist it might be time to add “starchy” to that list.Researcher Juyun Lim notes that “every culture has a major source of complex carbohydrate,” be it rice or pasta or potatoes, and it “doesn’t make sense” that humans wouldn’t be able to taste those.
Up until now, the five tastes humans were known
to be able to sense were sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami
.http://spacecoastdaily.com/2016/09/scientists-say-starchy-could-be-sixth-taste-sense-added-to-sweet-sour-salty-bitter-umami/
Agri group hits govt plan to scrap rice import restrictions
Agri lobby group Samahang Industriya
ng Agrikultura (Sinag) has scored the Duterte administration over plans to
scrap farmers’ protection from cheap imported rice, saying the removal of the
quantitative restriction (QR) on rice imports will not result in lower prices
of the staple food, even as the government remains firm in its decision to let
the import limitation expire next June.In a statement, Sinag Chairperson
Rosendo So said the liberalization of the agriculture sector since the mid 90’s
saw the dumping of agriculture imports but it did not result in the lowering of
prices of most, if not all, agriculture products.
“The garlic industry, with almost 85-90 percent
of our supply sourced from outside, did not result in the lowering of the
prices of garlic,” So said, debunking claims by the National Economic Development
Authority that more rice imports equals lower retail prices“Our QRs on rice did
not limit us to import more rice, in fact—we have been one of the top importers
of rice in the last decade or so. This does not even include the flourishing
trade of rice smuggling that continue to hound the local rice industry,” he
said.
Govt firm on dropping QR
NEDA National Planning and Policy Director Reynaldo Cancio disclosed last week plans to remove the QR on rice, saying that the Duterte Cabinet is now working closely for the amendment of Republic Act (RA) No. 8178 or the Agricultural Tariffication Act of 1996, which had kept the QR on rice importation in place.Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA director-general Ernesto Pernia reiterated the administration’s intentions to remove the QR this week, saying that increased competition would lead to better performance for the Philippines’ own rice industry as well as lower prices for consumers.On the sidelines of the Smart Agriculture Forum organized by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Pernia noted that higher rice imports is beneficial to consumers, as it would be offered in lower prices compared to locally-produced rice.
“As I’ve said, it’s actually better for
consumers because imported rice is cheaper than the rice we produce locally,
which is more expensive,” Pernia said.
Pernia’s view was echoed by Rajiv Biswas,
Asia-Pacific chief economist at IHS Markit, who said with the June 2017
expiration of the waiver granted the Philippines in 2014 that extended QR,
moving to a tariff-based system under the terms of the country’s agreement with
the World Trade Organization “could also help to encourage improved efficiency
and higher quality in domestic rice production.”Pernia also told reporters that
another extension of the QR is bad for the country’s image.“It’s not good to
extend it for the fourth time. It doesn’t make us look good if we keep on
extending,” Pernia said.
Asked about the farmers who may lose their jobs
once the QR restriction is lifted and they are forced to compete with imported
producers, Pernia said, “If they are absolutely poor, then there can be some
assistance, some safety nets. More like the CCT-type support. But we don’t have
a large budget for that. You have to be well-selected.”At present, rice is the
only commodity in the Philippines that enjoy special treatment in the WTO,
which excluded the same from the agriculture liberalization.Instead, rice
farmers were protected through the imposition of a QR, which allows only limited
volume of the grains to enter the country.Under QR, Manila limits to 805,000
metric tons the amount of rice allowed to enter the country through the
so-called minimum access volume (MAV).
MAV refers to the minimum volume of farm
produce allowed to enter into the Philippines at reduced tariffs, while
shipments outside MAV pay higher rates of 50 percent and would need approval by
the National Food Authority.“NEDA should have consulted the local agriculture
industry so it would realize that rice prices are high because the cost of
producing rice in the country is one of the most expensive in the region,” So
said.
“Our cost of producing palay (unmilled rice) is
around P10-12/kilo while our neighbors Vietnam and Thailand are only about
P6-10/kilo,” he said, adding that rice farmers and the rice industry of these
countries continue to receive subsidies provided by their respective
governments.
The Philippines is an exception among most rice
producing countries across the globe, which continue to support their local
rice industries with various subsidy schemes. Even though under WTO rules,
governments are allowed to provide subsidies up to 10 percent of the value of
production (de minimis level), So said that Philippine subsidies are not even
close to 3 percent.“Our problem is that all previous governments did not fully
support the development of the local rice industry—the very reason for the
imposition of the QRs 20 years ago,” he said.
Instead of relying on imports that only help
the rice farmers of rice exporting countries, SINAG said that the Philippines
must pursue the genuine development of the local rice industry by supporting
rice farmers in the production (price support to farm inputs, seeds, free
irrigation, easy access to no-collateral credits and insurance coverage),
post-production (dryers and storage facilities) and marketing stages; increase
the farmgate support price of NFA to at least 5 percent of the total palay
production; and incentivizing local rice millers to modernize their milling
operations and facilities.“The greatest tragedy of our times is the destruction
of our capacity to produce our own staples,” he said.
Thin trade
The SINAG official said that Pernia should also realize that any discussion about the prospects for the local rice industry should look into the world rice market situation and recently, the impacts of extreme weather situation, as major considerations.“Global rice production is pegged at 470 million tons; of these, only 39 million to 42 million tons are tradeable. This means that less than 10 percent of the rice produced globally is available in the world market,” So said.
The SINAG official said that Pernia should also realize that any discussion about the prospects for the local rice industry should look into the world rice market situation and recently, the impacts of extreme weather situation, as major considerations.“Global rice production is pegged at 470 million tons; of these, only 39 million to 42 million tons are tradeable. This means that less than 10 percent of the rice produced globally is available in the world market,” So said.
Of the 39 million tons available for global
trade; 5 million tons are already earmarked for China and around 3 million tons
for Nigeria—in short; at least 20 percent of the available rice in the world
market is already allotted annually to China and Nigeria.
Global rice trade is relatively thin compared
with about 20 percent for wheat and 15-20 percent for corn. This thin market,
coupled with climatic changes and the unpredictable political situation or
natural calamities of rice exporting countries means that rice supply (and rice
prices) have tended to be unstable in recent years.
Unlike other agricultural commodities with
numerous exporting countries, there are only a handful of countries that are
exporting rice; a precarious situation given that rice is the staple for nearly
half of the world’s seven billion people.
As a result, rice-importing countries like the
Philippines will become prone to the volatility of world rice supplies and the
domestic/political situation of rice exporting countries.According to the
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the vast majority of climate
change impacts and the overall impact of climate change on rice production are
likely to be negative.The main source of water for irrigation in both Vietnam
and Thailand is the Mekong delta where rice is grown in vast low-lying deltas
and coastal areas.“For one, more than half of Vietnam’s rice production is in
the Mekong River delta—the Mekong region will be most affected by sea-level
rise. Vietnam and Thailand are our top two sources of rice imports,” So said.Further
studies suggest that about 20 million hectares of the world’s rice-growing area
is at risk of occasionally being flooded to submergence level, in particular in
countries like India— another major source of our rice imports
http://www.manilatimes.net/agri-group-hits-govt-plan-to-scrap-rice-import-restrictions/284759/
Main rice harvest projected at 20 million
tonnes
• 9
Sep 2016 at 12:05
• WRITER:
ONLINE REPORTERS
Many families still prefer to harvest their
rice crop by hand, saving both on the cost of paying for a mechanical harvester
and loss of 10-15% of their grain through wastage. (file photo)
Authorities are speeding up measures to keep
rice prices steady after forecasting 83% of all paddy in the main crop will be
harvested between October and December this year.The Agriculture and
Agricultural Cooperative Ministry has projected a total of 24 million tonnes of
paddy from the 2016/17 main crop, which runs from around April this year to
February next year. Of the total, 20 million tonnes will be harvested in the
last three months of this year.
Anan Suwananrat, director-general of Rice
Department, said the government has arranged for the Bank for Agriculture and
Agricultural Cooperatives to provide a credit line for rice millers to enable
them to stockpile up to two million tonnes of paddy, to help prop up the price
during the harvest period.The bank must carefully implement the scheme to
prevent a recurrence of a problem that arose when the same measures were
applied last year. Mr Anan said rice millers last year were able to stockpile
only 500,000 tonnes of paddy when their credit line reached the maximum level.
Thai Rice Millers Association president Manas
Kitprasert said the harvest would be at its peak in November so the government
should have some export orders ready to help support the rice price.He said the
government’s success in selling 100,000 tonnes of rice over two months – 40,000
tonnes in September and 60,000 tonnes in October – had helped push up the price
of white rice in the market from 11,500 baht to 12,000 baht a tonne.
Agency blasted for selecting Chinese variety as Vietnam’s standard rice
TUOI TRE NEWS
Updated : 09/09/2016 14:02 GMT + 7
An agency under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development has introduced a proposal to adopt three rice varieties as
the standard for Vietnam-grown rice, causing an uproar as critics voiced
concern over the options.
On Thursday, the agency in charge of agro-forestry, seafood, and salt production held a conference to solicit feedback from industry experts on the three types of rice it wants to set as the Vietnamese standards.
The agency suggested that all high-quality Vietnamese rice should follow the model of the Jasmine 85, Nang Hoa 9, and ST 21 rice varieties.
Vo Thanh Do, deputy head of the agency, said these varieties were chosen for their high yields.
Shortly after the agency’s announcement, a rice expert stood up and complained that one of the three proposed rice species is of Chinese origin.
Dr. Ho Quang Cua, a pundit known for breeding several ST rice varieties, said the real ST 21 lacks any of the features or properties described by the agency.
“The agency’s description of ST 21 is in fact similar to that of RVT, a Chinese rice variety,” Cua, a former deputy direct of the agriculture department of the southern province of Soc Trang, said at the conference.
Moreover, Cua added, his ST 21 variety has yet to be recognized and accepted for mass cultivation, so “it will be impossible to export ST 21 rice.”
The selection of the two remaining varieties also provoked negative feedback.
Jasmine 85 is a member of the Jasmine family, a U.S.-origin rice species, experts said at the conference.
In the meantime, the Nang Hoa 9 is bred from a combination of Jasmine and AS 96 varieties, which means it is a half-US variety.
“The three rice varieties proposed to be Vietnamese standard consist of one from China, one from the U.S., and a hybrid from the U.S.,” Pham Thai Binh, director of the rice firm Trung An Co. Ltd., said.
“If these selections are approved, it will be a shame for Vietnam’s rice industry.”
Do, the deputy head of the agro-forestry, seafood and salt production agency, said “it is a mistake” for a Chinese rice variety to be introduced under a locally-grown guise and the proposed to be Vietnamese standard.
“We will review this issue,” he saidhttp://tuoitrenews.vn/business/36951/agency-blasted-for-selecting-chinese-variety-as-vietnams-standard-rice
China to double Cambodian rice quota, restore Preah Vihear
- 9 Sep 2016 at 16:15 2,284 viewed2 comments
- WRITER: KHMER TIMES
- +
PHNOM PENH - The Chinese
government will import 200,000 tonnes of rice annually from Cambodia from next
year, double the current amount, and will also help in the restoration of Preah
Vihear temple.
Prime Minister Hun Sen and Chinese Prime Minister Le
Keqiang reached agreement on the two matters in discussions on the sidelines of
the Asean Summit in Laos, Kao Kim Huon, the minister attached to the prime
minister, said at a press conference at Phnom Penh International Airport on
Thursday.“The Chinese government agreed to Samdech’s [Hun Sen’s] request to increase imports of agriculture products from Cambodia, especially by increasing the rice quota to China from 100,000 to 200,000 tonnes. His excellency Le Keqiang told Samdech that the Chinese government will support the repair of Preah Vihear temple,” the Khmer Times on Friday quoted him as saying.
He added that a number of other projects had been agreed upon.
“Now the Chinese government has agreed to provide assistance on two projects such as an irrigation system at the Vaiko River [in Svay Rieng province] and the rehabilitation of National Road 51 [which links national roads 4 and 5 to the west of Phnom Penh],” he said.
Kim Houn did not elaborate on the time frames for the projects, or the costs.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asean/1082161/china-to-double-cambodian-rice-quota-restore-preah-vihear
