Friday, September 09, 2016

9th September 2016 daily global,regional and local rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine




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.
    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
2

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
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
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 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)
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) |
 
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. PPD/Toto Lozano
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/


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







Scientists Say Starchy Could Be Sixth Taste Sense Added To Sweet, Sour, Salty, Bitter, Umami

By Fox News  //  September 9, 2016

Umami 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.
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

Description: C:\Users\WINDOW\Downloads\China to double Cambodian rice quota, restore Preah Vihear _ Bangkok Post  news_files\c1_1082161_620x413.jpg
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (centre) leans over for a word with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang during the gala dinner of the Asean Summit at the National Convention Centre in Vientiane on Wednesday. (EPA photo)
- +
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