Wednesday, November 09, 2016

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


Water scarcity can lead to food insecurity: ADB

November 08, 2016
RECORDER REPORT
Increasing water scarcity in the country could lead to food insecurity in the coming years as 90 percent of the total available water is used for irrigation with 80 percent farmland in the country. According to a report of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Pakistan is one of the most water-stressed countries in the world, not far from being classified as "water scarce," with less than 1,000 cubic meters per person per year.

Water demand exceeds supply, which has caused maximum withdrawal from reservoirs, it says, adding that at present, Pakistan's storage capacity is limited to a 30-day supply, well below the recommended 1,000 days for countries with a similar climate. The report says that climate change is affecting snowmelt and reducing flows into the Indus River, the main supply source. Increases in storage capacity to manage periods of low snowmelt and low rainfall are required, as well as the rehabilitation of the distribution system to reduce losses.

"Improved water management is critical to deliver sufficient water to the 80 percent of farmland in the country that is irrigated," it says. Pervaiz Amir, country director of the Pakistan Water Partnership, told Business Recorder that in Pakistan 90 percent of water is used in agriculture and if this is not reduced, within five to ten years farmers in the Indus basin will no longer be able to grow water-intensive cash crops like sugar cane, rice and cotton.

He said the country's wheat production fell by 1.5 million tons last year due to water shortages and hail storms in some parts of the Indus basin. Amir said the government should promote strip cropping and encourage farmers to grow a more diverse range of gains, such as millet, maize and sorghum, to boost food security besides providing them more resilient seeds.


According to a study of the International Water-logging and Salinity Research Institute (IWASRI), part of the Water and Power Development Authority, about 145 million acre-feet of water flows through Pakistan each year, but the country's existing storage capacity is only 14 million acre-feet, meaning it can only store enough water to last 30 days. The international standard is 120 days.


Muhammad Saeed, director at IWASRI, said that 42 percent of the land in Punjab is irrigated using wells and the excessive pumping of groundwater is quickly lowering the water table. "In the near future, farmers will no longer be able to grow water-intensive crops like sugarcane and rice," he said. Citing the study, he said that across Punjab province, the groundwater supplies are depleting at 16 to 55 centimetres (6 to 21 inches) a year, and this could potentially threaten the food security in the coming years if more water reservoirs are not constructed.

Pakistan is the world's fourth largest producer of rice after China, India and Indonesia. The average production of the crop stands around six million tons each year, with cultivation on over 2.5 million hectares. According to the 2010 agricultural census carried out by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, almost 64 percent of the country's population lives in rural areas and earns a living from agricultural activities such as crop cultivation, livestock rearing, and transportation of agricultural products to market.


Abid Qaiyum Suleri, executive director of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, however says that at present, half of Pakistan's population is food insecure and if the current trend of water depletion continues in Punjab and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-two regions that are home to 80 percent of Pakistan's farming population - food production and farming income will suffer.

Almost half of Pakistan's population does not have enough food for an active and healthy life, according to a recent report by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute. A growing number of districts in Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces are facing food insecurity according to the report. In Balochistan, the worst affected region in the country, 90 percent of districts suffer from food insecurity. The SDPI study recommends the government should construct more small dams at the community or catchement level to conserve rainwater and recharge groundwater. It also suggests the government to improve crop irrigation techniques, since 40 percent of irrigation water is wasted.
http://www.brecorder.com/money-a-banking/198/100777/

November 08, 2016

KARACHI: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) on Monday urged the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to grant rice exporters an extension of six months to clear their loans.
Zulfikar Thaver, president, UNISAME, said the SME rice exporters have not been able to export rice to global destinations due to decline in exports and unfavourable commodities markets.
He said despite the best efforts of the SME rice exporters, they were unable to meet their targets and adjust amounts borrowed against export refinance on the basis of the previous year’s performance.
The rice exporters had become liable to penalties due to no fault of their own, but only because of slowdown in the international commercial activities in commodities market.
He said the ministries of finance, agriculture and commerce needed to sit together to chalk out a comprehensive plan to facilitate the farmers, millers, and processors so they could offer the best export prices to compete in the global markets.
“The high cost of finance, the high cost of farm inputs, and poor logistics and infrastructure are some of the reasons for our low competitiveness,” Thaver said. “Basically the government needs to declare rice sector as an industry and offer it the priority it deserves and frame rice policy to facilitate it.”
He said rice was the second largest export sector after textiles and if given the facilities of finance, insurance, marketing, and logistics support it would prove its worth.
“It is also very important that research is enhanced for new seed varieties for better yield to make our grains competitive. Modern methods of cultivation, irrigation and paddy drying (must be) adopted and the government must to recognise the importance of the rice sector and the challenges it faces,” Thaver added
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/163090-Rice-exporters-ask-SBP-for-more-time-to-repay-loans



Rice exporters seek extension for ERF adjustment

BY PPI
The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) invited the attention of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to the difficulties faced by the rice exporters in the overdue adjustment of export refinance obtained on the basis of past performance.UNISAME President Zulfikar Thaver said the SME rice exporters have not been able to export rice to global destinations due to the decline in exports and unfavourable markets of commodities all over the world.
He said despite best efforts of the SME rice exporters, they have not been able to meet their targets and adjust amounts borrowed against export refinance on the basis of previous year’s performance.
The rice exporters due to shortfall have become liable to penalties due to no fault of their own, but only because of a slowdown in international commercial activities in the commodities market.
Thaver urged SBP to waive the penalty and allow the rice exporters an extension of six months to settle their loans.
He, however, stated that rice exports have become uncompetitive “due to our high cost of production and for this a long drawn out policy is required, and the ministries of finance, agriculture and commerce need to sit together to chalk out a comprehensive plan to facilitate the farmers, millers and processors to enable them to offer best export prices to exporters.”
The high cost of finance and farm inputs, poor logistics and infrastructure are some of the reasons for their non-competitiveness, he added.
Basically, he said, the government needs to declare rice sector as an industry and offer it the priority it deserves and frame rice policy to facilitate it.Rice was the second largest export sector after textiles and if given the facilities of finance, insurance and marketing and logistics support, it will prove its worth, he emphasised.It is also very important that research is enhanced for new seeds for better yields to make the grains competitive and modern methods of cultivation, irrigation and paddy-drying are adopted, he said.
http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/11/08/business/rice-exporters-seek-extension-for-erf-adjustment/

Windmill Rice showcases their products


USA Rice Daily, Tuesday, November 8, 2016

USA Rice via usarice.ccsend.com
2:00 AM (10 hours ago)

November 8, 2016

Taiwan Group Caps Week in U.S. with Cross-State Visit to Arkansas
By Kristen Dayton

JONESBORO & STUTTGART, AR -- As previously reported in the USA Rice Daily (November 3, 2016), a team from the Taiwan government and the Taiwan Rice Millers' Association traveled to U.S. rice country last week in preparation for upcoming rice import tenders.  Following a stop in the Sacramento, California area, the delegation was in Arkansas on Thursday and Friday for visits in Jonesboro with Poinsett Rice & Grain and Windmill Rice followed by visits to the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) Field Office in Stuttgart as well as Riceland Foods, Inc., Producers' Rice Mill, and the Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center. 

"The Taiwan team is very interested in sourcing high amylose long grain rice for use in Taiwan's rice noodle and rice cake manufacturing industry," said USA Rice COO Bob Cummings who accompanied the group.  "The discussions with the rice mills and scientists at the Dale Bumpers Center were very detailed as the visitors sought specifics on the U.S. long grain supply situation."

The delegation received a comprehensive briefing on inspection services for rice carried out by the Stuttgart FGIS office and the importance of FGIS's national rice standards in determining the quality of rice in domestic and international trade.  The group also received an update on varietal development for long grain at the Dale Bumpers Center. 


Examining samples at Producers Rice

"Taiwan is an important customer for U.S. rice, and it's important that we show them the full range of products and expertise that our industry can offer," said Carl Brothers, chairman of USA Rice's International Trade Policy Committee and COO of Riceland foods, Inc.

Rice imports are heavily controlled by the Taiwan government, and imports are effectively capped at 144,720 metric tons (brown basis) per year.  The United States has a tariff rate quota of 64,634 MT (brown basis), split between direct imports by the government and imports through the private sector directly or via a Simultaneous-Buy-Sell system



RiceBran Technologies to Host 2016 Third Quarter Financial Results Conference Call on November 10th at 4:30 PM EST

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, November 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ —
RiceBran Technologies (NASDAQ: RIBT and RIBTW) (the “Company” or “RBT”), a global leader in the production and marketing of value added products derived from rice bran, announced today that Dr. Robert Smith, Interim Chief Executive Officer of RBT, will host a conference call on Wednesday, November 10th at 4:30 p.m. EST to discuss the Company’s financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016.
Also joining the call from management will be Dale Belt – Chief Financial Officer, and Michael Goose – President of Ingredient Sales and Marketing.
The call information is as follows:
·         Date: November 10, 2016 
·         Time: 4:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time 
·         Direct Dial-in number for US/Canada: (201) 493-6780 
·         Toll Free Dial-in number for US/Canada: (877) 407-3982 
·         Dial-In number for international callers: (201) 493-6780 
·         Participants will ask for the RiceBran Technologies Third Quarter Earnings Release Call 
This call is being webcast by ViaVid and can be accessed at http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=121930.
The call will also be available for replay by accessing http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=121930.
About RiceBran Technologies

RiceBran Technologies is a human food ingredient and animal nutrition company focused on the procurement, bio-refining and marketing of numerous products derived from rice bran. RiceBran Technologies has proprietary and patented intellectual property that allows us to convert rice bran, one of the world’s most underutilized food sources, into a number of highly nutritious human food ingredient and animal nutrition products. Our target markets are human food ingredients and animal nutrition manufacturers and retailers, as well as natural food, functional food and nutraceutical supplement manufacturers and retailers, both domestically and internationally. More information can be found in our filings with the SEC and by visiting our website at http://www.ricebrantech.com .
Investor Contact:
Ascendant Partners, LLC
Fred Sommer
+1-732-410-9810

SOURCE RiceBran Technologies
http://satprnews.com/2016/11/07/ricebran-technologies-to-host-2016-third-quarter-financial-results-conference-call-on-november-10th-at-430-pm-est/







Farming cooperatives to accept pledges of 2 million tonnes of paddy from farmers


By Thai PBS
November 8, 2016
 
Seventy-three farming cooperatives in 13 provinces are expected to be able to accept pledges of two million tonnes of paddy from farmers worth about 23 billion baht, said agriculture inspector-general Prinya Pergsombat on Monday.Prinya made the above remark after having met representatives of the farming cooperatives of the North and the Northeat about the credit extension programme to delay the sale of rice by farmers in order to stall the rice price from steadily falling if all the rice are sold simultaneously.

Meanwhile, many farmers have started drying up their newly-harvested paddy in the sun to reduce humidity before the grains are to be pledged with the government in return for credits from the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives amounting to 90 percent of the market price.Farmers who cannot afford to wait to join the programme because they need cash fast have to sell their crops to rice millers at between 5,500-6,000 baht per tonne for Hom Mali grains.

Some farmers in Prompiram district of Phitsanuloke said they cannot sell or pledge all their crops because they have to keep some of the grains for the next cultivation. One farmer said he had bought rice seeds worth about 600 baht per sack for the next cultivation.A rice miller in Phichit’s Tab Klor district said he bought paddy from farmers in Tab Klor at a price 300-500 baht/tonne higher than that offered by the other millers to make pack rice for sale at 260 bath for a pack of 15 kgshttp://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/farming-cooperatives-accept-pledges-2-million-tonnes-paddy-farmers-154489

Ministry prepares raft of measures to boost rice prices including opening direct markets

November 09, 2016 01:00 
By WASAMON AUDJARINT 
THE NATION
14

THE COMMERCE Ministry will organise 109 open markets to sell rice paddy in 44 provinces during the 2016-17 production season starting this month to help shore up domestic prices and increase farmers’ bargaining power, according to Commerce Minister Apiradee Tantraporn.

The Cabinet yesterday also approved a Bt18-billion proposal to implement a rice-pledging scheme in Pathum Thani and for white rice paddy as Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed appreciation to the public and private sectors for their cooperation and efforts in helping farmers hit hard by low paddy prices, which now average only Bt5,000 to Bt6,000 per tonne.For instance, many private companies have directly purchased more than 600 tonnes of white rice from farmer groups, while farm cooperatives have stepped up their efforts to boost local communities’ capacity for rice production and milling for longer-term sustainability.
‘Tiny fraction’ of sales
However, the prime minister noted direct sales of rice represented only a tiny fraction of the country’s overall rice trade and would not exceed 5 per cent of the total. In addition, he said, the 300,000 farm cooperatives nationwide needed to be stronger and work closely with private rice millers so that they could better respond to both domestic and international demand.
Apiradee said open markets for rice paddy would help to boost competition for the benefit of farmers amid the current price slump. For example, the northeastern province of Udon Thani will set up open markets later this month at Central retail complexes and in the retail spaces of PTT gas stations so that farmers could negotiate prices directly with millers and other buyers, bypassing middlemen.
In Lopburi, consumers have also lined up at a provincial venues to buy milled rice directly from farmers while the Si Sa Ket police set up a market for farmers to sell rice directly to staff and their families. In Sukhothai, milled rice is also on sale at a 10-40 per cent discount at various PTT gas stations as the government and private sector agencies joined forces to promote more direct sales of rice to help farmers

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/politics/30299496


Thai Navy to buy and help harvest rice as farmers struggle

A tractor drives past at a rice drying yard at an export rice plant in the central Chainat province in Thailand, December 16, 2015. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo - RTX2RBH6

The Thai navy will buy rice directly from farmers and assign naval ratings to help them harvest their grain, a navy spokesman said on Tuesday, the latest in a series of steps by the military junta to soften the impact of falling prices on farming communities.On Monday, the country's rice committee announced new loan schemes worth $514 million to help rice growers, as the junta looked to gain support in rural areas ahead of an election next year.
Rice prices in Thailand hit a 13-month low last week, hurting farmers in the world's second-largest rice exporter. Rice exports account for around 10 percent of Thailand's gross domestic product."If grain prices have fallen we will help where we can to purchase. Where farmers lack labor we will send groups to help," Vice Admiral Jumpol Lumpikanon, a spokesman for the Royal Thai Navy, told reporters.The admiral did not say how much rice the navy would buy, or where the budget would come from.Last week Manas Kitprasert, head of the Thai Rice Millers Association, resigned after Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said that rice millers and politicians were colluding to drive down rice prices for political reasons.
Manas denied the accusations.The junta has asked millers to buy rice from farmers at "reasonable prices", and soldiers have visited rice millers to "seek cooperation".The party of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra won an election in 2011 in part by appealing to rice farmers with a populist scheme to buy their grain at above-market rates.Yingluck's administration was removed by the military in the 2014 coup.Thailand remains politically divided between the county's urban middle classes and royalist-military elite and supporters of populist governments ousted in 2006 and 2014 coups
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-politics-rice-idUSKBN1330S6?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews





The Philippines rice quantitative restrictions to expire

November 8, 2016 - by Holly Demaree
The QR is an import quota that was extended once before in 2006.

WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The Philippines’ National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) announced that the Philippines will not seek to extend the Quantitative Restriction (QR) on rice, a domestic support program to help farmers. However, the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) stated that it will pursue a two-year extension on the QR to prepare farmers to compete with other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) rice-producing countries, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) said in a Nov. 2 report.  

In 1995, the Philippines, upon its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), was allowed to implement a rice QR for 10 years. Under the QR, rice imports within the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) of 805,200 tonnes were faced with an in-quota tariff of 35%, while all imports in excess of the MAV were assessed with a higher 50% tariff, the report said. In short, a QR is an import quota, or an absolute limit, imposed on the volume of goods imported by a country, and is generally prohibited by Article XI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

In 2004, the Philippine government applied for a seven-year extension of the QR, lasting until 2012. In December 2006, the request was approved by the WTO, subject to tariff concessions on certain agricultural products for member countries. According to the report, concessions included country specific quotas for rice: Australia — 15,000 tonnes; China — 25,000 tonnes; Thailand — 98,000 tonnes; and India — 25,000 tonnes.

Currently, the Philippine government is initiating a series of stakeholder consultations. Starting July 1, 2017, tariff concessions made under the QR will end along with the program’s expiration, and tariff rates will revert back to their previous, higher levels. 



http://www.world-grain.com/articles/news_home/World_Grain_News/2016/11/The_Philippines_rice_quantitat.aspx?ID=%7B281D5B7A-2DA1-4A13-B0CD-CAAF6E49D3E2%7D&cck=1


Commerce ministry to now allow paddy exports to combat price fall


By Htoo Thant   |   Tuesday, 08 November 2016
Major producers will be allowed to export paddy, in November only, pending confirmation from the Office of the President, officials say. Commerce Minister U Than Myint said his ministry will allow temporary exports to offset production costs for farmers, against a background of sharply falling prices for rainy-season paddy.
A farmer works at a paddy field in Nay Pyi Taw in April. Photo: EPA
The minister was speaking at a trade-related conference at Nay Pyi Taw’s Hilton Hotel on November 3. Speaking on behalf of deputy secretary U Khin Maung Lwin, who is travelling, commerce ministry deputy director U Myat Moe Kyaw said officials had already begun to implement the decision.“We’re still drawing up a plan for allowing paddy exports in November alone,” he said. The ministry will seek permission from the President’s Office, as well as recommendations from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, he said.
The government has typically only allowed the export of paddy – as opposed to unhusked rice – in special circumstances. The commerce ministry said that the export to China of pearl thwel seeds, a type of paddy, was allowed last year in limited quantities.
But the sharp fall in rice prices this year has prompted this plan to help offset farmers’ production costs. Agriculture ministry deputy permanent secretary U Myo Tint Tun told The Myanmar Times the ministry would support the plan if domestic consumption was in surplus. “We will look at this year’s production and will calculate any surplus. If production is enough to cover domestic consumption, we will support it,” he said.
U Myat Moe Kyaw said the largest rice exporters as of October would receive priority in being granted export permission. “We will select companies on the basis of how much rice they exported, and the soundness of their financial position,” he said.
U Hla Tun, a farmer from Nay Pyi Taw’s Pyinmana township, said the plan could benefit farmers, but the government should take a decision soon. “The plan could work, but only if it’s done in time. Today is already November 7, and the plan still has to be submitted,” he said.
Rice mill owner Ko Nay Soe said the success of the plan required early approval. Rainy-season paddy is being harvested, but prices are fluctuating. U Hla Tun said the going price was between K380,000 and K400,000 per 100 baskets, but no transactions had yet occurred. Farmers said this year’s heavy rains had brought extra costs and waste.
http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/23538-commerce-ministry-to-now-allow-paddy-exports-to-combat-price-fall.html


Farming cooperatives to accept pledges of 2 million tonnes of paddy from farmers

By Thai PBS
  
Seventy-three farming cooperatives in 13 provinces are expected to be able to accept pledges of two million tonnes of paddy from farmers worth about 23 billion baht, said agriculture inspector-general Prinya Pergsombat on Monday.Prinya made the above remark after having met representatives of the farming cooperatives of the North and the Northeat about the credit extension programme to delay the sale of rice by farmers in order to stall the rice price from steadily falling if all the rice are sold simultaneously.Meanwhile, many farmers have started drying up their newly-harvested paddy in the sun to reduce humidity before the grains are to be pledged with the government in return for credits from the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives amounting to 90 percent of the market price.

Farmers who cannot afford to wait to join the programme because they need cash fast have to sell their crops to rice millers at between 5,500-6,000 baht per tonne for Hom Mali grains.Some farmers in Prompiram district of Phitsanuloke said they cannot sell or pledge all their crops because they have to keep some of the grains for the next cultivation. One farmer said he had bought rice seeds worth about 600 baht per sack for the next cultivation.
A rice miller in Phichit’s Tab Klor district said he bought paddy from farmers in Tab Klor at a price 300-500 baht/tonne higher than that offered by the other millers to make pack rice for sale at 260 bath for a pack of 15 kgs.http://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/farming-cooperatives-accept-pledges-2-million-tonnes-paddy-farmers-154489

Prices of coarse rice decline at mill gates




                 
No impact on city retail markets

FE Report

Prices of coarse varieties of rice started declining at mill gates, but it is yet to put any impact on city retail markets, traders said.Prices of some coarse varieties of rice dropped by Tk 2-Tk 3 per kilogram at mill gates in Rangpur, Dinajpur, Joypurhat, Naogaon and Kushtia in last seven days thanks to the beginning of harvest of Aman crop, they added.Newly harvested Swarna was selling at Tk 32-Tk 32.5 a kg while old Swarna was traded at Tk 33.80-Tk 34.0 a kg for a few days in Rangpur, Nilphamari and Dinajpur districts.However, prices of medium and finer quality rice marked minimal decline by Tk 15-Tk 20 per 50-kg sack, according to Bangladesh Auto Major Husking Mill Owners' Association (BAMHMOA).

Anowar Hossain, proprietor of Olima Traders in Nilphamari, told the FE that prices of Guti-Swarna of last year and BR-11 varieties fell by Tk 125-Tk 150 per sack (50 kg) and were selling at Tk 1680-Tk 1700 for last one week.He said newly harvested Swarna rice was selling at Tk 1,600 per sack which was Tk 1250-Tk 1300 a sack during the corresponding period last year.BAMHMOA Secretary KM Layek Ali said this year rice prices might not decline at the level of last year as prices of paddy are showing an upward trend during this Aman season.

He said Swarna and BR-11 paddy are selling at Tk 740-750 per maund while fragrant and finer quality paddy at Tk 800-Tk 850 a maund (40 kg).However, the latest decline in rice prices at mill gates was yet to put any impact on the city kitchen markets, according to traders.Swarna was selling at Tk 38-Tk 41 a kg, Brridhan-28, Paijam and Kajol Lata at Tk 43-Tk 46, Miniket and Jeerashail at Tk 48-Tk 56, Najirshail at Tk 48-Tk 58 a kg in the city retail markets.

Haji Mohammad Asadulla, joint secretary of Badamtoli and Babu Bazar Rice Wholesalers' Association, told the FE that most of the Arats (wholesales) were yet to bring seasonal rice.He said prices of coarse rice might decline to some extent within few days when traders will run out of stocks of old rice.However, he said prices of widely-consumed Miniket, Jeerashail, Brridhan-28 may not plunge as these are Boro season crops (harvested in May-June).

According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Aman rice output hit 13.48 million tonnes last year, an all-time high.The government has set a target to produce 135.44 million tonnes of rice this Aman season in the current fiscal year (FY'17), according to the agriculture ministry.




http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2016/11/07/52278/Prices-of-coarse-rice-decline-at-mill-gates


Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Nov 08, 2016


Nagpur Foodgrain Prices - APMC/Open Market-November 9
 
Nagpur, Nov 9 Gram prices zoomed up again in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and
Marketing Committee auctions here on increased buying support from local millers amid weak
supply from producing region. Healthy rise in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and repeated enquiries
from South-based millers also helped to push up prices, according to sources.
 
    FOODGRAINS & PULSES 
 
     GRAM
   * Desi gram recovered further in open market on renewed demand from local traders amid 
     tight supply from producing belt.
    
     TUAR
   * Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor.
   
   * Lakhodi dal and Batri dal moved down in open market here on poor demand from local 
     traders amid good supply from producing region.
                                         
   * In Akola, Tuar New - 5,800-6,000, Tuar dal (clean) - 10,600-11,500, Udid - 
     9,700-10,000, Udid Mogar (clean) - 11,400-11,700, Moong - 
     6,100-6,300, Moong Mogar (clean) 6,800-7,200, Gram - 9,500-9,900, 
     Gram Super best bold - 12,800-13,100 for 100 kg.
 
   * Wheat, rice and other commodities moved in a narrow range in scattered deals, 
     settled at last levels.  
       
 Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
    
     FOODGRAINS                 Available prices     Previous close   
     Gram Auction                7,400-9,650         7,400-9,400
     Gram Pink Auction            n.a.           2,100-2,600
     Tuar Auction                n.a.                5,400-6,000
     Moong Auction                n.a.                6,400-6,600
     Udid Auction                n.a.           4,300-4,500
     Masoor Auction                n.a.              2,600-2,800
     Gram Super Best Bold            13,000-13,500        13,000-13,500
     Gram Super Best            n.a.            n.a.
     Gram Medium Best            12,200-12,600        12,200-12,600
     Gram Dal Medium            n.a.            n.a
     Gram Mill Quality            10,400-10,600        10,400-10,600
     Desi gram Raw                10,050-10,250       10,000-10,200
     Gram Yellow                 13,400-13,800        13,400-13,800
     Gram Kabuli                13,800-15,100        13,800-15,100
     Gram Pink                        13,100-13,600        13,100-13,600    
     Tuar Fataka Best-New             11,500-11,800        11,500-11,800
     Tuar Fataka Medium-New        10,700-11,000        10,700-11,000
     Tuar Dal Best Phod-New        8,800-9,300        8,800-9,300
     Tuar Dal Medium phod-New        7,800-8,400        7,800-8,400
     Tuar Gavarani New             6,000-6,100        6,000-6,100
     Tuar Karnataka             6,200-6,300        6,200-6,300
     Tuar Black                 11,500-12,200        11,500-12,200 
     Masoor dal best            6,400-6,500        6,400-6,500
     Masoor dal medium            6,000-6,200        6,000-6,200
     Masoor                    n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Mogar bold (New)        6,800-7,200         6,800-7,200
     Moong Mogar Medium            6,100-6,500        6,100-6,500
     Moong dal Chilka            6,300-6,600        6,300-6,600
     Moong Mill quality            n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Chamki best            6,200-7,000        6,200-7,000
     Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 11,000-12,100       11,000-12,100 
     Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)    9,500-10,500        9,500-10,500    
     Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)        7,300-7,600        7,300-7,600     
     Batri dal (100 INR/KG)        6,100-6,500        6,300-6,700
     Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)          4,600-4,700         4,600-4,800
     Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)            2,800-2,900        2,800-2,900
     Watana White (100 INR/KG)           3,400-3,600           3,400-3,600
     Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)    4,000-4,500        4,000-4,500   
     Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)        2,100-2,200        2,100-2,200
     Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG)    1,950-2,150        1,950-2,150   
     Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)         2,000-2,200        2,000-2,200
     Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)    2,500-2,700        2,500-2,700    
     Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)   2,150-2,400        2,150-2,400
     Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)    n.a.            n.a.
     MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)    3,500-4,000        3,500-4,000    
     MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)    2,600-3,100        2,600-3,100           
     Rice BPT best New(100 INR/KG)    2,800-3,250        2,800-3,250    
     Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG)        2,300-2,650        2,300-2,650    
     Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG)         2,200-2,500        2,200-2,500
     Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)      2,100-2,450        2,100-2,450   
     Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG)      1,800-2,000        1,800-2,000   
     Rice HMT best New (100 INR/KG)    3,450-3,800        3,450-3,800    
     Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)        2,600-3,000        2,600-3,000    
     Rice Shriram best New(100 INR/KG)    4,200-4,500        4,200-4,500 
     Rice Shriram med New(100 INR/KG)    3,800-4,100        3,800-4,100   
     Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)    8,700-13,300        9,000-13,500     
     Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)    6,300-7,800        6,500-8,000    
     Rice Chinnor best New(100 INR/KG)    5,300-5,600        5,300-5,600    
     Rice Chinnor med. New (100 INR/KG)    4,900-5,100        4,900-5,100    
     Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)        1,900-2,200        1,900-2,200    
     Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)         1,700-1,850        1,700-1,850
 
WEATHER (NAGPUR)  
Maximum temp. 32.6 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 12.0 degree Celsius 
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : Nil
FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 32 and 12 degree
Celsius respectively.
 
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices)
http://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL4N1D932B




Producers meeting held on Nov. 3

Monday,Posted Nov 7, 2016 at 10:19 AM

  
The public portion of the meeting was highlighted by guest speaker Dr. Eric Wailes, who spoke to the public regarding his recent trip to Cuba studying rice opportunities, and other issues pertaining to the rice and agriculture industry. Pick up a Friday, Nov. 4 edition of the Stuttgart Daily Leader or visit www.StuttgartDailyLeader.com to read an article highlighting that speech.
By Submitted for Stuttgart Daily Leader
Over 300 members and guests attended the 73rd annual Membership Meeting of Producers Rice Mill, Inc., held at noon Thursday at the Grand Prairie Center in Stuttgart.The public portion of the meeting was highlighted by guest speaker Dr. Eric Wailes, who spoke to the public regarding his recent trip to Cuba studying rice opportunities, and other issues pertaining to the rice and agriculture industry. Pick up a Friday, Nov. 4 edition of the Stuttgart Daily Leader or visit www.StuttgartDailyLeader.com to read an article highlighting that speech.

Following the luncheon and speech, the business meeting for members only was held. Keith Glover, president and CEO of Producers, began his report on the 2015-16 marketing year.Glover said overall receipts from our members during 2015-16 were 54,696,165 bushels which was down 9 percent from the previous year.Producers’ eligible long grain seasonal pool averaged $5.027 per bushel, which once again beat the national long grain average price according to USDA. This is the 27thconsecutive year Producers long grain seasonal pool has beat the USDA national average. Their long grain pricing pool averaged $4.96 per bushel. While Producers overall eligible medium grain pool averaged $5.002 per bushel.
During 2015/16, the mills processed a total of 57.2 million bushels, down 8.8 percent from the previous year. Overall sales during the year were $415 million.Financially, Producers’ working capital at year end increased $654,000 to $57.8 million. Net Taxable income was $2,138,200. A record $6,695,693 of members’ equity was redeemed during the year. Even with the historic redemptions, at year end, overall members’ equity stood at a record $114.9 million.
Glover then turned his attention to the new 2016/17 marketing year.A more normal weather pattern during the spring planting season was a major contributing factor for 2016 mid-South rice acres being up 21 percent over the previous year. Unfortunately from there, the summer of 2016 turned out to be hotter than normal and resemble the disastrous hot summers of 2010 and 2012. Just when a significant portion of the 2016 rice crop was ripe for harvest, the mid-South was plagued with nine consecutive days of rain beginning on Aug. 12. The combination of the excessive heat in the critical month of July and nine consecutive days of rain in August adversely impacted both field yields and milling quality.

In general, 2016 rice field yields in the mid-South were disappointing. According to USDA, Arkansas’ average field yields are down only 2 percent at 160 dry bushels per acre while Mississippi average field yields are estimated at 158 dry bushels per acre which is the same as 2015. Based on their green rice receipts data, they believe USDA will likely reduce 2016 average field yield estimates down even further for the mid-South in future reports. Whole kernel milling yields on the 2016 crop are down about three to four pounds per cwt. compared to the 2015 crop.
Despite the much larger rice acreage in 2016, the truck lines at Producers drying facilities were longer than a year ago but not as long as previous large acreage crop years. At Stuttgart the highest number of overnight truck lines was 29 compared to as many as 75 truck lines in previous years of large rice acreage. They believe this year’s smaller truck lines compared to previous big crop years was primarily due to 2016 field yields being down. However, other reasons for the smaller truck lines were improvements to several of their drying facilities in recent years, the average moisture on the 2016 green rice received was lower than normal and another outstanding job by employees. Nevertheless, the 2016 green rice harvest will still be the third largest in Producers’ 73 year history. Producers’ facilities setting new single season green rice receipts records were Pine Bluff and Tyronza.
Regarding the rice market, Glover said in our opinion the most important market fundamental affecting a new marketing year is the size of the crop. Currently, USDA estimates the 2016 U.S. long grain crop at 177 million cwts., which is the second largest in the last 10 years.
Once the size of the crop is determined, the next critical market fundamental is export demand. Unfortunately, U.S. long grain export sales are currently running 27 percent behind last year’s pace.
Analyzing the key U.S. export markets that will likely determine the fate of U.S. long grain prices this year, the western Hemisphere continues to be the largest and most steady export market for U.S. long grain rice. Mexico, which is primarily a rough rice market, remains the largest export destination for U.S. long grain rice, buying about 700,000 metric tons of U.S. rice per year. Next is Haiti which is the largest market for U.S. long grain milled rice. Another critical Western Hemisphere country is Venezuela which purchased over 200,000 metric tons of U.S. long grain rough rice this past summer. Colombia, thanks to the free trade agreement has become another important U.S. customer as Colombia is required to buy at least 92,000 metric tons of U.S. milled rice annually.
In the Middle East, Iraq and to a lesser degree Iran will be the key markets to watch. In July the U.S. signed a Memorandum of Understanding to supply U.S. rice to Iraq. To date the Iraqis haven’t purchased any U.S. rice under this new agreement. Even though the Iraqi MOU is generally recognized as a nonbinding agreement, the industry is still cautiously optimistic that the agreement could lead to several hundred thousand metric tons of U.S. long grain milled rice being exported to Iraq on an annual basis.
In the global rice market, world rice stocks net of China are currently very similar to 2007-08 which was the last time world rice prices traded at significantly higher levels.

The two wild cards remain: China and Cuba. Despite the final wording of the phyto-sanitary protocol being agreed to well over a year ago, they are still waiting on a Chinese government official to sign the agreement. Regarding Cuba, until Congress lifts its current economic trade embargo, Glover does not see Cuba becoming a big export market for U.S. rice. Nevertheless, they believe someday both China and Cuba will eventually be large export destinations for U.S. rice.
In closing, Glover said he wanted to thank all the members for their support and patronage of Producers Rice Mill, Inc. He was also thankful for the hard work of all of the Producers’ employees during the past year.
In the business session following the annual meeting, Gary Wilks, Charles Rodgers, C.B. “Pete” Moery and Greg “Peck” Kerksieck were re-elected to serve three-year terms on the board of directors.
In the board meeting following the membership meeting, Jerry Hoskyn was re-elected to the position as chairman of the board of directors. Jay Coker was also re-elected as the vice president and vice chairman of the board. Other officers reelected were Glover, president and general manager; and Kent Lockwood, secretary-treasurer
http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/news/20161107/producers-meeting-held-on-nov-3



UofA to host waterfowl management seminar

Monday

Posted Nov 7, 2016 at 7:30 AM
  
"We are excited to have the chance to discuss with folks what we are doing related to waterfowl research and management in Arkansas," Osborne said.
By Dawn Teer / Stuttgart Daily Leader
On Thursday, Nov. 17 the University of Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center (RREC) will host Dr. Douglas Osborne, assistant professor of Wildlife Management for the UofA Division of Agriculture at the UofA at Monticello. The meet and greet seminar on Arkansas waterfowl and management practices will begin at 6 p.m. There is no charge to attend, according to Nathan McKinney, interim director RREC.
We are excited to have the chance to discuss with folks what we are doing related to waterfowl research and management in Arkansas," Osborne said.

This seminar and reception is a kick-off for the 2016-17 waterfowl hunting season, which opens in Arkansas on Saturday, Nov 19. Osborne will discuss population trends, migration patterns, winter distributions of snow geese and white-fronted geese. Increasing populations of geese are a concern for some folks, however, providing increased hunting opportunity can have positive economic impact. On the flip side uncertainty exists regarding ecological and economic impacts of increasing goose populations among natural resource professions and agricultural producers.
The purpose of this seminar is to share with the interested community the research we are conducting within the University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture to address questions related to abundant goose populations in Arkansas and potential impacts on ducks," he said. "Lastly, we will discuss the importance of active management of bottomland hardwood tracks and green tree reservoirs for long-term, sustainability of winter mallard populations and waterfowl hunting heritage.”
The 45-minute seminar will be followed by a reception hosted by Greenway Equipment, Inc. Dr. Osborne and his research staff will be available to talk with attendees.
http://www.swtimes.com/news/20161107/uofa-to-host-waterfowl-management-seminar


Latest Rice Harvest Video


Published on Nov 6, 2016
The 2016 California Rice Harvest depends on a smooth operation in order to finish in a timely manner. To keep the harvesters cutting rice a daily maintenance of the machines and equipment must be executed. This involves:
-checking both engine and hydraulic oil
-greasing bearings and adjustments
-lubing the chains
...and much, much more!

watch video by clicking next link:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atJs__w5ZGk&feature=youtu.be



Numerous factors dent rice prices
Economist: Demand, speculation play part
8 Nov 2016 at 07:00 3,316 viewed2 comments

While the government and farming industry have blamed each other for the sharp drop in rice prices, a leading economist says the tumbling prices, particularly for premium fragrant rice, stem from diverse factors.Somporn Isvilanonda, a senior fellow at the Knowledge Network Institute of Thailand, believes the tumbling prices, particularly for premium fragrant rice, can be attributed to issues at home and abroad."Over the past several months, demand and supply for hom mali rice and other aromatic varieties have changed, resulting in reduced prices," he said."One of the key reasons is shrinking consumption by premium rice consumers like the US, Asia, Africa and the Middle East," Mr Somporn said. "Their weak economies have led them to buy other lower-grade rice and cereals, including Vietnam's aromatic rice, which is much cheaper."Some 3.5 million tonnes of milled rice (excluding basmati rice from India and Pakistan) is traded globally. Around 60% of that comes from Thailand, 37% from Vietnam and the rest from Cambodia, he said.

Vietnam's aromatic rice prices are currently quoted at about $570-650 per tonne.Thai hom mali rice fetched, on average, $1,008 per tonne on the export market in 2015. Late last year prices dropped to $980 per tonne, further hitting $770 a tonne in September and then $725 by the end of October.Mr Somporn said speculation among millers, traders and exporters is also to blame for tumbling rice prices.Millers in the Northeast and Central regions are the primary holders of hom mali rice stocks, while exporters normally buy rice once they secure orders," he said.

"Therefore, holding large stocks leads millers to face higher risks from price volatility than exporters. Under current conditions, certain groups of millers are possibly suffering from hefty losses from such speculation," said Mr Somporn.He added that many millers who failed to dispose of their existing rice stocks have suffered as stocks amassed, keeping them from buying rice from this year's main crop.More importantly, millers do no have the ability to fix their own selling price, as exporters normally fix buying prices via rice brokers.The buying prices set by rice brokers fell to only 15-17 baht per kilogramme in October, considerably lower than 24-25 baht per kg set earlier this year.Millers who are the key paddy buyers from farmers hence have to cut their buying prices for paddy accordingly.On the supply side, the new harvest of hom mali rice, particularly in the Northeast, has contained up to 30% moisture because of the considerable rainfall during the harvest season, forcing a shift to using harvesters and threshers instead of labours.

"With high moisture plus drastic changes in the rural paddy trading system caused by the previous government's rice pledging scheme, which killed central markets and drying grounds to reduce moisture, farmers have to rely on rice mills after harvest," he said.There is also the knock-on effect of reduced quality."With relatively high-moisture rice, millers have to use drying machines to reduce the moisture. The drying process dissolves the aromatic substances in the hom mali paddy, eliminating once the paddy is milled," he said. "That's why Thai people themselves complain that hom mali rice is not as aromatic as in the past."More importantly, Mr Somporn said genuine hom mali rice is becoming scarce and existing state-run rice seed centres cannot provide enough quality seed supply to farmers.In addition, the varieties collected by the farmers or sold on the market are mostly substandard, he said.

"The future of Thai hom mali rice is being burdened by those factors," said Mr Somporn. "If the export market lacks confidence in aromatic quality of Thai hom mali rice, it will be difficult to recover the prices we've enjoyed earlier. We're afraid that non-organic hom mali growers in the Northeast will be hardest hit from the price slump. It will be difficult to survive in a long run if the price fall is prolonged."Duangporn Rodphaya , director-general of Foreign Trade Department, concurred that the falling rice prices were due to the massive supplies, high moisture and the sluggish global economy.

·          
o    Summary

DETAILS

·      WHEN

·         Friday, November 11, 2016 - Thursday, December 21, 2017
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
India Time

·      WHERE

·         Taj Mahal Hotel
Mansingh Road
New Delhi, Delhi 110021
India

·      PLANNER

·         IRRI IRRI

http://www.cvent.com/events/international-rice-research-institute/event-summary-81461dee303b4e4eab7e53659869a428.aspx