Asia Rice-Prices rise in India on demand from
African buyers
* Govt
agencies, exporters buy aggressively in India
* Thai,
Vietnamese markets quiet ahead of Lunar New Year
By My
Pham, Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Rajendra Jadhav
HANOI,
Jan 19 Rice prices in India advanced this week as demand from African buyers
improved and government agencies and exporters bought aggressively, while
export markets in Thailand and Vietnam were quiet in the absence of buyers
ahead of Lunar New year holidays, traders said on Thursday.India, the world's
biggest rice exporter, saw 5-percent broken parboiled rice rise $7 per tonne to
$352 to $357 per tonne, as aggressive purchases by the government and exporters
pushed prices of unmilled rice in the local market.Export demand has improved
from African buyers over the last few weeks, said an exporter based at Kakinada
in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
"Supplies
from new season crop are coming, but the government agencies are active in the
market," he said.The government's move to scrap high-value currency notes
disrupted supplies in November and December and many domestic buyers could not
replenish their inventories, said a Mumbai-based trader.India scrapped
500-rupee and 1,000-rupee bills in November to crack down on rampant corruption
and counterfeit currency.India's summer-sown rice output is seen at a record
93.88 million tonnes in the crop year to June 2017, 2.81 percent higher than
last year, as plentiful monsoon rains help boost yields.
Meanwhile,
Thai benchmark 5-percent broken rice RI-THBKN5-P1 was quoted at $360-$365 a
tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Bangkok on Thursday, the same as last Wednesday.With
the Chinese New Year just days ahead, there was no order as shipments would not
make it in time for the holidays, said a trader in Bangkok.The Thai Rice
Exporters Association quoted the 5-percent broken rice at $380 a tonne on
Thursday.Vietnam's 5-percent broken rice RI-VNBKN5-P1 was quoted at $335-$345 a
tonne, FOB Saigon, down from $345-$350 a tonne a week earlier."The market
is quiet as there are no buyers," said a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City.Vietnam
and the Philippines have extended a rice trade agreement to December 2018,
under which Vietnam pledged to provide its partner up to 1.5 million tonnes of
the grain per year.
Vietnam
is expected to export 5.8 million tonnes of rice in 2017, up 7.4 percent from a
year earlier, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in
December.Thailand and Vietnam are the world's second and third biggest rice
exporters. (Writing by My Pham; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
Agri production fell 1.4% in 2016 — PSA
Total
production value based on current prices amounted to P456.4 billion in the
fourth, up 1.35 percent from P450.3 billion year-on-year.The PSA said the crops
sub-sector which accounted for more than half of total farm production posted a
2.62 percent contraction in the fourth quarter of 2016. Palay, or unmilled
rice, production fell 3.62 percent to 7.01 million metric tons last year from
7.27 million metric tons in 2015, after typhoons Karen and Lawin damaged some
rice-producing areas, including Cagayan Valley, the Bicol Region and other
farms in Luzon.
“There
were also reports of unrealized plantings in the provinces of Isabela, Misamis
Oriental and Misamis Occidental as a result of inadequate irrigation water.
In Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas, area harvested to palay was lower
due to excessive rainfall during the planting period,” the PSA said.
Corn
production dropped 0.15 percent to 1.728 million metric tons from 1.730 million
metric tons on year due to the adverse effects of typhoons Karen andLawin. The
PSA noted a contraction in areas harvested in the Cordillera Autonomous Region,
Cagayan Valley and Bicol Region. Coconut production also dropped 5.22
percent from 3.97 million metric tons in the fourth quarter of 2015 to 3.77
million metric tons in 2016 due to the extended effects of the dry spell.
Other
output losses were reported for sugarcane, coffee, mango, tobacco, mongo,
onion, cabbage and rubber.
The
PSA, however, said production gains recorded noted in banana, pineapple, abaca,
peanut, cassava, sweet potato, tomato, eggplant and calamansi.
The
fishery sub-sector declined 2.95 percent in the fourth quarter from a negative
3.90 percent in 2015 as tilapia, skipjack, seaweed, and round scad production
all dropped during the period.
The
PSA said while the production in the livestock sub-sector expanded by 3.41
percent, the growth was still lower compared with the 3.72 percent increase in
2015.
Carabao,
hog, and dairy production rose during the period while goat output fell as the
dry spell resulted in the stunted growth of animals and the lower volume of
stocks of marketable sizes available for disposal in Central Luzon and Region
12.Production in the poultry sub-sector grew 1 percent from 4.17 percent last
year due to higher production of chicken and duck egg
http://manilastandard.net/business/227232/agri-production-fell-1-4-in-2016-psa.html
CALIFORNIA RICE GROWER’S TAKE ON TRUMP
AND PERDUE
1/20/2017
Also,
last year, drought played a big role in California rice production, as water
was restricted to growers in the Sacramento Valley.California, often called the
sixth largest economy in the world, produces 400-plus agricultural commodities.
Agriculture is a big part of that economic engine. The state depends on
exports, federal commodity programs, and increasing cooperation with
environmental regulators.Yet, California farmers face a full set of thorny
issues in a state with heavy ag regulation, complex labor issues, and
increasing competition for water to irrigate crops such as rice. California
legislators have pledged to resist Trump’s policies on immigration, the
environment, and other issues affecting agriculture.
Rice
industry leaders, however, are hoping for support from Washington for farmers
in a state that is not always seen as farmer-friendly.Tyson Redpath, the
California Rice Commission lobbyist in Washington, told growers in Yuba City
Thursday that he was hopeful a Trump administration would act favorably on
behalf of farmers. The Trump cabinet includes a number of business CEOs,
including new Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. Redpath expects this mix
of expertise to be positive for business interests.
But
with Trump presiding as a kind of chairman of the board over what is
likely to be a business-oriented cabinet, will the new secretary of agriculture
be able to get Trump’s attention?
“Sonny
Perdue is going to have to struggle and fight to make sure he has a voice for
agriculture,” Redpath said. “I think he’s going to be a good secretary of
agriculture, but will he be heard over the others?”
On
trade policy, Redpath cautioned, “not to freak out that our international trade
agreements will go away.” Congress, not the president, must pass legislation to
change these policies, he reminded rice growers.Growers themselves seem to be
taking a wait-and-see attitude on the Trump administration’s approach to
agriculture.
The
“change in the political landscape” was the biggest issue of interest today, Al
Lassaga, a Wheatland, California, rice and cattle producer, told Successful Farming magazine after the meeting. “I’m somewhat
positive that things will improve.”He allowed that trade and other issues that
are likely to be batted around in Washington will be of concern, but he was
optimistic that U.S. producers eventually will be allowed to compete fairly in
global markets.“We’re
farmers, so we have to be positive,” he said
Uganda: City
Businessman Charged Over Shs14 Billion Tax Fraud
By Ephraim
Kasozi Jalira Namyalo
Kampala — City businessman has been charged with
alleged fraud for forging export documents and Value Added Tax (VAT) returns
worth more than Shs14.7 billion.Mr Jagdish Shah, a director of Aaryan Uganda
Limited, was arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala over 36
counts of forgery of official documents, uttering false documents and obtaining
money by false pretence.Court documents indicate that between August 2013 and
August 2014, while in Jinja, Mr Jagdish and others still at large with intent
to defraud Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) forged and uttered forged export
entries purporting to have exported sugar to Kenya whereas not.
It is alleged that at Jinja URA offices Mr Jagdish and
others still at large with intent to defraud, on several dates obtained
Shs14,747,994,960 as VAT refund claim by falsely pretending to have exported
sugar to Kenya whereas not.
Mr Jagdish appeared
before Grade 1 Magistrate, Ms Pamela Ocaya and denied the charges. He was remanded to Luzira Prison until today pending
hearing of the application for bail. Mr Jagdish is the second business man to
be charged over tax fraud in just one week.On Monday another businessman, Mr
Chris Sengooba was arraigned before the same court over alleged fraudulent tax
evasion of more than Shs100million revenue to government.Prosecution alleges
that on June 2, 2016 at Maina in-land depot in Kampala District, Mr Sengooba
fraudulently evaded payment of duty by declaring a consignment of 1,040 bags of
Pakistan rice, for export to Kenya on export entry consigned to Odema Charles
of Kenya declared by Executive Cargo Limited which goods were not exported to
Kenya causing revenue loss of Shs41, 724,032 million to URA.
It is also alleged that on June 2, 2016 at Maina
in-land depot in Kampala District, Mr Sengooba fraudulently evaded payment of
duty by declaring a consignment of 720 bags of Pakistan rice, for export to
Kenya on export entry consigned to Odema Charles of Kenya declared by Executive
Cargo Limited on truck which goods were not exported to Kenya causing revenue
loss of Shs28, 884,032 million to URA.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201701200068.html
Talking Up Rice Trade on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON, DC -- USA Rice joined several commodity groups in
visits earlier this week to the Senate Agriculture and Finance Committees to
emphasize the importance of the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to
the economic health of rice producers and millers, and U.S. agriculture
overall. "President Trump has made renegotiation of NAFTA a key
goal, but we can't forget that NAFTA is the single largest factor behind the
critical importance of the Canadian and Mexican markets to rice and many other
U.S. agriculture exports," said Bob Cummings, USA Rice COO.
"Improving trade agreements is good, but we must preserve what works and
has delivered results for close to two decades."
NAFTA is responsible for making Mexico the number one market for U.S. rice exports. Today, annual sales of U.S. rice consistently average just over 800,000 metric tons versus less than 300,000 tons before NAFTA, and exports to Mexico account for just over one-fifth of all U.S. rice sales abroad. U.S. exporters are facing increased competition in this market from suppliers in South America and, recently, Viet Nam. It's critical to the ongoing competitiveness and commercial success of U.S rice that the duty-free benefits of NAFTA continue.
"We'll continue our outreach to the Hill and launch an education effort with the new administration's officials. One important message will be the job creation of U.S. rice farmers and millers, and the importance of exports to maximizing the economic benefits of rice to the U.S. economy," concluded Cummings.
NAFTA is responsible for making Mexico the number one market for U.S. rice exports. Today, annual sales of U.S. rice consistently average just over 800,000 metric tons versus less than 300,000 tons before NAFTA, and exports to Mexico account for just over one-fifth of all U.S. rice sales abroad. U.S. exporters are facing increased competition in this market from suppliers in South America and, recently, Viet Nam. It's critical to the ongoing competitiveness and commercial success of U.S rice that the duty-free benefits of NAFTA continue.
"We'll continue our outreach to the Hill and launch an education effort with the new administration's officials. One important message will be the job creation of U.S. rice farmers and millers, and the importance of exports to maximizing the economic benefits of rice to the U.S. economy," concluded Cummings.
Caribbean Shrimp over Jerk Rice
·
Ingredients:
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp butter
1 lb large Alabama Wild Shrimp [Peeled and deveined] Snapper Grabbers has the best selection!
½ cup diced red pepper
½ cup diced red onion
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 Tbsp jerk paste
Cilantro
Pineapple chunks for garnish
2 cups Basmati rice
3 cups chicken stock
1 tsp turmeric
1 Tbsp jerk seasoning
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp butter
1 lb large Alabama Wild Shrimp [Peeled and deveined] Snapper Grabbers has the best selection!
½ cup diced red pepper
½ cup diced red onion
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 Tbsp jerk paste
Cilantro
Pineapple chunks for garnish
2 cups Basmati rice
3 cups chicken stock
1 tsp turmeric
1 Tbsp jerk seasoning
Directions:
Bring chicken stock and a bit of water to a boil and add rice. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Add turmeric and jerk seasoning, fluff rice up. Heat olive oil and butter in pan, add peppers and onions for about 4 minutes. Add shrimp and cook for about 2 minutes and toss with garlic and jerk paste. Continue to cook for about 2 more minutes at medium high heat. Serve over rice and garnish w/cilantro and pineapple
Bring chicken stock and a bit of water to a boil and add rice. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Add turmeric and jerk seasoning, fluff rice up. Heat olive oil and butter in pan, add peppers and onions for about 4 minutes. Add shrimp and cook for about 2 minutes and toss with garlic and jerk paste. Continue to cook for about 2 more minutes at medium high heat. Serve over rice and garnish w/cilantro and pineapple
http://www.wbrc.com/story/34298322/caribbean-shrimp-over-jerk-rice
