Wednesday, February 07, 2018

7th February,2018 daily global regional local rice e-newsletter




Rice Webinar:  Thursday February 8  
 
Tune in Thursday, February 8 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time, for a new rice webinar hosted by Dr. Bobby Coats, with the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas.  The Rice Trader CEO Jeremy Zwinger and commodities expert Shawn Hackett provide their unique collective insight into changing global weather patterns and its impact on commodity market outlook considerations.

Go here to register for the webinar.        

Louisiana Making a Mark in the Marketplace  

BATON ROUGE, LA -- Last week, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Commissioner Mike Strain announced a renewed marketing initiative designed to promote Louisiana agriculture products.  The "Certified Louisiana" program features updated logos and product marks for use on products made, grown, manufactured, processed, produced, or substantially transformed in the state.

"People want to know where their food comes from and many want to support local agricultural producers and locally owned businesses," Strain said.
Louisiana agriculture contributes $3 billion to the state economy, with approximately $300 million coming from rice, including related crawfish operations according to LDAF.

The program features a refreshed website, 
certifiedlouisiana.org, and new logos proclaiming products to be "Certified Louisiana," "Certified Cajun," "Certified Creole," and "Certified Farm to Table."

"Farmers and ranchers all across the country are proud of what they do and how they do it, and nowhere is that more true than here in Louisiana," said John Owen, a rice farmer in Richland Parrish and chairman of the Louisiana Rice Promotion Board.  "I commend Commissioner Strain for reinvigorating this program and I encourage the eligible Louisiana rice brands to take advantage of this program to help raise awareness for all the good, delicious, safe rice we grow here." 

Brands interested in participating in the program should contact the LDAF for more information.


Food security: local rice production to the rescue

DANIEL ESSIET On: February 7, 2018 In: News
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The involvement of states in rice production is boosting the Federal Government’s policy on the diversification of economy from oil to solid minerals and agriculture.  DANIEL ESSIET writes on how local rice production has not only reduced capital flight but crashed the price of the commodity.
After training as an economist in the University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom (UK), Rotimi Williams came to Nigeria on a visit His destination was Nasarawa State, where he was attracted to rice production.  He decided to give it a try.
Today, Williams farm – Kereksuk Rice Farm – is one of the largest commercial farms not only in Nasarawa State, but in the country.
He explored technologies on how to become a successful rice grower and since then, there has been no looking back. Though he spends a lot on irrigation, he records good returns at the end.
Despite the hitches, including as labour shortage, depleted soil cover, pest attacks and lack of marketing infrastructure to sell the produce, he has become famous in rice production.
The collateral effect of the unending clashes between itinerant herders and farmers in neighbouring Benue State notwithstanding, Williams has become a part of the rice revolution in the country.
The growing interests of individuals and corporate organisations in rice production have a long-term and sustainable future for thousands of young and old folks.
According to government sources, about 15 million metric tonnes of rice were produced locally last year,
Making the claim at the inauguration of the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN) in the state, the Director of Agriculture in the Kano office of the Federal Ministry of Agricultural, Muhammad Adamu, said that in Kano alone, 1.2 million metric tonnes of rice was produced in 2016.
Although the Federal Government has set a 95 per cent self-sufficiency target in rice, only 50 per cent of rice consumption is currently being met locally.
A whopping N365 billion of the government’s hard-earned resources goes into rice importation, The Nation learnt.
The question on the lips of many is: “Why spend such huge amount of money on rice importation when the country has the potential of growing enough rice to support her growing population and generate surplus that can be exported?”
The tonnage of rice being produced in the northern states of Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Jigawa and Sokoto, is insufficient for the estimated 180 million population.
But more states governments are buying into rice farming, as some state governments have acquired thousands of hectares of land to boost rice production in their respective domains.
The states include: Anambra, Niger, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, Cross River, Ebonyi, Lagos, Delta, Kwara, Kogi, Anambra and Ogun.
As of the last count, only two out of the 36 of states are yet to embrace rice production. Many of the states now plant thrice yearly.
Kano
Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said his administration is proritising rice cultivation. He told reporters in a chat of his plan to replace the age-long groundnut pyramids with rice pyramids.
Besides, rice, Ganduje assured his administration will continue to provide the right environment to encourage massive production of rice, wheat and tomatoes.
He assured that rice farmers would be provided with said with incentives to increase production.
Kebbi
In the Northwest state of Kebbi, rice production has become a success story. The government has earmarked about N10 billion for the establishment of a rice mill.  The production capacity of the proposed mill is 100,000 tonnes annually. It will be complimented with silos with capacity to store 18,000 tonnes of paddy and a warehouse for storing additional 12,000 tonnes of paddy.
The facilities are expected to generate direct and indirect employment for 3,500 people and its procurement will reach out to 50,000 farmers.
Katsina
Going by its claim, Katsina State Government has sunk N200 million into rice and cotton production under the Anchor Borrowers Programme.
Governor Aminu Masari’s Special Adviser on Agriculture, Dr. Abba Abdullahi, told reporters in Katsina:  “We have rice and cotton farmers that collected the CBN loan under the Anchor Borrowers Programme to boostrice and cotton production and the programme needs supervision.
“We used the funds to supervise and inspect all the rice and cotton farms in the 34 local government areas of the state.
Ogun
Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Adepeju Adebajo identified agriculture as one of Governor Ibikunle Amosun administration’s cardinal programme.
She said a lot of investment had gone into the sector since the inception of the administration.
According to her, the administration is encouraging the production of indigenous variety OFADA. She said the government will leave no stone unturned to promote and improve the production of OFADA brand.
The commissioner added that the production of Nerica 8 and Faro (short and long grains) varieties would be promoted to domesticate in the Gateway State, the Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP) launched last year by the Federal Government to reboot the economy.
The state, through direct intervention and assistance from development partners including: World Bank through FADAMA and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), has recorded a quantum leap in rice production.
Apart from the direct public sector supported intervention, the efforts of other private sector smallholder farmers in various farmlands across the state have all contributed to the success story.
Imo
The Imo State government is taking a cue from Lagos State as it has announced a plan to go into a partnership with Kebbi State. Its Governor Rochas Okorocha said that such partnership has become imperative to tackle the prevailing economic situation. According to him, the partnership programme would majorly be in rice production.
LAKE Rice
The brand name is derived from the partnership between Lagos and Kebbi states. At the inception of his administration, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode struck a a rice production deal with his Kebbi State counterpart, Atiku Bagudu. The result of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two states in Lagos on March 23, 2016, on the production and distribution of rice, is the LAKE Rice which has become a household name in Centre of Excellence and some parts in the Southwest.
At the signing, Governor Bagudu said: “Nigeria cannot afford to continually depend on imported rice. What we are doing is to pioneer a collaboration that will bring other states on board later as we believe that our potentials are enormous and we must have pacesetters to start that process of joint collaboration for our collective good.”
His host said: “Lagos is the largest consumer of food commodities in the country by virtue of its large population. The state has the market with the required purchasing power. The state has an estimated consumption of 798,000 metric tons of milled rice per year which is equivalent to 15.96 million of 50 kilogram bags with a value of N135 billion per annum.
“We have the economic prowess to produce rice locally. The era of imported rice is gone. The reality is for all of us to embrace the consumption of local food and commodities. Lagos State presently consumes 6,000 heads of cattle daily which may increase to 8,000 in the next five years.”
Anambra
The story has changed for Anambra State, which was producing only 80,000 metric tonnes of rice per annum. “We have since tripled that production volume”,  Governor Willie Obiano said, adding “from a yield of 244,235.25 metric tonnes of rice that we achieved in 2016, we have increased our production output to 322,000 metric tons per annum.
“With this achievement, we have effectively surpassed our annual consumption figure of 320,000 metric tons in the state. We are not relenting. We are waiting for more investors. The Committee on Land Acquisition has earmarked 67,000 hectares of land that will be given out to big farmers who want to set up large mechanized farms in Anambra State.”
Kogi
The Kogi State government has renewed its commitment to embrace the Federal Government’s policy on agricultural revolution policy. It Governor Yahaya Bello said the commitment has begun to yield positive results, assuring that its rice will soon bridge the gap between demand and supply across the nation.
Bello’s media aide Kingsley Fanwo said in Lokoja during an appraisal of the state government’s agricultural plan that “we are poised to strengthen our lead in cashew production as well as take over the leading role in cassava and rice production, because of our comparative advantage in these crops. Kogi State has declared a state of emergency in the agricultural sector long before the unstable revenue generation in the state. The visionary administration has placed agriculture on the front burners of its economic prosperity plan known as the New Direction Agenda.
“A massive revolution is going on across the state in the area of rice production. Kampe Omi Dam Project is breathing down on the leading rice producers in the country.  Our rice mill is near completion and by the end of the year, the nation will be shocked by the magnitude of work put in place to ensure rice sufficiency in the country.
“We are also working on the Ibaji Rice Farm, which has the potential of causing a revolution in the nation’s rice production. We attach great importance to the value chain and the multiplier effect agriculture can have on the economy of our dear state.”
Ebonyi
Ebonyi produces over 1.2 million tonnes of rice annually. The state has 72, 000 hectares for rice plantation with a target of six tonnes per hectare production.
The government said it has borrowed N10 billion from the Federal Government to finance agricultural activities.
Its Governor Dave Umahi said the loan would be used to support farmers, especially, those involved in rice production.
He said the state plans to establish mega rice cities in the various local government areas to boost rice production.
Umahi said: “We want to domesticate rice production in Ebonyi State and we are going beyond individual production.
“We are now beginning to see how we can institute what we call rice mega cities in each local government area where by we have 5,000 hectares of land dedicated for rice production in each of our local government areas.
“Already, we have four rice mills that are in operation and you also see private people that are milling with their traditional machines. We are planning to cultivate 100,000 hectares of land to produce 400,000 tonnes of rice in the next two years.
Benue
The Benue State government accounts for 1.5 million metric tonness of rice to reduce the national rice consumption deficit of 4.3 million metric tonnes.
Governor Samuel Ortom said the state is working to meet the national food supply needs.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State government is collaborating with the Pakistani Government on the production of basmati rice production and new rice seedlings have been procured from Pakistan.
Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura broke the news at the fifth combined convocation of Nasarawa State University. He said: “New rice seedlings from Pakistan have been procured and I have already directed the commissioner of agriculture to start experimenting on the possibility of Nasarawa becoming a basmati rice producer as our efforts to add value to the system.”
The power of commercial rice production
Farmers in Kebbi and Lagos are leading the way in commercial rice production, benefiting from new seedlings and marketing opportunities that have helped them to overcome climate stresses and fend for their families.
The partnership between the states has helped rice farmers to adopt better crop varieties, use water more efficiently and adapt to climate change.
It has also promoted post-harvest technologies like rice milling and packaging, processing activities and stronger links with input dealers and micro-finance institutions.
The project gives households opportunities to raise their income by developing new rice-based products like rice flour and husks for fuel and exploring the use of rice in fortified foods, including vitamin-rich cereals.
With renewed government interests in the rice production sector in recent years, Lagos has the potential of becoming a rice granary.
But, making this a reality requires the strengthening of rural infrastructure including roads, irrigation and milling and processing facilities, as well as boosting the farmers’ ability to market their produce.
Impact of states’ involvement
The President, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Aminu Goronyo, said annual rice production in Nigeria has increased from 5.5 million tonnes in 2015 to 5.8 million tonnes in 2017.
He said that in 2015, Nigerians spent below N1 billion on rice consumption, adding that while spending has drastically reduced, consumption had increased because of increased local production of the commodity.
“The consumption rate now is 7.9 million tonnes and the production rate has increased to 5.8 tonnes per annum.’’
Goronyo said, adding “the nation is making reasonable progress”.
According to him, the annual rice production in Nigeria has increased, attributing it to the  CBN’s Anchor Borrowers Programme(ABP) with a total of 12 million rice producers and four million hectares of FADAMA rice land.
Since the introduction of the programme, many states have created economic linkage between smallholder farmers and reputable large-scale processors, thereby increasing agricultural outputs and significantly improving capacity utilisation of processors.
To stakeholders, the involvement of states in rice farming could take millions of Nigerians out of poverty and reposition the economy.
Speaking on the development, the Project Director of Cassava Adding Value for Africa Phase II (CAVA II) Project, Prof. Kolawole Adebayo, predicted an overall increase in rice production.
He said: “Younger and commercially-oriented farmers will be encouraged to go into rice production. Nigeria‘s rice production potential will be boosted. Value chain opportunities supporting rice production will also contribute to the nation’s economy.”
Mandate for growth
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the value of importation has declined by 83 per cent within the last three years from N107.7 billion in 2014 to 17.9 billion in 2016, NBS data state.
The numbers of rice mills (both integrated and cottage) have increased by more than 50 per cent as the government and private sector continue to make more investments in processing.
The average crop yield per hectare of the crop has risen from 2.5 metric tonnes per hectare to an average of four and five metric tonnes of the same acreage, owing to renewed government commitment.
The Anchor Borrowers’ Programme
The ABP, launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 17, 2015 in Kebbi State, is targeted at creating a linkage between anchor companies involved in the processing and SHFs of the required key agricultural commodities.
The fund was from the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development Fund. The ABP evolved from series of consultations with stakeholders, comprising federal ministry of agriculture and rural development, state governors, millers of agricultural produce and smallholder farmers to boost agricultural production.
Goronyo said that under the ABP, RIFAN in the next 24 months would commence rice importation to West African countries as the necessary arrangements had been put in place.
He said: “For self-sufficiency, adequate and enough paddy for production ABP, which started in Kebbi state has been extended to 26 states. As a step further, RIFAN is in collaboration with some agencies to replicate the CBN APB programme in some states to increase production.’’
Local rice production: $600 million saved
A whopping $600 million (about N216 billion) is believed to have been saved from the importation of rice alone from Thailand and other countries since the nation’s domestic mass production flooded the markets under the ABP.
Agriculture & Rural Development Minister Audu Ogbeh said rice imports from Thailand had dropped from 644,131 metric tonnes to about 21,000 metric tonnes between September 2015 and September last year.
Echoing him, Information Culture & Tourism Minister Lai Mohammed, said: “In fact, the Thailand Rice Exporters Association has recently revealed that within a spate of just two years – From September 2015 to September 2017 – Nigeria’s rice importation dropped from 644,131 Metric Tonnes to just about 21,000MT.
“There is more good news to report: As a result of this administration’s success in local production, some investors from Thailand have shown interest in establishing rice milling plants in Nigeria, and this is sure to further boost rice production in Nigeria.
“Four investors from Thailand are already in discussion with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to establish rice milling plants in Nigeria.
“You must understand that the investors from Thailand are here because they have lost over 600000 metric tonnes of imported rice into the country and it is a good decision to participate in what is happening here.
“A few years ago, this would not have been possible since Nigeria was not considered a top rice producing country. Today, Nigeria is one of the largest producers of rice.”
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicted Nigeria’s rice imports to fall by 500,000 tonnes to 2.5 million tonnes in 2016, from the previous year’s imports of three million tonnes. The USDA post also forecast that rice imports will drop further by 400,000 tonnes to 2.1 million last year.
The challenges
It is not yet Uhuru for local rice production. The bottlenecks at the ends of the production chain have not been totally eliminated.

Early Arkansas rice growers faced challenges: Part I

Early Arkansas rice producers faced significant challenges
Forrest Laws | Feb 05, 2018
If you drive across the Grand Prairie of Arkansas you might get the impression the area has always looked like that – thousands and thousands of acres of rice fields stretching as far into the horizon as you can see.
But the story of how the Grand Prairie region came to be “the Rice Capitol of the United States” is much more complicated than that, including a series of fits and starts that might have discouraged less resilient men – and women – than the pioneers of the rice industry in Arkansas.
Richard Morris, a fourth generation rice farmer from Carlisle, Ark., discussed the struggles of the early days of rice in Arkansas in this first of a series of videos from a presentation at the 2018 Arkansas Soil & Water Education Conference at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Ark.
http://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/early-arkansas-rice-growers-faced-challenges-part-i


Indonesia's Bulog signs contracts for 281,000 T of rice imports



Reuters Wednesday February 07, 2018 1:32 AM
Kitco News
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By Bernadette Christina Munthe
JAKARTA, Feb 7 (Reuters) -
* Indonesia state food procurement agency Bulog said in a statement on Wednesday it has signed contracts with six companies for 281,000 tonnes of rice imports.
* Bulog will import 141,000 tonnes from Vietnam, 120,000 tonnes from Thailand and 20,000 tonnes from India, it said.
* The Indonesian government issued a permit in January for 500,000 tonnes of rice imports to improve local supplies and cool prices. * Bulog was in talks with eight companies for the supply of 346,000 tonnes of grain, for arrival in Indonesia by Feb. 28, after an international tender in January * However, several suppliers from Pakistan dropped out during price negotiations, Bulog corporate secretary Siti Kuwati said in the statement on Wednesday, citing "time constraints".

(Reporting by Bernadette Christina Munthe; Writing by Fergus Jensen, Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author 
                         
 Governor: Negros Occidental has enough rice supply
Wednesday, February 07, 2018 By ERWIN P. NICAVERA NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. on Tuesday, February 6, allayed concerns on reports of decreasing supply of rice in the province. He said the province has sufficient rice supply since production, particularly the yield per hectare, has also been increasing. “The previous damage and losses brought by pests and calamities, which cannot be avoided, won’t hurt much our local production,” Marañon said, adding that “there is nothing to worry about.” Earlier this month, the National Food Authority (NFA) reported that tight supply is driving up prices of commercial rice in Negros Occidental. Marianito Bejemino, provincial manager of NFA-Negros Occidental, said that based on the agency’s latest monitoring, there was a prevailing increase of P2 to P4 per kilogram in the prices of commercial rice sold in local markets. He attributed the tight supply to low production since some of the rice farms in Panay Island were damaged by typhoons and flooding during the later part of last year. Like in Metro Manila and other provinces, the NFA-Negros Occidental also noted a “thin” supply of NFA rice among market retailers. It is because the agency is currently calibrating the supply of the P27 per kilogram government rice since there is no scheduled importation yet. Bejemino pointed out that the administration’s strategy now is importing the right volume at the right time. “We still have ongoing harvests while waiting for the importation in April, and the available supply of NFA rice among retailers in the market is just enough to meet the requirement,” he added. NFA-Negros Occidental records showed the province’s current inventory of NFA rice is about 10,000 bags. Additional stocks of 25,000 bags from Cebu are still up for delivery this week. Net exporter Marañon said the Provincial Government continues to work on making Negros Occidental a net exporter of rice. In fact, the province is already exporting “first class rice” when the National Government itself is still importing rice, he said. “We have one farmer here who supplies Japanese rice in Manila, his clients are Japanese restaurants there,” Marañon said, adding that this is on top of organic rice being exported also by some local farmers. The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist is still consolidating the data to determine the province’s total rice production as well as its sufficiency level last year. In 2016, rice self-sufficiency level of Negros Occidental was pegged at 97 percent, according to the defunct Department of Agriculture-Negros Island Region. The governor said that among the efforts to boost rice production and sufficiency level include provision of more irrigation and other support services. More farmers are now converting to rice from sugar, Marañon said, adding that there are local farmers that produce seven metric tons per hectare, higher than the national average yield of 4.2 metric tons. “Time will come that we will no longer import, we are getting there,” he added.
Economic body to press Ledac on rice tariffication
THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said it would ask the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) to push for the quick passage of the proposed shift to rice tariffication to mitigate inflationary pressure.
The proposal to amend the Agricultural Tariffication Act, which seeks to lower the prices of rice, was passed recently in the House of Representatives but is pending in Senate.
“Though it is already part of the Ledac’s priority bills, we will reiterate its passage,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia told reporters on the sidelines of the 45th anniversary celebration of NEDA.
“One way to temper inflation is to mitigate inflationary pressures, like shifting to tariffication. We expect tariffication to lower prices of rice,” he said.

The country’s headline inflation accelerated to 4 percent in January, the highest in more than three years, due to the impact of the first round of tax reform and higher fuel and food prices.
Through an amended to Agricultural Tariffication Act, quantitative restrictions (QR) on rice imports will be replaced with tariffs. This is expected to stabilize the country’s rice supply and lower the price of rice.
NEDA has said that at least 39 rice-producing areas will continue to be competitive even if tariffs were imposed on rice imports and quantitative restrictions were lifted.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said rice tariffication would help mitigate the impact of tax reform on consumer prices, with the measure seen to lower inflation by about 1 percentage point.
According to the Department of Finance, lifting the QR on rice imports could slash retail prices of the staple by as much P7 per kilo. MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

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BSP seen hiking key rates after Jan inflation hit 4%

In Photo: A shopper checks out sweetened drinks displayed at a supermarket in Parañaque City. The government said the 4 percent hike in consumer prices in January was largely due to the implementation of the tax-reform law, which imposed higher excise taxes on oil, petroleum products, automobiles, sugar-sweetened beverages and tobacco.
Inflation rate in January accelerated to 4 percent, the fastest in three years, raising expectations among analysts that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) would soon hike key policy rates.
The January inflation reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Tuesday touched the upper end of the government’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for 2018 and BSP’s forecast of 3.5 percent to 4 percent. This is the fastest growth of consumer prices since October 2014, when it hit 4.3 percent.
The rise in consumer prices in January, from the 3.3-percent inflation rate recorded last December, was not unexpected, BSP Governor Nestor A. Espenilla Jr. said.
“The higher January reading was expected by the BSP although it is at the top end of our forecast for the month. Due mainly to the combined first-round effects of TRAIN [Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion], oil prices and food to some extent,” Espenilla said.
“We think these are temporary drivers of inflation and would eventually stabilize,” he added.
Espenilla, however, seemed to have shifted to a stance that seems to favor a rate hike, saying the “BSP will be closely monitoring the situation” and will “stand ready to take timely action based on our evaluation of all relevant data.”  The BSP is set to meet for its first monetary-policy meeting on February 8.
ING Bank Manila economist Joey Cuyegkeng said the likelihood of a tightening move at Thursday’s meeting has “increased significantly.” “We are now looking at advancing the timing of our rate hikes and are reviewing our two-rate hike forecast for 2018,” Cuyegkeng said.
Singapore-based DBS Bank economist Gundy Cahyadi also said earlier the BSP may hike its policy rate this week to curb inflationary pressures.
“Second-round effects are still to be determined by regulators. Second-round effects are likely to push inflation higher within the year, which could push inflation to breach the upper end of the forecast range for some months of 2018,” Cuyegkeng said.
“We think that the BSP would need to anchor inflation expectations. Aside from second-round effects from the initial increases in excise taxes, further increases in excise taxes in 2019 would keep inflation elevated,” he added.
The BSP’s current monetary setting is at 3 percent for its main policy rate.
Mitigation measures
The government must hasten the delivery of its unconditional cash transfer (UCT) program so poor Filipinos will be able to cope with the inflationary impact of the tax-reform law, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).
The Neda also urged lawmakers to prioritize the tarrification of rice imports to make the country’s rice supply stable and competitive. This after food and nonalcoholic beverages, which accounted for 39 percent of the consumer basket, accelerated by 4.5 percent in January, from 3.5 percent last December.
The index for alcoholic beverages and tobacco surged to a double-digit annual markup at 12.3 percent, from last year’s 6.4 percent.
“The push in inflation is partly due to TRAIN, considering particularly the excise on fuel and additional sin taxes,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said.
Pernia noted, however, that the effects of the TRAIN will be “minimal and temporary.”
Roehlano M. Briones, senior research fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, agreed with Pernia.
He added this will not carry on as a trend this year, as the TRAIN’s effect will soon be stabilized. “I might be wrong, but I don’t expect this trend to continue.
I think it is a temporary blitz driven precisely by expectations of higher prices brought about by TRAIN,” Briones told the BusinessMirror.
Eventually, consumers will already factor in the additional taxes slapped by TRAIN. After that, everything will be stable again, “and the normal trend kicks in,” Briones said.
Pernia called for the streamlining of the distribution of assistance under the UCT program. “With the initial inflationary effects of TRAIN, we must ensure faster provision of financial assistance through the unconditional cash transfer program.”
The UCT program is the government’s mitigating measure to help poor Filipinos cope with the impact of the implementation of the TRAIN law. Under this, the poorest 10 million households will receive P200 monthly this year and P300 monthly in 2019 and 2020.
Pernia also called on lawmakers to tarrify rice imports to stabilize the country’s rice supply and lower the price of rice. “When the quantitative restrictions are replaced by tariffs, the government will also be better able to help enhance the country’s competitiveness and productivity in agriculture.”
“Revenues from tariff on imported rice will be used to finance government programs for agriculture,” Pernia added.

Kazakhstan stepping up rice production and exports

06.02.2018

According to the Statistics Committee of Kazakhstan, 185.7 KMT of rice was produced in the country in 2017, or 3.3% more than in the previous year, reportsUkrAgroConsult.
Kazakh rice growing is concentrated mostly in Kyzylorda region. Rice plantings in the region totaled more than 90 Th ha in 2017 that is up 10 Th ha from 2016. The rice crop in the region amounted to 174.9 KMT (+3.1%).
Rice production and processing are an agriculture development priority for the region. The promising destinations for rice supplies include Iran, which imports up to 3 MMT of rice a year, but no Kazakh rice has been shipped there over the recent years. The main end markets for Kazakh rice are Tajikistan, Ukraine, Mongolia, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.
Noteworthy is that, due to growth of rice production in the country, this crop’s exports have already increased noticeably this season. Kazakhstan exported 25 KMT of rice for the first four months in MY 2017/18 (September-December), or 63% more than a year ago.

    
http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/kazakhstan-stepping-up-rice-production-and-exports

January inflation hits 4% due to 2017 typhoons; TRAIN effect minimal

By Leslie GatpolintanPhilippine News Agency on February 7, 2018


TYPHOON EFFECT SPILLOVER. The faster price adjustments, especially for fruits and corn, can be partly traced to the lingering effects of successive typhoons that occurred in the last quarter of 2017. (PNA PHOTO)
MANILA— The country’s inflation rate accelerated to 4 percent in January 2018 from 3.3 percent the previous month, on the back of higher food and non-food prices as spill-over effects of successive typhoons in 2017, state economists reported on Tuesday.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), an attached agency of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), attributed the uptrend mainly to the higher annual increment in the heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages index, which rose by 4.5 percent from previous month’s 3.5 percent.
The food and non-alcoholic beverages segment constitute 39 percent of the consumer basket.
The faster price adjustments, especially for fruits and corn, can be partly traced to the lingering effects of successive typhoons that occurred in the last quarter of 2017.
The PSA said the index for alcoholic beverages and tobacco -comprising only 2 percent of the consumer basket – also rose by 12.3 percent in January 2018 from 6.4 percent in December 2017.
As inflation rate reached the upper band of the government target, the NEDA underscored the need for the country to ensure mitigation measures were in place to cushion the transitory inflationary impact of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law.
It noted that equally important were vigilant price monitoring and prompt action to curb profiteering.
“The push in inflation is partly due to TRAIN, considering particularly the excise on fuel and additional sin taxes,” NEDA Director General and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a statement.
Pernia reiterated, however, that the effects of the TRAIN, which overhauled the country’s tax system for the first time in two decades, would be minimal and temporary.
The first package of TRAIN reduced the income taxes of 99 percent of the country’s income taxpayers.
The NEDA official also stressed the need to help the poorest 50 percent of Filipino households cope with the transitory impact of TRAIN on prices.
“With the initial inflationary effects of TRAIN, we must ensure the faster provision of financial assistance through the unconditional cash transfer (UCT) program,” said Pernia.
He also reiterated the agency’s call to replace quantitative restrictions on rice imports with tariffs to stabilize the country’s rice supply and lower the price of rice.
Over the medium term, the fast-tracked infrastructure development in the next few years, including reforms in the energy sector, would ease electricity prices, added Pernia.
Meanwhile, among other non-food commodities that posted higher inflation were transport (3.2 percent from 2.4 percent); restaurant, miscellaneous goods, and other services (3.7 percent from 3.0 percent); health (2.6 percent from 2.2 percent); and furnishings, household equipment, and routine maintenance of the house (2.0 percent from 1.9 percent).
The prices of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, which account for about 22 percent of the consumer basket, slightly eased to 3.7 percent from 3.8 percent in December

http://www.canadianinquirer.net/2018/02/07/january-inflation-hits-4-due-to-2017-typhoons-train-effect-minimal/ February 6, 2018 2:15 pm JST




Vietnam's rice paddies offer Japan's farmers chance to grow





Local cultivation in emerging Asian markets proves cheaper than exports
HIDEKI SHINOHARA, Nikkei staff writer
A woman wearing a traditional hat sits in a rice field outside Hoi An, Vietnam. © Reuters
NIIGATA, Japan -- Japan's rice farmers are venturing into the rest of Asia to grow their crops locally. Supported by an increase in the number of Japanese restaurants across the region, the farmers are teaming up with locals to apply their expertise, hoping to ride the strong brand power that Japonica rice enjoys.
The trend lets locals indulge their taste in high-quality Japanese rice without paying stratospheric prices for imported versions, as some wealthy Chinese are doing.
In mid-November, Ofukuro Tei, a Japanese restaurant in Hanoi, began selling rice grown in Vietnam but developed by Japanese rice producer Ajichi Farm. Three types of rice -- Akisakari, Koshihikari and Hanaechizen -- were selling for about 500 yen ($4.41) per 2kg, less than half the price of the export variety.
Ajichi Farm, based in Fukui Prefecture, started test cultivation last spring, setting up Inakaya, a joint venture with a Vietnamese agricultural corporation in autumn. The company has started growing rice in Nam Dinh Province, about 100km southeast of Hanoi.
Due to higher temperatures than in Japan, the company decided to double-crop rice in February-June and July-November. It has also chosen suitable varieties like Koshihikari. Inakaya will use a local partner's facilities to dry and polish the rice.

Rice grown by Fukui-based Ajichi Farm is sold at a Japanese restaurant in Hanoi in mid-November.
Takenori Ito, CEO of Ajichi Farm, visited Vietnam almost every month to ensure that strict soil management and other cultivation technologies were being implemented. The company also had Vietnamese managers visit paddy fields in Fukui.
Ajichi Farm faced a number of problems, such as rice grains not developing properly, due to differences in weather between Japan and Vietnam. According to Ito, this is not an insurmountable problem, and he noted, "Local farmers know how to grow rice, so we can [help them] grow Japanese varieties."
Starting last summer, Ajichi Farm increased rice acreage in Vietnam from 1.5 hectares to 10 hectares and started selling its product in the country. "We want to tap the Vietnamese market using the brand power of Japanese rice," said Ito. The company aims for annual production of 10,000 tons and annual sales of 2 billion yen.



The growing popularity of Japanese food has prompted Japan's agricultural corporations and food-processing companies to boost their rice production in other Asian countries. There were about 69,300 Japanese restaurants in Asia in 2017, up 50% from 2015, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
"Ajichi Farm's rice is cheaper and of better quality than rice imported from Japan," said Keiichi Miyata, president of Japanese restaurant Ofukuro Tei. "We will serve it at our restaurant if we can purchase it in bulk."

Forrest Laws

What to expect from Arkansas long grain rice plantings

 A big Arkansas rice harvest in 2018 could mean lower prices.
Arkansas’ 2018 long grain rice acreage needs to remain in a range 1,086,750 to 1,173,000 acres (2017 = 945,000) or a 15 percent to 24.1 percent increase over 2017 harvested acreage and many would say that is not going to happen.
Bobby Coats | Feb 05, 2018
A question often asked: What is my 2018 Arkansas long grain rice harvested acreage expectation?
As an economist with no new demand expectations, Arkansas’ 2018 long grain rice acreage needs to remain in a range 1,086,750 to 1,173,000 acres (2017 = 945,000) or a 15 percent to 24.1 percent increase over 2017 harvested acreage and many would say that is not going to happen. Some suggest 1,250,000 harvested acres, others 1,350,000 acres and even others 1,400,000-plus, all of which requires a new demand source to market, a disruptive weather event, or some anomaly event to generate increased demand for our U.S. long grain product . 
 Remember 2016/17 marketing year long grain price: USDA’s 2016/17 farm market long grain rice price was $9.61 per cwt. or $4.32 per bushel. Reality is, with no new demand if 2018 Arkansas long grain rice harvested acreage exceeds a 15 percent increase over 2017 acreage or 1,086,750 acres, one should consider the possibility of increasing downward pressure being placed on long grain rice prices, so plan or manage your price risk accordingly.
Consider the following: Since 2009, U.S. and Arkansas rice harvested acreage has cycled from one year over-planting to the next year under-planting for varying reasons.
Between 2009 and 2010, U.S. long grain rice harvested acreage was up 24.8 percent, and price dropped from $12.90 per cwt to $11.00 per cwt., and during the same period Arkansas long grain rice acreage increased by 27.7 percent.
Between 2011 and 2012, U.S. long grain rice harvested acreage was up 13.8 percent and price rose from $13.40 per cwt to $14.50 per cwt., and during the same period Arkansas long grain rice acreage increased by 28.6 percent.
Between 2013 and 2014, U.S. long grain rice harvested acreage was up 24.3 percent, and price declined from $15.40 per cwt to $11.90 per cwt., and during the same period Arkansas long grain rice acreage increased by 33.2 percent.
Between 2015 and 2016, U.S. long grain rice harvested acreage was up 30.0 percent, and price declined from $11.20 per cwt to $9.61 per cwt. and during the same period Arkansas long grain rice acreage increased by 32.4 percent.

U.S. Rice Long Grain Rice Harvested Acreage
            Year              US Acreage             Percent Change
·        2009            2,265,000                                 
·        2010            2,826,000                    24.8
·        2011            1,739,000                   -38.5
·        2012            1,979,000                   13.8 t
·        2013            1,767,000                   -10.7 
·        2014            2,196,000                    24.3
·        2015           1,848,000                     15.8
·        2016           2,403,000                     30.0
·       2017            1,748,000                     -27.3

Arkansas Rice Long Grain Rice Harvested Acreage
        Year                      Ark. Acreage      Percent Change
·        2009                     1,245,000           
·       2010                     1,590,000            27.7
·        2011                     910,000               -42.8
·       2012                     1,170,000            28.6
·       2013                     950,000               -18.8
·        2014                     1,265,000            33.2
·       2015                     1,050,000            -17.0
·       2016                     1,390,000            32.4
·        2017                     955,000               -31.3

What does history tell us?
 If history is a guide, then once again Arkansas rice producers are likely positioned to overplant long grain rice in 2018, believing their greatest profit or least lost is with rice over some alternative combination of soybeans, corn or wheat.
Overproduction is not a problem unique to rice, but quite the opposite. Across most commodities overproduction is chronic, due in large part to the deflationary economic times and a masterful use of technology by most commodity sectors to achieve higher yields and/or production.
 Healthiest Commodity Sectors
 Economically, the healthiest commodity sectors are the ones that have moved aggressively to limit supply or create enough market uncertainty as to be supportive of price, with oil being by far the best example in 2017 going into 2018. To be fair, oil and similar commodity sectors are also the most highly structured and politically active.
 Why the large swings in long grain rice production?
·       In late fall and early winter, when many rice planting decisions are made, all too often, too much emphasis is placed on market signals from the futures market for the next marketing period. Rice has established a cycle of a high production year followed by a low production year, and, granted, weather has played a major role in determining actual harvested acres. Now as we move closer to planting 2018 long grain rice, the 2018 marketing year futures market is increasingly flashing a caution signal implying increasing concern about 2018 U.S. long grain rice over-production.
·        Collectively, Arkansas producers with assistance from the private and public sector are masters of rice production.
·        Significant Arkansas farmland resources are presently better suited to a rice and soybeans rotation or soybeans complimenting rice production than soybeans or corn substituting for rice. In coming years, as demand for more Arkansas soybeans and corn production increases, many additional land resources will be developed to easily rotate and adjust to market signals, which will help relieve the tendency to overplant long grain rice. 
·        Some landowners simply stipulate a certain percent of their land will be planted to rice.   
 Conclusion: Arkansas has 1,928,095 long grain rice base acres and 154,856 medium grain rice base acres or 2,082,951 total base acres. There is no one in the rice market that does not respect Arkansas rice producers’ ability to produce long grain and medium grain rice.
Chronic commodity overproduction is a sign of the deflationary times in commodity sector after commodity sector. This is economically destabilizing for many farms and businesses within each sector, which is just a reality.
Soybeans, corn, and wheat, given global economic stimulative conditions, appear to be in a bottoming and basing process. If 2018 long and medium grain rice harvested acreage and production can remain closely tied to demand, then maybe we can say the same thing about rice, but then just maybe a new demand emerges. I sure hate to rely on hope. 


 Inspections to deter rice hoarding pushed



Tuesday, February 06, 2018 By PJ ORIAS RICE traders may have to open their warehouses to inspectors from the City Price Coordinating Council (CPCC) to answer reports of rice hoarding, a Cagayan de Oro City councilor said. Councilor George Goking said he ask the City Council to convene rice retailers in the city this Friday to shed light on reports of rice hoarding purposely done to manipulate prices of the staple food. In a visit to the National Food Authority- Northern Mindanao Office, Goking said the CPCC saw enough rice supply for the city and said reports of a shortage may be due to alleged hoarding. "There is no shortage, we really did an inspection to look into these allegations. But now that we saw there is no shortage and hoarding in their part, we will now call on the sellers maybe they are the ones holding the rice supply," Goking said. The CPCC is set to conduct surprise inspections to rice retailers to put the hoarding issue to rest. The move is also in response to Senator Nancy Binay's statement that the NFA rice shortage is real and is raising prices of the staple food. "We want to make sure we have enough and affordable rice especially with the threat of rising prices because of the TRAIN law," Goking said. But CPCC chairman lawyer Edgardo Uy meanwhile clarified that while basic price commodities are expected to shoot up with the new tax reform law, Cagayan de Oro is still exempted as the price freeze is still in effect. However, the price freeze in the city is only until February 20. The price freeze was immediately implemented after the city was devastated by Typhoon Vinta last December. The prevailing price for rice is still at P45 to P50 per kilo, depending on its quality, but with the tax reform, a P2 to P3 per kilo increase could be noted. "For now, we are still at normal prices, we haven't monitored major price increase of basic commodities so far," Uy added.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2018/02/06/inspections-deter-rice-hoarding-pushed-587626

California rice growers hear from national leader

California rice growers will have chance later this year to elect one of their own to lead USA Rice board
Todd Fitchette | Feb 05, 2018
USA Rice Chief Executive Betsy Ward told a combined audience of about 200 California rice growers at meetings in Yuba City and Colusa that efforts to open Chinese markets to U.S. rice will take time.
Ward said the efforts of U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to open those markets was welcome, but now the devil is in the details as China wants U.S. rice mills to answer “intrusive” questions that have nothing to do with phytosanitary issues.
Matters like this could affect more than rice as Ward believes hostile trade discussions between the two nations could spill over into other commodities.
She also mentioned USA Rice hopes the United States remains a member of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) because of the importance of rice exports. Sound trade agreements are vital for U.S. rice growers because of the “unfair competition” within global rice markets, she said.
On a national level rice acreage has fallen, and with it the income USA Rice receives through assessments.
“The range of issues doesn’t change, but we have to tighten our belts as you do the same,” she said referring to soft grower prices for rice.
She referenced opportunities for medium and short-grain rice out of California, particularly in Japan as consumers there appear to favor California rice. USA Rice currently supports a Japanese Free Trade Agreement with the same meaningful market access objectives under the former Trans Pacific Partnership.
Ward briefly discussed the success of the rice PAC, currently chaired by California rice grower Sean Doherty, and reported that in the decade since she has been at the helm of USA Rice, PAC funds have increased four-fold – 31 percent since Doherty has chaired the committee.
Ward also informed the California audience that later this summer the U.S. rice industry will have an opportunity to choose a California rice producer to chair the national organization after the term of the current board chairman expires.


PH to import 250K tons of rice

By RAYMOND AFRICA
February 07, 2018
Malacañang has approved the importation of 250,000 metric tons (MT) of rice in a bid to address the shortage in the inventory of the National Food Authority (NFA).

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque quoted  Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr., head of the NFA Council, on the approval.

 “He (Evasco) said the situation is under control. There is a standby order for 250,000 metric tons of rice. We will not allow our inventory to be depleted,” Roque said.

NFA spokesman Becky Olarte was quoted on Monday as saying the agency only has 65,200 MT  of rice in its inventory which would last for only two days.

The NFA is required to have a 15-day buffer stock at any given time.

NFA attributed the depletion of stocks to the relief operations to families affected by calamities,


http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/business/ph-import-250k-tons-rice

 

NFA rice situation ‘under control’ — Palace

BY THE MANILA TIMES ON FEBRUARY 6, 2018
MALACANANG assured the public on Tuesday that the rice situation in the country was “under control” and that President Rodrigo Duterte has found a “diplomatic solution,” amid fears raised on the possible shortage of National Food Authority (NFA) rice in the market.
In a press conference, Palace Spokesman Harry Roque said Secretary to the Cabinet Leoncio Evasco Jr., chairman of the NFA Council, gave assurances that the government has enough standby rice stocks to address the shortage.
“Well, I just talked to Cabinet Secretary Evasco… he says the (rice) situation really is under control,” Roque told reporters.
“There’s a standby order for 250,000 metric tons of rice. Of course we will not allow our inventory to be depleted,” he said.
Roque made the statement after Sen. Nancy Binay lamented the shortage on Sunday of NFA rice in the market, as she asked the Council to address the “dwindling supply” of affordable rice.
Binay cited a report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showing prices of regular and well-milled rice rising by P1 to P3 per kilo in six regional centers in the country.
“Kasama sa trabaho ng NFA ang siguruhin na mayroong sapat at murang bigas para sa lahat, lalo na ngayong damang-dama ng ating mga kababayan ang kakulangan sa NFA rice (It’s part of the NFA’s job to make sure that there’s sufficient and cheap rice for everyone, especially now that our countrymen are really feeling the shortage of NFA rice),” Binay said.
According to the senator, the NFA sells rice from P27 per kilo to P32 per kilo, while commercial rice varieties of comparable quality are sold from P36 per kilo to P41 per kilo.
During Monday’s press briefing, Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte had employed a “diplomatic solution” to address the rice problem.
“I was not authorized to reveal what the President has done. But the President has done a diplomatic initiative to address this. But without authority, I cannot yet announce,” he said. CATHERINE S. VALENTE
http://www.manilatimes.net/nfa-rice-situation-control-palace/378556/

Conaway hopes Farm Bill is voted on before end of March

March vote leaves plenty of time to work out differences with Senate before September Farm Bill expiration.
Feb 06, 2018
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway, R-Texas, hopes the new Farm Bill will receive a vote in the House of Representatives before the end of March. 
Conaway, who addressed the crop insurance industry’s annual convention Feb. 5, said that timetable would leave plenty of time to work out differences with the Senate version of the bill and ensure new legislation is finalized before the Farm Bill expires at the end of September. 
“We will have difficult decisions to make,” he said, noting that there is “no reason to put it off just because [the debate] will be hard.”
Conaway said the bill leaving his committee will include a strong crop insurance component, and he will work to fight off attempts to weaken crop insurance.
“Our mantra is ‘don’t screw up crop insurance,’” he explained. 
Conaway’s support was music to the ears of crop insurers, who believe their track record under the current Farm Bill is noteworthy.  Tom Zacharias, president of National Crop Insurance Services, outlined these successes during his opening remarks at the meeting. 
“Farmers have spent nearly $15 billion in premiums since 2014,” Zacharias said.  “They’ve also shouldered more than $30 billion in deductibles.”
Because farmers pay into the system, taxpayers aren’t left footing the whole bill after a disaster strikes.  That helps explain why crop insurance costs are below budget.
Congressional Budget Office projections for crop insurance are down nearly $10 billion since the 2014 Farm Bill was enacted. 
 Source: National Crop Insurance Services

House urged to look into rice-supply situation

 In Photo: The National Food Authority stores its buffer rice stock consisting of imports and paddy it purchased from farmers in its warehouses. FILE PHOTO
A party-list lawmaker is asking the House of Representatives to conduct an inquiry into the “true state” of the country’s rice supply after the National Food Authority (NFA) announced that its stockpile is good for only three days.
Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano  of Magdalo filed House Resolution 1648 on Monday after the state-run food agency said it will no longer be able to sell government-subsidized rice in some areas.
The NFA announced that its rice buffer stock has gone down to some 93,000 metric tons (MT), enough to supply the country’s requirement for three days. The volume, however, is less than the 15-day buffer stock mandated by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council.
The lawmaker said this admission comes after they assured the public last month that they had enough stock to distribute to accredited retailers.
“This, along with the steep price of rice in the current market, displays severe inefficiency on the part of the NFA. Further, this betrays their mandate of ensuring food security and stable rice supply in the country,” he said.
“The shortage in supply of NFA rice will certainly lead to a sudden increase in the price of rice in the market, to the detriment of the Filipino people, as its availability is expected to moderate the price of commercial rice sold to the public. Presently, NFA rice sells at P27 per kilogram (kg) to P32 per kg, while commercial rice varieties are sold at P36 per kg to P41 per kg,” Alejano added.
He said Filipinos purchase NFA rice because it is cheaper. In the absence of government-subsidized rice, Alejano said consumers would be forced to buy the more expensive variants.
“The prevalence of the problem on maintaining a stable rice supply illustrates the lack of a strategy that would address food security, one that would ensure the promotion and protection of our domestic food production, and ensure the availability and affordability of food to ordinary Filipino consumers,” Alejano said.
The Magdalo legislator added that an investigation should be conducted to address possible rice shortage and institute policies to improve production.
The NFA sought the permission of the interagency NFA Council, the agency’s highest policy-making body, to import 250,000 MT of rice so it could beef up its stockpile but this was rejected by the council.
“Through proper legislation, remedial measures to address possible shortage and policies to improve domestic rice production would surface. Ultimately, the goal is to develop an effective strategy that would secure the country’s food supply for years to come,” he said.
In a report released on January 31, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) noted that the price of regular milled, special and well-milled rice rose in a number of provinces.
“The price per kilogram of special was priced higher by P1 in Batangas City and Legaspi City during the [fourth] week of January,” the PSA report read.
“In Legaspi City the price for well-milled rice picked up by P1 per kg during the period. Price mark-ups of P1  and P2 per kg of regular milled rice were noted in Zamboanga City, Butuan City and Batangas City,” it added.

DA prods DTI to step in and put a cap on rice prices as NFA restricts supply to disaster zones

By Shyla Francisco, News5 | InterAksyon
 | , 7:15 PM


 File video grab showing the buffer stock situation in July, 2017. The buffer stock at National Food Authority is now at just 2 days, prompting Sen. Nancy Binay to demand a firmer response from authorities, saying ordinary people are forced to buy more expensive rice. NEWS5 VIDEO GRAB
MANILA – The Department of Agriculture is urging the Department of Trade and Industry to step in and put a cap on rice prices in the market.
This is to prevent a hike in commercial rice prices, as the National Food Authority (NFA) stops the distribution of NFA rice in markets nationwide.
Currently, the NFA buffer stock can last for two days and will be allotted to calamity-prone areas.
Despite this, Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol said the shortage of rice is limited to the NFA buffer stock alone.
Current DA data show there are still 3 million metric tons of rice available nationwide, which is good for 96 days.
“I have nothing against importation; if it’s for NFA rice supply buffer stock, it’s okay,” Piñol said.
Ang sinasabi nilang shortage ng NFA buffer stocks, yung ating suplay ng bigas 3 milyon (metric tons) pa ang available; ang di nagagamit good for 96 days. There is no reason to panic because we’re expecting another harvest,” he explained.
“The DTI should come in and really put a cap on the price of rice in the market; alam natin [we know the] rule of thumb: buying price X 2 should be the price of rice in the market,” said the DA chief.
Last week, Sen. Nancy Binay had called out the NFA over the field reports indicating that NFA rice – which ordinary, budget-conscious households rely on – was fast disappearing from the market, and that the buffer stock policy was no longer being followed.
Her fellow senator, Cynthia Villar who chairs the Agriculture committee, said Monday she was prepared to spearhead an investigation into the matter on indications that some unscrupulous rice players were behind an “artificial” shortage in order to jack up prices.
http://www.interaksyon.com/da-prods-dti-to-step-in-and-put-a-cap-on-rice-prices-as-nfa-restricts-supply-to-disaster-zones/

Ministry of Commerce expects higher prices for rice, fruit this year
 PUBLISHED ON TUE, FEB 6, 2018 10:15 AM



BANGKOK, 6 February 2018 (NNT) – Various farm goods have shown a tendency towards stronger pricing this year, including Jasmine Rice, which is projected to be priced at over 17,000 baht a ton. 

Thailand's Ministry of Commerce has prepared a strategy for fruits, planning to propose this week or next that the Cabinet supports adding value to Thai fruits and stabilize their price.

The proposal will include action plans and marketing strategies as well as a push to make Thailand the world's fruit capital, positioning Thailand as a source of high quality fruit. In anticipation of a large amount of fruit entering the market in March, the strategies will be piloted in Chantaburi with a focus on managing stocks.

The first fruits to receive particular attention will be durian, mangosteen and longan, which are in high demand abroad.

Demand for durian is expected to increase by 10-20 percent this year after erratic weather cut supplies. Major buyers such as China have already displayed a high level of competition to buy Thai durian.
https://news.thaivisa.com/article/15842/thai-commerce-min-expects-higher-prices-for-rice-fruit-this-year Myanmar to adopt genomic rice breeding practices with JICA support
THOMPSON CHAU 06 FEB 2018
Demand for rice produced in Myanmar has risen to its highest level in 50 years in the current 2017-18 fiscal year. Photo - Shutterstock
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Myanmar’s agricultural research department are set to implement a genomic rice breeding initiative.
U Naing Kyi Win, director general of the Department of Agricultural Research (DAR) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MOALI), and JICA signed a Record of Discussions (R/D) in Nay Pyi Taw on January 30 to launch a five-year project to strengthen rice breeding based on genomic technology. The representative from JICA was Kenichi Shishido, director general of the DAR.
This JICA-funded project will introduce paddy genetic breeding to the country in order to develop high-yield and pest and disease-tolerant rice varieties.
In the five-year span, research institutions in both countries will carry out joint activities to create promising rice lines suitable to rain-fed lowlands and uplands, as well as to enhance Myanmar’s existing breeding method. On the Japanese side, the agriculture faculty at Kyushu University and the bioscience and biotechnology centre at Nagoya University are involved.
JICA Myanmar told The Myanmar Times that agriculture is the most important sector for the country’s economy, and rice is the main crop for the majority of the population as staple food of daily consumption and as earning source of foreign exchange. Rice is the most important cereal in terms of food security here as it supplies more than half of the calories consumed by the national population. Hence scaling up rice production is a priority for Nay Pyi Taw. 
While numerous high-yield rice varieties suitable to arable land have already been introduced, only 20 percent of Myanmar’s agricultural land planted with rice is irrigated, according to data from MOALI as of 2012. In order to secure stability in rice production, the sector should develop varieties adaptable to unfavourable cultivation environments, such as rain-fed lowlands. The project will employ DNA marker-assisted selection techniques in rice breeding and upgrade those varieties by introducing traits such as disease resistance and pest resistance. This approach will also be used to support the development of promising lines even at the research farms located in rain-fed lowlands and uplands. 
As a result, new rice varieties, resistant to disease and insects and having high yields even in environments such as rain-fed paddy fields, will be created and widely used to improve the production level and thus farmer income.
Myanmar is under the tropical monsoon climate. There is huge potential in increasing production of paddy from the current level.

- JICA Myanmar
JICA Myanmar further added that the tropical monsoon climate means a huge potential in increasing paddy production. 
The country, as British Burma, was for one time the largest rice exporter in Asia. Its rice export peaked during the 1930s, when the country sold over 3 million tonnes abroad. But now the sector is severely short of finance, expertise and machinery to modernise and reform. The productivity of rice grain has lagged behind neighbouring countries for decades. This is mainly due to low productivity from rain-fed lowlands which are said to account for 48 percent of Myanmar’s rice farms.
Currently, Nay Pyi Taw has earmarked efforts to build up research capacity building, and upgrade irrigation facilities as well as other production infrastructures, introduce agricultural machinery and fertiliser, disseminate agricultural technologies and develop better rice varieties.
JICA Myanmar said that, beyond reforming the agriculture sector to provide stability in supply for domestic demand, the project will help expand overseas market and support the national rice export strategy.
Demand for rice produced in Myanmar has risen to its highest level in 50 years in the current 2017-18 fiscal year, with rice exports estimated to have increased to around 2.5-8 million tonnes compared to the previous estimate of 2.2 million tonnes, according to U Khin Maung Lwin, assistant secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, last December.

Rice basmati slides on sluggish demand

06 FEBRUARY 2018  Last Updated at 2:45 PM
New Delhi, Feb 6 Rice basmati fell by Rs 100 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today on subdued demand.
Wheat also eased on ample stocks position against reduced offtake by flour mills.
Traders said muted demand weighed on rice basmati prices.
In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa- 1121 variety settled lower by Rs 100 each to Rs 8,100-8,200 and Rs 6,800-6,900 per quintal, respectively.
Wheat dara (for mills) also shed Rs 10 to Rs 1,780- 1,785 per quintal. Atta chakki delivery followed suit and traded lower by a similar margin to Rs 1,790-1,795 per 90 kg.
Atta flour mills also weakened by Rs 5 to Rs 955-965 per 50 kg.
Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal):
Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,080-2,280, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,780-1,785 Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,790-1,795, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 260-300, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Roller flour mill Rs 955-965 (50 kg), Maida Rs 990-1,000 (50 kg)and Sooji Rs 1,050-1,060 (50 kg).
Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,800, Basmati common new Rs 8,100-8,200, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 6,800-6,900, Permal raw Rs 2,325-2375, Permal wand Rs 2,375-2,425, Sela Rs 2,800-3,000 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,975-2,025, Bajra Rs 1,190-1,195, Jowar yellow Rs 1,375-1,425, white Rs 2,750-2,850, Maize Rs 1,340- 1,345, Barley Rs 1,470-1,480.

 

 

 

https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/copper-nickel-remain-weak-on-muted-demand/1247341?scroll

 

Pakistan earns $881m from rice exports during July-Dec

 

 

 

 

The exports of rice registered a significant surge of 29 percent or 1.9 million metric tons earning an amount of $881 million for national kitty during the period July-December of current financial year.
The Senior Vice Chairman Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Rafique Suleman informed the media here on Saturday that during the period of July-December, the rice exporters have witnessed a significant surge in exports of rice as compared to same period of last financial year.
During the period, the exporters have dispatched a total of 1.9 million metric tons of rice exports grabbing an amount of $881 million for national kitty. During the last fiscal year, about 1.64 million metric tons of rice amounting to $682 million was exported from the country registering an increase of 29 percent in values and 15 percent in quantity, he informed.
He informed that Indonesia has also floated a tender for procurement of big quantity of rice and two Pakistani companies are also included in successful bidders.
He hoped that this year, we set the target to export more than 4 million metric tons of rice from the country and will be able to achieve $2 billion marks. He appreciated the federal government efforts and especially Pakistan High Commission at Nairobi for their excellent support to handle the recent issue against Pakistani rice exporters.
Kenya is the largest buyer of Pakistani rice and during last six months of the current fiscal year (July to Dec 2017-18). The exporters have dispatched 240,000 metric tons of rice amounting to $85 million, he said, adding that there is a need to focus on the issues and problems in the rights direction.
He urged to rectify all issues among rice exporters and government officials to make a strategy for the betterment of rice exports of the future.
He has shown concern over the decline of exports to China, which was the second largest Pakistani rice importer as, at the end of December 2017, only 174,000 metric tons of rice valuing $56.8 million were dispatched from the country.
He urged the government authorities to take serious notice and urgent measures as well as steps to improve the rice exports to China.
Rafique said Pakistani basmati rice will get a significant boost which was facing severe decline since last three years in Iran and Saudi Arabia who were the major buyers of Basmati Rice.
He hoped that after resolving issues related to the payment problems and banking channel with Iran, it will increase Pakistani rice exports.
He informed that the demand for rice has increased in the international market and rates of Pakistani Rice are cheaper than our countries like Thailand and Vietnam. Most of the international buyers are keen to buy Pakistani rice due to its competitive rates. The REAP is hopeful that this year, we will witness a substantial growth in Pakistani rice exports.
Rice exporters are also doing extraordinary efforts for fetching foreign exchange for
the country and investing in modern rice processing machinery for value addition of rice.

https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/pakistan-earns-881m-from-rice-exports-during-july-dec.542661/

 

 

 

CHAP Develops Roadmap for Non-stop Rice Supply


Rev. Robert Bimba, executive director, CHAP.
The Community of Hope Agriculture Project in collaboration with other partners in the rice sector of Liberia has begun developing a roadmap for a steady supply of Liberian rice to the local market.
The purpose of developing such roadmap is to ensure that there is sufficient locally milled rice in the country. This is also geared towards the production of more food and to reduce hunger in the country.
In a telephone conversation with the executive director of CHAP, Rev. Robert Bimba, he acknowledged that the organization in collaboration with its partners has organized a group called the Liberia Rice Business Group (LRBG).
The group, according to him, will take the entire rice sector of the country to another level, and strongly believes that such an initiative cannot be carried out by government alone, adding that the private sector also has a role to play, specifically Liberians.
‘‘Over the years, we have had people coming to us telling us what to do. We no longer need an expert to come from elsewhere to teach us how to wash our hands,’’ Rev. Bimba stated.
He  said it is clear that the problem in the country has been identified by the initiative, and as such, it is about time that Liberians come together to produce their own food.
Rev. Bimba also disclosed that CHAP is conducting assessments in various counties this week, to see where they can start production immediately, noting that there are key counties to start with, namely: Lofa, Bong, Nimba and River Gee. He said the group has identified what these areas have and what they need for the success of the project.
‘‘We are also working with other actors like Global Agro, a group which works on mechanization,’’ he added.
The CHAP executive director revealed that the group has also have developed a document to be presented to the Liberian Government advising it on which way to go to be successful in the agriculture sector of the country.
‘‘This document will also point out those major challenges in the agriculture sector and what could be the way forward in the rice sector,’’ he noted.
Rev. Bimba frowned on previous governments stating that the US$2 million spent per annum just on subsidizing projects and the US$200 million spent on the importation of rice can be invested in the LRBG initiative which, according to him, will also provide job opportunities for young people in the country.
CHAP currently has four new milling machines that have the capacity of producing a minimum of 8 metric tons a day, according to Rev. Bimba.
He also disclosed that CHAP has profound expertise in the Liberian rice sector. It is the focal point organization on SRI in Liberia with support from IFAD, the World Bank, CNS-Riz (Mali), SRI-Rice (Cornell University, USA), and Abide in the Vine Fellowship Owego, NY, USA, he said.
CHAP was founded by Apostle James M. Bimba and Abide in Vine Fellowship Liberia. According to Rev. Bimba, the organization has made significant impact in the local, national, and international levels in the agriculture and WASH sector of Liberia over the years. It has  implemented several projects successfully for the Ministry of Agriculture, West Africa Productivity Program WAAPP/World Bank, WHH, and UNFAO.
CHAP also has the following priority areas: Livelihood and Agriculture, Health & Hygiene, Education, Community Mobilization, SRI Program, capacity building training, Village Savings and Loan Program, and Value Chain among others.

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- February 06, 2018

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-February 6, 2018
 
Nagpur, Feb 6 (Reuters) – Gram and Tuar reported down in Nagpur Agriculture Produce Marketing
Committee (APMC) on poor demand from local millers amid good supply from producing belts. High
moisture content arrival and easy condition in Madhya Pradesh pulses also affected prices.
About 400 bags of gram and 1,200 bags of tuar reported for auction in Nagpur APMC, according to
sources.  
 
    FOODGRAINS & PULSES
     
   GRAM
   * Desi gram raw recovered in open market here on renewed demand from local traders.
   
   TUAR
      
   * Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here on subdued demand from local traders 
     amid ample stock in ready position. 
 
   * Batri dal showed weak tendency in open market here lack of demand from local traders.  
                                                                   
   * In Akola, Tuar New – 4,100-4,300, Tuar dal (clean) – 6,400-6,600, Udid Mogar (clean)
    – 7,600-8,700, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,300-7,600, Gram – 3,500-3,600, Gram Super best 
    – 5,200-5,700
 
   * Wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in 
     scattered deals and settled at last levels in weak trading activity. 
       
 Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
    
     FOODGRAINS                 Available prices     Previous close   
     Gram Auction                  3,100-3,825         3,000-3,925
     Gram Pink Auction            n.a.           2,100-2,600
     Tuar Auction                4,000-4,540         3,900-4,570
     Moong Auction                n.a.                3,900-4,200
     Udid Auction                n.a.           4,300-4,500
     Masoor Auction                n.a.              2,600-2,800
     Wheat Mill quality Auction        1,600-1,712        1,600-1,704
     Gram Super Best Bold            6,000-6,500        6,000-6,500
     Gram Super Best            n.a.            n.a.
     Gram Medium Best            5,500-5,700        5,500-5,700
     Gram Dal Medium            n.a.            n.a
     Gram Mill Quality            3,800-3,900        3,800-3,900
     Desi gram Raw                3,850-3,900         3,800-3,850
     Gram Kabuli                12,500-13,100        12,500-13,100
     Tuar Fataka Best-New             6,400-6,600        6,400-6,600
     Tuar Fataka Medium-New        6,100-6,300        6,100-6,300
     Tuar Dal Best Phod-New        5,600-5,800        5,600-5,800
     Tuar Dal Medium phod-New        5,500-5,700        5,500-5,700
     Tuar Gavarani New             4,250-4,550        4,250-4,550
     Tuar Karnataka             4,600-4,800        4,600-4,800
     Masoor dal best            4,800-5,000        4,800-5,000
     Masoor dal medium            4,500-4,700        4,500-4,700
     Masoor                    n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Mogar bold (New)        7,500-8,000         7,500-8,000
     Moong Mogar Medium            6,500-7,000        6,500-7,000
     Moong dal Chilka            5,800-6,500        5,800-6,500
     Moong Mill quality            n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Chamki best            7,500-8,000        7,500-8,000
     Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,200-7,700       7,200-7,700 
     Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)    5,600-7,000        5,600-7,000    
     Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)        5,800-6,200        5,800-6,200     
     Batri dal (100 INR/KG)        4,600-5,000        4,700-5,000
     Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)          2,500-2,600         2,550-2,650
     Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)            3,150-3,250        3,150-3,250
     Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)    4,200-4,300        4,200-4,300   
     Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)        1,900-2,000        1,900-2,000
     Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG)    1,750-1,850        1,750-1,850   
     Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)         2,150-2,350           2,150-2,350         
     Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)    2,300-2,400        2,200-2,400    
     Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)   2,000-2,200        2,000-2,200
     Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)    n.a.            n.a.
     MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)    3,200-3,700        3,200-3,700    
     MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)    2,400-2,700        2,400-2,700           
     Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG)        3,500-4,000        3,500-4,000    
     Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG)        3,000-3,200        3,000-3,200 
     Rice BPT new (100 INR/KG)        3,300-3,500        3,300-3,500   
     Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG)         2,500-2,700        2,500-2,700      
     Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)      2,600-2,800        2,600-2,800   
     Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG)      2,400-2,500        2,400-2,500
     Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG)      2,400-2,500        2,400-2,500   
     Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG)        4,500-4,800        4,500-4,800     
     Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)        3,900-4,300        3,900-4,300
     Rice HMT new (100 INR/KG)        4,000-4,400        4,000-4,400    
     Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG)      5,200-5,600        5,200-5,600
     Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG)    4,700-4,900        4,700-4,900
     Rice Shriram new (100 INR/KG)    4,800-5,200        4,800-5,200   
     Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)    9,500-14,000        9,500-13,500     
     Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)    5,000-7,500        5,000-7,500    
     Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG)    6,100-6,300        6,100-6,300    
     Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG)    5,500-5,700        5,500-5,700
     Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG)    5,600-5,800        5,600-5,800   
     Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)        2,000-2,200        2,000-2,100    
     Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)         1,800-2,000        1,700-2,000
 
WEATHER (NAGPUR)  
Maximum temp. 33.0 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 16.0 degree Celsius 
Rainfall : Nil
FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 33 and 16
degree Celsius respectively.
 
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but
included in market prices)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- February 07, 2018


Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-February 7, 2018
 
Nagpur, Feb 7 (Reuters) – Gram and Tuar reported higher in Nagpur Agriculture Produce Marketing
Committee (APMC) on inncreased demand from local millers amid weak supply from producing belts.
Notable rise in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and reported demand from South-based millers also
pushed up prices here.
About 400 bags of gram and 1,500 bags of tuar reported for auction in Nagpur APMC, according to
sources.  
 
    FOODGRAINS & PULSES
     
   GRAM
   * Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor.
   
   TUAR
      
   * Tuar gavarani reported down in open market here on subdued demand from local traders 
     amid release of stock from stockists. 
 
   * Moong dal Chilka firmed up in open market here good demand from local traders.  
                                                                   
   * In Akola, Tuar New – 4,100-4,300, Tuar dal (clean) – 6,400-6,600, Udid Mogar (clean)
    – 7,600-8,700, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,300-7,600, Gram – 3,500-3,600, Gram Super best 
    – 5,200-5,700
 
   * Wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in 
     scattered deals and settled at last levels in weak trading activity. 
       
 Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
    
     FOODGRAINS                 Available prices     Previous close   
     Gram Auction                  3,200-3,910         3,100-3,825
     Gram Pink Auction            n.a.           2,100-2,600
     Tuar Auction                3,900-4,550         3,900-4,500
     Moong Auction                n.a.                3,900-4,200
     Udid Auction                n.a.           4,300-4,500
     Masoor Auction                n.a.              2,600-2,800
     Wheat Mill quality Auction        1,650-1,716        1,600-1,712
     Gram Super Best Bold            6,000-6,500        6,000-6,500
     Gram Super Best            n.a.            n.a.
     Gram Medium Best            5,500-5,700        5,500-5,700
     Gram Dal Medium            n.a.            n.a
     Gram Mill Quality            3,800-3,900        3,800-3,900
     Desi gram Raw                3,850-3,900         3,850-3,900
     Gram Kabuli                12,500-13,100        12,500-13,100
     Tuar Fataka Best-New             6,400-6,600        6,400-6,600
     Tuar Fataka Medium-New        6,100-6,300        6,100-6,300
     Tuar Dal Best Phod-New        5,600-5,800        5,600-5,800
     Tuar Dal Medium phod-New        5,500-5,700        5,500-5,700
     Tuar Gavarani New             4,200-4,500        4,250-4,550
     Tuar Karnataka             4,600-4,800        4,600-4,800
     Masoor dal best            4,800-5,000        4,800-5,000
     Masoor dal medium            4,500-4,700        4,500-4,700
     Masoor                    n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Mogar bold (New)        7,500-8,000         7,500-8,000
     Moong Mogar Medium            6,500-7,000        6,500-7,000
     Moong dal Chilka            5,900-6,500        5,800-6,500
     Moong Mill quality            n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Chamki best            7,500-8,000        7,500-8,000
     Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,200-7,700       7,200-7,700 
     Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)    5,600-7,000        5,600-7,000    
     Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)        5,800-6,200        5,800-6,200     
     Batri dal (100 INR/KG)        4,600-5,000        4,600-5,000
     Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)          2,500-2,600         2,550-2,650
     Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)            3,150-3,250        3,150-3,250
     Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)    4,200-4,300        4,200-4,300   
     Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)        1,900-2,000        1,900-2,000
     Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG)    1,750-1,850        1,750-1,850   
     Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)         2,150-2,350           2,150-2,350         
     Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)    2,300-2,400        2,200-2,400    
     Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)   2,000-2,200        2,000-2,200
     Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)    n.a.            n.a.
     MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)    3,200-3,700        3,200-3,700    
     MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)    2,400-2,700        2,400-2,700           
     Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG)        3,500-4,000        3,500-4,000    
     Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG)        3,000-3,200        3,000-3,200 
     Rice BPT new (100 INR/KG)        3,300-3,500        3,300-3,500   
     Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG)         2,500-2,700        2,500-2,700      
     Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)      2,600-2,800        2,600-2,800   
     Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG)      2,400-2,500        2,400-2,500
     Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG)      2,400-2,500        2,400-2,500   
     Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG)        4,500-4,800        4,500-4,800     
     Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)        3,900-4,300        3,900-4,300
     Rice HMT new (100 INR/KG)        4,000-4,400        4,000-4,400    
     Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG)      5,200-5,600        5,200-5,600
     Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG)    4,700-4,900        4,700-4,900
     Rice Shriram new (100 INR/KG)    4,800-5,200        4,800-5,200   
     Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)    9,500-14,000        9,500-13,500     
     Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)    5,000-7,500        5,000-7,500    
     Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG)    6,100-6,300        6,100-6,300    
     Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG)    5,500-5,700        5,500-5,700
     Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG)    5,600-5,800        5,600-5,800   
     Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)        2,000-2,200        2,000-2,100    
     Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)         1,800-2,000        1,700-2,000
 
WEATHER (NAGPUR)  
Maximum temp. 32.6 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 15.8 degree Celsius 
Rainfall : Nil
FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 33 and 16
degree Celsius respectively.
 
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices)

https://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-february-07-2018-idINL4N1PX353