EU ban on Indian
basmati rice Provides opportunity for Pakistan’s Basmati Exporters
By Aiman
Bilal
February 7, 2018
European Union—EU ban on Indian basmati rice could prove a great opportunity for Pakistan’s basmati exporters for capturing the rice market in the European nations.
EU imposed a ban on the Indian
basmati rice import in the year 2017, by decreasing hundred-fold the import
tolerance level of “Tricyclazole”. As per the sources, it is really a tedious
task for the Indian farmers to bring down the pesticide level to almost zero
immediately.
According to a rice exporter
India and Pakistan are the most significant cultivators of the basmati rice in
the entire world, ban on the Indian basmati rice import is a great opportunity
for the rice exporters of Pakistan to capture the European Union market. He
further mentioned that Pakistan is already taking over the Indian market and is
expected to get orders above approximately rupees 1.5 billion from the EU
nations this year.
During the span of July to
December the traders of Pakistan exported rice costing around $843.388 million,
in this amount the basmati rice export stood at the cost $185.088 million.
Recently, an Indian delegation for
resolving the basmati rice issue visited the EU. All India Rice Exports
Association (AIREA)—the grain exporter’s body informed that tough standards of
the European Commission (EC) would be affecting the Indian exporters negatively
as the trade would be shifting to Pakistan of around rupees one thousand seven
hundred crores.
The European Commission has
recently decreased the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) level of Tricyclazole in the
basmati rice to 0.01 mg/kg. Tricyclazole is a fungicide that is used by farmers
for combating a disease. After this decision of EC, the Indian basmati rice
exports to the European nations are on withhold.
India has tried to get some
relaxation on the newly introduced rules at some European nations. Last week
Gajendra Singh Sekhawat—the Indian Minister of State for Agriculture took the
issue to Germany and presented it there.
Two varieties of the Indian
basmati rice have been exported to the EU which are PB1 and 1401. These
aromatic basmati rice varieties had a Tricyclazole MRL of 0.03 mg/kg.
As per the sources of Pakistan,
at least two crop cycles would be needed to bring in the desired changes
recommended by the EC standards. The farmers are being trained and educated for
using the fungicide in a cautious manner.
He added that Pakistan exports
the “Super” variety of the aromatic basmati rice and do not use Tricyclazole on
the crops. He further mentioned that Pakistan’s basmati exporters are looking
at the opportunity and would be shipping more rice this year.
https://www.researchsnipers.com/eu-ban-on-indian-basmati-rice-provides-opportunity-for-pakistans-basmati-exporters/
Concession by China to help Pakistan get $542m annually
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has proposed Tariff Reduction Modality (TRM)
on 80 percent tariff lines on the date of entry into force of the 2nd phase of
China Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) if both sides remain able to strike
consensus on finalising the much-awaited agreement, it is learnt. Islamabad
also proposed no reduction on 20 percent tariff lines since the date of entry
into force of 2nd phase of CPFTA.
“If Pakistan is granted concession equivalent to Asean in top 20
products of its priority list, Pakistan’s exports to China would be jumped up
by $257 million,” official estimates calculated by Pakistani side and available
with The News reveals on Tuesday.
Keeping in view second scenario, it is estimated that if Pakistan
is granted complete liberalization by China, Islamabad’s exports to China could
go up by $542 million on annual basis.
Pakistan and China are scheduled to hold a two-day round of
parleys at Beijing from today (Wednesday) for making fresh efforts to finalise
revised CPFTA.
“Pakistan has proposed elimination of products’ tariff on 40
percent tariff lines immediately to zero (including MFN zero tariff) on the
date of entry into force of the 2nd phase of CPFTA,” a top official confided to
The News on Tuesday.
Under the second category, Pakistan has asked for 10 percent
tariff lines on elimination of products’ tariff to zero within 5 years since
the date of entry into force of the 2nd Phase of CPFTA. In third category,
Islamabad has proposed elimination of products’ tariff on 30 percent tariff
lines to zero within 5 years starting from 11th Year of entry into force of the
2nd Phase of CPFTA. Islamabad proposed no reduction on 20 percent tariff lines
since the date of entry into force of the 2nd phase of CPFTA.
However, China proposed elimination of products tariff on 70
percent lines to zero, elimination of products’ tariff on 10 percent lines to
zero within 5 years, elimination of products’ on 10 percent tariff lines to
zero within 10 years and no reduction on last and fourth category of 10 percent
tariff lines since the date entry into force of the 2nd phase of CPFTA.
The possible cost for Pakistan will be reduction in Regulatory
Duty (RD) collection to the tune of around Rs300 million, reset the base year
at applied MFN rate in 2017 which is lower than MFN rates in 2006-7, yarn is in
category II where FTA rate and MFN rate are both at 5%. If category II is
liberalized, 46 tariff lines of yarn will lose protection.
As consequence of CPFTA, Pakistan will increase output in
extraction, textiles and processed food while there will be a negative impact
on light manufacturing, leather and meat. Rural non-farm workers will see the
largest decline in wages.
In the first phase of CPFTA, out of 4492 tariff lines awarded by
China to Pakistan under CPFTA, Pakistan has $5 billion exports in only 399
tariff lines.
If we compare the two offers based on minimum tariff awarded to
competitors, Pakistan’s offer will be more liberal as 84 percent of itsglobal
exports are under concession in China and 43% percent of global exports are at
zero duty.
Pakistan’s exports of bed linen, denim, leather & leather
apparel, frozen prawns, marble, surgical instruments and football are at 100 %
concession in China. However, deeper concessions are to be gained in exports as
rice, cotton yarn, garments, leather and pine nuts.
NFA cautious on rice imports amid
rice shortage rumors
(philstar.com) | Updated February 7, 2018 - 6:11pm
NFA Council chairman and secretary to the Cabinet Leoncio Evasco said
there is a need to look into recommendations to import the staple to avoid what
he described as "unscrupulous purchases of rice." File photo
MANILA, Philippines — The chairman of the National Food Authority Council is cautious
about claims that the agency is facing a rice shortage, saying such scenario
may have been hatched to pressure the government to import the staple.
NFA Council chairman and secretary to the Cabinet Leoncio Evasco
said there is a need to look into recommendations to import the staple to avoid
what he described as "unscrupulous purchases of rice."
"I have to check and call for a meeting of the council to
find out what is true or is this just a drama to pressure the council to
purchase rice. This is very sensitive, it is about a purchase," Evasco
told reporters in a phone patch interview Wednesday when asked about the
alleged dwindling supply of NFA rice.
"We have a task to protect government from unscrupulous
purchases of rice," he added.
Evasco said he has not received any notice from the National Food
Security council that there is an urgency to buy rice. He said there is a
standby order to import 250,000 metric tons of rice but there is no need to
activate it for now because of the expected arrival of 325,000 metric tons of
rice under the minimum access volume (MAV).
"They (NFA management) appealed for the reactivation of the
250,000 metric tons. We said we will not act on it because the MAV (minimum
access volume) is set to arrive...In fact, the minimum access volume of 325,000
metric tons is now arriving. It will be completed towards end of the
month," Evasco said.
"We have to be very very careful in purchasing rice from
outside also so as not to threaten production of our farmers," he
added.
Evasco noted that rice should be imported during lean months and
not during harvest season. He said he is open to a Senate probe on the rice
supply situation in the country.
"We welcome that, we back the call of the Senate and Congress
for that matter," he said.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the executive branch would
also respect the decision of the Senate to investigate the issues surrounding
the NFA rice supply.
He maintained that the country is not experiencing a rice
shortage.
Who will feed
China? 87-year-old rice expert answers the call
February 8, 2018 12:30 pm JST
Yuan Longping's superstrain
raises hopes for averting a global food crisis
TADANORI YOSHIDA, Nikkei senior staff writer
Yuan Longping of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, center,
aimed to achieve a yield of 17 tons per hectare by age 90. He succeeded at
87. © AP
TOKYO -- For decades, it has been one of the world's biggest
questions. Lester Brown, a noted American environmental analyst, posed it
succinctly in the title of his 1995 book: "Who Will Feed China?"
The answer might just be an 87-year-old researcher named Yuan
Longping.
The concern was that, as China's economy took off and its
billion-plus people consumed more, the country's appetite would throw the
global food markets into chaos. The fear was not unfounded. Chinese import
demand has indeed triggered turmoil in the markets for soybeans and corn.
But a team of scientists led by Yuan may have just ensured that
China will remain self-sufficient, at least when it comes to one vital staple.
The team developed a new hybrid strain that, last year, yielded
17.2 tons of unhulled rice per hectare. That is nearly triple the average yield
for rice in Japan. It even beats the 10-ton average in Australia -- the world
leader in rice productivity, thanks to its abundant sunshine and sophisticated
irrigation technology.
The new superstrain, called Xiang Liangyou 900, has been
grown in a field of the Hebei Silicon Valley Academy of Agricultural
Sciences in Handan, a city in the northeastern province of Hebei. After the
team topped the 17-ton mark, China's media hailed them for setting "a new
world record" for rice yield.
Yuan, of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, has been toiling
for half a century to develop high-yield strains and solve the global food
problem. Along the way, he was nicknamed the "father of hybrid rice."
In a 2015 interview with The Nikkei, Yuan said he wanted to
raise the yield to 17 tons by his 90th birthday. He succeeded three years
early.
The milestone follows major improvements in Chinese agricultural
productivity in recent years. The average rice yield, by area, was lower than
Japan's in the 1980s, but Chinese growers now outperform their Japanese
counterparts, often producing nearly 7 tons per hectare.
A rice field in China's Anhui Province: The country has made
major strides in terms of farm productivity. © Reuters
Japan's average yield has hardly risen for years, largely
because the government has prioritized reducing the amount of cultivated land
to avoid a glut. Meanwhile, China's strides have come thanks to wider use of
machinery, fertilizer and other aids.
Widow overcomes obstacles to help begin Arkansas rice industry:
Part II
John
Morris’ widow, Emma Morris, was determined to see her husband’s vision through
and became the first woman rice growers in Arkansas.
John Morris and his
brother-in-law, William Fuller, were determined to show that rice could be a
viable crop in Arkansas, but they faced many obstacles as they tried to grow
rice successfully on their farms on the Grand Prairie near Carlisle.
As Richard Morris explains in
this second of a three-part series of videos, his great-grandfather, John
Morris, met an untimely death on a trip to Louisiana in 1905. But John Morris’
widow, Emma Morris, was determined to see her husband’s vision through and
became the first woman rice growers in Arkansas.
Richard Morris, who farms with his son, Matthew, talked about
the early days of rice production in Arkansas in a presentation at the Arkansas
Soil & Water Education Conference at Arkansas State University in
Jonesboro. Nearly 400 farmers, industry members and students attended the
conference on Jan. 31.
Rice growers look for new water
sources: Part III
Declining
groundwater convinced Arkansas rice farmer to consider other options
After years of providing ample
water for Arkansas’ rice fields, rice wells began coming up short for their
growers in the 1970s. That coincided with the time Richard Morris, a
fourth-generation rice farmer from Carlisle, Ark., began his farming career.
Morris, whose great-grandfather,
John Morris, was one of the state’s first rice producers, put down a well that
provided 1,000 gallons of water per minute. But two years later, it was no
longer adequate. The development started Morris thinking about the use of
surface water to meet his irrigation needs.
Now he provides all the water for his rice fields from two
reservoirs on the farm he operates with his son, Matthew. “About 28 percent of
the rainfall we receive annually falls during the growing season,” he said
during a presentation at the Arkansas Soil and Water Education Conference at
Arkansas State University. “We have to be able to capture some of the other
rainfall that occurs in other times of the year.
Getting Social
in Canada
By Asiha Grigsby
OTTAWA, CANADA -- Social Media is an ever-present and emerging
force in communication worldwide. The
shift from traditional media to consumer-driven social media outlets is
changing the landscape of how to effectively engage with target
populations. This phenomenon in Canada
is a vital element of promoting U.S. rice there.
The month of December showed a very receptive Canadian audience on
all of the USA Rice social media outlets (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) as
well as the website www.riceinfo.com.
"The seismic shift in roles, relationships, and power
continues to rock Canada's traditional and social media landscape and the way
we promote U.S.-grown rice. The erosion
of editorial opportunities has put greater emphasis on social media
activities," said Pereina Choudhury, USA Rice in-country representative.
USA Rice has expanded its touch by partnering with the Food
Bloggers of Canada (FBC) to create rice recipes that were promoted on their various
platforms to garner more exposure and brand recognition for the product. The collaboration reached an audience of more
than 6.8 million consumers and Choudhury says paying for that kind of exposure
would have cost more than $260,000.
Social media coverage in French is expected in January from Quebec-based
La Semaine.
The official Canadian USA Rice Instagram feed (@USARiceCan) was
bursting with delectable photos and recipes of the most popular rice dishes
from the holiday season such as Jewelled Persian Rice and Baked Cowboy Chili
Casserole. Twitter and Facebook also had
a phenomenal December on the social media platforms with almost 21,000
impressions and sharp increases in likes, engagement, and followers.
The organization took a fitness angle in their partnership with
Canadian fitness professional Kathy Smart, who incorporated USA Rice in her
health and education lecture series (see "The Smart Way to Promote
U.S.-grown Rice," USA Rice Daily, November 21, 2017). Smart's substantial Canadian and American
following shows great promise for the future, and she has been working with USA
Rice to create short workout videos to promote rice as an element of a healthy
lifestyle for the New Year.
"We carefully select influencers and partners who will authentically
extend U.S. rice messages using recipes to convey versatility and nutrition
points," said Choudhury.
"Being able to select influencers who are vegans, vegetarians,
flexitarians, pescatarians, or carnivores with a robust following across
Canada, allows us to reach niche and mainstream markets giving a breadth and
depth to our messages that, in some ways, traditional mainstream media does not
always achieve."
USA Rice's constant social media engagement is showing no signs of
slowing down in the fourth largest export market for U.S. rice. With strong collaborations among the most
influential social media leaders of the area, U.S. rice will continue to
maintain the dominant market share of rice imports in Canada, amounting to
approximately $150 million in sales annually.
Rice production
up by 1.65 million tons in 2017
Rice production up by 1.65 million tons in 2017 – gov’t data
INQUIRER.net / 02:48 PM February 08, 2018
Rice farmers can expect higher yield as the government taps hybrid
seeds in a new agriculture program. INQUIRER FILE / WILLIE LOMIBAO
Filipino farmers produced an additional 1.65 million metric tons
(MT) of palay in 2017 over their harvest the previous year, data from the
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed. For 2017, 19.28 million MT of
palay were produced compared to 17.63 million MT in 2016, or a 9.36 percent
increase year-on-year, a PSA report dated Jan. 22, 2018, showed. The PSA
attributed the increase in production to sufficient irrigation, favorable
weather conditions and higher yielding seed varieties.
Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/967209/breaking-news-rice-agriculture-philippine-statistics-authority-psa-palay-emmanuel-pinol-manny-pinol-nfa#ixzz56Vl3QDd4
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
RICE ‘SHORTAGE’: Piñol blasts ‘robbery’ by
‘greedy’ traders
INQUIRER.net /
11:58 AM February 08, 2018
NFA rice has disappeared in many outlets,
like in this stall in Kamuning Market which sells commercial rice. Meanwhile,
the prices of commercial rice sold by traders have reportedly gone up. INQUIRER
FILE / JAM STA. ROSA
Commercial rice should only cost around P36
per kilo in the market even as the National Food Authority (NFA) announced a
shortage in its low-priced stocks, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol
said Thursday.
“Rule of thumb, the price of rice in the
market should only be double the buying price of palay. Kung ang bili sa
magsasaka ay P18, dapat ang presyo ng bigas sa merkado ay P36 (If it is bought
from farmers at P18, then the price in the market should be P36),” Piñol said.
Piñol made the statement amid reports of
the prices of commercial rice going up, especially after the NFA said that its
inventory was running low.
The agriculture secretary clarified that
only the NFA was having a shortage in its rice stocks and not the country,
which he said is facing a “record” surplus of the staple.
Piñol said “greedy” rice traders were
taking advantage of the reported shortage in NFA stocks “to justify the
increase in the price of rice in the market” and the “additional importation of
rice from Vietnam or Thailand.”
He said unscrupulous rice traders were
committing “daylight robbery” by jacking up the prices of commercial rice.
Citing experts, Piñol said that if traders
bought rice from farmers at P18 and sold it in the market for P36, they would
already gain a profit of P200 for every 50 kilos of grain. This does not
include earnings from selling the husk and the rice bran, he said, speaking to
radio dzMM.
“Kaya itong presyuhan ng P40, P45, P50 o
P60 ay daylight robbery. Hayagang nakawan ito (That’s why prices at P40, P45,
P50 o P60 are daylight robbery. This is plain robbery),” he said.
The NFA said rice traders were buying
farmers’ produce from P18 to P20 per kilo. It could only offer to buy rice from
farmers at P17 per kilo.
Prices of commercial rice have reportedly
gone up by about P3 per kilo since the NFA announced that it was experiencing a
shortage in its stocks.
The NFA said the shortage was so dire that
it was stopping the distribution of low-priced rice to many public markets.
/cbb
Rice in Small Amounts Selling Well in Japan (News)
Tokyo, Feb. 7 (Jiji Press)—The marketing strategy of selling
rice in small volumes has recently been successful in Japan on the back of a
rise in the number of one-person households and small families.
Five-kilogram packages of rice, which used to be the main size,
are unpopular among these households because they are too large and
expensive for them.
To satisfy low-volume needs, some companies have started selling
rice in plastic bottles or by the measure.
Niigata and Iwate Prefectures, along with other major
rice-producing areas in Japan, have developed new brands of rice that,
while relatively expensive, can be sold at affordable prices if they are
marketed in small amounts, industry sources said.
According to major rice wholesaler Kitoku Shinryō Co., shipments
of rice in 5-kilogram packages have been flat. By contrast, those of rice in
2-kilogram packages have climbed by some 30% from five years ago.
A selection of rice brands from
around the country marketed by Pebora on display at the company’s Komekuuto
shop in Shinjuku, Tokyo. (© Jiji)
Fine rice for prisoners’ health
HYDERABAD, FEBRUARY
08, 2018 00:09 IST
‘Existing rice variety causing
indigestion to prison inmates’
To reduce the burden of prisoner healthcare on the State
exchequer, the Prisons department plans to improve the overall health of its
inmates by introducing fine rice in their menu.
Officials said the existing variety of rice is causing
indigestion and other health problems and therefore requires the Prisons
department to take inmates to frequent medical check-ups.
“Due to rising concerns for the health of inmates, the government
has decided to introduce fine rice in the menu in prisons across the State, by
replacing the heavier grain, which is presently being procured,” said VK Singh,
Director General of State Prisons department.
The introduction of fine quality rice to inmates is part of
their reformation process. He said the government will shortly issue an order
formalising the decision, which was taken keeping in view the health condition
of prisoners.
According to Inspector General of Prisons, Akula Narasimha, the
department is presently procuring around 1,400 tonnes of rice from Civil
Supplies department, 500 quintals of red gram and bengal gram, while more than
60 tonnes of chicken is procured every year.
“In Hyderabad alone, we need more than 650 tonnes of rice for more
than 3,000 prisoners,” he said.
Presently, there are around 5,200 inmates in all the 43
operational jails, including central prisons in Cherlapally, Chanchalguda and
Warangal, across the State and their total capacity is 6,848, he said.
“The government had asked us to send a detailed report on the
requirement of fine rice and if things go according to the plan, by March we
will introduce new variety of rice,” the official said.
At present, the department is procuring rice at ₹29 per kg, while fine rice will cost them ₹32 per kg, he said.
Keeping in view, the health of prisoners, the department had
restricted the sale of tobacco products in prisons
Modern kitchens
After introducing modern kitchens in Cherlapally, Chanchalguda and
Warangal central prisons, the State Prisons department is now chalking out
plans to extend the concept to other major jails across the State.
A Prisons department official said the new kitchens will soon
come up at Nalgonda, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Khammam, Adilabad and Sangareddy
prisons.
He said modern kitchens will have steam boilers to cook the
rice, vegetable cutters and chapati making machines.
Rice Prices
as on : 07-02-2018 12:13:08 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
|
Arrivals
|
Price
|
|||||
|
Current
|
%
change |
Season
cumulative |
Modal
|
Prev.
Modal |
Prev.Yr
%change |
|
|
Rice
|
||||||
|
Bindki(UP)
|
700.00
|
-12.5
|
9858.00
|
2230
|
2240
|
-
|
|
Risia(UP)
|
460.00
|
119.05
|
3508.60
|
2250
|
2200
|
-
|
|
Siliguri(WB)
|
160.00
|
1.27
|
2086.00
|
2600
|
2600
|
-3.70
|
|
Hapur(UP)
|
50.00
|
-16.67
|
885.00
|
2680
|
2670
|
16.52
|
|
Lalganj(UP)
|
50.00
|
25
|
307.00
|
2040
|
2040
|
-
|
|
Gajol(WB)
|
36.50
|
65.91
|
495.60
|
3450
|
3450
|
27.78
|
|
Sahiyapur(UP)
|
35.50
|
29.09
|
816.50
|
2135
|
2145
|
-
|
|
Gauripur(ASM)
|
35.00
|
-22.22
|
729.00
|
4500
|
4500
|
NC
|
|
Lakhimpur(UP)
|
35.00
|
-12.5
|
441.00
|
2170
|
2160
|
0.93
|
|
Paliakala(UP)
|
17.00
|
6.25
|
637.80
|
2160
|
2170
|
-
|
|
Tamkuhi Road(UP)
|
16.00
|
-11.11
|
323.00
|
2125
|
2140
|
-
|
|
Karsiyang(Matigara)(WB)
|
16.00
|
3.9
|
169.80
|
3000
|
3000
|
7.14
|
|
Utraula(UP)
|
15.80
|
-8.14
|
119.00
|
1600
|
1600
|
-
|
|
Dhekiajuli(ASM)
|
15.00
|
-
|
15.00
|
2200
|
-
|
NC
|
|
Mathura(UP)
|
14.00
|
16.67
|
134.00
|
2550
|
2525
|
NC
|
|
Mirzapur(UP)
|
11.00
|
22.22
|
37.00
|
2135
|
2130
|
-
|
|
Payagpur(UP)
|
10.00
|
-
|
10.00
|
1550
|
-
|
-
|
|
North Lakhimpur(ASM)
|
6.40
|
-57.89
|
155.20
|
2600
|
2600
|
36.84
|
|
Dibrugarh(ASM)
|
4.80
|
-51.52
|
151.40
|
2400
|
2400
|
6.67
|
|
Chhibramau(Kannuj)(UP)
|
4.00
|
-20
|
108.50
|
2250
|
2250
|
0.90
|
|
Bonai(Bonai)(Ori)
|
2.00
|
-20
|
16.40
|
2800
|
3000
|
12.00
|
|
Balarampur(WB)
|
1.80
|
NC
|
14.99
|
2650
|
2650
|
13.25
|
|
Jagnair(UP)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
28.30
|
2500
|
2490
|
4.60
|
|
Khairagarh(UP)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
32.00
|
2500
|
2500
|
1.21
|
|
Achnera(UP)
|
0.60
|
NC
|
7.40
|
2520
|
2500
|
5.00
|
Published
on February 07, 2018 http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article22675457.ece
Indonesia's Bulog signs contracts
for 281,000 T of rice imports
Kitco News
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)
http://www.kitco.com/news/2018-02-07/Indonesia-apos-s-Bulog-signs-contracts-for-281-000-T-of-rice-imports.html
No rice shortage – Piñol
Blames cartels for ‘maneuvering’
prices
Updated February 8, 2018, 7:55 AM
By Malu Cadelina Manar
Kidapawan City – Agriculture
Secretary Manny Piñol yesterday belied reports that the country is suffering
from a rice shortage and blamed cartels for allegedly “maneuvering” prices in
the market.
Contrary to reports, there is no
shortfall in the rice supply in the country, Secretary Piñol said. “In
fact, our stocks are enough for our consumption for the next 96 days.”
He cited data that the country
produced 19.4 million metric tons of palay in 2017, believed to the biggest in
history.
He said about 5.8 million metric
tons of rice are available in the market for the next 96 days. At least
2.7 million metric tons of these come from the rice surplus in 2017 and the
rest from the farmers’ harvest until March this year.
The country’s consumption of
rice, Pinol said, is estimated at 31,450 metric tons a day or a total of 2.8
million metric tons for the next three months.
“If you would deduct these 2.8
million metric tons of rice consumption of the Filipinos for the next 96 days,
we still have 3 million metric tons available stocks of rice in the
market. With these data, ano bang rice shortage ang kanilang
pinagsasabi?” he asked.
What the country is suffering
from, he said, is an “anomalous food chain” where traders, instead of farmers,
dictate prices of rice sold to them.
What is sad, he said, is that
“the government has no control over it, and for that matter, the DA has no
mandate to do so.”
With this situation, traders,
based on Pinol’s computation, would earn P50 to P60 million per harvest season,
“which should have been earned by the farmers themselves.”
In Kidapawan City, the Grains
Retailers Confederation (Grecon) in North Cotabato has complained of limited
stocks of NFA rice.
Each accredited NFA rice
retailer, according to Grecon Cotabato President Carmelito Bacus, is only given
five sacks of NFA rice monthly.
This was the reason prices of
commercial rice, especially those considered premium, have dramatically
increased by P5 per kilo, he said.
When NFA here decided to limit
the release of stocks to rice retailers, those primarily affected were the
beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the
indigenous communities in remote villages in Kidapawan City, said Bacus.
Tags: Grecon Cotabato President
Carmelito Bacus, Kidapawan City, metric tons, No rice shortage – Piñol, rice shortage, Secretary Manny Piñol, stocks
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/02/08/no-rice-shortage-pinol/
Retailers to
government: Let NFA import rice
February 7, 2018
The Philippines must import rice
soon to avert spikes in the price of the staple and prevent unscrupulous
traders from taking advantage of the diminishing stockpile of the National Food
Authority (NFA), local rice retailers said on Wednesday.
Grains Retailers’ Confederation
of the Philippines Inc. (Grecon) appealed to the NFA Council (NFAC) to
immediately approve the proposal of the NFA to import 250,000 metric tons (MT)
of rice to boost its buffer stock. Currently, the NFA has a total inventory of
1.2 million 50-kilogram (kg) bags, equivalent to two days of the country’s
total rice consumption.
“We made a resolution addressed
to the NFAC urging them to act immediately on the request of the NFA for the
importation of 250,000 MT,” Grecon National President Jaime O. Magbanua told
reporters in a news briefing in Quezon City on February 7.
“We are asking the NFAC to
reconsider so that affordable rice would continue to be available,” Magbanua
added.
Magbanua said the price of commercial
rice rose by P2 to P3 per kg in recent days due to the high farm-gate price of
local paddy.
Once the NFA’s stockpile is
completely depleted, he said local rice prices could go up further as 10
million Filipinos would have no other recourse but to purchase the commercial
variant.
This, he added, could cause the
price of commercial rice to go up by P5 per kg in the coming weeks.
“The poorest of the poor depend
on NFA rice. Because they cannot buy it anymore, they will buy commercial rice.
Going by the law of supply and demand, the price of commercial rice would
surely increase,” Magbanua added.
The Grecon chief said consumers
would have to shoulder the burden of any increases in rice sold by traders. “We
have no choice but to pass on the additional cost of rice to consumers.”
NFA Administrator Jason L.Y.
Aquino said the state-run food agency has suspended its distribution of rice to
almost all retailers across the country due to the depletion of its stockpile.
Aquino added the remaining stocks
of NFA are reserved for the needs of calamity-prone areas and rice requirement
of island municipalities and provinces.
Because of this, he said the NFA
slashed its daily rice withdrawal to 34,000 50-kg bags, from 64,000 50-kilogram
bags. At this rate, Aquino said its current stockpile will last for 35 days.
“Our average market participation
is 10 percent of the daily consumption of the country, which translates to
640,000 50-kg bags. Now, we are just releasing 34,000 bags in the market
because our stocks are depleted,” he said.
“Plus, there is the activity of
Mayon Volcano in Region 5 and we cannot reduce our supply of NFA rice in island
provinces and municipalities, like Batanes, because 60 [percent] to 80 percent
of their supply comes from the NFA. Aside from that other government agencies
are making advanced orders in anticipation of calamities,” he added.
Aquino pointed out, however, that
there is no rice shortage in the Philippines as the country’s total inventory
is enough for 88 days. Stocks held by commercial warehouses and households
would be good for 34 days and 52 days, respectively.
He also said the agency was not
able to beef up its buffer stock through local palay procurement as the
prevailing farm-gate prices, ranging from P19 to P19.50 per kg, are higher than
the NFA’s buying price of P17 per kg.
IRRI targets support for wider
DSR adoption
February 6, 2018 - by
Holly Demaree-Saddler
DSRC members with IRRI DDGR Jacqueline Hughes load
seeds in a mechanical direct seeder for ceremonial planting. Photo courtesy of
IRRI.
Presented during the recent launch
of the Direct-Seeded Rice Consortium (DSRC), IRRI’s main proponent for the
initiative, were priority areas for DSR research with particular focus on
improving mechanized and precise direct-seeding practices to help current DSR
end-users maximize its full benefits.
“DSR is a more resource-efficient,
climate-resilient, and sustainable alternative agricultural system to manual
transplanting but gaps are still present,” said Virender Kumar, IRRI senior
scientist and DSRC coordinator. “Many agronomic DSR practices have become
inefficient because of lack of mechanization, precision application, and proper
education, hence the prevalent preference for manual systems.”
DSR systems are more rapidly and
easily planted, less labor intensive, consume less irrigation water, mature
earlier, are more conducive to mechanization, and have fewer methane emissions.
Overall analysis of 77 published studies shows that various methods of direct
seeding reduced the cost of production by $9 — 125 ha compared with
conventional transplanting methods.
The IRRI noted, while DSR is widely
practiced in many Asian countries such as Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam,
Thailand, Cambodia, and the Philippines, Manual Puddled Transplanted Rice (PTR)
system is still the predominant method for rice establishment in most parts of
Asia. Other setbacks to its wider adoption are DSR-associated risks, including
weed infestation and yield losses.
To address these gaps and ease
end-users’ transition from PTR to DSR, the consortium will propose
science-based, scalable solutions for precise crop and weed management, characterizing
areas suitable for DSR, GIS-guided sowing windows and crop modelling
approaches, and efficient evaluation of new superior rice cultivars adapted to
DSR conditions.
“This consortium will strengthen
collaboration between public and private sectors and eventually will lead to
availability of resource-efficient and sustainable production practices and
technologies not just for relevant business entities but also the small holder
farmers across Asia,” said Jacqueline Hughes, deputy director general for
research at the IRRI.
Gustavo Palerosi Carneiro, head of
BASF’s Crop Protection Division in Asia Pacific and co-convenor of the DSRC
added, “This partnership with IRRI will expand our reach and expertise, and we
are confident that this will contribute to the faster and wider dissemination
of rice technologies and solutions that raise rice productivity and farmers’
income at the same time. Through this collaboration, we are excited to provide
products and program support that contribute to food security in a significant
and environmentally sustainable way.”
Other DSRC members include Bayer,
and Kilang Beras SeriMerbok Sdn. PhilRice Philippines, CARDI Cambodia, ICAR
India, CNRRI China, MOALI Myanmar, NARC Nepal, Thai Rice Department, PARC
Pakistan, MARDI Malaysia, International Fertilizer Association, The University
of Sydney, and Syngenta Foundation are also part of the consortium.
Data and results-sharing through
IRRI’s Open Access and Data Management Policy and Research Data Management best
practices will be made available to all consortium members.
Working to become the major driver
of change in the agricultural systems in South and Southeast Asia, the DSRC
said it welcomes more partners from any government organizations, including
NARES partners, NGOs, civil societies, and farmers’ groups.
“We want to encourage a richer
exchange of ideas, knowledge, and technologies to overcome key constraints in
this initiative,” Hughes said.
ADB climate change report
paints apocalyptic scenario for Pakistan
February 07, 2018
ISLAMABAD: It is anticipated that Pakistan’s greenhouse
emissions will double in two years and surge 14 times by 2050 — much higher
than the world average. This will pose serious threats to the country’s
population, as well as lower agricultural and energy outputs.
These dire warnings were a part of the Climate Change
Profile of Pakistan, prepared by Dr Qamar Uz Zaman Chaudhry, an international
climate technology expert and former director general of the Pakistan Meteorological
Department. The report has been launched by the Asian Development Bank.
“Pakistan potentially faces a major climate change,”
says the report, while warning that the impact of global warming in Pakistan is
likely to be above the global average. It adds that climate change will impact
the glaciers’ melting rate and precipitation patterns, particularly affecting
the timing and strength of monsoon rainfall.
“Consequently, this will significantly impact the
productivity and efficiency of water-dependent sectors such as agriculture and
energy,” says the report, which also suggests concerted efforts by the
government and civil society at all levels to mitigate these threats.
Over the last 50 years, Pakistan’s annual mean
temperature has risen by roughly 0.5 degree centigrade. The duration of heat
waves per year has increased by nearly fivefold over the last 30 years. The sea
level along Karachi coast has risen by about 10 centimetres in the last century.
By the end of this century, the annual average
temperature in Pakistan is expected to rise between 3C and 5C in a scenario
with central global emissions, while higher global emissions may yield a rise
of between 4C and 6C. The average annual rainfall is not expected to have a
significant long-term trend, but is expected to exhibit large inter-annual
variability. The sea level is expected to rise by a further 60cm by the end of
the century and will most likely effect low-lying coastal areas south of Karachi
toward Keti Bander and the Indus River delta.
Under future climate change scenarios, Pakistan is
expected to experience increased variability of river flows due to increased
precipitation and the melting of glaciers, the report says. Demand for irrigation
water may rise due to higher evaporation rate. Yields of wheat and basmati rice
will decline and could drive production northward, subject to water
availability. It says that water availability for hydropower generation may
also decline.
Hotter temperatures are likely to increase energy
demand due to increased air conditioning requirements. Warmer air and water
temperatures may decrease the efficiency of nuclear and thermal power plant
generation. Mortality rates may increase due to extreme heat waves. Urban
drainage systems will be further stressed by high rainfall and flash floods,
while sea level rise and storm surges may adversely affect coastal
infrastructure and livelihoods.
According to the national GHG inventory of Pakistan,
for the year 2011-12, total GHG emissions were at 369 million tonnes of carbon
dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) with 45.9pc share of energy, 44.8pc share of
agriculture and livestock sectors, 3.9pc share of industrial processes, and
2.6pc share of land use change for forestry sectors. Energy, agriculture and
livestock sectors alone account for 90.7pc of the total emissions pool and have
thus far remained the biggest emitters of GHGs since 1994.
Over the last century, Pakistan’s average annual
temperature has risen by 0.57C, compared to 0.75C for South Asia, and average
annual precipitation has increased by 25pc. The warming is mainly due to an
increase in winter temperatures. Heat wave days per year have increased by 31
days between 1980 and 2007.
Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2018
https://www.dawn.com/news/1387809/adb-climate-change-report-paints-apocalyptic-scenario-for-pakistan
Gov't to proceed with 250,000 metric ton rice
imports
ABS-CBN News
MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has authorized the importation
of an additional 250,000 metric tons of rice, a cabinet official overseeing
procurement of the staple said Thursday.
The 250,000 metric tons will be on top of 325,000 metric tons that
was bought in 2017 and will be delivered in February, said Cabinet Secretary
Jun Evasco, who chairs the inter-agency National Food Authority Council.
Evasco said he was informed late Wednesday that the President had
approved the additional imports.
"We have no option but to follow the President to activate
the 250,000 metric tons na naka-standby that will be on top of the 325,000 na
magdating anytime this month," he told ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda.
(We have no option but to follow the President to activate the
250,000 metric tons on standby that will be on top of the 325,000 that will
arrive anytime this month.)
Evasco said the NFA Council was being "very very
careful" in importing rice so as not to compete with local farmers,
especially during the harvest season.
The government is expecting palay or paddy rice harvest of 3
million metric tons in the first quarter, which will augment the 2.8 million metric
ton surplus from 2017, Agriculture Secretary Emanuel Piñol told DZMM.
Piñol said there was no shortage in subsidized rice sold by the
NFA, adding raising prices due to an alleged lack in supply amounted to
"daylight robbery."
http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/02/08/18/govt-to-proceed-with-250000-metric-ton-rice-imports
Bangladesh rice output forecast
lower
February 7, 2018 - by
Arvin Donley
DHAKA, BANGLADESH — Rice production in
Bangladesh in 2017-18 is forecast down slightly from a year ago, according
to a Feb. 6 Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report from the
Foreign Agricultural Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
This year’s output
of 32.65 million tonnes is predicted lower than the 2016-17 total of 34.57
million tonnes due to heavy rains during a key grain maturing stage.
The report noted
that more than 20 inches of rain fell in December, causing damage to the Aman
rice crop.
Rice imports for
the country in 2017-18 are forecast at 3.4 million tonnes, up from last year’s
2.47 million tonnes. The report said increased imports from India are
anticipated.
Philippine inflation accelerates to 4 pct in January
by
Shelley Chandler | February 07, 2018 | 19:15
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on
Tuesday reported that the faster inflation rate in the first month this year
was due to increases in heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages,
which registered a 4.5 percent rate this year against the previous month's 3.5
percent. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia has said the push in
inflation was partly caused by TRAIN, specifically the excise taxes on fuel and
additional sin taxes. 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. In fact, it is the highest in 3 years
since inflation quickened to 4.3% in October 2014. The government implemented
higher taxes on fuel, sugar-sweetened drinks and cars from January 1 to offset
a reduction in personal income tax rates and help fund Duterte's P8-trillion
infrastructure program. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla
Jr. has also cited TRAIN as one of the factors that led to higher consumer
prices. Excluding volatile food and oil, core inflation jumped to 3.9 percent
from the previous month's 3 percent. "We think these are temporary drivers
of inflation and would eventually stabilize", Espenilla said. It said 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. Espenilla assured that the BSP will be closely monitoring the
situation and stands ready to take action based on their evaluation of relevant
data. The benign inflation environment and robust domestic demand have allowed
the BSP to keep interest rates low over the past three years to support the
growing economy. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has said it was hard to
believe that TRAIN had a significant impact on prices unless "merchants
took advantage of the law and raised prices on old inventories". Pernia
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. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said there is a
need to fasttrack the provision of cash transfers to vulnerable sectors and
liberalize rice trade to drive down the price of the staple. "Revenues
from tariff on imported rice will be used to finance government programs for
agriculture", he said. "Joey Cuyegkeng, ING Bank senior economist,
said second round effects of the TRAIN Law are still to be determined by
regulators but 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". The industry has yet
to
make projections on growth this year, pending the effects of TRAIN. "The
likelihood of a tightening move at Thursday's meeting has increased
significantly". (Pampi) remains on a wait-and-see mode on the impact of
the government's tax reform program on food prices. The acceleration of the
inflation rate in January caught market watchers off guard and prompted
speculation that the central bank would hike its key interest rates when the
policy making Monetary Board convened on Thursday. The central bank chief said
that the central bank is ready to hike policy rates if it sees that price
increases threaten to spiral out of control. "Surging CPI (consumer price
index) inflation, strong GDP growth and rapid credit expansion are all
combining to put the BSP on a more hawkish stance with monetary policy
tightening expected soon", he said 10ThousandCouple http://10thousandcouples.com/2018/02/philippine-inflation-accelerates-to-4-pct-in-january/
WASHINGTON- The US trade deficit widened more than
expected in December to its highest level since 2008, as robust domestic demand
pushed imports to a record high, adding to...
No rice shortage
By Jed Macapagal
February 08, 2018
Government yesterday assured the country has enough rice in
the market amid fears of a shortage in the commodity.
“Contrary to reports (of) a looming rice shortage because the National Food Authority (NFA) has not brought in imported rice, there is actually a huge inventory of locally harvested rice,” said Emmanuel Piñol, secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Piñol said the DA’s field operations head undersecretary Ariel Cayanan, estimated buffer stocks at the end of the first quarter of 2018 at 3 million metric tons (MT) which would be enough to supply the daily consumption of 31,450 MT per day for 96 days.
Piñol said the 96-day buffer stock is one of the biggest rice inventories of the country in recent years which was brought by a 19.4 million MT bumper harvest for 2017.
“By the end of 2017, rice stocks in warehouses and home storages were placed at 2.7 million MT good for 88 days of supply. In the first quarter of 2018, the production forecast is placed at 3.067 of milled rice which when added to the buffer rice stocks carried over from 2017 would place the first quarter rice supply at 5.8 million MT, the DA field operations office reported,” Piñol added.
The DA said from January to March, the national rice consumption is estimated at 2.8 million MT and if paired with the projected harvest of 3.067 million MT for the quarter would push the country’s buffer stocks inventory to 3.004 million MT which is good for 96 days.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said it is NFA’s buffer stock which has been depleted and needs to be replenished with imports.
NFA rice is being infused into the market to stabilize the price of commercial rice. NFA rice sells for P27 to P32 per kilo compared to commercial variety that sells between P45 and P60 per kilo.
“The NFA needs to bring in the imported rice because private rice traders have inconsiderately priced commercial rice at a level which hurts ordinary consumers. The DA does not oppose the importation by NFA of rice stocks to stabilize the price in the market but at the same time calls on the price regulatory bodies of government to check on the uncontrolled pricing of commercial rice in the market,” Piñol said,
He said traders who profit from rice importation are just “trying to scare government policy makers by making it appear there is a rice shortage, to justify the entry of additional imported rice.”
Meanwhile, despite the fall in stocks of NFA, an official at a government panel that decides on rice imports said the country is facing no urgency to bring in stocks.
“Right now, while their stocks may be low, the council feels the need to import is not that urgent. There is so much supply available in the market and prices have been more or less stable,” said Mercedita Sombilla, who sits at the NFA Council.
The Philippines typically buys rice from major exporters Vietnam and Thailand. Its only rice purchase last year was 250,000 tons sourced from suppliers in Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore, via a tender in July. (with R. Africa and Reuters)
“Contrary to reports (of) a looming rice shortage because the National Food Authority (NFA) has not brought in imported rice, there is actually a huge inventory of locally harvested rice,” said Emmanuel Piñol, secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Piñol said the DA’s field operations head undersecretary Ariel Cayanan, estimated buffer stocks at the end of the first quarter of 2018 at 3 million metric tons (MT) which would be enough to supply the daily consumption of 31,450 MT per day for 96 days.
Piñol said the 96-day buffer stock is one of the biggest rice inventories of the country in recent years which was brought by a 19.4 million MT bumper harvest for 2017.
“By the end of 2017, rice stocks in warehouses and home storages were placed at 2.7 million MT good for 88 days of supply. In the first quarter of 2018, the production forecast is placed at 3.067 of milled rice which when added to the buffer rice stocks carried over from 2017 would place the first quarter rice supply at 5.8 million MT, the DA field operations office reported,” Piñol added.
The DA said from January to March, the national rice consumption is estimated at 2.8 million MT and if paired with the projected harvest of 3.067 million MT for the quarter would push the country’s buffer stocks inventory to 3.004 million MT which is good for 96 days.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said it is NFA’s buffer stock which has been depleted and needs to be replenished with imports.
NFA rice is being infused into the market to stabilize the price of commercial rice. NFA rice sells for P27 to P32 per kilo compared to commercial variety that sells between P45 and P60 per kilo.
“The NFA needs to bring in the imported rice because private rice traders have inconsiderately priced commercial rice at a level which hurts ordinary consumers. The DA does not oppose the importation by NFA of rice stocks to stabilize the price in the market but at the same time calls on the price regulatory bodies of government to check on the uncontrolled pricing of commercial rice in the market,” Piñol said,
He said traders who profit from rice importation are just “trying to scare government policy makers by making it appear there is a rice shortage, to justify the entry of additional imported rice.”
Meanwhile, despite the fall in stocks of NFA, an official at a government panel that decides on rice imports said the country is facing no urgency to bring in stocks.
“Right now, while their stocks may be low, the council feels the need to import is not that urgent. There is so much supply available in the market and prices have been more or less stable,” said Mercedita Sombilla, who sits at the NFA Council.
The Philippines typically buys rice from major exporters Vietnam and Thailand. Its only rice purchase last year was 250,000 tons sourced from suppliers in Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore, via a tender in July. (with R. Africa and Reuters)
http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/business/no-rice-shortage
Self-reliance in three main
commodities still difficult to achieve
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia will still find it difficult
to achieve self-reliance in rice, corn and soybean production due to limited
farm land, agriculture observer Dwi Andreas Santosa said.
"If we want to reach self-reliance in the three commodities, 7.7 million hectares of farmland will surely not be enough," he said here on Wednesday.
The satellite image shows that 7.7 million hectares in the past few years, the professor of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) said.
For his part, he recommended that the government should focus on one of the three commodities, particularly rice which has high political value.
If the government only focuses on rice production, the 7.7 million hectares of farmland will be sufficient to meet demand for the staple, he said.
Meanwhile, Khudori, agriculture observer of the Indonesian Political Economics Association said the limited farmland has made self-reliance in the three commodities difficult to achieve.
"If the area of farmland is just that, and the area of the harvest of one of the commodities increases, then the area of †<†<the harvest of the commodities will decline accordingly.
Indonesia's rice production reaches 36.29 million tons per year, while its rice consumption stands at 18.72 million tons.
"If we want to reach self-reliance in the three commodities, 7.7 million hectares of farmland will surely not be enough," he said here on Wednesday.
The satellite image shows that 7.7 million hectares in the past few years, the professor of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) said.
For his part, he recommended that the government should focus on one of the three commodities, particularly rice which has high political value.
If the government only focuses on rice production, the 7.7 million hectares of farmland will be sufficient to meet demand for the staple, he said.
Meanwhile, Khudori, agriculture observer of the Indonesian Political Economics Association said the limited farmland has made self-reliance in the three commodities difficult to achieve.
"If the area of farmland is just that, and the area of the harvest of one of the commodities increases, then the area of †<†<the harvest of the commodities will decline accordingly.
Indonesia's rice production reaches 36.29 million tons per year, while its rice consumption stands at 18.72 million tons.
https://en.antaranews.com/news/114553/self-reliance-in-three-main-commodities-still-difficult-to-achieve
Philippines has enough rice supply – Palace
07.02.2018
Quoting Secretary to the Cabinet Leoncio Evasco, presidential
spokesman Harry Roque said there is a standby order for 250,000 metric tons of
rice to ensure enough supply in the market. Miguel de Guzman
Malacañang yesterday assured the public that the rice supply situation in the country is under control following reports that there is a shortage of the staple.
Quoting Secretary to the Cabinet Leoncio Evasco, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said there is a standby order for 250,000 metric tons of rice to ensure enough supply in the market.
Evasco is chairman of the National Food Authority Council. The NFA imports rice and sells this at a cheap price to ensure that poor households will have access to the staple.
“He says the situation really is under control,” Roque said in a press briefing.
Previous reports said the dwindling supply of the NFA rice has led to higher prices and forced low-income Filipinos to buy more expensive varieties.
The price of NFA rice ranges from P27 to P32 per kilogram while commercial rice varieties of comparable quality cost P36 to P41 per kilogram.
The Philippine Statistics Authority previously reported that the prices of regular and well-milled rice have risen by P1 to P3 pesos per kilo in six regional centers including Metro Manila.
Sen. Cynthia Villar, chairman of the Senate committee on agriculture, explained that the rice supply of NFA is just depleting because the NFA sent its stocks to calamity-stricken areas.
“Only NFA is having shortage of rice but for the entire country, there is no insufficiency of supply. Only NFA warehouses are running short of stocks because they don’t buy from the farmers and they cannot import so we will discuss why this is happening,” she said in a radio interview yesterday.
Villar will file a Senate resolution calling the NFA to explain the situation to the public.
The senator also said she will summon the NFA regarding the shift from quantitative restrictions on rice to tariffication. Villar wants to know the role of the NFA on tarrification because under the new system, importation can be done without paying tariff.
The Philippines is short by five percent of its rice production. The country needs about 500,000 metric tons of rice every year.
Villar said the five percent shortage in rice production can be remedied by planting in-bred rice seeds, which can produce six metric tons per hectare.
Villar is monitoring the
Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the Philippine Center for
Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) regarding the use of
in-bred rice seeds.
“That way, our production will increase. PhilRice will teach the technology to farmers, while PhilMech will provide machines so they can produce more and lessen post harvest losses so we become self-sufficient and we will not import rice anymore,” she said.
“So that we will become competitive with Vietnam, so there will be no more smuggling, no more cartel because we will have enough supply and we will produce it at a competitive price. We need to use in-bred seeds and mechanize. That’s the way to produce more.”
“We can do it for as long the Department of Agriculture will do its work,” she added.
Malacañang yesterday assured the public that the rice supply situation in the country is under control following reports that there is a shortage of the staple.
Quoting Secretary to the Cabinet Leoncio Evasco, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said there is a standby order for 250,000 metric tons of rice to ensure enough supply in the market.
Evasco is chairman of the National Food Authority Council. The NFA imports rice and sells this at a cheap price to ensure that poor households will have access to the staple.
“He says the situation really is under control,” Roque said in a press briefing.
Previous reports said the dwindling supply of the NFA rice has led to higher prices and forced low-income Filipinos to buy more expensive varieties.
The price of NFA rice ranges from P27 to P32 per kilogram while commercial rice varieties of comparable quality cost P36 to P41 per kilogram.
The Philippine Statistics Authority previously reported that the prices of regular and well-milled rice have risen by P1 to P3 pesos per kilo in six regional centers including Metro Manila.
Sen. Cynthia Villar, chairman of the Senate committee on agriculture, explained that the rice supply of NFA is just depleting because the NFA sent its stocks to calamity-stricken areas.
“Only NFA is having shortage of rice but for the entire country, there is no insufficiency of supply. Only NFA warehouses are running short of stocks because they don’t buy from the farmers and they cannot import so we will discuss why this is happening,” she said in a radio interview yesterday.
Villar will file a Senate resolution calling the NFA to explain the situation to the public.
The senator also said she will summon the NFA regarding the shift from quantitative restrictions on rice to tariffication. Villar wants to know the role of the NFA on tarrification because under the new system, importation can be done without paying tariff.
The Philippines is short by five percent of its rice production. The country needs about 500,000 metric tons of rice every year.
Villar said the five percent shortage in rice production can be remedied by planting in-bred rice seeds, which can produce six metric tons per hectare.
“That way, our production will increase. PhilRice will teach the technology to farmers, while PhilMech will provide machines so they can produce more and lessen post harvest losses so we become self-sufficient and we will not import rice anymore,” she said.
“So that we will become competitive with Vietnam, so there will be no more smuggling, no more cartel because we will have enough supply and we will produce it at a competitive price. We need to use in-bred seeds and mechanize. That’s the way to produce more.”
“We can do it for as long the Department of Agriculture will do its work,” she added.
http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/philippines-has-enough-rice-supply-2013-palace
Technology Keeps Rice Fertilizer
Nice
GreenSeeker eliminates guesswork
in nitrogen application
Article ID: 689074
Visiting professor Nadeem Akbar
using the Handheld GreenSeeker in the field.
·
Credit: drone operated by Scott
Gregory of Ag One Solutions.
Researcher Telha Rehman takes
measurements with the Handheld GreenSeeker to determine how much nitrogen the
rice contains.
·
Credit: Telha Rehman.
Visiting professor Nadeem Akbar
using the Handheld GreenSeeker in the field.
·
Credit: drone operated by Scott
Gregory of Ag One Solutions.
Researcher Telha Rehman takes measurements
with the Handheld GreenSeeker to determine how much nitrogen the rice contains.
Newswise — Feb. 7, 2018 - Farmers make a lot of decisions. One of
the most important is how much fertilizer to apply to their crops, and when to
apply it. Applying more than necessary or at the wrong time can waste
resources, impact the environment, and cut into narrow profits.
The answer could lie in a small handheld device. A new tool may
help growers make better decisions in applying nitrogen fertilizer to their
rice fields.
The most wasteful application of nitrogen fertilizer occurs in the
middle of the season, says Telha Rehman. Rehman is a researcher at the
University of California, Davis. This is because it’s hard for farmers to know
how much nitrogen — an essential nutrient for plants — is already available to
the crops. He’s working to find a device that farmers can use to measure the
amount of nitrogen already in their crops.
While the problem is not specific to rice, Rehman is focused on
the crop because it is a major crop in California. It is grown on more than
555,000 acres. Rice also contributes more than $5 billion to the state’s
economy annually.
“In California, an increasing number of farmers are beginning to
apply midseason nitrogen fertilizer to their crop,” Rehman says. “Some growers
now even plan a midseason application by withholding some of the first
application of nitrogen. However, there has been no research to investigate
whether these practices are effective at increasing rice productivity. We hope
to find the best nitrogen management practices for California rice growers.”
The traditional way of measuring the amount of nitrogen in the
plants is by destructively sampling them and submitting them to a lab for
analysis. However, this method has some problems.
Analyzing plant samples is cumbersome and time-consuming.
Fertilizer applications are time-sensitive, and this procedure often returns
results after the critical time to apply fertilizer has passed. Additionally,
Rehman explains, “It is nearly impossible to sample enough to know the nitrogen
content of the whole field.”
To combat this, Rehman has been testing a small tool called the
Handheld GreenSeeker to gather data on the plants. The device is able to
collect data without physically contacting the plants. It objectively measures
how green the plant is (nitrogen is a key component of the molecule that makes
plants green). The index then uses the “greenness” to determine how much
nitrogen is in the rice.
The first results show the measurements can provide insight into
nitrogen status of the crop to guide in-season fertilizer application. The data
can help farmers use their fertilizer more efficiently and increase
productivity—and prevent the runoff of nitrogen from the fields.
“We use the GreenSeeker mostly because it is simple and easy to
use,” Rehman says. “This new information should help growers to avoid
fertilizer applications that cost them both financially and in production.”
Rehman presented the
research at the October Annual Meeting of
the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil
Science
Sochttp://www.newswise.com/articles/technology-keeps-rice-fertilizer-niceiety
of America in Tampa, FL.
India Colour Sorter Global Market
Prognosticated To Accrue With A Whooping CAGR by 2027; Asserts MRFR
02-07-2018 12:48 PM CET
Market
Research Future published a research report on “India Color Sorter Market
Research Report- Forecast 2022” – Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress,
Trends and Forecast to 2022.
India Color Sorter Market, By Type (Chute and Belt) By Application (Agricultural and Industrial), and Region - Forecast 2016-2022
Satake India Engineering, Buhler Group, Fowler Westrup, Tomra, Orange, Sea, Key Technology, Hefei Meiya Optoelectronic Technology Inc., Anhui Zhongke Optic-electronic Colour Sorter Machinery Co., Ltd., and Hefei TAIHE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd. and others are some of the prominent players profiled in MRFR Analysis and are at the forefront of competition in the Global India Colour Sorter Market.
India Color Sorter Market, By Type (Chute and Belt) By Application (Agricultural and Industrial), and Region - Forecast 2016-2022
Satake India Engineering, Buhler Group, Fowler Westrup, Tomra, Orange, Sea, Key Technology, Hefei Meiya Optoelectronic Technology Inc., Anhui Zhongke Optic-electronic Colour Sorter Machinery Co., Ltd., and Hefei TAIHE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd. and others are some of the prominent players profiled in MRFR Analysis and are at the forefront of competition in the Global India Colour Sorter Market.
India Colour Sorter Global Market – Overview
The Global India Colour Sorter Market is growing with the rapid pace. According to a recent study report published by the Market Research Future, The global market of India Colour Sorter will grow at a rapid pace over the forecast period. The market is forecasted to witness slow but steady growth by 2027, which will be a surplus growth at a moderate CAGR during the projected period (2016 -2027).
India Color Sorter Market was valued at USD 28.40 Billion in 2015 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.4% during the forecast period.
Get Sample of Report @ www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3569
Colour sorter machines work with Colour differences of granular materials and use high-resolution optical sensors to separate different granular materials. Many machines are designed in accordance with the most exacting standards of food hygiene and are used in the most difficult food sorting applications where food quality and safety are demanded. Availability of industry-leading technologies such as high-resolution, custom built Colour cameras, which determines product shape, size, and Colour and gives a new way for the players to grow in the market.
It is necessary to perform all operations such as cleaning, sorting and grading to ensure that foods have uniformly high quality for subsequent processing. Agricultural products such as grains, wheat, rice, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, coffee & nuts are sorted to ensure hygiene and safety. Moreover, increase in the productivity of the agricultural sector will result in boosting the growth of the Colour sorter market. These sorting machines play an important role in separating different Coloured, toxic and unripe products. Colour sorters are used for separating unwanted contamination and other materials from pure materials based on Colour and type. Additionally, measures for R&D and government initiatives in terms of policies drive the growth of the agriculture segment.
Colour sorter machines are used to separate disColoured, toxic and unripe products. The cost involved in such machineries, act as barrier for the market. Companies need potential skilled labor and simple, easily maintained sorters with technical backup, which they are unlikely to have every time. Moreover, many companies import Colour sorter machines, which increases the overall cost. Additionally, new Colour sorting technology for accurate, safe and efficient solution increases the overall cost of the Colour sorting machinery. Besides, the high expenses involved, once installed, Colour sorter machines, require continuous service and maintenance.
The machines such as electronic rice Colour sorter, tea Colour sorter and sorters for Industrial Granules use the most advanced technique of sorting, the technique of identifying impurities with the help of high resolution scan cameras. Many machines are designed in accordance with the most exacting standards of food hygiene, ensuring safety. Moreover the rising preference of healthy and safe products obtained with lower effort is acting as an opportunity for enhancing the market growth.
Key Strategies adopted by major manufacturers:
Extensive research in this market has brought to light that new product development and entering into strategic partnerships and collaboration are the key strategies adopted by the major players in the India Colour sorter market. This strategy has been adopted to cater to the technological requirements of the increasing client base as well as to increase the market share. In addition to this, the agreements and partnerships to expand presence across borders along with facility expansion is another strategy adopted extensively by the players to improve their manufacturing capabilities.
Satake (Japan) accounted for the largest share of almost 30% market share of the India Colour sorter market in 2016. The share is attributed to its R&D capabilities that has been developed in line with requirements from Indian Colour sorter market. The company recognizes its investment in research and development as the driving force behind the company's success in India. It focusses on a wide range of food grains grown in India, which makes the machines suitable for all kinds of crops across all the regions of the country. This has led to the increase in sale of Satake Colour sorter machines in India.
Buhler (Switzerland) accounted for market share nearly 27% of the India Colour sorter market in 2016. In the recent past, Buhler's growth markets have been witnessing a gradual shift. While U.S. and Europe have been traditionally strong markets accounting for over 50 per cent of sales (value), contribution from Middle East, Africa and Asia has been growing at a sharper pace. A volume of the same magnitude is generated in Asia.
China
and India remain high on its global growth plans. While the share of local
manufacturing in China increased, in India it has expanded its production
facilities and increased workforce in both these markets. The factors
responsible for the expanding share of Buhler in India is the growing market
provided by the Indian food processing equipment sector. The growing Indian
market for processed food items and associated equipment offers promising
prospects for global suppliers of food processing equipment.
Technology,
price, delivery and performance standards are critical factors that determine
whether food-processing equipment can be sold in the Indian market. Aftersales
service is also a key concern of Indian buyers. Buhler over the years has been
able to offer innovative, efficient, and cost effective sorter technology to
the India Colour sorter market.
Others include companies like Orange, Sea, Hefei Meiya Optoelectronic Technology Inc., Anhui Zhongke and Hefei TAIHE. These companies together hold 32.6% market share in India Colour sorter market. The supportive government policies to encourage rice milling in the country has led to the expanding Colour sorter market in India.
Enquiry Before Buying Report @ www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/3569
Target Audience
• Organizations
• Manufacturer
• Research Institute / Education Institute
• Potential Investors
India Colour Sorter Market – Segmentation
The Global HMI Market is segmented in to 4 key dynamics for the convenience of the report and enhanced understanding;
Segmentation By Type : Comprises Chute and Belt.
Segmentation By Application : Comprises Agriculture and Industrial
Segmentation By Regions : Comprises Geographical regions - North America, Europe, APAC and Rest of the World.
India Colour Sorter Market: Regional Analysis
The North region dominates the India color sorter market with 33.1% of share in 2016 in terms of value. The India color sorter market is expected to grow to a market size of USD 20.8 million by 2022. It is expected to grow at 2.05% CAGR during the forecast period. The region in particular has seen increased investment as part of various initiatives taken up by the government to encourage small and medium scale agro-based processing industries. The government operates various project policies to enable investment in the food and agro processing sector.
Access Full Report @ www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/india-color-sorter-m...
About Us:
At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.
MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for India, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.
In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.
Others include companies like Orange, Sea, Hefei Meiya Optoelectronic Technology Inc., Anhui Zhongke and Hefei TAIHE. These companies together hold 32.6% market share in India Colour sorter market. The supportive government policies to encourage rice milling in the country has led to the expanding Colour sorter market in India.
Enquiry Before Buying Report @ www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/3569
Target Audience
• Organizations
• Manufacturer
• Research Institute / Education Institute
• Potential Investors
India Colour Sorter Market – Segmentation
The Global HMI Market is segmented in to 4 key dynamics for the convenience of the report and enhanced understanding;
Segmentation By Type : Comprises Chute and Belt.
Segmentation By Application : Comprises Agriculture and Industrial
Segmentation By Regions : Comprises Geographical regions - North America, Europe, APAC and Rest of the World.
India Colour Sorter Market: Regional Analysis
The North region dominates the India color sorter market with 33.1% of share in 2016 in terms of value. The India color sorter market is expected to grow to a market size of USD 20.8 million by 2022. It is expected to grow at 2.05% CAGR during the forecast period. The region in particular has seen increased investment as part of various initiatives taken up by the government to encourage small and medium scale agro-based processing industries. The government operates various project policies to enable investment in the food and agro processing sector.
Access Full Report @ www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/india-color-sorter-m...
About Us:
At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.
MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for India, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.
In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.
