Rice stakeholders in turmoil
The Union of Small and Medium
Enterprises (UNISAME ) has invited the attention of the Ministry of
Commerce (MOC) to the adverse situation faced by the rice growers, processors,
exporters and merchants due to the lack of demand, high cost of production and
above all no support from the government. In India there are subsidies on farm
inputs and Pakistan is facing tough competition from India. This year India
beat us and Pakistan remained behind due to lower Indian prices and open policy
of allowing free hand to its exporters.President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said
the prices of superior varieties of rice fell by half and other varieties by
about 20% causing huge losses to the growers and this affected the processors
and exporters as well as foreign buyers fearing further fall did not build
their inventory.
He lamented that the MOC should have planned
for seeing the situation. Our main competitor India allowed it's shippers to
export blended varieties as basmati rice and our MOC hung on to protecting the
basmati label by letting Quality Review Committee continue its hindering
activity.
It is pertinent to note that the
buyers concept of basmati has changed and rice like 1121 and 386 have caught
on.1121 is more expensive than basmati ,
The question is the non comprehensive attitude of the MOC which failed to act
in good time and say good bye to QRC which is protecting a variety senselessly
and losing orders. The Rice exporters know their business and need to be left
alone to promote their own brands according to the demands of their buyers who
need skillfully blended rice. Unfortunately the SME exporters to Yemen also
landed in trouble as the banks in Yemen closed and the bills of the exporters
are stuck and the cargo was off loaded by the vessels in Djibouti.
Here again instead of coming to the help of the exporters and facilitating them to find remedies the banks are following the rules as per their manuals which have no provision for such situations and unfortunately lack the ability to think out of box and resolve the problems.UNISAME has appealed to the MOC to recommend to the ministry of finance to give relief to the rice growers, processors, exporters and merchants who have suffered losses and not to burden them with additional taxes and in fact wave taxes for them in the budget. This is very important as other wise it is apprehended that the farmers may switch over to other crops.
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UNISAME
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Scientists prove a plant point
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Our Special
Correspondent
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New Delhi, May 19: Government scientists have asserted that India has provided tens
of thousands of samples of key foodcrops to global gene repositories,
refuting allegations by sections of foreign researchers that India has been
reluctant to share its plant resources.The scientists with the Indian Council
of Agricultural Research (ICAR) have said India ranks first in the list of
contributors of plant germplasm in 11 gene banks maintained by the
Consultative Group (CG) of International Agricultural Centres held
"in-trust" for the global community.India has over the past three
decades submitted over 66,800 plant germplasm varieties - or 9.2 per cent -
to more than 720,600 accessions maintained by the network of CG repositories,
emerging at the top of its list of contributors, the ICAR scientists said in
a report that analysed the flow of plant varieties from India. Crop
scientists view such transfer of key plant material as critical for crop
breeding and improvement programmes aimed at food security.
"This analysis should dispel notions that India hasn't been
sharing its plant resources," said Rishi Kumar Tyagi, a principal
scientist at the ICAR's National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New
Delhi, who led the study of plant germ flow from India over the past four
decades.Plant gene repositories in the US, Russia, Taiwan, Germany and the UK
also have several thousands of accessions of Indian origin. At a gene bank
maintained by the US department of agriculture, over 22,000 among its total
of more than 625,000 accessions are of Indian origin.Crop researchers based
in Europe had two years ago raised concerns that access to Indian plant
germplasm was limited. Scientists from Norway had pointed out that the
world's largest global seed vault maintained by Norway in Svalbard had very few
samples from India.Tyagi and his colleagues have challenged that claim.
The Svalbard gene vault has over 824,000 germplasm accessions
from over 60 gene banks, among which over 66,000 accessions - or over 8 per
cent - deposited by 24 gene banks are of Indian origin, the ICAR scientists
said in their analysis just published in the journal PLOS One.Although India
has directly submitted only 25 samples to Svalbard, over 66,000 samples are
of Indian origin, having been deposited there by the CG crop research centres
or by other national gene banks. The International Rice Research Institute in
Manila, Philippines, has deposited its entire rice germplasm collection of
116,600 at Svalbard, among which over 16,220 accessions belonging to 18
species of rice have their origin in India, the ICAR scientists wrote in
their report.
The ICAR scientists have listed 16 crops, including rice, wheat,
maize, chickpea, eggplant, groundnut and pigeon pea, among others, that have
been deposited by India into gene repositories across the world. Among over
2,800,000 samples held by 446 organisations worldwide, 106,000 are from
India."India is also a big beneficiary of such germplasm exchange,"
said Kailash Bansal, head of the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, who
was not involved in the analysis. "One recent example is kiwifruit -
it's import of germplasm that brought kiwifruit to India," he said.Crop
scientists also point out that several varieties of foodcrops, including
vegetables, currently cultivated across the country owe their origin to
foreign germplasm.
The analysis has revealed that the flow of plant germplasm from
India has indeed slowed down over the past decade owing to national
biodiversity laws that India enacted in 2002. The national biodiversity
regulations lay down strict rules on the transfer of plant genetic material
from India.From the mid-1970s through the early 1990s, India used to supply
more than 4,000 germplasm samples each year. But over the past five years,
the number has been less than 1,000 per year."Over the past decade, the
number of requests India has received for germplasm has also declined,"
Tyagi said.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150520/jsp/nation/story_21087.jsp#.VVxZOvlViko
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Update on U.S. and world rice market scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Friday
Nathan Childs to provide latest analysis of rice
market outlook
Dr. Nathan Childs needs no introduction to rice farmers. He’s
been a featured speaker at the USA Rice Outlook Conference almost since its
inception in 1994 and has been providing detailed analysis of the rice markets
to the rice industry for more than 23 years.
Delta Farm Press
It’s been a struggle, but most of
the U.S. rice crop that was going to be planted in 2015 has gone in the ground.
Now farmers can turn their attention toward what they may be able to get for
their crop when harvest rolls around.To that end, Nathan Childs, senior
economist with USDA’s Economic Research Service, will provide an update on the
U.S. and world rice markets during a University of Arkansas’ Food and
Agribusiness Webinar Series event at 1:30 p.m. Friday (May 22).Dr. Childs needs
no introduction to rice farmers.
He’s been a featured speaker at the USA Rice Outlook Conference
almost since its inception in 1994 and has been providing detailed analysis of
the rice markets to the rice industry for more than 23 years.The Webinar,
“2015-16 U.S. and Global Rice Outlook with Nathan Childs, Agricultural
Economist, USDA Economic Research Service,” will be hosted by Dr. Bobby Coats,
professor, University of Arkansas. Joining him will be Tony Franco and Anita
Wilson of USDA’s Farm Service Agency; Brandy Carroll, Arkansas Farm Bureau; and
Forrest Laws, Farm Press.Dr. Childs has been analyzing the domestic and
international rice markets for USDA's Economic Research Service since
1996.Prior to that appointment, he was associate editor and economic editor for
ERS’ monthlyAgricultural Outlook magazine for more than five years. He has also worked as a food
grain economist with ERS.
He has published reports on global trade liberalization, U.S.
farm policy, domestic rice consumption, the U.S. rice export market, Southeast
Asia’s rice surplus, the structure of the U.S. rice market, and the 2008 global
rice price surge. Dr. Childs participates in all rice-related monthly
interagency meetings and writes the monthly Rice Outlook Report. He also updates the Rice Yearbook Tables and develops domestic and
international rice forecasts for USDA’s 10-year Baseline project. Over the
years, he has been involved three Emerging Market Projects—Taiwan (1992, 1993),
China (1997), and Vietnam (2007); and he’s traveled to Haiti several times to
assist the Haitian Government in increasing rice capacity.
http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/update-us-and-world-rice-market-scheduled-130-pm-friday
2 keys to weed control success in 2015
Photo
© Delta Farm Press
I believe the success or failure
of this year’s weed control programs will be determined by (1) how you
coordinate residual herbicides with rainfall events and (2) how you time
postemergence herbicide applications.Early May ushered in a week or so of dry weather,
which was great. In a lot of areas — especially in north Arkansas — the entire
rice crop and a lot of other crops were planted in this window. This is a good
thing, because we can’t make a crop until we get a crop planted.
On the other hand we had residual herbicides out a week with no
activation along with warm temperatures ideal for weed emergence. This means a
flush of weeds will come through a lot of the residual applications, and the
timing of the first postemergence treatment is going to be critical. In fields
that fit this example, success or failure will likely be determined right there
— especially for pigweed control in Roundup Ready or conventional soybeans.As I
write this, we have an excellent forecast of rain following the seven- to 10-day
dry period. I am begging everyone who will listen to get a residual herbicide
out ahead of the rain — regardless of the crop. Some are saying, “I’m clean and
already have one or more residual out.” Great, put another one out.Every year
we are having more difficulty controlling weeds postemergence.
Every year we are having more difficulty getting postemergence
herbicides applied because of the increasing diversity in our crop mix. I
believe this year will be even worse. All crops are being planted at the same
time in north Arkansas. There is also a big increase in grain sorghum acres,
and grain sorghum is a crop that you must be careful about with any herbicide
application.The acreages of Clearfield and conventional rice seem to be about
equal again this year. There is also a big increase in interest in conventional
soybeans. All of these factors will result in a lot of postemergence treatments
being “on the books” for long periods.The best way to avoid being hung out on
getting a post herbicide applied is to keep residual herbicides working.It is
strange to hear folks talking about needing to flush rice when we were too wet
for six weeks trying to get the crop in. However, that is classic Arkansas
weather. Once we get to May, we are seldom more than a week away from a
drought.
If rice has to be flushed, use the flush to activate another
residual herbicide. Hopefully this rainfall forecast will not be our last for
the summer. As the good forecasts pop up, take advantage of them.If we miss
this rainfall event being predicted now, a lot of folks are going to find out
that pigweed control the past couple of years has been way too easy! In the
days before Roundup Ready, we were always in the situation if we missed one
rain and missed the timing of the first postemergence herbicide a couple of
days, the result was a grown-up mess.We are in better shape for residual herbicides
now than we were then.
However, it still takes moisture to make them work. The past two
years have provided fantastic conditions for making them work, and I hope our
streak continues. By now you will know whether it has or has not.My philosophy
is always assume the residual is going to fail to some extent and have the
sprayer ready. In Roundup Ready or conventional soybeans, spray as soon as the
ground turns red with emerging pigweeds.In LibertyLink soybeans you have some
more leeway, but the first application of Liberty still needs to go out seven
to 10 days after emergence. I am getting quite a few calls on LibertyLink
soybeans, and in general the weed control answers come much easier in this
technology.
http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/2-keys-weed-control-success-2015
APEDA India News
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DOLLAR, EURO
DEPRECIATION AGAINST PKR CONTRIBUTES TO EXPORT DECLINE
Mian Arshad
Tuesday, May 19,
2015 -
Islamabad—Decreased international prices of commodities, increased cost of production,depreciation of dollar and Euro against Pak rupee (PKR) and
lack of research and development are the dominant factors for the decline of exports in first nine months of the current fiscal year.
Resultantly, the import bill during July-March 2014-15 soared up to $ 34
billion and trade deficit during said period was S 16.1 billion. There has been
a rise of 21% in Pakistan’s exports to the European Union in 2014,
which translates into an additional export of $ 1.3 billion. According to a written reply submitted
before the Lower House of the Parliament by the Ministry of Commerce (MoC),
there has been a global trend of decrease in prices
of cotton and rice.
These commodities have seminal importance in Pakistan’s
exports and the decrease in prices has adversely affected Pakistan’s exports.
The average unit price (AUP) of non-basmati rice, which constitutes 70% of
Pakistan’s rice exports by value, declined by 2%; similarly, the AUP of cotton
and yarn have declined by 78% and 10% respectively. While the prices of agricultural commodities have declined, the cost of production in Pakistan has increased due to
increased energy and other input costs. Pakistan’s ranking in Global
Competitiveness Index decreased from 128th in 2013-14 to 129th in 2014-15.
Moreover, the appreciation of Pak Rupee during the period Jul-Jan of the
current financial year as compared to the corresponding period of previous
year, made Pakistan’s exports less competitive.
The average exchange rate of USD
vis-Ã -vis PKR, during the period July 2014 to January 2015 remained 100.183 as
compared to 104.076 during the corresponding period of the previous year.
Consequently, the 3.73% decrease in exports in dollar terms during the first 7
months translates into 7.3% decline in rupee terms. The impact of PKR
appreciation was compounded by 6% depreciation of Euro vis-Ã -vis international
currencies during the period July 2014 to January 2015 compared with the
corresponding period of the previous year. It further affected competitiveness
of Pakistan’s exports in the Euro zone thus offsetting a part of advantage of
GSP Plus. Similarly, research and development has traditionally been
a low priority both in the public and private sectors.
For instance, there is near absence
of development of new high yielding varieties of cotton and rice. India has
developed many basmati and basmati-look-alike (non-basmati) varieties during
the last few years whereas Pakistan has failed to develop any basmati variety
during the last 30 years. Consequently, the traditional markets of basmati rice
are being gradually grabbed by India with high yielding basmati varieties.
Though lack of R&D is a long term issue, its adverse impact is becoming
increasingly pronounced. However,
the MoC observed that under the multi-lateral trading arrangement of World Trade Organization (WTO), importsubstitution policies erodes the competitiveness; therefore, Pakistan does
not follow any import substitution policy since last two decades.
Pakistan trade policies are geared toward export enhancement and creating a
decent trade balance.
http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=264225
Wet, cool start results in issues for 2015 Arkansas rice
An early-season rice report
A stop-and-go start to the growing season has impacted all Delta
crops. So, how is rice doing?
The week of May 11, the USDA has Arkansas at 86 percent
planted.“That should put us at just over 1.25 million planted rice acres right
now working off of the March prospective plantings says Jarrod Hardke, Arkansas
Extension rice agronomist.
“I think that assessment is
pretty accurate.”At the moment, the state is largely at a standstill following
rains from May 8 through 10. “That’s kept us from actively planting much this
week. But that slowdown comes after our planted percentage jumped from 37
percent to, two weeks later, 86 percent. We put in half the crop in 14 days and
that’s impressive.
”There have been a lot of early-season issues with the rice
crop, says Hardke. “A lot of them have to do with general stand establishment
problems. Seedling disease is part of that, but so is the recent wet weather
and cool temperatures. There was also a very rapid dry down – it suddenly
turned warm and windy – and we lost moisture in the top layer.“This season is
turning out kind of erratic. After the most recent rains, it turns out there
was still viable seed planted. It just hadn’t come up yet. So, we’re seeing a
number of fields with three- and four-leaf rice with new rice emerging right
beside it."Of course, that will make things interesting going forward in
terms of in-season management. Certainly, the rice that’s furthest along is
what you have to make your primary management decisions on – that’s your main
crop.
"That late-emerging rice can actually act as sort of a weed
in some cases, a drag on the main crop. Hopefully, it will catch up and produce
some grain at the end.”Those that were fortunate to get their rice planted in
early April “are leaning toward the back end of when we prefer to put out our
nitrogen fertilizer and go to flood. It just isn’t dry enough to go now and the
10-day forecast doesn’t look good. That’ll force us to again make the best of a
bad situation.”It’s better to put nitrogen on slightly wet ground as opposed to
being really late, says Hardke. “I know some producers are flying nitrogen on
today and moving forward although they’d like the ground to be drier in order
to get better incorporation.“It’s not efficient to put nitrogen into water or
mud. We don’t like asking people to do that. But for those enrolled in the DD50 program, once you are at, or moving past, the final recommended time to
apply nitrogen pre-flood, you have to get it out somehow. The plant simply has
to have the nitrogen and if you don’t provide it, the crop can face serious
harm and a lack of recovery time. Time is the enemy.”
http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/wet-cool-start-results-issues-2015-arkansas-rice
Cheaper oil
soothes sting of rising rice prices
Kang
Mi Jin | 2015-05-19 16:29
With
farming season in full swing in the border areas of North Korea, rice prices in
the marketplace have seen a small rise, but oil prices have dipped, providing a
little relief in people’s livelihoods. The recent tightening of regulations on
borders has made illegal imports more difficult, driving up rice prices, while
the steady supply of imported oil from Russia has contributed to the decline in
the cost of it, Daily NK has learned. “The ongoing crackdown on the
borders has driven up the price of rice and other grains, but the price of
diesel oil and gasoline has dropped,” a source from Yangkang Province said.
“Along with warming ties between North Korea and Russia, we saw rice coming
into the country at the end of last year, but recently, we’re seeing gasoline
and diesel.”
“It
cost roughly 4,000 KPW [0.49 USD] for 1kg of rice until the end of last month,
but that price has spiked by 1,000 KPW [0.12 USD], so you now have to pay 5,000
KPW [0.62 USD] at the Hyesan Market,” he added. “The supply of rice to markets
near the borders has been unsteady because of the strengthened crackdown on
smugglers, causing an increase in prices.” He cited gasoline and other oil
imports from Russia as cause for the noticeable decline in oil prices, noting
that people are relieved that the cost of fuel did not rise along with that of
rice as predicted. As of last month, gasoline traded for 11,000 KPW [1.36
USD] per kilogram, while diesel fetched 9,000 KPW [1.11 USD], but prices now stand
at 8,450 KPW [1.04 USD] and 5,200 KPW [0.64 USD], respectively, according to
the source. The rise in rice prices had become a source of concern, but the
cheaper oil has provided much relief to many including wholesale vendors and
truck operators, explained the source.
“Before
the price of rice begun to crawl up in mid-April, the cost was relatively
stable, making things much more manageable for people,” the source said.
However, the recent tightening of surveillance on the borders has not surprised
many, with people complaining about the routine crackdowns that pose challenges
to their everyday lives.“Many of the smugglers have gone under these days or
have been caught. The result has been an increase in the price of rice,” the
source said, going on to point out how the recent hike highlighted the
pronounced influence smuggled rice has on market prices.
“People
have been showing mixed feelings about the officials who are pushing ahead with
the crackdowns. Some say these officials are only interested in safeguarding
their own interests while taking advantage of the citizens. While others say
they have no choice since they have to fulfill mandates from authorities above
them, even if they are fully aware that people cannot survive without the jangmadang (market),” the source added.In regard
to the crackdown on borders, a source in Dandong said, “The recent clampdown
was implemented by North Korean authorities in order to prevent information
from outside the country trickling in and that from within getting out,” adding
that traders selling rice to North Korean smugglers have “taken a pounding” as
a result of the crackdown.
Queensland rice growers join national association with hopes to
build export market
Posted
After seven years of trials, rice growers in North Queensland
could soon develop a strong export market.
About 13 cane farmers, mostly from the Burdekin, are growing
rice as a rotational crop, and now have their own interim branch of the
Ricegrowers' Association of Australia.The branch hopes to fuel expansions, to
help fill international demand, but rice is also giving growers another option
as the sugar marketing battle continues to rage.
Media player: "Space"
to play, "M" to mute, "left" and "right" to seek.
00:00
00:00
This year, cane farmers in the Burdekin region are expected to
produce about 2,500 tonnes of rice, which is fed into their own local rice
mill.Most of the rice in Australia is sold to Ricegrowers Limited and marketed
under SunRice, and the majority is exported to 60 countries.Dean Logan,
executive director of the Ricegrowers' Association of Australia, said
Queensland could soon play a major role."We know that SunRice's export potential
is in and around 1.1 million tonnes a year, and in the Riverina at the moment,
we're projected to grow 720,000 metric tonnes this year," he said.
"So SunRice needs to find that 300,000 or 400,000 tonnes of
rice grown in Australia, and their commitment is to find that rice in Australia
as Australian-grown rice, so Queensland holds huge potential."He said the
new interim branch, which is expected to become fully-fledged in six months,
was already attracting interest from potential members, and helping allay concerns
that rice was a threat to the cane industry."Cane has been a part of the
community for decades, and so whenever you do bring in a crop that the scale
that could potentially be achieved... there's always going to be some level of
scepticism," Mr Logan said.The rice in Queensland is cultivated through
aerobic growing, meaning it is grown on well-drained beds, and does not rely on
flood irrigation.But any extra irrigation costs spell big bills for farmers.Mr
Logan said bringing Queensland into the national association would help farmers
access water efficiency methods.
"The Ricegrowers' Association has delivered between $50
million and $60 million worth of on-farm irrigation efficiency programs. Rice
farmers in the Riverina are using 50 per cent less water than any other rice
farmers in the world," he said."It's just a matter of now of
transferring some of those skills and that intellectual capital and that
research to Queensland."Burdekin cane grower Philip Marano is planning to
plant 14 hectares of rice late next month for the first time, and expects to
sign a contract with SunRice is the next couple of weeks.
He said irrigation costs were making the cane industry unviable,
but said the figures "still make sense" to water and grow rice as a
secondary income."I think the fact that you can earn extra income from
what is usually fallow ground, that for six months of the year is
non-productive... just gives you that extra income on top of your cane,"
he said.Mr Marano said there were about six local growers who had produced rice
commercially, and they appeared to be doing well."It seems to be easy to
grow; it will be a learning experience for me," he said.Mr Marano disputed
the idea that rice was a threat to cane, but said, however, it could be a
fallback crop if issues with sugar marketing were not resolved."We are
going through a pretty bitter dispute with Wilmar about marketing, and it
(rice) certainly does give growers another option if our negotiations with
Wilmar don't pan out they way we would hope," he said.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-19/queensland-rice-growth/6480682
Local palay output seen declining
Local production of palay might decrease by 1.3 percent
year-on-year in the first semester as hot weather is driving a contraction in
harvest area, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.PSA data show
that as of the first quarter, the Philippines produced 4.27 million tons of
paddy rice, an increase of 1.4 percent.But in the first three months of 2015,
the harvest area decreased by almost 1 percent to 1.15 million hectares
although yield increased by 2.3 percent to 3.8 tons per hectare.“Significant
increments in [first-quarter] production were noted in Mimaropa, Cagayan
Valley, Central Luzon and Ilocos Region,” the PSA reported.This was attributed
mainly to the availability of seeds, both from the government and from
commercial suppliers, as well as the sufficiency of water supply in those
regions.For the six months to June, the PSA said the volume is expected at 8.27
million tons.During the first half, the harvest area is expected to contract by
1.5 percent to 2.07 million hectares, while the yield is seen inching up by 0.2
percent to 4 tons per hectare.For the second quarter alone, the PSA forecasts a
4.2-percent drop in output, which is expected at 3.9 million tons.
From April to June, harvest areas may shrink by 2.3 percent to
939,000 hectares while yield may decrease by 2 percent to 4.25 tons per
hectare.“In Soccsksargen, some palay areas at vegetative stages were damaged by
the dry spell felt throughout the region,” the PSA said, “There were delayed
planting activities in South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat due to temporary
closure of some NIA (National Irrigation Administration) irrigation
facilities.”Also, the PSA expects cutbacks in the harvest area in Mimaropa,
Central Luzon and Bicol due to insufficient water supply and intense heat in
most of the provinces.Further, a contraction in harvest area in Western Visayas
is anticipated due to insufficient water supply and shifting to other crops
such as mongo and watermelon.“In Northern Mindanao, the ongoing rehabilitation
of irrigation canals and dry spell may reduce plantings in irrigated and
rain-fed areas, respectively,” the PSA said.“Yield of standing crops in Caraga
may be affected by insufficient soil moisture and incidence of black bugs and
leaf blight,” the agency added.
Mekong faces drought, salinity
VietNamNet Bridge – The ongoing drought has seriously affected
farms and households in the Mekong Delta, causing water shortages for thousands
of families in the provinces of Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Ben Tre and Tien Giang.
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Farmland in Ca Mau Province is
drying up and cracking due to the long-lasting drought that has seriously
affected farms and households in the Mekong Delta, causing water shortages
for thousands of families.
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About 400,000 ha of land under
agricultural production in the provinces have been affected by the prolonged
drought and salt water infiltration, according to figures from the Sai Gon Giai
Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) newspaper.The salinity in the early dry season at
estuaries in the Mekong Delta was one to 10g per litre (0.1 to 1 per cent)
higher than the same period last year.In Ben Tre Province, water with 0.4 per
cent salinity has infiltrated 50 km deep inland, raising salinity levels to 0.2
per cent in canals in fields along estuaries and the coast.The acute drought
has damaged thousands of hectares of rice fields and other crops in the
province.If the saltwater enters Ba Lai River, which serves as a reservoir for
freshwater for thousands of families, it could seriously affect residents of
Ben Tre City and Chau Thanh District in the province.
As a precautionary measure, authorities in the province have
closed 64 culverts and reinforced embankments along rivers.They are also
monitoring the salinity of water in the river and irrigated rice
fields.Saltwater has also entered the provinces of Soc Trang and Hau Giang,
raising salinity levels in rivers.To protect rice fields, the Division of
Agriculture and Rural Development of Long Phu District in Soc Trang Province
has closed all culverts along rivers and canals in the district.The district
authority has urged farmers to speed up harvests to avoid further losses as the
drought will peak at the end of this month.More than 5,000 ha of the 13,000 ha
of the spring-summer rice crop in Long Phu District have already been harvested.
However, 30,000 ha of rice fields in Hau Giang Province could be affected by
the drought and saltwater intrusion.
Nguyen Van Dong, director of Hau Giang's Agricultural and Rural
Development, said farmers had sowed 40,000 ha of the 75,000 ha under the summer-autumn
crop.Dong said authorities of commune and district levels have been urged to
take measures to combat drought and saltwater intrusion.The director of Tra
Vinh Province's Department of Agricultural and Rural Development, Tran Trung
Hien, said the drought and salinity intrusion could affect nearly 9,200ha of
summer-autumn rice crop, causing a 20-30 per cent loss.The provincial
authorities of Vinh Long have asked authorities at the district level to
identify the areas damaged by the drought and salinity and map out plans to
respond to the crisis.
They were also asked to focus on supply of clean water for daily
activities of residents in the districts of Tra On and Vung Liem.Le Van Hai,
the head of forest management in Ca Mau Province, said recent rain showers at
cajeput forests were insufficient to increase moisture in the soil. Instead,
the rains make alum, which is needed in cajeput forests, to leak from the soil,
further raising the risk of fire.He said nearly 38,500 ha of forests in Ca Mau
Province had been affected by drought and were at risk of fire.
VNS
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/environment/130896/mekong-faces-drought--salinity.html
SunRice’s Tully Rice Field Day hailed a success
distributed by noodls on 19/05/2015 01:16
SunRice's Tully Rice Field Day was held on Friday 8th May and
was a resounding success. More than 85 people were in attendance at the Tully
Country Club to take in a day of presentations followed by a field visit to a
rice farm and a research and development trial site.The Tully Rice Field Day
provided a unique opportunity for local growers, suppliers and people from the
agribusiness industry to learn about SunRice's plans for growth in North
Queensland and how to add rice into their farming system as a complementary
crop.
Attendees heard from SunRice's General Manager, Grower Services,
Mike Hedditch about the company's plans for the development of a sustainable
rice industry in Queensland. Mr Hedditch's presentation was very well received
and included an introduction to SunRice, its capabilities and operations
infrastructure, its innovative marketing, its range of products, and why the
company has chosen to invest in Blue Ribbon and in North Queensland. SunRice's
Brandon Mill Manager Steve Rogers also presented on aerobic rice production,
including rain-fed systems, as well as fitting rice rotations into the farming
system.As well the presentations from SunRice, attendees heard from Rice
Research Australia's Antony Vagg, who gave an interesting overview of the
latest in rice research and development and alternative methods for stubble
management. Antony was also able to shed light on grower questions about
suitable rice varieties for Queensland conditions and spoke about variety
development underway for Northern Australia.Following the formal presentations,
50 attendees visited a local rice farm and a trial site to see first-hand some
of the rice varieties being tested and developed and the farming systems in
place.
http://www.noodls.com/view/C12B38A90C713B4164A761A87BE630202CB92B61?2225xxx1432004111#sthash.6IPbG27W.dpuf
Thai govt to sell 2 million tons of rice in two
months
BANGKOK, 19 May 2015 (NNT) – The
government is preparing to release another 2 million tons of rice within the
next two months, in order to minimize effects on the new rice crop due this
month.Chutima Bunyapraphasara, the permanent secretary of the Ministry
of Commerce, disclosed after Monday’s meeting of the rice management and policy
committee that the meeting had discussed the release of 16 million tons of rice
in the government’s stockpile. Of the figure, 5 million tons are high-quality
rice. Two million tons have already been sold, and another two million will be
sold within two months.Meanwhile, more than 10 million tons of rice in the
stockpile are of low quality.
The Ministry of Commerce will have
surveyor companies inspect this portion of rice to determine whether the rice
can be used as human or animal food. If not, this portion of rice will be sold
to ethanol or alcohol factories.The Ministry of Commerce expects to fetch about
200 billion baht from the sale of all 16 million tons of rice in stock, which
was acquired at a cost of about 600 billion baht during the past government.
The
government has been able to sell 3.4 million tons of rice since the start of
the year. The commerce ministry expects to sell the rice at between 8,200-8,500
baht per ton
http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/thai-govt-to-sell-2-million-tons-of-rice-in-two-months/87083/
Saudi rice imports from India rise 58% to SR4.5bn in 2014
The value of Saudi rice imports to the Kingdom from India grew
by 58 percent, reaching $1.19 billion (SR4.46 billion) by the end of 2014,
compared to $752.67 million (SR2.82 billion) in 2013, according to Indian
Consul General Bawa Syed Mubarak.Speaking to local media, the Indian diplomat
said that Saudi rice imports from India dropped by 1 percent in 2013, due to
the emergence of certain obstacles but jumped to record levels in the following
year (2014).“At the global level, Indian rice exports fetched $7.78 billion
(SR29.17 billion) in 2014, comprising a growth rate of more than 25 percent in
one year, of which the Saudi share exceeded 15.35 percent,” Mubarak said.
The diplomat stressed that the Saudi market is considered a key
importer of Indian rice worldwide. He noted that rice represented nearly 10
percent of the overall Indian exports to the Kingdom.The volume of trade
exchange between the two countries reached more than $48.62 billion, where
Indian exports to the Kingdom amounted to $12.21 billion by the end of 2014 in
total, an increase of 12 percent, whereas Saudi exports to India reached $36.40
billion, an increase of 8 percent relative to previous years.
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/saudi-rice-imports-from-india-rise-58-to-sr4-5bn-in-2014/
Govt to release 2m tonnes of rice
The
Nation May 18, 2015 4:48 pm
The Commerce Ministry plans to auction 2 million tonnes of rice
from the 16-million tonne stockpiles within the next two months.Commerce
Permanent Secretary Chutima Bunyapraphasara said that the release was approved
today by the National Rice Policy Committee, which is chaired by Prime Minister
Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha. She is convinced that the auction would not further
pressure rice prices, as the second crop will be in the market this month.
Paddy rice price is expected to remain at Bt8,200-Bt8,500 a tonne.She is
confident that Thailand’s rice exports this year would reach the 10
million-tonne target, following the 3.4 million-tonne shipments in the first
five months. She said that over 10 million tonnes in the stockpiles have
degraded. Surveyors will be invited to a discussion soon, to find ways that
will minimise the government’s losses.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Govt-to-release-2m-tonnes-of-rice-30260374.html
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- May 18
Nagpur, May 18 Gram and tuar prices
reported higher in Nagpur Agriculture Produce
and Marketing Committee (APMC) here
on good seasonal buying support from local millers amid weak
supply from producing regions.
Healthy hike on NCDEX in gram prices, fresh rise in Madhya
Pradesh pulses and repeated
enquiries from South-based millers also boosted prices, according to
sources.
* * * *
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Gram varieties showed weak tendency in open market here on lack of
demand from local
traders amid good supply from producing regions.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties declined in open market here in absence of buyers amid
ample stock in
ready position. Reports about good overseas arrival also affected
prices.
* Masoor and moong varieties reported strong in open market on increased
marriage
season demand from local traders amid thin supply from producing belts.
* In Akola, Tuar - 7,200-7,500, Tuar dal - 9,900-10,300, Udid at
9,100-9,600,
Udid Mogar (clean) - 10,700-11,100, Moong - 9,000-9,200, Moong Mogar
(clean) 10,700-11,100, Gram - 4,100-4,400, Gram Super best bold -
6,000-6,200
for 100 kg.
* Wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market
in poor trading activity, according to sources.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market
prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS
Available prices Previous
close
Gram Auction
3,500-4,490 3,500-4,410
Gram Pink Auction
n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction
5,700-7,400 5,630-7,320
Moong Auction
n.a. 6,000-6,300
Udid Auction
n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction
n.a. 2,600-2,800
Gram Super Best Bold
6,300-6,500 6,500-6,700
Gram Super Best
n.a.
Gram Medium Best
6,000-6,200 6,300-6,400
Gram Dal Medium
n.a. n.a.
Gram Mill Quality
5,300-5,500 5,500-5,700
Desi gram Raw
4,500-4,650 4,600-4,750
Gram Filter new
6,000-6,100 6,100-6,200
Gram Kabuli
5,000-6,800 5,000-6,800
Gram Pink
6,300-6,500 6,300-6,500
Tuar Fataka Best
10,500-10,800 10,600-10,900
Tuar Fataka Medium
10,000-10,300 10,100-10,400
Tuar Dal Best Phod
9,500-9,800 9,500-9,900
Tuar Dal Medium phod
9,000-9,350 9,000-9,400
Tuar Gavarani New
7,700-7,800 7,800-7,900
Tuar Karnataka
7,900-8,000 8,000-8,100
Tuar Black
10,700-11,000
10,700-11,000
Masoor dal best
8,100-8,300 7,900-8,100
Masoor dal medium
7,500-7,800 7,200-7,500
Masoor
n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold
11,000-11,500 11,000-11,400
Moong Mogar Medium best
10,200-10,600 10,200-10,500
Moong dal Chilka
9,200-9,750 9,200-9,700
Moong Mill quality
n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best
9,600-9,900 9,500-9,800
Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG)
11,200-11,600 11,200-11,600
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 9,900-10,600 9,900-10,600
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)
8,500-8,900 8,500-8,900
Batri dal (100 INR/KG)
4,400-4,600 4,400-4,600
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)
3,200-3,350 3,200-3,350
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)
3,200-3,450 3,200-3,450
Watana White (100 INR/KG)
2,450-2,625 2,450-2,625
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)
3,700-4,800 3,600-4,800
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)
1,500-1,800 1,500-1,800
Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG)
1,950-2,050 1,950-2,050
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)
1,500-1,700 1,500-1,700
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)
2,250-2,550 2,250-2,550
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,350 2,100-2,350
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)
n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)
3,200-3,750 3,200-3,750
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)
2,700-3,000 2,700-3,000
Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG)
1,400-1,500 1,400-1,500
Wheat Best (100 INR/KG)
2,000-2,200
2,000-2,200
Rice BPT New(100 INR/KG)
2,500-2,800 2,500-2,800
Rice BPT (100 INR/KG)
3,000-3,300 3,000-3,300
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG)
1,600-1,800 1,600-1,800
Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG)
2,100-2,400 2,100-2,400
Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG)
2,500-2,700 2,500-2,700
Rice HMT new(100 INR/KG)
3,300-3,700 3,300-3,700
Rice HMT (100 INR/KG)
4,000-4,400 4,000-4,400
Rice HMT Shriram New(100 INR/KG)
4,200-4,500 4,200-4,500
Rice HMT Shriram old (100 INR/KG)
4,600-5,200
4,600-5,200
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)
8,000-10,000 8,000-10,000
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)
6,000-7,500 6,000-7,500
Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG)
4,600-5,200 4,600-5,200
Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG)
5,600-6,000 5,600-6,000
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)
2,200-2,300 2,100-2,200
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)
2,400-2,550 2,300-2,450
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 42.1 degree Celsius
(107.8 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
26.2 degree Celsius (79.2 degree
Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest -
n.a.
Rainfall : nil
FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum
and minimum temperature would be around and 43 and 27 degree Celsius
respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are
excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)
USA Rice Cooks Up Contacts at Restaurant Convention
Katie
Maher talks with a specialty food manufacturer.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS -- USA Rice staff were among the more than 65,000
foodservice professionals at the National Restaurant Association 2015 Show here
this year. More than 2,000 exhibitors showed off all manner of foods, drinks,
equipment, and gadgets for the restaurant industry. USA Rice members Riceland
and Riviana exhibited, performed cooking demonstrations, and handed out samples
to the crowds. In addition to these members, USA Rice staff visited with
representatives of several major rice customers and potential customers
including Sysco, Taco Bell, Kellogg's, and several rice flour end users. Staff
also attended learning sessions on topics including food trends, consumer
perceptions of authentic cuisines, and using social media effectively to
communicate with "foodies."
With
the touch of a button
One of the technical highlights of the show were automated sushi
machines that produced and packaged individual pieces of sushi. When asked if
the machine was using California rice the exhibitor replied, "of course we
are." "As we look to expand our foodservice programs, attending this show
was invaluable," said Katie Maher, manager of domestic promotion for USA
Rice who attended the conference. "We were able to get a good handle on
the foodservice universe, to see what's possible, what we should pursue, and
what we can skip given the resources available to us." Maher said the
gluten free section of the trade show continues to expand, with most of the
exhibitors using some sort of rice flour. Many had food safety questions and
were happy to make connections with USA Rice to serve as a resource for good, scientific
information.
Contact: Michael Klein (703) 236-1458
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures
|
Tanzania’s rice export
potential underutilised
Published on Tuesday, 19 May 2015 01:15
Written by STAFF WRITER
TANZANIA’S great potential to feed the entire East African
region with rice is largely underutilized, says the Secretary General of the
East African Community, Dr Richard Sezibera.Speaking in Dar es Salaam last
week, Dr Sezibera said Tanzania’s rice was the most sought product in the
region but their imports were being blocked in Kenya and Uganda due to doubts
on genuineness as there were cases of some dishonest traders mixing it with low
quality imports from Pakistan.“Tanzania’s rice is the most sought product in
the region but when people find it is mixed with Pakistan rice they cause
uproar,” he said at a consultative meeting with the business community members
organised by Tanzania Private Sector Foundation.
He said the traders themselves were to blame for the problem
they were facing in accessing the huge market in Kenya and Uganda as some had
betrayed the trust they enjoyed due to cheating.This is a self imposing... self
created problem,” he said noting however that he would take up the matter for
addressing it with relevant authorities.Dr Sezibera said however despite the
problem, the business community had not yet utilized the potential to supply
the region with rice.“This is one product that Tanzania should be dominant in
the region,” he said at a consultative meeting with the business community
members in Dar es Salaam last week.He said the private sector in Tanzania
should make optimal use of the potential by increasing productivity as there
was no area in the region that could produce rice to match that produced in
Tanzania in terms of quality.
There is no one product that have demand in the region as rice
from Tanzania,” he said.Rice is the second most important food and commercial
crop in Tanzania after maize. It is among the major sources of employment,
income and food security for Tanzania it is among the major sources of
employment, income and food security for Tanzania farming households.Tanzania
at the moment, tops the entire East African Region in rice production. It
produces over one million tonnes of rice per annum and is second only to
Madagascar which leads with an astounding 4.3 tonnes of yearly rice production,
according to available statistics.
However, rice production mainly done by small and medium size
rice farmers, is characterised with low productivity with the average yield per
hectare from 2003- 2012 at 1.8 tonnes per hectare, according to information by
Private Agricultural Sector Support Trust.The potential rice area is estimated
at 2-3 million hectares, but at present only 720,000 Ha is under
production.Rice is mostly grown in Mwanza, Shinyanga (Bariadi & Maswa),
Morogoro (Kilombero, Wami - Dakawa), Tabora (Igunga), Kilimajaro (lower Moshi),
Coast (Rufiji, Lindi), Mbeya (Mbarali, Kyela, Kapunga) and Rukwa Regions.However
there have been a number of large scale mechanized rice schemes in the country
which are mainly for export. About 25 per cent of the national rice production
comes from Mbeya and Morogoro regions
http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/biz/45017-tanzania-s-rice-export-potential-underutilised
Exports to EU up 21 percent in 2014:
Dastgir
May 19, 2015
RECORDER
REPORT
Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir
on Monday said that imports stood at $34 billion during July-March 2014-15 and
there has been a 21 percent rise in exports to the European Union in 2014,
which translates into an additional export of $1.3 billion, the minister told
the National Assembly in a written reply. The minister said that average mill
consumption of last five years (2010-14) is 14.27 million bales of 170-kg
(2426000 MT) while average imports of cotton during 2010-14 are 1.77 million
bales of 170-kg (302000 MT). He said average exports during 2010-14 were
recorded at 0.903 million bales, 154000 MT of cotton. However, the minister said there are
many reasons behind the decline in exports during the said period.
He said there has been a global
trend of decrease in prices of cotton and rice. These commodities have seminal
importance in Pakistan's exports and decrease in prices has adversely affected
Pakistan's exports, he added. He said that the average unit price (AUP) of
non-basmati rice, which constitutes 70 percent of Pakistan's rice exports by
value, declined by 2 percent; similarly, the AUP of cotton and yarn has
declined by 78 percent and 10 percent, respectively. The minister said the price of
agricultural commodities declined and the cost of production in Pakistan
increased due to rise in energy and other input costs. Pakistan's ranking in
Global Competitiveness Index decreased from 128th in 2013-14 to 129th in
2014-15. Khurram Dastgir said the
appreciation of Pak Rupee during the period July-January of the current
financial year as compared to the corresponding period of previous year has
made Pakistan's exports less competitive.
The average exchange rate of USD vs
PKR, during the period July 2014 to January 2015 remained 100.183 as compared
to 104.076 during the corresponding period of the previous year. He said the reason behind decline of
export is also lack of research and development. India has developed many
basmati and basmati-look-alike (non-basmati) varieties during last few years
whereas Pakistan has failed to develop any basmati variety during last 30
years. Consequently, the traditional markets of basmati rice are being
gradually grabbed by India with high-yielding basmati varieties, he said.
The House was also informed that an
amount of Rs 80 billion will be incurred for the rehabilitation of the
Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs) over a period of three years. Answering a
question, Parliamentary Secretary for Cabinet Secretariat Raja Javed Ikhlas
said that Rs 20 billion have so far been released in this regard and the
remaining amount will be released accordingly. He said that 191,183 TDPs have been
repatriated to FATA so far. He said the work is also under way for the
reconstruction of the destroyed infrastructure. Responding to a question,
Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said an invitation has been sent to the
Russian President Vladimir Putin for visit to Pakistan. He has accepted the
invitation in principle but a mutual convenient date for the visit has not yet
been decided. He said during the visit co-operation projects in the field of
energy, defence and commerce will materialize
http://www.brecorder.com/top-stories/0/1187895/
Pakistan to continue assisting quake-hit Nepal:
NDMA
May 19, 2015
ISLAMABAD - Besides establishing a 30-bed field
hospital, Pakistan has so far dispatched 12 sorties of C-130 aircraft to the
quake-hit Nepal with a sizeable quantity of relief goods and medical
assistance.The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in a report to
Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif on Monday said that the air effort should
continue till completion of the assigned task by the government.The report mentioned the relief measures including a 30-bed field hospital with 50-members team comprising of doctors including child specialists, orthopaedic surgeons, gynaecologists, anaesthetists, radiologists, paramedics and technicians.
The
medical team worked round the clock and treated over 2700 patients and
conducted 32 operations.The Nepalese Army Chief also appreciated the work
during his visit to the hospital, the report said.A 38-members Urban Search and
Rescue Team with latest equipment, ground penetrating radars, concrete cutters
and other rescue equipment were immediately sent and worked at five sites and
rescued trapped people.Out of 3,000 tents, 1849 have been transported along
with 15 shelters, 1000 blankets, three tons of food, 0.5 tons of lentils, 12.
5 tons of medicines, 3024 litres of water, besides rice and tarpaulin shelters.
The NDMA plans to transport the remaining 1151 tents, 29,250 tarpaulin shelters and 18 tons of rice with the assistance of Pakistan Air force in the coming days.An earthquake of 7.8 magnitude devastated Nepal on April 25 that was followed by a series of after-shocks including a major one of 7.3 magnitudes on May 12.Around 8,462 deaths have been reported while 20,000 reported injured, 489,000 homes destroyed and another 260,000 damaged.
On the directives of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, a very proactive stance was adopted by Pakistan from day one.
Pakistan
responded within 19 hours of the incident by sending two aircraft of Pakistan
Air Force carrying a field hospital and an Urban Search and Rescue Team with
latest rescue equipment.Pakistan was amongst the first few countries to have
sent a 30-bed field hospital to the earthquake-affected areas.The Chairman
NDMA, on the direction of the Prime Minister also accompanied one of the relief
flights to Nepal and met the Nepalese Army Chief and Foreign Minister to
express solidarity with the people of Nepal.
He assured them of Pakistan’s continued support in these difficult times.The Nepalese government officials were very appreciative of Pakistan’s efforts and expressed their gratitude, the report adds.The Pakistan Air Force also ferried to Nepal seven Nepalese doctors studying at King Edward University free of charge as a goodwill gesture.The NDMA also acknowledged the excellent joint collaboration between the National Disaster Management Authority, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force.
He assured them of Pakistan’s continued support in these difficult times.The Nepalese government officials were very appreciative of Pakistan’s efforts and expressed their gratitude, the report adds.The Pakistan Air Force also ferried to Nepal seven Nepalese doctors studying at King Edward University free of charge as a goodwill gesture.The NDMA also acknowledged the excellent joint collaboration between the National Disaster Management Authority, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force.
http://nation.com.pk/islamabad/19-May-2015/pakistan-to-continue-assisting-quake-hit-nepal-ndma
Ousted Thai PM Yingluck defends rice program at start of
criminal trial
Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra greets journalists
as she arrives at the Supreme Court in Bangkok on Tuesday. She is on trial for
criminal negligence and potentially faces a decade in jail if convicted. |
AFP-JIJI
ASIA PACIFIC / CRIME & LEGAL
AFP-JIJI
MAY 19, 2015
BANGKOK – Thailand’s ousted prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra
insisted on her innocence Tuesday at the start of a trial that could see her
jailed for a decade, part of what some observers say is a vendetta against her
family.It is the latest legal move against Yingluck — sister of fugitive
billionaire ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra — whose administration was toppled in
a military coup nearly a year ago.A guilty conviction could deliver a hammer
blow to the political dominance of her family, but it also risks stirring up
their grass-roots “Red Shirt” supporters who have remained largely inactive
since the military took over.Around 50 supporters gathered outside Thailand’s
Supreme Court on the northern outskirts of Bangkok including more than a dozen
members of Yingluck’s Pheu Thai Party, a highly unusual sight in a country
where political gatherings of more than five people remain banned by the
junta.Many burst into applause and shouts of “Yingluck, fight, fight!” when her
convoy pulled up outside the courthouse for the trial, which is expected to
last months.“I am confident that I am innocent and I hope the court will give
me justice and allow everything to proceed in accordance with the law,”
Yingluck told reporters.The ousted premier is accused of criminal negligence
over a populist rice subsidy scheme, which paid farmers in the rural Shinawatra
heartland twice the market rate for their crop.She is not accused of personal
corruption but of failing to prevent alleged graft within the programme, which
cost Thailand billions of dollars and galvanised protests against her elected
government prior to last May’s coup. The charge carries up to 10 years in jail.
During the brief hearing, Yingluck
spoke only to plead not guilty. The court granted 30 million baht ($900,000)
bail on condition that she will not leave Thailand without written permission,
and the next hearing was scheduled for July 21.Thailand’s military-appointed
parliament impeached Yingluck in January over the scheme, a move which banned
her from politics for five years.“I believe a hawkish faction in the old powers
. . . wants to punish the Shinawatras as much as they can,” said Puangthong
Pawakapan, a Thai politics expert at Chulalongkorn University.
“But keepi
ng her in prison will definitely anger the Red Shirts even more,”
she added.Other analysts say the mere threat of jail may be used to discourage
the Shinawatras from re-engaging in politics.Yingluck herself has said the rice
scheme “lifted the quality of life for rice farmers” in the poor northeast of a
country where subsidies to farmers have long been a cornerstone of Thai
politics.The army takeover last year was the latest twist in a decade of
political turbulence that broadly pits a Bangkok-based elite, backed by parts
of the military and judiciary, against poor urban and rural voters,
particularly in the country’s north, who are fiercely loyal to the Shinawatras.
Thaksin was himself toppled by a previous coup in 2006 and now
lives in self-exile to avoid jail on a corruption charge.As Yingluck went into
court, Thaksin made rare public comments at a conference in South Korea calling
on Asian nations to embrace the “rule of law.”“The key to good governance and
democracy is you have to strike a balance” between the judicial, legislative
and executive branches, he said at the Asian Leadership Conference.“And also
you have to observe the rule of law, which is a very important asset for each
country to be credible,” he added.His comments did not specifically refer to
Thailand but are nonetheless likely to chime with his so-called “Red Shirt”
supporters who have long accused Thailand’s judiciary of unfairly targeting
their movement.The Shinawatras, or parties allied to them, have won every Thai
election since 2001.
But their opponents accuse them of cronyism, corruption and
financially ruinous populist policies.As a result, the Shinawatra family have
faced two coups and the removal of three of their premiers by the Thai courts,
while several deadly rounds of protest have rocked Bangkok and weighed on the
Thai economy.Former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, brother-in-law to
Yingluck and Thaksin, is also due to enter a plea on Thursday to criminal
charges over a crackdown against anti-Shinawatra protesters in 2008.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/05/19/asia-pacific/crime-legal-asia-pacific/ousted-thai-pm-yingluck-defends-rice-program-start-criminal-trial/#.VVxEFvlVikp
11 million tonnes of govt rice stockpile 'substandard'
19 May 2015 at 17:32
Grain in some of the sacks stored at a
warehouse in Phitsanulok's Wat Bot was rotten and had turned to powder when
tested in February 2014. (Bangkok Post file photo)
The
Commerce Ministry has found 11 million tonnes of substandard rice in its
stockpile accumulated during the previous government, and estimated the total
worth at 400 billion baht in lost sales.Commerce permanent secretary Chutima
Bunyapraphasara said the Rice Policy and Management Committee meeting, chaired
by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, agreed the government should sell 16
million tonnes of the rice in the stockpile.It wanted to release the grain as
soon as possible as the storage cost was high at 30 million baht a day, or
60 baht a tonne.
She said
of the total stock, five million tonnes were quality rice, of which 2.9 million
tonnes had already been sold so there was about two million tonnes of the
quality rice left. Another 11 million tonnes did not meet the quality standard
of the stated grades. The government expected to earn 200 billion baht
from releasing the overall stockpile, so the loss would be around 400 billion
baht as the cost was about 600 billion baht.
The
implementation of the rice pledging scheme under the previous government, which
offered payment well over the market rate, resulted in an enormous
stockpile of unsold rice.Then-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been
charged with dereliction of duty and abuse of authority in failing to stop
graft and losses in the rice scheme under Section 157 of the Criminal Code and
Section 123/1 of the 1999 Counter Corruption Act.Ms Yingluck appeared in the
Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on Tuesday
and entered pleas of not guilty. She was allowed bail and the hearing was
adjourned
Bangkok
Post
Government Not Planning To Stop
ST15 Rice Subsidy Programme - Tajuddin
Published
on Tuesday, 19 May 2015 17:31
KUALA LUMPUR -- The government is
not planning to stop the ST15 rice subsidy programme yet so as to protect the
interest of various parties, including 15,000 grocers nationwide. Deputy
Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman
said the ministry appreciated views and recommendations on the rice subsidy
programme, but also took into account the impact on related parties if the
programme was stopped."Firstly 15,000 grocery stores nationwide, secondly
2,400 wholesale workers, 865 rice wholesalers including 607 Bumiputera small
traders, 43 Bumiputera rice millers and 35,000 farmers who receive direct
supply of ST15 under the 20kg quota per month," he said when replying Gooi
Hsiao Leung (PKR-Alor Setar) in the Dewan Rakyat Teusday.Gooi asked whether the
government would review the subsidy programme following recommendation from the
Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to suspend the subsidy programme for failing to
benefit the poor.
Tajuddin said the ministry, however, would continue to monitor and
scrutinise the programme from time to time through the establishment of the
Paddy and Rice Industries Affairs Main Committee, which comprise the ministry's
permanent representatives, its agencies and Farmers' Organisation
Authority."The committee is responsible to consider the ST15 rice quota to
wholesalers. A technical committee will also be set up to inspect and evaluate
the wholesalers from time to time," he said.On alleged distribution
leakages, Tajuddin said 60,000 tonnes of ST15 rice produced would be
distributed to wholesalers for onward distribution to retailers nationwide,
every month."We don't think there are leakages because the wholesalers
cannot keep the rice, if 60,000 tonnes for a month, how much for two or three
months? They will not want to keep such a big amount of rice," he said.
Tajuddin said that if any elected representatives had evidence of
fraud in the sale of ST15, they can directly lodge a complaint to the ministry
or the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).However, Tajuddin admitted
that there were some weaknesses in the delivery system, especially in Sabah and
Sarawak, with limited access problem to rural areas as well as the lack of
personnel to carry out enforcement and monitoring activities.In addressing the
smuggling problem of ST15 rice to neighboring countries, especially Indonesia,
Tajuddin has asked leaders at the grassroots to play a proactive role to assist
the ministry to curb such problems.
http://www.malaysiandigest.com/news/554313-government-not-planning-to-stop-st15-rice-subsidy-programme-tajuddin.html
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