Tuesday, February 09, 2016

21st January 2016 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Ricpelus Magazine

Agriculture output contracted 1% in Q4

posted January 21, 2016 at 11:40 pm by Anna Leah E. Gonzales


Farm production contracted 1 percent year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2015, as the rural sector bore the impact of the El Niño dry spell and typhoon Lando,  the Philippine Statistics Authority said Thursday. PSA said the figure brought  the average growth of the agriculture and fisheries sector to 0.1 percent in 2015, slower than the 1.8-percent expansion in 2014.Total agriculture production at current prices reached P479 billion in the fourth quarter, down by 6.6 percent from P448 billion last year.PSA said the crops sub-sector fell 2.69 percent in the fourth quarter, as the dry spell cut rice and corn harvests. Palay or unmilled rice production declined 3.8 percent to 7.3 million metric tons in the October-December period from 7.6 million metric tons a year ago.PSA said the adverse effects of typhoon Lando pulled down palay production in Mountain Province, Apayao, Kalinga, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Bulacan, Tarlac and Pampanga provinces. 

“ The incidence of rice black bug, tungro and rodents, insufficiency of water during the crop’s maturing stage resulted in lower palay production in Calabarzon,” PSA said. Corn production also fell 6 percent from 1.8 million metric tons in the fourth quarter of 2014 to 1.7 million metric tons in the fourth quarter of 2015, because of the lower yield in Kalinga and Mt. Province.PSA said that in Cagayan, there was insufficient soil moisture during planting time while crop shifting to cassava, tobacco and sugarcane was reported in Isabela. Typhoon Lando also affected most corn crops in Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Pampanga. Sugarcane production went down by 7.7 percent in the fourth quarter to 7.4 million metric tons from 8.92 million metric tons a year earlier, because of the insufficiency in soil moisture and dry spell which affected most of the sugarcane producing provinces. Coconut production rose 1.7 to 4.05 million metric tons from 3.9 million metric tons in 2014. The livestock sub-sector grew by 3.7 percent, led by high production of carabao, cattle and hog.

PSA said the poultry sub-sector grew 4.2 percent in the fourth quarter on strong production of chicken, chicken egg and duck egg.The fishery sub-sector sank 4.28 in the fourth quarter from a growth of 4.46 percent in 2014 due to the drop in milkfish, roundscad and skipjack production.

http://thestandard.com.ph/business/197386/agriculture-output-contracted-1-in-

q4.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pakistan has huge potential for rice export

January 21, 2016

Our Staff Reporter

 

LAHORE
Pakistan has a huge potential for exports of rice and other agricultural commodities but its exporters should pay attention towards meeting the specifications of their importers.
These views were expressed by Dr. Werner Nader of Eurofins Global Control GmbH while addressing a workshop organized by Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) for the awareness of its members here on Wednesday. The workshop was aimed at discussing the challenges and issues being faced by the rice exporters to European and American markets and importance of meeting the specifications of these markets.Dr. Werner Nader was the guest speaker of the seminar who delivered his lecture titled ‘Current topics of Basmati Rice-EU market, food safety and authenticity’ to a large number of rice exporters. The event was sponsored by the former REAP Vice Chairman Samee Ullah Naeem who is currently leading the Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) as President.Dr. Werner said that now the rice exports to European countries was picking up but the exporters should pay attention towards issues like aflatoxins, pesticide residue and also new regulations being made by these markets. However, he said that complaints of aflatoxins in rice consignments from Pakistan had come down to almost negligible level and the rice industry players should handle other issues also like they did to control this issue.He said that Eurofins, which provides testing facilities and issue authenticity certificates accepted by EU and US markets, was also actively extending services to exporters through an office in Lahore.Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Chairman Ch. Muhammad Shafique speaking on this occasion congratulated the team which arranged a capacity building workshop for the members of the Association. He said that such awareness creating events help the members to grow more and earn for the country.Those who attended the workshop included Ch. Samee Ullah Naeem, Taufiq Umer, Javed Islam Agha, Chaudhry Masood, Pir Nazim Hussain Shah and others.
http://nation.com.pk/business/21-Jan-2016/pakistan-has-huge-potential-for-rice-export






Drought years tough on Sac Valley rice growers

Rice fields near Richvale, Tuesday. Heather Hacking – Enterprise-Record
By Heather Hacking, Chico Enterprise-Record
POSTED: 01/20/16, 3:15 PM PST | UPDATED: 1 DAY AGO
Rice fields near Richvale, Tuesday.Heather Hacking — Enterprise-Record

Low rainfall year totals

The past four years of drought have been rough, but there have been other years with very little rain. During an annual meeting Tuesday in Richavale, UC farm adviser Cass Mutters shared statistics from the driest of the past 100-plus years:
Year Inches of rain
1924 9.23 inches
1977 11.81 inches
2014 12.08 inches
2015 13.21 inches
1898 13.35 inches
1920 13.43 inches
Mutters also noted that in 2015, the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada region was a scant 5 percent of average, the lowest since 1950. Also in 2015, the average minimum temperature was 32.1 degrees in the Sierra Nevada, which is above freezing.
Richvale >> The recent rains have been great for a dry California. However California rice farmers have been through a rough few years.Rice growers gathered in Richvale Tuesday morning for an annual Sacramento Valley update sponsored by University of California Cooperative Extension.It wasn’t a surprise to anyone to hear that the 2015 growing season had been grim. Less acreage was planted and landowners throughout the state dipped into groundwater supplies, presenters demonstrated through charts and graphs.UC farm adviser Cass Mutters showed local growers a map of California and pointed out how many thousands of jobs had been lost in the Central Valley.As growers sat inside the church in Richvale, it rained steadily outside and puddles formed along the roads leading through rice fields. While rain will refill groundwater levels, some damage is permanent.
LAND SUBSIDENCE
Land subsidence takes place when groundwater is taken away and the soil beneath the surface compacts. The water in the soil, and now removed, was partially responsible for holding the ground up. Once subsidence occurs, the soil no longer has the ability to hold groundwater.
Another impact of land subsidence is that shifts in land can harm infrastructure, such as bridges and roads.In some areas of the state, subsidence is a very serious problem. Mutters showed a colored slide of the San Joaquin Valley. NASA aerial imagery shows that an area south of Merced and some land west of Tulare subsided about 12 inches last year.One important piece of infrastructure threatened is the California aqueduct, which transports water through the Central Valley. Where land has sunken, concrete of the aqueduct has cracked, Mutters explained.Compared to land further south, the Sacramento Valley is in much better shape. However, small subsidence shifts have occurred.

Mutters showed similar NASA imagery of the northern Sacramento Valley. “Isolated subsidence” has taken place in the Sutter Basin, he pointed out.
(See full slideshow here: http://tinyurl.com/z2evsz6)
Other details from the rice presentation can be found here:http://tinyurl.com/z2evsz6
The impacts of the drought may linger for a while. Yet, 2016 is expected to be a better year for California rice growers. People are talking about El Niño, hoping for a prolonged period of rain this winter.Often, this warm ocean weather pattern is followed by La Niña, which is when the ocean cools off and excessive rain continues well into the spring, Mutters explained.This took place in the spring of 1998, when rice growers had a “miserable” time planting in the spring, he said. It rained through May, delaying the season, Mutters reminded growers.Some growers even decided not to plant because it was wet for too long.No one knows for sure. However Mutters advised growers that if they have a good window for planting in the spring, they might want to get busy rather than risk another rain delay.
Contact reporter Heather Hacking at 896-7758.
http://www.chicoer.com/general-news/20160120/drought-years-tough-on-sac-valley-rice-growers



Kupang needs additional stock of rice to forestall shortage

Kamis, 21 Januari 2016 19:08 WIB |
Ayub Titu Eki. (bappeda.kabkupang.info)
Kupang (ANTARA News) - The district of Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, said it needs additional stock of rice to forestall shortage with harvest failure in some areas of the district as a result of El Nino-triggered prolonged drought.The eastern part of the country has been hit the hardest by the drought caused by the weather phenomenon over the past year.

"We have asked for supply from Jakarta. Hopefully we will receive the shipment soon," Regent Ayub Titu Eki said here on Thursday.Currently the district administration has only 11 tons of rice in stock, the district head said, adding it is feared the stock would not be enough to meet the requirement.Most farmers in the district chose to grow vegetables, and groundnut, which are more resistant to drought.
(Uu.H-ASG/F001)
http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/102672/kupang-needs-additional-stock-of-rice-to-forestall-shortage







Thailand Farmers Use Experience to Weather Tough Economy

FILE - A farmer works in his rice field in Nakhonsawan province Nov. 14, 2014. Thailand’s rice farmers are struggling with drought, low returns, and rising competition as a new era of trade opens under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). But as growers hope to weather the hard times by drawing on years of farming experience and hopes of a revival in rice prices.

Ron Corben
BANGKOK—
Thailand’s rice farmers are struggling with drought, low returns, and rising competition as a new era of trade opens under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). But growers hope to weather the hard times by drawing on years of farming experience and hopes of a revival in rice prices.In Amnat Charoen, a provincial town in northeast Thailand, villagers at a local fairground compete in teams to mill rice. The winners are judged by the highest quality product.
Farmers struggle with low prices

The farmers celebrate as rice fields lie fallow over the dry season and await monsoon rains later in the year to plant a new crop. Amnat Charoen, a town near the border with Laos some 600 kilometers from Bangkok, is famed for its rice, notably Hom Mali or fragrant rice, well known on international markets.
FILE - Fishing boats park downstream from Lamtakong dam during a recent period of extreme drought in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, June, 29, 2015.
But Thailand's farmers are facing difficult times, with a severe drought, rice prices at six year lows, stagnating incomes and rising debt.In the village of Ban Plah Khaow, 20 kilometers from Amnat Charoen Town, retired engineer Ajarn Ting said the outlook is bleak. Ting said the situation is ‘no good.’ Rice prices are down with the popular jasmine rice low with prices of other rice varieties also low, making life difficult for farmers.
Farmers call for assistance


The current downturn has triggered calls by farmers for government assistance, said Athikarn Ringcharoen, Chamber of Commerce President for Amnat Charoen province.Athikarn said the price of rice was weak and farmers are having to sell to millers quickly because they need funds for their families. They are accepting the gate price (standard price), to sell as fast as possible.Thailand’s central bank has warned that an ongoing drought and lower agricultural prices are already adding pressure on rice farmers’ incomes.The Thai Rice Exporters Association said the price for Hom Mali fragrant rice is at its lowest in six years at just $720 per ton, from a peak of $1,200 per ton. Thailand’s rice industry is still recovering from the end of a rice price pledging scheme set up under the former government of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was ousted in the May 2014 coup. 
FILE - Soldiers check rice stocks at a warehouse in Ayutthaya province, north of Bangkok, Thailand, July 3, 2014.
Supporters of the plan say it boosted farmers’ incomes. But critics say the program was riddled with corruption, decimated Thai rice exports, cost Thai taxpayers more than $14 billion and left thousands of farmers in debt. Songphan Jansawang, chief of the agricultural department in al Amnat Charoen, said farmers from the northeast Isaarn region have had to adapt to survive the dry conditions. Songphan said the people of Isaarn have had to live with the drought from generation to generation and adjust. Jasmine rice grown in the region is also known as a hardy variety of crop suitable to dry climatic conditions.

He said farmers also face growing competition from regional rivals in the rice market as liberalization comes into effect under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) launched late last year. Thailand’s Commerce Ministry said it also plans to restructure the rice sector, lowering the total crop from 33 million tons to 25 million tons to avert an oversupply and diversifying rice varieties away from traditional white rice. 
http://www.voanews.com/content/thailand-farmers-use-experience-to-weather-tough-economy/3154312.html






Hyderabad: Major PDS supply racket busted

DECCAN CHRONICLE
PublishedJan 22, 2016, 2:48 am IST
UpdatedJan 22, 2016, 4:51 am IST
He stocks the PDS supplies that he purchases from dealers across the city

 PDS supplies diversion racket and arrested ( Representational Image)
Hyderabad:Police on Thursday bust a major PDS supplies diversion racket and arrested 27 members of the gang, including 21 ration dealers, five businessmen and rice millers who purchased the diverted supplies and two drivers who are working for this racket.Task Force DCP Mr B Limba Reddy said that B Raji Reddy, kingpin  operating the racket,  owns a godown at Amberpet area, where he stocks the PDS supplies that he purchases from dealers across the city. He sells the same to B Srinivas at a profit of `4 per kilo. He was arrested earlier by Civil supplies department for illegal diversion of PDS supplies.“He sells the grains  to Srinivas, who later sells it to Shyam Food factory at Katedan owned by varun Agarwal.” he said.Srinivas also diverted upto 800 quintals of rice each month to Sri Laxmi Narasimha Swamy Rice mill at Nalgonda owned by P Karunaker and  Srinivas.“Varun Agarwal processes the wheat in his factory and sells it under brand name Harddik Chakki fresh atta. P Karunaker and Srinivas process the rice and send to Kakinada port, which is exported abroad.” added the DCP

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/crime/220116/hyderabad-major-pds-supply-racket-busted.html



Rice exports likely unchanged for Vietnam
VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam's rice exports this year excluding border trade are expected to remain at last year's 6.5 million tonnes, according to the Viet Nam Food Association.Last year Viet Nam's rice exports fetched US$2.68 billion, a decrease of 3.94 per cent in value despite a marginal increase in volumes as prices dropped. — Photo baocongthuong
Speaking at a review meeting in HCM City yesterday, Huynh Minh Hue, the association's general secretary, said last year exports fetched US$2.68 billion, a decrease of 3.94 per cent in value despite a marginal increase in volumes as prices dropped. Asian countries were the main buyers, accounting for 74.5 per cent of the exports, followed by Africa (13.77 per cent), and the US (6.72 per cent), he said.Last year exports of 5 per cent broken white rice increased sharply due to high demand from Cuba, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China, he said, adding that exports of fragrant rice also went up significantly thanks to competitive prices and meeting quality demands."In general, countries that previously mainly imported low- and medium-grade rice have shifted to high-quality rice."

He quoted the US Department of Agriculture as saying that the global rice output in 2015/16 declined by 1.9 per cent to 469.3 million tonnes, a second straight year of decline.El Nino was a major factor, causing smaller crops in many rice production countries.Global consumption will meanwhile rise by 0.5 per cent to 484.6 million tonnes, making it the third consecutive year when consumption will exceed production, leading to a depletion of stockpiles.Huynh The Nang, the association chairman, said stockpiles at Vietnamese rice enterprises at the end of last year were around 400,000 tonnes, much lower than the average of 700,000 tonnes in the same period in previous years."In general, rice consumption this year will be better."Hue said this year the association would focus on boosting exports to near and traditional markets in Asia, including China and Southeast Asia, and increasing exports of fragrant rice to Hong Kong and Singapore.

It would strive to expand its fragrant rice market share in Africa and gradually recover the market for white rice, he said.It would work to enable Vietnamese rice to penetrate new markets, especially countries that have free trade agreements with Viet Nam, he said.Nang said the association would this year focus on building a rice value chain and brands.Nguyen Van Tien, director of the An Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, said the Asian market has demand for rice but Viet Nam would face intense competition from Thailand and Pakistan.Thai inventory levels would affect rice prices in the world market, he said. Export of fragrant and high grade rice are expected to increase strongly this year due to high demand from China and Africa, he said.He called on the Government to step up quality checks of exports to safeguard the country's prestige and to sell to demanding markets.The association should also provide enterprises with up-to-date market forecasts and trends, he said.Several delegates at the meeting suggested the Government should crack down on the use of chemicals in rice production.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/150118/rice-exports-likely-unchanged-for-vietnam.html





Vietnam rice exporters worried as Thailand plans to clear rice stocks
VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam may be put at a disadvantage when Thailand sells 13 million tons of rice from its stockpile. 

Vietnam may be put at a disadvantage when Thailand sells 13 million tons of rice from its stockpile. 

The government of Thailand recently announced a plan to clear 13 million tons of rice being kept at national storehouses by 2017.In the immediate time, the country will sell 2 million tons of rice through government-to-government (G2G) contracts signed with China, the Philippines and Indonesia.The government of Thailand, anticipating increasing demand for the upcoming Lunar New Year, has been trying to negotiate rice exports to Asian countries through many different channels.Sources have reported that Thailand has signed a 33.4 billion baht ($929 million) contract with the Chinese government.
Meanwhile, the Philippines have shown intention to import 300,000-400,000 tons of rice more to offset a short supply caused by prolonged natural disasters.
“Even if Thailand tries to export inventory rice to Vietnam’s loyal markets such as China, Indonesia and the Philippines, Vietnam’s rice will not be dislodged from the markets,”
Huynh The Nang, chair of the Vietnam Food Association 
Huynh The Nang, chair of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), said in the Vietnam News Agency that the sale of Thai rice would force the market price down, thus badly affecting Vietnam’s exports.

However, Nang still keeps optimistic, believing that there are many favorable conditions for Vietnam to export rice in 2016.

Thai rice output in 2016 is forecast to drop to the 5-year deepest low to 16.4 million tons due to the El Nino effects.Though Thailand has 13 million tons of rice in stocks which it plans to sell out, the country’s export volume in 2016 is believed not to exceed 9 million tons, the same export volume as 2015.“Even if Thailand tries to export inventory rice to Vietnam’s loyal markets such as China, Indonesia and the Philippines, Vietnam’s rice will not be dislodged from the markets,” Nang said.

“This is because Thailand only has a modest volume of white rice. These markets mostly consume white rice,” he explained.eanwhile, Huynh Van Thon, president of Loc Troi Group, warned that the attempt by Thailand to push up exports to Vietnam’s loyal markets would affect negotiations for prices.However, Thon also thinks that the markets will not import 100 percent of old rice, but they will also need new rice, so there would be still room for Vietnamese exporters.
“Vietnamese mostly sell new rice harvested from recent crops, and therefore, they can sell rice at prices higher than old Thai inventory rice,” he said.

In 2013, Vietnam suffered when Thailand cleared its stocks and slashed the selling prices.
In September 2013, most rice importers suspended transactions and kept a wait-and-see attitude, while others tried to force Vietnamese exporters to slash their selling prices or threatened to break contracts.ietnamese exporters then, under pressure, had to ease the export price to $340-360 per ton, which was even lower than the production cost of $380-390 per ton
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/150215/vietnam-rice-exporters-worried-as-thailand-plans-to-clear-rice-stocks.html





Drought in Thailand: Major river could dry up in 70 days

Photo: The Nation/ANN

WATER IN the Yom River, Sukhothai province's main artery, is predicted to dry up in 70 days due to the ongoing drought

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and key ministers are to visit Nakhon Sawan and Chai Nat provinces tomorrow to follow up progress on eight drought-tackling measures - the former province was the government's model for the drought programme.Prayut will also preside over a meeting of a public-private committee for four lower northern provinces at Nakhon Sawan to discuss drought management issues and progress of locals' wellbeing promotion measures.Sukhothai Governor Piti Kaewsalubsee predicted locals would feel a worsening of the drought in late March to early April and 400,000 rai of rice fields would be hit hard, so people must save water now. Thailand has a total of 60 million rai of rice fields and 12 million farmers - over half growing rice at areas outside the irrigation system.Piti said, judging from the water level at the Ban Haad Saphan Chan sluice gates, the province's water supply was now at 10 million cubic metres out of the 15-million capacity. As a result, officials only opened one sluice gate, releasing water at three cubic metres per second.

Overall, the province's water for use from Yom River would last 70 days, Priti said.Sukhothai farmers grow rice paddies on 400,000 rai over a total 1.4-million-rai area. Hence they were told to grow fewer water-dependant, short-lived plants and to save up water or else be hit by severe drought in late March and early April, just ahead of the crop harvest, he added.Phitsanulok's Bang Rakham farmers, who resisted the Royal Irrigation Department's ban on off-season rice-growing, resorted to digging up wells in the Yom riverbed to nurture paddies.Village headman Wirat Buddhakosa said he had the mid-river 18-metre-deep well dug for Bt5,000(S$198) to water his 40-rai rice field. Bang Rakham people's main occupation was rice growing, so they had no choice but to do this despite the authority's ban, he explained. He claimed at least 100 farmers resorted to this method.Another farmer, Chalita Chuthong, 40, said her family's 30-rai rice field - as well as relatives' 100 rais - depended on a mid-river wells dug last year.

Phitsanulok declared Wat Bot, Bang Krathum and Wang Thong districts as drought disaster zones while Bang Ramkham was poised to be declared too.The early drought in Chachoengsao's Muang district has been worsened by massive inflows of seawater that reached up to the Bang Pakong River's origin in Prachin Buri province. The whole river has become unusable for farming and waterworks. Authorities have now closed 35 sluice gates to save the remaining usable water.Kanchanaburi's Srinakharin Dam and Vajiralongkorn Dam now contain only 4,466 million cubic metres. Residents of the seven Mae Klong river basin provinces must save water and refrain from rice growing or shrimp/fish raising, said Srinakharin Dam director Weerasak Srikawi.
The country's major dam levels as of Monday were: Bhumibhol Dam at 36 per cent of capacity, Sirikit Dam, 49 per cent, Ubol Ratana Dam 29 per cent, Pasak Jolasid Dam 49 per cent and Lampao Dam at 43 per cent.In Chiang Mai, a Maejo Poll, conducted on 600 farmers nationwide from December 15-30, found 93.83 per cent were drought-affected - half of whom expected this year's drought to be even worse.


The three top issues triggered by the drought were: the water shortage and subsequent lower rice production (74 per cent),the shrinking income affecting farmers' debt-repayment ability (66.33 per cent); and higher cost of rice cultivation (62.83 per cent).Slightly over half (57.17 per cent) of farmers disagreed with the seasonal rice-growing ban on grounds that the farmers would have no income to pay debts; while 42.83 thought otherwise.In Chai Nat's Sankhaburi district, soldiers and officials yesterday talked with Noi River farmers to warn them not to stealthily pump water for rice fields.The farmers grew rice paddies despite the off-season rice-growing ban, which was imposed after the supply for water to Sankhaburi dropped to a low level.
http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/drought-thailand-major-river-could-dry-70-days





01/21/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report


Rice
High
Low
Long Grain Cash Bids
- - -
- - -
Long Grain New Crop
- - -
- - -


Futures:
ROUGH RICE
High
Low
Last
Change
Mar '16
1093.0
1074.0
1081.0
-3.0
May '16
1118.0
1102.0
1118.0
+5.5
Jul '16
1145.0
1138.5
1145.0
+5.0
Sep '16
1150.0
1148.5
1150.0
-1.5
Nov '16
1175.5
-1.5
Jan '17
1176.0
-1.5
Mar '17
1176.0
-1.5
   

Rice Comment

Rice futures posted across the board gains today. The market is currently trading at seven month lows. March has support at the May 2015 low of $10.27 1/2, with resistance at $11. Disappointing export sales of 43,000 metric tons, down 15% from the previous week, added to the negative undertone. Tightening world stocks have provided support in recent months.









USA Rice Presents Menu Ideas to Prospective Promotion Partner 

TOKYO, JAPAN - USA Rice conducted a one-on-one menu presentation for the Monogatari Corporation here last weekend.  Monogatari has eleven different restaurant chains throughout Japan focusing on distinct cuisines including Japanese, Korean, and Ramen (Japanese Chinese-style noodles).

USA Rice consultant Chef Aoshima developed several creative dishes and offered menu ideas using U.S. rice for the company's different chains.  Monogatari was very receptive to Aoshima's suggestions and has started to work on cost estimates for the use of U.S. medium grain in their restaurants.  

"Our connection with Wismettac Foods (Nishimoto) gave us the opportunity to make this presentation," said Jim Guinn, USA Rice vice president of international promotion.  "Monogatari represents a wide range of dining options in Japan, from noodle shops to luxury restaurants so having them become a promotion partner offering identified U.S. rice as a menu item for their many customers to try will be a big boost."



Myanmar's severe flood brings down rice export in 2015-16 FY

Source: Xinhua   2016-01-21 18:46:05
YANGON, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's severe flood in 2015 has brought down the country's rice export during the year, registering a drop of more than 150,000 tons during the first 10 months (April-Jan.) of the fiscal year 2015-16 when only 830,000 tons of rice were exported.
In 2014-15, the country's rice export was registered as 1.8 million tons.The export drop during 2015-16 was due to widespread flood which destroyed paddy fields across the country in monsoon season which lasted from June to October.Deadly flood, triggered by heavy rainfall since June of the year, affected 12 regions and states out of 14 in Myanmar, destroying houses, farmland, railway lines, bridges and roads.

Nationwide death toll of the severe flooding rose to more than 121 with Rakhine state suffering most casualties, affecting more than 1.6 million people across the country.The deadly flood also killed 4,650 cattle, displacing 85,400 people and destroying 10,956 homes and more than 88,120 hectares of farmland.The Myanmar government declared in July last year four disaster zones namely Rakhine, Chin, Sagaing and Magway, of which Rakhine state was the worst-hit.According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, about 344,493 hectares of farmlands were submerged, of which Rakhine state suffered the most which accounted for over 105,300 hectares.Impacted by the deadly flood, Myanmar Rice Federation decided then to halt rice export until Sept.15 for domestic reserve.

The one-and-a-half-month freeze measure was taken then to ensure adequate supply of rice for the domestic market and to maintain stability of rice.After the sensitive period, Myanmar resumed its rice exports in mid-September after lifting the freeze on rice export.Thanks to quick recession of flood, Ayeyawaddy region, the country's prime source of rice, was not affected by the flooding as severely as other regions.In the post-flood period, Myanmar has to make greater efforts to produce rice as growing demand of the crop from China, Africa and Europe prevails, said the federation.On the other hand, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is also cooperating with Myanmar in promoting the country's rice production sector.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-01/21/c_135032586.htm




Plans to plant more speciality rice in the country

Posted on 21 January 2016 - 06:07pm

Last updated on 21 January 2016 - 07:06pm
Lee Hooi Boon
KEPALA BATAS: Malaysia is expected to plant speciality rice, such as long grain, on a large scale in 2021, said Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.Instead of developing normal rice, it is time for Mardi to move on to another level to do research and develop speciality rice, Rice Mathi or long grain, and plant it on a large scale in the country, he added.He said the demand for long grain rice was increasing after many Arab restaurants were set up in the country over the past few years.


"About 20% of Malaysians demand for speciality rice such as rice from Japan or Thailand, hence we should start a project to study how to plant long grain on a large scale in the country," he told reporters after launching the Rice Research and Innovation Centre of Excellence (Rice@Mardi) at Pinang Tunggal here today.He said Mardi has already developed the seed of the long grain but needed about five years to develop more in order to plant it extensively in country.
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1673312



Rice Prices

as on : 21-01-2016 08:10:50 PM

Arrivals
Price
Current
%
change
Season 
cumulative
Modal
Prev.
Modal
Prev.Yr
%change
Rice
Gadarpur(Utr)
669.00
76.05
49746.00
2119
1974
-4.38
Basti(UP)
116.00
-20.82
2067.00
2060
2070
1.48
Lanka(ASM)
70.00
27.27
1185.00
1725
1775
-
Kalipur(WB)
62.00
-13.89
1859.00
2100
2100
-
Cachar(ASM)
60.00
50
930.00
2700
2700
NC
Balrampur(UP)
52.50
31.25
659.00
2140
2140
-
Kasimbazar(WB)
44.50
-1.11
565.00
2380
2350
-8.46
Jaunpur(UP)
40.00
-20
722.00
1920
1940
-
Mirzapur(UP)
26.00
8.33
483.00
1915
1920
6.39
Purulia(WB)
24.00
NC
960.00
2200
2200
-9.09
Lohardaga(Jha)
22.00
-8.33
269.50
1760
1860
0.57
Champadanga(WB)
15.00
NC
282.00
2450
2450
-
Bijnaur(UP)
12.50
13.64
242.50
2210
2210
-
Kottayam(Ker)
10.00
NC
50.00
3500
3500
-
Deogarh(Ori)
9.50
NC
223.50
2500
2500
NC
Raibareilly(UP)
8.50
-43.33
130.00
2020
2030
2.28
Cherthalai(Ker)
7.50
-11.76
156.50
2400
2300
-
Chengannur(Ker)
6.00
-14.29
245.00
2400
2500
-17.24
Jeypore(Ori)
4.40
15.79
95.40
325
325
-
Jeypore(Kotpad)(Ori)
4.30
22.86
93.00
3250
4100
NC
Aroor(Ker)
3.00
NC
79.00
6900
6900
-25.81
Balarampur(WB)
2.40
4.35
23.80
2180
2200
-
Kasipur(WB)
1.40
27.27
16.50
2260
2280
-8.13
Sardhana(UP)
1.20
20
36.30
2070
2075
-
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article8134065.ece



Myanmar's severe flood brings down rice export in 2015-16 FY

Jan 21,2016
YANGON, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's severe flood in 2015 has brought down the country's rice export during the year, registering a drop of more than 150,000 tons during the first 10 months (April-Jan.) of the fiscal year 2015-16 when only 830,000 tons of rice were exported.In 2014-15, the country's rice export was registered as 1.8 million tons.The export drop during 2015-16 was due to widespread flood which destroyed paddy fields across the country in monsoon season which lasted from June to October.Deadly flood, triggered by heavy rainfall since June of the year, affected 12 regions and states out of 14 in Myanmar, destroying houses, farmland, railway lines, bridges and roads.
Nationwide death toll of the severe flooding rose to more than 121 with Rakhine state suffering most casualties, affecting more than 1.6 million people across the country.The deadly flood also killed 4,650 cattle, displacing 85,400 people and destroying 10,956 homes and more than 88,120 hectares of farmland.The Myanmar government declared in July last year four disaster zones namely Rakhine, Chin, Sagaing and Magway, of which Rakhine state was the worst-hit.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, about 344,493 hectares of farmlands were submerged, of which Rakhine state suffered the most which accounted for over 105,300 hectares.Impacted by the deadly flood, Myanmar Rice Federation decided then to halt rice export until Sept.15 for domestic reserve.The one-and-a-half-month freeze measure was taken then to ensure adequate supply of rice for the domestic market and to maintain stability of rice.After the sensitive period, Myanmar resumed its rice exports in mid-September after lifting the freeze on rice export.
Thanks to quick recession of flood, Ayeyawaddy region, the country's prime source of rice, was not affected by the flooding as severely as other regions.In the post-flood period, Myanmar has to make greater efforts to produce rice as growing demand of the crop from China, Africa and Europe prevails, said the federation.On the other hand, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is also cooperating with Myanmar in promoting the country's rice production sector.
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=317368


International Benchmark Price
Price on: 21-01-2016
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Garlic
1
Chinese first grade granules, CFR NW Europe (USD cent/t)
2100
2
Chinese Grade A dehydrated flakes, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
2000
3
Chinese powdered, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
1800
Ginger
1
Chinese sliced, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
2150
2
Chinese whole, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
2300
3
Indian Cochin, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
2850
Guar Gum Powder
1
Indian 100 mesh 3500 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
3840
2
Indian 200 mesh 3500 cps basis, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
1240
3
Indian 200 mesh 5000 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
2360
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 20-01-2016
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Maize
1
Shimoga (Karnataka)
Local
1350
1490
2
Amreli (Gujarat)
Other
1455
1710
3
Devala (Maharashtra)
Yellow 
1351
1455
Paddy(Dhan)
1
Kasargod (Kerala)
Other
1500
1600
2
Bonai (Orissa)
Other
1410
1450
3
Sainthia (West Bengal)
Common
1025
1045
Orange
1
Aroor (Kerala)
Other
2300
2500
2
Nagpur (Maharashtra)
Other
700
1500
3
Mechua (West Bengal)
Other
2000
2300
Cucumber
1
Surat (Gujarat)
Other
2000
2500
2
Manjeri (Kerala)
Other
550
650
3
Nasik (Maharashtra)
Other
1000
2125
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 21-01-2016
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Ahmedabad
415
2
Hyderabad
375
3
Namakkal
402
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 20-01-2016
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Potatoes
Package: 50 lb cartons
1
Atlanta
Colorado
Russet
15
17.50
2
California
Nevada
Russet
21
21
3
Detroit
Idaho
Russet
14
15.50
Cabbage
Package: 50 lb sacks
1
Atlanta
Georgia
Round Green Type
15
18.75
2
Chicago
Texas
Round Green Type
9
9
3
Miami
Florida
Round Green Type
17
17
Apples
Package: cartons tray pack
1
Atlanta
Virginia
Red Delicious 
20
20
2
Chicago
Washington
Red Delicious 
22
22.50
3
New York
Washington
Red Delicious 
24
24
Source:USDA

Rice growers in NSW pooling water resources after restricted allocation

Michael Cavanagh
Updated yesterday at 6:36am
Pooling water has nothing to do with filling the backyard pool for three rice farmers in southern New South Wales.
The severe reduction in this year's water allocation has the farmers taking the unusual step of combining their water to grow rice, in the Riverina.For Shelley Scoullar, who has been farming for five years, she was contemplating a year of no rice, instead concentrating on her other crops, which include wheat, peas and barley."I love growing rice, I am passionate about it. I was pretty devastated when I realised I wouldn't have enough water to grow rice this year," Ms Scoullar said.
"Necessity is the mother of all invention."Out of this necessity Ms Scoullar sat down with her father, John Hand, who has been growing rice for over 30 years, to brainstorm a solution to this problem.The solution was for the two to pool their water allocation, and combine with neighbour and prominent rice grower John Bradford.This resulted in the three sowing rice on 66 hectares of Mr Hand's 600 hectare property, located across the road from his daughter's."We'll go through as the season goes on ... Divide costs so the growers get a reasonable percentage that we are all happy with," Mr Hand said.
"There is still a bit of nuts and bolts to do at the moment, but we've agreed in principle for what we want to achieve."According to Mr Hand, Rice Growers Australia is keeping an eye on the group's efforts.He believes the operation could be a "set up" to allow other farmers to continue rice growing in periods of restricted water allocation.Ms Scoullar, who operates on 185 hectares, believes it is the way young people could enter the industry."As a young farmer it is really hard to get a foot in the door. This is something we all need to think about in the future, because I think our reliability on water is being jeopardised.
"If you are passionate about growing rice this is a way we can keep the rice industry going and our communities, which rely on our rice crop."Mr Hand acknowledged dedicating his 66 hectares to the project could cost him a little bit in the short term, as the other two participants now have land freed up for other money-making ventures.However, he said there were benefits in offering his land to the project."Rice in our cropping program has a huge advantage for the following crops, obviously moisture ... and disease break for cereals and weed free paddocks," Mr Hand said."We discovered that in the millennium drought, where we got three or four years without rice. The effect that had on the cost of growing the other cereal crops was reasonably substantial."While it is only the first year, Mr Hand believes so far the evidence strongly supports the three continuing it in years to come, rotating between the different farms.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-20/pooling-water-rice-crops-nsw/7100862


Rice growers drilling wells in dry riverbed


Rice growers draw groundwater from a well drilled in the dry Yom River in Bang Rakam district, Phitsanulok, on Wednesday. (Photo by Chinnawat Singha)
Some rice farmers in Phitsanulok province are drilling wells in their dry riverbed to get around the Irrigation Department's warning not to grow off-season crops due to the water shortage, insisting it's the only livelihood they know.About 100 rice growers in Bang Rakam district of the northern province were now depending on underground water from wells drilled right in the middle of the Yom, the main river running through the district, said Wirat Phutkosa, head of Moo 2 village in tambon Chumsaeng Songkhram of Bang Rakam district.He and the other farmers resorted to the groundwater solution as their paddy fields are near the dry river, he said.
On Wednesday he hired a drilling contractor for 5,000 baht to drill another well in the dry riverbed, to supply his 40-rai paddy field. The well struck water at a depth of 18 metres, Mr Wirat said.Although the Irrigation Department has told farmers not to plant a second crop because there is not enough water, local farmers are desperate, he said. Rice farming is all they have ever known. They had no idea what else they could to do make a living.
The village headman said the water shortage was very severe this year. Their paddy fields had dried out  and they had no choice but to drill wells.Lower oil prices convinced farmers they could afford the drilling and fuel for the pumps, Mr Wirat said.Chalita Chuthong said she had drilled a well in the middle of the Yom River last year and plugged it during the rainy season. The well was reopened this year and a pump installed to draw water for her 30-rai paddy field about 100 metres from the river. The water was enough to also serve about 100 rai of  adjacent paddy fields farmed by her brothers and sisters, Miss Chalita said.
Wat Bot, Bang Krathum and Wang Thong districts of Phitsanulok were declared drought-stricken areas, but Bang Rakam has not even though many local streams have dried up.


Second-crop rice farmers warned: No assistance

Second-crop rice planted in Chiang Mai's Mae Taeng district by farmers choosing to defy the ban on off-season crops because there is not enough water. (Photo by Cheewin Sattha)
CHIANG MAI – Farmers who ignore a ban on planting a second crop have been warned they will not receive any assistance or subsidy when their rice shrivels and dies from lack of water.With the water supply in Chiang Mai at critically low levels, provincial authorities have told farmers not to grow off-season rice, and fishermen not to raise fish in floating baskets in the Ping River. They have been told there is not enough water. The ban has been in place since November.However, farmers in some areas were defying the ban and planting another crop, Jaensak Lipiti, director of Chiang Mai irrigation office, said on Thursday.
A recent survey had found the area planted in second-crop rice had been reduced from the usual hundreds of thousands of rai to a few thousand rai, mostly in Mae Taeng district, said Mr Jaensak.He warned authorities would take tough measures against those defying the ban. Offenders would not be entitled to any compensation or any form of state assistance if their second crop failed, withered or died from lack of water, he said.Fish raising in floating baskets was still found at Tha Makor weir in tambon Nong Tong of Hang Dong district, the provincial irrigation office chief said.
Those fish farmers had defied the ban while officials were discharging water from Mae Ngad Somboon Chon Dam in Mae Taeng district to supply the ecological system and help longan farmers, said Mr Jaensak. Fish raisers had illegally drained water from the dam for fish being raised in baskets in the weir.The provincial fisheries office had recently ordered these people to remove their fish from the weir. They were also told not to raise fish in floating baskets in the weir again, or they would face legal action, he said.
The Bangkok Post


 





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