10th august ,2017 daily global regional & local rice e newsletter

Daily Global Rice Rice News Headlines....

E-Newsletter

1

August 10,2017 Vol 8 Issue VIII

 `Leadership Change at Arkansas Rice Federation  The Rice Leadership Program - guaranteed to change your life  United States Long-Grain Rice Seeds Market 2017 – Industry Analysis, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast from 2012-2022  Saving water a vital part of rice profitability formula  Why Bangladesh ignores Indian rice  FAO to boost rice production in Africa  Satake's business growing in ASEAN nations  Vietnam’s seven-month export revenue up 18.7 pct  Emergency rice fund beefed up in Cambodia  Why not buy rice from Southeast Asian countries?  Focus on Thailand  Inflation inches down to 5.57pc  Arkansas Rice Federation Names Lauren Waldrip Ward Executive Director  No fake rice in Abra  Govt to further slash duty on rice import  Government issues rules for MAV rice importation  Multi-nutrient Rice to Fight Malnutrition  SunRice seeks new opportunities to increase returns for growers  India. Rupee appreciation to impact Rice exports  Government issues rules for MAV rice importation  Rice to riches: Vietnam's shrimp farmers fish for fortunes  Annual rice exports to be $2.5bn by 2030  Floods damage rice crops in Mekong Delta  Officials claim end to hunger in sight thanks to rice surplus  Indonesia to export rice, provide agriculture training to three Pacific Island countries  Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- August 10, 2017  United StatesOnline Rice Milling Machinery Market 2017 – Industry Analysis, Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell #Share, 0321 369 2874 Growth, Trends and Forecast from www2012-2022 .riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com Monitor Latest Updates on www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com

2

News Detail...

Leadership Change at Arkansas Rice Federation

`

By Deborah Willenborg LITTLE ROCK, AR -- The Arkansas Rice Federation Board announced today that Lauren Waldrip Ward has been selected as the new Executive Director.

Originally from Moro, Arkansas, Ward was raised on a rice, soybean, and corn farm and is the

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

3

fifth-generation descendant of a Delta farm family. Ward has staffed the Federation since March 2015, assisting in trade association management, media relations, communications, PAC management, and public affairs. She traveled to Cuba on a trade mission in June of 2016 as part of the ongoing effort to normalize relations with the country and reopen the Cuban market to Arkansas rice.

"I am honored to have this leadership opportunity to support and promote an industry that has given so much to me, to Arkansas, and to the world," Ward said. "Rice is a big part of my life story and now more than ever, it is vital that we tell the story of Arkansas agriculture and our rural communities. I look forward to continuing my advocacy on the issues that face our growers and our industry."

"Lauren's thorough background and knowledge of the industry has been an asset to the Federation since she began," Arkansas Rice Federation Chairman Jeff Rutledge said. "We are excited about what the future holds for the Federation and Arkansas's rice industry under her leadership as executive director."

Former executive director Ben Noble will be the new vice president of marketing and strategy at Riceland Foods Inc. starting September 1.The Arkansas Rice Federation represents all aspects of the rice industry including the Arkansas Rice Council, Arkansas Rice Farmers, Arkansas Rice Merchants and Arkansas Rice Millers. Rice Foundation Accepting Applications for 2018 Rice

Leadership Development Program

By Chuck Wilson STUTTGART, AR -- The Rice Foundation is accepting applications for the 2018 Rice Leadership Development Program. Rice producers or industry-related professionals between the ages of 25 and 45 are eligible to apply for the program. The application deadline is October 7.

The Rice Leadership Development Program provides a comprehensive understanding of the rice industry, with an emphasis on personal development and communication skills. During a twoyear period, class members attend four one-week sessions designed to strengthen leadership skills through studies of all aspects of the rice industry.

The class is comprised of five rice producers and two industry-related professionals chosen by a committee of agribusiness leaders. The committee evaluates the applications of all candidates, reviews letters of recommendation, and conducts personal interviews with the finalists.

Interviews will be conducted at the USA Rice Outlook Conference in Memphis, Tennessee, in December.

The program is sponsored by John Deere Company, RiceTec, Inc., and American Commodity Company through The Rice Foundation and managed by USA Rice. Additional information on

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

4

the Rice Leadership Development Program and an application form can be found on the USA Rice website.

The Rice Leadership Program - guaranteed to change your life

Angola - Thai Blue String Rice Suitable for Human Consumption Luanda — "Blue String" brand rice from the Republic of Thailand has normal characteristics and is suitable for human consumption, the Ministry of Trade said on Monday in Luanda.The results indicate that the rice is suitable for human consumption, without any inconvenience, the inspector-general for trade, Heleno Antunes, said so at press conference after analyzing it in three different laboratories inside and outside the country.The official said that after the denunciations received by the Ministry, the sector seized 12.500 bags of rice of 25 kilos each, which have now been delivered to the respective owners.

However, he considered the denunciations circulated http://allafrica.com/stories/201708080892.html

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

5

The Stooped of Labour of Woemn Rice Faremers 

Meet the women who labour on farms for our plates of rice.

SHIZA MALIK It‘s a sweltering June day in Muridke in Sheikhupura district in Punjab. The harsh summer sun glints off of the rice paddies which cover thousands of acres in this area. Some of the world‘s finest Basmati rice is grown here. Dotting these paddies are the colourful figures of hundreds of women bent over the sodden earth, manually planting each seedling.Razia Bibi and her daughters wade through the pesticide filled muddy sludge, which fills the field. They hold bunches of seedlings in one hand and use the other to swiftly place each plant into the earth at a specific distance. Doing this work for every summer of their lives has made their movements almost mechanical and working in large groups, they manage to transplant rice over large swathes of land each day. But, the land they work on is not theirs, neither is the rice they grow.

The working conditions are harsh; the water that fills the fields is full of leeches and corrosive chemicals. Each day someone in the group collapses from the heat. The wages are abysmal. But, Razia is a widow with six children, two of whom have polio. So in a place like Muridke, her options are limited.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

6

Women work in harsh conditions, for minimum wages in rice fields across Punjab. — Photos by Ahsan Mahmood.

Like most industrial cities along this stretch of the G.T Road, Muridke is chaotic, polluted and deeply unequal. Capitalist development has come here in bits and has left most behind in its wake.

The nouveau riche drive expensive cars on perpetually dug up roads and the forlorn faces of the poor stare from the back of Qingqi rickshaws. Small and medium industrial units are ever multiplying but never have enough electricity. Local clothing brands have arrived in hordes.

There is even a McDonald‘s. But, basic civic amenities are missing, as are educational and employment opportunities.

In the urban areas most women work in the informal sector as domestic workers, whereas in the rural areas they are employed in agricultural labour. In most farms, makeshift cots hang from trees where babies of the women working in the fields sleep. Toddlers splash around in the polluted water in the rice paddies and as soon as they are old enough to use their hands they are expected to join their family in agricultural labour.

Within the rice value-chain, women‘s main role is during the transplantation of rice from nurseries, which takes place for around 45 days once a year. Explanations of why this task is reserved almost exclusively for women vary.

The women rice workers argue transplantation of rice is too arduous a task for men to perform.

Others such as landowners claim women are able to stay bent for longer periods of time. In the

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

7

past, women were also involved in the harvesting of rice and would collect the grains. However, now most farmers use mechanical harvesters, which has also taken away these women‘s chance of collecting some grains to take home.

The men on the rice farms lead relatively simpler times as compared to the women.

Meet the women filling plates our of rice Shagufta is sixteen. She was eight when she was forced to leave school and join the rest of her family in agricultural labour. ―My mother said she could no longer make ends meet so it was time I contributed to the family income,‖ she says.

She misses school. ―I used to hate the teacher, he would beat us. But, now I wish I could turn back time. I wish I could throw on a starched white uniform, go to school and study hard. I even miss the beatings,‖ she says with a wistful smile.

For a whole day's work, Shagufta says she makes around 100 Rupees, none of which she gets to keep. ―If I have done the work, I should get to keep the money, but that‘s not how it works does it? I give every penny to my family because if I don‘t, nobody gets to eat,‖ she says.

Women‘s work in the transplantation process is part of the package of services offered by a group or a family on a single acre of rice for which they are paid between Rs2500 and Rs3000 and the individuals within the group are not separately compensated.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

8

Despite their back-breaking work in the fields, women often have to take out loans for medical expenses and electricity bills aside from farming essentials.

Shamshad Bibi is a rice grower. Landless farmers like her lease the land from landowners on which they grow crops to sell to a middleman, locally referred to as an Aarti. She explains how the high cost of inputs, coupled with the expenses of the families, which almost always exceeds their income, puts them in an exploitative relationship with the Aarti. ―The Aarti is the only

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

9

person who will lend to us. We borrow money for pesticides, fertilisers, electricity bills and also for weddings and medical emergencies,‖ she says. ―When the crop is ready, we take the harvested rice to the Aarti who is supposed to pay for grain, but since most people have already borrowed so much, hardly any cash is given,‖ Shamshad explains. ―When you‘re illiterate you can‘t even argue with the math,‖ she adds.

Fatima Bibi, another rice grower, says she faces abuse and insult from whoever she asks for money, whether it is a loan or payment of wages. ―I‘ve even been beaten for asking. Where someone had borrowed Rs1000 they insist it was 2000 and you can‘t argue back,‖ she says.

Being poor means these women also have no social or legal protections against sexual exploitation and harassment. ―The boys of landowners say lewd things to us. They throw water on the girls and try to grab us any chance they get,‖ Shagufta says.

Her aunt Zubaida says this is very common, no one says anything. ―We are too poor to take these people on,‖ she says. ―I was bending down to transplant the seedlings one day and when I tried to get up, I couldn‘t.

Since then, I have suffered from severe back pain,‖ — Shenaz Bibi, 65 A large portion of the income earned by these families goes towards medical expenses. The arduous labour is taxing on the body. Fumes rise from the polluted water filling the fields and affecting the lungs. Almost all those who work in rice paddies suffer from Foot Immersion disease, a condition so common in rice workers it is called ‗paddy-foot‘, where the skin on their feet and hands begins to decay and blister, leading to sores breaking out.

Constant immersion in hot water also causes the nails to become infected and come off. The paddies are full of snakes and leeches, and bending down for hours at a stretch leaves many permanently handicapped.

Shehnaz Bibi says she was a little girl when her mother passed away and her grandparents put her to work in the fields. She continued to transplant rice for the rest of her life, until the age of around 65 when she suffered a herniated disk. ―I was bending down to transplant the seedlings one day and when I tried to get up, I couldn‘t. Since then, I have suffered from severe back pain,‖ she narrates.

There are no free medical services in these villages and travelling to the nearest government hospitals is an added expense. Fatima Bibi says the hospitals are so overcrowded, the staff treats poor people like her very badly.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

10

―If you have money you can go to see a private doctor, otherwise you can suffer at home and even die. No one cares,‖ Shehnaz Bibi states indignantly. A number of these plague rice farmers across Asia.

Hope on the horizon International NGO Oxfam is working towards promoting sustainable supply chains for agricultural products within which women are adequately compensated. The country director for Oxfam in Pakistan Mohammad Qazilbash told Dawn that agribusiness companies have a role to play in improving the conditions of rice workers. ―Oxfam is working with MATCO, Pakistan‘s largest rice exporter and other agribusiness companies to promote corporate social responsibility and other private sector regulatory frameworks to ensure better conditions for rice workers,‖ he said.

Women rice farmers spend the day immersed in hot water, carrying infectious diseases apart from leeches and snakes.However, Qazilbash added that consumers couldn‘t be absolved of responsibility urging them to ―make more ethical choices and ask businesses how their rice is sourced. They need to demand that workers are treated in a dignified manner in accordance with labour laws.‖ Additionally, he said, the government must play its role in promoting pro-poor policies and ensure that adequate health and childcare facilities are provided to cotton-pickers, rice growers and other workers in the agriculture value-chains. ―Moreover, investment should be made to promote responsible and innovative small and medium enterprises in the agricultural sector.‖ https://www.dawn.com/news/1347349

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

11

United States Long-Grain Rice Seeds Market 2017 – Industry Analysis, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast from 2012-2022

By Ajinkya Ghule August 9, 2017

The United States Long-Grain Rice Seeds Market 2017 research report mainly focuses on the current scenario of Long-Grain Rice Seeds market along with the future plan of actions. It also examines the state of the Long-Grain Rice Seeds market along with competing landscapes all over the United States. The Long-Grain Rice Seeds report characterizes industry judgment from experts. The report also throws a light on the emerging areas and growth stats of Long-Grain Rice Seeds market.Long-Grain Rice Seeds industry report covers the major market of United States including regions like The West, New England, The South, The Middle Atlantic, The MidWest and The Southwest. The report includes following key players in the Long-Grain Rice Seeds industry from different parts of the United States.

United States Long-Grain Rice Seeds Market 2017: Competitive Regions and Key Vendors 1 Dupont Pioneer 2 Bayer 3 Nuziveedu Seeds 4 Kaveri 5 Mahyco 6 RiceTec 7 Krishidhan

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

12

8 Rasi Seeds 9 JK seeds 10 Syngenta 11 Longping High-tech 12 China National Seed 13 Dabei Nong Group 14 Hefei Fengle 15 Gansu Dunhuang Seed 16 Dongya Seed Industry 17 Keeplong Seeds 18 Anhui Nongken 19 Beijing Doneed Seeds

Long-Grain Rice Seeds Market 2017: Type Segment Analysis Japonica Rice Indica Rice Long-Grain Rice Seeds Market 2017: Application Segment Analysis Agricultural Planting Scientific and Research Planting The United States Long-Grain Rice Seeds report is categorized on the basis of Long-Grain Rice Seeds top manufacturers, region-wise classification, various end user applications and different product types included in Long-Grain Rice Seeds industry. The Long-Grain Rice Seeds research report gives the information about different market segments, cost, different categories of the product along with LongGrain Rice Seeds market revenue.

It also gives vital contact information about the company along with company profile, rules and regulations of Long-Grain Rice Seeds industry in the United States. It also examines the Long-Grain Rice Seeds industry report by dividing it according to the basic overview of Long-Grain Rice Seeds market.

The middle part of the report focuses on various types of product classified according to the Long-Grain Rice Seeds market share and market applications in Long-Grain Rice Seeds industry. It also lights up the core part of the Long-Grain Rice Seeds industry such as import/export details, usage figures and industry chain supply of Long-Grain Rice Seeds market.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

13 Purchase Complete Report Here (To Get Instant Access): http://qyresearch.us/report/united-states-longgrain-rice-seeds-market-2017/55070/ Later, the United States Long-Grain Rice Seeds Market 2017 report displays the tactful decisions that the customers should take. It gives you various business approaches required for Long-Grain Rice Seeds industry, the customer‘s experiences and benefits they got after using the Long-Grain Rice Seeds research report.

It includes the list of dealers, distributors, and traders involved in Long-Grain Rice Seeds industry. Lastly, it gives the brief summary of the entire Long-Grain Rice Seeds report including the results, conclusion, the attached appendix and the source of data http://firstnewshawk.com/united-states-long-grain-rice-seeds-market-2017-industry-analysis-sharegrowth-trends-and-forecast-from-2012-2022/

Saving water a vital part of rice profitability formula Researchers are finding farmers can grow a "nice rice crop" using two acre feet of irrigation water.

Aug 09, 2017 Rice prices have improved somewhat in recent weeks, but not enough to make rice farming truly profitable. That‘s why more than 100 farmers traveled to Osceola, Ark., to attend the Mississippi County Water Management Field Day Tuesday (Aug. 8).

Joe Massey, agronomist with the USDA-ARS Delta Water Management Research Unit at Arkansas State University, set the stage for the presentation, which included talks given by Mike and Ryan Sullivan with Florenden Farms, which hosted the field day.

Dr. Massey said he‘s seen a number of farmers grow ―a nice rice crop‖ with only two acre-feet of water. That could be increasingly important as growers try to conserve water in areas like the Grand Prairie of Arkansas. http://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/saving-water-vital-part-rice-profitability-formula

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

14

Why Bangladesh ignores Indian rice UPA-era talks on FCI delivering rice to Bangladesh failed because of the PSU‘s limitations.

Indian private rice trade partnering FCI could be a wayout.

By: Tejinder Narang | New Delhi | Published: August 9, 2017 4:24 AM

Some shipments of Indian rice have been made through land/sea routes by private trade.

(Reuters) Bangladesh is experiencing a severe scarcity of rice this year. The government of Bangladesh (GoB) initially arrived at an import demand of 1.2 million tonnes (mt) of rice, but this later escalated to 1.5 mt due to crop losses, caused by heavy flooding in the country—75% requirement of Bangladesh is of parboiled (PB) rice while the rest is of white rice (WR).

After 2011, May 2017 was the first time that GoB sought rice supplies, from Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia on a G2G (government-to-government) basis by dispatching official delegations

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

15

and simultaneously issuing import tenders of 50,000 tonnes each. Five tenders have been opened so far. No serious attempt appears to have been made by GoB in raising this with the Indian government. Some shipments of Indian rice—about 1.5 lakh mt—have been made through land/sea routes by private trade. Meanwhile, rice prices in Dhaka have risen from 28 taka/kg to 45 taka/kg, up by 61% in last three months.

India is not only the world‘s largest exporter of rice (about 11-12 mt annually of both basmati and non-basmati), it also enjoys supremacy in the global PB rice trade—and PB is the major demand component of Bangladesh. Logistically, too, India is well-placed, being a neighbouring country for Bangladesh—much closer than Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. Thus, cargo from India can reach Bangladesh the very same day of dispatch via the land route or in less than 3-4 days via the sea. India can offer competitive prices on delivered (CIF) basis which other bidders may not be able to match for same quality. It seems that GoB has not done serious reconnaissance, and therefore is buying rice at customised and elevated prices, rather than market prices, under G2G deals signed so far.

Vietnam The accompanying graphic shows that the G2G deal with Vietnam (annual rice export 5-6 mt) concluded in May 2017. The deal was for 0.2 mt of 5% broken PB rice, which was priced at $470/tonne CIF. This is much higher than the PB rice sourced by GOB against their first tender of May 2017, that was priced at $427.85 /tonne CIF. It is well-known that Vietnam is an inefficient producer of PB rice.

Likewise 50,000 tonnes of 15% broken WR was bought at $430/t CIF from Vietnam. This was higher by $23/tonne or $406.48/mt CIF. G2G deals are expensive while tendered supplies are substantially cheaper. Has Vietnam been able to make deliveries faster than those awarded against tenders is unclear. Five tenders amply reveal that PB rice prices in Bangladesh range around $2-$440/t CIF. Thailand GoB also had extensive negotiations with its Thai counterpart twice, but no conclusion could be arrived at. According to trade sources, Thais want to do business on an FOB basis, i.e., Thai

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

16

suppliers do not want to undertake obligations of hiring vessels and for being held liable for claims of quality and quantity at discharge port. GOB perhaps cannot deviate from the established procedure of CIF contracting and thus discussions remained inconclusive. Thais, too, had indicated exorbitant values, even higher than Vietnam‘s.

Cambodia Another MoU has been reportedly signed by GoB with Cambodia (around end-July, earlyAugust) to import 1 mt rice within five years. Pricing of rice, if any, is not in public domain.

Long-term understanding in the commodity trade seldom materialises. Cambodia‘s official export is about 0.5 mt, while the balance 0.6 mt is cross-border unofficial trade with Vietnam and Thailand. Cambodia is not adept in shipping bulk cargoes and makes shipments through containers. It will be naïve to seek 0.2 mt rice in a year from Cambodia on bulk basis.

India It is true that while GoB approached GoI in the past (during UPA rule) to augment their supplies through FCI, FCI adopted an inflexible stance of delivering rice on ‗as is, where is‘ basis and that too at Indian ports only. This perhaps discouraged GoB from taking any proactive approach for Indian rice in the G2G route. Also, FCI‘s rice export through PSUs is not feasible as this entails additional operations like re-bagging, printing on bags, cleaning, upgrading (from 15% broken to 5% for PB rice and to 15% from 25% for WR), transit losses, etc, which the PSU cannot undertake.

The only way a commercial transaction through PSUs can be structured is by having private partnership with rice millers/traders who have demonstrated in the past the capability to undertake exports. The PSU, too, should have exported rice commercially. GoB should approach GoI through diplomatic channels for such a deal. Market players indicate that some discussions of GoB with Indian PSUs took place, but were then abandoned. It is also feasible that if private trade from India is willing to match tendered price in the current bidding, then such a bidder could be considered for additional 50,000 mt or more.It is not sufficient to have paper contracts or low/high prices—such contracts and prices should translate into physical deliveries of rice for the people of Bangladesh. Rice prices in India are likely to soften in next 60 days when new

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

17

paddy arrives. Estimates of Indian rice production are 108-110 mt. GoB may need to think hard if Indian grain/agencies can meet its requirements as it is doing for 1.25 billion population in India and for the US and some countries in Asia, Africa and Europe http://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/why-bangladesh-ignores-indian-rice/799894/

FAO to boost rice production in Africa Wednesday 9th August, 2017

By Benjamin Mensah, GNA Elmina, Aug 9, FAO - Rice farmers in Africa should be empowered with more resources for higher productivity and less post-harvest losses for food security, job creation and improvement in livelihoods.

Mr Bukar Tijani, FAO Assistant Director General and Regional Representative for Africa, maintained that food production and nutrition were still basic human needs, which required the commitment of more resources and investment even as many economies in Africa turn their attention to mineral and oil wealth.

Opening a five day workshop underway in Elmina, on ―knowledge sharing for the promotion of efficient rice farming practices and value chains in Sub- Saharan Africa through South-South Co-operation,‖ Mr Tijani highlighted the rice value chain as a major example of agriculture‘s potential for income and employment generation and a critical entry point for poverty reduction.

He said rice production in better and higher volume has the potential to induce economic development in Africa, and that required that government committed more resources to its production and that of other staples.

There has been a sharp rise in rice production in Africa in recent years, but producers in the region continue to contend with the lack of right and enough planting materials, tools, machinery for land preparation, harvesting, processing and prevention of post harvest losses.

Growth rates went up to a high eight per cent between 2007- 2012, but there were significant post-harvest losses of between 15-25 per cent.

Top rice producing countries in Africa, namely Nigeria, Madagascar, Guinea, Cote d‘Ivoire and Tanzania have boosted their rice production through the introduction of high yield technologies and the application of modern rice cultivation techniques including mechanization.

Mr Tijani noted that the availability of right quality and quantity of seeds, improved geographical and environmental conditions, capacity development, and suitable technology, especially locally manufactured small-scale machinery supported by FAO‘s South-South

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

18

Cooperation (SSC) approach as fundamental to efforts to improve the quality of rice production and reduce post-harvest losses.

South- South Cooperation approach places emphasis on the mutual sharing and exchange of development solutions as a pathway towards the achievement of regional and national agriculture development goals.

It focuses on facilitating the exchange of agriculture development innovations through a range of methods such as the deployment of experts, policy dialogues, technology exchanges, study tours and learning programmes The FAO is working closely with knowledge and research institutions to scale up the application of technologies able to enhance agriculture and rural development.

Mr Tijani assured the conference participants that the South- South team engaged development institutions including national and regional stakeholders in the promotions of SSC knowledge exchange networks and platforms based on an overarching demand driven approach.

Consequently, FAO is actively supporting AfricaRice in the establishment of rice centres of excellence such as the Africa Korea Rice breeding laboratory launched this month in Saint Louis, Senegal.

Under the five million dollar regional project called ‗Partnership for Sustainable Rice Systems Development in Sub-Saharan Africa, FAO is supporting the sharing of technologies and innovations among beneficiary countries, as well as capacity building, while facilitating access by smallholders, especially women and young people, to inputs and small-scale agricultural equipment. It is envisaged that all targeted project beneficiaries located in Benin, Cameroon, Cote D‘Ivoire, Guinea, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda will benefit from the impact of planned actions.

Mr Josey Kamanda, Leader of Rice Sector Development of the Abidjan-based Africa Rice, said rice is a strategic and priority food security crop in Africa, the single most important source of dietary energy in West Africa and Madagascar.

Rice is also the third most important crop for Africa as a whole; and it offers s a pathway out of poverty and employment opportunities for young men and women entering job markets.

He noted that rice demand was growing at more than six per cent a year and faster than for any other major food staple in SSA, but the local production has been unable to keep pace with demand.

The continent continues to rely on importation to meet its increasing demand for rice.

In 2015 rice production in SSA was approximately 14.4 million tons and consumption approximately 26 million tons, reflecting a self-sufficiency ratio of 55%. This increase in

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

19

demand is caused both by accelerating growth of per capita incomes in most of the countries and high population growth rates. SSA currently spends about 5 billion US dollars on rice import annually.

He said: ―As the demand-supply gap continues to widen, there was an increasing need for investments that will significantly increase local rice production to reduce the import bill.

The FAO responded to requests received from African Heads of States and Ministers of Agriculture for increased rice productivity and production by initiating a partnership for sustainable rice systems development in Africa (PARDA).

The initiative sought to mobilize resources and key partners at the global, regional, sub-regional and national levels to jointly develop and implement a holistic and comprehensive programme for sustainable rice systems development in the region. PARDA expected outputs include increased access to and utilization of quality seeds and appropriate rice varieties (ii) increased production and productivity in the major rice production systems and reduced post-harvest losses and improved grain quality.

Other interventions are finding options for effective policies, institutions and markets developed/promoted, developing linkages between actors of the rice value chain strengthened and ensuring a self-sustaining partnership for rice development.

Within the framework of PARDA, AfricaRice and FAO have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that builds on their long-standing collaboration, spanning over a period of 40 years.

AfricaRice‘s concept of working towards widespread diffusion and use of scalable rice technologies and innovations in rice sector development hubs established in African countries is aligned with the broader concept and activities of PARDA and can make a significant contribution to the achievement of its goals.

The workshop is being attended by representatives from FAO partner institutions– AfricaRice, Coalition for Africa Rice Development (CARD), Rural Development Administration (RDA)– Korea and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Government representatives, FAO officials from Africa country offices and FAO Regional office for Africa.

It will provide an effective platform to share knowledge, experiences and best practices for sustainable rice intensification and provide guidance on the documentation of innovative models to enhance rice production systems and accelerate rice value chain development.

GNA Share

http://www.ghananewsagency.org/economics/fao-to-boost-rice-production-in-africa-120750

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

20

Satake's business growing in ASEAN nations August 8, 2017 - by Susan Reidy

Satake recently built a rice mill factory for Primalis in Cambodia.

Photo courtesy of Satake.

HIROSHIMA, JAPAN – Satake said it has been focusing on the Asian market in response to a growing number of large-scale rice mills.

In 2016, Satake completed construction of new rice mill factories in Laos, Cambodia and other ASEAN countries. Last December, it built a rice milling factory for Primalis Corp., a major trading company in Cambodia. It has a capacity of 20 tph paddy input and more than 40 units of intermediate silos, enabling it to produce a variety of rice.

Satake has supplied its machines to more than 150 countries. The Asian market (except for Japan) occupies 10% of global turnover. Asia, including Japan, is a huge market and produces a majority of all rice globally. With ongoing economic development, high-quality rice is in great demand.

Satake said it is planning to increase its sales offices in Asia with the aim of targeting both medium- and small-sized rice mills. Most of its existing customers are larger-scale millers. More than 150 international engineers have completed technical training in Japan and Thailand since 2012 to strengthen after-sales service and the maintenance of machinery.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

21

In addition, Satake is introducing a pre-fabricated plant. Satake Thailand manufactures the rice processing machinery, including pipes, fabricated tanks, platforms and ducting, and then assembles them on site in a simple method. The pre-fabricated plant offers standardization and improvement in the quality of the full facility, and a 30% reduction in construction time. http://www.worldgrain.com/articles/news_home/Supplier_Update/2017/08/Satakes_business_growing_in_AS.aspx?ID={7 85448AD-5A5A-4978-AD73-25B13959C6DA}

Vietnam’s seven-month export revenue up 18.7 pct VNA TUESDAY, AUGUST 08, 2017 - 19:00:00 PRINT

Vietnam's rice export - Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam‘s total export earnings hit 17.5 billion USD in July, bringing the seven-month total to 115.2 billion USD, up 18.7 percent annually, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).

In particular, agro-forestry-fisheries remained a key currency earner.

After a Memorandum of Understanding on rice trade was extended in late May by the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Bangladeshi Food Ministry, rice export has kept growing, ending the prolonged decline.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

22

Accordingly, Vietnam shipped 465,000 tonnes of rice worth 201 million USD abroad in July, pushing the total rice exports in seven months to 3.3 million tonnes valued at 1.5 billion USD, up 15.7 percent and 13.7 percent in volume and value, respectively.

The country recently won a bid to export 175,000 tonnes of rice to the Philippines, slightly raising the domestic rice prices in the south.

Fuel, minerals and processing industry with key items such as coal, crude oil, petroleum, apparel, leather and footwear, computers and cell phones continued moderate growth of 18.1 – 39.4 percent.

The US remained the largest exporter with seven-month value of 23.4 billion USD, up 9.9 percent year-on-year. It was followed by the European Union, China, ASEAN, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

During the month, Vietnam spent 17.8 billion USD on imports, down 1.6 percent. On sevenmonth calculation, the total imports soared 24 percent to 118.3 billion USD. Therefore, its trade deficit reached 300 million USD in July and roughly 3.08 billion USD in seven months, or 2.7 percent of the total export.

The MoIT forecast that the total export revenue will near 200 billion USD this year, marking a 13 percent increase annually. The total trade deficit will be about 5 billion USD, or 2.5 percent of the total export and lower than 3 percent set by the National Assembly.

Imports will scale down between now and the year‘s end due to massive disbursement for imports early this year.

The ministry will also adopt trade defence measures for imports in line with the law and international commitments.-VNA http://en.vietnamplus.vn/vietnams-sevenmonth-export-revenue-up-187-pct/116025.vnp

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

23

Emergency rice fund beefed up in Cambodia

The government in Cambodia is pumping more money into its emergency rice loan fund ahead of next month‘s rice harvest, raising the fund‘s total capital to $50 million despite millers showing little inclination to borrow from it last season. In the photo, a tractor moves on a paddy field last year in Tbong Khmum province of the country. Photo: The Phnom Penh Post/ Asia News Network Cambodia's government is putting more money into its emergency rice fund, despite farmers' lack of inclination to borrow.

The government is pumping more money into its emergency rice loan fund ahead of next month‘s rice harvest, raising the fund‘s total capital to $50 million despite millers showing little inclination to borrow from it last season.

Kao Thach, CEO of the state-owned Rural Development Bank (RDB), said yesterday that the government had officially signed off on an additional $23 million for the fund, which he said should be sufficient to prop up the struggling rice sector. ―The government recently approved another $23 million to help the rice industry, and the new budget will be used to support millers who have insufficient funds,‖ he said yesterday.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

24

The government launched the fund with $27 million last September in response to private-sector demands for support following two consecutive years of drought and falling rice prices that threatened to collapse the local industry.

The fund was intended to provide low-interest loans to rice millers via RDB that would allow them to purchase and store more rice paddy – a move expected to improve the prices paid to farmers.

While Thach admitted that just $3.5 million of the $27 million made available was utilised, he insisted that millers would respond more assertively in the coming season. ―Even though little was used from the previous package, the private sector still claimed that [$27 million] would not be enough for this season as demand for the loans is predicted to increase,‖ he said, adding that the reason why the first package appeared unsuccessful was because millers were apprehensive over the instability of the market.

Thach said while no millers had come forward yet to apply for the emergency loans, he expected applications to begin trickling in by the end of the month.

The government-backed aid package has morphed since its conception, with part of the initial $27 million being opened up to the struggling corn sector last month. So far the RDB has provided only one loan to the corn sector worth $20,000, backed by 1,500 tonnes of corn stock as collateral, according to Thach.

He explained that the fund‘s initial $27 million would still be available to either the corn or rice sector, while the additional $23 million was earmarked solely for the rice industry. ―In total, with the available loan size for the rice industry now at $50 million, interest rates will be lower at 5 percent annual interest,‖ he said. ―However, the criteria for accessing the loan will be the same, based on the stocks of paddy rice as collateral.‖ Regardless of the additional financing, Tang Chhong Ngy, marketing manager of rice miller LBN Angkor (Kampuchea), said rice millers still had the same concerns over meeting the RDB‘s collateral requirements. ―The loan is necessary for rice millers, but the collateral is not in line with reality, which is why many have not been able to access the funding,‖ he said. ―The criteria for applying loans can work only for big rice millers and exporters, not for small shareholders.‖ The crux of the problem, he added, was that ―the loan is meant to help the rice sector, but it does not realise the reality and complexity of the industry‖.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

25

Phou Puy, CEO of Thaneakea Srov (Kampuchea) Plc, which operates the country‘s first largescale ―rice bank‖ storage facility in Battambang province, said that not only was the industry struggling financially, millers had previously failed to invest in warehousing as farm production increased. However, he was optimistic that rice millers would be better prepared for the upcoming harvest. ―The government has studied the market demand and is well prepared for the coming season,‖ he said. ―We in the private sector are making better preparations to be capable of applying for the loan as we expect this harvest season to be huge and we don‘t want to face any storage shortages.‖ Cambodia exported about 542,000 tonnes of milled rice last year despite the impact of adverse weather on local crops. Exports are expected to increase this year after China doubled its annual import quota to 200,000 tonnes and Bangladesh announced it was considering an import deal to purchase 1 million tonnes of Cambodian rice within the next five years. http://www.thedailystar.net/world/southeast-asia/cambodia-emergency-rice-loan-fund-beefed-farmerlack-inclination-borrow-rural-development-bank-rdb-1445896

Why not buy rice from Southeast Asian countries?

By Wei Jianguo Source:Global Times Published: 2017/8/9 22:03:39 Illustration: Peter C. Espina/GT Recently, the countries alongside the Belt and Road, including Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Pakistan, have entered the harvest season for long-grain rice and high-end glutinous rice.

Thousands of farmers in these countries hope that China, the biggest market for rice, can import more high-quality rice this year.

For historical reasons, once food imports, especially rice imports, are mentioned, it will immediately spark heated debate. Some people think with its large population, China should make food security the priority and be self-sufficient in food supply. Both the southern and northern regions should obey this rule. If imports are necessary, only small amounts and rare types should be allowed.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

26

Others believe that in face of the globalization, China should proceed to moderately import some foreign high-quality agricultural products to satisfy domestic demand as well as aid the industrial development of neighboring countries. I agree with this position.First, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, China's grain acreage in 2016 was 0.3 percent less than the previous year, with a total output of 616 million tons, an 0.8 percent decrease compared to the previous year. In the situation of a slowdown in domestic food production, we should increase imports to enrich the domestic food supply.

Second, with the improvement of people's living standards, the demand for high-end glutinous rice and indica rice including fragrant rice is growing, while these species are in short domestically. Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia enjoy adequate sunshine and abundant rainfall all year round. Thus in these regions, indica rice can yield harvests three times a year. Opening up this import channel can provide extra protection for food security in our country.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

27

We can make full use of our advantages in capital and technology to invest in the rice industry in the countries along the Belt and Road. This can upgrade the rice industry in these countries and steadily improve the quality and production of high-quality rice. In addition to giving guidance on drying, processing and warehousing, China will also be able to improve rice varieties and teach scientific farming methods so that the other nations' own industrial advantages can be improved and their economy can be boosted. In 2016 China's rice imports reached 3.53 million tons, increasing by 5.49 percent from a year ago. In my opinion, more rice can be imported, benefiting economic integration and development. Some people may ask whether rice imports would hurt our own farmers. To address these concerns, we could give appropriate price protection to balance the market. Imported Thai rice and Japanese rice is generally more expensive than domestic rice, and the price of some products is higher than 100 yuan ($15) per kilogram, which creates a built-in price gap between domestic products and imported rice. In the future we will import more high-end rice and indica rice which is rare domestically, and put limitations on importing low-end, ordinary rice. When it comes to rice imports, some people may think of the corruption related to rice transactions in some countries. However, this won't impact our attitude to rice imports, because we have the confidence to trade rice in a just, legal and open environment.

From the global perspective, we can explore more possibilities. If trading rice goes smoothly, can we also trade wheat, barley, corn, cotton, sesame seeds, peanuts, potatoes and other agricultural products? If we can exchange agricultural products, what about seafood and forest products? In terms of countries, I think we may also enlarge the areas of cooperation to Africa, Latin America, Central Asia, the South Pacific, the US and Europe.In conclusion, when globalization is blocked by protectionism from some countries, coordinating domestic and international markets and solving problems brought by global market demand changes is becoming more and more important. While building a safe domestic granary, we should also prioritize our partners' mutual interests and establish a larger community bound by common interest. This will be the win-win approach we should follow.

The author is executive deputy director of China Center for International Economic Exchanges. bizopinion@globaltimes.com.cn

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1060519.shtml

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

28

Focus on Thailand August 8, 2017 - by Chris Lyddon

Asian country is one of the world‘s biggest producers and exporters of rice.

Thailand is one of the world‘s most important producers and exporters of rice, and rice is important in the diet of the average person in Thailand as well as to the country‘s economy. The country imports all its wheat needs.

According to the International Grains Council (IGC), Thailand will produce 5 million tonnes of grains in 2017-18, down from 5.3 million the previous year. The total includes 4.9 million tonnes of maize, down from 5.2 million the previous year. The IGC also forecasts that Thailand will produce an unchanged 100,000 tonnes of sorghum.

The IGC forecasts that Thailand will import 4 million tonnes of grains in 2017-2018, a figure unchanged from the previous year. Imports of wheat are put at 3.4 million tonnes in 2017-18, down from 3.6 million the previous year.

In rice, Thailand is one of the world‘s most important producers and exporters. The IGC forecasts its output in 2017-18 at 19.3 million tonnes, up from 18.5 million the year before. Its projected exports are an unchanged 10.3 million tonnes.

The attaché‘s annual report explained that the recovery in rice production is expected because ―reservoirs are well above critically low levels that hindered 2016-17 rice production.‖ ―The government is likely to sell all of the remaining 2.9 million tonnes of food-quality rice stocks in 2017, which will help maintain Thai rice export volumes,‖ the report said. ―The sale of

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

29

non-food quality government rice stocks is anticipated to increase the use of broken rice by the feed and ethanol industries in 2017 and 2018. Government stocks are expected to decline to 1 million to 2 million tonnes by the end of market year 2017-18.‖ In Thailand, water supplies for both irrigated and non-irrigated growing areas show a considerable improvement on a year earlier, enabling 2017-18 main crop seeding to advance quickly, the IGC said. ―Together with the relatively small secondary (off-season) outturn, planting of which typically commences in November, the area for harvesting is seen expanding by 4% y/y and, on the basis of trend productivity, output is projected to stage a further recovery, to 19.3 million tonnes (18.5 million last year).‖ The government sell-off of reserves would bring down stocks. ―In Thailand, where the government continues to dispose of old crop reserves, inventories are projected at a 10-year low,‖ the IGC said. ―Due to ongoing sales of states reserves, Thailand‘s end-season stocks are predicted to fall to a six-year low of 6 million tonnes (8.1 million last year). On the supply side, the Thai government sold almost 1.7 million tonnes of old crop reserves in its latest auction, although supplies are yet to be released to exporters.‖ Thailand‘s rice exports between January 2017 and April 2017 totaled 3.6 million tonnes, according to the IGC, a figure that is up slightly on the year and the highest since 2011. ―Data show that deliveries to sub-Saharan Africa expanded by one-fifth, to a nine-year peak of 1.8 million tonnes, including substantially larger dispatches to Angola, Benin (mainly for transshipment to Nigeria), Senegal and South Africa,‖ the IGC said, as part of an analysis of that part of Africa‘s rice imports. ―While the region‘s buyers have imported more parboiled supplies, rising by 30%, to 640,000 tonnes, the overall increase was also underpinned by larger purchases of white and broken rice. ―World market availabilities were boosted by the Thai government‘s stock releases and, with offer prices likely pegged at big discounts to open market values, sizeable amounts of lowquality rice have been shipped to Africa.‖ http://www.world-grain.com/Departments/Country-Focus/Country-Focus-Home/Focus%C2%A0onThailand.aspx

Inflation inches down to 5.57pc BBS moves back to monthly inflation reporting

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

30

Md Fazlur Rahman

Inflation declined for the first time in eight months in July thanks to a fall in prices of both food and non-food items.

Last month, the consumer price index fell 0.37 percentage points to 5.57 percent from a month earlier, according to figures released yesterday by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal disclosed the inflation figures after the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council in his ministry.

The fall in inflation came as a surprise for a number of economists. ―Given the rise in rice price and the devaluation of the taka against dollar, which makes imports costlier, we had apprehended that inflation would go up,‖ said Towfiqul Islam Khan, a research fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue.

The prices of many products, including soybean and sugar, have gone down internationally, but the rice prices have gone up, Kamal said.

In Bangladesh, rice, a staple food item, plays an important role in determining inflation. When asked how then inflation went down, the planning minister said: ―The prices of rice go up in cities, not in villages.‖ Yesterday, coarse rice price went up 37.50 percent from a year earlier to Tk 43-45 a kilogram, according to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh, which tracks prices of several items in Dhaka city.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

31

The prices of all other varieties of the staple went up between 12.62 percent and 17.39 percent in the last one year.

In May 2016, coarse rice price was Tk 26.5 a kg, which rose to Tk 47.30 in June. The price came down to Tk 43.50 a kg in July, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.

The UN agency said coarse rice prices rose to record highs in June, reflecting dwindling market availabilities following flood-induced losses to the 2017 main boro crop coupled with reduced production and imports in 2016.

Meanwhile, by making the inflation data available for the month of July, the state-run statistical agency has gone back to monthly release of the key economic indicator.

In July, inflation data was released in a quarterly format for the first time in the country's history, doing away with the global standard practice of releasing monthly data.

The move was much criticised by economists and analysts.

Zahid Hussain, lead economist of the World Bank's Dhaka office, welcomed the switch back to monthly release of inflation data. ―We hope the BBS will maintain this release calendar in the days to come.‖ The decline in food inflation most likely resulted from moderation in rice prices because of the 18 percentage points cut in duty on rice imports and the easing of letters of credit margin requirements, he said.

As a result, rice imports increased significantly in July, leading to a Tk 4-6 per kg decline in rice prices.

In July, food inflation fell 0.56 percentage points to 6.95 percent -- the lowest in three months.

In the food domain, the prices of fish, meat, vegetable, fruits, spices, milk and milk-based food items increased in July. ―Post-Ramadan slowdown in consumer demand is likely to have contributed to the decline in non-food inflation,‖ Hussain added.

Non-food inflation declined 14 basis points to 3.53 percent in July, which was 3.67 percent a month earlier.

However, the cost of energy, house rent, health and transport went up in the non-food segment.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

32

Meanwhile, the average inflation of 5.44 percent recorded last fiscal year was lower than fiscal 2015-16's by 52 basis points as the prices of essential items at home and fuels and some other commodities in external markets maintained a cool trend.

Besides being a 13-year low, the average inflation in fiscal 2016-17 was within the governmentset target of 5.8 percent.

But inflation started to creep up from December last year when the consumer price index stood at 5.03 percent. It went up every month until June.

In the latest monetary policy unveiled last month, the central bank said the food price uptrend caused by the flash flood in the last quarter of fiscal 2016-17 in the haor regions poses risks of inflation.

The BB's fiscal 2017-18's monetary programme seeks to set a prudent, flexible course towards containing 12-month average CPI inflation within 5.5 percent.

According to the BB's latest inflation expectation survey, inflation is expected to be above 6 percent in June 2018.

The central bank's projection shows the average annual inflation for the first half of the fiscal year would be 5.5-5.9 percent. ―Looking ahead, given the domestic inflation dynamics, food price developments and tapering base effects, some price pressures may emerge during fiscal 2017-18 and will need to be monitored and contained carefully,‖ said the monetary policy statement. http://www.thedailystar.net/business/inflation-inches-down-557pc-1446211

Arkansas Rice Federation Names Lauren Waldrip Ward Executive Director

by Arkansas Business Staff

on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017 9:34 am 1 min read

Lauren Waldrip Ward The Arkansas Rice Federation Board on Wednesday announced that Lauren Waldrip Ward has been selected as its new executive director.Originally from Moro (Lee County), Ward was raised on a rice, soybean and corn farm and is the fifth-generation descendant of a Delta farm family.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

33

She joined the federation in March 2015, assisting in trade association management, media relations, communications, PAC management and public affairs.

Ward also traveled to Cuba on a trade mission in June 2016 as part of the ongoing effort to normalize relations with the country and reopen the Cuban market to Arkansas rice. "Rice is a big part of my life story and now more than ever, it is vital that we tell the story of Arkansas agriculture and our rural communities," Ward said in a news release. "I look forward to continuing my advocacy on the issues that face our growers and our industry."

Federation Chairman Jeff Rutledge said in the release, "Lauren's thorough background and knowledge of the industry has been an asset to the Federation since she began. We are excited about what the future holds for the federation and Arkansas' rice industry under her leadership as executive director."

The federation represents all aspects of the rice industry, including the Arkansas Rice Council, Arkansas Rice Farmers, Arkansas Rice Merchants and Arkansas Rice Millers http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/118267/arkansas-rice-federation-names-lauren-ward-executivedirector

No fake rice in Abra Wednesday, August 09, 2017 BANGUED, Abra – - The National Food Authority (NFA) assured that there is no fake rice in the province. Veralew D.G De Vera, branch manager of NFA-Abra, strongly believes the province of Abra is totally free from fake rice. Abra has massive land for production of agricultural products most especially rice which is the staple food of Filipinos. Rice supply in the province is sufficient and they are not importing rice at the moment, he claimed. De Vera also assured that the NFA has adequate supply of rice in its bodegas and is ready to supply the grains requirement of Abra in the next three months or more. (PR) Ads by Kiosked Tags: FAKE RICENATIONAL FOOD

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

34

AUTHORITYNFARICEABRA Published in the SunStar Baguio newspaper on August 10, 2017. Latest issues of SunStar Baguio also available on your mobile phones, laptops, and tablets.

Subscribe to our digital editions at epaper.sunstar.com.ph and get a free seven-day trial http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/local-news/2017/08/09/food-authority-no-fake-rice-abra-557631

Govt to further slash duty on rice import Goes for deal with Thailand to buy the staple

Anticipating a further reduction in import duty, importers delay unloading rice-laden trucks from India at Hili Land Port in Dinajpur. Some 4,500 tonnes of rice are on the trucks and importers expect to save a lot of money. The photo was taken a few days ago. Photo: Collected Reaz Ahmad In a desperate bid to stabilise rice price, the government has decided to further reduce the duty on import of the staple and strike a deal with Thailand to buy rice.

Meanwhile, private importers, anticipating the duty slash, are delaying in having the already imported rice released at the country's two main land ports -- Hili in Dinajpur and Benapole in Jessore.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

35

Over 200 trucks loaded with some 7,000 tonnes of rice were standing still at the ports yesterday.

As rice prices continue to remain high, the food ministry on July 25 proposed to allow import of the staple on zero tariffs.

On Tuesday, the commerce ministry informed the parliamentary standing committee concerned that the government would halve the import duty from 10 percent.

Bahauddin Nasim, a member of the parliamentary body on the ministry, told The Daily Star yesterday although the food ministry insisted on lifting the duty altogether, the government would keep a five percent duty on rice import.

Till last night, the National Board of Revenue, however, did not receive any communications in this regard.

But speculation over an imminent duty cut prompted private importers to go slow with the release of already imported rice consignments from India.

On June 20, the government reduced duty on rice import from 28 percent to 10 percent. As a result, the country witnessed over 2.4 lakh tonnes of rice import in the last one and a half months. This volume is almost double the entire volume of rice imported by private traders in the last financial year.

Mamunur Rashid, an importer, told our Dinajpur correspondent Kongkon Karmaker yesterday that they were taking time in unloading the imported rice as they heard that the government would lower the duty further. ―We are waiting for a final decision from the government,‖ said Rashedul Islam, a Clearing and Forwarding Agent at Hili Land port.

As many as 138 loaded trucks were parked at the port, said Sohrab Hossain, public relation officer of Panama Port Link Ltd at Hili. Import of rice would go up further once the duty is cut off, he said.

Our Benapole correspondent Mohsin Milon reported that 65 rice-laden trucks were kept in port area as importers were waiting to reap the duty-cut benefit.

Meanwhile, a Thai delegation is due in the city today to sign a government-to-government (G2G) deal with the food ministry for export of the staple to Bangladesh.

However, ministry sources yesterday declined to reveal the price at which the government is going to buy the rice from Thailand, which in last month had asked for a high price ($500 a tonne). The price, however, was not agreed by Bangladesh.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

36

Besides, a Cambodian official delegation is also due sometime next week to decide on rice price.

Last week, a MoU (memorandum of understanding) was signed between Bangladesh and Cambodia for the import of 10 lakh tonnes of rice from the Southeast Asian country in next five years.

After with Cambodia, if the deal is signed with Thailand today, it would be the third such import deal in two months since the government approved import of 2.5 lakh tonnes of rice from Vietnam under a separate G2G agreement.

Besides, over the past two months, the Directorate General of Food floated seven international tenders seeking to import an additional 3.5 lakh tonnes of rice.

The moves come long after the crop loss in the March flashflood, which ravaged the backswamps in the country's northeastern region where 90 percent of standing Boro crops, totalling over 10 lakh tonnes, were damaged. Fungal attacks in at least 19 districts also caused crop loss in the last Boro season.

With the Cambodian deal signed, 8.5 lakh tonnes of rice is now lined up for import, which still falls short of a projected import need of 12 lakh tonnes. A recent US Department of Agriculture projection, however, put the figure at 15 lakh tonnes in the current fiscal.

The food ministry's move also comes at a time when end-season rice stock in public granaries dropped to a six-year low and market price of coarse rice shot up to as high as Tk 48 a kg in June-July. This is a 47 percent rise from the price during the same period last year.

Despite government moves and increased imports by the private sector, a Trading Corporation of Bangladesh's market monitoring report shows that the price of coarse rice has remained static at Tk 45 a kg for over two weeks http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/govt-further-slash-duty-rice-import-1446367

Government issues rules for MAV rice importation

By Jasper Y. Arcalas AUGUST 9, 2017 Local traders may start applying for permits to import rice under the minimum access volume (MAV) scheme on August 29, according to the guidelines released by the National Food Authority (NFA) on Wednesday.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

37

The NFA released Memorandum Circular AO-2017-08-002, which detailed the guidelines for the importation of 805,000 metric tons (MT) of rice under the MAV scheme of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Imports within MAV are usually slapped a lower tariff. ―Rice importation under this program shall be pursuant to Republic Act 8179 and the July 24, 2014, decision of the WTO on waiver relating to special treatment for rice of the Philippines,‖ Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B. Evasco Jr., who is also the NFA Council (NFAC) chairman, said in the memorandum circular.

Under the importation guidelines, rice traders are allowed to source from countries with a specific quota and from omnibus origin, or other rice-producing countries.

Rice traders and farmers‘ groups can import 293,100 MT of rice from Thailand and Vietnam.

They can also import 50,000 MT of rice from China, India and Pakistan; 15,000 MT from Australia; and 4,000 MT from El Salvador. ―No applicant shall apply, directly, or indirectly, for an import volume allocation under this program in excess of 20,000 MT for crop year 2016-2017,‖ Evasco said.

Evasco noted that well-milled rice imported under the 2017 MAV program will be slapped a 35percent tariff. The quality should also not lower be than 25-percent brokens and/or any special rice variety.

The NFAC, the highest policy-making body of the NFA, has divided the shipment of rice imports under the 2017 MAV into two phases: first, starting from December 20 until February 28, 2018; and the second phase covering June 1, 2018, until August 31, 2018.

NFA Deputy Administrator for Marketing Operations Tomas R. Escarez told the BusinessMirror that the NFAC scheduled the arrival of rice imports in two phases to ensure imported rice would not depress palay prices.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

38

―The reason behind this is to ensure that its arrival will not coincide with the harvest season, which usually ends on the second week of December. So we allowed imports to arrive between the second week of December until February 28, when there is no harvest of rice,‖ Escarez said in an interview. ―Imported rice will also be allowed to arrive in the country from July to August, because again, these are the lean months for palay. So, this will not affect local producers,‖ he added.

While most of the rice imported under MAV could arrive within 2018, Escarez said the NFA‘s decision to purchase rice from abroad to beef up its buffer stocks would depend on the supply situation next year. ―The importation of 805,200 MT is not usually totally availed because some of the rice come from Australia, China. Usually we do not source from those countries because we import from Asian countries, like Thailand and Vietnam,‖ he added.

After interested importers have filed their letter of intent, the NFA MAV prequalification team will conduct the validation and authentication of all the requirements submitted by the applicants.

The team will also verify if the applicant is a party to any case or investigation for rice smuggling, hoarding, unauthorized rebagging or resacking of government stocks to commercial sacks, diversion and cornering activities. ―The validation would take about another 30 calendar days. So the issuance of certificate of eligibility [COE]will be around first week of November,‖ Escarez said.

He added one of the significant changes in the 2017 MAV importation program is the decision of government to allow rice traders to decide when and how much they will import. For example, traders could choose to import 40 percent of their volume allocation during the first phase and the remaining 60 percent during the second phase of the MAV program, according to Escarez.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

39

―Before, when they receive the COE, they automatically pay 50 percent of the tariff. But now, if you only decide to import 40 percent of your volume during phase 1, they will only pay half of the tariff for the 40-percent volume,‖ he said. ―The remaining tariff shall be paid by the importers once, before the clearance of customs, when their shipments arrive.‖ Under the guidelines, all rice importers are also required to register with the Bureau Plant Industry-National Plant Quarantine Services Division prior to the conduct of negotiation and actual importation.

Last year, the NFA allowed 210 farmers‘ organizations and private firms to import 692,340 MT of rice, 110,160 MT less than the 2016 MAV volume of http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/government-issues-rules-for-mav-rice-importation/

Multi-nutrient Rice to Fight Malnutrition Aug 09, 2017 | Original story from ETH Zurich

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

40

The new rice line in the greenhouse can supply rice consumers with three essential micronutrients in the future. (Image: ETH Zurich / courtesy of Navreet Bhullar)

ETH researchers have developed a new rice variety that not only has increased levels of the micronutrients iron and zinc in the grains, but also produces beta-carotene as a precursor of vitamin A. This could help to reduce micronutrient malnutrition, or «hidden hunger», which is widespread in developing countries.

Nearly every second person eats primarily rice to meet the daily calorie needs. A meal of rice stops the hunger, but contains only very few or none of the essential micronutrients. As a consequence, large segments of the human population are malnourished, especially in Asia and Africa. They do not obtain enough iron, zinc and also vitamin A to stay healthy. Insufficient iron intake results in anemia, retards brain development and increases mortality among women and infants. If children are deficient for vitamin A, they can turn blind and their immune system is weakened, often causing infectious diseases such as measles, diarrhea or malaria.

Golden Rice against vitamin A deficiency To combat malnutrition, ETH researchers led by Ingo Potrykus developed a new rice variety already many years ago that in 2000 became known as «Golden Rice». This was one of the first genetically modified rice varieties in which the researchers could produce beta-carotene, the precursor of vitamin A, in the endosperm of the rice grain. Golden Rice was later improved and is now used in breeding programs in several countries, primarily in Southeast-Asia. To address other micronutrient deficiencies, researchers in the Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology of Professor Gruissem at ETH Zurich and in other countries also developed rice varieties with increased iron levels in the rice and wheat grains, for example.

All of the new transgenic rice varieties have one thing in common, however: they can only provide one particular micronutrient. Until to date, combining several micronutrients into one rice plant was a dream that had not been realized.

First multi-nutrient rice Now a group led by Navreet Bhullar, senior scientist in the Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology at ETH Zurich, report a success in creating a multi-nutrient rice. The results were recently published in the journal Scientific Reports.

The researcher and her PhD student Simrat Pal Singh succeeded in genetically modifying rice plants such that in addition to sufficient levels of iron and zinc, they also produce significant levels of beta-carotene in the endosperm of the grain compared to normal varieties. «Our results demonstrate that it is possible to combine several essential micronutrients - iron, zinc and betacarotene - in a single rice plant for healthy nutrition», explains Bhullar.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

41

Scientifically, the success was the engineering of a gene cassette containing four genes for the micronutrient improvement that could be inserted into the rice genome as a single genetic locus.

This has the advantage that iron, zinc and beta-carotene levels can be simultaneously increased by genetic crosses in rice varieties of various countries. Otherwise it would be necessary to cross rice lines with the individual micronutrients to reach the improved micronutrient content in rice grains.

Bhullar and her PhD students worked several years to establish this proof-of concept. Although the grains of the multi-nutrient rice lines have more beta-carotene than the original japonica rice variety, depending on the lines the beta-carotene content can be ten-fold lower than in Golden Rice 2, the improved variant of Golden Rice. «But if one would substitute 70 percent of the currently consumed white rice with the multi-nutrient variety, this could markedly improve vitamin A supplementation already in addition to sufficient iron and zinc in the diet», emphasizes the researcher.

Multi-nutrient rice variety tested in the greenhouse The new multi-nutrient rice lines are still in their testing phase. Until now the plants have been grown in the greenhouse and analyzed for their micronutrient content. «We will improve the lines further», says Bhullar. It is planned to test the plants in confined field trials to determine if the micronutrient traits and also agronomic properties are equally robust in the field as they are in the greenhouse.

Bhullar hopes that the new rice lines will be tested in the field next year. But she does not know yet when they are ready for production in farmer‘s fields. «It will probably be five years before the multi-nutrient rice can be used to reduce hidden hunger», she says.

This article has been republished from materials provided by ETH Zurich. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

Reference Singh SP, Gruissem W, Bhullar NK. Single genetic locus improvement of iron, zinc and βcarotene content in rice grains. Scientific Reports, published online 31 July 2017.

DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-07198-5 https://www.technologynetworks.com/genomics/news/multi-nutrient-rice-to-fight-malnutrition-290961

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

42

SunRice seeks new opportunities to increase returns for growers NATALIE KOTSIOS, The Weekly Times August 9, 2017 7:00pm

SUNRICE has acknowledged the real risk of its growers turning to other high-value commodities if its doesn‘t improve its farmgate returns.SunRice chief executive Rob Gordon said higher returns were necessary so the rice exporter could ―earn your (rice growers) resources‖, with new markets and supply chains in South-East Asia, China and Europe on the hit list.

It comes as 60 Riverina growers are planning to grow cotton for the first time this year.

SunRice chief executive Rob Gordon ―We‘ve had a good deal of success but the reality is we‘ve probably optimised what we‘ve got and when we have a look at challenges in the Riverina, nothing stands still,‖ Mr Gordon told the Ricegrowers Association of Australia annual conference in Leeton last week. ―Frankly ... we need to be making a better return for you at farmgate otherwise you, as people who have responsibilities within the farm, will need to move to other higher-returning activities.‖ A low Riverina rice crop and low medium-grain rice prices saw SunRice‘s consolidated revenue drop to $1.1 billion for the financial year to April 2017, while net profit was $34.2 million — down 34 per cent from the previous year.

Mr Gordon said SunRice‘s sales line needed to grow by 11 per cent each year — about twice the rate of the past five years — which would see it be a ―substantially different-scale business by 2021 than we are today‖.

Mr Gordon said SunRice was ―at something of a crossroads‖ and if it continued to rely on medium-grain rice sold in its normal channels, ―we will find ourselves increasingly challenged by other nations that have a lower cost base‖.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

43

SunRice‘s new five-year strategy will try to take advantage of emerging food trends, including typically rice-eating nations‘ growing desire for premium produce and health foods.

Mr Gordon said SunRice was ―knocking on the door to China‖ with its low-glycaemic index rice. He said they would not be exporting the low GI rice as a rice commodity, but instead as a health food. China is home to the largest population of diabetics, at 109 million people. SunRice is already selling its products in China through the online shopping platform Alibaba, which it is able to do despite no phytosanitary clearance.

The first order for entry into Malaysia — the most obese nation in South East Asia — has already been received, Mr Gordon said.

The growing, global love of sushi and Japanese cuisine also presented an opportunity for Australian-grown japonica-style rice, while the shift away from sugars and toward gluten-free products meant a rise in rice flour and rice bran.

The global desire for food safety assurances could also see the supply chain expanded in Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar to allow SunRice customers ―dual sourcing‖. http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/agribusiness/cropping/sunrice-seeks-new-opportunities-to-increasereturns-for-growers/news-story/7a2a2bc944a3ff4975bf1c6a4efa1020

India. Rupee appreciation to impact Rice exports With the appreciation of Rupee and the increase in Paddy prices in India the non Basmati Rice shipments became more expensive in the global market and the exports are expected to decline over the next few months. Lower shipments from the world&#39 s biggest Rice exporter will give rivals Vietnam Thailand and Cambodia a chance to raise their share of the global market as the prices in other origins are much cheaper than India.

India was offering 5 percent broken parboiled Rice this week at around $410 a ton and when compared to the price of Thailand it was seen around $390 and $392 per ton and in the case of Vietnam the prices was around $400 and $405 per ton.In 2017 Rupee has appreciated by more than 6.5 percent and reached to its highest in more than two years. A stronger rupee means rice exporters have to increase their export prices to cover their purchases and other costs. http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/india-rupee-appreciation-to-impact-rice-exports

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

44

Government issues rules for MAV rice importation

By Jasper Y. Arcalas AUGUST 9, 2017 Local traders may start applying for permits to import rice under the minimum access volume (MAV) scheme on August 29, according to the guidelines released by the National Food Authority (NFA) on Wednesday.

The NFA released Memorandum Circular AO-2017-08-002, which detailed the guidelines for the importation of 805,000 metric tons (MT) of rice under the MAV scheme of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Imports within MAV are usually slapped a lower tariff. ―Rice importation under this program shall be pursuant to Republic Act 8179 and the July 24, 2014, decision of the WTO on waiver relating to special treatment for rice of the Philippines,‖ Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B. Evasco Jr., who is also the NFA Council (NFAC) chairman, said in the memorandum circular.

Under the importation guidelines, rice traders are allowed to source from countries with a specific quota and from omnibus origin, or other rice-producing countries.

Rice traders and farmers‘ groups can import 293,100 MT of rice from Thailand and Vietnam.

They can also import 50,000 MT of rice from China, India and Pakistan; 15,000 MT from Australia; and 4,000 MT from El Salvador. ―No applicant shall apply, directly, or indirectly, for an import volume allocation under this program in excess of 20,000 MT for crop year 2016-2017,‖ Evasco said.

Evasco noted that well-milled rice imported under the 2017 MAV program will be slapped a 35percent tariff. The quality should also not lower be than 25-percent brokens and/or any special rice variety.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

45

The NFAC, the highest policy-making body of the NFA, has divided the shipment of rice imports under the 2017 MAV into two phases: first, starting from December 20 until February 28, 2018; and the second phase covering June 1, 2018, until August 31, 2018.

NFA Deputy Administrator for Marketing Operations Tomas R. Escarez told the BusinessMirror that the NFAC scheduled the arrival of rice imports in two phases to ensure imported rice would not depress palay prices. ―The reason behind this is to ensure that its arrival will not coincide with the harvest season, which usually ends on the second week of December. So we allowed imports to arrive between the second week of December until February 28, when there is no harvest of rice,‖ Escarez said in an interview. ―Imported rice will also be allowed to arrive in the country from July to August, because again, these are the lean months for palay. So, this will not affect local producers,‖ he added.

While most of the rice imported under MAV could arrive within 2018, Escarez said the NFA‘s decision to purchase rice from abroad to beef up its buffer stocks would depend on the supply situation next year. ―The importation of 805,200 MT is not usually totally availed because some of the rice come from Australia, China. Usually we do not source from those countries because we import from Asian countries, like Thailand and Vietnam,‖ he added.

After interested importers have filed their letter of intent, the NFA MAV prequalification team will conduct the validation and authentication of all the requirements submitted by the applicants.

The team will also verify if the applicant is a party to any case or investigation for rice smuggling, hoarding, unauthorized rebagging or resacking of government stocks to commercial sacks, diversion and cornering activities.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

46

―The validation would take about another 30 calendar days. So the issuance of certificate of eligibility [COE]will be around first week of November,‖ Escarez said.

He added one of the significant changes in the 2017 MAV importation program is the decision of government to allow rice traders to decide when and how much they will import. For example, traders could choose to import 40 percent of their volume allocation during the first phase and the remaining 60 percent during the second phase of the MAV program, according to Escarez. ―Before, when they receive the COE, they automatically pay 50 percent of the tariff. But now, if you only decide to import 40 percent of your volume during phase 1, they will only pay half of the tariff for the 40-percent volume,‖ he said. ―The remaining tariff shall be paid by the importers once, before the clearance of customs, when their shipments arrive.‖ Under the guidelines, all rice importers are also required to register with the Bureau Plant Industry-National Plant Quarantine Services Division prior to the conduct of negotiation and actual importation.

Last year, the NFA allowed 210 farmers‘ organizations and private firms to import 692,340 MT of rice, 110,160 MT less than the 2016 MAV volume of 802,500 MT http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/government-issues-rules-for-mav-rice-importation/

Rice to riches: Vietnam's shrimp farmers fish for fortunes August 9, 2017 by Jenny Vaughan The Mekong Delta, long renowned as the "rice bowl of Vietnam", is now also home to a multibillion-dollar shrimp industry and burgeoning numbers of farmers are building fortunes from the small crustaceans With a flashy gold watch and a chunky matching ring, Tang Van Cuol looks a far cry from the average Vietnamese farmer as he slings back a shot of rice wine and boasts about his projected earnings.

After years scratching a living growing rice and onions or farming ducks, the 54-year-old says his life was transformed in 2000—by shrimp.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

47

The Mekong Delta, long renowned as the "rice bowl of Vietnam", is now also home to a multibillion-dollar shrimp industry and burgeoning numbers of farmers are building fortunes from the small crustaceans.

"Raising shrimp can bring so much income, nothing can compare," Cuol says over lunch with friends, a healthy spread of rice, salad, pork and—of course—shrimp.

This year he expects to make one billion dong, or around $44,000—an enormous sum in the delta, where rice farmers make around $100 a month.

The shrimp bonanza began in the 1990s when rising sea-levels seeped saltwater into the Mekong Delta.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

48

It has surged in parallel with demand from the US and European Union.

Savvy locals were swift to spot the changing conditions were ripe for shrimp farming.

The wealth has transformed Cuol's part of Soc Trang province: motorbikes have replaced bicycles on newly-paved roads dotted with multi-storey concrete homes unimaginable just a generation ago.

Vietnam's shrimp bonanza began in the 1990s when rising sea-levels seeped saltwater into the Mekong Delta Cuol owns several motorbikes, funded his daughter's wedding and claims an impressive collection of antiques "worth hundreds of millions of dong."

Crisis is looming But environmentalists warn that the bounty from intensive shrimp farming may be short-lived.

Today pollution and disease frequently lay waste to crustacean harvests.

But a wider crisis is looming caused by the obliteration of mangrove forests to make way for farms, exposing the area to lashings from storms and further rises in sea-level linked to climate change.

"This is not sustainable," said Andrew Wyatt, Mekong Delta Program Manager at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Vietnam's shrimp-fishing industry has surged in parallel with demand from the US and European Union

The IUCN is encouraging farmers to preserve mangroves and stop using harmful chemicals so their shrimp can be certified as organic, earning a five to 10 percent premium in the process. Yet shrimp farmers say the financial rewards are too great to ignore.

Just like his father and grandfather, Tang Van Tuoi struggled as a rice farmer.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

49

He slept under a roof fashioned from coconut palms, earning just enough to support his family.

But when saltwater started creeping into his rice fields—he saw an opportunity and started harvesting shrimp.

"Now everything is developed, we have vehicles, roads, things have changed massively," he told AFP from his polished living room, where a flatscreen TV hangs over a wood furniture set.

Environmentalists warn that the bounty from intensive shrimp farming may be short-lived as pollution and disease increasingly lay waste to the crustacean harvests in Vietnam

Even in a bad year, he can earn more than he did as a rice farmer. In a good year he can rake in upwards of $40,000.Flush with cash, he has built three homes for his family."We have money, we have enough of

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

50 everything," said the father of six, as his granddaughter played a video game on a smartphone nearby.But he admits that such farming is a gamble.His ponds have been hit by disease and pollution.Attuned to the long-term risks, the government has resisted opening the whole region to the shrimp industry even as seawater continues to seep further inland.

A crisis is looming in Vietnam's Mekong Delta as mangrove forests have been oblierated to make way for shrimp farms, exposing the area to lashings from storms and further rises in sea-level linked to climate change Food fears Instead, authorities have ploughed millions of dollars into sealing off freshwater zones needed to grow rice—the nation's staple—throughout the Mekong Delta.

The strategy is in part to ensure the region can grow enough rice to feed the country, a historic pillar of the communist government's centrally planned economy.

But as the country has embraced market reforms, the lure of exporting high-earning shrimp—mainly to Europe and the United States—has become increasingly attractive.

This year, the prime minister called for shrimp exports to reach $10 billion by 2025, a jump from $3 billion last year.

In parallel, export earnings from rice have steadily declined since 2011, bringing in $2.2 billion last year.

Vietnam's prime minister called for shrimp exports to reach $10 billion by 2025, a jump from $3 billion last year. In parallel, export earnings from rice have steadily declined since 2011, bringing in $2.2 billion last year

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

51 "They're trying to thread a needle between making money off of exports and economic development, but also not sacrificing long-term food security," said Tim Gorman, a Cornell University PHD researcher.

As a result, policies both encourage the quick cash generated by shrimp farms and protect the long-term future of the rice crop.

That can seem contradictory or haphazard to farmers.

In some areas, the government is now urging farmers to grow rice half the year and harvest shrimp for the other half—a hard sell to farmers like Thach Ngoc Cuong who are eager to abandon rice.

He has two plots in Soc Trang province, one contains freshwater for rice, the other is salty for the prized crustaceans.

"I would be very happy if we could raise shrimp on the rice side," he said.

In some areas, Vietnam's government is now urging farmers to grow rice half the year and harvest shrimp for the other half—a hard sell to farmers keen to abandon the former as it is less lucrative : https://phys.org/news/2017-08-rice-riches-vietnam-shrimpfarmers.html#jCphttps://phys.org/news/2017-08-rice-riches-vietnam-shrimp-farmers.html

Annual rice exports to be $2.5bn by 2030 10-Aug-2017 Intellasia | DTI News | 6:00 AM

Rice exports are expected to earn Vietnam from $2.3 to $2.5 billion annually during the 20212030 period, according to the Development Strategy for Rice Export Markets in 2017-2020 and Vision to 2030 approved recently by the prime minister.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

52

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoT) has sent documents to the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the State Bank of Vietnam, the Vietnam Food Association, and other relevant ministries and agencies on the implementation of the strategy.

The strategy aims to enhance the competitiveness and brand of Vietnam‘s rice exports and also defines market diversification, to reduce dependence on certain markets, match international integration trends, and seize the opportunities presented by free trade agreements.

The strategy includes two phases. The first, from 2017-2020, targets annual rice export volumes of 4.5-5 million tonnes with a value of $2.2-2.3 billion. The second phase, from 2021-2030, targets 4 million tonnes worth $2.3-$2.5 billion annually.

The export rice structure is to change by 2020, in which the volume of low-grade white rice is to not exceed 20 per cent, while Japonica will account for 30 per cent, sticky rice 20 per cent, and other rice 5 per cent.

By 2030, white rice is to account for only 25 per cent, average rice less than 10 per cent, Japonica rice 40 per cent, sticky rice 25 per cent, and other nutrient rice more than 10 per cent.

The strategy clearly identifies the export rate in each market by 2020. Exports to Asia are to account for 60 per cent, Africa 22 per cent, the Americas 8 per cent, Europe 5 per cent, Australia 3 per cent, and the Middle East 2 per cent.

Approved by the prime minister, the strategy also puts special emphasis on exports to markets such as Southeast Asia (the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia), China, Japan, and South Korea.

The government also touches on the branding of Vietnamese rice and improving post-harvest technology and the processing of rice products. It will also invest in international-standard rice quality testing labs in the Mekong Delta, to facilitate quality control, contributing to the improvement of Vietnamese rice grains to national standards. http://dtinews.vn/en/news/017004/52239/-annual-rice-exports-to-be–2-5bn-by-2030.html

Floods damage rice crops in Mekong Delta Update: August, 09/2017 - 09:00

A farmer in Long An Province harvests his summer-autumn rice crop early because of rising floodwaters. – Photo sggp.org.vn Viet Nam News MEKONG — Farmers in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta are harvesting their summer-autumn rice crop earlier than usual because of earlier than usual flooding.

Floodwaters in upstream provinces such as Đồng Tháp and An Giang are expected to rise rapidly in the coming days.

Around 3,500 ha of summer-autumn rice crop has been destroyed in Long An Province‘s Tân Hưng District, according to the district‘s Office of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

53

Farmers in the province have harvested around 22,000 ha out of 56,900 ha of rice, with the rest to be harvested by the month‘s end. But around 8,000 ha of rice could be damaged by floods.In An Giang Province, about 610 ha of rice were destroyed by floods.Khương Lê Bình, director of Đồng Tháp Province‘s Hydro-meteorological Station, said the floodwaters were rising about 10cm each day.Authorities of delta provinces have asked districts and wards to develop plans to protect people and property from rising floodwaters. — VNS

http://vietnamnews.vn/environment/381617/floods-damage-rice-crops-in-mekongdelta.html#ebFU0O0EoWupzTTW.97

Officials claim end to hunger in sight thanks to rice surplus Mom Kunthear / Khmer Times Share:

Workers carry rice bags for transport. KT/Chor Sokunthea Government officials have claimed the country could see an end to malnutrition and hunger following a decade of food security improvements and increased rice yields.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

54

Speaking yesterday at a government workshop attended by 70 officials, Lao Sokharum, secretary-general of the Council for Agricultural and Rural Development, said food security in the country has improved over the past 10 years due to a surplus of more than three million tonnes of rice each year.

However, he warned that nutrition for mothers and children is still not good enough. ―Nutrition for mothers and children depends on having a mixed diet and quality food, changing habits related to nutrition, providing clean water and access to healthcare services,‖ he said.

According to the Demographic and Health Survey in 2014, 32 percent of children under the age of five experience stunted growth, 24 percent are underweight, 10 percent are skinny and 55 percent are pale. ―The lack of nutrition differs from province to province and is based on family income,‖ said Mr Sokharum. ―The government will launch a short-term plan to tackle the issue until 2018 and a new national strategy on food security and nutrition for 2019 to 2023.‖ Sok Silo, the deputy secretary-general of the Council for Agricultural and Rural Development, told reporters yesterday that the country could end hunger for all its people with the rice surplus.

He said the government has already worked hard to provide enough food and healthcare services for children and mothers, build more toilets, and educate children on washing their hands. ―All relevant ministries must pay attention to improving food security and nutrition,‖ he said. http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5077328/officials-claim-end-hunger-sight-thanks-rice-surplus/

Indonesia to export rice, provide agriculture training to three Pacific Island countries 12:09 PM, August 09, 2017 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:22 PM, August 09, 2017

Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-09 19:53:13|Editor: ying JAKARTA, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government will ship rice to Fiji, Vanuatu and Samoa and provide agriculture training to the three nations in the Pacific, a minister said here Wednesday.

Indonesian Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman said that Indonesia will export rice whose price is cheaper than those in the three countries."The price of their rice is about 2 U.S. dollars per kilogram, and we offered them 1 U.S. dollar per kilogram. They agreed," Sulaiman said at the Agricultural Ministry.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

55

The government will send horticultural experts to the three island nations to give training in intensification of farming, he said, adding that aims to help the nations in advancing their agricultural sectors.

Indonesia produced 79.1 million tons of rice last year, rising from 75.4 million tons in the preceding year, according to data of the Agricultural Ministry. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-08/09/c_136512955.htm

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- August 10, 2017 Reuters | Aug 10, 2017, 02:20 PM IST Nagpur Foodgrain Prices - APMC/Open Market-August 10 Nagpur, August 10 (Reuters) - Gram and tuar prices recovered strongly in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) here on good seasonal demand from local millers amid weak arrival from producing regions because of rains. Upward trend in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and enquiries from South-based millers also pushed up prices. About 900 of gram and 200 bags of tuar were available for auctions, according to sources. FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor. TUAR * Tuar gavarani reported higher in open market on renewed demand from local traders amid weak supply from producing belts. * Rice Shriram new moved down in open market here on poor demand from local traders. * In Akola, Tuar New - 3,700-3,900, Tuar dal (clean) - 5,500-5,800, Udid Mogar (clean) - 7,2007,900, Moong Mogar (clean) 6,600-7,300, Gram - 4,700-5,100, Gram Super best - 7,700-8,000 * Wheat, other varieties of rice and other commodities moved in a narrow range in scattered deals and settled at last levels in thin trading activity. Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close Gram Auction 4,600-5,270 4,500-5,160 Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction 3,650-4,000 3,500-3,960 Moong Auction n.a. 3,900-4,200 Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800 Wheat Mill quality Auction 1,500-1,706 1,550-1,684 Gram Super Best Bold 7,900-8,400 7,900-8,400 Gram Super Best n.a. n.a. Gram Medium Best 7,1007,400 7,100-7,400 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a Gram Mill Quality 5,200-5,350 5,200-5,350 Desi gram Raw 5,150-5,300 5,150-5,300 Gram Kabuli 12,500-13,500 12,500-13,500 Tuar Fataka Best-New 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000 Tuar Fataka Medium-New 5,400-5,600 5,400-5,600 Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 5,200-5,400 5,200-5,400 Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 4,800-5,100 4,800-

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

56

5,100 Tuar Gavarani New 3,750-3,950 3,700-3,900 Tuar Karnataka 4,100-4,400 4,100-4,400 Masoor dal best 4,400-4,700 4,400-4,700 Masoor dal medium 4,100-4,300 4,100-4,300 Masoor n.a. n.a. Moong Mogar bold (New) 6,800-7,200 6,800-7,200 Moong Mogar Medium 6,000-6,500 6,000-6,500 Moong dal Chilka 5,300-5,800 5,300-5,800 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a. Moong Chamki best 6,000-6,500 6,000-6,400 Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,500-8,000 7,500-8,000 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,500-7,000 6,500-7,000 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,500 4,000-4,500 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,500 4,000-4,500 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 2,800-3,000 2,800-3,000 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 2,850-3,000 2,850-2,950 Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,500-3,700 3,500-3,700 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,1004,600 4,100-4,600 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000 Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,750-1,850 1,750-1,850 Wheat Filter(100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,300 2,100-2,300 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,400 2,100-2,400 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a. MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,600 3,000-3,600 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,700 2,2002,700 Rice BPT new (100 INR/KG) 2,800-3,300 2,800-3,300 Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,300-3,500 3,300-3,500 Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,100 3,000-3,100 Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,800 2,500-2,800 Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,350-2,450 2,3502,450 Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,600 2,500-2,650 Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400 Rice HMT New (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,000 3,600-4,000 Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 4,500-5,000 4,500-5,000 Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 4,1004,300 4,100-4,300 Rice Shriram New(100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,700 4,600-4,800 Rice Shriram best 100 INR/KG) 6,500-6,800 6,500-6,800 Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,200 5,8006,200 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 10,000-13,500 10,000-13,500 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-7,500 5,000-7,500 Rice Chinnor New(100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,800 4,5004,800 Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000 Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 5,400-5,600 5,400-5,600 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,200 1,900-2,200 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,800-1,900 1,800-1,900 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp.

28.0 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 23.1 degree Celsius Rainfall : 16.0 mm FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky with possibility of moderate rains. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 29 and 24 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices)

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

57 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-august-102017/articleshow/60001863.cms

United States Rice Milling Machinery Market 2017 – Industry Analysis, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast from 2012-2022

By Matthew Camden August 9, 2017 The United States Rice Milling Machinery Market 2017 research report mainly focuses on the current scenario of Rice Milling Machinery market along with the future plan of actions. It also examines the state of the Rice Milling Machinery market along with competing landscapes all over the United States. The Rice Milling Machinery report characterizes industry judgment from experts. The report also throws a light on the emerging areas and growth stats of Rice Milling Machinery market.

Rice Milling Machinery industry report covers the major market of United States including regions like The West, New England, The South, The Middle Atlantic, The Mid-West and The Southwest. The report includes following key players in the Rice Milling Machinery industry from different parts of the United States.

To Get Sample Report Click Here: http://qyresearch.us/report/united-states-rice-millingmachinery-market-2017/53773/#inquiry United States Rice Milling Machinery Market 2017: Competitive Regions and Key Vendors 1. Satake Manufacturing 2. Buhler 3. Hunan Chenzhou 4. Hubei Yongxiang 5. Zhejiang Qili Machinery 6. Hunan Xiangliang 7. Wufeng

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

58

8. Jiangsu Hexi Machinery 9. Yamamoto Rice Milling Machinery Market 2017: Application Segment Analysis Personal Commercial The United States Rice Milling Machinery report is categorized on the basis of Rice Milling Machinery top manufacturers, region-wise classification, various end user applications and different product types included in Rice Milling Machinery industry. The Rice Milling Machinery research report gives the information about different market segments, cost, different categories of the product along with Rice Milling Machinery market revenue.

It also gives vital contact information about the company along with company profile, rules and regulations of Rice Milling Machinery industry in the United States. It also examines the Rice Milling Machinery industry report by dividing it according to the basic overview of Rice Milling Machinery market.

The middle part of the report focuses on various types of product classified according to the Rice Milling Machinery market share and market applications in Rice Milling Machinery industry. It also lights up the core part of the Rice Milling Machinery industry such as import/export details, usage figures and industry chain supply of Rice Milling Machinery market.

Purchase Complete Report Here (To Get Instant Access): http://qyresearch.us/report/united-states-rice-milling-machinery-market-2017/53773/ Later, the United States Rice Milling Machinery Market 2017 report displays the tactful decisions that the customers should take. It gives you various business approaches required for Rice Milling Machinery industry, the customer‘s experiences and benefits they got after using the Rice Milling Machinery research report.It includes the list of dealers, distributors, and traders involved in Rice Milling Machinery industry. Lastly, it gives the brief summary of the entire Rice Milling Machinery report including the results, conclusion, the attached appendix and the source of data. www.dailycommercenews.com

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com