January 11 ,2019 Vol 10 ,Issue 1
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USA Rice Reports to Industry in Jennings; Sees an Old Friend By Deborah Willenborg JENNINGS, LA -- More than 230 rice industry members gathered here yesterday for the annual meetings of the Louisiana Rice Council (LARC) and the Louisiana Rice Growers Association (LARGA), and to hear reports and updates from Baton Rouge and Washington, DC. The meeting opened with the powerful Future Farmers of America creed delivered by Isabella Hardy, a freshman at Lacassine High School, and then remarks from Governor John Bel Edwards who praised the rice industry for contributing to the economy of Louisiana that he said was going strong. Following the review and approval of financial statements, St. Martinville rice farmer Jeff Durand was elected to LARGA as an At-Large Member.
USA Rice's Dr. Steve Linscombe introduced the Louisiana members of the Rice Leadership Development Program in attendance, and then Louisiana Rice Research Board chair Richard Fontenot made a special presentation to the Louisiana State University (LSU) AgCenter -- a check for one million dollars to permanently fund a chair for rice research at the university. "The research that has come out of the LSU AgCenter over the years has certainly helped the Louisiana rice industry, but it has also supported and fed the world," Fontenot said. "This endowment has been in the works for a long time and now that it is official, I feel good knowing the rice industry will continue to benefit from world-class research that will come out of LSU thanks to this strengthened research program." The dias is packed USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward thanked the crowd for the support her organization enjoys from Louisiana and provided brief updates on the recently passed Farm Bill and developments on the trade front. She highlighted the newly-extended Memorandum of Understanding on rice between Iraq and the United States that USA Rice pushed and that benefits Louisiana directly, shared positive developments in the complicated relationship between the U.S. and China, and showed the Louisiana high school student's video that won the National Rice Month Scholarship Contest.
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USA Rice Vice President International Sarah Moran shared successes from amongst the more than 2,700 annual promotional events her department oversees overseas, including traditional advertising in markets such as Saudi Arabia and Haiti, digital marketing in markets such as Canada, and demonstration-based events in places like the U.S. top market of Mexico. Representative Ralph Abraham (R-LA) addressed the crowd via video to talk about the profarmer work he is undertaking, including a change to the formula for calculating MFP payments. The new formula will focus on production rather than harvested acres and will be particularly impactful for growers in Louisiana who were prevented from harvesting some of their crop.
Following dinner, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Dr. Mike Strain addressed the group to share his appreciation for the men and women of the rice industry and to talk about some of the important projects he is spearheading -- including increased capacity at state ports and other infrastructure improvements. With someone new The evening program concluded with a presentation from USA Rice Vice President of Domestic Promotion Michael Klein who shared highlights from several of his programs, including the successful Think Rice Road Trip that began in Louisiana in September and concluded there last month when local grower Michael Fruge won the raffle for the branded pickup truck that was used throughout the tour. The truck was on display out in front of the banquet hall continuing to attract attention and making people "think rice." Klein also talked about the 2018 USA Rice Foodservice Farm & Mill Tour that took place in August on the farm of Fred Zaunbrecher and his brothers. The tour also visited the Supreme Rice Mill, the Falcon Rice Mill, and Grosse Savanne Waterfowl and Wildlife Lodge, and Klein showed a powerful video explaining and documenting the trip.
Daily Rice Online
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Rice prices up for polls disruptions No more price rise from now: minister
Rice prices have increased by Tk 2 each kilogram owing to disruption in the supply chain because of the 11th general elections, said Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder yesterday. ―Now, the market is stable,‖ he said after a meeting with rice millers at the Directorate of Food on the reasons behind the spiral in prices of the staple despite good production in the last three seasons and 11.79 lakh tonnes of rice stocks in the public warehouses. Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi and rice traders were also present at the meeting. In the past week, the prices of coarse rice, consumed mainly by low-income people, edged up by Tk 1 to Tk 35-38 per kilogram, according to data from the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM). Majumder though said they do not have information about the spike in coarse rice prices. ―The prices of fine rice have risen by Tk 2 each kilogram and millers have admitted to that.‖ Fine rice was selling at Tk 55-62 a kg yesterday, up from Tk 54-62 a month ago, according to data from the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh. ―The spiral may take place in Dhaka because of the 48-hour suspension of transport during national election. But at the hub, particularly in Naoagaon, prices have not soared,‖ Majumder said. The divisional rice price data show that the retail prices of rice have not risen yesterday, he said. The rice market has become normal now. ―All the millers have promised that they will not increase the prices further. We do not think there is any conspiracy behind the price hike.‖ In response to a question on ensuring fair prices for growers, he said it is the responsibility of the agriculture ministry. ―The interests of farmers,
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millers, traders and consumers will be protected if the market prices remain consistent with the government's procurement prices of rice and paddy.‖ At the meeting with the millers, referring to reports in the media Majumder said it was a puzzle that rice prices were rising even after bumper production and adequate stock. Munshi said they sat with the millers to ensure that none hike prices intentionally. The prices of coarse did not increase, said KM Layek Ali, general secretary of the Auto Major and Husking Mills Association. The prices of rice have increased in areas that saw supply disruption during election, said Nirod Boron Saha, president of Naogaon Dhan O Chal Arathdar Babshayee Samity, rice wholesalers' and commission agents' association. He went on to stress on authentic and timely data on production and stock of food grains as well as better coordination among agriculture, food and commerce ministries. https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/rice-prices-polls-disruptions-1686007
Chinese consumers concerned over safety of Japanese rice Chinese residents expressed concerns over the safety of Japanese rice produced nearby the Fukushima disaster area, after the Chinese government lifted an eight-year ban on the import of the rice. Japan's National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (JA) on Tuesday held a ceremony at Yokohama, Japan for exporting the Niigata rice into China for the first time after the Chinese government lifted the ban on imports of rice produced in Niigata Prefecture, the Japan News reported on Wednesday. China's General Administration of Customs announced in November that it had lifted a ban on rice imports from Niigata, one of a number of prefectures neighboring Fukushima, home to the Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which went into meltdown and released radioactive material in the aftermath of a tsunami in March 2011. The rice will be sold before the Spring Festival, which falls on February 5, a season which will see booming demand for rice in China. An official of JA said he had confidence that the rice is of high quality and safe, and could satisfy Chinese consumers. Niigata rice will have a trial sale of 500 bags totaling two tons to Shanghai, the Niigata Daily reported on Wednesday. However, Chinese residents don't seem to have much desire to buy the rice. "I actually don't care much about the production place when I buy rice, but I still won't buy the Niigata rice out of food safety concern, and I'm more confident about the quality of the rice produced in the Northeast China," Chinese student Lei Yue majoring in Japanese told Global Times on Thursday. Varieties of Japanese rice can be seen now being sold on Taobao, many of which are priced higher than those produced in China. A Taobao shop is selling Japanese rice for 145 yuan ($21.4) per two kilograms, almost twice the price of domestic rice. The rice is produced in Yishigawa, Japan, 400 kilometers away from Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, implying that the rice is safe. The staff added it is popular
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due to its good fragrance and taste and has monthly sales of 95 bags. Comparatively, a Taobao shop which sells rice from Northeast China has monthly sale of more than 30,000 bags. Exports of Niigata rice were permitted after General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China issued announcement in November 2018. http://www.ecns.cn/business/2019-01-11/detail-ifzcpxvf8625137.shtml
Enactment of rice tariffication bill to stabilize prices — NEDA Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star) - January 10, 2019 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) urges the immediate enactment of the rice tariffication bill, saying it is ―fundamental‖ to the stabilization of food prices. The bill amending the two-decade old Agricultural Tariffication Act of 1996 replaces the quantitative restriction (QR) on rice imports with a 35 percent tariff. It is set to be transmitted to Malacañang for President Duterte’s signature, having been ratified by both chambers of Congress last Nov. 28. Under the new import regime, legitimate rice traders can import rice from various sources without permit from the National Food Authority (NFA), provided they secure a sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance from the Bureau of Plant Industry of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and pay the appropriate tariff to the Bureau of Customs. The NFA, on the other hand, would merely focus on ensuring the sufficiency of buffer stocks for use in emergencies. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA chief Ernesto Pernia said as there is a need to periodically replenish the buffer stocks, the NFA can still sell cheap rice but to targeted markets. ―In selling rice, the NFA may opt to focus on far-flung areas, which some private traders may not find profitable to serve,‖ he said. He also noted that even with tariffication in place, the rice subsidy provided under the government’s conditional cash transfer program would continue. ―The aim of the bill is to make rice accessible and affordable to every Filipino, and to make the rice sector competitive,‖ he said. The bill also provides for the establishment of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) using tariff revenue, the proceeds of which would be used by the DA for productivity enhancing programs for rice farmers.
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Key interventions to be financed by the RCEF include the improvement of farm mechanization, development of high-yielding rice seed varieties and promotion of use, expanded rice credit, crop diversification, and extension services. As a safety net measure to the rice sector, the bill provides for the imposition of a special safeguard duty on rice in the event of sudden price fluctuations. An SSG is essentially an additional tariff imposed on agricultural commodities, the purpose of which is to allow free trade but prevent foreign suppliers from undercutting prices charged in the domestic market. In the event of a supply shortage, the President is empowered to allow importation of a specified volume at lower rates to increase supply and stabilize prices. ―Increasing the number of market players and competition in the rice sector are critical for the bill to deliver on its promise of lower rice prices for everyone,‖ said Pernia.
https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/01/10/1883690/enactment-rice-tarifficationbill-stabilize-prices-neda
Jokowi gives assurance on rice supply Just three months before the legislative and presidential elections, President Joko ―Jokowi‖ Widodo, who is running for a second term, has stated that the prices of staple commodities will remain stable as he insisted that State Logistics Agency (Bulog) had a sufficient supply of rice. He said on Thursday that Bulog’s rice stock in its warehouses, amounting to 2.1 million tons last December, was in a much better position compared with the 700,000-800,000 tons in previous years. https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/01/11/jokowi-gives-assurance-rice-supply.html
Chinese consumers concerned over safety of Japanese rice Chinese residents expressed concerns over the safety of Japanese rice produced nearby the Fukushima disaster
area, after the Chinese government lifted an eight-year ban on the import of the rice. Japan's National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (JA) on Tuesday held a ceremony at Yokohama, Japan for exporting the Niigata rice into China for the first time after the Chinese government lifted the ban on imports of rice produced in Niigata Prefecture, the Japan News reported on Wednesday. China's General Administration of Customs announced in November that it had lifted a ban on rice imports from Niigata, one of a number of prefectures neighboring Fukushima, home to the
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Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which went into meltdown and released radioactive material in the aftermath of a tsunami in March 2011. The rice will be sold before the Spring Festival, which falls on February 5, a season which will see booming demand for rice in China. An official of JA said he had confidence that the rice is of high quality and safe, and could satisfy Chinese consumers. Niigata rice will have a trial sale of 500 bags totaling two tons to Shanghai, the Niigata Daily reported on Wednesday. However, Chinese residents don't seem to have much desire to buy the rice. "I actually don't care much about the production place when I buy rice, but I still won't buy the Niigata rice out of food safety concern, and I'm more confident about the quality of the rice produced in the Northeast China," Chinese student Lei Yue majoring in Japanese told Global Times on Thursday. Varieties of Japanese rice can be seen now being sold on Taobao, many of which are priced higher than those produced in China. A Taobao shop is selling Japanese rice for 145 yuan ($21.4) per two kilograms, almost twice the price of domestic rice. The rice is produced in Yishigawa, Japan, 400 kilometers away from Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, implying that the rice is safe. The staff added it is popular due to its good fragrance and taste and has monthly sales of 95 bags. Comparatively, a Taobao shop which sells rice from Northeast China has monthly sale of more than 30,000 bags. Exports of Niigata rice were permitted after General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China issued announcement in November 2018. http://www.ecns.cn/business/2019-01-11/detail-ifzcpxvf8625137.shtml
A new rice regime President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to sign into law the Rice Tariffication bill soon. This will usher in a new market regime and limit the government’s role in procuring the commodity. The bill essentially allows legitimate rice traders to import the commodity without permit from the National Food Authority, provided they secure a sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance from the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry and pay the appropriate tariff to the Bureau of Customs. The National Economic and Development Authority, this early, is upbeat about the bill set to be transmitted to Malacañang for President Duterte’s signature. Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia says the bill will make rice affordable and accessible to Filipinos. Rice supply will also no longer be the sole responsibility of the NFA.The measure amends the two-decadeold Republic Act No. 8178, or the Agricultural Tariffication Act of 1996, and replaces the quantitative restrictions on rice imports with tariff. The NFA will now focus on ensuring sufficient buffer stocks to address emergency situations. While there is a need to periodically
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replenish the buffer stocks, NFA can still sell cheap rice but to specific markets, like those in farflung areas that some private traders may not find profitable to serve.
The bill aims to liberalize rice imports to foster competition in the domestic market and eventually bring down prices. Lowering rice prices, in turn, will reduce the country’s inflation rate after surging to a nine-year high of 6.7 percent in September and October.The government, meanwhile, must ensure that the tariff or customs collections from the rice imports of the private traders are well spent to alleviate the plight of farmers and raise their productivity. The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund from the tariff revenues proposed under the bill should assist the farmers, especially in the procurement of farm machinery, and provide the money for rice seed development, expanded credit and crop diversification.The government should also set rice self-sufficiency as a goal. Food security is a priority and the Philippines cannot be importing rice indefinitely. http://www.manilastandard.net/opinion/editorial/285005/a-new-rice-regime.html
Webinar: 2019 Grain Market Outlook, Jan. 10 9|www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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Posted on January 8, 2019 By Bobby Coats, University of Arkansas Ag Economist
Join us Thursday, Jan. 10 1:00 PM CST for the next Food & Agribusiness Webinar ―2019 Grain Market Outlook‖ presented by Bryce Knorr, Senior Grain Market Analyst, Farm Futures, Farm Progress. After a tumultuous year grain markets start 2019 with hopes crucial trade with China could return. Questions remain about the size of 2018 corn and soybean crops and what farmers will plant this spring. While USDA delayed release of its Jan. 11 reports, Farm Futures grain market analyst Bryce Knorr presents results from his latest grower survey to provide an up-to-date look at what to expect in the year ahead. Bryce Knorr first joined Farm Futures Magazine in 1987. In addition to analyzing and writing about the commodity markets, he is a former futures introducing broker and is a registered Commodity Trading Advisor. He conducts Farm Futures exclusive surveys on acreage, production and management issues and is one of the analysts regularly contracted by business wire services before major USDA crop reports. Besides the Morning Call on www.FarmFutures.com he writes outlooks for corn, soybeans, and wheat that include selling price targets, charts and seasonal trends. His other outlooks on basis, energy, fertilizer and financial markets and feature price forecasts for key crop inputs. A journalist with 45 years of experience, he received the Master Writers Award from the American Agricultural Editors Association. Register for the webinar here. market-outlook-jan-10/
https://agfax.com/2019/01/08/webinar-2019-grain-
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Japan farming co-op federation to resume Niigata rice exports to China this month JIJI
JAN 10, 2019
YOKOHAMA - The National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (JA ZenNoh) will resume sales of rice produced in Niigata Prefecture to China later this month after a break of nearly eight years. Niigata rice exports were suspended following the triple core meltdown at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant due to the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. JA Zen-Noh, the business and marketing arm of the Japanese agricultural cooperatives group (JA), will resume Niigata rice sales in Shanghai later this month on a trial basis. The group aims to expand Japanese rice sales in the massive Chinese market amid falling domestic consumption. China, which has a population of more than 1.3 billion, lifted its ban on Niigata rice in November last year. The export resumption is ―a landmark event‖ that will be appreciated by producers, agriculture minister Takamori Yoshikawa said at a ceremony in Yokohama on Tuesday to mark the occasion. JA Zen-Noh President Genichi Jinde said he regards the resumption as ―the first step‖ in efforts to expand rice sales overseas. JA Zen-Noh will sell a total of 500 bags each containing 2 kg of polished Niigata rice in Shanghai, targeting wealthy consumers. The organization plans to expand its Chinese sales network to cover Beijing and other cities. China introduced its import restrictions on Japanese farm and fishery products in April 2011. The regulations still affect products produced in 10 prefectures including Fukushima. China also maintains import restrictions on Niigata products other than rice. The government aims to increase Japan’s annual exports of farm, forestry and fishery products plus food to ¥1 trillion in 2019. The exports totaled ¥807.1 billion in 2017, of which rice accounted for only ¥3.2 billion https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/01/10/business/japan-farming-co-op-federation-resume-niigatarice-exports-china-month/#.XDhqVFUzbm4
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Chinese residents concerned over imports of rice produced near Fukushima disaster area By Xu Keyue Source:Global Times Published: 2019/1/10 22:56:37
Consumers buy rice at a supermarket in Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi Province in March, 2018. Photo: VCG Chinese residents expressed concerns over the safety of Japanese rice produced nearby the Fukushima disaster area, after the Chinese government lifted an eight-year ban on the import of the rice. Japan's National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (JA) on Tuesday held a ceremony at Yokohama, Japan for exporting the Niigata rice into China for the first time after the Chinese government lifted the ban on imports of rice produced in Niigata Prefecture, the Japan News reported on Wednesday. China's General Administration of Customs announced in November that it had lifted a ban on rice imports from Niigata, one of a number of prefectures neighboring Fukushima, home to the Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which went into meltdown and released radioactive material in the aftermath of a tsunami in March 2011. The rice will be sold before the Spring Festival, which falls on February 5, a season which will see booming demand for rice in China. An official of JA said he had confidence that the rice is of high quality and safe, and could satisfy Chinese consumers. Niigata rice will have a trial sale of 500 bags totaling two tons to Shanghai, the Niigata Daily reported on Wednesday.
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However, Chinese residents don't seem to have much desire to buy the rice."I actually don't care much about the production place when I buy rice, but I still won't buy the Niigata rice out of food safety concern, and I'm more confident about the quality of the rice produced in the Northeast China," Chinese student Lei Yue majoring in Japanese told Global Times on Thursday. Varieties of Japanese rice can be seen now being sold on Taobao, many of which are priced higher than those produced in China. A Taobao shop is selling Japanese rice for 145 yuan ($21.4) per two kilograms, almost twice the price of domestic rice. The rice is produced in Yishigawa, Japan, 400 kilometers away from Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, implying that the rice is safe. The staff added it is popular due to its good fragrance and taste and has monthly sales of 95 bags. Comparatively, a Taobao shop which sells rice from Northeast China has monthly sale of more than 30,000 bags. Exports of Niigata rice were permitted after General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China issued announcement in November 2018. Newspaper headline: Chinese consumers concerned over safety of Japanese rice http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1135382.shtml
PH’s biggest rice seed production area eyed in N. Samar January 10, 2019
By Sarwell Meniano/PNA TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Agriculture (DA) will transform San Roque, Northern Samar from being a poverty-stricken town into the biggest rice seed production center in the country this year. In a post on his social media account Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the project will tap about 2,000 hectares for the production of seeds of high-yielding rice varieties developed by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). The project, a major component of the Samar Rice Development Program (SRDP), is a joint project of the DA, PhilRice, San Roque town local government, a private company, and farmers.
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The SRDP, which is up for launching this year, targets about 100,000 to 200,000 hectares of rich lands into rice production areas. ―Under the program, a private seed production group will set up a nucleus farm of 200-hectares, establish rice seeds processing facilities and a refrigerated warehouse for seeds storage. The private seed production group will engage farmers of San Roque in a seed production contract where the seeds from the farmers will be bought by the company,‖ Piñol explained. Under the agreement, DA and PhilRice will support the program by providing the farmers with technical training, equipment and loan support. Farm-to-market roads and solar-powered irrigation systems will also be installed in the seed production areas of the farmers. The agriculture department will purchase the seeds produced in San Roque town to be distributed to the farmers in the rest of Samar Island, including parts of Leyte. The San Roque local government will be tasked to consolidate the areas to be developed into seed production areas. San Roque is a fourth class town in Northern Samar located 280 kilometers north of Tacloban City, the regional capital. The SRDP will be the first major beneficiary of the Rice Tarrification Program with an estimated PHP10-billion fund for 2019. The project seeks to introduce new rice farming technologies and equipment to develop areas and contribute to a bigger national rice production and poverty reduction in Samar Island. ―From the current average of two metric tons per hectare average yield in the island, the SRDP targets an average production of six metric tons by introducing high-yielding rice varieties developed by PhilRice and commercial hybrid seeds and solar irrigation systems in the vast rainfed areas of the island,‖ Piñol said. By 2020, the SRDP is expected to contribute an estimated 1.2 million metric tons of paddy rice to the national production, which would make Samar Island as one of the country’s major riceproducing areas, the DA chief said.
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The DA will organize the Project Management Office tasked to handle and monitor the implementation of the SRDP. It will be chaired by the DA Secretary with the heads of the other support agencies as members. https://www.ptvnews.ph/phs-biggest-rice-seed-production-area-eyed-in-n-samar/
Rice stock adequate: President Jokowi Reporter: Antara 10th January 2019
President Jokowi visited a warehouse of Bulog at Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, on Thursday (10/1/2019). vANTARA News (Agus Salim) Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The stock of rice is adequate, and the market operation has been effective, according to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). "I just want to ensure that the rice stock is adequate, and market operation is working," he noted while visiting a warehouse of the National Logistic Agency (Bulog) at Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta, here, Thursday.
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The management of Bulog has improved compared to that three or four years ago, Jokowi stated. "This year`s stock is higher than that of last year," the president, who was accompanied by Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution and Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita during his visit, stated. Rice prices have dropped owing to market operations conducted by Bulog, he added. He expressed optimism over the rice stock, as a grand harvest of rice will be conducted, starting March 2019. The rice stock reached 2.1 million tons from late 2018 to early 2019, a significant increase as compared to 700 thousand to 800 thousand tons in December in the previous years. Rice prices decreased by Rp50 per kg following routine market operations by Bulog, he remarked. The president is giving serious attention to the stable prices of basic commodities. Hence, he has frequently visited markets for observing the prices of basic commodities and conversing with the local traders. Reporting by Agus Salim, fardah Editor: Fardah Assegaf https://en.antaranews.com/news/121775/rice-stock-adequate-president-jokowi
Cambodia's rice export slightly drops last year Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-10 23:16:40|Editor: Mu Xuequan PHNOM PENH, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia exported 626,225 tons of milled rice in 2018, a decrease of 1.5 percent over a year earlier, according to an official report released on Thursday. Roughly 87 firms have brokered the country's rice for 61 countries and regions across the world last year, said the report from the Secretariat of One Window Service for Rice Export. China is the biggest buyer of Cambodian rice, followed by France, Malaysia, Gabon, the Netherlands, and Vietnam, it said.
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Cambodia shipped 170,154 tons of milled rice to China in 2018, down 14.8 percent year-on-year, said the report, adding that Chinese market absorbed 27.1 percent of Cambodia's total rice export.Cambodia produces around 10 million tons of paddy rice a year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-01/10/c_137734565.htm
Asia Rice: India rates rise on higher local prices; Thai-Vietnam output seen surging JANUARY 10, 2019
/Sethuraman N R BENGALURU (Reuters) - Rice export prices in India rose this week due to a rally in local rates, while Thai and Vietnam prices are expected to drop in the coming weeks with fresh supplies hitting the market.Women plant rice saplings at a paddy field in a village in Nagaon district, in the northeastern state of Assam, India, July 3, 2018. Picture taken July 3, 2018. REUTERS/Anuwar Hazarika India’s 5 percent broken parboiled variety was quoted around $382-$387 per tonne this week, compared with $376-$383 last week.―In last few weeks demand is weak as Indian rice has become expensive,‖ said M. Adishankar, executive director at Sri Lalitha, a rice exporter in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.Export prices in India had shot up earlier after Chhattisgarh, a leading rice producing state in central India, raised the minimum paddy buying price. In Thailand, benchmark 5-percent broken rice prices narrowed to $390-$400 range, free on board Bangkok, from $380-$400 last week due to the baht’s strength against the U.S. dollar.Traders said prices remained relatively unchanged due to flat demand, but expected a surge in supply between January-end to early February, which could affect prices. The market was looking for possible buying from the Philippines, which imported from Thailand last year, a Bangkok-based trader said.Meanwhile, rates for Vietnam’s 5 percent broken rice stayed flat from last week at $370-$375 a tonne, and traders expect prices to fall in the coming weeks on rising supplies and weak demand. ―Some of the farmers in the Mekong Delta have started harvesting their winter-spring crop and the harvest in expected to peak after Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday,‖ a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said. Rice exports from Vietnam are expected to witness a quiet year in 2019, Nguyen Ngoc Nam, chairman of the Vietnam Food Association, told Reuters on Thursday.―We haven’t received new
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orders for this year and our potential clients haven’t made any move to make new purchases,‖ Nam said. China’s move to tighten control on rice shipments from Vietnam will put a brake on Vietnam’s rice exports, the Ho Chi Minh City-based trader said, adding that the Southeast Asian country had not worked out any effective measures to cope with the situation.―Some exporters are looking to trade rice for cashew nuts from Africa, but it’s not clear yet how it will fare.‖ Meanwhile, a report from the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimated Bangladesh’s rice output will hit a record 53.6 million tonnes in 2018, due to strong domestic prices and bumper yields due to favourable weather conditions.Bangladesh, which emerged as a major importer of the grain in 2017 after floods damaged crops, imported a record 3.9 million tonnes of rice in the last financial year that ended in June 2018.
https://in.reuters.com/article/india-economy-poll/indias-inflation-in-december-likely-hit-lowestsince-june-2017-reuters-poll-idINKCN1P40B6
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- JAN 11, 2019 JANUARY 11, 2019 Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-January 11, 2019 Nagpur, Jan 11 (Reuters) – Gram and tuar prices moved down in Nagpur Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) on lack of demand from local millers amid good supply from producing regions. Fresh fall on NCDEX in gram, easy condition in Madhya Pradesh tuar prices and high moisture content arrival also pulled down prices in limited deals. About 150 bags of gram and 300 bags of tuar reported for auctions in Nagpur APMC, according to sources. GRAM * Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor. TUAR * Tuar gavarani showed weak tendency in open market in absence of buyers. * Wheat mill quality and Lokwan varieties reported down in open market here on poor demand from local traders amid good arrival from producing belts. * In Akola, Tuar New – 4,500-4,700, Tuar dal (clean) – 7,000-7,200, Udid Mogar (clean) – 6,500-7,500, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,700-8,200, Gram – 4,300-4,400, Gram Super best – 6,600-6,800 * Other varieties of wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in scattered deals and settled at last levels in weak trading activity.
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Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close Gram Auction 3,850-4,490 3,700-4,375 Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction 4,000-4,725 4,000-4,700 Moong Auction n.a. 3,950-4,200 Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800 Wheat Mill quality Auction 1,950-2,070 1,950-2,050 Gram Super Best Bold 6,700-7,000 6,700-7,000 Gram Super Best n.a. n.a. Gram Medium Best 6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a Gram Mill Quality 4,400-4,500 4,400-4,500 Desi gram Raw 4,450-4,550 4,450-4,550 Gram Kabuli 8,300-10,000 8,300-10,000 Tuar Fataka Best-New 7,300-7,500 7,300-7,500 Tuar Fataka Medium-New 7,100-7,200 7,100-7,200 Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 6,600-6,800 6,600-6,800 Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 5,900-6,200 5,900-6,200 Tuar Gavarani New 4,900-5,000 4,950-5,050 Tuar Karnataka 5,150-5,250 5,150-5,250 Masoor dal best 5,200-5,400 5,200-5,400 Masoor dal medium 4,700-4,900 4,700-4,900 Masoor n.a. n.a.
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Moong Mogar bold (New) 8,000-8,500 8,000-8,500 Moong Mogar Medium 6,000-7,000 6,000-7,000 Moong dal Chilka New 6,550-7,550 6,550-7,550 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a. Moong Chamki best 7,600-8,500 7,600-8,500 Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,000-8,000 7,000-8,000 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,500-6,500 5,500-6,500 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,200 3,800-4,200 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,550-5,650 5,500-5,600 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 4,900-5,000 4,900-5,000 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 5,600-5,700 5,400-5,500 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 6,600-6,800 6,600-6,800 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,300 2,200-2,300 Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 2,050-2,150 2,050-2,200 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,600 2,500-2,650 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,300 2,300-2,400 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a. MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,000 3,600-4,000 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,600-3,000 2,600-3,000 Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200 Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,800 3,200-3,800 Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,600-3,000 2,600-3,000 Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,000 2,900-3,000 Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,750 2,600-2,750
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Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600 Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,400 4,000-4,400 Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,500-3,900 3,500-3,900 Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG) 5,200-5,500 5,200-5,500 Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 9,500-14,000 9,500-14,000 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 4,800-7,000 4,800-7,000 Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 6,600-7,000 6,800-7,300 Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 6,200-6,500 6,500-6,700 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,350-2,550 2,350-2,550 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 2,050-2,250 2,050-2,250 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 28.0 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 8.2 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature likely to be around 28 degree Celsius and 9 degree Celsius. Note: n.a.—not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices) https://in.reuters.com/article/india-election/factbox-pm-modi-aims-to-tempt-voters-with-pre-electionperks-idINKCN1P50WZ
Iran bans rice imports after Aug. 22, 2019 10 January 2019 15:15 (UTC+04:00)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 10
By Elnur Baghishov - Trend: Iran has banned rice imports after August 22, 2019, said Masoud Basiri, head of the Main Directorate for Market and Strategic Reserves Management of the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture Jihad, Trend reports via ILNA. He said that the ministry bans rice imports every year from August 22 to December 21 in order to support domestic producers. In order to eliminate the shortage of rice in the consumer market, the amount of currency allocated for rice imports increased by 11.2 percent compared to last Iranian year (started March 21, 2017), he noted.
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About 2-2.2 million tons of rice are produced in Iran, he said. The necessary volume of imported rice is estimated at 800-1.1 million tons, given consumption of 37.7 kilograms of rice per capita, he noted. ―Despite the sanctions, fortunately, strategic reserves of all necessary products, including rice, are at a very good levels, thanks to the programs implemented earlier,‖ he added. ―From the beginning of this Iranian year (started March 21, 2018), 1.117 million tons of rice were imported,‖ he said. ―This is while about 1 million 113 million tons of rice were imported in the same period last year.‖ https://en.trend.az/iran/3003836.html
Rice plants engineered to be better at photosynthesis make more rice January 10, 2019, Cell Press This image compares rice spikelets from the engineered plants with the wild type control. Credit: Shen and Wang et al./Molecular Plant
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A new bioengineering approach for boosting photosynthesis in rice plants could increase grain yield by up to 27%, according to a study publishing January 10 in the journal Molecular Plant. The approach, called GOC bypass, enriches plant cells with CO2 that would otherwise be lost through a metabolic process called photorespiration. The genetically engineered plants were greener and larger and showed increased photosynthetic efficiency and productivity under field conditions, with particular advantages in bright light.
"Food shortage related to world population growth will be a serious problem our planet will have to face," says senior study author Xin-Xiang Peng of South China Agricultural University in Guangzhou, China. "Our study could have a major impact on this problem by significantly increasing rice yield, especially for areas with bright light." Bioengineering improvement of rice, a staple food crop worldwide, has high practical importance, particularly in light of the need for increased crop productivity due to world population growth and the reduction of cultivable soils. But increases in yield for rice and several other major crops have been sparse in recent years, and crop yield seems to be reaching a ceiling of maximal potential. The main genetic approach for increasing the yield potential of major crops focuses on photosynthesis, the biochemical process in which CO2 and water are converted into O2 and energy-rich sugar compounds that fuel plant growth. One way to increase photosynthesis is to bypass photorespiration, a light-dependent process in which O2 is taken up and CO2 released. The cost of photorespiration is massive. Abolishing photorespiration could result in up to a 55%
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increase in photosynthesis, placing photorespiration on center stage in attempts to improve photosynthetic efficiency and yield. Over the past few years, three photorespiratory bypasses have been introduced into plants, and two of these led to observable increases in photosynthesis and biomass yield. But most of the experiments were carried out using the model organism Arabidopsis, and the increases have typically been observed under environment-controlled, low-light, and short-day conditions. "To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first that tested photorespiration bypass in rice," says co-author Zheng-Hui He of San Francisco State University. In the new study, the researchers developed a strategy to essentially divert CO2 from photorespiration to photosynthesis. They converted a molecule called glycolate, which is produced via photorespiration, to CO2 using three rice enzymes: glycolate oxidase, oxalate oxidase, and catalase. To deploy GOC bypass, which was named for the three enzymes, the researchers introduced genes encoding the enzymes into rice chloroplasts—organelles where photosynthesis takes place in plant cells. As a result, the photorespiratory rate was suppressed by 18%-31% compared to normal, and the net photosynthetic rate increased by 15%-22%, primarily due to higher concentrations of cellular CO2 used for photosynthesis. Compared to plants that were not genetically engineered, the GOC plants were consistently greener and larger, with an above-ground dry weight that was 14%-35% higher. Moreover, starch grains grew in size by 100% and increased in number per cell by 37%. In the spring seeding season, grain yield improved by 7% to 27%. Moving forward, the researchers plan to optimize the performance of the engineered plants in the field by putting the same metabolic bypass in other rice varieties. They would also like to apply the same approach to other crop plants such potatoes. "Our engineered plants could be deployed in fields at a larger scale after further evaluations by independent researchers and government agencies," Peng says. "Although we don't expect this approach would affect the taste of these plants, both the nutritional quality and taste are yet to be comprehensively evaluated by independent labs and governmental agencies." Explore further: Scientists engineer shortcut for photosynthetic glitch, boost crop growth by 40 percent More information: Molecular Plant, Shen and Wang et al.: "Engineering a new chloroplastic photorespiratory bypass to increase photosynthetic efficiency and productivity in rice" https://www.cell.com/molecular-plant/fulltext/S1674-2052(18)30370-8 , DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2018.11.013 https://phys.org/news/2019-01-rice-photosynthesis.html
PH’s biggest rice seed production area eyed in N. Samar By Sarwell Meniano January 10, 2019, 9:38 am TACLOBAN CITY -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) will transform San Roque, Northern Samar from being a poverty-stricken town into the biggest rice seed production center in the country this year.
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In a post on his social media account Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the project will tap about 2,000 hectares for the production of seeds of high-yielding rice varieties developed by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). The project, a major component of the Samar Rice Development Program (SRDP), is a joint project of the DA, PhilRice, San Roque town local government, a private company, and farmers. The SRDP, which is up for launching this year, targets about 100,000 to 200,000 hectares of rich lands into rice production areas. ―Under the program, a private seed production group will set up a nucleus farm of 200-hectares, establish rice seeds processing facilities and a refrigerated warehouse for seeds storage. The private seed production group will engage farmers of San Roque in a seed production contract where the seeds from the farmers will be bought by the company,‖ Piñol explained. Under the agreement, DA and PhilRice will support the program by providing the farmers with technical training, equipment and loan support. Farm-to-market roads and solar-powered irrigation systems will also be installed in the seed production areas of the farmers. The agriculture department will purchase the seeds produced in San Roque town to be distributed to the farmers in the rest of Samar Island, including parts of Leyte. The San Roque local government will be tasked to consolidate the areas to be developed into seed production areas. San Roque is a fourth class town in Northern Samar located 280 kilometers north of Tacloban City, the regional capital. The SRDP will be the first major beneficiary of the Rice Tarrification Program with an estimated PHP10-billion fund for 2019. The project seeks to introduce new rice farming technologies and equipment to develop areas and contribute to a bigger national rice production and poverty reduction in Samar Island. ―From the current average of two metric tons per hectare average yield in the island, the SRDP targets an average production of six metric tons by introducing high-yielding rice varieties developed by PhilRice and commercial hybrid seeds and solar irrigation systems in the vast rainfed areas of the island,‖ Piñol said.By 2020, the SRDP is expected to contribute an estimated 1.2 million metric tons of paddy rice to the national production, which would make Samar Island as one of the country’s major rice-producing areas, the DA chief said. The DA will organize the Project Management Office tasked to handle and monitor the implementation of the SRDP. It will be chaired by the DA Secretary with the heads of the other support agencies as members. (PNA)
Canada to consider importing Pakistani mangoes, rice 25 | w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o g s p o t . c o m mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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By Our Correspondent Published: January 10, 2019
Minister calls for enhanced collaboration in agriculture, boosting trade. PHOTO: FILE ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Canada’s bilateral relations have bright future prospects not only in the context of bilateral trade but also keeping in view the mutual benefits, which would be attained in agro research and development, said Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan. In a meeting with Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan Wendy Gilmour on Wednesday, he said that the country’s trade of agricultural commodities has been influenced by sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures adopted by the developed countries. The procedural formalities like pest risk analysis and stringent conditions render trade difficult.
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In such a situation, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research is making efforts to obtain maximum market access for agro-commodities, he explained. He shared that Pakistan imports mostly pulses and canola seeds from Canada. ―Last year, Pakistan imported 880,525 tons of oil seed and pulses, whereas the volume of Pakistan’s export to Canada remained 14,521.36 tons,‖ the minister recalled. He outlined the need for bilateral trade, between the two nations, to be accelerated through harmonisation of SPS measures. Speaking on the occasion, Gilmour added that Canada was eager to explore new areas of cooperation and the country believes in scientific rigour. ―In fact, Canada is always ready to share information,‖ she said. She disclosed that canola was the major commodity which Pakistan imports from Canada and ―Pakistan imports agro products worth $800 million from our country.‖ The federal minister expressed desire for Canada to consider and proceed forward to open its market for Pakistani mangoes and rice, which are of exceptional quality. Currently, Canada imports these items from Mexico and Brazil. The Canadian ambassador agreed to consider the issue. Published in https://tribune.com.pk/story/1884896/2-canada-consider-importing-pakistani-mangoes-rice/
Farmers, legislators gather for annual Arkansas rice meeting By Jeremy Peppas Special to The Commercial Jan 10, 2019 at 10:38 AMUpdated Jan 10, 2019 at 1:12 PM STUTTGART — Rice farmers from around Arkansas and the Mid-South gathered Jan. 8 for the Arkansas Rice Annual Meeting at the Grand Prairie Center at Stuttgart.
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Some 330 were registered to attend and included farmers from Arkansas along with other ricegrowing states in the Delta region. About 400 people were in attendance, along with vendors and business interests that support rice farming. Also on hand were the state’s Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward, several elected officials including Secretary of State John Thurston and state Commissioner of Lands Tommy Land along with various state senators and representatives. The day started with a legislative overview with state Rep. Dan Douglas and state Sen. John Cooper of Bentonville and Jonesboro, respectively. Douglas, a farmer, is chair of the House’s Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development committee, while Cooper serves on the same committee on the Senate side. Both were quizzed about issues they expect to see in the upcoming legislative session that starts Monday, Jan. 14. One of the major issues that was addressed was the proposed restructuring of the state government. ―I think it will be smooth,‖ Douglas said of what he expects from Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s proposed reorganization of state government while Cooper added, ―the efficiencies gained from that will be very important.‖ Both noted that consolidating agencies would end duplicated offices like those that serve computer networks and human resources. ―I think it will pass,‖ Douglas said of the proposed reorganization. ―Ultimately it will be a good thing for our state.‖ Both also noted that other key topics in the upcoming legislative session would be a proposed tax cut, along with securing more funding for the state’s highways. The legislators also noted the success of last year’s voluntary smoke management guidelines implemented by the agriculture industry for row crop burning. Representatives Andy Davis and David Hillman were also in attendance. USA Rice CEO, Betsy Ward, also provided an overview of national efforts including opening the Chinese market for U.S. rice and highlights of the new farm bill. ―I appreciate the opportunity to share with folks in Arkansas what we are doing on their behalf and to hear firsthand their concerns and priorities,‖ said Betsy Ward, President and chief
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executive officer of USA Rice. ―It was also nice to be able to share some good news — bipartisan passage of the Farm Bill and positive developments in Iraq and China.‖In addition to the legislative overview, attorneys Trav Baxter and Ryan O’Quinn of Little Rock law firms respectively, Mitchell Williams and Quattlebaum, Grooms and Tull talked estate planning, while other sessions included farming issues on water conservation and progress from promotional and research projects funded through the rice checkoff program.The meeting concluded with lunch, and, naturally, rice was on the menu. http://www.pbcommercial.com/news/20190110/farmers-legislators-gather-for-annual-arkansasrice-meeting
WB sees economic slowdown TAHIR AMIN JAN 10TH, 2019 ISLAMABAD Gross Dom-estic Product (GDP) growth of Pakistan is projected to decelerate to 3.7 percent in fiscal year 2018-19, with financial conditions tightening to help counter rising inflation and external vulnerabilities, says the World Bank (WB). The WB in its latest report, "Global Economic Prospects, Darkening Skies" states macroeconomic imbalances weigh on growth outlook in Pakistan and is expected to face financing needs due to large current account and fiscal deficits combined with low international reserves. WB had revised GDP growth projection for Pakistan down to 4.8 percent in October 2018. International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also revised downward the GDP growth rate from 4.7 percent in April, 2018 to 4 percent in October 2018. Asian Development Bank (ADB) has revised downward GDP growth projection for Pakistan to 4.8 percent in September against the previous projections of 5.1 percent. The WB states that in Pakistan external debt is sizable and current account deficits have deteriorated considerably. Recent currency pressures have eroded Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves significantly - they currently amount to only around two months of imports. There were some signs of rising inflation pressure across the region, and both India and Pakistan raised rates in 2018 to counter the effects of currency depreciation, rising energy prices, and domestic capacity constraints. Price pressures, widening fiscal and current account deficits, or in some cases currency and financial market volatility have prompted a shift to less accommodative monetary policy in some countries (e.g., India, Mexico, Pakistan, the Philippines, Romania), maintains the report.
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Pakistan's fiscal deficit rose to 6.6 percent of GDP last year, well above the government's target of 4.1 percent, as tax collection fell short of expectations. Activity is slowing and financial conditions have tightened in a number of commodity importers that have experienced financial market stress or continue to face widening fiscal and current account deficits (e.g., Pakistan, the Philippines, and Romania). Growth is projected to accelerate to 7.1 percent for South Asia in 2019. This mainly reflects strengthening domestic demand in India, as the benefits of structural reforms such as GST harmonization and bank recapitalization take effect. Elsewhere in the region, the forecast is for a moderation in activity, notably in Bangladesh and Pakistan. Excluding India, regional growth moderated slightly in 2018. Pakistan's GDP (factor cost) is estimated to have grown 5.8 percent in fiscal year 2017-18, with solid contributions from consumption and investment. Activity was supported by strengthening in the agricultural and industrial sectors, and a sustained acceleration in services. The report further states that in Pakistan, the informal sector provides two-thirds of total employment but produces only about one-third of GDP. This difference points to considerably lower informal labor productivity relative to total labor productivity in Pakistan than in Brazil, in part reflecting lower educational attainment of informal workers. Pakistan raised income taxes on non-corporate partnership firms in 2009. Pakistan's corporate tax hike was followed by rising informality as firms switched business models and reported lower earning. Several of the policies discussed above were not primarily implemented with informality in mind. Yet, they had the unintended consequence of raising informality: tax increases in Pakistan, decentralization of minimum wage regulation in Indonesia, and trade liberalization in Egypt, Brazil and Colombia. Other reforms did not have as large an effect on informality as expected, such as the tax reform in Georgia. The report further states that important net rice exporters such as India, Pakistan, and Yemen implemented policy interventions that, ultimately, raised domestic rice prices more than the increase in world prices. In Pakistan, heavy summer flooding that affected one-fifth of the country's land area and inflicted extensive damage to crops raised domestic rice prices relative to the world price over the same period.
https://fp.brecorder.com/2019/01/20190110438419/
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