19th july ,2017 daily global regional & local rice e newsletter

Daily Global Rice

E-Newsletter

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July 19,2017 Vol 8 Issue VII

Today Rice News Headlines...  Rice Protein Market Outlook 2017 - Ribus, Shafi Gluco-Chem, Golden Grain Group, Axiom Foods  Qatar–Philippines Food Security Summit promises hope  Go, buffalo, go!  Sri Lanka negotiates to purchase 500,000 MT of high-quality rice from Myanmar  Qatar to import edibles worth $1 bn from Pakistan  NDDC’s N1.5bn rice mills set to start operation after 10-year dormancy  RiceBran Technologies to Host Shareholder Update Conference Call Today July 17, 2017 at 4:30 PM EDT  Scientists unlock planthoppers' potential to control future crop disease outbreaks  U.S. NAFTA Renegotiation Objectives in Line with USA Rice Positions  NOBEL Liberia, FABRAR To Export Liberian Country Rice  FDA officials raid shop after plaint of ‘plastic rice’  State clears nearly all of rice supply  Rice basmati remains weak on low demand  India-China trade balance agreement a non-starter after 3 years  Sri Lanka to import 100,000 MT of rice from Thailand  Heat-tolerant rice research wins outstanding paper award  Unpolished pigmented rice, a healthier staple food – study  Rice stocks rally, KRBL top gainer Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874  APEDA invites offers for crop survey for Basmati rice estimation, www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com yield Monitor Latest Updates on www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com  More bidders vying for NFA rice importation

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Sri Lanka offers to purchase rice from Myanmar Private rice exporters can bid for Philippines shipments Bangladesh in urgent call for Thai rice Bangladesh prods Thailand for urgent purchase of 200,000 tonnes rice: Report Rice price unlikely to drop despite import from Vietnam Sri Lanka negotiates to purchase 500,000 MT of high-quality rice from Myanmar Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- JUL 19, 2017 Production, Says Senate President Mannachanallur rice mills struggle to sustain operation Researchers deliver results at Wagga rice symposium Govt exits Aveyime Rice Factory to allow for capital injection Rice rules stripped

News Detail...

Rice Protein Market Outlook 2017 - Ribus, Shafi Gluco-Chem, Golden Grain Group, Axiom Foods Spire Market Research

Rice Protein Rice Protein Market Research 2017

A market study ‖ Global Rice Protein Market ‖ examines the performance of the Rice Protein market 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Rice Protein market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Rice Protein market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Rice Protein Market 2017 report includes Rice Protein market Revenue, market Share, Rice Protein industry volume, market Trends, Rice Protein Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Rice Protein Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.

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To Get Sample Report Click Here: bit.ly/2t7GBkd

Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Rice Protein Market 2017 -

1. Axiom Foods 2. AIDP, Inc 3. Ricebran Technologies 4. Shaanxi Fuheng (FH) Biotechnology 5. Shafi Gluco-Chem 6. Bioway (Xi‘an) Organic Ingredients 7. Golden Grain Group 8. Ribus 9. The Green Labs 10. Top Health Ingredients

Rice Protein Market : By Application

• Sports & Energy Nutrition • Beverages • Bakery & Confectionery • Meat Analogs & Extenders • Dairy Alternatives

Rice Protein Market : By Type

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• Rice Protein Concentrates • Rice Protein Isolates • Other Rice Protein Types Firstly, the report covers the top Rice Protein manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.

Further, the Rice Protein report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Rice Protein industry, Rice Protein industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Rice Protein Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.

Browse Full Report Here: www.spiremarketresearch.com/global-rice-protein-market-20...

The Rice Protein research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Rice Protein market revenue worldwide.

Finally, Rice Protein market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.

About Us: "Spire Market Research" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.

Contact Us 5001 Spring Valley Road, Suite 400 East, Dallas, TX 75244, USA This release was published on openPR. http://www.openpr.com/news/628481/Rice-Protein-Market-Outlook-2017-Ribus-Shafi-Gluco-ChemGolden-Grain-Group-Axiom-Foods.html

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Qatar–Philippines Food Security Summit promises hope 18 Jul 2017 - 2:34

Adel Sa‘adeh, MSI Managing Director and Special Advisor to the PEZA Director General for the Middle East.

By Raynald C Rivera / The Peninsula The Philippines is set to present the enormous potential its agro-industry sector can offer towards achieving food security at the upcoming Qatar – Philippines Food Security Summit slated on September 18.Preparations are underway for the summit to be hosted by Management Solutions Consultants WLL (MSI) under the auspices of Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) which presented the Philippine Investment Conference in February this year.

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During the state visit of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Qatar last April, PEZA signed 13 business to business deals worth $206m in various areas. ―Investments were mostly in tourism eco-zones and retirement villages. This time, we want to explore agro-industry and food security, which the Philippines has so much to offer,‖ Joseph Timothy Rivera, Qatar-based PEZA Special Advisor to the Director General for Middle East and Northern Europe, said yesterday.

Recently, a number of Qatari and expatriate businesses in the food and agricultural sector have looked to import food from alternative source markets, while some have considered outsourcing food production.In response to this, MSI has launched an inter-chamber dialogue with local stakeholders during which the Philippines has been proposed as a source for their current needs.

MSI was one of the companies that signed intentions to branch out in the Philippines as an ecozone services provider during the recent visit of President Duterte.To higlight this initiative, MSI Managing Director Adel Sa‘adeh has announced the hosting of the food security summit which will see the convergence of food industry-related companies in Qatar and efficient food suppliers from the Philippines. Sa‘adeh, who is the only non-Filipino Special Advisor to the PEZA Director General for the Middle East expressed confidence the huge potentials and high quality standards of Philippine food growers would satisfy the needs of the Qatari market.

To complement the leading local food industry players who will be attending the summit, Sa‘adeh also said that PEZA Director General Charito B Plaza, Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Allan Timbayan and a contingent of resource persons from the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) will be invited to grace the event http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/18/07/2017/Qatar%E2%80%93Philippines-Food-SecuritySummit-promises-hope

Go, buffalo, go!

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Source:IC Published: 2017/7/17 19:58:39 A Thai farmer competes in the Water Buffalo Racing Festival in Chonburi Province, Thailand, Sunday. The Water Buffalo Racing Festival, held among rice farmers, celebrates the rice growing season and aims to conserve the buffalo's traditional role in rice cultivation as modern machinery rapidly replaces the animal in Thai agriculture. Photo: IC http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1056721.shtml

Sri Lanka negotiates to purchase 500,000 MT of high-quality rice from Myanmar Tue, Jul 18, 2017, 10:04 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

July 18, Colombo: Sri Lanka has offered to purchase 500,000 metric tons (MT) of high-quality rice from Myanmar through a government-to-government contract, U Aung Soe, the director general of Myanmar Trade Promotion Team under the Ministry of Commerce has said.The offer to buy 200,000 MT of parboiled rice and 300,000 MT of white rice was made last week during negotiations led by the Sri Lankan Ambassador K.W.N.D. Karunaratne between the two governments, Myanmar Times reported.

According to Dr Soe Tun, vice chair of the Myanmar Rice Federation, Sri Lanka first offered to purchase 500,000 MT of rice from Myanmar in February but has not pursued after Sri Lanka was told the price for each metric ton is US$285.

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However since then rice prices have risen to more than US$ 300 per metric ton, the official said.

"We are still negotiating and have yet to decide on anything," Dr Soe Tun said, adding that Myanmar will only sell rice to Sri Lanka at market prices.A four-member team Sri Lankan officials visited Pakistan and Myanmar earlier this month to hold discussions to purchase rice.Sri Lankan officials have negotiated for lower prices than the prices first quoted by both Pakistan and Myanmar officials. Officials of both countries have agreed that such bargaining is acceptable and said shall submit Sri Lanka's bargained price quotes to their respective Cabinets (of Ministers) for approval, to complete the government to government sales, Sri Lankan Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen said.

According to the Myanmar Ministry of Commerce, trade between Myanmar and Sri Lanka in 2011-12 amounted to US$1.1 million, but later declined. In 2015-16, trade between the two countries rose to US$3.1 million.Under new NLD-led government, trade between the two countries has rapidly increased, hitting US$24.5 million in 2016-17. In the first two months of the current fiscal year, trade between Sri Lanka and Myanmar amounted to US$5.3 millio http://www.colombopage.com/archive_17B/Jul18_1500352458CH.php

Qatar to import edibles worth $1 bn from Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: In the wake of strained relations between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Doha’s high-powered trade delegation has visited Pakistan last week for exploring opportunities

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for importing meat including beef and mutton, chicken, rice and dairy products worth over a billion dollar.

Qatar is a rich country having potential to import over a billion dollar food items from Pakistan. ―In the upcoming Special Economic Zones (SEZs) which will be established with the help of China, proposals are under consideration to establish modernised farm houses with the purpose to boost exports of live animals as well as of both beef and mutton manifold in years ahead,‖ said the official sources.

Earlier, Qatar used to import major chunk of food items from Saudi Arabia but after strained relationship with Gulf States now Qatar is exploring new markets to import food items and Pakistan can become potential player in this regard in weeks and months ahead.

Qatar is the 38th largest export economy in the world as in 2015, their exports stood at $79.9 billion while imports were $34.7 billion, resulting in a positive trade balance of $45.2 billion. In 2015 the GDP of Qatar was $164 billion.

The top exports of Qatar are Petroleum Gas($44.3B), Crude Petroleum ($17.3B), Refined Petroleum ($6.47B), Ethylene Polymers($2.26B) and Nitrogenous Fertilizers ($1.22B), using the 1992 revision of the HS (Harmonized System) classification.

Its top imports are Cars($2.87B), Planes, Helicopters, and/or Spacecraft ($2.6B), Gas Turbines ($1.09B),Aircraft Parts ($1.04B) and Jewellery ($970M).

The top import origins are China ($3.51B), France ($3.23B), the United Kingdom ($3.08B), the United States ($2.96B) and the United Arab Emirates ($2.76B).

Qatar borders Saudi Arabia by land and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Iran by sea. In 2015, Qatar imported $34.7 billion worth of products making it the 58th largest importer in the world. During the last five years, the imports of Qatar have increased at rate of 8.5 percent increased from $22.8 billion in 2010 to $37.7 billion in 2015.

The recent imports are led by cars, which represents 8.27 percent of total imports of Qatar, followed by planes and then other items.

President Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) Zubair Tufail on Monday confirmed to this paper that Qatar‘s trade delegation paid visit to Pakistan last week for exploring trade opportunities and they were interested in importing food items. ―We have helped them to establish contacts with major business houses involved in food items‘ export from Pakistan and it is expected that exporters could get their potential shares in months and years ahead,‖ he concluded. https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/217222-Qatar-to-import-edibles-worth-1-bn-from-Pakistan

NDDC’s N1.5bn rice mills set to start operation after 10-year dormancy JULY 18TH, 2017

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EDITOR NEWS

Niger Delta region is set to join mass rice producing scheme that may create 1,000 jobs as the N1.5 billion rice mills built by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) since 10 years ago are set to come into operation.

The region is also to join the rice out-growers scheme in a deal brokered by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture between the NDDC and an intending operator, the Elephant Group.

BusinessDay gathered that NDDC built two rice mills in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states almost 10 years ago with technical support from Thailand, but the mills remained fallow all the while as different managements come and go.

NDDC sources said the mills had undergone degradation in terms of rusty parts and missing components. A reactivation scheme is to be undertaken by Elephant Group as soon as the final agreement is signed and the mills are handed over, starting with the one in Elele in Rivers State.

It was gathered that discussions on such prospect had been going on between the Ministry of Agriculture and the NDDC leading to inspection of the mills by the managing director of the NDDC, Nsima Ekere to prepare them for reactivation.

The MD told the minister that it was a huge shock for him when he and his team saw huge assets wasting for a decade. ―This is against every single thing that spirit of the Commission stands for.‖ He said in the new spirit of zero tolerance for waste and corruption, the present management and board of the Commission resolved to put the mills to operational use to create over 1000 jobs and more wealth.

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Ekere said the rice-milling scheme would create a new template for his touted New Niger Initiative on life after oil to be hinged on agriculture and food security. He reminded the minister that the region had more potential for agriculture than hydrocarbon industry, and said the Niger Delta people would begin to eat rice milled in the region.

Speaking earlier at the NDDC conference room in Port Harcourt Monday, the minister of state for agriculture, Heineken Lokpobiri, the reactivation of the mills in the region is to integrate the Niger Delta into the Federal Government‘s food security project and to ensure that the oil region was made a massive rice zone.

He said rice paddy for milling were to come from the north only but that an out-grower‘s scheme would ensure that paddy is supplied from the Niger Delta. He too talked of the huge prospects for jobs and wealth creation.

On the proposed operators, the minister said; ―Elephant Group is one of the biggest in Nigeria in rice milling operations where foreigners dominate. They have the financial muscle revive the mill in Elele, rebuild the plants and develop an out-growers‘ scheme‖.

He said for the Acting President to give him permission to come on the visit showed the keen interest of the FG on food security and the rice mill system in the Niger Delta.

At the end of the meeting, the NDDC CEO ordered immediate action beginning with due diligence on the proposed private operators to get immediate approval from the board.

This may be the first major public private partnership scheme of the NDDC to hand over the mills to private operators and end the dormancy and waste of almost one decade https://www.businessdayonline.com/nddcs-n1-5bn-rice-mills-set-start-operation-10-year-dormancy/

RiceBran Technologies to Host Shareholder Update Conference Call Today July 17, 2017 at 4:30 PM EDT July 17, 2017 | About: NAS:RIBT Company to discuss the $18.3 million sale of its Healthy Natural subsidiary and strategic plan to build shareholder value through its proprietary ingredient business PR Newswire SACRAMENTO, California, July 17, 2017 SACRAMENTO, California, July 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

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RiceBran Technologies (NASDAQ: RIBT; NASDAQ: RIBTW) ("RBT" or "Company"), a global leader in the production and marketing of value-added products derived from rice bran, today that Dr. Robert Smith - Chief Executive Officer & President of RBT, Brent Rystrom Chief Financial Officer, and Michael Goose - President of Ingredient Sales will host a conference call today at 4:30 p.m. EDTto discuss the Company's recent sale of its Healthy Natural subsidiary and the strategic plan to build shareholder value through its proprietary ingredient business.

The call information is as follows: 

Date: July 17, 2017

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Time: 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Savings Time

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Direct Dial-in number for US/Canada: (201) 493-6780

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Toll Free Dial-in number for US/Canada: (877) 407-3982

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Dial-In number for international callers: (201) 493-6780

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Participants will ask for the RiceBran Technologies Shareholder Update Call

This call is being webcast by ViaVid and can be accessed at http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=125547.

The call will also be available for replay by accessing http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=125547.

About RiceBran Technologies RiceBran Technologies is a food, animal nutrition, and specialty ingredient company focused on the procurement, bio-refining and marketing of numerous products derived from rice bran.

RiceBran Technologies has proprietary and patented intellectual property that allows us to convert rice bran, one of the world's most underutilized food sources, into a number of highly nutritious food, animal nutrition and specialty ingredient products. Our global target markets are food and animal nutrition manufacturers and retailers, as well as specialty food, functional food and nutritional supplement manufacturers and retailers. More information can be found in the Company's filings with the SEC and by visiting our website at http://www.ricebrantech.com.

Investor Contact: Ascendant Partners, LLC Richard Galterio

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+1-(732)-410-9810 rich@ascendantpartnersllc.com SOURCE RiceBran Technologies https://www.gurufocus.com/news/541341/ricebran-technologies-to-host-shareholder-updateconference-call-today-july-17-2017-at-430-pm-edt

Scientists unlock planthoppers' potential to control future crop disease outbreaks July 18, 2017

A small brown planthopper -- a member of a species known for being a major carrier of rice stripe virus -feeding on a rice plant. Credit: Junjie Zhu

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Zoology have discovered how a severe rice virus reproduces inside the small brown planthopper, a major carrier of the virus.

Rice stripe virus (RSV) causes major damage to rice cropseach year. The study could inform future strategies for controlling the spread of this and other viruses that can lead to devastating effects on rice, wheat, cotton and other crops.

"Most plant viruses depend on insects to carry them between plants, and many can reproduce inside the cells of these carrier insects, or 'vectors', without actually harming them," says Feng Cui, Professor of Zoology. "RSV, one of the most notorious plant viruses, is carried by the small

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brown planthopper and, once inside the cells, manages to achieve a balance with the insect's immune system."Viral infections in animal hosts activate a pathway by which a type of enzyme, called c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), is signalled to respond. But how exactly viruses regulate this pathway in vectors remains an open question, and Cui says the answer would provide important clues for intervening in the spread of plant viruses.

To address this question, Cui and her team explored the effect of RSV on the JNK signalling pathway in the small brown planthopper. Studying interactions between proteins, and using an analytical method to determine the compounds that are important for the JNK signalling pathway, they found that the virus activates the pathway in various ways - especially through the interaction of a planthopper protein called G protein pathway suppressor 2 (GPS2), and a viral protein called capsid protein.

"The interaction between these two proteins promotes RSV reproduction inside the planthopper, ultimately leading to disease outbreak when the insect carries the virus among rice crops," says first author and postdoctoral researcher Wei Wang."We discovered that RSV infection increased the level of another protein called Tumor Necrosis Factor-Îą (TNF-Îą) and decreased the level of GPS2 in the insect vector. The virus capsid, which stores all of RSV's genetic material, competitively binds GPS2 to stop it from inhibiting the JNK activation machinery. JNK activation then promotes RSV replication in the vector, while inhibiting this pathway causes a significant reduction in virus production, therefore delaying disease outbreak in plants."The findings suggest that inhibiting the JNK pathway, either by lowering JNK expressions, strengthening interactions with GPS2 or weakening the effects of TNF-a, could be beneficial for rice agriculture.

"Such inhibition could be achieved through breeding or other means of genetic modification," Wang concludes. "In some cases, it could be possible to administer the appropriate chemical compounds to rice plants to reduce the spread of RSV." Explore further: Genetic engineering tool generates antioxidant-rich purple rice More information: Wei Wang et al, The c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway of a vector insect is activated by virus capsid protein and promotes viral replication, eLife (2017).DOI: 10.7554/eLife.26591 Journal reference: eLife Provided by:

Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2017-07-scientists-planthoppers-potential-futurecrop.html#jCp https://phys.org/news/2017-07-scientists-planthoppers-potential-future-crop.html

U.S. NAFTA Renegotiation Objectives in Line with USA Rice Positions

By Bob Cummings

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WASHINGTON, DC - Since election day when it became clear the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) would be a target for at least renegotiation if not abandonment, USA Rice has steadfastly and aggressively defended the agreement as positive for rice.

Yesterday President Trump's Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued its Summary of Objectives for the NAFTA Renegotiation and it is apparent the administration has heard loud and clear the agriculture community's concerns about a wholesale renegotiation of the sweeping agreement.

"We are pleased to see that the first objective under the agriculture trade section is to 'maintain existing reciprocal duty-free market access for agricultural goods,'" said Carl Brothers of Riceland Foods, Inc., and Chair of USA Rice's International Trade Policy Committee. "It's satisfying to see that our message of 'do no harm' is front and center in USTR's report. NAFTA is the reason Mexico is the number one export market for U.S. rice and why we have seen steady growth in sales to Canada and any renegotiation of the deal must not harm these vital markets."

The objectives also call for the inclusion of enforceable sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures that build upon obligations of members of the World Trade Organization, something USA Rice welcomes.

U.S. rice shipments have at times suffered from sudden interruptions based on SPS concerns raised by Mexican border officials and U.S. negotiators will seek to "establish a mechanism to resolve expeditiously unwarranted barriers that block the export of U.S. food and agricultural products."

"We need a mechanism to quickly deal with border disruptions, particularly for rough rice, and especially when there is little science to back up the stoppages," said Brian King, of ErwinKeith, and USA Rice Chairman. "USA Rice is going to pay close attention to these negotiations and provide guidance to our negotiators to maintain and improve our strong export position."

The 18-page summary fulfills the statutory obligation of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 that the President provide Congress with his objectives 30 days before negotiations commence. USTR has said negotiations will begin on August 16.

As is usual in the early stages of trade negotiations, the parties talk of a speedy conclusion with a goal of completing the talks prior to Mexico's presidential election in July 2018. The timeline will likely lag, especially if existing terms of the agreement, sensitive to any of the parties, are

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reopened.

Earlier this morning, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade had a hearing on the modernization of NAFTA. In his opening remarks, Chairman Dave Reichert (R-WA) stated, "Despite its success, NAFTA was negotiated two decades ago when the landscape looked very different. Today's challenges require new rules, not only to reduce tariffs on our exports but to remove non-tariff barriers as well. It is important that we get this right. A modernized NAFTA agreement will serve as a template for future agreements with our trading partners."

NAFTA entered into force on January 1, 1994, and has greatly liberalized trade between Canada, Mexico, and the United States. There are exceptions, including sugar trade between Mexico and the United States, and Canada maintains strict controls from NAFTA partners on dairy and poultry imports. U.S. rice exports to Canada and Mexico have risen steadily from just over 400,000 metric tons in 1994 to 1.1 million tons last year. Mexico is by far the largest destination, accounting for 81 percent of last year's exports.

NOBEL Liberia, FABRAR To Export Liberian Country Rice July 17, 2017 Cholo Brooks Liberia

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L/R: NOBEL Liberia CEO, Mr. Kesselly, FABRAR Chief Executive, Mr. Lavelanet and its founder, Mrs. Cooper at the partnership program In its bid to help in the promotion of Liberian businesses locally and internationally, and to empower farmers throughout the Country, the management of NOBEL Liberia recently formed a partnership with the Fabrar Liberia Incorporated importer of red Liberian country rice to the to the United States for distribution.

Two executives of Fabrar Liberia Incorporated, Mrs. Jeanine Cooper; Founder and the Chief Executive, Mr. Fabio E. Lavelanet in their meeting with the Chief Executive Officer

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of NOBEL Liberia, Mr. Jallah Kesselly for a possible business deal said they were excited to begin the exportation of the Liberian Country Rice, tagged as the LoneStar to the United States aimed at supplying Liberians and other Afro-Americans to have the taste of Liberian homeproduced rice.

Mr. Kesselly and Mr. Lavelanet displaying one of the bags of Liberian homemade country rice ready to be exported Mrs. Cooper said 40-foot container of the Red Liberian Country Rice is expected to be exported to the United States through the management of NOBEL Liberia for Liberians in the United States including, the Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and other Liberian communities in the United States, and expressed hope that the partnership between NOBEL and her company will boost the sale of Liberian commodities to Liberians in the diasporas.

For his part, the CEO of NOBEL Liberia, Mr. Kesselly speaking during the partnership expressed thanks and appreciation to the management of FABRAR for the initiative to promote Liberia abroad by making the first attempt to export Liberian homemade rice for the consumption of Liberians in that part of the world, using the slogan, ―Helping Liberia to rise again‖, his institution will use all venue to help in the promotion of this drive.

Also speaking, the CEO of FABRAR, Mr. Lvelanet said every five bags of the LoneStar rice being shipped to the United States is the contribution of one farmer, and further noted that this shipment of 4,000 bags has contributed to the livelihood 800 farm families. Adding, ―Every bag purchased puts $3 in the hands of a farmer,‖ Mr. Lavelanet told journalists.

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Observers believed the exportation of Liberian homemade rice to the United States will help in the promotion of Liberia‘s locally produced commodities, and will also dignify the work of the Liberian farmers.

Since the establishment of NOBEL Liberia in the country, it has always made its support and services available to Liberian owned institutions providing guidance and other means that will help Liberians sustain themselves and their families http://gnnliberia.com/2017/07/17/nobel-liberia-fabrar-export-liberian-country-rice/

FDA officials raid shop after plaint of ‗plastic rice‘ Umesh Isalkar & Gitesh Shelke| TNN | Updated: Jul 18, 2017, 11:48 AM IST

PUNE: Officials of the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) conducted a raid and drew sample of a basmati rice variety from a wholesaler in Market Yard late on Monday evening following a citizen's complaint alleging that the rice was made of 'plastic'.

Senior police inspector Mohan Shinde of Market Yard police station told TOI the raid was conducted after a complaint by advocate Rafiq Shaikh.

Apparently, some of Shaikh's friends ate the rice at a Chinese food joint near Market Yard and vomited immediately, fostering suspicion about its quality. "It is a basmati rice variety that is packed and processed at Karnal in Haryana and is marketed by a Delhi-based firm," Sanjay

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Shinde, assistant commissioner (food), FDA, Pune, said."We found only one sack weighing 25kg of the suspicious rice in the godown of the wholesaler during the raid. We drew 2kg in sample from the sack for testing. We will send it to government-designated laboratory for analysis," Shinde said.

When contacted, Shaikh said, "After my friends vomited, we approached the food stall operator who took us to the retailer who supplied him with the rice. The retailer in turn took us to the wholesaler in Market Yard on Monday afternoon," he said.The suspicion grew when the dealer who supplied the rice to the wholesaler didn't turn up throughout the day. "Following this, we brought the issue to the notice of the Market Yard Merchant Association. A sizeable number of merchants gathered outside the wholesaler's shop and informed the police. Police took the sack in their custody around 4pm on Monday. Later, they informed the FDA officials around 7pm," Shaikh said.

He said the wholesaler may have shifted the stock of the plastic rice stocked at his godown as the police took about six hours to involve FDA into the case. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/fda-officials-raid-shop-after-plaint-of-plasticrice/articleshow/59639664.cms

State clears nearly all of rice supply 19 Jul2017 at 04:00 1,208 viewed0 comments NEWSPAPER SECTION: BUSINESS | WRITER: PHUSADEE ARUNMAS A government official checks the quality of rice stocks at a warehouse in Bangkok's Klong Sam Wa district. PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD Eleven rice exporters and traders bid to buy almost all of the 160,000 tonnes of rice in government stocks yesterday, nearly clearing the more than 18 million tonnes of rice that had been stored in warehouses for three years.Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general of the Commerce Ministry's Foreign Trade Department, said the total value of the 160,000 tonnes of rice offered at the auction will be worth about 1.1 billion baht if the state agrees to sell the entire lot.

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The Commerce Ministry will recheck the qualifications of bidders and examine the prices they offered before submitting the bids for approval by the National Rice Committee.

The ministry is due to hold another auction soon to sell 2.6 million tonnes of inedible-grade rice.

The inedible rice is ageing and has been in stock since the start of the Yingluck Shinawatra government, which offered to buy rice from farmers at higher-than-market prices -- bringing in record-high state rice stocks of more than 18 million tonnes at a time when global rice supply outpaced demand.

The scheme created burdensome storage expenses and huge depreciation value.

"If we can open the last auction for the inedible rice soon, it will help cut the burdensome storage expense of 5 million baht a day, as we can sell off all the stock within July as planned," Mrs Duangporn said.

She said the clearance of state rice stocks this year would relieve pressure on Thai rice prices, which should be rising after several rice-importing and rice-producing countries were hit by bad weather, forcing them to seek staple stocks from Thailand.

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka recently entered talks with Thailand for the urgent purchase of 400,000 tonnes of rice to replenish their falling stocks after being hit by severe drought and floods over the past few years.

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Each country is seeking 200,000 tonnes, mostly of parboiled and common-grade white rice. http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1289751/state-clears-nearly-all-of-rice-supply

Rice basmati remains weak on low demand PTI | Jul 19, 2017, 02:42 PM IST New Delhi, Jul 19 () Rice basmati drifted further lower by up to Rs 200 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today owing to slackened demand against adequate stocks position.

Other grains held steady in thin trade.

Traders said muted domestic and exports demand against adequate stocks position mainly kept pressure on rice basmati prices.

In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa- 1121 variety settled lower at Rs 6,5006,700 and Rs 5,250- 5,300 from previous levels of Rs 6,600-6,900 and Rs 5,300- 5,350 per quintal, respectively.

Permal raw, wand and sela also eased to Rs 2,200-2,225, Rs 2,250-2,275 and Rs 2,400-2,500 against last close of Rs 2,225-2,250, Rs 2,275-2,300 and Rs 2,500-2,600 per quintal, respectively in line with bamati trend.

Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal): Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,100-2,345, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,770-1,775, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,775-1,780, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 260-300, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Roller flour mill Rs 975-980 (50 kg), Maida Rs 1,010-1,020 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs 1,035-1,040 (50 kg).

Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,800, Basmati common new Rs 6,500-6,700, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 5,250-5,300, Permal raw Rs 2,2002,225, Permal wand Rs 2,250-2,275, Sela Rs 2,400-2,500 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,850-1,900, Bajra Rs 1,190-1,200, Jowar yellow Rs 1,450-1,500, white Rs 2,900-3,100, Maize Rs 1,340-1,345, Barley Rs 1,500-1,510. SUN KPS SRK http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/rice-basmati-remains-weak-on-lowdemand/articleshow/59664533.cms

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India-China trade balance agreement a non-starter after 3 years In 2016-17, India's highest export earners were iron ore, cotton and organic chemicals Subhayan Chakraborty | New Delhi July 18, 2017 Last Updated at 01:52 IST 42

Photo: Twitter: @narendramodi

While the trade deficit with China continues to balloon to over $51.09 billion, next month will mark the third anniversary of India signing an agreement for achieving bilateral trade balance by 2019.The five-year programme for economic and trade cooperation is a joint medium-term road map for promoting trade and investments, signed between the nations in September 2014.

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―While it is broad-based, it acknowledges the pitfalls of one-way trade,‖ an official said.The agreement also seeks easing of restrictions by the Chinese government against export items such as bovine meat, fruit and vegetables, and basmati rice. Of these, only basmati rice has seen a breakthrough with 14 firms allowed to export to China last year.However, since the agreement was non-binding, the scope of deliberations with regard to reducing the trade deficit depended significantly on the presence of a free environment for discussion, the official added.

The Indian and Chinese armies are in a stand-off in the Doklam plateau of Bhutan. Commerce department officials said chances of conclusive talks on trade issues were slim in the near future.However, the government is throwing its weight behind a long-term plan of revising the export basket to China. Raw materials like cotton, iron ore and copper, which have been a hallmark of Indian exports to China, have come under increasing scrutiny as the government and exporters try to shift priorities towards value-added products.

Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had earlier said the export focus should shift away from raw materials. The ministry has identified hardware, electronics, pharmaceuticals, textiles and automobile components.A revised export basket to China has the potential of boosting export earnings and bridging the trade deficit, which swelled to $61 billion in 2015-16.China is expected to relinquish its dominance over the labour-intensive and low-end manufacturing in the near future. Industries in India are closely following this development. ―We are looking to harness our strengths in labour-intensive sectors where India enjoys a significant advantage over other developing nations,‖ a commerce ministry official said.

The top five export categories to China are all inputs used by Chinese companies to manufacture goods for re-export, including to India. In 2016-17, India‘s highest export earners were iron ore, cotton and organic chemicals, worth $1.43 billion, $1.34 billion and $886.96 million, respectively.

These, along with other raw materials like copper, constituted for more than 70 per cent of India‘s exports to China, said Ajay Sahai, director general, Federation of Indian Exports Organisations ―However, the trend is slowly changing. Cotton is increasingly being imported from China and manufactured yarn exported back,‖ he added.

Trade in hardware, electronics and renewable energy has the potential to expand greatly, according to Sachin Chaturvedi, director-general of the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), a think tank under the external affairs ministry. India imports products much higher on the value chain from China with electrical machinery topping the list at $21.98 billion, organic chemicals at $5.61 billion and plastic articles at $1.8 billion. http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/india-china-trade-balance-agreementa-non-starter-after-3-years-117071800048_1.html

Sri Lanka to import 100,000 MT of rice from Thailand Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

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ECONOMYNEXT – The Sri Lankan government has struck a deal with the Thai government to import 100,000 metric tonnes of par boiled (Nadu) rice at US$ 425 a tonne but deferred another shipment of white raw rice owing to its high price.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce said the total amount of rice to be imported from Thailand, Pakistan, Myanmar and India now stands at 255,000 MT, from deals with both foreign governments and private sector suppliers. Letters of Agreement for the 100000 MT of par boiled rice from Bangkok are to be issued by Colombo this week and shipping for it from Bangkok is to commence as soon as Thai Attorney General‘s office issues the go-ahead, a statement said. The Thai supplier‘s price before shipping for a kilo of rice is Sri Lankan Rs65.31 as of July 18 rates. ―Another 100,000 MT order of white raw rice from Thailand was held back for the time being by Sri Lankan officials due to comparatively higher Bangkok price viz-a-viz Myanmar‘s quote for the same,‖ the ministry said.

It said Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen had also ordered rice from Pakistan and Myanmar to make up for a shortfall in the island. Myanmar government agreed to supply 30,000 MT white raw rice immediately at prices ranging from US$ 290 per MT to $350 per MT. The supplier‘s price before shipping for a kilo of rice ranges from Rs 44.57 to Rs 53.80, as of July 18 rates, the ministry said. Myanmar also agreed to supply another tranche of par boiled rice in September with the amount and price yet to be agreed.

Pakistan‘s government is supplying 25,000 MT of white raw rice immediately, subject to a final price quote and to supply another 100,000 MT of par boiled rice in September with the final price to be agreed on. Another 100,000 MT rice is to be purchased by the government of Sri Lanka from India‘s private sector suppliers immediately and Ministry of Industry and Commerce officials are now in the process of collecting tender bids for it. (COLOMBO, July 18, 2017) http://www.economynext.com/Sri_Lanka_to_import_100,000_MT_of_rice_from_Thailand-38345-9.html

Heat-tolerant rice research wins outstanding paper award A PhilRice-led study titled Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) for high-temperature tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.) won the Outstanding Scientific Paper Award during the 39th National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST Phils) Annual Scientific Meeting held at Manila Hotel, July 12-13.

Researchers of the study Dr. Norvie L. Manigbas and Jupiter L. Grospe from PhilRice, and Evaristo A. Abella of the Central Luzon State University identified nine QTLs containing the

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genes that can counter the ill-effects of high temperature. QTLs are sections of DNA containing the genes that control the trait.

These QTLs were found through the backcrossing of Dular and NSIC Rc150 (Tubigan 9). Dular is an Indian heat-tolerant rice variety that has low yield potential. Tubigan 9, on the other hand, is a Philippine rice variety with an average yield of 8.5 t/ha but not resistant to high temperature.

Six major QTLs, namely qHTfert1, qHTfert3, qHTfert4, qHTtof10, qHTdht3, and qHThd3, and three minor QTLs namely qHTdht4, qHTdht10, and qHTdht5 were identified.

According to PhilRice breeder Manigbas, these QTLs will be used in mapping genes using molecular markers and incorporating the genes into high-yielding cultivars through markerassisted breeding. Through this process, breeding new cultivars becomes faster. ―As of now, we do not have any heat-tolerant rice varieties released in the country. Through this study, we‘ve learned that the heat-tolerant trait is associated to the plants‘ heading days, time of flowering, fertility, and dehiscent temperature – most of which are found in the nine QTLs,‖ Manigbas explained.

Earlier studies have confirmed that high temperature affects all growth stages of rice. However, it is from the booting to flowering stage that rice is most sensitive to high temperature.

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Moreover, temperature exceeding 35oC at flowering stage can cause high pollen and grain sterility in rice. This leads to serious yield loss, low grain quality, and low harvest index.

At present, six advanced promising lines are currently being tested for multi-location trials in the National Cooperative Test under high temperature environments.

NAST, under the Department of Science and Technology, is the highest recognition and advisory body in matters related to science and technology in the Philippines.

Unpolished pigmented rice, a healthier staple food – study

A PhilRice study found that unpolished pigmented rice (red or black rice) has high phytochemical contents and health-promoting properties making it a healthier alternative to white rice.

In the study titled Healthier red and black rice: Not your ordinary staple food, 45 red rice and 25 black rice varieties collected from various provinces in the country were compared with white rice (Enolayan variety). They were characterized in terms of proximate composition, phytonutrients, and health-promoting components.

Results showed that pigmented rice has higher amounts of crude protein, crude ash, crude fat, and crude fiber compared with white rice.

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According to PhilRice‘ food scientist Marissa Romero, one of the authors of the study, pigmented rice is rich in antioxidants such as phenolic compounds, vitamin E derivatives, and yoryzanol. The unique color is determined by the amount of anthocyanin (also an antioxidant) in the bran layers resulting in various shades of red and black.

The researchers ranked Balatinaw with the highest anthocyanin content among all the varieties collected.

To maximize the health benefits of pigmented rice, Romero recommends that it should be consumed in its unpolished form as phytochemicals are significantly lost during polishing.

The study also proved that unpolished red and black rice are good genetic resource for the development of modern varieties with good eating and nutritional qualities. They can also be promoted as functional foods to help improve the health of Filipino consumers. ―Our country has rich diversity of pigmented rice but their utilization as functional food has not been fully explored owing to the limited information on their phytonutrients. We conducted this research to help the public be more aware of the health benefits of pigmented rice,‖ Romero said.

The study was authored by Romero, Gerome Corpuz, and Henry Mamucod. It won 3rd place in the poster competition during the 24th Federation of Crop Science Societies of the Philippines Scientific Conference held in Iloilo City last June.

Phil Rice News

Rice stocks rally, KRBL top gainer India Infoline News Service | Mumbai | July 19, 2017 10:53 IST Continuing their Tuesday‘s upward run, rice stocks were buzzing in the early morning trade on Wednesday, on the BSE. KRBL Ltd. was the top gainer and was trading up by 6.40% at Rs 466.25. Continuing their Tuesday‘s upard run, rice stocks were buzzing in the early morning trade on Wednesday, on the BSE. KRBL Ltd. was the top gainer and was trading up by 6.40% at Rs 466.25. KRBL‘s India Gate basmati rice is not registered as a brand, hence it does not fall under the GST ambit, said the company in an interaction with media.

Meanwhile, Kohinoor Foods Ltd. was trading at Rs 77.35, up by Rs 2.50 or 3.34% and LT Foods

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Ltd. was trading at Rs 71.90, up by Rs 1.35 or 1.91% as at 1031 hours on Wednesday, on the BSE. Earlier, Basmati Rice was subject to VAT or was tax-free in some of the states, however, it has now been included under the branded cereals category and therefore subject to 5% GST. http://www.indiainfoline.com/article/news-top-story/rice-stocks-rice-stocks-rallies-krbl-top-gainer117071900354_1.html

APEDA invites offers for crop survey for Basmati rice estimation, yield The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has invited offers for crop survey for estimation, assessment of acreage, crop health and yield of Basmati rice. According to the notice issued by the authority, the field-based survey will be carried out on the basis of a sample group of farmers selected at the district level in seven geographical indication (GI) states, viz Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Western Uttar Pradesh and two districts in Jammu and Kashmir. ―The crop survey must be undertaken for estimation of crop area, crop health and projection, estimate of production and for survey during two Kharif seasons (i e Kharif 2017 and Kharif 2018) with detailed models and techniques to be used. They are required to be submitted in two separate envelopes,‖ it added. The offer should reach the APEDA office by 3pm on July 26, 2017. According to the eligibility criteria, the bidding firm should have minimum five years of experience to carry out field-based crop surveys undertaken for a trade body or government organisation in India. The field-based survey would cover acreage estimation of all varieties of rice - Basmati, differentiated on the basis of traditional and evolved varieties, and Sharbati and Sugandha variants of non-Basmati rice.

The reports will be submitted on a district-level basis for each state. Said a senior APEDA functionary, ―Five reports will be submitted for the months of August, September, October, November and December. The first report will be submitted by August 31, 2017 and August 31, 2018 in the respective years.‖ ―In case of unusual weather conditions, pest attacks or disease outbreaks affecting yields, a fortnightly report will be given during crop maturity time. The final report will contain crop-cutting estimation data, the post-arrival, post-harvest report in December and all statistics and maps,‖ said the official. http://www.fnbnews.com/Top-News/apeda-invites-offers-for-crop-survey-for-basmati-riceestimation-yield-40845

More bidders vying for NFA rice importation July 18, 2017, 10:00 PM

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By Madelaine B. Miraflor Five more companies from Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore showed interest to place a bid in the government-to-private (G2P) importation of 250,000 metric tons (MT) of rice, which would help shore up Manila‘s dwindling buffer stock even for seven days only.

National Food Authority (NFA) Deputy Administrator Tomas Escarez said there are now 16 prospective bidders for the supply of 250,000 MT of rice with specification of 25-percent broken of long grain and well-milled white rice.

Escarez told Business Bulletin that as of Tuesday, Phan Min Investment Production Trading Services Co. Ltd., Hiep Loi Food Jsc., Thuan Minh Import Export Corporation Vietnam, Wilmar Trading Pte. Ltd., and Thai Capital Crops Company Limited have all formally expressed intention to join the bidding. They will compete along with the first 11 firms who already bought the bid documents.

The total volume of imports will be divided into 8 to 10 lots and a supplier can bid for only a maximum of 50,000 MT. Delivery period for the imports has been staggered from August to September 2017.

The exact bidding date is happening on July 25 (Tuesday).

For this G2P deal, the NFA will only purchase for $451 dollars per MT of rice, totaling to P5.6 billion. ―The NFA Council (NFAC) has prescribed the open tender scheme to allow more private suppliers to participate,‖ NFA said in a statement.

NFAC is composed of representatives from various agencies such as the Office of the Cabinet Secretary (Chairman), NFA (Vice Chairman), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Department of Finance, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Office of the Executive Secretary, and Farmers Sector Representative.

Tags: National Food Authority, NFA, Phan Min Investment Production Trading Services Co., Rice Importation, Thuan Minh Import Export Corporation Vietnam, Tomas Escarez, Vietnam, white rice http://business.mb.com.ph/2017/07/18/more-bidders-vying-for-nfa-rice-importation/

Sri Lanka offers to purchase rice from Myanmar

By Chan Mya Htwe | Tuesday, 18 July 2017

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Sri Lanka has offered to purchase 500,000 tonnes of high-quality rice from Myanmar through a government-to-government contract, said U Aung Soe , director general of Myanmar Trade Promotion Team under the Ministry of Commerce.

The offer to buy 200,000 tonnes of parboiled rice and 300,000 tonnes of white rice was made last week. Parboiled rice, or converted rice, is rice that has been partially boiled in the husk.

Each year, Myanmar exports between 1.5 million and 2 million tonnes of rice, according to the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF).Currently, Sri Lankan Ambassador Mr K.W.N.D. Karunaratne led negotiations between the two governments for the rice purchase.Sri Lanka first offered to purchase rice from Myanmar back in February. ―They told they want to buy 500,000 tonnes of rice. But after we told them each tonne of price was US$285 we did not receive a reply,‖ said Dr Soe Tun, vice chair of the MRF. Since then though, rice prices have risen. The current market price is more than US$300 per tonne. ―We are still negotiating and have yet to decide on anything,‖ Dr Soe Tun said, adding that Myanmar will only sell rice to Sri Lanka at market prices.

Myanmar previously exported rice under a similar government-to-government contract in 200708, according to Ministry of Commerce.According to the ministry‘s figures, trade between Myanmar and Sri Lanka in 2011-12 amounted to US$1.1 million, but later declined. In 2015-16, trade between the two countries rose to US$3.1 million.Under new NLD-led government, trade between the two countries has rapidly increased, hitting US$24.5 million in 2016-17. In the first two months of the current fiscal year, trade between Sri Lanka and Myanmar amounted to US$5.3 million.

Translation by Zar Zar Soe

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http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/26853-sri-lanka-offers-to-purchase-rice-frommyanmar.html

Private rice exporters can bid for Philippines shipments Vietnamese private rice exporters will be allowed to participate in the bidding for the supply contract of 250,000 tonnes of rice to Philippines on July 25.

Rice packs are loaded for export at the Hau Giang Food Joint Stock Company The announcement was made by the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) while raising concerns over strict regulations for the participants.According to the VFA, it is the first time that the Philippines‘ National Food Authority (NFA) will open bidding for private suppliers from participating countries, instead of limiting the bidders to government counterparts.

In previous years, NFA‘s auctions for rice were done through a government-to-government importation regime, where state-run suppliers from Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia were invited to participate.However, requirements for private enterprises to be invited in the bidding are quite strict and Vietnamese rice exporters do not have much experience in executing procedures for the bidding, VFA said.

Those satisfying the requirements would be allowed to bid and take full responsibility of the shipment. The Vietnamese Government‘s Decree 109/2010/ND-CP on rice trading and the Ministry of Industry and Trade‘s Circular 44 on guiding the implementation of the decree will

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not be applied in these cases.The total volume of 25 percent broken long grain well-milled white rice is expected to arrive between August and September as requested by the NFA. The imported volume is divided to eight lots - six lots with 25,000 tonnes each and two lots with 50,000 tonnes each.Prospective bidders may bid for any of the lots, provided that the bid must be the minimum or maximum of the imported rice allocated per lot, but the maximum quantity to be awarded per supplier must not be higher than 50,000 tonnes.Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development revealed that Philippines was the second largest importer of Vietnamese rice in the first five months of the year with 8.6 percent of the market share.Rice export to the market in the period reached 237,400 tonnes in volume and 90.4 million USD in value, representing a year-on-year increase of 23.4 percent and 10.4 percent, respectively. http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/182245/private-rice-exporters-can-bid-for-philippinesshipments.html

Bangladesh in urgent call for Thai rice

Bangladesh is in talks with Thailand for an urgent purchase of 200,000 tonnes of rice to replenish their falling stocks, says the Commerce Ministry's Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) of Thailand.Sri Lanka is also in talks with the country for purchase of 200,000 tonnes of rice, according to a report by www.bangkokpost.com.

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DFT deputy director-general Keerati Rushchano said the two countries have been hit by severe droughts and flooding in recent years, substantially damaging crop yields and forcing them to approach Thailand, , which is not a regular supplier ."The countries need to refill their stocks immediately so they are turning to Thailand, although it's been a long time since they've bought significant quantities of Thai rice," said Mr Keerati.

"Tentatively, they're asking for prompt deliveries, with all rice being transferred 60 days after the deals are sealed." Each country is seeking 200,000 tonnes of rice -- mostly parboiled grade and common grade white rice. The benchmark common grade 5 per cent white rice was quoted at US$410 (13,870 baht) a tonne, while parboiled 100 per cent grade white rice was $439 a tonne, said Thai Rice Exporters Association.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh normally grow rice for domestic consumption, primarily supplementing their stocks from neighbouring Pakistan and India when needed. Sri Lanka imported 280 tonnes of Thai rice in 2016, while Bangladesh bought 151 tonnes, said the association.

Mr Keerati said the rice deals were expected to be secured through government-to-government (G-to-G) contracts. But Thailand's state rice stocks are running low, as the Commerce Ministry has opened auctions to sell it off in recent years. There are only a few million tonnes left, down from a record high of more than 18 million tonnes.

With diminished state stocks, the G-to-G rice deals could mean private firms delivering the rice, he said. Traders said Bangladesh is also approaching private Thai exporters to secure the best price. With diminished state stocks, the G-to-G rice deals could mean private firms delivering the rice, he said. Traders said Bangladesh is also approaching private Thai exporters to secure the best price. http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2017/07/17/77225/Bangladesh-in-urgent-call-for-Thairice

Bangladesh prods Thailand for urgent purchase of 200,000 tonnes rice: Report News Desk, bdnews24.com Published: 2017-07-17 22:43:30.0 BdST Updated: 2017-07-17 22:53:59.0 BdST

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A soldier checks sacks of rice at a warehouse in Ayutthaya province, north of Bangkok July 3, 2014. Reuters Flood-hit Bangladesh is in talks with Thailand for an urgent purchase of 200,000 tonnes of rice to refill its decreasing stock, according to a report. The Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) of the Thai commerce ministry says Bangladesh is seeking the rice within 60 days of sealing the deal, Bangkok Post reported on Monday.Sri Lanka is also seeking the same quantity of rice within the same period."The countries need to refill their stocks immediately so they are turning to Thailand, although it's been a long time since they've bought significant quantities of Thai rice," Bangkok Port quoted DFT Deputy Director-General Keerati Rushchano as saying.

Each country is seeking mostly parboiled grade and common grade white rice, the report said.Thai Rice Exporters Association said the benchmark common grade 5 percent white rice was quoted at $410 per tonne, while parboiled 100 percent grade white rice was $439 a tonne, according to the report.A Bangkok-based rice trader, requesting anonymity, told the Bangkok Post that Bangladesh had asked for their rice price quotes to compare the prices offered by the government and private firms.

The Bangladesh government has bought 250,000 tonnes of rice from Vietnam under a government-to-government deal and the shipments are under way.The purchase is part of a plan to buy 600,000 tonnes of rice under government-to-government deals with Thailand, Vietnam and India, and through tenders in order to tackle soaring prices.Rice prices hiked and state reserves for the grain hit a six-year low recently after floods hit fields, potentially wiping out hundreds of thousands of tonnes of crops. http://bdnews24.com/business

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Rice price unlikely to drop despite import from Vietnam Rafikul Islam Published at 01:12 AM July 18, 2017

The government reserves some 500,000 to 600,000 tonnes of rice every year, while 3.4 million tonnes are needed to feed the country in a single yearRice traders have warned of continued high prices of the staple food, saying fresh imports from Vietnam will have little effect ―any time soon‖ as they will not be distributed for Open Market Sale to the general public.A total of 47,000 tonnes of rice have arrived at the Chittagong port in two consignments in the past week. The first batch of 20,000 tonnes arrived on July 13 and has already been unloaded, while the second shipment of 27,000 tonnes reached the port city on Monday.

Asked about the destination of the imported rice, Md Zahirul Islam, controller, Movement and Storage, Chittagong Food Department, told the Dhaka Tribune that the government is yet to take any decision in this regard.―It is white rice, not the parboiled one so it could not be distributed only for open markets,‖ he said. ―It might go for rationing to the government employees, or to flood-affected people.‖ But after visiting different kitchen markets across the city on Monday, the Dhaka Tribune found rice prices remains high with traders not envisaging a drop for the next couple of months.

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Amirul Islam, proprietor of Chatkhil Rice Agency at Karwanbazar wholesale market in Dhaka, said there had been no change of rice price this week.―I do not see the price come down soon; rather, we are worried over whether the price shoots up in coming days,‖ he said. ―We sell coarse rice at Tk2,050, Minicate at Tk2,700, Paizom at Tk2,100 and Brri-28 at Tk2,500 and Najir Shail at Tk30,000 per 50kg sack.Amirul said the government cut in rice import duty to 18% from 28% had also failed to rein in prices since the Indian government increased its export price by Tk2-Tk3 per kg after the duty cut.

As the price of paddy has gone up in local market as well as India‘s hike in export price, there is hardly any possibility that the price will drop soon.Usually, the government reserves some 500,000 to 600,000 tonnes of rice every year, while 3.4 million tonnes are needed to feed the country in a single year.A total of 165,000tonnes of rice are in reserve now. According to the Food Ministry, the private sector imported 133,000 tonnes between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017, but the government did not make any imports during that time.

Azad Mia, Azad Rice Agency, Mohammadpur, hailed the import from Vietnam, but cast doubt on a possible price decrease anytime soon.―Around 6 lakh tonnes of rice needs to be reserved for the country while the current amount is not enough,‖ he said.―However, the imported rice is not available in the markets. We look forward to seeing when the price comes down (but) it will take at least six months.‖Bangladesh Rice Merchants Association Vice President Zakir Hossain Rony said he expects the price of coarse rice to reduce by Tk35 and fine ones by Tk45, ―but to no avail.‖In total the government has purchased 200,000 tonnes of white rice at $430 per tonne and 50,000 tonnes of parboiled rice at $470 per tonne from Vietnam to maintain immediate availability of stock in the market, as well as reserves, according to the Food Ministry proposal. http://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2017/07/18/rice-price-unlikely-drop-despite-importvietnam/

Sri Lanka negotiates to purchase 500,000 MT of highquality rice from Myanmar Tue, Jul 18, 2017, 10:04 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

July 18, Colombo: Sri Lanka has offered to purchase 500,000 metric tons (MT) of high-quality rice from Myanmar through a government-to-government contract, U Aung Soe, the director general of Myanmar Trade Promotion Team under the Ministry of Commerce has said.The offer to buy 200,000 MT of parboiled rice and 300,000 MT of white rice was made last week during negotiations led by the Sri Lankan Ambassador K.W.N.D. Karunaratne between the two governments, Myanmar Times reported.According to Dr Soe Tun, vice chair of the Myanmar Rice Federation, Sri Lanka first offered to purchase 500,000 MT of rice from Myanmar in February but has not pursued after Sri Lanka was told the price for each metric ton is US$285.

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However since then rice prices have risen to more than US$ 300 per metric ton, the official said."We are still negotiating and have yet to decide on anything," Dr Soe Tun said, adding that Myanmar will only sell rice to Sri Lanka at market prices.

A four-member team Sri Lankan officials visited Pakistan and Myanmar earlier this month to hold discussions to purchase rice.

Sri Lankan officials have negotiated for lower prices than the prices first quoted by both Pakistan and Myanmar officials. Officials of both countries have agreed that such bargaining is acceptable and said shall submit Sri Lanka's bargained price quotes to their respective Cabinets (of Ministers) for approval, to complete the government to government sales, Sri Lankan Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen said.

According to the Myanmar Ministry of Commerce, trade between Myanmar and Sri Lanka in 2011-12 amounted to US$1.1 million, but later declined. In 2015-16, trade between the two countries rose to US$3.1 million.

Under new NLD-led government, trade between the two countries has rapidly increased, hitting US$24.5 million in 2016-17. In the first two months of the current fiscal year, trade between Sri Lanka and Myanmar amounted to US$5.3 million

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- JUL 19, 2017 Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-July 19 Nagpur, July 19 (Reuters) – Gram and tuar prices reported higher in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) here on good buying support from local millers amid weak supplyfrom producing regions because of heavy rains. Notable hike in Madhya Pradesh gram prices alsoboosted sentiment.

About 600 of gram and 300 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 down in open market on lack of demand from local traders amid good supply from producing regions. * Wheat mill quality reported higher in open market here on increased demand from local traders amid thin arrival from producing regions. * In Akola, Tuar New – 3,900-3,975, Tuar dal (clean) – 5,500-5,700, Udid Mogar (clean)

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– 7,200-8,200, Moong Mogar (clean) 6,500-7,200, Gram – 5,300-5,450, Gram Super best – 7,200-8,000 * Other varieties of wheat, 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 4,600-5,220 4,550-5,180 Gram Pink Auction n.a.

2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction 3,450-3,810 3,450-3,700 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 1,550-1,690 1,550-1,674 Gram Super Best Bold 7,500-8,000 7,500-8,000 Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.

Gram Medium Best 6,700-7,000 6,700-7,000 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a Gram Mill Quality 5,300-5,400 5,300-5,400 Desi gram Raw 5,500-5,600 5,500-5,600 Gram Yellow 7,100-8,100 7,100-8,100 Gram Kabuli 12,300-13,400 12,300-13,400 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 5,200-5,500 5,200-5,500 Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 4,800-5,100 4,800-5,100 Tuar Gavarani New 3,900-4,000 3,950-4,050 Tuar Karnataka 4,000-4,100 4,000-4,100 Masoor dal best 4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000 Masoor dal medium 4,600-4,700 4,600-4,700 Masoor n.a. n.a.

Moong Mogar bold (New) 6,800-7,500 6,800-7,500 Moong Mogar Medium 6,200-6,500 6,200-6,500 Moong dal Chilka 5,500-6,300 5,500-6,300 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.

Moong Chamki best 6,500-7,500 6,500-7,500 Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,500-8,500 7,500-8,500 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,800-7,200 6,800-7,200 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 4,400-4,900 4,400-4,900 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 4,500-5,000 4,500-5,000 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 2,850-3,050 2,850-3,050 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) 4,100-4,600 4,100-4,600

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Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000 Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,750-1,850 1,700-1,800 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,300 2,100-2,300 Wheat Lokwan new (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,100 1,900-2,100 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,350 2,100-2,350 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,050 1,900-2,050 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 2,200-2,700 Rice BPT new (100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,300 2,800-3,400 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) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400 Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,650 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) 4,100-4,300 4,100-4,300 Rice Shriram New(100 INR/KG) 4,800-5,500 4,800-5,500 Rice Shriram best 100 INR/KG) 6,500-6,800 6,500-6,800 Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,200 5,800-6,200 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) 4,600-5,000 4,600-5,000 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. 31.6 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 22.7 degree Celsius Rainfall : 24.7 mm FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky with few spells of rains or thunder-showers. Maximum and minimumtemperature would be around and 31 and 23 degree Celsius respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, butincluded in market prices) http://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL3N1KA2YJ

Production, Says Senate President

By Damilola Oyedele

Abuja — The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki has cautioned that unless smuggling is tamed by relevant authorities, it would make a waste of the over $7 billion invested by the government to stimulate local production of rice in the last 10 years.

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He also noted that smuggling would impede efforts to diversify the economy from oil, and remain a threat to all economic policies intended to boost national development.

Saraki said these while delivering the opening address on Monday, at the public hearing to tackle smuggling by the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariffs, where he urged stakeholders to come up with recommendations that could save the nation from impending crises posed by the scourge.

He noted that some of the treaties and agreements signed with ECOWAS, jeopardise Nigeria's economic policies.

"The level of smuggling that we are seeing cannot continue because they will definitely rubbish all the policies of government if allowed to go on. Today, the greatest threat to small holder farmers is smuggling. Rice farmers who have gone to take loans either from the CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) or from commercial banks are being threatened by rice coming in from across the borders at highly subsidised rate," he said.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201707180022.html

Mannachanallur rice mills struggle to sustain operation JULY 17, 2017 20:23 IST Declining paddy arrivals due to the drought conditions has caused a perceptible downslide in milling activities in Mannachanallur town that is famous for its Ponni variety of rice.

Most of the about 40 mills in the town witnessed manufacturing activities for only three to four months in a year during 2015 and 2016. Even to ensure this, the mills, according to local sources, were constrained to purchase paddy from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

The predicament of the member units of Mannachanallur Rice Mill Owners‘ Association is not getting any better this year. Though the rice mills in the town have embraced modernisation over the last decade, the competition they face from the millers in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh is rather tough, members said.

Top quality paddy varieties produced in these States are procured by the mills there, and only the second quality is brought here for processing. The mills in the other States are also better placed in terms of operating efficiency. With capacities to process 50 to 60 tonnes a day, the mills are able to produce and sell the rice at lower prices when compared to the millers in Mannachanallur where the capacities of the manufacturing units have capacities are much lower in the range of 10 to 15 tonnes.

The industry is also labour-intensive, particularly in conventional rice mills where cleaning, drying, grading and polishing activities are carried out manually. Manpower requirement is

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rather high since the overall operation in rice milling unit encompass cleaning to remove impurities; separation of small stones from paddy; parboiling to improve nutritional quality; husk removal; husk aspiration; paddy separation; whitening by removal of bran layer; polishing the exterior of milled kernel; length grading of broken and full rice; and finally packaging it. http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/rice/article19296912.ece

Researchers deliver results at Wagga rice symposium Nikki Reynolds

@nikkireynolds1

19 Jul 2017, 3:30 p.m.

Chris Blanchard BOOSTING profits by enhancing rice quality was at the centre of a rice industry symposium in Wagga this week. It was a chance for those at the coalface of the industry to learn about the latest developments in scientific research.Rice cracking – or breaking down of the grain – is one of the banes of the industry and can reduce returns to the grower.New work outlined by NSW Department of Primary Industries researcher Dr Mark Talbot of Yanco promises to help growers identify a percentage of ―cracked‖ rice.

He said the automation of this was needed specifically for rice destined for ―puffing‖ which is used in breakfast cereals or sushi rice. ―If you have a cracked grain of rice it doesn‘t puff properly … this is potentially a problem that affects the whole supply chain.‖ The event was hosted by the Functional Grains Centre and the centre‘s director, Professor Chris Blanchard said it was an opportunity to bring members of the industry together to learn about new research. ―This is the first time we have got all of the industry players together in a grain-quality space, we quite often bring people together in the production space,‖ Professor Blanchard said. He said there was a surprising amount of research related to the rice industry being conducted in the southern NSW region. The symposium highlighted a number of rice industry inroads including research into coloured rice and also the health benefits of the grain.

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―The aim was to bring together stakeholders including growers, processors and scientists to highlight current projects to improve rice quality and to develop a plan for future investment in research and development,‖ he said. The symposium also heard from the Australian Farm Institute‘s general manager research Richard Heath and NSW Trade and Investment senior export adviser Mr Wayne Murphy. http://www.therural.com.au/story/4799943/researchers-deliver-results-at-wagga-ricesymposium/

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Govt exits Aveyime Rice Factory to allow for capital injection EMMANUEL BRUCE 18 JULY 2017

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has commenced negotiations with a private rice growing company to take up the government‘s 30 per cent stake in the Prairie Volta Limited, popularly known as the Aveyime Rice Factory, in return for capital injection into the business.The government‘s decision to exit the rice farming and processing company is seen as the best step towards reviving the ailing business.

It followed the findings of an independent report by KPMG, which showed that the company needed reinvestment to be able to stay afloat.But with the government not in the capacity to inject new capital into the business, a Deputy Minister of Food and Agricultural (MoFA), Dr Sagre Bambangi, said the ministry had come to the conclusion that offloading its 30 per cent shares to a private investor was the best way to go.

Although the minister declined to name the investor involved, he told the GRAPHIC BUSINESS that the negotiations were at an advanced stage.The Prairie Volta Limited (PVL) is a joint venture company between the Prairie Texas Incorporated in the United States of America (USA) and the government of Ghana.

Prairie holds 40 per cent shares while government of Ghana and the GCB Bank hold 30 per cent shares each.In April 2008, Prairie Texas bought the assets of the defunct Quality Grains Company Limited. This was after the government had signed an agreement with Prairie to takeover Quality Grains‘ assets, which comprised rice milling plant with 60,000 metric tonnes capacity per annum, 1286-hectare farm site and irrigation infrastructure and machinery, all located at Aveyime Battor and its environs.

Through the agreement, the assets represented the government‘s contribution to the project.

Shut down of company Per the agreement, Prairie Texas was also required to pump in a working capital of US$ three million for the operations of the factory.

But unfortunately, Prairie Texas failed to bring in the required working capital and operated on losses in 2011, 2013, and 2014. It only recorded a marginal profit of GH₵ 62,002 in 2012.

Subsequently, the rice factory, which was expected to create jobs and save the country over US$ 600 million from the importation of rice, was shut down in 2015 and all the workers were laid off.

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The deputy minister was, however, confident that the subsequent offloading of the ministry‘s shares would bring in the needed capital and help unleash the full potentials of the company.

He said government would, however, still maintain its interest in the company since the GCB Bank, which is majority owned by government, would still maintain its 30 per cent share in the company.

Government must be cautious The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Mr Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, also in an interview with the GRAPHIC BUSINESS, believed government offloading its shares in order for a private investor to take over was the right way to go. ―The company is in my constituency and I visit it anytime I go there so I am fully aware of the challenges. What they need now is capital injection so if government offloading its shares will bring in additional capital, then why not?‖ he stated.

He, however, cautioned government to ensure what happened with Prairie Texas did not happen again, when it failed to inject the needed capital. ―Lessons have to be learnt. Whoever the government is planning to sign the agreement with, government must be very sure and convinced the new investors have what it takes and are willing to inject additional capital before the facility is handed over to them,‖ he said. ―If possible, an escrow account should even be opened so that the new investor pays in the money that will be injected into the company before the facility is handed over,‖ he added.

Leasing of Juapong Milk Processing facility Touching on the ministry‘s plans for another abandoned government project which is the Juapong Milk Processing Factory, the deputy minister said government had signed a MoU with Simpaul Limited, producers of happy cow cheese and other milk products for lease of the Juapong Milk Processing Factory.

In line with government‘s agenda to promote dairy farming in the country, MoFA sourced for funding from the Canadian government through the Food and Agriculture Budgetary Support in 2004 to construct six milk processing facilities in cattle producing areas of the country of which the dairy factory in Juapong in the Volta Region was part.

The primary objective of the processing facility was to mop up and purchase raw milk produced by cattle farmers for processing into other products for consumption. Unfortunately, the linkage with the private sector (cattle farmers) to use the facility was not successful and the facility was never used and remained exposed to the vagaries of the weather and deteriorated over time.

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The Deputy Minister, responding to a question posed by Mr Okudjeto Ablakwa on the floor of Parliament, said Simpaul had commenced renovation works at the facility which had become a habitation for reptiles and rodents.―They have promised to complete the renovation by the fourth quarter of the year and commence operations soon after,‖ he said. http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/govt-exits-aveyime-rice-factory-to-allow-forcapital-injection.html

Rice rules stripped

by DENILIQUIN PASTORAL TIMES Restrictions on rice growing in the Murray Valley have been reduced, with Murray Irrigation Limited‘s decision to remove its Rice Growing Rules and an associated Rice Growers Charge.The historic rules limit the area that can be sown to rice based primarily on early soil type research and potential impacts on the water table.Ricegrowers Association of Australia president Jeremy Morton said new knowledge and research and development has shown that some excluded soil types can be just as productive without impacting on the environment.

He said removing the rules allows growers to make decisions based on economics, rather than outdated formulas.‗‗Rice is historically a ponded crop and it possibly did contribute to high water tables in certain areas,‘‘ Mr Morton said.‗‗But we just don‘t have the water table concerns we did in the 1970s and 1980s and earlier, with it mostly under control now. ‗‗The rules say clay depth must be at least three metres, and that with clay depth to two and a half metres you could only grow rice one in every four years.‗‗If you look at some of the data now, you can grow a rice crop with as little as one metre of clay and have a low water use paddock. ‗‗With the rules gone, it‘s now up to the individuals — no one is going to grow a crop in a high use paddock because it is not economically viable.‘‘Mr Morton said taking away the impediment of crop placement could potentially result in more rice sown in the Murray Irrigation area overall.He said it would not be a ‗‗free-for-all‘‘ however, with

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guidelines to be prepared to ensure best management practice environmental standards are still being met. ‗‗Since the start of the year, the RGA and its Murray Valley representatives have been working with Murray Irrigation to seek the removal of these rules, while implementing a framework that not only ensures the current water table levels are maintained but also encourages increased rice production and water use across the system,‘‘ he said. ‗‗We consider this announcement a significant win for the RGA and Murray Irrigation ricegrowers.‗‗Murray Irrigation, together with other irrigation companies, plays an important role in monitoring rice water use on farm, with this data being a useful source of information for the rice research and development program.‘‘Mr Morton said RGA applauds Murray Irrigation for its commitment to the collection of water use data across all crop types, including rice. ‗‗The RGA also thanks Murray Irrigation for its forward thinking and collaborative approach to decision making,‘‘ he said.‗‗As the most significant water user within the Murray Irrigation system, the RGA is confident that the industry and Murray Irrigation will continue to work closely together to implement strategies that encourage the production of rice within the MIL system.‘‘ Mr Morton said the RGA was also pleased to see Murray Irrigation remove the Rice Growers Charge, which is levied at $220 per landholding that is growing rice.‗‗The removal of the rice growers‘ charge represents a significant cost saving for our growers, as many growers own or operate multiple landholdings,‘‘ Mr Morton said. http://www.denipt.com.au/2017/07/19/5628/rice-rules-stripped

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