Daily
Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter
August 20 ,2016 Vol 7 , Issue VIII
Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Today Rice News Headlines...
Govt may freeze stockpile rice sales Thailand Offers to Sell 1 Million T of Rice in August Auctions IRRI to present 10-point rice action plan Rice takes hit in Acadiana flooding Farmers look to the future as floods hit paddy production Heavy rain expected to bring more flooding The Latest: LSU: So far rice farmers losses total about $14M UNISAME URGES MINCOM FOR ENABLING EXPORTS TO IRAN Acadia Parish Holds Emergency Response Meeting Customs impound 31 containers of rice at Lagos port Food association denies strong rice export forecast reduction Rice Futures Climb as Flooding Threatens Crops Latest Texas Rice Crop Survey
News Detail...
Govt may freeze stockpile rice sales ETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI THE NATION August 20, 2016 1:00 am
Editorial Board Chief Editor
Hamlik
Managing Editor
Abdul Sattar Shah Rahmat Ullah Rozeen Shaukat
English Editor
Maryam Editor Legal Advisor Advocate Zaheer Minhas
Editorial Associates
Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid Javed Islam Agha Ch.Hamid Malhi Dr.Akhtar Hussain Dr.Fayyaz Ahmad Siddiqui Dr.Abdul Rasheed (UAF) Islam Akhtar Khan
Editorial Advisory Board
Dr.Malik Mohammad Hashim
Assistant Professor, Gomal University DIK
Dr.Hasina Gul
Assistant Director, Agriculture KPK
GIVEN FLUCTUATING rice prices, currency volatility and uncertainty over the weather, the Commerce Ministry will closely monitor the market situation on a day-by-day basis to decide whether to continue releasing rice from the government stockpiles or to suspend sales for a short time.Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, said yesterday that with the state still holding a large overall stockpile, the government would consider all factors carefully and monitor the market situation daily in reaching a conclusion on whether it should suspend further sales.
Dr.Hidayat Ullah Assistant Professor, University of
Swabi
Dr.Abdul Basir Assistant Professor, University of
Swabi
Zahid Mehmood PSO,NIFA Peshawar
Falak Naz Shah
Head Food Science & Technology 2 ART, Peshawar
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter "The upcoming auction for 1 million tonnes of rice could be the last this year before suspending sales for three to four months during the harvest season, which starts next month. However, the ministry will continue to release lower-grade rice that is not fit for [human] consumption, as that would not affect the current crop," she explained. Philippines plans to buy Meanwhile, as the Philippines has recently announced plans to buy 250,000 tonnes of 25-per-cent white rice from abroad, the government will join the bidding, despite the price of Thai rice being considerably higher than the prices offered by the Kingdom's two major rivals, Vietnam and Cambodia, she added. Duangporn said the government would hold talks with the Thai Rice Exporters Association about participating in the tender, as the Philippines wanted to purchase new-crop rice.
Thai 25-per-cent white rice is currently quoted at US$388 per tonne, while the Vietnamese equivalent is quoted at $335. Charoen Laothammatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, yesterday said the government might need to suspend its rice-release plan for a few months after opening the upcoming round of bidding, as the main crop would be harvested late next month. About 22 million to 23 million tonnes of rice are expected to enter the market, which would create a high level of supply, while the price of rice is falling because of weak demand in the world market, he said. Charoen added that he was quite concerned that Thai rice exports would face tougher competition due to low global demand, while the price of Thai rice was much higher than that of its export rivals, and Vietnam in particular, by about $50-$60 per tonne. The country may need to cut its rice-export projection of 9.5 million tonnes for this year in the next few months, he warned. Vietnam, which is the world's third-largest rice exporter, has recently lowered its own full-year export forecast from 6.5 million tonnes to 4.7 million tonnes because of decreased global demand. Moreover, Charoen said the baht's appreciation was another obstacle facing Thai rice exporters, particularly in light of the prevailing price difference between Thai and Vietnamese rice. According to the association, the price of Thai 5-per-cent white rice dropped sharply between August 3 and August 10, from $447 per to $432 per tonne, while the price of equivalent Vietnamese rice was quoted at $350 per tonne.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the association, said the Philippines government's decision to hold an auction for the purchase of 250,000 tonnes, while welcome, was for much less rice than in previous auctions by one of the world's largest importers, which were usually for about 600,000-700,000 tonnes. This all points to a gloomy world-demand situation, which could mean Thailand's rice shipments this year coming in lower than targeted, he said. By the end of July, the Kingdom had exported 5.6 million tonnes of rice, while Vietnam had shipped about 2.9 million tonnes. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Govt-may-freeze-stockpile-rice-sales-30293385.html
Thailand Offers to Sell 1 Million T of Rice in August Auctions Bangkok. Thailand is offering to sell one million tonnes of rice this month for domestic buyers, the commerce ministry said, as the country works to clear stockpiles built up under the previous administration. The world's second-biggest rice exporter after India has stocks of about 9 million tonnes after buying rice from farmers at prices exceeding global rates under a scheme put in place by ousted former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The government plans to sell the rice in two auctions on August 29 and 30, for domestic buyers only. The first auction involves 753,000 tonnes of rice for human consumption. The second auction is for 255,000 tonnes of rice which is fit for human consumption and industrial use, the ministry said. "We're offering to sell one million tonnes but how much will be sold depends on the bids," said Duangporn Rodphaya, chief of the commerce ministry's foreign trade department in charge of the country's rice auctions. "We will certainly not sell rice for low prices to prevent any impact to the market." Duangporn also said Thailand will compete with Vietnam and Cambodia to sell rice to the Philippines, which will be holding an auction on Aug 31 to import 250,000 tonnes of rice on a government-to-government basis. The rice will be 25 percent white new rice which Duangporn said is currently quoted at $388 a tonne, FOB basis, higher than Vietnam's $335 a tonne. Drought in rice producing countries, including Thailand, has cut supply to global markets and given the Thai government an opportunity to speed up sales before the main annual crop is harvested during the fourth quarter. Thailand's military junta has sold more than 5 million tonnes in a series of auctions since taking power in a May 2014 coup. It plans to clear the stockpiles by the end of 2017.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter In January 2015 an army-appointed legislature impeached Yingluck over corruption in the rice scheme, leading to her being banned from political office for five years. The government has said the rice scheme cost the state 286 billion baht ($8.19 billion). She now faces a criminal case for negligence over the scheme, a case her supporters say is politically motivated http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/international/thailand-offers-sell-1-million-t-rice-august-auctions/
IRRI to present 10-point rice action plan THE NATION August 20, 2016 1:00 am IN A BID TO rally Asean members and other rice-growing countries in Asia to invest more in research and innovation, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) will present a 10-point action plan to the region’s top agriculture policymakers at the annual SOM-AMAF conference to be held next week in the Philippines. Countries participating in the Senior Officials Meeting-Asean Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry will include the 10 Asean member states - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam - plus China, Japan and South Korea (Asean+3). The 10-point action plan outlines policy recommendations that can be considered by the attending countries to ensure that rice remains available and affordable across the region, especially in the face of increasing challenges from climate change.The action plan dovetails with the Asean Integrated Food Security Framework and includes the |Asean Plus 3 Germplasm Development and Breeding Initiative. This initiative in effect creates a regional platform for technology |collaboration that could improve |the genetic resources of |rice varieties available to the Asean+3 countries. At the same time, it enables work to accelerate the development and deployment of climatesmart |rice varieties adapted to region-|specific conditions of drought, |flooding and salinity brought on by climate change.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter In 2013, India, Nepal and Bangladesh entered a similar agreement to share released rice varieties with one another."The agreement meant that a new rice variety released in India could just as easily be released in Bangladesh or Nepal if they wanted a similar variety and vice versa," explained Matthew Morell, IRRI director-general."Now is the time for Asean to make this commitment," he said. "The rice industry feeds over 600 million people in the region each day. A joint investment in rice breeding can achieve food security for the entire region as well as create inclusive economic growth in the rice industry."Deliberations of the SOM-AMAF will take place from Monday to Friday next week http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/IRRI-to-present-10-point-rice-action-plan-30293387.html
Rice takes hit in Acadiana flooding Greg Hilburn, USA TODAY Network 1:45 p.m. CDT August 18, 2016
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(Photo: COURTESY/RICHARD FONTENOT)
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter LSU AgCenter scientist Dustin Harrell estimates flooding has cost Acadiana rice farmers more than $14 million in fields that were completely submerged resulting in total losses.And that doesn't include yield or quality losses from rice that was damaged, but can still be harvested, or the inability of many farmers to grow the traditional second, or ratoon, crop, which usually amounts to another third of the first crop. Nor does it include equipment and infrastructure losses."It's a pretty bad situation," said Harrell, LSU's rice specialist. Harrell said in some ways the damage is worse than from previous hurricanes."Usually with a hurricane the water recedes quickly, but in this case the backwater flooding is still there," he said.While rice is grown in flooded fields, water that completely submerges the crop creates damage or destruction, depending on how long it's submerged. Some of Ville Platte farmer Richard Fontenot's fields have been flooded five days. Crops can generally survive complete submersion about two days, Harrell said. Fontenot, who farms rice and other crops, said the ultimate loss in rice will likely almost double Harrell's initial estimate. "I'd say closer to $20 million to $25 million, probably more," he said. "I still have some places that are under 12 inches of water." Fontenot has resumed his rice harvest, but the soil is so wet the equipment is tearing up the fields, preventing a chance at a ratoon crop. "Nothing has changed for the better," he said. Acadiana farmers produce about 75 percent of Louisiana's rice crop, which is an estimated 430,000 acres this year. Losses could be even larger in other crops like late soybeans and sugar cane where harvests had barely started. "It's looks like I'm going to loose 600 to 800 acres of beans," Fontenot said. But Fontenot still found reasons to be thankful. "I'm still blessed with a house that is dry and the ability to harvest at least some of my fields," he said. "I'm better off than my friends to the east. http://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2016/08/18/first-estimates-acadiana-ag-damage-trickle-ricetakes-hit/88946228/
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Farmers look to the future as floods hit paddy production
By Su Phyo Win | Friday, 19 August 2016
Flooding across the country over the past two months has impacted more than 400,000 people and submerged more than 500,000 acres of paddy, according to recent government data. A farmer wades through a paddy field. ( Kaung Htet / The Myanmar Times) Around 70 percent of the population depends on the agriculture sector, while the floods have hit during plantation of the rainy season crop of paddy, which is mostly cultivated in the wetter months. While flooding is less severe than last year, it has hit at the same critical point in the farming calendar, which coincides with the heaviest annual rains. According to the most recent data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, the estimated rainy-season paddy crop for this fiscal year is 15.6 million acres.Around 10 million acres of this had already been cultivated on August 15, while floods have affected more than 500,000 acres of plantation.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Ayeyarwady Region has been the most severely impacted, with more than 200,000 acres of farmland under water, followed by Bago Region, said U Myo Tint Htun, deputy secretary at the ministry’s office. ―We cannot say that all of the submerged paddy has been destroyed. We are calculating the damage as the water level recedes. Of the 150,000 acres that is no longer underwater, around 20,000 acres has been destroyed,‖ he said.U Myo Tint Htun said that while the total extent of the damage cannot yet be estimated, it appears the losses will not be as heavy as last year, when floods destroyed around 300,000 acres out of 15 million acres of rainy-season paddy. However, more damage could still be caused as the water level of the Ayeyarwady River is still rising, he said. The ministry has access to more than 60,000 buckets of seed which will be distributed around the country to those in need. The ministry also needs to consider that flooding will inevitably happen again in the next few years, said U Nay Lin Zin, rice trader and joint secretary at the Myanmar Rice Federation. ―Ayeyarwady Region is still under- water and the rain has been heavy during the past few days so it is hard to count the total loss at the moment,‖ he said. ―This is the second year of consecutive flooding and total rice production will certainly fall to some extent.‖ In fiscal year 2015-16 the government targeted rice exports of 2.5 million tonnes, but Myanmar only exported 1.4 million tonnes, compared with 1.8 million in fiscal year 2014-15, according to data from the Myanmar Rice Federation. ―Rice exports and flooding are not directly proportional, but exports were banned for several weeks between August and October last year due to the floods, and rice production also fell because of the water damage,‖ U Nay Lin Zin said. The government targets rice exports of 4 million tonnes in the year 2020 but may also struggle to reach this target because Myanmar’s rice is more expensive than rice in neighbouring countries, U Nay Lin Zin said. This is partly due to flooding; the price of local rice has risen from K500 to K1000 for one bag of lower-quality Ma Naw Thu Kha, or Sin Thwe Latt, while the price of higher-quality Shwe Bo Paw San has risen from K2000 to K3000 since the floods began. ―Thai rice is even being imported to Myanmar illegally across the borders because the price is lower than the local rice price,‖ said U Nay Lin Zin.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter ―We also face the problem that China still does not allow imports of Myanmar rice across the Muse border.‖ In some countries, governments sell reserve rice to the market in times of shortage, to stabilise prices. In fiscal year 2012-13, Myanmar put aside K30 billion to buy reserve rice, but used just K14.5 billion of the funds. Since then, the government has not allocated any budget to buying reserves. This is likely to change, said U Nay Lin Zin, because of an ASEAN food security agreement that requires each country in the regional bloc to reserve at least 14,000 tonnes of rice each year to protect against the impact of natural disasters and climate change. Myanmar could learn lessons from other countries in the region such as Vietnam and Thailand, as they also rely on rice and face similar challenges, U Nay Lin Zin said. Vietnam has a good policy for farmers, he said, with favourable logistics and techniques. The country also benefits because few of its workers migrate overseas, unlike Myanmar which is facing the very serious challenge of farm labour shortages. Thailand’s policy of subsidising rice prices is also beneficial for farmers, he added. For Sean Turnell, a government economic adviser, a whole range of things can be done to improve agriculture by improving rural access to credit. Furthermore, he said, financial services exist that can reduce the risks to farmers and allow them to maximise output, such as crop insurance. ―Bizarrely, at the moment [state-owned] Myanma Agricultural Development Bank does not collect savings. This is the best way around the world to allow people to protect themselves. Then they have a safe place to store their earnings and if the harvest is bad they can take out loans,‖ he said. While Vietnam has many problems of its own, it has had incredible success in the agriculture sector, he said. ―Thirty years ago, people even in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, went hungry. Now Vietnam is the second-largest coffee exporter in the world, while Thailand is among the largest exporters of rice. There are many reasons for this, but the main one is central financial reform.‖ There is great reason for optimism, Mr Turnell said, as Myanmar’s agriculture sector shows huge promise.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter ―Myanmar’s agriculture exports are way, way below their potential. Just to take rice [as an example], exports are now about one-third of what they were in 1937,‖ he said. ―[But] if you are a farmer, it is very difficult to get affordable credit and MADB at the moment does not [offer loans] for most crops. In paddy farming, the bank only offers one-third of total production costs. This means that farmers do not use the best techniques or good-quality fertilisers and, as a consequence of this, production falls.‖ Farmers are also forced to approach informal money lenders for additional credit and pay around 10 percent interest each month. ―Just for that one fact alone, forget about all the other stuff, getting agricultural credit right will lead to a significant increase in production,‖ Mr Turnell said http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/22038-farmers-look-to-the-future-as-floods-hit-paddyproduction.html
Heavy rain expected to bring more flooding
By Myint Kay Thi | Friday, 19 August 2016
Eight people have died, nearly half a million have been driven from their homes or face imminent threat of flooding, and nearly K700 million (US$590,000) has been spent on flood-relief measures as heavy rain continues to batter most states and regions of the country. Workers push a cart loaded with fuel barrels along a flooded road in Pathein, Ayeyarwady Region, on August 13.EPA
The depression associated with Typhoon Dianmu off China’s Guangdong province is said to be driving the extreme weather.The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology said yesterday that isolated heavy showers were expected in Sagaing, Bago, Mandalay and Magwe regions; Shan, Chin, Rakhine, Kayah and Kayin states; and Nay Pyi Taw from August 20 to 22.Upper Sagaing and Bago regions and Shan, Chin, Rakhine, Kayah and Kayin states were forecast to receive 3 inches (7.6 centimetres) of rainfall over a 24-hour period. Nay Pyi Taw, lower Sagaing, Mandalay and Magwe regions are forecast to receive 1.5 inches or more. 11
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter
The DMH warned people living near rivers and streams and in hilly regions to be alert to the risks of flooding and landslides. Department director U Kyaw Lwin Oo said on August 17 that strong monsoon conditions would bring more heavy rain to lower Myanmar, including the delta area, and northern Rakhine and Chin states in the coming week. Ayeyarwady, Yangon and Bago regions face further flooding. Camps for families displaced by flooding had already been opened in upper Myanmar after last month’s heavy rains, particularly in Kachin State and Sagaing, Magwe and Mandalay regions. Ayeyarwady, Bago and Yangon regions are still struggling with floodwater, according to the Department of Relief and Resettlement. Kachin and Mon states and Sagaing, Magwe, Mandalay, Bago, Yangon and Ayeyarwady regions have been struggling with floodwaters for the past month or more, with Ayeyarwady Region the worst hit. U Than Soe, director of the Department of Relief and Resettlement in Ayeyarwady Region, said, ―Pathein district, which includes Thapaung, Pathein, Kangyidaunt and Yegyi townships, is still struggling with floodwater,‖ affecting both inhabited areas and fields. As of August 15, 15 townships in Ayeyarwady Region were facing flooding, with 100,000 people from 20,000 households being evacuated. Though the authorities closed some camps in Maubin and Hinthada townships because of falling water levels, more than 6000 people were still living there.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter ―In Ayeyarwady Region, Pathein, Hinthada and Maubin districts are flood-affected, with Pathein being the worst-affected,‖ he said. U Than Soe warned of further flooding to come. ―Though the floodwaters receded starting August 16, we’re keeping an eye out for more rain. Floodwater levels are higher than last year because of the tides, and the water is lingering in the villages longer.‖ The relief department said eight people had died and 477,360 from 114,247 households had been evacuated or faced displacement since June. A resident of Thi Htet village, Thapaung township, said, ―Our village has been flooded for 20 days. We get flooded every year, but the rains have brought more flooding this year.‖ However, displacement camps in Kachin State and Sagaing Region have closed and floodwater is receding in parts of Mandalay and Magwe regions and Mon State, allowing at least some residents to return home. The Department of Relief and Resettlement said yesterday that it had provided more than K667 million in aid to the flood-affected areas. Meanwhile, U Soe Aung, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, praised the involvement of the public in providing aid to victims of flooding, as they did this time last year. The ministry has received more than 700 reports on relief aid supplied by the public, he said. The permanent secretary told a press conference on August 16 that the ministry had access to K22 billion in funding to help flood victims. Of this sum, K20 billion comes from the National Natural Disaster Management Committee. ―We have a sufficient budget for relief aid, and there are plans for additional funding if we run short,‖ he said. The ministry provides victims with two cans of rice per person per day, adults and children alike. It was now possible to provide this aid for 10 days, increased from the previous limit of three to seven days. Union Minister Win Myat Aye said the ministry has been listening to the voice of the people about the government’s management of flooding. ―There’s still room for improvement, but we’re listening to everybody,‖ he said. Additional reporting by Htoo Thant,translation by Zar Zar Soe
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/22031-heavy-rain-expected-to-bring-moreflooding.html
The Latest: LSU: So far rice farmers losses total about $14M Published August 19, 2016
BATON ROUGE, La. – The Latest on flooding in southern Louisiana (all times local): 10:30 a.m. A university scientist says flooding has cost south Louisiana rice farmers an estimated $14 million in fields that were destroyed after being completely submerged.Dustin Harrell, Louisiana State University's rice specialist, tells The Advertiser (http://bit.ly/2b6iuf2) that doesn't include yield or quality losses from rice that was damaged, but can still be harvested, nor does it include equipment and infrastructure losses.Harrell said in some ways the damage is worse than from previous hurricanes.He says with a hurricane the water recedes quickly, but in this case the backwater flooding is still there. Rice farmer Richard Fontenot says his fields have been flooded five days. Harrell says crops can generally survive complete submersion about two days. Fontenot, who farms rice and other crops, said the ultimate loss in rice will likely almost double Harrell's initial estimate. ___ 7:20 a.m. Even as most schools in the Baton Rouge area ready to reopen in the coming days, public schools in the hard-hit town of Central area won't reopen until after Labor Day at the earliest and perhaps later. Central Superintendent Michael Faulk tells The Advocate (http://bit.ly/2b2KamB) only one of Central's five schools, Tanglewood Elementary, sustained flooding, but it's a large school. Faulk says cleanup there should be done by the end of next week, but renovations will take longer. 14
The town has its own school system.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Also, roughly 60 percent of Central school employees suffered some kind of flood damage to homes or vehicles. Faulk said he wants schools to reopen but won't rush it to the point of causing problems later. The East Baton Rouge Parish school system, the state's second largest school district, will reopen classes Wednesday. Officials say six schools in the East Baton Rouge system sustained major damage and will remain closed after the other 70-plus schools reopen. ___ 5:45 a.m. Crews with Entergy-Louisiana from four states are walking through neighborhoods across south Louisiana, inspecting electrical equipment and working to re-energize lines where it is safe to do so. As of 5 a.m. Friday, the number of customers without power due to flooding had dropped to just under 6,000 from Tuesday night's peak of more than 32,000 customers. The process of restoring power to the remaining customers will be a slow one, as customers who had received floodwaters in their homes or businesses may have to make repairs to their electrical system before power can be restored. Customers in the Baton Rouge, Denham Springs and Gonzales areas who were not flooded but who are still without power also may have to wait a little longer. Entergy said power cannot be restored to their area until all meters are inspected on their circuit as well as other devices, such as transformers and fuses. ___ 2 a.m. Victims of catastrophic floods in Louisiana's capital city say they've seen people pull together — white and black, officers and civilians — in ways that give hope amid a summertime string of tragedies. It's been a summer of pain in greater Baton Rouge, a city rocked by the July 7 killing of black man Alton Sterling at the hands of police — then the retaliatory slayings of three officers by a black gunman. After that came deadly floods that swamped thousands of homes and claimed more than a dozen lives.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The anti-police rhetoric that followed Sterling's killing seems to have quieted somewhat, and officers once viewed with suspicion often risked their lives to rescue people in the floods. Observers say the test will be whether a sense of unity remains once floodwaters fully recede. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/08/19/latest-lsu-so-far-rice-farmers-losses-total-about-14m.html
UNISAME URGES MINCOM FOR ENABLING EXPORTS TO IRAN The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) invited the attention of the federal commerce minister Khurram Dastagir to the setback to the SME sector due to decline in exports and the lack of facilities for export to Iran and third world countries.President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said the SME exporters are unable to export to Iran which is the biggest buyer of rice and commodities from Pakistan due to absence of banking facilities for transaction with Iran.The commercial banks are not accepting the documents for discounting bills drawn on Iranian buyers as they have not been able to appoint their correspondents in Iran for advising the letter of credits and negotiating the bills. Secondly he also pointed out that SME exporters are not financed against bills drawn on buyers of third world countries and banks of low rating due to lack of export credit guarantee insurance facility at reasonable premium.Thaver urged Menin Rodrigues, the convener of the 10th SME Forum to be held on 23rd August 2016 to invite Azmat Ali Ranjha, the federal secretary commerce to the SME Forum to enable the participants place their major issues before the secretary. UNISAME delegates have decided to highlight the financial issues to invite the attention of the governor of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) about the financial impediments and seek the help of the central bank for the required enabling facilities.It is pertinent to note that under the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) under the shared leadership of SBP, World Bank and Ministry of Finance, the major issues of the SME sector are under consideration for fast track uplift of the sector and the sector will benefit from the implementation of the action plan. The NFIS has not only envisaged the capacity building of the SMEs but also the commercial banks and the trade associations. The action plan has agenda for alternate energy, land at concession, specific SME financing, low premium insurance, collateral management coupled with logistics and technical support for modernization.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter UNISAME appreciated the steps taken for Geographical Indication (GI) Protection of Basmati rice and other GI products and said this protection coupled with financial facilities will go a long way in the exports.
Acadia Parish Holds Emergency Response Meeting By Carrie Castille
CROWLEY, LA -- More than 150 people attended an emergency response meeting held here today to update farmers on recovery efforts from the catastrophic flood that has devastated Louisiana, and to provide information on local, state, and federal resources available to the business and agricultural communities.
Acadia Parish officials were joined by U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, Congressman Charles Boustany, Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain, Louisiana State Senator Dan Morrish, State Representatives Jack Montoucet and Phillip DeVillier, and staff from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA).
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Reports from rice farmers across the affected area are grim. John E. Earles farms in Avoyelles Parish and said that water east of Highway 49 remains high. He estimates at least 80 percent of the rice crop in central Louisiana (Avoyelles and Rapides Parishes) is unharvested.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter
In Evangeline Parish, Michael Fruge says water levels have receded, but daily rains are keeping growers from harvesting. He was able to cut rice for less than an hour yesterday and notes that in some instances heavy rains have inundated crops a second time. Kevin Berken, a rice farmer in Southern Jeff Davis Parish, reports that the Mermentau River crested in Lake Arthur yesterday. Berken was able to keep 90 percent of his rice from going under by using pump-off systems and says it's too early to determine the impact on yields and quality. He and his neighbors are harvesting between showers, but wet conditions are reducing harvesting efficiency. USA Rice is working with universities, decision-makers, and local, state, and federal agencies to help assess the damage to the crop, as well as assisting with coordination of the recovery efforts in the field. Staff is attending meetings in affected parishes, and has provided updates to FEMA. Acting U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Michael Scuse assured USA Rice staff in the state that, "USDA stands ready to assist Louisiana growers, landowners, and agribusinesses as they recover from this terrible event." Scuse also encouraged growers to visit their local offices as soon as possible to learn more about available USDA programs. At today's meeting Commissioner Strain said, "it will take a few weeks before we understand the full damage of the rains." He went on to stress the importance of keeping records and photographs to expedite assistance. Congressman Charles Boustany also emphasized the need for accurate assessments with documentation for affected acres and requested regular updates from USA Rice. "The industry here still faces challenges to harvesting the remaining crop," said Randy Jemison, Louisiana field services director for USA Rice. "We are proud of our growers, mills, and allied industries who have shown perseverance and resilience in the face of this disaster and I know we will work to help the Louisiana rice industry move forward from this awful event."
Customs impound 31 containers of rice at Lagos port Posted By: Oluwakemi Daudaon: August 19, 2016
•Col. Ali (rtd)
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has impounded 31 containers of rice that was illegally imported into the country.The items, which the market value was yet to be determined, were seized Friday, at the TinCan Island Container Terminal (TICT), Lagos.Addressing reporters at the venue of the seizure in Lagos Friday, the ComptrollerGeneral of Customs (CGC) Col Hameed Ali who was represented by a Deputy Comptroller-General ( DCG) Dan Ugo said the items were shipped into the from China.The importer, he said, wanted to shortchange the government by declaring the items as yeast in his bill of laden.Yeast importation, Ali said, attracts five per cent duty, while rice attracts 110 per cent duty and 60 per cent levy. For falsifying his document and wanted to cheat the government, the Comptroller-General has therefore, declared that over 40, 000 bags of rice inside the containers as outright seizure without any option of payment for the importer.The measure, he said, was applied to serve as deterrent to other scrupulous importers operating at the nation’s sea ports and border stations. Investigation by The Nation revealed that some of the container number in which the rice were shipped into the country through the MAERSK LINE include the following: MSKU: 410819 (6) 22 G1, MSKU: 711125 (4) 22 G1, PONU: 033850 (2) 22 G1, MSKU: 339624 (6) 22 G1, MSKU: 753283 (9) 22 G1, PONU: 205422 (8) 22 G1, MRKU: 857850 (8) 22 G1, PONU:000208 (2) 22 G1, MSKU: 763801 (3) 22 G1, MSKU: 365294 (4) 22 G1, GATU: 054746 (6) 22 G1, MRKU: 715521 (9) 22 G1, MSKU: 741347 (0) 22G1, PONU: 044185(0) 22 G1, CLHU: 30353322 (7) G1, ZIMU: 129944 (6) 22 G1, MRKU: 731946 (2) 22 G1, MSKU: 788942 (5) 22 G1, MRKU: 654641 (4) 22 G1, MSKU: 521748 (4) 22 G1, MSKU: 405022 (1) 22G1, MSKU: 206425 (2) 22 G1, MRKU: 729473 (9) 22 G1, MRKU: 986083 (5) 22 G1, MRKU: 681160 (5) 22 G1, MAEU: 679395 (3) 22 G1, MRSU: 026634 (2) 22 G1, PONU: 01906722 G1, MRKU:777063 (0) 22G1 and MRSU: 015690 (0) 22G1
He said that the rice laden containers were ferried by Maersk Line vessel to Tincan Island Container Terminal (TICT) at the port.He bemoaned the situation where the importer deliberately made false declaration in a bid to evade duty.The CGC retracted that the era false declaration and debit note was over; saying importers with false declaration of imports would be punished by the government.―We have told clearing agents and importers to do genuine
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter declaration. We are all talking of trade facilitation at port and some importers are busy abusing the system,‖ he said
http://thenationonlineng.net/customs-impound-31-containers-rice-lagos-port/
Food association denies strong rice export forecast reduction The Vietnam Food Association (VFA) has denied news reports that the association has cut its rice export forecast to 4.75 million tons for 2016 from 6.5 million tons.
VFA chairman Huynh The Nang said the news reports are inaccurate and that the association has revised down its rice export projection to six million tons this year.Nang told the Daily that the adjustment resulted from weak demand of importing countries and limited rice supply on the domestic market due to the severe impact of the recent drought and saltwater intrusion,
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter especially in the Mekong Delta, the country’s key rice producing region.Pham Thanh Tho, deputy director of food at Loc Troi Group, said lackluster demand from traditional markets including Indonesia and the Philippines has resulted in lower-than-expected rice shipments this year. Tho told the Daily that Indonesia’s rice in stock is still at safe levels while it takes time to know how much rice the Philippines needs to import. It is likely that the Philippines would import some 250,000 tons of rice in September or October to replenish its rice stock.Nang of VFA said there has not been any clear sign that the Philippines will source 250,000 tons of rice from overseas in the coming months. In its August report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has projected Vietnam will ship abroad 6.4 million tons of rice this year. A recent VFA report showed its member companies exported more than 270,560 tons of rice worth US$120 million in July, down 318,760 tons and over US$116 million compared to the same period last year. The respective numbers in the first seven months were roughly 2.93 million tons and almost US$1.27 billion, falling 373,000 tons and US$101 million year-on-year. Despite the rice export decline, prices of paddy and rice on the local market have been stable in recent days, at VND4,450-4,550 per kilo for fresh IR 50404 paddy and VND6,600-6,700 per kilo for unprocessed IR 50404 rice. http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/162376/food-association-denies-strong-rice-export-forecastreduction.html
Rice Futures Climb as Flooding Threatens Crops August 18, 2016 02:52 PM By Alison Rice
Flooding in Louisiana and heavy rain in Arkansas are making the rice markets nervous and pushing prices to five-year-highs.Rice futures climbed on Tuesday in response to the emerging weather disaster in the Delta. In Arkansas, the rice harvest is just beginning, but is already underway in Louisiana, with 55% of the state’s rice crop harvested.―There are very legitimate fears that the significant part of the crop that hasn’t been harvested will be lost,‖ said Jack Scoville of the PRICE Futures
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Group.
Growers are worried too. Dustin Harrell, a research agronomist and extension rice specialist at Louisiana State University, offered a ―highly speculative estimates‖ earlier this week that Louisiana rice growers could already be seeing more than $14 million in losses from the flooding damage. The state has seen more than 20 inches of rain, and 20 parishes have already been declared ―major disaster areas‖ by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. http://www.agweb.com/article/rice-futures-climb-as-flooding-threatens-crops-naa-alison-rice/
Latest Texas Rice Crop Survey Click the following link to View the Data 22 https://beaumont.tamu.edu/CropSurvey/
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