25th july ,2017 daily global regional & local rice e newsletter

Daily Global Rice

E-Newsletter

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July 25,2017 Vol 8 Issue VII

Today Rice News Headlines...

Pakistan, China in rice research tie-up Pak, China collaborative research for producing new rice varieties Thailand gets urgent rice orders from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka Government to extend rice export ban to secure local market needs USA Rice Delegation Sits Down with Iraq's Minister of Trade 19 traders keen on bidding for 250,000-MT rice for PH Price supports make domestic varieties harder to afford for eateries Why loans to farmers will not work EU’s changed fungicide norms spell trouble for 6 lakh basmati farmers in UP Good News for Other Exporters? U.S. Makes Deal to Sell Rice to China Rice output likely grew 11% in Q2 19 bidders from Southeast Asia to vie for NFA rice-supply deal China Open Rice Market to Exports from U.S. Myanmar's private sector to cooperate with China to build agronomics service center Onset of monsoon paves way for rice cultivation in northeast region - Nagaland News Iraq expects to produce 250,000 tonnes of rice in 2017 season Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- July 25, 2017 Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- July 24, 2017 Move to extend pokkali farming Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 Evidence of early rice domestication found in southern Chinawww.ricepluss.com www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Monitor Latest Updates on Plan to extend pokkali farming to 2,000 hectares www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com THE RICE AND FALL OF ‘PLASTIC’

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News Detail...

Pakistan, China in rice research tie-up KARACHI: The scientists of Pakistan and China will join forces to promote collaborative research for producing high yielding and high quality rice varieties, a statement said on Monday. ―Conducting research for the developing new high yielding, disease resistant, and high quality varieties of rice is extremely important for ensuring food security,‖ said Prof Dr Cheng Shihua, DG China National Rice Research Institute (CNRRI) of Hangzhou, China, in a sitting with Prof Atta-ur-Rahman, at Karachi University (KU). The meeting, which was also attended by Prof Iqbal Choudhary, a rice expert, and Dr Fida Abbasi of Hazara University, was held at Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD) in KU. Prof Shihua, who is leading the delegation of Chinese scientists, said it was imperative for the researchers of both the countries to compare notes. ―We are resolved to promote further collaborative research between the scientists of two countries,‖ he said while talking to Prof Attur-Rahman, the former minister for science and technology. Giving his input, one of the visiting scientists said that China was the largest producer of rice in the world, but Pakistan produced a number of high-quality varieties of rice in the world.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/218598-Pakistan-China-in-rice-research-tie-up

Pak, China collaborative research for producing new rice varieties P AR V EZ J A B R I

J U L 2 4 T H, 2 0 1 7 1 8 :2 0

KARACHI: The scientists of Pakistan and China will promote collaborative research for producing high yielding and high quality rice varities. To discuss research matters linked with the development of new varieties of high quality rice, a delegation of Chinese officials called on Pakistani scientists at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, here on Monday. Director General China National Rice Research Institute (CNRRI) of Hangzhou - China, Prof. Dr. Cheng Shihua, along with the six-member Chinese

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delegation visited the ICCBSKU.

The delegation had a meeting with former federal minister for Science & Technology and exChairman Higher Education Commission Pakistan, Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman and Director ICCBS Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary. The meeting was held at the Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), University of Karachi. The delegation, comprising Prof. Dr. Zhuang Jieyun, Prof. Dr. Wu Jianli, Prof. Dr. Wang Kejian, Dr. Luo Ju and Zheng Youchuan, visited different research facilities set up at the ICCBS.

In the meeting, Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman, Prof. Iqbal Choudhary, rice expert Dr. Fida Abbasi of Hazara University, and the Chinese officials underlined the importance of conducting research for developing new high yielding, disease resistant and high quality varieties of rice.

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They resolved to promote further collaborative research between the scientists of two countries.

They said that China has a reputation to be the largest producer of rice in the world, while Pakistan produced varieties of rice of high quality in the world.

The setting up of Sino-Pakistan Hybrid Rice Research Center is linked with the objective to mutually conduct research for the development of new high yielding and high quality rice, they said and added that the rice research center has two branches, one is in ICCBS-KU and another branch has been set up in China. In the meeting, it was discussed that Chinese scientists will train scholars from ICCBS in the field of rice breeding and production of high quality hybrid rice seed.

The officials of both the institutions agreed to enhance relations between the two institutions and to develop academic exchange in the area of research. The institution will focus on basic and applied research with priority for solving significant scientific and technical problems in rice production. Later, the ICCBS arranged a seminar in which five presentations of Chinese and Pakistani scientists were presented http://www.brecorder.com/2017/07/24/360953/pak-china-collaborative-research-for-producingnew-rice-varieties/

Thailand gets urgent rice orders from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka VNA SUNDAY, JULY 23, 2017 - 16:57:00 PRINT

Thailand gets urgent rice orders from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka. (Photo: VNA) Bangkok (VNA) – Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are negotiating an urgent purchase of about 400,000 tonnes of rice from Thailand to replenish their falling stocks which were caused by severe droughts and floods, according to Thai media.

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If the deals are sealed, all rice will be transferred within 60 days and the deal will be secured through government-to-government (G-2-G) contracts.

Each country aims to import 200,000 tonnes of rice – mostly parboiled grade and common grade white rice. The benchmark common grade 5 percent white rice was quoted at 410 USD per tonne while parboiled 100 percent grade white rice was fetched at 439 USD a tonne.

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka normally supplemented their stocks with rice from neighbouring Pakistan and India when needed. In 2016, they imported 280 tonnes and 151 tonnes of Thai rice, respectively.

However, Thailand‘s state rice stocks are running low as its Ministry of Commerce has opened auctions to sell it in recent years. There are only a few million tonnes left, compared with the record high of 18 million tonnes before.

As the stocks are low, it is likely that the G-2-G rice deals could involve private firms who would deliver parts of the rice amount. Bangladesh is approaching private Thai exporters to obtain the best price.-VNA http://en.vietnamplus.vn/thailand-gets-urgent-rice-orders-from-bangladesh-sri-lanka/115262.vnp

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Government to extend rice export ban to secure local market needs The government rice mills pay EGP 3,000 per tonne of rice while private mills pay EGP 4,500 per tonne, so the farmer chooses the highest price Daily News Egypt

Egypt‘s Cabinet surprisingly decided to set the buying price of rice from the farmers in the new season starting in August based on supply and demand mechanisms. ―We will not determine the buying price of rice and will adopt the supply and demand mechanisms, allowing competition between public sector and private mills,‖ Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Ali Meselhi told Daily News Egypt.

The question is can the government succeed in implementing its plans to liberalise the price of rice, and set it based on the supply and demand mechanisms, especially that Egypt has never suffered from a shortage of supply of rice?

The government will extend the rice export ban to secure the local market needs

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The Cabinet decided to extend the ban on exporting rice during the coming season, in a move to secure the needs of the local market.

So what is the problem in the rice market in Egypt?

The crisis emerges when the government offers low purchase price for farmers who refuse to sell their crops at such prices, forcing the government to import Indian rice that infuriated citizens because the private rice mills buy the rice crops at high prices.

The government rice mills offer to buy rice from the farmers at EGP 3,000 per tonne, while the private sector mills offer about EGP 4,500 per tonne, prompting the farmers to store their crops or sell them to the private sector. Farmers now demand rising the government selling price of rice in the new season to EGP 4,000 instead of EGP 3,000, to compensate the rise in production costs, mainly the increase in fuel prices.

Since 2008, Egypt sometimes bans the export of rice to maintain the local rice reserves and meet the needs of the local market. It also aims to discourage farmers from growing the rice and rationalise water consumption.

The private sector mills sell white rice at EGP 6,300 per tonne, so the government sells it at about EGP 6,500.

How can the government offer adequate price for farmers and still sell it at EGP 6.5 per kilo?

According to Ragab Shehata, head of the rice division in the Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI), said that the local production of rice reached 3.7 million tonnes in this year while the consumption is estimated at about 3.3 million tonnes, securing a surplus of about 700,000 tonnes.

Shehata added that the Minister of Supply has decided to set the purchase price of rice from the farmer based on supply and demand, provided that both the government and private mills will sell the rice at EGP 6,300 per tonne.

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Despite the high reserves of rice crops, the farmers refuse to sell their crops to the government, citing the government‘s low price of EGP 3,000 per tonne, which led to shortage in supply at local outlets.

He noted that the farmers will not sell at low prices any more after they sold their crops last year at about EGP 2,400 and then the prices increased significantly.

Egypt Support Coalition in Parliament recently called on the government to raise rice prices to EGP 4,000; however, the farmers consider it low, especially since the price in the private mills reach EGP 4,500 – 5,000 per tonne.

Who controls the price of rice?

The high domestic rice prices crisis started in the second half of 2014, when the government could not store large amounts of the 2015 rice harvest, allowing traders to buy the entire harvest and store it until the prices rise again.

The previous governments used to store 200,000—500,000 tonnes of rice at the beginning of the season, to prevent traders from storing it and raising prices, but the former Minister of Supply, Khaled Hanafy, did not buy any strategic reserves in the last season.

Mustafa al-Najari, head of the Rice Committee in the Agriculture Export Council, said that the Ministry of Supply had to buy the rice crops from the farmers at the beginning of the harvest, so that it could provide the commodity to citizens at affordable prices. ―The state did not buy rice at a reasonable price from the farmers, and allow traders to monopolize the market,‖ says Najari.

He added that the price of rice in Egypt reached EGP 4,500 per tonne in 2016, compared to EGP 1,600 and 1,700 in previous years.

The farmers’ options

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Some of the farmers in Kafr Al-Sheikh governorate, one of the most famous rice-growing areas, said that the government does not care about the farmers, and it only cares about maintaining prices especially in Cairo and Alexandria, regardless the farmer‘s right to sell at an appropriate price. They added that the remaining of the last season‘s rice crops are sold at EGP 3,000 per tonne, wondering how can the government offer EGP 2,300 for each tonne. They stressed that no one will sell his crops to the government at this price.

Haitham Zalouk, a farmer in Sharqeya governorate, said the cost of production increased dramatically, noting that most of small farmers tend to borrowing to cover their needs and wait until they sell their crop so that they could repay their debts. ―The price offered by the government does not cover the cost of agriculture, after the rise of fertilisers and pesticides prices as well as wages of workers.‖ He added, ―Some of us can store rice for some time and wait for a better price, but most farmers sell at the best available price after harvest, to repay their debts.‖ The whole rice crops have been sold to traders and the government does not have any rice.

The farmers had advised the former minister of supply to raise the price of rice so they can sell the rice to the government instead of traders, adding that the right price at this time was EGP 3,500 per tonne. The government raised the price to only EGP 3,000, while the traders bought the rice at more than EGP 3,200 per tonne, so the government does not get any rice at this price.

Rice in Figures: 1.8 million feddans of rice.

The feddan produces an average of 3.5 tonnes.

Private rice mills sell the rice at EGP 4,500 per tonne, while the government offered EGP 3,000 per tonne.

The new season production reaches about 6.3 million tonnes of rice.

The white rice production reached about 3.7 million tonnes, while the consumption amounts to 3.3 million tonnes with a surplus of 400,000 tonnes.

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Last year, the farmers sold about 7 million tonnes of rice, producing about 4.2 million tonnes of white rice, and the consumption reached 3.3 million tonnes, leaving a surplus of 900,000 tonnes that can cover three months.

The growing of a single feddan of rice consumes 6,500 cubic metres of water per year, totalling 12 billion cubic metres.

Private rice mills supply about 90% of the government‘s needs of white rice.

Solutions: According to various experts and farmers, the export has been always accused of raising the price of rice, however it represents only 30% of the rice crop per year. When it reached its highest level up to 700,000 tonnes, the surplus was more than one million tonnes.

The best solution to the rice crisis is that the government should declare a ―fair‖ purchase price of rice from farmers before the planting season, and set a clear mechanism to buy the rice crops either through the Principal Bank for Development and Agricultural Credit (PBDAC) or public sector mills. In addition, the government should intensify its observation of private companies to ensure their compliance with laws and regulations so as not to store and monopolise the product.

Actually the ministry has announced that it will not determine the purchase price of rice from farmers in advance and will leave it to the supply and demand mechanisms.

The new system can lead to further increases in rice prices, because traders control now the rice market despite the high production rate and achieving a surplus.

How can the government cover the expected shortages due to traders‘ storage of rice?

In light of the traders and farmers‘ refusal to supply rice to the Ministry of Supply, the government decided to import 500,000 tonnes of rice, especially since President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has instructed the government to have enough reserves of basic food commodities for at least six months.

The import of rice comes as an attempt by the government to force local traders and farmers to sell their stored reserves.

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Shehata asserted that there is no problem in rice supply and the government has imported the necessary strategic reserves to reduce the demand for local rice and decrease its price.

The Ministry of Supply said it would compensate the shortage of rice in the supply cards, which resulted from the cancellation of the local rice tender, by offering a shipment of imported rice coming from India at lower prices than the local market. Finally, can the government succeed in liberalising the price of rice based on the supply and demand mechanisms, without increasing its price in the market up to EGP 6.5?

USA Rice Delegation Sits Down with Iraq's Minister of Trade Talking about access

By Michael Klein

WASHINGTON, DC -- A USA Rice delegation representing four of the largest U.S. long grain rice exporters met here last week for high-level talks with Iraq's acting Minister of Trade, Dr. Salman AlJumaili. The delegation focused its discussions with the Minister on gaining additional access to Iraq for U.S.-grown rice under the current U.S.-Iraq Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Members also

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12 engaged in direct negotiations with Ministry of Trade officials over the weekend regarding additional sales of U.S. grown rice to this high-potential Middle East market.

The meeting with Minister Al-Jumaili follows a precedent-setting sale of 32,000 MT of U.S. long grain rice in late May under the MOU - the first sale since this bilateral agreement was signed a year ago. "We were honored to meet with the Iraqi Minister and his team this week in the nation's capital," said Terry Harris, Riceland Foods senior vice president and chair of the USA Rice Europe, Africa, and Middle East Promotion Subcommittee. "The fact that the Minister met directly with our delegation demonstrated his commitment to the MOU process, as well as his willingness to move Iraq towards a more open and transparent tendering system. This can only lead to improvements in our access to the Iraqi market for U.S.-grown rice."

The meetings were scheduled as part of Minister Al-Jamaili's whirlwind visit to the United States to discuss trade issues with senior Trump Administration officials at the Commerce and State Departments and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. With a reported $200 million in funds for direct rice and wheat purchases, the Minister's seven-hour meeting with rice and wheat industry leaders was a clear indication of the high priority Iraq has placed on procuring these key U.S. commodities for its population.

"Our goal was to support a productive dialogue between the Iraqi Trade Minister and our members, all of whom are keen to sell more U.S. grown rice to Iraq," said Hugh Maginnis, USA Rice vice president international. "I believe we accomplished that goal, and if these meetings result in additional sales, I told the Minister it would be icing on the cake."

19 traders keen on bidding for 250,000-MT rice for PH At least 19 foreign rice traders are interested in bidding today, Tuesday, to supply the 250,000 metric tons of rice needed by the Philippines, the National Food Authority (NFA) said. NFA Deputy Administrator Tomas Escarez, who chairs the Special Bids and Awards Committee, said the traders are from Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and Myanmar.Manila is set to import P5.6 billion worth of rice through an open bidding, or government-to-private sector arrangement, to boost its buffer stock for the lean season.

Of the 19 traders, 10 are from Vietnam, six from Thailand, two from Singapore, and one from Myanmar. The Vietnamese traders include Vietnam Southern Food Corp. II; Gentraco; Gia International Corp.; Vietnam Northern Food Corp. (Vinafood I); Phan Min Investment Production Trading Services Co. Ltd.; Hiep Loi Food Jsc; Thuan Minh Import Export Corporation; Wilman Trading; Thao Minh Chau Production Trading Co. Ltd.; and Tan Long Group Joint Stock Company. From Thailand, interested bidders are: Ponglarp Co. Limited; Thai Hua Co. Limited; Capital Cereals Co. Ltd.; Asia Golden Rice Co. Ltd.; Thai Granlux Int‘l. Inc.; and Thai Capital Crops Company Limited. From Singapore: Olam International Limited and Louis Dreyfus Company. And from Myanmar: Swhe Wah Yaung Agriculture Production Co. Ltd.

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The total volume of 250,000 MT will be divided into six lots of 25,000 MT each and two lots of 50,000 MT each. A bidder can make a bid for a maximum of 50,000 MT only. ―The volume was divided into lots to allow more private sector participation and to give a chance to small bidders to participate,‖ Escarez said. The reference price for the importation was set at $451.08 per metric ton based on a foreign exchange rate of $1.00:P50.00. Bids are priced in US dollars per metric ton with all deliveries paid for by the NFA within 15 days. The rice deliveries must be staggered from August to September, with 120,000 MT expected to arrive in August and 130,000 MT in September.

The discharge ports are Poro Pt., La Union for 20,000 MT; Batangas for 30,000 MT; Tabaco for 25,000 MT; Cebu City for 25,000 MT; Cagayan de Oro for 25,000 MT; Davao City for 15,000 MT; Gen. Santos for 10,000 MT; and Manila for 100,000 MT. Earlier, the PSA reported that rice prices in the retail market rose for the fifth straight week as of the first week of the July, the start of the lean months. The average price of palay P19.35 per kilogram in the first week of July, was up 3.41 percent from P18.71 per kg a year earlier.

Author Name: http://www.manilatimes.net/19-traders-keen-on-bidding-for-250000-mt-rice-forph/340504/

Price supports make domestic varieties harder to afford for eateries The U.S. produces about 30% more rice than Japan.TOKYO -- Japanese imports of American rice are sharply increasing due to higher prices for homegrown varieties used by restaurants, a result of government measures to prop up domestic rice prices by reducing supplies. Japan caps imports of foreign rice. But demand for the cheaper, easy-to-cook foreign product is on the rise at food service companies.

Calrose, grown in the U.S. state of California, is the mainstay variety accounting for about 80% of the Japanese market for foreign rice consumed by people as a staple food. Beef bowl chain operator Yoshinoya Holdingsbegan using a blend of Calrose and Japanese-grown rice this past spring, while ramen restaurant operator Kourakuen Holdings uses Calrose for fried rice.

Less sweet than Japan-grown varieties, Calrose is said to be suited for bowl dishes where sauces are poured on the rice. And since it does not easily stick together when fried, even part-time workers can use it to make fried rice, according to Yumi Kojima, who heads the USA Rice Federation's office in Japan. Japan limits rice imports to an annual 770,000 tons under an agreement reached in the Uruguay Round of global trade talks. Up to 100,000 tons of this can be staple food rice traded under simultaneous-buy-sell arrangements. SBS imports tripled on the year to more than 70,000 tons in fiscal 2016, with much of the demand likely coming from the food service sector. Ahead of bidding in the fall, demand is seen increasing for fiscal 2017 as well, according to an official at a major wholesaler.

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The U.S. produces an annual 10 million tons or so of rice, about 30% more than Japan, and exports 3 million tons. California accounts for about a fifth of American production and focuses almost solely on medium-grain japonica varieties. The USA Rice Federation has been promoting Calrose in Japan since 2007. The Japanese government has been pushing domestic producers to grow more rice for livestock as a means of supporting prices of staple food rice.

Livestock feed rice production in Japan tripled to 480,000 tons a year over the five years through 2016, aided by subsidies of up to 105,000 yen ($944) per 1,000 sq. meters. As a result, prices of rice generally used by restaurants and other commercial buyers have risen to levels near that of the Koshihikari variety, which is popular among consumers and upscale restaurants. Prices of Japan-grown no-wash rice have risen 20% in a year in certain cases."Due to the jump in prices of Japan-grown rice, inquiries for Calrose from food service companies have surged," said a manager at food trading company Okura Agri.

http://asia.nikkei.com/Markets/Commodities/Japan-develops-stronger-appetite-for-US-rice

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Why loans to farmers will not work The government of Punjab has started a programme for disbursing interest-free loans of Rs25,000 to 40,000 per acre to farmers for the financial year 2017-18.The Rs17 billion cost of interest on these loans is to be borne by the provincial government while the loans will be disbursed to registered farmers having agricultural land of less than 12.5 acres.

The amount will be disbursed through a smartphone-based mobile payment mechanism and loans will be provided for maximum five acres per farmer. Though a good plan on paper, the actual results of such a financial support plan may not meet the intended targets.The government should invest funds in facilitating them through the provision of the latest agricultural technology There is cross-country empirical evidence available on the failure of such microfinance-based loan schemes which are designed without considering the local social, cultural and economic landscape.A recent example is the social unrest by farmers in many Indian states demanding loan write-offs as they are unable to payback their loans due to the low market prices of their produce.

There are several social and economic reasons for under-utilisation or misallocation of such loans by the farmers.The rural economy operates on a credit system and once cash is available (through loans for example), the social and cultural rituals and customs (i.e. arranging dowry for daughters) are given first priority.

The lives of persons living in rural areas are subject to the local customs and traditions which require unnecessary spending on various cultural and social needs thereby misdirecting the flow of funds from their optimal use.Another reason for the non-performance of agricultural loans is the assumption, on the part of policy markers, of a production gap owing to the non-provision of credit.

In the absence of such government loan schemes, the rural economy keeps moving and the gap between crop production, before and after the provision of credit, remains almost unchanged.This is due to the fact that farmers in rural areas are engaged in agricultural practices through a tribal system where the extended family clan provides support for sowing and harvesting the crops.

Similarly, local shopkeepers provide the necessary fertilisers and pesticides to farmers on easy credit as they are familiar with each other.The low productivity of small farmers may also hinder the workability of agricultural loans. Small landholders are unable to afford the latest agricultural equipment for higher production per acre.The provision of small loans to farmers is not enough to enable them to buy tractors, irrigation technology or other useful equipment.

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The actual increase in production comes though the application of the latest technology in the agricultural sector which a small farmer is unable to buy.The usability of loans to farmers is also affected by the recovery rate on such programmes.

The case of non-performing loans and bad debts of Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) to farmers is evident of the fact that the recovery rate of such loans is very low, resulting in massive losses to financial institutions.Similarly, commercial banks operating in rural districts know very well the lower recovery rate of loans made to farmers.

Such loans are sought on the pretext of agricultural requirements by farmers but spent on other needs resulting in delayed repayments and higher interest costs.The solution lies in improving market conditions for increasing the farmer income through higher market prices of crops and provision of latest agricultural technology to farmers.

The higher per acre output in advanced countries is not owing to the provision of credit to farmers by the government but rather ensuring the accessibility of latest technological equipment, modern agricultural practices, high-yielding seeds and high-impact fertiliser varieties to farmers.Similarly, the installation of wheat, rice, cotton and sugarcane processing units through public private partnerships in rural areas may fetch higher prices for the raw produce of the farmers.Therefore, instead of burdening farmers with non-productive loans where the recovery rate is low, the government should invest such funds in facilitating them through the provision of the latest agricultural technology. https://www.dawn.com/news/1347301

EU’s changed fungicide norms spell trouble for 6 lakh basmati farmers in UP Sandeep Rai| TNN | Updated: Jul 25, 2017, 10:40 AM IST MEERUT: India exports 3.5 lakh tonnes of premium quality aromatic Basmati rice to Europe, out of which 60% is produced in western UP alone. Paddy farmers here extensively use a fungicide, Tricyclazole. Until recently, the European Union had allowed a maximum residue limit (MRL) of 1 part per million (ppm) of this fungicide in the rice it imports, but has now passed a mandate that it will not allow anything more than 0.01 ppm after December 2017. This is going to adversely affect paddy farmers who are already in the middle of the cultivation cycle, with no alternative plan made by government agencies.More than 6 lakh farmers of UP are at risk of immense loss because of lack of awareness about the EU's police change.

Ritesh Sharma, principal scientist, Basmati Export Development Council, a body under Agriculture & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), said, "The approximate area of UP under basmati cultivation is 3 lakh hectares. Mainly PV1 and PV6 varieties are grown, which is 60% of the total quantity exported to Europe. Though the EU

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market accounts for just 9% of the total rice exports from India, the same problem will gradually crop up in other countries also." To reduce the MRL to 0.01 ppm is not easy, said soil scientists.

Ashok Kumar, director, research, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Agriculture University (SVBPU), said, "To find an alternate measure we need time to research.

At this juncture, we can only ask farmers not to use Tricyclazole because we do not have any other alternative. Neck blast disease is common in India but there are always chances that the disease does not attack the crop in a particular season. But at least farmers will get correct price for their produce. If the farmer continues to use the fungicide, the crop will be disease-free but the EU market will reject it and there will be buffer stocks in the country, of which government agencies have no provision to stock. Prices will come crashing down, destroying lakhs of farmers in the process."

All India Rice Export Association (AIREA) has initiated a mass movement to keep farmers away from Tricyclazole. And, they are in a systematic way targeting the biggest grain markets of UP.AIREA vice president Ajay Bhalotia told TOI, "The only silver lining in the dark clouds is that neck blast attacks crops at the end of August. We still have a little above a month to address the problem. We do have an alternative and that is in the form of yet another fungicide, Isoprothiolane. Farmers do not use this product because it is 15% costlier than Tricyclazole. But considering the scale of the crisis we do not have much option." http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/eus-changed-fungicide-norms-spell-trouble-for-6lakh-basmati-farmers-in-up/articleshow/59744261.cms

Good News for Other Exporters? U.S. Makes Deal to Sell Rice to China Trade negotiators reached an initial deal to sell American rice in China for the first time ever, the Department of Agriculture announced Thursday.

America Exporting Rice to China?

A deal to open Chinese markets to rice grown in the U.S. has been in the works for more than a decade, but agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says it‘s finally coming to fruition. ―This is

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another great day for U.S. agriculture and, in particular, for our rice growers and millers, who can now look forward to gaining access to the Chinese market,‖ Perdue said in a statement. ―This market represents an exceptional opportunity today, with enormous potential for growth in the future. ‖ China is the world‘s largest producer of rice, but it is also the largest consumer. The country imported almost 5 million tons of rice last year, mostly from Vietnam, Thailand and other Asian nations. The U.S. and China reached an agreement on the process for ensuring the safety of imported American rice in January 2016, a ―more complicated and detailed than any other rice protocol in the world,‖ Dow Brantley The announcement comes after trade talks between the Chinese and U.S. officials took a disappointing turn.

At the end of the high-level trade talks Wednesday, the U.S. was only able to claim that ―China acknowledged our shared objective to reduce the trade deficit which both sides will work cooperatively to achieve,‖ but the two countries could not agree on solutions to the $347 billion trade deficit, the Wall Street Journal reports. (RELATED: US-China Trade Talks Falter As Relations Spiral) China allowed U.S. beef imports last month for the first time in 13 years, in exchange for the U.S. allowing imports of cooked poultry products. https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/07/america-exporting-rice-to-china.html

Rice output likely grew 11% in Q2

By BusinessMirror

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19 JULY 23, 2017

The country‘s palay production in the second quarter likely expanded by 11 percent to 4.1 million metric tons (MMT), from 3.69 MMT recorded a year ago, according to the latest report of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

In its latest report, titled ―Updates on April-June 2017 Palay and Corn Forecasts‖, the PSA attributed the increase to the expansion in areas planted with rice. ―Palay production for April-June 2017 may slightly increase to 4.104 million MT [metric tons] , 0.23 percent above the April 2017 round forecast of 4.095 million MT and 11.1 percent higher than the previous year‘s output of 3.7 million MT,‖ the report read. ―Harvest area may increase by 0.02 percent from 0.94 million hectares. Likewise, yield per hectare may improve to 4.39 MT, from 4.38 MT,‖ it added.

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The PSA said the planting interventions of the government and the private sector boosted unmilled rice production in the April to June period. ―The probable increment in palay production may be attributed to: higher yield to be brought about by extensive program on subsidized seed by the DA [Department of Agriculture] and free urea fertilizer from the Food and Agriculture Organization in Nueva Ecija,‖ the report read.

Other interventions rolled out by the government were the use of high-yielding varieties distributed through the High Yielding Technology Adoption program of the DA in Kalinga and the distribution of seeds and fertilizer from the Office of Provincial Agriculturist in Bulacan and Davao del Sur. The PSA added sufficient water supply in irrigated and rainfed farms during the growth and reproductive stages of the crop in Cagayan, Zambales, Bohol and Surigao Norte allowed farmers to increase their output.

The PSA noted about 815,910 hectares of the updated standing crop have been harvested.

As of June 1 about 55.7 percent, or almost 430,430 hectares, of the farmers‘ planting intentions for the July-to-September period have materialized. ―Of the 549,830 hectares standing palay crop, 57.5 percent were at vegetative stage; 20.8 percent, at the reproductive stage; and 21.7 percent, at maturing stage,‖ the PSA said.

As for corn, the agency added production in the second quarter likely grew by 42.7 percent to 1.288 MMT. The figure is higher than its previous forecast of 1.285 MMT. ―Corn production for April-June 2017 may increase to 1.288 MMT, 0.2 percent higher than the earlier forecast of 1.285 MMT, and may be 42.7 percent higher than previous year‘s level of 900,000 MT,‖ the PSA said.

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Despite the slight decrease in areas planted with corn, yield per hectare rose to 3.36 MT from 3.26 MT. ―The probable increase in corn yield may be the result of sufficient rainfall during the growth and reproductive stages of the crop in Sultan Kudarat, Bukidnon, Negros Occidental, Ilocos Norte, Kalinga and Quezon,‖ the report read. ―The use of hybrid seeds in Mindoro Occidental and lesser incidence of pests and diseases in Sultan Kudarat and Mindoro Occidental may contribute to higher output. In Nueva Ecija, some farmers opted to plant corn due to the renovation and construction of irrigation canals which may bring production to increase,‖it added.

As of June 1 the PSA said about 300,050 hectares of the updated standing crop have been harvested. Also, about 69.2 percent, or 647,820 hectares, of farmers‘ planting intentions for the third quarter have been realized

19 bidders from Southeast Asia to vie for NFA rice-supply deal

By Jasper Y. Arcalas JULY 24, 2017 The National Food Authority (NFA) on Monday said 19 suppliers from Southeast Asia have signified their interest to participate in the auction for 250,000 metric tons (MT) of imported rice required by the government.

Of the 19 companies that will join the open tender on July 25, the NFA said 10 are from Vietnam, six from Thailand, two from Singapore and one from Myanmar.

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―Those from Vietnam are Vietnam Southern Food Corp. II; Gentraco; Gia International Corp.; Vietnam Northern Food Corp. [Vinafood I]; Phan Min Investment Production Trading Services Co. Ltd.; Hiep Loi Food Jsc; Thuan Minh Import Export Corp.; Wilman Trading; Thao Minh Chau Production Trading Co. Ltd.; and Tan Long Group Joint Stock Co.,‖ the NFA said in a press statement. ―From Thailand, interested bidders are Ponglarp Co. Ltd.; Thai Hua Co. Ltd.; Capital Cereals Co. Ltd.; Asia Golden Rice Co. Ltd.; Thai Granlux International. Inc.; and Thai Capital Crops Co. Ltd.,‖ it added.

Also keen on supplying the country‘s rice requirement are Singaporean companies, Olam International Ltd. and Louis Dreyfus Co., and Myanmar-based Swhe Wah Yaung Agriculture Production Co. Ltd., according to the NFA. The NFA has scheduled the proper bidding process on July 25. The government is spending P5.637 billion to import rice and prop up its dwindling buffer stock during the lean months, when rice harvest goes down significantly. ―Reference price for the importation had been set at $451.08 per MT based on the foreignexchange rate of $1=P50. Bids shall be priced in US dollars per MT based on Cost Insurance and Freight, Delivered at Place Free on Warehouse up to the designated NFA warehouse,‖ the NFA said. ―Opening of the bids and award of contract to a bidder shall be based on the lowest calculated responsive bid price on a per lot basis,‖ it added.

On July 6 the NFA published the terms of reference (TOR) for the purchase and supply of 250,000 MT of 25-percent broken well-milled long grain white rice of omnibus origin under the government-to-private sector scheme. Under the TOR, the NFA said prospective bidders will vie for the imported volume on a lot basis.

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―Prospective bidders may bid for any of the lots, provided that the bid must be the minimum/maximum of the imported rice allocated per lot, but the maximum quantity to be awarded per supplier must not be higher than 50,000 MT,‖ it read.

The NFA divided the delivery of the 250,000 MT of rice into two periods: August and September. The NFA said 120,000 MT of rice should arrive within August, while the remaining 130,000 MT should arrive by September.

The agency said winning bidders will be subjected to postqualification evaluation on July 27 and 28. ―If they qualify, the Notice of Award shall be issued on July 31, and a Notice to Proceed shall be issued on August 3.‖ http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/19-bidders-from-southeast-asia-to-vie-for-nfa-rice-supply-deal/

China Open Rice Market to Exports from U.S. David Stone on Jul 22nd, 2017

The largest rice market in the world will soon open to farmers in the U.S.Following negotiations

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that lasted years, China finally agreed to open its domestic rice market to U.S. rice exports marking the first time ever China has agreed to that, acknowledging the need it has for foreign shipments in order to meet the ever-growing demands of its huge middle class.The market presents a great opportunity with incredible potential to grow, said Sonny Perdue the U.S. Agricultural Secretary in a prepared statement this week announcing the new agreement.

China is the largest producer as well as consumer of rice in the world, but has had to turn more towards imports the past few years to meet its domestic demand.

With close to 5 million tons of rice purchased from other countries in 2016, China was also the largest importer in the world.American farmers for years have tried to gain access to the Chinese rice market, but several cultural, economic, bureaucratic and political obstacles always stood in their way.The opening of the market could be a huge boon for a number of rice farmers in the U.S. who are struggling and have faced oversupply and sluggish prices for years.

Rice farmers in the U.S. produce on average 9 million tons annually, and consumers in China eat that same amount in only two weeks, according to a trade group in the industry known as USA Rice.

The market in China opening to U.S. farmers is contingent on the inspection then approval of facilities in the U.S. by Chinese quarantine and inspection officials.If that all goes to plan, shipments from the U.S. to China, could begin later in 2017 or in the early part of 2018, said a member of USA Rice.A big breakthrough took place early in 2016 when the two countries agreed on phytosanitary protocol, which sets the terms for sanitary conditions for milled rice from the U.S.

Officials in China are concerned over the possibility of some pests being in rice products entering China.A member of USA Rice said the phytosanitary agreement was the most complex that the rice industry in the U.S. had entered into, but the potential overall size of the Chinese market makes it all worthwhile https://www.chaffeybreeze.com/2017/07/22/china-open-rice-market-to-exports-from-u-s.html

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Myanmar's private sector to cooperate with China to build agronomics service center Xinhua| 2017-07-24 10:08:53|Editor: An

YANGON, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Two Myanmar private organizations have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China's CITIC Construction to implement an agronomics service center project, Myanmar News Agency reported Monday.The MoU, which involves Myanmar Rice Association and Myanmar Agronomics Public Corporation, was signed in Nay Pyi Yaw in the weekend.

The project aims to boost per acre production rate, mitigate production cost, increase internal and external investment in rice production, milling and trading and to enhance the quality of rice.

Myanmar exports a variety of Emata rice, Ngasein rice, sticky rice, parboiled rice and broken rice to international markets including China, the European Union and South Africa.According to statistics, the country exported a total of 700,000 tons of rice as of June in FY 2017-2018.

In last fiscal year (2016-2017), about 1.5 million tons of rice were exported with 50 percent going to neighboring China through border gates.

Meanwhile, Myanmar's Ministry of Commerce has allowed foreign-run companies to trade such agricultural supplies as fertilizer, seed and pesticide, and hospital supplies. The move was made in accordance with the country's economic policy which aims to boost agriculture, people's health and the infrastructure by upgrading the materials used.Myanmar has planned agricultural development strategy on the basis of the second five-year national development plan.According to statistics, foreign investment in Myanmar's agricultural sector amounted to 254.675 million U.S. dollars in 21 projects as of the end of June this year since late 1988 http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-07/24/c_136467496.htm

Onset of monsoon paves way for rice cultivation in northeast region - Nagaland News Visit the website https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsToDs5iBHg Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

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Government to extend rice export ban to secure local market needs The government rice mills pay EGP 3,000 per tonne of rice while private mills pay EGP 4,500 per tonne, so the farmer chooses the highest price Daily News Egypt

Egypt‘s Cabinet surprisingly decided to set the buying price of rice from the farmers in the new season starting in August based on supply and demand mechanisms. ―We will not determine the buying price of rice and will adopt the supply and demand mechanisms, allowing competition between public sector and private mills,‖ Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Ali Meselhi told Daily News Egypt.

The question is can the government succeed in implementing its plans to liberalise the price of rice, and set it based on the supply and demand mechanisms, especially that Egypt has never suffered from a shortage of supply of rice?

The government will extend the rice export ban to secure the local market needs The Cabinet decided to extend the ban on exporting rice during the coming season, in a move to secure the needs of the local market.

So what is the problem in the rice market in Egypt?

The crisis emerges when the government offers low purchase price for farmers who refuse to sell their crops at such prices, forcing the government to import Indian rice that infuriated citizens because the private rice mills buy the rice crops at high prices.

The government rice mills offer to buy rice from the farmers at EGP 3,000 per tonne, while the private sector mills offer about EGP 4,500 per tonne, prompting the farmers to store their crops or sell them to the private sector. Farmers now demand rising the government selling price of

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rice in the new season to EGP 4,000 instead of EGP 3,000, to compensate the rise in production costs, mainly the increase in fuel prices.

Since 2008, Egypt sometimes bans the export of rice to maintain the local rice reserves and meet the needs of the local market. It also aims to discourage farmers from growing the rice and rationalise water consumption.

The private sector mills sell white rice at EGP 6,300 per tonne, so the government sells it at about EGP 6,500.

How can the government offer adequate price for farmers and still sell it at EGP 6.5 per kilo?

According to Ragab Shehata, head of the rice division in the Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI), said that the local production of rice reached 3.7 million tonnes in this year while the consumption is estimated at about 3.3 million tonnes, securing a surplus of about 700,000 tonnes.

Shehata added that the Minister of Supply has decided to set the purchase price of rice from the farmer based on supply and demand, provided that both the government and private mills will sell the rice at EGP 6,300 per tonne.

Despite the high reserves of rice crops, the farmers refuse to sell their crops to the government, citing the government‘s low price of EGP 3,000 per tonne, which led to shortage in supply at local outlets.

He noted that the farmers will not sell at low prices any more after they sold their crops last year at about EGP 2,400 and then the prices increased significantly.

Egypt Support Coalition in Parliament recently called on the government to raise rice prices to EGP 4,000; however, the farmers consider it low, especially since the price in the private mills reach EGP 4,500 – 5,000 per tonne.

Who controls the price of rice?

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The high domestic rice prices crisis started in the second half of 2014, when the government could not store large amounts of the 2015 rice harvest, allowing traders to buy the entire harvest and store it until the prices rise again.

The previous governments used to store 200,000—500,000 tonnes of rice at the beginning of the season, to prevent traders from storing it and raising prices, but the former Minister of Supply, Khaled Hanafy, did not buy any strategic reserves in the last season.

Mustafa al-Najari, head of the Rice Committee in the Agriculture Export Council, said that the Ministry of Supply had to buy the rice crops from the farmers at the beginning of the harvest, so that it could provide the commodity to citizens at affordable prices. ―The state did not buy rice at a reasonable price from the farmers, and allow traders to monopolize the market,‖ says Najari.

He added that the price of rice in Egypt reached EGP 4,500 per tonne in 2016, compared to EGP 1,600 and 1,700 in previous years.

The farmers’ options Some of the farmers in Kafr Al-Sheikh governorate, one of the most famous rice-growing areas, said that the government does not care about the farmers, and it only cares about maintaining prices especially in Cairo and Alexandria, regardless the farmer‘s right to sell at an appropriate price. They added that the remaining of the last season‘s rice crops are sold at EGP 3,000 per tonne, wondering how can the government offer EGP 2,300 for each tonne. They stressed that no one will sell his crops to the government at this price.

Haitham Zalouk, a farmer in Sharqeya governorate, said the cost of production increased dramatically, noting that most of small farmers tend to borrowing to cover their needs and wait until they sell their crop so that they could repay their debts. ―The price offered by the government does not cover the cost of agriculture, after the rise of fertilisers and pesticides prices as well as wages of workers.‖

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He added, ―Some of us can store rice for some time and wait for a better price, but most farmers sell at the best available price after harvest, to repay their debts.‖ The whole rice crops have been sold to traders and the government does not have any rice.

The farmers had advised the former minister of supply to raise the price of rice so they can sell the rice to the government instead of traders, adding that the right price at this time was EGP 3,500 per tonne. The government raised the price to only EGP 3,000, while the traders bought the rice at more than EGP 3,200 per tonne, so the government does not get any rice at this price.

Rice in Figures: 1.8 million feddans of rice.

The feddan produces an average of 3.5 tonnes.

Private rice mills sell the rice at EGP 4,500 per tonne, while the government offered EGP 3,000 per tonne.

The new season production reaches about 6.3 million tonnes of rice.

The white rice production reached about 3.7 million tonnes, while the consumption amounts to 3.3 million tonnes with a surplus of 400,000 tonnes.

Last year, the farmers sold about 7 million tonnes of rice, producing about 4.2 million tonnes of white rice, and the consumption reached 3.3 million tonnes, leaving a surplus of 900,000 tonnes that can cover three months.

The growing of a single feddan of rice consumes 6,500 cubic metres of water per year, totalling 12 billion cubic metres.

Private rice mills supply about 90% of the government‘s needs of white rice.

Solutions:

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According to various experts and farmers, the export has been always accused of raising the price of rice, however it represents only 30% of the rice crop per year. When it reached its highest level up to 700,000 tonnes, the surplus was more than one million tonnes.

The best solution to the rice crisis is that the government should declare a ―fair‖ purchase price of rice from farmers before the planting season, and set a clear mechanism to buy the rice crops either through the Principal Bank for Development and Agricultural Credit (PBDAC) or public sector mills. In addition, the government should intensify its observation of private companies to ensure their compliance with laws and regulations so as not to store and monopolise the product.

Actually the ministry has announced that it will not determine the purchase price of rice from farmers in advance and will leave it to the supply and demand mechanisms.

The new system can lead to further increases in rice prices, because traders control now the rice market despite the high production rate and achieving a surplus.

How can the government cover the expected shortages due to traders‘ storage of rice?

In light of the traders and farmers‘ refusal to supply rice to the Ministry of Supply, the government decided to import 500,000 tonnes of rice, especially since President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has instructed the government to have enough reserves of basic food commodities for at least six months.

The import of rice comes as an attempt by the government to force local traders and farmers to sell their stored reserves.

Shehata asserted that there is no problem in rice supply and the government has imported the necessary strategic reserves to reduce the demand for local rice and decrease its price.

The Ministry of Supply said it would compensate the shortage of rice in the supply cards, which resulted from the cancellation of the local rice tender, by offering a shipment of imported rice coming from India at lower prices than the local market. Finally, can the government succeed in liberalising the price of rice based on the supply and demand mechanisms, without increasing its price in the market up to EGP 6.5?

https://dailynewsegypt.com/2017/07/24/government-extend-rice-export-bansecure-local-market-needs/.

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Iraq expects to produce 250,000 tonnes of rice in 2017 season Reuters | Jul 22, 2017, 11:50 AM IST * About 20,000 hectares planted with rice for 2017 season* Iraq needs about 1 million to 1.25 million tonnes a year* Trade Ministry has been struggling to attract import bidsBAGHDAD, July 22 (Reuters) - Iraq's Agriculture Ministry said on Saturday it expected to produce 250,000 tonnes of rice in the 2017 season.

The figure suggests gap to be filled by imports of about 1 million tonnes, as demand annually stands at between 1 million to 1.25 million tonnes, according to government sources."The expected production is around 250,000 tonnes for this year, the harvest should start in October and we hope the figure will be close to this," Agriculture Ministry spokesman Hamid alNayif told Reuters.

Around 200,000 dunums (20,000 hectares) have been planted with rice, Nayifsaid. The planted area varies from one year to the next according to water availability.Iraq, a major rice importer, has been struggling to buy the grain from abroad this year after introducing new payment and quality terms that have kept traders away from its tenders.Iraq's Trade Ministry is responsible for procuring strategic commodities, including rice, for the country's ration programme.

The rationing programme, created in 1991 to combat U.N. economic sanctions, includes flour, cooking oil, rice, sugar and baby milk formula. Impoverished Iraqis continue to depend on the system, which analysts say is corrupt and wasteful. (Writing By Maha El Dahan; Editing

by Edmund Blair http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/iraq-expects-to-produce-250000tonnes-of-rice-in-2017-season/articleshow/59710902.cms

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Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- July 25, 2017 Reuters | Jul 25, 2017, 02:10 PM IST Nagpur Foodgrain Prices - APMC/Open Market-July 25 Nagpur, July 25 (Reuters) - Gram and tuar prices reported higher in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) here on increased demand from local millers amid weak supply from producing regions because of rains in parts of Vidarbha. Fresh rise in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and enquiries from South-based plants also jacked up prices. About 700 of gram and 200 bags of tuar were available for auctions, according to sources. FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor. TUAR * Tuar gavarani recovered in open market on renewed demand from local traders. * Wheat Lokwant firmed up in open market here on increased seasonal demand from local traders amid tight supply from producing regions. * In Akola, Tuar New - 3,900-3,950, Tuar dal (clean) - 5,500-5,700, Udid Mogar (clean) - 7,2008,200, Moong Mogar (clean) 6,500-7,200, Gram - 5,300-5,400, 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 APMCauction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close Gram Auction 5,000-5,120 4,800-5,120 Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction 3,400-3,750 3,350-3,750 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 5,3505,450 5,350-5,450 Gram Yellow 7,100-8,100 7,100-8,100 Gram Kabuli 12,300-13,400 12,30013,400 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 3,950-4,050 3,900-4,000 Tuar Karnataka 3,9504,050 3,950-4,050 Masoor dal best 4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000 Masoor dal medium 4,400-4,600

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4,400-4,600 Masoor n.a. n.a. Moong Mogar bold (New) 6,700-7,000 6,700-7,000 Moong Mogar Medium 6,000-6,500 6,000-6,500 Moong dal Chilka 5,200-6,000 5,200-6,000 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a. Moong Chamki best 6,900-7,400 6,900-7,400 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) 4,500-4,800 4,500-4,800 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 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000 Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,750-1,850 1,750-1,850 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,1002,300 2,100-2,300 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,400 2,100-2,350 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,100 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 3,0003,100 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. 32.0 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 23.4 degree Celsius Rainfall : 1.9 mm FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rains or thunder-showers.

Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 32 and 23 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices)

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Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- July 24, 2017 Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market- July 24, 2017 Nagpur, July 24 (Reuters) – Gram and tuar prices quoted down in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) here on poor demand from local millers amid release of stock from stockists. Weak trend in other pulses mandis also affected sentiment.

About 800 of gram and 200 bags of tuar were available for auctions, according to sources.

FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Desi gram raw showed weak tendency in open market here on subdued demand from local traders amid increased supply from producing regions.

TUAR

* Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market on lack of demand from local traders.

* Moong varieties and Batri dal declined in open market here on poor demand from local traders amid good supply from producing regions.

* In Akola, Tuar New – 3,900-3,950, Tuar dal (clean) – 5,500-5,700, Udid Mogar (clean) – 7,200-8,200, Moong Mogar (clean) 6,500-7,200, Gram – 5,300-5,400, Gram Super best – 7,200-8,000

* Wheat, rice and other commodities moved in a narrow range in

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35 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

Gram Auction

4,600-5,140

Gram Pink Auction Tuar Auction

n.a.

Udid Auction

2,100-2,600 3,340-3,770

n.a. n.a.

Masoor Auction

3,900-4,200 4,300-4,500

n.a.

Wheat Mill quality Auction

2,600-2,800 1,550-1,690

Gram Super Best Bold Gram Super Best

4,600-5,230

3,450-3,700

Moong Auction

Previous close

1,550-1,674

7,500-8,000 n.a.

Gram Medium Best

7,500-8,000

n.a.

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

5,350-5,450

5,400-5,500

Gram Yellow

7,100-8,100

Gram Kabuli

12,300-13,400

Tuar Fataka Best-New

5,800-6,000

5,400-5,600

Tuar Dal Best Phod-New

5,400-5,600

5,200-5,500

Tuar Dal Medium phod-New

Tuar Karnataka

12,300-13,400

5,800-6,000

Tuar Fataka Medium-New

Tuar Gavarani New

7,100-8,100

5,200-5,500

4,800-5,100

3,900-4,000 3,950-4,050

4,800-5,100

3,900-4,000 3,950-4,050

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36 Masoor dal best

4,800-5,000

Masoor dal medium Masoor

4,800-5,000

4,400-4,600

n.a.

4,400-4,600

n.a.

Moong Mogar bold (New)

6,700-7,000

Moong Mogar Medium

6,000-6,500

Moong dal Chilka

5,200-6,000

6,800-7,200 6,200-6,600

5,400-6,200

Moong Mill quality

n.a.

n.a.

Moong Chamki best

6,900-7,400

7,000-7,500

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

Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) Batri dal (100 INR/KG)

6,800-7,200

4,400-4,900

4,500-4,800

Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)

4,400-4,900

4,500-5,000

2,850-3,050

Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)

2,850-3,050

2,850-3,000

2,850-2,950

Watana White (100 INR/KG)

3,500-3,700

Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)

4,100-4,600

Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)

1,900-2,000

Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)

3,500-3,700 4,100-4,600

1,900-2,000

1,750-1,850

1,750-1,850

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 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)

n.a.

n.a.

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,600 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) Rice BPT new (100 INR/KG)

2,200-2,700

2,700-3,300

1,900-2,050

3,000-3,600 2,200-2,700 2,800-3,400

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37 Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG)

3,300-3,500

Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG)

3,000-3,100

2,500-2,800

Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG)

2,300-2,400

Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)

2,500-2,650

Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) Rice HMT New (100 INR/KG)

3,300-3,500 3,000-3,100

2,500-2,800 2,300-2,400 2,500-2,650

2,300-2,400

3,600-4,000

Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG)

2,300-2,400 3,600-4,000

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 Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG)

6,500-6,800

5,800-6,200

5,800-6,200

Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 10,000-13,500 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) Rice Chinnor New(100 INR/KG)

5,000-7,500 4,600-5,000

Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,000 Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)

10,000-13,500

4,600-5,000 5,800-6,000

5,400-5,600

1,900-2,200 1,800-1,900

5,000-7,500

5,400-5,600 1,900-2,200

1,800-1,900

WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 30.5 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 23.8 degree Celsius Rainfall : 3.6 mm FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rains or thunder-showers. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 31 and 24 degree Celsius respectively.

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38 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-foodgrainidINL3N1KF33Yhttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/nagpur-foodgrain-pricesopen-july-25-2017/articleshow/59753779.cms

Move to extend pokkali farming TNN | Jul 24, 2017, 11:31 PM IST Kochi: The Pokkali Nilam Vikasana Samithi (PNVS) has decided to formulate and submit a comprehensive package to preserve and protect the traditional pokkali rice farming in the district.

The decision was taken at its general council meeting. MLAs S Sarma and K J Maxi, samithi development chairman Dinakaran and district collector Mohammed Y Safirullah attended the meeting.The samithi members said that a comprehensive package to protect pokkali farming as well as a report on the problems faced by pokkali farmers would be formulated and discussed in the next executive council.

The meeting also decided that the report would be forwarded to the planning commission for approval after detailed discussion with stakeholders.

After getting the approval, the samithi will submit the comprehensive package to the government before the pre-budget session.The samithi members were of the opinion that this move would help in calculating an estimated amount required for protecting pokkali cultivation.MLA Sarma said that a pokkali seed bank would be launched this year with the support of pokkali krishi development agency, Seed authority and Vyttila Rice Research Centre.

He also said that special initiatives should be taken to protect pokkali farming.The collector said the district administration is planning to do pokkali farming in 2,000 hectares next year. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/move-to-extend-pokkali-farming/articleshow/59745125.cms

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Evidence of early rice domestication found in southern China

By Philip Guelpa 25 July 2017 Recently reported research by a team of Chinese scientists, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, demonstrates the presence of rice undergoing domestication 9,400 years ago at an archaeological site known as Shangshan near the Yangtze River in southern China. This is the earliest evidence yet found of rice in transition from wild grass to cultivar.

Excavations at Shangshan by Chinese archaeologists, beginning in the early 2000s, uncovered evidence, such as impressions of rice husks in pottery and stone milling tools, that rice was being used by the inhabitants. However, these do not provide indication of whether the rice was wild or domesticated.

The data used to identify domestication come from the examination of microscopic silica crystals, known as phytoliths, which form in plants and survive even when all of the organic components have degraded and disappeared. These crystals not only are unique to each plant species, but bear distinctive patterns reflecting changes within the species which, among other things, can be used to track the difference between wild and domesticated varieties.

Phytoliths, as well as a variety of artifacts and other evidence of human activity, were recovered from a series of superimposed layers, or strata, at the Shangshan site; each higher strata representing successively younger time periods. These strata were dated using the carbon-14 radiometric method. The oldest layer was found to date back 9,400 years ago.

By comparing the rice phytoliths from successively younger strata, changes were observed indicating the gradual transition from wild to domestic forms. Rice phytoliths have characteristic features termed ―fish scales‖ due to their appearance. While modern rice phytoliths have more than nine such fish scales, the number on ancient rice phytoliths varies. What the researchers found was that through time the proportion of phytoliths with more than nine scales increased, gradually approaching the modern condition. This greater uniformity indicates selection for consistency, presumably in other, more important characteristics that were useful to the inhabitants of the site.

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In terms of human generations, this was a long, slow process, not a ‗eureka‘ moment of instant invention. It involved not only the gradual genetic modification of the rice itself, but a whole range of social and technological adjustments associated with increasing investment and reliance on a particular food source. These changes, such as increased sedentism, territoriality, storage and distribution of food surpluses, and growing division of labor, eventually lead to fundamentally new cultural patterns. On the evolutionary time scale of human existence these changes resulted in a revolution.

Anatomically modern humans, Homo sapiens, presumably with more or less the same mental and physical capabilities as we now have, evolved at least 200,000 years ago. Yet, until only about ten to twelve thousand years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age, known as the Pleistocene, there is no known evidence that humans subsisted on anything but naturally available wild plants and animals. What brought about this seemingly abrupt change?

The questions of where, when, how, and why the domestication of plants and animals by humans took place is of key importance in understanding the dynamics that lead to the many transitions from egalitarian hunter-gatherers to class society and civilization that took place in multiple regions of the world.

Rice, along with other cereal grains, such as wheat and maize, are among the principal plant foods on which early agricultural communities in the Near East, Asia, and the Americas depended. Thus, the study of rice domestication is of central importance in understanding what is known as the agricultural revolution.

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Although Shangshan has yielded the earliest evidence of the process of rice domestication so far discovered, this does not necessarily mean that this was the sole location where this process originated. Indeed, genetic evidence points to at least three areas of early rice domestication.

Aside from China, these include an area between India and Indochina and India and Bangladesh, each producing a different variety of domesticated rice.

Rice, wheat, and maize are not the only early plant domesticates. Many others, such as beans, squash, oats, barley, millet, sorghum, amaranth, and chenopod (the latter two in Precontact North America), to name but a few, were brought under cultivation with resulting genetic changes producing domesticated varieties. For some, at least, evidence exists of multiple, independent centers of domestication.

The widespread nature of this process, occurring independently across continents, and in the relative ‗blink of an eye‘ compared to the span of Homo sapiens‘ existence, strongly indicates that some common factor was at play, perhaps environmental changes occurring at the end of the Ice Age. However, there is evidence that at least some of wild progenitors of these future domesticates were already part of the diet of some human groups thousands of years earlier.

These were not new foods, but rather the result of a new approach toward obtaining food.

Whatever the cause, and this is a subject of intense interest, it appears that beginning around ten to twelve thousand years ago, when modern humans inhabited areas with suitable potential domesticates the process was repeated time and time again, sometimes with the same species being domesticated independently at different locations. http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2017/07/25/rice-j25.html

Plan to extend pokkali farming to 2,000 hectares

By Express News Service | Published: 25th July 2017 10:24 AM | Last Updated: 25th July 2017 11:11 AM | A+A A- |

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KOCHI: A comprehensive plan will be devised for the protection and promotion of pokkali farming in the district. The proposals mooted under the plan include setting up of a seed bank to extend pokkali farming to 2,000 hectares by 2018.

The decisions were taken at the general council meeting of Pokkali Field Development Committee (PFDC) held at the district administration headquarters here on Monday. ―The integrated plan for development of pokkali farming will be submitted before the state government. Before unveiling the plan, a decision on various aspects will be taken at the next council meeting,‖ said District Collector K Mohammed Y Safeerulla.―The council will look into various steps required for protection of traditional pokkali farming and the issues faced by farmers. The suggestions and recommendations of members will be incorporated in the draft plan which will be submitted before the Planning Committee. ―Once the Planning Committee gives its nod, the proposal will be submitted before the prebudget session. The aim is to get pokkali development scheme included in the next annual budget of the government and get necessary budget allocation,‖ said Safeerulla. The council meeting was also attended by MLAs, S Sarma and K J Maxi, as well as PFDC vice chairman Dinakaran.

Sarma said the pokkali farming development agency will take the initiative to set up a seed bank this year. ―The seed bank will be set up with the help of Kerala State Seed Development Authority and Rice Research Station, Vyttila. The seed bank will chiefly aim to procure seeds for cultivation next year. The pokkali farmers should get a support price of `150. We also proposed a separate plan for protection of traditional farming sector. Every year, pokkali farmers should get a minimum subsidy of `4-5 crore,‖ Sarma said.

The council meeting also demanded the subsidy for pokkali farming should be increased to Rs 20,000 per hectare. ― Presently pokkali farmers use the field for shrimp farming in the

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interim. This must change. The farmers should be made self-sufficient with the help of pokkali cultivation alone,‖ Sarma said.The meeting looked into the tourism potential of some of the areas at Goshree islands where pokkali farming is widely practised. ―Vypeen and Kadamakkudi islands have immense potential to be developed into Agri-Tourism destinations.

The scope should be fully utilised so as to increase the flow of domestic and international tourists to these destinations,‖ he said.

Meanwhile, Safeerulla said though the original plan was to undertake pokkali farming in 1,000 hectares this year, until now pokkali farming has been carried out only in 635 hectares. ―Next year, we are confident of carrying out pokkali cultivation in 2,000 hectares.

Hence, this year‘s main target will be procurement of enough seeds to extend cultivation to 2,000 hectares,‖ he said. Of the nearly 17,000 hectares of pokkali fields situated in Ernakulam and Thrissur, Ernakulam, Aroor and Kodungalloor account for a majority of them.

Farming on 1,000 acres planned Of the nearly 17,000 hectares of pokkali fields situated in Ernakulam and Thrissur, Ernakulam, Aroor and Kodungalloor account for majority of them.Though the original plan was to undertake pokkali farming in 1,000 hectares this year, until now pokkali farming has been carried out only in 635 hectares

http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2017/jul/25/plan-to-extend-pokkali-farming-to-2000hectares-1633079.html

THE RICE AND FALL OF ‘PLASTIC’ Bangalore Mirror Bureau | Updated: Jul 25, 2017, 11.54 AM IST

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By Kumaran P

After rigorous testing, Centre dismisses reports of plastic rice and egg; calls it a case of adulteration In an attempt to put an end to the long-drawn debate on "fake" eggs and rice, the Centre has stepped in. Now, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, after testing samples from across the country, has concluded that there is no such thing as 'plastic' rice. It all boils down to adulteration.The department of food and public distribution had collected samples from 29 states and 7 Union territories in the country and a total of 39,284 samples were analysed.

The conclusion was that there was no plastic rice and the department stated that it was actually just poor quality rice.

CR Chaudhury, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public distribution, said: "While plastic rice rumours were doing the rounds on social media, the matter was taken up with the Kerala and Gujarat governments on the basis of an International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) alert. The governments concerned have confirmed that there has been no such reports in their respective states. " Random sampling was done and from Karnataka, 2,837 samples were received for testing and analysis. It was found that 341 samples were adulterated and the remaining proved that it was low quality rice. The department has launched 26 criminal cases and 112 civil cases on manufacturers and penalized them too. 112 manufacturers have been penalized and penalties totalling Rs. 21,95,900 were received. The sampling and testing was done by officials of the Food safety departments of the respective states to check compliance of standards laid down under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations.

Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, YG Shadakshari, Director of Research, University of Agricultural Sciences, said, "It is very expensive to manufacture plastic rice. It is so expensive that it is not possible at all. I really wonder how these rumours came up. As per our testing based on samples received by Bangalore Mirror, we found it was only low quality rice. The government needs to probe whether adulteration is the main cause of all these plastic rumours." While the testing was headed by Prof KV Jamuna, UAS, she said, "When we did detailed research and testing, it was found out that this is totally a case of low quality rice. What residents of the city found was rice that had expired was being sold. Otherwise, something like 'plastic' is a bizarre thing to make."

No fake eggs either Another grave issue that was making rounds on social media was 'plastic' eggs. Dr Murthy, Dean of the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Science University, who did a complete test on eggs and said they were 'rotten' and 'spoiled'. http://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/the-rice-and-fall-of

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