December 27 ,2018 Vol 9 ,Issue 12
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Oilseed cultivation – a win on all sides BR ResearchDecember 26, 2018
China plans to remove import and export tariffs on a range of goods at the start of January next year. For most part, Pakistan will not be the beneficiary as the adjustments impacts industries such as aircraft engines, information technology products and pharmaceutical goods.But there is good news to be had, if Pakistan can capitalize on the opportunity. US was one of the main suppliers of soybean to China. Given the trade war, China is looking for alternative meals that can be used in animal feed.Import tariffs on rapeseed meal, cotton meal, sunflower meal, and palm meal will be removed starting January 1, 2019. While some imports of US soybean have resumed, China‘s official statement expresses the belief that removal of tariffs on alterative meals will help improve the reliability of its animal feed meal supply chains. Pakistan has historically had abysmally low levels of oil seed cultivation, despite fitting in the cropping system. Research indicates that cultivation can be in the form of rice-sunflower-rice and cotton-sunflower-cotton, but corn, rice, wheat, and sugarcane are generally more remunerative. Growing various oil seeds and converting them into meal would enable Pakistan to tap in China‘s $12.7 billion soybean feed market. The US China trade war has opened up a whole host of opportunities for exports to China to diminish the trade deficit. While high end exports such as aircraft engines are not feasible, markets such as animal feed can be explored. However, while tariffs can be changed with the stroke of a pen, changing crops historically cultivated would require years to increase acreage and yield. Detractors could argue that by the time Pakistan has grown sufficient crop and enhanced processing facilities, the trade war could have cooled down. Other countries with readily available supply chains could be taking care of China‘s import needs. Pakistan is highly dependent on palm oil imports for ghee and has increased soybean imports for meal. Increase in cultivation in oil seeds would contribute positively towards the edible oil sector and has been repeated the request of related associations such as PEORA (Pakistan Edible Oil Refiners Association) and APSEA (All Pakistan Solvent Extractors Association). Other than the need to import substitute palm oil and soybean, oilseeds such as canola have a superior nutrient profile and are an excellent feed for animals and birds, especially poultry. By increasing the acreage under oil seeds, Pakistan could import substitute and enhance exports in the long run while improving the nutrition for people and animal alike. It‘s a win on all fronts. https://www.brecorder.com/2018/12/26/461462/oilseed-cultivation-a-win-on-all-sides/
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Swedish limit on inorganic arsenic "has not lowered levels in rice" Analysis was carried out on a range of products by the Swedish National Food Agency.
This article is powered by EU Food Law
27 Dec 2018 NEWS
Scott LaHart A follow-up analysis of heavy metal contents in rice and porridge by the Swedish National Food Agency shows that the new limit for inorganic arsenic in rice and rice products does not seem to have led to lower levels in rye and whole-grain rice. https://iegpolicy.agribusinessintelligence.informa.com/PL218750/Swedish-limit-on-inorganic-arsenichas-not-lowered-levels-in-rice
Afghanistan‘s rice yield goes up by 4pc this year
ByPajhwok reporter
Dec 27, 2018 - 13:18
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KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock (MoAIL) says the production of rice has increased by four percent this year despite a drought in the country. A joint survey, conducted by the Central Statistical Bureau and Agriculture Ministry using the geographic information system (GIS), revealed the hike in rice yield. Based on the survey, this year the total area under rice cultivation was 117,540 hectares of land, which produced 352,000 metric tons of rice. A seven percent increase was recorded in the land under cultivation and a four percent surge in production. A statement from the ministry said the country‘s annual demand for rice was 574,000 tons, while the domestic yield amounted to 352,000 tons --leaving a shortfall of 222,000 tons. According to the statistics, total rice imports in the first three quarters of the year stood at 180,000 tons, worth $92 million. Rice is cultivated in 81 district of 17 province, included Kunduz, Baghlan, Takhar Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, Balkh, Herat, Badghis, Badakhshan, Khost, Paktia, Daikundi, Uruzgan, Kabul, Bamyan and Sar-i-Pul. Kunduz is the top rice-producing province, with 48,229 hectares of farms yielding 3.36 tons of per hectare. The ministry has spent 2.9 billion afghanis on implementing 235 projects and 1.2 million have farmers benefited from irrigation water during the ongoing year. https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/12/27/afghanistan%E2%80%99s-rice-yield-goes-4pc-year
Stock for P27/kg NFA rice still good for 8 months — DA December 26, 2018 | 7:42 pm ―IN PREPARATION for the lean months, the NFA has established a stock inventory of 750,000-metric tons
of imported rice,‖ Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said. — PHILSTAR/MICHAEL VARCAS AGRICULTURE Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said stock for the P27 per kilogram (kg) of rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) will last for eight months. ―In preparation for the lean months, the NFA has established a stock inventory of 750,000-metric tons of imported rice which will ensure an 8-month supply of government subsidized rice at 10% market participation,‖ Mr. Piñol said on a Facebook post.
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―The 750,000-metric tons of imported rice will be sold at P27 per kilo while the NFA will seek guidance on the selling price of the locally procured paddy rice since this will be bought at P17 per kilo plus P3.70 per kilo incentive,‖ he added.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) chief said that by the end of 2018, the country will have a 134-day buffer stock of rice in the warehouses of NFA and private traders, and household storage facilities — the highest number of buffer stock in recent years. Mr. Piñol also said that NFA has given assurance of enough government-subsidized rice by next year with its P7 billion budget to be used for procurement from local farmers. Last week, Mr. Piñol, citing chair of the Senate committee on food and agriculture Cynthia A. Villar, announced that the country will still have available government-subsidized rice by next year even with the implementation of rice tariffication.
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Under tariffication, with the approved bill just awaiting the President‘s signature, the NFA will lose its licensing powers and will solely focus on buffer stocking of rice bought from domestic farmers. Under the new law, private traders will be the only allowed importers of rice. The selling price of local rice then is expected to be at P35 to P36. ―I pointed out that unless government subsidizes the NFA rice, it cannot be sold at P27 per kilo because it would mean a loss of P9 per kilo for the government grains agency. However, I clarified that the NFA could still sell rice at the current price if government will subsidize it,‖ Mr. Piñol said. ―Senator Villar, however, issued the assurance that even with the passage of the rice tariffication, Government will still ensure the availability of government subsidized rice in the market,‖ he added. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio https://www.bworldonline.com/stock-for-p27-kg-nfa-rice-still-good-for-8-months-da/
Afraid of potential EU tariffs, exporters and millers buy less rice Local rice exporter and millers will buy significantly less paddy rice this year as they await the European Union‘s final decision on whether or not to impose tariffs on Cambodian rice, industry insiders say. Chan Sokheang, chairman and CEO of Signatures of Asia, told Khmer Times that his company will purchase between 25,000 to 30,000 tonnes of organic and fragrant paddy rice from Cambodian farmers from now until April, a sharp decrease from previous years, when it bought between 40,000 to 45,000 over the same months. He said his firm is not the only one reluctant to buy as per usual, with many exporters and rice millers fearing the effect on the market of an EU decision to activate the safeguard clause that would enable bloc members to tax Cambodia‘s and Myanmar‘s rice. ―We don‘t know what to do with regards to exporting rice to the EU,‖ he said. ―We don‘t know whether they will impose the tariffs on our rice or not. We don‘t know how to prepare for this scenario,‖ Mr Sokheang said. ―Sales thus far are normal, but we are not purchasing paddy as before. Last year, we bought a lot of paddy rice for processing, as we rely mainly on the EU and the Chinese market, but now we don‘t know what‘s happening with the European market, so we are hesitant about buying too much. ―On top of that, some commercial banks have cut lending to rice exporters by about 60 percent,‖ he said, adding that, ―All rice millers and rice exporters are facing the same issues, so it affects the whole production
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and value chain.‖ In March, the European Commission launched an investigation to see if imports of semi-milled and milled Indica rice from Cambodia and Myanmar resulted in serious difficulties to EU producers of similar or competing products. On December 4, a vote on whether to impose tariffs on Cambodian and Burmese rice was held, with EU members failing to come to a consensus. As a result, the European Commission was task with issuing a final decision on the subject by early next month. The EU is looking at imposing tariffs over the next three years: 175 euros ($199.5) per ton during the first year, 150 euros ($171) in the second year, and 125 euros ($142.5) in the last. CRF secretary-general Moul Sarith told Khmer Times that Cambodian exports of milled rice will experience a significant drop in 2018 due to this issue. ―From October to December, rice exports, particularly to the EU, will drop because exporters are waiting on the EC‘s decision. ―Our exporters are reluctant to buy rice until they hear the decision,‖ Mr Sarith said. ―We ask the EC to consider their decision carefully, and call on our members to continue exporting and strengthening the quality of our paddy rice,‖ he added. Kann Kunthy, vice president and managing director of Amru Rice, posted on his Facebook profile that rice exports in 2018 will amount to just 560,000 tonnes, a 12 percent drop compared to last year. He blamed the decrease on the potential EU‘s tariffs as well as Vietnam‘s decision to put more stringent customs measures in place for transshipments that go through Vietnamese ports. From January to November this year, China bought 137,866 tonnes of Cambodian rice, making it the biggest buyer. It was followed by France (73,669 tonnes), Malaysia (37,289 tonnes), Gabon (25,335 tonnes), and the Netherlands (23,643 tonnes), according to data from the Secretariat of One Window Service for Rice Export Formality. https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50562845/afraid-of-potential-eu-tariffs-exporters-and-millers-buy-lessrice/
Evolving global demand & geopolitical relations driving new avenues for Indian rice exporters: Report Evolving global demand & geopolitical relations driving new avenues for Indian rice exporters: Report
New Delhi, Dec 27 (KNN) Despite, rice being exempted from GST, exporters are unable to access the credit they need to finance their workings, said Drip Capital report on ‗Rice Commodity Insights‘-outlining the evolving dynamics in the Indian rice export market in 2018. It said ―While GST has had minimal impact on rice exports (courtesy rice being exempt from GST), exporters are still facing credit issues, potentially affecting their future growth.‖ The report said ―Evolving global demand and geopolitical relations driving new avenues and growth for Indian rice exporters.‖
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It said that the fresh markets are also opening for Indian rice exporters, with China being touted as a major opportunity. However, Drip Capital‘s research shows exporters will start seeing benefits from Chinese trade only in the long-term. According to the findings of report, India exported 26.3% of the world‘s total rice exports, valued at US$5.5 billion, in 2017 alone. The country also has a massive competitive advantage in the international rice trade, it added. The report further pointed that the current decline in rice exports over the last few months is part of a regular annual cycle. It said ―Overall export volumes of rice have also improved compared to last year- by end of Q3 2017, there had been 58,736 shipments, valued at US$5.8 billion; the calendar year 2017 saw 78,300 rice export shipments overall, valued at US$7.39 billion.‖ In comparison, by the end of September (Q3) 2018, 62,112 shipments had been logged, with a value of US$6.875 billion, report added. Thus, there seems to be little need for panic, as demand and export volumes should continue rising into 2019. Further, report highlighted that the Punjab is top rice exporter, contributing over 30% of country‘s exports. Exports to Bangladesh have seen stellar growth, despite a slump in April-September this year; overall shipments to Bangladesh in the first three quarters have grown $91.7 million year-onyear, said report. Based on heavy increases in demand, the research report also suggests six other potential market opportunities for Indian exporters – Qatar, Yemen, Israel, the Philippines, Kenya, and Ukraine. Rice is the most widely consumed staple food in the world and the third-most-produced agriculture commodity in the world (over 740 million tonnes as of 2016). One of the rice exporter from Mumbai said ―India, as an agricultural country, is getting more educated [sic], as farmers are starting to grow products specifically aimed to meet consumption patterns and tastes of different markets.‖ He said that the Chinese rice tastes are very different given their preference for sticky rice, but with the potential for more trade in the future, there is a possibility farmers will start growing those varieties to meet demand. Hence, China could pan out as a viable export market, but only in the long term, he added.
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Co-founder and Co-CEO, Drip Capital, Pushkar Mukewar, added, ―As per Drip Capital data, the top 100 rice exporters from India have exported shipments worth over $183 million so far in this quarter (as of November 2018).‖ As the annual seasonal demand from the Middle East picks up, and more non-basmati rice gets shipped to China, Indian rice exporters can expect business to pick up in the coming months, he added. However, he said that the exporters are unlikely to see the due benefits from this increased opportunity if they are unable to access the credit they need to finance their workings. Drip Capital is a US-based trade finance company, leveraging technology to provide collateralfree post-shipment finance to SME exporters with instant approvals and minimal documentation. https://knnindia.co.in/news/newsdetails/knowledge-resource/evolving-global-demandgeopolitical-relations-driving-new-avenues-for-indian-rice-exporters-report
Rice industry aims to boost China sales TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The Japanese public and private sectors are redoubling their efforts to sell Japan-made rice to China. Teaming up with Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture-based rice wholesaler Shinmei Co. and other parties, the agriculture ministry is promoting a campaign to encourage Japanese companies operating in China to present Japanese rice to clients and employees ahead of Chinese New Year next February. The rice brands covered by the campaign include Koshihikari from Toyama and Kyoto prefectures and Nanatsuboshi from Hokkaido. For the campaign, a Japanese-style package featuring the color red to celebrate the turn of the lunar year is available. On Dec. 1, Zensho Holdings Co. launched 12 types of gyudon beef-on-rice bowl using Japanese rice at 216 Sukiya chain restaurants in Shanghai. The special gyudon menu, which is available for about a month and costs 50 percent more than gyudon using Chinese rice, is attracting local customers, the company said. House Foods Group Inc. is holding sales events that allow Chinese consumers to try just-cooked Japanese rice and curry using its Java Curry roux at supermarkets and department stores. Japanese rice producers as well as the ministry hope to expand rice exports amid a decline in consumption at home. http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0005443649
Scientists fight ‘biopiracy’ with genetic data By Chris Arsenault / Thomson Reuters Foundation, TORONTO In a bid to stop ―biopiracy,‖ researchers are building a giant database to catalogue genetic material from the world‘s largest rainforest.
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From the rubber in car tires, to cosmetics and medicines, genetic material contained in the Amazon region has contributed to discoveries worth billions of US dollars. However, communities living there have rarely benefited from the genetic wealth extracted from their land — a form of theft that legal experts call ―biopiracy.‖ Forest communities often remain impoverished, which can drive them to find other ways to make money, such as illegal logging, said Dominic Waughray, who heads the Amazon Bank of Codes project for the World Economic Forum. ―At the heart of the conservation debate is: How do you find a way for a person in the forest to get more cash in their hand right now from preserving that habitat rather than cutting it down?‖ Waughray said. One solution involves compelling investors to pay royalties to local communities when using genetic sequences from organisms extracted from the forest, he said. The Amazon Bank of Codes would facilitate those payments. Yet those genetic sequences first need to be mapped and stored online, which is what the project backers aim to do as early as 2020. The Amazon is home to 10 percent of all known species on Earth, the WWF says. That makes the region vulnerable to biopiracy, which is the unlawful appropriation or commercial use of biological materials native to a particular country without providing fair financial compensation to its people or government. ―The history of biopiracy runs deep in the Amazon basin,‖ Waughray said, citing early colonialists taking rubber trees from the region to create lucrative plantations in Malaysia. In a more recent case, Brazilian prosecutors launched an investigation into a California-based company earlier this year, accusing it of using genetic components of the tropical acai berry in its nutritional supplements without paying for them. In India, attempts to patent products such as basmati rice and properties of turmeric for medical use have sparked protests. ―The phenomenon has given rise to a huge outcry to have a more ethical approach to the use of biological resources,‖ said Ikechi Mgbeoji, a professor of intellectual property law at Toronto‘s York University. Internationally, the Nagoya Protocol, which came into force in 2014, governs how companies and researchers should equitably share benefits from genetic material, UN Convention on Biological Diversity official Valerie Normand said.
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The agreement was ―implemented precisely because developing countries, which are largely hot spots for biodiversity, were concerned about the misappropriation of their genetic resources,‖ Normand said. The Amazon Bank of Codes would use blockchain — decentralized digital technology allowing users to track the origins and transfers of information — to catalogue specific pieces of genetic material. If a company or researcher wanted to use a piece of genetic code for a new medicine, study or product, they could access the bank and see exactly where in the Amazon it came from, Waughray said. Governments, indigenous groups, non-governmental organizations and others are discussing how the fees paid to use a genetic sequence would be distributed, Waughray said. However, critics worry the project could actually make it easier for companies to steal genetic material. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2018/12/27/2003706840
Rice Commission to hold grower meetings
By Jake Abbott / jabbott@appealdemocrat.com
Dec 26, 2018
The California Rice Commission organizes annual grower meetings to update rice farmers on the biggest issues facing the industry each year. Next year‘s meetings will be on the same day in January in Yuba City and Colusa. ―Farming today involves so much more than what‘s happening in the field. This meeting is a great way for rice industry members to find out the latest on key issues affecting our industry,‖ said Jim Morris, communications manager for the California Rice Commission. ―We will have experts covering water, international trade, the Farm Bill and activities at the State Capitol.‖ The meetings will be on Jan. 24. The first meeting will be at the Colusa Casino Resort Community Center in Colusa from 8:30-11:30 a.m. The second meeting will be at Hillcrest Plaza Room (201 Julie Drive, Yuba City) between 1-4 p.m.
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Speakers will include Tyson Redpath of The Russel Group and Louie Brown of Kahn, Soares and Conway, who will provide updates from Washington, D.C. and the State Capitol. There will also be presentations from David Guy, president of the Northern California Water Association, on water issues and Sarah Moran, vice president international for USA Rice, on international promotions opportunities. Doors will open 30 minutes before each meeting begins. https://www.appeal-democrat.com/glenn_county_transcript/rice-commission-to-hold-growermeetings/article_ee433290-07d2-11e9-8a14-13305f2416ad.html
S.Korea buys 120,889 T of rice for March-May arrival DECEMBER 26, 2018 / 12:14 PM /
SEOUL, Dec 26 (Reuters) - South Korea bought 120,889 tonnes of non-glutinous rice for arrival between March and May 2019 via tenders that closed on Friday, state-run Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp said on its website. (www.at.or.kr) Details for the purchased products are as follows: TONNES(M/T) GRAIN TYPE PRICE($/T) ORIGIN/SUPPLIER 20,000 Brown Medium 872.00 U.S./Philasun Co. Ltd 20,000 Brown Medium 853.20 CHINA/Posco Daewoo Corp 15,000 Brown Medium 874.00 CHINA/Sing Song Co. Ltd 11,111 Brown Medium 829.00 U.S./Philasun Co. Ltd 10,000 Milled Medium 975.00 U.S./The Ground Korea 10,000 Milled Medium 962.69 U.S./Sing Song Co. Ltd 10,000 Milled Medium 962.00 U.S./Philasun Co. Ltd 8,889 Brown Medium 829.00 U.S./Philasun Co. Ltd 8,889 Brown long 812.00 U.S./Philasun Co. Ltd 7,000 Milled Medium 963.09 U.S./Sing Song Co. Ltd (Reporting by Wonil Lee; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu) https://www.reuters.com/article/southkorea-rice-tender/skorea-buys-120889-t-of-rice-for-marchmay-arrival-idUSL3N1YV1RA
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Emmanuel Piñol: No rice shortage; supply good for 8 months
Agriculture Secretary and National Food Authority Council chairman Emmanuel Piñol said the P27 per kilo rice being sold by NFA will last until September 2019 following the arrival of imported rice during the last quarter of the year. Louise Maureen Simeon (The Philippine Star) - December 27, 2018 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — Local consumers are assured that there will be no shortage of cheap rice at the onset of the New Year after the government maintained that supply of subsidized rice is good for the next eight months. Agriculture Secretary and National Food Authority Council chairman Emmanuel Piñol said the P27 per kilo rice being sold by NFA will last until September 2019 following the arrival of imported rice during the last quarter of the year. ―There will be no repeat of this year‘s mistake when the NFA rice stocks sold at P27 in the market were depleted because of delayed importation resulting in speculation, which sent rice prices soaring,‖ he said.
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Instructed by President Duterte to flood the market and in preparation for lean months and any possible calamity, NFA has established a stock inventory of 750,000 metric tons of imported rice to ensure an eight-month supply at 10 percent market participation. This after several batches of bidding happened starting October coupled with the procurement of local palay at a higher price. ―The approval by the NFA Council of the importation before the end of the year has assured that the market will not see a repeat of what happened earlier this year,‖ Piñol said. By the end of the year, the Philippines will have a 134-day buffer stock of rice in the warehouses of both the NFA and private traders, and in household storage facilities. The country currently produces 93 percent of the national rice requirement and this is expected to increase to up to 95 percent once the tariffication law is enacted. At the start of 2018, prices of commercial rice started to rise, reaching a high of P60 per kilo in the middle of the year after NFA itself announced that its stocks had been wiped out. NFA rice, which is bought by at least 10 percent of the Filipino population, serves as stabilizer to avoid jacking up of prices of commercial rice in the market. The conflict resulted from the disagreement of then NFA Council head Leoncio Evasco and the NFA management as to the timing and mode of procurement. ―By the time the NFA imported rice arrived, prices in the market had already reached the P60 per kilo level,‖ Piñol said. With the return of the NFA to the DA, the NFA Council implemented suggested retail price, which set a cap on the prices of rice. Duterte also issued an executive order easing the process for importation, which allowed the faster entry of imported rice, thereby stabilizing price and supply in the markets.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/12/27/1880175/emmanuel-piol-no-rice-shortagesupply-good-8-months#mUa8aKSS6Tgf54xf.99
Rice is no longer considered to be simply a staple food. It has become more like a luxury ingredient Dec. 26 05:30 am JST
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Toyozo Nishijima, owner of Suzunobu, a rice shop in Meguro Ward, Tokyo, that sells about 60 kinds of rice from around the country. He says customers often shop as if they were buying sake or wine, buying small quantities of different brands, according to the store. https://japantoday.com/category/quote-of-the-day/rice-is-no-longer-considered-to-be-simply-a-staplefood.-it-has-become-more-like-a-luxury-ingredient.
Dong Thap’s rice output reaches over 3.3 million tonnes VNA WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2018 - 15:29:00
Rice production in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap in 2018 rose 120,000 tonnes to 3.32 million tonnes. (Photo: VNA)
Dong Thap (VNA) – Despite a reduction of more than 17,000 hectares in cultivating land, rice production in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap in 2018 rose 120,000 tonnes compared to the previous year to 3.32 million tonnes. High-quality rice varieties like OM 4900 and OM 6976 were grown in a combined 520,379 hectares this year, 469 hectares of which followed VietGAP standards. Total rice production is valued at 15.37 trillion VND (661.3 million USD), an increase of 562 billion VND (24.1 million USD) against 2017.
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Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Van Cong attributed the good yield to advanced technology application in rice cultivation which helps reduce input costs and improve production efficiency. Under the province‘s agricultural restructuring project, organic rice farming is piloted in an area of 800 hectares while rice value chain has been set up to help increase local peasants‘ profit by up to 4 million VND (172 USD) per hectare per crop. Particularly, some 90 companies signed contracts with the province to buy more than 293,000 tonnes of rice. Cong said that in 2019, the province will continue paying attention to improving rice quality and enhancing the use of machines in rice farming. Also, it will work to switch from agricultural production to agricultural economy.-VNA https://en.vietnamplus.vn/dong-thaps-ric e-output-reaches-over-33-million-tonnes/144189.vnp
Chinese to invest in Kingdom‘s rice Cheng Sokhorng | Publication date 24 December 2018 | 11:38 ICT
Employees use a forklift to stack pallets of rice at a storage and processing plant on the outskirts of Phnom Penh in 2015. Heng Chivoan
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China‘s Henan Yuguang International Economic and Technical Cooperation Co Ltd (HYIETC) has expressed interest in investing in the Kingdom‘s rice facilities – a move welcomed by the government and the rice industry. During a meeting with Minister of Commerce Pan Sorasak on Friday, HYIETC‘s board director unveiled a plan to build one million tonne rice storage facilities. If realised, the project will have the capacity to dry 100,000 tonnes of paddy rice per day, boosting Cambodia‘s rice exports to 500,000 tonnes per year. The ministry welcomed the project, saying it will boost the Kingdom‘s milled rice exports and reduce the outflow of paddy rice to neighbouring countries, while the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) claimed the new facilities will be essential for the Kingdom‘s rice industry. The minister encouraged HYIETC to work with state-owned Green Trade Company to further research the plan and gauge construction costs. Demand not met CRF vice-president Hun Lak said current rice facilities are insufficient to keep pace with Cambodia‘s increasing production, adding that the sector can currently produce up to nine million tonnes of paddy rice per year. ―It is a very good opportunity for investors as our rice facilities still do not meet demand . . . Rice facilities should have a clear mechanism for serving farmers and rice millers in order to receive mutual benefit.‖ Hun Lak said rice facilities should provide better options for small rice millers, such as lower rental costs for storage or drying machines. With government support, via the state-run Rural Development Bank (RDB), the rice industry has received $15 million to construct facilities in Kampong Thom, Prey Veng and Takeo provinces. Each facility will have a storage capacity of 500,000 tonnes of paddy rice and will be able to dry 1,500 tonnes of rice daily. Last year, the RDB awarded a $15 million low-interest loan to Thanakea Srov (Kampuchea) Plc, the operator of the Cambodian Rice Bank, to expand its rice storage warehouse in Battambang province and develop the country‘s first privately-owned centralised storage facility. The facility opened on July 3 and has a 200,000 tonne storage capacity for wet paddy rice and processes 3,000 tonnes of paddy rice daily.
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In the middle of this year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries launched a rice storage facility funded by the Korean government in Kampong Cham province‘s Batheay district. Costing $2.8 million, the facility can dry 80 tonnes of rice per day and store 600 tonnes. https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/chinese-invest-kingdoms-rice
Afraid of potential EU tariffs, exporters and millers buy less rice Sok Chan / Khmer Times
A worker carries a sack of rice in a warehouse in Phnom Penh. KT/Chor Sokunthea Local rice exporter and millers will buy significantly less paddy rice this year as they await the European Union‘s final decision on whether or not to impose tariffs on Cambodian rice, industry insiders say. Chan Sokheang, chairman and CEO of Signatures of Asia, told Khmer Times that his company will purchase between 25,000 to 30,000 tonnes of organic and fragrant paddy rice from Cambodian farmers from now until April, a sharp decrease from previous years, when it bought between 40,000 to 45,000 over the same months. He said his firm is not the only one reluctant to buy as per usual, with many exporters and rice millers fearing the effect on the market of an EU decision to activate the safeguard clause that would enable bloc members to tax Cambodia‘s and Myanmar‘s rice. ―We don‘t know what to do with regards to exporting rice to the EU,‖ he said. ―We don‘t know whether they will impose the tariffs on our rice or not. We don‘t know how to prepare for this scenario,‖ Mr Sokheang said. ―Sales thus far are normal, but we are not purchasing paddy as before. Last year, we bought a lot of paddy rice for processing, as we rely mainly on the EU and the Chinese market, but now we don‘t know what‘s happening with the European market, so we are hesitant about buying too much. ―On top of that, some commercial banks have cut lending to rice exporters by about 60 percent,‖ he said, adding that, ―All rice millers and rice exporters are facing the same issues, so it affects the whole production and value chain.‖ In March, the European Commission launched an investigation to see if imports of semi-milled and milled Indica rice from Cambodia and Myanmar resulted in serious difficulties to EU producers of similar or competing products. On December 4, a vote on whether to impose tariffs on Cambodian and Burmese rice was held, with EU members failing to come to a consensus. As a result, the European Commission was task with issuing a final decision on the subject by early next month.
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The EU is looking at imposing tariffs over the next three years: 175 euros ($199.5) per ton during the first year, 150 euros ($171) in the second year, and 125 euros ($142.5) in the last. CRF secretary-general Moul Sarith told Khmer Times that Cambodian exports of milled rice will experience a significant drop in 2018 due to this issue. ―From October to December, rice exports, particularly to the EU, will drop because exporters are waiting on the EC‘s decision. ―Our exporters are reluctant to buy rice until they hear the decision,‖ Mr Sarith said. ―We ask the EC to consider their decision carefully, and call on our members to continue exporting and strengthening the quality of our paddy rice,‖ he added. Kann Kunthy, vice president and managing director of Amru Rice, posted on his Facebook profile that rice exports in 2018 will amount to just 560,000 tonnes, a 12 percent drop compared to last year. He blamed the decrease on the potential EU‘s tariffs as well as Vietnam‘s decision to put more stringent customs measures in place for transshipments that go through Vietnamese ports. From January to November this year, China bought 137,866 tonnes of Cambodian rice, making it the biggest buyer. It was followed by France (73,669 tonnes), Malaysia (37,289 tonnes), Gabon (25,335 tonnes), and the Netherlands (23,643 tonnes), according to data from the Secretariat of One Window Service for Rice Export Formality. https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50562845/afraid-of-potential-eu-tariffs-exporters-and-millers-buy-lessrice/
We can Grow Rice Says Minister
We Can Grow Our Own Rice, Says Minister Minister For Agriculture And Livestock, Benny Allan And Philippines Ambassador Dr Bien Tejano Witnessed The First Harvest Of Rice At The Pacific Adventist University Last Friday.
December 24, 2018 Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Benny Allan and Philippines Ambassador Dr Bien Tejano witnessed the first harvest of rice at the Pacific Adventist University last Friday. While most people were rushing to do last minute Christmas shopping, Mr Allan, Dr Tejano, staff, and reporters were at the rice demonstration farm. Amb Tejano operated the rice harvester with Mr Allan standing observed, to the delight of those present. Both men then assisted in filling up the bags with the harvested rice. Dr Tejano said the rice harvest from the demonstration farm as more than what was expected and was confident the project will become successful. After the brief rice harvest demonstration, both Mr Allan and Dr Tejano declared that PNG can grow its own rice and even export to overseas markets.
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‗We can grow rice, we are proving that here at PAU. We will eventually move into large scale commercial rice production,‖ said Mr Allan. ―It‘s now proven you have your own locally grown rice,‖ said Dr Tejano. Both men thanked the Prime Minister Peter O‘Neill for initially discussing the rice project with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte and following up with the signing of an agreement. Most recent signing of another agreement for commercial rice farming involving investors was done during the APEC Leader‘s Summit between Mr Allan and his Philippines counterpart Emanuel Pinol.Mr Allan thanked all the stakeholders and partners in both government and private sector and the PAU for their cooperation in making the rice demo farm a success. He said 25 hectares of land has been planted with rice and the objective was to conduct hands on training for village farmers as well as encourage rice seedlings for distribution.He said PNG is seriously looking at growing its own rice for domestic consumption and eventually the surplus will be exported to countries like the Philippines. He said the aim was to improve food security and rice was becoming a staple food for many householdes throughout the country.Mr Allan also announced that Cabinet has approved K8 million to be used in funding the current rice demo project and to boost its expansion to other provinces. https://postcourier.com.pg/can-grow-rice-says-minister/
India rice rates hit more than three-month high, Chinese rules weigh on Vietnam Posted by Edward Rupert on December 25, 2018 at 2:39 pm Rice export prices in India rose to their highest in more than three months as a key producing region hiked procurement rates for domestic paddy. Top exporter India‘s 5 percent broken parboiled variety was quoted at $375-$382 per tonne this week, the highest since Sept. 7. The central state of Chhattisgarh, a leading rice producer, raised the minimum paddy buying price to 2,500 rupees per 100 kg, from 1,750 rupees earlier this week.―Importers are not ready to pay a higher price. Exports are likely to slow down in coming months,‖ said an exporter based at Kakinada, in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
Prices of Vietnam‘s 5 percent broken rice declined for the fifth straight week to $385 a tonne as activity remained muted, traders said.―Prices fell further because we are concerned that China‘s move to impose stricter conditions on Vietnamese rice will have a long-term impact,‖ a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said.
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―It‘s not clear if China is buying more from Cambodia and Myanmar to compensate for the possible declining shipments from Vietnam.‖Another trader said supplies from Vietnam will increase from late next month when the winter-spring harvest begins. In Thailand, benchmark 5 percent broken rice prices were quoted at $390-$391 per tonne, free on board Bangkok, versus $385-$393 a week ago, as the market is expected to remain quiet until well after the New Year period. ―This is a reasonable level as we‘re nearing the end of the year. There is not much overseas activity and we‘re also in the harvesting season,‖ a Bangkok-based trader said.Meanwhile, Bangladesh, which emerged as a major importer of rice in 2017 due to stock depletion following floods, has stepped up efforts to procure more rice locally after output of the staple grain improved, a food ministry official said.
―The response from farmers is very good and the procurement drive will be continued,‖ the official said.The country‘s production for 2018/19 is expected to recover to 34.7 million tonnes, up 6.3 percent year-on-year, according to estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture attaché in Bangladesh. The South Asian country has procured more than 1.3 million tonnes of rice locally so far in the current season to build state reserves. https://moveefy.com/2018/12/25/india-rice-rates-hit-more-than-three-month-high-chinese-rules-weighon-vietnam/
Nigeria Will Stop Importing Rice In 2019 – Osinbajo 25th December 2018 By Oladipo Abiola
FG Boosts Local Food Production Through Anchor Borrowers Programme Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has declared that by next year, Nigeria will stop importing rice as there will be enough local production to cater for the need of Nigerians. Osinbajo made the submission on Sunday at the palace of Musa Dogonkadai, the Seriki of the Hausa community in Agege, Lagos as confirmed by Mr. Laolu Akande, his senior special assistant on media and publicity. The Vice President added that the federal government, through its anchor borrowers programme, had made soft loans available to over 760,000 farmers to produce rice, millet and sorghum.
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This Osinbajo said, is in line with the federal government‘s efforts in improving the welfare of
all Nigerians.
“Look at what is happening in the north now because of the Anchor Borrowers Programme. We gave many of the farmers, over 760,000 farmers, soft loans. So, now they are producing rice, producing millet, producing sorghum,” Osinbajo said. “We are not importing rice now. We are bringing rice from Kebbi, from Sokoto, from all over the country. By next year, we will not import rice. All our rice will be produced here. When you do that farmers will be rich. Farmers in other countries they are rich people. They are not poor. I’ve been to a country where farmers own airplanes. Why? Because their leaders are not thieves. Their leaders help them so that they can farm; they can expand their farms and they can earn money. “I went to speak to them in Kebbi. Two of the farmers came to me and said, since this our government (came into power), they have been doing very well. One of them said, “now I have my money, I can pay for my hajj.” Another one even told me that he has married a second wife and I said no, no. I said don’t do that because one wife is enough. He said since he is getting some money be can marry a second wife “But the truth of the matter is that there is enough money for us in this country. I believe that we must give President Muhammadu Buhari enough votes to lead this country for four more years. If he leads this country for four more years, you will see the difference.” https://www.naijanews.com/2018/12/25/nigeria-will-stop-importing-rice-in-2019-osinbajo/
Rice research responding to climate change The Rice Research Centre is accelerating efforts to improve the efficiency of the current rice breeding and testing programme for farmers‘ use in response to climate change. Deputy
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Director of the Centre under the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Instit ute (NAFRI), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr Phetmanyseng Xangsayasane, talked about the developments at a recent workshop on the protection of plant varieties. Dr Phetmanyseng explained that climate change directly affects rice production world wide, including Laos, and causes national rice production to fluctuate by 20 to 30 percent. In some years, early drought occurs followed by floods while in other years floods occur followed by a prolonged dry spell. This year, floods destroyed rice fields which led to production losses of up to 40 percent while dry weather also affected yields with losses to late maturity varieties of up to 20 percent. Insect pests (brown and green leafhoppers) and disease (blast and bacterial leaf blight) which also damage rice plants have been observed with more frequency. Dr Phetmanyseng said that since 2007, NAFRI has set up a rice breeding programme to develop new climate resilient rice varieties that are expected to alleviate production losses. The programme breeds rice varieties for submergence tolerance, drought tolerance, aerobic varieties, direct seeding, and species that are lodging resistant, suitable for mechanised harvesting and are shatter resistant. Dr Phetmanyseng added that since 1991, the rice breeding programme has imported 1,127 of the F2 population from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Thai -IRRI. Since 1993, the programme has released a total of 37 varieties. ―The Centre will continue cooperation with development partners to improve rice breeding to expand varieties aimed at improving quality in line with internationally accepted standards and Laos‘ rice seed conservation,‖ the Rice Research Centre official added. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said rice producers needed to i mprove production at various stages to achieve the standards required for export, including the field environment, technical systems, mechanisation, and certification. Environmental experts predict that climate change will bring increasingly severe drough t and flood conditions to Laos, with crop yields possibly falling 10 percent by 2020 and 30 percent by 2050.http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/freeContent/FreeConten_rice_303.php
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