27th july ,2017 daily global regional & local rice e newsletter

Daily Global Rice

E-Newsletter

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July 27,2017 Vol 8 Issue VII

Today Rice News Headlines...  Global Rice Milling Machinery Market Market and Investment Analysis by 2022  Russian team, LCCI to make joint efforts for enhancing trade  Sino-Pak rice research centre opened at ICCBS  Traders seek to recoup losses on K5 billion in seized rice  Locally milled rice to be released to the market soon  Cut GST on rice mill machinery, demand makers  25K traders to get GST registration  Customs seize truck load of rice hidden in manure  Customs Impounds Truck Load Of Rice In Katsina  Investors grapple with Indonesian rice scandal  India discussing rice exports issue with EU: Commerce Secretary  UPDATE 1-Indonesia probes rice trade as food company denies breaching rules  ‘Infinity and beyond’ for the home of rice  U.S. rice exports to China yet to go through legal procedures  By Special to The Commercial  Philippines boosts rice stockpile  Asean firms win bid to supply rice to Philippines  India and EU discuss rice exports issue  BD issues another tender to buy rice  Finer rice yet to budge from high despite decrease in paddy prices  Mekong Delta authorities warn about excessive rice stock  Enhancing nutrition in eastern India through gastronomic systems research  Monsoon in India hits West Bengal paddy crop hard as seeds get washed away  US rice not ready for entering Chinese market, despite recent deal, China says  Nigeria: Rice Importation Down By 80% - Osinbajo  USA Rice Success Stories Make the Case for MAP and FMD Funding  EDITORIAL: Time to Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com fix the rice trade Online Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com Monitor Latest Updates on www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com

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 U.S. rice not ready for entering Chinese market, despite recent deal, China says  USDA’s Nathan Childs to discuss world rice trade outlook in UA Webinar  RDA boosts agricultural cooperation with Africa  Following actor Kumail Nanjiani’s rules to good biryani: review  Rajkot Foodgrain Prices- July 26, 2017  Companies take too much profit from rice  Vietnam-Australia rice cooperation in fine shape  Thailand freezes former PM Yingluck’s bank accounts in rice subsidy case  Thailand freezes former PM Yingluck’s bank accounts in rice subsidy case  Nigeria: Rice Importation Down By 80% - Osinbajo  At Clay Handi, Pakistani-Indian curries to favor

News Detail...

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Major Points From The Table Of Contents: Major Points From The Table Of Contents: Chapter One: Industry Overview of Rice Milling Machinery Chapter Two: Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Rice Milling Machinery Chapter Three: Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Rice Milling Machinery Chapter Four: Global Rice Milling Machinery Overall Market Overview Chapter Five: Rice Milling Machinery Regional Market Analysis Chapter Six: Global 2011-2016E Rice Milling Machinery Segment Market Analysis (by Type) Chapter Seven: Global 2011-2016E Rice Milling Machinery Segment Market Analysis (by Application) Chapter Eight: Major Manufacturers Analysis of Rice Milling Machinery Chapter Nine: Development Trend of Analysis of Market Chapter Ten: Rice Milling Machinery Marketing Model Analysis Chapter Eleven: Consumers Analysis of Rice Milling Machinery Chapter Twelve: New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis of Rice Milling Machinery About Us: Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization.

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Russian team, LCCI to make joint efforts for enhancing trade LAHORE: A two-member Russian delegation visited the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Wednesday where they agreed to make joint efforts for enhancing the trade volume and cementing the economic and diplomatic relations between the two countries.Members of the delegation, Igor Kolesov and Elena M Kholod had a detailed discussion with the LCCI president Abdul Basit on trade and economic issues. The LCCI president invited the Russian businessmen to explore the untapped Pakistani market, and said both countries should take sector specific measures to enhance mutual trade, which does not reflect the existing potential.

He said there were brighter chances for joint ventures in sectors like food processing, oil, gas and mineral exploration, energy, engineering transport equipments, automobiles, tractors, harvesters, machine tools, cement, fertilisers, industrial chemicals, plastic and rubber products, home appliances, etc. ―Being an emerging economic power, Pakistan can be the most important and beneficial partner of Russia in South Asia,‖ the LCCI chief said, and expressed hope that both Pakistani and Russian businessmen would enter into joint ventures to take bilateral trade to new heights with a little sector specific effort.He said Pakistani businessmen could learn a lot from Russians for technological up gradation of their industrial units. Abdul Basit said Pakistanis were grateful to

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the Russian Federation for helping establish a mega steel mill in Karachi, which has played a crucial role in the development of the country.

The LCCI president said Pakistan‘s share in total foreign trade of Russia was very insignificant while trade balance was also in the favour of Russia. He said though bilateral trade between the two countries was increasing gradually, it was not satisfactory. He said the Russian Federation was a market of great importance with its massive population together with neighbouring countries. ―Pakistan can export textile, garments, rice, leather, sports goods, surgical equipments, and pharmaceuticals to the Russian market, while Russia can enhance export of power equipment, steel, urea, chemicals, etc, to Pakistan,‖ he added.He said oil and gas sector in Pakistan offered great opportunities to Russia which has the requisite experience and technology in this field.―Russia can evaluate the possibilities of collaboration with Pakistan for mining of marble and granite as well,‖ the LCCI chief added. https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/219139-Russian-team-LCCI-to-make-joint-efforts-forenhancing-trade

Sino-Pak rice research centre opened at ICCBS

APP

KARACHI - Vice Chancellor University of Karachi Prof Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan on Wednesday inaugurated the Sino-Pakistan Hybrid Rice Research Center (SPHRRC) at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi.

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The Sino-Pakistan center was set up at a cost of Rs.150 million in the premises of the country's leading research establishment of ICCBS. The research center has state-of-the-art research facilities, including NMR Spectroscopes, Plant Tissue Culture Technology, genomics, and green houses etc.

The ceremony was well attended by ICCBS Patron-in-Chief and former Chairman Higher Education Commission Pakistan Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, Wang Yu, Consul General of China in Karachi, Director General China National Rice Research Institute (CNRRI) of Hangzhou China, Prof. Dr. Cheng Shihua, and Director ICCBS Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of SPHRRC, held at the Prof Salimuzzaman Siddiqui Auditorium, ICCBS, the Karachi University Vice-Chancellor said that Pakistan needed to make a massive investment in science and technology for a long period to entertain the desired progress.

Substantial development of any country or nation is associated with the true commitment of its leadership and enormous investment, he maintained.

China is an excellent example, which made an unbelievable progress in a limited time, Dr. Khan said, adding that true promise and vision of Chinese leadership, and huge investment got China on the top among the developed countries.

Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, in his speech, said that Pakistan has 100 million young people (below the age of 20) in her total population, which needs to be educated and trained. He pointed out that natural resources have lost their importance and been replaced by quality human resources that contribute towards high-tech industrial development.

He observed that for any country there were four pillars of progress, including high quality education, science & technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, and vision and strategy of leadership.

The Chinese Consul General said that Pakistan was famous for its high quality rice, while China was great importer of high quality Pakistani rice. Talking about the hybrid rice center, he said that ICCBS owned highly qualified scholars and state-of-the-art research equipment. He said the opening of this research center was a very significant event, which shows the deep roots of PakChina bilateral relations.

Prof Iqbal Choudhary said that today's event was another landmark in the long and exemplary relationship between the two neighboring countries. The SPHRRC will work on the development

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of novel varieties of rice by using state of the art hybrid and genetic technologies, he said, adding that Pakistan was among the largest producers of rice in the world. However, despite its tremendous potential, the export of Pakistani rice has decreased over the years due to low yields, and high cost of production, he added.

The biggest challenge is to increase the production of high quality rice for the local and foreign market; through this new center, the ICCBS and CNRRI intend to contribute in this field of strategic importance, he said.

Prof Cheng Shihua said that Pakistan was an important strategic partner of China. He pointed out that food security is a common issue for both countries. Pakistan's local rice varieties possess exceptional grain size, taste and aroma. Through collaboration with advanced technology of China more new rice varieties will also be developed, he said http://nation.com.pk/business/27-Jul-2017/sino-pak-rice-research-centre-opened-at-iccbs

Traders seek to recoup losses on K5 billion in seized rice

By Khin Su Wai | Thursday, 27 July 2017

Myanmar rice traders are seeking the recoup of K5 billion worth of rice they say was seized by China last month in a bust that also resulted in the arrest of their trading partner, Ma Nan Aye Lu. About 50 rice traders from Mandalay Region and Katha, Banmauk, Htigyaing and Kawlin townships in Sagaing Region said their partner‘s detention for the past two months has hurt their business.

Their meeting at the Banmauk rice traders association office on Wednesday was attended by National League for Democracy MPs from Banmauk. U Aung Thein, who represents Banmauk in the Pyithu Hluttaw, told the meeting that for the sake of good bilateral relations, China should follow the example of Myanmar, which set free within eight days Chinese who were detained for smuggling timber in 400 vehicles.

U Mike, a rice trader from Mandalay, said he lost 640,500 yuan (K130 million) in missed rice exports to China due to Ma Nan Aye Lu‘s arrest. ―Twenty-six rice traders from Banmauk have suffered losses. Mandalay has three. U Aung Thein told the rice traders that the NLD will try its best to free Sai Aiak Thar and Ma Nan Aye Lu.

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They will report the case to State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi through the Kachin State Hluttaw chairman, who was at the meeting,‖ he said.

Ma Nan Aye Lu was detained by Chinese authorities when she passed through Muse border crossing in Shan State on June 11. The Chinese bust was aimed at 27 gangs suspected of smuggling about 300,000 tonnes of rice from Myanmar and Vietnam, according to a statement

by China‘s General Administration of Customs (GAC). The GAC on June 12 dispatched over 400 police officers to more than 20 locations in Chongqing municipality and the provinces of Yunnan, Guangdong, Hubei and Shaanxi in a crackdown on rice smuggling, according to Xinhua News Agency, and seized an estimated 300,000 tonnes of smuggled rice worth about 1.25 billion yuan (US$184 million/K252.2 billion). Preliminary investigations showed that since 2014, the gangs had purchased rice in Myanmar and Vietnam before smuggling it across the borders into Yunnan and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, according to the GAC. ―She was detained for suspected gambling. We have known Ma Nan Aye Lu for 10 to 15 years.

She is honest. She is ethnic Shan and works for money-delivery services as well as the China rice trade,‖ he said.

U Mike denied a rumour that Ma Nan Aye Lu holds identification cards for China as well as Myanmar. ―She has a Myanmar ID only,‖ he said. ―We could recover 30-45 percent of our losses, according to the Banmauk rice association. If Ma Nan Aye Lu is freed, she could collect payment for the rice from the traders in China,‖ U Mike said.

The rice price declined by K30,000 per tonne soon after the bust in June, and the rice trade almost stopped in the border area. ―Small-scale traders also suffered losses. We can stand the loss, but some small-scale traders have to repay loans. The impact is being felt by rice millers and rice farmers,‖ he said.

According to Myanmar traders, Chinese border officials began seizing cargo from nearly every truck, launching a crackdown three times a year on a trade that had been steadily growing in importance. ―This was a big bust for rice smuggling to China. Merchants in Mandalay and Banmauk, Kawlin and Wuntho in Sagaing lost because of their ties to the smuggler in China. They haven‘t the staff for selling rice in China, so they contacted her,‖ said U Sai Kyaw, secretary of the Rice Merchants Association of Mandalay.

Myanmar has exported rice to China under a quota system since fiscal year 2014-15, but most merchants haven‘t seen any benefits because of a high tax imposed by China. ―The Chinese tax on rice is K8000 on a K20,000 50-kilogram bag. That‘s why traders do not prefer legal shipping. The tax is too high for us,‖ he said.

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U Mike said Myanmar rice traders also pay a 2 percent tax to Myanmar authorities. ―The Chinese know when the rice comes into their region. There are 800 CCTVs at the border gate.

They detain whoever they want.‖ According to export data, roughly 12.2 million tonnes of rice was exported in FY2015-16.

Myanmar‘s rice exports are generally of lower quality than those of its competitors Vietnam, Thailand and Pakistan. However, buyers, particularly in remote Yunnan province, have been willing to pay top dollar for even poor-quality Myanmar rice for use in food processing, so Myanmar‘s rice exports to China have grown since 2011. http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/mandalay-upper-myanmar/26973-tradersseek-to-recoup-losses-on-k5-billion-in-seized-rice.html

Locally milled rice to be released to the market soon Thu, Jul 27, 2017, 09:40 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

July 27, Colombo: A huge quantity of locally milled rice that usually garners strong domestic appeal, is to hit the markets immediately-perhaps as early as next week, Minister of Industries and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen said."Now we have decided to get local paddy stocks to the market as well," the Minister said reviewing the latest rice market status in Colombo with his officials.Minister Bathiudeen said due to rice stocks imported from overseas suppliers, the shortage is ending."Based on the earlier directions of President Maithripala Sirisena and Cost of Living Committee's decision of Tuesday 25 July, the Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE/ Sathosa) under our Ministry will purchase 55,000 MT paddy stock from the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) immediately. This stock will be milled by local millers and CWE's two own mills, and released to Lanka Sathosa."

Accordingly, CWE is to publish public/newspaper notice to millers this week to bid for milling of the 55,000 MT purchased from the PMB. Bulk of the stock to be milled shall be red raw rice and the rest in other varieties. If milling is completed fast, then this local rice, which is in high demand, can come to Lanka Sathosa for consumer purchase as early as first week of next month.CWE officials revealed that in the first six months of 2017, they milled 50,000 MT rice and released to Lanka Sathosa to be sold to domestic consumers. The rice were in many varieties but the bulk of it was red raw. The stocks were milled by CWE mills as well as private sector millers.In Sri Lanka, around 200,000 MT of rice of various types are consumed on a monthly basis http://www.colombopage.com/archive_17B/Jul27_1501128616CH.php

Cut GST on rice mill machinery, demand makers Vijay C Roy Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, July 26 Perturbed over high GST rate on paddy processing machinery, the paddy equipment manufacturers of Punjab will meet on Saturday to discuss future course of action. The manufacturers would request Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal to take the issue to the GST Council meeting which is scheduled on August 5.

The manufacturers are seeking lower taxes under the GST regime. Under the GST, some raw material used in the manufacturing of rice-processing plants is placed under the 18-28 per cent bracket. Prior to the GST regime, it was 6-18 per cent. They also want that input tax credit should also be extended to them like other manufacturers.

There are over 200 rice mill machinery manufacturers in Punjab spread over Rajpura, Moga, Ludhiana, Tarn Taran, Amritsar, etc, and supply units across the country.―There are certain raw materials purchased by us for making rice milling machines being taxed at 18-28 per cent under the GST which were earlier taxed at 6-18 per cent. Moreover, the GST on the sale of processing unit is 5 per cent. This will result in escalation of input cost by 9-10 per cent, thus making the business unviable. Further, under the GST Act, we are not subjected to claim input tax credit as we are classified under end users. We are suppliers to the millers who set up units and not end users. ―said Balbir Singh, general secretary, Rice Mill Machinery Manufacturer Association, Punjab.

According to Balabir Singh, pulley used in a rice processing unit is now being taxed at 28 per cent, which was earlier 6.05 per cent. Similarly, bearing is taxed at 18 per cent (earlier 6.05 per cent) and brackets at 28 per cent(6.05 per cent earlier).―We are going to meet on Saturday to decide future course of action,‖ he added.

Echoing similar sentiments, Balraj Singh, spokesperson for Rajpura-based Vishwakarma Machine Tools ( P) Ltd, said, ―At this juncture, we can‘t pass on the increase in the GST rates to the buyers. This will hit our bottom line. Also, small and medium entrepreneurs will find it difficult to sustain. http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/cut-gst-on-rice-mill-machinery-demand-makers/442742.html

25K traders to get GST registration THE HANS INDIA | Jul 27,2017 , 04:32 AM IST

25K traders to get GST registration Vijayawada: About 25,000 traders whose annual turnover is between Rs 20 lakh to Rs 75 lakh, will fall under the Composition Levy Scheme, must get GST registration by August 16. Traders

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whose turnover is below Rs 20 lakh need not require GST registration and the government also announced date for cancellation of GST registration till September 30. Earlier, rice millers and dal millers were under the purview of tax net.

The State government used to collect the tax from rice millers. Now, both rice millers and dal millers are exempted from the GST. They can cancel their registration before September 30. A senior GST official said on Wednesday, about 25,000 traders will fall under the Composition Levy Scheme in Andhra Pradesh and they must take GST registration by August 16.

Interestingly, traders selling various products must display two MRP stickers on the products, which were packed long ago. With the implementation of GST from July 1, the prices of many products changed. The prices of some products increased and prices of some products fell as per the government norms.The government issued orders to paste two MRP stickers on the products so that the consumers will know the price variation in the pre-GST and post-GST. Departmental stores and big shops, which fall under the Composition Levy Scheme must follow the new rule for one or two months.

Confusion prevailed among traders on sale of old stocks, which have printed MRP details long time ago. So, the government has asked the traders to paste stickers with new MRP prices for the convenience of customers. When the government slashed the prices of many products, why the customers pay high price asked the official.

Meanwhile, traders are gearing up for GST and ordering for new bills which contains the details of State GST, Central GST and IGST. The Central government has divided GST into three categories and collecting taxes. Consequently, the traders are preparing new bills as per the GST needs. http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Andhra-Pradesh/2017-07-27/25K-traders-to-get-GSTregistration/314950

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Customs seize truck load of rice hidden in manure AUTHOR:By Bukola Christiana Adeoye

JULY 25, 2017 SHARE ON FACEBOOKSHARE ON TWITTER

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone B, has arrested a truck-load of rice hidden in animal dung by smugglers in Katsina State on Sunday. Mr Shehu Usman, the Controller in charge of Federal Operations Unit, Zone B, revealed this on Tuesday in Katsina at a conference.

It was gathered that the smugglers concealed the bags of rice in manure to deceive custom personnel.

Read also: Father and Son Boko Haram Terrorists Arrested By Soldiers During Patrol He said that smugglers have devised several means to execute their acts.―The government is serious on rice production in the country; there is the programme on anchor borrowers aimed at improving local rice production in Nigeria.―Local rice is better than the smuggled one, we will do our best to see that such government policies succeed.

Read also: Mother Pays Thugs to Beat Her Childs Teacher, Gets Charged to Court

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―We are serious about preventing these people from smuggling rice into the country.―We are on the lookout and will not relent in our efforts until we drastically reduce smuggling of such items into the country,‘‘ he said.He said that operatives recently arrested over 10 different vehicles which smuggled rice, and encouraged the public to provide them with relevant information to curb smuggling in the country. https://www.naijanews.com/news/15158-customs-seize-truck-load-rice-hidden-manure

Customs Impounds Truck Load Of Rice In Katsina July 25, 2017

Nigeria-Customs-Service The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone B, has arrested a truck-load of rice concealed in animal dung by smugglers in Katsina State.Mr Shehu Usman, the Controller in charge of the zone, made the disclosure at a news conference on Tuesday in Katsina.

He said that the vehicle was arrested on Sunday by customs personnel, adding that the smugglers concealed the bags of rice in manure to deceive the operatives.He said that smugglers have devised many ways to perfect their acts.―The government is serious on rice production in the country; there is the programme on anchor borrowers aimed at improving local rice production in Nigeria.

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―Local rice is better than the smuggled one, we will do our best to see that such government policies succeed.―We are serious about preventing these people from smuggling rice into the country.―We are on the lookout and will not relent in our efforts until we drastically reduce smuggling of such items into the country,‘‘ he said.

He said that operatives recently arrested over 10 different vehicles which smuggled rice, and urged the public to provide them with relevant information to curtail smuggling in the country. https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2017/07/25/customs-impounds-truck-load-rice-katsina/

Investors grapple with Indonesian rice scandal

Tiga Pilar denies fraud accusations after police raid warehouse WATARU SUZUKI and ERWIDA MAULIA, Nikkei staff writers Indonesia's National Police Chief Tito Karnavian, second from left, and Indonesia's Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman, second from right, hold bags of rice after the police raided rice warehouse of PT Indo Beras Unggul in Bekasi, West Java province, Indonesia on July 20. © Reuters

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JAKARTA -- Investors are scrambling to deal with a controversy over Indonesian food producer Tiga Pilar Sejahtera Food after police and government officials confiscated more than 1,000 tons of rice from its warehouse outside Jakarta, accusing the company of inflating prices by falsely labeling inexpensive rice as premium brands.Tiga Pilar -- backed by U.S. private equity firm KKR -- has denied the accusations, claiming that its business practices meet existing regulations and follow industry standards. Still, the case has spooked investors wary of President Joko Widodo's efforts to crack down on volatile food prices. Shares of Tiga Pilar have fallen 26% since the raid last Thursday, giving it a market capitalization stood of around 4 trillion rupiah ($300 million) as of Tuesday.

The police allege that Tiga Pilar's subsidiary Indo Beras Unggul bought subsidized rice from farmers, repackaged it as premium-brand rice and sold it to consumers at a higher price. The labels on the rice products also allegedly displayed false nutritional content. Police chief Tito Karnavian has said the practice has cost tens of billions of dollars in state losses and potentially violates the consumer protection act.

Tiga Pilar shrugged off the allegations in a press conference on Tuesday. Jo Tjong Seng, a spokesman, confirmed that the company buys rice from farmers who may have received subsidized seed and fertilizer from the government. He added, though, that prices are determined "based on market mechanism" that generally tracks a reference rate set by the government. "The rice we buy is the same as what other people buy," he said.Seng added that quality standards that determine price are not set by the variety of rice but "physical parameters," such as the percentage of whole grains, which are processed in the company's rice mills. He also denied allegations of labels understating carbohydrate content. The labels, he said, only display the percentage of the carbohydrate content related to the "recommended dietary allowance" for carbohydrates. Indonesian regulations that require food products to detail nutritional content are not widely applied to rice, Seng said.

At the press conference, however, Tiga Pilar also detailed a strategy to diversify its business, in what seemed like an attempt to distance itself from the rice scandal. The company said it plans to enter the beverage business this year and launch new snack products.Tiga Pilar was established in 1992 by three Indonesian businessmen and initially sold dried noodles. It expanded into the rice business in 2010, and acquired Indo Beras Unggul, which owned rice mills and popular rice brands, in 2011. Rice accounted for around 60% of Tiga Pilar's 2016 revenue of 6.54 trillion rupiah. In its 2016 annual report, the company calls itself the "largest and most modern rice producer in Indonesia," with a production capacity of 480,000 tons.

KKR acquired a 9.5% stake in Tiga Pilar in 2013 and has increased its ownership to around 27%, according to Sjambiri Lioe, chief finance officer.The probe came amid heightened efforts by Indonesian President Joko Widodo to control inflation, which is often caused by volatile food prices and is a major source of frustration among the public.In early May, just a few weeks before the start of Ramadan this year, the government launched the so-called Food Taskforce, an

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ad-hoc committee comprising of officials from the National Police, the Agriculture Ministry and the Trade Ministry, among others. The team is specifically tasked to fight what they call the food cartel or mafia -- with rice distribution being the current focus. http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Economy/Investors-grapple-with-Indonesian-rice-scandal

India discussing rice exports issue with EU: Commerce Secretary The European Commission has brought down the maximum residue limit (MRL) level for fungicide Tricyclazole in basmati rice to 0.01 mg per kg from next year.

India is discussing with the European Union the concerns of domestic rice exporters that tightening norms on pesticide use will affect their shipments to the region.

The European Commission has brought down the maximum residue limit (MRL) level for fungicide Tricyclazole in basmati rice to 0.01 mg per kg from next year.

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"We are discussing the matter with them. Some European countries also use this pesticide," Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia told reporters here today.Rice exporters body AIREA has stated that tough norms by the European Commission will hit the exports badly as trade worth over Rs 1,700 crore could shift to Pakistan.

AIREA has said that the EU has virtually imposed a ban on import of Indian basmati rice by reducing 100-fold the import tolerance level of Tricyclazole and it is not possible to bring down the pesticide level all of a sudden to nearly zero.Two aromatic basmati rice varieties -- PB1 and 1401 -- are exported the most to the EU.The shipments of these varieties with Tricyclazole MRL at 0.03 mg per kg were accepted so far from India. At least two crop cycles are required to effect the desired change.Moreover, there is no scientific evidence that it is harmful to human health, he said, adding that meanwhile farmers are being educated to use the fungicide in a judicious manner.

Agricultural and Processed Food Products and Export Development Authority (Apeda) Chairman D K Singh said that it is organising awareness programmes about use of such pesticides in rice."We have started the awareness programme. Our target is to reach 50,000 farmers in next two months. The target is mainly rice growing areas. We are telling them about judicious use of such pesticides," he said http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/economy/india-discussing-rice-exports-issue-with-eucommerce-secretary-2335819.html

UPDATE 1-Indonesia probes rice trade as food company denies breaching rules * Company denies allegations of incorrect labelling * Police raided warehouse near Jakarta last week

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* Prices of staple grain are politically sensitive in Indonesia (Adds police chief comment, share prices, context)

By Bernadette Christina Munthe JAKARTA, July 25 (Reuters) - A unit of Indonesian food manufacturer Tiga Pilar Sejahtera Food on Tuesday denied allegations of rice hoarding, incorrect labelling and unfair business practices, after a police probe caused the company's shares to tumble last week.

Tiga Pilar shares had lost more than 40 percent and hit an 18-month low of 905 rupiah ($0.068) on Friday, after police announced an investigation of its unit PT Indo Beras Unggul (IBU).

Prices had partially recovered to 1,340 rupiah at 0500 GMT on Tuesday.

Police raided IBU's warehouse near Jakarta on Thursday, confiscating more than 1,000 tonnes of rice and alleging the company had bought lower quality subsidised grain that was then labelled as premium rice when sold.

"We did not use subsidised rice as our raw material," IBU spokesman Jo Tjong Seng told a news conference, adding that the firm believed an analysis by a police-led food task force had shown it had not wrongly labelled rice.

"We are looking into this (and) later will present their violations and evidence so that the public understands," National Police chief Tito Karnavian said on Tuesday, noting that police were working with other authorities to maintain food price stability.

"Our focus is now on distribution channels," he said, referring to the raid on the IBU warehouse near Jakarta.

"If there was fraud, then there's unfair competition, (so) controls and intervention are needed," he said, referring to broad allegations of hoarding and incorrect labelling by rice traders in the country.

Government analysis has shown that Indonesia's millions of rice farmers are making around 60 trillion rupiah ($4.50 billion) in annual profit from the grain, while its 400,000 traders' profits were 130 trillion rupiah, Karnavian said.

The police chief said there should be a situation where farmers could survive and traders make profit "but not too much", and with consumer prices remaining stable.

Rice prices are politically sensitive in Indonesia because of their impact on the poor and due to their weighting in the country's inflation rate.

The government has blamed food hoarding and speculators for high prices, though the U.N. food agency has also said that Indonesia's self-sufficiency policy has driven up food prices.

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Indonesia's Trade ministry sets a reference price for staples including rice every four months, but there are currently no formal sanctions for traders selling goods above these prices.

Trade Ministry Secretary General Karyanto Suprih said on Friday he was waiting for the results of the police investigation, but could freeze the company's trading permit. ($1 = 13,315 rupiah) (Reporting by Bernadette Christina Munthe in Jakarta; Writing by Fergus Jensen in Singapore; Editing by Ed Davies and Joseph Radford

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-kremlin-idUSKBN1AB1Q3

‘Infinity and beyond’ for the home of rice 26 Jul 2017, 1 p.m.

Graeme Kruger.

BACK IN TOWN: The Ricegrowers' Association of Australia last held its conference in Leeton at the Roxy Theatre in 2010 with a solid crowd turning out.

Graeme Kruger.

BACK IN TOWN: The Ricegrowers' Association of Australia last held its conference in Leeton at the Roxy Theatre in 2010 with a solid crowd turning out.BACK IN TOWN: The Ricegrowers'

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Association of Australia last held its conference in Leeton at the Roxy Theatre in 2010 with a solid crowd turning out.

THE Leeton economy is gearing up for a significant boost and it‘s all thanks to rice. The Ricegrowers‘ Association of Australia (RGA) will be holding its annual conference in Leeton next week and, thanks to the many visitors expected, the shire can expect a cash injection. Growers from all over are set to attend the event, which was last held in Leeton in 2010.

The conference rotates its venue each year, with a difference branch given the hosting duties. In 2017 that has fallen to the Yanco branch of the RGA, who chose to hold the function in Leeton. ―You can actually choose wherever you like to hold the conference,‖ RGA eecutive director Graeme Kruger said. ―The Coleambally branch held theirs in Melbourne as SunRice has offices there and the ports are there where products are exported from. ―We‘re very excited to have it come back to Leeton. ―It‘s great for the economy. People will be spending their money in town while here for the conference. It‘s good for everyone.‖With an interesting line up of guest speakers for the conference, growers can also be expected to be informed and inspired over the two days.

They will include Foodbank Australia chief executive officer Brianna Casey and Fisheries Research and Development Centre national carp control plan co-ordinator, Matt Barwick.

Murray-Darling Basin Authority chief executive officer Phillip Glyde will also speak and, no doubt, will be sought after by many in attendance for a chat about the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

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There will also be a panel session about water trade. ―To quote Buzz Lightyear ‗to infinity and beyond‘ … that‘s the direction we will be focusing on at the conference thanks to our theme ‗Building Value – Rice and Beyond‘,‖ Mr Kruger said. ―We want growers to be inspired and informed throughout the conference. It won‘t just be about rice, but all sorts of topics.‖The event is heavily subsidised for RGA members, with registrations closing on Friday. It will also include the annual conference dinner, the annual general meeting and a post-conference tour of Tim and Annette Commins‘ property. We‘re very excited to have it come back to Leeton. - RGA executive director Graeme Kruge http://www.irrigator.com.au/story/4814182/infinity-and-beyond-for-the-home-of-rice/

U.S. rice exports to China yet to go through legal procedures Xinhua| 2017-07-26 20:54:03|Editor: Mengjie

BEIJING, July 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. rice exports to China are yet to go through legal procedures, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Wednesday.

The two countries reached an agreement on inspection and quarantine protocols for U.S. rice exports to China during the first China-U.S. Comprehensive Economic Dialogue (CED) on July 19, 2017.

That was just the first step of legal procedures the two sides must go through, said an MOC spokesperson.

There are two further steps: one is that the U.S. government will recommend registered rice exporters to Chinese inspection and quarantine authorities who will recognize qualified companies; the other is that U.S. authorities will use methods approved by Chinese experts to fumigate rice from qualified exporters in order to prevent harmful biological threats, according to the spokesperson.

The CED saw the world's two largest economies resolve a number of issues in their trade relationship while agreeing to work together to solve outstanding problems.According to an announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. rice exports to China can begin following the completion of an audit of U.S. rice facilities by China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine. It will be the first time the United States has exported rice to China, said the department.China and the United States exchanged views on issues such as the removal of the ban on Chinese and U.S. poultry products on a reciprocal basis and the export of Chinese dairy and seafood products to the United States.The CED is one of

the four major dialogues established by the two countries in April. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-07/26/c_136474963.htm

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By Special to The Commercial Jul 25, 2017 at 1:02 PMUpdated Jul 25, 2017 at 3:27 PM

The latest on rice prices and supplies as well as the state of Arkansas‘ rice crop will be discussed during an hour-long webinar set for 2 p.m. Thursday, July 27.The webinar is hosted by Robert Coats, professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness and extension economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Presenters will be Nathan Childs, agricultural economist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture‘s Economic Research Service, and Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist for the Division of Agriculture.

There‘s no cost for the webinar, but participants should register before the event at http://bit.ly/2uwI2u4. First-time participants should download the Zoom app from Zoom.us, to be able to see the webinar by phone, computer or other device or to dial in and listen by phone.

Details: a county extension office or https://www.uaex.edu/farm-ranch/economicsmarketing/. http://www.pbcommercial.com/news/20170725/webinar-offers-update-on-rice-prices-arkansas-cropupdate

Philippines boosts rice stockpile

A file photo of rice drying after harvest.

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MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines‘ state grains agency purchased 250,000 tonnes of rice in a tender yesterday from suppliers in Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore, rushing to boost thinning state stockpiles.Vietnamese rice suppliers, including state-run Vietnam Southern Food Corp or Vinafood II, won most of the deals, cornering a total volume of 175,000 tonnes.

Singapore trader Olam International Ltd. won a deal for 50,000 tonnes while Thai rice supplier Capital Cereals Co Ltd. bagged a deal for 25,000 tonnes.The winning bids ranged from $409 to $431.70 a tonne, below the National Food Authority‘s (NFA) ceiling price of $451.08 per tonne.

Delivery should be completed between August and September, NFA spokeswoman Marietta Ablaza said, to boost its stockpile which is just enough to cover four days of national requirement.The NFA is required to maintain a minimum 30-day buffer stock during the country‘s lean harvest season from July to September http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5074910/philippines-boosts-rice-stockpile/

Asean firms win bid to supply rice to Philippines

By Louise Maureen Simeon (The Philippine Star) | Updated July 26, 2017 - 12:00am

During the bidding conducted yesterday, state-run National Food Authority (NFA) announced that four companies from Vietnam, one from Singapore and one from Thailand submitted the lowest bids for the procurement of the 250,000 MT. JUN ELIAS

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MANILA, Philippines - Six companies from Southeast Asia will likely supply the 250,000 metric tons (MT) of rice as part of the planned government to private sector (G2P) importation scheme to boost the country‘s dwindling buffer stock.During the bidding conducted yesterday, state-run National Food Authority (NFA) announced that four companies from Vietnam, one from Singapore and one from Thailand submitted the lowest bids for the procurement of the 250,000 MT. There were 21 companies that actually bought bid documents but only 18 showed up during the bidding process. Of the 18, two did not drop their bids and one failed due to the lack of statement of its ongoing contract.

The rice imports (25 percent broken, well-milled, long grain white rice) were divided into eight lots: six lots of 25,000 MT each and two lots of 50,000 MT each. A bidder can bid for a maximum of 50,000 MT only.

For the first lot of 50,000 MT in La Union and Batangas ports, Singaporean company Olam International Ltd. had the lowest offer of $413.89 per MT for a total of $20.6 million.

Vietnamese Tan Long Group Joint Stock Co. bid and had the lowest offer for lots 2 and 3, both in Manila at 25,000 MT each, at $414 per MT and $409 per MT, respectively. Another Vietnamese company Hiep Loi Food Joint Stock Co. submitted the lowest bid for 25,000 MT in Tabaco at a price of $425.90 per MT. For lot 5 in Cebu and lot 6 in Cagayan de Oro, Vietnam-based Gia International Corp. had offered the lowest price at $421.64 per MT and $415.65 per MT, respectively.Thai Capital Cereals Co. Ltd., meanwhile, submitted the lowest for lot 7 in Davao and General Santos at $431.7 per MT.Lastly, Vietnam Southern Food Corp. had the lowest bid for lot 8 in Manila at $424.45 per MT.Reference price for the importation was set at $451.08 per MT based on the foreign exchange rate of $1 to P50.

The total amount of all bidders reached P$104.86 million or P5.2 billion, saving the government around $8 million or P400 million.The NFA has allotted a total of P5.6 billion for the procurement of the volume.―The savings will go back to the funds of the NFA,‖ NFA deputy administrator and Special Bids and Awards Committee chair Tomas Escarez said.

NFA said winning bidders shall be subjected to post-qualification evaluation on July 27 to 28. If they qualify, the notice of ward shall be issued on July 31, and a notice to proceed shall be issued on Aug. 3.Rice deliveries shall be staggered from August to September, with a total of 120,000 MT expected to arrive in August and 130,000 MT to arrive in September.

NFA said rice must be shipped in break bulk where packing shall be in 50 kilograms net each in woven polypropylene bags suitable for rice export with NFA markings, designs and specifications.Winning bidders shall deliver the goods free of obligations and expenses of NFA up to NFA‘s designated warehouses.Current NFA inventory can only last for four days compared to its mandated buffer stock.

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The NFA is mandated to maintain a food security reserve good for at least 15 days at any given time.This July, which marks the onset of the lean season for rice, the NFA must have at least a 30-day buffer stock to meet the requirements of victims of calamities and emergencies.Based on computations, the 250,000 MT can only cover for additional seven days. At least 544,000 MT are needed to maintain the agency‘s buffer stocking mandate. http://www.philstar.com/business/2017/07/26/1721384/asean-firms-win-bid-supply-rice-philippines

India and EU discuss rice exports issue The European Commission has brought down the MRL level of Tricyclazole to 0.01 mg per kg.

The Dollar Business Bureau India is in talks with the EU voicing the concerns of Indian rice exporters on the tightening of regulations on the usage of pesticide in Basmati rice that will impact exports to the region.

The European Commission has revised the maximum residue limit (MRL) and brought down the level of fungicide Tricyclazole to 0.01 mg per kg in basmati rice starting next year. ―We are discussing the matter with them. Some European countries also use this pesticide,‖ Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia told reporters in New Delhi on Tuesday.

All India Rice Exporters' Association (AIREA) has said that stricter norms by the European Commission will badly impact the rice exports from India as trade worth more than Rs.1,700 crore could be shifted to Pakistan.

The Rice Exporters body has said that the European Commission has virtually put a ban on the Indian basmati rice imports by cutting down 100-fold the MRL level of Tricyclazole and added that it is impossible to cut down the pesticides level to nearly zero all of a sudden.

India mainly exports two varieties of aromatic basmati rice - PB1 and 1401 - to the EU. So far, the exports of these varieties of Basmati rice from India with Tricyclazole MRL level at 0.03 mg a kg of rice were accepted by the EU. Nearly, two crop cycles are needed to bring in the desired change.

Furthermore, there is also no scientific proof regarding the harmful effects of such pesticides on human health, it said, while adding that in the meantime farmers are being made aware to use the pesticide in a judicious way.

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D K Singh, Chairman, Agricultural and Processed Food Products and Export Development Authority (APEDA) said that they are organising awareness programmes for farmers on the use of such types of pesticides in rice. ―We have started the awareness programme. Our target is to reach 50,000 farmers in next two months. The target is mainly rice growing areas. We are telling them about the judicious use of such pesticides,‖ he said.

India exported around 40,00,471 MT of Basmati rice worth $3.15 billion in the last fiscal of 2016-17, as per APEDA. https://www.thedollarbusiness.com/news/india-and-eu-discuss-rice-exports-issue/50868

BD issues another tender to buy rice Bangladesh's state grains buyer has issued another international tender to purchase 50,000 tonnes of rice, European traders said on Tuesday. The tender deadline is August 08. Earlier, Bangladesh had also issued a separate tender for 50,000 tonnes of rice closing on July 27. This is the sixth rice tender issued by state grains agency since May while it is also importing rice in state-to-state deals. Bangladesh, the world's fourth-biggest rice producer, has emerged as a major importer of the grain this year due to depleted stocks and record local prices following floods which damaged crops. The country could import as much as 1.2 million tonnes this year, and has so far struck deals with Vietnam and expressed interest in Thai and Indian rice.

But the country's government could suspend a plan to import rice from India due to high prices while a deal with Thailand edged closer. Bangladesh is buying 200,000 tonnes of Vietnamese white rice at $430 a tonne and 50,000 tonnes of parboiled rice at $470 a tonne in a state-to-state deal - at rates much higher than in the previous tenders. Private traders are importing rice from neighbouring India and Myanmar after the government cut import duties late last month. But prices of the staple food for Bangladesh's 160 million people did not budge, which is a big concern for the government as a national election is due next year.

Non-Basmati Parboiled Rice is sought in the latest tender. Rice from worldwide origins will be accepted. Shipment must take place within 40 days of contract signing. Bangladesh also issued a separate international tender Friday to import 50,000 tonnes of wheat. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has issued another international tender to import 50,000 tonnes of wheat to replenish reserves, according to two officials at the state grains purchasing agency and a tender document on the agency's website. — Reuters http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2017/07/25/78045/BD-issues-another-tender-to-buy-rice

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Finer rice yet to budge from high despite decrease in paddy prices 26 Jul 2017, 00:45:24 A worker piles up sacks of rice at a wholesale shop at Karwan Bazar in the capital on Tuesday. — FE Photo Yasir Wardad Finer rice varieties are still trading at high prices in the city markets although paddy prices witnessed a fall in the milling hubs across the country over a month.Market observers said traders are cashing in on the downtrend in paddy prices, while consumers are being ripped off.Coarse rice prices, however, showed a marginal decline, thanks to the import duty cut by the government.Finer quality miniket, najirshail and jeerashail were trading at Tk 54-Tk 62 a kg and medium quality lata and Brridhan-28 at Tk 50-Tk 52 a kg in Dhaka on Tuesday-almost the same price as it was in June, according to sources at the key kitchen markets in the city.

Although paddy prices have come down significantly at the district level, it is yet to be reflected in the city retail markets.In the last one month, Boro paddy prices saw a plunge by Tk 150-Tk 300 a 75-kg sack.

Brridhan-28 variety paddy was selling at Tk 1500-Tk 1550 a 75-kg sack while jeerashail variety at Tk 1700-Tk 1750 in Rangpur, Dinajpur, Kushtia and Naogaon, according to trading sources.Md Kamruzzaman, a rice trader at Badamtoli in the city, said prices of finer rice varieties declined only by Tk 30-Tk 35 a 50-kg sack at the rice mills in the last two weeks.

But this slight fall couldn't be reflected at the retail level, he added.Mohammad Asadullah, joint secretary of Badamtoli-Babubazar Rice Wholesalers Association, said finer paddy prices decreased by Tk 4-Tk 5 a kg in the milling hubs. So, the prices of miniket, Brridhan-28 and jeerashail should come down by a minimum of Tk 4 a kg, he added.

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Bangladesh Auto Major Husking Mill Owners Association (BAMHMOA) General Secretary KM Layek Ali said the import duty cut has led to the decline in paddy prices significantly, as stockists started selling out their paddy fearing a fall in prices.He also said prices of finer and medium quality rice have decreased by Tk 2-Tk 3 a kg in rice mills in July. This downtrend would continue if paddy prices keep falling.

Miniket is selling at Tk 50-Tk 54 a kg while Brridhan-28 at Tk 45-Tk 46 a kg at mill gates, he added. He also said the big traders in the cities should adjust the new prices.

Meanwhile, coarse rice varieties are now trading at Tk 43 to Tk 48 a kg at retail markets in the city, down from Tk 46-Tk 50 in June, according to sources at the key kitchen markets.These varieties were selling at Tk 38-Tk 43 a kg in Rangpur, Dinajpur, Naogaon, Kushtia and elsewhere in the milling hubs, according to the BAMHMOA.The National Board of Revenue reduced the import duty on rice to 10 per cent from 28 per cent on June 21, which helped ease coarse rice prices.

Meanwhile, the number of L/Cs for importing the staple through the private sector, showed a notable rise recently, according to food ministry data.The private sector imported 0.117 million tonnes of rice in the first 23 days of this fiscal year while the total import in the last fiscal was 0.133 million tonnes, according to the ministry.

Sarwar Kajol, an importer in Naogaon, said the import duty cut has led to the increase in rice import.Imported swarna variety was selling at Tk 39-Tk 40 a kg when the same variety from local sources was trading at Tk 42-Tk 44 a kg, he said.

The recent decision of the Bangladesh Bank (BB) allowing traders to import rice on three months' deferred payment (until December 31, 2017) has prompted importers to bring in more rice, he added.

Last month, the central bank allowed traders to import rice at zero margin. This means importers will not have to make any advance payment to banks for opening L/Cs.According to the food ministry, prices of coarse varieties in Bangladesh are the highest among the rice-producing nations.The prices of coarse varieties imported from India, Thailand and Vietnam are Tk 35.27 to Tk 38.09 a kg now when it is Tk 38-Tk 43 a kg (mill-gate price) in Bangladesh.

Farm economist Prof Gazi M Jalil said millers, traders and importers are making big profits due to the fall in paddy prices.Big millers and importers should be brought under scrutiny so that consumers with limited income could buy rice at affordable prices, he said. The government should increase its market intervention to give low-income group some relief, he added. Prof Jalil also said the public rice stock has declined to a record low, which is not a good sign for the food security of the country.The government should have at least 0.7 million tonnes of rice stock, which is now below 0.2 million tones, he added.

He said the government should immediately bring rice from global sources, as another flood is likely to hit the country, which might cause further shortage of the staple.The Directorate

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General of Food (DGoF), however, has floated tender for initially importing 0.6 million tonnes of rice from the international market.The DGoF has, so far, purchased 0.129 million tonnes of rice from domestic sources against its target of 1.5 million tonnes, said officials.

The country set a target to produce 34.98 million tonnes of rice in the FY '17.But the target might be missed as Boro production witnessed a significant fall due to flood and outbreak of rice blast disease, according to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) officials. http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2017/07/26/78054/Finer-rice-yet-to-budge-from-high-despitedecrease-in-paddy-prices

Mekong Delta authorities warn about excessive rice stock Authorities in the Mekong Delta said farmers might face losses from excessive supply due to overproduction of Japanese rice varieties.

Farmers growing Japanese rice en mass

Thousands of hectares of Japanese rice has been grown as the rice is suitable for various types of soil and doesn't attract many pests. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has only tested and agreed to grow this rice in the Red River Delta and northern mountainous areas.Even though the Mekong Delta authorities haven't given permission to mass cultivate this variety, it has been sowed across 43,000 hectares, mostly in Kien Luong, Hon Dat and Giang Thanh districts.

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Farmer Do Le Huu in Hon Dat District said there were perks that growing traditional rice didn't have. "The output is much higher and I don't have to worry about the market as I have a contract with a distribution company," he said.While 30,000 hectares of rice are under contract to wholesalers, another 13,000 hectares have been cultivated by the farmers. The authorities worry that the oversupply might cause a price drop as Japanese rice is still new to domestic customers.Nguyen Van Tam, director of Kien Giang Province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said, "Because more and more companies are buying Japanese rice farmers in the south have bought the seeds from the northern region to grow on their own. We‘re waiting for ministerial directives."

However, according to the companies, they only buy a specific amount of rice from contracted farmers.

Bui Hung Truong, deputy head of Ethnic Affair Department, said farmers weren‘t used to the new rice so there were still pests. In addition, these areas are often flooded and farmers cannot time the planting process to avoid floods yet.

The local authorities advised farmers to grow Japanese rice only under contract. http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/182684/mekong-delta-authorities-warn-about-excessive-ricestock.html

Enhancing nutrition in eastern India through gastronomic systems research

Thursday, July 27, 2017

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New Delhi, INDIA—―To find effective interventions that can improve nutritional security for poor families in eastern India, researchers must first better understand what drives their food

choices,‖ says Dr. Matty Demont, senior economist at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and leader of the project, Drivers of Food Choice in eastern India (DFC).

To improve this understanding, IRRI recently held expert elicitation workshops on gastronomic systems research in Bhubaneswar, Odisha (18 July) and Kolkata, West Bengal (21 July).

Participants included nutritionists, food technologists, home scientists, restaurateurs, and chefs.

They captured the wide range of culinary diversity of food options available to households in low- and middle-income urban and rural communities in Odisha and West Bengal.

According to Dr. Arindam Samaddar, agricultural anthropologist based at the IRRI-India Office, bringing such a group together is key to elicit nutritional interventions that are practical and sensible for consumers and for restaurateurs.

DFC, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and UK Aid and managed by the University of South Carolina, USA, aims to identify entry points for culturally acceptable and context-specific nutritional interventions. The project is using a gastronomic systems research framework, which is a new paradigm developed by IRRI.―In this framework, socioeconomic status and culture are believed to dictate the various food consumption occasions, which then dictate the dishes that are served and consumed,‖ points out Dr. Rosa Paula Cuevas, IRRI grain quality specialist. ―These dishes are made up of ingredients that affect cooking and eating quality and the nutritional content of the dishes. In the gastronomic system, there are three possible entry points for nutritional interventions: occasion, dish, and ingredient. The framework is also instrumental in understanding drivers of consumer choice for rice varieties and may help further

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refine varietal improvement targets in rice breeding.‖ This framework shows promise in applicability beyond the DFC project. ―I would love to follow the framework,‖ says Dr. Anindita Chakravarti, assistant professor at Maharani Kasiswari College and workshop participant. ―It will be extremely beneficial for the work that we do with poor Indian communities.‖ These two workshops were the first of a series of activities of the DFC project, which runs through 2018. The next activities include consumer surveys and behavioral experiments that will use a novel food app being developed and piloted during the project.

http://news.irri.org/2017/07/enhancing-nutrition-in-eastern-india.html

Monsoon in India hits West Bengal paddy crop hard as seeds get washed away

By: Indronil Roychowdhury | Published: July 27, 2017 4:35 AM

In some cases, crop intensity might reduce while in other cases crop yield might be low or the yield might be of very poor quality as to be not marketable. However, heavy rains during the

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Amon season often result in good Boro or winter crop but that is only 30% of the total production.

Continuous heavy showers have flooded the fields more than that it was required. This has put farmers in a suspect that their sow has been washed away.Heavy showers have flushed away paddy seeds from most of the agricultural land across the districts of Hooghly, Burdwan, Nadia, Purulia West & East Midnapore and Howrah, adversely affecting Amon production, the second crop of the Kharif season. Continuous heavy showers have flooded the fields more than that it was required. This has put farmers in a suspect that their sow has been washed away. ―This shower could have been better after a few days after our sow got stabled and the shoots got a little longer and stronger. However, there is still opportunity to sow afresh if we are able to drain out the excess water from our fields,‖ Baidyanath Ghosh, a farmer, in Mamudpur of Hooghly district said. While Bikash Mukherjee of the same village felt the situation was flood-like and a release of water from the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) will overflow the canals and flood the lands spreading across districts. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said the situation was not grave enough to declare the state as flood affected.

West Bengal irrigation minister Rajiv Banerjee said the government has asked DVC to release water within a limit of 10,000 cusec from the dams of Panchet and Maithon, which can prevent the state from floods. According to a DVC statement, heavy showers have raised the water level in rivers and dams, adding 28,500 cusec water in Panchet and 9,500 cusec in Maithon. This has necessitated release of water, for which the catchment areas within the district of Burdwan, Hooghly and some parts of West Midnapore may get affected. ―Cultivable land getting partly flood-affected may lower Amon paddy production by 10-15%,‖ Arun Bose, scientific assistant in West Bengal Rice Research Centre said, adding that with seeds sweeping away, many farmers might not get an opportunity to sow again. In some cases crop intensity might reduce, in some cases crop yield might be low and in some cases the yield might be of very poor quality as to be not marketable. However, heavy rains during the Amon season often results in good Boro or winter crop but that is only 30% of the total production.

West Bengal produces an average of 105 million tonne rice per annum from 5.8 million hectares.

The districts of Burdwan, Hooghly, Nadia and Birbhum have the highest rice productivity with 32% share of the state‘s total rice production and about 27% of acreage. Paddy production spreads across three seasons — Aus and Amon , the two kharif crop and Boro the winter crop.

Crop intensity is as high as 176%. West Bengal produced 104.32 MT of paddy in 2015-16, lower by 1.17 MT of production than the preceding year in a scenario of failed Amon.

But Aus and Boro yields were successful, Pradip Majumdar, chief minister‘s agricultural advisor said. While it would be too early to comment on whether the paddy of the current season will be successful or not and what may be the production scenario at the end of the entire crop cycle, the government has targetted yield of above 105 MT with more cultivable land bought under irrigation and improved variety of seeds given to farmers, Majumdar said.

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However, selling the produce has become easier with the paddy taken directly to mandis. ―I got Rs 830 per 60 kgs including my carrying cost to the mandis from my field,‖ said Gurudas Mukherjee of Mamudpur. The government had offered minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 1,470 per quintal (100 kgs) for common grade and Rs 1,510 per quintal for higher grade in 20162017. This has been increased by Rss 80 per quintal in FY18, West Bengal agriculture department officials said. http://www.financialexpress.com/market/commodities/monsoon-in-india-hits-west-bengal-paddy-crophard-as-seeds-get-washed-away/781291/

US rice not ready for entering Chinese market, despite recent deal, China says Source:Global Times Published: 2017/7/26 13:23:39 China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Wednesday that US rice needs to gain further approval from Chinese officials to enter the market, despite a recent agreement that would open up the Chinese market to US rice for the first time.After several rounds of talks, Chinese and US officials agreed last week on inspection and quarantine requirements for US rice to enter the Chinese market, but that's just the first step, according to Chinese law, a MOFCOM spokes person said in a statement online.

US rice producers and processors that intend to export rice to the Chinese market still need to register with the US government, which then recommends them to China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), according to the statement.After gaining approval from the AQSIQ, the US side still needs to conduct a fumigation process on the rice and submit pesticides and techniques used in the process to Chinese officials for inspection and confirmation, the statement added.

"The three steps above are integral parts of the process," the MOFCOM spokesperson said, "so far, only one step has been completed, so US rice trade with China cannot go ahead yet." The US had been pushing China to open up its domestic market to US farmers while China was importing an increasing amount of rice from other countries.

The agreement was reached last week during the China-US Comprehensive Economic Dialogue meeting in Washington D.C. and was hailed by US officials as a historic step that would greatly benefit US farmers and processors."The agreement with China has been in the works for more than a decade and I'm pleased to see it finally come to fruition, especially knowing how greatly it will benefit our growers and industry," US Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said in a statement following the agreement.

A local media outlet in California, the second-largest rice-goring state in the US, quoted Jim Morris, an official at the California Rice Commission, as saying, "hopefully by the end of the year, we'll have rice heading to China‌ We anticipate the volume will start slow, and then we'll build on that."China imported 3.56 million tons of rice in 2016, increasing 5.5 percent year-on-year, according to customs data released in February. The country spent more than $1.6 billion on rice imports in the same year, up 7.7 percent from the previous year, the data showed.

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Nigeria: Rice Importation Down By 80% - Osinbajo

Photo: Premium Times Bags of rice.

By Musa Abdullahi Krishi Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has said Nigeria's rice importation has dropped by over 80 per cent and that the country would be self-sufficient next year.Declaring open the 16th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC), Africa Region yesterday in Abuja, Osinbajo said the feat was achieved based on the collaborative efforts of both the Executive and the Legislature.

"In the last two years, Nigeria which is the largest producer of rice in West Africa and the second largest importer of rice in the world has changed that story. Our rice import bill in 2014 was N1billion a month. "Today by a combination of progressive legislative appropriation to agriculture and providing single digit credit under our anchor borrowers programme for the purchase of right fertilizer quality and other inputs and credit, many rice farmers moved from getting yields of 3.5 metric tons per hectare to 7.5 mt per hectare.

The acting president also said the two arms of government have worked harmoniously in the past two years but that the media gets more interested in disagreements between them."On a lighter note, I don't know the experience of Presiding Officers from other nations present of the portrayals by the press of the relationship between the executive and the legislature. Here in Nigeria what makes the news is conflict between the executive and the legislature.

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Senate President Bukola Saraki in a goodwill message said the conference should provide opportunity to address certain issues in Africa.Speaker Yakubu Dogara, who is the chairman of the conference called on legislatures across Africa to break their people free from dictatorship by building strong institutions. http://allafrica.com/stories/201707260814.html

USA Rice Success Stories Make the Case for MAP and FMD Funding

Trade is a good thing

By Sarah Moran July 26, 2017 ARLINGTON, VA -- Last week, USA Rice participated in the 37th annual U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council's attachĂŠ seminar, a two-day event that included one-on-one meetings with USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) personnel posted overseas, and a full day of Farm Bill and agricultural trade presentations. USA Rice had nearly a dozen meetings with various USDA officials to discuss marketing successes and trade access concerns in various markets.

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Ray Starling, special assistant to the President for agriculture, trade, and food assistance on the National Economic Council, provided an overview of the Administration's views on farm policy and agricultural trade. Starling emphasized deficit reduction as an overriding goal for trade policy - a priority will be getting other countries to buy more from the U.S. or the U.S. buying less from them. He acknowledged agriculture is already doing a great job since the U.S. grows more food than we can eat, and new markets for U.S. products overseas will help overall deficit reduction and ensure that America remains strong.

"I spoke with Mr. Starling about the immense benefits of the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) programs in increasing our agricultural exports abroad," said Hugh Maginnis, USA Rice vice president international. "I encouraged complete funding of these two vital programs that return far more than they cost, which he seemed to fully understand and support."

Maginnis shared an example of the powerful impact these two programs had in Haiti, a vital export market for U.S. rice.

Responding to a potential threat to U.S. market share there in 2013, USA Rice developed a promotional program using FMD and MAP funding to build relationships with traders, importers, and wholesalers, and to target consumers through radio advertisements, open market promotions, and a TV ad aired during the 2014 World Cup. Eight thousand radio ads were broadcast throughout the country and the USA Rice TV ad was shown more than 2,000 times.

As a result, what had been a ten percent reduction in U.S. imports in 2013 rebounded with a twelve percent increase in 2014, and has increased every year since to 419,000 MT valued at $190 million in 2016.

"USA Rice and more than 70 other agricultural groups utilize the funding of MAP and FMD to increase the volume and value of U.S. agricultural products around the world, and we put our own money against these efforts as well because the programs work," Maginnis continued. "The U.S. rice industry, that exports about 50 percent of the crop each year, contributes $7 for every $1 received from MAP/FMD.

EDITORIAL: Time to fix the rice trade The Jakarta Post Jakarta | Wed, July 26, 2017 | 08:39 am

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38 Prime commodity: Bags of rice are stored at a warehouse at Pasar Minggu Market, South Jakarta, on May 16.

(Antara/Sigid Kurniawan)

The controversy over the police‘s raid on a major rice-milling company in Bekasi, West Java, last week further illustrates the uncertainties in doing business on the one hand and the lack of consumer protection on the other. It was alleged that PT Indo Beras Unggul (IBU), a subsidiary of publicly listed PT Tiga Pilar Sejahatera Food, engaged in monopoly practices involving both downstream and upstream rice-trading activities. The company has also been accused of buying rice from farmers at prices higher than the lower price band set by the government, violating the retail price cap for premium-quality rice and of manipulating the carbohydrate and nutrition content of its premium rice brand.

As the police seem to have dropped their plan to charge PT IBU with engaging in monopoly practices following the company‘s explanation, the investigation now focuses on alleged violations in the sale of premium-quality rice and the carbohydrate and nutrition content of the company‘s premium rice brand.

The police accuse the company of deceiving consumers by passing off medium-quality rice as the more expensive premium quality and of manipulating the carbohydrate and nutrient content.

The company has denied the allegations.The controversy has arisen because the government has no parameters for determining standards of premium-quality rice. According to the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), premium-quality rice comprises rice produced from prime rice varieties, mostly imported from Thailand.

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However, in the absence of standards, many local rice millers have their own criteria. They can describe their medium-quality products as top quality simply by means of attractive packaging.

The impact of the case is overarching. The raid on PT IBU‘s warehouse and the allegations of unfair business practices have severely hurt Tiga Pilar. Its share price on the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX) fell by 25 percent following the raid, as the widespread media reports on the case spooked investors.

The case should, however, serve as an opportunity to better manage the trade in food commodities, particularly rice, which has long been typified by a long distribution chain, blamed by many for the wide disparity between the prices paid to farmers and those paid by consumers.

Long supply chains also exist in the trade of other food commodities, such as garlic, onions and chilies, and they are a cause for national concern because of the substantial impact on millions of consumers. Every time there is a sharp increase in food commodity prices, the government promises to address the matter, but there has never been any significant shortening of the supply chain.

We understand the difficulties in doing so, as it requires the operation of the government‘s trading arm to procure agriculture products from farmers in the place of middlemen. But reviving the role of rural cooperatives (KUDs) as the purchasers of food products could be an effective solution. For too long we have forgotten, if not looked down upon, these cooperatives. http://www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2017/07/26/editorial-time-to-fix-the-rice-trade.html

U.S. rice not ready for entering Chinese market, despite recent deal, China says 2017-07-26 16:15Global TimesEditor: Li Yan

ECNS App Download China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Wednesday that U.S. rice needs to gain further approval from Chinese officials to enter the market, despite a recent agreement that would open up the Chinese market to U.S. rice for the first time.After several rounds of talks, Chinese and U.S. officials agreed last week on inspection and quarantine requirements for U.S. rice to enter the Chinese market, but that's just the first step, according to Chinese law, a MOFCOM spokes person said in a statement online.

U.S. rice producers and processors that intend to export rice to the Chinese market still need to register with the U.S. government, which then recommends them to China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), according to the statement.

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After gaining approval from the AQSIQ, the U.S. side still needs to conduct a fumigation process on the rice and submit pesticides and techniques used in the process to Chinese officials for inspection and confirmation, the statement added.

"The three steps above are integral parts of the process," the MOFCOM spokesperson said, "so far, only one step has been completed, so U.S. rice trade with China cannot go ahead yet."

The U.S. had been pushing China to open up its domestic market to U.S. farmers while China was importing an increasing amount of rice from other countries.

The agreement was reached last week during the China-U.S. Comprehensive Economic Dialogue meeting in Washington D.C. and was hailed by U.S. officials as a historic step that would greatly benefit U.S. farmers and processors.

"The agreement with China has been in the works for more than a decade and I'm pleased to see it finally come to fruition, especially knowing how greatly it will benefit our growers and industry," U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said in a statement following the agreement.

A local media outlet in California, the second-largest rice-goring state in the U.S., quoted Jim Morris, an official at the California Rice Commission, as saying, "hopefully by the end of the year, we'll have rice heading to China… We anticipate the volume will start slow, and then we'll build on that."

China imported 3.56 million tons of rice in 2016, increasing 5.5 percent year-on-year, according to customs data released in February. The country spent more than $1.6 billion on rice imports in the same year, up 7.7 percent from the previous year, the data showed. http://www.ecns.cn/business/2017/07-26/266859.shtml

USDA’s Nathan Childs to discuss world rice trade outlook in UA Webinar New developments could have impact on world rice trade, which was already expected to increase.

Forrest Laws | Jul 25, 2017 Nathan Childs, agricultural economist with USDA‘s Economic Research Service, will discuss the latest developments in the U.S. and world rice markets during a University of Arkansas Rice Webinar at 2 p.m. Thursday (July 27).Dr. Childs will be joined by Dr. Bobby Coats, professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, and Mary Poling, coordinator for

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interactive communications, both with the University of Arkansas System, Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service.

Dr. Jarrod Hardke, associate professor and state rice Extension agronomist, Crop, Soil & Environmental Science Department, University of Arkansas System-Division of Agriculture, will provide webinar participants with a mid-season assessment of the progress by the 2017 Arkansas rice crop. ―The June USDA-NASS Acreage report indicated a 20-percent decline in U.S. harvested rice area in 2017-18 to 2.5 million acres,‖ says Dr. Coats. ―Assuming trend yields, the U.S. rice crop is projected to drop 15 percent from a year earlier to 191.3 million hundredweight, pulling total supplies down 11 percent. ―Both domestic use and exports are projected to contract in response to the tighter supplies and resulting higher prices. Despite smaller use, U.S. stocks are expected to drop to a more normal level after three consecutive years of abnormally high ending stocks.‖ Dr. Childs, who has worked as a rice analyst with USDA for more than two decades, is expected to address the outlook for world rice trade, particularly for China, the largest rice importer, and India and Thailand as the largest exporters. Dr. Childs‘ current activities include managing ERS‘ contribution to the rice situation and outlook program and supporting the Agriculture Department‘s annual Baseline forecasting activities After joining ERS in 1987, he has worked on a variety of topics including U.S. rice consumption patterns, global trade liberalization, farm program analysis, and supported emerging market projects to Taiwan, China, Vietnam, and Haiti. In the early 1990s, he was editor of USDA‘s weekly Agricultural Outlook magazine.

To register for Thursday‘s Webinar, click on https://uaex.zoom.us/webinar/register/a2f76e5e2b748053d746f627e8486654

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http://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/usda-s-nathan-childs-discuss-world-rice-trade-outlook-uawebinar

RDA boosts agricultural cooperation with Africa Posted : 2017-07-26 17:05 Updated : 2017-07-26 18:08

Rural Development Administration Director General Lee Kyu-seong, third from left, presides over a meeting with agricultural officials from African countries in Dakar, Senegal, July 11.

The state-run agricultural research institute has pledged to share more know-how with its African counterparts. / Courtesy of RDA

By Lee Hyo-sik The Rural Development Administration (RDA), the state-run agricultural research institute, has been sharing its state-of-the-art agricultural knowledge with developing nations in Africa to help

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them boost production, control pests and diversify farm products.

Early this month, the institute held a meeting in Senegal, inviting agricultural officials from dozens of African countries, to find effective ways to strengthen the partnership and offer more tailored, field-oriented support to farmers there.

The RDA also opened a research center in the western African nation to develop rice seeds that can yield a larger harvest and are more resistant to pests. It also donated thousands of agriculture-related books to its counterpart.

From July 10 to 13, the RDA organized the Fourth Korea-Africa Food & Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (KAFACI) general assembly in Dakar, Senegal, to discuss issues such as Africa's food security amid global warming, and sustainable agricultural practices.

The gathering drew about 100 government officials and researchers from 20 KAFACI member nations and from agricultural research institutes across the continent. The participants also discussed ways to develop high-yield rice plants and nurture agricultural researchers.

RDA Director General Lee Kyu-seong, who presided over the meeting, said the institute will work harder to form a win-win partnership with its counterparts in Africa.

"We will pass our technical know-how and expertise on to our partners here and more closely cooperate with agriculture institutes," Lee said. "The RDA will introduce more cooperation programs to help boost Africa's agricultural productivity and improve the livelihoods of African farmers. Hopefully, our efforts also will improve Korea's image across the continent."

Since July 2010, the RDA has been offering support to African nations through KAFACI, including Ethiopia, Cameroon, Angola and Uganda. By admitting Tanzania to the multilateral body this year, membership rose to 21.It has provided information on how to cope effectively with diseases and pests affecting rice and other crops, as well as transferring a wide range of agricultural techniques to increase production, develop disease-resistant crops and operate farm machinery.

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After chairing the KAFACI meeting, Lee met the heads of the Korea Project on International Agriculture (KOPIA) centers, set up to implement the KAFACI initiatives.The RDA operates six KOPIA centers in Africa, eight in Asia and six in South America. They provide practical, fieldoriented support to local farmers.

"The centers have been playing an important role in enabling African farmers to engage in modern agricultural practices and earn more income," Lee said.The institute also opened a research lab in Senegal to develop rice seeds that produce more crops and are more resistant to pests in Africa. It will be a training facility for agricultural researchers and students.

The RDA plans to increase the continent's rice production by more than 25 percent by 2025 through the KAFACI initiatives, according to the director general. He said it will develop rice plants more suitable for the African environment and transfer advanced cultivation techniques.

On July 12, the institute donated 2,300 agriculture books to the Senegalese Institute for Agricultural Research to help its researchers broaden their knowledge.The RDA, founded in 1906, has its headquarters in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, and operates four research affiliates specializing in crops, horticulture, herbs and livestock. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/biz/2017/07/367_233675.html

Following actor Kumail Nanjiani’s rules to good biryani: review

By AMY PATAKI Restaurant Critic Wed., July 26, 2017

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We kept Silicon Valley and The Big Sick actor‘s advice in mind when we checked out Mississauga‘s Bhaijaanz Grill.There are no raisins or nuts in the lamb biryani at Bhaijaanz Grill in Mississauga.

(JANOS PATAKI) Comic and actor Kumail Nanjiani, shown here in Toronto with his wife, Emily V. Gordon, has a lifelong love for biryani. (VINCE TALOTTA / TORONTO STAR)| ORDER THIS PHOTO There are no raisins or nuts in the lamb biryani at Bhaijaanz Grill in Mississauga. (JANOS PATAKI) Comic and actor Kumail Nanjiani, shown here in Toronto with his wife, Emily V. Gordon, has a lifelong love for biryani. (VINCE TALOTTA / TORONTO STAR)| ORDER THIS PHOTO Kumail Nanjiani has rules about biryani.He‘s clear: No raisins. No nuts. Potatoes preferred.The Pakistaniborn actor (Silicon Valley) and comic‘s love of the seasoned rice dish is such that his family calls him Kumail Biryani.―I could literally eat my grandmother‘s biryani for every single meal for the rest of my

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life and be thrilled every single time,‖ he tells The Sporkful podcast.Nanjiani, 39, is having a moment with his movie The Big Sick, which he and wife Emily V. Gordon wrote to chronicle the rocky start of their relationship. The Star‘s Peter Howell gave it four out of four stars.

Nanjiani spoke to the food-focused Sporkful before the movie‘s release. In it, he lays out how to find a good Pakistani restaurant.―The lighting‘s got to be terrible. It‘s gotta have hospital lighting. It‘s gotta have white fluorescent lights. That‘s how you know the food‘s going to be good,‖ he tells host Dan Pashman. ―Our restaurants were always super bright . . . When I see that lighting, I (know) these people are just about the food. They have made no concessions to the American palate.‖The interview left an impression on Pashman. ―Before talking to Kumail, I wasn‘t very familiar with (biryani). After talking with him, I ran to the nearest biryani cart to fill up,‖ the New York-based Pashman told me in an email.

Hungry for biryani, I set out with Nanjiani‘s guidelines in mind.At Bhaijaanz Grill in Mississauga, the lighting is an unfortunate mix of fluorescent tubes, halogen pots and orange fixtures.The restaurant is going through a sizable renovation — a man hangs wallpaper during my visit — but remains open.

Two types of biryani are on the menu, lamb ($9.99) and chicken ($7.99). I order both. Fifteen minutes later, they are ready.

They look similar: Basmati grains in three colours — red, orange and yellow — with chopped cilantro on top and bony chunks of meat poking out like pocket squares from a suit jacket.Both come with a small

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47 cup of raita, thin yogurt flavoured with onion and stained pale green by cilantro. The server sweetly mimes how to mix cooling raita into the spicy rice.

The taste of the two, though, is markedly different. For the lamb, the rice is cooked together with the meat, absorbing its juices. The rice for the chicken is cooked separately, making for a blander result.

A quick visual inspection reveals neither raisins nor nuts — a plus for Nanjiani — and numerous whole spices: peppercorns, star anise, bay leaves and the stem of a dried chili. The restaurant is coy about its seasoning, owning up to cumin, onion, ginger and garlic but dismissing further questions with a smile. ―Our spice mix doesn‘t come from a box. We blend it ourselves,‖ I‘m told.The full-on flavour and minimal grease are easy to enjoy, even under the lights.Bhaijaanz Grill, 99 Dundas St. E., Mississauga, 905-232-0565, bhaijaanzgrill.ca. Open daily, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. apataki@thestar.ca , @amypataki https://www.thestar.com/life/food_wine/2017/07/26/following-actor-kumail-nanjianis-rules-to-goodbiryani-review.html

Rajkot Foodgrain Prices- July 26, 2017 Reuters | Jul 26, 2017, 02:15 PM IST Rajkot Foodgrain Prices Open- July 26 Jul 26 (Reuters) - Market delivery prices of food grains and pulses at Rajkot in India's western state of Gujarat opened on a steady to weak trend, traders said Wednesday. * * FOOD GRAINS & PULSES * Bajri prices dropped due to low retail demand. * Gram and Besan prices moved down due to sufficient supply. * Udid prices eased due to lack of demand from mills.

Prices of food grains and pulses in rupees per 20 kilograms, and deliveries in 100-kilogram bags: Delivery Auction price Previous price FOOD GRAIN Wheat Lokwan 00,240 308-362 315-360 Wheat Tukda 00,910 317-380 318-390 Jowar White 072 334-520 340-530 Bajra 0,028 180-260 210-250 PULSES Gram 00,350 0,910-1,019 0,960-1,080 Udid 0,300 0,600-1,020 0,600-0,990 Moong 0,100 0,700-0,970 0,670-0,890 Tuar 0,390 0,610-0,690 0,650-0,703 Maize 009 260-320 270-325 Vaal Deshi 040 0,375-0,650 0,350-0,640 Choli 0,025 0,725-1,450 0,750-1,405 Rajkot market delivery prices in rupees per 100 kilograms:. Today's Price Previous close FOOD GRAINS Wheat Mill quality 1,600-1,610 1,600-1,610 Wheat (medium) 1,775-1,800 1,775-1,800 Wheat (superior best) 2,050-2,100 2,050-2,100 Bajra 1,360-1,370 1,390-1,400 Jowar 2,8002,850 2,800-2,850 PULSES Gram 05,100-05,200 05,200-05,300 Gram dal 06,700-06,800

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06,700-06,800 Besan (65-kg bag) 4,900-5,000 5,000-5,100 Tuar 03,700-03,800 03,700-03,800 Tuardal 06,000-06,100 06,000-06,100 Moong 4,400-4,500 4,400-4,500 Moongdal 5,500-5,550 5,500-5,550 Udid 05,400-05,500 05,600-05,700 RICE IR-8 2,350-2,400 2,350-2,400 Basmati Best 8,700-8,800 08,700-08,800 Parimal 2,400-2,450 2,400-2,450 Punjab Parimal 2,700-2,750 2,700-2,750 Basmati Medium 6,000-6,100 6,000-6,100 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/rajkot-foodgrain-prices-july-262017/articleshow/59771183.cms

Companies take too much profit from rice Jakarta | Wed, July 26, 2017 | 05:21 pm

Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) chairman Syarkawi Rauf (from left), National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman and Trade Ministry secretary-general Karyanto show premium rice seized from a rice warehouse in Bekasi, West Java owned by PT Indo Beras Unggul (IBU) on July 20. (Antara/Risky Andrianto National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian has said rice firms took too much profit from the unhusked rice they bought from farmers, who received subsidies to grow the crop. ―Around 56 million farmers get about Rp 60 trillion [US$4.49 billion] from the commodity, while the traders get Rp 130 trillion,‖ Tito said at the State Palace, recently. Last week, the police raided a rice warehouse in Bekasi, West Java, owned by PT Indo Beras Unggul (IBU), a producer of allegedly bogus premium-quality rice.

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Minister clarifies rice reports National Police Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) economic crimes chief Brig. Gen. Agung Setya said the company had bought unhusked rice from farmers for Rp 4,900 per kilogram.

It reportedly sold it as medium and premium rice at Rp 13,700 and Rp 20,400 per kilogram, respectively. Meanwhile, the retail price set by the government was Rp 9,500 per kilogram.

Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said this year the government had allocated Rp 30 trillion for subsidized fertilizers and Rp 50 trillion to Rp 60 trillion for rice seeds and tractor purchases for farmers. PT IBU spokesman Jo Tjong Seng said the government subsidized farmers so that they could increase their productivity, while his company bought rice from any farmer whether they were subsidized or not. Tito stressed the government wanted the farmers to get more benefit from the crop, while traders were also allowed to get a fair margin from their business. ―Even though it is justified by market mechanisms, the government still needs to intervene in the rice distribution,‖ he said. (dis/bbn) http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/07/26/producers-take-too-much-margin-from-rice.html

Vietnam-Australia rice cooperation in fine shape

Rice cooperation between Vietnam and Australia is growing strongly and will continue to head upwards in the years to come.Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue, during his visit to the Australia, told a meeting with Australian businesses on July 24 that Vietnam can supply all types

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of rice in bulk to the country. Vietnam‘s rice exports to Australia reached 220,000 tonnes last year, an increase of 50 per cent compared to 2015 and accounting for 4.5 per cent of all trade with the country. Mr. Rob Gordon, CEO of Sunrice, the world‘s largest rice and food processor, said that some Vietnamese enterprises have exported micronutrient rice to islands in the Pacific Ocean under orders from Sunrice.

He also suggested the Vietnam Government permit Sunrice to expand its business in Vietnam, transfer technology, and share its experience in rice production in a closed process with Vietnamese enterprises. Deputy PM Hue appreciated Sunrice‘s goodwill and affirmed that the Vietnamese Government would direct the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to cooperate with the company to support Vietnamese rice producers. Besides rice, Australian enterprises are also keen on other sectors in Vietnam such as tourism. Vietnam is becoming a popular holiday destination for many Australians, with 50,000 expected each year in the near future.

Vietnam is now Australia‘s 15th largest trade partner, with two-way trade of over $10 billion, while Australian investment in Vietnam has boomed over recent years. In the first six months of this year, Australian investors invested over $95.7 million in 27 projects in Vietnam (both new projects and additional capital in existing projects). The United Nations‘ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) predicted in June that Vietnam would be among the Top 5 countries in terms of rice volumes this year.

The five are China (with more than 142 million tons), India (over 110 million tons), Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. Global rice volumes are likely to increase by 0.7 per cent this year compared to last year, to more than 502 million tons, according to the Food Potential report published by the FAO, due to policies promoting production in Asia and the recovery of production in South America and Australia. Vietnam exported nearly 4.9 million tons of rice last year worth $2.1 billion, a decline of 25.5 per cent and 20.5 per cent, respectively, against 2015. http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/182769/vietnam-australia-rice-cooperation-infine-shape.html

Thailand freezes former PM Yingluck’s bank accounts in rice subsidy case BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's justice ministry froze some of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's bank accounts, the ministry and her legal team said on Monday, in relation to a $1 billion fine imposed by the ruling junta over her administration's rice-subsidy program.She has filed a court petition to revoke the freezing of her bank accounts and to grant an injunction to suspend asset seizures, saying they were unlawful.

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Yingluck, whose government was ousted by the junta in a 2014 coup, will deliver a closing statement in a separate criminal case over the rice subsidies next week.The program, which helped Yingluck sail to victory in a 2011 election, bought rice from farmers at above-market rates and distorted global prices but proved popular with rural voters.Finance Ministry permanent secretary Somchai Sujjapongse told reporters on Monday that government committees submitted details of 12 bank accounts which belong to Yingluck to the Legal Execution Department, which then took action.

Yingluck received a formal notice about her frozen accounts from the department on Monday, her legal team said.Yingluck declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.Her supporters have accused the courts of bias in frequently ruling against Yingluck and her family members.The rice scheme was a policy engineered by Yingluck's brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled in a 2006 coup and lives abroad, to avoid a two-year prison sentence from 2008 for graft in a land purchase case.

Thaksin won the hearts of voters in the populous northeast and the north but made enemies among the powerful, military-backed Bangkok elite.In 2015, a military-appointed legislature banned Yingluck from politics for five years after finding her guilty of mismanaging the rice scheme.

The Supreme Court will give its verdict in the criminal case against Yingluck on Aug. 25.Yingluck, who says the trial against her is politically motivated, faces up to 10 years in prison if she is found guilty of negligence over her role in the scheme.

Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Louise Ireland https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-yingluck-idUSKBN1A921F

Thailand freezes former PM Yingluck’s bank accounts in rice subsidy case BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's justice ministry froze some of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's bank accounts, the ministry and her legal team said on Monday, in relation to a $1 billion fine imposed by the ruling junta over her administration's rice-subsidy program.She has filed a court petition to revoke the freezing of her bank accounts and to grant an injunction to suspend asset seizures, saying they were unlawful.

Yingluck, whose government was ousted by the junta in a 2014 coup, will deliver a closing statement in a separate criminal case over the rice subsidies next week.The program, which helped Yingluck sail to victory in a 2011 election, bought rice from farmers at above-market rates and distorted global prices but proved popular with rural voters.Finance Ministry permanent secretary Somchai Sujjapongse told reporters on Monday that government

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committees submitted details of 12 bank accounts which belong to Yingluck to the Legal Execution Department, which then took action.

Yingluck received a formal notice about her frozen accounts from the department on Monday, her legal team said.Yingluck declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.Her supporters have accused the courts of bias in frequently ruling against Yingluck and her family members.The rice scheme was a policy engineered by Yingluck's brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled in a 2006 coup and lives abroad, to avoid a two-year prison sentence from 2008 for graft in a land purchase case.Thaksin won the hearts of voters in the populous northeast and the north but made enemies among the powerful, military-backed Bangkok elite.

In 2015, a military-appointed legislature banned Yingluck from politics for five years after finding her guilty of mismanaging the rice scheme.The Supreme Court will give its verdict in the criminal case against Yingluck on Aug. 25.Yingluck, who says the trial against her is politically motivated, faces up to 10 years in prison if she is found guilty of negligence over her role in the scheme.

Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Louise Ireland https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-yingluck-idUSKBN1A921F

Nigeria: Rice Importation Down By 80% - Osinbajo Bags of rice.

By Musa Abdullahi Krishi

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Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has said Nigeria's rice importation has dropped by over 80 per cent and that the country would be self-sufficient next year.Declaring open the 16th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC), Africa Region yesterday in Abuja, Osinbajo said the feat was achieved based on the collaborative efforts of both the Executive and the Legislature.

"In the last two years, Nigeria which is the largest producer of rice in West Africa and the second largest importer of rice in the world has changed that story. Our rice import bill in 2014 was N1billion a month. "Today by a combination of progressive legislative appropriation to agriculture and providing single digit credit under our anchor borrowers programme for the purchase of right fertilizer quality and other inputs and credit, many rice farmers moved from getting yields of 3.5 metric tons per hectare to 7.5 mt per hectare.The acting president also said the two arms of government have worked harmoniously in the past two years but that the media gets more interested in disagreements between them.

"On a lighter note, I don't know the experience of Presiding Officers from other nations present of the portrayals by the press of the relationship between the executive and the legislature. Here in Nigeria what makes the news is conflict between the executive and the legislature.Senate President Bukola Saraki in a goodwill message said the conference should provide opportunity to address certain issues in Africa.

Speaker Yakubu Dogara, who is the chairman of the conference called on legislatures across Africa to break their people free from dictatorship by building strong institutions. http://allafrica.com/stories/201707260814.html

At Clay Handi, PakistaniIndian curries to favor

By Andrew Z. Galarneau | Published 5:00 p.m. July 27, 2017 | Updated 1 hour ago Chicken Jalfrezi is made with boneless chicken, yogurt, herbs and spices, bell peppers, onion, tomatoes then cooked and served in the clay pot. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News)

There was a place in Amherst whose lights shone ever-so-briefly, now mostly remembered for its name: Hucklebuckets. Buckets may be the least appetizing serving vessel you might propose, short of bedpans.

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Plus, why name a restaurant after the dishes? So when I learned that the Pakistani restaurant in Kenmore had changed its name to Clay Handi, I was wary.

A handi is a type of lidded clay pot traditionally used in Pakistan, owner Masud Qazi explained.

All of the dishes in the restaurant are made of clay right down to the water cups.Would all the attention paid to the servingware undercut the restaurant's focus on the quality of food? After enjoying the lively curries and sublime baked-to-order breads at Clay Handi, I would have been happy eating its food off an old Frisbee.

Qazi opened the place in 2011 as Zaiqa, the only Pakistani place in the area. It was a buffetcentric restaurant, but now only cooks dishes to order for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

A thorough redecorating has turned Clay Handi into the most exotic former KFC dining room around. Checkerboard walls are lined with vessels, pitchers and platters.

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Beef Green Handi is strip loin beef cooked with herbs and spices and a paste made from cilantro, bell peppers, and green onions. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News)

Clay Handi: Restaurant review Pakistani cuisine is quite similar to Indian, differing in details like spice mixtures. There's fried appetizers like samosas, pastry-wrapped turnovers, aromatic rice pilafs like biryanis, and curry dishes, each in their own distinctly flavored gravy.Grilled meats, kabobs and made-to-order flatbreads come out of the tandoor oven.

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After ordering, the table was set with more clay saucers filled with sweet-and-sour tamarind sauce, mango preserves, bracing cilantro-chile chutney, assertively sour yogurt sauce, "like our ketchup," the server said, but with far more range.

They came in handy dressing up the thick-shelled but serviceable samosas stuffed with potato and peas ($1.99), spiced ground chicken ($2.99) and vegetable pakora ($6.99), onions, cauliflower and more fried in chickpea batter.

Reshmi Kabob is made with ground chicken, herbs, spices and cream and then clay-oven barbecued and served on a bed of onion and peppers. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News)

Seekh kabobs, in chicken ($7.99), beef ($9.99) and lamb ($12.99), didn't need any boost. They were robustly spiced cylinders of coarsely ground meat mixed with whole coriander seed, fresh minced chile and onion. Packed onto skewers and fired in the tandoor, they arrived on a sizzle platter with bell pepper, onion and tomato, with lime wedges.

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A touch finer were chicken bihari kabobs ($9.99), smoothed out with an infusion of cream.

How many Indian/Pakistani restaurants offer better fresh bread than Clay Handi? Naan. At $1.99, a dinner-plate-sized disc of plain naan - warm, puffy and golden under a colorful cloth - is worth a stop by itself. Garlic naan ($3.99) was topped with bits of cumin seeds, cilantro and fresh garlic softened in the heat.

Onion kulcha ($3.99) was crowned with fire-sweetened diced onion. Parathas - griddled, flaky pancake-like breads - came plain ($2.99) or stuffed with fillings like meat (keema paratha, $4.99).

Onion kulcha is made with custom made wheat flour, onion, cilantro and cumin seeds. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News)

When the handis started arriving, I wanted to applaud. Beef green handi ($17.99) was forkshreddable chunks of meat in deeply redolent cilantro sauce, topped, like those to follow, with

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fresh matchsticked ginger root for pungent crunch. I would have stopped here, though my professional responsibilities required otherwise.

Mutton ginger ($24.99) wasn't as lively, with tougher meat. (Prices are for the small size; many dishes are offered in large, serving four or more. Not available in small: Yemeni whole lamb with salad and yogurt, $399.99.)

Matar paneer ($12.99) offered sautĂŠed cubes of fresh cheese and peas in savory, almost smoky tomato cream. Fish masala ($17.99) was tilapia that had been fried then simmered in a beguiling sauce of ginger, black cumin, black cardamom and other spices. It drew my spoon back time and again, for just on

e more taste.

Clay Handi owner Masud Qazi presents the Reshmi Kabob. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News)

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The comely spicing of aloo gobi ($9.99), cauliflower and potatoes, showed that vegetables could shine here as well. Malai kofta ($12.99), browned vegetable balls in creamy sauce, were uninvitingly mushy.

A solid version of lamb biryani ($12.99) offered fork-tender meat hidden in a snowdrift of spicescented basmati rice, topped with fresh cilantro.

Also notable: a cannonball-sized clay jug of mango lassi, ($9.99), enough of the cooling sourand-sweet yogurt shake to satisfy six. The dairy content makes it an effective fire suppressant, called upon at times even though we asked for medium heat.

Specifically Pakistani dishes include stews like chicken haleem ($14.99), mutton nihari ($19.99) and paya ($14.99).

Chicken Jalfrezi is made with boneless chicken, yogurt, herbs and spices, bell peppers, onion, tomatoes then cooked and served in the clay pot. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News)

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Some of the prices are a notch higher than most area Indian restaurants, and rice is not included with entrees. But they're fair prices for the quality of cuisine, and a steal compared to lackluster upscale casual restaurants with entrees north of $20. If budget issues press, try the $9.99 platter option, offering smaller portions of two dishes, plus rice, bread and salad.Handis are important because they allow for a traditional Pakistani style of cooking that's healthier because it retains nutrients and uses less fat, Qazi said. I've never been to Pakistan and am not a dietician, so I am ill-equipped to evaluate those claims.What I can tell you is that it's the best Indian-ish meal I've had this year. I'd call it a feat of clay.

DINING OUT Clay Handi – 8 plates (out of 10) Where: 3054 Delaware Ave., Kenmore (877-7797) Hours: 9 a.m. to midnight.

Prices: Breakfast, $3.99-$14.99; appetizers and soups, $1.99-$12.99; tandoori meat and seafood, $4.99-$24.99; dishes, $9.99-$49.99.

Parking: Lot, street.

Wheelchair accessible: Yes. Gluten-free: Yes, ask server.

Clay Handi opened two months ago at 3054 Delaware Ave. in Kenmore and serves Pakistani cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News) agalarneau@buffnews.com http://buffalonews.com/2017/07/27/clay-handi-pakistani-indian-curries-favor/ Quote of the Day

"The most sincere form of love is love for food."

- George Bernard Shaw Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com