31st march,2017 daily global,regional and local rice e newsletter

Daily Rice e-Newsletter Global Regional and Local Rice News

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PAKISTAN SENDS 10000 METRIC TON RICE TO DROUGHT-HIT SRI LANKA Complete religious freedom in Pakistan, US told Rice prices rise in India, Thailand on stronger currencies Basmati rice exports may grow to Rs 22,000-22,500 cr in FY18: ICRA Rice basmati strengthens on rising demand Rice import plan on hold Vietnam's Q1 rice exports down but Chinese appetite set to grow Proposed tariff on rice imports seen as safety net for farmers Dining Out: Basmati of Annapolis provides elegant, leisurely dining Indonesia to export rice to Malaysia UK Makes Brexit Official; What are Implications for U.S. Rice?

IRRI and FAO step up joint efforts to globally bolster sustainable rice production Sustainable rice production key to food security U N agriculture agency takes step to help rice farmers bolster production IRRI and FAO step up joint efforts to globally bolster sustainable rice production U.S. rice deliveries to Mexico surging PHILIPPINE FARM MINISTER SAYS LIKELY NO NEED TO IMPORT 250,000 T OF RICE Philippines may reconsider 250,000-MT rice import plan Indonesia to export rice to Malaysia Vietnam’s Q1 rice exports down but Chinese appetite set to grow Basmati rice exports may grow to Rs 22,000-22,500 crore in FY18: Report Rice stocks trade higher: Kohinoor Foods, KRBL, Chaman Lal surge

News Detail...

PAKISTAN SENDS 10 ,000 METRIC TON RICE TO DROUGHT-HIT SRI LANKA Foreign Office Spokesperson says Pakistan will continue to provide all possible support to the drought-hit people of Sri Lanka.

File Photo

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05:38 PM, 30 Mar, 2017

The shipment of ten thousand metric ton rice to Sri Lanka in the wake of severe drought in that country started on Thursday.

The first shipment of rice sent today will reach Sri Lanka on Monday.

Earlier, twenty-five metric ton of rice was dispatched to Colombo on 8th of last month as immediate short term assistance.

Foreign Office spokesperson, in a statement, said the government and people of Pakistan stand shoulder to shoulder with the brotherly people of Sri Lanka in this hour of need and will continue to provide all possible support to them. http://www.radio.gov.pk/30-Mar-2017/pakistan-sends-10-000-metric-ton-rice-to-drought-hit-srilanka

Complete religious freedom in Pakistan, US told March 31, 2017 Our Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD - Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on ForeignAffairs Syed Tariq Fatemi said on Thursday that there was a complete religious freedom in Pakistan.

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In a meeting with Knox Thames, the US Department of State‘s SpecialAdviser on Religious Minorities in the Near East and South and Central Asia, Fatemi said steps were taken by the government to ensure a more inclusive and progressive Pakistan.

He said that while the world was facing increasing xenophobia and hostility towards minorities, the policies of the government and it's across the board support has clearly shown that the nation has rejected the politics of hate and divisiveness.

Fatemi said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif‘s Holi message to the members of the Hindu community, address to religious scholars at Jamia Naeemia and his message on the occasion of Christmas, all serve to highlight the government‘s unflinching resolve to fully protect the rights of the minorities, as guaranteed under the constitution of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Pakistan on Thursday dispatched 10,000 MT rice to Sri Lanka in line with the prime minister‘s directive to provide all necessary assistance in the wake of severe drought in that country.

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―The procedure for the dispatch of 10,000 MT rice to Sri Lanka through containerized shipments, has been initiated. The first shipment out of 10,000 MT rice from Pakistan (sent on March 30) will reach Sri Lanka on April 3.

Earlier, 25 MT rice have already been dispatched to Colombo, on February 8 through PAF aircraft, as immediate short-term assistance,‖ said a foreign ministry statement.

http://nation.com.pk/national/31-Mar-2017/complete-religious-freedom-inpakistan-us-told

Rice prices rise in India, Thailand on stronger currencies Reuters | HANOI/BANGKOK/MUMBAI March 30, 2017 Last Updated at 15:04 IST Asia Rice - India down as overseas demand wanes; Vietnam up on thin supplyRise prices rise in India, Thailand on stronger currenciesRice prices in India up as demand revives; Thai, Vietnam markets quietRice prices fall in India on ample supply, weaker rupee; Thailand, Vietnam dullAsia gold demand rises on price drop; discounts in India at multi-month low

By Mai Nguyen, Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Rajendra Jadhav HANOI/BANGKOK/MUMBAI (Reuters) - Rice prices firmed in Thailand and India on stronger local currencies, while prices weakened in Vietnam as the country entered its peak harvest season, traders said on Thursday.

India's 5 percent broken parboiled rice prices rose by $2 per tonne to $373 to $378 a tonne this week, as gains in the rupee led exporters to raise prices. The rupee was near its highest level in about 18 months.

"In dollar terms we have raised prices due to a rising rupee. Our realisation in rupee terms is still down compared with last month," said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

India, the world's biggest rice exporter, mainly exports non-basmati rice to African countries and premier basmati rice to the Middle East. Its rice production is likely to rise by 4.3 percent to a record high 108.86 million tonnes in 2016/17.

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"African buyers are making inquiries but still demand is weak," said another exporter based at Kakinada.

In Thailand, the world's second largest rice exporter, prices of the benchmark 5-percent broken rice rose to $350-$365 a tonne free-on-board (FOB) Bangkok from $350-$362 last week, as the baht appreciated against the U.S. dollar, but demand has been lacklustre.

"The baht keeps strengthening, but actual rice prices haven't moved up that much," said a Bangkok-based trader.

The U.S. dollar/Thai baht FX spot rate was at 34.49 as of 0615 GMT on Thursday, compared with the closing figure of 34.58 a week earlier, Thomson Reuters data showed.

The Thai government held a state auction last week to offload spoiled rice for industrial use, but results have yet to be announced.

"Thai rice market has been quiet for the past three months. Nothing spectacular, just regular orders," said an exporter in Bangkok.

Vietnam, the world's third largest rice exporter, has entered its main harvest season since late March, pushing down prices of the 5 percent broken rice to $348-$350 a tonne FOB Saigon from $350-$355 last week, traders said."Prices are down because of the harvest season but we still can't sell due to competitive Thai prices... Most of the shipments now are still for China," said a Ho Chi Minh City-based trader.Vietnam's rice exports are expected to fall 23.9 percent annually to 1.19 million tonnes in the first quarter, after its shipments of the grain dropped 26.5 percent in 2016 due to lower production caused by climate changes, the government said.

Traders said the market was eyeing potential deals from the Philippine government, one of Vietnam's biggest rice importers, but the Philippines' farm minister said there might be no urgent need for a 250,000-tonne rice import plan.

(Reporting by Mai Nguyen in Hanoi, Patpicha Tanakasempipat in Bangkok and Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)http://www.business-standard.com/article/reuters/rice-prices-rise-in-indiathailand-on-stronger-currencies-117033000621_1.html

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Basmati rice exports may grow to Rs 22,000-22,500 cr in FY18: ICRA "In FY18, the value of exports is likely to grow to Rs 22,000–22,500 crore, with export volumes growing to around 4.09 million tonne and supported by an increase in average realisations," Jotwani added.

Basmati rice exports is likely to grow to Rs 22,000–22,500 crore and volume to around 4.09 million tonne mainly supported by an increase in average realisations, rating agency ICRA said in a report today.

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"We expect the export volumes in FY17 to be around 4 million tonne (almost similar to the volumes in FY2016). However, muted average realisations are expected to keep the value of these exports to under Rs 21,000 crore, against Rs 22,718 crore in FY16," said ICRA Assistant Vice President Deepak Jotwani.

"In FY18, the value of exports is likely to grow to Rs 22,000–22,500 crore, with export volumes growing to around 4.09 million tonne and supported by an increase in average realisations," Jotwani added.

This is likely to push up Basmati rice prices in the next fiscal, he said.

Resumption of imports by Iran will be keenly watched by the industry as it has the potential to provide an impetus to exports, he added.

"Going forward, the coming financial year is expected to witness better revenue growth supported by a rise in average realisations, as paddy prices firm up during the current procurement season. Moreover, resumption of imports by Iran will also be crucial for driving industry growth in the next fiscal," Jotwani said.

The basmati rice industry witnessed moderation over the last few years on the back of subdued international demand, partly attributable to the delay in resumption of imports by Iran.

However, 2016-17 has seen some stabilisation in demand, ICRA said, adding after peaking at Rs 29,300 crore in FY14, the value of basmati rice exports went on a downward trajectory.

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While volumes saw some growth over the last few years, the decline in value is primarily owing to continued pressure on average realisations (declined from a high of Rs 77,988 per tonne in FY14 to Rs 56,149 per tonne in FY16) in the light of moderation in demand in the global market, ICRA said.

Nevertheless, the export volumes in the current fiscal have largely been in line with last year, being supported by the increasing domestic demand for basmati rice, the report added.

It said, the industry has registered milling gains on paddy procured at a fairly low rate in the last procurement season and favourable foreign exchange rate movement.

For the next fiscal, the industry is expected to benefit from the rising paddy prices, ICRA said.

After declining considerably during the procurement season in FY16, basmati paddy prices have firmed up by 20-25 per cent across various varieties, primarily due to the relatively lower production, in the recent procurement season - October to December 2016, the agency noted. http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/economy/basmati-rice-exports-may-grow-to-rs22000-22500-cr-in-fy18-icra-2249507.html

Rice basmati strengthens on rising demand Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,700, Basmati common new Rs 8,300-8,400, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 6,700-8,000, Permal raw Rs 2,300-2,350, Permal wand Rs 2,450-2,500, Sela Rs 3,100-3,200 and Rice IR-8 Rs 2,050-2,100, Bajra Rs 1,4201,430, Jowar yellow Rs 1650-1700, white Rs 3,350-3,550, Maize Rs 1,500-1,510, Barley Rs 1,5001,520

New Delhi, Mar 30 Rice basmati prices rose by Rs 200 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today on the back of rising demand.

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However, maize eased on reduced offtake by consuming industries.

Traders said rising demand from retailers against restricted supplies from producing regions, mainly kept rice basmati prices higher.

In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa-1121 variety advanced by Rs 200 each to Rs 8,300-8,400 and Rs 6,700-8,000 per quintal, respectively.

On the other hand, maize drifted lower by Rs 15 to Rs 1,500-1,510 per quintal.

Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal): Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,300-2,600, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,800-1,810, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,850-1,880, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 240, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 240, Roller flour mill Rs 990-1,000 (50 kg), Maida Rs 1,090-1,100 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs 1,220-1,225 (50 kg).

Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,700, Basmati common new Rs 8,300-8,400, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 6,700-8,000, Permal raw Rs 2,3002,350, Permal wand Rs 2,450-2,500, Sela Rs 3,100-3,200 and Rice IR-8 Rs 2,050-2,100, Bajra Rs 1,420-1,430, Jowar yellow Rs 1650-1700, white Rs 3,350-3,550, Maize Rs 1,500-1,510, Barley Rs 1,500-1,520. http://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/rice-basmati-strengthens-on-risingdemand/1017834

Rice import plan on hold March 31, 2017

Despite the National Food Authority‘s (NFA) assertion the country needs to immediately import 250,000 metric tons (MT) of rice, the Department of Agriculture (DA) believes Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com

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otherwise.

Emmanuel Piñol, DA secretary, is putting this plan on hold and said the importation ―may have to be reviewed and validated as the DA ...expects a bumper rice harvest this planting season.‖ ―So far, there was no reported infestation and this season‘s crops have not been affected by inclement weather,‖ Piñol said.

The Philippines is one of the world‘s biggest rice buyers, importing its requirements mainly from neighbors Thailand and Vietnam, the world‘s number two and three rice exporters after India.

The NFA had proposed to fast track the importation of the 250,000 MT of rice out of the 500,000 MT rice imports approved for 2016 so the grains would arrive by end-April to boost thinning stocks ahead of the lean domestic harvest season beginning July.

The agency had cited the need to replenish rice inventory through a government-negotiated importation to ensure it can effectively respond to the needs of emergency or calamity victims in the coming lean months and allow it to preposition the stocks strategically.

NFA likewise wanted to boost stocks to prevent price manipulation, hoarding and speculation by private traders.

The final say, however, is with the NFA Council, the government panel that approves rice importation. The council is chaired by Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco.

In an earlier interview, NFA administrator Jason Aquino, said the Philippines cannot afford to procrastinate ―when our people‘s most basic food is at stake.‖ Aquino said the only way NFA can fill the deficit in its rice buffer stock requirement is through importation and any delay ―in getting the 250,000 MT into our government warehouses may lead to disastrous consequences.‖ He said while farmers are currently harvesting their summer crop, the NFA cannot compete with the private traders who are buying higher than the government support price of P17 per kilogram (kg.), even with additional incentives amounting to P0.70 to P1.00 per kg.

The agency said based on its monitoring, traders in most areas across the country are Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com

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buying palay at P18 to P20 per kg. Aquino said the NFA also needs to beef up its stock inventory to prevent any nefarious business activities such as price manipulation, hoarding and price speculation as the agency is also mandated to stabilize the price and supply of rice. ―Although we have enough procurement funds to buy local harvest, our farmers would be better off selling to private traders at higher prices. Thus, we cannot possibly build up our mandated 30-day food security buffer stock before the lean months via local procurement alone,‖ Aquino had said.

The Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council said the NFA, as food security watchdog of government, should maintain a rice buffer stock good to last for 15 days at any given time and for 30 days at the onset of the lean months from July to September, based on the daily consumption requirement of 32,150 MT or 643,000 bags. (Jed Macapagal with Reuters)

http://malaya.com.ph/business-news/business/rice-import-plan-hold

Vietnam's Q1 rice exports down but Chinese appetite set to grow

By Ho Binh Minh March 30, 2017 | 03:13 pm GMT+7

Vietnam's first-quater rice exports have fallen to a two-year low, but the outlook remains positive as China, its biggest buyer, is forecast to import more this year. Photo by Reuters/File Photo 'China has a major impact on Vietnam's rice exports because when China starts making inquiries, prices rise and other buyers turn away from Vietnam.'

Vietnam's first-quarter rice exports have fallen to a two-year low, but the outlook remains positive as shipments to China, its biggest buyer, are forecast to grow this year, traders and industry reports said.

"The land border gates are now officially closed to Vietnamese rice, so export prices have dropped," a trader at a foreign company in Ho Chi Minh City said, explaining that more fresh winter-spring grain arriving from the Mekong Delta has contributed to the lower prices.

China has been the biggest consumer of Vietnamese rice since 2012, when it overtook Indonesia.

Last year, Beijing and Hanoi signed an agreement to boost the rice trade via official channels. China has named 22 Vietnamese export firms that it deems qualified to deal with.

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He said the Chinese government prefers official trade as it cannot tax rice imported via land. China officially imports around 2 million tons of Vietnamese rice a year, while another 11.5 million tons enters China via land, and that volume is not included in Vietnam's official statistics.

This week, Vietnam's 5-percent broken rice prices fell to $347-$350 a ton, free-on-board Saigon Port, from around $360 a ton in late February. At $347, the price is the lowest since February 16.

Vietnamese rice is now cheaper than Thai rice of a similar grade, which stood this week at $374 a ton, according to the Thai Rice Exporters Association.

Exports fall Shipments from Vietnam, the world's third-biggest rice exporter after India and Thailand, in the January-March period dropped 24 percent from a year ago to an estimated 1.2 million tons, a two-year low, the government said on Wednesday.

The estimate is the lowest since the first quarter of 2015, when Vietnam shipped 1.13 million tons.

Overall weak demand is the reason for the drop, with potential buyers, including the Philippines and Mexico, still absent, traders said.

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Earlier this month, Mexico approved for 150,000 tons of rice to be imported at a zero percent tariff to meet domestic demand and diversify its supply sources. Traders said the demand would cut the market share currently held by the United States and open the door to Vietnamese rice.

However, Mexico has yet to act on the decision.

China imported 331,300 tons of Vietnamese rice from January-February, up 41 percent from a year ago, based on data from Vietnam's agriculture ministry. In February alone, it bought 36 percent of Vietnam's total rice exports, more than doubling the market share it held a year ago.

China's imports China's rice imports in the 2016/2017 market year ending this June are forecast to rise 4 percent to 5 million tons, with Vietnam and Thailand remaining its key suppliers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a report released on March 21.

It said China's rice imports would continue to be profitable if import prices stay below China‘s floor price of $389 a ton, while the average CIF (cost-insurance-freight) rice price from Southeast Asia to China is $350/ton.

"China has a major impact on Vietnam's rice exports because when China starts making inquiries, prices rise and other buyers turn away from Vietnam, so overall the volume does not rise significantly," a second trader said.

He noted that more paddy is coming from the Mekong Delta, which supplies 90 percent of Vietnam's rice exports.

Mekong Delta farmers have finished harvesting around half of the 1.53 million hectares (3.78 million acres) planted for the crop, the Vietnam Food Association said.

Output down Harvesting of the crop, the biggest among the delta's three crops a year, ends in April. Paddy output is forecast to ease to 10 million tons, down 1.3 percent from last year, which is the third drop in a row, the agriculture ministry said, blaming unseasonal rain during the heading stage in November-December 2016.

In the long term, Vietnam's rice acreage and output will further fall as the country seeks to restructure its cash crops, officials said.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc suggested related agencies to switch from low-yield rice to medicinal plants if the latter has higher benefits, a government statement said, as part of efforts to boost Vietnam's pharmaceutical sector.

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But the government also regards rice as essential to national food security, a status that gives rice businesses access to credit and adequate support.

Phuc told a conference on March 15 to look for solutions for sustainable production in the Mekong Delta.

The premier has urged the trade ministry to strip the food association's right to set floor prices and to allocate shipments to key markets, factors that exporters said have been hindering overseas sales.

The association has projected Vietnam's rice exports this year will reach around 5 million tons.

Shipments fell to 4.8 million tons in 2016, the lowest since 2008, due in part to thinner demand and growing regional competition. http://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/vietnam-s-q1-rice-exports-down-but-chinese-appetite-set-to-grow3563072.html

Proposed tariff on rice imports seen as safety net for farmers

By Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star) | Updated March 31, 2017 - 12:00am

Revenues from the proposed imposition of a 35 percent tariff on rice imports upon expiration of the quantitative restriction (QR) – seen to reach between P27 billion and P28 billion within the current administration – is sufficient to provide for safety net measures for farmers who would be affected by increased importation, said state-run think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). File photo MANILA, Philippines - Revenues from the proposed imposition of a 35 percent tariff on rice imports upon expiration of the quantitative restriction (QR) – seen to reach between P27 billion and P28 billion within the current administration – is sufficient to provide for safety net measures for farmers who would be affected by increased importation, said state-run think tank

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Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

In its latest policy note on the impending expiration of the special tax treatment on rice in June, PIDS said replacing the QR with a 35 percent tariff would double annual imports from the current 2.2 million tons to around 4.4. million tons on the average from 2017 to 2022.

Farmgate and retail prices, meanwhile, are projected to decrease by P4.56 per kilogram and P6.97 per kilogram respectively as a result of the unrestricted volume of importation.

PIDS said the tariff revenues would be sufficient to cover the cost of compensatory transfers to farmers under a post-QR regime at P17 billion to P18 billion annually until the end of the Duterte administration. ―The remaining amount can be used for other programs also directed to assist farmers,‖ said PIDS. At a total of four million hectares of rice cultivation areas eligible for computation in the provision of transfers, the government can afford to pay a farmer with two hectares P19,000 annually.

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The transfers are proposed to be provided over and above the existing production support provided by pertinent government agencies to enable them to transition to a more open trade environment. ―The purpose of the payments is to compensate farmers from income loss. It does not intend to displace ongoing productivity enhancement measures nor does it aim to increase the competitiveness of farmers.

At the most, it eases the pain of transition to other crops and even other livelihood,‖ PIDS said.

The Philippines is actually entitled to impose a higher tariff on rice imports according to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Agriculture.

PIDS said that as prescribed under the agreement, QR measures are converted to tariffs by taking the difference of international and domestic prices from 1986 to 1988. Following the formula, the estimated tariff equivalent for imported rice is 38.5 percent.

Considering, however, that almost all rice imported by the Philippines come from Vietnam and Thailand, it would be more appropriate to use the tariff rate of 35 percent for ASEAN. ―A 35-percent tariff rate seems appropriate as a tariff equivalent. A safety net for rice farmers can be as much as P 20 billion annually and can be financed entirely by earmarking funds from the tariff revenue. In short, tarif cation with safety nets will bring down the price of rice and ease the dislocation of rice farmers,‖ PIDS said.

The extended QR, which would lapse in June 2017, is meant to protect the livelihood of Filipino rice farmers while they are strengthening their production capability. This extension was came after two years of negotiation with the WTO and various member countries under the Aquino administration.

Through the QR, the Philippines imposes a high tariff of 35 percent on imported rice, the volume of which has been restricted to 805, 200 metric tons (MT). Importing outside the QR is even more expensive as inbound shipments would be levied a duty of 40 to 50 percent.To fill the supply gap, the National Food Authority (NFA) imports rice through tenders and intervenes in the market by selling the staple at a cheaper price. http://www.philstar.com/business/2017/03/31/1686107/proposed-tariff-rice-imports-seen-safety-net-farmers

Dining Out: Basmati of Annapolis provides elegant, leisurely dining A dish of Vegetable Jalfrezi at Basmati Indian Cuisine in Annapolis. (Joshua McKerrow, staff / Capital Gazette) Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com

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Richard WadeCorrespondent Whether you like your Indian cuisine hot - or not so hot, Basmati customizes it for you. See the video and pho I've decided that most of us do not spend enough time eating. Too often, we grab something for breakfast on the run, have a quick lunch and gobble dinner by the warming glow of a television screen. Ever notice what's on at dinnertime? News and game shows.

That's why I like a good Indian restaurant – it slows you down.

FROM OUR PARTNERS: Jeff Bezos Is Now the World‘s Second Richest Person And, Basmati is a good Indian restaurant. Tucked in the center of a small strip of stores on Solomons Island Road near the Annapolis Harbor Center, the bright, warm décor and comfortable booths and tables invite lingering.

Nothing on the menu will surprise you. If you love Indian cuisine, all your favorites are there. If you are new to its pleasures, there is much explore: 15 appetizers; a dozen selections from their tandoor, the cylindrical oven used in Asian cooking; and chicken, lamb, seafood, rice and vegetarian entrée choices that number more than 50.

Many regions and styles of cooking will leave you with a fine sense of the diversity of the Indian palate. The flavors are complex, deep and often spicy. It takes a bit of time to appreciate them.

Dining Out: Sailor Oyster Bar is a pearl of a place With so many curries and assertive herbs and spices at work that give the food its distinctive character, many diners are wary. But, the restaurant's chefs and servers are quick to ask about and adjust the level of heat.

Your meal is served as it might be at a family table. Rice in one bowl, meat or vegetables in an aromatic sauce in another encourages sharing. There is a rhythm to a leisurely meal and Basmati's serving team catches it beautifully.

Our hungry quartet found a platter of four meat samosas ($13.90) a comforting starter. The crispy pastries, filled with ground lamb and peas subtly seasoned, emerged from the kitchen hot and with nary a trace of cooking oil. Other appetizers feature many vegetables, kabobs and fritters, all light and sharable.

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Dining Out: Pussers has room for redemption after dreary dinner Chicken Biryani ($16.95), Chicken Curry ($16.95) Chicken Patia ($17.95) and Shrimp Tikka Masala ($20.95) were the evening's entrees.

With its mild flavor, chicken is a perfect stage for the savory sauces of Indian cooking. Chicken Biryani adds marinated chicken to Basmati rice flavored with a sauce of saffron and herbs. With a little salad on the side, it was a winning meal on a chilly night.

Curries can be powerful eating and the diner who ordered it requested "hot."

"Are you sure?" our waiter calmly asked.

And hot he got.

My sample of his meal yielded very tender chicken bathed in a very hot sauce that happily did not overwhelm or hide its bracing mix of herbs and spices. Chicken Patia showed off the menu's lighthearted side with a sauce dominated by mango and ginger. With just a hint of sweetness and the bite of fresh ginger, it was a surprisingly smooth combination.

Salmon, shrimp, and lobster prevail among the seafood options, but Chef Paramjig Sharma also offers a salute to the Chesapeake Bay with crabmeat simmered in a creamy sauce featuring tomatoes and herb. The large, very fresh shrimp in my Shrimp Tikka Masala stood their ground in the "medium hot" sauce of butter and spices to produce a rich combination of flavors that actually were heightened by the heat.

With sauces so central to Indian food, bread becomes something more than a basket of carbs on the table. Naan, poori, bhatura and paratha are baked at Basmati and, as at every Indian restaurant, are points of pride. They come in many varieties, flavored with garlic, cheese and more and are the perfect ways to ensure that every drop of a sauce is consumed.

Fortunately, desserts at Basmati stick with the Indian way of light elegance. Kulfi, the traditional ice cream of pistachios, almonds and rosewater, is a refreshing lift, as is Kheer, a comforting rice pudding. New to the menu is a Punjabi Gajar (carrots) Halwa ‌ a treat that will remind you of just how sweet carrots can be.

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Our dinner for four at Basmati lasted nearly two hours. There are many restaurants where a twohour meal would indicate slow service. For us it was a couple of hours of relief from the fast pace of the day and the news of the world – real and fake.

Basmati slows you down – and that's a good thing.

Basmati WHERE: 2444 Solomons Island Road, Annapolis PHONE: 510-266-6355 WEBSITE: basmatiofannapolis.com HOURS: Lunch Buffet: Monday through Friday 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday Noon to 3 p.m.

Dinner: Sunday through Thursday 5 to 9:30 p.m.; Friday through Saturday 5 to 10:30 p.m.

CHEF: Paramjig Sharma 1st COURSES: $4.95 to $14.95 ENTREES: $13.95 to $32.95 CREDIT CARDS: All Major Cards RESERVATIONS: Accepted ACCESSIBILITY: Yes http://www.capitalgazette.com/entertainment/ph-ac-en-dining-out-basmati-0331-20170330-story.html

Indonesia to export rice to Malaysia Solo, C Java (ANTARA News) - Indonesia will export 15 to 50 thousand tons of rice to Malaysia in an effort to meet the neighboring countrys demand and requirement for the commodity.

"Some time ago, the agriculture minister of Malaysia had met me and expressed interest to import rice from Indonesia," Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman noted here on Thursday.

The minister made the statement after delivering a speech in the framework of the 41st anniversary of the University of Sebelas Maret based on the theme "The Role of Agriculture and Animal Resources in Support of National Food Security."

He remarked that Malaysia will still possibly increase its imports of Indonesian rice from the figures mentioned earlier.

He pointed out that Indonesia is now considered to be successful in achieving food selfsufficiency, especially after the launch of the rice cultivation program in the border regions due Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com

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to which the country has not imported rice since last year.

Especially with regard to the exports to Malaysia, the rice to be shipped soon is the Raja Unca type sourced from Pontianak in West Kalimantan, he revealed.

"The bottom line is that we have been able to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production, and this has been known by several countries, including by the Food and Agriculture Organization," he stated.

In addition to exporting rice to Malaysia, Indonesia had exported rice to Papua New Guinea, which was shipped from Papua Province.

Sulaiman noted that the government will continue to make efforts to maintain self-sufficiency, so that by the year 2045, it could become the worlds breadbasket.

Involvement of academics and students in advancing agriculture in the entire region is necessary to achieve this goal, the minister remarked.

"The president had also ordered and called on academics and students to get involved," Sulaiman pointed out.

He said the rice stock now reaches 1.9 million tons and is sufficient to meet the publics need during the fasting month of Ramadan.

The stocks will continue to grow, so that the demand for rice can be met during Ramadan.

The government will continue to maintain the stability in prices and the stocks of rice and other commodities, so that their prices will not increase.(*) http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/110223/ind onesia-to-export-rice-to-malaysia

UK Makes Brexit Official; What are Implications for U.S. Rice?

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BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - In a move that will have implications and present opportunities for U.S. rice, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom informed the President of the European Union yesterday that the UK is invoking its rights under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union to withdraw from the EU. Teresa May's six-page letter formalized what all knew was coming since UK citizens voted to leave the EU in June - the "Brexit."

The prime minister's action begins a two-year negotiation between UK and EU officials to remove the UK from more than 45 years of regulatory, economic, and political integration and establish a new relationship with the remaining 27 members of the EU. "This task is tremendously complicated and it's unclear if two years will be sufficient," said Bob Cummings, USA Rice COO. "Many believe that the result will be an interim agreement that recognizes Brexit while the two sides continue negotiations, and the U.S. rice industry has a definite stake in the outcome."

At issue for the U.S. industry is how the much-diminished European market for U.S. rice will fare. What has essentially been a single market: the EU, is becoming two markets: the EU and the UK. "We will need to work closely with U.S. trade officials on the treatment of the existing 38,000-metric-ton tariff rate quota for milled rice that the United States has with the EU," Cummings said. "Brexit should not affect that agreement that is the foundation of much of our current access in the EU where duties on U.S. rice are high while either very low or non-existent for many, many competitors."

Cummings acknowledged that much of the U.S. rice heading to the EU went to the UK, but that once Brexit is complete, the UK will have to establish its own tariff regime for imports not only from the EU but also from all other countries, including the United States.

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"Any U.S.-UK trade deal is at least two years away as the UK is unable to negotiate bilateral agreements with other countries while still a member of the EU," Cummings explained. "A U.S.-UK trade deal is attractive to our industry, especially now that a larger U.S.-EU trade deal (T-TIP) appears to be in hibernation."

The United States has exceeded its EU TRQ in each of the last 10 years, with 55,840 mt ($42.4 million) going to the EU last year. However, shipments are down considerably from the preLiberty Link period. For example, exports to the EU in 2005 were almost 306,000 mt ($86.4 million), of which 135,640 mt ($36.1 million) went to the UK. usa rice

IRRI and FAO step up joint efforts to globally bolster sustainable rice production Harvesting rice in Vietnam. Global rice consumption trends are rising.

30 March 2017, Rome - FAO and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have agreed to cooperate more closely to support sustainable rice production in developing countries to improve food security and livelihoods while safeguarding natural resources.

An agreement signed today seeks to better pool the scientific knowledge and technical knowhow of the two organizations so that they can expand and intensify their work globally.

The partnership primarily aims to enhance sustainable rice-based farming systems through capacity building activities - including assisting governments draw up and implement national and regional policies and strategies - to the benefit of small-scale farmers, especially women.

"The world faces very significant changes over the next few decades to produce the volume and quality of nutritious food to feed a global population heading for 10 billion people," said IRRI Director-General Matthew K. Morell. "Addressing these issues relies on global partnerships, and today, IRRI is delighted to be reaffirming through this Memorandum of Agreement our commitment to work with FAO to enhance sustainable rice-based production and food systems through awareness raising, capacity development, knowledge exchange, and evidence-based analyses for policy support."

"With over three billion people across the globe eating rice every day, rice is critical to global food security," said Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General, Climate and Natural Resources. "Ensuring sustainable rice production is a key contribution to the global goal of Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com

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ending hunger. By teaming up with IRRI, already a long-standing partner, we will be able to scale up, complement and amplify our work towards reaching this goal."

Making the rice value chain more sustainable In many countries around the world rice is a staple crop for food security and consumption trends are growing. At the same time rice production is vulnerable to the increasing impacts of climate change, including extreme weather events such as droughts and floods.

Both FAO and IRRI are actively promoting more sustainable rice practices throughout the value chain - production, marketing and consumption - to optimize its nutritional properties and as a means of improving livelihoods and tackling poverty, particularly in rural areas.

FAO has developed the Regional Rice Initiative for Asia and Pacific which promotes enhanced crop resilience while increasing efficiency and farmers' income. In Africa and in Latin America the UN agency is engaged in scientific and technical cooperation including the sharing of technologies and best practices to increase production and productivity, including reduction of post-harvest losses and improved grain quality.

IRRI is engaged in strengthening capacities of all rice sector actors through its capacity development activities, including IRRI Education and the Sustainable Rice Platform.

The Sustainable Rice Platform is a global alliance to promote resource efficiency and sustainability in trade flows, production and consumption operations, and supply chains in the global rice sector. The Sustainable Rice Platform recently established the world's first standard for sustainable rice. Through the Sustainable Rice Platform, IRRI aims to use environmental and socio-economic benchmarks to maintain yields for rice smallholders, reduce the environmental footprint of rice cultivation and meet consumer needs for food safety and quality.

At the same time, IRRI Education works to build capacity through-out IRRI's extensive partnership network.

Improving varieties, transferring knowledge FAO and IRRI will together assist rice producing countries to adopt improved and adapted rice varieties, enhance availability of certified seeds and also the transfer of knowledge - including on pest management - through participatory approaches such as farmer fields schools.

The two organizations will also seek to strengthen partnerships for post-harvest handling, and help farmers and other rice producers add value by developing and marketing rice by-products rich in proteins and micronutrients, and explore the appropriate use of rice by-products to generate energy, animal feed and other agricultural products.

In addition, FAO and IRRI will work together to ensure that women farmers can participate in viable, safe and dignified entrepreneurial opportunities in the rice value chain, and that there is an improvement in work conditions in the rice sector.

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http://www.einnews.com/pr_news/373603385/irri-and-fao-step-up-joint-efforts-to-globally-bolstersustainable-rice-production

Sustainable rice production key to food security Deepanwita Niyogi Friday 31 March 2017

Though a staple crop in many countries, rice production is facing the impact of extreme weather events such as droughts and floods

Rice farmers are among those most vulnerable to climate change Credit: Vikas Choudhary 

Rice farming can greatly benefit small-scale farmers, especially women, and help end hunger in developing countries

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 

According to the International Rice Research Institute, rice production needs to increase by 25 per cent in the next 25 years to meet global demands Integrated rice-duck farming or growing rice and fish in the same field can supplement farmers' income and take care of nutritional needs

As we face the onslaught of climate change, the key to improving food security in developing countries lies in sustainable rice production. Rice-based farming systems can greatly benefit smallscale farmers, especially women, and help end hunger in these countries.

According to Maria Helena Semedo, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) deputy directorgeneral, rice is critical to global food security. Over three billion people across the globe eat rice every day.

Rice is one of the world‘s staple cereals, along with wheat and maize. It has been estimated that by 2050, the annual global demand for maize, rice and wheat will reach almost 3.3 billion tonnes.

According to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), rice production needs to increase by 25 per cent in the next 25 years to meet global demands.

Fighting climate change In many countries, especially Southeast Asia, rice is a staple crop (around 97 per cent of rice is grown in Asian countries). At the same time rice production is facing the impact of extreme weather events such as droughts and floods. According to the IRRI, about 20 million hectares of rice land is prone to flooding. In India and Bangladesh alone, more than 5 million hectares of rice field are flooded during most planting seasons.

Take the example of Vietnam for instance. In an interview to Down To Earth, Vietnamese farmer Pham Thi Huan blamed saline soil and mangroves for impacting rice cultivation in her country. To counter this, rice varieties resistant to drought and salinity developed by the Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute were planted. To make rice cultivation sustainable, Huan encouraged women farmers to go in for integrated rice and duck farming to supplement their income.

FAO‘s ―save and grow‖ method takes into account the sustainability factor when it comes to world‘s staple cereals. Under this unique method, farmers are encouraged to produce more with less. The Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com

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method also advocates natural ecosystem processes. One such example practised in China is the ricefish farming system wherein farmers rear fish in flooded paddy fields.

The Apatanis of Ziro Valley in Arunachal Pradesh grow fish and rice together Credit: Vikas Choudhary This has twin advantages. While on one hand, the fish can be sold for extra income or eaten for nutrition, on the other hand, growing fish along with rice helps in controlling fungi and weeds that damage the crop. It thus reduces dependence on pesticides.

According to food policy expert Devinder Sharma, integration is good for making more money for farmers. However, rich-fish farming best works for wetland paddy. ―Rice-fish is a traditional system that has been largely replaced by intensive rice mono-cropping. We are now seeing, in countries like Indonesia, a revival of aquaculture in rice fields,‖ FAO‘s deputy director of plant production and protection division William Murray told Down To Earth earlier.

Achieving sustainability

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As rice farmers are among those most vulnerable to climate change, the Sustainable Rice Platform recently established the world‘s first standard for sustainable rice. Through this, the IRRI aims to maintain yields for rice farmers and reduce environmental footprint of rice cultivation.

Rice cultivation uses a lot of water. But there is no denying that it is linked to livelihoods, Sharma said. While talking about emissions reduction in agriculture, Meryl Richaards, agroecologist at CGIAR (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security advocated alternate wetting and drying of paddy. ―By reducing the frequency of irrigation (letting the fields drain periodically), methane emissions from flooded rice production can be cut in half,‖ she said. Though the practice was originally developed to save water, it has potential to be adaptive to climate change as well. http://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/sustainable-rice-production-key-to-food-security-57492

UN agriculture agency takes step to help rice farmers bolster production Harvesting rice in Viet Nam. Global rice consumption trends are rising. Photo: FAO/Hoang Dinh Nam

30 March 2017 – Concerned about global rice production and eradicating hunger around the world, the United Nations agricultural agency today announced that it has teamed up with an international research institute to enhance rice farming and make it more adaptable to climate change. ―With over three billion people across the globe eating rice every day, rice is critical to global food security,‖ said Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General of Climate and Natural Resources at the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).

The UN agency announced that it will work with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to support sustainable rice production in developing countries to improve food security and livelihoods, while also safeguarding natural resources.

According to FAO, the two organizations will work together to assist rice producing countries to ―adopt improved and adapted rice varieties, enhance availability of certified seeds and also the transfer of knowledge,‖ including to control pests and through farmer field schools.

FAO and IRRI will also work to help women farmers participate in ―viable, safe and dignified‖ entrepreneurial opportunities in the rice value chain, the UN agency said.

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Meanwhile, FAO has developed the Regional Rice Initiative for Asia and Pacific which promotes enhanced crop resilience while increasing efficiency and farmers' income. In Africa and in Latin America the UN agency is engaged in scientific and technical cooperation including the sharing of technologies and best practices to increase production and productivity, including reduction of post-harvest losses and improved grain quality.

For its part, IRRI is engaged in strengthening capacities of all rice sector actors through its capacity development activities, including IRRI Education and the Sustainable Rice Platform, a global alliance to promote resource efficiency and sustainability in trade flows, production and consumption operations, and supply chains in the global rice sector http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=56464#.WN46DNKGN6o

IRRI and FAO step up joint efforts to globally bolster sustainable rice production Harvesting rice in Vietnam. Global rice consumption trens are rising. 30 March 2017, Rome – FAO and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have agreed to cooperate more closely Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com

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to support sustainable rice production in developing countries to improve food security and livelihoods while safeguarding natural resources.

An agreement signed today seeks to better pool the scientific knowledge and technical knowhow of the two organizations so that they can expand and intensify their work globally.

The partnership primarily aims to enhance sustainable rice-based farming systems through capacity building activities – including assisting governments draw up and implement national and regional policies and strategies – to the benefit of small-scale farmers, especially women. ―The world faces very significant changes over the next few decades to produce the volume and quality of nutritious food to feed a global population heading for 10 billion people,‖ said IRRI Director-General Matthew K. Morell. ―Addressing these issues relies on global partnerships, and today, IRRI is delighted to be reaffirming through this Memorandum of Agreement our commitment to work with FAO to enhance sustainable rice-based production and food systems through awareness raising, capacity development, knowledge exchange, and evidence-based analyses for policy support.‖ ―With over three billion people across the globe eating rice every day, rice is critical to global food security,‖ said Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General, Climate and Natural Resources. ―Ensuring sustainable rice production is a key contribution to the global goal of ending hunger. By teaming up with IRRI, already a long-standing partner, we will be able to scale up, complement and amplify our work towards reaching this goal.‖ Making the rice value chain more sustainable In many countries around the world rice is a staple crop for food security and consumption trends are growing. At the same time rice production is vulnerable to the increasing impacts of climate change, including extreme weather events such as droughts and floods.

Both FAO and IRRI are actively promoting more sustainable rice practices throughout the value chain – production, marketing and consumption – to optimize its nutritional properties and as a means of improving livelihoods and tackling poverty, particularly in rural areas.

FAO has developed the Regional Rice Initiative for Asia and Pacific which promotes enhanced crop resilience while increasing efficiency and farmers‘ income. In Africa and in Latin America the UN agency is engaged in scientific and technical cooperation including the sharing of technologies and best practices to increase production and productivity, including reduction of post-harvest losses and improved grain quality.

Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com

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IRRI is engaged in strengthening capacities of all rice sector actors through its capacity development activities, including IRRI Education and the Sustainable Rice Platform.

The Sustainable Rice Platform is a global alliance to promote resource efficiency and sustainability in trade flows, production and consumption operations, and supply chains in the global rice sector. The Sustainable Rice Platform recently established the world‘s first standard for sustainable rice. Through the Sustainable Rice Platform, IRRI aims to use environmental and socio-economic benchmarks to maintain yields for rice smallholders, reduce the environmental footprint of rice cultivation and meet consumer needs for food safety and quality.

At the same time, IRRI Education works to build capacity through-out IRRI‘s extensive partnership network.

Improving varieties, transferring knowledge FAO and IRRI will together assist rice producing countries to adopt improved and adapted rice varieties, enhance availability of certified seeds and also the transfer of knowledge – including on pest management – through participatory approaches such as farmer fields schools.

The two organizations will also seek to strengthen partnerships for post-harvest handling, and help farmers and other rice producers add value by developing and marketing rice by-products rich in proteins and micronutrients, and explore the appropriate use of rice by-products to generate energy, animal feed and other agricultural products.

In addition, FAO and IRRI will work together to ensure that women farmers can participate in viable, safe and dignified entrepreneurial opportunities in the rice value chain, and that there is an improvement in work conditions in the rice sector. http://www.military-technologies.net/2017/03/30/irri-and-fao-step-up-joint-efforts-to-globallybolster-sustainable-rice-production/

U.S. rice deliveries to Mexico surging Thursday Posted Mar 30, 2017 at 9:25 AM

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Paddy arrivals were up 25 percent as local milling demand increased, not only for local consumption, but also due to additional Mexican milled rice export sales to Venezuela.

By Marvin Lehrer / USA Rice Federation According to official Mexican government data, total U.S. rice deliveries (non-converted) to Mexico were up a staggering 31.4 percent in the first two-months of 2017 compared with the same period the previous year. That's 148,016 MT, and of significant note, milled rice exports nearly tripled — to 22,478 metric tons, nearly half of total milled exports in all of 2016.

Paddy arrivals were up 25 percent as local milling demand increased, not only for local consumption, but also due to additional Mexican milled rice export sales to Venezuela.

U.S. milled rice shipments were up 183 percent and market share up to 63.3 percent, compared with a market share of just 22.4 percent in the same period in 2016.

MORE VIDEO: RICE MILLING DEMONSTRATION AT PAE

Total Mexican rice imports were up 17.1 percent in this period, and the U.S. total market share for all types of rice reached 93.1 percent, the best since 2013.

"Two months do not (make) a trend make, but it's very good news," USA Rice Vice President International Hugh Maginnis said. "USA Rice continues our aggressive promotion programs in this key market and the U.S. rice industry is very grateful for Mexico's continued loyalty as our number one export customer. Mexico is a valued trading partner, and we are heartened that our

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southern neighbors continue to place their trust in the quality and reliability that U.S. rice exporters provide. http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/news/20170330/us-rice-deliveries-to-mexico-surging

PHILIPPINE FARM MINISTER SAYS LIKELY NO NEED TO IMPORT 250,000 T OF RICE 3/29/2017

MANILA, March 30 (Reuters) - The Philippines' farm ministersaid he expects a bumper rice harvest this planting season,potentially meaning there is no urgent need for the state grains buyer to import 250,000 tonnes of the staple food as planned.The National Food Authority (NFA) has been looking to import250,000 tonnes of rice, and wanted the cargo to arrive by end-April to boost thinning stocks ahead of the lean domestic harvest season beginning July.

The plan "may have to be reviewed and validated as theDepartment of Agriculture...expects a bumper rice harvest thisplanting season," Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel PiĂąol said in statement.The Philippines is one of the world's biggest rice buyers,importing its requirements mainly from neighbours Thailand andVietnam, the world's number 2 and 3 rice exporters after India.

"So far, there was no reported infestation and this season'scrops have not been affected by inclement weather," PiĂąol said.The NFA Council, the government panel that approves rice importation, has yet to give its go-ahead to the agency'spurchase plan.Still, the NFA wants to bolster stocks to prevent price manipulation, hoarding and speculation by private traders."The only way NFA can fill the deficit in its rice bufferstock requirement is through importation," NFA Administrator Jason Laureano Aquino said in a statement last week.

(Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell) http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp http://www.agriculture.com/markets/newswire/philippine-farm-minister-says-likely-no-need-toimport-250000-t-of-rice

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Philippines may reconsider 250,000-MT rice import plan ABS-CBN News Posted at Mar 30 2017 01:44 PM

The Department of Agriculture is reconsidering its plant to import 250,000 metric tons of rice from Vietnam as local farmers expect a strong harvest, agriculture chief Emmanuel PiĂąol said Thursday.

"The planned importation of an additional 250,000-metric tons of rice for the country's buffer stocks may have to be reviewed and validated...[As] there was no reported infestation and this season's crops have not been affected by inclement weather," PiĂąol said in a statement.

Once the government validates its prospects for the harvest, PiĂąol said "I will advise the National Food Authority Council to put on hold the planned importation."

Funds intended for the rice purchase from Vietnam will be reallocated to buy rice from local farmers, he said. http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/03/30/17/philippines-may-reconsider-250000-mt-rice-import-plan

Indonesia to export rice to Malaysia Solo, C Java (ANTARA News) - Indonesia will export 15 to 50 thousand tons of rice to Malaysia in an effort to meet the neighboring countrys demand and requirement for the commodity.

"Some time ago, the agriculture minister of Malaysia had met me and expressed interest to import rice from Indonesia," Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman noted here on Thursday.

The minister made the statement after delivering a speech in the framework of the 41st anniversary of the University of Sebelas Maret based on the theme "The Role of Agriculture and Animal Resources in Support of National Food Security."

He remarked that Malaysia will still possibly increase its imports of Indonesian rice from the figures mentioned earlier.

He pointed out that Indonesia is now considered to be successful in achieving food selfsufficiency, especially after the launch of the rice cultivation program in the border regions due to which the country has not imported rice since last year.

Especially with regard to the exports to Malaysia, the rice to be shipped soon is the Raja Unca Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com

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type sourced from Pontianak in West Kalimantan, he revealed.

"The bottom line is that we have been able to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production, and this has been known by several countries, including by the Food and Agriculture Organization," he stated.

In addition to exporting rice to Malaysia, Indonesia had exported rice to Papua New Guinea, which was shipped from Papua Province.

Sulaiman noted that the government will continue to make efforts to maintain self-sufficiency, so that by the year 2045, it could become the worlds breadbasket.

Involvement of academics and students in advancing agriculture in the entire region is necessary to achieve this goal, the minister remarked.

"The president had also ordered and called on academics and students to get involved," Sulaiman pointed out.

He said the rice stock now reaches 1.9 million tons and is sufficient to meet the publics need during the fasting month of Ramadan.

The stocks will continue to grow, so that the demand for rice can be met during Ramadan.

The government will continue to maintain the stability in prices and the stocks of rice and other commodities, so that their prices will not increase.(*) http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/110223/indonesia-to-export-rice-to-malaysia

Vietnam’s Q1 rice exports down but Chinese appetite set to grow MARCH 30, 2017

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Vietnam’s first-quater rice exports have fallen to a two-year low, but the outlook remains positive as China, its biggest buyer, is forecast to import more this year. ‗China has a major impact on Vietnam‘s rice exports because when China starts making inquiries, prices rise and other buyers turn away from Vietnam.‘ Vietnam‘s first-quarter rice exports have fallen to a two-year low, but the outlook remains positive as shipments to China, its biggest buyer, are forecast to grow this year, traders and industry reports said. ―The land border gates are now officially closed to Vietnamese rice, so export prices have dropped,‖ a trader at a foreign company in Ho Chi Minh City said, explaining that more fresh winter-spring grain arriving from the Mekong Delta has contributed to the lower prices.

China has been the biggest consumer of Vietnamese rice since 2012, when it overtook Indonesia.

Last year, Beijing and Hanoi signed an agreement to boost the rice trade via official channels. China has named 22 Vietnamese export firms that it deems qualified to deal with.

He said the Chinese government prefers official trade as it cannot tax rice imported via land. China officially imports around 2 million tons of Vietnamese rice a year, while another 11.5 million tons enters China via land, and that volume is not included in Vietnam‘s official statistics.

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This week, Vietnam‘s 5-percent broken rice prices fell to $347-$350 a ton, free-on-board Saigon Port, from around $360 a ton in late February. At $347, the price is the lowest since February 16.

Vietnamese rice is now cheaper than Thai rice of a similar grade, which stood this week at $374 a ton, according to the Thai Rice Exporters Association.

Shipments from Vietnam, the world‘s third-biggest rice exporter after India and Thailand, in the January-March period dropped 24 percent from a year ago to an estimated 1.2 million tons, a two-year low, the government said on Wednesday.

The estimate is the lowest since the first quarter of 2015, when Vietnam shipped 1.13 million tons.

Overall weak demand is the reason for the drop, with potential buyers, including the Philippines and Mexico, still absent, traders said.

Earlier this month, Mexico approved for 150,000 tons of rice to be imported at a zero percent tariff to meet domestic demand and diversify its supply sources. Traders said the demand would cut the market share currently held by the United States and open the door to Vietnamese rice.

However, Mexico has yet to act on the decision.

China imported 331,300 tons of Vietnamese rice from January-February, up 41 percent from a year ago, based on data from Vietnam‘s agriculture ministry. In February alone, it bought 36 percent of Vietnam‘s total rice exports, more than doubling the market share it held a year ago.

China’s imports China‘s rice imports in the 2016/2017 market year ending this June are forecast to rise 4 percent to 5 million tons, with Vietnam and Thailand remaining its key suppliers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a report released on March 21.

It said China‘s rice imports would continue to be profitable if import prices stay below China‘s floor price of $389 a ton, while the average CIF (cost-insurance-freight) rice price from Southeast Asia to China is $350/ton.

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―China has a major impact on Vietnam‘s rice exports because when China starts making inquiries, prices rise and other buyers turn away from Vietnam, so overall the volume does not rise significantly,‖ a second trader said.

He noted that more paddy is coming from the Mekong Delta, which supplies 90 percent of Vietnam‘s rice exports.

Mekong Delta farmers have finished harvesting around half of the 1.53 million hectares (3.78 million acres) planted for the crop, the Vietnam Food Association said.

Output down Harvesting of the crop, the biggest among the delta‘s three crops a year, ends in April. Paddy output is forecast to ease to 10 million tons, down 1.3 percent from last year, which is the third drop in a row, the agriculture ministry said, blaming unseasonal rain during the heading stage in November-December 2016.

In the long term, Vietnam‘s rice acreage and output will further fall as the country seeks to restructure its cash crops, officials said.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc suggested related agencies to switch from low-yield rice to medicinal plants if the latter has higher benefits, a government statement said, as part of efforts to boost Vietnam‘s pharmaceutical sector.

But the government also regards rice as essential to national food security, a status that gives rice businesses access to credit and adequate support.

Phuc told a conference on March 15 to look for solutions for sustainable production in the Mekong Delta.

The premier has urged the trade ministry to strip the food association‘s right to set floor prices and to allocate shipments to key markets, factors that exporters said have been hindering overseas sales.

The association has projected Vietnam‘s rice exports this year will reach around 5 million tons.

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Shipments fell to 4.8 million tons in 2016, the lowest since 2008, due in part to thinner demand and growing regional competition. https://www.vietnambreakingnews.com/2017/03/vietnams-q1-rice-exports-down-butchinese-appetite-set-to-grow/

Basmati rice exports may grow to Rs 22,000-22,500 crore in FY18: Report

By PTI | Updated: Mar 29, 2017, 05.55 PM IST Basmati rice exports may grow to Rs 22,000-22,500 crore in FY18: Report Tax planning: MUMBAI: Basmati rice exports is likely to grow to Rs 22,000-22,500 crore and volume to around 4.09 million tonne mainly supported by an increase in average realisations, rating agency ICRA said in a report today.

"We expect the export volumes in FY17 to be around 4 million tonne (almost similar to the volumes in FY2016). However, muted average realisations are expected to keep the value of these exports to under Rs 21,000 crore, against Rs 22,718 crore in FY16," said ICRA Assistant Vice President Deepak Jotwani.

"In FY18, the value of exports is likely to grow to Rs 22,000-22,500 crore, with export volumes growing to around 4.09 million tonne and supported by an increase in average realisations," Jotwani added.

This is likely to push up Basmati rice prices in the next fiscal, he said.Resumption of imports by Iran will be keenly watched by the industry as it has the potential to provide an impetus to exports, he added.

"Going forward, the coming financial year is expected to witness better revenue growth supported by a rise in average realisations, as paddy prices firm up during the current procurement season. Moreover, resumption of imports by Iran will also be crucial for driving industry growth in the next fiscal," Jotwani said.

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The basmati rice industry witnessed moderation over the last few years on the back of subdued international demand, partly attributable to the delay in resumption of imports by Iran.

However, 2016-17 has seen some stabilisation in demand, ICRA said, adding after peaking at Rs 29,300 crore in FY14, the value of basmati rice exports went on a downward trajectory.

While volumes saw some growth over the last few years, the decline in value is primarily owing to continued pressure on average realisations (declined from a high of Rs 77,988 per tonne in FY14 to Rs 56,149 per tonne in FY16) in the light of moderation in demand in the global market, ICRA said.

Nevertheless, the export volumes in the current fiscal have largely been in line with last year, being supported by the increasing domestic demand for basmati rice, the report added.

It said, the industry has registered milling gains on paddy procured at a fairly low rate in the last procurement season and favourable foreign exchange rate movement.

For the next fiscal, the industry is expected to benefit from the rising paddy prices, ICRA said.

Rice stocks trade higher: Kohinoor Foods, KRBL, Chaman Lal surge

By ETMarkets.com | Updated: Mar 28, 2017, 10.34 AM IST ChartsValuation & Peer ComparisonCommunity Buzz Shares of rice companies surged up to 9.5 per cent in early trade on Tuesday.

Kohinoor Foods was trading 7.93 per cent higher at Rs 81 around 9.50 am (IST). Shares of the company opened at Rs 78.50 and touched a high and low of Rs 82.20 and Rs 77.60, respectively, in trade so far.

Chaman Lal Setia Exports was up 4.56 per cent at Rs 100.95 around the same time, while LT Foods and KRBL were trading higher by 3.77 per cent and 1.34 per cent, respectively, in the morning deals.

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For the quarter ended December 31, 2016, Kohinoor Foods and KRBL reported 27.59 per cent and 175.16 per cent year-on-year rise in net profit at Rs 6.66 crore and Rs 110.75 crore, respectively. LT Foods registered 76.57 per cent year-on-year increase in bottomline figures at Rs 29.77 crore. However, net profit of Chaman Lal Setia declined 0.74 per cent year-on-year to Rs 10.84 crore during the quarter under review.

The domestic basmati rice market is estimated at Rs 12,000-15,000 crore. India‘s rice industry has seen a transformation in the last decade, with growth of branded business in the Indian market and a strong impetus to exports. Over the last four years, the industry has shown strong revenue growth, with an increasing focus on branded business, according to CRISIL Research, Euromonitor and Ministry of Agriculture.

According to a report by HDFC Securities, branded basmati is still only 26 per cent of total basmati sold in India, highlighting the opportunity for large players to gain share. Consumers are gradually switching towards branded basmati rice as they become more quality and health conscious. With regards to consumption, the share of basmati as a percentage of total rice consumption is still extremely low in India at around 2 per cent as compared to the Middle East (38 per cent).Growth in the domestic basmati consumption would further provide support to basmati rice demand.

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