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Basmati exports to EU face fungicide blockade Asia Rice-India and Vietnam stable on weak demand, Thai widens M&M to focus on full-line farm machinery segment Neda: PHL rice now cheaper than imports Jomoro district Prepares for mass Rice Production NFA intensifies palay buying to boost buffer stocks Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-March 03,2017 DA needs P400 billion to hit rice-sufficiency goal DA needs P400 billion to hit rice-sufficiency goal In Memory: Dr. Joseph Musick Mexico Opens Rice Market to All Origins at Zero Duty The struggle The struggle to be British: my life as a second-class citizen to be British: my life as a second-class citizen Spice and everything nice
News Detail... Basmati exports to EU face fungicide blockade AMITI SEN
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New Delhi fights proposed norms NEW DELHI, MARCH 1:
India‟s basmati exports to the European Union (EU) could be significantly hit if the bloc implements a proposal to bring down the tolerance level for tricyclazole, a chemical used in India to treat rice. New Delhi is trying to convince the EU not to go ahead with the “unnecessary” safety precaution, as it argues that it has been scientifically proved that present levels do not pose a threat to consumers, a government official said. “The EU plans to bring down the MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) for tricyclazole to the default level of 0.01 ppm (parts per million), which could prove to be disastrous for Indian exports of basmati. But it is supposed to happen only in 2018, so we have time to convince them not to implement the change,” the official told BusinessLine. EU initiative Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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India is in talks separately with European countries, such as Italy and Portugal, which do not support the EU initiative of raising the tolerance limit to put pressure on the bloc not to go ahead with its plan, the official added. The MRL for tricyclazole, a fungicide used by rice-growing countries to protect the crop from a disease called „blast‟, is at present fixed at 1 ppm by the EU. This level does not prove to be a problem for Indian exports at the moment, as levels detected in Indian basmati consignments are much lower. Export of basmati However, if the MRL is brought down to 0.01 ppm, as indicated by the EU, a large part of India‟s $3 billion export of basmati to Europe could be affected. Rice exporters from India are preparing for the worst by arranging for pre-testing of shipments, but are hopeful that the EU will change its mind, said Rajen Sundaresan from the All India Rice Exporters Association. “I believe that the matter will be sorted out favourably, as it is not just Indian exports that are at stake. Even rice growers in EU countries such as Italy and Spain use the fungicide,” said Sundaresan. Dow Agro Sciences, the owner of the molecule used in the fungicide, has already submitted scientific and technical evidence to the US Environmental Protection Agency in 2011 supporting a tricyclazole tolerance level of 3.0 ppm in rice. MRL limit Following this, the MRL limit for the fungicide in the US was raised. Japan, too, has an MRL level of 3.0 ppm for tricylozole. Sundaresan said that once Dow carried out tests and submitted proof that the existing levels were not carcinogenic, the EU might relent. The Commerce Ministry has taken up the issue with the India-EU joint working group on Sanitary & Phytosanitary and Technical Barriers to Trade and hopes to reach a settlement soon. (This article was published on March 1, 2017) Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/basmati-exports-to-eu-facefungicideblockade/article9565837.ece?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS _Syndication
Asia Rice-India and Vietnam stable on weak demand, Thai widens Reuters | Mar 2, 2017, 04.21 PM IST * Indian prices steady on weak demand * Thai widens to $350-$360/T By Rajendra Jadhav, Patpicha Tanakasempipat and My Pham HANOI/BANGKOK/MUMBAI, March 2 (Reuters) - Rice prices were stable in India and Vietnam on weak demand while in Thailand they widened on talk of trades being done, traders said on Thursday. India's 5 percent broken parboiled rice prices were steady at $373-$378 per tonne as exporter demand remained slack. "Demand is still weak, but we could not lower export prices due to higher paddy prices and strong rupee," said an exporter based in Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Along with exporters, government agencies are actively buying paddy for the public distribution system, pushing up prices above the minimum purchase price, exporters said. A strong rupee trims the returns of exporters. The country's rice production in 2016/17 is likely to rise by 4.3 percent to a record high 108.86 million tonnes, the farm ministry said on Wednesday. India, the world's biggest rice exporter, mainly exports non-basmati rice to Africaand premier basmati rice to the Middle East.
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In Vietnam, the world's third largest rice exporter, 5 percent broken rice prices were stable at $350-$355 a tonne while local prices remained at a high level, traders said. "Local prices may drop in the next few weeks when the main harvest season fully starts," said a Ho Chi Minh City-based trader. Meanwhile, Thai benchmark 5-percent broken rice widened to $350-$360 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Bangkok, from $350-$355 a tonne last week. A trader in Bangkok said prices strengthened because of talk of trades, although his company itself has not seen much demand. "Millers said there's trade going on," he said. "It's high time, as trade has paused for two weeks." Another trader in Bangkok said buyers are holding back from purchases because the government has not released results of the February state auction, in which it aimed to offload 2.8 million of the remaining 8 million tonnes. "The government hasn't announced auction results, so buyers are waiting," he said. (Reporting by My Pham in Hanoi, Patpicha Tanakasempipat in Bangkok and Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai; Editing by Vyas Mohan and David Evans) http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/asia-rice-india-and-vietnamstable-on-weak-demand-thai-widens/articleshow/57429613.cms
M&M to focus on full-line farm machinery segment Mahindra & Mahindra is no longer just India's leading tractor manufacturer. Itâ€&#x;s also the number-one tractor maker globally, by volumes. | 1 Comments Farah Bookwala Vhora (more) Reporter, CNBC-TV18 | Mahindra & Mahindra is no longer just India's leading tractor manufacturer. Itâ€&#x;s also the number-one tractor maker globally by volumes. But M&M wants a lot more. CNBC-TV18's Farah Bookwala Vhora reports that the company is going full-throttle on a global strategy to transform itself into a full-line farm machinery player.
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These tractors have earned Mahindra & Mahindra recognition and accolades in the USD 60 billion global tractor market. And M&M now wants to make some serious inroads into the USD 94.3 billion non-tractor farm equipment market, which is poised to double in size over the next 7 years To exploit the growth opportunities in segments like harvesters, tillage, haying & plant and fertilizers, M&Mâ€&#x;s product mix is set to see a substantial shift in the next 2 years. This should see the contribution of non-tractor farm equipment to the product mix increasing 5-fold from 4 percent in December 2015 to 20 percent by FY19. In these efforts, it's the international market that will hold the key. By 2019, M&M aims to get 50 percent of its farm equipment revenues from international markets. This is the culmination of a strategy that began in 2015, when M&M entered into a strategic partnership with Japan's Mitsubishi Agricultural Machinery to get a foothold in the global rice value chain through rice trans planters, harvesters & light-weight tractors. In 2016, its JV with Finland's Sampo-Rosenlew helped it leverage opportunities in the combine harvester segment in Asia, Africa and Eurasia. In January, it purchased a 75 percent stake in Turkish farm equipment manufacture Hisarlar to gain wider access to European & Middle Eastern markets.
Turkey is a very large market for farm machinery, amongst the top 10 in the world & hence very important strategic market for us as well. Turkey has an excellent cost structure because of the Lira-Euro equation, so itâ€&#x;s an excellent time to set up manufacturing there. So we will use Turkey as a base to access many other markets. With large markets like USA, Japan and Turkey under its belt, M&M is increasing its footprint in Mexico and Brazil. Simultaneously, the company is busy identifying new markets where it will enter either solo, or through acquisitions http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/cnbc-tv18-comments/mm-to-focusfull-line-farmmachinery-segment_8587581.html?utm_source=ref_article
Neda: PHL rice now cheaper than imports By Cai Ordinario MARCH 2, 2017
The removal of import caps by July would not necessarily doom the local rice sector, as the production of the staple in 36 provinces is now cheaper compared to imports, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda). Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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In a recent presentation, Neda Assistant Secretary Mercedita A. Sombilla said the average production cost of rice in 36 provinces will be P3 per kilogram lower than the unit cost of imported rice. This estimate assumed that the country will slap a 35-percent tariff on imported rice starting on July 1, when the quantitative restriction (QR) on rice has expired. “Those 36 provinces represent about 61 percent of our total use, 68 percent if we are just going to take food use. So its only about 39 percent shy of 100-percent self-sufficiency,� Sombilla said. Of the 36 provinces, she said 14 had an average yield of 3.5 metric tons (MT) per hectare and below. Sombilla said this means there is a high potential to increase the yield in these provinces if the government hikes its support for rice production. These 14 provinces are Palawan, Antique, Iloilo, Aklan, Surigao, Capiz, Masbate, Catanduanes, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Basilan, Samar, Guimaras and Maguindanao. Government support could mean encouraging farmers in these provinces to use certified seeds, hybrid seeds, cultivating these seeds in suitable areas, providing irrigation facilities, and mechanizing farm facilities. There is really potential in the rice industry to be enhanced in order to become competitive, Sombilla said. Apart from the 36 provinces, Sombilla also said the Neda found there are eight large provinces that may have high yields but have recorded high production cost. These are Davao del Sur, Ilocos Norte, Bulacan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Southern Leyte, Zambales and Occidental Mindoro. Sombilla added these provinces produce an average of 4 MT per hectare and above. Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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Sombilla said if the government is able to institute reforms that could bring down the cost of production in these eight provinces, these areas can be “very competitive” in producing rice. “We should also look at how we can help these farmers lower their production cost to be more competitive,” she added. The Neda study, Sombilla said, was based on their survey of 82 provinces nationwide. The agency examined rice production under normal yield levels, particularly in 2012 and 2014. Sombilla said 2012 data were used for the production cost estimates, including inputs and logistics. These were adjusted to the 2015 and 2016 levels. These costs were then compared to the unit import cost of 25-percent broken rice imported from Thailand and Vietnam using 35percent tariff plus a transport cost of P2.50 per kg. The QR on rice, a trade privilege which the World Trade Organization has allowed the country to enjoy for two decades, will expire on June 30. This means that the government can no longer limit the volume of imported rice that may enter the Philippines starting July. To date, Congress has yet to amend a law that will allow the governmen to convert the nontariff barrier into a specific tariff rate. Earlier, the Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said the Cabinet Committee on Tariff and Related Matters has decided not to pursue the extension of the QR on rice. http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/neda-phl-rice-now-cheaper-than-imports/
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Jomoro district Prepares for mass Rice Production Wednesday 1st March, 2017
Credit Francis Ayebiagu, Tikobo No.1(WR), March 01, GNA - Assembly Members in the Jomoro District have been asked to identify farmers in their respective areas with lands suitable for rice cultivation for official registration. Mr Paul Essien, the Member of Parliament for the area, gave the directives at the weekend in Tikobo No.1 near Half-Assini during a private meeting with Assembly Members in the area. He said the Ministry of Food and Aquaculture was collecting data on rice farmers for government's assistance to go into rice production for local consumption and for export. The meeting organised by the MP and attended by 25 out of the 45 members of the house was used to discuss government policy on agriculture Mr Essien said the NPP Government has under its agriculture policy, made provision in its impending budget for rice cultivation and stressed that farmers in his area should take advantage of it to improve their lots. He in this regard urged the Assembly Members to furnish him with their respective lists by Friday March 3, 2017 for onward submission to the sector Ministry for the necessary action. Mr Essien told the members that they were his channel for developing the communities and should therefore inform him of their needs and aspirations regularly. He said he was representing the Constituency in Accra and should be assisted to discharge his duties diligently as required.
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According to the MP, he and the Assembly Members shared common responsibilities towards the development of the area and should therefore join hands in realizing such objectives, and noted that they would be commended if the area saw significant improvement in their tenure of office.Mr Bernard Nyankey, Assemblyman for Mpataba Electoral Area, commended the MP for the meeting which according to him was unprecedented in the history of the area and assured him of their fullest cooperation in his work. GNA http://www.ghananewsagency.org/economics/jomoro-district-prepares-for-mass-rice-production113764
NFA intensifies palay buying to boost buffer stocks BY PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY ON MARCH 3, 2017 The National Food Authority (NFA) will intensify its local palay procurement to reach its target volume. “NFA‟s target for palay procurement this year is 4,607,350 bags or 230,367 MT to boost the government‟s buffer stock and rice distribution requirements,” said NFA administrator Jason Laureano Aquino in a statement. Aquino already ordered its field offices to step up their buying operations, as the summer crop harvest starts this month until June.The NFA‟s buying price for clean and dry palay is Php 17 per kilogram. Incentives are also being offered to individual farmers and farmer cooperatives nationwide, including delivery, drying and Cooperative Development Incentive Fee or a total of Php 17.70 to Php 18 per kilogram. The NFA aims to procure 79,240 metric tons of palay from January to June this year. Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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As of Feb. 22, the food agency has already bought a total of 47,782 bags of palay nationwide based on the data released by the NFAâ€&#x;s Grains Marketing Operation Department. Bulk of this yearâ€&#x;s target volume is expected to be bought during the main harvest from October to December. At least 413 buying stations nationwide are being utilized so farmers can sell their produce to the agency. Mobile procurement teams are also ready to be deployed to remote areas where farmers may find it hard to transport their produce to NFA buying stations. http://www.manilatimes.net/nfa-intensifies-palay-buying-boost-buffer-stocks/315136/
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-March 03,2017 Reuters | Updated: Mar 3, 2017, 01.40 PM IST Nagpur Foodgrain Prices - APMC/Open Market-March 3 Nagpur, Mar 3 (Reuters) - Gram and tuar prices showed weak tendency in Nagpur Agriculture Producing and Marketing Committee (APMC) on lack of buying support from local millers amid high moisture content arrival. Between 3,000 and 4,000 tuar bags reported for auction here, according to sources. FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor. TUAR * Tuar gavarani moved down in open market on lack of demand from local traders amid good supply from producing belts. * Lakhodi dal showed weak tendency in open market on poor demand from local traders amid release of stock from stockists. * In Akola, Tuar New - 4,300-4,400, Tuar dal (clean) - 6,500-6,700, Udid Mogar (clean) - 8,500-9,000, Moong Mogar (clean) 6,600-6,900, Gram - 4,900-5,000, Gram Super best bold - 7,300-7,500 for 100 kg. * Wheat, rice and other commodities moved in a narrow range in scattered, deals, settled at last levels. Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close Gram Auction 4,000-4,405 4,100-4,570 Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction 4,500-4,850 4,500-4,900 Moong Auction n.a. 6,4006,600 Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800 Gram Super Best Bold Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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7,500-7,800 7,500-7,800 Gram Super Best n.a. n.a. Gram Medium Best 6,500-6,800 6,500-6,800 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a Gram Mill Quality 4,400-5,000 4,400-5,000 Desi gram Raw 4,7505,050 4,750-5,050 Gram Yellow 7,600-8,000 7,600-8,000 Gram Kabuli 11,600-12,800 11,60012,800 Tuar Fataka Best-New 6,600-6,800 6,600-6,800 Tuar Fataka Medium-New 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400 Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000 Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 5,300-5,600 5,300-5,600 Tuar Gavarani New 3,900-4,100 3,950-4,150 Tuar Karnataka 4,3504,550 4,350-4,550 Masoor dal best 5,600-5,800 5,600-5,800 Masoor dal medium 5,300-5,500 5,300-5,500 Masoor n.a. n.a. Moong Mogar bold (New) 6,800-7,200 6,800-7,200 Moong Mogar Medium 6,200-6,500 6,200-6,500 Moong dal Chilka 5,800-6,500 5,800-6,500 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a. Moong Chamki best 6,000-6,500 6,000-6,500 Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 8,900-9,600 8,800-9,500 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,600-8,100 7,500-8,000 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,300-5,600 5,200-5,500 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,500 5,000-5,500 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 3,600-3,800 3,650-3,850 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,100 3,000-3,100 Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,400 3,200-3,400 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,300 3,800-4,300 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100 Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,1002,300 2,100-2,300 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,700 2,500-2,700 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,500 2,200-2,500 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a. MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,200 3,600-4,200 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,200 2,700-3,200 Rice BPT best New(100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,800 3,200-3,800 Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,000 2,700-3,000 Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,500 2,2002,500 Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,600 2,400-2,600 Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400 Rice HMT best New (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,500 4,000-4,500 Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,600 3,400-3,600 Rice Shriram best New(100 INR/KG) 5,200-5,500 5,200-5,500 Rice Shriram med New(100 INR/KG) 4,700-5,000 4,7005,000 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 9,200-13,300 9,200-13,300 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-6,200 5,000-6,200 Rice Chinnor best New(100 INR/KG) 5,600-5,800 5,6005,800 Rice Chinnor med. New (100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,300 5,000-5,300 Jowar Gavarani (100 Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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INR/KG) 2,000-2,300 2,000-2,300 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 36.6 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 18.1 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 37 and 18 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices)
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-openmarch-032017/articleshow/57446017.cms
DA needs P400 billion to hit rice-sufficiency goal By Jasper Y. Arcalas MARCH 2, 2017
The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it would require a budget of P400 billion to fund the necessary interventions to increase palay production and ensure that the Philippines would have sufficient rice by 2019. “If the [national government] will just give me the money, a lot of things can happen. All I need is two years,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol told reporters in a recent interview. “You cannot expect the DA to produce enough food for the country if we do not have the budget for it. If you want the DA to produce food, then give us the money. I will not steal it,” Piñol added. He said the DA is asking for a budget of P200 billion for next year and 2019. The bulk of the budget would be allocated for “improving the value chain of the rice sector”.To boost rice output, the DA is targeting to establish solar-powered irrigation systems, procure hybrid-rice Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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seeds and provide postharvest facilities.
Of the proposed budget, Piñol said P50 billion would be allocated for a program aimed at expanding farmers‟ access to affordable loans. “What the DA is asking is just about one-third of the budget of the Department of Education and less than half of the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways,” he said.“Our current budget now is even smaller than the budget given to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program,” Piñol added.
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The DA has an approved budget of P45.29 billion for this year, 7.46 percent lower than the agency‟s 2016 budget of P48.94 billion.The Aquino administration had set its sights on achieving rice self-sufficiency by 2013. Despite the billions of pesos poured into the government‟s National Rice Program, the DA failed to increase unmilled-rice output to at least 20 million metric tons (MMT). According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), unmilled-rice output even declined in the last two years. In 2015 palay output reached 18.14 MMT, 4.31 percent lower than the 18.96 MMT produced in 2014. Last year output also declined by 2.88 percent to 17.62 MMT. The government attributed this to the damages caused by strong typhoons and El Niño. El Niño also caused total farm output last year to contract by 1.41 percent. The production of the crops subsector, which account for more than half of agriculture output, declined by 2.62 percent. http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/da-needs-p400-billion-to-hit-rice-sufficiency-goal/
DA needs P400 billion to hit rice-sufficiency goal ByJasper Y. Arcalas MARCH 2, 2017 The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it would require a budget of P400 billion to fund the necessary interventions to increase palay production and ensure that the Philippines would have sufficient rice by 2019. Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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“If the [national government] will just give me the money, a lot of things can happen. All I need is two years,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol told reporters in a recent interview. “You cannot expect the DA to produce enough food for the country if we do not have the budget for it. If you want the DA to produce food, then give us the money. I will not steal it,” Piñol added. He said the DA is asking for a budget of P200 billion for next year and 2019. The bulk of the budget would be allocated for “improving the value chain of the rice sector”.To boost rice output, the DA is targeting to establish solar-powered irrigation systems, procure hybrid-rice seeds and provide postharvest facilities. Of the proposed budget, Piñol said P50 billion would be allocated for a program aimed at expanding farmers‟ access to affordable loans. “What the DA is asking is just about one-third of the budget of the Department of Education and less than half of the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways,” he said.“Our current budget now is even smaller than the budget given to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program,” Piñol added. The DA has an approved budget of P45.29 billion for this year, 7.46 percent lower than the agency‟s 2016 budget of P48.94 billion. The Aquino administration had set its sights on achieving rice self-sufficiency by 2013. Despite the billions of pesos poured into the government‟s National Rice Program, the DA failed to increase unmilled-rice output to at least 20 million metric tons (MMT). According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), unmilled-rice output even declined in the last two years. In 2015 palay output reached 18.14 MMT, 4.31 percent lower than Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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the 18.96 MMT produced in 2014. Last year output also declined by 2.88 percent to 17.62 MMT.The government attributed this to the damages caused by strong typhoons and El NiĂąo.El NiĂąo also caused total farm output last year to contract by 1.41 percent.The production of the crops subsector, which account for more than half of agriculture output, declined by 2.62 percent.
https://www.businessmirror.com.ph/da-needs-p400-billion-to-hit-rice-sufficiency-goal/.
In Memory: Dr. Joseph Musick Dr. Joseph A. Musick, Jr., aged 80 of Monticello, Arkansas, passed away on Monday, February 27, 2017. In 1985 he was named director of the Louisiana State University (LSU) Ag Center Rice Research Station and retired in 2003 as Professor and Resident Coordinator Emeritus.
Dr. Steve Linscombe, current director of the Rice Research Station, said of Dr. Musick: "He always was very supportive of the faculty and staff at the station, and was responsible for a number of major improvements here that will assure the success of the facility well into the future. Dr. Musick was truly dedicated to the rice farmers of Louisiana and will certainly be missed by the entire U.S. rice industry."
Dr. Musick grew up on a farm in Mississippi County, Arkansas, and when he graduated from Shawnee High School held the highest Future Farmers of America (FFA) honor in the state. He earned a degree at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, his Masters at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, and completed his PhD at the University of Missouri.
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Dr. Musick was a recipient of the 2004 Horizon Ag, Rice Farming Magazine, and USA Rice Lifetime Achievement award. Visitation will be this evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home in Monticello. The funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, March 3, at the First United Methodist Church in Monticello, with burial to follow in Oakland Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 317 South Main, Monticello, AR 71655.
Mexico Opens Rice Market to All Origins at Zero Duty By Marvin Lehrer MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- Yesterday, the Government of Mexico (GOM) officially announced permits of up to 150,000 MT of rice (all types) originating from non-free trade agreement countries, opening the door for Vietnamese milled rice to enter Mexico duty free. The permits will be issued to Mexican companies and be valid through December 31, 2017. The announcement, which was rumored for months and reported here (see USA Rice Daily, February 2, 2017), was published in Mexico's Official Gazette. Viet Nam last had duty free access to the Mexico market from 2008 through December 2014. During that period sales were zero from 2008 through 2012; in 2013 sales rose to 11,676 MT; in 2014 sales were 66,642 MT; and in 2014 sales fell to 2,096 MT. All rice sold by Viet Nam to Mexico is long grain milled rice as there is no phytosanitary protocol between the two countries that allows paddy rice to be imported. The Mexican trade does not expect an immediate surge in milled rice imports from Viet Nam or a displacement for U.S. rice. Traders report that price spreads are not currently large enough to favor Asian rice over U.S. rice and that these spreads need to be significant to offset foreign exchange risks, increased delivery times, and potential phytosanitary issues. In addition, aggressive pricing by Mexican millers has also contributed to decreased need for Asian rice. However, the threat of increased Asian imports does exist, especially as the potential for price spreads widens. "For a long time, Mexico has been an almost exclusively paddy market and a lock for U.S. Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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exporters," said Brian King, chairman of USA Rice and of USA Rice's Western Hemisphere Promotion Subcommittee. "But Mexican imports have diversified over the past decade, where milled rice now makes up approximately 25 percent of the total. While the U.S. still dominates the paddy market, Uruguay has supplanted U.S. as the leading milled rice origin for what the trade reports as having better quality." In 2016, the U.S. delivered 48,750 MT of milled rice for only a 32 percent market share, the lowest on record. Viet Nam had very minor deliveries to Mexico in 2016 as the 20 percent duty was in effect. According to data from the GOM, in the first month of 2017, Mexico reported deliveries of U.S. milled rice of 19,214 MT, the largest sales month on record. Uruguayan rice deliveries fell 26 percent (compared with January 2016) to 7,622 MT. No milled rice imports were recorded for other origins in January 2017.
"Talk in Washington of renegotiating NAFTA has clearly gotten Mexico's attention, and the government there is looking to diversify sources of supply for products like rice. Our prices and proximity make us competitive today, but competition is increasing, especially in the valueadded milled rice market. We'll continue to educate the new administration on the importance of
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NAFTA and engage with our partners in Mexico to strengthen ties in our number one export market," concluded King.
USA Rice
Spice and everything nice Liza George THIRUVANANTHAPURAM MARCH 02, 2017 16:48 IST
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The beauty of Chettinad cuisine lies in the spices says Masterchef Jesudoss A, who is supervising a Chettinad food fete at Vivanta by Taj, Thycaud Chettinad cuisine has a special place in the hearts of gourmands. The traditional cuisine of the Chettiar community in Tamil Nadu, Chettinad dishes, are generally synonymous with fiery food.
Mouthfuls of Masterchef Jesudoss Aâ€&#x;s Kozhi vellai kurma and Era poondu kuzhambu, however, say otherwise. The Kozhi vellai kurma, which reminds one of chicken stew, has flavours seeping into the meat cooked soft enough to fall off the bone. Era (prawns) poondu kuzhambu tastes a lot like Keralaâ€&#x;s red fish curry, except perhaps, slightly garlicky. And unlike the Kerala red fish Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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curry, it wasn‟t as spicy. Or, it can be my Kerala taste buds acclimatised to high spice levels, talking. “People believe Chettinad cuisine is hot. In reality, it is a complex blend of several well-balanced flavours. The spiciness comes from the often liberal use of black pepper and red chilli. The use of coconut and cashewnut paste, however, help temper it,” says Jesudoss. Fresh use of spices such as kalpasi (stone flower), marathi mukku (dried flower pods), cinnamon and star anise that are hand ground to form the base of the dishes is what, Jesudoss says, lends the cuisine, its distinctive flavour and aroma. “Although most of the spices used in our cuisine are similar to those used in Kerala, the use of freshly ground spices, the level of spices used, at which point of the cooking it is used and the like vary. A simple curry dish can have 18 spices in it. We, however, don‟t overwhelm our dishes with spices. That is why you can get the distinctive flavour of each spice. In fact, in a perfect Chettinadan dish, one will be able to identify each of the spices used.” Jesudoss‟ passion for cooking developed while helping his mother out in the kitchen. The desire to polish his skills led him at the age of 20, to Taj Connemara, Chennai, where he started out as a kitchen help. “I was taught how to prepare vegetarian Chettinad dishes such as Parippu urundai kozhumbu and Paal Katti Pattani Kuzhambu at first. The late Shijavi Ganesan, who was fond of Chettinad cuisine, had cooks from Chettinad serving in his kitchen in Chennai. To further our knowledge on Chettinad cuisine, we interacted with his chefs. Likewise, we also met with cooks from former Chettinad palaces for recipes.” Jesudoss, who was born in Ambur, Tamil Nadu, which is famous for its biriyani, turns diplomatic saying he enjoys the popular Chettinad biriyani too. Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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While the Chettinad biriyani uses jeeraka samba rice, which Jesudoss says, lends the dish its aroma, the Ambur version of the biriyani, uses basmati rice. “A traditional Chettinad biriyani looks pale green as we grind and use green chillies, mint leaves and coriander in the dish. Ambur biriyani is golden yellow. Cooking the Ambur biriyani in an aluminium uruli is what lends the dish its flavour.”With 26 years of experience in his kitty, Jesudoss who has hosted several Chettinad food festivals at various Taj group properties, says he always keeps colours and flavours in mind when preparing the menu for the day. “I am a perfectionist and try to ensure that the dishes served differ in terms of taste. As one eats with one‟s eyes too, it wouldn‟t be appetising if everything looked the same.” Jesudoss, who is in the city in connection with a Chettinad food festival at Fifth Element, Vivanta by Taj, Thycaud, will be serving a host of Chettinad dishes, right from starters to desserts. A live counter plates up hot dosas and uthappams. The festival, which is a part of the regular dinner buffet at Fifth Element, is on until March 5. http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/food/spice-and-everythingnice/article17394072.ece
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