3rd october,2017 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

Daily Rice E-Newsletter

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Rice News Headlines...                      

October 03,2017 Vol X ,Issuu 9

Chinese experts hold awareness sessions for hybrid rice cultivation Grain traders asked to take license by 30 Oct 30 What contributions can new rice watering systems make?

Rice traders asked to get licence by October 30 50kg of rice to fall to N15,000 soon – Nigerian govt Chinese hybrid rice experts visit over 100 rice farm, fields Rice prices increase by 38 per cent on production drop Vietnam eyes exporting rice, shrimp to Iran NFA: Rice imports above board NFA rice imports hit by delays NFA clarifies issuance of rice import permits Cambodia, Bangladesh sign new deals Rice traders have to obtain licence from food department by Oct 30, says minister 50kg of rice to fall to N15,000 soon – Nigerian govt Kogi rice will feed the nation – Govt Nigeria: Kogi Rice Will Feed the Nation Rice acreage is down, and yield seems to be too Rice traders asked to get licence by October 30 Grain traders asked to take license by 30 Oct 30 In defence of food imports NFA collects P11.86-million fines from erring grains retailers EDITORIAL: Fighting for sugar imports

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News Headlines...

Chinese experts hold awareness sessions for hybrid rice cultivation APP October 03, 2017 ISLAMABAD: A group of Chinese hybrid-rice researchers and experts along with local scientists has visited more than 100 rice farms across the country under the ‗Travelling Rice Seminar‘ initiative.The travelling seminar was designed by Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) and Chinese Yuan Longping High-tech Agriculture Company and aims to boost hybrid rice cultivation in the country.

According to Programme Coordinator and Member Plant Science PARC Dr Anjum Ali, the experts also visited research stations, agricultural universities and seed outlets of different companies to exploit the cultivation of hybrid rice.

The Chinese experts travelled to Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan in order to create awareness about the cultivation of hybrid rice among growers. ―This was a month-long activity in which a group of hybrid rice researchers from China comprising 12 scientists trained the local scientists, seed producers and field extension departments of the provincial governments,‖ he added.He said the main aim of this joint initiative is to enhance per acre crop productivity, increase profitability and produce surplus commodity for exports enhancement. ―In order to further enhance the local rice output, China and Pakistan have decided to work together for conducting joint awareness programmes to adopt hybrid rice seeds,‖ he added.

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www.ricepluss.com | www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For Online/Newsletter Advertisment mujahid.riceplus@gamil.com The Chinese scientists trained 30 Pakistani agriculture scientists who were selected from across the country.

Dr Ali said the Chinese experts will also impart training to the members of the provincial field extension departments on hybrid rice cultivation.

In addition, the activity will also help in capacity building of local experts from all over the country in order to promote hybrid rice techniques.Road-shows and field visits were organised across rice-growing areas to address issues and challenges faced in promotion of hybrid rice seed, he added.

He further said a revolutionary hybrid rice seed has been developed recently by the Chinese researchers, which would help Pakistani farmers to enhance significantly their per acre yield, hence the country would be able to export more rice, he added.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2017 https://www.dawn.com/news/1361298

Grain traders asked to take license by 30 Oct 30 Online Desk | Update: 16:19, Oct 02, 2017 Food minister Qamrul Islam said apart from rice millers, retailers, wholesalers and importers of rice and wheat will have to take license from the directorate general of food by 30 October 30.He came up with the remark after a meeting with officers of regional controllers of food, and district controllers of food at his ministry on Monday noon, reports UNB.Officials concerned were also directed to issue notice by October 10 asking businessmen and importers of rice and wheat to take license within the stipulated time, he added.

"They will have to face legal action by mobile courts if they don't take license within the stipulated time, "he said.

However, the directive is not applicable for those who are running their business with below 100 tonnes of rice, the minister added.As per Control of Essential Commodities Act 1956, rice millers, retailers, wholesalers and importers of rice and wheat have to take license from the Food Department to run their businesses. The violators of the law will have to face highest three years' imprisonment as well as fine."We have sufficient stock of rice which is increasing day by day," 3

www.ricepluss.com | www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For Online/Newsletter Advertisment mujahid.riceplus@gamil.com he said adding that as per the prime minister's directive, they have already signed G2G agreement with many countries and floated tenders to import rice.As per the act, all kinds of businessmen will have to inform the directorate general of food about their stocks on every 15 days, he added.

Qamrul said businessmen can stock 300 tonnes of rice for 30 days. Then, they have to inform about their unsold stock to the directorate general of food.Issuing a warning against rice hoarders, the minister said the government identified those who tried to create crisis in the rice market manipulating its price and law enforcers will take action after further investigation.

What contributions can new rice watering systems make?

USDA Agricultural Research Service researchers working in data-rich environment in rice field studies.

Forrest Laws | Oct 02, 2017 You need to have the latest version of Adobe Flash Player to view this content.Please click here to continue. Rice farmers are paying close attention to new water conservation systems not only because it could save them money but because it may also benefit the environment and help them qualify for carbon credits.

But how do they know what those contributions might be? USDA-Agricultural Research Service scientist Michele Reba discussed some of the research being conducted her unit at Arkansas State University in this video.

Her comments came during a stop on the Mississippi County Water Management Tour on the Mike and Ryan Sullivan Farm near Osceola, Ark., in August. The tour was attended by more than 100 rice farmers. USDA‘s Agricultural Research Service Delta Water Management Research Unit is located at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

Fore more information, click on http://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/furrow-irrigated-rice-maysave-more-dollars-and-cents. http://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/what-contributions-can-new-rice-watering-systems-make

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Rice traders asked to get licence by October 30 12:00 AM, October 03, 2017 / LAST MODIFIED: 04:24 AM, October 03, 2017 Staff Correspondent Food officials have not been properly monitoring the market for long, allowing a section of unscrupulous traders to do business of essentials like rice and wheat without having licence and hoard them. A meeting of district and divisional-level food officials held in the city yesterday acknowledged the issue and decided to follow rules strictly from now on.Amid concern over hoarding of rice, the food ministry yesterday asked all importers, wholesalers, retailers and millers of rice and wheat to obtain licence from the Directorate General of Food by the end of this month.The meeting, chaired by Food Minister Qamrul Islam, made a decision to issue a circular in this regard by October 10, asking all unregistered traders of rice and wheat to secure the licence by October 30 and share their food stock information every 15 days with the respective district food offices.

The meeting added that though food officials are supposed to keep track of private traders' stock situation, the monitoring is not being done properly. "Food officials were not previously aware of the need to collect stock reports due to ignorance or other reasons,‖ the food minister said.

Though the government recently started a nationwide operation of the open market sale (OMS) of rice, the meeting noted that at least 25 percent of the daily OMS allocation (2,105 tonnes) remained unsold.

Sources said as the government had mostly white rice (Atap) in stock, and it was distributing the staple for OMS purpose, consumers who chose parboiled (Shiddo) rice over the white were not willing to buy the OMS rice at a subsidised rate of Tk 30 a kg.

As the government's rice reserve dipped to an all-time low at around 1.5 lakh tonnes in the beginning of the current fiscal year and farmers lost at least 20 lakh tonnes of rice due to flashfloods and fungal disease (rice blast), the government had to go for buying rice through international tender bidding, first time in the last six years.

Following some imports through government-to-government agreements and some private imports after import duty cut, the prices of rice in domestic market dropped by Tk 4-5 a kg in recent weeks, but still remain high by Tk 10-15 comparing to last year's rice price. http://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/rice-traders-asked-get-licence-october-30-1470730

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50kg of rice to fall to N15,000 soon – Nigerian govt October 2, 2017

By Wale Odunsi

Nigerian government has assured Nigerians that the price of rice would soon crash in the market.

Currently, a 50kg of rice costs between N17,000 and N18,000.But Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, is optimistic that the price will sell for N13,000 in the next few months.

Ogbeh told newsmen in Abuja that efforts were on to see how millers could procure paddy at lower price. ―In July, 2015, one tonne of rice sold for N65,000. Last year June, one tonne of rice went to N150,000″, he said. ―So, the millers said as long as they were buying for N150,000 for a tonne of paddy and milling, they couldn‘t sell for less than N17,000 for a bag of 50kg after milling.―So, we called a meeting between millers and farmers and we are brokering an arrangement now where the price of paddy would drop reasonably to N120,000 per tonne of paddy. ―And the millers say that if they buy at N120,000, they can sell rice at the rate of N13,000 per 50kg‖ http://dailypost.ng/2017/10/02/50kg-rice-fall-n15000-soon-nigerian-govt/ 6

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Chinese hybrid rice experts visit over 100 rice farm, fields

ISLAMABAD: A group of Chinese hybrid-rice researchers and experts along with local scientists under 'Traveling Rice Seminar' initiative had visited more than 100 rice fields and farms across the crop growing areas of the country.

They had also visited different research stations, agriculture universities, seed outlets of different companies to exploit the cultivation of hybrid rice in all four provinces of the country.

The traveling seminar was designed by Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) and Chinese Yuan Longping High-tech Agriculture Company, said Programme Coordinator and Member Plant Science of PARC Dr Anjum Ali. Talking to APP, he said that the experts had travelled in all the four ecological zones of the country including Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan in order to create awareness among growers about the cultivation of hybrid rice.

This was a month long activity in which a group of hybrid ricere searchers from China comprising on 12 scientists also trained the local scientists, seed producers and field extension departments of the provincial governments, he added.

He said that the main aim of this joint initiative was to enhance per acre crop productivity, increase profitability and produce surplus commodity for exports enhancement.

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www.ricepluss.com | www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For Online/Newsletter Advertisment mujahid.riceplus@gamil.com In order to further enhance the local rice output China and Pakistan have decided to work together for conducting joint awareness programmes to adopt hybrid rice seeds, he added.

He informed that the Chinese scientists had trained 30Pakistani agriculture scientists, selected from all the four provinces.

Besides, he said that they will also impart training to the members of the provincial field extension departments on hybrid rice cultivation.

In addition, he said that the activity will also help in capacity building of the local experts from all over the country in order to promote the hybrid rice techniques.

They had also organize road-shows and field visits across the rice-growing areas to address the issues and challenges in promotion of hybrid rice seed, he added.

He further informed that a revolutionary hybrid rice seed was recently developed by the Chinese researchers, which would help Pakistani farmers to enhance significantly their per acre yield.

The new developed rice seed variety would help to produce extra surplus, hence the country would be able to export more rice for exporting it to other countries, he added.

The seminar would be concluded by next month would be able to estimate the local hybrid seed requirements for different regions and showcase the hybrid rice varieties, he remarked. https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/233975-Chinese-hybrid-rice-experts-visit-over-100-rice-farm-fields

Rice prices increase by 38 per cent on production drop

A steep decline in rice production has pushed up the retail price by 38 per cent, piling pressure on households that are already grappling with the high cost of living in a sluggish economy.

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www.ricepluss.com | www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For Online/Newsletter Advertisment mujahid.riceplus@gamil.com A kilogramme of Pishori rice at Mwea Irrigation Scheme was Monday selling at more than Sh200 per kilogramme, up from Sh145 in January.

Mwea is Kenya‘s largest irrigation scheme, whose performance impacts the volumes of the grain available in the market as well as the pricing.

The National Irrigation Board (NIB) said rice production at Mwea dropped from average yields of 830,000 bags in the season ended March last year to 498,000 bags in the season ended March this year, a 40 per cent decline.

This has seen the value of rice imports increase to Sh15.89 billion in the six months to June, up from Sh6.6 billion in the same period last year.

The volume of imported rice rose to 353,082 tonnes from 261,819 tonnes in the same period last year.

A kilo of Daawat Basmati rice was Monday selling at Sh237, Daawat Aromati (Sh217), Sunrice Mwea Pishori (Sh200) and Pearl Kenya Pishori (Sh249) at Nairobi supermarkets.

“The cost of rice has been increasing since January following a drop in output at the Mwea Irrigation Scheme in the wake of a severe drought that affected the flow of water,” said Innocent Ariemba, a manager at the scheme.

Mwea accounts for 80 per cent of Kenya‘s rice production, making it a major determinant of the country‘s ability to meet annual demand.

Kenya produces 150,000 tonnes of rice a year, leaving a 250,000 tonnes deficit that is met through imports.

NIB said River Thiba, whose flow on a normal season is six cubic meters per second, declined to two cubic meters per second late last year, reducing the amount of water at the scheme.

Mwea Irrigation Scheme requires a total flow of seven cubic meters for effective production, Mr Ariemba said.

NIB said it expected the situation to normalise from November when the crop that is currently on the farm is harvested.

In event of good rains, Mwea is expected to produce up to 95 per cent of the required yields in the current season that started in April and ultimately bring down retail prices.

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www.ricepluss.com | www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For Online/Newsletter Advertisment mujahid.riceplus@gamil.com The drought, which took a toll on production early this year, has affected hundreds of growers who rely on the crop as their economic mainstay. With good rains, farmers in Mwea produce rice worth Sh7 billion a year.

Kenya‘s rice consumption has been growing at the rate of 10 per cent a year to stand at 400,000 tonnes, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

The acute shortage of rice comes at a time when research findings by Egerton University-based Tegemeo Research Institute indicate that rice is becoming an important staple due to changing lifestyles and growth of the middle income population.

The national rice development strategy had last year projected that by 2017 the demand for rice would surpass the current estimates of 400,000 tonnes.

NIB is about to start construction of Sh16 billion Thiba Dam in Mwea to create a reservoir that is expected to play a key role in addressing the challenges of water shortage as it seeks to maintain a stable supply of the produce. http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/news/Rice-shortage-pushes-price-above-Sh200-a-kilo/539546-41220167ipah3z/

Vietnam eyes exporting rice, shrimp to Iran

TEHRAN, Oct. 02 (MNA) – Vietnam intends to export rice and shrimp to Iran, and has voiced readiness to purchase fish powder, bone powder and meat from Iran.According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Iran‘s Deputy Agriculture Minister Hassan Salehi met with the head of Iran10

www.ricepluss.com | www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For Online/Newsletter Advertisment mujahid.riceplus@gamil.com Vietnam Trade Council to discuss the ways to expand bilateral trade cooperation in the area of agriculture. During the meeting, Hassan Salehi elaborated on the actions taken to develop the relations between the two countries and voiced the readiness of Iran‘s Fisheries Organization for cooperation with Vietnam.

He also announced the Vietnamese‘ cooperative activities in Qeshm and Bandar Abbas. Salehi invited Vietnamese companies to participate in the international fisheries exhibition of Iran which was welcomed by them. The head of Iran-Vietnam Trade Council referred to the establishment of an office in Qeshm, and announced their intention to purchase shrimp, Caviar and salmon eggs from Iran and build a factory for fish sauce production. He also called for removal of obstacles to banking transaction as well as rice and shrimp exports to Iran. http://en.mehrnews.com/news/128277/Vietnam-eyes-exporting-rice-shrimp-to-Iran

NFA: Rice imports above board October 02, 2017 The National Food Authority (NFA) said the import permits issued to rice traders are all aboveboard amid claims of smuggling.

NFA said the issuance of import permits to private rice importers under the 2016 minimum access volume (MAV) allocation from March to June this year was based on the decision of the inter-agency NFA Council, the agency‘s policy-making body, to extend the rice import deliveries from February 28 to March 31, and later to June 30.

More than 100 import permits were issued to different importers from March to June 30 and that all importers paid customs duties or tariffs in advance, as required under the terms of reference for the importation.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson had alleged that Cebu Lite Trading Inc. (CLTI), one of the 2016 MAV rice importers, had shipped rice into the country without the proper documents such as import permit (IP). ―CLTI was only one of so many rice importers which were issued IPs during the period that paid their customs duties, thus it is puzzling why this company was singled out,‖ NFA said.

NFA added that a total of P553 million advance customs duties were paid to the government out of the import permits issued an were issued in compliance with the extension granted by the NFA Council. ―There is no irregularity in the said transactions as the importers were issued IPs only after complying with the tariffs and other documentary requirements,‖ it said. The 2016 MAV 11

www.ricepluss.com | www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For Online/Newsletter Advertisment mujahid.riceplus@gamil.com guidelines state that all rice to be imported under the program ―shall be levied with 35 percent tariff to be paid in advance with the Land Bank of the Philippines. However, final assessment and valuation shall be made by the Bureau of Customs,‖ NFA said. http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/business/nfa-rice-imports-above-board

NFA rice imports hit by delays

By Louise Maureen Simeon (The Philippine Star) | Updated October 3, 2017 - 12:00am The Philippines suffered rice supply disruptions anew as only 68 percent of the expected 250,000 metric tons of rice imports have arrived. File MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines suffered rice supply disruptions anew as only 68 percent of the expected 250,000 metric tons of rice imports have arrived.As of Sept. 29, only 169,892 MT of rice have arrived in the country.Rice should have been delivered on a staggered basis from August to September, with a total of 120,000 MT expected in August and 130,000 MT last month.

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www.ricepluss.com | www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For Online/Newsletter Advertisment mujahid.riceplus@gamil.com ―We cannot really say when the remaining and the rest of the total will arrive because it is the responsibility of the suppliers,‖ NFA spokesperson Rebecca Olarte told The STAR.Meanwhile, in transit are 12,000 MT of rice while at laycan are 53,600 MT of rice.Current NFA inventory can only last five days compared to its mandated buffer stock of 15 days at any given time.

Despite the delay and NFA‘s dwindling buffer stock, the grain agency assured there is still enough rice stocks at the national level good for 65 days.―Main harvest will already start this month so fresh stocks will further augment the current volume,‖ Olarte said.Four out of the six Southeast Asian suppliers sought an extension of the delivery last August.

To recall, Vietnamese company Hiep Loi Food Joint Stock Co. requested for 10 days due to ―delay in signing of contract due to late release of certification‖ while Singaporean company Olam International Ltd. asked for 15 days due to ―delay in arranging formalities related to contracting services.‖ Thai Capital Cereals Co. Ltd. and Gia International Corp., meanwhile, sought for 10 days extension due to ―time loss on official procedure.‖The rice imports (25 percent broken, wellmilled, long grain white rice) were divided into six lots of 25,000 MT each and two lots of 50,000 MT each.Reference price for the importation was set at $451.08 per MT based on the foreign exchange rate of P50 to $1.

The total amount of bids reached P$104.86 million or P5.2 billion, translating to savings of around $8 million or P400 million.NFA collected close to P12 million in fines from over 1,700 unlicensed retailers from January to August this year amid intensified monitoring. The amount is nine percent higher than the P11 million collected in the same period last year.―Nationwide, the violations recorded by our enforcers were mostly cases of unlicensed grains retailers or nonrenewal of license, improper display of price tags, use of un-calibrated weighing scale, and rebagging of NFA rice,‖ NFA administrator Jason Aquino said.

Majority of the cases was recorded in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Zamboanga Peninsula, ARMM and Caraga.

Grains retailers who violated the NFA regulations were fined with the corresponding amount under the law.NFA-accredited rice retailers are covered by the agency‘s ―One Strike Policy,‖ which means retailers proven to be in violation of the law will be stripped of their accreditation even on their first offense. ―NFA must continue to perform its function of supply and price stabilization of our basic food by ensuring that NFA rice is always available in the market to give the low-income consumers the option for affordable but good quality rice,‖ Aquino said.

Last year, 2,404 grains businessmen were found to have committed 3,155 violations, yielding P20 million in total collection of fines.

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www.ricepluss.com | www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For Online/Newsletter Advertisment mujahid.riceplus@gamil.com Given NFA‘s dwindling stocks, Aquino has instructed regional offices to be more stringent in the monitoring of any illegal activities in the market

http://www.philstar.com/business/2017/10/03/1744868/nfa-rice-imports-hit-delays

NFA clarifies issuance of rice import permits

By Louise Maureen Simeon (The Philippine Star) | Updated October 1, 2017 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — State-run National Food Authority (NFA) maintained there is no irregularity in the country‘s rice imports after the agency was included in the economic sabotage, graft and grave misconduct case filed against former Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon.NFA has clarified the alleged rice smuggling complaint of Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who also tagged NFA administrator Jason Aquino in his case against Faeldon.

NFA said the issuance of permits to private importers under the 2016 minimum access volume (MAV) scheme early this year was based on the decision of the interagency NFA Council to extend the rice import deliveries from the original Feb. 28 deadline to March 31, and to another later date of June 30.MAV refers to the volume of a specific agricultural product allowed to enter the country at a lower tariff as a commitment of the Philippines under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade of the World Trade Organization. It is being shouldered by the private sector. ―Based on the policy decision of the Council, more than 100 permits were issued to different importers from March to June 30, all of which paid their respective Customs duties or tariffs in advanced, as required under the terms of reference (TOR) for the importation,‖ NFA said. ―There is no irregularity in the said transactions as decisions by the NFA follow stringent rules with respect to the MAV importation,‖ the agency added.In his complaint, Lacson said Faeldon, Aquino and several other individuals should be held liable for allegedly conspiring to smuggle rice shipments without the timely payment of necessary customs taxes and for allegedly allowing the use of fake import permits.Lacson said on March 9, a shipment of 21,800 bags of Vietnamese long grain white rice valued at $370,000 and consigned to Cebu Lite Trading Inc. (CLTI) entered the Cagayan De Oro port.

Another shipment of 18,200 bags valued at $309,400 entered the port on the same date.

Lacson said the government ―was deprived of the use and benefit of the abandoned shipment valued at $680,000 or P34,043,520, computed based on the prevailing exchange rate of P50.064 to $1.‖―CLTI was only one of so many rice importers issued permits during the period, that paid their due customs duties, thus it is puzzling why this company was singled out,‖ the grain agency said.

A total of P553 million advanced customs duties were paid to the government out of the import permits issued.To recall, Aquino did not want to allow the extension of rice import deliveries from the Feb. 28 deadline, echoing President Duterte‘s call to not allow the entry during the summer harvest season.

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www.ricepluss.com | www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For Online/Newsletter Advertisment mujahid.riceplus@gamil.com However, the NFA Council decided to do otherwise and the NFA had to abide with the Council‘s decision.

The 2016 MAV rice imports TOR states that all rice to be imported under the program ―shall be levied with 35 percent tariff to be paid in advance with the Land Bank of the Philippines. However, final assessment and valuation shall be made by the Bureau of Customs.‖―This means that the process of actual importation commenced only after complying with the tariff and other documentary requirements, and after due evaluation by the NFA‘s MAV post qualification team,‖ NFA said http://www.philstar.com/business/2017/10/01/1744197/nfa-clarifies-issuance-rice-import-permits

Vietnam eyes exporting rice, shrimp to Iran

News ID: 4102691 - Mon 2 October 2017 - 16:35

TEHRAN, Oct. 02 (MNA) – Vietnam intends to export rice and shrimp to Iran, and has voiced readiness to purchase fish powder, bone powder and meat from Iran.

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www.ricepluss.com | www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For Online/Newsletter Advertisment mujahid.riceplus@gamil.com According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Iran‘s Deputy Agriculture Minister Hassan Salehi met with the head of Iran-Vietnam Trade Council to discuss the ways to expand bilateral trade cooperation in the area of agriculture.

During the meeting, Hassan Salehi elaborated on the actions taken to develop the relations between the two countries and voiced the readiness of Iran‘s Fisheries Organization for cooperation with Vietnam. He also announced the Vietnamese‘ cooperative activities in Qeshm and Bandar Abbas.

Salehi invited Vietnamese companies to participate in the international fisheries exhibition of Iran which was welcomed by them.

The head of Iran-Vietnam Trade Council referred to the establishment of an office in Qeshm, and announced their intention to purchase shrimp, Caviar and salmon eggs from Iran and build a factory for fish sauce production. He also called for removal of obstacles to banking transaction as well as rice and shrimp exports to Iran http://en.mehrnews.com/news/128277/Vietnam-eyes-exporting-rice-shrimp-to-Iran

Cambodia, Bangladesh sign new deals October 2, 2017 Sok Chan / Khmer Times Share:

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www.ricepluss.com | www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For Online/Newsletter Advertisment mujahid.riceplus@gamil.com Trade between Cambodia and Bangladesh has been sluggish. Reuters

Cambodia and Bangladesh will sign two new memorandums of understandings (MoU) aimed at boosting trade between the two nations.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, the two countries will soon sign an MoU on the specifics of the joint trade council and on revamping a bilateral trade agreement that expired last year.

Speaking during a meeting last week with Saida Muna Tasneem, Bangladesh‘s ambassador to Cambodia and Thailand, Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak said the two MoUs will be signed during the official visit of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Cambodia in October.

Ms Tasneem asked Cambodia‘s Ministry of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce to hold a business dialogue forum with the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), an initiative he believes will foster trade partnerships and investment opportunities between the nations.

Soeng Sophary, a spokesperson at the Ministry of Commerce, said trade between the nations has been sluggish and he hopes the new agreements on trade will help increase commercial activity between the nations. ―The amount of bilateral trade is not really increasing at the moment, but we hope these new agreements will remedy this. We call that a win-win approach,‖ Ms Sophary said.―Bangladesh and Cambodia share LDCs [less developed country] status. We need each other, despite being competitors in the garment sector. ―We can greatly benefit from a closer relationship with Bangladesh – an example of this is the deal we reached recently on rice,‖ Ms Sophary added.

Under a recent agreement, Bangladesh will import one million tonnes of milled rice from Cambodia during the next five years starting in 2017.

The kingdom will export 250,000 tons of milled rice – 200,000 tonnes of white rice and 50,000 tonnes of parboiled rice – each year. An agreement on trade and investment between Cambodia and Bangladesh was signed in 2004, but trade volumes between both nations have only experienced moderate growth since then. http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5084053/cambodia-bangladesh-sign-new-deals/

Rice traders have to obtain licence from food department by Oct 30, says minister Senior Correspondent, bdnews24.com Published: 2017-10-02 15:04:26.0 BdST Updated: 2017-10-02 19:40:38.0 BdST

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The food ministry has set Oct 30 as the deadline for rice and wheat traders to obtain licences from the authorities.Food Minister Qamrul Islam has ordered district controllers (DC Food) and regional controllers (RC Food) to take legal measures against any trader who has not obtained a license by then.A notice informing rice traders of the decision will be issued by Oct 10, the food minister told reporters after a meeting with field level workers at the Secretariat on Monday.The government has also made it mandatory for traders to report on their stocks every 15 days.―Food officials were not previously aware of the need to collect stock reports due to ignorance, or other reasons,‖ the food minister said.

50kg of rice to fall to N15,000 soon – Nigerian govt on October 2, 2017

By Wale Odunsi

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www.ricepluss.com | www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For Online/Newsletter Advertisment mujahid.riceplus@gamil.com Nigerian government has assured Nigerians that the price of rice would soon crash in the market.Currently, a 50kg of rice costs between N17,000 and N18,000.But Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, is optimistic that the price will sell for N13,000 in the next few months.Ogbeh told newsmen in Abuja that efforts were on to see how millers could procure paddy at lower price.―In July, 2015, one tonne of rice sold for N65,000. Last year June, one tonne of rice went to N150,000″, he said. ―So, the millers said as long as they were buying for N150,000 for a tonne of paddy and milling, they couldn‘t sell for less than N17,000 for a bag of 50kg after milling. ―So, we called a meeting between millers and farmers and we are brokering an arrangement now where the price of paddy would drop reasonably to N120,000 per tonne of paddy.―And the millers say that if they buy at N120,000, they can sell rice at the rate of N13,000 per 50kg http://dailypost.ng/2017/10/02/50kg-rice-fall-n15000-soon-nigerian-govt/

Kogi rice will feed the nation – Govt October 2, 2017

By John Akinfehinwa

The Kogi State Government has restated its commitment to creating an enabling environment for the much needed agricultural revolution, assuring Nigerians that Kogi Rice will bridge the gap between demand and supply across the nation.

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www.ricepluss.com | www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For Online/Newsletter Advertisment mujahid.riceplus@gamil.com Addressing newsmen in Lokoja on Monday, the Director General on Media and Publicity to the Governor of Kogi State, Kingsley Fanwo said the State is emerging the number one agricultural state in the federation.

According to him, the State is ―poised to strengthen her lead in cashew production as well as take over the leading role in cassava and rice production‖.He said, ―Kogi State had declared a state of emergency in the agricultural sector long before the unstable revenue generation in the state. The visionary administration of Alh Yahaya Bello has placed agriculture on the front burners of its economic prosperity plan known as the New Direction Agenda. ―A massive revolution is going on across the state in the area of rice production. Kampe Omi Dam Project is breathing down on the leading rice producers in the country. Our rice mill is near completion and the nation will be shocked by the magnitude of work put in place to ensure rice sufficiency in Nigeria. We are also working on the Ibaji Rice Farm which has the potential of causing a revolution in the nation‘s rice production. ―We attach great importance to the value chain and the multiplier effect agriculture can have on the economy of our dear state. In 2023, we want Kogi to become the food capital of Nigeria and this administration is working towards that‖.Fanwo said the State Government will continue to welcome genuine investors in the agricultural sector in order to create jobs for the teeming youth in the state. ―We appreciate the torrent of awards given to Governor Yahaya Bello for hacking insecurity to the ground with the support of the security agencies in the state. But he is also of the opinion that insecurity will never be defeated without food and jobs. Agriculture can give us the two. ―What we are building at Omi Dam is capable of sparking mass resignation from the civil service as our people are seeing a window of opportunity to prosperity through agriculture‖.

He called on the labour leaders in the state to explore the ―humble and considerate nature of the Governor to engage in dialogue as a peaceful means of crisis resolution‖, saying the threat of strike is fast becoming ―old fashioned and fascist‖.―I urge Labour, not only in Kogi State but across the nation to embrace dialogue as a peaceful means of crisis resolution rather than heightening temperatures with threats of strike. Every man hour loss is a blow to the economy.

No party benefits from strike. ―We thank those civil servants who have continued to go to work and urge those not going to work to resume in the interest of their career, the people of Kogi State and future of our dear state. Those who have been using the clock-in-clock-out devices will surely be paid their salaries‖. http://dailypost.ng/2017/10/02/kogi-rice-will-feed-nation-govt/

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Nigeria: Kogi Rice Will Feed the Nation The Kogi State Government has restated its commitment to creating an enabling environment for the much needed agricultural revolution, assuring Nigerians that Kogi Rice will bridge the gap between demand and supply across the nation.

Addressing newsmen in Lokoja on Monday, the Director General on Media and Publicity to the Governor of Kogi State, Kingsley Fanwo said the State is emerging the number one agricultural state in the federation.

According to him, the State is "poised to strengthen her lead in cashew production as well as take over the leading role in cassava and rice production".

He said, "Kogi State had declared a state of emergency in the agricultural sector long before the unstable revenue generation in the state. The visionary administration of Alh Yahaya Bello has placed agriculture on the front burners of its economic prosperity plan known as the New Direction Agenda.

"A massive revolution is going on across the state in the area of rice production. Kampe Omi Dam Project is breathing down on the leading rice producers in the country. Our rice mill is near completion and the nation will be shocked by the magnitude of work put in place to ensure rice sufficiency in Nigeria. We are also working on the Ibaji Rice Farm which has the potential of causing a revolution in the nation's rice production. We attach great importance to the value chain and the multiplier effect agriculture can have on the economy of our dear state. In 2023, we want Kogi to become the food capital of Nigeria and this administration is working towards that".

Fanwo said the State Government will continue to welcome genuine investors in the agricultural sector in order to create jobs for the teeming youth in the state.

"We appreciate the torrent of awards given to Governor Yahaya Bello for hacking insecurity to the ground with the support of the security agencies in the state. But he is also of the opinion that insecurity will never be defeated without food and jobs. Agriculture can give us the two. " http://allafrica.com/stories/201710030027.html

Rice acreage is down, and yield seems to be too A harvester plows through a rice field with the the unloading truck close behind as rice harvest begins on Sligar Farms September 20, 2017 in Richvale, California. (Emily Bertolino -- Enterprise-Record)

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www.ricepluss.com | www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For Online/Newsletter Advertisment mujahid.riceplus@gamil.com PHOTOS: Annual rice harvest begins on Sligar FarmsBy Steve Schoonover, Chico EnterpriseRecord 09/30/17, 10:16 PM PDT |

A harvester plows through a rice field with the bankout truck close behind as rice harvest begins Sept. 20 on Sligar Farms in Richvale.Emily Bertolino — Enterprise-Record The rice harvest is well underway in the Sacramento Valley, and the yield seems to be down, probably due to unfavorable weather this year.

Spring was unusually wet, with late rains delaying the planting. And then there were extended periods of extremely hot weather that brought on a whole set of other problems.

As a result, the harvest is down about 10 percent, according to people in the industry. They caution that it‘s still early in the harvest — about 15 percent of the crop is in — and later varieties might do better.

That‘s coupled with a reduction in acreage farmed, due to the late start.

LESS LAND PLANTED Butte County Agricultural Commissioner Louie Mendoza said it appears 10-15 percent of the roughly 100,000 acres of rice fields in Butte County weren‘t planted this year.

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www.ricepluss.com | www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For Online/Newsletter Advertisment mujahid.riceplus@gamil.com That trend has been seen statewide. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has estimated 458,000 acres of rice are in production this year in California, down 78,000 acres from 2016.

Gorrill Ranch President and CEO Danny Robinson said they were only able to plant two-thirds of the 4,000 acres the Durham-based operation usually farms.

Robinson explained it takes seven to eight weeks to get all the fields ready for planting, and they want to have that done by the first of June. They couldn‘t get into the fields until the first week on May this year because they were soaked from the spring rains.

LESS RICE PER ACRE The late start may have contributed to the reduced yield as well. University of California Cooperative Extension Colusa County Farm Advisor Luis Espino said some farmers may have skipped or rushed some of the steps they normally take in preparing the fields for planting, and that could have consequences at harvest time.But the main factor appears to be the summer heat.

The strings of days where the highs topped 100 degrees prompted rapid growth of the plants.The plants made ―too much foliage, too fast,‖ according to UC Yuba-Sutter Farm Adviser Whitney Brim-Forest, which left less energy for producing rice grains.

The plants also grew too tall, and when the seed heads formed, their weight pulled a larger than average number of the plants to the ground.

That‘s called lodging, and it creates problems for the harvest. Gorrill Ranch‘s Robinson said a harvester that usually runs through the field at 3 1/2 to 4 mph has to slow to 2 mph.It also contributes to a lower yield.―You basically have to pick it up off the ground,‖ Robinson said, ―and you can‘t pick up everything.‖ Finally, the higher heat appears to have caused something called blanking. That‘s when not all the available spots in the seed head actually produces a grain of rice.Robinson explained that there might be 60 spots in each seed head where a grain of rice could form. His people have been finding places where two or three of those spots were ―blank,‖ and sometimes even seven or eight.

Blanking usually happens when the weather gets below 55 degrees at night when the rice plant is blooming, but Farm Adviser Espino says it also happens at high heat, above 104 degrees. The rice pollen dries out and is no longer viable. The seeds don‘t form. ―I can‘t say that‘s the reason (for the lower yields), but that‘s probably one of the factors,‖ Espino said.―All those little things may add up.‖ OTHER FACTORS Pests that bother rice have been about normal this year. Espino said he‘d seen some stem rot and some army worm damage early in the season.The one thing that alarms farmers the most is what‘s called weedy rice. Farm Advisor Brim-Forest said it‘s the same species as cultivated rice, but is missing a couple of essential traits.

For one thing, the rice grains don‘t stay in the seed head, but drop out so they can‘t be harvested.

The grains also germinate at a far lower level than cultivated rice.Those are big problems for rice 23

www.ricepluss.com | www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For Online/Newsletter Advertisment mujahid.riceplus@gamil.com farmers, but not for rice eaters.―For consumers there‘s nothing wrong with it,‖ she said. ―It‘s just rice.‖It‘s been found in about 10,000 acres of rice in the state, including some in Butte County, she said.

PRICE If there‘s a good thing about less acreage being planted in rice, and less rice being harvested per acre, it might drive up the price, which has been depressed for a few years.

Carl Hoff, president and CEO of the Butte County Rice Growers Association, said the price had already risen with the reduction in acreage planted, and further increase could come if the yield does end up being down.

He said it‘s really too early to tell though.And he and others said it‘s still too early to say that the entire harvest will end up being below average. That will be known toward the end of October, when all the crop is in.

Reach City Editor Steve Schoonover at 895-7750.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR-Steve Schoonover is the city editor of the Enterprise-Record and Oroville Mercury-Register. A resident of Chico since 1963 and a 1975 graduate of Chico State University, he has been with the E-R since 1980. Reach the author at sschoonover@chicoer.com or follow Steve on Twitter: @ER_sschoonover. http://www.chicoer.com/article/NA/20170930/NEWS/170939973.

Rice traders asked to get licence by October 30 Staff Correspondent

12:00 AM, October 03, 2017 / LAST MODIFIED: 04:24 AM, October 03, 2017 Food officials have not been properly monitoring the market for long, allowing a section of unscrupulous traders to do business of essentials like rice and wheat without having licence and hoard them. A meeting of district and divisional-level food officials held in the city yesterday acknowledged the issue and decided to follow rules strictly from now on.

Amid concern over hoarding of rice, the food ministry yesterday asked all importers, wholesalers, retailers and millers of rice and wheat to obtain licence from the Directorate General of Food by the end of this month.The meeting, chaired by Food Minister Qamrul Islam, made a decision to issue a circular in this regard by October 10, asking all unregistered traders of rice and wheat to secure the licence by October 30 and share their food stock information every 15 days with the respective district food offices.The meeting added that though food officials are supposed to keep track of private traders' stock situation, the monitoring is not being done properly.

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www.ricepluss.com | www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For Online/Newsletter Advertisment mujahid.riceplus@gamil.com "Food officials were not previously aware of the need to collect stock reports due to ignorance or other reasons,‖ the food minister said.Though the government recently started a nationwide operation of the open market sale (OMS) of rice, the meeting noted that at least 25 percent of the daily OMS allocation (2,105 tonnes) remained unsold.Sources said as the government had mostly white rice (Atap) in stock, and it was distributing the staple for OMS purpose, consumers who chose parboiled (Shiddo) rice over the white were not willing to buy the OMS rice at a subsidised rate of Tk 30 a kg.

As the government's rice reserve dipped to an all-time low at around 1.5 lakh tonnes in the beginning of the current fiscal year and farmers lost at least 20 lakh tonnes of rice due to flashfloods and fungal disease (rice blast), the government had to go for buying rice through international tender bidding, first time in the last six years.

Following some imports through government-to-government agreements and some private imports after import duty cut, the prices of rice in domestic market dropped by Tk 4-5 a kg in recent weeks, but still remain high by Tk 10-15 comparing to last year's rice price. http://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/rice-traders-asked-get-licence-october-30-1470730

Grain traders asked to take license by 30 Oct 30 Online Desk | Update: 16:19, Oct 02, 2017

Food minister Qamrul Islam said apart from rice millers, retailers, wholesalers and importers of rice and wheat will have to take license from the directorate general of food by 30 October 30.He came up with the remark after a meeting with officers of regional controllers of food, and district controllers of food at his ministry on Monday noon, reports UNB.Officials concerned were also directed to issue notice by October 10 asking businessmen and importers of rice and wheat to take license within the stipulated time, he added.

"They will have to face legal action by mobile courts if they don't take license within the stipulated time, "he said.However, the directive is not applicable for those who are running their business with below 100 tonnes of rice, the minister added.As per Control of Essential Commodities Act 1956, rice millers, retailers, wholesalers and importers of rice and wheat have to take license from the Food Department to run their businesses. The violators of the law will have to face highest three years' imprisonment as well as fine.

"We have sufficient stock of rice which is increasing day by day," he said adding that as per the prime minister's directive, they have already signed G2G agreement with many countries and floated tenders to import rice.As per the act, all kinds of businessmen will have to inform the directorate general of food about their stocks on every 15 days, he added.Qamrul said businessmen can stock 300 tonnes of rice for 30 days. Then, they have to inform about their 25

www.ricepluss.com | www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For Online/Newsletter Advertisment mujahid.riceplus@gamil.com unsold stock to the directorate general of food.Issuing a warning against rice hoarders, the minister said the government identified those who tried to create crisis in the rice market manipulating its price and law enforcers will take action after further investigation. http://en.prothom-alo.com/economy/news/161645/Grain-traders-asked-to-take-license-by-30-Oct-30

In defence of food imports

Sarawak spent RM4.4 billion on imported food in 2016. Chief Minister Abang Johari Abang Openg said we need to double the effort to address the food deficit, which stood at RM3.27 billion last year.First of all, he gets the whole idea the wrong way around in looking into ways to address the food deficit.The chief minister does not seem to realise that Sarawakians actually benefit from such food imports, because imports are the point and purpose of all trade.

As a self-appointed state economic minister, he should by now understand imports are the things foreigners can produce better, cheaper, or in greater volume, than they can be domestically.

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www.ricepluss.com | www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For Online/Newsletter Advertisment mujahid.riceplus@gamil.com The rise in food imports is the very thing which shows that Sarawakians have become better off.For example, the reason I buy imported food from Emart is because my family are way better off doing so. I get a great variety of food, cheaper than if we tried to grow it all ourselves. My ―export‖ in this sense is simply the grunt work I do in order to purchase these imported foods.What is true for my household should be equally true for every Sarawakian.

So if he looks into the trade figures to see who really benefits, Abang Johari will realise that when he proposes reducing food imports, he may be making Sarawakians worse off.This gets compounded by similar suggestions from other policymakers, who want Sarawak to import less and export more.

In what world is it good to get less while giving up more in exchange? It is impossible over the long run. Buying fewer food imports ultimately must result in the sale of fewer food exports as Adam Smith argued in ―The Wealth of Nations.‖ Secondly, the economy ought to be run for interests of consumers, not producers or farmers who have the chief minister‘s attention. Who it is that benefits from cheaper imports if not consumers?

Cheaper food is good for consumers, since we will have more money to spend on other things.For example, after years of negotiation, China recently agreed to open its domestic market for US rice exports for the first time ever, acknowledging the importance of rice import to meet the growing demands of its vast middle class.

What is happening in China is that there is a rise of the middle class, meaning fewer people standing around in paddy fields under the sun following water buffalos around.Why is that so?

Because the labour cost in China is going up. Labour cost is higher in the US but the latter is more mechanised, meaning it is more efficient, and therefore cheaper than rice production in China.

Imagine: American rice farmers produce about nine million tonnes a year, and Chinese consumers can eat that much in about two weeks.Who would have thought China, once the world‘s largest rice producer and largely able to feed itself, now imports rice from the US, where hurricanes, wildfires and floods rage across the country every year?

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www.ricepluss.com | www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For Online/Newsletter Advertisment mujahid.riceplus@gamil.com Looking around, we seem to be more abundantly fed compared to several decades ago. There is so much rice being sold, different kinds of imported rice, almost everywhere than at any time in the past, although Sarawak is no longer an agricultural state.So, again, it is simply ridiculous that the chief minister wants to reduce food imports.Of course, we also need to recognise the need for importing food which can only be produced in different climates.

But what we should be doing is maximising the potential of our own food production.The question then becomes how we are going to work out what type of food production we are good at?

The obvious answer is for us to abolish all subsidies, regulations and price controls that help and protect our farmers.Just wait and see. The foods we are good at producing will continue to be produced, and those foods that we‘re not good at will not. It‘s pretty simple system, like in New Zealand.

Giving even more subsidies under whatever initiative to food production is more evidence that it is not a profitable venture, and that is going to produce something akin to a peasant lifestyle.Without subsidies, the incomes of farmers in rural areas especially will be pitifully small.This then becomes a welfare model not a business model. That‘s very bad economics.Ask this differently, if farmers were all making good profits from farming, then we wouldn‘t be offering them subsidies, would we? https://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/397100

NFA collects P11.86-million fines from erring grains retailers

By BusinessMirror October 2, 2017 The National Food Authority (NFA) collected P11.86 million in fines and enforcement fees from 1,758 grains sellers who violated the country‘s grains business laws in January to August.

NFA Administrator Jason Laureano Y. Aquino said the fines were collected from unlicensed grains retailers, and those who did not display price tags properly, used uncalibrated weighing scale and engaged in the rebagging of NFA rice.

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www.ricepluss.com | www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For Online/Newsletter Advertisment mujahid.riceplus@gamil.com ―Most of the apprehensions were recorded in Regions 1, 2, 9, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Caraga,‖ Aquino said in a statement.

He noted that under Presidential Decree (PD) 4, which created the NFA, the agency is empowered by law ―to inspect palay, rice, and other grains stored by any person, partnership, corporation or association, for purposes of taking inventory and record of such commodities‖.

He added the NFA is also authorized ―to order the seizure, when there is hoarding of rice and other grains products, including facilities and equipment used in said hoarding, or whenever there is a scarcity of supply in such commodity in the consumer market and/or an unwarranted increase in the price‖.

In 2016 the NFA recorded 3,155 violations by 2,404 grains businessmen and was able to collect P19.67 million in fines and enforcement fees. ―Our constant market monitoring did not only keep the price of rice stable at P35 to P42 per kilogram but we were also able to keep the grains retailers from unnecessarily increasing their retail price based on market speculation or manipulation of big rice traders,‖ Aquino said.

He added he instructed enforces of the NFA to be ―more stringent‖ in the monitoring of any illegal activities in the market after the delayed arrival of NFA rice imports for the lean months.

Aquino said grains retailers caught in violation of PD 4 have to pay a fine, while NFA-accredited rice retailers are covered by the agency‘s ―One Strike Policy‖, which means retailers would lose their accreditation on the first offense. https://businessmirror.com.ph/nfa-collects-p11-86-million-fines-from-erring-grains-retailers/

EDITORIAL: Fighting for sugar imports EDITORIAL The Jakarta Post

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Jakarta | Tue, October 3, 2017 | 07:55 am The raw sugar import quota for domestic refining to be used by food and beverage companies has always been much larger than the users‘ actual needs. (Shutterstock.com/File) The recent decision by the Coordinating Economic Minister, Darmin Nasution, to postpone the trade minister‘s policy on the auction of raw sugar import quotas because of suspected rent-seeking practices, simply validated the perception that the restrictive, non-tariff measures (NTM) have been exploited for profit by officials, politicians and businesspeople.

A Constitutional Court justice and a political party chairman have been jailed for corruption related to beef imports. A former head of the state logistics agency was imprisoned in a criminal case related to rice imports. We believe there are many other scandals tied to manipulating the NTM on food commodity imports, but that they are difficult to prove.

Likewise, we have heard frequent rumors that the raw sugar import quota for domestic refining to be used by food and beverage companies has always been much larger than the users‘ actual needs. The surplus could be sold on the local market with a very high profit margin, as the local price for sugar is twice as high as that in Thailand and Malaysia, which supply over 95 percent of Indonesia‘s raw sugar imports. Raw sugar is subject to an import duty of only 5 percent.

The government has placed the NTM on basic food commodities such as rice, sugar, soybean, corn, shallots, chilies, garlic, onions and beef to protect local farmers who, because of gross inefficiency, cannot compete with those in neighboring countries.

The government allows raw sugar imports, but only for users in the food and beverage industry.

Local white cane sugar, which ranges in production volume from 2 to 2.2 million tons a year, is allocated entirely for household consumption and is sold minimally at the government‘s reference price, which is usually more than double import prices. In reality, however, it is easy to obtain the white sugar processed from imported raw sugar through retailers.

The volume of annual raw sugar imports is based on recommendations from the Industry Ministry. The problem, though, is that the ministry lacks transparency in setting the import quota, and the Agriculture Ministry, which oversees local sugar production, does not have accurate data.

Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita tried to demonstrate a kind of transparency by introducing a public auction of the annual raw sugar import quotas, which range from 3.2 to 3.5 million tons. But since the public auction was designed to be managed by a private company allegedly connected to business groups notorious for rentseeking, industrial users have cried foul, afraid that they will have to pay rent on their import procurement.It is highly imperative that while the trade minister‘s policy on the public auction is being reviewed, the government facilitates an independent, comprehensive audit of the entire import permit process and the setting of import quotas that involves the agriculture, trade and industry ministries and food and beverage industry representatives, which are the main users of imported raw sugar.http://www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2017/10/03/editorialfighting-for-sugar-imports.html 30