Daily
Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter
August 04,2016 Vol 7 , Issue VIII
Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Today Rice News Headlines...
PTA with Indonesia to help Pakistani exports to grow: Dastgir Indonesia must review import quota policy for Pakistan Steps under way to export rice from Pakistan to Indonesia’ Pakistan’s trade share in global market witnesses growth by 5.48pc in five years: NA told By 2019: Pakistan to export 1m tons of rice to Indonesia Mechanism being evolved for rice export from Pakistan Govt permits basmati rice exports via land custom stations Punjab: Area under rice goes up; basmati, cotton slide Global rice market to enter price war Salinity-tolerant rice varieties produce high yields in Myanmar Cambodia asks China to double rice quota Gloomy forecast for Cambodia's rice sector Thailand's Rice Exports On World Top List In 1st Half 2016 Gloomy forecast for Cambodia's rice sector Cabinet curbs water-consuming plants’ cultivation to avert water shortage Feature: Farmers save rainwater for dry seasons Farmers save rainwater for dry seasons Detective Scientists Discover Which Rice Crops Can Save Money and Reduce Pollution Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Aug 4,2016 Rice Prices Farewell Steve! Next Generation of Chefs Gives Brown Rice a Thumbs Up Our Views: Cuba is poor but a new market for Louisiana More Cambodia rice bound for China Thai rice faces global price war
Editorial Board Chief Editor
Managing Editor
Abdul Sattar Shah Rahmat Ullah Rozeen Shaukat
English Editor
Maryam Editor Legal Advisor Advocate Zaheer Minhas
Editorial Associates
Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid Javed Islam Agha Ch.Hamid Malhi Dr.Akhtar Hussain Dr.Fayyaz Ahmad Siddiqui Dr.Abdul Rasheed (UAF) Islam Akhtar Khan
Editorial Advisory Board
Dr.Malik Mohammad Hashim
Assistant Professor, Gomal University DIK
Dr.Hasina Gul
Assistant Director, Agriculture KPK
Dr.Hidayat Ullah Assistant Professor, University of
Swabi
Dr.Abdul Basir Assistant Professor, University of
Swabi
News Detail...
Hamlik
Zahid Mehmood PSO,NIFA Peshawar
PTA with Indonesia to help Pakistani exports to grow: Dastgir
Falak Naz Shah
Head Food Science & Technology 2 ART, Peshawar
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Minister urges to ensure implementation of MoU signed between two countries for purchase of rice from Pakistan 04:41 PM, 3 Aug, 2016
Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan says that Preferential Trade Agreement with Indonesia would help Pakistani exports to grow. He was talking his Indonesian counterpart Enggartiasto Lukita during a meeting on the side lines of 12th World Islamic Economic Forum in Jakarta today. He said that import of Palm Oil from Indonesia has exponentially increased the volume of imports from Indonesia and Pakistan will start importing coal from Indonesia in large quantities for electricity generation. Khurram Dastgir urged to ensure implementation of MoU signed between the two countries for purchase of rice from Pakistan.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Indonesian Minister expressed the desire to find possibilities of converting the Agreement into a Free Trade Agreement.He asserted that signing of full scale trade agreement would open new avenue for trade in goods http://www.radio.gov.pk/03-Aug-2016/pta-with-indonesia-to-help-pakistani-exports-togrow-dastgir
Indonesia must review import quota policy for Pakistan August 04, 2016
ISLAMABAD: Federal Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir has urged his Indonesian counterpart to reconsider the import quota policy for Pakistan for items included in the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and expressed hope that a quota-free market access would help Pakistani exports to grow. The minister made these remarks in a meeting with Enggartiasto Lukita, Minister for Trade of Indonesia, on the sidelines of the 12th World Islamic Economic Forum being held in Jakarta, Indonesia. He said that the barriers to trade which hinder the free flow of products were being phased out in the modern trading system. The commerce minister appreciated the fact that the Preferential Trade Agreement between both countries was helping the bilateral trade to grow. The import of Indonesian palm oil has exponentially increased the volume of imports from Indonesia, and in future, Pakistan might start importing coal from the country in large quantities for electricity generation, he added. Dastgir urged the Indonesian minister for trade to ensure the implementation of the MoU signed between the two countries for purchase of rice from Pakistan. First review meeting of the PTA was scheduled to be held on August 15 and 16, 2016 in Jakarta, where both sides would share their evaluation of the performance of PTA since its inception.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The review meeting would also propose the future course of action to further strengthen trade ties and enhance bilateral trade. The Indonesian minister expressed the desire to find possibilities of converting this PTA into a Free Trade Agreement.He asserted that signing of full scale trade agreement between the two countries would open new avenues for trade in goods, and might lead to a point where both countries agree to expand bilateral preferential treatment to services as well.
Steps under way to export rice from Pakistan to Indonesia’ FAISALABAD: Indonesian Ambassador Iwan Suyudhie Amri on Tuesday said that Pakistan and Indonesia had inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in December last and now they were working to evolve a mechanism for exporting one million tonnes of rice from Pakistan to Indonesia by 2019. Addressing the members of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), he paid glowing tribute to the deceased former ambassador of Indonesia Burhan Muhammad, who worked hard to bolster relations between the two counties. The Indonesian envoy said Pakistan was a very friendly country, and that the two countries should make serious efforts to translate their relations into economic ties.
He said that volume of trade between the two countries was $2.18 billion in 2015 - far less than the actual potential. He said there was no doubt that the balance of trade was in favour of Indonesia, but the real issue was bilateral trade, as in case of China-Indonesia trade, it was in favour of China. He said that exports from Pakistan should increase. He said that the situation of law and order had improved in Pakistan and it would definitely have a positive impact on its exports to Indonesia http://dailytimes.com.pk/business/03-Aug-16/steps-under-way-to-export-rice-frompakistan-to-indonesia
Pakistan’s trade share in global market witnesses growth by 5.48pc in five years: NA told Wednesday, 03 August 2016 14:20
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid Wednesday said that Pakistan's trade share in global market had increased by 5.48 percent during the last five years. Speaking in the National Assembly during question-hour, the minister said Pakistan's export share in global market in 2015 had increased by 3.50 percent as compared to 2014. He expressed the hope that country's trade share in global market was expected to further increase due to upcoming economic activity under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), regional trade arrangements and Strategic Trade Police Framework (STPF). He said the government was well aware of the real issues affecting the country's exports such as terrorism, energy crisis, low investment inflows and high cost of doing business. He said several steps were taken relating to high cost of doing business, market access and competitiveness, adding including. He said a total of Rs 20 billion would be spent on development of export sector during the next three years. Other measures included Support for the import of plant and machinery to strengthen supply chain and encourage value-addition, establishment of Export Promotion Council for Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics, and Rice Export Promotion Council, Performance Based Incentive (PBI) to offset the burden
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter of higher utility costs and local levies and taxes on the export sectors, i.e. per unit price based refund at 4 of 10 percent over last year’s exports. He said under short-term export enhancement measures four product categories were being focused including Basmati rice, horticulture, meat and meat products; and jewellery, with the parallel focus on the following markets- Iran, Afghanistan, China, and European Union. He said government was trying to get better market access for the local businesses in international markets by concluding Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) with different countries. Bilateral free trade agreements with China, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Iran, Mauritius and Indonesia were already in place, he added. He said the opportunity of zero-rated market access in European Union market under GSP Plus scheme had provided a fillip to our exports to our largest market. Moreover, Government is in the process of negotiating trade agreements with Thailand and Turkey. Replying to another question, he added that Pakistan had not so far acceded to Information Technology Agreement during two main reasons including FBR had shown reluctance as removal of duties may result in loss of revenue and, Ministry of Industries and Production was of the opinion that without adequate tariff protection, there would be no incentive to set-up IT related industries in Pakistan. However, he added Ministry of Industries has since modulated it’s stance on the agreement Business Recorder
By 2019: Pakistan to export 1m tons of rice to Indonesia By Imran Rana Published: August 3, 2016 Hoping to correct balance of trade currently in Indonesia’s favour. PHOTO: APP FAISALABAD: Pakistan and Indonesia inked an MoU in December last year and are now working to carve out a mutually acceptable mechanism for the export of one million tons of rice from Pakistan by 2019, said Indonesian Ambassador Iwan Suyudhie Amri. He was addressing the business community at Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry [FCCI] on Tuesday.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter
He said that volume of bilateral trade between the two countries stands at $2.18 billion which was far less than the existing potential, however, it was the highest among ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] countries. Referring to CPEC, he said that it would attract foreign investment and all regional countries will enjoy its benefits. ―Our domestic market is very strong which has provided us a solid base for speedy economic growth,‖ he added. Trade numbers FCCI’s Muhammad Nawaz underlined the importance of the current value of bilateral trade, which stands at $2.18 billion, and said it was largely in favour of Indonesia. Alamdar Hussain said that both countries had inked Preferential Trade Agreement [PTA] in 2012 to enhance the volume and it played a major role in enhancing the volume that was only $700 million in 2010. http://tribune.com.pk/story/1154785/2019-pakistan-export-1m-tons-rice-indonesia/
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Mechanism being evolved for rice export from Pakistan Tuesday, 02 August 2016 22:01 Parvez Jabri
FAISALABAD: Indonesian Ambassador Iwan Suyudhie Amri Tuesday said that Pakistan and Indonesia had inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in December last and now they were working to evolve a mechanism for export of one million tons of rice from Pakistan to Indonesia by 2019. Addressing the members of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) here, he paid glowing tribute to the deceased former Ambassador of Indonesia Burhan Muhammad, who worked hard to bolster bilateral relations between the two counties. Indonesian envoy said Pakistan is a very friendly country. He said the two countries should make serious efforts to translate their relations into economic terms. 9
He said that volume of bilateral trade between the two countries in $2.18 billion, which is far less than the actual potential. He said there is no doubt in it that the balance of trade is in favour of
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Indonesia but the real issue is bilateral trade as in case of China-Indonesia trade, it is in favour of China. He said exports from Pakistan should increase. He said that law and order situation had improved in Pakistan and it would definitely have positive impact on its exports to Indonesia. About China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said it would attract foreign investment and all regional countries would enjoy its benefits. He said that Indonesia is a country with huge population of 250 million. "Our domestic market is very strong which has provided us a solid base for speedy economic growth," he added. About Halal food, he said that Pakistan is speedily undertaking the process of Halal food certification which will help it make maximum Halal exports to Indonesia. About people-to-people contacts, he said that Indonesia is offering scholarships to Pakistani students which will bring both countries closer. Responding to yet another question about health and education related reforms, he said that Indonesia has allocated 20 per cent of its budget for education as elementary level education is free. Similarly, subsidy is offered in health sector. The rich are charged while the poor are getting free treatment. He hoped that this system will be further improved in coming years. He also promised removing hurdles to export of rock salt from Pakistan to Indonesia. Earlier in his welcome address, Chaudhry Muhammad Nawaz, president, FCCI, underlined the importance of existing bilateral trade between Pakistan and Indonesia. He said that it was $2.18 billion in 2015. Pakistani exports to Indonesia were only $140 million whereas Indonesian exports to Pakistan were $2041 million. Thus the balance of trade is in favour of Indonesia. Syed Zia Alamdar Hussain, Senior Vice President, FCCI, said that both countries had inked Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) in 2012 to enhance their trade. It played a major role in enhancing bilateral trade and the trade volume that was only $700 million in 2010 has jumped to $2.18 billion in 2015. He said that Indonesia is a major country exporting palm oil to Pakistan. During the last four years, Indonesian exports to Pakistan have swollen from 30% to 83%. He said that in 2015 Pakistan imported 2.1 million tons of palm oil, out of which 70% was imported from Indonesia. Later, the FCCI memento was also presented to the Indonesian ambassador, while the guest presented a symbol of Indonesia to Chaudhry Muhammad Nawaz, president of the FCCI.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter http://www.brecorder.com/pakistan/business-a-economy/311982-mechanism-being-evolved-for-riceexport-from-pakistan.html
Govt permits basmati rice exports via land custom stations "In addition to the EDI (electronic data interchange) ports, export of basmati rice will now be permitted through land custom stations on Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-Nepal border also subject to registration of quantity with DGFT (Director General of Foreign Trade), the commerce ministry said in a notification. | 1 Comments Govt permits basmati rice exports via land custom stations Government permitted exports of basmati rice through land custom stations on Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-Nepal border. "In addition to the EDI (electronic data interchange) ports, export of basmati rice will now be permitted through land custom stations on Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-Nepal border also subject to registration of quantity with DGFT (Director General of Foreign Trade), the commerce ministry said in a notification. It also said exports of basmati shall not be permitted on the basis of documents against acceptance unless such export is covered either by bank guarantee or ECGC guarantee with effect from October 1. ECGC Ltd (Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd), wholly-owned by the government with the objective of promoting exports from the country by providing credit risk insurance and related services for exports. India's rice exports in 2015-16 stood at USD 5.79 billion. It was USD 459.39 million in April this year http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/economy/govt-permits-basmati-rice-exports-via-land-customstations_7167521.html?utm_source=ref_article
Punjab: Area under rice goes up; basmati, cotton slide Paddy rice acreage saw an increase of around 12 per cent from last year with almost 25 lakh hectares dedicated to the crop. Basmati rice may soon touch 5 lakh hectares only. Written by Anju Agnihotri Chaba | Jalandhar | Published:August 3, 2016 5:35 am Basmati rice consumes less water than paddy rice. However, 33 per cent less land is under cultivation this time compared to last year. (Source: File)
Farmers have taken to rice cultivation after their cotton crop failed last season and losing trust in Basmati’s returns. The area under rice this year has touched 30 lakh hectares — the highest in over a decade.Paddy rice acreage, too, saw an increase of around 12 per cent from last year with almost 25 lakh hectares dedicated to the crop. Basmati rice may soon touch 5 lakh hectares only.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter
The news will certainly put pressure on the state’s groundwater resources with 102 of 141 agricultural blocks already ―dry‖. Rice is a water-intensive crop. ―This would be a big blow to our crop diversification policy,‖ said a senior officer in the agriculture department. Under the state’s New Agriculture Policy, around 12 lakh hectares was to be diverted from paddy rice to other crops mainly basmati, maize and cotton. Basmati rice consumes less water than paddy rice. However, 33 per cent less land is under cultivation this time compared to last year. ―Farmers are looking for a secure market and paddy rice provides that,‖ said Dr J S Bains, director, Punjab Agriculture department. Last year, whitefly infestation wrecked the cotton market while Basmati’s prices fluctuated during last few years
Global rice market to enter price war PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI THE NATION August 4, 2016 1:00 am
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter THE GLOBAL RICE market will experience a price war next year as an oversupply is expected at the same time as trade slows, Thai exporters say, putting pressure on the Kingdom because its rice is quite expensive compared with other countries’. Exporters expect Thai rice shipments this year to total 9.5 million tonnes, maintaining the country's status as the world's largest rice exporter, slightly ahead of its major competitor India, which will export about 9 million tonnes.Charoen Laothammatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said prices would fluctuate late this year and into 2017 since many riceimporting countries had lower demand, while the supply of rice is expected to rise significantly from the upcoming harvest season after the end of the drought.The strengthening of the baht against the US dollar has pushed up the price of Thai rice, which will cause difficulty for exporters as the prices of many competitors decrease after the onset of more rainfall.With more rice but lower demand, fluctuating currencies and the baht's appreciation, and high competition, the global rice market will enter a price war. Thailand, which is the world's major rice supplier and holds high stocks, needs to manage its rice stocks carefully and stabilise the price to ensure export competitiveness," Charoen said.As Thailand enters the price war, Charoen expects its rice to become cheaper, while domestic rice prices will also fall because of lower demand. Lower demand in many importing countries will continue to be affected by low oil prices, particularly in Africa and the Middle East, which are major import markets for Thai rice. This year, the association expects Thailand to export about 9.5 million tonnes of rice worth about Bt4.4 billion, while next year export volume will drop to about 9 million tonnes.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Thailand could lose its position as the world's rice-export champion in 2017, since India has a high supply of rice and could release more next year, the association says. The US Department of Agriculture expects the global rice trade in 2017 to decrease by 2 per cent from 41.34 million tonnes to 40.51 million, while world rice output will increase by 2.3 per cent from 470.64 million tonnes to 481.23 million. Demand for rice consumption in the global market is expected to increase slightly, by 0.4 per cent from 478.48 million tonnes to 480.63 million, while ending stock in the global is expected to rise from 106.7 million tonnes to 107.3 million tonnes. In the first half of this year, Thailand shipped 4.99 million tonnes of rice worth US$2.2 billion (Bt76.7 billion), more than India, which exported 2.76 million tonnes.However, as India has high stockpiles of rice, about 25 million tonnes, while its price is lower than Thailand's, Charoen's association is afraid that India could become the world's largest rice exporter instead of Thailand next year. Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said it was hard to predict whether Thailand or India would be the world's largest rice exporter next year because of the uncertainties due to fluctuating prices and higher output.He said that as Thai rice is about $50 a tonne more expensive than some of its rivals', exporters could have difficulty competing. Currently, Thai rice is trading at around $425 a tonne, while Vietnam's is $375 a tonne for 5 per cent white rice. Thai parboiled rice is quoted at $440 a tonne, and Indian parboiled rice is $375 a tonne. Moreover, as a larger supply of rice from the upcoming harvest season is expected, the association warns the government to create a benchmark price carefully from its project to clear out its rice stocks. Charoen said the government could continue to release rice via auctions but it should not sell it for too low a price as that could affect the market price and hurt farmershttp://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Global-rice-market-to-enter-price-war-30292075.html
Salinity-tolerant rice varieties produce high yields in Myanmar Tuesday, 02 August 2016 10:22
Sixty farmers participated in evaluating new salinity-tolerant rice varieties in a farmer’s field in Meikhtilar District, Mandalay to identify new high-yielding varieties Salinity-tolerant variety, Pyi Myanmar Sein, provided greater yield than four other farmerpreferred varieties. (Image source: 64525258@N00/Flickr)
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Through a programme conducted by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), in collaboration with the Consortium for Unfavourable Rice Environments (CURE), these farmers also participated in selecting the best varieties for their fields while becoming aware of the sustainable adoption of improved varieties in stress-prone environments.Myanmar has a predominantly agricultural economy based on rice production, with 32 per cent of the total rice area composed of unfavourable lowland areas. Salinity-affected rice-farming areas account for two per cent of these unfavourable areas— almost 110,000 ha—spread across different states and regions .The collaboration between IRRI and CURE with Myanmar’s Department of Agricultural Research (DAR) to develop suitable rice varieties for these challenging areas has resulted in successfully developing and distributing to farmers seeds of three salinity-tolerant varieties— Sangnakhan Sin Thwe Latt, Pyi Myanmar Sein, and Shwe Asean. All the nine tested varieties out-yielded the check varieties, except for one variety, 11T 265. Among the tested varieties, IR11T 159 had the highest yield (5.1 tonnes/ha). A demonstration trial was held in a rice field in Meikhtilar District, Mandalay, to compare Pyi Myanmar Sein, a newly released salinity-tolerant variety, with four farmer-preferred varieties. Among the five tested varieties, Pyi Myanmar Sein performed best and produced the highest yield (4.3 tonnes/ha). According to the IRRI team, a participatory varietal selection and seed multiplication each year will help to share information on new elite varieties with farmers, and their capacity will be developed. http://fareasternagriculture.com/crops/agriculture/salinity-tolerant-rice-varieties-produce-high-yields-inmyanmar
Cambodia asks China to double rice quota Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak (left) shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart, Gao Hucheng, during a meeting yesterday at the Ministry of Commerce in Phnom Penh. Photo supplied Wed, 3 August 2016
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Hor Kimsay
Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak lobbied his visiting Chinese counterpart, Gao Hucheng,
yesterday to consider doubling Cambodia’s annual rice export quota to China while also proposing a host of agricultural trade agreements. In a press release following a meeting, Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce said the Chinese government would consult with its relevant agencies to push for up to a 97 per cent tariff reduction scheme that provides duty- and quota-free access to Asia’s largest economy ―as soon as possible‖. China will also consider increasing the export quota on Cambodian rice to 200,000 tonnes starting in 2017, as well as continuing to negotiate on the exports of broken rice, banana, mango, longan, cashew nut, pepper, coffee and soybean. The current export quota on rice to China is 100,000 tonnes per year. Ministry spokesperson Soeng Sophary stressed that while the talks were fruitful, no official decisions were made. ―China accepted our suggestions for consideration,‖ she said, adding that she hoped they would not be rejected. ―Once China agrees on any point that Cambodia suggests, we will be ready to sign with them.‖
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter David Van, local managing director of Bower Group Asia, said in order to secure trade deals Cambodian agricultural products need to adopt China’s strict sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) protocols – a longtime barrier for the Kingdom’s exports. ―They can give us duty and quota free access, but they might still strictly control SPS,‖ he said. ―If that is so, we still will not be able to export to their country until we improve our products.‖ Contact author: Hor Kimsay http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/cambodia-asks-china-double-rice-quota
Rice marked with current market prices is displayed outside a warehouse in Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district yesterday afternoon. Heng Chivoan
Gloomy forecast for Cambodia's rice sector Wed, 3 August 2016 Cam McGrath and Cheng Sokhorng
An industry analyst has issued a dire forecast for Cambodia’s rice sector, claiming the long-grain ―white gold‖ that has been credited with lifting millions of Cambodia’s farmers out of abject
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter poverty, and which seems a natural fit for the Kingdom’s agrarian workforce, is on a downward trajectory. Jim Plamondon, a former technical evangelist for Microsoft who is developing new marketing strategies for Cambodian rice varieties, says the Kingdom’s rice industry – the lifeblood of its agricultural economy – is headed for a brutal and imminent consolidation. Those in the industry who think sliding rice prices will recover, or reducing overhead costs will make Cambodia competitive against its heavyweight neighbours, are in for a rude awakening. According to Plamondon, the surge in world rice prices a decade ago that prompted many of Cambodia’s rice exporters to join the industry was an aberration. The predominant trend for rice prices – as it has been for the last 400 years – is down. ―When the price of rice started rising in 2006, and then spiked in 2008, that was great news for Cambodia’s subsistence rice farmers,‖ he says. ―Then rice stayed high in 2011, partly because everybody was hoarding rice to make sure this [global supply shortage] wouldn’t recur, but ever since then it has been coming down.‖ The majority of Cambodia’s rice exporters cut their teeth during these peak-rice years, investing in mills and distribution networks while reaping stellar profits on export shipments. ―[Peak prices] were normal to them, but they were not normal to the world, which has seen rice prices [as a percentage of wages] steadily declining for centuries,‖ explains Plamondon. Rice was one of a raft of commodities caught in a global supply shortage in the mid-2000s as producers raced to scale up production to meet the voracious demand of China and other emerging economies. But now there is a global glut of supply and the world’s rice exporters are facing hard times, as profits continue to shrink, leaving only the hardiest contenders in the race. In April 2008, Thailand was quoting a metric tonne of 5-per cent broken milled rice for US delivery at $1,020 per tonne. Today, it ships for about $417 per tonne, having rebounded from a nadir of $354 per tonne last December. Ominously, Cambodia’s rice exports fell six per cent during the first half of the year, while rice exports from Vietnam dropped by 32 per cent despite cost-competitive pricing. Exports from emerging rice powerhouse Myanmar plummeted 63 per cent year-on-year during its latest dry season harvest. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has forecast the total worldwide trade of rice at 43.9 million tonnes this year, indicating a second successive year of contraction due to oversupply.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter ―Much of the projected fall would reflect import reductions in the Far East, where key buyers such as Bangladesh, China (Mainland), the Philippines and Sri Lanka may lower their purchases amid ample availabilities on store and/or increased border protection,‖ the agency said in its July 2016 Rice Market Monitor. Yet even with the world awash in cheap rice, many exporting countries are planning to increase production. Myanmar is looking to triple rice exports in the coming three years, while Cambodia is still pining for its elusive one-million-tonnes a year export goal – about double what the country shipped last year. Plamondon describes this strategy of ramping up the production of commodity as its prices continue to fall as a ―race to the bottom.‖ ―This is not about Cambodia’s rice industry – there is a worldwide glut of supply, so there must be a retraction,‖ he says. ―I do not believe Cambodia’s rice industry is on the verge of collapse, but it is on the brink of a consolidation, and that means a lot of farmers and millers are going to go broke.‖ There are signs it is already happening. According to Moul Sarith, secretary-general of the Cambodian Rice Federation (CRF), low margins and increased competition from neighbouring countries have forced at least five smalland medium-sized Cambodian rice millers out of business in the last year. ―They could not overcome the challenges and had to shut down,‖ he said, adding: ―If no action is taken to support the sector, more millers will go bankrupt in the next six months.‖ In total, up to 50 per cent of the nation’s rice millers could be out of business by the end of the year, he added. Yet Sarith remains confident there is a way out, explaining that millers have capacity but lack capital to purchase enough rice paddy to operate efficiently. ―Even with rice export prices lower than they were last year, exports are still profitable, though those profits are smaller,‖ he said, adding that the government has pledged up facilitate up to $30 million in emergency loans for millers and exporters to help shore up the industry. Capital will not solve the problems plaguing Cambodia’s rice sector, insists Plamondon, but it could determine who survives.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter ―There’s going to be a significant retrenchment – only those with access to capital and plans for growth [will survive],‖ he said. ―New mills are more efficient than old ones, so many older, smaller mills will be out-competed. But even new mills will be squeezed out by [bigger and more efficient operations in] Vietnam and Thailand, especially if they’re burdened by debt.‖ According to Kann Kunthy, CEO of Battambang Rice Investment Co Ltd (BRICo), a consolidation is already taking shape. By his calculation, nearly half of all millers have either shuttered operations or been bought out by bigger operations. Those that remain are increasingly turning to business ―alliances‖ to increase their economies of scale. ―Most of our rice millers will have to consolidate in order to survive,‖ he said. ―Facing a longterm downswing, millers are forging alliances to process paddy as a survival strategy.‖ As examples, he cited new ―cooperation‖ agreements between Asia Gold Rice and Crystal Mill Rice, and between Apsara Rice and Soma Group. BRICo, which has invested $15 million since 2014 into its milling operations and has a hefty capacity of 24,000 tonnes per year, has managed to keep its head above water, Kunthy insists. But while the company’s exports continue to grow, he admitted ―even we are feeling the impact, just like the rest of the rice sector.‖ Contact authors: Cam McGrath and Cheng Sokhorng http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/gloomy-forecast-cambodias-rice-sector
Thailand's Rice Exports On World Top List In 1st Half 2016 BANGKOK, Aug 3 (Bernama) -- Thai rice exports have been slated the top on the world market, with shipments of the Thai grains to trading partners reaching nearly 5 million tonnes during the first half of this year, Thai News Agency (TNA) reports. Charoen Laothammathat, President of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, told journalists, Wednesday, that the country's rice exports totaled over 4.99 million tonnes during the January-June 2016, higher than India at 4.76 million tonnes and Vietnam at 2.66 million tonnes.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Charoen projected that overall Thai rice exports should reach 9.5 million tonnes by the end of this year, worth about US$4.4 billion, retaining the country's status as the world's top rice exporter. As major import markets in Asia and Africa are expected to place more purchase orders for newlyharvested Thai grains later this year Charoen foresaw that Thai rice exports should stand about 650,000 tonnes monthly on average in the third quarter of this year and about 800,000 tonnes monthly on average in the last quarter of 2016. According to the Thai rice exporters association chief, the Thai government's continual support through marketing plans, PR campaigns and negotiations with trading partners have also boosted demand for Thai rice on the world market. Besides, recovering economies of trading partners and reasonable prices of Thai rices have helped shored up demand for Thai grains on the global market. The Thai rice exporters association president cautioned, however, that risk factors remain in the second half of this year, which could affect Thai rice exports, including the appreciation of the Thai baht, a drop in demand for previously-harvested Thai grains and more domestic supply of rice in trading partners during the rainy season. -- BERNAMA http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v8/wn/newsworld.php?id=1269082
Gloomy forecast for Cambodia's rice sector Wed, 3 August 2016 Cam McGrath and Cheng Sokhorng Rice marked with current market prices is displayed outside a warehouse in Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district yesterday afternoon. Heng Chivoan
An industry analyst has issued a dire forecast for Cambodia’s rice sector, claiming the long-grain ―white gold‖ that has been credited with lifting millions of Cambodia’s farmers out of abject poverty, and which seems a natural fit for the Kingdom’s agrarian workforce, is on a downward trajectory. Jim Plamondon, a former technical evangelist for Microsoft who is developing new marketing strategies for Cambodian rice varieties, says the Kingdom’s rice industry – the lifeblood of its agricultural economy – is headed for a brutal and imminent consolidation.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Those in the industry who think sliding rice prices will recover, or reducing overhead costs will make Cambodia competitive against its heavyweight neighbours, are in for a rude awakening.
According to Plamondon, the surge in world rice prices a decade ago that prompted many of Cambodia’s rice exporters to join the industry was an aberration. The predominant trend for rice prices – as it has been for the last 400 years – is down. ―When the price of rice started rising in 2006, and then spiked in 2008, that was great news for Cambodia’s subsistence rice farmers,‖ he says. ―Then rice stayed high in 2011, partly because everybody was hoarding rice to make sure this [global supply shortage] wouldn’t recur, but ever since then it has been coming down.‖ The majority of Cambodia’s rice exporters cut their teeth during these peak-rice years, investing in mills and distribution networks while reaping stellar profits on export shipments. ―[Peak prices] were normal to them, but they were not normal to the world, which has seen rice prices [as a percentage of wages] steadily declining for centuries,‖ explains Plamondon. Rice was one of a raft of commodities caught in a global supply shortage in the mid-2000s as producers raced to scale up production to meet the voracious demand of China and other emerging economies. But now there is a global glut of supply and the world’s rice exporters are facing hard times, as profits continue to shrink, leaving only the hardiest contenders in the race.
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22
Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter In April 2008, Thailand was quoting a metric tonne of 5-per cent broken milled rice for US delivery at $1,020 per tonne. Today, it ships for about $417 per tonne, having rebounded from a nadir of $354 per tonne last December. Ominously, Cambodia’s rice exports fell six per cent during the first half of the year, while rice exports from Vietnam dropped by 32 per cent despite cost-competitive pricing. Exports from emerging rice powerhouse Myanmar plummeted 63 per cent year-on-year during its latest dry season harvest. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has forecast the total worldwide trade of rice at 43.9 million tonnes this year, indicating a second successive year of contraction due to oversupply. ―Much of the projected fall would reflect import reductions in the Far East, where key buyers such as Bangladesh, China (Mainland), the Philippines and Sri Lanka may lower their purchases amid ample availabilities on store and/or increased border protection,‖ the agency said in its July 2016 Rice Market Monitor. Yet even with the world awash in cheap rice, many exporting countries are planning to increase production. Myanmar is looking to triple rice exports in the coming three years, while Cambodia is still pining for its elusive one-million-tonnes a year export goal – about double what the country shipped last year. Plamondon describes this strategy of ramping up the production of commodity as its prices continue to fall as a ―race to the bottom.‖ ―This is not about Cambodia’s rice industry – there is a worldwide glut of supply, so there must be a retraction,‖ he says. ―I do not believe Cambodia’s rice industry is on the verge of collapse, but it is on the brink of a consolidation, and that means a lot of farmers and millers are going to go broke.‖ There are signs it is already happening. According to Moul Sarith, secretary-general of the Cambodian Rice Federation (CRF), low margins and increased competition from neighbouring countries have forced at least five smalland medium-sized Cambodian rice millers out of business in the last year. ―They could not overcome the challenges and had to shut down,‖ he said, adding: ―If no action is taken to support the sector, more millers will go bankrupt in the next six months.‖
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter In total, up to 50 per cent of the nation’s rice millers could be out of business by the end of the year, he added. Yet Sarith remains confident there is a way out, explaining that millers have capacity but lack capital to purchase enough rice paddy to operate efficiently. ―Even with rice export prices lower than they were last year, exports are still profitable, though those profits are smaller,‖ he said, adding that the government has pledged up facilitate up to $30 million in emergency loans for millers and exporters to help shore up the industry. Capital will not solve the problems plaguing Cambodia’s rice sector, insists Plamondon, but it could determine who survives. ―There’s going to be a significant retrenchment – only those with access to capital and plans for growth [will survive],‖ he said. ―New mills are more efficient than old ones, so many older, smaller mills will be out-competed. But even new mills will be squeezed out by [bigger and more efficient operations in] Vietnam and Thailand, especially if they’re burdened by debt.‖ According to Kann Kunthy, CEO of Battambang Rice Investment Co Ltd (BRICo), a consolidation is already taking shape. By his calculation, nearly half of all millers have either shuttered operations or been bought out by bigger operations. Those that remain are increasingly turning to business ―alliances‖ to increase their economies of scale. ―Most of our rice millers will have to consolidate in order to survive,‖ he said. ―Facing a longterm downswing, millers are forging alliances to process paddy as a survival strategy.‖ As examples, he cited new ―cooperation‖ agreements between Asia Gold Rice and Crystal Mill Rice, and between Apsara Rice and Soma Group. BRICo, which has invested $15 million since 2014 into its milling operations and has a hefty capacity of 24,000 tonnes per year, has managed to keep its head above water, Kunthy insists. But while the company’s exports continue to grow, he admitted ―even we are feeling the impact, just like the rest of the rice sector.‖ Contact authors: Cam McGrath and Cheng Sokhorng http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/gloomy-forecast-cambodias-rice-sector
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24
Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Cabinet curbs water-consuming plants’ cultivation to avert water shortage Agriculture Ministry says the plan has nothing to do with GERD construction Menan Khater August 2, 2016
The Ministry of Agriculture debunked reported statements that the cabinet is currently preparing an alternative agricultural plan to adjust to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) inauguration. The new strategy bans the export of rice and limits the space of rice fields to 700,000 acres instead of 1.1 million acres, limiting agriculture’s water consumption. The strategy also aims to increase the number of plastic greenhouse fields, treat sewage water, and develop field irrigation tools to increase water efficiency.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Ministry spokesperson, Eid Hawash, told Daily News Egypt that the plan has nothing to do with the GERD, but that it rather focuses on averting effects of the current water shortage crisis, as well as effects of climate change. ―Egypt’s water share used to be 55.5 billion cubic metres (BCM)/year for only 20 million citizens. Now, after population rates increased throughout the years, the water share has not increased,‖ he said. According to Hawash, this share will not be affected by the GERD construction, which will be complete by October 2017. However, he said the ministry is currently undertaking a set of preemptive measures, with the cabinet’s plan to ban rice planting among them. ―Exporting rice means exporting water,‖ he illustrated, noting that this also applies for sugar cane, a highly water-consuming plant. ―There is a wide gap between consumption and production rates,‖ Hawash further highlighted. President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi mandated that the Minister of Agriculture head a governmental delegation from different ministries to work on a new national mega project for the establishment of 100,000 plastic greenhouses. The delegation will reportedly visit European countries to gain the know-how of cultivating these houses. Egypt is one of the world’s largest food importers, according to a 2014 study by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation. By the year 2020, water requirements will most likely increase by 20% (15 BCM/year). The agricultural imports bill in the country has rapidly increased putting a substantial burden on the country’s foreign exchange resources. Climate changes are one of the main threats affecting agricultural crops and overall food security in Egypt and the MENA region. Maize, rice, and wheat are among the top crops to be affected by severe climate change in Egypt, according to a study by United States Aid in 2013 http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2016/08/02/cabinet-curbs-water-consuming-plants-cultivationavert-water-shortage/
Feature: Farmers save rainwater for dry seasons
August 04, 2016
QUEZON CITY, Aug. 4 - Farmers in Brgy. Biclat, San Miguel, Bulacan are taking advantage of the rainy season by saving rainwater for their rice farms’ use during dry months. Small farm reservoirs (SFR) help them do so.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter SFR, according to Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), is a water impounding structure with a maximum height of embankment of 4 meter and average pond area of 1,500 square meters. Farmers with areas no more than 2 ha of rainfed farms find the tool convenient to use. ―Almost every farm here has SFR since we have limited water resources and irrigation can’t reach us,‖ said Rodelio B. Viola, chairman of Biclat Farmers Field School Marketing Cooperative. Farmers use SFRs as fishponds to give them extra income during the first cropping season. They use the water from SFR for rice production in the second cropping season, particularly before or during summer. For farmers who want to start their own SFR, they would have to spend more than P10,000. ―We rent digging equipment such as bulldozer or backhoe. In our area, the rent costs P2,000/hour,‖ said Florentino B. Salvador, a farmer and owner of three SFRs. ―Diggings are made every five years to maintain the depth of the structure as it becomes shallow with soil erosion. If the farmer has resources, he can dig it every year,‖ he added. Experts at the Rice Engineering and Mechanization Division of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) said that SFR is just one of the water harvesting techniques farmers can use during the rainy season. Other technologies include small water impounding project (SWIP), diversion dam, dug-out pond, open ditch, and rain interceptor ponds and ditches. According to Engr. Kristine S. Pascual, water harvesting techniques such as SFR, are important as there is a negative effect when rice is submerged in the water for a long time. ―Aeration will be an issue, resulting in poor tillering of the rice plant,‖ she said. Pascual also gave tips on managing water in the rice field during the rainy season. ―Dikes and irrigation canals must be fixed to make sure that the water flows to the drainage or any impounding structure,‖ she explained. She added that farmers can avoid the onslaught of typhoons and floods by following a cropping calendar to guide them on the proper timing of planting rice.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter PhilRice breeders also suggest that farmers can plant flood-tolerant varieties such as NSIC Rc194 (Submarino 1) which has an average yield of 3.5 t/ha and matures in 112 days. For more information on water harvesting techniques, farmers may contact the PhilRice Text Center at 0920 911 1398. (PhilRice) http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1141470209037/feature-farmers-save-rainwater-for-dry-seasons
Farmers save rainwater for dry seasons Posted by Web Team Posted on Aug - 3 - 2016
Farmers in Brgy. Biclat, San Miguel, Bulacan are taking advantage of the rainy season by saving rainwater for their rice farms’ use during dry months. Small farm reservoirs (SFR) help them do so. SFR, according to Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), is a water impounding structure with a maximum height of embankment of 4 meter and average pond area of 1,500
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28
Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter square meters. Farmers with areas no more than 2 ha of rainfed farms find the tool convenient to use. ―Almost every farm here has SFR since we have limited water resources and irrigation can’t reach us,‖ said Rodelio B. Viola, chairman of Biclat Farmers Field School Marketing Cooperative. Farmers use SFRs as fishponds to give them extra income during the first cropping season. They use the water from SFR for rice production in the second cropping season, particularly before or during summer. For farmers who want to start their own SFR, they would have to spend more than P10,000. ―We rent digging equipment such as bulldozer or backhoe. In our area, the rent costs P2,000/hour,‖ said Florentino B. Salvador, a farmer and owner of three SFRs. ―Diggings are made every five years to maintain the depth of the structure as it becomes shallow with soil erosion. If the farmer has resources, he can dig it every year,‖ he added. Experts at the Rice Engineering and Mechanization Division of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) said that SFR is just one of the water harvesting techniques farmers can use during the rainy season. Other technologies include small water impounding project (SWIP), diversion dam, dug-out pond, open ditch, and rain interceptor ponds and ditches. According to Engr. Kristine S. Pascual, water harvesting techniques such as SFR, are important as there is a negative effect when rice is submerged in the water for a long time. ―Aeration will be an issue, resulting in poor tillering of the rice plant,‖ she said. Pascual also gave tips on managing water in the rice field during the rainy season. ―Dikes and irrigation canals must be fixed to make sure that the water flows to the drainage or any impounding structure,‖ she explained. She added that farmers can avoid the onslaught of typhoons and floods by following a cropping calendar to guide them on the proper timing of planting rice. PhilRice breeders also suggest that farmers can plant flood-tolerant varieties such as NSIC Rc194 (Submarino 1) which has an average yield of 3.5 t/ha and matures in 112 days.
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29
Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter For more information on water harvesting techniques, farmers may contact the PhilRice Text Center at 0920 911 1398 http://www.philrice.gov.ph/farmers-save-rainwater-dry-seasons/
Detective Scientists Discover Which Rice Crops Can Save Money and Reduce Pollution By Dan Nosowitz on August 3, 2016
U of T Scarborough Professor Herbert Kronzucker has helped identify "superstar" varieties of rice that can reduce fertilizer loss and cut down on environmental pollution in the process Ken Jones, Courtesy of U of T Scarborough Excess nitrogen—dumped onto agricultural products as fertilizer—is a huge problem for the environment and for farmers.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter A new study from the University of Toronto Scarborough could help rice farmers lessen the impact of excess nitrogen, from the ground up. More from Modern Farmer Plants need nitrogen to grow; it can be found naturally in the soil in small doses, but like everything else in agriculture, to get plants to grow efficiently and quickly, farmers have long boosted the natural ways with hacks, in this case by dumping nitrogen onto their crops in the form of fertilizer. But many plants, including rice—one of the world’s most produced crops—are not especially efficient at taking in nitrogen, forcing the use of higher quantities. ―In tropical rice fields, as much as 50 to 70 per cent can be lost,‖ reads the study’s release. That’s a huge problem. Nitrogen runoff can pollute streams and rivers, killing any organisms unfortunate enough to be in its way. And while nitrogen fertilizer can be broken down by microbes in the soil, this process isn’t without its problems: studies indicate that the waste product of that microbial digestion, nitrous oxide, is responsible for vast amounts of greenhouse gases. This new study analyzed 19 popular varieties of rice for something that’s never really been analyzed before: the efficiency with which the variety takes in nitrogen. The study even managed to figure out more precisely how these plants take in nitrogen, which could be of use in, say, genetically modified plants. But as it stands, the team divined several more efficient varieties of rice, which, if used, enable farmers to save money by using less fertilizer, and to protect the environment from the effects of excess fertilizer. The team hopes to work with governments to convince farmers to switch rice varieties to one that’s less wasteful. http://modernfarmer.com/2016/08/efficient-rice-crops/
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Aug 4,2016 Nagpur, Aug 4 Gram and tuar prices firmed up again in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) here on good buying support from local millers amid weak supply from producing regions because of rains. Healthy rise in Madhya Pradesh pulses and repeated enquiries from South-based millers also jacked up prices, according to sources. 31
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FOODGRAINS & PULSES
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter GRAM * Desi gram recovered in open market here on renewed demand from local traders amid tight supply from producing belts. TUAR * Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here on subdued demand from local traders amid ample stock in ready position. * Masoor varieties recovered in open market on good demand from local trader amid weak supply from producing belts. * In Akola, Tuar New - 7,600-7,700, Tuar dal New - 12,100-12,400, Udid 12,300-12,800, Udid Mogar (clean) - 16,200-16,900, Moong 7,200-7,400, Moong Mogar (clean) 8,700-8,800, Gram - 7,700-7,900, Gram Super best bold - 10,000-10,200 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 6,800-7,705 6,700-7,600 Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction 6,500-7,375 6,500-7,200 Moong Auction n.a. 6,400-6,600 Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800 Gram Super Best Bold 10,500-10,800 10,500-10,800 Gram Super Best n.a. n.a. Gram Medium Best 9,700-10,000 9,700-10,000 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a Gram Mill Quality 8,500-8,700 8,500-8,700 Desi gram Raw 8,150-8,250 8,100-8,200 Gram Yellow 9,400-9,700 9,400-9,700 Gram Kabuli 9,100-11,100 9,100-11,100 Gram Pink 9,200-9,400 9,200-9,400 Tuar Fataka Best-New 12,500-12,800 12,500-12,800 Tuar Fataka Medium-New 12,000-12,300 12,000-12,300 Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 11,500-11,800 11,500-11,800 Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 10,500-11,000 10,500-11,000
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Tuar Gavarani New 8,000-8,100 8,000-8,100 Tuar Karnataka 8,500-8,900 8,500-8,900 Tuar Black 11,700-12,600 11,700-12,600 Masoor dal best 7,600-7,800 7,500-7,700 Masoor dal medium 6,700-7,200 6,600-7,100 Masoor n.a. n.a. Moong Mogar bold (New) 8,500-9,000 8,500-9,000 Moong Mogar Medium 7,600-8,000 7,600-8,000 Moong dal Chilka 6,200-7,000 6,200-7,000 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a. Moong Chamki best 7,800-8,200 7,800-8,200 Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 16,000-17,000 16,000-17,000 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 13,500-15,000 13,500-15,000 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 9,000-9,200 9,000-9,200 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 6,300-6,800 6,300-6,800 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 5,600-5,800 5,600-5,800 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,100 4,000-4,100 Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,000 3,800-4,000 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,300-4,800 4,300-4,800 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,850-1,950 1,850-1,950 Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,950-2,000 1,950-2,000 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,750-1,950 1,750-1,950 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,250-2,400 2,250-2,400 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,200 2,000-2,200 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a. MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,800 3,200-3,800 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,000 2,900-3,000 Rice BPT best New(100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,800 3,100-3,800 Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-2,900 2,700-2,900 Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,700 2,500-2,700 Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,500 2,200-2,500 Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,100 1,900-2,100 Rice HMT best New (100 INR/KG) 3,700-4,000 3,700-4,000 Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,300 3,000-3,300 Rice Shriram best New(100 INR/KG) 4,400-4,600 4,500-4,900 Rice Shriram med New(100 INR/KG) 4,100-4,300 4,200-4,300 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 9,500-14,000 9,500-14,000 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,000-8,000 7,000-8,000 Rice Chinnor best New(100 INR/KG) 5,500-5,800 5,500-5,800 Rice Chinnor med. New (100 INR/KG) 5,200-5,400 5,200-5,400 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,100 1,900-2,100 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,850 1,700-1,850
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 29.6 degree Celsius (85.3 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp. 24.6 degree Celsius (76.3 degree Fahrenheit) Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a. Rainfall : 1.6 mm FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky. Rains or thunder-showers very likely to occur. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 30 and 24 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.) http://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL3N1AL2XF
Rice Prices as on : 03-08-2016 08:10:32 PM Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market. Arrivals Current
Price
% Season Prev. Prev.Yr Modal change cumulative Modal %change Rice
Bhivandi(Mah)
2250.00
Bangalore(Kar)
2059.00
Bangarpet(Kar)
12.5
40859.00
2300
2200
43.75
29.66 162842.00
4200
4200
-2.33
440.00
28.28
11930.00
1880
1850
18.99
Dhing(ASM)
86.20
26.76
3936.40
1950
1950
NC
Kalipur(WB)
85.00
-5.56
7109.00
2350
2350
20.51
P.O. Uparhali Guwahati(ASM)
83.50
-2.91
4021.10
2230
2230
6.19
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Kesinga(Ori)
80.00
NC
790.00
2350
2300
-7.84
Thodupuzha(Ker)
70.00
NC
3500.00
2800
2700
12.00
Cachar(ASM)
40.00
33.33
2680.00
2500
2500
-7.41
Jajpur(Ori)
32.00 113.33
505.00
2000
2000
-20.00
Kolaghat(WB)
21.00
5
920.00
2400
2400
4.35
Bethuadahari(WB)
16.00
100
40.00
3200
2450
8.47
Champadanga(WB)
16.00
14.29
1097.00
2650
2650
3.92
North Lakhimpur(ASM)
11.80
19.19
1754.00
1900
1900
-
Kolhapur(Laxmipuri)(Mah)
11.00
10
2072.00
3400
3400
-
Dibrugarh(ASM)
8.30 102.44
1410.30
2450
2450
-
Mirzapur(UP)
7.50
25
1528.10
1985
1980
0.76
Siyana(UP)
2.00
NC
115.50
2310
2225
12.68
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article8937501.ece
Farewell Steve! ARLINGTON, VA -- USA Rice Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs Steve Hensley has accepted a position with the National Cotton Council managing their science and environmental issues. Friday is hislast day with USA Rice. The staff celebrated Steve's thirteen-year tenure at USA Rice today at a luncheon in the Arlington office. In commemorating Steve's accomplishments, USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward said, "I know you all share in my sincerest thanks to Steve for his commitment and dedication to USA Rice. He has been a key contributor, helping to navigate USA Rice through some of the industry's biggest regulatory issues over the years, along with working to bring sustainability to the forefront." 35
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter
Ward added, "Steve has written countless comments to the EPA and USDA. I think one of our member's put it best recently when he said Steve has an exceptional ability to communicate complex and technical information in plain English. We'll miss that and him!" Mr. Hensley's "class" celebrates National Rice Month.
Next Generation of Chefs Gives Brown Rice a Thumbs Up By Katie Maher WASHINGTON, DC -- This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the 2016 Healthy Lunchtime Challenge Cookbook, comprised of recipes created by kid chefs across the country. The fifty-six MyPlate inspired recipes are the winning entries of the 2016 Healthy Lunchtime Challenge and 12 of those recipes include brown rice as a featured ingredient. Last month, the winners joined First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House for the 5th Annual Kids "State Dinner," where these winning recipes were served. With more than 1,200 entries submitted to the challenge, the recipes were narrowed down based on healthfulness, taste, originality, affordability, and following USDA's MyPlate nutrition guidance. As a new twist, this year's challenge incorporated the MyPlate, MyState initiative, shining a spotlight on American-grown food and encouraging entrants to use local ingredients from their state.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The twelve rice recipes tout the whole grain and glutenfree benefits of brown rice. From the 'Louisiana Power Lunch,' to the 'Super Stuffed Squash,' to 'D.I.Y Sushi,' these aspiring chefs highlight the versatility of rice and its place on a healthy plate."It's great to see that these young people care about healthy eating and know that brown rice is a part of that," said Byron Homes, chairman of the USA Rice Nutrition Subcommittee. "And what's more, this project educated kids about American agriculture and encouraged them to see the value of sourcing locally-grown ingredients, like U.S. rice, which is exactly our goal." The winning recipes are available online at What's Cooking? USDA Mixing Bowl.
Our Views: Cuba is poor but a new market for Louisiana  
ADVOCATE EDITORIAL Aug 3, 2016 - 6:00 am
While legal and political barriers remain, mere geography is on the side of Louisiana's exporters when it comes to trade with Cuba.A series of trade promotion trips is therefore underway involving Louisiana businessmen and officials, seeking to build relationships before what is seen as the inevitable lifting of the U.S. trade embargo on the Communist-governed island.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The latest group included rice farmers, eager to sell to a North American country that now imports much of its rice from Vietnam. The data: Louisiana exports $439 million worth of rice each year. Cuba imports $173 million of rice per year and on average consumes more than 177 pounds of rice annually, the most rice per capita in the western hemisphere. The new trade group, headed by Commissioner Mike Strain of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, was of course heavy with farmers from the state but also included a range of business interests. While agriculture has an obvious interest in a new and physically close market, tourism officials are also interested in what Cuba can offer. ―We are in a prime position to export agricultural products, petrochemicals and the cruise industry," said former state Rep. Joe Accardo, executive director of the Ports Association of Louisiana. Is all this premature? Because of the deplorable human rights record of the Cuban government, there is always going to be the potential for rifts between the United States and the island's cruel leadership. What President Barack Obama's normalization of relations does is allow a dialogue to begin but business is not only a matter of diplomacy; instead, it is relationships and credit arrangements with buyer and seller, and supply and demand. Louisiana can supply a lot of what Cuba currently demands, but the consequence of socialism over the decades has been economic failure and social misery. Credit is hard to come by in such a poor country. Nevertheless, there are opportunities: Cuba needs our farm products, and we commend Strain for this groundwork. It is not the first nor the last such trip: The commissioner said that Gov. John Bel Edwards will join a similar delegation in October."It is critical to establish these important business relationships now in order to gain access to new market opportunities for our Louisiana agricultural producers when it does," Strain said. He is right, but there remain significant difficulties ahead as Louisiana exporters work their way through legal and language barriers but also the financial hurdles to a more robust relationship with Cuba http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/our_views/article_b229fb82-5374-11e6-83f6536a688e30f2.html
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter More Cambodia rice bound for China
3 Aug 2016 at 19:39 WRITER: KHMER TIMES
A Cambodian farmer works on a rice seedling farm in Svay Chek village on the outskirts of Phnom Penh on Monday. (AP photo) China plans to increase its rice import quota from Cambodia next year as the country braces for possible cutbacks by the European Union (EU) to limit milled rice imports from least developed countries (LDC).Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak said on Tuesday that his Chinese counterpart Gao Hucheng agreed at a bilateral trade meeting to increase China’s import of milled rice from Cambodia and to review the import quotas every year, the Khmer Times reported on Wednesday. ―We have asked China to increase its import quota of milled rice from Cambodia, and now they [China] agreed to what we requested,‖ said Sorasak.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter ―China will import another 200,000 metric tonnes of milled rice in 2017 on top of their current rice imports from Cambodia. Both sides agreed to review the outcomes of this bilateral trade cooperation every year,‖ he added. The Chinese commerce minister is currently on an official visit to Cambodia to discuss roads, railways, airport construction, agriculture and other projects with senior government officials. Cambodia’s request to China comes just after last month’s visit by delegations from the Brussels-based European Commission’s directorate-general for agriculture and rural development and the directorate-general for trade. Both delegations advised Cambodia’s rice industry to seek other markets and not just concentrate its exports to Europe, as the country moves from a low-income country in its LDC status to a lower-middle income nation. An EU source who did not want to be named told the Khmer Times that the visiting delegations from Brussels hinted the EU could limit rice imports from LDCs in the ―Everything but Arms‖ (EBA) trade concessions to about 300,000 to 350,000 tonnes a year. Both Cambodia and Myanmar are the only LDCs recognised in the EBA trade concessions and rice exports from both countries have unfettered access to EU markets. ―This means Cambodia would need to share these new EU quotas with Myanmar in the very near future,‖ said the source. Last year, the total amount of Cambodian milled rice exported reached some 538,396 tonnes, according to the Cambodian Rice Federation, with 43% exported to the EU. Sorasak, however, was optimistic that the EU would not cut back on its import of milled rice from Cambodia. ―Cambodia still has preferential access to the EU’s rice markets. They [EU] just want to make sure that we export good-quality rice,‖ said Sorasak. Hun Lak, Cambodia Rice Federation’s vice president, told the Khmer Times that both China and Cambodia had already agreed on the import quota of 100,000 tonnes. Hun Lak added that it was an opportune moment now, with China agreeing to import more rice from the country, for Cambodia to make its milled rice competitive in the international market. ―Though the quality of Cambodian rice is good, its price is $60 higher per metric tonne compared to a neighbouring country,‖ he added. Though referring to Vietnam, Hun Lak did not name it outright.―We have to find a way to lower production costs to keep our rice prices low,‖ he said.
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Thai rice faces global price war
4 Aug 2016 NEWSPAPER SECTION: BUSINESS | WRITER: PHUSADEE ARUNMAS 41
A farmer harvests paddy at an organic plantation in Bangkok. Thailand's rice exports are likely to face difficulties next year with the strengthening baht and an expected supply glut of paddy. PANUPONG CHANGCHAI
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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Thailand's rice market is expected to face a price war next year as a result of oversupply that will lower prices in both domestic and export markets, while the stronger baht could hurt the competitiveness of rice shipments, exporters warn.Charoen Laothammatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said paddy supply from the 2016-17 crop to be harvested from November to January, is estimated to rise by 10-20% from the normal level of 22 million tonnes.The increased supply is expected after farmers, especially those in the Central Plains, Northeast and North, enlarged their planting areas to enjoy continual rainfall after the severe drought. Mr Charoen said global rice prices will also be affected by the La Nina weather phenomenon, which is spreading across Asia and creating more monsoons to prop up rice production in countries such as India, Pakistan and Vietnam.These countries are major export competitors of Thai producers and their output normally come out at the same time as Thailand's crops, he said.He expected the rice supply would flood the market from the last quarter this year to cause a price war in the global market. Mr Charoen's forecast echoed the report of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which earlier estimated world rice supply next year at 481.23 million tonnes, up 2.3% from 2016, while consumption will increase slightly by 0.4% to 480.63 million tonnes.
He said the baht's appreciation in recent weeks would be another factor in decreasing the competitiveness of Thai rice in the global market.The baht hit a one-year high on Monday at 34.72 against the US dollar and has risen by 3.3% against the greenback this year.The strong baht will make Thai rice relatively costly, Mr Charoen said. "Every appreciation of one baht against the dollar adds $10 to the price of a tonne of Thai rice," he said at a press conference yesterday.Mr Charoen said large stockpiles of Thai rice accumulated under the rice pledging scheme would also influence buyers to offer lower prices.At present, there are about 9 million tonnes of milled rice in state stocks, down from 18 million tonnes two years ago. In the first six months, Thailand shipped 4.99 million tonnes of rice and it is set to export about 9.5 million tonnes this year.The USDA forecasts Thailand will export about 9 million tonnes of rice in 2017, followed by Vietnam at 7 million, India at 5.5 million and Pakistan at 4.25 million.Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said the price of Thai white rice in free-on-board terms is $425 a tonne or about $50 more than Vietnamese rice. This shows that Thai rice is less competitive than that of its rivals and that may turn buyers to other markets, he said.
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