8th january 2017 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

Daily Rice E-Newsletter

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter January 08, 2018

 Rice basmati extends gains on rising demand Volume X | Issue I  CIC wins national award for innovative agriculture research work  Delta farmers earn high profits from clean shrimp-rice cultivation model  Monetary adjustments imperative for within-target inflation  Is a total ban on rice importation feasible?  FSCD gives go-ahead for exporting 50 metric tons of hybrid rice seed  MRF sets up 3 committees over swindling in rice market  Negros Occidental boosts competitive rice production efforts amid QR lifting  Edible oils strengthen on rising demand, global cues  PARC starts campaign to promote hybrid rice cultivation  A New Year wish for agriculture  Global Rice Flour Market 2017 Pornkamon Rice Flour Mills, Koda Farms, CHO HENG, Burapa Prosper, Thai Flour Industry, BIF and HUANGGUO  2017 Global Basmati Rice Market: LT Foods Ltd, KRBL Ltd and REI Agro Ltd  Nigeria: Rice Farmers Tell Buhari - Smuggling Remains Biggest Threat  Food stock rises  Two years jail for paddy embezzlement 1  Bank fraud: Enforcement Directorate arrests MD of rice milling firm for money laundering  BJP to intensify agitation in Odisha on farmer issues www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter News Detail‌ Rice basmati extends gains on rising demand 06-Jan-2018 New Delhi, Jan 6 (PTI) Rice basmati prices advanced by Rs 100 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today on surging demand against tight stocks position due to a fall in supplies from producing belts. However, other grains remained steady in thin trade. Traders said besides soaring demand from retailers as well as rice mills, paucity of stocks on fall in arrivals from producing regions, mainly kept rice basmati prices higher. In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa-1121 variety rose further by Rs 100 each to Rs 7,9008,000 and Rs 6,500-6,600 per quintal, respectively. Following are today’s quotations (in Rs per quintal): Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,080-2,280, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,800-1,815, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,8101,815, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 260-300, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Roller flour mill Rs 960-970 (50 kg), Maida Rs 990-1,000 (50 kg)and Sooji Rs 1,050-1,060 (50 kg). Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,800, Basmati common new Rs 7,900-8,000, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 6,500-6,600, Permal raw Rs 2,300-2350, Permal wand Rs 2,350-2,400, Sela Rs 2,700-2,900 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,925-1,975, Bajra Rs 1,225-1,230, Jowar yellow Rs 1,375-1,425, white Rs 2,750-2,850, Maize Rs 1,3401,345, Barley Rs 1,480-1,490. http://www.india.com/news/agencies/rice-basmati-extends-gains-on-rising-demand-2831035/

CIC wins national award for innovative agriculture research work 2018-01-08 10:33:48 CIC Holdings PLC was adjudged the winner of the most innovative research in non-plantation agriculture sector by the Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy (SLCARP) at a ceremony held at Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) Colombo recently. The awarding ceremony followed a competition organized by the SLCARP in a bid to recognize exceptional contributions made by individuals and organizations in public and private sectors in the field of agriculture research.

NGOs, private sector organizations, scientists, research institutions, departments and universities participated in the competition which awarded high flyers under three distinct categories namely plantation agriculture and forestry, non-plantation agriculture as well as livestock and fisheries. The

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

2

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

SLCARP the apex body that spearheads agriculture research in Sri Lanka conducted this competition after calling application for research project conducted in Sri Lanka within last three years. CIC emerged the winner of the non-plantation agriculture category winning a cash prize of Rs. 200,000.

Operating a versatile and highly diversified Agri business in the country CIC Agri Businesses has ventured into agriculture research and development (R&D) since 2006 and has developed superior quality rice to the local and export markets. CIC won the first prize in recognition of its three premier rice varieties developed and marketed namely fragrant red basmati, CIC white basmati and CIC purple mix. These rice varieties are not only pleasantly aromatic, but also contain low Glycemic Index that makes them ideal for health conscious individuals, especially those suffering from diabetes or those concerned over controlling sugar levels in their diet. Rice R&D work of CIC Agri business is supervised by Dr. Sumith Abeysiriwardena, Research consultant of the company. CIC Agri business has now expanded its R&D activities for vegetable sector as well and expect to release to the market a couple of high yielding vegetable hybrids in the near future

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

3

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Delta farmers earn high profits from clean shrimp-rice cultivation model VietNamNet Bridge – Farmers in Ben Tre Province’s Thanh Phu District have earned high profits from rotating rice and shrimp cultivation in the same rice field.

Farmers in Ben Tre Province’s Thanh Phu District harvest organic rice. – VNA/VNS Photo Cong Tri Farmers in the coastal district grow rice in the rainy season when fresh water is available and breed “clean” shrimp or other aquatic species in the dry season when saline water intrusion occurs. In An Nhon Commune, which has more than 7,000ha of rice, most farmers are now growing clean rice or organic rice. Farmers use chemical fertilisers for clean rice and organic fertilisers for organic rice, while no pesticides are used for clean rice or organic rice. When

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

4

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter rice fields are infected with brown planthoppers, farmers allow water to enter the fields and submerge rice plants to their tops to kill the pests. Le Van Mien, who owns a 1.3ha rice field in An Nhon’s An Hoa Hamlet, said he has grown organic rice for three years and that all of his rice is guaranteed an outlet by a company. In 2017, he received VND8,500 a kg for his rice, VND1,000 higher than the market price. Farmers face difficulties when growing organic rice for some crops as the output of organic rice fields is lower than that of clean rice fields, he said.

“However, the output of organic rice fields will increase steadily after each crop,” he said.

Farmer Le Van Phuc in the same hamlet said the average profit for organic rice is VND3 million (US$130) per 1,000 sq.m.

Rice fields also have a lot of algae after organic rice is harvested, providing food for shrimp, fish and crabs, he said. The cost of fertilisers used for organic rice fields is 40 per cent less than the price for clean rice fields, he said.

With the success of the rice-shrimp cultivation model in recent years, many farmers in the district who moved to other provinces to work have returned home to grow rice and shrimp. Ho Van Cuong, deputy chairman of the An Nhon Commune Farmers Association, said the rate of poor households in An Nhơn had fallen to 6 per cent now compared to 30 per cent three years ago. The lives of farmers have improved, he said. In 2016, the National Office of Intellectual Property of Viet Nam granted the collective brand name of Thanh Phu Clean Rice in the district.

Truong Thanh Hai, head of Thanh Phu District Agriculture and Rural Development Bureauthe Agriculture and Rural Development Bureau, said that after the collective brand name was granted, farmers’ awareness about clean rice improved. The district has regularly organised training courses on farming techniques for clean rice, he said.

Farmers in the district have set up shrimp-rice cultivation co-operative teams to exchange information about farming techniques, diseases and prices. The district has 25 co-operative teams as well as the Thanh Phu Clean Rice Co-operative. District farmers have planted 6,500ha of rice with an average yield of 4.5 tonnes per ha under the shrimp-rice cultivation model last year, according to the bureau. The average yield of organic rice field is 300 kilo per ha more than clean rice fields, said the bureau. Hai said besides explaining the benefits of growing organic rice to farmers, the district is trying to develop an organic shrimp cultivation model in rice fields. http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/society/193224/delta-farmers-earn-high-profits-from-cleanshrimp-rice-cultivation-model.html

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

5

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Monetary adjustments imperative for within-target inflation

By Bianca Cuaresma January 8, 2018

By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM The inflationary impact of the newly legislated tax-reform package could push inflation beyond the 4-percent upper limit of the target this year should the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) keep interest rates steady no matter the price pressures seen over the policy horizon.

In a recently released research note, the investment-banking arm of the Nomura Group is convinced the BSP will finally hike the policy rates this year as a preemptive move against inflation and keep it from shooting past the 4-percent ceiling of the target range.

“Despite the strong outlook growth, our view that the bigger focus this year will be on inflation risks and the BSP’s response remains well supported. We maintain our consumer price index (CPI) inflation forecast, which pencils in 0.7 to 0.9 percentage point from the total impact of the tax reform, taking full-year 2018 inflation to 4.3 percent, from 3.2 percent,” analysts at the Japan headquartered financial services firm said.

In 2017 inflation averaged 3.2 percent across the $305-billion economy, well within the 2percent to 4-percent target range projected since then and until 2020. For 2018, the BSP forecasts inflation to average 3.4 percent.

BSP officials said the tax reform should have a less than a percentage-point incremental impact on overall inflation this year, a number that has been factored in the Central Bank’s most recent inflation forecast.

6

Nomura, however, believes that a within-target inflation is not possible under the prospective monetary policy tightening cycle seen this year.

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter “We believe BSP will not be able to look through the risk of headline inflation breaching its target of 2 [percent] to 4 percent, underpinning our forecast for a total 100 basis points of policyrate hikes, at a rate of one 25 basis point hike per quarter, to 4 percent,” Nomura analysts said.

“In 2014—the last time BSP hiked rates—it was all about inflation risks, with the rate hikes described by BSP as a ‘preemptive response’ to the balance of risks around inflation experiencing ‘a further upward shift’ and putting the target at risk. We believe demand-side pressures are even stronger today than in 2014, and thus inflation expectations are also likely to accelerate amid supply-side increases from oil prices and tax reforms,” the analysts added.

Nomura also said while BSP officials claim the impact of the removal of quantitative restrictions on rice imports present a significant offset to headline inflation pressures, it should not be enough to calm worries over rising inflation pressures.“We believe there is still some uncertainty surrounding the implementation of this policy change [quantitative restrictions on rice] as it requires legislation compared with the impact of already-passed tax reform,” Nomura said.

“Moreover, quantitative restrictions will also be replaced by higher tariffs,” it added.Nomura also argued that while rice is a heavy item on the CPI basket, the tax reforms should have a greater impact on second-round effects than the rice-import policy changes. This is because the fuel tax has a greater indirect effect on the CPI basket, and the tax cuts could increase domestic demand.“Important, we think it is prudent for the BSP to focus on second-round effects when supply-side drivers exist,” according to Nomura analysts.

Monetary adjustments imperative for within-target inflation

By Bianca Cuaresma January 8, 2018

By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM-The inflationary impact of the newly legislated taxreform package could push inflation beyond the 4-percent upper limit of the target this year

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

7

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter should the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) keep interest rates steady no matter the price pressures seen over the policy horizon.

In a recently released research note, the investment-banking arm of the Nomura Group is convinced the BSP will finally hike the policy rates this year as a preemptive move against inflation and keep it from shooting past the 4-percent ceiling of the target range.

“Despite the strong outlook growth, our view that the bigger focus this year will be on inflation risks and the BSP’s response remains well supported. We maintain our consumer price index (CPI) inflation forecast, which pencils in 0.7 to 0.9 percentage point from the total impact of the tax reform, taking full-year 2018 inflation to 4.3 percent, from 3.2 percent,” analysts at the Japan headquartered financial services firm said.

In 2017 inflation averaged 3.2 percent across the $305-billion economy, well within the 2percent to 4-percent target range projected since then and until 2020. For 2018, the BSP forecasts inflation to average 3.4 percent.

BSP officials said the tax reform should have a less than a percentage-point incremental impact on overall inflation this year, a number that has been factored in the Central Bank’s most recent inflation forecast.

Nomura, however, believes that a within-target inflation is not possible under the prospective monetary policy tightening cycle seen this year.

“We believe BSP will not be able to look through the risk of headline inflation breaching its target of 2 [percent] to 4 percent, underpinning our forecast for a total 100 basis points of policyrate hikes, at a rate of one 25 basis point hike per quarter, to 4 percent,” Nomura analysts said.

“In 2014—the last time BSP hiked rates—it was all about inflation risks, with the rate hikes described by BSP as a ‘preemptive response’ to the balance of risks around inflation experiencing ‘a further upward shift’ and putting the target at risk. We believe demand-side

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

8

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter pressures are even stronger today than in 2014, and thus inflation expectations are also likely to accelerate amid supply-side increases from oil prices and tax reforms,” the analysts added.

Nomura also said while BSP officials claim the impact of the removal of quantitative restrictions on rice imports present a significant offset to headline inflation pressures, it should not be enough to calm worries over rising inflation pressures.

“We believe there is still some uncertainty surrounding the implementation of this policy change [quantitative restrictions on rice] as it requires legislation compared with the impact of already-passed tax reform,” Nomura said.

“Moreover, quantitative restrictions will also be replaced by higher tariffs,” it added.

Nomura also argued that while rice is a heavy item on the CPI basket, the tax reforms should have a greater impact on second-round effects than the rice-import policy changes. This is because the fuel tax has a greater indirect effect on the CPI basket, and the tax cuts could increase domestic demand.“Important, we think it is prudent for the BSP to focus on secondround effects when supply-side drivers exist,” https://businessmirror.com.ph/monetary-adjustments-imperative-for-within-target-inflation

Is a total ban on rice importation feasible?

January 8, 2018 Emmanuel Ijewere, Dr Oluremi Abimbola A total ban on the importation of rice into Nigeria is feasible and needful. At different times, the Federal Government has proposed the ban but has been unable to implement it.

9

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Now, we are told that the ban on importation of rice and other agricultural produce will be enforced in 2018. I suggest that government review the time frame after establishing a realisable annual production target.

According to the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, the annual consumption demand for rice in Nigeria is about 7.9 million tonnes. As of the middle of 2017, local rice production only increased to about six million tonnes. If this figure is correct , the demand shortfall is huge.

The bulk of rice growers/farmers are smallholders now being boosted by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers Scheme involving about 12 million farmers.

The capacity to drastically close the production and demand gap is low. To ensure the success of a total ban, smuggling must be eliminated, policy somersault must be reversed, rice infrastructure must be modernised for it to achieve 4000-6000 kilograms per hectare.

There must be a deliberate policy for high off-takers of paddy rice from small holders.

Potentiality of marginal rice production per state should be explored to put more land into cultivation. Only locally processed rice should be served in Government Houses and as largess by political office holders.

Local and international large-scale planters and processors with capacity for application of appropriate and adequate technology have to be sourced for and encouraged to achieve our production targets in order for a total ban to be effective.

Successful total ban of rice importation would boost the economy and create needed jobs in Nigeria. •Prof. Trenchard Ibia (Professor of Soil Chemistry and Fertility, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State)

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

10

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter I do not know why anybody would think it is not (feasible). It is only th e vested interests who are interested in destroying the economy of this country that would raise any question about that. Whether the government has the will is a different question.

I do not even think any ban is required. A strategic government should no t even make any noise about it. You should have it as a policy and the Customs know that these things should not even come in.

Alternatively, instructions could be given where foreign exchange cannot be accessed through the normal route for it (rice importation).

The problem of this country is the problem of the elite. For some reasons, we are not sincere with ourselves.

How long does it take from planting to harvesting of rice? Just three months. And the fact of the matter is that much of this problem of rice production is at the doorstep of government. The river basins all had threshers and mills for rice.

For instance, Ebonyi State has the right policy mix whereby you have the small -scale farmers and you would find out that within an area of rice farmers, there is a mill. So, Ebonyi is self-sufficient when it comes to rice.

All that the nation needs to do is to look around to see success stories and just duplicate them. We do not need solutions to the rice problem to come from outside the country. It is the will; it is just that simple.

We are in the tropics and we must not spend scarce foreign exchange on rice, which is a tropical food and can be grown in all climes.

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

11

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter There is wetland rice and upland rice; it is just a matter of the government policy. Dr Alofoje Onuigboje (Chairman, Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria, Edo/Delta branch) I will answer that question from two sides. Number one, on whether it is feasible, my answer is yes. In other words, Nigeria will not starve. But whether it is correct to b an the importation of rice, my answer is that it is incorrect.

When you ban anything in this country, given our social structure, you put unnecessary value on the banned item. You create a new business for those who are going to smuggle it in and you create a new price for that commodity. But when you believe that you are globally competitive and you now make it a policy to help your people by giving them the basic things they need, then you are providing a level playing field for everyone to compete.

Banning only helps people to be lazy. To ban is to create a new bunch of billionaires that you may not like. Banning creates opportunity for those in authority to be corrupt. So, my answer to whether it is feasible is yes, because Nigeria is producing enough ri ce today, or probably before the end of the year, there will be more than enough for our consumption.

However, Nigerians can always adjust and one of the biggest problems we have is that much of the imported rice is subsidised. Why wouldn’t government put in place a policy to say that for every bag of rice that is produced, it would find a way to make Nigerians buy the rice at about the same price with the one that is imported? That will be a policy decision of government that will drive economic activities in the rice industry. •Mr. Emmanuel Ijewere (The Coordinator, Nigeria Agribusiness Group) I completely support the government’s plan to ban rice importation. The total ban will make us to value what we have and we will have to develop our production to t he level where it can feed us and even allow us export.

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

12

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The total ban on rice importation will push us out of our comfort zone and if rice is our staple food, we will find a way of cultivating and processing it so that we can continue to eat it.

The Federal Government, in collaboration with some states, is doing well in this regard and before long, we will have sufficiency in rice production.

But if the government allows rice to be freely imported into the country, our own rice production will not grow. The importation is like the comfort zone which we are used to.

I believe a total ban of rice importation is feasible if there is will from all stakeholders – the Customs officials, the farmers, sellers and the people of Nigeria. If we all want it to stop, it will stop and we will grow our rice to feed ourselves and to export it. This will create jobs for a lot of people because more people will go into production of it and some will be engaged at the mills when it will be processed, apart from transportation a nd marketing of it.

The farmers should be brought on board for the ban to be effective. The Customs and other security agencies should play prominent roles in ensuring the effectiveness of the ban. I believe a total ban of rice importation is possible if w e are serious about it. Apart from rice, we have other foodstuffs we can grow in all the parts of the country. •Dr Oluremi Abimbola (Director, Centre for Entrepreneurship and Support Services, Federal University, Oye Ekiti) A total ban on the importation of rice into the country may be necessary to stimulate and sustain the local production of rice and help stabilise the economy and fast -track the process of economic development. However, a phased ban may be more realistic. This is because not until we achieve the desired level of production that equals and exceeds local

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

13

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter consumption, there will remain a gap which will only serve to drive up the price of what we even produce locally.

My suggestion would be to adopt a phased ban on importation of rice and incr ease the tariff on imported rice so as to encourage and sustain local production.

What this would do is to make the price of imported rice so much more expensive and unattractive both as a business and for local consumption while the government concentrates on turning out more support initiatives and incentives to local rice producers and processors as it is doing.

Of course, the implication of this would be that more jobs will be created, more farmers empowered, more rice processing companies and industries will come on stream and all of this together will stimulate economic development and increase the per capita income of the average Nigerian.

In the long run as local production increases, the need for import would reduce till it is no longer economically viable to import. Once the rice is good and meets global quality standards, Nigeria can then now target the export market. • Chief Anu Ibiwoye (Special Adviser on Agriculture and Rural Water Support Service to the Kwara State Governor) . 

Compiled by: Success Nwogu, Femi Makinde, Etim Ekpimah, Okechukwu Nnodim and Alexander Okere

.Contact: theeditor@punchng.com https://punchng.com/is-a-total-ban-on-rice-importation-feasible/

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

14

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter FSCD gives go-ahead for exporting 50 metric tons of hybrid rice seed Staff Reporter Lahore Federal Seed Certification & Registration Department (FSCD) has given a go-ahead signal to the Guard Agricultural Research & Services Ltd., (Guard) for exporting 50 metric tons of hybrid rice seed, the first ever rice seed export from Pakistan, following the passage of purity and germination analysis of the consignment.

Company sources said that it had entered in to a deal with a Philippine company to export a newly developed hybrid rice variety and initially the quantity was fixed at 50 metric tons. The Company prior to export had applied for purity and germination analysis with the federal seed certification and registration department in mid of December and it received a green signal from the FSCD on January 03, 2018. It is planned to export the consignment shortly as now the company has to get through the process of quarantine department in this regard, said Guard’s Chief Executive Shahzad Ali Malik in a statement issued here.

‘We had a good harvest of rice seed of hybrid varieties, which after processing and passing through required procedures is ready to be exported now. The shipment is expected to be seen off at Karachi by high government officials, company representatives and other stakeholders at an event to celebrate this landmark achievement by the country,’ said Shahzad Malik.

Shahzad Malik also dedicated this land mark achievement to the Pakistani growers, Company’s Chinese counterparts and his own team.

Executive Seed Division Guard Agriculture Research & Services, Shah Rukh Malik termed it a great achievement not only for the Company but for Pakistan to export hybrid rice seed to a country, which is pioneer in rice technology and having world renowned IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) which gave modern rice varieties to the world. https://pakobserver.net/fscd-gives-go-ahead-exporting-50-metric-tons-hybrid-rice-seed/

MRF sets up 3 committees over swindling in rice market Submitted by ttwin on Sun, 01/07/2018 - 16:50 Writer: Zeyar Nyein

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

15

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

A press conference at Bayintnaung Rice Wholesale Centre in Yangon on January 6.Three committee will be formed in order to deal with the swindling of over 5 billion kyat from merchants in the rice market, said the chair of Myanmar Rice Federation, Aung Than Oo, at a January 6 press conference held at Bayintnaung Rice Wholesale Centre in Yangon.

More than 60 rice merchants have lodged complaints with the MRF, accusing Aung Swe Oo, owner of the ASO Co Ltd, of stealing over 5 billion kyat from rice merchants.

He is still at large. “We are working to form three committees,� said Aung Than Oo. The first committee will provide legal assistance to help merchants file a case in accordance with the law. The second committee will work to confiscate the property of U Aung Swe Oo over time. And a third committee will address the relationship between rice-mill owners and rice merchants, he said.

At issue is an amount between 800 million kyat and 10 billion kyat.

Starting in September 2017, the MRF has issued frequent warnings about systematic trading violations involving irregular trades between buyers and sellers.

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

16

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Aung Than Oo said the MRF is taking necessary measures to address instances of people being taken advantage of, and to take strong legal actions when violations occur.

The MRF has already informed the Commerce Ministry about the case, he said.ASO Co Ltd was a recent entry to the rice export market. It was registered under the Myanmar Companies Act and received an export-import licence on October 9, 2014. http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/business/13032

Negros Occidental boosts competitive rice production efforts amid QR lifting Monday, January 08, 2018 By ERWIN P. NICAVERA THE Provincial Government of Negros Occidental continues to boost its efforts to make the province's rice production competitive, the head of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) said. Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said Sunday that "there is still a need for the province to prepare" despite being more competitive if 35 percent tariff be imposed on rice imports and quantitative restrictions (QR) will be lifted. The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) included Negros Occidental in the list of 38 rice-producing provinces and a city that have competitive advantage in rice production over Thailand and Vietnam if the above measures push through.

Results of the preliminary analysis conducted by Neda's Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Staff (Anres) showed that rice production in these areas will remain competitive with a P4 per kilogram cost advantage over rice imports tariffed at 35 percent. Masculino said it is a good indication, but the province should have to brace for developments by mechanizing more. "We can lower down the production cost to at least P4 for every kilogram of palay if we mechanize especially during transplanting and harvesting," he said, adding that aside from mechanization, the province is also sustaining measure on using certified and hybrid seeds. Other areas identified as competitive by Neda include Nueva Ecija, Kalinga, Pampanga, Bataan, Biliran, Bulacan, Zamboanga del Sur, Isabela, Bukidnon, Nueva Vizcaya, Laguna, Pangasinan, Lanao del Norte, Aurora, Compostela Valley, Albay, Leyte, Zamboanga Sibugay, South Cotabato, Camarines Sur, Zamboanga City, Sultan Kudarat, Sorsogon, Cavite, Palawan, Antique, Iloilo, Aklan, Surigao del Sur, Capiz, Masbate, Catanduanes, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Basilan, Western Samar, Guimaras, and Maguindanao. Twenty-five of these areas, including Negros Occidental, have an average yield more than the national average of four metric tons per hectare. The average yield of the province currently ranges from four to five metric tons per hectare, OPA records showed. Masculino, however, said

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

17

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter through the province's demonstration farm in Kabankalan City using hybrid seeds, the average yield reached 10 metric tons per hectare. This accounts for about 30 percent increase in production compared to using "farmers saved" seeds. It is also higher than 10 percent increase when using certified seeds, he added. OPA records showed there are still many local farmers not using certified or hybrid rice seeds. Masculino attributed it to the farmers' problem on lack of finances, especially in buying certified or hybrid seeds, or maybe they were not reached by government interventions.

As counter measure, OPA is now identifying these farmers to be given appropriate technologies.

"Mechanization and use of certified and hybrid seeds are huge contributors of reducing the cost of production," Masculino said, stressing that "if these measures are implemented hand-in-hand, it will result to being more competitive against Vietnam and Thailand." Aside from mechanizing laborintensive farm activities and using appropriate technologies, the Neda is also suggesting application of good farm management practices, constructing more irrigation systems, addressing gaps in infrastructure connectivity, enhancing agriculture resilience to climate change, and improving farmers' access to affordable credit insurance.

Masculino said "we are on the right track," as the province has already been implementing these measures "we just have to sustain and be more prepared for future challenges." Moreover, the QR on rice imports is a special privilege granted by the World Trade Organization (WTO), which has been extended three times since it was first imposed in 1995. In April last year, before the termination of the WTO Special Treatment on rice, President Rodrigo Duterte issued Executive Order 23 retaining the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) level of 805,200 metric tons and extending the lower tariff rates imposed on some commodities for three years or until the Agricultural Tariffication Law is amended. Neda said it is pushing for the amendment of the Republic Act No. 8178, or the Agricultural Tariffication Act of 1996, to pave the way for the removal of the QR on rice imports and the imposition of the 35 percent tariff rate instead. http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/business/2018/01/08/negros-occidental-boosts-competitive-riceproduction-efforts-amid-qr

Edible oils strengthen on rising demand, global cues JANUARY 2018 Last Updated at 1:15 PM

New Delhi, Jan 6 Edible oil prices strengthened at the wholesale oils and oilseeds market during the first week of 2018 on the back of rising demand from vanaspati millers and retailers amid firm trend overseas.

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

18

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Castor oil in the non-edible section, however, eased owing to reduced offtake by consuming industries.

Traders said apart from rising demand from vanaspati millers and retailers, paucity of stocks on fall in supplies from producing regions and firm global cues mainly led to the rise in edible oil prices.

Globally, the benchmark palm oil contract for March hit a one-month high of 2,615 ringgit (USD 655.06) per tonne on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange and settled at 2,594 ringgit.

In the national capital, mustard expeller (Dadri) oil edged up by Rs 50 to Rs 8,050 per quintal.

Sesame mill delivery and cottonseed mill delivery (Haryana) oils went up by Rs 100 each to Rs 8,700 and Rs 6,800 per quintal, respectively.

Tracking a firm trend overseas, palmolein (RBD) and palmolein (Kandla) also rose by Rs 50 each to Rs 6,300 and Rs 6,350 per quintal, respectively.

Soyabean refined mill delivery (Indore) and soyabean degum (Kandla) oils too enquired higher by a similar margin to Rs 7,450 and Rs 7,050 per quintal, respectively.

Crude palm oil (ex-kandla) moved up by Rs 100 to Rs 5,100 per quintal.

In the non-edible section, castor oil declined by Rs 100 to Rs 8,400-8,500 per quintal, while linseed oil held steady at Rs 8.900 per quintal. (MORE) Maize also showed a similar trend on pick-up in demand from consuming industries.

Marketmen said rising demand from retailers and rice mills against tight stocks position on restricted arrivals from producing belts mainly kept prices of rice basmati higher.

Increased offtake by flour mills also helped wheat prices to end in a positive zone, they said.

Meanwhile, the government has procured 350.28 lakh tonnes of rice in the current marketing season so far, according to official data.

Area sown to wheat remained lower by 4.77 per cent at 283.46 lakh hectare so far this rabi season due to less coverage in states like Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, according to data released by the Agriculture Ministry.

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

19

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa- 1121 variety advanced to Rs 7,900-8,000 and Rs 6,500-6,600 from previous week's levels of Rs 7,500-7,600 and Rs 6,200- 6,300 per quintal, respectively.

Wheat dara (for mills) also gained Rs 25 to Rs 1,800- 1,815 per quintal.

Atta chakki delivery followed suit and enquired higher by a similar margin to Rs 1,810-1,815 per 90 kg.

Other bold grains like maize was also seen in demand and strengthened by Rs 15 to Rs 1,3401,345 per quintal.(MORE) Marketmen said easing demand from retailers and dal mills against adequate stocks position on increased supplies from producing regions mainly kept prices of select pulses down.

In the national capital, kabuli gram small variety remained under selling pressure and lost another Rs 200 to Rs 7,400-8,400 per quintal.

Gram followed suit and shed Rs 50 to Rs 4,300-4,850 per quintal. Its dal local and best quality traded lower by Rs 100 each to Rs 4,900-5,300 and Rs 5,300-5,400 per quintal, respectively.

Besan Shaktibhog and Rajdhani quoted lower at Rs 2,200 each instead of Rs 2,250 each per 35 kg bag.

Arhar and its dal dara variety finished lower by Rs 50 and Rs 100 to Rs 4,250 and Rs 6,1008,000 per quintal, respectively.

Lobia too drifted lower by Rs 200 to Rs 3,800-4,000 per quintal. (MORE) Marketmen said increased buying by stockists and bulk consumers to meet the new month demand mainly pushed up sugar prices.

However, expectations of higher output, squeezed the rise in the sweetener's prices.

Sugar ready M-30 and S-30 prices were trading higher by Rs 10 each to end the week at Rs 3,420-3,640 and Rs 3,410- 3,630 per quintal.

Sugar mill delivery M-30 and S-30 prices also gained Rs 30 each to conclude at week at Rs 3,215-3,415 and Rs 3,205-3,405 per quintal.

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

20

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter In mill gate section, sugar Mawana and Modinagar advanced by Rs 30 to conclude at Rs 3,320 and Rs 3,315, while Dorala and Sakoti went up by Rs 35 each to Rs 3,320 and Rs 3,300 per quintal, respectively.

Sugar Kinnoni gained Rs 30 to Rs 3,415, while Budhana and Thanabhavan prices rose by Rs 25 each to Rs 3,320 and Rs 3,315 per quintal, respectively.

Prices of Dhampur and Chandpur were trading up by Rs 20 each to Rs 3,285 and Rs 3,255, Asmoli gained by Rs 15 to Rs 3,380, Baghpat, Nazibabad and Shamili edged up by Rs 10 each to Rs 3,255, Rs 3,215 and Rs 3,300 per quintal, respectively.

Sugar Dhanora, Simbholi, Khatuli and Morna also inched up by Rs 5 each to Rs 3,360, Rs 3,370, Rs 3,385 and Rs 3,240 per quintal, respectively. (MORE) retailers and recording a fall of Rs 100 per quintal.

On the other hand, Muzaffarnagar gur market displayed a mixed trend with gur chakku prices rising on increased offtake while gur laddoo drifed lower on ample stocks.

Marketmen said ample ready stocks on relentless arrivals from manufacturing belts mainly brought down the prices of some gur varieties in Delhi and Muzaffarnagar.

However, increased offtake by stockists and retailers particularly in Muzaffarnagar, pushed up gur chakku and khurpa prices.

In Delhi, gur Dhayya and Shakkar prices dropped by Rs 100 each to settle the week at Rs 3,0003,100 and Rs 3,100-3,200 per quintal, respectively.

While, gur Chakku and Pedi prices ruled flat during the week at Rs 2,800-2,900 and Rs 2,9003,000 per quintal on little doing.

At Muzaffarnagar, gur Ladoo prices slipped by Rs 100 to finish the week at Rs 2,700-2,800 per quintal.

On the other hand, gur Chakku and Khurpa rallied from last week's closing level of Rs 2,5002,700 and Rs 2,550-2,600 to Rs 2,550-2,750and Rs 2,600-2,650, showing a rise of Rs 50 each per quintal.

21

Coming to Muradnagar, gur Pedi and Dhayya after trading in a tight range on scattered deals, ended flat at Rs 2,600- 2,700 and Rs 2,700-2,750 per quintal, respectively. (MORE)

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter dryfruits market during the first week of 2018 with almond and pistachio prices rising, supported by uptick in demand from retailers and stockists and driven by winter season demand.

Tight stock positions following restricted arrivals from producing regions and overseas markets also influenced prices.

Trading sentiment improved mostly on increased offtake by stockists and retailers due to winter season demand.

Almond (California) prices rose by Rs 100 to Rs 17,100- 17,300 per 40 kg, while its kernel went up by Rs 5 to settle at Rs 615-625 per kg.

Almond gurbandi and girdhi also increased by Rs 100 each to conclude at Rs 12,000-12,500 and Rs 5,000-5,100 per 40 kg, respectively.

Chilgoza-roasted rose by Rs 50 to settle at Rs 2,550- 2,650 per kg.

Cashew kernel No 180, No 210, No 240 and No 320 went up by Rs 5 each to conclude at Rs 1,075-1,085, Rs 975-985 Rs 910 -915 and Rs 810-820 and its kernel broken (2, 4 and 8 pieces) also rose up to Rs 10 to settle at Rs 660-765, Rs 640-750 and Rs 550-670 per kg, respectively.

Coconut powder rose by Rs 100 to finish at Rs 4,900-5,600 per 25 kgs.

Kishmish Indian (yellow and green) prices were trading higher at Rs 3,800-4,500 and Rs 6,80010,400 instead of Rs 3,500-4,200 and Rs 6,700-10,300 per 40 kg, respectively.

Pistachio hairati and peshwari prices also rose by Rs 5 each to end at Rs 1,400-1,475 and Rs 1,565-1,645 per kg, respectively. (MORE) The sentiment turned weak on adequate stocks position following increased arrivals from producing belts.

Black pepper prices declined by Rs 10 to conclude at Rs 470-600 per kg.

Coriander slipped to Rs 6,300-12,900 from last week's close of Rs 6,400-13,000 per quintal.

Dry ginger and kalaunji prices fell Rs 100 each to finish at Rs 11,900-16,900 and Rs 11,40011,900 per quintal.

Red chilli and turmeric prices eased up to Rs 200 to conclude at Rs 6,400-13,900 and Rs 8,80011,800 per quintal, respectively.

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

22

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Poppyseed (China, UP and MP-RAJ) prices declined by up to Rs 20 at Rs 530-560, Rs 520-540 and Rs 530-550 per kg.

Jeera common and jeera best quality also fell by Rs 400 each to end at Rs 20,900-21,000 and Rs 23,300-23,800 per quintal, respectively.

On the other hand, cardamom brown-jhundiwali and kanchicut traded higher at Rs 650-670 and Rs 770-1,020 against last week's close at Rs 580-600 and Rs 650-935 per kg.

Cardamom small varieties also spurted by up to Rs 30 to conclude at Rs 975-625, Rs 900-910, Rs 925-950 and Rs 1,000- 1,040 per kg, respectively.

Mace-red, yellow and nutmeg traded higher at Rs 900- 1,180, Rs 900-990 and Rs 470-490 against last week's close of Rs 800-1,060, Rs 900-950 and Rs 450-470 per kg, respectively.

(MORE) jewellers.

Silver too topped the Rs 40,000-level on increased offtake by industrial units and coin makers.

Bullion traders said besides a firm trend overseas as the weakness in the dollar raised demand for the precious metals as a safe haven, increased buying by local jewellers at domestic spot market, mainly kept the precious metals' prices higher.

Globally, gold ended higher at USD 1,318.80 an ounce and silver at USD 17.16 an ounce in New York.

In the national capital, gold of 99.9 per cent and 99.5 per cent purity commenced the week steady at Rs 30,450 and Rs 30,300 per ten grams on some support. https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/edible-oils-strengthen-on-rising-demand-global-cues/1224026

PARC starts campaign to promote hybrid rice cultivation Islamabad Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) in collaboration with Chinese hybrid rice seeds research organization has initiated a campaign to promote hybrid seed cultivation across the crop growing areas of the country.

The main aim of this joint initiative was to enhance per acre crop productivity, increase

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

23

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter profitability and produce surplus commodity for exports enhancement.

In this regard, an official of the council told APP here Friday that both the countries have decided to work together for conducting joint awareness programmes to adopt hybrid rice seeds.

The Chinese scientists are scheduled to train 30 Pakistani 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.

They would 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 the 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.

He said a travelling seminar has also been designed by PARC and Chinese Yuan Longping High-tech Agriculture Company to travel in all the four ecological zones of the country in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan.The main objective of the seminar was to estimate the local hybrid seed requirements for different regions and showcase the hybrid rice varieties, he remarked.In addition, he said that the other aim if the activity was the capacity building of the local experts from all over the country in order to promote the hybrid rice techniques.High level Chinese team comprising on 12 top hybrid rice experts will be the part of this travelling rice seminar, he added.—APP

https://pakobserver.net/parc-starts-campaign-promote-hybrid-ricecultivation/

A New Year wish for agriculture January 6, 2018, 10:00 PM

By Dr. Emil Q. Javier

Dr. Emil Q. Javier ‘There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why… I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?’ – Robert Kennedy To start the year, I thought of writing down a wish list of the developments I would dearly love to see in agriculture. The exercise turned out to be not that simple because there were just so many to write about.

The list was overwhelming and one would not know where to start.

There will be time to take on the wish list but for this column I resolved to deal with just one — multiple cropping technology and its corollary policy of increasing farmers’ incomes versus food self-sufficiency.

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

24

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Our farmers are poor for many reasons. But the most important single factor is our low per capita availability of farm land. Our farms are not big enough to generate the income the farmers need to lift their families out of poverty.

There are simply too many mouths to feed from the small farms they operate. Corollarily, there are simply too many farm workers to provide employment for from our limited farm lands.The obvious long-term complementary solutions are: 1) further moderating population growth, 2) generating more off-farm employment in the countryside, and 3) significantly expanding industry and tourism to absorb the surplus rural labor.Nevertheless, even as we address the above three solutions, there is an immediate albeit temporary relief available — multiple cropping. Unlike in the temperate zone where they can grow only one crop a year because of winter, we in the humid tropics can plant and harvest two to as much as four crops per year on the same piece of land.

We harvest close to 13 million hectares of crops every year out of our 10 million physical hectares of farm lands. This is equivalent to a cropping intensity of 1.30. However with early maturing, often high value, crops like vegetables, legumes and even ornamentals, we can plant two to four crops in succession on the same piece of land to attain a cropping intensity of 2.0 to 4.0. Thus, instead of 13 million hectares of crops per year, we can effectively multiply our land availability to 20 to 40 million hectares.

Paradigm shift from food self-sufficiency to raising farmers’ incomes The emphasis on multiple cropping, and consequently, redirection of our efforts away from monocropping, occasions as well a paradigm shift on how we approach agriculture. The primary objective is not necessarily to raise per hectare yields of individual crops but to raise total income of farmers.

Short maturing varieties yield less than their full season counterparts but one can squeeze in more crops in the planting calendar. Thus in the aggregate, the farmers can earn more from multiple cropping than monocropping. Multiple cropping will also increase farm employment per hectare per year.

Moreover, with a variety of crops to sell, the farmers are partly protected from the swings of prices in the market over which they have no control.

Organizational changes in managing the bureaucracy to accommodate multiple cropping

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

25

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The shift in objective has important implications to the way we manage the bureaucracy. For rice, this means that in the hierarchy of breeding objectives, priority must be given to developing early maturing varieties and hybrids to allow more time for other crops.

Even more profoundly, we have to reconfigure how we design and manage our irrigation systems. Our large irrigation systems are designed for rice. However, the water demands of the crops planted after rice are different. The individual farmers must have full control over the volumes and timing of water application for their fields.

The only way to do this is to integrate small irrigation units like shallow tube wells and small farm reservoirs into the large national (NIS) and communal (CIS) irrigation systems.

But the national and communal irrigation systems are administered by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) while the small irrigation projects are developed by the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) under the Department of Agriculture (DA).

It was therefore a mistake to divorce NIA from DA. The real challenge was how to fully realize the benefits from the huge investments we have made in irrigation (close to R700 billion in the last 50 years). The obvious way is to make sure there is sufficient water for a second crop of rice, even better, one or two high value crops after rice. Unfortunately, NIA does not have that expertise. That agronomic expertise reside with the plant and soils agencies in DA (Philippine Rice Research Institute [PhilRice], Bureau of Plant Industry [BPI] and BSWM).

Moreover, the irrigation systems cannot be managed and maintained effectively without the involvement and commitment of the water beneficiaries themselves. The discipline of fair and timely distribution of water is a function best conducted by the farmers among themselves (not NIA). The recent policy of free irrigation absolves farmers of responsibility and sends the wrong signal. Better that the water users are required to clean the canals that convey water to their fields but keep paying water fees to their Irrigators’ Associations (not to NIA) as forced savings for their further use.

But most importantly, the way we assess performance of the agencies responsible for agriculture will have to be changed. Right now under the national rice program, DA is held accountable for the total tonnage of rice produced as well as the average palay yields per hectare.

With the multiple cropping approach, the metrics have to be modified accordingly. DA will now be held accountable for the total tonnages (and values) of rice and other crops produced and the total income of farmers per hectare per year.

The multiple cropping paradigm likewise has important consequences in our efforts to improve the lot of coconut farmers. There is sufficient sunlight filtering through the canopy of the coconut palms to support intercrops. Of the 3.2 million hectares devoted to coconut, it is estimated that

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

26

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter two million hectares are not sufficiently utilized. Coffee, cacao, bananas, papaya, pineapple, other fruits and many annual crops can be grown in combination with coconut.

The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has the mandate for coconut development but has little expertise for these other crops. The expertise for these other crops reside with the other bureaus of DA. Thus for easier coordination it is better that PCA be reunited with DA. The PCA with its new energetic administrator is proceeding with an aggressive coconut hybrids and improved cultivars replanting program. It is timely that intercropping be married to the PCA replanting program to save on land preparation and weeding costs as well as provide immediate income to farmers while waiting for the coconuts to produce nuts.

Reorientation of agricultural research and extension Finally, we also have to reorient agricultural research and extension accordingly. Component individual crop technology research will have to proceed but there ought to be more effort in cropping systems research. To avoid duplication the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) should focus on strategic component technology development while the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) of DA should channel most its resources to cropping systems and on-farm trials.

Actually rice-based, coconut-based, corn-based cropping systems and agroforestry account for up to 80 percent of our farm lands. However, since cropping systems are highly location- and market-specific, their testing and demonstrations to farmers will have to be conducted all over the country. The state colleges and universities (SCUs) which are strategically distributed in all the growing regions should be mobilized and funded for this purpose. https://business.mb.com.ph/2018/01/06/a-new-year-wish-for-agriculture/

Global Rice Flour Market 2017 Pornkamon Rice Flour Mills, Koda Farms, CHO HENG, Burapa Prosper, Thai Flour Industry, BIF and HUANGGUO Global Rice Flour Market Research 2017 presents the in-depth assessment of Rice Flour Industry including a competitive analysis of top market players, Rice Flour Business growth, consumption volume, Rice Flour market drivers and restraints, future roadmap for the new beginner in planning their Rice Flour business strategies. Furthermore, Rice Flour Report includes analysis

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

27

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter of market ups and downs of past five years and forecasts Rice Flour sales investment information from 2017 to 2022.

Rice Flour Report maps the useful details which are based on Production region, Rice Flour top manufacturers, product type and applications will Provide the Simplified view of Rice Flour Industry. The significant presence of numerous regional and local vendors Rice Flour market is hugely competitive. The Rice Flour Report helps to acknowledge annual revenue of top leading players, Rice Flour business methods, company profile and their beneficence to the Global Rice Flour Market share. The Rice Flour Research is attached to essential information such as graphs and tables to figure out new trends in the market.

Sample PDF Copy of Global Rice Flour Market Report at https://market.biz/report/globalrice-flour-market-2017-mr/141982/#requestforsample Geographically, Rice Flour Report is based on several topographical regions according to Rice Flour import and export ratio of the region, production and consumption volume, Rice Flour market share and growth rate of Rice Flour Industry. Major regions impact on Rice Flour business such as North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa.

Global Rice Flour Market Segmented into Major top players, Rice Flour Product Type and End-user Applications.

Major Key Players in Global Rice Flour Market are BIF CHO HENG Pornkamon Rice Flour Mills Koda Farms Burapa Prosper HUANGGUO Thai Flour Industry Lieng Tong Bobs Red Mill Natural Foods Rose Brand Rice Flour market study based on Product types 28

Glutinous Rice Flour Brown Rice Flour Rice Flour

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Rice Flour industry Applications Overview Thickening Agent Bread Snacks Sweets and Desserts Rice Noodle and Rice Pasta The Key Players in Rice Flour industry are expected to top on to these market opportunities to penetrate the global Rice Flour market. Rice Flour market size and revenue of top leading players is appraised using Bottom-up approach. In addition, Rice Flour report Provides details about raw material analysis, Rice Flour downstream buyers, development trends, Technical advancement in Rice Flour business, demand and supply ratio will help emerging Rice Flour players taking useful business decisions.

Inquiry before buying Global Rice Flour Market report here https://market.biz/report/global-rice-flour-market-2017-mr/141982/#inquiry Reasons for Buying Global Rice Flour Market Report

* Rice Flour Report gives detailed analysis changing market dynamics. * Rice Flour Report gives pin Point analysis on various factors driving and restraining Rice Flour business growth. * Technological advancements in Rice Flour industry to analyze market growth rate. * Anticipated Rice Flour market growth is based on analysis of past and the current size of Rice Flour industry from 2012 to 2017.

Report Table of Content Gives Exact Idea about Global Rice Flour Market Report

Chapter 1 describe Rice Flour report essential market surveillance, Product cost structure, and analysis, Rice Flour Market size and scope Forecast From 2017 to 2022. Although, Rice Flour market gesture, Factors influence the growth of Rice Flour business also in-depth study of emerging and existing market holders.

Chapter 2 display top manufacturers of Rice Flour market with sales and revenue and market share. Furthermore, Rice Flour report analyses the Import and Export Scenario of Rice Flour Industry, Demand and Supply ratio, labor cost, Rice Flour raw material supply, Production cost, marketing sources, and downstream consumers of Rice Flour market.

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

29

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Chapter 3, 4, 5 analyses Rice Flour report competitive analysis based on product type, their region wise consumption and import/export analysis, the compound annual growth rate of Rice Flour market and Forecast study from 2017 to 2022.

Chapter 6 gives an in-depth study of Rice Flour business channels, Rice Flour market investors, Traders, Rice Flour distributors, dealers, Rice Flour market opportunities and risk.

Global Rice Flour Market Outlook Global Rice Flour Market report 2017 provides you in-depth and all-exclusive study of current scenario of the Rice Flour market based on top leading manufacturers involved, geographical consumption, product types, market current trends and statistics and end-user applications 20172022. https://truthfulreporter.com/2018/01/06/global-rice-flour-market-2017-pornkamon-rice-flour-mills-kodafarms/

2017 Global Basmati Rice Market: LT Foods Ltd, KRBL Ltd and REI Agro Ltd Divyang Nayaron: January 06, 2018 Global Basmati Rice Market Report illustrates the present development status of Basmati Rice along with the growth of Basmati Rice expected during the forecast period during 2017-2022.

Basmati Rice Market analyses the industry based on different factors like growth trends, consumer volume, Basmati Rice market size and demand and supply status. Basmati Rice Market is a beneficial research material which conducts a competitive analysis of the Basmati Rice market. This report also portrays the Basmati Rice industry structure based on the product cost, major industry players, product applications, import/export details and Basmati Rice market competition.

A complete study of Basmati Rice based on emerging and dominant market segments, major geographical regions, supply chain analysis, Basmati Rice revenue analysis will drive important business decisions. This research also lists covers the details related to the downstream buyer analysis, supply chain scenario, distributor scenario, labor cost and the cost of raw materials.

A thorough analysis of Basmati Rice based on the primary market segments, sub-segments, emerging market sectors, Basmati Rice development trends, opportunities and threats to the market development has been evaluated. Comprehensive details related to Basmati Rice market development during the forecast period, investment return analysis, technological advancement

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

30

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

taking place in Basmati Rice will assist all the market players for planning development strategies.

More regarding Global Basmati Rice Market 2017 Report at: https://market.biz/report/global-basmati-rice-market-sp/113492/#inquiry Complete details of Basmati Rice are listed in the below TOC, Figures, Charts, Graphs. The major Companies leading to the growth of Basmati Rice are covered in this report with their consumer base, company profile, and Basmati Rice revenue share.

Complete Manufacturer study of Global Basmati Rice Market: The world Basmati Rice market is highly competitive and concentrated due to the presence of regional and global Basmati Rice vendors. The primary focus of Basmati Rice companies is to strengthen their technological expertise. This will help them to broaden their Basmati Rice product portfolio and survive for a long time in Basmati Rice industry. Vendors of the Basmati Rice market are also focusing on Basmati Rice product line extensions and product innovations to increase their Basmati Rice market share. Leading vendors in world Basmati Rice industry

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

31

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter are Amar Singh Chawalwala, Pari India, REI Agro Ltd, DUNAR, Kohinoor Foods Ltd, Lakshmi Group, Golden Foods, KRBL Ltd and LT Foods Ltd. Request A Sample Copy Here: https://market.biz/report/global-basmati-rice-marketsp/113492/#requestforsample Major regions and their revenue analysis covered in Basmati Rice include North America, Europe, Japan, China, India, South East Asia. This report also covers the Basmati Rice marketing strategies followed by Basmati Rice distributors analysis, potential buyers, marketing channels and Basmati Rice development history. Basmati Rice Market analysis based on top players, Basmati Rice market gains, sales, product type, production capacity and gross margin analysis will favor the market development.

Based on the dynamic Basmati Rice market trends, developments taking place in Basmati Rice, competitive study, growth opportunities, Basmati Rice market will reflect huge development in coming years. All the crucial Basmati Rice market factors leading to growth has been covered in this Basmati Rice study. http://incrediblenews24.com/20180106/global-basmati-rice-market

Nigeria: Rice Farmers Tell Buhari - Smuggling Remains Biggest Threat

By Vincent A. Yusuf President Muhammadu Buhari in his New Year address said his administration will ban the importation of rice into the country in this year.

Rice import is not totally banned. The food staple is allowed to come into the country only through the seaports where duties are duly paid.

But government now said it will close all maritime and land boarders completely to rice - a news the farmers and processors received with cheers.

"Two years ago I appealed to people to go back to the land. I am highly gratified that agriculture has picked up, contributing to the government's effort to re-structure the economy.

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

32

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter "Rice imports will stop this year. Local rice, fresher and more nutritious will be on our dishes from now on," the President said in his 2018 New Year message to Nigerians on the first of January.

President Buhari also appealed to Nigerians who are still hesitant on the potential of agriculture to change their minds.

"I am today appealing to enterprising Nigerians with ideas and unemployed graduates and other able-bodied and literate men and women with ideas not to just sit and wait for employment from the government or the organized private sector. Great nations are built by enterprising people who turn their hands to anything that circumstances dictate," he said.

However, the rice farmers and processors while happy are happy that the president has made a categorical statement on importation of rice, expressed worries over smuggling activities, which sometimes are allegedly aided by customs officials across the nation's porous land borders.

They argued that smuggling was eroding the huge gains so far made in the rice industry.

Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Maifata, the national leader of Rice Processors of Nigeria, in a recent meeting with the country's minister of agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, over the high cost of local rice recently in Abuja, expressed grave concern over what he called 'continuing rice smuggling activities at the country's borders.'

He lamented particularly that some staffers of the Nigerian Customs Service are complacent in the activities as they collect bribes to allow rice into the country through the land borders.

He said smugglers are offering even as low as N500 to bring in rice on motorcycles.

A similar position was expressed by the national leader of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria RIFAN, Alhaji Aminu Goronyo, who noted that if the trends continue without firm action from the government, it will weigh down the gains so far made, adding that "it is killing us."

Many Nigerian and foreign investors in the country have been wailing over smuggling for a long time because they stressed that it threatens their investments and will make it extremely difficult to recoup their capital let alone make sustainable profits.

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

33

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter A rice farmer in Adani Local Government of Enugu State, Mr Benard Adi, stated that farmers are willing to go into rice production but the imported rice makes it difficult for them to compete fairly in the market because of the cost of production in the country which is still high in Nigeria. http://allafrica.com/stories/201801070085.html

Food stock rises 12:00 AM, January 07, 2018 / LAST MODIFIED: 07:23 PM, January 07, 2018

Cut in subsidised rice distribution, rise in import key reasons

Rejaul Karim Byron

The government's food stock saw a rise this year compared to the same

period last year. This was mainly due to a significant reduction in food distribution to the ultrapoor and a rise in rice import.

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

34

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter According to data from the food ministry, food stock on January 2 this year increased by 1.17 lakh tonnes and stood at 8.33 lakh tonnes, of which rice stock was 5.3 lakh tonnes.

The figure was 7.16 lakh tonnes on the same day last year.

Two consecutive floods depleted the government's rice stock to historic low of just 1.5 lakh tonnes in the beginning of July last year. Low production also led to an increase in rice prices in local markets and the government could not collect one fourth of its domestic procurement target of boro rice.

As a result, the government was compelled to cut public food distribution.The data shows that 10.29 lakh tonnes of food--rice and wheat--was distributed among the poor between July 1 and December 2, 2016. But the government, under the public food distribution system (PFDS), could provide only 6.64 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period last year.The fall in amount was mainly because of the government's failure to continue its Tk 10-a-kg rice distribution programme in the second half of 2017, even after rescheduling the date twice.

The government introduced the programme in 2016 to distribute Tk 10-a-kg rice for five months (March to April and September to November) a year among five million ultra-poor families.

Under the programme, the government distributed 3.88 lakh tonnes between September and November 2016.Besides, distribution of rice through Open Market Sale (OMS) at subsidised rate also slightly decreased.

Food distribution from July 1 to December 21, 2017 through OMS was 16.17 lakh tonnes while the amount was 16.30 lakh tonnes in 2016.Between July 1 and December 21, 2017, coarse rice's price was Tk 42 to Tk 50 while its price was below Tk 33 per kg in the same period in 2016.

Food stock also saw a rise due to the government's move of importing rice. From July 1, 2017 to January 2 this year, the government imported 8.31 lakh tonnes of food grain including 5.35 lakh tonnes of rice. In the corresponding period of the previous fiscal, the government did not import any rice. It only imported 3.92 lakh tonnes of wheat.

In the current fiscal year, the government's target is to import 20 lakh tonnes of food grains including 15 lakh tonnes of rice.The cabinet committee on purchase has already given the approval to the food ministry for import of rice and the ministry has started the process.

35 http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/-stock-rises-1515961d

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Rice, gold, US dollar up in Kabul

ByOn Jan 06, 2018 - 14:45 KABUL (Pajhwok): The prices of rice and gold have soared and the Afghani currency continues losing its value against the US dollar, market sources said Saturday.Abdul Hadi, a worker at Wazir Abad Fuel Station in Kabul, told Pajhwok Afghan News one liter of diesel cost 46 afghanis and the same amount of petrol 45 afghanis.Ahmadullah, a gas dealer in Kolola Pushta area, said the rate of one kilogram of the commodity dipped from 60afs to 55afs this week.

However, the rates of gas is different in different parts of Kabul city.Haji Hassain, a firewood seller in Charahi Shaheed area of Kabul, said the price of 560 kilograms of peeled oak stood at 7,800afs and the same quantity of cedar 7,200afs.

The price of rice increased but that of sugar, flour and ghee declined.Food Traders Union, Fazal Rahman said the price of 24kg of Pakistani rice increased from 1,950afs to 2,000afs.But he said that the price of 50kg of Kazakhstani flour decreased from 1,160afs to 1,140afs, 49kg of

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

36

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Pakistani sugar from 1,850afs to 1,750afs and 16 liters of Khurshid ghee from 1,050afs to 1,040afs.

Meanwhile, Noor Ahmad Khairkhwa, a tea seller in Kabul Mandavi, said a kilogram of Indonesian green tea cost 280afs and the same amount of African black tea 300afs -- same prices as last week’s.

Ahmad Wali Panjsheri, who owns a grocery store in Dahn-i-Bagh area, sold a 49-kg bag of sugar for 1,900afs, a 16-litre tin of ghee for 1,150afs, a 50-kg sack of Kazakhstani flour for 1,200, 24kg Pakistani rice for 2,400afs, a kilogram of green Indonesian tea for 300afs and the same quantity of black African tea for 350afs.

Haji Fawad Ahmad Salehzada, a jeweler in Timor Shahi area, said the price of one gram of Arabian gold increased from 2,350afs to 2,400afs and the same quantity of Russian variety from 1,850afs to 1,900afs.

According to moneychangers’ union in Sara-i-Shazada, one US dollar accounted for 70afs and 1,000 Pakistani rupees for 624afs against last week's rates of 69.55afs and 633afs respectively. https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/01/06/rice-gold-us-dollar-kabul

Two years jail for paddy embezzlement Faridkot, Jan 6 (UNI) Judicial Magistrate First Class Pankaj Verma has sent two rice millers of Moga districts to two years in jail for embezzling paddy worth Rs 1.7 crore.The court has also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 each on the millers. The police had registered a case under section 406 of the IPC at the Badhni Kalan police station in 2014 against Arun Jain and Jagdev Singh owners of Dhaliwal Agro rice mills situated at Raman village in Nihal Singh Wala sub-division of Moga.

Markfed District Manager Nishan Singh lodged a complaint to the police and alleged that 4,011 quintals of paddy worth Rs 78.94 lakh from the stock of 2012-13 paddy season had gone missing.

The Markfed allocated 57,361.15 quintals of paddy for milling to the Dhaliwal Agro rice mills in 2012-13.

UNI XC VJ SW 1358 37 http://www.uniindia.com/two-years-jail-for-paddy-embezzlement/states/news/1097932.html

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Bank fraud: Enforcement Directorate arrests MD of rice milling firm for money laundering

By PTI | Published: 05th January 2018 03:23 PM | Last Updated: 05th January 2018 07:03 PM

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate today said it has arrested the managing director of a rice milling firm in connection with its money laundering probe in an alleged Rs 3,871 crore bank fraud case.The central probe agency said it has arrested Sandip Jhunjhunwala, Managing Director of Ms REI Agro Limited "under the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) in connection with money laundering following de-frauding a consortium of banks to the tune of Rs 3,871.71 crore by diverting the funds fraudulently."

The agency, in 2016, had registered a money laundering case against the company, which claims to the world's largest basmati rice processing firm.The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had last year attached assets worth Rs 411.24 crore in this case The New Indian Express

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

38

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter BJP to intensify agitation in Odisha on farmer issues

By Express News Service | Published: 07th January 2018 02:42 AM | Last Updated: 07th January 2018 08:44 AM | BHUBANESWAR: After launching a series of agitational programmes on farmers’ issue, the State BJP has called a meeting of its district presidents and prabharis on Monday to chalk out the next course of action in view of the State Government’s failure to pay compensation to farmers for their crop loss.

State BJP vice-president Samir Mohnaty said the farmers are in distress after their crops were damaged by successive natural disasters like scanty rainfall, pest attack and unseasonal rains.

It has been more than two months since the State Government announcing drought and pest assistance packages, but a large number of farmers are still waiting for the succour to arrive.

Unable to bear the crop loss and loan burden, several farmers have committed suicide in the last couple of months. However, a callous BJD Government is not ready accept any of the suicide cases as farm related.

In the first phase, the saffron party launched a month long agitation in front of Revenue Inspector offices across the State from December 1 demanding immediate identification and compensation to actual cultivators who had sustained crop loss. Then the party staged agitations at mandal (organisational block) level followed by demonstrations in all district headquarters where Collectorates were gheraoed.

National BJP secretary in-charge of Odisha Arun Singh will attend the Monday meeting of district BJP presidents and prabharis. Taking inputs of the district presidents, the party will decide the next course of action, Mohanty said.A separate meeting of the BJP Krushak Morcha has been scheduled on Monday. Apart from discussing the farmers problems, the meeting will deliberate the issue of distress sale of paddy, Morcha general secretary Surath Biswal said.

Alleging nexus between State Government and rice millers, Biswal said farmers bring paddy to mandis are being harassed and forced to sell their stock to millers at `800 to `1,100 per quintal as against the minimum support price of `1,550 per quintal. Coming on a two-day visit to the State on Sunday, Singh will hold separate meeting with State office bearers to review the organisational activities. He will also review the activities of four Parliamentary constituencies he has been assigned.

39 The Express News Service

www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874