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Govt mission to push premium Thai rice in Japan Vietnam. April’s rice exports fail to meet target Thailand Rice Exporters Regain Status After Stockpiling Program Ends Vietnam rice exports slump as Thailand takes over major markets Joy of bumper paddy yield remains short-lived Modified paddy cultivation method seems to hold better promise Fuel Tax Credit Scheme vital to farmers RGA rejects Commission of Audit recommendations RGA welcomes new Minister to water portfolio Nuffield Australia Farming Scholarships - closing 30 June 2014 In Memory: Leroy Isbell Vetter Committed to Enforcing Trade Rules Weekly Rice Sales, Exports Reported CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures Thailand Rice Exporters Regain Status Costa Rican rice producers fight elimination of gov't-backed price controls [The Tico Times, San Jose, Costa
News Detail… Govt mission to push premium Thai rice in Japan TO PROMOTE exports of rice, particularly premium varieties, the Foreign Trade Department will send a mission to Japan, targeting the high-end market.“Promoting rice in Japan will increase opportunities for sales in one of the highestpurchasing- power markets for Thai rice,” director- general Surasak Riangkrul said yesterday.“Thai rice, especially jasmine rice, which is acknowledged for high nutrition and good quality, should get a better response in this market.”The Japanese are also known for being health-conscious.The mission will visit Tokyo from May 1519. Promotional activities will be held at Yoyogi Park, where many Japanese, especially housewives, often go to relax.The department will promote Thai rice directly to consumers so that they can understand how to cook it.
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Unlike Japanese rice, which has short grains, Thai jasmine rice has long grains and requires less water for cooking.The department will also stress the quality and nutritional value of Thai rice, as Japanese consumers are acutely aware of their health and nutritional foods.Japan is the 10th-largest overseas market for Thai rice. Exports of the grain to Japan were up 6.25 per cent to US$37.63 million (Bt1.218 billion) last quarter after surging 26.8 per cent to $139.63 million last year.To foster closer cooperation with Japan, the department will also meet with the agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister during the trip.
Vietnam. April’s rice exports fail to meet target 08.05.2014 Rice exports failed to meet the target of 700,000 tonnes for April due to a fall in most markets. In April the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) said that 60 percent of rice exports were destined for China, and shipments to China rose by 51 percent.However, the total volume of rice fell in most markets, particularly in Africa, leading to the Vietnamese failure to reach its monthly target, VFA said.In recent years, China has become the largest import market of Vietnamese rice due to increasing demand and its close geographical proximity as a neighbour.Vietnam plans to ship abroad 6.2 million tonnes of rice in 2014, excluding the amount transported over land via border gates with China, the association said.
Thailand Rice Exporters Regain Status After Stockpiling Program Ends Thailand Is Poised to be the World's Second-Biggest Rice Exporter This Year
By ISABELLA STEGER May 8, 2014 7:24 a.m. ET
Thailand's rice exports are recovering after the government ended its controversial stockpiling policy. The country is poised to be the world's second-biggest rice exporter this year, the Food and Agriculture Agency predicted on Thursday.The United Nations body said in its biannual food outlook that Thailand is now on track to export 8.7 million metric tons of rice in 2014, putting it second to India, which the agency predicts will
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hold the top spot at 9.5 million metric tons.Thailand lost its crown as the world's leading rice exporter in 2012 because of the government's rural income-support policy, which paid farmers above-market prices. The program also left Thailand laden with huge stockpiles of rice and debts, and contributed to political turmoil. The government suspended the program in February, which caused a resurgence of Thai rice sales into global markets.Vietnam and Thailand both exported about 7 million metric tons of rice last year, according to the FAO.Despite increased exports, Thailand's farm revenues are now crimped by lower international rice prices for some grades. The FAO's latest rice-price data for April show that while rice prices on average were stable from the previous month, benchmark Thai white 100% B rice plunged 5.1% from March.The FAO attributed this to Thailand's failure to win a large Philippines' tender in April for 800,000 tons of rice. That tender was won by Vietnamese companies.Darren Cooper, an analyst at the London-based International Grains Council, said that the Philippines tender was a "barometer of the fortunes for Thai rice exporters."The FAO forecasts that production in the region will drop marginally, by 0.5%, compared with the previous year.This fall is likely in part because of potential climatic effects from the possible return of El Niño, but is also because of "less favorable price incentives." The FAO predicted a 2% drop in rice planting and production in Thailand this year because of falling prices.Meanwhile, the Vietnamese government is encouraging farmers to shift production away from rice to higher-yielding, more profitable crops like maize and soybeans. Write to Isabella Steger at isabella.steger@wsj.com Image: A Thai farmer works on his rice field in Nonthaburi province, on the outskirts of Bangkok. Reuters
Vietnam rice exports slump as Thailand takes over major markets TUOITRENEWS UPDATED : 05/08/2014 16:23 GMT + 7 Vietnam’s rice exports suffered drops in both volume and value in the first four months of this year in an unusual development as many of their traditional markets have been taken over by Thailand, the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) reported last week. Last month the Southeast Asian country exported nearly 537,000 tons of rice of all kinds, raking in US$236.8 million in revenue, the VFA said in a report dated April 28.Export volume fell 7.32 percent compared to a month earlier and was far below the target of 700,000 tons.“This is an unusual development as April used to be a key month for exports thanks to abundant supply from the winter-spring crop,” the association remarked.The slump in April
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made total exports in the first four months reach only 1.75 million tons, worth $765 million, an 18.17 percent decrease in volume and 18.49 percent slip in value compared to the same period last year. The VFA noted that most of the rice shipments last month were to China, which accounted for 60 percent of the total volume.Malaysia and some African nations are among the traditional markets of Vietnam’s rice exporters, with Africa being the second-largest market after China.“But we have lost this major market to Thailand,” the VFA said. Malaysia has already purchased rice from Thailand to meet domestic demand for the whole year of 2014, while Indonesia is not in demand of importing rice. “The Thais are selling rice at any cost to empty their huge stockpiles, so it is impossible for Vietnam to compete,” VFA deputy chairman Pham Van Bay explained.Thailand currently has massive stockpiles of 14 million to 17 million tons of unsold rice, according to the latest reports by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.The only positive development in the year to date is the contract to export 800,000 tons of rice to the Philippines Vietnam won in a tender in midApril.The VFA forecast that Vietnam’s rice shipments will top 6.2 million tons by the end of this year, excluding exports across the border with China.“The main objective is to export all of the rice purchased from local farmers,” Bay said.
Image: Farmers harvest rice in a field in Can Tho City, located in southern Vietnam.
Joy of bumper paddy yield remains short-lived The Hindu Farmers are again at the receiving end due to delay in procuremen The delight of getting a good paddy yield during the season was short-lived as the farmers had much difficulty in selling their produce and the unprepared and short-staffed district administration failed to stop millers from exploiting farmers in the district.Farmers cultivated paddy in more than 2 lakh hectares, highest in the recent past and second only to Karimnagar in Telangana. Following heavy rains in October, the Agriculture Department estimated that the farmers would take up paddy cultivation in more than 2 lakh hectares six months ago. There is ample time to make arrangements for paddy procurement, but officials say that they could not make arrangements properly as they had been caught up in election work.
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Root of problem Of the over 10 lakh tonnes of yield expected, the millers procured 3.80 lakh tonnes, while 331 government procurement centres procured just over 1.50 lakh tonnes.Government agencies like IKP, Civil Supplies Corporation, District Cooperative Marketing Societies had to sell the paddy being procured by them to millers, who were chosen by the district administration. Here lies the whole problem. Faulty machines? The millers delay the unloading of paddy sent by government agencies showing various reasons like lack of porters, poor quality of paddy and others due to which the farmers are caught for 15 to 20 days in government agencies set up markets.Speaking to The Hindu, Chileveru Chandraiah, a tenant farmer from Lakshmipuram village of Thipparthy mandal, said that he had brought the paddy to the market 20 days ago, but is yet to sell his produce. Saying that many like him were spending days in the market, he said that this had encouraged his peers to approach the millers directly where the paddy is purchased immediately and the purchase price is about Rs 100 less than MSP Rs 1,345 a quintal.The moisture content in the paddy is allowed up to 17 per cent, but the moisture checking devices used by the millers are erratic which shows more than 17 per cent for even properly dried up paddy. case filed against miller A farmer filed a case against a miller at Vemulapally police station during last kharif season as he caught the miller using the faulty moisture checking machine.Most millers are accepting paddy having up to only 16 per cent moisture, against the government stipulated 17 per cent and they cut the price of 1 kg at each point increase in moisture in a 70-kg bag. Rain damage The short-staffed Legal Meteorology Department, with only five members on the staff, is not in a state to check these machines as the district has just 270 rice mills.Meanwhile, all the government procurement agencies set up markets in open lands in the neighbourhoods of villages due to which the paddy was swept away following rain.These procurement centres do not have paddy tarpaulins to protect the harvested grain from rain. Adding to the woes of the farmers, the millers and government agencies are refusing to purchase wet paddy.A farmer leader from Valigonda, Kandala Bal Reddy, said that the loot of farmers is going on unabated due to a nexus between millers, politicians and officials which has left the innocent farmers to suffer losses.
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Modified paddy cultivation method seems to hold better promise
Rice, a major crop in Andhra Pradesh, is cultivated using water from borewells, tanks or open wells. Since the crop grows in standing water ground water depletion is usually high especially during summer.In addition to the water shortage, non-availability of labour on time is also increasing the cost of production, forcing farmers to give up rice cultivation citing low productivity and high labour costs as reasons. Different approach A different look at newer production methods that are relatively cost effective and use water more productively becomes imperative against the backdrop of the deepening water crisis and dwindling productivity under the inundation method of rice cultivation.SRI (systematic rice intensification) is a proven methodology for comprehensively managing resources — changing the way land, seeds, water, nutrients and human labour are used.“But in present times even SRI has some practical problems. The cono weeder which is an important tool in the cultivation practices is too heavy for pulling in the fields by the farmers. The other problem area is transplanting the seedlings from the nursery to the main field, which is quite labour intensive. With these in mind the Rashtiya Seva Samithi (Rass) — Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Chittoor district has slightly modified the practices using a fibre-bodied 8rowed paddy seeder (drum seeder) for sowing the seeds and modified the weeder in such a way that it runs between the space in (20 cm) between the two paddy rows,” says Mr. C.Manohar, Programme Coordinator at the institute.With the assistance of NABARD the institute organised capacity building activities like training programmes on modified practices to create awareness and motivate farmers to adopt the technology. Field visits Exposure visits and field days were organised to showcase the performance of the technology and finally to disseminate the same among the farming communities in different parts of the district.“About 60 eight-rowed paddy seeders and 300 conoweeders were purchased and kept in the homes of master trainers in the villages and at the office of the agricultural officer. Farmers who wanted to take up this cultivation could contact the agricultural officer or facilitator for the drum seeder and weeder and return them after completion,” says Mr. Manohar.“Timely availability of the drum seeders and weeders are an important step in this practice. Farmers should be able to source the machines on time. That is why we have ensured that apart from the agriculture
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office the machines are also available in their respective villages. Otherwise it becomes a problem for the grower to get a good yield. Growers were also supplied with pre-emergence herbicide for weed management,” he adds. The institute published a pamphlet on direct seeding technology in Telugu and distributed it to farmers to get their feedback on this. Five facilitators were recruited in this project. In addition to this, KVK also trained ten master trainers and their services were utilized for sowing, weed management etc in the project area. Advisory services “Both facilitators and master trainers not only helped the farmers with modified technology but also provided other advisory services like weather, pest and disease management, water management, weed management etc. through the Kissan mobile service of the institute. We started the project during rabi 2010 season and completed it in kharif 2013 season,” says S. Sreenivasulu, subject matter specialist. Demonstrations of this modified SRI method were conducted in 140 villages in the district. Results from the data of three previous years collected showed that the average yield obtained in modified SRI method was 2,574 kg per acre, whereas it was 2,325 kg in the traditional method. About 11 per cent yield increase was observed in the modified SRI method than in the traditional method. Another advantage An additional advantage was reduction in cultivation cost. It is also observed that the cost of cultivation is reduced by about Rs.4,000-5,000 per acre in this method due to skipping of practices like nursery raising and manual transplanting. Duration of the crop is also reduced by 7-10 days in modified SRI method compared to conventional practice.For more details interested farmers contact Mr. C.Manohar, Programme Coordinator, RASS-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Renigunta Mandal, Tirupati, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, email: arkvk@yahoo.co.in, Mobile: 09441532150. Image: Special ArrangementModified drum technology for SRI paddy cultivation by RASS -KVK , Chittoor , Andhra Pradesh.
Keywords: Paddy cultivation, ground water depletion, Farmers' notebook, water shortage
Fuel Tax Credit Scheme vital to farmers The Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia (RGA) has grave concerns about rumours the government plans to make cuts to the rebate farmers can claim for off-road fuel use under the Fuel Tax Credit Scheme in next week’s Federal Budget.RGA President, Les Gordon, said the current fuel rebate scheme is a rebate payable to farmers for the excise and customs duty paid on certain fuels, like diesel, when purchased for specific off-road uses.“The fuel excise was introduced to fund the development and maintenance of Australia’s road network.
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The rebate is designed to ensure farmers are not being taxed for road use when they are not using the road.”We know of many family farming businesses that will be hit hard by cuts to the fuel rebate.
They are using fuel for irrigation bore pumps, tractors and earth-moving equipment that never leave the paddock. Why should they be paying a tax to maintain roads and highways when the fuel is being used to grow food?”Mr Gordon said any cuts to the fuel rebate scheme would increase the costs of production for Australian rice growers who compete in global markets against countries who heavily subsidise their agriculture sectors.“The Coalition continue to state that they are committed to improving competitiveness and profitability of the Australian agriculture sector through their White Paper process.”“Cuts to the fuel rebate scheme would fly in the face of this commitment and we call on the Federal Government to leave the current system in place,” Mr Gordon concluded.
RGA rejects Commission of Audit recommendations The Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia (RGA) has rejected a number of the recommendations made in the Commission of Audit’s report released last week and encourages the Federal Government to do the same.After examining the detail of the report, RGA President, Les Gordon, holds grave concerns about the impact some of the Commission’s recommendations will have on industry if they were to be implemented.“Our primary concern is the report’s recommendation to halve the current cap on matching industry contributions to research and development (R&D) by government,” Mr Gordon said.“This is an extremely short-sighted view. Government investment in industry R&D results in significant public benefits in our region like increased employment and infrastructure investment.”“We are constantly being pushed to increase our productivity while at the same time reduce our water use, which we have achieved only as a result of our long-term investment in R&D. This has been successfully delivered through a partnership between industry and government,” Mr Gordon said.The RGA is also frustrated at the suggestion government should focus on water recovery for the environment through buybacks instead of irrigation infrastructure improvements.
“The assertion that infrastructure funding only provides substantial private benefits to landholders therefore should be scrapped in favour of water buybacks which apparently maximise public benefits is just plain wrong,” Mr Gordon said.“For starters, stripping the productive capacity out of irrigation regions through buyback doesn’t only hurt other irrigators, the flow on impacts hurt regional communities. Recovering water through improving irrigation efficiency maintains the productive capacity of irrigation farms and increases regional economic activity. This was quantified only last year.[1]”“The Coalition Government has promised the focus of their water recovery efforts would be on infrastructure investment because they recognise the significant social and economic impacts that result from recovery through
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buybacks. We call on the government to keep this promise and reject this recommendation outright,” Mr Gordon said. read more...
RGA welcomes new Minister to water portfolio The Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia (RGA) has welcomed the appointment of Minister Kevin Humphries to the role of Minister for Natural Resources, Lands and Water as part of the NSW Government’s new ministerial arrangements.The RGA met with Minister Humphries last week and is looking forward to working with him on a range of very significant issues which are of concern to their members.RGA President, Les Gordon also thanked Minister Katrina Hodgkinson for her strong representation of irrigation and water management issues in New South Wales while she held Ministerial responsibility for the water portfolio.“For most of the time that Minister Hodgkinson overviewed the water portfolio, the Murray Darling Basin Plan was the most pressing issue facing the government and water users in NSW,” Mr Gordon said. “After extensive community concern with the Draft Basin Plan was expressed by many NSW irrigation communities, the Minister held off signing the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) to implement the Basin Plan until NSW was satisfied a number of conditions were going to be met.” This position was at times unpopular with other Basin governments but we always supported the position taken by Minister Hodgkinson and NSW Water Commissioner, David Harriss, that they would not sign the IGA until they were satisfied the Basin Plan could be implemented in a way that does not hurt regional communities,” Mr Gordon said.Mr Gordon said the RGA has enjoyed a good relationship with Minister Hodgkinson during her time in the water portfolio and we look forward to continuing to work with her in the Primary Industries portfolio.
Nuffield Australia Farming Scholarships - closing 30 June 2014
Applications for the 2015 program are now open.Nuffield Australia Farming Scholarships is a unique program that awards primary producers with a life-changing scholarship to travel overseas and study an agricultural topic of choice.Nuffield has been selecting primary producers for over 60 years and it is the leading program for primary producers in Australia. Scholars are selected annually on merit as people who are committed and passionate about farming or fishing, are at the leading edge of technology uptake and potential future leaders in the industry.The rice industry currently sponsors a Nuffield Scholarship. For further information, including how to apply, visit the Nuffield Australia website.Recent Nuffield Scholars supported by the rice industry include:
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In Memory: Leroy Isbell The Arkansas and U.S. rice industries are saddened by the passing of Leroy Isbell, 90, of Humnoke, AR, on May 6, 2014. A dedicated and progressive rice farmer, Mr. Isbell pioneered new farming practices, including zero-grade and rice behind rice rotations, as well as other innovations that brought him international acclaim and a place in the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame. In 1996, father and son Leroy and Chris Isbell were honored as the Rice Farmers of the Year by Rice Farming magazine. At the time of his passing, Mr. Isbell's 65th rice crop was planted. His son, grandson and great grandsons - who learned from the best - will see it through to harvest. isitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, May 9, at Wilson-Robison Funeral Home in England, AR. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, at Macedonia Baptist Church in Humnoke, AR. On behalf of the USA Rice Federation, we extend heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Leroy Isbell.
Vetter Committed to Enforcing Trade Rules
WASHINGTON, DC -- This morning, the Senate Finance Committee heard testimony from USDA's Darci Vetter, who is President Obama's nominee to become the new United States Trade Representative (USTR) Chief Agriculture Negotiator. Vetter, who grew up on a farm in Nebraska that did business with Japan, said her experiences there showed her first-hand the value of agriculture trade.She also said Congress and the executive branch must maintain a close relationship as the President's trade agenda moves forward, and she remains committed to preserving open and reliable overseas markets for "grown in America" agriculture products.Noting her years of work at both the Senate Finance Committee and at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Vetter said USTR must be committed to leveling the playing field for agriculture goods and must enforce existing trade rules. She told Senators in attendance that, in her view, the World Trade Organization dispute settlement mechanism must be utilized to eliminate sanitary and phytosanitary restrictions that curb access to various countries around the world.During questioning, Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) mentioned that many agriculture industries are concerned about Japan's lack of ambition when it comes to agriculture goods within the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. He asked about Ms. Vetter's strategy to create meaningful new access for agriculture goods in Japan.Ms. Vetter replied, "the negotiations with Japan are in a sensitive stage, but they have pledged that no product will be excluded from the negotiations. The negotiations team at USTR is committed to ambitious market access in the TPP negotiations, including the five sensitive agriculture products -- rice, wheat/barley, dairy products, sugar, and beef/pork."USA Rice has joined many other U.S. agricultural groups in supporting the nomination of Ms. Vetter as the next Chief Agriculture Negotiator. Image: Darci Vetter
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Weekly Rice Sales, Exports Reported WASHINGTON, DC -- Net rice sales of 33,100 MT for 2013/2014 were up noticeably from the previous week, but down 13 percent from the prior four-week average, according to today's Sales Export Highlights report. Increases were reported for Haiti (20,900 MT), Honduras (8,800 MT), El Salvador (4,700 MT, including 1,600 MT switched from Guatemala), Canada (2,100 MT), and Yemen (1,200 MT). Decreases were reported for Mexico (4,400 MT), Guatemala (1,400 MT), Turkey (800 MT), and Jordan (300 MT). Net sales of 500 MT for 2014/2015 were reported for Jordan. Exports of 44,200 MT were down 21 percent from the previous week and 24 percent from the prior four-week average. The primary destinations were Haiti (22,500 MT), El Salvador (6,200 MT), Canada (3,400 MT), Mexico (3,000 MT), and Japan (2,500 MT).This summary is based on reports from exporters from the period April 25 - May 1.
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures CME Group (Preliminary): Closing Rough Rice Futures for May 8
Month
Price
Net Change
May 2014
$15.310
- $0.095
July 2014
$15.500
- $0.045
September 2014
$14.485
- $0.040
November 2014
$14.630
- $0.040
January 2015
$14.815
- $0.020
March 2015
$14.935
- $0.070
May 2015
$14.935
- $0.070
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Thailand Rice Exporters Regain Status Thailand’s rice exports are recovering after the government ended its controversial stockpiling policy. The country is poised to be the world’s second-biggest rice exporter this year, the Food and Agriculture Agency predicted on Thursday.The United Nations body said in its biannual food outlook that Thailand is now on track to export 8.7 million metric tons of rice in 2014, putting it second to India, which the agency predicts will hold the top spot at 9.5 million metric tons.Thailand lost its crown as the world’s leading rice exporter in 2012 because of the government’s rural income-support policy, which paid farmers above-market prices. The program also left Thailand laden with huge stockpiles of rice and debts, and contributed to political turmoil. The government suspended the program in February, which caused a resurgence of Thai rice sales into global markets. Vietnam and Thailand both exported about 7 million metric tons of rice last year, according to the FAO.Despite increased exports, Thailand’s farm revenues are now crimped by lower international rice prices for some grades. The FAO’s latest rice-price data for April show that while rice prices on average were stable from the previous month, benchmark Thai white 100% B rice plunged 5.1% from March.The FAO attributed this to Thailand’s failure to win a large Philippines’ tender in April for 800,000 tons of rice. That tender was won by Vietnamese companies. Darren Cooper, an analyst at the London-based International Grains Council, said that the Philippines tender was a “barometer of the fortunes for Thai rice exporters.”The FAO forecasts that production in the region will drop marginally, by 0.5%, compared with the previous year.This fall is likely in part because of potential climatic effects from the possible return of El Niño, but is also because of “less favorable price incentives.” The FAO predicted a 2% drop in rice planting and production in Thailand this year because of falling prices.Meanwhile, the Vietnamese government is encouraging farmers to shift production away from rice to higher-yielding, more profitable crops like maize and soybeans. Image : A flock of pigeons fly over a pile of rice drying in a courtyard at the Sahakorn Kan Kasert rice mill in U Ya, Suphan Buri province, Thailand, on Monday, Feb. 17.
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Costa Rican rice producers fight elimination of gov't-backed price controls [The Tico Times, San Jose, Costa Rica May 07--According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the per-kilogram price of rice in Costa Rica is the seventh highest in the world. The ranking was published in a Rice Market Monitor report released this week.But on Tuesday, representatives of the National Rice Corporation (CONARROZ) went on a publicity blitz to discredit the report, calling it inaccurate.According to the FAO report, a kilogram of rice in Costa Rica costs $1.37 and trails prices in Ghana ($ 1.51), the U.S. ($1.61), Italy ($2.11), Korea ($2.27), Angola ($3.29) and Japan ($4.74).CONARROZ said the report ignores aspects of grain quality and attributed the information collected by FAO "to a campaign by current Economy Ministry officials aimed at changing the price structure of rice in the country. "Eduardo Rojas, a rice farmer, called the FAO report "erroneous" and "full of lies."Rice is the only basic food in Costa Rica with a fixed price set by the government. But an executive decree issued on May 20, 2013 calls for price controls to end, letting the market determine the price as of March 2014. Government officials in January postponed that decree from taking effect until March 1, 2015.Other studies by the Agriculture and Livestock Ministry (MAG) and the University of Costa Rica's Institute of Economics Research concluded that "the current pricing system hurts consumers and benefits only a few rice producers."Representatives of CONARROZ on Tuesday morning met with President-elect Luis Guillermo Solis, incoming Economy Minister Welmer Ramos and incoming MAG Minister Luis Felipe Arauz. At the meeting, Solis said he opposes any decree eliminating price controls on rice.Rice is an essential part of Ticos' daily diet. The country consumes 224,000 tons of rice annually, or 48 kilograms per person, according to MAG.FAO's Rice Market Monitor report is conducted four times a year and collects consumers' prices of rice in 55 countries. With slight fluctuations, prices of Tico rice in recent reports have ranked among the world's top 10 most expensive.
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