September 22 ,2018 Vol 9 ,Issue 9
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Nigeria Rice imports seen surge as local farm produce slumps By Naija247news September 20, 2018
Ruth Olurounbi Rice farmers affected in four leading producing states Country‘s rice imports seen rising this year due to demand Nigeria‘s rice importation seen rise in 2018/19 planting seasons as flood disaster destroy large hectares of rice farm land accross the country.
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At least 21,000 hectares (51,892 acres) with 168,000 metric tons unharvested rice were washed away in the past month in Kebbi, one of the country‘s main rice-growing states, according to Mohammed Sahabi, the state chairman of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria. Similar damage was reported by farmers in three other states, including Niger, Kano and Katsina. ―We cannot yet say how much we might lose this season,‖ Sahabi said by phone from the northwestern city of Birnin Kebbi. ―But I can tell you that the flooding will very likely affect production this year.‖ At least 100 people died in floods in central and southern Nigeria as torrential rains caused the West African country‘s two main rivers to overflow in the worst flooding in six years, according to the National Emergency Management Agency. Other crops such as sorghum, millet and corn were also affected by the flooding, farmers said. Nigeria‘s rice production increased more than 50 percent over the past five years to 3.7 million tons last year, meeting a little over half of domestic demand, which rose 4 percent to 6.7 million tons in the 2017-18 year that ended in May. Nigeria is Africa‘s most populous nation with almost 200 million people. Rice imports are set to increase to 2.9 million metric tons in the 2018-19 season from 2.6 million tons in 2017-18, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Reasons cited included conflict, population growth and more people giving up traditional coarse grains in their meals in favor of rice. (Updates with other affected crops in fourth paragraph.) https://naija247news.com/2018/09/20/283435/
2m tons of rice imports not my decision: Trade minister News Desk The Jakarta Post Jakarta | Thu, September 20, 2018 | 12:47 pm
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Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita (JP/Anton Hermansyah)
Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita has appeared reluctant to comment on a statement made by state-owned logistics company Bulog president director Budi Waseaso, who criticized a plan to import 2 million tons of rice. ―Never mind. Don‘t prolong [the debate],‖ Enggartiasto said when visiting a tempeh factory in West Jakarta on Wednesday as reported by tempo.co. ―The fact is that the decision to import 2 million tons of rice was made at a coordination meeting. It was the coordination meeting's decision, not mine.‖ The minister was responding to a statement by Budi, who said Indonesia did not have to import rice through June 2019 as the country had enough stock. Budi said Bulog‘s warehouses currently had 2.4 million tons or rice, while another 400,000 tons of imported rice would arrive in October. Budi estimated that Bulog would be managing up to 3 million tons of rice by year-end as the agency purchased 4,000 tons of unhusked rice from farmers every day. He added that Bulog might not need to release the imported rice to meet market demand.
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Enggartiasto said the coordination meeting in April, attended by representatives of the Office of the Coordinating Economic Minister, the Trade Ministry, the Agriculture Ministry and Bulog, made the decision because domestic rice production could not meet market demand. ―The coordination meeting made the decision in accordance with a government regulation and a presidential regulation. I then issued the import recommendation,‖ Enggartiasto said. (bbn) http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/09/20/2m-tons-of-rice-imports-not-my-decisiontrade-minister.html Miguel De Guzman
Rice imports seen to exceed 1.5 million metric tons in 2019 In the latest report of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), it said the Philippines will likely import 1.5 million metric tons (MT) of rice in 2019, 15 percent higher than this year‘s estimated 1.3 million MT.
Louise Maureen Simeon (The Philippine Star) - September 22, 2018 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is expected to import more rice next year as local production will still not be able to cover the national demand for the country‘s staple and as preparation for the 2019 midterm elections, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said.
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In the latest report of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), it said the Philippines will likely import 1.5 million metric tons (MT) of rice in 2019, 15 percent higher than this year‘s estimated 1.3 million MT. The USDA hiked next year‘s rice imports from the earlier projection of 1.2 million MT following reduced crop estimates. ―High rice prices due to tight supplies, rising fuel prices, and market distribution inefficiencies will force the Philippine government to import more rice to stabilize prices and contain inflation, which is at a nine-year high,‖ USDA said. ―Increasing rice prices are forcing the Philippine government to import more to augment supply and stabilize prices next year,‖ it added. USDA said the country‘s additional imports also aim to strengthen buffer stocks ahead of the midterm elections scheduled in May 2019. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol already said more rice imports is seen as the immediate solution to stabilize and eventually bring down prices of rice. ―I have been given the green light by the President. We have to make sure people in areas, especially those affected by the typhoon, will not run out of rice,‖ Piñol said. He added that he is set to ask the interagency NFA Council to allow an immediate importation of a sizable volume to ensure stable supply in time for the holiday season. ―Plus, it will be election year next year, candidates usually give out rice which means that they will buy more from the NFA. These are the realities that we have to address,‖ Piñol said. ―The President said do whatever it takes to ensure that there would be sufficient supply and I will do it,‖ he added. Furthermore, the DA plans to put a stop on the private importation of first class or fancy rice as this further pushes up prices of other commercial rice in the market. Piñol said private importers will no longer be allowed to import fancy rice and should instead bring in the kind of rice that NFA sources outside the country. ―Imported rice is not bringing down the prices of rice. In fact, imported rice which is basically fancy rice like Jasmine and Long Grains, is setting the high level of prices. Allowing the private sector to import first class or fancy rice does not and will not bring down the prices of commercial rice in the market,‖ he said.
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The NFA imported rice classified as 25 percent brokens is aimed at stabilizing market prices by selling at P27 to P32 per kilogram while private imported rice is at five percent brokens which is much priced higher. Meanwhile, production this year has been revised downwards to 19.4 million MT of paddy rice following lower output during the second and third quarter. Production in the second quarter of 2018 declined 1.4 percent output during the July to September 2018 period will again likely decline two percent as area harvested and yields are estimated to drop by 2.8 percent and 0.9 percent, respectively. Rice consumption is also slightly raised by 50,000 MT to account for spoilage due to a series of recent tropical weather disturbances that resulted in excessive rainfall and flooding. In addition, rising food prices are forcing less affluent Filipinos to consume more rice and less meat and vegetables. USDA‘s forecast is still subject to changes especially as the government has yet to finalize matters of the quantitative restrictions on imported rice. Production of milled-rice next year is only seen increasing by one percent to 12.35 million MT from the expected 12.23 million MT this year. USDA said there may be slight improvements in area planted as rice areas in 2019 will be at 4.85 million hectares, less than one percent higher than the 4.84 million hectares this year. In terms of ending stocks, USDA said the Philippines will likely end 2018 with a carry-over volume of 2.78 million MT for 2019. https://www.philstar.com/business/2018/09/22/1853480/rice-imports-seen-exceed-15-million-metrictons-2019
Case closed on rice imports, says minister Rachmadea Aisyah and Marguerite Afra Sapiie The Jakarta Post Jakarta | Fri, September 21 2018 | 02:18 am
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A senior minister from President Joko ―Jokowi‖ Widodo‘s administration has called for a cease-fire amid heated debate between the Trade Ministry and the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) over the government‘s decision to import rice. Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution said the order for Bulog to import a total of 2 million tons of rice came from several coordination meetings betwe... http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/09/21/case-closed-rice-imports-says-minister.html
NFA transfer to Agriculture dep‘t to improve timing of rice imports September 20, 2018 | 10:07 pm PHILSTAR/MICHAEL VARCAS THE National Food Authority said on Thursday that its transfer to the control of the Department of Agriculture will help the two agencies better coordinate rice procurement and imports. In a statement, the agency said that it ―believes that the agency‘s transfer to DA will give the two agencies the ability to synchronize agricultural policies like the timing of rice importation and market intervention as well as strengthen farmer assistance through NFA‘s marketing channels, among others.‖ In a text message, NFA Spokesperson Rex C. Estoperez said that the decision to place NFA under DA is for the better as there will be ―close coordination [between] production and marketing.‖ On Sept. 19, President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Executive Order No. 62, placing the NFA, Philippine Coconut Authority and the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority under DA. The three agencies, along with the National Irrigation Administration used to be controlled by the DA but were transferred by Mr. Duterte‘s predecessor Benigno C. Aquino III to the control of the Office of the President. ―The President has delivered a strong message that food security is his primary concern and he wants a more unified and realistic approach to agricultural development and food sufficiency programs for the country by putting together all agencies involved in these concerns,‖ the NFA said.
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In a briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Herminio L. Roque noted that the DA has domestic production data to aid it in deciding when and how much rice to import. ―We believe that DA‘s data on domestic production will make the process of determining when to import more efficient,‖ Mr. Roque added. Mr. Roque said that the three agencies were only removed from DA during Mr. Aquino‘s presidency to give Senator Francis N. Pangilinan a job as head of food security and agricultural modernization. ―These agencies were originally under the Department of Agriculture. They were only separated when Senator Pangilinan needed to be given a job,‖ according to Mr. Roque. Meanwhile, the NFA assured the public that the rice inventory is sufficient in the regions affected by Typhoon Ompong (international name: Mangkhut). ―The NFA has sufficient stocks overall in Luzon, with at least 840,000 bags in the warehouses. The lower inventories in regions 2 and 3 were augmented by transferring 12,000 bags [of] additional rice stocks to Region 2,‖ Mr. Estoperez said in a statement. ―Because of the typhoons, we will propose to the NFA Council to allow us to import in advance. Many of our crops are damaged so we have to import earlier,‖ according to Mr. Estoperez. More NFA rice outlets will also be opened after the agency signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association, Inc (PAGASA). ―There is also a possibility that the approved rice imports for NFA will be fast-tracked to arrive before December to ensure that there will be continuous supply of NFA rice in the markets as commercial rice prices remain high,‖ according to NFA.
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Meanwhile, for Region II, NFA Regional Director Rocky L. Valdez said: ―The region has sufficient rice stocks and we are still awaiting the additional rice allocation of 155,000 bags from Subic.‖ ―Unloading in Subic was obviously slowed down by inclement weather. That is why we asked NFA-NCR to transfer an additional 50,000 bags to Region 2 while our rice allocation from Subic is not yet delivered,‖ Mr. Valdez explained. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio with Arjay L. Balinbin https://www.bworldonline.com/nfa-transfer-to-agriculture-dept-to-improve-timing-of-riceimports/
Bulog, Trade Ministry spar over rice imports Karina M. Tehusijarana The Jakarta Post The long-running controversy surrounding rice imports has come to a head, with State Logistics Agency (Bulog) president director Budi Waseso insisting that stocks would last until next year, despite the Trade Ministry‘s recommendation to import 2 million tons of rice this year. Budi said Bulog had set up a team whose members consist of independent experts as well as representatives from t... http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/09/20/bulog-trade-ministry-spar-over-rice-imports.html
Rice prices hit highest level; production target unattainable A bleaker price scenario looms, as the country is sure to miss its rice production target of 19.8 million metric tons (MT) this year due to devastation wrought by Typhoon Ompong, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said.
Louise Maureen Simeon (The Philippine Star) - September 20, 2018 - 12:00am
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MANILA, Philippines — Despite the continuous arrival of rice imports, the price of the commodity – the main staple among Filipinos – continues its upswing, hitting its highest level this month, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.
A bleaker price scenario looms, as the country is sure to miss its rice production target of 19.8 million metric tons (MT) this year due to devastation wrought by Typhoon Ompong, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said. A revised production target for the year is being readied.In its regular update on palay, rice and corn prices, PSA said the average wholesale price of well-milled rice rose 17 percent to P45.51 per kilogram during the second week of September versus a year ago. ―While the farmers can still replant, it can no longer be included in the fourth quarter,‖ Piñol said, referring to rice output. ―But we are expecting a better production for the first quarter of 2019.‖ Its average retail price also increased to P48.93 per kilo, up by 16 percent year-on-year. Wholesale price of regular-milled rice was P43.13 per kilo, 21 percent higher than the previous year‘s price. Its average retail price also increased 20 percent to P45.71 per kilo. The average price of palay went up to P23.04 per kg from P19.62 per kg last year. Week-onweek, prices were also up by 0.26 percent.
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State-run National Food Authority (NFA) earlier admitted the imports did little to lower the prices of rice. The country‘s rice inventory continues to thin, reaching only 1.52 million MT in August, 25 percent lower than last year‘s volume stock of 2.02 million MT. This was also 24 percent below the previous month‘s stock level of 1.99 million MT. Before Ompong‘s onslaught, the Department of Agriculture expected rice prices to stabilize in November. Some 250,000 MT of imports are expected in the fourth quarter while the main harvest season is seen to help augment national inventory. Next month, some 16 million bags (800,000 MT) of imported rice are arriving to boost local supply and bring down prices of the staple, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda revealed yesterday. He made the revelation in the course of budget debates and in answer to questions from his Albay colleague Edcel Lagman. ―Buffer stocks (held by the NFA) are now about 100,000 metric tons (two million bags). These would be augmented by imports scheduled to arrive next month,‖ he said. He said delivery of the imported rice would be ―calibrated‖ in a manner that would not adversely affect rice farmers who have started harvesting their crop. ―It is now harvest season in Cagayan and Isabela, two of the biggest rice-producing provinces, while in Albay, harvest usually comes in October-November,‖ he said. Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno earlier blamed last month‘s 6.4-percent inflation, the highest level in 10 years, on NFA‘s failure to bring in enough imported rice. Lagman asked Salceda, who is an economist, about the contribution of high prices of rice and fuel to inflation. Salceda said increased rice and fuel prices accounted for a significant part of the 6.4 percent inflation in August. MOA on price freeze To make sure every household gets enough supply of rice, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the NFA and the Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association Inc. (PAG-ASA) on limiting the amount and volume of rice each consumer would be allowed to buy.
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Under the MOA signed by Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, NFA deputy administrator Judy Carol Dansal and PAG-ASA president Steven Cua, participating supermarket outlets would be given NFA rice retailing license and would be selling the staple at mandated consumer price. In particular, each customer would be allowed to buy no more than two packs of two kilograms per pack of NFA rice. Cua said the group would still have to identify the supermarkets that would participate in the initiative. PAG-ASA currently has 40 members representing 160 outlets in the country, catering to the B, C and D markets. The MOA will be in force for one year from the date of signing and subject to renewal by the parties. Lopez said the initiative is being undertaken to ensure there is affordable rice available in the market. – With Louella Desiderio, Jess Diaz
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/09/20/1853110/rice-prices-hit-highest-levelproduction-target-unattainable#oeGMHStu406sQtjM.99
The politics of rice Editorial Board The Jakarta Post Jakarta | Fri, September 21, 2018 | 08:27 am Rice crops, which are harvested twice annually in Java and only once outside Java, are vulnerable to pests and weather anomalies. (Shutterstock/File)
The uproar and spat between senior officials over the last few days over the import of 2 million tons of rice for the national food reserves reiterates how politically charged this staple commodity has always been, as it is the main food for the poor among 260 million Indonesians and in several other Southeast Asian countries. Then-trade minister Gita Wirjawan resigned in April 2014, an election year, due to the political noise over the alleged smuggling of 16,000 metric tons of rice into the country, though just a tiny fraction of the estimated national consumption of 32-33 million tons.
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The latest uproar over rice imports erupted after the chief of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), Budi Waseso, insisted rice imports were no longer needed, as stocks were more than enough while the agency‘s warehouses could not accommodate additional reserves.
The different views between the Bulog chief on the one hand and Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution and Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita on the other once again reveals different views on the management of national rice reserves, because the import was agreed in an economic coordination meeting. The Supreme Audit Agency in May had expressed doubt about the accuracy of data on rice production and consumption at various government institutions involved in formulating food policies. Darmin again asserted Wednesday that the Agriculture Ministry often erred in its forecasts on annual rice production and that production this year looked to be lower than initially estimated. President Joko ―Jokowi‖ Widodo seems to be obsessed with achieving rice self-sufficiency, even though experiences over the past 50 years have shown that it is rather impossible to maintain rice self-reliance all the time in the world‘s largest archipelago. Rice crops, which are harvested twice annually in Java and only once outside Java, are vulnerable to pests and weather anomalies. Rice remains a ―thinly‖ traded commodity — most countries grow what they eat, and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has estimated that only around 5 percent of
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global production is traded across borders. Thailand and Vietnam are the largest exporters. Since rice is our main staple food, weighing heavily in the consumer price index (inflation), the government has assigned Bulog to manage national rice reserves as a tool to maintain price stability. Certainly, the efficiency and effectiveness of the stock management depends on the accuracy of domestic production and consumption, so that the volume of reserves is just enough to protect the country from volatile world prices or low production. The policy of controlling rice prices within an annually-reviewed range of minimum and maximum prices to ensure fairness for both consumers and producers and importing rice only as a contingency measure has been considered fairly adequate. But there should be a national consensus on the threshold for importing rice, otherwise rice imports will always cause unnecessary political rows, especially in election years. http://www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2018/09/21/the-politics-of-rice.html
PHL could import more rice to ease high prices By Jasper Y. Arcalas September 21, 2018
A man arranges sacks of NFA rice at the agency‘s warehouse in Quezon City in this file photo. THE additional rice imports of the Philippines could exceed 250,000 metric tons (MT) to increase the availability of low-cost rice sold by the National Food Authority (NFA) and cut high retail prices. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol, who is also chairman of the NFA Council (NFAC), told the BusinessMirror that President Duterte has instructed him ―to do whatever is necessary to ensure there is enough NFA rice in the market.‖ ―We can expect more imports [this year]. The instruction of the President is to fill the warehouses [of the NFA],‖ Piñol said when asked if he would propose more imports on top of the 250,000 MT initially approved and will arrive in November. ―The President has given me the leeway to make decisions, especially after the onslaught of Typhoon Ompong. We will have to make sure provinces affected by the typhoon would have enough rice for the next four months,‖ he added.
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The agriculture chief is cognizant of the possibility that farmers‘ income may be hurt by the influx of NFA rice in the market as this could pull down the farm-gate price of palay. He gave assurances that the hike in the government‘s purchase of imported rice is just a ―temporary solution‖ and that the NFA would ―properly calibrate‖ its imports next year.
He said he will meet with NFA officials on Friday to determine the remaining budget of the agency for rice imports and that he will also start ―cracking the whip.‖ Piñol made his pronouncements after Ompong damaged about 474,838 hectares of rice farms in Northern Luzon, which had an estimated output volume of 558,441 metric tons (MT). The volume was sufficient to supply the country‘s rice demand for 17.45 days at a national daily requirement of 32,000 MT, based on the computation of the BusinessMirror.
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The NFAC, which Piñol now chairs after the President recently issued Executive Order 63, is the highest policy-making body of the food agency.
Higher buying price Piñol said he would push for an increase in the NFA‘s support price to P20 per kilogram (kg) to allow the agency to buy more palay from farmers during the main harvest. The agriculture chief said he would also propose to the NFAC to disallow traders and farmers‘ cooperatives from bringing in fancy varieties of rice that are more expensive under the minimum access volume (MAV) scheme. ―They sell the fancy rice for P55 per kg to P58 per kg, which has an adverse effect [on the market]. It actually sets the trend in pricing,‖ he said. ―Now, given that Jasmine and long-grain rice are sold at higher prices, the local [varieties] follow suit,‖ he added. Under the present guidelines of the NFA for MAV importation, private traders are allowed to import well-milled, 25 percent brokens or better. Piñol floated the idea after he visited the Commonwealth Market on Thursday morning, where he found out that imported rice sold at the retail level are 5-percent brokens. With a report from Butch Fernandez
https://businessmirror.com.ph/phl-could-import-more-rice-to-ease-high-prices/
NFA picks groups to bring in 100,000 tons rice for Mindanao September 21, 2018 | 7:45 pm AFP
THE NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY (NFA) on Thursday chose 21 groups to import a total of 100,000 metric tons of rice for Zamboanga City, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi (ZamBaSulTa). 17 | w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o g s p o t . c o m , mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
Three private companies bagged 20% of total while 18 farm cooperatives got the remaining 80% in Thursday‘s auction, according to a joint statement of NFA and the Land Bank of the Philippines on Friday.
The NFA identified the three private companies as Blue Shark Development and Trading Corp., RAS Bacolod, Inc. and Basulta Traders Corp. ―The auction is under the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) scheme for crop year 2017-2018. Arrival of rice imports is set from October 1 to November 30… This is seen to boost the supply of rice in the area and complement ongoing rice distribution operations,‖ the statement read. An intensified government crackdown on rice smuggling in ZamBASulTa in western Mindanao led to an acute shortage of grain in the area.The NFA will check the requirements of the groups concerned before issuing them certificates of eligibility to import rice by Sept. 25.All shipments will be subject to a 35% MAV tariff which should be paid in advance with LANDBANK. — Denise A. Valdez https://www.bworldonline.com/nfa-picks-groups-to-bring-in-100000-tons-rice-for-mindanao/
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State godowns can hold just 18 pc of expected rice Sep 21, 2018, 1:43 AM; last updated: Sep 21, 2018, 1:43 AM (IST)
120 lakh MT of new stock to be ‗accommodated‘ in space for 22 lakh MT
Punjab has 158 lakh metric tonnes of covered space, with 108 LMT of space created by the Food Corporation of
India and 50 LMT space created by the state procurement agencies. file photo Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 20 Godowns in Punjab have space to accommodate just 18 per cent of rice to be shelled from 190 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of paddy that starts arriving in state mandis from October 1 onwards. Punjab has 158 lakh metric tonnes of covered space, with 108 LMT of space created by the Food Corporation of India and 50 LMT space created by the Punjab state procurement agencies. Information available with The Tribune shows that while all the state government godowns are full with the wheat procured in April-May and FCI godowns full with rice milled in previous two years, only 22 LMT of space is available for the new stock of rice to be milled in the upcoming season.
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It is learnt that 22 LMT of wheat and 62 LMT of rice (from 2016-17 and 2017-18) is lying in the FCI godowns, while 50 LMT of wheat is lying in the godowns of state procurement agencies. About 2 LMT of space in FCI godowns is used for storing jute bags, thus leaving just 22 LMT of space for the new rice that will begin arriving within 10 days. While the FCI directly takes the paddy from the mandis to its godowns (this year FCI intends buying almost 10 LMT of paddy), the state procurement agencies lift the paddy from the mandis and send them directly to 4,000 rice shellers in the state, which also act as storage points for the state government‘s paddy. The problem of storage begins when the rice shellers mill the paddy and start delivering custom milled rice (CMR) to the FCI. Tarsem Saini, president of the Punjab Rice Millers Association told The Tribune that the delivery of custom milled rice would begin from mid-November and the entire rice (120 LMT) would be delivered by April end next year. This was also the time when the fresh wheat (to be harvested in April next year) would require to be stored. Officials in the regional office of the FCI, however, said by the time the entire stock of rice milled in the 2018-19 season would arrive, they would create 90 lakh metric tonnes of space by June 1, 2019. ―As many as 16-17 rakes of foodgrains from FCI godowns in Punjab are being moved each day. On an average, we are moving 10-12 LMT of grains from Punjab to the recipient states each month,‖ said Regional Manager, Punjab, FCI, AS Thind. He said by November 1, before the custom milled rice delivery would start, they would have 35 LMT of space for 20 LMT of rice they expected to arrive by the end of November. The conviction shown by the FCI regional office for creating adequate space by expediting the movement of grains is perhaps not shared by the Punjab government. In the past few days, several joint meetings between the two sides have taken place. Anandita Mitra, Director, Food Supplies, Punjab, told The Tribune that the state government had asked the FCI to move its stock with more speed, so that the new foodgrains procured could be stored properly in the godowns. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/state-godowns-can-hold-just-18-pc-of-expectedrice/656279.html
APC inaugurates screening panel ahead of primaries Author: Kess Ewubare UPDATED: A DAY AGO VIEWS: 7191 Category: Politics - APC governors say they have no reason to entertain fear over their re-election - Bauchi state governor, Muhammed Abubakar, says his state has adopted the indirect primaries to choose the party‘s
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candidates for all elective offices in 2019 general elections Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), has inaugurated a high-level legislative screening and appeals committee for the party‘s 386 Senate, and 1,587 House of Representatives aspirants. Oserheimen Osunbor, former Edo governor, Timipre Sylva, Ahmad Sani Yerima, Ken Nnamani, Sharon Ikeazor, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, and Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora are among heads of the committees which were inaugurated on Thursday, September 20, in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 15 APC state governors seeking re-election in 2019 were drilled by the APC Screening committee ahead of its party primaries. READ ALSO: Presidency tells Buhari's supporters to ignore Saraki‘s alleged derogatory speeches The governors, who were screened at the campaign office of the APC national chairman included governors of Imo, Zamfara, Oyo, Borno and Nasarawa states. The above governors were screened for senate position, while second term governors seeking re-election were also screened Governors seeking re-election included: Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai, governors of Niger, Kebbi, Jigawa, Kano, Adamawa, Plateau, Lagos and , Bauchi states. Speaking to newsmen separately after appearing before the screening committee, all the governors noted that the screening was more or less a formality. They expressed confidence that they had no reason to entertain fear over their re-election. Bauchi state governor, Muhammed Abubakar, told newsmen that the defection of the Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, would not affect the fortune of the party in the state or his re-election bid. He added that the speaker represented a constituency that had a total of 70,000 registered voters, saying that he won election with a margin of 393,000 in 2015. The governor, however, said that Bauchi state had adopted the indirect primaries to choose the party‘s candidates for all elective offices in 2019 general elections. ―The position of the State Executive in Bauchi which they took while I was away in China with President Muhamnadu Buhari was for indirect primary. ―The Constitution of the party provides for indirect. The last NEC meeting allows for the State Executive Committee to take charge and determine for themselves what type of primary they want to adopt and Bauchi chose indirect,‖ he said. Speaking on the recent gale of defection after going through the screening, Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano said the state chapter of the party gained more members than those that left. He described those that left the party as nomadic politicians. He added that the exit of former Kano state governor and senator representing Kano central, Rabiu Kwankwaso, from the party had been naturalised with the entry of another former governor of the state, Ibrahim Shekarau to the party. He added that his experience with the screening committee was the easiest because he had no challenger. ―The screening went on successfully. My own took less than three minutes then I bowed and left because I have no challenger in APC governorship primary in Kano state,‖ he said. The governor of Oyo, Abiola Ajimobi, however, said that he had no anointed aspirant as all the contestants are qualified and capable of governing the state. ―The screening is a normal process and it is just to access your eligibility as well as ability to win, and I think that has been done. He said that Oyo state had also adopted the indirect primary to choose the party‘s candidates for all elective offices for 2019 general elections. ―We have so many people who are eminently qualified aspirants and for me, I have given them free hands, let them talk to all party members. And whoever they want among them, I am okay,‖ he said. In his own reaction, Niger state governor, Sani Bello, said that the party‘s stakeholders had met and decided to settle for the direct primary in the state. PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app Bello, who was also seeking re-election, told newsmen after his screening that all APC stakeholders in his state were on the same page as regard the mode of primary election. Asked on the strategies he is putting in place to ensure APC‘ victory at the
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general elections in Niger, the governor said: ―With the adoption of the direct primary the party is becoming more popular. ―We will try as much as possible to uphold fairness and justice in the party, and give everyone equal opportunity to vie for any position they want. ―We will ensure that by God‘s grace we have outstanding victory in 2019,‖ he said. Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara while supporting the use of indirect method of primary in states, said his colleagues, who had opted for the mode, were mostly on ground and would easily adapt to any of the options for primary election. Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of a campaign organisation for his reelection ahead of the 2019 presidential election. Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity in a statement on Thursday, September 20, disclosed that the president appointed the minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as the secretary/director general of his campaign team. According to the statement, the minister will announce other appointments into the campaign structure as approved by the president. Election 2019: President Buhari Proves He is Fit to Run in 2019 | - on NAIJ.com TV SUBSCRIBE TO WATCH NEW VIDEOS https://www.naija.ng/1193636-apc-inaugurates-screening-panel-primaries.html#1193636
FG, millers move to crash price of local rice September 20, 2018 September 20, 2018 Collins Nnabuife - Abuja Latest News
Chief Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture THE Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh on Thursday said that the federal government would meet millers for charting ways of crashing the price of local rice in the market.
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Speaking during a meeting with rice farmers, Millers and Processors, Chief Ogbeh said this plan became necessary following the continued increase of rice especially during the Christmas celebration. His words: ―We have been discussing the modalities to put in place to make sure that local rice sells much cheaper and that the prices can fall to the levels of foreign rice and eventually, below the levels of foreign rice. ―Every country in the world supports agriculture whether they call it subsidy or support, it is exactly the same thing. We are happy that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has agreed to bring down interest rates on Agric and manufacturing to one digit. ―We applaud that decision but at the level of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and BOA, we have set up a fund which we intend to manage to support both the farmers, millers and marketers to bring down the price of rice because we are concerned about the cost of rice for the Nigerian family. Furthermore, the Minister said ―We want our people to feed well and feed cheaply but these things have to be managed carefully because we are dealing with public funds. ―We are also going to meet in about two weeks and organise rice fair beginning in Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Port Harcourt and one or two other cities to showcase the achievements of Nigerian in rice production. ―There are those who do not believe that Nigerian rice exists but we know they do and we are very proud of the millers for their tenacity, investments and pains they have gone through in the last few years in trying to respond to a national call. ―We cannot say enough about Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), we are very proud of you because there are those who didn‘t believe it could happen so we thank all of you. ―I want to convey to you the appreciation of not only the President but also the Vice President, a nation does not thrive at an import bill of food of 22 billion dollars a year. ―We just can‘t manage it and I want this message to reach those who keep thinking that importation is the answer, we don‘t have the money, we want to create jobs so those of you investing in these sectors, we are very proud of you and we want to thank you very much. We also acknowledge the fact that the floods have done a very terrible damage to rice fields, the water levels are so high, many rice farms have been flooded. ―We have taken into account the suggestions by farmers that we should look for varieties of rice that are flood tolerant, we will activate our contacts and research institutes to see what we can do quickly and we accept the commitments you have made as Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria that as soon as the rains go down, you will go into new cropping so that some of the residual water in land and irrigation facilities will give us another harvest of rice in about 90 days to 120 days so we can supply rice to the millers‖ Ogbeh further noted that in two weeks time, the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), and the millers would meet to see how rice milling would be supported in order to have a low-cost rice during the Christmas season. ―In two weeks time when we meet, between the BOA and the millers, we will put in place a strategy to support rice milling so we can see what we can do for lower prices at Christmas so two weeks time, a letter will be sent to you by the director agribusiness and also talk with the CBN but be sure that we want you to succeed, to be rich, to make a success like other countries have done but one day, we want foreign rice to be a very rare commodity in this country.
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Speaking on rice smuggling, Chief Ogbeh said ―we are aware that they are still very busy and we want to assure you that not too long ago, the President met with the President of Benin Republic and there were certain discussions. ―If in spite of those discussions there is no heed to the matter, I assure you that government is not asleep. Decisions will be made very soon to put a final solution to it. We appeal to our journalists to please be at the side of this country. ―I know you have to be objective in your reportage but we are talking about our country. No nation became great because it was the greatest importer of everything, from toothpicks, turbine, tomato paste, fruit juice concentrate, paper, erasers, rubber bands. ―What do we do with 200 million people when they wake from sleep and there are those who are out there, telling us that we should do nothing about cutting down on imports meanwhile, oil prices are so flexible that nobody can count on oil revenues to continue to sustain us. ―If India and China are doing as foolish as we are doing here, they will cease to exist. We have to produce here and we have to create jobs and while govt is trying to stabilise power and putting railways and roads, the private sector and Nigerian as a whole must resolve that we cannot survive as a country if these things don‘t end early enough, where are the jobs for our children and we ask the media, please take on these words, it is about you. ―We don‘t have too much time to stay but in the future, where will you be in a country of 400 million where there are no jobs, no houses, no food. ―Fight for this country, they call us all sorts of names but the truth is that what we are trying to do is to keep this country afloat, making it as strong, rich and as happy as any country can do. We will bear your suggestions in mind and when the BOA is finally privatised, 30 per cent of the shares would be reserved for farmers, please buy shares, make it your bank, let it become your bank, let is become the farmers bank then we can discuss interest rates and take control of agriculture because even the 9 per cent offered us still has to go down but the bank has to survive. If you borrow, try and payback and if there are issues that make you to fail, please let us know.‖
https://www.tribuneonlineng.com/165266/
Register Now for the 2018 USA Rice Outlook Conference By Deborah Willenborg ARLINGTON, VA -- California, here we come! Start making plans to attend the largest North American gathering for the rice industry taking place December 5-7, 2018, right on the bay in beautiful San Diego, California.
The 2018 USA Rice Outlook conference features exciting keynotes from food futurologist Dr. Morgaine Gaye and author and journalist Daniel Stone, and programming ranging from
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understanding the futures markets and workers comp programs, to the best designs for farm shops and new trends in the retail sector impacting rice.
USA Rice will host a Sustainability Theater featuring the latest research, case studies, and more on this important aspect of agriculture.Early registration is available through November 9 for the conference program that includes the trade show, continental breakfasts, receptions in the Exhibit Hall, and the Rice Awards Luncheon.Additional program details are available online, and will be announced here in the USA Rice Daily in the coming weeks. So register now and book your stay at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina.Companies interested in Outlook sponsorships and exhibiting should contact Jeanette Davis at (703) 236-1447 or Jenni Bryant at (703) 236-1477, or go here for more information.
USA Rice Staff Celebrate National Rice Month with Partner Roti Modern Mediterranean Food that loves you back By Deborah Willenborg ARLINGTON, VA -- The annual National Rice Month (NRM) luncheon here lets USA Rice staff celebrate the great grain we promote all year long, and this year's gathering featured delicious rice dishes from Roti Modern Mediterranean. USA Rice has partnered with the fast casual restaurant chain all month long to raise awareness about U.S. rice and to help those in need.
For every Signature Rice Plate sold during NRM, Roti is donating a bowl of rice to Feeding America, a nonprofit organization comprised of 200 food banks that feed more than 46 million people through food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other community-based agencies."
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"We couldn't ask for a better partner than Roti," said Cameron Jacobs, USA Rice's manager of domestic promotion. "Their rice is sustainably sourced from U.S. farmers, is gluten and GMO free, and a great source of important vitamins and minerals, and they share that information with their customers."
Scientists at technical university are eating their cutlery Researchers develop disposable utensils made from rice hulls Wednesday, September 19, 2018 What to do with disposable cutlery? The thrifty may reuse the utensils while the crafty may use them as children‘s art supplies. But a team of scientists from the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) is eating theirs.Made out of rice hulls, the edible utensils developed by a research team at the IPN Center for Development of Biotic Products (Ceprobi) are not only a source of nourishment, but contribute to a cleaner environment.
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Rice hulls are traditionally used in Mexico as livestock feed due to their short shelf life. Working with this raw material, the researchers first controlled its quick oxidation process in order to be able to experiment longer with it. This led to the development of highly nutritious marzipan and a tortilla chip-like product. The stabilized rice hull has high levels of essential amino acids, several vitamins, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, selenium and mono and polyunsaturated fats. The development of the edible cutlery was the result of a trial and error process through which the researchers found the ideal texture for the end product. Apart from the rice hulls the utensils contain just water and a few other natural ingredients. Spoons manufactured with the material have adequate resistance, the researchers found, and perform as expected when in contact with hot meals. Still, they are not yet satisfied and are experimenting with adding natural gum to harden the product. https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/scientists-at-technical-university-are-eating-theircutlery/
FG earmarks rice intervention fund — Ogbeh ON SEPTEMBER 20, 20186:51 PM IN AGRIC, NEWS0 COMMENTS The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, says the Federal Government has set aside an intervention fund to support rice farmers, millers and marketers. Ogbeh Ogbeh made this known to newsmen at the end of a closed-door meeting with rice farmers, millers and distributors on Thursday in Abuja. He said that the measure was aimed at ensuring a significant drop in the price of locally produced rice before the yuletide celebration and also enable citizens to feed well and cheaply. Ogbeh said the decision was to enable the price of locally produced rice to fall as much as the imported ones. ―We applaud the decision by the Central Bank of Nigeria on interest rates but at the level of the ministry and Bank of Agriculture, we have set up a fund which we intend to manage to support both the farmers, millers and marketers to bring down the price of rice. ―We are concerned about the cost of rice for the Nigerian family. We want our people to feed well and feed cheaply but these things have to be managed carefully because we are dealing with public funds. ―We have been discussing the modalities to make
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sure that local rice sells much cheaper and that the prices can fall to the levels of foreign rice and eventually below the levels of foreign rice.‘‘ Ogbeh disclosed that the government would, in two weeks, organise a rice fair to create awareness for the consumption of locally produced rice in Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Port Harcourt, among others. He said the fair would also help to showcase achievements of Nigerians in rice production. On the destruction of rice fields by flood, the minister said the government would commission the research institutes in the country to produce flood-tolerant rice seeds. ―We also acknowledge the fact that the floods have done a very terrible damage to rice fields, the water levels are so high, many rice farms have been flooded. ―We have taken into account the suggestions by farmers that we should look for varieties of rice that are flood-tolerant. ―We will activate our contacts and research institutes to see what we can do quickly.‘‘ Some of the rice farmers, millers and marketers who spoke at the event, appealed to the government to implement the support as soon as possible to enable them to begin production immediately after the rains. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that representatives of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Rice Processors Association of Nigeria (RIPAN) and marketers attended the event. (NAN) https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/09/fg-earmarks-rice-intervention-fund-ogbeh/
USA Rice Launches Road Trip to Help Consumers "Think Rice" By Michael Klein
ARLINGTON, VA -- A primary function of any commodity organization is to promote awareness and use of their commodity. It's no different for USA Rice, the national trade organization for the U.S. rice industry, but this National Rice Month the group is going farther literally. They're taking a classic American road trip to spread the word about U.S-grown rice, and along the nine-state route will be giving away 3,000 rice cookers and bags of rice to consumers and making donations to charitable groups and schools! The group is hitting the road in a brand-new colorful and fun Ford F-150 festooned with food images that encourages everyone who lays eyes on the truck to "Get Creative - Start with Rice!" "Rice is a staple for most of the world's population and even though it is very popular in the United States, we think Americans can, and should, eat more U.S.-grown rice," said Paul Galvani, senior vice president of Riviana Foods, Inc. and chairman of the USA Rice Domestic Promotion Committee that is spearheading the effort. "This road trip is going to remind people that rice goes with virtually every type of cuisine and to kick start their creativity, we're giving away 3,000 Aroma rice cookers and one-pound bags of U.S.-grown rice! It's not the only way to cook rice, but it does make it pretty easy!"
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The first leg of the road trip kicks off on September 24 from the historic Rice Theatre in Crowley, Louisiana, where the team will take part in the annual Louisiana rice industry food donation to the Louisiana Food Bank Association. The team will participate in another donation the following day in West Monroe, Louisiana, before hitting the open road to visit with consumers. The truck will pass through the rice fields of Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri before also visiting Illinois and Wisconsin. Stops will include farmers' markets, community events and festivals, famous landmarks and tourist attractions, and even high school sporting events!
You can join the team virtually by following #RideWithRice and watching live streams on Facebook, Twitter, and Periscope from events and from inside the truck. The team will also be playing trivia games with digital followers to give everyone an opportunity to win an Aroma rice cooker. Subsequent legs will take the Rice Truck through the Pacific Northwest and then from the rice fields of northern California down to San Diego in time for the 2018 USA Rice Outlook Conference in December.
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Gerard Frey Chosen 2018 Rice Farmer of the Year September 20, 2018 CROWLEY – The 82nd International Rice Festival will recognize Gerard Frey as the 2018 Farmer of the Year. Gerard was born and raised in a rural community called Shortbread, northeast of Iota in Acadia Parish. He is a fourth-generation farmer, fourth and youngest child of Sylvester and Helen Reiners Frey. Gerard has one sister Anne and two brothers, Francis and Gilbert. Married to Dana Clements of Morgan City, they have no children but have an adopted grandson, Brayan Jasso. At an early age, there was never any doubt of Gerard‘s future occupation. He began driving a tractor at the age of six by himself, tilling soil, and hauling rice out during harvest. At nine, he began operating a combine and has never stopped; now, his grandson Brayan is following in his footsteps. Brayan, age nine, is on his second-year driving tractors. In 1979, Gerard‘s senior year of high school, a retired farmer and neighbor offered to rent his farm to Gerard. At 17 years old, Gerard financed 100% of the money needed to purchase equipment and crop expenses from a local banker without a co-signer. This became the first farm that he purchased, still farms, and resides with his family today. Gerard states ―Looking back 40 years, why in the world they loaned me this money is beyond me, but I‘m sure they looked at my dad, whom was a great farmer and honorable hard-working man and that helped‖. Someone asked Gerard years ago why would someone work 80 plus hours a week with all the stress on a farm and you could work elsewhere for 40 hours a week and make more money and no stress? His reply was ―It would have to be in your blood for you to understand. From the smell of fresh tilled soil, nature and beauty of crops growing to the fresh harvest smell…. you can‘t put a price tag on this‖. Gerard‘s first crop consisted of approximately 150 acres of rice and 200 acres of soybeans. It has grown to a high of over 4,500 acres which consisted of rice, soybeans, and crawfish. Health issues fifteen years ago caused him to reduce to some 3,000 acres today which consist of rice, crawfish, and cattle. He raises mostly long grain, Clearfield varieties and approximately 75% is seed rice and no-till planting.
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Although rice farming is his passion, at the age of 23, Gerard was elected Mayor Pro-tem for the Town of Iota and became Mayor at 27. While serving as mayor, he received the Most Outstanding Municipal Improvements Award in the state. Through his farming career, Gerard has also received numerous awards including the highest rice yield and quality challenge in the state in 2003 and 2004, State of Louisiana Farmer of the Year in 2005, Acadia Soil and Water Conservation District Farmer of the Year in 2006, Guy Caire Memorial Award for outstanding leadership in the promotion of soil and water conservation in 2015, and the Good Land Use Award for Environmental and Conservation Excellence in 2015. Gerard felt thru his career he needed to be more diversified for stability therefore he has farmed rice, soybeans, wheat, crawfish, and cattle. After purchasing his first farm, he built grain bins to help assist his farming operation. A crawfish processing plant was then built, which he credits his wife Dana for her managing. At the plant, they process alligator and their own farm-raised crawfish. In addition to the alligator and crawfish, they also process other food products they market from their farm. He also has a commercial and agriculture laser-leveling business along with, excavation, dozer, trucking, rental properties and a real estate company. Gerard credits his success to God, ―Without him you have nothing‖, outstanding bankers, the LSU Ag Center, LSU Ag experiment stations, County Agents, and field consultants for their knowledge and leadership, seed distributors, and staff. Last but not least, he credits his parents, sister, brothers, his wife, and his employees that he considers his coworkers. For the past 40 years, Gerard has been involved with several agricultural organization committees and boards which include past president of the Acadia Parish Farm Bureau, standing Secretary Treasure of the Acadia Parish Farm Bureau, chairman of the Acadia Soil and Water Conservation District, member of the Louisiana Rice Growers Association, and the Louisiana Crawfish Growers Association. He has also completed the Master Farmer Program. Gerard has always been a supporter of the FFA & 4H livestock programs throughout his career and a community supporter to all the churches and schools in the parish. He is also an avid supporter to St. Jude‘s Hospitals and the Shriners Hospitals. Gerard enjoys cooking with friends and family, hunting with his grandson and friends, and listening to country and gospel music. https://voiceoflouisianaagriculture.org/news/2018/9/20/gerard-frey-chosen-2018-rice-farmer-of-the-year
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No more fancy rice if Piñol has his way posted September 21, 2018 at 01:15 am by Nathaniel Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta
Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol said Thursday he would seek a ban on the importation of ―fancy‖ varieties next year, now that the National Food Authority is under his supervision. ―What is happening is, instead of bringing down the price, [we have] imported fancy rice— asmine, long grains—[which] are actually being sold at as much as P58 per kilo. So where are the low prices?‖ Piñol said in Filipino on UNTV. ―Next year, the importing of fancy rice should be disallowed. Let‘s let local farmers plant the fancy rice and sell these at a good price. Our imported rice should fill the supply gap—and this should not be fancy rice,‖ he continued. Piñol said he check on the price of commodities at the Commonwealth Market Thursday, and found that traders have complied with the price ceiling on several vegetables, such as onions. Red and white onions now sell at P50 to P60 per kilogram from the previous P100 to P120 per kilo, he said. However, he expressed dismay over the price of well-milled rice, still stands at P55 per kilo. Piñol said his priority as the new chairman of the NFA Council is to solve the rice mess and lower the price of the grain by increasing the volume of NFA rice in the market. ―The only way we could address this problem is to flood the market with NFA rice,‖ he said. ―This is the only way we can control the price manipulation of the traders and middlemen in the market.‖ Piñol said he already has President Rodrigo Duterte‘s go-signal to push through with more imports to fill up all NFA rice outlets in the country, noting that the NFA still has P12 billion to use. The Palace said the President expects the Department of Agriculture to be efficient, following his executive order transferring supervision of the NFA, Philippine Coconut Authority, and Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority from the Office of the President. Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the Palace expects closer coordination among the agencies, now that the DA is in control. ―We are expecting that the Department of Agriculture will be efficient in determining when the country needs to import rice because they have the data themselves,‖ Roque said in a Palace press briefing Thursday. ―[They know] how much the local farmers have produced, and how much we need to import to supply the demand of the market,‖ he said.
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―The agencies were separated in a time when Senator [Francis] Pangilinan needed a job,‖ Roque said, referring to the Aquino administration‘s transfer of supervision of the NFA to a food czar. ―The NFA needs a seamless importation of rice as we need to have an ample supply of it. We need to have a balance and enough supply, but not to the extent that it will affect the earnings of our... farmers,‖ he said. On Monday, Duterte signed Executive Order No. 2, stating that ―the supervision over the NFA, PCA, and FPA is hereby transferred to the DA.‖ He then ordered the reorganization of the NFA Council, making the Agriculture chief and the NFA administrator as its chairman and vice chairman, respectively. Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said putting the NFA under the control and direction of the Agriculture secretary was the right move, saying there should not be two conductors and two separate orchestras when it comes to rice. ―It should be one symphony under the baton of one conductor,‖ he said. ―I hope that this move will make rice policies and programs clear, cohesive and complementary.‖ Meanwhile, in his sponsorship speech on Senate Bill No. 1998: Replacing Quantitative Import Restrictions on Rice with Tariffs, Recto said the rice tariff rates balance the interest of the farmer and the consumer. He said the gradations are essential because a one-rule for all does not apply, and some policy nuances are needed. For the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) committed by the Philippines to the World Trade Organization, the rates are as follows: * For ASEAN Member States, 35 percent or the import duty rate commitment of the Philippines for rice importation, pursuant to the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement or ATIGA; and; * For non-ASEAN states, 50 percent or the tariff equivalent calculated in accordance with the WTO agreement on agriculture upon the expiration of the waiver relating to the special treatment for rice of the Philippines, whichever is higher. The President may impose a lower applied tariff rate when a shortage looms or the buffer dips dangerously. On the other hand, he said it provides for a special rice safeguard duty to protect local growers from sudden or extreme price fluctuations. http://manilastandard.net/news/top-stories/276054/no-more-fancy-rice-if-pi-ol-has-his-way.html
Việt Nam helds international conference on export rice Update: September, 21/2018 - 13:00
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image: http://image.vietnamnews.vn//uploadvnnews/Article/2018/9/20/gao82574517PM.jpg
The World Rice Conference is an important opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to meet and seek partners in trading rice and to advertise Vietnamese rice products. — Photo baodautu.vn Viet Nam News
HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Industry and Trade will host an international conference on Vietnamese rice in Hà Nội on October 10. The conference will be held on the sidelines of the Rice Trader (TRT) World Rice Conference in 2018, the world‘s premier rice trade conference, which will be held from October 10-12, 2018 in Hà Nội. The conference is an important opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to meet and seek partners in trading rice and to advertise Vietnamese rice products, according to the ministry. In addition, the conference will bring solutions to Vietnamese rice exporters to improve the competitiveness of their products against those of Thailand, India or
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Cambodia, aiming at maintaining the market shares of Vietnamese rice in traditional markets such as the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia; and increasing market shares in China as well as expanding export markets in Europe and Latin America. The conference is expected to attract businesses, corporations and supermarkets importing, trading and distributing rice products such as COFCO (China) and Bernas (Malaysia), reported congthuong.vn. Viᝇt Nam has exported its rice products to 130 territories and countries, including demanding markets that have strict standards for rice exports. The country is one of the three largest rice exporters in the world. The TRT World Rice Conference provides the largest annual gathering of commercial and professional rice industry insiders in the world. — VNS
http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/466267/viet-nam-helds-international-conference-onexport-rice.html#umfdIxUFvPfeqteQ.99
Minister Darmin Explains Jokowi`s Order on Rice Import Debate
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President Joko Widodo at a Bulog rice warehouse in Jakarta, February 14, 2017. TEMPO/Subekti HOMEECONOMY & BUSINESS THURSDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER, 2018 | 22:00 WIB TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Economy Affairs Darmin Nasution said the government would immediately correct the data gap released by institutions on the needs and stocks of rice as ordered by President Joko `Jokowi` Widodo. Darmin said the strategy was delivered to settle the polemic between the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) president director Budi Waseso and Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita in light of rice import. ―I am still looking for a chance to hold a meeting with Agriculture Minister, Trade Minister, and Bulog,‖ the minister said at the Presidential Office, Thursday, September 20. Darmin explained the data on rice production and national needs owned by two institutions, namely the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) and Agriculture Ministry. But unfortunately, the data did not synchronize so the government could not review the trend of rice needs in a certain period.
The data issued by the Agriculture Ministry showed a surplus of rice production despite it is contrary to the condition in the society. ―Every year, the rice production experience surplus of 11 million tons, but where did the rice go? BPS will check it,‖ he added. Meanwhile, Trade Ministry issued the recommendation to import rice up to 1.8 million tons in three stages this year. The first and second import permit had been issued in February and May, each amounted to 500,000 tons of rice, while the last to release in July had expired. However, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said the third permit to import rice was extended until September 2018 as requested by Bulog. ―We have issued a recommendation to import rice based on the coordination meeting with Coordinating Ministry of Economy Affairs. So it is up to Bulog to use it or not,‖ said Enggartiasto on Wednesday, September 19. On the other hand, Bulog chief Budi Waseso claimed the current rice stock was sufficient thus the government did not need to import the commodity. Bulog, he said, had received an abundant supply of rice from the absorption of domestic production and the foreign procurement. https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2018/09/20/056921840/Minister-Darmin-Explains-JokowisOrder-on-Rice-Import-Debate
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FG, millers move to crash price of local rice September 20, 2018
September 20, 2018 Collins Nnabuife - Abuja Latest News
Chief
Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture THE Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh on Thursday said that the federal government would meet millers for charting ways of crashing the price of local rice in the market.
Speaking during a meeting with rice farmers, Millers and Processors, Chief Ogbeh said this plan became necessary following the continued increase of rice especially during the Christmas celebration. His words: ―We have been discussing the modalities to put in place to make sure that local rice sells much cheaper and that the prices can fall to the levels of foreign rice and eventually, below the levels of foreign rice.
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―Every country in the world supports agriculture whether they call it subsidy or support, it is exactly the same thing. We are happy that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has agreed to bring down interest rates on Agric and manufacturing to one digit. ―We applaud that decision but at the level of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and BOA, we have set up a fund which we intend to manage to support both the farmers, millers and marketers to bring down the price of rice because we are concerned about the cost of rice for the Nigerian family. Furthermore, the Minister said ―We want our people to feed well and feed cheaply but these things have to be managed carefully because we are dealing with public funds. ―We are also going to meet in about two weeks and organise rice fair beginning in Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Port Harcourt and one or two other cities to showcase the achievements of Nigerian in rice production. ―There are those who do not believe that Nigerian rice exists but we know they do and we are very proud of the millers for their tenacity, investments and pains they have gone through in the last few years in trying to respond to a national call. ―We cannot say enough about Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), we are very proud of you because there are those who didn‘t believe it could happen so we thank all of you. ―I want to convey to you the appreciation of not only the President but also the Vice President, a nation does not thrive at an import bill of food of 22 billion dollars a year. ―We just can‘t manage it and I want this message to reach those who keep thinking that importation is the answer, we don‘t have the money, we want to create jobs so those of you investing in these sectors, we are very proud of you and we want to thank you very much. We also acknowledge the fact that the floods have done a very terrible damage to rice fields, the water levels are so high, many rice farms have been flooded. ―We have taken into account the suggestions by farmers that we should look for varieties of rice that are flood tolerant, we will activate our contacts and research institutes to see what we can do quickly and we accept the commitments you have made as Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria that as soon as the rains go down, you will go into new cropping so that some of the residual water in land and irrigation facilities will give us another harvest of rice in about 90 days to 120 days so we can supply rice to the millers‖ Ogbeh further noted that in two weeks time, the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), and the millers would meet to see how rice milling would be supported in order to have a low-cost rice during the Christmas season. ―In two weeks time when we meet, between the BOA and the millers, we will put in place a strategy to support rice milling so we can see what we can do for lower prices at Christmas so two weeks time, a letter will be sent to you by the director agribusiness and also talk with the 38 | w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o g s p o t . c o m , mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
CBN but be sure that we want you to succeed, to be rich, to make a success like other countries have done but one day, we want foreign rice to be a very rare commodity in this country. Speaking on rice smuggling, Chief Ogbeh said ―we are aware that they are still very busy and we want to assure you that not too long ago, the President met with the President of Benin Republic and there were certain discussions. ―If in spite of those discussions there is no heed to the matter, I assure you that government is not asleep. Decisions will be made very soon to put a final solution to it. We appeal to our journalists to please be at the side of this country. ―I know you have to be objective in your reportage but we are talking about our country. No nation became great because it was the greatest importer of everything, from toothpicks, turbine, tomato paste, fruit juice concentrate, paper, erasers, rubber bands. ―What do we do with 200 million people when they wake from sleep and there are those who are out there, telling us that we should do nothing about cutting down on imports meanwhile, oil prices are so flexible that nobody can count on oil revenues to continue to sustain us. ―If India and China are doing as foolish as we are doing here, they will cease to exist. We have to produce here and we have to create jobs and while govt is trying to stabilise power and putting railways and roads, the private sector and Nigerian as a whole must resolve that we cannot survive as a country if these things don‘t end early enough, where are the jobs for our children and we ask the media, please take on these words, it is about you. ―We don‘t have too much time to stay but in the future, where will you be in a country of 400 million where there are no jobs, no houses, no food. ―Fight for this country, they call us all sorts of names but the truth is that what we are trying to do is to keep this country afloat, making it as strong, rich and as happy as any country can do. We will bear your suggestions in mind and when the BOA is finally privatised, 30 per cent of the shares would be reserved for farmers, please buy shares, make it your bank, let it become your bank, let is become the farmers bank then we can discuss interest rates and take control of agriculture because even the 9 per cent offered us still has to go down but the bank has to survive. If you borrow, try and payback and if there are issues that make you to fail, please let us know.‖
https://www.tribuneonlineng.com/165266/
GRA Cracks Down Importation Of Rice Via Inland Borders GNA
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Mr Frank Lawson, an Officer of Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), has warned importers to stop importing rice from neighbouring countries through inland borders, particularly in the northern parts of the country.
He said the GRA would move to enforce a directive banning rice importation through inland borders in the north because many dealers evade tax. Mr Lawson said this during the 3rd quarter of 2018 tax education seminar organized by GRA in the Upper West Regional capital, Wa. It was held to enlighten Ghanaians on the need to pay tax in order to facilitate development. Mr Lawson said 50 per cent taxes were being applied on commodities such as alcoholic beverages and cigarettes in order to discourage their importation due to the health hazards associated with such commodities. However, he said, in the case of rice, 'it is prohibited and when you try, your product would be seized totally from you'. He said GRA was only enforcing a directive by policymakers and advised those who have concerns over the matter to table it before their representatives in Parliament. Participants at the event backed the statement saying it is a move in the right direction and appropriate.
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Mr Imoro Alhassan Anas, a participant, said: 'Our farmers are equally good and are even doing better than farmers in other countries and so the ban on importation of rice would empower and motivate the local farmers to expand their production and employ other people'. He urged custom officials to monitor the borders critically in order to ensure that no individual or groups importing rice from the inland borders got away with it. Mr Anas said: 'How can Ghana import rice from Burkina Faso when we are singing the song of Ghana Beyond Aid'. 'Our farmers deserve better and should not be discouraged since imported rice creates an impression that our local products are inferior,' he said. GNA By Sambiru Duut Elijah, GNA https://www.modernghana.com/news/884245/gra-cracks-down-importation-of-rice-via-inlandborders.html
Rice Harvest looking good this year A rice harvester works a field Thursday along Midway near Nelson Shippee Road in Durham. (Bill Husa — EnterpriseRecord)
By STEVE SCHOONOVER | PUBLISHED: September 21, 2018 at 6:20 am | UPDATED: September 21, 2018 at 6:21 am
Rice harvest is getting underway in the Sacramento Valley, and the crop looks good this year.Unlike last year, weather conditions were favorable in 2018. The crop statewide expected to be up about 16 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, due to an increase in acreage and higher yield.However rice acreage is down in Butte County, according to Mark Kimmelshue, CEO and general manager of Associated Rice Marketing Cooperative (ARMCO).
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About 25,000 acres in the county were left fallow this year due to water sales and transfers, he said, but some of those acres might not have been planted last year either. Late spring rains cut into the planting season in 2017, and many growers didn‘t have time to plant all their acreage. But for the acreage planted, ―The crop looks good,‖ Kimmelshue said, ―but you never want to make that prediction until the crop is harvested and in the barn.‖ Butte County Ag Commissioner Louie Mendoza has also heard the crop looks to be ―pretty thick.‖ He said permits were taken out to plant 89,700 acres in rice this year in the county, but that not all of that acreage might have been planted. That would be a drop from 2017, when there were 93,444 acres planted, according to the recently released crop report. Statewide rice acreage is 496,000 acres, according to the USDA, up 12 percent from last year. The statewide harvest is forecast by the USDA to be about 2.15 million tons, That‘s about 4.35 tons per acre, an increase of about 11 percent. The yield per acre in Butte County was above the statewide average last year, when the harvest came in at 411,000 tons, according to the crop report. The price remains the wildcard, but Mendoza said the rice inventory is down, which would tend to increase prices. ―We‘ll have to wait and see.‖ Kimmelshue said only a few growers are harvesting so far in Butte County, but ―they‘re going pretty good on the westside,‖ meaning west of the Sacramento River. He said Butte always starts later, but that by next week, most growers should be hard at it. Jim Morris, a spokesman for the California Rice Commission, said the harvest is on its normal progression, and should peak in October and last into November in some places. ―There‘s certainly reason for optimism,‖ he said. ―Conditions are promising.‖ Trade wars
Even though about half the harvest is exported, rice isn‘t impacted as heavily by President Donald Trump‘s trade wars as almonds and walnuts, the other two of the top three crops in Butte County. That‘s largely because no rice is exported to China. ―We are hoping to get into China but we‘re not there now,‖ said Morris. He said the Chinese eat as much rice in two weeks as is produced in the United States in a year. Two large markets for American rice have imposed tariffs, however. Turkey, which imported 153,200 tons of rice in 2016-17 according to the USDA, has placed tariffs ranging from 84-95 percent. The European Union imported 58,000 tons and has a 25 percent tariff.
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Total rice exports were 4.4 million tons in 2016-17. A University of Arkansas study estimated tariffs could cause a 1.3 percent drop in exports. Arkansas is the largest rice-producing state, producing more than twice as much rice as No. 2 California. The USDA plans to buy $48.1 million worth of rice for its commodity distribution programs to partially offset impacts of tariffs. https://www.dailydemocrat.com/2018/09/21/rice-harvest-looking-good-this-year/
NFA picks groups to bring in 100,000 tons rice for Mindanao September 21, 2018 | 7:45 pm
AFP
THE NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY (NFA) on Thursday chose 21 groups to import a total of 100,000 metric tons of rice for Zamboanga City, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi (ZamBaSulTa). Three private companies bagged 20% of total while 18 farm cooperatives got the remaining 80% in Thursday‘s auction, according to a joint statement of NFA and the Land Bank of the Philippines on Friday.
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The NFA identified the three private companies as Blue Shark Development and Trading Corp., RAS Bacolod, Inc. and Basulta Traders Corp. ―The auction is under the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) scheme for crop year 2017-2018. Arrival of rice imports is set from October 1 to November 30… This is seen to boost the supply of rice in the area and complement ongoing rice distribution operations,‖ the statement read. An intensified government crackdown on rice smuggling in ZamBASulTa in western Mindanao led to an acute shortage of grain in the area. The NFA will check the requirements of the groups concerned before issuing them certificates of eligibility to import rice by Sept. 25. All shipments will be subject to a 35% MAV tariff which should be paid in advance with LANDBANK. — Denise A. Valdez https://www.bworldonline.com/nfa-picks-groups-to-bring-in-100000-tons-rice-for-mindanao/
PHL could import more rice to ease high prices By Jasper Y. Arcalas September 21, 2018
A man arranges sacks of NFA rice at the agency‘s warehouse in Quezon City in this file photo. THE additional rice imports of the Philippines could exceed 250,000 metric tons (MT) to increase the availability of low-cost rice sold by the National Food Authority (NFA) and cut high retail prices. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol, who is also chairman of the NFA Council (NFAC), told the BusinessMirror that President Duterte has instructed him ―to do whatever is necessary to ensure there is enough NFA rice in the market.‖
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―We can expect more imports [this year]. The instruction of the President is to fill the warehouses [of the NFA],‖ Piñol said when asked if he would propose more imports on top of the 250,000 MT initially approved and will arrive in November. ―The President has given me the leeway to make decisions, especially after the onslaught of Typhoon Ompong. We will have to make sure provinces affected by the typhoon would have enough rice for the next four months,‖ he added.
The agriculture chief is cognizant of the possibility that farmers‘ income may be hurt by the influx of NFA rice in the market as this could pull down the farm-gate price of palay. He gave assurances that the hike in the government‘s purchase of imported rice is just a ―temporary solution‖ and that the NFA would ―properly calibrate‖ its imports next year. He said he will meet with NFA officials on Friday to determine the remaining budget of the agency for rice imports and that he will also start ―cracking the whip.‖
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Piñol made his pronouncements after Ompong damaged about 474,838 hectares of rice farms in Northern Luzon, which had an estimated output volume of 558,441 metric tons (MT). The volume was sufficient to supply the country‘s rice demand for 17.45 days at a national daily requirement of 32,000 MT, based on the computation of the BusinessMirror. The NFAC, which Piñol now chairs after the President recently issued Executive Order 63, is the highest policy-making body of the food agency.
Higher buying price Piñol said he would push for an increase in the NFA‘s support price to P20 per kilogram (kg) to allow the agency to buy more palay from farmers during the main harvest. The agriculture chief said he would also propose to the NFAC to disallow traders and farmers‘ cooperatives from bringing in fancy varieties of rice that are more expensive under the minimum access volume (MAV) scheme. ―They sell the fancy rice for P55 per kg to P58 per kg, which has an adverse effect [on the market]. It actually sets the trend in pricing,‖ he said. ―Now, given that Jasmine and long-grain rice are sold at higher prices, the local [varieties] follow suit,‖ he added. Under the present guidelines of the NFA for MAV importation, private traders are allowed to import well-milled, 25 percent brokens or better. Piñol floated the idea after he visited the Commonwealth Market on Thursday morning, where he found out that imported rice sold at the retail level are 5-percent brokens. With a report from Butch Fernandez https://businessmirror.com.ph/phl-could-import-more-rice-to-ease-high-prices/
Islamic Bank loan and grant to support Guyana electricity and rice industry September 20, 2018
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Minister of Finance Winston Jordan (L) and Dr Mansur Muhtar, VP of the Islamic Bank Operations; Far left is David Patterson Minister of Infrastructure and far right is Dr Shamir Ally, Alternate Governor of Guyana to the IsDB By Ray Chickrie Caribbean News Now contributor JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Guyana‘s minister of finance, Winston Jordan, and Dr Mansur Muhtar, vice president of Islamic Bank Operations, signed a loan agreement with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) in Jeddah on Wednesday, ―in the process cementing Guyana‘s growing relationship and the proactive use of the indicative resource envelope of about US$1 billion that the bank has offered Guyana,‖ Jordan said. Jordan said that the US$20 million loan will support Guyana‘s Power Utility Upgrade Programme as part of the company‘s development and expansion programme for 2014 to 2021. On Thursday, Guyana received US$900,000 in grant assistance from the IsDB to support the rice sector. Jordan signed the Reverse Linkage project agreement in Jeddah.
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The project will assist in updating Guyana‘s expertise and technology in rice production as well as introduce innovative rice varieties in Guyana. This South/South Cooperation will ―assist in updating Guyana‘s expertise and technology in rice production as well as introduce innovative rice varieties in Guyana‖, Jordan said. Guyana is in dire need of infrastructure and especially that ―Guyana is on the cusp of an historic transformation with the recent discovery of over four billion barrels of oil. Those discoveries began in 2015 and, to date, have numbered nine,‖ Jordan said in Jeddah. Meanwhile, opposition leader Bharrat Jagdeo has criticised the government for borrowing from the IsDB envelope. However, some are urging Guyana to use the money to fund major infrastructure projects that the country badly needs. These concessional loans and project execution are rigorously vetted and supervised. The IsDB is an AAA world renowned multilateral financial institution known for its transparency. Referencing the United Nations 2030 Agenda of Human development and Dignity, Jordan said, ―Undoubtedly, the objective is ‗to leave no one behind‘… a laudable objective in keeping with principles of the Islamic Development Bank.‖ ―It is also the cornerstone of my government‘s approach to development. This is, perhaps, why we have been able to establish such a close working relationship, in such a short period,‖ he added. Guyana‘s agriculture industry is expected to grow and modernize with modern science and technology from member states of the Islamic Bank through a South/South agreement. Jordan said, ―We look forward to working with the IsDB on projects in several sectors, including agriculture. In this regard, I wish to express gratitude to the bank for the reverse-linkage project, which will assist in updating Guyana‘s expertise and technology in rice production as well as introduce innovative rice varieties in Guyana.‖The minister expressed gratitude to the bank for two grants; one for the modernisation and upgrade of the Palms Geriatric Facility in
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Georgetown. The group fast-tracked this goodwill gesture because of the poor condition of the facility. Jordan and his team will continue to explore the products that the bank offers such as Sharia banking. They will also explore project cooperation with the bank in the areas of infrastructure, health, finance and tourism. https://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/2018/09/20/guyana-and-the-islamic-bank-sign-loanagreement-for-power-upgrade/
Rice import debate is old paradigm, agriculture minister says Arya Dipa The Jakarta Post Bandung, West Java | Fri, September 21, 2018 | 08:15 am
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Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman (JP/Anton Hermansyah)
Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaeman was reluctant to comment on an open debate involving government officials on importing rice, but added that the issue was an old paradigm. ―It is an old paradigm. Don‘t use old paradigms,‖ Amran said in West Bandung regency, West Java when opening a horticultural event on Thursday, but declined to comment further. State Logistics Agency president director Budi Waseso and Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita were involved in an open debate about whether the country needed to import rice or not. In April, the government laid out its plan to import 2 million tons of rice this year, which was followed by Enggartiasto issuing a rice import recommendation. Budi said Indonesia had adequate rice stocks for up to June 2019. Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution said the government had imported 1.4 million tons of out of the planned 2 tons. He added that because of technical problems, in which exporting countries could not meet the schedule, the government canceled the import of the remaining 600,000 tons.
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While declining to comment further, Amran said the country had established food security and sovereignty. He added that 1 million hectares of rice fields across the country were ready to be harvested. He explained the ministry was modernizing agriculture with investment of Rp 40 trillion (US$2.69 billion) this year, higher than the Rp 23 trillion investment the previous year. He also encouraged farmers to increase exports of agricultural commodities. (bbn) http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/09/21/rice-import-debate-is-old-paradigm-agricultureminister-says.html
Rice Prices as on : 21-09-2018 12:21:55 PM Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market. Arrivals Current
Price % change
Season cumulative
Modal
Prev. Modal
Prev.Yr %change
Rice Gopiganj(UP)
239.00
-
239.00
2400
-
-
Cachar(ASM)
80.00
300
4200.00
2400
2400
9.09
Kishunpur(UP)
12.00
71.43
126.00
1800
1800
-
Ghatal(WB)
12.00
-11.11
264.00
2530
2550
3.27
Khurja(UP)
11.50
43.75
861.00
2620
2610
-
Karimganj(ASM)
10.00
-83.33
1080.00
2400
2400
2.13
Dibrugarh(ASM)
7.40
39.62
663.30
2920
2920
29.78
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,
Ruperdeeha(UP)
5.00
NC
114.00
1800
1800
-
Mirzapur(UP)
3.50
-12.5
781.00
2210
2200
-
Kalimpong(WB)
1.70
-5.56
31.00
3500
4600
34.62
Jagnair(UP)
0.70
16.67
73.90
2550
2570
0.39
Khairagarh(UP)
0.60
NC
104.70
2560
2560
1.59
Published on September 21, 2018 https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article25004882.ece
APC inaugurates screening panel ahead of primaries Author: Kess Ewubare UPDATED: A DAY AGO
- APC governors say they have no reason to entertain fear over their re-election - Bauchi state governor, Muhammed Abubakar, says his state has adopted the indirect primaries to choose the party’s candidates for all elective offices in 2019 general elections Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), has inaugurated a high-level legislative screening and appeals committee for the party‘s 386 Senate, and 1,587 House of Representatives aspirants. Oserheimen Osunbor, former Edo governor, Timipre Sylva, Ahmad Sani Yerima, Ken Nnamani, Sharon Ikeazor, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, and Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora are among heads of the committees which were inaugurated on Thursday, September 20, in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 15 APC state governors seeking re-election in 2019 were drilled by the APC Screening committee ahead of its party primaries. READ ALSO: Presidency tells Buhari's supporters to ignore Saraki‘s alleged derogatory speeches The governors, who were screened at the campaign office of the APC national chairman included governors of Imo, Zamfara, Oyo, Borno and Nasarawa states.
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The above governors were screened for senate position, while second term governors seeking reelection were also screened Governors seeking re-election included: Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai, governors of Niger, Kebbi, Jigawa, Kano, Adamawa, Plateau, Lagos and , Bauchi states. Speaking to newsmen separately after appearing before the screening committee, all the governors noted that the screening was more or less a formality. They expressed confidence that they had no reason to entertain fear over their re-election. Bauchi state governor, Muhammed Abubakar, told newsmen that the defection of the Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, would not affect the fortune of the party in the state or his re-election bid. He added that the speaker represented a constituency that had a total of 70,000 registered voters, saying that he won election with a margin of 393,000 in 2015. The governor, however, said that Bauchi state had adopted the indirect primaries to choose the party‘s candidates for all elective offices in 2019 general elections. ―The position of the State Executive in Bauchi which they took while I was away in China with President Muhamnadu Buhari was for indirect primary. “The Constitution of the party provides for indirect. The last NEC meeting allows for the State Executive Committee to take charge and determine for themselves what type of primary they want to adopt and Bauchi chose indirect,” he said. Speaking on the recent gale of defection after going through the screening, Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano said the state chapter of the party gained more members than those that left. He described those that left the party as nomadic politicians. He added that the exit of former Kano state governor and senator representing Kano central, Rabiu Kwankwaso, from the party had been naturalised with the entry of another former governor of the state, Ibrahim Shekarau to the party. He added that his experience with the screening committee was the easiest because he had no challenger. ―The screening went on successfully. My own took less than three minutes then I bowed and left because I have no challenger in APC governorship primary in Kano state,‖ he said. The governor of Oyo, Abiola Ajimobi, however, said that he had no anointed aspirant as all the contestants are qualified and capable of governing the state.
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“The screening is a normal process and it is just to access your eligibility as well as ability to win, and I think that has been done. He said that Oyo state had also adopted the indirect primary to choose the party‘s candidates for all elective offices for 2019 general elections. “We have so many people who are eminently qualified aspirants and for me, I have given them free hands, let them talk to all party members. And whoever they want among them, I am okay,‖ he said. In his own reaction, Niger state governor, Sani Bello, said that the party‘s stakeholders had met and decided to settle for the direct primary in the state. Bello, who was also seeking re-election, told newsmen after his screening that all APC stakeholders in his state were on the same page as regard the mode of primary election. Asked on the strategies he is putting in place to ensure APC‘ victory at the general elections in Niger, the governor said: “With the adoption of the direct primary the party is becoming more popular. “We will try as much as possible to uphold fairness and justice in the party, and give everyone equal opportunity to vie for any position they want. “We will ensure that by God’s grace we have outstanding victory in 2019,” he said. Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara while supporting the use of indirect method of primary in states, said his colleagues, who had opted for the mode, were mostly on ground and would easily adapt to any of the options for primary election. Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of a campaign organisation for his reelection ahead of the 2019 presidential election. Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity in a statement on Thursday, September 20, disclosed that the president appointed the minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as the secretary/director general of his campaign team. According to the statement, the minister will announce other appointments into the campaign structure as approved by the president. Election 2019: President Buhari Proves He is Fit to Run in 2019 | - on NAIJ.com TV Source: Naija.ng
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In a first, Punjab businessmen’s passport suspended on plea by bank Ajay Sura | TNN | Updated: Sep 21, 2018, 09:18 IST CHANDIGARH: In perhaps the first case of its kind in the country, the regional passport office (RPO) at Amritsar suspended the passports of an Amritsar business family as their company had outstanding bank loans of Rs 250 crore. The main lender, Canara Bank, had approached the RPO apprehending that Kulwinder Singh Makhani and his wife Jasmeet Kaur may ―flee the country‖. The Makhanis are rice millers and exporters. The decision was taken at a time when high-profile businessmen Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi have fled after defaulting on massive loans.
The issue reached the Punjab and Haryana high court on Monday after Jasmeet Kaur challenged the RPO‘s August 13 decision. Appearing for the RPO, assistant solicitor general of India Chetan Mittal, assisted by advocate Varun Issar, told the bench headed by Justice R K Jain that the suspension was necessary ―in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, security of India, friendly relations with any foreign country, or in the general public‘s interests.‖
Mittal said RPO received a complaint from Canara Bank on August 3 stating that the Makhani family had taken loans of Rs 253 crore from various banks, Canara Bank being the main lender and that the amount was a non-performing asset (NPA). ―There is a strong conviction they‘ve turned non-cooperative and diverted hypothecated stocks. There is evidence of diversion of funds. The complainant bank apprehended Kulwinder Singh Makhani and Jasmeet Kaur would flee the country to avoid any recovery/civil/criminal action the lenders initiate,‖ Mittal said. The bench has asked the RPO to reply by September 27 and made Canara Bank a party, asking its officials to separately reply. The court asked RPO to take a decision on Makhanis‘ appeal in a month. In her plea, Jasmeet Kaur has said her family wanted to visit Canada on September 22 for a family event. She submitted the RPO had given a ―simple case of loan default‖ a criminal colour, based on an anonymous complaint by Canara Bank. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/loan-default-passports-of-biz-familysuspended/articleshow/65893415.cms
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Loan default: Passports of biz family suspended Ajay Sura
| TNN | Sep 21, 2018, 03:45 IST CHANDIGARH: In perhaps the first case of its kind in the country, the regional passport office (RPO) at Amritsar suspended the passports of an Amritsar business family as their company had outstanding bank loans of Rs 250 crore.
The main lender, Canara Bank, had approached the RPO apprehending that Kulwinder Singh Makhani and his wife Jasmeet Kaur may ―flee the country‖. The Makhanis are rice millers and exporters.
The decision was taken at a time when high-profile businessmen Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi have fled after defaulting on massive loans. The issue reached the Punjab and Haryana high court on Monday after Jasmeet Kaur challenged the RPO‘s August 13 decision.
Appearing for the RPO, assistant solicitor general of India Chetan Mittalsaid that ―there is evidence of diversion of funds‖. The bench has asked the RPO to reply by September 27 and made Canara Bank a party, asking its officials to reply separately.
The court asked the RPO to take a decision on Makhanis‘ appeal within a month.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/65895138.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&ut m_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
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