22nd december,2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine www.ricepluss.com

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 22 December, 2014

Volume 4 Issue: XI

nd

Vol 4, Issue XII

Today’s News Headlines…                                

Rice exports to top 1.5 million tonnes RIKEN & U Hasanuddin To Collaborate On Rice Research Read more from Asian Scientist Magazine Research to aid develop six new rice varieties in Indonesia Beware of these 5 common contaminants in your rice!

Boro cultivation kicks into gear amid fear of price fall PERCY for Beng or Celso?

Regaining the lost Mexican market Govt Adopts CAP Model to Tide over Storage Space Shortage Paddy production slides by 35% – statistics reveal Rice export increases 8.32pc in five months New rice seed raises hopes for more crop Regaining the lost Mexican market Rice and Ducks Media Camp CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures GBI Program in Ghana Concludes with Cooking Competition American sets himself the goal of producing high-quality sake in Arkansas NEEDED: 11 TRILLION GALLONS TO REPLENISH CALIFORNIA DROUGHT Rice stocks good for 87 days Thai rice exports expected to reach 10.5 million tonnes by year-end Paddy fields, homes inundated as floods hit Cilacap Government to gradually release rice in stock within 3 years People behind rice scheme will be sued to cover losses, Prayut says TREA optimistic on whole-stock rice auction plan Thailand Turns to China Thai rice export rises 67% to reach 11m tonnes in 2014 Myanmar to export 500,000 tons of rice to Indonesia in 3 years Rice import from India hurting Bangladeshi farmers: BNP Trillion baht deal struck for Mekong Government says 16.7 million tons of pledged rice can be sold Why stick to the traditional festive desserts when you could try this divine Salted Caramel Rice Pudding instead?

Healthy Comfort Foods To Bean or Not to Bean?

Contact & Visit www.ricepluss.com mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Contact us for Advertisement & Specs:7thmujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92Town 321 369 2847 Floor,Suite 11 Central Plaza New Garden Lahore-54600 Landline :92 3584 5551 For Advertisement Specs & Rates: Contact: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 92 321 3692874

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine News Detail….

Rice exports to top 1.5 million tonnes

By Zaw Htike | Monday, 22 December 2014

Rice exports are expected to total more than 1.5 million tonnes this financial year, the largest quantity since the 1960s.

Rice exports are on the rise. Photo: Staff

The rise comes despite the rice trade being slowed by an import clampdown from China, Myanmar‘s biggest rice export market.About 900,000 tonnes have been exported so far in 2014-15, according to Myanmar Rice Federation joint secretary U Lu Maw Myint Maung. The Myanmar financial year begins April 1. ―At present, things are going well,‖ he said. ―Over the next three months, we hope to export much more to China, Europe and Africa.‖U Lu Maw Myint Maung, who is also one of the country‘s largest rice exporters, said he anticipates exports totalling over 1.5 million tonnes this year.

The export industry had been hard-hit by China‘s decision in September to crack down on rice shipments from Myanmar. While rice exports to China are legal from Myanmar‘s point of view, China officially outlaws rice imports from Myanmar, though had been generally turning a blind eye.While Chinese officials have not publically explained the

crackdown, traders say it has been loosening since mid-November, and most rice shipments through the Muse-Ruili border crossing are now making it through.―Rice exports to China have now almost returned to a normal situation, though the price is a bit lower than what was offered two months ago,‖ said U Lu Maw Myint Maung.He added Myanmar has also been exporting small quantities of high quality rice to Europe and larger volumes to Africa. It has also been adding new buyers, most recently Sri Lanka.African countries together have traditionally been the largest importers of Myanmar rice until the last two years, when Chinese demand grew.

The country is also set to top its 2013-14 exports of about 1.2 million tonnes, despite the border shutdown.Officials and businesspeople from both China and Myanmar have held negotiations to ensure similar problems don‘t happen in the future. Myanmar has put together a 36-member team to negotiate the issue, including representatives from the Myanmar Rice Federation, traders, millers and commodity market officials.

Much of the talks have been aimed at finding a way to comply with the health standards China demands for its rice imports. There are signs of a breakthrough, and Myanmar Rice Federation secretary U Ye Min Aung has said the first-ever official exports to the country would start with 200,000 tonnes this month.

Half of this quantity is to follow the usual route by land across the Muse-Ruili border crossing, though the other half is to be transported by ocean vessel to China‘s eastern seaboard for the first time.

The quantity of rice Myanmar is able to export to China each year is still under discussion, with the Myanmar side requesting to be excused paying tariffs for a specific quantity each year. China for its part has offered to

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine lower the tax rate it has been levying at the border.―After finishing the process of making the market legal, the current methods of rice trading will not be favourable, and doing things legally will be better for both sides,‖ said U Ye Min Aung http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/ 12602-rice-exports-to-top-1-5-milliontonnes.html

RIKEN & U Hasanuddin To Collaborate On Rice Research Read more from Asian Scientist Magazine RIKEN & U Hasanuddin To Collaborate On Rice Research The MoU between the RIKEN Nishina Center and Universitas Hasanuddin will focus on developing new breeds of Indonesian rice. Asian Scientist Newsroom | December 23, 2014 | Academia AsianScientist (Dec. 23, 2014) – On December 10, a signing ceremony was held at the RIKEN Nishina Center (RNC) for a memorandum of understanding with Universitas Hasanuddin of Indonesia.

The MoU is for research collaboration on improving indigenous Indonesian crops using heavy-ion beams and analyzing the resulting mutagenic properties. RNC adds value to plants by irradiating plant seeds with heavy-ion beams to induce mutagenesis. This research has been conducted on various plants. In particular, rice research is being conducted in collaboration with domestic agricultural experiment stations in Japan to achieve improved salt tolerance, dwarfing and early maturation. Universitas Hasanuddin has been preserving different kinds of indigenous Indonesian rice with disease resistant, nutritional and aromatic properties.

In Indonesia, demand is growing for tasteful and healthy rice, such as black rice and aromatic rice. Indonesian rice, however, is long-stemmed, has low yield and takes a long time to grow, characteristics that make it unsuitable for new cultivation methods.

Under the terms of the MoU, the Ion Beam Breeding Team of RNC‘s Accelerator Applications Research Group will irradiate indigenous rice plants supplied by Universitas Hasanuddin with heavy-ion beams to develop new, hardy breeds that will still possess the good traits of Indonesian rice.

A part of this research is supported by the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (CSTI), Cross-ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP), ―Technologies for creating nextgeneration agriculture, forestry and fisheries,‖ funded by the Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution, NARO. Read more from Asian Scientist Magazine at: source with thanks:http://www.asianscientist.com/2014

/12/academia/riken-hasanuddincollaborate-rice-research/ Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Research to aid develop six new rice varieties in Indonesia Monday, 22 December 2014 04:49

By 2017, Indonesia may see six more rice varieties grown in the country as a result of an US$800,000 research project funded by Temasek Foundation, an Asia investment firm headquartered in Singapore Indonesia is among the top five riceproducing countries in the world. (Image source: Mee Lin Woon/sxc.hu)

It has been six years since the research collaboration started, the firm added. The training phase and single location field trials were over.Researchers would now focus on the multi-location field trials, expected to be completed in 2017 and the results of the trials would then be submitted to the Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development. Once the new rice varieties were approved, the seeds could then be distributed to farmers for mass production, Channel News Asia reported.In the northern province of Aceh, large areas of rice fields became unsuitable for farming for many years after being flooded by salt water due to tsunami from the Indian Ocean 10

years ago. The project hoped to develop new rice types and increase rice production in the region.

Nasir, a farmer at Aceh, participated in the rice project by setting aside a small plot of land for field trials in July this year. The results were encouraging, and even attracted the attention of neighbouring farmers. Nasir said, ―Many have asked for the seeds from me, they also want to try. I told them, ‗not yet, be patient, it‘s not time yet‘.‖On 26 December 2004, tsunami ravaged more than five kilometres inland, destroying about 20,000 hectares of farmland in the region.In 2008, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory partnered Syiah Kuala University to build capabilities in rice research. Under the fouryear collaboration, researchers developed new and improved rice varieties.Two Acehnese rice — Siputih and Cantik Manis — were used in the project. The local rice has good quality grain, but low yields and have been susceptible to diseases. Through the project, researchers improved the rice varieties using marker-assisted selection (MAS).

The process selected rice genes which have desired traits, for example, genes that can control higher yields and are more tolerant of diseases. These genes are then combined with those from the local rice varieties, and the outcome is a new rice variety that is superior.Zhongchao Yin, senior principal investigator at Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, said, ―One of the local Acehnese rice lines is Siputih and the grain quantity is quite good. As good as Thai fragrant rice but the yield is very low — about two tonnes per hectare. But our improved line, through the field trials, can achieve six to seven tonnes per hectare.―It takes about seven months to harvest but for

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine the improved line we can harvest it around four to four-and-half months.‖

BEWARE OF THESE 5 COMMON CONTAMINANTS IN YOUR RICE!

The new rice lines are then sown at one location as part of field trials and the results monitored. In the next phase, they would be tested in several locations. The multiple location field trials have to be conducted in at least three provinces across Indonesia.

The Aceh rice project researchers are looking at North Sumatra, Riau and Central Java. These provinces are the rice producing areas in the country.

Sabaruddin Zakaria at Syiah Kuala University‘s department of agrotechnology, said, ―The Indonesian government gives great attention to improve the field of molecular biology, but Indonesia also has a very big area, and we have almost more than 100 national universities. So, it‘s not easy for the government to provide equipment.

We have received grants two times — in 2009 and 2010 — but not complete yet, so we cannot run the equipment properly yet.‖Indonesia is among the top five riceproducing countries in the world. Nearly 70mn tonnes are expected to be produced this year. However, Aceh is not a major riceproducing province, contributing close to only two million tonnes. source with thanks http://www.fareasternagriculture.com/index.php ?option=com_content&view=article&id=4523:r esearch-to-aid-develop-six-new-rice-varietiesin-indonesia&catid=1083&Itemid=98

Beware of these 5 common contaminants in your rice!

TUESDAY, 23 DECEMBER 2014

Rice is the staple food of most Indians and more than half of the world‘s population consume rice every day. It acts as a major source of vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. But there‘s something nasty about rice, it can harbour various contaminants posing a threat to your health.

Here are some common contaminants in rice which you should be aware of.

Arsenic Arsenic, a metal, is one of the common contaminants of rice as it occurs naturally in the soil and water. (1 ) As rice is grown under water, it takes up ten times more arsenic as compared to other cereals. The metal also gets accumulated in the husk (outer covering of the seed) and during the milling process, husk is removed from the seed. However, brown rice has high levels of arsenic as compared to white rice, making them a cause of concern to include in your diet. Chronic exposure to arsenic might lead to certain cancers, cardiovascular disease and skin lesions.

Mineral oil

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Rice is commonly packed in jute sacks, which contains the common contaminants in the form of mineral oil (batching oil). Jute fibres are treated with this oil to make them flexible fabrics. When rice is transported in these sacks, it gets contaminated with batching oil, rendering it unsuitable for consumption above quantities greater than 5 and 500 ppm. Studies on mice have shown that the mineral oil has carcinogenic property. (2) Toxins from bacteria Aflatoxins are harmful substances produced by bacteria namely Aspergillus species contaminating food commodities like rice.

When rice is exposed to heavy rains and high humidity, the condition favours the growth of these bacteria, leading to contamination. Normally, high levels of these toxins are found in rain-damaged rice and parboiled rice, and contain carcinogens and hepatotoxins. (3) Lead and cadmium Another common contaminant found in rice are lead and cadmium metals. These are present in high concentrations in milled rice.

When consumed in high doses, they cause deleterious effects on the body. (4) Certain fertilizers contain cadmium in undesirable amount, which are absorbed from the soil by the rice grain. The high levels of lead when consumed through diet (such as rice) might damage the brain and cause digestion problems.

Faeces of mice and rats Rodents such as mice, rats and bandicoots contaminate rice, when it is stored in godowns. Faeces of mice and rats spread bacteria, contaminate the stored rice and trigger allergic reactions in humans when contaminated rice is consumed. Even dried faecal matter and urine of rodents can be

hazardous to health. Hantavirus 4 is a potentially life-threatening disease transmitted by rodents.

Chemicals from packaging material It is a well-known fact that unhygienic processing and improper packaging of rice are culprits that render rice, unfit for consumption. The packaging material that is made up of plastic (rice sacks contain plastic covering), use of inks and adhesives on the packing material, less sensitivity to light, temperature and moisture of packing material causes contamination of rice. The long term use of such packaging material cause several health effects.

Best practices Although it is not possible to avoid these common contaminants of rice, you can lower the risk of health effects by following some safe practices: Wash rice at least two or three times before cooking Cook the rice by adding sufficient amount of water and strain excess water when rice is halfcooked.Properly check the rice before buying for contamination such as dead insects, damaged and broken rice. source with thanks http://www.kashmirmonitor.in/news-beware-ofthese-5-common-contaminants-in-your-rice76380.aspx

Boro cultivation kicks into gear amid fear of price fall Millers, experts call for import curb Yasir Wardad

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine After harvesting a bumper output in the last boro season, farmers have started planting the crop amid fear of price debacle, triggered by continued imports.The recent fall in the prices of aman crop in the domestic market has strengthened the apprehension, although the government is expecting a bumper output of 18.9 million tonnes this year in boro season.The Department of Agriculture Extension data showed that the country saw a record production of 34.065 million tonnes in the FY'14, of which boro accounted for 18.9 million tonnes.DAE director general A Z M Momtajul Karim said more than 70 per cent of the preparation of seedbed has been completed so fsar while plantation of seedling has started in a few parts of the country, especially in Haor areas.

"Adequate supply of quality seeds, fertiliser, and irrigation will help get another bumper crop this year," he said.

However, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) officials said the corporation has distributed nearly 58,000 tonnes of seeds among the farmers this season so far.But farmers across the country are oscillating between hope and despair over getting reasonable price in the boro harvesting season as prices of Aman crop, vegetable and few spice items prices are declining, posing a threat to the peasantry. Experts lambasted the unbridled import of rice and few other essentials in the peak harvesting season.They suggested immediate ban on rice and onion import to protect the peasantry.

Md Arshadul Alam, a farmer at Kamarpukur under Saidpur upazila in Nilphamari district, said the price of Aman crop has fallen to Tk600620 per maund (40 kg) recently, which was Tk680-720 per maund."The production cost is

Tk 650-660 per maund this Aman season," he said.

"Millers are not buying paddy as Indian rice has flooded the market," he said.Md Sirazul Islam, a farmer at Elahabad Union at Debidwar in Comilla, said prices of Aman crop fell to Tk 640-650 in Comilla recently, which was Tk700720 per maund two weeks back.Vegetable prices also decreased significantly this year, he said, adding a maund of radish has been sold at Tk 15-18 a few days back, he added.Md Sirazul said that if the trend of aman continues in boro, they would be ruined.

Secretary of Bangladesh Auto, Major Husking Mill Owners' Association KM Layek Ali told the FE that 50 per cent of the mills have stopped milling this season following duty free import of rice from India.The government has fixed rice price at Tk33 for us when importer are bringing rice at Tk26.5-27 per kg. "Can local millers compete with it?" he questioned.He said to protect the local rice industry and farmers, the government should immediately impose ban or fix supplementary duty on rice import.Farm economist Golam Hafiz Kennedy said the farmers incurred huge losses this year due to the twin spell of floods, which directly hit nearly 1.6 million farmers."After the losses in flood, the farmers have incurred loss in the current aman season. The onion growers are likely to get the same treatment in the peak harvesting season, which will start from the middle of next month," he said.

He said the government should impose ban on rice and onion import for indefinite time to ensure profitable price for farmers in the ongoing Aman harvesting season and in the upcoming boro reap.The government data showed that private importers brought nearly 0.4

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine million tonnes in the first five months of the current financial year---8 per cent increase compared with the same period last year.Bangladesh's rice demand is estimated at 31.0 million tonnes, and domestic production reached a record 34.0654 million tonnes of rice in FY'14. tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com source with thanks http://www.thefinancialexpressbd.com/2014/12/23/72245

PERCY for Beng or Celso?

Monday, 22 December 2014 14:14 (BY: JUN FELICIANO) (Words of Enlightenment) GOD implanted in man complete with all the six senses.

BUT, the sixth sense, the most important sense of all, was robbed by Satan, Lucifer the devil when our first created parents Adam and Eve fell from God‘s grace after they were both deceived into eating the fruit from the forbidden tree found in paradise Garden of Eden during the early creation of everything by God.THESE 6 senses are: the sense of seeing, the sense of hearing, the sense of taste, the sense of touch, the sense of smell and most of most of them all, now rarely found in human, is the sense of faith.

Email: jayfeliciano2@yahoo.com

NFA provincial manager Gaudencio ―Boy‖ Nuega Jr., on weekend, clarified their role, since the emergent rice smuggling issue came about in recent days.

―Ours is to see to it that the rice importation is well regulated in its supply for our markets here.

Also, they‘re cheap and affordable, especially to our poor people. They have to obtain license to be able to legally operate ( as dealers in rice importation). In other words, they‘re properly documented(by the customs‘ authorities), Nuega stressed.

HE said NFA has no jurisdiction in the apprehension of supposed illegal rice importers.

It‘s the customs‘ duties and responsibilities, according to him

―RIGHT now, our total inventoried rice stored in the NFA warehouses in Brgy. San Roque, is estimated at some 400 thousand bags of imported rice, most of the importations derived (this year) from Vietnam,‖ Nuega disclosed.

For ZC alone, Nuega guaranteed the approximate total of 280t bags of imported gov‘t rice can last up to the 1st quarter of next year(2015).

AND, this is the same period, that the 2015 rice importation by our national gov‘t is expected to start off, anew.

—***—***—**

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine RICE importation, though our national gov‘t tries to stop in the near future, is yet here to stay, as the country is constantly being battered by a series of super typhoons.

―We‘re always on the alert in our preparedness, as instructed, in times of disasters, as we‘re prone to all these fortuitous events,‖ Nuega revealed.

NUEGA said the NFA is after the welfare and protection of both the consumers and the producers of rice supply in the community. He defended the NFA under its AOR in the entire region, saying it never has any tainted record in any supposed rice smuggling activities under its AOR here in the city.

Nuay dao!

—***—**—**

each other in the 2016 local polls, I cannot answer you, now. I will just cross the bridge when I reach there.‖

GOOD answer. Councilor Ramos is getting wiser and wiser everyday. In-fact, many are keeping an eye on this 2nd termed city legislator from Brgy. Talon-Talon, as he‘s said to be blooming these days, politically. ―He‘s gradually proving himself that he‘s no pushover in the council. He argues well his piece every time there‘s a heated discussion on the floor,‖ observed one political buff frequenting the August Body every Tuesday morning‘s regular session of theirs.

―He‘s very meticulous if he finds there‘s something wrong in their agenda. He‘s just like his former boss Celso,‖ another political aficionado keenly noted.

NOT really surprising his being meticulous, as the young councilor— prior to winning a council seat in 2010, was then Mayor Celso‘s executive asst. for brgy. affairs. Anymore asking?@

PERCY CAUGHT IN QUANDARY?

I BOLDLY asked over the weekend, when I chanced him for a one-on-one interview right in his office, if he‘s a political butterfly—meaning he can easily change party, now that he serves under lady Mayor Beng Climaco-Salazar( an LP), in his 2nd term in office, Dist. 2 Councilor Percival ―Percy‖ Ramos( an LDP) has this, as a retort: ― I‘m always a party-man. But, right now, I serve our Mayor Beng( Climacao-Salazar) as she is our current city executive. If, you also ask me whom I‘ll support if both Mayor Beng and Dist. 1 Cong. Celso Lobregat( LDP) will face

Tags:rice sense nuega mayor importation beng celso brgy right city source with thanks http://www.zamboangatoday.ph/index.php/opini ons/19521-percy-for-beng-or-celso.html

Regaining the lost Mexican market

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Ashfak Bokhari

AT a time when rice exports are declining, there are hopeful signs of regaining the Mexican market, which Pakistan lost last year after one of its shipments was found infested with Khapra Beetle larvae.

The optimism follows the talks held between the TDAP officials and a two-member Mexican rice quarantine delegation in the second week of the current month on the prospects of removal of the ban on export of Pakistani rice to Mexico. They also visited various facilities to ensure that processing, quality assurance, storage and packing of rice for export was in place.Although Pakistan‘s export to Mexico had been on the rise, it was in the first six months of 2013 that a major breakthrough was attained and the Pakistani rice constituted over 23pc of that country‘s milled rice imports. In June 2013, the Khapra Beetle incident took place involving 3,000 metric tonnes of rice which finally led to an indefinite ban on Pakistan‘s valued export commodity. Central America also followed suit and banned Pakistani rice.

A similar situation had arisen in 2007 when Russian officials had complained of presence of Khapra beetle pest in some rice shipments of Pakistan. In 1995, Pakistan along with Sri Lanka, India and Thailand were denied access by Mexico to their rice market under WTO‘s Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) rules. In Pakistan‘s case, the ban was lifted after President General Pervez Musharraf visited Mexico in 2004. Before the ban, Pakistan‘s rice export, mainly of basmati, amounted to $273m.The situation in the rice sector has not been very edifying. At present, Basmati rice is being sold in the international market at $1,3001,500 per tonne. Pakistani price is $100 to $200 per tonne below the Indian rice. And India has had a bumper rice crop this season.

The current season has proved to be a difficult one for rice growers because of lower prices. A pickup in the harvest has caused a drop of about 50pc in paddy prices, compared to last year‘s prices, and these are likely to fall further if the rice millers continue to delay buying of the growers‘ produce. Meanwhile, the compensation of Rs5,000 per acre to flood-hit growers by the federal government has not brought solace to them for they now contend that their peracre loss this time has exceeded Rs40,000.Millers and brokers are unwilling to buy paddy in an uncertain situation marked by fluctuating costs. The price of paddy has dropped by Rs1,000/40kg to around Rs1,500-1,600 against the last year‘s price of Rs2,500-2,600/40kg. Hamid Malhi, president of Basmati Growers Association says ―this is a man-made crisis... a group of paddy buyers is deliberately delaying the buying‖.

Farmers have asked the government to immediately announce subsidy to them by providing subsidised fertilisers, seeds and diesel for the next crop.Meanwhile, another rice crisis may be in the making. On November 22, rice exporters warned the government to refrain from buying the commodity from farmers by guaranteeing them high prices. If it does so, they said it would be destabilising the private sector and, as a result, the country could lose its traditional rice markets.Chairman, Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) said in a statement that the government‘s involvement in business activity such as procurement would be harmful to the private sector, which has invested billions of rupees to build an infrastructure and human resources. ―In case of the government‘s involvement in rice business, we will lose huge foreign exchange, as well as credibility, which the rice exporters have earned after long hard work.‖

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine He asked the government to give free hand to the private sector for playing its positive role in improving the economy. At present, the international market is depressed and all the rice exporting countries are facing tough competition and prices are on the decline. ―This is the market phenomenon and due to the demand-supply aspect, we see such trends on certain occasions and have to cope with it,‖ he asserted.The REAP chief recalled how Passco, in 2008, procured 200,000 tons of rice at a premium price and ―even after six years it could not dispose of those stocks and ultimately had to face losses of up to Rs24 billion.‖ The government should also not intervene through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) and Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Supplies Corporation (Passco).

Under the prevailing situation, it is crucial that exporters try to explore new markets.

South America is one of the non-traditional markets for Pakistan. In this region, to name a few, Cuba, Brazil, Chile, Haiti, Puerto Rico and Peru are some of the countries that should be explored. Mexico, which Pakistan is about to regain, is the most important market.

Published in Dawn, Economic & Business, December 22th , 2014

BHUBANESWAR: Faced with shortage of space, the State Government has adopted CAP (cover and plinth) storage model of Chhattisgarh to create additional space for 10 lakh tonnes of paddy procured from farmers during the current kharif marketing season (KMS).Market yards of the regulated market committees (RMCs) having boundary and office space have been used for CAP storage. Each CAP location is having capacity to store at least 5000 tonnes of paddy, official sources said.The primary agriculture cooperative societies (PACS) have been asked to deliver the paddy procured from farmers at the CAP storage points to avoid storage problem at the procurement centres.Krushak Bazars, where infrastructure has been created but not been put to use, are also developed as CAP storage points. Paddy will be stored in these temporary points for maximum six months.

The Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation has been asked to supply polythene of specified gauge to the CAP points for cover of paddy, the sources said. The Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare department has asked district Collectors to ensure that paddy for custom milling is delivered to the

source with thanks http://www.dawn.com/news/1152286/regainingthe-lost-mexican-market

Govt Adopts CAP Model to Tide over Storage Space Shortage

By Express News Service

Published: 23rd December 2014 06:01 AM Last Updated: 23rd December 2014 06:01 AM Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine millers from the CAP storage points.

The State Government has decided to allow those private rice millers in procurement operation during the current KMS who have delivered their quota of custom milled rice for the paddy taken in 2013-14 KMS.The department has also taken adequate measures to ensure that fair average quality (FAQ) of paddy is delivered to the CAP points. On quality analysis, if it is found that the paddy supplied by the PACS or other agency is not of FAQ, the same will be returned to the respective procuring agencies.

The Collectors have been asked to deliver paddy to the millers against advance rice delivery or full security deposit.The FCI has a storage capacity of six lakh tonnes while the capacity available to the Central Warehousing Corporations, State Warehousing Corporation and State Civil Supplies Corporation is about eight lakh tonnes. The State Government has also hired storage space from private parties. source with thanks: http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/ Govt-Adopts-CAP-Model-to-Tide-over-StorageSpace-Shortage/2014/12/23/article2584536.ece

Paddy production slides by 35% – statistics reveal

the same time-frame last year.The Department of Census and Statistics notes that the area of paddy fields cultivated in the Yala season in 2014, was 26.8 percent less than the area cultivated in the 2013 Yala season.Furthermore, the area of harvested paddy fields had also dipped by 30.3 percent.The Department adds that the decline in the harvest in the main paddy growing districts of Ampara, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Hambantota and Trincomalee, contributed to the shortfall.This was brought on by the drought

experienced in these areas in the first few months of the year. The heavy rainfall being experienced at present, has also affected the paddy harvest. source with thanks: http://newsfirst.lk/english/2014/12/paddyproduction-slides-35-statistics-reveal/68462

Rice export increases 8.32pc in five months

Dec 21, 2014 Melanie Santiago Business, Local, News Ticker 0

APP

Official government statistics reveal that paddy production slid by 35 percent in the third quarter of this year, in comparison with

Rice exports from the country during first five months of current financial year registered an increase of 8.32 percent as compared to the same period of last year.During the period from July-November

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine year were recorded at 56,457 metric tons costing $147.514 million.

2014, about 1,303,644 metric tons of rice worth $738.602 million exported which witnessed an increase of 8.32 percent as compared to the exports of corresponding period of last year.According to the data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, rice exports during the first five months of last financial year were recorded at 1,160,586 metric tons valuing $681.859 million.

During the period under review, exports of basmati rice grew by 6.01 percent and about 219,428 metric tons of basmati rice worth $ 247.193 million exported as compared to the exports of 214,447 metric tons valuing $233.182 million of same period last year.From July-November 2014, exports of others rice also increased by 9.52 percent and reached 1,084,216 metric tons valuing $491.409 million which was recorded at 946,139 metric tons costing $448.677 million in same period of last year.

Meanwhile, the exports of fish and fish preparations swelled by 0.67 percent as country earned $148.500 million by exporting 58,008 metric tons of fish and fish products. Fish and fish preparations exports during the first five months of last financial

However, the data revealed that overall food exports from the country during last five months remained on down track and decreased by 0.35 percent when it compared with the exports of same period last year.In first five months of current financial year country managed to earn $1.611 billion by exporting the different food staff which was stood at $ 1.66 billion during the same period of last year.Meanwhile, the data revealed that on-month basis, the food group exports remained on up track an swelled by 21.94 percent in month of November as compared to the exports of the October current year. source with thanks: http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2014/12/22/b usiness/rice-export-increases-8-32pc-in-fivemonths/

New rice seed raises hopes for more crop Sohel Parvez

The emergence of a rice variety that matures faster than other mainstream varieties during the aman season has created hopes among many farmers of getting extra crop in a year.Known as the Brri Dhan-62, the rice seed can be harvested within a 100-day cycle, nearly 50 days less than most of the improved aman rice varieties. It leaves farmers enough time to cultivate crops such as mustard, pulses or winter

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine vegetables.Many farmers have already harvested the variety in the outgoing aman season.

cultivated the new variety, did not receive less than 5 tonnes of paddy per hectare.

―The significance of the 50 extra days is huge for me. I have managed to sow mustard as an additional crop for the first time,‖ said Mohammad Abul Kashem, a farmer from Kushtia, a district in the western part of the country.He previously

―Initially, I could not believe it, so I got a scale and weighed it properly.‖―If you eat the rice right after harvesting it, you will find it to be sticky. But if you give it a couple of months, the grain becomes fine and tasty,‖ said Rabiul Islam, a small farmer from Cheuria, Kushtia.Islam, who

grew another rice variety, Swarna, which took 145 to 160 days to mature, leaving him

previously cultivated the Brri Dhan-33 variety, said he yielded more with the Brri

little time to grow another crop before the boro season kicked in. ―Now, the extra crop will bring in more income.‖Developed by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (Brri), the National Seed Board approved the variety only last year.

Dhan-62 seeds. He even began cultivating pulses earlier than in previous seasons.―My yield of pulses will be higher this time,‖ he said, adding that he preserved the Brri Dhan62 seeds to grow in the next season.

increased

Bhogirath Chandra Tati, a farmer from Manda, Naogaon, a northwest district, said,

cultivation of Brri Dhan-62, which is also the world's first zinc-enriched rice, will allow farmers to get four crops a year, instead of the existing two or three, and thereby raise overall food production.The Brri Dhan-62 variety contains 19 to 20 parts per million of zinc against 14 to 16 ppm found in other high-yielding rice varieties.The yield from Brri Dhan-62 would

―Many of my relatives and fellow farmers have already contacted me for seeds. They are interested in growing the rice for its ability to mature fast and its higher nutrient content.‖Tati grew the Bina Dhan-7 variety earlier, but was subsequently unable to harvest 'good mustard' for a lack of time.

This rice variety gets sticky after cooking, he added.―My mustard field looks excellent

be lower though, they said. Around 3.5-4.5 tonnes can be obtained from each hectare of land, which is lower than the yields from Brri Dhan-33 and Bina Dhan-7, the other two relatively short-maturing rice varieties.

They take 110-120 days to harvest.But Kashem said his fellow farmers, who

now. I will harvest it in 30 days and then transplant boro rice. It seems that for the first time, I will be able to sell some mustard and make a few extra bucks.

Agricultural

scientists

say

‖He, however, said the yield from Brri Dhan-62 was lower than Swarna.―But growers get good prices for the grain quality

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine and early harvest,‖ Tati said.Jiban Krishna Biswas, Brri director general, said the variety performed better on farmer's field than initially thought.―The yield per hectare was more than 5 tonnes in some areas. Such yield is quite high for a 100-day timeframe.

I did not expect that.‖Mazharul Anwar, principal scientific officer of on-farm research division of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute's Rangpur office, said their cultivation bagged 3.5 tonnes of yield per hectare. AZM Momtajul Karim, director general of Department of Agricultural Extension, said the variety performs better in water-scarce areas and can also be grown during the boro season. ―The Brri Dhan-62 will be instrumental in cultivating four crops a year,‖ said Rafiqul Islam Mondal, executive chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council.―After harvesting this variety during the aman season, farmers will be able to grow mustard or potato. They can later go for boro or mung cultivation and after that, aus rice.‖ Published: 12:00 am Monday, December 22, 2014 source with thanks: http://www.thedailystar.net/new-rice-seedraises-hopes-for-more-crop-56475

Regaining the lost Mexican market

Ashfak Bokhari

AT a time when rice exports are declining, there are hopeful signs of regaining the Mexican market, which Pakistan lost last year after one of its shipments was found infested with Khapra Beetle larvae.

The optimism follows the talks held between the TDAP officials and a two-member Mexican rice quarantine delegation in the second week of the current month on the prospects of removal of the ban on export of Pakistani rice to Mexico. They also visited various facilities to ensure that processing, quality assurance, storage and packing of rice for export was in place.Although Pakistan‘s export to Mexico had been on the rise, it was in the first six months of 2013 that a major breakthrough was attained and the Pakistani rice constituted over 23pc of that country‘s milled rice imports. In June 2013, the Khapra Beetle incident took place involving 3,000 metric tonnes of rice which finally led to an indefinite ban on Pakistan‘s valued export commodity. Central America also followed suit and banned Pakistani rice.

A similar situation had arisen in 2007 when Russian officials had complained of presence of Khapra beetle pest in some rice shipments of Pakistan. In 1995, Pakistan along with Sri Lanka, India and Thailand were denied access by Mexico to their rice market under WTO‘s Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) rules. In Pakistan‘s case, the ban was lifted after President General Pervez Musharraf visited Mexico in 2004. Before the ban, Pakistan‘s rice export, mainly of basmati, amounted to $273m.

The situation in the rice sector has not been very edifying. At present, Basmati rice is being sold in the international market at $1,300-1,500 per tonne. Pakistani price is $100 to $200 per tonne below the Indian

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine rice. And India has had a bumper rice crop this season.The current season has proved to be a difficult one for rice growers because of lower prices. A pickup in the harvest has caused a drop of about 50pc in paddy prices, compared to last year‘s prices, and these are likely to fall further if the rice millers continue to delay buying of the growers‘ produce. Meanwhile, the compensation of Rs5,000 per acre to flood-hit growers by the federal government has not brought solace to them for they now contend that their peracre loss this time has exceeded Rs40,000.

Millers and brokers are unwilling to buy paddy in an uncertain situation marked by fluctuating costs. The price of paddy has dropped by Rs1,000/40kg to around Rs1,500-1,600 against the last year‘s price of Rs2,500-2,600/40kg. Hamid Malhi, president of Basmati Growers Association says ―this is a man-made crisis... a group of paddy buyers is deliberately delaying the buying‖.

Farmers have asked the government to immediately announce subsidy to them by providing subsidised fertilisers, seeds and diesel for the next crop.Meanwhile, another rice crisis may be in the making. On November 22, rice exporters warned the government to refrain from buying the commodity from farmers by guaranteeing them high prices. If it does so, they said it would be destabilising the private sector and, as a result, the country could lose its traditional rice markets.

Chairman, Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) said in a statement that the government‘s involvement in business activity such as procurement would be harmful to the private sector, which has invested billions of rupees to build an infrastructure and human resources. ―In case of the government‘s involvement in rice

business, we will lose huge foreign exchange, as well as credibility, which the rice exporters have earned after long hard work.‖He asked the government to give free hand to the private sector for playing its positive role in improving the economy. At present, the international market is depressed and all the rice exporting countries are facing tough competition and prices are on the decline. ―This is the market phenomenon and due to the demand-supply aspect, we see such trends on certain occasions and have to cope with it,‖ he asserted.

The REAP chief recalled how Passco, in 2008, procured 200,000 tons of rice at a premium price and ―even after six years it could not dispose of those stocks and ultimately had to face losses of up to Rs24 billion.‖ The government should also not intervene through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) and Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Supplies Corporation (Passco).Under the prevailing situation, it is crucial that exporters try to explore new markets. South America is one of the nontraditional markets for Pakistan. In this region, to name a few, Cuba, Brazil, Chile, Haiti, Puerto Rico and Peru are some of the countries that should be explored. Mexico, which Pakistan is about to regain, is the most important market.

Published in Dawn, Economic & Business, December 22th , 2014 source with thanks: http://www.dawn.com/news/1152286/regainingthe-lost-mexican-market

Rice and Ducks Media Camp If only they could fly like ducks

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine desired populations of waterfowl without the habitat provided by winter flooded rice lands," DU Director of Conservation Innovation Scott Manley told the writers.

GILLETT, AR -- The USA Rice Federation, Arkansas Rice Federation, Ducks Unlimited (DU), and Yamaha teamed up to put together a media camp focused on the relationship between working rice lands and wintering waterfowl last week. Writers from Inter-media Outdoors, AgriPulse, American Hunter Magazine, Delta Farm Press, ATV Rider, and the Outdoor Channel enjoyed two morning hunts in rice fields near Stuttgart, Arkansas.

They were hosted at Buckshot Lodge and guided on their hunts by area rice growers.

Media members saw firsthand the crucial role winter flooded rice fields play in waterfowl survival.

Rice lands provide more than 35 percent of all food energy for dabbling ducks across the country, and more than half of the continental population of dabbling ducks winter in rice growing regions.A study authored by DU scientists for The Rice Foundation found that the cost of replacing existing rice habitat with managed natural wetlands is more than $3.5 billion. That's 3.5 times the original price tag of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan."It's pretty clear that we could not support

Brandon Bauman leads the farm tour In addition to seeing the habitat importance of rice lands, the media members were given a presentation and tour at Riceland mill and an onfarm tour by Brandon Bauman, an Arkansas rice farmer and member of the USA Rice Producers' Group Conservation Committee.They all went home with a little taste of waterfowl hunting, a better understanding of rice agriculture, and a new appreciation for the relationship between rice and ducks.

Contact: Andi Cooper, Ducks Unlimited, (601) 956-1936 source with thanks:usa rice federation

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures CME Group (Preliminary): Closing Rough Rice Futures for December 22

Month

Price

Net Change

January 2015

$12.160

- $0.150

March 2015

$12.385

- $0.145

May 2015

$12.660

- $0.145

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine July 2015

$12.825

- $0.125

September 2015

$12.205

- $0.125

November 2015

$12.165

- $0.125

January 2016

$12.175

- $0.125

source with thanks:usa rice federation

GBI Program in Ghana Concludes with Cooking Competition The grand prize winner

lauded the U.S. food groups for the initiative, and said it helped sharpen the skills of traditional caterers who are an important part of the hospitality industry.

Alsup said the United States is committed to delivering high quality, safe, and healthy food products to consumers all around the world. "It was an over-the-top event," said Kurt Seifarth, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Regional Agricultural Counselor in Lagos, who also attended. "U.S. products working in traditional recipes is a great story."

Prior to the competition, regional foodservice seminars had been held in three major cities to educate and inform the artisanal caterers of the high quality attributes of U.S. rice, poultry, and peanuts.The final cook-off featured nine contestants creating traditional menus using U.S. rice, poultry, and peanut butter.Local media was quite interested in the event, extending the reach of the promotions to the consumer segment of the market.

Contact: Eszter Somogyi, 011-49-40-4503-8667 source with thanks:usa rice federation

ACCRA, GHANA -- The USA Rice Federation conducted a cook-off competition with the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council, and the American Peanut Council last week. The competition attracted more than 300 foodservice caterers, the media, and a host of high profile dignitaries including the Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy-Accra, Ms. C. Pat Alsup and the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Dzifa Gomashie, who

American sets himself the goal of producing highquality sake in Arkansas December 22, 2014

By YUSUKE HOSHINO/ Staff Writer

NINOHE, Iwate Prefecture--The American South, commonly associated with bourbon and rye whiskey, may one day be synonymous with Japanese sake if Ben Bell

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine has his way.The Arkansas native became so enamored with Japanese sake, he set himself the goal of learning how to make it so he could produce it in his home state.Bell, 33, is learning the art of sake brewing at famed Japanese sake brewer Nanbu Bijin in the northern city of Ninohe.In 2008, Bell was working at a liquor store in the United States that dealt in imported beverages, including sake from Japan, when he tried premium sake from Nagano Prefecture for the first time.

The fruity aroma and clear taste of the sake, which he equates with fine wine, was a revelation to Bell and he determined on the spot that he would one day try to produce sake in his home state.Imported Japanese sake in the United States tends to be expensive as transportation costs and tariffs push up the price, sometimes triple what it is in Japan.Bell attempted to make sake on his own, but the product tasted awful, he recalled.Still, Bell was determined to stick to his goal of producing Japanese sake made of rice harvested in Arkansas for American consumers. Arkansas is one of the nation's largest rice-growing states.

Bell decided that he could sell sake for a reasonable price if he grew his own rice and learned Japanese production techniques.After much searching, he was finally offered an apprenticeship at the Nanbu Bijin brewery from October through March 2015 through the mediation of Hanamaki International Exchange Association in Iwate Prefecture.anamaki, where the association is located, has a sister city relationship with the city of Hot Springs in Arkansas where Bell attended high school.Bell, who works from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with five brewers, now understands most of the Japanese used at work. But he always carries a smartphone and a notebook in his apron pockets to jot down jargon.

The second floor of the brewery is used to grow "koji" mold and the inside temperature is kept at above 30 degrees.The hardest part of his work is the mixing process in a huge vat. Bell said he often ends the day with sore arm muscles after using a 2.5-meter-long wooden paddle that weighs 2 kilograms to do the job.His brewery, which produces the Nanbu Bijin brand of sake, currently exports to 24 countries, and the United States is its largest importer.Kosuke Kuji, the 42-yearold president of Nanbu Bijin, said consumption of Japanese sake will likely boom in the United States if producers use local rice and water to keep prices low. It will then create a market for quality sake from Japan, he said.

Describing Bell as studious with genuine enthusiasm, Kuji said, ―We have been looking for someone like him.‖According to the Nanbu Toji association, which promotes sake-making techniques in Hanamaki, Bell would possibly be the first foreign trainee to manufacture sake in his home country after learning local brewing techniques.Bell said he wants to produce rice wine with the same quality as in Iwate Prefecture so that people associate Arkansas with Japanese sake. source with thanks: http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/people /AJ201412220051

N EEDED : 11 T RILLION G ALLONS TO R EPLENISH C ALIFORNIA D ROUGHT Dec. 16, 2014: It will take about 11 trillion gallons of water (42 cubic kilometers) -around 1.5 times the maximum volume of the largest U.S. reservoir -- to recover from California's continuing drought, according to a new analysis of NASA satellite data.The finding was part of a sobering

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine steadily."Spaceborne and airborne measurements of Earth's changing shape, surface height and gravity field now allow us to measure and analyze key features of droughts better than ever before, including determining precisely when they begin and end and what their magnitude is at any moment in time," Famiglietti said. "That's an incredible advance and something that would be impossible using only groundbased observations."

update on the state's drought made possible by space and airborne measurements and presented by NASA scientists Dec. 16 at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco. Such data are giving scientists an unprecedented ability to identify key features of droughts, data that can be used to inform water management decisions.A team of scientists led by Jay Famiglietti of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California used data from NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites to develop the first-ever calculation of this kind -- the volume of water required to end an episode of drought.

NASA satellite data reveal the severity of California‘s drought on water resources across the state. This map shows the trend in water storage between September 2011 and September 2014. Image Credit: NASA JPL Earlier this year, at the peak of California's current three-year drought, the team found that water storage in the state's Sacramento and San Joaquin river basins was 11 trillion gallons below normal seasonal levels. Data collected since the launch of GRACE in 2002 shows this deficit has increased

GRACE data reveal that, since 2011, the Sacramento and San Joaquin river basins decreased in volume by four trillion gallons of water each year (15 cubic kilometers).

That's more water than California's 38 million residents use each year for domestic and municipal purposes. About two-thirds of the loss is due to depletion of groundwater beneath California's Central Valley.In related results, early 2014 data from NASA's Airborne Snow Observatory indicate that snowpack in California's Sierra Nevada range was only half of previous estimates.

The observatory is providing the first-ever high-resolution observations of snow water volume in the Tuolumne River, Merced, Kings and Lakes basins of the Sierra Nevada and Uncompahgre watershed in the Upper Colorado River Basin.

To develop these calculations, the observatory measures how much water is in the snowpack and how much sunlight the snow absorbs, which influences how fast the snow melts. These data enable accurate estimates of how much water will flow out of a basin when the snow melts, which helps guide decision about reservoir filling and water allocation."The 2014 snowpack was one of the three lowest on record and the worst since 1977, when California's population was half what it is now," said Airborne Snow Observatory principal

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine investigator Tom Painter of JPL. "Besides resulting in less snow water, the dramatic reduction in snow extent contributes to warming our climate by allowing the ground to absorb more sunlight. This reduces soil moisture, which makes it harder to get water from the snow into reservoirs once it does start snowing again."

New drought maps show groundwater levels across the U.S. Southwest are in the lowest two to 10 percent since 1949. The maps, developed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, combine GRACE data with other satellite observations."Integrating GRACE data with other satellite measurements provides a more holistic view of the impact of drought on water availability, including on groundwater resources, which are typically ignored in standard drought indices," said Matt Rodell, chief of the Hydrological Sciences Laboratory at Goddard.

The scientists cautioned that while the recent California storms have been helpful in replenishing water resources, they aren't nearly enough to end the multi-year drought."It takes years to get into a drought of this severity, and it will likely take many more big storms, and years, to crawl out of it," said Famiglietti.

knowledge with the global community and works with institutions in the United States and around the world that contribute to understanding and protecting our home planet. source

with

thanks:

http://science.nasa.gov/sciencenews/science-at-nasa/2014/16dec_drought/

Rice stocks good for 87 days

By Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star) | Updated December 21, 2014 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines - Domestic rice stock inventory remains sufficient for 87 days as of November, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA reported).

Credits and more information:

Production editor: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA NASA monitors Earth's vital signs from land, air and space with a fleet of satellites and ambitious airborne and ground-based observation campaigns. The agency develops new ways to observe and study Earth's interconnected natural systems with long-term data records and computer analysis tools to better see how our planet is changing. The agency shares this unique

The country‘s rice stockpile remained high during the period as most farmers were able to harvest early during the last cropping cycle of the year.Expecting an occurrence of a prolonged dry spell to occur during the last quarter of the year, most farmers advanced the last cropping for 2014. Before the onslaught of Typhoon Ruby early this month, farmers already had matured crops, most of which were harvested before the typhoon‘s landfall.In its latest Rice and Corn

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Stocks Inventory, the PSA said the country‘s total rice stock inventory of 2.95 million metric tons (MT) in November was 63.6 percent higher than the previous month‘s inventory of 1.81 million MT. The present inventory was 21.1 percent higher than the inventory of 2.44 million MT in November 2013.

Around 54.8 percent of the November rice stock inventory were held in households, 30.6 percent were held in commercial warehouses and 14.6 percent were held in depositories of the National Food Authority (NFA).

Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Stocks held in households would be sufficient for 47 days, those held in commercial warehouses would be sufficient for 27 days and those held in NFA depositories for 13 days.Month-on-month rice stocks held in households and in commercial warehouses rose 94.1 percent and 73 percent, respectively. Rice stock levels in NFA depositories, on the other hand, fell by four percent.Rice stock levels in all sectors rose year-on-year. Stocks held in households and in commercial warehouses rose 11.8 percent and 41.8 percent, respectively. Rice stocks in NFA depositories rose 21.9 percent.

Palay (unhusked rice) prices have risen slightly during the first to second week of December after months of steady decline.The average farmgate price of palay rose to P19.18 per kilogram during the Dec. 3 to 9 monitoring period, up 0.22 percent week-on-week and by 6.10 percent year-onyear.Edilberto de Luna, Agriculture assistant secretary and National Rice and Corn Progra coordinator, said palay prices may hit a low of P18 per kilogram by the end of the year

as it is now the peak of harvest season.―But it is still a good price,‖ he said, noting that the projected price by yearend is still above the buying price of P17 per kilogram by the NFA.The country‘s total corn stock inventory as of November, meanwhile, was placed at 239,500 MT, down 41.3 percent month-on-month, but 30.8 percent higher than last year‘s inventory.

Around 53.8 percent of this month‘s total corn stock inventory were with commercial warehouses, while 45.5 percent were with households and 0.7 percent were with NFA depositories.The average farmgate price of yellow and white corn grains fell slightly during the first to second week of December.The average farmgate price of yellow corngrain at P12.51 per kilogram was down 0.24 percent week-on-week, but was up 5.48 percent year-on-year.Farmgate prices of white corn grain, meanwhile was placed at P12.60 per kilogram during the monitoring period. This was down by 3.23 percent week-on-week, and 16.37 percent year-on-year.De Luna said farmgate prices of corn prices may settle at an average of P13 per kilogram at the end of the year. source

with

thanks:

http://www.philstar.com/business/2014/12/2 1/1404882/rice-stocks-good-87-days

Thai rice exports expected to reach 10.5 million tonnes by year-end Thailand is bound to regain the world‘s rice exporter first place, after it is now confident to export around 11 million tons of rice by end of this year.Thai Rice Exporter Association president Charoen Laothammathat said Thailand

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine has already exported 10.07 million tons since January to December 2 this year, a 67% increase as compared with same period last year‘s of merely six million tons.Thai rice exports are expected to reach 10.2 million tonnes by yearend, just 500,000 tonnes shy of 2011‘s all-time high.Sales from state stocks and the end of the rice pledging scheme have helped the country to regain its position as the biggest exporter, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).―A development dominating the international rice trade this year has been the resurgence of Thailand as a leading rice exporter, an advance made possible by key policy changes regarding government market intervention, namely the suspension of the paddy pledging programme and public stock sales,‖

exporters, 2014 is marking a resurgence of Thailand as a leading rice supplier.International rice prices, which have been steadily falling since September 2014, lost further ground in November.

the FAO said Thursday in its last quarterly Rice Market Monitor report of 2014.Thai Rice Exporter Association president Charoen Laothammathat forecasted that India could export only 8.5 million tons this year, and Vietnam 6.7 million tons.Since October, FAO has raised its forecast of international trade in rice in calendar 2014 by some 500 000 tonnes to 40.2 million tonnes, primarily on higher expected imports to Bangladesh and Guinea, and, based on reported shipment progress, also to Djibouti, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Zimbabwe.

source with thanks: http://www.thailandbusiness-news.com/trade/49891-thai-riceexports-expected-reach-10-5-million-tonnesyear-end.html#FxmdIYYeBazIwIlu.99

Import forecasts were instead lowered for the Republic of Korea and the Islamic Republic of Iran, with revisions to historical estimates also entailing cuts in import figures for Egypt. On the export side, these changes were met with more buoyant sales mostly by Thailand, but also Viet Nam.Competitive world prices are also behind steady increases in rice imports by countries in Africa, but also in Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and North America. Among

Particularly steep falls have been evident in the aromatic rice segment, amid prospects of large availabilities coupled with reduced import demand. Indica rice prices have also been under much pressure, reflecting a sluggish import demand and the arrival on the market of newly harvested crops. Quotations in all of the major origins have been falling, especially those of India, Pakistan and Viet Nam.Prices also fell in Thailand, although the decline since September was less than witnessed in competing countries, as a cautious release of public stocks helped contain the slid

Paddy fields, homes inundated as floods hit Cilacap Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Cilacap | Archipelago | Sun, December 21 2014, 9:37 PM

Waterfront: Children look at inundated paddy fields in Mujur village, Kroya district, Cilacap regency, Central Java, on Saturday. (JP/Agus Maryono) Archipelago News

Incessant heavy rain during the last several days has led to the floods affecting a number of districts in Cilacap regency, Central Java, to continuously expand.Flood waters that inundated dozens of villages in three western

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Saturday.He said flooding in Cilacap was an annual event that happened every rainy season.―They [residents] will be evacuated if the situation gets worse. We have built a number of multi-story houses in flood-prone areas,‖ said Ansor. (ebf)

source with thanks: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/12/21 /paddy-fields-homes-inundated-floods-hitcilacap.html

Cilacap districts; Karangpucung, Kedungreja and Sidareja, on Friday, have now spread to eastern areas; Kroya and Nusawungu districts.Flood waters inundated thousands of hectares of paddy fields in Kroya and Nusawungu, on Saturday, and the flooded area is expected to continue to expand due to ongoing heavy rain.

In western Cilacap, flood waters have submerged not only paddy fields but also hundreds of homes.―There has been very heavy rainfall in Cilacap. Flooding cannot be avoided. Kroya‘s highway has been severely flooded, making it look just like a river, due to heavy rainfall,‖ Darikun, 45, a Kroya resident, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.He said flooding in Kroya and its surrounding areas had occurred since Friday evening and it would likely worsen as rain fell incessantly.In western Cilacap, flood waters with a depth of between 20 and 50 centimeters swamped hundreds of houses; however, no one has been evacuated. ―More than 500 houses have been inundated but residents have still chosen to stay in their homes,‖ Ansor Basuki, a staff member of the Cilacap administration‘s information and communication department, told the Post on

Government to gradually release rice in stock within 3 years Saturday, 20 December 2014By MCOT

BANGKOK, Dec 19 -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said Friday that the government would try to gradually release rice now stored at warehouses nationwide within three years.Gen Prayut told journalists after chairing a meeting of the National Rice Policy Committee that the meeting discussed several issues including the massive amount of rice left at warehouses as a result of the previous government of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's failed rice-pledging

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine programme which was accused of largescale corruption.According to Gen Prayut, the total amount of rice now remaining in warehouses is 17.89 million tonnes which could be divided into three categories: 2.3 million tonnes of grade A, another 14.4 million tonnes not meeting the quality standards set by the Commerce Ministry,and 694,000 tonnes of Grade C or rotten grain.

He said about 390,000 tonnes of rice have disappeared from warehouses.Initially, the government lost about Bt680 billion and it has to solve the rice problem on a sustainable basis in order to avoid similar losses in future, said Gen Prayut, adding that the government would try to make Thailand the world‘s number one rice exporter again.Reiterating that concerned government agencies would take legal action against those involved in the rice corruption scheme, Gen Prayut said further that Thailand would sign an MoU to sell two million tonnes of rice on a government-togovernment basis during the current visit of his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang.Mr Li arrived in Bangkok early today to attend the two-day 5th Greater Mekong Subregion Summit.In addition to that another MoU would be signed on constructing dual rail tracks in Thailand, Gen Prayut added. source with thanks: http://www.pattayamail.com/news/government-togradually-release-rice-in-stock-within-3-years43795

People behind rice scheme will be sued to cover losses, Prayut says The Nation December 20, 2014 1:00 am

Puts damage at Bt680 billion, with figure rising by Bt2 billion a month

The government will take legal action against people deemed responsible for the Bt680 billion in estimated losses from the rice price-pledging scheme, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday.The PM said that even after the remaining 17 million tonnes of rice in the government stockpile were sold, losses would amount to some Bt680 billion."Legal action will be taken, particularly involving the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission. Both criminal and civil action will be taken, and compensation for damages will be sought," Prayut said.He said the Commerce Ministry would calculate the final amount of damages. "We don't know the exact figure now because the Commerce Ministry is [still] selling the rice in the government stock.

"The prime minister said that of the 17 million tonnes of rice remaining when the post-coup administration started, only 2.35 million were up to standard. About 700,000 tonnes was in a bad condition while the remainder was of poor quality.Prayut spoke to the media after chairing a National Rice

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Policy Committee meeting.He said the government would attempt to sell all rice in the stockpile within three years but he was concerned that many prospective buyers might not be interested. He said the government was aware that expediting rice sales could lead to a price decrease.The government is spending more than Bt2 billion a month renting warehouses to store rice bought under the scrapped pledging scheme, he said.

But the government would attempt to maintain Thailand's status as the world's No.1 rice exporter, following Vietnam's announcement earlier this week of its plan to become the top exporter. "We will not focus on quantity only - there must be quality too," he said. "We aim to sell at high prices. All the parties involved must work together."Yesterday, Thailand and China signed a memorandum of understanding at Government House for the sale of two million tonnes of Thai rice to China.Meanwhile, the National AntiCorruption Commission is expected to decide early next year whether to pursue a case against former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom over alleged irregularities involving the sale of rice, NACC President Panthep Klanarongran said.

Panthep said he had urged the investigation committee, chaired by Vicha Mahakun, to expedite its work on the case so that a probe report can be completed before the year-end.

"But the NACC is unlikely to decide within this year. This case is likely to be forwarded to the NACC for a decision early next year,"

he said.In a related development, Democrat Party politician Warong Dechgitvigrom urged the government to review plans to sell rice from its stock in large lots. He said that by selling rice of different quality together, prospective buyers would attempt to push down prices and corrupt officials would benefit from helping buyers prepared to pay bribes get rice at low prices source with thanks: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Peoplebehind-rice-scheme-will-be-sued-to-cover-lo30250291.html

TREA optimistic on wholestock rice auction plan BANGKOK, 20 December 2014 (NNT) – The Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA)’s President is positive on the new rice auction scheme, claiming it will effectively help releasing the in-stock rice while lessening the government’s burden.

According to the TREA President Pol.Lt Chareon Laothamatas, the new rice auction system that allows private companies to bid for rice in whole stock will help release the in-stock rice to the market effectively.He said that the new system will also allow private companies to check the rice quality before proposing the price to the Ministry of Commerce, which would reduce the rice quality issue, provide a for more coordinated management system, and help the government to reduce the cost of rice storage, currently at 2 billion baht a month.

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine He also said that Thai rice will still sell in the global market despite having higher price than rice from other countries.The price for Thai rice in the global market is at USD 410-415 per ton, while Vietnamese rice is priced at USD 405 per ton, and Pakistani rice is priced at USD 335 per ton.The TREA President said that the export amount of Thai rice this year will be at 10.510.6 million tonnes, which is the highest export rate, while the next year's exports are expected to be at 10 million tonnes. source with thanks: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785745trea-optimistic-on-whole-stock-rice-auctionplan/

Thailand Turns to China With a post-coup cooling of relations with the West, Bangkok is looking to its largest trading partner.

By Prashanth Parameswaran December 20, 2014 Thailand‘s ruling junta is boosting ties with China as it seeks to reverse sluggish growth in Southeast Asia‘s second largest economy following a coup earlier this year that complicated its ties with the West. On Friday, Thailand welcomed Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, the most prominent foreign leader to visit the country since the military seized power on May 22.

Li was to attend a two-day regional summit on the Mekong river being held in Bangkok.Thai government spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp said Li‘s visit and meetings would be ―a good opportunity for Thailand to show that our political problems

are not an obstacle to trade,‖ highlighting that ―the situation here is normal now and we are working toward a new Thai democracy. ‖Though the military has succeeded in stabilizing Thailand‘s economy somewhat since coming to power, economic growth has been weak thus far and these woes could extend into 2015 if troubling trends like anemic domestic consumption and private investment continue. With the U.S cutting off military assistance to Thailand, and Europe suspending trade negotiations following the coup, the government has made strengthening ties with China – already Thailand‘s largest trading partner – a top priority.In that respect, the highlight of Li‘s visit was the inking of two memorandums of understanding on developing a key rail project and the purchase of agricultural products.

The rail project, which costs around $12 billion, would construct Thailand‘s first standard-gauge railway with two lines and fits into a broader Chinese plan to link its southwestern city of Kunming to neighboring Southeast Asian countries. For Thailand‘s ruling military, the project is a key part of an ambitious $75 billion dollarmaster plan to upgrade the country‘s transport infrastructure which it announced earlier this year.―The railways are a very important issue…This is fundamental and will reinforce our cooperation with China,‖ Yongyuth said.Meanwhile, the agricultural deal, according to the The Bangkok Post, would see China buy about 2 million tons of rice and 200,000 tons of rubber from Thailand. Although the exact volume has reportedly not been determined, the agreement would give the Thai government

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine a much-needed place to offload the country‘s rubber and rice stockpiles, and it is being advertised by Beijing as a grand gesture of Chinese beneficence.

Only China has such a big market and a huge purchasing power which could consume the big agricultural production of rice, rubber and others of Thailand,‖ Li said.While these agreements are promising, they are not new and could fall prey to old problems. Past plans for infrastructure schemes – including the current railway project – have been repeatedly delayed or suspended in Thailand over the last few years, in part because of ongoing political tensions. Some are also already questioning to what extent the country would actually benefit from this project given the way that it is structured.Similarly, the agricultural deal is also an old idea in Sino-Thai relations with a troubled past.

Just earlier this year, China scrapped a similar pre-arranged, high-profile deal to buy 1.2 million tons of Thai rice when a corruption investigation began into the Yingluck government‘s agricultural subsidies scheme, which was advanced as a major reason for her subsequent ouster.Specifics aside, the two MoUs may also be followed by other boosts to SinoThai relations which could spill over into 2015. Thai prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is expected visit Beijing on Monday at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Li. Next year also marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand, and both sides have already begun to plan out how they will strengthen ties even further in 2015.

source

with

thanks:

http://thediplomat.com/2014/12/thailandturns-to-china/

Thai rice export rises 67% to reach 11m tonnes in 2014 Reported by: `Customs Report December 22, 2014

Today

BANGKOK: Thailand is bound to regain the world‘s rice exporter first place, after it is now confident to export around 11 million tons of rice by end of this year, Charoen Laothammathat said.Thai Rice Exporter Association president said Thailand has already exported 10.07 million tons since January to December 2 this year, a 67% increase as compared with same period last year‘s of merely six million tons.Thai rice exports are expected to reach 10.2 million tonnes by year-end, just 500,000 tonnes shy of 2011‘s all-time high.Sales from state stocks and the end of the rice pledging scheme have helped the country to regain its position as the biggest exporter, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

―A development dominating the international rice trade this year has been the resurgence of Thailand as a leading rice exporter, an advance made possible by key policy changes regarding government market intervention, namely the suspension of the paddy pledging programme and public stock sales,‖Thai Rice Exporter Association president Charoen

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Laothammathat forecasted that India could export only 8.5 million tons this year, and Vietnam 6.7 million tons.

Since October, FAO has raised its forecast of international trade in rice in calendar 2014 by some 500 000 tonnes to 40.2 million tonnes, primarily on higher expected imports to Bangladesh and Guinea, and, based on reported shipment progress, also to Djibouti, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Zimbabwe.

Import forecasts were instead lowered for the Republic of Korea and the Islamic Republic of Iran, with revisions to historical estimates also entailing cuts in import figures for Egypt. On the export side, these changes were met with more buoyant sales mostly by Thailand, but also Viet Nam. Competitive world prices are also behind steady increases in rice imports by countries in Africa, but also in Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and North America.

Among exporters, 2014 is marking a resurgence of Thailand as a leading rice supplier.International rice prices, which have been steadily falling since September 2014, lost further ground in November.

Particularly steep falls have been evident in the aromatic rice segment, amid prospects of large availabilities coupled with reduced import demand. Indica rice prices have also been under much pressure, reflecting a sluggish import demand and the arrival on the market of newly harvested crops.

Quotations in all of the major origins have been falling, especially those of India, Pakistan and Viet Nam.Prices also fell in Thailand, although the decline since September was less than witnessed in competing countries, as a cautious release of public stocks helped contain the slide. source with Newspaper

thanks:

Customs

Today

Myanmar to export 500,000 tons of rice to Indonesia in 3 years (Globalpost/GlobalPost) Myanmar to export 500,000 tons of rice to Indonesia in 3 years

YANGON, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar is planning to export 500, 000 tons of rice to Indonesia over the next three years as export promotion of the crop, sources with the Ministry of Commerce said Friday.The export will be done under an agreement signed with Indonesia last year.In the past, China and Africa stood as the main buyers of Myanmar's rice.During the last fiscal year 2013-14 which ended in March, MyanmarIndonesia trade reached 498.86 million U.S. dollars, in which Myanmar mainly exported agricultural and marine products to Indonesia valued at 60.04 million U.S. dollars while it imported from Indonesia goods, especially palm oil.

Myanmar also plans to import cement from Indonesia, the sources said.According to figures, Myanmar earned 300 million U.S. dollars through export of rice in the first eight months (April- November) of the fiscal year 2014-15, up 64.8 percent correspondingly.Statistics also show that Indonesian investment in Myanmar amounted to 241.497 million U.S. dollars in 12 projects as of November 2014, accounting for 0.48 percent of the total foreign input and ranking 14th in Myanmar's

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine foreign investment line-up since the country opened its door in late 1988.

Copyright 2014 Xinhua News Agency.Xinhua is China's state-run news agency.

source with thanks http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xin hua-news-agency/141220/myanmar-export500000-tons-rice-indonesia-3-years

Rice import from India hurting Bangladeshi farmers: BNP Staff Correspondent, bdnews24.com Published: 2014-12-20 17:44:09.0 BdST Updated: 2014-12-20 20:27:30.0 BdST

Bangladesh should stop importing rice as it is preventing local farmers from getting proper prices for their produce, a BNP leader has said.Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the demand at a press briefing of Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal on Saturday.Various programmes were announced at the briefing to press for their thirteen demands that included a halt on rice import from India.―This government has been extremely indifferent to farmers. We have had a very good harvest but yet farmers are facing losses. They can‘t sell the grains they have produced. ‖―There are tonnes of freshly harvested paddy in their storage but the government is either buying it directly or allowing its favoured importers to buy duty-free rice from India so that they can make profits … and our farmers are left with nothing,‖ said Fakhrul, a former junior agriculture minister.

BNP‘s acting secretary general, who also heads the party‘s Krishak Dal, said 60,000 poultry farms had closed down because of the government‘s policies.Investments in fishery sector too dried up, he said, while accusing the government of cutting subsidies meant for farmers.Those who took agriculture loan were being charged 19 percent interest, he claimed.

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine ―The central bank will give Tk 20 million to Trust Bank for giving loans to farmers. The Trust Bank will disburse the loans in 19 percent interest through an NGO called Shajag. The Bangladesh Bank never said there would be 19 percent interest.‖Krishak Dal also demanded that the government immediately procure paddy or rice from farmers, besides stopping import of corn from India.It also called for an end to extortion and police harassment while transporting Rabi crops.Its other demands include atrocities of leaseholders of village markets should be stopped and reduction of diesel prices. source with thanks

http://bdnews24.com/politics/2014/12/20/ric e-import-from-india-hurting-bangladeshifarmers-bnp

Trillion baht deal struck for Mekong China pledges heavy investment Published: 21 Dec 2014 at 06.52 Newspaper section: News Writer: Lamphai Intathep and Prangthong Jitcharoenkul Leaders of the six Mekong basin countries have endorsed a one-trillion baht investment programme to finance new transport projects across the region.

Take my hand: The leaders of six Mekong countries and the president of the Asian Development Bank pose for a group photo at the 5th Greater Mekong Sub-region Summit in Bangkok. (Photo by Thanarak Khunton) The five-year plan will see US$30 billion (986 billion baht) put towards 92 highpriority investment and technical assistance projects, designed to boost regional connectivity.Of the projects, 44% will be based in China, 26% in Laos, 10% in Thailand, and the rest divided between Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam, Deputy Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said.

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine The projects will be financed by a range of sources, including soft loans from China and regional financial institutions such as the Asian Development Bank.The agreement was reached by the leaders of the six countries at the 5th Greater Mekong Subregion Summit, held at the Shangri-La hotel in Bangkok yesterday.Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said he was "firmly committed" to the sustainable development of the Mekong subregion, saying investing in basic infrastructure would be a driving force.His comments followed the signing on Friday of an MoU between China and Thailand for the construction of two double-track railway lines with a combined length of 867km.

"You have my word that the railway will be constructed with high-quality equipment and will set a good example for following projects on the Indochina peninsular," Mr Li said. China will also provide 100 million yuan (528 million baht) to Mekong countries for water management, he said, while the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank would provide around $10 billion in loans. "China is also going to take larger amount of rice and rubber from Thailand," Mr Li said.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha emphasised the necessity of the plan by fasttracking the establishment of five special economic zones in the border areas of Tak, Mukdahan, Trat, Songkhla and Sa Kaeo. He said the move would help ensure connectivity with neighbouring countries.

He pointed to the fifth bridge to span the Mekong River between Laos and Thailand, which has just completed an engineering study and will begin construction soon."Each country should work as trading partners where our similar culture and traditions can be shared, not as competitors," Gen Prayut said. "Benefits will come from a relationship based on reliability, not suspicion."Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong also called for greater commitment to upgrading roads across the region to serve trucks hauling loads greater than 11 tonnes, as well as boosting efforts to address a shortage of skilled labour.Transport Minister Prajin Juntong said yesterday Japan has expressed interest in investing in any or all of three new rail routes in Thailand.Gen Prayut is planning a visit to Japan soon to discuss the rail projects with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose government was re-elected last weekend.

Source with thanks: Bangkok Post

Government says 16.7 million tons of pledged rice can be sold BANGKOK, Government million tons million tons Minister

20 December 2014 (NNT) – warehouses are holding 17.89 of pledged rice, of which 16.7 can be sold, according to Prime Prayut Chan-o-cha.

General Prayut made the disclosure after chairing a meeting of the rice management and policy committee on Friday. He revealed that the inspection teams sent to all government warehouses determined that 2.1 million tons of rice was up to standard, while another 14.4 million tons would need to be re-graded. There is 6.94 million tons of

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine spoiled rice and rice of no clear origin. The prime minister noted that any misconduct that gave rise to this amount of rice would be dealt with legally. According to the prime minister, total losses arising from the rice subsidy scheme are expected to reach 680 billion baht.Gen. Prayut also expressed confidence in Thailand being able to retain its lead in global rice exports, provided that rice from government warehouses is progressively sold and farmers work to ensure the quality of their produce.

Source with thanks: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785769government-says-167-million-tons-of-pledgedrice-can-be-sold/

Why stick to the traditional festive desserts when you could try this divine Salted Caramel Rice Pudding instead?

For the Salted Caramel Sauce • 200g granulated sugar • 90g salted butter (cut into small chunks) • 120ml double cream • 1 teaspoon salt 1. Heat the granulated sugar in a sauce pan over a medium heat, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula.

2. The sugar will form clumps and eventually melt into a thick brown, amber coloured liquid as you continue to stir. Be careful not to burn.

3. Once the sugar has completely melted, immediately add the butter. Be careful as the caramel will bubble rapidly when the butter

is added.

4. Stir until the butter has completely melted (approx. 2-3 mins) 5. Very slowly drizzle in the cream while stirring – the mixture will bubble when the cream is added.

6. Allow the mixture to boil for one minute.

7. Remove from the heat and stir in the salt.

8. Allow to cool before using For the Rice Pudding • 100g Tilda Pure Basmati • 300ml full fat milk • ½ vanilla pod split length ways • 90g caster sugar • 1 egg yolk • 60ml double cream 1. Place the rice in a large saucepan with 200ml cold water. Bring to the boil, reduce to a low heat, cover and simmer very gently for 12minutes or until the water has absorbed.

2. Pour the milk into a separate saucepan, scrape the seeds from the vanilla pod and add along with the sugar. Heat to simmering point over a low heat.

3. Once the rice has absorbed all 200ml water add to the milk mixture, rise to a medium heat for 12-15 minutes, until the rice is tender and the milk has thickened.

4. In a small bowl beat together the egg yolk and cream, pour into the rice mixture slowly stirring throughout, reduce to a low heat for a further 6-8 minutes.

Layer the sauce & pudding mixture as desired or keep it simple and drizzle over.

Serves 3-4

Source with thanks:Tilde rice

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Healthy Comfort Foods Chilly winter days call for comfort food.

When the sun is reluctant to come out, let alone shine, there‘s nothing quite like curling up on the sofa with warming food that lifts your spirits. Whether it‘s sweet or savoury a plate of your favourite comfort food is sometimes all it takes to put a smile on your face.

However, in these colder months it can be easy to fall into bad habits. Your body craves bigger meals to help keep it warm and many of us struggle to resist the call of filling food that may not always be nutritious. But eating more doesn‘t need to mean eating badly, and comfort food can be healthy as well as hearty.

Low Fat and Low Cholesterol

A Delicious Brunch

It‘s just not Sunday morning without a delicious brunch. This Spicy Tomato & Egg Brunch is made with our Brown Basmati & Quinoa and is a homely and healthy meal that is sure to inspire feelings of warmth and comfort.

Unlike long grain rice, both Basmati and Wholegrain Basmati are low to medium on the glycemic index, which means they‘re digested more slowly and don‘t cause sharp spikes in blood sugar levels. Nutritionists have suggested this helps to suppress appetite and keeps you fuller for longer.

Basmati not only contains very little fat and absolutely no cholesterol but is also incredibly versatile and lends itself to being the perfect base for any comfort food!

The tasty recipes below are the kind of warming and comforting meals you need at this time of year, and because they‘re made with Basmati, they‘re nutritious too.

A Wholesome Dinner A wholesome kedgeree is a comforting dish that reminds many people of their childhoods. That is definitely the case for MasterChef winner Dhruv Baker who created a traditional kedgeree with a delicious twist by using Tilda Limited Edition British Curry Rice.

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Source with thank: https://www.facebook.com/supermeal ?fref=nf An Exotic Desert If you‘re craving something sweet our Coconut and Mango Rice Puddingshould hit the spot. This creamy dessert is infused with aromatic orange zest, cardamom and vanilla. This decadent treat tastes perfect when sprinkled with toasted almonds and served with slices of fresh mango.

The best comfort food recipes should be hearty and warming, and by creating them with Basmati rice, you can treat yourself to a winter warmer that‘s nutritious and healthy too.

Sourcehttp://www.tilda.com/news/healthycomfort-foods

To Bean or Not to Bean?

It‘s beginning to feel cold outside but that doesn‘t mean you can‘t pull together a delicious and warming meal at a moment‘s notice!

The last thing most of us want to do after getting home on a wintery evening and finally being able to flex our frozen fingers is cook a complicated recipe. This Butternut Squash and Bean Cassoulet recipe combines a few simple ingredients to create a

wholesome meal in less than 10 minutes. This recipe‘s versatility lends itself well to using up a variety of seasonal vegetables and store cupboard essentials, helping you to avoid a midweek dash to the shops!

Versatile vegetables Like sweet potato, butternut squash adds a comforting sweet note to a meal. However, one of the best things about this recipe is that it still tastes just as good when prepared with a variety of seasonal vegetables.

Parsnips and carrots also work well, but it‘s totally up to you how you tweak the ingredients to suit your taste.We‘d love to hear which vegetables you use to prepare this Cassoulet.

Revisiting the store cupboard This is the perfect time of year to revisit our store cupboards and get creative with some of the tins we‘ve been storing away. Like Basmati, butterbeans have an impressive ability to absorb flavours from a variety of different cuisines. Butterbeans are also great for providing sustenance in the colder months as they are virtually fat free, whilst also being a good source of high-quality protein and dietary fibre.There‘s nothing better than coming in from the cold to a warming and wholesome Cassoulet that can be ready in just 10 minutes – leaving you free to enjoy more of this festive time of year with friends and family.

Source with thanks: Tilda Rice

Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847