12th february ,2018 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter 12th February,2018

Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter Rice New Headlines…     

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Rice exports cross $1 billion mark in seven months Pakistan Rice Export Touches $ 1.06 Bn Iraq expects grain imports to be high this year due to dry weather ‘Civil Supplies enforcement teams prevent ₹500-cr. misuse’ Global Red Rice Red Market Size 2018 Fuzhou LLX, Gutian Diyuan, Jiangr Bio-Technology, Shandong Zhonghui and Jiacheng Biotechnology Global Red Rice Red Market Share by Manufacturers, Product Type and Application study of existing Red Rice Red market segments.

Global Red Rice Red Market Size 2018 Fuzhou LLX, Gutian Diyuan, Jiangr Bio-Technology, Shandong Zhonghui and Jiacheng Biotechnology Rice exports cross $1bn mark Rice export touches $ 1.06b Piñol calls for tighter gov’t control of rice industry, slams devious traders Rice: Kebbi’s new gold mine Chasing the innocents Amira Nature Foods (NYSE:ANFI) Cut to “Hold” at Zacks Investment Research Assembler gears up for expansion Pesticide application clinics set Organic bills generate excitement among organic food and rice groups

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter  Organic Rice Market Competition by Company, Countries, Application, Type to 2023  How Pure Farming 2018 taught me to respect rice and strange machinery  Price untamed despite record rice import  Philippines plans open tender, June delivery for 250,000 T rice imports  Villar blames NFA for rice supply mess  Central, State agencies look to TSERC for lower power tariff  Hom mali price hits 5-year high on demand  Kiko backs rice probe

News Detail…

Rice exports cross $1 billion mark in seven months KARACHI: Rice exports significantly grew 29 percent to $1 billion during the first seven months of the current fiscal year as orders from African countries increased after slowdown of Indian cargoes, an industry official said on Friday.

“This year (July-January) we exported a total of 2.28 million tons of rice amounting to $1.06 billion, whereas last fiscal year in the same period we had exported 1.971 million tons worth $820 million,” Rafique Suleman, senior vice chairman of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap) said in a statement. Export grew 15 percent in terms of quantity during the period.

Suleman said the exporters have come out of a three-year crisis “after rigorous efforts and marketing”.

Rice exports faced a decline of 14.62 percent during July-January 2016/17 over the same period in 2015/16; although share of rice in food exports stood at 43 percent during July-January 2016/17, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data showed.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter “Reap members are putting in their untiring efforts and (doing) aggressive marketing to increase the rice exports and to earn valuable foreign exchange,” Suleman said.

Kenya was the largest buyer of Pakistani rice and during the seven months of the current fiscal year, Pakistan exported 284,000 tons of rice amounting to $102 million to African country.

Suleman was optimistic that the country would reach the rice export target of four million tons with the $2 billion mark.

“The rice traders are (also) focusing on European countries,” he said. “Due to the excess limit of pesticide residue found in Indian rice, India might lose the markets in the European Union.”

European Union introduced new fungicide rule that is likely to hurt Indian rice exports to the European markets as 80 percent of Indian rice is unpolished and vulnerable to pesticides.

Besides, Indian exporters are now catering to growing appetite in Bangladesh after flooding hit crops in its neighbouring country.

Reuters said the boost in shipments from the world’s top exporter of the grain “is set to extend into 2018 as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka continue to buy aggressively amid depleting inventories in No.2 exporter Thailand”.

Reap senior vice president said it would be a good opportunity for Pakistani rice exporters.

Pakistan is the world’s 11th largest rice producer with annual production of around six million tons.

The industry official requested the concerned departments of the government to extend their support and facilitate rice traders, “so they can increase rice exports to the European countries”.

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Suleman expressed concern over decline in rice exports to China, which used to be the 2nd largest destination for Pakistani rice exporters.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter “At the end of January 2018, only 186,000 tons of rice valuing $61 million (were) exported to China,” he said.

Suleman urged the authorities at the ministry of commerce to highlight this matter in the negotiations during the 2nd round of Pakistan-China free trade agreement and to obtain maximum favour for Pakistani rice.

The official said the international demand for rice has now been increased around the globe.

“This year we had a very good crop in terms of quality and quantity,” the senior vice chairman said. The industry official said the price of the Pakistani rice is comparatively cheaper to competitors such as Thailand and Vietnam. “Pakistani rice exporters are making huge investments for installing the latest rice machinery and modern technology for value-addition in rice.”

Pakistan rice export touches $1.06bn P AR V EZ J A B R I

FE B 1 0 T H, 2 0 1 8

KARACHI: Rice export from Pakistan has seen significant growth and crossed dollars one billion by the end of January since July 2017 showing increase of 29 percent in value and 15 percent in quantity.In a statement here on Friday, the Senior Vice Chairman, Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), Rafique Suleman said that Pakistan exported total 2.28 million metric tons of rice worth dollars 1.06 billion in last seven months, whereas in the same period of last fiscal year the figure was 1.971 million metric tons amounting to $.820 million.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

‘We have come out of the crisis. REAP members were making their untiring efforts and doing aggressive marketing to increase the rice exports and to earn valuable foreign exchange for our beloved country Pakistan,’ he re-affirmed.

He was very much hopeful that this year the set target to export more than 4.0 million metric tons of Pakistani rice and would earn dollars 2 billion.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter REAP had also focused on European countries. Due to the excessive pesticide residue found in Indian rice, she would loose European countries markets. It was a good opportunity for Pakistani rice exporters to grab EU market.

He also urged the government departments concerned to extend maximum support and facilitation to rice exporters for increase in their exports to European countries.

REAP leader informed that right now, demand for rice had increased around the globe. He was satisfied that this year the country had a very good crop in terms of quality and quantity. And, he continued, the prices of Pakistani rice were comparatively cheaper than that of its competitors including Thailand and Vietnam.

https://www.brecorder.com/2018/02/10/398347/pakistan-rice-export-touches-1-06bn/

Pakistan Rice Export Touches $ 1.06 Bn Fri 09th February 2018 | 07:55 PM

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 09th Feb, 2018 ):Rice export from Pakistan has seen significant growth and crossed dollars one billion by the end of January since July 2017 showing increase of 29 percent in value and 15 percent in quantity.

In a statement here on Friday, the Senior Vice Chairman, Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan(REAP), Rafique Suleman said that Pakistan exported total 2.28 million metric tons of rice worth dollars 1.06 billion in last seven months, whereas in the same period of last fiscal year the figure was 1.971 million metric tons amounting to $.820 million.

'We have come out of the crisis. REAP members were making their untiring efforts and doing aggressive marketing to increase the rice exports and to earn valuable foreign exchange for our beloved country Pakistan,' he re-affirmed.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter He was very much hopeful that this year the set target to export more than 4.0 million metric tons of Pakistani rice and would earn dollars 2 billion. REAP had also focused on European countries.

Due to the excessive pesticide residue found in Indian rice, she would loose European countries markets. It was a good opportunity for Pakistani rice exporters to grab EU market. He also urged the government departments concerned to extend maximum support and facilitation to rice exporters for increase in their exports to European countries.

REAP leader informed that right now, demand for rice had increased around the globe. He was satisfied that this year the country had a very good crop in terms of quality and quantity. And, he continued, the prices of Pakistani rice were comparatively cheaper than that of its competitors including Thailand and Vietnam. APP/ah/rap https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/pakistan-rice-export-touches-106-bn-258081.html

Iraq expects grain imports to be high this year due to dry weather “This year is dry, our imports will be very large this year,” Sami al-Araji, the head Iraq’s National Investment Commission said at a conference in Kuwait.

(AFP) Reuters, KuwaitSunday, 11 February 2018 Iraq’s grain imports will be high this year as dry weather will curb domestic crops, an Iraqi official said on Sunday.

“This year is dry, our imports will be very large this year,” Sami al-Araji, the head of Iraq’s National Investment Commission said at a conference in Kuwait.

Iraq, a major importer of grains, consumes around 5 million tons of wheat a year.

Rice and wheat are imported by the trade ministry for Iraq’s food rationing program which includes flour, rice, cooking oil, sugar and baby milk formula.

Araji said Iraq would aim to encourage investment in its agricultural sector to achieve self-

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter sufficiency in strategic crops over the next 10 years.“We are talking about strategic crops like wheat and barley,” he said.He was speaking ahead of a major donor conference in Kuwait this week.

Last Update: Sunday, 11 February 2018 KSA 18:10 - GMT 15:10 http://english.alarabiya.net/en/business/economy/2018/02/11/Iraq-expects-grain-imports-to-behigh-this-year-due-to-dry-weather.html

‘Civil Supplies enforcement teams prevent ₹500-cr. misuse’ HYDERABAD, FEBRUARY 11, 2018 20:32 IST Expenditure on teams was ₹1.25 crore for one year The enforcement wing set up in the Civil Supplies Department to check diversion of commodities in the public distribution system (PDS), mainly rice, and other irregularities has acted as a deterrent and prevented the misuse to the tune of ₹500 crore.

Commissioner of Civil Supplies C.V. Anand, who reviewed the performance of the enforcement wing here on Sunday, said the ‘experiment’ was initiated on February 1 last year with five teams comprising retired officials from the police, revenue, commercial taxes and other departments to check irregularities in processing, transportation and quality norms. The new initiative had prevented diversion of rice to the black market and saved ₹500 crore to the exchequer.

“It has also helped in curbing corruption, pilferages and malpractices to a large extent in the supply of essential commodities including rice”, Mr. Anand said adding that the expenditure on the team of officers selected “taking into consideration their employment history, honesty, commitment and hard work” was mere ₹1.25 crore for the past one year.

He explained that the enforcement teams were given the responsibility of preventing illegal movement of PDS rice, check on government and private godowns, vehicle

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter checking in two stages, changes in transactions before and after introduction of the ePOS machines, performance of GPS and supply chain management.

The teams had conducted 843 raids and special checks on mandal-level godowns, fair price shops, custom milled rice mills, institutions getting supply of super fine (‘sanna biyyam’) quality rice, LPG godowns and others during the last one year.

Stating that the inspection had resulted in booking of 165 cases under Section 6(A) of the Essential Commodities Act and 71 criminal cases, the Civil Supplies Commissioner noted that the team had also seized 12,619 quintals of PDS rice, 2,619 quintals of custom-milled rice and paddy worth ₹3.60 crore. Further, the checks had also resulted in seizure of sugar, LPG cylinders, kerosene and other commodies worth ₹3.90 lakh.

Besides, the surprise checks and inspections, helped the department detect shortage and prevented the misappropriation of paddy, sanna biyyam and PDS rice to the extent of ₹6.39 crore. With the vigil maintained by the enforcement teams the district collectors of Khamman, Nalgonda and Suryapet had registered four preventive detention cases against traders, Mr. Anand explained.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/civil-supplies-enforcement-teams-prevent-500-cr-misuse/article22723226.ece

Global Red Rice Red Market Size 2018 Fuzhou LLX, Gutian Diyuan, Jiangr Bio-Technology, Shandong Zhonghui and Jiacheng Biotechnology

By Lori Lobato February 12, 2018

The report “Global Red Rice Red Market” enlights crucial and discrete factors dominate the market growth forecast period from 2018 to 2025. The report conjecture is based on historic Red Rice Red market data from 2012 to 2018 and ongoing market bearings. The Red Rice Red report

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter intent to deliver discerning information and well-defined facts boost the Red Rice Red industry growth.

The report begins with the market overview, Red Rice Red industry chain structure, former and current market size along with Red Rice Red business opportunities in coming years, a rise in technological innovation, supply demand and shortage, various drivers and restraining factors pull the Red Rice Red environment. Furthermore, Red Rice Red report depicts production and consumption ratio of various topographical regions and dominant market players contribution to global Red Rice Red market growth.

Technological innovations and proficiency in the work Red Rice Red market have command of several players. Red Rice Red report is an essential tool for active market players across the globe enabling them to develop Red Rice Red business strategies. Competitive analysis of Red Rice Red market players is based on company profile information, Red Rice Red Product picture and specifications, upstream raw materials analysis and suppliers information, Red Rice Red manufacturing process, production cost, sales margin and revenue 2016 to 2017.

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Global Red Rice Red Market Share by Manufacturers, Product Type and Application.

The Major Dominant Players Profiled in Global Red Rice Red Market are Zhejiang Sanhe, BNP, Ningbo HEP, Gee Lawson, Fuzhou LLX, Hangzhou Boda, Sylvan Bio, Nanping Senfa, Shandong Zhonghui, Jiacheng Biotechnology, Gutian Diyuan, Jiangr Bio-Technology, Hangzhou Twin-Horse, 3W Botanical and Hubei Zixin.

In Terms of End-Use Red Rice Red Market is Divided into Food Additive and Health Products.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Business Insights Delivered by Global Red Rice Red Market Report

Global Red Rice Red market report begins with industry overview, Red Rice Red market size assessment, market apportionment, research regions aid the growth of Red Rice Red market, changes in market dynamics based on (Drivers, Red Rice Red Emerging Countries, Limitations, Red Rice Red business Opportunities, Industry News and Policies by Regions).

In the second part, Red Rice Red industry chain analysis provide details about upstream raw material suppliers, Red Rice Red major players manufacturing base, Product types and market share, cost structure Analysis, Red Rice Red Production Process Analysis, Manufacturing Cost Structure, Raw Material Cost, Labor Cost, Red Rice Red downstream buyers.

The third part, Red Rice Red report describes production, consumption and growth rate by Red Rice Red product type and applications forecast year from 2017 to 2025. Import and export scenario of Red Rice Red Industry, market status and SWOT analysis by regions (2012-2018), The fourth part describes Competitive Landscape of top leading manufacturers includes Company Profiles, Product Introduction, Price, Gross Margin 2012-2018. Red Rice Red market volume analysis by product type, applications and major geographical regions.

The fifth and most decisive part of Red Rice Red report depicts the company profile, product introduction, market positioning, target Customers, Price and gross margin of top leading players of Red Rice Red from 2017 to 2025.

The Later part, Global Red Rice Red Market report display industry impediment study, new entrants SWOT analysis, market risk and Suggestions on New Project Investment.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Imperative Points Covered in Global Red Rice Red Market Report

– Historical, current and projected global Red Rice Red market size and growth rate in forecast years.

– pays attention to emerging Red Rice Red market players with strong product data.

– Adequate counter plans and strategies to gain the competitive advantage of Red Rice Red industry.

– Driving and retaining factors of Red Rice Red business.

– Technological innovations and pinpoint analysis for changing competitive dynamics.

– Clear Understanding of the Red Rice Red market supported growth, constraints, opportunities, practicableness study.

– Analysis of evolving Red Rice Red market segments in addition to a whole study of existing Red Rice Red market segments.

Global Red Rice Red Market Size 2018 Fuzhou LLX, Gutian Diyuan, Jiangr Bio-Technology, Shandong Zhonghui and Jiacheng Biotechnology

By Lori Lobato February 12, 2018

The report “Global Red Rice Red Market” enlights crucial and discrete factors dominate the market growth forecast period from 2018 to 2025. The report conjecture is based on historic Red Rice Red

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

12

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter market data from 2012 to 2018 and ongoing market bearings. The Red Rice Red report intent to deliver discerning information and well-defined facts boost the Red Rice Red industry growth.

The report begins with the market overview, Red Rice Red industry chain structure, former and current market size along with Red Rice Red business opportunities in coming years, a rise in technological innovation, supply demand and shortage, various drivers and restraining factors pull the Red Rice Red environment. Furthermore, Red Rice Red report depicts production and consumption ratio of various topographical regions and dominant market players contribution to global Red Rice Red market growth.

Technological innovations and proficiency in the work Red Rice Red market have command of several players. Red Rice Red report is an essential tool for active market players across the globe enabling them to develop Red Rice Red business strategies. Competitive analysis of Red Rice Red market players is based on company profile information, Red Rice Red Product picture and specifications, upstream raw materials analysis and suppliers information, Red Rice Red manufacturing process, production cost, sales margin and revenue 2016 to 2017.

Sample PDF Copy of Global Red Rice Red Market Report at https://market.biz/report/global-redrice-red-market-hr/180368/#requestforsample

Global Red Rice Red Market Share by Manufacturers, Product Type and Application The Major Dominant Players Profiled in Global Red Rice Red Market are Zhejiang Sanhe, BNP, Ningbo HEP, Gee Lawson, Fuzhou LLX, Hangzhou Boda, Sylvan Bio, Nanping Senfa, Shandong Zhonghui, Jiacheng Biotechnology, Gutian Diyuan, Jiangr Bio-Technology, Hangzhou Twin-Horse, 3W Botanical and Hubei Zixin.

In Terms of End-Use Red Rice Red Market is Divided into Food Additive and Health Products.

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13

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Business Insights Delivered by Global Red Rice Red Market Report Global Red Rice Red market report begins with industry overview, Red Rice Red market size assessment, market apportionment, research regions aid the growth of Red Rice Red market, changes in market dynamics based on (Drivers, Red Rice Red Emerging Countries, Limitations, Red Rice Red business Opportunities, Industry News and Policies by Regions).

In the second part, Red Rice Red industry chain analysis provide details about upstream raw material suppliers, Red Rice Red major players manufacturing base, Product types and market share, cost structure Analysis, Red Rice Red Production Process Analysis, Manufacturing Cost Structure, Raw Material Cost, Labor Cost, Red Rice Red downstream buyers.

The third part, Red Rice Red report describes production, consumption and growth rate by Red Rice Red product type and applications forecast year from 2017 to 2025. Import and export scenario of Red Rice Red Industry, market status and SWOT analysis by regions (2012-2018), The fourth part describes Competitive Landscape of top leading manufacturers includes Company Profiles, Product Introduction, Price, Gross Margin 2012-2018. Red Rice Red market volume analysis by product type, applications and major geographical regions.

The fifth and most decisive part of Red Rice Red report depicts the company profile, product introduction, market positioning, target Customers, Price and gross margin of top leading players of Red Rice Red from 2017 to 2025.

The Later part, Global Red Rice Red Market report display industry impediment study, new entrants SWOT analysis, market risk and Suggestions on New Project Investment.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Imperative Points Covered in Global Red Rice Red Market Report – Historical, current and projected global Red Rice Red market size and growth rate in forecast years.

– pays attention to emerging Red Rice Red market players with strong product data.

– Adequate counter plans and strategies to gain the competitive advantage of Red Rice Red industry.

– Driving and retaining factors of Red Rice Red business.

– Technological innovations and pinpoint analysis for changing competitive dynamics.

– Clear Understanding of the Red Rice Red market supported growth, constraints, opportunities, practicableness study.

– Analysis of evolving Red Rice Red market segments in addition to a whole study of existing Red Rice Red market segments.

https://heraldanalyst.com/global-red-rice-red-market-size-2018-fuzhou/

Rice exports cross $1bn mark The Newspaper's Staff Reporter

February 10, 2018 Rice harvest underway in the outskirts of Lahore. Despite challenges, Pakistan’s rice exports are climbing this year after a three-year hiatus.—AFP LAHORE: Rice exports crossed the $1 billion mark during the first seven months of this fiscal year, said Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap) Senior Vice-Chairman Rafique Suleman on Friday.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

16 Sharing data for the seven-month period (July-January) of 2017-18, he said that so far 2.28 million tonnes

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter of rice amounting to $1.06bn were exported against 1.971m tonnes exports worth $820m for the same period a year ago.“It shows a 29 per cent growth in terms of value and 15pc in terms of quantity as the sector breaks out of the crisis it had been facing for the last three years.”He hoped that over 4m tonnes rice export target for the this fiscal year would be achieved.

Mr Suleman said they were eyeing European countries where India is set to lose its market as pesticide residue had been found in its rice.

He said so far Kenya is the largest buyer of Pakistani rice as during the current total 284,000 tonnes of rice amounting to $102m had been exported to it.The Reap official said that exports to China, the second largest destination of Pakistani rice, were on the decline. https://www.dawn.com/news/1388439/rice-exports-cross-1bn-mark

Rice export touches $ 1.06b February 10, 2018 APP

KARACHI - Rice export from Pakistan has seen significant growth and crossed dollars one billion by the end of January since July 2017 showing increase of 29 percent in value and 15 percent in quantity. In a statement here on Friday, the Senior Vice Chairman, Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), Rafique Suleman said that Pakistan exported total 2.28 million metric tons of rice worth $1.06billion in last seven months, whereas in the same period of last fiscal year the figure was 1.971 million metric tons amounting to $820million. https://nation.com.pk/10-Feb-2018/rice-export-touches-1-06b

Piñol calls for tighter gov’t control of rice industry, slams devious traders www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter February 10, 2018, 10:00 PM

By Ali G. Macabalang and Vanne Elaine P. Terrazola Buluan, Maguindanao — Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol reiterated here on Friday that the government must control the rice industry and save Filipino farmers and consumers from the “broad daylight robbery” by devious traders.

Piñol renewed his staunch stance against artificial rice shortage manipulators when he visited this town Friday morning to grace the inaugural operation of a multi-million halal chicken hatchery built by foreign and local investors.

Meantime, Senator Cynthia Villar said there is no need to panic due to the shortage of National Food Authority (NFA) rice supply as it would not affect the supply of rice in the whole country.

Piñol was welcomed in Barangay Maslabang by investors and Maguindanao officials led by Governor Esmael Mangudadatu and his son, Board Member Jazzer King Mangudadatu, who organized the event as an added highlight to the 2nd Inaul Festival that started Thursday.

Piñol told reporters here that the increase in prices of rice nowadays is a result of the lack of government control or subsidy in the production and marketing of the staple food.

‘Robbery’ “Filipino consumers are being robbed in broad daylight by rice traders (exploiting) lack of government-subsidised rice distributed by the National Food Authority (NFA) in the market by pricing commercial rice almost beyond the reach of the poor,” Piñol pointed out.

He said the prices of commercial rice in the market now range from P45 to P60 and even up to P100 for the imported Basmati variety from Pakistan.

Pricing mechanism Ideally, he said, the “rule of thumb in determining the price of rice in the market is to double the buying price of paddy rice (palay) from the farmers.”

“This means that if the buying price of paddy rice is P18 per kilo, the price of regular milled rice in the market should only be P36 per kilo or if the buying price of the farmers’ produce is P20 per kilo, then milled rice should only be P40 per kilo in the market, he said.

Citing a confession from a long-time rice trader, he said, a rice businessman makes at least P200 per 50-kilo bag of rice, not to include his earnings from tiki-tiki and rice bran, by-products in the milling process.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter “Pricing rice at P45 per kilo is cheating on the consumers (and) selling it at P60 per kilo is a brazen daylight robbery.

Controlling force The biggest problem in the rice industry in the country now is the fact that rice trading is controlled by businessmen who finance the planting, buy the paddy rice, mill the rice and sell the rice in the market through their dealers,” Piñol added.

He said the decades-old price manipulation scheme may not be solved fully under his watch, but the government must start sanctioning the “farm-to-market chain” of the rice industry and minimize traders’ grip on the rice industry, especially among the farmers who toil in and till the fields.

NFA stocks He confirmed that NFA warehouses are running out nowadays of rice buffer stocks, but the country actually has more than three million metric-ton surplus of the staple in the first quarter of 2018 which bring local stocks to about 5.8-million metric tons.

“Filipinos may consume 2.8 million metric tons in the first 90 days. So, after the first quarter, we will still have 3 million metric tons of rice,” he said.

Valentine’s Day treat Piñol said his agency will launch on Feb. 14 a retail sale of rice at P38 per kilo through an outlet in front of the DA main office in Quezon City as an initial relief of the Duterte government in the artificial shortage.

Hinting it as a sort of Valentine’s Day gift for the Filipinos, he said the DA central office outlet will start with an initial 4,000 bags.

A similar outlet will open few days later at the vicinity of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) main office in Manila, while DA field offices across the country will follow suit, Piñol said.

Don’t panic Sen. Villar, in a radio interview Saturday, maintained that the country has enough supply of rice and the shortage in the affordable NFA rice is isolated within the agency.

“The supply of rice in the NFA is different to that of the supply of rice in the whole Philippines.

We have enough supply of rice in the Philippines because harvest season has just ended,” Villar said.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Villar said the shortage in NFA rice is solely the problem of the agency for failiing to maintain its 15-day buffer stock requirement, which she said, can be addressed by importing or buying supply from local farmers.

Tags: Cynthia Villar, milled rice, National Food Authority, NFA, Piùol calls for tighter gov’t control of rice industry slams devious traders, Secretary https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/02/10/pinol-calls-for-tighter-govt-control-of-rice-industry-slamsdevious-traders/

Rice: Kebbi’s new gold mine February 11, 2018 AYO ADEOGE writes that in Kebbi State, rice farming is the in-thing, but the farmers face several challenges which threaten their potentials of making maximum gains for their efforts.Many people resident outside Kebbi State hold the belief that because the state is a hub for rice production with its two giant rice milling plants, prices of the commodity should be as low as one could imagine, considering its capacity to produce rice in millions of tons and the desire of the farmers to cultivate large rice fields. Ironically, the price of rice is higher in Kebbi than in other rice-producing states of the country.

Big business

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter One of the factors responsible for this is that rice production in Kebbi State is virtually done during the dry season. To achieve high yield, the farmers must use the water pumping machines powered by petrol to irrigate several hectares of rice fields.Unlike other states, Kebbi has no dam for irrigation farming, therefore for its farmers to remain in the rice business they must buy fuel on daily basis to irrigate their rice farms.

More so, what is attributed to Kebbi rice being costlier is as a result of the competition among those who come to buy rice in the state and the breakthrough it has recorded in rice production.

The state has thus become a haven for millers from across the country and some parts of the West African sub-region. As a result, farmers have to jack up the price of their paddy rice.

According to the chairman, Rice Farmers Association in Kebbi State, Alhaji Sahabi Augie, in an exclusive interview with Sunday Tribune: “We have been buying fuel before this time at the rate of N145 per litre but given the recent fuel situation it has risen to N220 per litre. With this teething problem on our hands, you can imagine the agony of a farmer with about two to 5 hectares of rice field and he must buy up to 15-20 litres every day for three months to power his pumping machine and water his farms. This is another reason our rice is more expensive than the rice produced in other states of the federation.

“Some states have dams, but here we have to spend more money to buy fuel to power the water pumps to produce our rice. With this problem, there is no way it will not affect our cost of production and consequently the price of the commodity. If this is happening, the number of hectares a farmer can cultivate will be reduced and this might result in low output and availability of rice in the market,” he said.

He stressed further that, “We have two large rice mill factories in Kebbi State, Labana and WACOT Rice Mills Ltd. Labana has the capacity to produce 220,000 tons per annum while WACOT has a production capacity of 120,000 metric tons annually and 400 metric tons of rice daily. We also have rice companies coming from Niger and Kano states. We also have local millers coming from Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara, Ebony, Abia states respectively.

“This has created a form of competition among rice buyers in the state. Another issue is that the important tool a farmer uses to produce rice after land and seed is water. We have to buy fertilisers two or three times in a year, but as far as water is concerned it is a daily activity and we need the pumping machines to be powered by petrol to generate water for the farms. So whether one is a small or medium scale farmer the cost of production must keep escalating.Challenges of rice farming To produce rice in a during the rainy season is a risk because the yield will depend on the character of the rain circle. The longer the period of rainfall, the better the yield.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Last year there was serious flooding occasioned by the over flooding of the River Niger and River Rima around some farmlands.

Several rice farms were overflooded and destroyed.

Consequently, some farmers lost everything while some only got less than half of what they expected to harvest.In other cases, just as rice was about getting ready for harvest there was the shortage of rainfall. This was responsible for some of the low yield or harvest that farmers experienced last year.

Sunday Tribune also spoke with some rice farmers who expressed their frustrations over issues surrounding rice farming especially during dry season when water is needed for irrigation but the scarcity of fuel is frustrating the much-needed effort.Alhaji Bello Modibo is a rice farmer who said he has been into the rice farming long time before the advent of recent government intervention to make rice farming attractive, thereby producing more locally to discourage importation.

He told Sunday Tribune that before now planting of rice was basically on a subsistence basis, not to make big money. To him, there was not much profit in rice farming. But today the story is different. “We were only planting than for our domestic consumption and offered little for sale to be able to buy soup ingredients and other household needs. “Today by the grace of Allah rice farming has become a lucrative business in which everybody wants to be fully involved because of the economic reality attached to it. People from all walks of life are now trooping into this state seeking for land to engage themselves in rice farming,� he said.

Modibo, however, appealed to the state government to as a matter of urgency provide grazing areas for pastoralists to avoid what he foresees as incessant clashes between the rice farmers and pastoralists.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter According to him, going by the rate at which the state is moving, every available land would soon be acquired by people who want to go into rice farming which invariably means that pastoralists would find it extremely difficult to graze and rice fields may become an alternative for them. He wants the government to look into this critical area and act fast.

Another farmer who also commented on the challenges confronting rice farming especially dry season farming is Malam Yahaha Umar, a civil servant in the state who also complained bitterly about the current scarcity of petrol, saying the development has seriously affected production and this is why prices of rice in the state still remain on the high side.

According to him, “a litre of petrol now sells for between N200 and N250 in the state, a development that is causing serious challenges. To get it to buy, even at that rate is also a big problem because most of the filling stations around would not sell inside gallon or jerry can.

“What happens next is to find a way to bribe station attendants. Before you know it you have been on the queue for donkey hours. Putting all these challenges together a farmer has no choice than to sell his paddy rice to the millers at a price he feels would be commensurate with the high cost of his production and the sufferings he went through,” Malam Yahaya said.

He also called on the state government to as a matter of priority provide herdsmen with grazing reserves. He argued that going by the rate at which rice farming is gradually becoming an integral part of the nation’s economy, grazing reserves or ranches should be provided for herdsmen whereby shafts gathered from paddy rice could be used to feed cattle to prevent clashes between rice farmers and herders.

Despite all these, farmers in Kebbi State buy their inputs from their own pockets. With no subsidy in terms of fertilizers and seedlings, farmers are earnestly looking up to government for succour.

Alhaji Augie, the Rice farmers association boss is not happy about this as according to him most of the rice farmers are small time rice growers with no deep pockets.

“If we buy inputs at the market price there is no way we will not increase the price of our rice.

For now, a 75kg bag of paddy rice is being sold at the rate of N9,000 to N9,500 in the state depending on the quality. The finished rice is sold at the rate of N13,000,” he said.

Alhaji Augie concluded that rice has become a serious business in Kebbi State, adding that many people, such as civil servants, businessmen and contractors are returning to the farm now because of the success that farmers in the state have recorded in rice farming since the flag off of the Anchor Borrowers programme by the federal government.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter “Luckily there is a large market for rice even buyers goes as far as the farms to buy rice. There are farmers in this state who have 1, 5, 15, 20 and even 200 hectares of rice fields. There is this lady who was hawking medicine all around but now she is into farming.” She made up to N2 million last season, Alhaji Augie enthused.

That story simply sums up the new dimension to rice farming in Kebbi State today. In less than one year any ambitious man or woman could take to rice farming even on a part-time basis and still become the latest millionaire in town.

http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/rice-kebbis-new-gold-mine/

Chasing the innocents (Part II, Conclusion) February 10, 2018, 10:00 PM

By Dr. Emil Q. Javier ‘There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why… I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?’

– Robert Kennedy This column and the previous deal with two recent events involving what many members of the academic and scientific community perceive as harassment and unjust, shabby, treatment of academics, scientists and professionals in government for alleged infractions in the performance of non-academic, non-scientific functions.

These developments have two serious implications: 1) our best and brightest would henceforth shy from assuming key leadership and administrative positions in public universities, research institutions and development agencies and 2) similarly it will be difficult to invite outstanding academics, scientists and professionals to sit in the governing boards of public entities where their expertise and experience are most badly needed. This is particularly true in university and research agency boards and councils where directors do not receive compensation, except for lunch, coffee and doughnuts during meetings. (Tongue in cheek, with these disincentives, only lawyers will dare!)

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The first case was the dismissal from the service of Dr. Ester Ogena, President of Philippine Normal University (PNU), and her three fellow senior officials, for an editorial/advertisement contract worth US$25,000 with an influential international magazine, without benefit of public bidding.

In their defense, Dr. Ogena and her co-respondents contended that 1) they did not personally benefit from the contract, 2) that the contract in fact was on the behest and approval of the Chairperson and the entire Board of Regents of the university, 3) that the law on government procurement allows for exemptions under certain circumstances which were satisfied, and 4) the implementing rules and regulations of the procurement law specifically cites advertisement in media among the exemptions.

Unfortunately the Ombudsman somehow ignored/overlooked these facts and found them guilty of grave misconduct.

The PhilRice board of trustees and car rental plan The second case was the dismissal from the service of the members of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), an agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA) for an experimental car rental plan for 10 senior staff being allegedly grossly disadvantageous to the government.

The rationale as presented to the BOT by PhilRice management was as follows: The use of government-owned vehicles (with red plates) cost PhilRice P22 per kilometer. Since PhilRice did not have enough vehicles, they rent private vehicles at a net cost of R15 per kilometer.

The scheme allowed senior PhilRice employees to borrow money from the Philippine National Bank (PNB) to purchase vehicles which they can use for official purposes and rented from them by the Institute based on days of actual use and mileage travelled. The rental scheme should cost PhilRice the same as rented private vehicles (but less than government-owned red-plated vehicles) with the added benefit of hard-working, underpaid employees acquiring vehicles also for their private use.

It was on the basis of this reasonable cost-benefit analysis by management that the “PhilRice Board of Trustees approved in principle the car rental plan subject to necessary modifications that are most advantageous to the government‌ subject to availability of funds and to an Administrative Order that shall be issued for the purpose. [Board Resolution 208-08-52].

Did the government lose money on the car rental plan?

There are really two substantive issues: 1) did the Administrative Order issued by the Executive Director and the way the same was implemented, lead to a loss to PhilRice, specifically were the actual rental costs under the Car Plan greater than the benchmark R15 per kilometer rent paid to

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter privately-owned vehicles?, and 2) Did the hold-out of PhilRice deposits with PNB to cover the car loans cause any loss to government or diminished PhilRice operations?

The qualification of the Board resolution was crystal clear: “Approved in principle subject to necessary modifications that are most advantageous to the government.” The implementing rules and the way they are implemented are responsibilities of Management, not the Board. The Board has oversight but the day-to-day operations rest with the Executive Director. The BOT should therefore not be held accountable if indeed the car rental plan failed to meet the intent of being advantageous to government.

The car rental plan was an attempt of the organization to innovate, to improve the service while rewarding deserving employees. There was full transparency in the conduct of the trial. There was no evil intent nor subterfuge on the part of the Board and Management. None of the trustees (except the Executive Director) materially benefitted from the plan. If indeed the numbers show that there was a loss, the benefitting employees should be required to restitute those amounts which they undeservedly received under the Car Plan. And at most a penalty of reprimand or a brief suspension on the Executive Director for not doing his arithmetic well to get the calculations and implementation details right.

The second issue is easy to answer. Government did not incur any loss in the hold-out of PhilRice deposits with PNB in the amount of R15.78 million. PhilRice as a government corporation has trust funds in tens of millions of pesos at any one time. These trust funds are reserves and not are allocated for day-to-day operations. And therefore there were no institute activities that were disrupted for lack of funds.

Besides, the hold-out was only pro-forma because all the loans were fully secured by vehicle chattel mortgages the borrowers assigned to the bank. The hold-out deposits earned marketbased interest rates (2.85 percent) and therefore there was absolutely no loss to PhilRice.

The human cost of misadministration of justice These two instances of misadministration of justice are particularly dismaying and appalling because the victims are individuals whom many of us in the academic community consider as paragons of expertise and virtue.

Most tragic is the case of the late National Scientist Gelia Tagumpay Castillo, emeritus professor of rural sociology at UP Los Baños, a magna cum laude graduate of education from UP Diliman, and with graduate degrees from Pennsylvania State University and Cornell University.

According to her daughter Nina, her mom suffered a stroke right after signing the 12 sheets of the motion for reconsideration brought to their house in Los Baños by the PhilRice board secretary. Moreover, months later Dr. Castillo died a day after their motion for reconsideration was denied by the Ombudsman. Whether these are merely painful coincidences we will never

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter know. But they indeed are hurtful and bitter pills to swallow for her family, friends, students and admirers.

Gelia Castillo is a highly respected, internationally acclaimed rural sociologist. As proof of her international standing, she had served on more than 70 national and international Boards, Commissions, Councils and Review Teams on a wide array of subjects. In spite of her age (late 80s) she dutifully endured the arduous five-hour drive from Los Baños to Muñoz, Nueva Ecija for the PhilRice meetings for love of the institution which she knew was doing great service to small farmers. She had an almost maternal affinity with PhilRice because she was with the Institute Board since its inception 33 years ago and was mentor/tutor to the first director, Dr. Santiago Obien.

The case of Dr. William G. Padolina has a particular twist which inexplicably the Ombudsman cavalierly brushed aside. Dr. Padolina graduated magna cum laude from UP Los Baños and obtained a Ph.D. in phytochemistry from University of Texas. He was the founding deputy director (later Director) of the BIOTECH institute at UP Los Baños. He has the rare distinction of having served in the cabinets of two administrations i.e. as science secretary to President Ramos and to President Estrada. He is the incumbent President of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST).

William Padolina served in the PhilRice Board ex-officio in his capacity as Deputy Director General of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). As such he enjoyed diplomatic immunity as provided by the Headquarters Agreement between the Government of the Philippines (ratified by the Senate) and IRRI. Under Section 4.3.2 of the said Headquarters Agreement, IRRI officials including Dr. Padolina “enjoy immunity from legal processes, including arrest and detention, in respect of words spoken or written and acts performed in official capacity. . .” No less than Assistant Secretary Jerril Santos of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) placed on record that Dr. Padolina was in the official roster of IRRI officials enjoying diplomatic immunity.

The Ombudsman instead of ruling whether Dr. Padolina enjoyed diplomatic immunity or not absurdly noted that he failed to raise the defense at the earliest instance and thereby casting doubt on the relevance of the claim.

Congressman Arthur Yap of the 3rd district of Bohol who was then Chairman of the Board of Trustees in his capacity as Secretary of DA can defend himself. His defense among others, was he was not even present when the Board passed the resolution approving the car rental plan.

Senen Bacani, also former Secretary of DA and well-known agribusiness executive sacrificed time from his many other more financially rewarding pursuits for the long drives to Muñoz for the PhilRice board meetings for love of country and small farmers.

Dr. Rodolfo Undan, then President of Central Luzon State University (CLSU) is a recognized hydrologist and irrigation engineer with graduate degrees from the Asian Institute of Technology

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter and Utah State University. Fe Laysa, a plant pathologist by training, rose through the ranks to become a regional director of DA. Both are highly regarded in their professions and have impeccable clean records of public service.

Space will not allow more details about the professional backgrounds of the other respondents who were summarily dismissed from the service. Suffice to say they are all upright, wellmeaning professionals with unblemished records of public service. No way can they be guilty of grave misconduct without the elements of corruption, clear intent to violate the law, or flagrant disregard of established rule as specified under the law.

They deserve medals, not opprobrium. ***** Dr. Emil Q. Javier is a Member of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and also Chair of the Coalition for Agriculture Modernization in the Philippines (CAMP).

For any feedback , email eqjavier@yahoo.com https://business.mb.com.ph/2018/02/10/chasing-the-innocents/

Amira Nature Foods (NYSE:ANFI) Cut to “Hold” at Zacks Investment Research Rob Logan on Feb 10th, 2018 Zacks Investment Research cut shares of Amira Nature Foods (NYSE:ANFI) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report issued on Wednesday, January 17th.According to Zacks, “Amira Nature Foods Ltd. provides packaged Indian specialty rice. The Company sells Basmati rice, premium long-grain rice under their flagship Amira brand as well as under other third party brands. It participates across the entire rice supply chain from the procurement of paddy to its storage, aging,

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter processing into rice, packaging, distribution and marketing. Amira Nature Foods Ltd. is headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. “ Separately, Jefferies Group reissued a buy rating and issued a $8.00 price objective on shares of Amira Nature Foods in a research note on Tuesday, September 26th.

Amira Nature Foods (NYSE:ANFI) traded down $0.01 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $4.00. 128,832 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 169,500. Amira Nature Foods has a 52 week low of $3.85 and a 52 week high of $7.05.

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ANFI. Wells Fargo & Company MN raised its holdings in shares of Amira Nature Foods by 2,248.3% during the fourth quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 819,780 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,418,000 after purchasing an additional 784,871 shares during the period. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company raised its holdings in shares of Amira Nature Foods by 4.8% during the fourth quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 357,321 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,490,000 after purchasing an additional 16,357 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Amira Nature Foods by 30.1% during the second quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 102,130 shares of the company’s stock valued at $566,000 after purchasing an additional 23,630 shares during the period. GSA Capital Partners LLP raised its holdings in shares of Amira Nature Foods by 104.2% during the second quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP now owns 36,836 shares of the company’s stock valued at $204,000 after purchasing an additional 18,800 shares during the period. Finally, Nationwide Fund Advisors acquired a new stake in shares of Amira Nature Foods in the 3rd quarter worth about $182,000. 13.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Amira Nature Foods Company Profile Amira Nature Foods Ltd is primarily engaged in the business of processing and selling packaged Indian specialty rice, primarily basmati rice and other food products. The Company sells Basmati

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter rice and other specialty rice, under its Amira brand, as well as under other third-party brands. It also sells non-basmati rice.

For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com https://ledgergazette.com/2018/02/10/amira-nature-foods-anfi-downgraded-by-zacks-investmentresearch-to-hold.html

Assembler gears up for expansion February 12, 2018

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) has invested P465 million in a new vehicle logistics center (VLC) that would accommodate its expansion.In a statement over the weekend, TMP said the VLC will substantially increase TMP’s vehicle stockyard capacity, as well as improve car carrier operations for its dealer network.

The VLC has a total land area of 12.8 hectares within the Toyota Special Economic Zone in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

“TMP intends to keep growing, so it is imperative that we continue to level up our operations.

We need to always guarantee that our logistics facilities will be sufficient to serve our growing volume,” said Satoru Suzuki, TMP president.

This expansion will support TMP’s P5.2-billion investment in the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) program for the production of Vios of at least 200,000 units for a period of six years.

TMP is putting up a state-of-the-art plastic injection facility in its Santa Rosa plant. It is also expanding ts press parts facility.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter TMP is also introducing a new hemming technology under the CARS program.

TMP is also localizing additional press parts on top of the 50 percent total body shell weight requirement.

The VLC was constructed with the technical know-how and support from Toyota Motor Corp.

Japan and Toyota Daihatsu Engineering & Manufacturing Company (Thailand).

Toyota, the leading vehicle brand in the Philippines, celebrates its 30th anniversary in the Philippines this year.

In 2017, Toyota sold 183,908 units, up 16 percent from 2016 and 43 percent of total sales. http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/business/assembler-gears-expansion

Pesticide application clinics set Feb 8, 2018

BATESVILLE — Six pesticide application workshops are scheduled between Feb. 27 and March 8, to prep farmers for the 2018 growing season.The workshops will be led by Jason Davis, extension application technologist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. There’s no cost to attend and three hours of CCA credit will be available. Contact Jason Davis by email at jdavis@uaex.edu or phone at (501)749-2077.

The schedule: • Feb. 27 - Men’s Center in McGehee • Feb. 28 - Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart • March 1 - Brinkley Community Center in Brinkley

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter • March 6 – Arkansas State University-Newport in Newport • March 7 - Greene County Fairgrounds in Paragould • March 8 - Manila Municipal Airport in Manila.     

Facebook Twitter Email Print Save

http://harrisondaily.com/agriculture/pesticide-application-clinics-set/article_6c8beaf0-0d08-11e8-a48fefd3a49de120.

Organic bills generate excitement among organic food and rice groups This article is powered by Food Chemical News 09 Feb 2018

Margarita Raycheva While the organic industry is hailing a new bill that would increase federal funding for organic research, the USA Rice Federation has expressed support for a different bill – one that seeks to address the problem of fraudulent organic imports into the United States.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

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Organic Rice Market Competition by Company, Countries, Application, Type to 2023 February 9, 2018 - by Rashmi

“Organic Rice Market examines the performance of the Organic Rice market 2023. It encloses a complete Research of the Organic Rice market state and the competitive landscape ly. This report analyzes the potential of market in the present and the future prospects from various viewpoints in detail. “ Description Organic Rice Market Research Report provides an in-depth analysis of the major Organic Rice industry leading players along with the company profiles and strategies adopted by them. This enables the buyer of the report to gain a telescopic view of the competitive landscape and plan the strategies accordingly. A separate section with Organic Rice industry key players is included

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter in the report, which provides a comprehensive analysis of price, cost, gross, revenue, product picture, specifications, company profile, and contact information.

The Market Research, besides estimating the Organic Rice’ market potential till 2023, analyzes on who can be the market leaders and what partnerships would help them to capture the market share. The Organic Rice Industry report gives an overview about the dynamics of the market, by discussing various aspects such as drivers, restraints, Porter’s 5 forces, value chain, customer acceptance and investment scenario Get a Sample of Organic Rice Market Research Report @: https://www.marketreportsworld.com/enquiry/request-sample/10781320 The following Companies as the Key Players in the Organic Rice Market Research Report 2017: Doguet’s Rice Randallorganic Sanjeevani Organics Kahang Organic Rice RiceSelect Texas Best Organics CAPITAL RICE YINCHUAN URMATT Vien Phu Organic Rice Market by Type and Application (2012-2017) Organic Rice Market Size by Type and Application (2012-2017) Organic Rice Market Size by Type (2012-2017) Organic Rice Market Size by Application (2012-2017) Potential Application of Organic Rice in Future Top Consumer/End Users of Organic Rice Organic Rice Market Forecast 2017-2023 The Organic Rice industry research report analyses the supply, sales, production, and market status comprehensively. Production market shares and sales market shares are analysed along with the study of capacity, production, sales, and revenue. Several other factors such as import,

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter export, gross margin, price, cost, and consumption are also analysed under the section Analysis of Organic Rice production, supply, sales and market status.

Key Points Covered in TOC: Organic Rice Market Research Report 2017 Organic Rice Market Competition by Manufacturers Organic Rice Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017) Organic Rice Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017) Organic Rice Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type Organic Rice Market Analysis by Application Organic Rice Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis Organic Rice Manufacturing Cost Analysis Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders Market Effect Factors Analysis Place a Purchase Order For $ 3500 (Single User License) at: https://www.marketreportsworld.com/purchase/10781320 The Organic Rice Market report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years, the Report also brief deals with the product life cycle, comparing it to the relevant products from across industries that had already been commercialized details the potential for various applications, discussing about recent product innovations and gives an overview on potential regional market shares.

SOURCE The Financial Consulting https://thefinancialconsulting.com/ https://thefinancialconsulting.com/organic-rice-market-competition-by-company-countries-applicationtype-to-2023/50718/

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter How Pure Farming 2018 taught me to respect rice and strange machinery

By James Davenport

We harvest the world with an early build of the newest farming sim.

This is me in my normal human house in Montana, where I have a large farm. I grow potatoes on this farm, which I plan to sell so I can purchase cows. I plan to feed the cows until they produce milk. I will collect this milk and sell it to purchase a farm in Japan. I do not know how much a farm in Japan costs, but it is every normal human farmer's dream to own and operate a farm in Japan. Or Colombia. Or Italy. I can have farms in all of these locations in Pure Farming 2018, the new farmer on the block that wants to take simulations global, though I worry it's only because it can't match the depth or fidelity of Farming Simulator 17. That's OK though, because now I know where rice comes from.

I roleplayed a normal human farmer in the free farming mode, but didn't come away with a very good idea of what Pure Farming 2018 is other than a competent farming simulator. I mean, I planted some potatoes and tended to them and hours later I was still doing that, which seems realistic. To get a better idea of the true breadth of Pure Farming 2018, I played through a few Farming Challenges, scenarios in which you need to perform specific tasks, like harvesting olives or coffee or repairing 10 vehicles in a short amount of time.

I dig (farmer joke) that there's a way for me to skip right to my favorite parts of the process, which will be an inviting feature to those without the time to dedicate hundreds of hours to a potato empire. So to satisfy my own ballooning potato itch, I started with the scenario titled 'Potato Campaign.' And no, I'm not talking about a Call of Duty game (regular human joke).

Here I am planting potatoes.

I think the environment artists might have mixed up mountains with very large rocks.

To plant them, I must first drive my tractor, a Zetor Crystal 160. It is powerful and detailed and real, based on an actual model and brand like every vehicle in the game. I drive my tractor in reverse and connect it to an Akpil Powerplant which is not a tiny power generating medium but a tractor attachment that shoves potato bulbs into the earth. It rips and tears into the earth and deposits my bulbs. I drive back and forth, engaging my tractor in work mode by pressing a key that corresponds to a work command when I'm over the perfect, freshly tilled soil. As I drive back and forth depositing my bulbs I feel calm and alert. These feelings become one, a new

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter emotion that I do not know the name of. Soon, I think, I will water the potatoes and potatoes will sprout. This is good for me, a normal human farmer.

Here I am planting rice in a water field, a field that exists underwater, though it could be reasoned that the water is part of the field.

These are the questions we normal human farmers grapple with each and every day. I drive back and forth across the water field / field beneath the water and consider whether the water is considered part of the field. Again, I feel calm and alert. Farming has so far proved to be quite boring and thrilling at once. Why do I farm? Why do I farm inside the computer? I do it because this rice planting machine is nothing like I've ever seen, and I didn't know how to farm rice before. I knew it came in big bags that cost very little.

I've peered beyond the veil of abstract labor, and though this virtual labor is still quite abstract with its ugly environments, I appreciate rice more now. Plus, the machine looks like a bicycle and a creature that exists in dimension outside the rules of linear time and space had a child. I can never remember which is the front and which is the back. It is forbidden to remember.

Now I am harvesting the rice.

This implies time has passed. My trick is that I'm playing a different scenario where the rice has already grown. I could grow it, I just don't feel like it. I harvest by driving a Redlands Combine Harvester TR 22. Notice how top-heavy it looks. Don't take this beaut of any big jumps. But after driving back and forth for 30 minutes to harvest my Montana potatoes, I decide that driving back and forth to harvest the rice is not challenging or entertaining enough, so I make erratic patterns in my path. I think about drawing something lewd, but I do not. Soon, I harvest so much rice that my TR 22 can carry no more and my creation is left unfinished.

I'm not mad, I'm just beginning to realize that harvesting takes the same skills required to determine the most efficient way to mow a lawn. I did a lot of that as a teen, and I don't want to feel like a teen anymore. So instead, I start playing with the TR 22's controls and looking at it up close. This is honestly enough for me. These machines are so damn cool, though I don't expect the masses to agree. Onto another scenario.

Here's me, a normal human farmer, taking a break from harvesting fresh coffee beans.

I'm using a Skybury Coffee Combine Harvester to do it, and I'm told Skybury is like the Starbucks of Australia. I realize this makes me a hack farmer, working beneath the bootheel of a massive corporation. Coffee beans might not be harvested to chow down on, sure, but I feel bad

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter about it, like I've betrayed the farmer code. But as a real human farmer, what choice do I have?

Work for the man and get a steady paycheck or live in a shack and work for myself? These are the moral-ethical quandaries human farmers face day to day. I look forward to a future where a farming simulator addresses this problem, due props to Stardew Valley.

I think this is my boss. I do not want to anger him.

Still, check it out. This thing chews and spews, baby. There's a grim satisfaction in harvesting these bushes, driving over them with my steel shed on two legs, a bridge of gnashing teeth between them.

No bean will be spared today. I do not feel sorry for the beans. I love my big machines too much to feel otherwise. The act of farming is a horrific agreement with nature that requires patience and planning, something a capitalist baby like myself cannot learn to appreciate overnight, but I'm getting there. I realize I call myself a normal human farmer and that it is a lie.

At least Pure Farming 2018 is capable of letting me live the fantasy of a normal human farmer, with a few caveats. It's not a pretty game and not too exciting, except for the lovely machines.

They're so detailed and unique, illuminating industries and labor practices from all over the world I was totally unaware of. And on a simpler level, they're just fun to pilot around, like complex Tonka trucks in agriculture sandboxes.

An early preview build isn't enough to see if it is a more capable, interesting sim than Farming Simulator 17, but the ability to open farms globally and to play with the included toys and crops is an appealing novelty. Most of my enjoyment came from discovering how goods I'm familiar with are planted and processed rather than the management minutiae, though I'm sure there's a stressful Stardew Valley in there waiting to plugged into a spreadsheet.

PREV ARTICLEDownhill biking game Descenders could be the heir to Skate's thronepublished 3 days agoNEXT ARTICLEFortnite Battle Royale performance and settings guidepublished 3 days ago https://www.pcgamer.com/how-pure-farming-2018-taught-me-to-respect-rice-and-strangemachinery/

Price untamed despite record rice import States report of United States Department of Agriculture 12:00 AM, February 11, 2018 / LAST MODIFIED: 01:38 AM, February 11, 2018

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Unb, Dhaka

Average retail price of coarse rice continues to remain high in the country despite a record

high import of the staple in the current financial year (2017-18)."A record high amount of rice imports did not contribute significantly to retail rice price reductions in the local market," stated a recently released market report of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The report -- Bangladesh: Grain and Feed Update -- quoted Bangladesh Bank estimates to note that rice is being imported at Tk 37.89 a kg from India, but retail prices in the local market are 19 percent higher than the actual cost.

Though government silos have 29 percent higher stocks (8.24 lakh MT) as of end-January comparing to the corresponding period of the last year, the USDA noted, the average retail price for coarse rice remained as high as Tk 45 per kg, 24 percent higher than the last year.

Recently Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed has said that rice price would not drop below Tk 40.

The government is currently buying Aman rice from farmers at Tk 39 a kg and public sector rice purchase is expected to be doubled from already declared three lakh MT to six lakh MT, USDA stated.

As of February 6, in the current fiscal (2017-18), public and private sectors together imported a record 28.50 lakh MT of rice, which is 21 times more than what the country imported in the entire 2016-17 fiscal.

In the last fiscal, the government needed not to import a single grain of rice while private traders also imported just 1.33 lakh MT. In the first seven months of current fiscal, the government imported 7.47 lakh MT with more imports in the pipeline. Around same time, private sector imported over 21 lakh MT of rice.

USDA report stated that the food ministry has a plan to import 15 lakh MT of rice in FY 2017-18 to boost public stocks, and has imported less than half the amount till end-January, 2018.

"Following the current pace of rice imports for public stocks, it will be a challenge for the government to realise its intended target," observed USDA report also noting that the government-to-government (G2G) agreement of 1.5 lakh MT rice import from Thailand has been terminated due to on-time supply failures, and the authorities have not yet decided how to fill the gap.

On the other hand, private sector rice imports have continued rapidly due to higher prices in the local market, and in order to lessen the panic of possible lower production in the next Boro season due to flood risk, the report added.The private importers are aggressively taking the maximum benefit of a two percent tariff rate, said USDA.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter DA to sell cheaper commercial rice on Feb 14 FEBRUARY 11, 20۸۱

TO prove that the high prices of rice in the market is the result of the manipulation by traders, the Agriculture department said it would sell good-quality commercial rice for only P38 per kilo on February 14 at the agency’s central office in Quezon City.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said farmers’ groups from Central Luzon under the agency’s “TienDA” support program would sell rice by the kilo and in 10-kilo and 25-kilo bags.

“Good-quality commercial rice will be sold directly to consumers for only P38 per kilo in front of the Department of Agriculture on Elliptical Road in Quezon City on February 14, Valentine’s Day,” Piñol said in a post on his Facebook page He said each buyer would be allowed to buy a maximum of 25 kilos, which would cost P950.

“Only 100 bags will be sold by kilo. There will be 1,000 bags of 10-kilos to be sold for P380 per bag and 500 bags of 25 kilos for P950,” he said.

The TienDA will open at 8 a.m. and will also offer other agricultural products.

The DA decided to launch the “TienDA Bigas ng Masa Program” (Rice for the Masses) following supposed attempts by rice cartels to manipulate the prices of rice in the market by claiming a shortage.

Commercial rice have been sold at as much as P60 per kilo in markets following reports that the National Food Authority (NFA) was running out of buffer stock.

Piñol said that, by the end of 2017, the buffer stock of NFA rice was placed at 2.7 million metric tons and with the expected harvest of 3.1-million metric tons by the first quarter of 2018, available rice stocks would total 5.8 million metric tons.

The Agriculture chief said the Bigas ng Masa TienDA would soon be opened in other parts of Metro Manila and urban centers.

“This will be the first big-scale effort in giving farmers access to the consumers directly,” he said.

Buy more rice, NFA urged Sen. Cynthia Villar on Saturday urged the NFA to buy rice from different sources nationwide to address the reported shortage of the government-subsidized staple.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Villar, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, said there would be no shortage of NFA rice if the agency would only pursue its mandate to ensure the presence of affordable rice in the market.

“We have enough supply of rice because we had just finished the harvest season. The people should not panic. It is not only the NFA which supplies rice,” she said in a radio interview.

Villar deplored the NFA’s supposed “press release” that there was a shortage of NFA rice. “Its rice inventory is not indicative of the rice supply situation all over the country,” she said.

Villar added that the NFA must look for rice supply in other parts of the country which it can buy at P17 per kilo “because the big traders have already cornered the rice coming from Central Luzon.”

“But the NFA can still buy cheap rice in Antique, Bicol, and Palawan. That is their job: to buy rice at P17 to make sure that our farmers would not be taken advantage of by traders,” she said.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, who used to head the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Food Security and Agricultural Modernization, backed Villar’s call for a Senate inquiry into the reported NFA rice shortage.

He said the consuming public needed to know why buffer stock for affordable rice had gone down from the required 15 to 30 days to just a couple of days.

“The explanation to us is there is enough commercial rice but of course we would like to make sure that the inexpensive, affordable NFA rice is also present,” he added.

12 million tons annually Pangilinan said that the government, through the NFA, is required to have a supply enough for 15 days during the harvest season and 30 days during the lean months.

But he added that the government needed to import rice because Filipinos consume about 12 million tons of rice every year, but the country produces only about 90 percent of that amount.

“This means that the Philippines needs to import about a million tons of rice, making it a major rice importer that’s able to influence global rice prices,” he said.

He added, “It’s a combination of managing your rice supply correctly, importing at the right time, not during the harvest season because you will compete with farmers.”

“Make sure you import ahead. Meaning, you buy for delivery five to six months from now,” Pangilinan said, detailing the strategy he adopted in rice importation.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Importation plan hit The National Federation of Peasant Women (Amihan) on Friday hit President Rodrigo Duterte over a purported plan to proceed with the importation of 250,000 metric tons of rice amid the supposed shortage.

“Duterte is giving in to the luxury of unscrupulous rice traders and corrupt NFA officials who will get the most benefit from the importation,” Amihan chief Zen Soriano said.

“A proper investigation should be conducted first to clarify the differing statements of government officials which only create confusion among the people, and determine the real cause of NFA rice shortage,” Soriano added.

The group cited the contradicting statements of NFA Administrator Jason Aquino who is pushing for importation, and Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol and Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco who both declared there was a sufficient supply of rice.

There is a possibility the NFA Council is being pressured to allow importation, the group claimed.

Soriano warned that rice imports, if approved, would arrive in the country in time for the harvest season, which would be detrimental to local farmers. http://www.manilatimes.net/da-sell-cheaper-commercial-rice-feb-14/379534/

Philippines plans open tender, June delivery for 250,000 T rice imports Reuters Monday February 12, 2018 2:25 AM Kitco News Share this article: * Imports to boost stocks at state grains agency NFA * Philippines is one of world's top rice buyers

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

By Enrico Dela Cruz MANILA, Feb 12 (Reuters) - The Philippines will buy 250,000 tonnes of rice via an open international tender and delivery will be in June, a top government official said, as the country seeks to boost thin state stockpiles and stabilise rising domestic prices.

Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, who chairs a government panel that approves rice imports, said there was no need to rush the purchase because there were about 3.8 million tonnes of local stocks as of this month, enough to cover 121 days of national consumption.

"We assure the public that there is no rice shortage," Evasco said in a media briefing on Monday, as he announced the panel's approval of the rice purchase plan of the state grains agency, the National Food Authority (NFA).

Evasco also said the local harvest season has begun and will peak in March, which will produce an additional 3.6 million tonnes.

The Philippines, one of the world's biggest rice buyers, saw domestic prices of the staple grain increase by 3-4 percent in late January and rise further this month, as government stockpiles dropped to the lowest in more than two decades. The NFA, tasked with stabilising domestic rice prices, has said private traders had increased prices amid thin supply of cheap NFA rice in the market.

The NFA said last week that its stocks dropped to about 60,000 tonnes, just enough for two days of national consumption. That is well below the required 15-day inventory and the lowest since July 1995.

Rice imports totalling about 507,000 tonnes, part of the 728,475-tonne purchases by local traders that were contracted last year, were also scheduled to arrive between the end of February and August this year, Evasco said.

The NFA's rice imports should arrive after the local harvest season, or in the first week of June, he said.

To ensure a "more inclusive, open and transparent" method of importation, he said the NFA will conduct a tender among private suppliers, similar to what was done last year.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The NFA's only rice purchase last year was 250,000 tonnes sourced from Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore, via a tender in July.

Evasco said rice suppliers from Vietnam and Thailand would also be able to participate in the upcoming tender, along with other producers including Laos.

(Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath)

Villar blames NFA for rice supply mess

By JP LOPEZ February 12, 2018 SEN. Cynthia Villar yesterday said the supposed lack of rice supply is the fault of the National Food Authority (NFA).

Villar, chairman of the Senate committee on agriculture, said the NFA is mandated to buy rice from farmers at P17 per kilo for its 15-day buffer stock or to import rice, but failed to do so.

“Wala po tayong shortage sa bigas. Ang may shortage po, NFA,” she said in an interview with dzBB. She said the country has enough supply of rice since the farmers have just harvested their crops.

She said the NFA should look to other areas, such as Antique, Palawan and the Bicol region, for cheaper palay, since prices are higher in Central Luzon, the country’s rice granary, because of the middlemen or traders.

She said farmers in Palawan sell palay at P10 to P14 per kilo.

Villar said the Senate investigation on the low buffer stock of NFA rice and the agency’s role in ensuring the stability of the price of the staple will begin on February 27.

Villar earlier filed Senate Resolution 608 seeking an inquiry on the status of NFA’s rice supply and its mandate on buffer stocking for food security and stabilization.

She said officials from NFA, the Department of Agriculture, Department of Budget and

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Management, and Department of Finance have been invited to the hearing.

She said the Senate panel would also talk about transitioning from quantitative restriction to rice tariffication.The country’s quantitative restriction on rice expired in June 2017, a measure that allows the government to limit the volume of rice imports. The right to impose restrictions on rice imports came with the Philippines’ ratification of the Uruguay Round of the World Trade Organization in January 1995.

Under tariffication, there will no longer be limits on imports but there will be tariffs.

Villar said under the set up, the NFA may no longer need to import rice.Sen. Francis Pangilinan, former chair of the Senate agriculture and food panel, and Sen. Grace Poe supported an investigation into the supposed shortage of rice supply.Pangilinan said authorities should explain why the supply has depleted if there is enough rice production.

Pangilinan, who used to head the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Food Security and Agricultural Modernization (OPAFSAM), said the investigation would also determine whether the country needs to import rice at this time.Poe, for her part, said the investigation would unmask syndicates in the NFA http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/villar-blames-nfa-rice-supply-mess

Central, State agencies look to TSERC for lower power tariff B. Chandrashekhar HYDERABAD, FEBRUARY 11, 2018 23:46 IST UPDATED: FEBRUARY 11, 2018 22:46 IST SHARE ARTICLE PRINT A A A MORE-IN Telangana Exemption from cross-subsidy surcharge sought for solar power projects Several agencies and institutions of State and Central governments have requested the Telangana State Electricity Regulatory Commission (TSERC) to bring down the retail power supply tariff proposed by the two distribution companies for 2018-19, which retained the current year tariff, stating that it is comparably high.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter They also want the regulatory body, scheduled to conduct a public hearing here on Monday, either to waive or reduce the cross-subsidy surcharge levied on them. Central Government institutions such as South Central Railway, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd., Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. and Indian Energy Exchange Ltd., State Government agencies like Telangana State Road Transport Corporation and Irrigation Department have sought reduction in the tariff.

Besides, 34 individuals, other establishments such as Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Federation of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Centre for Power Studies, People’s Monitoring Group, Kisan Kheth Mazdoor Congress, Rice Millers Association and others have also petitioned the regulatory body to slash the tariff proposed by the Discoms.

Pointing out the discriminatory policy of the Discoms, the SCR, indicating that it would go for open access power by March 2022, sought reduction in the tariff at least to the level it is being offered in neighbouring States such as AP. The public transporter and goods carrier also noted that it would also support the grid stability with large-scale consumption during the off-peak periods.

“Charging such higher tariff from the Railways is irrational and unjustified”, Chief Electrical Distribution Engineer of SCR G.V. Mallikarjuna Rao said in the petition. The SCR has also sought unified tariff for non-traction purposes as was being done in Maharashtra. Making a note of lower tariff offered to Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd. the SCR wants at least similar tariff.

The Irrigation Department has sought reduction both in demand and energy charges at least by 10% as it was going to be one of the major consumers in the coming years with increase in the load capacity of lift irrigation projects from the existing 1,200 MW to about 10,000 MW by 2020. Engineer-in-Chief C. Muralidhar requested the TSERC to set promotional tariff for lift irrigation schemes considering HT consumption.

Asking the regulatory body to rationalise the cross-subsidy surcharge FTAPCCI also wants it to disallow the additional surcharge proposed by the Discoms as it has no justification. The body pointed out that interest on delayed payments proposed by the Discoms at 18% is exorbitant and suggested the utilities to extend load factor incentives by encouraging the consumers to increase load.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Meanwhile, Telangana Solar Open Access Developer Association has requested the regulatory body to exempt the solar power projects from cross-subsidy surcharge, additional surcharge and time of day (ToD) levy. http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/central-state-agencies-look-to-tserc-for-lowerpower-tariff/article22723903.ece

Hom mali price hits 5-year high on demand Hom mali rice from famous growing areas is available at a market in Bangkok. SEKSAN ROJJANAMETAKUN Paddy prices for hom mali fragrant jasmine rice have surged to a fiveyear high, boosted by rising global... Please credit and share this article with others using this link:https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1409878/hom-mali-price-hits-5-year-high-ondemand.

Kiko backs rice probe 

February 10, 2018



Written by Marlon Purificacion



Published in Top Stories

SENATOR Kiko Pangilinan said the consuming public needs to know why buffer stock for affordable government-distributed rice has gone down from the required 15 to 30 days to just a couple of days.

Pangilinan, who used to head the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Food Security and Agricultural Modernization (OPAFSAM), said he supports the call of Sen. Cynthia Villar for a Senate investigation into the reported rice shortage.

“Ang pagkakaintindi ko, the current chairman, si Senator Villar ng agri committee—‘yun lang ang nabasa ko sa dyaryo, hindi ko pa siya nakakausap—she’s going to look into this,” Pangilinan said in a radio interview.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter “So we would like to encourage this para malaman natin: Number one, do we really have to import; and number two, ano ‘yung sufficiency level; and number three, ang paliwanag sa atin (the explanation to us), is there is enough commercial rice but of course we would like to make sure that the inexpensive, affordable NFA rice is also present,” he added, referring to the National Food Authority.

Pangilinan explained that government, through the NFA, is required to have a supply enough for 15 days during harvest season and 30 days during lean months.

Government needs to import rice, he explained, because Filipinos consume about 12 million tons of rice every year but produces only about 90 percent of that amount. This means that the Philippines needs to import about a million tons of rice, making it a major rice importer that’s able to influence global rice prices.

“During our watch, we were able to reduce the cost to import rice by 120 dollars per metric ton on average and the data will bear us out. And we import a million metric tons…We were able to bring down government purchases of rice on my watch by as much as -- well at least nung mga unang purchase -- mga six billion [pesos] total,” Pangilinan recalled.

That and other interventions, he said, brought the inflation rate down from 15-18 percent in 2014 to 0.8 percent the following year.

“It’s a combination of managing your rice supply correctly, importing at the right time, huwag during harvest season kasi makikipagkumpitensya ka sa farmers, making sure you import ahead.

Ibig sabihin, bibilhin mo ngayon pero ipapa-deliver mo 5-6 months from now,” Pangilinan said, detailing the strategy he adopted in rice importation.

At the same time, Pangilinan, who is a farmer advocating for higher incomes for farmers, noted that the Philippine culture has become so that it looks down on farmers.

“Masyadong mababa ang turing natin sa mga magsasaka kasi nga naghihirap, naghihikahos. In fact ang termino nga sa pinakamababang uri ng pagkatao sa ating bansa ay ano” hampaslupa.

Pero ano ang ibig sabihin ng hampaslupa? Yung nagbubungkal. Bakit ang sama?” he asked Pangilinan said his daughter Frankie, when she was nine, gave a powerful insight on how highly farmers should be regarded.

“Sabi niya, we should treat our farmers like our parents because they’re the ones who feed us,” he said. http://www.journal.com.ph/news/top-stories/kiko-backs-rice

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