14th october,2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter

14th October, 2014

News Headlines  Africa To Become Top Rice Producer  Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- October 14  Customs seizes P24.7M worth of smuggled rice, garlic in Misamis Oriental  Vietnam's Rice Export Prices Record 3.8 Per Cent Rise In Nine Months  Vietnam Anticipates a Difficult 2015 for Rice Exports  S. Korea's rice production to shrink 1.1 pct this year  NFA awards rice supply contract to Thailand, Vietnam  Rice Crop Seen Shrinking by FAO on Weather, End of Thai Subsidy  Many rice growers seen registering for aid on Monday – Thailand National News Bureau  Next week’s govt rice auction may be last before main harvest  Rice exports double  Haryana Basmati rice farmers unhappy as price falls, blame both BJP and Congress  Government’s bid to import rice from Myanmar flounders  Rice exports: UNISAME wants closure of QRC  Iran's hike in basmati rice import duty hurts Punjab farmers  Africa To Become Top Rice Producer  Namibia: Water Shortage Cripples Rice Project  EU Traders to USA Rice: Despite Healthy

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Africa To Become Top Rice Producer

at 2 percent. IHS foresees only a marginal real economic growth rate of 0.8 percent for Liberia’s economy.

October 14, 2014 Editor AgriBusiness, Business

The spread of Ebola is still a concern for Nigeria, the region’s most populated area and economic giant. ―Public awareness and facilities in Lagos are better than in the Sierra Leone-Guinea-Liberia triangle, so there is a good chance that Nigeria can control its outbreak,‖ Kalley said.―Although agriculture has dropped from 35 percent of the Nigerian economy to 22 percent due to the recent data criteria change, prospects for Nigeria’s real economic growth for the rest of 2014 are bright‖.In the next year, world rice demand is predicted to rise to 478 million metric tons, a 4.4 million metric ton increase from the previous year. By 2016, that figure is expected to rise by 4.5 million metric tons, to 483 million metric tons.―Asian demand, from China in particular, is driving a majority of the growth in rice consumption during 2014/15,‖ said IHS senior economist Brandon Kliethermes.

VENTURES AFRICA – Between 2014 and 2031, Africa will expand its rice production area by almost 50 percent, according to new analysis on the global outlook on rice production and demand released last week, by IHS, a global source of critical information and insight. Africa’s rapid expansion of areas for rice production will be the fastest globally, in percentage terms.―Cote d’Ivoire intends on spending $4 billion on agriculture development in order to improve crop yields and, in four years, become a rice exporter,‖ said Karanta Kalley, chief economist for Africa at IHS. However, economic development, particularly in West Africa, is rather questionable. ―Right now, the question on everyone’s mind is what the impact of Ebola will be on the economic growth of subSaharan Africa,‖ Kalley said.IHS expects gross domestic product (GDP) growth to be lowered significantly for 2014 in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia as a result of the ongoing Ebola outbreak.The IHS confirmed GDP growth rate forecasts have been cut between one-half and nine-tenths of previous forecasts, with Sierra Leone’s economy projected to have the highest rate of growth at 3.1 percent followed by Guinea

―However, Africa’s rice import demand is pumping the world’s long-term import growth.‖World rice yields in the next year are expected to gradually improve year over year to 2.96 metric tons per hectare, but world production is projected to increase by a little over one million metric tons.This implies that India will lose top spot as a result of issues relating to a later monsoon. ―Thailand has regained its spot as top exporter, reaching 10 million metric tons, followed by India at 8.4 million metric tons, and then Vietnam at 6.6 million metric tons.

With the military government in Thailand aggressively trying to find a solution to their

large rice inventory, Thai rice exports are expected to increase.窶傍hailand and India will subsequently battle for the position

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- October 14 Tue Oct 14, 2014 3:39pm IST Nagpur, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Gram prices in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) reported strong on increased festival season demand from local millers amid tight supply from producing regions because of unseasonal rains in parts of Vidarbha.

Healthy rise on NCDEX, firm trend in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and enquiries from South-based millers also jacked up prices, according to sources. *

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FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Gram varieties reported down in open market on poor demand from local traders amid release of stock from stockists.

TUAR * Tuar varieties showed weak tendency in absence of buyers amid increased arrival from producing regions. * Masoor dal too declined in open market here on poor buying support from local traders amid healthy arrival from producing belts. * In Akola, Tuar - 4,500-4,600, Tuar dal 6,900-7,100, Udid at 7,000-7,200,

Udid Mogar (clean) - 7,800-8,100, Moong - 6,900-7,300, Moong Mogar (clean) 8,300-9,000, Gram - 2,400-2,500, Gram Super best bold - 3,400-3,800 for 100 kg. * Wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market in thin trading activity, according to sources.

Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/openmarket prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close Gram Auction 2,400-2,925 2,335-2,820 Gram Pink Auction n.a.

2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction n.a.

3,900-4,300 Moong Auction n.a.

5,200-5,500 Udid Auction n.a.

4,3004,500 Masoor Auction n.a.

2,600-2,800 Gram Super Best Bold 3,7004,100 3,750-4,150 Gram Super Best n.a.

Gram Medium Best 3,450-3,600 3,500-3,650 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a.

Gram Mill Quality 3,300-3,350 3,400-3,450 Desi gram Raw 2,700-2,800 2,800-2,900 Gram Filter new 3,100-3,500 3,200-3,600 Gram Kabuli 8,500-9,800 8,500-9,800 Gram Pink 7,200-7,400 7,200-7,400 Tuar Fataka Best 7,250-7,450 7,250-7,500

Tuar Fataka Medium 7,000-7,100 7,100-7,200 Tuar Dal Best Phod 6,500-6,700 6,600-6,800 Tuar Dal Medium phod 6,2006,400 6,300-6,500 Tuar Gavarani 4,700-4,750 4,750-4,800 Tuar Karnataka 5,200-5,300 5,350-5,450 Tuar Black 8,100-8,400 8,300-8,500 Masoor dal best 6,600-6,700 6,800-6,900 Masoor dal medium 6,400-6,500 6,600-6,700 Masoor n.a. n.a.

Moong Mogar bold 9,000-9,800 9,000-9,800 Moong Mogar Medium best 8,2008,600 8,200-8,600 Moong dal super best 7,800-8,200 7,800-8,200 Moong dal Chilka 7,500-7,700 7,500-7,700 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.

Moong Chamki best 7,000-8,500 7,000-8,500 Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 8,000-8,200 8,000-8,200 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,900-7,500 6,900-7,500 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 6,200-6,700 6,200-6,700 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,800 4,000-4,800 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 2,8003,100 2,800-3,100 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,2503,450 3,250-3,450 Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,2503,350 3,250-3,350 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,400-5,200 4,400-5,200

Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,2001,500 1,200-1,500 Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,650-1,700 1,650-1,700 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,3001,500 1,300-1,500 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,450 2,100-2,450 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,850-2,000 1,850-2,000 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 2,8003,200 2,800-3,200 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 1,950-2,350 1,950-2,350 Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG) 1,2001,300 1,200-1,300 Wheat Best (100 INR/KG) 1,5001,800 1,500-1,800 Rice BPT new (100 INR/KG) 3,0003,500 3,000-3,500 Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,7001,900 1,700-1,900 Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,600 2,300-2,600 Rice HMT new (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,400 4,000-4,400 Rice HMT Shriram (100 INR/KG) 4,800-5,800 4,800-5,800 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 10,200-13,300 10,200-13,300 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,200-9,800 7,200-9,800 Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG) 5,0005,600 5,000-5,600 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,300-1,500 1,400-1,600 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,7001,800 1,700-1,800 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 29.9 degree Celsius (85.8 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.

24.0 degree Celsius (75.2 degree Fahrenheit)

Humidity: Highest - 82 per cent, lowest - 72 per cent.

Rainfall : 0.8 mm FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 36 and 21 degree Celsius respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)

ATTN : Soyabean mandi, wholesale foodgrain market and oil market in Vidarbha will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, on the occasion of Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Customs seizes P24.7M worth of smuggled rice, garlic in Misamis Oriental October 14, 2014 5:48 pm

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has apprehended some 145,000 kilograms (145 metric tons) of glutinous (―malagkit‖) rice and 200,000 kilograms (200 metric tons) of garlic worth over Php24 million at the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental the past two months.In a statement, the bureau said the shipments with a total estimated market

value of P24.7 million arrived in the country in different dates this year.

The garlic shipment arrived last August 24 from Shandong, China packed in 13,332 bags inside four 40-foot container vans consigned to the Kenshien General Merchandise based in Nazareth, Cagayan de Oro City.Based on the import documents filed by firm, it only paid P237,076 in duties and taxes, a discrepancy of over almost 46 percent.

Duties and taxes in their past importations of garlic of similar weight reached P520,000.Under the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, a discrepancy in value between what was declared by the importer and what was found during examination by BOC examiners and assessors that exceeds 30% constitutes ―prima facie‖ evidence of fraud, with the shipment subjected to seizure proceedings.On the other hand, the rice shipment arrived at the MCT last September 4 from Vietnam and was consigned to Gold Friends Enterprises based in Kauswagan, also in Cagayan de Oro City.These were packed in 2,900 50-kilogram sacks stored in five 40-foot container vans. It was misdeclared as ―household ware‖ and did not have the required import permit from the National Food Authority (NFA).

Presidential Decree 4 and Republic Act 7178 or the Agricultural Tariffication Act mandates that only the NFA can import rice and private entities with permit from the agency.―Let these seizures be a reminder to all importers that we expect no less than full compliance with the law. That means accuracy and truthfulness in all import declarations and fulfillment of requirements such as import permits from regulatory agencies,‖ said Ruby Claudia Alameda, Acting District Collector of the BOC-Port of

Cagayan de Oro.Aside from seizure and forfeiture proceedings on the rice and garlic shipments, the BOC will also conduct further investigation to determine culpability for smuggling of the owners and customs brokers of the consignees. PNA

4.7 million hectares, with an estimated yield of 27.8 million tonnes, up by 916,000 tonnes compared to last year, according to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

Vietnam's Rice Export Prices Record 3.8 Per Cent Rise In Nine Months

Vietnam Anticipates a Difficult 2015 for Rice Exports

HANOI, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- The price of Vietnamese export rice reached US$465 (RM1.5 billion) per tonne during the first nine months of 2014, representing a yearon-year increase of 3.8 percent, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.According to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), the country shipped over five million tonnes of rice abroad in the period, raking in US$2.3 billion (RM7.5 billion).

VFA predicted that 2015 will be a tough year for Vietnam's rice exporters since they will face fierce competition from not only Asian rice exporters but also African exporters.Until the end of this year, the price for rice will most likely stay at the current level or decrease slightly due to falling demand on the export markets.Enterprises under the VFA are striving to sell all the rice brought from farmers, while balancing the rice volume for exports in the remaining months of 2014 and early 2015.

Local rice producers hope to export 1.4 million tonnes of rice during the last quarter of 2014, bringing this year's total rice export volume to 6.3 million tonnes.This year, the cultivation area in the southern region - the country's key rice producer - encompassed

Escrito por Sue Ashdown Hanoi, Oct 14 (Prensa Latina) Vietnam should finish this year with a notable increase of six percent for its rice exports, but industry officials envision that 2015 will be less favorable due to fierce competition from other rice producing countries in Asia.The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlighted a predictable production record of nearly 28 tons of rice, which it attributed largely to increasing demands of the markets in the region, including Indonesia, Malaysia, China and the Philippines.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported that in the first nine months of 2014 around five million tons were sold abroad with a total value of more than $2 billion USD. Its main customers are China with 33 percent of the acquisitions, followed by the Philippines with 22 percent, and Malaysia, Ghana and Singapore with between six and three percent.Meanwhile the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicted that Vietnam will end the year with an export total of nearly seven million tons.However,

the vice president of the Vietnam Food Association, Pham Van Bay, said at a conference regarding foreign rice sales, that Vietnam's rice, particularly jasmine rice, faces tough competition from Thailand, whose jasmine rice is priced the same but has better quality.In the neighboring kingdom, the Administrative Committee reported that rice policy is expected to produce 27 tons between November and December to meet high demand in the global market.Like Bay, the director of the National Center for Agricultural Promotion, Phan Huy Thong, argues that it is necessary to examine the scale of production for the winter-spring crop in the southern breadbasket regions and develop plans for 2015 stocks. sc/sa/sus/tgj/hr Modificado el ( martes, 14 de octubre de 2014

S. Korea's rice production to shrink 1.1 pct this year 2014/1 SEJONG, Oct. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's rice output is expected to drop slightly in 2014 from last year because of reduced cultivation area but will still be more than enough to meet the country's demand, the agriculture ministry said Tuesday.The country's rice output is forecast to reach some 4.18 million tons, down 1.1 percent from 4.23 million tons in 2013, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs."Overall output is expected to slip 1.1 percent from that of last year as the total area under crops is forecast to drop 2.1 percent on-year to about 816,000 hectares, though the average yield from each

unit area of 10 hectares is predicted to rise 1 percent to 513 kilograms," the ministry said, citing related data from Statistics Korea.

Despite a drop in total output, the government plans to purchase and stockpile up to 400,000 tons of rice from this year to keep local prices up.The ministry said this year's harvest will be more than enough to meet the country's overall demand for the new rice crop, which is expected to come to about 4 million tons, marking a 4.5 percent on-year drop.The estimated drop in demand is based on an outlook that the country's per capita rice consumption will further fall to 64.4 kilograms a year in 2015 from 65.8 kg this year.

The amount is less than half the 134.5 kg in 1972 when such data began to be compiled.In addition to the rice it produces, South Korea has to import nearly 410,000 tons of rice each year under a mandatory quota known as minimum market access due to an agreement with the World Trade Organization. bdk@yna.co.kr

NFA awards rice supply contract to Thailand, Vietnam The National Food Authority Council will import 500,000 metric tons of rice for buffer stock, the first tranche of which is expected to arrive in October Rappler.com Published 9:33 PM, Oct 14, 2014 Updated 9:34 PM, Oct 14, 2014 WINNING BIDDERS. The supply contract for the importation of 500,000 metric tons (MT) of rice for buffer stock has been awarded by the National Food Authority to

Thailand and Vietnam. File photo by Noel Celis / Agence France-Presse MANILA, Philippines – The National Food Authority (NFA) has awarded to Thailand and Vietnam a contract to supply the Philippines with 500,000 metric tons (MT) of rice for buffer stock.The first tranche is expected to arrive in the 3rd week of October, food security chief Francis Pangilinan said late Monday, October 13.The notice to proceed was issued by the NFA Council a day after its special meeting last September 30.The terms of references stipulates the delivery of well-milled white rice with 25% broken in 3 tranches from October to December. The supply must be fresh-milled and harvested between January and August 2014.The first 40% of the volume must be delivered by October; the next 40% by November 15; the remaining 20% by December.

Thailand submitted the best offer for 500,000 MT of rice under a government-togovernment procurement mode.Thailand, represented by its Department of Foreign Trade, offered a selling price of $475 per MT for a total supply of 300,000 MT against a required minimum supply offer of 200,000 MT.Vietnam, on the other hand, offered $479 per MT for a total supply of 400,000 MT.Vietnam agreed to match Thailand’s price offer to be able to supply the balance of 200,000 MT, Pangilinan said.―Under the terms of reference, if the entire 500,000 MT is not completed, the next lowest bidder can be asked to match the lowest bid. Vietnam agreed to match it for the remaining 200,000 MT,‖ he said.On September 15, NFA received supply offers from Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia, all of which have rice procurement agreements with the Philippines.

Cambodia was disqualified from participating in the offer because it cannot conform to the delivery period stipulated in the terms of reference, as it would only be able to deliver in April 2015.In August, the NFA special bids and awards committee rejected all bids for the importation of the 500,000 MT buffer stocks as all offers were way below the government budget of P456.60 ($10.19)* per MT. Palay farm gate prices down As the imported rice buffer stock is on its way, farm gate prices of palay fell at a faster rate in the first week of October, resulting in continued decline in wholesale and retail prices of rice, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) announced Tuesday, October 14.

PSA reported that, from October 1 to 7, the average farm gate price of palay was at P20.40 ($0.46) per kilogram, down by 1.75% week-on-week. This, however, was higher by 17.94% from the quotation in the same period in 2013.Both wholesale and retail prices of regular-milled registered contractions during the reference period.The average wholesale price of regular-milled rice was placed at P37.81 ($0.84) per kg, down by 0.16% week-on-week. Year-onyear this was higher by 12.57%.The average retail price of regular-milled rice fell by 0.13% to P40.33 ($0.90) per kg during the reference week from P40.39 ($0.90) per kg in the previous week. Year-on-year, this was up by 12.72%. – Rappler.com *U$1 = P44.89

Rice Crop Seen Shrinking by FAO on Weather, End of Thai Subsidy

By Supunnabul Suwannakij Oct 14, 2014 1:14 PM GMT+0500

Global rice production will shrink after weak rains in India and the end of a subsidy program in Thailand hurt supplies from the biggest exporters, according to the Food & Agriculture Organization. Worldwide output of milled grain will probably drop 0.4 percent to 496.4 million metric tons in the 2014-2015 season from a year earlier, the United Nations agency said in a quarterly report. Ending stockpiles will drop 2 percent to 177.7 million tons in 2014-2015, the first contraction in a decade, while global trade expands 1.1 percent to a record 40 million tons in calendar year 2015, the Rome-based FAO said.

Thailand ended a farmers’ support program in February that had boosted supply to a record, prompting some growers to turn away from the crop, while the late arrival of the monsoon in India this year hurt harvest prospects. Global rice prices will still face downward pressure as northern-hemisphere crops are harvested, and exporters have abundant inventories after years of uninterrupted output gains, the FAO said in the report. ―Prospects for global paddy production have worsened substantially, mostly because of erratic weather conditions, including late arrival of rains or lingering droughts, which were often followed by heavy downpours and floods,‖ the FAO said. ―Concerns that lower production in India, Pakistan and Thailand, will be supportive of international quotations are attenuated by prospects of

still above-average harvests in these countries, as well as abundant inventories.‖ Thai Benchmark The price of Thai 5 percent broken rice, a benchmark in Asia, was $428 a ton on Oct. 8 compared with $450 a ton at the end of 2013, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The grade fell to $384 a ton on May 28, the lowest since at least 2008.

Weak rains in India during the first half of the monsoon will cut output to 104 million tons from 106.5 million tons, while Thai output drops 1.6 percent to 24.8 million tons, it said.

The Southeast Asian nation will regain its position as the largest shipper, sending 10.6 million tons to overseas buyers, while Indian exports drop 20 percent to 8 million tons, it said. In Thailand, the forecast decline in paddy output is ―associated with the February 2014 abolition of the rice-pledging scheme, which had guaranteed high prices to farmers since 2011,‖ the FAO said. In India, production may drop 2.4 percent after the irregular monsoon, it said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Supunnabul Suwannakij in Bangkok at ssuwannakij@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Poole at jpoole4@bloomberg.net

Many rice growers seen registering for aid on Monday – Thailand National News Bureau Date : 14 ตุลาคม 2557

SISAKET, 14 October 2014 (NNT) – Farmers are flocking to their local agriculture offices to register for the government's assistance money for rice growers. Meanwhile Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has reasserted that the assistance measure is temporary, urging farmers to revamp their production process and cut costs. Numerous paddy farmers in Sisaket province registered for the assistance scheme at the agriculture office in Mueang Sisaket district on Monday. The farmers are required to register by October 20 to receive 1,000 baht per rai of assistance money.

The Ministry of Agriculture is grouping the applicants for the aid money into three groups – those whose paddies have already been registered and whose paddy sizes have not changed, those who were already registered but now have a greater paddy area, and those who have never registered.

Around 180,000 paddy farmers in Sisaket are expected to come to register for the aid money. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Monday the rice in the government's stockpile was still under inspection by the working committees. He asserted any irregularities would be investigated and wrongdoers taken to court.

Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda revealed on Monday his ministry was collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives in cross-checking the data of paddy farmers in order to prevent fraud.

Next week’s govt rice auction may be last before main harvest Published: 14/10/2014 at 9:20 AM Category: Government Tag: agriculture

The Commerce Ministry plans to hold another round of bidding for 200,000 tonnes of rice next week, which could be the last before the main harvest season starts rolling early next month.

The Nation After a meeting of the rice stock-releasing committee, a ministry source said yesterday that the auction for general traders should be opened on October 22. The ministry will ask for approval from the chairman of the Rice Policy and Management Committee and publish the terms of reference tomorrow.The source said this could be the last general bidding for this year. After that the ministry might suspend further rounds to prevent pressure on rice prices in the market during the harvest.However, the ministry will proceed with rice releasing via other

methods such as government-to-government and government-to-private‌ Full story Nation at http://goo.gl/f8Q0Xo

from The

Rice exports double Published on Tuesday, 14 October 2014 20:58 Rice exports surpassed 630,000 tonnes in the first half of the fiscal year, more than double the amount exported in the same period last year, according to figures from the Ministry of Commerce.In dollar terms the 630,071 tonnes were worth $238 million, compared to the $133 million value of the 300,000 tonnes exported between April 1 and the end of September last year, the figures show. Almost 120,000 tonnes were exported by sea, with a value of $42 million, while 510,966 tonnes worth $196 million were exported over land.

A new National Export Strategy is being drafted and it is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Previously, officials identified rice as the key export item.In June the Myanmar Trade Centre was opened in Yangon, the commercial hub of the country, with the goal of increasing trade. Currently, Myanmar exports are primarily resourcebased, such as natural gas, or agricultural and fisheries products. shift to higher valueadded exports is part of the government’s overall economic reform process.

Haryana Basmati rice farmers unhappy as price falls, blame both BJP and Congress

Shikha Pushpan, Rashi Mathur, IBNLive.com | Oct 14, 2014 at 11:45am IST Narnaund: Prime Minister Narendra Modi may be a hit amongst the city dwellers but for the farmers in Haryana's Narnaund, he is a man whose 'pro-trader' policies are eating up their only source of income. Ugalan village in Narnaund is predominantly a farming community. As the election fever reaches its peak, excited villagers discuss the political scene in the constituency currently held by the INLD. They scoff at the mention of Modi who has been intensively campaigning for the BJP in the pollbound state. "We will not vote for the BJP or Modi. He has caused us so much loss.

He favours the traders and dealers. The price for our produce has dropped dramatically," said Karan Singh, a farmer. "The PM and Hooda government are playing blame game over the drop of Basmati rice. We are the one who suffer," said another infuriated farmer. "He (Modi) had spent so much money in his campaigning in the Lok Sabha elections, where we will he get back all that from. Obviously from our pockets,"he added. Haryana is the biggest exporter of Basmati rice in the country.

The drop in purchase price of the premium quality rice has embroiled the state's CM and the PM in a war of words.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had recently written to the PM to take note of the dwindling purchase price of Basmati rice and take immediate action. But the PM instead hit back at the Haryana government at his election rallies for 'falsely blaming' the Centre of imposing ban on Basmati rice export.

He accused state government of imposing 4 per cent mandi tax on Basmati rice.

Government’s bid to import rice from Myanmar flounders 14.10.2014

The government's attempt to import about one lakh tonne of rice from Myanmar for the Targeted Pubic Distribution System (TPDS) in Manipur and Mizoram may not succeed, with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) getting bids far higher than the expected price.Sources told FE that MMTC and STC, which floated the global tenders on behalf of FCI for importing rice, got average bids of around $600 per tonne against the expected $400 per tonne.

The corporation got $ 588 and $ 680 per tonne respectively for Manipur and Mizoram for rice import from Myanmar. We received bids (for rice import) much higher than our anticipation of $ 400 per tonne,‖ an official said.Last month, the government had approved import of one lakh tonne of rice in the next five months from Myanmar to the north-eastern states in view of disruption of grain supplies due to commencement of long-pending railway gauge conversion work on the 220-km Lumding (Assam)Badarpur-Agartala (Tripura) line.

A food ministry official said the government has to now plan out an alternate model for meeting the demand for rice for TPDS in the north-eastern states during the gauge conversion work.The cost of transporting rice from surplus states like Punjab or Andhra Pradesh to Tripura and Mizoram works out to about R3,200 per quintal, taking into account FCI’s economic cost at R2,755 per quintal. "As against this, importing rice from Myanmar would be more economical at around R2,400 per quintal ($400 per tonne), including the cost of transportation from the border," an official had earlier said.

Food ministry officials said although the railways has proposed to complete the gauge conversion work by March 2015, it might be delayed. ―Since more than 70% of transportation of foodgrain from Assam to the rest of the north-eastern states is done through the railways, the government is importing rice to increase grain stock so that TPDS distribution is not disrupted,‖ an official had said.

Rice exports: UNISAME wants closure of QRC UNISAME President Zulfikar Thaver said the SME rice exporters are looking forward to exporting basmati

By PPI Published: October 14, 2014

KARACHI: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has urged the Ministry of Commerce to expedite the closure of the Quality Review Committee (QRC) before the arrival of the new crop of basmati next month. This will also include other superior varieties of rice to enable the SME rice exporters to function without any problems and compete with its neighbours.

UNISAME President Zulfikar Thaver said the SME rice exporters are looking forward to exporting basmati and other expensive varieties of 1121 rice in white and parboiled rice in their own brands to their valued customers all over the world. There is an urgent need for aggressive marketing of branded rice and it is very important that the SME rice exporters avail social media facilities and other marketing tools prescribed by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2014.

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Iran's hike in basmati rice import duty hurts Punjab farmers The author has posted comments on this articleAmaninder Sharma, TNN | Oct 14, 2014, 05.13AM IST PATIALA: Increase in import duty by Iran on basmati rice from India to 45% from 10% has hurt Punjab farmers and exporters alike as it has led to a drop in the demand for the aromatic food grain lowering its rates in the domestic market. Buoyed by last season's prices, Punjab farmers had increased the area under basmati considerably who are now getting lower rates for their produce as compared to the previous year.Area under basmati is 8.16 lakh hectares (20.40 lakh acres) this year, up from 5.50 lakh hectares in 2013.

Sources said output of basmati paddy is likely to touch 40 lakh tonnes this year. New basmati variety, Pusa 1509, is selling in the range of Rs 2,300-2,700 per quintal. Rice millers, traders and exporters say even the rates of Pusa 1121, arrivals of which will start in the first week of November, are not going to cross Rs 3,000 per quintal. Pusa 1121 had touched Rs 4,400 per quintal last season.

"Given the sentiment in the international market and much higher estimated output of basmati in Punjab, we are not expecting prices of Pusa 1509 to go up in the coming

weeks. Same will be the case with the alltime favourite strain PUSA 1121, which is unlikely to cross the Rs 3,000 per quintal mark this year", said Rajeev Dehra, a Rajpura-based basmati trader.

Africa To Become Top Rice Producer October 14, 2014 Editor AgriBusiness, Business VENTURES AFRICA – Between 2014 and 2031, Africa will expand its rice production area by almost 50 percent, according to new analysis on the global outlook on rice production and demand released last week,

by IHS, a global source of critical information and insight. Africa’s rapid expansion of areas for rice production will be the fastest globally, in percentage terms.―Cote d’Ivoire intends on spending $4 billion on agriculture development in order to improve crop yields and, in four years, become a rice exporter,‖ said Karanta Kalley, chief economist for Africa at IHS. However, economic development, particularly in West Africa, is rather questionable. ―Right now, the question on everyone’s mind is what the impact of Ebola will be on the economic growth of subSaharan Africa,‖ Kalley said.IHS expects gross domestic product (GDP) growth to be lowered significantly for 2014 in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia as a result of the ongoing Ebola outbreak.The IHS confirmed GDP growth rate forecasts have been cut between one-half and nine-tenths of previous forecasts, with Sierra Leone’s economy projected to have the highest rate of growth at 3.1 percent followed by Guinea at 2 percent.

IHS foresees only a marginal real economic growth rate of 0.8 percent for Liberia’s economy.The spread of Ebola is still a concern for Nigeria, the region’s most populated area and economic giant. ―Public awareness and facilities in Lagos are better than in the Sierra Leone-Guinea-Liberia triangle, so there is a good chance that Nigeria can control its outbreak,‖ Kalley said.―Although agriculture has dropped from 35 percent of the Nigerian economy to 22 percent due to the recent data criteria change, prospects for Nigeria’s real economic growth for the rest of 2014 are bright‖.In the next year, world rice demand is predicted to rise to 478 million metric tons, a 4.4 million metric ton increase from the previous year. By 2016, that figure is expected to rise by 4.5 million metric tons, to 483 million metric tons.

VIETNAM PRESS-Demand for Vietnamese rice to drop in Q4 - Vietnam Economic Times

―Asian demand, from China in particular, is driving a majority of the growth in rice consumption during 2014/15,‖ said IHS senior economist Brandon Kliethermes. ―However, Africa’s rice import demand is pumping the world’s long-term import growth.‖World rice yields in the next year are expected to gradually improve year over year to 2.96 metric tons per hectare, but world production is projected to increase by a little over one million metric tons.This implies that India will lose top spot as a result of issues relating to a later monsoon. ―Thailand has regained its spot as top exporter, reaching 10 million metric tons, followed by India at 8.4 million metric tons, and then Vietnam at 6.6 million metric tons.

With the military government in Thailand aggressively trying to find a solution to their large rice inventory, Thai rice exports are expected to increase.‖Thailand and India will subsequently battle for the position of top exporter, with both exporting more than 12 million metric tons per year.

NOTE: Reuters has not verified this story and does not vouch for its accuracy. (Hanoi Newsroom; Editing by Anand Basu)

By Reuters Published: 01:11 GMT, 14 October 2014 | Updated: 01:11 GMT, 14 October 2014 rice in the fourth quarter of 2014, including government purchases and company-based deals, is expected to be thin as Thailand has been selling at low prices, according to domestic exporters, the Vietnam Economic Times newspaper reports.The rice shipment volume last month already dropped about 13 percent from August to 545,000 tonnes, which was also below the industry's monthly target of 650,000 tonnes, the report quoted Vietnam Food Association.----

Namibia: Water Shortage Cripples Rice Project Kalimbeza — Rice seedlings at the Kalimbeza project are at great risk of wilting in the heat following a shortage of water at the government-owned farm.The Kalimbeza rice project is located on the banks of the Zambezi River about 30 kilometres east of Katima Mulilo in Kabbe Constituency.

Kalimbeza has been without water for more than two weeks due to a broken pump station. Rice requires constant watering and water-logged soil. Already about nine hectares of a variety of rice seedlings have been planted at the project but their growth has been stunted by the acute shortage of water.

The project expects to plant 90 hectares of rice this year. Small-scale farmers who have been allocated a combined 15 hectares face the same predicament with many of them losing hope of ever harvesting rice needed for their livelihood.According to the manager of the project, which falls under the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Patrick Kompeli, the transplantation of rice has been subsequently suspended and workers were relying on drawing water from tanks to water the rice manually.

"We have been without water for more than two weeks now. We are trying our level best by taking water from the tank to water the rice," added Kompeli. It became clear at the site that a contractor has been enlisted to repair the pump station but the efforts have been stalled by some technicalities. New parts were bought but the pump station's computer system suffered glitches that required instructions from a manual, which could not be traced. The Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, John Mutorwa, who visited the project, intervened. "It is not acceptable that a project like this should not have water for such a long time. Any green scheme is not a green scheme if there's no water.

We must fix whatever needs to be fixed and contact the company that installed it for clarification. By four o'clock today, I need a report on my table so that if it fails again today, we know what to do next," Mutorwa instructed workers, the contractor and Kompeli at the site. Mutorwa was equally disappointed with the slow progress in adding infrastructure, which includes storage for fertilisers and chemicals, a

parking area and roads. "I am very disappointed that none of what we discussed during our visit with the President has materialised. Six months have passed now without any progress.

During the briefing the agreement was that the shades and other infrastructure would be up by the end of the year, but I don't see that here," stated a clearly infuriated Mutorwa.

"Even the combined harvester which was brought here in May is still standing here.

And for this to happen it is just a matter of attaching components," said Mutorwa.

However the consulting engineer, Farhad Nadimi of Bona Consultants, who are overseeing the installation of additional infrastructure at the project, said they faced logistic and technical challenges that resulted in the delay. "We finalised the designs but were instructed to make adjustments to reduce the costs to N$12 million but the project is ready to go for tender now. If approved on time it would have been finalised in October already.

We don't know how long the tender process will take for everything to start," said Nadimi.Mutorwa was however happy that small-scale farmers were allocated land.

Five small-scale farmers were each allocated three hectares to cultivate. "We only have five farmers from the original 10. We have to intensify training of these five and next time have additional farmers," said Mutorwa. But another concern of Mutorwa was vandalism of the fence at the project, with Mutorwa urging the community to guard against such destructive activities. "I urge the community to ensure that vandalism of the fence stops.

If this continues we will have no choice but to call the police so that those responsible are arrested," emphasised Mutorwa.

President Hifikepunye Pohamba visited Kalimbeza early this year and was pleased with the infrastructural development at the project at that time. His hope was to inaugurate the additional infrastructure before he leaves office in March. The project covers an area exceeding 200 hectares. It was declared a national project

by Pohamba in 2009. Hundreds of villagers at Kalimbeza and nearby villages work as seasonal workers at the project.

countries such as Cambodia to export rice to EU countries duty-free under the "Everything But Arms" program.

EU Traders to USA Rice: Despite Healthy Crop, Market Re-Entry Faces Significant Hurdles

Contact: Bob Cummings (703) 236-1473

HAMBURG, GERMANY -- A USA Rice Federation delegation began their week-long visit of Europe here yesterday, stopping at retail outlets and meeting with the trade to discuss the 2014 crop and opportunities for U.S. rice in Europe.USA Rice members Carl Brothers, Chris Bonnesen, Keith Glover, and Marvin Baden joined staff members Bob Cummings, Hartwig Schmidt, and Eszter Somogyi in meetings with four major German rice mills and distributors. The U.S. delegation shared rice supply expectations for 2015 and highlighted the industry´s successful efforts to rid the crop of any GMOs. Although the U.S. government now states U.S. rice is free of GM, and supply is expected to make U.S. rice more price competitive in the coming year, the Germans explained recent changes to their market that make the re-entry of U.S. rice daunting. Cited in particular is the ability of

"The U.S. has a superior product and the industry has successfully addressed environmental and social concerns of this market, but it's clear we have more work to do before our German customers return to us," said Keith Glover, president and CEO of Producers Rice Mill and chairman of USA Rice's World Market Price committee.The delegation is now heading to the United Kingdom for meetings there and to participate in the UK Rice Symposium later this week.

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