16th december,2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

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

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 16 December, 2014

Volume 4 Issue: XI

th

Vol 4, Issue XII

Today’s News Headlines… 

PH allows traders to import 187,000T rice

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Palay prices drop, but farmers not worried

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BJP Sees Govt-Miller Nexus for Distress Sale of Paddy

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Access road dispute hampers rice business



Palay prices drop, but farmers not worried



Govt’s ineptness harming agrarian economy of Sindh



Rice farms could provide offsets in carbon market



Cambodia to begin rice exports to various countries



NFA opens importation of 187,000-MT rice

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Who influences the rice market?

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Building rice trademark urgent for Vietnam: official

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NFA releases guidelines for importation of 187,000MT under the Minimum Access Volume Program

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Food exports 'to keep surging next year'

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Govt agencies procure over 11.4 MT rice this season

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Chinese, Cambodian Firms Sign Trade Deals

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Saudi- Rice prices expected to fall 102 in Kingdom



Ombudsman junks cases vs top Customs officials



HEALTH MATTERS: Radiographer launches Indian food business



University of Arkansas Research Team Receives Excellence Award



Japan Announces Results of 9th Ordinary Import Tender in FY

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

PH allows traders to import 187,000T rice

Palay prices drop, but farmers not worried

Reuters Posted at 12/15/2014 7:29 PM

MANILA - The Philippines' state grains procurement agency said on Monday private traders can import 187,000 tonnes of rice and shipments must arrive on or before Feb. 28.The volume is on top of the expected purchases by the National Food Authority (NFA), which is looking initially at importing 600,000 tonnes to boost its stockpile for next year's requirements.Traders may apply for import permits starting Dec. 28 until Jan. 31, the NFA said in a statement.They can bring in rice under the government's Minimum Access Volume - Omnibus Rice Importation programme, which allows each importer to buy up to 5,000 tonnes from any country.

The programme covers only high-value varieties such as glutinous rice, jasponica rice, basmati rice, and other aromatic varieties. They can also import 5 percent broken, 10 percent broken, and 15 percent broken varieties.In June, the government said it would loosen restrictions on rice imports starting next year, cutting tariff on grain shipped in by the private sector to 35 percent from 40 percent for a maximum annual volume of 805,200 tonnes.The NFA bought more than 1.8 million tonnes from Vietnam and Thailand over the past 12 months, the biggest annual volume in four years, to shore up its buffer stocks as local retail prices soared to record highs amid tight domestic supply.

Philippine Daily Inquirer 2:00 AM | Tuesday, December 16th, 2014

Pangasinan—The buying price of palay has dropped from P24 per kilo to between P20 and P21 this month, but rice farmers are not worried.Ponciano Onia, a farmer from this town in Pangasinan province, says the break-even cost for palay production is P12 per kilo, so farmers will still net at least P8 if they sell their harvest to traders. But their profit will be only P5 if they sell to the National Food Authority (NFA) as the agency buys at P17.However, traders who bought palay in September and October are complaining. One of them, Roger Tan, a rice mill owner in Rosales town, said he acquired his stock at P23.50 per kilo in September and P22.50 in October. ―With the buying price at P20.50 or P21 a kilo now, we are at the losing end. Rice millers did not expect that the harvest would be so much that prices are dropping. Perhaps we could just stock the palay and wait for better prices,‖ Tan says.The dealer price of a 50-kilo bag of rice used to be between P2,000 and P2,050, but it is now down to P1,650 and P1,700. Retail prices are marked up by P2 so a bag costs from P1,750 to P1,800, Tan says.Commercial rice, which used to cost P42 a kilo, is now sold at P36.Onia and Tan note a slowdown in the market of commercial rice, citing complaints from traders and retailers. Ramon Cuaresma, manager of the NFA in eastern Pangasinan,

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine attributes this to the agency’s decision not to limit the amount of rice that could be bought at retail stores. ―We opened the sale of NFA rice because of the low prices of commercial rice. If we don’t, we may not be able to sell anymore.

But NFA rice is comparable, in terms of quality, with commercial rice,‖ he says.The sale of commercial rice has been slow because farmers still have stock as the harvest season is just ending, Cuaresma says.Ninety-five percent of the 124,000 hectares of rice lands in eastern Pangasinan had already been harvested while the remaining farms would be harvested by the end of December, he adds.―We are lucky this year that no serious calamity hit the province, that is why we have a bumper harvest,‖ Cuaresma says.The NFA in eastern Pangasinan has 50,000 bags of rice in its warehouse and is waiting for a shipment of 80,000 bags from the NFA Ilocos regional office. Yolanda Sotelo, Inquirer Northern Luzon

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/657345/palayprices-drop-but-farmers-notworried#ixzz3M6Pnmh00

BJP Sees Govt-Miller Nexus for Distress Sale of Paddy

By Express News Service Published: 16th December 2014 05:59 AM Last Updated: 16th December 2014 05:59 AM BHUBANESWAR: The State BJP on Monday slammed the Government for leaving farmers at the mercy of rice millers for sale of their paddy.Alleging nexus between the State

Government and millers in paddy procurement during the current kharif marketing season (KMS), chief spokesperson of BJP Suresh Pujari said the farmers are not getting minimum support price announced by the Centre for paddy due to non-participation by Government agencies in the procurement business.While the Government has fixed paddy yield per acre at 12 quintals in the procurement policy of the current KMS, the actual production is in the range of 22 to 32 quintals, he said.

Describing the food policy of the State Government faulty, Pujari said farmers are now forced to go for distress sale of the balance 10 to 20 quintals of paddy per acre. This led to a standoff between the farmers and the Government in Koraput and Nabarangpur districts where harvesting of paddy is over much earlier, he said. He further alleged that the Government not only delayed the procurement by 10-15 days but also left the process to the whims of the millers by not engaging its agencies. The unwanted delay in paddy procurement has badly hit the farmers.

Taking advantage, millers are exploiting the farmers by finding faults with the quality of paddy and denying them the MSP, he said.The paddy procurement scam will be worse than the chit fund scam, Pujari said and blamed Revenue Department, Civil Supply and Consumer Welfare Department, district administration and rice millers for cheating the farmers. http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/ BJP-Sees-Govt-Miller-Nexus-for-Distress-Saleof-Paddy/2014/12/16/article2573973.ece

Access road dispute hampers rice business

By Josephine Marianne Querubin Ignacio | Dec. 16, 2014 at 12:01am

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine MacArthur Highway leading to the different rice mills of the trading center.The traders in Intercity wrote a letter in the vernacular to Mendoza on the last week of November to allow traffic to the estate located in Barangay San Juan in Balagtas.No buyers have been going to their ricemills because it was a long turn to Gate I, they said.Mendoza agreed to open the gate for a ―road terminal fee‖ based on size of the vehicles.But Verbo Realty said there was an exchange of property for the right of way over his claim.The same stalemate happened in 2011, causing undetermined loses to rice millers near the Gate II of the trading center.Recently, the land developer was able to get a court order upholding the right of way inside Mendoza’s property.

BALAGTAS, Bulacan—Rice and palay traders at the Intercity Industrial Estate, a major grains center of the country along the boundary of Bocaue and Balagtas towns, are caught in a land dispute over one of their two access roads.Owner’s title. Arturo Mendoza shows to ManilaStandard documents of ownership to the property,which serves as Gate II of the Intercity Industrial Estate. JOSEPHINE MARIANNE QUERUBIN IGNACIO The traders explained to Manila Standard that the cross-claim on Gate 2 access road in Balagtas has been closed and opened by either of the contending parties.The case involving Arturo Mendoza and Verbo Realty Development Corp. has been pending in court for several years.Mendoza, 74, said the access road was inside his property swapped for a lot inside the industrial estate.

Since the deal failed to materialize, he stuck to his parcel of land and closed portion from

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/12/16/acce ss-road-dispute-hampers-rice-business/

Palay prices drop, but farmers not worried Philippine Daily Inquirer 2:00 AM | Tuesday, December 16th, 2014

UMINGAN, Pangasinan—The buying price of palay has dropped from P24 per kilo to between P20 and P21 this month, but rice farmers are not worried.Ponciano Onia, a farmer from this town in Pangasinan province, says the break-even cost for palay production is P12 per kilo, so farmers will still net at least P8 if they sell their harvest to traders. But their profit will be only P5 if they sell to the National Food Authority (NFA) as the agency buys at P17.However, traders who bought palay in September and October are complaining. One of them, Roger Tan, a rice mill owner in Rosales town, said he acquired his stock at P23.50

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine per kilo in September and P22.50 in October. ―With the buying price at P20.50 or P21 a kilo now, we are at the losing end. Rice millers did not expect that the harvest would be so much that prices are dropping. Perhaps we could just stock the palay and wait for better prices,‖ Tan says.The dealer price of a 50-kilo bag of rice used to be between P2,000 and P2,050, but it is now down to P1,650 and P1,700. Retail prices are marked up by P2 so a bag costs from P1,750 to P1,800, Tan says.Commercial rice, which used to cost P42 a kilo, is now sold at P36.Onia and Tan note a slowdown in the market of commercial rice, citing complaints from traders and retailers. Ramon Cuaresma, manager of the NFA in eastern Pangasinan, attributes this to the agency’s decision not to limit the amount of rice that could be bought at retail stores. ―We opened the sale of NFA rice because of the low prices of commercial rice. If we don’t, we may not be able to sell anymore.

But NFA rice is comparable, in terms of quality, with commercial rice,‖ he says.The sale of commercial rice has been slow because farmers still have stock as the harvest season is just ending, Cuaresma says.Ninety-five percent of the 124,000 hectares of rice lands in eastern Pangasinan had already been harvested while the remaining farms would be harvested by the end of December, he adds.―We are lucky this year that no serious calamity hit the province, that is why we have a bumper harvest,‖ Cuaresma says.The NFA in eastern Pangasinan has 50,000 bags of rice in its warehouse and is waiting for a shipment of 80,000 bags from the NFA Ilocos regional office. Yolanda Sotelo, Inquirer Northern Luzon

source with thanks:http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/657 345/palay-prices-drop-but-farmers-notworried#ixzz3M6a4A4nC

Govt’s ineptness harming agrarian economy of Sindh December 16, 2014

KARACHI Due to tug-of-war between powerful lobbies of growers and millers sitting in Sindh government over the dispute of sugarcane price and ineptness of PPP-led government causing losses to the agrarian economy, the spine of national economy. The longest delays of more than two months in the commencement of sugarcane crushing season on the one hand causing huge losses to the growers while at the same harming the cash crops - wheat and cotton.The federal government has refused to mediate in the price dispute between mills owners and growers, saying that under the 18th Amendment the matter belonged to the provincial government.The high court intervened and compelled government to fix cane price.

The government fixed price less than the last years. Later it was revised to the level of last year, but millers are not ready to pay the government fixed price The desperate sugarcane growers of Sindh crying hoarse and holding protest demonstration at the mills located in their areas as their sugarcane crop was losing weight which will caused huge losses to them.On the other, the rice growers also raising hue and cry and calling

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine upon the government to purchase rice at the support price of Rs1,400 per 40 kg through the Pakistan Agricultural Storage & Services Corporation (PASSCO) and the Trade Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) to save growers from suffering colossal losses.

The Sindh Assembly in its recently prorogued session has adopted a resolution on the issue urged the government to rescue the paddy growers.Rice growers said that last year the paddy of coarse rice was sold at the rate Rs950 to 1000 per 40 kg and rice with 25 per cent broken grains was being sold at Rs1,400 to Rs1,450 per 40 kg in Karachi market. But this year the paddy price was pegged at Rs800 to Rs780 per 40 kg at rice mills and open market, which was quite unfortunate for the growers, who had spent Rs30,000 to Rs35,000 per acre to grow the crop.

Growers lamented that government was taking no interest in setting up procurement centres while the Rabi season was drawing close and the growers needed money to purchase seeds for new crops.When contacted Abdul Majeed Nizamani, President Sindh Abadgar Board, a leading growers’ body said that Sindh has produced around 400 million tones of sugarcane this year which is being dried due to price dispute, thus causing loses to the growers and at same time hampering the production of wheat and cotton crops. The delay in harvesting the cane would prolong the period of crop which will consume more water and expenses.

He said small land owners having 50 acres of lands or more are the worst sufferers of the delay in cane crushing season as they were unable to cultivate Rabi crops on time.

Talking about the prevailing situation of agrarian sector, Nizamani said that the governments of rice producing countries have

rescued their growers by purchasing their whole crops thereby saving agriculture sector.He said that our neighbouring country India has granted Rs550 million subsidy to the agrarian industry.Pakistani growers were paying Rs135 billion to the government on account of GST whereas the Indian government has granted $66 billion subsidy to the growers’, he added.

Citing another comparison, he said a bag of urea is available in India at a rate of $6, while the growers of Pakistan paid $18-19 for a bag of urea, what to talk of other subsidies given to the agriculture sector in electricity and other inputs.He said agricultural economy of province was at stake and in the prevailing situation the agro-based industries especially the textile industry so the government ought to intervene in the matter.Commenting on the situation, political observers are of the view it seems that the government seems unable to exercise the executive powers handed to it by the 18th Amendment.

Source with thanks http://nation.com.pk/business/16-Dec2014/govt-s-ineptness-harming-agrarianeconomy-of-sindh

Rice farms could provide offsets in carbon market Written by Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary Category: California News Published: 15 December 2014

Sacramento, California - Sometimes it takes a crisis like climate change to reveal a golden opportunity. Our rice farmers in Northern California have long been exemplary stewards of their land, both in terms of providing habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife and for their ongoing efforts to work with environmental and research

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine organizations to improve their farming practices. Now, in response to climate change, they stand ready to take the next step.This week, the California Air Resources Board will hear a staff proposal for a set of management practices that will give rice growers incentives that could be used to reduce the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. For these farmers, who grow more than 95 percent of California’s rice within 100 miles of our state capital, it presents a proactive opportunity to contribute to the state’s climate change objectives.

The proposed Compliance Offset Protocol Rice Cultivation Projects would allow rice farmers in the Sacramento Valley to generate greenhouse gas offsets that can then be sold in the state’s carbon trading market. Rice would represent the first cropbased agricultural offset protocol, paving the way for additional agriculture-based protocols to be developed.The management practices listed in this protocol are based on sound science and have proved successful around the world. We know that these practices will be adopted slowly at first, but we are hopeful for increased participation in the future as more growers learn about the benefits of these practices.I am pleased to see progress toward this voluntary incentive program for rice farmers in the Sacramento Valley, where they have already made tremendous strides on other environmental issues.

For example, rice farmers here provide their agricultural fields during the winter months as valuable open space and habitat for 230 species of wildlife and 7 million ducks and geese that migrate along the Pacific Flyway each year.It is worth noting that, in developing these practices, the ARB took precautions such as excluding the Butte Sink Wildlife Management Area, which has the highest concentration of waterfowl per acre

in the world, to ensure that this important wildlife habitat is unaffected by the implementation of any rice cultivation projects.Even more importantly, the ARB has elected to exclude program options that could lead to reduced winter flooding throughout the Valley, a practice that now provides critical habitat to millions of waterbirds in a state where 95 percent of original wetlands are gone.

Additionally, the development of this protocol has exemplified what collaboration is all about by bringing together the rice industry, environmental groups, multiple state agencies, national organizations and federal partners.We at the California Department of Food and Agriculture call the multiple benefits to nature provided by farmers and ranchers beyond food production ―Ecosystem Services.‖ These services include valuable open space and wildlife habitat and farming practices that enhance environmental quality, provide recreational opportunities and offer social benefits.The protocol provides financial incentives for growers to help the state reach its emission-reduction goals by 2020.

It’s timely, and recognizes rice farmers for one of the many ecosystem services they provide. Similar carbon crediting initiatives are taking place all over the country. For example, the USDA worked with Chevrolet to purchase almost 40,000 carbon dioxide reduction tons generated on working ranch grasslands in the Prairie Pothole region of North Dakota.As the magazine Modern Farmer put it, ―everyone agrees that climate change has and will have a disastrous or at least dramatic effect on agriculture.‖ With California’s rich history of innovative farmers who promote environmental stewardship, provide ecosystem services and strive for sustainability, it makes sense that the California rice industry is at the forefront of incorporating climate-friendly practices.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine This protocol has the potential to move early innovators in the industry to get involved and start moving the needle on climate change. My department will continue to work across agencies to encourage its implementation, along with technologybased verification techniques. Any protocol proposed to the ARB for consideration must have real, quantifiable, verifiable and enforceable metrics, without compromising crop yields.California agriculture is incredibly resilient and innovative, and our farmers offer many benefits beyond food production. Voluntary incentive programs, such as the rice protocol, offer farmers in California meaningful opportunities to ensure that as they produce food, they are also providing important environmental benefits. http://www.imperialvalleynews.com/index.php/n ews/california-news/634-rice-farms-couldprovide-offsets-in-carbon-market.html

Cambodia to begin rice exports to various countries Tuesday, 16 December 2014 10:07

Cambodia’s minister of commerce has announced that the country will step up efforts to export rice to Africa, Middle East and the European Union

Cambodia exported 335,925 tonnes of rice in the first 11 months of 2014, up from 332,009 tonnes in the same period last year.

(Image source: Department of foreign affairs and trade/Flickr) ―We have to diversify our market, we cannot put all our rice into one basket,‖ said Sun Chanthol. ―We have to export our rice beyond the European market, so we can improve the livelihood of our farmers.‖In his three-day visit to Kuwait in December 2014, Chanthol aimed at opening new

avenues for Cambodian-made agricultural goods to enter the Middle East region.―We want to open the new market in the Middle East because we have not focused too much on the region in past times. And we want to expand our export destinations,‖ said Ken Ratha, spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce.

―It will also to pave the way for our private sector because the Ministry of Commerce also set up a department to handle Middle East related issues, which will facilitate commercial relationships, similar to that of the European Union,‖ he added.Khaled AlKhaled, member of the Kuwaiti Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted that Cambodian keenness on encouraging foreign investment had positive effects on Kuwaiti investors and prompted them to carry out projects there.According to Kuwait’s Central Statistical Bureau, Cambodian exports to Kuwait reached US$4.84mn in Q2 2014.Cambodian rice has already been gaining a positive reputation overseas. In 2012 and 2013, Cambodian jasmine rice won the prize for best rice from the Rice Traders World Rice Conference. http://www.fareasternagriculture.com/ind ex.php?option=com_content&view=articl e&id=4483:cambodia-to-start-riceexport-to-variouscountries&catid=1083&Itemid=98

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine NFA opens importation of 187,000-MT rice

By Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star) | Updated December 17, 2014 - 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines - The National Food Authority (NFA) has opened to the private sector the importation of 187,000 metric tons (MT) of high-quality rice under the minimum access volume (MAV) omnibus

importation program..The opening of the private sector importation under the MAV was done pursuant to the resolution passed by the NFA Council on Dec. 9.Each importer would be allowed to bring in a maximum of 5,000 MT for the entire allocation from any country of origin. No more allocations would be issued when the omnibus origin volume has already been exhausted.Imports would be levied a tariff of 40 percent which has be paid in advance through the LandBank of the Philippines.

The final assessment of payment shall be conducted by the Bureau of Customs.Under the MAV omnibus importation program, importers would only be allowed to import high quality rice varieties such as glutinous rice, Jasponica, Basmati and other special and aromatic rice varieties.

Regular rice with five percent brokens, 10 percent brokens, and 15 percent brokens may also be imported under this

program.Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 All NFAlicensed importers may apply to import under this program starting Dec. 28, 2014 until Jan. 31, 2015. All imports must arrive on or before Feb. 28, 2015.The complete list of requirements may be found at the NFA website.Interested importers must submit to the Grains Marketing Operations Department-Foreign Operations Division of the NFA a letter of intent together with all the documentary requirements.Corporations and cooperatives interested to participate in the program must designate, through a board resolution, an authorized representative to act on behalf of the corporation or cooperative during the application process.Farmers’ organizations must present an original certificate of good standing from the government agency where it is registered such as the Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform or National Irrigation Administration.

They must likewise authorize a representative.The Philippines has agreed this year to increase the volume of rice that could enter the country under the MAV to 805,000 MT from 350,000 MT in exchange for the extension of its special tax treatment on rice by the World Trade organization (WTO).For now, the country still implements the old MAV scheme under which, 187,000 MT may be of omnibus origin while 163,000 MT should be of country-specific origin. Under the country specific program, rice may only be imported from the following source countries with the respective allocations: Thailand (98,000 MT), India (25,000 MT), China (25,000 MT) and Australia (15,000 MT).Food security chief said Francis Pangilinan said the NFA Council would review and make recommendations on the enforcement of the country’s commitment with the WTO.―The NFA Council imports committee created last

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine August has been tasked to review and make recommendations regarding out WTO commitments. We will await their recommendations,‖ he said. http://www.philstar.com/business/2014/12/1 7/1403418/nfa-opens-importation-187000mt-rice

Who influences the rice market?

VietNamNet introduces the third part of the roundtable discussion on “A quarter century of Vietnam’s rice exports”, with the participation of Prof. Dr. Vo Tong Xuan, Dr. Vu Trong Khai, and Mr. Nguyen Minh Nhi. From the left: Mr. Nguyen Minh Nhi, Dr. Vu Trong Khai and Prof. Vo Tong Xuan.

export issued to ensure "food security". The rice prices in the domestic market increased by 2- 3 times. In HCM City, supermarkets only allowed each customer to buy 50kg at a time and they had to show their ID cards.Then officials sternly "learned from experience" from this case. But the question is whether the rice market has been swayed by an interest group for a long time?

Dr. Vu Trong Khai: At that time I strongly opposed the suspension of rice exports for two reasons. Firstly, the rice crop is only three months, so Vietnam only needed to keep a rice reserve for three months. The suspension caused heavy damages for farmers.Thailand immediately took advantage of the situation to raise the rice price to a record of $1,200 per ton. Then, domestic prices were also pushed up by threefold. People queued in very long lines in front of rice stores and supermarkets to buy rice.

The unexpected suspension of rice exports has happened quite often in Vietnam. Stateowned firms that hold a monopoly in rice export can do something to stop rice exports at harvest time in order to press the price.

They did any trick from selling rice exporting quotas in the past to swaying the policies to seek profits for themselves.

VietNamNet: There is the fact that rice exporters and farmers are most afraid of an unexpected suspension of rice exports for "food security" reasons. In 2008 when the demand for rice in the world market was high and the rice price was rising to benefit farmers, there was suddenly a ban of rice

Mr. Nguyen Minh Nhi: Those tricks are not strange to me. These firms are not good at competing in the world but good at infringing upon farmers to buy their rice at low prices.

Until now, the 25th year since Vietnam resumed exporting rice, private firms are still "crying" that they cannot compete equally with state-owned rice exporters, as advocated by the Party and the State’s policies.

Dr. Vu Trong Khai: Private companies have never been able to compete equally

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine with State-owned firms in rice export.

Initially, private firms were requested to have huge capital to be allowed to export rice. Other barriers have appeared since then to maintain monopoly for state-owned corporations.

There are rules "making it difficult" for private rice exporters such as they must have factories, warehouses and sources of supply.

Meanwhile, state-owned corporations receive capital from the state budget to build factories and warehouses. Why can’t private firms hire warehouses or association with the firms that have warehouses? Such rigid regulations have prevented private companies from exporting rice. The monopoly is still very strong now.

Even state policies for the annual temporary storage of rice are also inflexible. In fact, the goal of the state is not achieved, and the farmers do not enjoy anything. State-owned corporations have never bought rice at harvest time. They only wait until prices fall to the bottom to buy.

VietNamNet: We would like to ask Dr. Khai said about the concept of "food security". Based on world criteria, has Vietnam ensured food security yet?

the per capita food output with the population to have the total demand. Even though Vietnam is a big rice exporting country, there are still hungry people who do not have money to buy rice in Vietnam.

Therefore, Vietnam does not really have "food security".

There are many countries importing food but they always ensure food security as the UK and Malaysia. The people of England even have one of the highest standards of living in the world.

There are two issues here. The first is that food prices should be reasonable and the second is the income of the people must be enough to buy food every day. Vietnam fails to meet these two conditions.

Prof. Dr. Vo Tong Xuan: The term "food security" has been corrupted by interest groups.

For example, to ensure "food security," hundreds of million of US dollars were used to turn alum water into freshwater in Ca Mau peninsula but the results were very bad.

The rice output did not increase while the aquatic resources were harmed.

I have repeatedly recommended that with the current great food output, we do not have to worry about loss of food security.

Rice is harvested after only three months so let farmers and businesses export rice.

Dr. Vu Trong Khai: According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), food security "exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life". Vietnam just balances on a national level by multiplying

Prof. Dr. Vo Tong Xuan: Food security policy has been used in corrupt ways by some interest groups. The policy was used to prevent the initiatives of diversifying agricultural produce because the state did not invest in these crops. But if we keep growing rice and the rice output keeps rising, the rice prices will fall dramatically.

VietNamNet: This year the state allowed farmers to plant crops that yield higher profit than rice. However, farmers are

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine confused because they do not know who will buy their products. What should we do?

trademark to enable the local product to lead the world market.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Nhi: Vietnam’s "food security" is calculated the same way as GDP per capita. A wealthy family uses 1kg of rice per meal while a poor one eats 1kg of vegetable, not rice. But we combine the volume and divide in two to have each family with 1/2kg of rice and 1/2kg of vegetable and these figures look okay.

Sharing Xuan’s views, Vice Chairman of the Can Tho People’s Committee Dao Anh Dung, said it is necessary for the region to increase rice productivity and quality as local people remains poor although they contribute 90 percent of the country’s rice export volume.Many experts held that domestic rice production has failed to maintain its sustainability, attributing it to the lack of high-quality rice varieties, high post-harvest losses, and poor regional connectivity and collaboration among the government, scientists, businesses and farmers.Developing the rice market is a long-term measure to stimulate and stabilise production, reduce risks for farmers, and increase profits, they said, adding that the application of advanced technologies is needed to find out high yield and quality varieties that can be resistant to diseases and adapt to climate change.

There is one factor that I find impossible to ignore - the Chinese market. We need to organize and map out a specific plan for this market to protect our farmers and businesses.This is a huge market and if they want to buy a kind of agricultural product, they can push the prices up but if they stop purchasing, our farmers could only throw away their product. This way of business has placed our farmers in a passive status.

Building rice trademark urgent for Vietnam: official Building a national rice trademark is a crucial and urgent task, stressed Duong Quoc Xuan, Deputy Head of the Steering Committee for the Southwestern Region (SCSR), at a conference on the future of Vietnamese rice held in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on December 11.Although Vietnam is the second largest rice exporter in the world, its rice value is not high as the country is yet to build its own trademark in the global market, he said.The Mekong Delta, the rice bowl of the country, lacks investment in rice development and many localities in the region have not fully tapped their potential, he said, stressing the importance of building a national rice

VietNamNet Tags:rice export,vietnamese farmers,mekong delta,

rice,rice

NFA release Posted on December 15, 2014

NFA releases guidelines for importation of 187,000MT under the Minimum Access Volume Program

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine From the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization

Food exports 'to keep surging next year'

The National Food Authority (NFA) has opened the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) – Omnibus Rice Importation program to the private sector with a total volume of 187, 000 metric tons. The MAV was opened after the NFA Council, chaired

by Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Francis Pangilinan, ordered the imports committee to review and amend the importation guidelines to make the process more transparent and give all industry players a level playing field. The MAV is the only way by which the private sector can bring in rice into the country since private sector rice importation was prohibited in 2010.

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

Under this program, each importer is allowed a maximum of 5,000 metric tons that can be sourced from any country.

Importers are only allowed to import high value rice varieties such as glutinous rice, jasponica rice, basmati rice, and other aromatic rice varieties. 5% broken, 10% broken, and 15% broken rice varieties can also be imported under this program.All NFA-licensed importers may apply to import under this program starting December 28, 2014, until January 31, 2015. All importation must arrive on or before February 28, 2015. For the complete guidelines, please visit the NFA website www.nfa.gov.ph.

The Nation December 17, 2014 1:00 am The value of Thailand's food exports, which has already passed the Bt1-trillion mark, should grow by nearly 7 per cent next year, as lower fuel prices reduce the costs of production and logistics, the baht weakens, and higher demand is seen in new markets, particularly Russia, experts say.However, some worrying factors remain. These include low crop prices, the poor economy in many countries causing consumers to watch their spending, and the cancellation of tariff privileges by the European Union.

This year, food exports are expected to surge by 15.4 per cent year on year to reach Bt1.01 trillion for the first time in history, thanks mainly to higher shipments of rice, tapioca, chicken, and higher-value-added and processed foods. Shrimp exports are still suffering from the impact of early mortality syndrome (EMS).

"The value of food exports is expected to continue growing next year amid the weakening baht, and producers have focused more on processed foods and value-added products, while lower oil prices will encourage

opafsam.gov.ph http://www.gov.ph/2014/12/15/nfa-releasesguidelines-for-importation-of-187000mtunder-the-minimum-access-volume-program/

more

consumption.

Exports

should grow strongly to emerging markets like China, Russia, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates," said National Food Institute president Petch Chinabutr.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine In the first 10 months of 2014, food exports

highlighted markets for Thai food exports

grew 11.5 per cent year on year to Bt851.22

next year. China has a trade deficit in food

billion. Major export products were rice,

every year because of its large population

which was up by 37 per cent to Bt139.81

and economic growth in its large cities.

billion; tapioca, which rose 24.5 per cent to

Products that will see strong demand in

Bt76.05 billion; chicken, which was up 24.3

China are processed foods, energy drinks,

per cent to Bt66.31 billion; seasoning, which

dried fruits, fresh fruits, infant foods, frozen

increased 15 per cent to Bt115.86 billion;

goods, food supplements and snacks.

and fresh and canned pineapple, which expanded 10 per cent to Bt13.91 billion.

Export to UAE will increase strongly next year, since that country serves as a

Petch said rice, tapioca, chicken, shrimp,

distribution centre to other parts of the

canned tuna and seasoning would show

Middle East and is also home to a lot of

stronger

Shrimp

foreign labourers. Halal foods will have high

shipments should increase considerably as

potential for export to that market.Shipments

EMS is eliminated and hatcheries have more

to Russia will also increase significantly

shrimp to supply to the world market.In

next year as it imports more from Asian

2015, rice export is expected to grow by 2.4

markets. Pornsilp Patchrintakul, chairman of

per cent, tapioca 9.4 per cent, chicken 7.1

the Board of Trade's farm and food business

per cent, shrimp 20.4 per cent, canned tuna

committee, said the value of agricultural

0.7 per cent, and seasoning 7.4 per cent.

products was expected to increase slightly

Export of seasoning will expand strongly,

next year, while lower fuel prices would

thanks to more demand for Thai food and a

benefit food exports.To promote growth of

rising number of Thai restaurants overseas.

the food industry, Pornsilp urged the

exports

next

year.

government to revise rules and regulations But shipment of canned pineapple is expected to decline 3 per cent next year and sugar to drop 5.4 per cent as import markets for those products shrink, while drought risks

make production uncertain.China,

Vietnam, the UAE and Russia will be

to facilitate exports, particularly under the upcoming Asean economic integration. He claimed that some regulations, such as those involving customs and the Food and Drug Administration, were out of date. The government should update those laws to

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine increase competitiveness and streamline

tonne of rice which is marginally lower than

shipment of foods, as most are fresh and

2.4 million tonne purchased during same period last year.

need to be shipped quickly. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/F ood-exports-to-keep-surging-next-year30249979.html

Govt agencies procure over 11.4 MT rice this season By: Sandip Das | New Delhi | December 16, 2014 6:03 am

A food ministry official said the rice

Government agencies till Monday have

procurement

procured more than 11.4 million tonne of

Telangana

rice in the current marketing season (2014-

Chhattisgarh, which contributed more than

15) which is marginally lower than the

four million tonne of rice to the central pool

volume purchased from the farmers during

last year, agencies have not commenced

the same period of previous year.The rice

purchase operations which was slated to

purchase drive by Food Corporation of India

start on December 1.

(FCI)

state

As per the latest data, 7.6 lakh tonne of rice

which

has been purchased by farmers in Telangana

been

while only 62,000 tonne has been lifted in

completed in Punjab and Haryana, the two

Andhra Pradesh so far.In Odisha and Madhy

biggest contributors to the central grain

Pradesh, where rice procurement has began

pool.

a couple of weeks ago, only 1.2 lakh tonne

The government has a procurement target of

and 2 lakh tonne respectively have been

30 million tonne of rice during October-

purchased by agencies.The FCI and state

September 2015 season.In Punjab, rice

agencies undertake procurement of rice and

procurement this year has been 7.7 million

wheat to ensure that farmers get a minimum

tonne against 8.1 million tonne achieved

support

during 2013-14 marketing year. In Haryana,

foodgrain is available for the Targeted

in

collaboration

government-owned

with

agencies,

commenced on October 1, has

has

just

and

price

commenced

Odisha.However,

(MSP)

and

in in

sufficient

the agencies have purchased two million Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Public Distribution System (TPDS) and

Mr. Pha said Cambodia’s King Crushing

buffer stocks.

Stone Company signed a five-year deal worth $1.5 billion Monday with China’s

Meanwhile, the foodgrain stocks held with

Yong Jun Stone Crushing for a project in

the government agencies have declined to

Cambodia, but had no further details about

49.4 million tonne at the start of the month

the agreement.He said deals were also

from 51.6 million tonne reported last month

signed at the expo to export 200,000 tons of

and 57.3 million tonne reported three

cassava chips to China for $49 million, to

months back.The lower foodgrain stocks are

import wood drying machines from China

going to ease storage crunch faced by the

for $1.2 million, and for the development of

FCI

a Chinese-backed condominium project in

and

state

agencies

to

a

large

extent.However, as the rice procurement

Cambodia worth $17 million.

drive for 2014-15 is expected to pick up pace in the next few months, the grain stocks with the government are expected to

At a separate event in Phnom Penh on Sunday, Khmer Brewery Limited, the maker of Cambodia beer, inked a deal that will see

see a sharp rise.

China’s

TAGS: Rice

Chinese, Cambodian Firms Sign Trade Deals

distribute

Fuzhou the

Newgroup

beer

across

Industry China.Sok

Chantha, business development manager for the Chip Mong Group, which owns Khmer Brewery, said Monday that the deal would

BY KANG SOTHEAR | DECEMBER 16, 2014

last one year, but declined to say how much beer would be exported or reveal the value

Six pairs of Chinese and Cambodian firms

of

signed off on a half-dozen business deals

interested in our beer and thought that the

over the past two days in Phnom Penh worth

quality of our beer was good enough to

more than $1.5 billion, the bulk of it for a

compete with others in the Chinese market,‖

five-year

stone

crushing

project.―Some

the

agreement.―The

importer

was

Mr. Chantha said. ―So they asked for a deal

Chinese companies signed business deals to

with us to export our beer over there and we

buy products from Cambodian companies,

are happy to do it, because it’s a good

while some signed deals to sell products to

opportunity to expand our market.‖

Cambodian companies,‖ Chheav Pha, who heads the Commerce Ministry’s marketing

Also on Sunday, Cambodia’s Mekong Oryza

department, said Monday at the start of a

Trading penned a tentative deal with a

four-day trade expo.

Chinese firm to export 30,000 tons of milled

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine rice over the course of the coming

therefore alleged price hikes in the Saudi

year.Mekong Oryza director Hun Lak said

markets

the price was still under negotiation.―I think that China will keep importing more milled rice from Cambodia because the importers

are

unjustified.Mandeep

Singh

Bindra an Indian rice dealer and a key figure in the Emirates Grain Products Company

recognize the quality of our milled rice,‖ he

(LLC) ruled out any price hikes in India as

said.In August, Cambodia’s state-owned

production is nearing 90 million tons and

Greed Trade agreed to a deal with China to

growing remarkably.

export 100,000 tons of milled rice.

Saudi Arabia's rice imports from India are sothear@cambodiadaily.com © 2014, The Cambodia Daily. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be

ranging between 1.5-2 million tons annually and imports are poised to grow Bindra told Al-Eqitsadiah daily.India rice exports to the

reproduced in print, electronically,

Kingdom account for 20 percent of the

broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without

Indian total exports to all countries he said.

written permission For his part Mohamed Abdulrahman Alhttps://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/

Shaalan one of the key rice importers said

chinese-cambodian-firms-sign-trade-

rice prices have stabilized since last

deals-74280/

Ramadan with minor price reduction levels

Saudi- Rice prices expected to fall 102 in Kingdom

in some parts of the year.He said the

MENAFN - Arab News - 15/12/2014

majority of the Kingdom's rice imports from India is 'Besmati' brand which represents 7080 percent of the overall imports.Al-Shaalan said Indian rice production in the current

(MENAFN - Arab News) A prominent rice

season was good with surpluses reaching 20

importer has predicted that rice prices in the

percent compared to last year's production

Kingdom are expected to go down by 5-10

levels. He affirmed investment relations

percent in the coming months local media

with their Indian counterparts were excellent

said.Meanwhile an Indian rice dealer told

and refuted alleged price exaggerations by

the media that rice prices in India have

the

remained stabilized for the last period and

expected to witness a remarkable stability in

Indian

traders.Saudi

markets

are

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine rice prices over the coming months with a decline to range between 5-10 percent on the back of oil price falls he said.

Ombudsman junks cases vs top Customs officials ABS-CBNnews.com Posted at 12/16/2014 11:56 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman junked the cases filed by a suspected illegal rice importer against top officials of the Bureau of Customs over the latter's refusal to release its rice shipments.In a joint resolution, the Ombudsman dismissed Bold Bidder Marketing and General Merchandise's complaint against Customs Commissioner John Sevilla, Deputy Commissioners Maria Edita Tan, Agaton Uvero, Ariel Nepumoceno and Jessie Dellosa, as well as Ernesto Benitez, Jr, Acting District Collector, BOC-Port of Batangas, because the "refusal to heed a court order must be addressed by the Court, not by [the Office of the Ombudsman]."Bold Bidder had filed cases against the Customs officials for alleged violations of the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act, citing the BOC's refusal to release their rice importation despite the issuance of the December 10, 2013 Writ of Preliminary Injunction by a court in Lemery, Batangas.

The company also filed administrative cases against the said officials for violating Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.evilla welcomed the dismissal of the cases, saying the bureau was only doing its job.

"Our laws are very clear: the importation of rice must be supported by the required NFA permits and we have strictly and consistently

upheld this policy. Bold Bidder and other rice traders who imported rice without the required NFA permits have danced around our legal system to try to get their smuggled rice out of the ports. Filing cases against us cannot and will not stop us from doing our job," Sevilla said.The BOC has already filed smuggling-related cases against Bold Bidder representative Ivy Souza and the firm’s customs brokers Denise Kathryn Rosaroso, John Kevin Cisneros, Francis Rudolph Forneste and Elbert Lusterio for illegally importing over 12.8-million kilograms of rice through ports in Manila and Cebu.Last September, the Batangas Regional Trial Court had also dismissed Bold Bidder’s petition for declaratory relief against the NFA and BOC, for lack of jurisdiction http://www.abscbnnews.com/business/12/16/14/ombudsmanjunks-cases-vs-top-customs-officials

HEALTH MATTERS: Radiographer launches Indian food business Head of Published on the16December 2014 12:00 catering Colin Chapman with radiographer Ananda Logishetty and some examples of her culinary skills

A RADIOGRAPHER with a passion for cooking has teamed up with chefs for the day to share the authentic taste of Indian cooking.

Ananda Logishetty, who works part time as a senior radiographer in the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust’s breast screening unit, has launched a start-up

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine the taste of my kitchen in your own home.‖Her meal kits contain a pre-packed box of fresh ingredients and spices with easy instructions for home cooking.

online business which is based in the Tees valley.It is called Ananda’s Gourmet and it delivers either spice packs or entire mealkits, including spices and vegetables to the doorstep of customers.But in a new twist for one day only, Ananda supplied the spices and recipes to the restaurant chefs at the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.She worked with them to carefully follow the meal kit instructions and helped them to serve up the perfect Indian dishes.

Ananda said: ―I love working in the NHS, but I also have a real passion for cooking.

The recipes offered by Ananda’s Gourmet are the very same handed down through generations of my family.―My cooking is very much influenced by Moghul cooking which has its own distinctive traditions and flavours.

The kits contain fragrant Basmati rice and all that customers need to do is buy the meat or fish. Alternatively, people can also just buy the spice packs and the products are delivered to their doorstep.‖Ananda added: ―It was excellent to experience working in the kitchens with the chefs and then to see everyone enjoying the food.‖Head of catering Colin Chapman: ―It was a fantastic opportunity for Ananda and the chefs to work together and bring something new to the restaurant. It was so popular, we will be bringing Ananda’s Gourmet back to the restaurant in the New Year. We had queues coming out of the door and everyone was talking about how good the food tasted.‖

University of Arkansas Research Team Receives Excellence Award Team Leader, Dr. Trenton Roberts in the lab FAYETTEVILLE, AR -- In recognition of the importance of their work for the long-

―I spent my childhood in a big joint family where food was a central part of life and learnt to cook from the age of ten. My parents are my leading inspiration, combining their passion for great flavour and their zest for providing fantastic food for guests.‖Ananda said her aim was ―to give people an unforgettable experience of Indian food, which is influenced by different regions of India. I want you to experience

term

economic

and

environmental

sustainability of the rice industry, a team of scientists at the University of Arkansas has been selected to receive the school's Division of Agriculture John White Team Award.

The researchers developed a

nitrogen soil test method for rice (N-STaR)

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine and carried that process through wide-scale producer adoption and implementation.

"The development and implementation of NDevelopment of the new N-STaR soil test

STaR is a great example of basic science

provides producers with the ability to

being applied to a real-world problem to

manage inputs on a field-level basis.

achieve results, and it is a testament to the

Nitrogen fertilizer accounts for a significant

importance of interdisciplinary research,"

portion of the variable input costs associated

said USA Rice Federation President and

with rice production and is directly linked to

CEO Betsy Ward. "I applaud the team, and

producer profitability. Farmers who have

on behalf of U.S. rice producers, thank them

implemented the N-STaR program report

for putting another tool in the toolbox to

cost savings as high as $120 per acre by

improve efficiency and sustainability."

using less nitrogen fertilizer while at the Contact: Deborah Willenborg (703) 236-

same time increasing rice yield.

1444

Japan Announces Results of 9th Ordinary Import Tender in FY 2014 Country of Origin

Variety

Number of Importer

Quantity (MT)

Participated Bidders

Amount of Bids (MT)

USA

Nonglutinous milled rice (medium grain)

2

24,000

19

228,000

Thailand

Nonglutinous milled rice

4

27,000

40

270,000

(long

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine grain)

Grand Total

Avg Price for Successful Bids

6

51,000

JPY 79,675/mt

(tax excluded)

JPY 86,049/mt

(tax included)

59

498,000

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures CME Group (Preliminary): Closing Rough Rice Futures for December 16

Month

Price

Net Change

January 2015

$12.080

- $0.350

March 2015

$12.320

- $0.375

May 2015

$12.595

- $0.380

July 2015

$12.770

- $0.320

September 2015

$12.120

- $0.320

November 2015

$12.020

- $0.335

January 2016

$12.030

- $0.335

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