16th february,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily

Global

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Rice E-Newsletter February 16 , 2015 V o l u m e 5, Issue I

Ministries debate rice stockpiling plan Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry and Trade, and Finance; the State Bank of Vietnam; and Vietnam Food Association met to discuss rice stockpiling plan for winter spring crop this year in the Mekong Delta.Farmers harvest rice with combine harvester in Vinh Long Province (Photo: SGGP) According to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), rice export contracts have reached only one million tons including 504,000 tons left from contracts signed last year.Vietnamese rice has

www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

Page 1

Contact for Newsletter Advertisement mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell : +92 321 3692774

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine faced severe competition from Thai and Indian rice especially in low and medium segments in China, Malaysia, Mexico and Indonesia.Abundant supply source might impact winter spring rice consumption and prices in the Mekong Delta, it said.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that rice supply in the winter spring crop had surged in the Mekong Delta. Rice output has increased to 3.65 million tons in February and March while the number of export contracts has decreased in the first quarter compared to the same period last year.Deputy Minister Vu Van Tam proposed the Government to stockpile about one million tons of winter spring rice from March 1 to April 15.VFA will work with provincial people‘s committees in the Mekong Delta on rice purchase volume in each province, which will depend on local commercial output. Rice produced under large scale paddy fields will receive priority in consumption.

Agreeing with the plan, Ministry of Industry and Trade said that trade promotion activities will be stepped up after Tet to sign more export contracts with the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. The ministry will seek to regain the market share in Africa and Hong Kong (China).The ministry will mobilize and negotiate about rice export with China, prepare to open the rice market to the US, Japan, Mexico and Chile after the Trans-Pacific Partnership is signed this year. www.vietnambreakingnews.com/.../ministries-debate-rice-stockpiling-pla

Harold Roy-Macauley appointed Director General of AfricaRice Monday 16 February 2015.

Dr Harold Roy-Macauley (photo), a Sierra Leonean national, was appointed as the new Director General of the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) at an Extraordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of AfricaRice held on 6 February 2015, in Kampala, Uganda.The announcement was made by the Honorable Cabinet Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Republic of Uganda, Tress Bucyanayandi, in his capacity as the Chair of the AfricaRice Council of Ministers, which is the Center‘s highest oversight body.

The current Chairmanship is held by Uganda.Dr Roy-Macauley has nearly 30 years of experience in agricultural research with extensive leadership and management expertise. He is currently the Executive Director of the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD) – a leading sub-regional organization, which coordinates and facilitates agricultural R&D activities in 22 countries in West and Central Africa.Dr Roy-Macauley is no stranger to CGIAR, having served previously as the Regional Director for the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) in West and Central Africa.

He has consulted for numerous international and bilateral organizations on biosafety and biotechnology and was the Managing Director for the Regional Center for Improving Adaptation www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

Page 2

Contact for Newsletter Advertisement mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell : +92 321 3692774

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine to Drought (CERAAS) in Senegal, a research and training center of CORAF/WECARD.Dr RoyMacauley is fluently bilingual in English and French. He obtained his PhD degree in tropical plant biology in 1993 from the Université Denis Diderot, France, his MSc in tropical plant biology in 1988 from the Université de Pierre et Marie Curie, France, and his BSc with Honors in Botany in 1982 from the University of Sierra Leone.

During the Extraordinary Session, the National Experts Committee (NEC), under the chairmanship of Dr Ambrose Agona, Acting Director General of the Uganda National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), carefully examined the Board‘s report on the selection process and recommended to the Council of Ministers that Dr Roy-Macauley be appointed.

The NEC comprises the Directors General of the national agricultural research institutions of AfricaRice member countries and serves as the technical arm of the AfricaRice Council of Ministers.―We are pleased with the transparent and rigorous selection process adopted by the AfricaRice Board of Trustees,‖ stated Hon. Tress Bucyanayandi, thanking the Board Chair DrPeter Matlon. ―We have full confidence that Dr Roy-Macauley has the leadership experience, skills and vision needed to advance the noble mission of AfricaRice.‖Thanking the Council of Ministers and the Board, Dr Roy-Macauley said, ―I am honored to accept this very important challenge with a great sense of responsibility. ‖ He added that his vision for the Center is to help position rice, which he referred to as ‗the next gold‘, as key in driving the economies of rice-producing countries in Africa and contributing to industrial development and livelihood changes of rural producers, especially women, involved in rice production.As part of his mandate at AfricaRice, he underlined the importance of ―introducing more high-end life science and socioeconomic applications in the Rice Sector Development Hubs, convened by AfricaRice, to help consolidate the already profound and significant changes the rice value chain is undergoing in Africa.‖He also conveyed his commitment to engage with national and regional agricultural research and innovation systems, governments of member States of AfricaRice, regional economic communities, the African Union, and international partners in order to efficiently and effectively respond to and influence national, regional, and continental rice policies.

Paying homage to former Directors General of AfricaRice, Dr Roy-Macauley said that he would further build on the legacies and achievements forged by his predecessors. He highlighted particularly his admiration for the ―great dynamism of excellence in AfricaRice,‖ promoted by Dr Papa Abdoulaye Seck, former Director General of AfricaRice and current Minister of Agriculture and Rural Equipment of Senegal.

The Council of Ministers, the National Experts Committee and the Board took the opportunity to highlight the exceptional contributions made by Dr Seck, which have transformed AfricaRice and taken it to new levels of excellence.They also conveyed their deep appreciation to the

www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

Page 3

Contact for Newsletter Advertisement mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell : +92 321 3692774

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Interim Director General, Dr. Adama Traoré, for steering the Center over the past 18 months with great steadiness, integrity and effectiveness. ―We are sure that we can continue to rely on his strong support during the leadership transition.‖Dr Roy-Macauley will assume his post at AfricaRice on 9 March 2015.

Credit: APO. Editor‘s Note: Here is Harold Roy-Macauley at a panel discussion in Dakar, Senegal, 2013: http://www.thepatrioticvanguard.com/harold-roy-macauley-appointed-as-new-director-generalof-africarice

New paddy variety fetches good returns FOOD FOR THOUGHT: ‗TNAU Rice TRY 3,‘ a new variety of paddy, kept on the grounds of a temple at Poongudi near Tiruchi.— Photo: A. Muralitharan About 10 acres of land brought under the variety, suitable for ‘idly’ flour

A group of farmers of Poongudi village near here have been awaiting the procurement of ‗TNAU Rice TRY 3‘ variety introduced by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University – Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research Institute here. The rice variety, suitable for ‗idly‘ flour, was popularised by the college at Poongudi and about 30 farmers have raised this crop.

Thanks to the crop protection technique and close follow-up by the college scientists, farmers could harvest an average 30 bags of paddy (60 kg per bag). S. Narayanasamy, organiser of the People‘s Welfare Committee, says 30 farmers, who were conventionally cultivating ‗BPT 5204‘ variety till 2013 had switched over to this ‗idly‘ variety in September-October 2014.About 10 acres was brought under the variety and farmers had registered an average 1.5 tonnes an acre.

About 15 tonnes had been stocked in the village, he said.With paddy suitable for ―idly,‖ a large number of traders had been making a beeline to the village to purchase the price. But, the farmers said that the price offered by traders was not attractive.―We have planned to market the paddy at Rs. 900 a bag of 60 kg.; but the traders offered just Rs.800,‖ says Mr. Narayansamy.

P. Pandiyarajan, Dean of the college, said the institute, as part of popularising the variety, was taking steps to popularise the rice which has a milling percentage of 71.30 and head rice recovery of 66 per cent. The variety was resistant to diseases, including leaf folder, stem borer, brown spot, sheath rot, and sheath blight, Mr. Pandiyarajan said.G. Chitrarasu, Senior Regional Manager, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, said that he would ascertain the quality of paddy before making arrangements for the procurement of the cro

www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

Page 4

Contact for Newsletter Advertisement mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell : +92 321 3692774

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Farmers who had harvested the paddy said that it was a tough task for them to protect the stock.

Mustaffa (43), another farmer, said that he had shifted his harvested produce by tractor from Poongudi to Navalur Kuttapattu, about 2 km away, where he had a threshing floor.For dearth of space, a few other farmers had stocked the paddy on the grounds of Sri Varasidhi Vinayagar temple in the village.

30 farmers in the village switched over to new variety under TNAU guidance The new variety is said to be resistant to many diseases http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/new-paddy-variety-fetches-goodreturns/article6899942.ece

Civil case on rice scheme unfair: ex-PM's lawyer THE SUNDAY NATION February 15, 2015 1:00 am FORMER PRIME minister Yingluck Shinawatra's legal team will appeal if the Finance Ministry files a civil case seeking compensation from her for alleged damages resulting from her government's rice-pledging scheme.Norawich Lalaeng, a Yingluck lawyer, said yesterday that it would be unfair to the former PM if a civil case was filed as the Criminal Court was yet to hear a separate case in which she has been accuse stricted by martial law and she was unable to comment publicly about political issues. d of negligence of duty leading to corruption in the scheme, now scrapped.

"The legal team has discussed this matter and we agree that as soon as the NACC submits its request to the Finance Ministry, we will appeal against the move," he said.The lawyer noted that the ministry was involved in implementing the rice scheme under the Yingluck government, and questioned whether it was sensible for the ministry to act as the damaged party now.On Friday, NACC president Panthep Klanarongran said the agency had sent a written request to the Finance Ministry asking it to consider filing a civil case against Yingluck, her former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and other officials in a bid to receive compensation over the alleged government-to-government deal to sell rice to China.Norawich said Yingluck's rights were being re However, he said that certain groups seemed to be commenting negatively about the ex-PM regarding the ongoing legal cases against her.

The lawyer urged Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha not to allow any?one to attempt to influence those cases.Meanwhile, Pheu Thai politician Somkid Chueakong said it was not proper for Prayut to have disclosed that he had expressed concern to Yingluck about problems stemming from the rice scheme while she was prime minister.

www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

Page 5

Contact for Newsletter Advertisement mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell : +92 321 3692774

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Civil-case-on-rice-scheme-unfair-ex-PMs-lawyer30254113.html

Rice dealers call for auditing in rice imports in Ghana Feb 16, 2015 The Small Scale Rice Dealers Association of Ghana (SSRIDA), has called for forensic auditing of all rice imports, which were cleared under warehousing. rice importation The association said this is important to ensure transparency and accountability in the rice industry, which members believe is embroiled in a lot of irregularities.Mr Yaw Korang, National Coordinator of SSRIDA made the call in a statement issued in Accra at the weekend and copied to Ghana News Agency.

It said on January 28, 2014, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) received a report from the Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority, about rice imports through the Western Frontier-Sunyani Collection.

The statement said the report, which was addressed to the Chief Director at the ministry was headlined: ―Authenticating copies of SAD forms and assessing impact of rice imports through the Western Frontier-Sunyani Collection‖.It claimed that the exercise, which targeted SSRIDA members took the team members to Gonokrom, Kofi Badukrom, Nkrakwanta and Osei Kojokrom.―All copies of entry forms submitted by the MOTI for verification were genuine and originated from the stations indicated; all relevant taxes were paid; values applied conformed to values given by Commissioner per memorandum of August 3, 2013, and revenue from rice imports is a major source of tax for the Sunyani Collection,‖ the statement said.

It said despite these findings the Deputy Minister of MOTI, Mr Murtala Mohammed Ibrahim was quoted in a media report that SSRIDA members do not honour their tax obligations, and this was part of the reasons why inland importation of rice was banned by the ministry.It said SSRIDA is calling for forensic auditing of rice importation because the major players in the industry who are large scale rice dealers bring their goods and store them at bonded warehouses.

www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

Page 6

Contact for Newsletter Advertisement mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell : +92 321 3692774

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine SSRIDA noted that on October 24, 2013 there was a media report that more than 280 private and public companies have been cited for allegedly evading the payment of taxes amounting to 367 million dollars over a seven-year period.These anomalies, which happened at bonded warehouses was uncovered by a presidential taskforce.The statement asked that two years down the lane what due dilligence have been performed to ensure that the situation has been streamlined? ―Since November 1, 2013, small scale rice dealers have been denied the right to do business, but what shows that those allowed to do so are serving the national interest?‖ The statement said members are of the view that proper consultation was not done before they were asked not to continue with their trade hence the need for forensic auditing of rice importation for the public to judge whether the move was of national importance.

TAGS:2013,NATIONAL,COORDINATOR OF SSRIDA,OCTOBER 24, SMALL http://www.spyghana.com/rice-dealers-call-auditing-rice-imports-ghana/

21 targeted in NACC's G2G rice probe Published: 16 Feb 2015 at 20.01 Online news: Politics Writer: King-oua Laohong The anti-graft agency on Monday submitted a 67,000-page investigative report on the allegedly corrupt government-to-government rice deals made by the Yingluck Shinawatra administration.

(Post Today photos)

Former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom is among 21 people targeted in an investigative report forwarded to prosecutors by the National AntiCorruption Commission over allegedly corrupt government-to-government rice deals consummated by the Yingluck Shinawatra government. The dossier containing 67,000 pages was brought in 60 boxes to the Office of the Attorney-General by NACC assistant secretary-general Sakchai Methineepisarnku.

www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

Page 7

Contact for Newsletter Advertisement mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell : +92 321 3692774

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Mr Sakchai said the NACC is still investigating more than 100 rice-trading companies involved in the government sales, but added it should not take long to wrap up work.Chutichai Sakhakorn, chief of the OAG's special-litigation department, who received the case file, said a working panel would be set up in the next few days to review the documents.If the report included all needed evidence, he said, the OAG could indict the 21 individuals in the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office-Holders in about a month http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/476606/21-targeted-in-nacc-g2g-rice-probe

Cambodia to double organic rice exports Published: 15 Feb 2015 at 16.57 Online news: News Writer: Online Reporters A farmer walks in a rice paddy field in Kandal province on Feb 11, 2015. Cambodian exporters planned to export more organic rice this year. (Reuters photo) Cambodia aims to sell more organic rice to international customers after exports of the grain rose over the past year. The Cambodian Centre for Study and Development in Agriculture (Cedac), one of the country's two organic rice exporters, sold 540 tonnes of fragant organic rice last year, a 20% increase from 2013, and plans to double the figure this year.''We are aiming to export 1,000 tonnes this year to fill the demand that we see in the international market,‖ Cedac official Sou Sarorn was quoted as saying in the Phnom Penh Post.

Its main buyers were Europe, the United States and Hong Kong and Mr Sarorn said Middle East countries could be a new target.―The price of organic rice is higher and also more stable than non-organic rice in the marketplace,‖ Mr Sarorn said.AMRU Rice, the other exporting firm on organic rice, was moving in the same direction, according to its CEO Song Saran, as the company has set an export target of 1,500 tonnes this year and 2,500 tonnes next year.Cambodia exported 380,000 tonnes of rice last year, mostly non-organic rice. Main destinations for Cambodian regular rice was European countries, China and Malaysia. http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/475585/cambodia-to-double-organic-rice-exports

www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

Page 8

Contact for Newsletter Advertisement mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell : +92 321 3692774

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Half a million tonnes of rice sold Published: 16 Feb 2015 at 18.10 Online news: News Writer: Online Reporters Samples of rice put on the auction was shown at Commerce Ministry in December 2014.

(Bangkok Post file photo) The Commerce Ministry has approved the sale of 496,000 tonnes of rice, just under half the total offered for auction late last month. Around 100 bidders participated in the auction for the 999,000 tonnes of grain.Commerce Minister Chatchai Sarikulya said the rice was sold to 38 bidders for a total 7.85 billion baht. The amount sold was 49.64% of the total on offer. The ministry refused to sell the remaining rice to disqualified bidders and will put it on sale later this month.Gen Chatchai said China expressed interest in buying two million tonnes of rice and 200,000 tonnes of rubber for delivery in two years. Ministry officials returned from a visit to China over the weekend. http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/476581/half-a-million-tonnes-of-rice-sold

State readies follow-up rice auction Published: 16 Feb 2015 at 07.54 Newspaper section: Business Writer: Phusadee Arunmas The government plans to call a second auction for an additional 1 million tonnes of state-held rice later this month after the year's first auction in January drew 100 bidders. According to a Commerce Ministry source, the government expects to have sold about 60% of the 1 million tonnes put up for sale at the first auction.Official figures will be available after the ministry submits them for approval this week to the meeting of the National Rice Policy Committee chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The source said the first auction's outcome would have been announced earlier, but authorities took time to investigate the shareholding structure of one qualified bidder, Empire Development Co, which offered to buy more than 400,000 tonnes of rice at 47 warehouses.Officials feared that www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

Page 9

Contact for Newsletter Advertisement mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell : +92 321 3692774

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Empire Development might have links to Siam Indica Co, as the two share the same address and Empire's authorised director was formerly a Siam Indica director and shareholder.Siam Indica had been barred by authorities from joining the bidding after its indictment by the National AntiCorruption Commission for graft related to the rice-pledging scheme.But the source said authorities would still present the purchase proposal by the company for the National Rice Policy Committee's consideration.

The government fetched selling prices relatively higher than floor prices at the first auction, the source said, adding that sales of more than 60% would be deemed satisfactory.The floor price for white rice was set at eight to 10 baht a kilogramme, while the market price is now 13 baht. The floor price for Hom Mali fragrant rice was set at 25 baht a kg against a market price of 31-33 baht.The rice put up for auction included 850,000 tonnes of 5% white rice and 150,000 tonnes of Hom Mali rice.Authorities estimate the cost of the rice put on sale at 11.7 billion baht. http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/475985/state-readies-follow-up-rice-auction

APEDA Market & Commodity News Three Years Export Summary of APEDA Products (2011-12 To 2013-14) Top Five Destination of APEDA Products for Year 2013-14 Today's Leads Seller Leads

Buyer Leads

Market Watch Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 14-02-2015 Domestic Prices Product

Unit Price : Rs/Qtl Market Center

Variety

Min Price

Max Price

Rice 1

Bonai (Orissa)

Other

2000

2300

2

Jhagadiya (Gujarat)

Other

1950

3000

www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

Page 10

Contact for Newsletter Advertisement mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell : +92 321 3692774

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine 3

Kishanganj (Bihar)

Other

2350

2450

1

Amirgadh (Gujarat)

Other

1550

1725

2

Bonai (Orissa)

Other

1400

1600

3

Deoli (Rajasthan)

Other

1480

1524

1

Bharuch (Gujarat)

Other

2500

4500

2

Nagpur(Maharashtra)

Other

3500

5500

3

Sirhind(Punjab)

Other

4000

5000

1

Bonai (Orissa)

Other

1000

1500

2

Bharuch (Gujarat)

Other

800

1200

3

Gumla(Jharkhand)

Other

1200

1500

Wheat

Grapes

Carrot

Source: agmarknet

for more products

Egg

Rs per 100 No. Price on 14-02-2015

Product

Market Center

Price

1

Ahmedabad

315

2

Hyderabad

281

3

Nagapur

282

Source: e2necc.com

www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

Page 11

Contact for Newsletter Advertisement mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell : +92 321 3692774

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine International Benchmark Price Price on: 13-02-2015 Product

Benchmark Indicators Name

Price

Apricots 1

Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)

6125

2

Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)

4875

3

Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t)

3625

1

Greek provincial, CIF UK (USD/t)

1562

2

Greek Vostizza, CIF UK (USD/t)

1676

1

Californian Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK (USD/t)

2454

2

South African Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK (USD/t)

2307

Currants

Raisins

Source:agra-net

for more products

Other International Prices

Unit Price : US$ / package Price on 13-02-2015

Product

Market Center

Origin

Variety

Low

High

Package: 50 lb sacks

Potatoes 1

Atlanta

Idaho

Russet

14

15

2

Baltimore

Idaho

Russet

16

17

www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

Page 12

Contact for Newsletter Advertisement mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell : +92 321 3692774

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine 3

Miami

Canada

Russet

15

15

Package: cartons film wrapped

Cucumbers 1

Atlanta

Canada

Long Seedless

16

16

2

Baltimore

Mexico

Long Seedless

12

12

Tanzania: Court Orders Rice Case Judgment After 15 Years Published on Monday, 16 February 2015 01:56 Written by FAUSTINE KAPAMA THE Court of Appeal has directed the High Court‘s Commercial Division to pronounce judgment on the 15bn/- demand in rotten rice case, which has remained undelivered for 15 years now.

Justices Engela Kileo, Salum Massati and Batuel Mmilla reached such a decision last week, after revising proceedings given by High Court Judge Amir Mruma, who had refused, as a successor judge, to deliver the judgment, on claims that he had an option of doing so or otherwise.Records show that the judgment in the case was written, dated and signed by trial Judge Nathalia Kimaro in 2005 before being appointed justice to the Court of Appeal. ―We find there is good cause to revise the proceedings of (Judge) Mruma in so far as he purported to have discretion to pronounce or not to pronounce his predecessor‘s judgment.

We accordingly quash and set aside those proceedings,‖ the justices ruled. They went on, ―We hereby further direct that the records of the High Court be remitted to the trial court with directions that the judgment written by (Judge) Kimaro, as she then was, be pronounced by a successor judge or other judicial officer of competent jurisdiction.‖ The High Court judge had relied under Rule 2 Order XX of the Civil Procedure Code to decline to deliver the judgment in question. Such provision reads, ―A judge or magistrate may pronounce a judgment written but not pronounced by his predecessor.‖ But in their ruling, the justices of the appeals court since a duty was cast on the judge to pronounce judgment in the interest of litigant public and in the main to save judicial time, the word ‗may‘ used in the Rule has a compulsory force and the succeeding judge was under www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

Page 13

Contact for Newsletter Advertisement mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell : +92 321 3692774

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine obligation to deliver the judgment.The parties to the case are VIP Engineering and Marketing Limited, as plaintiff, who is demanding payment of over 15bn/- from two companies, Societe Generale De Survellance (S.A) and SGS (Tanzania) Limited, as defendants.

Such refusal by the High Court judge had attracted a heated debate from the parties during hearing of the case before the appeals court, as it had made the litigation the longest in the High Court‘s Commercial Division.Advocate Michael Ngalo, for VIP Engineering Company, had told the panel that instead of reading the judgment, as required by the law, Judge Mruma, who was assigned as successor judge proceeded to entertain extraneous matters, including some applications filed by the two foreign companies.

Mr Ngalo, assisted by Counsel Didace Respicius, had argued that the High Court failed to discharge its duty considering the fact that pronouncement of judgment, whether the parties like or not, was mandatory.He said that when the case is heard, the judgment must be delivered to end the litigation. On the other hand, advocate Mustafa Chando, for the respondents, had asked the panel to reject the submissions and prayers by advocates for VIP Engineering Company, on grounds that there was no legal judgment, which is to be delivered by the Commercial Division of the High Court.

He submitted that the judgment, having been signed by the trial judge, was delivered by the registrar and was later declared invalid by the Court of Appeal because the registrar had no such powers. As from the date of decision of the Court of Appeal, he alleged, there was no judgment in the case.In January 1998, VIP ordered for purchase of 3,000 metric tonnes of rice (Pakistan long rice, 15-20 per cent broken) from M/S Orco International (S) Pte Lilited of Singapore under a Warehousing Management and Sales Contracts at a price of 267.50 US dollars per metric tonne thus making the total 802,500 US dollars.

At the time the sales contract was negotiated, VIP the buyer was in Dar es Salaam, while the seller in Singapore and the rice was in possession of a third party, M/S MAHMOOD PLC of Karachi in Pakistan. The respondent companies (SGS) came into the scene because of preshipment inspection of the rice.In the period 1998, SGS (S.A) was the sole appointee of Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) for conducting pre-shipment inspection of the imports destined to Tanzania.This appointment was done through a Pre-shipment Inspection Contract executed between them. TRA, being Government Agency, with public duties for supervision of imports into the United Republic of Tanzania for purposes of revenue collection, opted to have SGS (S.A) as its appointee in conducting pre-shipment inspection on goods destined for Tanzania for an agreed fees arrangements.

In the transaction, VIP anticipated that, SGS (S.A) to carry out their obligation with all due care, diligence and efficiency in accordance with generally accepted techniques and inspection agency profession in compliance with the World Customs Organisation (WHO) and World Trade Organisation standards.VIP made the required payment for the consignment and the same arrived in Dar es Salaam in March 1998 on board MV RUAHA.It was at the time of discharge that the plaintiff noted that the rice was of poor quality and less quantity contrary to SGS (S.A) and SGS (Tanzania) reports on quality.

Upon noting the discrepancy in the quality, VIP requested the respondents to carry out post shipment inspection and survey of the rice for a dup purpose, including ascertain the difference www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

Page 14

Contact for Newsletter Advertisement mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell : +92 321 3692774

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine in quality and quantity for establishing the exact extent of loss and work together to mitigate further loss.VIP sued the respondents, demanding, among others, specific damages suffered of 656,359.08 US dollars, general damages for consequential loss of profit and economic loss occasioned by the respondent‘s negligence and or fraudulent breach of the duty of care at the rate of 2,000,000 US dollars per year.

Image: MS Benedicta Rugemalira, Executive Chairperson of VIP Engineering and Marketing Limited. (File photo) http://allafrica.com/stories/201502161993.html

Still no payment for rice farmers for last crop FEBRUARY 16, 2015 · BY STAFF WRITER Dear Editor, It is evident that in the face of the tremendous challenges ahead, and continuous protest from the rice farmers, the government needs to work for more national cohesion and national unity. On Friday, once again rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast took to the road in protest for paddy payment for the last crop. Hundreds of farmers and their families demanded that the government fulfil its promises and see that millers pay them urgently, as they cannot live on promises.The reality is that rough times are ahead; harvesting of the new Spring crop will begin within two weeks and the farmers are asking what has become of the millions of dollars which were loaned to the millers to pay them off some months ago. Many farmers who have grown rice their entire lives, find themselves in an unprecedented financial situation. Farmers know that politics is not the answer to their problem.

Over the years, there has been a general reluctance by millers to pay farmers promptly for their produce. Government has claimed that there is a large export market for farmers‘ paddy and our rice, but the big question is, why are the farmers not being paid crop after crop, when they have delivered their paddy to the millers? Rice-farming in general employs nearly half of the Essequibo Coast‘s total workforce and is an integral part of Guyana‘s economy, culture and history.

Mismanagement of the rice industry has shaken confidence in rice farmers; the current problem of payment has had more consequences for the rice farmers than the millers. The problem faced by rice farmers has been compounded by the current government and millers‘ ill-conceived prompt payment scheme, which has failed. Farmers are facing increasing hardship that began long before the increasing monopolies held by big millers who have set about miring farmers in a web of debt by not paying them. www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

Page 15

Contact for Newsletter Advertisement mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell : +92 321 3692774

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine The nightmare farmers now face is growing debt, while trying to cover daily expenses. They are clinging to the false hope offered by an incompetent Ministry of Agriculture and the Guyana Rice Development Board which have neither the intent nor the ability to oversee their payment.

Their children will be pulled from school, medical expenses skipped, belts tightened around the dinner table and any possible investment to improve their lives abandoned.

Yours faithfully, Mohamed Khan http://www.stabroeknews.com/2015/opinion/letters/02/16/still-no-payment-rice-farmers-last-crop/

Fermenting Rice For Biofuel & Feed Read more from Asian Scientist Magazine Fermenting Rice For Biofuel & Feed Scientists have developed a method to process rice plants into both biofuel and animal fodder that does not require special equipment. Asian Scientist Newsroom | February 17, 2015 | Editorials AsianScientist (Feb. 17, 2015) - By Aamna Mohdin - A technology to create biofuel and animal feed at the same time without any off-site processing has been developed by Japanese researchers. The solid-state fermentation (SSF) system involves wrapping rice plants grown to feed livestock along with yeast, enzymes and bacteria into a bale covered with a plastic film, and capturing the ethanol produced by the resulting fermentation. This technology builds on traditional processes used by farmers around the world to create silage to feed livestock such as cattle, goats and sheep, according to a report published in the journal Biotechnology for Biofuels. ―Our SSF system does not require special equipment and large facilities,‖ says Mitsuo Horita, a researcher at the National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences who is the project‘s lead researcher. ―Harvested materials are immediately packed into a round bale in the field, which is similar to a conventional silo used for silage fermentation. No extra energy needs to be supplied to the system.‖ Horita says the system produces high yields of ethanol and silage, without any plant waste. By processing plants destined for animal feed, it also avoids competing with food crops, he says.

As a result, the technology could help address criticism of biofuels, which at present are mostly created from crops such as rice and maize. These first-generation biofuels have come under fire for driving up food prices as their production competes with the farming of crops to feed people.

Conventional biofuel manufacture also requires energy for transport and to run industrial processing plants. But Jahi Chappell, director of agriculture policy at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, an NGO that promotes sustainable farming, says the SSF system may fail to www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

Page 16

Contact for Newsletter Advertisement mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell : +92 321 3692774

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine solve the biofuels conundrum. ―Competition that lowers food security could still happen if this process led to conversion of lands suitable for other agricultural activities into land used for biofuel and feed production,‖ he says.

According to Horita, the biggest challenge to implementing SSF on a larger scale is the cost of rolling out the technology. Researchers would have to present the advantages of using the system to farmers, who would also need access to power stations that can buy and use the resulting ethanol, he says. But Siwa Msangi, a researcher at the US-based International Food Policy Research Institute, says the technology is a welcome addition to global biofuel options, despite concerns about its shortcomings. ―We shouldn‘t stop seeking ways to make better biofuels as we will need to add them to the portfolio of renewable energy sources that are necessary to offset future climate change,‖ he says.

The article can be found at: Horita et al. (2015) On-farm Solid State Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation of Whole Crop Forage Rice in Wrapped Round Bale for Ethanol Production. ----- Source: SciDev.Net. Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff. Tags: Biofuel, Japan, National Institute for AgroEnvironmental Sciences, Renewable Energy, Rice Read more from Asian Scientist Magazine http://www.asianscientist.com/2015/02/features/fermenting-rice-biofuel-feed/

Happy President's Day from Oryza!

Feb 16, 2015

Oryza editorial team is working limited hours this week and will be back in full force on Tuesday.

Wishing you and your families a Happy President's Day!

www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

Page 17

Contact for Newsletter Advertisement mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell : +92 321 3692774