18th march,2015 daily global rice e newsletter

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Rice E-Newsletter March 18 , 2015 V o l u m e 5, Issue I

PHL, Germany sign agreements on improving rice and abaca output March 18, 2015 6:06pm The Department of Agriculture and the Deutsche Gesellschaft fĂźr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on Wednesday signed two agreements to help the Philippines improve abaca and rice production.Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the projects will "further ensure sustainability of the government's current programs on improving abaca and rice production."He was referring to the Abaca Sustainability Initiative and the Better Rice Initiative Asia-Fostering Agriculture and Rice Marketing by Improved Education and Rural Advisory Services (BRIAFARMERS).The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority will implement the P19million (â‚Ź386,000) Abaca Sustainability Initiative from 2015 to 2016.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine "The Initiative aims to secure the ecological sustainability of abaca fiber production and to enhance the income of the abaca farmers through improved access to markets and extension service in the mountainous provinces of Madalag and Libacao in Aklan, and Janiuay and Maasin in Iloilo," the department said.On the other hand, the BRIA-FARMERS project will be implemented by the Philippine Rice Research Institute from 2015 to 2017 in the provinces of Aurora, Iloilo and Southern Leyte. "It seeks to contribute in achieving the goals under the Philippine Development Plan in strengthening the agricultural sector and improving food security in the Philippines," according to the DA. The collaborative project is facilitated by the GIZ among German private and public sector institutions through the German Food Partnership of the German Federal Ministry of Development Cooperation.The project with a P90-million (₏1.8 million) budget involves the training of local government unit-based trainers in enhanced agricultural extension to ensure that the adoption of technology and farm-based enterprises will be sustained beyond the project duration. GIZ helps the German government achieve its objectives in international cooperation. – Kathryn Mae P. Tubadeza/VS, GMA Newshttp://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/454781/economy/agricultureandmining/phlgermany-sign-agreements-on-improving-rice-and-abaca-output

Science Q & A: Arsenic and more rice NEW YORK TIMES 03/18/2015 4:41 PM 03/18/2015 4:41 PM

Q. I‘ve read about unacceptable levels of arsenic in both brown and white rice. Are rice vinegar and rice crackers also affected?

A. Foods that contain rice, including rice crackers and vinegar, routinely contain some level of arsenic, scientists say, as do products like rice cakes, rice wine and cereals, and snack bars and baking mixes that contain rice flour or bran. But it is unclear how serious a health risk they pose.The Food and Drug Administration has a list of rice-containing foods that focuses on inorganic arsenic, considered the most dangerous form. One reason rice gets a lot of attention is that the plant is good at pulling inorganic arsenic from soil and water and storing it in the edible grain.But levels of contamination vary according to the type of rice and where it is grown.

Brown rice, for example, tends to show higher levels than white rice, which is stripped during processing of layers of the grain where arsenic tends to collect. California rice frequently contains less arsenic than that grown in southern states, which tend to have higher levels of arsenic in the soil. Consumer Reports found that basmati rice from India, Pakistan and California had markedly lower levels of arsenic than other varieties.

Brian jackson is director of the Trace Metal Analysis Core Facility at Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H. | Tom McNeill dartmouth.edu

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine The FDA found that arsenic levels ranged from 7.2 micrograms (a millionth of a gram) to 2.5 micrograms per serving. Rice crackers averaged about 5 micrograms. Rice vinegar was even lower, around 1 microgram or less.―It may be that you get some dilution with the vinegar‖ or wine, said Brian Jackson, director of the Trace Metal Analysis Core Facility at Dartmouth College.While these are all tiny amounts, inorganic arsenic has been linked to disease in extremely low doses.

Much of this evidence comes from studies of arsenic in water. The federal Environmental Protection Agency sets a 10-parts-per-billion safety standard for drinking water.Because of the complexities, it‘s harder to assess risk from foods. ―The question for everyone is: ‗Do I worry?' ― Jackson said.His recommendation: ―If you are a person who is eating rice every day, and also snacking on rice products, then that 5 micrograms from rice crackers becomes significant,‖ he said. ―The idea is to eat a varied diet, and be aware of how much rice you are eating.‖ http://www.newsobserver.com/news/technology/article15272651.html

How an Insect Pest Switches from Sluggish Super Breeder to Flying Invader Insulin tells young planthoppers whether to develop short or long wings

March 18, 2015 One of the leading pests of rice, brown planthoppers can grow up to have either short or long wings, depending on conditions such as day length and temperature in the rice fields where they suck sap. The hormone insulin controls the switch that tells young planthoppers whether to develop into short- or longwinged adults, finds a new study. Photo by Chuan-Xi Zhang of Zhejiang University in China

DURHAM, NC - Each year, rice in Asia faces a big threat from a sesame seed-sized insect called the brown planthopper. Now, a study reveals the molecular switch that enables some planthoppers to develop short wings and others long -- a major factor in their ability to invade new rice fields.The findings will appear Mar. 18 in the journal Nature.Lodged in the stalks of rice plants, planthoppers use their sucking mouthparts to siphon sap. Eventually the plants turn yellow and dry up, a condition called ―hopper burn. ‖Each year, planthopper outbreaks destroy hundreds of thousands of acres of rice, the staple crop for roughly half the world‘s population.The insects have a developmental strategy that makes them particularly effective pests. When conditions in a rice field are good, young planthoppers develop into adults with stubby wings that barely reach their middles.Short-winged adults can‘t fly but they‘re prolific breeders. A single short-winged female can lay more than 700 eggs in her lifetime.―The short-winged ones have great big fat abdomens. They‘re basically designed to stay put and reproduce,‖ said biologist Fred Nijhout of Duke University, who co-authored the study with colleagues at Zhejiang University in China. www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine But in the fall as days get shorter and temperatures begin to drop -- signs that the rice plants they‘re munching on will soon disappear -- more planthopper nymphs develop into slender adults with long wings. Long-winged planthoppers lay fewer eggs but are built for travel, eventually flying away to invade new rice fields.Until now, scientists did not know exactly how the shorter days and cooler temperatures triggered the shift between short and long wings, or which hormones were involved.

To find out, the researchers used a technique called RNA interference (RNAi) to silence the genes for two different insulin receptors -- regions on the cell membrane that bind to the hormone insulin -- and measured the effects on the animals‘ wings.―Previously it had been assumed that all insects only had a single insulin receptor gene. We discovered that brown planthoppers have two,‖ Nijhout said.When the researchers silenced the first insulin receptor, short-winged adults emerged.

Silencing the second receptor produced adults with long wings.Further study revealed that long wings are the default design. But when planthoppers secrete a particular type of insulin in response to changing temperatures or day length, the second insulin receptor deactivates the first receptor in the developing wings, leading to short-winged adults.―The second insulin receptor acts by interfering with the first one, therefore shutting down the signal,‖ Nijhout said.It‘s too early to say whether the findings could lead to techniques to treat planthopper populations so they are unable to invade new rice fields, Nijhout says.But the researchers have found similar mechanisms in other planthopper species, and are now trying to find out if insulin plays a similar role in other insect pests with flying and flightless forms, such as aphids.This research was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program, no. 2010CB126205) and by the National Science Foundation of China (no. 31201509 and no. 31471765). https://today.duke.edu/2015/03/planthoppers

Maharashtra abolishes LBT, extends tax exemption on rice, wheat The Hindu A homeless women takes shelter under a makeshift dais in Mumbai. Maharashtra government in its budget has announce Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Gharkul Jaga Kharedi Arthsahayya Yojana – a scheme to provide financial help to BPL families to purchase land and to construct houses under the different housing schemes of the government. Photo: Vivek Bendre

Maharashtra on Wednesday announced Local Body Tax (LBT) would be abolished from August 1 and extended tax exemption on essential commodities like rice and wheat in Budget 201516.As regards LBT, a compensation of Rs. 6,875 crore will be given to the municipal

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine corporations, excluding Mumbai.This was one of the main electoral promises of the BJP.The loss of revenue would be compensated by enhancing the rate of tax under VAT which will be applicable to the whole state, Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar told the Assembly while presenting his maiden budget in the state Legislature in Mumbai.

A revenue neutral rate has been recommended considering the share of increased tax collection to be given to the areas where LBT is not levied, he said adding that extensive deliberations are required on enhancement of tax rates under VAT.The Mumbai municipal corporation gets substantial revenue by levying octroi on crude oil. The octroi amount is collected by oil companies as part of the state specific duty from all consumes in the state. This aspect is also required to be taken into account, the minister said.The total plan size of the state is Rs. 54,999 crore and the budget estimates for 2015-16 are Rs. 1,98,230.50 crore.As per the estimates, the revenue deficit would be Rs. 3,757.40 crore.Mr. Mungantiwar, who presented a surplus budget of Rs. 107.10 crore, also announced tax proposals which are estimated to result in net revenue gain of Rs. 643 crore, which has been incorporated in the budget estimates of 2015-16.

He proposed a levy of 5 per cent entry tax on long steel, 12.5 per cent tax on all types of woodfree plain and pre-laminated particle boards.He also announced extension of tax exemption on essential commodities like rice, wheat, pulses and their flour, turmeric, chillies, tamarind, jaggery, coconut, dates, Solapuri chadars and towels upto March 31, 2016.The tax exemption on currants and raisins as well as 5 per cent tax on tea will also continue till March 31, 2016.The Minister said that women drawing salary up to Rs. 10,000 per month will not have to pay professional tax. This will benefit nearly 1.5 lakh women in the state.

He also proposed to reduce sales tax on ladies‘ purse and handbags from 12.5 per cent to 5 per cent.Besides, work books, graph books, drawing books and laboratory books for students have been made tax-free.The rate of excise duty on country liquor would now be 200 per cent of the manufacturing cost or Rs 120 per proof litre, whichever is higher.Certain medicines required for treatment of cancer will also be exempted from tax and a list of such drugs would be notified separately.Mr. Mungantiwar also proposed to reduce tax on guide wire required for medical treatment and LED bulbs from 12.5 per cent to 5 per cent.

Mr. Mungantiwar said new automation project for sales tax has been started which will help business and the sales tax department in further simplification of procedures.All the processes envisaged under the GST are being incorporated in the new software system under development, so it will make hassle-free migration of data of existing tax payer to the new GST system.He also announced enhancing premium on additional FSI which will result in substantial revenue gains.The minister said the government has promised to enhance the FSI limit from 0.33 to 0.60 and increase the rate of premium in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation limit. It is also under consideration of the government to enhance the rate of premium on grant on all kinds of FSI.These gains in FSI will benefit individuals, but the government does not get benefit of revenue increase in the same proportion.

These amendments are proposed to ensure legitimate share of revenue for the government from overall benefits accruing to the beneficiaries of the FSI without burdening the common man, he said.The government intends to grant timely permissions, simplify procedures and charge

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine legitimate premium on additional benefits.As part of the amendments in the Maharashtra Value Added Tax Act, there will be no VAT on service tax and late fee for VAT return will be reduced from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 1,000.Similarly, multiple revised returns in case of audit findings or investigation proceedings by sales tax authorities would be allowed. Assessment can be initiated if there is reason to believe that the tax payer is not correctly discharging tax liability or is attempting to evade tax on any transaction.

The Finance Minister also proposed to introduce time limit for completion of transaction-wise assessment and also provide for cancellation of order, if it is done ex-parte.Computation of interest in case of a revised return filed for a period less than a year is also proposed.After the High Court approves merger or demerger of companies, a period of 30 days will be specified for making an application for registration from the date of notification by the registrar of companies, he added.

Keywords: Maharashtra Assembly session, Maharashtra Budget 2015-16, local body tax, tax exemption, Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/maharashtra-budget-2015-maharashtra-abolishes-lbtextends-tax-exemption-on-rice-wheat/article7007767.ece

Scam stains famed Chhattisgarh PDS, systemic loot runs into crores

by Parivesh Mishra Mar 18, 2015 22:18 IST

Raipur: Amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aggressive pitch for growth and denouncement of the policy of handouts in the pre-general election campaign last year, Chhattisgarh‘s model of Public Distribution System (PDS) stood out as a shining and welcome misfit. The BJP showcased Chief Minister Raman Singh model of PDS as its answer to the Congress‘ Food Security Act. Besides the Gujarat model, this was the only model that found mention in Modi‘s election speeches.

Representational image. Reuters Raman Singh‘s two consecutive victories in the Assembly elections were believed to be because of his 'efficient' PDS and it also earned him epithet 'chawalwale baba'. Now it turns out the story was too good to be true. Earlier this month, the state's PDS made the headlines but for entirely wrong reasons.Raids by the state‘s anti-corruption bureau at the offices of the Civil Supplies Corporation (or NAN) – the pivot of the PDS circus – and the recovery of cash worth Rs 4 crore in the drawers of the babus have exposed the massive corruption in the scheme. The babus were caught in the process of distributing and forwarding the parcels of the 'monthly' shares to a list of names, believed to be that of the beneficiaries. The list included names of the top officials and politicians. The www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine principal secretary of the department was removed and prompt denials followed of involvement of politicians and other big wigs, including the wife of the chief minister.

Soon after coming to power for the first time the state in 2003, the BJP government brought in the Chhattisgarh Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2004 leading to a number of changes to the PDS delivery and procurement system. In 2007, on the eve of the general elections, an additional 1.9 million households (who had been excluded from the 2002 BPL survey because of the Planning Commission cap on poverty numbers) were added to the 1.33 million households already receiving subsidized food grains from the Central government at that time. This state-led initiative helped Chhattisgarh PDS increase coverage to approximately 80 percent of the rural population.

The 'Baba' won in 2008 and the formula was replicated in 2013. What was marketed as the Mukhyamantri Khadyann Sahayata Yojana in 2007 was re-packaged as the Food Security Act of 2013. Disproportionate ration cards were made before both the elections. Between August and September 2013, on the eve of the Model Code of Conduct coming into force, the number of BPL families in the state jumped from 33 to 70 lakh.The recent raids by the ACB have brought the model under scrutiny and opened a rotten can of worms. hat the ACB uncovered at NAN is the proverbial tip of an iceberg. Many believe the whole PDS racket has resulted in the swindling of hundreds of crores of the state exchequer.

It is clear now that the whole business of procurement of paddy from the farmers, addition of thousands of tons of paddy smuggled in from the neighboring states like Odisha and Maharashtra, its carting and storage by the MARKFED – the co-operative arm – to the godowns, the coming into picture of rice millers, allotment of paddy to the millers, recovery of rice from the millers, supply of the rice to the PDS outlets – the total pipeline leaks throughout making the total system a fountain of corruption.

And to add to it, kerosene is another big component of the PDS.The most prominent stone in the edifice of corruption are the bogus ration cards that were made with impunity in Chhattisgarh.

While the state has only 56 lakh households, under the Act of 2013, ration cards had been made for 70.27 lakh households. In a state that has been claiming a high growth rate in the 11 years of Raman Singh‘s rule, 94 percent of its total households figured under BPL, going by the ration cards issued to them.A month after the general elections were over in May 2014, the state government set about verifying the cards and cancelled 14 lakh of these and suspended 10 junior level officials.The records show the production of paddy increasing year after year with no apparent reasons justifying growth in that proportion. For example, in 2010-11, though the acreage increased from previous year's 3.48 million hectares to 3.51 million hectares the total jump in paddy production to 9.23 million tons was too much to escape attention of the skeptics.

The official estimate for that year‘s production was 6.5 MT. "Its all manipulation of the data," avers social activist Gautam Bandopadhyay.In the election years of 2008 and 2013 the government gave away bonus of Rs 270 per quintal over and above the minimum support price of Rs 1,350. In this and many other years, the procurement exceeded the production in the fields. This excess was the direct result of the huge quantities of paddy that

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine pours in through smuggling from the neighboring No-Bonus states like Odisha and Maharashtra during the purchase seasons.

The phenomenal increase in the procurement far exceeded the storing capacity with the government agencies. Thousands of tons of paddy were dumped in the open during the rains. he millers who sign an agreement before the season to lift paddy and mill and supply back rice to the PDS chain, refused to lift the 'damaged' grain on the pre-agreed terms and conditions. The 'tussle' between the government and the Chhattisgarh state Rice Mill Association controlled by Yogesh Agarwal, brother of the an influential member of the cabinet Brij Mohan Agarwal, caused the paddy to 'rot' more. The consequent settlement resulted in the government almost giving up on the condition of rice millers producing a bank guarantee before lifting the paddy from the storage dumps.Following are the highlights of the scam that have come out so far: * The government did succeed in clearing the grounds but failed to get the rice back. Notices were issues, a few FIRs were lodged but in the absence of any insurance like the bank guarantee, the efforts didn't succeed. The millers sold off the rice thus milled in the open market instead of channeling it back in to the PDS. Since lakhs of cards were declared bogus and cancelled in the subsequent year, the decreased demand from the PDS did not raise alarm due to non-recovery of rice. No wonder Chhattisgarh has seen a phenomenal growth in the number of rice mills in the state after the BJP government came into power in 2003. The number went up from around 300 to 1,543 by the end of the 2013 according to the official figures and hovers around 1,600 now. * The bogus ration cards added another chapter to the story. In the election years, cards were distributed to all and sundry. Virtually every second member of the family ended up having a card. In months preceding the 2008 assembly elections, in some districts the number of ration card holders exceeded 70 percent of the population, according to a letter written by the then state food secretary the collectors. * The card entitled its holder to receive 35 kg of rice for Re 1 a kg. The excess cards helped grow a parallel economy in the state. The 2013 PDS model had eliminated the class of PDS shop owners and replaced it by committees of people generally nominated by the government on the recommendation of the party. These committees became the de facto credit institution in the villages. The ration cards got converted into commodity. One card fetched a 'loan' of up to Rs 5,000. * The modus operandi of milking this card was simple. The rice miller milled and sent the rice to the NAN warehouse. The demand from a PDS distribution centre (shop) was raised based on the number of the cards (roughly multiplied by 35) and sent to the warehouse. The NAN officials released trucks carrying these demands to shops. The entries duly made in the cards in possession of the committee and the rice thus left un-lifted was then diverted back to the rice mill from where it had originated, completing the cycle. The same rice was again pumped into the supply chain. * Kerosene: The state receives 16,000 kilolitre of it as its share from the Centre. Only around 3,000 kilolitre of it gets distributed through the PDS shops at Rs 20 per litre. The rest – worth almost Rs 40 crore - is siphoned off every month to the petrol pumps and industrial units at rates varying between 35 and 40 making it a racket worth Rs 500 crore in a year.

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Louisiana Couple Honored on National Ag Day Rep. Charles Boustany (l) congratulates NOYF award winners Julie and Christian Richard

WASHINGTON, DC -Day and it's a safe bet that rice farmers from Kaplan, remember how they the National Outstanding last year and a trip to the award. They have spent various events scheduled visit with their Charles Boustany, a of Agriculture Tom Krysta Harden, a luncheon Committee Chairman Mike of Agriculture Dinner where they were the honored guests.

Today is 2015 National Ag Christian and Julie Richard, Louisiana, will always celebrated. The Richards won Young Farmer (NOYF) award nation's capital was part of the the past few days attending around Ag Day, including a Congressman, Representative meeting with USDA Secretary Vilsack and Deputy Secretary with House Agriculture Conaway, and a Celebration

"The reception we've received from lawmakers and their staff has been fantastic," Julie said.

"This was also a great opportunity to meet in a small group with the Secretary and hear his perspective on where things are going in agriculture, it was enlightening." The Richards raise rice, soybeans, and crawfish, operating from the philosophy that conservation and farming go hand-in-hand -- and at least 25 percent of the application to the NOYF program is based on conservation practices."Conservation doesn't cost you a thing, it pays a dividend," Christian said.

"You do it because it makes sense."Their progressive farming practices and devotion to the future of agriculture are evident in their involvement in local and state organizations.

Christian currently serves as president of the local soil and water conservation district and is also the past president of the Louisiana Rice Growers, president of the Vermilion Parish Rice Growers, vice chairman of the state Rice Promotion Board, and a member of the parish Rice Advisory Committee. Christian is a graduate of the Rice Leadership Development Program and a Louisiana Master Farmer graduate. Julie is a former assistant director of field services for Farm Bureau and is now employed full time on the farm.

"Of course we're thrilled the Richards were recognized -- it's not just a great honor for them personally -- but also for the rice industry," said USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward. "Of the thousands of farmers out there who applied for this honor and surely deserve recognition, the fact that two rice growers were selected is a testament to our bright future as an industry."The www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine four national winners were selected from a group of 10 finalists for the award based on their progress in an agricultural career, extent of soil and water conservation practices, and contributions to the well-being of the community, state, and nation. The three other national winners are from Michigan, Ohio, and Wyoming.

In addition to the trip to Washington, DC, national winners received a savings bond from corporate sponsor John Deere.The NOYF program is the oldest farmer recognition program in the United States, selecting its first group of national winners in 1955. The program is sponsored

by John Deere, administered by the Outstanding Farmers of America, and supported by the U.S. Jaycees and the National Association of County Agricultural Agents.

Contact: Deborah Willenborg, (703) 236-1444

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for March 18

Month

Price

Net Change

May 2015

$11.045

+ $0.420

July 2015

$11.290

+ $0.420

September 2015

$11.400

+ $0.415

November 2015

$11.560

+ $0.415

January 2016

$11.710

+ $0.415

March 2016

$11.710

+ $0.415

May 2016

$11.710

+ $0.415

Rice Storage Workshop, April 7, Richvale Tuesday, April 7, 2015 • Richvale, CA

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine A workshop to discuss the rice shortage and mill insect pest management will take place April 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lundberg Family Farms, 5311 Midway, Richvale, Calif.The workshop is organized by the research team of the Post-Harvest Grain Management Project, which was funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture Grants Program.The team consists of several scientists with many year‘s experience in the subject of pest management in stored grains and storage and milling facilities.The workshop will focus on pest management in rice mills as well as in storage bins.

Major topics include: Current status and challenges of rice grain insect pest management; integrated pest management programs; monitoring and dynamics of storage insect pests inside and around rice mills; structural treatments, residual insecticides, and aeration; economics of storage rice insect pest control; and, integrated storage rice insect pest management and tool delivery.

Register on-line at http://ucanr.edu/2015ricemillworkshop Registration is free. Please register before April 1 to ensure participation. Seats will be filled on a first-come basis. Lunch will be provided.DPR CE credits have been requested.

For more information, contact Luis Espino, University of California Cooperative Extension at 530458-0578, laespino@ucanr.edu, or Jim Stewart, Lundberg Family Farms 530-538-3500. http://westernfarmpress.com/rice-storage-workshop-april-7richvale?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+18%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13% 2C+2013&utm_medium=email

Senate panel considers duck hunt fix March 17, 2015 - 3:02pmUpdated March 17, 2015 - 4:02pm

By Peter Urban Stephens Washington Bureau purban@stephensmedia.com

WASHINGTON — Arkansas could decide for itself if duck hunting can occur on rolled rice fields under legislation that got a positive response Tuesday from some members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.The provision, aimed at resolving an ongoing dispute between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Arkansas rice farmers over ―baited‖ fields, has been long sought by members of the Arkansas delegation. It is now included in a bill that Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, has drafted to address broader fish and wildlife issues. Sullivan chairs the subcommittee on fisheries, water and wildlife.In 2012, the agency warned rice growers that www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine some of their fields that had been rolled — as farmers often do after harvest — could be off limits to waterfowl hunting.

That summer‘s drought led to an early rice harvest, which was followed by heavy rains that cause a rare secondary ―ratoon‖ crop to sprout. In Arkansas, local cooperative extension offices advised farmers to plow under the secondary rice to return nutrients to the soil.Fish and Wildlife cautioned the growers that if rice heads emerge from those fields, they would be considered ―baited‖ and therefore illegal for waterfowl hunting. The law is intended to prohibit hunters from luring ducks or other game to them with food. Many Arkansas rice farmers lease their fields to migratory waterfowl hunters but that year refrained because of the potential penalties from hunting over baited fields.Dale Hall, CEO of Ducks Unlimited, testified Tuesday in favor of leaving it up to state agriculture agencies to determine whether duck hunting would be allowed on these rice field. ―One thing that always concerned me is if a regulation is so confusing to the public, doesn‘t it then miss the mark? The ultimate goal of law enforcement is to have the public voluntarily comply,‖ said Hall, who once served as director of Fish and Wildlife.Sullivan said he ―couldn‘t agree more‖ that the regulation needs clarification.Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., who serves on the environment subcommittee, said the baiting measure included in the bill would clarify that farmers are allowed to engage in normal agriculture practices without fear of losing a secondary source of income provided by leasing land to duck hunters.Hall said that southern rice farms have actually played an important role in sustaining the migratory waterfowl that fly south for the winter.More than half of the nation‘s wetlands have disappeared but that loss has been offset by agricultural activity — wheat in the north and rice in the south — that provides an important source of food for waterfowl, he said. ―We are at the highest level of nest productivity since 1955 when we began taking records, yet we have lost so much of our native habitat. The reason is we have taken advantage of agriculture,‖ Hall said. ―Rice has become a surrogate wetland.‖The overall bill would reauthorize the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, which has provided funding for conservation programs through hunting and fishing fees and extend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act that uses excise taxes on sportsmen‘s equipment for state wildlife programs. ―The language we examine today was a result of the efforts between many parties to craft a sportsman‘s bill that will enhance recreational opportunities for all. Many of these provisions I have supported in past Congresses, and I look forward to finally passing them into law,‖ said Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla. ―As a sportsman and an avid fisherman, I understand and appreciate the role these activities hold as long-standing tradition for many families across the country. It is my goal to help ensure these recreational opportunities are open and available so that we can responsibly enjoy and conserve our natural resources.‖Sullivan said the bill would also codify an existing exemption that excludes EPA from regulating lead fishing tackle and ammunition, and www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine would allow lawful possession of firearms at water resource development projects managed by the Army Corps of Engineers.Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., spoke against allowing firearms near dams and other projects managed by the Corps of Engineers.―You may want that in Alaska, but that would be intensely alarming and frightening for people in Rhode Island. I think it is a completely unnecessary addition to this bill,‖ Whitehouse said.Sen. Michael Crapo, R-Idaho, clarified that carrying firearms would be permitted only in those places open to the public and would be specifically prohibited from dams and other facilities that are security issues. Crapo noted that guns are allowed on most federal lands but not on the 12 million acres controlled by the Corps.Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, spoke against exempting lead fish tackle and ammunition from EPA regulation.―We are critics of the use of lead. We don‘t have it in our gas or paint and globally we are moving to non-toxic shot,‖ he said.

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Untimely rain plays havoc with vegetable, pulse prices

NEW DELHI, MARCH 18: Prices of vegetables and pulses are set to shoot up after unseasonal rain damaged over 50 lakh hectares of standing crops across the country, putting enormous strain on household budgets.Consumers will have to pay more for potatoes, carrots, cabbages, mustard and almost all

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine the pulses over the next few weeks. Rain in northern, central and western parts has caused widespread damage to crops in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

Inclement weather not only affects production but also the quality of agricultural produce, besides hampering movement of supplies throughout the supply chain, exacerbating the situation and pushing up wholesale inflation.Wholesale Price Index-based inflation in February reflected higher food prices at 7.74 per cent. Further upward pressure in prices could force the Reserve Bank of India to think twice on policy rate cuts at its policy meeting early next month. Vegetable prices rose 15.5 per cent, while fruits surged 16.84 per cent. Prices for the politically significant onion rose 26 per cent.

Widespread damage The Centre has estimated that standing crops over 50 lakh hectares (lh) were damaged — 27 lh in Uttar Pradesh, 14.5 lh in Rajasthan, 7.5 lh in Maharashtra, 50,000 hectares in West Bengal and at least 6,000 hectares in Punjab. ―Wheat on some 6-7 acres of my 20 acres has been destroyed.

Seasonal vegetables, potatoes in particular, besides cabbage and carrots have been affected,‖ said Karamjit Sidhu, a farmer from Kotla Suraj Lohar village in Amritsar district.Farmers from UP said potato and mustard crops have been badly affected as also wheat, while pulses such as chickpea (chana), black gram (urad) and green gram (moong) have been hit to a lesser extent.―Almost the entire mustard crop has been flattened,‖ said Rajiv Kumar, who owns 13 acres in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh. ―The impact on wheat is less but more for mustard with hailstorms in Rajasthan and UP. There won‘t be much addition to inflation on the basis of a slight fall in wheat output.―It‘s not clear how much damage there has been to potato and perishables,‖ said Suresh Pal, who heads the Division of Agricultural Economics at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute.

Wholesale and retail prices of vegetables, such as bitter gourd, cauliflower and brinjal, have already shot up this month in the Capital. Agriculture Produce Market Committee data showed that the average price of brinjal increased some 19 per cent to ₹17.6/kg in March from February.During the same period, cauliflower prices rose to ₹20/kg from around ₹ 14/kg. Retail prices for bitter gourd and lady's finger have surged by 20 per cent, selling at ₹ 120/kg from ₹ 100 a month ago. Retailers expect prices, which have gone up by about ₹ 5/kg for most vegetables, to remain high with fresh arrivals not expected soon.

Delhi Govt acts

Agriculture Ministry officials refrained from giving estimates of the damage, but Delhi Government officials Gopal Rai and Asim Ahmed Khan convened a meeting this week to check the steadily rising prices and announce emergency measures.These included the display prices of major vegetables at wholesale market yards and keeping an eye on commission agents.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/untimely-rain-playshavoc-with-vegetable-pulse-prices/article7008024.ece

CCC Announces Prevailing World Market Prices WASHINGTON, DC -- The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation today announced the following prevailing world market prices of milled and rough rice, adjusted for U.S. milling yields and location, and the resulting marketing loan-gain (MLG) and loan deficiency payment (LDP) rates applicable to the 2014 crop, which became effective today at 7:00 a.m., Eastern Time (ET). The rough rice AWP is down $0.07 per cwt for long grain and down $0.08 per cwt for medium/short grain.

World Price

MLG/LDP Rate

Milled Value ($/cwt)

Rough ($/cwt)

Rough ($/cwt)

Long-Grain

15.38

9.96

0.00

Medium-/ShortGrain

14.98

10.09

0.00

Brokens

9.28

----

----

This week's prevailing world market prices and MLG/LDP rates are based on the following U.S. milling yields and the corresponding loan rates: U.S. Milling Yields Whole/Broken (lbs/cwt)

Loan Rate ($/cwt)

Long-Grain

57.21/12.55

6.64

Medium-/Short-Grain

61.89/8.83

6.51

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine The next program announcement is scheduled for March 25.

DPCs receive over 21,000 tonnes of paddy this season Updated: March 18, 2015 05:41 IST With the harvest season drawing to a close, Direct Procurement Centres in the district are set to wind up operations within the next few weeks.S. Ayyappan, Regional Manager, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC), said that 19,284 tonnes of paddy had been procured in the 48 centres set up by the TNCSC across the district as of date.―Additionally, 2,080 tonnes of paddy have been procured at 5 DPCs set up by the Cooperation Department,‖ he added.Officials in the agriculture department said they would be undertaking surveys across the district and shut down the DPCs where procurement had completely stopped. ―While the amount of paddy procured has substantially increased when compared to the previous year, farmers cultivating high-quality variety of paddy preferred to sell it in the markets since it is in demand and they could command a high price for it,‖ Mr. Ayyappan explained.Speaking about the procurement in the district, Joint Director for Agriculture Jaisingh Gnanadurai said that while there was a marked increase of a few hundred tonnes of paddy over last year‘s procurement, they expected the procurement to touch 40,000 metric tonnes since the yield this year was high across the district. A good yield of paddy had been expected from over 44,000 hectares in the district. An official said that there were no major cases of malpractice reported regarding the functioning of the DPCs.―Other than a few minor issues, there were no major raids.

The monitoring committees too ensured the smooth functioning of the centres,‖ he noted. http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/dpcs-receive-over-21000-tonnes-of-paddy-thisseason/article7005749.ece

Rice farming project to resume in the West 8 Slow, Difficult Steps To Become A Millionaire (The Daily Western) BusinessMar 17, 2015 0

Over 700 rice farmers in the Shama district are to be reemployed into the local rice production industry following the revamping of a government initiative to construct water management systems for rice farmers in some parts of the country.Local rice is anticipated to dominaterice farm the Ghanaian market when the project begins to yield its firsst fruits. Over 321 acres of land have been prepared at Badukrom to begin large production of the local rice. This follows the over 85%

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine completion of the water management systems to cater for water supply needs of the rice producers.The project should have started in 2011 but government was unable to secure the needed funding. This led he inland valley rice development project workers jobless in June 2011.

Some of the anticipated beneficial farmers said they has been engaging over the years are dissatisfied with the delay in executing the project.

The water systems have been A visit to the site saw some water systems completed. The land has also been demarcated for onward distribution to the farmers. The Wassa East district agric director Kofi Eyiah who had come to inspect the progress of work at the site said completion these systems have presented the opportunity for some 700 rice farmers to be employed.In the mean time, the district director of agriculture, Kofi Eyiah, has accused some rice farmers in the western region of collapsing the subsidized fertilizer scheme introduced by government.

He said some farmers failed to honour their part of the scheme. Mr. Kofi Eyiah said government was unable to secure new bags of fertilizer at subsidized prices in 2014 as a result of the failure of farmers to pay for their supplies. He argues the farmers have been falsely accusing government of deliberately starving them of farm inputs especially fertilizers. He however said enough supplies are expected for this season from government but the farmers will have to go to the open market if that fails. http://www.spyghana.com/rice-farming-project-to-resume-in-the-west/

Some Northern California Farmers Not Planting This Year, Sell Water To Los Angeles At $700 Per Acre Foot (The Daily Western)

by John RamosMarch 17, 2015 7:05 PM YUBA COUNTY (KPIX 5) – The rice industry in the Sacramento Valley is taking a hard hit with the drought. Some farmers are skipping out on their fields this year, because they are cashing in on their water rights.Many fields will stay dry because farmers will be doing what was once considered unthinkable: selling their water to Southern California.―In the long term, if we don‘t make it available we‘re afraid they‘ll just take it,‖ said Charlie Mathews, a fourth generation rice farmer with senior rights to Yuba River water.He and his fellow growers have agreed to sell 20 percent of their allotment to Los Angeles‘s Metropolitan Water District as it desperately searches to add to its dwindling supply.

It‘s not really surprising that Southern California is looking for a place to buy water. But what is making news is how much they‘ve agreed to pay for it: $700 per acre foot of water.Just last year, rice farmers were amazed when they were offered $500 per acre foot. This new price means growers will earn a lot more money on the fields they don‘t plant, making water itself the real cash crop in California.―It‘s much more than we ever expected to get. But at the same time, that www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine just shows the desperation of the people that need it,‖ Mathews said.The ripple effect of this will be felt around the entire state. If a Bay Area water district needs to buy more water, it will now be competing with Los Angeles to do it.―They have to pay whatever the last price, the highest price, people will pay,‖ Mathews said.

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China places big orders for Vietnamese rice VietNamNet Bridge – The rice export market has bounced back thanks to higher demand from importers, especially from China, which has made large orders.

Huynh The Nang, chair of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), in an interview to the local press, said he can see ―positive signs‖ in the rice export market.Vietnam needs to sell about 5 million tons of winter-spring rice, including 700 tons of last year‘s inventories. To date, Vietnamese businesses have signed contracts on exporting one million tons.As demand is high, VFA predicts that Vietnam will be able to sell 3 million tons of rice by the end of the second quarter.Nang noted that the Chinese market has heated up again as the government has granted rice import quotas to Chinese businesses. It is estimated that Vietnam can sell 3.5-4 million tons of rice to China, which includes 1 million tons across the border gates.

Previously, Vietnamese rice exporters and farmers had been concerned about the sharp fall in rice exports in the first month of the year.A report from the Industry and Trade Information Center shows that Vietnam had exported 325,621 tons of rice, worth $153.23 million, by the end of January, which represented a 11.72 percent decrease in quantity and 12.86 percent in export turnover compared with January 2014.The 5 percent broken rice export price in January dropped to $376 per ton from $401 per ton in January 2014, while the price of 25 percent broken rice exports to $380 per ton.Vietnam‘s 5 percent broken rice closing price in January was at $360 per ton, down by 6 percent in comparison with December 2014 and 11 percent one year ago.

The rice price in the domestic market has moved up slightly on the government-initiated campaign to buy rice to store. Nang said the rice price has increased by VND300 per kilo compared with the days before Tet (in mid-February), after 10 days of running the campaign.Commenting on the price rise, an analyst said the rice collection campaign is only one of the reasons that prices have gone up. The analyst said that rice export companies are collecting rice to implement a contract on exporting 240,000 tons to Malaysia, while Vietnam has won the bid to provide 300,000 tons of rice to the Philippines. And China has returned with large orders.Mekong River Delta farmers are satisfied with the price. Le Van Tol, a farmer in Soc Trang province, said he had made a profit of VND14 million per hectare, which was enough to ―make ends met‖.In 2014, Vietnam exported 6.32 million tons of rice, earning 2.8 million www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine USD, to become the third largest rice exporter in the world, after Thailand and India, according to VFA. Thanh Mai

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/125653/china-places-big-orders-for-vietnamese-rice.html

Vietnam aims for greener rice cultivation Wednesday, 18 March 2015 05:26 Vietnam plans to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from rice cultivation alone by 14 per cent by 2030 According to the 2010 National Greenhouse gas inventory, there will be an increase in emissions on both livestock and farm land in Vietnam. (Image source: CatSh/sxc.hu)

This was announced at a recent conference in Hanoi by an official from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.Pham Hoang Yen, an expert involved in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol, said that in the last few years, the country has set the goal of a 20 per cent reduction in GHG in the overall cultivation sector by 2020.

The Southeast Asian country has been preparing for National Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) and other policies that developing countries have adopted to control global GHG at a UNFCC conference in Bali eight years ago.In addition, Vietnam has also carried out a programme of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).In June 2014, the country had 253 CDM projects and had registered 11 programmes of activities. This move earned it 10.7mn certified emission reduction (CEF) credits granted by CDM Executive Board through CDM activities, Yen added.The total GHG emissions reduction from the 253 CDM projects was 137mn tonnes of CO2equivalent.In the future, many projects are expected to be started to lower methane emissions in rice cultivation in a number of localities, Yen said.

The agricultural sector also applied Good Agricultural Practices and cultivation methods that economise the use of fertiliser, pesticide and water in order to limit methane emission on rice fields, she said.According to the 2010 National Greenhouse gas inventory, there will be an increase in emissions on both livestock and farm land. In livestock breeding sector, GHG emissions are expected to grow from 18.03mn tonnes of CO2 in 2010 to 24.95mn tonnes in 2020

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine and 29.32mn tonnes in 2030. In agriculture, GHG emissions are expected to increase from 23.81mn tonnes of CO2 in 2010 to 33.94mn tonnes of CO2 in 2020 and 37.4 tonnes in 2030.

The industrial process had a GHG emission growth, but it was still small compared with the total of emissions, Yen said. It has been predicted that land use, land use change and forestry activities in Vietnam will absorb 42.5mn tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2020, and 45.3mn tonnes in 2030 and the main source of emissions and absorption will be forest and cultivated land. http://www.fareasternagriculture.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5263:vietnamaims-for-greener-rice-cultivation&catid=1083&Itemid=98

FCI to ferry another 10,000 tonne rice for Tripura via B'desh The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has taken initiative to transport another 10,000 tonnes of rice for Tripura by using the water and land routes of neighbouring Bangladesh, the state government said today. "Our rail line from Lumding to Badarpur in Assam is closed in view of gauge conversion. It would be completed next year only. So, we urged the central government for ferrying the granules by using the Ashuganj port. FCI informed us that transportation would be started after March 22," Tripura Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bhanulal Saha told reporters.Train services in Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram and Cachhar and Karimganj districts of Assam were closed since last October for conversion of railway tracks from narrow gauge to broad gauge, which is likely to be operational in March 2016.

Saha said, it was necessary to create a buffer stock of food grain in the state before the monsoon sets in June. The Ashuganj port on the river Meghna in Brahmanbaria district of Bangladesh is about 50 km from here. The minister said rice would be uploaded from Kolkata port and would be unloaded in the Ashuganj port from where it would be carried to Agartala by using the Bangladeshi trucks. The distance between Agartala and Kolkata is reduced to 650 km from 1,700 km if not traveled through 'chicken neck area' or Siliguri Corridor. http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/fci-to-ferry-another-10-000-tonne-rice-for-tripuravia-b-desh-115031800815_1.html

Drought: Switch to crops that need less water 18 Mar 2015 at 13:35 960 viewed0 comments WRITER: JON FERNQUEST

Expect more watermelon, kale & corn for sale in markets. Quick to grow crops that require less water are the farmer's choice when water supplies disappear.A farmer in Chai Nat‘s Sankhaburi district waters his watermelon plants. Several rice farmers in this centralprovince have switched from growing rice to watermelons and kale, which require less water, as the provinceendures a serious drought. THANARAK KHUNTON

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine AGRICULTURE & DROUGHT Farmers turn to arid crops to survive

Off-season rice ruled out by the drought, locals grow anything that can tide them over 18/03/2015 Manop Thip-Osod Farmers in Chai Nat province have switched from growing off-season rice towatermelon and kale after the worst drought in decades parched their rice fields. The farmers described the switch as a risk, but said growing rice would be worse. A number of rice fields in Chai Nat's Muang, Sankhaburi, and Sapphaya districts havewithered over a decade due to longstanding drought conditions in the centralprovince. Even though scenic views of green vegetation can still be seen along some roadsides, many standing trees such as mango trees have already wilted in the dryness. Since the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) declared water will not be released toirrigation canals for the off-season rice farming, many farmers have decided not to tilltheir farmland which was full of rice stubble from last year in preparation for offseason paddy cultivation. Rice cultivation, therefore, will have to start again in the next rainy season.

Bunpote Keawthong, a 45-year-old farmer who opted to grow watermelon instead of rice, said it hasn't rained for about 10 months in his hometown, causing watershortages which affected rice farming. This year is the first time in a decade that residents haven't grown offseason rice. He said most farmers in tambon Dong Kaun in Sankhaburi district did not cultivateoff-season rice this year as a result of water shortages and a drop in the price of rice to between 6,000 and 7,000 baht per tonne.

Nobody wanted to incur high initialinvestment costs and capital losses.

On top of water scarcity, locals have to contend with thousands of rats which eat anddecimate crops on their farms. "It is difficult to find water in this season. Groundwater must be siphoned from boreholes. Villagers must also cope with the rats by electrocuting them every night," he said. Mr Bunpote said the water he now uses on his farm has been pumped from the farmland of his neighbour, who has never demanded money from him. Mr Bunpote said local people are willing to help each other.

In such a dry season,kindness and sympathy are needed the most. Any extra expenses such as fuel costs or farm equipment maintenance will be shared among locals. Even though rats are a big problem, Mr Bunpote said, an even bigger problem is rice thrips, an insect pest that comes out during dry seasons and which can devastate the rice plants during the seedling stage. If the rice thrips infest the plantation, almost 100% of that farm's crops will be destroyed.

Mr Bunpote, who now plants watermelons on five rai of land as his sideline crop, said the water which is siphoned from underground is not enough to supply the ricepaddy, which risks dying. He has turned to short-lived plants instead. "Watermelon is a short-lived plant and can be harvested and sold on the market after a couple of months of cultivation. But I still

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine have to erect a tarp enclosure around my farm to prevent rats and rice thrips from getting in," he said. Mr Bumpote said if he didn't learn how to plant other crops, he wouldn't be able tosustain himself and his family, due to the daily expenses.

He has to deduct the price of oil, used for a water pump, from his overall earnings. His monthly income ends up being only 10,000 baht. "One of my farmer friends invested in a 14rai watermelon farm worth around 100,000 baht. But he earned only about 20,000 baht due to low productivity," he added. Some farmers planted beans but were unable to recoup their investment or make any profit, as the beans started to grow but eventually died. Meanwhile, others have turned to growing corn as it requires less water than rice. Kale and Chinese cabbage are other options for villagers as they can be harvested six weeks after planting and sold at eight baht per kilogramme. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/499547/farmers-turn-to-arid-crops-to-survive

From The Web

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