20th march,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Rice E-Newsletter March 20 , 2015 V o l u m e 5, Issue I

Farmers oppose to “Golden Rice” Mar 20, 2015 | News

TAGBILARAN CITY – Militant farmers belonging to Hugpong sa Mag-uumang Bol-anon (HUMABOL), an affiliate of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) have opposed to the genetically modified “Golden Rice.”Danilo Olayvar, HUMABOL chair, told “Sumada” program anchored by Alan Mangmang over DyTR recently that the based on research “Golden Rice” appeared harmful to human and to plants.He said that instead of Department of Agriculture‟s endorsing the said “Golden Rice” to farmers, it would be better for the government to encourage the planting of local varieties of root crops, fruits and vegetables which are rich in Vitamin A.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

These local varieties of crops are more sustainable than the genetically-modified “Golden Rice,” he said. “Golden Rice” is promoted since it contains Vitamin A, he added.“Amo gyud nang batukan,” (We will oppose it), he said. And this “Golden Rice,” if commercially viable, could also spur grain price changes, if not price increment, in the locality because this is business.The government appeared not looking for the benefit of the consumers but to the businesses, Olayvar said in vernacular. It was not immediately known if the “Golden Rice” has already penetrated discreetly in Bohol.

Earlier, the provincial government through the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has enacted an ordinance banning the entry and field testing of genetically-modified-organism (GMO) plants or seeds. Monitoring and vigilance activities had been conducted. But these efforts have been allegedly abandoned for unknown reason.According to the research, “The (golden) rice also displays an enhanced iron content and in the grain, the presence of such enhanced levels of beta carotene results in a yellow tint that has prompted the name of “Golden Rice.”The studies pointed out that “Vitamin A, by nature, is almost completely absent from rice. Diseases caused by this deficiency are widespread in many Asian countries in which the grain serves as dietary stales. ”“Through the use of gene technology, researchers have developed a variety of the plant that produces greater proportions of beta-carotene, a compound which may processed by human body into vitamin A.”“The lack of this vitamin increases the chances of blindness and susceptibility to disease. Vitamin A deficiency is a significant problem among children in developing countries.”

It is estimated that one cup of golden rice, around 670,000 children will die each year from the problem, while 350,000 will go blind. ”Reports said that “Golden Rice” has been introduced since this variety is pest-resistant and have high yiled, ther report said.The need for more rice production appeared prompted the Philippines to pursue this since it has only 1.9 million hectares of irrigated rice fields available for local rice production. This is lower than Thailand with 9.9 million hectares and Vietnam with 7.5 million of rice fields.The project to develop Golden Rice started 20 years ago in 1993 by German researchers with funding from the Rockefeller Foundation. It is the brainchild of Professor Ingo Potrykus of Zurich and Peter Beyer of the University of Freiburg.

Their collaborative efforts they were able to show that “production of B-carotene could be turned on in rice grains using a minimum set of transgenes.”It was learned that the research of this www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine “Golden Rice” at Syngenta (Nature of Biotechnology 2005) is funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Philippine Dept. of Agriculture, HarvestPlus, European Commission, Swiss Federal Funding, and the Syngenta Foundation. The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) together with PhilRice carriedout the field testing, the report said. (rvo) http://www.boholnewstoday.com/201503/farmers-oppose-to-golden-rice.html

Two rice importers in smuggle raps

By Vito Barcelo | Mar. 20, 2015 at 12:01am

Two rice traders on Thursday were charged with smuggling for the illegal importation of rice valued at P31 million, the Customs Bureau said on Thursday.Charged before the Department of Justice were Elmer Caneta and Michael Abella owners of EC Peninsula Commercial and New Dawn Enterprises, respectively, Customs Commissioner John Sevilla said.The two tried to import rice without permit and misdeclared their shipments in violation of customs law Sevilla said.

The rice shipments arrived December last year at the Port of Cagayan De Oro. Both importers misdeclared the rice imports as kitchen wares and tiles.Both traders were also slapped with similar charges last January by the BOC after they were caught illegally importing over 1.3 million kilograms of glutinous rice worth P82.68 million in Cagayan De Oro Port last November 2014. http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/03/20/two-rice-importers-in-smuggle-raps/

Japanese firm Yanmar forms JT venture with Ropali

By Louella D. Desiderio, The Philippine Star Posted at 03/20/2015 7:40 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Japanese agricultural and construction equipment maker Yanmar Co. Ltd. has formed a joint venture with local firm Ropali Corp. to sell agricultural machinery for rice farmers with the aim of cornering at least 30 percent of the market by 2018.Naoki Kobayashi, managing director for agricultural operations business at Yanmar Co. Ltd., said in a press conference the firm decided to form the joint venture Yanmar Philippines Corp. given opportunities here as the country is among the biggest producers of rice in the world.“Our objective to establish Yanmar Philippines Corp. is not just to improve farmers‟ income, but also the sustainability of the Philippine agriculture sector.

The Philippines is the eighth biggest producer of rice in the world, but it also relies on importing from other countries. By establishing the joint venture with Ropali, I think we can contribute to www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine the agriculture sector,” he said.For his part, Ropali Corp. president and chief executive officer Roberto Alingog said the partnership is not only expected to increase farmers‟ incomes, but also the country‟s rice supply.“This will be a transformation very much like what happened in the 1970s but now attended by the higher levels of technology and comfort for the farmer. Higher yield too is expected with the use of the Yanmar tractors, transplanters and rice combine harvesters,” he said.

The joint venture, which has an invested capital worth P120 million with 60 percent accounted for by Yanmar Corp. and the balance coming from Ropali, would engage in the import, sale and service of various types of agricultural machinery.Yanmar Philippines Corp. president Hideaki Ikezawa said the target is to achieve sales worth 6.5 billion yen by 2018.“The earlier we achieve that target would be better,” he said.Yasuji Arima, executive officer and divisional manager for overseas business promotion division at Yanmar Co. Ltd. said the 6.5 billion yen worth of sales would translate to about 30- to 40-percent market share for the firm.While the firm would want to manufacture its products here, he said much would depend on the sales volume.“If sales volume get very big, of course, we wish (to manufacture products here),” he said.

In the future, Kobayashi said the joint venture may expand its business to vegetables and fruit production.Yanmar Group, which is engaged in business domains: agriculture; marine; power generation and air conditioning; construction; and industrial engine, has 66 companies worldwide.Apart from the Philippines, it has presence in Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia in Southeast Asia.The Ropali Group, meanwhile, is engaged in banking, sales and distribution of agri-machineries and motorcycles, manufacturing as well as real estate.

Read more on The Philippine Star http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/03/19/15/japanese-firm-yanmar-forms-jt-venture-ropali

Farmers oppose to “Golden Rice” Mar 20, 2015 | TAGBILARAN CITY – Militant farmers belonging to Hugpong sa Mag-uumang Bol-anon (HUMABOL), an affiliate of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) have opposed to the genetically modified “Golden Rice.”Danilo Olayvar, HUMABOL chair, told “Sumada” program anchored by Alan Mangmang over DyTR recently that the based on research “Golden Rice” appeared harmful to human and to plants.He said that instead of Department of Agriculture‟s endorsing the said “Golden Rice” to farmers, it would be better for the government to encourage the planting of local varieties of root crops, fruits and vegetables which are rich in Vitamin A. These local varieties of crops are more sustainable than the genetically-modified “Golden Rice,” he said. “Golden Rice” is promoted since it contains Vitamin A, he added.

“Amo gyud nang batukan,” (We will oppose it), he said. And this “Golden Rice,” if commercially viable, could also spur grain price changes, if not price increment, in the locality because this is business.The government appeared not looking for the benefit of the consumers but to the businesses, Olayvar said in vernacular. It was not immediately known if the “Golden Rice” has already penetrated discreetly in Bohol.Earlier, the provincial government through the www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Sangguniang Panlalawigan has enacted an ordinance banning the entry and field testing of genetically-modified-organism (GMO) plants or seeds. Monitoring and vigilance activities had been conducted. But these efforts have been allegedly abandoned for unknown reason.

According to the research, “The (golden) rice also displays an enhanced iron content and in the grain, the presence of such enhanced levels of beta carotene results in a yellow tint that has prompted the name of “Golden Rice.”The studies pointed out that “Vitamin A, by nature, is almost completely absent from rice. Diseases caused by this deficiency are widespread in many Asian countries in which the grain serves as dietary stales.”“Through the use of gene technology, researchers have developed a variety of the plant that produces greater proportions of betacarotene, a compound which may processed by human body into vitamin A.”“The lack of this vitamin increases the chances of blindness and susceptibility to disease.

Vitamin A deficiency is a significant problem among children in developing countries.” It is estimated that one cup of golden rice, around 670,000 children will die each year from the problem, while 350,000 will go blind.”Reports said that “Golden Rice” has been introduced since this variety is pest-resistant and have high yiled, ther report said.The need for more rice production appeared prompted the Philippines to pursue this since it has only 1.9 million hectares of irrigated rice fields available for local rice production. This is lower than Thailand with 9.9 million hectares and Vietnam with 7.5 million of rice fields.

The project to develop Golden Rice started 20 years ago in 1993 by German researchers with funding from the Rockefeller Foundation. It is the brainchild of Professor Ingo Potrykus of Zurich and Peter Beyer of the University of Freiburg. Their collaborative efforts they were able to show that “production of B-carotene could be turned on in rice grains using a minimum set of transgenes.”It was learned that the research of this “Golden Rice” at Syngenta (Nature of Biotechnology 2005) is funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Philippine Dept. of Agriculture, HarvestPlus, European Commission, Swiss Federal Funding, and the Syngenta Foundation. The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) together with PhilRice carriedout the field testing, the report said. (rvo)

APEDA NEWS http://www.boholnewstoday.com/201503/farmers-oppose-to-golden-rice.html Market Watch Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 19-03-2015 Domestic Prices Product

Unit Price : Rs/Qtl

Market Center

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

Variety

Page 5

Min Price

Max Price

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

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Jowar(Sorgham) 1

Botad (Gujarat)

Other

1055

2125

2

Kota (Rajasthan)

Other

1411

1501

3

Manvi (Karnataka)

Other

1000

1000

Maize 1

Amirgadh (Gujarat)

Other

1535

1535

2

Bellary (Karnataka)

Local

1173

1268

3

Kesinga(Orissa)

Other

1500

1800

Mousambi 1

Aroor (Kerala)

Other

2800

3000

2

Sirhind(Punjab)

Other

2500

3500

3

Mechua(West Bengal)

Other

2200

3000

Cabbage 1

Aroor (Kerala)

Other

2400

2600

2

Banki (Orissa)

Other

1200

1400

3

Surat(Gujarat)

Other

600

1000

Source: agmarknet

for more products

Egg

Rs per 100 No. Price on 19-03-2015

Product

Market Center

Price

1

Pune

305

2

Chittoor

293

3

Hyderabad

260

Source: e2necc.com

International Benchmark Price

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Price on: 19-03-2015

Product

Benchmark Indicators Name

Price

Apricots 1

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

5875

2

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

4625

3

Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t)

3625

Raisins 1

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

2443

2

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

2266

Sultanas 1

Iranian natural sultanas (Gouchan), CIF UK (USD/t)

1690

2

South African Orange River, CIF UK (USD/t)

2619

3

Turkish No 9 standard, FOB Izmir (USD/t)

1650

Source:agra-net

for more products

Other International Prices

Unit Price : US$ / package Price on 19-03-2015

Product

Market Center

Origin

Variety

Atlanta

2 3

Yellow

Mexico

Baltimore

Peru

Detroit

Mexico

Yellow Yellow

2 3

17.50

20

26

27

22.50

26.50

Package: cartons film wrapped

Cucumbers 1

High

Package: 40 lb cartons

Onions Dry 1

Low

Atlanta

Mexico

Baltimore

Canada

Detroit

Canada

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

10

10.50

Long Seedless

8

9

Long Seedless

7

8

Long Seedless

Page 7

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Package: cartons tray pack

Apples 1 2

Atlanta

Baltimore

Virginia

Red Delicious

22

22.50

Washington

outh power rejuvenates paddy fields to harvest a bounty A J VINAYAK MANGALURU, MARCH 20:

An initiative by a few youths to rejuvenate unused paddy fields in Dakshina Kannada district is bearing fruits now.Led by U Rajesh Naik, a progressive farmer from Dakshina Kannada district, a group of youths began paddy cultivation on five acres of land at Brahmarakootlu village in Dakshina Kannada district in November. The owners of the land had agreed to the request of the youths to rejuvenate it with paddy cultivation, as it was left unused for nearly two decades.Naik had two things in mind when he initiated this project.

First was to channelise the youth power to a productive purpose, and second to rejuvenate the unused paddy fields in the district.Naik told Business Line that the organic cultivation on five acres of land helped the group to harvest around 130 „muras‟ of paddy in the first week of March. („Mura‟ is a local unit for measuring the quantity of paddy. Each „mura‟ is equal to around 40 kg of paddy).This pilot project yielded around 5000 kg of organically cultivated rice for this group of youths. Stating that there has been good demand for rejuvenating paddy fields through such collaborative farming, Naik said the Brahmarakootlu youths have already identified 50 acres of land in the nearby areas for cultivation.

Their target is to cultivate paddy on around 100 acres of unused land during the next cropping season, he said.Now these youths have gone a step ahead and have planted maize on these five acres of land to improve fertility of the soil and to produce fodder for dairying activities. Naik said that many temples in the district have paddy fields attached to them. In most of the cases, these fields are left unused for various reasons. His intention now is to rejuvenate such paddy fields through collaborative farming methods.According to Naik, nearly 40,000 acres of paddy fields in Dakshina Kannada district have remained unused over the years.

(This article was published on March 20, 2015) http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/states/youth-power-rejuvenates-paddy-fields-to-harvest-a-bounty/article7016089.ece

Nigeria: Elephant Group Partners Africinvest for Global Rice Production Tagged:Food and AgricultureGovernanceNigeriaWest Africa

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine A LEADING player in Nigeria's agricultural commodities promotion drive, Elephant Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a global organisation, AfricInvest for the purpose of boosting the federal government's backward integration initiatives on rice, crude palm oil and fertilizer Supply Value Chain across the world.This is in line with the company's plan to showcase its products at the international market.At a meeting in Lagos during the week, Founder/Group Managing Director, Elephant Group, Mr. Tunji Owoeye, explained that the company has entered into deal with AfricInvest for an equity investment in Elephant Group. Our Correspondent reports that based on the deal, AfricInvest would acquire a minority equity interest in Elephant Group via issuing new shares.

A statement emanating from both parties indicated that "the fund raised will be used to boost Elephant Group's market share in agricultural commodities trading and deepen penetration of agricultural commodities exports across selected markets in Africa even as the Elephant Group will continue to strengthen its backward integration initiatives in the rice, crude palm oil and fertilizer value chain".Owoeye declared: "We are excited to partner with an African-focused investor with experience in the agricultural sector. The investment will enable the Company to benefit further from the federal government's drive to promote agricultural productivity in Nigeria. It would also allow Elephant Group to transform from an indigenous agricultural commodities company in Nigeria to a vertically integrated pan-African player.

This transaction will be the first ever private equity investment in the Nigeria agricultural commodities sector and we view it as a strong vote of confidence in the company".Senior Partner and Managing Director of AfricInvest in Nigeria, Abiola Ojo-Osagie said the partnership with the Elephant Group would enable the firm to take advantage of the opportunity to capitalise in Nigeria's agricultural transformation agenda."We have identified a company led by entrepreneurs and a management team with a good knowledge of the domestic market. Our goal is to build an enduring institution with a clear potential for growth and regional expansion," Osagie noted.Founded in 1994, Elephant Group is the largest and fastest growing indigenous agro commodities company in Nigeria, which imports, exports, markets and distributes rice, fertiliser and other agro-allied commodities.

The Company is currently ranked #4 in rice and fertiliser marketing with market share of 8% and 10% respectively. Elephant Group owns extensive distribution and logistics infrastructure in Nigeria and is a critical link in the supply of main staple foods in Africa's largest and fastest growing consumer market. The Company also has presence in Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Niger and Cote d'Ivoire.Over the last three years, Elephant Group has focused on executing its backward integration strategy. Elephant Group is also a key player in the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme in Nigeria, supplying fertilizer in 36 states of Nigeria.Elephant Group's strategy is aligned with the renewed focus by many African governments on Agriculture towards ensuring food security.

As for AfricInvest, founded in 1994 and which today ranks among the leading private equity firms in North and Sub-Saharan Africa with about 1 billion USD of assets under management www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine across 13 PE funds and sponsored by prestigious DFIs, private and institutional investors, it relies on a team of 50 highly skilled investment professionals with over 130 years of cumulative PE experience, operating in six offices in Tunis, Casablanca, Algiers, Lagos, Abidjan and Nairobi.The Firm is also a co-founder of the African Venture Capital Associations, the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association and member of the Euromed Capital Forum. http://allafrica.com/stories/201503200453.html

Importer Wants To Penetrate Belize's Rice Market posted (March 19, 2015) Belize produces enough rice to feed itself - but an Indian merchant wants to bring in rice from Guyana - where it's cheaper and because he can make a profit on it.The CEO in the Ministry of Agriculture Jose Alpuche met with the rice producers yesterday to apprise them of the situation.

He told us today that he stressed that government has no intention of granting a license to the importer. But, it's not that simple.

Under the revised treaty of Chaguaramas which established the Caricom Single Market and Economy - Government cannot simply block the importation of products that come from the Caribbean to protect a local product - and you can ask Belikin about that.Still, government is holding its ground, but the importer has indicated that he may take dispute to COTED which is the council for trade and economic development. The merchant has indicated that he would present it as a trade dispute between Belize and Guyana.Belize's Ministry of Agriculture is standing firm and saying it is not a trade dispute. They intend to meet with producers again next week to keep them updated on the evolving situation.

Rabi rice acreage down 10% NEW DELHI, MARCH 20:

The area under rice in the Rabi season has dropped some 10 per cent to 38.27 lakh hectares (lh) compared with 42.56 lh during the corresponding period a year ago, data released by the Agriculture Ministry on Friday which showed.Preliminary data on the sowing of summer pulses showed that 0.18 lh had been covered in Gujarat, 0.14 lh in Karnataka, 0.10 lh in West Bengal, 0.09 lh in Uttar Pradesh and 0.05 lh each in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.The area under summer oilseeds had been reported as 2.19 lh in Karnataka, 1.26 lh in Odisha, 1.22 lh in West Bengal and 0.87 lh in Gujarat.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Agriculture Mohanbhai Kundaria informed Parliament that Rabi crops, such as mustard, wheat, potato and pulses had been hit in numerous parts of the country due to the unseasonal rain and hailstorms. Foodgrains production will likely to decline by 3.2 per cent to 257.07 million tonnes (mt) in the current season to June.The Minister said that according to reports, around 27 lh under Rabi crops had been affected. Around 614.69 lh has been sown for the Rabi seasons, 535.35 lh under foodgrains and 79.34 lh with oilseeds.Union Minister Radha Mohan Singh will visit Maharashtra and Kundaria is undertaking a visit to

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Gujarat while Sanjeev Balyan, also Minister of State for Agriculture, is already in Uttar Pradesh to assess crop damage.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Ministry has assigned officials to different States for assessing the damage to crops .RP Singh, Director, Directorate of Cotton Development, will assess the damage in Maharashtra; AK Tiwari, Director, Directorate of Pulses Development in Madhya Pradesh; MC Diwakar, Director, Directorate of Sugarcane Development in Uttar Pradesh; Narender Kumar, Director-in-charge, Directorate of Wheat Development in Haryana; A Ansari, Statistical Investigator, Directorate of Millets Development in Rajasthan; Subhash Chander, Joint Director, Directorate of Millets Development in Gujarat.Mahesh Kumar, Assistant Director, Directorate of Wheat Development will survey Punjab.

(This article was published on March 20, 2015)

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/rabi-rice-acreage-down10/article7016102.ece

Rice exports to Nigeria slip as shippers turn cautious VISHWANATH KULKARNI

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Reuters

Presidential poll results awaited; insurgency, currency depreciation add to concerns BENGALURU, MARCH 20: A sharp decline in crude oil price coupled with a fall in currency in the violence-hit Nigeria has made the Indian non-basmati rice exporters turn cautious. As a result, shipments to the African nation have slowed in the recent past. Indian exporters are keenly watching the forthcoming presidential elections on March 28, after which they expect shipments to pick up.Nigeria, where insurgency in the form of Boko Haram is on the rise triggering violence in the recent past, is one of the largest buyers of par-boiled rice. Indian exports account for close to half of the 2.5 million tonnes that the African nation imports. Nigeria accounts for close to a fourth of India‟s nonbasmati rice shipments. Thailand is the other major exporter of rice to Nigeria.

Slow exports “Shipments are slow in the first half and it is a kind of uncertain situation. There is distress in the market as developments in Nigeria are influencing prices. We expect shipments to pick up once the elections are over,” said BV Krishna Rao, Managing Director of Pattabhi Agro Foods Pvt Ltd, a large exporter.Rao said the non-basmati rice exports to Nigeria are estimated at around a lakh tonnes so far this calendar year, against about 2-3 lakh tonnes in corresponding period a year ago.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Sliding currency Grains trade analyst Tejinder Narang said the biggest problem being faced by Nigeria is the fall in crude oil prices and a huge depreciation in the currency. Nigerian Niara has depreciated by 2530 per cent in the last few months. Also, the availability of foreign exchange is an issue for the traders. These issues coupled with the delayed elections and politics associated with it have slowed rice exports, Narang said.However, S Venkatesh, Head-Rice Desk at Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd, sought to downplay the slowdown in shipments to Nigeria.“Their currency has depreciated by about 25 per cent and oil prices are down. But rice, the cheapest cereal, is what they cannot avoid,” Venkatesh said, adding that there was a general slowdown in offtake.He said the main issue was the forthcoming presidential elections after which shipments could pick up.

Global competition Rao said Indian exporters have not faced any payment issues so far in Nigeria. India this year is facing stiff competition from Thailand, which is dumping the old cargo in market, while Vietnam has turned aggressive, Rao said.According to Apeda, non-basmati rice shipments have increased 14 per cent in rupee terms at ₹16,670 crore for the April-January period of the current financial year against ₹14,614 crore in the year-ago period.In quantity terms, shipments for the AprilJanuary period stood at 6.64 million tonnes against 5.87 million tonnes.In the same period, basmati shipments, impacted by a ban imposed by the largest buyer Iran, were down by about 3.28 per cent valued at ₹22,740 crore against ₹23,510 crore in corresponding last year.

(This article was published on March 20, 2015)

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/rice-exports-to-nigeria-slip-asshippers-turn-cautious/article7016103.ece

Commerce delays third rice auction 20 Mar 2015 at 16:04 WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS

A farmer in Suphan Buri use a harvesting truck to harvest rice from their field on March 16, 2015. (Photo by Thanarak Khunton) The Commerce Ministry has delayed the next auction of rice from the government stockpile to avoid bringing down the price during the second-crop harvest.Commerce Minister Chatchai Sarikulya said the domestic paddy price had declined during the harvest, so the ministry had delayed the third auction to prevent it sliding even lower.According to the Office of Agricultural Economics, the price of ordinary white rice (15% moisture content) in Phitsanulok was 7,800 baht a tonne on Friday, and Hom Mali rice in Surin was at 13,000 baht.

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He said the ministry expected the price would rise in the near future, because Thailand has an order to deliver 200,000 tonnes of rice to the Philippines and the Foreign Trade Department is in the process of selling two million tonnes to China. Gen Chatchai said the ministry had ordered the setting up of 60 central farm markets nationwide to provide a direct marketing channel for farmers and ensure they get fair prices. Get full Bangkok Post printed newspaper experience on your digital devices with Bangkok Post e-newspaper. Try it out, it's totally free for 7 days.

Rice exports up 6 pc at 8.44 million ton in Apr-Dec 2014

By PTI | 20 Mar, 2015, 05.16PM IST

"The balance in the INR Vostro Account of Iranian Commercial Banks with UCO Bank as on March 16, 2015 is Rs 17,895.50 crore," she added.New Delhi, Mar 20 (PTI) India's rice exports rose by 6.1 per cent to 8.44 million tonnes during the April-December period of current fiscal compared to 7.95 million tonnes in the same period of 2013-14.In value terms, rice exports stood at Rs 35,157.38 crore during the period this fiscal against Rs 33,647.45 crore in the year ago period, Parliament was informed today.Export of basmati rice during the nine-month period of this fiscal declined by 6.19 per cent to 2.57 million tonnes from 2.74 million tonnes in the same

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine period last year, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

Iran is the largest importer of basmati rice from India. "During the current year, Iran had significant carry over stocks from domestic production and heavy imports in past two years and hence has imposed a restriction on issue of import permits from October 2014," she said.

Exports to Iran during the nine-month period declined to 705.52 thousand tonnes as against 1.18

million tonnes during the same period last year.Other major export destinations for basmati rice are Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait and the UAE. Major export destinations of non-basmati rice include Benin, Bangladesh, Senegal, South Africa and Liberia.Replying to a separate question, the Minister said India's automobile exports have increased by 16.92 per cent at 3,322,581 units during April-February this fiscal.

In 2013-14, it was 3,107,893 units as against 2,898,907 units in 2012-13."There is no significant fall as such in passenger vehicle exports," she said.In a separate question on third country export to Iran, she said the government has issued guidelines for allowing third country export of humanitarian goods (food, medicines and medical equipment) to Iran as part of oil payments due to that country.

"Ministry of Finance has decided that payments to the extent of USD 100 million per month for such third country exports to Iran would be allowed from the 45 per cent INR (domestic currency) vostro account (a kind of payment settlement mechanism) held with the UCO Bank," Sitharaman said.Payment over and above USD 100 million per month would be met from 55 per cent Euro component, the Minister said."The balance in the INR Vostro Account of Iranian Commercial Banks with UCO BankBSE -1.21 % as on March 16, 2015 is Rs 17,895.50 crore," she added. www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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