21st january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

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Global Rice E-Newsletter www.ricepluss.com

January 21, 2015 Volume 5, Issue I

Pesticide applicator training set for next week in DeWitt The first training will be held Wednesday, Jan. 28, at Phillips Community College in DeWitt starting at 1 p.m. Additional training dates are: Feb. 10, 6:30 p.m. at the Rice Research and Extension Center; and Feb. 25, 1 p.m. at Phillips Community College, DeWitt. The trainings will

be for those needing re-certification as well as for those applying for a new license in order to purchase restricted use pesticides.

By Arkansas County Extension Service for the Daily Leader Posted Jan. 20, 2015 @ 3:25 pm The Arkansas County Extension Service has scheduled educational meetings to assist farmers in getting the training needed and latest production information for the 2015 cropping season.

Pesticide Applicator Training The Arkansas County Extension Service will hold three Pesticide Applicator Training meetings in the next few weeks, with different dates, locations and times so producers may be able to attend the training of their choice. The first training will be held Wednesday, Jan. 28, at Phillips Community College in DeWitt starting at 1 p.m. dditional training dates are: Feb. 10, 6:30 p.m. at the Rice Research and Extension Center; and Feb. 25, 1 p.m. at Phillips Community College, DeWitt.

The trainings will be for those needing re-certification as well as for those applying for a new license in order to purchase restricted use pesticides. Producers who need re-certification should receive a letter from the State Plant Board informing them of the requirement for re-certification before a 2014 license can be issued. Because of funding reductions by the EPA for the pesticide applicator training program, the Cooperative Extension Service must charge private applicators for certification training.

The fee is $10 per person, payable at the door the day of the training. This certification registration fee is in addition to the price you pay the Arkansas State Plant Board for the license. Please remember that in most cases farmers will need the training only once every five years. Please make checks payable to: UA, Cooperative Extension Service, Arkansas County County Crop Production Meeting The annual Arkansas County Crop Production Meeting will be held on Thursday, Feb. 5, at the Rice Research and Extension Center, beginning at 8 a.m. The program will conclude with a catfish lunch at noon. Additional program details will be provided prior to the meeting. For more information, call the Arkansas County Extension Service at (870) 946-3231 or (870) 673-2346. http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/article/20150120/NEWS/150129950

DA reduces aid on light farm gears, ups rice seeds subsidy to Kalinga farmers January 21, 2015

TABUK CITY, Kalinga, Jan.21 (PIA) - - Farmers of this rice-producing province will expect less distribution of light farm machineries from the Department of Agriculture (DA) this year.Joe Casibang, Rice Program Coordinator of the Office of Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG), explained that the fund assistance intended for light machineries will be allocated instead for the increased subsidy on rice seeds and other inputs to farmers for the period.DA used to distribute light farm machineries like hand-tractors, threshers and multi-tillers to rice

farmers here under its Rice Production Enhancement Program.This year, DA will implement 50 percent subsidy on the cost of rice seeds and will give free bags of urea and other inputs to rice farmers.

The 50% counterpart of farmers on the cost of rice seeds will be remitted directly to their own organization, not to DA.Any amount collected for the year shall accrue to the account of the organization and can be used for the same purpose in the succeeding year, Casibang disclosed. On farm machinery support, Casibang said the department will continue with the distribution of heavy farm machineries like double rice harvesters and mechanical planters.Under this support, DA awards the heavy farm machinery to farmer organizations. For heavy machineries costing above P50,000, recipient organization shoulders 15% of the cost as counterpart. (JDP/LL-PIA CAR,Kalinga)

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/181421724998/da-reduces-aid-on-light-farm-gears-ups-rice-seedssubsidy-to-kalinga-farmers

Getting to Know the 114th Congress Rep. Mike Conaway (l) meets with Texas rice farmers during 2014 GAC WASHINGTON, DC -- The 114thCongress was sworn in earlier this month with 64 brand new Members, and significant changes on committees, including Republican chairmen in the Senate and new chairmen on many House Committees. The task at hand now is to educate the new Members and their staff about the U.S. rice industry and the industry's priorities."We've already begun our outreach and education efforts, but we will use our upcoming Government Affairs Conference to make a major advocacy push with Congress," said USA Rice Federation Vice President of Government Affairs Ben Mosely. "Having our members in town creates a perfect opportunity to tell rice's story on the Hill."

Mosely confirmed speaking invitations had been extended to Representative Mike Conaway (R-TX), the new chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, and to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse. "The GAC is a real learning experience for everyone involved," said Dow Brantley, an Arkansas rice farmer and chairman of the USA Rice Federation. "Our members attend informational sessions with legislators and government agency officials where they get to meet face-to-face, talk about the U.S. rice industry, and educate these decision makers on the areas that are important to us. It's a key component of our strategy."

Contact: Deborah Willenborg (703) 236-1444

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). Prices are unchanged from the previous announcement.

MLG/LDP Rate

World Price

Milled Value ($/cwt)

Rough ($/cwt)

Rough ($/cwt)

Long-Grain

16.76

10.63

0.00

Medium-/Short-Grain

16.19

10.90

0.00

Brokens

10.11

----

----

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

55.83/12.59

6.50

Medium-/Short-Grain

62.39/7.92

6.50

The next program announcement is scheduled for January 28.

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for January 21

Month

Price

Net Change

March 2015

$11.370

+$0.105

May 2015

$11.620

+ $0.100

July 2015

$11.850

+ $0.095

September 2015

$11.480

+ $0.100

November 2015

$11.580

+ $0.060

January 2016

$11.865

+ $0.055

March 2016

$11.865

+ $0.055

Big firms to go for rice milling Sohel Parvez

Some local conglomerates plan to go for rice milling and marketing as the staple has a constant demand in the country of 16 crore people. ACI and City Group are preparing to set up automatic rice mills, while Bashundhara Group is planning to go for processing and marketing of parboiled rice.“Our rice will hit the market by the yearend,� said Syed Alamgir, executive director of consumer brands of ACI Ltd that has business in sectors such as retail, agribusiness, food items and pharmaceuticals.The mill will be set up at an investment of Tk 39 crore, ACI said in a web posting on the stock exchanges.Alamgir said they will bring "high quality" rice under the brand -- ACI Pure.These large businesses, having good distribution networks, will debut in the market following some food processing giants such as Pran, Square and Deshbandhu Group to tap the growing demand for branded fine rice.Currently, around 500 automatic and semi-automatic rice mills along with 17,000 husking mills are engaged in parboiling, drying and crushing paddy bought from farmers.

Of the mills, more than 350 operators market rice under their own brands mainly in the fine rice segment, said Md Layek Ali, general secretary of Bangladesh Auto, Major and Husking Mills Association, which has around 17,000 members.These mills process and market at least 60 percent or three crore tonnes of the five crore tonnes of paddy produced a year in the country.

Farmers keep the rest of the produce for their own consumption, according to analysts and millers.

The market for milling and processing of rice stands at around Tk 50,000 crore a year.Pran is engaged in retailing its branded rice in smaller packs but it is not present in the branded bulk segment catered mainly by automatic millers operating from the northwest region.“We want to mill and market all types of rice -- from aromatic to coarse ones,” said Biswajit Saha, general manager of City Group.“Presently we process and sell flour, cooking oil and sugar. That's why, we want to go for rice so that we can fulfil all the needs of a kitchen,” Saha said.City plans to market in urban areas, mainly in Dhaka city, he said, adding: “There is no big rice mill in Dhaka.

So there are prospects.”He said City is now in talks with a European machinery company to set up the mill, which is going to be one of the biggest rice mills in Bangladesh.“Discussion is going on regarding rice milling. This is now at the planning stage,” said Indrojit Kumar Mahalanabish, head of division, plants of Bashundhara Food and Beverage Ltd, a concern of Bashundhara Group.“Bangladesh is a country of 16 crore people.

As rice is a staple food, there are business prospects,” said Mahalanabish. Layek Ali of the mills' association, however, expressed worries that the milling capacity might exceed the annual production of paddy.“The market will be saturated and competition will intensify. As a result, many small and medium husking mills will not survive making workers jobless,” Ali said.

Published: 12:00 am Thursday, January 22, 2015 Last modified: 12:24 am Thursday, January 22, 2015 TAGS: Bashundhara Group Syed Alamgir automatic rice mills parboiled rice executive director of consumer brands http://www.thedailystar.net/big-firms-to-go-for-rice-milling-61085

Agreement between rice farmers and millers is not private JANUARY 21, 2015 · BY STAFF WRITER · Dear Editor,

I was really amused reading an article in the Guyana Chronicle of January 14, „APNU Councillor says farmers should take millers to court to get their payments -AFC says farmers are afraid to do so, calls for delinquent miller‟s licence to be revoked.‟ This I assumed happened in a meeting at the RDC Boardroom of Region Two over millers still owing farmers their paddy money, although there was a bail-out lately by government.

The argument by the two opposition councillors was valid in my opinion, according to the Rice Factories Act 2002. What makes me laugh is when the Regional Chairman was reported as saying that the agreement between the rice farmer and a miller is a private one. I wish to make it clear that the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) is empowered to enforce the Rice Factories Act when breached by the millers, and there is no private arrangement when it comes to the farmers‟ livelihoods.

The board is even empowered in the prosecution of offences and recovery of penalties. It has the power to enter and inspect a factory and examine books, revoke licences and most of all witness the record for the sale of paddy by the producer (farmer) to the manufacturer (miller). Under the sixth schedule of the act the miller is bound to sign for the total sum of money, quantity of paddy received, price per bag with the day and year he did the transaction with the farmer, along with two witnesses, one being the GRDB representative at the mill and the RPA representative present.

The Rice Factories Act was passed in an effort to protect the rice farmers and to improve their quality of life, thereby promoting standardization by millers. During my tenure there were induction seminars held by the GRDB at the Burma Research Station. The aim was to sensitize field officers and grading officers about the operations, administration and integration of quality control, marketing/export, research and development, payments to farmers by millers according to the act and extension services. These seminars were conducted by Brian Greenidge, and were fruitful because they provided officers with insightful information about the organization and the rice industry.

Yours faithfully, Mohamed Khan http://www.stabroeknews.com/2015/opinion/letters/01/21/agreement-rice-farmers-millers-not-private/

Rice exports may hit 900,000 T in Q1 - Vietnam Economic Times 21.01.2015

Vietnam is projected to export 900,000 tonnes of rice in the first quarter of 2015, of which 500,000 tonnes have already been contracted, the Vietnam Economic Times newspaper reported, citing the Vietnam Food Association.Importers could sign more deals when Vietnam begins

harvesting the winter-spring crop while export prices may not be as high as in 2014, the report quoted the association's chairman as saying. The association has projected Vietnam's rice exports for this year at more than 7 million tonnes. Last year, 6.32 million tonnes were exported via official trade and another 2 million tonnes via unofficial trade to China. http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/rice-exports-may-hit-900-000-t-in-q1-vietnam-economic-times

Vietnam to export 900,000 tons of rice in Q1: association HO CHI MINH CITY, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam planned to export 900,000 tons of rice in the first quarter of this year, the lowest level for the quarter compared with past several years, Vietnam Food Association reported on its website Wednesday.Accordingly, local businesses have only signed contracts to ship around 500,000 tons of rice and they must export an additional 400,000 tons to meet the set plan, said VFA Chairman Nguyen Hung Linh, adding that currently the domestic price is competitive as it is lower than, or as same as other rice exporters at 380 U.S. dollars per ton for 5-percent-broken rice.

VFA also forecast that rice supply and demand for 2015 will remain unchanged from 2014, but the local market will continue to face challenges with sustainability and a lot need to be done to speed up the industry. The association expected to export more than 7 million tons of rice this year.In 2014, Vietnam exported 6.316 million tons of rice, worth 2. 789 billion U.S. dollars, a decrease of 5.47 percent in volume and 3.59 percent in value.The association attributed the slump to the sharp decline in demand for rice in the African markets, overproduction by Thailand and India along with lack of growth in Asian markets.The country ranked third among the world's largest rice exporters in 2014 after Thailand (10.5 million tons) and India (10 million tons), according to VFA. http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/150121/vietnam-export-900000-tonsrice-q1-association

Are we missing lessons from the rice-pledging fiasco?

Attayuth Bootsripoom attayuth@nationgroup.com

January 22, 2015 1:00 am Tomorrow is "judgement day" for former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's political future.

She is accused by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) of negligence of duty leading to corruption, in connection with her government's rice-pledging scheme. That project is part of her Pheu Thai Party's campaign promise in the run-up to the 2011 general election.After Pheu Thai won a landslide victory, the Yingluck-led government went ahead with the ricepledging scheme, despite protests that it was fraught with flaws open to irregularities and losses.

Yingluck's administration ignored the critics, arguing that they had to continue with the project because it was part of the ruling party's campaign promise to the voters. They explained the project was aimed at providing state subsidies to farmers and therefore concerns of possible loss should not be taken into account.As time went by, the "wound" stemming from the rice scheme

became "infected" and the "pain" could be felt. Many people pointed out that the project had problems. Yingluck's government appeared to agree that was the case and started to make some adjustments to the scheme.

However, before the rice scheme's "abscess" would explode, there came a political crisis and chaos before the coup took place in May last year. The NACC went full steam in dealing with the case. It requested that the Senate impeach Yingluck for negligence in connection with the corruption-plagued and loss-making rice scheme.The unusual speed of the case led to a question as to whether the case was politically motivated. There are many other cases in the NACC's care that have failed to progress so rapidly.

The NACC came up with the accusation that Yingluck was negligent about irregularities involving the rice scheme even before the anti-graft agency indicted anyone of corruption. This fact led to an assertion that "when nobody has been found to be corrupt, how can Yingluck be accused of being negligent?"

When Yingluck's case was referred to the post-coup National Legislative Assembly for an impeachment process, there came a question as to whether the NLA actually had the authority to impeach her. Some people asked if there existed a law for impeachment of public office holders, as the constitution of 2007, which cited this matter, had already been scrapped after the coup.However, this argument was countered by the fact that the anti-corruption law, which empowered the NACC to seek impeachment of public-office holders, still existed after the coup.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has also supported the view that the NACC had the power to seek impeachment.

During the NLA's inquiry session involving the impeachment process against Yingluck, she opted not to show up. And the NLA resolved not to allow her representatives to answer the questions from the assembly's members on her behalf, although the meeting regulations did not forbid that. Finally, the session became a one-sided attack against the ex-PM.Although Yingluck may finally be impeached by the NLA, this society will end up having learned nothing from the rice scheme scandal. It is because the justice process has been rushed and has become incomplete.

Some politicians will not miss the chance to point out to their supporters that a decision to impeach Yingluck is politically motivated. However, under its political shroud, the rice scheme really was flawed with loss and damage.Because the rice scheme's "abscess" was not allowed to burst naturally, Thai society has missed the chance to learn some lessons about the bane of expensive populist policies.

If society and voters were allowed to learn the lesson by themselves, we might in the future come up with some kind of penalty for political parties that cause severe damage to the country in exchange for popular support. Such a penalty also would teach politicians that they should avoid expensive populist policies like this in the future. Source www.nationmultimedia.com