22nd june 2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

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June 22 ,2015

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Unisame urges Pakistani PSI companies to offer matching services like multinationals The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises ( UNISAME ) urged the Pakistani pre shipment inspection (PSI ) companies to be prepared to increase their efficiency and level of service to serve the SME sector in lieu of disbandment of Quality Review Committee (QRC ).President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said with the decision to disband the QRC the Pakistani PSI companies will get an opportunity to get the PSI job of the SME rice exporters and it is therefore very necessary that they gear up for prompt and speedy inspection of rice and commodities and equip themselves with modern laboratories to carry out PSI with high level of inspection according to international standards.

Thaver said there are multinational companies carrying out PSI jobs but they are a little expensive and it is therefore very necessary that Pakistani companies offer competitive rates for the job and match their service and standard with the international companies.QRC was entrusted with the task of PSI for basmati rice but became futile due to majority of shipments being of non basmati rice and the exporters have developed their own brands of blended rice. QRC became an impediment and the exporters did not get a free hand to export their own brands of rice prepared according to the buyers requirements.The majority of rice exported is of 1121, 386 and rice skillfully blended with basmati rice under the brands of the exporters or the buyers.

The rice industry is in deep turmoil due to lowered global demand and Iran not buying rice from Pakistan.

The prices fell to almost half of last year resulting in huge losses for the growers, millers and the exporters and more than 1000 units have closed downThe exporters have now to look for new markets, the growers need to modernize their farming to reduce cost and the millers need to improve their standards then only we will be able to compete.

USA Rice Engages Local Help to Navigate Iraq Iraqi ports of entry ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA -- USA Rice has hired a consultant in Baghdad to represent the interests of the U.S. rice industry before the Ministry of Trade and the Grain Board of Iraq that issues public tenders for the purchase of rice on the international market. USA Rice has been engaged with U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Stuart Jones, the Department of State, and the Foreign Agricultural staff in Washington to make the case for U.S. rice to the Ministry. "The hiring of a local consultant who is a native speaker is the next logical step in the process of establishing consistent lines of communication and assuring fair treatment of U.S. offers on the current and future tenders," said Hartwig Schmidt, USA Rice regional director,

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3 international

market

development.

The consultant, Duraid Al Soufi, met with the Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Trade Minister yesterday and has an appointment to meet the Minister this weekend. There is currently an active tender for purchasing 30,000 MT of rice which closes on June 28. Iraq usually tenders for a minimum of 30,000 MT, but more often than not purchases significantly more than the minimum on each tender. Iraq imports nearly 1.5 million MT of rice annually. The U.S. is competitive with other rice exporters in the Western Hemisphere, and if treated equitably should win a portion of the current tender.

Contact: Jim Guinn (703) 236-1474

Crop Progress: 2015 Crop 6 Percent Headed WASHINGTON, DC -- Six percent of the nation's 2015 rice acreage is headed, according to today's U.S. Department of Agriculture's Crop Progress Report.

3 Rice Headed, Selected States

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Week Ending

State

June 21, 2014

June 14, 2015

June 21, 2015

2010-2014 average

Percent Arkansas

1

N/A

--

2

California

--

N/A

10

--

Louisiana

11

12

22

21

Mississippi

--

1

11

2

Missouri

--

N/A

--

--

Texas

4

1

2

13

Six States

3

N/A

6

5

Richmond company educating American consumers about the benefits of rice

By Karina Ioffee kioffee@bayareanewsgroup.com PDT

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Ken Lee, president and founder of Lotus Foods in Richmond, Calif., shows a few of his rice samples on Thursday, June 11, 2015. Lee's company trains farmers to use System Rice Intensification method of rice-growing, which reduces water use and doesn't require chemicals. Lee has been honored by the Clinton Global Initiative for the company's role in alleviating global poverty and hunger.

(Dan Rosenstrauch/Bay Area News Group) ( DAN ROSENSTRAUCH )

RICHMOND -- When Ken Lee and Caryl Levine set out on a trip to China in 1993, they didn't know what they were looking for.The United States was still emerging from a recession, while

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China's economy was taking off, and they wanted to capitalize on the opportunity.Inevitably, part of the couple's travels took them to markets where they saw stalls laden with every imaginable type of rice, especially black rice, which, according to legend, had been used to pay tribute to emperors. With the foodie movement emerging in the U.S., they decided to take a gamble on the ancient grain, importing it for sale at specialty stores and high-end restaurants.

Samples of different rices from Lotus Foods are photographed in Richmond, Calif., on Thursday, June 11, 2015. Ken Lee's company trains farmers to use System Rice Intensification method of rice-growing, which reduces water use and doesn't require chemicals. Lee has been honored by the Clinton Global Initiative for the company's role in alleviating global poverty and hunger. (Dan Rosenstrauch/Bay Area News Group) ( DAN ROSENSTRAUCH ) But getting American consumers excited about specialty rice, previously unheard of by most, was no easy matter. Lee and Levine set up a rice cooker for demos in Bay Area grocery stores and sent product samples to top chefs such as Roland Passot, owner of La Folie and Left Bank Brasseries, and Gary Danko.

"The idea was that if people would put it in their mouths and experience the difference in taste, texture and aroma, we would begin converting people," Lee said on a recent day, sitting in his Richmond office surrounded by bags of rice, many with smiling faces of farmers on them. "We had to educate people one by one." Today, Lotus Foods products, which include organic and heirloom rice from a half dozen countries, microwaveable rice bowls and ramen noodles, can be found in many grocery stores, including Andronico's, Safeway, Whole Foods and Costco.

The company, which has nine employees, has been honored with a long trail of awards for its unique line of rice, including the best-selling Forbidden Rice, a black rice that turns purplish when cooked and is high in iron, protein and fiber.Other specialty varieties are jade pearl rice, which is mixed with a bamboo leaf extract and has a light vanilla taste; Madagascar pink rice, with hints of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg; and Bhutan red rice, known for its nutty, earthy flavor.In 2005, Lotus Foods was invited by the Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development to work with farmers using the system of rice intensification method, or SRI, that uses 50 percent less water and 90 percent less seed than traditional rice farming. The method also avoids the use of chemicals and pays farmers up to 30 percent more for their product.

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"It takes 600 pounds of water to grow a pound of rice, so on a planetary level, it takes almost 30 percent of the Earth's potable water to grow the rice crop," said Lee, 56, who grew up in Rhode Island and sold insurance before finding his niche in the heirloom rice business. "By not flooding the fields, we're helping cut down methane emissions and keeping farmers healthier."Olivia Vent, a retired Cornell University employee who first approached Lotus Foods about importing

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SRI-farmed rice to the United States, said the company has been instrumental in educating Americans about rice, not only about its varieties but health and environmental benefits.

"They've raised awareness that there's something out there besides Uncle Ben's white rice and have played an incredibly important role in making sure farmers get organic certification and the right kind of equipment to get their product to the U.S. market," Vent said.

Lotus Foods has also helped small-scale rice farmers with capacity building, helping them figure out how to properly store, mill, package and prepare their product to meet U.S. Department of Agriculture requirements.That earned the company recognition by the Clinton Global Initiative, which in 2008 invited Lotus Foods to make a presentation about SRI's role in poverty alleviation.

The project seeks innovative solutions to long-standing problems such as malnutrition, deforestation and lack of capital for small farmers.Dan Pargee first met Lee and Levine, who are married, while a Peace Corps volunteer in Madagascar, where he was part of a group working to help rice farmers increase their capacity to reach global markets.

"Their company has invested many years and many thousands of dollars to promoting technical assistance, helping cooperatives find grant money and providing technical advisers," said Pargee, who owns Lafaza, an Oakland company that imports Madagascar vanilla and other products to the United States."Lotus Foods invested blood, sweat and tears into the supply chain and provided a market opportunity to incentivize farmers to grow rice."

Today, the company is looking to expand its SRI efforts to India, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam, and is continuing to work with manufacturers whose products use rice, such as Theo chocolate and Luvo, an organic frozen food company. It will also soon unveil a new line of salty snacks, expected to hit grocery stores later this year.It's a long way from when the company was run out of Lee's home, spurred by the belief that sustainably farmed food can have a ripple effect for both the producer and consumer."If you pay people more for their rice and you raise their standard of living into the middle class, that's a social benefit," Lee said. "That creates stability in the country in which they live and is good for business. It's the triple bottom line."

Contact Karina Ioffee at 510-262-2726 or kioffee@bayareanewsgroup.com. Follow her atTwitter.com/kioffee http://www.contracostatimes.com/richmond/ci_28355468/richmond-company-educatingamerican-consumers-about-benefits-rice

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures CME Group (Preliminary): Closing Rough Rice Futures for June 22

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Month

Price

Net Change

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July 2015

$9.845

+ $0.125

September 2015

$10.100

+ $0.125

November 2015

$10.375

+ $0.125

January 2016

$10.635

+ $0.120

March 2016

$10.840

+ $0.120

May 2016

$10.840

+ $0.120

July 2016

$10.840

+ $0.120

APEDA News (India) Price on: 19-06-2015

Product

Benchmark Indicators Name

Price

1

Chinese first grade granules, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)

2100

2

Chinese Grade A dehydrated flakes, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)

2000

3

Chinese powdered, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)

1800

1

Chinese sliced, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

4600

2

Chinese whole, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

5100

3

Indian Cochin, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

3000

Garlic

Ginger

7

Guar Gum Powder

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1

Indian 100 mesh 3500 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)

4530

2

Indian 200 mesh 3500 cps basis, FOB Kandla (USD/t)

1950

3

Indian 200 mesh 5000 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)

3050

Source:agra-net

For more info

Market Watch Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 20-06-2015 Domestic Prices Product

Unit Price : Rs per Qty

Market Center

Variety

Min Price

Max Price

1

Cachar (Assam)

Other

2000

2500

2

Kheda (Gujarat)

Other

1750

3300

3

Bargarh (Orissa)

Other

2100

2300

1

Dhekiajuli (Assam)

Other

1500

1600

2

Amirgadh (Gujarat)

Other

1350

1525

3

Bonai (Orissa)

Other

1450

1600

1

Kottakkal (Kerala)

Other

1800

1950

2

Chittorgarh (Rajasthan)

Other

2800

4000

3

Kangra (Himachal Pradesh)

Other

3000

3500

1

Chala (Kerala)

Other

1800

1850

2

Banki (Orissa)

Other

1400

1600

3

Karad (Maharashtra)

Other

1000

1200

Rice

Wheat

Pine Apple

Cucumbar

8

Source:agra-net

For more info

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Egg

Rs per 100 No Price on 21-06-2015 Product

Market Center

Price

1

Pune

437

2

Chittoor

440

3

Hyderabad

402

Source: e2necc.com

Other International Prices

Unit Price : US$ per package Price on 19-06-2015

Product

Market Center

Origin

Variety

Low

Potatoes

High Package: 50 lb cartons

1

Atlanta

2

Baltimore

3

Dallas

Colorado

Russet

23.50

23.50

Idaho

Russet

24

24

Nevada

Russet

23.50

23.50

Cauliflower

Package: cartons film wrapped

1

Atlanta

California

White

21.50

21.50

2

Detroit

California

White

19.50

22

3

Miami

Mexico

White

16

18

Grapes

Package: 18 lb containers bagged

1

Atlanta

Mexico

Red Globe

25

26

2

Dallas

Peu

Red Globe

28

28

3

Detroit

Washington

Red Globe

26

28.50

Source:USDA

9

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Mechanisation reaches Pokkali fields in Alappuzha R. RAMABHADRAN PILLAI AThe district now has a new machinery to replant paddy seedlings in Pokkali fields.It is for the first time that such mechanisation process has been introduced in the scheme of Pokkali farming in the State.The machine, costing about Rs.2 lakh, was launched by District Collector N. Padmakumar at the Koorichal Pokkali fields at Eramalloor in Cherthala on Saturday. The replanting machine was developed by the scientists of rice research centre of Kerala Agricultural University, in association with a private company.Replanting of seedlings is a labour-intensive process and availability of workers has been one of the major challenges faced by farmers.

Pokkali rice in Kerala is considered organic and has got Geographical Indication (GI) certification. Pokkali fileds stretch over the coastal areas of Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts in the State. Pokkali farming area in Kerala has come down from 25,000 acres to 5,000 hectares within the last 15 years owing to various problems faced by farmers, Francis Kalathngal, a Pokkali farmer and convenor of coordinating committee of Pokkali farmers, told The Hindu .

Pokkali fields do not require inorganic fertilizers or irrigation facilities set up by the government.

As such, the government needs to support the farmers through providing subsidy on the machine so that it could be widely used, he said. Subsidies under certain schemes such as Gram Vikas Yojna are available from the Union and State governments, but are generally not disbursed on time, he added. The machine is an innovation pioneered by the scientists of rice research station, Ernakulam, said V. Sreekumar, professor and head of the centre, told The Hindu . Three years of experimentation has proved that it could be deployed in Pokkali fields characterised by loose sand and mud. It would take only one to one and a half hours to conduct the replanting operations in one acre. The use of seeds could also be reduced by spreading the because of the optimum practices employed in replanting, he said.Preparing the fields for the mechanized process is important, according to Mr. Kalathingal. Late arrival of monsoon is a problem confronting the farmer. Washing away the salt content in the field by the rains for a fortnight is important. The traditional way of ‗broadcasting‘ for sowing the seeds involves wastage whereas mechanisation provides scope for optimum use of seeds. The distance between the plants could also be set conveniently for giving maximum harvest, he said.

It is for the first time that such mechanisation process has been introduced in the scheme of Pokkali farming in the State. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/mechanisation-reaches-pokkali-fields-inalappuzha/article7341004.ece

Matia: 10

Crops

worth

over

Tk700cr

damaged

by

rats

Mohammad Al-Masum Molla Food grains, including paddy, rice and wheat, worth around Tk723.72 crore were damaged by rats in the 2015-16 fiscal year, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury told parliament yesterday.Responding to a question by ruling party lawmaker M Abdul Latif, the minister said

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the extent of loss of paddy at current market price totalled over Tk439.82 crore in the outgoing fiscal year as some 237,744 tonnes of paddy were damaged by rats.She told the House that the rats also damaged around 62,764 tonnes of rice, of which the current market price is over Tk200.84 crore.Some 29,660 tonnes of wheat were also damaged, amounting to an estimated loss of over Tk83.04 crore at current market price.

According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), around 5-7% of the rat-damaged crops is Aman rice, 4-12% wheat, 5-7% potato and 6-9% pineapple.According to International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), rats have been estimated to damage more than 1% of the world cereal crops and, in developing countries, estimates of 3-5% have commonly been reported.IRRI also said rats consume about 25g of food per day and mice eat approximately 3-4g per day.According to an IRRI research report, the amount of rice damaged by rats in Asia a year is equal to the amount of food consumed by 180 million people annually; in Bangladesh, that amount is equal to food annually consumed by 5-5.4 million people.The DAE Agriculture Extension Department usually conducts rat extermination drives in August. A total of 13,939,986 rats were killed in 2013 in one such drive.

Rats part of food chain Despite the damaging effects of rat infestation, experts believe that rats have their own role to play.Pavel Partha, an ecology expert, said there are many communities in Bangladesh who heavily rely on collecting rice from rat holes. ―It is not possible that rats are causing much damage. Bagdi and Mosohor communities depend on collecting rice from rat holes all year to feed. Similarly, Santal and Muda people collect Aman rice for rat holes.‖Exterminating rats by poison or other means is not the solution, nor is it possible to achieve, Pavel further said.―Rat is a very important element of food cycle and food pyramid. So, eradication of any element from the food cycle will simply destroy the natural harmony of ecology. So, projects should be undertaken to find out why the rat population increases – where the problem lies – and then actions should be taken accordingly. Killing them is not the soluting.‖ http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2015/jun/22/matia-crops-worth-over-tk700cr-damagedrats#sthash.kjxMMr8P.dpuf

MATT ROBERTS: I stick to my diet but can't shift weight

By MATT ROBERTS FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY PUBLISHED: 21:10 GMT, 20 June 2015 | UPDATED: 00:16 GMT, 21 June 2015

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Eating fresh protein-containing foods such as dairy, eggs, poultry, fish and meat is key to feeling energised – and is vital for a developing body. A rainbow variety of fresh vegetables (stock image above) is equally importantQ. After reading your article on Taylor Swift last month, I wanted to write to you. I am aged 15, 5ft 3in and weigh 12st. My weight has always been an issue – my mum says I was so heavy as a baby that people couldn‘t carry me for long. I know I am to blame too, but I was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome at 13 and have to take the

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Pill for that, as well as taking diabetes medication.I‘ve tried to lose weight before and not managed it, but I‘ve never felt this motivated. I‘m planning to walk three miles a day, and once a week do Zumba.I‘m already following Jillian Michaels‘s 30 Day Shred programme.

I have cornflakes and semi-skimmed milk, or one egg and two slices of toast, for breakfast.

Lunch is carrot sticks and water, and dinner is usually pasta or rice with chicken or fish. I‘ve been following it for a month but there hasn‘t been much change… and that demotivates me.

You have no idea how grateful I‘d be if you could help me.A. This letter really touched me and I want to devote all my space to answering it, because there are so many young people battling similar problems. Your first hurdle has been passed: recognising there is a problem and that things must change. But as you say, things often fall apart when a plan doesn‘t achieve results. And that‘s because people have misconceptions about what constitutes a healthy diet-and-fitness regime.For a start, severe calorie restriction (and fairly empty calories at that, in cornflakes and carrots) will mean you feel tired. And ignore fads – special weight-loss teas or pills and options don‘t work.Eating fresh (never pre-prepared or processed) protein-containing foods such as dairy, eggs, poultry, fish and meat is key to feeling energised – and is vital for a developing body. A rainbow variety of fresh vegetables is equally important.Have as much as you like, and only eat starchy foods like potato and pasta very occasionally. A piece of wholegrain bread or a small portion of brown basmati rice is fine, but why not try swapping them for beans and pulses? Tinned, pre-cooked beans are fine – there is a huge variety, and I don‘t mean baked beans! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3132653/MATT-ROBERTS-stick-diet-t-shift-weight.html#ixzz3dsdQo5qk

water sufficient till july yield to be impacted 12

Jun 23, 2015, 07.57 AM IST | Source: CNBC-TV18 Water sufficient till July, yield to be impacted: Edelweiss In situation of short rainfall or EL Nino, yield will be impacted and not the overall production of all crops, Prerana Desai, Head-Research at Edelweiss Agri Research told CNBC-TV18. 6 1Google +0 0Comments (1) Halftime Report Despite delay in monsoon by 5-6

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13

days, rainfall receieved so far is 16 percent more than normal, Prerana Desai, Head-Research at Edelweiss Agri Research told CNBC-TV18. The reservoirs are filled and there is sufficient water to last till July, she said. Unlike reports from IMD and private companies that north-west region will bear the brunt of low rainfall, Desai said that the region, comprising broadly of Punjab, Chhattisgarh and western UP, are irrigation areas and will be taken care of.

In case of El Nino, she said said yield will be impacted and not the overall production of crops, adding, "lower yield will be taken care by dramatically higher acreage." Crops like rice, oil seeds and pulses are those most affected by El Nino or low rainfall. The shortfall will be taken care by the carry-over stock of the government from last year, Desai said. On the issue of minimum support price (MSP) scheme, she said if government increases MSP, then it will actually have to buy stock; if they don‘t, prices will suffer. Below is the transcript of Prerana Desai 's interview with Sumaira Abidi & Reema Tendulkar on CNBC-TV18. Sumaira: The last few days we have received bountiful rains and yet there are some contradictory reports from the IMD as well as some private weather agencies about whether 2015, the season itself is going to be a normal monsoon or not. It is too early into the season, but for the sake of argument, what has been your own reading of the showers?

A: Monsoon forecast has always been a tricky question in India; we have not been able to capture even the next day 24 hours or 48 hours monsoon forecast. As you can see the way it has been raining in Mumbai in last 24 hours because we have been given warnings and there are signals. So, effectively we have not been able to forecast it, but so far the monsoon has been good. In fact, it is better than expected. It is 16 percent higher than normal monsoon and it has covered largely areas till central India. We are running behind by around 5-7 days time-frame.

Reema: In that context, would you still say that we should be in a wait and watch mode since July is more of a critical month for the monsoons historically?

A: The way we are seeing it – we have had good soil moisture kind of situation in January to March because of the untimely rains that we have had. In addition, we have been moving pretty healthily in the first half of June at least so far and most of the regions have had comfortable monsoon so far. From that perspective and of course the water reservoir, everything seems very good up until now. This will help the gap even if we were to have say lack of monsoons in the month of July or so, we will still be comfortable because water reservoirs are duly filled up and the soil moisture is comfortable. It is only after July we will need to watch out for. The world is being affected by the El Nino, so it is not really over till it is really over. We will have to see how the monsoon is spaced out, which are the reasons that are going to be affected. The weather agencies, some of the global ones are also saying that north-west might get impacted the most.

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The north-west, Punjab, Haryana, Western U.P, are all irrigated regions, so even if we were to have a slightly below normal kind of monsoon, that should be taken care of. Unless and until there is some dramatic – the way IMD has been forecasting 88 percent of the normal monsoon in that case, there will be a matter of worry, but so far there are no signs of that thing happening.

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Sumaira: Clearly, it is the El Nino which will be the x- factor this time around. How much of an impact do you think the El Nino will have on India‘s agricultural production if it indeed pans out the way IMD has indicated? A: Edelweiss Agri Research has released a crop intention report, which is unique in itself. So, there are a couple of things that are coming out very clearly. Firstly, last year we were running behind schedule and last year‘s net sown area as given by the Ministry of Agriculture was dramatically lower. Since, we have been moving along the monsoon in a rather normal way, we will have year on year higher acreage.

Now, that effectively means that from here onwards we are impacted by El Nino dramatically; that will impact the yield because acreage is going to be higher year on year. If the lower yield will be taken care of by dramatically higher acreage and hence, the total production number barring few crop specific production estimate, total production may not be impacted all that much because there will be higher area and lower yield. Sumaira: That is interesting because what you are essentially saying is that the higher production will take care of low yields and for key crops like Basmati rice, the government could always dip into the buffer. So, in effect the overall production may not get impacted despite sub-par monsoon. Is that a fair reading of your report? A: Yes, there are a couple of things that is giving this inflation outlook twist. One is the fact that we have sufficient carryover stocks from last season because exports have been very negligible especially in case of cotton, sugar, maize and paddy.

We have sufficient stocks and huge crop from the last season that is suppressing the prices. But there will be crops that will get impacted in case of lower production- something like pulses where we are running huge deficit and some of the oil seeds that has been seeing lower production especially in Rabi season. Oil seeds might get impacted, but it is crop-wise analysis and you cannot flatly say whether the prices will up or down for all the crops across the spectrum. Reema: How have you read the government‘s stance on minimum support prices (MSP) this time and largely the government‘s rational stance has garnered a positive view from the economists as well. What has been your reading of the same?

A: MSP is a very tricky issue because especially when global prices have been falling, if you keep increasing the MSP, then government has to buy physically to support the prices and if government does not actually enter into buying, then the prices fall dramatically the way we have seen for maize. Despite having 1,310 MSP in the last season, the prices ruled at Rs 1,100 per quintal throughout the season in most centers. Unless and until the MSP gets implemented, it really has no impact and the farmers‘ decision is made up much ahead of time. Our report was released before the MSP was announced and whenever we spoke to farmers, there was positive vibe about the pulses, the oil seeds crop and Jowar seed crop. So, farmers usually make up their mind based on prices than purely on basis of MSP. 14

Reema: You are saying that overall acreage will be higher however if the north-western central India do get impacted the most. Which crops will be in this high risk zone? A: Our agri research has studied many El Ninos and we have realized that there are few crops that do not get impacted

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by it or below normal monsoon. These are sugarcane because it is supplemented by largely irrigation, there is cotton because there has been technological breakthrough and it can sustain lower monsoon and cotton has been seeing higher acreage and improvement in yield and things like that. So, even cotton does not get impacted. If El Nino materializes, then it will be the rice that will get impacted, we will see oil seeds getting impacted and some of the pulses will get impacted. Of all the pulses, Urad is the one which actually thrives on below normal monsoon and because the way we have seen pulses prices, we see that Urad crop will be higher no m http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/economy/water-sufficient-till-july-yield-to-be-impactededelweiss_1591361.html?utm_source=ref_article

Dominating the rice exports market India‘s presence in global rice trade is a great stabilising force By: Tejinder Narang | June 21, 2015 11:58 pm If the probability of deficient monsoons does not cast a negative spell on Indian summer crops (or assuming that Skymet‘s forecast is proved right) and rice production stays around 103 million tonnes (MT), India can again maintain top rank in world rice trade by shipping out about 12 MT in 2015-16. An adverse export performance by India can rattle worldwide rice trade with extreme volatility and exorbitant prices.India has been top exporter in global rice trade of about 42 MT by averaging 10.5-11 MT (25% of world trade) annually during the last four years (since 2011).

The sustainability in rice exports—the only one with a competitive-edge internationally as compared to other Indian agro commodities—is the resultant outcome of a combination of external factors, dynamics of domestic market, hybridisation of paddy, and efficient execution of contracted business both form east and west coast ports of India. Thailand has been trailing India by a small margin in the last two years, while India is also exposed to competition from Vietnam, Pakistan, Myanmar and Cambodia.India primarily caters to the Middle East and Africa for nonBasmati and the EU and the US for Basmati variety.Dubai has emerged as a key trading hub for financing and facilitating payments, especially for Africa.

Indian exports are undertaken by medium-sized private companies from open market, without any export subsidy or government intervention. No MNCs or PSUs or mega corporates are 15

engaged in this business. After prohibition on exports was revoked in 2011, FCI‘s stockholdings remain untouched. There are no MEP (minimum export price) or registration requirements that enable ease of doing business.

China ignores India

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China‘s current rice imports are about 4 MT in 2014-15, up from 0.5 MT in 2010-11, and it has kept Indian non-Basmati rice at an arm‘s length. Chinese supply-demand gap is filled by official and unofficial imports from Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan and Myanmar, though recently grey market access through land route is attempted to be blocked. China‘s escalating import demand due to water conservation measures and higher cost of paddy will continue to increase in the near future and that will keep South-Eastern origins (Vietnam and Thailand) well supported for consumption of their production, which is a net advantage to India for pricing and limiting trade rivalry. At political level, the Indian government‘s efforts are on for induction of non-Basmati rice into Chinese procurement system.

Thai effect The Thai government messed up its entire rice matrix through modified ―paddy pledging scheme‖ of 2011 by giving farmers values 50% above market price for political populism that resulted in accumulation of 18 MT of rice equivalent to 43% of world rice trade, pushing price levels unrealistically way above international quotes including those from India. Though this scheme was wound up in 2014, it depressed Thai‘s booming exports from 10 MT in 2010-11 to 7 MT in 2011-12, while causing severe collateral long-term damage to rice quality, despite prices having crashed to tradable levels by $200/MT (from $580 in 2011 to $380 fob now).

Some lessons can be learnt by India that abnormal increase in MSP with dedicated procurement can be counterproductive. Out of 18 MT of pledged inventory, 10 MT is to be reprocessed, 6 MT gone irreparably bad/unfit for human consumption and only 2 MT could be sold (USITC report of April 2015). Thus, international buyers suspect Thai quality. It has simultaneously generated goodwill for Indian rice with enhanced access/success abroad.

Iran‘s interest Other external developments were the US and the UN sanctions against Iran in 2010-11, opening of an Indo-Iran rupee account, and commercial exploitation by Iran of high yielding Pusa 1121 Basmati rice developed by IARI, which is 33% cheaper (about $1000-1200 fob) than conventional Basmati rice ($1600-1800 fob). Pusa 1121 has exceptionally long grain length of about 8-mm with elongation characteristic of 25-mm upon cooking. About 1.4 MT was shipped out in 2013-14 versus 0.6 MT in 2011-12 to Iran, which proved highly remunerative both for the trade and farmers. Though Iran notified a general ban on Indian imports in 2014-15 due to excessive imports, it turned out to be ―restrictive‖ trade between ―select‖ importers and exporters with overall exports touching around 0.95 MT.Other Middle Eastern nations—Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, UAE—are also keen to procure more of Pusa 1121 rice.Total exports to Middle East are about 4 MT. Pull from Africa

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The West African market (Nigeria, Senegal and Ivory Coast) and South Africa of about 3-3.5 MT per annum is hooked onto 5% parboiled variety and 100% brokens parboiled rice. No other origin, except Thailand, can ―efficiently‖ service parboiled requirement. Thai‘s inconsistent quality, higher prices and freight for Africa are favourable for the growth of Indian parboiled rice industry.

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Domestic pricing India‘s MSP of non-Basmati paddy is about $224/MT. All other origins, except Pakistani, are costlier than India. Further, levy procurement by state governments stands abolished in 2014-15 which has enhanced market availability. FCI is trying to auction 25% broken rice (raw/parboiled) at OMSS of R23/kg while in open market 5% brokens parboiled can be bargained at R20-21/kg.

There are virtually no takers for FCI stocks. This evidences market comfort in the supply side.

There are multiple varieties on offer like IR36, IR64, 1001, Swarna, Sona Masuri, Ponni samba Parmal and P4 and that gives options for transacting the deal at right prices. Indian grain is available throughout the year even from West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand in addition to other growing regions. Rice is not traded in any future exchange and thus there is nil scope for open speculation or price rigging.

India‘s presence in global rice trade is a great stabilising force. Exports support better price realisation for paddy farmers; Basmati is a product of specific GI (geographical identification) and is highly remunerative. India‘s absence/decline from non-Basmati rice in international trade will spike prices more than $1000/MT fob (currently $350-400/MT) especially when Chinese appetite for rice is expanding. Thai jasmine (aromatic) rice may touch $3,000/MT fob (now at $850-$900) if our Basmati exports drop significantly. Hopefully that state of affairs will not arise despite poor monsoon due to more than sufficient carry-in inventory available with the government and in Indian markets.

The author is a grains trade expert http://agriculture.einnews.com/article/271997668/1pmUskU8cIg-fVpK

GAWU and the RPA have suddenly found their voices Dear Editor,

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I have noticed that Guyana Agricultural and General Workers‘ Union (GAWU) and the Guyana Rice Producers‘ Association (RPA) two arms of the PPP have suddenly found a voice after both of these industries which they controlled for decades were billions of dollars in debt. The leaders of these two organizations sat in parliament as MPs and never raised any objections when the rice funds were being diverted for other purposes, and now they are using the media to highlight the problem as if it was caused by the new coalition government, and they are demanding that the administration pay these workers and farmers.

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The sugar workers and rice famers have now become disillusioned with GAWU and the RPA, as they have failed to be militant instruments to fight for their rights. Both of these organizations were founded by the late Dr Cheddi Jagan who gave active guidance to the sugar workers and rice farmers, but they never lived up to their names after he died. Rice farmers and sugar workers later found out that they were being betrayed by these organizations.In the case of sugar, millions have not been paid into NIS and the credit union. Farmers and millers in all the rice-growing regions are still owed millions of dollars for rice and paddy supplied under the PetroCaribe agreement, which was signed in 2005. The balance of the money was paid promptly after the deduction was made for the oil supplied by Venezuela.

Today, I noticed that the General Secretary of the RPA is demanding that the farmers and millers be paid from the empty rice pot which was inherited by the coalition government, and that the Rice Factory Act be implemented to protect the rice farmers. The millers were flouting the very act in his presence and he was toothless. He and the GRDB have never represented the rice farmers who had grievances; farmers were being shortchanged with their weight, grades, moisture, dockage and most of all their payments without interest, while he stood there watching.

The crisis is still there, and the new coalition government has to find money to bail out the two industries, workers, farmers and millers.

While the rice farmers were protesting for their paddy payments here on the Essequibo Coast, the government stood quietly in a corner without explaining to them where the money had gone. On top of that they sent the police to tear gas them during protests. One miller told me that he was muzzled and couldn‘t talk because of fear of being victimized, and that he wouldn‘t get a quota to send paddy and rice to the Venezuelan market. He was glad to get his stocks off his hands as his warehouse was filled with rice and paddy. The GRDB and the RPA knew that they couldn‘t enforce the Rice Factory Act against the millers, because they knew that it was the government 19

which owed the millers and they couldn‘t pay the farmers for their produce.

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I worked with both of these organizations, and knew they would only be vibrant and represent the cause of the workers and farmers when the government changed, as has now happened.

Yoursfaithfully, Mohamed Khan http://www.stabroeknews.com/2015/opinion/letters/06/22/gawu-and-the-rpa-have-suddenlyfound-their-voices/

Plant an animal 

Releasing ducks into paddy fields could increase rice productivity and raise farmers’ income

Ducks in a paddy field. Photographer: SWARNIMA SHRESTHA (Courtesy)

JUN 23 -

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In the aftermath of the Great Quake and its aftershocks, Nepal is set to face food deficit this year. As per Ministry of Agricultural Development estimates, paddy output will drop by 5.1 percent to 4.78 million tonnes this year owing to the late monsoon and untimely rainfall.

At the onset of the rice cultivation season, learnings from a pilot research in Chitwan can serve as an example to millions of farmers across Nepal. An experiment with integrated rice-duck farming resulted in a 13 percent increase in rice productivity and the net income of the farmers increased by 44 percent. By using the same method, in other countries, farmers have been able to increase their productivity by almost two times.

Introduce the ducks Rice duck is a smallholder farmer-friendly technology. The main principle of this technology is to exploit the symbiotic relationship between ducks and rice for higher productivity. Ducklings are released into rice fields after 15 days of paddy transplantation.

In the rice fields, the ducks act as pest and weed controllers. They feed on insects and weeds and in return, their droppings serve as an organic fertiliser whereas the paddling of ducks works as a stimulant for the growth of rice, resulting into healthy plants.

Meera Darai, Chairperson of Janashakti Dhan Hans Palan Samuha, a group involved in rice-duck farming in Kathar of Chitwan, says that weeding and other intercultural operations done by ducks are better than what humans can do. According to her, a riceduck field looks greener and fresher than a normal field. She says that the Hongkong and Peking cross breeds seem to be more appropriate for rice-duck fields than the local breed as they grow quickly and have a peculiar sound.

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Rice-duck farming cancels out the chemical fertiliser input which is usually imported from India. Similarly, it avoids the cost of controlling pests and outbreak of new pests in the rice field. Ram Lal Chaudhary, a member of Gunastariya Dhan Hans Palan Samuha, a group in Kumrose Village Development Committee of Chitwan, says that he did not use any chemical fertiliser and pesticides in his paddy field though his neighbour did so three times in a single cultivation period. According to him, unwanted insects like Drosophila and mosquito are eaten by ducks in the evening.

Not new to the region Rice-duck farming is not new to Nepal and the region. Existing literature shows that Chinese farmers had been releasing ducks in the rice fields since 1000 years ago.

Likewise, Japanese farmers grew rice and duck together since 500 years ago until the practice was eliminated due to the mechanisation of agriculture.However, inspired by Rachel Carson‘s Silent Spring, a Japanese farmer Takao Furuno developed a simple, ecological rice farming method by introducing ducks in 1989. This method found its way into other rice-growing countries like South Korea, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, and even to Iran. Today, thousands of farmers across Asia have taken up this method of integrated rice-duck farming.In Nepal, according to Krishna Chaudhary, a member of Paribartan Dhan Hans Palan Samuha, another group involved in rice-duck farming in Kathar, Tharus had been grazing ducks in their rice fields since the past but not systematically. For his group the method is very simple, cost effective and environmental friendly.

Good for environment Another interesting finding by Hiroyuki Morii, an assistant professor and researcher at the University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan is that rice-duck farming is more environment-friendly. According to Morii‘s experiment, the ducks could control methane released from the rice fields. Methane is one of the major contributors to the greenhouse effect and it is estimated that 12 percent of all the methane released into the environment is from rice fields.Similarly, a study done by Chinese scientists on rice paddies using integrated rice-duck farming system in China showed that the constant paddling of ducks in the rice fields could suppress the methane and nitrous oxide emissions from rice paddies. Based on their research ‗Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Wetland Rice-Duck Cultivation System in Southern China‘, scientists Chengfang Li, Cougi Cao, Jingping Wang, Ming Zhan, Weiling Yuan and Shahrear Ahmad opine that rice-duck farming will contribute to alleviating global warming.

More food, more income

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The rice produced from the integrated rice-duck farming method is organic and commands a better market price in cities like Kathmandu. According to National Agricultural Research Council, rice is grown in 1.44 million hectares across the country. However, the productivity is only 2.56 tonnes per hectare. By introducing this method, the farmers would be able to reap the benefits of better productivity which makes it an appropriate technology to address the problem of food insecurity.Apart from harvesting rice, farmers would also be able to earn more money by selling the ducks at the end of the harvest period. Duck meat also provides nutrition to the farmers and their families. Farmers can practice agriculture in a chemical free environment as no chemical fertilisers and insecticides are used in this method. Hence, the method of integrating ducks in rice fields not only helps farmers economically but also environmentally. And this is what Nepal needs in this post-quake period where agriculture output has been predicted to fall.http://www.ekantipur.com/2015/06/23/oped/plant-an-animal/406914.html

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