25th january ,2018 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

DailyDRice E-Newsletter G L E aily

lobal, Regional and

ocal Rice

-Newsletter January 25, 2018

 Pakistan’s food exports increase 16.81%  This Pakistani restaurant is literally a hole in the wall — and it's awesome  Genetic engineering, CRISPR and food: What the 'revolution' will bring in the near future  Head to the Rice Aisle at the 2018 North Louisiana Ag  USDA Releases Farm Bill & Legislative Principles  Indonesia can only import 346,000 tons of rice  Iranian delegation keen to promote agriculture trade with Pakistan  GCC Basmati Rice Market: 2018: Growth, Demand and Forecast Research Report to 2023  Future Group's Kishore Biyani expects 33% growth in retail business in FY19  Amid weak prices of agri commodities, robust rice demand bucks the trend  Gov’t shelves plan to import 250,000 metric tons of rice  NFA urged to maintain 15-day rice buffer stock12  Gov’t shelves plan to import 250,000 metric tons of rice  Rice exports surge despite fraud; but government can still play a bigger role  No guarantee pre-packaged foods safe for allergy sufferers: research finds  Rice Flour Market Segments by Product Types, Manufacturers, Regions and Application Analysis to 2022

Volume X | Issue I

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Rice production to surpass consumption through March: Agriculture Ministry  Stop fake branding of local rice  Researchers use wild rice to predict health of Minnesota lakes and streams  Amid weak prices of agri commodities, robust rice demand bucks the trend  Congress eyeing to OK bill lifting rice QR by March  Namibia to upscale rice production at flagship project  Indonesia to import rice from Việt Nam  NFA Council defers 250,000 MT rice imports / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com  Gov’t shelveswww.ricepluss.com plan to import 250,000 metric tons of rice Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874  Row rice could be important production practice for the future

 Jan. 25 webinar: A partner for Clearfield rice

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter News Detail‌ Pakistan’s food exports increase 16.81%

By DND January 25, 2018 ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Food exports from the Country witnessed an impressive growth of 16.81 during the first half of the current fiscal year compared to the corresponding period of last year.

The food exports rose to $1,932,269 million during July-December (2017-18) against the exports of $1,654,245 million during July-December (2016-17), according to latest data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

The commodities that contributed in overall food trade from the Country included rice exports of which grew by 18.32 percent from $712,832 million last year to $843,388 million during the current year. Among rice commodities, the exports of basmati rice increased by 4.52 percent while that of other rice commodities increased by 22.88 percent.

The exports of fish and fish preparations from the Country also increased by 9.08 percent by growing from $183,446 million to $200,097 million while the exports of vegetables increased by 6.52 percent, from $58,871 million to $62,709 million.

During the period under review, the tobacco exports from the Country increased from $3,991 million to $20,625 million, showing growth of 416.79 percent while the wheat exports witnessed increase of 100 percent by going up from zero exports to $0.045 million.Exports of oil, seeds, nuts and kernals increased by 10.35 percent from $20,243 million to $22,339 million while sugar exports also increased from zero exports last year to $181,209 million, showing 100 percent growth.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Meanwhile, the food products that witnessed negative growth in trade included fruits, exports of which declined from $198,143 million to $180,288 million, showing 9.01 decline while the exports of leguminous vegetable (pulses) decreased by 100 percent .

Exports of spics from the Country also decreased from $37,478 million to $36,421 million, showing decrease of 2.82 million while the exports of meat and meat preparations decreased by 6.21 percent, from $104,401 million to $97,915 million.

Other than these commodities, the exports of all other food products also witnessed decline of 14.08 percent by falling from $334,312 million last year to $287,233 million this year.

Meanwhile, on year-on-year basis, the food exports from the Country witnessed 31.18 percent growth during the month of December 2017 compared to the same month of last year.The food exports during December 2017 were recorded at $439,285 million against the exports of $334,860 million last December, according to the PBS data.

On month-on-month basis, the food exports from the Country also witnessed increase of 4.92 percent in December 2017 when compared to the exports of $418,697 million in November 2017, the data revealed. https://dnd.com.pk/pakistans-food-exports-increase-16-81/138407

This Pakistani restaurant is literally a hole in the wall — and it's awesome

By Tom Perkins Yep, literally a hole in the wall.

Karahi Korner 27616 Middlebelt Rd., Farmington Hills 248-535-9445 Hours vary (call ahead) Around $10 per meal

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Yes, Karahi Korner is a hole in the wall. Pretty much literally so. There's a hole in a wall in the back of a small, basic Indian and Pakistani grocery store at 12 Mile and Middlebelt. It's essentially a carryout window, so when it's time for fragrant Pakistani cuisine from Karahi Korner, you walk through the store, approach the window in the back wall, place your order, pay, take the food, then leave.

It's' semi-unconventional, but it doesn't matter because the food is awesome. Some of the best in metro Detroit. And it's one of your rare — if not only — chances to try this type of Pakistani cuisine in metro Detroit. These are intensely bright, aromatic-pumped South Asian dishes in which the Pakistani chefs orchestrate spices, heat, and acid in ways that you might have never encountered, and it's nearly intoxicating.

But there's more that you need to know before going. A taste of that harmony requires some work, and it might take two tries before you get what you came for. Because of that, you'll have to put a little faith in the chefs. It took me several phone calls over a three-week period and two trips from Hamtramck to Farmington Hills before figuring out exactly how Karahi Korner rolls.

That's partly because the guy who answered the phone didn't speak much English. That type of thing is generally a good sign if you're looking for authentic cuisine of a different country, but it presents a language barrier. Among those questions I couldn't initially figure out: Why are there 15 things on Karahi Korner's menu, but only a couple that are ever available at one time? When is the restaurant open? Why is there rarely any food during the lunch hour.

A cashier at the store finally explained what's up. The owners shop for their ingredients every morning, make enough food from scratch for the day, then start again the next morning. There's not much sitting around in the kitchen overnight. They arrive in the morning — on their schedule — and start cooking. What happens if you show up at noon?

No biryani for you. What happens if you show up at 2 p.m.? It might be ready. But don't go too late, because the food is gone when it's gone. Timing is everything.

As for the menu, chef Ikhlaq Ahmed regularly prepares three items, including chicken biryani and chicken karahi, everyday. Usually there's beef or chicken kebabs, but only if

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Ahmed goes to the butcher that morning. On other days there's korma, tandori chicken, and a few other dishes. But the best bet is to call ahead, especially on weekends Karahi does huge catering gigs.

Tom Perkins

( Clockwise from top) Tandoori chicken, biryani, and chicken karahi.

In short, here's what you can generally count on: chicken karahi and biryani everyday, starting sometime between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., and kebabs after 4 p.m.

It's worth going for dinner and ordering all three for about $30. The dishes are unique, though all of Karahi's meat is slow-cooked and super tender, and many of the same spices and aromatics are in each.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

In the chicken karahi, nubs of meat that falls from small bones arrives in a wet, deep rust colored, oily mix of ginger, coriander, cumin seed, garlic, onion, tomatoes, cilantro, and some variety of hot pepper. It's an incredibly rich and fragrant mix accented with the crunch of fresh ginger. Again, the balance and interplay of the aromatics, spices, and mellow heat is something for a southeast Michigan palate to behold.

The same principles apply in the kebabs, which are super flavorful sticks of ground meat that's slightly charred on its ends and speckled with bits of herbs, garlic, and onion. You'll find more coriander in the soft, moist sausage, along with the ever-present mellow heat from jalapeĂąos. A hint of sweetness seamlessly plays into each bite, and the meat should be dipped in a yogurt raita sauce that holds mint, cilantro, and cumin seed. The wave of mellow cumin rolls through your mouth as more of a sensation than a flavor.

On another trip, I was lucky to come across the slightly charred and super moist tandoori chicken, which is flavored with garam masala, salt, garlic, and other spices.

Finally, there's there biryani, a basmati rice dish that comes stocked with nubby pieces of tender chicken. Again, you're going to find the cumin, coriander, hot peppers, garam masala, and aromatics at work, but there's also a heavy presence of perhaps cardamom, and

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter lots of whole peppercorns. I found myself seriously mad that there wasn't another bite when I finished my plate.

A lot of restaurants in metro Detroit advertise as Indian and Pakistani, but Karahi is clearly something different. For one thing, India and Pakistan are huge places with localized cooking that differs depending on which corners of the countries you're in. (That's like moving to Karachi and opening an "American-Mexican" restaurant.) Ahmed is from Jhelum, Pakistan, and says the restaurant keeps the menu so short because it's important to make things fresh everyday. That's what he says distinguishes Karahi from other Pakistani restaurants that have 100 items on the menu.

And though you're likely only going to get to try three dishes at Karahi, and th ere might be a little more work involved, it's an intense experience that's worth the effort. https://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/this-pakistani-restaurant-is-literally-a-hole-in-the-wall-and-itsawesome/Content?oid=8784322

Genetic engineering, CRISPR and food: What the 'revolution' will bring in the near future Steven Cerier | Genetic Literacy Project | January 24, 2018

Editor's note: This is the first in a four-part series examining genetic engineering's impact on our lives. The next installment will examine the role of gene editing in medicine; the third will look at regulatory obstacles blunting the potential of genetically engineered animals; and the final segment will look at synthetic biology and other novel applications.

Humankind is on the verge of a genetic revolution that holds great promise and potential. It will change the ways food is grown, medicine is produced, animals are altered and will give rise to new ways of producing plastics, biofuels and chemicals.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Many object to the genetic revolution, insisting we should not be ‘playing God’ by tinkering with the building blocks of life; we should leave the genie in the bottle.

This is the view held by many opponents of GMO foods. But few transformative scientific advances are widely embraced at first. Once a discovery has been made and its impact widely felt it is impossible to stop despite the pleas of doubters and critics concerned about potential unintended consequences. Otherwise, science would not have experienced great leaps throughout history—and we would still be living a primitive existence.

Gene editing of humans and plants—a revolutionary technique developed just a few years ago that makes genetic tinkering dramatically easier, safer and less expensive—has begun to accelerate this revolution. University of California-Berkeley biochemist Jennifer Doudna, one of the co-inventors of the CRISPR technique:: Within the next few years, this new biotechnology will give us higher-yielding crops, healthier livestock, and more nutritious foods. Within a few decades, we might well have genetically engineered pigs that can serve as human organ donors…we are on the cusp of a new era in the history of life on earth—an age in which humans exercise an unprecedented level of control over the genetic composition of the species that co-inhabit our planet. It won’t be long before CRISPR allows us to bend nature to our will in the way that humans have dreamed of since prehistory.

The four articles in this series will examine the dramatic changes that gene editing and other forms of genetic engineering will usher in.

Great advances likely for GE foods Despite the best efforts of opponents, GE crops have become so embedded and pervasive in the food systems—even in Europe which has bans in place on growing GMOs in most countries— that it is impossible to dislodge them without doing serious damage to the agricultural sector and boosting food costs for consumers.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Even countries which ban the growing of GMOs or who have such strict labeling laws that few foods with GE ingredients are sold in supermarkets are huge consumers of GE products.

Europe is one of the largest importers of GMO feed in the world. Most of the meat we consume from cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys, pigs and fish farms are fed genetically modified corn, soybeans and alfalfa.

And the overwhelming majority of cheeses are made with an enzyme produced by GM microbes and some beers and wines are made with genetically engineered yeast.

North America, much of South America and Australia are major consumers of foods grown from GE seeds. Much of the corn oil, cotton seed oil, soybean oil and canola oil used for frying and cooking, and in salad dressings and mayonnaise is genetically modified. GM soybeans are used to make tofu, miso, soybean meal, soy ice cream, soy flour and soy milk. GM corn is processed into corn starch and corn syrup and is used to make whiskey. Much of our sugar is derived from GM sugar beets and GE sugarcane is on the horizon. Over 90 percent of the papaya grown in Hawaii has been genetically modified to make it resistant to the ringspot virus. Some of the squash eaten in the US is made from GM disease-resistant seeds and developing countries are field testing GM disease-resistant cassava.

Many critics of GE in agriculture focus on the fact that by volume most crops are used in commodity food manufacturing, specifically corn and soybeans. One reason for that is the high cost of getting new traits approved. Indeed, research continues on commodity crops, although many of the scientists work for academia and independent research institutes.

For example, in November 2016, researchers in the UK were granted the authority to begin trials of a genetically engineered wheat that has the potential to increase yields by 40 percent. The wheat, altered to produce a higher level of an enzyme critical for turning sunlight and carbon dioxide into plant fuel, was developed in part by Christine Raines, the Head of the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Essex.

Genetic engineering and nutrition enhancement A new generation of foods are now on the horizon, some as the result of new breeding techniques (NBTs), such as gene editing. Many of these foods will be nutritionally fortified, which will be critical to boosting the health of many of the poorest people in developing nations and increase yields.

Golden rice is a prime example of such a nutrition-enhanced crop. It is genetically engineered to have high levels of beta carotene, a precursor of Vitamin A. This is particularly important as many people in developing countries suffer from Vitamin A deficiency which leads to blindness and even death. Bangladesh is expected to begin cultivation of golden rice in 2018.

The Philippines may also be close to growing it.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter A strain of golden rice that includes not only high levels of beta carotene but also high levels of zinc and iron could be commercialized within 5 years. “Our results demonstrate that it is possible to combine several essential micronutrients – iron, zinc and beta carotene – in a single rice plant for healthy nutrition,” said Navreet Bhullar, senior scientist at ETH Zurich, which developed the rice.

The Science in the News group at Harvard University discussed some of the next generation foods.

Looking beyond Golden Rice, there are a large number of biofortified staple crops in development. Many of these crops are designed to supply other micronutrients, notably vitamin E in corn, canola and soybeans…Protein content is also a key focus; protein-energy malnutrition affects 25% of children because many staple crops have low levels of essential amino acids. Essential amino acids are building blocks of proteins and must be taken in through the diet or supplements. So far, corn, canola, and soybeans have been engineered to contain higher amounts of the essential amino acid lysine. Crops like corn, potatoes and sugar beets have also been modified to contain more dietary fiber, a component with multiple positive health benefits.

Other vitamin-enhanced crops have been developed though they have yet to be commercialized. Australian scientists created a GE Vitamin A enriched banana, scientists in Kenya developed GE Vitamin A enhanced sorghum and plant scientists in Switzerland developed a GE Vitamin B6 enhanced cassava plant. None is near approval, however.

Scientists genetically engineered canola, a type of rapeseed, to produce additional omega-3 fatty acids. Research is being conducted on developing GM gluten free wheat and vegetables with higher levels of Vitamin E to fight heart disease.

Other more consumer-focused genetically-engineered crops that do not use transgenics, and have sailed through the approval system include: 

FDA has approved the commercialization of a GE non-browning apple—the Arctic Apple, developed by using a gene-silencing technique.  Simplot has developed GE potatoes created using gene-silencing techniques. They are less prone to bruising and blackening, in some cases are resistant to certain diseases and also contain less asparagine which reduces the potential for acrylamide that is created when frying, baking and roasting.

Fighting plant diseases Other products are in development that fight viruses and disease. Scientists have used genetic engineering to develop disease-resistant rice. A new plum variety resists the plum pox virus. It has not yet been commercialized. GE solutions may be the only answer to save the orange industry from citrus greening, which is devastating orange groves in Florida. GE might be

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter utilized to curb the damage caused by stem rust fungus in wheat and diseases effecting the coffee crop.

In Africa, GE solutions could be used to combat the ravages of banana wiltand cassava brown streak disease and diseases that impact cocoa trees and potatoes. A GE bean has been developed in Brazil that is resistant to the golden mosaic virus. Researchers at the University of Florida, the University of California-Berkeley and the 2Blades Foundation have developed a disease resistant GM tomato.

Scientists at the John Innes Center in the UK are attempting to create a strain of barley capable of making its own ammonium fertilizer from nitrogen in the soil. This would be particularly beneficial to farmers who grow crops in poor soil conditions or who lack the financial resources to buy artificial fertilizers.

Peggy Ozias-Akins, a horticulture expert at the University of Georgia has developed and tested genetically-engineered peanuts that do not produce two proteins linked to intense allergens.

New Breeding Techniques New gene editing techniques (NBTs) such as CRISPR offer great potential and face lower approval hurdles, at least for now. 

Scientists at Penn State have removed the gene that causes white button mushrooms to discolor, and the product was quickly approved.  In 2014, scientists in China produced bread wheat resistant to powdery mildew.  Calyxt, a biotechnology company, has developed a potato variety that prevents the accumulation of certain sugars, reducing the bitter taste associated with storage. The potato also has a lower amount of acrylamide.  DuPont has developed a gene-edited variety of corn, which can be used to thicken food products and make adhesives.

In June, the EPA approved a new first of its kind GE corn known as SmartStaxPro, in which the plant’s genes are tweaked without transgenics to produce a natural toxin designed to kill western corn rootworm larvae. It also produces a piece of RNA that shuts down a specific gene in the larvae, thereby killing them. The new GE corn is expected to be commercialized by the end of the decade.

What could slow—or even stop—this revolution? In an opinion piece for Nature Biology, Richard B. Flavell, a British molecular biologist and former director of the John Innes Center in the UK, which conducts research in plant science, genetics and microbiology, warned about the dangers of vilifying and hindering new GE technologies: The consequences of simply sustaining the chaotic status quo—in which GMOs and other innovative plant products are summarily demonized by activists and the organic lobby—are frightening when one considers mounting challenges to food production, balanced nutrition and

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter poverty alleviation across the world. Those who seek to fuel the GMO versus the non-GMO debate are perpetuating irresolvable difference of opinion. ‌Those who seek to perpetuate the GMO controversy and actively prevent use of new technology to crop breeding are not only on the wrong side of the debate, they are on the wrong side of the evidence. If they continue to uphold beliefs against evidence, they will find themselves on the wrong side of history.

Steven E. Cerier is a freelance international economist and a frequent contributor to the Genetic Literacy Project. https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2018/01/24/genetic-engineering-crispr-food-revolution-will-bring-nearfuture/

Head to the Rice Aisle at the 2018 North Louisiana Ag Expo

By Kane Webb

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

MONROE, LA -- This past weekend, the Louisiana Rice Council, along with USA Rice and the North East Louisiana Rice Growers Association (NELA) attended the 2018 North Louisiana Ag Expo here.

Held each year at the Ike Hamilton Expo Center, this event welcomes several thousand visitors to experience all things agriculture, including the Ag Alley Mini Farm, educational seminars, a junior livestock show, and a trade show.

Louisiana Rice Council President Eric Unkel, along with growers Jimmy Hoppe, Charles Precht, and Kent Brown, greeted visitors over the two-day event with USA Rice staff lending a hand to keep up with the crowds.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The "rice aisle" is one of the more popular spots in the trade show as many folks start at the NELA Rice Growers booth where they are treated to a cup of red beans and rice, and then proceed to the Rice Council booth to meet the "Rice Men and Lady" that includes USA Rice's Mary Jemison.

Young and old alike spend a few minutes visiting, gathering the latest recipe brochures, registering for the hourly door prize drawing, and of course, getting a one-pound bag of Louisiana-grown rice after answering a quick trivia question about rice. That one, simple question makes a lasting impression as many repeat visitors can tell you the question they had the year before.

As they move on to the next booth, you hear the "thank you's," and "we'll see you next year," as they place the rice in their tote bags. And for the Rice Men and Lady, they know everyone walks away with THINK RICE on their mind!

USDA Releases Farm Bill & Legislative Principles

By Frank Leach

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Secretary Perdue (center) visits the Brantley farm last Friday WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue unveiled the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Bill & Legislative Principles for Congress to consider as they craft the Farm Bill and other legislation impacting rural America. The principles cover a wide array of USDA's mission areas, including farm production and conservation, trade and foreign agricultural affairs, marketing and regulatory programs, food safety and inspection services, and rural development.

The common themes throughout USDA's principles document are supporting the U.S. agriculture sector, lessening the burden of regulations, and helping the American people. Through the principles, USDA offers counsel to Congress and supports legislation that provides a strong safety net for farmers to weather times of reduced prices, ensures that voluntary conservation programs balance farm productivity with conservation benefits, and helps open foreign markets for U.S. agriculture products.

"These USDA principles are complimentary to USA Rice priorities for the Farm Bill," said Ben Mosely, USA Rice vice president of government affairs. "We're encouraged that Secretary Perdue has offered assistance in a way that provides Congress with the flexibility needed to put together legislation that works for all of the stakeholders, and we look forward to continuing the partnership we have with Congress and USDA to ensure that the final package works for rice farmers and agriculture as a whole."

Congress will have to pass a new Farm Bill or extend the current bill by September 30 when the current legislation expires.

Market Information Daily Rough Rice Prices (updated daily)

Indonesia can only import 346,000 tons of rice 23.01.2018 | UkrAgroConsult Indonesia can only import 346,000 tons of rice A worker shoulders a sack of rice taken from a warehouse at the Cipinang wholesaler rice market in East Jakarta on Jan. 19. (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan) State Logistics Agency (Bulog) procurement director Andrianto Wahyu Adi said on Monday the agency could only import 346,000 tons of rice or 69.2 percent of 500,000 tons planned import due to limited time."The shipment can only be implemented up to Feb. 28. So that amount is the best we can afford,� he added.The eight winning bidders are Vinafood I and II from Vietnam,

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Ponglarp, Capital Cereal, Asia Golden from Thailand, Amir Chand from India, Al Buhks and Sind Agro from Pakistan.

Andrianto said Vinafood II and other suppliers from Thailand have signed the contracts on and before Monday. "For the other suppliers, we will complete [the contracts] today."He could not stipulate when the imported rice would arrive, but added that each shipment would be 20,000 tons.

"We set the deadline for Feb. 28,� Andrianto said, adding that the ships from Thailand and Vietnam needed five days to arrive in Indonesia, while it would take between 14 and 16 days to arrive from Pakistan and India.

The price of rice in Jakarta was Rp 13,950 (US$1.05) per kilogram or 17.7 percent higher than the price in September, according to data from Bank Indonesia’s price tracking website, hargapangan.id. Meanwhile, the price increased by 13.3 and 14.7 percent to Rp 11,900 per kg and Rp 11,700 per kg in West and East Java, respectively. http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/indonesia-can-only-import-346-000-tons-of-rice

Iranian delegation keen to promote agriculture trade with Pakistan 6:19 PM, January 23, 2018

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Islamabad: A delegation of Iranian entrepreneurs of West Azerbaijan Province of Iran led by Behnam Tajodinni, Head of the AgricultureCommission of the Urmia Chamber of Commerce & Industry visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry and showed keen interest to develop strong trade relations with Pakistan in agriculture products.

Speaking at the occasion, Behnam Tajodinni said that West Azerbaijan was the third largest province of Iran with one of the highest producers of agricultural commodities.

He said the province was producing annually 6 million ton fruits & vegetables, 1.2-million-ton apple, 380,000-ton grapes and 280,000-ton apricots with 326 cold storage facilities with storage capacity of 1 million tons.

He said the province was also on top in producing honey and was a hub of import and export activities in Iran. He said the province has great potential to promote cooperation in the agriculture sector with Pakistan .

He stressed that the agriculture sector businessmen of both countries should develop close cooperation to promote bilateral trade of agro products between Iran and Pakistan .

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Behnam Tajodinni said that about 32 Iranian trucks loaded with agricultureproducts were stuck up on Pakistani border in Baluchistan for the last 10 days and added that Pakistan has not informed them why the trucks were stopped.

He said such measures were discouraging efforts to improve bilateral tradebetween the two countries. He said both countries should revise high tariffs on agriculture products to facilitate the entrepreneurs in further improving bilateral trade . He also invited ICCI delegation to visit Urmia Chamber of Commerce & Industry and explore new avenues of mutual cooperation with Iranian counterparts.

Speaking at the occasion, Sheikh Amir Waheed, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that Pakistan and Iran enjoyed good relations, but given the size of the economies of both countries, their bilateral trade was far below the actual potential.

He stressed that both countries should encourage frequent exchange of trade delegations and focus on organizing single country exhibitions on a reciprocal basis to explore new areas of mutual collaboration.

He said despite signing a preferential trade agreement with Pakistan , Iran was maintaining high tariffs on many Pakistani products including textiles, clothing, leather goods, footwear, fruits & vegetables and rice which was a major hurdle in promoting trade with Iran.

He stressed that Urmia Chamber of Commerce & Industry should take up this issue with Iranian authorities to revise high tariffs.Muhammad Naveed, Senior Vice President ICCI said that Pakistan and Iran should establish border markets that would greatly help in improving bilateral trade and curb illegal trade as well. https://nation.com.pk/23-Jan-2018/iranian-delegation-keen-to-promote-agriculture-trade-with-pakistan

GCC Basmati Rice Market: 2018: Growth, Demand and Forecast Research Report to 2023FacebookTwitterPrintEmailMore The GCC basmati rice market has witnessed a healthy growth over the last few years. This can be accredited to the growing demand for better quality of rice, lack of domestic production, and the thriving expatriate population in the GCC countries.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter According to IMARC Group’s latest report, titled “GCC Basmati Rice Market: Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2017-2022”, the GCC basmati rice market reached a value of nearly US$ 4 Billion in 2016. ‘Basmati’, derived from the Hindi language, literally means fragrant. It is a variety of long, slender-grained aromatic rice and traditionally finds its roots from the Indian subcontinent. The distinctive fragrance and flavor of basmati rice can be accredited to the presence of a natural aromatic chemical compound. The presence of this compound is 12 times more in basmati rice as compared to the non-basmati rice varieties. Owing to this, basmati rice is considered as one of the best quality rice, and is extensively used in the Middle Eastern cuisines. It represents a major component of various lavish dishes, particularly in the GCC countries, which contain layers of rice, meat, sauces and dried fruits.

Request a Free Sample Copy of The Report: https://www.imarcgroup.com/request?type=report&[...]

Highlights of the GCC basmati rice market: - Lack of domestic rice production in the GCC region remains the key growth inducing factor.

- Parboiled basmati rice represents the most popular product type.

- Within the region, Saudi Arabia is the leading market for basmati rice.

Due to unsuitable climatic conditions and a consequent lack of domestic rice production, the GCC countries are highly dependent on imports to meet their rice needs. Since rice forms an important part of the regular diet and numerous dishes in these countries, the growing demand for better quality basmati rice is influencing the market growth positively. Additionally, a thriving expatriate population and flourishing tourism sector in the GCC countries has fueled the consumption of basmati rice in the region. Some of the other factors contributing to the growing GCC basmati rice market include the presence of strong distribution channels in the region, rising urbanization rates, changes in demographics and inflating income levels. According to the report, the market is expected to reach a value of around US$ 6 Billion by 2022, growing a CAGR of 7.5% during 2017-2022.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter On the basis of product type, the market is segmented into parboiled basmati rice and raw basmati rice. Currently, parboiled basmati rice is the most popular type, holding the majority of total sales. Based on the pack size, the market is categorized into institutional packaging and retail packaging. On a regional basis, Saudi Arabia represents the largest market, accounting for the majority of the total share. Other major regions include UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.

To View Report Summary And Table of Contact , Click on: https://www.imarcgroup.com/gccbasmati-rice-mar[...]http://industrial.embedded-computing.com/news/gcc-demand-forecastresearch-report2023/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+industrial+%28 Industrial+Embedded+Systems+News%29

Future Group's Kishore Biyani expects 33% growth in retail business in FY19 Expansion of the store network under various formats and product launches would fuel the growth from around Rs 300 billion in this financial year, said Biyani

B Dasarath Reddy | Hyderabad Last Updated at January 24, 2018 20:42 IST Kishore Biyani. Photo: Kamlesh Pednekar

Kishore Biyani's Future Group is expecting Rs 400 billion revenue from its retail business in 2018-19.Expansion of the store network under various formats and product launches would fuel the growth from around Rs 300 billion in this financial year, said Biyani, group chief executive.

The group has four listed retail entities -- Future Retail, Future Lifestyle Fashion, Future Consumer and Future Enterprises. Their combined revenue was Rs 286 bn in 2016-17. Biyani expects the retail businesses to show 33 per cent growth in FY19, as compared to five per cent this financial year.

Adding South India's staple, rice, to its food product basket, Future Consumer launched Sona Masoori, a fine rice variety, under its Rs 120 billion Golden Harvest brand on Wednesday in Hyderabad, the biggest grossing city for the group across segments.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

The company also introduced a subscription model, like door delivery of milk, for rice delivery.

"We have launched most of our retail formats and products from Hyderabad, known as the Punjab of South India in terms of consumption. This city is going to contribute 10 per cent of our retail revenue or Rs 40 bn during the next financial year," he said.

Biyani announced Sona Masoori would also be sold in North India by Future Consumer under brand name Shubra, positioning this product against Basmati rice. The group has invested close to Rs 800 million on a processing and packaging plant, using Swiss technology. The rice is being procured from Telangana, Andhra and Karnataka, the three states where this variety is grown.

Pakistan’s agriculture productivity among the lowest in the world

By Usman Hanif January 24, 2018

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

According to the report, low productivity acts as a barrier to Pakistan becoming a major player in the world’s processed food industry.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s low crop yield per hectare has not gotten any better for a long time and now it has sunk to one of the lowest levels in the world, according to a report released recently by the Pakistan Business Council – a business policy advocacy group.

A major part of Pakistan’s economy relies on the agriculture sector, which had a 19.5% share in the gross domestic product – the total size of the economy – in 2016.Pakistan’s agricultural productivity ranges between 29% and 52%, far lower than the world’s best averages for major commodities, the report says.Pakistan produces 3.1 tons of wheat from one hectare, which is just 38% of the 8.1 tons produced in France – the world’s best productivity.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Similarly, Pakistan produces 2.5 tons of cotton per hectare, which is 52% of the 4.8 tons produced in China.

Sugarcane yield stands at 63.4 tons per hectare in Pakistan, which is 51% of the 125.1 tons Egypt produces from every hectare while maize productivity is estimated at 4.6 tons per hectare, 41% of the 11.1 tons that France is producing. In the case of rice crop, Pakistan produces 2.7 tons from every hectare, which is merely 29% of the 9.2 tons per hectare in the US. “Low crop yields hamper Pakistan’s ability to realise its full potential; Pakistan is not an agriculture country any more,” comments Gada Hussain, founder of the Sindh Abadgar Board – a lobby group of farmers.

Agricultural commodities, particularly cotton, provide critical inputs for Pakistan’s major manufacturing industries. However, lower harvests translate into low industrial production and higher costs, says the report.

Pakistan exports a number of agricultural commodities and their value added products.

Sugarcane is used to make sugar and confectionery items that are exported. Rice and maize are also exported.

According to the report, the low productivity acts as a major barrier to Pakistan becoming a major player in the world’s processed food industry.

The agriculture sector employs around 42% of the labour force. A thriving and more efficient agriculture sector will help lift living conditions of a large number of people and also improve competitiveness of the industry, the report says.However, 50% of the agricultural products are wasted in Pakistan due to unavailability of sufficient cold chain, logistics and processing facilities.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter “Absence of efficient, new seed varieties, intermittent water supply and unenthusiastic marketing are killing our agriculture,” says Hussain. Urbanisation is also gaining pace as a lack of basic facilities like safe drinking water, health care and children education is compelling farmers to move to cities.

After toiling for four to five months to grow a crop, a farmer earns less than Rs100 per day, which is far lower than the Rs600 to Rs800 he can earn in cities as a labourer, according to Hussain. “So, we are losing agriculture which is the main driving force behind the economy.”

Media reports suggest the Chinese government is looking for avenues to enter Pakistan’s agriculture sector. The Chinese state and banks are expected to provide capital and loans to the Chinese companies interested in setting up ventures in Pakistan.

China is going to set up a fertiliser plant that will produce 800,000 tons per year. It plans to establish meat processing plants in Sukkur with annual output of 200,000 tons and two milk processing plants to produce 200,000 tons a year. Chinese will also invest in high-yield seeds and aim to build a nationwide logistics network, warehousing and distribution system from Gwadar to Islamabad.

China will also install vegetable processing plants with annual output of 20,000 tons along with fruit juice and jam production plants with a capacity of 10,000 tons.“Though selfsufficiency is desirable, there are fears Chinese investors may dictate their terms due to their huge investments,” says Hussain. https://tribune.com.pk/story/1616347/2-pakistans-agriculture-productivity-among-lowest-world/

Amid weak prices of agri commodities, robust rice demand bucks the trend The price of rice has been ruling high, mainly on robust exports, demand from mills, and the entry of traders who lost in other commodities like oilseeds and pulses

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Sanjeeb Mukherjee & Rajesh Bhayani | New Delhi/Mumbai Last Updated at January 24, 2018 21:52 IST Even as rural India reels from the impact of a sharp decline in the prices of several farm commodities, rice seems to have outperformed major agriculture goods, driven mainly by good export demand, a decline in kharif output and heightened stocking by traders and dealers. The price of common variety rice has risen by almost 14.5 per cent in the wholesale market over the past year, a phenomenon different from what has been seen in other agriculture commodities, reveal data sourced from various agencies. In the past five months alone, the price has risen by nine per cent. While export demand is likely to keep prices at an elevated level, higher procurement and stock position with state-run agencies – which is better than last year – could act as a cushion.

“This season has been good for rice, as exports have improved for all varieties, including basmati. Exports to Bangladesh have triggered a higher demand,” said Devendra Vora of Friendship Traders, based in Mumbai’s APMC Vashi. According to Agriculture and Processed

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Food Export Development Authority (Apeda), exports to Bangladesh have seen a revival of sorts. Compared with 30,572 tonnes in April-November last year, they have crossed one million tonnes in the first 8 months of this financial year. The governments of Bangladesh and India had last year agreed on exports of parboiled rice to Bangladesh (on a government-to-government basis), as that country was facing a shortage of 1.5 million tonnes. After Bangladesh reduced its import duty to two per cent, private traders there also started importing rice from India.

Both Basmati and non-basmati varieties have seen a sharp jump in overall exports, with Basmati (especially 1401 and 1121 varieties) witnessing a price realisation increase of 26.8 per cent in the export market. Looking at the opportunity, Indian farmers have this Rabi season so far sown rice on 633,000 hactares more area than last Rabi season. Rice sowing has reached 2.23 million hactares this season. In the global context, the prices of rice are rising in Thailand and Vietnam

as well, on prospects of exports to Indonesia and Philippines, respectively. “This season, several traders from North India have shifted to buying rice, as they had been incurring losses in most other agricultural commodities like pulses and oilseeds,� Vora said, adding that rice mills and traders had also stored paddy at the start of the season when the prices were lower.

Paddy for long grain was quoting at Rs 2,100-2,200 per quintal at the beginning of the season

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter which led to a milled basmati rice price of Rs 5,100-5,200. Common grade paddy was at Rs 1,400 per quintal. Experts attribute the price rise to higher demand, higher procurement and an estimated drop of 2 million tonnes in kharif rice production to 94.5 million tonnes. Private estimates show that the loss could be compensated by a higher-than-expected rabi rice production, estimated at 14.76 million tonnes, as against 13.76 million tonnes last year. Rice production in the kharif season, according to the first advanced estimates, is projected at 94.50 million tonnes, against 96.39 million tonnes during last kharif season, mainly due to a drought in some parts of the country.

The stock position with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) is also at a comfortable level. Latest data show that FCI has rice stocks of around 35.76 million tonnes in January (to date), which is 31.3 per cent more than in the same period last year. On top of that, procurement of ‘paddy in terms of rice’ has also been good this year. According to latest data from the department of food and consumer affairs, 27.43 million tonnes of ‘paddy in terms of rice’ had been collected by state agencies till January 21. This is 25.57 million tonnes more than last year. A big increase in rice procurement among non-traditional states has been in Uttar Pradesh, where procurement till January 21 has risen by 108 per cent to 2.43 million tonnes, and Odisha, where it has increased by 67 per cent to 1.52 million tonnes. In Punjab and Haryana, which are traditional big states in terms of rice procurement, purchases this year till January 22 have been 11.83 million tonnes, as against 11.04 million tonnes last year http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/amid-weak-prices-of-agricommodities-robust-rice-demand-bucks-the-trend-118012400580_1.html

Gov’t shelves plan to import 250,000 metric tons of rice January 24, 2018, 10:00 PM

By Madelaine B. Miraflor It was just more than a week ago since the National Food Authority (NFA) announced that the country may import 250,000 metric tons (MT) of rice this year. This plan is no longer pushing through as of today.

This, as interagency Food Security Committee (FSC) on Rice — chaired by the National Economic and Development Authority — has deferred the decision whether or not to allow NFA to import rice this year on the belief that the country’s rice supply remains stable.

NFA spokesperson Rebecca Olarte said yesterday that FSC has deferred the utilization of the 250,000 MT standby authority.

The decision came after FSC’s observation that as of now, local supply is enough to meet the daily requirement of the country and that any importation activity could disrupt the prices, according to Rocky Valdez, director of Grains Market and Operations Division of NFA.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter “Our rice issuances and sales are calibrated. [There is] priority for relief operations and sales to LGUs [local government units] and other government agencies. [There is] minimal sales to accredited retailers,” Valdez said in a separate inquiry.

It was Olarte who said two weeks ago that there’s already a need for NFA to replenish its buffer stock, which declined significantly because of the typhoons that hit the country in the latter part of 2017.This prompted the state-run grains agency to seek for the approval of NFA Council, which later on gave NFA the standby authority to import 250,000 MT of rice.

“The NFA Council gave us a standby authority to import 250,000 MT of rice, but this would still go through the Food Security Committee to specify the volume and the mode of procurement,” Olarte said in an earlier report.Had FSC allowed NFA to push through with the importation, Olarte said rice shipments could already start arriving within the second quarter of the year.

It has already been reported before that the country’s dependence on rice imports may be reduced further this year.To recall, the government was initially targeting to import 580,000 MT of rice this year until it was eventually reduced to 250,000 MT.The NFA is required by law to have at least 15-day buffer stock at any given time and 30-day buffer stock during lean season, which usually starts in July until September.

In 2017, the country’s palay production reached 19.28 million MT, 9.36 percent above the 2016 output of 17.63 million MT.Harvest area also expanded from 4.56 million hectares to 4.81 million hectares. Yield was up by 3.54 percent, from 3.87 MT per hectare in 2016 to 4.01 MT in 2017.Right now, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is projecting palay output to increase by 5.65 percent to 4.67 million MT in the first three months of the year.Probable increases in harvest area and yield are expected in all regions, except CAR, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon and Eastern Visayas.

“Farmers’ are optimistic to have better yield resulting from sufficient water supply and good weather condition favorable to plant growth,” PSA said.

https://business.mb.com.ph/2018/01/24/govt-shelves-plan-to-import-250000-metric-tons-ofrice/

NFA urged to maintain 15-day rice buffer stock January 24, 2018, 5:38 PM

By Hannah Torregoza To allay fears of a possible rice shortage and its consequent price increase, Senator Nancy Binay urged the National Food Authority (NFA) to come up with contingency measures to maintain the required buffer stocks of rice until April.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Senator Nancy Binay (Senate of the Philippines official Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN) Binay said it is necessary that the government’s rice stock always meets the 15-day stockpile requirement.“Also, since the agency is expecting the rice imports to be delivered in April or May, it should make sure that we have ample supply of rice should the need arise earlier,” Binay said in a statement.

The NFA earlier admitted that its current rice stockpile level is only good for three days, which is below the required 15-day buffer stock equivalent to around 400,000 MT at any given time.

During the months when Philippine rice harvest declines and the country is frequented by storms, the NFA is required to have a 30-day buffer stock equivalent to 800,000 metric tons, according to Binay.

She also reminded the NFA to publicly disclose all suppliers given import permits under the minimum access volume (MAV) scheme.

The NFA, she said, should also go after rice traders taking advantage of the ongoing speculations on the TRAIN law by unduly increasing prices.

“This is in the interest of transparency and to prevent issues like conflicts of interest and corruption,” she said.

Binay earlier filed a resolution urging the Senate to conduct an inquiry on the status of the country’s rice supply and to study new polices that will ensure a stable rice supply.

“We need to study how we can help the NFA expedite the process especially during times when we are struck with natural calamities and the harvest is low,” she said.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/01/24/nfa-urged-to-maintain-15-day-rice-buffer-stock/

Gov’t shelves plan to import 250,000 metric tons of rice January 24, 2018, 10:00 PM

By Madelaine B. Miraflor It was just more than a week ago since the National Food Authority (NFA) announced that the country may import 250,000 metric tons (MT) of rice this year. This plan is no longer pushing through as of today.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter This, as interagency Food Security Committee (FSC) on Rice — chaired by the National Economic and Development Authority — has deferred the decision whether or not to allow NFA to import rice this year on the belief that the country’s rice supply remains stable.

NFA spokesperson Rebecca Olarte said yesterday that FSC has deferred the utilization of the 250,000 MT standby authority.

The decision came after FSC’s observation that as of now, local supply is enough to meet the daily requirement of the country and that any importation activity could disrupt the prices, according to Rocky Valdez, director of Grains Market and Operations Division of NFA. “Our rice issuances and sales are calibrated. [There is] priority for relief operations and sales to LGUs [local government units] and other government agencies. [There is] minimal sales to accredited retailers,” Valdez said in a separate inquiry.

It was Olarte who said two weeks ago that there’s already a need for NFA to replenish its buffer stock, which declined significantly because of the typhoons that hit the country in the latter part of 2017.

This prompted the state-run grains agency to seek for the approval of NFA Council, which later on gave NFA the standby authority to import 250,000 MT of rice.

“The NFA Council gave us a standby authority to import 250,000 MT of rice, but this would still go through the Food Security Committee to specify the volume and the mode of procurement,” Olarte said in an earlier report.

Had FSC allowed NFA to push through with the importation, Olarte said rice shipments could already start arriving within the second quarter of the year.

It has already been reported before that the country’s dependence on rice imports may be reduced further this year.

To recall, the government was initially targeting to import 580,000 MT of rice this year until it was eventually reduced to 250,000 MT. The NFA is required by law to have at least 15-day buffer stock at any given time and 30-day buffer stock during lean season, which usually starts in July until September.

In 2017, the country’s palay production reached 19.28 million MT, 9.36 percent above the 2016 output of 17.63 million MT. Harvest area also expanded from 4.56 million hectares to 4.81 million hectares. Yield was up by 3.54 percent, from 3.87 MT per hectare in 2016 to 4.01 MT in 2017.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Right now, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is projecting palay output to increase by 5.65 percent to 4.67 million MT in the first three months of the year.

Probable increases in harvest area and yield are expected in all regions, except CAR, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon and Eastern Visayas.

“Farmers’ are optimistic to have better yield resulting from sufficient water supply and good weather condition favorable to plant growth,” PSA said. https://business.mb.com.ph/2018/01/24/govt-shelves-plan-to-import-250000-metric-tons-ofrice/iness

Rice exports surge despite fraud; but government can still play a bigger role KHIN SU WAITHIHA KO KO 25 JAN 2018

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Workers moving sacks of rice at Bayintnaung Wholesale Market. Nyan Zay Htet/The Myanmar Times Despite higher incidences of trading fraud, rice exports are expected to increase in 2018 on the back of demand from China, the largest importer of Myanmar rice, as well as other countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, rice traders said.

Last year, fraudulent traders made off with some K10 billion in rice revenues, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) and Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF). The most recent incident of fraud involves A.S.O Company, which charged merchants in advance for rice supplies worth K5.6 billion, the Bayintnaung Commodity Depot said. The supplies were never delivered.

A.S.O Co had been involved in the rice trade for two years, but it had not registered as a member with the MRF, Myanmar Rice Merchants Association and Bayintnaung Commodity Depot, The Myanmar Times understands.

U Aung Swe Oo, who owns A.S.O Co, is allegedly missing but still within the country after being accused of swindling the money, the Bayintnaung Commodity Depot announced on January 6 and 19. His family members fled Myanmar between January 2 and 5, data from the immigration department shows. A total of 64 complaints, including one by a foreign company, have been filed.

In a separate incident, 50 rice traders from Mandalay and Sagaing reported missed export payments from China worth K5 billion after their Chinese partner was allegedly arrested and unable to receive the supplies.

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Rising exports

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The number of fraudulent incidents is taking place at a time when rice exports are at their highest level in 60 years. Since the start of the 2017-18 fiscal year on April 1, 2017 up until January 5, Myanmar exported more than 2.6 million tonnes of rice. By the end of the fiscal year on March 31, the MOC expects total exports to reach 3 million tonnes, backed by China and new demand from Bangladesh, which has committed to importing a million tonnes of Myanmar rice this year.

Local consumption has also been on the rise, with the rice prices up by K10,000 per 50 kilograms compared to K2,000 in the export market. Myanmar currently produces 13 million tonnes of rice, around 60 percent of which is consumed locally.

Meanwhile, more farmers are entering the rice production business. “Since the pulse and bean sector collapsed, more farmers have switched to producing rice as they see strong demand for this crop,” said U Sai Kyaw.

As such, the government should take steps to prevent fraud and draw up clear policies for efficient and transparent trading of rice. “Rice is the most important crop for exports so the government should play a greater role in supporting an effective and efficient market for the trade,” said U Tin Hlaing Win, chairman for the Paddy Producing and Distribution Association in Mandalay.

For example, the government can provide warehouses for local storage and improve trade financing support for local traders who are currently at the mercy of Chinese traders. Due to the lack of storage facilities and trade financing, traders are forced to store rice supplies in China and accept credit based on Chinese terms.

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U Sai Kyaw, an official of the MRF, added that a clear export policy should be drawn up with procedures on how rice should be traded with international buyers. “We need an export policy

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter which provides access to information on traders such as their background as well as prices for each season. This will help prevent fraud,� he said.

Government support For its part, the government on Tuesday set a target loan amount totaling K65 billion for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the rice sector. The MRF, with the applied SME loans, plans to allocate the financial resources into eight sectors, including seed production, export business, joint-venture formation, upgrading machineries, setting up rice mills and power supply, among others.

In addition, the MRF is drafting a working programme for the rice sector, in terms of finances, management and other issues which SMEs are facing. Implementation is expected to begin in April.

The construction of rice and paddy warehouses and related machineries will be set as priorities, thus those projects will be given special consideration for loans. The MRF expects that 20 percent of all the loans will be dedicated to warehouses, whereas 18pc will go to construction of energy plants and 17pc will have reserved for upgrading rice machineries on the field.

Meanwhile, the MOC, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation and the MRF will meet to restructure the rice market, U Toe Aung Myint, permanent secretary of the MOC told The Myanmar Times Tuesday. https://www.mmtimes.com/news/rice-exports-surge-despite-fraudgovernment-can-still-play-bigger-role.html 34

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter No guarantee pre-packaged foods safe for allergy sufferers: research finds Play

There are calls for better food product testing after 14 cases of anaphylaxis attacks in three months from unlisted ingredients.

UpdatedUpdated

By Sarah Abo Australians with severe allergies have been warned there is no way to guarantee that prepackaged foods are safe, according to new research.

Researchers from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute found 14 cases in Australia and New Zealand where people suffered life-threatening anaphylaxis attacks from unlisted ingredients - in just three months, .

The study has prompted warnings that reading listed ingredients on food packaging may not be enough to prevent an allergic reaction.

Alarmingly, half of the cases involved products that did have special allergen warnings. In those cases, it's suspected the food products were contaminated with other allergens during manufacturing.The study's lead author, Dr Giovanni Zurzolo, says authorities must re-examine food safety regulations, including precautionary allergen labelling, to protect vulnerable consumers.Victorian teenager Emilia Habgood has experienced several anaphylactic attacks and carries an EpiPen with her at all times because of severe reactions to wheat, eggs and peanuts.Despite taking great care with her diet, she suffered an episode 18 months ago after eating a packet of rice crackers that were in her school lunch.

“We had rice crackers that mum had been giving me for about six months… I had them in my lunchbox and they were fine, then I started getting an itchy mouth,” she told SBS News.Her mother Helen Czech said she had double checked the ingredients and it appeared to be safe.

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"There were no ingredients listed on the label that Emi is allergic to, so we were very surprised that she had a reaction," her mother Helen Czech said.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter "It is concerning that even if you read the label carefully and try to do everything right that your

child could still be at risk.

“To this day, we don’t know what it was.”Ms Czech said better quality labelling would be helpful to parents and adult allergy sufferers. The Melbourne based researchers surveyed 200 allergists across the country about whether their patients had had reactions to pre-packaged foods.Professor Katie Allen said she was “astounded” to find quite a high rate of anaphylaxis – the most severe reaction to food.The research has been published in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health.

Manufacturers are required to list added ingredients of their products.However the inclusion of terminology such as ‘may contain traces of’ is not compulsory.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Approximately half of Australian food manufacturers use a voluntary risk assessment process called VITAL to check cross-contamination during food production.The allergy experts believe the labelling should go even further to prevent allergic reactions.

They are also calling for the VITAL system to be enforced across the board and clearly labelled on products.“It’s time for the industry to step up the mark and stop passing the buck to the consumers,” Professor Allen said.

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/no-guarantee-pre-packaged-foods-safe-for-allergysufferers-research-finds 37

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Rice Flour Market Segments by Product Types, Manufacturers, Regions and Application Analysis to 2022 JANUARY 24, 2018 BY SUMANT D Rice Flour Market research report provides Emerging Market trends, Raw Materials Analysis, Manufacturing Process, regional outlook and comprehensive analysis on different market segments. Rice Flour Market report evaluates key factors that affected market growth and with the help of previous figures, this report elaborates current scenario and forecast of Rice Flour industry.

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Ask for Sample Report @ https://www.360marketupdates.com/enquiry/requestsample/11293697 The Rice Flour market research report gives an overview of Rice Flour industries on by analysing various key segments of this market based on the product types, application, end-toend industries and its scenario.

The Rice Flour Market report also displays the Production, Consumption, revenue, Gross margin, Cost, Gross, market share, CAGR, and Market influencing factors of the Rice Flour industry in USA, EU, China, India, Japan and other regions, and forecast to 2022, from 2017.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The regional distribution of Rice Flour industries is across the globe are considered for this market analysis, the result of which is utilized to estimate the performance of the International market over the period from 2017 to forecasted year.

Have Any Query? Ask Our Expert @ https://www.360marketupdates.com/enquiry/preorder-enquiry/11293697 Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Rice Flour in these regions, from 2017 to 2022 (forecast), covering: North America, Europe, China, Japan, India, Others.

Rice Flour Market in World, presents critical information and factual data about Rice Flour Industry, with an overall statistical study of this market based on market drivers, market limitations, and its future prospects. The widespread trends and opportunities are also taken into consideration in Rice Flour Market study.

Along with this, analysis of depreciation cost, manufacturing cost structure and SWOT analysis are also carried out. Price, cost, and gross analysis of the market is also included in this section.

Price of Report: $4000 (Single User) Purchase Report @ https://www.360marketupdates.com/purchase/11293697 The product range of the Rice Flour industry is examined based on their production chain, pricing of products and the profit generated by them. Various regional markets are analysed in Rice Flour market research report and the production volume and efficacy for Rice Flour market across the world is also discussed.

http://www.satprnews.com/2018/01/24/rice-flour-market-segments-by-product-typesmanufacturers-regions-and-application-analysis-to-2022/

Rice production to surpass consumption through March: Agriculture Ministry News Desk

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The Jakarta Post Jakarta | Thu, January 25, 2018 | 03:23 pm A warehouse worker rests across sacks of rice on Jan. 19 at the Cipinang Central Rice Market in East Jakarta. (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan) The Agriculture Ministry has said it expects rice production to exceed projected consumption in January, February and March, as the harvest season had commenced across the country.

The head of the ministry’s food security agency, Agung Hendriadi, said in a statement released on Thursday that rice stocks would reach 2.8 million tons in January, followed by 5.4 million tons in February and 7.4 million tons in March.

“At a total consumption of 2.5 million tons per month, I can assure that in the next three months, we will record surplus rice stock,” he said as reported bykompas.com.

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Agung said that surplus production was estimated at 329,000 tons in January, 2.9 million tons in February and 4.97 million tons in March, adding that the figures were calculated according to the crop area of rice fields.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Farmers had already harvested 854,000 hectares of rice fields to date and were expected to harvest 1.6 million hectares in February and 2.25 million hectares in March.

To ensure food security, Agung added, the farmers were to plant at least 1 million hectares of rice. “Insya Allah (God willing), with the support of tractors and improvements in irrigation networks, we will be maintain our rice production yield,� he said.

The Agriculture Ministry is among those that have criticized the government's recent decision to import 500,000 tons of rice ahead of the harvest season in order to ease the commodity's price.

The imported rice is expected to arrive in late January or early March. (bbn) http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/01/25/rice-production-to-surpass-consumption-through-marchagriculture-ministry.html

Stop fake branding of local rice ON JANUARY 25, 20188:10 AMIN EDITORIALCOMMENTS THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Anchor Borrowers’ Programme initiated on November 17, 2015 to boost the production of key agricultural commodities set off a major stampede in smallholder involvement in rice production in many states of the Federation. After its second year, the CBN disclosed that about 300, 000 rice farmers from 20 states had embraced the programme which helped to refocus attention to the fact that Nigeria has the capacity to become a major rice producer and exporter in the world. An innovative experiment which was widely applauded was the memorandum of understanding signed by the Kebbi and Lagos State Governments in which Kebbi would produce rice for sale in the mammoth Lagos market. It was branded LAKE Rice.

The success of this experiment made many states to embrace the production of rice branded in the names of their respective states. However, it soon became obvious that some state governors had brought politics and a bit of fraudulent practices into it when states that had no visible or meaningful presence in commercial rice production joined in the fad to brand rice with the names of their states. Allegations arose that some of the states either imported rice and rebagged/branded them or simply bought trailer-loads of rice from other states and branded them as though such rice was produced in their states. Till date, there is no conclusive evidence that claims by some states to have made millions of dollars from vegetable exports are real. It is very disheartening that some of our elected leaders of today will spare no effort to take false propaganda and fake claims even to areas that have to do with food self-sufficiency. We call on

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Nigerians to keep their eyes peeled and use every avenue at their disposal to expose these fakers.

The taste of the pudding, they say, is in the eating.

The only way any state government can prove the veracity of their state brand of rice is to make it abundantly available and affordable within the local markets. Those who import and re-bag under their state brands cannot sustain the fakery because they will run at a huge loss in the long run. States that cannot produce rice in commercial quantity should go into the cultivation of other equally valuable agricultural commodities, such as cassava, cocoa, palm produce, millet, maize and others. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/01/stop-fake-branding-local-rice/

Researchers use wild rice to predict health of Minnesota lakes and streams January 24, 2018, University of Minnesota

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Credit: University of Minnesota

By studying wild rice in lakes and streams, a team of researchers led by the University of Minnesota has discovered that sulfate in waterways is converted into toxic levels of sulfide and increases other harmful elements. This includes methylmercury, the only form of mercury that contaminates fish.

Sulfate is a compound that is released into fresh water from mining, sewage, fertilizers, fossil fuel combustion, and other human activity, as well as from natural geological sources in some parts of the state. The researchers recently published three related studies on the topic of sulfate in water in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, published by the American Geophysical Union.

"Wild rice serves as a flagship species or the equivalent of our 'canary in a coal mine,' giving us a warning on how human activity affects our water quality in Minnesota," said Amy Myrbo, a research associate in the University of Minnesota's LacCore/CDSCO facility in the Department of Earth Sciences and lead author of two of the three studies. "The results of our studies are important because they show that increases in sulfate in our lakes and streams can have multiple negative consequences for ecosystems, even though sulfate itself is relatively benign."

Wild rice is culturally important to multiple groups in Minnesota, especially Native Americans.

Wild rice also provides habitat and food for waterfowl and other wildlife. Research in the 1940s

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter and 1950s found that wild rice grew best in low-sulfate Minnesota lakes, but no one knew why.

The correlation was a puzzle, since sulfate isn't very toxic to plants or animals.

Credit: University of Minnesota

This new research finds that the problem is sulfide, not sulfate. Sulfate can be converted into toxic levels of sulfide in the soil of wetlands, like those in which wild rice germinates and roots. Wild rice is an annual plant that must sprout each spring from seeds that were dropped the previous fall into the wet soil. Anaerobic microbes in the soil make sulfide from sulfate in the overlying water. Lakes, streams, and wetlands that have high concentrations of dissolved sulfide in the sediment therefore have a low probability of hosting wild rice.

In addition to the release of sulfide, the researchers found that accelerated decomposition of plants in waterways caused by the sulfates releases phosphorus and nitrogen, which fertilizes the waterbody and can change the plant community within the ecosystem – including increasing algae blooms. The microbes that convert sulfate to sulfide also produce methylmercury, the only form of mercury that contaminates fish.

"Minnesota is unique among U.S. states and Canadian provinces in that it has a water quality standard that regulates sulfate," Myrbo said. "This isn't just about wild rice. We've now found

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter that putting sulfate into our water has consequences down the line, including more mercury in fish, changes in habitat for ducks, and changes in the food chain."

Credit: University of Minnesota

Over three summers in 2011, 2012, and 2013, researchers studied water samples and sediment from more than 100 lakes and streams in Minnesota where wild rice grows or where they determined wild rice should be growing. Many of these waterways were in northeastern Minnesota where sulfate does not naturally occur. The researchers did more than 100 measurements at every site studying sediment cores, water in the sediment, surface water, and various plants. They analyzed things like the water's chemistry, depth and transparency.

In almost all cases, the water with the highest levels of sulfate had no wild rice, even though other conditions seemed ideal for the growth of the aquatic plant. The team's field research that showed the effects of sulfate on water quality mirrored studies by other researchers in tanks.

"Our research is based on hard science and showed the same results as other studies in artificial environments," Myrbo said. "We know that issues regarding our waterways can be very complex, but we hope our work can be used to make good public policy that balances the economic needs of our state with food sovereignty and protecting the environment."

Explore further: Ancient rice heralds a new future for rice production More information: A. Myrbo et al. Increase in Nutrients, Mercury, and Methylmercury as a Consequence of Elevated Sulfate Reduction to Sulfide in Experimental Wetland Mesocosms, Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences(2017). DOI: 10.1002/2017JG003788 A. Myrbo et al. Sulfide Generated by Sulfate Reduction is a Primary Controller of the Occurrence of Wild Rice (Zizania palustris ) in Shallow Aquatic Ecosystems, Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences (2017). DOI: 10.1002/2017JG003787 C. D. Pollman et al. The Evolution of Sulfide in Shallow Aquatic Ecosystem Sediments: An Analysis of the Roles of Sulfate, Organic Carbon, and Iron and Feedback Constraints Using Structural Equation Modeling, Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences (2017). DOI: 10.1002/2017JG003785 https://phys.org/news/2018-01-wild-rice-health-minnesota-lakes.html

Amid weak prices of agri commodities, robust rice demand bucks the trend The price of rice has been ruling high, mainly on robust exports, demand from mills, and the entry of traders who lost in other commodities like oilseeds and pulses www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Even as rural India reels from the impact of a sharp decline in the prices of several farm commodities, rice seems to have outperformed major agriculture goods, driven mainly by good export demand, a decline in kharif output and heightened stocking by traders and dealers.The price of common variety rice has risen by almost 14.5 per cent in the wholesale market over the past year, a phenomenon different from what has been seen in other agriculture commodities, reveal data sourced from various agencies. In the past five months alone, the price has risen by nine per cent.While export demand is likely to keep prices at an elevated level, higher procurement and stock position with state-run agencies – which is better than last year – could act as a cushion.“This season has been good for rice, as exports have improved for all varieties, including basmati. Exports to Bangladesh have triggered a higher demand,” said Devendra Vora of Friendship Traders, based in Mumbai’s APMC Vashi.According to Agriculture and Processed Food Export Development Authority (Apeda), exports to Bangladesh have seen a revival of sorts. Compared with 30,572 tonnes in April-

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter November last year, they have crossed one million tonnes in the first 8 months of this financial year.The governments of Bangladesh and India had last year agreed on exports of parboiled rice to Bangladesh (on a government-to-government basis), as that country was facing a shortage of 1.5 million tonnes. After Bangladesh reduced its import duty to two per cent, private traders there also started importing rice from India.Both Basmati and non-basmati varieties have seen a sharp jump in overall exports, with Basmati (especially 1401 and 1121 varieties) witnessing a price realisation increase of 26.8 per cent in the export market. Looking at the opportunity, Indian farmers have this Rabi season so far sown rice on 633,000 hactares more area than last Rabi season. Rice sowing has reached 2.23 million hactares this season.In the global context, the prices of rice are rising in Thailand and Vietnam as well, on prospects of exports to Indonesia and Philippines, respectively.

“This season, several traders from North India have shifted to buying rice, as they had been incurring losses in most other agricultural commodities like pulses and oilseeds,” Vora said, adding that rice mills and traders had also stored paddy at the start of the season when the prices were lower. Paddy for long grain was quoting at Rs 2,100-2,200 per quintal at the beginning of the season which led to a milled basmati rice price of Rs 5,100-5,200. Common grade paddy was at Rs 1,400 per quintal.Experts attribute the price rise to higher demand, higher procurement and an estimated drop of 2 million tonnes in kharif rice production to 94.5 million tonnes. Private estimates show that the loss could be compensated by a higher-than-expected rabi rice production, estimated at 14.76 million tonnes, as against 13.76 million tonnes last year.Rice production in the kharif season, according to the first advanced estimates, is projected at 94.50 million tonnes, against 96.39 million tonnes during last kharif season, mainly due to a drought in some parts of the country.

The stock position with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) is also at a comfortable level. Latest data show that FCI has rice stocks of around 35.76 million tonnes in January (to date), which is 31.3 per cent more than in the same period last year.On top of that, procurement of ‘paddy in terms of rice’ has also been good this year. According to latest data from the department of food and consumer affairs, 27.43 million tonnes of ‘paddy in terms of rice’ had been collected by state agencies till January 21. This is 25.57 million tonnes more than last year.A big increase in rice procurement among non-traditional states has been in Uttar Pradesh, where procurement till January 21 has risen by 108 per cent to 2.43 million tonnes, and Odisha, where it has increased by 67 per cent to 1.52 million tonnes.In Punjab and Haryana, which are traditional big states in terms of rice procurement, purchases this year till January 22 have been 11.83 million tonnes, as against 11.04 million tonnes last year. http://www.business-standard.com/article/

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Congress eyeing to OK bill lifting rice QR by March ByBusinessMirror January 24, 2018

In Photo: The National Food Authority (NFA) stores its buffer rice stock consisting of imports and paddy it purchased from farmers in its warehouses.

Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, committee chairman, on Tuesday led a public hearing on the lifting of the rice QR and the proposed establishment of a fund for the exclusive use of rice farmers. “The tariffs that will be collected after the QR is lifted, estimated at P25 billion a year, would be used to enhance the competitiveness of rice farmers,� Villar told reporters in an interview after the public hearing held in Pasay City.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter She said funds collected from tariffs slapped on rice imports would allow the government to further promote the use of high-yielding seeds and distribute more farm equipment to farmers.

Before this could be done, however, Congress needs to amend Republic Act 8178. RA 8178 allowed the government to continue imposing rice-import caps even after the waiver on the special treatment for the staple granted by the World Trade Organization (WTO) has lapsed.

The Philippines was supposed to convert rice-import caps into tariffs by July 1, 2017. Manila urged the WTO to give the Philippines more time to do this as RA 8178 has not yet been amended.

President Duterte issued Executive Order (EO) 23 last July as “a sign of goodwill” to the country’s trading partners. The EO extended the concessions granted by the Philippines in securing the special WTO waiver in 2014.

Sen. Ralph G. Recto filed in May 2017 a bill mandating the lifting of the QR on rice and the creation of a rice-competitiveness enhancement fund.

Earlier, the House of Representatives had targeted to pass a measure amending RA 8178 by the end of 2017. But discussions on it had been delayed as lawmakers focused on the 2018 national budget and the proposed Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act. House Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairman Party-list Rep. Jose T. Panganiban Jr. of Anac-IP said lawmakers will start discussing the measure at the plenary this year.

Last October a technical working group created by the House panel approved a substitute bill mandating the lifting of the QR on rice. Under the substitute bill, a copy of which was obtained by the BusinessMirror, the Philippines will impose a 400-percent bound tariff rate on imported rice once the QR on the staple is abolished. https://businessmirror.com.ph/congress-eyeing-to-ok-bill-lifting-rice-qr-by-march/

Namibia to upscale rice production at flagship project By xinhuanet.com Jan 24, 2018 Plans are in motion to upscale rice production at Namibia’s flagship Kalimbeza Green Scheme Irrigation Project in Zambezi region, project manager Patrick Kompeli said Friday.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter “Our target is to expand the project to 150 hectares. This would be a major shift from farming on 50 hectares of land in 2014 and on a sizeable 75 hectares up to 2015,” he said.

The impetus to revive the project, said Kompeli, follows additional technical and agricultural mechanization aid from China after an extension of the South-South Cooperation agreement between the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and Namibia.

The first phase of the two-year agreement hailed for its success, was extended until the end of December 2017.

“Going forward, our approach is geared towards sustainable rice production and increased output,” said Kompeli.Chinese agricultural expert Deng Zhengrui who was deployed at the project as part of the extension said the project would be pushed ahead by developing resilient rice varieties and mechanization.

“In 2015, the project recorded a harvest of 120 tonnes. Thus, the target is to increase yields by two tonnes per hectare. Therefore, we built capacity as well as focused on skills and technology transfer to ensure progress,” Deng said.

The accomplishment marked a contrast of the once stagnant state of the project years back, when it faced a myriad of challenges.

According to Kompeli, for years, the project had a deficit of technical expertise in rice production. The Chinese help was therefore instrumental in project revitalization.“The Chinese experts assisted with research, seed production, mechanization, multiplication and all activities related to rice production. Before that, rice production and all processes were done manually but now have been mechanized. This accelerated progress and increased yields,” said Kompeli.Today, following commercialization of Kalimbeza rice in 2014, the project supplies an average 150 kg of rice a month to local shops.“Kalimbeza rice has a natural taste since it is not parboiled like many other rice products on the market,” said customer Jacob Hamutenya.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter At a local supermarket, Hamutenya part with cash for Kalimbeza rice packages. What makes his purchase unique is the fact that the rice is the the only locally produced rice product on the shelf.

The Chinese community are also actively buying the rice, often directly from Kalimbeza Rice Project, said Kompeli. Other local retailers have also shown interest and signed an agreement to start selling Kalimbeza rice.

Despite the progress, challenges persist. About 15 hectares of the previous year’s plantation was lost to weeds and birds this year alone.

“It is difficult to control the weeds, especially the stubborn Cyprus Escalares. However, we apply herbicide to control it. We also recruit people from the community to scare off the birds,” Kompeli said. “This will not hold us back,” said Kompeli.In the long term, Kompeli said the project will continue to conduct research and maximize on technology to boost rice production.

Moreover, to further improve the project, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is set to signed between Namibia and China on the South-South Cooperation next week.

“The MoU will serve as a guiding framework for the implementation of the second phase of the South-South Cooperation project in Namibia,” said Regina Valombola, Public Relations Officer in Namibia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry.

Kalimbeza rice project was started after Namibia’s independence in 1990, with actual planting of rice done in 2001 on 36 hectares of land. The project was also transformed by the University of Namibia between 2007 and 2010. Enditem https://www.newsghana.com.gh/namibia-to-upscale-rice-production-at-flagship-project/

Indonesia to import rice from Việt Nam Workers load rice onto a ship docked at Sài Gòn Port. — VNA/VNS Photo Đình HuệHÀ NỘI — Indonesia will import 500,000 tonnes of rice from Việt Nam and Thailand to contain rice price hikes and declining supply in the local market.

The imported rice will be of premium quality, not grown in Indonesia; so it will not affect local farmers and rice production, said Indonesian Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita. The

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter country’s current rice stocks were estimated at some 950,000 tonnes, most of which is low-grade rice to be distributed as aid for low-income people.

Meanwhile, rice stocks for commercial purposes were only 11,000 tonnes. Previously, Indonesia’s Vice President Jusuf Kalla had called on the National Logistics Agency (Bulog) to consider importing rice to bring down domestic prices.

According to the National Strategic Food Prices Information Centre (PIHPSN), medium-quality rice is currently fetched at 14,100 IDR or US$1 per kg.

Rice prices vary among regions. West Papua reported the highest price of 14,250 IDR per kg, while the lowest price of over 9,700 IDR per kg was found in West Nusa Tanggara. — VNS http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/421176/indonesia-to-import-rice-from-viet-nam.htm

NFA Council defers 250,000 MT rice imports

By Louise Maureen Simeon (The Philippine Star) | Updated January 25, 2018 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — The inter-agency National Food Authority Council has deferred the importation of 250,000 metric tons (MT) of rice despite the grain agency’s depleting stocks.

“The council said there is enough supply outside of NFA, in households and commercial warehouses. So they deferred rice importation plans but there is no reason to be alarmed,” an NFA source said.

According to the NFA, there is more than enough supply in the commercial market. Total national inventory is good for 89 days.

However, data showed that NFA stocks might only last for three days when it is supposed to have a 15-day buffer stock.

Despite the council’s decision to defer importation, NFA said it would continue to push for it to boost its inventory.

“We will re-submit our proposal, hopefully within the week. We will include additional considerations why we should push through with it,” the source said.

NFA said there is a possibility that private traders will use the higher oil prices under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law as a justification to increase prices of commercial rice.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter When this happens, NFA should be ready to supply enough rice in the market to stabilize the situation.

NFA has limited supply of rice due to its failure to meet its local procurement target of about three million bags in 2017 due to the higher prices offered by private traders of up to P25 per kilogram compared to its buying price of P17 per kg.

The agency was only able to purchase 587,748 bags or 19 percent of the target.

Meanwhile, Farmgate prices of paddy rice started on a high note this year, posting a seven percent jump in the first week of the month, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

In its first update on palay, rice and corn prices this year, PSA said the average price of palay went up to P19.01 per kilogram from P17.79 per kg last year.

Farm gate prices of white corn grain increased by 46 percent to P15.93 per kg. Week-on-week, prices were also up one percent.

Prices of yellow corn grain likewise picked up by 14 percent to P12.59 per kg and rose by a percentage point on a weekly basis.

The average wholesale price of well-milled rice went up three percent to P39.41 per kg year-onyear. Week-on-week prices were also up 0.36 percent.

On the other hand, the average retail price of well-milled rice rose two percent to P42.35 per kg.

The wholesale price of regular-milled rice increased four percent to P35.82 per kg. Its average retail price also rose three percent to P38.15 per kg.

The average wholesale price of yellow corn grain grew by 10 percent to P18.73 per kg.

Retail price of yellow corn grain also inched up one percent while wholesale and retail prices of white corn grain climbed 27 percent and 15 percent to P19 per kg and P29.52 per kg, respectively http://www.philstar.com/business/2018/01/25/1781009/nfa-council-defers-250000-mt-rice-imports

Gov’t shelves plan to import 250,000 metric tons of rice January 24, 2018, 10:00 PM

By Madelaine B. Miraflor

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter It was just more than a week ago since the National Food Authority (NFA) announced that the country may import 250,000 metric tons (MT) of rice this year. This plan is no longer pushing through as of today.

This, as interagency Food Security Committee (FSC) on Rice — chaired by the National Economic and Development Authority — has deferred the decision whether or not to allow NFA to import rice this year on the belief that the country’s rice supply remains stable.

NFA spokesperson Rebecca Olarte said yesterday that FSC has deferred the utilization of the 250,000 MT standby authority.

The decision came after FSC’s observation that as of now, local supply is enough to meet the daily requirement of the country and that any importation activity could disrupt the prices, according to Rocky Valdez, director of Grains Market and Operations Division of NFA. “Our rice issuances and sales are calibrated. [There is] priority for relief operations and sales to LGUs [local government units] and other government agencies. [There is] minimal sales to accredited retailers,” Valdez said in a separate inquiry.

It was Olarte who said two weeks ago that there’s already a need for NFA to replenish its buffer stock, which declined significantly because of the typhoons that hit the country in the latter part of 2017.

This prompted the state-run grains agency to seek for the approval of NFA Council, which later on gave NFA the standby authority to import 250,000 MT of rice.

“The NFA Council gave us a standby authority to import 250,000 MT of rice, but this would still go through the Food Security Committee to specify the volume and the mode of procurement,” Olarte said in an earlier report.

Had FSC allowed NFA to push through with the importation, Olarte said rice shipments could already start arriving within the second quarter of the year.

It has already been reported before that the country’s dependence on rice imports may be reduced further this year.

To recall, the government was initially targeting to import 580,000 MT of rice this year until it was eventually reduced to 250,000 MT. The NFA is required by law to have at least 15-day buffer stock at any given time and 30-day buffer stock during lean season, which usually starts in July until September.

In 2017, the country’s palay production reached 19.28 million MT, 9.36 percent above the 2016 output of 17.63 million MT.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Harvest area also expanded from 4.56 million hectares to 4.81 million hectares. Yield was up by 3.54 percent, from 3.87 MT per hectare in 2016 to 4.01 MT in 2017.

Right now, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is projecting palay output to increase by 5.65 percent to 4.67 million MT in the first three months of the year.

Probable increases in harvest area and yield are expected in all regions, except CAR, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon and Eastern Visayas.

“Farmers’ are optimistic to have better yield resulting from sufficient water supply and good weather condition favorable to plant growth,” PSA said.

https://business.mb.com.ph/2018/01/24/govt-shelves-plan-to-import-250000-metric-tons-of-rice/

Row rice could be important production practice for the future Louisiana rice farmers are finding furrow-irrigated or row rice can work if it's done properly and "by the rules," says Scott Franklin, one of the organizers of a meeting that focused on the practice in Rayville, La.

Forrest Laws | Dec 08, 2016 Louisiana rice farmers have seemingly abundant supplies of water now, but that probably won’t always be the case, according to Scott Franklin, vice president of the Northeast Louisiana Rice Growers Association.

“As a young person, I have to think about that,” says Franklin, a farmer who helped organize the Row Rice Production meeting in Rayville, La., last month. Franklin believes furrow-irrigated rice or row rice has the potential to save water and money – if done properly. “It’s not a perfect science – it has a long way to go,” he said. “But the potential is there.”

Although Franklin said growers may see some reduction in harvest costs because fields are not as likely to be as muddy in row rice situations as in conventional, flooded field conditions.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter “I’m sure we’ve all driven by fields of conventional rice and seen the combine buried up to the axle because of field conditions at harvest,” he said. “You’re not as likely to see that in furrowirrigated rice.”

In an interview following the meeting, Franklin said the potential for water savings may be the biggest draw for rice row.

“I think row rice has a place,” he said. “When we talk about the benefits of row rice the first thing we think about is how much water you save, and as a young person, I think it is important to think about that and have that mindset.”

Louisiana rice farmers have seemingly abundant supplies of water now, but that probably won’t always be the case. “One day there is going to be a battle for water – there’s no question about it,” he said. “It’s already going on in California; it affects the rice industry there. We have a plentiful supply, but you never know what the future’s going to hold.”

Franklin said some producers in northeast Louisiana are showing row rice can work. “We have some who have proven that it is – when you take care and follow the rules – a smarter and better way to farm rice. It’s not a perfect science, there’s still a long ways to go, but more people have had success with it than didn’t.” http://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/row-rice-could-be-important-production-practice-future

Jan. 25 webinar: A partner for Clearfield rice JAN 2018 Author: Bobby Coats, Professor of Economics

By Bobby Coats, Agricultural Economist and Professor of Economics

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Joining me for our next University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Webinar is the General Manager of Horizon Ag Dr. Tim Walker.

Dr. Tim Walker, General Manager of Horizon Ag: Future Driven, Farmer Focused Webinar: Thursday, January 25, 2018, 10:00 a.m. Central Standard Time (CST) Webinar Title: Horizon Ag: Future Driven, Farmer Focused Webinar Date and Time: January 25, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Central Standard Time (CST) Description: A much-needed partner for Clearfield rice will finally be planted commercially in 2018. It has been almost 20 years since the launch of Clearfield rice. A companion technology is long overdue as is evidenced by a growing problem of imidazolinone-resistant red rice and weedy rice. BASF and the LSU AgCenter partnered to develop the first Provisia rice variety (PVL01) that is tolerant to Provisia herbicide. Horizon Ag has been the exclusive partner to BASF for Clearfield pureline rice in the southern USA since the launch of Clearfield. The strength of the partnership was shown as Horizon will be the first to launch Provisia rice to the industry in 2018. It is anticipated that approximately 100K acres will benefit from the exciting new technology in 2018. Fields in Southwest Louisiana, Northeast Arkansas, and Southeast Arkansas in general have the greatest need for the technology. Because of the efficacy of the Provisia herbicide, many fields that have become overgrown with the weedy rice complex will look like rice fields again in 2018. This presentation will provide insight on the role Horizon Ag

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter played in bringing this technology to market, but even more so in how to keep both technologies viable for years to come.

Webinar Registration Link: http://bit.ly/UAEX-Walker-HorizonAg Presenter Bio Dr. Tim Walker became the general manager of Horizon Ag in March 2014. Before Horizon Walker most recently served as Extension rice specialist for Mississippi State University, working from the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, Miss. He also served as research professor for agronomy and breeding, where he worked on developing elite rice germplasm and cultivars for the university. Walker, who grew up on a farm in Mississippi, holds a doctoral degree in agronomy from Mississippi State University. He has authored many research papers on rice agronomic practices and is one of the premier rice specialists working in U.S. rice.

Walker is also a graduate of the class of 2005 Rice Leadership Development Program, and a participant in the 2011 and 2017 International Rice Leadership Development Program. He was named the 2012 Rice Researcher of the Year at the Conservation Tillage Cotton and Rice Conference. He currently resides in Hernando, Mississippi, where he and his wife Peyton are rearing their three children.

Resilient rice project to target top two producers, China and India Michael Taylor JANUARY 25, 2018

KUALA LUMPUR (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Representatives of a pilot project that promotes socially and environmentally responsible rice growing said they aim to expand into India and China, the world’s largest rice producers.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) worked with more than 80 partners to create the world’s first “global rice sustainability standard”.The standard provides a framework to drive government policy, as well as a working definition to be used by the private sector to monitor their own sustainability goals.The sustainability standard has been tested over the past two years in nine countries, mostly in Southeast and South Asia.

“This is a fledgling project still - our next task will be to upscale,” said Wyn Ellis, coordinator for the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP).The SRP is a coalition of more than 80 representatives from nongovernmental organizations, and the private and public sectors, which launched the sustainability standard in 2015.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter “We will need to be moving into China and into India quite soon - those are our priorities in future,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.The standard promotes improvements in rice farming using more than 40 requirements and “performance indicators”, which authorities and companies such traders and supermarkets can use as best practice guidance.

These include measures against abuses such as child labor. The standard also aims to make rice growing more environmentally friendly by, for example, restricting the use of pesticides.Members of the SRP hope that the standard will also be used in a certification scheme to help consumers choose ethical rice.

Governments may also use it to promote sustainable rice farming and meet emissions targets.

Water management is crucial factor in achieving those targets.Up to 40 percent of the world’s irrigation water is used for rice production, while up to 10 percent of global methane emissions come from rice fields, according to the SRP. During pilot testing, the standards helped reduced the water used in rice farming by 20 percent, cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent and increased farmers’ incomes by 10 percent.“It is huge,” said Bruce Tolentino, deputy director general at IRRI, referring to the sustainability standard, which he hoped could be expanded globally.

The world produced more than 500 million tonnes of milled rice in 2017, with China, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Thailand among the top growers.The grain is the main staple for 3.5 billion people but as the world’s population continues to grow, output will need to rise by about 25 percent over the next quarter century, IRRI estimates. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-asia-rice-sustainable/resilient-rice-project-to-target-top-two-producerschina-and-india-idUSKBN1FE116

Chinese technicians provide support to Guinea-Bissau farmers to produce rice 24 January 2018 | China| Guinea-Bissau

The Rice Research and Innovation Institute of Chinese company Yuan Longping High-Tech Agriculture Co. is due soon to send some technicians to Guinea-Bissau to support a group of farmers, who recently underwent training at that institution, to make their rice plantations more profitable, officials said in Bissau on Tuesday.

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The announcement was made by the executive director of the Platform of Associations of Rural Women’s Associations of Guinea-Bissau (AMC-GB), at the end of the meeting between the Minister of Agriculture, Nicolau dos Santos and a team from the institute, located in the Chinese city of Changsha, capital of Hunan province.

The Institute’s three-person team led by its overseas training officer, Chek Xiaoling, left GuineaBissau after five days, during which he accompanied the farmers in the practical application of the lessons learned at Yuan Longping High-Tech on agricultural production.

Members of the team supervised the practical application of the knowledge acquired in China by AMC-GB members and advised them, for example, on how to produce hybrid rice and increase the grain’s productivity to 15 tons per hectare without using chemicals.

The executive secretary of AMC-GB also revealed that a new group of farmers from this organisation will soon travel to Changsha for training at that Chinese research and innovation institution.Alexandrina Marino Mane, executive secretary of the Association of Economically Active Women (AMAE) in the country, added that the Chinese team also went to Guinea-Bissau to find out about the difficulties the group faces in its activities after training in China.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Throughout their stay, the Chinese technicians visited the experimental agricultural field of the Campossa Group Association in the eastern region of BafatĂĄ, where they learned about the production of hybrid rice, with the assistance of other technicians from China.

Marino Mane said that at least 2,500 Guinean farmers, including 150 AMC members, have benefited from training at the institute over the past 15 years.

The head of the Chinese delegation said that the institute was named Yuan Longping in honour of the Chinese scientist and farmer who developed the first varieties of hybrid rice in the 1970s. (macauhub) https://macauhub.com.mo/2018/01/24/pt-tecnicos-da-china-apoiam-agricultores-da-guine-bissau-aproduzir-arroz/

Seed Cleaner to be added to paddy services offered at Burma

By Staff Writer Allison Peters

The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) is pushing to have a Seed Cleaner installed at its Burma Rice Research Station, according to a release on Tuesday from the Ministry of Agriculture.The equipment which will cost the Rice Board approximately $41M, will allow for even moisture percentage in seed paddy.Deputy General Manager of the GRDB, with direct responsibility for the Research Station, Allison Peters said that such a service is critical for good germination of seed paddy.She added that the Seed Cleaner will be ‌.

To continue reading this article https://www.stabroeknews.com/2018/news/stories/01/25/seed-cleaner-to-be-added-to-paddy-servicesoffered-at-burma/

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Chinese genetically modified rice strain gets US safety approval; still not commercial back home Jan 23, 2018 | 18:38 IST | Reuters However, the university would need further approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for planting the rice. (Representational image) | Photo Credit: Reuters

Beijing: A rice genetically modified (GMO) by Chinese researchers to resist pests has passed safety inspections by authorities in the United States, allowing for its sale there even though Beijing continues to prohibit the planting of any GMO food grain.The rice, known as Huahui 1, was developed by a team at Huazhong University in central Hubei province to resist pests like the rice stem borer. While Chinese authorities granted the strain a safety certificate in 2009, it has never been approved for commercial production.00

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter 00:00Beijing has spent billions of dollars researching GMO crops but has held back from commercial production of any food grains because of consumer concerns about their safety.

Validation of the country's GMO safety testing and products by U.S. authorities could help persuade the government and consumers in China to accept the products at home.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified the research team at Huazhong last week that it agreed with university's safety and nutritional assessments on the product, Huazhong said in a statement on Sunday on its website.

"Genetically engineered Huahui No.1 rice grain does not raise issues that would require premarket review or approval by FDA," according to a letter posted on the FDA website that Huazhong highlighted in its statement.

The product had earlier passed a review by the Environmental Protection Agency on pesticide residue levels, Huazhong said, clearing the way for the export of Huahui 1 rice and rice products to the U.S. market.

However, the university would need further approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for planting the rice. The statement did not say if researchers would seek such approval.But Huazhong said the approvals from the FDA and EPA further validated the test methods and evaluation carried out by Chinese institutes to assess safety and nutrient levels in the new rice.

China has said it aims to push forward the commercialization of GMO corn and soybeans by 2020 but has not made public any plans to approve the planting of GMO rice, the country's most important staple food http://www.timesnownews.com/international/article/china-beijing-science-researchdevelopment-genetically-modified-rice-strain-gmo-safety-regulations-united-states-of-americausa-food-and-drug/191783

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