26th january ,2018 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

DailyDRice E-Newsletter G L E aily

lobal, Regional and

ocal Rice

-Newsletter January 26, 2018 Volume X | Issue I

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Chronic agricultural weakness Iranians keen to promote agri trade with Pakistan Pakistan’s food exports increase 16.81% GCC Basmati Rice Market: 2018: Growth, Demand and Forecast Research Report to 2023 Restaurant Transitions: Casey's Bar-B-Q, Saltgrass Steak House set Little Rock openings; Belle Arti closes Exports to China hold $3.3 billion potential Pakistan, Indonesia set to sign amended PTA Registered Dietitians Predict Next Nutrition Trends Video Highlights New Rice Stewardship Partner For Blake Girard, the rice is right Nuclear Package' Helps Farmers Increase Rice Yields and Income in Northern Malaysia Asia Rice-Prices soar in top exporters as Indonesia shops, fresh deals beckon Can Rice from Australia's Crocodile-Infested Waters Help Feed More People?

AgriLife Research Unmanned Aerial Systems program receives update Prices of rice, other agri commodities up slightly NFA bats for rice importation to replenish depleting stocks Millers warned against tapioca price violation Grain gain: China’s rice exports to Africa surge MPR speaker hopes government would not import rice Kalla responds to farmers` opposition to rice import plan Senate keen on up to 50% rice tariff Fake news, fake Rolexes, and…fake rice?

S. Korea's per-person rice consumption hits fresh low in 2017 Resilient rice project to target top two producers, China and India Husker researchers explore economic potential for sweet sorghum ethanol in western Nebraska Japanese Farmer-Philosopher On How Indians Can Benefit From 'Fukuoka Way' Of Farming Rice paper village keeps ancient craft alive Grain gain: China’s rice exports to Africa surge Rice News Today. All rights reserved Organic farming: U’khand to set up 10,000 clusters, plans 2 laws Grain gain: China's rice exports to Africa surge Rice basmati goes up on buying by stockist www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Cabinet purchase body approves rice, fertiliser imports Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874 Rice exports surge despite fraud; but government can still play a bigger role Rice prices soar in top exporters as Indonesia shops, fresh deals beckon Rice production to surpass consumption through March: Agriculture Ministry

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter News Detail…

Chronic agricultural weakness

By Editorial

The layperson may assume that the agriculture sector is where strength may lie in Pakistan — and they would be wrong. In reality, the agriculture sector has been underperforming for years and has now faded to one of the lowest levels of productivity in the world according to the Pakistan Business Council. The sector made up a 19.5 per cent share of the GDP in 2016 an at the same time as ranging between 29 per cent and 52 per cent lower than the world’s best averages. The reasons are well-enough known and are typical of the underachievement felt in all sectors of the economy and not only in agriculture.

The numbers are grim. Pakistan produces 3.1 tonnes of wheat per hectare compared to 8.1 tonnes in France; and 2.5 tonnes of cotton compared to 4.8 tonnes in China. Sugarcane — 63.4 tonnes in Pakistan and 125.1 tonnes in Egypt. Rice — Pakistan 2.7 tonnes compared to 9.2 tonnes per hectare in the US. No crop sees Pakistan at parity or even close to parity with other producers.

Low yields impact right across the economy, hitting industrial production which contributes to higher costs. Exports are not what they could be, with rice and maize, sugar and sugar byproducts as well as confectionery all below par in terms of potential. Agriculture is still a leading employer with 42 per cent of the labour force directly or indirectly working the land.

Despite this as much as 50 per cent of output is wasted because of the unavailability of a cold chain, logistics in the form of inefficient crop extraction and poor processing.

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Galloping urbanisation plays a part as the flight from the land to urban centres accelerates.

This is driven as much by a poverty of potable water and health and education services as

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter anything else. An agricultural daily wager may make as little as Rs100 compared to the Rs800 he may make as a labourer in many cities. A powerful magnet. As ever there is no quick fix but as things stand matters can only deteriorate further. The culprits? Underinvestment and a fading rural feudalism. The times they are a ‘changin’. https://tribune.com.pk/story/1617119/6-chronic-agricultural-weakness/

Iranians keen to promote agri trade with Pakistan January 24, 2018

INP

ISLAMABAD - A delegation of Iranian entrepreneurs of West Azerbaijan province of Iran, led

by Behnam Tajodinni, head of the Agriculture Commission of the Urmia Chamber of Commerce & Industry, visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry Tuesday and showed keeninterest to develop strong trade relations with Pakistan in agriculture products.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Speaking on 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 tons of 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 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.

Behnam Tajodinni said that about 32 Iranian trucks loaded with agriculture products were stuck up on Pakistani border in Balochistan 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 trade between 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.

Sheikh Amir Waheed, president of ICCI, said 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 organising single country exhibitions on 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/24-Jan-2018/iranians-keen-to-promote-agri-trade-with-pakistan

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter 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.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 .

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter 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

GCC Basmati Rice Market: 2018: Growth, Demand and Forecast Research Report to 2023 FacebookTwitterPrintEmailMore

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.

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,

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter 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.

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.

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[...]

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The report has examined the GCC basmati rice market on the basis of: Product Type: - Parboiled Basmati Rice - Raw Basmati Rice Pack Size: - Retail Packaging - Institutional Packaging Country: - Saudi Arabia - UAE - Qatar - Oman - Kuwait - Bahrain Pickles Market: https://www.imarcgroup.com/pickles-market Organic Baby Food Market: https://www.imarcgroup.com/organic-baby-food-ma[...]

About Us IMARC Group is a leading market research company that offers management strategy and market research worldwide. We partner with clients in all sectors and regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their businesses.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter IMARC’s information products include major market, scientific, economic and technological developments for business leaders in pharmaceutical, industrial, and high technology organizations. Market forecasts and industry analysis for biotechnology, advanced materials, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, travel and tourism, nanotechnology and novel processing methods are at the top of the company’s expertise.

Contact Us IMARC Group Usa: +1-631-791-1145 Email: sales@imarcgroup.com Website: https://www.imarcgroup.com http://industrial.embedded-computing.com/news/gcc-demand-forecast-research-report2023/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+industrial+%28 Industrial+Embedded+Systems+News%29

Restaurant Transitions: Casey's Bar-B-Q, Saltgrass Steak House set Little Rock openings; Belle Arti closes

By Eric E. Harrison January 25, 2018 at 4:30 a.m.

We've got many more details on what to expect from the once-and-future Casey's Bar-B-Q, which closed in 2005 on Little Rock's Reservoir Road and is coming back in the former Arkansas Burger Co. building, 7410 Cantrell Road, Little Rock. It's still a family operation -David Henry, son of Casey's co-founder Dorine Henry, holds the title "managing member"; his two children, Mary, 25, and Johnny Henry, 22, are the owners, and "my sister, Diane Henry Williamson, will be helping out on catering and training," he says. They're looking to open Feb. 14 "with a couple soft openings before then," and you'll find "most everything that was on the menu before" on the menu now, with the addition of smoked baked potatoes. Hours will be 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. The phone hasn't been plugged in yet, so we don't yet have a number.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Saltgrass Steak House opens its Little Rock outlet, 10 Anglers Way, Little Rock, near the Bass Pro Shop, on Tuesday. The menu, somewhat smaller than at some of the chain's Texas locations, includes some inventive appetizers, including Range Rattlers (jumbo jalapenos, shrimp, Jack cheese, cilantro, ranch dressing) and Seafood Fondeaux; a half-pound Brisket Burger; and a range of steaks, chicken and seafood dishes. Hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 Friday-Saturday. The phone number is (501) 407-0643. There's a "spring 2018" target date for the opening of the outlet at 6040 Warden Road, where North Little Rock meets Sherwood.

Kontiki African Restaurant, 13420 Arkansas 111, Alexander, held its grand opening Sunday.

Owner Christian Domingo is an immigrant from Sierra Leone who has lived in Arkansas for 19 years. His menu includes (appetizers) roasted beef on skewers with peanut butter, African spices; fried plantains/fried bananas and pepper soup. Entrees include Jollof Rice and Stew (rice cooked with tomato paste, beef or chicken, bell peppers, onions and spices); Groundnut Soup and Rice (steamed basmati rice with ground peanut-based, chicken and beef); Cassava Leaves and Rice (smoked fish, palm oil, cassava leaves, chicken, onions and lima beans); fried rice (chicken or shrimp with mixed vegetables); Fufu and Okra (a cassava-based soup with okra, beef, smoked turkey, tripe, smoked fish and spices); and Couscous and Pepper Chicken or Tilapia (in a peanut base with spices, with sides of couscous and vegetables). Right now, the restaurant is only open for lunch -- 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. The phone number is (501) 615-8504.

Belle Arti Italian Ristorante, 719 Central Ave., Hot Springs, closed Jan. 14. On Facebook, owners Joe and Penny Gargano posted, "Belle Arti is where our patrons became our friends and these friends became our family. It is where our children grew up, learned the value of hard work and aspired [to be] fine young men." The Garganos will continue to operate The Porterhouse on the same block, 707 Central, to which they will be transitioning the Belle Arti staff and some of Belle Arti's signature menu items. They're planning to set up a Belle Arti tribute menu by Valentine's Day. Though most of the coverage of the closure talks about the restaurant as being open 171/2 years, that's actually when the Garganos took it over from founder Rosario Patti, who opened it in the summer of 1995. A Little Rock branch in Pavilion in the Park on Cantrell Road opened in fall of 1997 and closed in the spring of 1999. Patti, who had left Arkansas in the mid-'90s, opening a restaurant in New York near the World Trade Center (losing everything after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001) and subsequently a place in Napa, Calif., returned to Arkansas and opened Vesuvio Bistro in 2008. He died Aug. 3, 2009.

The Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen at 12201 Maumelle Blvd., North Little Rock, just south of the Maumelle city limits, is now open. Lobby hours are 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily; the drive-through will stay open until 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, until midnight Friday-Saturday. (Those hours differ from the ones posted at locations.popeyes.com/ar/north-little-rock/12737, but we got them directly from the franchisee, Sweet "P" Enterprises, so we're tempted to trust them.) However,

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter the listed phone number, (501) 851-6771, was still returning a "not in service" recording as of deadline.

The menu at the Movie Tavern, which opened Tuesday in the Gateway Town Center, 11300 Bass Pro Parkway, Little Rock, includes "all of your favorite American classics," including "gourmet burgers hot off the grill"; Shanghai egg rolls and spinach and artichoke dip (appetizers); South of the Border Burger, No. 10 Ranger Steak Sandwich, Creole Chicken and Andouille Sausage Pasta (entrees); and Grown Up Shakes, house-made churros and Brownie Bottom Sundae (desserts). And, of course "traditional movie-going staples like popcorn with real butter, brand-name candy and soft drinks." Plus, from the "full-service bar and lounge," beer (including local craft brews), wine and mixed drinks (including Caribbean Rum Punch and Green Apple Mule). Order via in-theater call buttons and they'll deliver right to your "luxury lounger" seats. We haven't yet been able to get an answer or a message returned from the listed phone number, (501) 319-6798; visit movietavern.com/locations/littlerock.

Look now for a late March or early April opening for the Wayback Burgers in the Chenal Curve Shopping Center, 16900 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock. Check out the website (waybackburgers.com) to see the menu. ...

Here's the list of the three dozen participating restaurants, etc., we have so far, and, where we know it as of deadline, what they'll be serving at Soup Sunday, 4-7 p.m. Sunday at the Statehouse Convention Center, Markham and Main streets, Little Rock: 42 bar and table: lobster bisque; A.W. Lin's; Ann Potter Baking: decorated vanilla sugar shortbread cookies; Blue Bell Ice Cream: 3-ounce ice cream cups; Blue Cake Co.; Bonefish Grill: Corn chowder with lump crab; Boulevard Bread; Cafe Bossa Nova: Chicken and hearts of palm soup; Cantina Laredo: Sopa de tortilla and chipotle soup; Capitol Bistro: Baked potato-bacon and cheddar cheese soup; Ciao Baci: Vegetable beef brisket soup; Community Bakery; Dave's Place: Tomato bisque and chocolate chip cookies; Del Frisco's Grille; Dempsey Bakery: Gluten-free cracker bread; Heritage Grille Steak and Fin; Kemuri; Loblolly Creamery; Local Lime: Green chile stew; Oceans at Arthur's; Raduno Brick Oven & Barroom: Minestrone; Ristorante Capeo: Panna cota; Serenity Farm Bread: Assorted desserts and bread; Simply the Best Catering; So Restaurant-Bar; Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe/The Juice Bar; The Faded Rose: smoked chicken and andouille gumbo; The Pantry/Pantry Crest; The Purple Cow: South of the Border soup; Trio's: Thai coconut chicken soup; Two Sisters Catering; Whole Foods; Wicked Mix; Za Za: Lobster bisque; pastry chef Zara Abbasi Wilkerson. ...

And the Department of Arkansas Heritage has named the finalists for its second class of entrants into the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame, recognizing "Arkansas' legendary restaurants, proprietors and food-theme events across the state." A panel of 13 food professionals and writers sifted through 450 submissions in five categories from 40 counties, turned in Sept. 11-Oct.31, and came up with this list:

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter • Arkansas Food Hall of Fame (places doing business for 25 years or more): Franke's Cafeteria, Little Rock; Feltner's Whatta-Burger, Russellville; Doe's Eat Place, Little Rock; Kream Kastle, Blytheville; McClard's Bar-B-Q Restaurant, Hot Springs; Bruno's Little Italy, Little Rock; White House Cafe, Camden (Ouachita County); Ed Walker's Drive-In, Fort Smith; Neal's Cafe, Springdale; Dixie Pig, Blytheville; Venesian Inn, Tontitown; DeVito's, Eureka Springs.

• Proprietor of the Year: Mary Beth Ringgold (Cajun's Wharf, Capers, Copper Grill); Capi Peck (Trio's); Scott McGehee (Yellow Rocket Concepts); Matt McClure (The Hive, Bentonville) • Food-Themed Events: Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival, Hope Watermelon Festival, International Greek Food Festival, Gillett Coon Supper, World Championship Duck Gumbo Cook Off • Gone But Not Forgotten: Jacques and Suzanne, Little Rock; Klappenbach Bakery, Fordyce; Coy's Steak House, Hot Springs; Cotham's Mercantile, Scott The winner of the People's Choice Award, chosen solely based on the number of nominations for a particular restaurant, will be announced at the reception (5:30 p.m.) and induction ceremony (6:15 p.m.), March 6 at the Ron Robinson Theater, 100 River Market Ave., Little Rock. Tickets are $20; call (501) 324-9349 or email shelby.brewer@arkansas.gov. Reservation deadline is Feb. 26. Visit ArkFoodHOF.com.

Has a restaurant opened -- or closed -- near you in the last week or so? Does your favorite eatery have a new menu? Is there a new chef in charge? Drop us a line. Call (501) 399-3667 or (501) 378-3513, or send a note to Restaurants, Weekend Section, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203. Send email to: eharrison@arkansasonline.com http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2018/jan/25/target-date-approaches-for-casey-s-2018/

Exports to China hold $3.3 billion potential KARACHI: Pakistan Business Council, a leading business advocacy group, proposed the government to seek zero-tariff access for 25 products, mainly rice and garments, from China in any revised trade agreement to add over three billion dollars in annual exports revenue.

“In response to an urgent request from the Secretary Commerce late last week, Pakistan Business Council (PBC) has provided a list of items with a theoretical export potential of $3.3 billion, for

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter which Pakistan needs to secure zero-tariff access in the renegotiation of the FTA (free trade agreement) with China,” Ehsan Malik, chief executive officer at PBC said on Tuesday.

The council represents more than 65 largest private sector’s enterprises, including multinational corporations, in Pakistan.

The proposal coincides with negotiation of phase-II of FTA between China and Pakistan.

Industry analysts pointed out multiple flaws in the existing bilateral trade accord, signed a decade ago, that skewed benefits mostly in favour of China, which in the past couple of years made greater inroads into its neighbouring Pakistan through multibillion dollars in infrastructure investments.

Following the FTA, an estimate said Pakistan’s trade deficit with China markedly widened, surging from $2.9 billion in 2006/07 to $12.7 billion in 2016/17 – an overwhelming figure in view of Pakistan’s minuscule exports of $22 billion.

The PBC’s estimates showed that exports of semi-milled or wholly-milled rice (polished or glazed) to China could earn $1.14 billion on zero-tariff market access in addition to the current $193 million.

This would be apart from broken rice that possesses an additional export potential of $190 million. China imported over $1.34 billion of rice from the world in 2016, while Pakistan’s total rice exports stood at $1.42 billion.

Likewise, China’s global imports of single cotton yarn amounted to $2.14 billion.

Pakistan exported $811 million of single cotton yarn (containing around 85 percent cotton) to the world and $670 million to China.The export could increase $141 million. Exports of boys’ trousers, breeches, cotton t-shirts and knitted or crocheted vests could fetch $339 million in addition to $544 million.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Other products that hold potential for extra exports in zero-tariff regime include girls’ trousers, grain splits leather, t-shirts, paper and paper board, footwear, vegetable fats and oil and household articles. These products earned the country $946 million in 2016.

Pakistan and China had agreed to revise the FTA by the December-end 2015, but Chinese authorities were unwilling to accept Pakistan’s demand to revive preferential treatment for exportable products under the FTA’s second phase, which was to be implemented from January 1, 2014.

Local businesses, time and again, have expressed concerns over insufficient utilisation of concessions given by China to Pakistan and competition faced by the local industries due to cheap imports from China.

Pakistan could not use the concessions granted by China under the first phase, as it only exported 253 tariff lines and an average export value was $500 or more, which was around 3.3 percent of the total tariff lines (7,550) on which China granted concessions to Pakistan.

Pakistan’s key exports to China were raw materials and intermediate products, such as cotton yarn, woven fabric and grey fabric.

Value-added products were missing despite the fact that the country’s key exportable garments were also included in the concessionary regime. https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/272525-exports-to-china-hold-3-3-billion-potential

Pakistan, Indonesia set to sign amended PTA January 25, 2018 Imran Ali Kundi

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan and Indonesia will sign amended preferential trade agreement (PTA) tomorrow (Friday) in Islamabad, which incorporated unilateral trade concessions granted

by Indonesia on 20 items.

The Indonesian government recently unilaterally agreed to provide Pakistani products with deeper market access under the PTA. Both the countries would sign the unilateral concession

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

granted by Indonesia on Friday during the visit of Indonesian President. Major exports items from Pakistan would include tobacco, textile fabric, rice, ethanol, citrus (kinnow), woven fabric, and mangoes.

The amended PTA would help in increasing volume of bilateral trade, which is currently around $2.4 billion. Pakistan and Indonesia signed the PTA in 2012, which came into operation in 2013.

As a result, the bilateral trade witnessed a substantial increase but all in favour of Indonesia . Pakistaninitiated a review of the PTA with Indonesia wherein besides making the agreement mutually beneficial, the issue of market access on rice was also taken up. As a result, the two countries signed an MoU, which envisaged sourcing of rice from Pakistan . Pakistan would export 65,000 tonnes of non-Basmati rice to Indonesia as part of the revised preferential trade agreement.

Last week, Indonesia floated a tender for procurement of 500,000 metric tons of rice out of which 84,000 metric tons were to be sourced from South Asia. The bids were finalised on 19th January and as a result the two companies from Pakistan secured an order for 65,000 metric tons of white rice, out of the 84,000 metric tons was allocated for South Asia. The rest was given to an Indian company.

Meanwhile, SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry has said that forthcoming state visit of Indonesian President Joko Widodo to Pakistan will open new vistas of opportunities to further

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter cement bilateral relations, especially in economic sector, and enhance the existing trade volume between both countries. “The recent economic rise of Indonesia is also an example for Pakistan to follow, especially because the two countries shared many similarities in their demographics and trade could cross mark of $5 billion annually comfortably from current $2.4 billion,� said vice president of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Iftikhar Ali Malik in a statement. He said that the bilateral trade figures fairly indicate the economic relations between two countries but these can be even greater if Pakistan is given more access to Indonesian market. He further said youth from both countries should come forward and play a critical role in further developing the bilateral ties between the countries. https://nation.com.pk/25-Jan-2018/pakistan-indonesia-set-to-sign-amended-pta

Registered Dietitians Predict Next Nutrition Trends

By Cameron Jacobs ARLINGTON, VA -- A recent survey of more than 2,050 registered dietitians (RD) revealed the food trends that will dictate consumer choices in 2018, some of which are good news for rice. The "What's Trending in Nutrition" survey, conducted by USA Rice consultant Pollock Communications and Today's

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Dietitian, shows top trends and superfoods include an increased awareness and commitment to "clean eating" diets and the rise in popularity of ancient grains.

"Commitment to the clean eating trend bodes very well for U.S. rice," said Paul Galvani, chairman of the USA Rice Domestic Promotion Committee. "Consumers will be on the lookout for simple ingredients, minimally processed, and whole foods, all of which can be applied to U.S.-grown rice. Additionally, the continued rise in popularity of ancient grains should be of note, and a positive opportunity for those U.S. rice varieties that qualify as ancient."

According to the survey, RDs' top recommendation for Americans to achieve an overall healthy diet is to make small changes, focus on the overall eating pattern (not a single food or nutrient), and make gradual shifts over time. In addition, nearly 79 percent of respondents reported the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) MyPlate as the gold standard to use as a tool in nutrition education with their patients.

USA Rice is a USDA MyPlate National Strategic Partner and rice remains heavily featured on the MyPlate website.

"Insight that drives consumer purchasing decisions is vital for us as it helps shape our consumer messaging," said Galvani. "We are pleased to see that our work promoting U.S.-grown rice as a nutrient rich food that meets MyPlate healthy eating guidelines is not only being heard, but accepted and shared."

Video Highlights New Rice Stewardship Partner Nestle Purina NestlĂŠ Purina recently became a supporter of the USA Rice-Ducks Rice Country: Preserving Duck Unlimited Rice Stewardship Partnership, which works to keep Habitat working ricelands healthy, preserve wetlands, and create habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. Rice is a critical dietary staple for billions of people around the world and is also a key ingredient in NestlĂŠ Purina's pet food recipes.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Rice Stewardship Partnership, and all of its supporters, including NestlĂŠ Purina, are working with rice producers across the United States to improve water quality and use efficiency, ensure sustainable farming for generations to come, and provide habitat

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

for wetland-dependent wildlife.

USA Rice Daily

For Blake Girard, the rice is right Meet the only man growing commercial rice in Illinois Karen Binder AgriNews Publications Jan 25, 2018

MCCLURE, Ill. — Cahokia high protein rice with strawberries and cream is one of Blake Gerard’s favorite breakfasts these days.“What’s amazing to me is that there’s 6 grams of protein in each serving. That’s twice as much as other rice,” said Gerard, an Alexander County farmer and now a food entrepreneur.This makes Cahokia Rice as nutritious as almonds, spinach, oatmeal or mixed nuts. But what gets Girard cooking is his rice’s high quality flavor and

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter appearance on a plate — its bite is crisp and non-chalky while the long grain is opaque, long and consistent in shape.

Gerard added this specially-bred rice into his crop rotation last year. While he already grows soybeans (85 percent) and wheat (5 percent), his seed rice and Cahokia rice account for 15 percent of his crops.

Yet another differentiation of Cahokia Rice from all the others is that it is grown only in Illinois and even takes its brand name from the Cahokia American Indians who once lived on his farmland. In fact, the Blake Gerard Farms in McClure is the northern-most location east of the Rockies to grow rice.

Tired of floodwater destroying his corn crop, Gerard planted his first rice in 2000. Unlike most other rice growers who benefited from generational knowledge, he often turned to other rice farmers in Missouri for information and learned from his mistakes.

Because his acreage is well isolated from other rice fields, Gerard first started with seed rice and conditioned it for bagging and distribution at another business he helped start in 2005 — River Bend Rice in Cairo.

Here’s what else makes Cahokia Rice unique: A special rice variety — During Gerard’s tenure with U.S. Rice Farmers as a former chairman and board member, he came in contact with rice researchers at Louisiana State University and secured an agreement for exclusive growing and production rights on a particular variety. It is a non-genetically modified variety developed with old fashioned breeding practices, Gerard said.

Botanically different — Lending to Cahokia’s doubled protein content is this rice variety’s preference for a cooler growing season. The Illinois location in the north, where there are much

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter cooler nights, allows the rice grain to turn fully opaque — not chalky white, like most other rice.

The opaqueness is an indicator of the impact of those cooler nights as the starches pack tighter into the kernels.

Local product — Cahokia Rice is marketed, distributed and sold by two staff working in southern and central Illinois, as well as southeast Missouri. The rice is milled and packaged at southeast Missouri facility.

In Illinois, it can be found at retailers in Carbondale, Effingham and Champaign. Plans also call for reaching out to chefs serving locally-raised food this year. http://www.agrinews-pubs.com/news/for-blake-girard-the-rice-is-right/article_1af2bcd4e343-528d-a274-98ac2f792fe7.html

Nuclear Package' Helps Farmers Increase Rice Yields and Income in Northern Malaysia Thursday 25 January 2018 16:45 CET Miklos Gaspar, IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication

Malaysian rice farmer Muhammad Helmi Mohd Noor is applying biofertilizer produced using irradiation. He has seen his yields increase by 40% since adapting products and practices developed by Nuklear Malaysia. (Photo: M. Gaspar/IAEA) Kubang Anak Gajah Village, Kedah, Malaysia – An integrated approach that includes a new rice variety, biofertilizer and plant growth promoter has made all the difference to rice farmer, Muhammad Helmi Mohd Noor and his neighbours in this northern Malaysian village. They saw their yields – and with it their income – increase by 40% in the last two growing seasons thanks to what they call the “nuclear package”: a set of products and services developed by the government’s nuclear agency, Nuklear Malaysia, to help the country’s rice farmers cope with low soil fertility and changing weather patterns, including more erratic rainfall and longer dry spells.

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“Even when there is no water for a few days or weeks, this new rice can grow,” Mohd Noor said.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Developed using nuclear techniques, the new rice variety called NMR152 is used by 25 farmers while undergoing the last phases of testing by agriculture authorities, who have in the meantime begun to multiply the seeds on special breeding plots, to have enough available for all farmers in the northern, rice growing area of the country once approval has been granted in the next 12 to 18 months. “This variety has survived both periods of draught and submersion in water for 8 days, while other varieties died,” said Abdul Shahrizal, Agriculture Officer at the Centre of Excellence of Rice in neighbouring Perak province. “We are working hard to produce the seeds needed for large scale use.”

Workers at Malaysia's Centre of Excellence of Rice working on a rice field used to multiply a rice variety with favourable traits developed using irradiation. (Photo: M. Gaspasr/IAEA) Rice is a major staple food in Malaysia and a source of income for 300,000 farmers. Competition for water, extreme weather events, inadequate nutrients and fertilizer and lower yielding traditional rice varieties have compelled the need to develop new varieties and farming practices.

The IAEA, in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), assists countries around the world, including Malaysia, in adapting their agriculture practices to climate change by disseminating knowledge and best practices, providing training and fellowship programmes as well as laboratory services for researchers.

Cooperation between Nuklear Malaysia and agriculture authorities is key to the success of the project. Researchers at the nuclear agency developed the new variety by irradiating seeds, mimicking and accelerating the natural process of spontaneous mutation, and then selecting the variety with useful traits. But Nuklear Malaysia does not have the plots or the mandate to

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

multiply the seeds and make them available to farmers beyond a pilot project. “When farmers in the wider area see the difference between their yield and ours, they want to plant the new variety also,” Mohd Noor said. It will likely take two growing seasons before there is enough supply of seeds that it can be released to farmers, Shahrizal added.

Nurturing the right variety Having favourable agronomic traits is a good start, but it takes more than the right variety to cope with changing weather and increase yields.

The farmers also receive an organic plant growth promoter and plant elicitor known as oligochitosan produced using irradiation at Nuklear Malaysia. This product is derived from chitin, which is found in household and agricultural waste such as the shells of crawfish, shrimp, crabs and lobsters. Chitin is turned into chitosan through a chemical process and is degraded into oligochitosan using gamma or electron beam irradiation. Its use as growth promoter reduces the need for pesticides and fertilizer by some 30%, explained Shyful Rahman, an agronomist with Nuklear Malaysia in charge of the project in Kedah.

This is important not only because it saves farmers additional expenditure, but also because it could help restore biodiversity in the region. “Many local species, including fish have receded or completely disappeared from the area as a result of fertilizer use,” he said. “When I was a child, we used to go fishing almost every day. I hope I can do that again when I retire.”

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Isotopic techniques are used to determine the amount of fertilizer required and further optimize its use: By using the 15N isotope, which has the same chemical characteristics as ordinary nitrogen but includes an extra neutron, scientists can track how much fertilizer the plant absorbs, so that farmers only add to the soil what is necessary and when it is necessary. In the case of Hassan and his neighbors, this has reduced fertilizer use by a further 20%.

Another product, pyroligneous acid, also known as liquid smoke for its smell, is produced by the condensation of the smoke from the process of producing charcoal. Charcoal or activated charcoal in particular are well known to capture and bind radioactive material in contaminated soil. Liquid smoke is a natural fungicide, byproduct of charcoal production and it has been used to inhibit several fungal plant pathogens.

“With this complex approach, we are not only helping farmers earn more but are also improving the resilience of Malaysia’s rice production systems to climate change,” Rahman said. https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/nuclear-package-helps-farmers-increase-rice-yieldsand-income-in-northern-malaysia

Asia Rice-Prices soar in top exporters as Indonesia shops, fresh deals beckon 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 

S HO A I B U R R E HM A N

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J A N 2 5 T H, 2 0 1 8

BENGALURU: Rice prices in top exporter India jumped to their highest in about 6-1/2 years on strong demand from Asia and Africa, exporters said, while rates for the staple hit multi-month highs in Thailand and Vietnam following recent purchases by Indonesia.In India, rates were also buoyed by hopes that Philippines and Indonesia will buy more rice in the coming months to build inventories.

Indonesian state food procurement agency Bulog bought about 346,000 tonnes in an international tender last week, to be sourced from Vietnam, Thailand, Pakistan and India.“Prices (in India) have jumped, but even at higher levels, buyers are ready to make purchases. They fear prices could rally

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter further,” said M. Adishankar, executive director at Sri Lalitha, an exporter located in southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

India’s 5 percent broken parboiled rice price jumped by $12 to $444-$448 per tonne, the highest level since September 2011, when the country lifted a four-year-old ban on non-basmati rice shipments.“The market is expecting more buying from Indonesia and Philippines. Bangladesh and African countries are also active in the market and buying mainly from India,” said an exporter based in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.

Surplus supplies in all exporting countries have been depleting and that could push prices higher by another $10-15 in coming weeks, the exporter said.Bangladesh, which has emerged as a major importer of the grain since 2017 after floods damaged its crops, has approved the purchase of 100,000 tonnes of parboiled rice in a domestic tender, a food ministry official said on Thursday.

The winning bidder will supply the rice from India, the official added.

Meanwhile, Vietnam’s

benchmark 5-percent broken rice rose to $450 a tonne, FOB Saigon, the highest in more than three years. Last week, prices ranged $420-$430.Traders said despite higher prices, sellers are reluctant to commit to new deals as stock is low at the end of the crop season while harvesting is scheduled in late February or early March.The market is also eyeing deals from the Philippines, which plans to import 250,000 tonnes to boost thinning stockpiles.

Thailand’s benchmark 5 percent broken rice rose to a peak since June 2017, at $440-$448, free-onboard (FOB) Bangkok, versus $415-$420 last week.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter “Indonesia purchased about 120,000 tonnes from Thailand and there are talks of the country importing an additional 150,000 tonnes from us,” said a Bangkok-based trader.

“It has been the single biggest factor for the hike in rice prices. There are no other impending deals at the moment and supply is constant.”

https://www.brecorder.com/2018/01/25/395296/asia-rice-prices-soar-in-top-exporters-asindonesia-shops-fresh-deals-beckon/

Can Rice from Australia's Crocodile-Infested Waters Help Feed More People?

January 25, 2018 9:37 AM Reuters

ROME, ITALY — Wild rice growing in northern Australia's crocodile-infested waters could hold the key to breeding a more nutritious grain that is drought and pest resistant, according to scientists who have just mapped its genetic family tree.

International researchers, including Robert Henry from the University of Queensland, examined 13 domesticated and wild rice species globally, raising hopes about breeding commercial rice from Australian variety Oryza meridionalis.

Rice is a staple food for over half of the world population and consumption levels are rising, according to the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

Henry said this Australian rice was found to have valuable traits that could be bred into commercial rice. "[This could have] a really positive impact on the human health on a large scale," Henry told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a telephone interview.Henry, whose work was part of a paper published this week in Nature Genetics, said researchers found the Australian rice shared the same ancestor as an Asian rice species consumed by millions of people today but evolved three million years ago.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter He said it had probably been overlooked until now due to its location."Some of the best rice sites are where there are a lot of dangerous crocodiles," he said.

Rod A. Wing, co-author and director of the Arizona Genomics Institute at the University of Arizona, said wild rice species globally provide "a virtually untapped reservoir of genes" that can be used to improve current rice species.

Since 2003, Wing has been leading global research into 25 wild rice species that are genetically similar to two rice species consumed globally today with the next research to focus on a wild rice that grows in saltwater.

"The world population could be 10 billion by 2050 and the question is how do we feed our world without destroying it," Wing told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone.

He said genetic information could allow the world "to make crops that are higher yielding, more nutritious" but do less harm to the environment by using less water or pesticides. https://www.voanews.com/a/can-rice-from-australia-crocodile-infested-waters-help-feed-morepeople/4224560.html

AgriLife Research Unmanned Aerial Systems program receives update The AgriLife Research UAS program is one of the largest in the U.S., according to faculty and administrators. The research program is utilizing both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft as part of research activities at centers in Weslaco, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, College Station and AmarilloThe research program is utilizing both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft as part of research activities at centers in Weslaco, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, College Station and Amarillo.

Blair Fannin | Jan 25, 2018 From traditional crop production to livestock, Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists from across the state provided updates on a multitude of unmanned aerial systems, or UAS, projects recently in College Station.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

The AgriLife Research UAS program is one of the largest in the U.S., according to faculty and administrators. The research program is utilizing both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft as part of research activities at centers in Weslaco, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, College Station and Amarillo.

“We are progressing at a steady pace in all aspects of our UAS research program,” said Misty Vidrine, AgriLife Research UAS program coordinator in College Station. “We have the capability of developing intelligent pattern recognition models that can allow both the farmer and the rancher to make production management decisions, predict yield and detect abiotic and biotic crop stress in the field. These UAS modeling tools can dramatically help with improving the profitability of an operation.”

Program areas are broad, but tie back to either plant breeding or precision agriculture, Vidrine said. Researchers involved in the multidisciplinary project include biological and agricultural engineers, soil scientists, plant breeders, plant pathologists, plant physiologists, remote sensing scientists, geospatial scientists, civil engineers, mechanical and aerospace engineers,

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter entomologists, animal scientists, rangeland specialists, social scientists and agricultural economists.

Dr. Megan Clayton, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service range specialist in Corpus Christi, gave an overview of work done in the livestock program.

“What we’ve found (through this technology) is we can improve the sustainability of grazing management,” Clayton said. “We’ve found we can soon provide tools to managers, which can suggest stocking rates, develop models, and test forage and herbage mass predictions, all types of datasets that can assist in livestock operations.”

The recent meeting was an update on work conducted in 2017. There was optimism among scientists at the meeting and excitement continues to build on what lies ahead with regards to breakthrough technologies to assist Texas farmers and ranchers and beyond in achieving higher yields and production, according to attendees.

“This research program overall is one of the most unique anywhere,” said Dr. Alex Thomasson, AgriLife Research biological and agricultural research engineer in College Station.

Researchers at the meeting also expressed optimism over new discoveries in wheat production.

The wheat research has focused on different environmental conditions, such as drought, utilizing both ground and aerial data.

“The statewide wheat breeding program uses a remote sensing approach to utilize ground- and aerial-based measurements to evaluate wheat lines for reaction to biotic and abiotic stresses and maximize phenotyping efficiency,” said Dr. Amir Ibrahim, AgriLife Research wheat breeder in College Station.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Dr. Lee Tarpley, AgriLife Research plant physiologist at Beaumont, provided an update on a research project focused on grain crops. The specific objectives of the research is to evaluate leaf nitrogen and stress levels in rice as well as leaf water potential in both rice and corn. Tarpley said the work will help farmers be proactive and save money.

“We would like to be able to provide site prescriptions to improve crop profitability,” Tarpley said. “We’d like to be specific enough to allow remedies to be applied before economic losses occur.”

Tarpley said farmers typically treat entire fields when a specific crop disease is diagnosed.

Through their research, they hope to develop tools to be site specific, lowering the cost of expensive crop inputs and improving crop revenues.

For more about the agency’s UAS research activities, visit https://uasag.tamu.edu/.

http://www.southwestfarmpress.com/livestock/agrilife-research-unmanned-aerial-systemsprogram-receives-update

Prices of rice, other agri commodities up slightly

By Leslie Gatpolintan, Philippine News Agency on January 25, 2018 Price of well-milled rice gained PHP 3 per kilo MANILA — Prices of rice and other selected agricultural commodities rose slightly in third week of January 2018, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Thursday.

The PSA said a price increase of PHP1 per kilo of special and premium rice was noted in Tuguegarao City and Naga City; and of premium rice in Kidapawan City and Butuan City.

However, it went down by PHP1 in Tacloban City.

Price of well-milled rice gained PHP3 per kilo in Kidapawan City and by PHP2 in the National Capital Region and Naga City.Price mark-ups ranging from PHP0.50 to PHP3 per kilogram of

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter regular milled rice were observed in six regional centers while price was lower by PHP1 in Tuguegarao City.

The PSA said only few regional centers showed price adjustments in meat, with price uptick of PHP10 per kilogram of beef with bones noticed in Cagayan de Oro City, and of pork lean meat in Batangas City.

Increases ranging from PHP2 to PHP20 per kilogram of dressed chicken were recorded in Cagayan de Oro City, Baguio City and Cotabato City.

Beef with bones was sold cheaper by PHP10 in Butuan City, while prices of pork liempo went down by PHP10 in San Fernando City.

The report also noted varied price movements for monitored fish species in some regional centers; while vegetables register mixed price adjustments this week.

The PSA monitors prevailing weekly retail prices in 17 trading centers. http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1022968

NFA bats for rice importation to replenish depleting stocks

By Madelaine Miraflor

While economic managers already decided that the country could survive sans a new batch of imported rice, the state-run grains agency National Food Authority (NFA) is still pushing for the immediate replenishment of its “fast-depleting buffer stock� via importation.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter This is for the agency to be able to effectively fulfill its mandate of food security and price stabilization in the wake of increasing prices of other basic commodities, NFA said.

RICE SURPLUS OR SHORTAGE? – While there appears to be sufficient stock of National Food Authority (NFA) rice at the grains agency’s warehouse on Visayas Avenue in Quezon City, the government has already authorized the importation of rice via government to private (G2P) scheme. (Mark Balmores | Manila Bulletin file photo) Just this week, NFA Council, the inter-agency policy-making body of NFA, disapproved the agency’s request to import 250,000 metric tons of rice in view of the “stable” commercial rice prices and “bright” local production forecasts.

“Even if commercial rice prices are stable, regular NFA rice patrons are still looking for it [cheaper NFA rice] because of the average P9 per kilogram difference in price. Removing NFA rice from the market is like taking away the lowest-priced brand of rice whose quality is comparable to higher-priced commercial rice,” NFA administrator Jason Aquino pointed out.

Right now, NFA sells rice at P27/kg and P32/kg, while commercial rice varieties of comparable quality are sold at P36/kg to P41/kg. https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/01/26/nfa-bats-for-rice-importation-to-replenish-depleting-stocks/

Millers warned against tapioca price violation THE HANS INDIA | Jan 26,2018 , 12:09 AM IST

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Joint Collector Mallikarjuna speaking with the sago millers and tapioca farmers at a meeting to provide the MSP for the tapioca farmers

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Kakinada: District Joint Collector A Mallikarjuna ordered the sago rice millers in the district that they should purchase tapioca for Rs 1,200 per putty.

He conducted a meeting with all the sago rice millers and tapioca farmers at the Vidhana Gowthami Hall on Wednesday night.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that the Central government did not declare the MSP (Minimum Support Price) for the tapioca. He stated that to support the tapioca farmers and to provide the MSP to the farmers in Peddapuram and Jaggampeta mandals, they organised the meeting with the sago millers.

“The sago millers had been making small pills made of maize and selling the pills as the sago in the market, because of this feat of the sago millers, the tapioca farmers were occurring losses,” informed the official. He said that the tapioca farmers seeked fixation of prices to Rs 1,500 per putty. “However, after discussions with the farmers and the sago millers, we have decided the price at Rs 1,200 per putty,” he announced.

Stating that the administration had decided the tapioca price at Rs 533 per quintal, he warned the millers of severe action if any miller purchases for less than the fixed price. District Rice Millers Association president Ambati Rama Krishna Reddy, Civil Supplies District Manager Krishna Rao, DSO Prasad, Legal Metrology Assistant Controller Madhuri and Tapioca farmers participated in the meeting. http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Amaravati-Tab/2018-01-26/Millers-warned-against-tapioca-priceviolation/354368

Grain gain: China’s rice exports to Africa surge in Freight News 25/01/2018

China’s rice exports to Africa surged last year, customs data showed on Thursday, with the world’s second-largest producer of the staple grain pushing to clear bulging state and commercial warehouses as it overhauls government support for its farming sector.

That rapid growth in sales to African nations is expected to continue in 2018, as buyers there increasingly turn to China as stockpiles are almost depleted in rival supplier Thailand.China in 2017 sold just over 781,000 tonnes of rice to almost 40 African countries including Ivory Coast and Senegal, up from around 74,000 tonnes the year before, data from the General Administration of Customs showed. That accounted for nearly 70 percent of China’s total shipments of the commodity, versus 19 percent in 2016.West Africa’s Ivory Coast overtook South Korea to become the top destination for China’s rice in 2017, with total purchases of 309,200 tonnes.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter “China has very high stocks of rice. The state is taking various measures to destock,” said Chen Xiaoshan, an analyst with Zhuochuang, a commodities consultancy in China’s eastern province of Shandong.

“The Belt and Road Initiative policy also boosted the chances to export rice to these African countries,” Chen said, referring to a Chinese project to promote trade links with Asia, Africa and Europe through billions of dollars in infrastructure investment.

The pace of exports may stoke concerns in the international market about China selling excess grain abroad after years of stockpiling. In 2016, the United States complained to the World Trade Organization about Beijing’s support for the country’s wheat, corn and rice farmers.

China has around 94 million tonnes of rice stockpiles, two-thirds of the world’s excess inventory and enough to feed India for a year. A lot of that was accumulated through years of the government buying the grain from farmers at a minimum price when the market price dropped below that level.

But last year Beijing cut minimum prices for rice and wheat for the first time, marking the start of an overhaul of the subsidy programme. Analysts expect another cut to rice prices in 2018.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said earlier this month that it expected Chinese sales of oldcrop rice, especially to West Africa, to continue to expand as Thailand’s old-crop government stocks are nearly depleted.

Thailand has sold most of the about 18 million tonnes of rice built up during a rice-buying scheme introduced by a previous government.

“This year, we no longer have any old rice in the state stockpile, so it is likely that China will take this African market from us,” Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, told Reuters on Thursday.

“This will also depend on how much old rice China has in its stockpile.”

South Korea bought 167,270 tonnes of rice from China in 2017, Thursday’s data showed, making it the second-largest buyer of the grain. That was down 4.7 percent from 2016.

Source: Reuters (Reporting by Josephine Mason and Hallie Gu; additional reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat in BANGKOK; Editing by Joseph Radford and Christian Schmollinger) http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/grain-gain-chinas-rice-exports-to-africa-surge/

MPR speaker hopes government would not import rice Reporter: antara Chairman of the People`s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Zulkifli Hasan. (ANTARA PHOTO/Irwansyah Putra) Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Chairman of the People`s Consultative Assembly (MPR), Zulkifli Hasan, has reminded the government not to import rice before the harvest time, as it may cause the price of rice to drop during the harvest season.

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"The decision to import rice before the harvest time creates injustice, because it will harm local farmers," Hasan stated at the Parliament Building in Jakarta on Thursday.

He called on President Joko Widodo to prevent rice imports ahead of the harvest period, as it would be detrimental to local farmers, whose incomes are already limited.

According to him, if rice imports are done before the harvest, then the rice stock will increase sharply. This will result in drastic drop in rice price, resulting in loss for local farmers.

"I appeal to the president to avoid any incidental policies that could disrupt the main policy of the government," he noted.

On the occasion, he also reminded the government to be careful while making decisions about the provision of rice stock.

According to him, although the government is trying to reduce increase in rice price, it still can create new problems by importing rice.

Hasan pointed out that even if the government is forced to import, the rice should not be stored directly in Indonesia but in the country of origin, until the very precise time to bring it to

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Indonesia.

"This is in order to prevent farmers, who are in the harvest time, from being affected by the drop in rice prices," he pointed out.

(A014/INE) (T.A014/A/KR-BSR/A014) Editor: Heru Purwanto https://en.antaranews.com/news/114396/mpr-speaker-hopes-government-would-not-import-rice

Kalla responds to farmers` opposition to rice import plan Reporter: antara

Vice President Jusuf Kalla. (ANTARA /Puspa Perwitasari) Makassaar, S Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla has responded to the farmers, especially those from Java island, after they voiced opposition to the government`s plan

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter to import rice.

Kalla on Thursday stated that the government's plan to import rice had been assessed carefully and thoughtfully.

"The government will not take any risks. If it falls short of stocks (domestic rice stock), it will add stock," he explained, after receiving the Honorary Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) from the State Islamic University (UIN) Alauddin Makassar, on Thursday.

The farmers in some areas in Java Island as well as in Klaten (Central Java), Bojonegoro (East Java), to Demak, Central Java, have opposed the rice import plan.

The farmers had cited the approaching harvest season as the reason for opposition. In addition, the costs incurred by farmers are also huge. "The government does not want to take risks, if it falls short of stocks it will be added," he stated briefly.

The VP has previously asserted the government?s decision to import 500 thousand of rice because of the shortage in the supply of rice in the country. The lack of domestic rice production is due to weather conditions, which affect the quality of rice.

In the meantime, the chairman of the People`s Consultative Assembly (MPR), Zulkifli Hasan, has reminded the government not to import rice before the harvest time, as it may cause the price of rice to drop during the harvest season.

"The decision to import rice before the harvest time creates injustice, because it will harm local farmers," Hasan stated at the Parliament Building in Jakarta on Thursday.He called on President Joko Widodo to prevent rice imports ahead of the harvest period, as it would be detrimental to local farmers, whose incomes are already limited.

According to him, if rice imports are done before the harvest, then the rice stock will increase sharply. This will result in drastic drop in rice price, resulting in loss for local farmers.

"I appeal to the president to avoid any incidental policies that could disrupt the main policy of the government," he noted.On the occasion, he also reminded the government to be careful while making decisions about the provision of rice stock.

According to him, although the government is trying to reduce increase in rice price, it still can create new problems by importing rice.Hasan pointed out that even if the government is forced to import, the rice should not be stored directly in Indonesia but in the country of origin, until the very precise time to bring it to Indonesia."This is in order to prevent farmers, who are in the harvest time, from being affected by the drop in rice prices," he pointed out. https://en.antaranews.com/news/114394/kalla-responds-to-farmers-opposition-to-rice-import-plan

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Senate keen on up to 50% rice tariff

By Louise Maureen Simeon (The Philippine Star) | Updated January 26, 2018 - 12:00am

Sen. Cynthia Villar, who chairs the Committee on Agriculture and Food, said lawmakers would likely consider up to 50 percent rice tariff, based on the latest Senate hearing. File MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines may impose up to 50 percent duty on imported rice as lawmakers finalize the amendments to the Agricultural Tariffication Act, which replaces quantitative import restrictions with tariffs.

Sen. Cynthia Villar, who chairs the Committee on Agriculture and Food, said lawmakers would likely consider up to 50 percent rice tariff, based on the latest Senate hearing.

“It will be around 35 percent for ASEAN and maybe up to 50 percent outside. We hope we can finish this in the first quarter. If not, we hope to finish it by May,” Villar told reporters on the sidelines of the EcoWaste Management opening ceremony yesterday.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The Agricutlural Tariffication Act needs to be amended as the government moved toward the removal of QR. Lifting of the QR is expected to give the government an additional revenue of P25 billion.

“We will give the income from the tariff to PhilRice (Philippine Rice Research Institute) to encourage farmers to use inbred seeds because it can produce up to six metric tons per hectare from the current four metric tons,” Villar said.

The Philippines is among the largest rice importers in the world, bringing in over one million MT of the staple annually.

The WTO granted the Philippines an extension of its QR on rice importation until June 30, 2017 to allow local farmers to prepare for free trade.

QR is a non-tariff measure that limits the volume of imports of a specific product.

In 1995, the WTO first allowed the Philippines to impose a 10-year QR on rice importation. In 2004, it was extended to 2012, and renewed in 2014.

In 2014, the WTO granted Manila’s petition for an extension of its special tax treatment on rice on the condition that it raises the annual import volume from 350,000 MT and lower the tariff to 35 percent from 40 percent. http://www.philstar.com/business/2018/01/26/1781324/senate-keen-50-rice-tariff

Fake news, fake Rolexes, and…fake rice?

There is concern in the U.S. rice industry about food products that appear to be rice, can be mistaken for rice, but never saw a rice field.

Hembree Brandon | Jan 24, 2018 The business that seems to be booming these days is fake something-or-other: fake news, with which our president seems obsessed; fake truth, generated in great abundance in D.C.; fake catfish (yuck!); fake Rolexes/Coach handbags, and assorted other cost-an-arm-and-a-leg fashion

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stuff that you can buy online and on a street corner for a steal; fake “facts” about GMOs, genetic engineering, and other anti-agriculture scare propaganda, and on and on.

Now, for cryin’ out loud, we gotta worry about fake rice. Yeah, I know, you’d think rice is rice is rice, and anybody oughta be able to tell rice when they see it or eat it. Apparently not.

There are links galore on the web, including videos, purporting to show for a fact that “rice” from China has been laced with plastic kernels. Reputable news organizations have investigated and found the allegations baseless. No plastic rice kernels in consumer channels.

But…there is genuine concern in the U.S. rice industry about food products that appear to be rice, can be mistaken for rice, but never saw a rice field.

Arkansas Rice Federation Executive Director Lauren Waldrip Ward recently testified before the state’s Joint Senate and House Committee on Agriculture about the industry's concern over a

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter current food trend in which vegetables —are being "riced" and marketed as a "more healthy" form of rice.

Non-rice products are stocked on grocery shelves alongside rice, which is often confusing to the consumer. Many of these products don’t include a single grain of rice.

Some companies are marketing these products by identifying them as "riced vegetables," she says, while others are marketing vegetables and other non-rice products as rice. The non-rice products are stocked on grocery shelves alongside rice, which is often confusing to the consumer.

Many of these products, Ward says, don’t include a single grain of rice. Among them, Cauli Rice, Miracle Rice, Better Than Rice, and Green Giant's Cauliflower Fried Rice. Some of the packaging, he notes, is designed and displayed to mislead, and advertisements directed to consumers with messages reading "Move over, rice" are likely causing confusion among consumers.

The Better Than Rice products are, according to info on the web, made from something called Konnayaku flour, derived from a corm of a tropical plant known as konjak. Online reviews range from ecstatic to “weird slimy, fishy taste,” to “awful taste and texture no matter how you cook it,” to “it is so disgusting, seriously.”

"Our industry has made significant investments developing and building the brand we have for rice. These companies have made it clear that they intend to capitalize on that very brand. Our farmers are proud of the quality associated with the rice they grow, and we must continue to preserve that image while also protecting consumers.”

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Consumers “have a right to know, honestly and transparently, what they are purchasing and these fake rice products are designed to mislead them,” Ward says. “We don't want consumers who want to purchase rice to be tricked into buying something other than rice. Rice is a grain — not a shape. " Members of the committee asked about actions being taken at the federal level by the Food and Drug Administration and expressed strong interest in supporting those efforts. "We'll do whatever is necessary to combat this issue," said Senator Blake Johnson, R-Corning. http://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/fake-news-fake-rolexes-and-fake-rice

S. Korea's per-person rice consumption hits fresh low in 2017 2018/01/25 12:00

SEJONG, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- Per capita rice consumption in South Korea hit a fresh record low last year amid rapid changes in eating habits, government data showed Thursday.

The average annual consumption of rice per person fell to 61.8 kilograms last year, down 0.2 percent from the previous year's 61.9 kg, according to the data by Statistics Korea.

Rice is a key staple food for Koreans, but its consumption has been on a steady decline since the early 1980s, when it posted around 130 kg. Compared with 1970, when consumption hit a record high of 136.4 kg, rice intake has more than halved in 2017.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Daily rice consumption per person also dropped to 169.3 grams last year from the 169.6 grams tallied in the previous year, the data showed.

Consumption of non-rice grains edged down 2.2 percent on-year to 9.1 kg in 2017 from 9.3 kg a year ago, accounting for 12.8 percent of the country's total grain consumption, the statistical agency said.

A growing number of South Korean people have been reducing their rice intake and diversifying their diets with other alternative grains like wheat, barley, beans and corn.

Rice used by food and beverage manufacturers, on the other hand, jumped 7.4 percent on-year to 707,703 tons, mainly due to an increase in demand for grain-based alcoholic beverages and processed food, the data showed.

sam@yna.co.kr (END) http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2018/01/25/0503000000AEN20180125003600320.ht ml

Resilient rice project to target top two producers, China and India Michael Taylor 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 non-governmental organizations, and the private and public sectors, which launched the sustainability standard in 2015.“We will need to be moving into China and into India quite soon - those are our priorities in future,” he told the Thomson Reuters

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter 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.

Reporting by Michael Taylor, Editing by Jared Ferrie; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit news.trust.org https://www.reuters.com/article/us-asia-rice-sustainable/resilient-rice-project-to-target-top-twoproducers-china-and-india-idUSKBN1FE116

Husker researchers explore economic potential for sweet sorghum ethanol in western Nebraska 

IANR Media



Jan 24, 2018 Updated 12 min ago

January 24, 2018 Lincoln, Neb. — A team at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is exploring sweet sorghum ethanol as a future income source for dryland agriculture in western Nebraska.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Sweet sorghum is a cultivar of sorghum primarily developed for the harvest of juice. Due to its high sugar content and stability during periods of drought, researchers have identified the crop as a potential ethanol feedstock crop on non-irrigated farmland in western Nebraska. Ethanol feedstocks are the plant materials which can be converted to ethanol. In this case, the sugar syrup from sweet sorghum stalks would be fermented to make ethanol.

Corn currently serves as the leading feedstock for ethanol production in the U.S. For sweet sorghum to compete with corn for ethanol production, not only must it be more lucrative than corn for farmers to produce, but it also must be more economical than corn for ethanol plants to process. Considering factors such as yield and the cost of processing, researchers estimate that the current sorghum to ethanol pathway is a barely break-even prospect in western Nebraska. “Under the typical conditions considered, there are insufficient benefits to farmers and ethanol plants to make the sweet sorghum ethanol pathway an attractive economic opportunity,� said Richard Perrin, Jim Roberts Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics. However, according to Perrin, the researchers found that there are a few potential considerations that would improve the viability of the pathway.

Currently, the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) mandates consumption of specific levels of renewable fuels made from various categories of feedstocks. Under the markets created by the RFS, ethanol plants would be almost certain to obtain a premium for sweet sorghum ethanol compared to corn ethanol. The current level of that premium makes the pathway much more economical. However, according to the researchers the volatility of this market premium and the contentious political opposition to the RFS make this benefit risky.

Another consideration which could increase the potential of the sweet sorghum ethanol pathway, is an increase in yields. A separate $13.5 million multi-institutional research project led by Nebraska may provide the necessary yield increases. That effort aims to improve sorghum as a sustainable source for biofuel production

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter “If the research efforts raise biomass yields by 20-30 percent, or shows that yields are actually 20-30 percent higher than our estimate, the benefits to both the producer and the ethanol plant would be sufficient to make adoption of sweet sorghum for ethanol a sustainable possibility,�

Perrin said.

Joining Perrin in this research effort were Lilyan Fulginiti, professor in the Department of Economics, Ismail Dweikat, professor in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture and Subir Bairagi, post-doctoral fellow at the International Rice Research Institute.

Details of this research were reported in the January issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics.

Richard Perrin Jim Roberts Professor Department of Agricultural Economics 402-472-9818 rperrin@unl.edu

This article originally appeared on IANRnews.unl.edu: Husker researchers explore economic potential for sweet sorghum ethanol in western Nebraska

http://www.starherald.com/farm_ranch/extension/husker-researchers-explore-economic-potential-for-sweet-sorghumethanol-in/article_51b2bbf1-8c1c-5510-8336-605d0c5fd5cc.html

Japanese Farmer-Philosopher On How Indians Can Benefit From 'Fukuoka Way' Of Farming Jan 25, 2018, 16:41 IST | Gaurav Sarkar During A Brief Halt In The City, Author Larry Korn, Revolutionary Japanese FarmerPhilosopher Masanobu Fukuoka's Student, Explains How Indians Can Benefit From 'Fukuoka Way' Of Farming

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Larry Korn translated the Japanese Farmer s book One Straw Revolution. Pic/Suresh Karkera Be it Maharashtra Tamil Nadu or any other part of the country, the agriculture industry is plagued by a lot more than rising prices of manures and pesticides. While acres of crops are destroyed every year due to floods and drought-like situations, farmer suicides across the country are also at an all-time high. With such situations in the backdrop, author Larry Korn, the late revolutionary Japanese farmer-philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka's student, says that a journey back to the past may help in harvesting a better future.

Korn's itinerary In conversation with mid-day, Korn, who helped Fukuoka translate his immensely popular book in English, One Straw Revolutionary, admits that he is looking forward to visiting farmlands and other places his guru had frequented in Fukuoka's early days as a philosopher. Apparently, back in the '80s, Fukuoka visited India five times to spread the ideology of natural farming among farmers. In the city before heading to Wanwadi near Pune, where he intends to participate in a gathering of natural Indian farmers, Korn says, "At the event in Wanwadi, participants will try to formulate plans to take the system of natural farming ahead. Following this event, I will conduct

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter a weeklong workshop session in Karnataka to explain the benefits of Fukuoka's style of farming.

Indians can benefit a great deal from this way of farming as it will reduce cost of production, too."

Fukuoka's farming technique Korn describes himself as a "through-and-through LA-bred youngster" who headed to Japan at the age of 23, to learn and experience farming practices in the nation. "I had just graduated out of Berkley College in 1970 when I headed to Japan, where I learnt and got acquainted with farming tools and practices for two years. After years of hearing about Fukuoka's revolutionary farmland, in 1972, I embarked on a journey to visit Shikoku Island and meet Fukuoka. A lot of things stood out when I first saw his farm. Fukuoka did not plough the soil at all, there was no tillage system.

He did not flood his rice fields or use any kind of machinery and fertilisers/pesticides for crops.

Yet, he reaped better harvest than farmers in Japan, who employed the so-called 'modern' methods of farming. In fact, he managed the good produce after harvesting rice and barley on the same field every year. He also maintained a ground cover of soil-building plants on the surface of the orchards and the rice field, throughout the year."

Korn says Fukuoka's approach involves relying on Nature's unique ability to produce things on its own. "We need to return to our roots, literally. Fukuoka's point was that if we can restore the landscape to it's original form, we can rely on Nature's ability to keep producing to its maximum capacity. Farmers around Fukuoka used all sorts of machinery and pesticides, but they still couldn't match the quality and quantity of Fukuoka's produce."

So, why don't modern pragmatic countries adopt Fukuoka's method of farming? "People are used to conventional forms of farming. But, fact remains that our primitive ancestors lived in harmony with Nature for thousands of years without contaminating it with fertilisers and pesticides. It's time that we return to our roots, too." https://www.mid-day.com/articles/japanese-farmer-philosopher-on-how-indians-can-benefit-fromfukuoka-way-of-farming/18978185

Rice paper village keeps ancient craft alive Update: January, 26/2018 - 09:00

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Stack that paper: Racks of rice paper at a factory.

CẦN THƠ — Take a trip 40 kilometres outside Cần Thơ City and you’ll notice panels of rice papers drying in the sun on rattan racks lining the roads in Thốt Nốt District’s Thuận Hưng Ward.

Home to the Thuận Hưng rice paper village, the ward has around 50 professional rice paper businesses.

No one knows when the rice paper making began here, but households in the area say they have been making the item for around 200 years, a craft passed down from generation to generation.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Since demand has always been steady for their products in this part of the country, villagers often start the day at 2am, finish work at 4pm, and don’t go to bed until around 8pm. During the peak season, which starts three months before Tết, they may even have to stay up all night.

At times, demand soars so high the workers can barely keep up with production schedules and have to turn down new customers.

The village households specialise in making different kinds of flavoured rice paper: plain, salted, sweetened and coconut, all of which can be used to wrap spring rolls, dip in water, grill, or eat raw.

Plain rice paper is especially popular during Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday, as it is used as offerings to ancestors and as treats for guests.

“We only use rice, clean river water, and other ingredients like salt or sugar. Strictly no preservatives or chemicals, only natural ingredients,” said Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa, who has owned his rice paper business for 30 years.

Despite the simple recipe, making good rice paper is a demanding skill and requires precision in selecting the right kind of rice as well as finesse in cooking and handling the rice paper.

First, rice is soaked in river water and then ground. The cook then pours and spreads the batter into a circular shape onto a piping hot griddle which sits on top of a pot of steaming, boiling hot water. The batter is covered with a rattan “hat”, which helps to trap the heat and cook the paper in less than 10 seconds.

Since the freshly cooked rice papers are extremely fragile, the cook has to gently remove the paper with a cylindrical bamboo roll wrapped in cloth and transfer it to a cooling rack.

Freshly cooked rice papers normally take around half an hour to dry if under bright sunlight, or a few hours otherwise. Most households have to stop working when it rains.

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Quality rice paper is expected to be smooth and crispy, with a satisfying crunch when bitten, yet soft and chewy when dipped in water.The businesses also provide jobs for

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

the village, since most households need extra workers to cope with demand. On average, workers make VNÄ?70,000 - 120,000 (US$3 - 5) per day.

Two households invested in rice paper factories with automated machinery and production lines to great success, but others are hesitant about bringing in technology.

A typical household can make around 32 kilos of rice paper per day. Each household can make from VNÄ?200,000 to 700,000 per day, depending on their output.

About 60 per cent of the rice paper businesses operate on a daily basis, while the rest only work during the peak season to pursue better-paying jobs the rest of the year.

Rice paper making is a tiring and time-consuming job that pays relatively poorly, but the local villagers are determined to keep the traditional craft alive.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter “Our family has been making rice paper for three generations now and our daughter is now making rice paper for a living,” said Hà Thị Sáu, who has been in the business for 30 years.

Little competition exists between the businesses even though many of them are clustered together and share tips with each other.

In 2008, Cần Thơ City recognised the village as a place of attraction deserving of value and preservation.

But, despite its rich history and popularity, Thuận Hưng village is not a famous tourist attraction and only occasionally visited by people on their way to other well-known places.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter To create better awareness of its special product and tourism potential, the local authority is looking at plans to create a brand for Thuận Hưng rice paper by 2019, according to the deputy chairman of Thuận Hưng People’s Committee. — VNS Roll it up: A sheet of coconut rice paper being rolled and taken off the griddle.

Prepping product: Dried rice paper is ready for packaging.

Getting steamed: The owner of a rice paper business steams rice paper.

Roll up, roll up: Racks of rice paper lined up along the road. — VNS Photos Việt Dũng

http://vietnamnews.vn/life-style/421610/rice-paper-village-keeps-ancient-craftalive.html#R0f8PQIgy0FZWg6s.9

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Grain gain: China’s rice exports to Africa surge 26 January,2018 * Ivory Coast overtakes S.Korea as top export destination in 2017 * Chinese stocks of rice could feed India for a year * One Belt, One Road scheme helps boost sales to Africa -analyst * Stockpiles shrink in rival exporter Thailand By Josephine Mason and Hallie Gu BEIJING, Jan 25 (Reuters) - China’s rice exports to Africa surged last year, customs data showed on Thursday, with the world’s second-largest producer of the staple grain pushing to clear bulging state and commercial warehouses as it overhauls government support for its farming sector.

That rapid growth in sales to African nations is expected to continue in 2018, as buyers there increasingly turn to China as stockpiles are almost depleted in rival supplier Thailand. China in 2017 sold just over 781,000 tonnes of rice to almost 40 African countries including Ivory Coast and Senegal, up from around 74,000 tonnes the year before, data from the General Administration of Customs showed. That accounted for nearly 70 percent of China’s total shipments of the commodity, versus 19 percent in 2016. West Africa’s Ivory Coast overtook South Korea to become the top destination for China’s rice in 2017, with total purchases of 309,200 tonnes. “China has very high stocks of rice. The state is taking various measures to destock,” said Chen Xiaoshan, an analyst with Zhuochuang, a commodities consultancy in China’s eastern province of Shandong. “The Belt and Road Initiative policy also boosted the chances to export rice to these African countries,” Chen said, referring to a Chinese project to promote trade links with Asia, Africa and Europe through billions of dollars in infrastructure investment. The pace of exports may stoke concerns in the international market about China selling excess grain abroad after years of stockpiling. In 2016, the United States complained to the World Trade Organization about Beijing’s support for the country’s wheat, corn and rice farmers. China has around 94 million tonnes of rice stockpiles, two-thirds of the world’s excess inventory and enough to feed India for a year. A lot of that was accumulated through years of the government buying the grain from farmers at a minimum price when the market price dropped below that level. But last year Beijing cut minimum prices for rice and wheat for the first time, marking the start of an overhaul of the subsidy programme. Analysts expect another cut to rice prices in 2018. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said earlier this month that it expected Chinese sales of old-crop rice, especially to West Africa, to continue to expand as Thailand’s old-crop government stocks are nearly depleted.

Thailand has sold most of the about 18 million tonnes of rice built up during a rice-buying scheme introduced by a previous government. “This year, we no longer have any old rice in the state stockpile, so it is likely that China will take this African market from us,” Chookiat

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, told Reuters on Thursday. “This will also depend on how much old rice China has in its stockpile.” South Korea bought 167,270 tonnes of rice from China in 2017, Thursday’s data showed, making it the second-largest buyer of the grain. That was down 4.7 percent from 2016. (Reporting by Josephine Mason and Hallie Gu; additional reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat in BANGKOK; Editing by Joseph Radford and Christian Schmollinger) https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-missiles-coal-russia/exclusive-despite-sanctionsnorth-korea-exported-coal-to-south-and-japan-via-russia-intelligence-sources-idUSKBN1FE35N

Organic farming: U’khand to set up 10,000 clusters, plans 2 laws Date: 26-Jan-2018

The Uttarakhand government would develop nearly 10,000 organic clusters in the mountain region even as a move “is on” to legalise organic farming, agriculture minister Subodh Uniyal said Thursday DEHRADUN Updated: Jan 25, 2018 22:01 IST

Deep Joshi

55 Hindustan Times, Dehradun

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Farmers at a field in Dehradun. The Organic Agriculture Bill, once enacted, would provide legal backing to the government’s initiatives aimed at developing the hill region as a full-fledged organic state. (HT File)

The Uttarakhand government would develop nearly 10,000 organic clusters in the mountain region even as a move “is on” to legalise organic farming, agriculture minister Subodh Uniyal said Thursday.

“The Centre has agreed in principle to allocate a budget of Rs 1500 crore to develop 10,000 organic clusters in the state. It is one of several steps initiated by the Centre to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to develop Uttarakhand as an organic state so that local farmers’ income could be doubled by 2022,” Uniyal said.

Modi had made an announcement to this effect while laying foundation stone for the Kedarnath reconstruction projects last year.

Uniyal said funds “have started flowing in to pave the way to give a fillip to organic farming even as the state government had initiated steps” to legalise the alternative agricultural system.

“In that connection, we will soon introduce two dedicated laws,” he said adding the Organic Agriculture Bill and the Nursery Management Bill would be enacted in the assembly’s budget session that would commence by March end.

The Organic Agriculture Bill, once enacted, would provide legal backing to the government’s initiatives aimed at developing the hill region as a full-fledged organic state. “It would be mandatory for private parties, who would be roped in to provide plants and seeds to farmers, to register themselves under the proposed law,” said Uniyal adding, the rule would ban the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides in areas selected for organic farming.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Besides, the proposed law would have strict provisions for penalising those who would be caught using chemical fertilizers or insecticides while growing organic crop of any kind. “Besides, under that law, it would be mandatory for farmers to get their products certified by the designated agencies,” he said. The provisions would also be applicable to the agencies that “provide plants and seeds etc to farmers or those (agencies) that undertake value addition of organic farm produce.”

All such legal measures would help establish “our agricultural produce” as a distinct brand.

“That will help us achieve our objective to establish the mountain state as an exporter of organic produce internationally”, Uniyal said. “Export of organic produce will fetch huge foreign exchange hugely benefiting our farmers doubling their income by 2022 in keeping with the Prime Minister’s vision.”

Similarly, the proposed Nursery Management Bill would also have strict provisions. “Once this bill is enacted, those who dupe farmers by supplying substandard saplings or seeds will be severely penalized,” he said adding, the government had already declared 10 blocks as “fully” organic.

Other 10,000 organic clusters would be developed under the Prampara Krishi Vikas Yojna, a centrally-funded scheme. “This project will be implemented in a five lakh acre area and will boost the income of five lakh farmers. Under this scheme, separate clusters of organic seeds, vegetables, fruits of different kinds, varieties of agricultural crops including Basmati rice besides those of herbs and medicinal plants would be developed. Besides, plans were afoot to develop 500 clusters of high density apples. “Our aim is to be at par with neighbouring Himachal Pradesh in apple production,” Uniyal said.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Besides, the state government would soon introduce a project under which an Integrated Model of Agriculture Village would be developed. Under that project, each cluster would be equipped with facilities such as cold storage and sorting-grading units etc. “These clusters will also be equipped with farm machinery banks so that farmers can use state-of-the-art farm equipment to enhance the agricultural productivity,” Uniyal said. https://www.hindustantimes.com/dehradun/organic-farming-u-khand-to-set-up-10-000-clusters-plans-2laws/story-bBppTb3oIpn8yiFfx8m64N.html

Grain gain: China's rice exports to Africa surge Reuters Staff JANUARY 25, 2018 * Ivory Coast overtakes S.Korea as top export destination in 2017 * Chinese stocks of rice could feed India for a year * One Belt, One Road scheme helps boost sales to Africa -analyst * Stockpiles shrink in rival exporter Thailand

By Josephine Mason and Hallie Gu BEIJING, Jan 25 (Reuters) - China’s rice exports to Africa surged last year, customs data showed on Thursday, with the world’s second-largest producer of the staple grain pushing to clear bulging state and commercial warehouses as it overhauls government support for its farming sector.That rapid growth in sales to African nations is expected to continue in 2018, as buyers there increasingly turn to China as stockpiles are almost depleted in rival supplier Thailand.

China in 2017 sold just over 781,000 tonnes of rice to almost 40 African countries including Ivory Coast and Senegal, up from around 74,000 tonnes the year before, data from the General Administration of Customs showed. That accounted for nearly 70 percent of China’s total shipments of the commodity, versus 19 percent in 2016.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter West Africa’s Ivory Coast overtook South Korea to become the top destination for China’s rice in 2017, with total purchases of 309,200 tonnes.

“China has very high stocks of rice. The state is taking various measures to destock,” said Chen Xiaoshan, an analyst with Zhuochuang, a commodities consultancy in China’s eastern province of Shandong.

“The Belt and Road Initiative policy also boosted the chances to export rice to these African countries,” Chen said, referring to a Chinese project to promote trade links with Asia, Africa and Europe through billions of dollars in infrastructure investment.The pace of exports may stoke concerns in the international market about China selling excess grain abroad after years of stockpiling. In 2016, the United States complained to the World Trade Organization about Beijing’s support for the country’s wheat, corn and rice farmers.

China has around 94 million tonnes of rice stockpiles, two-thirds of the world’s excess inventory and enough to feed India for a year. A lot of that was accumulated through years of the government buying the grain from farmers at a minimum price when the market price dropped below that level.

But last year Beijing cut minimum prices for rice and wheat for the first time, marking the start of an overhaul of the subsidy programme. Analysts expect another cut to rice prices in 2018.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said earlier this month that it expected Chinese sales of oldcrop rice, especially to West Africa, to continue to expand as Thailand’s old-crop government stocks are nearly depleted.Thailand has sold most of the about 18 million tonnes of rice built up during a rice-buying scheme introduced by a previous government.

“This year, we no longer have any old rice in the state stockpile, so it is likely that China will take this African market from us,” Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, told Reuters on Thursday.“This will also depend on how much old rice China has in its stockpile.”

South Korea bought 167,270 tonnes of rice from China in 2017, Thursday’s data showed, making it the second-largest buyer of the grain. That was down 4.7 percent from 2016.

(Reporting by Josephine Mason and Hallie Gu; additional reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat in BANGKOK; Editing by Joseph Radford and Christian Schmollinger) https://www.reuters.com/article/china-economy-trade-rice/grain-gain-chinas-rice-exports-to-africa-surgeidUSL4N1PJ2ZW

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Rice basmati goes up on buying by stockist 25 JANUARY 2018 Last Updated at 2:13 PM New Delhi, Jan 25 Rice basmati prices rose by up to Rs 200 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today on increased buying by stockists.

However, wheat slipped on adequate stocks position.

Traders said increased buying by stockists against tight stocks position on fall in arrivals from producing belts pushed up rice basmati prices.

In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa-1121 variety went up by Rs 100 and Rs 200 to Rs 8,300- 8,400 and Rs 7,000-7,100 per quintal, respectively.

On the other hand, wheat dara (for mills) prices edged lower by Rs 10 to Rs 1,795-1,800 per quintal. Atta chakki delivery followed suit and traded lower by a similar margin to Rs 1,8051,810 per 90 kg.

Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal): Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,080-2,280, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,795-1,800, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,805-1,810, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 260-300, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Roller flour mill Rs 960-970 (50 kg), Maida Rs 990-1,000 (50 kg)and Sooji Rs 1,050-1,060 (50 kg).

Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,800, Basmati common new Rs 8,300-8,400, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 7,000-7,100, Permal raw Rs 2,3252375, Permal wand Rs 2,375-2,425, Sela Rs 2,800-3,000 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,975-2,025, Bajra Rs 1,200-1,205, Jowar yellow Rs 1,375-1,425, white Rs 2,750-2,850, Maize Rs 1,340- 1,345, Barley Rs 1,480-1,490. https://www.outlookindia.com

Cabinet purchase body approves rice, fertiliser imports Sun Online Desk

24th January, 2018 09:44:27

Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase on Wednesday approved 15 proposals including import of 100,000 metric ton of non-Bashmoti parboil rice from India.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Indian firm Rashid Automatic Rice Mills will supply the bulk rice at a cost of Tk 422.59 crore (Tk 42.25 per kg) at the 54 centres through three packages.

The Indian firm was selected by an open international tender, said Cabinet Division additional secretary Mustafizur Rahman while briefing newsman on the outcomes of the meeting.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith presided over the meeting as chief of the committee.

The committee approved a number of separate proposals for fertiliser import by Agriculture Ministry and Ministry of Industries, reports UNB. As per the proposals, the Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) will import 25,000 mt of TSP fertiliser from Groupe Chimique Tunisien (GCT) of Tunisia under the state-tostate agreement while it will import a same quantity of TSP fertiliser from OCT of Morocco under the similar deal between the two nations.

The Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) will import 45,000 mt of granular urea fertiliser from international market in two lots.

Local Poton Traders will supply 25,000 mt fertiliser at Tk 73 crore while another local firm Hydrocarbon Ltd will supply 20,000 mt at Tk 58.40 crore

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The BCIC will also import another 25,000 of fertiliser from UAE under the state-to-state deal at a cost of Tk 52 crore as each metric ton will cost $250.

The committee approved a proposal of Home Ministry to extend the current deal with British firm De La Rue for supply of extra 5 million machine readable passport (MRP) booklets and 5.5 million lamination foils at a cost of $11.49 million.

The committee approved a proposal of the Energy Ministry to import 245,000 metric tons of different petroleum products from different international sources for six months period from January-June in 2018 in which the government has to spend Tk 245 crore for premium purpose.

Of this, diesel will be 109,000 mt, Jet A1 Fuel 110,000 mt and furnace oil will be 26,000. The price of the petroleum will be fixed at the time of import order.

A proposal Education Ministry to build a 10-floor academic building for Noakhali University of Science and Technology received the nod of the committee.

A local joint venture firm won the contract to construct the building at as cost Tk 115.70 crore.

Energy Ministry’s different proposals for import of different drilling equipment and services received the nod of the committee. http://www.daily-sun.com/post/284321/Cabinet-purchase-body-approves-rice-fertiliser-imports

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

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.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

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.

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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

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter 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.

Rising exports 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

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter 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.

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 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.

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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

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter 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-fraud-government-can-stillplay-bigger-role.html

Rice prices soar in top exporters as Indonesia shops, fresh deals beckon Koustav Samanta

BENGALURU (Reuters) - Rice prices in top exporter India jumped to their highest in about 61/2 years on strong demand from Asia and Africa, exporters said, while rates for the staple hit multi-month highs in Thailand and Vietnam following recent purchases by Indonesia.

A farmer winnows rice in a field on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, November 4, 2016.

REUTERS/Amit Dave/Files In India, rates were also buoyed by hopes that Philippines and Indonesia will buy more rice in the coming months to build inventories.Indonesian state food procurement agency Bulog bought about 346,000 tonnes in an international tender last week, to be sourced from Vietnam, Thailand, Pakistan and India.“Prices (in India) have jumped, but even at higher levels, buyers are ready to make purchases. They fear prices could rally further,” said M. Adishankar, executive director at Sri Lalitha, an exporter located in southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.India’s 5 percent broken parboiled rice price jumped by $12 to $444-$448 per tonne, the highest level since September 2011, when the country lifted a four-year-old ban on non-basmati rice shipments.“The market is expecting more buying from Indonesia and Philippines. Bangladesh and African countries are also active in the market and buying mainly from India,” said an exporter based in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.Surplus supplies in all exporting countries have

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter been depleting and that could push prices higher by another $10-15 in coming weeks, the exporter said.

Workers unload bags of rice from a truck before loading them onto a boat at Sunda Kelapa port in Jakarta, Indonesia, November 21, 2016. REUTERS/Iqro Rinaldi/Files Bangladesh, which has emerged as a major importer of the grain since 2017 after floods damaged its crops, has approved the purchase of 100,000 tonnes of parboiled rice in a domestic tender, a food ministry official said on Thursday.

The winning bidder will supply the rice from India, the official added.Meanwhile, Vietnam’s benchmark 5-percent broken rice rose to $450 a tonne, FOB Saigon, the highest in more than three years. Last week, prices ranged $420-$430. Traders said despite higher prices, sellers are reluctant to commit to new deals as stock is low at the end of the crop season while harvesting is scheduled in late February or early March. The market is also eyeing deals from the Philippines, which plans to import 250,000 tonnes to boost thinning stockpiles.Thailand’s benchmark 5 percent broken rice rose to a peak since June 2017, at $440-$448, free-on-board (FOB) Bangkok, versus $415-$420 last week.“Indonesia purchased about 120,000 tonnes from Thailand and there are talks of the country importing an additional 150,000 tonnes from us,” said a Bangkok-based trader.“It has been the single biggest factor for the hike in rice prices. There are no other impending deals at the moment and supply is constant.”

Reporting by Suphanida Thakral in Bangkok, Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai, Mai Nguyen in Hanoi, and Ruma Paul in Dhaka, editing by David Evans Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. https://in.reuters.com/article/asia-rice/rice-prices-soar-in-top-exporters-as-indonesia-shops-freshdeals-beckon-idINKBN1FE1SP

Rice production to surpass consumption through March: Agriculture Ministry The Jakarta Post Jakarta | Thu, January 25, 2018 | 03:23 pm

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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.

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.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, http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/01/25/rice-production-to-surpassconsumption-through-march-agriculture-ministry.html

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