26th november,2013 daily rice e newsletter by riceplus magazien

26th November , 2013

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Some Moments of Nutrition Awareness Walk by Green Growth Pakistan

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24 November,2013 in Lahore Contact for more detail : akramkhalid@greengrowth.org.pk

Summit spotlights Asia’s food and nutrition security BANGKOK, 25 November 2013 (IRIN) - Representatives of the UN, governments, NGOs and private sector farming are expected to gather in Bangkok, Thailand, on 26 November for a two-day forum on how to fill the Asia-Pacific‘s growing food demands and nutrition gaps in a region more devastated by natural disasters than any other worldwide.―In order to feed a population of nine billion by 2025, we will need a new vision for agriculture… producing more food with fewer resources, while reinvigorating rural economies,‖ said Radwan Chowdury, founder and chief executive officer of the Udion Foundation a Bangladeshi non-profit child poverty alleviation NGO.―Farmers may be at risk of getting squeezed at the bottom of the value chain,‖ said Bas Bouman, director of the Global Rice Science Partnership at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), based in the capital of the Philippines, Manila.Though up to 80 percent of Asia-Pacific‘s poor now live in rural areas, UN projections have half the region‘s population living in cities by 2020.Rapidly expanding cities make satisfying the need for urban food security as well as rural livelihoods a precarious balance for policymakers, according to IRRI, which warned that boosting urban food security requires reducing costs – and profits for rural producers – during the ―farm-to-fork‖ trajectory of food.

Nutrition security highlighted Experts have long pointed to the need for a marriage between health experts, who have the knowledge, and policymakers in the agricultural sector, who could expand programmes that raise the nutritional content of crops by adding micronutrients, to reduce malnutrition.―Food security is still thought about too much in terms of quantity… the nutritional aspects of food are recognized, but it‘s not enough,‖ said Bouman.The UN Food and

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Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other agencies and donors have gradually moved to address ―food and nutrition security‖ rather than food security and nutrition, to emphasize the central role of nutrition in survival.

The UK-based Aid and International Development Forum (AIDF), which is organizing the event, is looking to create a cross-disciplinary forum to tackle the region‘s food – and nutrition – challenges.

An August 2013 meta-study by the Asian Development Bank estimated that 537 million people in the region are undernourished.―It is crucial that private and public partnerships are formed, [with] the summit providing a uniting international platform,‖ said event organizer Sonja Reutzel.Forum topics will range from best health interventions in the critical first 1,000 days of a child‘s life (conception to age two) to the potential of oil and rice fortification for boosting micronutrient intake.FAO notes that two decades ago, developing countries worldwide were already consuming up to 140 million tons of cooking oil per year, making oil a promising food group for nutrition interventions, say advocates.But IRRI‘s Bouman said various sectors first need to work together more closely. ―A key priority is to get nutrition and health sectors to collaborate with the traditional agricultural sectors, in the government, NGO and private sectors.‖ Photo: Phuong Tran/IRIN:These women in Nepal's mid-west all have rice, but not necessarily good nutrition

Research and Forecast of Functional Red Yeast Rice Market in China, 2013-2017 London (PRWEB) November 25, 2013

Functional red yeast rice can accelerate blood circulation and food digestion. Besides, it has amazing effect on cholesterin lowing, blood lipid regulation and the improvement of cardiovascular health. China firstly found and applied red yeast rice, but the technology is backward and the market is chaotic.In recent years, with the improvement of people's lives and the development of science and technology, functional red yeast rice has been applied in a variety of food processing health care and other industries at home and abroad. The market scale of red yeast rice reached CNY 158 million in 2012 in China. Red yeast rice plays an increasingly important role in people's lives. The market scale of red yeast rice and functional red yeast rice will surpass CNY 270 million in 2017 in China.

This report includes a comprehensive and exhaustive market research on the market status, market scale, market competition situation and business performance of key manufacturers of functional red yeast rice industry.

What‘s more, this report conducts an investment forecast that can provide reference for you.

1. Functional Red Yeast Rice Overview 1.1 Definition and Performance 1.2 Composition and Classification 1.2.1 Composition 1.2.2 Classification

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2. Status Quo of Functional Red Yeast Rice Industry in Foreign Countries 2.1 Red Yeast Rice Pigment 2.2 Functional Red Yeast Rice 3. Industry Environment of Functional Red Yeast Rice in China 3.1 Economic Development Environment 3.1.1 Economic Development Status 3.1.2 GDP 3.1.3 Fixed Asset Investment 3.1.4 Total Import and Export Amount and Growth Rate 3.2 Industry Related Policy and Standard 4. Functional Red Yeast Rice Industry Status Quo in China 4.1 Market Status Quo of Red Yeast Rice Industry 4.2 Functional Red Yeast Rice Industry Status Quo 4.3 Market Scale of Functional Red Yeast Rice 4.4 Existing Problems 5. Demand and Supply of Functional Red Yeast Rice in China 5.1 Supply 5.2 Demand 5.3 Price 5.3.1 Current Market Price 5.3.2 Factors Affecting the Price of Functional Red Yeast Rice 6. Competitive Landscape of Functional Red Yeast Rice Industry in China 6.1 Porter Five Forces Analysis 6.2 Industry Concentration Ratio 6.2.1 Consumption Concentration Ratio 6.2.2 Production Concentration Ratio 6.2.3 Brands Analysis 6.3 Competition Situation of Functional Red Yeast Rice Industry in China 7. Upstream and Downstream of Functional Red Yeast Rice Industry in China 7.1 Upstream 7.2 Downstream 8. Functional Red Yeast Rice Products Technology in China 8.1 Technology development Status Quo 8.2 Bottle Fermentation and Tray Fermentation Are the Main Modes of Production of Lipid-lowering Functional Red Yeast Rice 8.3 Process Optimization Methods 9. Key Functional Red Yeast Rice Manufacturers in China 9.1 Beijing Beida Weixin Biological Technology Co., Ltd. 9.1.1 Company Profile 9.1.2 Products and Strength 9.1.3 Business Performance 9.1.4 Development Strategy

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9.2 Dongfang Biological Technology Co., Ltd. 9.2.1 Company Profile 9.2.2 Products and Strength 9.2.3 Business Performance 9.2.4 Development Strategy 9.3 Wuhan Jiacheng Biological Products Co., Ltd. 9.3.1 Company Profile 9.3.2 Products and Strength 9.3.3 Business Performance 9.3.4 Development Strategy 9.4 Hangzhou Twin-Horse Bioengineering Co. Ltd. 9.4.1 Company Profile 9.4.2 Products and Strength 9.4.3 Business Performance 9.4.4 Development Strategy 9.5 Zhejiang Sanhe Bio-Tech Co. Ltd. 9.5.1 Company Profile 9.5.2 Products and Strength 9.5.3 Business Performance 9.5.4 Development Strategy 9.6 Hangzhou Boda Biological Technology Co. Ltd. 9.6.1 Company Profile 9.6.2 Products and Strength 9.6.3 Business Performance 9.6.4 Development Strategy 9.7 Dongguan Tianyi Bioeng. Co. Ltd. 9.7.1 Company Profile 9.7.2 Products and Strength 9.7.3 Business Performance 9.7.4 Development Strategy 9.8 Jiangmen Kelong Biological Technology Co., Ltd. 9.8.1 Company Profile 9.8.2 Products and Strength 9.8.3 Business Performance 9.8.4 Development Strategy 9.9 Shanghai Jiajie Natural Food Pigment Co., Ltd. 9.10 Shanghai Guli Biological Technology Co., Ltd. 9.11 Yongkang City Yangguang Natural Pigments Plant 9.12 Nanping Lufeng Red Rice Yeast Co.Ltd. 9.13 Fuzhou LLX Biologic Products Co. Ltd. 9.14 Yiwu Danxi Wine Industry Co. Ltd.

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10. Future Development Trend of Functional Red Yeast Rice Industry in China 10.1 Macro Environment Forecast 10.2 Development Forecast 10.3 Market Scale Forecast 11. Experts‘ Investment Proposals 11.1 Investment Risk of Functional Red Yeast Rice Industry in China 11.1.1 Export Risk 11.1.2 Market Competition Risk 11.1.3 Raw Material Price Risk 11.2 Industry Coping Strategy 11.2.1 Grasp the State Investment Opportunity 11.2.2 The Implementation of Competitive Strategic Alliances 11.2.3 Enterprise's Own Coping Strategies Companies Mentioned Beijing Beida Weixin Biological Technology Co., Ltd. Dongfang Biological Technology Co., Ltd. Wuhan Jiacheng Biological Products Co., Ltd. Hangzhou Twin-Horse Bioengineering Co. Ltd. Zhejiang Sanhe Bio-Tech Co. Ltd. Hangzhou Boda Biological Technology Co. Ltd. Dongguan Tianyi Bioeng. Co. Ltd. Development Strategy Jiangmen Kelong Biological Technology Co., Ltd. Shanghai Jiajie Natural Food Pigment Co., Ltd. Shanghai Guli Biological Technology Co., Ltd. Yongkang City Yangguang Natural Pigments Plant Nanping Lufeng Red Rice Yeast Co.Ltd. Fuzhou LLX Biologic Products Co. Ltd. Yiwu Danxi Wine Industry Co. Ltd. Read the full report:Research and Forecast of Functional Red Yeast Rice Market in China, 2013-2017 http://www.reportbuyer.com/food_drink/pasta_rice_dried_food/research_forecast_functional_red_yeast_rice_market_china_2013_2017.html#utm_s ource=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Pasta,_Noodles_and_Rice For more information: Website: http://www.reportbuyer.com

PH gets rice supply offers

By Ronnel W. Domingo:Philippine Daily Inquirer 8:18 pm | Tuesday, November 26th, 2013

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The governments of Thailand and Vietnam on Tuesday submitted offers for the delivery of 500,000 metric tons of milled rice meant to top up the National Food Authority‘s buffer stock.

Bangkok offered $475 per MT while Hanoi offered $462.25 MT, but NFA director Rex C. Estoperez said other details of the bids were still being evaluated.Cambodia, which also has an agreement with Malacañang on the supply of rice, did not submit its bid.―This is a meticulous undertaking (the evaluation),‖ Estoperez said. ―We want to make sure that every detail conforms with the terms and conditions of the bidding.‖He said the prices quoted were ―free on warehouse,‖ meaning that costs related to spillage, damage, and cargo handling are already covered.

Estoperez said an initial cargo was expected to arrive before the end of this year.

Just how much the first cargo would be is a question of logistics and resources.

Considering that 500,000 MT translates to 10 million sacks of 50 kilograms each, a realistic cargo size depends on the ability of ports to accommodate the shipment based on the traffic situation at the pier. At the runup to the holiday season, ship traffic is expected to get heavier. ―We want the entire volume to have been landed by February, before the summer crop is harvested,‖ he said. ―Otherwise, the shipments would affect prices of (homegrown rice).‖

S. Korea's self-sufficiency rate for rice to top 90 pct SEJONG, Nov. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's self-sufficiency rate for rice is expected to reach over 90 percent in 2014 for the first time in four years, government officials said Tuesday.According to officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the country's self-sufficiency rate for rice is expected to reach 92 percent next year.The estimate comes as the country's total consumption is expected to drop to about 4.58 million tons with its per capita consumption shrinking 1.75 percent from 68.5 kilograms this year to 67.3 kg.The ministry earlier said the country's total rice production grew 5.6 percent on-year to a little over 4.23 million tons this year.

"Considering the amount of rice in government reserve, the country may be said to be fully sufficient as total consumption covers both new and old rice while total production only refers to new rice," a ministry official said.The country's self-sufficiency rate for rice had remained well above 90 percent until 2010 but has remained in the 80-percent range since it dropped to the record low of 83.1 percent in 2011.The self-sufficiency rate for this year is expected to come in at around 87 percent as the country's total rice output dropped 5.2 percent onyear to about 4 million tons last year.

Japan Dismantles Rice Output Policy as Abe Targets Farming

By Aya Takada & Chikako Mogi - 2013-11-26T08:12:58Z

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe‘s government approved a plan to end a four-decade long policy that has helped to sustain the nation‘s 1.2 million rice farms.The gentan system, which has paid landowners to reduce crops since

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1970, will be be dismantled by the end of the fiscal year through March 31, 2019, Agriculture Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters in Tokyo today.The change may spur consolidation of small paddies into larger fields as Abe seeks to increase agricultural efficiency and remove hurdles to his pursuit of free-trade pacts including the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The subsidies support a typical Japanese farmer who is a 70-year-old man living off pension payments, part-time work and sales of the grain, data from the Norinchukin Research Institute show.―I expect more deregulation to follow that is consistent with changing agriculture into an industry,‖ Economy Minister Akira Amari said at a separate briefing. Amari, who is spearheading Abe‘s plans for economic revitalization, said the changes announced today would see agricultural resources shift to ―capable producers.‖The government didn‘t announce any changes to import tariffs, which are as high as 778 percent for rice. Sugar has a 328 percent duty while tariffs for beef and pork are 38.5 percent and 4.3 percent. The Agriculture Ministry said some subsidies for rice used as animal feed will increase.

Photo: A farmer takes a rest in front of a paddy field in Katori, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg

Toshiba, Toyota Manufacturers from Toshiba Corp. (6502) to Toyota Motor Corp. (7203) would benefit from Abe‘s push to reach a TPP agreement. A government estimate in March found that joining the pact and cutting tariffs would boost Japan‘s gross domestic product by 3.2 trillion yen, even as farm and fisheries production was forecast to drop by 3 trillion yen.As many as 72 percent of Japanese rice farmers work on one hectare or less, with 42 percent on half of that, according to Norinchukin.The average U.S. rice farm is 180 hectares and yields more than 50 percent as much grain per hectare as Japanese paddies, based on calculations using data from Norinchukin, Japan‘s Agriculture Ministry and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.Rice futures on Japan‘s Osaka-Dojima Commodity Exchange fell 0.2 percent to 12,760 yen a bag today, or 212.7 yen a kilogram. They‘ve fallen 20 percent this year.Rough-rice futures on the Chicago Board of Trade fell 0.4 percent to $15.745 per 100 pounds at 4:04 p.m. Tokyo time, trimming their gains for 2013 to 3.8 percent.

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Rice Exporters Japan and 11 other nations including the U.S., Australia and Vietnam are in talks for the TPP. The U.S. and Australia are ranked first and seventh for coarse-grain exports while Vietnam is the second-largest rice shipper, U.S. Department of Agriculture data show.The Agriculture Ministry will halve gentan subsidies starting in the fiscal year from April 1, 2014, and end all payments by March 31, 2019, said Takashi Amou, a director of the policy planning division. Farmers who grow rice for livestock feed will receive subsidies that increase by as much as 31 percent under the changes announced today, according to Amou.―Ending the gentan policy is a first step in making Japanese rice farming efficient,‖ said Takaki Shigemoto, a commodity analyst at research company JSC Corp. in Tokyo. ―The government has more to do if it wants Japanese farmers to be competitive against agricultural exporting countries.‖Wholesale prices of the locally grown cereal averaged 276 yen a kilogram in the nine months through May, compared with 181 yen paid for milled short-grain rice from the U.S. and 152 yen for the same variety from Australia in import tenders last month. These prices included shipping and inspection costs.

Price Support The gentan system was originally devised to support prices by setting annual output targets that matched demand estimates. As Japan grew richer and people ate less rice, the targets shrank and the state paid subsidies to farmers who agreed to sow less grain.This year‘s target was a record-low 7.91 million metric tons, compared with estimated demand of 7.86 million tons. Consumption peaked at 13.4 million tons in 1963.Farmers who plant less in line with the plan currently receive about 150,000 yen ($1,477) for each 1 hectare (2.5 acres) under cultivation and become eligible for other benefits.Japan, self-sufficient in rice, is the world‘s largest importer of corn. It also depends on overseas shipments for almost 90 percent of its wheat.It has capped food-rice imports at 100,000 tons a year since 2001. Total inbound shipments, including feed grain for animals, were 770,000 tons in 2012.The Agriculture Ministry has previously outlined plans to create land banks in every prefecture to connect small holdings into larger tracts. They would pool mostly small lots from farmers ready to give up working their fields and consolidate them to lease as larger areas.

To contact the reporters on this story: Aya Takada in Tokyo at atakada2@bloomberg.net; Chikako Mogi in Tokyo at cmogi@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Brett Miller at bmiller30@bloomberg.net

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NFA says Vietnam beat Thailand in bid to supply rice

By Erik dela Cruz, Reuters Posted at 11/26/2013 2:28 PM | Updated as of 11/26/2013 2:28 PM

MANILA - Vietnam submitted the lowest price to supply 500,000 tonnes of rice to the Philippines, beating Thailand's offer for grain to boost stocks depleted by Typhoon Haiyan, Manila's grain procurement agency said on Tuesday.Vietnam, the world's second-biggest rice exporter after India last year, offered to deliver the entire volume within three months at $462.25 per tonne, with a first shipment of at least 120,000 tonnes by Dec. 31.Thailand had offered rice at $475 per tonne while Cambodia, the third country allowed to participate in the bidding, failed to submit an offer.The tender involved government representatives of the three countries, unlike previous bidding where private suppliers had been allowed to participate.Both Vietnam and Thailand offered to supply the 25 percent broken, long grain, well-milled rice variety.The National Food Authority (NFA) believes Vietnam's terms were acceptable, said Orlan Calayag, its administrator."What we are buying now will lift our stocks back to a comfortable level," Calayag told Reuters.

He said formal approval of the winning offer would be made in the next few days.The NFA's rice inventory as of Monday was good for 13 days, below the 15-day buffer stock the agency aims to keep, after it released some of its stocks for typhoon relief operations run by the government, private agencies and humanitarian groups.Haiyan, the world's biggest-ever storm to make landfall, struck the central Philippines on Nov. 8, killing more than 5,200 people, displacing around 4 million and destroying at least P24 billion ($547 million) in crops and infrastructure.

VIETNAM, THAILAND OFFER TO SUPPLY .5M TONS OF RICE

Submitted 15 hours 25 min ago by Anonymous.

The National Food Authority yesterday said that Vietnam and Thailand has placed bids for the supply of 500,000 metric tons of rice to augment the country‘s buffer stock..In an interview, Orlan Calayag, administrator

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of the National Food Authority said that Vietnam and Thailand offered at a public bidding to supply the rice at a free-on-warehouse price of $462.25 and $475.00 a metric ton, respectively. ― The offer made is favorable to the government, it is within tolerable limit. Formal approval of the winning offer would be made in the next few days,‖ he said.Both Vietnam and Thailand offered to supply the 25 percent broken, long grain, well-milled rice variety.Calayag said the rice import is being undertaken through a government-to-government arrangement, however, Cambodia which also invited was not present during the bidding.―We sent all the letter of invitation last week, but Cambodia did not send any representative to join the bidding,‖ he said.Calayag said the bids of both countries are currently being evaluated but admits that ―Vietnam will likely win the bid because of the low price it offered.‖Vietnam, the world‘s second-biggest rice exporter after India last year, offered to deliver the entire volume within three months.

Calayag refused to immediately disclose the free-on-warehouse price they were considering, but noted that it included cost such as spillage and transport to warehouse plus the freight-on-board price that now stands around $375 a ton in the world market.He said they expect delivery of around 10 million sacks of rice to start in December and continue into February next year.On the other hand, damages sustained by the agriculture sector from the onslaught of typhoon Yolanda has risen to P9.73 billion with the rice subsector incurring the highest damage in terms of value. The super typhoon that demolished rice lands in Regions 6, 7 and 8 has stomped country‘s dream to attain self-sufficiency in the grain by the end of the year.

Demolished by the typhoon were 143, 774 metric tons (MT) of palay planted in 77, 476 hectares, 36, 038 hectares of which may still recover. Production loss was placed at P2.33 billion. The Agriculture department said flat growth in palay production can be expected this year, sufficient to cover domestic requirements but not enough to maintain a 90-day buffer stock. Under a 100 percent self-sufficiency level, we would be able to provide for both the domestic requirement and the 90-day buffer stock requirement.‖ Agriculture Undersecretary Dante Delima, also the National Rice Program Coordinator, said that by year-end, the Philippines would only be able to achieve a 95 to 97 percent self-sufficiency level as production is seen to reach around only 18.03 million MT this year, the same level as last year.

Category: Business News

Political unrest fueled by rice scheme Reuters | November 26, 2013

Thailand looks likely to fall far short of target on a $2.4 billion bond to fund rice subsidies, risking the anger of farmers as protests against the government escalate.The government needs the money to appease rice growers, a traditional bastion of support who have threatened to join the protests as they have not been paid for their grain

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since the subsidy scheme was renewed at the start of October.Anti-government demonstrators forced their way into Thailand's finance and foreign ministries on Monday in an escalating bid to topple Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.The state Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) raised only 37 billion baht of 75 billion baht after book-building closed, two sources familiar with the matter said on Monday.

While the subscription period is open till Nov. 28, the bank is expected to proceed with a coupon of 3.53 percent.

We can see the demand for the issue is weak today. It may be because of the political issue," said a fund manager with a domestic asset management firm. "It was only 50 percent covered. Maybe in two weeks, when the situation is not like today, they can reopen and try again."Investors had expressed concern over the cost of the rice scheme and cited the political uncertainty.Underwriters set early price guidance of 31 to 39 basis points over comparable Thai government bonds, according to IFR Markets, a unit of Thomson Reuters.To attract investors the issue also specified the government will pay the principal and the interest, unlike BAAC's other outstanding state guaranteed bonds, IFR said.

"I didn't invest in it. It's not interesting and the usage of the funds is not so good. It's more to do with supporting the rice scheme than the bank's business expansions," said a fund manager at a domestic bank.Thailand's finance ministry said last week it would borrow from banks or allow them to bid on the unsold portion if institutional interest fell short.BAAC, which funds the rice scheme, has sold about 123 billion baht ($3.9 billion) of debt this year but had to cancel three auctions last month.Officials at the Public Debt Management Office were not immediately available for comment.The three-year bond, due November 2016, will be used to pay for the main harvest while a second smaller issue will be needed for the subsequent crop."I've talked to other fund managers and they also think although the bond is guaranteed by the government, they don't want to support the rice buying scheme because it's not transparent," said a bond dealer at a domestic bank speaking ahead of the launch.Thailand buys rice at 15,000 baht a tonne, well above market rates. The subsidies are popular among farmers whose support swept Shinawatra to power in 2011 in a landslide election.They are the cornerstone of economic policies aimed at lifting rural incomes to stimulate consumption in the mould of her brother, ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He funneled money into villages through cheap loans and a debt moratorium for farmers while in power from 2001 to 2006, creating a knock-on effect on the whole economy. ($1=31.8 baht)

Vietnam bids lowest price to supply rice to Philippines November 27, 2013

Vietnam submitted the lowest price to supply 500,000 tonnes of rice to the Philippines, beating Thailand's offer for grain to boost stocks depleted by Typhoon Haiyan, Manila's grain procurement agency said on Tuesday.

Vietnam, the world's second-biggest rice exporter after India last year, offered to deliver the entire volume within three months at $462.25 per tonne, with a first shipment of at least 120,000 tonnes by December 31. hailand had offered rice at $475 per tonne while Cambodia, the third country allowed to participate in the bidding, failed to submit an offer. The tender involved government representatives of the three countries, unlike previous bidding where private suppliers had been allowed to participate.

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Both Vietnam and Thailand offered to supply the 25 percent broken, long grain, well-milled rice variety. The National Food Authority (NFA) believes Vietnam's terms were acceptable, said Orlan Calayag, its administrator. "What we are buying now will lift our stocks back to a comfortable level," Calayag told Reuters.

He said formal approval of the winning offer would be made in the next few days. The NFA's rice inventory as of Monday was good for 13 days, below the 15-day buffer stock the agency aims to keep, after it released some of its stocks for typhoon relief operations run by the government, private agencies and humanitarian groups.

Copyright Reuters, 2013

Protesters Raid Compound of Thai Finance Ministry Rungroj Yongrit/European Pressphoto Agency BANGKOK — Antigovernment protesters raided the compound of Thailand‘s Finance Ministry and entered the grounds of the Foreign Ministry on Monday, in the latest escalation of a long-running battle between supporters and opponents of Thaksin Shinawatra, the billionaire former prime minister, whose party has a commanding majority in Parliament.Tens of thousands of protesters, who staged one of Thailand‘s largest demonstrations in years on Sunday, split into a dozen groups early on Monday and marched through Bangkok chanting, ―Get out!‖ — apparently directed at Mr. Thaksin‘s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, the current prime minister, and others in Mr. Thaksin‘s circle.

Late on Monday, Ms. Yingluck responded by expanding the application of a security law to cover all of Bangkok and some surrounding areas, giving her powers to ―prevent, suppress, eradicate and overcome‖ threats to national security.―It is necessary for the government to enforce the law,‖ she said on national television. ―But I would like to insist that the government will strictly not use any violence against people. ‖The invasion of the two ministries on Monday recalled protests against Mr. Thaksin and his allies in 2008, when demonstrators occupied and shut down the prime minister‘s office and Bangkok‘s main international airport.Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime minister and a leader of the current protests, led the takeover of the Finance Ministry, shouting instructions from atop a large truck.―Everyone get in the building!‖ Mr. Suthep said as his supporters blew ear-piercing whistles. The protesters turned off the electricity in the building at his urging, ―so that the police will not receive their daily allowance.

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‖Protesters could be seen in two of the ministry‘s conference rooms in the afternoon, and by evening, they were starting to camp out in the courtyard. No riot police officers were visible in the compound.Mr. Suthep said protesters had chosen to occupy the Finance Ministry because it is at the heart of the government. ―From now on, this government can no longer transfer money,‖ he said. ―Not a single coin will be used by the Thaksin regime anymore.‖Protesters also entered the grounds of the Foreign Ministry, but did not gain entry to the main building.

There, too, the protesters planned to stay overnight in the courtyard, organizers said.Mr. Suthep has not detailed specific goals for the protests, but he has said that dissolution of Parliament or resignation of a few government ministers will not satisfy him.―We will not stop fighting until the Thaksin regime is entirely eradicated from Thailand,‖ he told the crowd on Sunday.

Mr. Thaksin, who has lived overseas since a conviction for abuse of power in 2008, maintains strong support in the populous northern and northeastern provinces of Thailand. Many analysts, including some of his opponents, say that his party, Pheu Thai, would probably win an election if one was called.Mr. Thaksin‘s opponents say that they are concerned that he has accumulated too much power in Thailand, and they are angry that he appears to be making policy decisions from abroad.The current protests began several weeks ago, in what proved to be a successful effort to force the government to withdraw an amnesty bill that would have eased Mr. Thaksin‘s return to Thailand. But to the chagrin of some business associations in the country, which fear economic fallout from the protests, the demonstrations have continued despite the amnesty bill‘s defeat.Independent analysts have criticized what they say appears to be an open-ended protest. ―The protest leaders need to clarify their demands,‖ Yuttaporn Issarachai, the dean of political science at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, said Monday on Thai television.Mr. Yuttaporn said he worried about the possibility of clashes between rival protesters. Thousands of government supporters have gathered at a stadium in Bangkok.

Mr. Thaksin, who was prime minister from 2001 until the military removed him from power in a coup d‘état in 2006, cemented his support in the northern rural areas through policies such as universal health care and microloans to villagers.Ms. Yingluck has continued to put populist policies in place in her two and a half years in power. Some of those programs have come at a great cost to the country‘s finances. News agencies reported Monday that the government was having trouble finding enough buyers for 75 billion baht, or $2.3 billion, in bonds that it needs to sell to finance a program that pays farmers well above market price for rice.

Poypiti Amatatham contributed reporting.

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A version of this article appears in print on November 26, 2013, on page A13 of the New York edition with the headline: Protesters Raid Compound Of Thai Finance Ministry.

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- NOV 26 Tue Nov 26, 2013 2:41pm IST

Nagpur, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Gram prices in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) showed weak tendency on lack of demand from local millers amid high moisture content arrival. Fresh fall on NCDEX, weak trend in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and profit-taking selling by stockists at higher level also pushed down prices, according to sources. *

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FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Gram varieties suffered heavily in open market on poor buying support from local traders amid increased supply from producing regions.

TUAR * Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here matching the demand and supply position. * Udid varieties recovered further in open market on good demand from local traders amid weak supply from producing regions. * Major rice varieties showed firm tendency on increased marriage season demand from local traders amid restricted supply from producing belts like Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. * In Akola, Tuar - 4,400-4,550, Tuar dal - 6,600-6,800, Udid at 4,800-5,100, Udid Mogar (clean) - 5,700-6,000, Moong - 6,800-7,200, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,700-7,900, Gram - 3,300-3,500, Gram Super best bold - 4,400-4,600 for 100 kg. * Wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market in thin trading activity, according to sources.

Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS

Available prices

Previous close

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Gram Auction 2,500-2,850 2,560-2,870 Gram Pink Auction n.a.

2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction n.a.

3,950-4,050 Moong Auction n.a.

4,300-4,500 Udid Auction n.a.

4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction n.a.

2,600-2,800 Gram Super Best Bold 4,300-4,500 4,500-4,800 Gram Super Best n.a.

Gram Medium Best 3,900-4,200 4,100-4,300 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a.

Gram Mill Quality 3,500-3,600 3,700-3,750 Desi gram Raw 3,200-3,400 3,450-3,500 Gram Filter Yellow n.a. n.a.

Gram Kabuli 7,700-10,000 7,700-10,000 Gram Pink 7,700-8,100 7,700-8,100 Tuar Fataka Best 6,900-7,100 6,900-7,100 Tuar Fataka Medium 6,600-6,700 6,600-6,700 Tuar Dal Best Phod 6,200-6,300 6,200-6,300 Tuar Dal Medium phod 6,100-6,200 6,100-6,200 Tuar Gavarani 4,400-4,500 4,400-4,500 Tuar Karnataka 4,650-4,750 4,650-4,750 Tuar Black 7,000-7,100 7,000-7,100 Masoor dal best 5,200-5,300 5,200-5,300 Masoor dal medium 4,800-4,900 4,800-4,900 Masoor n.a. n.a.

Moong Mogar bold 8,300-8,700 8,300-8,700 Moong Mogar Medium best 8,000-8,200 8,000-8,200 Moong dal super best 7,300-7,500 7,300-7,500 Moong dal Chilka 6,600-6,950 6,600-6,950 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.

Moong Chamki best 7,200-7,500 7,200-7,400 Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 6,800-7,000 6,700-6,900 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,100-6,400 6,100-6,400 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,500-5,900 5,500-5,900 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 3,900-4,100 3,900-4,100 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 2,900-3,000 2,900-3,000 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,250-3,350 3,250-3,350 Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,200 3,100-3,200 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 5,700-6,300 5,700-6,300 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,600-1,700 1,600-1,700 Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,750-1,800 1,750-1,800 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,900 1,600-1,800

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Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 1,850-2,300 1,850-2,300 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,900 1,700-1,900 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,600 3,100-3,600 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,900 2,600-2,900 Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG) 1,400-1,500 1,400-1,500 Wheat Best (100 INR/KG) 1,500-1,600 1,500-1,600 Rice BPT (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,300 3,000-3,300 Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,850-1,900 1,850-1,900 Rice Swarna Best (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,600 2,300-2,500 Rice Swarna Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,300 2,000-2,200 Rice HMT (100 INR/KG) 3,900-4,300 3,900-4,200 Rice HMT Shriram (100 INR/KG) 4,700-5,200 4,700-5,000 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 9,000-13,500 9,000-13,500 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,100-7,600 6,100-7,600 Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,500 5,000-5,400 Rice Chinnor Medium (100 INR/KG) 4,900-5,100 4,800-5,000 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,500-1,650 1,500-1,650 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,800-1,900 1,800-1,900 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 31.4 degree Celsius (88.5 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.

15.7 degree Celsius (60.3 degree Fahrenheit) Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.

Rainfall : nil FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and Minimum temperature likely to be around 31 and 14 degree Celsius respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)

Rice shortage behind rice exports suspension: Official The Ministry of Trade‘s recent suspension of rice exports is the result of a shortage created from an attempt by merchants to monopolise the rice market, according to Mostafa Atallah, the vice chairman of the rice division at the Federation of Egyptian Industries.The suspension comes shortly after the ministry announced that licenses

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were issued to export rice surpluses.―All the farmers supplied their rice harvest in August and September,‖ said Atallah. ―The merchants who purchased the rice stored it so that they could control the prices.‖Atallah explained that ―the shortage in supply in the market would have pushed the prices of rice up.‖ Earlier last month, Minister of Trade and Industry Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour had announced a new bid to export 100,000 tonnes of rice on Monday during a meeting with the Egyptian Businessmen Association; this would have taken place from November to mid-January.Last year, Atallah said, Egypt exported 650,000 tonnes of rice ―to 58 countries in Europe and the Arab region.‖Atallah said, ―Due to this rice storage, the amount that was said to be supplied didn‘t arrive at the supply ministry.‖During the meeting, Abdel Nour added that the needs of the Egyptian consumer are a priority and that exporting the surplus of rice would be beneficial, as the global prices of rice are high.The government is committed to supplying 1.3 million tonnes, sold at the subsidised price of EGP 1.5 per kilogram.Meanwhile, the minister condemned news reports that stated that the rice export decision was taken to benefit a specific organisation, adding that 350 companies applied for the export licences‘ tender.The minister added that the prices offered were double the ones offered last season, which he said indicated the success of the tender.

The Ministry of Trade‘s recent suspension of rice exports is the result of a shortage created from an attempt by merchants to monopolise the rice market, according to Mostafa Atallah, the vice chairman of the rice division at the Federation of Egyptian Industries.The suspension comes shortly after the ministry announced that licenses were issued to export rice surpluses.―All the farmers supplied their rice harvest in August and September,‖ said Atallah. ―The merchants who purchased the rice stored it so that they could control the prices.‖Atallah explained that ―the shortage in supply in the market would have pushed the prices of rice up.‖Earlier last month, Minister of Trade and Industry Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour had announced a new bid to export 100,000 tonnes of rice on Monday during a meeting with the Egyptian Businessmen Association; this would have taken place from November to mid-January.

Last year, Atallah said, Egypt exported 650,000 tonnes of rice ―to 58 countries in Europe and the Arab region.‖Atallah said, ―Due to this rice storage, the amount that was said to be supplied didn‘t arrive at the supply ministry.‖During the meeting, Abdel Nour added that the needs of the Egyptian consumer are a priority and that exporting the surplus of rice would be beneficial, as the global prices of rice are high.The government is committed to supplying 1.3 million tonnes, sold at the subsidised price of EGP 1.5 per kilogram.Meanwhile, the minister condemned news reports that stated that the rice export decision was taken to benefit a specific organisation, adding that 350 companies applied for the export licences‘ tender.The minister added that the prices offered were double the ones offered last season, which he said indicated the success of the tender.

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Stakeholders call for rice council to draft policies November 27, 2013 | Filed under: Agricultural Business | Author: OLUYINKA ALAWODE Stakeholders at a roundtable in Abuja have called for a rice federation or a rice council that will regulate and draft policies on rice business activities in Nigeria, with the involvement of all stakeholders.

In a statement by Olukayode Oyeleye, special assistant on media to the minister of agriculture and rural development, the rice millers at this forum held weekend outlined ways to make the business more competitive.

Mohammed Abubakar, the chairman of UMZA Rice and chairman of the integrated rice millers group underscored the millers‘ position. He said, ―Our objective is to see Nigeria of today self sufficient in rice and to even export outside the country.‖ According to him, the problems facing rice business include production of paddy, availability, price, transportation, storage, seed companies‘ dubious activities, marketing as well as weights and measures. He therefore called for more involvement of research and development partners in boosting rice production. ―The father of all problems,‖ Abubakar said, is smuggling. ―Smuggling, today, is our challenge. It affects the small millers, integrated millers, the whole value chain and the national economy,‖ he stated. Abubakar added that, of the 20 rice-laden ships expected in Cotonou port this November, 13 of the ships, carrying 350,000 tonnes of rice are ready to berth. He pointed out that this is aside from the 20,000 tonnes ship loads of rice that berthed in October implying that most of the rice is headed for Nigeria. ―This is really killing us,‖ he lamented, asking how many tonnes of rice are actually consumed in Benin Republic.

Akinwunmi Adesina, the honourable minister of agriculture and rural development, in his response, expressed the urgent need to have a strong rural economic development, and stressed that rice could be used to drive rural economic activities. On importation and smuggling, he said that ―rice from Thailand is actually being dumped on Nigeria. You are not dealing with a situation of fair competition, but one of dumping.‖ Adesina announced a number of measures, mutually agreed to by the millers, that would sustainably grow and develop the rice industry in Nigeria on a sustainable basis, beginning with short term measures over a four-year period. He commended the report of USAID MARKETS, the United States Agency for International Development marketing research in Nigeria, which noted that there is no physical shortage of rice paddy, but rather the problems of accessibility and price. He proposed the setting up of paddy aggregation and bulking centres to bridge the missing links between farmers and millers in the value chain.

Other measures agreed to for implementation include loan guarantees for the bulking and aggregation activities, market support to bridge the price at aggregation centres, computerisation of aggregation activities, adjustment of tariffs and levies to give local producers, processors and marketers more competitive advantage over importers, support for research and development.Additional measures announced include upgrading, rehabilitating and expanding of irrigation and water management infrastructure for farmers, provision of low interest financing for establishing new integrated mills.increased use of higher yielding varieties of rice seeds

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that would ensure greater rice yields per hectare, transport subsidies to lower the ultimate price of rice in the market and upgrade of physical infrastructure around the integrated mills.Abubakar, on behalf of the integrated rice millers group, expressed gratitude to the minister for the untiring efforts to free Nigeria from the shackles of import dependency in rice supply. According to him, ―the rice processors of Nigeria are 100 per cent behind the minister‘s Agricultural Transformation Agenda.‖

Africa’s Appetite for Rice Surges Beyond Capacity of Growers Mamady Douno, a rice farmer, shows technical assistants his crop of a new rice variety near Maferenya, Guinea in this Aug. 19, 2002 photo

taryike Divine Jr. November 26, 2013

DOUALA, CAMEROON — A few decades ago, rice was a luxury for rural Africa, a dish reserved for the big occasions like Christmas. The grain is now one of the most consumed staples south of the Sahara and experts predict surging urbanization will drive more demand for the cereal as consumer tastes increasingly tilt towards easy-to-cook convenience foods.Across Africa, rice currently knows no social or class boundaries. Increasingly, the grain ranks high on the menus of both rural and urban households.One consumer on the streets of Douala said, ―I often buy a bag of rice for the family that will last about a month.‖ Another added, ―Three days out of seven, we eat rice at home. Sometimes, it‘s up to four times a week.‖ The reason for its popularity is that rice is more affordable now and easier to store and cook. Yet, despite its swelling weight in the shopping baskets of Africans, the continent‘s production continues to lag far behind demand. Africa produces barely half of its rice needs and consequently depends heavily on imports to bridge demand-supply rifts.

Rice

consumes

foreign

reserves

Boubakar Mane is a researcher at the Africa Rice Center, a leading research organization based in Cotonou, Benin. ―Actually, Africa is producing about 60 percent and importing about 40 percent of what it consumes. And this amounts to a huge loss of our meager foreign exchange reserves every year.‖The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the continent‘s imports of milled rice - mainly from Asian growers - hit a record 12-million-ton high in 2012, costing over US$5 billion. That‘s up from 10 million tons in 2009.

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Experts warn that the heavy reliance on imports is risky and untenable as current economic forecasts predict rising prices in a volatile market and dwindling global stocks over the coming decade.―What we call the world rice market is very thin,‖ said the African Rice Center‘s Mane. ―Only about 6 percent of all the rice produced in the world is actually placed on the international rice market and it is very sensitive to shocks which can come easily with climate change.‖ Storms

disrupt

harvests

around

the

world

Mane also warns that changing climates could provoke short-notice supply slumps at any time. The destructive force of Hurricane Haiyan on November 8, for example, has destroyed much of the rice crop in the Philippines and will likely impact the world market.―Serious flooding in some of the major producing countries like China and India can have serious repercussions for the world supply of rice.

And sometimes when people have scares about food supplies in their countries, governments restrict rice exports and our major importers like Cameroon, Senegal, Cote d‘Ivoire and others suffer seriously.‖Spikes in the price of rice were responsible for deadly food riots across West Africa back in 2008. Ever since, the grain has steadily gained attention as a critical role player for food security and political stability throughout the continent. As a result of the public outcry over the price of rice, this cereal has attained increased status as a major ―political crop‖ capable of creating or destroying the political, social or economic stability of African nations.

Demonstrations in Bangkok Raise Concerns About Stability of Thailand Damir Sagolj/Reuters

Antigovernment protesters blocked a road outside the Interior Ministry in Bangkok on Tuesday.

By THOMAS FULLER Published: November 26, 2013 BANGKOK — Thailand‘s governing party accused protesters on Tuesday of fomenting anarchy and trying to overthrow the government after thousands of people swarmed the streets of Bangkok, besieging crucial ministries and threatening to take their campaign nationwide.

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Damir Sagolj/Reuters

A protester at the ministry‘s gates used a Thai flag to protect herself from the rain.

In a country that has become less governable amid a grinding and bitter political rivalry, protesters surrounded the Interior Ministry on Tuesday and threatened to cut off power to the Agriculture, Tourism and Transport Ministries. Those actions followed

the

occupation

of

the

Foreign

and

Finance

Ministries

on

Monday.―Occupying government property cannot be considered anything but insurrection,‖ said Kokaew Pikulthong, a member of Parliament for the governing party, Pheu Thai.The party said it had filed a petition with the attorney general‘s office accusing protesters of trying to overthrow the government. Demonstrators, Mr. Kokaew said, ―want Thailand to descend into anarchy.‖ Protest leaders, led by top opposition figures, are pursuing the seemingly quixotic goal of eradicating from the country the influence of Thaksin Shinawatra, the tycoon and former prime minister who has been in exile since a 2008 conviction for abuse of power. Mr. Thaksin remains very popular in the countryside and his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, is the country‘s prime minister.The protests, the largest since demonstrations in 2010 that ended in a bloody military crackdown, have been led by Suthep Thaugsuban, who until recently was the deputy leader of the opposition Democrat Party. ―I insist that this is the best method to overthrow Thaksin‘s system without bloodshed,‖ Mr. Suthep said in a Facebook message posted Tuesday. ―We will just come and sit here.‖A criminal court in Bangkok issued an arrest warrant on Tuesday for Mr. Suthep, who is accused of breaching the peace and invasion of property.In a speech to his supporters late Tuesday, Mr. Suthep called on protesters to ―besiege‖ all ministries in Bangkok and government offices nationwide on Wednesday.The apparent impunity of protesters and the inability of security forces to stop them from disrupting the heart of the government‘s operations reflected a polarized society where the government cannot or will not maintain order.As they have numerous times in Thailand‘s tumultuous recent history, foreign governments, including that of the United States, advised their citizens to avoid protest areas. Although protests until now have remained peaceful, the United States Embassy warned that they could turn ―confrontational and escalate into violence.‖Many areas of Bangkok, a vast metropolis of more than 10 million people, were unaffected by the protests.

Perhaps more than anyone, Mr. Suthep embodies the continuing cycles of unrest in Thailand, where, once out of power, politicians have taken to the streets, a pattern that has persisted since Mr. Thaksin was removed by the military in 2006.Mr. Suthep was deputy prime minister in 2010 when he signed an order for the military to disperse

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Mr. Thaksin‘s ―red shirt‖ supporters, including some who were armed, from a central shopping district that they had occupied. The crackdown that ensued resulted in dozens of deaths, an episode that civic leaders are urging both sides to avoid.

Mr. Thaksin‘s party is the most successful in modern Thai political history and has won every national election since its formation 15 years ago. The two times his party has been out of power in recent years was a result of the 2006 military coup and a 2008 court ruling that disbanded the party. (The party reformulated under another name and returned to power in 2011.).Opposition lawmakers in a debate in Parliament on Tuesday accused Ms. Yingluck, the prime minister, of being Mr. Thaksin‘s nominee.Despite the scale of the protests — The Bangkok Post estimated that the crowds on Sunday reached around 400,000 people — the hazy goals of protest leaders have alienated some business leaders and intellectuals. And in a possible sign that the protests may not have the backing of the mainstream opposition, Mr. Suthep and the protest leaders were chided, albeit gently, by some opposition members of Parliament.

Korn Chatikavanij, a former finance minister and senior member of the Democrat Party, criticized the government on Tuesday for not listening to the ―voice of the people.‖―But it doesn‘t mean that we agree with what the protesters have done,‖ he said.DOUALA, CAMEROON — A few decades ago, rice was a luxury for rural Africa, a dish reserved for the big occasions like Christmas. The grain is now one of the most consumed staples south of the Sahara and experts predict surging urbanization will drive more demand for the cereal as consumer tastes increasingly tilt towards easy-to-cook convenience foods.Across Africa, rice currently knows no social or class boundaries. Increasingly, the grain ranks high on the menus of both rural and urban households.

One consumer on the streets of Douala said, ―I often buy a bag of rice for the family that will last about a month.‖ Another added, ―Three days out of seven, we eat rice at home. Sometimes, it‘s up to four times a week.‖

Listen to report on rice in Africa (by Divine Ntaryike): Link to Download

http://realaudio.rferl.org/voa/ENGL/2013/11/25/8271e9ba-5370-4514-8470-a34f82461ccf.mp3

The reason for its popularity is that rice is more affordable now and easier to store and cook. Yet, despite its swelling weight in the shopping baskets of Africans, the continent‘s production continues to lag far behind demand. Africa

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produces barely half of its rice needs and consequently depends heavily on imports to bridge demand-supply rifts.Rice consumes foreign reserves

Boubakar Mane is a researcher at the Africa Rice Center, a leading research organization based in Cotonou, Benin. ―Actually, Africa is producing about 60 percent and importing about 40 percent of what it consumes. And this amounts to a huge loss of our meager foreign exchange reserves every year.‖The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the continent‘s imports of milled rice - mainly from Asian growers - hit a record 12-million-ton high in 2012, costing over US$5 billion. That‘s up from 10 million tons in 2009.Experts warn that the heavy reliance on imports is risky and untenable as current economic forecasts predict rising prices in a volatile market and dwindling global stocks over the coming decade.What we call the world rice market is very thin,‖ said the African Rice Center‘s Mane. ―Only about 6 percent of all the rice produced in the world is actually placed on the international rice market and it is very sensitive to shocks which can come easily with climate change.‖ Storms disrupt harvests around the world Mane also warns that changing climates could provoke short-notice supply slumps at any time. The destructive force of Hurricane Haiyan on November 8, for example, has destroyed much of the rice crop in the Philippines and will likely impact the world market.―Serious flooding in some of the major producing countries like China and India can have serious repercussions for the world supply of rice. And sometimes when people have scares about food supplies in their countries, governments restrict rice exports and our major importers like Cameroon, Senegal, Cote d‘Ivoire and others suffer seriously.‖Spikes in the price of rice were responsible for deadly food riots across West Africa back in 2008. Ever since, the grain has steadily gained attention as a critical role player for food security and political stability throughout the continent. As a result of the public outcry over the price of rice, this cereal has attained increased status as a major ―political crop‖ capable of creating or destroying the political, social or economic stability of African nations.

Cameroon Rice Farmers Depend on Science, Banks Women rice sellers chat in a busy market in Kindia, Guinea in this Aug. 21, 2002 photo.

DOUALA, CAMEROON — Following the deadly food riots that swept across West Africa five years ago in response to the high price of rice, Cameroon and other neighboring governments have taken responsibility for rehabilitating structures and resources for rice farmers.The grain is now one of the most consumed staples south of

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the Sahara. Experts across the region say consumers and national economies will be better for it. One export says this national strategy will gradually bear fruit. ―You know, we‘re coming a long way after the economic crises of the 80s,‖ said Marc Samatana, the director of the Yagoua Rice Expansion and Modernization Corporation in north Cameroon.Those were bleak times. ―All our production equipment collapsed. The state pulled out of production, milling and commercialization. But following the 2008 food crisis, the state assumed its responsibilities and decided to completely rehabilitate production structures. ―Within two years, all our problems will be resolved,‖ Samatama said. Cameroon harvested only 64,000 tons of rice last year and had to import 365,000 tons. The government launched the National Rice Development Strategy in 2009 to revitalize rice research and cultivation. The target is to grow 630,000 tons by 2018.

Search

for

rice

that

survives

drought

Elsewhere across the continent, governments and farmers are banking on science to increase production with highyield, drought-resistant and environmentally-adapted seeds.Nigerian bio-technologist Adekoya Modinat of the Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences says researchers are looking for rice that can thrive in upland, lowland, irrigated as well as deep-water ecologies. ―In the traditional way, rice is planted in flooded plains and this is threatening to the environment,‖ he said. ―We‘re trying to see exactly how much water is needed for rice production and to develop drought-resistant varieties that can be planted with minimal water and which still have very good yields.‖Such research, funded by governments and donors, has revolutionized rice harvests in parts of the continent.Mali, whose production hardly surpassed 170,000 tons in 2008, is a success story, said Boubakar Mane, a researcher at the Africa Rice Center, a leading research organization based in Cotonou, Benin.―Now, it is producing close to two million tons, a ten-fold increase in less than five years. This just shows to what extent the right policies can make dramatic changes in rice and food production in our countries.‖ So what’s the problem with rice?

Nonetheless, the number of such laudable strides remains few. Among lingering challenges is the snail pace with which research results get from the laboratories to the farms.―We have difficulties cultivating rice,‖ said Philomena Foutchio, a small-scale rice grower in the northwest of Cameroon. ―We don‘t know the problem, and so we‘re begging the government to help us because that is the only cash crop in northwest Cameroon. For this year, we don‘t think we‘ll come out with anything because the water is too much.‖Lack of rain is certainly one factor.B.A.

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Awodite, a researcher at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, says another source of the problem is the failure of the government to distribute the innovations to a wider public.

Awodite decries the absence of government policies facilitating farmers‘ access to improved planting material.―We have developed varieties and they are there on the shelves and cannot get to the farmers. So what do we do? We have to support small companies and farmers organizations. Governments must come up with policies whereby these companies are subsidized to deliver: help them to have access to credit and bank loans so they can do business and produce these varieties and then distribute to farmers.‖Researchers, growers, governments and other stakeholders are now counting on recommendations made at the 3rd Africa Rice Congress held in the Cameroonian capital, Yaoundé in October to surmount the hurdles.They include increased investment to modernize and mechanize rice farming, increased farmers‘ access to improved varieties and other research results, protection of the land rights of the mostly small-scale farmers growing the bulk of the continent‘s rice, the strengthening of farmer organizations and publicprivate partnerships.

Building

stronger

farm

organizations

A crucial element is funding for rice research, seed production and strengthened farm organizations.

Gambia‘s minister of agriculture, Dr. Solomon Owens, says prospects for increasing Africa's rice yields are enormous. ―We‘re already doing well with the Maputo Declaration, allocating 10 percent of our national budgets to agriculture and a significant proportion of that is going to rice production. ―The opportunities are there because the land is there, the water is there; the farmers are prepared to increase their production. So, it‘s for research to give us the technologies, give us the varieties and for the policymakers to come up with strong and bold policies.‖West Africa and Egypt are expected to mainly drive growth with a robust production recovery, and a target of 30 million tons by 2020.Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organization‘s Rice Market Monitor predicts rice harvests across the continent will exceed 27 million tons this year, a two-percent jump from last year and an indicator of gradual strides towards rice independence.

Hooda seeks relaxation in norms for milled rice from Centre Rajesh Moudgil, Hindustan Times Chandigarh, November 26, 2013

Taking a serious view of the damage caused to the paddy by untimely rains in October, chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has written to union minister of state for food and public distribution KV Thomas to relax the norms pertaining to milled rice.Hooda in his letter sent recently said that the quality of the paddy was adversely affected because of the rains and the state agencies procured paddy keeping in mind the basic mandate of the procurement policy to give remunerative price to farmers for their produce."However, due to the

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damage caused by the rains, the paddy which was thus procured, cannot give rice conforming to prescribed specifications, such as 67% yield, 25% broken, 3% damaged and 3% discoloured rice. Hence these specifications need to be relaxed in view of the extenuating circumstances,"Hooda said.Stating that Punjab was also said to have taken up the matter for relaxation in the specifications of customed milled rice (CMR) with the government of India, he said that agro-climatic conditions of Punjab and Haryana were similar and urged Thomas for the relaxations in absence of which, he said, it would not be possible for Haryana to get the paddy milled and deliver the entire due stock of CMR. Meanwhile, Haryana rice millers association president Rajender Aggarwal and secretary Ashish Mehta told HT that the rains had badly hit the paddy crop yield as well as the rice's quality. "While the rains decreased the paddy yield to 60%, the damage content in rice was to 5-6%,"Mehta said and feared that the same would not be accepted by the Food Corporation of India which would thus cause huge losses to the millers in terms of penalty.

It may be recalled that a delegation of rice millers of Haryana had also met Thomas recently and apprised him of the problems being faced by millers of the state.

November 26, 2013 20:24 PM

Malaysia Imports About 30 Per Cent Of National Rice Requirement KOTA BAHARU, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysia imports about 30 per cent of its national rice requirement from abroad, said the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Datuk Hashim Abdullah.

He said the nation was heading for zero rice imports by implementing several measures to ensure selfsufficiency in padi planting reached 100 per cent.

"Currently, local rice production can only meet 72 per cent of the population's need and as such, the government is extending the rice bowl areas in Pahang, Sabah and Sarawak as part of the efforts to reduce rice imports from the neighbouring countries.

"In addition, the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) is constantly conducting research on new padi seedlings to encourage farmers to grow the padi and to find new ways so that padi can continue to be planted without using much water," he said.He disclosed this to reporters after the Handing Out of Allocation for the Implementation of the Touch Point Programme and the Ministry's Get Together with the People of Kelantan, at the Kada Headquarters, here Tuesday.

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Satellite images map rice damage from typhoon Satellite images showing flooded rice farms and buildings that were damaged by Typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda) in the northeastern part of Leyte Province have been released as part of ongoing work to track rice production in the Philippines.

IRRI and partners hope that these maps will aid the Philippine government in recovery and rehabilitation efforts post-Typhoon Haiyan.

(The satellite-generated maps, developed by the International Rice Research Institute in collaboration with sarmap and the Department of Agriculture- Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice), show that flooding has affected about 1,800 hectares of standing rice crop across 15 municipalities and that the typhoon badly damaged buildings where harvested rice may have been stored.―The Department of Agriculture appreciates the timely release of satellite maps on rice areas affected by Typhoon Yolanda. We will refer to these as we firm up assessment of the effect of this calamity and as we craft our rehabilitation interventions,‖ said DA Undersecretary for Operations and National Rice Program Coordinator Dante Delima. "The release of these maps also boosts our confidence that the current system of rice production monitoring and assessment in the country shall soon be greatly enhanced with this ongoing project between DA and IRRI.―One map that showed rice fields that were flooded also showed which fields were harvested before the typhoon struck. A second map revealed extensive damage to buildings and other infrastructure, suggesting that harvested rice that was in storage was also likely damaged from wind, rain, and storm surges.

Additional data released last week by DA-PhilRice and IRRI showed that harvesting in the region is usually done from September to October and, this year, was done just before the typhoon hit on 8 November 2013.

Extensive damage to infrastructure, however, will have affected rice in storage, irrigation facilities, farm equipment and, likely, planning and preparation for the next rice-growing season.―Geographic information on the location and seasonality of rice can help in quantifying rice production and evaluate losses following extreme weather events, but it can also be used to plan proactively,‖ said geographer Andy Nelson, who heads IRRI‘s Geographic Information Systems Laboratory.

Dr. Nelson said that the maps could aid policymakers in making decisions and setting priorities among research and extension activities meant to help rice farmers.The maps are based on synthetic aperture radar (SAR)

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images processed by sarmap in the days after the typhoon. The data were provided by ASI/eGEOS from COSMO-SkyMed and by InfoTerra GmbH from the TerraSAR-X satellites.―In situations like this, it is essential to use all available SAR platforms to monitor developments,‖ said Francesco Holecz, chief executive officer of sarmap. ―A close cooperation with the various space agencies and data providers is crucial to plan and acquire SAR data in the best possible way. Future satellites, such as Sentinel-1A/B, will significantly contribute to rice crop monitoring.‖Leyte is one study site within the Remote Sensing-based Information and Insurance for Crops in Emerging Economies (RIICE)project where IRRI, sarmap, and DA-PhilRice work with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), Allianz, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) to develop technologies that monitor rice-growing areas for food security and crop insurance applications.The consortium was able to map not just the flood-affected areas, but also the status of the rice crop when the typhoon struck.PhilRice Deputy Executive Director for Development Eduardo Jimmy Quilang said that the maps underscore the value of the consortium's work."With the satellite maps, we are able to understand faster the extent of Typhoon Yolanda's damage to rice production and, hopefully, improve our response to the situation,‖ said Dr. Quilang.IRRI and its partners are also doing longer term research to monitor when and where rice is grown in the Philippines.The research behind these data sets was supported by the DA‗s Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP), the SDC-funded RIICE project, and the Global Rice Science Partnership that is the CGIAR Research Program on Rice.

Fast facts:  Maps from IRRI and its partners show that around 1,800 hectares of standing rice crop was affected by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in Leyte, Philippines, and that many buildings where harvested rice may have been stored were damaged.  Satellite images showing damage to rice crops and infrastructure are helping the Philippine government plan reconstruction efforts after the super typhoon.  The Leyte maps are part of ongoing work to accurately map rice production in the Philippines.

FG to review rice tariff Wednesday, 27 November 2013 00:00 раскрутка сайтов The chairman, Presidential Committee on Trade Malpractice, Alhaji Dahiru Ado-Kurawa, said on Tuesday that the Federal Government would soon review the tariff on rice, to tackle smuggling and revenue loss.Ado-

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Kurawa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the planned downward review was aimed at reducing the level of smuggling of the commodity from Benin Republic.He observed that the Federal Government introduced the rice policy of 110 per cent duty and levy in January, to boost local rice production.―The Federal Government will likely adjust the policy because it has escalated the influx of smuggled rice from neighbouring countries.―Benin Republic is one of the highest importers of parboiled rice, the country that ordinarily imports about 230,000 tonnes per annum.―The two-million-tonne parboiled rice imported by Benin is all smuggled into Nigeria,‖ the chairman said.He recalled that the stakeholders met recently in Abuja and advised the Federal Government to review the rice policy and sift out the grey areas.

This, he said, was to ensure that government‘s quest to halt rice import was achieved.Ado-Kurawa lamented that Nigeria lost over N2 billion to smugglers through land borders in Nigeria.According to him, Nigeria that used to be the highest rice importer, had suddenly relinquished the position to Benin Republic.―We cannot continue to fold our arms and allow neighbouring countries destroy our economy,‖ NAN quotes him as saying.He explained that the review was not a policy summersault, but a way of creating healthy mechanism for Nigeria to be self-sufficient in rice production and earn income from imported rice.The chairman said that the government would also give incentives to rice millers to key into the backward integration programme.According to him, government‘s policy on rice has greatly deepened local production of the commodity.―The policy is geared towards attaining self-sufficiency in rice production,‖ he said.

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