29th may (fridday),2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter www.ricepluss.com www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com

May 29 ,2015 Vol 5,Issue V

Local rice exports continue to decline Workers at Tien Giang Food Company prepare rice for export. — VNA/VNS Photo Vu Sinh HA NOI (VNS) — Rice exports have declined sharply in the first five months of the year, indicating that the industry is struggling, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's latest report.In the first five months the country exported 2.4 million tonnes of rice worth US$1.05 billion, according to ministry statistics. These represent declines of 11.4 per cent and 14.6 per cent respectively over the same period last year.The average price of exported

www.ricepluss.com & http://www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact for Blog & Daily E-Newsletter Advertisement mujajhid.riceplus@gmail.com 2

Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter rice was $436.7 per tonne, falling 4.27 per cent below last year's price in the same period.China remained the country's largest rice import market. Its market share accounted for 34 per cent. Rice exports to China also declined 28.11 per cent in volume and 31.06 per cent in value over the same period last year.The ministry said rice exporters were facing difficulties in recent months due to competition from other large exporting countries. At the same time the product's global demand has fallen.In fact, Viet Nam's rice exports had struggled in recent years due to low competitiveness in quality and price, compared with other major rice exporters.

Experts attributed this to a lack of a prominent rice brand name.Viet Nam Food Association statistics showed rice exports declined from 7.7 million tonnes, worth $3.45 billion in 2012; to 6.6 million tonnes and $2.95 billion in 2013; and 6.5 million tonnes and $2.84 billion last year.Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung recently approved a project to develop a leading Vietnamese brand by 2020. — VNS http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/271003/local-rice-exports-continue-to-decline.html

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- May 29 Fri May 29, 2015 2:04pm IST Nagpur, May 29 Gram and tuar prices firmed up again in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) here good seasonal demand from local millers amid tight supply from producing regions. Healthy rise on NCDEX in gram, weak overseas tuar arrival and reported demand from South-based millers also jacked up prices, according to sources. *

*

*

*

FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Gram mill quality reported strong in open market on good buying support from local traders amid weak supply from producing regions.

TUAR * Tuar black reported higher in open market on increased marriage season demand from local traders amid thin arrival from producing belts.

www.ricepluss.com & http://www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact for Blog & Daily E-Newsletter Advertisement mujajhid.riceplus@gmail.com 3

Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter * Rice Chinnor showed weak tendency in open market here in absence of buyers amid good stcok position in ready segment. * In Akola, Tuar - 7,300-7,700, Tuar dal - 10,100-10,500, Udid at 9,100-9,600, Udid Mogar (clean) - 10,700-11,100, Moong - 9,000-9,200, Moong Mogar (clean) 10,700-11,100, Gram - 4,200-4,500, Gram Super best bold - 6,100-6,300 for 100 kg. * Wheat, other varieties of rice and other commodities remained steady in open market in poor trading activity, according to sources.

Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close Gram Auction 3,700-4,440 3,600-4,320 Gram Pink Auction n.a.

2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction 5,800-7,390 5,800-7,290 Moong Auction n.a.

6,000-6,300 Udid Auction n.a.

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

2,600-2,800 Gram Super Best Bold 6,200-6,500 6,200-6,500 Gram Super Best n.a.

Gram Medium Best 5,900-6,200 5,900-6,200 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a.

Gram Mill Quality 5,400-5,550 5,300-5,500 Desi gram Raw 4,600-4,650 4,600-4,650 Gram Filter new 6,100-6,200 6,100-6,200 Gram Kabuli 5,200-6,900 5,200-6,900 Gram Pink 6,400-6,600 6,400-6,600 Tuar Fataka Best 10,500-10,800 10,500-10,800 Tuar Fataka Medium 9,900-10,300 9,900-10,300 Tuar Dal Best Phod 9,600-9,800 9,600-9,800 Tuar Dal Medium phod 8,800-9,300 8,800-9,300 Tuar Gavarani New 7,850-7,950 7,850-7,950 Tuar Karnataka 7,900-8,000 7,900-8,000 Tuar Black 10,800-11,100 10,700-11,000 Masoor dal best 8,100-8,300 8,100-8,300 Masoor dal medium 7,500-7,800 7,500-7,800 Masoor n.a. n.a.

Moong Mogar bold 11,000-11,500 11,000-11,500 Moong Mogar Medium best 10,200-10,600 10,200-10,600 Moong dal Chilka 9,000-9,750 9,000-9,750 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.

www.ricepluss.com & http://www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact for Blog & Daily E-Newsletter Advertisement mujajhid.riceplus@gmail.com 4

Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter Moong Chamki best 9,600-9,900 9,600-9,900 Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 11,200-11,600 11,200-11,600 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 9,900-10,600 9,900-10,600 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 8,500-8,900 8,500-8,900 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,400 4,200-4,400 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 3,200-3,350 3,200-3,350 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,450 3,200-3,450 Watana White (100 INR/KG) 2,450-2,625 2,450-2,625 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,700-4,900 3,700-4,900 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,400-1,600 1,400-1,600 Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,550-1,750 1,550-1,750 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,400-1,600 1,400-1,600 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,450 2,200-2,450 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,800-1,950 1,800-1,950 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,700 3,100-3,700 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,800-3,000 2,800-3,000 Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG) 1,400-1,500 1,400-1,500 Wheat Best (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,200 2,000-2,200 Rice BPT New(100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,850 2,600-2,850 Rice BPT (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,400 3,200-3,400 Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,600-1,800 1,600-1,800 Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,450 2,100-2,450 Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,750 2,500-2,750 Rice HMT new(100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,650 3,200-3,650 Rice HMT (100 INR/KG) 3,900-4,300 3,900-4,300 Rice HMT Shriram New(100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,500 4,000-4,500 Rice HMT Shriram old (100 INR/KG) 4,500-5,000 4,500-5,000 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,200-10,200 8,200-10,200 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,000-7,200 6,000-7,200 Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG) 4,650-4,900 4,650-5,000 Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG) 5,500-6,000 5,500-6,100 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,300 2,100-2,200 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,550 2,300-2,450 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 46.0 degree Celsius (114.8 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.

28.2 degree Celsius (82.7 degree Fahrenheit) Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.

Rainfall : nil FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Rains or thunder-showers likely towards evening or night.

Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 46 and 29 degree Celsius respectively.

www.ricepluss.com & http://www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact for Blog & Daily E-Newsletter Advertisement mujajhid.riceplus@gmail.com 5

Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.) http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/05/29/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL3N0YK34T20150529

Why fuss over such a trivial research matter as research respondent?

Dr. Ned Roberto Philippine Daily Inquirer

6:49 AM | Friday, May 29th, 2015 Question: Frankly speaking, we were a bit disappointed by your Marketing Rx column last week. Why make such a fuss over a trivial market research matter as ―the correct research respondent?‖ To think that you were only talking about qualitative research.We have had FGDs and FGDs and IDIs. In most of them, our respondent recruiters got for us whoever was available or respondents who can talk on the subject—two respondent recruiting criteria you regarded as incorrect. But we always got useful consumer insights out of such respondents.So we don‘t see what difference it will make if we apply your correct IDI respondent recruiting rule.

It was clear to us that your rule is ―good in theory but not in practice.‖Even for our quantitative research like our UAI or product prototype testing, we noted that your User-Friendly Marketing Research book requires us in addition to representativeness and random selection to ask of our respondent sample your qualifying question, ―Are these the consumers from whom you can learn the most?‖ Our two contracted research agencies never asked such respondent qualifying question but we never got into any kind of trouble.Our UAIs had always helped identify our appropriate target market segment and brand positioning. Our product prototype testing never failed to tell us in what product attributes our test product is better than or not as good as that of the competition.So again, we ask: ―What‘s with all the fuss?‖ Answer: Your candid way of speaking what‘s on your mind is endearing. But you have to be open to exceptions to your generalizations.Let‘s talk about exceptions. While your UAIs ―had always helped identify (your) appropriate target market segment and brand positioning,‖ sooner or later you will experience the humbling exception.In the UAI study for pH Care, for example, the target respondents that Unilab initially defined were the feminine wash users.It turned out that this segment represented only 18 percent of the total market of menstruating women. The larger segment to go after was the 82 percent non-users. When pH Care targeted this larger segment, it gave the brand a whopping market share of 52 percent.It was also the respondents who revealed its differentiator positioning.

www.ricepluss.com & http://www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact for Blog & Daily E-Newsletter Advertisement mujajhid.riceplus@gmail.com 6

Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter I will say something similar about your product testing where you claim that it has ―never failed to tell (you) in what product attributes (your) test product is better or not as good as competition.‖Once, a telecommunications company contracted me to reanalyze its product testing data on international remittance. The company‘s research users were unhappy with the data analysis that its research agency did.In the product testing, the research agency asked users of client‘s remittance service to compare it with that of competition. Another sample of respondents who were users of the competitor‘s remittance service were asked to compare that with the client‘s service.

The results showed parity preference between the two ―competing‖ services. The client company interpreted this result as implying that they just had to invest more in promoting their brand against that of the competitor.In the reanalysis, I found a questionnaire item that asked both respondent samples what remittance service they had used in the past and which service they used most often. Neither the client‘s nor the competitor‘s service ranked in the top 3. The most used services were Western Union and unbranded door-to-door remitters who were tied for first place. The implications were clear. The true competitor was the consumer-defined one: Western Union and the unbranded door-to-door.For data on what attributes your test product being better than or not as good as competition‘s, that‘s not going to come from the respondents who were the customers of the marketer-defined competitor, the other telecommunications company. It was the Western Union and the door-to-door customers who were the respondents from whom to learn the most and whose responses will define the right weakness-correcting campaign.In qualitative research, such kind of ―exceptions‖ happen. A leading consumer food company once contracted me to undertake a ―reconvened FGD‖ to product-test its instant rice porridge and find out how mothers compare it with competition, which was another rice porridge brand by another consumer food company.

After trying the client‘s rice porridge, from one FGD to the next, mothers who tried cooking and serving to their children the test porridge gave a similar response of rejection: ―Hindi masarap‖ (It does not taste good)–both the client‘s and the competitor‘s.When asked what they found wrong, a similar set of responses was heard: ―Ang talagang masarap ay yung aming lugaw na niluluto‖ (What really tastes good is what we cook and serve). It became clear to the client that it should have tested against the consumer-defined competitor and that‘s no other than the mothers themselves. The product testing should have asked the respondents to compare the client‘s rice porridge with the rice porridge that the respondent mothers cook and serve.So as you can see, getting the correct research respondent is no small matter.

That the respondents of your UAIs and product testing have ―always‖ been right is pure coincidence.I will say the same thing about your selection of respondents for your qualitative research.I end with a few words about your attitude toward research.Because you regard research as a mere support to your marketing decisions and campaigns, in a failed decision or a flawed campaign, you never traced to research the source of failure.But as you should have appreciated from the foregoing, the role of market research has taken on a strategic significance.The feminine wash case, the telecom remittance case, and the rice porridge case prove that market research is strategic.The correct market research is also a competitive advantage because you know something about your consumer and your market that is unknown to your competitors.

www.ricepluss.com & http://www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact for Blog & Daily E-Newsletter Advertisement mujajhid.riceplus@gmail.com 7

Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter Keep your questions coming. Send them to me at ned.roberto@gmail.com http://business.inquirer.net/192681/why-fuss-over-such-a-trivial-research-matter-as-research-respondent

APEDA India (News) International Benchmark Price Price on: 28-05-2015

Product

Benchmark Indicators Name

Price

1

Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)

5975

2

Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t

5375

3

Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t)

4375

1

Californian Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK (USD/t)

2370

2

South African Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK (USD/t)

2249

1

Greek provincial, CIF UK (USD/t)

1425

2

Greek Vostizza, CIF UK (USD/t)

1534

Apricots

Raisins

Currants

Source:agra-net

For more info

Market Watch Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 28-05-2015 Domestic Prices Product

Unit Price : Rs per Qty

Market Center

Variety

Min Price

Max Price

www.ricepluss.com & http://www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact for Blog & Daily E-Newsletter Advertisement mujajhid.riceplus@gmail.com 8

Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter Barley (Jau) 1

Dahod (Gujarat)

Other

1200

1250

2

Deoli (Rajasthan)

Other

1100

1170

3

Loharu (Haryana)

Other

1200

1200

1

Amreli (Gujarat)

Other

1245

1555

2

Bellary (Karnataka)

Local

1229

1292

3

Kota(Rajasthan)

Other

1161

1400

1

Muktsar (Punjab)

Other

2000

2500

2

Thodupuzha(Kerala)

Other

2500

2700

3

Taura(Haryana)

Other

2000

2000

1

Bonai (Orissa)

Other

2000

2000

2

Aroor (Kerala)

Other

2600

2800

3

Shillong(Meghalaya)

Other

1000

1300

Maize

Grapes

Cabbage

Source:agra-net

For more info

Egg

Rs per 100 No Price on 28-05-2015 Product

Market Center

Price

1

Ahmedabad

315

2

Chittoor

343

3

Hyderabad

297

www.ricepluss.com & http://www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact for Blog & Daily E-Newsletter Advertisement mujajhid.riceplus@gmail.com 9

Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter Source: e2necc.com

Other International Prices

Unit Price : US$ per package Price on 28-05-2015

Product

Market Center

Origin

Variety

Low

Potatoes

High Package: 50 lb cartons

1

Baltimore

Idaho

Russet

26

26

2

Dallas

Nevada

Russet

23.50

23.50

3

Detroit

Wisconsin

Russet

21

21.50

Cauliflower

Package: cartons film wrapped

1

Baltimore

California

White

40

42

2

Detroit

California

White

31.50

32

3

Miami

California

White

36

39

Apples

Package: cartons tray pack

1

Baltimore

Washington

Red Delicious

22

25

2

New York

Virginia

Red Delicious

12

12

3

Philadelphia

Washington

Red Delicious

17

20.50

Source:USDA

Rice Dept to unveil 7 new breeds of rice ไม่มีรายการวีดีโอ

Date : 29 พฤษภาคม 2558

Thailand‘s Rice Department will celebrate this year‘s ―Rice and Farmer‘s Day‖ by unveiling seven new strains of rice. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will inaugurate this year‘s ceremony and the department will unveil seven newly approved breeds of rice. The new rice strains include indigenous breeds that will soon be certified with Geographical Indicators as well as fast-growing strains that can be utilized outside of the rainy season.

www.ricepluss.com & http://www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact for Blog & Daily E-Newsletter Advertisement mujajhid.riceplus@gmail.com 10

Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter The department revealed that June 5 of every year is ―Rice and Farmer‘s Day,‖ as well as the anniversary of the day when King Rama VIII, His Majesty King Ananda Mahidol, and King Rama IX, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, visited the rice farms of Bang Khen district and sowed rice seeds into the fields. It is an auspicious day for rice farming in Thailand and honors all rice farmers in the Kingdom. The department Secretary-General revealed that there are currently 60 million rai of rice paddies in the Kingdom, tended by approximately 17 million farmers. Rice exports have generated approximately 200 billion baht in annual revenue.

- See more at: http://thainews.prd.go.th/CenterWeb/NewsEN/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNSOC580529001 0043#sthash.xIHXT0bL.dpuf

Basmati rice to get IPR protection as exporters support Centre’s view Chennai-based Intellectual Property Appellate Board is slated to hear the claims of all the parties for three consecutive days from July 8 for granting GI certification to Basmati rice By: Sandip Das | Chennai | May 26, 2015 11:08 pm

country. With its exporters supporting the Centre‘s view that Madhya Pradesh can‘t be deemed part of the Indo-Gangetic plain, decks have been cleared for Basmati‘s entry into the coveted Geographical Indications (GI) Registry. GI protection in India would lead to similar recognitions in other countries, which means India‘s competitors would be barred from using the Basmati tag.

India‘s basmati rice exports, which had touched a record Rs 29,000 crore in 2013-14, fell to Rs 27,600 crore in 2014-15, due to a decline in shipments to Iran.Official sources told FE that Chennai-based Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) is slated to hear the claims of all the parties for three consecutive days during July 8-10 for granting GI certification to basmati rice.

The GI Registry, in a directive issued on December 31, 2013, had asked the Centre if Madhya Pradesh could be included in the definition of traditionally basmati-growing geography, inviting strong reactions from the commerce and agriculture ministries, which thinks the state‘s claim is unjustified.Even as the issue was pending with the GI Registry, the Madhya Pradesh government had moved the IPAB. The Agricultural and Processed Foods Export Development Authority

www.ricepluss.com & http://www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact for Blog & Daily E-Newsletter Advertisement mujajhid.riceplus@gmail.com 11

Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter (Apeda) has now told the IPAB that MP‘s claim is invalid. Under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, Apeda is designated to be the custodian of GI rights for farm produce. ―Considering the Madhya Pradesh case for inclusion in basmati growing region would amount to playing with rights of those farmers who have been traditionally growing basmati in IndoGangetic plain,‖ a commerce ministry official said.Leading agricultural scientists have also opposed Madhya Pradesh‘s attempt to be included in basmati-growing regions, by stating that it would adversely impact the ‗quality‘ of basmati rice and sully its global repute. ―Claiming rice grown in Madhya Pradesh as basmati is not correct as we have developed seed varieties keeping in mind agro-climatic zones of the Indo-Gangetic plain,‖ KV Prabhu, deputy director, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), and a well-known rice breeder, had recently said.

In 2009, Apeda under the commerce ministry had applied to the GI Registry asking for exclusive (commercial) use of the basmati tag for the grain varieties grown within the boundaries of the Indo-Gagentic plain in Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and 26 districts of western Uttar Pradesh and two districts of Jammu and Kashmir.GI ascribes ‗exclusivity‘ to the community in a defined geography rather than to an individual as in the case of trademarks and patents.Madhya Kshetra Basmati Growers Association Samiti and a leading basmati rice exporter, LT Foods, along with Madhya Pradesh‘s department of farmer welfare and agriculture development, had approached the GI Registry jointly in 2013.During 2008-10, India and Pakistan had initiated steps to register basmati under GI as ‗joint heritage‘ for protecting its premium market abroad. But that bid did not fructify due to opposition to it within Pakistan.In the absence of GI, many private companies have been unsuccessfully trying to register their products as ‗basmati‘, which commands a premium in the global market. The IARI has developed Pusa 1121 basmati rice variety, which is grown in more than 60% of basmati rice areas.

First Published on May 27, 2015 12:09 am

The India Express

www.ricepluss.com & http://www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact for Blog & Daily E-Newsletter Advertisement mujajhid.riceplus@gmail.com 12

Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter

Cuba Removed from State Terrorism List Cleared by State WASHINGTON, D.C.- The State Department has announced that Cuba will no longer be designated as a

state sponsor of terrorism effective immediately.

"Today's decision, made by Secretary Kerry, is an important step towards achieving normal

commercial relations between the United States and Cuba, which has long been a key goal of U.S. rice producers, millers and exporters," said Bob Cummings, USA Rice COO. "Much work remains, but this step is critical to improving the overall political relationship between the two countries. USA Rice will continue its leadership role in seeking the removal of obstacles to travel and trade with Cuba." Removing Cuba from this list also opens up eligibility for aid under the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA), including food assistance programs managed by the U.S. Agency for International Development. The State Department noted that, "While the United States has significant concerns and disagreements with a wide range of Cuba's policies and actions, these fall outside the criteria relevant to the rescission of a State Sponsor of Terrorism designation."

www.ricepluss.com & http://www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact for Blog & Daily E-Newsletter Advertisement mujajhid.riceplus@gmail.com 13

Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter Contact: Kristen Dayton (703) 236-1464

USA Rice at Seoul Food and Hotel Show; Interest in U.S.Grown Rice for Manufacturing Busy booth

ILSAN, SOUTH KOREA - Earlier this month, USA Rice opened its popular booth in the U.S. pavilion of the Seoul Food & Hotel Korea exhibition here. The show is Korea's longest running, and Asia's third largest, food trade show with more than 40,000 attendees from 39 countries.

USA Rice displayed U.S. medium and long grain rice and conducted recipe demonstrations using U.S. medium grain rice in kimbob (rice roll wrapped with seaweed) and fried rice.

Steamed white rice was presented to showcase the performance of U.S. medium grain rice.Approximately 1,000 registered guests from food service, food manufacturing and distribution fields visited the USA Rice booth during the show. Among the visitors were representatives of some major food manufacturers interested in using U.S. rice as an ingredient for their product development, such as retort fried rice, rice cakes, and rice flour. USA Rice staff will follow up for possible diversification of U.S. rice into food manufacturing sectors.

www.ricepluss.com & http://www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact for Blog & Daily E-Newsletter Advertisement mujajhid.riceplus@gmail.com 14

Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter The Korean government has purchased 64,000 MT of U.S. brown rice for processing purpose as of May 15, 2015. Another tender was held on May 21, which includes 10,000 MT of USDA #1 medium grain milled rice for table rice purposes and 38,352 MT of USDA #3 Medium Grain Brown Rice for processing purposes. Results of the tender are pending at this time.

Contact: Bill Farmer (832) 302-6710

Weekly Rice Sales, Exports Reported WASHINGTON, DC -- Net sales of 69,700 MT for 2014/2015 were up noticeably from the previous week and up 35 percent from the prior 4-week average, according to today's Export Sales Highlights report. Increases were reported for Mexico (17,800 MT), Colombia (15,300 MT), Haiti (14,400 MT), Honduras (12,900 MT, including 11,000 MT switched from unknown destinations), and New Guinea (7,500 MT, including 7,000 MT late reporting).

Decreases were reported for unknown destinations (11,500 MT) and Guatemala (4,200 MT).Exports of 61,700 MT were down 29 percent from the previous week and 12 percent from the prior 4-week average. The primary destinations were Haiti (14,400 MT), Honduras (12,700 MT), Japan (12,000 MT), New Guinea (7,500 MT, including 7,000 MT late reporting), and El Salvador (4,700 MT).

This summary is based on reports from exporters from the period May 15-21.

USA Rice Federation

Kharif coverage up a tad at 59.56 lakh ha OUR BUREAU NEW DELHI, MAY 29:

The total sown area under kharif crops stands at 59.56 lakh hectares (lh), a tad up than 59.47 lh sown during the corresponding period last year, according to data released by the Agriculture Ministry here on Friday.The area under rice is up 21.3 per cent, from 2.54 lh in 2014-15 to 3.08 lh this year while oilseeds acreage has touched 0.16 lh from 0.04 lh a year ago. After rice, soyabean is the most widely cultivated Kharif crop.Sugarcane acreage slipped by 5.17 per cent to 40.70 lh . Sowing of cotton is up 14.2 per cent with 8.82 lh under coverage compared to 7.72 lh earlier while area under jute and mesta touched 6.81 lh from 6.25 lh.

www.ricepluss.com & http://www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact for Blog & Daily E-Newsletter Advertisement mujajhid.riceplus@gmail.com 15

Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter The India Meteorological Department has predicted that the four-month long South-West monsoon is likely to hit Kerala on Saturday with a model error of four days. It has predicted the monsoon this year to be at 93 per cent of the long-period average of 89 cm mainly due to developing El Nino conditions.

(This article was published on May 29, 2015)

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/kharif-coverage-up-a-tad-at-5956lakh-ha/article7260907.ece

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for May 29 Month

Price

Net Change

July 2015

$9.510

UNCH

September 2015

$9.785

UNCH

November 2015

$10.065

+$0.005

January 2016

$10.320

+ $0.005

March 2016

$10.505

UNCH

May 2016

$10.505

UNCH

July 2016

$10.505

UNCH

Courtesy: USA Rice Federation

Farmers to be educated on modern rice production methods Posted May 29, 2015 at 10:23am Ensuring food security is critical to sustainable livelihood and development.However, this can only be achieved in an enabling policy environment for key actors in the agricultural sector.It is in this vein that the John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Technoserve, as well as the Ghana Grain Council is to educate farmers and

www.ricepluss.com & http://www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact for Blog & Daily E-Newsletter Advertisement mujajhid.riceplus@gmail.com 16

Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter stakeholders on modern methods of rice production.Addressing the participants, the Policy Advisor of the JAK Foundation, Nana Ama Oppong-Duah said Ghana can be self-sufficient in rice production if policies that buttress the rice value chain are implemented and managed well. http://m.gbcghana.com/1.4136844

Rice supply-demand outlook improving, prices not so much Burma, Cambodia returning to rice export market May 28, 2015Forrest Laws | Delta Farm Press

―World consumption is expected to exceed production by 6.9 million metric tons,‖ says Dr. Childs, who contributes the rice analysis for the WAOB. ―As a result, ending stocks for 2015-16 are projected to drop 7 percent to 91.5 million tons, the lowest since 2007-08. This is the third consecutive year of declining global ending stocks of rice.‖ All the signs point to an improved supply and demand situation for the global rice industry. But that doesn‘t mean world rice prices will move higher any time soon, according to Nathan Childs, senior agricultural economist with USDA‘s Economic Research Service.The world is expected to have record rice crops in 2015-16, with production projected to be up 1 percent from 2014-15, but total supplies are expected to decline for a second consecutive year due to a smaller carry-in, he says.

Dr. Childs was the featured speaker for the University of Arkansas Extension Services‘ new webinar series. His topic, ―2015-16 U.S. and Global Rice Outlook with Nathan Childs,‖ was a timely one for producers who have been struggling with the weather on one hand and with lower rice prices on the other.USDA‘s World Agricultural Outlook Board, which provides the Agriculture Department‘s monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, is estimating world rice consumption will increase by 1 percent from 2014-15.―World consumption is expected to exceed production by 6.9 million metric tons,‖ says Dr. Childs, who contributes the rice analysis for the WAOB. ―As a result, ending stocks for 2015-16 are projected to drop 7 percent to 91.5 million tons, the lowest since 2007-08. This is the third consecutive year of declining global ending stocks of

www.ricepluss.com & http://www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact for Blog & Daily E-Newsletter Advertisement mujajhid.riceplus@gmail.com 17

Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter rice.‖Carry-in stocks of rice from the previous marketing year are projected to be down 8 percent from a year earlier, he said. ―This is the second year of a smaller carry-in with India and Thailand – the two largest rice exporters – accounting for most of the projected reduction in the 2015-16 carry-in.‖ http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/rice-supply-demand-outlook-improving-prices-not-somuch?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+May+29%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December +13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email

SME Exporters to Yemen request facilities to call back cargo May 29, 2015

Karachi, May 29, 2015 (PPI-OT): The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises ( UNISAME ) has invited the attention of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP ) to the difficulties faced by exporters who exported goods to Yemen under confirmed orders and request facilities for alternative disposal.President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said the cargo for destination port of Aden was off loaded at the nearby port of Djibouti due to non functioning of Aden port.

However since the letter of credit was from the opening bank in Yemen, the negotiating banks dispatched the original documents to the opening bank in Yemen.He said in the meantime there was warfare in Yemen and the port closed compelling the vessels to divert to nearby ports.

Thaver has urged the SBP to take cognisance of the fact and facilitate those exporters who desire to call back the goods and save them from losses.He invited the attention of the SBP to the extraordinary demands of the negotiating banks asking exporters to return the value of the bills discounted by them. Moreover the shipping companies are asking for double the amount of guarantees. The exporters are not in a position to return the amounts and need time to time to arrange disposal of the cargo and minimize the losses.

Thaver complained and requested intervention by SBP to direct the commercial banks to cooperate with the exporters and enable and facilitate the exporters to call back the goods and give them sufficient time to change the packing and re-export the goods without charging them mark up and also not burdening them to provide guarantees to the shipping companies.He pointed out that since this is an unforeseen incident and no mistake of the shippers the exporters need to be facilitated to overcome the predicament without any penal interest and all mark up must be waived.

For more information, contact: Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) 75/1 3rd Commercial Street, Phase IV, D.H.A., Karachi, Pakistan Tel: +92-21-35884225-6 Fax: +92-21-35380642

www.ricepluss.com & http://www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact for Blog & Daily E-Newsletter Advertisement mujajhid.riceplus@gmail.com 18

Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter Cell: +92-300-8245307, +92-321-8245307 Email: unisame@gmail.com http://asianetpakistan.com/official-news/misc/200986/sme-exporters-to-yemen-request-facilities-to-call-backcargo-2/#sthash.i3qGX9dY.YjT1KhNe.dpuf

Soc Trang records fragrant rice success HCM CITY (VNS) — The cultivation of fragrant rice in the Cuu Long (Mekong) province of Soc Trang has shown good results, according to experts.Soc Trang, the main fragrant-ricegrowing in the delta, has around 148,000ha under rice, with 44 per cent of it earmarked for speciality varieties, mostly of the fragrant kind.In 1992-2015, Soc Trang spent more than VND9 billion (US$430,000) on 20 programmes for creating and restoring speciality rice varieties.One of them, to create the ST fragrant rice strain, has ended with many varieties ranging from ST 1 to ST 25.Many of them are exported at high prices.ST 5, for instance, has fetched over US$600 a tonne for the past seven years.Speaking at a seminar held in the province on May 15, Ho Quang Cua, deputy chairman of the Soc Trang Union of Science and Technology Associations and also one of the local scientists who researched and created the ST varieties, said many farmers growing fragrant rice made profits of 50 -70 per cent.

"This is the important factor for the province to develop fragrant rice."Cua and his research group are planning to popularise ST varieties from 20 to 25, red ST, and purple ST so that more of them are grown for export. The export prices of these are as high as $800 a tonne.Many cooperatives in the province have tied up with companies to ensure there are outlets for their fragrant rice.The Hoa Loi Rice – Shrimp Co-operative in My Xuyen District is one such.Mai Van Chanh, its chairman, said farmers who grew rice on a small scale often did not know the techniques and have supporting services.Since 2009 Can Tho city–based Gentraco Feed Joint Stock Company has been contracted with the co-operative to buy rice from its members.Chanh said it paid 20 – 25 per cent higher than the market price."The co-operative's farmers earn an average of VND20 million ($950) per hectare more than other farmers.

"Vo Tong Xuan, rector of the Southern Can Tho University, hailing Soc Trang's scientists for creating the ST variety, said the province should solicit investment in rice drying, husking, polishing, and packaging facilities.Seminar participants said the profits from speciality rice strains are very high, adding if the grain was grown using a proper model like the large-scale rice fields and there was co-operation between farmers, scientists, companies, and authorities, farmers could enjoy up to 84 per cent of the profit made through the chain until the rice reaches the consumer.Le Thanh Tri, deputy chairman of the Soc Trang People's Committee, said to further develop speciality rice farming, the province needed to dissuade individual and small farming and strengthen co-operation between farmers, scientists, companies, and the Government.The province should provide farmers with advanced technologies and create more high-quality rice strains suitable for harsh weather conditions, he added. —VNS http://vietnamnews.vn/society/271059/soc-trang-records-fragrant-rice-suce

www.ricepluss.com & http://www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact for Blog & Daily E-Newsletter Advertisement mujajhid.riceplus@gmail.com 19