29th september 2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter

29th September, 2014

News Headlines

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Crew makes 1,126-pound bowl of Hawaii rice dish Hooda blames Centre for poor pricing of rice Rice millers not to cooperate with govt.

Market enhancement policy backfires on Vietnam rice exporters First step made for a legal China rice trade Mekong Delta Meets 64.2 Pct Of Annual Rice Export Target Govt refuses rice price guarantee, but will help cut farmers' costs MOC expedites setting guidelines on rice price controls for Thai agriculturists 2014 rice crop almost normal India’s rare call for rice imports Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Sep 30 Govt refuses rice price guarantee, but will help cut farmers' costs Rice farmers fail in plea for price subsidy Rice farmers must help themselves

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Crew makes 1,126-pound bowl of Hawaii rice dish The Associated Press POSTED: 09/29/2014 02:55:18 PM EDT0

COMMENTS| UPDATED: ABOUT 17 HOURS AGO

HONOLULU (AP) — A group is claiming a world record for a popular Hawaii dish, after putting together a massive bowl of rice, hamburger, eggs and gravy.Chef Hideaki Miyoshi of Tokkuri Tei restaurant and volunteers at Sunday's Fifth Annual Rice Festival assembled a bowl of loco moco that weighed 1,126 pounds.Loco moco was invented in the late 1940s in Hilo. There are varieties, but the basic dish consists of hot white rice, a hamburger patty, an over-easy fried egg and brown gravy.Guinness World Records said the dish would have to weigh at least 1,100 pounds for consideration.

Miyoshi and his crew used more than 600 pounds of rice, 200 pounds of ground beef, 300 scrambled eggs and 200 pounds of gravy.

They used donated rice and borrowed kitchen space at Ward Centers.The festival holds the Guinness World Record for making a 286pound Spam musubi in 2011, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported (http://bit.ly/1uwSc9Z ).The big loco moco took 3½ hours to prepare and then was donated to charity to feed the homeless, organizer Lincoln Jacobe said.Some locomoco purists were critical of the use of

scrambled eggs instead of over-easy eggs."If you order at a restaurant, they ask you how you want your egg," Cesar Panocillo said. "So I guess it's a preference. Some people might like it scrambled.

"The event also featured a Spam-musubi eating contest. Randy Javelosa beat four-time champion Ron Lee by eating seven of the canned meat, dried seaweed and rice snack in two minutes."I just tried to scarf it down and keep it down," said Javelosa, whose prize was a year's worth of free rice."I'll be back next year," Lee vowed.

Hooda blames Centre for poor pricing of rice Vishal Joshi, Hindustan Times Taraori (Karnal), September 29, 2014 In an effort to woo the rural voters ahead of the assembly elections, chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Monday threatened to launch a massive agitation against the Centre on poor pricing of Pusa1509 variety of rice. Addressing a political rally in support of the Congress candidates from Nilokheri assembly constituency Gian Chand Sahota, Hooda said he was upset over the poor prices being offered to the farming community for various crops, including Pusa 1509. In a scathing attack at the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA government at the Centre, Hooda called the union government as insensitive to poor, farmers and middle-class people. Last year, farmers were paid more than Rs. 3,400 per quintal for Pusa 1509 but owing to poor

policies of the Centre, the price came down between `2,200 and Rs. 2,400 per quintal, claimed Hooda. ―Mere man mein itna dard aur gussa hai ke main chahta hoon ke yahi par dharna pe bait jaayun. Par ek mukhya mantri hone ki vajah se main aisa nahin karunga. Par ek chetawani deta hoon Centre ki sarkar ko, agar 1509 (basmati rice variety) ke daam kisanao ko theek nahin diye to ek bahut bada agitation shuru karunga,‖ he said while appealing to the gathering to support him when he starts an agitation. Taraori is a hub of basmati rice production in India and has several milling units. Sizeable portion of basmati rice exported to various countries is produced at Taraori and adjoining areas. Meanwhile, calling for Sahota’s victory, Hooda said the BJP and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) were known for their anti-people policies whereas the Congress had always worked for the poor and marginal sections of society. ―The BJP won the parliamentary elections due to hype but its real face of being a party of rich has started emerging. There has been a steep increase in rail fare, while prices of diesel, sugar, vegetable, etc., have skyrocketed after the NDA assumed power.

Sahota is a down to earth man and he will work for the progress of this area,‖ said Hooda. He asked voters not to be disillusioned by claims made by INLD leader Om Prakash Chautala that he would take oath as chief minister from Tihar jail, where he is serving a jail term in connection with the JBT teachers’ recruitment scandal. ―After conviction, he cannot even contest election; then how could he think of becoming a CM? The INLD is desperate for power and thus its jailed leaders are making false claims,‖ said Hooda.

‘CM making an issue out of nothing’

Belying chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s claim, those associated with rice industry say governments have no role in controlling the prices of basmati varieties.

Industry sources claim that Hooda was trying to make an issue out of nothing.―Basmati falls in free trade category and its prices are not fixed either by the Centre or the state government. Prices of basmati are determined on the demand and supply in the open market and the Congress leadership is trying to confuse people to gain political mileage out of it,‖ said a source in the rice industry.Rice millers said the state government could have asked its own commercial entities like Hafed to buy Pusa1509 variety of basmati to create an impression in the market that there were serious buyers and it may boost prices.

But the election code of conduct would not permit any such announcement and the Congress leadership in Haryana is making unfounded claims, they added.―An arrangement for purchase of a portion of the produce by Hafed, a commercial venture, could have brought some relief to farmers.

But it is wrong to call it a flop crop or the one that fetches poor prices to farmers. Pusa 1509 produces nearly 24 quintal of rice from 1 acre and farmers are getting up to `75,000 for their yield. The variety introduced in Haryana last year has already been sown on nearly 25% area and it expected to increase manifold in the next paddy sowing season,‖ says a leading rice exporter.

Sahota HSTSB member or not?

According to the nomination papers filed Gian Chand Sahota, the Congress nominee from Nilokheri (SC) assembly segment, he is an ex-member of Haryana School Teachers Selection Board (HSTSB). However, the official website of

the board that recently appointed over 10,000 lecturers, shows Sahota still as its member. At the election rally, Sahota said he was completely committed to Hooda and his policies. ―I have been working silently for the development of Nilokheri for the last four years. I am here to dedicate myself to the welfare for all sections of society,‖ said Sahota, who was handpicked by Hooda government to as a member of the HSTSB in February 2012.

HSSC member at election rally Presence of a member of Haryana Staff Selection Commission, Lalit Kumar Butana at the election rally on Monday raised several eyebrows.Butana remained seated at the dais shared by Hooda and Congress candidate Sahota at the election rally.

Considered a close aide of Hooda, Butana hails from a family of Congressmen and he was also handpicked by the Hooda government for the Haryana Staff Selection Commission. Butana’s father late Chanda Singh was first elected in 1968 as an Independent legislator from the Rordominated Nilokheri segment in the district and was re-elected in 1982. Singh then joined the Congress and became transport minister in the-then Bhajan Lal government.

Rice millers not to cooperate with govt.

Over 1,400 rice mill owners in the State have decided not to cooperate with the government in pooling custom milling rice (levy rice) for 2014–15 until their dues are cleared for 2013–14.They alleged that the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs was taking a unilateral decision with regard to levy rice without listening to the grievances of rice

millers.Executive president, Karnataka State Rice Millers’ Association, N.R. Vishwaradhya told presspersons here on Monday that rice millers had to get Rs. 44 crore from the government for rice supplied during 2013–14. Of the Rs. 62 crore due, only Rs. 18 crore had been released.

‘Far from the truth’ ―The government withheld the payment by accusing the millers of supplying poor quality rice, which is far from the truth. The government has distributed the rice,‖ he said.Mr. Vishwaradhya alleged that the government policy on levy rice was aimed at helping rice millers outside the State.

Market enhancement policy backfires on Vietnam rice exporters TUOI TRE NEWS UPDATED : 09/27/2014 21:02 GMT + 7 A government decree hoped to better manage the rice export sector in Vietnam has had adverse effects after more than three years of implementation, industry insiders have complained.

Many rice exporters have lamented that they are not qualified to export their abundant stocks due to what they blasted as the ―strict and unreasonable regulations‖ of Decree No.109, which took effect on January 1, 2011.The policy, issued in a bid to prevent incapable firms from joining the rice export market, stipulates that a rice business must have a warehouse capable of stocking at least 5,000 tons or rice, and a rice husking

plant with a 10-ton per hour capacity, to be eligible to export their products. ―The decree has stripped many rice firms of their right to export their high-quality products, and eliminated many of their business opportunities,‖ Vo Minh Khai, director of Vien Phu JSC, a rice exporter based in the southernmost province of Ca Mau, said.Vien Phu Co won a contract to export 14 tons of high-quality rice to Russia in August, but was unable to carry out the order as it was not able to obtain an export license.The company’s warehouse is only capable of stocking 2,000 tons of rice, and the capacity of its husking plant is only 2.5 tons per hour, far below the standards set by Decree No.109, according to the director.―It’s not necessary to pump money into setting up a larger warehouse, as the whole supply of organic rice in Asia is less than 5,000 tons,‖ Khai said.

While there were 284 rice exporters in Vietnam in 2010, the number dropped to around 100 shortly after the decree took effect.The unqualified rice exporters thus had to switch to selling their products across the border, or authorizing their exports to eligible firms, at fees ranging from $0.5 to $5 a ton, according to Dr. Vo Hung Dung, director of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry branch in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.―Qualified exporters are not interested in small orders of a few hundred tons, while those willing to take such contracts are not eligible to get a license,‖ Dung said.

―The unqualified firms have no choice but to reject such high-value contracts.‖The expert also said the requirements on rice warehouses and husking plants could be wasteful.―A number of larger warehouses and husking plants have been built to meet the decree requirements. But these facilities will not be able to operate at full capacity if the rice export market suffers a slowdown,‖ he warned.

First step made for a legal China rice trade

By Zaw Htike 2014

| Monday, 29 September

Legal rice exports to China took a step closer to becoming reality last week, as Chinese and Myanmar officials inked an agreement as part of a move to ensure rice quality.

Two years ago China was a small–scale buyer of Myanmar rice, but it has transformed to become Myanmar’s largest rice export market, as border trade rose from a negligible amount in 2010-11 to 752,000 tonnes in 2012–13.China became a net importer of rice only in 2011, and has been offering prices well above the world average in recent months. Yet Myanmar needs to improve its rice quality to meet challenges from countries like Vietnam and Cambodia, according to a World Bank report on the rice market from earlier this year.Myanmar has also been disadvantaged through not having the formal agreements necessary to legally export rice to China.

However, negotiations between the Myanmar Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation and Chinese officials from the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine

(AQSIQ), and supported by the Myanmar Rice Federation, are under way.A memorandum of understanding on agricultural standards was signed by AQSIQ and ASEAN members during the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry in Nay Pyi Taw on September 25.

Traders say it gives them hope the other agreements needed to begin legal exports to China can be signed.―We’ve just signed the first–step MoU on quality, but the market’s not officially opened,‖ said U Soe Tun, joint secretary of the Myanmar Rice Federation. ―We can’t get much out of just this agreement, as we need to sign other government-to-government agreements.‖Traders say a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement on health standards need to signed, as well as further negotiations over quotas and taxes, before exports can formally begin. Legal shipments will then likely leave Yangon port by oceangoing vessel, through the Straits of Malacca to the Chinese ports.

However, without the benefit of legal trade, rice exports are confined to informal, overland routes.The trade to China went from being nearly non-existent two years to presently comprising over 50 percent of total exports. With the major reorientation in export market, the trade routes have also shifted.Rice from the major growing areas in Ayeyarwady Region are usually shipped to Yangon by small boat or road, and then on to Mandalay. Sometimes Ayeyarwady rice, as well as rice from Sagaing or Bago, is shipped directly to Mandalay by barge on the Ayeyarwaddy river.From Mandalay, rice travels overland to the Muse border crossing in northern Shan State – the main point of entry for Myanmar rice to China.One rice trader said it costs about K80,000 per tonne to ship rice from Yangon to Muse using a combination of truck and river traffic. The cost is about double that of shipping from Yangon port to Myanmar’s traditional

markets in Africa.Large-scale rice trader and MRF joint secretary U Lu Maw Myint Maung said the cost could drop significantly if the China trade becomes legalised and traders were instead able to ship by water.

With ocean shipping to China now impossible due to the legal situation of rice, the overland route predominates. The Muse commodity exchange centre is full of brokers who have connections to Chinese buyers, who then purchase the rice, often for use as an ingredient in food like noodles or snacks.U Myo Thura Aye, a former joint secretary of the MRF, said Muse brokers are used to doing business with the Chinese, and are an integral part of this new trade.―They have had relations for many years – so finding buyers for them is not very difficult,‖ he said.Usually about 30 or 40 rice brokers enter from the Chinese city of Ruili when the border gates open at 8am Myanmar time. Brokers and buyers then meet to discuss the price and terms of contracts, before returning to Ruili.

Myanmar traders are usually required to get the rice across the border by using trucks with Chinese licences that are owned by Myanmar traders, often with shipments of up to 20 tonnes a truck. From Ruili, the rice is sold in other areas in China.U Min Thein said many Myanmar traders have bank accounts in Ruili to make payments easier.―If you have a Myanmar national registration card, you can open a bank account in Ruili,‖ he said.Yunnan Province is the main area in China that buys Myanmar rice, partly due to its proximity to Shan State, but there are another three or four provinces that have active demand. Much of it gets used to make food, with prices well above international rates.High–quality Thai 100pc B Grade fetched about US$450 to $460 a tonne on international markets last week, according to the industry website www.oryza.com

Myanmar traders say Chinese demand has been much stronger since June, when a flare– up of tension in the South China Sea made it politically difficult to purchase rice from Vietnam, traditionally its largest source of the staple.Yet because Myanmar’s trade is illegal from China’s point of view, it is subject to various confiscations at the border, which traders say have recently limited the amount that has flowed across the border.U Min Thein said that while usually border crackdowns simply see some goods confiscated, there have recently been cases of businesspeople being arrested. ―One Chinese man was arrested [on September 18] and has not been released yet.

Since then, only three or four Chinese traders a day are coming to Muse for rice trading,‖ he said. However, he said the market may soon return to normal.Yet Myanmar is not being singled out by the Chinese policy, said U Soe Tun.Other countries that also illegally ship goods to the People’s Republic periodically face repercussions, so it is difficult for the Myanmar Rice Federation to ask for special treatment, he said.Although a memorandum of understanding has now been signed, an actual SPS agreement must be inked, as well as regulations governing quotas, said U Lu Maw Myint Maung.The quotas allow a fixed quantity of imports to proceed without tariffs, he said.―We’re hoping Myanmar will get a quota of a million tonnes of rice a year,‖ he said.

Mekong Delta Meets 64.2 Pct Of Annual Rice Export Target HANOI, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- Over four million tonnes of rice were exported from the Mekong Delta by Sept 20, representing 64.2 percent of the region's annual rice export target, reports Vietnam News Agency (VNA).Rice exports generated US$1.84 billion in revenue for regional localities, the

Steering Committee for the Southwestern region said.Between now and the end of the year, localities plan to export an additional 2.3 million tonnes of rice, bringing the annual total to 6.3 million tonnes.

Nguyen Phong Quang, deputy head of the committee's standing board, said the region's trade sector implemented a number of measures to help businesses survey markets and promote their products in Asia, the European Union and North America.He attributed the outcome to the procurement of modern processing lines that improved output and quality, as well as the bumper harvest of 20.6 million tonnes of paddy during the winter-spring and summerautumn crops this year.

-- BERNAMA

Govt refuses rice price guarantee, but will help cut farmers' costs Petchanet Pratruangkrai The Nation BANGKOK: -- The government has come out with some measures to ensure decent incomes for farmers, insisting that it will not subsidise prices but will only help reduce production costs for the new rice crop.

Meanwhile, farmers have called for the government to guarantee they can get Bt10,000 per tonne of white paddy rice, saying otherwise they will continue to face low incomes or even losses.At a meeting of five rice farmers' associations and the Commerce Ministry, Jintana Chaiyawonnagal, director-general of the

Internal Trade Department, said the government would not set up a subsidy project or purchase rice from farmers as in the past."Rice farmers sought an income guarantee at Bt10,000 per tonne of paddy, so that they will get about Bt4,000 in profit.

However, the government will find some measures to help farmers to get that profit by supporting their production costs, and encouraging traders to purchase rice at a higher price," she said.

Currently, the price of white paddy is quoted at Bt7,800-Bt8,500 per tonne. Farmers claim that their production costs are about Bt6,000 a tonne.The main rice harvest season is expected to run from late next month to February.Measures to help farmers will include soft loans for traders and millers for purchasing rice for about Bt100-Bt200 per tonne higher than market and stocking rice for longer periods. So far, about 133 rice millers have expressed interest in joining the project, which is expected to absorb about 3.7 million tonnes of paddy from the market in the main harvest season.As well, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives will provide Bt20 billion in soft loans to encourage farmers to construct their own rice barns so they do not need to accelerate sales during the harvest season.

Prasith Boonchuey, president of the Thai Rice Farmers Association, said farmers wanted the government to guarantee their incomes at Bt10,000 a tonne because when they sell their rice, millers deduct humidity costs, and the farmers end up with only Bt7,000 per tonne.As long-term measures,

the government is considering plans to enhance yield per rai, encouraging farmers to grow other economic crops in areas that are not suitable for rice, and to improve the quality of rice grains.Meanwhile, Chanudpakorn Vongseenin, president of the Public Warehouses Organisation, has resigned, citing health problems. The ministry will need to find a new president for this agency soon.

MOC expedites setting guidelines on rice price controls for Thai agriculturists BANGKOK, 26 September 2014 (NNT) - The MOC is to expedite the setting of guidelines on rice price controls for Thai agriculturists.The Department of Internal Trade's (DIT) DeputyGeneral, Jintana Chaiyawonnagal, has announced after discussions with agricultural representatives that all suggestions will be presented to the Minister of Commerce, General Chatchai Sarikulya.

Even though the rice price has been adjusted to a point higher than in the past, the main problem remaining is the high production cost. For longterm assistance, the MOC will support agriculturists by reducing the cost of production instead of paying compensation in cash. As for the rice produced this season, the deputy-general also mentioned that the DIT will have the mills join a project to reduce up to 3.7 million tons of surplus unmilled rice from November to January. Furthermore, an unmilled rice market will be arranged for agriculturists to sell their product directly to the mill.

2014 rice crop almost normal 11:14 pm, September 27, 2014

Jiji PressJapan’s 2014 rice crop situation has so far been almost normal compared with an average year, according to the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry.The nationwide rice crop index as of Sept. 15 stood at 101, against 100 for an average year.Rice crop has been poor in western and southern Japan because of a serious lack of sunlight there, while the situation has been good in eastern and northern Japan, it said Friday

India’s rare call for rice imports

By Than Naing Soe | Monday, 29 September 2014

India is calling for bidders from Myanmar in a rice tender for the northeastern corner of the country, the first such large request in years, according to rice dealers.

India has long been one of the world’s largest rice exporters and a frequent competitor with Myanmar in third-country markets, but a September 19 Reuters report said a plan to broaden a railway in the northeast requires temporary rice imports.Myanmar traders say they are keen to begin exports to India, which has seldom required rice imports, as it may lead to chances for future trade.―It’s a good opportunity for Myanmar,‖ said U Chan Thar Oo, vice president of the Muse Rice Wholesale Centre. ―The Myanmar rice market currently depends on China – but the more markets we have, the better.‖While Indian officials had initially targeted finishing the first tender by September 23, the process was delayed due to

technical reasons, according to Indian newspaper Business Standard.Myanmar rice traders said the country’s exporters should take advantage of its position between the world’s two most populous nations.Although the tender is not too big, it may begin longterm relationships, said U Aung Than Htun, president of the Mandalay Rice Association.

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Sep 30 Tue Sep 30, 2014 1:43pm IST Nagpur, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Gram prices in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) firmed up again on increased demand from local millers amid weak supply from producing regions. Fresh rise on NCDEX, upward trend in Madhya Pradesh soyabean prices and reported demand from South-based millers also jacked up prices, according to sources. *

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FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Gram varieties ruled steady here on subdued demand from local traders amid ample stock in ready position.

TUAR * Tuar gavarani declined further in open market on poor buying support from local traders. Reports about good overseas arrival also pushed down prices. * Moong varieties reported down in open market on lack of demand from local traders amid good arrival from producing belts. * In Akola, Tuar - 4,800-4,900, Tuar dal 7,000-7,200, Udid at 7,000-7,200, Udid Mogar (clean) - 8,000-8,300, Moong 6,900-7,300, Moong Mogar

(clean) 8,300-9,000, Gram - 2,500-2,700, Gram Super best bold - 3,700-4,000 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 Gram Auction 2,150-2,830 2,120-2,800 Gram Pink Auction n.a.

2,1002,600 Tuar Auction n.a.

3,9304,950 Moong Auction n.a.

5,200-5,500 Udid Auction n.a.

4,3004,500 Masoor Auction n.a.

2,6002,800 Gram Super Best Bold 3,800-4,200 3,800-4,200 Gram Super Best n.a.

Gram Medium Best 3,550-3,700 3,550-3,700 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a.

Gram Mill Quality 3,400-3,450 3,400-3,450 Desi gram Raw 2,800-2,875 2,800-2,875 Gram Filter new 3,200-3,600 3,200-3,600 Gram Kabuli 8,400-9,700 8,400-9,700 Gram Pink 7,200-7,400 7,2007,400 Tuar Fataka Best 7,250-7,450 7,250-7,450 Tuar Fataka Medium 7,100-7,200 7,100-7,200 Tuar Dal Best Phod 6,600-6,800 6,600-6,800 Tuar Dal Medium phod 6,300-6,500 6,300-6,500 Tuar Gavarani 4,850-4,900 4,900-4,950

Tuar Karnataka 5,300-5,400 5,300-5,400 Tuar Black 8,200-8,500 8,200-8,500 Masoor dal best 6,700-6,800 6,700-6,800 Masoor dal medium 6,500-6,600 6,500-6,600 Masoor n.a. n.a.

Moong Mogar bold 9,000-9,800 9,200-9,800 Moong Mogar Medium best 8,200-8,600 8,500-8,800 Moong dal super best 7,800-8,200 7,800-8,200 Moong dal Chilka 7,500-7,700 7,700-7,900 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.

Moong Chamki best 7,500-8,800 7,500-8,800 Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 8,200-8,600 8,200-8,600 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,1007,800 7,100-7,800 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 6,7007,000 6,700-7,100 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 4,000-5,000 4,000-5,000 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 2,800-3,100 2,800-3,100 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,250-3,450 3,250-3,450 Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,2503,350 3,250-3,350 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,4005,200 4,400-5,200 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,200-1,500 1,200-1,500 Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,7001,800 1,700-1,800 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,300-1,500 1,300-1,500 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,1002,450 2,100-2,450 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,850-2,000 1,850-2,000 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 2,8003,200 2,800-3,200

MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 1,9502,350 1,950-2,350 Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG) 1,200-1,300 1,200-1,300 Wheat Best (100 INR/KG) 1,500-1,800 1,500-1,800 Rice BPT (100 INR/KG) 3,2003,800 3,200-3,800 Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,800-2,000 1,800-2,000 Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG) 2,3502,650 2,350-2,650 Rice HMT (100 INR/KG) 4,0004,400 4,000-4,400 Rice HMT Shriram (100 INR/KG) 5,2006,000 5,200-6,000 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 10,50013,500 10,500-13,500 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,300-10,000 7,300-10,000 Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG) 5,200-5,800 5,200-5,800 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,4001,600 1,400-1,600 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,800 1,700-1,800 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 35.5 degree Celsius (95.9 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.

21.3 degree Celsius (70.3 degree Fahrenheit) Humidity: Highest - 96 per cent, lowest - 53 per cent.

Rainfall : nil FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and Minimum temperature likely to be around 35 and 21 degree Celsius respectively.

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

Govt refuses rice price guarantee, but will help cut farmers' costs

Petchanet Pratruangkrai The Nation September 27, 2014 1:00 am The government has come out with some measures to ensure decent incomes for farmers, insisting that it will not subsidise prices but will only help reduce production costs for the new rice crop.Meanwhile, farmers have called for the government to guarantee they can get Bt10,000 per tonne of white paddy rice, saying otherwise they will continue to face low incomes or even losses.At a meeting of five rice farmers' associations and the Commerce Ministry, Jintana Chaiyawonnagal, director-general of the Internal Trade Department, said the government would not set up a subsidy project or purchase rice from farmers as in the past.

"Rice farmers sought an income guarantee at Bt10,000 per tonne of paddy, so that they will get about Bt4,000 in profit. However, the government will find some measures to help farmers to get that profit by supporting their production costs, and encouraging traders to purchase rice at a higher price," she said.Currently, the price of white paddy is quoted at Bt7,800-Bt8,500 per tonne. Farmers claim that their production costs are about Bt6,000 a tonne.The main rice harvest season is expected to run from late next month to February.Measures to help farmers will include soft loans for traders and millers for purchasing rice for about Bt100-Bt200 per tonne higher than market and stocking rice for longer periods. So far, about 133 rice millers have expressed interest in joining the project, which is expected to absorb about 3.7 million tonnes of paddy from the market in the main harvest season.As well, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives will provide Bt20 billion in soft loans to encourage farmers to construct their own rice barns so they do not need to accelerate sales during the harvest season.

Prasith Boonchuey, president of the Thai Rice Farmers Association, said farmers wanted the government to guarantee their incomes at

Bt10,000 a tonne because when they sell their rice, millers deduct humidity costs, and the farmers end up with only Bt7,000 per tonne.As long-term measures, the government is considering plans to enhance yield per rai, encouraging farmers to grow other economic crops in areas that are not suitable for rice, and to improve the quality of rice grains.Meanwhile, Chanudpakorn Vongseenin, president of the Public Warehouses Organisation, has resigned, citing health problems. The ministry will need to find a new president for this agency soon.

Rice farmers fail in plea for price subsidy Sept. 27--The government has brushed aside calls by rice farmers to help buy their paddy from the upcoming main season at the prices they desire, insisting aid will focus mainly on a production cost subsidy.Jintana Chaiyawonnagal, director-general of the Internal Trade Department, yesterday said after meeting five rice-related associations that there would be no compensation to shore up paddy prices.Authorities would rather study other means of assistance, possibly a subsidy of the interest rate on loans extended to farmers, she said.The junta earlier approved a 20-billion-baht plan for the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives to extend soft loans to farmers to help delay selling their paddy amid massive supply. This is expected to help cut supply by 3-4 million tonnes.

The government has also offered millers who agree to maintain their stocks during the main season a credit line at only 3% interest.There are 133 millers in 26 provinces participating. This is expected to help cut supply by 3.7 million tonnes.For farmers reluctant to sell their grains to millers, authorities have held more than 200 markets nationwide, allowing them to get a fairer price.The Commerce Ministry estimates

supply from the main crop between November and February will stay at 21 million tonnes of paddy.

Farmers' representatives yesterday proposed the government help buy paddy with 15% moisture at 10,000 baht a tonne, Pathum Thani fragrant paddy at 11,000 baht, Hom Mali fragrant paddy at 16,000 baht and glutinous paddy at 11,000 to 13,000 baht.Rawee Rungruang, chairman of the Thai Farmers Network, said the government should at least subsidise production costs.Prasit Boonchey, president of the Thai Farmers Association, said farmers feared the new harvest would put more pressure on prices, further reducing the income of farmers who now fetch relatively low paddy prices averaging 6,500 to 7,200 baht a tonne.

Rice farmers must help themselves Published: 29 Sep 2014 Newspaper section: News Writer: Veera Prateepchaikul

Rice farmers recently asked for help from the government after a similar call from rubber growers in 16 southern provinces demanding intervention to arrest the seemingly unstoppable fall in rubber prices. A rice farmer in Kalasin works on his ricefield. The military regime has tried to

avoid populism as farmers petition for state subsidies to combat falling prices.The rubber price has declined by more than 60% since it peaked in February, 2011. Last Friday, the Hat Yai and Surat Thani rubber markets quoted its price 45-46 baht per kilogramme.

The good old days, just a few years back — when rubber skyrocketed to more than 120 baht a kilogramme, boosting the economy in southern Thailand and encouraging many farmers to buy new pickup trucks on hire purchase — are gone.Perhaps it is never to return, as China, the biggest consumer of rubber, will be harvesting its own rubber from plantations in Laos and Cambodia and will depend less upon Thailand.Worst hit are the newcomers who, when the price peaked, joined the rubber bandwagon out of greed or for fear that they would miss the boat. They are now holding their heads in their hands.

It takes about six years to cultivate rubber trees for harvesting — and by that time, no one can surely have any idea what the price will be.Even worse for many of these newcomers who grew rubber trees on encroached forest reserves, they may have their plantations seized by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).The military regime has formed a package of aid measures, including a 5-billion-baht subsidy to buy rubber from farmers, 15 billion baht for the rubber processing industry to increase rubber consumption, and 10 billion baht in a revolving fund to provide credit to farmers and the rubber processing business.

In the meantime, the government has put off the sale of the 210,000 tonnes of rubber in its stockpile as demanded by farmers.Still, the NCPO and the government remain uncertain whether the package will divert southern farmers' plan to descend on Bangkok on Oct 8. Prime Minister Prayut

Chan-o-cha appealed to farmers not to come to Bangkok, citing the many inconveniences they will face. He also assigned one of his deputies, Gen Chatchai Sarikalya, to meet their representatives and hear their grievances.

It remains to be seen whether the protest has been nipped in the bud. But if the farmers do go to Bangkok, they will form the first protest to be handled by the NCPO and the government, challenging martial law.Rice farmers, meanwhile, have demanded the government guarantees 10,000 baht per tonne of paddy against market price of 8,000-9,000 baht.

The government, however, does not want to repeat the previous governments' populist policies by guaranteeing a rice price or through a pledging scheme, but prefers to help the farmers reduce their production costs by about 500 baht per rai.Fertiliser and pesticide traders' associations have been asked by the NCPO to provide more discounts to farmers, and landlords have been told to cut rental fees for farmland.

The price of rice seeds for cultivation too will be lowered. Also, cheap loans will be made available to farmers by the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives.Regrettably, the government and the NCPO still attach importance to the use of chemical fertiliser and pesticides instead of promoting more use of organic fertilisers and herbs. There are several success stories of farmers who do not rely on chemicals and yet earn more income from their crops. Their local wisdom and expertise should be promoted as a model for the other farmers to follow suit.

Take as an example the case of Chaiyaporn Promphan, a rice farmer in Bang Plama district of Suphan Buri. Here is a comment by him which is worthy of consideration by

the NCPO."Who says that rice farming makes farmers poor? That is not true. The most important thing is, use your head. Do not act like a manager when farming — that is to use a mobile phone to order others to do and to buy everything. That way you end up being poor and lose your farmland."I make about one million baht a year from rice farming.

I keep the receipts to prove to the others that I am not exaggerating. A farmer like me can dictate my own salary at 60,000 baht a month for myself and another 60,000 baht for my wife. My three children have all graduated with master's degrees. Other farmers have to sell their land to send their children to universities. But I keep buying more farmland."The secret is that Mr Chaiyaporn never uses chemical fertilisers or pesticides and does not hire workers. He and his wife work the land, about 100 rai, themselves, using manure and herbs to ward off pests. They also improvise in making their own farming equipment.Cutting production costs alone is not enough to make farmers earn more take-home pay.

Their productivity too must increase.It is indeed a shame that although Thailand ranks as the world's No.1 rice exporter (and momentarily lost the ranking to India and Vietnam) it ranks No.7 among Asean countries in terms of rice productivity.

Vietnam's rice paddies are the most efficient. Thailand's rice productivity stands at 448 kg/rai compared to Vietnam's 862.4kg/rai, Indonesia's 779.2kg/rai and Laos' 588.8kg/rai.According to the Centre for International Trade Studies of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Thai farmers make the lowest net income among rice producing countries in Asean with an average of 1,555.97 baht per rai take-home income, compared to Vietnam's 3,180 baht per rai and Myanmar's 3,484.1 baht per rai.

Irrigation is another factor which gives Vietnam higher rice productivity than Thailand, as 50% of its farmland, mostly in the Mekong River Delta in the South and the Red river basin in the North, is irrigated.For Thailand, only 32% of rice farms in the central region are irrigated, while most farmland in the North and Northeast are rain-fed.The government must play a role in improving the infrastructure to improve rice productivity and in helping to reduce production costs. But farmers, too, must help themselves too by reducing costs and learning from experts such as Mr Chaiyaporn.

Veera Prateepchaikul is a former editor, Bangkok Post.

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