30th june (tuesday),2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

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June 30 ,2015

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Unable to compete, rice exporters demand incentives

By Peer Muhammad Published: June 30, 2015 25% is the increase in rice production in Pakistan in the past 15 years STOCK IMAGE

ISLAMABAD: Say competitors are providing hidden concessions to their industries Rice growers and exporters have voiced concern over their future after losing some major markets to Asian competitors and failure to meet export targets over the last five years.They have sought assistance and facilitation from the government like the way their rivals in Thailand, India and Vietnam are receiving.According to the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), the country has not been able to achieve higher export targets and the highest shipments recorded so far were in 200910 when exports were valued at $2.2 billion. Since then, the exports have remained more or less stagnant.

The growers and exporters are apprehensible of the challenges ahead and have invited attention of the authorities.Prices of basmati rice were Rs4,400 per 40 kg in 2013-14, which came down to Rs3,400 and then to Rs2,600.The prices fell after India flooded the international market with its basmati rice. India had also captured the rice market of Iran but for the last two years, Tehran has slapped a ban on shipments from India.

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For Pakistan, China has been the main market of Irri-6 rice as 362,000 tons were exported in 2011-12, 589,000 tons in 2012-13 and 353,000 tons in 2013-14. However, this year, exports to China stand below 200,000 tons, which is very low compared to the last three to four years.

With the situation persisting for the past two years, paddy and rice prices have recorded an unprecedented decline of more than 40%, causing huge losses to the industry.The exporters believe that governments in Thailand, Vietnam and India are providing hidden incentives to the rice industries and fear they will offer more concession and facilitation. These incentives will put Pakistan‘s industry at a disadvantage and throw it out of the international market, leading to piling up of surplus stock in the country.

REAP President Malik Jahangir, in a statement, called on the government to provide relief and bail out the rice industry. He stressed that the government must process all applications of rice exporters pending with the State Bank and provide loans in the next three months.He said

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commercial banks should be asked to provide relief in margin calls as prices had dropped about 50% in Punjab for some varieties of rice, especially old basmati.The industry also asked the government to provide rice farmers with seeds, pesticides, electricity, water, dryers and other equipment free of charge in order to bring down the cost of production and enable exporters to compete in international markets.

Outlining the key reasons that hurt rice exports from Pakistan, the industry pointed to the global surplus of grains, particularly rice, with major producers – Thailand, India and Vietnam – holding huge stocks from the last three years. This has pushed their governments to offer hidden export subsidies to sell the surplus commodity.In the last 15 years, the global rice trade has grown almost three-fold from 12 million tons to 33 million tons per annum. The major producers are not only doling out huge cash subsidies to the farmers, but are also assisting in research on seed varieties.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30th, 2015 http://tribune.com.pk/story/912002/unable-to-compete-rice-exporters-demand-incentives/

Pakistan can export 50,000 tons of rice to the Philippines

By Our Correspondent Published: June 30, 2015 6.5m tons is Pakistan‘s annual rice production, out of which 4.5 million tons are exported. PHOTO: APP

KARACHI: Pakistan has secured a quota of 50,000 tons of rice imports in the Philippines for the year 2015, according to the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP).

A high-profile trade delegation visited the Philippines earlier in April 2015 and met its government departments with the support of the ambassador of Pakistan.The National Food Authority (NFA) – Philippines‘ authorised state body – has invited the private sector to participate in the import of an aggregate volume of 805,200 tons of rice under the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) for this year.

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The Country Specific Quota (CSQ) is broken down as follows: Thailand and Vietnam got the largest share of 293,100 tons each. China got 50,000 tons, India 50,000 tons, Pakistan 50,000 tons, Australia 15,000 tons and El Salvador 4,000 tons.

The total import volume comprises 755,200 tons of country-specific quota (CSQ) and 50,000 tons of omnibus origin volume.All rice imported under the 2015 MAV rice importation

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programme will be levied with a tariff of 35% to be paid in advance to the Land Bank of the Philippines, with the Bureau of Customs making the final assessment and valuation.The importers are allowed to import well-milled rice with quality not lower than 25% broken or other special rice varieties.The NFA will accept applications under the 2015 MAV, 15 days from publication of the notice.

The interested parties should submit documents to the Grains Marketing Operations Department at the NFA central office and pay a non-refundable processing fee of 50,000 Pesos. The corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorship, farmers‘ cooperatives and joint ventures can apply under the programme. The importers should be able to deliver the imported rice on or before November 30, 2015.Pakistan, one of the top five rice exporters, has a 15% share in the international market but it is struggling in even sustaining its $2 billion rice exports. Its annual rice production is close to 6.5 million tons out of which approximately 4.5 million tons is exported – equivalent to 70% of total domestic production.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30th, 2015. http://tribune.com.pk/story/911951/pakistan-can-export-50000-tons-of-rice-to-the-philippines/ 4

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Philippines to import rice from Pakistan The total import volume comprises 755,200 tonnes of country-specific quota (CSQ) and 50,000 tonnes of omnibus origin volume.

— Reuters/fileKARACHI: The Philippines has offered to import 50,000 tonnes of rice from Pakistan to help it meet its goal of importing an aggregate volume of 805,200 tonnes of rice under its minimum access volume (MAV) for this year.The total import volume comprises 755,200 tonnes of country-specific quota (CSQ) and 50,000 tonnes of omnibus origin volume.The CSQ is broken down as the following: China 50,000 tonnes, India 50,000 tonnes, Pakistan 50,000 tonnes, Australia 15,000 tonnes, El Salvador 4,000 tonnes, Thailand 293,100 tonnes and Vietnam 293,100 tonnes.All rice imported under the 2015 MAV rice import programme shall be levied with a tariff of 35 per cent to be paid in advance to the Land Bank of Philippines and only well-milled rice with quality of at least 25pc ―brokens‖ or other such special rice varieties will be imported.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2015 http://www.dawn.com/news/1191319

DAP URGED TO IMPLEMENT QRC FINAL CLOSURE AS DECIDED The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises ( UNISAME ) has invited the attention of the ministry of commerce ( MINCOM ) to the difficulties being faced by the SME rice exporters due to the lingering in the implementation of already decided closure of the Quality Review Committee ( QRC ) and urged the federal commerce minister engineer Khurram Dastagir to direct the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to disband the futile committee and to close it immediately as every single day matters for closure of this troublesome body.President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said it was finally decided by the MINCOM to close the QRC as it was unanimously agreed that QRC has become futile and the committee as pointed out by all stakeholders is not serving any purpose.

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The buyers prefer to import rice in their own or selected brands of blended rice.In fact it is an impediment as the majority of rice being exported is non basmati. The QRC was entrusted to protect the basmati label and make sure the basmati rice exported was not mixed with contrast varieties. The global demand is for 1121 which is non basmati rice and 386 rice which is also not basmati rice.Many buyers demand blended rice of different varieties with basmati rice as basmati rice has aroma and when mixed with 1121 and 386

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6 makes it aromatic.It is pertinent to note that 1121 is the most expensive rice. It is in great demand all over the gulf and middle east countries but is not classified as basmati rice.

The demand for basmati rice is very little as compared to 1121 and 386.QRC is not required any more and its presence as an inspection cell is more an hurdle than a monitor because it is issuing certificates for non basmati rice as basmati rice under pressure to keep business going. The big rice exporters are obliged but the SMES are facing difficulties.Besides the concept of inspection is for third party inspection and always the prerogative of the buyer.In the last several meetings it was decided to disband the QRC within a couple of days and then the government had indicated its closure by 30th June 2015 positively which is also the end of the fiscal year. 30th June 2015 is the last day of the fiscal year and for accounting purposes it would be ideal to close it today and not re-open the ledgers on 1st July 2015. One fails to understand the reason for the delay and the lack of will and bad influence of the lobby which is manipulating to avoid accountability of QRC funds spent extravagantly and purchase of properties in the name of the association managing the QRC for more than a decade.

Unfortunately no intimation has been received till close of business today and a meeting has been summoned on 6th July 2015 to work out the final modalities and examination of the audit report.The requirements of returning the properties purchased by the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan ( REAP ) to the government is perhaps bothering REAP and it is presumed that they are influencing its delay.It was also suggested to use the premises for the Pakistan Rice Board (PRB) which would be another mistake as the PRB would be another white elephant.

Commerce Ministry to hold meet over low domestic rice price PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI THE NATION June 29, 2015 1:00 am THE Commerce Ministry will this week call for a meeting with rice exporters, millers, and traders to try and solve the problem of the rice price falling domestically despite the higher export price for rice and stronger demand globally due to drought including in Thailand.Commerce Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya said the domestic rice price should increase soon because of the widespread drought."The price of rice domestically |should reflect the export price, with |the price of white rice increasing |gradually from higher demand amid drought in many countries, mainly in Thailand, China, and Vietnam," said Chatchai.He said that the ministry would ask traders to buy rice from farmers at a fair price and one that reflects market demand. Chatchai added that with lower rice supplies in the world market, Beijing has urged Thailand to accelerate the supply of rice to China under a government-to-government agreement.

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"Thailand should be able to export 10 million tonnes of rice this year as more orders will come from drought-hit nations," he said.The Thai Rice Exporters Association reported that Thailand shipped 3.77 million tonnes of rice in the first five months of the year, down 1.4 per cent on the same period last year, while the value dropped 2.7 per cent year-on-year to Bt61.36 billion.However, shipments in May were up by 7.3 per cent in volume to 945,597 tonnes, while the value rose 2.3 per cent to Bt14.11 billion.As of

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7 June 24, the export price for 5 per cent white rice was US$380 (Bt1,284) a tonne, up from $373 a tonne the previous week.Last week, the price of 5 per cent white Vietnamese rice was $355, and Indian rice was $370 a tonne.

Ironies in rice self-sufficiency By: Cielito F. Habito @inquirerdotnet Philippine Daily Inquirer 02:30 AM June 30th, 2015 MORE THAN once, and on different occasions, I‘ve heard farmers in Mindanao voice wonder at how too many farmers in Luzon persist in growing rice, even as that crop has failed to lift them out of poverty. In the same breath, they‘d cite how they‘ve made a good living growing higher-value crops such as rubber, cacao, bananas and oil palm. Rubber farmers, for one, liken their trees to banks‘ automatic teller machines that yield money on a regular basis, for minimal ―deposits‖ of fertilizer and basic plant care.

Those Mindanao observers were probably not alluding to more productive rice farmers who can produce 70 to 100 sacks (3-4 tons) of palay per hectare, well above our national average yield of 35 sacks (1.5 tons) per hectare over the last 20 years. We have many of these, and they need little government help. But there are also numerous marginal rice farmers tilling less productive lands, much of these unirrigated, unmechanized and underfertilized owing to lack of access to credit for needed working capital to buy productivity-improving inputs. It‘s these rice farmers who might do well to consider planting something more remunerative than rice, especially if the lands they are tilling are less suited to rice anyway.

But government, and seemingly Philippine society as a whole, want them to keep on planting rice, in the name of achieving the dream of full rice self-sufficiency—never mind that they are likely to remain in poverty if they do.Some stark ironies come with our seeming obsession with full rice self-sufficiency.

Countless papers written over the years by respected scholars (notably agricultural economists Cristina David, Ramon Clarete, Arsenio Balisacan, Rolando Dy and Roehlano Briones, among others) have observed how rice has traditionally received the lion‘s share (up to 70 percent) of our farm budget, at the expense of many other important commodities. And yet rice contributes less than a fifth of the country‘s total agricultural value added, and rice farmers are not even the poorest in the Philippine rural sector. It‘s the coconut farmers and artisanal fishers who are.

Ironically, we have not gotten any nearer the self-sufficiency goal, and have in fact become the world‘s largest rice importer. Analyses by the same authors point to another irony: The rice farmers in greater need hardly benefit from the huge sumsallocated yearly by government for increased rice production.

Evidence indicates that the primary beneficiaries of government budgetary allocations for rice have been the better-off, more productive farmers, not the worst-off among them.Similarly ironic is the fact that Malaysia, a country now far ahead of us in economic growth and development, has long had the deliberate and more sensible government policy of not targeting 100-percent rice self-sufficiency.

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And yet Malaysia trades rice actively in both directions, profiting from significant exports of premiumquality rice even as it imports substantial amounts to fill the domestic demand-supply gap. Since the 1980s, it had targeted to produce only 65-85 percent of its rice requirements. The Malaysians had long

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8 recognized that relative to the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Burma (Myanmar), they are naturally disadvantaged in the production of rice, along with neighbors Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines. Our countries lack the vast river deltas highly favorable to rice production with which the GMS is richly endowed. Malaysian policymakers understood that the resources needed to fill the domestic rice gap could be put to much better use, such as supporting lucrative farm export crops like oil palm and rubber.

These crops have earned them ample foreign exchange, enabling them to import rice when they need it, even from as far as Latin America (as I learned from a Malaysian former classmate in graduate school, who had been responsible for sourcing his country‘s rice imports).The most unfortunate irony of all is that under current circumstances, the more we pursue 100-percent rice self-sufficiency, the more we make most Filipinos food-insecure. Food security and food self-sufficiency are two different things. Food security denotes reliable access to adequate, affordable, safe and nutritious food.

Our self-sufficiency policy has had the perhaps unwitting effect of making rice much more expensive to Filipino consumers than it needs to be, with the Filipino poor suffering the most.It‘s the basic economic law of diminishing returns at work: Once beyond the level of maximum productivity that natural endowments will support, the cost of producing more and more of the product rises, often steeply. Unlike the GMS countries, our point of natural maximum productivity appears to be well below our level of sufficiency. For us, full self-sufficiency can only come at the inevitable cost of much higher rice prices or huge taxpayer subsidies, posing an undue penalty to all Filipinos, especially the poor. Indeed, when poverty incidence rose in 2014, it was not because incomes fell (they had actually risen).

The National Economic and Development Authority clarified that the culprit was the inordinate rise in the price of rice, the single largest item in the family budgets of poor Filipino households.The sooner we help marginal (hence high-cost) rice farmers shift to more lucrative crops and focus our rice production on those farms most productively endowed for it, the sooner we can lower our overall rice production costs and prices—and ironically, the more food-secure Filipinos, especially the poor, will become.

E-mail: cielito.habito@gmail.com

http://opinion.inquirer.net/86268/ironies-in-rice-self-sufficiency

Punjab, Har farmers asked not to sow basmati 1509 till July 15

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Punjab and Haryana governments have advised paddy farmers not to undertake sowing of a high- yielding variety 'PUSA Basmati 1509' before July 15 after exporters complained of high incidence of breakage in basmati rice due to early plantation. An awareness campaign has been launched in both Punjab and Haryana -- the two major producing states of basmati rice. Under this campaign, farmers have been asked to "shun" the practice of sowing 1509 variety before July 15. "We are asking farmers under the campaign to transplant Basmati 1509 variety after July 15 otherwise there will be high incidence of broken content and moisture content in the crop will be higher," Haryana Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture), Dhanpat Singh said here today.

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If the crop is planted pre-maturely, then there will be high breakage while milling and will have no acceptability in export market, according to basmati rice exporters. "What farmers do is they plant this crop before July and as a result of which the grain remained immature and weak. When we mill or process it, the grain breaks up," Punjab Rice Millers and Exporters Association, Director, Ashok Sethi said. Sethi claimed that a large number of rice exporters faced heavy losses last season when they were unable to market basmati 1509 variety rice in export market because of high incidence of breakage. "We want that crop should be sown after July 15, which should be ready by October," he said.

The association had even raised this matter with Punjab government following which Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal directed Punjab Agricultural University, Agriculture department to launch an awareness campaign across the state in this regard. Developed by Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), PUSA Basmati 1509 variety has seen its acceptability among growers both in Punjab and Haryana in a big way because of its high yield and short duration. Its yield is about 25 quintals per acre, higher than the other variety of 1121 whose yield is 20 quintals per acre. "We have always been saying that transplantation of 1509 variety should start from July 20 onwards and it can be transplanted till August 10.

Then it will have good aroma and will have no broken rice issue," IARI, Principal Scientist, A K Singh said. Singh asked exporters not to buy early sown basmati crop from farmers which can help in solving this problem. Almost 3 lakh hectares in Punjab and 2.50 lakh hectares in Haryana was brought under basmati 1509 variety last year. Total basmati area in Punjab is about 8 lakh hectares and 6 lakh hectares in Punjab and Haryana respectively. Punjab and Haryana have targeted 26.50 lakh hectares and 12 lakh hectares under paddy for current Kharif season http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/punjab-har-farmers-asked-not-to-sow-basmati-1509till-july-15-115062900839_1.html

Improving rice flour to aid food poverty A comparison of bread made with natural and modified rice flour. Credit: Yayoi Onda (Yamagata University, Japan) A new, high-quality rice flour could help towards aiding global food poverty. "This rice flour serves not only as an alternative to wheat flour for those with wheat intolerance, but could also help to overcome the global food problem in the future", says Dr Yayoi Onda at Yamagata University, Japan, one of the researchers behind this work.

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By studying and modifying proteins in the rice flour family, the researchers were able to produce dough and bread of superior quality than that obtained from 'normal' rice flour.Rice flour does not typically work as efficiently in bread making as wheat flour. In order to overcome this problem, the researchers changed the amount, structures and properties of seed storage proteins. They found that rice flour deficient in a particular protein active during seed development (called PDIL1;1) produced dough with a network-like structure through the formation of disulphide bonds, which are strong bridges between proteins.

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"This improved the quality and efficiency of the dough and the bread", says Onda.The new rice flour overcomes many of the issues associated with previous rice flour. For instance, the dough is more easily stretched and less sticky, it holds bubbles inside during fermentation and baking, it keeps its shape and structure as it inflates, and the bread has a more elastic texture after baking.The researchers have already started breeding experiments so that PDIL1;1-deficient rice plants can be grown widely under different climatic conditions. Explore further: Sensory properties, another criteria for wheat breeding

More information: This work will be presented by Dr Yayoi Onda (Yamagata University, Japan) at the annual meeting of the Society for Experimental Biology (SEB) at 11.55am on Tuesday 30th June.

Provided by Society for Experimental Biology

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Vietnam export 2.1m tons of rice end of May earning $870m, VFA Reported by: `Customs Today Report June 30, 2015

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HANOI: According to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), Vietnam had exported 2.1 million tons of rice by the end of May, earning $870 million, a decrease of 10 percent in export volume and 13 percent price decrease in comparison with the same period in 2014.To date, Vietnam has signed contracts on exporting 3.5 million tons of rice, or 8 percent lower than the same period of last year.Rice exporters complained that rice exports this year have been unsatisfactory. Thailand and India, the Vietnam‘s biggest rivals, all have big inventories. Thailand is reported to have 15-16 million tons in stock, while India has 23 million tons.

VFA noted that Thailand tends to lower the selling price in an effort to clear the stocks.

Meanwhile, India and Pakistan are competing fiercely in Africa and the Middle East.As exports have been in a deadlock, the domestic price has been decreasing.According to Vo Thanh Do, a senior official of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the Mekong River Delta, fresh IR 50404 rice is traded at VND4,150-4,250 per kilo.―Though Vietnam has won the bid to provide 150,000 tons of rice to the Philippines, the domestic price is still on the decrease,‖ Do said.

VFA has proposed to collect summer-spring rice for stockpile to help stabilize the domestic price and ensure reasonable profit for farmers.―We will be keeping a close watch over the summerspring rice harvesting, especially in July and August, the peak harvest season, and make a proposal about how much to collect,‖ Do said.Vietnam urged to stop following ‗high yield, low price‘ strategyChina remains Vietnam‘s largest rice consumer, which bought 35 percent of the 2.1 million tons of rice Vietnam exported in the first five months of the year.However, experts have warned against the heavy reliance on the Chinese market. China, despite high demand, has been tightening imports across the border gate since mid-2014, which has made it risky for Vietnamese enterprises to export rice to the market.

A source said that even contracts on exporting rice through official channels were also canceled, stressing that it was very risky to do business with China.Nguyen Thi Bich Vuong, director of Hung Thinh Trade and Import/Export Company in Lao Cai province, specializing in exporting rice across the border gates to China, said only several consignments of goods were exported in the first three months of the year.Meanwhile, no consignment has been exported since April when China began tightening control over imports http://www.customstoday.com.pk/vietnam-export-2-1m-tons-of-rice-end-of-may-earning-870m-vfa-2/

PHL registers highest increase in palay production 11

June 30, 2015 Lorenzo O. Lambatin Jr.

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12 BACOLOD CITY, June 30 (PIA6)--With a national rice sufficiency level of 96 to 97 percent, the country will still continue to import rice to fill-in the gap.In a recent press conference here, DA Sec. Proceso Alcala said although the target of achieving 100 percent sufficiency level in 2013 was not reached, yet the United States Department of Agriculture recognized the Philippines for registering the greatest increase in palay in the whole world for the last five years.

This proves the government is doing something right regarding palay production, he told the local media.Alcala noted that in 2010, the country‘s sufficiency level was only 82 percent, steadily rising to its present level.

One of the factors he mentioned for failing to reach the sufficiency target were the disaster the country suffered; although he clarified it is not the only reason.A big factor was in the failure to have additional irrigated areas for planting palay.Because of this, he said, there is a need to import rice citing as example the harvest right after the dry season reaching to a maximum harvest of only 42 percent.Although, the Aquino administration is still importing rice, he pointed out the combined figure of rice importation of the present government from 2011 through 2014 is only equivalent to one year importation of the previous administration. (JCM/Lljr-PIA6) http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1011435623522/phl-registers-highest-increase-in-palayproduction#sthash.HovG97g6.dpuf

Rice basmati rises on stockists buying, low supply Press Trust of India | New Delhi June 20, 2015 Last Updated at 15:02 IST

Rice basmati prices firmed up at the wholesale grains market today on the back of buying by stockists against restricted supplies from producing belts. However, other grains including wheat, after moving in a tight range on little doing, settled flat. Traders said increased buying by stockists amid limited arrivals from producing belts, mainly led to the surge in rice basmati prices. In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa-1121 variety went up to Rs 5,0005,200 and Rs 3,900-5,100 from previous levels of Rs 4,900-5,100 and Rs 3,800-4,900 per quintal, respectively.

Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal): Wheat MP (desi) 2,350-2,700, Wheat dara (for mills) 1,545-1,550, Chakki atta (delivery) 1,5651,570, Atta Rajdhani 10 kg) 220, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) 220, Roller flour mill 850-860 (50 kg), Maida 905-925 (50 kg) and Sooji 1,020-1,040 (50 kg).

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Basmati rice (Lal Quila) 10,400, Shri Lal Mahal 10,000, Super Basmati Rice 9,500, Basmati common new 5,000-5,200, Rice Pusa (1121) 3,900-5,100, Permal raw 1,700-1,750, Permal wand 1,900-1,925, Sela 2,300-2,400 and Rice IR-8 1,600-1,625, Bajra 1,200-1,205, Jowar yellow 1,490-1,500, white 2,550-2,650, Maize 1,225-1,230, Barley 1,280-1,290.

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13 http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/rice-basmati-rises-on-stockists-buying-low-supply115062000347_1.html

Monsoon delivers a 16% surplus in June Boosts kharif plantings, reservoir levels; IMD sees 8% deficit rainfall for July BENGALURU, JUNE 30:

The South-West monsoon, despite a delayed onset of four days, has delivered a surplus rainfall of 16 per cent for June this year. The country as a whole received 189.5 mm of rainfall during June, about 16 per cent higher than the normal of 163.6 mm for the period, according to the Indian Metrological Department (IMD).Thirty three of the 36 metrological subdivisions, accounting for 95 per cent of the area of the country have received excess or normal rainfall during June.

Thirteen subdivisions accounting for 52 per cent of the area have received excess rainfall over the 50 year long period average, while 20 subdivisions have received normal rainfall. SW monsoon, the lifeline of country‘s agriculture, covered the entire country on June 26, close to three weeks ahead of the normal date of July 15.Among those that have deficient rainfall include Bihar a decline of 28 per cent over normal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a deficit of 21 per cent. The subdivision of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura has also received a deficit rainfall of 31 per cent.The IMD has forecast that July rainfall will be eight per cent below normal, while precipitation in August would be 10 per cent deficit. IMD has also predicted a ‗deficient‘ rainfall this year and sources said that the Met was sticking to its forecast.

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The better-than-expected monsoon has given a fillip to the planting of key kharif crops such as paddy, oilseeds and pulses, while arresting the uptrend in prices mainly that of pulses, witnessed during AprilMay. In fact, prices of many agri-commodities including pulses have softened a bit on rise in acreages.

Also the Government‘s move to import pulses to meet the shortfall has aided the softening trend in prices.

The surplus June rains has also resulted in improving water levels in key reservoirs across the country, which should augur well for the kharif crops. Rainfall during July and August is crucial for kharif crops. ―The spatial distribution of rainfall is important for kharif crops during July as they will be vegetative stage,‖ said JS Sandhu, Agriculture Commissioner. The rain deficit of eight per cent predicted by IMD for July would not have a major impact if the rainfall is well spread and well distributed.As on June 26, the kharif planting was complete in 165.61 lakh ha, up 23 per cent over previous year, according to Agriculture Ministry data. The increase has been largely driven by higher plantings of pulses, coarse cereals, oilseeds and cotton.

(This article was published on June 30, 2015)

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14 Indian origin offered lowest in Iraq's 30,000 T rice tender- trade - The Economic Times

El Niño: 140,000 ha of rice farms in CL to get less water IN THIS photo taken in March, a farmer in the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija province takes advantage of good weather to dry his palay harvest. The Department of Agriculture has warned farmers of a low water supply for the dry cropping season this year due to the prolonged drought brought about by the El Niño weather phenomenon. WILLIE LOMIBAO/Inquirer Northern Luzon

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Almost 140,000 hectares of rice lands in three Central Luzon provinces may suffer low water supply in this year‘s dry season cropping in October due to prolonged drought brought about by the El Niño weather phenomenon, an agriculture official said. Andrew Villacorta, Central Luzon regional director of the Department of Agriculture (DA), gave this outlook based on the forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) that rainfall volume, starting October, would be reduced by 50 to 60 percent.

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―The wet season cropping is delayed by two to four weeks in Amris areas (Angat-Maasim River Irrigation System, spanning 30,000 ha). [However], if Angat Dam can recover by August and Upriis (Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System) is fed by Pantabangan Dam, then the rice lands can survive,‖ Villacorta told the Inquirer on Monday.

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15

Ads by Rubicon Project He said the lack of water during the dry season cropping would make it difficult for rice growers to store water for irrigation until March, he said, citing latest information by the National Irrigation Administration for Amris and Upriis.The so-called weak El Niño in 2014 lowered the water level in Pantabangan Dam to 204 meters above sea level (masl), which is 4 meters below its ideal level.In Angat Dam, the water level was recorded at 170 masl as of 8 a.m. on Monday, 10 m below its critical level.This year‘s El Niño is of the same scale as the 1997 and 1998 events when storms and floods were more severe, Pagasa said.Villacorta said the lack of irrigation in the region may cut down the target output of 3.8 million metric tons (MT) of rice harvest by 75,000 MT. Rice is grown in 430,000 ha during the wet season and 330,000 ha during the dry season. At least 20 percent of the national rice production comes from Central Luzon.In March, 2.208 million MT of rice were harvested in 346,344 ha of rice lands in Central Luzon. Local governments in the region reported that rice had been planted in 28,687 ha of irrigated lands and 29,559 ha of rain-fed lands.To help farmers cope with the drought, Villacorta said the DA had set aside P220 million for the purchase of pumps and the construction of diversion dams and small water impounding systems.As rice growers brace for the rainy months, however, the price of palay (unhusked rice) has gone down from P24 a kilogram during the last season to P17 to P19 a kg this month, information gathered from farmers in the region showed.

Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon

Indian origin offered lowest in Iraq's 30,000 T rice tendertrade

By Reuters | 30 Jun, 2015, 04.31PM IST

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The lowest offer in Iraq's last international tender to buy at least 30,000 tonnes of rice was $431.50 a tonne c&f free out for rice to be sourced from India, European traders said on Tuesday.HAMBURG: The lowest offer in Iraq's last international tender to buy at least 30,000 tonnes of rice was $431.50 a tonne c&f free out for rice to be sourced from India, European traders said on Tuesday. No purchase was believed to have been made in the tender which closed on June 28 with offers having to remain valid until July 2, traders said. The rice can be sourced optionally from the United States, India, Uruguay, Argentina or Brazil, traders said. The lowest offer for US rice was $589.50 a tonne c&f free out, they said. Brazilian rice was offered lowest at $603 a tonne c&f free out and Uruguayan rice was offered at $632 a tonne c&f

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16 free out, they said. Lowest offer for Argentine rice was $620.50 a tonne free out. Volumes in Iraq's tenders are nominal and it frequently buys more than it tenders for. In its last reported rice tender on May 7, Iraq rejected all offers and made no purchase in a tender buy at least 30,000 tonnes as prices were regarded as too high.

Rice Council protest against dumping of Pakistan rice in local market Published on Tuesday, 30 June 2015 01:33 Written by FINNIGAN WA SIMBEYE

RICE producers are calling on the government to help deal with some unscrupulous traders who mix locally produced rice with cheap imported product from Pakistan.Rice Council of Tanzania Executive Director, Winnie Bashagi said an estimated 3,000 metric tons of Pakistan rice destined for DRC has been damped in the local market by dishonest traders who are mixing it with local rice pushing down prices and affecting exports to East African Community member countries.―We are fighting against smuggled rice that is entering in mainland Tanzania without passing through normal channel and thus avoiding payment 75 percent common external tariff that was agreed by the EA member states,‖ Ms Bashagi pointed out.

She said Pakistan rice has been regularly dumped in the local market through smuggling and that the latest consignment entered the country last February.Bashagi said since last April, RCT has been raising the issue of smuggled rice into the domestic market and how it is affecting local rice farmers.―We were informed by some traders that one trader paid CET of on a small consignment then pretended that he was taking 3000 MT to Congo but damped all of it at Kahama where he started distributing to Kahama, Mwanza, Shinyanga up to Arusha and Moshi for mixing with local rice,‖ the RCT Executive Director noted.In 2013, the government‘s decision to allow importation of Pakistan rice to offset alleged shortages caused uproar as prices for the commodity plummeted by more than 40 percent while Rwanda and Uganda imposed hiked duty on local exports because of the adulteration.

Former Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives Minister, Engineer Christopher Chiza suspended the imports but theb damage caused is still being felt by local rice farmers to date.―Uganda has removed the CET but Rwanda is still there. Uganda was planning to institute it again because of mixed rice being sold in the country and outside thus distorting the market of our local produced rice,‖ Bashagi warned.The RCT sent a paper to President Jakaya Kikwete last April with 11,000 petition signatures of smallholder rice farmers and was copied to Prime Minister‘s Office, Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Cooperatives, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ministry of East African Cooperation.

16

The RCT has also contacted Parliament in Dodoma seeking an audience with lawmakers representing main rice producing areas.―Parliament Clerk‘s office contacted RCT and we sent them a copy of the letter to the President, the position paper, two volumes of the petition signatures,‖ she noted. The RCT is however disappointed that there has no official response from contacted state organs so far.

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17 http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/biz/46617-rice-council-protest-against-dumping-of-pakistan-ricein-local-market International Benchmark Price Price on: 29-06-2015

APEDA News (India) Product

Benchmark Indicators Name

Price

1

Chinese first grade granules, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)

2100

2

Chinese Grade A dehydrated flakes, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)

2000

3

Chinese powdered, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)

1800

1

Chinese sliced, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

4600

2

Chinese whole, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

5100

3

Indian Cochin, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

3000

1

Indian 100 mesh 3500 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)

4530

2

Indian 200 mesh 3500 cps basis, FOB Kandla (USD/t)

1950

3

Indian 200 mesh 5000 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)

3050

Garlic

Ginger

Guar Gum Powder

Source:agra-net

For more info

Market Watch Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 29-06-2015 Domestic Prices

17

Product

Market Center

Unit Price : Rs per Qty Variety

Min Price

Max Price

Barley (Jau)

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1

Dahod (Gujarat)

Other

1200

1250

2

Deoli (Rajasthan)

Other

1050

1100

3

Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh)

Other

1100

1250

1

Amirgadh (Gujarat)

Other

1350

1350

2

Dhing (Assam)

Other

1325

1450

3

Sangli (Maharashtra)

Other

1400

1520

1

Harippad (Kerala)

Other

2000

2500

2

Bonai (Orissa)

Other

2000

3000

3

Mechua (West Bengal)

Other

2500

2700

1

Chala (Kerala)

Other

2600

2650

2

Shillong (Meghalaya)

Other

1200

1500

3

Bolangir (Orissa)

Other

1800

2000

Maize

Mango

Cabbage

Source:agra-net

For more info

Egg

Rs per 100 No Price on 29-06-2015 Product

Market Center

Price

1

Pune

385

2

Nagapur

327

3

Hyderabad

350

Source: e2necc.com

18

Other International Prices

Unit Price : US$ per package

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19

Price on 29-06-2015 Product

Market Center

Origin

Variety

Low

High

Potatoes

Package: 50 lb cartons

1

Atlanta

2

Baltimore

3

Detroit

Colorado

Russet

23.50

23.50

Idaho

Russet

22

26

Wisconsin

Russet

19

19.50

Cucumbers

Package: cartons film wrapped

1

Atlanta

Canada

Long Seedless

8

9

2

Dallas

California

Long Seedless

12.50

13

3

Detroit

Canada

Long Seedless

6

7

Grapes

Package: 18 lb containers bagged

1

Atlanta

Mexico

Red Globe

21.50

23.50

2

Dallas

Peru

Red Globe

28

28

3

Detroit

Mexico

Red Globe

20

22.50

Source:USDA

USA Rice Addresses Annual LAFBF Meeting USA Rice's Ben Mosely NEW ORLEANS, LA -- The Rice Advisory Committee of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation (LAFBF) held its annual meeting in conjunction with the 93rd annual LAFBF convention last Saturday.

USA Rice's Vice President of Government Affairs Ben Mosely updated attendees on a range of public policy issues, most notably: implementation of the 2014 Farm Bill, trade, and the ongoing efforts of the

19

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20 USA Rice/Ducks Unlimited Stewardship Partnership.

Mosely outlined USA Rice's success in the last farm bill considering the relatively small commodity size of rice. He also provided updates on PLC/ARC enrollment, comments submitted for the actively engaged provision, incentive-based conservation programs, and several other pertinent programs and provisions.The presentation Saturday was just in time to announce the passage of the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) bill by Congress which Mosely said will clear the way for the real work to begin by USA Rice on the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). USA Rice supported the passage of TPA and will be working closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the United States Trade Representative on the role that rice may play in TPP negotiations throughout the rest of the summer.

Mosely wrapped up with an overview and update on the Rice Stewardship Partnership where he described USA Rice's involvement as "waist-deep in their first Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project where they'll be implementing rice-specific conservation practices in all six ricegrowing states." The Partnership is looking at other outlets to both further the funding and the mission of the organizations including a second joint RCPP proposal.

Getting policy staff in the field is crucial to understanding the unique needs of farmers and it's something Mosely truly enjoys.

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His efforts were appreciated as Richard Fontenot, a LAFBF vice president and chairman of the Rice Advisory Committee said, "Our members were excited about the diverse but substantial subject matter Ben presented, and we received a lot of complimentary remarks from members of the Rice Advisory Committee following his presentation."Kyle McCann, LAFBF associate commodities director, said, "Many of our members are not typically engaged in national agricultural policy issues and they were appreciative that Ben was able to provide such helpful insight and in a manner that related to issues they experience on their own rice operations."

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21

"Visiting firsthand with growers and discussing issues that directly affect operations is so important for us and the work we do representing the U.S. rice industry in Washington," Mosley said. "I want to thank LAFBF for inviting me to take part in their annual meeting. We look forward to seeing everyone again when we return to New Orleans December 9-11 for our own annual USA Rice Outlook Conference."

Contact: Randy Jemison (337) 738-7009

University of Arkansas Ag Extension Announces Two Upcoming Seminars

07.01.15 - Analysis of USDA's Acreage and Stocks Reports 07.22.15 - Updated U.S. Area Estimates and the 2015/16 U.S. and Global Rice Market Outlook

07.01.15, 2:00 p.m. CST - Webinar - Analysis of USDA's Acreage and Stocks Reports: NASS Acreage and Rice and Grains Stocks with Eugene Young Regional Deputy Director, USDA-NASS, Delta Regional Office and Analysis of Summer Grain Markets with Bryce Knorr, Senior Grain Market Analyst, Farm Futures Registration Link: https://uaex.zoom.us/webinar/register/958656a600f248c37c24e00bf0acd2b8

21

07.22.15, 2:00 p.m. CST - Webinar on Rice Outlook: Updated U.S. Area Estimates and the 2015/16 U.S. and Global Rice Market Outlook with Nathan Childs, Agricultural Economist, USDA Economic Research Service Registration Link: https://uaex.zoom.us/webinar/register/193160330ca41c048c34be5db4a05ad8

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22

Mark Your Calendar for Rice Field Days in Your Area

July 9 -- 68th Annual Beaumont Rice Field Day 8:00 a.m. - Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center 1509 Aggie Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77713 Contact: Dr. Ted Wilson, lt-wilson@aesrg.tamu.edu July 21 -- Northeast Louisiana Rice Field Day 9:00 a.m. - Research Plot Tours, Woodsland Plantation 282 Highway 15, Rayville, LA 71269 11:00 a.m. - Program, Rayville Community Center 817 Louisa St., Rayville, LA 71269 Contact: Keith Collins, kcollins@agctr.lsu.edu July 30 - MSU-DREC Rice Producer Field Day 3:30 p.m. - Caps Center, Stoneville, MS Contact: Dr. Bobby Golden, bgolden@drec.msstate.edu

ME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for June 30

22

Month

Price

Net Change

July 2015

$10.165

+ $0.375

September 2015

$10.455

+ $0.370

November 2015

$10.715

+ $0.355

January 2016

$10.980

+ $0.355

March 2016

$11.185

+ $0.355

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23

May 2016

$11.185

+ $0.355

July 2016

$11.185

+ $0.355

Big rice production area experiencing extreme drought

By Rich Keller, Editor, Ag Professional June 29, 2015 | 4:00 pm EDT

The weather will be kind to some farmers and nasty to others every year, and this year rice farmers around the U.S. are experiencing extremes. Those in the Mid-South and Texas have had more than enough rain while rice farmers in California are hurting because of drought.California rice farmers aren‘t alone because one of the world‘s biggest rice production areas of Thailand is experiencing an extreme drought, and the government is enacting anti-drought measures in a hope that rain will show up soon.Water for rice fields in the Chao Phraya River Basin of the central region of Thailand is needed for the use by the population rather than growing rice.

Reuters reported that Thailand‘s Agriculture Minister has ―requested‖ that farmers delay rice planting until August. Reports are that 22 of the 76 provinces of the area are fighting drought conditions.It isn‘t a toothless request for delayed planting. The government‘s Irrigation Department is reducing water supply because of an exceptionally low water level in the Chao Phraya reservoir. Reductions in water being pumped from the reservoir are hopefully enough to keep water available to area residents until Aug. 10, by when rains are expected to resume.

Reports indicate there is a fairly high water table in the area; therefore, many new wells are being drilled.Two irrigation water cuts have been put into effect with the expectation that rice planting on 320,000 hectares will be delayed. A government compensation package to the farmers has been a big discussion, and there are mixed reports on just what farmers might be receiving.A decline in rice production in Thailand is expected to have an effect in general on world rice prices, which actually declined from the first of the year to present.

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http://www.agprofessional.com/news/big-rice-production-area-experiencing-extremedrought?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+June+30%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+Decemb er+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email

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24

NFA intensifies efforts vs. alleged fake rice

By CNN Philippines Staff Updated 18:37 PM PHT Tue, June 30, 2015 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The National Food Authority (NFA) said on Tuesday (June 30) that it is still confirming reports of fake rice allegedly made of potatoes, sweet potatoes, and plastic in the Philippine market.The samples submitted to the agency are still undergoing laboratory testing.Samples of alleged fake rice from Davao have been brought to the NFA Food Development Center (NFA-FDC) in Taguig for testing.However, in order for the results to be conclusive, at least one kilogram of uncooked rice must be subjected to scientific testing."Scientists are having difficulty getting a conclusive result because of the small quantity of cooked rice,‖ said Administrator Renan Dalisay.

Dalisay emphasized that the public's safety is the main concern after the reports of alleged synthetic rice came out.NFA conducted a surprise inspection of public markets in Metro Manila on Tuesday to check on the reported presence of suspected fake or plastic rice from China.Should the public encounter any suspected plastic rice, the NFA encouraged people to report it through its hotline number 0906-4363133. http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/06/30/NFA-intensifies-efforts-against-alleged-fake-rice.html

Researchers Develop High-Quality Rice Flour to Fight Food

24

Poverty pti, Modified: June 30, 2015 15:39 IST

Researchers have developed a new, high-quality rice flour which they claim can help alleviate global food poverty. By studying and modifying proteins in the rice flour family, the researchers

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25

were able to produce dough and bread of superior quality than that obtained from 'normal' rice flour."This rice flour serves not only as an alternative to wheat flour for those with wheat intolerance, but could also help to overcome the global food problem in the future," said Dr Yayoi Onda at Yamagata University, Japan, one of the researchers behind the study.

Rice flour does not typically work as efficiently in bread making as wheat flour. In order to overcome this problem, the researchers changed the amount, structures and properties of seed storage proteins, 'phys.org' reported.They found that rice flour deficient in a particular protein active during seed development (called PDIL1;1) produced dough with a network-like structure through the formation of disulphide bonds, which are strong bridges between proteins. "This improved the quality and efficiency of the dough and the bread," said Onda.

The new rice flour overcomes many of the issues associated with previous rice flour, researchers said. For instance, the dough is more easily stretched and less sticky, it holds bubbles inside during fermentation and baking, it keeps its shape and structure as it inflates, and the bread has a more elastic texture after baking.The researchers have already started breeding experiments so that PDIL1;1-deficient rice plants can be grown widely under different climatic conditions. http://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/researchers-develop-high-quality-rice-flour-to-fight-food-poverty776769

Millers subsidy for Tirumala temple

By P Pavan, Bangalore Mirror Bureau | Jun 30, 2015, 09.32 PM IST

25

Hyderabad: Rice millers from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have come forward to reduce the price of rice supplied to the country's famous Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams from Rs 36.5 to Rs 35 a kg for three months from July 1. This will help the temple save Rs 5 lakh per month on the grain.The temple needs 5.1 lakh kgs of rice every month.Temple Trust Board chairman Ch Krishna Murthy, who held talks with representatives of the rice millers from both the Telugu states to cut their rates in view of the slash in the rice prices in the market. AP rice millers association president G Venkateswara Rao agreed to supply 3.06 lakh kgs per month while Telangana Association vicepresident Rajeswara Rao agreed to supply 2.04 lakh kgs. http://www.bangaloremirror.com/news/india/Millers-subsidy-for-Tirumalatemple/articleshow/47885135.cms

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