4th april,2018 daily global regioal local rice e newsletter

4 April,2018 Daily Global Regional Local Rice ENewsletter www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Unedited Version NFA rice shortage: Whose fault is it?

The National Food Authority Council, says its spokesman, wonders why the NFA distributed a lot of its rice stocks to retailers during the harvest season

Pia Ranada @piaranada Published 5:26 PM, April 03, 2018 Updated 8:38 PM, April 03, 2018

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NFA RICE. The NFA is supposed to ensure sufficient supply of NFA buffer stock in case of calamities. File photo by Jay Directo/AFP

MANILA, Philippines – The National Food Authority (NFA) this week sounded the alarm over its depleted rice buffer stock.

Its spokesman has called on the NFA Council, chaired by Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr, to ensure rice imports arrive in April instead of May, as arranged.

For weeks now, the NFA's rice stocks have been down to around two days' worth of supply. The Inquirer reported on Tuesday, April 3, that the agency's rice reserve has been "wiped out."

But MalacaĂąang and Evasco's office say the current NFA rice shortage should not be cause for panic since NFA rice comprises only a small portion of the total rice supply of the country.

"NFA is only a small portion, 4 to 5% of the overall distribution of rice," Evasco's spokesman Assistant Secretary Jonas Soriano told reporters on Tuesday.

Yet Soriano also admitted that it is necessary to preserve NFA rice stocks since they are required to maintain a 15-day stock at any given time, and a 30-day stock at the onset of the lean months of July to September, to prepare for calamities.

"It really should not get depleted because if it does, what will we use for emergencies?" he said.

There are also concerns that depleted NFA rice reserves would lead to an increase in prices of rice, especially affecting low income households. But MalacaĂąang says this could only happen if groups are taking advantage of the panic.

"An unusual rise in price despite more than adequate supplies could only be the result of manipulation," Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Tuesday.

NFA's job

The NFA management, led by administrator Jason Aquino, is putting pressure on the NFA Council to speed up rice importation because of the dwindling NFA reserve. (READ: Tug-of-war between Evasco, NFA's Aquino continues) But Soriano's remarks to media pose an interesting question: isn't it NFA management's job to ensure the reserve was not depleted?

The NFA Council, he said, wondered why the NFA distributed a lot of its rice stocks to retailers in October, November, and December – the harvest season.

"It was harvest season so why the need to sell so much rice? Yet during the lean season when there is not much rice, they did not sell so much, so where's the logic?" Soriano said.

He stopped short of outrightly blaming NFA management. "We don't want to make any judgement here," said Soriano.

Senator Cynthia Villar, who chairs the chamber's committee on agriculture, placed the blame squarely on Aquino's shoulders, saying it was NFA's job to maintain sufficient levels of its rice reserve.

“You should have buffer to make sure hindi ite-take advantage ng traders ang farmers. Sasabihin mo wala kang NFA rice, 'eh trabaho mo ‘yan. Bakit mo ina-announce na hindi mo nagawa ang trabaho mo?" she said during a February 27 Senate hearing.

(You should have buffer to make sure traders would not take advantage of the farmers. You'll say there's no NFA rice but it's your job. Why are you announcing that you could not do your job?)

Because of these concerns, the NFA Council wants an audit of NFA management's operations, in particular how and when they distribute and sell NFA rice.

"That's why one resolution is to already pursue the independent audit by COA to look at operations of management not only on October, November, December but henceforth, even ever since the start of the Duterte presidency," said Soriano.

The NFA has two ways of replenishing its rice stocks. It can either buy from local farmers, something the Evasco-led NFA Council prefers, or it can import rice, which will also require the council's approval.

NFA management says they can't buy from local farmers because their buying price of P17 per kilogram is too low.

Farmers would rather sell to others for a higher price.

The council, partly composed of economists, dispute this, saying farmers in some parts of the country had been willing to sell their rice for around that price back in October. So why did NFA management not take the opportunity then?

The need for importation Because they can't buy rice from Filipino farmers, NFA management insists the only recourse is rice importation.

President Rodrigo Duterte, seemingly convinced by Aquino, ordered the council to proceed with importing 250,000 metric tons of rice. Better too much rice than too little, the Chief Executive reasoned.

The rice, imported through private importers, is set to arrive in mid-May. NFA management, however, insists it must arrive earlier, in April, in order to replenish the "wiped out" NFA buffer stock.

Management, led by Aquino, thinks the importation should have been done through government-to-government importation, when the Philippines purchases rice from either Vietnam or Thailand, with which it has rice trade agreements.

Aquino says this method is faster and more transparent. The Evasco-led council, however, thinks otherwise. –

Rappler.com https://www.rappler.com/nation/199472-national-food-authority-rice-shortage-fault

‘Golden rice’ will not address Vitamin A deficiency, hunger—anti-GMO coalition By: Karl R. Ocampo - @inquirerdotnet Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:25 PM April 04, 2018

File photo The genetically-modified organism (GMO) known as ―golden rice‖ will not significantly address hunger or Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in the country, according to a government agency.

During the ongoing Stop Golden Rice! Network (SGRN) International Conference, the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) has joined a regional coalition of farmers, consumers, and environment activists from different countries in rejecting the impending commercialization of golden rice in the Philippines.

The groups opposed the use of genetic modification, which generally meant altering the natural gene pool, until there are enough studies that could disprove its risks to human safety and biodiversity. ―There was no comparative studies between GR2E (golden rice) and other varieties to see if it can lessen Vitamin A deficiency, the reason why the golden rice variety was made,‖ NAPC secretariat Liza Maza said.

Based on reports collated by the agency in a dialogue with basic sectors, it showed that the controversial crop ―poses health risks and threatens the livelihood of peasant communities.‖ According to Cris Panerio, national coordinator for Magsasaka At Siyentipiko para sa Agrikultura (MASIPAG), there were neither any comprehensive consultations or convincing preliminary scientific research that proves that golden rice is safe or that it can significantly address hunger or VAD.

―Golden rice is fraught with inherent problems, one of which is the low yield resulting to the disruption of the native structure of the rice plant,‖ Panerio said.

Panerio is referring to the recent study made by scientists from India wherein golden rice produced abnormality and poor yield performance.

Local farmers are worried that this can transfer to other rice varieties as well through cross-contamination once the open field testing is approved by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

To recall, the crop‘s initial field testing in 2013 was turned into a fiasco after farmer groups forced their way into DA‘s experiment plot and uprooted the crops that were being tested.

In a separate statement released by the SGRN, it pointed out that policy loopholes in the Philippines would allow the distribution of the GMO here despite ―insufficient safety studies.‖ The policy indicates that once a GMO has been circulated abroad and approved by international regulatory bodies, it can enter the country despite national opposition.

Golden rice was recently approved in Canada.

Aside from the application to field test golden rice, the Philippine Rice Research Institute has also applied to feed test the rice variant here. Details of the said feeding trials are yet to be disclosed. /jpv

Read more: https://business.inquirer.net/248584/golden-rice-will-not-address-vitamin-deficiency-hunger-anti-gmocoalition-gmo-napc-rice-hunger-food-security#ixzz5BhwleLSk Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebookhttps://business.inquirer.net/248584/golden-ricewill-not-address-vitamin-deficiency-hunger-anti-gmo-coalition-gmo-napc-rice-hunger-food-security

China Organic Rice Flour market research report with growth, latest trends & forecasts till 2022 Posted by Vivian Briscoe — April 3, 2018 in Business00

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Nigerian Gov't Raises Alarm Over Dangerous Imported Rice The federal government has raised alarm over the unhealthy status of smuggled imported rice being dumped in the country calling on Nigerians not to consume them. http://saharareporters.com/2018/04/03/nigerian-govt-raises-alarm-over-dangerous-imported-rice

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Iran Continues to Import Pakistani Rice From Dubai

1. Economy 2. Domestic Economy Wednesday, April 04, 2018

Iran Continues to Import Pakistani Rice From Dubai

I

ran is buying rice from Pakistan via Dubai despite a preferential trade agreement between Tehran and

Islamabad which has been in place since 2006.

The Pakistani newspaper The Nation reported that by eliminating Dubai, the two sides can dramatically increase their bilateral trade from the present volume of less than $800 million per year.

Referring to high consumption of rice in Iran (46 kg per capita), Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan’s Chairman Sameeullah Naeem requested Iran to impose lower duty regime on imports of Pakistani rice in Iran under the PTA. He was addressing a ceremony, which was also attended by acting consul general of Iran in Lahore, Majid Sadeqi Dolatabadi, and Iran’s former foreign minister, Seyyed Kamal Kharazi.

Naeem called for going forward from PTA to a free trade agreement with preferably a zero import duty regime on both sides.

“We must formulate appropriate trade policy for ensuring sustained trade between the countries,” he added.

The Pakistani official noted that agriculturally-rich Pakistan likes to have bilateral trade ties with oil-rich Iran.

“We both have the right products for each other to trade and mutually coexist, but it is unfortunate that most trade is being done through other countries,” he said.

Referring to banking problems in transferring money between the two sides, the REAP chairman suggested that Iranian banks open branches in Pakistan.

“Bank Melli Iran is interested to open branch in Lahore. For that matter, whatever support is required, we are here to commit that. I ensure that all rice exporters will come up with opening of accounts and routing of all trade documents through this branch only,” he said.

Naeem also announced that REAP is leading a 17-member delegation to Tehran and Mashhad from April 29.

Iran’s former foreign minister, addressing the ceremony, stated that Tehran was working on the proposal of opening bank branches in Pakistan for direct trade transactions in currencies other than the US dollar.

Kharrazi said Tehran was interested in bilateral cooperation in various sectors and was negotiating with Pakistan for reducing duties on bilateral trade.

During a meeting of Pakistan’s National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce, officials of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry informed that during a recent meeting with an Iranian delegation led by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, all modalities for opening a banking channel with Tehran have been finalized.

The Iranian top diplomat visited Islamabad last month at the head of a high-ranking politico-economic delegation.

Last year, the State Bank of Pakistan and the Central Bank of Iran signed an agreement on Banking and Payment Arrangement in Tehran with the objective of devising a settlement mechanism to promote bilateral trade.

Iranians consume 3.2 million tons of rice a year while domestic production stands at 2.2 million tons.

More than 1.05 million tons of semi- and wholly-milled rice worth close to $996 million were imported into Iran during the first half of the last Iranian year (March 21-Sept. 22), registering an 84.4% and 108.4% surge in weight and value respectively compared with the corresponding period of last year.

Rice imports accounted for 6% and 4.2% of the volume and value of Iran’s overall imports respectively during the six-month period.

The imports are made mainly from the UAE (reexport), India, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey and Iraq.

Iran is the largest buyer of India’s basmati and accounts for a fourth of India’s annual aromatic rice shipments of around 4 million tons.

The country restarted rice import registration this year from Jan. 21 until June 21. The permission was communicated by Agriculture Minister Mahmoud Hojjati in a letter to Minister of Industries, Mining and Trade Mohammad Shariatmadari.

According to the letter, the order registrations will be valid for a three-month period and are extendable by a further one month.

Hojjati noted that any rice shipments as per the new orders need to be cleared through Iranian customs by July 22, after which all imports will be banned.

Every year and during the rice harvest season (July-January), the Iranian government bans rice imports in support of local farmers and domestic production https://financialtribune.com/articles/economy-domestic-economy/84009/iran-continues-to-import-pakistani-rice-from-dubai

"We don't know where or how imported rice is made or how old it is. It is reported that most of the rice dumped on us are old and probably rejects.

"The citizens of those countries do not eat this rice. The citizens of Benin also do not eat it. But they send it to us. Unhealthy foods are dangerous to health. So let's eat what we can vouch for." ... on economic importance Also speaking on the economic importance of eating local rice, the minister said: "But Nigerians should remember that every time they eat imported rice, they are eating the jobs that would have been created for Nigerians and instead funding the creation of jobs in the source countries.

"Just imagine that less than three years into the rice revolution, millions of jobs have been created in the whole value chain.

"It is important for Nigerians to know that when they consume imported rice, they are creating jobs in India and Thailand and destroying jobs across our country. Today we have rice farmers in all states and all geopolitical zones.

"In fact, most of us have friends and relatives who are farming rice. So if we don't patronise their product, we are destroying their livelihoods.

"We are embarking on a massive nationwide campaign to sensitise our compatriots to the need to support the rice revolution by consuming local rice. Nigerians are patriots. They want more jobs.

"They will support the rice revolution and Nigeria will become self-sufficient in rice sooner than we have stated. The country has never been closer to self-sufficiency in rice, a national staple, than now.

"Our target is to achieve self-sufficiency in our paddy production in two years-- by 2020. The result is the exponential growth in local rice production that has now moved us closer to ending rice importation."

Fall in importation, smuggling On the how the rice revolution has affected importation, Mohammed said: "Within two years, rice importation from Thailand fell from 644,131 Metric Tons (in September 2015) to 20,000 MT (in September 2017).

"That's over 90 percent drop. Let me put things in perspective. So far, less than 100 billion Naira has been spent on the Anchor Borrowers' Programme that has achieved so much."

Lamenting the impact of rice smuggling on the country, he said: "The total demand for white rice (white rice is consumed in Benin, against parboiled rice in Nigeria) is 400,000 MT. Yet the country, with a population of about 11 million, imports between one million and 1.2 million MT of rice annually. Who are they importing for? Nigerians, of course.

"In fact, as Nigeria's rice import falls, Benin's rice import increases. Most of the parboiled rice imported by Benin eventually lands in Nigeria through smuggling.

"Both Cameroon and Benin Republics have lowered tariff payable on rice to zero and five percent, respectively, to encourage importation and subsequent smuggling of the product into Nigeria."

"At present, smuggled rice costs between N11,000 and N13,000 per 50kg bag. Nigerian processed rice sells for between N14,500 and N15,000 per 50kg bag.

"Smuggled rice is sourced mainly from Thailand and India-- both countries give a high level of subsidies to rice farmers and rice processors.

"We don't know where or how imported rice is made or how old it is. It is reported that most of the rice dumped on us are old and probably rejects.

"The citizens of those countries do not eat this rice. The citizens of Benin also do not eat it. But they send it to us. Unhealthy foods are dangerous to health. So let's eat what we can vouch for." ... on economic importance Also speaking on the economic importance of eating local rice, the minister said: "But Nigerians should remember that every time they eat imported rice, they are eating the jobs that would have been created for Nigerians and instead funding the creation of jobs in the source countries.

"Just imagine that less than three years into the rice revolution, millions of jobs have been created in the whole value chain.

"It is important for Nigerians to know that when they consume imported rice, they are creating jobs in India and Thailand and destroying jobs across our country. Today we have rice farmers in all states and all geopolitical zones.

"In fact, most of us have friends and relatives who are farming rice. So if we don't patronise their product, we are destroying their livelihoods.

"We are embarking on a massive nationwide campaign to sensitise our compatriots to the need to support the rice revolution by consuming local rice. Nigerians are patriots. They want more jobs.

"They will support the rice revolution and Nigeria will become self-sufficient in rice sooner than we have stated. The country has never been closer to self-sufficiency in rice, a national staple, than now.

"Our target is to achieve self-sufficiency in our paddy production in two years-- by 2020. The result is the exponential growth in local rice production that has now moved us closer to ending rice importation."

Fall in importation, smuggling On the how the rice revolution has affected importation, Mohammed said: "Within two years, rice importation from Thailand fell from 644,131 Metric Tons (in September 2015) to 20,000 MT (in September 2017).

"That's over 90 percent drop. Let me put things in perspective. So far, less than 100 billion Naira has been spent on the Anchor Borrowers' Programme that has achieved so much."

Lamenting the impact of rice smuggling on the country, he said: "The total demand for white rice (white rice is consumed in Benin, against parboiled rice in Nigeria) is 400,000 MT. Yet the country, with a population of about 11 million, imports between one million and 1.2 million MT of rice annually. Who are they importing for? Nigerians, of course.

"In fact, as Nigeria's rice import falls, Benin's rice import increases. Most of the parboiled rice imported by Benin eventually lands in Nigeria through smuggling.

"Both Cameroon and Benin Republics have lowered tariff payable on rice to zero and five percent, respectively, to encourage importation and subsequent smuggling of the product into Nigeria."

"At present, smuggled rice costs between N11,000 and N13,000 per 50kg bag. Nigerian processed rice sells for between N14,500 and N15,000 per 50kg bag.

"Smuggled rice is sourced mainly from Thailand and India-- both countries give a high level of subsidies to rice farmers and rice processors.

"We don't know where or how imported rice is made or how old it is. It is reported that most of the rice dumped on us are old and probably rejects.

"The citizens of those countries do not eat this rice. The citizens of Benin also do not eat it. But they send it to us. Unhealthy foods are dangerous to health. So let's eat what we can vouch for." ... on economic importance Also speaking on the economic importance of eating local rice, the minister said: "But Nigerians should remember that every time they eat imported rice, they are eating the jobs that would have been created for Nigerians and instead funding the creation of jobs in the source countries.

"Just imagine that less than three years into the rice revolution, millions of jobs have been created in the whole value chain.

"It is important for Nigerians to know that when they consume imported rice, they are creating jobs in India and Thailand and destroying jobs across our country. Today we have rice farmers in all states and all geopolitical zones.

"In fact, most of us have friends and relatives who are farming rice. So if we don't patronise their product, we are destroying their livelihoods.

"We are embarking on a massive nationwide campaign to sensitise our compatriots to the need to support the rice revolution by consuming local rice. Nigerians are patriots. They want more jobs.

"They will support the rice revolution and Nigeria will become self-sufficient in rice sooner than we have stated. The country has never been closer to self-sufficiency in rice, a national staple, than now.

"Our target is to achieve self-sufficiency in our paddy production in two years-- by 2020. The result is the exponential growth in local rice production that has now moved us closer to ending rice importation."

Fall in importation, smuggling On the how the rice revolution has affected importation, Mohammed said: "Within two years, rice importation from Thailand fell from 644,131 Metric Tons (in September 2015) to 20,000 MT (in September 2017).

"That's over 90 percent drop. Let me put things in perspective. So far, less than 100 billion Naira has been spent on the Anchor Borrowers' Programme that has achieved so much."

Lamenting the impact of rice smuggling on the country, he said: "The total demand for white rice (white rice is consumed in Benin, against parboiled rice in Nigeria) is 400,000 MT. Yet the country, with a population of about 11 million, imports between one million and 1.2 million MT of rice annually. Who are they importing for? Nigerians, of course.

"In fact, as Nigeria's rice import falls, Benin's rice import increases. Most of the parboiled rice imported by Benin eventually lands in Nigeria through smuggling.

"Both Cameroon and Benin Republics have lowered tariff payable on rice to zero and five percent, respectively, to encourage importation and subsequent smuggling of the product into Nigeria."

"At present, smuggled rice costs between N11,000 and N13,000 per 50kg bag. Nigerian processed rice sells for between N14,500 and N15,000 per 50kg bag.

"Smuggled rice is sourced mainly from Thailand and India-- both countries give a high level of subsidies to rice farmers and rice processors.

All Africa

Nigerian government working to bring down price of local rice to tackle smuggled foreign product    

Published: 03.04.2018 Aderemi Ojekunle Print eMail

The government tasks its citizens to consume only locally-grown and processed rice

play Nigerian president and information minister at the launch of 'Change Begins With Me' campaign in Abuja

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The Nigerian government has hinted that it is working on presentations to formulate policies and take steps that will bring down the price of local rice to combat the unhealthy status of imported rice being dumped in the country.

The government said that smuggled rice costs between N11, 000 and N13, 000 per 50kg bag, while Nigerian processed rice sells for between N14, 500 and N15, 000 per 50kg bag.

This is just as the government said it is ready to embark on a massive nationwide campaign to sensitise compatriots to the need to support the rice revolution by consuming local rice and shun smuggled imported into the country.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the country's Information Minister stated this at a media briefing in Lagos during the Easter break.

Explaining why the price of local rice was higher, he said Cameroon and Benin Republic had lowered tariff payable on rice to 0 and 5% respectively to encourage importation and subsequent smuggling into Nigeria.

He added that Thailand and India where the smuggled rice were sourced also gave a high level of subsidies to rice farmers and rice processors.

The minister disclosed that the local rice producers had made some representations to the government on how Nigerian rice could compete favourably, in terms of pricing, with the heavily subsidised imported rice.

Alhaji Mohammed also said the government could not guarantee the status of the rice having spent months on the high seas and warehouses.

He appealed to Nigerians to complement the efforts of the government by consuming only locally-grown and processed rice which he said “is fresher, tastier and healthier’’.

“We don’t know where or how imported rice is made or how old it is? It is reported that most of the rice dumped on us are old and probably rejected.

“The citizens of those countries do not eat this rice. The citizens of Benin also do not eat it. But they send it to us.

“Unhealthy foods are dangerous to health. So let’s eat what we can vouch for,’’ he said.

The minister noted that rice smuggling was the biggest challenge facing rice production in Nigeria.

On January 1, 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari had in his address to the nation revealed that Nigeria would end the importation of rice from 2018.

“Rice imports will stop this year. Local rice, fresher and more nutritious rice will be on our dishes from now on, “ the president had said.

Rice smugglers in various border towns and communities across the country have become a nightmare for the Nigerian government who is targeting self-sufficiency in rice production by 2020 and consumption of locally made goods. http://www.pulse.ng/bi/strategy/nigerian-government-working-to-bring-down-price-of-local-rice-id8200279.html

Pak-Iran rice trade via Dubai continues despite PTA 03.04.2018

| UkrAgroConsult The Pakistan and Iran bilateral trade can reach the level of $10 billion mark within very short period from the present volume of less than $800 million, as both the countries have been doing their most of trade including rice via Dubai despite inking Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) since 2006.

The Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan chairman Ch Samee Ullah Naeem said that Iran is a nation of rice eaters where the average per capita consumption of rice is 46kg.

"The Iranian brothers are very fond of Pakistani super basmati rice due to its taste, aroma, length, and cooking ability. We request the Iranian government that the access of super basmati rice be facilitated through rational trade measures and technical barriers must be removed," he said.

Addressing a ceremony, the REAP chairman requested Iran to impose lower duty regime on imports of Pakistani rice in Iran under PTA. The ceremony was also attended by acting Consul-General of Iran in Lahore Majid Sadeghi Dowlatabadi and former Iranian foreign minister Syed Kamal Kharazi.

He

called

for

going

forward

from

PTA

to

a

FTA

with

preferably

a

zero

import

duty

regime

on

both

sides.

Ch Samee said that Pakistan and Iran have implemented PTA in 2006; however, the current volume of bilateral trade between the two countries is not reflective of the true potentials, both countries owe. "We must formulate appropriate trade policy for ensuring sustained trade between the countries."

He said that agriculturally enriched Pakistan likes to have bilateral trade relationship with Petroleum enriched Iran. We both have the right products for each other to trade and mutually co-exist but it is unfortunate that most of trade is being done through other countries.

"We both have the potential to increase our bilateral trade volume to $5billion if the problem in transferring money through banking channel is addressed.

He proposed to open Iranian bank in Pakistan which will, by far, the most conducive step forward for ensuring sustainable trade between both Islamic nations. This presence of Iranian bank in Pakistan will facilitate private business in Pakistan to interact with Iranian counterparts on long term basis.

"The Bank Melli Iran is interested to open branch in Lahore. For that matter, whatever support is required, we are here to commit that, I ensure that all rice exporters will come up with opening of accounts and routing of all trade documents through your this branch only. We need to transform all our energy for immediate opening of Bank Melli Iran branch in Lahore on war footings."

He also called for moving forward in the right direction and convolving to a much needed 'Currency Swap Agreement.'

He said that the currency swap agreement ensures participation and involvement of private sector across the borders and hence crafting a much deep rooted ties which are beyond International pressure.

He also announced that REAP is leading a 17-member delegation to Tehran, Mashhad from April 29. The visit would ensure vibrant businessmen interactions from both sides resulting in enhanced trade within regional block.

Former Iranian foreign minister Syed Kamal Kharazi, addressing the ceremony, stated that Tehran was working on a proposal for opening bank branches in both the countries for direct trade transactions in currencies other than dollar.

He said Tehran was interested in bilateral cooperation in various sectors and was negotiating with Pakistan for reducing duties on bilateral trade. http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/pak-iran-rice-trade-via-dubai-continues-despite-pta

Punjab truckers threaten against transportation of wheat Pankaj Dhiman | Chandigarh | April 3, 2018 10:52 pm

Representational Image. (PHOTO: Getty Images) Owing to the deadlock between the Punjab government and truck unions over the cap imposed on wheat transportation rates, nearly 75,000 truck operators have decided to remain off roads citing the less charges for wheat lifting. The development is significant as it may lead to a tough time for the state procurement agencies contemplating for effective wheat procurement and its lifting to other states.

On the other hand, the state government authorities are busy in finding alternative ways to avoid any problem related to wheat transportation. They have now allowed rice millers to participate in the tendering process for transportation of wheat from grain markets to storage godowns. ―We will have to ensure the proper wheat transportation without any hurdle. At this moment, it is not possible to increase the cap of rates for wheat transportation as it is decided by the Central agency. We are asking tractor trolleys to come forward and they have agreed upon to work with us on existing rates,‖ Principal Secretary, Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, KAP Sinha, told The Statesman.

As per the available information, there are nearly 95,000 truck operators who are associated with 134 truck unions out of which only a few have been agreed to participate in wheat transportation. The truck operators have justified the rate of at least Rs 2,250 per trip in comparison to Rs 540 for the same trip charged from others.

The operators say during wheat or paddy procurement, the truck remains idle for long, as it has to wait for unloading in a long queue outside the godowns. About 110 of the 395 tenders for transportation have been finalised by the state government. ―There are nearly 75,000 truckers in the state which will boycott the wheat lifting. We have offered a reduced rate of Rs 2,250 per trip (9 tonnes for 9 km) but the government‘s stand is unclear. We are demanding these rates as the diesel prices and toll taxes have been increased,‖ said Punjab truck unions chief, Happy Sandhu.

During last week, the talks between representatives of truck unions and officials of the food and civil supplies department could not make any headway even as rice millers came forward to join the tendering process in several areas of the state.

In a recent bidding process, they submitted bids in 15 of the 58 clusters in Sunam, Dirba and Sangrur, which are known stronghold of truck unions. In 2017, the Punjab Cabinet had approved the Punjab Goods Carriages (Regulation and Prevention of Cartelisation Rules), 2017, to fix the minimum and maximum fares and freights for goods carriers https://www.thestatesman.com/cities/punjab-truckers-threaten-transportation-wheat1502616816.htmlhttps://www.thestatesman.com/cities/punjab-truckers-threaten-transportation-wheat-1502616816.html

Smuggling, biggest challenge to local rice production —FG Published April 3, 2018

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Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed

’Femi Asu The Federal Government has identified smuggling of rice mainly from Thailand and India as the biggest challenge facing rice production in the country.

According to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, smuggled rice from the two countries comes into Nigeria through the country‘s borders with Benin, Niger and Cameroon.

He said at a press conference in Lagos that over two million metric tonnes of parboiled rice were smuggled into Nigeria in 2017, according to the Rice Millers Importers and Distributors Association of Nigeria.

The minister said, ―Let‘s look at rice smuggling through Benin. The total demand for white rice (white rice is consumed in Benin, against parboiled rice in Nigeria) is 400,000 MT. Yet the country, with a population of about 11 million, imports between 1million and 1.2 million MT of rice annually. Who are they importing for? Nigerians, of course. ―In fact, as Nigeria‘s rice import falls, Benin‘s rice import increases. Most of the parboiled rice imported by Benin eventually lands in Nigeria through smuggling. Both Cameroon and Benin Republics have lowered tariff payable on rice to zero and five per cent respectivel y to encourage importation and subsequent smuggling of the product into Nigeria.‖ According to Mohammed, smuggled rice currently costs between N11,000 and N13,000 per 50kg bag, while Nigerian processed rice sells for between N14,500 and N15,000 per 50kg ba g.

He said, ―Smuggled rice is sourced mainly from Thailand and India, which gives a high level of subsidies to rice farmers and rice processors. Local rice producers have made some representation to the government on how Nigerian rice can compete favourably, in terms of pricing, with the heavily subsidised imported rice. ―The country has never been closer to self-sufficiency in rice, a national staple, than now. Our target is to achieve self-sufficiency in our paddy production in two years, by 2020. ―This has been made possible by the purposeful leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, who has consistently said that this nation must produce what it consumes.‖ Buhari launched in November 2015 the Anchor Borrowers‘ Programme, which aims to provide farm inputs, in cash and kind, to small-holder farmers to boost local production of commodities, including rice, stabilise inputs supply to agro-processors and address the country‘s negative balance of payments on food.

The minister said the exponential growth in local rice production had moved the country closer to ending rice importation.

He said, ―Within two years, rice importation from Thailand fell from 644,131 MT (in September 2015) to 20,000 MT (in September 2017). That‘s over 90 per cent drop. So far, less tha n N100bn has been spent on the Anchor Borrowers‘ Programme that has achieved so much. ―Meanwhile, in April 2008, the Federal Government had to quickly release N80bn from the Natural Resources Development Fund to import 500,000 MT of rice in order to cushi on what it said was the effect of a global disaster. Imagine that we have ploughed that money into rice production in 2008.

We would have been exporting rice by now.

He said according to the Rice Processors Association of Nigeria, the number of rice farmer s had increased from five million in 2015 to over 11 million, with a total investment in excess of N300bn.

Mohammed said, ―Nigeria‘s rice paddy production has seen significant growth in the past three years, from four million MT to seven million MT. The country‘s rice import bill, hitherto at $1.65bn annually, has dropped by over 90 per cent, with current consumption of approximately six million MT of milled rice. ―In 2015, Nigeria produced 2.5 million MT of milled rice. By 2017, it rose to four million MT , leaving a gap of two million MT. Our target is to fill that gap by 2020. In 2015, there were only 13 integrated mills. By 2017, the number rose to 21, after eight more were added.‖

The minister described fertiliser production in the country as a success story, noting that President Buhari set up the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative in December 2016 to deliver commercially significant quantities of affordable and high-quality fertiliser at the right time to the Nigerian farmer.

He noted that the agricultural sector and the country‘s food production were negatively impacted in 2016, saying farmers became exposed to high and rising prices for key agric inputs.

Mohammed said, ―In 2017, PFI delivered 10 million 50kg bags (500,000MT) of NPK 20:10:10 fertiliser at a price of N5,500 in time for the wet season. That‘s down from the price of N9,000 per 50kg bag in 2016 — a 40 per cent reduction in price. In 2018, PFI targets the delivery of 20 million 50kg bags (1 million MT), double the figure for 2017. ―Before PFI, each imported fertiliser bag was subsidised to the tune of N6,000 per bag. In 2017, PFI saved the government N60bn in would-be subsidies.‖ http://punchng.com/smuggling-biggest-challenge-to-local-rice-production-fg/

FG Targets Self-sufficiency in Paddy Rice Production by 2020 April 3, 2018

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• Says rice revolution is enough to guarantee Buhari’s re-election

Tobi

Soniyi

and

Eromosele

Abiodun

The federal government has announced its plans to achieve self-sufficiency in paddy production in two years

by

2020.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who disclosed this at a press conference in Lagos yesterday, said the agricultural revolution in general and the rice revolution in particular have taken millions of Nigerians out of poverty.

He said 60 per cent of rice eaten in Nigeria is produced locally, adding that the rice revolution alone is enough to guarantee the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari if he decides to run again!

Nigeria, the minister added, had never been closer to self-sufficiency in rice, a national staple food, than now.

He stressed that this has been made possible by the purposeful leadership of President Buhari, “who has consistently said this country must produce what it consumes. Recall that President Buhari launched the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme on November 17, 2015. The programme aims to provide farm inputs in cash and kind to smallholder farmers in order to boost local production of commodities, including rice, stabilise inputs supply to agro-processors and address the country’s negative balance of payments on food.

“The result is the exponential growth in local rice production that has now moved us closer to ending rice importation. Within two years, rice importation from Thailand fell from 644,131 metric tons in September 2015 to 20,000 MT in September 2017. That’s over 90 per cent drop.

“Let me put things in perspective. So far, less than N100 billion has been spent on the anchor borrowers’ programme that has achieved so much. Meanwhile, in April 2008, the federal government had to quickly release N80 billion from the Natural Resources Development Fund to import 500,000 MT of rice in order to cushion what it said was the effect of a global disaster. Imagine that we had ploughed that money into rice production in 2008! We would have been exporting rice by now.”

On where Nigeria stands today in rice farming, milling and distribution, the minister said: “According to the Rice Processors Association of Nigeria (RIPAN), there are more than 11 million rice farmers in Nigeria today, up from five million in 2015. RIPAN’s total investment in the Nigerian economy is in excess of N300 billion. Upcoming investments will amount to N250 billion. The new investments will add 5,000 jobs and additional 1,775,000MT of integrated rice milling capacity. It will save $300 million foreign exchange from import substitution through local processing. Nigeria’s rice paddy production has seen significant growth in the past three years from four million MT to seven million MT. Nigeria’s rice import bill, hitherto was at $1.65 billion annually, has dropped by over 90 per cent.”

Speaking on the challenge of rice smuggling, he said smuggling is the biggest obstacle facing rice production

in

Nigeria.

He said: “According to the Rice Millers Importers and Distributors Association of Nigeria (RIMIDAN), over two million MT of parboiled rice were smuggled into Nigeria in 2017-smuggled rice is primarily sourced from Thailand and India and comes into Nigeria through the country’s borders with Benin Republic, Niger and Cameroon.

Let’s look at rice smuggling through Benin Republic. The total demand for white rice (white rice is consumed in Benin Republic against parboiled rice in Nigeria) is 400,000 MT. Yet the country, with a population of about 11million, imports between one million and 1.2 million MT of rice annually.”

While stressing that the federal government has achieve giant strides in fertilizer, he said fertilizer production in Nigeria today is a success story.

“Buhari set up the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) in December 2016 to deliver commerciallysignificant quantities of affordable and high-quality fertilizer at the right time to the Nigerian farmers. The PFI has turned out to be a magic wand in fertilizer production. Recall that the agriculture sector and the country’s food production were negatively impacted in 2016, as farmers became exposed to high and rising prices for key agricultural inputs. In 2017, PFI delivered 10 million 50-kilogramme bags (500,000MT) of NPK20:10:10 fertilizer at a price of N5,500 in time for the wet season. That’s down from the price of N9, 000 per 50kg bag in 2016-a 40 per cent reduction in price. In 2018, PFI targets the delivery of 20 million 50kg bags (one million MT), double the figure for 2017,” he explained. https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/04/03/fg-targets-self-sufficiency-in-paddy-rice-production-by-2020/

Minister: Smuggling, biggest challenge to local rice production By Sheriff Bona April 3, 2018

File Photo

The Federal Government has identified smuggling of rice mainly from Thailand and India as the biggest challenge facing rice production in the country.

According to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, smuggled rice from the two countries comes into Nigeria through the country‘s borders with Benin, Niger and Cameroon.

He said at a press conference in Lagos that over two million metric tonnes of parboiled rice were smuggled into Nigeria in 2017, according to the Rice Millers Importers and Distributors Association of Nigeria.

The minister said, ―Let‘s look at rice smuggling through Benin. The total demand for white rice (white rice is consumed in Benin, against parboiled rice in Nigeria) is 400,000 MT. Yet the country, with a population of about 11 million, imports between 1million and 1.2 million MT of rice annually. Who are they importing for? Nigerians, of course. ―In fact, as Nigeria‘s rice import falls, Benin‘s rice import increases. Most of the parboiled rice imported by Benin eventually lands in Nigeria through smuggling. Both Cameroon and Benin Republics have lowered tariff payable on rice to zero and five per cent respectively to encourage importation and subsequent smuggling of the product into Nigeria.‖ According to Mohammed, smuggled rice currently costs between N11,000 and N13,000 per 50kg bag, while Nigerian processed rice sells for between N14,500 and N15,000 per 50kg bag.

He said, ―Smuggled rice is sourced mainly from Thailand and India, which gives a high level of subsidies to rice farmers and rice processors. Local rice producers have made some representation to the government on how Nigerian rice can compete favourably, in terms of pricing, with the heavily subsidised imported rice. ―The country has never been closer to self-sufficiency in rice, a national staple, than now. Our target is to achieve self-sufficiency in our paddy production in two years, by 2020. ―This has been made possible by the purposeful leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, who has consistently said that this nation must produce what it consumes.‖ Buhari launched in November 2015 the Anchor Borrowers‘ Programme, which aims to provide farm inputs, in cash and kind, to smallholder farmers to boost local production of commodities, including rice, stabilise inputs supply to agro-processors and address the country‘s negative balance of payments on food.

The minister said the exponential growth in local rice production had moved the country closer to ending rice importation.

He said, ―Within two years, rice importation from Thailand fell from 644,131 MT (in September 2015) to 20,000 MT (in September 2017).

That‘s over 90 per cent drop. So far, less than N100bn has been spent on the Anchor Borrowers‘ Programme that has achieved so much.

―Meanwhile, in April 2008, the Federal Government had to quickly release N80bn from the Natural Resources Development Fund to import 500,000 MT of rice in order to cushion what it said was the effect of a global disaster. Imagine that we have ploughed that money into rice production in 2008. We would have been exporting rice by now.

He said according to the Rice Processors Association of Nigeria, the number of rice farmers had increased from five million in 2015 to over 11 million, with a total investment in excess of N300bn.

Mohammed said, ―Nigeria‘s rice paddy production has seen significant growth in the past three years, from four million MT to seven million MT. The country‘s rice import bill, hitherto at $1.65bn annually, has dropped by over 90 per cent, with current consumption of approximately six million MT of milled rice. ―In 2015, Nigeria produced 2.5 million MT of milled rice. By 2017, it rose to four million MT, leaving a gap of two million MT. Our target is to fill that gap by 2020. In 2015, there were only 13 integrated mills. By 2017, the number rose to 21, after eight more were added.‖ The minister described fertiliser production in the country as a success story, noting that President Buhari set up the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative in December 2016 to deliver commercially significant quantities of affordable and high-quality fertiliser at the right time to the Nigerian farmer.

He noted that the agricultural sector and the country‘s food production were negatively impacted in 2016, saying farmers became exposed to high and rising prices for key agric inputs.

Mohammed said, ―In 2017, PFI delivered 10 million 50kg bags (500,000MT) of NPK 20:10:10 fertiliser at a price of N5,500 in time for the wet season. That‘s down from the price of N9,000 per 50kg bag in 2016 — a 40 per cent reduction in price. In 2018, PFI targets the delivery of 20 million 50kg bags (1 million MT), double the figure for 2017. ―Before PFI, each imported fertiliser bag was subsidised to the tune of N6,000 per bag. In 2017, PFI saved the government N60bn in wouldbe subsidies.‖ Get more stories like this on Twitter & Facebook

Nigerian Gov't Raises Alarm Over Dangerous Imported Rice https://www.today.ng/news/nigeria/102471/minister-smuggling-biggest-challenge-local-rice-production

The federal government has raised alarm over the unhealthy status of smuggled imported rice being dumped in the country calling on Nigerians not to consume them.

BY PM NEWS, LAGOSAPR 03, 2018

The federal government has raised alarm over the unhealthy status of smuggled imported rice being dumped in the country calling on Nigerians not to consume them.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at a media briefing in Lagos said the government could not guarantee the healthy status of the rice having spent months on the high seas and warehouses.

He appealed to Nigerians to complement the efforts of the government by consuming only locally-grown and processed rice which he said “is fresher, tastier and healthier’’.

“We don’t know where or how imported rice is made or how old it is? It is reported that most of the rice dumped on us are old and probably rejected."

“The citizens of those countries do not eat this rice. The citizens of Benin also do not eat it. But they send it to us."

“Unhealthy foods are dangerous to health. So let’s eat what we can vouch for,’’ he said.

The minister noted that rice smuggling was the biggest challenge facing rice production in Nigeria.

Quoting the Rice Millers Importers and Distributors Association of Nigeria (RIMIDAN), he said that more than two million metric tonnes (MT) of parboiled rice was smuggled into Nigeria in 2017.

Mohammed said that smuggled rice was primarily sourced from Thailand and India and came into Nigeria through the country’s borders with Benin, Niger, and Cameroon.

“In Benin Republic, the total demand for white rice (white rice is consumed in Benin, against parboiled rice in Nigeria) is 400,000 MT." “Yet the country, with a population of about 11 million imports between one million and 1.2m MT of rice annually."

“Who are they importing for? Nigerians of course. In fact, as Nigeria’s rice import falls, Benin’s rice import increases."

“Most of the parboiled rice imported by Benin eventually lands in Nigeria through smuggling,’’ he said.

The minister said that smuggled rice costs between N11,000 and N13,000 per 50kg bag, while Nigerian processed rice sells for between N14,500 and N15,000 per 50kg bag

Explaining why the price of local rice was higher, he said Cameroon and Benin Republics had lowered tariff payable on rice to 0 and five percent respectively to encourage importation and subsequent smuggling into Nigeria.

He added that Thailand and India where the smuggled rice was sourced also gave a high level of subsidies to rice farmers and rice processors.

The minister disclosed that the local rice producers had made some representations to the government on how Nigerian rice could compete favorably, in terms of pricing, with the heavily subsidized imported rice.

He assured that the government would work on the presentations to formulate policies and take steps that will bring down the price of local rice.

Mohammed noted that less than three years into the rice revolution, millions of jobs had been created in the whole value chain in the country.

He, therefore underscored the economic importance of consuming locally produced rice, especially in terms of job creation. “Nigerians should remember that every time they eat imported rice, they are eating the jobs that would have been created for Nigerians.

“It is important for Nigerians to know that when they consume imported rice, they are creating jobs in India and Thailand and destroying jobs across our country.

“Today, we have rice farmers in all states and all geopolitical zones.

“In fact, most of us have friends and relatives who are farming rice. So if we don’t patronize their products, we are destroying their livelihoods,’’ he said.

He said the government would embark on a massive nationwide campaign to sensitize compatriots to the need to support the rice revolution by consuming local rice.

RiceSahara Reporters Media

http://saharareporters.com/2018/04/03/nigerian-govt-raises-alarm-over-dangerous-imported-rice

NFA rice shortage: Whose fault is it?

The National Food Authority Council, says its spokesman, wonders why the NFA distributed a lot of its rice stocks to retailers during the harvest season

Pia Ranada @piaranada Published 5:26 PM, April 03, 2018 Updated 8:38 PM, April 03, 2018

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NFA RICE. The NFA is supposed to ensure sufficient supply of NFA buffer stock in case of calamities. File photo by Jay Directo/AFP

MANILA, Philippines – The National Food Authority (NFA) this week sounded the alarm over its depleted rice buffer stock.

Its spokesman has called on the NFA Council, chaired by Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr, to ensure rice imports arrive in April instead of May, as arranged.

For weeks now, the NFA's rice stocks have been down to around two days' worth of supply. The Inquirer reported on Tuesday, April 3, that the agency's rice reserve has been "wiped out."

But MalacaĂąang and Evasco's office say the current NFA rice shortage should not be cause for panic since NFA rice comprises only a small portion of the total rice supply of the country.

"NFA is only a small portion, 4 to 5% of the overall distribution of rice," Evasco's spokesman Assistant Secretary Jonas Soriano told reporters on Tuesday.

Yet Soriano also admitted that it is necessary to preserve NFA rice stocks since they are required to maintain a 15-day stock at any given time, and a 30-day stock at the onset of the lean months of July to September, to prepare for calamities.

"It really should not get depleted because if it does, what will we use for emergencies?" he said.

There are also concerns that depleted NFA rice reserves would lead to an increase in prices of rice, especially affecting low income households. But MalacaĂąang says this could only happen if groups are taking advantage of the panic.

"An unusual rise in price despite more than adequate supplies could only be the result of manipulation," Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Tuesday.

NFA's job

The NFA management, led by administrator Jason Aquino, is putting pressure on the NFA Council to speed up rice importation because of the dwindling NFA reserve. (READ: Tug-of-war between Evasco, NFA's Aquino continues) But Soriano's remarks to media pose an interesting question: isn't it NFA management's job to ensure the reserve was not depleted?

The NFA Council, he said, wondered why the NFA distributed a lot of its rice stocks to retailers in October, November, and December – the harvest season.

"It was harvest season so why the need to sell so much rice? Yet during the lean season when there is not much rice, they did not sell so much, so where's the logic?" Soriano said.

He stopped short of outrightly blaming NFA management. "We don't want to make any judgement here," said Soriano.

Senator Cynthia Villar, who chairs the chamber's committee on agriculture, placed the blame squarely on Aquino's shoulders, saying it was NFA's job to maintain sufficient levels of its rice reserve.

“You should have buffer to make sure hindi ite-take advantage ng traders ang farmers. Sasabihin mo wala kang NFA rice, 'eh trabaho mo ‘yan. Bakit mo ina-announce na hindi mo nagawa ang trabaho mo?" she said during a February 27 Senate hearing.

(You should have buffer to make sure traders would not take advantage of the farmers. You'll say there's no NFA rice but it's your job. Why are you announcing that you could not do your job?)

Because of these concerns, the NFA Council wants an audit of NFA management's operations, in particular how and when they distribute and sell NFA rice.

"That's why one resolution is to already pursue the independent audit by COA to look at operations of management not only on October, November, December but henceforth, even ever since the start of the Duterte presidency," said Soriano.

The NFA has two ways of replenishing its rice stocks. It can either buy from local farmers, something the Evasco-led NFA Council prefers, or it can import rice, which will also require the council's approval.

NFA management says they can't buy from local farmers because their buying price of P17 per kilogram is too low.

Farmers would rather sell to others for a higher price.

The council, partly composed of economists, dispute this, saying farmers in some parts of the country had been willing to sell their rice for around that price back in October. So why did NFA management not take the opportunity then?

The need for importation Because they can't buy rice from Filipino farmers, NFA management insists the only recourse is rice importation.

President Rodrigo Duterte, seemingly convinced by Aquino, ordered the council to proceed with importing 250,000 metric tons of rice. Better too much rice than too little, the Chief Executive reasoned.

The rice, imported through private importers, is set to arrive in mid-May. NFA management, however, insists it must arrive earlier, in April, in order to replenish the "wiped out" NFA buffer stock.

Management, led by Aquino, thinks the importation should have been done through government-to-government importation, when the Philippines purchases rice from either Vietnam or Thailand, with which it has rice trade agreements.

Aquino says this method is faster and more transparent. The Evasco-led council, however, thinks otherwise. –

Rappler.com https://www.rappler.com/nation/199472-national-food-authority-rice-shortage-fault

WS

FG Warns Nigerians Against Imported Rice Published on April 3, 2018 By Oladipo Abiola

Bags of rice in Nigeria

Government Wants Nigerians To Patronize Local Rice The federal government has warned Nigerians against the health implications of consuming unhealthy rice which might have been smuggled into the country.

Lai Mohammed, the minister of information, gave the caution at a media briefing in Lagos on Monday.

He stated that the health status of such imported rice could not be ascertained, having spent months on the high seas and warehouses.

The minister, therefore appealed to Nigerians to consume locally-grown and processed rice which he said ―is fresher, tastier and healthier‘‘.

“We don’t know where or how imported rice is made or how old it is. It is reported that most of the rice dumped on us are old and probably rejected. The citizens of those countries do not eat this rice. The citizens of Benin Republic also do not eat it. But they send it to us,” he said.

“Unhealthy foods are dangerous to our health. So, let’s eat what we can vouch for.’’

“In Benin Republic, the total demand for white rice (white rice is consumed in Benin, against parboiled rice in Nigeria) is 400,000 MT. Yet, the country with a population of about 11 million imports between one million and 1.2m MT of rice annually.”

“Who are they importing for? Nigerians, of course. In fact, as Nigeria’s rice import falls, Benin’s rice imports increase.

Most of the parboiled rice imported by Benin eventually land in Nigeria through smuggling.’’

The minister said smuggled rice costs between N11,000 and N13,000 per 50kg bag, while Nigerian-processed rice sells for between N14,500 and N15,000 per 50kg bag.‖

READ ALSO: Female Doctor Dies From Lassa Fever In Abia

He gave assurances that the government would work on bringing down the price of local rice, adding that the price of local rice was higher, because Cameroon and Benin Republics had lowered tariff payable on rice to five percent to encourage importation and subsequent smuggling into Nigeria.

“Nigerians should remember that every time they eat imported rice, they are eating the jobs that would have been created for Nigerians,” he said.

“It is important for Nigerians to know that when they consume imported rice, they are creating jobs in India and Thailand and destroying jobs across our country.

“Today, we have rice farmers in all states and all geopolitical zones. In fact, most of us have friends and relatives who are farming rice. So if we don’t patronise their products, we are destroying their livelihoods.” https://www.naijanews.com/news/55010-fg-warns-nigerians-against-imported-rice/

NFA rice shortage: Whose fault is it?

The National Food Authority Council, says its spokesman, wonders why the NFA distributed a lot of its rice stocks to retailers during the harvest season

Pia Ranada @piaranada Published 5:26 PM, April 03, 2018 Updated 8:38 PM, April 03, 2018

Facebook Twitter Reddit Email

NFA RICE. The NFA is supposed to ensure sufficient supply of NFA buffer stock in case of calamities. File photo by Jay Directo/AFP

MANILA, Philippines – The National Food Authority (NFA) this week sounded the alarm over its depleted rice buffer stock.

Its spokesman has called on the NFA Council, chaired by Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr, to ensure rice imports arrive in April instead of May, as arranged.

For weeks now, the NFA's rice stocks have been down to around two days' worth of supply. The Inquirer reported on Tuesday, April 3, that the agency's rice reserve has been "wiped out."

But MalacaĂąang and Evasco's office say the current NFA rice shortage should not be cause for panic since NFA rice comprises only a small portion of the total rice supply of the country.

"NFA is only a small portion, 4 to 5% of the overall distribution of rice," Evasco's spokesman Assistant Secretary Jonas Soriano told reporters on Tuesday.

Yet Soriano also admitted that it is necessary to preserve NFA rice stocks since they are required to maintain a 15-day stock at any given time, and a 30-day stock at the onset of the lean months of July to September, to prepare for calamities.

"It really should not get depleted because if it does, what will we use for emergencies?" he said.

There are also concerns that depleted NFA rice reserves would lead to an increase in prices of rice, especially affecting low income households. But MalacaĂąang says this could only happen if groups are taking advantage of the panic.

"An unusual rise in price despite more than adequate supplies could only be the result of manipulation," Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Tuesday.

NFA's job

The NFA management, led by administrator Jason Aquino, is putting pressure on the NFA Council to speed up rice importation because of the dwindling NFA reserve. (READ: Tug-of-war between Evasco, NFA's Aquino continues) But Soriano's remarks to media pose an interesting question: isn't it NFA management's job to ensure the reserve was not depleted?

The NFA Council, he said, wondered why the NFA distributed a lot of its rice stocks to retailers in October, November, and December – the harvest season.

"It was harvest season so why the need to sell so much rice? Yet during the lean season when there is not much rice, they did not sell so much, so where's the logic?" Soriano said.

He stopped short of outrightly blaming NFA management. "We don't want to make any judgement here," said Soriano.

Senator Cynthia Villar, who chairs the chamber's committee on agriculture, placed the blame squarely on Aquino's shoulders, saying it was NFA's job to maintain sufficient levels of its rice reserve.

“You should have buffer to make sure hindi ite-take advantage ng traders ang farmers. Sasabihin mo wala kang NFA rice, 'eh trabaho mo ‘yan. Bakit mo ina-announce na hindi mo nagawa ang trabaho mo?" she said during a February 27 Senate hearing.

(You should have buffer to make sure traders would not take advantage of the farmers. You'll say there's no NFA rice but it's your job. Why are you announcing that you could not do your job?)

Because of these concerns, the NFA Council wants an audit of NFA management's operations, in particular how and when they distribute and sell NFA rice.

"That's why one resolution is to already pursue the independent audit by COA to look at operations of management not only on October, November, December but henceforth, even ever since the start of the Duterte presidency," said Soriano.

The NFA has two ways of replenishing its rice stocks. It can either buy from local farmers, something the Evasco-led NFA Council prefers, or it can import rice, which will also require the council's approval.

NFA management says they can't buy from local farmers because their buying price of P17 per kilogram is too low.

Farmers would rather sell to others for a higher price.

The council, partly composed of economists, dispute this, saying farmers in some parts of the country had been willing to sell their rice for around that price back in October. So why did NFA management not take the opportunity then?

The need for importation Because they can't buy rice from Filipino farmers, NFA management insists the only recourse is rice importation.

President Rodrigo Duterte, seemingly convinced by Aquino, ordered the council to proceed with importing 250,000 metric tons of rice. Better too much rice than too little, the Chief Executive reasoned.

The rice, imported through private importers, is set to arrive in mid-May. NFA management, however, insists it must arrive earlier, in April, in order to replenish the "wiped out" NFA buffer stock.

Management, led by Aquino, thinks the importation should have been done through government-to-government importation, when the Philippines purchases rice from either Vietnam or Thailand, with which it has rice trade agreements.

Aquino says this method is faster and more transparent. The Evasco-led council, however, thinks otherwise. –

Rappler.com Leave a comment https://www.rappler.com/nation/199472-national-food-authority-rice-shortage-fault

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Contact Us 1 Philippine Peso = 0.59804 Thai Baht 1 Philippine Peso = 0.04589 Tunisian Dinar 1 Philippine Peso = 0.0432 Tongan paʻanga 1 Philippine Peso = 0.0758 Turkish Lira

PH misses employment goals Employment creation remains a challenge in the Philippines which raises the need for government to do more to address unemployment, according to Rosemarie Edillon, policy...

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National rice reserve policy pushed post-QR April 04, 2018 The National Food Authority (NFA) is pushing for measures that would ensure food security and counter the impact of the lifting of the waiver on quantitative restrictions (QRs) on rice imports last June.

One of these measures is a National Rice Reserve policy even in times of surplus.

Meanwhile, Malacanang yesterday assured the country has enough supply of rice despite the reported depleted buffer stock at the NFA. The NFA said a National Rice Reserve should be in place even under a time of surplus because rice production is never assured or certain at all times.

This would also spare the country from exposure to price volatility brought about by global political and economic shifts.

In its position paper on the tariffication of rice imports in lieu of QRs, the food agency said government should maintain a National Rice Reserve equivalent to at least 15 days national consumption requirement. At present, the country’s daily consumption requirement is 32,013 metric tons or 640,260 bags.

The Philippines had secured a waiver to extend the imposition of QR on rice imports several times to allow local farmers to prepare for competition.

The Philippines has not pursued an extension of its WTO waiver and has instead indicated that it intends to convert its rice quotas into tariffs.

Congress is now considering several bills to establish such tariffs for rice imports.

The existing policy provides that NFA should have 15-day stocks at any given time and 30-day stock at the onset of the lean months of July to September.

To be managed by NFA, the National Rice Reserve should have the following components: a) stocks for food security; b) stocks for calamities; c) stocks for the marginalized sector; and d) stocks for trade or export, in case of surplus.

Stocks for food security are to be released to the market to intervene during periods of low supply and high price to stabilize the market. Stocks for calamities are intended to ensure readiness of the government and the accessibility of rice during calamities, disasters and emergency situations.

Stocks for the marginalized sector are targeted for the marginalized families under pro-poor programs of the government, the Department of Education’s feeding program, and the possible revival of the Kadiwa stores.

Stocks for trade will be available only when domestic requirement would have been sufficiently met and there is still enough volume of surplus for international trading.

Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary Jonas Soriano, of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary that supervises the NFA and heads the NFA Council, said the agency only provides 4 percent to 5 percent of NFA rice to the market as majority of government stocks on hand are used during calamities and disasters.

Soriano said there is an abundant supply of commercial rice which is augmented by the ongoing harvest period.

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra and Soriano, in separate interviews, there should be no reason for a hike in the prices of rice.

The NFA is also asking for the fast-tracking of the arrival of imported rice to April instead of June to augment its stocks.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/business/national-rice-reserve-policy-pushed-post-qr

Nigeria: FG Accuses Benin, Cameroon Republics of Sabotaging Local Rice Production Tagged:       

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Nigeria: Buhari Presides Over Most Corrupt Govt in History - Governor

By Emmanuel Aziken And Prince Okafor

The Federal Government is to initiate an awareness campaign to sensitise Nigerians on inherent dangers in consuming imported rice, and accused neighbouring Benin and Cameroon of making policies to undermine the country's rice revolution.

Speaking at a briefing in Lagos, weekend, where he paraded the administration's successes in agriculture, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said six million more Nigerians had started rice farming since the advent of Muhammadu Buhari's administration.

The increase in rice production, he said, had in the last three years created thousands of jobs in direct and indirect jobs, with N250 billion in investments expected to boost the country's rice milling capacity in the year.

Noting that Nigeria was on the way towards self-sufficiency in rice production by 2020, the minister, nevertheless, expressed concern that foreign rice producing nations, aided by Benin, were undermining the plans of the Federal Government.

Mohammed said: "The agricultural revolution in general and the rice revolution in particular, have taken millions of Nigerians out of poverty.

"As a matter of fact, today, 60 percent of rice eaten in Nigeria is produced in Nigeria. In the words of the rice processors, the rice revolution alone is enough to guarantee re-election for President Buhari, if he decides to run again."

Appeals for local patronage Continuing, the minister said: "We want to use this opportunity to appeal to Nigerians to complement the efforts of the government by consuming only locally-grown and processed rice. It is fresher. It is tastier. It is healthier. It has not spent months on the high seas and warehouses.

"We don't know where or how imported rice is made or how old it is. It is reported that most of the rice dumped on us are old and probably rejects.

"The citizens of those countries do not eat this rice. The citizens of Benin also do not eat it. But they send it to us. Unhealthy foods are dangerous to health. So let's eat what we can vouch for." ... on economic importance Also speaking on the economic importance of eating local rice, the minister said: "But Nigerians should remember that every time they eat imported rice, they are eating the jobs that would have been created for Nigerians and instead funding the creation of jobs in the source countries.

"Just imagine that less than three years into the rice revolution, millions of jobs have been created in the whole value chain.

"It is important for Nigerians to know that when they consume imported rice, they are creating jobs in India and Thailand and destroying jobs across our country. Today we have rice farmers in all states and all geopolitical zones.

"In fact, most of us have friends and relatives who are farming rice. So if we don't patronise their product, we are destroying their livelihoods.

"We are embarking on a massive nationwide campaign to sensitise our compatriots to the need to support the rice revolution by consuming local rice. Nigerians are patriots. They want more jobs.

"They will support the rice revolution and Nigeria will become self-sufficient in rice sooner than we have stated. The country has never been closer to self-sufficiency in rice, a national staple, than now.

"Our target is to achieve self-sufficiency in our paddy production in two years-- by 2020. The result is the exponential growth in local rice production that has now moved us closer to ending rice importation."

Fall in importation, smuggling On the how the rice revolution has affected importation, Mohammed said: "Within two years, rice importation from Thailand fell from 644,131 Metric Tons (in September 2015) to 20,000 MT (in September 2017).

"That's over 90 percent drop. Let me put things in perspective. So far, less than 100 billion Naira has been spent on the Anchor Borrowers' Programme that has achieved so much."

Lamenting the impact of rice smuggling on the country, he said: "The total demand for white rice (white rice is consumed in Benin, against parboiled rice in Nigeria) is 400,000 MT. Yet the country, with a population of about 11 million, imports between one million and 1.2 million MT of rice annually. Who are they importing for? Nigerians, of course.

"In fact, as Nigeria's rice import falls, Benin's rice import increases. Most of the parboiled rice imported by Benin eventually lands in Nigeria through smuggling.

"Both Cameroon and Benin Republics have lowered tariff payable on rice to zero and five percent, respectively, to encourage importation and subsequent smuggling of the product into Nigeria."

"At present, smuggled rice costs between N11,000 and N13,000 per 50kg bag. Nigerian processed rice sells for between N14,500 and N15,000 per 50kg bag.

"Smuggled rice is sourced mainly from Thailand and India-- both countries give a high level of subsidies to rice farmers and rice processors." http://allafrica.com/stories/201804030408.html

Duterte to appeal to rice traders to avoid hoarding, hold prices

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Published April 4, 2018, 2:33 PM

By Genalyn Kabiling

President Duterte is set to meet with the country‘s rice traders in MalacaĂąang on Thursday amid concerns on the reported artificial rice shortage in the country.

The President is expected to appeal to the traders to avoid hoarding rice and impose unjust price increases, according to Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr.

Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. (Genalyn Kabiling / MANILA BULLETIN)

―The President will be meeting with the rice traders tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon because the President will have to take on that,‖ Evasco, chair of the National Food Authority (NFA) Council, said during a Palace news conference. ―It was proposed by the Department of Agriculture Secretary that rice traders should be called and that the President talk to them so that we can preempt whatever plans of these traders and we can ask the traders to help us rather than take advantage of a situation to make money at the expense of the consuming public,‖ he added.

The President‘s proposed meeting with rice traders came as Evasco blamed the NFA management for creating confusion and panic when it announced a supposed shortage of rice in the country.

Evasco claimed that the NFA management has created the ―artificial rice shortage,‖ saying its ―irresponsible‖ statement could make the traders ―withdraw the rice, to speculate on higher price of rice.‖ ―In fact, if there is a sector in the country that can manipulate the presence of rice in the market, it‘s the traders,‖ he said. ―An irresponsible statement that there is no more rice in the market would immediately create a reaction on people who do have rice on their hands, withdraw this and speculate the date when to release it at a higher price, at the detriment of consuming public,‖ he added.

Asked if NFA administrator Jason Aquino should be fired for the agency‘s supply problems, Evasco said it was up to the President to make the decision since he is the appointing authority.

Evasco, meantime, assured anew that the country has adequate rice supply, citing more rice imports are expected to be delivered before June in time for the lean months. ―Based on the information from the Department of Agriculture, there is so much rice,‖ he said.

Malacañang recently assured that the country‘s overall rice supply remained more than sufficient, despite a low inventory of the government subsidized rice. It has assured that 250,000 metric tons of rice imports are expected before June to boost the NFA rice stockpile.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/04/04/duterte-to-appeal-to-rice-traders-to-avoid-hoarding-hold-prices/

FG Warns Against Imported, Smuggled Rice By Andrew Utulu April 4, 2018 0

 

Lagos – The Federal Government has raised alarm over the unhealthy status of smuggled foreign rice being dumped in the country, warning that Nigerians should not consume them.

Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, gave this warning at a media briefing in Lagos.

He said the government could not guarantee the health status of the rice having spent months on the high seas and warehouses.

He appealed to Nigerians to complement the efforts of the government by consuming only locally-grown and processed rice, which he said “is fresher, tastier and healthier.”

Mohammed said rice smuggling was the biggest challenge facing rice production in Nigeria.

Quoting the Rice Millers Importers and Distributors Association of Nigeria (RIMIDAN), he said more than two million metric tonnes (MT) of parboiled rice were smuggled into Nigeria in 2017.

He said smuggled rice was primarily sourced from Thailand and India and came into Nigeria through the country’s borders with Benin, Niger and Cameroon.

“In Benin Republic, the total demand for white rice (white rice is consumed in Benin, against parboiled rice in Nigeria) is 400,000 MT. Yet the country, with a population of about 11 million imports between one million and 1.2m MT of rice annually.

“Who are they importing for? Nigerians of course. In fact, as Nigeria’s rice import falls, Benin’s rice imports increases. Most of the parboiled rice imported by Benin eventually lands in Nigeria through smuggling,” he said.

The minister said that smuggled rice costs between N11,000 and N13,000 per 50kg bag, while Nigerian processed rice sells for between N14,500 and N15,000 per 50kg bag.

Explaining why price of local rice was higher, he said Cameroon and Benin Republics had lowered tariff payable on rice to zero and five per cent respectively to encourage importation and subsequent smuggling into Nigeria.

He added that Thailand and India where the smuggled rice were sourced also gave a high level of subsidies to rice farmers and rice processors.

The minister disclosed that the local rice producers had made some representations to the government on how Nigerian rice could compete favourably in terms of pricing, with the heavily subsidised imported rice.

He assured that the government would work on the presentations to formulate policies and take steps that would bring down the price of local rice.

Mohammed noted that less than three years into the rice revolution, millions of jobs had been created in the rice value chain in the country. “Nigerians should remember that every time they eat imported rice, they are eating the jobs that would have been created for Nigerians.

“It is important for Nigerians to know that when they consume imported rice, they are creating jobs in India and Thailand and destroying jobs across our country. Today, we have rice farmers in all states and all geopolitical zones.

“In fact, most of us have friends and relatives who are farming rice. So if we don’t patronise their products, we are destroying their livelihoods,” he said.

He said the government would embark on a massive nationwide campaign to sensitise compatriots on the need to support the rice revolution by consuming local rice. https://independent.ng/fg-warns-against-imported-smuggled-rice/

FG Raises Alarm Over Unhealthy Importation Of Rice

The Federal Government has appealed to Nigerians to be careful and stay completely away from imported rice, raising alarm over the unhealthy status attached to the imported rice.

This was revealed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at a media briefing in Lagos. He said the government could not guarantee the healthy status of the rice having spent months on the high seas and warehouses.

He appealed to Nigerians to complement the efforts of the government by consuming only locally-grown and processed rice which he said “is fresher, tastier and healthier’’. “We don’t know where or how imported rice is made or how old it is?

It is reported that most of the rice dumped on us are old and probably rejected. “The citizens of those countries do not eat this rice. The citizens of Benin also do not eat it. But they send it to us. “Unhealthy foods are dangerous to health.

So let’s eat what we can vouch for,’’ he said. The minister noted that rice smuggling was the biggest challenge facing rice production in Nigeria. Quoting the Rice Millers Importers and Distributors Association of Nigeria (RIMIDAN), he said that more than two million metric tonnes (MT) of parboiled rice were smuggled into Nigeria in 2017.

Mohammed said that smuggled rice was primarily sourced from Thailand and India and came into Nigeria through the country’s borders with Benin, Niger and Cameroon. “In Benin Republic, the total demand for white rice (white rice is consumed in Benin, against parboiled rice in Nigeria) is 400,000 MT. “Yet the country, with a population of about 11 million imports between one million and 1.2m MT of rice annually. “Who are they importing for? Nigerians of course.

In fact, as Nigeria’s rice import falls, Benin’s rice import increases. “Most of the parboiled rice imported by Benin eventually lands in Nigeria through smuggling,’’ he said. The minister said that smuggled rice costs between N11,000 and N13,000 per 50kg bag, while Nigerian processed rice sells for between N14,500 and N15,000 per 50kg bag Explaining why price of local rice was higher, he said Cameroon and Benin Republics had lowered tariff payable on rice to 0 and five per cent respectively to encourage importation and subsequent smuggling into Nigeria.

He added that Thailand and India where the smuggled rice were sourced also gave a high level of subsidies to rice farmers and rice processors. The minister disclosed that the local rice producers had made some representations to the government on how Nigerian rice could compete favourably, in terms of pricing, with the heavily subsidised imported rice.

He assured that the government would work on the presentations to formulate policies and take steps that will bring down the price of local rice.

Mohammed noted that less than three years into the rice revolution, millions of jobs had been created in the whole value chain in the country. He, therefore underscored the economic importance of consuming locally produced rice, especially in terms of job creation. “Nigerians should remember that every time they eat imported rice, they are eating the jobs that would have been created for Nigerians. “It is important for Nigerians to know that when they consume imported rice, they are creating jobs in India and Thailand and destroying jobs across our country. “Today, we have rice farmers in all states and all geopolitical zones. “In fact, most of us have friends and relatives who are farming rice. So if we don’t patronize

their products, we are destroying their livelihoods,’’ he said.

He said the government would embark on a massive nationwide campaign to sensitize compatriots to the need to support the rice revolution by consuming local rice http://www.osundefender.com/fg-raises-alarm-unhealthy-importation-rice/

Nigerian Gov't Raises Alarm Over Dangerous Imported Rice The federal government has raised alarm over the unhealthy status of smuggled imported rice being dumped in the country calling on Nigerians not to consume them.

BY PM NEWS, LAGOSAPR 03, 2018

The federal government has raised alarm over the unhealthy status of smuggled imported rice being dumped in the country calling on Nigerians not to consume them.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at a media briefing in Lagos said the government could not guarantee the healthy status of the rice having spent months on the high seas and warehouses.

He appealed to Nigerians to complement the efforts of the government by consuming only locally-grown and processed rice which he said “is fresher, tastier and healthier’’.

“We don’t know where or how imported rice is made or how old it is? It is reported that most of the rice dumped on us are old and probably rejected."

“The citizens of those countries do not eat this rice. The citizens of Benin also do not eat it. But they send it to us."

“Unhealthy foods are dangerous to health. So let’s eat what we can vouch for,’’ he said.

The minister noted that rice smuggling was the biggest challenge facing rice production in Nigeria.

Quoting the Rice Millers Importers and Distributors Association of Nigeria (RIMIDAN), he said that more than two million metric tonnes (MT) of parboiled rice was smuggled into Nigeria in 2017.

Mohammed said that smuggled rice was primarily sourced from Thailand and India and came into Nigeria through the country’s borders with Benin, Niger, and Cameroon.

“In Benin Republic, the total demand for white rice (white rice is consumed in Benin, against parboiled rice in Nigeria) is 400,000 MT." “Yet the country, with a population of about 11 million imports between one million and 1.2m MT of rice annually."

“Who are they importing for? Nigerians of course. In fact, as Nigeria’s rice import falls, Benin’s rice import increases."

“Most of the parboiled rice imported by Benin eventually lands in Nigeria through smuggling,’’ he said.

The minister said that smuggled rice costs between N11,000 and N13,000 per 50kg bag, while Nigerian processed rice sells for between N14,500 and N15,000 per 50kg bag Explaining why the price of local rice was higher, he said Cameroon and Benin Republics had lowered tariff payable on rice to 0 and five percent respectively to encourage importation and subsequent smuggling into Nigeria.

He added that Thailand and India where the smuggled rice was sourced also gave a high level of subsidies to rice farmers and rice processors.

The minister disclosed that the local rice producers had made some representations to the government on how Nigerian rice could compete favorably, in terms of pricing, with the heavily subsidized imported rice.

He assured that the government would work on the presentations to formulate policies and take steps that will bring down the price of local rice.

Mohammed noted that less than three years into the rice revolution, millions of jobs had been created in the whole value chain in the country.

He, therefore underscored the economic importance of consuming locally produced rice, especially in terms of job creation. “Nigerians should remember that every time they eat imported rice, they are eating the jobs that would have been created for Nigerians. “It is important for Nigerians to know that when they consume imported rice, they are creating jobs in India and Thailand and destroying jobs across our country. “Today, we have rice farmers in all states and all geopolitical zones.

“In fact, most of us have friends and relatives who are farming rice. So if we don’t patronize their products, we are destroying their livelihoods,’’ he said.

He said the government would embark on a massive nationwide campaign to sensitize compatriots to the need to support the rice revolution by consuming local rice.

RiceSahara Reporters Media

http://saharareporters.com/2018/04/03/nigerian-govt-raises-alarm-over-dangerous-imported-riceFood programme seeks special rice Chea Vannak / Khmer Times Share:

KT/Chor Sokunthea

The World Food Programme has sought partnerships with local rice millers who can produce fortified rice to complement the UN body‘s food baskets for charity programs in Cambodia.

The WFP had sought support from the Cambodia Rice Federation find rice millers with the capacity, CRF secretarygeneral Mou Sarith said.

It was the first time the WFP had wanted to use that kind of rice produced locally for its food baskets, according to Mr. Sarith, who was visited by a WFP delegation in Phnom Penh recently to discuss the topic.

Fortified rice kernels look, taste and cook like ordinary rice and are combined with regular rice at a ratio of 1 to 100, the WFP says.

Fortification increases the content of essential micronutrients – vitamins and minerals including trace elements in a food – to improve the nutritional quality and provide a public health benefit with minimal risks.

Mr Sarith said production of fortified rice in Cambodia was rare. He said that if the deal were reached, the WFP would take 3,000 tonnes of fortified rice a year for its program.

He did not know the market price of fortified rice, but it was more expensive than normal rice because of the technical equipment rice millers needed to produce it. http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50299075/food-programme-seeks-special-rice/

Telangana rice for Tamil Nadu OUR BUREAUT+ T-

HYDERABAD, APRIL 3 The Telangana government has agreed to send 3 lakh tonnes of rice to Tamil Nadu, responding to a request from that State. The State will procure 5 lakh tonnes of paddy for the purpose. ―We have talked to the millers and convinced them to procure the paddy required for the task. They have agreed to procure the commodity at ₹30 more than the Minimum Support Price,‖ Telangana Finance Minister Eatala Rajender has said.

The State had procured 37 lakh tonnes of paddy in the last Rabi season. ―We have handed over 24 lakh tonnes of rice to the Food Corporation of India,‖ he said in a statement on Tuesday. ―We are expecting a total production of 36 lakh tonnes of paddy this Rabi season. We have decided to set apart five lakh tonnes for Tamil Nadu,‖ he said. Grade A rice will be charged ₹2,670 and the common variety ₹2,610 a quintal. https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/telangana-rice-for-tamil-nadu/article23427331.ece

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Amira Nature Foods: Eating Healthy While Making A 170% Gain In The Rice Industry Apr. 3.18 | About: Amira Nature (ANFI)

George Atuan, CFA Long/short equity, latam focus, medium-term horizon, contrarian Follow me on LinkedIn

(168 followers)

Summary Amira Nature Foods is trading at 0.5 book value while ROIC is at 10.7% with a WACC of 7.5%.

Stock over punished due to size, domicile, dark IR, small free float and scarcity of rice-company comparable.

Limited downside using modified net-net of 39% to $2.50 per share.

The controlling shareholder/CEO is aligned to minority shareholders.

I recommend buying ANFI with a target price of $11, offering 168% upside.

Amira Nature Foods (NYSE: ANFI) is an Indian rice company that produces and distributes basmati and specialty rice. Basmati rice is a premium type of rice that has been conquering international diets for its great health qualities and taste. This type of rice is grown only in India and Pakistan thanks to the climate in that region.

While there are many risks investing in the commodity sector and in this specific company as I will elaborate below, I believe the potential reward justifies the risks. Easily, ANFI could be a 1-2x bagger while the downside is relatively small at 39% (modified net-net value of $2.50 per share).

During most of my adulthood, I have been on a diet, I tried the paleo diet for a while, then a low-carb one. Next, the keto diet; after that came the fish diet, and on and on. For the past year I have been following a Mediterranean diet. It is the first diet were I have to eat more carbs than I am used to, and this has inspired me to search for recipes. I have to admit I enjoy this diet, but the best discovery so far has been basmati rice, a long-grain rice that has a nice aroma and is tastier than standard white rice. So when ANFI popped up on my screen, I had to study it in detail.

Rice is a staple food consumed by 3 billion people around the world. As individuals are better off financially, they eat more proteins, such as chicken and beef, as rice and grains in general become a lesser percentage of their overall diet. However, as they eat less rice, they tend to upgrade to a healthier, tastier, and more expensive rice, which is where basmati comes in. That could be validated by the outpaced basmati global consumption growth (13% annually) versus the relative stagnation of regular rice consumption (2% growth). https://seekingalpha.com/article/4160851-amira-nature-foods-eating-healthy-making-170-percent-gain-rice-industry

PhilRice’s Lakbay Palay promotes quality seed, renewable energy About 1, 500 participants composed of farmers, students, extension workers, and researchers will participate in this year’s week-long Lakbay Palay Dry Season at the PhilRice Central Experiment Station in Maligaya, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, April 3- 6. Lakbay Palay is a field day held by PhilRice twice a year (during the dry and wet seasons) to showcase its rice farming technologies to a wide range of rice stakeholders. For this season, the Lakbay Palay’s theme centers on the use of quality seed and renewable energy. Activities for this week-long event include farm visits, distribution of rice knowledge products, and onsite expert dialogue/consultation. Technologies to be featured are: public hybrid rice varieties, hybrid rice seed production (AxR), wireless sensor network,

rice machines, mobile rice husk gasifier, kwebo (typhoon-resistant structure), capillarigation (low-cost irrigation system), zero-waste pig, goat production, solar-powered smart house, drone study, traditional rice varieties, rice paddy art, and organic rice production. The event will also highlight the advantages of using the five nationally recommended inbred varieties, such as NSIC Rc 222, Rc 216, Rc 160, Rc 300, and Rc 238.

Senator Cynthia A. Villar and Congresswoman Cecilia Leonila V. Chavez will grace the event on the first and fourth day, respectively. For actual activities, follow us on Facebook (rice.matters) with a hashtag #PhilRiceLakbayPalayDS2018. Lakbay Palay Wet Season 2018 is scheduled in September this year. ###PhilRice’s Lakbay Palay promotes quality seed, renewable energy About 1, 500 participants composed of farmers, students, extension workers, and researchers will participate in this year’s week-long Lakbay Palay Dry Season at the PhilRice Central Experiment Station in Maligaya, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, April 3- 6. Lakbay Palay is a field day held by PhilRice twice a year (during the dry and wet seasons) to showcase its rice farming technologies to a wide range of rice stakeholders. For this season, the Lakbay Palay’s theme centers on the use of quality seed and renewable energy. Activities for this week-long event include farm visits, distribution of rice knowledge products, and onsite expert dialogue/consultation. Technologies to be featured are: public hybrid rice varieties, hybrid rice seed production (AxR), wireless sensor network, rice machines, mobile rice husk gasifier, kwebo (typhoon-resistant structure), capillarigation (low-cost irrigation system), zerowaste pig, goat production, solar-powered smart house, drone study, traditional rice varieties, rice paddy art, and organic rice production. The event will also highlight the advantages of using the five nationally recommended inbred varieties, such as NSIC Rc 222, Rc 216, Rc 160, Rc 300, and Rc 238. Senator Cynthia A. Villar and Congresswoman Cecilia Leonila V. Chavez will grace the event on the first and fourth day, respectively.

For actual activities, follow us on Facebook (rice.matters) with a hashtag #PhilRiceLakbayPalayDS2018. Lakbay Palay Wet Season 2018 is scheduled in September this year. ### Philrie CORPORATE FROM THE EDGE

Edge Weekly

Wilmar China IPO being seriously ‘evaluated’

Cindy Yeap / The Edge Malaysia April 03, 2018 15:00 pm +08 This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on March 26, 2018 - April 01, 2018.

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A

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IF Wilmar China is listed in 2019, it would have been over a decade since the intention to do so was made known. In September 2009, Wilmar International Ltd delayed what could have been a US$3 billion to US$4 billion listing of 20% to 30% of its China business in Hong Kong, valuing the unit at about US$14 billion.

Now, insiders say a listing is seriously being ―evaluated‖ to take place next year, ―possibly in Shanghai‖, although Wilmar chairman and CEO Kuok Khoon Hong had said on Feb 22 that ―there is no certainty or assurance‖ the listing would happen just yet.

Apart from ―unlocking value‖ to reward employees and investors, it is understood that the planned listing will also allow greater Chinese participation in Wilmar, and, ideally, that it will be regarded as a domestic company.

What insiders left unsaid is something of an open secret that can only be broached by someone like Sugar King Robert Kuok. ―Wilmar doesn‘t do anything except be efficient, but resentment can be the price of efficiency. Too much growth can give rise to environmental issues. It can give rise to questions about food security, when a government comes to believe that too much of a nation‘s food is imported or that too much of the food industry is controlled by ‗foreigners‘,‖ he says in his recently published memoirs. At 94, he is old enough and has done enough public service to be able to express frustration without being deemed unpatriotic.

Co-founded by Khoon Hong, who is Robert‘s nephew, and Martua Sitorus in 1991, Wilmar was already one of the world‘s largest edible oil refiners with customers in more than 30 countries including Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, India and China) when it was floated on the Singapore Exchange via the reverse takeover of Ezyhealth Asia Pacific Ltd in July 2006.

About a year later, Wilmar acquired what were essentially Robert Kuok-controlled oil palm estates and operations in Malaysia and Indonesia, edible oil refineries and grain processing facilities in China, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Netherlands and Germany. That gave the Kuok Group ―about one third of Wilmar‖ in June 2007, according to Robert Kuok: A Memoir (with Andrew Tanzer). ―Our shareholding in Wilmar is one of the largest assets of the Kuok Group — an obvious sign of our trust in Khoon Hong‘s abilities and honesty as a businessman,‖ he says in the book. In it, Robert not only relates the genesis of the Kuok Group but also detailed some of the national service he did for Malaysia, Singapore and China.

Bursa Malaysia-listed PPB Group Bhd owns 18.55% of Wilmar, which accounted for 78% of its 2017 profit. PPB is 50.81% owned by Kuok Brothers Sdn Bhd and 11.13% by the Employees Provident Fund (up from 8.11% in midMarch 2017). Wilmar is a component of Singapore‘s Straits Times Index while PPB is an FBM KLCI constituent.

Robert also weighs in on Wilmar and Khoon Hong, whom he describes as ―the most fantastic businessman you can team up with‖ and ―a businessman at least as able as myself‖.

Robert relates how Khoon Hong is a hands-on manager who works ―16 or more hours a day, every day of the year‖. ―He goes down to the field, goes to his factories, talks to his managers. He sees that farmers are as hard-working as ever … he will supply better seeds to rice farmers and install the best rice-milling machinery. He has corrected the old practice of mixing the best quality rice with the lowest quality rice at time of harvest … Khoon Hong showed the farmers that by using the best machinery, which he supplied, better quality grains could be produced, and that valuable rice bran oil could be extracted from rice bran. ―Wilmar‘s policy is to improve food production practices and yields, and to share additional profits with the farmers and other processors. That is the reason why Wilmar has been so successful in the places that it does business. That, and taking care of its vendors and customers, the sellers and the buyers. Such things plus vision, hard work and efficiency are what promote a company‘s growth. You need hands-on direct management. For a business to be healthy,

it needs to keep growing. Of course too much growth, too quickly, can be unhealthy as well. It can give rise to envy or anger among people who are unable to compete,‖ the memoir reads.

Robert also says it was Khoon Hong who told him about the enzyme process to extract oil from soybeans. The latter also planned and started in the mid-1980s, the first edible-oil refinery, import base, storage base and packing base in Shenzhen, China.

He says Khoon Hong was ―the driving force‖ of what later became Kuok Oils & Grains, which merged with Wilmar alongside PPB Oil Palms in 2007.

Time will tell if the memoir will win brownie points for Wilmar and its chief, who had previously told The Edge that ―hard work, integrity and luck are the keys to [Wilmar‘s] success‖. ―We will continue to work hard, work honestly but will fortune continue to smile at us? We don‘t know,‖ Khoon Hong said in 2011.

Headwinds that comes with success To quote Robert‘s memoir, Wilmar ―now has over 500 manufacturing plants, an extensive distribution network covering over 50 countries, owns a fleet of vessels [and] has a multinational workforce of about 90,000 people‖.

―Wilmar is Asia‘s leading agribusiness group. Its business activities include oil palm cultivation, oilseeds crushing, edible oils refining, speciality fats, oleochemicals and biodiesel manufacturing, flour and rice milling and sugar milling and refining. It is a globally leading raw sugar producer and refiner, and owns one of the top consumer brands for sugar and sweeteners in Australia. It is also one of the world‘s largest producers and merchandisers of palm and lauric (coconut) oils. Its edible oils operations stretch from Europe (where it is the largest refiner in Ukraine) and East Africa (where it is the leading supplier) to India, Southeast Asia and China (where it owns the market-leading brand). It is one of the largest oil palm plantation owners in Malaysia and Indonesia, and the world‘s largest palm biodiesel manufacturer.‖ Wilmar downplays the size of its market share in China, Indonesia and even Malaysia — especially when it comes to businesses like basic foodstuffs that are vital to the people.

Apart from heightening competition in a tougher operating environment, Wilmar‘s woes can perhaps be summed up by the Chinese idiom shù dà zho fng, which translates as a tall tree catches wind, meaning the group‘s sheer size makes it a target.

Indonesian current affairs magazine Tempo, in its March 25 issue, not only featured Maligi villagers protesting at an estate in West Sumatra on March 9 (over purported under-compensation of cultivated land which a Wilmar official denied in the same report) but also brought up old (unproven) allegations of tax fraud ―fake invoices‖ that hit the shares of Wilmar and PPB in 2010 and saw Wilmar returning its tax refund.

That is not the first and probably won‘t be the last headwind the group faces as it continues to seek sustainable growth.

Share prices of Wilmar and PPB moving in opposite directions Interestingly, the share prices of Wilmar and PPB have been moving in opposite directions even though Wilmar has been contributing easily 70% of PPB‘s profits since the latter hived off its Malaysian sugar business in 2009, after owning it for 45 years.

At its peak of S$6.203 on Jan 12, 2010, Wilmar commanded a market capitalisation of S$45.83 billion. At its S$3.21 close last Wednesday (March 21), its market cap had more than halved to S$20.31 billion.

PPB, which fetched RM13.985 when Wilmar‘s share price was at its peak in 2010, closed last Wednesday at an alltime high of RM18.78. Its RM22.26 billion market cap reflects a RM2.23 billion gain over the same period.

The four analysts tracking PPB are split between ―buy‖ and ―hold‖, with price targets ranging from DBS Vickers‘ RM17.15 a share to Kenanga Investment Research‘s RM19.85 , according to Bloomberg data at the time of writing.

Seven of the 15 analysts tracking Wilmar have a ―buy‖ compared with six ―hold‖ and two ―sell‖, with a consensus target price of S$3.61. The most bullish price target is UOB Kay Hian Research and CIMB Research‘s S$4.10 while the most bearish is Morgan Stanley with S$2.89.

Whether or not Wilmar should be worth more, stock exchange filings show that Khoon Hong has been buying shares from the market. Between Feb 23 (the day after Wilmar announced its 2017 results) and March 19, he bought 4.86 million shares for S$15.18 million, at an average cost of S$3.12 each, to raise his holding to 12.27%.

Wilmar did not provide a geographical split on just how significant its China business is to group earnings in its 2017 earnings. The China unit contributed about 40% of the group‘s profit and 50% of revenue in 2008. If the group succeeds in winning greater goodwill from China from a successful listing of Wilmar China, all stakeholders stand to benefit. http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/wilmar-china-ipo-being-seriously-evaluated

Pak-Iran rice trade via Dubai continues despite PTA Share:

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Our Staff Reporter April 03, 2018

LAHORE - The Pakistan and Iran bilateral trade can reach the level of $10 billion mark within very short period from the present volume of less than $800 million, as both the countries have been doing their most of trade including rice via Dubai despite inking Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) since 2006.

The Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan chairman Ch Samee Ullah Naeem said that Iran is a nation of rice eaters where the average per capita consumption of rice is 46kg.

"The Iranian brothers are very fond of Pakistani super basmati rice due to its taste, aroma, length, and cooking ability. We request the Iranian government that the access of super basmati rice be facilitated through rational trade measures and technical barriers must be removed," he said.

Addressing a ceremony, the REAP chairman requested Iran to impose lower duty regime on imports of Pakistani rice in Iran under PTA. The ceremony was also attended by acting Consul-General of Iran in Lahore Majid Sadeghi Dowlatabadi and former Iranian foreign minister Syed Kamal Kharazi.

He called for going forward from PTA to a FTA with preferably a zero import duty regime on both sides.

Ch Samee said that Pakistan and Iran have implemented PTA in 2006; however, the current volume of bilateral trade between the two countries is not reflective of the true potentials, both countries owe. "We must formulate appropriate trade policy for ensuring sustained trade between the countries."

He said that agriculturally enriched Pakistan likes to have bilateral trade relationship with Petroleum enriched Iran. We both have the right products for each other to trade and mutually co-exist but it is unfortunate that most of trade is being done through other countries.

"We both have the potential to increase our bilateral trade volume to $5billion if the problem in transferring money through banking channel is addressed.

He proposed to open Iranian bank in Pakistan which will, by far, the most conducive step forward for ensuring sustainable trade between both Islamic nations. This presence of Iranian bank in Pakistan will facilitate private business in Pakistan to interact with Iranian counterparts on long term basis.

"The Bank Melli Iran is interested to open branch in Lahore. For that matter, whatever support is required, we are here to commit that, I ensure that all rice exporters will come up with opening of accounts and routing of all trade documents through your this branch only. We need to transform all our energy for immediate opening of Bank Melli Iran branch in Lahore on war footings."

He also called for moving forward in the right direction and convolving to a much needed 'Currency Swap Agreement.'

He said that the currency swap agreement ensures participation and involvement of private sector across the borders and hence crafting a much deep rooted ties which are beyond International pressure.

He also announced that REAP is leading a 17-member delegation to Tehran, Mashhad from April 29. The visit would ensure vibrant businessmen interactions from both sides resulting in enhanced trade within regional block.

Former Iranian foreign minister Syed Kamal Kharazi, addressing the ceremony, stated that Tehran was working on a proposal for opening bank branches in both the countries for direct trade transactions in currencies other than dollar.

He said Tehran was interested in bilateral cooperation in various sectors and was negotiating with Pakistan for reducing duties on bilateral trade. https://nation.com.pk/03-Apr-2018/pak-iran-rice-trade-via-dubai-continues-despite-pta

Iran, Turkey Mull Ditching Dollar for National Currencies in Trade

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TEHRAN (FNA)- Deputy Minister of Industry Valiollah Afkhami Rad said Iran and Turkey might soon begin trading in national currencies instead of the greenback.

In a meeting with Turkey’s Ambassador in Tehran Reza Hakan Tekin on Monday, Afkhami Rad said Iran and Turkey could trade in Rial and Lira as financial and banking barriers still remain in using US dollar for bilateral trade exchange.

“The two countries have always held friendly relations maintaining trade and economic ties in various periods,� he said, adding that Turkish investors are welcome to do business in Iran after the removal of sanctions.

Ambassador Hakan Tekin, for his part, said two high-ranking Turkish delegations will travel to Tehran soon to discuss trade and investment as well as the greenback matter.

This comes as Pakistan has also raised the possibility of ditching dollar for euro in its trade with Iran.

Last month, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said it is preparing to use euros instead of dollars in trade with Iran.

The SBP said a plan has been prepared to enable Pakistani businessmen to open letters of credit (L/Cs) for imports from Iran in euros instead of dollars.

The policy has been devised because some US sanctions are still in place that could obstruct payments to Tehran, the daily reported.

The SBP has accordingly informed the ministry of commerce and other stakeholders in a recent meeting that it was not possible at this stage to open LCs in dollars in trade with Iran.

If the L/Cs were to be opened in dollars, clearance from US intermediary bank would be needed. This is while certain sanctions are still in place in the US and that would cause trouble for the Pakistani businessmen.

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950116000604

The new Basmati? Tulaipanji, this aromatic variety of rice from Bengal gaining popularity An indigenous aromatic rice, grown in a small pocket of north Bengal, has gained so much interest among the farmers due to the state government's encouragement that its area of cultivation has increased by 45 per cent in just three years, district officials said.

By: PTI | Balurghat | Published: April 3, 2018 12:10 PM

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Though its grain is not so long as Basmati, but the medium-grained Tulaipanji has the excellent aroma because of the presence of three organic chemicals, another agriculture official Mir Farhad Hossain said. (Representational Image: Reuters)

An indigenous aromatic rice, grown in a small pocket of north Bengal, has gained so much interest among the farmers due to the state government‘s encouragement that its area of cultivation has increased by 45 per cent in just three years, district officials said. Tulaipanji is cultivated in Raiganj, Kaliaganj, Hemtabad and Karandighi blocks of Uttar Dinajpur district and Kushmandi block of Dakshin Dinajpur district. Earlier, the farmers were not very keen to cultivate Tulaipanji, but following the encouragement by the state government, more and more peasants are now engaged in farming this variety. ―The yield of Tulaipanji was not enough in earlier years. But now the agriculture department helps us in various ways. We also get a better price for this,‖ said Palanu Mohammad, a farmer of Bindol in Raiganj block.

In Uttar Dinajpur, Tulaipanji was cultivated in 6,700 hectare in 2017-18, compared to 5,400 hectare in 2016-17 and 4,600 hectare in 2015-16, regisetering a growth of 45 per cent in three years, district agriculture official Srikanta Sinha said. The production of Tulaipanji has also been gradually increasing – 10,120 million tonne in 2015-16, 11,880 mt in 2016-17 and 14,740 mt in 2017-18 – in the district, Sinha told PTI. ―If Basmati rice can be marketed countrywide in packets, the same can be done for Tulaipanji. It has an excellent aroma. The government has taken the initiative to market this rice in and outside the country,‖ said Uttar Dinajpur District Magistrate Ayesha Rani.

The DM said the authorities have applied for GI (geographical identification) tag for Tulaipanji. A GI is primarily an agricultural, natural or a manufactured product (handicrafts and industrial goods) originating from a definite geographical territory. Such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness, which is essentially attributable to the place of its origin. The agricultural department of the district has been directed to help farmers grow Tulaipanji, Rani said. Though

its grain is not so long as Basmati, but the medium-grained Tulaipanji has the excellent aroma because of the presence of three organic chemicals, another agriculture official Mir Farhad Hossain said.

Recently, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had directed the officials to collect Tulaipanji from Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur districts for packaging and marketing it in all the districts including Kolkata, official sources said. ―The production was around 1.8 tonne per hectare a decade ago but it could be increased four times these days using the science of genetics,‖ said Dr Subhas Chandra Roy, associate professor of the North Bengal University, whose research interest includes rice genetics.

The new Basmati? Tulaipanji, this aromatic variety of rice from Bengal gaining popularity An indigenous aromatic rice, grown in a small pocket of north Bengal, has gained so much interest among the farmers due to the state government's encouragement that its area of cultivation has increased by 45 per cent in just three years, district officials said.

By: PTI | Balurghat | Published: April 3, 2018 12:10 PM

74 SHARES  

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

Though its grain is not so long as Basmati, but the medium-grained Tulaipanji has the excellent aroma because of the presence of three organic chemicals, another agriculture official Mir Farhad Hossain said. (Representational Image: Reuters)

An indigenous aromatic rice, grown in a small pocket of north Bengal, has gained so much interest among the farmers due to the state government‘s encouragement that its area of cultivation has increased by 45 per cent in just three years, district officials said. Tulaipanji is cultivated in Raiganj, Kaliaganj, Hemtabad and Karandighi blocks of Uttar Dinajpur district and Kushmandi block of Dakshin Dinajpur district. Earlier, the farmers were not very keen to cultivate Tulaipanji, but following the encouragement by the state government, more and more peasants are now engaged in farming this variety. ―The yield of Tulaipanji was not enough in earlier years. But now the agriculture department helps us in various ways. We also get a better price for this,‖ said Palanu Mohammad, a farmer of Bindol in Raiganj block.

In Uttar Dinajpur, Tulaipanji was cultivated in 6,700 hectare in 2017-18, compared to 5,400 hectare in 2016-17 and 4,600 hectare in 2015-16, regisetering a growth of 45 per cent in three years, district agriculture official Srikanta Sinha said. The production of Tulaipanji has also been gradually increasing – 10,120 million tonne in 2015-16, 11,880 mt in 2016-17 and 14,740 mt in 2017-18 – in the district, Sinha told PTI. ―If Basmati rice can be marketed countrywide in packets, the same can be done for Tulaipanji. It has an excellent aroma. The government has taken the initiative to market this rice in and outside the country,‖ said Uttar Dinajpur District Magistrate Ayesha Rani.

The DM said the authorities have applied for GI (geographical identification) tag for Tulaipanji. A GI is primarily an agricultural, natural or a manufactured product (handicrafts and industrial goods) originating from a definite geographical territory. Such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness, which is essentially attributable to the place of its origin. The agricultural department of the district has been directed to help farmers grow Tulaipanji, Rani said. Though

its grain is not so long as Basmati, but the medium-grained Tulaipanji has the excellent aroma because of the presence of three organic chemicals, another agriculture official Mir Farhad Hossain said.

Recently, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had directed the officials to collect Tulaipanji from Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur districts for packaging and marketing it in all the districts including Kolkata, official sources said. ―The production was around 1.8 tonne per hectare a decade ago but it could be increased four times these days using the science of genetics,‖ said Dr Subhas Chandra Roy, associate professor of the North Bengal University, whose research interest includes rice genetics.

The new Basmati? Tulaipanji, this aromatic variety of rice from Bengal gaining popularity An indigenous aromatic rice, grown in a small pocket of north Bengal, has gained so much interest among the farmers due to the state government's encouragement that its area of cultivation has increased by 45 per cent in just three years, district officials said.

By: PTI | Balurghat | Published: April 3, 2018 12:10 PM

74 SHARES  

SHARE



Though its grain is not so long as Basmati, but the medium-grained Tulaipanji has the excellent aroma because of the presence of three organic chemicals, another agriculture official Mir Farhad Hossain said. (Representational Image: Reuters)

An indigenous aromatic rice, grown in a small pocket of north Bengal, has gained so much interest among the farmers due to the state government‘s encouragement that its area of cultivation has increased by 45 per cent in just three years, district officials said. Tulaipanji is cultivated in Raiganj, Kaliaganj, Hemtabad and Karandighi blocks of Uttar Dinajpur district and Kushmandi block of Dakshin Dinajpur district. Earlier, the farmers were not very keen to cultivate Tulaipanji, but following the encouragement by the state government, more and more peasants are now engaged in farming this variety. ―The yield of Tulaipanji was not enough in earlier years. But now the agriculture department helps us in various ways. We also get a better price for this,‖ said Palanu Mohammad, a farmer of Bindol in Raiganj block.

In Uttar Dinajpur, Tulaipanji was cultivated in 6,700 hectare in 2017-18, compared to 5,400 hectare in 2016-17 and 4,600 hectare in 2015-16, regisetering a growth of 45 per cent in three years, district agriculture official Srikanta Sinha said. The production of Tulaipanji has also been gradually increasing – 10,120 million tonne in 2015-16, 11,880 mt in 2016-17 and 14,740 mt in 2017-18 – in the district, Sinha told PTI. ―If Basmati rice can be marketed countrywide in packets, the same can be done for Tulaipanji. It has an excellent aroma. The government has taken the initiative to market this rice in and outside the country,‖ said Uttar Dinajpur District Magistrate Ayesha Rani.

The DM said the authorities have applied for GI (geographical identification) tag for Tulaipanji. A GI is primarily an agricultural, natural or a manufactured product (handicrafts and industrial goods) originating from a definite geographical territory. Such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness, which is essentially attributable to the place of its origin. The agricultural department of the district has been directed to help farmers grow Tulaipanji, Rani said. Though

its grain is not so long as Basmati, but the medium-grained Tulaipanji has the excellent aroma because of the presence of three organic chemicals, another agriculture official Mir Farhad Hossain said.

Recently, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had directed the officials to collect Tulaipanji from Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur districts for packaging and marketing it in all the districts including Kolkata, official sources said. ―The production was around 1.8 tonne per hectare a decade ago but it could be increased four times these days using the science of genetics,‖ said Dr Subhas Chandra Roy, associate professor of the North Bengal University, whose research interest includes rice genetics. http://www.financialexpress.com/economy/the-new-basmati-tulaipanji-this-aromatic-variety-of-rice-from-bengal-gaining-popularity/1119645/

Indian rice exporters to gain market share: Ind-Ra Mumbai, Jan 4 (PTI) The credit profile of riceexporters is likely to improve over the near-to-medium termdue to increase in market share following production shortfallin parts of South Asia, India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra)said in a report. "Credit profile of rice exporters to improve over thenearto-medium term on the back of increased market share,higher realisations and improved liquidity. Significantproduction shortfall in parts of South Asia is likely toresult in a substantial gain in market share by various Indianexporters," Ind-Ra said. Ind-Ra expects Indian rice exports to account over 29per cent of the global rice trade in marketing year (MY)2017-18 compared to 26.70 per cent in the MY 2016-17. The rating agency said subdued yields across majorSouth and East Asian rice producers should result in higherrealisations and marginal improvement in export volumes. Weak output levels in Vietnam and other parts of SouthAsia have resulted in a sharp spike in international prices,primarily on the back of increased demand from exporters todeliver forward export orders, it added. The agency expects demand to remain strong on the backof higher paddy procurement target and minimum support price. In June 2017, the government had decided to increasethe minimum selling price of common grade paddy by 5.4 percent to Rs 1,550 per quintal, it said. The procurement target was also increased to 37.50million tonnes in MY 2016-17 from 34.34 million tonnes in theprevious year, it

added. Indian Basmati exports grew 35 per cent annually to Rs136 billion in the first half of FY18 on the back of asignificant growth in offtake by Iran.

While the timely lifting of the temporary import banby the Iranian government on November 22, 2017 is expected toaugur well for Indian rice exporters, yet, significant volumegain is unlikely due weak demand from countries like SaudiArabia and Kuwait, it said. Iran is likely to replace Saudi Arabia as the largestexporter of Indian Basmati rice. Saudi Arabia reported a 13 per cent decline in riceimports in the first quarter of FY18. Despite the recovery in demand from Iran and the US, Ind-Ra expects total growth in Basmati export volumes to remain range bound between 3 per cent and 5 per cent.

Author Name: https://www.latestly.com/information/indian-rice-exporters-to-gain-market-share-ind-ra-94408.html Date: 04-Apr-2018

Iran Continues to Import Pakistani Rice From Dubai Iran is buying rice from Pakistan via Dubai despite a preferential trade agreement between Tehran and Islamabad which has been in place since 2006. The Pakistani newspaper The Nation reported that by eliminating Dubai, the two sides can dramatically increase their bilateral trade from the present volume of less than $800 million per year. Referring to high consumption of rice in Iran (46 kg per capita), Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan’s Chairman Sameeullah Naeem requested Iran to impose lower duty regime on imports of Pakistani rice in Iran under the PTA. He was addressing a ceremony, which was also attended by acting consul general of Iran in Lahore, Majid Sadeqi Dolatabadi, and Iran’s former foreign minister, Seyyed Kamal Kharazi. Naeem called for going forward from PTA to a free trade agreement with preferably a zero import duty regime on both sides. “We must formulate appropriate trade policy for ensuring sustained trade between the countries,” he added. The Pakistani official noted that agriculturally-rich Pakistan likes to have bilateral trade ties with oil-rich Iran. “We both have the right products for each other to trade and mutually coexist, but it is unfortunate that most trade is being done through other countries,” he said. Referring to banking problems in transferring money between the two sides, the REAP chairman suggested that Iranian banks open branches in Pakistan.

“Bank Melli Iran is interested to open branch in Lahore. For that matter, whatever support is required, we are here to commit that. I ensure that all rice exporters will come up with opening of accounts and routing of all trade documents through this branch only,” he said. Naeem also

announced that REAP is leading a 17-member delegation to Tehran and Mashhad from April 29. Iran’s former foreign minister, addressing the ceremony, stated that Tehran was working on the proposal of opening bank branches in Pakistan for direct trade transactions in currencies other than the US dollar. Kharrazi said Tehran was interested in bilateral cooperation in various sectors and was negotiating with Pakistan for reducing duties on bilateral trade. During a meeting of Pakistan’s National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce, officials of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry informed that during a recent meeting with an Iranian delegation led by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, all modalities for opening a banking channel with Tehran have been finalized. The Iranian top diplomat visited Islamabad last month at the head of a high-ranking politico-economic delegation. Last year, the State Bank of Pakistan and the Central Bank of Iran signed an agreement on Banking and Payment Arrangement in Tehran with the objective of devising a settlement mechanism to promote bilateral trade. Iranians consume 3.2 million tons of rice a year while domestic production stands at 2.2 million tons. More than 1.05 million tons of semi- and whollymilled rice worth close to $996 million were imported into Iran during the first half of the last Iranian year (March 21-Sept. 22), registering an 84.4% and 108.4% surge in weight and value respectively compared with the corresponding period of last year. Rice imports accounted for 6% and 4.2% of the volume and value of Iran’s overall imports respectively during the six-month period. The imports are made mainly from the UAE (reexport), India, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey and Iraq. Iran is the largest buyer of India’s basmati and accounts for a fourth of India’s annual aromatic rice shipments of around 4 million tons. The country restarted rice import registration this year from Jan. 21 until June 21. The permission was communicated by Agriculture Minister Mahmoud Hojjati in a letter to Minister of Industries, Mining and Trade Mohammad Shariatmadari. According to the letter, the order registrations will be valid for a three-month period and are extendable by a further one month.

Hojjati noted that any rice shipments as per the new orders need to be cleared through Iranian customs by July 22, after which all imports will be banned. Every year and during the rice harvest season (July-January), the Iranian government bans rice imports in support of local farmers and domestic production.

Author Name: https://financialtribune.com/articles/economy-domestic-economy/84009/iran-continues-to-import-pakistani-rice-from-dubai

Iran wants direct rice import from Pakistan April 3, 2018 12

Iran Continues to Import Pakistani Rice From Dubai Iran is buying rice from Pakistan via Dubai despite a preferential trade agreement between Tehran and Islamabad which has been in place since 2006.

The Pakistani newspaper The Nation reported that by eliminating Dubai, the two sides can dramatically increase their bilateral trade from the present volume of less than $800 million per year. Referring to high consumption of rice in Iran (46 kg per capita), Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan’s Chairman Sameeullah Naeem requested Iran to impose lower duty regime on imports of Pakistani rice in Iran under the PTA. He was addressing a ceremony, which was also attended by acting consul general of Iran in Lahore, Majid Sadeqi Dolatabadi, and Iran’s former foreign minister, Seyyed Kamal Kharazi. Naeem called for going forward from PTA to a free trade agreement with preferably a zero import duty regime on both sides. “We must formulate appropriate trade policy for ensuring sustained trade between the countries,” he added. The Pakistani official noted that agriculturally-rich Pakistan likes to have bilateral trade ties with oil-rich Iran. “We both have the right products for each other to trade and mutually coexist, but it is unfortunate that most trade is being done through other countries,” he said. Referring to banking problems in transferring money between the two sides, the REAP chairman suggested that Iranian banks open branches in Pakistan. “Bank Melli Iran is interested to open branch in Lahore. For that matter, whatever support is required, we are here to commit that. I ensure that all rice exporters will come up with opening of accounts and routing of all trade documents through this branch only,” he said. Naeem also announced that REAP is leading a 17-member delegation to Tehran and Mashhad from April 29. Iran’s former foreign minister, addressing the ceremony, stated that Tehran was working on the proposal of opening bank branches in Pakistan for direct trade transactions in currencies other than the US dollar. Kharrazi said Tehran was interested in bilateral cooperation in various sectors and was negotiating with Pakistan for reducing duties on bilateral trade. During a meeting of Pakistan’s National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce, officials of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry informed that during a recent meeting with an Iranian delegation led by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, all modalities for opening a banking channel with Tehran have been finalized. The Iranian top diplomat visited Islamabad last month at the head of a high-ranking politico-economic delegation. Last year, the State Bank of Pakistan and the Central Bank of Iran signed an agreement on Banking and Payment Arrangement in Tehran with the objective of devising a settlement mechanism to promote bilateral trade. Iranians consume 3.2 million tons of rice a year while domestic production stands at 2.2 million tons. More than 1.05 million tons of semi- and wholly-milled rice worth close to $996 million were imported into Iran during the first half of the last Iranian year (March 21-Sept. 22), registering an 84.4% and 108.4% surge in weight and value respectively compared with the corresponding period of last year. Rice imports accounted for 6% and 4.2%

of the volume and value of Iran’s overall imports respectively during the six-month period. The imports are made mainly from the UAE (reexport), India, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey and Iraq. Iran is the largest buyer of India’s basmati and accounts for a fourth of India’s annual aromatic rice shipments of around 4 million tons. The country restarted rice import registration this year from Jan. 21 until June 21. The permission was communicated by Agriculture Minister Mahmoud Hojjati in a letter to Minister of Industries, Mining and Trade Mohammad Shariatmadari. According to the letter, the order registrations will be valid for a three-month period and are extendable by a further one month. Hojjati noted that any rice shipments as per the new orders need to be cleared through Iranian customs by July 22, after which all imports will be banned. Every year and during the rice harvest season (July-January), the Iranian government bans rice imports in support of local farmers and domestic production.

Author Name: https://financialtribune.com/articles/economy-domestic-economy/84009/iran-continues-to-import-pakistani-rice-from-dubai

Import demand continues boosting Vietnam’s rice export

Farmers dry unhusked rice in Hong Dan district, the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – High rice import demand from Vietnam’s major markets in the second quarter is expected to help exporters continue good overseas shipments in the first three months of this year. Some foreign news sources reported that in late March, the State Logistics Agency of Indonesia (Bulog)

signed contracts to purchase 300,000 tonnes of rice from Vietnam and 200,000 tonnes from Thailand. This is the third time Indonesia has imported rice since the beginning of 2018. Chairman of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) Nguyen Ngoc Nam confirmed the report, saying that Bulog invited the Vietnam Northern Food Corporation and the Vietnam Southern Food Corporation to supply the rice. This contract will be carried out from April to July this year. The Philippines, another major market, is also planning to import rice in large amounts in the second quarter, the VFA said, adding that the country will import 250,000 tonnes of rice to augment its rice reserves. The auction will open in May. Meanwhile, rice import demand from China, Malaysia and Japan has also helped warm up the Asian rice market, promising good prospects for Vietnam’s rice shipment in the second quarter. [Infographics: Vietnam likely to export 6.5 million tonnes of rice in 2018] According to the agriculture ministry’s Department of Crop Production, about 980,000 hectares of winter-spring rice in the Mekong Delta, the biggest rice hub in Vietnam, had been harvested as of March 29 with average productivity of 6.5 – 6.6 tonnes of unhusked rice per hectare. Some rice exporters said the market in the Mekong Delta has become vibrant since mid-March due to abundant rice supply, supporting their export activities. The US Department of Agriculture predicted Vietnam could export 6.7 million tonnes of rice this year thanks to shipments to China and expansion in other markets. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported that rice exports in January – March totalled 1.36 million tonnes worth 669 million USD, representing year-on-year rises of 9.4 percent in volume and 24 percent in value. China remained the top importer of Vietnamese rice, accounting for 24.4 percent of total exports.-VNA Author Name: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/import-demand-continues-boosting-vietnams-rice-export/129015.vnp

Rice Prices as on : 04-04-2018 12:22:38 PM Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.

Arrivals

Price

Current

% change

Season cumulative

Modal

Prev.

Modal

Prev.Yr %change

Rice Bindki(UP)

500.00

-16.67

20408.00

2300

2310

-

Varanasi(Grain)(UP)

380.00

NC

5768.00

2240

2275

-0.44

Siliguri(WB)

164.00

1.23

3558.00

2700

2700

NC

Gondal(UP)

142.00

-8.39

5154.50

2150

2150

2.38

Beldanga(WB)

75.00

7.14

495.00

2800

2800

16.67

Indus(Bankura Sadar)(WB)

75.00

NC

1045.00

2800

2800

12.00

Ghaziabad(UP)

70.00

40

1865.00

2645

2650

10.21

Rampurhat(WB)

70.00

-17.65

890.00

2500

2500

16.28

Hapur(UP)

60.00

50

1230.00

2680

2720

17.54

Samsi(WB)

50.00

-5.66

865.50

3300

3300

10.00

Gajol(WB)

45.10

3.2

856.10

3550

3500

22.41

Akbarpur(UP)

45.00

-25

2386.50

2190

2200

-0.45

Maur(UP)

39.00

-20.41

894.00

2160

2150

-

Kopaganj(UP)

39.00

-20.41

1079.00

2160

2150

NC

Mainpuri(UP)

32.00

-42.86

937.00

2610

2520

-

Banda(UP)

25.00

4.17

408.00

2050

2070

-

Devariya(UP)

25.00

-72.22

1352.50

2150

2150

-0.69

Jaunpur(UP)

24.00

-20

729.30

2160

2160

6.93

Chorichora(UP)

24.00

-9.43

340.00

2135

2150

-

Jasra(UP)

20.00

NC

616.50

2300

2450

-

Gorakhpur(UP)

20.00

-90.7

1602.50

2140

2140

1.90

Alipurduar(WB)

20.00

NC

340.00

2750

2750

19.57

Karsiyang(Matigara)(WB)

16.50

-1.79

266.10

3000

3000

11.11

Kayamganj(UP)

15.00

-25

314.00

2270

2260

-0.44

Islampur(WB)

15.00

NC

447.50

3300

3300

46.67

Raiganj(WB)

15.00

NC

539.00

3200

3200

30.61

Saharanpur(UP)

14.00

12

583.50

2690

2690

13.50

Madhoganj(UP)

12.00

-42.86

2025.50

2180

2165

1.40

Muzzafarnagar(UP)

11.00

-60.71

744.00

2680

2690

-

Balrampur(UP)

10.00

-60

88.00

2150

2300

3.12

8.50

-15

435.50

2600

2600

-

Khurja(UP)

Bethuadahari(WB)

7.00

NC

129.77

4200

4300

82.61

Unnao(UP)

5.80

-3.33

130.40

2150

2140

4.88

Mirzapur(UP)

4.50

-25

301.00

2155

2150

-

Kosikalan(UP)

4.00

-27.27

18.50

2510

2510

-

Paliakala(UP)

4.00

33.33

803.60

2170

2185

-

Chhibramau(Kannuj)(UP)

4.00

-20

201.50

2250

2250

0.45

Risia(UP)

3.00

-96.32

4090.80

1950

2100

-

Jahangirabad(UP)

2.50

25

63.00

2580

2580

11.45

Balarampur(WB)

1.84

0.55

33.22

2620

2670

12.45

Bangarmau(UP)

1.60

33.33

19.10

2150

2150

4.88

Tundla(UP)

1.60

-11.11

72.30

2610

2630

-

Billsadda(UP)

1.50

NC

113.30

2200

2260

-

Jagnair(UP)

0.80

NC

45.70

2500

2530

-1.57

Khairagarh(UP)

0.80

NC

51.90

2500

2500

-0.79

April 04, 2018

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article23431951.ece

‗Cut rice

stockpile once QR is scrapped‘ By Jasper Y. Arcalas April 3, 2018

The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) has proposed to slash the rice stockpile requirement of the National Food Authority (NFA) once the country’s quantitative restriction (QR) on the staple is scrapped.

Neda Assistant Secretary Mercedita A. Sombilla said the NFA should maintain fewer volume of buffer stock, as there is an expected influx of “cheaper” foreign rice in the domestic market once the rice QR is removed.

The NFA is mandated by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council to maintain a rice buffer stock good to last for 15 days at any given time and for 30 days at the onset of the lean months, which runs from July to September.

“I think that is going to be huge, that is a lot for the NFA to keep, especially now with tariffication coming in. We hope that we will encourage more rice to come in—cheaper rice at that,” Sombilla said at a news briefing on Tuesday.

“I do not think we need the NFA to be getting that much rice to keep. What it would need is to keep much, much lesser than the 15 and 30 days buffer stock, which it is being empowered to get,” Sombilla added.

The proposal, she said, is part of the NFA Council’s plan to restructure the state-run grains agency in a post-QR regime.

Sombilla is a member of the NFA Council, the highest policy- making body of the NFA. Furthermore, the Neda official told the BusinessMirror that based on preliminary estimates, the NFA should only maintain about eight-to 10-day buffer stock level in a post-QR regime regardless of season.

“My estimate is between eight and 10 days, that is my estimate only, especially when [rice imports] are going to be tariffied.

So, more cheaper rice will be coming in,” Sombilla said in an interview after the briefing.

https://businessmirror.com.ph/cut-rice-stockpile-once-qr-is-scrapped/

Iraq says to negotiate on U.S. origin rice soon: trade ministry Reuters Staff 1 MIN READ

 

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq will negotiate in the coming days with U.S. companies to buy U.S. rice, the trade ministry said on Tuesday.

The ministry also contracted to buy 200,000 tonnes of locally produced sugar and 71,000 tonnes of locally produced vegetable oil, it said in a statement. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-tariffs-response/china-ready-for-proportionate-response-to-u-s-tariffs-envoy-idUSKCN1HA0DM

read 1 minute Share 72 0 Print a- a+ Read so far Palace: Rice supply in Philippines 'more than sufficient' Tuesday, April 03, 2018 By RUTH ABBEY GITA SunStar File Photo MALACAÑANG assured the public on Tuesday, April 3, that there is "more than sufficient" supply of rice nationwide amid reports that the National Food Authority's (NFA) rice stockpile has already been consumed in several areas in the country. Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said there was no need to worry, as there is no rice shortage in the country despite the dwindling buffer stock of the staple. "There is no rice shortage," Guevarra said in a text message sent to reporters. "We all know that there is indeed a low supply of NFA rice, but the overall rice supply is more than sufficient with plenty to spare. No need to panic," he added. In a television interview, the NFA confirmed that the government-subsidized rice reserve was already wiped out in Metro Manila.

Apart from Metro Manila, the Grain Retailers Confederation of the Philippines reportedly claimed that there were no more stock of

affordable rice in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley,

Central Luzon, and Calabarzon. In March, the NFA Council ordered the food agency to begin the procurement process to hasten the importation of 250,000

metric tons of rice, following concerns over low supply of cheap staple. The government is expecting that the 250,000 metric tons of rice will be delivered in May. Assistant Secretary Jonas Soriano, who is under the supervision of Cabinet Secretary and NFA Council chair Leoncio Evasco Jr., said the council also questioned reports that the stockpile of the government-subsidized rice is depleting. Soriano said the council sought the Commission on Audit's assessment on NFA operations even before President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in 2016 to determine as to why there is lack of supply of affordable rice. "NFA is only a small portion. It's only four or five percent of the overall distribution of rice. Still, the NFA rice is supposed to be used as a buffer stock to ensure there is enough food reserves in times of calamities.

So it should not be gone," Soriano said. "That's why one of the resolutions is to already pursue the independent audit by COA (Commission on Audit) to look at operations of [the NFA] management... so we can establish what are the patterns, why did that happen," he added.

(SunStar Philippines) Read more: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2018/04/03/palace-rice-supply-philippines-more-sufficient-596566 Follow us: @sunstaronline on Twitter | SunStar Philippines on Facebook

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Salim Ahmed Lahore

Former Iranian foreign minister Syed Kamal Kharazi says his country is looking for ways for direct rice import from Pakistan.

“Iranians are rice-eaters and fond of Pakistan’s basmati rice which is being imported through Dubai to the disadvantage of both Iranian consumers and Pakistani exporters,” Mr Kharazi told rice exporters at a ceremony in Lahore.

Responding to a demand made by Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan President Chaudhry Samiullah Naeem in the welcome address, Mr Kharazi said Tehran was also working on a proposal for opening bank branches in both the countries for direct trade transactions in currencies other than dollar to avoid the US pressure (sanctions).

He said Tehran was interested in bilateral cooperation in various sectors and not just rice and was negotiating with Islamabad for reducing duties on bilateral trade.

Recalling Iran’s role in lending support to Pakistan when the latter needed the most soon after its creation, he said his country under a bilateral agreement also constructed gas pipeline up to the Pakistan borders while the latter, he regretted, under the US pressure could not yet accomplish the construction work on its side.

He said the US sanctions rather helped Iran attain self-sufficiency in each sector, from infrastructure development to defencerelated needs.

Mr Naeem lamented that bilateral trade between Pakistan and Iran was less than $800 million while it could easily touch $10 billion mark if potential of both the countries was allowed to be exploited.

He demanded that Iran should reduce duties on exports from Pakistan in prelude to free trade agreement between the two neighbours. He said a delegation of rice exporters would soon leave for Iran and hoped that Mr Kharazi would help the visitors in striking business-to-business deals there. https://pakobserver.net/iran-wants-direct-rice-import-from-pakistan/ Skip to main content Search form

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Iran Continues to Import Pakistani Rice From Dubai

1. Economy 2. Domestic Economy Wednesday, April 04, 2018

Iran Continues to Import Pakistani Rice From Dubai

I

ran is buying rice from Pakistan via Dubai despite a preferential trade agreement between Tehran and

Islamabad which has been in place since 2006.

The Pakistani newspaper The Nation reported that by eliminating Dubai, the two sides can dramatically increase their bilateral trade from the present volume of less than $800 million per year.

Referring to high consumption of rice in Iran (46 kg per capita), Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan’s Chairman Sameeullah Naeem requested Iran to impose lower duty regime on imports of Pakistani rice in Iran under the PTA. He was addressing a ceremony, which was also attended by acting consul general of Iran in Lahore, Majid Sadeqi Dolatabadi, and Iran’s former foreign minister, Seyyed Kamal Kharazi.

Naeem called for going forward from PTA to a free trade agreement with preferably a zero import duty regime on both sides.

“We must formulate appropriate trade policy for ensuring sustained trade between the countries,” he added.

The Pakistani official noted that agriculturally-rich Pakistan likes to have bilateral trade ties with oil-rich Iran.

“We both have the right products for each other to trade and mutually coexist, but it is unfortunate that most trade is being done through other countries,” he said.

Referring to banking problems in transferring money between the two sides, the REAP chairman suggested that Iranian banks open branches in Pakistan.

“Bank Melli Iran is interested to open branch in Lahore. For that matter, whatever support is required, we are here to commit that. I ensure that all rice exporters will come up with opening of accounts and routing of all trade documents through this branch only,” he said.

Naeem also announced that REAP is leading a 17-member delegation to Tehran and Mashhad from April 29.

Iran’s former foreign minister, addressing the ceremony, stated that Tehran was working on the proposal of opening bank branches in Pakistan for direct trade transactions in currencies other than the US dollar.

Kharrazi said Tehran was interested in bilateral cooperation in various sectors and was negotiating with Pakistan for reducing duties on bilateral trade.

During a meeting of Pakistan’s National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce, officials of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry informed that during a recent meeting with an Iranian delegation led by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, all modalities for opening a banking channel with Tehran have been finalized.

The Iranian top diplomat visited Islamabad last month at the head of a high-ranking politico-economic delegation.

Last year, the State Bank of Pakistan and the Central Bank of Iran signed an agreement on Banking and Payment Arrangement in Tehran with the objective of devising a settlement mechanism to promote bilateral trade.

Iranians consume 3.2 million tons of rice a year while domestic production stands at 2.2 million tons.

More than 1.05 million tons of semi- and wholly-milled rice worth close to $996 million were imported into Iran during the first half of the last Iranian year (March 21-Sept. 22), registering an 84.4% and 108.4% surge in weight and value respectively compared with the corresponding period of last year.

Rice imports accounted for 6% and 4.2% of the volume and value of Iran’s overall imports respectively during the six-month period.

The imports are made mainly from the UAE (reexport), India, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey and Iraq.

Iran is the largest buyer of India’s basmati and accounts for a fourth of India’s annual aromatic rice shipments of around 4 million tons.

The country restarted rice import registration this year from Jan. 21 until June 21. The permission was communicated by Agriculture Minister Mahmoud Hojjati in a letter to Minister of Industries, Mining and Trade Mohammad Shariatmadari.

According to the letter, the order registrations will be valid for a three-month period and are extendable by a further one month.

Hojjati noted that any rice shipments as per the new orders need to be cleared through Iranian customs by July 22, after which all imports will be banned.

Every year and during the rice harvest season (July-January), the Iranian government bans rice imports in support of local farmers and domestic production.

Topics Iran-Pakistan Relations

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International National Energy Economy Business & Markets Domestic Economy Auto SCI & TECH World Economy People Travel Environment Sports Art & Culture  https://financialtribune.com/articles/economy-domestic-economy/84009/iran-continues-to-import-pakistani-rice-from-dubai

The real cost of crops      

MI SCELLANEOUS

 

BR RESEARCH



A P R 4T H , 2 0 18

 

0

V IEW S : 9 4

The clock is ticking. Pakistan is heading towards water scarcity at an alarming pace while solutions and discourse on the matter still remain largely elusive. According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the country’s per capita water availability has plunged from 2,172 cubic meters in the nineties to 1,306 cubic meters per inhabitant in 2015.

The bulk of water consumption goes towards agricultural use with government estimates putting this figure at more than 90 percent. Pakistan’s crop cultivation is heavily tilted towards water intensive crops such as sugarcane, cotton and rice.

But as Pakistan’s water profile shifts for the worse, these crop priorities need to be reassessed. According to various estimates, in order to quench its thirst, the country is putting a massive strain on its surface and groundwater resources.

The problem is that the majority of farmland is dependent on canal irrigation, but this source is grossly under-priced. Couple that with minimum support prices for crops such as wheat and sugar-cane. Also, the supply of these crops is incentivised without taking into account the actual associated costs.

A ground-breaking study published in the Nature Journal has some alarming revelations for Pakistan’s already precarious state of water resources. The paper titled “Groundwater depletion embedded in international food trade” aims to highlight the impact of global food consumption on ground water depletion (GWD).

According to the researchers, almost eleven percent of the non-renewable groundwater use for irrigation is part of the international food trade with two-thirds being exported by Pakistan, America and India alone. Furthermore, India and Pakistan

are the biggest users of GWD at 30 and 11 percent respectively, whereas Pakistan is the largest exporter with an alarming 29 percent of global GWD trade volume followed by USA at 27 percent and India at 12 percent.

Even though Pakistan is one of the leading exporters of rice, the country does not account for the huge environmental cost it is bearing for these exports. According to various estimates including UN-Water, it takes around 3500-5000 litres of water to produce just one kilogram of rice. The paper points out that Pakistan exports rice to Iran that have been irrigated using “Upper Ganges and Lower Indus aquifers”, which are overexploited by a factor of 54.2 and 18.4 respectively”.

Another good example is sugar-cane cultivation. Its cultivation area has gone up by almost 7 percent whereas the production has gone up by almost 15 percent. During FY17 crushing season, the provincial governments of Punjab and KPK maintained the (MSP) at Rs180 per 40 kg, while for Sindh it was at Rs182 per 40 Kg for Sindh.

The Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) had raised a red-alert last year stating that the mills will be unable to pay more than Rs120/40 kg for the purchase of sugarcane in the upcoming season. The reason is the record surplus sugarcane production that has led to a severe supply glut. According to the association, the mills still have 55 percent surplus stock available even after fulfilling the annual domestic demand of sugar.

On top of that, the differential in international and local sugar prices has made a government export subsidy essential. It should also be noted that crop productivity levels are also dismal compared to global standards. The Pakistan Business Council highlighted in a recent report that the Pakistan’s agricultural productivity ranges between 29 percent and 52 percent against the world’s best for major commodities.

Ideally, crop cultivation should be done with regards to taking the water cost element into account, while emphasis should also be placed on improving yields and adopting conservation techniques in water management. But given that the corridors of power comprise of the industrial and feudal elite, active policymaking with regards to water pricing for agricultural use has been a no-go area for every government. https://www.brecorder.com/2018/04/04/409298/the-real-cost-of-crops/

Top 5 Billionaires in Pakistan By Darakhshan Anjum April 4, 2018

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In this article, we will look at the top 5 billionaires who belong from Pakistan.

Mian Muhammad Mansha The leading industrialist of Pakistan, founder, and CEO of Nishat Group is the richest citizen of Pakistan. He is known as the highest tax payer in Pakistan as in 2015 he paid 100 billion tax.

Other than being the owner of Nishat Group he is also the Chairman and Founder of AdamJee Group and MCB Bank Limited. One of his recent projects is the Lahore’s new and remarkable Emporium Mall He has an estimated net worth of $2.6 Billion Interesting: How to become a billionaire in Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari The popular, smartest yet controversial politician of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari is the second richest person of Pakistan. Zardari is the co-chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party and was the president of Pakistan from years 2008 to 2013. To some, he is also known as the husband of Benazir Bhutto.

He is a clever and smart businessman. He has investments in Pakistan and in foreign nations in agriculture and real estate industry.

Zardari has an estimated net worth of $1.8 billion.

Nawaz Sharif The ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is the third richest person in Pakistan. He is a businessman turned politician who served as PM of Pakistan from 1990 to 1993 and 1997 to 1999. He was appointed as the Prime Minister of Pakistan in 2013 but was disqualified in 2017 by Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The family background of Nawaz Sharif is quite strong as he is the son of Muhammad Sharif who founded Ittefaq Group and brother of Shehbaz Sharif who was appointed Chief Minister of Pakistan thrice.

The estimated net worth of Nawaz Sharif is $1.4 billion.

Sadruddin Hashwani The dominant figure in Pakistan’s hotel business Sadruddin Hashwani is the fourth richest man in Pakistan. He is the founder and chairman of the biggest hotel chain in Pakistan, Pearl-Continental Hotel. Also, he is the owner of Hashoo Group. He developed the Hassan Ali Company in 1960 and it became the biggest cotton trading firm in Pakistan by 1970s. Furthermore, Hashwani is also the founder of Holiday Inn in Islamabad and Karachi. From investments in hotels to exporting rice, wheat, cotton, barley to spending in minerals, mines, insurance and batteries industries, the man is a complete businessman.

Currently, his estimated net worth in Pakistan is $1.1 Billion.

Malik Riaz The most popular businessman in Pakistan and the founder of the highly famous housing society in Pakistan, Bahria Town, Malik Riaz is the fifth wealthiest person in Pakistan. Malik Riaz started his career as a clerk in Rawalpindi and then in years to follow he constructed the most amazing housing society in Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi. His known net worth is $1.1 billion but as per some estimations, it is over $2 billion.

These are the top 5 billionaires of Pakistan. We didn’t include Shahid Khan as he is known as Pakistani born American billionaire, similarly, Sir Anwar Pervez is known as a Pakistani born British billionaire. Thus this list is complied of only & totally Pakistani billionaires. https://www.researchsnipers.com/top-5-billionaires-in-pakistan/

‘Golden rice’ will not address Vitamin A deficiency, hunger—anti-GMO coalition By: Karl R. Ocampo - @inquirerdotnet Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:25 PM April 04, 2018

File photo The genetically-modified organism (GMO) known as ―golden rice‖ will not significantly address hunger or Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in the country, according to a government agency.

During the ongoing Stop Golden Rice! Network (SGRN) International Conference, the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) has joined a regional coalition of farmers, consumers, and environment activists from different countries in rejecting the impending commercialization of golden rice in the Philippines.

The groups opposed the use of genetic modification, which generally meant altering the natural gene pool, until there are enough studies that could disprove its risks to human safety and biodiversity. ―There was no comparative studies between GR2E (golden rice) and other varieties to see if it can lessen Vitamin A deficiency, the reason why the golden rice variety was made,‖ NAPC secretariat Liza Maza said.

Based on reports collated by the agency in a dialogue with basic sectors, it showed that the controversial crop ―poses health risks and threatens the livelihood of peasant communities.‖ According to Cris Panerio, national coordinator for Magsasaka At Siyentipiko para sa Agrikultura (MASIPAG), there were neither any comprehensive consultations or convincing preliminary scientific research that proves that golden rice is safe or that it can significantly address hunger or VAD.

―Golden rice is fraught with inherent problems, one of which is the low yield resulting to the disruption of the native structure of the rice plant,‖ Panerio said.

Panerio is referring to the recent study made by scientists from India wherein golden rice produced abnormality and poor yield performance.

Local farmers are worried that this can transfer to other rice varieties as well through cross-contamination once the open field testing is approved by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

To recall, the crop‘s initial field testing in 2013 was turned into a fiasco after farmer groups forced their way into DA‘s experiment plot and uprooted the crops that were being tested.

In a separate statement released by the SGRN, it pointed out that policy loopholes in the Philippines would allow the distribution of the GMO here despite ―insufficient safety studies.‖ The policy indicates that once a GMO has been circulated abroad and approved by international regulatory bodies, it can enter the country despite national opposition.

Golden rice was recently approved in Canada.

Aside from the application to field test golden rice, the Philippine Rice Research Institute has also applied to feed test the rice variant here. Details of the said feeding trials are yet to be disclosed. /jpv

Read more: https://business.inquirer.net/248584/golden-rice-will-not-address-vitamin-deficiency-hunger-anti-gmocoalition-gmo-napc-rice-hunger-food-security#ixzz5BiMokDzw Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook https://business.inquirer.net/248584/golden-rice-will-not-address-vitamin-deficiency-hunger-anti-gmo-coalition-gmo-napc-rice-hunger-foodsecurity

Pakistan: Increased demand for soybean meal in poultry feed rations

By Jane Byrne 03-Apr-2018 - Last updated on 03-Apr-2018 at 13:48 GMT AddT his Sharing Buttons

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The poultry industry in Pakistan is increasingly using soybean meal in its feed rations, and the USDA is expecting the country’s soybean imports to hit a record 2.5 million metric tons (MMT) in MY 2018/2019.

A recent US Department of Agriculture (USDA) report noted the growing importance of oilseed meals to that country‘s poultry and livestock sectors.

“In general, the trend in terms of demand for oilseed complex products is up as the poultry sector grows, segments of the dairy industry modernize, and investors consider modern beef production.”

Pakistan is a significant importer of products within the oilseed complex and production of all oilseeds locally except cottonseed is minimal, noted the publication of the Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) of the USDA. “Oilseed imports are driven by demand for both oil and meal along with crushing margins. Landed prices plus tariffs play a significant role in determining the import mix between seeds, oil, and meal.”

Pakistan imported 1.7m tons of soybeans during MY 2016/17, according to the USDA data.

Importers have shifted from Indian soymeal to take advantage of competitively-priced soybeans from other countries, said the US agency report.

“Rapeseed and canola imports are almost flat and are expected to maintain at 2 million tons during 2017/18 and imports of soybeans are expected to climb to 2.0 MMT given the current tariff structure.

Soybean imports during MY 2018/19 are projected to reach to a record 2.5 MMT.” Pakistan poultry feed trends

Pakistan‘s poultry meat industry continues to expand and producers are increasing their meal inclusion rates in poultry feeds; some are approaching the international standard of 35%, said the US agency.

“The layer industry is also expanding rapidly as it is able to provide a relatively cheap protein source.

Industry sources reveal that with the recent changes in poultry feed formulations, the feed conversion ratios (FCR) have improved significantly throughout much of the industry, in some cases reaching optimum levels of 1.8 kg of feed to kg of growth.”

Several poultry feed manufacturers have started producing dairy feed to meet the needs of Pakistan‘s more progressive dairy farmers, continued the USDA report.

Pakistan‘s meal imports are expected to decline, however, as importers are shifting to imports of soybeans in response to more favorable tariff treatment for beans. ―Still, there are feed mills and importers who are open to importing soymeal under the current tariff regime. During MY 2016/17 Pakistan imported 517,000 tons of soybean meal. Current year imports are expected to remain at 600,000 MT and the forecast for MY 2018/19 is projected at 435,000 MT.”

Domestic oilseed production

Cottonseed is the principal oilseed crop grown in the country, accounting for more than 90% of domestic oilseed production, said the authors.

“Sunflower can also be produced during the Kharif or summer season but corn, rice, and sugarcane are generally deemed more remunerative. While there have been attempts at producing soybeans, the crop has failed to catch on due to the harsh summer conditions and a lack of planting seeds, despite growing poultry and dairy sectors.”

Rapeseed cultivation in MY 2017/18 did increase in response to the Government of Punjab‘s cash subsidy to enhance canola and sunflower production. ―It is not clear if the subsidy will again be available in 2018/19 and rapeseed area and production are forecast largely unchanged from the current marketing year.”

The USDA said it has been reported that the local crushing industry is improving the quality of the soymeal it produces. “Additionally, end users such as the poultry industry have increased their vertical integration, taking control of the process of meal production.”

Copyright - Unless otherwise stated all contents of this web site are © 2018 - William Reed Business Media Ltd - All Rights Reserved - Full details for the use of materials on this site can be found in the Terms & Conditions Related topics: MARKETS, NORTH AMERICA, CATTLE - DAIRY, CATTLE - BEEF, SWINE, POULTRY, ASIA, COMMODITY PRICING, OILSEEDS, PROTEIN & AMINO ACIDS

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