5th january ,2018 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

Daily Rice E-Newsletter

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter January 05, 2018

 India rice prices gain as Bangladesh traders lap up Volume X | Issue I new crop  New Fortified Rice Document Hints at Increased Tonnage in 2018  Asia Rice-Indian prices gain as Bangladesh traders lap up new crop  Indian rice exporters to gain market share: Ind-Ra  DOF sees 7-percent growth, manageable inflation this year  REAP to send delegation to Saudi Arabia  Data centre planned to secure farm prices  Trade with China on the upswing  More not always merrier  AAU bid for GI tag to Assam lemon, phulam gamosa, komal chaol  Rice Radio  Indian rice exporters to gain market share: Ind-Ra  CBN to make Nigeria global rice giant  Rice: Thailand, India to lose $8m daily  Bulog to adopt new approach for better absorption of farmers' rice  Rice, guar gum lead 11% farm goods export surge in April-Nov  Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- January 5, 2018  India rice prices gain as Bangladesh traders lap up new crop  Rice imports hit two-decade high 1  Organic Rice Research on Market to 2022: Industry Trends, Market Overview and Top Company Profiles  REAP delegation to visit Saudi Arabia www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com  Global CEO Contact for RiceTec AG: The Evolution of Hybrid Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874 Rice

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter News Detail‌ India rice prices gain as Bangladesh traders lap up new crop Arpan Varghese

January 4, 2018 / 4:59 PM

BENGALURU (Reuters) - Rice prices rose this week in top exporter India on robust demand from neighbouring Bangladesh and gains in the rupee, while traders in Thailand pinned their hopes on possible deals with drought-hit Sri Lanka.

A farmer spreads fertilizer in his rice field on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India, August 30, 2016. Picture taken August 30, 2016. REUTERS/Amit Dave

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter India’s 5 percent broken parboiled rice prices rose by 3 per tonne to $421-$424 per tonne this week.

“Bangladeshi traders are aggressively buying new crop in eastern India. That is giving support to prices as African demand is weak,” said a dealer based in Pune in the western state of Maharashtra.

Farmers in India cultivated winter-sown rice on 1.63 million hectares by December-end, 41 percent higher than a year ago. The country’s non basmati rice exports rose 35 percent in AprilNovember from the corresponding period in the previous year, to 5.57 million tonnes.

The appreciating rupee is also forcing exporters to raise prices to keep their margin intact, said an exporter in Kakinada in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

The Indian rupee was trading near its highest level in about 30 months, slashing exporters returns from overseas sales.

Bangladesh, which emerged as a major rice importer in 2017 after floods damaged its crops, imported 2.3 million tonnes in the July-December period, food ministry data showed.

Despite hefty imports, domestic prices have not budged, with officials and traders expecting more imports of the staple grain in the coming months.

In August 2017, Bangladesh cut a duty on imports of the grain for the second time in two months, prompting purchases by private dealers, with most of the deals being struck with India.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s benchmark 5 percent broken rice was quoted at $393-$396, free-onboard (FOB) Bangkok, from $398-$400 last week, with traders attributing the price changes to currency fluctuations.

The Ministry of Commerce revealed that in 2017, in the Jan 1-Dec 26 period, Thailand exported 11.25 million tonnes of rice, a 14.77 percent increase from the previous year and a record high.

Traders said it was too soon to ascertain how strong exports of Thai rice would be this year as last year’s increase in exports was due to stockpiles the government was offloading into the market.

“I doubt 2018 figures will be as impressive because government stockpiles are running low now,” said a Bangkok-based trader.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter On potential deals this year, some traders were optimistic about exporting to Sri Lanka as droughts and floods caused a drop in production of the crop in the country..

“Perhaps there is an opportunity for Thai rice to be exported to Sri Lanka,” said a Bangkokbased trader.

Meanwhile, Vietnam’s rice market remained quiet amid thin trading, with the benchmark 5 percent broken rice extending its flat trend at $390-$395 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Saigon.

Exporters did some trading with buyers in the Philippines at this price range, a trader based in Ho Chi Minh city said Reuters

New Fortified Rice Document Hints at Increased Tonnage in 2018

By Rebecca Bratter

ARLINGTON, VA -- For the past three years, USA Rice has worked closely with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and their partner, The World Food Programme (WFP) to help formulate specifications for a nutritionally superior rice product for use in global food assistance programs. At long last, the dialogue, field testing, and peer review, has borne fruit as USAID recently announced the

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter publication of a new commodity specification document for the procurement of fortified rice that can address not just hunger but the long-term debilitating effects of malnutrition.

While fortified rice has been approved for use in global feeding programs for the past two years, only extruded fortified rice was specified in the commodity document, therefore limiting the amount of fortified rice actually used.

As of December 31, 2017, the use of coated fortified rice has been incorporated into the document as an alternate and equally effective micronutrient fortified product. This means more fortified product availability, greater economies of scale, and efficiency for U.S. government food assistance programs.

Additionally, some of the other rice specifications have been updated and simplified, including new specifications allowing vendors to identify suitable packaging that limits infestation and waste.

"While the use of all rice in global feeding programs has increased significantly over the last year to more than 100,000 MT, we believe the addition of coated fortified rice to feeding programs will result in greater use of fortified rice in all food aid programs," said Bobby Hanks, chairman of the USA Rice Food Aid Subcommittee.

In the last year, the USDA's McGovern Dole Food For Education Program went from using negligible amounts to more than 25,000 MT of fortified rice in School Feeding programs in Asia and Africa.

"Reducing and eliminating rampant malnutrition is a goal of all global food assistance programs, and implementing agencies will be looking to fortified rice as a key component of food rations in their ongoing and future programming," Hanks said.

"USA Rice is pleased with the timely release of the new commodity document and the ongoing strength of its partnership with both USAID and USDA that made this possible," said Sarah Moran, USA Rice vice president international. "While the specification is in effect as of the new year, we will continue to work through a six-month transition period allowing for any new feedback on the specification, particularly on packaging and product shelf life."

Moran said she anticipates the trend of increased rice usage in these programs will continue in 2018 which provides a lift for the entire U.S. industry

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

AAU bid for GI tag to Assam lemon, phulam gamosa, komal chaol WASIM RAHMAN JORHAT, Jan 4 - After successfully facilitating the fetching of Geographical Indication (GI) for the aromatic joha rice variety of Assam in April last year, the Assam Agricultural University (AAU) is now trying to acquire the same tag for kadji nemu (Assam lemon), phulam gamosa and komal chaol (soft rice). Geographical Indication is a mechanism employed to identify agricultural, natural or manufactured goods which possess certain special qualities or characteristics based on climatic or production conditions unique to a geographical location. In India, the GI is granted by the GI Registry Office based in Chennai, established under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 that came into force with effect from September 15, 2003.

Muga silk, Assam (orthodox) tea, Karbi Anglong ginger and Tezpur litchi are the other products from Assam that have acquired the GI tag.

Director of Agri Research, AAU, Dr GN Hazarika told The Assam Tribune that the university has undertaken an initiative to offer its expertise to organisations seeking GI for indigenous products of the State to protect the identity and originality of these products to tackle the threat of other organisations from outside Assam laying claim of ownership over the products by applying for GI. “We think it is our responsibility to offer assistance to organisations seeking GI for indigenous products,” Hazarika said, adding that success for the AAU came in April year after joha rice (40 varieties) got the GI tag. Seuj Satirtha, a farmers’ organisation registered at Demow in Sivasagar district, received the GI. The AAU director said the university had assisted the organisation in preparing a comprehensive report to claim GI in 2013 in terms of history and scientific data.

Scientists from the university accompanied the farmers’ team to deliver a power-point presentation to experts deputed by the GI office. The name of the AAU is mentioned in the certificate awarded to Seuj Satirtha, granting the GI tag.

Hazarika said that in December, 2017, the AAU, after preparing the proposal report to claim GI for kadji nemu (Assam lemon) for Na-Dihing Nemutenga Unnayan Samity, a registered farmers’ organisation of Tinuskia, submitted an application to the GI office in Chennai.

Similarly, in October 2017, after preparing the proposal report to seek GI for Assam’s phulam gamosa for the Dergaon-based Institute of Handicraft Development, the AAU submitted an

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter application to the GI office. Hazarika said that the university was now working on the presentations to be given to the GI authorities to substantiate the claim for acquiring the GI status for both the products (Assam lemon and phulam gamosa).

He added that the AAU, in December, 2016, had applied for GI for komal chaol on behalf of Seuj Satirtha (the same organisation that received GI for joha rice). In August, 2017, a team of AAU scientists, along with representatives of Seuj Satirtha, gave a presentation in Delhi to experts selected by the GI office.

He said the university was hopeful of receiving the GI for komal chaol, which is cultivated only in Assam and is among the favourite traditional food items. Hazarika said that unlike other types of rice that need to be boiled and cooked before eating, komal chaol can be consumed by soaking in water for just a few minutes. The director said the product has a huge potential for commercial production and marketing. http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jan0518/state058

Asia Rice-Indian prices gain as Bangladesh traders lap up new crop S HO A I B U R R E HM A N

J A N 5 T H, 2 0 1 8

BENGALURU: Rice prices rose this week in top exporter India on robust demand from neighbouring Bangladesh and gains in the rupee, while traders in Thailand pinned their hopes on possible deals with drought-hit Sri Lanka.

India’s 5 percent broken parboiled rice prices rose by 3 per tonne to $421-$424 per tonne this week. “Bangladeshi traders are aggressively buying new crop in eastern India. That is giving support to prices as African demand is weak,� said a dealer based in Pune in the western state of Maharashtra.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Farmers in India cultivated winter-sown rice on 1.63 million hectares by December-end, 41 percent higher than a year ago. The country’s non basmati rice exports rose 35 percent in April-November from the corresponding period in the previous year, to 5.57 million tonnes.

The appreciating rupee is also forcing exporters to raise prices to keep their margin intact, said an exporter in Kakinada in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.The Indian rupee was trading near its highest level in about 30 months, slashing exporters returns from overseas sales.

Bangladesh, which emerged as a major rice importer in 2017 after floods damaged its crops, 8

imported 2.3 million tonnes in the July-December period, food ministry data showed.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Despite hefty imports, domestic prices have not budged, with officials and traders expecting more imports of the staple grain in the coming months.

In August 2017, Bangladesh cut a duty on imports of the grain for the second time in two months, prompting purchases by private dealers, with most of the deals being struck with India.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s benchmark 5 percent broken rice was quoted at $393-$396, free-on-board (FOB) Bangkok, from $398-$400 last week, with traders attributing the price changes to currency fluctuations.The Ministry of Commerce revealed that in 2017, in the Jan 1-Dec 26 period, Thailand exported 11.25 million tonnes of rice, a 14.77 percent increase from the previous year and a record high.

Traders said it was too soon to ascertain how strong exports of Thai rice would be this year as last year’s increase in exports was due to stockpiles the government was offloading into the market.“I doubt 2018 figures will be as impressive because government stockpiles are running low now,” said a Bangkok-based trader.

On potential deals this year, some traders were optimistic about exporting to Sri Lanka as droughts and floods caused a drop in production of the crop in the country.. “Perhaps there is an opportunity for Thai rice to be exported to Sri Lanka,” said a Bangkok-based trader.Meanwhile, Vietnam’s rice market remained quiet amid thin trading, with the benchmark 5 percent broken rice extending its flat trend at $390-$395 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Saigon.Exporters did some trading with buyers in the Philippines at this price range, a trader based in Ho Chi Minh city said. https://www.brecorder.com/2018/01/05/390791/asia-rice-indian-prices-gain-as-bangladesh-traders-lap-up-new-crop/

Indian rice exporters to gain market share: Ind-Ra PTI | Jan 4, 2018, 16:52 IST

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Mumbai, Jan 4 () The credit profile of rice exporters is likely to improve over the near-tomedium term due to increase in market share following production shortfall in parts of South Asia, India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) said in a report.

"Credit profile of rice exporters to improve over the near-to-medium term on the back of increased market share, higher realisations and improved liquidity. Significant production shortfall in parts of South Asia is likely to result in a substantial gain in market share by various Indian exporters," Ind-Ra said.

Ind-Ra expects Indian rice exports to account over 29 per 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 major South and East Asian rice producers should result in higher realisations and marginal improvement in export volumes.

Weak output levels in Vietnam and other parts of South Asia have resulted in a sharp spike in international prices, primarily on the back of increased demand from exporters to deliver forward export orders, it added.

The agency expects demand to remain strong on the back of higher paddy procurement target and minimum support price.

In June 2017, the government had decided to increase the minimum selling price of common grade paddy by 5.4 per cent to Rs 1,550 per quintal, it said.

The procurement target was also increased to 37.50 million tonnes in MY 2016-17 from 34.34 million tonnes in the previous year, it added.

Indian Basmati exports grew 35 per cent annually to Rs 136 billion in the first half of FY18 on the back of a significant growth in offtake by Iran.

While the timely lifting of the temporary import ban by the Iranian government on November 22, 2017 is expected to augur well for Indian rice exporters, yet, significant volume gain is unlikely due weak demand from countries like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, it said.

Iran is likely to replace Saudi Arabia as the largest exporter of Indian Basmati rice.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Saudi Arabia reported a 13 per cent decline in rice imports 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. SM DSK DSK

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/indian-rice-exporters-to-gain-market-share-ind-ra/articleshow/62366721.cms

DOF sees 7-percent growth, manageable inflation this year

By BusinessMirror January 4, 2018 Growth averaging at least 7 percent should prove within reach this year with the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law along with the planned tariffication on rice and the buildup of public infrastructures under President Duterte, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).

In an economic bulletin, Finance Undersecretary Gil S. Beltran said this would also enable the government to sustain a manageable inflation environment going forward.

“Low inflation is an indication that the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals remain strong.

Solid fundamentals backed by TRAIN 1 implementation, rice-sector reform and the ‘Build, Build, Build’ policy will push the country’s growth to 7 [percent] to 8 percent this year and sustain manageable inflation,” said Beltran, also chief economist at the DOF. The TRAIN was signed into law by President Duterte on December 19 and took effect last January 1. The law exempts compensation earners and self-employed individuals with an annual taxable income of P250,000 and below.

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For December 2017 alone, Beltran said inflation likely eased further to 3.2 percent from the previous month’s 3.3 percent, on the back of more stable food prices and lower power costs.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Citing estimates from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Beltran said price increases of food and nonalcoholic beverages last month likely remained unchanged at 3.2 percent. Rice prices were also seen unchanged at 1 percent. Communication, education, and restaurant and miscellaneous services were likewise seen to stay at their levels.

The commodity groups that likely recorded slower price increases last December are housing, utilities and fuels, 3.7 percent, from 4.2 percent a month ago; electricity, gas and other fuels, 8.1 percent from 9.7 percent; transport, 2.8 percent from 4.4 percent; recreation and culture, 1.5 percent from 1.6 percent.

Also, data showed that Meralco’s per-kilowatt-hour rate for households consuming 200 KW for the month of December declined to P9.25, from P9.63 last November. Meralco’s generation charge for the month decreased to P4.60, from P4.91 a month ago.

Prices of diesel per liter in the National Capital Region increased to P36.20 last month from P35.46 last November. But prices of gasoline per liter in NCR declined to P48.12 from P48.48 a month ago.

Inflation in the first 11 months of 2017 averaged 3.2 percent, well within the government’s official target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for the year. Inflation peaked at 3.5 percent last October.

The interagency Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) last December 22 kept the current inflation target of 2 percent to 4 percent from 2018 to 2020.

The economy grew by 6.7 percent in the first three quarters of 2017, mainly driven by robust domestic demand, higher fiscal spending and investments. This was well within the target range of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent for the year.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The P8.44-trillion Build, Build, Build infrastructure program of the Duterte administration is seen creating multiplier effects in terms of employment aside from further spurring economic activities.

Under the program, the government aims to build more roads, bridges, airports, seaports, railways, water and irrigation projects nationwide. Also included is a 24-kilometer subway train in Metro Manila in a bid to decongest the metropolis of heavy traffic that has been causing billions of pesos in economic losses daily.

Earlier, Beltran said the lifting of quantitative restrictions (QRs) on rice imports in favor of tariffs would bring several benefits to the economy, among them, slashing the retail price of the food staple by as much as P7 per kilo and help helping free some 730,000 Filipinos from poverty.

Beltran said a 35-percent import tariff on rice in lieu of restricting rice import volumes would encourage private traders to bring in the staple into the country, which would, in turn, allow the influx of cheaper rice in the domestic market. “Pulling down rice prices is crucial to poverty reduction because this staple is a major driver of inflation,� Beltran said.

The QR policy will allow the country to limit the volume of rice imports entering the Philippines with a tariff of 35 percent. Importing outside the volume restrictions will entail a higher import tariff.

The economic managers decided to allow the expiration of the QR without applying for another extension before the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Beltran said that at an expected import rate of 35 percent, the proposed tariffication would generate P27.3 billion, which the government could use to augment funding for social-protection projects like cash transfers for the poorest families, as well as for palay-productivity programs.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said among the key objectives of the government’s inclusive growth agenda was to transform the Philippines into an upper middle-income economy and cut the poverty rate from the current 21.6 percent to 14 percent by the time the Chief Executive leaves office in 2022.

The WTO granted the Philippines an extension of its QR on rice importation until June 30 to give local farmers more time to prepare for free trade. It first allowed the Philippines to impose a 10-year QR in 1995. It was extended in 2004 until 2012, and then was renewed again in 2014. https://businessmirror.com.ph/dof-sees-7-percent-growth-manageable-inflation-this-year/

REAP to send delegation to Saudi Arabia ISLAMABAD (Online): Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) will send a delegation to Saudi Arabia to further increase the export of Pakistani rice as there is great demand for Pakistani rice there. This was disclosed by Senior Vice Chairman, Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Rafique Suleman during a meeting with Secretary Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Inamullah Khan held at TDAP office in Karachi. Director General, TDAP Rafeo Bashir Shah, and Secretary REAP Altaf Hussain Shaikh were also present during the meeting. He said REAP is planning to send a high profile delegation to Saudi Arabia in March for promoting the export of the Pakistani rice which is in great demand there. He said the export of Basmati rice to Saudi Arabia is over one billion dollars per year. Rafique Suleman expressed with pleasure that the REAP is seeing positive growth in rice exports, however, there are several measures to be taken for the betterment of the 2nd largest export trade. He shared the suggestions with TDAP Officials.

He said that since long time Pakistan did not have any good rice seed, that is why many companies are importing hybrid seeds of rice. He emphasized for proper check and balance on import of hybrid seeds, as it has been observed that some companies are importing low quality rice seeds which are not good for our agricultural environment. He also requested to give some relief to rice exporters as they are making huge investments for value addition in rice and struggling hard to compete in international markets, particularly for the survival of Basmati rice

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter exports. He suggested to give farmers latest rice equipments, such as Dryers etc. on easy installments, so that rice growers can get good quality rice for export purpose. He also suggested to organize Awareness Programme by TDAP for farmers for adopting latest techniques in rice farming. https://nation.com.pk/05-Jan-2018/news-brief

Data centre planned to secure farm prices 

5 Jan 2018 at 07:00

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NEWSPAPER SECTION: BUSINESS | WRITER: PHUSADEE ARUNMAS

Chutima: New ways of dealing with rice The Commerce Ministry plans to build a real-time commodity data centre to manage inventories, production and marketing strategy to prevent prices from falling, said Chutima Bunyapraphasara, the deputy commerce minister.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The data management centre will be distinct from data centres, jointly set up with the Agriculture Ministry, to manage plantations and agriculture zoning, she said.

"The joint data centre will need more specified information technology and will take longer time to set up. But we plan to have another data centre to help us form a clearer picture for each commodity to better deal with them," said Ms Chutima.Initially, the data centre will collect information about production, stocks and commodity demand, she said.

The Commerce Ministry wants to start with rice and palm oil, which are major commodities that usually face price dips and oversupply problems.Thailand faces a 500,000 tonne glut in crude palm oil. That supply is weighing on prices, forcing the Energy Ministry to try and ramp up the proportion of palm-based biodiesel sold to motorists to 7%, up from 3-5%.Another commodity that needs to be managed is rice, said Ms Chutima.

"We need to find new ways to deal with rice as several related factors have changed significantly," she said.

For instance, domestic rice consumption is changing due to the growth in foreign tourists."The number of foreign visitors has risen to over 30 million. That could push us to put aside more rice for domestic consumption. But external factors could also affect our exports, pushing us to need a new data centre to analyse these changes," said Ms Chutima.

Thailand normally produces 30-33 million tonnes of paddy and 20 million tonnes of milled rice each year. Around 10 million tonnes is for domestic consumption and the rest for export.

She said the Commerce Ministry still holds 2 million tonnes of rice stocks, built up during the Yingluck government's 2011 rice buying scheme. The present stock is well below the record high of 18 million tonnes.

But Ms Chutima said the ministry had stopped releasing rice stocks for several months in order to buoy domestic prices during the harvesting period of November-January.

"We will think about releasing supply again in February," she said. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1390710/data-centre-planned-to-secure-farm-prices

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Trade with China on the upswing May Kunmakara / Khmer Times

A man walks past the lobby of the Export-Import Bank of China (EXIM) headquarters in Beijing. Reuters

Cambodia’s exports to China, the second largest economy in the world, rose sharply during the first 11 months of 2017, by as much as 18 percent compared with the same period in 2016, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Commerce.Total exports to the Chinese market reached $634 million from January to November 2017, an 18 percent increase.

Meanwhile, Cambodian imports from the East Asian giant experienced a more moderate growth, going from $4.33 billion in 2016 to $4.48 billion last year, a five percent hike.

Cambodian shipments to the Chinese markets consisted mostly of agricultural products, primarily rice, cassava, cashew nuts, semi-processed palm oil and rubber.

Imports from China were mainly cars, motorcycles, construction material, fabric for garment factories, cigarettes and fertilizers.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Song Saran, the president of Amru Rice (Cambodia), one of the largest rice millers and exporters in the country, told Khmer Times yesterday that China is an essential market for Cambodian products.

“Despite being a relatively new market for us, there is great potential in the agriculture sector,” he said, adding that as one of the largest importers of agricultural products, China is a key market for milled rice, cassava, corn and rubber.

“However, when it comes to industrial products, I don’t think there is so much room for us, as they already produce them at home.”

Mr Saran said that in the past Cambodia could not sell directly to China, instead having to sell its products to Thailand or Vietnam, where they would eventually be sold again to China.

“But now China has opened up its market to Cambodia and we can sell directly there,” he said.

“This is an excellent starting point.”

In November last year, Cambodia signed two memorandums of understanding (MoU) with Export-Import Bank of China and CITIC Group Cooperation to help the kingdom increase paddy production and boost rice exports.

The agreements aim to increase rice exports to China beyond the 300,000 tonnes now allowed by the quota in place.

The new partnership will result in the development of 15 warehouse and silos across 11 provinces. The envisioned warehouse and silo network will have the potential to process up to 19,500 tonnes of rice per day and store nearly one million tonnes.Mr Saran said the current quota system with China is curtailing the kingdom’s potential in trade.“If we can negotiate with the Chinese government and eliminate quotas, we will be able to export to China as much or even more than our neighbours,” he said.“We hope the Chinese government will eliminate quotas for Cambodia as the European Union and the US have done. It will boost our economy.”

http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50100171/trade-china-upswing/

More not always merrier January 05 2018

Year 2017 was not one of the best years for the state’s farm sector. Farmers across Orissa suffered multiple adversities through last kharif season starting from a monsoon shortfall that led to a near-drought situation to massive pest attacks on ripe paddy crops to unseasonal rains that almost washed away ready-to-harvest crops in

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter most districts. The government did its bit to ameliorate farmers’ woes by way of aid packages. Yet, the year saw deaths of a number of farmers owing to alleged crop failure and under debt burden. The majority of deaths were reported from high production districts such as Bargarh and Bolangir, while stray cases of farmer suicides were also reported from some other districts.

Farming is the main calling of over 75 per cent of the state’s population while paddy continues to remain the staple crop grown here. Nearly three quarters of the state’s total arable land is dependent on the mercy of the ‘rain gods’. Barring a few districts of western Orissa such as Bargarh, Bolangir, Kalahandi and Sonepur, and a couple of districts in the coastal region such as Ganjam and Balasore, there is little irrigation in the rest of the state. Productivity of land in the state is many notches below the country’s highest. Low awareness level among farmers, resistance to adopt modern methods of farming and crop pattern, lack of market linkages and storage infrastructure are some of the problems crippling our farm sector. Yet, they do not come in the way of the state showing record procurement of paddy year after year. The size of paddy procurement over the last decade has seen consistent rise in the state. The lion’s share of credit for this goes to decentralisation of procurement — a system that replaced Food Corporation of India (FCI) with agencies of the state.

Having said this, what has come as a surprise is the steep revision the government has effected in paddy procurement (both kharif and rabi) target this year although the sector faced serial

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Name

Description

vicissitudes. The government has upgraded paddy procurement target by a steep 25 per cent from 56 lakh metric tonnes to 70 lakh metric tonnes. The new target has stoked doubts in the minds of many. The total land under cultivation in the state has not gone up substantially to warrant the figure nor was there a rise in land productivity. Secondly, a bumper harvest will not be shorn of its attendant woes such as more procurement snags besides milling and preservation issues. The administration has not been able to open mandies when they are required forcing farmers to approach traders or resort to distress sale. A number of rice millers have defaulted to deposit custom-milled rice, leading to blacklisting of many. Crores of rupees that the government borrows from the open market to pay minimum support price to farmers for their paddy are ensnared in court cases. Acting tough on erring rice millers, the government Tuesday suspended supply of paddy to 81 rice millers in the state. This is on top of nearly a 100 rice millers that have been already disallowed by respective district administrations to participate in the procurement programme.

The state requires about 20 lakh metric tonnes of rice equivalent to about 32 lakh metric tonnes of paddy to meet its welfare programme. The remaining rice is sold to the FCI. However, the latter may not be willing to receive so much of surplus rice from the state government.

Thousands of crores of rupees are still pending with the corporation. Farmers will continue to play into the hands middlemen until the government builds up adequate storage infrastructure in the state. More procurement will not necessarily be merrier for the state. http://www.orissapost.com/more-not-always-merrier/

Rice Radio

By Kurt Richter To listen to an audio podcast, mouse over the title and click Play. Open iTunes to download and subscribe to podcasts.

Description Rice Radio is an inside look at all things related to the California Rice Industry and the Sacramento Valley. Produced and Hosted

by California Rice Grower, Kurt Richter, Rice Radio covers the crop, the market, water, water and property rights, conservation, regulations, and much more.

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20

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter 1

The USA Rice Outlook Conference: Growing Rice, Selling Rice, and Telling That Story.

The USA Rice Federation held its annual Outloo happening in...

In February of 2017, the residents of Oroville, California, along with other downstream communities of the Feather

2 Episode 4: The Oroville Dam: Past, Present, and Future

River, had their lives turned upside down by the threat of flooding from failed structures at the Oroville Dam site.

It was a...

Lodged rice, equipment breakdowns, parts shortages, crazy geese! In this episode of Rice Radio, we recap a California

3 Episode 3: Harvest ’17, Waterfowl & Water Storage Outlook Rice Harvest that has been called one of the most difficult of the last 40 years.

I also talk to Fish and Wildlife about...

It's autumn in California, which means rice harvest is in full swing. In this episode of Rice Radio, we check in at harvest 4 Episode 2: Harvest, Shorebirds, and Roxy

and see how things are coming along.

I'll also introduce you to a new development in California Rice, which could change how...

5 Episode 1: Welcome to Rice Radio!

21

The premiere episode of the new podcast,

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Rice Radio. Topics covered include a recap of the 2017 rice season, including wild weather and flooding.

Also covered, army worms, weedy red rice, and the Chinese market finally opening up to U.S. Rice.

For the thousands of drivers that head up and down the monotonous i5 corridor and want to know more about the sea of rice fields they are passing through, this will inform and entertain you on your journey. For those in the industry, hearing Mr. Richter’s fresh perspectives may give you something new to consider. Whether you are in the industry or not, this podcast will hook you in. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/riceradio/id1298082371?mt=2#episodeGuid=2b6d535006d708a81e3ff53b29cab110

CBN to make Nigeria global rice giant The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said it is determined to make Nigeria one of the largest rice producer and exporter in the world, making her less dependent on petroleum money.

Speaking with newsmen in Umuahia, the apex bank’s Acting Director, Corporate Communication, Issac Okoroafor, underlined the preparedness of the CBN to make the dream come true, saying the country’s apex bank is determined to make Nigeria join other countries in the production and exportation of rice, so that there will be food security and more jobs for the teeming youths. He said, “This year, we are expecting that we will be self- sufficient in rice

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter production, Nigeria will become a net exporter of rice because we have seen that most families now eat made-in-Nigeria rice. “We now eat rice grown fresh in Nigeria not the rice we used to import from India, Vietnam and Thailand, rice that was between seven to nine years old. Now we are eating farm fresh rice, grown, milled and packaged in Nigeria. You see, we are very proud of Nigerians, because they responded to this”.

Okoroafor said the Anchor Borrowers programme has been one of the most successful programs in this country, adding that it goes to show that, “when our people think well and we invest well, we can achieve a revolution, which is what Anchor Borrowers programme has achieved. We are continuing with it, we are expanding it.” He said the regulator is getting into the next stage of the Anchor Borrowers Program, which is working with commodity associations, (no longer states), pointing out however that the apex bank is still continuing with the state governments. “We are opening up a window for commodity associations. We have started with the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), we expect to reach 12 million farmers in this program and you can imagine what 12 million farming with at least one hectare of land can produce. You can imagine what that will bring to our economy”.

Okorafor said the accelerated agricultural development scheme will involve 10 thousand youths at the pilot level, saying the choice of the youths, will be those that will take pride in agriculture, who also at the end of the day, will be well funded to make agriculture big business. He said, “We are starting with 360 to 370 youths, including Abuja and we look forward to a few years when we will come up and say, yes, we have made 360 billionaires in agriculture, young people between the ages of 16 and 35, that is our target.

“They would come up to make this nation proud. So we are collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on this programme. The details are going to be rolled out very soon. There has been a stakeholders meeting in Abuja and that is our focus for this year,” he stated. Okoroafor said the CBN has spent about N87.5 billion on the Micro, Small and Medium Entreprise Development Fund, which was designed for small business operators, like artisans, vulcanizers, hair dressers and tailors, among others. He appealed to youths in Abia and the other Southeast states to key-into the programmes of the CBN, by forming strong cooperatives to enable them access the available funds without cut-throat collaterals. http://thenationonlineng.net/cbn-make-nigeria-global-rice-giant/

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Rice: Thailand, India to lose $8m daily January 4, 2018 Taiwo Hassan

…as Nigeria bans imports Thailand and India, the biggest exporters of rice to Nigeria, may lose over $8 million per day, following the country’s plan to stop importation of rice this year, New Telegraph has learnt.

President Muhammadu Buhari hadm in his New Year message, last Monday, said that Nigeria will stop rice importation this year.

A report obtained by our correspondent put the exports to Nigeria by the pair at $8 million per day.

Besides, statistics from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) revealed that government was already pruning rice importation quota to importers in order to pave the way for massive local production.

The report stated that this was already causing panic in the two countries’ economies.Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, was quoted as saying in the report that the plan to stop rice importation was also sending jitters into the international market, especially major countries benefitting from Nigeria’s rice importation.

Ogbeh said Nigeria’s annual food import bill of around $20 billion could not be sustained under the current economic atmosphere, adding that backward integration programme was the solution

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter to attaining industrialisation.

He said that Nigeria was the largest rice producer in Africa and also the continent’s biggest importer of the grain.

The report revealed that Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote’s announcement last year that he was making a $1 billion investment in Nigeria’s rice production seemed to vindicate government’s approach.It stated that Dangote Group planned to produce one million tons of parboiled milled rice over the next five years, equivalent to 16 per cent of domestic demand.

Other big players in the production chain include Lagos-based conglomerate, TGI, which opened a rice mill in August with a capacity of 120,000 tons and Olam Nigeria, part of Singapore-based Olam International, which plans to boost its existing rice output.

Also, it stated that Dangote’s rice initiative planned to provide inputs such as seeds and fertiliser, as well as training for nearly 50,000 medium and smallholder farmers, who will then provide their land and labour.The report added that some of the government initiatives were in place to promote small-scale agriculture.

They include the CBN’s $300 million Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, introduced in 2015 to provide cheap loans and input subsidies for hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers.

In addition, the World Bank is also supporting government’s agricultural transformation strategy with a $200 million loan to support small-to mid-scale rice production. Government’s growyour-own push seems to be working, according to the report.

However, in his response to the country’s bid to end rice importation this year, the Managing Director of Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, Mahmoud Daneji, said that government may have a laudable programme on the table on rice self-sufficiency, but many of the smallholder farmers, who produce over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s food face an uphill battle to maintain that supply.“You may have a very laudable programme, but in as much as there is no input from the potential beneficiaries, it will definitely fail,” he revealed.

Daneji listed the problems farmers face to include lack of access to quality seeds, fertiliser, effective agricultural extension systems and access to credit for those who need it.

He explained that despite the raft of initiatives aimed at boosting output, farmers still typically worked with their bare hands in fields lacking irrigation, live in areas with poor roads that limit their access to markets and are facing a growing threat of climate change without advice on how to adapt.

“In a survey last year, farmers cited the lack of fertiliser as their biggest problem by far, despite a long-running government input programme. Nearly three-quarter of respondents said they were unaware of any government interventions aimed at helping them,” he said.

Also, the Kano State chair of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Abdulrashid Magaji, said the bulk of government programmes rarely reached their intended target.

“They go instead to political favourites and close associates of politicians,” he alleged. https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/01/rice-thailand-india-lose-8m-daily/

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Bulog to adopt new approach for better absorption of farmers' rice The Jakarta Post Jakarta | Thu, January 4, 2018 | 11:54 am

Farmers carry bushels of harvested rice to a mill on Oct. 13, 2017 in Ngawi, East Java.

(Antara/Ari Bowo Sucipto) The National Logistics Agency (Bulog) has said on Wednesday that it will change its approach in purchasing rice to enable it to absorb more unhusked rice from farmers, according to a kompas.com report.

Bulog purchased 2.1 million tons of unhusked rice from farmers last year, or a mere 57 percent of its 2017 target of 3.7 million tons.

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26

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Bulog procurement director Andrianto Wahyu Adi said on Wednesday at the Agriculture Ministry that the agency could not optimally purchase rice from farmers as part of the government’s mechanism to control the prices of unhusked rice from farmers, as it had to wait for the farmers to sell their rice.

In terms of the agency's change in approach, he said Bulog would no longer use the public service obligation (PSO) mechanism, with prices determined by the government, to purchase unhusked rice from farmers this year. Instead, the agency would buy the commodity at commercial prices.

“If we use commercial prices, we can buy rice according to market prices. We hope that the prices will [thus] be more competitive,” Andrianto said.

He said Bulog planned to buy 2.7 million tons of unhusked rice in 2018, after taking into account last year's absorption rate, which fell well below target.

He said the agency was no longer tasked with distributing subsidized rice to low-income households, following the government's decision to distribute assistance through a cashless mechanism. (bbn) http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/01/04/bulog-to-adopt-new-approach-for-betterabsorption-of-farmers-rice.html

Rice, guar gum lead 11% farm goods export surge in AprilNov BENGALURU, JANUARY 4: Maintaining the growth momentum, farm products in the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority’s (Apeda) export basket have clocked an increase of 11 per cent in rupee terms and 15 per cent in dollar terms for the April-November period this fiscal.

The growth is led by a surge in shipments of non-basmati and basmati rice, guar gum and dairy products.

However, buffalo meat — the single largest product accounting for 23.4 per cent of Apeda’s export portfolio — saw a marginal dip in both volumes and value.

The curbs imposed on export of onion, a key product in the fresh vegetables category, have slowed despatches.

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27

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Rice shipments surge “Non-basmati rice is witnessing a good growth. In fact, the growth in non-basmati is higher than basmati. Also, the demand for guar gum, mainly from the US, has pushed up the exports. Except for fresh vegetables, there is growth in all other categories,” said Apeda chairman DK Singh.

MEP drags exports Onion, he said, accounts for about half of fresh vegetable exports and is mainly shipped to Bangladesh.

The imposition of the minimum export price (MEP) by the Centre to boost domestic supplies amidst rising prices has pulled down the export growth in fresh vegetables, which slumped in value terms by over 21 per cent to ₹3,153 crore.Demand from Iran and West Asian nations continued to push up basmati shipments. Purchases by Sri Lanka, where drought has impacted the local rice production, and Bangladesh have contributed to the growth of non-basmati rice exports.

Shipments of dairy products grew 15 per cent in value to ₹1,179 crore during the period, while other animal products such as sheep/goat meat, animal casings and processed meat too performed better.Exports of wheat and groundnuts lost out on the price front. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-guar-gum-lead-11-farm-goods-exportsurge-in-aprilnov/article10012235.ece

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- January 5, 2018 Reuters Staff Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-January 5, 2018 Nagpur, Jan 4 (Reuters) – Gram prices showed weak tendency in Nagpur Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) on lack of demand from local millers amid high moisture content arrival. Fresh fall in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and release of stock from stockists also pulled down prices.

About 150 bags of gram reported for auctions in Nagpur APMC, according to sources.

FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Desi gram raw moved down in open market on lack of demand from local traders.

TUAR * Tuar gavarani and tuar Karnataka recovered in open market on increased demand from local traders. * Moong Chamki reported weak in open market on poor demand from local traders amid good supply from producing regions. * In Akola, Tuar New – 4,100-4,200, Tuar dal (clean) – 6,000-6,200, Udid Mogar (clean) – 7,800-8,800, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,300-7,600, Gram – 4,300-4,400, Gram Super best – 6,400-7,000 * Wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in scattered deals and settled at last levels in thin trading activity.

Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Gram Auction Gram Pink Auction Tuar Auction Moong Auction Udid Auction

Available prices Previous close 3,200-3,700 3,200-3,790 n.a.

2,100-2,600 n.a.

3,500-4,201 n.a.

3,900-4,200 n.a.

4,300-4,500

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Masoor Auction n.a.

2,600-2,800 Wheat Mill quality Auction 1,600-1,706 1,600-1,686 Gram Super Best Bold 7,000-7,500 7,000-7,500 Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.

Gram Medium Best 6,000-6,500 6,000-6,500 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a Gram Mill Quality 4,100-4,200 4,100-4,200 Desi gram Raw 4,650-4,750 4,700-4,800 Gram Kabuli 12,400-13,000 12,400-13,000 Tuar Fataka Best-New 6,200-6,500 6,200-6,500 Tuar Fataka Medium-New 5,900-6,100 5,900-6,100 Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 5,700-5,900 5,700-5,900 Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 5,300-5,600 5,300-5,600 Tuar Gavarani New 4,300-4,400 4,200-4,300 Tuar Karnataka 4,600-4,800 4,500-4,700 Masoor dal best 5,000-5,200 5,000-5,200 Masoor dal medium 4,700-4,900 4,700-4,900 Masoor n.a. n.a.

Moong Mogar bold (New) 7,500-8,000 7,500-8,000 Moong Mogar Medium 6,500-7,000 6,500-7,000 Moong dal Chilka 5,800-6,500 5,800-6,500 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.

Moong Chamki best 7,400-7,900 7,500-8,000 Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 8,000-8,500 8,000-8,500 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,800-7,000 5,800-7,000 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,000-6,200 5,000-6,200 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,500 5,000-5,500 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,300 3,200-3,300 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,800 3,400-3,800 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000 Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,750-1,850 1,750-1,850 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,150-2,350 2,150-2,350 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,400 2,200-2,400 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,950-2,150 1,950-2,150 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,700 3,200-3,700 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,800 2,400-2,800

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,600 3,200-3,600 Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-2,800 2,700-2,800 Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,500 2,300-2,500 Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600 Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,350-2,450 2,350-2,450 Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 4,100-4,500 4,100-4,500 Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,500-3,900 3,500-3,900 Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,400 5,000-5,400 Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 4,400-4,900 4,400-4,900 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 9,500-13,500 9,500-13,500 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-7,500 5,000-7,500 Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000 Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 5,200-5,500 5,200-5,500 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,200 2,000-2,100 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,800-2,000 1,700-2,000 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 27.2 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 9.1 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 27 and 09 degree Celsius respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, butincluded in market prices) https://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-january-5-2018-

India rice prices gain as Bangladesh traders lap up new crop Arpan Varghese BENGALURU (Reuters) - Rice prices rose this week in top exporter India on robust demand from neighbouring Bangladesh and gains in the rupee, while traders in Thailand pinned their hopes on possible deals with drought-hit Sri Lanka.

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A farmer spreads fertilizer in his rice field on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India, August 30, 2016. Picture taken August 30, 2016. REUTERS/Amit Dave

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter India’s 5 percent broken parboiled rice prices rose by 3 per tonne to $421-$424 per tonne this week.

“Bangladeshi traders are aggressively buying new crop in eastern India. That is giving support to prices as African demand is weak,” said a dealer based in Pune in the western state of Maharashtra.

Farmers in India cultivated winter-sown rice on 1.63 million hectares by December-end, 41 percent higher than a year ago. The country’s non basmati rice exports rose 35 percent in AprilNovember from the corresponding period in the previous year, to 5.57 million tonnes.

The appreciating rupee is also forcing exporters to raise prices to keep their margin intact, said an exporter in Kakinada in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

The Indian rupee was trading near its highest level in about 30 months, slashing exporters returns from overseas sales.

Bangladesh, which emerged as a major rice importer in 2017 after floods damaged its crops, imported 2.3 million tonnes in the July-December period, food ministry data showed.

Despite hefty imports, domestic prices have not budged, with officials and traders expecting more imports of the staple grain in the coming months.

In August 2017, Bangladesh cut a duty on imports of the grain for the second time in two months, prompting purchases by private dealers, with most of the deals being struck with India.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s benchmark 5 percent broken rice was quoted at $393-$396, free-onboard (FOB) Bangkok, from $398-$400 last week, with traders attributing the price changes to currency fluctuations.

The Ministry of Commerce revealed that in 2017, in the Jan 1-Dec 26 period, Thailand exported 11.25 million tonnes of rice, a 14.77 percent increase from the previous year and a record high.

Traders said it was too soon to ascertain how strong exports of Thai rice would be this year as last year’s increase in exports was due to stockpiles the government was offloading into the market.

“I doubt 2018 figures will be as impressive because government stockpiles are running low now,” said a Bangkok-based trader.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter On potential deals this year, some traders were optimistic about exporting to Sri Lanka as droughts and floods caused a drop in production of the crop in the country..

“Perhaps there is an opportunity for Thai rice to be exported to Sri Lanka,” said a Bangkokbased trader.

Meanwhile, Vietnam’s rice market remained quiet amid thin trading, with the benchmark 5 percent broken rice extending its flat trend at $390-$395 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Saigon.

Exporters did some trading with buyers in the Philippines at this price range, a trader based in Ho Chi Minh city said. http://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/bangladesh-rice-imports-hit-two-decade-high-in2017-18-fiscal-year-1514755

Rice imports hit two-decade high 12:00 AM, January 04, 2018 / LAST MODIFIED: 11:04 AM, January 04, 2018

Soaring imports fail to rein in prices

Sohel Parvez

Rice imports scaled a two-decade high in the first half of the fiscal year as private importers rushed to make profit from higher prices resulting from huge crop losses amid three episodes of floods.

Imports of the staple stood at 22.59 lakh tonnes in July-December of fiscal 2017-18, the highest since 1998-99 when a record 30.67 lakh tonnes of rice were bought from external sources in the full fiscal year, according to food ministry data.

The government imported 5.08 lakh tonnes of rice in July-December.Analysts said imports soared in the face of speculation of a decline in yield of current aman and low stocks of previous boro rice at private mills. A slash in import duty to 2 percent from 10 percent in August gave a boost to imports.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Analysts said higher imports will increase supply, thus helping to stabilise the market and benefit consumers. But the government should be watchful so that higher imports do not hurt farmers by creating a glut in the market, they added. “Imports will continue as prices are higher in Bangladesh compared to India,� said Citta Majumder, managing director of Majumder Group of Industries.

Food ministry data showed letters of credits to import 32 lakh tonnes of rice were opened until December 23 last year.

The buoyancy in imports continues at a time when farmers have harvested most of the aman crop, which accounts for 38 percent of the country's annual rice production.

The soaring imports and the harvest of aman crop have increased the availability of rice.

However, prices of the staple still remain high.

In Dhaka, retail prices of the coarse and medium quality rice, consumed by the majority of the population, were Tk 44 to Tk 56 a kg yesterday, according to data from the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).

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34

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Yesterday's prices of coarse and medium quality grain were 6 percent and 4 percent higher from a month ago, show TCB data.

Majumder said there is high speculation that aman output declined in 2017 from a year ago.

The government decision to buy rice at Tk 39 per kg and millers' rush to buy aman paddy contributed to the higher prices, he said.

Majumder said the number of buyers is high this year. Many millers don't have any stock of previous boro paddy and entered the market to buy aman paddy to keep their mills running.

A US Department of Agriculture report in November forecasted a drop in aman production to 1.3 crore tonnes in the fiscal year. The agency also said overall output will decline.

In December, the Food and Agriculture Organization said total paddy production would fall in 2017 by 3 percent to 5.08 crore tonnes, a five-year low. It estimated paddy output at 5.21 crore tonnes in 2016. “In Bangladesh, three episodes of severe floods during 2017 affected large areas of the country, particularly northern districts, causing losses to the two main boro and aman crops, which together account for more than 90 percent of total annual output,� said the FAO. Rezaul Karim Talukder, poverty and social protection policy adviser of the FAO Bangladesh, said the floods and a disease infestation in aman crop might have caused a loss of 15-20 lakh tonnes of rice.

He said imports are rising as there is demand from the private and public sectors.

Talukder expected the prices of rice to become stable for increased imports and the harvest of aman.

Quazi Shahabuddin, a former director general of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, said the private sector is importing because of the price gaps between domestic and international markets.

He stressed ensuring a bumper boro harvest in the coming season to bring down prices of rice

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Organic Rice Research on Market to 2022: Industry Trends, Market Overview and Top Company Profiles ANUARY 4, 2018 BY MANGESH KANASE

Organic Rice Market research report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Organic Rice Industry. The process is analysed thoroughly with respect three points, viz. raw material and equipment suppliers, various manufacturing associated costs (material cost, labour cost, etc.) and the actual process of whole Enterprise Organic Rice market.

Short Detail About Organic Rice Market Report: Organic farming is defined as a production system which largely excludes or avoids the use of fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators, preservatives and livestock feed additives and totally rely on crop residues, animal manures, legumes, green manures, off-farm wastes, mechanical cultivation, mineral nutrient bearing rocks and biological pest control to maintain soil health, supply plant nutrients and minimize insects, weeds and other pests.

Top Manufacturer Included in Organic Rice Market: Doguet’s Rice, Randallorganic, Sanjeevani Organics, Kahang Organic Rice, RiceSelect, Texas Best Organics, CAPITAL RICE, YINCHUAN, URMATT, Vien Phu, SUNRISE foodstuff JSC, KHAOKHO TALAYPU, BEIDAHUANG, Yanbiangaoli, Jinjian, HUICHUN FILED RICE, Dingxiang, Heilongjiang Taifeng, Heilongjiang Julong And More……

Ask for sample Report @http://www.360marketupdates.com/enquiry/requestsample/10396777 Organic Rice Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers: North America (USA, Canada and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy),Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia),South America, Middle East and Africa Organic Rice Market Segment by Type, covers: Polished glutinous rice(sticky rice), Indica(long-shaped rice), Polished round-grained rice Organic Rice Market Segment by Applications, can be divided into: Direct edible, Deep processing 36

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Scope of the Organic Rice Market Report: This report focuses on the Organic Rice in Global market, especially in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.

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The Organic Rice market analysis report speaks about the growth rate of Organic Rice market in 2022 manufacturing process, key factors driving the Global Organic Rice market, sales, revenue, and price analysis of top manufacturers of Organic Rice Market, distributors, traders and dealers of Organic Rice Market.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Global CEO for RiceTec AG: The Evolution of Hybrid Rice The next University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Webinar is Jan.

Bobby Coats | Jan 04, 2018 Webinar Title: The Evolution of Hybrid Rice Webinar Date and Time: Jan. 11, 7 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST) Joining me for our next University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Webinar is Mike Gumina, Global CEO of RiceTec AG.In his presentation, Gumina will chart the evolution of hybrid rice development starting with the fundamental need for more calories in China during the 1970s. Next, he will explain the 20-year journey of the germplasm development to meet the needs of Western Hemisphere markets.The program will provide an update on the global adoption of hybrid rice in production systems. Gumina will provide an update on the effort and progress on improving grain quality in conjunction with high yields and the grower’s role in driving quality.

Finally, he will provide a view on how hybrid breeding can tailor grain quality to meet the needs of specific markets and how that will improve overall competitiveness for US exports.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Gumina has been engaged with production agriculture and the seed industry for over 35 years.

He is currently the lead executive for RiceTec AG, which is a privately held, leading global hybrid rice seed business.

Webinar Registration Link: http://bit.ly/UAEX-RiceTec-Webinar Prior to joining RiceTec, Gumina was an executive with DuPont Pioneer, where he was responsible for global seed production operations and a member of several key global and regional management teams.

Gumina has played an active role in the broad seed industry as a member of the American Seed Trade Association Board of Directors (chairman 2011-12) and the International Seed Federation board of directors.

He has been a member of numerous non-profit boards and advisory panels including the Iowa State Seed Science Center, Iowa 4-H Foundation, ChildServe and most recently the First the Seed Foundation.

Gumina is a graduate of Iowa State University with a degree in agronomy.

Bobby Coats is a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas System, Cooperative Extension Service. Email: recoats@uark.edu. http://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/global-ceo-ricetec-ag-evolution-hybrid-rice 39

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