6th january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

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Global Rice E-Newsletter www.ricepluss.com

January 06, 2015 Volume 5, Issue I

Rice News around the World S.Korea says imposes rice import tariff of over 500

pct, major exporters concerned

Monday, 5 Jan 2015 | 10:29 PM ETReuters

SEOUL, Jan 6 (Reuters) - South Korea confirmed on Tuesday it had begun to impose a tariff of over 500 percent on rice imports from the start of the year, but added that five members of the World Trade Organization had raised concerns over the level.Asia's fourth-largest economy wants to protect farmers after scrapping a cap on politically sensitive imports of the main staple in line with international trade commitments made via the WTO .In September, it set the tax at 513 percent, saying that was the highest rate possible under parameters set by the WTO.A joint statement by the country's finance, trade and agriculture ministries on Tuesday added that Seoul would hold bilateral talks with its main foreign rice suppliers to ease concerns over how the rate was calculated. Those countries are the United States, China, Thailand, Vietnam and Australia.South Korea is broadly self-sufficient in the grain, but under the WTO agreement, it purchased 408,700 tonnes of foreign rice in 2014, 9 percent of its demand. Under the new scheme, Seoul is still required to import at least 408,700 tonnes a year.

The import of 408,700 tonnes attracts a tariff of 5 percent, and the 513 percent applies to shipments above that level.

(Reporting by Brian Kim; Editing by Meeyoung Cho)

http://www.cnbc.com/id/102311787#.

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

Month

Price

Net Change

January 2015

$11.360

+ $0.030

March 2015

$11.605

+ $0.020

May 2015

$11.825

+ $0.005

July 2015

$12.060

- $0.005

September 2015

$11.570

- $0.005

November 2015

$11.530

- $0.005

January 2016

$11.680

- $0.005

CME Group (Preliminary): Closing Rough Rice Futures for January 6

S. Korea set to begin talks on liberalization of rice market Published : 2015-01-06 10:26

Updated : 2015-01-06 10:26 Five countries, including the United States, have so far raised objections to South Korea's proposed tariff rate on its rice imports, officials said Tuesday, as negotiations begin on the terms for South Korea's rice market opening.After 20 years of waivers, South Korea liberalized its rice market through tariffication at the start of the year with a 513 percent tariff to be imposed on all non-mandatory rice imports.

The country has to import 408,700 tons of rice every year under minimum market access (MMA). Such mandatory imports are subject to only a 5 percent tariff.The tariff rate for non-mandatory imports must be agreed upon by members of the World Trade Organization (WTO). South Korean officials say the process may take years, noting such a process for Taiwan took 57 months.According to South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, five countries -- the U.S., China, Australia, Thailand and Vietnam -- have filed a complaint with the WTO, arguing that the offered tariff rate for non-mandatory imports is too high.South Korean officials said these countries hold a special interest in Seoul's rice market.

"Of the countries that have raised an objection, four, except Vietnam, had jointly shared a country-specific quota of 200,000 tons per year in rice exports to South Korea under the MMA quota," Choi Seok-young, chief of the South Korean mission to Geneva, told reporters. These four countries oppose South Korea's rice market opening as it has ceased the country-specific quota, meaning South Korea no longer is required to import rice from them.Choi and the South Korean trade ministry assured that Seoul has no intention of making a concession, saying its tariff rate is more than reasonable when compared to those of Japan and Taiwan that

liberalized their local rice markets before South Korea.South Korea's 513 percent tariff is an ad valorem duty, which is tax based on the price of an article.

Taiwan and Japan, on the other hand, impose a specific tax, which fixes the amount of tax depending on the weight of rice imports. "Japan and Taiwan liberalized their rice markets with a specific tax, which at the time of their market opening translated into an ad valorem tax of over 1,000 percent," Choi told reporters.The South Korean trade ministry said Seoul needs to reach an agreement with each and every one of the countries that have objected to the tariff rate before obtaining an official WTO approval."The government will do its utmost to make sure the country's rice import tariff rate is fixed as it is, through negotiations with the countries that have filed a complaint," the ministry said.

(Yonhap) http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=2 0150106000391

U.S., China oppose Korea's 513% rice tariff

By Lee Hyo-sik The United States, China and other riceexporting countries are opposing Korea's move to levy a 513 percent tariff on imported rice, saying the rate is too high.According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Tuesday, the U.S., China, Australia, Thailand and Vietnam have raised objections with the World Trade

Organization (WTO) to the nation's tariff rate on rice imports.

"The five rice-exporting countries filed a complaint with the WTO against our 513 percent tariff," said Kim Kyung-mee, director of the ministry's agriculture trade division. "They claimed the way we calculated the rate was incorrect. But what they really want to say is the 513 percent rate is too high."The higher the tariff is, the pricier imported rice becomes on the local market.Last September, Korea decided to open its rice market in 2015 by imposing a tariff on imported rice.

For the past 20 years, Asia's fourth-largest economy imported a certain amount of rice every year under the minimum market access (MMA) program, in exchange for a waiver.In 2014, the nation was obliged to import 408,700 tons of rice, about 10 percent of its annual rice consumption of 4.1 million tons. To delay the opening of the rice market, Korea would have to increase the MMA quota this year.The government notified the WTO that it would set a 513 percent tariff on rice imports. If there were no objections, the WTO would issue a certificate allowing Korea to levy the tariff.

But Korea must now negotiate with the five opposing rice exporters to get their consent."We will begin negotiations with the five countries to persuade them to accept the 513 percent rate," Kim said. "If they withdraw their objections, the WTO will

issue a certificate.""It is not a must for us to have other countries agree to the 513 percent rate. We can impose the tariff without their consent, but it is customary to have an agreement with all WTO members."Negotiations may take years ― the process took 57 months for Taiwan. But the director said the tariff took effect on Jan. 1 and that the government had no intention of making concessions.Korea's rate is much lower than Japan's 1,066 percent and Taiwan's 563 percent when they liberalized their rice markets. leehs@koreatimes.co.kr http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/201 5/01/123_171178.html

Vietnam to cut rice acreage by over 1 pct - Nhan Dan

By REUTERS PUBLISHED: 01:10 GMT, 6 January 2015 | UPDATED: 01:10 GMT, 6 January 2015 Vietnam will cut its rice acreage this year by more than 1 percent, or 104,000 hectares, to 7.68 million hectares (19 million acres) and use the land for other crops, mainly corn, according to an Agriculture Ministry plan, the Nhan Dan (People) newspaper reported.Paddy output this year is projected at 43.85 million tonnes, the report said.Vietnam, the world's third-largest rice exporter, produced nearly 45 million tonnes of paddy rice last year, up around 2 percent from 2013, according to government data.NOTE: Reuters has not verified this story and does not vouch for its accuracy.

(Compiled by Hanoi Newsroom; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-2898171/VIETNAMPRESS-Vietnam-cut-rice-acreage-1-pct--Nhan-Dan.html

Rice exports to China surge Published on Tuesday, 06 January 2015 18:08 Myanmar rice exports to China through the Muse border crossing have swelled due to increased demand from China and fewer seizures by Chinese authorities, according to merchants from Muse.

“Demand is up. Export is surging,” a merchant said.On average, about 4,500 tonnes of rice and 1,500 tonnes of broken rice are exported daily through Muse Trade Camp. “Seizure of Myanmar rice by Chinese authorities has decreased. Trade slumps when seizures occur. More than 800,000 tonnes of rice and broken rice have been exported this fiscal year,” said Chantha Oo, vice chairperson of the Muse Paddy Wholesale Center.Myanmar urged China to buy at least one million tonnes of rice in 2015, and three Chinese companies have each agreed to buy 280,000 tonnes, according to the Myanmar Rice Federation.

In order to export rice to China, Myanmar rice exporters need certificates issued by the China Certification and Inspection Company (CCIC) after inspections. The CCIC plans to open its Myanmar office in Yangon this month.During the 2014-15 fiscal year,

border trade between Myanmar and China has increased, with the trade volume reaching a value of more than US$1 billion, according to the Myanmar Commerce Ministry. http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/index.php?opti on=com_content&view=article&id=8587:riceexports-to-chinasurge&catid=33:business&Itemid=356

4th Agro Market to help rice farmers is being held in Udon Thani Date : 6 มกราคม 2558 UDON THANI, 6 Jan 2015 (NNT) - Udon Thani Province is currently holding the 4th Agro Market for 2014/2015 season from now until tomorrow, giving farmers an additional distribution channel as part of the Government’s rice farmer assistance policy. The 4th Agro Market is created through coordinated efforts among Udon Thani’s governmental units under the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the Ministry of Finance. During the event, organizers have agreed to purchase paddy from farmers with official certificates at 100 - 300 baht higher than the market price per ton. The organizers said jasmine rice with moisture content of no more than 15% is priced in the range of 13,000 14,400 baht per ton, while sticky rice with 10%

moisture content and long grain rice with 15% moisture can be sold at 11,700 baht.

Governor of Udon Thani, Noppawat Singsakda, stated that agricultural operators must equip themselves with knowledge, and know-how, while exploring new organic farming techniques, in order to increase their production output. Udon Thani has plans to hold such a market at five different spots during the 2014/2015 season. The final remaining event will be held from January 12th - 14th at the Kudjab District’s Cooperative Office. http://thainews.prd.go.th/centerweb/newsen/New sDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNEVN58010600100 03#sthash.zPkzWVvx.dpuf

Iran ban, Iraq duty hike to take a toll on rice exporters

By Sutanuka Ghosal, ET Bureau | 6 Jan, 2015, 12.35PM IST

According to an estimate by exporters, basmati shipments are likely to come down to 35 lakh tonne from 37 lakh tonne in the previous year.

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KOLKATA: India's rice exporters may end the current fiscal on a damp note as Iraqhas doubled the import duty to 40%, whileIran has clamped an outright ban at a time when price realisation has slipped 1520% in overseas markets. A senior official of All India Rice Exporters' Association (AIREA) told ET that traders are currently shipping only rice consignments with permits of last year to Iran. "We are hoping that Iran will lift the ban. We are planning to send a delegation to Iran in early February to sort out the issue," said the official, requesting not to be named.

The official added that the sudden increase in import duty by Iraq has come as a major blow and it is bound to impact exports to the country. According to an estimate by exporters, basmati shipments are likely to come down to 35 lakh tonne from 37 lakh tonne in the previous year. Iran has barred rice from other countries as its local crop is reported to be good this year and is set to arrive in the market there.The country imported over 12.5 lakh tonne of rice during April-July 2014, compared with 14.5 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period. In the past two years, Iran has bought over 2.5 million tonne of basmati rice from India.

The average price realisation has declined to $800-1,100 per tonne from $1,0001,300 per tonne last year. Exports of basmati rice in the first seven months of the current fiscal

declined over 8% to 19.36 lakh tonne from 21.13 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period.

However, exports of non-basmati rice between April and October 2014 stayed almost the same as in the previous year, at about 4.2 lakh tonne. The lacklustre export demand of basmati rice has pushed down prices in the domestic market as well, with farmers getting Rs 3,200 per quintal for Pusa 1121 crop, compared with Rs 4,100 last year.

Retail prices of basmati rice may fall further in the domestic market if exports slump, said Bal Krishna Mittal, managing director of Gurdaspur Overseas, which deals in basmati rice. Output of basmati rice in the kharif, or summer, season in 2014 was robust at about 81 lakh tonnes, up from 66 lakh tonnes in the previous year. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/ agriculture/iran-ban-iraq-duty-hike-to-take-a-toll-onrice-exporters/articleshow/45774111.cms

Mismanagement of Rice Importation Quotas 06 Jan 2015 Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina

Crusoe Osagie in this report looks at the recent abuse of the rice import allocation quotas vis-a-vis the objectives of the federal government's much heralded agricultural transformation agenda The agricultural sector is undoubtedly the segment of the economy where the performance of President Goodluck Jonathan can hardly be faulted.Available records showed that the Minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina has successfully made farming the focal point of the current federal government with agricultural policies and issues getting the attention of the president even more than issues in the oil and gas sector.

Not even in the era of the farmer-president, Olusegun Obasanjo, did farmers in the country enjoy as much synergy with the administrators of the sector, resulting in an unprecedented increase in the agricultural productivity of the country.A food commodity such as rice tells an eloquent story of how well the present administration has transformed the fortunes of farmers and the nation's agricultural sector in the last four years.

Nigeria has currently attained 80 per cent self-sufficiency in paddy rice production, adding seven million metric tonnes of paddy rice to the domestic food supply. These are not empty statistics because the companies and investors latching on the massive

growth of the sector are known and the claims can be independently verified.For example, the newly commissioned integrated rice mill of Olam Nigeria Limited has brought the company’s total investment in the integrated farm and milling facility to over N18 billion.

Managing Director of Olam, Africa and Middle East, Mr. Venkataramani Srivathsan,

nearly $2 billion annually from the foundation so far laid by the current leadership.It was recently reported that Nigeria may be losing not less than N40 billion annually in the rice segment of the agricultural sector due to the activity of smugglers and individuals pretending to be investing in the local production and processing of rice.

who oversees a 6,000-hectare greenfield farm in Nasarawa State, said the rice mill would produce additional 36,000 metric tonnes for the nation’s domestic market.Srivathsan stated that the establishment of the rice mill was part of the company’s contribution to the federal government’s quest for the actual inaction of self-sufficiency in rice production.Dangote

THISDAY gathered that as a result of the lapses in the implementation of the backward integration policy for rice in the course of the year, smugglers have benefitted to the tune of N20 billion.Also, phoney investors in rice processing have been said to have pocketed N20 billion, posing as genuine investors and obtaining rice importation quotas which attract

certainly is not an investor who channels resources to segments of the economy where policies are disorderly. The Africa’s richest man's commencement of the single largest investment in rice production with an investment of $1 billion (N175 billion) for commercial rice farming and modern integrated rice mills speaks volumes of the performance of the agricultural sector under

reduced taxes and levies.

the present administration.

lower importation levies and taxes are issued out to genuine local rice processors or investors already putting verifiable investment into the local processing of the commodity.

Spanners in the Works However, having placed the rice sector on the path to enduring growth, information filtering out indicate danger ahead for the sector initially poised to save the country

According to market sources, the federal government has been hoodwinked into granting waivers indiscriminately under the backward integration plan, thereby promoting the activities of smugglers, while putting the rice backward integration policy under threat.Under the backward integration policy, importation quotas which attract

The policy empowers only these genuine investors in local production and processing

of rice, to imports the difference between what the country can produces locally and the shortfall that must be covered through importation.Stakeholders in the rice industry however believe that the alleged indiscriminate approach of the federal government in granting waivers and import allocation quotas to investors who have no investments in the industry, either in form of paddy or milled rice may be stifling the

10 per cent.n a letter from Adesina to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala on the allocation of rice import quotas, Adesina noted that the criteria for the allocation under a methodology, which assigns weight to key criteria of selfsufficiency in rice production and milling in Nigeria include the submission and approval of a Domestic Rice Production Plan (DRPP)

backward integration programme in the sector.

among others.

THISDAY also gathered that many of the investors who got the import allocation quotas are already trading it to interested stakeholders at between 60 to 80 per cent levy, having got the same at 20 per cent levy.Specifically, documents obtained by THISDAY showed that investors who have only submitted expression of interests in the sector without tangible investments in the sector, may be enjoying waivers amounting to at least N20 billion under the exercise.

For instance, allocation of rice import quotas under the new rice policy by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development showed that a move to bridge the supply gap of import-grade rice of 1.5 million metric tonnes as determined by the federal government was designed to ensure that existing rice millers and new investors receive a preferential levy of 20 per cent and duty of 10 per cent while other importers pay higher levy of 60 per cent and duty of

According to Adesina, a supply gap of import-grade rice was determined to be 1.5 million metric tonnes for 2014 while an inter-ministerial committee discussed the methodology for allocation of the import quotas.Subsequently, a letter was sent to existing rice millers and new investors, to submit a DRPP, and based on their submissions; a total of 1.3 million metric tonnes of rice import quotas was issued to 25 qualifying millers at the preferential levy of 20 percent and duty of 10 per cent. The remainder 0.2 million metric tonnes of rice imports will be at the higher levy of 60 per cent and duty of 10 per cent for other rice importers�, the letter read in part.

However, documents obtained revealed that the supply gap estimate is unrealistic when compared to a total of 2.74 million metric tonnes of imported rice that made its way into the country in 2014 (representing a combination of rice imported into the country and the smuggled commodity from

neighbouring West African countries).Similarly, the documents further showed that new investors without milling capacity or investments in the country received the highest quota of the allocations to approved rice millers, while millers did not receive allocations and in some instances, received very low allocation.

over $2 billion can be fully domesticated with all the attendant economic benefits to the country. After the full domestication, Nigeria may now be able to generate a marketable surplus which would be channeled towards export. At that level the revenue potential are almost boundless.

The list of beneficiaries of the preferential

With crude oil prices tumbling and the Naira struggling against other global currencies,

import quotas, quantities of rice imports approved and corresponding performance bond to be submitted shows that of the 28 beneficiaries, only 16 have mills, while the remaining 12 have no mills and account for higher imports than millers.With at least $183.6 million enjoyed in bonds, stakeholders have begun to question the sincerity of government under the backward

non-oil revenue flow into the country appears to be the only way out for the threatened Nigerian economy. What the country needs to do to get out of the present predicament is simple; import less. Even if exports potentials of the country cannot be significantly increased, if Nigeria can arrive at the point where it no longer needs to depend on other countries for essential

integration plan, considering the fact that investors who have only expressed interests allegedly enjoy higher imports than those who have remained committed to the plan.

commodities like rice, petroleum products, sugar, vegetable oil, fertiliser, among others, it would have made enough effort not only end the current threats but also to put the nation in a position to make good progress.

More than Just N40 billion If all the loss to the Nigerian economy on account of this administrative loophole is the N40 billion that would go into fraudulent pockets annually, it would be a serious problem but not as serious as the threat to the goal of rice self-sufficiency, which even pessimists and the biggest critics of the federal government believe may be achieved latest by 2017.If these saboteurs can be kept at bay, the Nigerian rice industry, which currently has local annual revenue flow of

Tags: Business, Nigeria, Featured, RICE http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/misman agement-of-rice-importation-quotas/198479/

Chinese government backs further studies of genetically modified crops Permits renewed for research on several rice and corn strains, a move hailed by some scientists as a big step towards commercialisation

PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 06 January, 2015, 3:35pm

safety permits in 2009, which all expired on August 17 last year.

UPDATED : Wednesday, 07 January, 2015, 4:41am

The fresh permits allow the scientists to grow the crops in open fields and gather data about potentially distributing the strains to farmers in the future.To renew their permits, the research groups submitted new data on the crops' environmental safety and the results of tests on animals to prove the strains were not dangerous to eat, according to the People's Daily report.One of the strains of genetically modified rice under development carries a bacteria gene that can kill numerous pests, which could help significantly cut the use of pesticides on farms.The GM corn variety can absorb phosphorus in the soil more efficiently, allowing it to grow faster than conventional strains of the crop.

Stephen Chenbinglin.chen@scmp.com The central government has renewed permits allowing scientists to grow three varieties of genetically modified rice and corn on the mainland, more than three months after they expired, suggesting the technology has the continued backing of the authorities.Some scientists had feared that the Ministry of Agriculture might stop research on the projects. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some members of the public are wary about the safety of GM crops, amid a succession of food safety scandals on the mainland.

GM rice cannot be sold as food - the government says it has to be sure that new strains are safe - but the country already imports huge amounts of genetically modified soya beans, mainly from the United States.The permits issued by the ministry allow two scientific research groups to produce two types of pest-resistant rice and a type of high-yield corn for five years, according to a report by Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily.The rice plants were developed by a team at Huazhong Agricultural University in Hubei province and the corn by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences' Biotechnology Research Institute in Beijing.They were originally granted bio-

Scientists welcomed the decision on the permits."This is a decisive event on the road to commercialise GM technology in China," Agrogene.cn said in a front-page report.The website was set up by scientists from top research institutes, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, to promote the technology behind genetically modified food.Environmental pressure group Greenpeace said the permits' renewal did not mean the GM crops would be sold to the public anytime soon.Any leak of the products onto the market would be illegal, it said.

The ministry's decision came four months after the government released details of a speech President Xi Jinping made in support of developing GM technology.

In the speech, the president said he was deeply concerned about ensuring the country's food supply.Xi said that one of the most unforgettable experiences of his life was the suffering caused by the lack of food during periods of the Cultural Revolution,

an era of political upheaval in the 1960s and 1970s.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Go-ahead for more GM crop studies http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/16749 69/chinese-government-backs-further-studiesgenetically-modified-crops

Local rice producers raise alarm over import licence racketeering

By Our Reporter on 2015 Business, COVER

January

6,

Worried by the activities of rice importers, stakeholders in local production of rice have cried out to the Federal Government, asking for the cancellation of import licences approved for rice import.According to them, if rice importation is not curtailed, investment made by local producers of the food staple, bolstered by the policies of the Goodluck Jonathan administration in the last four years, would “go down the drain.”In a protest letter written to the Federal Government, through the Ministers of Finance, and Trade and Investments, the stakeholders drew attention to the recent “indiscriminate and wrongful” award of import licenses as well as concessions to some businessmen with “absolutely no investments in the rice sector,” whom they say are now “making huge profit selling those licenses to importers in the market.”

Sources with huge investments in the sector warned government that with the current developments, in which new comers without prior experience are favoured over and above operators with huge investment in line with the Agricultural Transformation

Agenda (ATA), had been thrown off balance and threatened in their investments.According to the petitioners, “the way it is going, another few years will be wasted and the nation drawn back. With oil prices falling, the ATA provides the best opportunity for the country to generate alternative revenue by reducing import and in the near future, join the export market.

With this sort of policy, this thing is not going to work. The rice import allocations will derail the self-sufficiency efforts of government,” they warned.

Giving further details, they said they are facing “imminent crisis of viability and closure” following Federal Government’s allocation of import quotas.They warned that government’s ATA may suffer severe reversals as import licence allocations “provide a free ride for smugglers, thereby derailing the objectives on rice selfsufficiency. The country also stands to lose in excess of N40 billion through smuggling and loss of Customs revenues,” they added.The Federal Ministry of Finance stipulated revised lower tariffs for rice imports vide Ministry of Finance Circular BD/FP/TT/50/I/99 dated July 8, 2014 (entitled 2014-2017 Fiscal Policy Measures on Rice).

According to this circular, bonafide “investors with rice milling capacities and verifiable backward integration programme” are entitled to import rice at the revised

tariffs of 10 per cent duty rate and 20 per cent levy.The circular also said genuine rice traders, with no existing capacities/programme, would pay a duty of 10 per cent and a levy of 60 per cent.Sources said the allocations released by the Ministry of Agriculture include several beneficiaries who do not meet the stipulated criteria issued by the Ministry of Finance in July 2014.

A study of the list of beneficiaries of the preferential import quotas, reveals that of the 28 companies, only 16 have mills, while the remaining 12 have no milling capacities but account for higher imports than the qualified millers.Daily Sun also gathered that many of the companies without any proven capacities have already started selling off the quotas to importers, leading to huge loss of Customs revenue and defeating the purpose of the allocations. http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=99066

Agriculture remains our greatest hope Posted by Online on Jan 7th, 2015 When the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) was set up in Los Banos, Laguna, in 1960, with the support of the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Philippine government, it proceeded to undertake research that led to the development of new and improved rice varieties and of rice crop management techniques and practices.Many of our neighbors in Southeast Asia have benefitted from this research.

Thailand and Vietnam today produce rice surpluses which they export to the world. It

is a bit of irony that the Philippines, where the IRRI did all its research on a 250-hectare experimental farm at Los Banos, is today the biggest importer of Thai and Vietnamese rice.Filipino scientists and researchers are known the world over. The latest to be recognized was Dr. William Dollente Dar, who was honored last month for his work at the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India where he served for 15 years. He was cited for redirecting the institute’s emphasis from research for the sake of researching, to research that would actually benefit farmers.

He saw to it that the institute’s studies on drought-resistant crops – peas, sorghum, millet, etc. – reached small farmers.Dr. Dar introduced four pillars of agriculture that he developed at ICRISAT – namely, including farmers as part of the process of development, science-based agriculture, resilient agriculture that responds to climate change, and a market orientation focused on making farming a profitable business. Dar served as Secretary of Agriculture in President Joseph Estrada’s short-lived administration in 1998 before moving on to ICRISAT in 1999.Agricultural research continues today in the Philippines and around the world. Among its latest achievements is the development of floodresistant rice varieties.

This could be the answer to the repeated losses of our rice farmers in Northern Luzon who periodically lose their harvests when a typhoon brings rains that flood their

fields.Agriculture remains the greatest hope of our country’s economy and people. We may develop our industries and our services sector; we may provide jobs to our young people in tourism and in business outsourcing. But the Philippines is a primarily agricultural country and the great majority of our people live in the rural areas.We have the land and the rivers and rains to make it fertile. And we have the scientists and researchers and capable administrators, such as Dr. Dar. With these resources, we should focus on agriculture as the center of our anti-poverty, our jobcreation, and our over-all national economic development program. http://www.tempo.com.ph/2015/01/agricultu re-remains-our-greatest-hope/

U.S. Objects to Korea's New Rice Import Scheme That's a big tariff bill!

WASHINGTON, DC -- The United States joined four other members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) late last month in objecting to Korea's new rice tariffication scheme. The action did not prevent Korea from imposing the new tariff-based rice import system on January 1, but the new system has not been approved by the WTO, and Korea will very likely enter into negotiations with the five countries in order to lift the objections.

The USA Rice Federation supports this action by the U.S. because Korea's new import regime is a significant step backwards on market access for U.S. rice.Representatives from Australia, China, Thailand, and Vietnam, all rice exporters

to Korea, joined the U.S. in "reserving," in WTO-speak, their country's position with respect to Korea's new tariff schedule for rice imports.

Korea's new scheme is designed to replace the previous system that was based on rigid import controls by the Korean government and expired on December 31, 2014.Korea chose not to seek an extension of "special treatment" for rice imports within WTO rules, and instead opted to move to a tariff-based system. Korea has now imposed a rice import duty of 513 percent on any rice imported in excess of a quota of 408,700 metric tons annually. The Korean government will remain the sole importer of rice for this "in-quota" amount, and private entities may import above this amount, but would face the hefty over-quota duty.

Korea's new system abolished existing countryspecific import quotas, including a 50,076-mt quota for the United States. Korea was also required to allocate 30 percent of rice imports each year to the "table" or retail market. This was a critical requirement that has enabled U.S. rice to establish demand among Korea's qualityconscious consumers and allowed effective promotion of U.S. rice. The over quota duty of

513 percent is prohibitive to trade and will effectively cap Korea's rice imports. Each of these developments is detrimental to U.S. access.Korea imported just under 159,000 mt of U.S. rice in 2013. Exports lagged considerably last year however, with shipments down 86 percent through October.

"Bilateral discussions between the United States and Korea did not sufficiently address U.S. market access concerns, leading to the U.S. objection in Geneva," said USA Rice President and CEO Betsy Ward. "Korea's new import regime is in place, but will not be officially adopted by the WTO until member country reservations are lifted. The negotiating calendar is unclear now, but USA Rice will continue close coordination with the administration to ensure market access is preserved."

Contact: Bob Cummings (703) 236-1473

Opening of 114th Congress Presents New Opportunities, Challenges John Owen WASHINGTON, DC -- Eighty-four new members of Congress, 56 Republicans and 18 Democrats, were sworn in today at the official opening of the 114th Congress. Along with new members, there also will be new faces in key committee chairmanships important to the rice industry. Mike Conaway (R-TX) will become Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.

In the Senate, Pat Roberts (R-KS) will take the reins of the Agriculture Committee, while Thad Cochran (R-MS) will chair the Appropriations Committee.

Washington welcomed the legislative newcomers with the first snow storm of the year that paralyzed the region this morning, however, unaffected was John Owen, a rice farmer from Rayne, LA and chairman of the USA Rice Producers' Group, who attended several Capitol Hill ceremonies, including a reception for and the swearing in of Representative Conaway.

Owen also attended the swearing in of Ralph Abraham (R-LA) who will be representing Louisiana's 5th district.

"It was a special honor to be at the swearing in of my friend, Ralph Abraham," said Owen.

"Representative Abraham is just one of the many new faces in the 114th Congress, and seeing them all together today drives home that we have our work cut out for us as we get to know them all, and educate the Members and their staff about the rice industry. Next month's Government Affairs Conference will be the perfect educational opportunity, for us, but also for Congress, and I'm looking forward to it."

Contact: Ben Mosely (703) 236-1471

China renews safety certificates for local GMO rice Mon Jan 5, 2015 10:52am GMT

BEIJING Jan 5 (Reuters) - China, the world's top rice producer and consumer, has renewed biosafety certificates for its own genetically-modified (GMO) rice, but largescale production may be years away.The agriculture ministry has extended approval of two varieties of pest-resistant rice for another 5 years after the certificates, which were first granted in 2009, expired last year, according to an official website (www.agrogene.cn).Beijing has been reluctant to allow commercialisation of

GMO rice because of public concerns over health risks, although the government still encourages research in the sector.

Agriculture minister Han Changfu said in March last year that commercialisation of staple foods would proceed with caution and in the first stage only GMO cotton and then feed grain would be planted.China, the world's top buyer of GMO soybean, is amending its food-safety law to enforce labelling of GMO food amid rising public concern over food safety.Beijing last month granted approval for imports of a type of genetically-modified corn developed by Syngenta AG developed GMO corn as well as two strains of GMO soybean. (Reporting

by Niu Shuping and David Stanway; Editing

by Tom Hogue)

The chef and the Saudi prince PAULETTE BALLARD Guest Columnist

Alfred McKay was a chef for 35 years.

Being a diabetic, he wanted to learn how to prepare better meals for himself and others. He chose to go to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York for his degree.McKay’s first job was as the chef for the grand opening of the Columbus Hilton in Columbus, Georgia. During this time, a prince of Saudi Arabia had suffered an injury to his leg and was sent to Columbus to have corrective surgery. During his recovery period, for security reasons, the

prince and his staff took over an entire floor of the hotel where McKay was a chef.

The prince lived in the hotel for five months throughout his surgery and rehabilitation, and then visited other areas he wanted to see in and around Columbus.As the prince continued to recover from his surgery, he expressed a desire to go hunting. McKay told me the prince and his companions brought back a large amount of quail from their hunting expedition. McKay was asked to prepare a meal for the prince using the quail and was told that he was to be the only one allowed to touch, clean and prepare the food for the prince and his entourage.The meal McKay prepared was stuffed quail with basmati rice and fried grapes.

Following the meal, the prince said he had never had this dish before, but that he quite enjoyed it.

Before the prince left Columbus for his trip home, he gave away an abundance of gifts to the people who had helped him enjoy his visit. He gave a spectacular rifle with gold inlays to the man who took him hunting, and when McKay prepared his meals, he always tipped between $300 and $400.I asked McKay if he had met many famous people during his years as a chef. He told me while the movie “The Tank” was being filmed in Columbus he prepared meals for James Garner, the star of the movie.

He said that following the rescue of an American general, who had been kidnapped somewhere in the Middle East, McKay was asked to prepare meals during the general’s debriefing. He also remembers meeting Chi Chi Rodriguez and the other golfers on their tour.Over his 35 years as a chef, McKay

says he worked in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and St. Thomas. He said he had a very interesting career and always enjoyed being a chef.

Paulette Ballard collects interesting, funny and unusual stories from people in and around Lincolnton. If you have a story you would like to submit for her column, e-mail it to pballardnc1029@gmail.com. In the subject line type “For your column.� Include your name and phone number for her to contact you.

Lincoln Times News

Madhya Pradesh battles to get its share in basmati pie A Subramani, TNN | Jan 5, 2015, 08.54PM IST

The legal battle to recognize Madhya Pradesh as a basmati rice cultivating area and enable the state to be a stakeholder in the geographical indication tag continues.

Appellate Board (IPAB) here to be included as a party in the ongoing tussle. Geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used for products unique to a special geographical location including a town or a region. A GI tag helps the product, which is special and inimitable to a particular territory, exploit its uniqueness for commercial purposes with responsibility to maintain its exclusive characteristics.

The GI tag was conferred on basmati rice on an application filed in 2009 by the Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, reserving it for certain grain varieties grown in the Gangetic plains of Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, parts of Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Finding the name of the state missing, the Madhya Pradesh government then filed an objection petition before the GI Registry.

On December 31, 2013, the registry asked the applying agency to submit a fresh application clearly indicating the geographical area of production. "The area has to be defined with clarity and without ambiguity," it said, adding that the Authority's application remained imperfect. "Not a micron point space, actual cultivation area should be left uncovered," the registry ruled, according to IPR attorney P Sanjay Gandhi.

CHENNAI: The legal battle to recognize Madhya Pradesh as a basmati rice cultivating area and enable the state to be a stakeholder in the geographical indication tag continues, as a Bhopal-based NGO approached the Intellectual Property

Assailing the registry's order, the Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority moved the IPAB for restoration of GI tag for the area submitted by it. Now, the Bhopal-based

New Darpan Social Welfare Society has filed an implead application, seeking to be included as a party to the proceedings. Its counsel Sanjay Gandhi told TOI that as of 2009, Madhya Pradesh cultivated more than 45.12 lakh quintals of basmati rice, of which approximately 45 lakh quintal was being exported.

The implead application of New Darpan Social Welfare Society said the state had been growing basmati for several decades both by traditional and new techniques such as Madagascar technique which helped increase the area and quantum of basmati cultivation in Madhya Pradesh. Noting that non-inclusion of Madhya Pradesh under the basmati rice cultivating area would have caused a great harm to the livelihood of many farmers in that state, the application said the order of the GI Registry withdrawing the earlier GI tag given to other states, excluding Madhya Pradesh, had come has a huge relief to the entire farmer community in that state. On Monday, an IPAB bench comprising its chairperson Justice K N Basha and technical member Sanjeev Kumar Chaswaal issued notices to various authorities and asked them to file their responses by February 25.

The Times of India

Sweet Treats: Mochi Making at Family-Owned Koda Farms This entry was posted by Paul Weston on January 5, 2015 at 8:19 pm

Many of the Asian-American police officers at Liu's funeral said being a cop is not just about enforcing the law, but about making a difference in the communities where they serve. Detective Ron Bongat, a Philippine immigrant and 15-year veteran of the ‌ For News Detail Sign Up:

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