7th december,2017 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

Daily Rice E-Newsletter

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter December 07, 2017

 Rico’ blend seen cutting PHL’s rice imports Coastal farmers lose out for early Aman sales  Customs Impounds Dangote Truck With 600 Bags Of Rices-rice/  Despite GST cut, no change in FMCG prices; firms to blame  PRICES-KOCHI COMMODITIES(RPT  2 officials suspended for PDS rice scam  USA Rice Outlook Conference  Arkansas Ag Committee Discusses Fake Rice, Begins Drafting Resolution  How rice farmers restore Sac endangered fish population  Recipe: Crispy orange, pomegranate-glazed chicken on herbed basmati rice  Bangladesh to import 200,000 tonnes rice, wheat  Bangladesh to import 150,000 tonnes of rice from India at $440/T  buyback-investment-plan-idINKBN1E01T9  Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- December 6, 2017  How rice farmers restore Sac endangered fish population  Bangladesh to import 200,000 tonnes rice, wheat  There’s enough rice supply - NFA  Govt to buy 1.5 lakh tonnes of rice from India  Bengal rice farmers see a bright spot in Africa

Volume 9 | Issue XII

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter News Detail‌ Coastal farmers lose out for early Aman sales 12:00 AM, December 07, 2017 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:00 AM, December 07, 2017

An Aman paddy field at Char Miajan in Baufal upazila of Patuakhali. Photo: Star Our Correspondent, Patuakhali Marginal farmers in the southern coastal regions of Bangladesh are cashing their main crops in a hurry due to a lack of money for their sustenance.They are currently selling out their early Aman paddy for Tk 450 to Tk 500 a maund (44 kilograms), for which they could have fetched Tk 1,100 to Tk 1,200 if they had waited till the end of December or early January.

The main reason for this is a cash crunch. The farmers are being deprived of better prices when Aman is in season, which is their main crop. Due to the high salinity in the region's water, they

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter are able to grow a limited number of other crops like chillies, watermelon and sweet potato the rest of the year.

This has become a common scenario for farmers of char (coastal island) areas including Char Barret, Miajan, Kachua, Diarakachua, Roysaheb, Wadel, Basudevpasha, Nimdi, Char Federation, Mominpur -- all under Baufal upazila in the district.Md Azahar Khan, a farmer of Diarakachua, cultivated Aman paddy on 45 acres of land in September.

But waiting for a payout till January is unimaginable for him as he has to fend for a family of 12 that includes his parents, five daughters and three sons. “Finding no solution to my current dire state, I sold 300 maunds of paddy in advance to a local moneylender at Tk 480 a maund. I also had to repay the money I borrowed to buy fertilizers and pesticides for the Aman crop.”

Abdus Salam Howlader, a farmer of Char Miajan, cultivated paddy on 50 acres that has an estimated yield of 200-250 maunds.“I already sold 100 maunds of paddy in advance at Tk 490 a maund to make ends meet.”

Azahar Ali Bapari, another farmer of Char Miajan, sold off the entire lot of paddy he grew on three acres of char land.

“I know I could have fetched Tk 1,100 a maund if I had held on to the stock. But I have no alternative.”

“It would have really helped us if we could get access to local microcredit or banks to keep us afloat till January. But it is not easy to get credit,” said Bapari.

The farmers often approach the local wholesalers and offer their Aman paddy for lower prices.

The wholesalers hold the stock in go-downs and sell off to rice millers across the country when the prices go up.

This scenario is not unique to Baufal; it is prevalent in other char areas like Charborhan, Charhadi, Char Shahjalal under Dashmina upazila, and Char Biswas, Charkazol under Galachipa, Char Montaj, Chalitabunia, Char Lata under Rangabali upazila.

Md Bellal Howlader of Char Montaj borrowed Tk 40,000 from a local mohajon (moneylender) in November, on the condition of paying back in paddy at a lower rate. “If I didn't need the money then, I could have cashed in on a good amount later.”

Md Jahirul islam, a mohajon of Kalaiya bazaar under Baufal upazila, said farmers come to them to help bridge the time gap between planting and harvesting.Md Likhon, another mohajon of

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Mowdubi under Rangabali upazila, said the farmers come to them to avoid the banking process, which they deem to be complicated.“They are uneducated and fear the system. Also, commuting to the mainlands to get finance is an added expense for them,� he said.

Md Farid Ahmed, deputy general manager of Bangladesh Krishi Bank, said the farmers have to maintain nominal banking to get a loan.Many char farmers do not have their own lands and cultivate on others' lands as sharecroppers; the farmer keeps two thirds of the harvest and gives a third to the land owner, he said. This further complicates the process for them, he added. http://www.thedailystar.net/country/coastal-farmers-lose-out-early-aman-sales-1501249

Customs Impounds Dangote Truck With 600 Bags Of Rice

Controller of Customs, Ogun Command, addressing journalists on the seizure Adejoke Adeleye/Abeokuta The Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun Area Command has seized a truck belonging to Dangote Group carrying 600 bags of rice suspected to have been smuggled into the country.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The truck with registration number KMC-252XC and serial number ICT-7A-001 was intercepted along Sagamu Interchange with 600 (50kg) bags of rice.

Customs Comptroller for the command, S.J. Madugu told newsmen in Abeokuta, Ogun State, that the truck was arrested on the expressway by his men stationed there.

Madugu also gave a breakdown of the various items impounded by the command worth N26,940,000 to include a Ford bus carrying 100 packets of mosquito repellent and 50 kegs of foreign vegetable oil; a Hiace bus with 800 pairs of Italian footwears; a Sharon bus with 19 bundles of used tyres; white and silver 626 Mazda buses carrying 40 and 29 bags of rice, respectively, blue Mazda 626 with 30 bags of rice and dark blue Mazda carrying 48 bags of rice.

https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2017/12/06/customs-impounds-dangote-truck-600-bagsrice/

Despite GST cut, no change in FMCG prices; firms to blame www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter UT Administration finds serious lapses in levy during special survey, orders stern action against violators

Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 6 A majority of the FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) firms have increased the base price of their commodities to deny consumers the benefit of a major reduction in the GST (Goods and Services Tax) on such items.

Not only this, the prices of rice and pulses also remained unchanged even after these essential commodities were fully exempted from the GST. These were among the serious lapses found by the UT Administration during a special survey conducted across the city after the GST Council

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter slashed the GST slabs on various commodities at its 23rd meeting held in Guwahati on November 10.

After the GST was brought down from 28 per cent to 18 per cent on the FMCG, companies raised the base price and the MRP (maximum retail price) of such commodities was not slashed following which the consumers were still made to pay the same price without getting the benefit of 10 per cent GST cut on the FMCG, a top UT officer told The Tribune here today.

Taking serious note of the lapses, which had deprived consumers of the the benefit of the GST cut, the UT Excise and Taxation Department and the Food and Civil Supplies Department have been asked to take stern action against the violators.

During the survey, conducted on the directions of Deputy Commissioner Ajit Balaji Joshi, five joint teams swooped down on restaurants, FMCG wholesalers, supermarkets and kiryana dealers to check whether bills were being issued and the correct GST rate was being charged or not to extend the benefit of tax reduction to the consumers.

The survey of restaurants found that an eating joint at Panjab University, Student Centre, Sector 14, was charging 18 per cent GST instead of 5 per cent on food.

The checking of FMCG dealers brought to the fore that the parent companies of the FMCG had increased the base price after the reduction in GST rates from 28 per cent to 18 per cent and the FMCG companies had not slashed MRP of goods following which the tax reduction benefit was being pocketed by the companies and not passed on to the consumers.

The teams also visited registered taxpayers, who were dealing in the supply of rice and pulses and examined the prices of rice and pulses prior to and after the implementation of the GST. “It was noticed that there was no change in the prices of rice and pulses even after these essential commodities were exempted from the GST,� the officer disclosed.

Under the GST regime, essential commodities like wheat, pulses, rice, unbranded atta (wheat flour), suji, maida, besan and salt were exempted from the GST while other essential commodities like sugar, tea, edible oils and spices were taxable at the rate of 5 per cent.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter At its 23rd meeting, the GST Council had reduced the rate of tax from 28 per cent to 18 per cent on different FMCG like shampoo, washing powder and detergent, leaving only 50 items taxable at the rate of 28 per cent.

One of the major reductions of the GST was on food served at restaurants and eateries, which was brought down from 18 per cent to 5 per cent without input tax credit.

“The departments concerned have been asked to initiate strict legal action against the violators,” the officer said http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/chandigarh/despite-gst-cut-no-change-infmcg-prices-firms-to-blame/509505.html

PRICES-KOCHI COMMODITIES(RPT

By PTI | Published: 06th December 2017 05:48 PM | Last Updated: 06th December 2017 05:45 PM | Kochi, DEC 06 (PTI): Ginger (Inferior) Rs.11,000/-, Kochi, DEC 06 (PTI): Ginger (Inferior) Rs.11,000/-, Ginger (Medium) Rs.12,500/-, Ginger (Best) Rs.13,500/-, Turmeric Salem Rs.8,500/- Turmeric-Erode(Agmark) Rs.9,200/- Nuxvomica Rs.1850/-Ambahaldhar Rs.7000/Kolinjan Rs.4300/- Kachura Rs.4,000/-Kapurkatchili Rs.14,000-17,000/- Betelnuts (Old) Rs.Nil, Betelnuts (New) Rs.20,000-21,000/- Rice Raw (No.1) Rs.2,800/- Rice Raw (No.2) Rs.2,450/- Rice Boiled (Surekha) Rs.3,200-3,700/- Rice Jaya (Boiled) Rs.3,600-3,700/- Rice Broken Rs.2200-2300/- Wheat Rs.2,550-2,600/- Chola Rs.1500-1550/-,Chillies Rs.8,00015,000/-, Bengal Gram Rs.6,500-7,000/- Black Gram Rs.6,500-7,400/- Gingelly Rs.11,000/Green Gram Rs.6,500-7,300/-, Horse Gram Rs.6,900/-, Peas Dal Rs.3,450-4,300/-, Toor Dal Rs.5,200-6,300/- Pepper New Rs.36,400/-rpt Rs.36,400/- Pepper light Rs.40,000.00, Pin Heads (Cheer)Rs.15,000.00, Sugar (per bag) Rs.3,940/-(All rates per quintal).

COIR YARN : Cochin Parur Thin (85 M/Kg) Rs.3,600/- Vycom ThIck 200/Kg) Rs.3,900/-, Choriwal Thin Rs.5,000/- PTI TKR RBS . http://www.newindianexpress.com/pti-news/2017/dec/06/prices-kochi-commoditiesrpt1720218.html 8

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter 2 officials suspended for PDS rice scam

By Express News Service | Published: 07th December 2017 02:26 AM | Last Updated: 07th December 2017 10:07 AM | JHARSUGUDA:Collector Bibhuti Bhusan Patnaik has suspended Assistant Civil Supplies Officer (ACSO) Sandeep Guru and Senior Accountant of Civil Supply Office Chintamani Naik for their involvement in the PDS rice scam.

Speaking to mediapersons on Tuesday, the Collector said as per directions of the Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd (OSCSC), the officials have been suspended with immediate effect for large-scale irregularities in paddy procurement and supply of rice in the district.

Sources said Bajrangbali Rice Mill had received 79,388 quintals of paddy to supply 53,984 quintals of Custom Milled Rice to the Food Supplies Department last year. But the miller supplied only 19,409 quintals of rice and its proprietor Dillip Agrawal locked up the mill and absconded. Similarly, Pintu Rice Mill at Malidihi, Laxmi Rice, Starched Rice Mill and Maruti Food Products had also not supplied required custom milled rice to the Government. The department had filed FIRs against these millers at the police stations concerned and later Vigilance department lodged a case against Maruti Food for its large-scale irregularities in supplying rice.

While the district civil supply office had estimated around `27.92 lakh due pending against the Maruti Food Products, a special audit conducted by the department found a loss of `47.09 lakh loss. Later, it was also found that a bank guarantee of `1.1 crore submitted by Bajrangbali Rice Mill appeared to be fake. Sources also confirmed that `8.2 crore has been misappropriated by Bajrangbali Rice Mill. The accountant and ACSO of the district civil supply office were directly involved in the transactions.

Meanwhile, the managing director of OSCSC on Wednesday recommended suspension of Jharsuguda CSO to the Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the department.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2017/dec/07/2-officialssuspended-for-pds-rice-scam-1720768.html

USA Rice Outlook Conference Rice Storytelling Tuesday, December 12, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

218, Meeting Level

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter SAN ANTONIO, TX -- Every farmer has a story to tell. But getting people to listen is another story entirely. In this session, you'll hear from three California rice farmers who have built an audience - their stories get viewed, liked, and listened to by people all over the world.

Nick Fox, Kurt Richter, and Matthew Sligar will share storytelling know-how, including technical expertise, how to create content, crafting a narrative for social media, and balancing all that with the real work of rice farming. Panel moderator Jim Morris, communications manager for the California Rice Commission, will tease out their tips and tricks, and their best advice on how you can get started telling your own story. Come get inspired.

Rice storytelling comes alive

Arkansas Ag Committee Discusses Fake Rice, Begins Drafting Resolution

By Lydia Holmes

LITTLE ROCK, AR -- Yesterday, Arkansas Rice Federation Executive Director Lauren Waldrip Ward testified before the Arkansas Joint Senate and House Committee on Agriculture on the industry's concern of a current food trend where vegetables are being "riced" and marketed as a "more healthy" form of rice.

Marketing campaigns are identifying these products as "riced vegetables" while some companies are marketing vegetables and other non-rice products as rice. These products often are stocked on grocery shelves alongside rice.

Ward explained many of the products, including Cauli Rice, Miracle Rice, Better than Rice, and Green Giant's Cauliflower Fried Rice do not contain a single grain of rice. Through packaging designed and displayed to mislead and with advertisements reading "Move over, rice," companies are likely causing confusion among consumers.

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There is currently not an FDA Standard of Identity for rice, but Arkansas Rice and USA Rice agree with the existing Codex definition, which simply identifies rice as originating from the

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Oryza sativa L. plant.

"Our industry has made significant investments developing and building the brand we have for rice," said Ward. "These companies have made it clear that they intend to capitalize on that very brand. Our farmers are proud of the quality associated with the rice they grow and we must continue to preserve that image while also protecting consumers."

Ward continued, "Consumers have a right to know honestly and transparently what they are purchasing and these fake rice products are designed to mislead them. Consumers who want to purchase rice are being tricked into buying something other than rice. Rice is a grain, not a shape."

Committee members inquired about actions being taken at the federal level by the Food and Drug Administration and expressed strong interest in supporting those efforts.

"We'll do whatever is necessary to combat this issue," said State Senator Blake Johnson. "I would like to begin working with Arkansas Rice to develop a resolution addressing rice pretenders and protecting consumers' rights."

How rice farmers restore Sac endangered fish population Native fish are cut off from historic Sacramento floodplain food supply Updated: 6:46 PM PST Dec 5, 2017 Video could not be loaded. If you have Ad Block enabled, please add this site to the white list.

SHOW TRANSCRIPT YOLO COUNTY, Calif. (KCRA) —

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The Sacramento region’s floodplain was once a rich food source for the state’s thriving native fish population.

The essential food is still there. The problem is, for decades, fish have been blocked from accessing the vital floodplain due to flood control.

“There was once 2 million salmon that came back to the valley. What allowed that abundance is the incredible productivity of these wetlands,” Jacob Katz, with Cal Trout, said. "Now, we have about 5 percent of historical wetlands; which means we have a small percentage of the food that was once produced. Why are we surprised that we have only 5 percent of salmon and other native fish?"

Rice farmers are now working with UC Davis Watershed Sciences and Cal Trout, a conservation nonprofit, to restore native fish populations cut off from their food supply.

“We turned fields that we feed people (from) in the summertime, and then we flood them for habitat for birds, and now we are also using those fields to grow (food) for fish," Roger Cornwell, with River Garden Farms in Yolo County, said.

During the wet season, the Sacramento River historically would swell and spill over into the floodplain, and fish would spill over as well. The natural occurrence is now largely blocked off due to levees.

“It’s a really simple thing: Sunlight makes algae. Algae makes bugs. Bugs make fish,” Katz said. “The fish would then drain back to the river with the receding floodwaters and you had this system that essentially created a big bug buffet out on the floodplain."

CAL TROUT The floodplain is drastically more nourishing than river water, Katz explains.

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"In the river, there is a lot of water but there is very little surface area to catch that Sunlight," Katz said. “But as soon as that water spills out into the floodplain, there is

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

literally thousands of times greater surface area. What's that mean? It means the floodplain is really the solar panel, the energy source, for the river system. And what we are trying to do is reconnect that to the river."

River Garden Farms is a partner, and one of a handful of farmers that are part of the pilot project, allocating 3,000 acres for rice farming.

CAL TROUT UC Davis scientists temporarily divert water from the Sacramento River into the flooded rice fields and then use netting to gather the fish food.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter CAL TROUT

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter "We just borrow the water for a couple days and return it full of food," Katz explained. “It's just spread out where natural processes can fill it with the kind of nutrients the river needs, and then it is returned, enhanced, back to the river."

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter CAL TROUT Cal Trout's saying is “It’s not fish or farms, but fish and farms.”

"Our state capitol, Sacramento, is out there on the floodplain. The levees protect Sacramento and our population. The system isn't going anywhere,” Katz said. “If we can understand how the natural system works, in essence, looking back in order to move forward -- we build a system that works much better for the entire state."

Los Angeles’ Metropolitan Water District and San Luis Delta Mendota Water Authority contribute funding for the project. http://www.kcra.com/article/how-rice-farmers-restore-sac-endangered-fish-population/14109504

Recipe: Crispy orange, pomegranate-glazed chicken on herbed basmati rice 4

Food and Home

Crispy orange, pomegranate-glazed chicken on herbed basmati rice.

Chicken and rice have never looked so dazzling!

Ingredients Chicken 5 (750g) skinless chicken breasts, deboned 90g cake flour 65g cornflour Salt and freshly ground black pepper, totaste 2 large eggs 15ml (1 tbsp) milk Oil, to deep-fry

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Glaze 250ml (1 cup) orange juice 180ml (¾ cup) pomegranate juice 100g brown sugar 30ml (2 tbsp) lemon juice 15ml (1 tbsp) Worcestershire sauce 5ml (1 tsp) garlic, finely chopped 5ml (1 tsp) ginger, finely grated 2,5ml (½ tsp) dried chilli flakes Zest of 1 orange 30ml (2 tbsp) cold water 15ml (1 tbsp) cornflour Rice 20g cooked basmati rice, warm 60ml (¼ cup) fresh parsley, finely chopped 60ml (¼ cup) fresh coriander, finely chopped 30ml (2 tbsp) fresh basil, finely chopped Salt and freshly groundblack pepper, to taste To serve 180g pomegranate rubies 2 (50g) spring onions, thinly sliced 2 (5g) small green chillies, thinly sliced 60ml (4 tbsp) coriander, finely chopped Method 1. For the chicken, cut the breasts into bite-size pieces. Combine the cake flour and 65g cornflour and season to taste. Combine the eggs and milk and whisk until smooth.

2. Heat the oil in a deep fat fryer or deep pot to 180°C (check the temperature with a sugar thermometer if using a deep pot). Dip each piece of chicken into the egg mixture, followed by the flour mixture. Fry the chicken pieces off in batches, 2-3 minutes each, until crisp and golden.

Drain on paper towel.

3. For the glaze, place the orange juice, pomegranate juice, brown sugar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, ginger, chilli flakes and orange zest in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and simmer, 10 minutes. Combine the water and 15ml (1 tbsp) cornflour and whisk in 60ml (¼ cup) of the warm juice mixture. Pour it all back into the remaining warm liquid

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter and whisk until smooth. Simmer, 5 minutes, until slightly thickened. Add the fried chicken pieces and simmer, 2 minutes. Season to taste.

4. For the rice, stir all of the ingredients together and season to taste.

5. To serve, place the chicken on herbed rice and add a sprinkling of pomegranate rubies, spring onions, small green chillies and scatter over 4 tbsp fresh coriander. https://citizen.co.za/lifestyle/your-life-things-to-do/lifestyle-food-and-drink/1750968/recipecrispy-orange-pomegranate-glazed-chicken-on-herbed-basmati-rice/

Bangladesh to import 200,000 tonnes rice, wheat

The government has cleared proposals to import an additional 200,000 tonnes of rice and wheat.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase endorsed the proposals at a meeting chaired by Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Wednesday. Additional Cabinet Secretary Mostafizur Rahman told reporters that the government will buy 150,000 tonnes of non-Basmati boiled rice.

The import will cost Bangladesh around Tk 5.49 billion at the rate of $440 per tonne. The government will also buy 50,000 tonnes of wheat from Singapore's Resington Enterprise Limited in line with international quotation, Additional Secretary Mostafizur added. The price will be around Tk 1.02 billion at $245.35 per tonne. The government is importing food grains and easing import conditions after two spells of floods devastated crops on hundreds of thousands of farmland, raising fear of a food crisis in April. Prices of rice, the staple food grain in Bangladesh, have since been multiplying. The government has decided to import 2 million tonnes of rice and wheat in current fiscal to refill the stock.

Author Name: https://bdnews24.com/economy/2017/12/06/bangladesh-to-import-200000tonnes-rice-wheat

Commodities Buzz: Pakistan Rice Exports Increase By 16 percent During July To October 2017 capital market | Mumbai | December 06, 2017 14:43 IST

Commodities Buzz: Pakistan Rice Exports Increase By 16 percent During July To October 2017Rice export from the country during first 4 months (July-October) of current fiscal year increased by 16.87 per cent as compared to same period of last year.The rice export during the period under review rose to $457.66 million from $391.595 million during July-October 2016-17, according to latest data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). On monthon-month basis, the rice export also increased to $137.423 million in October 2017 from $96.306 million in September 2017, showing an increase of 42.69 per cent. https://www.indiainfoline.com/article/capital-market-commodity-futures-mid-sessioncommentary/commoditiesbuzz-pakistan-rice-exports-increase-by-16-percent-during-july-to-october-2017-117120600529_1.html

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Bangladesh to import 150,000 tonnes of rice from India at $440/T Ruma Paul DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladesh will import 150,000 tonnes of rice from India in a state deal priced at $440 a tonne, two food ministry officials said on Wednesday, as the government races to restore depleted reserves and combat high prices.A woman winnows rice in a field on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India November 10, 2017. REUTERS/Amit Dave Traditionally the world’s fourth-biggest rice producer, Bangladesh’s imports of the grain are set to hit their highest levels in a decade after floods damaged its crops.India’s state-run National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) will supply the non-basmati parboiled rice within 60 days after signing the deal, which will take place soon, the officials said.

The price includes shipping, insurance and discharge costs.Bangladesh had already sealed a deal with India’s another state agency PEC to import 100,000 tonnes of rice at $455 a tonne.Rice is a staple food for Bangladesh’s 160 million people and high prices pose a problem for the government, which faces a national election next year.Despite deals with several rice exporting countries such as Vietnam, Bangladesh is still struggling to build its reserves, after a deal with Cambodia for 250,000 tonnes was scrapped last month over a delay in shipments.Strong demand from Bangladesh helped push Asian rice prices to multi-year highs in June.Bangladesh’s state grains buyer has also issued a series of invitations to tender as it looks to import a total of 1.5 million tonnes of rice in the year to June 2018.A local tender to buy 100,000 tonnes of parboiled rice to be sourced internationally, will close on Dec. 14.Rice at government warehouses stood at nearly 400,000 tonnes, well below the normal level of around 1 million tonnes.

In August, the government cut an import duty on rice for the second time in two months. The lower duty has prompted purchases to be made by private dealers, with most of the deals being struck with neighbouring India.Bangladesh imported more than 1.8 million tonnes during JulyNovember period, food ministry data showed.

23 https://in.reuters.com/article/home-depot-outlook-investor-day/home-depot-sets-15-billion-sharebuyback-investment-plan-idINKBN1E01T9

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- December 6, 2017 DECEMBER 6, 2017 / 2:18 PM / Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-December 6

Nagpur, Dec 6 (Reuters) – Gram prices showed upward tendency in Nagpur Agriculture ProduceMarketing Committee (APMC) on good demand from local millers amid weak supply from producing belts. Notable rise in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and repeated enquiries from South-based millers also helped to push up prices.About 400 bags of gram reported for auctions in Nagpur APMC, according to sources.

FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor.

TUAR * Tuar gavarani firmed up in open market on renewed marriage season demand from local traders. * Wheat mill quality reported down in open market here on lack of demand from local traders amid increased arrival from producing regions. * In Akola, Tuar New – 4,000-4,150, Tuar dal (clean) – 5,700-5,800, Udid Mogar (clean) – 8,200-9,000, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,000-7,300, Gram – 4,525-4,675, Gram Super best – 7,300-7,500 * Wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in scattered deals and settled at last levels in weak trading activity.

Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close Gram Auction 3,500-4,320 3,400-4,300 Gram Pink Auction n.a.

2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction n.a.

3,400-3,880 Moong Auction n.a.

3,900-4,200 Udid Auction n.a.

4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction n.a.

2,600-2,800 Wheat Mill quality Auction 1,600-1,698 1,600-1,680 Gram Super Best Bold 7,000-7,500 7,000-7,500 Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.

Gram Medium Best 6,000-6,400 6,000-6,400 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a Gram Mill Quality 4,550-4,600 4,550-4,600 Desi gram Raw 4,550-4,850 4,550-4,850 Gram Kabuli 12,400-13,000 12,400-13,000 Tuar Fataka Best-New 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400 Tuar Fataka Medium-New 5,900-6,100 5,900-6,100 Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 5,400-5,600 5,400-5,600 Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 5,100-5,300 5,100-5,300 Tuar Gavarani New 4,150-4,250 4,100-4,200 Tuar Karnataka 4,600-4,900 4,600-4,900 Masoor dal best 5,000-5,400 5,000-5,400 Masoor dal medium 4,700-4,900 4,600-4,800 Masoor n.a. n.a.

Moong Mogar bold (New) 7,200-7,600 7,200-7,600 Moong Mogar Medium 6,600-6,900 6,600-6,900 Moong dal Chilka 5,600-6,500 5,600-6,500 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.

Moong Chamki best 7,500-8,000 7,500-8,000 Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 8,500-9,500 8,500-9,500 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,000-7,500 6,000-7,500 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,600-6,800 5,600-6,800 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,200-5,500 5,200-5,500 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 2,850-2,950 2,850-2,950 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,200 2,900-3,000 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 1,850-1,950

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,300 2,100-2,300 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,400 2,200-2,400 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,100 1,900-2,100 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,600 3,100-3,600 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,700 2,300-2,700 Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,500 3,000-3,500 Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,800-2,900 2,800-2,900 Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,400 2,200-2,400 Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600 Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400 Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,000 3,600-4,000 Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,250-3,600 3,250-3,600 Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG) 4,900-5,200 4,900-5,200 Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,700 4,500-4,700 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 10,200-14,000 10,200-14,000 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,200-7,500 5,300-7,500 Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,500 5,000-5,500 Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 4,700-5,000 4,700-5,000 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. 29.1 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 13.7 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 29 and 14 degree Celsius respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices) https://in.reuters.com/article/india-sail-mining/sails-mining-plans-in-lush-forest-may-be-nixed-sourcesidINKBN1E10V6 26

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Bangladesh to import 150,000 tonnes of rice from India at $440/T

By Reuters PUBLISHED: 13:41 GMT, 6 December 2017 | UPDATED: 13:41 GMT, 6 December 201

By Ruma Paul DHAKA, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Bangladesh will import 150,000 tonnes of rice from India in a state deal priced at $440 a tonne, two food ministry officials said on Wednesday, as the government races to restore depleted reserves and combat high prices.

Traditionally the world's fourth-biggest rice producer, Bangladesh's imports of the grain are set to hit their highest levels in a decade after floods damaged its crops.

India's state-run National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) will supply the non-basmati parboiled rice within 60 days after signing the deal, which will take place soon, the officials said.

The price includes shipping, insurance and discharge costs.

Bangladesh had already sealed a deal with India's another state agency PEC to import 100,000 tonnes of rice at $455 a tonne.

Rice is a staple food for Bangladesh's 160 million people and high prices pose a problem for the government, which faces a national election next year.

Despite deals with several rice exporting countries such as Vietnam, Bangladesh is still struggling to build its reserves, after a deal with Cambodia for 250,000 tonnes was scrapped last month over a delay in shipments.

Strong demand from Bangladesh helped push Asian rice prices to multi-year highs in June.

Bangladesh's state grains buyer has also issued a series of invitations to tender as it looks to import a total of 1.5 million tonnes of rice in the year to June 2018.

A local tender to buy 100,000 tonnes of parboiled rice to be sourced internationally, will close on Dec. 14.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Rice at government warehouses stood at nearly 400,000 tonnes, well below the normal level of around 1 million tonnes.

In August, the government cut an import duty on rice for the second time in two months. The lower duty has prompted purchases to be made by private dealers, with most of the deals being struck with neighbouring India.

Bangladesh imported more than 1.8 million tonnes during July-November period, food ministry data showed.

(Editing by David Evans) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-5151837/Bangladesh-import-150-000-tonnes-riceIndia-440-T.html

There’s enough rice supply - NFA December 7, 2017 QUEZON CITY, Dec. 7 -- National Food Authority Administrator Jason Aquino assured the public of enough NFA rice available through the agency’s accredited rice outlets nationwide.

Aquino issued this reassurance in the wake of reported spike in prices of commercial rice in the market particularly in Metro Manila or the National Capital Region (NCR).

“For November, a total of 394,308 bags of rice were already distributed in our 1,630 NFA-accredited outlets in NCR. We will continue to supply the needed requirement. If there’s a need to increase our weekly allocation, we will do so to provide the public their needed rice supply,” Aquino said.

Aquino stressed that NFA rice remains at P27 per kilogram for 25 percent brokens and P32 per kilogram for 15 percent brokens. “There’s no price increase of the government rice. Our people can still buy NFA rice at these affordable prices,” Aquino said.

The NFA has a total of 16,335 accredited rice outlets nationwide strategically located in major and minor public markets.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter “The NFA is trying its best to judiciously allocate its limited rice stocks, focusing its distribution of lowpriced NFA rice to areas where more of our low-income countrymen will have continued access to affordable but good quality rice,” Aquino said.

For this year, the NFA was allowed to import only the balance of 250,000 metric tons from the approved importation of 500,000 MT in 2016. At the average daily consumption requirement of 31,463 MT or 629,260 bags, the rice imports are good for an additional 8 days to the government’s food security buffer stock.

“While it is part of our mandate to also stabilize the price and supply of rice in the markets, the NFA is experiencing difficulty at this time because of our low inventory which gives us a limited capacity to bring down prices,” Aquino said.

The NFA is also finding it hard to accomplish its palay procurement target because private traders were buying palay at much higher price of P18-P24/kg compared to the government’s support price of P17/kg.

The NFA assures, however, that the total industry stocks are more than enough for the country’s national requirement. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), total industry stocks at 1.944 million metric tons are good to last for 62 days.

“The only problem now is the price. Although we have so much supply industry-wide, the government is finding it hard to pull down prices of commercial rice due to our limited inventory,” Aquino said. (NFA)

http://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1002919 https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/commodities/news/bengal-rice-farmers-see-a-bright-spotin-africa/articleshow/61958599.cms

Govt to buy 1.5 lakh tonnes of rice from India 12:00 AM, December 07, 2017 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:46 AM, December 07, 2017

Staff Correspondent The government in a desperate move to boost stock is going to import another 1.5 lakh tonnes of rice from India after an initiative to bring in the staple from Cambodia has recently failed.The cabinet committee on purchase yesterday approved a proposal to import the rice from India through state-to-state arrangement at $440 per tonne.

Earlier in October, the same committee approved a proposal to import 1 lakh tonnes of rice from India at $455 per tonne.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

This time the government is going to get at $15 less per tonne. The rice will arrive in two months from opening of Letter of Credit (LC).

The cabinet committee has so far approved proposals to import about 15.5 lakh tonnes of rice through state-to-state and open tender in last six months. The volume is 50,000 tonnes more than the government's rice import target in current fiscal year.

Food ministry officials said the committee in August approved a proposal to import 2.5 lakh tonnes of rice from Cambodia through state-to-state arrangement, but Bangladesh later cancelled the deal due to shipment delay.

The officials added the government has decided to import more rice from India to make a recovery.

The government is desperately trying to replenish its depleted stock through import after production was hit by flash floods and fungal attacks. It has taken initiatives to import rice in various ways including even import of 2 lakh tonnes through local traders.

Despite deals with several rice exporting countries including India, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, Bangladesh is still battling to increase its reserve, with rice import set to hit its highest level in a decade.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The import of rice at both government and private levels has been stepped up lately. From July 1 to November 21, 18.18 lakh tonnes of rice was imported. Of the quantity, 4.12 lakh tonnes was brought in by the government.

Last fiscal year, the government did not have to import any rice, but 13.32 lakh tonnes of the staple came through the private sector.

The government has also decided to import 20 lakh tonnes of food grains -- 15 lakh tonnes of rice and 5 lakh tonnes of wheat -- this fiscal year. This is 11 lakh tonnes more than the government's earlier projected food import target.

Through the imports, the government's food reserve, which had fallen below 3 lakh tonnes, has started to gradually increase.

The food reserve on November 21 was 6.15 lakh tonnes, of which rice was 3.97 lakh tonnes. On the same day last year the reserve was 7.94 lakh tonnes with the quantity of rice 5.04 lakh tonnes.

The cabinet committee on purchase yesterday also approved a proposal to import 50,000 tonnes of wheat at $245.35 per tonne to be supplied by Korea-based M/s Singsong Food Corporation. http://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/govt-buy-15-lakh-tonnes-rice-india-1501375

Rico’ blend seen cutting PHL’s rice imports

By Jasper Y. Arcalas December 6, 2017

In Photo: The National Food Authority (NFA) stores its buffer rice stock consisting of imports and paddy it purchased from farmers in its warehouses. The government is banking on the rice-corn blend to significantly reduce the country’s reliance on rice imports.

The consumption of rice-corn (Rico) blend will help corn farmers earn more and allow the Philippines to end its reliance on imported rice, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said in a social-media post President Duterte will personally endorse the rice-corn blend as the country’s “new staple” in Davao City on December 22.

“President Duterte’s endorsement of the blended rice and corn as a national staple food on December 22 will not only offer a healthier option for the Filipino consumer, but will finally erase the image of corn as a poor man’s ‘rice,’” Piñol said in a Facebook post on December 5.

“More than that, the acceptance by Filipino consumers of the blended rice and corn, or bigas–mais will finally end the country’s dependence on imported rice to fill up the shortfall on the rice requirements of the Philippines,” he added.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The DA chief said the consumption of rice-corn blend could wipe out the country’s rice-supply shortfall by 2019. “[Rico] would end the country’s rice-supply shortfall with the infusion in 2019 of about 500,000 metric tons [MT] of corn grits and 1 million metric tons in 2020, thus effectively achieving food-staple sufficiency for only the second time in the history of the country,” Piñol said.

He added the rice-corn blend is a healthier option for Filipino consumers as it has a low glycemic index.

Apart from these reasons, Piñol said the government is promoting the consumption of the Rico blend because it will give farmers an assured market for their produce.

The DA chief added the government, in partnership with the Philippine Maize Federation Inc. (Philmaize), will roll out the rice-corn blend next year.

“The bigas-mais blend will also be offered to the public initially in the outlets of the National Food Authority in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Baguio and other big cities,” he said.Piñol added the Rico blend will be affordable because it will be sold at around P35 per kilogram (kg), lower than the P50 per kg consumers spend for white rice.

The DA said the event in Davao City will also be attended by representatives from the country’s large supermarket chains, including Ayala Abreeza Malls, SM Supermarket, Rustan’s, Robinsons and PureGold.

Earlier, Philmaize said they are targeting to sell at least 30,000 MT of rice-corn blend next year. https://businessmirror.com.ph/rico-blend-seen-cutting-phls-rice-imports/

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Bengal rice farmers see a bright spot in Africa

By Sutanuka Ghosal ET Bureau| Updated: Dec 07, 2017, 11.43 AM IST Prices of rice had shot up over 20 per cent since September when Bangladesh started importing

rice after floods affected its crop.Kolkata: Paddy farmers of West Bengal, the country’s largest producer of rice, are exploring African markets to export their produce, following a dip in demand from Bangladesh. “We are looking at West and South Africa for exporting our G1or Swarna Laghu variety of rice from the state,” said Subrata Mondol, general secretary at Burdwan District Rice Mills Association. The common rice variety is available in the wholesale market for Rs 25 per kg. “We are in touch with agents who deal with African nations. We have sent rice samples to the African nations. We are hoping to hear from them soon,” Mondol said. The move comes even as rice exports to Bangladesh have dwindled in November, which has brought down prices in domestic market. Prices of rice had shot up over 20 per cent since September when Bangladesh started importing rice after floods affected its crop. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com

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