9th february,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Rice E-Newsletter February 09 , 2015 V o l u m e 5, Issue I

Nigeria, Ghana, Others to Benefit from $3.3m Rice Production Grant 10 Feb 2015 Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Mrs. Fidelia Njeze www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Dele Ogbodo in Abuja Four African countries-Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Tanzania - are to benefit from the $3.3 million grant provided by Bill and Melinda Gates (BMGF) and the German Development Cooperation (BMZ), under their Competitive African Rice Initiative (CARI) project.The implementing institutions of the grant are led by GIZ, Technoserve, the John A. Kufuor (JAK) and Kili Trust (KT). The project, which will end in 2017 is targeting about 120,000 small scale rice producers, while secondary beneficiaries are the rural service providers and rice millers.

The initiative is geared towards improving their sourcing capacity of quality supply.Speaking on the establishment of the Nigeria/ECOWAS Rice Sector Policy and Regulation Advocacy Platform in Abuja, CARI’s project coordinator, Mr. Stefan Kachelriess-Matthess, stated that the main instrument for the implementation of CARI across the four countries on the matching grant will be on the basis of Public Private Partnership (PPP).

Kachel-Matthess said: "The projects are implemented at two levels of support, we support up to 40 percent of implementation cost and our Nigerian partners in the private sector have to provide 60 per cent of the implementation cost."In her remarks, the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Mrs. Fidelia Njeze, who was represented by Mrs. Jael Kpatuwak expressed the hope that the CARI project will address coordination failures, create better linkages among rice value chain actors, the result which, she said, will lead to increase in the economic returns for all stakeholders.She said the sector holds the key to getting Nigeria out of poverty as it provides food security, employment for the teeming population and creating the platform for a diversified economy towards an industrialisation revolution.

Njeze said: “this focus on rice commodity is most strategic for Nigeria and the West African subregion which imports close to 50 percent of rice from foreign countries outside the shores of the African continent.“In the last couple of years, Nigeria spent approximately N1 billion daily on rice importation. This has led to the export of our jobs and financial resources meant for the transformation of the domestic rice sector in order to achieve self-sufficiency and exports. ”According to her, the German Development Cooperation has been a major partner to NEPAD in the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), adding that GIZ had supported the organisation Nigeria’s CAADP country team orientation workshop in 2011.Also speaking at the event, the ECOWAS Commissioner of Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources, Dr. Lapodini Marc Atouga, represented by a Director at the Commission, said rice consumption in the last two years in the sub-region had increased from 7 to 7.7 million tons, pointing out this clearly shows that production is not matching up with the consumption as it has to depend on international imports for 40 per cent of

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine its rice supply with Thailand and Vietnam as the leading suppliers of the commodity to the region.

As a way of achieving its regional Agriculture Investment Programme (RAIP), he said the Commission went a step further to develop projects and programmes that will increase rice production and productivity in the region.While commending the various initiatives, he said ECOWAS welcomes the setting up of an advocacy platform for rice in Nigeria.He said: "I will like to commend GIZ/CARI foor this timely initiative. The need to have a permanent and functional platform to promote rice development cannot be overemphasised."With the current interventions on rice in the West Africa region we must all endeavour to build sustainable rice value chains with access to finance, technology and knowledge to move the region from a rice deficit to a rice surplus one."

Tags: Business, Nigeria, Featured

Source with thanks:http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/nigeria-ghana-others-to-benefit-from-3-3m-riceproduction-grant/201423/

Where has the RM300 rice subsidy gone?

2015-02-09 14:22 Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE Sin Chew Daily Kedah Regency Council deputy chairman and two rice millers have lodged a report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) against Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob over suspected power abuse in handling rice subsidy, exposing drawbacks in the RM500 million subsidy for Super Tempatan ST15% broken rice.

Poor people are unable to purchase subsidied rice, due to allegedly pocketing problems involving senior officials in the government.However, Ismail Sabri, who was severely criticised recently for harming racial harmony due to his boycott call, has distanced himself from the allegation, claiming that he has no supreme decision-making power in the government’s ST15% national rice subsidy programme.

He said that the supply of the subsidised rice is handled by the commission led by the Ministry's Secretary-General. As the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister, how could Ismail Sabri pass the buck just like that? The accusation does not seem to be baseless as it was openly pointed out by the Kedah Regency Council deputy chairman, who is a rice miller himself.It was reported that the Kedah Regency Council deputy chairman has his rice supply quota cut from 1,000 tons to 100 tons as he refused bribery while the supply of other rice millers were completely cut off. It is believed that many other millers are facing the same problem, showing that corruption problems in the rice subsidy programme has become increasingly serious.

The government implements the ST15% national rice subsidy programme and subsidies 60,000 tons of rice each month, with RM750 subsidy for each ton. However, rice millers receive only RM450 for each ton while the other RM300 was said to have passed to specific officials in the www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Ministry. If such a saying is true, it shows the existence of corruption practices and who are the so-called specific officials? The MACC must investigate where has the RM300 gone.

The purpose of the government to spend RM500 million for rice subsidy each year is to allow the poor buy cheap rice, helping them to ease financial burden. The intention is good, but has unfortunately been abused by corrupt officials and unscrupulous rice millers, who turn ST15% broken rice into ST5% rice to gain profits from it, causing ST15% rice can no longer be seen in the market, and the poor still need to buy expensive rice. The government's subsidy has only benefited the senior officials. The Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry has failed to properly implement the rice subsidy programme and many problems have derived from it. The Minister's capability should be questioned.

To solve the problem of abusing rice subsidy, the government must make a thorough reform, such as revoking the quota system for Bumiputera rice millers. The Ministry allegedly allows only Malay rice millers to enjoy the subsidy while shutting the door to Chinese rice millers, rather allowing Malay millers to store up to 6,000 tons of rice and Chinese rice millers to face shortage of supply. Unfair policy is also a factor causing corruption and abuse of power.Since Kedah Regency Council deputy chairman has lodged a report against the Agriculture and AgroBased Industry Minister and officials, we hope that the MACC can launch a thorough investigation on involving wholesalers, millers and officials in the ministry to lift the doubts of the people, as well as allow the poor to enjoy the rice subsidy.

Source with thanks:http://www.mysinchew.com/node/105893

Where has the RM300 rice subsidy gone? — Sin Chew Daily PUBLISHED: FEBRUARY 10, 2015 10:29 AM

FEBRUARY 10 — Kedah Regency Council deputy chairman and two rice millers have lodged a report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) against Agriculture and AgroBased Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob over suspected power abuse in handling rice subsidy, exposing drawbacks in the RM500 million subsidy for Super Tempatan ST15 per cent broken rice.

Poor people are unable to purchase subsidied rice, due to allegedly pocketing problems involving senior officials in the government.However, Ismail Sabri, who was severely criticised recently for harming racial harmony due to his boycott call, has distanced himself from the allegation, claiming that he has no supreme decision-making power in the government’s ST15 per cent national rice subsidy programme. He said that the supply of the subsidised rice is handled by the commission led by the Ministry’s Secretary-General. As the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister, how could Ismail Sabri pass the buck just like that? The accusation does not seem to be baseless as it was openly pointed out by the Kedah Regency Council deputy chairman, who is a rice miller himself. www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

It was reported that the Kedah Regency Council deputy chairman has his rice supply quota cut from 1,000 tons to 100 tons as he refused bribery while the supply of other rice millers were completely cut off. It is believed that many other millers are facing the same problem, showing that corruption problems in the rice subsidy programme has become increasingly serious.The government implements the ST15 per cent national rice subsidy programme and subsidies 60,000 tons of rice each month, with RM750 subsidy for each ton. However, rice millers receive only RM450 for each ton while the other RM300 was said to have passed to specific officials in the Ministry. If such a saying is true, it shows the existence of corruption practices and who are the so-called specific officials?

The MACC must investigate where has the RM300 gone.The purpose of the government to spend RM500 million for rice subsidy each year is to allow the poor buy cheap rice, helping them to ease financial burden. The intention is good, but has unfortunately been abused by corrupt officials and unscrupulous rice millers, who turn ST15 per cent broken rice into ST5 per cent rice to gain profits from it, causing ST15% rice can no longer be seen in the market, and the poor still need to buy expensive rice. The government’s subsidy has only benefited the senior officials. The Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry has failed to properly implement the rice subsidy programme and many problems have derived from it. The Minister’s capability should be questioned.

To solve the problem of abusing rice subsidy, the government must make a thorough reform, such as revoking the quota system for Bumiputera rice millers. The Ministry allegedly allows only Malay rice millers to enjoy the subsidy while shutting the door to Chinese rice millers, rather allowing Malay millers to store up to 6,000 tons of rice and Chinese rice millers to face shortage of supply.

Unfair policy is also a factor causing corruption and abuse of power.Since Kedah Regency Council deputy chairman has lodged a report against the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister and officials, we hope that the MACC can launch a thorough investigation on involving wholesalers, millers and officials in the ministry to lift the doubts of the people, as well as allow the poor to enjoy the rice subsidy. — Sin Chew Daily * This is the personal opinion of the writer or organisation and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.

Source with thanks:http://www.themalaymailonline.com/what-you-think/article/where-has-the-rm300-ricesubsidy-gone-sin-chew-daily#sthash.fMyQdn2j.dpuf

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AMTek Microwaves lends equipment for research in rice drying, processing Posted: Monday, February 9, 2015 12:00 am Bringing in a microwave to dry harvested rice could do more than just get the job done faster.

Researchers at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture seek to use it to prevent cracking of dried rice kernels and maintain milling quality.The Food Science Department is working with equipment on loan from AMTek Microwaves of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to determine the capabilities.

“This is new for rice, especially for drying rice,” said Griffiths Atungulu, an assistant professor of grain processing and engineering in the department who is leading the research effort.

“Traditionally, rice has been dried in the U.S. using natural air in-bin, and heated-air, hightemperature cross-flow drying systems. The microwave is another potential new technology. We are working with AMTek to see how we can optimize the new technology to maintain quality of the dried rice.”

Atungulu sees considerable potential for microwave drying and the benefits it can offer in rice processing. Microwave dryers use volumetric heating—heating the entire kernel nearly all at once—that may allow for rapid drying. The volumetric heating of rice accorded by microwaves reduces chances of high moisture content gradients developing in the rice kernels, which in turn reduces the likelihood of kernels cracking from stress.

When such cracking is prevented, the kernels are less susceptible to breakage during milling.

Breakage can reduce the rice milling yield, which has a negative economic impact for rice producers and processors.“One of the things we look for is to dry rice quickly, but in ways that maintain rice quality in terms of milling, nutrition, sensory and functionality.” Atungulu said.

“Rice milling quality is very sensitive to moisture content and temperature gradients encountered during drying. This particular equipment is designed with modular processing features, which we hope to optimize with an optimal goal that rice could be dried to safe storage moisture content in a single pass and not introduce huge moisture content gradients that might produce fissures or cracking. ”Atungulu also sees some potential for using the technology to achieve not only drying but also disinfestation and decontamination of any insects that may be deleterious to rice quality during storage.The research project being pursued by Division researchers would be on a pilot-scale using the AMTek microwave and other facilities on campus. The results could be applicable on a larger industrial scale. Atungulu said it is important to experiment with various bed-layer thicknesses on the conveyor belt to determine drying characteristics. The microwave energy supplied to mass amounts of rice such as would be the case in a scaled-up process should take into account the thickness of the rice bed and initial moisture content.“Those are some of the parameters we need to define very carefully. ” Atungulu said. “What is that optimal bed thickness? What intensity of heat does the microwave correspond to that will give us desired drying duration and product quality for rice at a given initial moisture content? Those must be determined before anyone can begin thinking about www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine scaling up for industry.”The research team expects to work on the project while testing different cultivars of rice and at different seasons. The company’s equipment is on loan throughout that process, said Stephen Rogers, AMTek vice president.

AMTek joined with the Division of Agriculture after the company was asked by a foreign nation to develop a rice drying machine, Rogers explained. He said AMTek personnel weren’t familiar with rice drying techniques, but then they discovered papers on the topic written by Atungulu and Terry Siebenmorgen, director of the Division’s Rice Processing Program.“So we contacted them and have been working to establish this relationship to have them help us figure out how to dry rice using microwaves,” Rogers said. The project is expected to take three years.

Source with thanks:http://www.hpj.com/general/article_b8c35268-edbe-522c-b18a-4c25d673071c.html

Authentic American Rice Logo Debuts in Mexico MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- The USA Rice Federation officially unveiled the first ever American rice origin seal for an overseas market at a trade and press breakfast event here last Thursday. The purpose of the logo is to allow the Mexican consumer to easily identify the high quality, consistency, and safety of American-origin rice, heretofore difficult for the public. The logo kick-off for "Arroz Americano Autentico" drew more than 40 members of the Mexican rice trade, as well as representatives of the U.S. Embassy, Agricultural Trade Office, Mexican Rice Council, major packers, millers, culinary school directors, magazine editors, supermarket reps, and TV and newspaper reporters.

"I love the logo which clearly identifies the U.S. as the quality origin of rice, and kudos to USA Rice for the initiative," said Joseph Lopez, Acting Minister Counselor for Agricultural Affairs and Director of the U.S. Agricultural Trade Office in Mexico."We're the largest importer of U.S. paddy rice and we are interested in the growth of our brands," said Karen Reiterhart, Marketing Manager of Schettino Hermanos. "We consider the logo is going to help distinguish our brand as the highest quality and safest in the market."

"The logo lets the consumer distinguish the high quality, food safety, and research that goes into American rice," said Guillermo Cardenas, Director General of Agri-Grain, a key importer of U.S. rice, and President of Consejo Agroalimentario de Productos Básicos, a trade group of major importers, wholesalers, and distributors of basic commodities. "Congratulations to USA Rice. We look forward to using the new logo for our leading U.S.-origin rice brand," said www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Alejandro Alvarez, Director General of La Merced, the second most popular rice brand in Mexico.USA Rice Vice President of International Promotion Jim Guinn, attended the event and said, "The Authentic American Rice quality seal will be promoted by USA Rice in Mexico specifically emphasizing the quality, versatility, safety, and consistency of U.S. rice. Copromotions are being planned for those packers and distributors that utilize the logo."

Contact: Marvin Lehrer (210) 663-0360 Source with thanks:USA Rice Federation

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for February 9

Month

Price

Net Change

March 2015

$10.435

- $0.305

May 2015

$10.690

- $0.310

July 2015

$10.945

- $0.305

September 2015

$10.955

- $0.145

November 2015

$11.010

+ $0.065

January 2016

$11.100

+ $0.065

March 2016

$11.100

+ $0.065

Source with thanks:USA Rice Federation

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CAMBODIA PRESS-Rice federation may rely on banks, govt for capital - Cambodia Daily

By REUTERS PUBLISHED: 03:48 GMT, 9 February 2015 | UPDATED: 03:48 GMT, 9 February 2015 The Cambodian Rice Federation plans to borrow at least $400,000 for international marketing campaigns if it fails to meet its goal of raising $777,000 for the plans through export fees on members, Cambodia Daily reported, citing president Sok Puthyvuth.Puthyvuth said the federation may turn to commercial banks or the government to cover costs, or even look further afield, it reported. (http://bit.ly/1KyvIdX) ---NOTE: Reuters has not verified this story and does not vouch for its accuracy. (Compiled by Phnom Penh Newsroom; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath) Source

with

thanks:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-2945385/CAMBODIA-

PRESS-Rice-federation-rely-banks-govt-capital--Cambodia-Daily.html

Egyptian rice exporters say tariff is too high Mon Feb 9, 2015 7:42am GMT "Effectively, what you are doing is paying the government around $480 a tonne to export while the value of the rice is around $400 which makes you end up with a cost and freight price of around $880 a tonne," another rice exporter, Adham El Welely, executive director of El Welely group, said.Egypt, which produced around 4.3 million tonnes of rice in the 2014 season, only consumes around 3.3 million tonnes.Egyptian medium grain rice mainly competes with U.S., Russian and Italian rice on the international market with some rice from those countries selling for around $750 a tonne.

"We used to export around 120,000 tonnes a year before the ban was imposed, mainly to Middle East markets such as Syria, Turkey, Kuwait and Dubai," El Welely said.El Welely has licences to export around 5,000 tonnes under the new system and has so far exported around 1,000 tonnes, mainly to Syria.Egypt first imposed a ban on exports in 2008 saying it needed to save the rice for local consumption and wanted to discourage rice farmers from growing the crop to save water.However, rice exporters have complained that the ban on free exports has led to illicit trading.

"When smugglers sell the rice at $750 a tonne they make an almost 100 percent profit on it and there are a million ways they find to do that," Karim Otabachi, import and export manager of Egyptian grains trader Wakalex said.One way is to buy cheaper Indian rice for re-export and then substitute those exports with Egyptian rice, leaving the Indian rice to be sold on the local market instead. ($1 = 7.6300 Egyptian pounds) (Editing by Greg Mahlich) www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Source with thanks:http://af.reuters.com/article/egyptNews/idAFL5N0VJ0FD20150209?pageNumber=2&virtualBran dChannel=0

Investors eye Myanmar's rich potential for rice growing PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI THE NATION February 9, 2015 1:00 am MYANMAR may go back to being one of the world's major rice exporters in five to 10 years, as many Thai and foreign investors are looking to expand in rice mills and farms in the country.Thai traders and experts all believe that Myanmar has great potential to become a major rice producer in the near future because it has plenty of land with good quality soil for raising rice, abundant water and a strategic location for distributing rice. Vichai Sriprasert, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said last week that some rice millers and exporters have started exploring Myanmar to establish mills and parboiled rice processing plants after realising the country's potential to produce large quantities of the commodity for export.

Thai investors are studying Myanmar's investment laws and regulations. Once all issues are clarified, they can start investing in a few years," he said. Most investors are considering setting up large-scale rice mills to make their investment worthwhile. To build a large mill that processes up to 500 tonnes of rice a year, an investment of up to Bt300 million is required, not including the cost of land. The areas that Thai rice traders are eyeing are around Yangon and in rice-growing areas along major rivers in Myanmar, such as the Ayeyarwaddy River and Bago, which flows through the central region, the Thanlwin or Salween River, which connects to Thailand, and the Sittaung River, which lies in the east-central part of the country.

Besides the existing rice growing areas, 40 million to 50 million rai of land in the country could be developed and promoted for growing rice.Other foreign investors that are also keen on investing in the farming industry, including rice, come from mainland China, Japan and Korea, and from the Middle East.Myanmar used to be the world's largest rice supplier before the 1980s.

However, after the military government closed the country, local farmers shunned rice, as the returns became less attractive. However, to invest in rice or other farming businesses, Thai companies need to form a joint venture with local operators, as local farming businesses are restricted to only Myanmar citizens.Chareon Laothammatas, president of the association, said that with the food security policy of many foreign governments, many rice importing countries are looking to expand to developing countries including Myanmar and other countries in Asean.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, Myanmar is projected to export 1.3 million-1.5 million tonnes of rice this year, up from about 1.3 million tonnes last year. In 2014-15, rice production in Myanmar is forecast to increase by 1 per cent to 12.16 million tonnes in anticipation of continued expansion of the growing area. The construction of eight dams, which were targeted to be completed last year, and the renovation of drainage canals in flood zones and deep-water areas in the Ayeyarwaddy region, are likely to increase the planting acreage for dry season rice.Aat Pisanwanich, director of the Centre for International Trade Studies, said Myanmar is one of the high-potential countries that have attracted the interest of many Thai investors and rice is one of the potential businesses. www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Rice production in Myanmar is cheaper than in Thailand, while Myanmar has many positive factors including plenty of space, water supply and a location to support rice growing and exporting.The study found the cost of rice production in Myanmar is about Bt7,122 per rai, and could be lower after state dams are built and operating.

The centre's study also forecast that Thailand would lose a total of Bt87.5 billion (or Bt8.7 billion per year) in rice exports to 2022 if a serious effort is not made to develop the industry.

The Thai share of the world market is tipped to drop to 2.3 per cent from 2.5 per cent last year.

The lost market share will go to neighbouring countries - Vietnam and Myanmar. Thailand's market share in Asia would slump from 1.3 per cent in 2013 to just 0.3 per cent in 10 years because other rice-exporting nations - mainly Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar - will play a more significant role in supplying the continental market.

Source with thanks:http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Investors-eye-Myanmars-richpotential-for-rice-gro-30253650.html

China to help build rice mills Published on Monday, 09 February 2015 08:22 Under a contract signed between Myanmar and China, 200-tonne advanced rice mills will be built in Nyaungdone, Ayeyarwady Region, according to the Myanmar Rice Millers Association (MRMA).“Myanmar Rice Miller Company is formed under the MRMA. The company has signed an agreement with the China CAMC Engineering Co (CAMCE). Under the agreement, both sides will cooperate on the construction of the international-standard rice mills.

Afterwards, we will carry out rice grinding and then export quality rice to China as well as to other international markets,” said Nay Lin Zin, joint secretary from the MRMA. The construction will start this year and is due to be completed by 2017. “We have brought the plots of land for the first rice mill in Sarmalauk in Nyaungdone, and will build two 200-tonne rice mills. As a first step, we will build a 200-tonne rice mill,” he added. Under the deal between the Myanmar Rice Federation and the Chinese firm, COFCO, China will purchase 100,000 tonnes of rice at the market price after the completion of the work. The MRF will coordinate the direct sales of rice with COFCO, with both sides preparing the grinding and export of the rice types and quality favoured in China.

Source with thanks:http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8967:chinato-help-build-rice-mills&catid=33:business&Itemid=356

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H1 rice import on meteoric rise Yasir Wardad Rice import surged 440 per cent in the first half (H1) of the current financial year, traders said, in a peculiar paradox while the government has opted for and already begun export of the staple.Millers lament that the rice import on such a large scale is posing a serious threat to local rice mills.Food Ministry officials said the volume of imports in the July-January period of the current financial year (FY'15) surpassed the overall import made in the FY '14.Bangladesh Bank's latest data shows private traders imported rice worth $248.5 million (settled LCs) in JulyDecember period of the current fiscal. The figure was only $46.1 million in the corresponding period of the FY '14.

The overall import of rice amounted to $377.22 million in the FY '14.The central-bank data shows that private importers brought in rice worth $60 million just in December.An official at the Directorate-General of Food (DGoF) said importers brought 0.72 million tonnes of rice in the July-January period of the FY '15. The overall import in the FY '14 was 0.371 million tonnes.Local millers have almost trembled down as nearly 60 per cent of mills were forced to stop their operation in the peak 'rice-milling season' following the import coupled with the ongoing political turmoil that severely hampered transportation, said leading mill owners.

Secretary of Bangladesh Auto Major and Husking Mills Owners' Association (BAMHMOA), the biggest platform of the country's rice millers, KM Layek Ali said that the sector was in a big trouble due to the import and the ongoing blockade.He pointed out that the government fixed Aman-rice price at Tk 33 per kilogram while the importers brought rice at prices below Tk 27-28 per kg from India."The millers are facing an uneven competition which may have a disastrous impact on market stability in future," he said.He made a disconcerting disclosure that 60 per cent out of 20,000 mills across the country stopped their operation. It will, in his assumption, have a serious impact on the market as prices of the staple may shoot up significantly.

Shahidur Rahman Patwary Mohan, an executive member of BAMHMOA, said: "Apart from imports, the ongoing political turbulence also has battered our business."He said in peak seasons like Boro and Aman farming, millers husk nearly 60,000 tonnes of paddy per day (for three months) which has been reduced to just 15,000 tonnes.The milling crash occurred as orders from Dhaka, Chittagong and elsewhere in the country are being cancelled in fear of vandalism on highways. He said truck owners were not willing to run their vehicles and the owners who were taking risks were charging double fares.

According to him, in addition to about 22 million farmers, nearly 7.0 million people are directly involved with rice milling while another 4.0 million indirectly depend on it.The industry leader said: "The mill owners and the workers are passing a tough time due to the imports and www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine blockades."Most of the mills depend on bank loans and count interest of 17-19 per cent which is adjusted on a three-month basis. And "hundreds of millers will turn loan defaulters, if this present trend continues".

Economist Dr Md Enamul Hoque said the government should have checks and balances on local production, supply and price trend before initiating a perfect rice import policy. "It is necessary to safeguard the local rice mills which are the compulsory segment for ensuring food security in the country."According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, overall rice production in the last financial year (FY'14) was at an all-time high of 34.35 million tonnes against the local demand for 31.0 million tonnes. tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com Source with thanks:http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2015/02/09/80249

Research and Markets: Global Rice Seed Industry Report 2014 February 9, 2015 DUBLIN — Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/jnp62f/global_rice_seed) has announced the addition of the "Global Rice Seed Industry Report 2014" report to their offering.The report provides an overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The rice seed market analysis is provided for the international markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status.Development policies and plans are also discussed and manufacturing processes and cost structures analyzed.

Rice seed industry import/export consumption, supply and demand figures and cost price and production value gross margins are also provided.The report focuses on nineteen industry players providing information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity production, price, cost, production value and contact information. Upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis is also carried out. The rice seed industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed. Finally the feasibility of new investment projects are assessed and overall research conclusions offered.

Key Topics Covered: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Rice Seed Industry Overview Rice Seed International and China Market Analysis Rice Seed Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis Rice Seed Production by Regions By Technology By Applications Rice Seed Manufacturing Process and Cost Structure 2009-2014 Rice Seed Productions Supply Sales Demand Market Status and Forecast

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine 7. Rice Seed Key Manufacturers Analysis 8. Up and Down Stream Industry Analysis 9. Rice Seed Marketing Channels Analysis 10. 2015-2020 Rice Seed Productions Supply Sales Demand Market Status and Forecast 11. Rice Seed Industry Development Proposals 12. Rice Seed New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis 13. Global Rice Seed Industry Research Conclusions Companies Mentioned 

Bayer  CP Seed  China National Seed  Dabeinong  Dupont Pionner  Gansu Dunhuang Seed  Grand Agriseeds  Grand Agriseeds Technology, Inc  HEFEI FENGLE SEED  Hancock Farm & Seed Company  Jiangsu Dahua  Kester's Nursery  Longping High-tech  Nidera  Syngenta  The Great Northern Wilderness Kenfeng seed Limited by Share Ltd  Winall Hi-tech Seed  Zhongnongfa Seed  Goldoctor For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/jnp62f/global_rice_seed Source with thanks:http://www.heraldonline.com/2015/02/09/6779677/research-and-markets-globalrice.html#storylink=cpy

Cheated 'Rice Berry' farmers paid Published: 9 Feb 2015 at 17.18 Online news: General Writer: Chinnawat Singha Farmers in Phitsanulok's Bang Rakam district have received overdue money from their rice berry. (Bangkok Post photo)

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine PHITSANULOK - A group of farmers who delivered their crops of a new strain of grain, Rice Berry, to a wholesaler but did not get paid have finally received the first down payment on their harvests. The 71 farmers last year delivered a total of 600 tonnes of Rice Berry, a new strain of premium quality rice, to Amporn Pholthao.They said he persuaded the group to grow the new strain and promised them a high price.

Five months after delivering their grain the farmers still had not received any money, so they sought for help from the agricultural ministry’s local office.The farmers, assisted by agriculture officials, have so far sold 200 tonnes of their rice, earning 1.18 million baht in total, The money was distributed to between the farmers on Monday by Anan Kittrattanwasin, the chief of Bang Rakam district.

Farmers show their overdue money received on Monday. Direk Yimhoi, chief of the district’s Agricultural Extension Office, said the office would try to find buyers for the remaining rice at 11,000 baht a tonne, and hoped to market the grain, a form of black rice, in the near future.He suggested farmers who want to invest in new crops or new projects should first consult his office to prevent problems. His staff could assist with technical issues and quality examination, and with marketing.

In July 2012 it was announced Thai scientists had developed new rice strains with a high antioxidant component that could help prevent the development of cancer and thalassemia.Rice Science Centre then-director Apichart Vanavichit earlier said the new strains, Rice Berry and Sin Lek, were full of anti-oxidants, iron and magnesium substances based on a clinical test by Kasetsart University.The bran and bran oil of Rice Berry contained lupeol that could help prevent cancer cell development or even kill the cells, he said.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Source with thanks: The Bangkok Post

Paddy procurement target fixed It has been planned to procure five lakh tonnes paddy through Direct Purchase Centres (DPC) established to benefit farmers in Thanjavur district during the current harvest season. With samba harvest in full swing, staff at the DPCs in many places are having their hands full as the heavy arrivals reflect the positive response from farmers.Paddy has been raised in over 1.35 lakh hectares under samba and thalady crops in Thanjavur district this season. Harvest has peaked in many regions of the district as so far over 55,000 hectares have been completed.

On the remaining 85,000 hectares, harvest would be undertaken soon for which the Agriculture Department, district administration, and the State Government were extending all facilities to farmers by offering them remunerative price for their produce, Dr. Subbaiyan said.Based on the demand from farmers, the TNCSC has established 308 DPCs across the district through which so far 60,000 tonnes of paddy had been procured from farmers against which Rs. 8.75 crore has been disbursed to the suppliers. To monitor the procurement process, 14 flying squads had been pressed into service Source with thanks:http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/paddy-procurement-targetfixed/article6870288.ece Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 09-02-2015 Domestic Prices

Unit Price : Rs/Qtl

Product

Market Center

Variety

Min Price

Max Price

Maize 1

Amirgadh (Gujarat)

Other

1410

1410

2

Athani (Karnataka)

Local

1150

1200

3

Saharsa (Bihar)

Other

1400

1450

1

Haveri (Karnataka)

Local

1100

1130

2

Botad (Gujarat)

Other

1000

1000

3

Kota (Rajasthan)

Other

1470

1500

Jowar (Sorgham)

Papaya

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine 1

Batala (Punjab)

Other

1500

1600

2

Palampur(Himachal Pradesh)

Other

1800

2000

3

Dadri(Uttar Pradesh)

Other

1400

1620

1

Chala (Kerala)

Other

2800

2850

2

Jowai (Meghalaya)

Other

2000

4000

3

Bonai (Orissa)

Other

1500

2000

Brinjal

Source: agmarknet

for more products

Egg

Rs per 100 No. Price on 09-02-2015

Product

Market Center

Price

1

Ahmedabad

309

2

Namakkal

290

3

Hyderabad

275

Source: e2necc.com

International Benchmark Price Price on: 09-02-2015

Product

Benchmark Indicators Name

Price

Apricots 1

Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)

6125

2

Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)

4875

3

Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t)

3625

1

Greek provincial, CIF UK (USD/t)

1619

2

Greek Vostizza, CIF UK (USD/t)

Currants

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Honey 1

Argentine 50mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

4360

2

Argentine 85mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

4310

3

Australian extra light/light amber, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

5340

Source:agra-net

for more products

Other International Prices

Unit Price : US$ / package Price on 09-02-2015

Product

Market Center

Origin

Variety

Low

Package: flats 1 layer

Mangoes 1

Atlanta

2

Detroit

3

Kent

Peru Ecuador

Miami

Kent Kent

Peru

11

12

9

10

10

10

Package: 50 lb cartons

Cabbage 1

2

3

Atlanta

Florida

Round Green Type

13

Georgia

Round Green Type

12

14.50

Miami

Florida

Round Green Type

11

12

Package: cartons tray pack 1

Baltimore

10

Detroit

Apples

2

High

Atlanta

Idaho

Red 22 New Delicious York

Red Delicious

10

10.50

22

Source with thanks: APEDA

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