10th february,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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RI, Pakistan to boost bilateral trade

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Business | Tue, February 10 2015, 3:50 PM

Business News

Indonesia aims to boost its trade with Pakistan in the future as both countries continue to enjoy

the benefits of such activity.Indonesia recorded a US$1.8 billion surplus in its bilateral non oil

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter

February 10 , 2015 V o l u m e 5, Issue I



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and gas trade with Pakistan during the January to November 2014 period.The Trade Ministry‘s

national export development director general, Nus Nuzulia Ishak, said she was optimistic the

trade between Jakarta and Islamabad would continue growing.

―This collaboration will create more opportunities for our trade and investment activities in

Pakistan,‖ Nus said in at her office in Jakarta on Tuesday, as quoted by kontan.co.id, after a

meeting with Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) senior vice president Ibrahim

Kusumbi who is also the Petrogulf Polymer DMCC CEO.As well as the KCCI, she said the Rice

Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) had also expressed its interest in working with

Indonesia.In addition, she said that the Karachi delegations invited Indonesia to join their ―My

Karachi-Oasis of Harmony‖ exhibition which would run from Apr. 10 to 12 this year. (nfo)(+++)

Source with thanks:http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/10/ri-pakistan-boost-bilateral-

trade.html#sthash.HQ1IyyIn.dpufhttp://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/10/ri-pakistan-boost-bilateral-trade.html

Pakistan, Afghanistan seek to expand trade Pakistani businesses have much to gain by investing in Afghanistan, officials say.

By Zia Ur Rehman

2015-02-09

KARACHI – Government officials and traders from Pakistan and Afghanistan are working to

expand trade and investment in each other's country.

Afghan government officials and Pakistani business leaders attend a conference in Karachi

January 22. Government officials and traders from Pakistan and Afghanistan have been working

to explore ways to expand trade. [Zia Ur Rehman]

Afghanistan Ambassador to Pakistan Janan Mosazai

visited Karachi to confer with leaders of various

associations of commerce and industry January 21 – 24.

He is optimistic about the prospect of boosting trade and

investment in both countries."The new unity government

of Afghanistan … has shown great interest in increasing

bilateral trade with Pakistan," Mosazai told Central Asia

Online during his Karachi visit.The Pakistani business

community's response was very satisfactory and it has

shown great interest in investing in Afghanistan, he

added.

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Kabul offers incentives to Pakistani traders

Officials in Kabul are doing the best they can to persuade Pakistani business leaders to

invest."Already, there is co-operation between both governments on trade and transit−trade,"

Mosazai said. "But now we have mainly focused on investment."Mosazai offered Pakistani

investors the ability to establish their industrial units in Afghanistan's special economic zones,

especially in northern Afghanistan, which would help them penetrate Afghan as well as Central

Asian markets.

"We are ready to offer land, low taxes, full security, cheap electricity, water and other utilities to

Pakistan's business community in special economic zones," Mosazai said, adding that

Afghanistan's doors were open to Pakistani traders seeking to invest and enhance trade with their

counterparts in Afghanistan.Mosazai visited the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry

(KCCI) and the Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) to

meet their leaders.

Pakistani traders are interested, Majyd Aziz, a former KCCI president, told Central Asia

Online."The business communities of the two countries can undertake joint ventures in

agriculture, textile, construction, cash crops after their processing and other important sectors of

the economy," he said, adding that the mining sector commands the greatest interest. Pakistani

rice exporters could benefit by selling to Afghanistan as well as to Central Asia, he said.

Education is another sector where the business community can take advantage. A number of

Afghan students have been studying at various Pakistani academic institutions."Afghan students

are coming to Pakistan to obtain a professional education, especially in information technology,

medicine, nursing, business and engineering, on the Pakistani prime minister's scholarship

programme," Mosazai said.

Pakistani traders visited Kabul

Pakistani businessmen did not take long to follow up on the invitation to visit Afghanistan. A

five-member PAJCCI delegation January 31 met President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul to further

discuss the matter. The conference with Ghani was fruitful and several issues, including the

smuggling of goods, came up for discussion, KCCI President Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra, who led the

delegation, said."Ghani assured us that the Afghan government would take the smuggling of

goods seriously," he said, adding that Afghanistan was determined to facilitate domestic and

international investment.

"We want terrorism, poverty and anarchy eliminated so that the two countries could live in

peace," Vohra said, adding that the PAJCCI was prepared to extend its contributions in this

regard.Increased economic ties are already in the works. Both countries have vowed to expand

annual bilateral trade from US $2.5 billion (Rs. 252.9 billion) to US $5 billion (Rs. 505.8 billion)

in two to three years, Zahoor Ali Khan, a commerce analyst based in Islamabad, said."Highways,



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railway networks and air linkage between the two countries also were discussed in recent

meetings between officials of both countries," Khan told Central Asia Online.

Source with

thanks:http://centralasiaonline.com/en_GB/articles/caii/features/pakistan/main/2015/02/09/feature-01

JIPM offers rice growers a new resource against

the rice water weevil Feb 09, 2015

The rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus, is the most harmful insect pest of rice in the

United States, causing yield losses of up to 25%. Adults inflict damage by consuming leaf tissue,

and the larvae feed on the roots of rice plants. A native of the southeastern U.S., the rice water

weevil invaded Japan in 1976, Korea in 1980, China in 1988, and Italy in 2004.Luckily, rice

growers now have a new resource for controlling it. An open-access article appearing in

the Journal of Integrated Pest Management discusses the rice water weevil's life history and

invasion biology, as well as management strategies and future directions of research.

Authors Mohammad-Amir Aghaee and Larry D. Godfrey, both from the University of

California, Davis, tell the story of the weevil since it was first identified as a pest in 1881 by C.

V. Riley and L. O. Howard. They then discuss reasons why it has been able to spread so rapidly -

- up to 36 kilometers per year in some cases -- which is partly because of its ability to reproduce

asexually."This invasive ability is aided by a particular and peculiar aspect of this weevil's

biology, the fact that a small percentage of the population in its native range reproduces by

parthenogenesis," they wrote.

The authors also discuss methods of monitoring and sampling -- including the use of aquatic

barrier traps -- as well as management options, including cultural control methods such as

draining fields, delayed planting, winter flooding, and nutrient augmentation. They also suggest

that insect-resistant transgenic varieties, such as a newly-developed Bt rice plant transformed

with the Cry3A gene, might be another management option if approved for cultivation.Microbial

control options using the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana and the soil

bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis are also discussed, as are other management options which may

be available in the future.

###

http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/IPM14011



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The full article, "A Century of Rice Water Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): A History of

Research and Management With an Emphasis on the United States," is available

at http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/IPM14011.

The Journal of Integrated Pest Management is an open-access, peer-reviewed, extension journal

covering the field of integrated pest management. The journal is multi-disciplinary in scope,

publishing articles in all pest management disciplines, including entomology, nematology, plant

pathology, weed science, and other subject areas. The intended readership for the journal is any

professional who is engaged in any aspect of integrated pest management, including, but not

limited to, crop producers, individuals working in crop protection, retailers, manufacturers and

suppliers of pest management products, educators, and pest control operators.

JIPM is published by the Entomological Society of America, the

largest organization in the world serving the professional and

scientific needs of entomologists and people in related

disciplines. Founded in 1889, ESA today has nearly 7,000

members affiliated with educational institutions, health

agencies, private industry, and government. Members are

researchers, teachers, extension service personnel,

administrators, marketing representatives, research technicians, consultants, students, and

hobbyists. For more information, visit http://www.entsoc.org.

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted

to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the

EurekAlert system.

Source with thanks:http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-02/esoa-jor020915.php

FSG Sues Government Over GM Rice Feb 10, 2015

Food Sovereignty Ghana has filed a writ of summons against the

National Biosafety Committee NBC and the Ministry of Food and

Agriculture MoFA, with an application for an interim injunction to

restrain the recalcitrant defendants from any release and

commercialization of genetically modified cowpeas and rice until the

provisions of the Biosafety Act are expressly and fully obeyed. We

http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/IPM14011

http://www.entsoc.org/

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are not only calling for an injunction on the commercialisation of GM rice and Bt cowpeas, but on all GM

crops until the National Biosafety Authority is in place.

Food Sovereignty Ghana (FSG)

We are happy to announce that Food Sovereignty Ghana has filed a writ of summons against the National

Biosafety Committee NBC and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture MoFA, with an application for an

interim injunction to restrain the recalcitrant defendants from any release and commercialization of

genetically modified cowpeas and rice until the provisions of the Biosafety Act are expressly and fully

obeyed. We are not only calling for an injunction on the commercialisation of GM rice and Bt cowpeas,

but on all GM crops until the National Biosafety Authority is in place.We have taken this action as a

result of the fact that Ghanaians are being constantly bombarded with news items containing false claims

that the attempts to impose GM rice and beans or our precious ―waakye‖, or the famous fried plantain and

beans, alias ―red red‖, are being done in accordance with the law!

We maintain that this is certainly and evidently not the case. Our case is very simple. According to

Section 13 of the Biosafety Act, 2011, Act 831, on the ―The application to import or place on the market‖,

only the National Biosafety Authority has such a power to authorize the commercial release of GM foods

in Ghana. The law says:

―13. ( 1) A person shall not, without the prior written approval of the Authority, import or place on the

market a genetically modified organism.

(2) An application under subsection (1) shall include

(a) The information set out in the Third Schedule

(b) a risk assessment as set out in the Third Schedule, and

(c) any other information that the applicant may consider necessary for an assessment of the potential

risks and benefits of the requested activity.‖

[See: Ghana Biosafety Act 831 31 Dec 2011.pdf]

Now, we all know that the National Biosafety Authority does not even exist, because it is yet to be

inaugurated. No appointments have been made and approved even for it, so under what authority are

those undertaking these dangerous experiments doing so, and who is supervising them? Apparently, even

the National Biosafety Committee has no power of its own apart from the authority of the Minister for

Industries, Science and Technology, MIST.

Ghana is a signatory to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Article 23 of the Protocol requires Parties,

on their own and in cooperation with other States and international bodies, to promote and facilitate

public awareness and education, including access to information, regarding the safe transfer, handling and

use of living modified organisms (LMOs). It also requires Parties to consult the public in the decision-

making process, to make public the final decision taken and to inform public about the means of access to

the Biosafety Clearing-House.



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For example, currently in Malawi, the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources,

(LUANAR) applied for confined field trials of Bt cowpea, the same crop that Savannah Research

Institute, (SARI) has been investigating for years. Whilst a copy of the LUANAR is readily available,

there is still no trace of the SARI application even weeks after asking specifically for it! Here is a copy of

the LUANAR application: Bunda College Application for Confined Field Trial (CFT) of Bt-Cowpea |

Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa AFSA http://afsafrica.org/bunda-college-application-for-

confined-field-trial-cft-of-bt-cowpea/

Meanwhile, Section 11 (1) of the Act states very clearly that: ―A person shall not conduct a contained or

confined use activity involving genetically modified organisms or their development without the written

approval of the Authority‖. The law further stipulates in Section 42 (2) that ―The Authority shall publish

notices of final decisions concerning applications made under this Act in the Gazette and electronic and

print media‖, in order to ensure public awareness and participation. This is a far cry from the secrecy

surrounding the experiments currently going on in Ghana!

We maintain that none of these provisions are being respected. It even appears that the so-called National

Biosafety Committee is being run from the office of the Minister of Industries, Science and Technology.

We were extremely surprised to read from the reaction of Mr. Eric Okoree, Secretary to the National

Biosafety Committee, stating inter alia, that ―I have printed the request and submitted it to the Minister‘s

Secretariat for his information as per the Civil Service Procedure . He will minute it down to the

Secretariat for action to be taken.‖!

Up till now, several weeks after calling for copies of the documents on risk assessment and risk

management and benefits supporting the application by the Savanna Agricultural research Institute

(SARI), for the approval of field trials of Bt cow peas submitted for approval, no such document has been

forth-coming. Meanwhile this is the sort of information that must be voluntarily be made available to

members of the Ghanaian public in accordance with the law.

We find the situation of lawlessness surrounding the imposition of GMOs on Ghanaians most alarming as

bisosafety is a matter of life and death. The most fraudulent aspect of this is the fact that in spite of the

flagrant infringement of the Biosafety Act, the scientists behind these dangerous experiments keep

informing the public that everything is being done in accordance with the law.

For example, in Ghanaian scientists edge up with GM rice trials

http://www.modernghana.com/news/594252/1/ghanaian-scientists-edge-up-with-gm-rice-trials.html,

published on 24 January 2015, they claim that ―The confined field trials started in April 2013 at

Nobewam in the Ashanti region, after receiving approval from the National Biosafety Committee

(NBC).‖

Principal Investigator, Dr. Maxwell Asante, further informed the press that ―If the lead event is

confirmed, we will request for permission from the NBC to allow it to be grown by farmers in Ghana

after testing. The genes that make the GM rice nitrogen-use efficient will then be transferred to other

varieties in Ghana through conventional breeding methods,‖What is most worrisome is the fact these

these perpetrators are aware of the fact that ―There is strong opposition to the introduction of GM crops in

http://afsafrica.org/bunda-college-application-for-confined-field-trial-cft-of-bt-cowpea/

http://afsafrica.org/bunda-college-application-for-confined-field-trial-cft-of-bt-cowpea/



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Ghana‘s food production chain.‖Alarmingly, we also read, ―Biosafety advocate, Albert Aubyn, however

says there is no cause for worry with the current trials, noting that field activities are strictly in conformity

with regulative measures‖.

The story by Kofi Adu Domfeh ends with the assurances that ―Three confined field trials of rice, cowpea

and cotton are currently being evaluated in Ghana in compliance with the Biosafety Act 2011, Act 831,

which regulates GMOs‖.Meanwhile, according to the Section 13 of the Biosafety Act, 2011, Act 831, on

the ―The application to import or place on the market‖, it is the non-existent National Biosafety Authority

which has the power to authorise the commercialisation of GM foods in the country, and not the National

Biosafety Committee.We call on all Ghanaians who care about the safety and the quality of food they are

putting into their bodies, to show keen interest in this matter and provide us with the moral and material

support we need to prosecute this case which is set to be a David versus Goliath struggle.

For Life, the Environment and Social Justice!

George Tetteh Wayo, Esq.

Spokesperson on Legal Affairs

Communications Directorate, FSG

Source with thanks:http://www.spyghana.com/fsg-sues-government-gm-rice/

Africa: On-Farm System Turns Rice Plants Into Biofuel and

Fodder

Tagged:AfricaAsia, Australia, and AfricaBusinessEnergyExternal RelationsInnovationScience

By Aamna Mohdin

A technology to create biofuel and animal feed at the same time without any off-site processing has been

developed by Japanese researchers.The solid-state fermentation (SSF) system involves wrapping rice

plants grown to feed livestock along with yeast, enzymes and bacteria into a bale covered with a plastic

film, and capturing the ethanol produced by the resulting fermentation.This technology builds on

traditional processes used by farmers around the world to create silage to feed livestock such as cattle,

goats and sheep, according to a report published on 30 January in the journal Biotechnology for Biofuels.

"Our SSF system does not require special equipment and large facilities," says Mitsuo Horita, a

researcher at the National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences who is the project's lead researcher.

"Harvested materials are immediately packed into a round bale in the field, which is similar to a

conventional silo used for silage fermentation. No extra energy needs to be supplied to the system."Horita

says the system produces high yields of ethanol and silage, without any plant waste. By processing plants

destined for animal feed, it also avoids competing with food crops, he says.As a result, the technology

could help address criticism of biofuels, which at present are mostly created from crops such as rice and

maize. These first-generation biofuels have come under fire for driving up food prices as their production

competes with the farming of crops to feed people.

http://www.spyghana.com/fsg-sues-government-gm-rice/



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Conventional biofuel manufacture also requires energy for transport and to run industrial processing

plants.But Jahi Chappell, director of agriculture policy at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy,

an NGO that promotes sustainable farming, says the SSF system may fail to solve the biofuels

conundrum."Competition that lowers food security could still happen if this process led to conversion of

lands suitable for other agricultural activities into land used for biofuel and feed production," he says.

According to Horita, the biggest challenge to implementing SSF on a larger scale is the cost of rolling out

the technology. Researchers would have to present the advantages of using the system to farmers, who

would also need access to power stations that can buy and use the resulting ethanol, he says.But Siwa

Msangi, a researcher at the US-based International Food Policy Research Institute, says the technology is

a welcome addition to global biofuel options, despite concerns about its shortcomings."We shouldn't stop

seeking ways to make better biofuels as we will need to add them to the portfolio of renewable energy

sources that are necessary to offset future climate change," he says.

Source with thanks:http://allafrica.com/stories/201502101076.html

Specifications of rice imports for this year to be set soon,

NFA says

TACLOBAN CITY -- The National Food Authority (NFA) Council will finalize on Friday the

specifications of rice to be imported this year.

Workers inside the National Food Authority rice warehouse in Visayas Ave. Quezon City -- Aileen

Camille B. Dimatatac

Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural

Modernization Francis N. Pangilinan said the interagency

council will convene on Feb. 13 to discuss the importation

details.―We are still collating all data, reviewing the last

harvest volume and checking the supply. If at all, stocks that

will be imported are only for buffer stocks,‖ said Mr.

Pangilinan, who is also NFA Council chairman.He declined to

give figures on the volume of rice to be imported but noted

that there is an existing standby authority to procure half-a-million metric tons (MT) of milled rice from

the usual sources in Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia.

Mr. Pangilinan visited Tacloban City on Monday to check stocks of NFA rice in the local market and lead

a task force meeting on the recovery of the coconut industry in the region attended by PCA officials and

local chief executives in Eastern Visayas.Rice importation is necessary to ensure that the country has a

15-day buffer stock for the off-harvest months, Mr. Pangilinan said.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201502101076.html


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NFA Administrator Renan B. Dalisay also declined to give estimates on the volume of importation and

import schedule, citing that speculation may fuel price movements in the world market since the

Philippines is one of the world‘s largest rice importers.―I have no authority to talk about details of the

importation. We just execute. It is hard to speculate because it caused adjustments of world market prices.

We will find out the specifications on Friday,‖ Mr. Dalisay said.

In a previous statement, the grains agency said the government may import between 500,000 metric tons

(MT) and 600,000 MT of milled rice this year.In October 2014, the Philippine government awarded the

supply contract for the importation of 500,000 MT of rice from Vietnam and Thailand.Meanwhile, the

agency is stepping up its local palay (unhusked rice) procurement program.In 2014, the NFA procured an

estimated 1.5 million MT, or 8% of the total 18.97 million MT domestic rice output.The NFA buys clean

and dry palay at P17 per kilogram, lower than the P18.90-per-kilogram farm-gate price of palay being

offered by commercial rice traders.

The government also provides additional incentives such as graduated delivery fee of up to a maximum of

P0.50 per kilogram, drying incentive fee of P0.20 per kilogram, and Cooperative Development Incentive

Fund assistance of P0.30 per kilogram.―While the palay buying price of NFA rice cannot be lowered,

other incentives are being studied such as the provision of health insurance to farmers that would conform

to NFA buying standards,‖ Mr. Dalisay added.

Source with thanks:http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=specifications-of-

rice-imports-for-this-year-to-be-set-soon-nfa-says&id=102507

China to help build rice mills

Myanmar Eleven February 10, 2015 7:08 pm

Myanmar rice producers hope to step up rice exports by collaborating with China to build modernised rice

mills.The Myanmar Rice Miller Co, founded under the Millers Association (MRMA), recently signed a

contract with China's CAMC Engineering Co (CAMCE) to build international-grade rice mills in

Nyaungdone, Ayeyawady region."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 of the MRMA.

Construction will start this year and is due to be completed by 2017."We have bought the land plots for

the first rice mill in Sarmalauk in Nyaungdone, and we will build two 200-tonne rice mills in the initial

phase," Nay Lin Zin added.Under a deal between the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) and the Chinese

firm COFCO, China will purchase 100,000 tonnes of rice at market price after the completion of the

work. The MRF will coordinate the direct sale of rice with COFCO, with both sides preparing the

grinding and export of the rice types and qualities favoured in China.

The plan is in line with one of the recommendations by the World Bank that Myanmar should modernise

its rice mills to increase private stocks and trigger productivity and quality improvement at the farm

level.Although Myanmar's rice exports amounted to 1.4 million tonnes, rice exports to Southeast Asia -

the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia - are still modest, according to MRF.China remains Myanmar's

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=specifications-of-rice-imports-for-this-year-to-be-set-soon-nfa-says&id=102507

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major rice buyer, buying nearly 1 million tonnes this fiscal year alone."We have planned to extend to

Europe.

We will display rice and agricultural products, including fishery, livestock and forest produce in trade

fairs in Italy," said Ye Min Aung, the general secretary of MRF.The MRF has cooperated with other

agribusiness owners to improve agricultural crops and equipment in order to promote the country's

exports. With the implementation of these plans, officials expect rice exports to increase in the coming

years.

Source with thanks:http://www.nationmultimedia.com/aec/China-to-help-build-rice-mills-30253791.html

Malaysia; Where has the S$113.2 rice subsidy gone?

Sin Chew Daily/Asia News NetworkWednesday, Feb 11, 2015

MALAYSIA - 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 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.

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.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/aec/China-to-help-build-rice-mills-30253791.html

http://news.asiaone.com/source/sin-chew-dailyasia-news-network



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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 per cent 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. Source with thanks:http://news.asiaone.com/news/malaysia/malaysia-where-has-s1132-rice-subsidy-gone#sthash.fhqvfQ0U.dpuf

Nigeria, Ghana, Others to Benefit From U.S.$3.3 Million

Rice Production Grant

Tagged:AgribusinessFood and AgricultureBusinessGhanaNigeriaWest Africa

By Dele Ogbodo

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."

http://news.asiaone.com/news/malaysia/malaysia-where-has-s1132-rice-subsidy-gone#sthash.fhqvfQ0U.dpuf



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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 sub-region

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 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."

Source with thanks:http://allafrica.com/stories/201502101023.html

World Rice Production 2014/2015

February 2015

This month the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that the World Rice

Production 2014/2015 will be 474.56 million metric tons, around 0.91 million tons less than the

previous month's projection.

Rice Production last year (*) was 477.08 million tons. This year's 474.56 estimated million tons

could represent a decrease of 2.52 million tons or a 0.53% in rice production around the globe.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201502101023.html



14


Rice Production by Country

(Values in Metric Tons)

China: 144,500,000

India: 102,000,000

Others: 38,768,000

Indonesia: 36,500,000

Bangladesh: 34,600,000

Vietnam: 28,250,000

Thailand: 19,500,000

Philippines: 12,200,000

Burma: 12,150,000

Brazil: 8,300,000

Japan: 7,679,000

United States: 7,068,000

Pakistan: 6,500,000

Cambodia: 4,700,000

Egypt: 4,500,000

Korea, South: 4,241,000

Nepal: 3,100,000

Source with thanks:https://www.worldriceproduction.com/?Referer=Newsletter

UK: Birds Eye Serves Up New Pan-Cooked Meals Range

Birds Eye has launched a new range of stir-cooked meals called ‗Stir Your Senses‘, which it says is

inspired by cuisines from around the world. The company claims the all-in-one meals will offer

consumers a ―completely new, multi-sensorial cooking experience‖, and will provide all the pleasure of

quality time in the kitchen without the fuss of preparation‖. All the meals can be prepared by simply

stirring the ingredients in a pan, in less than ten minutes. The range includes eight chef-inspired dishes,

such as Tagliatelle con Porcini, and chilli & lime infused Thai Chicken with Basmati Rice.

The range will retail at an RRP of £2.99. The launch is supported with a £2.5m TV spend, alongside a

sampling campaign, PR, digital and in-store advertising. The first advert is due to go live in April, when

the brand plans for over 3,500 outlets to stock the majority of the range, with two price marked packs

(Tagliatelle con Porcini and South Indian Curry) also available across the convenience sector. Live at

launch, the new range will also feature a ‗Try Me Free‘ message across 1.6 million packs to drive

consumer trial.

NamNews - Tuesday 10th February 2015

Source with thanks:www.Kamcityhome.com

https://www.worldriceproduction.com/?Referer=Newsletter



15


If Apple Made iMilk And Nike Sold Fruit: Designer

Groceries As Art

February 9, 2015

Fruit by Nike is a piece by designer Peddy Mergui in his exhibit "Wheat is Wheat is Wheat,"

next on display in May at Expo Milano 2015. (Courtesy of Peddy Mergui)

By MARIA GODOY, NPR

Just eat it.It's hard to look at these stylish

packages of citrus fruit, bearing Nike's iconic

swoosh, without having the athletic company's

famous slogan "Just do it" immediately come to

mind. And that's precisely the point, says Israel-

based designer Peddy Mergui.

He says packaging tells a story, and can imbue

consumer goods with value and prestige. And he created

the Nike fruit as part of a project that reimagines

everyday foods as designer groceries. The goal, he tells

The Salt, is to explore how packaging manipulates our

perceptions and desires."In my line of work, I was

always asking, 'What is the ethical boundary for designers' ability to influence consumption? Are

we using our 'tools' wisely? This got me on a three-year journey to explore my field [and]

examine the way we think as consumers," he tells us in an email.The result, an exhibit called

"Wheat Is Wheat Is Wheat," borrows the visual branding of luxury brands to disturbingly

alluring effect.Coffee by Cartier

Yogurt containers in Tiffany blue connote a spoonful of privilege. A breakfast of Coffee by

Cartier, Eggs by Versace and Soft Butter by Bulgari feels like the ultimate in decadence.And a

carton of Mergui's iMilk By Apple is undoubtedly sleeker than anything we're used to seeing in

the dairy aisle.

http://www.npr.org/people/348777820/maria-godoy

http://www.peddymergui.com/

http://www.peddymergui.com/exhibits/

http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2015/02/09/peddy_exh_3_coffee-38454c4a63071324ec1e3e4de69242e71f5ba909.jpg?s=6

http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2015/02/09/peddy_exh_11_fruitpack_wide-670946b0f0cf31ce9b03ddbae5457d10e0ba19fa.jpg?s=6



16


It would probably look pretty good in my

refrigerator.Part of the seduction, says Mergui, is that

like many high-end brands, Apple isn't just selling

you products. "It represents a certain lifestyle, a

community," he says. And that goes to the heart of

what Mergui wanted his project to explore: How do

the values associated with a brand affect how we feel

about a ordinary food products done up in fancy

packaging?

MOST POPULAR

"Some will find [the resulting products] playful, ridiculous, exaggerated," he says. "Some may

even feel they belong."Indeed, there is a certain logic to having Nike – a company whose

products are associated with healthy, active lifestyles — peddle fruit. It wouldn't actually be the

first consumer goods purveyor to make the leap into foodstuffs. For example, the outdoor

clothing and gear company Patagonia sells smoked salmon provisions – a move which Mergui

says makes a lot of strategic sense: "They extended their outdoor brand to outdoor foods."Eggs

by Versace

For now, the comestibles Mergui imagines remain in the

realm of fantasy: Flour by Pradatickles the fancy in part

because an essential food product with a luxury label —

and presumably, with a luxury pricetag — seems so

outlandish.And yet, the uncomfortable truth of modern

food shopping is that there is a booming market of luxury

foods.

And while they may not have designer labels, they are certainly steeped with a set of values.

Why else would you pay $7 for a half-gallon glass bottle of local, grass-fed milk? Consumers

http://www.patagoniaprovisions.com/products/wild-sockeye-salmon-original

http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2015/02/09/peddy_exh_6_rice-4478b60c70913cfb35e514f009e849e80a6be7bd.jpg?s=6

http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2015/02/09/peddy_exh_5_eggsn-a43e9ac85198f5e1256d1d720bf66d9f6d416f56.jpg?s=6



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aren't just paying for the taste, but the lifestyle and values it embodies."Wheat is Wheat is

Wheat" was a hit when it went on display last April at San Francisco's Museum of Craft and

Design, says the venue's executive director, JoAnn Edwards. The reaction from museum visitors

"was unbelievable," she says — some left the exhibit asking why more daily goods weren't given

a designer gloss.

Excellent packaging, she says, is "becoming more and more something consumers respond

to."Mergui says he got a first-hand lesson on that while he was designing a container of "Chanel

infant formula.""A colleague of mine saw it in my office ... and asked where can she get it," he

says. "She wanted to buy it for her baby. That made me realize the power [these] luxury values

have."Basmati rice by HSBC

"Wheat is Wheat is Wheat" will next go on display in May at Expo Milano 2015.Update

2/10/15: As a reader notes in an email to The Salt, other artists have also used the concept of

designer foods to explore brand obsession and consumption. One of the best-known examples

comes from the influential artist Tom Sachs. Back in 1997, Sachs' Hermes Value Meal gave a

McDonald's meal a makeover in the spirit of the luxury fashion house — a jarring and cheeky

juxtaposition of the high and low end of consumer culture.

Last year, Tyler Shields' "Indulgence" series featured Prada Popcornand Hermes-

labeled milk and cola.And several years ago, the folks at The Cool Hunter pitched a real-life

version of designer fast food. The concept, called McFancy, envisioned a luxe, pop-up version of

McDonald's — with menu items like Gucci french fries and Burberry burgers — to be served at

Fashion Week in various cities.

Source with thanks:http://www.wbur.org/

USA Rice Participates in World's Largest Annual Food &

Hospitality Show

Hartwig Schmidt (far right) shares information about U.S. rice

DUBAI, UAE -- This year marks the 20th edition of Gulfood and USA Rice Federation is on the

show floor to meet with companies conducting business in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa.

Gulfood attracts importers, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and government

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/joann-edwards/10/267/112

http://www.expo2015.org/en/learn-more

http://www.tomsachs.org/

http://www.tomsachs.org/work/herms-gift-meal

http://www.tylershields.com/

http://www.tylershields.com/images/indulgence/prada-popcorn.jpg

http://www.tylershields.com/images/indulgence/hermes-milk.jpg

http://www.tylershields.com/images/indulgence/hermes-cola.jpg

http://www.thecoolhunter.net/article/detail/1682/mcfancy-and-mcmagic-by-access-agency

http://www.thecoolhunter.net/article/detail/1682/mcfancy-and-mcmagic-by-access-agency

http://www.wbur.org/



18


officials from around the world, making this show a central place for USA Rice to tout the

quality of U.S.-grown rice and network with potential traders on behalf of the industry.

"This event brings together nearly 5,000 exhibitors from

more than 120 countries," said Hartwig

Schmidt, USA Rice regional director,

international market development.

"Gulfood is one of the most coveted

shows for exporters and this year more

than 600 companies were on the exhibit

waiting list; this confirms that our

presence here is invaluable for the U.S. rice industry.

"USA Rice's booth is inside the USA Pavilion, one of the largest national pavilions in the food

section of the show, featuring more than 150 exhibitors. USA Rice displays various types of rice

including long-grain, medium-grain, parboiled, and wild rice to attract show attendees and help

educate those unfamiliar with U.S. rice.

Brochures highlighting U.S. rice facts, recipes, and nutritional information are displayed in both

English and Arabic. Six USA Rice members representing American Commodity Company,

ADM Rice, Farmers' Rice Cooperative, Riceland Foods, and Sun Valley Rice are joining USA

Rice staff and consultants at the booth to meet with existing trade partners and speak with

interested importers."The Middle East is a key emerging market for U.S. rice," said Schmidt.

"Major markets in the region include Saudi Arabia and Jordan where 2014 U.S. rice exports

totalled 101,000 MT and 88,000 MT respectively."

Eszter Somogyi makes the pitch to potential buyers "This trade show is not only a place to

collect more than one hundred potential trade leads for our members, but also a place to meet

with FAS representatives from Africa and the Middle East," said Eszter Somogyi, USA Rice

international program director of marketing. "It is also important to meet up with our existing

trade partners in the region to maintain our relationships."Gulfood remains one of the most

significant international food shows for USA Rice. It is an efficient way to connect potential and

existing customers in the Middle East region to USA Rice members and also supports our goal of

increasing importer loyalty to U.S. rice.

Contact: Katie Maher (703) 236-1453 Source with thanks: USA Rice Federation



19


Japan Announces Results of 12th Ordinary Import Tender

in FY 2014

Country of

Origin

Variety Number of

Importer

Quantity (MT) Participated

Bidders

Amount of

Bids (MT)

USA Non-glutinous

milled rice

(medium grain)

3 36,000 24 288,000

Thailand Non-glutinous

milled rice

(long grain)

2 14,000 16 112,000

Grand Total 5 50,000 40 400,000

Avg Price for

Successful Bids

JPY 91,998/mt

JPY 99,358/mt

(tax excluded)

(tax included)

Source with thanks: USA Rice Federation

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures



20


CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for February 10

Month Price Net Change

March 2015 $10.235 - $0.200

May 2015 $10.480 - $0.210

July 2015 $10.735 - $0.210

September 2015 $10.770 - $0.185

November 2015 $10.960 - $0.050

January 2016 $11.050 - $0.050

March 2016 $11.050 - $0.050

Source with thanks:USA Rice Federation

WASDE Report Released

WASHINGTON, DC -- Slight revisions are made to the U.S. all

rice and rice-by-class 2014/15 supply and use balance sheets. All

rice imports are increased 1 million cwt to 23 million, all in

combined medium- and short-grain rice. Imports of broken rice

from Australia of about 21,000 tons (milled basis) were reported

in the U.S. Census Bureau's December trade data. The all rice

export forecast is unchanged at 103 million cwt, but the by-class

projections are shifted by increasing long-grain 1 million to 71 million and lowering combined medium-

and short-grain 1 million to 30 million. All rice ending stocks are raised 1 million cwt to nearly 42

million with long-grain stocks lowered 1 million to 28.1 million, and combined medium- and short-grain

stocks raised 2 million to 11.5 million. Stocks of broken rice, not reported by class, are projected at a little

over 2 million cwt.

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001BpUdCVmDPxHVGOwtCjvQXOYAx39r_GgMSDq8Wpk2jEEcSBuAPbVELkb02B4raqHC7EJcBAMoNzsmpUPzhtXvfbVoKLEmgQKqpewwDSMfphFZ_1N1hPZbGdn0L7xfGg8j2KvooyHjcp65H7lIWfU16kiOWvcpn4KsartbfT1x-FQ4uVVSne23G7QFOQI4C3MluUXKYMaBk4JHAmgw77-8Ff9vQ9M2mB0GpZne-JwRlAjuP4oHjyGbK7diEPRD3DCVxSnSriPC5UL90The5W1YVsLRE6UqOkGSfskkiAZ-K8WowKutHYMBaMZnCKwl3YNUHFzg3TrYnOq-vxbG8bdlu5gl2rqwQ1QCVTcDECrgce4Mt3-np7TuLzoLXm2-ZVnmqsOwNS4ShYGSPlaiJgL029yjRaLyRdh4BywVpQGxYb6iVik3EGqvsD2mqrwn3V0Vcj410vAsypFH3Bt9abCX0YhTPEY8gTvK&c=RaZfDDDU702GsetzEIRF7AoBJcX-aJr-mWm2JGwYRfSTDNJMjZu36Q==&ch=h8DgFnKpFg7YujFjF3If1IiauCy7G4Wc_73En8MjpEN31ni1Dft1aQ==



21


The 2014/15 long-grain season-average price range is narrowed to $11.90 to $12.50 per cwt, up 20 cents

on the low end of the range and down 20 cents on the upper end-the midpoint is unchanged from a month

ago at $12.20 per cwt. The all combined medium- and short-grain season-average price range is

narrowed to $17.90 to $18.70 per cwt, down 10 cents on the low end of the range and a decrease of 30

cents on the high end-the midpoint is lowered 20 cents from last month to $18.30 per cwt. Two

additional combined medium- and short-grain farm prices are introduced this month: a California price

(on an October-September basis) and a price for Other States (on an August-July basis). The California

combined medium- and short-grain price is forecast with a midpoint of $20.00 per cwt, and the midpoint

for the Other States is $15.10.

Global 2014/15 rice supply and use projections are lowered from last month. Global 2013/14 rice

production is forecast at 474.6 million tons, down 900,000 from last month. The largest declines for

Thailand and Cambodia are partially offset by increases for Sri Lanka and Iraq. Thailand's 2014/15 rice

crop is lowered 1 million tons to 19.5 million due to a reduction in dry-season plantings resulting from an

on-going drought and a reduction in irrigation water availability concentrated in the Central Region.

Thailand's 2014/15 crop would be the smallest since 2006/07. Cambodia's crop is lowered 200,000 tons

to 4.7 million due mostly to flooding of the main-season crop. Global consumption is down slightly

from a month ago. World trade in 2014/15 is lowered 400,000 tons due mostly to reductions for Thailand

and Cambodia. Imports are lowered for Iraq. World ending stocks are lowered 800,000 tons to 98.2

million due mostly to a reduction for Thailand, which is partially offset by increases for Pakistan and Sri

Lanka. Thailand's 2014/15 ending stocks are lowered 1.4 million tons to 9.6 million, the lowest since

2011/12. Pakistan's 2014/15 ending stocks are raised 500,000 tons owing to a reduction in the 2013/14

export projection.

Read the full report here.

Hundreds of Chinese get a taste of GM rice

China Daily Tuesday 10 February 2015

Hundreds of people were invited via the Internet to taste genetically modified rice at restaurants

in 23 cities across China on Sunday in a move to further promote GM foods to the

general public.Wu Xingchuan, editor-in-chief of the science website scipark.net, the organizer of

the event, said: ―We are trying to get a message across to those who still doubt the safety of GM

products: We believe that the GM rice is safe, and we are more than willing to eat it.‖According

to the first policy document issued by the Communist Party of China Central Committee in

January, China will strengthen research and manage the safety of GM foods.

The rice variety that was tasted at the restaurants was a genetically modified Bt 63 strain

developed by researchers at Huazhong Agricultural University in Wuhan, Hubei province. The

name indicates that Bacillus thuringiensis is embedded in the plant‘s genetic makeup. It produces

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001BpUdCVmDPxHVGOwtCjvQXOYAx39r_GgMSDq8Wpk2jEEcSBuAPbVELrJ83RnevdiNzVnSOqj82EmFRtyVKtsXP_hO2iroHVSnnJX9N0xY3ahYznA1WjzLBD5fJ0TbRz0fUDUo4Lz9LzRc36sHN2Md4fZteK0ZS3Bp3etwDshk1OCIK5HUoFPgBB3WgWDB849z5kUY67H3fK4qJ7Jvu6xmPClObfS4Dv2GS9JC_Obe8r0XB9HhVcnpap_JH99KJF2gpv0W1o9ldmCFfgMALQ7Z3APJUg-mWc6EQogzh5_SKpZtWX1VQSBg_JD0jQ1vjJ540jQ3fHgPn7etU6wU9wEZnkv7v9euZhcu9g1df2xIYFb3pa3rvqksW6xDNtGHDhFnRIPUu0CQUPtJVdz-usbJhQ==&c=RaZfDDDU702GsetzEIRF7AoBJcX-aJr-mWm2JGwYRfSTDNJMjZu36Q==&ch=h8DgFnKpFg7YujFjF3If1IiauCy7G4Wc_73En8MjpEN31ni1Dft1aQ==

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2015-02/10/content_19536084.htm

http://hubei.chinadaily.com.cn/travel/



22


a natural pesticide that protects the plant.The Bt 63 rice, together with another strain, Huahui 1,

received safety certification in January for production for another four years, after the initial

certificates expired in November.That is only the first step in the commercial cultivation of GM

rice.

Another three certificates are required, including a production certificate and business certificate

from the biosafety committee of the Ministry of Agriculture.Chen Xiwen, deputy director of the

Central Rural Work Leading Group, said last week that the fact that the two GM rice varieties

have not been approved for commercial cultivation showed the country‘s cautious attitude

toward GM food.―We want them to test the safety for another four years. In a certain sense, it is

not science that has failed to provide a verdict about their safety. The public media have not

recognized them,‖ he said

Source with thanks:

Source with thanks:http://www.eco-business.com/news/hundreds-chinese-get-taste-gm-

rice/?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+February+10%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm

_medium=email

Japan sees 50 percent chance of El Nino re-emerging by

summer

TOKYO Tue Feb 10, 2015 12:06am EST

) - Japan's weather bureau said on Tuesday it sees about a 50 percent chance that an El Nino weather

pattern, linked to heavy rainfall in some regions and drought in others, may re-emerge by summer

after it subsided over spring.The Japan Meteorological Agency forecast said an El Nino, which

emerged last summer for the first time in five years, has been easing.The El Nino weather pattern - a

warming of sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific - can trigger drought in Southeast Asia

and Australia, and floods in South America, hitting production of key foods such as rice, wheat and

sugar.

(Reporting by Osamu Tsukimori; Editing by Richard Pullin)

Source with thanks:http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/10/us-weather-elnino-japan-

idUSKBN0LE0BE20150210

http://www.eco-business.com/news/hundreds-chinese-get-taste-gm-rice/?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+February+10%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email



http://bit.ly/1svQNRI

http://blogs.reuters.com/search/journalist.php?edition=us&n=richard.pullin&

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/10/us-weather-elnino-japan-idUSKBN0LE0BE20150210

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/10/us-weather-elnino-japan-idUSKBN0LE0BE20150210



23


S.Korea buys 35,000 T of rice for April-June Tue Feb 10, 2015 2:29am GMT

SEOUL, Feb 10 (Reuters) - South Korea bought a total of 35,000 tonnes of non-glutinous rice

for April to June arrival via tenders closed on Jan. 27, the state-run Korea

Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade said on its website (www.at.or.kr).

Daewoo International Corp won two bids for the Brown Long grain type, and Seomok Trading

Corp won the bid for the Brown Medium. The agency passed on a tender of 5,000 tonnes

because the offers did not meet specification and price standards, the source from the agency

said. The agency declined to comment on whether they would reissue the tender.

Details of the purchases are as follows:

TONNES GRAIN TYPE PRICE(CIP/T) ORIGIN ARRIVAL

15,000 Brown Long $442 Vietnam April 30

15,000 Brown Long $449.60 Vietnam June 30

5,000 Brown Medium $786 U.S. May 31

* Note: CIP stands for Cost and Insurance Paid.

(Reporting By Brian Kim; Editing by Sunil Nair)

Source with thanks:http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL4N0VK1FC20150210

NFA to boost procurement activities By Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star) | Updated February 11, 2015 - 12:00am

NFA rice storage File photo

MANILA, Philippines - The National Food Authority (NFA) yesterday announced that it would

intensify palay (unhusked rice) procurement this year as the farmgate prices of unmilled rice

have begun falling to P14 to P16 per kilogram in several areas.NFA administrator Renan Dalisay

http://www.at.or.kr/

http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL4N0VK1FC20150210

http://www.philstar.com/author/Czeriza%20Valencia/



24


said ―massive‖ procurements would be conducted in Iloilo, Palawan, Sultan Kudarat, Antique

and Isabela provinces.

As of the second week of January, the average

farmgate price of palay has been placed at

P18.90 per kilogram, making it more attractive

for farmers to sell their produce to traders.The

NFA buys clean and dry palay at P17 per

kilogram, providing additional incentives such

as graduated delivery fee of up to a maximum

P0.50 per kilogram, drying incentive fee of

P0.20 per kilogram, and Cooperative

Development Incentive Fund assistance of P0.30

per kilogram.The NFA targets to procure 189,845 metric tons (MT) of palay from January to

June this year.As of Feb. 9, the food agency has already bought a total of 89,497 50-kilogram

bags of palay.Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

The procurement would be conducted in 413 buying stations nationwide. Mobile procurements

units are also ready to be deployed to remote areas where farmers may find it difficult to

transport their produce to NFA buying stations.―The NFA is ready to buy everything. We have

sufficient funds to buy their palay produce,‖ said Dalisay.Earlier, he said the state-run grains

procurement agency is reviewing the incentives that could be provided to farmers who sell their

produce to the government.

The agency currently procures the equivalent of seven to eight percent of the total domestic rice

production. Last year, domestic rice production reached 18.97 million MT.Dalisay said that

while the palay buying price of NFA rice could be lowered, other incentives, such health

insurance is being considered for farmers that would conform to NFA buying standards.Food

Security chief Francis Pangilinan said the increased procurement to be conducted this year would

increase farmers incomes.―This is a very progressive step by the NFA,‖ he said.The public may

inquire about palay buying outlets through the Text NFA hotline number 09064363133.

Source with thanks:http://www.philstar.com/business/2015/02/11/1422302/nfa-boost-

procurement-activities

NFA to purchase 189,845 MT of palay from farmers

by Alladin S. Diega - February 10, 2015

THE National Food Authority (NFA) said it is targeting to purchase 189,845 metric tons (MT) of

palay, or unmilled rice, from farmers until June this year.As of February 9, the NFA said it has

already bought a total of 89,497 50-kilogram bags of palay, or 4,474 MT. The food agency

attached to the Department of Agriculture (DA) said around 413 buying stations nationwide

purchase palay from farmers.The NFA, however, could not say whether its palay procurement

target for the first six months of the year is higher than its purchases in the same period last year.

http://www.philstar.com/business/2015/02/11/1422302/nfa-boost-procurement-activities

http://www.philstar.com/business/2015/02/11/1422302/nfa-boost-procurement-activities

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/author/alladindiega/



25


NFA Administrator Renan B. Dalisay said field officials have been instructed to go on a

―massive procurement‖ in Iloilo, Palawan, Sultan Kudarat, Antique and Isabela in its bid to

stabilize the buying price of unmilled rice.―The NFA intensified its palay buying operations

nationwide to provide farmers a better option, as reports of palay prices are going down in some

areas from P14 to P16 per kilogram,‖ Dalisay said in a statement.The agency buys palay from

farmers at P17 per kilo, depending on quality as measured by moisture content.―Incentives are

[also] being offered to individual farmers and farmer cooperatives nationwide, including P0.20-

per- kilo delivery incentive, P0.20-per-kilo drying incentive, P0.30-per-kilo Cooperative

Incentive Fee,‖ Dalisay said.

The NFA said it has offered these incentives, instead of increasing the buying price of palay as

the agency does not have enough funds.The purchase of palay from farmers is one of the

mandates of the NFA to stabilize the supply and price of rice in the domestic market.For 2015,

the DA projected that unmilled rice production would reach 20 million metric tons.

Source with thanks:http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/nfa-to-purchase-189845-mt-of-palay-

from-farmers/

Egyptian rice exporters say tariff is too high

REUTERS

Published — Tuesday 10 February 2015

Last update 9 February 2015 9:28 pm

DUBAI: Four months after Egypt approved plans for allowing

the sale abroad of its medium-grain rice, exporters complain

government regulations, namely export tariffs, are preventing

their return to the market."The conditions are too tough, a lot of

people got the export licences but are now stuck with them as

they can't sell abroad," exporter Salah Abdel El-Aziz, chairman

of the board of El Alamia 2000 Rice Mills, said on the sidelines

of the Gulfood trade exhibition in Dubai.In October Egypt said

it would allow the export of rice on condition that traders sell the government one tonne of rice at

2,000 Egyptian pounds ($262) for every tonne of rice they export. Exporters also have to pay a tariff

of $280 on every tonne exported.

The value of one tonne of rice is around 3,500 pounds a tonne, exporters said.Abel El-Aziz said he

bought a licence to export 500 tons but has failed to do so since then."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.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/nfa-to-purchase-189845-mt-of-palay-from-farmers/

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/nfa-to-purchase-189845-mt-of-palay-from-farmers/



26


Egypt, which produced around 4.3 million tons of rice in the 2014 season, only consumes around 3.3

million tonnes.Egyptian medium grain rice mainly competes with US, Russian and Italian rice on the

international market with some rice from those countries selling for around $750 a ton.

"We used to export around 120,000 tons 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 tons under the new system and has so far exported around 1,000 tons, 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 ton 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.

Source with thanks:http://www.arabnews.com/economy/news/701911

Why Amira Nature Foods Inc. Shares Are Getting Destroyed

Today

By MEENA KRISHNAMSETTY | GOOGLE+ in Hedge Funds, News

Published: February 9, 2015 at 3:50 pm

Amira Nature Foods Ltd (NYSE:ANFI) shares lost around 25% of their value following the

publication of a short report by Prescient Point Research Group. A link to Prescient 40-page

report can be found at the end of this article. McKinley Capital Management, Harvest Capital

Strategies, and Raging Capital Management were among the few hedge funds with positions in

Amira at the end of the third quarter. We don‘t agree or disagree with the contents of the report;

we will leave it up to the readers to decide themselves. Here are some highlights:

―Amira intends to transfer $30m of $225m of newly raised of debt capital in what amounts to a

sham real estate transaction. The purchase price appears to be multiples of both his purchase

price and current market rates, amounting to an egregious transfer of shareholder capital into his

pockets. We should mention, as discussed extensively in this report, our investigation has

revealed that the Indian rice industry is rampant with fraud.‖―…To be clear, we believe Amira

Nature Foods if fabricating the financials it files with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

We hope that investors who own ANFI equity and those considering buying debt or equity at

http://www.arabnews.com/economy/news/701911

http://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/author/admin/

https://plus.google.com/103623505070468636194?rel=author

http://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/category/hedge-funds/

http://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/category/news/

http://www.insidermonkey.com/hedge-fund/mckinley+capital+management/456/

http://www.insidermonkey.com/hedge-fund/harvest+capital+strategies/449/

http://www.insidermonkey.com/hedge-fund/harvest+capital+strategies/449/



27


what appears to be a fundamentally low valuation familiarize themselves with the risks we

addressed.

There are many more we do not. We also hope that the SEC and Deloitte take necessary

precautions in protecting investors.We have sourced official Indian government Basmati export

data that proves ANFI has overstated its international Basmati revenue. We estimate that ANFI

inflated this metric by ~145% in FY‘13 and ~117% in FY‘14, implying that in FY‘14, ~19% of

ANFI consolidated sales were fabricated. We have also collected evidence indicating Amira is

lying about its India Basmati revenue, which it tells US investors is derived wholly from the sale

of branded product. Amira claimed ~$224m in Indian Basmati revenue in FY‘14; we estimate it

actually generated ~$38m, implying that another 34% of consolidated sales are fabricated.

Over 50% of ANFI‘s consolidated revenue is suspect; that number could be larger, as we are

giving the company full credit for its reported revenue from non-Basmati rice and other

commodity products.We have identified scores of undisclosed related party entities that are listed

to be operating from within Amira‘s headquarters, use Amira email addresses, and are directed

by ANFI CEO Karan Chanana or his wife; at least a couple of these entities are in the business of

distributing rice, including Basmati rice, and other commodities.

Source with thanks: Insider Monkey

Did Amira Nature Foods Ltd. Skid On Short-Seller's

Allegations?

John Seward , Benzinga Staff Writer

Amira Nature Foods Ltd ANFI fell more than 25 percent after a short-seller said the company is

"vastly overstating" its India revenue, in particular its core basmati rice sales.

Amira changed hands recently at $9.91, down $3.49.

Report Origins

The report came from Prescience Research Group, which has declined in the past to identify its

principals or to explain much regarding its motives.For the third quarter, which ended September

http://www.benzinga.com/users/john-seward

http://benzinga.com/stock/anfi#NYSE

http://www.presciencepoint.com/reports/ANFI_Report_2-9-2015.pdf



28


30, 2014, Dubai-based Amira, an Indian specialty rice producer, posted sales growth of 28

percent to $280.2 million.Last week Amira reported 25 percent growth in preliminary fourth-

quarter adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

About 18 percent of Amira's 28.7 million shares outstanding were held as short interest as of

January 15, and the company's current market capitalization is only about $385.71

million.Prescience most recently made news in August 2014 by denouncing Netherlands-

based Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V. CBI for allegedly faulty accounting regarding a

2013 acquisition.CB&I shares are down more than 37 percent since the allegations, but the drop

appears related to declining oil prices rather than accounting flaws. CB&I provides infrastructure

to the energy industry.

Source with thanks:http://www.benzinga.com/news/15/02/5224380/did-amira-nature-foods-ltd-skid-on-short-

sellers-allegations#ixzz3RToE96ny

AMIRA NATURE FOODS LTD (ANFI)

Amira Nature Foods : SHAREHOLDER ALERT:

Pomerantz Law Firm Investigates Claims On Behalf of

Investors of Amira Nature Foods Ltd. - ANFI 02/09/2015 | 08:54pm US/Eastern

NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of

investors of Amira Nature Foods Ltd. ("Amira" or the "Company") (NYSE: ANFI). Such

investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-

476-6529, ext. 237.The investigation concerns whether Amira and certain of its officers and/or

directors have violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.On

February 9, 2015, third-party analyst firm Prescience Point Research Group issued a report on

ANFI (the "Prescience Report").

Among other things, the Prescience Report charged that: 1) ANFI had overstated its India-

produced Basmati rice revenue by at least 116.9% in 2014, citing Indian government reports on

Basmati rice exports; 2) ANFI had engaged in material related-party transactions, including with

its largest distributor, one of its largest suppliers, and a company from which ANFI intended to

buy $30 million of land; and that ANFI CEO Karan Chanana used company resources for

personal use, including to pay salaries for household help.On this news, shares of Amira fell

$3.45 per share to $9.95, or more than 25.8%, on February 9, 2015.The Pomerantz Firm, with

offices in New York, Chicago, San Diego and Florida, is acknowledged as one of the premier

firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation.

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1552448/000114420415005483/v400177_6k.htm

http://benzinga.com/stock/cbi#NYSE

http://www.benzinga.com/topic/oil

http://www.benzinga.com/news/15/02/5224380/did-amira-nature-foods-ltd-skid-on-short-sellers-allegations#ixzz3RToE96ny

http://www.benzinga.com/news/15/02/5224380/did-amira-nature-foods-ltd-skid-on-short-sellers-allegations#ixzz3RToE96ny

http://www.4-traders.com/AMIRA-NATURE-FOODS-LTD-11659871/

mailto:[email protected]



29


Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the

Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 70 years later,

the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims

of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has

recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members.

See www.pomerantzlaw.com.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

Source with thanks:To view the original version on PR Newswire,

visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shareholder-alert-pomerantz-law-firm-

investigates-claims-on-behalf-of-investors-of-amira-nature-foods-ltd--anfi-300033382.html

Shareholder Alert: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC

Announces Investigation of Amira Nature Foods Ltd.

Tue Feb 10, 2015 10:00am EST

* Reuters is not responsible for the content in this press release.

PR Newswire

NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2015

NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney Advertising -- Bronstein, Gewirtz &

Grossman, LLC is investigating potential claims on behalf of purchasers of the securities of

Amira Nature Foods Ltd. ("Amira" or the "Company") (NYSE: ANFI -News). Such investors are

advised to contact Peretz Bronstein or his investor relations coordinator Eitan

Kimelmanat [email protected] or 212-697-6484.The investigation concerns whether Amira and

certain of its officers and/or directors have violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934.

On February 9, 2015, third-party analyst firm Prescience Point Research Group issued a report

on ANFI (the "Prescience Report"). Among other things, the Prescience Report charged that:

1) ANFI had overstated its India-produced Basmati rice revenue by at least 116.9% in 2014,

citing Indian government reports on Basmati rice exports; 2) ANFI had engaged in material

related-party transactions, including with its largest distributor, one of its largest suppliers, and a

http://www.pomerantzlaw.com/


http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shareholder-alert-pomerantz-law-firm-investigates-claims-on-behalf-of-investors-of-amira-nature-foods-ltd--anfi-300033382.html





30


company from which ANFI intended to buy $30 million of land; and that ANFI CEO Karan

Chanana used company resources for personal use, including to pay salaries for household help.

On this news, shares of Amira fell $3.45 or 25.75% to close at $9.95 on February 9, 2015.If you

are aware of any facts relating to this investigation, or purchased shares of Amira, you can assist

this investigation by contacting Peretz Bronstein or his Investor Relations Coordinator Eitan

Kimelman of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 212-697-6484 or via

email [email protected].

Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, email and

telephone number.Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a corporate litigation boutique. Our

primary expertise is the aggressive pursuit of litigation claims on behalf of our clients. In

addition to representing institutions and other investor plaintiffs in class action security litigation,

the firm's expertise includes general corporate and commercial litigation, as well as securities

arbitration. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Contact:

Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC

Peretz Bronstein or Eitan Kimelman 212-697-6484

[email protected]

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-

releases/shareholder-alert-bronstein-gewirtz--grossman-llc-announces-investigation-of-amira-nature-

foods-ltd-300033536.html

SOURCE Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC

INVESTOR ALERT: Investigation on Behalf of Investors of

Amira Nature Foods Ltd. Announced by Law Offices of

Howard G. Smith

Mon Feb 9, 2015 10:02pm EST


INVESTOR ALERT: Investigation on Behalf of Investors of Amira Nature Foods Ltd.

Announced by Law Offices of Howard G. Smith

Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces that it is investigating potential claims on behalf of

investors of Amira Nature Foods Ltd. (―Amira‖ or the ―Company‖) (NYSE:ANFI) concerning



http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shareholder-alert-bronstein-gewirtz--grossman-llc-announces-investigation-of-amira-nature-foods-ltd-300033536.html



http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.howardsmithlaw.com%2Findex.html&esheet=51036674&newsitemid=20150209006434&lan=en-US&anchor=Law+Offices+of+Howard+G.+Smith&index=1&md5=dc74a7ee6fcb1d7b29bd22c23ac9c947



31


possible violations of federal securities laws. Amira is engaged in processing, distributing and

marketing packaged specialty rice and other food products.The investigation is related to

allegations that the Dubai-based Company misrepresented its business and financial performance

and/or failed to disclose material related-party transactions.

On February 9, 2015, a report by the analyst firm Prescience Point Research Group alleged that,

according to Indian government reports on Basmati rice exports, Amira had overstated its India-

produced Basmati rice revenue by more than 116% in 2014. The report also alleged that, among

other things, Amira engaged in material related-party transactions, including with a company

from which it intended to buy $30 million of land, and the Company's chief executive officer

used Company resources for personal use, including to pay salaries for household help.

Following this news, shares of Amira declined more than 25% on February 9, 2015, to a closing

price of $9.95 per share on unusually heavy volume.

If you purchased Amira shares, if you have information or would like to learn more about these

claims, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests

with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of

Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020 by telephone at

215-638-4847, Toll-Free at 888-638-4847, or by email [email protected],

Source with thanks: visit our website athttp://www.howardsmithlaw.com.

The Rosen Law Firm Announces Investigation of

Shareholder Claims against Amira Nature Foods, Ltd.

Mon Feb 9, 2015 6:53pm EST


The Rosen Law Firm Announces Investigation of Shareholder Claims against Amira Nature

Foods, Ltd.

The Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights firm, announces that it is investigating potential

securities claims against Amira Nature Foods, Ltd. (NYSE:ANFI) resulting from allegations that

ANFI may have overstated its revenues and omitted to disclose material related-party transactions.

On February 9, 2015, third-party analyst firm Prescience Point Research Group issued a report on

ANFI (the ―Prescience Report‖). Among other things, the Prescience Report charged: that ANFI had


http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.howardsmithlaw.com&esheet=51036674&newsitemid=20150209006434&lan=en-US&anchor=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.howardsmithlaw.com&index=2&md5=4dd3cdf9ef79d540db86a3a066519326



32


overstated its India-produced Basmati rice revenue by at least 116.9% in 2014, citing Indian

government reports on Basmati rice exports; that ANFI had engaged in material related-party

transactions, including with its largest distributor, one of its largest suppliers, and a company from

which ANFI intended to buy $30 million of land; and that ANFI CEO Karan Chanana used company

resources for personal use, including to pay salaries for household help.

That day, ANFI‘s stock price fell $3.45, or 25.8%, damaging investors.The Rosen Law Firm is

preparing a securities class action lawsuit on behalf of ANFI investors. If you purchased ANFI stock

before February 9, 2015, please visit the website athttp://rosenlegal.com/cases-506.html to join the

class action or for more information. You may also contact Jonathan Horne, Esq., or Phillip Kim,

Esq. of The Rosen Law Firm toll free at 866-767-3653 or via e-mail

at [email protected] or [email protected] Rosen Law Firm represents investors

throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative

litigation.Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

Kevin Chan, Esq.

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

275 Madison Avenue, 34th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: 212-686-1060

Toll Free: 1-866-767-3653

Fax: 212-202-3827

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

A Statement from Amira Nature Foods

Amira Nature Foods Ltd17 hours ago

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Frosenlegal.com%2Fcases-506.html&esheet=51036621&newsitemid=20150209006394&lan=en-US&anchor=http%3A%2F%2Frosenlegal.com%2Fcases-506.html&index=1&md5=99a7931adf61ce7fdce51bfe8d1746e2






http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rosenlegal.com&esheet=51036621&lan=en-US&anchor=www.rosenlegal.com&index=2&md5=d4b7edc76474a39933bb4d34abbaa236



33


Amira Nature Foods Ltd (ANFI) today made the following statement.We are aware of the recent

report released yesterday containing false, factually inaccurate and fictional content obtained

from previously released false statements, that have been repackaged and distributed with

malafide intention.The author has released this report to clearly benefit themselves to gain

monetarily from the subsequent decline in our share price, as already described by their own

admission.

They have entered a short position and timed this report with a clear purpose to mislead

investors and the general public at a time when the company is marketing a major financing

event. This flawed report is not in the interest of investors or the general public.This report is

malafide and fictitious. ANFI categorically rejects and denies the many mischaracterizations and

factually inaccurate statements put forth in the report that do not reflect reality. We intend to

pursue this matter legally.

About Amira Nature Foods

Founded in 1915, Amira has evolved into a leading global provider of branded packaged Indian

specialty rice, with sales in over 60 countries today. The Company sells Basmati rice, which is a

premium long-grain rice grown only in certain regions of the Indian sub-continent, under its

flagship Amira brand as well as under other third party brands. Amira sells its products through a

broad distribution network in both the developed and emerging markets. The Company‘s global

headquarters are in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and it also has offices in India, Malaysia,

Singapore, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Amira Nature Foods Ltd is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker

symbol ―ANFI.‖ For more information please visit www.amira.net.This press release contains

statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made under the ―safe harbor‖

provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these

forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as ―may,‖ ―will,‖ ―except,‖ ―anticipate,‖

―aim,‖ ―estimate,‖ ―intend,‖ ―plan,‖ ―believe,‖ ―is/are likely to,‖ ―future‖ or other similar

expressions.

We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and

projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial

condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. The forward-looking

statements in this release include statements regarding the offering of the Notes. These forward-

looking statements include, but are not limited to: our goals and strategies; our expansion plans;

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=anfi

http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amira.net%2F&esheet=51037100&newsitemid=20150210006176&lan=en-US&anchor=www.amira.net&index=1&md5=90448d60fa4418733399c53531d9a21d



34


and our future business development. We would like to caution you not to place undue reliance

on forward-looking statements and you should read these statements in conjunction with the risk

factors disclosed in ―Risk Factors‖ appearing in our Annual Report on Form 20-F as well as

other public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Those risks are not exhaustive and reflect our expectations as of the date of this release. We

operate in a rapidly evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is

impossible for our management to predict all risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all

factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause

actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statement. We do not

undertake any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements except as required

under applicable law.

Contact:

Amira Nature Foods Ltd

Bruce Wacha, 201-960-0745

Chief Financial Officer

[email protected]

or

FTI Consulting

Steven Balet, 212-850-5717

[email protected]

Source with thanks:http://finance.yahoo.com/news/investor-alert-investigation-amira-nature-

160200523.html

SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Pomerantz Law Firm Investigates

Claims On Behalf of Investors of Amira Nature Foods Ltd. -

ANFI

Monday, 9 Feb 2015 | 8:53 PM ET

NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of

investors of Amira Nature Foods Ltd. ("Amira" or the "Company") (NYSE: ANFI). Such



http://finance.yahoo.com/news/investor-alert-investigation-amira-nature-160200523.html

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/investor-alert-investigation-amira-nature-160200523.html



35


investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-

476-6529, ext. 237.The investigation concerns whether Amira and certain of its officers and/or

directors have violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.On

February 9, 2015, third-party analyst firm Prescience Point Research Group issued a report on

ANFI (the "Prescience Report").

Among other things, the Prescience Report charged that: 1) ANFI had overstated its India-

produced Basmati rice revenue by at least 116.9% in 2014, citing Indian government reports on

Basmati rice exports; 2) ANFI had engaged in material related-party transactions, including with

its largest distributor, one of its largest suppliers, and a company from which ANFI intended to

buy $30 million of land; and that ANFI CEO Karan Chanana used company resources for

personal use, including to pay salaries for household help.On this news, shares of Amira fell

$3.45 per share to $9.95, or more than 25.8%, on February 9, 2015.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, San Diego and Florida, is

acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class

litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar,

the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 70 years

later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the

victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has

recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members.

See www.pomerantzlaw.com.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-

releases/shareholder-alert-pomerantz-law-firm-investigates-claims-on-behalf-of-investors-of-

amira-nature-foods-ltd--anfi-300033382.html

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

Source with thanks:http://www.cnbc.com/id/102411012#.


http://www.pomerantzlaw.com/





10th february,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

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