16th 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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Ministries debate rice stockpiling plan

Ministries of Agriculture and Rural

Development, Industry and Trade, and Finance;

the State Bank of Vietnam; and Vietnam Food

Association met to discuss rice stockpiling plan

for winter spring crop this year in the Mekong

Delta.Farmers harvest rice with combine

harvester in Vinh Long Province (Photo: SGGP)

According to the Vietnam Food Association

(VFA), rice export contracts have reached only

one million tons including 504,000 tons left from

contracts signed last year.Vietnamese rice has

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter

February 16 , 2015 V o l u m e 5, Issue I



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faced severe competition from Thai and Indian rice especially in low and medium segments in

China, Malaysia, Mexico and Indonesia.Abundant supply source might impact winter spring rice

consumption and prices in the Mekong Delta, it said.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that rice supply in the winter spring

crop had surged in the Mekong Delta. Rice output has increased to 3.65 million tons in February

and March while the number of export contracts has decreased in the first quarter compared to

the same period last year.Deputy Minister Vu Van Tam proposed the Government to stockpile

about one million tons of winter spring rice from March 1 to April 15.VFA will work with

provincial people‘s committees in the Mekong Delta on rice purchase volume in each province,

which will depend on local commercial output. Rice produced under large scale paddy fields will

receive priority in consumption.

Agreeing with the plan, Ministry of Industry and Trade said that trade promotion activities will

be stepped up after Tet to sign more export contracts with the Philippines, Malaysia and

Indonesia. The ministry will seek to regain the market share in Africa and Hong Kong

(China).The ministry will mobilize and negotiate about rice export with China, prepare to open

the rice market to the US, Japan, Mexico and Chile after the Trans-Pacific Partnership is signed

this year.

www.vietnambreakingnews.com/.../ministries-debate-rice-stockpiling-pla

Harold Roy-Macauley appointed Director General of AfricaRice

Monday 16 February 2015.

Dr Harold Roy-Macauley (photo), a Sierra Leonean national, was appointed as the new Director

General of the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) at an Extraordinary Session of the Council of

Ministers of AfricaRice held on 6 February 2015, in Kampala, Uganda.The announcement was

made by the Honorable Cabinet Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries,

Republic of Uganda, Tress Bucyanayandi, in his capacity as the Chair of the AfricaRice Council

of Ministers, which is the Center‘s highest oversight body.

The current Chairmanship is held by Uganda.Dr Roy-Macauley has nearly 30 years of

experience in agricultural research with extensive leadership and management expertise. He is

currently the Executive Director of the West and Central African Council for Agricultural

Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD) – a leading sub-regional organization, which

coordinates and facilitates agricultural R&D activities in 22 countries in West and Central

Africa.Dr Roy-Macauley is no stranger to CGIAR, having served previously as the Regional

Director for the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) in West and Central Africa.

He has consulted for numerous international and bilateral organizations on biosafety and

biotechnology and was the Managing Director for the Regional Center for Improving Adaptation

http://www.vietnambreakingnews.com/.../ministries-debate-rice-stockpiling-pla



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to Drought (CERAAS) in Senegal, a research and training center of CORAF/WECARD.Dr Roy-

Macauley is fluently bilingual in English and French. He obtained his PhD degree in tropical

plant biology in 1993 from the Université Denis Diderot, France, his MSc in tropical plant

biology in 1988 from the Université de Pierre et Marie Curie, France, and his BSc with Honors

in Botany in 1982 from the University of Sierra Leone.

During the Extraordinary Session, the National Experts Committee (NEC), under the

chairmanship of Dr Ambrose Agona, Acting Director General of the Uganda National

Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), carefully examined the Board‘s report on the

selection process and recommended to the Council of Ministers that Dr Roy-Macauley be

appointed.

The NEC comprises the Directors General of the national agricultural research institutions of

AfricaRice member countries and serves as the technical arm of the AfricaRice Council of

Ministers.―We are pleased with the transparent and rigorous selection process adopted by the

AfricaRice Board of Trustees,‖ stated Hon. Tress Bucyanayandi, thanking the Board Chair

DrPeter Matlon. ―We have full confidence that Dr Roy-Macauley has the leadership experience,

skills and vision needed to advance the noble mission of AfricaRice.‖Thanking the Council of

Ministers and the Board, Dr Roy-Macauley said, ―I am honored to accept this very important

challenge with a great sense of responsibility.

‖ He added that his vision for the Center is to help position rice, which he referred to as ‗the next

gold‘, as key in driving the economies of rice-producing countries in Africa and contributing to

industrial development and livelihood changes of rural producers, especially women, involved in

rice production.As part of his mandate at AfricaRice, he underlined the importance of

―introducing more high-end life science and socioeconomic applications in the Rice Sector

Development Hubs, convened by AfricaRice, to help consolidate the already profound and

significant changes the rice value chain is undergoing in Africa.‖He also conveyed his

commitment to engage with national and regional agricultural research and innovation systems,

governments of member States of AfricaRice, regional economic communities, the African

Union, and international partners in order to efficiently and effectively respond to and influence

national, regional, and continental rice policies.

Paying homage to former Directors General of AfricaRice, Dr Roy-Macauley said that he would

further build on the legacies and achievements forged by his predecessors. He highlighted

particularly his admiration for the ―great dynamism of excellence in AfricaRice,‖ promoted by

Dr Papa Abdoulaye Seck, former Director General of AfricaRice and current Minister of

Agriculture and Rural Equipment of Senegal.

The Council of Ministers, the National Experts Committee and the Board took the opportunity to

highlight the exceptional contributions made by Dr Seck, which have transformed AfricaRice

and taken it to new levels of excellence.They also conveyed their deep appreciation to the



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Interim Director General, Dr. Adama Traoré, for steering the Center over the past 18 months

with great steadiness, integrity and effectiveness. ―We are sure that we can continue to rely on

his strong support during the leadership transition.‖Dr Roy-Macauley will assume his post at

AfricaRice on 9 March 2015.

Credit: APO.

Editor‘s Note: Here is Harold Roy-Macauley at a panel discussion in Dakar, Senegal, 2013:

http://www.thepatrioticvanguard.com/harold-roy-macauley-appointed-as-new-director-general-

of-africarice

New paddy variety fetches good returns

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: ‗TNAU Rice TRY 3,‘ a new variety of paddy, kept on the grounds of a

temple at Poongudi near Tiruchi.— Photo: A. Muralitharan

About 10 acres of land brought under the variety, suitable for ‘idly’ flour

A group of farmers of Poongudi village near here have

been awaiting the procurement of ‗TNAU Rice TRY 3‘

variety introduced by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural

University – Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College

and Research Institute here. The rice variety, suitable for

‗idly‘ flour, was popularised by the college at Poongudi

and about 30 farmers have raised this crop.

Thanks to the crop protection technique and close follow-up by the college scientists, farmers

could harvest an average 30 bags of paddy (60 kg per bag). S. Narayanasamy, organiser of the

People‘s Welfare Committee, says 30 farmers, who were conventionally cultivating ‗BPT 5204‘

variety till 2013 had switched over to this ‗idly‘ variety in September-October 2014.About 10

acres was brought under the variety and farmers had registered an average 1.5 tonnes an acre.

About 15 tonnes had been stocked in the village, he said.With paddy suitable for ―idly,‖ a large

number of traders had been making a beeline to the village to purchase the price. But, the

farmers said that the price offered by traders was not attractive.―We have planned to market the

paddy at Rs. 900 a bag of 60 kg.; but the traders offered just Rs.800,‖ says Mr. Narayansamy.

P. Pandiyarajan, Dean of the college, said the institute, as part of popularising the variety, was

taking steps to popularise the rice which has a milling percentage of 71.30 and head rice

recovery of 66 per cent. The variety was resistant to diseases, including leaf folder, stem borer,

brown spot, sheath rot, and sheath blight, Mr. Pandiyarajan said.G. Chitrarasu, Senior Regional

Manager, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, said that he would ascertain the quality of

paddy before making arrangements for the procurement of the cro

http://www.thepatrioticvanguard.com/harold-roy-macauley-appointed-as-new-director-general-of-africarice

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Farmers who had harvested the paddy said that it was a tough task for them to protect the stock.

Mustaffa (43), another farmer, said that he had shifted his harvested produce by tractor from

Poongudi to Navalur Kuttapattu, about 2 km away, where he had a threshing floor.For dearth of

space, a few other farmers had stocked the paddy on the grounds of Sri Varasidhi Vinayagar

temple in the village.

30 farmers in the village switched over to new variety under TNAU guidance

The new variety is said to be resistant to many diseases

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/new-paddy-variety-fetches-good-

returns/article6899942.ece

Civil case on rice scheme unfair: ex-PM's lawyer

THE SUNDAY NATION February 15, 2015 1:00 am

FORMER PRIME minister Yingluck Shinawatra's legal team will appeal if the Finance Ministry

files a civil case seeking compensation from her for alleged damages resulting from her

government's rice-pledging scheme.Norawich Lalaeng, a Yingluck lawyer, said yesterday that it

would be unfair to the former PM if a civil case was filed as the Criminal Court was yet to hear a

separate case in which she has been accuse stricted by martial law and she was unable to

comment publicly about political issues. d of negligence of duty leading to corruption in the

scheme, now scrapped.

"The legal team has discussed this matter and we agree that as soon as the NACC submits its

request to the Finance Ministry, we will appeal against the move," he said.The lawyer noted that

the ministry was involved in implementing the rice scheme under the Yingluck government, and

questioned whether it was sensible for the ministry to act as the damaged party now.On Friday,

NACC president Panthep Klanarongran said the agency had sent a written request to the Finance

Ministry asking it to consider filing a civil case against Yingluck, her former commerce minister

Boonsong Teriyapirom and other officials in a bid to receive compensation over the alleged

government-to-government deal to sell rice to China.Norawich said Yingluck's rights were being

re However, he said that certain groups seemed to be commenting negatively about the ex-PM

regarding the ongoing legal cases against her.

The lawyer urged Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha not to allow any?one to attempt to influence

those cases.Meanwhile, Pheu Thai politician Somkid Chueakong said it was not proper for

Prayut to have disclosed that he had expressed concern to Yingluck about problems stemming

from the rice scheme while she was prime minister.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/new-paddy-variety-fetches-good-returns/article6899942.ece

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/new-paddy-variety-fetches-good-returns/article6899942.ece



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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Civil-case-on-rice-scheme-unfair-ex-PMs-lawyer-

30254113.html

Rice dealers call for auditing in rice imports in Ghana

Feb 16, 2015

The Small Scale Rice Dealers Association of Ghana (SSRIDA), has called for forensic

auditing of all rice imports, which were cleared under warehousing.

rice importation

The association said this is important to ensure transparency and accountability in the rice

industry, which members believe is embroiled in a lot of

irregularities.Mr Yaw Korang, National Coordinator of

SSRIDA made the call in a statement issued in Accra at

the weekend and copied to Ghana News Agency.

It said on January 28, 2014, the Ministry of Trade and

Industry (MOTI) received a report from the Customs

Division of Ghana Revenue Authority, about rice imports

through the Western Frontier-Sunyani Collection.

The statement said the report, which was addressed to the Chief Director at the ministry was

headlined: ―Authenticating copies of SAD forms and assessing impact of rice imports through

the Western Frontier-Sunyani Collection‖.It claimed that the exercise, which targeted SSRIDA

members took the team members to Gonokrom, Kofi Badukrom, Nkrakwanta and Osei

Kojokrom.―All copies of entry forms submitted by the MOTI for verification were genuine and

originated from the stations indicated; all relevant taxes were paid; values applied conformed to

values given by Commissioner per memorandum of August 3, 2013, and revenue from rice

imports is a major source of tax for the Sunyani Collection,‖ the statement said.

It said despite these findings the Deputy Minister of MOTI, Mr Murtala Mohammed Ibrahim

was quoted in a media report that SSRIDA members do not honour their tax obligations, and this

was part of the reasons why inland importation of rice was banned by the ministry.It said

SSRIDA is calling for forensic auditing of rice importation because the major players in the

industry who are large scale rice dealers bring their goods and store them at bonded warehouses.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Civil-case-on-rice-scheme-unfair-ex-PMs-lawyer-30254113.html

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Civil-case-on-rice-scheme-unfair-ex-PMs-lawyer-30254113.html

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SSRIDA noted that on October 24, 2013 there was a media report that more than 280 private and

public companies have been cited for allegedly evading the payment of taxes amounting to 367

million dollars over a seven-year period.These anomalies, which happened at bonded

warehouses was uncovered by a presidential taskforce.The statement asked that two years down

the lane what due dilligence have been performed to ensure that the situation has been

streamlined?

―Since November 1, 2013, small scale rice dealers have been denied the right to do business, but

what shows that those allowed to do so are serving the national interest?‖

The statement said members are of the view that proper consultation was not done before they

were asked not to continue with their trade hence the need for forensic auditing of rice

importation for the public to judge whether the move was of national importance.

TAGS:2013,NATIONAL,COORDINATOR OF SSRIDA,OCTOBER 24,

SMALL

http://www.spyghana.com/rice-dealers-call-auditing-rice-imports-ghana/

21 targeted in NACC's G2G rice probe

Published: 16 Feb 2015 at 20.01

Online news: Politics

Writer: King-oua Laohong

The anti-graft agency on Monday submitted a 67,000-page investigative report on the allegedly

corrupt government-to-government rice deals made by the Yingluck Shinawatra administration.

(Post Today photos)

Former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom is

among 21 people targeted in an investigative report

forwarded to prosecutors by the National Anti-

Corruption Commission over allegedly corrupt

government-to-government rice deals consummated

by the Yingluck Shinawatra government. The dossier

containing 67,000 pages was brought in 60 boxes to

the Office of the Attorney-General by NACC assistant secretary-general Sakchai

Methineepisarnku.

http://www.spyghana.com/rice-dealers-call-auditing-rice-imports-ghana/



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Mr Sakchai said the NACC is still investigating more than 100 rice-trading companies involved

in the government sales, but added it should not take long to wrap up work.Chutichai Sakhakorn,

chief of the OAG's special-litigation department, who received the case file, said a working panel

would be set up in the next few days to review the documents.If the report included all needed

evidence, he said, the OAG could indict the 21 individuals in the Supreme Court's Criminal

Division for Political Office-Holders in about a month

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/476606/21-targeted-in-nacc-g2g-rice-probe

Cambodia to double organic rice exports Published: 15 Feb 2015 at 16.57

Online news: News

Writer: Online Reporters

A farmer walks in a rice paddy field in Kandal province on Feb 11, 2015. Cambodian exporters

planned to export more organic rice this year. (Reuters photo)

Cambodia aims to sell more organic rice

to international customers after exports of

the grain rose over the past year. The

Cambodian Centre for Study and

Development in Agriculture (Cedac), one

of the country's two organic rice

exporters, sold 540 tonnes of fragant

organic rice last year, a 20% increase

from 2013, and plans to double the figure

this year.''We are aiming to export 1,000

tonnes this year to fill the demand that we

see in the international market,‖ Cedac

official Sou Sarorn was quoted as saying

in the Phnom Penh Post.

Its main buyers were Europe, the United States and Hong Kong and Mr Sarorn said Middle East

countries could be a new target.―The price of organic rice is higher and also more stable than

non-organic rice in the marketplace,‖ Mr Sarorn said.AMRU Rice, the other exporting firm on

organic rice, was moving in the same direction, according to its CEO Song Saran, as the

company has set an export target of 1,500 tonnes this year and 2,500 tonnes next year.Cambodia

exported 380,000 tonnes of rice last year, mostly non-organic rice. Main destinations for

Cambodian regular rice was European countries, China and Malaysia.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/475585/cambodia-to-double-organic-rice-exports

http://www.bangkokpost.com/search/news-and-article?xDate=15-02-2015&xAdvanceSearch=true

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news

http://www.bangkokpost.com/search/news-and-article?xAuthor=1&xAdvanceSearch=true

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/exporters-eye-big-year-organic-rice



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Half a million tonnes of rice sold

Published: 16 Feb 2015 at 18.10

Online news: News

Writer: Online Reporters

Samples of rice put on the auction was shown at Commerce Ministry in December 2014.

(Bangkok Post file photo)

The Commerce Ministry has approved the sale of

496,000 tonnes of rice, just under half the total offered for

auction late last month. Around 100 bidders participated

in the auction for the 999,000 tonnes of grain.Commerce

Minister Chatchai Sarikulya said the rice was sold to 38

bidders for a total 7.85 billion baht. The amount sold was

49.64% of the total on offer. The ministry refused to sell

the remaining rice to disqualified bidders and will put it

on sale later this month.Gen Chatchai said China

expressed interest in buying two million tonnes of rice and 200,000 tonnes of rubber for delivery

in two years. Ministry officials returned from a visit to China over the weekend.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/476581/half-a-million-tonnes-of-rice-sold

State readies follow-up rice auction Published: 16 Feb 2015 at 07.54

Newspaper section: Business

Writer: Phusadee Arunmas

The government plans to call a second auction for an

additional 1 million tonnes of state-held rice later this

month after the year's first auction in January drew 100

bidders. According to a Commerce Ministry source, the

government expects to have sold about 60% of the 1

million tonnes put up for sale at the first auction.Official

figures will be available after the ministry submits them

for approval this week to the meeting of the National Rice

Policy Committee chaired by Prime Minister Prayut

Chan-o-cha.

The source said the first auction's outcome would have been announced earlier, but authorities

took time to investigate the shareholding structure of one qualified bidder, Empire Development

Co, which offered to buy more than 400,000 tonnes of rice at 47 warehouses.Officials feared that


http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news

http://www.bangkokpost.com/search/news-and-article?xAuthor=1&xAdvanceSearch=true


http://www.bangkokpost.com/search/news-and-article?xNewsSection=Business&xAdvanceSearch=true


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

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Empire Development might have links to Siam Indica Co, as the two share the same address and

Empire's authorised director was formerly a Siam Indica director and shareholder.Siam Indica

had been barred by authorities from joining the bidding after its indictment by the National Anti-

Corruption Commission for graft related to the rice-pledging scheme.But the source said

authorities would still present the purchase proposal by the company for the National Rice Policy

Committee's consideration.

The government fetched selling prices relatively higher than floor prices at the first auction, the

source said, adding that sales of more than 60% would be deemed satisfactory.The floor price for

white rice was set at eight to 10 baht a kilogramme, while the market price is now 13 baht. The

floor price for Hom Mali fragrant rice was set at 25 baht a kg against a market price of 31-33

baht.The rice put up for auction included 850,000 tonnes of 5% white rice and 150,000 tonnes of

Hom Mali rice.Authorities estimate the cost of the rice put on sale at 11.7 billion baht.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/475985/state-readies-follow-up-rice-auction

APEDA Market & Commodity News

Three Years Export Summary of APEDA Products (2011-12 To 2013-14)

Top Five Destination of APEDA Products for Year 2013-14

Today's Leads

Seller Leads Buyer Leads

Market Watch

Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 14-02-2015

Domestic Prices Unit Price : Rs/Qtl

Product Market Center Variety Min

Price Max Price

Rice

1 Bonai (Orissa) Other 2000 2300

2 Jhagadiya (Gujarat) Other 1950 3000

http://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/indexp/exportstatement.aspx

http://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/indexp/topfive_destination.aspx

http://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/tradeleads/BuysellArchives.aspx?buysell=sell

http://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/tradeleads/BuysellArchives.aspx?buysell=buy

http://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/indexp/exportstatement.aspx



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3 Kishanganj (Bihar) Other 2350 2450

Wheat

1 Amirgadh (Gujarat) Other 1550 1725


3 Deoli (Rajasthan) Other 1480 1524

Grapes

1 Bharuch (Gujarat) Other 2500 4500

2 Nagpur(Maharashtra) Other 3500 5500

3 Sirhind(Punjab) Other 4000 5000

Carrot


2 Bharuch (Gujarat) Other 800 1200

3 Gumla(Jharkhand) Other 1200 1500

Source: agmarknet for more products

Egg Rs per 100 No.

Price on 14-02-2015

Product Market Center Price

1 Ahmedabad 315

2 Hyderabad 281

3 Nagapur 282

Source: e2necc.com

http://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/ind_prices/ind_prices.aspx

http://e2necc.com/



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International Benchmark Price

Price on: 13-02-2015

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

Currants

1 Greek provincial, CIF UK (USD/t) 1562

2 Greek Vostizza, CIF UK (USD/t) 1676

Raisins

1 Californian Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK

(USD/t) 2454

2 South African Thompson seedless raisins, CIF

UK (USD/t) 2307

Source:agra-net for more products

Other International Prices Unit Price : US$ / package

Price on 13-02-2015

Product Market Center Origin Variety Low High

Potatoes Package: 50 lb sacks

1 Atlanta Idaho

Russet 14 15

2 Baltimore Idaho Russet

16 17

http://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/int_prices/international_price.aspx



13


3 Miami Canada

Russet 15 15

Cucumbers Package: cartons film wrapped

1 Atlanta Canada Long Seedless

16 16

2 Baltimore Mexico

Long Seedless 12 12

Tanzania: Court Orders Rice Case Judgment After 15 Years Published on Monday, 16 February 2015 01:56

Written by FAUSTINE KAPAMA

THE Court of Appeal has directed the High Court‘s Commercial Division to pronounce

judgment on the 15bn/- demand in rotten rice case, which has remained undelivered for 15 years

now.

Justices Engela Kileo, Salum Massati and

Batuel Mmilla reached such a decision last

week, after revising proceedings given by High

Court Judge Amir Mruma, who had refused, as

a successor judge, to deliver the judgment, on

claims that he had an option of doing so or

otherwise.Records show that the judgment in

the case was written, dated and signed by trial

Judge Nathalia Kimaro in 2005 before being

appointed justice to the Court of Appeal. ―We

find there is good cause to revise the

proceedings of (Judge) Mruma in so far as he

purported to have discretion to pronounce or not to pronounce his predecessor‘s judgment.

We accordingly quash and set aside those proceedings,‖ the justices ruled. They went on, ―We

hereby further direct that the records of the High Court be remitted to the trial court with

directions that the judgment written by (Judge) Kimaro, as she then was, be pronounced by a

successor judge or other judicial officer of competent jurisdiction.‖

The High Court judge had relied under Rule 2 Order XX of the Civil Procedure Code to decline

to deliver the judgment in question. Such provision reads, ―A judge or magistrate may pronounce

a judgment written but not pronounced by his predecessor.‖

But in their ruling, the justices of the appeals court since a duty was cast on the judge to

pronounce judgment in the interest of litigant public and in the main to save judicial time, the

word ‗may‘ used in the Rule has a compulsory force and the succeeding judge was under



14


obligation to deliver the judgment.The parties to the case are VIP Engineering and Marketing

Limited, as plaintiff, who is demanding payment of over 15bn/- from two companies, Societe

Generale De Survellance (S.A) and SGS (Tanzania) Limited, as defendants.

Such refusal by the High Court judge had attracted a heated debate from the parties during

hearing of the case before the appeals court, as it had made the litigation the longest in the High

Court‘s Commercial Division.Advocate Michael Ngalo, for VIP Engineering Company, had told

the panel that instead of reading the judgment, as required by the law, Judge Mruma, who was

assigned as successor judge proceeded to entertain extraneous matters, including some

applications filed by the two foreign companies.

Mr Ngalo, assisted by Counsel Didace Respicius, had argued that the High Court failed to

discharge its duty considering the fact that pronouncement of judgment, whether the parties like

or not, was mandatory.He said that when the case is heard, the judgment must be delivered to

end the litigation. On the other hand, advocate Mustafa Chando, for the respondents, had asked

the panel to reject the submissions and prayers by advocates for VIP Engineering Company, on

grounds that there was no legal judgment, which is to be delivered by the Commercial Division

of the High Court.

He submitted that the judgment, having been signed by the trial judge, was delivered by the

registrar and was later declared invalid by the Court of Appeal because the registrar had no such

powers. As from the date of decision of the Court of Appeal, he alleged, there was no judgment

in the case.In January 1998, VIP ordered for purchase of 3,000 metric tonnes of rice (Pakistan

long rice, 15-20 per cent broken) from M/S Orco International (S) Pte Lilited of Singapore under

a Warehousing Management and Sales Contracts at a price of 267.50 US dollars per metric tonne

thus making the total 802,500 US dollars.

At the time the sales contract was negotiated, VIP the buyer was in Dar es Salaam, while the

seller in Singapore and the rice was in possession of a third party, M/S MAHMOOD PLC of

Karachi in Pakistan. The respondent companies (SGS) came into the scene because of pre-

shipment inspection of the rice.In the period 1998, SGS (S.A) was the sole appointee of Tanzania

Revenue Authority (TRA) for conducting pre-shipment inspection of the imports destined to

Tanzania.This appointment was done through a Pre-shipment Inspection Contract executed

between them. TRA, being Government Agency, with public duties for supervision of imports

into the United Republic of Tanzania for purposes of revenue collection, opted to have SGS

(S.A) as its appointee in conducting pre-shipment inspection on goods destined for Tanzania for

an agreed fees arrangements.

In the transaction, VIP anticipated that, SGS (S.A) to carry out their obligation with all due care,

diligence and efficiency in accordance with generally accepted techniques and inspection agency

profession in compliance with the World Customs Organisation (WHO) and World Trade

Organisation standards.VIP made the required payment for the consignment and the same

arrived in Dar es Salaam in March 1998 on board MV RUAHA.It was at the time of discharge

that the plaintiff noted that the rice was of poor quality and less quantity contrary to SGS (S.A)

and SGS (Tanzania) reports on quality.

Upon noting the discrepancy in the quality, VIP requested the respondents to carry out post

shipment inspection and survey of the rice for a dup purpose, including ascertain the difference



15


in quality and quantity for establishing the exact extent of loss and work together to mitigate

further loss.VIP sued the respondents, demanding, among others, specific damages suffered of

656,359.08 US dollars, general damages for consequential loss of profit and economic loss

occasioned by the respondent‘s negligence and or fraudulent breach of the duty of care at the rate

of 2,000,000 US dollars per year.

Image: MS Benedicta Rugemalira, Executive Chairperson of VIP Engineering and Marketing

Limited. (File photo)

http://allafrica.com/stories/201502161993.html

Still no payment for rice farmers for last crop

FEBRUARY 16, 2015 · BY STAFF WRITER

Dear Editor,

It is evident that in the face of the tremendous challenges ahead, and continuous protest from the

rice farmers, the government needs to work for more national cohesion and national unity. On

Friday, once again rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast took to the road in protest for paddy

payment for the last crop. Hundreds of farmers and their families demanded that the government

fulfil its promises and see that millers pay them urgently, as they cannot live on promises.The

reality is that rough times are ahead; harvesting of the new Spring crop will begin within two

weeks and the farmers are asking what has become of the millions of dollars which were loaned

to the millers to pay them off some months ago. Many farmers who have grown rice their entire

lives, find themselves in an unprecedented financial situation. Farmers know that politics is not

the answer to their problem.

Over the years, there has been a general reluctance by millers to pay farmers promptly for their

produce. Government has claimed that there is a large export market for farmers‘ paddy and our

rice, but the big question is, why are the farmers not being paid crop after crop, when they have

delivered their paddy to the millers? Rice-farming in general employs nearly half of the

Essequibo Coast‘s total workforce and is an integral part of Guyana‘s economy, culture and

history.

Mismanagement of the rice industry has shaken confidence in rice farmers; the current problem

of payment has had more consequences for the rice farmers than the millers. The problem faced

by rice farmers has been compounded by the current government and millers‘ ill-conceived

prompt payment scheme, which has failed. Farmers are facing increasing hardship that began

long before the increasing monopolies held by big millers who have set about miring farmers in a

web of debt by not paying them.

http://www.stabroeknews.com/author/layout/



16


The nightmare farmers now face is growing debt, while trying to cover daily expenses. They are

clinging to the false hope offered by an incompetent Ministry of Agriculture and the Guyana

Rice Development Board which have neither the intent nor the ability to oversee their payment.

Their children will be pulled from school, medical expenses skipped, belts tightened around the

dinner table and any possible investment to improve their lives abandoned.

Yours faithfully,

Mohamed Khan http://www.stabroeknews.com/2015/opinion/letters/02/16/still-no-payment-rice-farmers-last-crop/

Fermenting Rice For Biofuel & Feed Read more from Asian Scientist Magazine

Fermenting Rice For Biofuel & Feed Scientists have developed a method to process rice plants

into both biofuel and animal fodder that does not require special equipment. Asian Scientist

Newsroom | February 17, 2015 | Editorials AsianScientist (Feb. 17, 2015)

- 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 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.

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

http://www.stabroeknews.com/2015/opinion/letters/02/16/still-no-payment-rice-farmers-last-crop/



17


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.

The article can be found at: Horita et al. (2015) On-farm Solid State Simultaneous

Saccharification and Fermentation of Whole Crop Forage Rice in Wrapped Round Bale for

Ethanol Production. ----- Source: SciDev.Net. Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily

reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff. Tags: Biofuel, Japan, National Institute for Agro-

Environmental Sciences, Renewable Energy, Rice Read more from Asian Scientist Magazine

http://www.asianscientist.com/2015/02/features/fermenting-rice-biofuel-feed/

Happy President's Day from Oryza!

Feb 16, 2015

Oryza editorial team is working limited hours this week and will be back in full force on Tuesday.

Wishing you and your families a Happy President's Day!

http://www.asianscientist.com/2015/02/features/fermenting-rice-biofuel-feed/

16th february,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

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