19th May ,2016 Daily Global,Regional & Local Rice -Enewsletter by Riceplus Magazine

8/16/2019 19th May ,2016 Daily Global,Regional & Local Rice -Enewsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016

www.ricepluss.com www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com

For information : Mujahid Ali [email protected] 0321 369 2874

1

www.ricepluss

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot

Vol 7,Issue V

May 19 ,2016


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Editorial Board

Chief Editor

Hamlik

Managing Editor

Abdul Sattar Shah

Rahmat Ullah

Rozeen Shaukat

English Editor

Maryam Editor

Legal Advisor

Advocate Zaheer Minhas

Editorial Associates Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid

Javed Islam Agha

Ch.Hamid Malhi

Dr.Akhtar Hussain

Dr.Fayyaz Ahmad Siddiqu

Dr.Abdul Rasheed (UAF)

Islam Akhtar Khan

Editorial Advisory Board

Dr.Malik Mohammad Has

Assistant Professor, GomalUniversity DIK

Dr.Hasina GulAssistant Director, Agriculture KPK

Dr.Hidayat UllahAssistant Professor, Universit

Swabi

Dr.Abdul BasirAssistant Professor, Universi

Swabi

Zahid Mehmood

PSO,NIFA Peshawar

Falak Naz ShahHead Food Science & Techno

ART, Peshawar

oday Rice News Headlines...

GM crops ideal for drought-hit TS‘

Greenhouse gas emissions from this surprising source could doom

the Paris climate accord goal

Private traders no longer to import rice

05/18/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report

Salt-Resistant Rice Offers Hope For Farmers Clinging To

Disappearing Islands

HUL gets CCI nod to sell rice export biz to LT Foods

Wheat strengthens on increased offtake by flour mills

Prevailing World Prices and Loan Deficiency Payment Rates for

Rice

Thai Rice Price Hits 2-Year High as Drought Hurts Asian Output:Traders


Price of rice stable despite ill effects of El Niño

Enormous interest in rice auction tomorrow

Rice exporters aim to ship 0.7m tons to Iran

Egypt's GASC signs contract for 80,000 tonnes of rice

Boro farming not profitable as price Tk 400 per maund

Rice traders lament soaring prices

SLAC eyeing to export rice grown in Myanmar Cancer-fighting peptides found in Arkansas grown rice

Protein-rich rice to be taken up for cultivation

Rice millers in Odisha threaten stir over dues from June 1

Rice exports plunge

Enormous interest in rice auction tomorrow

Rice importers controlling politicians - Mornah

Recipe of the Day: Goan Coconut and Tamarind Mackerel Curry

Drought sparks rice price surge

New Philippines govt to ban private sector rice imports Farmers get their cultivable land ready with expectations of good

monsoons.

Govt allows bulk export of rice bran oil

APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1476


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GM crops ideal for drought-hitUse of of genetically modified crops will help reduce acute drought crisis in Telangana, opinedsenior scientists and researchers who conducted talks under the aegis of the Association ofBiotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE) here on Wednesday.

Use of biotechnology in agriculture would reduce irrigation requirement in the State by 25 percent, scientists said.

‘Use biotechnology’

Speaking at a media meet here, four scientists including Dr. P. Ananda Kumar, PrincipalScientist, Biotechnology Unit, Indian Institute of Rice Research, Dr. B. Seikeran, former directorof National Institute of Nutrition, Dr. Ajay Panchbhai, Biotechnology Affairs Manager-India,DuPont Pinoeer and Dr. Shivendra Bajaj, Executive Director, ABLE-AG, recommended use of biotechnology in agriculture. ―Farmers should be introduced to drought resistant variants of rice,a crop which is highly water reliant. Scientists from India and abroad have developed geneticallymodified variants which will be suitable for soil in Telangana,‖ Dr. Kumar said. Apart from rice

varieties, scientists in New Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Hyderabad among other cities, have come upwith biotechnologically experimented and better varieties of vegetables and food grains, thescientists explained.

―For a drought-hit state like Telangana, it is essential to curtail farmer distress and introducedifferent GM as well as non-GM crop varieties. Drought-resistant variants of crops that canwithstand high temperatures and reduced irrigation should be considered along with herbicidetolerance and nitrogen use efficiency, especially in the case of rice, Telangana‘s primary food-grain,‖ Dr. Sesikeran said at the meet. He also highlighted that GM crops were sae andnutritious.

Drought had reduced rice production in Telangana from 4.5 million tonnes to 3 million tonnes in2015. This is because for each kilogram of rice grown in Telangana, the farmer usesapproximately 3,145 litres of water. Speaking of GM research, Dr. Bajaj asked the governmentto speed up support in the field. ―There has to be a concerted effort to drive agricultural growth

through technology interventions. Telangana has several GM crops where field trials are pendingincluding rice, cotton, wheat among other grains,‖ he said. Putting to rest doubts about safety of

GM trials, Dr. Panchbhai said that regulatory framework in the country was as stringent as anyother developed nation and proper measures were taken before any crop was approved for fieldtrials or environmental release.

Introduction of GM crops would also help in improvement of groundwater levels, the scientistssaid.


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http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/gm-crops-ideal-for-droughthit-ts/article8618594.ece

Greenhouse gas emissions from this surprising source could

doom the Paris climate accord goalBy Darryl Fears May 18 at 9:15 AM

In Vietnam, alternate wetting and drying in irrigated rice is helping farmers use less water and lower

emissions without compromising yields. (Courtesy of G. Smith/CIAT)

By now, almost anyone can pick the world‘s biggest polluters out of a lineup: power plants,automobile tailpipes and factories. Together they push nearly 70 percent of heat trappinggreenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Not surprisingly, the trio drew considerable attentionduring the late 2015 Paris climate talks to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.5degrees Fahrenheit, by the end of the century.

But a new study released Tuesday says the agreement reached by governments after the United

Nations talks will fail if they fail to confront another major source of greenhouse gas emissions:agriculture. Based on some estimates, meat, dairy and crop production emit as much greenhousegas pollution in the form of methane and nitrous oxide as automobiles emit carbon. The studysaid farm emissions must fall by a billion tons per year by 2030.

According to the study, current regulations for agriculture will fall up to 5 percent short ofwhat‘s needed. ―This research is a reality check,‖ said Eva Wollenberg, leader of the CCAFSLow Emissions Development research program at the University of Vermont‘s Gund Institute for

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/gm-crops-ideal-for-droughthit-ts/article8618594.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/gm-crops-ideal-for-droughthit-ts/article8618594.ecehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/people/darryl-fearshttp://www.washingtonpost.com/people/darryl-fearshttp://www.washingtonpost.com/people/darryl-fearshttp://www.washingtonpost.com/people/darryl-fearshttp://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/gm-crops-ideal-for-droughthit-ts/article8618594.ece


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Ecological Economics. ―Countries want to take action on agriculture, but the options currentlyon offer won‘t make the dent in emissions needed to meet the global targets agreed to in Paris.‖

The U.N.‘s current solutions call for more water efficiency in rice production, better forestry practices and lowering food waste. But the study‘s authors said governments will have to do

better than that. The study advocates identifying specific breeds of cattle that produce lessmethane, along with a dietary inhibitor that reduce the gas by more than 25 percent.

The study, two years in the making, was published in the journal Global Change Biology. Itsmore than 20 authors represent research institutions from around the world, including theInternational Livestock Research Institute in Nairobi, the French National Institute forAgricultural Research in Paris, the International Rice Research Institute in Los Baños,Philippines, and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture in Cali, Colombia.

―Part of the purpose is to stimulate people to think about these options,‖ Wollenberg said. ―I

think it just takes the political will.‖

Energy and Environment newsletter

The science and policy of environmental issues.

On Earth Day last month, Secretary of State John F. Kerry and the leaders of more than 170nations signed an agreement to lower greenhouse gas emissions at the U.N. headquarters in NewYork, ―the largest number of countries ever to sign an international agreement in a single day,‖

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on the occasion.

Ban called the global effort to fight global warming ―a race against time.‖

But the effort will fall short without ―massive investment, information sharing and technical

support to enable a global-scale transition‖ to address emissions from agriculture, according to astatement from the University of Vermont announcing the study. Agriculture had a 300 millionton carbon footprint in 2012 from food waste alone.

―Promising technical innovations on the horizon include recently developed methane inhibitorsthat reduce dairy cow emissions by 30 percent without affecting milk yields, breeds of cattle that produce lower methane and varieties of cereal crops that release less nitrous oxide,‖ the

statement said.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/05/18/greenhouse-gas-emissions-

from-this-surprising-source-could-doom-the-paris-climate-accord-goal/


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THE NEXT GOVERNMENT will bar private traders from importing rice and aims to stamp out rampant

smuggling of the grain into the country, fueling trader speculation of reduced demand from the world‘s

third-biggest buyer of the grain.

Rice industry groups that have been complaining of the current government‘s apparent lack of will to curb

smuggling -- consequently, eroding farmers‘ incomes -- welcomed the move.

The task of importing rice to ensure food security will now be solely in the hands of the state grains

agency, the National Food Authority (NFA), incoming President Rodrigo R. Duterte‘s choice for

agriculture secretary, Emmanuel F. Piñol, said in a radio interview.

Rice imports are politically sensitive in the country, with the government pushing to keep tariffs high to

protect local farmers but also sometimes needing to quickly import thousands of tons to ensure adequate

domestic supplies.

Private traders are currently allowed to bring in up to 805,200 tons annually, with a 35% tariff, under a

World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement.

―The directive of our president-elect is that there will be no more rice importation by the private sector. It

will only be the NFA,‖ said Mr. Piñol, a former governor of North Cotabato.

Rice importation is regulated by the NFA, which issues permits and allocations to private traders via

auctions -- a practice prone to abuse because permits can be sold by importers or officials award them

only to favored traders.

In 2014, the country moved to loosen restrictions on rice imports by reducing tariffs to 35% from 40%

and increasing the so-called annual minimum access volume covered by such tariffs to 805,200 tons from

350,000 tons.

WELCOME MOVE

A group of rice millers and wholesalers welcomed the impending policy change.

―Very good, that‘s a very positive development,‖ said Herculano C. Co, Jr., president of the Philippine

Confederation of Grain Associations, Inc., in a mobile phone message.

―The import permit given to the private sector was the biggest blunder for the rice sector as most -- if not

all -- use it to smuggle rice, depressing the price of palay produce of farmers.‖

The leader of a group of 33 farmer groups shared this sentiment.

―This has been our position ever since... three years ago. Smuggling has become rampant with priva te


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traders allowed to import, because permits are recycled,‖ Rosendo O. So, president of the Samahang

Industriya ng Agrikultura, said partly in Filipino in a telephone interview.

Saying it is difficult to monitor imports of rice traders under this loose permit system, Mr. So said it is

easier to control imports via government-to-government (G2G) deals.

―With G2G, you know where the imports will land, who are the parties to the transaction and what is the

volume,‖ he explained.

―We have been batting for that (preventing private traders from importing rice) as one of the solutions to

curb rice smuggling.‖

But a Manila-based rice broker said that getting around the WTO agreement could be an obstacle to Mr.

Piñol‘s plans.

Private rice importers under the scheme can buy a maximum of 293,100 tons each from Thailand andVietnam, as well as 50,000 tons each from China, India and Pakistan. Importers can also buy up to 15,000

tons from Australia, 4,000 tons from El Salvador and up to 50,000 tons from other countries.

Rice traders in Thailand and Vietnam were monitoring the situation but some expressed concern about

reduced demand.

―It doesn‘t make much difference on who buys, what is important is how much they buy,‖ said a

Bangkok-based trader.

In Vietnam, a trader said Manila‘s ban on private sector importation could mean lower demand ifVietnam had to only work with the NFA for deals.

The new plans for rice trading come as benchmark Thai rice prices RI-THBKN5-P1 hit a two-year high

on Tuesday, as drought cuts the output of Asia‘s top growers.

Last week, Mr. Duterte‘s campaign spokesman Peter T. Laviña said a plan by the incumbent government

to import an additional 500,000 tons of rice this year would be reviewed and said there was a preference

for more government-to-government deals.

The Philippines regularly imports more than a million tons a year of rice for its growing population,

although Lavina said the Mr. Duterte government wants the country to become self sufficient in one totwo years. -- main report from Reuters, with JCL

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:bH6etaY0Vd0J:www.bworldonline.com/content.

php%3Fsection%3DTopStory%26title%3Dprivate-traders-no-longer-to-import-

rice%26id%3D127720+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk


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05/18/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report

Soybeans

High Low

Cash Bids 1070 1012

New Crop 1080 1037

Riceland Foods

Cash Bids Stuttgart: - - - Pendleton: - - -

New Crop Stuttgart: - - - Pendleton: - - -

Futures:SOYBEANS

High Low Last Change

Jul '16 1088.00 1063.75 1075.25 -5.00

Aug '16 1090.00 1066.00 1077.00 -5.50

Sep '16 1081.25 1058.25 1066.00 -7.75

Nov '16 1075.00 1052.75 1057.50 -9.75

Jan '17 1071.25 1051.25 1056.50 -8.00

Mar '17 1048.00 1033.00 1036.75 -6.75


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May '17 1041.00 1029.00 1032.50 -4.75

Jul '17 1040.25 1027.75 1030.75 -5.75

Aug '17 1021.00 1021.00 1016.75 -3.75

Arkansas Daily Grain Report

FOB Memphis Elevator Crops

Soybean Comment

Soybean closed slightly lower as trade was very volatile today trading from 9 higher to 14 lower. Themarket continue to hold gains near the recent highs. The market showed little ability to put in new highs

today, but did test previous highs. The market needs additional demand to develop and help propel prices

above highs near $10.75.

Wheat

High Low

Cash Bids 491 441

New Crop 492 467

Futures:WHEAT


Jul '16 484.75 477.00 480.00 -1.75

Sep '16 493.75 486.75 490.00 -1.25

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Dec '16 509.25 502.00 506.00 0.00

Mar '17 524.25 517.50 521.50 +0.75

May '17 532.75 525.00 530.00 +1.00

Jul '17 535.00 529.00 532.50 +0.50

Sep '17 537.25 535.50 537.00 +0.50

Dec '17 551.00 547.50 548.25 -0.50

Mar '18 556.75 555.75 555.00 -2.75



Wheat Comment

Wheat closed mixed today as the market continues to be pressured by large supplies. New crop wheat

faces an uncertain export market as wheat needs additional sales to develop. The market has little

fundamental support to move higher as the market remains a follower to other commodities.

Grain Sorghum

High Low

Cash Bids 373 357

New Crop 323 278



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Corn

High Low

Cash Bids 409 375

New Crop 410 394

Futures:CORN


Jul '16 400.50 394.00 399.50 +2.50

Sep '16 402.75 396.75 402.25 +2.50

Dec '16 406.75 400.75 406.00 +2.25

Mar '17 413.75 408.50 413.25 +1.75

May '17 417.50 412.75 417.00 +1.50

Jul '17 421.25 416.75 420.75 +1.75

Sep '17 415.00 412.00 414.50 +0.75

Dec '17 415.75 412.50 415.50 0.00

Mar '18 423.00 420.00 423.00 0.00



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Corn Comment

Corn prices closed higher today as prices continue to hold support near $4. This mark the fifth session in

a row prices higher. While today's ethanol numbers were less than impressive, the EPA is expected to

release favorable RFS levels for next year which could help continue to support prices.

Cotton

Futures:COTTON


Jul '16 62.88 61.4 62.05 -0.15

Oct '16 62.5 62.16 62.54 0.15

Dec '16 62.04 61.16 61.75 0.18

Memphis, TN Cotton and Tobacco Programs

Cotton Comment

Cotton futures was mostly higher again today. China continues to auction 30,000 tons a day to local mills.So far, they are liquidating higher-quality cotton, but the market is looking for indications they are

running out of their best reserves and will begin to auction lower quality cotton, some of which is years

old. Planting progress is well ahead of last year's pace, and bit ahead of the 5 year average as well.

December will have resistance at the recent high of 63.69 cents.

Rice

High Low

Long Grain Cash Bids - - - - - -

Long Grain New Crop - - - - - -

http://click.aristotle.net/click.aspx?lid=CG0B2dQDMghhttp://click.aristotle.net/click.aspx?lid=CG0B2dQDMghhttp://click.aristotle.net/click.aspx?lid=CG0B2dQDMgh


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Futures: ROUGH RICE


Jul '16 1214.5 1186.0 1214.5 +3.5

Sep '16 1234.5 1205.5 1234.5 +6.0

Nov '16 1240.0 1230.0 1251.5 +6.0

Jan '17 1269.0 +7.5

Mar '17 1285.0 +8.0

May '17 1304.5 +8.0

Jul '17 1304.5 +8.0

Rice CommentRice futures were higher again today with July posting an outside day up. Arkansas farmers have now

planted 96% of intended acres. The question remains, though, will they stop there? The five year average

for this date is 80%, so if conditions remain favorable, the crop might get bigger. This large crop could

limit the upside potential of the market, however, dry conditions in other rice growing regions of the

world could provide support. July continues to trend higher, and the next upside objective is the 62%

retracement level of $12.46.

Cattle

Futures:

Live Cattle:LIVE CATTLE

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Jun '16 123.575 122.525 123.125 -0.200

Aug '16 120.000 119.150 119.950 +0.150

Oct '16 119.600 118.525 119.525 +0.300

Dec '16 118.900 117.725 118.825 +0.475

Feb '17 117.625 116.525 117.600 +0.525

Apr '17 116.350 115.225 116.325 +0.650

Jun '17 109.325 108.750 109.300 +0.300

Aug '17 107.000 106.875 107.000 +0.200

Feeders:FEEDER CATTLE


May '16 149.925 149.000 149.500 -0.025

Aug '16 149.775 148.350 149.350 +0.575

Sep '16 147.750 146.575 147.375 +0.375

Oct '16 145.850 144.675 145.400 +0.350

Nov '16 141.775 141.000 141.700 +0.275

Jan '17 137.200 136.475 136.850 +0.050

Mar '17 134.150 134.050 134.050 0.000

Apr '17 134.475 0.000

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Arkansas Prices

Conway Livestock Auction

Pocahontas Livestock Auction

Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City - Weekly Weighted Average Summary Wednesday

Cattle Comment

Cattle prices closed mostly higher today with the exception of the nearby contract. Continued strength in

beef prices and cash prices that remain at a premium to futures are providing most of the support for

prices at this time.

Hogs

Futures:LEAN HOGS


Jun '16 82.750 81.000 81.225 -1.525

Jul '16 83.375 81.550 81.925 -1.500

Aug '16 82.600 81.300 81.700 -0.950

Oct '16 70.700 69.850 70.250 -0.425

Dec '16 65.400 64.700 65.175 -0.250

Feb '17 68.125 67.600 67.925 -0.300

Apr '17 70.775 70.300 70.775 -0.100

May '17 75.000 -0.075

Jun '17 78.200 78.150 78.325 -0.175

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Salt-Resistant Rice Offers Hope For Farmers Clinging To

Disappearing Islands

Debendra Tarek, 80, inspects a handful of salt-resistant rice in his home on the tidal island ofGhoramara, which is shrinking quickly because of climate change.

David Gilkey/NPR

In a dimly lit hut made of mud and straw, a shaft of

sunlight slices through a hole in the ceiling and landson a bag of rice. Debendra Tarek, 80, pulls out ahandful of the rough brown grains and holds them upto the beam of light.His bare chest is sunken, and hiseyes glow deep in their sockets. "This resists thesaltwater," the village elder explains through aninterpreter. This variety of rice, he says, allows hisfamily to remain here on Ghoramara, the islandwhere they were born.Ghoramara is one ofthousands of islands that make up the largestmangrove forest in the world. It is part of the

Sundarbans — a delta on India's eastern border withBangladesh, where three major rivers empty into theBay of Bengal. This is tidal country, where land

disappears and reappears as waters rise and fall each day. Lately, noncyclical change is reshapingthis landscape in unfamiliar ways. Rising waters tear chunks out of the landscape. Islandsdisappear and don't return.

Ghoramara has lost half its land mass since 1969, according to researchers at JadavpurUniversity in Kolkata, India. Sugata Hazra runs the university's School of Oceanography Studies.Hazra says the island has shrunk from 8.5 square kilometers in 1969 to just 4.3 kilometers in2014. Ghoramara used to be home to 40,000 people. Today, most have been forced to leave.

They've become climate refugees. Tarek and his family are among the 3,500 people who remain.

Many of the 4 million people who live in the Sundarbans are poor subsistence farmers likeTarek. Rice is the staple crop, and growing it requires abundant fresh water. In a rice paddy, the brackish water that surrounds these islands can be devastating. "When floodwater would enterthe fields, it would destroy the entire crop," Tarek tells me. It might be three to five years until arice paddy can be planted again.In Kolkata, about 60 miles north of Ghoramara, Asish Ghoshunderstands that climate change could cause rice paddies to flood with saltwater more frequently,

http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/06/04/408297353/climate-change-ready-rice-keeps-farmers-fields-green


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making Tarek's problems worse. And he believes he can help. Ghosh is the founder of anenvironmental organization called ENDEV, The Society for Environment and Development.

"We used to grow 6,000 varieties of rice" in the Indian state of West Bengal, Ghosh says. "Thatis an incredible figure." The problem is, 90 percent of those varieties have disappeared. Farmersno longer grow them, and nobody has saved the seeds. Still, Ghosh figured that some of the 600remaining varieties must be salt-resistant.

His team called research facilities and universities, asking for the names of salt-resistant ricevarieties. They collected six names — but no samples. "Where are you going to get them?"Ghosh recalls one researcher asking. "He laughed at me over the phone."

The hunt was on. "I was searching like a madman, writing emails to all possible places. To the

national plant center, the national rice collection center," says Ghosh. "Then I called up an NGOin the Sundarbans I'd been working with. They searched out the oldest man they could find andasked whether he had any of these varieties."

After six months of scouring villages and research institutions, Ghosh procured seeds for five ofthe six salt-resistant rice varieties. (It still bothers him that he can't find the sixth.) In 2011, hegave small samples of the rice to farmers in the Sundarbans, along with careful instructions:"Grow these for seeds. Don't eat the rice. Save it."

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WASHINGTON, February 24, 2016-The Department of Agriculture's Commodity CreditCorporation today announced the following prevailing world market prices of milled and roughrice, adjusted for U.S. milling yields and location, and the resulting marketing loan gain (MLG)and loan deficiency payment (LDP) rates applicable to the 2015 crop, which will becomeeffective today at 7:00 a.m., Eastern Time (ET). Rough rice prices decreased $0.18 per cwt for both long grain and medium/short grain.

To access the complete News Release, click here.

http://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/economic-and-policy-analysis/food-grains-analysis/rice-reports/2016/prfebruary242016

Thai Rice Price Hits 2-Year High as Drought Hurts Asian

Output: Traders

Bangkok . Benchmark Thai rice prices hit a two-year high on Tuesday (17/05) as drought cut output from

Asia's top rice growers and stoked demand for Thai exports, rice traders and exporters said.

Prices are at their highest level since the Thai military seized power two years ago and ended generous

subsidies that caused a glut in supply and a massive build up in rice stockpiles in Thailand.

http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/EPAS/reports/rice/2016/prfebruary232016.pdfhttp://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/EPAS/reports/rice/2016/prfebruary232016.pdfhttp://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/EPAS/reports/rice/2016/prfebruary232016.pdfhttp://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/EPAS/reports/rice/2016/prfebruary232016.pdf


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The price of 5-percent broken rice was quoted at $418-$420 a tonne FOB Bangkok on Tuesday, rice

traders said, the highest since May 11, 2014

http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/se-asia/thai-rice-price-hits-2-year-high-drought-hurts-asian-output-

traders/


THE NEXT GOVERNMENT will bar private traders from importing rice and aims to stamp out rampantsmuggling of the grain into the country, fueling trader speculation of reduced demand from the world‘sthird-biggest buyer of the grain.

Rice industry groups that have been complaining of the current government‘s apparent lack of will to curb

smuggling -- consequently, eroding farmers‘ incomes -- welcomed the move.

The task of importing rice to ensure food security will now be solely in the hands of the state grains

agency, the National Food Authority (NFA), incoming President Rodrigo R. Duterte‘s choice for

agriculture secretary and a former governor of North Cotabato, Emmanuel F. Piñol, said in a radio

interview.

Rice imports are politically sensitive in the country, with the government pushing to keep tariffs high to

protect local farmers but also sometimes needing to quickly import thousands of tons to ensure adequate

domestic supplies.

Private traders are currently allowed to bring in up to 805,200 tons annually, with a 35% tariff, under a

World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement.

―The directive of our president-elect is that there will be no more rice importation by the private sector. It

will only be the NFA,‖ said Mr. Piñol, a former governor of North Cotabato.

Rice importation is regulated by the NFA, which issues permits and allocations to private traders via

auctions -- a practice prone to abuse because permits can be sold by importers or officials award them

only to favored traders.

In 2014, the country moved to loosen restrictions on rice imports by reducing tariffs to 35% from 40%

and increasing the so-called annual minimum access volume covered by such tariffs to 805,200 tons from350,000 tons.

WELCOME MOVE

A group of rice millers and wholesalers welcomed the impending policy change.

―Very good, that‘s a very positive development,‖ said Herculano C. Co, Jr., president of the Philippine

Confederation of Grain Associations, Inc., in a mobile phone message.


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―The import permit given to the private sector was the biggest blunder for the rice sector as most -- if not

all -- use it to smuggle rice, depressing the price of palay produce of farmers.‖

The leader of a group of 33 farmer groups shared this sentiment.

―This has been our position ever since... three years ago. Smuggling has become rampant with private

traders allowed to import, because permits are recycled,‖ Rosendo O. So, president of the Samahang

Industriya ng Agrikultura, said partly in Filipino in a telephone interview.

Saying it is difficult to monitor imports of rice traders under this loose permit system, Mr. So said it is

easier to control imports via government-to-government (G2G) deals.

―With G2G, you know where the imports will land, who the parties to the transaction are and what the

volume is,‖ he explained.

―We have been batting for that (preventing private traders from importing rice) as one of the solutions to

curb rice smuggling.‖

But a Manila-based rice broker said that getting around the WTO agreement could be an obstacle to Mr.

Piñol‘s plans.

Private rice importers under the scheme can buy a maximum of 293,100 tons each from Thailand and

Vietnam, as well as 50,000 tons each from China, India and Pakistan. Importers can also buy up to 15,000

tons from Australia, 4,000 tons from El Salvador and up to 50,000 tons from other countries.

Rice traders in Thailand and Vietnam were monitoring the situation but some expressed concern about

reduced demand.

―It doesn‘t make much difference on who buys, what is important is how much they buy,‖ said a

Bangkok-based trader.

In Vietnam, a trader said Manila‘s ban on private sector importation could mean lower demand if

Vietnam had to only work with the NFA for deals.

The new plans for rice trading come as benchmark Thai rice prices RI-THBKN5-P1 hit a two-year high

on Tuesday, as drought cuts the output of Asia‘s top growers.

Last week, Mr. Duterte‘s campaign spokesman Peter T. Laviña said a plan by the incumbent government

to import an additional 500,000 tons of rice this year would be reviewed and said there was a preference

for more government-to-government deals.

The Philippines regularly imports more than a million tons a year of rice for its growing population,


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although Lavina said the Mr. Duterte government wants the country to become self sufficient in one to

two years. -- main report from Reuters, with JCL

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=TopStory&title=private-traders-no-longer-to-import-rice&id=127720

Price of rice stable despite ill effects of El Niño2016

THE price of rice in the domestic market remains stable despite the drop in the country‘s paddy rice production brought about by the ill impacts of El Niño, the National Food Authority (NFA)said.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed the average farmgate price of palayas of the week ending May 10 reached P18.08 per kilogram, only 0.14 percent lower than theP18.05 per kg recorded in the same period last year.

This, despite the 9.97- percent decrease in the country‘s palay production during the first quarterof 2016. Palay output during the period was recorded at 3.93 million metric tons (MMT), lowerthan the 4.37 MMT produced in 2015.The PSA attributed the drop in production to El Niño andthe damage caused by Typhoons Lando and Nona in late-2015.

NFA Spokesman Angel Imperial Jr. said in a phone interview the price of the staple barely

moved, as the agency was able to promptly preposition rice stocks through the government-to-government (G-to-G) importation done in the last quarter of 2015.

―The importation we have done was able to cushion the impact of the current El Niño episode tothe country‘s rice supply and prices,‖ he said.

According to the official, rice stock inventory in the Philippines is currently at 2.73 MMT, whichis sufficient for 85 days.

About 1.13 MMT of the total inventory is deposited in NFA warehouses, while 886,000 MT and706,000 MT are with the households and commercial warehouses, respectively.

The NFA, through a G-to-G scheme, imported 500,000 MT of rice in the first quarter of the yearto cover the anticipated deficit in the country‘s rice production brought about by El Niño.

The latest report from the Department of Agriculture showed around 918,912 metric tons (MT)of crops worth P8.68 billion have already been damaged by El Niño and pests in 2016. Of thisvalue, P7.01 billion was from El Niño damage.

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=TopStory&title=private-traders-no-longer-to-import-rice&id=127720http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=TopStory&title=private-traders-no-longer-to-import-rice&id=127720http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=TopStory&title=private-traders-no-longer-to-import-rice&id=127720http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=TopStory&title=private-traders-no-longer-to-import-rice&id=127720http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=TopStory&title=private-traders-no-longer-to-import-rice&id=127720


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The rice sector took the brunt of the effects of the drought, with P3.47 billion in total productionloss.

Meanwhile, Imperial said there is still no immediate plan to import additional volumes of rice toaugment the country‘s inventory in preparation for the lean months.

But the NFA said it has already prepared the groundworks for all possible importation schemethat can be considered by the next administration.

―We have already prepared all the possible rice importation schemes for the 500,000 MT standby

authority given by Malacañang, be it through the minimum access volume scheme or bygovernment-to-government scheme so the next administration can quickly execute them shouldthey decide to,‖ former NFA Administration Renan B. Dalisay earlier said.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/price-of-rice-stable-despite-ill-effects-of-el-nino/

Enormous interest in rice auction tomorrowPETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI

THE NATION May 18, 2016 1:00 am

WITH REDUCED supply in the market due to the ongoing drought, a great many rice traders have

expressed interest in taking part in tomorrow‘s auction for 1.2 million tonnes of rice, at which the

government is expected to attract a good price for its stockpiled produce.

Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, said yesterday that 51 rice

traders had shown interest in the third rice auction of the year, driven by high demand arising from lower

output due to the drought.

The auction takes place at the Commerce Ministry in Nonthaburi.

"Rice prices have increased gradually. This bidding should generate a better price than at the two previous

auctions this year, although it may not be as high as the market price as this rice stock from the

government's warehouses has deteriorated in quality as it has been stockpiled for a while," she said.

Excluding the 1.2 million tonnes set to be auctioned off, about 11.4 million tonnes of rice remains in the

government's stocks - some 7 million tonnes of it for consumption, and the rest for industrial supply.

Duangporn said the government would hold further bidding rounds for releasing rice from the stockpile

soon, while taking into account the prevailing market situation in order to prevent prices falling before the

start of the new harvest season.

Meanwhile, rice exports are on the rise, thanks to high overseas demand, she added.


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According to a Foreign Trade Department report, rice exports have risen 18 per cent in volume so far this

year to 3.91 million tonnes, while export value has increased 11.85 per cent to Bt60.99 billion.

Asked about the losses incurred from the four defaulted government-to-government contracts for the sale

of 6.2 million tonnes of rice from the previous administration, Duangporn said her department was

following up the case and estimated calling for recovery of an overall loss of Bt20 billion from politicians

and ousted government officials.

The department is awaiting the Office of the Council of State's consideration in regard to signing

authorisation for the Commerce Ministry or other agencies to call for recovery of the losses, she added.

Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary chairman of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said many rice

traders - including exporters, millers and domestic traders - were eager to join the upcoming bidding as

they hoped to find rice at a cheaper price during a period of low supply and high prices in the market.

The current price of rice is the highest for two years, due to lower production resulting from controlled

plantation during the dry season, he said.

The export price of Hom Mali or jasmine rice is now quoted at US$795 (Bt28,220) per tonne, while

sticky rice fetches $900 per tonne and white rice is quoted at $439 per tonne.With higher export prices,

domestic prices have also increased, Chookiat said.

The price of paddy white rice has risen from Bt7,800-Bt8,000 to Bt9,000-Bt9,300 per tonne, while paddy

jasmine rice is now quoted at Bt12,000-Bt13,000 a tonne.

The government should soon open a couple more rounds of rice bidding in order to release rice from the

stockpiles before the incoming new crop, he

added.http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Enormous-interest-in-rice-auction-tomorrow-

30286165.html

Rice exporters aim to ship 0.7m tons to Iran17.05.2016

Members of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) have decided to open theiroffices in Tehran and Mashhad in a bid to increase exports to 600,000 to 700,000 tons to Iran – the top Basmati rice importer in the world.With the help of the Ministry of Commerce, the REAPmembers will invite Iranian rice importers to Pakistan for business-to-business meetings to

increase rice trade between the two neighbours, according to a press release.he decision has beentaken after a REAP delegation visited Iran and met rice importers with the assistance ofPakistan‘s diplomatic mission in Tehran. The meetings have proved successful and rice exportersexpect to get new orders.

However, in a seminar organised recently by REAP at the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of


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Commerce and Industry, leading bankers pointed out that the State Bank of Pakistan had yet toremove all hurdles in the way of establishing banking links with Iran.Since the efforts to openoffices in Iran have the backing of the Pakistan government and the Ministry of Commerce,exporters say they are hopeful of getting new business from Iran.Pakistan, which used to be thetop rice exporter to Iran, has seen a significant decline in its share in the last two years because ofthe tightening of international sanctions on Tehran.Iran annually imports more than $2 billionworth of rice. Pakistan‘s share is negligible as it exported 2,234 tons in fiscal year 2015, fetching

just $1.32 million.Exporters say India has replaced Pakistan in Iranian rice markets because of better government-to-government arrangements for trade payments.

http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/rice-exporters-aim-to-ship-0-7m-tons-to-iran

Egypt's GASC signs contract for 80,000 tonnes of riceWed May 18, 2016 8:36am GMT

DUBAI (Reuters) - Egypt's state grain buyer, the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC),

said on Wednesday it had signed a contract for the import of 80,000 tonnes of rice outside of the tender

process.

Vice Chairman Mamdouh Abdel Fattah would not reveal the price of the contract or the supplier, but he said that the quantity could increase to more than 80,000 tonnes.

(Reporting by Maha El Dahan, editing by Louise Heavens)

http://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFKCN0Y90VO?feedType=RSS&feedName=investingNe

ws

Boro farming not profitable as price Tk 400 per

maund

Farmers blame late procurement drive for the situation

Farmers thresh newly harvested paddy at Purbo Hazaratpara in Dinajpur Sadar upazila a coupleof days ago. However, the good yield fails to make the growers happy, as evident in a

demonstration with paddy spread on Thakurgaon-Dhaka road Khochabari Haat in ThakurgaonSadar upazila. Photo: Star

Our Correspondent, Dinajpur

Frustration has gripped farmers as paddy price continues to be low in the markets. Besides, delayin the rice procurement drive of the government in Dinajpur, Joypurhat and Naogaon is alsoallegedly depriving farmers of fair prices for their produce.

http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/rice-exporters-aim-to-ship-0-7m-tons-to-iranhttp://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/rice-exporters-aim-to-ship-0-7m-tons-to-iranhttp://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFKCN0Y90VO?feedType=RSS&feedName=investingNewshttp://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFKCN0Y90VO?feedType=RSS&feedName=investingNewshttp://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFKCN0Y90VO?feedType=RSS&feedName=investingNewshttp://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFKCN0Y90VO?feedType=RSS&feedName=investingNewshttp://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFKCN0Y90VO?feedType=RSS&feedName=investingNewshttp://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/rice-exporters-aim-to-ship-0-7m-tons-to-iran


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Officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said at least 4,38,651 hectares ofland have been brought under Irri-boro farming in the three districts, and total paddy productionwould be around 26,33,766 tonnes this year.

Of the cultivated land, 1,76,651 hectares are in Dinajpur and 1.90 lakh hectares in Naogaon.

Paddy harvesting has started in these districts, and around 50 percent of the crop has beenharvested so far.

The district food controlling departments will procure 63,784 tonnes of paddy in the threenorthern districts through 57 centres.

Abdul Kadir, Anwar Hossain and Iqbal Chowdhury, district food controllers of Dinajpur, Naogaon and Joypurhat, respectively, said paddy procurement is going at a slow pace becausethere is more than 14 percent moisture in the paddy. It has to be less than that before procurement.

"It will take some time for procurement to gain momentum," said Abdul Kadir.

Talking with this correspondent, most farmers said they got bumper production, but low price is

a cause of concern as it is difficult for them to cover their expenses from Irri-boro farming.

This correspondent visited two big wholesale markets in Panchbari and Gopalganj in DinajpurSadar upazila and found farmers selling paddy at Tk 370 to Tk 400 per maund.

"You know the price of one kilogram of mutton? It is Tk 650. The price of one maund of paddyis not even equivalent to the price of one kilogram of mutton," said Achhim Uddin, a farmer of


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Uttar Gosaipur village under Dinajpur Sadar upazila. He spent Tk 15,000 for producing paddy onone bigha of land.

In Joypurhat, farmers alleged that this year buyers from other districts are allegedly being barredfrom procuring paddy by the local rice millers, who have formed syndicates among themselves."We are forced to sell our produce at throwaway price to the local millers," said Abdul Gafur ofKalai upazila. Paddy is being sold at Tk 360 to Tk 380 per maund in Joypurhat.

Photo: Star

Farmers in Naogaon too got bumper production this season. Sirajul Islam of Nitpur village inPorsha upazila said he got 25 maunds paddy from one bigha. But low price marred his hope ofearning a profit. "I don't how I will repay the loan I took," he said.

The situation is worse for the farmers who cultivated paddy taking land on lease.

Siddiqur Rahman, a farmer of Niamatpur upazila, said that he cultivated boro on one bigha thisyear and got 25 maunds of paddy. He sold his produce for Tk 9,500, while his expenditure was

around Tk 17,000. "I have to pay the bills for irrigation, pesticide and fertiliser, and also givemoney to the land owner," he added.

The situation will improve soon, said Satyabrata Saha, deputy director of DAE in Naogaon.

http://www.thedailystar.net/country/boro-farming-not-profitable-price-tk-400-maund-1226095

http://www.thedailystar.net/country/boro-farming-not-profitable-price-tk-400-maund-1226095http://www.thedailystar.net/country/boro-farming-not-profitable-price-tk-400-maund-1226095http://www.thedailystar.net/country/boro-farming-not-profitable-price-tk-400-maund-1226095


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Rice traders lament soaring prices

5/18/2016

The Sun (Nigeria)

...Seek FG's intervention on Customs harassment Less than two months after the ban onimportation

...Seek FG's intervention on Customs harassment

Less than two months after the ban on importation of rice through land border by the FederalGovernment, the price of the commodity in the market has skyrocketed out of the reach of most Nigerian consumers. A bag of rice which sold for N9,000 before the ban, now sells for between N15,000 and N17,000.

Daily Sun investigations show that some importers who had stockpiled rice in anticipation of theclosure of land border are now taking advantage of the import ban through land borders to sellthe stockpiled rice at very high prices. It was alleged that some importers who had priorknowledge of the ban and got approved Form M last year, which they allegedly used to stockpilethe commodity in their warehouses. There were also allegations that rice importation quotaswere given to some politicians without any stake as rice millers or farmers. Worried by thistrend, traders are calling on the government to urgently intervene on the rising cost of rice, whichthey feared may go as high as N25,000 before December if it is still left in the hands of fewindividuals.

The rice traders also noted that as soon as the ban was announced, a few dominant and highlyconnected players took over the rice market with their brands of rice and started dictating the price to the detriment of the poor masses leading to the astronomic increase in price. Riceretailers, however, alleged that these importers who had stockpiled the product are working inconcert with some Nigeria Customs officers to ensure that there is no other brand of rice in themarket except the stockpiled brands.

"Whenever they see a brand that is different from their brand in the market, the Customs officersseize them from the traders. What they failed to realise is that some importers had other brands

of rice in their shops before the ban and they had to finish selling them before new ones."They also alleged that following the ban, Customs reportedly began indiscriminate seizure oftrucks of rice which were in the market before the ban within states that share no border withneighbouring countries, and that Customs duties papers are always the reason they gave for thisharassment. For instance, on March 23, 24 trucks of rice were seized in Owerri from innocentlocal traders who came to Lagos to buy rice simply because it was not a particular brand. Therewere similar seizures in Lagos by men of the Nigeria Customs from Ikeja. Now traders are afraidto buy rice from distributors except it is a particular brand, for fear of their goods being


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impounded.

A trader, Dupe John, said "rice being Nigeria's number one staple food, it is not good for a few people to monopolise the market especially when we are yet to be self-sufficient in local production. Only one brand dominating the market is the reason we have artificial scarcity andhigh cost of rice due to shortfall in supply. While these few importers are smiling to the bank, Nigerians are made to bear the brunt." The ban on importation of rice through land border is saidto be encouraging undocumented cross border rice trade. Banning or control of rice importation is usually aimed at encouraging and boosting local production. However, local production hasnot been enough to meet the consumption demand of the rapidly growing population. Therefore,there exists an imbalance between rice production and consumption.Richard Okonkwo, a rice trader, said before we talk of banning importation, we must increaselocal production to avoid food scarcity. "The companies that promised rice milling and packaging are now biggest rice importers without any tangible investment on how to increaselocal production. Presently, the rice mills in the country cannot meet the commercial needs of themarket.''

SLAC eyeing to export rice grown in Myanmar by Mary Grace Padin - May 18, 2016

Hybrid rice seeds producer SL Agritech Corp. (SLAC) said on Tuesday it is targeting to exportrice grown in Myanmar to European countries, China and the United States.Company officials

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/author/marygracepaden/http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/author/marygracepaden/http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/author/marygracepaden/http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/agri01-051816.jpghttp://www.businessmirror.com.ph/author/marygracepaden/


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made the pronouncement after SLAC‘s pioneering trial of hybrid rice seed SL-8H in Myanmaryielded 150 metric tons (MT) of seed per hectare on 100 hectares in Yangon‘s Dagon Township.

Also planted were commercial table grade rice SL-7H (Doña Maria Jasponica) on 11 hectares,SL-9H (Miponica) on 28 hectares and SL-8H on 20 hectares.

―We can export our Doña Maria Jasponica and Miponica rice from Myanmar. Consumers in Myanmar

may not want soft and sticky rice, but that‘s our opportunity to export rice harvested from there,‖ SLAC

Chairman Henry Lim said in a statement.

The company noted that the Philippines has limited flat land for rice, but Myanmar has around17 million hectares of uncultivated land that can be planted with rice.

Formerly Burma, Myanmar used to be world‘s biggest rice exporters prior to World War II,

when it was then under British rule.

SLAC technical consultant Dr. Frisco M. Malabanan said the company is targeting to export ricefrom Myanmar to European countries where the commodity enjoys zero tariffs.

Other potential export destinations for Doña Maria rice from Myanmar are China and the US.When exported, the Filipino brand name ―Doña Maria premium rice‖ would be retained ―for

consistency in the world market.‖

Because it is only now that agricultural land in Myanmar is being tapped, SLAC said the soil isfertile.

―The area is very good for seed production. There‘s enough water. The soil is very fertile andcan be easily mechanized,‖ said Malabanan, who led a harvest festival in Myanmar on May 7.

Visitors during the harvest festival were World Food Program Representative Nway Wyit YeeZaw; Department of Agriculture Dagon Township Chief Officer U. Thwin Soe; PhilippineConsul General to Myanmar Maria Lourdes M. Saskedo; SLAC hybrid rice breeder Dr. WeijunXu; and SLAC Vice President Christian Brian Lim.

The pilot planting in Myanmar was under a joint venture with private companies Nine Seas, led by Aung Tan Oo and Water Stone, led by Filipino Norberto Ong.

Expansion of hybrid rice planting in Myanmar will likely be supported by microfinance functionof Philippines‘s microfinance leader CARD, under CARD Myanmar Company Ltd. CARD has

started operating in Myanmar in light of trade and agriculture developments there.

SLAC said it will create a sales and marketing team to sell SL-8H seeds in Myanmar. It will alsoinstall a cooling system in one of the warehouses of Nine Seas to preserve the quality of thehybrid rice seeds.


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Company officials said it will partner with local government units, the Ministry of Agriculture,and International Rice Research Institute to train Myanmar farmers.

―It seems there is also a need to bring machine operators from the Philippines, three to five tractor operators to ensure good land preparation. Weeds grew because land was not well-tilled,‖ Malabanan said.

In partnership with government representatives who attended the harvest festival, includingParliament representatives, SLAC urged Myanmar to provide support to farmers who will planthybrid rice.

―If the farmers are not trained, they will not buy the seed. We also have to seek partnership withthe Ministry of Agriculture for policy support,‖ he said.

SLAC said rice production cost in Myanmar is 50 percent lower than in the Philippines.

Image Credits: Web Site of SL Agritech Corp.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/slac-eyeing-to-export-rice-grown-in-myanmar/

Cancer-fighting peptides found in Arkansas grown rice

The organic substances are peptides that are bioactive — meaning they can affect livingorganisms or the tissue around the peptides. Proposed uses are in the patent issued in 2013 to theUniversity of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. More research and development of

commercial partnerships is needed before anything is ready for the market.

Posted May. 17, 2016 at 12:05 PM

ARKANSAS —

Rice bran, a byproduct of rice milling abundant in Arkansas that‘s used as low-cost animal feed, could

become a player in some much higher stakes. Organic substances in rice bran have potent anti-cancer

capabilities and can potentially be used in food ingredients both for preventive and treatment purposes

against the disease.The organic substances are peptides that are bioactive — meaning they can affect

living organisms or the tissue around the peptides. Proposed uses are in the patent issued in 2013 to theUniversity of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. More research and development of commercial

partnerships is needed before anything is ready for the market.―We are looking for partners who can work

with us so that we can move to the next step of research,‖ Navam Hettiarachchy, UofA professor of food

science, said.

She is the inventor of the process outlined in the patent.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/slac-eyeing-to-export-rice-grown-in-myanmar/http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/slac-eyeing-to-export-rice-grown-in-myanmar/http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/slac-eyeing-to-export-rice-grown-in-myanmar/


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―As a follow up, we have to do a clinical trial to test its efficacy,‖ she said. ―Initially, we‘ll conduct

clinical trials on animals and then move to human subjects.‖Peptides consist of amino-acid molecules that

are structured like proteins but are smaller. During milling the outer aleurone layer, known as bran in

cereals, forms a byproduct that contains oil, protein and fiber. After oil is extracted from the bran, the

resulting inexpensive residue rich in protein can be used to produce value-added bioactive peptides.

Gastrointestinal-resistant peptides with bioactivities can be produced by using enzymes with rice bran

protein.Food products under Hettiarachchy‘s patent would include a biopeptide that could find

applications including beverages, dairy products, and other suitable products. It can also be

synthesized.Isolating and purifying peptides from rice bran can serve as a less expensive, natural

alternative to synthetic anti-cancer drugs, Hettiarachchy said.

Hettiarachchy‘s research group used human cell line culture models to determine the bioact ive

capabilities of peptides obtained from rice bran to determine that they have potential as antitumor agents

in humans. Findings from the research could be a basis for animal and human trials. ―These bioactives

could be our next generation of natural anti-disease agents delivered at low cost,‖ Hettiarachchy

explained.The team‘s efforts received funding support from a University of Arkansas for Medical

Sciences (UAMS) breast cancer research project. Hettiarachchy‘s group in collaboration with UAMS

found that rice bran-derived peptides could inhibit growth of breast cancer cells in human cell

lines.Hettiarachchy expects that the peptides can be implemented through nutraceuticals, food products as

well as dietary supplements that have health benefits. The clinical trials that Hettiarachchy hopes to

pursue are costly and will require additional funding from new sources.

For more information about food science, visit aaes.uark.edu.

http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/article/20160517/NEWS/160519781

Protein-rich rice to be taken up for cultivation

A rice variety with higher protein content would be taken up for large scale cultivation

from the next year’s kharif season in eastern region, which is facing problem of

malnourishment.

By: Sandip Das | Published: May 19, 2016 6:07 AM

A rice variety with higher protein content would be taken up for large scale cultivation from thenext year‘s kharif season in eastern region, which is facing problem of malnourishment.NamedCR Dhan 310 and developed by scientists from Cuttack- based National Rice Research Institute(NRRI), the rice variety has 10.5 – 11% protein content in comparison to 6% in the most of therice varieties. Besides, in the field trials the new variety has produced a yield of 5 tonne perhectare against usual 3-4 tonne in the conventional paddy varieties.

http://aaes.uark.edu/http://aaes.uark.edu/http://aaes.uark.edu/http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/article/20160517/NEWS/160519781http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/article/20160517/NEWS/160519781http://www.financialexpress.com/author/sandip-das/http://www.financialexpress.com/author/sandip-das/http://www.financialexpress.com/author/sandip-das/http://www.financialexpress.com/author/sandip-das/http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/article/20160517/NEWS/160519781http://aaes.uark.edu/


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―The new variety would certainly help deal with the protein deficiency in many communities inthe eastern region,‖ AK Nayak, director, NRRI, told FE. The agriculture ministry‘s central

varietal release committee has recently approved the variety for cultivation.

Nayak said that CR Dhan 310 has the yield potential better than many of the hybrids available inthe market while the key benefit for the farmers is that they can save their own seeds for nextcrop season instead of buying it every year.

In the coming kharif season, which is commencing from September, the variety would be takenup for limited cultivation through multiplying seed production fr om the NRRI‘s breeder seeds bymany state government-owned agencies. Subsequently from the next year, the state governmentagencies in eastern region would produce certified seeds from the foundation seeds for largescale cultivation by farmers.

Nayak said that the new high-yielding protein variety would be suitable for the cultivation acrossall the eastern regions such as Tripura, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar and eastern UttarPradesh.

―The new variety, also a non-lodging plant type, can address the problem of yield stagnation inthis major rice ecosystem of the country. With its high yield and grain quality, this variety cansignificantly enhance the income of farmers of eastern region,‖ an agriculture ministry official

said.

http://www.financialexpress.com/article/markets/commodities/protein-rich-rice-to-be-taken-up-for-

cultivation/259118/

Rice millers in Odisha threaten stir over dues from June 1TNN | May 19, 2016, 05.44 AM IST

Bhubaneswar: As many as 1,400 rice millers in Odisha have decided to stop transportation and handling

work from June 1, demanding payment of pending dues and implementation of revised prices. They also

opposed the restrictions imposed on rice millers for free sale and mandatory clauses for custom milling.

"The rice millers cannot function in empty stomach and in an uncertain atmosphere for long. No one

seems to be serious about the timely payment of dues of the rice millers. Bills are lying unpaid with the

government since 2013-14. How can we run our business like this? "asked president of All Odisha Rice

Millers' Association, Shyamal Agarwal."We are ready to cooperate with the government in milling butwon't engage in transportation and handling work from June 1, if our demands are not met," he added.

Odisha produces around 90 lakh metric tonnes of paddy of which around 45 lakh metric tonnes are milled

in these private mills, who deliver the rice either to the state government or to the Food Corporation of

India for consumption through public distribution system.

http://www.financialexpress.com/article/markets/commodities/protein-rich-rice-to-be-taken-up-for-cultivation/259118/http://www.financialexpress.com/article/markets/commodities/protein-rich-rice-to-be-taken-up-for-cultivation/259118/http://www.financialexpress.com/article/markets/commodities/protein-rich-rice-to-be-taken-up-for-cultivation/259118/http://www.financialexpress.com/article/markets/commodities/protein-rich-rice-to-be-taken-up-for-cultivation/259118/http://www.financialexpress.com/article/markets/commodities/protein-rich-rice-to-be-taken-up-for-cultivation/259118/


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"From a modest 0.6 lakh metric tonne procured in 2003-04, rice procurement in the state has gone up to

36.52 lakh metric tonnes in 2012-13. Millers play an important role in conversion of paddy into rice. But

the state government has been ignoring our effort," rued association secretary, Santosh Sonthalia.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Rice-millers-in-Odisha-threaten-stir-over-dues-

from-June-1/articleshow/52335010.cms

Rice exports plungeSubmitted by mthan on Wed, 05/18/2016 - 17:01

A view of the Bayintnaung Wholesale Centre. (Photo-Myint Thu)

Exports of rice and broken rice have dropped during April and May and are lower than duringthe same period last year, according to the commerce ministry.The two products have earnedover US$15 million this year, while they earned $51 million last year. Altogether, 43,753 tonnes

of rice and broken rice have been exported so far.

The export plunge was induced by a crackdown on rice in China – the major buyer of theMyanmar rice – in March. Although the seizure has ceased, exports remain cold due to thedifficulties in transportation, according to merchants in Muse.Roughly 1,300 tonnes of rice areexported through Muse daily.


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A massive flood in mid-2015 also damaged rice production. Rice exports in the 2015-2016 fiscalyear totalled 1.4 million tonnes, less than the 1.8 million tonnes exported in 2014-15.

The Myanmar Rice Federation expects to export around 1.5 million tonnes of rice this year

http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/business/rice-exports-plunge

Enormous interest in rice auction tomorrowPETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI

THE NATION May 18, 2016 1:00 am

WITH REDUCED supply in the market due to the ongoing drought, a great many rice traders have

expressed interest in taking part in tomorrow‘s auction for 1.2 million tonnes of rice, at which the

government is expected to attract a good price for its stockpiled produce.

Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, said yesterday that 51 rice

traders had shown interest in the third rice auction of the year, driven by high demand arising from lower

output due to the drought.

The auction takes place at the Commerce Ministry in Nonthaburi."Rice prices have increased gradually.

This bidding should generate a better price than at the two previous auctions this year, although it may not

be as high as the market price as this rice stock from the government's warehouses has deteriorated in

quality as it has been stockpiled for a while," she said.Excluding the 1.2 million tonnes set to be auctioned

off, about 11.4 million tonnes of rice remains in the government's stocks - some 7 million tonnes of it for

consumption, and the rest for industrial supply.

Duangporn said the government would hold further bidding rounds for releasing rice from the stockpile

soon, while taking into account the prevailing market situation in order to prevent prices falling before the

start of the new harvest season.Meanwhile, rice exports are on the rise, thanks to high overseas demand,

she added.According to a Foreign Trade Department report, rice exports have risen 18 per cent in volume

so far this year to 3.91 million tonnes, while export value has increased 11.85 per cent to Bt60.99 billion.

Asked about the losses incurred from the four defaulted government-to-government contracts for the sale

of 6.2 million tonnes of rice from the previous administration, Duangporn said her department was

following up the case and estimated calling for recovery of an overall loss of Bt20 billion from politicians

and ousted government officials.The department is awaiting the Office of the Council of State's

consideration in regard to signing authorisation for the Commerce Ministry or other agencies to call for

recovery of the losses, she added.

Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary chairman of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said many rice

traders - including exporters, millers and domestic traders - were eager to join the upcoming bidding as

they hoped to find rice at a cheaper price during a period of low supply and high prices in the market.The

current price of rice is the highest for two years, due to lower production resulting from controlled


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plantation during the dry season, he said.The export price of Hom Mali or jasmine rice is now quoted at

US$795 (Bt28,220) per tonne, while sticky rice fetches $900 per tonne and white rice is quoted at $439

per tonne.

With higher export prices, domestic prices have also increased, Chookiat said.The price of paddy white

rice has risen from Bt7,800-Bt8,000 to Bt9,000-Bt9,300 per tonne, while paddy jasmine rice is now

quoted at Bt12,000-Bt13,000 a tonne.The government should soon open a couple more rounds of rice

bidding in order to release rice from the stockpiles before the incoming new crop, he added.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Enormous-interest-in-rice-auction-tomorrow-30286165.html

Rice importers controlling politicians - Mornah

Rice importers and owners of other businesses in the country sponsor politicians, making itimpossible to implement certain policies when the politicians are voted into office, NationalChairman of the People's National Convention (PNC) Bernard Mornah has revealed.Mr Mornahargued that the practice was detrimental to the country‘s democracy to the extent that politicians

were controlled by external forces.He said policies that will improve the lives of Ghanaiancitizens are scrapped in order to please the sponsors of the politicians and it was time the practicecame to an end.

Mr Mornah, who was a guest on Class FM‘s Executive Breakfast Show on Tuesday May 17,

2016, told Prince Minkah: ―Do you know why we cannot stop rice importation in this country?Because those who are importing rice are financing political parties. So you will think that whenyou win elections you would want to come and put in policies that you produce the ricedomestically, but what do you want them to do? That is where they got their money from to beable to finance you.‖

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Enormous-interest-in-rice-auction-tomorrow-30286165.htmlhttp://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Enormous-interest-in-rice-auction-tomorrow-30286165.htmlhttp://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Rice-importers-controlling-politicians-Mornah-439972?gallery=1http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Enormous-interest-in-rice-auction-tomorrow-30286165.html


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He continued: ―In 2003 thereabouts, [there was] Act 699 – which was on importation of rice and poultry in this country – increasing import duty, which means you are making imported chickenand rice expensive. What that would do is that it will boost domestic production and encouragefarmers. The then Minister of Finance, Osafo Marfo, after the Poultry Farmers Association tookthe matter to court that it was not being implemented and they were suffering losses, went to parliament to seek the revocation of that law. In effect, those who are importing chicken will benefit. Those producing chicken in Ghana suffered a loss.‖He blamed such actions on rent-seeking, which leads to the detriment of citizens.―You can talk about anything, but those who are running the economy are the businesses and

they will support the political parties. You do not ask them where they get their monies. Whenyou win elections and now you want to implement your policies that will make the Ghanaianeconomy survive, then they will say: ‗Chief‘ [and come at you],‖ he explained. He added: ―We [Ghanaians] are not taking our democracy into our own hands. The Electoral

Commission has to look for donors before we can conduct our own elections, so who iscontrolling your democracy?

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Rice-importers-controlling-politicians-

Mornah-439972

Recipe of the Day: Goan Coconut and Tamarind Mackerel

Curry

Recipe of the Day

/ GRAEME SMITH

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Rice-importers-controlling-politicians-Mornah-439972http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Rice-importers-controlling-politicians-Mornah-439972http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Rice-importers-controlling-politicians-Mornah-439972http://www.heraldscotland.com/author/profile/3510.GRAEME_SMITH/http://www.heraldscotland.com/author/profile/3510.GRAEME_SMITH/http://www.heraldscotland.com/author/profile/3510.GRAEME_SMITH/http://www.heraldscotland.com/author/profile/3510.GRAEME_SMITH/http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Rice-importers-controlling-politicians-Mornah-439972http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Rice-importers-controlling-politicians-Mornah-439972


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Goan Coconut and Tamarind Mackerel Curry by Rodolfo Munoz of Roseleaf in Edinburgh

Roseleaf is a cosy, wee family run, bar and cafe in historic Port o‘ Leith, serving committedcustomers from near and afar since July 2007.

From the bar they provide crisp pints, real ales, fresh juices, delicate loose-leaf teas, crackingcoffee, wonderful worldwide wines, specialist spirits and pot-tails – cocktails in teapots.

From the kitchen they serve up wholesome food from 10am right through till 10pm every dayincluding daily specials, fresh-baked goodies and Sunday roast. The bar is decorated with pre-loved furniture and random treasure which continues to blossom with new curiosities.

Ingredients

3 tbsp vegetable oil

½ tbsp of fenugreek seeds

1 tbsp cumin seeds

7 kaffir lime leaves, finely chopped

6 shallots chopped

5 garlic cloves

10g of fresh ginger

1 tbsp ground turmeric

½ tbsp chilli powder

1 tbsp coriander powder

250ml water

250ml coconut milk

2 medium tomatoes, peeled and roughly chopped

1 tbsp of tamarind paste

3-5 green chillies, left whole

Mackerel (is traditionally used but can use other fish)


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For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail

19th May ,2016 Daily Global,Regional & Local Rice -Enewsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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