Top Banner
www.ricepluss.com Page 1 of 30 Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine IGC Raises Corn Outlook, Sees Grains Stockpiles at 30-Year High By Rudy Ruitenberg Jan 22, 2015 7:29 AM PT World corn output will beat a November forecast, the International Grains Council said, lifting the estimate an eighth time on improved prospects for South America.Bigger corn and wheat crops will expand world grain output excluding rice to a record and lift inventories at the end of the season to the highest in about 30 years, the London-based organization wrote in a report today.Corn futures have dropped 9.7 percent in Chicago in the past 12 months as U.S. growers harvested a record crop and the outlook for production in Brazil and Argentina improved, while wheat futures have dropped 4.4 percent. Cheaper grain has contributed to a drop in international food prices.“World maize export prices turned lower amid stiff global competition and ample availabilities,” the council wrote, using another word for corn.Farmers will gather 991.9 million metric tons of corn this season, 9.6 million tons more than forecast previously and climbing from 990.7 million tons in 2013-14, the council wrote.The IGC left its outlook for this season’s wheat production little changed, forecasting a crop of 717 million tons from 717.2 million tons in November, rising from 712.7 million tons a year earlier.Prospects for the 2015-16 winter Chief Editor:Hamlik For Advertisement & Specs: Mujahid Ali [email protected] Cell: +92 321 36 92874 Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine www.ricepluss.com Volume 5, Issue I January 22, 2015 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter www.ricepluss.com [email protected]
30

22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Jul 14, 2015

Download

Food

Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Page 1: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 1 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

IGC Raises Corn Outlook, Sees Grains Stockpiles at 30-Year

High

By Rudy Ruitenberg Jan 22, 2015 7:29 AM PT

World corn output will beat a November forecast, the International Grains Council said, lifting the

estimate an eighth time on improved prospects for South America.Bigger corn and wheat crops will

expand world grain output excluding rice to a record and lift inventories at the end of the season to the

highest in about 30 years, the London-based organization wrote in a report today.Corn futures have

dropped 9.7 percent in Chicago in the past 12 months as U.S. growers harvested a record crop and the

outlook for production in Brazil and Argentina improved, while wheat futures have dropped 4.4 percent.

Cheaper grain has contributed to a drop in international food prices.“World maize export prices turned

lower amid stiff global competition and ample availabilities,” the council wrote, using another word for

corn.Farmers will gather 991.9 million metric tons of corn this season, 9.6 million tons more than forecast

previously and climbing from 990.7 million tons in 2013-14, the council wrote.The IGC left its outlook

for this season’s wheat production little changed, forecasting a crop of 717 million tons from 717.2

million tons in November, rising from 712.7 million tons a year earlier.Prospects for the 2015-16 winter

Chief Editor:Hamlik

For Advertisement & Specs:

Mujahid Ali

[email protected]

Cell: +92 321 36 92874

Compiled & Edited by

Riceplus Magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Volume 5, Issue I

January 22, 2015 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter www.ricepluss.com

[email protected]

Page 2: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 2 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

wheat crop are mostly favorable in the Northern Hemisphere, and world wheat production is

“provisionally” forecast to slip 2 percent to 701 million tons next season, the report showed.

Record Production

Total grain production, excluding rice, is forecast to advance to a record 2.002 billion tons from 2 billion

tons in 2013-14, according to the IGC, which raised the outlook by 11.8 million tons. Stockpiles may

climb more than 7 percent to 432 million tons, the highest since the mid 1980s, the council said.“Even

with a solid rise in consumption, global closing stocks are seen reaching a near 30-year peak,” the IGC

said.For corn, the biggest adjustment to the outlook was made for Argentina, with production there now

seen at 29.5 million tons, 7 million tons more than in November.Brazil’s corn outlook was lifted by 2

million tons to 77 million tons, while the U.S.

corn estimate was cut by 3.9 million tons to 361.1 million tons.The world soybean outlook was raised by

4 million tons to 312 million tons, predicted to climb from a year-earlier 284 million tons. Stockpiles at

the end of this season may climb to 42 million tons from 31 million tons, the council said.The IGC

trimmed the global rice outlook by 1 million tons to 474 million tons.

To contact the reporter on this story: Rudy Ruitenberg in Paris at [email protected]

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Lynn Thomasson at [email protected]

John Deane, Nicholas Larkin

Source with thanks: Bloomberg

Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report

A comprehensive daily commodity market report for Arkansas agricultural commodities with cash

markets, futures and insightful analysis and commentary from Arkansas Farm Bureau commodity

analysts.

Noteworthy benchmark price levels of interest to farmers and ranchers, as well as long-term commodity

market trends which are developing. Daily fundamental market influences and technical factors are noted

and discussed.

Soybeans

High Low

Cash Bids 1024 933

New Crop 1009 984

Page 3: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 3 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

Riceland Foods

Cash Bids Stuttgart: 981 Pendleton: 981

New Crop Stuttgart: 946 Pendleton: 951

Futures:

High Low Last Change

Mar '15 992.50 975.00 976.75 -6.75

May '15 998.50 981.25 983.00 -6.50

Jul '15 1003.50 986.75 988.75 -5.75

Aug '15 1003.00 986.75 988.75 -5.25

Sep '15 986.00 971.50 973.25 -4.75

Nov '15 974.50 959.25 961.00 -4.75

Jan '16 979.50 965.75 966.75 -4.75

Mar '16 979.50 972.75 972.50 -5.00

May '16 976.00 -5.00

Arkansas Daily Grain Report

FOB Memphis Elevator Crops

Soybean Comment

Soybeans were un able to hold onto yesterdays gains. Weakness in outside markets spilled over into this

market pulling prices lower. The market is anxiously awaiting tomorrows export sales report which prices

need to see growing demand to have support. Recent news continues to be bearish for soybean prices and

this market still has the potential to test $9 in the coming months.

Page 4: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 4 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

Wheat

High Low

Cash Bids 515 452

New Crop -- --

Futures:

High Low Last Change

Mar '15 542.50 532.50 533.75 -3.00

May '15 545.25 535.75 537.25 -2.75

Jul '15 548.50 539.50 540.75 -2.75

Sep '15 555.75 547.75 548.50 -2.75

Dec '15 567.50 559.25 560.25 -2.25

Mar '16 569.75 569.75 566.50 -2.25

May '16 565.75 -2.50

Jul '16 555.00 554.75 553.50 -1.25

Sep '16 556.25 -1.00

Arkansas Daily Grain Report

FOB Memphis Elevator Crops

Wheat Comment

Wheat prices continued their march lower today. Prices have yet to find any fundamental support. Look

for this market to test lows around $5 this spring, unless some major conflict can pull prices higher. If you

haven’t priced wheat yet, watch for a technical rally over the next week that could offer you an

opportunity to price some wheat.

Page 5: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 5 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

Grain Sorghum

High Low

Cash Bids 483 373

New Crop -- --

Arkansas Daily Grain Report

FOB Memphis Elevator Crops

Corn

High Low

Cash Bids 412 360

New Crop 411 386

Futures:

High Low Last Change

Mar '15 390.50 382.50 383.75 -4.25

May '15 398.25 390.50 392.00 -3.75

Jul '15 405.00 397.50 399.25 -3.25

Sep '15 410.50 403.75 405.25 -3.00

Dec '15 418.00 411.50 413.25 -2.25

Page 6: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 6 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

Mar '16 425.75 419.75 422.00 -1.75

May '16 427.75 426.25 428.25 -1.50

Jul '16 434.25 431.00 432.50 -1.50

Sep '16 424.50 -0.25

Arkansas Daily Grain Report

FOB Memphis Elevator Crops

Corn Comment

Corn prices closed lower again today. While outside market remain a negative for prices, corn prices

continue to only see modest losses as the market remains concerned about acreage. Current estimates

between 88 and 90 million acres allow little room for reduced yields. If this market were to endure

another drought the market would quickly go through the 1.9 billion bushel carryover. The smaller the

acreage the more concerned the market will become with weather in 2015. At the same time, if we harvest

another record corn crop in 2015 we would experience another build up in stocks in 2015.

Cotton

Futures:

High Low Last Change

Mar '15 58.4 57.58 57.76 -0.25

May '15 59.19 58.41 58.65 -0.23

Dec '15 62.11 61.57 61.71 -0.26

Memphis, TN Cotton and Tobacco Programs

Cotton Comment

Cotton futures traded in a relatively narrow range on either side of unchanged before settling lower. There

was no new export report to react to today, is it was delayed until tomorrow due to the MLK holiday on

Page 7: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 7 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

Monday. March and May set a new low again today. Previous support of 57.84 cents on the monthly

continuation was violated during selloff this week. Bearish news out of China sparked the selloff, as

December imports were down 57% from a year earlier and were a five-year low.

Rice

High Low

Long Grain Cash Bids - - - 1055/cwt

Long Grain New Crop - - - 1053/cwt

Futures:

High Low Last Change

Mar '15 1135.0 1115.5 1116.0 -21.0

May '15 1156.5 1141.5 1141.5 -20.5

Jul '15 1165.0 -20.0

Sep '15 1133.0 -15.0

Nov '15 1143.0 -15.0

Jan '16 1161.0 -25.5

Mar '16 1161.0 -25.5

Rice Comment

Rice futures turned lower again today with no new export report to react to. The market did manage to

hold above support at last week's new contract lows. For March, that level is $11.06 and for May support

is $11.36 1/2. Weak demand globally has resulted in the lowest price for Vietnamese rice in over 10

months, and prices in Pakistan are even lower, providing plenty of competition for U.S. origin rice and

keeping a lid on prices here.

Page 8: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 8 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

Cattle

Futures:

Live Cattle:

High Low Last Change

Feb '15 154.950 153.000 153.450 -0.250

Apr '15 153.600 151.450 151.900 +0.025

Jun '15 147.300 145.375 145.700 0.000

Aug '15 146.100 144.275 144.700 -0.175

Oct '15 148.525 146.825 147.175 -0.025

Dec '15 149.350 147.700 148.000 0.000

Feb '16 148.850 147.350 147.950 +0.375

Apr '16 149.250 148.100 148.150 +0.150

Jun '16 143.800 142.500 142.500 +1.250

Feeders:

High Low Last Change

Jan '15 217.050 215.400 216.450 +0.750

Mar '15 208.375 204.575 206.225 +0.925

Apr '15 209.150 205.675 207.250 +0.900

May '15 210.000 206.725 208.250 +0.900

Aug '15 211.625 208.750 209.925 +0.525

Sep '15 211.125 209.150 209.150 +0.150

Oct '15 210.250 208.075 208.175 +0.575

Nov '15 208.200 206.650 207.075 +1.075

Page 9: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 9 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

Arkansas Prices

Charlotte Livestock Auction

Green Forest Livestock Auction

Ratcliff Livestock Auction

Oklahoma City

El Reno Livestock Market, El Reno, OK

Cattle Comment

Cattle prices remain weak, but seemed to have found support near 150 for live cattle and 200 for feeders.

This market remains technically oversold and should see a rally in the coming days. The fundamentals

will determine if this rally can be sustained as we await the inventory report later this month.

Hogs

Futures:

High Low Last Change

Feb '15 73.525 70.800 71.300 -1.050

Apr '15 75.100 71.975 72.400 -1.825

May '15 81.725 78.875 79.125 -1.850

Jun '15 85.150 82.275 82.600 -1.550

Jul '15 84.925 82.250 82.600 -1.450

Aug '15 84.700 82.000 82.300 -1.600

Oct '15 73.900 71.775 72.575 -0.850

Dec '15 69.725 67.900 68.900 -0.300

Feb '16 70.450 69.575 69.575 -0.875

Page 10: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 10 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

Rice exports in Q1 to reach 900,000 tonnes

Rice exporters are expected to ship 900,000 tonnes of the grain abroad in the first quarter of this

year.Under plans drawn up for 2015 by the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), rice exports for

the whole year will reach 7 million tonnes.Nguyen Hung Linh, VFA Chairman, said local

exporters have not signed many contracts because local rice prices have been higher than average

world prices, reported the Thoi bao Kinh te Vietnam (Vietnam Economic Times) newspaper.But,

as the winter-spring crop approaches harvest time, traders are likely to step up purchases because

of reasonable prices when supply increases, he said.

However, the association has also said that this year will also see a drop in Vietnam's rice

exports to key markets.A recent report in the Thoi bao Ngan hang (Banking Times) said that rice

exports to China will see the steepest fall because of the Chinese Government's policies on

controlling trade via border gates.Meanwhile, export of Vietnamese rice to African markets will

plunge 60 percent, as it did in 2014, said the VFA.The main reason for this drop is that African

nations are buying considerable amounts of cheap and low-quality rice from Thailand and India,

and Vietnamese companies are unable to compete with them.

The two countries have large inventories of low-quality rice and they plan to sell several dozen

tones of this in 2015.Regarding other key export markets, the VFA estimates that the Philippines,

Malaysia and Indonesia will import from Vietnam 1.7, 1.1 and 1.3 million tonnes respectively in

2015.If Vietnam's rice exporters can take advantage of the regional situation and cut selling

prices, they can increase shipments this year by as much as 2.1 million tonnes to the three

markets, the VFA said.In 2014, Vietnam exported 6.32 million tonnes of rice, earning 2.8 million

USD, to become the third largest rice exporter in the world, after Thailand and India, according

to the association.

VNA

Tags:Rice exports,

Mahama: Ghana striving to be net rice producer

President John Mahama has said Ghana is still striving to become a net producer of rice so as to

reduce the amount of rice imported from outside.He told Ghanaians in Germany Tuesday that:

“We are investing to increase rice production. We’ve brought improved seeds from all over the

world, and we are encouraging rice farmers to produce more rice and so we are seeing an

increase in rice production. From 2012 to 2013, we increased rice production by 60 percent, but

still we are importing a lot of rice. We are not yet a net producer of rice to feed our own market,”

Mr Mahama said.The President said once the country becomes self-sufficient in rice production,

Page 11: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 11 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

it will further reduce the amount of foreign exchange expended by the Government to import

rice, poultry and other products from outside.

“Today chicken and rice and potato chips and things are becoming the natural fair for Ghanaians

and because we are not producing enough of it we have to spend dollars importing these and so

of course when the Cedi to Dollar rate varies, it makes the cost of rice more expensive, but we

are even investing in these areas,” the President said.Speaking at the 30th National Best Farmers

Day Award ceremony at Sefwi Wiawso in the Western region Friday December 5, 2014, the

President said Ghana currently imports rice to the tune of US$500million every year.“The last

statistics was US$470million worth of rice,” the President decried as he urged Ghanaians to eat

what they grow.Apart from rice, US$1 billion of other produce, which are produced in Ghana or

can easily be produced in Ghana are also imported.

Meanwhile, the country’s yearly exports hover around US$13 billion while its imports bill stands

at about US$17 billion.The President said the development in local rice production means “we

are growing more local rice and you can see the attractiveness of the rice industry by the

investment that has started to be made by the private sector in this industry.”“Several private

sector business people have set up rice milling plants in various parts of the country and are

buying locally produced rice and milling it not only for our local market but also for export.“And

it is my belief that if this trend continues, Ghana should become a net exporter of rice in the next

few years,” President Mahama said.

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/artikel.php?ID=343575

Adamas denies involvement in G2G rice deal

The Nation January 22, 2015 2:34 pm

Listed Adamas Corp today clarified that its subsidiary, Kitha Properties Co Ltd, has no

involvement in the government-to-government rice deal.The statement followed the National

Anti-Corruption Commission's decision on Tuesday to indict a number of individuals and

companies alleged to have involved in the controversial G2G rice deal.Kitha was held as an

accomplice."The Company would like to clarify that Kitha has confirmed that it has not involved

in the actions or procedures described as the wrongdoings.

From its inception, Kitha undertake real estate development business only and has never

undertaken rice trading or purchase or sell rice. Kitha have not been informed of the indictment

resolution from the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission or other agencies. If we

receive any additional relevant information, we will inform the Stock Exchange of Thailand

accordingly," Adamas' chief executive officer Panchai Aroonpairoj said in the statement.

Page 12: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 12 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

Adamas took over Kitha in July 2014 at the cost of Bt800 million.

Adamas' share trading is suspended as of today.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Adamas-denies-involvement-in-G2G-rice-deal-

30252440.html

Nigeria will become net rice exporter if re-elected, says

jonathan

January 22, 2015 | Filed under: Real Sector | Author: Editor

President Goodluck Jonathan has promised to put in place policies and programmes that will

make Nigeria a major rice exporting nation if re-elected in February.He also restated the

commitment of the Federal Government to reactivate all the moribund industries in Kano. He

made the remark while addressing party supporters at the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP)

presidential campaign rally held at the Polo Ground on Wednesday in Kano. President Jonathan,

who is the PDP’s presidential candidate, also assured of his intention to ensure that Nigeria

joined the league of nations declared polio free by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Jonathan particularly promised to work with the governor of Kano State to ensure that

agriculture is given all the attention required.According to him, the development of agriculture

would go a long way in boosting the creation of new employment, as well as reduction of

mountingpoverty being experienced among the young people in the state.He thanked the people

of the state for coming out en masse to participate in the political rally, and also commended the

youths in the northern part of the country for making a contribution of N2 million for the

purchase of his nomination form.In the same vein, the president promised to work towards

ensuring that Kano, which was known as a centre of commerce, regained its glory as an active

business centre.

He used the occasion to condole with the people of the state over the demise of Ado Bayero, the

late Emir of Kano and paid glowing tributes to previous Nigerian leaders from the state, such as

the late General Murtala Mohammed for their contributions to nation building.Speaking earlier,

during the campaign, Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sabo debunked what he described as

insinuation in some quarters that President Jonathan regime is against the northern people.

http://businessdayonline.com/2015/01/nigeria-will-become-net-rice-exporter-if-re-elected-says-

jonathan/#.VMLOMtLF_Jc

Page 13: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 13 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

Modi-picked panel wants India to get nimble on grains

exports

BY MAYANK BHARDWAJ AND RATNAJYOTI DUTTA

NEW DELHI Thu Jan 22, 2015 6:00pm IST

A worker carries a ladder past sacks filled with wheat at a Food Corporation of India (FCI) warehouse in

Morinda in Punjab February 20, 2013.

CREDIT: REUTERS/AJAY VERMA/FILES

(Reuters) - India needs to become more nimble in allowing wheat and

rice exports from overstocked government silos if it wants to cut waste

and get the best price for its grains, a panel appointed by Prime

Minister Narendra Modi recommended.Despite stocks that are often

more than double the government's target, India exports only about 10

percent of its wheat and rice output of 195 million tonnes.

The Food Corporation of India (FCI), a government

behemoth set up 60 years ago after acute food shortages

forced India to import, sits on mounds of rice and wheat

thanks to bumper harvests since 2007. "Because of

bureaucracy, we take a long time to agree on exports and

market dynamics change by then, thwarting our efforts to

make the best out of attractive prices abroad," Shanta

Kumar, chief of the panel, said after unveiling the report

on Thursday.Currently the government takes a call on

exports and local sales after a lengthy consultation process.

The panel would like the FCI to abolish regional offices, focus on key states for procurement,

invest in computerisation and bring in technical and managerial expertise from the private

sector.A nimble-footed FCI will help us earn precious foreign exchange and save a lot of money

that is blocked in terms of extra grains stocks that is prone to pest attack and wastage," said

Ashok Gulati, a noted economist and a member of the panel.Modi, who formed the panel in

August to suggest an overhaul of India's theft-prone food distribution network, has asked the

food ministry to examine the recommendations before acting on the report.India, the world's

Page 14: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 14 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

biggest rice and wheat producer after China, runs a mammoth $18.64 billion food welfare

programme.

But nearly half of the ultra-cheap rice and wheat meant for the poor is either wasted or stolen,

according to various experts.The panel also suggested the government scale down its food

distribution programme by covering only 40 percent of the population, instead of 67 percent.

However, it favoured a higher monthly allocation of 7 kg per person against 5 kg now.Lowering

the number of beneficiaries could save India 330 billion rupees ($5.35 billion) a year in

subsidies, said Kumar, a former food minister. But the move could potentially anger millions of

voters enjoying cheap grains and would require the approval of India's partisan parliament."It's

not an easy task to reduce the level of beneficiaries as a host of procedural hurdles will have to

be crossed before accepting the latest recommendations," said B.C. Barah, a New Delhi-based

agriculture economist.

($1 = 61.6300 Indian rupees)

(Editing by Krishna N. Das and Michael Urquhart)

http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/01/22/india-food-exports-idINKBN0KV1A420150122

Rice losses likely to top B682bn

Published: 22 Jan 2015 at 08.00

Newspaper section: Business

Writer: Wichit Chantanusornsiri

Financial losses incurred from rice subsidy schemes dating back to 2004 are likely to exceed the

estimated 682 billion baht, says the Finance Ministry. If rising depreciation and missing milled

rice from warehouses are taken into account, the combined losses will be higher than the recent

estimate, finance permanent secretary Rungson Sriworasat said yesterday.The subcommittee

overseeing accounting affairs of all rice subsidy schemes earlier estimated losses from buying 84

million tonnes of milled rice in the 15 schemes from 2004-14 amounted to 682 billion baht, with

the Yingluck Shinawatra government's programme alone accounting for 518 billion.

But that estimate did not take into account depreciation or missing rice from warehouses

inspected by a team working for PM's Office Minister ML Panadda Diskul.According to the

inspection of 17 million tonnes of milled rice bought under the previous government's scheme,

only 2.19 million tonnes were deemed of standard quality and classified as Grade A rice.Some

14.4 million tonnes were judged to be substandard Grade B, while the rest was classified as

Grade C because it was either rotten or had been registered incorrectly.The rice-pledging scheme

was a major policy that helped to sweep Ms Yingluck to power in the 2011 general

Page 15: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 15 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

election.However, its guaranteed purchase of every single grain at a pledging price of 40-50%

above market prices incurred a substantial cost to taxpayers.

Thailand also lost its crown as the world's biggest rice exporter, as the scheme, which ran for five

crops, encouraged farmers to grow low-quality rice that normally took less time to cultivate.The

joint committee of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the Office of the

Attorney-General on Tuesday agreed to press criminal charges against Ms Yingluck for alleged

dereliction of duty in overseeing the rice scheme and causing massive damage to the state.

The NACC also recommended that former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, his ex-

deputy Poom Sarapol and 19 others be indicted for graft for their roles in government-to-

government rice sales.Manas Jamveha, director-general of the Comptroller-General's

Department, said his department, which is responsible for seeking compensation from those

alleged to have caused damage to the state, was awaiting the Commerce Ministry's

report."Damaged state agencies must submit a summary report of the charge to verify all

information," he said."They must set up a committee to launch the probe again before arranging

the report."

Source with thanks:The Bangkok Post

One million tonnes of rice on auction

Published: 22 Jan 2015 at 16.53

Online news: News

Writer: Online Reporters

The Commerce Ministry is auctioning off a total of one million tonnes of rice to domestic buyers

on the condition that winning bidders must take all the grain in whatever warehouse stockpile

they buy. An official takes a sample from a sack of rice to check on its quality. (Bangkok Post

file photo)

The first auction for 2015 is scheduled on Jan 29, with

the ministry to offer 850,000 tonnes of 5% white rice

and 150,000 tonns of fragrant rice stored in warehouses

of the Public Warehouse Organisation and the

Marketing Organisation for Farmers.The ministry is

arranging the sale through the Foreign Trade

Department, which handles domestic and foreign sales

of the government stockpile.The auction terms were

explained to a large group of potential bidders on

Thursday.

Bangjoingitt Angsusinght, the department’s deputy director-general, said interested people can

check the quality of rice offered for the auction at the listed warehouses.The department will

announce a minimum bidding price and if all offers are lower than that price, the auction for that

particular warehouse will be cancelled. Under the plan, the ministry expects to dispose of 17

Page 16: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 16 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

million tonnes of rice left in its stockpile, accumulated from the implementation of rice pledging

scheme, within two years, with a major portion of about 10 million tonnes to be sold this

year.However, some potential participants in the auction said they were worried about the quality

of the rice as each warehouse kept grain from different sources, so it might not meet their

required standard.

Source with thanks:The Bangkok Post

Rice scheme damaging, corrupt political tactic, says NACC

Published: 22 Jan 2015 at 13.12

Online news: Politics

Writer: Online Reporters

The rice-pledging scheme of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's government was a

damaging political tactic to help her party to win a general election and rise to power, and to

benefit corrupt associates, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) told the National

Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Thursday

Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is hounded by reporters as she arrives at the

parliament to deliver her closing statement in defence of her government's rice pledging scheme

on Thursday. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

Presenting the NACC's closing statement in its impeachment case against Ms Yingluck,

commissioner Vicha Mahakun said Ms Yingluck's Pheu Thai Party had campaigned for votes by

promising to give rice growers 15,000 baht per tonne of rice under its proposed rice-pledging

scheme.The promised price was twice the then market price of 7,500 baht per tonne. This

campaign promise was clearly a populist policy to ensure Pheu Thai's election victory, to form a

new government in place of the previous administration of former prime minister Abhisit

Vejjajiva, he said.Mr Vicha said that in fact the "rice-pledging" scheme was not a pledging

scheme at all, because the offered rate was far higher than the market price and no rice growers

who pledged their rice would ever redeem it for less.

He said the Yingluck government called it a "rice-pledging" scheme only to prevent the

government from being considered a rice trader in its own right with a monopoly because of the

high price offered for the grain.Mr Vicha also said that the rice-pledging scheme led to policy-

based corruption, because rice in the government's stockpiles had been sold largely to associates

at low prices, and these people later made huge profits from selling the grain at high prices.

s Yingluck's government had tried to cover up by claiming that it had released the rice under

government-to-government deals which actually had not existed, Mr Vicha said.

Page 17: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 17 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

NACC member Vicha Mahakun delivers his anti-graft panel's closing statement. (Photo by

Chanat Katanyu)

He also said that the NACC and the Office of the Auditor

General had repeatedly urged her government to stop the rice

scheme because it would cause endless losses to the state.He

said the implementation of the rice scheme from 2011 to 2014

resulted in a posted loss of 518 billion baht, meaning about

200 billion baht per year or 17 billion baht per month, and the

state would take about three decades to repay the debts

resulting from the loss incurred using the taxpayers' money.

Rice growers had committed suicide because they had fallen into financial strife while being

forced to wait too too long for the pledged-rice money from the loss-ridden scheme of Ms

Yingluck's government, Mr Vicha said.In her closing statement, Ms Yingluck told the NLA that

the impeachment case should not have been brought against her because the 2007 constitution

that allowed the impeachment had already been revoked.She also said that the impeachment

could lead to the five-year suspension of her political rights and that would unfairly limit her

fundamental rights.She rejected the NACC's statement that it had spent one year and 10 months

investigating the rice scheme. Actually, she said, the anti-graft panel had done it in only slightly

over three months.

Ms Yingluck also said that she had received reservations about her rice

scheme from concerned organisations, but those letters had not urged her

to halt the scheme. A letter calling for the end of the scheme, from the

Office of the Auditor General, arrived after she had dissolved the House

of Representatives, she said.She also complained that the NACC

accepted her political opponents as witnesses in its investigation while rejecting several key

witnesses that she had proposed.The former prime minister denied that her rice-pledging scheme

caused national damage. On the contrary, she said, it had benefited the national economy by

increasing farmers' incomes and their spending stimulated the economy.

Ms Yingluck makes her closing statement. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

The rice scheme had put extra money into circulation in the national economy,

308 billion baht in the 2011/2012 crop season and 315 billion baht in the

2012/2013 season, Ms Yingluck said.The scheme acceptably consumed no

more than five percent of the annual national budget, while helping take good

care of 20 million farmers, she said.As the economy was stimulated by this

money entering circulation, the national economy recovered and the

Page 18: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 18 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

government could generate more revenue through taxation, she said.Ms Yingluck denied the

NACC accusation that the rice scheme allowed her government to monopolise the rice trade in

the country. She said only half the total rice yield had entered the rice-pledging scheme.

Ms Yingluck also denied that she ignored reservations expressed about the project. She said that

after receiving the warnings, she launched a corruption investigation and surveillance of the

scheme's implementation.She also argued that the implementation of the rice-pledging scheme

involved so many ministers and committees she had assigned to handle it, it was unfair for her to

face prosecution alone.NLA president Pornphet Wichitcholchai scheduled the NLA's vote on the

impeachment case for Friday Jan 23,the same day as the vote on the impeachment cases against

former Senate speaker Nikom Wairatpanij and former House speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont on

their constitutional amendment case.The NLA will sit at 10am, and will vote first on the cases

involving Mr Nikom and Mr Somsak.

Source with thanks:The Bangkok Post

Genetically Modified Rice on trial at Nobewam since April

2013

A Genetically Modified Rice which has been on trial at a confined environment at Nobewam in

the Ejisu/Juaben Municipality of Ashanti since April 2013 is expected to be released to farmers

upon approval by the National Biosafety Committee.The Genetically Modified Rice under trial

has proved to be nitrogen, water use efficient and salt tolerant is a project being undertaken by

the Crops Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research at Fumesua in

Ashanti. Correspondent Thomas Nsowah-Adjei was there for Radio Ghana.The partners in the

project are the African Agricultural Technology Foundation in Kenya, Atadia Biosciences in the

US and the National Cereals Research Institute in Nigeria.

In order to make the outcome of the research experiment secure and safe for public consumption,

the field is confined and protected from human and animal interference such that apart from the

research scientists and the staff, no foreign interference including birds is allowed into the

confined environment.The Confined Field Trial rice which is ready for harvest involve rice

plants that have been genetically modified or transformed to utilize nitrogen efficiently while

others have three stack genes developed to do well on drought environment, salty soil, and lack

of fertilizer nitrogen.The aim is to help rice farmers in Ghana and other developing countries in

Africa and Asia with rice varieties that can withstand the three stresses and climate in an effort to

address food insecurity.

Page 19: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 19 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

A Plant Breeder and a Principal Investigator of the Project, Dr Maxwell Asante noted that the

purpose was to research into GM rice that can perform well under nitrogen fertilizer levels that

are lower than the recommended rate and give at least 15 percent yield advantage over the non

GM version of the rice.He said the identified rice when confirmed shall be recommended to the

National Biosafety Committee to allow it to be grown by farmers after testing.Dr Asante said

when the approval is given the genes that make the GM Rice nitrogen-use efficient will then be

transferred to other popular varieties in Ghana through conventional breeding methods.The

Director of the CRI, Dr Mrs. Stella Ennin said there is nothing frightening about GMOs. What is

significant about GMOs is that they improve upon varieties of existing crops to enhance

production and subsequently address food insecurity in Ghana.

GBC

http://www.gbcghana.com/1.1965702

AFAN Expresses Optimism In 2015 Rice Target

Posted by admin on Jan 23rd, 2015 and filed under Business. You can follow any responses to

this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.National

Technical Adviser, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Dr. Tunde Arosanyin has

expressed optimism on the country’s ability to meet the 2015 target for self-sufficiency in rice

production.Arosanyin expressed the hope in an interview with newsmen on Thursday in

Abuja.He said the efforts of the Federal Government and the farmers to meet the target were in

the right direction.He called on states and local governments to complement the efforts of the

Federal Government to make the goal realistic.“All hands must be on deck to ensure that the

target is achieved.

“The commercial farmers are coming up but we need

to see more indigenous commercial farmers in rice

production.“Some of the states that have economic

advantage on rice production should ensure they

keyed into the Public Private Partnership (PPP)

where there are so many agricultural investors.“I

really don’t see the need for Nigeria to be importing

rice, maize, sugar or wheat, we must look inwards to

salvage our economy,” he told reporters.

“We must initiate how to become exporters of food items to reduce unemployment and also

address the issue of food security.’’The AFAN technical adviser urged state governments to

create an enabling environment where farmers could exhibit their potential to attract

investors.The Tide source recalls that the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr

Page 20: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 20 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

Akinwumi Adesina, had in 2013 said that Nigeria would be self-sufficient in rice production by

2015.Adesina noted that the country, a major consumer and importer of rice in Africa, was

spending over N1 billion daily and N356 billion annually on rice importation.

The minister said the high import cost of rice must be reduced drastically.Dr Olukayode

Oyeleye, the Special Assistant to the minister, said in 2013 that the Federal Government had

provided quality seeds as well as other input to support rice farmers.He said the country had

begun a rice revolution and produced nearly 50 per cent of all its rice needs in just a

year.Oyeleye added that the private sector also responded with 14 new rice mills and made high

quality local rice available in 2013.

http://www.thetidenewsonline.com/2015/01/23/afan-expresses-optimism-in-2015-rice-target/

Driverless tractor proving itself in Australia

By Rich Keller, Editor, Ag Professional January 20, 2015 | 4:00 pm EST

Trials of a robotic driverless tractor are looking

good in Australia. The work is a joint program

among Rice Research Australia, Japanese

companies Hitachi Zosen Corporation and

Yanmar Co. and three Australian universities. The

study seeks to verify that advanced positioning

signals transmitted from Japan’s Quasi-Zenith

Satellite System can be used in precision farming,

reports Roderick Makim for the Australian and

British emphasis publication, The Land."It is

meeting all expectations...it's accuracy is very good," Makim quoted Rice Research Australia

Manager Russell Ford as saying.

"It seems a bit out there, but when you see it, you realize it's not far away (from being widely

used by farmers).”But once he was quoted as saying its not that far away, Ford was further

quoted as suggesting not far away is something like 10 to 15 years before being “a reality.”The

potential of driverless tractors has already been proven by U.S. equipment manufacturers for

some specific tasks such as running side by side with a moving combine for grain to be unloaded

into a tender grain trailer.All types of crop production practices are being investigated in

Australia for use of the driverless tractor such as cultivation, spreading fertilizer and even

operating crop sensors to detect plant nitrogen levels as it proceeds through a field. Many more

trials are planned.

Page 21: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 21 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

http://www.agprofessional.com/news/driverless-tractor-proving-itself-australia

CSIR harvests fourth batch of genetically modified rice

Wednesday, 21 January 2015The Council of

Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has

harvested its fourth batch of genetically-

modified (GM) rice cultivated at Nobewam in

the Ashanti Region for confined field trials

(CFTs).The rice project, dubbed “NEWEST”,

started in April 2013 after an approval was given

by the National Biosafety Committee (NBC)

under the Biosafety Law (Act 831), to regulate

the production of GM improved seeds in the

country.

Briefing the media after a visit to the CFTs at Nobewam in the Ejisu –Juaben District, the

Principal Investigator of the CSIR, Dr Maxwell Darko Asante, said the fourth harvest had

revealed a “lead event” in the outcome of the trials, which, he said, would be recommended to

the Biosafety Committee to allow it to be grown by farmers in Ghana after testing.“The

NEWEST rice lines had been developed to handle drought, salty soils, lack of fertiliser nitrogen,

and also handle climatic change”, he said.

The project is partnered by African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AAFT) in Kenya,

Arcadia Biosciences in the USA, the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture in Colombia,

the NARO-National Crops Resource Institute in Uganda, the National Cereals Research Institute,

Nigeria, and the USAID.Dr Asante said he was hopeful that the analysis of the harvested rice

seeds would be completed before the end of the year. However, he said, it would take three to

five years before the produce would leave the confined field to be produced on commercial scale

by conventional farmers.

The Head of Biotechnology Research Programme at the CSIR-Crops Research Institute, Dr

Mariam Quain, called on Ghanaians to embrace the use of biotechnology in agriculture

production to ensure increased crop yields.Biotechnology, she said, was a tool employed by

scientists to improve the genetic make-up of organisms to produce improved seeds.She stressed

the need for the country to have improved means of production of food in order to meet the

increased demand of the populace, coupled with climatic change and increased pressure on

limited arable lands.Dr Quain said the introduction of genetic engineering (GE) would beef up

Page 22: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 22 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

agriculture production, and also improve the livelihood and income of farmers, as well as the

country’s economic situation.

“Currently, GE crops are grown on commercial scale in 27 countries, including 19 developing

and eight industrial countries,” she added.She said so far, Burkina Faso was growing GE cotton

on commercial scale, which, she said, had enabled them to reduce the application of pesticides

on the field from six sprayings to two from planting to harvest, coupled with the quality cotton

they harvested.

Rice exports post 3.46pc growth in first two quarters

Thursday, 22 January 2015 19:24

Posted by Imaduddin

ISLAMABAD: Rice exports from the country during first

two quarters of current financial year witnessed 3.46

percent growth as compared to the corresponding period of

last year. During the period from July-December, 2014

about 1,781,401 metric tons of rice worth $976.784 million

exported as compared to 1,709,883 metric tons valuing

$944.077 million exported in same period of last financial

year.According the latest figures released by Pakistan

Bureau of Statistics (PBS), exports of basmati rice

recorded 2.63 percent increase as about 260,481 metric tons of basmati rice worth $302.265

million exported as compared to the 269,272 metric tons valuing $294.517 million of same

period last year.

Meanwhile, the exports of rice other then basmati also grew by 3.84 per Percent and reached at

1,520,920 metric tons costing $674.519 million which stood at 1,440,611 metric tons valuing

$649.560 million during same period last year.However, the data reveled that exports of fruit and

vegetables from the country during the period under review remained on down track as their

exports witnessed 3.29 percent and 25.23 percent decrease respectively.From July-December,

country was managed to export 256,146 metric tons of fruit worth $189.136 million which was

recorded at 345,791 metric tons valuing $204.875 million of corresponding period of last year.

Vegetables exports was recorded at 167,648 metric tons during the period under review as

compared to the 244,365 metric tons of same period last year, the data added.During the period

under review, sugar exports posted 0.46 percent growth And reached at 204,711 metric tons

valuing $98.652 million as compared to the exports of 208,438 metric tons worth $98.202

million of same period last year.

Page 23: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 23 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

Source with thanks:The Business Record Pakistan

United Airlines to Serve Up New Premium-Cabin Dining

Experience on North America Flights

Wed Jan 21, 2015 11:01am EST

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

- All-new meals and snacks coming to mainline flights within the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean

and leisure markets in Mexico

- Airline to also add meals to shorter flights, expand mid-continental and transcontinental meal

service and offer customers greater variety

PR Newswire

CHICAGO, Jan. 21, 2015

CHICAGO, Jan. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines will treat premium-cabin customers

on flights within North America to a brand new dining experience beginning Feb. 1, when the

airline elevates everything from entrees to desserts and lighter snacks for United First and United

Business customers.Additionally, United will expand North America premium-cabin meal

service to include flights of at least 800 miles - or as short as two hours and 20 minutes -

increasing the number of flights on which customers may enjoy meals. The airline will also offer

a greater variety of dining choices.These changes come as United is making a multi-million-

dollar investment in in-flight food service.

Premium-Cabin Dining Changes

Created by United's team of chefs and inspired by cuisine in the airline's hub cities and other

popular North American destinations, United will introduce flavorful new entrees, including

cage-free scrambled eggs prepared skillet style with pepper-jack cheese, sauteed pepper mix,

sliced New Mexico sausage, potato gratin and fire-roasted pepper sauce; lobster macaroni and

cheese with a baked crumb topping and side of broccoli rabe; and chicken and sausage

jambalaya with white rice and green onions.

Other changes include:

For short flights that offer lighter refreshments, the addition of new breakfast breads in the

morning and a rotation of 25 new premium snacks in the afternoon and evening;

On meal flights less than four hours, a variety of enhanced breakfast choices, such as French

toast souffle or steel-cut oatmeal, both paired with fresh fruit and Greek yogurt, plus new dinner

selections, including tandoori chicken with basmati rice and paneer, to replace the current

premium sandwich options;

An expanded mid-continental meal service on flights of four hours to five hours and 19 minutes,

offering customers who now get two entree options a choice of three, such as creole shrimp

Page 24: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 24 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

served with Carolina grits, and a dessert of sorbet with mint-leaf topping during lunch or gelato

or ice cream for dinner;

New multi-course meal service on transcontinental and Hawaii flights, featuring heartier entrees,

such as tamale-stuffed chicken wrapped in a corn husk and served with creamy corn sauce,

roasted red and yellow tomatoes and yucca sticks, followed by sorbet during lunch or gelato or

ice cream for dinner; and

Signature bake-on-board cookies in customer-chosen flavors, including triple-chocolate chunk,

served for dessert on short- and medium-haul flights that offer meals, or as an afternoon or

evening pre-arrival treat on transcontinental flights and flights that link Hawaii with Los

Angeles, San Francisco, Denver and Houston.

United will also continue to offer premium-cabin customers Prosecco sparkling wine and - on

lunch and dinner flights - the airline's signature warmed nuts.

"Our customers tell us they want greater options and fresh, savory dining choices when they fly

with us," said Lynda Coffman, United's vice president of food services. "With these latest

enhancements, we will offer restaurant-quality cuisine that enriches their in-flight experience."•

In-flight Dining Investments

United will continue to make investments in its customers' in-flight dining. Beginning in March

and throughout the rest of this year, the company will:

Upgrade premium-cabin meal service on United Express flights, replacing snack boxes with

freshly prepared food served on chinaware on flights of at least 800 miles - or as short as two

hours and 20 minutes - and offering a selection of premium packaged snacks on flights less than

800 miles;

Significantly enhance United Economy meals and beverages on long-haul international flights,

including adding multi-course meal service;

Refresh its Choice Menu Bistro on Board selection, which offers fresh food for sale in

United Economy on most flights scheduled for more than three-and-a-half hours within North

America, to Central and northern South America and betweenHonolulu and Guam; and

Launch new premium-cabin menu choices on its p.s. Premium Service between New York JFK

and Los Angeles and New York JFK and San Francisco.

The Reuters

Eyeing Rs 1500 crore turnover in FY15: Kohinoor Foods

Kohinoor Foods Basmati rice exports increased by 27 percent from Rs 296 crore to Rs 375 crore and

foods sales have increased by 24 percent from Rs 32 crore to Rs 39 crore said Gurnam Arora of Kohinoor

Foods. 7 0Google +0 1Comments (2) Midcap Radar 01:30 pm Right now the prices of Basmati have

decreased quite a bit but still the orders are very good so we will be able to increase volumes a little bit

than last year. GURNAM ARORA Joint MD Kohinoor Foods Gurnam Arora, Joint MD of Kohinoor

Foods talking about growth outlook said the company is eyeing Rs 1475 crore turnover in FY15 on back

of strong orders and improvement in domestic sales.

Page 25: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 25 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

Going forward he expects steady growth momentum of order inflows from Iran. Total export sales have

increased from Rs 417 crore to Rs 465 crore from April to September end. The December quarter did

very well in terms of sales, says Arora. Traditionally, second half is a strong for the company but this time

the Basmati rice prices were 30-40% cheaper than last year because of bumper crop. However, he expects

the uptick in volume growth to compensate for lower prices in the second half.

Basmati rice exports have increased by 27 percent from Rs 296 crore to Rs 375 crore and foods sales have

increased by 24 percent from Rs 32 crore to Rs 39 crore. Below is the transcript of Gurnam Arora

interview with Ekta Batra & Nigel D'Souza on CNBC-TV18. Nigel: The stock is higher in today’s

session. There is some talk that with inflation pressures easing there could be higher discretionary spends

and may be you stand to gain from that. Give us the break up of your domestic as well as exports in terms

of revenues? Do you believe that in fact the domestic story as well is improving? A: You see the Basmati

rice export has increased by 27 percent from Rs 296-375 crore and food sales has increased by 24 percent

from Rs 32 crore to Rs 39 crore.

Totally the export sale has increased from Rs 417-465 crore till September. Ekta: This is from April to

September? A: Correct. Ekta: How is this December quarter done for you? A: It has done very well. Ekta:

What are the trends for the second half it is generally stronger seasonally I do understand for the rice

industry. What do you think you can clock in terms of volumes and prices as compared to that same time

last year? A: Right now the prices of Basmati have decreased quite a bit but still the orders are very good

so we will be able to increase volumes a little bit than last year. Ekta: You are saying that your volumes

will compensate on the price? A: Yes. Ekta: How much of a price decline have you seen and how much

of an incremental volume gain can you see? A: Our prices are about 30-40 percent cheaper than last year.

Ekta: Why is that? A: It is because of bumper crop of Basmati rice. Ekta: What about volumes? A: This

year we have increased our exports to 2-3 new clients which are quite big. We have taken over the Abu-

Dhabi municipal corporations business which is quite good and we have done good business in Iran.

Iran is banned now but some of our customers are still doing business with their old commitments so we

are doing fine for even the next quarter. Kohinoor Foods stock price On January 23, 2015, at 15:40 hrs

Kohinoor Foods was quoting at Rs 50.30, down Rs 4.35, or 7.96 percent. The 52-week high of the share

was Rs 61.20 and the 52-week low was Rs 37.95. The company's trailing 12-month (TTM) EPS was at Rs

1.98 per share as per the quarter ended September 2014. The stock's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio was

25.4. The latest book value of the company is Rs 137.64 per share. At current value, the price-to-book

value of the company is 0.37.

http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/eyeing-rs-1500-crore-turnoverfy15-kohinoor-

foods_1279884.html?utm_source=ref_article

Page 26: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 26 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

CSIR harvests fourth batch of genetically modified rice

The Council of Scientific and Industrial

Research (CSIR) has harvested its fourth

batch of genetically-modified (GM) rice

cultivated at Nobewam in the Ashanti

Region for confined field trials (CFTs).The

rice project, dubbed “NEWEST”, started in

April 2013 after an approval was given by

the National Biosafety Committee (NBC)

under the Biosafety Law (Act 831), to

regulate the production of GM improved

seeds in the country.

Briefing the media after a visit to the CFTs at Nobewam in the Ejisu –Juaben District, the

Principal Investigator of the CSIR, Dr Maxwell Darko Asante, said the fourth harvest had

revealed a “lead event” in the outcome of the trials, which, he said, would be recommended to

the Biosafety Committee to allow it to be grown by farmers in Ghana after testing.

“The NEWEST rice lines had been developed to handle drought, salty soils, lack of fertiliser

nitrogen, and also handle climatic change”, he said.The project is partnered by African

Agricultural Technology Foundation (AAFT) in Kenya, Arcadia Biosciences in the USA, the

International Centre for Tropical Agriculture in Colombia, the NARO-National Crops Resource

Institute in Uganda, the National Cereals Research Institute, Nigeria, and the USAID.Dr Asante

said he was hopeful that the analysis of the harvested rice seeds would be completed before the

end of the year. However, he said, it would take three to five years before the produce would

leave the confined field to be produced on commercial scale by conventional farmers.

Embrace GMOs

The Head of Biotechnology Research Programme at the CSIR-Crops Research Institute, Dr

Mariam Quain, called on Ghanaians to embrace the use of biotechnology in agriculture

production to ensure increased crop yields.Biotechnology, she said, was a tool employed by

scientists to improve the genetic make-up of organisms to produce improved seeds.She stressed

the need for the country to have improved means of production of food in order to meet the

increased demand of the populace, coupled with climatic change and increased pressure on

limited arable lands.

Page 27: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 27 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

Dr Quain said the introduction of genetic engineering (GE) would beef up agriculture

production, and also improve the livelihood and income of farmers, as well as the country’s

economic situation.“Currently, GE crops are grown on commercial scale in 27 countries,

including 19 developing and eight industrial countries,” she added.She said so far, Burkina Faso

was growing GE cotton on commercial scale, which, she said, had enabled them to reduce the

application of pesticides on the field from six sprayings to two from planting to harvest, coupled

with the quality cotton they harvested.

Image: The Principal Investigator, Dr Maxwell Darko Asante, explaining a point to the media

during a GM-rice confined field trials (CFTs) at Nobewam. Picture: EMMANUEL BAAH.

21 January 2015 | Written by Emmanuel Baah |

CSIR harvests fourth batch of genetically modified rice

http://graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/37266-csir-harvests-fourth-batch-of-genetically-

modified-rice.html#sthash.yPMqb5RV.dpuf

Rice Leadership Class Graduates Next Month

STUTTGART, AR- The 2013-2015 Rice Leadership

Development Class will hold the fourth and final session

of their two year program next month in Washington D.C.

The Session will be held at the same time as the USA Rice

Federation Government Affairs Conference and will allow the class members to observe the

leadership of the U.S. rice industry conducting their business meetings, as well as participating in

lobbing efforts on the Hill.Class members will also take part in meetings with various

government agencies that impact the U.S. rice industry, attend the World Market Price meeting,

and participate in a special graduation ceremony.

The class is made up of five rice producers: John Compton, Jennings, LA; Seth Fiack, Glenn,

CA; Mark Isbell, North Little Rock, AR; Steven Schuler, Woodland, CA; Joel Stevens,

Monticello, AR, and two industry representatives: Robb Dedman, Pro Ag Consulting, Inc.,

Rison, AR and Wes Long, RiceTec, Inc., Benton, AR.The Rice Leadership Development

Program is sponsored by John Deere Company, RiceTec, Inc., and American Commodity

Company through a grant to the Rice Foundation and managed by the USA Rice Federation.

Page 28: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 28 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

Contact: Chuck Wilson (870) 673-7541

USA Rice Federation

Announcement of 11th Ordinary Import Tender in FY 2014

Announcement: 20 January 2015

Tender: 23 January 2015

Offer details: 57,000 mt

Country

Specified or

Global

Non-

glutinous

milled rice

(medium

grain)

Non-

glutinous

milled rice

(long grain)

Glutinous

milled rice

(long grain)

Glutinous

broken rice

(long grain)

Thailand 7,000 7,000

U.S.A. 36,000 36,000

Global

Tender

14,000 14,000

36,000 21,000 0 0 57,000

Source with thanks: USA Rice Federation

Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for January 22

Month Price Net Change

Page 29: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 29 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

March 2015 $11.160 - $0.210

May 2015 $11.415 - $0.205

July 2015 $11.650 - $0.200

September 2015 $11.330 - $0.150

November 2015 $11.430 - $0.150

January 2016 $11.610 - $0.255

March 2016 $11.610 - $0.255

Source with thanks: USA Rice Federation

Mahyco expects marketing of Bt rice with high salt tolerance

from 2018

The company will work on multiple transgenic lines of rice under the aforesaid trials and expects to pick

the best out of them

BS Reporter | Hyderabad January 22, 2015 Last Updated at 20:42 IST

Hybrid seeds producer Mahyco today said its latest genetically modified Bt rice effective in

mitigating the impact of high salinity might see commercialisation from 2018-19.Having taken

up field trials in the Nizamabad district of Telangana, the company started the event selection

trial in a coastal area in Maharashtra two days ago. Mahyco claims there was a 15-20 rise in

yields when it was grown in highly saline soils.“It is an event selection trial. After this, we have

three more seasons of trials for two years for bio-safety research level I and II. Based on these

observations, if the states give the necessary permissions, we will start its commercial production

from 2018-19,” said Ritesh Mishra, lead for regulatory affairs at Maharashtra-based Mahyco.

Page 30: 22nd january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.ricepluss.com

Page 30 of 30

Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter Compiled & Edited by Riceplus Magazine

He said due to high levels of ground water utilisation and drought conditions, crop fields are

witnessing accumulation of salt of up to one feet and above.The company will work on multiple

transgenic lines of rice under the aforesaid trials and expects to pick the best out of them.Seed

researchers usually take up research in greenhouse conditions to start with, and take them

forward for field-level studies after seeking regulatory permission from the Centre and the state

governments.The company is also working on Bt chickpea that can minimise the crop damages

due to the commonly seen insect attack to 2-3 per cent.According to Bharat R Char, lead for

biotechnology at Mahyco, the Bt gene in chickpea controls the insect damaging the crop, and it is

the same insect that damages the cotton crop.

However, the gene used in Bt chickpea is slightly different from the one used in Bt cotton.On

permissions for this, Char said, “We have permissions for bio-safety research level I trials for the

next two rabi seasons. While we had applied for seven states, we got to know that Andhra

Pradesh has given the permission to do field trials in Kurnool and Kadapa.” It is also expecting

grant of permission soon from the Maharashtra government.It must be noted that though India is

the largest producer of chickpea in the world. it had been depending on imports to the extent of

3-4 million tonnes to the meet the total annual demand of 22 million tonnes. India is procuring

the protein-rich agri commodity from Canada and Tanzania