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News Detail

Rice exports up 3.5pc in July-Dec

DailyGlobal Rice E-Newsletterwww.ricepluss.com

January 23, 20Volume 5, Issu

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APP,Published

ISLAMABAD: Rice exp-orts witnessed a growth of 3.46 per cent during the first half of

this fiscal year. Around 1,781,401 tonnes of rice ($976.784 million) were exported during

July-Dec period of 2014-15 as against 1,709,883 tonnes ($944.077m) in the same period last

year.

Data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Thursday showed export of basmati ricerose to 260,481 tonnes ($302.265m), from 269,272 tonnes ($294.517m) in the same period lastyear.Export of other rice varieties also increased to 1,520,920 tonnes ($674.519m) during theperiod under review, from 1,440,611 tonnes ($649.560m) in the corresponding period lastyear.However, fruit and vegetables export recorded negative growth of 3.29pc and 25.23pcrespectively during July-Dec period of this fiscal year.

The fruit export dipped to 256,146 tonnes ($189.136m) from 345,791 tonnes ($204.875m) in thecorresponding period of last year.Vegetable export was recorded at 167,648 tonnes during theperiod as compared to 244,365 tonnes in the same period last year.Sugar export posted an

increase of 0.46pc at 204,711 tonnes ($98.652m) as compared to 208,438 tonnes ($98.202m) lastyear.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2015

Source with thanks:http://www.dawn.com/news/1158739/rice-exports-up-35pc-in-july-dec

South Sulawesi hopes toexport surplus rice production

Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar | Archipelago | Fri, January 23 2015, 10:49 AM

South Sulawesis aim of exporting rice is expected to be realized this year thanks to further

increases in rice production in the province and a resulting rice surplus.According to South

Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo, his administration had planned to export rice from last

year, but the central government had not yet agreed. We wanted to export rice last year but we

have to get approval from the central government. We hope we can achieve it this year, said

Syahrul after opening the Indonesian Agricultural Economic Association seminar and national

workshop in Makassar on Thursday.

According to its plan, South Sulawesi would export between 200,000 and 300,000 tons of rice to

Malaysia and Thailand. The provincial administration has requested permission from theAgriculture Ministry to export rice to the two countries. It has so far been selling its surplus to

other islands and provinces. Last year, the province delivered rice to 26 provinces. We prioritize

domestic demand, but we also hope to be able to export rice to other countries given the further

increase in our rice production, said Syahrul.South Sulawesi has been enjoying bumper yearly

rice harvests.

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Bulog to expand businessin border areas

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Business | Fri, January 23 2015, 8:45 AM

The Indonesian Bureau of Logistics (Bulog) of the North Sulawesi Province will expand itsBulog Mart business on the border between North Sulawesi and the Philippines.This year we

are expanding the business of Bulog Mart in Sangihe Talaud. It is a district that directly shares its

borders with the Philippines, North Sulawesis Bulog head Yayan Suparyan said Manado on

Thursday as quoted byAntara news agency.He said the presence of Bulog in Sangihe Talaud is

expected to stabilize rice prices in the district and to shorten the lengthy food product distribution

chain.

Bulog is an Indonesian stated-owned company dealing with food distribution and price

control.Besides rice, Bulog Mart also sells sugar, vegetable oil, flour and other food

products.The commodities sold by Bulog Mart are bought from the manufacturers, so that theprices can remain competitive as compared to other retail markets.Bulog invites all local

communities to get involved in this business by selling their food commodities in the mart,

Yayan noted. (***)

Source with thanks:http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/01/23/bulog-expand-business-border-

areas.html#sthash.bVHogqXD.dpuf

Hungry armyworms feed on Riverina rice cropsNSW Country Hour

ByLaurissa Smith

Updated Thu at 3:57pmThu 22 Jan 2015, 3:57pmPHOTO:An armyworm munches through the foliage of a rice plant in the NSW Murray Valley (Troy

Mauger)

MAP:Deniliquin 2710

Agronomists are warning southern New South Wales rice growersarmyworms are on the march.The pest, a caterpillar of a native moth,attacks crops as the rice heads start to emerge.Media player: "Space"to play, "M" to mute, "left" and "right" to seek.Armyworms are

appearing more often in paddocks.Murray Local Land Servicesagronomist John Fowler said early detection might prevent someserious damage."Up to about four or five years ago a lot of growers

weren't concerned with armyworms," he said.

"We don't know why, but over the last few years when they do hit, they've had the ability to hitin really big numbers and cause substantial losses."Growers have reported sizeable areas of up to50 per cent losses."So they've been onto them ever since to make sure they don't get hit with that

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sort of damage again."Mr Fowler said rice varieties that are drained mid-season are more likelyto attract the pest.Farmers have reported early foliar damage in the Murray Valley andColeambally Irrigation Area.Mr Fowler said it is important growers eradicate the armywormsbefore they get too big."If you take them out while they're still small, you tend to get a good killwith the chemical," he said."I've never seen a reinfestation of significance, so even if you are

doing it early and growers were worried about getting reinfested, I've never observed that."

Topics:rice,deniliquin-2710

Source with thanks:http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-23/armyworm-damage-in-rice/6040552

Agri Buzz : Vietnam Expects Weak Rice Production For

2015

capital market | Mumbai | January 23, 2015 09:55 IST

The Vietnam Food Association (VFA) has scaled back its forecast for rice exports in 2015 on theback of a lacklustre 2014- as it continues to search for measures to jump start exports and powerup the sector.For the year ended December 2014, Vietnam exported 6.316 million tonnes of rice,grossing US$2.789 billion in revenue, down 5.47% on-year in volume and 3.59% invalue.Despite fulfilling the set target, rice exports were lethargic ranking third among the world'slargest exporters after Thailand (10.5 million tonnes) and India (10 million tonnes).Marketanalysts at the VFA attribute the slump to the sharp decline in demand for rice in the Africanmarkets, overproduction by Thailand and India along with lack of growth in Asian markets.

Analysts at the VFA have reported that the difficulties from 2014 will carry over and continue tonegatively affect the market in 2015.Last year, exports of rice via the Chinese bordersskyrocketed, helping clear stockpiles; however, the border trade is fraught with risks and doeslittle to bring in the large foreign currencies.According to VFA statistics, rice exports on recordthrough the Chinese border was roughly 650,000 tonnes, but, in fact the real volume of ricetransported from the Mekong Delta region to the northern region via Haiphong Port wassubstantially higher.

Powered byCommodity Insights

Source with thanks:http://www.indiainfoline.com/article/capital-market-commodity-futures-pre-session-

commentary/agri-buzz-vietnam-expects-weak-rice-production-for-2015-

115012300083_1.html#sthash.DWKB8OYP.dpuf

OAG decides to charge Yingluck in court over rice-pledging

case

January 23, 2015 1:24 pm

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The Office of the Attorney General decided Friday to press criminal charges against former

prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra related to the rice-pledging scheme.Surasak Threerattrakul,

Director-General of OAG's Investigation Office, said the Yingluck might be arraigned in the

Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders in a month.Surasak said there

were strong evidences to substantiate charges that Yingluck had intentionally abused her

authority to cause damage over Bt500 billion in the rice pledging scheme, and thus violating

Article 157 of the Criminal Code and Article 123/1 of the Corruption Prevention and

Suppression Act.

The Nation

Source with thanks:http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/OAG-decides-to-charge-

Yingluck-in-court-over-rice--30252530.html

Blast disease looms over paddy harvest

S. GANESAN

The Hindu

Concern over yield: A group of agriculture labourers feed the machine during harvest in Tiruchi onThursday. Photo: B. Velankanni Raj

Officials hope for normal yield in delta districts

Harvest of samba paddy has begun in canal irrigatedareas of the district with farmers in some parts of thedistrict worried over possible yield loss because of

blast disease. Samba paddy had been raised on about85,000 acres of land in the canal irrigated delta areasof the district and in another 25,000 acres in the non-delta areas of the district, Agriculture Departmentsources said.Of this, farmers in the delta areas hadstarted harvesting the crop over the past fewdays.According to initial reports, the yield appearedto be normal, sources in the Agriculture Departmentsaid.Harvesting of the samba crop was expected to

go on till February with farmers too expecting a decent yield.We are expecting a normal yield.However, there will be drop in yield in paddy fields affected by the blast disease, said N.

Veerasekaran, Coordinator, Ayyan Vaical Pasanatharar Sangam.

Incidence of blast disease had been reported from Manikandam, Andhanallur, Musiri, Thottiyam,and Manachanallur and to a certain extent in Lalgudi areas in the district. Farmers areapprehensive of a sharp drop in yield in fields affected by the disease.Yield will be badlyaffected in the disease-hit fields. The government should sanction compensation of Rs. 25,000 anacre to the affected farmers, said P. Ayyakannu, vice-president, Bharathiya Kisan Sangam, who

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along with other members of the organisation presented a representation to the District Collectoron Thursday.

According to initial estimates, about 8,000 hectares were affected in the district because of thedisease. An assessment would be taken up by the Agriculture Department in association with the

Revenue and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University scientists, sources in the AgricultureDepartment said.Mr.Veerasekaran said that the Agriculture Department should take effectivesteps to prevent recurrence of the disease in future by recommending appropriate steps toeradicate the fungus from the fields.

Source with thanks:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/blast-disease-looms-over-paddy-

harvest/article6813828.ece

Ousted Thai PM banned from politics, faces charges

BY PANARAT THEPGUMPANAT AND PRACHA HARIRAKSAPITAK

BANGKOKFri Jan 23, 2015 4:50pm EST

Ousted former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra delivers her statement at the National LegislativeAssembly meeting in Bangkok January 22, 2015.

CREDIT: REUTERS/CHAIWAT SUBPRASOM

(Reuters) - Thai authorities dealt a double blow to

ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and herpowerful family on Friday, banning her from

politics for five years and proceeding with criminal

charges for negligence that could put her in jail.The

moves could stoke tension in the politically divided

country still living under martial law after the

military seized power in May, toppling the

remnants of Yingluck's government to end months

of street protests.

The ban and the legal case are the latest twist in 10 years of turbulent politics that have pitted

Yingluck and her brother Thaksin, himself a former prime minister, against the royalist-military

establishment that sees the Shinawatras as a threat and reviles their populist policies.Yingluck

will face criminal charges in the Supreme Court and if found guilty could spend up to 10 years in

jail, the Attorney General's Office said on Friday.The charges against the country's first female

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premier, who was removed from office for abuse of power in May, days before the coup,

concern her role in a scheme that paid farmers above market prices for rice and

costThailandbillions of dollars.

Yingluck vowed to fight the charges."Thai democracy has died along with the rule of law," shesaid in a statement posted on her Facebook page."I will fight until the end to prove my

innocence, no matter what the outcome will be. And most importantly, I want to stand alongside

the Thai people. Together we must bring Thailand prosperity, bring back democracy and truly

build justice in Thai society."There was no sign of protests on the capital's busy streets on

Friday, as residents adhered to the junta's ban on public gatherings.

Security was tightened around the parliament building where the legislature, dominated by the

military, voted Yingluck guilty in a separate impeachment case for failing to exercise sufficient

oversight of the rice subsidy scheme.The retroactive impeachment at the National LegislativeAssembly (NLA) carries a five-year ban from politics.A spokesman for the State Department

said the United States had taken note of the retroactive impeachment by an appointed legislative

body, and Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel would discuss U.S. concerns when he visits

Bangkok on Monday.

"We believe that the impartial administration of justice and rule of law is essential for equitable

governance and a just society," Jen Psaki told a regular news briefing. "It is a matter for the Thai

people to determine the legitimacy of their political and judicial processes."Washington, a long-

time ally of Thailand, expressed dismay at the coup and responded by freezing $4.7 million ofsecurity-related aid, as well as cancelling high-level engagements and some military exercises

and military and police training programs.

Russel will be the most senior U.S. official to visit Thailand since the coup. Yingluck defended

the rice scheme and disputed the charges in a NLA hearing on Thursday, but did not appear on

Friday.A vote to impeach required a three-fifths majority among NLA members, who were hand-

picked by the junta of coup leader and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. Around 100 of the

220 members are former or serving military officers.Prayuth said he had not ordered the NLA to

vote against Yingluck, still popular among the rural poor who handed her a landslide electoralvictory in 2011 and benefited from the rice scheme.

The impeachment was expected by Yingluck supporters, who see the courts and NLA as biased

and aligned with an establishment intent on blocking the Shinawatra family from

politics."Yingluck's case was not dealt with fairly," said Thanawut Wichaidit, a spokesman for

the pro-Yingluck United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship."The intention of these

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actions is for Yingluck and the entire Shinawatra family to be eradicated from Thai politics. I

believe there is an invisible hand behind Yingluck's impeachment."Around 150 members of the

Shinawatra political movement have been banned from politics in the last decade, including four

who had served as prime ministers.

ARMY CHIEF AIRS CONCERN

Prayuth's government has urged Yingluck's supporters to stay out of Bangkok this week,

although a repeat of the protests that have dogged the country in recent years appears

unlikely.Authorities have been quick to stifle dissent, and political meetings are banned under

martial law.In a radio broadcast, Army Chief General Udomdej Sitabutr called on the population

to respect the NLA vote, and a spokesman for the junta said it had seen no sign of

unrest."Political gatherings cannot happen as we are still under martial law," junta spokesman

Winthai Suvaree said.

Yingluck's fortunes have been similar to those of her billionaire brother.Both led populist

governments toppled in coups, despite being elected in landslides, and both were subjected to

legal action and street protests by pro-establishment activists.After being ousted in 2006, Thaksin

fled Thailand to avoid a 2008 jail term for corruption. He has lived abroad since, but retains a

strong influence over Thai politics.

Yingluck did not plan to flee, said Singthong Buachum, a member of the former prime minister's

team."She will fight the case head on," Singthong said.Prayuth has promised a return todemocracy after the junta enacts political and social reforms. His government has said a general

election will take place in February next year at the earliest.(Additional reporting by Kaweewit

Kaewjinda and Aukkarapon Niyomyat in Bangkok andDavid Brunnstromin Washington;

Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Simon Webb.; Editing byJeremy Laurence,Nick

MacfieandAndre Grenon)

Source with thanks: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/23/us-thailand-politics-

idUSKBN0KW01S20150123

Apeda News-India Today News

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APEDA Statistics

Today's LeadsSeller Leads Buyer Leads

Market Watch

Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 22-01-2015

Domestic Prices Unit Price : Rs/Qtl

Product Market Center Variety Min Price Max Price

Paddy (Dhan)

1 Bonai (Orissa) Other 1360 1400

2 Dehgam (Gujarat) Other 1375 1420

3 Haldwani (Uttrakhand) Other 1360 1360

Rice

1 Bonai (Orissa) Other 2500 2700

2 Shillong (Meghalaya) Other 3400 3600

3 Jhagadiya (Gujarat) Other 1900 3000

Pine Apple

1 Kangra (Himachal Pradesh) Other 2800 3000

2 Nagpur (Maharashtra) Other 1000 2500

3 Sirhind (Punjab) Other 2000 2500

Cauliflower

1 Bolangir (Orissa) Other 2800 3000

2 Shrirampur (Maharashtra) Other 1000 1200

3 Mohanpur (Tripura) Other 2000 2500

Source: agmarknet

Source with thanks:Apeda India

A.P. keen to promote sugar-free rice variety

Andhra Pradesh will be identifying and promoting new varieties of rice with low content ofcarbohydrate, referred to as sugar-free rice in common parlance that is more nutritious and canbe consumed even by diabetic patients without the fear of their blood glucose levels shootingup.In addition to BM 1100, a new variety of rice released in some pockets, two more newvariants, 209 with longer grain and Sonam are also being considered for cultivation indemonstration farms , according to government sources.

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The issue of promoting cereals and millets with value addition to increase their nutrient valuecame up for discussion in the recent meeting of Agriculture Minister P.Pullarao with departmentofficials.He suggested that these varieties and also rice variety with low carbohydrates could bepromoted for the benefit of all, specially the diabetics who are advised to cut down or avoidquickly digestible normal rice to keep their glucose levels in blood under control.The Agriculture

Department has been asked to promote the sugar-free rice varieties by next Kharif.However,agriculture scientists clarified that officially no sugar free rice was being cultivated in AndhraPradesh as yet.

The Seed Section in New Delhi Office of International Rice Research Institute (Philippines) alsodid not have ready information on the sugar-free rice variety, they said. But out of all varietiesof rice released so far in the State, MTU 7029 Swarna has least amount of carbohydrates.Someprivate seed companies in the State are into research to promote cereals and millets with valueaddition to enhance nutritional value and bring down carbohydrate content. However any valueaddition to cereals or millets will have negative correlation with yield, scientists observed.TheAgriculture Department will also be promoting flood resistant varieties of rice- Swarna sub and

Samba Masuri sub- which can withstand 10 to 15 days of flooding without affecting their yield.They will be raised in 270 hectares of demonstration farms.

Source with thanks :http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ap-keen-to-promote-

sugarfree-rice-variety/article6817116.ece

Obama's EPA breaks pledge to divorce politics from science

on toxic chemicalsBy David Heath23 hours ago

In his first inaugural address, between promising to fix the economy and lower the cost of health

care, President Barack Obama made this pledge:

"We'll restore science to its rightful place."It might sound arcane as a presidential priority, but it

was a big deal at the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency.Political interference from the Bush

White House had delayed or derailed dozens of the EPA's findings on potential health risks

posed by toxic chemicals.Some of those findings applied to chemicals to which all of us are

exposed. Formaldehyde is in our kitchen cabinets and carpet.

Arsenic is in our drinking water and rice. EPA scientists had determined that both of these

carcinogens were more deadly than previously thought. Yet, officially, the agency remains

unable to say so or to do anything about it.On her first day on the job, Lisa Jackson, the new

EPA administrator, sent employees amemoechoing the president's promise to divorce politics

from science. The agency hassaidit needs to assess 50 chemicals a year to do its job properly.

Yet in the Bush years it was averaging only five assessments a year. Jackson quickly rolled out a

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plan to break through the logjam.The plan seemed easily achievable. It required no congressional

approval and involved tweaking the inner workings of bureaucracy. Republicans never passed

any legislation to block it.Yet the Obama administration's plan has been a failure. In the past

three years, the EPA has assessed fewer chemicals than ever. Last year, it completed only one

assessment. Today, the agency has even embraced measures sought by the chemical industry that

have led to endless delays.

Of late, the administration has displayed a disturbing tendency to retreat in the face of a

blistering and self-serving industry campaign to stifle this vital program once and for all, said

Rena Steinzor, a University of Maryland law professor who closely follows the EPAs chemical

assessment program.The story of how this happened is a lesson in how Washington works.

Source with thanks :http://news.yahoo.com/obamas-epa-breaks-pledge-divorce-100000119.html

Small scale rice dealers challenge trade ministry

The Small Scale Rice Dealers Association of

Ghana (SSRIDA-GH), on Thursday said the

assertion by Ministry of Trade and Industry that

the total ban of rice importation is detrimental to

the state is not nationalistic.The media report

attributed to Mr Ibrahim Murtala, DeputyMinister of Trade and Industry said Ghanas rice

self sufficiency is about 30 per cent and

government consider as a high priority to see the

country productivity high.

He however said a total ban on rice importation is not the ideal thing to do and would also be in

violation of World Trade Organisation regulations.Mr Murtala said the country must also

improve the quality and quantity of rice production.The Minister was reacting to a call by

SSRIDA-GH to Ministry of Trade and Industry to ensure an outright ban of rice importation.It

said the ban on inland rice importation is not only having negative impact on the traders but also

discriminatory and in favour of the major players in the industry.

A statement issued by Yaw Korang, National Coordinator of SSRIDA-GH said given monopoly

of large scale importation of the commodity to foreigners is unfair, and so if government finds it

untenable for small-scale rice dealers to be in business then an outright ban would be necessary

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.The ban as it stands now is pushing poor Ghanaians out of business and helping foreign traders

to thrive, the statement.The statement said the ministry on October 14, 2013 served a notice of

ban on inland importation of rice stating that with effect from November 1, 2013, all imports of

rice shall be done through only the Kotoka International Airport, Tema and Takoradi Ports.

This directive gave SSRIDA-GH only two weeks ultimatum to fold up our trading business

through the border. As petty traders, our capital base would not allow us to do our business

through the air or by the sea. The directive also came at a time when we had made orders with

loans for goods for the Christmas festivity.

We humbly wish to state that our business is only a threat to the monopoly being practiced by

foreign rice importers, whose activities are a threat to the nation`s economy because they do the

importation under the cover of warehousing and sell their products for high prices in dollar

equivalence before paying their revenue and sometimes run-off without paying.We do our

business in the CFA-FRANC and pay our duty into the consolidated fund at the borders before

we are allowed to bring our goods into the country to sell.

The statement asked Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, the sector Minister to review the ban on inland

importation of rice or prohibit the trade in Ghana.However another statement by the SSRIDA-

Ghana says the 500 million dollars spent annually to import rice is a drain to the national

economy and could be used to step up the productivity of the crop.It said great rice producing

nations like Thailand dreamt big and were nationalistic enough to go great length to achieve the

feat.The statement said: Nigeria was able to do it and now local rice is in high demand in the

West African nation.It said for the Ministry to say that total ban of rice importation is not

feasible is too simplistic, unpatriotic and uninspiring. It can be done if we embrace the

challenge, the statement said

Source with thanks:http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=343774

Nigerians Impoverished By Over-dependence On Oil

Jonathan

CHRISTIANA NWAOGU,George Agba

Jan 24, 2015

President Goodluck Jonathan has regretted that in spite of the abundance of agricultural

resources the country is blessed with, over dependence on crude oiland prolonged neglect

of the agriculture sector have impoverished Nigerians.

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Speaking yesterday during the 2015 Agricultural Festival (AGRIFEST) at the Eagle Square,Abuja, the president vowed that there would be no sacred cows among importers who are owingthe country on rice import duties.AGRIFEST is an international agriculture exhibition organisedby the Ministry of Agriculture to aid the sector in achieving a green revolution

President Jonathan told the huge number of farmers who attended the event that they could relyon him as their Farmers President and be rest assured of his support at all times to further boostyour efforts to produce more food for the nation.He announced the release of N26 billiontowards the 2015 Dry Season Farming Programme, saying with the support of the farmers, hehoped to be with them next year as president to do even more for them.Lamenting the plightofNigerians, he said, Our nation is blessed with abundant agricultural resources, but for toolong we have depended on crude oiland neglected agriculture.

This situation created poverty and suffering in our rural communities.Agriculture is now the

lifeline for Nigeria. As crude oil prices decline, we must create new wealth from the richness ofour soils, the vastness of our rivers and the abundance of our cheap labour. We will produce

more, and we will industrialise the agricultural sector.Noting that the rice revolution is takingplace across the country, the president said, while high quality Nigerian rice was now competingfavourably with imported rice in the markets, rice importers cannot hold the country hostage.Hesaid, Nigeria our dear country will not be held hostage by rice importers. There will be nosacred cows under my watch. All those owing Nigeria on rice import duties must pay.

Source with thanks:http://leadership.ng/news/406222/nigerians-impoverished-overdependence-oil-jonathan

Corruption in FCI frightening; revamp report addresses

root causes: Shanta KumarbySeetha Jan 24, 2015 10:19 IST

Shanta Kumar,senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader, former chief minister of Himachal

Pradesh and former union food minister, headed a high level committee on reorienting the role

and restructuring of the Food Corporation of India. The committee submitted its report to the

Prime Minister on Wednesday, in which it has suggested a complete overhaul of the food

economy. (Seethis articlefor the recommendations). In this interview withSeetha,Kumar

explains what the report sets out to do and how it will change things. Excerpts:

Many of the recommendations in the report are quite radical. How politically feasible are

they?

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When working on the report, I was not keeping political considerations in mind. In such matters,

I have always kept economic and national issues in the forefront and keep politics aside. In any

case, even politically, I feel that implementing this report will be beneficial.

When over 8 crore farmers who are deprived of the benefits of minimum support price start

getting direct input subsidy in cash, they will feel someone is looking out for them. It will be a

huge relief especially for those poor farmers who are driven to suicide. Secondly, when the 40-

50 per cent of poor consumers who do not get subsidised food because of leakages in the public

distribution system (PDS) get money in their bank accounts, they will also benefit. So politically

implementing this report will not entail any damage.

One criticism that can be levelled is that we are recommending reducing the coverage under the

National Food Security Act from 67 per cent of the population to 40 per cent. But at the same

time we have recommended increasing allocation to 7 kg per person from 5 kg. This report is

both pro-farmer and pro-poor.

This proposal is bound to run into problems. This requires an amendment to the Act,

which only Parliament can do. The Congress will never agree to this, nor will many other

parties.

The Congress has to oppose on some excuse or the other. They wont be able to say anything

negative about the report and they will pick on this. Look, the country has made a lot of

economic progress, but social justice is lacking. Development without social justice is no

development at all. I am committed to antyodaya, Swami Vivekanandas daridra narayan. From

the time I became chief minister in 1977, I have tried to see how those who have been left behind

can be benefited.

Is cash transfers the way to go about it?

Definitely. It will be income support for both the poor farmer and the poor consumer.

Besides, Indias delivery system is so inefficient and corrupt that no matter what you do, it is not

possible to reach subsidised food to all the beneficiaries. The more complicated the system, the

more corrupt it will be; the more simpler it is, lesser the chances of corruption.

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Theres also the distortion in the market. When the market price of rice is Rs 40 a kg and it is

being supplied at Rs 3 and Re 1 through the PDS, diversion is inevitable. It cant be stopped.

That is why the global discourse is about income support instead of market support.food, Kumar said. Image courtesy: BJP website

How much savings can be expected from cash transfers?

In the case of fertiliser subsidy, the cash transfer of Rs 7000 per hectare will result in savings of

Rs 15,000-20,000 crore. In the case of food subsidy, the government will save Rs 30,000 crore.

Can cash transfers co-exist with minimum support prices (MSP) and state procurement? If

you are giving cash to the poor to buy from the market, what happens to the food grains

that are procured by the FCI?

As it is, all those beneficiaries who dont get subsidised rations because of

leakage are buying from the market and not getting compensated for it.

But we will have to keep food stocks as a buffer. A country like India will

need a buffer. If we have to give relief to the farmers, we will need MSP.

MSP will have no meaning if we dont procure. If we procure food grains, they will accumulate.

But we can use food stocks in excess of the buffer norms to regulate and stabilise the market. Or

we can export. That is why the report has said there should be a definite liquidation policy for the

stocks.

What about the PDS if we shift to cash transfers. Will it get phased out?

It will stay for some time. It should. Then an option can be given to states and consumers. Then,

based on experience gained over three-four years we can review the situation.

You havent recommended trifurcation/unbundling of FCI, which the BJP manifesto had

talked about.

This has been done indirectly. We have distributed its work to different agencies. We have saidlet states do the procuring; that will reduce FCIs role in procurement. We have spoken of

outsourcing stocking of food grains to the Central Warehousing Corporation, State Warehousing

Corporations and private players; that reduces FCIs role in stocking. FCI will only play a

regulatory role in food grain management.

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If we had recommended trifurcation, then there would have been three corporations, three

chairmen, three boards of directors. The number of employees would have grown. This would

have only added to non plan expenditure. Our recommendations will help achieve the objectives

of trifurcation without this.There are a lot of issues related to the internal working of the FCI itself inefficiencies,

corruption. The report has not dealt with that.

When work is reduced or simplified, the scope for corruption will also reduce.The maximum

corruption is in the quality control specification and checking. Right now, food grains are

manually checked, someone picks up a fistful of grain and says the moisture level is 5 per cent or

10 per cent. We have said quality control should be transparent and mechanised.There is also a

lot of corruption in rice procurement.

States procure paddy and give it to rice millers and FCI procures the rice that the millers

produce. We were surprised to find that in the large states, FCI was procuring 12 per cent of the

wheat produced and 70 per cent of rice. Some states asked us when you have given us the task of

procuring wheat, why not rice? We kept asking FCI this.

Later we came to know that this is source of a lot of corruption.We had joint stakeholders

meetings across states. In two of these meetings, the rice millers openly complained about how

they were at the mercy of FCI officials who would nitpick about the quality of rice and the

amounts of the bribes involved. That is why we have said states should procure both wheat and

rice. If states procure poor quality rice, it is their responsibility. The level of corruption is

frightening. We have tried to remove the root causes of corruption.

What about the unwieldy size of FCI?

When its workload is reduced, then there will be pruning of staff. We have said zonal offices

should be trimmed over time. In the case of the departmental loaders, we have recommended a

voluntary retirement scheme and phasing them out. This will have to done gradually over

time.When work is outsourced, there will be need for further trimming. The union is very strong,

problems will be there. But someone will have to start from somewhere.

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Seetha is a senior journalist and author

Source with thanks:http://www.firstpost.com/business/corruption-in-fci-frightening-revamp-report-addresses-

root-causes-shanta-kumar-2062185.html

Ill Not Let Anyone Of You Escape Jonathan Fires

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday read the Riot Act to rice

importers in the country, saying all those owing the nation rice import

duties must pay, no matter how highly placed they are.He said under

no circumstance will he allow rice importers to hold the nation to

ransom.Nigeria our dear country will not be held hostage by rice

importers. There will be no sacred cows under my watch. All those owing Nigeria on rice import

duties must pay, Jonathan declared at the opening of an event called AgriFest 2015 at the

Eagles Square, Abuja.

The President noted that rice farmers across the country have a new lease of life due to the

transformation taking place in the sector.He said over six million rice farmers have received

improved rice seed varieties, boosting domestic rice production by an additional seven million

metric tons.He said, The rice revolution is taking place across the country, from Kebbi, Kano,

Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Bauchi, Gombe, Niger, Kogi, Ogun, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Rivers,

Anambra, Delta, Edo to Bayelsa State.High quality Nigerian rice is now competing favourably

with imported rice in the markets.

Our rice millers have taken advantage of these new opportunities, and the number of integrated

rice mills has expanded from 1 (one) at the beginning of this administration, to 24 today.And

they are all here today. I celebrate you all. I eat Nigerian rice and can tell you it is better than

imported rice, he added.Jonathan also announced the release of N26billion for the 2015 dry

season farming programme.He told the large gathering of farmers that he remained the farmers

President and would need their support to remain in office beyond this year.He said the various

innovations put up by his administration had changed the face of agriculture in the country.He

promised to do more for the farmers and the sector if re-elected.

: http://www.osundefender.org/?p=208179

Three Years Export Summary Statement (2011-12 To 2013-

14)

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Value:

Rs. Lacs Rs. Crore US$ US$ Thousand US$ Mill US$ Bill

Quantity:

Qty In MT Qty In Quintal Qty In Kg

Submit

Three Year Export Statement of APEDA Products

Value in Rs. LacsQty In MT

2011-12 2012-13 2013-14

PRODUCT Qty Rs. Lacs Qty Rs. Lacs Qty Rs. Lacs

FLORICULTURE

Floriculture 30926.02 36532.15 27121.86 42344.60

Fruits & Vegetables Seeds 15205.81 28776.35 17168.00 34772.39

Total 46131.83 65308.50 44289.86 77116.99

FRESH FRUITS & VEGETABLES

Fresh Onions 1309924.82 172299.80 1666872.60 196662.66

Other Fresh Vegetables 734178.83 131048.20 768627.20 151633.56

Walnuts 5841.56 23108.40 5295.47 19983.57

Fresh Mangoes 63441.29 20974.30 55584.99 26471.78

Fresh Grapes 108584.56 60288.15 172744.42 125942.78

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Other Fresh Fruits 270437.20 75541.11 263970.29 77975.78

Total 2492408.26 483259.96 2933094.97 598670.13

PROCESSED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Cucumber and Gherkins( Prepd. &

Presvd)258603.00 74503.45 238624.89 85659.18

Dried & Preserved Vegetables 64794.09 52678.47 68520.25 63795.76

Mango Pulp 150499.06 62082.91 147815.69 60855.73

Other Processed Fruits & Vegetables 274807.05 157759.82 269217.26 173305.54

Pulses 174625.18 106793.13 202751.36 128500.32

Total 923328.38 453817.78 926929.45 512116.53

ANIMAL PRODUCTS

Buffalo Meat 986618.46 1374573.96 1107506.27 1741289.30

Sheep/Goat Meat 11181.04 25522.07 16046.91 42565.86

Other Meat 318.33 364.34 194.13 233.33

Processed Meat 575.94 949.53 796.92 937.41

Animal Casings 923.56 2705.01 602.53 1837.08

Poultry Products 624181.11 45805.29 577864.27 49493.41

Dairy Products 25639.51 28935.68 87824.21 141209.83

Casein 838.66 3719.76 13650.78 55625.72

Natural Honey 26089.03 32123.96 25780.70 35632.05

Albumin( Eggs & Milk ) 1454.31 5302.71 1663.83 9016.14

Total 1677819.95 1520002.31 1831930.55 2077840.13

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OTHER PROCESSED FOODS

Groundnuts 832616.93 524644.77 535637.36 406536.09

Guargum 707326.43 1652386.71 406311.81 2128701.08

Jaggery & Confectionery 207694.35 76421.98 246566.93 91759.98

Cocoa Products 16678.58 17597.61 19083.34 29392.13

Cereal Preparations 301289.71 188859.70 293124.30 224076.04

Milled Products 171158.13 35890.14 273584.39 60360.80

Alcoholic Beverages 214110.69 145944.99 264466.08 190937.00

Miscellaneous Preparations 229341.93 121916.02 293958.19 171205.70

Total 2680216.75 2763661.92 2332732.40 3302968.82

CEREALS

Basmati Rice 3178174.43 1544959.62 3459898.93 1940939.06

Non Basmati Rice 3997719.57 865912.61 6687990.85 1444880.75

Wheat 740746.76 102326.85 6514810.60 1052900.15

Maize 3855721.20 515751.49 4788328.25 709634.06

Other Cereals 217962.03 33540.86 652975.53 108427.36

Total 11990323.99 3062491.43 22104004.16 5256781.38

Grand Total 19810229.16 8348541.90 30172981.39 118

Source: DGCIS Annual Data

Source with thanks:http://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/indexp/exportstatement.aspx

Rice exports post 3.46pc growth in first two quarters

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Thursday, 22 January 2015 19:24Posted 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 ofrice 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 periodunder review remained on down track as their exports witnessed 3.29 percent and 25.23 percentdecrease respectively.From July-December, country was managed to export 256,146 metric tonsof fruit worth $189.136 million which was recorded at 345,791 metric tons valuing $204.875million of corresponding period of last year.Vegetables exports was recorded at 167,648 metrictons during the period under review as compared to the 244,365 metric tons of same period lastyear, the data added.During the period under review, sugar exports posted 0.46 percent growthAnd reached at 204,711 metric tons valuing $98.652 million as compared to the exports of208,438 metric tons worth $98.202 million of same period last year.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2015

Source with thanks:Business Record

US 'threats' to Patent Act irks RSS outfit

SUVOJIT BAGCHI

Swadeshi Jagran Manch, the economic wing of the RSS, isagainst any drive to facilitate business interests of the US &the EUs pharmaceutical companies inIndia.PresidentBarack Obamas visit, Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), thepowerful economic wing of the Rashtriya SwayamsevakSangh, has objected to the United States threats to

Indias domestic policies on Intellectual Property Right

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(IPR).

The organisation is against any drive to facilitate business interest of the US & the EUspharmaceutical companies in India. According to SJM, the Western world is building

continuous pressure on India to amend many sections of the Patent Act of 1970, particularly3(d), which would qualify global pharmaceutical companies to market new drugs withoutmaking any genuine innovation, thus escalating profit. In a strongly worded resolution, the RSSoutfit has said that the government should not compromise and succumb to pressure.The GDP

growth of US and EU is largely dependent on the knowledge-based economy. While 35% of USGDP growth comes from IPR related industry, 39% of EUs growth is IPR dependent. So any

slow down in IPR growth is a major concern for both the blocks, said SJMs recent resolutiontitled: The US threat on IPR, a mere hoax?

In order to achieve the estimated growth in the IPR sector, a continuous pressure has been

mounted on India by the western world for tampering with the domestic IPR policies, the SJM

resolution added.

Main concern

SJM and a section of the Bharatiya Janata Party are particularly concerned about dilution ofSection 3(d) of the Patent Act of 1970.Section 3(d) says that mere discovery of a new form of aknown substance which does not result in the enhancement of the known efficacy of thatsubstance will not be eligible for fresh patents thus restricting the vested business interest of

pharmaceutical companies in US and EU in India.

In its annual report (2014 Special 301 Report) to underscore trade barriers to US companies due

to IPR related laws, the US Trade Representative (USTR) has expressed its concerns about theexistence of 3(d).The United States is concerned that Section 3(d), as interpreted, may have theeffect of limiting the patentability of potentially beneficial innovations. Such innovations wouldinclude drugs with fewer side effectsEven after a product receives a patent, Indian law

continues to pose challenges to the enjoyment of that IPR protection, USTR observed last April.

In December, USTR conducted an Out-of-Cycle Review (OCR) of the provisions and issuedanother statement: India has made useful commitments in recent months, including toinstitutionalize high-level engagement on IP issues, to pursue a specific work program and todeepen cooperation and information exchange with the United States on IP-related issues underthe US-India Trade Policy Forum.The December statement of USTR, followed by the draft

National IPR policy, has irked the SJM members. The draft IPR Policy was released only a weekafter the OCR and concluded that countrys IPR policy will be guided by the development

needs and the international commitments.

The SJM members detested the coinage, international commitments.We fear that in the

name of the international commitments the Patent Act will be tampered, a senior SJM officialtold The Hindu on condition of anonymity. SJM has also criticized draft IPR policy.The National

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IPR policy is drafted under the shadow of a joint working group of US and is influenced bythe threats from the US about economic sanctions under the dictates of the big pharmaceuticalcompanies for making changes in the existing patent laws of India, said the SJM resolution.

Cancer drugs

The SJM has also objected to the policy amendments in compulsory licensing especially whilegranting permission to NATCO for manufacturing cancer drugs which was being sold byBAYER of Germany at exorbitant prices in the country. SJM has also red-flagged illegitimatedemand of data exclusivity on pharmaceuticals whereby the Drug Regulatory Authority of Indiawill be prohibited to disclose trial results to the Indian generic companies.SJM has also flagged awhole lot of other areas where US is trying to mount pressure.

The Government should not compromise on any other existing provisions of Indian Patent Actincluding pre-grant opposition, the resolution said. According to the RSS outfit, the governmentshould demand protection for products like Darjeeling tea, Basmati rice, textile goods and

several other agricultural products which have its origin in India.

TRIPS Agreement

Besides demand(ing) protection for biodiversity, traditional knowledge and folklore accordingto Doha Agenda, the country should demand a complete review of the draconian provisionsof the existing Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement andrenegotiate the same at all appropriate forums of WTO, the SJM statement said.In the recently

concluded flagship annual IPR summit, Global Intellectual Property Convention (GIPC) inMumbai, attended by IPR experts of 30 countries, the issue of Indias concern was passionately

debated by all sides in several technical sessions. The sub-committee, constituted during GIPC,

has noted the concerns of the policy makers and pharmaceutical majors and decided to submit amemorandum to the think-tank drafting National IPR policy.

Keywords:Swadeshi Jagran Manch, SJM, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, RSS, IntellectualProperty Right, IPR, US patents threat, SJM resolution on IPR, draft IPR policy

Source with thanks:The Hindu

United Nations to assist Pakistan in bio-fuel projectByYaqoob Malik

Published: January 23, 2015

Project to promote market-based adoption of biomass gasification technologies for agro-processing enterprises. STOCK IMAGEISLAMABAD:

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Owing to the serious energy crisis prevailing in the country, the United Nations IndustrialDevelopment Organisation (UNIDO) has announced to implement a project to promote market-based adoption of biomass gasification technologies for agro-processing of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan.

Drawing funding from Global Environmental

Facility (GEF), the project will particularlyintroduce rice husk based gasification power plantsin the rice producing areas in order to generatecheap and uninterrupted electricity. The rice husk isusually burnt and goes in vain.A report of the UNsinformation centre Islamabad observed thatPakistan today faces serious energy challenges thatinclude frequent power cuts, brown outs andunreliable supply of fossil fuels. For SMEs powerbreakdown results in reduced production levels,reduced quality of production etc

.In view of this, the UNIDO, by helping SMEs develop biomass gasification power plants, seeksto enable SMEs to contribute towards addressing the energy challenges in the country, it said.Aspart of this process, the UNIDO has signed a memorandum of understanding with Punjab RiceMills Association to support the development of a feasibility study for 1MW rice husk basedgasification power plant at Bhawalnagar, the report said.The UNIDOs country representativeEsam Alqararah said, Pakistan being an agricultural country possesses a fuel for future which ischeap, clean and abundant.

Such projects will enable SMEs to have uninterrupted electricity to run their operations, whichwill increase their productivity and also help in providing low cost electricity.The industrialdevelopment officer at UN, Alois P Mhlanga, had visited Pakistan for the project. He mentionedthe feasibility study for this 1MW gasification plant does lay a strong foundation for finding newways of clean energy by demonstrating technical feasibility and economic viability of biomassgasification technology, UNIDO report added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2015.

Source with thanks:The Express Tribune Pakistan

Rice exports post 3.46pc growth in first two quarters

Thursday, 22 January 2015 19:24Posted by Imaduddin

ISLAMABAD: Rice exports from the country during first twoquarters of current financial year witnessed 3.46 percent growthas compared to the corresponding period of last year.During theperiod from July-December, 2014 about 1,781,401 metric tons of

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rice worth $976.784 million exported as compared to 1,709,883 metric tons valuing $944.077million exported in same period of last financial year.According the latest figures released byPakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), exports of basmati rice recorded 2.63 percent increase asabout 260,481 metric tons of basmati rice worth $302.265 million exported as compared to the269,272 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 at1,520,920 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 andvegetables from the country during the period under review remained on down track as theirexports 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 wasrecorded 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 ascompared 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 tonsvaluing $98.652 million as compared to the exports of 208,438 metric tons worth $98.202million of same period last year.

Copyri ght APP (Associated Press of Paki stan), 2015

The Business Recorder

USA Rice Promotes Cochran Bipartisan Letter on Iraqis Rice

Purchases

Senator Cochran

WASHINGTON, DC -- This week, the USA Rice Federation

encouraged Members of Congress to sign on to a letter written by

Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran to Secretary of State John Kerry

asking him to help America's rice farmers improve existing trade

relations with the Iraqi Grain Board (IGB).The final letter was sent

today with all six rice producing states represented by the 36

signatories. Thirteen Senators and 23 House Members called on

Secretary Kerry to see to it U.S. rice producers are fairly consideredto win Iraqi business.

Despite years of effort to rebuild commercial relationships with the IGB, Iraq has inexplicably

failed in several recent tenders to purchase competitively-priced U.S. rice. And a new tender

opens this weekend."While American exporters have continued to offer competitive bids, the

[Iraqi Grain] Board has lately chosen higher-priced non-American bids," the letter reads. "We

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recognize Iraq's prerogative to make these types of decisions, but it serves no purpose to

discriminate against competitively-priced U.S.rice...

""We've lost out on three of the last four tenders despite prices nearly $50 per metric ton below

the winning South American bids with zero explanation from the IGB," said USA RiceFederation President & CEO Betsy Ward. "We believe the U.S. government needs to engage

directly with Iraq's Minister of Trade to get to the bottom of this. Senator Cochran agreed

wholeheartedly and spearheaded the effort on the Hill to focus Secretary Kerry on this

issue.""Iraq is a large rice import market, purchasing just under 1.5 million metric tons

annually," said Dow Brantley, an Arkansas rice farmer and chairman of USA Rice.

"We have the high quality crop at the right price to meet Iraqi demand, but if they keep ignoringour bids, it's going to present problems down the line for rice producers and millers, especially inthe mid-South."The IGB purchases nearly all imports via a public tendering process and has

issued a 30,000 mt tender which will be open for bids on January 25, 2015.

Contact: Michael Klein (703) 236-1458Source with thanks: The USA Rice Federation

USA Rice Provides Updates for Texas Producers

EL CAMPO, TX -- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension hosted the

annual Western Rice Belt Production Conference here on

Wednesday. The USA Rice Federation is a sponsor of the

conference and this year USA Rice staff Amy Doane, Director,

Membership & Marketing, and Evan Spencer, Manager,

Economic and Policy Analysis, attended informational sessions

and spoke to producers about current issues affecting the U.S.

rice industry.Spencer provided members of the Texas Rice Producers' Legislative Group with

updates on the Farm Bill, regulatory issues, upcoming Regional Conservation Partnership

Program (RCPP) opportunities, and trade, especially the emerging Cuban market.

"We appreciate having the team fromWashington come to Texas to participate in this

conference," said Daniel Berglund, a Texas rice farmer and chairman of the Texas RiceProducers' Legislative Group. "The work they do to communicate information and advocate for

best practice solutions on behalf of our industry is clearly making a positive difference for Texas

rice producers."

Contact: Deborah Willenborg (703) 236-1444

Source with thanks:The USA Rice Federation

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Japan Announces 6th SBS Tender in FY 2014

Announcement: 20 December 2015

Tender: 3 February 2015Quantity:

Total 30,000 MTWhole-kernel (brown or milled) 27,000 MTBroken (milled) 3,000 MT

Shipping period: 15 July 2015

Source with thanks:Source with thanks:The USA Rice Federation

Japan Announces 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)

TOTAL

Thailand 7,000 7,000

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

Global Tender 14,000 14,000

36,000 21,000 57,000

Shipping period: (U.S.A.) from 20 June 2015 to 20 July 2015

(Thailand) from 15 May 2015 to 25 June 2015

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(GT) from 15 May 2015 to 25 June 2015

Source with thanks:The USA Rice Federation

Rice goes up by Tk 3 a kg

Blockade upsets supply to Dhaka, CtgSohel Parvez and Dwaipayan Barua

Vegetable farmers sit around their pile of produce at the Mahasthangarh wholesale market in Bogra yesterday with hardly anycustomers. With seemingly no end to the nationwide blockade, wholesale traders are reluctant in buying perishables which they

may not be able to ship. Photo: Star

Rice prices are going up in the two major cities -- Dhaka and Chittagong -- as the BNP-led

alliance's nationwide blockade continues to disrupt supply.Prices of all types of rice have risen

by up to Tk 3 a kg in both wholesale and retail markets in the two cities, home to over two crore

people, though the prices remain unchanged at milling hubs.Wary wholesalers refrained from

bringing supplies for fear of arson attacks on highways while their stocks of rice run low.We

have to charge higher prices for the rising transport costs, said Mohammad Alamgir Hossain, arice wholesaler at Badamtali-Babubazar market, the biggest rice wholesale depot in the capital.

For instance, he paid Tk 34,000, more than double the usual truck fare, to source rice from

Chapainawabganj, a major rice milling hub and also a hotspot for political violence, early this

week.According to Alamgir, the cost of transporting rice from Kushtia, another major rice

milling zone, rose around 40 percent since the non-stop blockade began on January 6. A 15-

tonne capacity truck now charges around Tk 21,000, up from about Tk 15,000.Moreover, rice

traders have to bear the loss if the cargo is torched.

At normal times, suppliers take the full responsibility for carrying rice to the stores. This has

made us very cautious about getting deliveries. All these factors have led to the price spike of

rice, said the wholesaler.Retailers are selling fine rice for over Tk 50 a kg, which was Tk 48 two

weeks ago, said Mohammad Rajon, a rice retailer at Palashi kitchen market.The prices of other

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types of the staple also went up in the last two weeks, he said.Coarse rice, consumed by low-

income people, sold Tk 35-37 a kg yesterday.

The price was Tk 34-37 a kg a week ago, show the retail price data compiled by the state-run

Trading Corporation of Bangladesh.Abdul Matin, a rice wholesaler at the capital'sMohammadpur Krishi Market, said traders usually keep a certain level of stock. But they cannot

maintain it, as fewer trucks now carry rice to the capital.Alamgir said around 300 trucks usually

bring rice to the city every day but the number has dropped. Wholesalers now target weekends to

get deliveries from millers to cut risk of attacks, he said.

However, Volanath Das, manager of wholesale shop Janata Rice at Badamtali-Babubazar

market, said stocks at traders' end fell marginally and wholesalers were trying to maintain the

usual level even if it meant paying higher transport fares and taking risks of loss.There is

enough stock to meet the demand in Dhaka city. There is nothing to be worried about, he

added.In the port city, prices of all types of rice rose by Tk 100-150 per 50-kg sack in the last

two weeks.Wholesalers are selling each 50-kg sack of fine rice for Tk 2,300-2,350, up from Tk

2,150-2,200 two weeks ago.

The wholesale prices of coarse rice Swarna rose to Tk 1,560 per sack from Tk 1,450.The number

of trucks bringing supplies to the port city dropped for the unrest, said Md Jamal Hossain,

general secretary of Chaktai Traders Association.More than a hundred truckloads of rice used to

arrive at the market. The number has slumped to 30, he said.Md Abdur Rashid, president of

Bangladesh Auto, Major and Husking Mills Association, said rice stocks at the mills have

swelled over the last few days.

Stocks have piled up at our end. We can neither send rice nor get delivery of paddy from our

agents in the suburbs. We are in a big trouble.Rashid warned that prices of rice would rise

further if the political unrest persists.The situation could worsen for the entire sector. Many

millers' bank loans would be classified if the current situation continues for two more weeks,

added the president of the association that has around 17,000 members.

Source with thanks :

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:llGglqPjDOEJ:www.thedailystar.net/rice-goes-up-by-tk-3-

a-kg-61408+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk

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Former Thai leader Yingluck Shinawatra politically banned

for five years

English.news.cn 2015-01-23 16:12:02

Singtong Buechoom (C), a legal team member of the Pheu Thai Party, speaks to media about

former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. 23, 2015. Former

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was impeached by the National Legislative Assembly

(NLA) on Friday for dereliction of duty in a controversial rice subsidy scheme. (Xinhua/Rachen

Sageamsak)

BANGKOK, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Former Thai

premier Yingluck Shinawatra was on Friday

impeached by legislators, rendering the country's

first lady leader banned from politics for a five-yearstime due to alleged corruption in the previous

government's rice subsidy program. A total of 190

members of the National Legislative Assembly, all

of whom were handpicked by Thai Premier Prayut

Chan-o-cha, voted to impeach Yingluck while 18

others voted otherwise.

The impeachment for which a minimum of three-fifths of all 220 legislators, or 132, were

needed, will automatically have the former leader, who ran the country from the mid-2011 until

the mid- 2014, politically banned from now until 2020.Yingluck, who had defended herself overthe controversial rice program in parliament on Thursday, quietly stayed at home as the non-

elected legislators cast their votes.She repeatedly dismissed accusations lodged by the Naitonal

Anti-Corruption Commission that the rice program had incurred an estimated 20 billion U.S.

dollars in losses of the taxpayer's money with herself allegedly turning blind eye and deaf ear to

the alleged corruption which had involved high-ranking government officials.

About 3.6 million tons of rice had been allegedly unaccounted for or spoiled after the rice had

been stored at government-rented warehouses in the provinces while the ex-premier had failed to

take action against those primarily responsible for such losses, according to NACC member

Wicha Mahakhun.Though Yingluck had claimed to have launched investigation into the allegedcorruption over the rice program, the anti-graft agency had successfully contended that she had

quietly learned of such malpractice but failed to combat it.She had argued in vain that farmers

had benefited a great deal from the rice program as an estimated 10 billion U.S. dollars had been

used to buy rice for 500 U.S. dollars a ton from them nationwide.

"Farmers are the backbone of the country. We must not let that backbone broken,'' said Yingluck

during her unfruitful plea to the legislators on Thursday.Meanwhile, the Office of Attorney

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General resolved on Friday to lodge a criminal lawsuit against the former premier in court on

duty-negligence and law-breaking charges involving the rice program.The case is expected to be

submitted to the Supreme Court by Attorney General Trakul Vinitnaipak in one-month time from

now.If convicted guilty as charged, Yingluck might possibly be sentenced to a maximum of 10

years in jail.

Yingluck's brother, former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra who has remained in self-exile

overseas following the 2006 coup, alongside 200-plus politicians had been banned from politics

for a five-year time several years ago.Thaksin had been sentenced in absentia by Supreme Court

judges in charge of lawsuits against politicians to a two-years jail for power-abusing charges

involving a Bangkok land grab scandal during his time as premier.Security at the Government

House and parliament was stepped up with police squads and army troops amid fears that Red

Shirt activists, known to have been loyal to the Shinawatra family, might possibly gather en

masse in protest of Friday's impeachment.

Former Red Shirt leader and former deputy minister Nattavut Saikua earlier suggested that thepro-Yingluck and pro-Thaksin demonstrators stay calm and not take to the streets for the time

being, given current martial rule enforced since last May's coup staged by the then-army chief

Gen Prayut himself.

Source with thanks :http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-01/23/c_133942197.htm

A.P. keen to promote sugar-free rice variety

M.L.MELLY MAITREYI

Andhra Pradesh will be identifying and promoting new varieties of rice with low content ofcarbohydrate, referred to as sugar-free rice in common parlance that is more nutritious and canbe consumed even by diabetic patients without the fear of their blood glucose levels shootingup.In addition to BM 1100, a new variety of rice released in some pockets, two more newvariants, 209 with longer grain and Sonam are also being considered for cultivation indemonstration farms , according to government sources.The issue of promoting cereals andmillets with value addition to increase their nutrient value came up for discussion in the recentmeeting of Agriculture Minister P.Pullarao with department officials.

He suggested that these varieties and also rice var