26th February 2015 Daily Global Rice E_Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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President Jokowi out to curb rice prices in markets

Satria Sambijantoro and Linda Yulisman

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | February 26 2015 | 5:34 AM

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter

February 26 , 2015 V o l u m e 5, Issue I

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Rice concern: President Joko Widodo

(center) speaks with (left to right) Social

Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa, State-

Owned Enterprises Minister Rini

Soemarno, Coordinating Economic

Minister Sofyan Djalil and Trade Minister

Rachmat Gobel while inspecting the

Bulog rice warehouse in Kelapa Gading,

Jakarta, on Wednesday. During the visit,

the President channeled rice to the poor

(raskin) and launched the 2015 rice

market operation to stabilize prices and

ensure sufficient stockpiles for 2015.

(JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)

The government officially launched Wednesday its first batch of

300,000 tons of cheap rice to provinces throughout the archipelago as part of its effort to curb the

soaring price of rice.President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo himself led the launch of the fresh rice

stocks priced between Rp 1,600 (12 US cents) and Rp 7,400 per kilogram at the State Logistics

Agency‟s (Bulog) rice warehouse in Jakarta on Wednesday. Jokowi said that the recent surge in

rice prices had gone haywire. This year, the price of rice already soared by around 30 percent,

with current prices ranging between Rp 9,000 and Rp 12,000 per kilogram, subject to the rice‟s

type and area in which it is distributed.

“We will boost the rice supply so that there will be no more supply shortage. We will provide the

supply no matter what,” the President asserted. Rice is one among main triggers of inflation and

price fluctuations given its role as the staple food of the 250 million people in Indonesia. The

government, through Bulog, which is tasked with distributing rice and other food commodities

throughout Indonesia to manage prices, has always tried to maintain the balance in the supply in

order to keep the prices stable. During the so-called raskin (cheap rice for the poor) operation,

the President also held a teleconference with Bulog executives in South Sumatra, West Java, East

Java and Bali, who were all confident that there would be no hurdles in the distribution of the

rice supply and assured people that they would soon see a decline in the price of rice.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla had earlier blamed the rice price increase on bottlenecks in the

distribution of the cheap rice at regional levels, which he claimed were facing some “technical

problems”.The raskin program had only distributed 140,000 tons of its initial target of 500,000

tons, thus causing a shortage in some areas, driving up rice prices.Meanwhile, Bulog‟s president

director Lenny Sugihat said she would intensify coordination with local administrations to ensure

that the new rice stock could be distributed successfully.Lenny also argued that her agency might

not import rice from other countries if the domestic supply was already sufficient.Last year, the

agency imported at least 425,000 tons of rice from Thailand and Vietnam to beef up its

supply.“We are not talking about imports here; if the domestic rice supply is already adequate,

then why should we import?” she said to reporters on Wednesday.

University of Lampung agricultural economist Bustanul Arifin noted that the irregular increase

of the rice price was driven by the late harvest season, which would only fall between March and

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June this year.The change of the market operation system carried out by Bulog, which now

distributes rice through the mediation of third-party traders, also drove up rice prices.“The

change of the system triggered [the price increase] as it affected stocks. I said that rice from

Bulog should be channeled to markets and traders with stricter requirements,” Bustanul

explained.Bustanul also called on the government to seriously investigate the alleged role of the

“rice mafia” in the rice trade that had undermined the competitiveness of domestic business

players benefiting from the high prices of rice, while suggesting severe punishment against them.

“If the trade minister has already found the indications, then he should not be worried about

enforcing the law against the „players‟,” he said recently.

http://m.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/26/president-jokowi-out-curb-rice-prices-

markets.html#sthash.Qkb2PH2F.dpuf

Vietnam to store 1 mln tons rice for price curbing

(GlobalPost/GlobalPost)

Vietnam to store 1 mln tons rice for price curbing

HANOI, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Vietnamese government is arranging temporary storage of one million

ton of rice to curb the price, the Industry and Trade Information Center (VITIC) under the Ministry of

Industry and Trade (MoIT) said on its website on Thursday.Specifically, Vietnamese government has

agreed with a proposal by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the MoIT, the

Ministry of Finance, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) and Vietnam Food Association to purchase one

million ton of rice of winter-spring 2014-2015 crop from March 1 to April 15.Companies that join the

proposal will be offered zero interest rates for loans to buy rice during maximum four months, said

VITIC.Copyright 2014 Xinhua News Agency.Xinhua is China's state-run news agency.All rights

reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/150226/vietnam-store-1-mln-tons-rice-

price-curbing

Mekong Delta authorities instructed to stockpile rice

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung

yesterday told Mekong Delta

authorities to purchase and

stockpile one million tonnes of the

winter-spring rice crop.Workers

load rice for export at Sai Gon Port

in HCM City. Prime Minister

Nguyen Tan Dung has asked

Mekong Delta authorities to buy

and stockpile one million tonnes of

rice (Photo: VNS)

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The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) was asked to direct commercial banks to offer loans for the purchase,

with a six-month maturity to August 31.Interest rates will be wholly subsidised by the Government until

June 30.The PM ordered the Ministry of Finance and the SBV to provide guidelines to carry out the

Government's policies and allocate State financial sources to support the stockpiling.In collaboration with

the People's Committees of centrally-run cities and provinces in the region, the Viet Nam Food

Association will be responsible for allocating the rice to be purchased by each locality and also

monitoring the process.The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry

and Trade will closely supervise the programme and report to the PM.

http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/National/2015/2/112808/

In 2015 Vietnam rice export decreased to 515 KMT

26.02.2015

According to Government estimate, Vietnam's rice exports in the first two months of 2015

decreased by 34.4% from a year ago level to 515 KMT.Revenue from rice export in January-

February is estimated at $237 million (down 35.6% from the corresponding period last year).

http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/in-2015-vietnam-rice-export-decreased-to-515-kmt

Government asks Food Corporation of India to withdraw

procurement in Haryana and Punjab

By PTI | 26 Feb, 2015, 03.36PM IST

FCI procures less than 50 per cent from Punjab, 25 per cent from Haryana out of total

procurement in both the state.

ET SPECIAL:

NEW DELHI: The government has asked state- run FCI not to

purchase foodgrains in states like Punjab and Haryana as the

procurement system is fully developed there, Food Secretary

Sudhir Kumar said today. Haryana has already agreed to the

Centre's direction, while Punjab has asked withdrawal of

procurement by Food Corporation of India (FCI) in a phased

manner, he added. When asked about the progress made in

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implementing recommendations of the Shanta Kumar-led FCI Restructuring panel, Kumar said:

"We are examining the recommendations. Some can be implemented immediately. For some, we

have to prepare a time schedule and some recommendations we cannot implement.

" Listing out suggestions that have been already implemented, he said the government has taken

a decision on the bonus and asked states not to announce it over and above the minimum support

price. The government has also scrapped levy rice from the next season starting October. The

levy rice is a mandatory system under which rice millers also undertake rice procurement for the

public distribution system by buying paddy directly from the farmers. "We have also asked FCI

to withdraw procurement in states where it is fully developed. Haryana has informed us to

withdraw procurement, Punjab has said not to withdraw fully and do it in phased manner,"

Kumar told PTI in an interview. The procurement will be withdrawn in consultation with the

state governments, he added. FCI procures less than 50 per cent from Punjab, 25 per cent from

Haryana out of total procurement in both the state. Both states contribute 3/4th of the total

procurement. On shifting procurement in eastern states like Bihar, the Secretary said: "The

dialogue is on.

I cannot say we can start immediately. We accept this recommendation and intend to work on it.

It may take time for full implementation." While the panel has also suggested outsourcing

procurement and storage of foodgrains, the FCI is holding consultations in this regard with

stakeholders, he added. The eight-member panel -- which was set up in August 2014 under the

chairmanship of BJP MP Shanta Kumar to recommend a complete overhaul of FCI -- had

submitted its report last month. The Prime Minister had asked the Food Ministry to give its

views on the report at the earliest.

Rice stockpiles to be cleared in 2 years

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation February 27, 2015 1:00 am

Despite delaying a plan to release rice under an auction, the Commerce Ministry is confident it will be

able to clear huge stocks within two years, said Commerce Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya.He said

that the ministry planned to release up to 18 million tonnes of rice via auctions and negotiate with rice-

import countries to receive huge amounts under government-to-government (G-to-G) contracts.The

general said that Thailand had between 17-18 million tonnes stockpiled, and it recently negotiated to sell

2 million tonnes to China.

Although the ministry wanted to clear the warehouses, Chatchai said, the government would carefully

consider all proposed contracts through the G-to-G and bidding processes to ensure transparency and

prevent contracts defaulting.If any bidder were found have a suspect background, the ministry would not

sell rice to that dealer.Under the plan to clear rice stocks, the ministry previously announced it aimed to

sell about 10 million tonnes under many methods this year, including selling about one million tonnes via

general auction each month.However, the ministry could sell only about 500,000 tonnes through an

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auction in January, and will on March 6 open the second auction for one million tonnes after missing the

February auction date.

Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, said that the ministry had

already sold more than two million tonnes of rice in the first two months of the year.Of those, she said

about 1.5 million tonnes was sold under G-to-G contracts.She said that the government was confident of

releasing rice amounts as planned because many traders were interested in joining the government's

auctions due to the main harvest season ending.Moreover, she said that in August the ministry would

release low-grade rice grain to the market to supply the manufacturing sector.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Rice-stockpiles-to-be-cleared-in-2-years-30254930.html

Rice pledging scheme costs 700 billion baht in damages

Thursday, 26 February 2015

By NNT

BANGKOK, 26 February 2015, A preliminary report has disclosed that the subsidy program cost the

Kingdom 700 billion baht since its inception nine years ago. The report by the sub-committee on closing

the account of the rice pledging scheme also suggested that a majority of the losses, or 536 billion baht,

were incurred under the Yingluck Shinawatra administration.Permanent-Secretary of Finance and

President of the Subcommittee Rangsan Sriworasat indicated that the remaining 163 billion baht was lost

through 11 other rice pledging projects under the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration.

Mr. Rangsan commented that losses at the end of fiscal 2014 in September were rather small- an increase

of 18 billion baht- compared to the one calculated at the end of May 2014. He explained that the higher

price of grains at the end of September helped cushion the expense.However, the Permanent-Secretary

said there are significant differences between the reports of rice sales produced by the Department of

Foreign Trade, the Department of Internal Trade, the Public Warehouse Organization, and Marketing

Organization for Farmers.He said these reports will be reviewed within the week. Mr. Rangsan added that

once the figures are confirmed, a comprehensive report on the matter will be produced and forwarded to

the Ministry of Commerce and the Prime Minister.

http://www.pattayamail.com/news/rice-pledging-scheme-costs-700-billion-baht-in-damages-

45301#sthash.P1R8KPYo.dpuf

Ten more rice firms for China trade after outcry By Zaw Htike | Thursday, 26 February 2015

The Myanmar Rice Federation will accept invitations for ten more rice companies to

receive permission to export rice to China after the first nine firms it selected were

criticised for their lack of experience.

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Myanmar Rice Federation joint secretary U Soe Tun said the decision to have a second round of

firms came following a request from the Chinese government.China has quickly grown from

being a marginal market for rice exports half a decade ago to today being Myanmar‟s most

important rice buyer.

However, the trade has been illegal from Beijing‟s point of view, and negotiations are ongoing to

legalise it.The decision to pre-select a handful of rice traders will allow Chinese authorities to

more easily make sure the export rice meets their health standards. After legalising the trade, rice

will be exported by the selected firms using ships to China‟s eastern seaboard along with the

current method of shipping overland through Muse in northern Shan State.The Myanmar Rice

Federation has come under criticism for the nine firms it selected to take part in the trade,

drawing complaints in social media and from rival traders that several of the companies were

unknowns with little track record in the industry.One leading rice trader told the Myanmar Times

on condition of autonomy that after seeing the initial list, the Chinese side demanded inclusion

from more companies with the capability to export large volumes of high quality rice to

Myanmar.

“Some of the chosen companies have not even received business registrations,” he said.Over 100

local companies applied for rice export licences in January, but China had initially requested less

than 10 firms receive licences.The first nine companies were MAPCO, Myanmar Rice Mill, FPR

from the Myanmar Rice Traders Association, Golden Land East Asia, MRDC from Mandalay, a

company from Yangon‟s Bayintnaung commodities market still to be formed, Ayer-Pathein

company from Ayeyarwady Region, SPRDC formed by Muse traders and Rakhine Ethnic Rice

Company.U Soe Tun said companies interested in the second round of bidding have until

February 27 to submit their applications.“Criteria for the second round will be the same as the

first,” he said.

Myanmar Rice Federation officials previously said they hope the official trade to China to start

at the end of April or early May. The chosen companies must register, while having their rice

tested and performance measured before the trade can officially begin.In 2013, Myanmar

exported about 1.27 million tonnes of rice, of which about 0.747 million tonnes went to China. In

2010 the country exported about 0.489 million tonnes, of which 4000 tonnes went to China.State

media reported last week that China‟s largest state-run grain-trading company COFCO signed a

memorandum of understanding in February on purchasing Myanmar‟s rice exports, depending

on approval from China‟s general administration of quality supervision, inspection and

quarantine.There will also be a business matching event in March for Chinese and Myanmar

firms, the report added.

http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/13259-ten-more-rice-firms-for-china-trade-after-

outcry.html

India’s Rabi Crops Sowing Down by 4.14 Million Hectares

26 February 2015

INDIA - India‟s rabi crop sowing area coverage has recorded a negative growth at 61.79 million hectares

as on February 20, 2015, registering a drop of 4.14 million hectares according to data released by

directorate of economics and statistics, Indian agriculture ministry. During the same period last year, rabi

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crops sowing area was recorded at 65.93 million tonnes, the data adds. Area under wheat sowing was

down to 30.63 million hectares, as compared to 31.53 million tonnes sowed till the same period last year.

The area under sowing of total coarse cereals also

registered a drop of 233,000 hectares at 5.77 million

tonnes, against the last year‟s 6 million tonnes.Pulses

sowing area were at 14.59 million hectares, while the

last year‟s sowing area coverage was 16.22 million

hectares, whereas, sowing area under total oilseeds was

at 8.09 million hectares, as compared to 9.02 million

hectares last year, as per the data.The area under

sowing of rice was at 2.70 million hectares this year,

hile the last year‟s figure was 3.15 million hectares.

http://www.thecropsite.com/news/17369/indias-rabi-crops-sowing-down-by-414-million-

hectares/#sthash.ZrG2RW9X.dpuf

Rice boosts Ebro profits in 2014

By Dean Best | 26 February 2015

Ebro's North American pasta business came under pressure

Spanish food group Ebro Foods saw profits rise in 2014,

as higher earnings from its rice business offset a decline

in profits from its pasta arm.Ebro booked a 14.2% rise

in net income to EUR151.6m (US$172.3m), with net

profit from continuing operations hitting EUR157m, up

11% on 2013.EBITDA increased 2% to EUR287.2m,

surpassing the forecast Ebro set in October of

EUR283m.Ebro said EBITDA from its rice business

grew 8% to EUR149m. The division saw sales climb

4.6% to EUR1.14bn. The company said its Riviana

business in the US recorded its highest yield since it

joined the group in 2004. Its Thai subsidiary Herba Bangkok enjoyed record sales.Ebro's net turnover

grew 8.4% to EUR2.12bn.Sales from Ebro's pasta business increased 12.5% to EUR1.03bn. However,

EBITDA fell 4.4% to EUR146.3m due to a spike in durum wheat prices. Ebro said the cost of the

commodity jumped 83% in Europe.The company insisted its Panzani business "achieved an outstanding

performance" and recorded its "best growth in volume" in a decade.However, profits in North America

were hit by the combination of durum wheat prices and "very fierce" competition.

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http://www.just-food.com/news/rice-boosts-ebro-profits-in-2014_id129270.aspx

FTAs do not work well for Pakistan

Pakistan is said to have poorly negotiated three out of a total of four Free Trade Agreements

(FTAs) as imports from China, Malaysia and Sri Lanka are rising faster than exports. Commerce

Minister Engineer Khurram Dastgir, who on a number of occasions said that in the past FTAs

were not properly negotiated by the Commerce Ministry, is now readying himself to start

negotiations with Turkey on an FTA recently agreed by the senior leadership of the two

countries.The Commerce Minister himself played a role in convincing the Turkish leadership to

sign an FTA with Pakistan.

Turkey had imposed extraordinary duty on Pakistani textile products due to which Pakistan's

exports nose-dived from $900 million to $400 million and efforts made by Islamabad to bring

exports to the level of 2011 remained fruitless.Giving details, the sources said though Pakistan's

exports to China increased from a few million dollars to $2.5 billion - with yarn the highest

export earner - yet Chinese imports soared to $8 billion. However, bilateral trade figures quoted

by China are far different from those cited by Islamabad.Officials in Commerce Ministry claim

that Pakistan is facing a revenue loss of Rs 22 billion per annum due to a trade imbalance, adding

that Islamabad could not reap the benefits of Margin of Preferences after China signed FTAs

with other countries, especially ASEAN.

Pakistan has requested China to open services sector for Pakistan for deeper linkages and greater

market access to each other's markets. Commerce Ministry is also considering speeding up

engagements in services sector and de-linking services from the goods negotiations.According to

sources, Chinese investments in the Economic Corridor will be channeled through Pakistani

banks. It is expected that current account deficit would curtail by 15-20 percent which would be

an enormous achievement if an agreement is reached. A Free Trade Agreement with Malaysia

has also failed to provide a level-playing field as trade balance remained in favour of Malaysia

from day one. Pak- Malaysia trade volume which was in the range of$1.007 billion reached

$2.66 billion a couple of years ago.During July-April 2012-13, Pakistan's exports stood at $0.20

billion against imports of $1.75 billion, totalling $1.95 billion which implies that trade balance

was $1.55 billion in favour of Malaysia.

Main reasons for balance of trade in favour of Malaysia are imports of palm oil, rubber and

timber. However, Malaysia is still unhappy with the volume of palm oil being imported by

Pakistan, saying that its palm oil exports to Pakistan declined from 90 per cent to almost 50 per

cent.Pakistan's exports to Sri Lanka dropped from $347.7 million in 2011 to $300.9 million in

2012. There was some improvement in the following year but it only went as high as $316.4

million whereas our imports from Sri Lanka remain well below $100 million. Sri Lanks has

allocated Pakistan a duty-free quota of 6000 MT of Basmati rice and of potatoes of 1000 MT per

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annum. However, Sri Lanka has raised concerns on a number of occasions on the quality of

Pakistani Basmati rice.

Pakistan is a key importer of Sri Lankan tea.According to the private sector, although Pakistan

had signed FTAs with Malaysia and Sri Lanka the quantum of garment imports of these

countries is not significant; these markets are not providing any sizeable replacement for the EU

and the US markets. Pakistan's major exports to Sri Lanka include woven cotton fabrics, cement,

sugar, wheat and muslin, medicament mixtures, tubes and pipes of iron and steel, potatoes, rice,

cotton yarn, and onions etc.Sri Lanka's major exports to Pakistan are vegetable products, natural

rubber, fiberboard of wood, cashew nuts, coconuts, peppers and capsicum, tea, sewing thread,

cereal straws, tyres and scrap of paper or paperboard, etc. In April 2014, Federal Board of

Revenue (FBR) announced tariff concessions on the import of 993 items from Sri Lanka under a

Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

http://www.freshplaza.com/article/135835/FTAs-do-not-work-well-for-Pakistan

Pakistan is an emerging economic power: PM Nawaz Posted: February 26, 2015 - 110 PKT

KARACHI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the four-day 9th Expo Pakistan

exhibition in Karachi on Thursday.

PM Nawaz while addressing the delegates at the Expo, said that Pakistan is an

emerging economic power and the Expo is a representation of the country‟s

industrial tradition.The PM said the fact that the Expo is being held in Karachi

made it evident that the city holds great importance in the world of business.He went on to say

that the Expo has successfully attracted the attention of several foreign investors and economic

growth is the top priority of Pakistan.

He added that foreign countries and international companies will be provided facilitation for

investments in the country.He also said that the Expo provides an excellent opportunity to

showcase Pakistani products to the world.The PM further said that Pakistani Basmati rice is

known worldwide for its unique quality.Regarding the textile industry, the PM said that Pakistan

will boost exports to $26 billion by 2019.

He added that the grant of Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) Plus status to Pakistan by

the European Union (EU) was a huge achievement.PM Nawaz went on to say that a contract is in

place for trade with South Africa.He also said that preferential trade agreements with Iran and

Indonesia have been finalised.Regarding the energy crisis in the country, the PM said that the

government is making the utmost efforts to resolve the issues. He added that the problem of

electricity would hopefully be solved within the next three years.

He further said that speedy efforts were being made for the running of LNG and coal based

power plants.The Expo 2015 has over 1000 delegates attending from 75 countries.The four day

mega event is showcasing the largest collection of export merchandise and services including

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textile, leather, agro food, readymade garments, jewellery, engineering, handicrafts, chemicals,

surgical, sports goods, and pharmaceuticals.The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan

(TDAP) expects to get export orders of over $1 billion from the Expo.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif is also attending.PM Nawaz reached

Karachi today on a one-day visit to review the implementation of decisions by the Apex

Committee and to inaugurate the Expo.According to sources, he is also likely to meet the family

of late Justice Rana Bhagwandas to express his condolence.The PM is expected to chair a high

level meeting at Governor House with provincial ministers.

http://www.geo.tv/article-176392-Pakistan-is-an-emerging-economic-power-PM-Nawaz

Weekly Rice Sales, Exports Reported

WASHINGTON, DC -- Net rice sales of 95,400 MT for 2014/2015 were down 3 percent from

the previous week, but up 20 percent from the prior four-week average, according to

today's Export Sales Highlights report. Increases were reported for Japan (48,200 MT), Mexico

(16,200 MT), Saudi Arabia (8,100 MT), Haiti (7,400 MT), and Jordan (5,200 MT). Exports of

93,700 MT were up noticeably from the previous week and from the prior four-week

average. The primary destinations were Mexico (38,200 MT), Colombia (27,500 MT), Haiti

(20,900 MT), Jordan (2,200 MT), and Canada (1,500 MT). This summary is based on reports

from exporters from the period February 13-19.

IPAB allows MP farmers to implead in basmati GI case

India is a leading exporter of basmati. Rice export was worth Rs 29,300 crore in 2013-14

T E Narasimhan | Chennai

February 25, 2015 Last Updated at 22:32 IST

The Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) on

Wednesday allowed New Darpan Social Welfare Society, an

organisation representing farmers from Madhya Pradesh, to

implead itself in the ongoing litigation proceedings relating

to a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for basmati rice in

India.The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export

Development Authority (Apeda) asked for the Society‟s plea

to be rejected. Its counsel argued they were in a hurry to

register the GI for basmati and allowing the Society to implead would open the “flood gates”, as

more and more people would try to implead, delaying the registration.

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She said Apeda was defending the matter in hundreds of cases globally.Sanjay Gandhi, who

appeared for the Society, said farmers in MP had been growing basmati for several decades by

both traditional and new techniques. He argued if MP was not included in the GI, its farmers

could not produce basmati.After hearing both sides, the IPAB bench of K N Basha, chairman,

and Sanjeev Chaswal, technical member, said the plea from New Darpan showed it be a “just

and necessary party to the proceedings”.India is a leading exporter of basmati. Rice export was

Rs 29,300 crore in 2013-14.

http://www.business-standard.com/home-page

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for February 26

Month Price Net Change

March 2015 $10.385 - $0.110

May 2015 $10.655 - $0.115

July 2015 $10.900 - $0.110

September 2015 $10.975 - $0.110

November 2015 $11.140 - $0.120

January 2016 $11.230 - $0.120

March 2016 $11.230 - $0.120

Rice is the new meat

CNBC

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Americans are increasingly looking to add more protein to their diets, and rice protein is seen as an

attractive alternative. Jane Wells speaks to the CEO of Axiom, the largest producer of plant-based

proteins in the U.S.Published February 25th 2015, 9:03 am

Listen to watch:

http://www.nbcnews.com/watch/cnbc/rice-is-the-new-meat-404198467877

EQUITY ALERT: Rosen Law Firm Reminds Amira Nature

Foods Ltd. Investors of Important Deadline in Class Action filed

by Firm – ANFI Wed Feb 25, 2015 6:56pm EST

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

EQUITY ALERT: Rosen Law Firm Reminds Amira Nature Foods Ltd. Investors of Important

Deadline in Class Action filed by Firm – ANFI

The Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights firm, reminds purchasers of Amira Nature Foods,

Ltd. (NYSE:ANFI) (“Amira”) securities between September 27, 2012 and February 9, 2015, of

the important April 13, 2015 lead plaintiff deadline in the class action lawsuit filed by the firm.

The lawsuit seeks to recover damages for Amira investors under the federal securities laws.To

join the Amira class action, go to the website at http://rosenlegal.com/cases-506.html or call

Phillip Kim, Esq. or Jonathan Horne, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or

[email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action.

NO CLASS HAS YET BEEN CERTIFIED IN THE ABOVE ACTION. UNTIL A CLASS IS

CERTIFIED, YOU ARE NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL UNLESS YOU RETAIN ONE.

YOU MAY ALSO REMAIN AN ABSENT CLASS MEMBER AND DO NOTHING AT THIS

POINT. YOU MAY RETAIN COUNSEL OF YOUR CHOICE.The suit claims that throughout

the Class Period: (a) according to Indian government export documents, Amira fraudulently

overstated its Indian-produced basmati rice exports, thereby overstating revenues by at least 24%

and 18.7% in FY 2013 and 2014, respectively; (b) Amira concealed that many of its

counterparties are secretly related parties, including its largest customer, one of its largest

suppliers, a potential counterparty to a $30 million transactions, and over a dozen others; and (c)

Amira‟s CEO used company money to pay his own personal household expenses, including

salaries for a personal house manager and a chef for his farmhouse.The lawsuit alleges that the

truth was disclosed on two occasions, on April 3, 2013, causing its stock price to fall to $1.10 by

April 5, or almost 20%, from its close on April 2, and on February 9, 2015, causing Amira‟s

stock price to fall $3.45, or almost 26% from its previous close.A class action lawsuit has already

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been filed. If you wish to join the litigation and recover your losses go

to http://rosenlegal.com/cases-506.html or to discuss your rights or interests regarding this class

action, please contact, Phillip Kim, Esq., or Jonathan Horne, Esq., of The Rosen Law Firm toll

free at 866-767-3653 or via e-mail at [email protected] [email protected].

The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in

securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation.

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

Jonathan Horne, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 34th

Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

Impressive Speakers, Positive Results at USA Rice

Government Affairs Conference

WASHINGTON, DC -- The USA Rice Federation's annual Government Affairs Conference concluded

here yesterday after three days of meetings with legislators, regulators, and federal agencies, including the

U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS), Farm Service Agency (FSA),

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Environmental Protection Agency, the State

Department's U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Office of the U.S. Trade

Representative. Representatives from all six rice producing states conducted more than 53 meetings on

Capitol Hill with Congressmen, Senators, and legislative staff specializing in agriculture and trade issues,

met with the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee, and shared rice

priorities with staff at the Senate Agriculture Appropriations, Senate Finance, and House Ways & Means

Committees.

Attendees also had question and answer sessions with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, U.S. Food

and Drug Administration (FDA) Deputy Commissioner Mike Taylor, and Dr. Susan Mayne, the newly

installed Director of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition at FDA.FAS Administrator Phil

Karsting and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Moran (R-KS) addressed

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the group's General Session and both took questions as well.Other events included the annual USA Rice-

Ducks Unlimited Capitol Hill luncheon that drew both House and Senate officials, and PAC events for

Senator Moran and Representative Rick Crawford (R-AR)."This was a very successful conference with

participation from all corners of the industry," said USA Rice Federation Chairman Dow Brantley. "And

as we heard one of the speakers say, as farmers, we can't just sit back and think, 'well the farm bill is

passed for five years, we can just go back to farming.' That's not the world we live in anymore, we need

to be engaged and stay active and informed."Below are photo highlights from the conference.

Contact: Michael Klein (703) 236-1458

USA Rice CEO Betsy Ward and

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack

LA rice producer John Owen and

Senator Jerry Moran (r)

Chairman Dow Brantley (center)

at the General Session

FDA's Mike Taylor

and Susan Mayne (r)

Rep. Rick Crawford and

AR rice farmer Steve Orlicek

Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-LA) meets

with Louisiana members

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House Ag Committee's

Collin Peterson (D-MN)

and Mike Conaway (R-TX)

address producers

At the USA Rice - Ducks Unlimited

luncheon: CRC CEO Tim Johnson,

Betsy Ward, and USDA Under

Secretary Michael Scuse

Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS)

(second from left) meets with

Mississippi rice producers

Meeting with Senate

Finance Committee

Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) receives USA

Rice Industry Champion Award

Texas rice producers Linda and

L.G. Raun talk trade with

Rep. Randy Weber's (R-TX) staff

Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) (center) entertains Missouri delegation