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NE’s rice beer has therapeutic value’ TNN | Jan 26, 2015, 06.00 AM IST GUWAHATI: The humble rice beer, which is brewed in many ethnic households across the northeast, has been found to have many nutritional values including antioxidant properties that may Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter www.ricepluss.com January 26, 2015 Volume 5, Issue I
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26th january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

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Page 1: 26th january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

NE’s rice beer has therapeutic value’

TNN | Jan 26, 2015, 06.00 AM IST

GUWAHATI: The humble rice beer, which is brewed in many ethnic households across the

northeast, has been found to have many nutritional values including antioxidant properties that may

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter www.ricepluss.com

January 26, 2015 Volume 5, Issue I

Page 2: 26th january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

be beneficial in fighting several diseases.Researchers from the Jorhat-based College of Home

Science (CHS)'s department of food and nutrition, Assam Agricultural University (AAU) and the

Tamil Nadu-based Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology (IICPT) have found antioxidant

activity in rice beer samples in the laboratory.

The research on rice beer samples was carried out by Deep Jyoti Bhuyan and Mridula Saikia Barooah

of the CHS's department of food and nutrition, Sudipta Sankar Bora of AAU and K Singaravadivel of

IICPT."The antioxidant activity in the rice beer samples was most likely caused by the presence of

phenolic acids, polyphenols and flavonoids from various indigenous herbs used in the preparation of

the starter culture cake. These compounds are known to inhibit the oxidative mechanism that are

responsible for many disorders and diseases in humans such as infections, diabetes, arthritis,

cardiovascular diseases, cancer, Alzheimer's diseases, AIDS and so on," their research paper stated.

The researchers have pointed out that besides being consumed as a beverage by different tribes in the

region, rice beer is also traditionally used for therapeutic purposes. They highlighted some traditional

therapeutic use of rice beer by the Karbi community of Assam, which uses the brew called Hor Acho

to cure dysentery and pharyngitis."If Japan's traditional brew sake could become popular

internationally, the northeast's particular variety of rice beer has all the potential to become a value-

added beverage. That is why we made a scientific intervention on the traditional rice beer of the

northeast so that we could find out its nutritional and therapeutic properties. We need to carry out

more scientific studies on it for further value-addition," Barooah said.

Different tribes have their own names and tradition of brewing rice beer, which has an important role

in their socio-cultural lives. The northeast has over 150 tribes and 200 sub-tribes, each of them

having unique traditions of making rice beer. The preparation of the rice beer is an intricate and

sophisticated process handed down through the generations. Usually, it is the women of the tribe who

are involved in making the rice beer.

Source with thanks:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/NEs-rice-beer-has-therapeutic-

value/articleshow/46014461.cms

Nigeria: Rice Import Duty Debtors Must Pay - Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has approved N16 billion to be deployed for the Ministry of Agriculture and

Rural Development's 2015 dry season farming.Announced this at AgriFest 2015 exhibition of Made-in-

Nigeria agricultural produce at the Eagle Square, Abuja, on Friday, the President expressed appreciation

to Nigerian farmers for taking up the opportunities provided by his administration's agriculture reforms,

which have boosted food production in the country."Great farmers of Nigeria, you can rely on me as the

farmers' President. Be assured of my support at all times.

"To further boost your efforts to produce more food for our country, I am pleased to announce here today,

the release of N26 billion towards the 2015 Dry Season Farming Programme," he said.The Federal

Government launched a National Dry Season Farming Programme in 2012 to facilitate all-year round

food cultivation and production.The President directed the ministry to provide annual financial support to

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further spur the famous traditional fishing competition and festival in Argungu in Kebbi State and

promote fishing eco-tourism.He declared that Nigeria "is producing more food than ever before. Our

national food production has grown by 21 million metric tons within the past three years. Our food import

bill declined from N1.1 trillion in 2009 to N634 billion in 2013 and continues to decline.

"He disclosed that with government's support to private refineries to process crude palm oil in the

country, Nigeria hopes to become self-sufficient in palm oil by next year.According to him, "Over N45

billion in private sector investments in new oil palm plantations are ongoing. We expect 70,000 hectares

of new plantations to allow Nigeria to become self-sufficient in palm oil production by 2016."He noted

that over six million rice farmers have received improved rice seed varieties, thus boosting domestic rice

production by an additional seven million metric tons, adding that he would not allow rice importers

owing the government to go scot-free."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 one, at the beginning of this administration, to 24 today."I eat Nigerian rice and can

tell you that it is better than imported rice. 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."The President pledged that his administration would "continue to support our livestock herders

with improvement in grazing facilities, watering points, establishment of ranches, stock routes and

provision of veterinary services."We will continue to work hard to end cattle rustling and rebuild trust and

cooperation between farmers and herders.

"Jonathan thanked the private sector agribusiness leaders, who are working to boost agro-processing and

add value to all the produce in the agricultural sector to the tune of about N900 billion.His words: "I

celebrate the efforts of the financial institutions, from banks to micro-finance institutions that have now

begun to lend more to farmers and agribusinesses."Our development partners have seen the turnaround in

the agriculture sector and are actively supporting the sector. Over N900 billion ($5 billion) of private

investments have come into the sector in the last three years."Selected Nigerian farmers, rice producers,

seedling dealers and other agro-allied operators on the occasion gave testimonies of their improved

production and conditions of services.The President toured exhibition stands at the fair grounds featuring

only Nigerian-made agricultural produce.

Source with thanks:http://allafrica.com/stories/201501250117.html

Hunt for new rice markets a priority

PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI

THE NATION January 26, 2015 1:00 am

THE Thai Rice Exporters Association will join forces with the Commerce Ministry for a business mission

to potential new rice-import markets such as Iran, Iraq, and other Middle East countries. The move will be

a bid to increase rice sales this year in the face of fears that falling oil prices will affect the purchasing

power of major importers of Thai rice.TREA president Charoen Laothamatas said the association was

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scheduled to join many trade missions with the Ministry of Commerce because Thailand needed to

aggressively promote its rice plans and activities to "knock on the doors" of potential new importers.

"Due to the lowering oil price, some major import countries such as Nigeria and other countries in Africa,

where their incomes have relied mainly on the oil price, could be affected and cause a lower order for

rice," he said."The ministry and the association thus have plans to promote more rice sales to other

potential markets such as Iran, Iraq, and other countries in the Middle East to encourage them to buy Thai

rice."Charoen said that Iran and Iraq used to be major Thai rice importers, but they suspended imports for

a few years due to a defaulted contract with a private exporter. Now was a good time to boost the

confidence of those countries, he added.

Under the Commerce Ministry plan, Commerce Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya will visit Hong

Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Italy, and Indonesia. Charoen said that rice

exports this year should be as high as last year - up to 11 million tonnes - due to high demand in the world

market and drought problems in some rice-producing countries.He said the price of Thai rice was

expected to be steady this year. The price has climbed slightly over the past few months due to the

strengthening baht. At the moment, the export price of rice is quoted at US$405-$410 (Bt13,200-

Bt13,350) for 5 per cent white rice, while Vietnamese rice is quoted $370 per tonne.

Source with thanks:http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Hunt-for-new-rice-markets-a-priority-

30252635.html

Pakistani businessmen invited to invest in Afghanistan

our correspondent

Sunday, January 25, 2015

From Print Edition

KARACHI: Pakistani investors can set up their industrial units in Afghan tax-free zones

that would help them penetrate in the Afghan market along with gaining access to the

Central Asian Republics, said Janan Mosazai, ambassador of Afghanistan.

Speaking at a meeting during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry

(KCCI) on Saturday, the ambassador said the Afghan government is ready to offer additional

facilities to Pakistani investors as compared to investors from other countries with a view to

further strengthen economic and trade ties between the two countries.Pakistan and Afghanistan

must work jointly to deal with common issues of terrorism, illiteracy, poverty, water shortages,

energy crisis and infrastructure development, etc, he said.

The ambassador asked the Karachi Chamber to organise a delegation‘s visit to Afghanistan to

explore trade and investment opportunities.Identifying various sectors for undertaking joint

ventures, he said the business communities of the two countries can undertake joint ventures in

agriculture, education, construction, mining, precious stones, natural resources and other

important sectors of the economy.―There is also a huge potential in Afghanistan for Pakistani

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rice exporters who cannot only export rice to Afghanistan, but also to the Central Asian

Republics through Afghanistan,‖ he said.Mosazai stressed the need to develop highways,

railways and air links between two countries.―Various memorandums of understanding and

agreements had already been signed in this regard, now it is high time to implement all these

projects,‖ he said.

Earlier, KCCI President Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra said the local industry of Pakistan suffers badly

due to misuse of Afghan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement. In order to effectively deal with the

situation, he proposed the duties and taxes on imported goods arriving at the Pakistani ports for

Afghanistan should be collected on behalf of the government of Afghanistan by Pakistan

Customs and transmitted to the Afghan government upon evidence of transit goods reaching

their declared destination, which would surely help deal with the smuggling and misuse of

APTTA.

Source with thanks:http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-3-297908-Pakistani-businessmen-invited-

to-invest-in-Afghanistan

Commodity prices decline in Sindh

Mohammad Hussain Khan

PRICES of crops like onion, cotton, paddy and sugarcane are depressed in Sindh, while

farmers continue their outcry against the government, urging it either to regulate prices or

subsidise farm inputs.

Crop prices have recorded a decline, starting from last year‘s kharif to the current rabi season. To

make matters worse, cane-growers are being paid less than the officially notified rate, as millers

insist they can‘t afford to buy the crop at official rate.Fluctuations in commodity prices cannot be

isolated from the subsidy and free-market mechanisms, since multiple factors govern the

agriculture sector. Unless the underlying issues in farming are addressed, the price distortion will

not go away.Theoretically, a free market idea sounds good. But price distortion is usually linked

with the working of the free market.

The developed world, including countries like the US and Japan and those in the EU provide

huge subsidy to their farm sector. This lends credence to the fact that they lack comparative

advantage and remain uncompetitive.On the other hand, Pakistani farmers not only have the

potential to get higher per acre yields, but also the comparative advantage.Subsidy, say

stakeholders, is opposed by the developed world, but it subsidises its own farm sector.Presently,

India‘s export of agri commodities to Pakistan is the main cause of the low prices here. This is

more a case of institutional support and an enabling marketing environment in Pakistan rather

than that of subsidy.

There is a strong need to curb the exploitation of farmers by the market.India is a case in point.

It subsidises agriculture despite being part of the WTO. Some reports put the annual amount of

subsidy at 100bn Indian rupees.The cotton season has just concluded in Pakistan, with farmers

not getting a fair price — a fact admitted by the Economic Coordination Committee. On the

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other hand, India decided to procure 10m bales this season to keep its minimum support price

(MSP) intact in the larger interest of farmers.Out of 10m, about 5m bales have already procured,

says Mahesh Kumar, former chairman of the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCA), while

referring to cotton market reports.

The Indian government is ready to buy 15m bales to support farmers, if needed.―Comparatively,

the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) lifted only 88,000 bales across Pakistan, despite the

ECC‘s decision to buy 1m bales at Rs3,000 per 40kg for seed cotton producers. Procurement has

closed now after having lasted for just 11 days.‖This is one example of the government‘s

indecisiveness or inaction, and translates into monetary losses for the farmers. So, growers

remain reluctant to modernise farms or use vital farm inputs. The cost of inputs continues to rise

unchecked, defeating the idea of subsidy or support price, and benefitting input-suppliers.With

poor investment, farmers don‘t get the desired productivity and find it hard to compete

internationally. Access to free market is not unhindered either.

According to Mahmood Nawaz Shah, a progressive farmer, China slapped a quota on cotton

imports this year to stabilise prices domestically.India gives huge subsidy and developed

countries create inefficient producers by artificially reducing the cost of production. ―The

European and American markets deny access to Pakistani textile products at the pretext of

regulatory duties. With tariff or non-tariff barriers, can we think that the market is free and offers

a level playing field to everyone?‖

The Sindh government remains indifferent to

the farmers‘ plight. After the 18th amendment,

agriculture became a provincial subject, but

the province has yet to build capacity to

deliver. For instance, paddy growers get

Rs800-900 per 40kg, which they used to get

years ago. The Sindh government, this year,

proposed the price of Rs1,000 for irri-6, but

didn‘t officially notify the price. Nabi Bux

Sathio, general secretary of the Sindh

Chamber of Agriculture (SCA), argues that

the government doesn‘t ensure administrative

protection for the growers. And it doesn‘t even exercise its authority to ban the cultivation of rice

in cotton-growing area.Resultantly, the surplus rice production depresses prices. ―The cultivation

of rice in the cotton zone not only results in a surplus, but causes water-logging and affects

cotton production. Same is the case with sugarcane, as the government looks the other way. We

lack institutional support so we suffer financially.

‖ Urea prices, he says, remain beyond the reach of an average small grower. It was Rs560 per

bag in 2008 and now stands at Rs1,855. Urea was imported for Rs35bn in 2013-14, but never

reached small farmers, he says. ―Urea factories increase their prices, saying they are not getting

gas and the government claims that 75pc of their gas needs are met. This shows that the

regulatory environment is non-existent.‖Besides, the government lacks the required storage

capacity for the surplus output. Sindh can‘t procure wheat beyond 1.3m tonnes for want of

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storage. And it hires private facilities to hold this 1.3m tonnes. Ad-hocism mars policymaking,

which affects producers.

Published in Dawn, Economic & Business, January 26th , 2015

Japan proposes boosting imports of US rice

Nikkei Asian ReviewSunday, Jan 25, 2015

20150125_NikkeiAR_RiceJapUS.jpg

The minimum access quota for tax-free rice imports is 770,000 tons, Japan currently imports just over 10

thousand tones of US rice.

TOKYO - Japan has proposed a plan to add US rice imports to the

Japan-US trade negotiations. This is a key to making progress on

the overall Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade talks, government

sources said.The Japanese government will likely increase the

tariff-free quota for imported rice and import more than 10

thousand tons of additional rice from the US, according to

sources.The US has also ceased its request that Japan ease its strict

standards imposed on car imports, according to sources.

These moves will likely help the two countries to reach an agreement in spring, adding momentum to the

conclusion of all TPP negotiations among the 12 member countries.Japanese delegates, including the

Ambassador in charge of Economic Diplomacy Takeo Mori, will meet with the US Trade

Representative's acting deputy Wendy Cutler and others in Washington to work out details, starting

Wednesday.

Read the full article here. Source with thanks:http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/japan-proposes-boosting-imports-us-rice

Palay prices still declining, says statistics agency Ronnel W. Domingo

10:00 PM | Monday, January 26th, 2015

THE SLIDE in the farmgate prices of palay persists, with a kilo fetching P18.63 as of the third

week of January, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).PSA monitoring

showed that the average price of paddy rice had fallen by P3.24 a kilo since peaking at P21.87 in

June for the non-fancy varieties.The price for rice in the husk is still above the National Food

Authority‘s (NFA) procurement budget per kilo. NFA now relies almost exclusively on

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importation of milled rice to maintain its inventory at required level.Mandated to ensure stable

supply and price of the staple grain, NFA buys palay at a basic rate of only P17.

Including fees for delivery and drying, the NFA‘s effective buying rate is P17.70 a

kilo.According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Philippines is expected to again

import 1.8 million tons of milled rice this year amid projections that growth in domestic

production will be insignificant if not nil.This would mean the Philippines—in particular the

NFA—will have to depend again on large volumes of imports in order to meet consumer demand

as well as maintain stockpiles, the FAO added.As of Dec. 1, the nation‘s stock of milled rice

swelled for the third consecutive month, gaining two days to be enough for 87 days of

consumption.

The supply grew to 3.03 million tons from 2.95 million tons in the previous month amid the

harvest season for the year‘s main crop.Latest data from the PSA show that the NFA‘s inventory

climbed to 490,000 tons, 96 percent of which is imported.The NFA‘s stock was good for 14 days

of consumption, one day short of the agency‘s mandate of keeping at least 15-days‘ supply. Source with thanks:http://business.inquirer.net/185545/palay-prices-still-declining-says-statistics-agency

Thai Junta Unloading Mountain of Rice Amid World Surplus By Supunnabul Suwannakij Jan 26, 2015 10:55 PM PT

Photographer: Dario Pignatelli/Bloomberg

In a government building outside Bangkok, along the

murky Chao Phraya River,Thailand‘s ruling junta is

preparing to unload a mountain of rice on an already

oversupplied world. And there‘s more on the way.The

biggest exporter stockpiled 17.8 million metric tons after

former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra spent $27

billion since 2011 buying at above-market prices to aid

farmers. The move threatened the nation‘s credit rating

and helped fan months of protests. She was ousted in

May by military leaders, who now plan to auction the grain over two years, with 1 million tons

set for sale at the Department of Foreign Trade on Jan. 29.

With global output poised to be near last year‘s record, Thailand will ship more this year than

any country ever, U.S. Department of Agriculture data show. The staple for half the world

plunged to a four-year low in Chicago, helping cut food costs that the United Nations says are

the lowest since 2010.

―We have plenty of rice,‖ said Mamadou Ciss, who‘s traded the grain since 1984 and is president

of Alliance Commodities (Suisse) SA in Geneva. ―Thailand still has huge stocks available,

Page 9: 26th january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

compared with world trade. Anything more than 10 million tons will take time to clear. Prices

will stay weak.‖

Photographer: Dario Pignatelli/Bloomberg

Global reserves are 30 percent above a 10-year average,

UN Food & Agriculture Organization data show.

Production for 2014-2015 in the U.S., the fifth-largest

exporter, is seen rising by the most in a decade,

expanding global grain inventories already at all-time

highs following record global harvests of wheat, corn

and soy.

Buying Spree

The Thai buying spree from November 2011 to February

2014 filled more than 1,000 warehouses and left inventories

equal to about 42 percent of what the world‘s importers

bought in 2014. Exports from the country will surge 9.7

percent to a record 11.3 million tons this year, USDA data

show.Protest groups that opposed Yingluck‘s government

say the rice-buying program was part of a pattern of

corruption by politicians allied with her brother, Thaksin

Shinawatra, who was deposed as prime minister in a 2006 coup. Since Thaksin‘s ouster, the

country has been divided between supporters of the Shinawatra family, mostly farmers in the

north and northeast, and opponents who are mostly urban and middle-class.Yingluck was

impeached on Jan. 23 for failing to heed warnings about the spiraling cost of rice subsidies,

which the FAO said were unsustainable. She also faces criminal prosecution. Yingluck denies

the corruption charges and defends the subsidies, saying they raised wages for the millions of

farmers who voted for her party in the 2011 elections and boosted economic growth.

Photographer: Dario Pignatelli/Bloomberg

Every Election

Junta leader Prayuth Chan-Ocha is seeking to clear the warehouses without torpedoing the

market, saying on Jan. 26 the government wants to accelerate sales to reduce inventory costs

while ensuring prices are acceptable. Since government buying began, Thai 5 percent

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broken rice, an Asia benchmark, tumbled 35 percent from a three-year high of $647 a ton in

2011 to $420 on Jan. 21.

On theChicago Board of Trade, futures reached $10.81 per 100 pounds on Jan. 26, the lowest

since 2010, and traded at $11.035 on Tuesday.The government may get unexpected help from a

dry spell that‘s reducing output. In the central basin north of Bangkok, irrigation officials shut

the taps after reservoir levels fell to a 15-year low. Farmers are growing the smaller of two

annual harvests that normally accounts for a quarter of production. The lack of water may cut

output 31 percent to 6.7 million tons, the lowest in a decade, government data show.

‘Welcome Development’

―The reduction in production this season would be a welcome development for the Thai

government, whose priority is now to get rid of the surpluses,‖ said Concepcion Calpe, a senior

economist at the Rome-based FAO.Kwanchai Mahachuenjai, a 54-year-old farmer in Ayutthaya,

said he cut planting almost in half to 120 rai (47.4 acres) because he‘s getting less water. Yields

will drop to 300 to 400 kilograms per rai from 700 to 800 kilograms, he said.

A decline in the quality of the stockpiles also may limit the impact of sales on prices, which

reflect food-grade grain. An audit in 2014 found about 80 percent was substandard and almost 4

percent was poor quality, destined for non-food uses.Most is still food-grade quality and can be

sold as long as it‘s kept dry and fumigated, said Somkiat Makcayathorn, secretary-general of the

Thai Rice Exporters Association.

While the government doesn‘t want to buy rice, it plans other support. About 40 billion baht

($1.2 billion) has been earmarked for payments to the poorest farmers, and officials are

encouraging the growing of other crops, including sugar.For now, the government is focused on

unloading 10 million tons this year and 7.8 million tons in 2016. This week‘s auction will be the

biggest amount since 2004, said Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general at Department

of Foreign Trade.―It‘s good timing to sell because of low supply ahead of second-crop

harvests,‖ Somkiat said. ―Prices will stay under pressure until the government clears the huge

inventories.‖

To contact the reporter on this story: Supunnabul Suwannakij in Bangkok

[email protected]

To contact the editors responsible for this story: James Poole at [email protected] Jake

Lloyd-Smith, Steve Stroth Source with thanks:http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-26/thai-junta-unloading-mountain-of-rice-

amid-world-surplus.html

Yingluck will be arrested if she tries to flee: NACC

The Nation

January 26, 2015 1:00 am

Former PM faces IndIctment from attorney general over rIce scheme, while EC probes her

spending on trip prior to election last year

Page 11: 26th january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who now faces criminal charges over the rice-

pledging scheme, could be arrested if she shows any intention of leaving the country to avoid the

court trial, the anti-graft body said yesterday.Impeachment by the junta-installed National

Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Friday was not the end of her troubles because the Office of the

Attorney General has decided to indict her in the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political

Office Holders in connection with the rice-pledging scheme.

The Election Commission is also looking at evidence to decide whether or not she used state

funds and resources for a political campaign ahead of the February 2 election last year, which

was the subject of major street protests.National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)

secretary-general Sansern Polajiak said the public prosecutor has one month to write and submit

a criminal writ to the Supreme Court.After drafting of the writ is completed, prosecutors have to

coordinate with the NACC to inform Yingluck that she has to report to the Attorney General on

the day the suit is filed at the court.

If Yingluck fails to turn up, the Attorney General will ask the NACC to fetch her. If it looks like

she intends to flee the country, the NACC would ask the police to issue a warrant for her arrest.

However, Sansern said he believed the former PM was ready to stand trial to fight the

charges.Former Pheu Thai Party MP Amnuay Khlangpha said the party would not protest over

the prosecution of Yingluck on criminal charges or her impeachment because the party wanted

peace and stability. He believed Yingluck would not flee the country because she has already

announced her intention to fight the charges in accordance with justice procedures.

While some have said they see Yingluck's impeachment as a chance to open the door for an

amnesty and reconciliation, Amnuay believes it would be "extremely appropriate" to issue an

amnesty law."Reconciliation is just 'lip service' without amnesty. These two must go hand in

hand," Amnuay said.National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) spokesman Winthai Suvari

said Yingluck's prosecution was a separate matter that had nothing to do with reconciliation. The

NLA voted freely without any influence from the NCPO.He said Yingluck must still observe the

NCPO's rules and seek permission if she wants to travel abroad, which she has not made done

since she was impeached and indicted on criminal charges over the rice-pledging scheme.

Winthai said there were no political "undercurrents" that might spark a new round of political

conflict after Yingluck's impeachment. There had been only comments from people with

different political attitudes.Former education minister Chaturon Chaisang posted on his

Facebook page that Yingluck's impeachment was not carried out democratically and the intent

was to get the Shinawatra family out of politics.He foresaw more "ill intentions" of the May 22

coup, such as hitting the strength of Pheu Thai Party, reducing the role and power of elected

parties, allowing an unelected prime minister, senators and independent agencies, and increasing

the authority of the Constitutional Court.

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"I am not instigating protests but the voice of the people is always meaningful and once the

collective voice gets louder, it would be strong enough to suspend disaster to democracy,'' he

said.Pheu Thai's acting deputy spokesman Anusorn Iam-saard denied reports that Yingluck

would hold a press conference at different places over her impeachment. He said Yingluck

would prove her innocence through the justice system.He said the party hopes that once

democracy returns to the country, justice will prevail. "What happened [with her impeachment]

is the torment that must be kept in our heart.

We will wait till the day the election comes," he said.Inquiries into Yingluck's activities are not

over yet. Election Commission chairman Supachai Somcharoen said the EC sub-panel had not

completed its probe into the allegation that Yingluck used state funds and resources while

campaigning in the North and Northeast prior to the February 2 election. He said five panel

committees would tentatively finish their probe before the end of January but he had no idea if

they could wrap up the probe as expected, as he could not interfere.

Source with thanks:http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Yingluck-will-be-arrested-if-she-

tries-to-flee-NAC-30252666.html

Hunt for new rice markets a priority ECONOMIC 2015/01/26 11:31:23HePingSiJie.comPETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAITHE

NATION January 26, 2015 1:00 am

THE Thai Rice Exporters Association will join forces with the Commerce Ministry for a

business mission to potential new rice-import markets such as Iran, Iraq, and other Middle East

countries. The move will be a bid to increase rice sales this year in the face of fears that falling

oil prices will affect the purchasing power of major importers of Thai rice.

TREA president Charoen Laothamatas said the association was scheduled to join many trade

missions with the Ministry of Commerce because Thailand needed to aggressively promote its

rice plans and activities to ―knock on the doors‖ of potential new importers.―Due to the lowering

oil price, some major import countries such as Nigeria and other countries in Africa, where their

incomes have relied mainly on the oil price, could be affected and cause a lower order for rice,‖

he said.―The ministry and the association thus have plans to promote more rice sales to other

potential markets such as Iran, Iraq, and other countries in the Middle East to encourage them to

buy Thai rice.‖Charoen said that Iran and Iraq used to be major Thai rice importers, but they

suspended imports for a few years due to a defaulted contract with a private exporter. Now was a

good time to boost the confidence of those countries, he added.

Under the Commerce Ministry plan, Commerce Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya will visit

Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Italy, and Indonesia. Charoen said

that rice exports this year should be as high as last year – up to 11 million tonnes – due to high

demand in the world market and drought problems in some rice-producing countries.e said the

price of Thai rice was expected to be steady this year. The price has climbed slightly over the

past few months due to the strengthening baht.At the moment, the export price of rice is quoted

at US$405-$410 (Bt13,200-Bt13,350) for 5 per cent white rice, while Vietnamese rice is quoted

$370 per tonne.

Credit - http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Hunt-for-new-rice-markets-a-priority-30252635.html

Page 13: 26th january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Thailand: Financial losses from rice pledging scheme likely to

exceed estimated 682 billion baht, says Finance Ministry

26.01.2015

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

estimated 682 billion baht, says the Finance Ministry, the Bangkok Post reports.If rising

depreciation and missing milled rice from warehouses are taken into account, the combined

losses will be higher than the recent estimate, finance permanent secretary Rungson Sriworasat

said on January 21.

The subcommittee overseeing accounting affairs of all rice subsidy schemes earlier estimated

losses from buying 84 million tonnes of milled rice in the 15 schemes from 2004-14 amounted to

682 billion baht, with the Yingluck Shinawatra government's programme alone accounting for

518 billion.But that estimate did not take into account depreciation or missing rice from

warehouses inspected by a team working for PM's Office Minister ML Panadda

Diskul.According to the inspection of 17 million tonnes of milled rice bought under the previous

government's scheme, only 2.19 million tonnes were deemed of standard quality and classified as

Grade A rice.

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

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

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

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

above marketprices incurred a substantial cost to taxpayers.Thailand also lost its crown as the

world's biggest rice exporter, as the scheme, which ran for five crops, encouraged farmers to

grow low-quality rice that normally took less time to cultivate.

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

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

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

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

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

rice sales.

Manas Jamveha, director-general of the Comptroller-General's Department, said his department,

which is responsible for seeking compensation from those alleged to have caused damage to the

state, was awaiting the Commerce Ministry's report."Damaged state agencies must submit a

summary report of the charge to verify all information," he said."They must set up a committee

to launch the probe again before arranging the report."

Source with thanks:http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/thailand-financial-losses-from-rice-pledging-scheme-

likely-to-exceed-estimated-682-billion-baht-says-finance-ministry

Page 14: 26th january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Unending Controversy About Nigeria’s Rice Policy Saturday, 24 January 2015 17:28

Written by Joke Falaju, Abuja

Stakeholders Seek Investigation Of Quota Regime

THE backward integration policy of the Federal

Government in the rice value chain for some time

have been generating heated debate in the media, with

some investors accusing government of granting

import waiver to stakeholders who do not have

investment in the rice sector. Of concern to them is

the granting of arbitrary waiver and import quota to

investors still planning to invest locally, at the expense

of some others already having rice farms and mill

factories in Nigeria. For instance, whereas Elephant

Group, which has a planned investment, got an

investor allocation of 61,770, Ebony Agro with two functional rice mill got an Existing Miller

Allocation of 15,000mt without getting allocation as an investor.

Also, MIKAP rice got an allocation of 82,897mt as an investor and existing miller, while Stine

Rice, an investor with existing rice mill, got allocation of 30,000mt. Although a group of rice

millers told The Guardian that the policy is the best any government can venture into to

encourage local investors at the expense of stiff competition from foreign products, many of

them have faulted the manner by which the policy is being implemented. But President

Goodluck Jonathan, during the AgriFest 2015 Celebration of Nigeria‘s Agriculture, held at

Eagles Square, Abuja on Friday, read the riot act, insisting that ―all those owing Nigeria on rice

import duties must pay.

‖ ―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,‖ said Mr.

President. According to him, ―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.

‖ In his opening speech, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, said: ―We have here

today over 20,000 farmers and agribusinesses from the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT. Today,

they are here to celebrate the achievements of your Agricultural Transformation Agenda. The

agricultural transformation agenda has turned around the lives and destinies of millions of

farmers.

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‗Farmers from across the country daily besiege my office asking to have an opportunity to thank

the President who has done so much for them. If I were to request for appointments for the

delegations that daily want to meet you, your calendar for two years cannot accommodate them,‖

Adesina said. Co-chairman of the rice investor Group, Mr. Tunji Owoeye, took sides with

government, stating that the view being expressed by some stakeholders are unfair to

government officials, who have worked hard to midwife the policy.Indeed, the government had

come up with the new rice policy as part of its efforts to ensure self-sufficiency in production,

and to protect local investors, to the point they can reasonably stand on their feet.

The policy was developed based on what is produced presently against the obvious shortfalls.

Supposedly, the policy should encourage local investors against those whose core interest was

importing and selling locally without the mind of contributing to the national dream of self-

sufficiency; but some stakeholders allege that ‗portfolio investors‖ without clear investments on

ground are truncating the policy by reselling their quotas.

The Nigeria Rice Investor Group had explained that the quota allocation given to both existing

rice miller and investors in equity was based on the supply gap of import grade rice of 1.5million

metric tonnes, ―existing millers and others with expressed interest submitted Domestic Rice

Production Plan (DPP) and based on the submissions, a total of 1.3million metric tones of rice

import quota was issued to 25 qualifying millers at the preferential levy of 20 percent and duty of

10 percent. The remaining 0.2 million metric tonnes of rice imports was given at a higher levy

and duty of 10 percent. To the group, government should be commended for its transparency,

―This is the first time that the government is so transparent in allocation of quota in this industry,

because they ensure that nobody is shut out, farmers, millers, traders and outgrowers

(smallholder farmers) have all being considered‖.

Owoeye said that the government had contacted them as an association to provide a list of their

investments in the rice value chain. ―We contacted all our members to send details of their

investment to the government, which they all complied with; and, based on this list, allocations

were given. If government had wanted to sweep the allocation of quota under the carpet they

wouldn‘t have contacted the association.‖ He, however, agreed that some quota beneficiaries

are trading their slots to interested buyers at 60 to 80 percent levy having got the same at 20

percent.

He said it implied that 60 percent levy is lower than what is charged as penalty, otherwise why

would anyone pay above that to buy from those who got the waiver. ―It may not be the best

policy, but we moved from a static position to a position where investors were encouraged, and

government came up with the criteria for assessing and qualification to be part of the investment

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concession. Government had looked at four areas in assessing investment in local rice value

chain. They looked at Domestic Rice Production Plan, Paddy Purchase Outlook –from paddy

Application Center, Paddy Purchase from out-grower scheme and farmers purchase and

ownership of milling facility.

Owoeye submitted that it was not possible for any investor without veritable production plan to

benefit from quota allocation, as the ministry has a team that goes to verify this fact, in terms of

production, rice farming, milling capacity and outgrowers scheme. Chairman Mikap Rice and

former Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Andoaka, said before the administration of

President Jonathan came on board, the issue of quota was not made public, as nobody knew how

it was being distributed.

―But this government changed; and now, local rice millers are getting the quota. So people who

monopolised it feel that something is wrong.‖ He alleged that it was the cabal (the big-time rice

importers) that are faulting government‘s action. He said he was not going to speak as if he is

taking sides with the government on the new rice policy, but maintained that no government in

recent times have given attention to agriculture like the current administration is doing, ―because

I am a direct beneficiary of the transformation in that sector, I started a small mill and in less

than five years I have expanded to 8.5 tonnes because of the support have received from the

government.

On the Rice Quota, he said he never knew what it was all about. ―I was surprised when I got a

call from the Ministry of Agriculture that, based on what the Minister saw in my factory and

Ashi Rice owned by the Governor of Benue State, we should come over and get the rice quota. I

never lobbied for it, even when I was in government, it never happened. I am the Secretary of the

Rice Millers Association, many of our members have confirmed to have gotten the quota. We

simply went to the registry and were given the quota. Anybody who doubts this level of

transparency has other things in mind,‖ he noted. Meanwhile, another rice investor commended

the backward integration policy, but faulted the manner in which the policy was being

implemented.

He noted that government applied the backward integration policy in an effort to stop cement

importation and today, Nigeria has not only attained self-sufficiency in cement production but

will soon become a net exporter.‖ He said: ―During the period, government did not allow

investors to import finished goods; it had to be the unfinished ones, so that it is brought to their

factory and processed, and gradually importation of cement was reduced. That was the same

advice we gave to the minister to discourage importation of finished rice and then encourage

Page 17: 26th january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

importation of brown rice so that it is milled and packaged in the country. However, the reverse

is the case.‖

He expressed the fear that, with the way government is going about the implementation of the

policy, local rice millers may be forced out of business, because they may not be able to compete

favourably with the foreign rice, thereby discouraging many of the farmers from growing paddy,

which would in turn affect plans to attain self sufficiency in rice production. It would be noted

that presently there is glut in the rice market, as it is flooded with foreign rice. Distributors would

rather buy cheaper foreign rice at N6500, as against the local rice which gets to the market at the

price of N8,700.

The rice investor disclosed that due to late release of the quota allocation, and the removal of the

embargo placed on rice importation, many of the investors went ahead to import rice at 30

percent duty, having seen that they qualify for quota allocation, thereby flooding the market with

over 1.2million mt of rice. He lamented that because of the present glut in the rice market, many

local millers have stopped production, because there is no market for their produce. On the way

out of the crisis, the investor said the Federal Government should do all it can to end smuggling,

as foreign rice still makes its way into the Nigerian market through the Cotonou/Seme borders.

He also called for proper management of the import regime and the quota allocation.

The source urged government to provide mechanisation and irrigation facilities, as well as

planting materials for rice farmers across the country. He said with the glut in paddy rice in the

north, there is still less production in the Southeast, as rice farming is still being done with hoe

and cutlass; and, since there are no irrigation facilities, rice farming is done once a

year. Chairman of Stine rice, Akai Egwuomwu, noted that the policy was a good one that

could ensure self sufficiency in rice production.

However, government need to look into the manner in which it was being implemented,

especially in the area of granting waivers. He said waivers should not be given randomly, rather

government should anchor it on the milling capacity of the so-called investors. He lamented

that government was giving preferential treatment to investor, who had planned investment

against some others that have been in the business for the past four years. He said: ―A miller

spend not less that N2billion in establishing a mill, and after spending so much money, it would

be unfair if government do not give them consideration.‖

He also advised that waiver should be given for brown rice as this would further strengthen the

capacity of the local millers. A representative of one of the rice farms, told The Guardian that

there is no truth in the claim that they are owing the Federal Government, as the minister cannot

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retroactively impose a quota in December 2014 and request payment of excess duties for

importations made when quota was not in place and then want to impose penalty on them.He

said: ―There are about 10-11 of them who imported beyond the allotted quota and their names

were not mentioned.

The importation we did was based on our level of investment in the rice value chain. We have an

existing investment of $100million.‖ He said though the government mean very well, the way

quotas are being given to people without established mills, as against those with established

mills, needs to be checked. He further observed that there is an existing production gap of

3million metric tonnes, with government only giving concession of 1.3million mt. He wondered

what would happen to the remaining gap of 1.7million metric tonnes.

On the way out of the crisis, he said there is the need for the Ministry of Agriculture, Finance,

Trade and Investment, National Planning to do a thorough investigation of the quota regime and

also streamline the method in which it is being granted, and ensure that it is not done

randomly. He, however, frowned at the granting of waiver to import brown rice, saying it

would affect paddy production.

Source with thanks:http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/business/195183-unending-controversy-about-nigeria-

s-rice-policy#sthash.ogLIxiTC.dpuf

Small scale rice dealers slam Trade Ministry

The Small Scale Rice Dealers Association of Ghana (SSRIDA-GH) has 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, Deputy Minister of Trade

and Industry said Ghana‘s 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

Page 19: 26th january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

government finds it untenable for small-scale rice dealers to be in business then an outright ban

would be necessary .

―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/business/artikel.php?ID=343839

Nigeria: Agriculture Will Soon Overtake Oil - Adesina

By Christiana Nwaogu

The minister of agriculture and rural development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has boasted that the

agricultural sector would topple the nation's oil sector in no distant time.According to him, this is

feasible because the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) which is a brainchild of

President Goodluck Jonathan's Transformation Agenda, is geared towards ushering in

agricultural sector-led economic growth.Speaking on the AGRIFEST 2015, an international

Agriculture Exhibition organised by his ministry to aid the sector in achieving green revolution,

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Adesina said that as the price of crude oil plummets, he is convinced that agriculture will be the

new mainstay of the nation's economy.

The minister reeled out the achievements of his ministry to include the recent disbursement of

N122million grant to 27 Nagropreneurs across the six geo-political zones as a measure of

boosting agricultural production and also promoting its newly established project, the Youth

Employment in Agriculture Programme (YEAP).Noting that Nigeria's greater future for

inclusive growth lies in agriculture, he said food production had risen massively and as a nation,

Nigeria has produced additional 21 metric tons of food within the last three years.Adesina listed

other milestones of the ministry under him to include the establishment of Marketing

Corporation, nationwide census of farmers and supply of subsidised fertilisers to 14million

farmers.

Explaining that the elaborate event is aimed at creating a distinct platform that will further boost

the country's agriculture, he added that it will also keep Nigerians abreast of the latest evolution

in technologies and food production.Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan commended the

minister at the event, saying agriculture is now the lifeline for Nigeria.He said, "As crude oil

prices decline, we must create new wealth from the richness of our soils, the vastness of our

rivers and the abundance of our cheap labour. We will produce more, and we will industrialise

the agricultural sector."When I appointed Dr Akinwumi Adesina as the minister of agriculture, I

charged him to turn agriculture around. My vision was clear - turn agriculture away from being a

sector for managing poverty to one for creating wealth. We now see agriculture as a business, not

as a development programme".

Noting that the rice revolution is taking place across the country, the president said while high

quality Nigerian rice is now competing favourably with imported rice in the markets, rice

importers cannot hold the country hostage.He said, "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.""Rice farmers across the country have a new lease of

life, due to the transformation taking place in the sector.

Over 6 million rice farmers have received improved rice seed varieties, boosting domestic rice

production by an additional 7 million metric tons.""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".

Source with thanks:http://allafrica.com/stories/201501260511.html

California Rice Commission, Rice Farmers Hold Annual

Grower Meetings

West coast info session

YUBA CITY & WILLIAMS, C

Page 21: 26th january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

A -- More than 200 growers attended the California

Rice Commission's (CRC) annual grower meetings

last week. USA Rice Federation Vice President of

Government Affairs Ben Mosely attended the

meetings and met with growers and industry

representatives from around the region to discuss

California specific initiatives and issues. George

Soares, with the law firm Kahn, Soares and Conway,

gave a presentation on the state's political outlook,

including a discussion of the ongoing water

availability issues, the California water bond, and the

statewide political climate.

Randy Russell, long time consultant for CRC, discussed farm policy and the political atmosphere

in Washington as it relates to agriculture. Russell highlighted issues for rice farmers to be aware

of in the new Congress, including budget and debt ceiling issues, trade, and tax reform. Finally,

Jeff Yasui, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency in Davis,

California, talked about new and existing crop insurance policies."With the political landscape

shifting beneath our feet, these face-to-face meetings are invaluable," said Mosely. "Excellent

information was provided and I think everyone came away more prepared to tackle challenges

ahead."

Contact: Evan Spencer (703) 236-1476

Source with thanks:USA Rice Federation

Japanese rice: the new, safe luxury food in China

By By Alexandra Harney and Yuka Obayashi | Reuters – Sun, 25 Jan, 2015

By Alexandra Harney and Yuka Obayashi

SHANGHAI/TOKYO (Reuters) - First it was European infant formula, then New Zealand milk.

Now Chinese consumers are adding Japanese rice to the list of everyday foods they will bring in

from abroad at luxury-good prices because they fear the local alternatives aren't safe.The volume

of rice imported from Japan remains small - 160 tonnes last year, according to Japan's National

Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations.

But that is more than triple the total in 2013, a trend that illustrates Chinese consumers'

dwindling confidence in the safety of the country's own agricultural produce."Chinese rice

farmers use pesticides," said a seller identified as Ying Ying, who started offering Japanese rice

on the Taobao online marketplace last August. "Japanese rice isn't polluted by heavy

metals."Pollution from industrialization has exacted a heavy toll on China's soil and water. In

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May 2013, officials in Guangdong province in southern China said 44 percent of rice samples

contained excessive levels of the metal cadmium.

A study by the Ministry of Environmental Protection last April estimated that 16.1 percent of

China's soil was contaminated. In parts of the country, soil pollution is so bad that some rice

farmers refuse to eat what they grow.After the cadmium revelations, some Chinese consumers

began to see rice from Thailand as an affordable and safe substitute.In contrast, Japanese rice is

neither cheap nor easy to find in China. Japanese rice imported by Chinese grain trader COFCO

sells for 74 Chinese yuan ($12) a kg on PinStore, an online supermarket run by Japanese trading

house Sumitomo Corp.

Domestic rice sells there for as little as 7.5 yuan per kg.As demand grows, Chinese consumers

are increasingly turning to online platforms such as Taobao, run by Alibaba, to buy rice directly

from individuals in Japan.One person seems to have paid as much as 1,499 yuan ($241) for five

kg, according to Taobao.

Steep prices, though, are no deterrent for some."Much tastier than Chinese rice. Worth every

cent - great texture and taste," one delighted buyer wrote on Taobao.To meet demand, some

Chinese producers now say they use Japanese seeds and promote their rice as a safer alternative

to purely domestic strains.Zhejiang Xinxie Yueguang Agricultural Science and Technology says

its Echizen brand rice is safe and grown with "water from pure sources and strict quality

control". The packaging says the rice is a Japanese variety.

But Echizen rice is grown in Changxing county, a hub of lead-acid battery production in eastern

Zhejiang province. Battery production can be highly polluting.Li Jun, general manager at

Zhejiang Xinxie Yueguang, insisted the company's rice had passed tests for lead, cadmium,

mercury, pesticides and other chemicals by state inspectors.The company had also found other

areas to grow rice where there was less concern about pollution, Li said.The Chinese eat around

120 million tonnes of rice a year and the country imported more than 2.2 million in the first 11

months of 2014, including 1.2 million tonnes from Vietnam and 626,000 tonnes from Thailand,

customs data shows.

Japan is a small rice exporter - just 3,777 tonnes in January to November 2014, according to

agriculture ministry data - but it is looking to boost shipments to Asian countries as part of a

wider push to export more agricultural products.However, if the trend to China looks

encouraging, any further increase through normal export channels may be slow: the Chinese

Page 23: 26th january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

authorities have given just one Japanese rice mill clearance to send polished rice.Others have

begun an application process but that has stalled. Some would-be suppliers have been waiting for

three years, a Japanese government official said.

($1 = 6.2275 Chinese yuan)

(This version of the story corrects paragraph 2 to make clear the reference is to imports from

Japan)

(Additional reporting by Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Alan Raybould)

Source with thanks:http://news.yahoo.com/japanese-rice-safe-luxury-food-china-211610709--

finance.html

Efficient rice farming to curb emissions

New water- and cost-efficient farming techniques will allow Vietnam to reduce greenhouse gas

emissions in wet rice production by 15 to 20 percent by 2020, said Mai Van Trinh, Director of

the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's Institute for Agricultural

Environment.Trinh was speaking at a recent conference on the first phase of the Project on

Reduced CH4 Emissions in Wet Rice Cultivation in Vietnam , jointly held by his institute and

the Manila-based International Rice Research Institute in Hanoi .

To achieve the target, the ministry will use the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), a plan in

which farmers will increase productivity, quality and economic effectiveness, while reducing

pesticides and nitrogenous fertilisers, he said.In addition to these measures, the ministry will also

encourage farmers to use green production methods. The sector will also apply Good

Agricultural Practices (GAP) in cultivation, which means using techniques that consume less

fertilisers and water, employing better land preparation techniques and reducing methane

emissions.

Another technology mentioned at the conference was Alternative Wetting Drying

(AWD)."Actually, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in rice growing, the institute has tried

AWD while implementing a project on reducing CH4 emissions in wet rice cultivation," Trinh

said, adding that AWD is no longer strange to rice growers in Vietnam, as it has already been

incorporated in several other programmes, including SRI.Vu Duong Quynh, the project

coordinator, said a major challenge with SRI is water management. Most problems are caused by

the unfavourable terrain in many areas, fragmented rice fields and a lack of cooperation between

irrigation staff and farmers.

Page 24: 26th january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

This is especially troublesome considering the fact that efficient irrigation is the best way to

reduce greenhouse gas emissions.To overcome these difficulties, Quynh said that in its first

phase, from October 2014 to June 2016, the project intends to collect lessons learnt from

efficient irrigation models and to gather data on land and infrastructure in each province, to make

a water-efficient irrigation map."When looking at this map, one can read out which province can

apply AWD, as not all types of land are suitable for this technology," Quynh said. In the second

phase, the project will incorporate other technologies.

VNA

Tags:rice farming to curb emissions

Source with thanks:http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/environment/122110/efficient-rice-farming-to-curb-

emissions.html

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

CME Group (Preliminary): Closing Rough Rice Futures for January 26

Month Price Net Change

March 2015 $10.885 - $0.125

May 2015 $11.145 - $0.125

July 2015 $11.390 - $0.120

September 2015 $11.070 - $0.120

November 2015 $11.170 - $0.120

January 2016 $11.260 - $0.120

March 2016 $11.260 - $0.120

USA Rice Federation