28th may (thursday),2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter

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2

May 28 ,2015

Vol 5,Issue V

Big groups move into rice milling business

Badrul Ahsan

Big corporate houses are investing in rice milling and marketing, encouraged by demand from a

growing population in the country, insiders said.ACI, City Group, Pran-RFL Group and

Bashundhara Group are among the companies that are preparing to set up automatic rice mills

along with processing and marketing of the parboiled rice in the local market."Our rice will hit

the market by the end of this year," said Kamrul Islam, business manager of ACI Ltd. The

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3

diversified conglomerate has business in sectors such as retail, agribusiness, food items and

pharmaceuticals.

He said his company will invest Tk 390 million (39 crore) to set up the mill.Mr Islam noted that

his company would bring "high quality" rice under its ACI Pure brand.City Group has also taken

an initiative to set up a large automatic rice mill, its officials said."We are now in talks with a

European machinery company to set up the mill. This is going to be one of the biggest in the

country," general manager of City Group Biswajit Saha told the FE Wednesday."We want to mill

and market all types of rice- aromatic or coarse. If everything goes accordingly, the mill will start

operation within 2016," he added

."Presently, we process and sell flour, cooking oil and sugar. That's why, we want to get into rice

business so that we can fulfill the needs of a kitchen," Mr Saha said.Indrojit Kumar

Mahalanabish, head of plants division of Bashundhara Group's Bashundhara Food and Beverage

Ltd, said his office is in discussion with different suppliers to get machinery for the planned

mill."Discussion is going on regarding rice milling. This is now at the planning stage," he

said."Bangladesh is a country of 160 million population. As rice is a staple food, there is a clear

business prospect," said Mr Mahalanabish.However, some of these business groups will enter the

market through food processing giants such as Square and Deshbandhu Group while other

players will do marketing on their own.

Currently, around 500 automatic and semi-automatic rice mills along with 17,000 husking mills

are engaged in parboiling, drying and crushing paddy bought from farmers.Of the mills, more

than 350 operators market rice under their own brands mainly in the fine rice segment, said Md

Layek Ali, general secretary of Bangladesh Auto, Major and Husking Mills Association, which

has around 17,000 members.According to Mr Ali, the association-linked mills process and

market at least 60 percent or 30 million tonnes of 50 million tonnes of paddy produced a year in

the country. Farmers keep the rest of the produce for their own consumption.Mr Ali, however,

was worried that the milling capacity might exceed the annual production of paddy if new

companies go into operation."The market will be saturated and competition will intensify. As a

result, many small and medium husking mills will not survive, rendering many workers jobless,"

he said.

[email protected]

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/



4

Rice exporters urged to explore new markets

May 28, 2015

RECORDER REPORT

Chief Collector Customs (Enforcement) Nazim Saleem has said that the rice exporters should

explore new markets, particularly in Central Asian countries, to enhance the country's exports.

Speaking to the members of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) here at REAP

House on Wednesday, he said that despite several challenges like lower price and stiff

competition in the world market, the rice exports worth $1.7 billion so far this year was a big

achievement. It was expected that the country's rice exports would be over $2 billion by the end

of this fiscal year, he added. "Rice exporters should focus on new markets in African countries,

South America, Central Asian countries, Argentine and Brazil to achieve a 10 percent growth

annually," he said.

Recently, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) also opened its branch in Baku, capital of

Azerbaijan, to facilitate Pakistani exporters and traders, he informed. Replying to a question

regarding the examination of export consignments at ports, he said this was the custom's

authority to examine the commodities, while the ANF's responsibility was to search the goods by

sniper dogs. He urged REAP to setup an academic section, which could guide its members about

laws related to trade and industry. "With the establishment of an academic section, several issues

of the exporters will be resolved automatically," he added. On behalf of his department, Nazim

assured full support to rice exporters and said that the Customs would facilitate the traders at all

stages.

Speaking on the occasion, Rafique Suleman informed that the country had exported some 3.4

million tons of rice including 2.87 million tons of non-basmati and 0.587 million tons of basmati

during July 2014 to May 2015. In terms of value, Pakistan exported rice amounting $1.7 billion

including $1.1 billion of non basmati and $608 million of basmati rice, he added. He said that

REAP was making efforts towards enhancing the country's rice export and sending delegation to

several countries for promotion of Pakistani rice. He said that REAP had also organised biryani

festivals in several countries to introduce Pakistani rice. As part of these efforts, he said a REAP

delegation was visiting Qatar next month to explore more export opportunities there. The REAP

Chairman said that presently almost all commodities were facing decline in prices in the

international market and rice prices had declined by some 40 percent during the last one year,

which, he added had resulted in low exports.

"We need some support from the government to further gear up these efforts," he added. Javed

Ghani, Collector Customs (Exports); Agha Shahid Majeed Khan, Collector Customs (Exports),

Port Qasim; Cheela Ram; Safdar Mehkari; Abdul Arshad Khaliq and Anees Majeed were also

present on the occasion http://www.brecorder.com/agriculture-a-allied/183/1190737/



5

Exporters need to discover new markets for boosting rice

export

May 28, 2015/

Our Staff Reporter

Karachi - Rice Exporters Association would achieve the export target of $2 billion till the end of

current fiscal year but it would not be able to cross the previous target due to falling commodities

prices in international market.This was stated by Chief Collector Custom Nazim Saleem while

addressing the rice exporters here on Wednesday.

Export of rice is a good effort made by the rice exporters in adverse conditions, he said and

added that all the officials of the customs are in touch with the exporters to accelerate the rice

exports. Nazim Saleem advised the exporters to expand the size of rice exports. It is important to

discover the new markets as well as revise the strategy for America, Africa, Central Asia and

visit Baku, Azerbaijan, Brazil and other countries for further expansions. National Bank already

had a branch in Baku for facilitation of the Pakistani exporters. He stressed for the air service for

Baku to increase the volume of exports especially for rice. He said Anti Narcotics Force has the

authority to search the imported or exported goods but not having the examination power. ANF

does not have the right to open the fancy or manual packaging but they can search the shipments

with sniffer dogs to curtail the drug smuggling.

He also advised the association to establish an academic cell of educated youngsters who serve

in the organization and deal with the concerned authorities to understand the laws and existing

issues.According to the SRO duty drawback would be imposed on the export of polypropylene

or jute bag but the exporters are exempted from it because they are using the bags with rice, he

added. Salamn Rafique, Chairman REAP, said exporters are maintaining the momentum of rice

export in prevailing situation in the world which is very difficult but we don‘t have a new

country or market to extend the export. The government should support the REAP for access to

countries importing rice from countries other than Pakistan, h said, adding that GSP Plus-like

status for the rice would be a breakthrough for rice export. Kenya is the top buyer of Pakistani

rice and China is the second one but there is a dire need to restart the rice export in Qatar to

flourish the Pakistani commodity, he added.

http://nation.com.pk/business/28-May-2015/exporters-need-to-discover-new-markets-for-boosting-rice-

export

http://nation.com.pk/Reporter/our-staff-reporter



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Belarus plans to increase import of rice, nuts, fresh and

dried fruits from Pakistan 28 May 2015 14:28 | Economy

Belarus plans to increase import of rice, nuts, fresh and dried fruits from Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, 28 May (BelTA) - Belarus plans

to ramp up shipments of rice, fresh and dried

fruits, nuts from Pakistan, Alesya Obodkova, the

deputy director for logistics of the

Belcoopsoyuz's Belcoopvneshtorg, BelTA has

learned.Rice is a very popular product in Belarus.

Belcoopsoyuz's Belcoopvneshtorg imports 300

tonnes of rice per month.

"We took samples of rice in Pakistan and will test them for quality. For the time being we will

sign an agreement of intent," said Alesya Obodkova.The company is negotiating the shipments

of citrus, in particular tangerines, dried fruits and nuts to Belarus, she added.The Brest-based

Bakaleya wholesaler held the negotiations on the supplies of rice, citrus, nuts and dried fruits

with three dozens of Pakistani companies. The director of Bakaleya Valentina Khandoshko noted

that the Pakistani side is also interested in a number of Belarusian goods, in particular,

confectionery products, canned fruits and vegetables, other types of processed food. ―We have

offered them a fairly wide range of our products. The Pakistani side will study our proposals

across various product groups,‖ Valentina Khandoshko said.

http://eng.belta.by/all_news/economics/Belarus-plans-to-increase-import-of-rice-nuts-fresh-and-dried-

fruits-from-Pakistan_i_82113.html

Rice stocks adequate: Minister

Posted, 2015-05-28

Jakarta Post

http://eng.belta.by/all_news/economics



7

Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said on Thursday thatIndonesia had adequate rice

supplies for the next several months, stressing that there was no need for people to worry about a

rice shortage. “Currently, there is a secure rice...

"Currently, there is a secure rice stock in the country and it can fulfil rice demands of people in Indonesia,"

Jakarta Post 2015-05-28

http://article.wn.com/view/2015/05/28/Rice_stocks_adequate_Minister/

El Nino shows global reach with Australia-to-Mexico fallout

By Bloomberg / Bloomberg | May 28, 2015 : 4:44 PM MYT

(May 28): A strengthening El Nino will bring a drier winter to Australia‘s east, while the west is

set for a wetter period, the country‘s forecasters said, adding to warnings the pattern may have a

global impact from the rice lands of the Philippines to the food markets of Mexico.The period

from June to August is likely to be drier-than- normal in southern and inland Queensland,

northern and eastern New South Wales and eastern Victoria, the Melbourne-based Bureau of

Meteorology said in a monthly update on Thursday.

Southern Western Australia, the country‘s top wheat producer, is set for more rain than normal, it

said.An El Nino was declared this month by Australia, and forecasters worldwide are seeking to

map the probable impact of the pattern that can bake Asia, bring wetter weather to South

America and crimp the frequency of Atlantic hurricanes. While the strength of the event doesn‘t

always correspond with its impact on Australian rainfall, it increases the risk of drought,

according to the bureau. This year‘s El Nino, which is intensifying, is the first since 2010.―The

El Nino pattern in the tropical Pacific is having a drying influence in the eastern half of the

country,‖ the bureau said. ―Elevated sea-surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean, coupled with

warm temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean, are tending to enhance rainfall in Western

Australia.‖

Commodity Prices

El Ninos are caused by periodic warmings of the equatorial Pacific and can roil agricultural

markets as farmers contend with drought or too much rain. Commodity prices including

foodstuffs typically rise in the wake of an event, according to a working paper published by

the International Monetary Fund in April, which examined the impact on 33 countries.In the

Philippines, timely imports will be important to ease El Nino‘s effect on rice and

agriculture, National Economic & Development Authority Deputy Director General Manny

Esguerra said at a briefing in Manila on Thursday.

http://wn.com/Agriculture_Minister

http://wn.com/Andi

http://wn.com/Amran

http://wn.com/Sulaiman

http://wn.com/Indonesia

http://wn.com/Currently

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/28/rice-stocks-adequate-minister.html



8

The effect on growth depends on how prolonged the event is, Esguerra said.The Southeast Asian

country, which has already reported damage to rice and corn crops from this year‘s El Nino,

imports rice as local output falls short of demand. The event may spur a rapid rise in Philippine

food prices, the IMF said on Tuesday.In Australia, grain farmers rely on rain through the winter

to boost crop growth. Wheat output may increase 3.3 percent this season to 24.4 million metric

tons, the government forecast in March. The country is the fifth-biggest exporter.Of the 26 El

Ninos since 1900, 17 have resulted in widespread drought in Australia, according to the bureau.

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural & Resource Economics & Sciences is set to update its

wheat forecast in June.

Hurricane Season

The Atlantic hurricane season will be less active than usual this year as the El Nino helps limit

storm development, U.S. government forecasters said on Wednesday. The season may produce

six to 11 named storms through Nov. 30 and three to six of those storms may become hurricanes,

according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.The El Nino will

probably reverse a slide in agricultural prices in Mexico and boost the local inflation rate in as

little as six months, according to BNP Paribas SA. Vietnam‘s coffee is at most risk from the

pattern due to the inconsistent nature of rainfall, according to Commodity Weather Group

LLC.The Bloomberg Agriculture Subindex, which tracks farm commodities from sugar and

coffee to corn and wheat, slumped 29 percent in the past year. The gauge is about 62 percent

below the record reached in May 1997. The 1997-1998 El Nino was the strongest on record,

according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

http://www.theedgemarkets.com/my/article/el-nino-shows-global-reach-australia-mexico-fallout

Exporters need to discover new markets for boosting rice

export

May 28, 2015/

Karachi - Rice Exporters Association would achieve the export target of $2 billion till the end of

current fiscal year but it would not be able to cross the previous target due to falling commodities

prices in international market.This was stated by Chief Collector Custom Nazim Saleem while

addressing the rice exporters here on Wednesday. Export of rice is a good effort made by the rice

exporters in adverse conditions, he said and added that all the officials of the customs are in

touch with the exporters to accelerate the rice exports.

Nazim Saleem advised the exporters to expand the size of rice exports. It is important to discover

the new markets as well as revise the strategy for America, Africa, Central Asia and visit Baku,



9

Azerbaijan, Brazil and other countries for further expansions. National Bank already had a

branch in Baku for facilitation of the Pakistani exporters. He stressed for the air service for Baku

to increase the volume of exports especially for rice.

He said Anti Narcotics Force has the authority to search the imported or exported goods but not

having the examination power. ANF does not have the right to open the fancy or manual

packaging but they can search the shipments with sniffer dogs to curtail the drug smuggling. He

also advised the association to establish an academic cell of educated youngsters who serve in

the organization and deal with the concerned authorities to understand the laws and existing

issues.According to the SRO duty drawback would be imposed on the export of polypropylene

or jute bag but the exporters are exempted from it because they are using the bags with rice, he

added.

Salamn Rafique, Chairman REAP, said exporters are maintaining the momentum of rice export

in prevailing situation in the world which is very difficult but we don‘t have a new country or

market to extend the export. The government should support the REAP for access to countries

importing rice from countries other than Pakistan, h said, adding that GSP Plus-like status for the

rice would be a breakthrough for rice export. Kenya is the top buyer of Pakistani rice and China

is the second one but there is a dire need to restart the rice export in Qatar to flourish the

Pakistani commodity, he added.

http://nation.com.pk/business/28-May-2015/exporters-need-to-discover-new-markets-for-boosting-rice-

export

MoC to crack down on 'unethical' rice exporters

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/sites/default/files/styles/full-screen_watermarked/public/field/image/7-havest.jpg?itok=chjpw40v



10

A man harvests his rice crop in Phnom Penh‘s Russey Keo district last month. Vireak Mai

Thu, 28 May 2015

Chan Muyhong

The Ministry of Commerce is ramping up its efforts to stamp out ―unethical‖ rice exporters

mixing their produce with rice from neighbouring countries, as the European Union becomes

increasingly concerned about rice tampering.In an open letter issued on May 11 the ministry said

it will stop issuing Certificates of Origin to exporters found to be using non-Cambodian rice, as

this could lead to the European Union withdrawing its duty-free trade preferences that Cambodia

enjoys under the Everything But Arms agreement.―Recently, the EU has increased monitoring of

rice imports to investigate the origins of rice imported, with the aim to pause or ban the import of

rice without clear origins,‖ the letter reads.The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) urged the president

of Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), rice exporters and millers to strictly comply with the code

of conduct on rice exports to the EU agreed upon last year.

―MOC will have a group of inspectors who will launch surprise inspections in rice exporting

companies and rice millers to investigate the issue,‖ the letter added.The code of conduct was

created to ensure that rice exported from Cambodia was actually grown in Cambodia and not

mixed with Vietnamese rice, after Oryza, an industry publication, reported the EU raising

concerns last year.The EU Ambassador to Cambodia Jean-Francois Cautain said yesterday that

the EU had become increasingly concerned recently and that ensuring the Kingdom‘s rice

exports were 100 per cent homegrown was the responsibility of the Cambodianauthorities

.―Indeed, as for any other product exported to the EU under EBA, were the rule of origin not

respected, it may lead to an investigation by the EU,‖ he said in an email.―We are welcoming the

constructive approach of both the Royal Government of Cambodia and the rice exporters in

putting in place proper mechanisms to ensure that the rule of origin is fully respected for rice

exports to the EU.‖Kan Kunthy, CEO of Battambang Rice Investment Company, said yesterday

that the problem came down to ―only a few unethical exporters‖ that the MoC and CRF were

currently investigating. ―It will cause a huge impact on rice industry if the EU no longer granted

Cambodia with EBA, as 50 per cent of the country‘s total exports go to the EU.‖Kunthy said that

the EBA was a crucial stepping stone to maintaining growth in the sector but that they need to

prepare for withdrawal of the scheme once Cambodia moves to a middle-income status.―All we

can do without EBA is to increase our competitiveness and compete with other exporters from

the region,‖ he added.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/ministry-targets-mixed-rice-exports

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/photographer/vireak-mai/63646

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/author/chan-muyhong/20335



11

Rice prices stable – NFA By Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star) | Updated May 28, 2015 - 12:00am

NFA administrator Renan Dalisay said inspection of rice sold in public markets in General Santos City showed that prices

were from P32 to P44 per kilogram. File photo

MANILA, Philippines - Prices of rice remain stable amid the prevailing dry spell, the National

Food Authority (NFA) has assured the public. NFA administrator Renan Dalisay said inspection

of rice sold in public markets in General Santos City showed that prices were from P32 to P44

per kilogram.Rice sold in General Santos City were produced in South Cotabato, one of the

provinces affected by the dry spell. Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Dalisay

said retail prices of regular commercial rice was at an average of P37.28 per kilo nationwide

while the well-milled variety was at P41.29 per kilo as of May 23. NFA rice is sold at P27 and

P32 per kilo for regular milled rice and well-milled rice, respectively. Dalisay said the NFA is

ready for the onset of the lean months in July.

Nation ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

http://www.philstar.com/author/Czeriza%20Valencia/



12

―As of May 21, the NFA was able to procure a total of 1.2 million metric tons of palay. We are

also getting ready with the importation of an additional 250,000 MT in preparation for the lean

months and to stabilize rice prices during the lean months,‖ he said.The NFA set the acceptance

and opening of tenders for the supply contract for the importation of an additional 250,000

metric tons of rice on June 5.

NFA spokesman Angel Imperial Jr. said the invitation for the tender was sent to the governments

of Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia last Friday The NFA approved the importation of the

additional volume as buffer stock as palay production this year is expected to fall short of the

production target. The government will also import another 250,000 MT to be used if domestic

production suffers significant loses due to the prevailing dry spell. The DA has revised this

year‘s palay production target to 19.02 million MT from the original target of 20 million MT.

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2015/05/28/1459367/rice-prices-stable-nfa

Monsoon countdown begins; global models see weak initial

phase

VINSON KURIAN

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MAY 27:

Global weather models see a weak onset

phase of the monsoon over Kerala coast over

the next few days.The India Met Department

said on Wednesday that an east-west shear

zone of monsoon turbulence has formed over

peninsular tip on Wednesday.The shear zone

represents an area of opposing winds

between three km and six km into the

atmosphere. This is the height-level where

the monsoon is most active.

RIGHT PLATFORM

The ‗shear zone‘ sets up the platform for

rain-bearing systems to play around in.

Convective (rain-generating) clouds have

rolled over south-east Arabian Sea, an India

Met Department update said.But the build-up

has otherwise failed to convince. South-

westerly winds have failed to accelerate to



13

desired levels even over Maldives on Wednesday. Sri Lanka stayed better, featuring winds at a

faster clip.The onset of the 2015 monsoon could be the weakest one on show for years together,

going by the scenario depicted by the US Climate Prediction Centre.There is no support for the

monsoon to look from either the higher levels of the atmosphere, or lower down across the

Arabian Sea or the Bay of Bengal.

LEAST PRODUCTIVE

In fact, the US forecaster sees the Arabian Sea least productive during the onset phase of the

monsoon, which it says would be delayed this year.―Some interesting areas to note include

below-average rainfall favoured over parts of the Arabian Sea and India, where the monsoon

onset is likely to be delayed,‖ it said.The reference could be to the normal timeline of June 1, but

this is something already factored into forecast for onset by the Met.According to the US agency,

parts of the southwest Indian Ocean are more likely to see enhanced convection which is

consistent with the ongoing El Nino event in the equatorial Pacific.

FIRST ‘LOW’

An experimental forecast put out by the agency predicts that it would be until late in the first

week of June when a low-pressure area is likely show up in the Bay of Bengal.It is the ‗low‘ in

the Bay that helps direct

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/countdown-to-monsoon-continues-

global-models-see-weak-onset/article7252214.ece

Iran may resume basmati imports by July

VISHWANATH KULKARNI

TOMOJIT BASU

BENGALURU/NEW DELHI, MAY 28:

Iran – the biggest buyer of Indian basmati – is expected to resume imports of the aromatic rice

after July, officials said. Iran had banned rice imports mid-November last year to protect the

interests of local growers on higher domestic output and stocks.―We are getting feelers from

various stakeholders that imports from Iran are likely to resume after Ramzan. However, there is

no written communication from them so far,‖ said AK Gupta, Advisor, Agricultural and

Processed Foods Export Development Authority (Apeda).‘

Indian shipments

Iran imported about 9.35 lakh tonnes of basmati in 2014-15, accounting for about a fourth of the

Indian shipments. India had exported a total of 11.65 million tonnes (mt) of rice in 2014-15, of

which basmati accounted for about 3.78 mt.In fact, the shipments to Iran declined by 35 per cent



14

in 2014-15 over previous year‘s 14.40 mt, largely due to the curbs imposed by the largest buyer

of the Indian basmati.Gupta said demand from other markets – mainly in West Asia, Europe and

the US grew by around 20 per cent, which has helped offset the impact of Iran ban on

exports.Also, the domestic consumption of basmati rice is on the rise.

Irani market

Basmati shipments rose marginally to 3.78 mt in volumes during 2014-15 over previous year‘s

37.57 mt. ―We expect the shipments to increase by 10-15 per cent this year,‖ Apeda‘s Gupta

added.Rice exporters are hopeful that Iran would open up the market for basmati to meet its

consumption. The Iranian rice consumption is estimated at around 3 mt a year, of which their

domestic production is pegged at around 2 mt.―Iran has to purchase around one million tonnes of

rice to meet their domestic demand and India has a major share in their imports,‖ said Rajen

Sundaresan, Executive Director, All India Rice Exporters Association.

Acreage may rise

Rice exporters expect the basmati acreage to increase at least by about 5 per cent in the

upcoming kharif season over previous year‘s 2.1 million hectares, Sundaresan said.Farmers in

the key basmati growing States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are

expected to plant more basmati in anticipation of better returns.Besides, the Punjab

Government‘s move to encourage farmers to plant more basmati, which consumes less water

when compared to the normal rice crop, is also expected to help boost the acreage.

(This article was published on May 28, 2015)



15

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/iran-may-resume-basmati-imports-

by-july/article7256466.ece

El Nino Shows Global Reach With Australia-to-Mexico

Fallout Don't Miss Out —

byPhoebe Sedgman

7:05 PM PDT

May 27, 2015

In this photo taken on Feb. 12, an emu, an Australian flightless bird, looks for food in the dry

earth near the Australian agricultural town of Walgett. Photographer: Peter Parks/AFP/Getty

Images

A strengthening El Nino will bring a drier

winter to Australia‘s east, while the west is set

for a wetter period, the country‘s forecasters

said, adding to warnings the pattern may have

a global impact from the rice lands of the

Philippines to the food markets of

Mexico.The period from June to August is

likely to be drier than normal in southern and

inland Queensland, northern and eastern New

South Wales and eastern Victoria, the

Melbourne-based Bureau of Meteorology said

in a monthly update on Thursday. Southern

Western Australia, the country‘s top wheat producer, is set for more rain than normal.

Australia declared an El Nino this month, joining weather agencies from the U.S. and Japan.

Forecasters worldwide are seeking to map the probable impact of the pattern that can bake Asia,

bring wetter weather to South America and crimp the frequency of Atlantic hurricanes.The more

immediate impact from the phenomenon usually appears in Asia during the Northern

Hemisphere‘s summer, while in North America the reaction is more mixed, said Joel Widenor,

co-founder of Commodity Weather Group LLC in Bethesda, Maryland.―It does tend to lean the

U.S. to the cooler and wetter side in general,‖ Widenor said.However, many of those impacts

also stem from other patterns that bring high pressure to the northern Pacific that set up

conditions where cool air can filter south from Canada.

Drought Risk

While the strength of the event doesn‘t always correspond with its impact on Australian rainfall,

it increases the risk of drought, according to the bureau. This year‘s El Nino, which is

intensifying, is the first since 2010.―The El Nino pattern in the tropical Pacific is having a drying

influence in the eastern half of the country,‖ the bureau said. ―Elevated sea-surface temperatures

in the Indian Ocean, coupled with warm temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean, are tending

to enhance rainfall in Western Australia.‖El Ninos are caused by periodic warmings of the

http://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AQI4akMBuaI/phoebe-sedgman

http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/outlooks/#/rainfall/summary

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-12/el-nino-returns-as-australia-declares-first-event-in-five-years

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-12/here-comes-trouble-forecasters-agree-el-nino-is-here

http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/



16

equatorial Pacific and can roil agricultural markets as farmers contend with drought or too much

rain. Commodity prices including foodstuffs typically rise in the wake of an event, according to a

working paper published by the International Monetary Fund in April, which examined the

impact on 33 countries.If the El Nino strengthens from where it is now, the impacts across Asia

may become more pronounced, Widenor said.

Philippines Agriculture

In the Philippines, timely imports will be important to ease El Nino‘s effect on rice and

agriculture, National Economic & Development Authority Deputy Director General Manny

Esguerra said at a briefing in Manila on Thursday. The effect on growth depends on how

prolonged the event is, Esguerra said.The Southeast Asian country, which has already reported

damage to rice and corn crops from this year‘s El Nino, imports rice as local output falls short of

demand. The event may spur a rapid rise in Philippine food prices, the IMF said on Tuesday.In

Australia, grain farmers rely on rain through the winter to boost crop growth. Wheat output may

increase 3.3 percent this season to 24.4 million metric tons, the government forecast in March.

The country is the fifth-biggest exporter.Of the 26 El Ninos since 1900, 17 have resulted in

widespread drought in Australia, according to the bureau. The Australian Bureau of Agricultural

& Resource Economics & Sciences is set to update its wheat forecast in June.

Hurricane Season

The Atlantic hurricane season will be less active than usual this year as the El Nino helps limit

storm development, U.S. government forecasters said Wednesday. The season may produce six

to 11 named storms through Nov. 30 and three to six of those storms may become hurricanes,

according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.The El Nino will

probably reverse a slide in agricultural prices in Mexico and boost the local inflation rate in as

little as six months, according to BNP Paribas SA. Vietnam‘s coffee is at most risk from the

pattern due to the inconsistent nature of rainfall, according to Commodity Weather Group LLC.

The Bloomberg Agriculture Subindex, which tracks farm commodities from sugar and coffee to

corn and wheat, slumped 29 percent in the past year. The gauge is about 62 percent below the

record reached in May 1997. The 1997-1998 El Nino was the strongest on record, according to

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-28/el-nino-s-hand-seen-in-australia-as-weathermen-

eye-global-impact

Indian Scientists develop Rice rich in Zinc to

fight Malnutrition

http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/wp/2015/wp1589.pdf

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-27/noaa-forecasters-say-el-nino-weakens-atlantic-hurricane-outlook



17

Malnutrition is a very serious problem in many countries around the world. This condition

results from eating habits and diet that lacks essential nutrients that are required for growth and

development. Poverty is the major reason for malnutrition while for a few mere carelessness is

the reason. Individuals suffering from malnutrition are prone to ill health and health-related

issues.A research team from Indira Gandhi Agriculture University (IGAU), Raipur, has

developed a new rice variety rich in Zinc.

Zinc is one of the important micronutrients essential for the

body. This new rice variety is named ‗Chhattisgarh Zinc

Rice-1′ after a place ‗Chhattisgarh‘ in India.Chhattisgarh is

dominated by tribal population where nearly seven lakh

children are still malnourished. According to statistics,

deficiency of the micronutrients iron, zinc and Vitamin A in

particular was the reason for malnutrition in 60 to 70% of

the population of this region.Scientists are in anticipation

that this new rice variety could play a crucial role in

fighting malnutrition in this area. ‗Chhattisgarh Zinc Rice-

1′ is the first zinc bio-fortified rice variety in India and was launched in March by the State

Variety Release Committee.

The production is expected to begin from next kharif season (July to September months of the

year).The initiation of the development of Zinc rich rice variety dates back to 2003. About 200

rice germplasm lines with high grain nutritive value were developed by 2005, although they

exhibited low yield in grain production. These rice varieties were further subjected to extensive

genetic improvement exercises to increase the grain yielding capacity over a period of 6 years till

2011. The persevering research finally yielded seven high-yielding zinc-enriched rice varieties.

These varieties were further rigorously analyzed in coordination with Directorate of Rice

Research (DRR), Hyderabad to select final two for multiplication in about 10 acres of land.

Scientists expect to distribute the seeds to farmers for cultivation by the end of this year.

―We focused on increasing our crop production since the inception of the Green Revolution with

the aim to eliminate hunger. In the process, we managed to yield high production, but the quality

of crop did not improve,‖ said Dr. Chandel, Professor at The Indira Gandhi Agriculture

University.

Source: http://bit.ly/1FDV48p

A Proposal to Modify Plants Gives G.M.O. Debate New Life

By GINA KOLATAMAY 28, 2015

A rice farmer in Indonesia. In Southeast Asia, millions of farmers use flood-resistant rice

produced through crossbreeding, a process researchers seek to speed up with a technique they

call "rewilding."CreditJohn Seaton Callahan/Getty Images

http://bit.ly/1FDV48p

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/k/gina_kolata/index.html



18

What‘s in a name?

A lot, if the name is genetically modified organism, or G.M.O., which many people are dead set

against. But what if scientists used the precise techniques of today‘s molecular biology to give

back to plants genes that had long ago been bred out of them? And what if that process were

called ―rewilding?‖

That is the idea being floated by a group at the University of Copenhagen, which is proposing the

name for the process that would result if scientists took a gene or two from an ancient plant

variety and melded it with more modern species to promote greater resistant to drought, for

example.―I consider this something worth discussing,‖ said Michael B. Palmgren, a plant

biologist at the Danish university who headed a group, including scientists, ethicists and lawyers,

that is funded by the university and the Danish National Research Foundation.They pondered the

problem of fragile plants in organic farming, came up with the rewilding idea, and

published their proposal Thursday in the journal Trends in Plant Science.

"Rewilded" bread wheat plants that scientists designed to be rust resistant, left, next to common bread

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2015.04.011



19

wheat plants. CreditInternational Center for the Improvement of Maize and Wheat

The best way to improve plants, they say, is with ―precision breeding,‖ using well-known

modern methods for inserting and deleting genes in cells.The researchers wrote that in the United

States and Canada, non-G.M.O. foods are prohibited from having genes that could not have

occurred in nature in that plant. So adding a fish gene to a plant, for example, is forbidden if the

food is to be labeled non-G.M.O. But adding a gene from an ancient variety of the same plant

using precision breeding would be allowed, Dr. Palmgren said.In Europe, the rules are different,

they report. There, G.M.O. is defined by the process, not the product. The methods of genetic

engineering are forbidden, even if the gene that is added is from the same plant. That means

―rewilded‖ foods created with precision breeding could be labeled non-G.M.O. in the United

States, but not in Europe, they conclude.

Rebecca M. Bratspies, a law professor at the City University of New York who has no public

position on the G.M.O. or organics debate, said the issue is not the definition of G.M.O. in the

United States — there is no legal definition of G.M.O., she noted. Instead, it is the definition of

―organic‖ that matters.To be labeled organic, food cannot have a foreign gene that was

introduced with today‘s genetic engineering methods. For rewilding with precision breeding, the

question of whether the food was organic would hinge on whether the gene that was introduced

was considered ―foreign.‖―There‘s definitely an argument to be made there,‖ on each side of the

issue, she said.Brise Tencer, executive director of the Organic Farming Research Foundation in

Santa Cruz, Calif., said she is skeptical of the idea that proponents of G.M.O.-free foods would

accept precision breeding.

―They take a term that sounds really wonderful, but genetic engineering is genetic engineering is

genetic engineering,‖ Ms. Tencer said. ―It is not something farmers want. It is not something

consumers want. I don‘t think it is a very viable concept.‖Charles Benbrook, an adjunct

professor of crops and soils at Washington State University, said he worries about the precision

part of precision breeding. There can be unexpected effects on other genes when a new gene is

added or an existing one is silenced, he said. Other scientists acknowledge that point, but add

that researchers typically test the plants, just as they do with crossbreeding, and select those with

the desired characteristics.

The Danish group may not get the response it expects from people already skeptical of genetic

engineering, Dr. Benbrook said, adding, ―I think they will be frustrated‖ by the reaction.Dr.

Benbrook is an expert witness in five class-action lawsuits against food companies who labeled

foods as natural when they included soybeans, wheat or corn that had been genetically

modified.The idea of restoring long-lost genes to plants is not new, said Julian I. Schroeder, a

plant researcher at the University of California, Davis. But, wary of the taint of genetic

engineering, scientists have used traditional breeding methods to cross modern plants with

ancient ones until they have the gene they want in a crop plant that needs it. The tedious process

inevitably drags other genes along with the one that is targeted.

But the older process is ―natural,‖ Dr. Schroeder said.For example, in 2006, scientists discovered

an ancient variety of rice that produces meager yields but resists flooding. Rice plants in



20

Southeast Asia were dying every year when monsoons flooded rice paddies, keeping the plants

submerged for more than a week at a time.Scientists found the gene that makes the rice resistant

to flooding; after a couple of years of crossbreeding, researchers were able to grow rice plants

with the flood resistance gene of the ancient rice.

Now, Dr. Schroeder says,flood-resistant rice is grown by more than four million farmers in

Southeast Asia.Many of the plants grown today by both conventional and organic farmers were

created with brute force and imprecise methods, scientists said. Researchers deliberately mutated

plants with chemicals and radiation, altering thousands of genes at once, and then searched the

resulting plants to find ones with traits they wanted. Though the plants were created using

unnatural methods, they can be grown using organic farming techniques.Nina Fedoroff, a plant

researcher and emerita professor at Pennsylvania State University, said it seems nonsensical to

say a plant is natural when it is mutated by chemicals and radiation, but not when a gene from an

ancient variety of the same plant is added with methods of molecular biology.

And sometimes the old-fashioned crossbreeding methods just will not suffice, she said.As an

example, she noted that Chinese scientists recently made bread wheat that is resistant to a

devastating fungal disease called rust. Bread wheat plants, she said, are ―genetic monstrosities

created 3,000 years ago‖ with three different genomes. Scientists knew which gene they had to

knock out to make wheat rust-resistant. But because wheat has three genomes, it is impossible to

use crossbreeding to knock out that gene in all three at once. So the researchers used Crispr, a

gene-editing technique, to surgically remove the gene. ―They did not create a transgenic plant,‖

Dr. Federoff said. ―They knocked out a gene that makes a plant susceptible to rust.‖Researchers

have previously crossbred wheat plants with traits found in ancient varieties, noted Maarten Van

Ginkel, who headed such a program in Mexico at the International Maize and Wheat

Improvement Center.

―We selected for disease resistance, drought tolerance,‖ he said. ―This method works but it has

drawbacks. You prefer to move only the genes you want.‖When Dr. Van Ginkel crossbred for

traits, he did not look for the specific genes conferring those traits. But with the flood-resistant

rice plants, researchers knew exactly which gene they wanted. Nonetheless, they crossbred and

did not use precision breeding to alter the plants.Asked why not, Dr. Schroeder had a simple

answer — a complex maze of regulations governing genetically engineered crops. With

crossbreeding, he said, ―the first varieties hit the fields in a couple of years.‖And if the

researchers had used precision breeding to get the gene into the rice?―They would still be stuck

in the regulatory process,‖ Dr. Schroeder said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/29/health/a-proposal-to-modify-plants-gives-gmo-debate-new-

life.html?_r=0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7ygEfvBBY4

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/g/genetically_modified_food/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier



21

Rice trading company wins $2.35M judgment against

distributor May 28, 2015, 7:20am PDT

Kathy Robertson

Sacramento Business Journal

A Placer County jury has awarded $2.35 million to a Granite Bay commodities trading company

that said it signed a deal under duress.The jury returned an initial verdict of $1.5 million for

Global Commodities Trading Group on April 29, but amended it last week to include more than

$800,000 in prejudgment interest. Fresno-based grain distributor Penny NewmanGrain Co. paid

an undisclosed but reduced amount in exchange for promising not to appeal.The crux of dispute

goes to whether Global had a choice when it agreed to a revised deal withPenny Newman that

generated less money than originally promised.―Most people think a deal‘s a deal,‖ said Brian

Taylor, a shareholder in the Sacramento firm Boutin Jones Inc. who represented Global. ―You

have to treat people fairly.‖Penny Newman tried to do that but was in a bind itself after a third

party refused to buy the rice, said Mark Jones, counsel for the company and co-founder of the

Sacramento firm Jones & Dyer.

―It was a difficult situation for all the players.‖When Penny Newman approached Global in

August 2009 to buy $18 million worth of rice, the grain company thought it had a buyer to resell

it to: Woodland-based rice foods company Sunfoods LLC, court documents show. Global bought

the rice from its supplier, but Sunfoods refused to go through with its part of the transaction,

asserting it had no agreement with Penny Newman.At Penny Newman‘s request, Global sold

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/bio/5161/Kathy+Robertson

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/search/results?q=Penny%20Newman


http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/search/results?q=Brian%20Taylor

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/search/results?q=Brian%20Taylor

http://www.bizjournals.com/profiles/company/us/ca/sacramento/boutin_jones_inc/3328623


http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/search/results?q=Mark%20Jones






22

some of the rice to other parties in late 2009. In January 2010, the Fresno company suggested a

revised deal to make Global whole again. It proposed to pay Global a portion of the money due

on the original contract, with the balance coming only after Penny Newman either sold what was

left of the rice or collected from Sunfoods.Global had no choice but to agree, it later said in

court, because it feared going out of business without the money. Penny Newman made some

payments, but came up $1.5 million shy of the initial agreement. The grain company sued

Sunfoods but lost at trial in 2012.In January 2014, Global sued Penny Newman, contending that

the Fresno firm owed it the full amount under the original deal.―The question was did Global

agree to a new deal in 2010 under duress?‖ Taylor said. ‖The jury agreed with Global‘s position:

The only reason the company agreed to the new deal was because if it didn't, Penny

Newman wouldn't pay at all, and Global would have gone under."

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2015/05/28/rice-trading-company-wins-2-35m-judgment-

against.html#i1

Rice procurement held up by AL leaders

Staff Correspondent | Update: 12:35, May 29, 2015

Local Awami League leaders have been accused of demanding a large commission from rice

suppliers at the government godowns in Kushtia. A commission of two taka per kg of rice stands

at a total of Tk 4.5 crore (Tk 45 million). These leaders are also members of the rice procurement

committee. The procurement process in the district has not started due to bargaining over the

commission.The rice procurement target in Kushtia district this Boro season is 23,300 metric

tonnes (2 crore 30 lac kg). The procurement should have begun on 1 May.The government is to

procure rice at Tk 32 per kg from the millers.

The Awami League leaders are demanding 2 taka commission on each kg of rice, amounting to a

staggering Tk 4.5 crore or Tk 45 million. A total of 18,075 tonnes of rice is supposed to be

collected just from Kushtia sadar upazila alone.A 10-member committee has been formed for

rice procurement. The chairman of the committee is the deputy commissioner. The member

secretary is the district food officer. Four members of parliament from the district are the

committee advisors. District Awami League president Sadar Uddin Khan represents the sadar

upazila MP Mahbub Ul Alam in the committee. Among the local influential people in the

committee are district Awami League general secretary Asghar Ali and senior vice president

Rabiul Islam.The ruling party leaders against whom these allegations have been raised, at the

outset put pressure on the district commissioner to supply 5000 tonnes of rice themselves. The

deputy commissioner refused, as this would be violation of the rules. The leaders then put

pressure on the rice mill owners to pay them two taka commission per kg of rice.

Khajanagar in Kushtia sadar upazila is the second largest rice depository in the country. The mill

owners there said, leaders of the rice mill owners association summoned a meeting of the millers

on Tuesday. The millers agreed t pay Tk 1.25 per kg of rice as commission. The political

members of the committee did not agree and on Wednesday night held a meeting. After much








23

bargaining, the mill owners association had to agree to a two taka per kg commission.A mill

owner present at the meeting, unwilling to be named, told Prothom Alo, "This is true. This has

become a system in the district. We held a meeting to extricate ourselves from this system, but to

no avail. We had to give in to their demands."Sadar Uddin Khan, district Awami League

president and member of the Boro rice procurement committee, told Prothom Alo, "Meetings are

held every day regarding the purchase of rice.

There are no irregularities involved."Abdul Majid Bablu, president of the district rice mill

owners association, and general secretary Jamshed Hossain, admitted that they held a meeting

with the millers, but refrained for revealing anything further.District Awami League general

secretary and member of the rice procurement committee, Asghar Ali, told Prothom Alo on

Thursday, "We held a meeting with the rice mill owners to ensure that the rice procurement went

according to the regulations. We said there could be no quota for Jubo League or

Swechhashebok League."

http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/67877/Rice-procurement-held-up-by-AL-leaders

Rice Prices

Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.

Arrivals Price

Current

%

change

Season

cumulative Modal

Prev.

Modal

Prev.Yr

%change

Rice

Varanasi(Grain)(UP) 4170.00 4.77 94897.00 2000 2015 2.04

Gadarpur(Utr) 1542.00 95.69 156027.00 1803 1788 -14.55

Gondal(UP) 1400.00 2645.1 33739.00 2010 2000 1.01

Dhampur(UP) 465.00 -19.83 2495.00 2090 2025 -

Gorakhpur(UP) 417.00 -9.35 12533.30 2000 1970 1.01

Burdwan(WB) 372.00 -1.06 4737.00 1900 1900 -



24

Manjeri(Ker) 290.00 NC 7830.00 3300 3000 NC

Ballia(UP) 200.00 25 9410.00 2010 2000 6.35

Memari(WB) 154.00 -15.38 2183.00 1900 1900 -

Allahabad(UP) 150.00 -11.76 11987.50 2150 2160 -

Etawah(UP) 150.00 11.11 12233.00 2230 2230 4.21

Kanpur(Grain)(UP) 150.00 NC 22990.00 2250 2240 7.14

Guskara(Burdwan)(WB) 135.00 -21.51 5183.00 2050 2050 -

Bahraich(UP) 127.00 5.83 5309.00 2075 2080 2.98

Dhing(ASM) 100.00 5.26 1454.00 1900 2000 -

Lucknow(UP) 100.00 42.86 5300.50 2170 2125 -

Basti(UP) 97.50 3.72 2979.00 1920 1915 -

Gajol(WB) 96.00 74.55 2011.00 2350 2650 -13.60

Pilibhit(UP) 90.00 12.5 15077.00 2165 2170 1.64

Jangipur(WB) 90.00 -5.26 1807.50 2340 2340 -

Aligarh(UP) 85.00 -5.56 3965.00 1900 1940 NC

Dahod(Guj) 84.60 40.53 2429.80 4000 4000 NC

P.O. Uparhali Guwahati(ASM) 81.00 -6.9 2605.00 2100 2100 -

Saharanpur(UP) 75.00 31.58 5761.00 2135 2130 -

Agra(UP) 70.00 NC 2926.00 2040 2020 4.08

Jaunpur(UP) 65.00 NC 1902.00 2010 2015 -

Bohorihat(ASM) 60.00 71.43 995.00 2150 2250 -21.82

Thodupuzha(Ker) 60.00 NC 2620.00 2900 2900 13.73



25

Alipurduar(WB) 60.00 - 240.00 3200 - -1.23

Purulia(WB) 56.00 3.7 2829.00 2300 2300 -11.54

Golaghat(ASM) 55.00 NC 996.00 2850 2850 7.55

Egra/contai(WB) 54.00 8 1263.80 1900 1900 -20.83

Coochbehar(WB) 52.50 10.53 3019.50 2050 2075 -

Beldanga(WB) 52.00 -18.75 2560.00 2300 2350 -11.54

Nadia(WB) 50.00 NC 1200.00 2600 3100 -13.33

Pandua(WB) 48.00 NC 1543.00 2700 2700 -

Kasimbazar(WB) 45.00 -18.18 2343.00 2300 2350 -

Muzzafarnagar(UP) 40.00 166.67 305.00 2130 2130 -

Bindki(UP) 40.00 110.53 2127.00 2120 2100 -

Bishnupur(Bankura)(WB) 40.00 -33.33 1385.00 1900 1900 -

Khatra(WB) 39.00 2.63 1836.00 2250 2300 -6.25

Palghar(Mah) 36.00 28.57 107.00 2311 2399 -

Gazipur(UP) 36.00 -20 2369.30 2000 1980 -

Auraiya(UP) 34.00 70 3873.00 2230 2250 3.72

Goalpara(ASM) 33.50 -77.81 3094.90 3200 3200 NC

Lanka(ASM) 30.00 -33.33 4395.00 1875 1875 -

Yusufpur(UP) 30.00 50 1471.50 1930 1930 -

Shahjahanpur(UP) 29.50 77.71 31316.60 2060 2080 3.78

Lalitpur(UP) 29.00 -7.94 518.10 2180 2160 25.29

Gauripur(ASM) 26.00 13.04 491.00 2600 2600 -7.14



26

Sitapur(UP) 26.00 8.33 1066.20 2070 2060 -

Howly(ASM) 25.00 2.88 1481.00 1400 1600 -

Bijnaur(UP) 25.00 6.38 157.00 2100 2100 -

Jasra(UP) 25.00 78.57 353.50 2085 2100 0.48

Lohardaga(Jha) 24.50 -2 1401.80 2000 2070 -

Jalpaiguri Sadar(WB) 22.00 4.76 541.00 2750 2750 -

Kosikalan(UP) 19.00 -5 230.00 1990 2000 1.02

Raiganj(WB) 17.00 -15 1008.50 2400 2500 -

Ramkrishanpur(Howrah)(WB) 16.10 -20.3 1185.70 2500 2500 -

Jhansi(UP) 15.00 -25 351.00 1950 1950 -

Meerut(UP) 15.00 -37.5 556.00 2130 2140 -0.47

Chorichora(UP) 15.00 -40 676.00 1985 1990 1.79

Kaliaganj(WB) 15.00 -31.82 990.00 2350 2400 -11.32

Medinipur(West)(WB) 15.00 -6.25 707.00 2300 2300 -

Firozabad(UP) 14.00 16.67 808.00 2020 2030 2.54

Kasganj(UP) 14.00 -3.45 457.50 2040 2045 6.53

Diamond Harbour(South 24-pgs)(WB) 13.00 4 260.00 3200 3200 -

Baruipur(Canning)(WB) 12.50 25 87.30 3400 3400 -

Lakhimpur(UP) 12.00 NC 129.50 2135 2120 -

Haldibari(WB) 12.00 33.33 411.00 2500 2450 -6.54

Wansi(UP) 11.50 155.56 103.50 1925 1915 -

Uluberia(WB) 11.40 -5 320.00 2300 2300 -



27

Kannauj(UP) 11.00 -12 286.30 2195 2180 4.52

Kalyani(WB) 10.50 200 121.50 3400 3400 3.03

Kottayam(Ker) 10.00 NC 174.00 3100 3100 -3.13

Mannargudi(Ker) 10.00 NC 230.00 2900 2900 -

Hazaribagh(Jha) 9.50 31.94 207.40 2965 2895 5.89

Ajuha(UP) 9.50 -64.81 1135.00 2085 2040 -

Holenarsipura(Kar) 9.00 -95.71 272.00 1851 2458 5.17

Nilagiri(Ori) 9.00 -18.18 2168.00 2300 2200 -

Pundibari(WB) 9.00 -10 831.00 2025 2050 -

Sirsa(UP) 8.00 -30.43 199.00 2090 2100 0.97

Chengannur(Ker) 7.00 -12.5 561.50 2500 2500 -7.41

Chandoli(UP) 7.00 -12.5 606.00 1875 1875 7.45

Mirzapur(UP) 7.00 NC 909.50 1975 1975 5.90

Unnao(UP) 6.00 NC 256.00 2130 2150 1.43

Buland Shahr(UP) 6.00 -14.29 342.50 2030 2030 -

Katwa(WB) 6.00 -20 426.40 2200 2200 -10.20

Khurja(UP) 5.00 -28.57 258.60 2025 2030 1.25

Rura(UP) 4.50 28.57 196.40 2210 2165 8.07

Bonai(Bonai)(Ori) 4.00 300 3774.00 2000 2000 -

Islampur(WB) 4.00 NC 32.00 2100 2100 -16.00

Baberu(UP) 3.50 40 101.50 1950 1975 -

Imphal(Man) 3.30 -8.33 62.60 2900 2900 -6.45



28

Balarampur(WB) 3.00 50 61.00 2320 2340 -

Lalganj(UP) 2.80 12 83.80 1985 1980 -0.75

Punalur(Ker) 2.50 NC 5.00 2800 2900 -

Jatni(Ori) 1.80 -28 52.70 2250 2250 -10.00

Jeypore(Kotpad)(Ori) 1.80 -76.92 226.40 3250 3250 -

Thoubal(Man) 1.80 NC 13.10 2800 2800 7.69

Lamlong Bazaar(Man) 1.30 NC 11.50 2900 2900 -6.45

Siyana(UP) 1.20 -20 88.20 2000 1965 NC

Mawana(UP) 1.00 -33.33 42.40 2125 2105 1.67

Shillong(Meh) 0.80 14.29 40.50 3500 3500 NC

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-

biz/article7255643.ecehttp://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-

biz/article7255643.ece

Grain Industry Urges Continued Positive Grain

Recommendations in 2015 Dietary Guidelines

Girl running beside rice field

Running with open arms towards a healthy diet

ARLINGTON, VA - As we move closer

to updated Dietary Guidelines for

Americans, the Grain Chain coalition, of

which USA Rice is a member, submitted

written comments earlier this month to

the U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services (HHS) and the U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA) on

the Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary



29

Guidelines Advisory Committee.The Grain Chain's written responses to the Scientific Report

support and extend the oral testimony, delivered in March on behalf of the grain industry by

Professor Glenn Gaesser, PhD, of Arizona State University, and provide more detailed

justification for the recommendations. (see "Grain Industry Provides Comments on 2015 Dietary

Guidelines Advisory Report," USA Rice Daily, March 24, 2015).

"The grain industry fully endorses the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee's decision to

'bring forward' the recommendation of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines that called for half of all

grain intake to come from whole grains," said Katie Maher, USA Rice's manager of domestic

promotion. "But we also emphasized the importance of using the term 'enriched grains' in the

guidelines when referring to refined grains, since more than 95% of the refined grains in the U.S.

are enriched and fortified.

"Maher added that throughout the Committee's report, emphasis is placed on targeted reduction

of 'refined grains' so it is important to provide clear guidance to consumers regarding the

differences between grain foods that are staples, and grain foods that are indulgences rather than

lumping them all together in one category as 'refined grains.'Additionally, USA Rice joined other

grain groups as supporters of Rep. Peter Roskam's (IL-06) letter to the Secretaries of Agriculture

and Health and Human Services urging the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans address

inconsistencies within the report-specifically with regard to enriched grains and their value in the

American diet-by including specific and unambiguous language in the final recommendations

distinguishing the difference between refined and enriched grains. Sixty Members of Congress

have signed onto the letter as well.

The Federal government will determine how it will use the information in the Scientific Report

as well as information submitted during the public comment period, as it develops the new

national nutrition policy. HHS and USDA will jointly release the Dietary Guidelines for

Americans, 2015 later this year.

Contact: Michael Klein (703) 236-1458

USA Rice Federation

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for May 28

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Xq8snV81zMqtTRIfsLnW47tIEUCbn45tKylqwpcRNQ_VyJ0Yjz6uclIdIxeNpFlSiVpHkEErmhG4wl76zbxeiRxB0w4BZqQKPpNylzz3zg-PP74zQ1O3jMjBd1JtRXhgyYLZvNbF-EJ9JsWeToDHDTG0IzFw6dI_TQzs42COwcVoY_5Ub7eX9v3RN6oYSCbjS5nk2kXhwACxOGrDJdnROqjQl8tzokgFRU3N3jDZNFMDhaaRxdpLWxswjobcq5fpNRYvrQ3tcuEh6GtqbPXrEmoYqsWSva7FB0JSEhVpdNhWFsjnye3CieCwkxbi57CDCLB4XACjOPSHssXDPyrzKAuvHVWlPOMBDXmUjeLSwjrpOqUNN-fCr9nR0yV3BXbjtE8iSQM863K4QGMqnfmQDGmJ-POcINxyX2OTaRmXHoCDaME-MjuN4lkF_riS-tMGAElXde8b5jeG6hCjPvJTP3gbT5oBegF-&c=Zk92DK720mSQJ_ornUxcmiPPtpO6O7-YvYeK2Ahj1nDaN1lTpA7olA==&ch=3bXVXZumo6zkzj-hXHe2oNKS8-KM9macpPsXcPJj87cqKMF_irvYfA==



30

Month Price Net Change

July 2015 $9.510 + $0.080

September 2015 $9.785 + $0.075

November 2015 $10.060 + $0.090

January 2016 $10.315 + $0.090

March 2016 $10.505 + $0.115

May 2016 $10.505 + $0.115

July 2016 $10.505 + $0.115

USA Rice Federation

Rice, nuts fuel ag boom in N.E. California, study finds Tim Hearden

Capital Press

Published:May 27, 2015 7:31AM

Tim Hearden/Capital Press A log is loaded onto a truck at a logging site near Viola, Calif., in late

April. Timber is one of the leading industries in the mountain areas of northeastern California,

according to an economic study by California State University-Chico.Agriculture has boomed

in northeastern California in the last 10 years and now accounts for 17 percent of all

economic activity in the Sacramento Valley and northern Sierra Nevada region, according

to a California State University-Chico study.

CHICO, Calif. — Agriculture has boomed in northeastern California over the last decade and

now accounts for nearly 1 in 5 jobs and 17 percent of all economic activity in the region, a new

university study has found.The report by California State University-Chico agricultural business

professor Eric Houk looks at Sacramento Valley and northern Sierra Nevada activity in 2013 and

found its nearly $4.5 billion in agricultural production in 2013 was more than double that in

http://www.capitalpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=staff&template=staffProfilePages&staffID=thearden



31

2003.While farm production expenses went up about 50 percent from 2003 to 2013, net farm

income increased about 200 percent over the period while total government payments decreased

by more than 60 percent, according to Houk‘s study.The highest-valued commodities in

northeastern California two years ago were rice at $903.8 million, walnuts at $844.9 million and

almonds at $713.1 million, while the mountain region was dominated by strawberry plants at

$150.9 million, timber at $128.4 million and alfalfa at $125.1 million.A key takeaway from the

study should be that agriculture includes much more than farm production, Houk told the Capital

Press in an email.―We often see a focus on production values, but we need to think about

agriculture in a much broader way and include agricultural production, processing and related

activities,‖ he said. ―The second thing I want people to get from the study is understanding how

the economy in some regions is more dependent upon agriculture than others.‖The report covers

economic activity in Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou,

Sutter, Tehama, Trinity and Yuba counties. Colusa County had the highest value of production in

2013, according to the study.Houk credits ag for creating 60,157 total jobs in the region, or 16.3

percent of all jobs. This includes 40,054 directly in agriculture and another 20,103 created

through ―multiplier‖ effects, which include not only processing but also farm machinery



32

manufacturing and support activities for agriculture, he said.Houk said the drought has induced

land fallowing that may have decreased the value of the rice crop since the study period, but

relatively strong rice prices may have helped offset some of the decline. Growers have said

strong yields on producing fields last fall also helped make up some of the difference.The study

comes as agriculture is often cited as only accounting for about 2 percent of California‘s

economy based on various studies, including a University of California Agricultural Issues

Center study in 2009. AIC director Daniel Sumner has said he is working on an update for this

year but that ag‘s contribution to the state domestic product is still about 2 percent.Defining

―agriculture‖ slightly differently and factoring in more supporting industries, Houk asserts the

$144.6 billion in total value added in 2013 was 6.8 percent of the state‘s total. He credits the

industry with contributing about 1.6 million jobs statewide, or 7.6 percent of the state total, and

$93.2 billion in total income, or 7 percent of the state‘s total.―Relative to the state as a whole, the

economy of Northeastern California is significantly more dependent upon agriculture in terms of

employment, labor income, and value added,‖ Houk wrote in the report.

OnlineThe Contribution of Agriculture to Northeastern California‘s Economy in

2013:http://www.csuchico.edu/ag/about/agribusiness-institute/ag-economy-2013.pdf

http://www.capitalpress.com/California/20150527/rice-nuts-fuel-ag-boom-in-ne-california-study-

finds?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+May+28%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+

13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email

Toast Dad with a glass of J.C. Le Roux this Father’s Day JC Le Roux

28 May 2015

Raise a flute to Dad this Father’s Day and add a hearty breakfast or lunch at Le Venue restaurant at The House of J.C. Le

Roux in the Stellenbosch Winelands on his special day.

With a great selection of dishes perfectly prepared by Chef Renshaw Adams, fathers can kick

back and relax in the stylish restaurant or soak up the sun on the welcoming al fresco deck.If Dad

is an early bird, a breakfast feast of yogurt and fruit salad, served with an omelette or vineyard

plate will hit just the right spot.For a lunch time celebration, fathers can look forward to a superb

menu, with a glass of sparkling wine on arrival and a starter of home-made bread with biltong

butter.

Mains will be a choice between char grilled sirloin steak served with exotic mushroom sauce

and vegetables, or pan fried Kingklip drizzled with a creamy Méthode Cap Classique shrimp and

mussel sauce with basmati rice and a crisp side salad. Dessert will definitely be a difficult choice,

with options including fresh fruit skewers, apple, and chocolate and mixed nuts crumble, Nutella

chocolate mousse or dulce de leche cheesecake.Don‘t miss out on spoiling Dad with a fine

Méthode Cap Classique or sparkling wine from the J.C. Le Roux range, such as the elegant Cap

http://www.csuchico.edu/ag/about/agribusiness-institute/ag-economy-2013.pdf



33

Classique prestige cuvée, Scintilla 2008, refreshing Brut and the palate pleasing Le

Domaine. Booking for the Father‘s Day breakfast or lunch on Sunday, 21st June is essential. Call

the restaurant on Tel: +27.21 865 8200. Breakfast costs R135 per person and will be served from

09h00 to 11h00. The lunch costs R195 per person and will be served from 12h00 to 15h00.

Visit www.jcleroux.co.za, www.facebook.com/HouseofJCLeRoux, @HouseofJCLeRoux on Instagram and be part of the

conversation on Twitter @JCLeRoux.

Overlay residual herbicides in rice to suppress weeds

Some residuals breaking early

May 27, 2015Ford Baldwin | Delta Farm Press

We just received our every-other-

day flood at Practical Weed

Consultants. A lot of farmers and

consultants have reached their

frustration limit. Most of my calls

right now are from people just

wanting somebody to listen while

they vent their frustration.That is

fine. I understand. A lot of farmers

I talk to are farming scared this

year anyway due to the poor price

outlook, and now we have to put up

with this. This too shall pass, and

all we can do is ride it out. My hat

is off to anybody willing to be a farmer!

Those who have been able to overlay residuals in rice are

generally in pretty good shape from a weed control standpoint.

Some residuals are breaking early, and that is a reason it is

important to overlay them. In a lot of areas there is a lot of ―sick

rice.‖ Where weeds are emerging, it has been difficult to find

treatments that would control the weeds and not further injure the

sick rice and that could be sprayed due to emerged crops.I knew

the calls would be coming along the lines of, ―I need to spray my

rice and I have milo to the north, milo to the south, soybeans to the east and corn to the west.

What can I use?‖ I think I am pretty good at pulling rabbits out of the hat but not that good.I have

been recommending a lot of Bolero or RiceBeax in mixtures to shore up sprangletop control.

Sprangletop is a saturated-soil germinator. More and more calls are Ricestar HT questions due to

emerged soybeans around a lot of fields along with a lot of emerged sprangletop.When I get calls

about larger barnyardgrass, I switch the recommendations to Regiment or Regiment plus Facet

where I can. I consider it the best postemergence barnyardgrass herbicide, but it can be

http://www.jcleroux.co.za/

https://www.facebook.com/HouseofJCLeRoux?fref=ts

https://https/twitter.com/JCLeRoux

http://deltafarmpress.com/author/ford-baldwin

http://deltafarmpress.com/soybeans/perspectives-mississippi-delta-photos-rory-doyle



34

frustrating to get applied due to the crop mix in some cases.There are a lot of choices for

herbicides that might work on the weeds, but it often boils down to what can be applied. The

main thing is to do something while the grass is still small and make sure there is a residual

herbicide in the tank.It seems like I get more questions on crabgrass in rice each year.

The best postemergence crabgrass herbicide is Ricestar HT, but it will not be 100 percent on

larger crabgrass. It will usually rot the growing points, and if you can cover it up with water it

will go away. Unfortunately crabgrass usually is a problem only on soils that won‘t hold water or

where water is short.Where fall panicum is a problem, Clincher is the postemergence herbicide

of choice.In soybeans it seems to be a mixed bag as to how well residual herbicides have held up

with all the rain. I have been in several fields where farmers have not been able to apply second

residual, and there is a carpet of tiny pigweeds emerging. Those have to be sprayed soon in spite

of the weather.Flexstar or Prefix might be the treatment of choice in Roundup Ready soybeand

or Liberty the treatment of choice in LibertyLink soybeans.

However, if the ground won‘t dry, UltraBlazer applied by air is a good choice. Blazer is labeled

in rice and peanuts and both corn and grain sorghum have reasonable tolerance if you don‘t get

carried away.Hopefully we will not have a bunch of big pigweeds to deal with, but if it keeps

raining we will. Whether you are using Liberty in LibertyLink soybeans or the Flexstar-

UltraBlazer treatments in Roundup Ready or conventional soybeans, a repeat treatment in about

seven days after the first is the key on larger weedshttp://deltafarmpress.com/rice/overlay-

residual-herbicides-rice-suppress-

weeds?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+May+28%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+

December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email

Indian food is is healthy and light if you do it right May 27, 2015 5:00 am • By Daniel Neman

Anupy Singla

You know Indian food, right? Heavy. Oily. Full of curry

powder and cream.Then you don‘t know Indian

food.Anupy Singla is an Indian food expert, blogger,

teacher and author of three cookbooks. She will be

appearing at an Indian buffet dinner June 3 at House of

India, and she is passionate about the food from her native

land. The real food. The way they cook it in India.―If

you‘re only experiencing it in the restaurants, you need to

know that, just like any other restaurant, it‘s heavy on oil

http://www.stltoday.com/users/profile/Daniel%20Neman



35

and it‘s heavy on cream,‖ she said. ―They give you an outside-the-home experience.

‖She quickly added, ―I never put down restaurateurs because they work really hard and it‘s a

hard business.‖ But restaurants need to make money, and people will pay for food that is special,

that is indulgent. People go out to eat what they do not cook at home.―We don‘t use cream in

Indian households, which is shocking to people,‖ she said. Real home cooking in India also

makes just a minimal use of oil, she added.

―In the Midwest, they think Indian food is defined by curry powder, and we don‘t even use curry

powder. At the end of the day, it‘s just delicious food that‘s clean.‖The Chicago-based Singla

was born in Punjab, a state in northern India. She came to this country as a girl and was raised in

King of Prussia, Pa. She has worked as a reporter for newspapers, radio and television —

training that helps with her cooking demonstrations and teaching, she said — and also sells

Indian spices and different types of lentils through her online company Indian as Apple Pie.She

is also in negotiations to star in a cooking show for the Chicago public television station WTTW.

If the deal goes through, it will be the first Indian-American cooking show on PBS, she said. She

hopes to begin shooting in September.

―The biggest draw, and this is kind of a surprise to me, is that Indian food is still a mystery to

people — including in Chicago, in big cities,‖ Singla said.What she can offer at cooking

demonstrations and events such as the one next week is a primer on how to get started and tips

on how to make the process easier, she added. Indian food is all about layering the flavors

together and mixing several different textures and tastes in the same dish, she said, and she

explains how to do that.But she also is interested in healthful cooking, so she emphasizes ways to

make food that is better for you.

For instance, she shows how to make basmati rice the traditional way, and then she will

demonstrate how to substitute one-third of the rice with quinoa, which is high in protein and

vitamins.Her latest cookbook, ―Indian for Everyone,‖ which came out last year, goes to lengths

to include recipes that are healthful and also that fit into many restricted diets. Along with the

regular method of making some dishes that are usually fried, such as pakoras, it also shows how

to bake them. It has recipes for people with allergies or who are gluten-free. And, in keeping

with the preferences of many people in India, the recipes can all be fixed to serve vegetarians and

vegans.Singla is herself a vegan, which raises an obvious question: How can a vegan write a

cookbook with several recipes for meat dishes and many more including dairy?

―I say that I‘m vegan-ish. I prefer to eat food that is plant-based. I eat plant-based (food) for

health reasons. I grew up in a family where my father ate meat and my mother doesn‘t. I come



36

from a mixed family. And that is common in India.―I have a husband who is dedicated to an

omnivore diet. He eats anything that moves. So he is dedicated to a meat diet. He has been a

great help in making sure that everything is cooked right and comes together,‖ she said.

Anupy Singla

What • An Indian dinner

When • 6:30 p.m. June 3

Where • House of India, 8501 Delmar Boulevard. The restaurant staff will prepare a meal from

her recipes.

Cost • Admission is $53, $83 for two or $113 for three and includes a copy of the book ―Indian

for Everyone.‖

More info • Reservations may be made at brownpapertickets.com.

Rice exporters urged to explore new markets

May 28, 2015

RECORDER REPORT

Chief Collector Customs (Enforcement) Nazim Saleem has said that the rice exporters should

explore new markets, particularly in Central Asian countries, to enhance the country's exports.

Speaking to the members of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) here at REAP

House on Wednesday, he said that despite several challenges like lower price and stiff

competition in the world market, the rice exports worth $1.7 billion so far this year was a big

achievement. It was expected that the country's rice exports would be over $2 billion by the end

of this fiscal year, he added."Rice exporters should focus on new markets in African countries,

South America, Central Asian countries, Argentine and Brazil to achieve a 10 percent growth

annually," he said.

Recently, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) also opened its branch in Baku, capital of

Azerbaijan, to facilitate Pakistani exporters and traders, he informed. Replying to a question

regarding the examination of export consignments at ports, he said this was the custom's

authority to examine the commodities, while the ANF's responsibility was to search the goods by

sniper dogs. He urged REAP to setup an academic section, which could guide its members about

laws related to trade and industry. "With the establishment of an academic section, several issues

of the exporters will be resolved automatically," he added. On behalf of his department, Nazim

assured full support to rice exporters and said that the Customs would facilitate the traders at all

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1586348



37

stages. Speaking on the occasion, Rafique Suleman informed that the country had exported some

3.4 million tons of rice including 2.87 million tons of non-basmati and 0.587 million tons of

basmati during July 2014 to May 2015. In terms of value, Pakistan exported rice amounting $1.7

billion including $1.1 billion of non basmati and $608 million of basmati rice, he added.

He said that REAP was making efforts towards enhancing the country's rice export and sending

delegation to several countries for promotion of Pakistani rice. He said that REAP had also

organised biryani festivals in several countries to introduce Pakistani rice. As part of these

efforts, he said a REAP delegation was visiting Qatar next month to explore more export

opportunities there.

The REAP Chairman said that presently almost all commodities were facing decline in prices in

the international market and rice prices had declined by some 40 percent during the last one year,

which, he added had resulted in low exports. "We need some support from the government to

further gear up these efforts," he added. Javed Ghani, Collector Customs (Exports); Agha Shahid

Majeed Khan, Collector Customs (Exports), Port Qasim; Cheela Ram; Safdar Mehkari; Abdul

Arshad Khaliq and Anees Majeed were also present on the occasion.

APEDA India (News)



38

Market Watch

Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 27-05-2015

Domestic Prices Unit Price : Rs per Qty

Product Market Center Variety Min Price Max Price

Rice

1 Bargarh (Orissa) Other 2100 2300

2 Dibrugarh (Assam) Other 2200 2800

3 Jhagadiya (Gujarat) Other 1925 3025

Wheat

1 Amirgadh (Gujarat) Other 1275 1760

2 Dhing (Assam) Other 1500 1700

3 Haveri(Karnataka) Local 1440 1600

Mousambi

1 Sunam (Punjab) Other 2000 4000

2 Cheeka(Haryana) Other 1800 2000

3 Mechua(West Bengal) Other 2600 3100

Brinjal

1 Banki (Orissa) Other 2400 2600

2 Panisagar (Tripura) Other 1100 1400

3 Chala(Kerala) Other 2600 2650

Source:agra-net For more info



39

Egg Rs per 100 No

Price on 27-05-2015

Product Market Center Price

1 Pune 330

2 Chittoor 343

3 Hyderabad 292

Source: e2necc.com

Other International Prices Unit Price : US$ per package

Price on 26-05-2015

Product Market Center Origin Variety Low High

Onions Dry Package: 50 lb sacks

1 Atlanta Mexico Yellow 23 23

2 Baltimore California Yellow 21 22

3 Dallas Texas Yellow 15.75 17

Carrots Package: 20 1-lb film bags

1 Atlanta California Baby Peeled 20 20.50

2 Dallas Arizona Baby Peeled 20 20

3 Detroit California Baby Peeled 17 17.50

Grapefruit Package: 7/10 bushel cartons

1 Atlanta California Red 27 27

2 Baltimore California Red 22 22

3 Dallas California Red 24 24

Source:USDA

http://e2necc.com/

28th may (thursday),2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

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