30th may ,2016 daily global,regional & local rice enewsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016

www.ricepluss.com www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali [email protected] 0321 369 2874

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www.ricepluss.com www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com

Vol 7,Issue V May 30 ,2016



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Editorial Board Chief Editor

Hamlik Managing Editor

Abdul Sattar Shah

Rahmat Ullah

Rozeen Shaukat English Editor

Maryam Editor

Legal Advisor

Advocate Zaheer Minhas

Editorial Associates

Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid

Javed Islam Agha

Ch.Hamid Malhi

Dr.Akhtar Hussain

Dr.Fayyaz Ahmad Siddiqui

Dr.Abdul Rasheed (UAF)

Islam Akhtar Khan Editorial Advisory Board

Dr.Malik Mohammad Hashim Assistant Professor, Gomal University DIK

Dr.Hasina Gul Assistant Director, Agriculture KPK

Dr.Hidayat Ullah Assistant Professor, University of Swabi

Dr.Abdul Basir Assistant Professor, University of Swabi

Zahid Mehmood PSO,NIFA Peshawar

Falak Naz Shah Head Food Science & Technology ART, Peshawar

Today Rice News Headlines...

India to finalise rice export deal with Indonesia soon - trade secretary

Indonesian envoy for business collaboration with Pakistan

Sri successfully introduced in Manipur

Weathering El Niño with better preparations

Drought and ‗Rice First‘ Policy Imperil Vietnamese Farmers

Reap advocates zero-rated status for rice exports

Philrice News

Basmati rice prices surge before Iran ban

APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter

India-Indonesia deal on rice trade soon RiceBran Technologies To Present at the Fifth Annual Marcum

MicroCap Conference

News Detail...

India to finalise rice export deal

with Indonesia soon - trade

secretary

Mon May 30, 2016 6:39am GMT

NEW DELHI May 30 (Reuters) - India, the world's biggest rice exporter,

will soon finalise a non-basmati rice exports contract with Indonesia in a

rare government-to-government deal, Trade Secretary Rita Teaotia said

on Monday, as rice prices started firming up following drought in key

producing countries.India could ask the state-run Food Corporation of

India to sell around 1 million tonnes rice from its stockpile to Indonesia,

the world's leading rice importer, industry officials said.

Rice prices in Asia are hovering around their highest levels in two years.

(Reporting by Manoj Kumar; Writing by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by

Malini Menon

http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFD8N17L00

M



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Indonesianenvoy for business collaboration with Pakistan

By: Staff Report

29-May-16

LAHORE: Indonesian Ambassador Iwan Suyudhie Amri has said that Pakistani businessmen

should take advantage from the large Indonesian market.

He was talking to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Vice President Nasir

Saeed at the LCCI on Saturday.The ambassador said that bilateral trade should be enhanced to

the maximum, as Pakistan and Indonesia are potential markets. He said that Pakistani rice and

meat have great demand in Indonesia therefore, Pakistani businessmen should avail this

opportunity.

He said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry is playing a significant role to

strengthen the trade and economic relations between the two countries.

LCCI Vice President Nasir Saeed on the occasion said that the implementation of Pakistan-

Indonesia Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) would help begin a new era of cooperation and

serve as a foundation for enhanced economic and trade cooperation. The Pakistani businesses

would increase exports to Southeast Asia‘s largest economy under the preferential trade

agreement, he added.

He said that the bilateral trade figures fairly indicate the economic relations between two

countries. However, he added, the gap of trade deficit is further widening, which needs to be

shortened by way of allowing Pakistan to export more items to Indonesia.

The LCCI vice president said that there is also a lot of scope for Indonesia to make investment in

Pakistan. ―Indonesia has a fairly advanced petro-chemical, rubber, plywood, telecommunication

and tourism industry. Indonesia can make direct investment in these industries and can also enter

into joint ventures with Pakistani counterparts,‖ he added.

Sri successfully introduced in Manipur

Imphal, May 29: System of Rice Intensification which is commonly known as SRI in paddy has

been successfully introduced in the State. SRI is an agro ecological methodology or increasing

the productivity of irrigated rice by changing the management of plants, soil, water and nutrients.

Under the SRI, seeds are sown sparsely to multiply enormous offspring of seeds.

Generally it is said that SRI principles and practices have been adapted for rainfed rice

cultivation areas as well as for other crops with yield increases and associated economic benefits.

http://dailytimes.com.pk/search/test/%C2%A0/2/Staff%20%20Report

http://dailytimes.com.pk/search/test/%C2%A0/2/Staff%20%20Report



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SRI mode of production needs only 8-9 kg of rice seeds per one hectare of paddy field and yields

about 5 ton of rice and simultaneously it is quite economical.

The Agriculture Department had also introduced 2(two) High Yielding Variety of Rice namely

Gin- Phou and Pari-Phou at Rice Research Station, Wangbal, Thoubal District for increasing the

production and productivity in the State.

The Department of Agriculture has implemented Agriculture Technology Management Agency

(ATMA) for strengthening the extension reform in each District of the State and also constructed

a new farmer Training Hall at the District Agriculture Office Complex, Porompat, Imphal East

for conducting the training programme of the farmers of all District under the Agriculture

Technology Management Agency (ATMA).

It is worth to recall that Agriculture and allied activities is the mainstay of the State's economy

where about 70% of the population depends on it. Agriculture in the State is confined to 10.48%

of the total geographical area (the geographical area being 22.327-lakh ha.). The State is

marginally deficit in cereals and highly deficit in the production of oilseeds and pulses. Inspite of

the rapid advancement in the crop productivity, the high rate of population growth poses a

challenge of self sufficiency in Agriculture within the State.

The irrigated area is 50.000 ha. i.e. 21.32 % of the net agricultural land. Pre- kharif paddy were

brought under cultivation of 18,110 ha.(2001-02) to 42,000 ha (2015-16). The production of Pre-

kharif paddy is increasing from 43,460 MT to 1,68,190 MT in clean rice with a productivity of

2400 Kg/ha and 4000 Kg/ha respectively. The total production of paddy is increasing from

4,39,000 MT to 5,97,670 MT of clean rice during last 15 years with a productivity of 2680 kg/ha

against the National average of 2177 Kg/ha. (2010-11).

The total area under pulses is increasing from 22,180 to 30,920 ha with a production of 16,450

MT and 29,440 MT during the last 15 year. The per hectare yield of pulses is also increased from

750 Kg to 950 Kg/ha against the National average of 537Kg/ha. (2010-11)

The total area under maize is increasing from 16500 to 26720 ha with a production from 33160

MT to 61560 MT during the last 15 year.

The per hectare yield of maize is also increased from 2010 Kg to 2300 Kg/ha against the

National average of 1959 Kg/ha (2010-11).

The total area under oilseeds is increasing from 22750 to 37480 ha with a production of 15210

MT and 31780 MT during the last 15 year. The per hectare yield of pulses is also increased from

670 Kg to 850 Kg/ha against the National average of 1159 Kg/ha. (2010-11).

The area and production of potato is increasing from 7520 to 15250 ha. And production from

62,040 to 1,29,170 MT/ha.



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http://www.sentinelassam.com/northeast/story.php?sec=2&subsec=9&id=268998&dtP=2016-

05-30&ppr=1

Weathering El Niño with better preparations

Published May 30, 2016 12:44pm

By JOEL ADRIANO, SciDev.Net

With the worst of El Niño now over, there is a general sense of relief that one of the strongest

weather events on record didn‘t lead to food shortages and spikes in food prices, particularly for

rice.

During the 2007-2008 food crisis when there was also an El Niño, albeit a milder one, rice prices

on the world market more than doubled. This time, prices went up by a more manageable 10-15

per cent despite rice stocks dipping at their lowest in three years.

Everybody has apparently learned from the last food crisis, says Samarendu Mohanty, social

sciences division head of the International Rice Research Institute, on the sidelines of the 15th

Review, Planning and Steering Committee Meeting of the Consortium for Unfavourable Rice

Environments held in Manila (24 May).

Massive information and warnings about a strong El Niño since early last year prepared

governments for its onset. A number of countries increased their seed buffer stocking to ensure

production normalises immediately once favourable weather returns.

But Mohanty says that the most important lesson from the 2007-2008 food crisis is not to panic.

At that time, major rice-exporting countries such as India and Vietnam restricted rice exports,

causing panic buying among rice-importing countries like the Philippines. Some countries

purchased more than necessary, which drove up prices.

Advances in rice research and technology in the past decade have managed to save millions of

farms worldwide, which otherwise would have been rendered unproductive and useless. More

countries have now resorted to adopting salt-tolerant, drought- and heat-resistant rice varieties in

unfavourable environments.

Mohanty, however, warns of complacency as politics and successive disasters could easily sway

http://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/environment/disasters/

http://www.scidev.net/%20asia-pacific/agriculture/food-security/

http://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/communication/

http://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/governance/

http://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/enterprise/trade/



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policies and affect supplies in the market. Moreover, he says research should continue to provide

better varieties and more profitable returns to encourage farmers to continue planting rice.

This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s South-East Asia & Pacific desk.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/568094/scitech/science/weathering-el-nino-with-better-

preparations#sthash.mddOosnr.dpuf

Drought and ‘Rice First’ Policy Imperil Vietnamese Farmers

By JANE PERLEZMAY 28, 2016

Huynh Anh Dung, 34, at his family farm in Soc Trang Province, Vietnam. His rice crop failed in February

because of salty water. Credit The New York Times

SOC TRANG, Vietnam — When the rice shoots began to wither on Lam Thi Loi‘s farm in the

heart of the Mekong Delta, a usually verdant region of Vietnam, she faced a hard choice: Let

them die in the parched earth, or pump salty water from the river to give them a chance.

http://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/governance/policy/

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/jane_perlez/index.html?version=meter+at+null&module=meter-Links&pgtype=article&contentId=&mediaId=&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&priority=true&action=click&contentCollection=meter-links-click

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/vietnam/index.html?inline=nyt-geo&version=meter+at+null&module=meter-Links&pgtype=article&contentId=&mediaId=&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&priority=true&action=click&contentCollection=meter-links-click



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Like many seasoned farmers here, she risked the saline water. The crop perished within days.

The Mekong Delta, Vietnam‘s premier rice growing region, is suffering its worst drought since

French colonial administrators began recording statistics in 1926. Giant cracks, some a foot deep,

gouge the hard earth; brown stalks of dead rice litter the fields; and the dryness is so severe even

the pests lie shriveled on the ground.

―I‘ve been planting rice since I was 13, and I have never seen anything like this,‖ Ms. Loi, 38,

said as she sat in her neat living room. ―In February I got one bag of rice. Last year we harvested

1.4 tons.‖

The increasingly dramatic effect of El Niño, the weather phenomenon that causes excessive heat

and reduced rainfall in Southeast Asia, is the prime reason for the crop failures in the delta,

scientists say. But it is not the only one.

By The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/02/science/where-el-nino-weather-begins-pacific-ocean-noaa.html?_r=0&version=meter+at+null&module=meter-Links&pgtype=article&contentId=&mediaId=&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&priority=true&action=click&contentCollection=meter-links-click



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The Communist government‘s insistence that farmers grow three rice crops a year, instead of the

traditional one or two, has depleted the soil of nutrients, exacerbating the impact of the drought,

they say.

And water from the sea has invaded the lower reaches of the Mekong River, which is more

shallow than usual, sweeping saline water farther up the delta than ever before and wiping out

rice fields.

All 13 provinces in the delta, home to 17 million people, or one-fifth of Vietnam‘s population,

are suffering from salt water in agricultural lands, the government said. The Ministry of

Agriculture and Rural Development reported in March that 200,000 households experienced

serious water shortages, and that the number was rising.

Saline water has long been invading the delta, but because of the drought there is not enough

fresh water in the river and its distributaries to dilute the seawater. The salt is having a more

deleterious impact, the scientists say.

The rice crop crisis has highlighted the need for the government to adjust its heavy emphasis on

rice growing, and to encourage shrimp farming as a more profitable and practical substitute, said

Nguyen Huu Thien, a consultant with the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

http://vietnam.vnanet.vn/english/mekong-delta-struggling-with-drought-salt-intrusion/225560.html



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Lam Thi Loi, 38, at her home in Soc Trang. ―I‘ve been planting rice since I was 13, and I have never seen

anything like this,‖ Ms. Loi said. Credit The New York Times

―Vietnam is the second-biggest rice exporter after Thailand,‖ Mr. Thien said, referring to the

Southeast Asian region. ‖But there is no glory in that because the farmers are not thriving, and

there is a lot of migration out of the delta.‖

The government is stuck on a ―rice first‖ policy that harks back to the 1970s, after the

Communist victory in the Vietnam War, when the people were hungry and the country was

isolated, bereft of trading partners and without a manufacturing sector.

In those days, the government mobilized work teams to construct earthen dikes along major

canals in the delta to keep the salt water out and to foster better conditions for rice growing, said

Timothy Gorman, a researcher on the delta at Cornell University.

Government-financed sluice gates were built in the 1990s, he said. By 2001, some farmers were

so fed up with the efforts to hold back the salt water that they attacked the sluice gates and

destroyed them, making way for the cultivation of tiger prawns in the western part of the delta.

Many farmers know the saline water is good for producing shrimp, Mr. Gorman said, but while

they get subsidies for rice, they are not encouraged to switch to shrimp.



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Huynh Anh Dung‘s rice crop in Soc Trang Province in the Mekong Delta was destroyed by drought.

Credit The New York Times

The construction of hydropower dams upstream from the delta, and dams in China‘s southern

province of Yunnan, are adding to the woes.

A 2010 study commissioned by the Mekong River Commission warned against the building of

11 dams in Laos and Cambodia because they would trap valuable sediment and stop it from

reaching the delta. The report was ignored, two of the dams are under construction, and the rest

are scheduled to go ahead.

In a rare concession to Vietnam, the Chinese released water from dams in Yunnan Province in

March, but the flow was too small to make a difference to the failing rice crops, the Vietnamese

authorities said.

Resentment toward the government is rising among the villagers.

The provincial authorities kept them in the dark, residents said. In October, the water level in the

vast Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia, which feeds into the Mekong River, was perilously low.

Two other big reservoirs of water in the Vietnamese provinces of An Giang and Dong Thap that

help soak the rice fields were also at extremely low levels.

A canal dried up because of drought in Soc Trang Province. A year ago it was still passable by boat.

Credit The New York Times

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/drought-spawns-fish-fears/



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Ms. Loi said she had not been warned. She went ahead, plowing and planting. She has lost more

than $1,000 on seeds, fertilizers and labor, she said.

Yet when she attended a meeting called recently by district officials to discuss the problems, the

villagers were met with scorn, she said. ―They offered me only $120,‖ she said. ―It is nothing.

We have no right to negotiate with them. They said the farmers don‘t know anything. But we do

know our business.‖

On the banks of the river two hours away, a more prosperous rice farmer, Huynh Anh Dung, 34,

presides over six acres of land, his share of a vast property founded by his grandfather nearly 100

years ago.

When his rice crop failed in February because of salty water, he decided to forsake a third crop.

He knew it was folly to try again.

―A friend had a machine that measures the salt in the water,‖ he said. ―There was 4.8 parts per

thousand. Anything over two parts per thousand kills the plants.‖

The Nga Nam floating market in Soc Trang Province, where many farmers make their livelihood selling

their produce. Credit The New York Times



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Some farmers have fled to Ho Chi Minh City to find work, leaving villages with only half their

population.

In some towns and villages, farmers like Mr. Dung have comfortable homes with polished wood

furniture, televisions, motorbikes for getting around on the roads and outboard motor boats on

the rivers. A mildly sweet iced tea, with crushed ice, is served as a welcoming drink to visitors.

Mr. Dung is staying put, tethered to his ancestral lands. He had saved enough money from past

crops that he did not need part-time work. His uncle had started growing organic bitter melons

on a portion of land on the family farm, a project that was doing well.

On a recent morning, he hired a worker to dig shallow trenches in the fields so that when the

rains finally arrive the salt now embedded in the earth will run away more quickly.

The signs of well-being will not last, said Mr. Thien, who was one of the authors of the 2010

report on the dams. With so many dams coming on line upstream, the lack of sediment will

eventually kill the delta, leaving it a wasteland in the next 100 years or so.

―The impact of the dams will be irreversible,‖ he said.

Mr. Dung could not see so far into the future. As he contemplated the salt damage, and his

scorched earth, thunder rumbled in the distance. Gray clouds hung overhead, the first in six

months. ―I hope it rains,‖ he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/29/world/asia/drought-and-rice-first-policy-imperil-vietnamese-

farmers.html

Reap advocates zero-rated status for rice exports

May 28, 2016

RECORDER REPORT

Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap) has requested Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to

declare rice exports as industry and grant it zero-rated status. Chaudhry Muhammad Shafique,

Chairman, Reap and Noman Ahmed Shaikh, Senior Vice Chairman welcomed the statement of

Javed Bilwani, Chief Co-ordinator of Five Export Sector Associations for zero rating of five

leading export sectors and assured him of full cooperation in this regard. They said in a statement

that apart from textile, rice exports are much ahead of other four sectors. "Negligence towards

rice sector will discourage its exports and we will lose our established markets," they added. If

the government intentions are good then "No Payment No Refund" policy will curb corruption

and allow many staff members of the FBR to do other productive work, they said. "If the

government wants to increase exports, it should not penalise export sector by 'pay first and get

refunds later' policy. The working capital of exporters gets blocked as huge refunds are pending

for years. People are forced to borrow loans to run their units or shutting them down," they



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added. Abdul Rahim Janoo, former chairman, REAP said that all other taxes/cess on export

items be merged to create a single tax collected through banks at the time of negotiating

documents or on receipt of payments. This will increase government revenue and eliminate

corruption. The calculation formula is very easy. Just add all federal and provincial taxes such as

EOBI, Social Security, Market Committee and divide by total export value, if it comes 0.05

percent or 0.10 percent, put it along with the withholding tax and save exporters from 'collection

mafia', he added. Besides, he called for exempting exporters from sales tax on packing material,

local supply and electricity bills. It will give peace of mind to exporters and they will increase

exports manifold and once export increases the government revenue increases, he maintained.

"We are hopeful that our demands will be accepted soon. Reap assures govt of taking rice

exports to USD 4 billion by the end of 2018," he added.

Recommended varieties, technologies for the rainy season

After the onslaught of El Niño, experts at PhilRice alert farmers to prepare for the rainy season by using

appropriate varieties and technologies in rice farming.

Dr. Norvie Manigbas, head of PhilRice’s Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Division, advised farmers to

plant varieties which stand at most 100 cm and with strong stems that can withstand 40-60 kph wind

speed.

Some of these varieties are PSB Rc14, Rc68, NSIC Rc9, and Rc222.



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“Rainfed areas are also prone to flooding. The varieties suited for this condition are PSB Rc18 (Ala), which

can withstand 5-7 days of complete submergence, NSIC Rc194 (Submarino 1), which can survive, grow,

and develop even after 10-14 days of complete submergence, and PSB Rc68 (Sacobia), a submergence-

tolerant and a drought-resistant variety,” Manigbas said.

These varieties have the following maximum yield: 8.1 t/ha (RC18); 3.5 t/ha (Rc194); 4.4 t/ha (Rc68); 6.1

t/ha (Rc14); and 10 t/ha (Rc222).They can also recover when submerged during vegetative stage.

“These are the maximum yields that the farmers could get under stressed conditions,” Manigbas said.

Additionally, PhilRice also emphasizes reduction of fertilizer application rates. Manigbas reminded that

while fertilizers are beneficial to plants, in high amounts, they may cause lodging.

“Fertilizers cannot be maximized, as there is a limited amount of sunlight during the rainy season.

Depending on soil analysis results and recommended nutrient requirement rates, it is better to reduce

fertilizer application rates by 20-30% in wet season,” Manigbas explained.

Technologies

Under rainfed conditions, Manigbas encouraged farmers to practice synchronous planting in their

communities. It reduces incidence of pests and diseases in a specific area, thus minimizing yield loss.

Dry land preparation is also desired so farmers can do direct-seeding when the rain comes. With this

technique, the seeds will start to germinate within 5 days.

Manigbas explained that under irrigated lowland conditions, land preparation should be done at the onset

of heavy rains so that fields are well-soaked in water. Levees and dikes should be repaired to avoid water

loss.

Farmers can use the wet bed or dapog method for seed establishment depending on field conditions.

PhilRice also suggests proper drainage to avoid flooding, use of machines during land preparation,

harvesting, threshing, and drying to save time and labor.

“Time is vital during the wet season especially during harvest. As the rain usually comes in the afternoon,

we suggest the use of combine harvester to hasten harvesting operations. If it is unavailable, farmers can

use reaper and collect the straws for threshing,” Manigbas explained.

He emphasized the importance of finishing field operations in the shortest possible time to prevent yield

loss.

PhilRice also recommends drying of palay in flatbed dryers and on nylon nets or canvas for easier

turnover when the rain comes.

“The general rule is to harvest and thresh the crop within a short period of time and dry the seeds to a

desired moisture content (usually 14%),” Manigbas concluded.

For more information on rice varieties and technologies for wet season, please contact the PhilRice Text

Center at 0920-911-1398.



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PhilRice Text Center gains popularity among rice stakeholders

The PhilRice Text Center (PTC) posted a 47.3% increase in client registration nationwide for the first

quarter of 2016.

Data shows that from 18,924 registered clients in March 2015, it jumped to 27,883 as of March 31, 2016.

PTC is a digital platform that provides daily consultation services to rice farmers through call and short

messaging services (SMS). It also caters to students, extension workers, researchers, and other

stakeholders who are inclined to the rice industry.

The PTC management considers this a milestone which went far from just less than a hundred registered

clients in 2004 when it started its operations. PTC was initially launched as the Farmers’ Text Center

(FTC) by the Open Academy for Philippine Agriculture (OPAPA).

In 2015, PTC also received an average of 240 SMS per day. Other services it renders are monthly rice tips,

weather advisories, promotions, and announcements.

“By responding to the farmers’ queries, we give them informed decisions in their farming practices. We

regularly receive positive feedback and it overwhelms us,” said Fredierick Saludez, agriculturist and PTC’s

main agent.



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Saludez reported that top queries are on seed quality and varietal information, pest management, seed

availability, and nutrient management.

“Salamat po sa mga tips, maganda po ani ko ngayon (Thank you for the rice tips, I got bountiful harvest),”

said Sanny Huelva, farmer-client from Masbate.

By sending keywords, for instance Rc222, farmers can instantly receive characteristics of rice varieties

such as yield, maturity period, reaction to pests, and eating quality.

Top 10 provinces with most “texters” come from Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Ilocos Norte, La Union, Pangasinan

and Isabela. Rounding off the list are the provinces of Agusan Del Norte, Oriental Mindoro, Northern

Samar, and Leyte.

PTC was established due to the popularity and economical cost of text messaging in the Philippines in

early 2000. Another rationale for its establishment is to complement the existing agricultural extension

services and link farmers to experts and inform them of the new rice production technologies.

“The rise in the number of texters implies that our clients perceive the platform useful for their purpose.

We highly encourage our partners in the agricultural sector to continue promoting the PTC to make rice

information more accessible to farmers especially those who have little or no access to these information,”

said Myriam G. Layaoen, head of the PhilRice’s Development Communication Division.

Meanwhile, the PTC team is looking at tapping national telecommunication companies to introduce

upgrade in systems and facilities to further improve the delivery of PTC services.

“We are now exploring the possibility of partnering with TelCos to provide us with technical advice on

system upgrades and eventually help us reach their client base through mass text messaging,” Layaoen

added.

To register, just type REG<space>NAME<space>LOCATION<space>OCCUPATION (e.g. REG JUAN

DELA CRUZ LEYTE FARMER) and send to 0920 911 1398.

PhilRice photographer wins int’l award

The winning entry.

A PhilRice photographer recently won in the 5th IREX Make a Better World Photo Contest, May 10.

The International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX), a US-based non-profit organization, selected best

images of scenes and individuals around the world that demonstrate one or more of four theme

categories: empowering youth, cultivating leaders, strengthening institutions, and extending access to

quality education and information.

Jayson C. Berto, a videographer and writer from the Institute’s Development Communication Division,

won in the empowering youth category and received $250 cash prize.

Berto’s winning entry titled Youth in rice farming is about the students’ involvement in the Infomediary

Campaign in Asuncion, Davao del Norte. The photo shows how the students are using the Leaf Color

Chart (LCC), a tool to monitor nitrogen fertilizer requirement of a rice plant.



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“The knowledge and experiences on modern technologies that these students gained from their school

could help improve rice farming in their neighboring communities,” Berto said.

IREX cited that “activities like this introduces youth to technologies and tools that help prepare them for

the workforce and become active community leaders.”

In March, Berto also received an international award as a videographer from the International Monetary

Fund (IMF) during the Advancing Asia Conference in India. The winning video documented how the

Infomediary Campaign-participating school engaged the farmers in the community by leading an

agricultural extension activity.

For more information on the campaign, visit www.infomediary4d.com.

Basmati rice prices surge before Iran ban

By Sutanuka Ghosal & Madhvi Sally, ET Bureau | 30 May, 2016, 04.24AM IST

KOLKATA | NEW DELHI: Basmati prices have climbed on rising demand from Iran , which plans to ban inbound shipments of

the unique Indian rice variety, while prices of non-aromatic rice in eastern India remained flat as exports to Bangladesh came to a

halt after the country doubled import duty on the grain.

"Basmati prices have been increasing. In the last one month, we saw a jump of 20%, largely in 1121 variety, which is trading at

Rs 46 a kg at wholesale rates," said Mohinder Pal Jindal, president of All India Rice Exporters Association. Iran is a major

importer of Indian basmati rice . West Asian countries accounted for 75% of India's basmati rice exports in 2014-15.

/etreporter/author-sutanuka-ghosal.cms

/etreporter/author-madhvi-sally.cms

/topic/%0A-Iran%0A

/definition/basmati-rice

/topic/%0A-rice-exports%0A



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Jindal said traders have been signing contracts and sending rice shipments ahead of a ban on

Indian basmati starting July 23 as Iran seeks to protect its local industry. Vijay Sethia, past

president of New Delhi-based AIREA, said Iran had imported 40 lakh tonnes of basmati rice in

FY16 compared with 37 lakh tonnes in the previous year.

"The prospects for basmati rice have improved after almost two years," Sethia said.

Rice is the staple diet for almost half the global population. Over 90% of the global rice output

and consumption is centred in Asia , with China and India both the world's largest producers and

biggest consumers. India accounts for over 70% of the world's basmati rice output, which is a

small portion of the total rice produced in India. Rice production in India is expected at 103.36

million tonnes in 2015-16.

Prices are on an upward trend compared with last year, said Gaurav Jain, director of DCP India,

which sells basmati under the Asbah brand. "Countries like the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Cyprus

and Maldives are also showing keen interest in Indian basmati rice, which is superior and price

/topic/%0A-global-rice-output%0A

/topic/%0A-global-rice-output%0A

/topic/%0A-Asia%0A



19

competitive compared to Pakistan's rice. That is why India's basmati rice enjoys around 65%

market share internationally," Jain said.

Prices of the non-aromatic variety from West Bengal , the largest riceproducing state in India,

have fallen as exports to Bangladesh dried after the country doubled import duty on rice to 20%.

APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1483

International Benchmark Price

Price on: 25-05-2016

Product Benchmark Indicators Name Price

Honey

1 Argentine 85mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t) 2140



Guar Gum Powder

1 Indian 100 mesh 3500 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t) 3700

2 Indian 200 mesh 3500 cps basis, FOB Kandla (USD/t) 1100

3 Indian 200 mesh 5000 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t) 2220

White Sugar

1 CZCE White Sugar Futures (USD/t) 825

2 Pakistani refined sugar, EXW Akbari Mandi (USD/t) 582

3 Thai VHP, FOB Thailand (USD/t) 505

Source: oryza, agra-net For more info

Market Watch

Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 28-05-2016

Domestic Prices Unit Price : Rs per Qty

/topic/%0A-West-Bengal%0A

https://www.agra-net.com/



20

Product Market Center Variety Min Price Max Price

Maize

1 Amreli (Gujarat) Other 1715 2100

2 Haveri (Karnataka) Local 1450 1560

3 Barshi (Maharashtra) Other 1525 1525

Paddy(Dhan)

1 Dehgam (Gujarat) Other 1325 1425

2 Kasargod (Kerala) Other 1450 1550

3 Jajpur (Orissa) Other 1410 1500

Papaya

1 Jagraon (Punjab) Other 1500 2000

2 Jalore (Rajasthan) Other 1100 1400

3 Pataudi (Haryana) Other 2000 2000

Carrot

1 Sahaspur (Orissa) Other 900 1100

2 Nagpur (Maharashtra) Other 1200 1200

3 Solan (Himachal Pradesh) Other 1500 2000

Source:agmarknet.nic.in For more info

Egg Rs per 100 No

Price on 29-05-2016

Product Market Center Price

1 Pune 375

2 Ajmer 330

3 Mysore 412

http://agmarknet.nic.in/

http://agmarknet.dac.gov.in/



21

Source: e2necc.com

Other International Prices Unit Price : US$ per package

Price on 25-05-2016

Product Market Center Origin Variety Low High

Onions Dry Package: 50 lb cartons

1 Atlanta Colorado Russet 17 18.50

2 Chicago California Russet 39.50 39.50

2 Detroit Idaho Russet 16.50 17.50

Cucumbers Package: cartons film wrapped

1 Atlanta Canada Long Seedless 13.50 15

2 Baltimore Netherlands Long Seedless 11.50 13

3 Detroit Canada Long Seedless 7 8.50

Grapes Package: 8.2 kg containers bagged

1 Baltimore Chile Red Globe 33 33

2 Dallas Chile Red Globe 29.50 30

3 San Francisco Chile Red Globe 31 33

Source:USDA

India could sign a deal as early as this week to supply one million

tonne of non-basmati rice to Indonesia to help it tide over a local

shortage, reports Banikinkar Pattanayak in New Delhi.

By: Banikinkar Pattanayak | Updated: May 30, 2016 7:52 AM Indonesia is reported to have inked an

agreement with Pakistan recently to import one million tonnes of rice at roughly 0 per tonne, to be

supplied over a period of four years. (Reuters)

India could sign a deal as early as this week to supply one million tonne of non-basmati rice to

Indonesia to help it tide over a local shortage, reports Banikinkar Pattanayak in New Delhi.

http://e2necc.com/

http://www.financialexpress.com/author/banikinkar-pattanayak/



22

Negotiations have been on for a government-to-government deal, in which case the grain will be

supplied from official reserves. Once the memorandum of understanding is signed, this would be

the highest export of rice from state-run Food Corporation Of India‘s (FCI‘s) reserves since

2003-04 when it had shipped out 2.78 million tonne, sources said.

For Indonesia, it will be a rare occasion when it sources rice from outside the ASEAN trading

bloc, barring the exception of its recent deal with Pakistan.

While prices are being negotiated, India is interested in selling rice at the economic cost–which

comprises the benchmark price paid to farmers for supplies and charges for transportation and

storage, among others–to avoid losses on such exports, according to the sources.

http://www.financialexpress.com/article/economy/indias-key-sugar-producer-imposes-limits-on-stocks/267460/attachment/sugar-production-reuters-l/



23

A deal at the 2015-16 economic cost of rice will fetch India Rs 3,258 crore ($486 million), but

more importantly, it will be a win-win situation for both the countries. Higher rice exports will

help India, which is facing a decline in both rice as well as total farm exports. Indonesia, having

struggled to finalise similar contracts with Thailand and Vietnam, seems to be keen on tapping

the massive Indian grain market and diversifying import destinations.

However, Indonesia is learnt to be keen on lowering the price. According to the FCI, its

economic cost of rice stood at Rs 32,580 ($486) per tonne for the common variety in 2015-16,

which is estimated to go up to Rs 32,667 in 2016-17.

MMTC may be asked to supply rice from FCI‘s reserves to Indonesia‘s state-run Bureau Of

Logistics, which handles food distribution and price control.

Both the countries are exploring the possibility of a long-term

supply contract as well, although India wants to make it a non-

binding one under exceptional circumstances. Apart from rice,

Indonesia is also willing to enhance collaboration with India in

pharmaceuticals, with a focus on generic medicine, said on of the

sources.Despite massive stocks, India has failed to export much

from its official reserves even through government-to-

government deals, mainly due to the fact that the economic costs

of FCI grains are much higher than prices of Thai or Vietnam

varieties. For instance, the 5% broken rice quoted an average of

$395 per tonne in Thailand and $371 in Vietnam last month,

while FCI‘s 2015-16 economic cost was as high as $486 per

tonne.

Negotiations with Bangladesh around 2010-11 to supply grains from official reserves fell

through due to differences over prices. A major reason for the high costs of grains has been

FCI‘s ―dis-economics of scale‖, as stated in an earlier report by the Commission For Agricultural

Costs and Prices. This means as FCI‘s scale of operation increases, the per unit real costs also

rise, in a stark contrast with the nature of operational costs of most companies. Consequently, the

country hasn‘t been able to export much of FCI rice since shipping 65,000 tonnes in 2004-05. As

of May 1, rice stocks with FCI touched 21.32 million tonnes, much higher than the mandatory

requirement of 13.58 million tonnes.

Indonesia is reported to have inked an agreement with Pakistan recently to import one million

tonnes of rice at roughly $400 per tonne, to be supplied over a period of four years. However,

Indian officials say our rice is better than the grain to be supplied by Pakistan to Indonesia, hence

can‘t be compared strictly. In case of a government-to-government deal, the State Logistics

Agency (Bulog) of Indonesia will be involved along with the FCI.

http://www.financialexpress.com/article/markets/commodities/india-indonesia-deal-on-rice-trade-soon/268572/

http://www.financialexpress.com/article/markets/commodities/india-indonesia-deal-on-rice-trade-soon/268572/attachment/rice-3/



24

RiceBran Technologies To Present at the Fifth Annual

Marcum MicroCap Conference

Published on Monday - May 30, 2016

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- RiceBran Technologies

(NASDAQ:RIBT and RIBTW) (the "Company" or "RBT"), a global leader in the production and

marketing of value added products derived from rice bran, announced today that it will be a

featured presenter at the 5th Annual Marcum MicroCap Conference June 1-2, 2016 in New York

City at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

RiceBran Technologies' presentation by W. John Short, Chief Executive Officer

and President, is scheduled to begin at 2:00PM EDT on Wednesday, June 1, 2016

in New York City at the Grand Hyatt Hotel and will be available via a live

webcast. To access the webcast, go to http://wsw.com/webcast/marcum4/ribt.

The annual Marcum MicroCap Conference is a signature showcase for superior

quality, under-followed public companies with less than $500 million in market

capitalization.

For more information or to register, please visit the conference website at

http://www.marcumllp.com/microcap or download the free official conference app

for the iPhone, iPad, or for Android mobile devices in Apple's App Store and the

Google Play Market.

About RiceBran Technologies

RiceBran Technologies is a human food ingredient and functional food company

focused on the procurement, bio-refining and marketing of numerous products

derived from rice bran. RiceBran Technologies has proprietary and patented

intellectual property that allows us to convert rice bran, one of the world's most

underutilized food sources, into a number of highly nutritious human food

ingredient and animal nutrition products. Our target markets are human food

ingredients and animal nutrition manufacturers and retailers, as well as natural

food, functional food and nutraceutical supplement manufacturers and retailers,

both domestically and internationally. More information can be found in our filings

with the SEC and by visiting our website at www.ricebrantech.com

http://www.ricebrantech.com/news-room/press-releases/359-ricebran-technologies-to-

present-at-the-fifth-annual-marcum-microcap-conference

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=RIBT

http://www.marcumllp.com/microcap

http://wsw.com/webcast/marcum4/ribt

http://www.marcumllp.com/microcap

https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=863233082&mt=8

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.theirapp.marcmconf

http://www.ricebrantech.com/

30th may ,2016 daily global,regional & local rice enewsletter by riceplus magazine

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