7th April 2014 Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Daily Rice E-Newsletter by Rice Plus Magazine www.ricepluss.com

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7th

April , 2014

TOP Contents - Tailored for YOU

Latest News Headlines…

First quarter exports 1.2 million tons of rice

More Ark. rice, cotton, soybeans, sorghum expected

Crop prices favoring more soybeans, less corn

Starving rice to boost yields

Vietnam state-run grains agency bids for 0.8 MMT rice

imports

Vietnam In Contention For Philippines Rice Contract

VIETNAM PRESS-April rice exports seen up 20 pct vs March -

Vietnam Economic Times

Paddy rice farms curb losses from lost land

Rice Exports increase by 66.2 percent in February

Date : 7 เมษายน 2557

800,000 tons of rice to be released this week

Sri Lanka farmers face drought, asked to reduce paddy

cultivation

Private sector warns government will make price of rice

decrease due to rapid reduction of stockpiles

Rice sector needs long-term development plan, a seminar

heard

Pakistan rice exports likely to surge in 2014

Rice farmers to sue MoFA over stalled rice project

Paddy cultivation slashed; rice to be imported

Uptrend in rice market may continue




Nagpur Foodgrain Prices - APMC & Open Market-April 7

Farmers must take up new rice varieties’

Iron Range rebellion halted wild rice initiative

China to employ weather control system to ensure rice

Govt beefs up efforts to fight illegal rice imports

Increase in Indian rice prices – positive for rice companies


Bats can help protect rice farms against pests

First quarter exports 1.2 million tons of rice

Saturday, Apr 05, 2014, Posted at: 14:52(GMT+7)

Vietnam exported 1.2 million tons of rice worth US$ 529.1 million in the first quarter this year,

according to the Vietnam Food Association.

Over 583,000 tons was delivered in March with US$ 256.1 million in

profit, a decrease of 15.4 percent in volume and 17 percent in value

over the same period last year. Export price reduced US$ 7.7 per ton.

China is the country‘s largest export of rice for the last two years

followed by the Philippines. The Philippines recently invited bids to

purchase 800,000 tons of rice from Vietnam and Thailand. Image: Rice harvest in Long An Province (Photo: SGGP)

By Cong Phien – Translated by Hai Mien

More Ark. rice, cotton, soybeans, sorghum expected

Posted: Apr 06, 2014 1:10 AM PSTUpdated: Apr 06, 2014 1:12 AM PST

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - More acres of rice, cotton, sorghum and soybeans are expected to be planted in

Arkansas this year while less corn and winter wheat is forecast.A report by the

National Agricultural Statistics Service predicts rice acreage will increase from

just more than 1 million acres in 2013 to more than 1.5 million acres this year and

soybean planting is expected to rise from 3.25 million acres to 3.35 million.



Cotton acreage is forecast to increase from 310,000 acres to 340,000 and sorghum planting is estimated to go

from 130,000 acres to 140,000.Winter wheat planting is forecast to drop from 680,000 acres to 440,000 and

corn acreage is expected to fall from 880,000 to 600,000.

Sweet potato plantings are forecast to remain at about 4,000 acres statewide in 2014.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast,

rewritten or redistributed.

Crop prices favoring more soybeans, less corn

Acreage increases also for cotton, rice, peanuts

Apr 5, 2014Linda Breazeale MSU Ag Communications | Delta Farm Press

Crop prices are driving Mid-South

growers‘ 2014 planting decisions, says

Brian Williams, agricultural economist

with the Mississippi State University

Extension Service. ―Mississippi corn is

trading about $2.50 per bushel lower

than a year ago, while Mississippi

soybean prices are slightly higher than a

year ago.‖USDA‘s March 31

Prospective Plantings report and Grain Stocks report was near expectations. The report used producer surveys from Feb.

27 through March 18 to estimate acreage plans.Williams said when growers were making decisions in 2013, corn prices

were significantly higher than soybeans.―This year, prices are favoring soybeans. Corn acreage will be going down

nationally about 4 percent, and we are expecting the lowest U.S. corn acreage since 2010,‖ he said. ―The report suggests

that Mississippi‘s corn acreage will go down 33 percent and soybeans will go up 7 percent.‖USDA‘s report predicts

580,000 acres of corn in Mississippi, compared to 860,000 in 2013. In the last two years, growers produced back-to-back

record averages of 165 bushels per acre in 2012 and 180 bushels per acre in 2013.

MORE ON MID-SOUTH PLANTING

How will delayed spring affect corn acreage?

USDA: less corn, more cotton, soybeans

Erick Larson, Mississippi Extension grain specialist, said last year‘s wet, cold conditions were the biggest challenge

getting the crop in the ground. Growers have faced some delays so far this spring, but Larson said in early April he was

not concerned yet about the corn crop being behind schedule.―Fewer acres mean it won‘t take the state‘s growers long to

plant when field conditions dry,‖ he said. ―Early planting is important, but corn‘s success depends upon many other



conditions.‖Soybeans will be Mississippi‘s major crop with 2.15 million acres. Soybeans have also had two strong years,

averaging a record 45 bushels per acre in 2012 and 2013.―The mild temperatures we experienced in 2013 really helped

our soybean crop considering the late start,‖ said Trent Irby, Extension soybean specialist.Mississippi is projected to see a

31 percent increase in cotton acres for 2014, with an estimated 380,000 acres planned for this year. Last year, growers

harvested a record average 1,229 pounds of lint per acre on 285,000 acres.

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weed info you need in the palm of your hand.―Our growers produced a really good crop last year, and that left a good taste

in their mouths for this year,‖ said Darrin Dodds, Mississippi Extension cotton specialist. ―Cotton growers in other parts

of the country were not as fortunate. Mississippi fields benefitted from a relatively mild summer and four hotter-than-

normal weeks at the end of the growing season to finish out the crop.

‖Another crop expected to expand acreage this year is rice. USDA‘s March 31 report has Mississippi growers planting

170,000 acres of rice, up 36 percent from last year.Extension agricultural economist John Michael Riley said Mississippi

will also see a 32 percent increase in peanut acreage, to 45,000; an 8 percent increase in sorghum acres, to 70,000; and a

15 percent increase in sweet potato acres, to 23,000.Wheat acres are projected to be down both in the nation and state.

Mississippi wheat acres for 2014 are estimated at 230,000, 43 percent lower than the 400,000 acres planted in

2013.―When considering hay and other summer crops, Mississippi‘s total acreage is expected to tally 3.418 million, which

is 14,000 more than 2013,‖ Riley said.

Starving rice to boost yields CARA JEFFERY

07 Apr, 2014 03:00 AM

STARVING a rice crop of water may sound like a bizarre concept but a mid-

season dry down could help growers improve their yields by up to 20 per

cent.Southern NSW grower Antony Vagg has found a mid-season dry down of

his medium grain rice Opus has helped reduce sterility issues.―This year due to

the challenging start, we only performed a mid-season dry down on a

proportion of the crop,‖ Mr Vagg said.―There are two types of sterility that

affect yields – one being the cold weather, which we can‘t control, and the

other is physiological sterility,‖ Mr Vagg said.

The mid-season dry down of his Opus crop took place just before panicle initiation (PI) of the rice crop in

December.The water was drained from the crop and it was left to dry for a fortnight.―It was left to dry out until



it looked like it was pretty much dead,‖ Mr Vagg said.―Without water lying on the crop, oxygen could access

the soil and it allowed microbes to work and release itrogen back into the soil to kick it along,‖ he said.―Once

we put the water back on it regenerated pretty quickly.‖Mr Vagg said Opus was the only variety he felt

confident doing a mid-season dry down on, as research results were yet to convince him other rice varieties

were suited to the method.―Opus can achieve a zero to 20pc yield increase from a mid-season dry down, but

generally seven to 11pc is the norm in this region,‖ he said.

Mr Vagg said the upside to the mid-season dry down also saved on water use and irrigation management during

that period.―But the downside is it can be a bit stressful watching your rice crop dying and starving for water,‖

he said.This season Mr Vagg and his parents, Max and Andrea, and brother Ryan, have 400 hectares of rice

sown across the three properties that make up Amaloo Pastoral Company at Bunnaloo, south of Deniliquin.This

year their rice crop consists of varieties Opus and Koshihkari, Sherpa 30, and Reiziq, which were sown onto

lasered flood irrigated bays.

Vietnam state-run grains agency bids for 0.8 MMT rice imports

07.04.2014

VIETNAM'S state-run grains agency has expressed interest to supply the entire 800,000-metric-ton (MT) rice

requirement of the Philippines this year.In a pre-bidding conference on Thursday, Ludovico Jarina, National

Food Authority (NFA) deputy administrator and concurrently Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman,

said at least five international firms, private traders and a state-run grains agency have already bought bidding

documents, a requirement to be qualified for the actual bidding, scheduled on April 15."Vietnam Southern Food

Corp. [Vinafood II], Thai Hua Co., LG International, Asian Golden Rice and Louis Dreyfuss have expressed

bidding interest," according to Jarina, with Vinafoood buying bidding documents for the entire rice

requirements of the country.

The open tender, which will be extended until the actual day of bidding, is an effort of the NFA to secure the

lowest-priced possible for the staple food with acceptable quality, Jarina added.

The NFA has approved a P17.18-billion budget "from corporate resources" for the purchase of the rice stocks,

which should be long-grain white rice, with 15-percent broken- and well-milled.The NFA announced on March

27 that it would require the winning bidder/s to deliver the rice in four tranches, or a quarter of the total volume

for each shipment, from April to August."We have divided the entire volume to four lots, or 200,000 MT per lot

to bid," Jarina told reporters.He added that "bidders can join the tender for the maximum 800,000 MT, while the

minimum quantity to be offered per supplier must be 100,000 MT with single price, and to be shipped in break

bulk.

"While Vinafood II has expressed interest to supply the entire 800,000 MT of rice, the four remaining

participants bought one bid document, which would allow them to join in only one bid lot come April 15."We

have also invited the governments of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Pakistan, India and even the United States



to join the tender," the NFA official said.Various trading companies' representatives and officials of the

embassies of Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam were present during the pre-bidding conference.For this year a

total of 1.2 million MT of rice will enter the country. A portion of this, or 400,000 MT, arrived in March,

according to Jarina.That is part of the rice imports in 2013 to replace heavy rice withdrawals from NFA

warehouses last year due to Supertyphoon Yolanda, he added.Last year the NFA approved 205,700 MT of rice

imports under the omnibus minimum access volume for rice, plus the 500,000 MT of rice from Vietnam.


HANOI, April 4 (Bernama) -- An initial five bidders, including Vietnam, have signed up to be among the

possible suppliers of 800,000 tonnes of rice to the Philippines, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported citing

the country's Inquirer.net Friday.Those who officially entered the bidding process on Thursday included the

Jakarta Stock Exchange-listed LG International Corp, the Vietnam Southern Food Corp, and the shipping unit

of the French group Louie Dreyfus Co.Thai Hua Co Ltd and Asia Golden Rice Co Ltd from Thailand are also

vying for rice contracts.The Philippines National Food Authority (NFA) said it expects more bidders before the

deadline of submissions on April 15.Last March, Agriculture Undersecretary Dante S. Delima said the country

needed 800,000 tonnes of rice in 2014 to increase its stockpile, stabilise prices and rein in inflation.--

BERNAMA

VIETNAM PRESS-April rice exports seen up 20 pct vs March - Vietnam

Economic Times

Mon Apr 7, 2014 6:22am IST

Vietnam is projected to ship 700,000 tonnes of rice in April, up around 20 percent from 583,300 tonnes loaded

in the previous month, according to the Vietnam Food Association, the Vietnam Economic Times newspaper

reports.More than 40 percent of the 1.2 million tonnes exported in the first quarter went to China, followed by

the Philippines with 31 percent, the report said.NOTE: Reuters has not verified this story and does not vouch for

its accuracy. (Hanoi Newsroom; Editing by Sunil Nair)

Paddy rice farms curb losses from lost land Mon, 7 April 2014

Chan Muyhong

Cambodian paddy rice production fell only slightly during the first half of this year‘s dry season, despite 12,000

hectares of usually productive land deemed unusable due to last year‘s floods.According to the Ministry of

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, dry season paddy rice production between December and April fell 1.9 per



cent compared with the same period last year.Farmers have produced more than 2.11 million tonnes of paddy

rice so far this dry season, down from more than 2.15 million tonnes in 2013.The government commended the

farmers‘ efforts, citing a 2.5 per cent drop in producing land, due to the effects of flooding. On average, farmers

actually increased their average tonnage per hectare from 4.1 tonnes in 2013 to 4.3 tonnes this year, according

to the ministry.

Pich Romnea, deputy director of ministry‘s paddy rice production department said farmers employing better

farming techniques such as water irrigation methods and using dry season appropriate rice varieties helped to

curtail yield losses.―They are using unmixed-seeds, better farming technique and we have seen less insects and

bugs damaging the paddy rice this dry season,‖ he said.Nheb Sron, director of the agriculture department of

Takeo Province, said establishing more irrigation systems throughout the province had pushed the harvest

higher.―More irrigation systems have been built in four districts within Takeo province, which make rice

production possible during the dry season,‖ he added.

Rice Exports increase by 66.2 percent in February


BANGKOK, 7 April 2014 (NNT) - Statistics reveal that rice exports for the month of February has increased by

66.2 percent, and will continuously increase in March. The Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA) has

revealed that rice exports have increased by 66.2 percent in this February this year compared to the same month

of last year, and that the export volume has reached around 700,000 tons. Meanwhile, rice exports for the first

two months of 2014 grew by 39.5 percent, with the export volume reaching at 1.4 million tons total. The

majority of the rice exported included white rice and sticky rice, where they were primarily sold to African

nations. However, the Thai jasmine rice has seen a drop in exports. The TREA also predicts that the rice export

volume in March would reach around 700,000 tons, as rice prices have decreased to a certain level.

800,000 tons of rice to be released this week Published on April 8, 2014 by TFP · No Comments

BANGKOK, 8 April 2014 – The Ministry of Commerce is set to release over 800,000 tons of rice through the

Agricultural Futures Exchange in Thailand (AFET) on April 9 and 10.190,000 tons of the stockpile will be

auctioned via AFET and another 160,000 tons will be released at a regional bidding in Suphanburi on

Wednesday.On Thursday, exporters and interested bidders can bid for 420,000 tons of rice at the Department of

International Trade. The stockpile will be from the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 harvest seasons.The ministry

earlier expressed confidence that nearly one million tonnes of rice would be released through the AFET this

year.

(NNT: Orapa Chueyprasit)



Sri Lanka farmers face drought, asked to reduce paddy cultivation

Sun, Apr 6, 2014, 11:41 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Apr 06, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena says

farmers have been asked to reduce their cultivation of paddy during the Yala season due

to the drought.The Minister says farmers may have to slash cultivation up to 50 percent

during the Yala season, noting that the government would be unable to compensate a

large number of farmers in the event that they face a crop failure. Farmers have

reportedly been asked to cultivate crops that require less water like soya and big

onions.The Agriculture Ministry will hold a meeting with district secretaries on 21 April

to decide on the extent of land that will be used for paddy cultivation and the water it will require. Meanwhile,

the government will look at importing rice to meet the shortfall in the local market.

Rice production yielded N320bn in two years –Minister Posted by: Demola in LOCAL NEWS 1 day ago 0

Nigeria generated N320bn as revenue from the production of rice in the last two years, the Federal Government

has said. It said local rice production also created 750,000 jobs for farmers and other persons during the period.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, disclosed these during the

inauguration of the headquarters of the Nigerian Cassava Growers Association in Abuja. Adesina stated that the

production of rice in the country had increased in the past two years, adding that the development resulted in the

establishment of rice pyramids by farmers in the North. ―A whooping N320bn is the gross revenue generated

from the production of rice during this period. I will like to also state that about 750,000 jobs have been created

from the production of rice for our farmers and for Nigerians,‖ he said. According to the minister, Nigeria will

be self sufficient in rice production in the next two years and will have no need to continue to import the

commodity.

Adesina stated that the Federal Government was working hard to ensure that the country stopped the

importation of rice, adding that ―every time we import food, we export jobs and impoverish the farmers in our

country. ―Poverty is not an industry; so, we don‘t have to be growing it and this is why the President launched

the Agricultural Transformation Agenda three years ago to empower Nigerian farmers,‖ he added. Adesina said

the inauguration of the NCGA headquarters, its official buses, guest house and website were a testimony that

agriculture was working in the country. He urged Nigerians to always patronise foods produced by indigenous

farmers such as rice, cassava bread and wheat. ―By buying products like the cassava bread and locally produced

rice, you will be creating more jobs and providing revenue for our farmers. So, one major way you create jobs is

when you patronise things that we produce in our country,‖ the minister said.

The National President, NCGA, Mr. Segun Adewumi, urged the government to shift its agricultural intervention

programme from subsidies on fertiliser, herbicides and other inputs to the provision of financial assistance to

the farmers. ―Funds used for subsidy can be used to mitigate interest on agricultural loans taken from the capital

market by the Bank of Agriculture. This interest on agricultural loans should be dragged down to five per cent

and below as obtainable in advanced countries of the world,‖ Adewumi said. You might also like



Private sector warns government will make price of rice decrease due

to rapid reduction of stockpiles


BANGKOK 7 April 2014 (NNT) — The private sector is warning the government would render prices of rice

to decrease further due to the rapid release of its rice stockpiles. Wallop Pitchyapongsa, vice president of the

Thai Rice Exporters Association, stated that the government‘s rapid reduction of its rice stockpiles will make

prices of rice decrease even further as rice has saturated the market. Mr. Wallop revealed that although the

results may be beneficial for exporters of rice in terms of price competitions in the world market, domestic

prices of rice for local farmers have decreased due to an oversupply. He stated further that there is also no

policy put in place to stabilize prices of rice. Therefore, he insisted that the government consider the adverse

effects of rapid and frequent release of stockpiled rice into the market.

Rice sector needs long-term development plan, a seminar heard

Petchanet Pratruangkrai,The Nation April 5, 2014 1:00 am

Thailand should draw up a long-term policy on rice crops and trading management to avoid huge losses from

short-term subsidies, while politicians should no longer be allowed to make rice policy a populist tool, a

seminar heard yesterday.At the "Thai Rice in Asean … Isn't It Reaching a Dead-End?" seminar, organised by

Dhurakij Pundit University's faculty of economics, panellists agreed that Thailand needed a long-term strategy

on rice rather than letting politicians form their own policies and create only short-term means of aiding

farmers.

Wanlop Pichpongsa, vice president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said rice should no longer be a

political tool to gain popularity during an election campaign."The country should set up a permanent

organisation to manage rice policy, with no politicians involved; otherwise, the sector will not be developed.

Politicians have always only thought about short-term policies to help farmers and gain popularity," he said.He

pointed out that the price of Thai rice had not increased as much as the government had expected, even though

the pledging project was aimed at boosting prices. Farmers have not really benefited from the pledging scheme,

having faced a combination of overdue payments and falling market prices, he added.As no government has

ever implemented long-term measures for rice development, such a strategy needs to be drawn up to ensure

sustainable incomes for farmers, as well as competitiveness for Thai rice in the global market, he said.

Moreover, given upcoming seamless trade under the Asean Economic Community, the Thai rice sector faces a

big challenge due to unstable prices from the subsidy project, coupled with lower development of rice quality,

he stressed.To ensure sustainable incomes and fair benefits for farmers, Wanlop said the government should

still find some measures to help them in the short term, but it must also think more about long-term



development. It could create a system of direct payments to subsidise the cost of production, which would not

negatively affect the sector or involve market intervention, he suggested.He told the seminar that the price of

Thai rice could increase slightly in the next few months because of increased demand in both the world and

domestic markets, even though the caretaker government has accelerated the release of rice from its

stockpiles.As the price of Thai rice is only US$10-$20 per tonne higher than Vietnamese rice, the Kingdom

should be able to compete with Vietnam in the global market, he said.

The Philippines and Iraq will soon open bidding to import rice, and Thai rice could win the auctions if the

proposed prices are not too high, he added.Manatsanith Jirawat, a rice expert at the Commerce Ministry's

Foreign Trade Department, accepted that the current government only had a plan to solve the problem of

overdue pledging payments to farmers.

Although the government does have a long-term measure to promote rice development, the plan cannot be

carried out as it is too busy solving the payment problem and releasing rice from the stockpiles, she said.To

ensure sustainable development of the industry, Thailand could cooperate more closely with other rice-

exporting nations in Asean, such as Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, she suggested. While it would be

quite difficult to collaborate on prices, as each country had its own agenda, Thailand as one of the world's

leading rice exporters could cooperate with each of its Asean neighbours to promote rice cultivation and trading

with other markets, she said.

Meanwhile, the Thai Rice Exporters Association reported that the country had exported some 1.4 million tonnes

of rice during the first two months of the year - 39.5 per cent higher than in the same period last year. Export

value grew 12.5 per cent year on year, to Bt29.6 billion.Last month's export volume is expected to have reached

700,000 tonnes.As of April 2, the price of 5-per-cent Thai white rice was quoted at $394 a tonne, while

Vietnamese rice was traded between $385 and $395 a tonne.

Pakistan rice exports likely to surge in 2014

07.04.2014

Pakistan's rice exports are expected to increase to a record 3.9 million tonnes during the current 2013/14 crop

year (November/October), up about 15% from the USDA's previous estimates of around 3.4 mln tonnes, and up

about 8% from an estimated 3.6 mln tonnes exported in 2012/13, according to a recent USDA report.Exports

are likely to increase this year due to higher production and improved power supply. The report also outlines

that Pakistan's rice exporters have improved rice processing in the country, and their initiatives have led to a

significant surge in rice exports over the last decade barring declines during flood years.

Rice farmers to sue MoFA over stalled rice project



Three-hundred-and-fifty rice farmers at Ohiamadwene and its environs in the Shama District of the Western

Region have threatened to take legal action against the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) for its

inability to carry out a rice project for them.At a press conference held in Shama, the farmers said they had lost

interest in the project and are demanding the return of their farmland, compensation for the destruction of their

crops on the farms as well as severance payment as a result of their joblessness.

Mr Francis Hotoviovi, spokesman for the farmers who addressed the press conference, said government through

the MoFA acquired 75 hectares of farmland from them to cultivate rice which was dubbed the Inland Valley

Rice Development Project.He said as a result their crops were destroyed to pave way for the rice project but for

five years now nothing had been done, thus rendering them jobless.Mr Hotoviovi said the project should have

been completed in 18 months but the farmers have not set eyes on the MoFA officials and the contractor.He

said a contractor negotiated with only the landowners disregarding them therefore could not tell the terms of

agreement covering the project.

Paddy cultivation slashed; rice to be imported

By Damith Wickremasekara

Farmers have been asked to slash paddy production by as much as 50 per cent in the coming Yala season due to

the prevailing drought, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said yesterday.―‗We are not in a

position to compensate farmers for crop loss if they do not follow our instructions,‖ the minister said. He said

farmers had been told to cut down on paddy and switch to crops which required less water. Among the crops

suggested were soya, green peas, cowpea, gram and big onions.―Until there are clear signs of rains even small-

scale paddy farmers should be careful about investing in paddy cultivation.

On April 21, we will hold a meeting of District Secretaries to decide on the extent of area to be cultivated and

the amount of irrigation water to be provided,‖ he said.Mr. Abeywardena said the Government had decided to

import rice to meet the shortfall, but a decision on the quantity would be taken at the April 21 meeting.The

move came as rice prices showed a gradual increase.Meanwhile, the Mahaweli Authority has decided to reduce

the supply of water for paddy cultivation by about 50 per cent as the water levels in the tanks have dropped.

Mahaweli Authority Director General Gamini Rajakaruna said that in some of the paddy cultivating areas in the

Mahaweli H and G zones — Anuradhapura, Elahera, Tambuettegama and Kandalama — they would be able to

provide water only after June.He said that in the Mahaweli B and C zones — Polonnaruwa, Dehiattakandiya,

Ampara (partly) and Girandurukotte — they would be able provide only 50 per cent of the water for paddy

cultivation.Polonnaruwa District Secretary Nimal Abeysinghe said that in the last season 165,000 acres were

cultivated, but this season only 35,000 acres could be cultivated due to the drought.―We may not have sufficient

water for alternative crops as the water levels have gone down,‖ he said.Anuradhapura District Secretary

Mahinda Seneviratne said a meeting would be held on April 22 to decide on the extent of paddy cultivation.



Uptrend in rice market may continue

KARNAL, APRIL 7:

Rice market witnessed an uptrend with the prices of aromatic and non basmati varieties moving up by ₹50-

₹300 a quintal on Monday.

Amit Chandna, proprietor of Hanuman Rice Trading Company, told Business Line that an increase in demand

mainly pushed aromatic and non basmati rice varieties upwards. Situation of the market was anticipated and

prices may improve further in the coming days, he said. According to the trade experts, market may witness

some good buying in the coming days and prices may improve further by ₹100-₹200 a quintal. Pusa-1121

varieties have improved by ₹500 a quintal since the last weekend.

In the physical market, Pusa-1121 (steam) moved up by ₹300 to ₹9,600-9,700 a quintal, while Pusa-1121

(sela) improved by ₹200 to ₹8,500 a quintal. Pure Basmati (Raw) quoted at ₹12,500₹, up ₹200 up. Duplicate

basmati (steam) improved by ₹300 to ₹7,600. Pusa-1121 brokens improved by ₹50-100. Pusa-1121 (second

wand) ruled at ₹7,350, Tibar at ₹6,400, while Dubar at ₹5,400.

In the non basmati section, Sharbati (Steam) improved by Rs 100 to Rs 4,950 while Sharbati (Sela) quoted at

₹4,350, up ₹50 up.

PR varieties improved by ₹50-100. Permal (raw) sold at ₹2,380, Permal (sela) at Rs 2,400, PR-11 (sela) sold at

Rs 2,750, while PR-11 (Raw) at Rs 2,700.

PR14 (steam) sold at Rs 3,000.

(This article was published on April 7, 2014)


HANOI, April 4 (Bernama) -- An initial five bidders, including Vietnam, have signed up to be among the

possible suppliers of 800,000 tonnes of rice to the Philippines, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported citing

the country's Inquirer.net Friday.

Those who officially entered the bidding process on Thursday included the Jakarta Stock Exchange-listed LG

International Corp, the Vietnam Southern Food Corp, and the shipping unit of the French group Louie Dreyfus

Co.Thai Hua Co Ltd and Asia Golden Rice Co Ltd from Thailand are also vying for rice contracts.The

Philippines National Food Authority (NFA) said it expects more bidders before the deadline of submissions on

April 15.Last March, Agriculture Undersecretary Dante S. Delima said the country needed 800,000 tonnes of



rice in 2014 to increase its stockpile, stabilise prices and rein in inflation.

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices - APMC & Open Market-April 7

Mon Apr 7, 2014 3:45pm IST

Nagpur, Apr 7 (Reuters) - Gram and tuar prices in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing

Committee (APMC) reported down on lack of demand from local millers amid poor quality arrival.

Easy condition on NCDEX in gram, fresh fall in Madhya Pradesh pulses and release of stock from

stockists also pushed down prices, according to sources.

* * * *

FOODGRAINS & PULSES

GRAM

* Gram super bold and medium best moved down in open market in absence of buyers amid

increased supply from producing regions.

TUAR

* Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here on subdued demand from local traders,

matching the demand and supply from producing belt.

* Moong varieties touched to a record high in open market on renewed demand from local

traders amid weak supply from producing regions. Unseasonal rains which damaged crop

heavily, activated stockists.

* In Akola, Tuar - 3,900-4,100, Tuar dal - 6,100-6,300, Udid at 6,100-6,500,

Udid Mogar (clean) - 7,200-7,700, Moong - 8,500-8,700, Moong Mogar

(clean) 9,800-10,500, Gram - 3,200-3,300, Gram Super best bold - 3,800-4,200

for 100 kg.

* Wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market

in thin trading activity, according to sources.

Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg

FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close

Gram Auction 2,330-2,800 2,300-2,840

Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600

Tuar Auction 3,750-4,250 3,900-4,320

Moong Auction n.a. 6,100-6,300

Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500

Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800

Gram Super Best Bold 4,000-4,200 4,000-4,300

Gram Super Best n.a.



Gram Medium Best 3,500-3,700 3,600-3,800

Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a.

Gram Mill Quality 3,650-3,750 3,650-3,750

Desi gram Raw 2,900-3,000 2,900-3,000

Gram Filter new 3,300-3,600 3,300-3,600

Gram Kabuli 8,900-10,900 8,900-10,900

Gram Pink 7,900-8,300 7,900-8,300

Tuar Fataka Best 6,600-6,700 6,600-6,700

Tuar Fataka Medium 6,100-6,300 6,100-6,300

Tuar Dal Best Phod 6,000-6,100 6,000-6,100

Tuar Dal Medium phod 5,900-6,000 5,900-6,000

Tuar Gavarani 4,450-4,600 4,450-4,600

Tuar Karnataka 4,600-4,700 4,600-4,700

Tuar Black 7,700-7,800 7,700-7,800

Masoor dal best 6,100-6,200 6,100-6,200

Masoor dal medium 5,600-5,900 5,600-5,900

Masoor n.a. n.a.

Moong Mogar bold 10,800-11,300 10,500-10,800

Moong Mogar Medium best 10,200-10,700 9,800-10,200

Moong dal super best 9,700-9,900 9,200-9,500

Moong dal Chilka 8,900-9,200 8,500-8,700

Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.

Moong Chamki best 9,000-10,000 8,700-9,600

Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 7,500-7,800 7,500-7,800

Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,600 5,800-6,600

Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,300 5,000-5,300

Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 4,500-5,500 4,500-5,500

Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 3,050-3,100 3,050-3,100

Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,350-3,450 3,350-3,450

Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,500 3,400-3,500

Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,800-5,100 4,800-5,100

Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,800 1,700-1,800

Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,900-1,950 1,900-1,950

Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,650-1,850 1,650-1,850

Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500

Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,100 2,050-2,200

Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,600 3,000-3,600

MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,900 2,400-2,900

Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG) 1,600-1,700 1,600-1,700

Wheat Best (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,750 1,700-1,750

Rice BPT new(100 INR/KG) 2,650-2,800 2,650-2,800

Rice BPT old (100 INR/KG) 3,300-3,600 3,300-3,600

Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,850 1,700-1,850

Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG) 2,700-2,800 2,700-2,800

Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,500 2,300-2,500



Rice HMT new (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,200 3,800-4,200

Rice HMT old (100 INR/KG) 4,400-4,700 4,400-4,700

Rice HMT Shriram (100 INR/KG) 5,400-5,800 5,400-5,800

Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 12,000-13,500 12,000-13,500

Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,500-9,000 6,500-9,000

Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG) 5,700-6,100 5,700-6,100

Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG) 5,100-5,600 5,100-5,600

Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,400-1,600 1,400-1,600

Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,800 1,700-1,800

WEATHER (NAGPUR)

Maximum temp. 41.3 degree Celsius (106.3 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.

23.0 degree Celsius (73.4 degree Fahrenheit)

Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.

Rainfall : nil

FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Mainly clear sky. Maximum and Minimum temperature likely to be

around 42 and 24 degree Celsius respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available

(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)


HYDERABAD, APRIL 7:

Rice scientists are urging farmers to take up new and improved varieties of rice to meet the rising

demand.―There is a great need for gradually phasing out the old varieties of rice with the new and improved

varieties. We are working overtime to encourage farmers in this regard,‖ said Swapan K Datta, Deputy Director

General (Crop Sciences) Indian Council of Agricultural Research.―Rice, followed by wheat, continues and will

remain the number one food crop in our country,‖ he said.Over 450 top scientists engaged in the field of rice

research took part in the 49th All India Annual Rice Group Meetings organised by Directorate of Rice Research

in Hyderabad on Sunday. EA Siddiq, Honorary Professor (Biotechnology), ANGRAU, said the ability to sustain

the growth in the next decade is a big challenge as India will need to produce 20-25 million tonnes more than

existing capacity.


Iron Range rebellion halted wild rice initiative Article by: JOSEPHINE MARCOTTY , Star Tribune staff writer

Updated: April 7, 2014 - 10:06 AM



Gov. Mark Dayton and top state pollution officials abruptly reversed a decision to publicly affirm a long-

standing and highly contentious water-quality rule designed to protect wild rice after Iron Range legislators

intervened in late February, according to internal records and e-mails.

Gov. Mark Dayton and top state pollution

officials abruptly reversed a decision to

publicly affirm a long-standing and highly

contentious water-quality rule designed to

protect wild rice after Iron Range

legislators intervened in late February,

according to internal records and e-

mails.The sudden scramble, which left

observers puzzled at the time, provides an

unusual close-up look at the intense

political, economic and environmental

stakes in the three-year fight over

protecting Minnesota‘s most beloved plant

from pollutants generated by mining and

other industries.For now, the stringent rule

is on the books, but its future is still

uncertain.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) was set to announce Feb. 27 that, after three years of debate

and $1.5 million in taxpayer-paid research, it would issue a preliminary recommendation that the 40-year-old

rule protecting wild rice ―was reasonable and should remain in effect,‖ according to documents obtained by the

Star Tribune under public records laws.But the announcement was postponed at the last minute, and that

recommendation never saw the light of day.Instead, two weeks later, Commissioner John Linc Stine said the

MPCA needed to conduct further studies, bring in outside experts to review the science and engage the public in

discussions about the impacts.In an interview last week, Stine said he changed course in response to ―frustrated‖

legislators who feared that even a preliminary recommendation by his agency would have a major chilling

affect on mining firms and other employers important to their districts.Stine also said that the more muted tone

the agency adopted was intended to do a better job of explaining the complicated balancing act between taconite

and wild rice.State scientists have not changed their view that, at least so far, the scientific research supports the

current wild rice standard, he said.

‘Very sensitive issue’

―We just wanted to get it right,‖ Dayton said in a separate interview. ―It is a very sensitive issue, here and up

there.‖Iron Range legislators who raised the issue with the governor say that the potential economic impacts of

the rule go far beyond the taconite industry and could cost cities, breweries and food processing plants millions

of dollars to comply.But their biggest fear, they said, is that the out-of-state corporations who own the mines

would find Minnesota inhospitable, and decide to go elsewhere.―These companies have no profound loyalty to



any one area of the world,‖ said Rep. Tom Anzelc, DFL-Balsam Township.Kathryn Hoffman, an attorney with

nonprofit law firm Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, said that furious reaction hides a quiet

environmental victory for wild rice.At this point, she said, the state‘s environmental standard remains in place

because the state‘s research supports it.―And this is science,‖ she said. ―Not democracy.‖

Regulation roadblock

Photo: Doug Smith/Star Tribune,

Sept. 21, 2013; near Emily, Minn., Rod Ustipak of Baxter, Minn., poles his canoe through a thick stand of wild rice on a small

in north-central Minnesota on the waterfowl opener. Ustipak heads the state's wild rice restoration program

China to employ weather control system to ensure rice

Follow the link to Watch online:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiGIViLvJBA

Govt beefs up efforts to fight illegal rice imports

Linda Yulisman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Business | Tue, April 08 2014, 10:02 AM

The Trade Ministry will issue stricter rules on the importation of premium rice to avert market distortion caused

by illegal shipments.Importers of the special types of rice will have to secure recommendations, including

import volume, from the Agriculture Ministry before applying for import permits to the Trade Ministry,

according to Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi.

The new policy will prevent certain importers using import permits for premium-quality rice to import medium-

quality rice; averting an influx of cheap rice that can hurt local farmers.―We aim to regulate who can and cannot

import and by doing this we can easily detect who is responsible for illegal imports,‖ said Lutfi on

Monday.Under the new rule, which will be issued soon, rice importers will fall into two types: producer

importers who will use the raw food for production of, for example, rice noodles and registered importers who

will resell it to local buyers and distributors.The latest policy effort was made following the early February

finding that 32 containers of rice from Vietnam that had entered the country through Tanjung Priok Port, in

three shipments, was of dubious quality.The finding sparked speculation that the rice was of medium quality,

thereby, raising concern over the leakage of such kind of rice through to end-consumers at the local market.



The government‘s investigation concluded that the rice was of premium quality.But the importers of the rice

breached the rule because the delivered rice was different from that stipulated in their import permits. The

government has processed the punishment for the abuse of licences.Indonesia, the world‘s fourth most populous

nation of more than 240 million, has gained a slight rice surplus over the past two years, particularly thanks to

favorable weather, removing the necessity to import medium-quality rice — the staple food for the majority of

its people.Last year, its total output topped 37 million tons of rice, while domestic consumption reached 35

million tons of rice.However, the country regularly imports premium types of rice to meet niche market demand

albeit in a small amount.Last year, it only bought around 50,000 tons of premium rice from neighboring

countries, particularly Thailand and Vietnam.

Up to the present, there are between 800 and 900 rice importers with special importer identification numbers

who are able to import rice.Under the new rule, the categories of rice, identified by harmonized system (HS)

codes, will be clarified, allowing the authorities to differentiate medium rice from premium rice quickly,

according to the Trade Ministry‘s director general for foreign trade Bachrul Chairi.Importers first had to

undergo a series of verification processes from related authorities to become producer importers or registered

importers, said Bachrul.A special team will be assigned to check warehouses where importers store their rice,

while appointed professional surveyors, such as Sucofindo, will carry out technical tracking to the source of

imports.

―We want to ensure that the importers are really the persons who work in rice trading or processing, so that we

will supervise them more easily,‖ Bachrul said.Apart from tightening supervision through the future policy, the

government has integrated the administration of import recommendations and licenses through the Indonesia

National Single Window, which allows online application.

Increase in Indian rice prices – positive for rice companies

[Sharekhan] 07 Apr 2014 12:05 PM

India‘s 5% broken rice price was up by 2% to $430 per ton in March 2014 from about $420 per ton recorded in February

2014.Meanwhile, average monthly wholesale rice prices in India increased to about Rs3,180 per quintal (about $530 per

ton, using current exchange rate) in March 2014, up about 16% from about Rs2,731 per quintal (about $444 per ton, using

current exchange rate) in February 2014, and up about 29% from about Rs2,458 per quintal (about $452 per ton, using

current exchange rate) in March 2013.This is positive for rice stocks (including LT foods, KRBL and Kohinoor Foods).

Powered by Sharekhan - MUST KNOW NEWS




OUR BUREAU

HYDERABAD, APRIL 7:

Rice scientists are urging farmers to take up new and improved varieties of rice to meet the rising

demand.―There is a great need for gradually phasing out the old varieties of rice with the new and improved

varieties. We are working overtime to encourage farmers in this regard,‖ said Swapan K Datta, Deputy Director

General (Crop Sciences) Indian Council of Agricultural Research.―Rice, followed by wheat, continues and will

remain the number one food crop in our country,‖ he said.Over 450 top scientists engaged in the field of rice

research took part in the 49th All India Annual Rice Group Meetings organised by Directorate of Rice Research

in Hyderabad on Sunday. EA Siddiq, Honorary Professor (Biotechnology), ANGRAU, said the ability to sustain

the growth in the next decade is a big challenge as India will need to produce 20-25 million tonnes more than

existing capacity.


Bats can help protect rice farms against pests

Kieran Dodds/Panos

[KUALA LUMPUR] Bats that prey on a major

rice pest in Thailand could save paddy

harvests worth millions of dollars and help

contribute to better food security, scientists say

in a paper published in Biological

Conservation recently (March).Using data

from a previous study and their own field

survey, the scientists came up with a value of

the predation of the wrinkle-lipped bat

(Tadarida plicata) on the white-backed

planthopper (Sogatella furcifera), a migratory

insect pest in Asia which feeds on rice shoots.The scientists calculated that each wrinkle-lipped bat consumes

about 1,130 white-backed planthoppers daily.

With a population of almost eight million, this bat species may prevent paddy losses of nearly 2,900 tonnes per

year worth US$1.2 million in export value, enough to feed 26,000 people for a year.Thomas Cherico Wanger,



lead author of the paper and a tropical ecologist at University of Göttingen in Germany, suggests that Thai rice

farmers can recruit bats in their fields by providing roosting boxes.―The model shows that 300 bats in each

roosting box can protect almost 700 kilograms of rice per year,‖ Wanger tells SciDev.Net.Bats have yet to be

considered as a significant pest control agent inagriculture, according to Wantana Srirattanasak, senior

entomologist of Thailand‘s Department of Rice. ―Our farmers have never thought of using bats as biological

control agents,‖ she says.A year-long survey in 2005 reported that planthoppers made up almost 30 per cent of

the diet of wrinkled-lipped bats. Working from this survey, Wanger and his team built a model to ―quantify the

amount of rice that bats protect when they feed on planthoppers.‖Combining data from the literature with their

field observations, the scientists used the model to estimate the number of white-backed planthoppers consumed

by all the wrinkled-lipped bats in Thailand.

They then estimated the amount of rice harvest saved due to the predation of these planthoppers.But models

simplify nature based on assumptions that might be wrong, Wanger warns, adding that it is crucial to ―compile

good data‖ and ―to indicate the level of error that comes with an estimate.―The model has merits as a thought

experiment,‖ says Geoff Gurr, applied ecology professor at Charles Sturt University in Australia.But Gurr, who

has been working on the biological control of planthoppers with arthropod predators, notes that only one field

survey was used to estimate the bats‘ predation of the planthoppers. ―It is not a substantial base on which to

extrapolate too widely,‖ he says.Another caveat is that the amount of rice saved by the bats— 2,900 tonnes— is

only a tiny portion of the 25-30 million tonnes of rice produced yearly in Thailand. Bats might not be irrelevant,

says Gurr, ―but they are a very small portion of the mortality that would be required to control the

planthoppers.‖Wanger says his team understands the limits of their model. But he argues it is crucial to test

predictions of the model against field experiments and more data analyses. He says their modelling code,

published with their paper, was made ―as transparent as possible‖ to help others test their predictions.

Link to paper in Biological Conservation

This article has been produced by SciDev.Net's South-East Asia & Pacific desk.

References

Biological Conservation DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2014.01.030 (2014)

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