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Page 1: 2nd november,2015 daily global,regional & local rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Rice Global, Regional & Regional is shared by Ricepus Magazine-Newsletter is viewed by international Rice related institutes and allied stake holders

For advertisement on Website ,blog and in daily Newsletters Contact: [email protected]

November 02,2015 Vol 5, Issue XI

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com

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Rice News Headlines...

Rice sector lands in multiple crises

High input cost for paddy cultivation leaves little for farmers in Odisha

Basmati fetches low prices, growers allege cartelization

National rice brand: Vietnam’s choice of jasmine rice controversial

Japonica rice considered for national brand development

Agriculture Minister: Indonesia Has Backup of Imported Rice

U.S. rice group urges Japan to open retail market

Ghana to have a National Rice Development Strategy

Reversal of rice import prohibition and its consequences

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-November 02

Farm Bureau Market Report 11/02/2015

Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report

USA Rice and Partners in Mexico Refine Promotions

News Detail...

Mars Food Partners with the Sustainable Rice Platform

11/02/2015

In much of the world, we take rice for granted. We‘ve got canisters of it in our cupboards, and

it‘s readily available in our stores. Indeed, we can take it or leave it as part of our daily meals.But

for billions of people around the globe, rice is the only thing standing between a full stomach and

going to bed hungry. For millions of farmers, it‘s the only difference between a decent wage and

destitution – and the only thing keeping their children alive. But with the world‘s population

expanding towards ten billion in the next 40 years, we face a very real threat: there may not be

enough rice to go around.Demand for rice is predicted to double by 2050, but producers – many

of whom are smallholder farmers – can‘t keep up.

And simply growing more rice isn‘t an option. Rice production is having a troubling effect on

the environment, in terms of both water use and emissions.This week, the Sustainable Rice

Platform (SRP) – of which Mars, Incorporated is a proud member – launched the first-ever

global standard for sustainable rice. Everyone in the rice supply chain will be able to use this

standard to reduce the environmental footprint of growing rice and improve the lives of rice

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farmers.Kristin Hughes, Mars Food‘s Global Director of Nutrition & Wellness and

Sustainability, explained our role and how we will use the new standard: ―We helped shape the

SRP standard and we will be using it to sustainably source 100% of our rice by 2020. We‘ve

already started to pilot the SRP standard in India and Pakistan.

Partnering with Bayer CropScience and the International Rice Research Institute, we invested in

a controlled farming program in Pakistan, and are now rolling it out to parts of India. The key

has been offering incentives to farmers to take part – we can then provide training and support on

how to make their farms more sustainable. It‘s a win-win for all involved.‖Kristin spoke at the

SRP‘s 5th Annual Plenary and General Assembly in Manila this week. The SRP was created in

2011 to identify and promote practices that can reduce the impact of rice production on the

environment, making it more sustainable for years to come.

The new standard is made up of 46 requirements organized under eight broad topics, including

productivity, food safety, worker health, labor rights, and biodiversity.Mars Food‘s efforts to

improve the sustainability of global rice production are part of our wider corporate commitment

to tackle the greatest environmental and social impacts in our supply chain. Since 2007, our

sustainable sourcing strategy has focused on eight raw materials: black tea, cocoa, coffee, fish,

mint, palm oil, peanuts and rice. In 2014, we added commitments on beef, paper and pulp, and

soy. All told, Mars, Incorporated‘s updated sourcing strategy will cover 23 raw materials,

covering 60% of our sourcing volume. We have a lot of work still to do, but we‘re proud of some

of our key achievements to date:

We now source 100% of our coffee and black tea from certified sources;

84% of our palm oil is now traceable to known mills;

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26% of our fish and seafood are from sustainable sources, putting us on track to fulfill our target of only

sourcing 100% sustainable fish by 2020;

We‘ve increased our purchase of certified cocoa to 36% of total volumes, moving closer to our target of

100% certified cocoa by 2020;

In 2014, 82.5% of our packaging was recyclable or recoverable, where infrastructure exists.

As the owner of the world‘s largest global rice brand, Uncle Bens®, Mars Food plans to lead the

way in making rice more sustainable. But as Kristin remarked at the SRP launch in Manila, we

can‘t do it alone: ―Today we ask others to join us. We must work together and we must bring

others along on the journey. The SRP standard helps carve the path toward a brighter and more

sustainable world for all of us. We are taking an important first step together toward making

sustainably sourced rice a global reality.‖

http://www.sustainablebrands.com/press/mars_food_partners_sustainable_rice_platform

South Indian curry bursts with fresh coconut flavor

Faith Durand, TheKitchn.com5:01 a.m. EST November 1, 2015

(Photo: Faith Durand)

I have a cookbook problem. No, I don‘t have too many (well, maybe that, too). While the

bookstores are glutted with cookbooks, and a new crop inundates us every season, I cannot find

the one definitive cookbook I crave — a South Indian cookbook to guide me through learning

how to cook recipes from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Goa. I crave South Indian food like nothing

else, and today‘s recipe is another effort to reproduce the lighter, fresher, coconut-driven curries

I love.I have tried many cookbooks, looking for the one to guide me to authentic and delicious

South Indian cuisine. I‘ve found recipes here and there, but cookbooks tend to fall into two

categories. The first is cookbooks that are published in the United States, with recipes and

ingredients simplified for an American audience.

Sometimes these are all right, but more frequently they give results that don‘t taste as full or

authentic.The second category is cookbooks straight from India; I have a friend who regularly

brings me new ones to try. These tend to be more authentic, but I struggle to translate some of

the ingredients, and to interpret instructions, which often assume a lot and take for granted a

certain level of familiarity with Indian cooking.It‘s been worth the hunt — because South Indian

food, for me, is the gold standard in taste and bright, astonishing flavors.Speaking very

simplistically, South Indian food tends to be lighter, with drier and less rich gravies than the

creamier curries of the north. The curries often rely quite a bit on toasted and ground coconut in

the ―masala‖ (the spice paste that is prepped before the curry itself is made). There is more use of

tamarind, the intensely tangy fruit, and of curry leaves.

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Curry leaves add a fragrant, slightly spicy flavor

to dishes like this, and for me they are one of the

key notes of authenticity in South Indian

cooking.This curry, honestly, should have curry

leaves, but I left them out because they are a rare

ingredient for many people. They can be found

fresh at most Indian groceries, and I love to use

them when I get my hands on them. If you pick

some up, throw in 20 or so during the

simmering/pressure cooking phase.Using the

pressure cooker for this recipe helps all these

flavors meld and permeate the chicken even

better than they would after a long slow simmer.

And it‘s ready fast — even considering the time

it takes to prepare the masala, with its range of

spices.This recipe, like many others I make these

days, comes not from a cookbook, but from a

blog. I adapted it for my taste, and for the

pressure cooker, from a Keralan cook‘s blog,

Induget‘s Cooking.

Kerala Coconut Chicken Curry

Adapted from Induget‘s Kerala Chicken Curry with Roasted Coconut and Spices

For the coconut spice paste

4 small dried red chilies

6 large shallots, peeled and halved

3/4 cup grated unsweetened coconut

4 whole cloves

1 inch cinnamon stick

3 green cardamom pods

2 teaspoons black peppercorns

2 teaspoons coriander seeds

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2 teaspoons fennel seeds

1 teaspoon brown or black mustard seeds

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1 teaspoon turmeric powder

For the chicken curry

1 tablespoon vegetable oil or coconut oil

1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and minced

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 large yellow onions, sliced

2 large tomatoes, sliced

2 1/2 to 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces

3 teaspoons salt

1 tablespoon vinegar

To serve

Cooked basmati rice

Yogurt

For the coconut spice paste: If using an electric pressure cooker, heat it to its brown or

saute setting (whichever is hotter). If using a stovetop pressure cooker, place the

uncovered pot over medium heat. Roast the red chilies and shallots together until all

have developed black spots. Remove and set aside in the bowl of a small food

processor.

Add the coconut and whole spices to the hot pressure cooker pan and cook for about 1

minute, stirring constantly until fragrant and toasted and the coconut has turned light

brown. Add the turmeric and stir for another few seconds, then transfer coconut and

spices to the food processor bowl.

Blend until fairly smooth, adding a 4 to 6 tablespoons of water to create a creamy paste.

Set aside.

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Shortcut Option: If you do not have the whole spices, or don‘t want to take the time to

pull them together, you may substitute 3 tablespoons garam masala spice powder. Add

to the coconut after the coconut is toasted, stir for another 15 seconds, then proceed

with the recipe.

For the chicken curry: Add oil to the hot pressure cooker pot. When hot, add chopped

ginger, garlic and sliced onions. Saute for 10 to 15 minutes, or until onions are softened

and browned around the edges. Add the coconut spice paste and fry for 1 minute. Add

the sliced tomatoes and fry for 5 more minutes or until tomatoes have broken down.

Stir in the chicken, salt, and vinegar. Mix well.

Cover the pressure cooker and lock the lid. Bring up to pressure. Cook on HIGH

pressure for 10 minutes, then let the pressure release naturally (this will take another 8

to 15 minutes).

The chicken should be thoroughly cooked, but if it is not, or if it is not as tender as you

would like it to be, pressure cook for another 4 minutes, using the quick pressure

release to immediately let out the steam after the cook time.

Serve with basmati rice and yogurt. Makes 6 servings.

Tool tip: I am using an electric pressure cooker so all of this is automatic; I tell the

pressure cooker to cook it on HIGH pressure (15 psi) for 10 minutes, with a natural

pressure release, so I set it and walk away. The pressure cooker brings itself up to full

heat and pressure, cooks for 10 minutes after that, then slowly releases the pressure. I

can tell that the pressure is fully released when the safety lock on the lid turns off, and

the valve float drops down.

If you are using a stovetop pressure cooker, then follow the instructions and method for

bringing the pressure up in the pressure cooker and cook as directed above.

Stovetop directions (no pressure cooker): If you want to make this without a pressure

cooker, simply follow the instructions above, toasting the spices and coconut in a skillet

or Dutch oven instead of in a pressure cooker. Cook the onions and garlic in a Dutch

oven or deep pot with a lid. After adding the chicken, cover and cook on low heat for

30 to 45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.

Per serving (without yogurt or rice): 414 calories; 21 g fat (7 g saturated fat; 46

percent calories from fat); 18 g carbohydrates; 128 mg cholesterol; 1,298 mg sodium;

38 g protein; 4 g fiber.

DELROIT NEWS

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District-level approach to agricultural uplift

MUHAMMAD MUNIR AHMED — PUBLISHED A DAY AGO

WHEN a farmer himself throws away milk or burns corn, it is an indication that things are going

from bad to worse for him.Seen in this context, the prime minister‘s kissan package is a good

start towards solving the problems of the rural community. But this initiative needs to be made

more purposeful and result-oriented.Since agriculture is the initiator of the country‘s economic

activity, a large number of business groups — like arthis; sellers of seeds, fertilisers and

insecticides; and commission agents of fruit and vegetable markets — are associated with the

farmers.

The role of all these affiliates is exploitative because a sizable part of the proceeds from crops

and produce is taken by these market brokers in the shape of various commissions and discounts.

The situation is more pronounced in case of small farmers as compared to the big

landlords.There is no institutional platform to solve such problems faced by small farmers as the

representatives of agricultural chambers and growers associations largely comprise rural elites

having political clout.The government allows the establishment of a chamber for small and

medium enterprises (SMEs) at the district level. A similar initiative is required for agriculture to

enable small farmers to focus on the problems that they themselves are facing.At the district

level, agricultural departments are in place to provide advisory and extension services to the

farmers under the control of district coordination officers (DCO) but there is little interaction

with small farmers.

At the time of sowing, the farmers do not have easy access to certified quality seeds. After

sowing, the availability of genuine fertiliser and pesticide is not assured.And in case of any

attack by a disease or a pest, the poor farmer is entirely on his own owing to his lack of access to

sound advice from an agricultural scientist.After the harvesting of the crop, the input providers

happily count their fat profits whereas the farmers worry about getting a better return for their

produce. The plight of sugarcane growers is now well known.In the case of milk, the situation is

not much different. After paying around Rs50 per litre to farmers, the milk processing companies

are charging well over Rs100 per litre from the general consumers.

Rice growers have also been crying due to heavy losses for the last two years, but the retail price

of basmati rice is more than Rs100 per kg.There is a need to make agricultural departments

functional under the proactive leadership of DCOs. A DCO should be given targets for the

promotion of agriculture and livestock in his area. The performance of DCOs must be linked

with the fostering of a favourable environment in their districts for the farming community and

their achievements may be acknowledged.Another dark area for farmers relates to the behaviour

of banks as agricultural finance is considered cumbersome and small farmers treated as sub-

prime borrowers. The highest lending rates are charged from the farmers.

It is sheer injustice that the exporters get export finance below 5pc, while the farmers — the

backbone of the economy — pay more than 15pc for bank credit.Since the banks mobilise low-

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cost deposits at 3-5pc from rural depositors, the lending rate on rural credit should not exceed 9-

10pc. At a time when farmers are getting desperate, the SBP needs to rationalise the cost of

agricultural credit.The kissan package is largely quantitative in nature, aiming at certain

subsidies and cuts in the prices of inputs.We are now living in a different environment. A great

deal of awareness has taken root among the farmers.

The local body system is soon coming where each district will be a unit of governance.It is the

appropriate time to make agricultural upliftment a high priority for the coming district

governments under the leadership of district nazims and DCOs. For this, very little

administrative and legislative initiatives — but a strong political will — will be required.If the

kissan package is implemented in a half-hearted way, agriculture in particular and the economy

in general will be badly hurt.The writer is President, Institute of Banking and Business Learning.

[email protected]

Basmati growers blame cartels for low prices

“They are feeling cheated by the State government”

After cotton farmers, basmati growers in Punjab and Haryana are in for a shock as popular

aromatic rice varieties like PUSA 1121 are fetching ―far lower‖ prices than what they got last

season.While growers accuse rice exporters of indulging in cartelisation for distress sales,

exporters blame weak global demand and oversupply for the ―basmati crisis‖.Disappointed with

―low‖ prices for their crop, farmers‘ unions have now decided to launch an agitation against the

government which encouraged growers to switch over to premium varieties but failed to ensure

profitable prices.

Popular basmati variety PUSA 1121, which has started arriving in mandis of Punjab and

Haryana, is priced in the range of Rs 1,300 to 1,800 per quintal against Rs 3,000 per quintal last

season, traders said.Similarly, another variety PUSA 1509 is hovering around Rs 1,200-1,300 per

quintal.However, after the intervention of Punjab and Haryana governments, this variety is now

being purchased at MSP rate.―First cotton farmers faced heavy losses because of crop damage.

Now rice farmers are in problem as they are unable in getting good price for their crop which

they had sown under the crop diversification programme. They are feeling cheated by the state

government,‖ Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri said on

Sunday.

Stir planned

Mr Kokri said as many as 12 outfits, including four farm labour organisations, will launch a

three-day sit-in starting November 4 at Moga and Amritsar, which are in the basmati growing

belts of Punjab.―We demand Rs 5,000 per quintal for PUSA 1121 and Rs 4,500 per quintal for

PUSA 1509 variety,‖ Mr Kokri said.Rice growers accused exporters of making ―high profits‖ by

way of forming a ―cartel‖, thereby forcing them to sell crop at lower rates.―If prices of basmati

paddy have come down from Rs 40 per kg to Rs 18 per kg then why retail price of basmati rice

could not drop in the same way?

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Consumers are still purchasing basmati rice at same rate of Rs 80-100 per kg,‖ said Puneet

Singh Thind, convener of Rashtriya Kisan Sangathan.With basmati not turning out to be

profitable, farmers will again switch to water-consuming normal varieties of paddy which at least

ensures minimum support price.―With the kind of rates farmers are getting for their basmati crop,

they will stop growing it and shift to ordinary varieties,‖ said an official of Punjab agriculture

department in Amritsar.Amritsar district is one of the leading producers of basmati in Punjab.

Out of the total area of 1.80 lakh hectares under paddy in Amritsar, basmati is sown under 1.36

lakh hectares this year.

‘Weak demand’

Rice exporters ascribed low rate of basmati to weak global demand and heavy inventory of

crop.―There is weak demand for basmati in overseas markets at present. For example, Iran has

not yet started placing orders.Basmati market in countries like Iraq and Yemen has shrunk which

also led to dip in demand for Indian basmati,‖ said Kohinoor Foods Joint MD Gurnam

Arora.―Heavy inventory is lying with exporters,‖ Mr Arora said, adding that prices of all

commodities in international markets were down.Total basmati area in Punjab and Haryana is

about 8 lakh hectares and 6 lakh hectares respectively. -- PTI

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/basmati-growers-blame-cartels-for-low-

prices/article7831116.ece?ref=tpnews

Final hearing on Basmati GI this week

IPAB to hear the claims of all the parties for three consecutive days during Nov 3-5

By: Sandip Das | New Delhi | November 2, 2015 12:28 AM

India‘s famous Basmati rice is likely to get intellectual property rights (IPR) protection in the home

country as the final hearing pertaining to the case is slated to be held next week at Chennai based

Geographical Indications (GI) registry.Official sources told FE that the Chennai-based Intellectual

Property Appellate Board (IPAB) is slated to hear the claims of all the parties—commerce ministry,

exporters, farmers organisation for three consecutive days during November 3-5 prior to giving a

judgment on GI certification to Basmati rice.

―The GI for Basmati rice would boost our export potential,‖ a commerce ministry official said.The GI tag

for aromatic long grained Basmati rice got delayed as the GI Registry, in a directive issued on December

31, 2013, had asked the Centre if Madhya Pradesh could be included in the definition of traditionally

Basmati-growing geography, inviting strong reactions from the commerce and agriculture ministries,

which thinks the state‘s claim is unjustified.

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Even as the

issue was pending

with the GI Registry,

the Madhya Pradesh

government had

moved the IPAB.

The Agricultural and

Processed Foods

Export Development

Authority (Apeda)

subsequently told the

IPAB that MP‘s

claim is invalid.

Under the

Geographical

Indications of Goods

(Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, Apeda is designated to be the custodian of GI rights for farm

produce.

―Considering the Madhya Pradesh case for inclusion in Basmati growing region would amount to playing

with rights of those farmers who have been traditionally growing Basmati in Indo-Gangetic plain,‖ a

commerce ministry official said.Leading agricultural scientists have also opposed Madhya Pradesh‘s

attempt to be included in Basmati-growing regions, by stating that it would adversely impact the quality

of Basmati rice and sully its global repute. ―Claiming rice grown in Madhya Pradesh as Basmati is not

correct as we have developed seed varieties keeping in mind agro-climatic zones of the Indo-Gangetic

plain,‖ KV Prabhu, deputy director, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), and a well-known rice

breeder, said.

In 2009, Apeda under the commerce ministry had applied to the GI Registry asking for exclusive

(commercial) use of the Basmati tag for the grain varieties grown within the boundaries of the Indo-

Gagentic plain in Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and 26 districts of western Uttar

Pradesh and two districts of Jammu and Kashmir.GI ascribes exclusivity to the community in a defined

geography rather than to an individual as in the case of trademarks and patents.

First Published on November 02, 2015 12:28 am

FINANCIAL EXPRESS

Replace costlier dals with soya products for protein: Agri-

economist Ashok Gulati

By PTI | 2 Nov, 2015, 03.20PM IST

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Amid skyrocketing pulses prices hurting common man's budget, agri-economist Ashok Gulati today

suggested that consumers should replace costlier dals with soya products for high protein.NEW DELHI:

Amid skyrocketing pulses prices hurting common man's budget, agri-economist Ashok Gulati today

suggested that consumers should replace costlier dals with soya products for high protein. "There is a lot

of pulses problem these days. We cannot produce much of tur dal, but we have a huge soya crop. We take

pulses for protein.

Why don't we go for soya products like soya milk, tofu and reconstituted soya dals," Gulati said at an

event organised by National Skills Foundation of India. Soya has 40 per cent protein, while pulses have

only 20 per cent protein, he said while emphasising the need to treat soya as protein crop and innovation

in food-processing. At present, soya crop in the country is grown as an oilseed crop, he added. Gulati,

former Chairman of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and a Padma Shri awardee,

was speaking on Technologies and innovation in agriculture: pushing the frontiers. Pulses prices have

risen unabated due to fall in domestic production by two million tonnes in 2014-15 crop year (July-June)

due to poor rains. Retail prices of tur and urad are ruling up to Rs 190-200 per kg. CACP Chairman

Ashok Vishandaas said retail prices of pulses have gone up to Rs 220 per kg, but farmers are still

suffering as they are not getting the right price. The pulses problem has aggravated because of increased

focus on rice and wheat production, he added.

Emphasising the need to raise productivity of farm labourers, Vishandaas said that around 50 per cent of

the population depends on agriculture, contributing only 13.8 per cent to the country's GDP. "This means,

we are under-utilising our labourers. Can we move them out of agriculture and equip them with other

skills?" he said. Echoing similar views, UN body FAO India representative Shyam Khadka said only 2.3

per cent of the country's farmers are professionally trained, as against 96 per cent in Korea, 75 per cent in

Germany and 53 per cent in the US.

More skills are required to be taught to farmers, especially in the area of post-harvesting, food processing

and animal husbandry, among others, he said. Gulati also talked about innovation in agriculture sector

that is competitive, inclusive, sustainable and scalable, while citing examples of the success of Bt cotton,

maize and Pusa basmati rice. Stating that new farm technologies in future are going to come more from

private sector, Gulati said the sector will not bring in technology for free and diffusion of these

technologies in India would be difficult if intellectual property right is not protected. PTI

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/replace-costlier-dals-with-soya-products-

for-protein-agri-economist-ashok-gulati/articleshow/49629176.cms

APEDA COMMODITY NEWS FROM INDIA

International Benchmark Price

Price on: 30-10-2015

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Product Benchmark Indicators Name Price

Rice

1 CZCE Early Rice Futures (USD/t) 324

2 Pakistani 100%, FOB Karachi (USD/t) 318

3 Pakistani 25% Broken (USD/t) 383

Wheat

1 GFO, HRW, DAT Ontario (USD/t) 186

2 NYSE Liffe Feed Wheat Futures (USD/t) 177

3 NYSE Liffe Milling Wheat Futures (USD/t) 199

White Sugar

1 CZCE White Sugar Futures (USD/t) 815

2 Pakistani refined sugar, EXW Akbari Mandi (USD/t) 531

3 Thai VHP, FOB Thailand (USD/t) 460

Source:agra-net For more info

Market Watch

Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 29-10-2015

Domestic Prices Unit Price : Rs per Qty

Product Market Center Variety Min Price Max Price

Jowar(Sorgham)

1 Kolar (Karnataka) Local 2300 3500

2 Deoli (Rajasthan) Other 1100 1900

3 Amreli (Gujaratl) Other 1510 2300

Maize

1 Bagalakot (Karnataka) Local 1268 1400

2 Kurali (Punjab) Other 900 1250

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3 Akluj (Maharashtra) Yellow 1431 1431

Orange

1 Chala (Kerala) Other 4000 4100

2 Solan (Himachal Pradesh) Other 2000 3000

3 Mumbai (Maharashtra) Other 1000 3000

Onion

1 Surat (Gujarat) Other 2000 4000

2 Devala (Maharashtra) Other 1500 3600

3 Barnala (Punjab) Other 2200 2800

Source:agmarknet.nic.in For more info

Egg Rs per 100 No

Price on 02-11-2015

Product Market Center Price

1 Pune 385

2 Chittoor 358

3 Hyderabad 345

Source: e2necc.com

Other International Prices Unit Price : US$ per package

Price on 30-10-2015

Product Market Center Origin Variety Low High

Potatoes Package: 50 lb cartons

1 Atlanta Colorado Russet 17 17.75

2 Chicago Idaho Russet 13 16

3 Miami Idaho Russet 17 18

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Cabbage Package: 50 lb sacks

1 Atlanta Georgia Round Green Type 12.50 13

2 Dallas Colorado Round Green Type 11.50 11.50

3 Miami Canada Round Green Type 13.50 14

Grapes Package: 19 lb containers bagged

1 Atlanta California Red Globe 26 26

2 Chicago California Red Globe 18 20

3 New York California Red Globe 20 20

Source:USDA

Rice sector lands in multiple crises

ASHFAK BOKHARI

AS the new rice crop starts arriving, local prices are dropping and are already down 30pc

from this time last year. And the farmers are hardly enthused as they know they will be

paid peanuts for the crop they produced with strenuous labour and at a higher cost.

This scenario at the rice market emerged over the last few years. The country‘s

rice sector is currently passing through multiple crises and one is at loss to

foresee an early recovery.The reasons include the soaring cost of production

because of expensive inputs, lower yielding seeds, unsold stock of 500,000

tonnes from the last two years (valued at more than $1bn), an acute shortage of

funds, and the inability of growers, millers and exporters to repay their loans.

And the government seems to be indifferent to the situation.

Pakistan’s rice exports have declined 8pc during the first two months of this fiscal year

Besides, after the devolution of agriculture to the provinces, there is much confusion over policy

issues. The provinces are reluctant to take initiatives to resolve the rice growers‘ problems and

expect the centre to step in if the nature of the problems is similar in all the federating units.Even

the much-vaunted Rs341bn agriculture relief package has failed to earn applause from rice

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growers, who argue that the cash support of Rs5,000 per acre offered to them is insufficient to

make up for the losses they have incurred.

The losses are estimated to be around Rs30,000 per acre — six times more than the incentive

being given to them.As a result, Pakistan is losing its coveted place in the global rice market. It

has become uncompetitive, especially in the case of various basmati varieties, and rice-importing

countries have begun turning to India, Thailand and Vietnam. The demand for Pakistani rice is

drying up because of its comparatively higher prices.

The Export price of Pakistani basmati, which is much sought-after in Arab countries, is higher by

at least $100-150 per tonne when compared to its Indian counterpart. Pakistan‘s rice exports

have declined 8pc during the first two months of this fiscal year.About two years ago, when rice

exports were worth $2.2bn, the basmati and Irri varieties earned virtually the same amount of

foreign exchange. But last year, out of $1.8bn total rice exports, Irri‘s share went up to $1.2bn

and basmati‘s dropped to $600m, indicating its shrinking role.In terms of quantity, the country

has been producing about 2m tonnes of basmati rice, half of which is consumed domestically and

the rest exported. But from 2011 onwards, the exports started declining for various reasons.One

reason for basmati‘s drop is that since 1997 no new basmati seed has been introduced in the

market. Meanwhile, the Indians came up with five new varieties in the last 10 years.

Pakistan launched a long grain Basmati 385 variety in the 1980s which was a major success in

terms of yield. In the 1990s, another high-yield and longer grain variety, called Super Basmati,

was introduced.But after being in use for around two decades, these varieties have lost much of

their potency and their yields have declined drastically. Later, the Indians also introduced

Basmati 385 and Super Basmati based on smuggled seeds from Pakistan and started marketing

them abroad under the same brands.However, a more immediate problem faced by the rice

industry is the shortage of cash flow. The exporters are not in a position to even paddy from

growers, although the crop has already arrived in some areas and is available at extremely low

prices.But the rice millers are the main buyers. As many as 3,000 individuals, including millers,

farmers and exporters, have taken Rs100bn worth of loans from banks, according to the Pakistan

Rice Mills Association.

But they are unable to repay their dues.To pacify the concerns of the rice industry, Prime

Minister Nawaz Sharif announced in a meeting with a delegation of the Rice Exporters

Association of Pakistan (Reap) that loans of the industry will be rolled-over until June 2016 to

prevent defaults. But the decision has not been implemented yet.Reap‘s other major demands

include the withdrawal of the 3.5pc withholding tax on local purchase of rice, repayment of

export refinance loans in 360 days instead of the current 180 days, an industry status for rice

milling and the reduction of the withholding tax on rice to 0.25pc from the current 1pc.The group

also wants no intervention by the Trading Corporation of Pakistan and Pakistan Agricultural

Storage and Services Corporation in the rice trade, in addition to the privatisation of rice research

institutes at Kala Shah Kaku and Dokri and the adoption of a sui generis geographical indications

law.At another meeting convened by the State Bank of Pakistan on September 4, the banks

agreed to facilitate borrowers by allowing them roll-over facility and releasing their pledged

stocks as their quality may deteriorate if kept for long.

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However, the banks have yet to convey their policy decision to their branches.During the

meeting, it was pointed out that only those borrowers who had genuine difficulties would be

accommodated and that it was not a blanket relief.

Published in Dawn, Business & Finance weekly, November 2nd, 2015

http://www.dawn.com/news/1216840

High input cost for paddy cultivation leaves little for farmers

in Odisha

Satyasundar Barik

Agriculture seems to have been reduced to a traditional compulsion rather than an economic

option in Odisha.An analysis says that a farmer in Odisha would earn a profit of Rs.3,000 per

acre of paddy cultivation after toiling months in the field as input cost has gone up sharply in

past decade. While present cost of cultivation per acre is estimated at Rs.17,000, the farmer gets

yield around 15 quintal of paddy per acre of land which fetch him around Rs.20,000.According

to Orissa University of Agriculture Technology (OUAT), till 2011-12, the cost of cultivation for

one acre of land in Odisha was Rs.1,4439.26 and given then minimum support price for paddy at

Rs.1,110, farmers were getting Rs.16,650 per acre. Thus the net profit was around Rs.2,000.

OUAT had then arrived at a calculation that a farmer was spending Rs.1,225 per quintal of paddy

while the MSP for paddy was fixed at Rs.1,280 leaving slender profit.―The paddy cultivation

during Kharif season has become non-remunerative. The earning margin per acre of paddy

cultivation ranges from Rs.2,000 to Rs.5,000 depending on the weather condition, land fertility

and wage components,‖ said S. K. Tripathy, head of department of agricultural economics of

OUAT‘s College of Agriculture.Prof Tripathy said the cost of paddy cultivation in 2004-05 was

Rs.7,295 per acre which sharply rose to Rs.14,439 per acre in the year 2011-12. If monsoon

become erratic or any disaster strikes, the slender profit margin in paddy cultivation get wiped

out.According to OUAT analysis, farmers make profit in Rabi crops.

But irrigation facilities are not available in all pockets.Although MSP was determined according

to the rise in input cost, but cost of inflation with regards to other necessary commodities a

farmer purchases from market other than rice was never taken into consideration.The outcome is

visible. Majority of farmers and agricultural labourers are leaving their villages to participate in

more remunerative off-farm works. Emphasis on agro-processing, diversification of cultivation

and value addition measures are some measures by which the government could reverse the

exodus of farmers, said Prof Tripathy.http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/high-

input-cost-for-paddy-cultivation-leaves-little-for-farmers-in-odisha/article7831011.ece?css=print

Basmati fetches low prices, growers allege cartelization

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Chandigarh, November 1After cotton farmers, basmati growers in Punjab and Haryana are in for a

shock as popular aromatic rice varieties like PUSA 1121 are fetching ―far lower‖ prices than what they

got last season.While growers accuse rice exporters of indulging in cartelisation for distress sales,

exporters blame weak global demand and oversupply for the ―basmati crisis‖.Disappointed with ―low‖

prices for their crop, farmer unions have now decided to launch an agitation against the government

which encouraged growers to switch over to premium varieties but failed to ensure profitable prices.

Popular basmati variety PUSA 1121, which has started arriving in mandis of Punjab and Haryana, is

priced in the range of Rs 1,300 to 1,800 per quintal against Rs 3,000 per quintal last season, traders

said.Similarly, another variety PUSA 1509 is hovering around Rs 1,200-1,300 per quintal. However, after

the intervention of Punjab and Haryana governments, this variety is now being purchased at MSP

rate.―First cotton farmers faced heavy losses because of crop damage. Now rice farmers are in problem as

they are unable to get good price for their crop which they had sown under the crop diversification

programme.

They are feeling cheated by the state government,‖ Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) general secretary

Sukhdev Kokri said today.Kokri said 12 outfits, including four farm labour organsiations, would launch a

three-day sit-in starting November 4 at Moga and Amritsar, which are in the basmati growing belts of

Punjab. ―We demand Rs 5,000 per quintal for PUSA 1121 and Rs 4,500 per quintal for PUSA 1509

variety,‖ Kokri said.Rice growers accused exporters of making ―high profits‖ by way of forming a

―cartel‖, thereby forcing them to sell crop at lower rates.―If prices of basmati paddy have come down

from 40 per kg to Rs 18 per kg then why retail price of basmati rice could not drop in the same way?

Consumers are still purchasing basmati rice at same rate of Rs 80-100 per kg,‖ said Puneet Singh Thind,

convener of Rashtriya Kisan Sangathan.

With basmati not turning out to be profitable, farmers will again switch to water-consuming normal

varieties of paddy which at least ensures minimum support price.―With the kind of rates farmers are

getting for their basmati crop, they will stop growing it and shift to ordinary varieties,‖ said an official of

Punjab Agriculture Department in Amritsar.Amritsar district is one of the leading producers of basmati.

Out of the total area of 1.80 lakh hectares under paddy in Amritsar, basmati was sown on 1.36 lakh

hectares this year. Rice exporters ascribed low rate of basmati to weak global demand and heavy

inventory of crop.

―There is weak demand for basmati in overseas markets at present. For example, Iran has not yet started

placing orders. Basmati market in countries like Iraq and Yemen has shrunk which also led to dip in

demand for Indian basmati,‖ said Kohinoor Foods Joint MD Gurnam Arora.―Heavy inventory is lying

with exporters,‖ Arora said, adding that prices of all commodities in international markets were down.

Total basmati area in Punjab and Haryana is about 8 lakh hectares and 6 lakh hectares, respectively. —

PTI

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http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/basmati-fetches-low-prices-growers-allege-

cartelisation/153427.html

National rice brand: Vietnam’s choice of jasmine rice

controversial

VietNamNet Bridge - While many countries in the world have reduced the cultivation of Jasmine rice,

because it is difficult to grow and sell, the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) has decided that Jasmine will

be the national rice brand for Vietnam.

The VFA‘s choice to develop Jasmine as the nation‘s rice brand has faced strong opposition

from experts, businesses and state management agencies as well.Some rice export companies in

Mekong River Delta have joined forces with farmers to grow and export Jasmine rice, exports

are below expectations.In the 2014-2015 winter-spring crop, Tan Cuong Cooperative grew 1,000

hectares of Jasmine 85 rice under a contract signed with the Northern Food Corporation

(Vinafood 1). Under the contract, the enterprise is in charge of providing seeds and commits to

buy rice at the market prices.However, the cooperation failed.

Tan Cuong could not sell rice to Vinafood 1 and had to terminate the cooperation contract. The

problem was that the rice could not satisfy the standards set before in the contract.Experts

warned that the demand for Jasmine rice in the world has shrunk. If Vietnam grows this variety

of rice, it will find it difficult to sell the products.Professor Vo Tong Xuan, the best known rice

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expert, said this variety of rice has been eliminated in many countries in the world.In the US,

Jasmine 85 appeared in 1989, but now imports 700,000 tons of Thai fragrant rice because

consumers do not like Jasmine‘s taste and fragrance.In 1989, the US Agriculture Department

decided to improve Jasmine and turn it into Jazzman which has the scent more similar to

Thailand‘s Hom mali. Jazzman 2 is now sold in the US at $3.77 per kilo, while imports from

Thailand $2.64-3.08 per kilo.Xuan noted that foreign consumers only care about the quality of

rice, while they do not care about the history and culture – the highlights in the national rice

brand development project drawn up by VFA.

If Vietnam still decides to choose Jasmine as the nation‘s rice brand, it will go against the

world‘s consumption tendency.According to MARD, a national brand needs to be the

representative of the nation, and it must be outstanding and sustainable. Jasmine is a rice variety

created by the Filipino IRRI, which is the result of the mix between IR262 high-yielding variety

and Thai aromatic Khao Dawk Mali.Jasmine 85 has a scent similar to Thai‘s rice, but it gives

low yield. Therefore, small merchants tend to mix Jasmine with high-yield varieties to have

easier-to-grow and scented rice.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/144885/national-rice-brand--vietnam-s-choice-of-jasmine-rice-

controversial.html

Japonica rice considered for national brand development

VietNamNet Bridge - The Vietnam Food Association (VFA) has suggested adding Japonica, a Japanese

rice variety, on the list of rice varieties for consideration to develop a national rice brand.

Under the plan to develop the brand by 2020, three varieties have been chosen for consideration,

including Jasmine rice, scented rice and a sticky rice specialty. However, VFA has suggested that

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Japonica should also be considered.VFA‘s secretary general Huynh Minh Hue said there were two

reasons behind the association‘s decision. First, the market demand for Japonica rice is relatively high.

And second, Vietnam has favorable conditions to organize the production of the rice.―We have heard that

10,000 hectares of Japonica rice were grown in the provinces of Kien Giang and An Giang last crop and

the sales were very satisfactory. This shows that we are capable of growing Japonica in our conditions,‖

he said.

Hue, who went on a business trip to Yunnan province indit China some days ago with officials from the

Ministries of Industry & Trade (MOIT) and Agriculture & Rural Development (MARD), has found that

the demand for Japonica rice in the Chinese province is relatively high. The provincial rice center needs

up to 1.4 million tons of Japonica rice a year.―We were told that 70 percent of the demand in the locality

is for Japonica and the other 30 percent is for long-grain rice,‖ he said, adding that he and other officials

had the opportunity to visit a rice market.Hue said that it was still necessary to learn more about the

market to clarify the information, but the demand for Japonica appears to be high in China. Besides,

Vietnam also hopes he can sell Japonica rice to other markets.

A rice exporter said he agrees with Hue that the market for Japonica is large enough for Vietnam to

organize Japonica rice production. ―With the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) signed, Japan

has agreed to open its market,‖ he noted.―In fact, Japanese companies have visited Vietnam to organize

Japonica rice production in Vietnam,‖ he said.Under the plan on developing Vietnam national rice brand,

20 percent of Vietnam‘s rice exports would bear the Vietnamese brand by 2020, while the proportion will

be 50 percent by 2030. Thirty percent of total rice exports will be scented and specialty products.Vietnam

is one of the world‘s largest rice export countries, but it is considered a low-cost rice exporter, though its

high-end products are also available in the world. MARD‘s Deputy Minister Tran Thanh nam said that

Vietnam‘s high-end rice products have been available at supermarkets overseas, but they bear foreign

brands. This shows that Vietnam is capable of penetrating the high-end market segment.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/145229/japonica-rice-considered-for-national-brand-

development.html

Agriculture Minister: Indonesia Has Backup of Imported Rice

SUNDAY, 01 NOVEMBER, 2015 | 16:30 WIB

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman announced that the government

had already had a backup of imported rice. However, he asserted that the rice would not enter

Indonesia if it were not needed."It‘s only a backup. If we still have the supply, it won‘t be sent

here," Amran said in Jakarta on Sunday (1/10).According to Amran, until today, rice supply

stands at 1.5 million tons, while last week, rice supply that entered Cipinang wholesale rice

market reached 5,000 tons. Usually, he added, the amount of rice that entered the market was

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only 3,000 tons of rice.

"It shows that our production has increased,‖ he added.The government, Amran said, would

optimize local rice supply until the end of the year.Amran, however, declined to reveal from

which countries the backup of imported rice would come from. He also declined to reveal the

amount that would be sent.Previously, President Joko ‗Jokowi‘ Widodo said that the government

would import rice to strengthen national rice supply if rainy season has not arrived."We‘re going

to import rice to strengthen national rice supply, but we can store it in Vietnam or Thailand, or

here," Jokowi said.Jokowi decided to import rice if the government considered necessary.

According to him, if rainy season has not arrived in the third or fourth week of October or if

needed, the government will import rice.

http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2015/11/01/056714936/Agriculture-Minister-Indonesia-Has-Backup-of-

Imported-Rice

U.S. rice group urges Japan to open retail market

JIJI NOV 1, 2015

CHICAGO – The USA Rice Federation, in a report submitted to the Office of the U.S. Trade

Representative, effectively called on Japan to open its retail rice market to U.S. imports.While

noting that market access for rice identified as U.S. origin in Japan is ―limited by the import

policies,‖ the federation said, ―U.S. rice is most often destined for government stocks, designated

for food processing use or livestock feed, or re-exported as food aid.

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‖―Thus, virtually all imports of U.S. rice are prevented from entering the high-value retail

market, and U.S. exporters are, as a result, unable to develop year-round marketing plans and

consumer relationships,‖ it said in the report, submitted Friday.Regarding the broad agreement

on the Trans-Pacific Partnership for free trade reached by Japan, the United States and 10 other

Pacific Rim countries in early October, the report said that ―the official text has not yet been

released so a full assessment of the impact on rice market access is not possible.‖The federation,

made up of rice growers, drew up the report in a bid to reflect its thoughts in the National Trade

Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, compiled by the Office of the USTR every year.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/11/01/business/u-s-rice-group-urges-japan-to-open-retail-

market/#.VjlBi7erQdV

Ghana to have a National Rice Development Strategy

In a short ceremony to open the workshop, the Deputy Minister (Crops), Dr. Ahmed

Yakubu Alhassan who read the key note address declared Government’s commitment to

address the rice supply-demand gap issues by supporting all productivity enhancement,

quality improvement and efficient domestic marketing systems.

Published: 02.11.2015

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Ghana is on the verge of having a final National Rice Development Strategy (NRDS) in place to

serve as a directional policy for the production, processing and marketing of rice as one of the

major food commodities that Government has directed her attention to boost its production in the

country.The need for a NRDS had come about after several initiatives and interventions by

Government to address the many challenges confronting rice production in the country but have

not been able to solve the deficit in the domestic supply, a situation that brought about the need

for imports to fill the gap.

From this back drop, the Government of Ghana subscribed to participate in the vision of the

Coalition for Africa Rice Development (CARD) initiative that was launched in May 2008 during

Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) IV in Japan. This sought to

support African Countries to double rice production within a period of ten years (2008-

2018).The initiative‘s starting point was to assist the subscribing countries to develop a National

Rice Development Strategy (NRDS) and Ghana‘s version of the NRDS was launched in August

2009, which has been one of the major reference documents guiding public, private, civil society

organisations, NGO‘s and development partners in formulating plans and programmes in rice

development in the country.After six years of its existence and had generated interest among

stakeholders and industry players, there was the need to review the document to bring on board

emerging issues to further improve its relevance.

The Crop Services Directorate under the Ministry Of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) in

collaboration with the John Agyekum Kuffour Foundation (JAK) therefore, organized a

stakeholder Validation workshop in Accra which converged major stakeholders and industry

players to review, update and validate the revised document put forth by CARD in February

2015.The workshop among other expectations tasked participants to: review and make

recommendations to improve the document, suggest the context and conditions under which

proposed actions can effectively be implemented by value chain actors and make input into the

proposed interventions and established their consistency with proven value chain practices of the

sector.In a short ceremony to open the workshop, the Deputy Minister (Crops), Dr. Ahmed

Yakubu Alhassan who read the key note address declared Government‘s commitment to address

the rice supply-demand gap issues by supporting all productivity enhancement, quality

improvement and efficient domestic marketing systems.

He said that current statistics indicate the country is about 56 percent self-sufficient in rice

production which means that the effort to improve local rice industry is gradually being realized,

adding that efforts needed to be intensified to get to a 100 percent mark as the country had been

there before in the 1970‘s and can get there again.Dr. Yakubu Alhassan mentioned the strategic

areas highlighted in the NRDS as: rice seed system, fertilizer marketing and distribution, post-

harvest and market, irrigation and water control investments. The rest he said are: equipment

access and maintenance, research and technology dissemination and community mobilization,

farmer based organisation and credit management.According the him, after the launch of the

document, the NRDS had been one of the documents which had guided rice development in

Ghana as many areas identified in the strategy document are being applied by some stakeholders

in their operations including public sector institutions and NGO‘s like the JAK Foundation that

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have formulated their projects and programmes from the document. A situation he described had

given the Ministry some level of confidence that the document was useful and had already

received some level of attention.He expressed his appreciation for the support and guidance

Ghana has obtained under the CARD initiative, together with other African countries, which

would help consolidate the National strategic approaches to take advantage of the sub-regional

strengths for improved rice production and marketing in Africa.

Dr. Yakubu Alhassan also expressed his gratitude to all participants assembled at the workshop

for honouring the Ministry‘s invitation and urged them to focus their attention on the enrichment

of the drafted document and own it.Participants were divided into seven groups with each group

giving a topic touching on one of the thematic areas provided in the draft document. Out of the

group‘s discussions some challenges were identified out of which recommendations were made.

All these recommendations are to be put together to inform changes in the drafted document and

after which if taken through all the necessary tests would be adopted and approved as a national

strategy for rice development in the country.Also present at the opening was the Chief Executive

Officer of JAK Foundation, Mr. Baffour Agyemang-Duah.The JAK Foundation which

sponsored this workshop in furtherance of its objectives, seeks collaboration with state

institutions, the private sector and civil society organisations, as well as international

development partners in programme initiation and implementation.

http://pulse.com.gh/agriculture/moving-forward-ghana-to-have-a-national-rice-development-strategy-

id4318035.html

Reversal of rice import prohibition and its consequences

on November 02, 2015 / in News, Sobowale On Business 2:21 am

By Dele Sobowale

If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.” Yogi Bera, American

Comedian.The report in the NATION, October 13, 2015, page 7, titled ―Fed Govt suspends

quota issuance to rice millers‖, brought tears to my eyes. It would be the third time in my life

that the Federal Government of Nigeria would drive me to tears of frustration over the national

policy on rice importation. Althogu, I no longer have any investment or involvement with the

sector, it is the only sector in which personal monetary investments as well as sacrifice of well-

paid job was made because of government policy announcement.

Last year May, on my 70th birthday, I decided to travel by road to Sokoto, my last place of

employment in the North. Situated on Kalabina Road, right next door to Sokoto Cement, is the

carcass of HASKE RICE MILLS LTD, where I joined at 43 and worked until February 1990 as

the General Manager/Chief Operating Officer, GM/COO, until policy changes and death in the

family forced me to abandon the dream of becoming Nigeria‘s Rice King.At 46, having made a

great deal of success in the pharmaceutical and brewery sectors, as Sales and Marketing Director,

I yearned for some big enterprise which will impact the lives of millions of Nigerians and which

would be sustainable. By 1983, I already knew the North like the back of my hand and the first

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decision was to settle there. The second was to get involved in food production and that involved

evaluating several possibilities – animal husbandry or crops or combinations of both (integrated

farming).

The ultimate decision was made easy when, shortly after introducing the Structural Adjustment

Programme, SAP, the Babangida administration announced a new rice policy designed to make

Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production and also making the country a rice exporter by 2000.

That meant planning to grow millions of metric tonnes of rice annually of a crop which most

Nigerians consumed at least once every two days.That was the sort of project for an ambitious

young man wanting to feed millions. But, I was stuck at first, I didn‘t know where to start and

how to enter into the sector.

Then fortune took a hand a the matter, I received a call in my office at the brewery in Kano to

come and see the younger brother of a retired Major-General.As it turned out, the General and

his brother had just bought a rice mill which was established by the President Shagari

administration and which had been run aground in a very short time. The brothers needed a

manager who could turn the mill around and one of them had been told at the Kano Club to get

in touch with me. That was how I landed in Sokoto; but not before securing a five per cent stake

in the business with option to increase to ten per cent.On the day of my arrival in Sokoto, there

was not a grain of paddy rice to be milled.

But, the government‘s ban on rice importation had created a rice scarcity. The nearest places to

get rice to Sokoto were the Bakolori Dam project near Talata Mafara, one hundred and fifty

kilometers away and Yelwa Yauri wetlands; over 280 kilometers down south. But, within two

months the mill was running.Later, working with thr Rice Institute at Badeggi, we developed

various varieties of rice suitable for each ecological zone of Nigeria as well as wetland and

upland varieties. Our biggest ―coup‖ was to have dam situated in Goronyo under the Fadama

project. Those of us involved were determined to remove all the obstacles in the way of making

Nigeria self-sufficient in rice.At first our greatest enemies, it turned out, were a small band of

Nigerians, smugglers, aided by the rest of our Fellow Countrymen, especially those in uniform

called CUSTOMS SERVICE.

For private gain, they virtually rendered government policy impossible to implement.But, just as

the investors in the sector were making headway and expanding paddy production, the Federal

government changed policy by, first approving rice import quotas to selected firms. The problem

with this was soon clear to the investors. We were suddenly faced with competition from two

sources – smugglers and those with import licences. Unfortunately for Nigeria, and us, the limits

on the quota licences were not strictly enforced.By 1990, the country was once again flooded

with cheaper imported rice with which local millers could not compete. HASKE was in the midst

of finding solutions to these problems when our Daddy died and, as new head of family, I had to

resign and move to Lagos.

But, I still followed the trend of events as they unfolded. HASKE closed its gates about four

months after my departure.Similat mills at Makurdi and Badeggi soon followed. Since the three

were the biggest millers, it was only a matter of time before others stopped. When the Jonathan

administration embarked on the implementation of its rice policy, prodded by De Adesina, the

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former Minster of Agriculture, now President of African Development Bank, they traveled down

the familiar road – which had left us starting afresh every time another government announces its

own ―Rice Policy‖.

Invariably, the government receives applause from those who are actually waiting to subvert it

knowing it would create an initial scarcity; and also knowing that Nigerians are impatient for

results. Just as certain, when the predictable scarcity emerges, smugglers, CUSTOMS, and those

close to the seat of power request for import quota. That inevitably kills the rice policy. We are

now repeating the same mistakes made in the past and because of this Nigeria will never become

self-sufficient in rice. One of the greatest fortunes in Nigeria and the world, today, was built on

quota licences granted to an individual for rice and sugar….

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/11/reversal-of-rice-import-prohibition-and-its-consequences/

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-November 02

Mon Nov 2, 2015 2:20pm IST

Nagpur, Nov 2 Gram prices today firmed up again in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and

Marketing Committee (APMC) here on increased buying support from local millers amid weak

supplyfrom producing regions. Fresh rise on NCDEX, upward trend in Madhya Pradesh

soyabean prices and reported demand from South-based millers also jacked up prices, according

to sources.

FOODGRAINS & PULSES

GRAM

* Gram varieties ruled steady here on subdued demand from local traders because of

higher prices.

TUAR

* Tuar gavarani recovered in open market on increased festival season demand from

local trader amid weak supply from producing regions.

* Wheat mill quality jacked up in open market on good seassonal demand from

local traders amid weak arrival from producing belts.

* In Akola, Tuar - 11,500-11,800, Tuar dal - 18,200-18,400, Udid -

12,900-13,300, Udid Mogar (clean) - 15,900-16,500, Moong -

11,000-11,200, Moong Mogar (clean) 12,100-12,400, Gram - 4,700-4,900,

Gram Super best bold - 6,400-6,700 for 100 kg.

* Other varieties of wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market

in weak trading activity.

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

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FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close

Gram Auction 3,950-4,700 3,920-4,600

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

Tuar Auction n.a. 7,800-9,200

Moong Auction n.a. 6,000-6,400

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

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

Gram Super Best Bold 6,400-6,800 6,400-6,800

Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.

Gram Medium Best 6,100-6,300 6,100-6,300

Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a

Gram Mill Quality 5,000-5,300 5,000-5,300

Desi gram Raw 4,950-5,050 4,900-5,000

Gram Filter new 5,700-6,000 5,700-6,000

Gram Kabuli 5,800-7,100 5,800-7,100

Gram Pink 6,200-7,000 6,200-7,000

Tuar Fataka Best 18,000-18,500 18,000-18,500

Tuar Fataka Medium 17,000-17,300 17,000-17,300

Tuar Dal Best Phod 16,500-17,000 16,500-17,000

Tuar Dal Medium phod 15,500-15,900 15,500-15,900

Tuar Gavarani New 11,900-12,500 11,800-12,400

Tuar Karnataka 12,900-13,100 12,900-13,100

Tuar Black 18,800-19,300 18,800-19,300

Masoor dal best 8,600-8,800 8,600-8,800

Masoor dal medium 8,300-8,500 8,300-8,500

Masoor n.a. n.a.

Moong Mogar bold 12,200-12,500 12,200-12,500

Moong Mogar Med 11,500-11,700 11,500-11,700

Moong dal Chilka 9,500-10,100 9,500-10,100

Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.

Moong Chamki best 9,000-10,000 9,000-10,000

Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 17,500-18,000 17,500-18,000

Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 15,000-16,000 15,000-16,000

Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 10,900-11,600 10,900-11,600

Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,600-5,900 5,600-5,900

Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 4,300-4,500 4,300-4,500

Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,400 3,200-3,400

Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,200 3,000-3,200

Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,300-3,600 3,300-3,600

Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,600-1,700 1,600-1,700

Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,500-1,700 1,450-1,650

Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,550-1,750 1,550-1,750

Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,650 2,500-2,650

Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400

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

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,800 3,400-3,800

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MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,100 2,700-3,100

Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,400 3,000-3,400

Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,800 2,600-2,800

Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,600-1,800 1,600-1,800

Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200

Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 1,800-1,900 1,800-1,900

Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,800 3,400-3,800

Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,300 3,100-3,300

Rice HMT Shriram best(100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,600 4,200-4,600

Rice HMT Shriram med.(100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,100 3,600-4,100

Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,000-10,000 8,000-10,000

Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,000-7,500 7,000-7,500

Rice Chinnor best(100 INR/KG) 5,200-5,400 5,200-5,500

Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 4,600-5,000 4,700-5,000

Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,200 1,900-2,200

Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,900 1,700-1,900

WEATHER (NAGPUR)

Maximum temp. 30.7 degree Celsius (87.3 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.

20.3 degree Celsius (68.5 degree Fahrenheit)

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

Rainfall : n.a.

FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Rains or thunder-showers likely towards evening or night.

Maximumand minimum temperature would be around and 32 and 21 degree Celsius

respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available

(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but

included in market prices.) http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/11/02/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL3N12X3B320151102

Farm Bureau Market Report 11/02/2015

Rice

High Low

Long Grain Cash Bids - - - - - -

Long Grain New Crop - - - - - -

Futures:

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ROUGH RICE

High Low Last Change

Nov '15 1200.0 1177.0 1188.5 +27.5

Jan '16 1230.0 1193.5 1217.0 +27.5

Mar '16 1254.0 1225.5 1243.0 +27.0

May '16

1268.5 +27.0

Jul '16 1275.0 1275.0 1292.0 +30.5

Sep '16

1253.5 +29.5

Nov '16

1253.5 +29.5

Rice Comment

Rice futures gapped higher today. Global production problems have helped support the market since the summer. Traders

will begin rolling out of November contracts soon to avoid delivery as the contract expires. January completed a 62%

retracement on Thursday to $11.55 and has bounced off support at that level.

Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report

Rice

High Low

Long Grain Cash Bids - - - - - -

Long Grain New Crop - - - - - -

Futures:

High Low Last Change

Nov '15 1200.0 1177.0 1188.5 +27.5

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Jan '16 1230.0 1193.5 1217.0 +27.5

Mar '16 1254.0 1225.5 1243.0 +27.0

May '16 1268.5 +27.0

Jul '16 1275.0 1275.0 1292.0 +30.5

Sep '16 1253.5 +29.5

Nov '16 1253.5 +29.5

Rice Comment Rice futures gapped higher today. Global production problems have helped support the market since the

summer. Traders will begin rolling out of November contracts soon to avoid delivery as the contract

expires. January completed a 62% retracement on Thursday to $11.55 and has bounced off support at that

level.

http://www.arfb.com/ag-markets-statistics/report/

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for November 2

Month Price Net Change

November 2015 $11.885 + $0.275

January 2016 $12.170 + $0.275

March 2016 $12.430 + $0.270

May 2016 $12.685 + $0.270

July 2016 $12.920 + $0.305

September 2016 $12.535 + $0.295

November 2016 $12.535 + $0.295

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USA Rice and Partners in Mexico Refine Promotions

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- Last week, USA Rice

conducted its second annual Advisory Board meeting

with 30 participants and partners to discuss USA Rice

activities in Mexico and ideas for successful future implementation. Participants included representatives

of the rice trade, supermarket chains, press, publishing companies, restaurants, culinary schools, private

organizations, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Trade Office in Mexico City.

"USA Rice does a lot for our institutions," said Marco Mendez, chef at the Dijon Culinary School. "We

stand ready to help promote U.S.-grown rice in the foodservice sector, so these planning sessions are

quite helpful."USA Rice has worked with more than 70 culinary schools over the past several years as a

means of strategically building a network of U.S. rice ambassadors. Many of the students who had

previously participated in USA Rice activities are now in decision-making positions in other culinary

schools, restaurants, and hotels throughout Mexico and are continuing to promote rice in their

sector.During the meeting, USA Rice also shared two recently produced promotional videos that are

online and available for partners to use.

The first, "Arroz Saludable" ("Healthy Rice"), discusses the nutritional benefits of rice and clarifies

negative myths about rice, including that rice is fattening and not nutritious. The second video is

Gluten free in any language

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venturing into a new area here - gluten free. "Arroz Libre Gluten" ("Rice is Gluten Free") explains the

little understood conditions of gluten allergies and celiac disease."Everyone appreciated the concise,

informative nature of the videos and requested copies to have at their institutions," said Gaby Carbajal,

the USA Rice contractor in Mexico, who attended the meeting. "There was also interest in creating new

materials and posters about gluten free living to be displayed in the rice aisle at supermarkets, and USA

Rice has committed to developing these materials.

"Carbajal added, "We got a lot of good feedback at this meeting on the effectiveness of our promotions

program. It's a great way to connect with stakeholders and share up-to-date information, and we plan to

continue to hold these meetings on an annual basis."

Contact: Sarah Moran (703) 236-1457

Arroz con camarones

Laly Paredes and Cristina Blackman | Oct 30, 2015

A coastal Ecuadorian dish usually served with sliced avocados or fried plantains and cold drinks

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Arroz con camarones, is a coastal Ecuadorian dish usually served with sliced avocados or fried

plantains and cold drinks. (Photo: Isagani Serrano/IRRI)

This dish has been prepared for generations on both sides of my family. My maternal

grandmother, Angeles Montesdeoca Cordero, loved seafood and learned to make it during the

many summers she spent at her uncle‘s house in Manabí, Ecuador. My mother, Laly Paredes,

cooked this dish regularly for my siblings and me growing up in Cuenca. I am just learning to

cook and perfect it myself so that one day my daughter, Eva Kay, can share it with her own kids.

That‘s tradition!

Ingredients

1 kg raw shrimps, shelled and deveined. (Set aside the heads for homemade shrimp broth.)

2 tsp cumin

8 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp mustard

2 tbsp canola oil

2 cups uncooked long-grain white rice

3 cups chicken broth or shrimp stock (or 1.5 cups of each)

3 tbsp butter

1 red onion, thinly diced

1 red or green bell pepper, diced

2 large tomatoes, peeled and diced

3 tbsp cilantro, finely chopped

1 tsp achiote (achuete or annatto)

½ cup white wine

salt and pepper to taste

Cristina enjoys being a wife and a mom and loves to cook for her family and

friends. She attributes her knowledge of Ecuadorian cuisine to her mother,

Laly Paredes. Cristina spends her free time working out in the gym. She also

finds time to nurture her interest in spirituality, psychology, and marriage

counseling. She aims to contribute to IRRI and the Los Baños community to

which she now belongs. From Louisiana, USA, Cristina has joined her

husband, Bryce Blackman, an agronomy extension and training specialist at IRRI. (Photo:

Isagani Serrano/IRRI)

Directions

1. Marinate the shrimps with salt, pepper, mustard, 1 tsp cumin, and half of the minced garlic. Let

this rest for an hour.

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2. Bring water to boil in a large pot, add about 7 shrimp heads, and boil for 7 minutes.

3. Remove the shrimp heads from the water and reserve 3 cups of the water they cooked in to

prepare the rice.

4. If you lack time, you could skip this step and cook the rice with 3 cups of vegetable or chicken

broth.

5. Heat the oil in a large pot and add the remainder of the minced garlic. Cook for 2–3 minutes on

medium heat.

6. Add the rice to the garlic and oil. Mix until the rice is coated with oil and the color turns off-white

(5–10 minutes).

7. Add the 3 cups of chicken broth or shrimp stock to the rice, bring to a boil, and then reduce heat

to low until the rice is cooked.

8. Melt the butter and achiote over medium heat in a large sauté pan. Add the onions, bell

pepper, tomatoes, salt, pepper, and 1 tsp of cumin. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring often.

9. Add the white wine to the vegetable mix and continue cooking for another 5 minutes, until the

onions and the bell pepper are tender.

10. Mix in marinated shrimps for about 3 minutes or until cooked. Make sure you don‘t overcook the

shrimps.

11. Add the sautéed shrimps and vegetables to the cooked rice and mix well. Keep on low heat.

12. Mix in cilantro.

13. Add salt and pepper to taste.

14. Serve with fried plantains or avocado slices.

Serves 6–8 persons. Enjoy!

http://ricetoday.irri.org/arroz-con-camarones


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