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TOP Contents - Tailored for YOU
Latest News Headlines

IPCC Warns Of Greater Risk To Food & Water Security
Independent rice agency needed'
Closure of QRC better for rice export: UNISAME
Dilemma of rice exporters: Facing challenging time due to exchange rate
Rice export still grows by $280 million despite rupee rise
Govt blamed for rice prices
Prices of rice remain stable
Rice-price increase blamed on drop in import volume
Hotter Nights May Cause Rice Yield To Fall
Rice seen ruling at current levels
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices - APMC & Open Market-May 19
Mexico Market Under Attack - Part One: Brazilian Paddy Rice Cleared for Import
Crop Progress: 2014 Crop 87 Percent Planted
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures
Food maker partners with Walmart on sustainable rice
Determining Preflood Nitrogen Rates for Rice
News Detail
IPCC Warns Of Greater Risk To Food & Water Security

By Science and Development Network |Editorials
April 11, 2014


The Fifth Assessment Report warns that climate change will threaten food and water security, especially for
Asia.AsianScientist (Apr. 11, 2014) By T V Padma The climate change-related risks from extreme events
such as floods and heat waves will rise further with global warming, according to the second installment of the
latest UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. This will aggravate food and water
insecurity, especially for some of the poorest communities.

The report of the second working group of the IPCCs Fifth
Assessment Report (AR5), dealing with impacts, adaptation and
vulnerability, and offering new insights into key risks due to
climate change, was released in Yokohama, Japan.Nobody on
this planet is going to be untouched by the impacts of climate
change, IPCC chair Rajendra Pachauri warned.Christopher
Field, the co-chair of the second working group, added: We are
not in an era where climate change is some kind of a future
hypothetical.

We live in a world where the impacts of climate change that have already occurred are widespread and
consequential. There is no question that we live in a world that is already altered by climate change.The report
highlighted many global shifts that climate change has already caused. It said that changing rainfall and melting
snow and ice have affected water resources in many regions. Glaciers have shrunk, affecting run-off and water
resources downstream. Permafrost is thawing, and wheat and maize yields have fallen in many regions.The
report also repeated warnings about shifts in species migratory ranges and the threats this may pose to food
security. It also raised concerns about increased human displacement and resulting conflicts.

Impacts in Asia
Asia will be particularly hard-hit by water scarcity, food insecurity, the redistribution of land species and an
increased risk to coastal and marine ecosystems, the report said. It predicts that South Asia will be the region
most impacted by global warming, due to more extreme weather events such as floods and droughts.It has rung
warning bells for Asia and has very serious implications for South Asia in particular, said Chandra Bhushan,
deputy director at the Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi-based NGO.A major reason for the greater
impact in the region is its large population of impoverished people, said Bhushan. Bangladesh, India and
Pakistan together account for almost half the worlds poor people, he said.Purnamita Dasgupta, coordinating
lead author of the reports chapter on rural areas, and professor at the Institute of Economic Growth in Delhi,
said that the impacts of climate change will add to the existing vulnerabilities of people in rural areas, such as
lack of access to water and infrastructure


.We could have more poverty shocks because the poor are already disadvantaged, she said, adding that
climate change acts as a threat multiplier.With 70 percent of people in developing countries living in rural
areas, the rural poor would be impacted through reduced access to water and stand to lose whatever assets
they have with a rise in extreme events such as floods and drought, she said.The report provides scientific
evidence on how adaptation could reduce the risks that climate change will pose and how to manage those risks.

We now have enough evidence to show that adaptation is important, Dasgupta said.However, it is difficult at
this stage to work out the costs of adaptation measures, as few countries are yet to practice it. Nonetheless,
Pachauri agreed that the report highlights the urgent need for adaptation and hopefully restores the balance
between the need for both mitigation and adaptation measures by countries.He added that there is a huge
dearth of local knowledge on the kinds of adaptation needed in particular locations, and on which local
institutions could be fully engaged in adaptation policies, practices and corresponding cost estimates. That is a
real gap in knowledge that experts need to work on, Pachauri said.

Some positive messages
Yet the report said that adaptation is already occurring to an extent, as some governments are beginning to
embed it in some planning processes.One thing that we have come up with is the importance of adaptation and
mitigation choices because this is the only way we might be able to reduce the risks of climate change,
Pachauri said at a press briefing.Camilla Toulmin, director of UK-based research organization the International
Institute for Environment and Development, said in a statement: Some of the worlds least developed countries
are already forging ahead. Ethiopia has committed to carbon-neutral development. Bangladesh has invested
US$10 billion of its own money to adapt to extreme climatic events. Nepal is the first country to develop
adaptation plans at the community level.
Independent rice agency needed'
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation May 19, 2014 1:00 am
The promotion of value-added rice may be an option for farmers, but in order to achieve a comprehensive and
lasting solution, rice management should no longer be dependent on official policy-makers or any government -
otherwise farmers will continue to be a political tool and the sector will never be developed.While other
countries such as Vietnam, one of Thailand's major rice-export rivals, have a clear policy and direction to
manipulate rice production and other parts of the industry, Thailand stepped backwards by relying on short-term
subsidies, which caused a loss of strength and status as the world's largest rice exporter, due to low rice quality
and uncompetitively high prices.


The Thai rice industry has not been seriously developed for a long time, because it is considered as a
propaganda pit for politicians come election time. Successive governments have outlined wonderful-sounding
rice-price subsidy policies in order to gain popularity, but no policy-maker has managed to come up with a
long-term policy or sustainable development plan to promote the growth of rice farming and trading.Following
clear evidence showing the failure of the recent short-term subsidy regime, the time is now right to protect the
rice industry from any form of politician intervention. Thailand should have an independent organisation to
manage the sector, from upstream to downstream. Since setting a high pledging price in 2011, the government
has spent more than Bt700 billion to subsidise rice prices in the market. With such a high pledging price, the
Kingdom has lost export competitiveness in the global market and is no longer the world's largest rice exporter,
after being the champion for more than 20 years. The overall loss for the pledging scheme has not been
finalised, but it is estimated to be at least Bt200 billion a year.
The government also holds an enormous stockpile, which is projected at about 18 million tonnes of milled rice,
in its warehouses.According to the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, as of early this month,
almost 1.2 million rice farmers had still not been paid under the pledging programme, with the arrears
amounting to more than Bt90 billion.Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters
Association, said that because rice growing involved 18 million farmers and a huge budgetary allocation,
politicians had favoured managing the industry and drawing up a rice policy as key propaganda weapon to win
national elections.And because the industry involves the allocation of billions of baht each year, unscrupulous
politicians need little encouragement to reap benefits from the subsidy project, he said.To ensure long-term
development of the sector, Chookiat said Thailand needed to have an independent organisation to handle all
aspects of rice farming and trading.
Sustainable development
"Thailand should have a sustainable-development agenda for rice. Rice should no longer be a political tool, as
development of the Thai rice industry has been ignored for so long," he added.During the era of military-led
governments, when there were no rice-subsidy projects, the country used to have a national strategy for a long-
term rice development plan, but it had never been implemented following the changeover to democratically
elected governments, said Chookiat.Every voted-in government has announced some form of subsidy policy,
but each has focused only on the short term, he added.
With an independent organisation at the helm of rice policy and management, its head should not be answerable
to politicians, which would allow the agency to draw up a long-term agenda for developing rice plantation,
seeds, trading and marketing, he stressed. The organisation should get a budget allocation from the government
each year, but politicians should not then intervene in the budget. Any income from the sale of rice stocks
should count as national income, after taking into account the operating costs of the independent agency, he
suggested.The development of seed quality, plantation methods and production-cost reduction should be high


on the organisation's agenda, he said, adding that without political intervention, rice stocks and budget would be
safe from corruption.Besides having an independent organisation, Chookiat also suggested Thailand should set
up zoning areas for growing rice, in order to control the quality of rice grains.The country currently has
combined areas for growing each kind of rice seed, but this has resulted in grains being mixed when cultivated.
This causes a problem for rice traders, as the quality of each variety of grain is different.Chookiat said a zoning-
area system would clearly delineate the type of rice grown so that traders could easily offer produce in
accordance with demand.For instance, the Northeast should be promoted to grow jasmine rice, while the upper
North should grow hard-grain rice and the Central region should cultivate Pathum Thani rice. If the country had
such a zoning system, millers and exporters would easily be able to polish rice and export it under the same
standard to meet demand in each foreign market.For instance, the production of parboiled rice requires hard-
seed paddy, but with mixed cultivation areas it is difficult for producers to differentiate the type of paddy. After
cooking, however, consumers can tell that the characteristics are different, resulting in public dissatisfaction
over the quality of the parboiled rice.Chookiat said the quality of Thai rice had dropped significantly in the past
few years. With lower quality yet higher prices, many rice buyers have switched to other countries such as
Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia. The quality of Thai jasmine and white rice, in particular, has fallen
significantly, with their smell and appearance after cooking different from in the past, he explained.
More R&D required
The association's honorary president said Thailand should also promote more research and development in the
rice industry, with a focus on better serving market demand.
Until now, R&D has only been focused on seeds and farming, but has not concentrated on how each type of rice
grain can better meet demand. Rice production should serve commercial demand as well as help reduce
production costs and other problems for farmers, he said. He noted that the development of Pathum Thani rice
could be a two-edged sword for Thailand, as this kind of rice had severely damaged jasmine-rice production due
it its very similar appearance, but lower cost. If Thailand wants to promote jasmine - or hom mali - rice as a top
grain, the development of other rice seeds should not result in confusion among consumers, especially those in
overseas markets, he added.
Some markets have mixed jasmine rice with cheaper Pathum Thani rice in order to reduce their costs, but this
has ruined the reputation of pure jasmine rice.Wanlop Pichpongsa, former president and secretary-general of the
Thai Organic Trade Association, agreed that Thailand should have a specific organisation to develop rice
farming and trading in the long run. A sustainable plan to develop rice farming and trading should be drawn up
so that farmers do not have to depend on subsidy measures, while cost reduction, promoting the use of natural
fertiliser and increasing quality should be highlighted, he said. Wanlop said a subsidy should be used only for
the short term, such as when market prices were too low. Pledging or direct purchasing for too long a period
was unnecessary and should be gradually decreased.Rice pledging or short-term subsidy should be scrapped, or
at least modified into a sustainable measure, he said.


Political tools

Thailand will soon have another national election, and rice and rice farmers could become a political tool yet
again if no one realises that the rice policy should be changed, and should become independent from political
intervention, he said.Any extension of the present policy would result in the industry continuing to be destroyed
and losing yet more international competitiveness, he warned, pointing out that not only would farmers continue
to suffer from merely short-term assistance, but taxpayers would be increasingly outraged at seeing huge
amounts spent on subsidising rice prices each year. The Kingdom would spend an enormous amount for only a
short-term solution, while corruption under the rice scheme would never be solved, he stressed.
He said now was the right time for all parties and involved government agencies to propose a long-term agenda
for the sustainable development of rice. All parties needed to support such a long-term plan so that Thailand's
rice sector could re-establish its leading status again soon, he said, while farmers would no longer have to
remain as essentially a group of poor people as they could survive and rely on themselves without any subsidy
or assistance.
Closure of QRC better for rice export: UNISAME

PPI
May 17, 2014
KARACHI: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) said that the closure of QRC will be for
the betterment of the rice industry in Pakistan and will give a free hand to rice exporters to sell their brands and
remove hurdles created by the troublesome committee.President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver urged the ministry
of commerce (MoC) not to commit wilful omission and dissolve the Quality Review Committee (QRC)
forthwith in view of the no objection received from the law division and consensus of all stakeholders. Rice
exporters are facing very challenging times due to loss in realization proceeds because of exchange rate and are
now not in a position to overcome hindrances created by a non commercial organization devoid of commercial
sense and expertise.

He pointed out that the creation of QRC was a big mistake as it gave rise to conflict of interest. It was based on
wrong premises and it gave the opportunity to office bearers of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan
(REAP) to subdue their competitors. MoC realized this and made amendments and separated the office of QRC
and REAP and also removed the mandatory condition of membership of REAP for rice exporters. The QRC
cannot function as an inspection company under any law and its formation is based on misapplication and


twisting of law to suit the big and influential and it is appreciated that the Moc has realized its futility and made
serious efforts to curtail its .

He said the QRC has no locus standi as it is neither qualified nor eligible and although just a quality review
committee it is posing itself like a pre-shipment inspection (PSI) organization. It was basically formed to protect
the basmati label but now that rice is sold by the buyers and the exporters own popular brands and other
varieties which are not basmati but more costly and more in demand are flooding the markets and the job of the
QRC is futile.Secondly most of the buyers have their own nominated PSI agency to carry out PSI. QRC never
made efforts to get 386 a very popular variety as basmati although in India 386 is considered and approved as
basmati but in Pakistan QRC allowed its export underhand as basmati but did not recommend it to be approved
as basmati for reasons best known to itself. QRC is devoid of any substantial work as a protector of basmati and
in fact is creating hurdles in its exports due to lack of knowledge on the subject.

Needless to state that basically the QRC was formed in violation of the principles of pre-shipment inspection
(PSI) and the Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) never recognized and enrolled it as a PSI
body because it did not comply with the rules and regulations of the PSQCA and international standards. A PSI
body has to be a joint stock company incorporated and with a capital sufficient to pay claims against
irresponsible inspections, it needs to be eligible, qualified and must have DNA facilities and laboratory fully
equipped with all measuring and quality assessment equipments. It is very important that it has to be
independent, transparent and a third party. It cannot be managed by vested interest.
Thaver said that we fail to understand the delay for the closure of the QRC as there is consensus for its closure
from all stakeholders and the earlier the MoC says good bye to this organization the better it will be for all.

Dilemma of rice exporters: Facing challenging time due to exchange
rate

A m a n u l l a h K h a n

Saturday, May 17, 2014 - KarachiThe Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has urged
the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) not to commit willful omission and dissolve the Quality Review Committee
(QRC) forthwith in view of the no objection received from the law division and consensus of all
stakeholders. Rice exporters are facing very challenging times due to loss in realization proceeds because
of exchange rate and are now not in a position to overcome hindrances created by a non-commercial
organization devoid of commercial sense and expertise.


UNISAME said that the closure of QRC will be for the betterment of the rice industry in Pakistanand will give a
free hand to rice exporters to sell their brands and remove hurdles created by the troublesome
committee.President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver pointed out that the creation of QRC was a big mistake as it
gave rise to conflict of interest. It was based on wrong premises and it gave the opportunity to office bearers of
the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) to subdue their competitors. MoC realized this and
made amendments and separated the office of QRC and REAP and also removed the mandatory condition
of membership of REAP for rice exporters.

The QRC cannot function as an inspection company under any law and its formation is based on misapplication
and twisting of law to suit the big and influential and it is appreciated that the Moc has realized its futility and
made serious efforts to curtail it.He said the QRC has no locus standing as it is neither qualified nor eligible and
although just a quality review committee it is posing itself like a pre-shipment inspection (PSI) organization. It
was was basically formed to protect the basmati label but now that rice is sold by the buyers and the exporters
own popular brands and other varieties which are not basmati but more costly and more in demand are flooding
the markets and the job of the QRC is futile.Secondly most of the buyers have their own nominated PSI agency
to carry out PSI.
QRC never made efforts to get 386 a very popular variety as basmati although in India 386 is considered and
approved as basmati but in Pakistan QRC allowed its export underhand as basmati but did not recommend it to
be approved as basmati for reasons best known to itself. QRC is devoid of any substantial work as a protector of
basmati and in fact is creating hurdles in its exports due to lack of knowledge on the subject.Needless to state
that basically the QRC was formed in violation of the principles of pre-shipment inspection (PSI) and the
Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) never recognized and enrolled it as a PSI body because
it did not comply with the rules and regulations of the PSQCA and international standards.
A PSI body has to be a joint stock company incorporated and with a capital sufficient to pay claims against
irresponsible inspections, it needs to be eligible, qualified and must have DNA facilities and laboratory fully
equipped with all measuring and quality assessment equipments. It is very important that it has to be
independent, transparent and a third party. It cannot be managed by vested interest.Thaver said that we fail to
understand the delay for the closure of the QRC as there is consensus for its closure from all stakeholders and
the earlier the MoC says good bye to this organization the better it will be for all.


Rice export still grows by $280 million despite rupee rise
May 17, 2014
RECORDER REPOR
Despite fall in dollar's value against Pak rupee, the country's rice export to the world markets grew by $280
million during July-Mar 2013-14, exporters said on Friday. "Over 2.5 million tons of rice has been exported
since the rupee appreciated against dollar," said a rice trader, Hashim Sharja Wala.
He said: "World's demand for Pakistani rice is growing in spite of a surge in rice prices on the global
market." Pakistan exported $1.666 billion of rice during July-March 2013-14 up by $280 million (20.19pc) and
in terms of volume, the country's rice export went up by 0.189 million tons (8pc) to 2.683 million tons in July-
March 2013-14, figures released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics showed. Hashim said: "The international price
of non-Basmati is $370 per metric ton and the price of Basmati rice ranges between $800 per metric ton and
$1400 per metric ton, depending on its quality."
According to him, the major buyers of Pakistani rice are: United States of America and Sri Lanka. However,
the country's rice export plunged by $29.709m (9.11pc) to $216.649m in March 2014 as compared to the
commodity's export of $238.358m in February 2014, the PBS's report further said. Meanwhile, some exporters
claimed that the export of rice was still at a halt as the export of new crop was not in progress and international
rate of rice has increased and, as such, buyers were not in favour of purchasing rice from Pakistan. An official
of Rice Exporter Association of Pakistan (REAP) said: "Exporters are not receiving new contracts due to high
prices." They are dealing under old contracts which were signed before depreciation of dollar," he added.
Describing India as `the biggest competitor', he said: "If we will not cope with this situation then India may
capture the international market.

Govt blamed for rice prices
By Ronnel W. Domingo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
3:35 am | Monday, May 19th, 2014
MANILA, PhilippinesBlame last years price spike for milled rice to too little government imports amid a
push for food self-sufficiency than to the negligible influence of rice cartels, according to the Philippine
Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).In a study published by the state think tank, senior researcher fellow
Roehlano Briones and senior research analyst Myka Galang said a sharp drop in imports was a more logical
and evidence-based explanation of the jump in prices.According to PIDS, the average world price of milled


rice dipped steadily month after month from an equivalent of P23.24 per kilo in January to P18.60 in
December.In contrast, the average domestic price rose steadily from P29.81 to P34.16.

(For these numbers, Briones and Galang compared the price of Thai rice with 25-percent broken grains to its
local counterpart).This resulted in the differences between world and local prices shooting up over 12 months.
The local price was 28 percent higher than global price in January and 84 percent higher in December.The
researchers noted a price spike in the June-December perioda jump of P3.82 from P30.34while the supply
was inadequate due to the reduction in imports.In 2013, the National Food Authority imported 205,700 tons
only, which were 638,000 tons less than the volume brought in in 2012.

Prices of rice remain stable
Reuel John F. Lumawag
Monday, May 19, 2014
THE prices of rice in Davao City have remained stable as of Monday, an official said."Here in Davao City, we
have observed that there has been no movement in the prices of rice," Virgilio B. Alerta, National Food
Authority (NFA)-Davao City provincial manager, said in a phone interview with Sun.Star Davao.He said this
was due to the "sufficient stocks of rice" of commercial traders.Philippine Statistics Authority-Bureau of
Agricultural Statistics 11 (PSA-BAS 11) market reporter Imelda V. Abdala also said that as of May 16, the
prices of rice in the market remain stable.
Based on the monitoring conducted by PSA-BAS 11 Monday, well-milled rice is from P42 to P46 per kilogram
while regular-milled rice is from P36 to P41. NFA rice remains at P27 to P32.Meanwhile, Abdala said prices of
other selected basic commodities also remained stable and if there are changes in prices then it is just
minimal.Among selected meat and poultry products, pork liempo is at P170 to P180; pork lean meat is from
P165 to P175; beef lean meat is at P220; beef with bones is from P170 to P180; dressed chicken is from P115 to
P120; and eggs is from P5 to P5.50.In selected fish products, the price of bangus is from P110 to P120,
galunggong is from P120 to P130, and tilapia is from P90 to P110.Based on the PSA-BAS 11 montitoring,
selected vegetable and fruit products and their prices are: ampalaya (P45 to P55), string beans or sitao (P30 to
P40), cabbage (P60 to P70), carrots (P40 to P50), habitchuelas or red kidney beans (P30 to P40), tomato (P30 to
P35), red onion (P60 to P70), white potato (P70 to P80), eggplant (P20 to P25), chinese cabbage or pechay (P50
to P60), lakatan banana (P38 to P40), latundan banana (P28 to P30), calamansi (P60 to P70), papaya (P20 to
P25), and carabao mango (P50 to P60).

Rice-price increase blamed on drop in import volume


Category: Economy
17 May 2014
Written by Jonathan L. Mayuga
THE sharp drop in imports last year is a more logical and evidence-based explanation to the increase in the
price of rice, state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) said.A PIDS study said that
blaming rice cartels for price manipulation cannot be considered a definitive explanation for the price
increase.The study recommends to focus more in increasing rice production through research and development
and overhaul the National Food Authority (NFA) to improve regulatory duties and management of the domestic
food-security stock.
Prepared by Roehlano Briones, PIDS senior research fellow, and Ivory Myka Galang, PIDS research analyst,
the study cited the inadequacy of supply starting in mid-2013 due to the reduction in imports as the main cause
of the rice price spike.The retail price of rice shot up to P36.28 per kilogram in December 2013 from P32.37 in
June 2013a 12-percent increase in just six months. The ability of rice traders to influence the market price of
rice is negligible according to the study.
Citing a 2014 rapid appraisal conducted by Beulah de la Pea, strong competition prevails at all levels of the
rice-supply chain. Farmers can freely choose their buyer among a number of buying stations and agents present
in their community, the study said. The rice imports dropped by 638,000 tons in 2013 owing to the Department
of Agricultures Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP).The program aims for 100-percent rice self-
sufficiency in 2013 by raising domestic production and curbing imports.But the increase in rice domestic
production in 2013 was not enough to reduce imports, the study noted.While palay production did hit 18.44
million tons in 2013, up from 18.03 million tons, the increment of 439,000 tons was not enough to counter the
effects of the reduction in rice imports.The study said the country failed to take advantage of cheap rice
available in the world market because of import reduction. This led to a shortage of the rice supply, which
raised the market price of rice.
In November 2013 the domestic price of rice per kilogram was P33.55, 28 percent higher than the world price
of P18.63 per kilo, the study added.The NFA could have abated the price spike had it offset the deficit from its
buffer stock, the study noted.This would have been possible if the stock were not limited, yet the total NFA
stock in June 2013 was already low to begin with. The NFA is also facing intense pressures to reduce its
liabilities and subsidy. The buy high and sell low business model of NFA has placed intense pressure on its
finances which amounted to $4.39 billion in total liabilities.
A permanent solution is to repeal the QR [quantitative-restriction] policy on imports to support the rice self-
sufficiency objective, the study said. Rice self-sufficiency should be pursued with more cost-effective support
mechanisms to rice producers such as research and development and new rice farming technologies.Moreover,
reforming the NFA is recommended, the study said. It should focus on regulatory duties and management of
the domestic food security stock and not on rice marketing and importation.


Hotter Nights May Cause Rice Yield To Fall

By Science and Development Network |Editorials
May 19, 2014
As night temperatures cross the 23 degrees Celsius threshold, scientists call for the development of temperature-
resistant rice varieties. AsianScientist (May 19, 2014) Nights are getting hotter and scientists are sweating over
the possibility that rice yields may fall as a result.
Decreasing rice harvests mean
higher prices. That would be a
scary scenario in Asia where rice
is considered not only a basic food
staple but also a political
commodity. Shortages of the
commodity in 2007-2008 angered
consumers across the region and
caused some governments to
wobble.A 35-year climate
trending by the International Rice
Research Institute (IRRI) under its
Long-Term Continuous Cropping
Experiment shows a clear trend
that night temperatures are
increasing while day temperatures
are less consistent.The average
minimum daily night temperature
during the period of rice growth in the dry season (January to April) has increased about one degree Celsius in
the last 35 years, says Roland Buresh, a scientist who manages the worlds longest-running rice research
project at IRRI.
The night temperature has now increased to a critical threshold of 23 degrees Celsius, above which there can
be a penalty of reduced yield, Buresh said.Grace Centeno, associate scientist at IRRIs Climate Unit adds:
Average night temperature over 23 degrees Celsius can lead to yield loss due to the increased need of the rice
plant to expend its energy to maintain its biological health.Centeno participated in an earlier study of weather
data at IRRIs rice farm from 1979 to 2003, which found that during the dry cropping season (January to April),


grain yield declined by 10 percent for a one-degree Celsius increase of night temperature above 23 degrees
Celsius in the growing season.

That study which showed that mean night temperature increased by 1.13 degrees Celsius in the 25-year
period provided direct evidence of decreased rice yields from increased nighttime temperature associated
with global warming.Centeno notes, the study was published in 2004, but additional data from 2004 onwards
continue to support the negative effect of higher night temperature on crop yield.A 10 percent reduction in
yield is huge. That is, a harvest of five tonnes per hectare would decrease by half a tonne a drop that Buresh
calls a major and significant concern in rice production.Definitely, global warming is upon us, said William
Padolina, president of the Philippines National Academy of Science and Technology.A one percent increase in
temperature means a six percent decline in yield, he explains.

Why? Because grains are filled only during evenings. Thats the way of nature.This means we should breed
varieties that are tolerant to high temperatures and drought, and thats the goal not just for rice but for all
crops, Padolina says.

Rice seen ruling at current levels
OUR CORRESPONDENT
KARNAL, MAY 19:
The rice market may continue to rule around current levels without any major fluctuation in the coming days,
according to trade experts.The market witnessed a mixed trend on Monday. Prices of Pusa 1121 (steam) and
Sharbati (sela) moved up on buying interest while all the other aromatic and non-basmati varieties continued to
rule around their previous quoted levels.Amit Kumar, proprietor of Ginni Rice, told Business Line that an
increase in demand mainly pushed Pusa-1121 (steam) and Sharbati (sela) prices upwards. In the absence of any
major market moving factors, rice prices may continue to rule around current levels for the next few days, he
added.
Pusa-1121 (steam) went further up by 200 to 9,500, while Pusa-1121 (sela) quoted unchanged at 7,600 .
Pure Basmati (raw) quoted at 12,300. Duplicate basmati (steam) was sold at 7,400 a quintal.
Pusa-1121 (second wand) was at 7,200, Tibar at 6,100 while Dubar at 5,250 a quintal.


In the non-basmati section, Sharbati (steam) sold at 4,800 while Sharbati (sela) moved up by 100 and
quoted at 4,300.
On the other hand, PR varieties were quoted with nominal fluctuations. Permal (raw) sold at 2,350, Permal
(sela) at 2,400 , PR-11 (sela) sold at 2,725 while PR-11 (raw) at 2,700 . PR14 (steam) sold at 2,900 a
quintal.
(This article was published on May 19, 2014)

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices - APMC & Open Market-May 19

Mon May 19, 2014 2:01pm IST
Nagpur, May 19 (Reuters) - Gram and tuar prices in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing
Committee (APMC) moved down on lack of demand from local millers amid good supply from producing
regions. Fresh fall on NCDEX in gram, downward trend in Madhya Pradesh pulses and increased
overseas supply also pushed down prices, according to sources.

* * * *

FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Desi gram showed weak tendency in open market on poor buying support from local
traders amid poor quality arrival.

TUAR
* Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here matching the demand and supply


position.

* MP Sharbati best and medium varieties reported down in open market on lack of demand
from local traders amid healthy supply from producing regions like Punjab and
Haryana.

* In Akola, Tuar - 4,100-4,300, Tuar dal - 6,300-6,500, Udid at 6,100-6,500,
Udid Mogar (clean) - 7,200-7,700, Moong - 8,500-8,700, Moong Mogar
(clean) 10,000-10,800, Gram - 2,400-2,600, Gram Super best bold - 3,300-3,600
for 100 kg.

* Other varieties of 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 2,310-2,690 2,380-2,770
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction 4,000-4,320 4,000-4,400
Moong Auction n.a. 5,200-5,500
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800
Gram Super Best Bold 3,800-4,000 3,800-4,000


Gram Super Best n.a.
Gram Medium Best 3,650-3,750 3,650-3,750
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a.
Gram Mill Quality 3,300-3,450 3,300-3,450
Desi gram Raw 2,600-2,700 2,650-2,750
Gram Filter new 3,000-3,200 3,000-3,200
Gram Kabuli 8,700-10,600 8,700-10,600
Gram Pink 7,700-8,100 7,700-8,100
Tuar Fataka Best 6,500-6,700 6,500-7,000
Tuar Fataka Medium 6,300-6,400 6,300-6,700
Tuar Dal Best Phod 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000
Tuar Dal Medium phod 5,400-5,700 5,400-5,700
Tuar Gavarani 4,450-4,550 4,450-4,550
Tuar Karnataka 4,600-4,700 4,600-4,700
Tuar Black 7,700-7,900 7,700-7,900
Masoor dal best 6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200
Masoor dal medium 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold 9,500-10,000 9,500-10,000
Moong Mogar Medium best 8,900-9,400 8,900-9,400
Moong dal super best 9,200-9,600 9,200-9,600
Moong dal Chilka 9,000-9,400 9,000-9,400
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 8,000-9,100 8,000-9,100


Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 7,700-8,000 7,700-8,000
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,300-7,100 6,300-7,100
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,300-5,600 5,300-5,600
Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 4,700-6,000 4,700-6,000
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 3,050-3,150 3,050-3,150
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,300-3,400 3,300-3,400
Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,300-3,400 3,300-3,400
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,700-5,200 4,700-5,200
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,200-1,600 1,200-1,600
Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,200-1,500 1,200-1,500
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,300-1,500 1,300-1,500
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,300 2,000-2,300
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,800 1,700-1,800
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 2,800-3,100 2,900-3,200
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,700 2,300-2,800
Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG) 1,100-1,400 1,100-1,400
Wheat Best (100 INR/KG) 1,700-2,000 1,700-2,000
Rice BPT new(100 INR/KG) 2,700-2,900 2,700-2,900
Rice BPT old (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,600 3,200-3,600
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) 2,300-2,450 2,300-2,450
Rice HMT new (100 INR/KG) 3,300-3,600 3,300-3,600


Rice HMT old (100 INR/KG) 3,500-3,700 3,500-3,700
Rice HMT Shriram (100 INR/KG) 4,300-5,200 4,300-5,200
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 10,000-13,500 10,000-13,500
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,000-9,500 7,000-9,500
Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG) 5,600-6,000 5,600-6,000
Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG) 5,100-5,600 5,100-5,600
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,300-1,500 1,300-1,500
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,600-1,700 1,600-1,700

WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 42.7 degree Celsius (109.0 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
28.1 degree Celsius (82.5 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : 0.3 mm
FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Rains or thunder-showers likely towards evening or night Maximumand Minimum
temperature likely to be around 43 and 27 degree Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, butincluded in market prices.)
Mexico Market Under Attack - Part One: Brazilian Paddy Rice
Cleared for Import
The competition
ARLINGTON, VA -- Brazil has joined the United States as the only other country allowed to export paddy rice
to Mexico, following the recent decision of Mexico's Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development,
Fishing and Food (SAGARPA). Mexico remains the U.S.'s largest export market, and roughly 80 percent of
U.S. exports there are paddy, and the decision by SAGAPRA has raised eyebrows north of the


border.According to Marvin Lehrer, the USA Rice Federation's representative in Mexico, SAGARPA has yet to
report any imports of Brazilian paddy rice this year, but he says there is definite interest from the Mexican
trade. "It's always troubling when faced with a new competitor," said Lehrer, "but we believe U.S. rice will
continue to outperform the competition.
"Lehrer said logistical challenges and general reliability could impede Brazilian penetration into the market, and
that additional phytosanitary requirements being placed on Brazilian exports will affect the cost."Brazil heavily
exports corn and soybeans, placing pressure on an already weak infrastructure," said Lehrer. "Most of the
shipping ports are in the southern part of the country and the main road to the north is only about 70 percent
paved. Of course, this is a potentially short-term problem."
The latest development continues a trend of focus on Western Hemisphere markets by Brazilian rice exporters,"
said Jim Guinn, USA Rice's vice president of international promotion. "For the past few years, Brazil has
produced around 8 million MT of rice, slightly more than 10% of which is exported. Last year Brazil's top three
rice destinations were Venezuela (paddy), Cuba (milled) and Nicaragua (paddy)." In 2013, Venezuela was the
United States' fifth largest export market at nearly 300,000 MT, 30 percent more than in 2012. Brazilian
exports to Venezuela, at 148,000 MT, did not offset U.S. exports last year.

In Nicaragua, the U.S. had been the largest supplier of rice, with a market share of 60-97 percent (100,000 MT
on average) in any given year, until last year, when the market share drastically dropped to 8 percent and the
Brazilian market share rose to 90 percent.Guinn says this swing is not something the U.S. will tolerate in the
Mexican market and he says USA Rice is taking definitive steps to deal with the potential incursion, including
adding a premium image for U.S. rice.Part Two of our story will examine some of the steps USA Rice is taking
in this most crucial market.

Contact: Sarah Moran, (703) 236-1457

Crop Progress: 2014 Crop 87 Percent Planted
WASHINGTON, DC -- Eighty-seven percent of the nation's 2014 rice acreage is planted, according to today's
U.S. Department of Agriculture's Crop Progress Report.
Rice Planted, Selected States
Week Ending
State
May 18,
2013
May 11,
2014
May 18,
2014
2009-2013
average


Percent
Arkansas 73 82 88 82
California 79 40 75 67
Louisiana 97 97 98 97
Mississippi 44 68 82 82
Missouri 82 80 86 76
Texas 100 91 96 97
Six States 78 75 87 82

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures
CME Group (Preliminary): Closing Rough Rice Futures for May 19

Month Price Net Change
July 2014 $15.325 - $0.075
September 2014 $14.445 - $0.025
November 2014 $14.590 - $0.015
January 2015 $14.775 - $0.010


March 2015 $14.890 - $0.015
May 2015 $14.890 - $0.015
July 2015 $14.890 - $0.015

Food maker partners with Walmart on sustainable rice
| By Charlsie Dewey |

collaborating with Walmart to help support small rice growers
and global environmental sustainability. Kellogg Company in
Battle Creek said last week that is has joined forces with
Walmart to support the livelihoods of rice growers and
sustainable rice-growing practices worldwide.As a grains-
based company, we have a commitment both to the
environment and to the people who grow those crops," said
John Bryant, president and CEO, Kellogg.

Rice-production goals
Kellogg has made a commitment to work toward three major sustainability goals related to rice production.The
cereal producer will support rice growers and rice-growing communities to help smallholder rice growers
advance their practices, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.It has committed to promoting
and supporting initiatives with producers in every country where Kellogg sources rice globally, which will, by
2020, lead to a 25-percent increase in the adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture practices.This is expected to
improve smallholder livelihoods, enhance producer resilience and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Finally,
Kellogg said it will monitor progress and impact using a number of metrics and align this initiative with the
Global Alliance on Climate Smart Agriculture, which is to be launched later this year at the United Nations
Secretary General's Climate Summit in New York.


A food staple
Bryant made the announcement during the recent Walmart Sustainable Product Expo, a three-day meeting with
eight of the largest U.S.-based food companies focused on expanding the availability of products that sustain
people and the environment."Because rice is one of our largest ingredient purchases used for Rice Krispies
and Special K worldwide it's appropriate that our new partnership with Walmart focuses on supporting
smallholder rice growers, as they work to improve their methods and with that, their yields and livelihoods
as well," Bryant said.

Rice is a food staple for more than half of the world's population and is grown by a number of smallholder
farmers in several parts of the world.Kellogg said today's rice crops are under pressure from climate change, as
well as a contributor to climate change, due to methane emissions from current growing practices.The company
is also involved in collaborative initiatives with growers, suppliers and partners, such as the International Rice
Research Institute, United Nations Environment Program and the Sustainable Rice Platform to support
sustainable rice-growing practices globally.
Palm oil
Kellogg also recently adopted a global commitment to work with palm oil suppliers to source fully traceable
palm oil, produced in a manner that's environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable.
Images: Workers pick rice at a field in Thailand. Photo viawikimedia.org
Determining Preflood Nitrogen Rates for Rice

AgWatch Staff Posted May 16, 2014
It is that time of year to start thinking about applying preflood nitrogen (N) to rice. If your rice has been planted
recently or has recently emerged I would encourage you to consider taking N-STaR (Nitrogen Soil Test for
Rice) soil samples to determine your season total N rate as well as your preflood N rates. N-STaR is the first
field-specific N soil test for rice and has been developed for silt loam as well as clay soils.Already this season
we have seen a large number of fields, especially on clay soils, that have recommended considerably lower N
rates than the producer had intended to apply.


Using the N-STaR program to guide N fertilizer recommendations in rice is a great way to see if you are on
track with your N fertilization program or see where you can potentially benefit from lowering your N rates or
increasing your N rates and increasing your yield. For those producers who are too close to flooding and cannot
take N-STaR samples please see the attached 2014 Recommended N rates and Distribution for Rice Varieties in
Arkansas. This document can also be found under the publications tab at the Arkansas Row Crops Blog or
under Rice Production Page on the newly renovated University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service Website. This document provides variety specific "generalized" N rate
recommendations for the commonly grown rice varieties in Arkansas.

Major changes to this year's list are the inclusion of two popular varieties Rice Tec XL 753 and Mermentau.
Over the past few seasons XL 753 has been a very consistent variety with high yield potential. Variety x N trials
have indicated that the N needs for this variety are similar to CL XL 745 and will require 150 total units of N
per acre (120 units preflood followed by 30 units at boot) to maximize yield on silt loam soils following
soybean in rotation (please see guidelines for N rate adjustments based on soil texture and previous crop).
Similar to Cheniere and Cocodrie, Mermentau has a recommended season total N rate of 150 total units of N
per acre (105 units preflood followed by 45 units at midseason) and has also shown to be well adapted and have
high yield potential.

Another change to this year's format is the addition of a column that
outlines Optimum Preflood N rates for producers who can flood timely
and maintain a permanent flood for 3 weeks following flood
establishment. The Optimum Preflood N application can allow producers
that meet the requirements for timely flood establishment and maintenance
to apply all of their N preflood and eliminate the need for a midseason N
application, while saving N fertilizer and maintaining yield potential.
Several varieties have been removed from the 2013 list because they were either outdated or producers are no
longer able to obtain seed for these varieties. The varieties that have been removed from the list are CL 131, CL
162, CL 171 AR, CL 181 AR, Neptune, Templeton and Trenasse.
In the event that you or one of your producers has planted one of these varieties and needs guidance on
recommended N fertilizer rates and distribution please feel free to contact myself Trenton Roberts
(tlrobert@uark.edu) or Jarrod Hardke (jhardke@uaex.edu) for more information.
Source: University of Arkansas Extension

19th May, 2014 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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