You are on page 1of 32

1

June 11 ,2015

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Jun 11


Nagpur, June 11 Gram and tuar prices showed weak tendency in Nagpur Agriculture
Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) here on lack of demand from local millers amid
poor high
moisture content arrival. Downward trend on NCDEX in gram, good overseas supply, easy
condition
in Madhya Pradesh pulses and release of stock from stockists also pushed down prices,
according
to sources.
*

FOODGRAINS & PULSES


GRAM
* Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor.
TUAR
* Tuar gavarani quoted weak in open market here in absence of buyers amid increased
supply from producing belts.
* Udid varieties reported strong in open market here on good seasonal demand from
local traders amid thin supply from producing regions. Reports about weak production
in this season also activated stockists.
* In Akola, Tuar - 7,300-7,700, Tuar dal - 10,100-10,500, Udid at 9,100-9,600,
Udid Mogar (clean) - 10,700-11,100, Moong - 9,000-9,200, Moong Mogar
(clean) 10,700-11,100, Gram - 4,200-4,500, Gram Super best bold - 6,100-6,300
for 100 kg.
* Wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market in poor trading
activity, according to sources.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg

FOODGRAINS
Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction
3,600-4,525
3,650-4,525
Gram Pink Auction
n.a.
2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction
6,500-7,130
6,500-7,240
Moong Auction
n.a.
6,000-6,300
Udid Auction
n.a.
4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction
n.a.
2,600-2,800
Gram Super Best Bold
6,200-6,500
6,200-6,500
Gram Super Best
n.a.
Gram Medium Best
5,800-6,000
5,800-6,000
Gram Dal Medium
n.a.
n.a.

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Gram Mill Quality


5,500-5,650
5,500-5,650
Desi gram Raw
4,550-4,650
4,550-4,650
Gram Filter new
6,000-6,100
6,000-6,100
Gram Kabuli
5,400-6,900
5,400-6,900
Gram Pink
6,400-6,600
6,400-6,600
Tuar Fataka Best
10,500-10,800
10,500-10,800
Tuar Fataka Medium
9,900-10,300
9,900-10,300
Tuar Dal Best Phod
9,500-9,700
9,500-9,700
Tuar Dal Medium phod
8,800-9,300
8,800-9,300
Tuar Gavarani New
7,350-7,450
7,400-7,500
Tuar Karnataka
8,000-8,100
8,000-8,100
Tuar Black
11,000-11,300
11,000-11,300
Masoor dal best
8,000-8,200
8,000-8,200
Masoor dal medium
7,500-7,900
7,500-7,900
Masoor
n.a.
n.a.
Moong Mogar bold
10,800-11,000
10,800-11,000
Moong Mogar Medium best
10,000-10,500
10,000-10,500
Moong dal Chilka
9,500-9,800
9,500-9,800
Moong Mill quality
n.a.
n.a.
Moong Chamki best
9,600-9,900
9,600-9,900
Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 11,500-11,750
11,400-11,700
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 10,600-10,800
10,500-10,800
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)
8,900-9,200
8,800-9,100
Batri dal (100 INR/KG)
4,200-4,400
4,200-4,400
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)
3,300-3,350
3,300-3,350
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)
3,400-3,500
3,400-3,500
Watana White (100 INR/KG)
3,100-3,150
3,100-3,150
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,500
3,600-4,500
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)
1,400-1,600
1,400-1,600
Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,550-1,650
1,550-1,650
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)
1,400-1,600
1,400-1,600
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,400
2,200-2,400
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,100
1,900-2,100
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a.
n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,600
3,100-3,600
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-2,900
2,700-2,900
Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG)
1,400-1,500
1,400-1,500
Wheat Best (100 INR/KG)
1,900-2,100
1,900-2,100
Rice BPT New(100 INR/KG)
2,700-2,850
2,700-2,850
Rice BPT (100 INR/KG)
3,000-3,200
3,000-3,200
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG)
1,600-1,850
1,600-1,850
Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG)
2,200-2,450
2,100-2,450
Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,800
2,500-2,800
Rice HMT new(100 INR/KG)
3,100-3,600
3,100-3,600
Rice HMT (100 INR/KG)
3,800-4,200
3,800-4,200
Rice HMT Shriram New(100 INR/KG) 4,100-4,500
4,100-4,500

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Rice HMT Shriram old (100 INR/KG) 4,500-5,000


4,500-5,000
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,200-10,200
8,200-10,200
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,000-7,200
6,000-7,200
Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG) 4,700-4,900
4,700-4,900
Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG)
5,500-6,000
5,500-6,000
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)
2,200-2,450
2,200-2,450
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)
2,500-2,600
2,500-2,600
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 42.9 degree Celsius (109.2 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
26.8 degree Celsius (83.8 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : nil
FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Rains or thunder-showers likely towards evening or night.
Maximum
and minimum temperature would be around and 42 and 28 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/2015/06/11/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL3N0YX3K620150611

Excessive metallic contaminant found in rice sample


imported from Japan
Hong Kong (HKSAR) - The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene
Department today (June 10) announced that a sample of pre-packaged rice imported from Japan was
detected with excessive cadmium, a metallic contaminant. The trade should stop selling the affected
product immediately.
Details of the product are as follows:
Product name: Rinse-free Yamagata Tsuyahime
Place of origin: Japan
Manufacturer: Iris Ohyama Inc
Importer: Mineichi (Hong Kong) Industries Limited
4

Best before date: March 19, 2016


Net weight: 1.8 kilograms

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

5
"The CFS collected the sample at import level for testing under its regular Food Surveillance Programme.
Test result showed that the sample contained cadmium at a level of 0.19 parts per million (ppm),
exceeding the legal limit of 0.1 ppm.According to the information provided by the importer, the import
quantity of the affected Japanese rice was seven cartons with a total weight of about 50 kg, of which five
cartons were sold to 'YATA Department Store' in Sha Tin and 'YATA Supermarket' in Kwun Tong, while
the remaining two cartons were stored in the importer's warehouse. The CFS has informed the importer
concerned of the above irregularity and instructed it to stop the sale and remove from shelves the affected
batch of product.
The importer has voluntarily recalled the affected batch of product and the Centre has marked and sealed
all recalled product and the remaining stock.Prosecution will be considered," a CFS spokesman
said."Based on the level of cadmium detected in the sample, adverse health effects will not be caused by
normal consumption," the spokesman said.According to the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination)
Regulations (Cap 132V), any person who sells food with metallic contamination above the legal limit is
liable upon conviction to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months."The CFS advises the public
to maintain a balanced and varied diet and consider complementing rice with other cereals (for example
noodles, oatmeal and bread) as part of the diet so as to avoid excessive intake of particular chemicals or
contaminants because of picky eating," the spokesman added.The CFS will inform the Japanese
authorities and the local trade, closely follow up the incident and take appropriate actions to safeguard
food safety and public health. Investigation is ongoing. Source: HKSAR
Governmenthttp://7thspace.com/headlines/510498/excessive_metallic_contaminant_found_in_rice_sampl
e_imported_from_japan.html

2.7 metric tonnes of paddy procured


Updated: June 11, 2015 05:47 IST

The East Godavari district administration has procured 2.7 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from
farmers through paddy procurement centres for the Rabi season. The centres will remain closed
from June 20, according to S. Satyanarayana, Joint Collector. Reviewing the procurement
process with officials and rice millers, Mr. Satyanarayana asked millers to complete the custom
milling process at the earliest and hand over rice to the Food Corporation of India (FCI). He said
the FCI would soon provide warehousing facilities.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/27-metric-tonnes-of-paddyprocured/article7303572.ece?ref=tpnews

Weak rainfall could hamper paddy yield


5

KATHMANDU, JUN 11 - Just as the country is reeling under severe heatwave, meteorologists have
forecast a second consecutive year of weak rainfall. The deficient rains could hit farmers, particularly
those growing paddy in the Tarai districts, and could adversely affect the countrys economy already
shattered by the April 25 earthquake and its powerful aftershocks.The four-month long monsoon season

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

6
normally starts from June 10. However, no rainfall activities
have been recorded throughout the week.The continued dry
conditions and lack of soil moisture due to absence of any
rainfall activities during the pre-monsoon days has already
hit the farmers as they have not been able to sow paddy
seeds, something that should have been done a week
ago.Farmers have not been able to sow paddy seeds that
should have been planted a week ago, said Nawal Kishor
Yadav, coordinator of Dhanusha-based National Rice
Research Centre under the Nepal Agriculture Research
Council (NARC).Paddy sowing period in most of the Tarai districts starts in early June and stretches until
the end of the same month. After sowing period ends, paddy transplantation starts from June 30 in many
Tarai districts.However delay in sowing paddy seeds could affect the paddy transplantation. The
deficient rains in districts with poor irrigation facilities will further aggravate the farmers woes, Yadav
said. There is still time for sowing seeds if the soil gets some moisture.
NARC has been promoting the dry direct seeded rice practice in some Tarai districts.The direct seeded
rice requires 35 to 40 percent less water than the normal paddy sowing and plantation process, according
to NARC.Similarly, NARC has released around 74 varieties of improved paddy seeds, of which 62 are
used widely by the farmers, Yadav said. Some of these seeds are tolerant to extreme climatic changes
and stresses such as drought, flooding and submergence.The government has already decided to distribute
423 tons of improved varieties of paddy seeds for the farmers in 14 earthquake-affected districts and also
provide 25 percent subsidy while purchasing seeds for farmers in other districts.Shiva Nepal, a senior
meteorologist at the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), said that as per the prediction of
the South Asian monsoon prepared by a group of weather experts across the world, except for few places
in the Eastern hilly districts and Western Nepal, the monsoon is expected to be below average across the
country.
There are chances of short to long dry spells along with extreme rainfall events during this monsoon,
both likely to cause impact on overall agriculture sector, said Nepal. The information about the possible
dry spells and extreme rainfall events has been shared with the policy makers, agronomists along with the
farmers so that appropriate measures could be taken to help the farmers to deal with dry conditions, he
added.Last year, the unexpected wet spell caused by heavy rains and thunderstorms during the rice
harvesting period in October affected the farmers a lot. The projected growth with average monsoon rains
last year went down due to the unexpected weather condition, Yadav added.
Brief showers bring respite from heat

Cloudy weather with brief thundershowers in some parts of the Central and Eastern regions on
Wednesday brought some respite from the continued rise in temperatures and heat wave conditions in
Tarai districts.According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD), the sudden change in
weather condition is likely to persist until Thursday evening but heavy rains are very unlikely in the same
period.
Normal life in many western Tarai districts and some parts of Central and Eastern regions has been
affected owing to the rising temperatures and heat wave conditions in the past two weeks. The heat wave

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

7
also claimed three lives in Tarai districts where the temperature rose between 42 and 44 degree Celsius in
the recent days.Strong thunder clouds developed locally in the western region is further intensifying and
moving towards east. This local disturbance is further supported by the moisture inflow from the cyclonic
movement developed along the Arabian Sea, said Shanta Kandel, a meteorologist at the MFD.
She said the system will result in thunder shower activities in Kathmandu as well as some eastern
districts. She, however, added that the sudden rainfall activity on Wednesday is not connected to monsoon
rains and the Far-West Nepal would witness heat conditions for next couple of days.Usually the rainbearing monsoon enters the country on June 10 from the eastern region and takes almost a week to spread
throughout the country. Weatherpersons have predicted that the monsoon is likely to be delayed by a
couple of days this year. On Wednesday, Dharan, among the 19 meteorological stations of the MFD,
recorded the highest rainfall measuring 19.8 millimetres, followed by Pokhara at 7.3 millimetres and
Kathmandu at 6 millimetres.
Posted on: 2015-06-11 07:49
http://www.ekantipur.com/2015/06/11/capital/weak-rainfall-could-hamper-paddy-yield/406413.html

PH cuts estimate for Q2 rice output due to dry weather


Reuters
Posted at 06/11/2015 11:30 AM

MANILA - The Philippines, one of the world's top rice importers, has made a slight cut to its
estimated output of the staple grain in the second quarter of 2015 due to dry weather and worries
over crop disease.Unmilled rice output in the April-June period is now expected to reach 3.898
million tonnes, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said in an updated production
report.That is down from the 3.902 million tons predicted in April and a January forecast of 3.96
million tons.Philippine farm officials are closely watching the impact of dry weather from an El
Nino weather pattern as they consider importing more grain to boost buffer stocks.
Demand for more cargoes could be good news for key regional exporters Vietnam and
Thailand.The Philippine state grains procurement agency, the National Food Authority (NFA),
has imported 650,000 tons of rice so far this year after purchases in 2014 totaling around 1.7
million tons, the biggest in four years.The NFA already has government approval to buy another
250,000 tons if drought brought on by El Nino hurts its harvest. It also has the option to import
100,000 tons not allocated in a tender held last week.On top of that, the government is ready to
allow traders to bring in up to 805,000 tons more, with tariffs, in the third quarter.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/06/11/15/ph-cuts-estimate-q2-rice-output-due-dry-weather

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

UNISAME SENDS SOS TO MINCOM TO SAVE RICE


INDUSTRY
The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) thanked the government for giving income tax
relief to the rice millers in the budget but regretted the dis-concern of the government to the real
impediments being faced by the rice industry and urged the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan
(TDAP) to play its role and save the rice industry.President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said the rice
millers are facing bankruptcy and are unable to repay the loans of the banks due to lack of demand from
overseas buyers. He recommended easy repayment facilities for the millers to overcome the difficulties of
cash inflows.Thaver said we had predicted long ago and kept reminding the ministry of commerce
(MINCOM) to work in this direction to overcome this anticipated adverse situation. It was very necessary
that the government should have worked on reducing cost of production by removing taxes on farm
inputs. Secondly it is also very important for the exporters to enhance sales by promoting brands in global
markets.
Thirdly it was required that our exporters should have entered new markets and promoted different
varieties of rice.The SME rice exporters who added value to the grains were eliminated by the big rice
exporters who supported the Quality Review Committee (QRC) and made transactions difficult for the
small to medium sized exporters scaring them of QRC rejection of cargo.The TDAP needs to act fast and
take positive concrete steps to revive the rice industry on war footings. The SME rice exporters must be
facilitated, supported and encouraged to re-enter the rice business and re-open their units.
The parboiled units in Sindh need to be revived. The situation can only be saved by vigorous efforts of the
TDAP to offer free services to SMES who wish to promote their brands in non traditional markets. The
SME exporters are unable to export to third world countries and for this the cover of export credit
guarantee insurance (ECGI) is urgently required at affordable premium. The banks are not discounting
letter of credits of low rating banks and this aspect is very discouraging and again the ECGI could
facilitate transactions.Thaver said the TDAP had formed a steering committee to establish an SME Export
House to promote the SMES to sell their goods in overseas markets but shelved the plan for reasons best
known to them. All over the world the SMEs are encouraged to sell their goods on the internet and
UNISAME had suggested to Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and
TDAP to join hands and establish an SME Gallery to exhibit the products and brands of the SMES.
The lethargy of the authorities is proving injurious to the cause of the sector.The other most important
aspect which has given a setback to the rice industry is the decline in orders fro Iran. The MINCOM
needs to take up the matter with Iran and establish framework for payments to and from Iran for mutual
benefit.UNISAME thanked the MINCOM for finally disbanding the QRC and also the ministry of finance
for granting relief to the rice units in the budget.
8

Rice exporters protest against massacre of Rohangya


Muslims in Burma
10 June 2015 by ppiimages

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

9
Members of the Rice Exporters Association hold signs that say "Stop killing Muslims," and chant slogans
against the massacre of Rohangya Muslims in Burma, in Karachi, Pakistan.

Members of the Rice Exporters Association held a protest and chanted slogans against the massacre of
Rohangya Muslims in Burma, in Karachi, Pakistan.Please note: the text contained in "Rice exporters
protest against massacre of Rohangya Muslims in Burma" has not been corrected, edited or verified by
Demotix and is the raw text submitted by the photojournalist.
All views and opinions expressed are that of the independent photojournalist and do not represent the
views of Demotix Ltd. These details have been included in order to provide as much information as
possible to the Media buyer.Demotix reserves the right to pursue unauthorised users of this content. If
you violate our intellectual property you may be liable for: actual damages, loss of income, and profits
you derive from the use of this image or clip, and, where appropriate, the costs of collection and/or
statutory damages.
http://www.demotix.com/news/7823962/rice-exporters-protest-against-massacre-rohangya-muslimsburma#media-7823937

Rapid groundwater depletion threatens Pakistan food


security: officials

By Aamir SaeedJune 10, 2015 6:48 AM

PAKPATTAN, Pakistan (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Until recently, Ghulam Mustafa made a
living growing sugarcane, rice, barley and wheat on his 10-acre farm in Punjab province.But these
days he is struggling. The water available in wells in the area is dwindling, and the cost of pumping it
to his crops is rising. Like many other farmers in the area, Mustafa, 51, now plans to cultivate only

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

10

half his land and leave the rest for his livestock."The groundwater level in our area has gone down
around 15 to 20 feet in the last five to six years," he said.
"And unfortunately it continues to decline each year."Across Punjab province and two districts of
neighboring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, groundwater supplies are depleting at 16 to 55
centimetres (6 to 21 inches) a year, according to a study carried out by the International
Waterlogging and Salinity Research Institute (IWASRI), part of the Pakistani government's Water
and Power Development Authority.Efforts by farmers to find more water are only exacerbating the
problem. Muhammad Saeed, director at IWASRI, said that 42 percent of the land in Punjab is
irrigated using wells and the excessive pumping of groundwater is quickly lowering the water table.
Mustafa, for instance, said he must deepen his well in Pakpattan district almost every year to get
enough water for irrigation. The deeper his well gets, the harder his generator has to work to pump
out the water and that uses more diesel fuel.The farmer's monthly fuel bill for his pump has
increased from 5,000 rupees ($49) to 7,000 rupees ($68) in just the last year."Pakistan lacks a water
recharge system in the area, as we cannot get water from the Sutlej and Beas rivers under the Indus
Water Treaty with India, Saeed said. That water-sharing treaty, signed in 1960, divides the Indus
River system equally between India and Pakistan, giving each country exclusive use of three of the
river's tributaries."In the near future, farmers will no longer be able to grow water-intensive crops
like sugarcane and rice, Saeed predicted.
THREAT TO FOOD SECURITY
According to the 2010 agricultural census carried out by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, almost 64
percent of the country's population lives in rural areas and earns a living from agricultural activities
such as crop cultivation, livestock rearing, and transportation of agricultural products to market.At
present, half of Pakistans population is food insecure and if the current trend of water depletion
continues in Punjab and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa two regions that are home to 80 percent of
Pakistan's farming population food production and farming income will suffer, said Abid Qaiyum
Suleri, executive director of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, an independent non-profit
organization in Islamabad.
"The availability and accessibility of food may become difficult for over 60 percent of the populace
in the next 10 years if immediate steps arent taken to recharge the aquifer, he said.According to the
IWASRI study, about 145 million acre-feet of water flows through Pakistan each year, but the
country's existing storage capacity is only 14 million acre-feet, meaning it can only store enough
water to last 30 days. The international standard is 120 days.
LESS WATER, MORE FOOD?

10

Improving water storage will be important. But Suleri believes another way to combat the growing
water shortage is to teach farmers how to effectively irrigate crops with less water."The government
should introduce water-efficient seed varieties in water-stressed areas and train farmers on using drip
irrigation and sprinkle irrigation to save the scarce resource, he said.Pakistan's wheat farmers have
lost over 1.5 million tonnes of their crop this year due to erratic rainfall, hailstorms and water
shortages, said Pervaiz Amir, country director for the Pakistan Water Partnership.He suggests the
government should work to artificially recharge groundwater in water-short areas by building
structures to capture water during the flood season and hold it in place, allowing it to percolate into
the soil.Like Suleri of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Amir also believes the

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

11

government needs to help show farmers how to more efficiently use limited water, to boost food
production while protecting water sources.
"The government should regulate indiscriminate groundwater extraction by creating water
(protection) zones and introducing water-saving technology in the agriculture sector to boost food
security, he said.For farmers like Mustafa in Pakpattan, solutions to Pakistan's shrinking water
supply cannot come soon enough. He worries he will lose everything if levels of canal water and
groundwater in the area keep decreasing."I fear that my whole farm may turn into a desert in next 10
years if the water scarcity continues at the same alarming pace, he said.(Reporting by Aamir Saeed;
editing by Jumana Farouky and Laurie Goering :; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the
charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers
humanitarian news, climate change, women's rights, trafficking and corruption. Visit
www.trust.org/climate)
http://news.yahoo.com/rapid-groundwater-depletion-threatens-pakistan-food-security-officials104814109--sector.html

Pakistan wheat surplus to cool imports this year


Anis Majeed, chairman of Karachi-based food commodities firm Bombis Group, said the country was
estimated to produce 25 million tonnes of wheat this year versus around 24m tonnes last year.
Domestic wheat consumption was pegged around 22-23m tonnes, he said. AFP/File
LONDON: Wheat surplus in the country is likely to mean little appetite for imports this year, although it
will purchase more oilseeds due lower crop prospects, a leading local trader said.In November last year,
the country imposed a 20 per cent import duty on wheat to help protect local farmers from imports,
leading to the cancellation of some of the import deals.

11

Anis Majeed, chairman of Karachibased food commodities firm Bombis


Group, said the country was estimated
to produce 25 million tonnes of wheat
this year versus around 24m tonnes
last
year.
Domestic
wheat
consumption was pegged around 2223m tonnes, he said.This year,
Pakistan will not make big imports
because we have the crop and there is
a surplus, Majeed said on a visit to
London this week.The International
Grains Council estimated Pakistans wheat production in 2015-16 at 25m tonnes, versus 25.5m tonnes in
2014-15.

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

12
In contrast, the country was expected to import higher quantities of oilseeds including canola, said
Majeed, who is also chairman of the wholesale grocers association of Karachi.If you calculate (oilseeds)
... altogether this year, we are expecting to import about 1.5 to 1.6m tonnes, he said. Last year was a
little less about 1.2m tonnes and our crop was better than this year.
Majeed said Pakistan expected a good rice crop although exports were likely to be tempered by slower
demand.Pakistans production is around 6.5m tonnes annually out of which 3.5m tonnes we
export, he said. Prices have come down as the international market has come down, he added.
Therefore, there could be a little less (exports) this year.Majeed said rice exporters were looking to
boost sales to Iran, a major consumer of Basmati grade rice.Iran and six world powers are seeking to
overcome remaining differences with a looming self-imposed June 30 deadline to reach a deal over
Tehrans disputed nuclear programme. The timing of sanctions relief for Iran are among the disputes
holding up a nuclear accord.
Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2015
http://www.dawn.com/news/1187584/who-needs-men-kamila-shamsie-wants-only-women-writerspublished-for-a-year

California rice farmers find Japanese trade negotiators a bit


starchy
Charley Mathews Jr., a fifth-generation farmer in Marysville, surveys his rice paddies in the
Sacramento Valley.
(Don Lee / Los Angeles Times)
By DON LEE
California rice farmers are hoping to export more to Japan but are making little headway in trade talks

12

For years Charley Mathews Jr. has


exported tons of his best Sacramento
Valley-grown rice to Japan, but it grates
on him that very little of that has ever
ended up on the tables of sushi
restaurants
or
Japanese
households.Instead,
the
Japanese
government, which controls rice imports
under a 2-decade-old quota system, has
given away most of his and other foreign
rice as food aid or sold it domestically as
animal feed and an ingredient for rice crackers."We want recognition," said Mathews, 48, a fifth-

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

13
generation California farmer whose great-grandfather began planting rice 80 years ago. He insists that
California rice is as good as Japan's, if only Japanese consumers had a chance to try it.If I eat California
rice immediately after it's cooked, I can't tell the difference. But if I taste it after long hours, I can tell the
difference.

Expanding U.S. rice shipments to Japan is one of the most contentious and last remaining issues
in talks over the sweeping Trans-Pacific Partnership trade accord. The 12-nation deal is expected
to be concluded this summer if American lawmakers give President Obama authority to speed
passage of trade agreements.The legislation cleared the Senate last month. And although a clutch
of House Republicans has joined many wary Democrats in opposing the bill, the GOP leadership
in the House has indicated it could take a vote on the measure Friday, suggesting that it believes
there is enough support to hand Obama an important and rare legislative victory.Rice growers
and others in the U.S. agricultural industry stand to be among the biggest winners should the
Pacific trade accord go through.
American providers of pharmaceuticals, software, films and other internationally traded services
also would benefit.On the other hand, U.S. makers of cars, textiles and other light industrial
goods could lose more market share to imports from Japan as well as Vietnam and possibly
others.Yet even as California farmers eye what could be a lucrative expansion into the world's
most discriminating rice market in Japan, their ambitions have been complicated by the state's
severe drought and the surge in the dollar.The U.S. last year exported $269 million worth of rice
to Japan, most of that coming from California.
The state's rice planting this year, however, is expected to be the smallest in about a quarter
century. Overall, U.S. farm goods represented $13.2 billion of the $67 billion in total
merchandise exports to Japan in 2014.Despite their relatively small value, rice and some other
agricultural goods are usually among the most sensitive in trade talks because of their industry's
enormous political clout in many countries. The U.S. and Japan locked horns over beef and pork
last year, and the fight over rice is even more delicate in Japan, where political and demographic
forces are pushing against a further opening of that market.
If the USA protected its trade interests as well as the Japanese do - there would not be a Trans-Pacific
Partnership (TPP) Agreement. If you think that the Japanese government is going to change anything
about its trade practices, you are sadly mistaken

13

Given the size of the California congressional delegation and the potential importance of their votes to the
trade pact's approval, the state's 2,000 rice farmers may have an outsized influence on the outcome.In
addition to the symbolism of the small family farm that is part of America's history, "rice has become an
iconic image of America's problems of opening up overseas markets," said Jock O'Connell, a trade
economist at Beacon Economics in Sacramento.And that's true especially in trade relations with Japan,
where the U.S. has long complained about non-tariff barriers for foreign cars, electronics and other
goods.With more than 2 million farmers working on mostly small paddies, Japanese rice farming is
widely considered inefficient. But farmers represent a core constituency for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

14
and his Liberal Democratic Party, and Japanese negotiators have been reluctant to give much ground
when rice consumption continues to shrink with the nation's aging population.

It's a hot-button issue in the U.S. too. The lack of access to Japanese markets for U.S. rice and
other farm goods, as well as for automobiles, has long been seen by many Americans as
emblematic of Japan's reluctance to open trade.Japan allows imports of 770,000 metric tons of
rice, about 9% of annual consumption. California farmers account for the lion's share of that
amount, and many of them want Japan to increase its rice imports by 200,000 metric tons or so.
The Japanese have been reported to be offering 50,000, which is less than 1% of the total
consumption.
"From the beginning, we never sought a total opening because of the sensitivities," said Bob
Cummings, chief operating officer at the USA Rice Federation in Arlington, Va. "But when
you're looking at less than 1%, that's unacceptable."The high end of that range could add tens of
millions of dollars to California's annual rice exports, valued at more than $600 million last year.
About a third of that goes to Japan. But experts warn that even a significant increase in the
import quota may not help California farmers as much as they hope.One big stumbling block
now is the California drought, which has reduced the acreage of rice planted in the last two years
about 25%, according to the California Rice Commission. Given the past and likely future water
constraints, economists on both sides of the Pacific wonder whether California farmers can ramp
up production even if American officials succeed in breaking open Japan's rice market.

14

"Unless farmers figure out more ingenious ways to irrigate their lands, we may not be able to
take full advantage" of the trade deal, said O'Connell, the trade expert in Sacramento.In nearby
Yuba City, Jon Munger, operations manager at Montna Farms, hops into his red pickup and
drives along the dirt road that bisects a large field. On one side are lush green paddies, inundated
with waters from the nearby Feather River. A white-faced ibis, stilts and other birds dance on the
surface. On the other side, the square plots are bone dry, covered with browning weeds."People
from the highway think we've got wall-to-wall watered fields," he said, alluding to the
sensitivities stirred by drought-induced ordinances for consumers to ratchet back water use. But
he said about 40% of Montna's entire 4,000-acre farmland was left unplanted this spring for the
second year in a row because of water restrictions and costs."It's the most they've ever fallowed,"
said the 38-year-old. "It's definitely not sustainable.
We need some help from Mother Nature."Sure, Munger said, increasing the Japanese rice
market would be great for California farmers, especially for operations such as his that specialize
in premium short-grain rice used for sushi. But at the moment, he isn't thinking about that
potential benefit.Another challenge is that the price of Japan's domestically grown rice has fallen
sharply in recent years as production and supplies have outstripped consumption.At the same
time, the value of the Japanese yen has plunged against the dollar, largely reflecting the
weakness of Japan's economy versus America's, making U.S. exports much more expensive.
Since fall 2012, the yen has lost nearly 60% of its value against the dollar.
The upshot is that California exporters of short-grain rice, the sticky variety favored in Japan,
have lost practically all of the price advantage they once enjoyed in Japan, said Kazuhito
Yamashita, an agricultural policy expert at the Canon Institute for Global Studies in Tokyo.Ten

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

15

years ago, he noted, Japanese rice was triple the cost of California's, and even two years ago, it
was 50% more.With the price gap now gone, Yamashita said, some Japanese trading companies
are even thinking about exporting Japanese rice to California.
"It's very amazing," he said.Many Japanese also question whether California rice can compete
on quality. Foreign rice generally doesn't have a good reputation among Japanese consumers."If I
eat California rice immediately after it's cooked, I can't tell the difference," said a Japanese
government official, who asked for anonymity given the sensitivity of the trade talks."But if I
taste it after long hours, I can tell the difference," he said. A colleague nodded in agreement.
"The Japanese rice, even after long hours, is still sticky."

don.lee@latimes.com
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-rice-trade-20150611-story.html#page=2

Rice hopes pinned on China


By Htin Linn Aung | Thursday, 11 June 2015

Rice exports are set to continue rising on the back of increased shipments to China,
according to U Ye Min Aung, general secretary of the Myanmar Rice Federation.
Rice farmers may receive a higher price if exports grow, though domestic consumers may suffer. Photo: AFP

Myanmar launches its first official rice exports to China in May, and
aims to export the next portion of its 100,000 tonne quota at the end of
June, he said.Rice exports to China have generally been illegal from
Chinas point of view, until the two sides reached an agreement last year
to begin legal shipments.With the start of the official trade with China,
Myanmar exports have to meet certain health standards and can now be
shipped by sea, rather than the informal trade which generally goes
overland past Muse in northern Shan State.
Official exports to China are succeeding, said U Ye
Min Aung. The next round of official exports will
start this month and in July. In the meantime, we are
also expanding in African markets, so we expect next
years exports to be stronger.The price of 1 metric
tonne of emahta rice is from US$330 to $350, an
increase from about $320 last month. Rice prices
traditionally climb the furthest in the year from the
November-to-December harvest.A total of 29
companies now have permission to legally sell rice to

15

China.

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

16

Nine companies were initially approved for the trade earlier this year. At the time, industry
insiders questioned the fairness of some of the firms, which have to meet Chinas stringent health
standards, saying many of the selected companies were small or not yet formed.Myanmar hopes
to export 2 million tonnes of rice this year. The country had previously average over 2 million
tonnes of exports a year until World War II, before steadily declining until the 1990s, according
to a World Bank report last year. Rice exports have since been steadily increasing, it added.Much
of the recent growth in exports has come from Chinese demand. It went from insignificant in
2011 to 747,000 tonnes in 2013, more than half of the total 1.277 million tonnes traded that year,
the report said.
U Ye Min Aung said domestic exporters see bigger opportunities from growing demand along
the Chinese border, even though it does not official recognise the trade.Growing exports have
been blamed for putting upward pressure on domestic prices, but U Ye Min Aung said there is
still room for both exports and domestic consumption.High prices in the domestic market are
not good for consumers, he said.It is hard to handle, but we need to find ways to lower the gap
between wholesale and retail prices.U Chit Khine, a prominent businessperson and official with
the Myanmar Rice Industry Association, said prices surges do not always end up with
farmers.Rising rice prices increase the price for paddy.
When this happens, its good for farmers. But if there are restrictions by way of price controls,
farmers dont receive the benefits, he said.Instead of the old method of restricting price rises,
we should seek more exports and find other ways to import for domestic consumption, such as
importing cheap rice from Thailand.Thailand has been attempting to sell off its buffer stocks of
rice following a failed attempt to corner the global market by its previous government.
Translation by Zar Zar Soe
http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/14987-rice-hopes-pinned-on-china.html

Govt-to-govt talks slated for remaining rice imports


THE NATIONAL Food Authority (NFA) will resort to negotiated procurement next week for
the balance of the 250,000-metric ton (MT) rice imports needed to further boost the countrys
buffer stock in the face of increasing production uncertainty this quarter, an official said
yesterday.

16

Government-to-government negotiations will be conducted next week for the 100,000 MT,
NFA Public Affairs Director Angel G. Imperial, Jr. said via text when asked on the governments
plans after Vietnam bagged a contract earlier this month to supply just 150,000 MT.Mr. Imperial
said Vietnam received the notice of award last Wednesday, adding that 60% of the 150,000 MT
will be delivered not later than July 15, while the remaining 40% will be delivered not later than
Aug. 15. Vietnam was the only country that matched the $410.12/MT floor price set for 25%
broken rice variety in the June 5 auction.

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

17

Existing bilateral agreements allow the Philippines to import rice from Thailand, Vietnam and
Cambodia through government-to-government procurement mode. All three countries were
invited again for the negotiated procurement, said Mr. Imperial.NFA last month said it was
prepared to import an additional 250,000 MT should El Nio turn out to be more intense than
expected.

Last March, Vietnam and Thailand bagged contracts to supply a total of 500,000 MT in time for
the three-month annual lean season that starts in July.All this comes as the government has cut
further its second-quarter estimates for grain staples, citing an expected contraction of harvest
areas due to adverse effects of dry spell, insufficient water supply, and incidence of pests and
diseases in some provinces.
The Philippine Statistics Authority-Bureau of Agricultural Statistics May update shows
second-quarter palay production is now expected at 3.898 million MT, compared to Aprils
3.902 million MT estimate and 4.3% less than the 4.073 million MT actual output in 2014s
comparable quarter. For corn, production this quarter may total 997,000 MT against Aprils
1.029 million MT forecast and 17% less than the 1.202 million MT actual output in the same
period last year. This is the second downward revision of second-quarter estimates from the
original 3.96 million MT and 1.25 million MT respective forecasts last January.
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=TopStory&title=Gov%E2%80%99t-togov%E2%80%99t-talks-slated-for-remaining-rice-imports&id=109598

PH cuts estimate for Q2 rice output due to dry weather


Reuters
Posted at 06/11/2015 11:30 AM
MANILA - The Philippines, one of the world's top rice importers, has made a slight cut to its
estimated output of the staple grain in the second quarter of 2015 due to dry weather and worries
over crop disease.Unmilled rice output in the April-June period is now expected to reach 3.898
million tonnes, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said in an updated production
report.That is down from the 3.902 million tons predicted in April and a January forecast of 3.96
million tons.
17

Philippine farm officials are closely watching the impact of dry weather from an El Nino weather
pattern as they consider importing more grain to boost buffer stocks.Demand for more cargoes
could be good news for key regional exporters Vietnam and Thailand.The Philippine state grains
procurement agency, the National Food Authority (NFA), has imported 650,000 tons of rice so
far this year after purchases in 2014 totaling around 1.7 million tons, the biggest in four

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

18

years.The NFA already has government approval to buy another 250,000 tons if drought brought
on by El Nino hurts its harvest. It also has the option to import 100,000 tons not allocated in a
tender held last week.On top of that, the government is ready to allow traders to bring in up to
805,000 tons more, with tariffs, in the third quarter.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/06/11/15/ph-cuts-estimate-q2-rice-output-due-dry-weather

Modified rice may help combat Chinas smog problem,


Chinese scientists claim
PUBLISHED : Friday, 12 June, 2015, 8:00am
UPDATED : Friday, 12 June, 2015, 11:04am

Stephen Chenbinglin.chen@scmp.com
Scientists have cloned a gene from one strain of rice and inserted it into another that requires less
fertilisation, which causes smog. Photo: Xinhua
Chinese scientists have found a way to change the genetic make-up of a popular species of rice, a
move they claim could ease the countrys chronic smog problem by lowering the amount of
fertilisers containing nitrogen that farmers use.China suffers from more severe nitrogen pollution
than any other country.
18

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

19

Although it has just 7 per cent of the worlds farm land, China consumes over one-third, or 35
per cent, of the worlds nitrogen fertilisers. Such agricultural usage has led to massive pollution
of the country's soil, water and air.Many scientific studies had warned that smog in China was
being caused by this, in addition to industrial activities.When nitric oxides are released into the
atmosphere they undergo a series of photochemical reactions that transform them into harmful
fine particulates, which in turn become smog.But it was difficult to persuade farmers to scale
back their use of the offending fertilisers. Chinese rice, especially the japonica subspecies grown
in northern provinces like Heilongjiang, requires heavy use of fertilisers because of the poor rate
at which it absorbs nitride from soil and water. Plants need nitride in order to grow healthily.

The breakthrough may support the international 'green super rice project', which is aimed at
finding newer and more productive strains of rice. Photo: Xinhua
Now scientists claim to have unlocked the problem by cloning a gene called NRT1 from indica
rice and inserting it into the japonica's genetic sequence. This boosts the rate at which the rice
can absorb nitride by more than one-third. The breakthrough, published in the latest issue of the
journal Nature Genetics, was hailed as a great discovery by an anonymous peer reviewer. It
will have enormous application value in the fight against nitrogen pollution, the authors
wrote.The transplantation of the nitric booster gene had significantly improved grain yield and
nitrogen use efficiency, they added.

19

During a series of field experiments in Beijing, Shanghai and Changsha, the team found that the
modified rice species only needed half as much fertiliser to achieve similarly high grain yields as
regular japonica. The team was led by professor Chu Chengcai at the Chinese Academy of
Sciences Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology in Beijing.Indica belongs to the same
family as japonica but is grown mostly in southern China as well as in tropical regions like

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

20

Thailand and the Philippines, as well as India. It can absorb nitrogen more easily that its northern
cousin.
Yet its area of cultivation is limited because it cannot survive in northern Chinas cold climate,
despite this region serving as the countrys largest rice production centre. Moreover, Chinese
consumers prefer the rich and sticky taste of japonica.In their paper, the scientists said the
discovery also represented an important milestone for the green super rice project," an
international effort to develop new species of rice to meet the growing global demand for food
resources.
http://www.scmp.com/tech/science-research/article/1820233/modified-rice-may-help-combat-chinassmog-problem-chinese

BRRI-dhan 63 raises optimism among farmers, scientists


SHERPUR, Jun 11 (UNB): Production of BRRI-dhan 63, a fine quality high-yielding rice variety newly
developed by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), has raised high optimism among farmers in
Sherpur as well as agricultural scientists, after it has been released to farmers for growing in Boro
season.'Soru balam' or BRRI-dhan 63 is thin and long like miniket rice and it has no aroma, BRRI sources
said.The new high-yielding rice variety has raised rays of hope among farmers and scientists after its
production of eight tonnes per hectare in the Boro session this year.The success will further increase
interests among farmers in the greater Mymensingh region in the next Boro session, local farmers said.
Recently, the BRRI cultivates eight high yielding varieties of rice on a test basis on three acres of land at
Talki village in Nakla upazila of the district. Farmers harvested the paddy from the eight plots on trial
basis in presence of high officials and agriculturists.Officials observed that the BRRI-63 produced around
eight tonnes of rice in only 148 days, which takes little time than BRRI-28 and BRRI-29 and shows
somewhat more production than that of the traditional rice.Farmer Gaziul Islam of the village said the rice
of the BRRI-63 is fine and tall. Its price is more than coarse rice in the market, he said. Julhas Uddin,
another farmer, said, "Many farmers expressed expectation to cultivate the paddy in the next session
noticing my success."The BRRI cultivators said the new high-yielding rice variety had been officially
released to farmers in 2013 for growing from the next Boro season.
The BBRI-63 was invented as hybrid between BRRI-dhan 28 and Iranian rice Amul-3 and it is possible to
collect the paddy from the field within 145 to 148 days. It is highly productive in Boro season with an
average yield potential of 7 to 7.5 tonnes (MT) per hectare. The BRRI-63 is exportable for being fine
quality high-yielding rice.Its market price will be double than coarse rice as the rice is beautiful and
pearly-white, extra long and neat.

20

The cultivators expected that the BRRI 63 will capture the place of BRRI 26, BRRI 28 and BRRI 29 in
next Boro season as it has become popular this season.Chief agronomist of BRRI's breeding department
Dr Tomal Lata Aditaya, also breeder of BRRI-63, said "Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury has given
us some rice of Amul-3 of Iran.The BRRI -63 was developed with making hybrid between BRRI-28 and
Amul-3. We expect that it will contest with the traditional rice."Nakla upazila agriculture officer M

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

21
Ashraf Uddin said the rice can be harvested seven days earlier than any other hybrid rice and its
production and quality is very good. It will be more popular in the next season, he said.
http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2015/06/12/96241

LPN reinstatement lauded


BY ZAHRATULHAYAT MAT ARIF
11 JUNE 2015 @ 7:45 PM

ALOR STAR: The Malay Rice


Millers Association lauded the
governments move to reinstate the
National Paddy and Rice Board
(LPN) which they believe would
protect food security in the
country. Its chairman Musonnef
Md Radzi said the association had
been discussing the issue over 10
years and it was high time for the
government to reinstate the LPNs
role in order to monitor and control
the paddy industry. Musonnef said
the government was the suitable
body to look after the padi and rice production instead of Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas) after it was
privatised in 1995.
Bernas has played the role of regulator and distributor for the countrys rice industry as well as to ensure
the nations rowing rice demand be fulfilled through the management of the National Stockpile and the
Padi Price Subsidy Scheme. However, since the privatisation of Bernas, most of the Malay Rice Millers
Association had gone bankrupt as Bernas solely looked for profit instead of its farmers welfare and the
rice production, he said here today. Musonnef said the Bernas should have empowered Bumiputera
farmers and rice distributions but everything went wrong since its privatisation. Citing an example, in
1985, a total of 103 Malay Rice Millers Association had registered but today, there are only 19 millers
that are still operating.

21

As such, this is about time for the government to review the board and Bernas functions in order to help
the farmers as well as to scrutinise the padi industrial cycle, he said. He added that with the existence of
the board, it could increase the padi yields and the country will achieve its goals which no longer rely on
imported rice by 2020. It was reported on June 6 that the Agriculture and Agro Based Industries Minister
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will bring the matter to the cabinet to reinstate the LPN in order to
monitor
the
production
of
padi
and
rice.

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

22

http://www.nst.com.my/node/87953

South Bengal dry, north too wet


- Panta bhat in Nadia hotels to beat the scorching heat
SUBHASISH CHAUDHURI
The Panta platter at Hotel Haveli. Picture by Abhi Ghosh
Krishnagar, June 10: As the mercury shoots up, a humble comfort food is going posh.Panta bhat, or rice
soaked in water overnight and served with lime wedges, onion, pickle and chillis, has been a staple in
Bengali homes, especially in the villages, as a cooling dish. Now hotels in Krishnagar are serving "Panta
platters" to beat the heat.With the Tropic of Cancer passing through a point close to Krishnagar, the town
experiences extremes of heat and cold.For the last 10 days it has been experiencing an average of about
40C.As a result customers at hotels on NH34, which passes through Krishnagar, were refusing food. No
one wanted the hot, spicy dishes that are the trademark at such places.Then the owner of Hotel Haveli,
Sanjoy Chaki, had a brainwave. Early this month, the hotel, which has two units in the town including a
multi-cuisine restaurant, introduced two varieties of the "Panta thali" - a veg thali and a "Panta with fried
fish".
"The traditional veg Panta thali
package includes panta bhat, kasundi
(mustard paste), sorsher tel (mustard
oil), Gandharaj lebu (lime wedges),
kancha lanka (chilli), sliced onion, alur
chokha (potato mash), fried red chilli,
posto bora (fires made with poppy seed
paste), alu jhuri bhaja (fried potato
strips), mango chutney, sour curd and a
sweet paan.This thali costs Rs 70. The
fish Panta package offers a choice from
three kinds of fish dishes and costs Rs
140."Most of the other hotels are
offering "Panta platters" with alur chokha and posto bora. Some customers may not like the fermented
flavour of rice soaked overnight, so Chaki soaks the rice in the morning and refrigerates it for six hours.
He uses Basmati rice.

22

"I have been selling over one hundred dishes daily," he says. Rajiv Ghosh, who runs a roadside dhaba, has
also introduced the Panta varieties, but at a lower price.Panta is really cool. It is also what the doctor
orders.Himadri Haldar, superintendent of Saktinagar district hospital in Krishnagar: "Taking Panta during
lunch on a hot day is a good idea. In a humid situation people generally suffer from digestion problems
and dehydration. Rice soaked in water can be digested easily and it provides energy and fluids to the body
to keep it cool, particularly for those who stay out in the sun."Panta bhat also has more micronutrients

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

23
than fresh rice, especially sodium, potassium and calcium. It is traditional in some villages for pregnant
women to have Panta.Not only the passers-by on NH34, but the whole of Krishnagar could have it.The
rise in the mercury level has had an impact, some say, on the attendance in some central and state
government offices in particular during May-June.
A central government official of the district administration said: "Generally we record an average
attendance of about 90 per cent every day. However, during the past 30 days, a fall of about 10 per cent in
attendance has been recorded".However Nadia ADM(G) Utpal Bhadra did not agree."The attendance is
normal at the district administrative headquarters," he said.But the Krishnagar district court was closed
for about a fortnight owing to the scorching heat. Secretary of Nadia district court bar association
Debasish Roy said: "We were compelled to take a break due to heat from May 18 to May 31. The court
resumed work on June 1, but the attendance of lawyers and clients is still very poor. The clients from
distant areas like Debagram, Plassey, Kaliganj are not coming due to the heat, as they have to travel about
60 km. This is a tremendous problem."

Barley inches up on scattered demand


Thursday, 11 June 2015
New Delhi, June 11:
Barley prices were marginally up by Rs 10 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today on increased
demand from consuming industries.However, other grains including wheat, moved in a narrow range on
little doing and settled around previous levels.Traders said increased demand from consuming industries
mainly pushed up barley prices.In the national capital, barley edged up by Rs 10 to Rs 1,280-1,290 per
quintal.
Other bold grains like, bajra and maize slipped to Rs 1,205-1,210 and Rs 1,225-1,230 from previous
levels of Rs 1,220-1,225 and Rs 1,240-1,245 per quintal respectively.
Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal):
Wheat MP (desi) 2,300-2,650, Wheat dara (for mills) 1,520-1,525, Chakki atta (delivery) 1,540-1,545,
Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) 220, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) 220, Roller flour mill 820-830 (50 kg), Maida 840-850
(50 kg) and Sooji 940-950 (50 kg).
Basmati rice (Lal Quila) 10,400, Shri Lal Mahal 10,000, Super Basmati Rice 9,500, Basmati common
new 4,900-5,100, Rice Pusa (1121) 3,900-4,900, Permal raw 1,750-1,800, Permal wand 1,900-1,925, Sela
2,300-2,400 and Rice IR-8 1,600-1,625, Bajra 1,205-1,210, Jowar yellow 1,490-1,500, white 2,550-2,650,
Maize 1,225-1,230, Barley 1,280-1,290.
23
http://www.siasat.com/english/news/barley-inches-scattered-demand

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

24

Food Hospitality Worlds silver edition rolls out


in Bengaluru
The 25th edition of Food Hospitality World (FHW) 2015 exhibition kickstarted today at the White Orchid Convention Centre in Bengaluru
By: feonline | June 11, 2015 2:56 pm

The 25th edition of Food Hospitality World (FHW) 2015 exhibition kick-started today at Bengaluru

The 25th edition of Food Hospitality World (FHW) 2015 exhibition kick-started today at the
White Orchid Convention Centre in Bengaluru. This three-day exhibition being held from June
11-13, 2015, was inaugurated by Chef Surjan Singh Jolly, director- F&B, J W Marriott
Bengaluru; Bakkappa Kote, chairman, Karnataka Wine Board, Government of Karnataka; KN
Vasudeva Adiga, honorary president, Bruhat Bangalore Hotels Association; K Syama Raju,
president, South India Hotels & Restaurants Association; PK Mohankumar, hospitality
consultant and industry expert, and former managing director and CEO, Roots Corporation; and
Madhukar M Shetty, honorary secretary, Karnataka Pradesh Hotel & Restaurants Association.

24

Speaking at the inauguration, Chef Jolly stated, It is an honour to be at the FHW 2015
exhibition. This exhibition befits the requirements of the hospitality industry for it provides
exposure, a platform to exchange thoughts and ideas, and bring creativity to life. It also provides
networking opportunities and enables the sharing and use of best practices.Sharing his
perspective, Shetty opined, The food industry in India is facing several challenges and
exhibitions like FHW helps to run our industry smoothly. Presently, we need to have more
modern technologies to run this industry. Adding to the same, Adiga stated, FHW is running
successfully for its 25th edition. This exhibition is beneficial to the hospitality industry for it

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

25

showcases the latest technologies needed by the hospitality industry. It is also encouraging to see
that the state and central government are providing support to the Indian hospitality and travel
industry. International fast food brands like KFC, Dominos, etc, have taken over our market and
we need to promote Indian cuisine and hoteliers should focus on doing so by promoting it across
the world.Giving a word of advice Mohankumar said, The hospitality industry is thinking
about globalisation.
The Indian hospitality industry has reached a certain level of maturity. During the initial stages
of my career, we used to import all food ingredients, but times have changed now. At present,
the ancillary and the hospitality industry needs to network as they are hardly networking. There
needs to be more awareness about international equipments in the Indian market. South India is a
powerhouse of the Indian economy and it is time that the hospitality industry recognises this.
There is also a huge tourism potential down south and there is a need to improve connectivity
among Kochi, Puducherry, Chennai and Bengaluru. The south has a robust hotel presence with
the highest number of investments taking place across budget, mid and luxury segments. Big
strength is also coming from independent restaurants and people in Bengaluru are dining out five
days a week.
There is also a huge opportunity in the breakfast segment. Presently, no brand in south India can
deliver like the QSRs; for example deliver breakfast at home. We need to develop technology in
this area.The first day of the exhibition will witness a special honours evening felicitating 15
Hospitality Trailblazers who have made a unique distinction in the south Indian dining space.
The second day will have sessions such as the Hospitality Think Tank GMs Conclave, where
general managers from leading hotel brands from south India will speak about Bengalurus
potential as a MICE destination. The conclave will be followed by the CeBIT Insight Series, a
conference on leveraging the digital platform to enhance customer experiences in the hospitality
industry. The Power of Purchase, also to be held on the second day, will focus on the new trends
in purchasing, its role and the challenges for hospitality purchasing professionals.

25

The concluding day will witness Hospitality Knowledge Exchange on Green Housekeeping, and
for the first time Professional Housekeepers Association will be participating in this session. The
Baking Contest will be a first time inclusion at this exhibition. It will have live demos by the
Institute of Baking & Cake Art (IBCA) that will be organised and overseen by one of Indias top
baker, trainer, cake decorator, consultant and food stylist, Chef Manish Gaur who is also the
director of IBCA. This baking contest will provide an opportunity to over 5000 professionals
from the hospitality and F&B industry to showcase their baking skills and talents. IBCA will
provide live demonstrations on baking various creative dishes throughout the three days of the
show.The exhibition, spread over a floor space of 6,000 sq mtrs, will witness a total number of
150 exhibitors. Some of the key clients will include: Amrit Group, Bunge India, Amira Basmati
Rice, ID Fresh Foods, Forstar Foods, VKL Spices, Williams, and many more. This years
exhibition will witness exhibitors coming from different segments of the food and hospitality
industry like F&B, interiors, kitchen equipment, housekeeping, bakery and others, and will aim
at providing solutions to various industry-related problems.
Associations that have signed up for the exhibition include South India Hotels & Restaurant
Association (SIHRA); Bangalore Hotels Association (BHA); HOTREMAI; Hospitality,
Healthcare, Aviation, Travel and Tourism (HATT); Hospitality Purchasing Managers Forum
(HPMF); Kerala Hotels & Restaurants Association (KHRA); Karnataka Pradesh Hotels &

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

26

Restaurants Association (KPHRA); Telangana Hotels Association (TGHA); Kerala Bakery


Association (BAKE); Hotel Association of Pondicherry (HAP); and Munnar Hotels & Resorts
Association (MHRA).The FHW exhibition is organised by Global Fairs & Media a joint
venture between Hannover Milano Fairs India and The Indian Express Group
http://www.financialexpress.com/article/lifestyle/travel-tourism/food-hospitality-worlds-silver-editionrolls-out-in-bengaluru/83162/

Banks cut back on export credit


Export credit saw the sharpest decline in deployment of gross bank credit as on April this year
Namrata Acharya | Kolkata
June 11, 2015 Last Updated at 17:10 IST

High interest rates have hit the export credit portfolio of banks. Reserve Bank data shows banks'
export credit as on April had fallen by 8.7% from the Rs 48,200 crore a year before to about Rs
44,000 crore.In the same period a year before, export credit had shown 13.4% growth, from Rs
42,500 crore as on April 2013.Among all sectors, export credit saw the sharpest decline in
deployment of gross bank credit as on April this year.
After the government withdrew the 3% interest subvention scheme for exports in April 2014, the
cost of rupee credit has gone up significantly, say exporters. The government withdrew rupee
export credit to the MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) sector and from almost all
engineering export products.Getting bills discounted from a foreign bank which have a tie-up
with the importer's bank has become a much more viable option. However, the window is
available to only large export houses, based on their counterpart importer's credit record with
their respective foreign lender."We're getting rupee credit at around 11% from domestic banks.
However, if we get our bills discounted from foreign banks which have a tie-up with importers,
the rate of interest is less than 2% per annum. In addition, we are getting payment in dollars, a
win-win situation for us from the point of view of the present rupee pricing," said P K Shah,
director, Nipha Exports.

26

"We have written to the government to introduce the interest subvention scheme on rupee export
credit, as the rising cost credit is a major issue for exporters," said Rajan Sundaresan, executive
director of All India Rice Exporters Association.According to banks, the low offtake of export
credit is linked to production stagnation and rupee movement."Generally, the cost of credit is
coming down for all businesses. The real problem with export is linked to the rupee, slightly
overvalued at present," said Sanjay Arya, executive director, United Bank of India.
"There has been a decline in export credit. We have also seen that in the past few months, there
had been some impact (of lower demand) on export of basmati rice, iron and steel, and coal.
There are also issues related to dumping from the Chinese market, which has also taken a hit on
exports, particularly iron and steel," said an official of UCO Bank.
Recently, Arundhati Bhattacharya, head of State Bank of India, had said dumping of foreign
products in the iron and steel sector was an area of concern for banks. "We see that of the total
iron and steel demand of 21 million tonnes, nearly 12 mt is getting imported, and we believe

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

27

dumping is going on from China, Russia and Ukraine. That is an area of concern," she had said
here last month.
http://www.business-standard.com/article/finance/banks-cut-back-on-export-credit-115061100683_1.html

USA Rice Testifies on Implementation of Conservation Title


of Farm Bill
Buddy Allen testifies
Buddy Allen (second from left) representing the rice industry.
WASHINGTON, DC -- This morning the House Committee on Agriculture's Subcommittee on
Conservation and Forestry held a public hearing on the implementation of conservation programs in the
2014 Farm Bill. Mississippi's Buddy Allen, a member of USA Rice Federation's Conservation
Committee, served as one of the six witnesses offering testimony.As a rice farmer and chairman of his
local soil and water conservation district in Tunica, Allen was able to offer a unique perspective on the
implementation of the farm bill's conservation programs. Allen praised the Committee's recognition of
voluntary
ag
working
lands
conservation.

"Working land programs not only address resource concerns, they increase productivity yielding
sustainability by making cropland more diverse and efficient," he said. "The consolidation and
streamlining of the conservation title will make these programs more efficient and easier to use for
farmers and ranchers."

27

Allen also discussed the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), "Rice producers have put
years of work into finding new ways to reduce erosion and water usage, and to address a number of other
critical conservation priorities. Because of the unique methods for farming rice compared to other
commodity crops, sensitivity of water quantity/quality and soil stability are particularly essential to
maintain operations. That being said, the RCPP is a natural fit for our industry to further augment our

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

28
already impressive conservation platform." Allen and the other witnesses thanked the Members of the
subcommittee for their support of the 2014 Farm Bill's conservation title and praised the work that NRCS
is doing to implement the programs.
Contact: Peter Bachmann (703) 236-1475

116th RMA Convention Focuses on Innovation, Trade, and


Global Competitiveness
Aloha and welcome
WAILEA, HAWAII -- The 116th USA Rice Millers'
Association (RMA) Convention got underway yesterday
with a traditional welcome and blessing by Kainoa Horcajo,
a Hawaiian Cultural Ambassador.The general session and
trade show highlighted markets, trade, and new products
and technologies. "With so much happening right now on
international trade, this year's convention content is right on
target when it comes to relevancy for our business," said
RMA Chairman Chris Crutchfield. "The educational
program covers a variety of topics including the world
economy and its impact on agriculture, telling ag's story in the digital age, and the current realities of the
rice trade in China. Of special interest will be the presentation by the U.S. International Trade
Commission on their recently concluded study on factors and policies affecting the global
competitiveness of the U.S. rice industry.

28

"Speakers yesterday included William Juting Li, the director of


imports for Shenzhen Dragon Ocean Hing Cereals & Oil
Supply Ltd, who gave an overview of the China market. Li
talked about the potential for U.S. rice in China, and how
factors like regional and socio-economic differences there
come into play in consumer preference for certain rice types.
He said Chinese shoppers buy rice in a variety of ways -- in
bulk at grocery stores and in smaller packages when
purchasing premium varieties -- and because rice is such an
integral part of Chinese culture, they'll also buy rice at places
like gas stations where product kiosks are located right next to
the gas pumps. Li also said there is strong concern in China
about food safety and Chinese consumers are looking for
"clean" rice they can trust making imported rice more popular.

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

29

Pay at the pump for food and fuel


Half a world away, U.S. rice has reemerged on mainstream UK retail shelves for the first time since 2006.
Hartwig Schmidt, USA Rice's regional director for Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, reported on this
major victory for the rice industry, saying the reappearance of U.S. rice in UK retail stores comes after
years of campaigning and promotional efforts by USA Rice to assure suppliers that U.S.-grown rice is a
high quality, competitive crop free of GMO traits.Finally, conference attendees got a glimpse into the
future of food from Mike Lee, founder and CEO of Studio Industries. Lee's Brooklyn-based food design
and innovation company's goal is to help and empower the food world to design better products and
experiences.
His team wants to "raise the bar for innovation today by thinking more ambitiously about the food
products of tomorrow" and he encouraged the rice industry to "take a cue from the tech and automotive
industries where big thinking energizes innovation" to find "solutions that are better for people, the
planet, and profit."Founded in 1899, RMA is one of the oldest agribusiness trade organizations in
America. RMA membership, which includes farmer-owned cooperatives and privately-owned mills,
represents virtually all of U.S. rice milling capacity, with mill members in Arkansas, California, Florida,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas. RMA associate members include exporters, shippers and
other businesses allied with the rice trade.

Contact: Deborah Willenborg (703) 236-1444

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for June 11

29

Month

Price

Net Change

July 2015

$9.795

- $0.075

September 2015

$10.070

- $0.080

November 2015

$10.335

- $0.080

January 2016

$10.595

- $0.080

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

30

March 2016

$10.795

- $0.080

May 2016

$10.795

- $0.080

July 2016

$10.795

- $0.080

Ducks, geese and rice -- the next victims of California's


drought?

The marshlands, canals and culverts in Williams, Calif., north of Sacramento, are temporary homes to geese and other migratory
birds that use the area as a stop on the Pacific Flyway.
(Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

By JOSEPH SERNAcontact the reporter

The next drought victims: Ducks, geese and rice

The nests of hundreds of thousands of birds and


the food for millions more could be imperiled
this year because of fewer rice crops in
California the latest symptom of the states
historic drought. Only about 375,000 acres of
rice are expected to be planted this year, a 30%
decrease from a typical year and the lowest in
California since 1991, according to a statement
from the California Rice Commission.

30

Chronicling California's drought

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

31

In summer, the rice is used as nesting for native mallards and shore birds, said Mark
Biddlecomb, director for the western region of Ducks Unlimited, a wetlands conservation
group.In the fall, after the rice is harvested, the fields are flooded and the remaining grain
becomes food for up to 7 million ducks and geese in the Sacramento River Valley, he said. If the
crop is reduced, the feeding area becomes more concentrated, which makes the population more
vulnerable to diseases.
I hate to say its cascading, but it kind of is, Biddlecomb said of the droughts effects.The
drought also annually costs the state billions of dollars in economic activity and tens of
thousands of agricultural jobs, the commission noted.In 2014, about 408,000 acres of rice was
planted, which was also below normal, the group said.If not for a fortuitous spell of strong winter
storms in late December that expanded feeding grounds, an outbreak of Avian botulism within
the fowl population would have spread further, Biddlecomb said.This coming winter, if that
doesnt happen, and if we dont use our water resources wisely we can really be in a world of
hurt, Biddlecomb said.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-drought-rice-shortage-20150610story.html?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+June+11%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+Dece
mber+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email

Californias rice crop predicted to be 30 percent below


normal
Written by Lesley McClurg - Capital Public Radio
Category: California News
Published: 10 June 2015

31

Sacramento, California - Because of Californias historic drought, the states rice crop will be 30
percent below normal - at 375,000 acres. Experts say the smaller planting will hurt the economy
and wildlife that depend on shallow flooded fields.Tim Johnson, the President of the California
Rice Commission says the largest impact will be felt in the small towns like Colusa, Marysville
and Yuba City where farmers and workers depend on the rice industry for jobs.But, also in
places like the Port of West Sacramento where we export our rice internationally and the rice
mills and rice driers you see around the community, says Johnson.The ripples will be felt
statewide. Johnson says the fallowed acreage will costs Californias economy hundreds of
millions of dollars.
Dry fields are also bad news for ducks and geese that depend on flooded rice fields for food and
breeding grounds. Mark Bittlecomb is the Ducks Unlimited Western Regional Director.Were
fearful that disease could happen. Avian botulism outbreaks were just starting last December,

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

32

and that could happen again this year if (waterfowl) are concentrated, he says. And it (disease)
can go through the population rather quickly and you can see massive die-offs.Biologists and
engineers are working with landowners to increase water efficiency so more habitat is available
using less water.This years planting is the smallest since 1991
http://www.imperialvalleynews.com/index.php/news/california-news/3732-california-s-rice-crop-predicted-to-be-30-percent-belownormal.html?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+June+11%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=e
mail

Boonsong on B20m bail in G2G rice case


11 Jun 2015 at 19:30 1,526 viewed3 comments
WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS
Former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom has been granted bail in the government-togovernment (G2G) rice sales corruption case and ordered not to leave the country without court
permission, according to the Supreme Court.Mr Boonsong applied for bail on Thursday and placed a
savings account as surety. The court approved it and set his bail at 20 million baht, said Thanarirk
Nitiseranee, president of the Supreme Courts Criminal Division for Political Office-Holders, who
supervises the case. Former commerce minister Boonsong TeriyapiromMr Boonsong is among 21
individuals accused of colluding to help two Chinese firms not authorised by the Chinese government to
undertake G2G deals with the Thai government to buy rice from stockpiles generated by the Yingluck
administration's pledging scheme.

32

They were indicted on


March 17 on charges of
committing
and
supporting malfeasance
in violation of the
Criminal
Code
and
competitive-bidding and
anti-corruption laws.Mr
Thanarirk said three
other defendants had
been bailed under the
same conditions after
indictment.
Other
defendants are required to submit bail applications before trial begins on June 29.The 21 defendants
include three people who held political positions in the Yingluck Shinawatra government, three civil
servants and 15 individuals who were authorised directors of companies and juristic persons. The
accused each face maximum punishment of life imprisonment and combined total fines of 35 billion
baht.Get full Bangkok Post printed newspaper experience on your digital devices with Bangkok Post enewspaper. Try it out, it's totally free for 7 days.

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com | www.ricepluss.com
Contact for Advertisment : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

You might also like