7th August , 2014
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TOP Contents - Tailored for YOU Latest News Headlines…
PHL allots $236M for extra rice imports Khapra Beetle Infestation Stops Rice Shipment from Pakistan at Port of Baltimore USA Rice Helps Fine Tune Sustainability Tool Russian Food Import Ban Excludes U.S. Rice Destructive insect found in rice shipment at port Half-cup rice option now a must in all QC food joints American Rice Growers $5.5 mil expansion ~ Meeting the first crop harvest just in time Basmati rice turns up the heat with chiles Taking Away the Shame of Rice Importation Rice Expo celebrates food and farming: Arkansas producers represent 53 percent of national crop total Private sector sees brighter prospects for Thai rice amid rising demand DFT set to deliver more rice to China under G2G deal What to do with bigger rice crop, new farm bill programs? Rice bids below ministry's 'floor prices' Rice enters Tripura first time via Bangladesh Total Rice Area, Production for Bangladesh Revised Down India's Erratic Monsoon Turns Surplus in Past Week
News Detail… PHL allots $236M for extra rice imports August 4, 2014 7:12pm
The Philippine government has allotted a budget of P10.3 billion ($236 million) to import half a million tons of rice via a tender rescheduled for later this month, according to a bid invitation published over the weekend.The state grains procurement agency National Food Authority (NFA) reset the tender date to Aug. 27 from Aug. 12 due to time constraint, NFA Spokesman Rex Estoperez told Reuters.Seeking to boost thin stockpiles following recent typhoons and spikes in local retail prices of the grain, the government decided to import more rice with purchases in the second half of the year, possibly reaching as much as 1 million tons.
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Total rice purchases this year by the Philippines could exceed 2 million tons, its biggest in four years. President Benigno Aquino III announced on July 28 that the NFA has been authorized to import an additional 500,000 tons for emergency needs later this year.With the buying spree, the Philippines is on track to become the world's third biggest buyer of rice, according to estimates by the US Department of Agriculture, up from the No. 8 spot it held last year.The tender later this month is open to all rice brokers, dealers and exporters, Estoperez said, including those in Vietnam, the country's traditional supplier, and Thailand. The Thai government, which aims to sell 3 to 4 million tons of rice from state warehouse in government deals within six months, plans to hold talks with several buyers in Asia, including the Philippines.Vietnamese rice jumped last week to the highest price level in 2-1/2 years on demand from China, making it uncompetitive with Thai grades which were set to fall as the government continued to offload state stocks on the world market.The NFA is seeking to import 25 percent broken, long grain, well milled white rice variety for delivery in three batches between September and November.The first shipment of 200,000 tons should arrive not later than Sept. 30, followed by another batch of the same volume not later than Oct. 31. The final shipment of 100,000 tons should arrive not later than Nov. 30.idders will be offered five lots of 100,000 tons each.The Southeast Asia country has shifted away from setting a target date for its plan to be completely self-sufficient in the production of rice, after missing its end-2013 goal, keeping its doors open to imports in the coming years. – Reuters
Khapra Beetle Infestation Stops Rice Shipment from Pakistan at Port of Baltimore Khapra Beetle larvae BALTIMORE, MD -- Yesterday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the port of Baltimore discovered a Khapra Beetle larvae infestation in a shipment of rice from Pakistan. Even though the collected specimens were dead, an Emergency Action Notice was issued to the importer requiring that the 43,000 pound shipment of rice be re-exported or destroyed (the importer chose to re-export the shipment). The Khapra Beetle remains the only insect in which CBP enacts regulatory action even while in a dead state.
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For the past several years, Pakistan has increased rice production and sought new export markets, some of which are traditional U.S. markets such as Mexico. In 2010-2012, Pakistan exported negligible amounts of rice to Mexico; however, in the first six months of 2013, Pakistan rice comprised over 23 percent of Mexico's milled rice imports. In June 2013, Mexico found evidence of the Khapra Beetle in 3,000 MT of Pakistan rice and subsequently removed Pakistan from their list of eligible importers. The ban continues to remain in place for Mexico; Central America also does not permit Pakistan rice imports. "The Khapra Beetle is considered one of the 100 worst invasive species in the world. It can tolerate numerous insecticides and survive for long periods without food," says Jim Guinn, USA Rice vice president of international promotion. "We applaud CBP for their diligent work in catching contaminated shipments before they can cause harm to our agricultural industry." Contact: Sarah Moran (703) 236-1457
USA Rice Helps Fine Tune Sustainability Tool MEMPHIS, TN -- U.S. rice industry sustainability experts met with staff of Field to Market this week for a day-long work session on the Fieldprint Calculator for rice. The group addressed various issues and worked on calibrating the calculator for use in pilot programs by rice producers. The group also set a course for future work on individual metrics for greenhouse gasses, biodiversity, and water quality. The meeting was hosted at the Ducks Unlimited world headquarters, and attendees included Rod Snyder, president of Field to Market; Jennifer James, chairman of the USA Rice Sustainability Task Force, rice producers and researchers, and staff from the USA Rice Federation. "Over the past twenty years, American rice farmers have increased yields while at the same time decreasing land use, energy use, and water use," said James. "As an industry, we are a sustainability success story. I believe the Fieldprint Calculator will help us quantify our ongoing efforts to seek out and implement effective methods of conservation and sustainability." Field to Market is a diverse alliance of companies and advocacy groups working to identify opportunities for continuous improvements in productivity, environmental quality, and human well-being across the ag landscape. Members range from McDonald's to the Environmental Defense Fund, and include several key rice end users. Contact: Steve Hensley (703) 236-1445
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Russian Food Import Ban Excludes U.S. Rice Medvedev: "Da rice."
ARLINGTON, VA -- The Russian government announced yesterday that it is banning the import of a range of agricultural products from the U.S., the European Union, Norway, Canada, and Australia. Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev stated that the limitations would begin today and last for 12 months. Rice and wild rice were not included on Russia's broad list that included meat, fish, nuts, fruit, vegetables, and milk products."We are relieved that rice is not on Russia's list," said Bob Cummings, USA Rice Federation COO. "We are seeking confirmation from the U.S. government that this is indeed the case, and we will monitor the situation for any changes." U.S. rice exports, including wild rice, totaled 7,355 MT in 2013, valued at $8.9 million. For the first six months of this year, sales are down 4 percent. Rice exports to Russia have been increasing steadily in the last five years, jumping 500 percent between 2009 and 2013. The majority of rice exports to Russia is medium-grain milled rice. Contact: Kristin Dayton (703) 236-1464
Destructive insect found in rice shipment at port By Associated Press August 6 BALTIMORE — Federal agriculture specialists say they found larvae of a destructive insect infesting a rice shipment at the Port of Baltimore.U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Wednesday that the 43,000 pound shipment of rice from Pakistan was infested with Khapra beetle larvae. Authorities say only dead larvae were found. Customs and Border Protection issued an emergency action notice to the importer ordering that the shipment be destroyed or re-exported.Officials say the importer chose to re-export the 1,066-carton shipment.Customs and Border Protection officials say the Khapra beetle is one of the world‘s most destructive insect pests of grains,
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cereals and stored foods.Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Half-cup rice option now a must in all QC food joints By Erika Sauler |Philippine Daily Inquirer 4:44 am | Thursday, August 7th, 2014
40171690
MANILA, Philippines–It‘s official.
All eating establishments in Quezon City—from lowly eateries to upscale restaurants, including canteens in hospitals or schools—must offer customers the option of ordering a half-a-cup of rice.Under the ―Half-Cup Rice Ordinance‖ approved by Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista last month, first-time violators will receive a written warning from the city‘s business permits and licensing office. Second-time offenders will be meted out a fine of P1,000 while a third offense will mean a P2,000 fine on top of a month-long suspension of the establishment‘s license to operate.Introduced by Councilor Allan Butch Francisco, the ordinance is in line with the campaign of the International Rice Research Institute to reduce rice waste at the consumer level.Based on data from the Department of Science and Technology‘s Food and Nutrition Research Institute, each Filipino wastes an average of three tablespoons of rice daily, or 3.3 kilos per year.The ordinance covers all food establishments operating in the city, including fast-food chains, food courts, caterers and canteens in schools and hospitals.
American Rice Growers $5.5 mil expansion ~ Meeting the first crop harvest just in time Posted: Wednesday, August 6, 2014 4:26 pm By Carol Skewes, Publisher, publisher@thevindicator.com (RAYWOOD, TEXAS - July 31, 2014) American Rice Growers has been in business since 1947. James ―Tinker‖ Hewitt has been the General Manager of Raywood facility since January of 1980. The Vindicator recently toured the new facility and learned how the $5.5 million expansion will help serve the local rice farming community as never before. Hewitt described, ―We have not had any expansion, other than repairs, until now. These concrete elevators
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were built in the 1960‘s. We were so antiquated for the farming community. We just had to do something.‖He continued, ―At the receiving pit, we have doubled our capacity. We have had three dryers until now. We just put in one new dryer that is equivalent to the three we already had.‖ Acreage is down while production is up. Hewitt explained, ―Compared to the 1980‘s and 1990‘s acreage is way down. Back then we produced three to four thousand pounds (of rice) per acre. Today we produce nine to ten thousand pounds per acre.‖The volume delivered to the Raywood rice dryer facility was greatly exceeding its capacity, forcing delivery trucks to go El Campo, Eagle Lake and Bay City.Hewitt said, ―We settled on Wenglar Construction out of El Campo, owned by Doug Wenglar. The membership (48 stockholders) voted 100% yes to move ahead with the project, which is financed over 20 years between First Liberty National Bank and Anahuac National Bank (Mont Belvieu branch).Construction began in February of this year. Hewitt emphasize, ―It is imperative that we have it done by harvest. We are close enough now to where we can receive rice. ‗First harvest‘ can occur anytime between August 1 through mid-September.‗Second crop‘ will be OctoberNovember.Smart Materials built a new road at the back of the facility and handled the yard work.Cooper Electric has done all the electrical work and is putting the finishing touches on the electrical control room now. The electrical work is a major portion of the construction project.When harvest gets going, the rice dryer facility will be in operation 12 hours a day, seven days a week.Hewitt said, ―Most everyone now brings the rice to the dryer in hopper-bottom trucks, between 50,000-60,000 pounds in a truck. In the past they have handled 22-30 loads a day. Now we will handle between 40-60 loads per day.‖Hewitt estimates they may need two more employees to add to the staff of approximately 19.Hewitt described what led up to the expansion, ―The farming industry has become so technologically advanced in planting, harvesting and everything in between.The major thing is the infrastructure has disappeared. There used to be facilities in Dayton, Devers, Beaumont as well as several commercial facilities in Winnie and Beaumont.The only ones left in the area are American Rice Growers-Raywood, Douget‘s Rice Milling Company in Beaumont and Beaumont Rice Growers. ‖The $5.5 million expansion project includes the new rice dryer and 12 new receiving tanks (for green rice). Each one of the green rice tanks will hold 9,600 hundred weights each, the equivalent of twenty 18-wheeler loads.Two tanks will hold about 100 loads apiece. ―We have increased our storage capacity by a third more,‖ said Hewitt, ―We were at 460,000 hundred weights. We have added an additional 200,000 to that to make 660,000 hundred weights.‖ The drying is the most critical factor for producing quality rice.Hurricanes Rita and Ike damaged many of farm storage units. Most people did not want to rebuild. Hewitt recalled, ―In order to keep the infrastructure, we had to do something.‖ The time was right to invest.Regarding the need for water, Hewitt added, ―We have a
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constant supply of water here compared to the west side of Houston.We have a lot of folks in the area that want to farm. It looks as though the rice industry is here to stay for a while. We have been very fortunate.Much of the farmland near Lake Travis, Lake Austin, and Lake Buchanan is short of critical water.‖ According to Hewitt, ―Their water will get used up by residential home growth in the Austin area.‖―Quite a few of our rice farmers farm on the Chambers Liberty Counties Navigation District (CLCND) and the LNVA (Lower Neches Valley Authority).‖CLCND first lien water rights were grandfathered in long ago, which gives local rice farmers ample water supply with which to function.Hewitt stated, ―It is still a tough business to be in. A lot of people went out of business around 2000. Two rice dryer plants were in Dayton (one of Hwy. 146 and one in town) as well as Devers, Stowell, Beaumont and Orange. Many are gone that will not come back.‖ Further expansion in Raywood may be needed in as few as five years.Hewitt is a product of Dayton High School (1968) and Sam Houston State University (1973). He holds a Bachelor Degree in Business. He originally worked for American Rice, Inc. in Houston (a marketing co-op) for seven years and then interviewed in Raywood at American Rice Growers. He has worked there ever since. He and his wife, Linda, have four children: Kathy Parker, Julie Mangum, Jodi Thompson and Chris Davis; as well as eight grandchildren: Kaylee Parker, Kameron Parker, Keaton Parker, Matthew Mangum, Luke Mangum, Clark Mangum, Cali Thompson and Casin Thompson.
Basmati rice turns up the heat with chiles By John Broening Special to The Denver Post POSTED: 08/06/2014 12:01:00 AM MDT
As much as I like a plain basmati rice pilaf in which the grains are fluffy, toothsome and distinctly separate, occasionally I get a craving for a rice dish that is flavored by an assertive purée like tomato or pesto or this vaguely Mexican rice dish which is seasoned with roasted Poblano chiles, cumin, cilantro and fresh lime juice.I make this rice with Baghland-brand basmati, premium rice from Pakistan that I buy at the Middle East Market, 2254 S. Colorado Blvd. Baghland has a large, firm grain that doesn't turn to mush if you stir it a little, and a pleasant aroma.If you like a spicier Green Rice, substitute roasted jalapeños for the roasted poblano, or fold in a little hot sauce at the end. Serve this with grilled chicken or fish. Green Rice Makes about 5 cups) Ingredients 2 cups good-quality basmati rice, rinsed and drained 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced 3 cloves garlic, finely sliced 1 bay leaf
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2 cups chicken broth 1 ½ cups water Green Purée (recipe follows) Salt ½ lime TO MAKE THE GREEN PURÉE: Ingredients½ cup scallions, green part only 1 cup cilantro leaves, washed ½ cup parsley leaves washed 1 roasted green poblano chile pinch toasted ground cumin Salt DirectionsBring a small pot of water to a boil. Add salt. Add the scallions, cilantro and parsley. Blanch 1 minute, then shock with cold water. Drain well and blend with the Poblano chile and cumin to a smooth purée. Refrigerate covered until ready to use. TO MAKE THE RICE:Directions To make the rice, heat the olive oil in a 2-quart heavy-bottomed pot over low-medium heat. Add the onion and stir well to coat with the oil. Cook the onion until softened but not colored, about 10 minutes. Add a pinch of salt and the garlic. Cook 1 minute, stirring with a wooden spoon. Add the rice and stir well into the onions. Add bay leaf, chicken broth, water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to low. Cook the rice 10 minutes and turn off the heat. Allow it to sit off the heat for 3 minutes. With a spatula, gently fold in enough of the Green Purée to coat rice. Squeeze in the lime juice, adjust the seasoning and serve immediately.
Taking Away the Shame of Rice Importation 07 Aug 2014
Alhaji Aliko Dangote
Following President Goodluck Jonathan‘s approval of the new fiscal policy on rice, Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, recently announced a mega investment of $1billion for rice production, which is expected to boost local manufacturing and crash the market price. Adebiyi Adedapo writes
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The Dangote Group has within the last 12 years translated from been a major importer of cement to the single largest manufacturer of the product in Nigeria.Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the richest African worldwide, according to Forbes ranking, promised to achieve the same feat in the production of local rice.
Novel Initiative To this end, Dangote Group has signed a Memorandum of Understating (MoU) involving $1 billion, an equivalent of N165 billion, with the federal government.The new investment initiative covers about 150 hectares of farmland across five states of Edo, Kebbi, Jigawa, Niger and Kwara states. Rationale for Change Dangote, while addressing officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, before proceeding to the Presidential Villa for the signing, said the investment drive was meant to join hands with government in ensuring that Nigeria attains self-sufficiency in food production, and at the same time guaranteeing export food to other countries.The entrepreneurship genius who had planned a $300 million investment in the rice sector, explained that government has created an enabling environment, and thereby swiftly increased his investment to $1 billion. ―Government has done its own bit by creating the enabling environment for investors to thrive. It is not for government to go into agriculture, but they are facilitating and giving us the encouragement. Initially, we wanted to go very small by investing about $300 million, now we have ended up in about five states, this is to make sure that Nigeria exports rice.―Government has already done their own bit by giving all what it takes for somebody to invest. The climate is there, first of all, we have the best land, we have water and we have the support from government to protect your investment. So I see no reason why we should not partner the government to make this a reality, unless we are not serious,‖ he said.Dangote added that with the new rice policy signed by President Jonathan, only those interested in milking the country‘s economy dry are canvassing continued importation of rice.―I think it will be very shameful for the biggest economy in Africa that is not self sufficient in what we consume. If the country is opened to dumping, that will be a problem, but with the new rice policy signed by President Goodluck Jonathan, I think it is only those who are not serious, who are always trying to just milk the system dry that will continue to import rice.‖ Re-jigging the Market
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Curious journalists insisted to know how the new investment drive would crash down the price of the commodity. It is worthy of note that Nigerians have continued to buy cement at higher prices which observers consider exorbitant despite the huge investment and massive local production for over 10 years.Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, had in 2002 introduced the Backward Integration Policy in 2002. Under the policy, local manufacturers of cement, with ample evidence of investment in manufacturing facilities, were given import licences, which enabled them to import the commodity, relative to their manufacturing capacity.This, obviously, changed the cement story in terms of local production but has not translated to any fortune for Nigerians, since the market price of cement has continued to increase. Chairman of New Entrants into cement production, Mr. David Iweta, recently canvassed the need for local manufacturers to review their prices downwards, since there are many variables that work in their favour, which the importers of the commodity do not enjoy.Iweta opined that a 50kg bag of cement should be sold less than N800, since local manufacturers are using limestone, which are sourced locally, as raw materials.Similarly, President Jonathan introduced a backward integration system in rice importation for the 2014-2017 fiscal policy, with effect from May 26, 2014.This system reduces levy on husked and semi-milled or wholly milled rice to 20 per cent for investors with rice milling capacity from 100 per cent but reduced the levy only to 60 per cent for pure traders.2014 Export Target Dangote, while allaying fear of increase in market price of rice, explained that with his new entry into rice production, price of the commodity would rather reduce since a larger part of the production chain would be locally sourced.―Even if there is currency devaluation (God forbid), the price of rice will be maintained, because everything would have been local. The fertiliser will be produced locally and even some pesticides. It is a win-win situation for the government, Nigerians and the investors‖, he said.According to him, the new value chain in rice production would generate hundreds of thousands of jobs for young Nigerians. ―And by making the country self sufficient in rice production, we will also be exporting. Nigeria should be able to feed other African countries; this will create hundreds of thousands of jobs in Nigeria, when you import, you import poverty and export job opportunities.We will try to make sure that we have out growers, we will guarantee them, we will give them the seedlings, we will give them training and fertiliser and them we will guarantee their paddies and process. Even people who are not around our area, when they grow the rice, we will definitely support them to buy the paddies often and process into an eatable product,‖ he said. Dangote however urged both local and foreign investors to take the bold step and jettison the pessimism that the investment would fail.―It will happen and people who have the doubt will definitely be disappointed. This was exactly what happened when the cement policy came in. In the next four to five years, somebody will start raising the alarm that Dangote has monopoly in rice; we have been given the same opportunity.―If you look at
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it, our company is investing about $16 billion all over; we are not saying that we want to see the outcome of the next election. I have seen it happen before, and I can assure you that the rice thing will become a very big story. ‖He added that, ―Doing rice farming is by far easier and also cheaper than cement, to even build create design and build a cement factory, it needs four years to deliver; that is if you are going to deliver at all. But there is no comparison in terms of impacts with the society, a lot of people didn‘t want to try, because of those who have tried and failed, but that was then, especially during the military regime when the policies were not consistent. But right now, there is a policy on ground, government does not just go and announce development without backing it up with a policy.‖He also said the investment would produce hundreds of thousands of jobs and remove the fear that agriculture is a poor man‘s business.―The perception is that there is no money in agriculture, it is a calculated risk that will bring on board people who have been shying away from the sector. People who are in doubt will definitely be disappointed,‖ he said. Vital Conversion The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, while responding, said the government would convert the farmlands in the five states to a Staple Crop Processing Zone.The minister said smallholder farmers would be at the centre of producing the paddy, as he assured listeners that Dangote‘s investment would produce additional 1.4 million metric tonnes of milled rice annually.Adesina, while dismissing the fear of land grabbing, said the government maintains a close collaboration with Dangote industries and the state governments and the local communities involved. ―Clearly this is a path to make Nigeria a major exporter in rice. Additional 1.4 million metric tonnes of rice will be produced on top of what we are already doing, if you translate it to the rice you know, we will be producing from his own investment a total of 960,000 metric tonnes of milled rice by 2017/2018; that will be 46 per cent of the total amount of rice that we are currently importing,‖ Adesina said. Tags: Nigeria, Featured, Business, Aliko Dangote
Rice Expo celebrates food and farming: Arkansas producers represent 53 percent of national crop total Posted: Thursday, August 7, 2014 10:13 am By Kezia Nanda Cooperative Extension Service For the first time, Arkansas‘ rice production will represent more than half the nation‘s output of the grain, attendees at the fourth Arkansas Rice Expo heard Friday. ―For the first time, Arkansas is expected to produce more than half the rice in America,‖ Keith Glover, president and chief executive officer of Producers Rice Mill
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told a crowd during a panel discussion on the 2014 Farm Bill.About 1,000 people took part in a half-day of activities including tours of research plots, cooking demonstrations and rice tastings at the fourth annual Arkansas Rice Expo on Friday. Among the attendees was Ethan Vasquez from Sikeston, Mo. He came to Arkansas just to visit his first-ever Rice Expo.―It‘s a great day so far, very informational, the new things coming out of the pipeline as far as the chemistries and the new varieties into bringing to the table,‖ he said.He heard about the Rice Expo from his counterpart in Arkansas and from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.He especially wanted to learn about new production technology and varieties of rice.He intended to bring back the knowledge he learned at the Rice Expo to his growers in Missouri .The 2014 Rice Expo, the fourth annual, is an outgrowth of a traditional field day, in which researchers showed crop producers the results of their work in the demonstration fields.――Rice is a critical part of Arkansas‘ $20 billion agriculture industry and the Rice Expo is a celebration, not only of that role, but also of Arkansas farms, food and families,‖ said Mark Cochran, head of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.―The expo not only showcases the crop for which Arkansas is the top grower, but also the work that the faculty and staff of the Division of Agriculture is doing to help Arkansans from money management to farm production,‖ he said.―I know absolutely nothing about raw crops and I‘m kind of doing this to get the ground knowledge,‖ said Emily Kaufman, a daughter of livestock farmer from Morrilton.―It‘s good to know that Arkansas is big in rice,‖ she said about her first experience coming to the Rice Expo.This is the second Rice Expo that a rice farmer, Doug Lancaster from Poinsett County, has attended.―I want to see the new varieties and I‘m interested in their new technology on pigweed control and soybeans,‖ he said. Complex issues During the panel discussion, Extension Economist Brad Watkins called the 2014 Farm Bill the most complex ever.―What are we going to do with all these decisions and how are we going to make them?‖ Watkins said. ―Fortunately, you‘re going to have some help.‖Watkins said USDA had provided funds for the development of decision aids for help producers. One of the decision aids was being developed by the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University jointly with the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri and the other was being developed by the University of Illinois. Recipe contest Tiffany Aaron of Cleburne County earned $200 for her winning entry in the Rice Expo Recipe Contest: Grilled Rice and Black Bean Burritos with Creamy Cilantro Dipping Sauce.―I don‘t know if I like judging food like that just because everybody has worked so hard and everybody has put a lot of effort,‖ said Matt Bell, executive chef of South on Main restaurant in Little Rock. ―I definitely had my favorite,‖ he said. ―I found more than what I was looking for. There was a huge variety and dessert in there was kind of a surprise.‖Lee Hogan, writer for Little Rock Soiree and Arkansasbusiness.com said he ―was really excited to come today and it was a lot of fun to be a part of it. All the dishes that we got to taste you could tell they really spent a lot of time to put these together.‖―We had a good time, all the recipe were really unique and tasty,‖ said Emily Van Zandt, food writer for Sync and Arkansas Life Magazine. She said it wasn‘t easy to find the winning dishes.―In the first round we can only judge the appearance so it was hard to not
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taste them,‖ Van Zandt said.For more information about crop production, visit http://arkansascrops.com or visit www.uaex.edu.
Private sector sees brighter prospects for Thai rice amid rising demand Private sector sees brighter prospects for Thai rice amid rising demand BANGKOK, 7 August 2014 (NNT) – The Thai Rice Exporters Association foresees great opportunities for Thai rice as both domestic and global demands are on the rise while expressing satisfaction with the new rice auction rules which have proven effective in preventing fraud. Speaking of the rice trade situation, President of the Thai Rice Exporters Association Charoen Laothamatas indicated that other rice exporting countries are losing out on the competition with Thailand as they have begun stocking up more of the grains for next year. Due to an abundant output and soaring demand, the price of Thai rice in the global market has jumped from 390 US dollars a ton to 450 dollars and will possibly reach 500 dollars later on. The price of jasmine rice, which previously ranged from 970-980 dollars per ton, is now standing at 1,050 dollars. Meanwhile, the domestic price has also risen from 7,000 baht a ton to 8,500 baht. Mr Chukiat Opaswong, Honorary President of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, pointed out that the surge in demand had helped push up the bidding prices during the Commerce Ministry‘s recent rice auction. Moreover, he said he is satisfied with the new rules that require a median price to be set and close the opportunity for bargains, given they are effective in ensuring transparency and eliminating collusion.
DFT set to deliver more rice to China under G2G deal Thursday, 07 August 2014By NNT
BANGKOK, 5 August 2014 – The Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) is poised to sell another 200,000 tons of rice to China as part of the government-to-government (G2G) contract while expecting all the stockpiled rice to be released in three years.After a meeting with China‘s state-owned food conglomerate COFCO, DirectorGeneral of the DFT Duangporn Rodphaya disclosed that the company affirmed to proceed with its purchase of Thai rice under the G2G agreement inked earlier. Out of the total of 1 million tons specified in the contract, 100,000 tons of broken-milled rice is due to be delivered to the client within this month while another batch of 100,000 tons of 5 percent white rice is to be sent out in September .Moreover, representatives of COFCO will be coming to Thailand in September to negotiate additional purchases of Thai rice. The DFT hopes to fetch good prices for the grains as the market prices are currently on the rise due to high global demands.Besides the G2G deal with China, Ms Duangporn noted that rice auctions are being held in other countries, such as Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia, by private entrepreneurs who
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are receiving support from the public sector. She voiced belief that the current rice stock of 18 million tons will be completely released to the market within the next three years.
What to do with bigger rice crop, new farm bill programs? Report from the 2014 Arkansas Rice Expo Aug 7, 2014David Bennett | Delta Farm Press Families, friends make big day of 2014 Arkansas Rice Expo
There are some key market fundamentals likely to impact rice prices in the new crop year. ―Every year, the first fundamental to look at is the size of the crop,‖ said Keith Glover, president and CEO of Producers Rice Mill, during the 2014 Arkansas Rice Expo on Aug.1. ―We all know we‘ll experience a bigger (rice) crop than in 2013. The one thing to notice when looking at the USDA‘s latest acreage data is that the increase will all happen right here in the Mid-South. In Arkansas, we‘re up 46 percent in rice acres. Our neighbors in Mississippi and Missouri will be up 36 percent. The other three rice-producing states will actually be down acreage-wise.‖Looking at Arkansas‘ rice acres specifically, ―this will be the first time in our history that the state will represent over 50 percent of the nation‘s overall rice acreage.‖The USDA is currently estimating that the 2014 U.S. rice crop will come in at 169 million hundredweights. ―That will make it the third largest crop in the last decade. ―Assuming the USDA is close, compared to last year we‘ll have an additional 37 million hundredweights of longgrain production. USDA is also projecting that a year from now ending stocks will likely be about 9.5 million hundredweights more than they are now. That makes sense because we‘re ending a marketing year where our carryout stocks are likely to be the lowest we‘ve seen in about 10 years. So, we‘ll probably see a rebound in the size of the carryover.‖Do the math and Glover said the ―most important number‖ is the 28 million hundredweights left to deal with. ―We as an industry will have to market that additional long-grain rice.‖ Where will that long-grain rice go? ―I‘d argue the most likely candidates will be the export markets. We‘re very happy with our strong domestic demand. However, truthfully, the demand is very consistent and stable. There isn‘t much fluctuation from one year
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to the next.‖Typically, when there is a surge in U.S. rice production, ―the one place to continuously send the rice is the export market.‖
Rice bids below ministry's 'floor prices' Petchanet Pratruangkrai The Nation August 8, 2014 1:00 am Scores of traders queued at the Commerce Ministry yesterday to join the first rice auction of the year, but bid below the ministry's "floor prices" despite high demand during the off season and amid transparency in the bidding process.The working committee will need to ask the bidders who offered the highest prices to raise their prices and will propose the results of the auction to the Rice Policy Committee to decide whether to sell this lot of rice or cancel the sale," said Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general of the Foreign Trade Department.Of the 49 traders applying, 46 passed the ministry's qualifications for participating in the auction. Exporters, packers, millers and others bid for 167,000 tonnes of various kinds of rice from the past three harvest seasons.The working committee did not expect the bids to be lower than floor prices, so it may need to ask for a mandate from the chairman of the Rice Policy Committee to adjust some floor prices in order to release rice from the government's stocks.If the prices are not satisfactory, the government will not be in a hurry to sell rice from its inventory, as pressure to do so has lessened because of a low supply in the market.The ministry says it is still confident it can reduce rice stockpiles and will continue holding auctions. It will give the result of this auction to the vice chairman of the Rice Policy Committee today. Charoen Laothammatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said many traders joined the government's auction because demand was high in the market. He said the bids were quite high and the government should agree to sell rice to increase supply.The market price for rice is rising gradually because of low supply in the world market.Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the association, said it was a good time to release rice from the stockpiles, but the government might have to accept low prices as some stocks had deteriorated in quality. For this round, many traders were willing to join because it was transparent and open to small outfits. It is hard for traders to conspire on bid rigging because of the high demand in the market, Chookiat said.A rice-miller source said the bids were quite high. Small traders may be unable to compete with large players, but they had to join the auction because of the shortage of rice in the market.
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Rice enters Tripura first time via Bangladesh Agartala correspondent, bdnews24.com Published: 2014-08-07 19:57:58.0 BdST Updated: 2014-08-07 19:57:58.0 BdSTFood
grains reached India‘s north-eastern state of Tripura from southern state of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday, using Bangladesh river port and roads for the first time.After three-year-long diplomatic and strategic parleys, three Bangladeshi trucks, each loaded with 340 sacks of rice weighing 17 tonnes, entered the state capital Agartala around 2.45pm (Indian time) through the Akhaura integrated check post. ―This is for the first time that Bangladeshi trucks, carrying rice from Ashuganj port in Bangladesh, have directly entered the FCI warehouse at Nandannagar with Indian police escorts. We have done this to reduce the cost and prevent a second transhipment at the Akhaura India-Bangladesh border,‖ Food Corporation of India (FCI) general manager Bidol Tayeng said.He said: ―To allow Bangladeshi trucks 7-km inside Indian territory from Akhaura border, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had earlier given clearances. The rice loaded trucks had to go through the ‗truck scanners‘, installed at the Akhaura check post.‖The first consignment of 5,000 tonnes of rice from Kakinada port in Andhra Pradesh reached in small ships at Ashuganj river port in (eastern) Bangladesh via Kolkata port on August 5. Around 20 trucks of rice are likely to enter Agartala everyday from Ashuganj port in the next 12 to 13 days.The trucks were suppose to cross the border at 8 am (IST) but were delayed due to paperwork- related complication.Bangladeshi business community, welcoming the new step between the two nations, said the arrangement would be a win-win situation for both the neighbours..―Bangladesh has offered a free transit to India and this will reduce the transportation cost and will surely help in further strengthening our relation. Moreover, we hope if this is a success then in future Bangladesh will also make profit as India will pay for using Bangladeshi ports and roads,‖ pointed out Abbasuddin Bhuiya, a clearing and forwarding agent at the Akhaura land custom port on Bangladesh side. Meanwhile, Tripura Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Bhanulal Saha said : ―The rice, meant for Public Distribution System, are being ferried via Bangladesh since there will be a major rail block for the next few months due to gauge conversion work and moreover, to avoid long and mountainous surface road up to Tripura via Assam and Meghalaya.‖Saha said in the next phase, another 5,000 tonnes of rice would be ferried to Tripura in the same manner and through the same route.Ashuganj river port in eastern Bangladesh is around 37 km from Agartala. The rice-loaded trucks would reach Agartala from Ashuganj (under Brahmanbaria district of Chittagong division of Bangladesh) within two hours.The eight north-eastern states, including Sikkim, are
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largely dependent on the bigger states, especially northern Indian states Punjab and Haryana, for food grain and essential commodities. In view of conversion of railway lines from metre gauge to broad gauge, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) will stop train services to Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram and southern Assam from October this year to June next year.Hence carrying food grains and other essentials from different parts of the country to north-eastern states of India via Bangladesh is very vital.India is trying to open a new route to bring food grains and essentials for its north-eastern region via Bangladesh on a regular basis or as and when the situation arises.The Bangladesh government following three-year-long diplomatic and strategic parleys has, under a special transit facility, agreed to transport 10,000 tonnes of food grain to Tripura without taking any kind of duty. ―After getting a positive gesture from the Bangladesh government, the FCI started the process three years back to transport food grain and essentials from southern India using the Ashuganj river port and the roadways connected to the north-eastern states,‖ FCI general manager Tayeng said.―After Tripura, food grain would likely be ferried through Bangladesh for other north-eastern states, including Mizoram, Manipur and southern Assam, to save time and costs. ‖The FCI had earlier floated tenders to select Bangladeshi transporters. After a series of diplomatic and administrative parleys involving various Bangladeshi ministries and India‘s food, finance, shipping and MEA, the long-pending matter was settled recently.Earlier, in 2012, Bangladesh had allowed India‘s state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to ferry heavy machinery, turbines and cargo through Ashuganj port for the 726 MW Palatana mega power project in southern Tripura.The Indian government had spent several millions of rupees to develop the port and related infrastructure. Due to shortage of rail wagons, inadequate storage facilities and various other bottlenecks, the north-eastern states have been suffering from poor supply of food grain for most part of the year, especially during the monsoon (June to September).Surface connectivity is a key factor as the mountainous north-eastern region is surrounded by Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan and China, and the only land route to these states from within India is through Assam and West Bengal. During the monsoon season, road transport becomes very difficult due to floods and landslides. Frequent strikes and road blockade by various groups, further aggravate the situation.For ferrying essentials, goods and heavy machinery from abroad and other parts of the country, India has for long been asking Bangladesh land, sea and rail access to the northeast.Agartala via Guwahati, for instance, is 1,650 km from Kolkata. The distance between Agartala and Kolkata via Bangladesh is just about 350 km.
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The FCI is carrying the food grain via Bangladesh in association with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), involving private transporters.Indian and Bangladeshi waterways connect West Bengal (Haldia and Kolkata ports) and Assam (Karimganj port). The IWAI and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) are operating vessels on these routes.The two neighbours share 2,979 km of land border and 1,116 km of riverine boundary and also share 54 rivers, including eight flowing from Tripura.
Total Rice Area, Production for Bangladesh Revised Down 07 August 2014
BANGLADESH - For marketing year (MY) 2014/15 (May to April), Post’s estimate for total rice area and production is revised down to 11.8 million hectares and 34.6 million tons on lower Boro rice acreage.Post‘s MY 2013/14 and MY 2014/15 (July to June) wheat production forecasts are unchanged at 1.28 and 1.3 million tons assuming normal weather conditions.The MY 2014/15 rice import forecast is raised to 500,000 tons on less rice production, population growth, and expectations of competitive import prices.For MY 2014/15, Post‘s wheat import forecast remains unchanged at 3.3 million tons on expectations of low international wheat prices.
India's Erratic Monsoon Turns Surplus in Past Week All India | Reuters | Updated: August 07, 2014 19:15 IST
Boys run through a water logged street after heavy monsoon rains in New Delhi August 2, 2014. New Delhi: India saw 18 percent more rain than average in the week ended Aug. 6, the weather office said on Thursday, raising hopes for a better end to the four-month monsoon season after a dry start.Rainfall had been 9 percent below average in the previous week and a barren start to the season had raised fears of a drought, the first since 2009."Monsoon is in an active phase and no dry run is expected in the next week," said B.P. Yadav, head of the National Weather Forecasting Centre at the India Meteorological Department.The wet run shrank the shortfall in rain to 18 percent below average by Aug. 6. The gap was 22 percent for the first two months of the season that starts in June.Many parts of the cane-growing western state of Maharashtra saw floods and landslides due to heavy rainfall during the past week. Rice areas of eastern Odisha state faced heavy flooding.India's farming sector accounts for around 14 percent of the economy, but two-thirds of the nation's 1.2 billion people depend on farming for a livelihood and more than half of its arable land needs the summer rains. © Thomson Reuters 2014
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