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TOP Contents - Tailored for YOU
Latest News Headlines
China buys Vietnams rice in record amounts
Govt to import 200,000 tons of rice
Aquino: PH to import rice as price hike probe continues
Nothing wrong with importation of 250,000 MT of riceDAs Alcala
AgCenter develops high protein rice and pretty, pearly grains
PH to increase MAV of rice to 350,000 MT
NFA assures affordable rice during lean months
VIETNAMS TOP RICE CROP OUTPUT UP 4%
Cong slams Centre over hike in paddy MSP
Better rice policies needed
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- June 26
Excessive loadshedding: rice exports reduce by 50 percent
Monsoon revival seen in early July, lull persists

News Details
China buys Vietnams rice in record amounts
26.06.2014
Despite the escalating tensions in the East Sea, China is importing large quantities of Vietnamese rice. Opinions
vary about Chinas motivations in making the purchases.Mot The Gioi has reported that numerous ships are
docked at the ports in Can Tho and An Giang provinces, waiting for rice deliveries to carry back to China. The
newspaper quoted its sources as saying that Chinese only buy high quality winter-spring rice, while refusing the
lesser-valued summer-autumn rice.Big orders from Chinese merchants have led to sharp price increases in the
domestic rice market, ranging from VND400 to VND8,700 per kilo.

Truong Thanh Phong, an advisor to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), has confirmed that rice is being
transported to the border gates in large quantities, while the number of ships docking at the ports in the southern


region has been increasing.Notably, Phong also stated earlier in mid-June that Vietnam had no more winter-
spring rice to sell. While exporters had reported having 1.2 million tons of winter-spring rice in their stocks,
they in fact had had only 500,000 tons left.The winter-spring rice is running out, Phong said.However, Phong
reassured the public that the big rice exports to China would not affect Vietnams food security, because
Vietnamese farmers are harvesting summer-autumn rice.

Chinese are only interested in the higher quality winter-spring rice.A Vietnamese rice exporter claimed that
China is rushing to import rice at this moment because it needs food for its high population of 1.4 billion. It now
buys rice not only from Vietnam, but from Myanmar and Pakistan across the border lines as well.The exporter
said that, in principle, China could also buy rice from Thailand, but it prefers Vietnams rice thanks to the
simpler export-import procedures. In addition, the cross-border rice trade allows Chinese businessmen to save
$50 per ton, because they dont have to pay the tax imposed on the exports through official channels.China has
been reliant on Vietnam as the major rice supply source, he said.However, some analysts take issue with the
claim that lack of supply is the main factor driving China to increase its import volumes at this point in
time.There is something fishy in this case, one analyst said.

What will happen if China suddenly changes its tactics and stops buying Vietnams rice, something it has done
with many other kinds of farm produce? he questioned, adding that reliance on one export market, especially a
market like China, cannot come to any good.Nguyen Dinh Bich, a well-known rice expert from the Vietnam
Trade Research Institute, said on Thoi bao Kinh te Saigon that he does not think China is buying so much rice
because of any serious need for it.Statistics released by Chinese institutions, reports by FAO (the Food and
Agriculture Organization) and by the US Department of Agriculture have all indicated that the rice situation in
China is quite good at this time.

The rice cultivation area in China by the end of 2013 had reached 30.4 million hectares, a 14-year record high.
China also saves up for rainy days: of the 111.2 million tons the world stored in 2013, China alone accounted
for 46.8 million tons.Bich has also warned against Vietnamese exporters reliance on China as the biggest
consumer, saying that it is really risky to put all your eggs into one basket.
Govt to import 200,000 tons of rice
By KIMBERLY JANE TAN, GMA NewsJune 26, 2014 7:03pm

The government will be importing an additional 200,000 metric tons of rice in order to boost the present buffer
stock amid a sudden surge in the price of the commodity. Secretary Francis Pangilinan, the Presidential
Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization, said the decision was reached during President
Benigno Aquino III meeting with officials on Thursday.He said the rice would be imported from
Vietnam.Pangilinan said the National Food Authority (NFA) and Department of Finance would also work on
the acquisition of 20,000 MT of seized or smuggled rice.


He added the NFA would also deputize the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detention
Group (CIDG) to monitor and inspect rice warehouses for possible hoarding or diversion of NFA rice.On the
other hand, Pangilinan said his office, the NFA, and Department of Justice would coordinate to investigate and
prosecute traders that hoard rice.He said the government would continue doubling the release of P32- and P27-
per-kilo NFA rice to markets until September. NB, GMA News
Aquino: PH to import rice as price hike probe continues
Natashya Gutierrez
Published 3:32 PM, Jun 27, 2014
Updated 9:13 PM, Jun 27, 2014
President Benigno Aquino III says the government will import more rice so
that hoarders seeking to manipulate prices would lose money.MANILA,
Philippines The government will be importing rice amid price increases of
basic commodities, which it suspects is being driven by artificial forces."We
decided to import additional rice. By next week, they will report exactly how
much," President Benigno Aquino III told reporters on Friday, June 27.The
decision was made following a 3-hour meeting with the Department of
Agriculture, Presidential Assistant on Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Francis Pangilinan, and
other government officials.Watch this report below.Aquino also said that reports from economists say the price
hike of rice and basic commodities "doesn't make sense.
"They are insisting there is enough supply. So the suspicion is there are those colluding to keep the prices high,
especially the price of garlic," he said."As for the rice, we've already received 25% of what we consigned
because these are the months, especially in the beginning of July, that are lean months wherein we're waiting for
our harvest."The government had originally set its rice imports at 800,000 metric tons (MT) this year.Aquino
admitted their conclusion are only suspicions for now and that part of the problem is that the analysis is still
indefinite, since the data the government has been receiving is still unclear.
"We are importing rice so that if there are those taking advantage and are hiding their supplies [to drive prices],
we have rice to provide in exchange to ensure they will lose money doing what they're doing," he
said.Earlier, Aquino said he wanted "definitive answers" on the price spikes on rice, garlic and other basic
commodities, despite sufficient supply in the country.
Aquino's directives
In addition to rice importation, Aquino said the government has also set aside funds to support farmers,
especially when the imported rice comes in September.The President also ordered the National Bureau of


Investigation (NBI) to work with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to look deeper into the possibility of
cartels, and to file cases against those who violate the law. He said the National Food Authority has ongoing
operations against those controlling prices and unauthorized sellers of rice.
Aquino also ordered the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to use satellite imagery to mark the
places where rice is planted, and to create a more detailed program that could tell the average yield in these
places. The goal, Aquino said, is up to date, real time estimates of the country's potential harvests to guide the
amount of imports."The point is we have tasked departments to implement immediate solutions, but what is
important in the long term is to deal with groups or individuals who take advantage of the people," he said.
Alcala said in an interview on ANC on Thursday that he believed the spike in rice prices is due to higher
farmgate prices, the crackdown against rice smugglers, and the policy against "unnecessary" rice
importation.The agriculture chief had said that commercial well-milled rice is selling at an average of P42
(US$0.96) per kilo, compared to P36 (US$0.82) before prices started to climb, but this is because rice traders
have been buying from rice farmers at higher prices. Rappler.com
Nothing wrong with importation of 250,000 MT of riceDAs Alcala

Category: Agri-Commodities
26 Jun 2014

Written by Alladin S. Diega
AGRICULTURE Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said on Thursday there is nothing wrong with importing
additional rice this year.This was Alcalas reaction on the recent decision by the National Food Authority
(NFA) to import 250,000 metric tons (MT) of rice this year.Newly installed NFA Administrator Arthur Juan
said at a joint hearing of the House Committees on Agriculture and Food and Food Security the additional
volume will supplement the 800,000 MT imported earlier this year.
We have already received the go-signal from the NFA Council to proceed with the importation, and the
additional buffer stocks will arrive between August and September, Juan said.Since hes no longer part of the
NFA council, Alcala declined to comment further but demurred that the welfare of farmers should be the prime
consideration in the importation.Additionally, he said he would raise the issue during a Cabinet meeting
scheduled late afternoon on Thursday should the issue of rice importation surface.Nonetheless, the DA chief
clarified: If anything, the decision was not unilateral, because the decision was approved by the NFA council,
which is composed of several government agencies.


Alcala added the DA is in the process of checking on every province and municipality of the country to serve as
the basis for expanding the area of plantation, including the distribution of high-yielding or better quality rice
seeds.The fastest way to improve yield is to improve the seeds, including the expansion of area for plantation,
and we are in the process of adjusting it, he said.In an earlier statement, the NFA has assured the public that
the prices of NFA rice will remain constant despite an increase in commercial rice prices of P2 per
kilogram.The NFA has yet to pinpoint the reason why rice prices continue to spike.
Alladin S. Diega
AgCenter develops high protein rice and pretty, pearly grains
By Lynda Edwardsledwards@gannett.com 6:32 p.m. CDT June 25, 2014
Falcon Rice Mill is seen Friday in Crowley, La. By Leslie Westbrook December 7, 2012(Photo: Leslie
Westbrook, Leslie Westbrook, The Advertiser)
LSU AgCenters Rice Research Stations annual field days are held in a huge Rayne shed with emerald fields
stretching around it. The rice farmers who came to the Wednesday field day got an upbeat view of the future.
One of the few bumps in the road was increased competition for Mexican business from Thailand and Vietnam.
Vietnam and Thailand get government subsidies for rice
production, but thats not the main problem, USA Rice Chief
Operations Officer Bob Cummings told The Daily Advertiser.
The trouble is, Vietnam and Thailand produce translucent grains
of rice that Mexican consumers like. Weve had some complaints
that American rice is too opaque. The word they use is
chalky.Cummings said long grain rice was a smaller crop than
normal this past season so there was upward price pressure that
contented most area farmers.LSU has researchers toiling to find a
way to enhance Louisiana rice, which is grown in 31 parishes, to
make it more shimmery and appealing to the eye in Mexico.
The AgCenter holds field days for several crops. This one drew more than 200 rice farmers. Miss Acadia Parish
Nicole Sonnier sat in the crowd of farmers in jeans, boots, crisp white shirt and a sparkling high crown.The
fields were too soaked for the normal truck tours. But the audience listened to speakers deliver reports on pest
control, productivity, exports, imports and new friendships.The audience learned that the Iraqi Grain Board had
toured Acadiana and picked up some tips about the latest production innovations from the Rice Research
Station in May. Cummings said Iraq was an excellent potential customer for Acadiana rice. Iraqi farmers have
had to contend with high levels of dioxin contaminating soil and water in areas that had been blanketed by
bombing and airstrikes.


AgCenter assistant professor Ida Wenefreda offered the prayer before the box lunches with a heap of rice
dressing arrived. Wenefreda is developing a higher protein rice. She believes it has great potential as American
baby food and will be a boon to impoverished countries where rice is a staple but meat and poultry are too
expensive for most.People at first asked me why I wanted to make a high protein rice because if you need
protein, just drop in some fish or chicken, she said. But meat is not a possibility, not within reach for a lot of
people in this world.Rice normally has 6 percent protein. Wenefredas rice has 10.5 percent. She is still
working on the high proteins productivity and eye appeal.Its a bit chalky, she said. We havent started the
taste testing and need to examine its cooking quality. But first we are testing its stability as a crop in the field.
The Rice Research Station was founded in 1908 and covers about 1,000 acres. The nearest towns are Rayne and
Crowley, although the fire extinguishers hanging from the wall where the lectures were held bear inspection
tags saying Rice City. About 30 acres of the stations land are devoted to crawfish research.Some rice
varieties are developed for crawfish forage for those farmers who double-crop, the stations website explains.
PH to increase MAV of rice to 350,000 MT
Friday 27th of June 2014
QUEZON CITY, June 27 -- The Philippines has allowed the entry of additional rice under the minimum
access volume (MAV) as part of the deal to extend its negotiated Quantitative Restriction (QR) on rice imports,
Romeo Recide, DA Special Technical Assistant said at the sideline of Philippine launch of FAOs (Food
Agriculture Organization) International Family Farming campaign in the Philippines. Romeo Recide, chief
negotiator for the Philippine panel on QR said that the Philippines increased the MAV on rice to 805,000 metric
tons (MT) from 350,000 MT.

Of the total volume, 755,000 MT will be country-specific- quota (CSQ), with Vietnam and Thailand getting
the lions share, while the remaining 50,000 MT will be omnibus volume.
Before the new negotiation on for QR extension, the Philippines only allowed 350,000MT of rice, with 163,000
MT being allocated for CSQ and 187,000MT for omnibus.
Asked however, whether the CSQ share will be given to the private sector, the DA official declined to
comment, although the country has allowed the private sector to import under the CSQ in the past, and even
recently.(ASD, Media ng Bayan)

NFA assures affordable rice during lean months
Friday 27th of June 2014
ROXAS CITY, Capiz, June 27 (PIA) The National Food Authority will be flooding government rice to
stabilize the price of commercial rice in the market.Information Officer Mary Christie Hari-on of Capiz NFA
disclosed that from June to September, the food agency here is targeting to distribute 173,000 bags of rice in the
markets here.She added that government rice will be made available in all, the Bigasan ng Bayan Outlets and
Institutionalized Bigasan sa Palengke to ensure that the public could access to quality and affordable rice amidst
the lean months where the price of commercial rice has been noted to have increased.


Hari-on said that the 173,000 bags of rice which will be made available in the markets are part of the 800,000
metric tons imported rice from Vietnam which serves as the NFAs buffer stock.The price of NFA rice, she
said, ranges only from P27.00 to P32.00 per kilogram in all the food agencys rice outlets.On the other hand,
Capiz NFA Manager Erna Abello assured Capiceos that there will be sufficient rice supply in the
province.Capiceos have nothing to worry about rice shortage or high price of staple because NFA has the
available quality and affordable rice to supply the daily rice requirement of the population here, Abello
said.She also revealed that they have already deployed its monitoring teams for the Palengke Watch to
revalidate and monitor the prices and movement of rice prices in the markets.
Abello likewise urges the public to report to their office any activity of NFA rice conversion into commercial
rice and sell the same at a higher price.She also warned unscrupulous grains businessmen of possible penalties
for violating the law on grains trading such as cancellation of NFA license and other fines. (JCM/JBG/PIA6

VIETNAMS TOP RICE CROP OUTPUT UP 4%
By Reuters | June 27, 2014

HANOI - Vietnams winter-spring rice crop, the largest of its three annual
crops, produced an estimated 20.83 million tons of paddy, or unhusked
grain, up 4.1 percent from last year due to higher yields, the government
said on Thursday.The average yield rose 3.7 percent from 2013 to nearly 6.7
ton per hectare, while the crops area only expanded 0.3 percent to 3.12
million hectares (7.7 million acres), the ministry said in its monthly
report.Harvest of the crop ended in April in the Mekong Delta food basket,
which supplies 90 percent of Vietnams rice exports.A higher output in the
worlds second-largest exporter of the grain after India could help keep
Asian prices stable and meet import demand by China, Vietnams biggest
rice buyer so far this year.Indonesia, another key buyer of Vietnamese rice,
could more than double rice imports to 1.5 million tons this year to keep domestic food prices stable amid rising
demand and a likely El Nino weather pattern.
Cong slams Centre over hike in paddy MSP

Chandigarh, Jun 26 (PTI) Congress today slammed the Centre over "negligible" hike of Rs 50 per quintal in
the minimum support price of paddy.Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha, Amarinder Singh, demanded
Rs 150 per quintal bonus on paddy to farmers and said that the Rs 50 per quintal hike on the MSP was not going
to compensate the costs being incurred by the cultivators.

Better rice policies needed


Farmers speak out at forum
AT THE FIRST Citizens' Forum for Reform, farmers made it clear that deep down they yearn for sustainable
solutions - not rice-pledging schemes or crop-price guarantees. "We hope all stakeholders will be engaged in
formulating long-term national rice policies, something politicians can't change," Farmers' Network Association
president Rawee Rungrueang said."We want something like a national economic and social development plan
for farmers," he said. Held in Nakhon Sawan this week, the event was part of a mobile-seminar initiative born
out of a collaboration between Krung-thep Turakij newspaper and the NOW26 TV station. Both organisations
are under Nation Multimedia Group (NMG). The first seminar was held under the theme "Farmers'
Sustainability is Thailand's Sustainability".
Rawee said farmers who ran into trouble were those who had
acted in response to government policy."Farmers in two other
main groups, namely those in contract farming and self-reliant
farmers, are doing fine," he said.Rice Department adviser
Pramote Wanitchanont said it was high time the rice industry was
reformed to ensure that the development of quality rice and those
who cultivate it become the focus - not price.Pramote said a
strategy should be drawn up to solve poverty and protect farmers
from unfair pricing, disasters and exploitation. He believes the
country's rice crisis took place because the public was left out of the policy-making process. He suggested
establishing a committee comprising representatives from various groups and having no political involvement
to take care of rice matters and ensure that the majority benefits.
"Politicians would be only management people who carry out rural people's consensus," he added.NMG
chairman Suthichai Yoon invited the participants to attend the next forum, in which strategies for the proposed
rice committee would be discussed. Suthichai said the outcomes from this week's forum would be passed on to
policy-makers.The input included a call by Somporn Isvilanonada, of the Knowledge Network Institute of
Thailand, for rice to be viewed as an economic crop.Somporn said it should be based on an industrial thinking
system involving marketing, cost-cutting and a central market establishment, which would help farmers in the
long run. Nakhon Sawan Chamber of Commerce chairman Komkrit Thammaratrakul called for the promotion
of farmers' ability to compete in the world market and use education to create a new generation of farmers.
A team from the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives proposed the "three reductions, three
additions" road map for the nine lower North provinces from 2014-2018. The reductions were for costs, risk and
chemical use on soil, while the additions were for farming efficiency, soil preparation and seed selection, and
produce value.Biothai director Witoon Lianchamroon wants a goal set to promote organic farming, especially
high-quality and environmentally friendly rice, and for a solution to the high cost of renting land to be
found.Sumeth Laomoraphorn, chief executive officer of International Trading Business at Charoen Pokphand
Group, urged farmers to strengthen cooperative systems for bargaining power.Earth Net Foundation vice
chairman Tawatchai Tositrakul said many people now ate organic rice and this helped promote farmer
sustainability as they would always have buyers for the produce.


Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- June 26
Thu Jun 26, 2014 2:35pm IST
Nagpur, June 26 (Reuters) - Gram and tuar prices in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and
Marketing Committee (APMC) firmed up again on renewed demand from local millers amid thin supply from
producing regions. Delay monsoon arrival in Vidarbha, weak overseas supply and healthy rise in Madhya
Pradesh pulses also helped to push up prices, according to sources.

* * * *

FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Gram Kabuli reported down in open market on poor buying support from local traders
amid increased overseas supply.

TUAR
* Tuar fataka best and medium varieties recovered strongly in open market on good
marriage season demand from local traders amid weak supply from millers.

* Lakhodi dal reported down in open market in absence of buyers amid release of stock
from stockists.

* Rice Chinnor quoted higher in open market on good demand from local traders amid
weak supply from producing regions like Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh

* In Akola, Tuar - 3,800-4,100, Tuar dal - 5,700-6,000, Udid at 6,500-6,800,
Udid Mogar (clean) - 7,600-8,100, Moong - 7,200-7,600, Moong Mogar
(clean) 8,600-9,300, Gram - 2,000-2,200, Gram Super best bold - 3,000-3,300
for 100 kg.

* Wheat, other varieties of rice and other commodities remained steady in open market
in thin trading activity, according to sources.

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


FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction 2,120-2,500 2,070-2,390
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction 3,840-4,150 3,800-4,100
Moong Auction n.a. 4,200-4,500
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800
Gram Super Best Bold 3,600-3,700 3,600-3,700
Gram Super Best n.a.
Gram Medium Best 3,200-3,400 3,200-3,400
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a.
Gram Mill Quality 2,850-2,950 2,850-2,950
Desi gram Raw 2,300-2,800 2,300-2,800
Gram Filter new 3,000-3,200 3,000-3,200
Gram Kabuli 8,000-9,500 8,000-9,700
Gram Pink 7,300-7,500 7,300-7,500
Tuar Fataka Best 6,300-6,600 6,200-6,500
Tuar Fataka Medium 6,100-6,300 6,000-6,200
Tuar Dal Best Phod 5,600-5,850 5,600-5,850
Tuar Dal Medium phod 5,300-5,600 5,300-5,600
Tuar Gavarani 4,300-4,400 4,300-4,400
Tuar Karnataka 4,100-4,200 4,100-4,200
Tuar Black 7,500-7,800 7,500-7,800
Masoor dal best 6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200
Masoor dal medium 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold 8,500-9,300 8,500-9,300
Moong Mogar Medium best 8,000-8,200 8,000-8,200
Moong dal super best 7,600-8,000 7,600-8,000
Moong dal Chilka 7,700-8,300 7,700-8,300
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 7,800-9,000 7,800-9,000


Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 8,200-8,500 8,200-8,500
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,800-7,600 6,800-7,600
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,700-6,000 5,700-6,000
Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,800 3,800-4,800
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 2,800-2,900 2,900-3,000
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,200 2,900-3,200
Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,700-3,800 3,700-3,800
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 5,100-5,700 5,100-5,700
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,200-1,500 1,200-1,500
Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,500-1,750 1,500-1,750
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,200-1,400 1,200-1,400
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,200 1,900-2,200
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,600-1,800 1,600-1,800
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-3,200 2,500-3,200
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,400 2,000-2,400
Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG) 1,100-1,300 1,100-1,300
Wheat Best (100 INR/KG) 1,500-1,800 1,500-1,800
Rice BPT (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,200 2,900-3,200
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,600-1,800 1,600-1,800
Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG) 2,700-2,900 2,600-2,800
Rice HMT (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,200 3,800-4,200
Rice HMT Shriram (100 INR/KG) 4,400-5,200 4,400-5,200
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 10,400-13,900 10,400-13,900
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,300-10,000 7,300-10,000
Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG) 4,900-5,500 4,800-5,400
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,300-1,500 1,300-1,500
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,600-1,700 1,600-1,700

WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 40.3 degree Celsius (104.5 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
27.2 degree Celsius (81.0 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.


Rainfall : nil
FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Maximum and Minimum temperature likely to be around 40 and 27 degree
Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)
Excessive loadshedding: rice exports reduce by 50 percent
June 26, 2014
RECORDER REPORT
The country's rice exports have reduced by 50 percent in June 2014 due to excessive loadshedding in industrial
areas of Karachi. Delay in completion of export orders due to loadshedding has caused a loss of 100 million
dollars to rice exporters, as they were unable to meet the monthly export target of 200 million dollars. The
country's rice export suffered badly, as the exporters were unable to complete their orders in time and it is
feared that if the situation persisted the country might lose its orders from the international buyers.
Talking to Business Recorder on Wednesday, Chela Ram Kewlani, Senior Vice-Chairman of Rice Exporters
Association of Pakistan (REAP), said that the country's rice export slipped down to 50 percent this month due to
shortage of electricity. "Many industrial areas in Karachi are facing loadshedding of more than six hours per
day, while in interior Sindh the loadshedding duration is 18 hours daily," he added. He said that the monthly
target of rice export was 0.3 million tons worth $200 million, which the exporters were unable to achieve in
June and the export reduced to 0.15 million tons.
Kewlani said that the rice export industry was the country's second largest earner of foreign exchange and the
huge reduction in rice export would badly affect the economy. He regretted that around 100 Karachi exporters
paid about 3 to 3.5 million rupees monthly on account of electricity bills but were facing huge losses due to
power loadshedding. Besides loadshedding, Kewlani said the rice exporters in Karachi were also facing threats
of kidnapping and extortion. He further said that the rice exporters were also badly affected by the fluctuation of
dollar during the last couple of months. He urged the government to fix the duration of loadshedding or provide
separate connection to every factory to facilitate the industries. Monsoon revival seen in early July, lull persists
IMD says it expect the monsoon to revive in the first week of July Ratnajyoti Dutta

Monsoon revival seen in early July, lull persists
IMD says it expect the monsoon to revive in the first week of July
Ratnajyoti Dutta
New Delhi: Indias rain shortfall shrank in the
third week since the onset of its monsoon,


recovering a little after a poor start, but farmers remain concerned as rains are a third below normal due to
sluggish progress toward grain belts in the northwest.India, one of the worlds biggest producers and consumers
of rice, corn, cooking oil, sugar and cotton, relies heavily on annual rains as nearly half of its farm lands are
rainfed.Indias farm sector accounts for 14% of its nearly $2 trillion economy. Poor rains could hit summer
crops, raising food prices and pressuring economic growth that has nearly halved to below 5% in the past two
years. Rains were 31% below average in the week to 25 June, the weather office said, improving from 45%
below average in the second week of the monsoon.
The first week recorded the sharpest deficit of 49% below average as the monsoon arrived over the Southern
Kerala coast five days after the usual date of 1 June.The rainfall gap for the season so far stands at 41% below
average, although weather forecasters say it is too early in the monsoon to predict that India is on course for its
first drought in five years.We expect the monsoon to revive in the first week of July, said D.S. Pai, lead
forecaster of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Experts forecast the rainfall gap could scale down to 30-40% below average in June, better than the 47% deficit
in the first month of 2009 when the season turned out to be the driest in 37 years due to an El Nino
formation.Sowing of main summer crops such as rice, corn, soybean, sugar cane and cotton have already started
in many areas, but are behind schedule.Sowing can accelerate by mid-July erasing the current delay of 10 to 15
days, said N. Chattopadhyay, deputy director general of IMD.
No panic button
Chattopadhyay said there was no point in raising alarm over a widespread drought as the Indian sub-continent
would always have some areas under water stress.We may not have a bumper grains output this year, but there
is still room for a normal level of production, he said.On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed
the latest status of the monsoon at a high level meeting, attended by home minister Rajnath Singh, finance
minister Arun Jaitley, agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh and food minister Ram Vilas Paswan.
Rainfall is likely to improve in the crucial planting months of July and August, despite the weak monsoon
progress so far, said weather officials briefing Modi and his cabinet colleagues.In an attempt to contain market
speculation over food prices, the government has since mid-June taken measures to improve supply-side
sentiment, including introducing minimum export prices for basic food items such as onions and potatoes.The
government has also decided to sell 5 million tonnes of rice in domestic markets from its stocks as part of
measures to curb inflation. REUTERS

Image: Indias monsoon rains were 31% below average for the week ended 25 June. Photo: Mint

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