24th September, 2016 Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

September 24,2016
Vol 7 , Issue 9
Daily
Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter
Global, Regional & Local

Rice E-Newsletter
www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com
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Today Rice News Headlines...
Belarusian machinery to be introduced in Pakistan

Research necessary to compete globally in rice production
Climate change hits Thailand jasmine rice exports to Qatar
India asks China to import agri-products like rice, sugar
Kharif sowing acreage surpasses average of last five years
No decision yet on rice import restrictions
FAO forecasts higher harvest prospects for maize, wheat and rice
Rice steams ahead
Peru is top consumer of rice in Latam
09/23/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report
Leadership Class Gets Up Close in California
Rice Farmers In Abia State Seek Governments Support To Boost
Yield
Rice in the time of Duterte: Will more imports be good?
Basmati exports on credit banned
India asks China to import agri-products like rice & sugar
Editorial Board
Chief Editor
Hamlik
Managing Editor
Abdul Sattar Shah

Rahmat Ullah
Rozeen Shaukat
English Editor
Maryam Editor
Legal Advisor
Advocate Zaheer Minhas
Editorial Associates
Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid

Javed Islam Agha
Ch.Hamid Malhi
Dr.Akhtar Hussain
Dr.Fayyaz Ahmad Siddiqui
Dr.Abdul Rasheed (UAF)
Islam Akhtar Khan
News Detail...
Editorial Advisory Board
Belarusian machinery to be introduced in

Pakistan
Assistant Professor, Gomal

University DIK
By Veronika Buta: MAZ and Amkodor are ready to enter the market of
Pakistans Punjab province. The prospects of joint projects, such as
establishing the enterprises trade missions and assembly plants, have been
discussed in Minsk today.
Dr.Malik Mohammad Hashim
Dr.Hasina Gul
Assistant Director, Agriculture KPK
Dr.Hidayat Ullah
Assistant Professor, University of
Swabi
Dr.Abdul Basir
Assistant Professor, University of
Last year saw a breakthrough in Belarus Pakistan relations. In May 2015,

the Belarusian President paid the first official visit to Pakistan in order to
give impetus to mutual cooperation, which resulted in contracts worth tens of
thousands of dollars. A return visit paid by Pakistans Prime Minister in the
late summer of 2015 was reflected in a cooperation roadmap, the two
countries agreeing to make every effort to reach a trade turnover of a billion
dollars.
Swabi
Zahid Mehmood
PSO,NIFA Peshawar
Falak Naz Shah
Head Food Science & Technology

2
ART, Peshawar
Pakistan is Belarus promising partner in South Asia. The most significant

Last year, the mutual trade turnover between the two countries amounted to slightly less than 60
million dollars. In addition to tractors, Belarus exports potash fertilisers, synthetic yarn, tyres,
newsprint and baby food to Pakistan and imports rice, foodstuffs, leather products, textiles and
sporting equipment.
Each visit of Pakistans delegations adds new items to the list. MAZ and Amkodor are preparing
to enter the countrys market, as proposed by Pakistans Punjab province representatives during
their visit to Belarus.
Punjab is the largest industrial region in the South Asian country, its share in Pakistans GDP
making up about 60 %. Punjab is home to about 200,000 small and over 600 large-scale
enterprises. As planned by the countrys authorities, Pakistans economy will be actively
developing for the next 20 years, therefore the country needs road construction machinery and
passenger transport. The first batch of Belarusian equipment has already been delivered to
Karachi, and new contracts are expected to be signed. The Pakistani side insists on the opening
of Belarusian companies trade missions.
Last year saw the opening of an MTZ assembly plant in Karachi, a similar project is expected to
be implemented in the Punjab province.
There are a lot of opportunities for Belarus to increase its industrial presence in Asia. The
involvement of third countries in the joint projects is being discussed.
http://www.tvr.by/eng/news/ekonomika/belorusskaya_tekhnika_poyavitsya_v_pakistane/
Research necessary to compete globally in rice production

By Mansoor Ahmad
September 23, 2016
LAHORE: Shahzad Ali Malik was awarded Sitar-e-Imtiaz for introducing hybrid rice in Pakistan
that gave more than double the per acre yield of IRRI (coarse rice) in the country in two decades.
He says that during the same period, the productivity of basmati rice declined by 40 percent as its
research was in the hands of state rice research institutes. Here are excerpts from his interview
with The News.
Q. What is the reason for sustained export growth in coarse rice?
A. Exports of coarse rice produced in Sindh were not affected even when global commodity rates
were very low. Only the exports of basmati rice are declining. Coarse rice exports survived bad

times because its productivity has more than doubled from 40 maunds per acre to over 80
maunds per acre. We introduced Chinese hybrid rice seeds in Pakistan in late 19990s.
Later the technology was transferred by the Chinese to our company. We established our
research centre that is run by Chinese scientists along with Pakistani PhDs. Our researchers
introduced high yielding seeds that produce 120 maunds of rice per acre. This is higher than even
the productivity in China. In fact our Chinese principles have started importing some of our high
yield hybrid rice seeds. High yield has reduced the cost of production of the farmers and their
produce is competitive globally. This is the reason that coarse rice exports are on rise. Our
productivity in coarse rice is higher than that of India.
Q. What are the reasons of decline in Basmati rice exports?
A. As far as basmati is concerned, the government rice research institutes did a commendable job
in the 80s to introduce many high yielding varieties. In view of this, the private sector left the
research on basmati to the government sector. However, during the last two decades, not a single
basmati variety has been introduced. The last variety, introduced more than 20 years back, is
losing its productivity, as its yield has declined from 50 maunds per acre to 25-30 maunds per
acre.
The Indians in the meantime introduced many high yielding long grain rice varieties that look
like basmati. The per acre yield of their best long grain variety exceeds 50 maunds per acre. The
Indian thus are more competitive than Pakistan in long grain rice variety. Five years back, when
our per acre yield of long grain basmati rice was higher, we quoted $100-150 per maund less
than the Indians, now it is reverse.
Q. Is the Indian long grain rice not basmati?
A. Basmati is a combination of two words bas that means aroma, and mati which means soil.
Basmati is the aromatic rice of the soil around our central Punjab rice belt. Long grain rice
otherwise is produced in many countries. Iran for instance also produced long grain rice so does
the United States. Those addicted to basmati with its peculiar aroma do not buy other long grain
rice that lacks this aroma. This is the reason that despite high price, basmati exports is still on.
We have however lost market to Indians where consumers are not concerned with aroma but
simply want long grain rice.
Q. What should be done to further enhance coarse rice exports?
A. The government should strictly regulate the import of hybrid seeds. There are 54 suppliers of
hybrid rice seeds in Pakistan, including four or five reputable multinationals. But there are many
importers that supply substandard seeds that result in crop failures and huge loss to the farmers.

The hybrid rice has alleviated poverty in Sindh and substandard seeds sales, if not checked
would bring back poverty for some farmers.
The farmers must be encouraged to go for hybrid varieties as the yield of non-hybrid seeds is
very low. The average of our rice hybrid seed is 120 maunds per acre. The yield of other hybrids,
imported or locally produced, is 80-100 maunds per acre. The more we grow the higher will be
our exports.
Q. How can the basmati exports increase?
A. We have little expectations of high yield basmati varieties being introduced by the public
sector research institutes, since they are not active. On the other hand, research in private sector
has just started, and it will take some years before high yielding varieties are introduced. The
best chance to boost exports now is to include rice in the five products that Iran will allow at zero
duty in the upcoming FTA with Iran.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/151838-Research-necessary-to-compete-globally-in-rice-production
Climate change hits Thailand jasmine rice exports to Qatar

September 22 2016 11:25 PM
Joey Aguilar
Thailands jasmine rice exports to Qatar decreased from 1770.3 tonnes (worth$1.72mn) to
1335.5 tonnes ($1.12mn) in the first half of 2016 compared to the same period last year due to
climate change, the Thai embassy in Doha has said.While climate change directly affected rice
productivity in Thailand, the global economic recession also contributed to a decline in demand,
Thai ambassador Soonthorn Chaiyindeepum told Gulf Times.
The El Nio phenomenon has severely affected agricultural lands in many Southeast Asian
countries since last year, particularly Thailand, the second largest rice exporter in the
world.Chaiyindeepum also cited many emerging rice exporting competitors but stressed that
Thai farmers and their government will continue to offer high-quality jasmine rice to the world at
a reasonable price.These include Qatar, which ranks 42nd as Thailands jasmine rice export
destination.Thailand is also ready to exchange expertise with Qatar in the field of agriculture to
help in ensuring food security in the country, according to the envoy.
As one of the leaders in high quality agricultural production in the world, Chaiyindeepum said
Thailand can provide technical assistance and capacity building to Qatar in areas such as rain
making, hydroponics farming technology, and aquaculture.He pointed out that geographical
diversity in Thailand, together with New Theory (of Agriculture) initiated by the King of

Thailand, led to the development of their technical know-how on sustainable farming.Such
knowledge and technology, he added, can contribute to Qatars food security.
Chaiyindeepum noted that Thailand also has experts in the field of molecular plant breeding,
developing plants that have high tolerance to drought and extreme weather.
We are pioneers in artificial rain production by cloud seeding technique (Royal Rainmaking
Project) patented by the European Patent Office to the King of Thailand, he
explained.Thailand is also ready to help and co-operate with Qatar on technical exchange and
investment in the medical field, the envoy said.
Known as a medical hub of Southeast Asia, he noted that they have many internationally
certified hospitals, renowned doctors, and state-of-the-art medical technologies.Besides jasmine
rice exports, figures from the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand showed that total trade volume
in the first half of 2016 had decreased by 31.08% compared to the same period last year.Qatar is
Thailands 29th trading partner with two-way trade amounted to $1.4bn in the first half of 2016,
it said.
The exports from Thailand to Qatar amounted to $178.74mn while imports from Qatar was
$1.2bn.
However, this corresponds with the global trend of Thailands trade with all countries.The
envoy said that Thailands main imports from Qatar are petroleum products, especially LNG
while Thailands major exports include food, automobiles, and electronics goods.
http://www.gulf-times.com/story/514760/Climate-change-hits-Thailand-jasmine-rice-exports-
India asks China to import agri-products like rice, sugar

PTI
| New Delhi | 23 September, 2016
Seeking greater cooperation in agriculture trade, India on Friday asked neighbouring China to
import a wide range of items from it such as rice, sugar, maize and dried grapes.Agriculture
Minister Radha Mohan Singh met his Chinese counterpart Qui Dongyu on the sidelines of
BRICS agri-meet here and asked China to consider importing these products from India."I am
looking forward for more and more cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors between the two
countries leading to further strengthening of bilateral relations," Singh said in a statement.

He said China can explore the
possibility of importing agricultural
items including live plants, coconut,
cashew
nuts,
banana,
pepper,
shorghum, coconut oil, oil cake, which
India has a potential to export.Singh
also expressed satisfaction over the
progress made in finalising a
memorandum of understanding (MoU)
with China on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issuesHe said the MoU
is "inching towards finality".In 2015-16, India's export to China stood at USD 875.13 million,
while imports were at USD 284.18 million.India exports agri-items such as fish, prawns, shrimp,
cotton and castor oil, and imports kidney beans, apples, pears and bamboos.
www.thestatesman.com/news/business/india-asks-china-to-import-agri-products-like-ricesugar/166839.html#RMhJpr70cWZt4G7y.99
Kharif sowing acreage surpasses average of last five years

Our Bureau
New Delhi, September 23:
Total sowing in the ongoing kharif season so far has surpassed both last years acreage and the
normal area the average of total sown area in the previous five years. Sowing of rice, pulses,
coarse cereals and oilseeds have exceeded last years acreage by significant margins, while
sugar, cotton and jute are lower, according to figures supplied by States and compiled by the
Centre.
The total sown area as on September 23 stands at 1,067.53 lakh hectares compared to 1,030.89
lakh hectares at this time last year and total normal area of 1,062.50 lakh hectares, an official
release stated.
Rice sowing has been done on 387.04 lh compared to 377.35 lh in the same period last year.
Pulses acreage has expanded to 145.84 lh (112.93 lh). Sowing of coarse cereals, too, gained to
189.58 lh (183.59 lh), while oilseeds acreage increased to 189.16 lh (183.71 lh).

Cotton acreage has gone down to 102.55 lh so far this year against last years 115.98 lh.
Sugarcane acreage is lower at 45.77 lh (49.60 lh).
(This article was published on September 23, 2016)
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/kharif-sowing-acreage-surpasses-averageof-last-five-years/article9141190.ece
No decision yet on rice import restrictions

Posted on September 24, 2016
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is yet to come up with its decision on whether it will maintain or
remove restrictions on rice imports as the country seeks to comply with a World Trade Organization
(WTO) agreement to lift trade barriers on the staple food.
Theres no decision yet. We are doing consultations
nationwide starting next week with the stakeholders,
Segfredo R. Serrano, Agriculture undersecretary for policy and
planning revealed to reporters on Wednesday.
The consultation aims to come up with the best possible
recourse the country can undertake in terms of lifting or
retaining the so-called quantitative restriction (QR) on rice
imports, which limits the volume of rice that can enter the
Philippines every year. The QR serves as cushion to prevent
the influx of cheap rice imports and protect local farmers.The Philippines, one of the worlds biggest rice
importers, has enjoyed this preferential treatment on rice imports since 1995 when it joined the WTO. In
2014, the country secured WTO approval to keep the import restrictions for three more years to June 2017
after the country agreed to lift the annual import volume from 350,000 tons and cut the tariff from 40%.
Hindi pa na-consult si Presidente about the issue (We haven't consulted the president about the issue),"
said Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piol in an interview with reporters on Wednesday. "Siyempre
explain ko sa kaniya na hindi ganyan ka-simple iyon. Hindi porke ni-lift yung QR bababa ang presyo ng
bigas (We need to explain to him that its not that simple -- that just because the QR has been lifted, the
price of rice will go down.)... Its a very speculative market, he said.
8
The DA is moving to renegotiate an extension of the QR to 2019, the Duterte administrations targeted
year to attain rice self-sufficiency.

Mr. Serrano noted that an extension is possible if the cabinet team permits, but reminded that the
maintenance of the special treatment on rice may create concessions other countries may seek to have a
freer flow of their commodities into the Philippine market.It took more than two years for the country to
secure the approval from nine WTO country-members to extend until 2017 the QR on rice, which was
supposed to end in 2012. In change for the approval, the country agreed to increase the minimum access
volume (MAV) of rice to 805,200 metric tons from 350,200 and at reduced tariffs. MAV refers to the
minimum quantity of farm produce permitted to enter a market destination bound at lower tariff rates.
Other concessions to retain the special treatment on rice included slapping a lower tariff duty on a handful
of other commodities.
Some members of President Rodrigo R. Dutertes economic team opposed the extension of the QR
policy. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia for one cited the QR as one of the
protectionist policies that could cloud prospects for the countrys inclusion in trade deals.
Time for competition to pressure our farmers to be more productive with government backing, Mr.
Pernia said in an earlier report.
Regardless of opposition from other economic managers, Mr. Piol said he will strive to push the
extension of the QR to 2019.
Their perspective is that of economic managers. My perspective of how things should be is the
perspective of a farmer-leader, Mr. Piol said. -- Janina C. Li
FAO forecasts higher harvest prospects for maize, wheat

and rice
Staple food prices rose in August even as grain prices fell and the outlook for global cereal production
improved. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 165.6 points in August, up 1.9% from July and almost
7% from a year earlier. The monthly jump was mostly driven by cheese and palm oil quotations, while
those for wheat, maize and rice all fell.Russia is poised to become the world's largest wheat exporter in
2016/17, overtaking the European Union, where wet weather has hampered this year's crops. Rice
production is expected to hit a new record owing to favorable weather conditions in much of Asia and on
more U.S. farmers shifting to the crop

FAO raised considerably its
world cereal production
forecast for 2016 to 2.566
million tons, up 22 million
tons from July projections.
FAO's Cereal Supply and
Demand d Brief, attributed
the increase primarily to
anticipation of a record
global wheat harvest this
year and a large upward
revision to this year's maize
crop in the United States.The
expected increase in grain
output is forecast to boost
inventories and push up the
global stock-to-use ratio to
25.3%, an even more
comfortable (supply and demand) situation than predicted at the start of the season, FAO said.
Coarse grain global output for 2016 should be around 1 329 million tons, 2.1% higher than in 2015,
buoyed by higher forecast maize output in several countries, in particular the U.S.The wheat output
forecast was also raised to 741 million tons, driven by large upward revisions to projections for Australia,
North America, India and the Russian Federation. Russia is poised to become the world's largest wheat
exporter in 2016/17, overtaking the European Union, where wet weather has hampered this year's
crops.Rice production is also expected to hit a new record this year at almost 496 million tons, owing to
favorable weather conditions in much of Asia and on more U.S. farmers shifting to the crop as a result of
its more attractive relative price.
FAO did not materially change its forecast for world cereal utilization in the coming year, which is
expected to grow by 1.6%, led by maize - and to some extent lower-quality wheat supplies - used as
animal feed. The FAO trade forecast for cereals in 2016/17 has been scaled up by almost 9 million tons
on the back of abundant export availabilities of wheat and coarse grains.
http://en.mercopress.com/2016/09/22/fao-forecasts-higher-harvest-prospects-for-maize-wheat-and-rice
Rice steams ahead

22 Sep 2016
10

NSW Department of Primary Industries rice research and development team members, Brian Dunn, Tina
Dunn and David Troldahl are supporting rice growers with new production guides for the coming season.
With the rice season set for a stellar start following impressive spring rain, growers now have access to
the latest information to support their management decisions with the release of three new NSW
Department of Primary Industries (DPI) rice production guides.DPI research agronomist, David Troldahl,
said rice variety, crop protection and growing guides for the 2016-2017 rice season were available from
DPI, Local Land Service (LLS) and Ricegrowers Association of Australia (RGA) offices and online.
The DPI rice team worked with Murray LLS and RGA Rice Extension to deliver new information on
critical sowing times for current varieties, Mr Troldahl said.Given the success of delayed permanent
water crops last season, new herbicide strategies are available to extend weed control until permanent
water is applied in mid-December.The crop protection guide alerts growers to plant back guidelines they
should be aware of for new winter crop chemicals.And a welcome feature in the new guide includes
images to aid identification of pests and weeds.
Mr Troldahl said growers could use new variety guide information for Topaz, Koshihikari, YRM70 and
YRK5 to fine-tune agronomy and nitrogen management.Growers should take advantage of the free NIR
Tissue Testing Service at panicle initiation to determine nitrogen fertiliser requirements for topdressing,
he said.We recommend growers consider using imagery, yield maps or cut and fill maps to target
sampling in different zones of their crops.Feedback from growers is welcome to inform and improve
variety and production information.RGA Rice Extension, funded by the Rural Industries Research and
Development Corporation, DPI and LLS will continue to work with rice growers and advisers to deliver
up-to-date advice
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/about-us/media-centre/releases/2016/rice-steams-ahead
Peru is top consumer of rice in Latam

September 22, 2016
Alvaro Tassano
According to the research project Brazilian Rice, the average annual consumption of rice per
capita in Peru is 54kg.
(Photo: Facebook/Andina)
Peru has become the top consumers of rice in Latin America, reaching an average annual
consumption of 54 kilograms per capita, according to the project, Brazilian Rice.
11
According to the research firm, one of the main reasons for this demand is the lower price of
corn and the increase in Peruvian population.
They reported that in 2012 the total export of rice to Peru was 28,900 tons (worth 17.4 million
dollars) in 2015 that total reached 65,000 (31.9 million) and by August we had already
surpassed 43,400 tons.
Although all 19 regions in the country produce rice, the local production is not enough to
cover the large demand, for this reason the Peruvian market is increasingly attractive for rice
exporters, said Mario Pegorer, president of Abiarroz.
Brazil is one of the largest producers of rice in the world, with an annual output of 12 million
tons, and it considers Peru as one of its main markets to take advantage off.
The report also noted that the two main varieties of rice exports to Peru are: long grain white
rice, which occupies 70% of exports and parboiled rice (pre-cooked) with the remaining 30%.
http://www.peruthisweek.com/news-peru-is-top-consumer-of-rice-in-latam-110500
12

09/23/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report
Rice
High Low
Long Grain Cash Bids - - - - - Long Grain New Crop - - - - - -
Futures:
ROUGH RICE
High Low Last Change
Nov '16 979.0 963.0 965.0 -1.0
Jan '17 1003.5 988.0 989.5 -1.0
Mar '17
1014.5 -1.0
May '17
1034.5 -1.0
Jul '17
1054.5 -1.0
Sep '17
1054.5 -1.0
Nov '17
1054.5 -1.0
13

Rice Comment
Rice prices closed lower again today. The market remains under pressure from large supplies.
For the week, rice prices ended down 16-cents. The market needs demand to develop to help
support rice prices
Leadership Class Gets Up Close in California

By Chuck Wilson
SACRAMENTO, CA -- Last week, the 2015/17 Rice Leadership Development Class completed Session
Three of the program, a comprehensive tour of California's Central Valley rice country.The week-long
program consisted of farm and mill visits, observation of water systems here, and meetings with
representatives of the California Rice Commission, California Rice Research Station, and Glenn-Colusa
Irrigation District, as well as a close look at rice harvest.
"As a California producer, it's my privilege to show my fellow class members around our region," said
Greg Van Dyke. "Touring the unique growing regions here lets them see first-hand both the rewards and
difficulties of farming in California."
"The diversity of crops that are planted so close to each other is amazing to me," said Mississippi's Nat
McKnight.
"I was impressed by the water districts in California rice country," said Arkansas producer Hudgens
Jeter. "While they currently have a serious issue with supply, their delivery infrastructure ensures that
what is available can be moved where it is needed. I would like to see something similar in the mid-south
as we work to ensure sustainable water for the future."
"This session was very insightful on the complexity of issues the local rice industry faces," said Paul
Johnson, a Louisiana producer. "From water and air quality issues, to wildlife preservation, to water
availability, and increased cost of production for producers, California has a delicate political and
regulatory balance of which everyone along the supply chain was cognizant."
Class members also got to experience rice harvesting at Montna Farms after traveling to Lundberg Family
Farms to observe their operation. Sun Valley Rice Company showed the class how they process brown
sprouted rice, and a tour of PGP International demonstrated the many ways rice is used as an ingredient.
14
Members of the class are producers Nicole Creason, Jonesboro, AR; Greg Van Dyke, Pleasant Grove,
CA; Paul Johnson, Welsh, LA; Nat McKnight, Cleveland, MS; Hudgens Jeter, Stuttgart, AR; and

industry-related members Dr. Dustin Harrell, Rayne, LA with the LSU Ag Center; and Collin Holzhauer,
Harrisburg, AR with Southern Rice & Cotton.
The Rice Leadership Development Program is sponsored by John Deere Company, RiceTec, Inc., and
American Commodity Company through The Rice Foundation and is managed by USA Rice.
Rice Farmers In Abia State Seek Governments Support To

Boost Yield
Channels Television.
Updated September 23, 2016
Rice Farmers at Ndi Oji Abam in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State are calling on the
government to provide adequate conducive environment to enable them cultivate more rice that would
assist in cushioning the effect of economic recession on food security.The farmers, who have been
growing rice for more than two decades, feel alienated from the government agricultural programme and
lament lack of adequate rice seedlings during planting season, fertilizers, pesticides, milling machines and
cost of transporting the rice from the farm to the village due to the deplorable state of Ndi Oji Abam Road
infrastructure.
However, the state government has sympathised with them and hinted that the roads would receive
attention as soon as possible while the Agriculture Anchor Programme would ensure that they get all the
necessary facility to enable them cultivate rice with ease.Large hectares of rice farm located at Ndi Oji
Abam are being cultivated by these farmers who are saddled with the challenges of trekking long miles as
vehicles often get stuck in the mud due to the impassable road while underage boys take up the task of
chasing the birds away to stop them from feeding on the rice.
Although there seem to be a kind of rehabilitation on some portions of the road, the bad sections are still
not passable by vehicles. Only motorcycles which still need to manoeuvre the red muddy road use the
road.
Rice farmers process rice in the most crude ways in most rice farm sites
At the Rice mill, out of the three shanty mill house, only one mill is functioning and the miller has to
accommodate customers that want to mill their rice in the small space with no windows to let out the dust
from the machine when it is working.Under this condition, more than 100 bushels of rice covered with
skin is being milled to edible form daily for consumption.On what the government is doing to assist, the
Commissioner of Agriculture, Uzo Azubike, told reporters that the implementation of the Agricultural
Programme and Integrated Rice Mill would take care of the challenges.
15
He assured them that they would get all the necessary assistance during planting and harvesting
period.Meanwhile, the rice farmers may have to endure for a while until the implementation of the
Agriculture Programme that would ensure they get all the necessary assistance and a one million Naira
profit for a hectare of rice cultivated.In Nigeria today a bag of rice is over 17,000 Naira (over $46) and the
cereal is the most consumed staple food by Nigerians.The Nigerian government, through the Central
Bank, is empowering rice farmers through an Anchor Borrower Scheme to boost yield and meet a 2019
sufficiency target.
The government had in June set up a National Rice and Wheat Task Force to set up targets that would
yield comprehensible and self-evident results in rice and wheat production.
At the inauguration of the Task Force on Tuesday

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said: What we are
trying to achieve is that agriculture is our main stay
and we are trying to evolve a strategy for our
economy, a strategy for employment and a strategy
for feeding our people.Professor Osinbajo said that
feeding the nations population was the focus of the
Buhari administration.Rice and wheat is our main
focus, and making sure that in one year we can show
the world that we are serious, he stressed.Emphasising on the need to develop strategies to rejuvenate the
whole value chain, he gave terms of reference to the panel.The panel is to set up production targets for
rice and wheat in the participating states, determine the scope and particulars for government support
16

needed towards the attainment of the set targets and consider and proffer the best off-take and marketing
arrangements that will encourage maximum effort among farmers and millers.
https://www.channelstv.com/2016/09/23/rice-farmers-abia-state-seek-governments-supportboost-yield/
Rice in the time of Duterte: Will more imports be good?

As of August 2016, Filipinos are paying more than twice for a kilo of rice compared to their Thai
and Vietnamese counterparts
JC Punongbayan
Published 11:00 AM, September 24, 2016
Updated 11:00 AM, September 24, 2016
Although national attention is currently focused on the war on drugs,

the Duterte administration is quietly making gains in another policy
area rice policy.Recently the Duterte Cabinet, led by its economic
team, agreed to lift restrictions on the importation of rice by 2017.
This would usher in greater volumes of rice imports that the
government has been trying to put off for more than two decades
now.On the one hand, local rice farmers are naturally worried. They
say that this policy will hurt them in the same way that other farmers
have been hurt by the influx of cheap imported agricultural goods (like onions).On the other
hand, some say that this policy will help promote competition, lower prices, and benefit several
millions of Filipino rice consumers.
Some groups are already hailing the Cabinets rice policy as one of its first major economic
reforms. To appreciate how exactly this policy can benefit the country in general, it may help to
step back and look at key facts about rice consumption and production in the Philippines.
How affordable is rice in the PH?
Figure 1 shows that the Philippines has always had some of the highest rice prices in Southeast
Asia. As of August 2016, Filipinos are paying more than twice for a kilo of rice compared to
their Thai and Vietnamese counterparts.
17
Figure 1. Source: FAO (Food Price Monitoring and Analysis Tool). Period covered: January
2000 to August 2016. PH data refer to regular-milled rice; Thai and Vietnamese data refer to the
25% broken variety.
These high rice prices harm poor Filipino households more than anyone else. Based on recent
data, while the poorest households spend around 20% of their income on rice alone, the richest
households spend just under 5% (Figure 2).
Rice prices are harmful not only when they are high, but also when they are volatile. Figure 3
shows that since 1991 we experienced three major spikes in rice prices: 1995 (a 45% increase in
price prices), 2008 (60% increase), and 2014 (20% increase).
18
Figure 3. Period covered: January 1990 to July 2016. Trend displays growth in the price of
regular-milled rice, which mimics the trend for other types of rice.
Such significant jumps in rice prices can have devastating impacts on the poor. A 2015 study
found that at the height of the 2008 rice crisis, the inflation rate faced by the poorest 30% of the
population was about twice the inflation rate faced by the general population. This significantly
eroded the purchasing power of the poor and led more households into hunger and poverty.
Some studies also show that poor rice farmers are, in fact, net consumers (rather than net
producers) of rice, meaning that they consume more rice than they produce. Hence, poor farmers
are hurt by high rice prices as well.
What makes rice extra expensive for Filipinos?
19
High and volatile rice prices in the Philippines are borne by a myriad of factors, but largely
geography and policy.
On the one hand, the Philippines has a relative disadvantage when it comes to rice production
because of our peninsular geography. Unlike Vietnam and Thailand, we do not enjoy as much
vast, uninterrupted rice plains and access to natural irrigation at the scale of, say, the mighty
Mekong River.
On the other hand, expensive rice is also due to government policies, particularly the National
Food Authoritys (NFA) status as the sole importer of rice in the country.
Every year the NFA decides how much rice to import in a given year based on forecasts of
domestic rice demand and supply. This heavy-handed tinkering with the market, however, can
occasionally lead to disaster when planning becomes faulty.
Specifically, the NFA may at times fail to import sufficient quantities of rice, leading not only in
smuggling (which is really a manifestation of a large unmet demand for rice) but also in
catastrophic shortages and price spikes.
20

Our last two rice crises attest to this. In 1995 and 2008, erroneous supply forecasts, external
factors, and badly-timed imports led to massive rationing and queues. These were relieved only
through belated importation of massive amounts of rice.
In the aftermath of these events, a select number of private agents have been allowed to import
rice, but with a collective limit of 805,000 metric tons per year and levied with 35% tariff rates.
It is these import restrictions that the Duterte Cabinet is seeking to abolish by next year. By
allowing more private agents to import rice, the NFA need not second-guess domestic demand
and supply conditions, thus avoiding over- or under-importation of rice in any given year.
More importantly, this policy also means more competition in the domestic market that could
lead to lower and less volatile prices, as well as food security for the vast majority of Filipinos.
This is not to say, however, that the NFA no longer has any significant role to play. For instance,
it could focus on maintaining a buffer stock of rice to prepare for emergency shortfalls and
provide immediate relief to avoid events like the violent Kidapawan protests last March. The
NFA could also maintain a small tariff from which it can earn revenues to support farmers
adjusting to this new era of freer rice trade.
21

RICE IMPORTS? The government tries to balance between keeping rice farmers happy and
keeping prices low for consumers. AFP file photo
Conclusion: Good rice policy as a low-hanging fruit
The Duterte Cabinets proposal to lift rice import restrictions promises to benefit millions of
Filipino rice consumers, especially the poor.However, rice producers have already protested the
Cabinets recent pronouncements. There are even renewed calls to reestablish the NFAs status
as the sole importer of rice. Hence, the Duterte Cabinets success in bringing rice policy reforms
is yet to be ensured.Such policy could arguably enjoy more success if it found support in the
President himself. After all, there are about 101 million rice consumers in the country. In
contrast, there are just 1.8 million drug users in the country as of 2015. Hence, shifting even a bit
of attention away from drug policy and into rice policy can potentially benefit a far greater
number of Filipinos.
Of course, it seems that the current drug war is here to stay. But given the potential benefits,
heres hoping that the present leadership brings at least as much interest and enthusiasm into rice
policy. In the vast tree of social policies, this could very well be one of the lowest-hanging fruits
out there. Rappler.com
The author is a PhD student at the UP School of Economics. His views are independent of the
views of his affiliations. Thanks to Kevin Mandrilla (UP Asian Center) and Ammielou Gaduena
(UP School of Economics) for valuable comments and suggestions
http://www.rappler.com/thought-leaders/147136-rice-duterte-more-imports
Basmati exports on credit banned

An Apeda official forecast India's basmati exports would rise 5 per cent by volume in 201617
Dilip K Jha | Mumbai September 22, 2016 Last Updated at 00:03 IST
Basmati exports are likely to be affected temporarily by a ban on their shipment on credit. The
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) under the commerce
ministry has restricted exporters from shipping basmati on credit, known as document against acceptance
in trade parlance.
22

However, exports covered either by bank guarantee or Export Credit Guarantee Corporation can be
executed
Indian exporters used to export basmati in good faith after negotiating a final price. But importers have
sometimes refused to accept the consignments, leading to re-negotiated prices. Apart from that, payment
was sometimes inordinately delayed," said Gurnam Arora, joint managing director, Kohinoor Foods.
Apeda estimates India's basmati rice exports jumped 10 per cent to 1.55 million tonnes during April-July
from the same quarter a year ago. In value terms, however, exports fell to $1.21 billion (Rs 8,140.06
crore) from $1.32 billion (Rs 8,399.39 crore).
Earlier importers demanded shipment of basmati on credit, a facility they enjoyed with Pakistan, the other
major exporter of the aromatic rice. An Apeda official forecast India's basmati exports would rise 5 per
cent by volume in 2016-17. Apeda has ordered registration of exporters for shipment of basmati
Indian exporters used to export basmati in good faith after negotiating a final price. But importers have
sometimes refused to accept the consignments, leading to re-negotiated prices. Apart from that, payment
was sometimes inordinately delayed," said Gurnam Arora, joint managing director, Kohinoor Foods.
Apeda estimates India's basmati rice exports jumped 10 per cent to 1.55 million tonnes during April-July
from the same quarter a year ago. In value terms, however, exports fell to $1.21 billion (Rs 8,140.06
crore) from $1.32 billion (Rs 8,399.39 crore).
23

Earlier importers demanded shipment of basmati on credit, a facility they enjoyed with Pakistan, the other
major exporter of the aromatic rice. An Apeda official forecast India's basmati exports would rise 5 per
cent by volume in 2016-17. Apeda has ordered registration of exporters for shipment of basmati
India asks China to import agri-products like rice & sugar

By PTI | Sep 23, 2016, 07.59 PM IST
"I am looking forward for more and more
cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors
between the two countries," Radha Mohan
Singh said.NEW DELHI: Seeking greater
cooperation in agriculture trade, India today
asked neighbouring China to import a wide
range of items from it such as rice, sugar, maize
and dried grapes. Agriculture Minister Radha
Mohan Singh met his Chinese counterpart Qui
Dongyu on the sidelines of BRICS agri-meet
here and asked China to consider importing
these products from India. "I am looking
forward for more and more cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors between the two
countries leading to further strengthening of bilateral relations," Singh said in a statement.
He said China can explore the possibility of importing agricultural items including live plants,
coconut, cashew nuts, banana, pepper, shorghum, coconut oil, oil cake, which India has a
potential to export. Singh also expressed satisfaction over the progress made in finalising a
memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China on sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) issues
He said the MoU is "inching towards finality". In 2015-16, India's export to China stood at USD
875.13 million, while imports were at USD 284.18 million.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/india-asks-china-to-import-agriproducts-like-rice-sugar/articleshow/54484920.cms
24

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Basmati exports on credit banned

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