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MSU researchers find rice seed treatments work
Two Chinese Scientist Try To Steal Rice From KS Research Facility
Minami-Soma OKs rice planting for 1st time in 4 years
Rice industry grows success on relationships
SL Agritech aligns with DA’s rice Sufficiency Program
World rice market to shrink: TDRI
Karnataka State Rice Mill Owners' Association launch indefinite strike
Commerce Ministry asserts full payment to farmers for rice purchases
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-Dec 16Basmati exporters suffer as Iran stops purchases
Chhattisgarh govt to limit paddy procurement
With mills cutting offtake, paddy arrivals drop
As millers strike, rice prices may go up
Rice output forecast and export outlook
Nigeria: Free Trade Zones - FG Goes After Rice Smugglers
Rice price hike blamed on exporting countries
FG, Kaduna govt to train 300,000 farmers on rice production
Rice mills in Karnataka to shut from tomorrow

NEWS DETAILS:

MSU researchers find rice seed treatments work
WEEVIL: The rice water weevil, such as this adult on a rice leaf, is one of the most troublesome insect pests in
rice, but seed treatments have proven to be effective in controlling them. The scars on the leaf are evidence of
the rice water weevils‘ feeding. (Photo by Delta Research and Extension Center/Jeff Gore)

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

SEEDS: Research at Mississippi State University‘s
Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville
shows that using seeds treated with approved
insecticides, such as the seeds shown on the left and
right, helps control damaging insect pests and prevent
yield loss. The seeds to the left and right were treated,
while the seeds pictured in the center are untreated.
(Photo by Delta Research and Extension Center/Jeff
Gore).PLOTS:
Mississippi
State
University
entomologists grow rice plots every year at the Delta
Research and Extension Center in Stoneville to study
the relationships between insect pests and different
management practices, including the use of seed
treatments. (Photo by Delta Research and Extension
Center/Jeff Gore)

By Keri Collins Lewis
MSU Ag Communications
MISSISSIPPI STATE – After testing scores of samples
taken from rice fields across the state, Mississippi State
University scientists found that seed treatments are
effective in managing the crop‘s most troublesome
insect pests.―In Mississippi, we‘ve been evaluating
seed treatments for about five years,‖ said Jeff Gore,
entomologist with the Mississippi Agricultural and
Forestry Experiment Station and MSU Extension
Service. ―Our research has shown that rice grown with
a seed treatment typically yields from 8 to 12 bushels
more per acre than untreated rice. The main reason for
that yield increase is rice water weevil control.‖
Gore said seed treatments are effective in both
conventional rice varieties and hybrids.―Although they
do not provide 100 percent control of rice water weevil,
seed treatments do provide significant benefits in rice,‖
he said. ―Because control is not absolute, a foliar
insecticide application may be necessary to maximize
control
in
some
situations.‖
Insect management
…

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Gore works at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville. He said researchers take core samples
about 4 inches in diameter and 8 inches deep from farms across the Delta, wash them and count the rice water
weevil larvae.―An infestation of one larva per core will result in about a 1 percent yield loss,‖ Gore said.
―Typical infestations in the Delta range from 10 to 25 weevils per core in untreated fields, resulting in a 10 to 25
percent yield loss.‖Gore said that seed treatments provide other benefits to rice producers, too.―Seed treatments
provide good control against a whole complex of other rice pests,‖ he said. ―Seed treatments help manage
chinch bugs, grape colapsis, thrips and soil insects, such as wire worms and white grubs, and get the plants off
to a good, healthy start.‖
Performance under flood
Seed treatments for row crops, such as corn, cotton or soybean, target early-season pests that are in the soil
when the seed is planted. But rice seed treatments are different.―We‘re targeting primarily rice water weevils,
and they only move into the field when producers establish the permanent flood about three to six weeks after
planting,‖ Gore said. ―So seed treatments for rice have to last longer than in other crops, because they are sitting
in the field a lot longer.‖Gore said all of the seed treatments are water soluble, and water can have both positive
and negative effects on seed treatments.―Because rice is grown in aquatic or semi-aquatic environments, we
needed to find out how different water management practices might impact the seed treatments‘ performance,‖
he said.Andrew Adams, an MSU graduate student from Greenville, set up tests in grower fields across the Delta
and at the Delta Research and Extension Center.―To determine the impact of a delayed flood, we looked at
flood timings of six and eight weeks after planting, which is about two months that the seed treatment was
sitting in the soil without having insect pressure,‖ Adams said. ―Where we delayed the permanent flood until
eight weeks after planting, the seed treatment was not compromised and no yield losses were observed.‖
Flushing fields

Adams also looked at the impact of flushing fields. Flushing a field is a form of irrigation where the field is
brought to a shallow flood and then drained.―Flushing is used for herbicide incorporation, seed germination or
for irrigation during hot and dry conditions,‖ he said.Adams tested zero, one and two flushes with water across
a rice field to check the efficacy of three different seed treatments.―We found that zero and one flush had no
negative impact,‖ he said. ―The seed treatments Cruiser and NipsIt were negatively impacted with the
application of the second flush and yield losses were observed. However, Dermacor wasn‘t negatively impacted
by the application of the second flush
Seed treatment rates
Gore and Adams also tested the efficacy of seed treatment rates in hybrid rice.―Hybrid rice varieties are grown
at 20 to 25 pounds of seed per acre, versus 75 to 85 pounds with conventional varieties,‖ Gore said. ―Because
seed treatment rates are based on a per-seed basis, we wanted to know if the lower seeding rate, and hence the
lower seed treatment rate on a per acre basis, impacted insect control. It did not.‖No additional benefit was

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observed from increasing the seed treatment rate. Currently labeled rates for hybrid rice production are correct,
Gore said.―The management practice that showed significant improvement in rice water weevil control beyond
the seed treatment was a foliar overspray with a pyrethroid on hybrid rice,‖ Gore said.
For
the
latest
rice
growing
recommendations
visithttp://www.rice.msstate.edu/meetings_presentations.html.

from

MSU

scientists,

Two Chinese Scientist Try To Steal Rice From KS Research Facility

Credit Wikipedia

Listen
3:45

Two crop scientists from China are accused of trying to steal rice seed samples from a biopharmaceutical
research facility in Kansas. Federal charges have been filed against the two men in U.S. District Court, in
Kansas City, Kansas.47-year-old Weiqiang Zhang and 63-year-old Wengui Yan are charged with conspiracy to
steal trade secrets. The target was a research facility in Junction City operated by Ventria Bioscience, based in
Fort Collins, Colorado. According to U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents
found stolen seeds in the luggage of a Chinese delegation preparing to board a plane for China last August.
The two suspects had arranged visits to several Midwestern agricultural facilities and universities, according to
the complaint.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

A search of Zhang‘s residence in Manhattan, Kansas, this Wednesday turned up more rice seeds similar to
those the visiting delegation was attempting to take home. Ventria President and CEO Scott Deeter confirms
that Zhang was a Ventria employee.―We‘re cooperating with this," says Deeter. "We need to let the facts come
to light, and see what the facts are before we make any decisions on our side.‖Zhang was hired by Ventria as a
rice breeder in 2008. What‘s so special about the rice developed by Ventria? Deeter says it‘s genetically
modified to grow proteins for medical and pharmaceutical uses—and to do it very efficiently.―It‘s a really
important technology," according to Deeter. "It‘s foundational. I would say between $1 and $2 billion has been
invested in the ability of plants to become a factory for these types of products.‖One of the proteins grown by
the rice, albumin, is already being produced and marketed commercially, under the trade name Cellastim. It‘s
advertised as an animal-free supplement to help cell cultures—stem cells, for example—grow better. The other
protein is a recombinant version of a key component of mother‘s milk, called lactoferrin. It‘s still in clinical
trials.
In a 2006 interview for the KPR series, ―Kansas Health: A Prescription for Change‖, Deeter said this product
could reduce the death toll from diarrhea—which he describes as the second-leading killer of children around
the world.―The product that we‘re developing will not only rehydrate the child, but also, we believe, help them
recover from their illness sooner than they would just by being rehydrated," Deeter says. "And we need to make
that affordable, so that we can distribute it to the world‘s population.‖Deeter hopes to start marketing the
recombinant lactoferrin as soon as 2017. Farmers in the Junction City area have been growing the rice for the
processing plant since 2007. Deeter won‘t say how many acres are planted, or how many bushels harvested, but
it‘s enough to meet his company‘s needs. He‘s relieved that the federal agents were able to intercept the
patented seeds before researchers in China could get their hands on them.―The investment that researchers and
inventors put into these types of technologies need to be respected," says Deeter.
"We have a patent system, and we have a process of maintaining the secrecy of some of these trade secrets in
order that they may be turned into valuable products down the road. I understand the attraction of short-cutting
that process, but then you essentially devalue innovation.‖If found guilty of conspiracy to steal trade secrets,
Zhang and Yan could face a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Meanwhile, six other men from China, including the CEO of a seed corn subsidiary of a Chinese conglomerate,
were charged yesterday with conspiring to steal patented seed corn from two of the nation's leading seed
developers, according to The Associated Press. Deeter says he‘s not aware of any connection between the two
cases.
TAGS:

Ventria Bioscience

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Minami-Soma OKs rice planting for 1st time in 4 years
December 14, 2013
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

MINAMI-SOMA,
Fukushima
Prefecture--The rice fields have lain
fallow in this northern coastal city
since tsunami deluged the area in
2011. But now, for the first time since
then, farmers will start planting rice
for harvest on about 3,200 hectares of
paddies.A general meeting of a
council consisting of city officials and
an agricultural association decided
Dec. 13 to allow farmers to plant
anew.
The farmers voluntarily refrained from growing rice after the onset of the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear
power plant.Although the paddies to be replanted are located outside the evacuation zone, the central
government continues to prohibit the cultivation of rice on about 5,300 hectares of the fields within the
evacuation zone. It is expected to decide on an extent of the restriction for 2014 in January at the
earliest.Farmers planted rice on about 123 hectares of paddies in Minami-Soma on an experimental basis earlier
this year.But partly due to a delay in decontamination work at the paddies, radioactive cesium exceeding the
government‘s safety limit of 100 becquerels per kilogram was detected in some of the crops from those
fields.At the Dec. 13 meeting, one farmer said that they should wait until safety is confirmed before going
ahead with replanting.―(The council) should hold a thorough investigation to determine why radioactive cesium
is exceeding the safety limit,‖ the farmer said.However, with the city pledging to fully support the restart of rice
growing, the Dec. 13 meeting decided on the resumption of rice planting by majority vote.
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
In Photo:F armers in Minami-Soma remove debris in rice fields on Dec. 10. (Yosuke Fukudome)

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Rice industry grows success on relationships
Dec. 16, 2013Todd Fitchette | Western Farm Press

California Rice Commission President and
CEO Tim Johnson, left, and CRC legal
counsel George Soares, actively pursue issues
of common importance to urban legislators,
interests and those of the California rice
industry.

Rice is more than pilaf or something thrown at
weddings.It is also more than the 25,000 jobs
and the $1.8 billion it pumps through
California‘s economy each year.While rice is
all of that and more, it is probably best known
as ―the environmental crop.‖ Rice fields in
California provide year-round habitat for more than 200 different species of wildlife, including about 10 million
migratory birds that traverse the Pacific Flyway twice a year.A drive through rice country proves this. Shorebirds,
waterfowl and raptors line the fields or fly overhead as humans with cameras seek photos opportunities to capture
avocets, great blue herons, bald eagles, various hawks, geese, ducks and other critters. There are private preserves
and public wildlife refuges throughout rice country, where one-fifth of America‘s rice crop is grown.
Environmental issues play a vital role in what the California Rice Commission (CRC) does.So important is the
environment to the CRC, the slogan ―the environmental crop‖ is written on the organization‘s letterhead.―We‘re not
an ‗eat more‘ organization,‖ said Jim Morris, communications manager for the California Rice Commission. ―We‘re
helping maintain the viability of this industry.‖
Want access to the very latest in agricultural news each day? Sign up for the Western Farm Press Daily email newsletter.
The CRC works on a host of issues throughout the year. Critical to the rice industry is the practical nature of helping
growers apply the various regulations they face. Whether related to pesticide issues or water, they all have a decisive
environmental flavor to them.George Soares, an attorney who represents various agricultural organizations in
Sacramento, including the California Rice Commission, calls the CRC a true leader in agriculture for its efforts to
find and foster connections between urban legislators, urban interests and the rural-based rice growers represented by

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

the CRC.―We made a tactical decision many years ago to connect the rice industry with people in a way that matters
to them,‖ said CRC President and CEO Tim Johnson. ―It may not be the message agriculture wants to hear, but you
really need to be focused on the messages that matter to the people who ultimately make the decisions that impact
your industry.‖To do that the CRC employs its own regulatory staff, along with representatives who handle issues
within the State Capitol and Washington, D.C.

SL Agritech aligns with DA’s rice Sufficiency Program
by Melody M. Aguiba
December 15, 2013

SL Agritech Corp. (SLAC) has aligned its hybrid rice with the Department of Agriculture‘s (DA) Food Staples
Sufficiency Program (FSSP) that targets hybrid rice area to reach to 500,000 hectares in 2015-2016.DA and the
Philippine Rice Research Institute (Philrice) have targetted rice production at 22.73 million metric tons (MT) of
paddy rice by 2016 under its FSSP. This is from the projected 19 million MT this year.―If 500,000 hectares are
planted to hybrid rice, this can give an incremental yield of three to four tons per hectare. That would equate to
an additional two million tons of paddy rice.
At 65 percent milling recovery, this can feed 10 to 13 million people at 100 kilo per capita consumption,‖ said
SLAC Chairman Henry Lim Bon Liong.Target area under the FSSP for hybrid seeds plus nitrogen fertilization
planting is at 250,000 hectares for 2013, 400,000 hectares for 2014 and 500,000 hectares for 2015-2016.The
FSSP also targets an increase in national yield average from 4.23 MT per hectare in 2013 to 4.43 MT per
hectare in 2014.By 2015, this should further increase to 4.48 MT per hectare in 2015 and 4.53 MT per hectare
in 2016.And much of this increase in yield average can come from hybrid rice production that can benefit
Filipino farmers.―As hybrid rice gives a high average yield of 7.5 tons per hectare compared to inbred‘s four
tons, farmers also benefit significantly from higher income. His income can reach a net of P50,000 to P100,000
per hectare. Inbred rice farmers only earn a net of P15,000 to P30,000 per hectare,‖ said Lim.At the same time
SLAC has an ambitious program to expand its hybrid rice globally to two million hectares in five years.
―In three to five years, SLAC is aiming to feed 50 million people. By that time two million hectares must be
planted to SLAC hybrid rice varieties,‖ said SLAC Chairman Henry Lim Bon Liong.The company‘s SL-8H
hybrid rice seeds is targeted to be planted on 410,000 hectares outside of the Philippines, said Lim who spoke in
October before the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).―The target area for SL-8H are 150,000
hectares, in Bangladesh, 200,000 hectares in Indonesia, and 60,000 hectares in Vietnam,‖ he said.FSSP‘s
targeted area from irrigated system (where hybrid rice is mostly grown) is 16.3 million MT in 2013, 17.78
million MT in 2014, 18.37 million MT in 2015, and 18.9 million MT in 2016.
Targetted paddy rice production from non-irrigated farms is 3.75 million MT in 2013, 3.72 million MT in 2014,
3.75 million MT in 2015, and 3.83 million MT in 2016.For inbred seeds that or of high quality plus nitrogen
fertilization and Integrated Crop Management, are expansion target is 742,500 hectares in 2013, 937,500

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

hectares in 2014, 1.137 million hectares in 2015, and 1.237 million hectares in 2016.DA‘s FSSP involves not
only rice but expansion of areas of other staples.These are banana, cassava, sweet potato, and corn.Still, many
Filipinos are expected to continue taking rice as their staple food.The country‘s export program will continue to
be supported by SLAC as this stabilizes local price despite higher rice production. SLAC accounted for more
than 100 MT of the more than 400 MT rice exported this year to Dubai, Singapore, and the United States.
The company continues to envision Philippines to become one of the largest hybrid rice-producing countries in
the world as the Philippines has been a pioneer in hybrid rice technology in South East Asia with SLAC leading
seed production.The world‘s biggest hybrid rice areas as of 2011 were in India with two million hectares;
Bangladesh, 700,000 hectares; Indonesia, 650,000 hectares; Vietnam, 595,000 hectares; United States, 439,000
hectares.The last three countries (and continent) were Philippines, 180,000 hectares; Myanmar, 78,000 hectares;
and Latin America combined, 70,000 hectares.SL-8H users have proven that hybrid seeds can be far superior
than other rice technologies, Lim said. Their highest yields include a record harvest of 17.28 MT per hectare,
Severing Payumo, Nueva Ecija; 17.2 MT, Aida Badong, Camarines Sur; 14.57 MT, Freddie Dalisay, Occidental
Mindoro; and 14.02 MT, Severino Velasquez, Nueva Ecija.

World rice market to shrink: TDRI
Yupin Pongthong
The Nation December 17, 2013 1:00 am

Offshore consumers have been buying more jasmine rice from Laos and Cambodia after Thai farmers cranked up production to cash in on the
government

Quality production, greater efficiency seen as essential as world demand shifts
The Thailand Development Research Institute
(TDRI) expects lower consumption, plantation
area and prices for rice worldwide next year,
while urging the government to speed up zoning
for quality rice production. Delivering a lecture
on "The Future of Thai Rice on the Global
Stage" yesterday, Nipon Poapongsakorn, a TDRI
distinguished fellow, said that between 1990 and
2008, worldwide rice consumption per capita
dropped by 0.11 percentage point, and even
lower consumption figures are expected in the
next 10-15 years.The reduction is due to rising
incomes, especially in Asia, along with
urbanisation and changing lifestyles amid a

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

slowdown in the growth of the world's population, he said.
Based on a recent study, rice consumption across the world is projected to rise at a gradual pace from 430
million tonnes in 2008 to between 450 million and 470 million tonnes in 2020, he said. After that, rice
consumption is forecast to drop to 360 million tonnes in 2050. White rice is expected to become rarer in the
market, while quality rice becomes more popular, if consumers' incomes rise as projected. Some countries may
stop importing white rice altogether.Nipon said rice-plantation areas would likely shrink because of water
shortages and higher costs in the future. To meet demand for rice and while keeping its prices affordable, the
world's rice production per rai needs to be increased, he said.
Offshore consumers have been buying more jasmine rice from Laos and Cambodia after Thai farmers cranked
up production to cash in on the government's pledging scheme, resulting in a decline in quality, he said.
Thailand's rice exports fell from 10 million tonnes in 2011 to 6.95 million tonnes last year."Thai farmers should
combine rice fields for bigger plots and use machines to lower production costs. There's no need for the rice
pledging. In 2014, rice prices will trend lower as they follow the global prices," Nipon said. Yukol
Limlamthong, the caretaker agriculture minister, said rice trading was expected to see higher competition
asAsean countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, all aim to become leading
producers.Thailand may need to adjust to this rising competition, as rice production is as low as 300 kilograms
per rai (1,875kg per hectare) in some areas, he said. Thailand's average rice production is 509kg per rai.
The Ministry of Agriculture has a policy to promote zoning for rice production, and it is in the process of
gathering data for each province, Yukol said. The plan includes establishment of basic infrastructure and
irrigation systems for efficient rice production. Farmers may need to improve production of quality rice.The
government may need to improve transparency in the rice-pledging scheme, Nipon said, adding that an
independent committee might have to be set up to monitor the government's rice warehouses.Previously, the
government could not explain all the issues arising from the pledging programme and that could lead to
corruption, Nipon said. Such issues include apparently missing rice stocks, uncertain financial accounting, and
non-payment to farmers. These issues need to be settled, he said.Kobsook Iamsuree, president of the Thai Rice
Exporters Association, said the country had lost its export competitiveness, with the volume of rice exports
declining continuously from previous years.
"The government's rice-pledging scheme has resulted in high prices for Thai rice in the world market. The
export problem has led to a huge volume of unreleased rice in the stockpiles. Many importing countries, such as
the Philippines and Indonesia, have lost interest in Thai rice and shifted their orders to rival countries, such as
Vietnam, that offer lower prices than Thailand," Kobsook said.Prasit Boonchey, chairman of the Thai Farmers
Association, said farmers were burdened by very high plantation costs, and the government's zoning policy
would not do anything about reducing costs.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Karnataka State Rice Mill Owners' Association launch indefinite strike
Naheed Ataulla,TNN | Dec 16, 2013, 09.46 PM ISTBANGALORE: The cost of rice is likely to go up in the
coming days if the indefinite strike by theKarnataka State Rice Mill Owners' Associationcontinues. The strike
began on Monday in protest against government's decision to procure five lakh tonnes of levy rice from them to
meet the requirements of the flagship Anna Bhagya schemeof 30 kg of rice at Re one per kg to BPL
families. "The impact of the indefinite stir will be felt in the next couple of days particularly in Bangalore,
where 20 lakh tonnes of rice come every day.
All rice millers in the state have stopped procuring paddy from farmers and hulling it. Once the rice stock goes
down in the market, prices will go up,'' association president HS Rudraswamytold TOI. The disagreement
between the government and millers over the levy rice quota had been brewing for months after the Anna
Bhagya scheme was launched. According to the association's general secretary N Srinivasa Rao, the mill
owners have been trying to convince the government that five lakh tonnes per annum was an "unscientific
requirement,'' and the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 2,400 per quintal to procure the same be hiked to Rs
2,650 per qunital .According to Rao, the levy rice quota was 1.5 lakh tonnes for the past two decades. The target
has been hiked four-fold now. The cabinet meeting last week decided to stop buying rice from Chhattisgarh for
Anna Bhagya and solely depend on local market.
The government was buying rice at Rs 29 per kg from Chhattisgarh and the subsidy component for giving rice
to 87 lakh BPL families worked to Rs 450 crore per month. The association is also unhappy with the MSP of
Rs 1,600 for procuring Sona Masuri paddy. "In Karnataka, 80% of rice produced is Sona Masuri for which there
is a huge export demand. Except old Mysore area, Sona Masuri dominates other regions,'' Rao said. According
to Mysore region rice millers association president YK Siddaramu the millers consume 40 to 50 units of power
per tonne of paddy hulling, which had now increased to 110 units due to technical reasons. "It cost Rs 2,650 per
quintal of rice against the government's fixed price of Rs 2,400,'' he added. Food and civil supplies minister
Dinesh Gundu Rao said the government will try to resolve the issue in two or three days. "They were giving three
lakh tonnes earlier, which has now been hiked to five lakh tonnes. Giving levy rice is a legal requirement. We earlier
wanted 13.5 lakh tonnes,'' he added. Food and civil supplies commissioner Harsh Gupta maintained that the five lakh
tonne target was a small percentage. He said all these years, levy rice was being given to the Food Corporation of
India, which had stopped pursuing it after began to get good quality rice from Haryana and Punjab. But now rice is
needed for government schemes, he said.

Commerce Ministry asserts full payment to farmers for rice purchases
Monday, 16 December 2013 By MCOT - Dec 14 – The government is financially capable of paying farmers
who sold rice under the subsidy scheme but the delay in payment was due to financial discipline on managing

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

the revolving fund, according to a deputy commerce minister.Yanyong Phuangrach said the Commerce
Ministry has to manage its spending within the allocated revolving fund of Bt500 billion.
The spending limit for the 2013/14
harvest is Bt270 billion, he said.Mr
Yanyong said the Budget Bureau has
approved a Bt26.9 billion expense, plus
an additional Bt20.176 billion from the
Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural
Cooperatives (BAAC) to purchase rice
from farmers.The Commerce Ministry
has another amount of Bt12 billion
from sales of packaged rice,
contributing to a total Bt60 billion to be
paid to farmers by the end of the year,
he said.He said the BAAC and Finance
Ministry have created confusion in
stating that they would have only Bt26
billion to pay farmers, insisting that the caretaker government is fully authorised to abide by payment
obligations under the rice pledging scheme.―I don‘t understand why the BAAC expressed concern on budget
constraints for the rice scheme. Any information to the public should not create fear among farmers about
payment. The commerce minister has reaffirmed there is sufficient budget for rice purchases nationwide,‖ said
Mr Yanyong.The Commerce Ministry has so far paid Bt180 billion it earned from rice sales to the BAAC, he
said.

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-Dec 16
Mon Dec 16, 2013 2:24pm IST
Nagpur, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Gram prices in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC)
reported strong on increased demand from local millers amid weak supply from producing regions. Healthy rise
in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and reported demand from South-based millers also boosted prices, according
to sources.
*

*

*

*

FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

* Gram varieties reported down in open market in absence of buyers amid poor quality
arrival. Release of stock from stockists also pushed down prices.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties showed weak tendency in open market on poor buying support from local
traders amid increased supply from producing regions.
* In Akola, Tuar - 4,300-4,450, Tuar dal - 6,700-6,700, Udid at 4,800-5,100,
Udid Mogar (clean) - 5,700-6,000, Moong - 6,800-7,200, Moong Mogar
(clean) 7,700-7,900, Gram - 3,300-3,500, Gram Super best bold - 4,400-4,600
for 100 kg.
* Wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market in thin trading
activity, according to sources.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS
Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction
2,510-2,840
2,470-2,700
Gram Pink Auction
n.a.
2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction
n.a.
3,800-4,050
Moong Auction
n.a.
4,400-4,600
Udid Auction
n.a.
4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction
n.a.
2,600-2,800
Gram Super Best Bold
4,000-4,400
4,100-4,300
Gram Super Best
n.a.
Gram Medium Best
3,700-3,900
3,800-3,900
Gram Dal Medium
n.a.
n.a.
Gram Mill Quality
3,300-3,400
3,500-3,600
Desi gram Raw
2,900-3,000
3,000-3,100
Gram Filter Yellow
n.a.
n.a.
Gram Kabuli
7,700-10,000
7,700-10,000
Gram Pink
7,700-8,100
7,700-8,100
Tuar Fataka Best
6,700-6,900
6,800-7,000
Tuar Fataka Medium
6,200-6,400
6,400-6,600
Tuar Dal Best Phod
6,000-6,200
6,200-6,300
Tuar Dal Medium phod
5,600-5,800
5,600-5,900

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Tuar Gavarani
4,100-4,250
4,100-4,300
Tuar Karnataka
4,400-4,500
4,500-4,600
Tuar Black
7,000-7,100
7,000-7,100
Masoor dal best
5,400-5,500
5,200-5,300
Masoor dal medium
5,100-5,200
4,800-4,900
Masoor
n.a.
n.a.
Moong Mogar bold
8,100-8,500
8,100-8,500
Moong Mogar Medium best
7,800-8,000
7,800-8,000
Moong dal super best
7,200-7,400
7,200-7,400
Moong dal Chilka
6,700-6,900
6,700-6,900
Moong Mill quality
n.a.
n.a.
Moong Chamki best
7,000-7,400
7,000-7,200
Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 6,500-6,800
6,500-6,800
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,000
5,800-6,000
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)
5,000-5,600
5,000-5,600
Batri dal (100 INR/KG)
3,800-4,200
3,800-4,200
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)
3,000-3,100
3,000-3,100
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)
3,300-3,400
3,300-3,400
Watana White (100 INR/KG)
3,100-3,200
3,100-3,200
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,800
4,000-4,800
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)
1,700-1,800
1,700-1,800
Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,750
1,700-1,750
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)
1,700-1,900
1,700-1,900
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,450
2,000-2,450
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,950-2,050
1,950-2,050
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a.
n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,600
3,100-3,600
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,900
2,600-2,900
Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG)
1,500-1,600
1,500-1,600
Wheat Best (100 INR/KG)
1,600-1,700
1,600-1,700
Rice BPT (100 INR/KG)
3,200-3,400
3,200-3,400
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG)
1,850-1,900
1,850-1,900
Rice Swarna Best (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,600
2,400-2,600
Rice Swarna Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,400
2,200-2,400
Rice HMT (100 INR/KG)
4,300-4,500
4,300-4,500
Rice HMT Shriram (100 INR/KG) 4,800-5,200
4,800-5,200
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 11,000-13,500
11,000-13,500

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,300-7,600
6,300-7,600
Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG)
5,500-5,800
5,500-5,800
Rice Chinnor Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,100-5,300
5,100-5,300
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)
1,450-1,600
1,450-1,600
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)
1,750-1,850
1,750-1,850
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 29.7 degree Celsius (85.4 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
10.2 degree Celsius (50.4 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - 82 per cent, lowest - 28 per cent.
Rainfall : nil
FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and Minimum temperature likely to be around 30 and 10 degree
Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)

Basmati exporters suffer as Iran stops purchases
ET Bureau Dec 13, 2013, 04.22AM IST

Tags:place|net worthMonopoly|markets|Insurability|escrow account|basmati rice
By: Sutanuka Ghosal & Parshant Krar
KOLKATA/CHANDIGARH: Indian basmati rice exporters have
suffered a jolt as Iran has stopped purchasing the cereal from the
world market since October. The Islamic republic is weighing its
options following the withdrawal of sanctions by the US and five
other nations and has not invited bids for procuring rice. India is a
major exporter of the Pusa 1121 va riety to Iran.Talking to ET, All
India Rice Exporters' Association president MP Jindal said, "It is
true that Iran is not picking up rice from India for the past three
months. But that is a temporary phenomenon. We have learnt that
the country will place orders by early January. They are now
liquidating the stock that they have in their warehouses."Earlier,

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Western sanctions forced India to trim oil purchases from Iran but the latter remained a loyal and large
customer. As sanctions stalled dollar payments in 2012, Iran started settling part of its oil debt in rupees and
Iran was making use of rupee transactions to buy goods from India.
The rupee trade gave New Delhi an edge over other rice suppliers such as Islamabad which do not have such
huge debts with Tehran. This enabled India to establish a near monopoly in exports.India is expected to export
40 lakh tonne of basmati rice in the current fiscal. Of this, 12 lakh tonne is expected to be imported by Iran and
the rest 28 lakh tonne is expected to go to Europe and Saudi Arabia. Jindal said exports were 21 lakh tonne till
October 20. The international price of basmati is at $1,450 per tonne in the current fiscal compared to $1,100
per tonne in 2012-13. In rupees, prices are in the range of 5,400 to 6,200 per quintal compared to 2,500 to 3,500
per quintal in 2012-13.Better prices in overseas markets have also pushed up basmati prices helping farmers to
earn 60%-80% more vis-a-vis the previous fiscal. Traders say prices are expected to remain strong due to good
demand and an overall spike in prices of agriculture commodities. Reports of low output due to erratic rains
during the growing phase of the variety have also increased the price trend.

Chhattisgarh govt to limit paddy procurement
Plans to procure average 6 to 18 quintal for every acre
R Krishna Das | Raipur
December 16, 2013 Last Updated at 20:10 IST
The Chhattisgarh government had been mooting a plan to curtail the limit of paddy that it would procure from
the farmers ahead of paying bonus of Rs 300 as promised before the elections.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had announced to pay Rs 300 for a quintal of paddy that it had been
procuring from the farmers in the current kharif marketing season 2013-14. Since the paddy had formed the
government, efforts had started to reduce the financial burden on implementation of the election promises.The
government had reportedly started working on the plan to procure 6 quintal to 18 quintal paddy per acre from
the farmers.
If a farmer was having an acre of land, he would be eligible for selling paddy in the range of 6 quintal to 18
quintal depending upto the crop assessment report prepared for the district.The department concerned had
prepared assessment report for each district. The officials, though skipped speaking on the curtailment issue,
said that in many districts the assessment was 6 quintal to 10 quintal as crop was damaged due to untimely
rains.In the last kharif marketing season, the government had procured paddy based on the calculation of 20
quintal per acre. The state-run Marketing Federation had purchased about 7 million tones paddy.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

The government spent about Rs 11,000 crore on paddy procurementincluding giving bonus of Rs 270 per
quintal to the farmers.―After winning the election, the BJP government appears to be cheating the farmers,‖
Rajkumar Gupta of Chhattisgarh Progressive Farmers‘ Association said. Since the government had to spend
huge amount, it was planning to curtail the limit so that paddy purchase could be limited.The government had
set a target to purchase 7.2 Million Tonnes (MT) of produce from the farmers. The paddy procurement would
continue till February 15.The BJP leaders however refused to comment on the issue.

With mills cutting offtake, paddy arrivals drop
KARNAL, DEC. 16:

Paddy arrivals dropped to around 30,000 bags
on Monday against the daily arrivals of about
50,000 bags till last weekend.Tara Chand
Sharma, Proprietor of Tara Chand and Sons,
told Business Line that reduced offtake by the
rice mills is the prime reason behind the fall in
arrivals.Millers are not showing much interest
in buying and hence, farmers bring limited
produce, he said.In the physical market, rice
may rule range-bound in the coming days as
bulk buyers are keeping out of the market, said
trade experts.There is no bulk buying in the
market currently as traders have adopted a
wait-and-watch policy following too much
volatility in the market in the recent past, said
Amit Chandna, proprietor of Hanuman Rice Trading Company.Alteration of Rs 50-100 a quintal wouldn‘t make
much difference and market may continue to rule around current levels with marginal fluctuations this week, he
said.
Pusa-1121 (steam) sold at Rs 8,800 , while Pusa-1121 (sela) quoted at Rs 7,750-7,800 a quintal. Pure Basmati
(Raw) quoted at Rs 12,500 . Duplicate basmati (steam) sold at Rs 7,500 .
Sharbati (Steam) sold at Rs 5,000-5,100 while Sharbati (Sela) quoted at Rs 4,650 . Permal (raw) sold at Rs
2,350 while Permal (sela) was at Rs 2,400 . PR-11 (sela) sold at Rs 3,200 while PR-11 (Raw) quoted at Rs
3,000 . PR14 (steam) sold at Rs 3,300 .
About 5,000 bags of PR paddy arrived and quoted at Rs 1,300 , around 20,000 bags of Pusa-1121 arrived and
sold at Rs 3,800-4,250, while 5,000 bags of Sharbati arrived and sold at Rs 2,150-2,300 a quintal.
(This article was published on December 16, 2013)

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Keywords: Tara Chand and Sons, rice paddy, Pusa-1121

As millers strike, rice prices may go up
TNN | Dec 17, 2013, 05.59 AM IST

BANGALORE: The cost of rice is likely to go up in the coming days if the indefinite strike by the Karnataka State
Rice Mill Owners' Association continues. The strike began on Monday in protest against the government's decision
to procure fivelakh tonnes of levy rice from them to meet the requirements of the flagship Anna Bhagya schemeof
30 kg of rice to BPL families. "The impact of the indefinite stir will be felt in the next couple of days particularly in
Bangalore, where 20 lakh tonnes of rice come everyday . All rice millers in the state have stopped procuring paddy
from farmers and hulling it. Once the rice stock goes down in the market , prices will go up,'' association president H
S Rudraswamy told TOI.
The disagreement between the government and millers over the levy rice quota had been brewing for months after
the Anna Bhagya scheme was launched. According to the association's general secretary N Srinivasa Rao, the mill
owners have been trying to convince the government that five lakh tonnes per annum was an "unscientific
requirement ,'' and the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 2,400 per quintal to procure the same be hiked to Rs
2,650. According to Rao, the levy rice quota was 1.5 lakh tonnes for the past two decades . The target has been hiked
four-fold now. The cabinet meeting last week decided to stop buying rice from Chhattisgarh for Anna Bhagya and
solely depend on local market. The government was buying rice at Rs 29 per kg from Chhattisgarh and the subsidy
component for giving rice to 87 lakh BPL families worked to Rs 450 crore per month. The association is also
unhappy with the MSP of Rs 1,600 for procuring Sona Masuri paddy. "In Karnataka, 80% of rice produced is Sona
Masuri for which there is a huge export demand. Except old Mysore area, Sona Masuri dominates other regions ,''
Rao said. According to Mysore region rice millers association president YK Siddaramu the millers consume 40 to 50
units of power per tonne of paddy hulling, which had now increased to 110 units due to technical reasons. "It cost Rs
2,650 per quintal of rice against the government's fixed price of Rs 2,400,'' the association president added.
TIMES VIEW

Just after the sugar crisis was resolved comes the rice issue. With millers stopping procurement of paddy, it won't be
long before the tillers too protest. As this cycle plays out, it's obvious the government didn't do its arithmetic right
when it launched the Anna Bhagya scheme. It's also true that such issues get amplified during an election year. But
this robbing Peter to pay Paul syndrome that afflicts most governments who love sop stories is not the solution.
Social welfare schemes must be backed by sound fiscal management so that states don't fall deeper intodebt traps .
Govt: It's a legal requirement

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Food and civil supplies minister Dinesh Gundurao said the government will try to resolve the issue in two or three
days. "They were giving three lakh tonnes earlier, which has now been hiked to five lakh tonnes. Giving levy rice is
a legal requirement. We earlier wanted 13.5 lakh tonnes,'' he added. Food and civil supplies commissioner Harsh
Gupta maintained that the five lakh tonne target was a small percentage. Gundurao said all these years, levy rice was
being given to the Food Corporation of India, which had stopped pursuing it after began to get good quality rice
from Haryana and Punjab. But now rice is needed for government schemes, the minister said.
Hopcoms' outlets to reopen today
Hopcoms outlets across the city will reopen on Tuesday, after the day-long protest on Monday against the state
government's failure to respond to their demand for a wage revision in accordance with the Sixth Pay Commission.
"We decided to give the government one more week, following which we'll start an indefinite strike," said IR Nadaf,
honorary president, Hopcoms' Employees Union. TNN

Rice output forecast and export outlook
ASHFAK BOKHARI
Updated 2013-12-16 15:08:16

The prospects of rice coming out of the bad patch of poor productivity and uncompetitive exports
remain dim for 2013 and are not bright either for 2014. Historically, Pakistan’s basmati rice has been
the most sought-after commodity in the world, more so in Arab countries.

But in recent years, it has begun to lose its lustre as well as its
competitive edge. In this decline, however, weather is to be
equally blamed.Last month, Food and Agricultural
Organisation (FAO) downgraded its July forecast for
Pakistani rice by 0.6 million tonnes to 8.7 million tonnes. In
July, it had expected the country to produce 12 per cent more
rice than in 2012, or 9.3 million tonnes in 2013. The
downward revision of forecast became necessary after torrential rains and floods again lashed the country in
August.The main rice producing regions of Punjab and Sindh, according to the latest issue of FAO‘s Rice

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Market Monitor, were affected by the floods, with the basmati growing areas of Punjab particularly
experiencing damages.
The revised figure, however, suggests a five per cent increase in production over 2012 figure. Farmers,
notes the report, still favour rice over cotton and, contrary to the previous year, adequate water for irrigation
being available enabled them to plant rice at appropriate time.Rice exports have come under severe pressure
from high cost of inputs and electricity shortages after touching the peak of 3.5 million tonnes in 2010. This
has been more pronounced in the Basmati market, where the country has been consistently out-competed by
India. But India‘s position is not enviable this year.According to the latest report of USDA, India‘s rice
output is likely to decline to 103 million tonnes in 2013-14 owing to crop damage and exports are also
expected to be lower at 10 million tonnes.
The likely impact of crop damage has already pushed up domestic rice prices in November. This, says the
report, may compel the government to unload rice stock in the local market to check prices ahead of general
elections. Although no official assessment of the crop losses is available, market analysts put it at around
three million tonnes.The FAO Monitor notes that ‗affordable prices‘ in the non-basmati segment are
expected to keep 2013 shipments from Pakistan at three million tones and the outlook for 2014 is seen
‗dampened‘ by prospects of intense competition for markets.Next year, Pakistan‘s exports would be further
constrained if reports of flood-related losses in the basmati producing areas are confirmed. As a result, the
FAO anticipates Pakistan to ship 2.9 million tonnes in 2014, which would be three per cent below the current
2013 forecast.
The per acre yield of Basmati rice in Pakistan has declined to 32 maunds from 48 maunds per acre over the
last five years, while India has developed seeds that produce over 50 maunds per acre. One maund is equal to
about 38 kilogrammes.Unless Pakistan develops its research and produces better yielding seeds, it will
remain out-competed. The Chinese and the Thais and others have also done the same. Pakistan annually
produces 6.5 million tonnes of rice but in 2012-2013 the output was six million tonnes. Usually, the
production comprises 40 per cent of Basmati (fine) variety and 60 per cent of coarse varieties.
Rice ranks as second amongst the staple foodgrain crops in Pakistan but it is also a major source of foreign
exchange earnings. Rice accounts for 2.7 per cent of the value added in agriculture and 0.6 per cent of
GDP.Pakistan‘s traditional export markets for rice include United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and
Iran. The price of basmati rice has increased by 15 per cent due to increase in tariffs of electricity and gas.
Besides, the frequent use of diesel-generators also causes an increase in operational cost.In the last fiscal
year exports were five per cent less than the previous year‘s 3.7 million tonnes.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

The decline was mainly due to 35 per cent reduction in the export of Basmati rice which stood at about
630,035 tonnes compared to 968,942 tonnes exported in the previous fiscal year. Exports to major traditional
buyers of Basmati rice declined sharply in the year.The long grain rice goes to countries like Kenya,
Madagascar, Mozambique, Malaysia and China. Some traditional importers of Pakistan‘s basmati are now
moving towards India because of competitive price and quality.The FAO report says that in parts of Asia
adverse weather has badly affected rice production. Global paddy production in 2013, which was expected to
outpace 2012 production, has been revised downward by some five million tonnes to 741.4 million tonnes.
One can notice deterioration of prospects particularly in China, Pakistan and the Philippines, which were hit,
in recent months, by erratic climatic events, including storms and typhoons.

Nigeria: Free Trade Zones - FG Goes After Rice Smugglers
BY ISAAC AIMURIE AND KINGSLEY ALU, 16 DECEMBER 2013

The federal government has disclosed that government officials who may have colluded with importers and
their agents at the country's Free Trade Zones in violating the rules guiding the facilities would face severe
sanctions.Speaking at the 2013 workshop for journalists at the weekend in Abuja, Director- General of NEPZA,
Mr. Oluwagbemiga Kuye, said the agency was looking into the allegation that some importers and their agents
were using the free trade zones to import rice into the country without paying the 110 per cent duty on the
product.According to him, erring investors would face the right sanctions.
He said the outcome of investigation carried out by the agency was yet to be made public, but assured that the
agency would not allow the concept to suffer abuse. "We will look at the gazette setting up TINAPA in Calabar
to protect it from abuse.Recall that the Nigeria Customs Service alleged recently at a Senate public hearing that
the nation was losing huge revenue through smuggled items like rice, brought into the country through free
trade zones.Meanwhile, a new visa regime that would allow investors to obtain their visas at the point of entry
has been put in place by the federal government.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga , who made this disclosure at the workshop
said prospective investors could now go online, register, pay the fee and bring the document at the point of
entry. The minister said the effort was to ease the stress and time it takes to secure visa to Nigeria by a
prospective investor.He also disclosed that all Nigerian embassies now have a trade and investment desk,
adding that arrangements have also been concluded by the federal government to set up eight regional trade and
investment offices with the first one already in Beijing , China."The first one is in Beijing. The second one is
going to be in Abu Dhabi, the third in Brazil, and the fourth in the United States. Their job is to answer the
queries, provide information, make sure the people there know what we are doing in the country and make sure
we are able to attract investments from those locations," he said.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

He further hinted that the federal government was at the moment, examining laws affecting investments in the
country."We have an insolvency bill going to the National Assembly. We have anti-trust and consumer
protection bills going to the National Assembly, which I'm backing up with a policy so that we can start
implementing even before parliament acts. So these are some of the initiatives we are doing to make sure that
we have the right environment for investors," he added.He also said that the government was in the process of
enacting a competition and consumer protection law that would enable businesses to operate more effectively in
the Nigerian market place.According to him, this was to ensure that appropriate safeguards were put in place to
protect investors and consumers.

Rice price hike blamed on exporting countries
ocks the Kingdom are abundant but the price is up and traders blame exporting countries for the increase.

RIYADH: ARAB NEWS
Published — Saturday 14 December 2013
Last update 15 December 2013 2:44 pm

Powdered milk and rice prices have
increased by 23 and 30 percent in the
Kingdom, local media reported, quoting
dealers and the food price index (FPI)
released by the Ministry of Commerce and
Industry on its website.According to the
index, the price of a 40 kg bag of rice costs
between SR256.95 and SR291.75, and the
price of a 2.5 kg can of powdered milk
between SR63.26 and SR75.87, a local daily
reported.Meanwhile, dealers said imported
commodities constitute 80 percent of the
overall consumer products market in the
Kingdom. Dealers said the prices of certain
brands of powdered milk and rice rose this
month by 23 and 30 percent, resulting in consumers buying in bulk and cheaper alternatives.The top seller has been
10 kg bags of rice, with prices rocketing from SR55 to SR72 in a span of five months. A rice dealer who preferred to
remain anonymous, said rice prices increased by 30 percent because the exporting countries raised them this
year.The prices of popular types of powdered milk went up to SR80 per 2.5 kg pack compared to the previous price
of SR62, while other alternative types are sold between SR55 and SR62 per pack.The ministry of commerce food
price index fixed prices of different types of rice in the Madinah Province at SR234, SR265.95, and SR291.75 per 40
kg bag based on the quality of the product.Adil Al-Mazaini, one of the biggest rice dealers in the province, said the
rising prices of food have created concern among consumers and dealers.Mohamed Al-Shalaan, a rice dealer, said
prices are rising because some Indian rice companies have monopolized the trade.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

FG, Kaduna govt to train 300,000 farmers on rice production
December 16, 2013 | Filed under: Agricultural Business | Author: Editor

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Kaduna State government said it would
train 300,000 farmers to boost rice production.The minister, Akinwunmi Adesina, represented by the director,
State Agricultural Development Programme, Tijani Isiaku, said this during one-day training for farmers on rice
production.Adesina said the training was aimed at equipping both large and small scale farmers on modern
technique in rice production.―What the Federal Ministry of Agriculture is trying to do is to encourage farmers to
boost rice production through the use of modern technique, which will yield more production massively.‖He
said the state had the second largest number of registered rice farmers, and advised others to register to benefit
from loan, training and assistance that would promote exportation.
The minister decried the high quantity of rice imported into the country, adding that efforts were in place to
promote rice production for exportation, increase in revenue and job creation.Also, the assistant director, in
charge of rice, in the ministry, Andrew Ikadeunu, said the government target was that by 2014, the nation would
be self-sufficient.Ikadeunu added that by 2015, it would start exportation on rice production.He urged farmers
to participate in the Federal Government programmes on availability of rice production equipment at very low
interest rates to boost production, reduce cost of production and generate more money.
A lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Ahmad Ibrahim, said the training would focus on rice value chain
– production, processing, utilisation, marketing and storage of rice.―We have to produce a product that
competes with any part of the world; most of the rice that is imported into this country is mostly rice that has
been in storage for long.―Those countries do not like it, and then they sell it to us very cheap, we import it, and
then we feed our people with it.―That is why some of the rice smell, they are rancid, but yet our people are
consuming,‖ he said.

Rice mills in Karnataka to shut from tomorrow
Protest against government’s move on levy procurement for Anna Bhagya scheme
The HinduThe Government‘s move on procurement of levy rice is opposed by the rice millers association.Rice
mills across the State will shut indefinitely from Monday in protest against the State Cabinet‘s decision to
procure 5 lakh tonnes of levy rice before March 31 next to meet the requirements of the Anna Bhagya
scheme.Karnataka State Rice Millers‘ Association working president N.R. Vishwaradhya told presspersons here
on Saturday that the government used to procure an average of about 1.25 lakh tonnes of rice annually so far,
and the sudden hike in quantum was ―flawed and unreasonable.‖
‘Unscientific’

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

He said that while the government had fixed a ―temporary‖ target of 5 lakh tonnes till March, the total quantum
a year would work out to 13.5 lakh tonnes. The price fixed for procurement, Rs. 2,400 a quintal, was also
―unscientific‖, he claimed.
‘Erroneous assumption’
Association secretary N. Srinivas Rao argued that the quantum fixed was
based on the ―erroneous assumption‖ that Karnataka produces 54 lakh
tonnes of rice a year, while the actual production was between 15 lakh
tonnes and 20 lakh tonnes a year when there are two crops. ―This, in effect,
means that we will have to run mills exclusively to provide levy rice to the
government,‖ he added. Mr. Rao said there were also flaws in calculating
running costs, such as the quantum of electricity required.
Unilateral decision
Association treasurer Kogundi Bakkeshappa said the government had taken
the decision on pricing and quantum unilaterally, ignoring the pleas of millers to hold consultations before
arriving at a decision.―We met the government 28 times in the last three months, but the government did not
have the courtesy to even talk to us,‖ he said.The association has put forward a set of six demands, which also
includes relaxation in the stock limits set by the government for mills and exemption for Sona Masuri variety of
rice from the levy regime.
Keywords: Anna Bhagya scheme, Karnataka rice mills protest, Karnataka State Rice Millers‘ Association, rice
production in Karnataka

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+92 321 369 2874

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