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Slow Paddy Procurement Leads to Distress Sale
State of Minnesota to release study on sulfate and wild rice
Thailand fails to achieve rice export target
Govt's rice procurement down 8% at 16.39 million tonne
Govt to borrow THB130 billion more for rice support program
Thai govt seeks funds for rice scheme that fuelled protests
Surin farmers demand Govt to pay for pledged paddy
Farmers demand action on rice payments
Rice Farmers Hit By 40% Crop Lost
Thai state bank again seeks funds for troubled rice scheme
The next billion-dollar basmati?
Assam lines up 32 mini mills to process bumper rice yield
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-Jan 06
TABLE-India Grain Prices-Delhi-Jan 06
Govt’s rice procurement down 8% at 16.39 mn tonne
Costa Rican Rice Strike Suspended
Punjab millers hit by slow pace of rice procurement
Twofold rise in processed food, Basmati rice exports to Iran

NEWS DETAILS:
Slow Paddy Procurement Leads to Distress Sale
By Express News Service - BHUBANESWAR
Published: 07th January 2014 10:13 AM
Last Updated: 07th January 2014 10:13 AM

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Delay in lifting of paddy from the mandis by the procurement agencies of the State Government has led to distress sale
benefiting rice millers and private traders.According to reports from major paddy producing districts, huge stocks of
kharif paddy are lying in open in different mandis and farmers waiting for days to sell their produce had no clue when
their stock will be lifted by mandi functionaries.―Government agencies are in cahoots with the rice millers and the
deliberate delay in lifting the paddy will force the farmers to sell the paddy to the millers at cheaper rates,‖ said a ruling
BJD MLA of Kalahandi district.According to official reports, 10.23 lakh tonnes of paddy have been procured by the
Government till January 3 against 14.27 lakh tonnes during the corresponding period last year.
The State Government has set a target for the Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation (OSCSC) to procure three lakh
tonnes of rice (equivalent paddy of 4.41 lakh tonnes) from Bargarh district, considered the rice bowl of the State, during
the current kharif marketing season.The State public sector undertaking has procured four lakh tonnes of paddy against
5.18 lakh tonnes procured during the same period last year. The district yielded a bumper crop this kharif despite flash
floods due to cyclone induced heavy rain in few areas.Farmers of Kalahandi district are hit hard by the awfully slow pace
of paddy procurement. The OSCSC has procured nearly 87,000 tonnes of paddy against 1.52 lakh tonnes during this
period last year.This is despite the fact that 122 Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS) are engaged in the
district for procurement. Initially, 74 PACS were selected for procurement in the district.The State run corporation has
been procuring paddy through 2420 PACS in all districts.
The PACS are paid two per cent of the total proceeds towards mandi handling operations.Similar is the situation in
Sambalpur and Subarnapur, the two other major paddy producing districts in Western Odisha.One lakh tonne of paddy has
been procured in Sambalpur against 1.45 lakh tonne during the same period last year while in Subarnapur, 85,000 tonnes
have been procured against a target of 1.47 lakh tonnes.The Phailin affected Ganjam district is yet to open its account. The
district lost its entire kharif crop to the devastating cyclone followed by subsequent flood.

State of Minnesota to release study on sulfate and wild rice
On the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation -- Wild rice, the iconic grain that grows across much of the northern
half of the state, is at the center of a contentious debate over mining and the environment.
By: Dan Kraker, Minnesota Public Radio News
Leonard Petite Sr. and William Dufault Sr. scoop wild rice
Leonard Petite Sr. and William Dufault Sr. scoop wild rice into a bag for later processing. Both men have
harvested wild rice on the reservation since they were teenagers, for over 40 years. Credit: Dan Kraker/MPR
News
On the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation -- Wild rice, the iconic grain that grows across much of the northern
half of the state, is at the center of a contentious debate over mining and the environment.A 40-year-old state
law limits how much of a mining byproduct called "sulfate" can be discharged into wild rice producing waters.

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Prompted by mining industry concerns that the standard is too stringent, the state has been giving it another
look and will release results of its two-year study today.
For members of the state’s Indian tribes, wild rice is sacred.Jim Northrup, who
has harvested wild rice on Perch Lake on the Fond du Lac reservation for over
half a century said the grain called "manomin" in Ojibwe, is a gift from the
Creator that led his people to first settle here."The old stories said we'd move
west until we came to a spot where food grew on the water," Northrup said.
"And that perfectly describes manomin. It’s become our identity now, it’s who
we are."Wild rice is now part of all of Minnesota's identity. It's even the official
state grain.
The plant's significance helped lead to a 1973 state law to protect it from sulfate pollution, a form of sulfur that
occurs naturally in the environment, that's also a byproduct of industrial activities like wastewater treatment and
mining.The law limits sulfate discharges into wild rice producing waters to 10 milligrams per liter during
periods when the rice may be susceptible to damage. It's based on research done by John Moyle, a biologist for
the Minnesota Department of Conservation in the 1930s and 40s that found that no large wild rice stands grew
in waters high in sulfate.But the standard went largely unenforced until 2010, when the Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency began to ask mining companies to document wild rice plants in lakes and streams where they
discharge wastewater. The following year the agency issued a permit that limited sulfate discharges at U.S.
Steel's Keewatin Taconite operation, known as Keetac.Nancy Schuldt, water resource policy director for the
Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, said high levels of sulfate have been measured in those waters,
and wild rice stands are disappearing."The poster child would be Sandy and Little Sandy lake, at the toe of the
Minntac Tailings basin," she said.
"A generation ago, band members from Grand Portage for instance, were having rice camps there, and there
would be familial gatherings and it was a meeting place. And now there's no rice to harvest."But mining
companies and some northern Minnesota lawmakers questioned the science behind the standard.In 2010 the
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce sued to overturn it, although the case was eventually dismissed by the courts.
Bills were introduced to weaken it. In the end, lawmakers set aside $1.5 million for a two-year study to
determine whether the standard is scientifically valid. The results will be released later today."The study
actually relies on multiple lines of investigation," said Shannon Lotthammer, director of the MPCA's
environmental analysis and outcomes division. She said scientists have gathered more field data from northern
Minnesota and have conducted experiments on wild rice plants in glass jars in the lab and in plants grown
outside in plastic tubs, to try to learn exactly what effect sulfate has on the plants.An important question is
whether sulfate by itself is the main culprit, Lotthammer said.Scientists theorize that hydrogen sulfide damages
wild rice.
In an oxygen-starved environment like the muck in wild rice lakes, bacteria essentially breathe in sulfate, and
exhale hydrogen sulfide, which can be toxic to plants."It’s sulfate then being converted into sulfide in the
sediment, and the sulfide affecting the wild rice through the roots,‖ explained Lotthammer.Today's results
should provide more clarity. But Lotthammer said it will take the MPCA until the end of February to answer a

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

key question:"Do we believe that there’s a reason to support, a scientific basis to support a change to the
standard, and if so, does it look like the standard should be higher or lower, based on this new information?"The
MPCA's decision is sure to be highly scrutinized, particularly by the mining industry.
"We just believe that a standard should be based on science, and that companies shouldn’t be required to invest
maybe hundreds of millions of dollars, until we have science backing up whatever the appropriate sulfate level
is for a standard to protect wild rice," said Frank Ongaro, executive director of Minnesota Mining. The industry
group represents copper-nickel mines like PolyMet, currently under environmental review.PolyMet officials say
they will meet the current standard.Supporters of the law argue it is based on sound science. Under the federal
Clean Water Act, the burden of proof is on MPCA to show scientific proof before changing the standard, said
Paula Maccabee, an attorney for WaterLegacy, a group that opposes the PolyMet proposal."I think that's what
we're counting on, is that, our laws don’t make it easy for political pressure to weaken water quality standards,"
she said.The MPCA will analyze study results for the next two months. In April the agency will begin a rulemaking process to address any recommended changes to the wild rice standard, and to designate which waters
are subject to the sulfate limits.
Tags: sports, updates, minnesota, environment

Thailand fails to achieve rice export target
Saturday, 04 January 2014 By MCOT –

Thailand's Commerce Ministry has projected this year’s rice
exports at no less than eight million tonnes despite a failure to
achieve the export target at 8-8.5 million tonnes last
year.Surasak Riangkrul, director general of the Foreign Trade
Department, said the department will penetrate present and new
markets especially in South Africa, Russia and several more
potential countries and hoped to achieve rice export growth of
19.8 per cent, or a total value of US$4.8 billion, this year.The
department will propose a new rice marketing plan to the next
government before pushing forward with rice sales in the global
market.He admitted lower-than-projected rice exports between
January and December 16 when 6.4 million tonnes were
shipped out to foreign buyers, at a value of $4.208 billion or an average $657 per tonne.The total export volume
was short of the projected 8-8.5 billion tonnes owing to the high price of Thai rice compared to competitors and
fierce competition in the global market, he said.

Dems form new policy design panel
Published: 7 Jan 2014 :Newspaper section: News

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

The Democrat Party has unveiled its 15-member policy committee to formulate policies for future
elections.Former Democrat deputy leader Korn Chatikavanij will chair the panel that consists of party members,
former MPs and academics.The members include former MPs Kasit Piromya, Peerayot Rahimmula and Thai
Rice Millers Association ex-president Nipon Wongtrangan, Mr Korn said.Mr Korn said the group will consider
policies aimed at national development.It will gather feedback from all sectors including academics and citizens
before consolidating the ideas into policies.Referring to economic policy, Mr Korn said measures to tackle
economic problems will be aimed at bolstering economic strength.The policy will include clear economic
indicators, including gross domestic product (GDP), public debt, household debt and income growth, he said.Mr
Korn said the panel set a timeframe of four to six months for drafting policy.
The policies will then be finalised to become the party's platform and it will be promoted for future polls, he
added.The Democrat Party said on Dec 21 it would boycott the Feb 2 poll but the party continues to develop
policy for elections down the track.Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday rejected claims he did not
pursue national reform when he was the prime minister from 2008 to 2011.He said he pushed for legislation
aimed at reducing economic disparities, such as a bill on land and property taxes.The bill, however, was not
pushed ahead by Yingluck Shinawatra's government, he said. Her government also turned away bills on
national savings and removing statute of limitations expiry dates for graft cases, he said.

Govt's rice procurement down 8% at 16.39 million tonne
By PTI | 6 Jan, 2014, 03.35PM ISTProcurement in eastern
and southern states was also delayed by late rains and is
expected to pick up this month, a senior Food Ministry
official said.ET SPECIAL:NEW DELHI: Government's rice
procurement is lagging behind by 8 per cent over last year at
16.36 million tonne so far in the 2013-14 marketing year due
to lower production estimate and relatively strong open
market prices. Food Corporation of India, government's nodal
procurement agency, had procured 17.78 million tonne rice in
the same period of 2012-13 marketing year (OctoberSeptember).
"Procurement is happening very slowly in most states as open market prices are relatively ruling strong due to
lower kharif crop estimate," a senior Food Ministry official said. Procurement in eastern and southern states was
also delayed by late rains and is expected to pick up this month, the official added. The rice production is
estimated to be lower at 92.32 million tonne during the kharif (summer) season of 2013-14, as against 92.76
million tonne in the year-ago season. Currently, spot prices of common grade rice are ruling in the range of Rs
1,835-3,750/quintal in major producing states, according to traders.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Of the total rice procured so far, FCI has purchased 8.1 million tonne in Punjab, 2.46 million tonne in
Chattisgarh, 2.39 million tonne in Haryana and 1.54 million tonne in Andhra Pradesh, as per FCI data. The
government has set 34.5 million tonne as target for rice procurement for 2013-14, as against 34.1 million tonne
last year. In 2011-12, it was a record 35.06 million tonne. Looking at the procurement trends, market experts are
of the view that total rice procurement could reach 32 million tonne.

Govt to borrow THB130 billion more for rice support program
Published on January 5, 2014 by TFP

BANGKOK, 5 January 2014 – The Public Debt Management Committee has approved the borrowing of 130
billion baht to finance the 2013/2014 rice support scheme following delayed payments to the farmers who have
joined in the program.Director of the Public Debt Management Office Chularat Sutheethorn said the 130billion-baht borrowing was in line with the Cabinet resolution on 3 September 2013 which approved 270 billion
baht for the 2013/2014 rice subsidy scheme. The scheme, starting since 1 October 2013, had so far accepted rice
totaling 100 billion baht from the farmers and partial payments had already been made by the Bank of
Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, the official said.The meeting between the Public Debt Management
Committee on Saturday also nodded to the restructuring of public debt for the year 2014 which will decrease the
public debt limit by five billion baht.
(NNT: Suwit Rattiwan)

Thai govt seeks funds for rice scheme that fuelled protests
Anti-government protesters blow whistles and hold placards during a rally at Silom road in central Bangkok yesterday.
Reuters/Bangkok

Thailand’s besieged government faces a major confidence
vote in financial markets next week when a state bank will
try to raise about $600mn in a domestic bond to fund a ricesubsidy scheme that has helped fuel the country’s political
crisis.The generous intervention scheme helped Prime
Minister Yingluck Shinawatra win power in a 2011 election
thanks to rural votes but hundreds of farmers, some unpaid
since October, have joined demonstrations since
November. More are considering joining protests next week
aimed at ousting her, disillusioned by the government’s
inability to reliably fund the controversial programme. ―The
20bn baht ($605.79mn) is not enough to pay the thousands
of farmers who are still waiting for their money and they
are getting angry and thinking about protesting,‖ said Prasit

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Boonchoey, head of the Thai Farmers Association. He said he attended anti-government rallies in November.
An attempt to raise money to meet late payments fell short in November after the Bank of Agriculture and
Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), which runs the scheme, managed to raise just half the amount it needed as
investors stayed away despite attractive terms. The bond could face a tough reception next week, when the
protesters plan to shut down Bangkok and force Yingluck out, seeking to install an appointed ―people’s
council‖ after rejecting the Feb 2 election she called in an attempt to defuse the crisis.
Any caretaker government would not be able to renew the rice scheme which runs until February, leaving big
policy decisions to the next elected government.Millions of farmers in the northeast remain loyal to Yingluck
and her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, who brought in cheap healthcare and other measures to help them when he
was in power until 2006, but farmers elsewhere may not be so solid. Thaksin was ousted by the military and
now lives in exile but he is widely seen as the power behind his sister’s government. Churarat Sutheethorn, head
of the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO), told Reuters the new tranche of the reopened three-year bond
would be auctioned on Jan 16.―It is part of the total 75bn baht in bonds we aimed to issue to fund the 2013/14
rice scheme,‖ she said, adding the bank could return to the debt market again in March to raise more funds.
A source at one of the arranging banks said the environment was even more difficult now than in
November.―Last time there was no violence, the situation was not so bad, there was no deadline then for the
upcoming elections.‖The source, who asked not to be identified, said the BAAC might have to cut the price and
offer a higher yield than November’s 3.53% to attract investors.Another local analyst agreed the yield would be
higher but said the government could put pressure on other state-owned banks to subscribe to the issue, which
will be guaranteed by the state.The Yingluck government won a landslide election in July 2011, helped by its
promise to pay farmers 15,000 baht per tonne of paddy, way above the market price. The scheme made Thai
rice uncompetitive in the export market and in 2012 Thailand lost its crown as the world’s top exporter, with
India taking over. The state amassed huge stockpiles which it is still struggling to sell.
Anti-Thaksin protesters say the scheme is corrupt and has helped wealthy farmers and regional politicians more
than the poor. It helped fuel opposition to Yingluck before the outbreak of street protests in November.The
BAAC, acting for the state, has spent up to 680bn baht buying rice and the scheme is expected to run up huge
losses if grain is eventually offloaded at market prices.The government has not put an official estimate on the
losses but industry insiders and some academics say they could be as high as 425bn baht.As a comparison, the
projected government budget deficit for fiscal 2013/14 is 250bn baht, about 1.9% of gross domestic product
(GDP).

Surin farmers demand Govt to pay for pledged paddy
Date : 6 มกราคม 2557
SURIN, 6 January 2014 (NNT) – A network of rice farmers in the northeastern province of Surin has staged a
protest to call on the government to disburse the money owed to 56,000 local farmers who placed their crops
under the rice pledging program three months ago. Led by the president of the Surin Provincial Farmers

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Council, more than 2,000 rice farmers from 17 districts of Surin gathered in front of the provincial hall to
demand payment for those who participated in the government’s rice pledging scheme for the 2013/2014 crop
year.
According to the protesters, after nearly 62,000 farmers pledged their crops three months ago, the government
has been able to pay only a small number of them. Up to 56,000 are yet to be paid, with over 5.5 billion baht
owed. It was claimed that there had been no clarifications from the government or related agencies as to which
financial source would be used to clear the overdue payment. The farmers, therefore, felt the need to take to the
streets and pressure the authorities to speed up the disbursement process. The protest leader also handed a letter
to the government via the provincial governor, threatening that if no money is received within two weeks, the
group would join other networks of farmers from across the country and converge on Bangkok.

Farmers demand action on rice payments
January 6, 2014 4:34 pm

Farmers have started to protest in many provinces over the delayed payments of the government's rice-pledging
scheme.Some disgruntled farmers have also threatened to block roads if their plight remains ignored. In Surin,
more than 5,000 farmers gathered in front of the provincial city hall and complained the problem had dragged
on for more than four months. Similar payment problems have been reported in other provinces. In Phichit,
farmers are calling on those in nearby provinces to join their protest to step up pressure on the government.
These farmers plan to block the Pluak Soong Intersection on the Asia Road in Phichit's 8 Wachirabarami
district.
The Nation

Rice Farmers Hit By 40% Crop Lost
January 6, 2014 • Author: Kha Hsu Nyar
Posted in Articles
Tags: flood, food shortage, Karen State

Farmers along the Done-Tha-Mi River face severe rice shortages this year due to wet season flooding.
Farmers along the Done-Tha-Mi River face severe rice shortages this year
due to wet season flooding.Farmers in Mon State and Karen State claim this
years rice harvest is almost less than half and blame floodwaters for the
shortage.Naw Ya Pu, a villager from Kya-Thaung-Seik in the eastern part of the
Done-Tha-Mi River in Hpa-An Township spoke to Karen News.―Our paddies
have produced less this year. We are down 40% on last years harvest. Our paddy
plants this year were tinted yellow not green. Most of the people around here will
have to buy-in rice this year.‖Naw Ya Pu said last years heavy rains damaged the

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rice plants and to add to the villagers troubles insect plagues also attacked the rice crop.Naw Ya Pu estimates
that one-acre of rice paddy produces 35 baskets, this year’s rice harvest produced less than 20 baskets.As many
as 30-villages from the eastern region of Done-Tha-Mi River, in Hpa-An Township, are facing a low rice yield
this year.A community elder from Kya-Thaung-Seik village told Karen News that last year’s flloding was the
worst she had witness.―We have had flooding before, but our paddies were not damaged as much as this. It is
the worst this time.‖Farmers said rice prices have risen this year, but they cannot take advantage of it as they
need the rice to feed their families.
Karen villages along the Done-Tha-Mi River earn their living by growing crops such as rice paddy, sesame
seeds, sugarcane, beans and seasonal vegetables.Villages affected by flooding included, Kya-Thaung-Seik
(east-west part), Pyin-Ma-Seik (east-west part) such as Kaw-Poe-Kho, Lay-Khaw-Hti, Htee-Pah-Doh-Khee,
Htaw-Klaw-Hta, Myit-Kyo, Thoo-Ka-Bee, Kyoe-Wine-Ywar-Gyi, Kyoe-Wine-Ywar-Lay, Lay-Kay, Min-Zaw,
Ta-Kay-Laung, Kyauk-Phya.

Thai state bank again seeks funds for troubled rice scheme
Monday, 06 January 2014 15:04
Posted by Parvez Jabri
BANGKOK: A Thai state-backed farm bank will issue a 20 billion baht ($606 million) bond next week in
another attempt to raise funds for the government's rice-buying scheme, which has run out of money because of
a failure to find buyers for the grain.The generous intervention scheme helped Prime Minister Yingluck
Shinawatra win power in a 2011 election but hundreds of farmers, some unpaid since October, have joined
demonstrations which began in November. More are considering joining protests next week aimed at ousting
her."The 20 billion baht is not enough to pay the thousands of farmers who are still waiting for their money and
they are getting angry and thinking about protesting," said Prasit Boonchoey, head of the Thai Farmers
Association. He told Reuters he attended anti-government rallies in November.The bond issue could face a
tough reception next week given the political uncertainty, with protesters planning to shut down Bangkok to
sabotage the upcoming election.Millions of farmers in the northeast remain loyal to Yingluck and her brother,
Thaksin Shinawatra, who brought in cheap healthcare and other measures to help them when he was in power
until 2006, but farmers elsewhere may not be so solid.

The next billion-dollar basmati?
VISHWANATH KULKARNI
HARISH DAMODARAN
Farmer Preetam Singh (middle) standing in his Pusa-1509 crop field along with its breeders A.K. Singh (left) and K.V. Prabhu.

Scientists, farmers and exporters are banking on a new variety
NEW DELHI, JAN. 5:

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

A decade
after
the
release of
Pusa-1121,
a
rice
variety that
accounts for
roughly
threefourths of
India’s $4
billion-plus
annual
basmati
exports,
farm
scientists
hope to replicate its success through yet another blockbuster.Pusa-1509, a new high-yielding basmati developed by the Indian
Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), was planted in around 5,000 hectares in the 2013 kharif season. ―I expect it to reach one
million hectares (mh) in the coming season, replacing a large part of the 1.4 mh now covered under Pusa-1121,‖ says Ashok K.
Singh, Project Leader (Rice) at IARI and the main breeder of Pusa-1509.
Shorter

maturity

According to Singh, who was also involved in developing Pusa-1121, the main advantage of the new variety is its maturing —
in just 115-120 days from the time of sowing in the nursery bed to harvesting the grain.―Both Pusa-1121 and Pusa Basmati-1
(an older improved basmati) take 140-145 days. Thirty days less time means farmers needn’t transplant the seedlings in the
peak mid-June summer.―They can do it in mid-July with the onset of the monsoon rains, saving 5-6 irrigations,‖ he pointed
out.Alternatively, they could raise an additional crop — say, a 60-day moong or green gram — between harvesting of wheat in
mid-April and transplanting Pusa-1509 in mid-July.
Higher yields
Moreover, the average paddy yields in Pusa-1509, at 25 quintals an acre, are more than the 20 quintals for Pusa-1121. The main
reason: a lower plant height of 80 cm as against 120 cm for Pusa-1121.―Lower height enables more fertiliser application. You
can apply 2-3 bags of urea in Pusa-1509 for the entire season.―Pusa-1121 cannot tolerate more than one bag. The plant will
simply lodge and the grains, too, may shatter or drop from the panicles,‖ Singh explained.Preetam Singh, a farmer from Urlana
Khurd in Haryana’s Panipat district, said that the 30-day early maturity and 25 per cent extra yield made Pusa-1509 an attractive
proposition.Also, since there is no lodging or grain-shattering, the entire crop can be harvested using combines.
―This time, I planted 28 acres of Pusa-1509 and 11 acres under Pusa-1121. From next season, I will stop Pusa-1121,‖ he
told Business Line.What about grain quality? ―Pusa-1509 scores over Pusa-1121 in aroma, but probably not as much as in
fluffiness and linear elongation on cooking.―The percentage of brokens on milling is also higher in Pusa-1509 for the raw white
rice, though not for the par-boiled rice that India predominantly exports,‖ said Anil Kumar Mittal, CMD of the Rs 2,100-crore
KRBL Ltd.But these minute quality parameter differences may not matter vis-à-vis the vastly superior returns for farmers from
growing Pusa-1509. ―Pusa-1121 may still survive, but Pusa-1509 will definitely be the farmer’s first choice,‖ he added.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

vishwanath.kulkarni@thehindu.co.in
damodaran.h@thehindu.co.in
(This article was published on January 5, 2014)

Keywords: Basmati, Pusa 121, farm scientists, exports

Assam lines up 32 mini mills to process bumper rice yield
Bikash Singh, ET Bureau Jan 4, 2014, 11.19AM IST

Tags:rice yield|rice production|Food Corporation|Assam Agricultural Marketing Board|Assam


(The rice mills will come…)

GUWAHATI: With Assam expecting a bumper production of rice
this year, the state government will soon set up around 32 mini rice
mills for processing the harvest. Assam's rice production is expected
to touch 60 lakh tonnes, almost 8 lakh tonnes more than the last
year's.The rice mills will come up in different areas with the state
government subverting the cost up to 50 per cent. Assam
Agriculture Minister Nilamoni Sen Deka said in fiscal year 2012-13
, the state produced over 52 lakh tonnes of rice and around 7 lakh
tonnes were surplus.This year, we are expecting 60 lakh tonnes of
rice." Despite a drought-like situation earlier in the season, the
situation improved later on. "The Food Corporation of India (FCI)
and the Assam Agricultural Marketing Board have readied 60 centres for procurement of rice," Deka said.The
minister said that in the absence of milling facility, rice from Assam is processed in Siliguri and Coach Bihar in
West Bengal, and in Bangladesh and is sold back in Assam.The cost of setting up a mini mill will be around Rs
16 lakh and the government will provide half of it as subsidy. Assam is focusing on the export variety of rice
like Kumol (soft) and red rice

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-Jan 06
Mon Jan 6, 2014 3:16pm IST
Nagpur, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Gram prices in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee
(APMC) showed weak tendency on lack of demand from local millers amid high moisture content
arrival. Easy condition on NCDEX, good supply from producing regions and easy condition in
Madhya Pradesh gram prices also affected sentiment, according to sources.
*

*

*

*

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FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Gram varieties moved down in open market on poor buying support from local traders
amid release of stock from stockists.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties reported down in open market in absence of buyers amid good overseas
supply. Reports about good arrival in Madhya Pradesh mandi also affected sentiment.
* Moong varieties reported strong in open market on good marriage season demand from
local traders amid thin supply from producing belts.
* In Akola, Tuar - 4,100-4,200, Tuar dal - 6,200-6,400, Udid at 4,800-5,100,
Udid Mogar (clean) - 5,700-6,000, Moong - 6,800-7,000, Moong Mogar
(clean) 8,200-8,400, Gram - 2,600-2,700, Gram Super best bold - 3,600-3,800
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
2,500-2,590
2,540-2,660
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
3,800-4,000
3,900-4,100
Gram Super Best
n.a.
Gram Medium Best
3,500-3,700
3,600-3,800
Gram Dal Medium
n.a.
n.a.
Gram Mill Quality
3,300-3,400
3,300-3,400
Desi gram Raw
2,800-2,900
2,850-2,950
Gram Filter Yellow
n.a.
n.a.
Gram Kabuli
7,800-10,200
7,800-10,200

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Gram Pink
7,700-8,100
7,700-8,100
Tuar Fataka Best
6,500-6,700
6,600-6,800
Tuar Fataka Medium
6,000-6,200
6,100-6,300
Tuar Dal Best Phod
5,700-5,900
5,900-6,100
Tuar Dal Medium phod
5,300-5,500
5,500-5,700
Tuar Gavarani
4,300-4,400
4,350-4,450
Tuar Karnataka
4,400-4,500
4,450-4,550
Tuar Black
7,000-7,100
7,000-7,100
Masoor dal best
5,300-5,400
5,300-5,400
Masoor dal medium
5,000-5,100
5,000-5,100
Masoor
n.a.
n.a.
Moong Mogar bold
8,600-8,800
8,500-8,700
Moong Mogar Medium best
7,900-8,200
7,800-8,000
Moong dal super best
7,300-7,600
7,200-7,600
Moong dal Chilka
6,800-7,000
6,700-6,900
Moong Mill quality
n.a.
n.a.
Moong Chamki best
6,200-7,000
6,000-6,800
Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 6,600-7,000
6,600-7,000
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,900-6,100
5,900-6,100
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)
4,700-5,000
4,700-5,000
Batri dal (100 INR/KG)
3,800-4,000
3,800-4,000
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)
3,000-3,100
3,000-3,100
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)
3,200-3,300
3,200-3,300
Watana White (100 INR/KG)
3,200-3,300
3,100-3,200
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,100-4,500
4,100-4,500
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)
1,750-1,850
1,750-1,850
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) 2,000-2,500
2,000-2,500
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,950-2,100
1,950-2,100
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a.
n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,600
3,200-3,600
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-2,900
2,700-2,900
Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG)
1,550-1,650
1,550-1,650
Wheat Best (100 INR/KG)
1,600-1,700
1,600-1,700
Rice BPT (100 INR/KG)
3,000-3,300
3,000-3,300
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG)
1,800-1,850
1,800-1,850

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Rice Swarna Best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,650
2,500-2,650
Rice Swarna Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,250-2,400
2,250-2,400
Rice HMT (100 INR/KG)
4,100-4,400
4,100-4,400
Rice HMT Shriram (100 INR/KG) 4,500-5,000
4,800-5,000
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 11,000-13,500
11,000-13,500
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 (85.1 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
17.1 degree Celsius (54.6 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : nil
FORECAST: Clear sky. Maximum and Minimum temperature likely to be around 28 and 16 degree
Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but
included in market prices.)

TABLE-India Grain Prices-Delhi-Jan 06
Mon Jan 6, 2014 3:11pm IST
TABLE-India Grain Prices - Delhi - Jan 06
Rates by Asian News International, New Delhi
Tel: 011 2619 1464
Indicative
Previous
Grains
opening
close
(in rupees per 100 kg unless stated)
---------------------------------------------------------Wheat Desi
2,000-3,000 2,000-3,000.
Wheat Dara
1,700-1,800 1,700-1,800.
Atta Chakki (per 10 Kg)
215-240
215-240.
Roller Mill (per bag)
1,750-1,900 1,760-1,900.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Maida (per bag)
1,880-1,980 1,900-2,000.
Sooji (per bag)
1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000.
Rice Basmati(Sri Lal Mahal) 12,050-14,500 12,050-14,500
Rice Basmati(Lal Quila) 12,000-14,400 12,000-14,400
Rice Basmati(Common)
8,500-9,500 8,000-9,000.
Rice Permal
2,100-2,400 2,100-2,400.
Rice Sela
2,850-3,000 2,850-3,000.
I.R.-8
1,850-2,000 1,850-2,000.
Gram
3,050-3,150 3,050-3,150.
Peas Green
3,350-3,650 3,350-3,650.
Peas White
2,800-3,000 2,800-3,000.
Bajra
1,300-1,650 1,300-1,500.
Jowar white
1,550-2,250 1,500-2,200.
Maize
1,400-1,600 1,400-1,600.
Barley
1,350-1,425 1,350-1,425.
Guwar
3,300-3,900 3,300-3,900.
Source: Delhi grain market traders.

Govt’s rice procurement down 8% at 16.39 mn tonne
PTI
NEW DELHI, JAN 6:

Government’s rice procurement is lagging behind by 8 per cent over last year at 16.36 million tonne so far in
the 2013-14 marketing year due to lower production estimate and relatively strong open market prices.Food
Corporation of India, government’s nodal procurement agency, had procured 17.78 million tonne rice in the
same period of 2012-13 marketing year (October-September).―Procurement is happening very slowly in most
states as open market prices are relatively ruling strong due to lower kharif crop estimate,‖ a senior Food
Ministry official said.Procurement in eastern and southern states was also delayed by late rains and is expected
to pick up this month, the official added.The rice production is estimated to be lower at 92.32 million tonne
during the kharif (summer) season of 2013-14, as against 92.76 million tonne in the year-ago season.
Currently, spot prices of common grade rice are ruling in the range of Rs 1,835-3,750/quintal in major
producing states, according to traders.Of the total rice procured so far, FCI has purchased 8.1 million tonne in
Punjab, 2.46 million tonne in Chattisgarh, 2.39 million tonne in Haryana and 1.54 million tonne in Andhra
Pradesh, as per FCI data.The government has set 34.5 million tonne as target for rice procurement for 2013-14,
as against 34.1 million tonne last year. In 2011-12, it was a record 35.06 million tonne.Looking at the
procurement trends, market experts are of the view that total rice procurement could reach 32 million tonne.
(This article was published on January 6, 2014)

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Keywords: Government, rice procurement, down

Costa Rican Rice Strike Suspended
Saturday, January 4th, 2014 | Filed under Costa Rica Headlines

The Costa Rica News (TCRN) – The rice industry of Costa Rica
suspended its intentional strike demonstration on Monday, January 6
because the President of the Republic, Laura Chinchilla, agreed to meet
on Tuesday, January 7, at 6 pm, at the Presidential House.According to
Carlos Chaves, president of the National (Conarroz) Rice Corporation, the
meeting will focus on discussion of the application of a safeguard
measure of protection as the country’s food security is at risk of
dependence on third party markets to the massive influx of milled rice
coming from South America.Chaves said the detention of milled rice
generates distortion in the domestic market for the rice industry and
endangers about 60 thousand families employed by the rice industry in
rural areas.On the repeal of Article 5 of Decree No. 37699 MEIC, which
removes any price regulation scheme for rice, the Conarroz president was clear in pointing out that this issue
has never been on the negotiating table.―We do not accept any proposal related to a decree removing all pricing
schemes for rice,‖ Chaves said.And for the insurance representing rice farmer’s land, he said the agricultural
insurance premiums increased abusively.―The increase amounts to more than 96,000 colones per hectare
compared to the previous year.‖According to Conarroz, 2013 closed with an import that was around 32,000
metric tons of milled rice for the Southern Cone, which represents about 14,000 hectares under purchase to the
domestic producer.
The Costa Rica News (TCRN)
San Jose Costa Rica

Punjab millers hit by slow pace of rice procurement
Once a seasonal business, rice processing has now become an annual occupation
Komal Amit Gera | Chandigarh
January 6, 2014 Last Updated at 21:40 IST

Punjab’s rice mills, mostly small and medium-sized units, are running at far below their full capacity, with
entrepreneurs attributing this state of affairs to the government's policies. Low levels of rice procurement by the
Central and state government agencies are forcing them to operate at low capacity, entrepreneurs
complain.Punjab, which contributes a large share to the Central pool for the public distribution system (PDS),

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

has a total of about 3,050 small rice processing mills. These mills process non-basmati rice procured by the
Central and state government agencies meant for the PDS.

The millers are paid processing charges and also get the by-products of
paddy, such as paddy husk and bran.The president of the Rice Millers
Association of Punjab, Tarsem Saini, told Business Standard that Punjab's
mills have the capacity to process one lakh tonnes of rice a day, but the
government agencies have been lifting only 50,000 tonnes daily across the
state, forcing the mills to operate at half capacity."The slow movement of
grain from the mills makes us slow down the processing.
While we can finish the entire stock of 12.5 million tonnes by February 28,
we have to stretch it to August," said Saini.He added: "We met senior government officials to apprise them that
due to the rise in the moisture content after February, the grain starts deteriorating and that is a loss to the
millers. But we did not get any relief. Some affluent millers have installed sortex machines (machines that can
segregate damaged and coloured grain from healthy grain) but very few can afford this."Sushil Singla of
Lakshmi Rice Mills, Samana, lamented that there has been no upgradation in the assessment method for rice,
which is done manually. Last year, a substantial chunk of rice was rejected by Food Corporation of India
officials, on grounds of "pinpoint damage".
Even the Panjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, has found through studies that pinpoint-sized black spots on
rice (or pinpoint damage) are evidence of excess iron and not signs of damage. But there is no clarity from any
government agency on this.Due to the annual hike in the power tariff and the consistent rise in wage rates, costs
are steadily going up, but there has been no revision in processing charges for the past eight years. It is still Rs
15 per quintal, Singla added. The millers bear an additional maintenance cost of Rs 7-8 per quintal due to
delayed processing.Millers in the state speculate that as a result of the growing paddy acreage in the Eastern
states - Orissa, West Bengal and even Chhattisgarh - rice-consuming states are now less dependent on Punjab.
So, from 2010-11 on, the rice off-take from Punjab has slowed down. The shortage of staff in FCI is also,
according to the millers, slowing the movement of rice from Punjab.
The millers remained on strike last month, to make the government aware of issues relating to rice processing.
They resumed operations only early this month after an assurance from the state government.Rice processing
used to be a seasonal business, but has become an annual occupation due to lack of correct policies.Gurdeep
Cheema, the president of the Patiala Rice Millers Association, hopes that this is only a phase and that business
will revive soon. The implementation of the Food Security Act, recently passed by Parliament, will trigger
higher demand for food grain, and paddy processing in Punjab will see its fortunes restored, he hopes.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Twofold rise in processed food, Basmati rice exports to Iran
In value terms, India's Basmati rice exports to Iran increased by 137%, or nearly three folds

Namrata Acharya | Kolkata
January 4, 2014 Last Updated at 21:05 IST
India’s
agriculture
and
processed food exports to Iran have more than
doubled in quantum and value terms in the last
one year, mainly on account of an exceptional
surge inBasmati rice exports. If the trend
continues, this year’s export of Basmati to Iran
could be the highest.In value terms, Basmati rice
exports to Iran increased by 137 per cent (nearly
threefold rise), while in terms of quantity it
increased by 77 per cent, between April and
September 2013 and 2014, data from Agricultural
and
Processed
Food
Products
Export
Development Authority (Apeda) show.Between
April and September 2013, total food exports to Iran was valued at Rs 7,104 crore, against Rs 3,043 crore in the
same period last year, a rise of nearly 133 per cent, according to Apeda. In terms of quantity, the amount of
exports increased by almost 104 per cent between April and September this year over the corresponding period
last year.―This year there has been a great surge in Basmati exports to Iran. While the quality of rice exported
from India has improved, there could be other reasons for the rise in exports. It might be the reason that the
Iranian government wants to stock up their inventory,‖ said R Sundaresan, executive director, All-India Rice
Exporters Association.After US sanctions against Iran, India’ export to that country had suffered a setback.
However, with Iran being a key oil supplier to India, both countries reached a new payment mechanism in 2012.
Under this, 45 per cent of India’ crude payments were made in rupees through UCO Bank. The rupee resources
were being used for making payments for Indian exports. Thus, with Iran unable to procure foodgrains from
other countries, India’s rice export has witnessed a surge in volume.About 85 per cent of India’s agriculture and
processed food exports to Iran are on account of Basmati.However, India’s exports might be affected by the
recent deal of six major countries (the US, France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia) with Iran to ease Iran’s
nuclear plans in lieu of temporary relief over sanctions.
For Advertising SPECS & RATES :Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com

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