31st january,2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

31st January , 2014

TOP Contents - Tailored for YOU
Latest News Headlines…







 Farm Bill to affect rice farmers, provide some help
for drought
 120,000 bags of Viet rice bought by NFA now in Bicol
 American rice could fill Super Bowl stadium six times
 Rice areas to cultivate other crops
 Commerce Minister: Chinese company might tear up
rice purchase contract made with Thailand
 BOT chief urges sale of rice from govt stockpiles to
fund payment to farmers
 Govt sells 860,000 tonnes in January:
Niwatthumrong
 Bridge loan auction for rice scheme met with noshow by banks
 BOT chief urges sale of rice from govt stockpiles to
fund payment to farmers
TABLE-India Grain Prices-Delhi-Jan 31
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-Jan 31
Price stability top priority of Government: Ishaq Dar
Antiquated rice mills hurting consumers, says Sinag
Arkansas’s Rick Crawford spreading the word about U.S. rice

Daily Rice E-Newsletter by Rice Plus Magazine www.ricepluss.com
News and R&D Section mujajhid.riceplus@gmail.com
Cell # 92 321 369 2874

NEWS DETAILS:
Farm Bill to affect rice farmers, provide some help for drought
By HEATHER HACKING/MediaNews Group and Democrat staff
CREATED: 01/31/2014 12:30:48 AM PST

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The House of Representatives Wednesday passed the 939-page Farm Bill, with the Senate
expected to do the same next week.As California heads into a harsh planting season amidst a drought, the Farm Bill
will help.Rayne Pegg, manager of the California Farm Bureau Federation, said the bill contains a number of
provisions that aid livestock producers harmed by weather disaster, including cattle, honeybees and farmed fish.
Some provisions are retroactive.A tree assistance program is also available for disasters including drought, fire,
freeze and earthquake, Pegg noted.For farmers of staple crops, including rice, wheat, corn and soy, the farm bill does
away with direct payments.
For Yolo County, rice was a $60 million industry in 2012, according the the latest Yolo County Agricultural Crop
report. In that year, there was 40,561 acres harvested for 157.912 tons. That amount was actually less than in 2011,
when $58.1 million of rice was sold off 42,476 acres, for 175,426 tons."It is a new day growing rice in the
Sacramento Valley, said Tim Johnson, president of the California Rice Commission.In the past, growers "could
count on every year getting some payment on production of a crop."Instead, growers will need to choose between a
revenue protection program or a price loss program. Johnson explained that this would set a floor of $16.10 per 100
pounds of rice, and applies to 85 percent of acres.Right now, the average cost to produce 100 pounds of rice in
California is $19, according to UC Cooperative Extension, Johnson said.Growers will need to choose one program
or the other for five years, he said.Growers of all crops, including commodities or specialty crops, can also buy crop
insurance, which is subsidized by the federal government.But this insurance won't be available until 2015, which
won't help with the upcoming crop season.Johnson said a lot of number crunching will be done to make decisions.
The Rice Commission is working to create online calculators for growers.Funding for specialty crops, including nuts
and nurseries in California, includes funding for research and marketing, Pegg of the California Farm Bureau said.
The bill also "recognizes that there are risks in diseases being introduced into our livestock herds."Funding will also
likely include research labs, with UC Davis on the list.Help with marketing farm products overseas amounting to
$200 million is also included, Pegg said."It's a huge bill for conservation," Pegg continued.Many landowners work
through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, which pays incentives for voluntary land practices.Food
stamps were among the big issues with the bill's passage. The Senate and House went back and forth battling these
numbers.In the end, $8 billion has been cut from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program over the next 10
years.Most of that savings comes from states that tie eligibility for food stamps to heating bill programs, the
Associated Press reported. The cuts are estimated to reduce SNAP payments by $90 a month for about 850,000
households.The bill also prohibits the Agriculture Department from spending money on ads to recruit food stamp
beneficiaries. Also out are illegal immigrants and college students.The full bill is nearly $1 trillion, with an estimated
$16.6-$23 billion over 10 years vs. the 2008 Farm Bill.The bill also restores taxes paid to counties for government

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

land.The bill passed the House 251-166. Both Northern SacramentoValley congressmen -- John Garamendi, DFairfield, and Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale -- voted for the bill in the House.

120,000 bags of Viet rice bought by NFAnow in Bicol
By Mar S. Arguelles
Inquirer Southern Luzon
9:27 pm | Friday, January 31st, 2014

LEGAZPI CITY—Port workers started unloading on Monday at least 120,000 bags, or 6,000 metric tons, of
rice imported from Vietnam that arrived on Saturday at Port of Legazpi, said an official of the National Food
Authority (NFA).Nelsie Alcantara, NFA spokesperson, said the rice shipment consigned to NFA-Bicol was on
board MV Vinh An, a Vietnamese vessel that was docked at the Legazpi port on Saturday.Alcantara, in a phone
interview on Monday, said the unloading of the 120,000 bags of 50-kilogram white Vietnam rice started only on
Monday after the cargo officer of the vessel refused to unload the cargo because of bad weather.She said,
though, that she did not know how much the imported rice cost.Alcantara, however, told the Inquirer that the
NFA sells rice to accredited retailers at P1,250 per bag for the regular milled variety and P1,800 per bag for the
well-milled variety.
Alcantara said that after unloading the shipment, the rice cargo would
be deposited at the NFA warehouse here and the 120,000 bags would
be allocated to provinces in the region.She said the provinces of
Catanduanes and Masbate would each get 24,000 bags; Albay
province, 22,000; Camarines Sur province, 20,000, and Sorsogon and
Camarines Norte provinces would each get 15,000.She said the
shipment was part of the government‘s rice importation from Vietnam
in 2013. Bicol had been allocated 600,000 bags last year.Salvador
Ruivivar, Bureau of Customs operations chief, said in an interview that after a thorough check of import
documents presented by the shipper, customs examiners found these to be ―perfectly in order.‖The bureau, he
said, issued a permit to unload the cargo and another to transport the rice from the port to its different
destinations.Ruivivar said the unloading of the shipment would take five to six days depending on the weather.
―Rice cargo is not unloaded when there‘s rain,‖ he said.

American rice could fill Super Bowl stadium six times
The Super Bowl of rice – 9 million tons
Jan. 30, 2014USA RiceViewer Photo Galleries,

Did you know American farmers grow more than 9 million tons of rice each year?

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

That‘s enough rice to completely fill the Super Bowl's MetLife Stadium six times.
American rice is grown in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas.

Rice areas to cultivate other crops
VietNamNet Bridge – Minister of Agriculture and Rural

Development Cao Duc Phat spoke with Thoi bao Kinh Te Viet Nam

(Viet
Nam
Economic
Times)
about
changes
in
agricultu
re and
rural
developm
ent in
2014.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

The ministry has a plan to shift a part of the country's rice areas to cultivate other plants. Can you
provide more details about the plan?
In 2013, the country had total rice planting areas of 7.9 million hectares and 1,157ha of corn. We have had too
much rice, while having to import nearly 4 million tonnes of corn and soya yearly. So, around 130,000ha of rice
will be shifted to cultivation of other crops, mostly corn and soya.Despite reductions of rice panting areas, the
agriculture sector will expand establishing model rice fields with a scale area of between 200,000 – 250,000ha
using appropriate rice varieties for export.Connections between enterprises and farmers would be boosted in
rice consumption in the Hong (Red) River Delta and Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta areas. It is estimated that the
country's total rice cultivation area in the three crops would reach 7.6 million hectares with rice output of
around 43.4 million tonnes.This year, the country will expand corn planting areas to 1.23 million hectares, an
increase of 73,000 hectares compared to last year.New corn varieties providing high productivity and some
gene-changing corn varieties will be put into production, in combination with intensive farming in an effort to
gain an output of 5.66 million tonnes.
How will the change be implemented?
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued instructions that help localities, and farmers to
flexibly shift crop plants in an effort to earn higher incomes and maintain the ability to maintain rice production
in the long term.Further, each locality must research and draft its own strategy and master plan for domestic
animal and crop plantings in the area.Districts and communes could draft their master plans for rice and corn
areas, but cannot exactly direct domestic animal and crop planting that farmers must raise or cultivate.
The State is responsible to provide corn varieties and technical support in order to help farmers gain higher
profits from corn.So the ministry's research units will continue to select good varieties that were introduced by
international companies.Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung recently urged the agriculture sector to begin
planting genetically modified corn varieties.The ministry is also perfecting legal barriers in efforts to take full
advantage of genetically modified corn varieties with high yield.
What measures are being taken to help the animal husbandry sector escape from its existing standstill?
During recent years, the ministry had a direction that focused on industrial, farm breeding and reduction of
household breeding.More than 2 million households that gave up breeding have been living in difficulties due to
their income sources only depending upon growing rice.We have believed that a breeding factory model should
be seriously considered, while conforming with the country's conditions and situation, since this model might
make millions of farm households become jobless in Viet Nam.The ministry has adjusted this direction with a
focus on creating conditions to develop both industry and household breeding.In an effort to handle difficulties,
we've had to ask the Government for value added tax reductions and exemptions in foodstuff for cattle and
breeding farmers, because the tax has contributed an increase of VND1,000 per kilo in production prices.I think
that there is a solution for handling the situation by setting up a direct connection between foodstuff producers
and farmers. Some models have shown success when foodstuff did not have a tax placed on them.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Is the direction for limiting the country's tra fish farming areas and households a remedy for saving the
tra fish farming sector?
The tra fish sector's paradox was very clear, because tra fish farmers have suffered losses due to low selling
prices, despite the country's tra fish exports making up 95 per cent of the world market. Many localities
requested to limit numbers of tra fish breeders and areas.After monitoring this sector for many years, I think that
it is not the farmer, but the business sector that should be blamed for the existing situation.The tra fish farming
sector's prestige and effectiveness were destroyed due to the weakness in business management and traders.A
tighter regulation on tra fish production, processing and exports has been issued recently, and is expected to
handle existing shortcomings.
What do you say about the field of science, technology and training for farmers, that has been seen as a
lever for increasing farmer's incomes?
Among measures for the agriculture sector's restructuring, we must focus activities on science and
technology.This year, we asked the Ministry of Finance to cut out VND35 billion (US$1.66 million) from State
Budget spending for scientific research in the agriculture field.We will cut out around 100 petty projects and
science and technology activities would be placed on order for agriculture production development.We also
recently cut down agriculture extension programmes from 100 to 40 due to the weak effect of job training. The
ministry will organise special meetings to discuss the improved performance of training programmes.
Source: VNS

Tags:Rice,enterprises,farmers,incomes,

Commerce Minister: Chinese company might tear up rice purchase
contract
made
with
Thailand
BANGKOK, 1 February 2014 (NNT) - Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisal has told the press that the
Thai government’s Chinese trade partner is concerned about its rice trade with Thailand and might call off the rice deal
after the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) launched a probe into the rice pledging scheme.

The minister on Friday said the Pei Ta Hwang company, Thailand‘s Government-to-Government trade partner
in the rice support program, was concerned that its one-million-ton rice purchase contract with the Thai
government might later cause problems.He concluded that the company‘s posibility to cancel the contract was
mainly due to the investigation into the program by the NACC.In January this year, the government had already
sold one million tons of rice in the rice pledging program, the minister said.
The government once announced that the sale of stockpiled rice would be done under a G2G (government to
government) arrangement via a Chinese company called GSSG Import & Export Corporation, whose sole
appointed agent in Thailand is Mr. Natthanit Sojirakul, a.k.a. 'Palm' who is the personal assistant of Udonthani

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

MP Rapheephan Phongrueangrong, wife of red shirt leader Arisman Phongrueangrong.Mr. Natthanit in tern
issued a formal letter appointing as his representative Mr. Nimol Rakdee, who is the right hand man of Sia
Piang.It was Mr. Nimol Rakdee's job purchase rice from the government under the G2G scheme via the
Department of Foreign Trade. Sia Piang then takes the rice which was sold at a price below market rates due to
the fact that there was no public auction as per G2G regulations, and sells them to the rice mills at market
rates.The government loses money once because Sia Piang pockets the difference between the G2G price and
the market rates.
The rice mills then sell the rice back to the government, causing the government to lose money the twice
because the government is obliged to buy the rice at 40% above the market rate.It is probably not negligence or
coincidence that causes the government loses money in this way. More likely because Sia Piang (circled) is a
close associate of Thaksin. Selling the rice under a G2G scheme (to avoid a public tender) is actually a scheme
to sell the rice to corporations belonging to people close to Thaksin Shinawatra. And don't forget, the money
that was lost two-fold in this way is none other than our very own tax money.

BOT chief urges sale of rice from govt stockpiles to fund payment to farmers
Erich Parpart,
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation February 1, 2014 1:00 am
The central bank governor yesterday advised the caretaker government to raise funds by speeding up the sale of
rice from the state's stockpiles instead of borrowing to pay farmers taking part in its rice-pledging
scheme.Prasarn Trairatvorakul, governor of the Bank of Thailand, said the pledging scheme had created
problems for farmers because they were not being paid and they suffered badly from lack of savings.

Govt sells 860,000 tonnes in January: Niwatthumrong
The Nation January 31, 2014 5:56 pm
Niwatthumrong Boonsongpaisan
Caretaker Commerce Ministry Niwatthumrong Boonsongpaisan revealed on Friday that Thailand sold another
860,000 tonnes of rice in January.He said that the rice would be delivered to overseas private buyers within six
months. He said that the government had tried to release some 7-9 million tonnes of stockpiles by all means, but
the House dissolution has presented some obstacles in inking agreements with government buyers. He noted

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

that a Chinese state enterprise, one of the potential buyers, would announce in the next two days whether it
would strike a government-to-government rice deal with Thailand.
The state enterprise is considering whether to buy 1 million tonnes of rice, but it may not desire to follow the
plan after the National Anti-Corruption Commission has launched an investigation into the rice-pledging
scheme.He also said that it is impossible to release all 17.8 million tonnes, as the volume is over half of annual
global demand of 35 million tonnes. Speedy release would also put pressure on the price, he said. However, the
Commerce Ministry would continue with its efforts to release the stockpiles until February.

Bridge loan auction for rice scheme met with no-show by banks
Date : 31 มกราคม 2557
BANGKOK, 31 January 2014 (NNT) – No banks were reportedly present at the government‘s auction of a
bridging loan worth 20 billion baht, which is to be used to pay farmers in the rice pledging scheme, due to fear
of risks and lack of clarity. A total of 34 commercial banks were previously invited by the Ministry of Finance
to take part in the first round of auction of the 20-billion-baht bridging loan on Thursday. Nonetheless,
according to reports, none of the banks arrived at the auction venue on the day, given they were alarmed by the
ambiguity of the loan plan and were not willing to take such a high risk. Mr Piti Tantakasem, Chief Wholesale
Banking Officer of TMB Bank, revealed that the bank opted not to engage in the auction because the legal
terms were still unclear, making the loan an extremely risky one. He said the bank was seeking consultation
with its risk assessment panel and the decision whether or not it would take part in the next round of auction
was still pending.
Mr Payungsak Chartsutipol, Director and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Krungthai Bank,
reaffirmed that the bank‘s executive board had not made any resolution to issue loans to the government for use
in the rice pledging scheme. He also claimed that the government had never asked the bank for such loans while
urging the public not to believe rumors in the social media. Meanwhile, Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong
Phuangrach attributed the government‘s inability to acquire loans from state-run banks, such as the Government
Savings Bank and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, to the strong objection from the
banks‘ labor unions. He thus urged the unions to think of the plight of rice farmers who had not been paid for
their crops and were facing huge burdens from various financial obligations.

BOT chief urges sale of rice from govt stockpiles to fund payment to
farmers
"The

government should sell rice from the stockpiles as soon as possible ... even if the sales are made at a loss,"
Prasarn said. More than a million farmers have not been paid for their pledged paddy in the 2013-14 harvest

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

season, representing 10.71 million tonnes worth a total of Bt167 billion. The farmers have threatened to block
roads and stage protest rallies against the government because of the delay in payments.
After the Finance Ministry on Thursday failed to obtain a Bt20-billion short-term loan in the first batch of the
Bt130-billion fund planned to finance the rice-pledging project, TMB Bank was reportedly named as the winner
of the bid. However, the ministry said none of the financial institutions had won it. TMB Bank chief executive
officer Boontuck Wangcharoen clarified in a statement released yesterday that the bank did not take part in the
loan bidding on Thursday. "The legal risk is not clear. So the process of credit has not yet been considered as
more than half of the bank's directors, who are foreigners, are abroad," Boontuck said in a statement.Kosit
Panpiemras, executive chairman of Bangkok Bank, said it did not take part in the loan auction on Thursday, as
the law regarding the loan was still unclear.
He said commercial banks had to be careful on such matters.Narongchai Akrasanee, chairman of MFC Asset
Management, suggested that the next government should expand the revolving fund for paying for paddy under
the scheme once they are in power. Then they can begin to pay the farmers gradually through any banks that are
willing, and not only the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives. Prasarn said the problem faced by
commercial banks in the auction related to the law, which is still unclear, and they were worried that the next
government might not honour the deal. However, he said the BOT would not interfere, as it believes
commercial banks can deal with it. Meanwhile, caretaker Commerce Minister Niwatthumrong Boonsongpaisan
said China had expressed concerns about the Thai government's ability to supply rice to it under a governmentto-government contract. China could cancel the deal. He said that next week he would discuss the matter with
the Chinese company involved. In January, the government sold 1 million tonnes of rice from its total stockpile
of 10 million tonnes. There are sales contracts for another 5 million tonnes, which are awaiting shipping.

TABLE-India Grain Prices-Delhi-Jan 31
Fri Jan 31, 2014 2:58pm IST
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
2,200-3,000
2,200-3,000.
Wheat Dara
1,850-2,150
1,825-2,075.
Atta Chakki (per 10 Kg)
215-240
215-240.
Roller Mill (per bag)
1,900-2,100
1,900-2,000.
Maida (per bag)
1,850-2,050
1,850-2,050.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Sooji (per bag)
1,950-2,050
1,950-2,050.
Rice Basmati(Sri Lal Mahal) 12,000-14,000 12,000-14,000
Rice Basmati(Lal Quila) 12,000-14,000 12,000-14,000
Rice Basmati(Common)
8,400-9,400
8,400-9,400.
Rice Permal
2,100-2,400
2,100-2,400.
Rice Sela
2,700-2,900
2,700-2,900.
I.R.-8
1,850-1,950
1,950-2,050.
Gram
3,200-3,400
3,200-3,400.
Peas Green
3,100-3,600
3,100-3,600.
Peas White
2,800-3,000
2,800-3,000.
Bajra
1,225-1,525
1,225-1,525.
Jowar white
1,400-2,250
1,400-2,250.
Maize
1,450-1,500
1,450-1,500.
Barley
1,300-1,400
1,300-1,400.
Guwar
3,300-3,900
3,300-3,900.
Source: Delhi grain market traders

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-Jan 31
Fri Jan 31, 2014 3:03pm IST

Nagpur, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Gram prices in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee
(APMC) firmed up again on increased buying support from local millers amid weak supply from
producing belts. Fresh rise on NCDEX, notable hike in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and enquiries
from South-based millers also boosted prices, according sources.
*
*
*
*
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Gram varieties ruled steady in open market on subdued demand from local traders amid
ample stock in ready position.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties showed weak tendency in open market on poor demand from local traders
amid good supply from producing regions. Easy condition in overseas tuar prices also
affected sentiment.
* Udid varieties moved down in open market in absence of buyers amid release of stock
from stockists.
* In Akola, Tuar - 4,100-4,200, Tuar dal - 6,200-6,400, Udid at 6,000-6,300,
Udid Mogar (clean) - 7,000-6,200, Moong - 8,000-8,200, Moong Mogar

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

(clean) 9,400-9,600, 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
2,520-2,810
2,500-2,770
Gram Pink Auction
n.a.
2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction
n.a.
4,300-4,380
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
3,900-4,100
3,900-4,100
Gram Super Best
n.a.
Gram Medium Best
3,600-3,800
3,600-3,800
Gram Dal Medium
n.a.
n.a.
Gram Mill Quality
3,400-3,500
3,400-3,500
Desi gram Raw
3,150-3,250
3,150-3,250
Gram Filter Yellow
n.a.
n.a.
Gram Kabuli
7,900-10,300
7,900-10,300
Gram Pink
7,700-8,100
7,700-8,100
Tuar Fataka Best
6,700-6,900
6,800-7,000
Tuar Fataka Medium
6,100-6,300
6,200-6,400
Tuar Dal Best Phod
5,700-5,900
5,800-6,000
Tuar Dal Medium phod
5,300-5,500
5,400-5,600
Tuar Gavarani
4,300-4,400
4,400-4,500
Tuar Karnataka
4,400-4,500
4,500-4,600
Tuar Black
7,400-7,500
7,400-7,500
Masoor dal best
5,300-5,400
5,300-5,400
Masoor dal medium
5,000-5,200
5,000-5,200
Masoor
n.a.
n.a.
Moong Mogar bold
9,500-9,900
9,500-9,900
Moong Mogar Medium best
8,800-9,200
8,800-9,200
Moong dal super best
8,600-8,800
8,600-8,800
Moong dal Chilka
8,100-8,500
8,100-8,500
Moong Mill quality
n.a.
n.a.
Moong Chamki best
7,400-7,800
7,400-7,800
Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 7,400-7,700
7,100-7,400
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,700-6,500
5,400-6,200

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)
4,600-4,800
4,600-4,800
Batri dal (100 INR/KG)
3,850-4,650
3,800-4,600
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)
3,000-3,100
3,000-3,100
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)
3,250-3,350
3,250-3,350
Watana White (100 INR/KG)
3,200-3,300
3,100-3,200
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,500
4,200-4,500
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)
1,800-1,900
1,800-1,900
Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,880-1,925
1,880-1,925
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)
1,750-1,950
1,750-1,950
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,550
2,100-2,550
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,050-2,150
2,050-2,150
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) 2,500-2,900
2,500-2,900
Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG)
1,600-1,700
1,600-1,750
Wheat Best (100 INR/KG)
1,700-1,800
1,650-1,750
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
Rice Swarna Best (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,700
2,600-2,700
Rice Swarna Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,450
2,300-2,450
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)
1,400-1,600
1,400-1,600
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)
1,700-1,800
1,700-1,800
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 28.7 degree Celsius (83.7 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
10.6 degree Celsius (51.1 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - 78 per cent, lowest - 20 per cent
Rainfall : nil
FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and Minimum temperature likely to be around 29 and 11 degree
Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but
included in market prices.)

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Price stability top priority of Government: Ishaq Dar
Thursday, 30 January 2014 21:00
Posted by Shoaib-ur-Rehman Siddiqui

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Senator
Mohammad Ishaq Dar said on Thursday that
price stability was the top priority of the
Government and it would intervene where
necessary to maintain stability of prices.He
stated this while chairing the meeting of
National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC)
here.The Finance Minister on the occasion
appreciated the provinces for taking price control measures effectively which had resulted in the decline of
kitchen items over last 8 weeks.
He stressed them to make further efforts to provide relief to the common man.The National Price Monitoring
Committee (NPMC) meeting was also attended by Parliamentary Secretary Ministry of Finance Rana
Muhammad Afzal, representatives from the Provinces of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhthunkhwa, Islamabad
Capital Territory, Ministries of Industries & Production, Law, Justice & Human Rights, Commerce & Textile
Industry, National Food Security & Research, Inter-Provincial Coordination, Cabinet Division, Ministry of
Planning, Development & Reforms, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Federal Board of Revenue and Utility Stores
Corporation.The meeting reviewed the inflationary trend of various indicators including the Consumer Price
Index (CPI), Food, Non-Food, Core, Wholesale Price index (WPI), Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) and Index of
28 selected essential items.
The NPMC was informed that inflation measured by CPI was recorded at 9.2 percent during December 2013,
similarly SPI and WPI also reported at 11.1 percent and 8.9 percent respectively, whereas inflation in Food
items is reported at 9.3 percent, Non-Food 9.1 percent and Core at 8.2 percent.The SPI for the week ended on
January 23, recorded a decrease of -0.17 percent due to decrease in prices of 09 commodities, while prices of 18
items increased and prices of 26 items remained stable as compared to last week ended on January 16.The
meeting also noted that SPI is continuously declining over the last three weeks in January-2014, which is an
indication that government policies and measures to control inflation, are working.It was also noted that prices
of tomatoes, onion, potatoes, eggs and sugar are declining due to improvement in supply of these commodities.
The week ending on 23-01-2014, witnessed decrease in prices of Tomatoes 17.71pc, Onions 4.19pc, Eggs
0.83pc, Bananas 0.53pc, L.P.G 0.32pc, Rice Basmati Broken 0.19pc, Red Chilies 0.18pc, Wheat Flour 0.15pc
and Veg. Ghee (Loose) 0.02pc over last week, while the items recorded increase in their prices are Gram Pulse
2.27pc, Milk Powdered Nido 1.85pc, Salt Powdered 1.30pc, Shirting 1.22pc, Masoor Pulse 1.02pc, Chicken
Farm 0.93pc, Lawn ,0.77pc Garlic 0.67pc, Wheat 0.63pc, Potatoes 0.42pc, Moong Pulse 0.38pc, Gur 0.33pc,
Long Cloth 0.33pc, Cooked Dal Plate 0.31pc, Washing Soap (200-250 gm) 0.25pc, Mash Pulse 0.20pc, Sugar

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

0.10pc and Rice Irri-6 0.06pc. Whereas the prices of Bread Plain Med. Size (340-400 gm), Beef, Mutton, Milk
(fresh), Mustard Oil, Cooking Oil (tin), Veg. Ghee (tin), Tea ( Yellow Lable 200 Gm), Petrol, and Diesel
remained unchanged.The meeting also noted the price trend of essential items and it was observed that some of
the items (Wheat, Wheat Flour, Powder Milk - Nido, Bananas, and Red Chilies) registered nominal increase
during the period 21-11-2013 to 23-1-2014.While some items registered massive decline during the current
period over corresponding period such as Eggs, Potatoes, Onions, Tomatoes and Sugar.The NMPC also
observed that in comparison with the regional countries, Pakistan had the lowest prices of Rice Basmati, wheat,
wheat Flour, Beef, Eggs, Red chilies, Petrol, Mutton and second lowest in Mash Pulse, Gram Pulse, Masoor
Pulse, Moong Pulse, Sugar, Chicken, Garlic, Onions and Vegetable Ghee.
The meeting also reviewed the price trend of 28 selected items among the provinces.Some variations in the
prices of Wheat, Wheat Flour, Rice Basmati Broken, Rice Irri-6, Pulses, Beef, Mutton, Milk Fresh, Milk
Powdered, Ghee, Tomatoes and Garlic, were observed.The Chief Commissioner ensured that Islamabad Capital
Territory will take further measures to check prices and monitor the supply situation of all essential items.The
meeting also discussed the stock position of wheat, rice, sugar, oil and other essential items and expressed
satisfaction on the stock position
.The meeting was informed that Punjab Government is taking all possible measures to ensure price stability and
that they had improved enforcement mechanism.The Punjab government had established a system that a
consumer can check prices of essential items on mobile phone through dedicated No by SMS and insist on the
price of the item, if the seller is reluctant, the consumer can complain on a toll-free number.The Finance
Minister appreciated the effort and urged all other provinces should benefit from this mechanism.The Finance
Minister appreciated the initiative of the Government of Sindh for regulation of godown and directed that the
process should be held transparency and other provinces should benefit from this initiative.The Finance
Minister took notice of increase in sale price of Urea which was reportedly being sold at a higher price in the
market against the price of Rs. 1786/- per bag approved by the government.
The Finance Minister directed Ministries of National Food Security & Research and Industries to take strict
action against those charging higher prices and take corrective measures for the enforcement of the approved
price of Rs.1786/- per bag.He also directed the authorities to conduct surprise checks.The chair further stressed
all stakeholders to take action against hoarding and ensure smooth supply of essential items in all regions of the
country.The Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination was also advised to expedite work on a bill to revive the
work on a Executive Magistracy, so that a mechanism may be established to further strengthen the price control
mechanism.The Secretary Food and National Security briefed the meeting on the availability and consumption
of wheat, gram lentil, potato and onions in the country.He also informed that production of rice in the country is
estimated of 6 million ton and 3 million ton would be available for export after meeting domestic requirements.

Antiquated rice mills hurting consumers, says Sinag
By Ronnel W. Domingo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
1:32 am | Friday, January 31st, 2014

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Inefficiencies in rice processing and costs associated with middlemen are the reasons why prices of the staple
grain shot up to almost double the farmgate level, according to the umbrella group Samahang Industriya ng
Agrikultura (Sinag).This means that palay, which farmers sell for P21 to P22 a kilogram, will cost consumers
P37 to P40 a kilo once it reaches the retail store in the form of well-milled rice.Jojie Co of the Philippine
Confederation of Grains Associations, a member of Sinag, said in a briefing Wednesday night that most rice as
a throwback to the 1940s, ―turn out only 60 cavans of milled rice‖ from 100 cavans of palay.―In fact, the milled
rice that the Philippines import fills in for the volume lost in the milling process,‖ he said.According to the
Philippine Center for Post-Harvest Development and Mechanization or PhilMech, an agency supervised by the
Department of Agriculture (DA), laboratory tests show that the best milling facilities can recover 68 to 72
cavans of rice from 100 cavans of palay.
However, of the 25,372 rice mills in the country, 24,420 are single-pass mills that have a recovery rate of 50-55
percent.Based on PhilMech‘s post-harvest inventory survey done in 2008, there are only 48 compact rice mills
that can recover 60 percent at best, and 904 multi-pass mills with a recovery rate of 65-70 percent.Most rice
farmers, Co said, sell individually to middlemen instead of consolidating volumes through cooperatives that sell
directly to millers.―There are very few successful cooperatives in the country, and so farmers sell at their own
small volumes,‖ he said, adding that the average rice farm holding is 1.5 hectare to 2 hectares.Co said that, if
this is the case, bulk of the difference between farmgate palay prices and retail milled rice prices go to the
middle men.Part of the DA‘s efforts to address the situation is to establish modern integrated rice mills, which
include warehouses, mechanical dryers and other support facilities.There are still only a few such facilities, the
newest one being the P32.2-million rice processing center in Sto. Niño, South Cotabato.

Arkansas’s Rick Crawford spreading the word about U.S. rice
In a country where farmers grow more than 90 million acres of corn and more than 80 million acres of soybeans
annually, crops like rice and peanuts – and even cotton – can look very small.That doesn‘t mean they aren‘t
important economically, especially to the communities in states where they are grown, says Rep. Rick
Crawford, R-Ark., a speaker at the Arkansas Rice Council and Arkansas Rice Farmers meeting in Stuttgart
yesterday (Jan. 30).
The day before Crawford was one of 266 House members voting for the Agriculture Act of 2014, the longawaited farm bill he helped write as a member of the House Agriculture Committee and of the Farm Bill
Conference Committee.―If you haven‘t been watching, we‘ve been up against some pretty tremendous odds,‖
he said. ―One of the things I observed almost on day one when I got to Washington was that politics in
Washington are largely dictated by geography as much as they are by party affiliation, and that was certainly
true with the farm bill.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

―So we had a lot of Midwest representation that simply doesn‘t understand the way things are done in Arkansas,
and they particularly don‘t understand Arkansas rice production (or in other states, for that matter).‖Crawford
says when he tells his colleagues that the First Congressional District in Arkansas is responsible for about half
the U.S. rice production, he gets puzzled looks. ―First, they scratch their heads and say ‗I didn‘t even know we
grew rice in the United States.‘ Then they say, ‗You guys grow rice in Arkansas.‘‖Crawford and House
Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., faced an uphill battle after the Senate came out of the
starting gate with a ―one size fits all farm bill‖ that provided a safety net for Midwest corn and soybean growers
and few others.
Southern members of the House Ag Committee like Crawford and Rep. Mike Conway, R-Texas, chairman of
the General Farm Commodities Committee wrote provisions into their version of the farm bill that would
provide assistance to rice and peanut growers during times of weather disasters and low prices.―I think they
(Midwest members) are getting the message, but this farm bill was a tough one,‖ said Crawford. ―We have a
safety net in place. It‘s not what you‘re used to. But with the help of your legislative staff with the Arkansas
Rice Farmers, we‘ve been able to arrive at something you can live with.―We would certainly have liked to get
more. But under the circumstances, I think that what we did was pretty remarkable given the conditions that
exist in Washington with the budget constraints and the continual pounding that Arkansas producers have
received over the years going back to 2000 when the crosshairs were squarely placed on Mid-South
agriculture.‖The Farm Bill Conference Report received near-unanimous support from the Mid-South
congressional delegations. Only one House member from Arkansas, Rep. Tom Cotton, a Republican, voted
against the measure.
For more on the farm bill, click on http://deltafarmpress.com/government/new-farm-bill-moves-out-conference

Advertising SPECS & RATES
Contact: Advertising Department
Mujahid Ali
mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
+92 321 369 2874

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

31st january,2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Recommandé

Recommandé

Contenu connexe

Tendances

Tendances (18)

En vedette

En vedette (12)

Similaire à 31st january,2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Similaire à 31st january,2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine (20)

Dernier

Dernier (20)

31st january,2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine