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MORE: Indonesia 2013 Rice Output Estimated to Rise 3.24%
Food Price Watch, July 2013: Prices Continue to Drop, But Food Subsidies a Concern
Great 2013 crop a positive harbinger for U.S. rice in 2014?
Rice prices continue to fall
Commerce Ministry: Thailand never dumps rice in Indonesia
BAAC clarifies rice farmers’ fund
Rice farmers now reliant on 'low' market prices
712 million Baht to be paid to 3,900 rice growers
Thai PM to hear charges over rice scheme
Department of Internal Trade to discuss selling rice through AFET
Mandalay rice down on pest issue
Rice production in Bengal may cross 170 lakh MT by 2017: Assocham
Sri Lanka’s Paddy (rice) production will decline by 35 percent due to drought condition
VACB detects corruption in Consumerfed rice purchase in Kerala
Prices of popular rice varieties dip
Arrivals of paddy come to a halt at Karnal
Levy rice collection poor: CAG report
Food prices move both ways

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Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Mar 03
Iraq issues tender for at least 30,000 T rice
Negotiations over resumption of rice exports to begin within next two weeks
Rice payment next week
Cambodian rice trade hit by Thai sales
Protest pressure on rice investigation
As world faces supply glut, Philippines under pressure over high rice prices
8th Int’l Rice-Duck Conference set in Butuan
Stakeholders Unite to Fight Smuggling of Rice, Others
Big rice mess, due to Alcala, Calayag
9 people, one organisation get Independence Day Award 2014

NEWS DETAILS:
MORE: Indonesia 2013 Rice Output Estimated to Rise 3.24%
By Eko Listiyorini Mar 3, 2014 10:52 AM GMT+0500 - Comments Email Print
According to statement from Indonesia‘s statistics office released in Jakarta today. * Corn production may have fallen
4.54% to 18.51m tons * Soybean output may have declined 7.47% to 780,160 tons * Increased unhusked rice production
because of rise in harvest area and higher productivity, according to statement * Corn and soybean drops because of
decline in harvest area and lower productivity
To contact the reporter on this story: Eko Listiyorini in Jakarta at elistiyorini@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Neil Chatterjee at nchatterjee1@bloomberg.net

Food Price Watch, July 2013: Prices Continue to Drop, But Food
Subsidies a Concern
LATEST ISSUE:
July 2013, No 14, Volume 4

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Food prices remain high even after prices of internationally traded food decreased between February and June
2013, the third consecutive quarterly decline.
Higher production, declining imports and increasing stocks pushed down export prices.
Uncertain weather conditions and domestic policy decisions still warrant close monitoring going forward.
Prices of internationally traded food declined for the third consecutive quarter since their historical peak in August of 2012. Increased
production, declining imports and increasing stocks are exerting downward pressure on export prices, but international prices remain
tight for maize.

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The long-held consensus regarding consumer food subsidies...is that when untargeted and poorly implemented,
they are not effective in helping the poor. They can also distort market prices and agricultural production,
while leaving nations with a hefty fiscal bill.
Food Price Watch, 2013

The World Bank's Food Price Index
The World Bank

Prices remain high and with recent price increases in May and June,
uncertainties surrounding unstable weather conditions and domestic
policy decisions among key food producers warrant close
scrutiny.Domestic policies worth watching include public procurement
policies, but also consumer price subsidies, which, far from being a
thing of the past, continue to be used – even though subsidies often
bring meager benefits to the poor, high fiscal costs, corruption
episodes and unproven nutritional effects.Recent decisions by the
governments of India, Indonesia and Benin to extend consumer food subsidies indicate that such policies remain
in vogue.Between the 1950s and 1970s, developing countries used universal food subsidies as major
components of their poverty alleviation strategies.
Lately, rising food prices and recurring price
spikes have revived the popularity of such
subsidies, leading countries with high poverty
and weak safety nets to make food available at
below-market prices – for example by
subsidizing imports or giving vulnerable groups
access to food discount stores.Yet, the longheld consensus regarding consumer food
subsidies, just as with electricity and fuel
subsidies, is that when untargeted and poorly
implemented, they are not effective in helping
the poor. They can also distort market prices
and agricultural production, while leaving
nations with a hefty fiscal bill.Data from the
Middle East and North Africa, the region most
dependent on generalized subsidies, illustrate the harmful equity and fiscal implications of consumer subsidies.
According the International Monetary Fund estimates, only 35 percent of the amount spent on subsidies there
reaches the bottom 40 percent of the population.Country-specific estimates also confirm that the share of
benefits from food subsidies reaching the poor is a fraction of total benefits.

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Click here to access the July 2013 issue of Food Price Watch.

Great 2013 crop a positive harbinger for U.S. rice in 2014?
A report from the 2014 Mid-South Farm and Gin Show
Mar. 3, 2014David Bennett | Delta Farm Press

The world rice supply and use shows production of 473 million metric tons. That‘s record
production, something seen for the last several years.―We‘ve also had record
disappearance‖ said Carl Brothers, Riceland Foods senior vice president at the Mid-South
Farm and Gin Show in Memphis on Feb. 28. ―Because of that it has reduced ending
stocks to 105 million metric tons.―If you go back to the late 1990s, we were flooded with
rice in the world. The higher the stocks-to-use number, the more available rice there is in
the world.‖Also from the Farm & Gin Show: Meet your federal crop insurance agent,
‗your new best friend‘At that time, Brothers told a full house, ―there were some problems with the Asian crops and the
stocks-to-use ratio dropped down to a low of 16.9 percent in the 2007-2008 period. At that time, both India and Vietnam
banned rice exports from their countries. But we‘re clawing our way out of that low stocks-to-use ratio, although that‘s
still at around 20 percent in the world.‖What about major export shifts?.Considering 2010-2011, Thailand was the number
one exporter. ―It had been the top exporter for a number of years – probably since the early 1980s.―If you look at export
trade, it has increased dramatically. Back in 1980 the United States was the number one exporter in the world at
something like 3.1 to 3.2 million metric tons. But the amount of rice traded in the world was quite small. Of all the rice
produced at that time, only about 12 million tons that entered world trade. So, we were a significant supplier in the
world.‖
Check Rough Rice Futures Prices
Since then, the world rice trade has increased almost four-fold while the United States has remained rather flat. ―I made a
presentation for the (Riceland) board a few years ago and said, ‗if you really think that through – if your market had
grown three or four times and yet you remained flat – I‘d say you were in a dying business.‘―But in our case, we were
seeing domestic disappearance. As more and more (immigrants) arrive, particularly in our coastal areas, we see much
more rice consumption in the United States. It‘s also going into pet food, in beer, and almost every restaurant in the
country. Back 30 years ago, you wouldn‘t have seen that.‖India exported 2.8 million tons in 2011 and is now number one
at 10 million metric tons. ―That‘s a big shift.‖Thailand, at 10.7 million metric tons in 2011 and 8.5 million tons in 20132014, is typically in the top three rice exporters in the world. That drop to 8.5 isn‘t because Thais don‘t have the rice, said
Brothers.
Also from the Farm & Gin Show: Day of reckoning nears for China‘s cotton policy ―The prime minister came in on a
platform calling for increasing farmer income. She introduced a program similar to our loan program back in the 1980s
when farmers were paid $4 per bushel for rice going into loan. It wouldn‘t clear out at $4, so the U.S. government took
over rice left and right.―The same is happening in Thailand, except they paid the equivalent of $10 per bushel on a rough
rice basis. On a milled rice basis it‘s about $850 per ton. That rice just won‘t clear the market and they‘re struggling to
remain a main exporter. And they‘re building stocks, something we‘re concerned about.―What happened with prices when
the international stocks-to-use ratio was at 35 percent and then they collapsed to 16.9? The price skyrocketed. On a milled

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rice basis, prices went over $1,000 per ton. That didn‘t last very long – remember India and Vietnam put on bans and
everyone panicked.‖
U.S. and Asian rice prices are the widest in history. ―We‘re hanging around $600 to $650 per ton with the Asians at about
$400 per ton.‖

Rice prices continue to fall
Mon, 3 March 2014
Chan Muy Hong

As buyers swoop in to purchase Thai rice at garage-sale prices,
Cambodian exporters are dealing with lower than usual rates, and the
results are being felt all the way down the supply chain to the
farmers
themselves.New
figures
from
rice
industry
publication Oryza show that the cost for Cambodia‘s jasmine rice
has declined sharply in recent months, in tandem with falling prices
in Thailand brought on by that country‘s failed rice-pledging
scheme.―This is a concern for everyone in the rice industry now,‖
said Khan Kunthy, CEO of Battambang Rice Investment Company,
adding that sales have also dropped.
Kunthy said that export volume for the first few months of this year was largely based on orders from
2013.―There is no good sign of orders for this new year yet,‖ he said.In 2011, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck
Shinawatra vowed to pay farmers above market rates for their rice.But stockpiles have accumulated to record
levels, flooding the global market with new quantities of supply and driving down prices.Thai officials estimate
that there are 15 to 18 million tons of stockpiled rice. Oryza reported that the Thai government planned to
offload at least one million tons per month from January to March.Thai hom mali rice is now at $955 per ton, a
decline of 17 per cent compared to the price in December last year, when it stood at $1,163.The latest figures
from Oryza show that, at the end of February, Cambodia‘s jasmine rice cost $885 per ton, a 7 per cent decrease
from $950 per ton in December.
―We have no other choice besides lowering our rice price, even if we have to put up with the loss if prices went
even lower than they are now, or no one will buy from us,‖ Kunthy, of Battambang Rice Investment Company,
said.Kunthy, who runs a newly established rice milling operation, is also under pressure to repay the bank for a
loan he took out to help set up the mill.Lim Bun Heng, owner of Loran Company, one of the country‘s largest
rice exporters, said declines in Cambodia‘s jasmine variety will squeeze margins for all involved.―Cheaper
prices of milled rice also mean cheaper prices of paddy rice that the miller will buy from farmers too,‖ Bun
Heng said, adding that ―we cannot buy expensive paddy rice and sell it at a lower price‖.Export volumes are
also decreasing as buyers look for cheap stockpiled product. Bun Heng said his company experienced a 30 per
cent decrease in exports over the first two months of this year.―The Thais are selling their rice very cheap, so
the buyers are switching to Thailand,‖ he said.

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Last year was a time of enormous gains for the rice industry, as export volumes doubled. But the rice scheme
has upended the global market, setting back not just Thailand, which used to be the world‘s largest exporter, but
its neighbours, too.In January of 2012, Cambodia exported 9,700 tons of rice. Exports for the same period in
2013 jumped to 25,700 tons. But in January, the pace slackened, with only 21,500 tons sent out of the
country.Exporters and rice millers should keep their fragrant rice paddy and wait until the supply in the global
market declines, advised Srey Chanty, an independent economist who focuses on agriculture issues.―I think in
the next three or four months, the fragrant rice price will bounce back to normal,‖ he said.
Image:A rice worker in Koh Dach commune‘s Koh Dach village last year. The cost of Cambodian jasmine rise has fallen
dramatically. Hong Menea

Commerce Ministry: Thailand never dumps rice in Indonesia
Monday, 03 March 2014By NNT

BANGKOK, 2 March 2014 The Ministry of
Commerce has denied the rumor of rice dumping in
Indonesia which allegedly affected rice prices in the
global
market
and
upset
many
rice
producers. Director-General of the Department of
Foreign Trade Surasak Reingkhrua on Sunday
confirmed the ministry had not sold Thai rice under
the rice subsidy program at less than normal value
in Indonesia and other countries as the rumor said.
Thai rice currently sold in Indonesia was more
expensive than other rice and had better quality, the
official said.Mr Surasak stated further that
Indonesia had not bought rice from Thailand since
2013 due to the country‘s higher rice production.
Before that, Thailand had exported higher-priced
rice which Indonesia could not produced by itself
such as jasmine rice, sticky rice and broken sticky rice.The official reiterated that the ministry sold rice from
government warehouses at the prices in line with the market and quality of the produce. The average price of
Thai rice is around 440 USD/ton, higher than rice from Vietnam and India, Thailand‘s competitors, who sell
their grains at 400 USD/ton and 419 USD/ton respectively.

BAAC clarifies rice farmers’ fund
date : 3 มีนาคม 2557
BANGKOK, 3 March 2014 (NNT) - The establishment of the rice farmers‘ fund is legal as it does not violate
the BAAC royal decree, said the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC). BAAC President,
Luck Wajananawat, has reaffirmed that the purpose of the fund is to lend financial aids to rice farmers currently

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affected by the rice pledging program payment delay, reiterating that the fund is within the boundary of the
BAAC royal decree, given it is a short-term fund which only serves as an alternative for the farmers while they
are waiting for the government to come up with the payment.
The fund builds upon the foundation of the people‘s generosity, said Mr. Luck, adding that such a move has
been done before when farmers were facing difficulty brought on by natural disasters and unfavorable economic
situations. The BAAC President also pointed out that the fund‘s value of 20 billion baht was merely 20% of the
total amount of what the government owed to the farmers, thus it was virtually risk-free. Mr. Luck also claimed
that the rice farmers‘ fund is a good way to reduce household debts, to stimulate the public spending and to
prevent the economic hiccups.
Minister hints at possible opening of rice market
EJONG, March 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will soon decide whether to open its rice market to foreign
suppliers, the agriculture minister said Monday, a move that has been postponed for the past 20 years in
exchange for a large import quota."The country must give its decision on whether to open its rice market to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) by September," Lee Dong-phil said in an exclusive interview with Yonhap.
"The government will make its decision by June."Under a 1993 agreement with the WTO, the country was
allowed to put off liberalizing its rice market until 2004 in exchange for importing up to 4 percent of its annual
rice consumption. The agreement was extended for another 10 years by a later agreement, in which the country
agreed to expand its import quota to 7.96 percent of total consumption, which will translate into a little over
400,000 tons this year, according to the minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs.
Lee said the country could try to again delay the liberalization, but such a move may not be accepted by other
WTO members or benefit the country."If we had switched to opening the rice market with import tariffs 10
years ago, we would not have had to take on an additional 200,000 tons in import quota," he said.
The minister also said the Philippines, which, too, is scheduled to liberalize its rice market in 2015, has offered
to more than double its import quota from the current 350,000 tons to 800,000 tons to further delay opening the
market, but other WTO members have refused to endorse such a move over the past two years."The government
will carefully decide in a way that will best serve the country's national interest and its rice industry," he said.
Lee said the country's import duties will likely be set between 300 and 500 percent of import prices should the
country decide to open its rice market."For us, a higher tariff rate will be better, but it must be able to pass WTO
verification," Lee said. "We cannot just set the highest possible rate, but need to find one that is acceptable to
the WTO."
<All rights reserved by Yonhap News Agency>

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Rice farmers now reliant on 'low' market prices
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation March 1, 2014 1:00 am
Rice farmers wait yesterday to meet officials from the Office of the Attorney General, which agreed to submit their case taking the caretaker
government before the Administrative Court for failing to meet its commitments under pledging contracts.

Already hit by overdue payments from the
caretaker government under its pledging scheme,
rice farmers from today will suffer yet further by
getting lower income from selling their produce at
market prices after the end of the project.According
to the Thai Rice Mills Association, the market price
for 100-per-cent white rice (15-per-cent humid) is
quoted at Bt7,200-Bt8,500 a tonne, compared with
the former pledging price of Bt15,000.The market
price for 30-per-cent humid rice, meanwhile, is
Bt11,600 a tonne.The Internal Trade Department
unofficially reported that more than 11 million
tonnes of paddy had entered the government's
pledging programme, which ended yesterday. The
government has issued pledging documents to
about 1.91 million farmers, while only 546,780 have been paid in full under the project. As of Wednesday, a
total 11.3 million tonnes of paddy had been pledged.A rice-miller source said farmers would from today get
even lower payment from selling their produce, as the market had acknowledged that the government needed to
release more rice to generate income from the pledged produce."Farmers will be the ones who suffer the most
from lower rice prices. Millers cannot help much, as the market trend has responded to the high government
stockpiles, while the world market recognises that Thailand needs to sell rice urgently to get some return from
the pledging project to fulfil its overdue payments," said the source.He added that lower rice prices in the
market had clearly shown that the pledging scheme - with its too-high subsidised prices - had not benefited
farmers in the long run.Chanudpakorn Vongseenin, president of the Public Warehouse Organisation, said the
agency would try to tot up the amount of pledged rice this week, before reporting the results to the National
Rice Policy Committee.
The total amount of pledged rice should not exceed 11 million tonnes of paddy, he said.Somporn Isvilanonda,
an economist at the Knowledge Network Institute of Thailand, said he believed farmers would suffer yet more if
the next government's plan to support their next crops was unclear. Moreover, the price of rice would continue
to decrease as the government now holds more than 18 million tonnes in its stockpiles, he claimed.Meanwhile,
the Office of the Attorney General has accepted a plea by rice farmers for a petition to take the caretaker
government before the Administrative Court for failing to meet its pledging-contract commitments.The office
will set up an area for farmers to register their names before filing the case before the court.In a related
development, the Lawyers Council of Thailand, which will help farmers file the overdue-payment case against

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caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and other ministers and government agencies involved with the
pledging project, will next week file the case with the provincial court.So far, about 24,000 farmers have
registered their names to file a suit against the caretaker administration.

712 million Baht to be paid to 3,900 rice growers
Sunday, 02 March 2014By NNT

BANGKOK, 1 March 2014 The rice pledging scheme time
frame cannot be extended after its last day on Friday as this
would be in violation of the charter, according to the
Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan. The
minister, also confirmed that the government has received an
official reply from the Election Commission approving the use
of 712 million baht from the central budget to pay rice farmers
who still have not received their money for the 2012/2013
production season; the farmers were supposed to have been
paid in September. He said that over the next week, this group
of 3,900 rice growers in five provinces will receive their
money in full.
Regarding the government's request for the EC to approve the use of 20 billion baht from the central budget to pay rice growers
who were still waiting for their money under the rice pledging scheme, Mr. Niwatthamrong said the initiative was not
considered a new debt burden for the government, as the money would be temporarily borrowed from the budget while the
Finance Ministry procured loans.He added that the rice pledging period for the 2013/2014 season can''t be extended because
according to Article 181 of the charter, the interim government cannot create new debt burdens for an incoming administration.

Thai PM to hear charges over rice scheme
Category: World
03 Mar 2014

Written by AP
BANGKOK—Thailand‘s anti-graft commission on Thursday
summoned the embattled prime minister to hear charges of
negligence for allegedly mishandling a government subsidy
program, as her supporters blocked access and chain-locked one
of the gates to the agency‘s headquarters in Bangkok‘s
outskirts.The charges from the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) could lead to Prime Minister Yingluck
Shinawatra‘s impeachment after three months of street protests by
her opponents and mounting violence that has prompted fresh
concerns from the US and the UN.

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Yingluck‘s opponents want to replace her government with an appointed council that would introduce vaguely
described anti-corruption reforms, but she has refused to step down. The anti-graft agency‘s officials said
Yingluck would send a legal representative to hear the charges because she was visiting her home province of
Chiang Mai in northern Thailand.―After hearing the charges, we will study them and then respond to the NACC
within 15 days,‖ said Pichit Chuenban, the head of Yingluck‘s Pheu Thai Party.Yingluck‘s supporters, called
Red Shirts, are copying the tactics of her opponents, who have blocked roads and government agencies since
December to pressure her to resign. The Red Shirts believe the anti-graft agency is persecuting the prime
minister. They built a stage at their demonstration site and said they would bar the anti-corruption
commissioners from their offices on Thursday. Several also chained themselves to the office‘s gates.The rice
subsidy program—a flagship policy of Yingluck‘s administration that helped win the votes of millions of
farmers—has accumulated losses of at least $4.4 billion and has been dogged by corruption allegations.
Payments to farmers have been delayed by many months.
Yingluck will be given 15 days to answer the accusations against her. She could eventually face impeachment
by the Senate or criminal charges if the commission delivers a final ruling against her.The Red Shirts have
generally kept a low profile during the antigovernment protests, but as Yingluck‘s government comes under
greater threat of legal action that might force it from office, they have said they will respond in force, if
necessary.The volatile situation has worsened recently, with shootings and grenade attacks on antigovernment
protest sites. Twenty-two people have died and hundreds have been hurt in the political violence.The deaths of
four children in attacks this past weekend caused widespread shock and sorrow, but seem to have only hardened
the positions of both sides.UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his increasing concern and reiterated
his condemnation of the recent escalation of violence. He urged the parties to ―engage as soon as possible in
meaningful and inclusive dialogue toward ending the crisis and advancing genuine reform,‖ UN Spokesman
Martin Nesirky said.
―The secretary-general expresses his readiness to assist the parties and the Thai people in any way possible,‖ he
said.A grenade believed to have been fired from a M79 launcher exploded in the parking lot of public TV
broadcaster TPBS on Wednesday night, damaging several cars but causing no casualties. Thai media reported
that another two grenades were apparently fired at the nearby offices of the government‘s emergency
peacekeeping task force but failed to explode.In Washington State Department Spokesman Jen Psaki described
the attacks that claimed the children‘s lives as ―inexcusable.‖―Violence is not an acceptable means of resolving
political differences. We reiterate our call for all sides to exercise restraint and urge Thai authorities to
investigate thoroughly and transparently all recent acts of violence,‖ she told reporters.Thailand‘s army, which
is generally sympathetic to the current antigovernment protesters, announced on Wednesday that it would set up
checkpoints in Bangkok to help maintain safety.Thailand has seen political conflict since 2006, when thenPrime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck‘s brother, was ousted by a military coup after being accused of
corruption and abuse of power. Thaksin‘s supporters and opponents have since taken to the streets for extended
periods in a power struggle.
In Photo: Antigovernment supporters rally in support of peaceful protests during a memorial for the children
killed in recent bomb blasts in Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday. Violence spread on Tuesday to another anti-

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government protest site in Thailand‘s capital, following weekend explosions that left five people dead,
including four children, security officials said. (AP)

Department of Internal Trade to discuss selling rice through AFET
Date : 2 มีนาคม 2557
BANGKOK, 2 March 2014 (NNT) - Mr Somchai Soithong, Director -General of the Department of Internal
Trade, has revealed that his agency is preparing a report on whether or not a portion of the government's rice
stocks should be sold through the Agricultural Futures Exchange of Thailand (AFET). The report will be
presented to Niwathamrong Boonsongpaisan, the caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Commerce. About 110,000 tons of rice, valued at 1.3 to 1.4 billion baht, out of 230,000 tons of bid rice is
deemed suitable for sale through AFET. There have already been 16 offers to purchase the rice. An additional
200,000 tons of government stockpiled rice is to be sold through bidding on March 12. There are also plans to
sell rice continually up to four times every month. Additionally, Provincial Internal Trade officers nationwide
have been instructed to survey agricultural prices to determine the impact of drought in several areas. Initial
surveys have shown that some produce, such as lemons and summer vegetables, have increased in price.
Meanwhile off-season rice yields this year are expected to be lower due to drought. The Thai Rice Exporters
Association has reported that rice exports in January 2014 totaled 696,000 tons, valued at 12.3 billion baht. The
volume of exported Thai rice increased by 19.9% but the export value dropped by 0.9%. The top five nations
importing Thai rice include Nigeria, the Ivory Coast, Japan, China, and the U

Mandalay rice down on pest issue
By Than Naing Soe | Monday, 03 March 2014

The price of rice in Mandalay is likely to remain high until April as an infestation of pests in the area’s main
supplier, Sagaing Region’s Shwebo and Wetlet, has destroyed hectares worth of paddy, said rice experts.

The price for high-end aye-yarmin has grown 15 percent to K30,000 per bag (one bag is the equivalent of 49
kilograms) since the beginning of the year due to rice stem borers, which destroy rice stocks at the seedling
stage, said U Thein Zaw, chair of the Rice Wholesale Centre.―There has been a shortage of moderate quality
rice for middle-class and low-income groups,‖ he said, adding that despite the price hike, prices for some brands
remain lower than in Yangon due to their notoriously poor quality.―Demand for Yangon rice is also high even
though it‘s cheaper than Shwebo rice,‖ he said.Nevertheless, prices are expected to drop once more come April
when seasonal supply from Kawlin and Wuntho is expected to hit the market.As of last week, the price for
Shwebo pawsan (new rice) in Mandalay reached K32,000 per bag, while the same bag sold for K38,000 in
Yangon.
Some experts are worried that the rice industry in Myanmar has become unsustainable as prices are mainly
being driven by illicit trading in the north on the Chinese side of the border.Rice producers are currently

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withholding stock from its traditional trading partners in an attempt to secure more favourable prices from
China, where traders are able to offer a higher price from dodging local taxes.
– Translation by Zar Zar Soe

Rice production in Bengal may cross 170 lakh MT by 2017: Assocham
Udit Prasanna Mukherji, TNN | Mar 3, 2014, 01.51PM IST
Rice production in West Bengal (WB) can reach 173 lakh million tonnes mark by 2017-18 from the current
level of about 148 lakh million tonne through increased usage of high yielding varities, improving soil drainage,
spreading rice-fish culture and taking other such measures, apex industry body Assocham said on
Monday."Increasing the crop intensity by utilising kharif rice fallows for cultivation of rabi pulses and oilseeds,
diversification of upland rice areas that are less productive to suitable crops like pulses, oilseeds and millets
together with development of on-farm irrigation resources through exploitation of abundant ground water
potential are certain significant steps required to increase cropping intensity and crop productivity in West
Bengal," according to a study titled, 'Towards Second Green Revolution in Eastern India: A Road Map,'
conducted by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).

"Rice production in eastern region of India can reach about 670 lakh million tonne by 2017-18 from the current
level of over 580 lakh million tonne as the region holds tremendous potential to emerge as 'Rice Bowl of India,'
as every quintal increase in yield would push rice production by over two million tonnes," added the Assocham
study. "Eastern India contributes almost 55 per cent area under rice i.e. over 23 million hectares, besides, this
part of the country is also blessed with abundant natural resources including land, water and bio-diversity, thus
an integrated holistic approach coupled with a well-planned strategy is imperative to reaslise targeted average
agricultural growth rate of about four per cent in the eastern region." West Bengal spearheads the eastern India
in paddy production to the tune of about 150 lakh MT followed by eastern UP (140 lakh MT), Odisha (70 lakh
MT), Bihar (68 lakh MT), Chhattisgarh (63 lakh MT), Assam (47 lakh MT) and Jharkhand (34 lakh MT). If
India is able to bridge the gap between potential yield and actual yield in rice, the eastern region can achieve a
compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 10 per cent in rice production, highlighted the Assocham
study. "Rice and fish production needs to be up-scaled in eastern region as it plays a significant role in socioeconomic structure of farmers in the region, beside increased production of rice and fisheries resources will also
lead to growth in marketing infrastructure and spur job creation in post-harvest, marketing and other related
spheres," said Mr D.S. Rawat, national secretary general of Assocham while releasing the study.
"Greater dependence on unpredictable monsoon, recurring drought and floods, low intensity during Kharif
season, poor growth in spread of high yielding varieties, injudicious use of fertilizers and other agri inputs, low
seed replacement rate coupled with weak extension machinery and poor credit facilities are major challenges
faced by the region as it grapples with sluggish productivity and production growth rate," said Rawat. In its
study, Assocham has suggested for using hybrids, inter-cropping, increased mechanization, use of micro
nutrients, extension support and demonstration centres that are key to raise productivity. "Apart from rice
(paddy) suitable evaluation of promoting other crops like maize, pulses and oilseeds should be undertaken for

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

optimum utilization of land and local needs in the region," said Rawat. "There is also urgent need for efficient
management of water resources as Eastern India is prone to rampant drought and floods.
" Assocham has recommended that focused research in evolving hybrid seeds in developing transgenic rice
should be undertaken to address problem of nutrients, pests, diseases, drought and floods. Besides, objective
evaluation of bio-products together with extension of necessary subsidy is imperative to make them costeffective and favorable for farmers as they are environment friendly and help in reducing toxicity and
carcinogens. Market linkages is yet another important factor highlighted in the Assocham study as increased
production should be supported by remunerative price to the farmers, accompanied by suitable mechanism for
procurement in identified eastern states. Infrastructure is a pre-requisite to achieve the second green revolution
in India, as such Assocham has suggested for conservation and conversion of water resources in the rural sector,
timely and efficient flood control systems, production of low-cost bio-pesticides and farm equipment and
centres for agro-machinery services and agri-inputs.
Assocham has also suggested for creating a scientific storage, grading and cleaning centre as over 20 per cent of
agricultural goods are wasted at various points when farm products move from farm till consumers' doorstep. There is also a need to develop farmer friendly value addition process for better price realization,
stabilization and consistency in quality. A cluster development approach is required to create modern marketing
infrastructure for better realization for farmers with value addition and reduced agri wastage.

Sri Lanka’s Paddy (rice) production will decline by 35 percent due to drought
condition
Sri Lanka‘s Paddy (rice) production will decline by 35 percent due to drought condition Sri Lanka‘s Paddy
(rice) production will decline by 35 percent due to drought condition this year, according to Agriculture
ministry of Sri Lanka. According ... 1 0 0Google +0 0 Receive 80% Bonus : On Any Deposit, No Daily Limits.
Start Trading Forex with Mayzus! mayzus.com - Ads by Google Sri Lanka‘s Paddy (rice) production will
decline by 35 percent due to drought condition this year, according to Agriculture ministry of Sri Lanka.
According toSri Lankagovernment Rice stocks are sufficient for few months, so no need to worry. But private
Rice mill owners of the country may increase the rice prices, according to an expert.By:
Skymetweather.com

VACB detects corruption in Consumerfed rice purchase in Kerala
At least five grain wholesalers profited from operations
Forensic auditors working for the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) have reported to the
government that at least five ‗favoured‘ grain wholesalers in the State had ‗hugely profited‘ from

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Consumerfed‘s decision to procure rice at ‗higher than market rates‘ during 2012-13.The controversial decision,
taken at a time when there was reportedly adequate rice production in the country, reportedly caused the State
exchequer an estimated loss of Rs.1.6 crore in Kollam district alone. The auditing of Consumerfed‘s operations
during the period in other districts was under way, VACB enforcers said.The VACB identified the main
beneficiaries of the alleged rip-off as Andhra Pradesh Rice Corporation, Changanassery; Babu Stores, Nallila,
and Venkateshwara Traders, Mathilil, both in Kollam; Balaji Corporation, Kochi; and Sree Krishna Traders,
Mulankadakom. The VACB was investigating the traders on the charges of cheating and corruption.
It had also named the members of the Central Purchase Committee of Consumerfed, the apex body of consumer
cooperative societies in Kerala, chiefly its then managing director Reji G. Nair, and chief purchase manager R.
Jayakumar, as the main accused in the graft case (VC 4/13/SRT), sources said.The crux of the VACB‘s case
was that the accused had ‗betrayed‘ Consumerfed‘s stated aim of making provisions, chiefly rice, pulses, and
edible oil, available at the lowest rate possible to citizens and thereby caused undue financial advantage to the
traders and consequent loss to the government.The auditors had chiefly examined Consumerfed‘s purchase of
three popular varieties of rice; Jaya, Matta and raw rice.
They found that the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco) had purchased the same varieties of rice
from comparable wholesalers during the same period at a far lesser rates than Consumerfed.Last financial year,
Consumerfed had reported accumulated loss of Rs.128.63 crore. Nevertheless, the institution, which operated
on government grants and loans, had made ‗indiscriminate voucher payments to its staff on unverified expense
claims.‘It had appointed persons with dubious qualification and little or no work experience in newly created,
namesake, managerial posts of scarce consequence to the organisation‘s operations. The VACB said it found
provisions ‗left unattended and spoiling‘ at Consumerfed warehouses in the State after secondary societies
rejected the rations on the ground that they were highly priced or of inferior quality.
Keywords: ‗favoured‘ grain wholesalers, Consumerfed, Kerala grain supplies, Consumerfed warehouses

Prices of popular rice varieties dip
Harish Murali, TNN | Mar 3, 2014, 04.22AM IST

TRICHY: Though many seethe against escalating prices of essential commodities, the prices of several rice
varieties have cooled in the region after a generous harvest in the region. In fact, the prices of popular rice
varieties have gone down substantially, prompting hoteliers and caterers to pounce upon the chance to raise
their provision stock.The price of one kg of Ponni rice, the most popular variety in the state, has come down by
at least Rs 10 after the samba harvest season. The Ponni rice varieties, which started arriving in the market
recently, are sold at prices between Rs 30 to Rs 35 per kg for the second quality. They were sold between Rs 33
to Rs 40 till a couple of months back. The first quality is sold at Rs 45 per kg, at least Rs 5 less than earlier.
A 75 kg Ponni rice bag is being sold at a little over Rs 2,100, though the going rate till recently was Rs 2,250.
The retail price of Karnataka Ponni, the Andhra Ponnni and the Adhanaloor varieties ranges between Rs 32 and
Rs 37 per kg.

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Arrivals of paddy come to a halt at Karnal
OUR CORRESPONDENT
KARNAL, MARCH 3:
Arrivals of paddy have come to a halt at the Karnal Grain Market Terminal in view of lukewarm trading.
Tara Chand Sharma, proprietor of Tara Chand and Sons said, though farmers still have ample stocks with them,
they are not bringing their produce in view of slack buying.In view of lukewarm trade, prices of aromatic and
non-basmati rice varieties ruled flat on Monday. Rice prices have been ruling flat since last weekend.The
market has not seen any alteration in prices since last weekend and it‘s unlikely to see any major alteration over
the next couple of days too, said Amit Chandna, Proprietor, Hanuman Rice Trading Company. Though the
weather has turned favourable and traders are expecting good trading sessions this week, buyers are keeping
themselves out of the market, he said.
The market may witness some alteration later this week, said Amit Chandna.
In the physical market, Pusa-1121 (steam) sold at ₹
8,700-8,800, while Pusa-1121 (sela) quoted at ₹
7,750. Pure
Basmati (Raw) quoted at ₹
12,200. Duplicate basmati (steam) sold at ₹
7,000 a quintal.
Pusa-1121 (second wand) was at ₹
7,100, Tibar at ₹
6,150 while Dubar at ₹
5,000.
In the non-basmati section, Sharbati (Steam) sold at ₹
4,800 while Sharbati (Sela) quoted at ₹
4,500. Permal
(raw) sold at ₹
2,320, Permal (sela) at ₹
2,340, PR-11 (sela) sold at ₹
2,700 while PR-11 (Raw) at ₹
2,600.
PR14 (steam) sold at ₹
2,950 a quintal.
(This article was published on March 3, 2014)

Levy rice collection poor: CAG report
‘State incurred additional cost of Rs. 948.61 crore for procuring rice from Central pool’
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India on public sector undertakings has criticised the Karnataka Food
and Civil Supplies Corporation and Karnataka State Warehousing Corporation for not taking any initiative to
ensure compliance with the levy order in terms of rice procurement from mills since 2004-05.The CAG report
for the year ended March 2013, which was tabled in the Legislative Assembly recently, termed the collection
very poor and said that the extra cost to the government on account of the failure to meet the levy rice target
was high.Procurement of the targeted quantity of levy rice would have made the State less dependent on the
Central pool (Food Corporation of India) and reduced the cost of targeted public distribution system. The total
quantum of mill point levy rice, which is collected for the Central public distribution system, not collected was
22.52 lakh tonnes during 2011-12 and 2012-13 and the government incurred an additional cost of Rs. 948.61
crore for procuring rice from the Central pool.The report said that the State had sufficient foodgrains, including
paddy, and it could have avoided the additional cost.It said that 58.7 lakh tonnes of paddy was milled in 201112 and 56.42 lakh tonnes in 2012-13 (the assessment was based on the quantum of electricity consumed by the
mills).

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

According to the levy order, millers are required to make available 33.33 per cent of the quantity of rice milled
for levy — 13.03 lakh tonnes and 12.11 lakh tonnes in 2011-12 and 2012-13, respectively.The State
government, the report said, lowered the target for supply of levy rice to 3 lakh tonnes and 3.5 lakh tonnes for
2011-12 and 2012-13, respectively. It reduced the target for 2012-13 further to 1.5 lakh tonnes. The levy order,
however, did not have a provision to reduce the targets for levy collection. The actual collection from millers
during 2011-12 was only 2.03 lakh tonnes and in 2012-13, it was 59,000 tonnes.
Keywords: rice collection, levy collection, Karnataka State Warehousing Corporation, levy rice, rice
procurement

Food prices move both ways
Updated 2014-03-03 12:34:52

Prices of wheat are on the rise despite
imports of 377,000 tonnes during the last
seven months ending January this year,
chiefly due to fears about crop output
size and smuggling to Afghanistan.
Against the target of 25 million tonnes,
latest estimates of SUPARCO indicate total
wheat output this year would be just 23.84
million tonnes.Other estimates also show
production would not reach the targeted
level. Wheat and wheat flour demand is
rising in Afghanistan and Pakistan has
emerged as key major supplier due to Kazakhstan‘s absence from that market.Pakistan and Kazakhstan together
meet more than 60pc of the Afghan requirement of wheat, says a KP-based flour-miller, adding that when
supplies from one country is down the other‘s naturally increases.During the current marketing year,
Afghanistan is set to import two million tonnes of wheat. Kazakhstan, facing wheat shortage at home, is not
making big supplies.
So, traders foresee larger wheat exports to Kabul on arrival of new crop, subject to government‘s policy.―Some
flour millers of Balochistan and KP sell illegally to Afghanistan a part of subsidised wheat quotas they get from
provincial food departments,‖ according to an official of Sindh Food Department.―And a few millers in Punjab
and Sindh are selling subsidised wheat in the open market at higher rates, exploiting the shortage‖, he
added.During February, prices of rice varieties either remained flat, after rising for several consecutive months,
or showed little movement.―The reason is, exports of non-Basmati rice slumped during January due to cheaper
sales by India and ongoing rice rout (a reference to price crash after huge inventory selling by Thailand),‖ a
leading commodity dealer in Karachi told Dawn. Pakistan shipped out 297,000 tonnes of non-Basmati rice in
January 2014, against 429,000 tonnes in January 2013.Major exporters and companies producing popular local

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brands had bought hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rice between October-January 2013-14.Market sources
say a slump in exports in January reduced their buying requirements in February, keeping the prices flat.
Former Vice chairman of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan Mr. Abdul Baseer says higher prices of
Pakistani non-Basmati rice varieties have led to loss of several markets to Indian exporters.Traders say high
costs of farming and processing keep prices from falling despite recent fall in exports volumes and amid a seven
million tonnes plus rice production this year.Sugar prices remained stable in February on growing supplies from
mills despite entry of state-run Trading Corporation of Pakistan for buffer-building purchases.One TCP-tender
in the first week of February for buying up to 75,000 tonnes generated bids for supply of 236,000 tonnes, a
reflection of strong supply lines. Sugar output this year is projected to reach 5.2 million tonnes, from less than
five million tonnes in the last year.Top sugar dealers say that as the government refused to allow fresh sugar
exports, in mid-February, wholesale prices went down slightly. But the reason why this didn‘t trickle down
fully to retail level was that the market still expected that sugar lobby well-penetrated in the power corridors
would convince the government to review this decision.
The Economic Coordination Committee refused permission for fresh sugar exports on the ground that some
sugar mills had still not exhausted previous export quotas.The ECC held that the estimated surplus of 667,000
tonnes would be helpful in stabilising prices at times of shortages and recommended state buying of half a
million tonnes for this purpose.Prices of gram and gram pulse showed a rising trend during February. Traders
cite rising cost of transportation from Punjab to wholesale markets in Punjab.For the year 2013-14, the
government had set gram production target at 650,000 tonnes against 673,000 tonnes, a year earlier. But field
reports reaching provincial agricultural departments suggest actual output may fall behind the target. Traders
say this too has affected prices.Tea prices somewhat eased in February, reflecting the downward trend in global
markets and also due to flooding of smuggled tea into domestic markets.A leading producer of famous brand
also cut prices to exhaust its stocks as the mercury level began rising.Company officials say they did this also
because loose tea prices were falling due to availability of large amounts of smuggled tea. 1kg tea pack of this
particular brand was selling for Rs580 in February, down from Rs620 in January.Prices of poultry meat also
witnessed a dip, particularly in Karachi and other parts of Sindh where early departure of winter has depressed
its demand.

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Mar 03
Mon Mar 3, 2014 3:44pm IST
Nagpur, Mar 3 (Reuters) - Gram and tuar prices in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing
Committee (APMC) reported down on lack of demand from local millers amid rain hit poor quality
arrival. Fresh fall on NCDEX in gram prices and increased supply from producing regions also
pulled down prices in thin trading activity, according to sources.
*

*

*

*

FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

* Gram mill quality shot up here on renewed demand from local traders amid weak supply
from producing belts. Fresh fall in Madhya Pradesh gram prices also affected
sentiment.
TUAR
* Tuar Fataka best and medium varieties recovered in open market on good festival
season demand from local traders. Reports about crop damage because of unseasonal
rains also boosted prices.
* Batri dal and Lakhodi dal firmed up in open market on good buying support from local
traders amid weak supply from producing regions.
* In Akola, Tuar - 3,700-3,900, Tuar dal - 5,900-6,100, Udid at 6,000-6,300,
Udid Mogar (clean) - 7,000-6,200, Moong - 8,100-8,300, Moong Mogar
(clean) 9,500-9,700, Gram - 2,600-2,700, Gram Super best bold - 3,300-3,500
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
2,550-2,850
2,700-2,850
Gram Pink Auction
n.a.
2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction
3,800-3,950
3,860-3,950
Moong Auction
n.a.
6,100-6,300
Udid Auction
n.a.
4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction
n.a.
2,600-2,800
Gram Super Best Bold
3,750-3,900
3,750-3,900
Gram Super Best
n.a.
Gram Medium Best
3,200-3,400
3,200-3,400
Gram Dal Medium
n.a.
n.a.
Gram Mill Quality
3,300-3,350
3,200-3,350
Desi gram Raw
2,950-3,100
2,950-3,100
Gram Filter new
3,000-3,500
3,000-3,500
Gram Kabuli
7,900-10,300
7,900-10,300
Gram Pink
7,700-8,100
7,700-8,100
Tuar Fataka Best
6,400-6,600
6,300-6,500
Tuar Fataka Medium
6,100-6,200
6,000-6,100
Tuar Dal Best Phod
5,800-6,000
5,800-6,000
Tuar Dal Medium phod
5,500-5,700
5,500-5,700
Tuar Gavarani
4,100-4,200
4,100-4,200
Tuar Karnataka
4,300-4,400
4,300-4,400
Tuar Black
7,200-7,400
7,200-7,400
Masoor dal best
5,400-5,500
5,400-5,500

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Masoor dal medium
5,100-5,300
5,100-5,300
Masoor
n.a.
n.a.
Moong Mogar bold
9,700-9,950
9,700-9,950
Moong Mogar Medium best
9,300-9,500
9,300-9,500
Moong dal super best
8,600-8,900
8,600-8,900
Moong dal Chilka
8,000-8,300
8,000-8,300
Moong Mill quality
n.a.
n.a.
Moong Chamki best
8,200-8,700
8,200-8,700
Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 7,400-7,600
7,400-7,600
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,600
5,800-6,600
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)
4,700-5,000
4,700-5,000
Batri dal (100 INR/KG)
4,200-5,000
4,000-5,000
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)
3,200-3,300
3,100-3,200
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)
3,300-3,400
3,300-3,400
Watana White (100 INR/KG)
3,300-3,400
3,300-3,400
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,400-4,700
4,400-4,700
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)
1,700-1,800
1,700-1,800
Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,840-1,890
1,840-1,890
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)
1,650-1,850
1,650-1,850
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500
2,400-2,500
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,200
2,050-2,200
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a.
n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,600
3,000-3,600
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,900
2,400-2,900
Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG)
1,600-1,700
1,600-1,700
Wheat Best (100 INR/KG)
1,700-1,750
1,700-1,750
Rice BPT new(100 INR/KG)
2,600-2,950
2,600-2,950
Rice BPT old (100 INR/KG)
2,800-3,300
2,800-3,300
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG)
1,700-1,850
1,700-1,850
Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,750
2,500-2,750
Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG)
2,300-2,450
2,300-2,450
Rice HMT new (100 INR/KG)
3,800-4,200
3,800-4,200
Rice HMT Shriram (100 INR/KG) 4,700-5,200
4,700-5,200
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)
5,500-6,000
5,500-6,000
Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG) 5,200-5,600
5,200-5,600
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. 28.6 degree Celsius (83.5 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
16.5 degree Celsius (58.3 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : 0.0 mm
FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and Minimum temperature likely to be around 30 and 14 degree

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but
included in market prices.)

Iraq issues tender for at least 30,000 T rice
Reuters Middle East – Sun, Jan 19, 2014

BAGHDAD, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Iraq issued a tender to buy at least 30,000 tonnes of rice, from long-grain
supplies which can be sourced from the United States, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil, a trade ministry
statement said on Sunday.The closing date for the tender is Feb. 2, and offers must stay valid until Feb. 6.
(Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed; Editing by Pravin Char)

Negotiations over resumption of rice exports to begin within next two weeks
Doaa Farid / March 3, 2014

Minister of Supply to reconsider decision to suspend rice exports

Newly-appointed Minister of Supply Khaled Hanafy said Sunday that he would reconsider a decision
suspending rice exports
(AFP Photo)
Discussions with the Ministry of Supply over resuming rice exports will commence this week or next week,
with the aim of reaching an agreement on the ―best‖ possible solution to export rice while benefiting all parties
involved, Vice Chairman of the Rice Division in the Federation
of Egyptian Industries Mostafa Atallah said on
Monday.Newly-appointed Minister of Supply Khaled Hanafy
said Sunday that he would reconsider a decision suspending
rice exports, state-owned news agency MENA reported.Hanafy
explained that there have been calls to rsume rice exports ―in
order to open new rice markets abroad, and contribute to
revitalising the economy‖.Minister of Industry and Foreign
Trade Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour announced last November a
bid to export 100,000 tonnes of rice, set to take place from
mid-November to January 2014.
Abdel Nour said at the time that exporting rice would be
―beneficial‖, as global prices are high.However, rice exports
were suspended in November due to a shortage in quantities
―intentionally‖ created by merchants who had attempted to
monopolise the rice market, Atallah explained.According to

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Atallah, rice exportation was set to begin in September; however, ―merchants requested to postpone it to
November‖. During those two months, merchants collected high quantities of rice in the market in order to
control prices, he added.The Ministry of Supply could not determine an adequate quantity for exporting, Atallah
said.Former Minister of Supply Mohamed Abu Shady, under Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawi‘s cabinet,
announced in October that rice exports will be halted ―until all ration needs of the grain are met‖.
The government sells 1.4m tonnes of subsidised rice per year, at EGP 1.5 per kilogram, according to Abu
Shady.―I will not pay heed to the interests of a few dozen rice exporters at the expense of domestic markets,‖
Abu Shady told the Daily News Egypt in a November interview.The minister stated that rice exports will
resume, adding that prices of rice hiked from EGP 1,800 a tonne to EGP 2,000.Egypt produces 6.5m tonnes of
rice, of which it uses up 3.5m to 4m tonnes, according to Abu Shady.In 2012, Egypt exported 650,000 tonnes of
rice to 58 countries in Europe and the Arab region, Atallah stated.Before leaving the ministry, Abu Shady
decided on 22 February to refer the head of the central import administration at the General Authority for
Supply Administration (GASC) to administrative prosecutors on charges of ―corruption‖

Rice payment next week
Published: 1 Mar 2014 at 10.26
Online news: News

The caretaker government will next week pay 3,917 farmers owed
money under the rice pledging programme since September last year,
Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan said on
Saturday.Caretaker
Commerce
Minister
Niwatthamrong
Bunsongphaisan (Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)
Speaking on the Yingluck Government Meets the People weekly
programme on state-run NBT television channel, Mr Niwatthamrong
said the government has received a formal document from the Election Commission (EC), approving the use of
712 million baht from the Central Fund to pay rice growers in the five provinces of Chachoengsao, Phetchabun,
Prachin Buri, Uthai Thani and Ayutthaya for the 2012-2013 crop year.The Budget Bureau will allocate the
budget for the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) to transfer the money to the farmers
next week, he said.Mr Niwatthamrong said the government's request for the EC to approve the use of 20 billion
baht from the state's contingency budget to pay off its debts to rice growers for the 2013-2014 crop year will not
impose a new financial obligation on the next administration.The move is not intended to boost the Pheu Thai
Party's popularity in the electorate, he added.

Cambodian rice trade hit by Thai sales
Published: 3 Mar 2014 at 18.14
Online news:

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Thailand's rice sales are quickly pushing down world prices, affecting
Cambodia's industry and farmers, according to a report.New figures
from rice industry publication Oryza show the price for Cambodia's
jasmine rice has declined sharply in recent months, in line with falling
prices in Thailand brought on by the failed rice-pledging scheme."This
is a concern for everyone in the rice industry now," Khan Kunthy,
CEO of Battambang Rice Investment Company, told the Phnom Penh
Post, adding sales have also dropped.Mr Kunthy said export volume
for the first few months of this year was largely based on orders from
2013. ―There is no good sign of orders for this new year yet,‖ he
said.But stockpiles have accumulated to record levels, flooding the global market with new quantities of supply
and driving down prices.Thai officials estimate there are 15 to 18 million tonnes of stockpiled rice. Oryza
reported that the Thai government planned to offload at least one million tonnes per month from January to
March.Thai hom mali rice is now at $955 a tonne, a decline of 17% compared to the price in December last
year, when it stood at $1,163.The latest figures from Oryza show that, at the end of February, Cambodia‘s
jasmine rice cost $885 per tonne, a 7% decrease from $950 in December.―We have no other choice besides
lowering our rice price, even if we have to put up with the loss if prices went even lower than they are now, or
no one will buy from us,‖ Mr Kunthy of Battambang Rice Investment Company said.Mr Kunthy, who runs a
newly established rice milling operation, is also under pressure to repay the bank for a loan he took out to help
set up the mill.
A Cambodian farmer drives an oxcart as he transports rice back home during rice harvesting season near Phnom
Penh on Dec 13, 2013. (Photo by AP)
Lim Bun Heng, owner of Loran Company, one of the country‘s largest rice exporters, said declines in
Cambodia‘s jasmine variety will squeeze margins for all involved."Cheaper prices of milled rice also mean
cheaper prices of paddy rice that the miller will buy from farmers too," Bun Heng said, adding that ―we cannot
buy expensive paddy rice and sell it at a lower price".Export volumes are also decreasing as buyers look for
cheap stockpiled product. Bun Heng said his company experienced a 30% in exports over the first two months
of this year."The Thais are selling their rice very cheap, so the buyers are switching to Thailand," he said.Last
year was a time of enormous gains for the rice industry, as export volumes doubled. But the rice scheme has
upended the global market, setting back not just Thailand, which used to be the world‘s largest exporter, but its
neighbours, too.
In January of 2012, Cambodia exported 9,700 tonnes of rice. Exports for the same period in 2013 jumped to
25,700 tonnes. But this January, the pace slackened, with only 21,500 tonnes sent out of the country.Exporters
and rice millers should keep their fragrant rice paddy and wait until the supply in the global market declines,
advised Srey Chanty, an independent economist who focuses on agriculture issues.―I think in the next three or
four months, the fragrant rice price will bounce back to normal,‖ he said.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Protest pressure on rice investigation
3 Mar 2014 at 12.29
Online news: Local News

Anti-government protesters led by Luang Pu Buddha Issara marched to the Office of the Auditor General of
Thailand and the Office of the Attorney General to apply pressure for a finding in the investigation into the
corruption of the government‘s rice pledging scheme.Protesting farmers, who have camped out at Commerce
Ministry for weeks, marched to the Office of the Auditor General of Thailand on Rama 6 Road in the same
compound as the Finance Ministry around 10am. They did not enter the ministry‘s grounds as all gates had been
locked prior to their arrival.
Luang Pu Budda Issara, who is overseeing the Chaeng Wattana protest site for the People‘s Democratic Reform
Committee, have given the office seven days to explain the finding about irregularities of the delay in payment
of money for pledged grain.He said Chaeng Wattana protesters would change their strategy and seek justice for
farmers.The protesters planned to later march to the Office of the Attorney General situated in the Government
Complex at Chaeng Wattana.

As world faces supply glut, Philippines under pressure over high rice
prices
March 4, 2014 - 09:44

By Erik dela Cruz
MANILA (Reuters) - Rice prices in the Philippines have risen for six straight weeks, piling pressure on the
government to import more of the national staple to stabilise markets and curb inflation already at two-year
highs.While bumper harvests in other countries have stoked a global rice glut, prices in the Philippines have
climbed around 4 percent in the last three months after Typhoon Haiyan devastated key growing regions and as
the government clamps down on smugglers looking to avoid hefty taxes.Increased purchases by the Philippines,
one of the world's largest rice buyers, would help ease global oversupply, with Vietnam and Thailand likely to
bid aggressively for any new deal from their Southeast Asian neighbour.National Food Authority spokesman
Rex Estoperez confirmed media reports that Manila has since late January doubled the amount of rice it has
been releasing into markets from stockpiles most days, looking to curb price gains."Private traders are running
out of stocks, that's why we have released (more) rice into the market from our warehouses," he said.
That has further drained NFA stocks that had dwindled to around 275,000 tonnes at the start of the year equivalent to 8 days' worth of consumption, nearly half normal levels. Figures for January are due to be released
next week.The U.S. Department of Agriculture has already said it expects Philippine imports to hit 1.4 million
tonnes in 2014, which would be the highest in four years. The country has yet to confirm any purchases beyond
500,000 tonnes it bought from Vietnam in a government-to-government deal in November.Vietnam, the world's
second-biggest rice exporter after India, is traditionally the Philippines' biggest supplier as it usually offers

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cheaper rice.For Thailand, a deal to sell rice to the Philippines would help offload some of its huge reserves and
raise much-needed money to pay farmers that participated in a controversial subsidy scheme.
GOING UP
The average retail price of well-milled rice in the Philippines rose a further 1.2 percent in February from the
previous month to 40.12 pesos ($0.90) per kg, and was up 13.7 percent from a year ago, data from the Bureau of
Agricultural Statistics showed on Tuesday.Estoperez said the NFA had doubled the rice allocated each day to
government accredited outlets to 2,500 kg per location. Details on the number of accredited outlets in the
Philippines were not immediately available.He also noted that government moves to crack down on smugglers
had pushed prices higher. Philippines' customs have been on a drive to curb smuggling that has been rife as
some importers look to avoid a whopping 40 percent duty on private shipments of rice and to get around a quota
system.
Critics have long argued the tariff should be reduced to encourage legal imports, but President Benigno
Aquino's government says it is necessary to support local farmers.Climbing rice and fuel costs have driven up
inflation in the Philippines, with its central bank predicting annual inflation to have reached its highest in more
than
two
years
in
February.
(Editing by Joseph Radford)
Reuters

8th Int’l Rice-Duck Conference set in Butuan
BY: JENNIFER P. GAITANO
Monday 3rd of March 2014
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 3 (PIA) – The Philippine Agrarian Reform Foundation for National Development
(PARFUND) with funding support from the Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF) will be conducting this year‘s
8th International Rice-Duck Conference on March 10-14, 2014 in one of the local hotels here.According to
PARFUND Chief Operation Officer Jose Apollo Pacamalan, the said conference will gather integrated riceduck farming system (IRDFS) experts and farmer practitioners and supporters, as well as development investors
from all over Asia to share and exchange knowledge and innovations that highlight IRDFS as a climate-smart
agriculture system and as a social enterprise business model that addresses rural poverty.―It will also facilitate
the sharing of technologies and strategies across both the organic rice and duck industry value claims, such as
duck meat product development and marketing," he said.Also, during the five-day conference, the following
activities will be conducted: Philippine Cultural Show; Cooking/Duck Culinary Expo; Asian Cultural Night;
and Balut-Eating Contest. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

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Stakeholders Unite to Fight Smuggling of Rice, Others
03 Mar 2014
Bags of rice
By Crusoe Osagie
Rice dealers in Nigeria have declared their
intention to join the federal government in the
combat against smuggling, stressing that it
would no longer be business as usual for those
who specialise in smuggling the commodity
into the country.Rising from a stakeholders
meeting in Lagos, the dealers, including Rice
Millers, Importers and Distributors Association
of Nigeria (RiMIDAN) key rice distributors,
importers and other relevant stakeholders, made
it clear that smuggling of rice into Nigeria has
brought untold hardship to many Nigerians.

The stakeholders issued a communiqué by which they stated their resolve to stop rice smuggling from
neighbouring countries, particularly Republic of Benin, into Nigeria markets. The meeting equally resolved to
alert government agencies and functionaries such as the Nigeria Custom Service, Special Fraud Unit of the
Nigeria Police, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, among others, on those dealing
with smuggled rice so that the law would take its course.The stakeholders also resolved to ensure that in the
next few days, every knotty issue about rice policy like high tariff, improved value chain, prosecuting the
federal government‘s agricultural agenda especially in the areas of boosting food sufficiency and so on, would
begin to take shape properly.It will be recalled that rice dealers under the auspices of RiMIDAN has been
crying hoarse over the non-implementation of the 2013 benchmark of $190 per metric ton duty on imported
rice, which in turn has resulted in the flooding of the Nigerian markets with smuggled rice from Republic of
Benin.
However, President of RiMIDAN, Mr. Tunji Owoeye, while explaining the reason behind the stakeholders
meeting, disclosed that the federal government has assured that it would soon resolve every contentious issue in
the rice business in order to boost economy and make those in the sector to survive.―We want zero-tolerance on
rice smuggling. The leadership of the distributors are ready to work with us, importers can now import legally
while millers and rice farmers should fully be back to business,‖ Owoeye stated.THISDAY learnt that
resolutions at the stakeholders meeting would be sent to the various bodies and relevant government agencies
for action. The rice dealers agreed to continuously collaborate and work together towards sanitising the sector
which they said has been taken over by unscrupulous people due to the inaction of the federal government on
the agreed duty.However, the rice dealers expressed joy that government has now started listening to them and

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has promised some incentives for millers as well as make the business competitive by encouraging local
production of quality rice.
The meeting was attended by RiMIDAN officials, Rice Market Leaders from major markets in Lagos,
importers, as well as representatives of enforcement agencies from Special Fraud Unit of the Police, EFCC, and
the Customs. They were unanimous that increased rice smuggling could rubbish the federal government‘s
Agricultural Agenda and therefore should not be allowed to continue.The sensitisation campaign against
patronising smuggled rice would be carried out in other parts of the country especially areas where the products
are being sold cheap to the detriment of legal dealers, the stakeholders equally agreed.Rice dealers provide
employment for over 100,000 people including clearing agents, transporters and domestic staff. However, in the
last one year, over 20 vessels have been trapped at high seas, due to non-take off of the agreed tariff regime.
The dealers lamented that while Benin Republic raked in over N200 billion duty on rice in 2013 alone, over 3
million tons of parboiled rice was smuggled into Nigeria through Benin Republic, amounting to over N300
billion revenue loss to Nigerian government.
Tags: Nigeria, Featured, Business, RICE

Big rice mess, due to Alcala, Calayag
GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc (The Philippine Star) | Updated March 3, 2014 - 12:00am

Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala is one of Noynoy Aquino‘s Cabinet favorites. That‘s because, as the President
likes, Alcala reports solutions, not problems. But the boss is in for a big letdown soon. That‘s when he finds out
that Alcala has created a looming rice crisis – for which there are no quick solutions.Signs of approaching storm
are in sight. For one, Alcala has failed on his promise of Philippine rice self-sufficiency by last 2013. His
excuse: the typhoons that hit rice-producing provinces. Predictable bad weather was precisely why agriculturists
had cautioned Alcala in 2010 against over-ambition. He didn‘t listen.experts cited against Alcala‘s bold goal
was government‘s slowness to boost harvests. This too Alcala ignored. Instead of irrigation, seedling
propagation, fertilizer subsidies, and palay driers, he used scant government funds to import rice.The result is
the present rice mess. Domestic prices doubled that in neighbor-countries in 2013, according to the Philippine
Rice Institute.
The steepest price surge came last June, ironically right after the April bumper harvest. Subsidized retailing by
the National Food Authority (NFA), which Alcala chairs, soared to P33 a kilo from P22. It has since dipped to
P27 a kilo, still higher than before.Alcala and NFA administrator Orlan Calayag, blamed it all on a supposed
cartel of rice hoarders-cum-smugglers. It did not compute. The NFA‘s first import shipment for 2013 of
205,700 tons had then just arrived from Vietnam. Either there still wasn‘t sufficient stock, or the NFA was too
slow to distribute it. (Calayag, Alcala‘s ex-congressional aide and U.S. citizen, has no training or experience in
food logistics.) Besides, if the hoarders were also smuggling in the staple, then there would have been a flood in
the market, thus dampening prices, to the benefit of consumers. Yet prices not only NFA but also commercial

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

rice spiked to P45 a kilo then and till today.At any rate, Alcala and Calayag neither identified nor indicted any
supposed hoarder-smuggler, then or now. Recently Davidson Bangayan alias David Tan was exposed in a
Senate inquiry as the ―Goliath of rice smuggling.
‖ Alcala and Calayag confirmed so. Yet they still have not charged him in court. Reports are that Bangayan is
the head of a faction of cartelists that Alcala and Calayag are replacing with another group. NFA records show,
in fact, that Bangayan headed the list of 19 importers given special NFA permits in 2011 and 2012.
Opinion ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
Alcala must be fudging the figures. He says rice production rose while consumption fell. That‘s not what NFA
records infer. The food-security agency‘s direct and special-permit rice imports have in fact been rising. NFA
and private licensees‘ total of 692,221 tons in 2012 swelled to 710,446 in 2013. For 2014 the NFA at first
announced 800,000 tons of imports. In a stormy meeting of the NFA council last week, the import plan rose to
one million tons.Alcala and Calayag‘s rising import volume mimics that of the hated past administration.
Aquino alleges that the regime of Gloria Arroyo in 2005-2010 bloated rice imports at 1.8 - 2.4 million tons for
the kickbacks. Alcala and Calayag‘s 705,700-ton purchase of Vietnam rice in 2013 allegedly was overpriced by
$100 a ton, for a kickback of P3.2 billion.
A plunder suit against them alleges that a certain privateer ―Buddy R.‖ brokered everything. Why an outsider
was needed in a government-to-government deal between two rice agencies is a mystery.Could there be bigger
kickbacks in this year‘s NFA imports? That leaves to be seen. What is perceptible, although Alcala and Calayag
are trying to keep it secret, is their lack of legal basis to monopolize imports.The two are forum shopping. Late
last year Alcala asked the Dept. of Justice to support his line that the NFA has monopoly right to impose rice
import permits. Supposedly that power comes from the Agricultural Imports Tariff Act of 1996 (R.A. 8178).
But Justice Sec. Leila de Lima opined on Dec. 16, 2013, that it is not the only applicable law for rice imports.
The 1994 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, an international treaty signed by the President and ratified
by the Senate, forms part of the law of the land, she said. In that pact all member-states shall no longer
monopolize food imports, or require permits for private importers starting 2005. The Philippines negotiated a
seven-year reprieve, which expired in June 2012. Thus, de Lima said, the NFA must scrap all its ―quantitative
restrictions‖ and allow private imports under normal tariff, in this case 50 percent of the value of the rice
import. Non-compliance could mean sanctions by the World Trade Organization, she warned. Indeed, other
members could cut their imports of Philippine farm produce, like sugar, banana, and pineapple.Alcala was
unsatisfied.
So Calayag on Jan. 9, 2014, sought similar support from the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel. No
go, the OGCC said on Feb. 3, 2014. While the OGCC agreed that the NFA could monopolize and thus license
rice importers, it cited a fatal flaw in the implementing memo of March 2013. The NFA had failed to have it
published first in the newspapers, thus invalidating it under Supreme Court jurisprudence.Meantime, on Jan. 21,
2014, Calayag sought de Lima‘s reconsideration. He said that negotiations are ongoing with Thailand, Canada,
and the United States to allow a WTO extension of NFA restrictions till July 2017.It‘s unclear if de Lima found
out about Alcala and Calayag‘s forum shopping. On Feb. 3, 2014, she elevated the matter for the President and

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the Cabinet economic cluster to decide.If that meeting convenes to discuss issues openly, two points will be
brought to the fore.
One, the National Economic and Development Authority, headed by the President, has long decided, and the
NFA agreed, that the latter lift all restrictions on rice imports by June 2012. Two, thenceforth the NFA shall
focus on direct aid to farmers, and to stockpiling of 30 days‘ rice buffer. More so since the ASEAN Economic
Community starting 2015 shall limit rice import tariffs to 20 percent max.Alcala and Calayag would be found to
have left farmers unready for global competitiveness, and consumers unshielded from price spikes.
* *
*
Catch Sapol radio show, Saturdays, 8-10 a.m., DWIZ, (882-AM).
Gotcha archives on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jarius-Bondoc/1376602159218459, or The STAR
website http://www.philstar.com/author/Jarius%20Bondoc/GOTCHA
E-mail: jariusbondoc@gmail.com

9 people, one organisation get Independence Day Award 2014
Tribune Report
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to distribute the awards at a ceremony on March 25
A rice research institute and nine personalities have been selected for this year‘s Independence Day Award.The
government yesterday announced the names of the recipients, who include seven freedom fighters, an artist and
an educator, said an order issued by the cabinet division.he awardees who were recognized posthumously for
their contributions to the country‘s Liberation War and independence include former parliamentarian
Mohammad Abul Khayer, martyred police officer Munsi Kabir Uddin Ahmed, former additional deputy
commissioner of Barisal Kazi Azizul Islam, former sub-divisional officer of Kishoreganj Khasruzzaman
Chowdhury, SBM Mizanur Rahman and Dr Haris Ali.Lt Col (rtd) Abu Usman Chowdhury, the commander of
Sector 8 during the 1971 war, also receives the award in the same category.Principal M Kamruzzaman got the
award posthumously for his contributions to education, while eminent artist Qayyum Chowdhury was awarded
for his mark in the cultural arena.The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, meanwhile, was chosen for the award
for contributions to agriculture research.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to distribute the awards at a
ceremony on March 25.Each recipient will get Tk1 lakh, a gold medal and a certificate from the
government.The Independence Day Award, Bangladesh‘s highest state award, was introduced by the
government in 1977. The award recognises outstanding contributions to the Liberation War, the 1952 Language
Movement and sectors such as education, literature, science and technology, medical sciences, journalism,
public service, social science, cultural activities, sports, fine arts and rural development.A cabinet division
source said the names of 28 people and 16 organisations were nominated for this year‘s awards.The cabinet
committee on national awards, headed by Finance Minister AMA Muhith, finalised the names of the 10
awardees and the prime minister approved the final list.

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