16th november,2015 daily global,regional & local rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine

8/20/2019 16th November,2015 Daily Global,Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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aily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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November 16,2

Vol 5, Issue XI

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Rice News Headlines...

Climate change: States must focus on r isk management in agricultu re

Better Ri ce in iti ative to help Mekong farmers Buhar i To Launch N20bn CBN Loan For Local Rice Farmers In Nigeri a

PhilRice should help build farmers’ climate resilience’

Wrap Up With Ri ce Student Competi tion Nour ishes M inds

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futur es

Rice pri ces may reach boili ng point i n coming months

Butte County rice farmers learn how it grows in Italy’s Po Valley

Kangaroo rogan josh

Defi cient rains may push up ri ce pri ces

Basmati r ice and sugar stocks up on favourable fundamentals

Ami ra Nature Foods Ltd Announces New Distr ibuti on Win in Northeast United

States APEDA Rice Commodity News

PH to miss 2015 ri ce output tar get, expects modest r ise in Q1 2016

Farmers troubled by good ri ce harvest

El Niño, Lando to cut 2015 palay output by 3.54%

Q3 PALAY OUTPUT CONTRACTS 16%

Govt strengthens preventi on of commodity pr ice fixing

Thailand to start sale of 2 mln T of spoil ed ri ce thi s month

Annual r ice imports of 1.1m tons required in I ran: off icial

Second-crop farmers given govt warnings

News Detail...

Climate change: States must focus on risk management

in agriculture Hindustan Times |

Updated: Nov 16, 2015 22:55 IST

The farmers not only need access to climate-resistant varieties across agrarian products, but such interventions have toreach them before a natural disaster actually strikes. (Representative Photo: Arun Mondhe/ HT)

This year is turning out to be a milestone year for the world‟s future: In September, 192 countriessigned the Sustainable Development Goals and on November 30, delegates from 195 countrieswill converge in Paris for 12 days to hammer out a new global climate accord. There are severalcross-cutting issues between the two mega meets, climate change and agriculture being the two big ones.


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It is a no-brainer why the impact of climate change on agriculture is significant: While alleconomic activities experience hazards from nature, agriculture is one of the riskiest and climatechange is becoming a source of significant additional risks for agriculture and food systems. Infact, in the last 40 years, the impact of climate change on agriculture has been significant andgoing forward, it will increasingly become tougher.

A World Bank paper says that each degree Celsius of global warming is projected to lead to anoverall yield loss of about 5%. As climate change progresses, it is increasingly likely that currentsystems will no longer be viable in many locations. This is a serious warning for the world, particularly India, since figures show that the country will have 1.5 billion mouths to feed by2030.

The World Bank paper rightly advises focusing more on risk management in agriculture. Thereare already examples of such work: The International Rice Research Institute in collaborationwith advanced US research labs, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, state agriculturaluniversities, and the ministry of science and technology‟s department of biotechnology havespearheaded plant breeding to develop strains of rice that are resistant to effects of climatechange, like flash flood, stagnant flooding, salinity, and drought.Just think how much farmers inBundelkhand and Maharashtra today would have benefited if they had access to drought-resistantcrops. Investing in climate-resilient agriculture has several downstream effects: It can stem

migration, improve rural demand and ensure food security. The farmers, however, not only needaccess to climate-resistant varieties across agrarian products, but such interventions have to reachthem before a natural disaster actually strikes.http://www.hindustantimes.com/editorials/climate-change-states-must-focus-on-risk-management-

in-agriculture/story-Etj9in3qTZwQQtea1Zuy3K.html


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Better Rice initiative to help Mekong farmers

November, 16 2015 09:32:00

Farmers take care of rice field in the Mekong Delta Kien Giang Province. About 3,000 farmersfrom the region will benefit from a project called Better Rice Initiative Asia that has been

launched in Can Tho City. — Photo VNA/VNS PhotoCAN THO (VNS) — About 3,000 farmersfrom three Mekong Delta provinces will benefit from a project called Better Rice Initiative Asiathat has been launched in Can Tho City.Carried out as part of the Integrated CoastalManagement Programme, the project aims to promote private-public partnerships along the ricevalue chain through adoption of a sustainable rice cultivation model harnessing the latesttechnologies.

In the first phase, it will be carried out in the provinces of Dong Thap, Hau Giang, and KienGiang. It will seek to improve farmers' knowledge of rice cultivation and promote the adoptionof modern technologies in an environment-friendly and sustainable manner.Its focus is also toimprove the rice value chain as a whole, from input to output, to strengthen the connection between rice production and market consumption to ensure rice quality and market satisfaction,enabling farmers to increase their incomes.

The project aims at increasing farmers' incomes by at least 30 per cent through increasing yields

and/or reducing input costs by adopting innovative rice cultivation methods. Furthermore, it said,rice harvested from this project would meet EU quality standards."The focus of the project isinnovative and synchronised technology solutions, including the use of good seeds, integratedcrop management, water and nutrient management, integrated pest management … to utilize

effectively rice input, increasing yields and quality, reducing losses and costs, and at the sametime increasing labour productivity and farmers' incomes," Phan Huy Thong, Director of the Viet Nam National Agricultural Extension Centre, said.


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"The project can contribute greatly to the adaptation and mitigation of climate change forsustainable rice production in Viet Nam."The project supports the stakeholders in the rice valuechain in applying the large field model. This is a key measure to restructure Viet Nam'sagriculture by increasing added value and farmers' incomes and boosting sustainable rice production."The other key stakeholders involved in the project are the Ministry of Agriculture

and Rural Development, the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dong Thap,Hau Giang and Kien Giang provinces, the International Rice Research Institute, and the MekongDelta Rice Research Institute. — VNS

http://vietnamnews.vn/society/278571/better-rice-initiative-to-help-mekong-farmers.html

Buhari To Launch N20bn CBN Loan For Local Rice

Farmers In Nigeria

By Naija247news

President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) will on Tuesdayofficially launch N20billion „Anchor Borrowers‟ Programme‟(ABP) which the Central Bank of Nigeria has set aside for ricefarmers across the country.The programme which is aninitiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) aimed atcreating an Ecosystem to link out-growers (Small HolderFarmers) to local processors will take place in Kebbi

State.Under the ABP, the CBN in a statement Saturday said ithas set aside the sum of N20 billion from the N220 billionMicro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) for farmers at a single-digit interest rate of 9.0 per cent to address the challenges of poor funding.

The Governor of the CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele who met with rice producers and millersrecently, said that the developmental initiatives programme has been designed to createeconomic linkages between farmers and processors to not only ensure increased agriculturaloutput of rice paddy, but also importantly close the gap between production and consumption byramping up utilisation capacity of Nigeria‟s integrated rice mills.Emefiele said if these nobleobjectives can be achieved, it is not unlikely that the country will require even more integrated

milling capacity to meet the huge local production of rice paddy.According to him, “The essence of the meeting was not to apportion blames to any party on thecurrent prevailing situation but to identify ways for all stakeholders to work together in a creativesynergy to mop up any excess unsold paddy and going forward key into the CBN‟s„ABP.Emefiele who expressed optimism that the new initiative would work, urged millers andinvestors in the rice value chain who have been joined by representatives of the stategovernments of some key rice producing states to collaborate with the CBN to ensure that in the


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next few years Nigeria as a great country will no longer be one of the world‟s highest importer ofrice but a net exporter of the commodity.

He, however, said that the country can never fully attain its true potentials by simply importingeverything into the country, stressing that such trend has resulted in the low operating capacities

of the manufacturing industries and cannot be allowed to continue.He explained that policydocument of the programme also indicated that the anchor borrowers‟ programme will buildcapacity of banks in agricultural lending to farmers and entrepreneurs in the value chain, reducecommodity importation. It will also reduce the level of poverty among small holder farmers andcreate jobs while assisting rural small-holder farmers to grow from subsistence to commercial production levels.

He identified lack of mechanisation, low quality inputs and poor funding as major hindrances torice production in Nigeria but stressed that the programme was aimed at solving the problem offinance.On the conditions for accessing the loan, the CBN boss said the farmers will bethoroughly trained on the global best agronomical practices.“The farmers must be a member of a

validated cooperative before applying for the loan. We will find out how much it will take to produce one hectare of rice to determine the amount that will be given to each individual. Theidea is to enhance efficient management of the resources” he said.Speaking further, he said Nigeria is a major rice producer with over 20 key rice producing states in the country with mostcultivating under two seasons: wet and dry seasons.

“Rice is one crop in which the country has comparative advantage to easily become self -sufficient given the huge potentials that exists. Today, rice is no longer considered a luxury foodto millions of Nigerians but has become a cereal that constitutes a major source of calories for both the rural and urban populations of the country.”“Indeed figures from the Federal Ministry ofAgriculture and Rural Development indicate that in the period, 2012 to 2014 paddy rice production in the country grew from 4.5 million metric tones in 2012, to 7.89 million metrictones in 2013, peaking at 10.7 million MT in 2014.

”The Governor said that the capacity of the country to achieve even better production figurescannot be overemphasized, considering that only about 40 per cent of the available potential landarea for rice production is currently being cultivated.He stated that the production figures aboveshow that in recent history, the country had never witnessed such rapid growth of paddy rice production.Meanwhile, some dynamic features of this new agricultural initiative include theIdentification and selection of Small Holder Farmers, grouping of out-growers into viablecooperatives/clusters, registration of the cooperatives, determination of the economics ofselection and engagement of banks/ insurance companies, capacity Building of out-growers, banks‟ staff and extension agents.Other salient features of the initiative also include opening of bank accounts by cooperatives/farmers, loan application and disbursement, commencement ofagronomic practices and distribution of agro-inputs at recommended periods.

http://naija247news.com/2015/11/buhari-launches-n20bn-cbn-loan-for-rice-farmers-tuesday/

PhilRice should help build farmers’ climate resilience’ posted November 16, 2015 at 12:01 am by Ferdie G. Domingo


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SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija — A former director of the Philippine Rice ResearchInstitute said those in the agency must think out of the box as it pursues a climate-resilientagriculture for Filipino farmers.Calixto Protacio, former executive director, said this as theagency observed its 30th anniversary this weekend.The anniversary is marked by 70 ricevarieties bred, 24 rice machines developed, 23 patents applied for, and several otherachievements in rice research and development.Protacio led the two-day celebration at PhilRice‟s central experiment station here along withofficials and various stakeholders, including farmers.“We are eager to do more so our researchoutputs will reach more farmers, particularly the resource- poor farmer,” Protacio said in hisanniversary message.PhilRice, which has been leading rice R & D efforts since its founding in1985, has provided cost-reducing and yield-enhancing technologies on rice.Muñoz Mayor NestorAlvarez said with PhilRice, Muñoz is now heralded as among the major rice seeds hub in thecountry.“Muñoz is privileged to host PhilRice.

Along the national highway, one cannot help but notice the proliferation of rice seed centers,making the Science City a major rice seeds hub in the Philippines,” he said.This certainly createsa domino effect in terms of livelihood creation from people manning the rice fields, sales agents,to the many of input dealers in the city.Eduardo Jimmy P. Quilang, PhilRice deputy executivedirector for development, noted that the institute has become visible through the BeRICEponsible campaign, a nationwide initiative to convince local governments to issueordinances on half-cup serving of rice on major food establishments to arrest the issue on ricewastage.Quilang said the campaign has yielded encouraging results. “We are all united to helpreduce rice wastage in the Philippines,” he said.

Eden Gagelonia of the PhilRice‟s rice engineering and mechanization division said the instituteis also leading efforts to mechanize the rice industry. “A number of machines has beendeveloped to help reduce work load in farming and make them useful even for womenfarmers.‟‟Meanwhile, former executive director Leocadio S. Sebastian advised PhilRice to“properly position itself” amid climate change and other threats to rice food production.“PhilRice should focus its programs, harness its networks and partners, and thinkoutside the box in developing, together with our farmers and concerned stakeholders, options fora competitive, sustainable, and climate-smart agriculture,” said Sebastian, who headed PhilRicefrom 2000-2008.

Aside from its central experiment station here, PhilRice also has branch stations in Batac City,Ilocos Norte; San Mateo, Isabela; Los Baños, Laguna; Ligao City, Albay; Murcia, NegrosOccidental; Romualdez, Agusan del Norte; Central Mindanao State University, Bukidon; andMidsayap, North Cotabato.In 2015, Philrice received the Anak ni Juan Award from the

Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPhl). It recognizes PhilRice as the agencywith the most number of patents applied.Jerry Serapion, Philrice intellectual propertymanagement chief, said the award is a testament to the intensive knowledge production going onin the institute.As a research institute, PhilRice is tasked to advance the various frontiers of ricescience. Protacio said that this year, more than 25 scientific publications have been produced bythe institute‟s researchers and scientists.


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Some of these were even published in some of the most reputable journals in the world such asthe Journal of Food Agriculture and Environment, International Journal of Ecology andConservation, Philippine Journal of Crop Science, and the Philippine Agricultural Scientist.

http://thestandard.com.ph/news/-provinces/192011/-philrice-should-help-build-farmers-climate-resilience-.html

Wrap Up With Rice Student Competition Nourishes Minds

TORONTO, CANADA -- U.S. brown rice was on the minds and in the hands of Toronto highschool students during the 2015 Wrap Up With Rice culinary competition that took place lastmonth at the Loblaws® Cooking School at Maple Leaf Gardens. USA Rice Director for

International Promotion Sarah Moran said, "USA Rice participates in this event as a means to put rice into the hands of culinary educators to familiarize students with U.S.-grown rice, its

health benefits, and applicability as a versatile and affordable cooking ingredient. Inspiring thestudents and teachers to participate in the competition was r-icing on the cake!

"Three teams of four students each created a brown rice recipe in front of a seven-member judging panel, including media influencers, two of Canada's top chefs, and key members from

both the Toronto District School Board and the Breakfast for Learning charity.


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Moran said, "The students worked well under pressure even as judges and television camerasinvaded their work stations. Selecting a winning team was tough with the first and second placeteams' only two points apart."The Grand Prize was awarded to the team from Central TechInstitute for their Fiesta Tomato, Corn, and Rice Soup.

Second place was a Mexican Chicken and Rice Fiesta recipe created by Thistletown CollegiateInstitute, and the team from Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute took third with their Cilantro andLime Brown Rice Steak Wrap.The Wrap Up With Rice event was part of feed tomorrow, aweek-long program dedicated to raising awareness and money to help feed Toronto schoolchildren and nourish hungry minds.F ir st place winners -- $600 buys a lot of ri ce Contact: Deborah Willenborg (703) 236-1444

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futur es for November 16

Month Price Net Change

January 2016 $11.840 - $0.305

March 2016 $12.100 - $0.305

May 2016 $12.390 - $0.300

July 2016 $12.640 - $0.310

September 2016 $12.205 - $0.310

November 2016 $12.205 - $0.310

January 2017 $12.205 - $0.310

Rice prices may reach boiling point in coming months PTI | Nov 15, 2015, 09.00PM IST

As per the government estimates, kharif rice production is estimated at 90.61 million tonnes in2015-16 crop year.NEW DELHI: After pulses, rice prices may also shoot up and reach a "boiling point" in the coming months due to depletingstocks and likely fall in its kharif output, accordingto industry body Assocham. The report, however, contradicts the current price trend in themarket, where wholesale prices of non-basmati prices are ruling down at Rs 25 per kg as againstRs 30 per kg last year. Similarly, wholesale rates of premium basmati rice have declined sharply


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by about 30 per cent to Rs 44-45 per kg at present from Rs 62-65 per kg last season, as pertraders.

Whereas industry body Assocham in its study said after pulses, onion and mustard oil, rice prices may trouble

consumers if timely adequate safeguards are nottaken. "...prices of rice may shoot up and reach a boiling point in the coming months as the stock of the key staplecereal is depleting fast owing to deficient rains and fall inoutput," the study said. As per the government estimates,

kharif rice production is estimated at 90.61 million tonnes in 2015-16 crop year. "...this is

unlikely to be achieved due to severe deficit rains in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh,

Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka and the best that could be achieved is 89 million tonnes," itsaid adding that overall rice output may be around 103 million tonnes during 2015-16. That

apart, the study said rice stocks have declined in last three years from 24.59 million tonnes in2012 to 13.89 million tonnes (plus unlimited paddy 3.61 tonnes) in stocks at present. "Increasingexport outgo on account of PDS (Public Distribution System) and other welfare schemes willcontinue to weigh on availability in the open market. Unless government is able to handle thesituation prudently, depleting stocks will soon reflect on the open market prices", adds the study.

The times of India

Butte County rice farmers learn how it grows in Italy’s Po

Valley

By Mary Wurlitzer, Special to the Enterprise-RecordPOSTED: 11/13/15, 10:01 PM PST | UPDATED: 3 DAYS AGO

Left to right, Brad and Mary Wurlitzer tour the farm of Italian rice grower Ambrogio Giovanni, during arecent visit to the Po Valley in Northern Italy.My interest in rice lead me to the 2015 World Expo inMilan, where the theme was “Feeding the Plant, Energy for Life.” Milan is in the Po Valley which is the

largest and most important economic region in Italy. Countries who did not have their own pavilionformed clusters bringing specific foods to the masses.Rice was the No. 1 cluster because it is the staplefood and source of energy for 3 billion people.After attending the Expo, I decide to find Italian ricefarmers to visit and learn how they grow their non-sticky rice varieties such as Arborio, Carnaroli,

Vialone Nano, which are the historical varieties.

The Vercelli area, west of Milan, is similar to the Sacramento valley in that it is flat with anextensive irrigation system (some designed by Leonardo da Vinci) obtaining water from thenearby mountains. It also has warm temperatures. The first records of rice growing in the PoValley are from 1427 which yielded more than other grains could in the area. Two families weregenerous with their time and gave us a thorough tour of their farms. Lunch was a major part of


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this union, including various dishes of the rice they grew.One dish consisted of a wild boar withrice and another lunch provided various risotto rice dishes.

WHAT WE LEARNED ...

The Italians used to plant their rice one plant at a time by hand as late as the 1950s. TodayItalians seed by machine with an adaptor that air drills the seed into the ground. Long blackhoses are attached to a machine and easily positioned depending on where plants are desired. The plots are too small for aerial application of seed, as is done in California. Other crops — such astomatoes, soybeans and corn — are rotated to help eliminate weeds in the rice fields. Italians donot have army worms in their fields, which is the case in California. Yet, they put up with nutria,which is a large, dark-colored, semiaquatic rodent originally found in South America.

Burrowing is the most commonly reported damage caused by nutria, which diverts water fromthe rice fields. However, they also eat the part of the structural support of the plants.Water wasan interesting topic considering California‟s current condition. We visited one rice field south ofMilan that had reconditioned water from Milan available any time. However, to the west ofMilan, the area of Vercelli, water was restricted. Rice growers could only obtain water in theircanals two days a week. The farmer had to figure out how to make that last for the rest of the


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week, even during flooding of the rice.

Old farm brick structures are used for their equipment storage, drying facilities and packagingdistribution during the growing season. Most of these structures were built at the turn of the 19thcentury and are very picturesque, surrounded by rice and the other crops.Ambrogio Giovanni

(www.risoandreone.it/en) showed us his drying facility, which took up huge corner of one of hisfarm structures. During harvest he would cut the rice after the dew lifted until 6 p.m. every day.Each day‟s harvest fits into the dryer for 24 hours.By the time there was more rice to dry, theharvest from the day before would be processed and out of the dryer. Drying and packaging hisown rice allowed him to label and distribute the rice to individual purchasers, farmers markets orrestaurants in the area, keeping his cost down and profit high.

Giovanni also had the option to sell in quantity to wholesale companies to reach bigger marketsif he desired.Birds were plentiful in the rice fields with storks, a black-faced ibis, great blueherons and white egrets. Our time in Italy was highlighted in our encounters with our newfriends, the Italian rice growers. Hopefully, our new friends will one day take a tour of our rice

fields in the Sacramento Valley.Mary Wurlitzer farms rice with her husband Brad in the Chicoarea. When traveling to various countries, the couple finds out if rice is grown and if so, theymake it a point to visit that area. This year it was Italy in the Po Valley.

Image:Left to right, Brad and Mary Wurlitzer tour the farm of Italian rice grower Ambrogio Giovanni,during a recent visit to the Po Valley in northern Italy.

http://www.chicoer.com/general-news/20151113/butte-county-rice-farmers-learn-how-it-grows-in-italys- po-valley

Kangaroo rogan josh The classic Indian curry, rogan josh, gets an Australian feel with the addition of kangaroo. Butdon't think it's purely a meaty affair! Chickpeas, tomato and spinach add a wholesome quality tothe hearty dish. If you're running short on time, the rogan josh curry mix can be substitued with agood-quality supermarket paste.Instructions

Heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add kangaroo in small batches and brown on bothsides, set aside for later.To make the curry paste, heat the vegetable oil in a large sauté pan over alow heat. Add the onion, garlic and ginger, stirring until well coated. Cover and cook for 10minutes, until onion is very soft. Add the remaining ingredients and cook for 5 minutes. Return

browned kangaroo to the pan and pour over 1 cup water. Bring to the boil, reduce heat to low,cover and cook for 1½ hours. Add the yoghurt, stirring until well combined, cook for a further 30minutes.To finish, stir in chopped tomatoes, spinach, chickpeas, lemon juice and coriander,stirring until heated through.Serve the curry garnished with coriander leaves with basmati rice, papadums and naan bread.

Note


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• If short on time, substitute the rogan josh curry mix with ¼ cup ready-made paste, availablefrom supermarkets.

Recipe and photograhy from Gourmet Game. Instructions

Heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add kangaroo in small batches and brown on bothsides, set aside for later.To make the curry paste, heat the vegetable oil in a large sauté pan over alow heat. Add the onion, garlic and ginger, stirring until well coated. Cover and cook for 10

minutes, until onion is very soft. Add the remaining ingredients and cook for 5 minutes. Return browned kangaroo to the pan and pour over 1 cup water. Bring to the boil, reduce heat to low,cover and cook for 1½ hours. Add the yoghurt, stirring until well combined, cook for a further 30minutes.To finish, stir in chopped tomatoes, spinach, chickpeas, lemon juice and coriander,stirring until heated through.Serve the curry garnished with coriander leaves with basmati rice, papadums and naan bread.

Note • If short on time, substitute the rogan josh curry mix with ¼ cup ready-made paste, availablefrom supermarkets.

Recipe and photograhy from Gourmet Game.

Deficient rains may push up rice prices: Assocham Deccan Chronicle | November 16, 2015, 06.50 am IST


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New Delhi: After pulses, rice prices may also shoot up and reach a “boiling point” in the comingmonths as stocks deplete due to deficient rains and fall in output, said industry body Assochamon Sunday. After pulses, onion and some edible oils like mustard oil, rice may cause pain iftimely adequate safeguards are not taken, said the industry chamber.“Though the governmentestimates kharif rice production at 90.61 MMT, this is unlikely to be achieved due to severedeficit rains in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka and the bestthat could be achieved is 89 MMT,” it said. The study said that rice stocks have declined in last

three years from 24.59 million tonnes in 2012 to 13.89 million tonnes (plus unlimited paddy 3.61tonnes) in stocks at present.

“Increasing export outgo on account of PDS (Public Distribution System) and other welfareschemes will continue to weigh on availability in the open market. Unless the government isable to handle the situation prudently, depleting stocks will soon reflect on the open market prices,” said Assocham. It said that given the huge domestic demand for rice, the governmentneeds to closely monitor both prices and stock situation. Already a section of global exportingcommunity is evaluating possibility of India entering international market for import of thesecommodities from 2017, if urgent steps are not taken to augment supplies, it said.“Theconsequences of deficient 2015 monsoon are likely to be far-reaching. Besides, slowing down

the economy considerably and accentuating inflationary pressure coupled with shortages ofessential food items across the country, it could also lead to dependence on import of essentialfood items. Already India is heavily short on vegetable oils and pulses and a recurring monsoon failuremight push the country into a tight corner in respect of rice and sugar among others,” saidAssocham.However, the report contradicts the current price trend in the market, where wholesale prices of non-basmati prices are ruling down at Rs 25 per kg as against Rs 30 per kg last year.


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Similarly, wholesale rates of premium basmati rice have declined sharply by about 30 per centto Rs 44-45 per kg at present from Rs 62-65 per kg last season, as per traders.

Basmati rice and sugar stocks up on favourable fundamentals

Price moves up in physical markets, Iran to issue rice import licence; lower production estimateshelp sugar stocksDilip Kumar Jha | Mumbai November 16, 2015 Last Updated at 22:41 IST

Lifting of Iran sanctions boon for basmatiRice exportingcompanies rally as Iran opens up market for IndiaExportersexpect Iran to issue fresh Basmati rice permits by DecBasmatirice exports to Iran via Dubai soar.Share prices of companiesengaged in sugar production and basmati rice export rosesharply on Monday, on an increase in consumerdemand.Basmati exporters are hoping for better days ahead on

expectations that Iran, this country's largest importer, will soonstart issuing licences in this regard. Sugar mills think theirrealisation will go up on lower domestic production.Among basmati shares, that of 'Dawat' brand producer LT Foods hadthe highest gain, of 14.7 per cent. Kohinoor Foods and KRBLreported a 13.9 per cent and 7.2 per cent surge in their shares,respectively.Shares of sugar mills rose up to 20 per cent, onexpectation of less production this year, after a deficientmonsoon. Mills' federation in Maharashtra, the country's largest producer, has forecast total output in the state at 8.6 milliontonnes this year as against 10.5 mt last year.“Iran, which

consumes over half of India‟s annual basmati rice export, hadhalted issuing new import licences, resulting in a sharp declinein our export last year. It is expected that Iran would startissuing new licences in a week to 10 days,” said Satnam Arora, joint managing director of Kohinoor Foods.After a record 1.44

mt in 2013-14, around 38 per cent of India‟s overall shipment, basmati export to Iran was 0.94mt in 2014-15. Arora said basmati prices had risen at least 20 per cent in the past week onfestival demand in India and a sharp jump abroad.As for sugar, rating agency ICRA has forecasta five per cent decline in output to 26.8 mt this year versus 28.2 mt last year. Indian Sugar MillsAssociation had lowered its forecast to 27 mt, due to the estimated fall in Maharashtra.

If the four mt of export approved by the central government comes through, the total closingstock is estimated at 7.6 mt in sugar year 2016 (ending September 2016), from nearly 10.1 mt inSY15. Prices have started moving up gradually in home markets.The industry is awaitingfinalisation of the export subsidy to achieve the four mt target. Prices are falling in global markets andICRA expects the losses through export to be nullified when the domestic sugar realisation rises anestimated three to five per cent during SY16, from the Rs 26,000 a tonne average for SY15.


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Surplus domestic production, coupled with limited export, resulted in a steep decline in prices to a three-year low in July this year to Rs 23,000 a tonne, from Rs 29,000 a tonne in November 2014. With thegovernment notifying export, domestic prices picked up to Rs 25,500 a tonne in September and to Rs27,500 a tonne last month.

image: http://pixel.adsafeprotected.com/rfw/st/43236/6327988/skeleton.gifPress Release | Mon Nov 16, 2015 8:56am EST

Amira Nature Foods Ltd Announces New Distribution Win

in Northeast United States

Amira Nature Foods Ltd Announces New Distribution Win in Northeast United States

Amira Branded Products Available in Price Chopper, Inc., a Leading Supermarket with MoreThan 130 Locations

Amira Nature Foods Ltd (NYSE: ANFI), a leading global provider of branded packaged Indian specialty rice,announced today that its Amira branded products areavailable in Price Chopper stores.Headquartered inSchenectady, New York, Price Chopper operates more than130 stores in New York, Massachusetts, Vermont,Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. The GolubCorporation, parent company of Price Chopper, dates back to

the 1900s and is one of the largest privately heldcorporations in the United States that is predominantly employee owned.

“We are excited to expand our distribution in the United States with the addition of PriceChopper supermarkets,” said Karan A Chanana, Chairman of Amira Nature Foods Ltd. “We areworking to expand the Amira brand across the country, and the addition of Price Chopper withits focus on customer engagement, health and wellness and environmental sustainability is a perfect fit for our Amira branded 'better-for-you' rice products.”

About Amira Nature Foods Ltd Founded in 1915, Amira has evolved into a leading global provider of branded packaged Indianspecialty rice and other products, with sales in over 60 countries today. The Company primarilysells Basmati rice, which is a premium long-grain rice grown only in certain regions of theIndian sub-continent, under its flagship Amira brand as well as under other third party brands.Amira sells its products through a broad distribution network in both the developed andemerging markets. The Company‟s global headquarters are in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, andit also has offices in India, Malaysia, Singapore, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the UnitedStates. Amira Nature Foods Ltd is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under theticker symbol “ANFI.”


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For more information, please visit www.amira.net

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are madeunder the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.You can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,”“except,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “is/are likely to,” “future”or other similar expressions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on ourcurrent expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe mayaffect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Theseforward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: our goals and strategies; ourexpansion plans; and our future business development.

We would like to caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and you

should read these statements in conjunction with the risk factors disclosed in “Risk Factors”appearing in our Annual Report on Form 20-F as well as our other public filings with theSecurities and Exchange Commission. Those risks are not exhaustive and reflect ourexpectations as of the date of this press release.

We operate in a rapidly evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time, andit is impossible for our management to predict all risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of allfactors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may causeactual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statement. We do notundertake any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements except as requiredunder applicable law./www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/16/ny-amira-nature-foods-idUSnBw165838a+100+BSW20151116#WzJXOj44Oy8pTScR.99

APEDA Rice Commodity News

International Benchmark PricePrice on: 13-11-2015

Product Benchmark Indicators Name Price Apricots

1 Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t) 4875

2 Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t) 43753 Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t) 3625

White Sugar

1 CZCE White Sugar Futures (USD/t) 791

2 Kenya Mumias white sugar, EXW (USD/t) 691

3 Pakistani refined sugar, EXW Akbari Mandi (USD/t) 524

Honey

1 Argentine 85mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t) 2860


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Source:agra-net For more info

Market WatchCommodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 14-11-2015

Domestic Prices Unit Price : Rs per Qty

Product Market Center Variety Min Price Max Price

Maize

1 Gadag (Karnataka) Local 950 1439

2 Dahod (Gujarat) Yellow 1400 1470

3 Khargone (Madhya Pradesh) Other 1151 1352

Paddy(Dhan)

1 Kasargod (Kerala) Other 1700 1800

2 Bonai (Orissa) Other 1410 1500

3 Sainthia (West Bengal) Common 995 1015

Mousambi

1 Jagraon (Punjab) Other 2400 3000

2 Sirsa (Haryana) Other 3200 3200

3 Ahmedabad (Gujarat) Other 1500 2800

Carrot

1 Bonai (Orissa) Other 1000 2000

2 Nagpur (Maharashtra) Other 1400 1800

3 Kattappana (Kerala) Other 4400 4700

Source:agmarknet.nic.in For more info

Egg Rs per 100 NoPrice on 14-11-2015

Product Market Center Price 1 Pune 388

2 Chittoor 371

3 Hyderabad 350

Source: e2necc.com

Other International Prices Unit Price : US$ per packagePrice on 13-11-2015

Product Market Center Origin Variety Low High

Potatoes Package: 50 lb cartons

1 Atlanta Colorado Russet 17 17.75

2 Chicago Idaho Russet 13 163 Dallas Idaho Russet 12 12

Cabbage Package: 50 lb sacks

1 Atlanta Georgia Round Green Type 12.50 13

2 Dallas Colorado Round Green Type 11.50 11.50

3 Miami Canada Round Green Type 13.50 14

Apples Package: cartons tray pack


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1 Atlanta Virginia Red Delicious 26 28

2 Dallas Washington Red Delicious 24 24

3 New York Pennsylvania Red Delicious 25 25

Source:USDA

PH to miss 2015 rice output target, expects modest rise in Q12016 Posted at 11/16/15 3:24 PMMANILA - The Philippines said it expects its unmilled rice output in the first quarter of 2016 togrow a modest 0.31 percent from a year earlier to 4.38 million tonnes, while anticipating thisyear's production to be below forecast due to bad weather.Paddy harvest this year is forecast toreach 18.3 million tonnes, 3.54 percent lower versus last year's record high output and below atarget of 20 million tonnes, hurt by the El Nino dry weather and a series of typhoons, thePhilippine Statistics Authority said in a report released on Monday.The Southeast Asian nation,one of the world's biggest importers of the grain, is looking to buy another 1.3 million tonnes of

rice to boost buffer stock, on top of the 500,000 tonnes already purchased and scheduled fordelivery between January and March.

https://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/11/16/15/ph-to-miss-2015-rice-output-target-expects-modest-rise-in-q1-2016

Farmers troubled by good rice harvest

By Yoon Ja-youngA good harvest is the dream of every farmer, but it doesn't seem to be working out that way withfarmers in Korea. Concern is increasing among farmers as rice production hits a six-year high

thanks to good weather.According to Statistics Korea, rice production totaled 4.33 million tonsthis year, which is up 2 percent compared with last year and the biggest since 2009.However,farmers aren't happy. Rice is currently trading at around 140,000 won per 80 kilograms at paddies, dropping 10 percent down from the last year.The country's rice paddies have beendecreasing as more paddies are redeveloped for housing or farmers switch to other crops.

The country's rice paddies totaled 799,000 hectares this year, down 2 percent from last year anddropping more than 10 percent compared with a decade ago.Rice consumption, however,contracted even further. Koreans consumed on average 65.1 kilograms of rice last year, down

19.3 percent from 2005. More people are turning to other crops as well as increasing bread,

noodles and meat in their diet.As a result, the rick stock is piling up, incurring huge costs. Thecountry is expected to have 1.35 million tons of rice in stock this year. According to the KoreaRural Economic Institute (KREI), it costs 31.6 billion won a year to keep 100,000 tons of rice in

stock. This includes storage and financial costs as well as the fall in the value of rice.The government has been focusing on promoting rice consumption, developing diverse processed food products using rice.


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Some suggest giving rice to North Korea or other underdeveloped countries as a solution.In2003, for instance, Seoul sent 400,000 tons of rice to North Korea. Rice stock fell from 1.45million tons to 924,000 tons the following year. The country could maintain the rice in stock at between 600,000 and 800,000 tons for the next few years by continuing the donation.Kim Tae-hun, a KREI researcher, said the government could consider this as an option. "The offering ofrice to North Korea has been determined by the political situation," he said. "As relationsimprove between the two countries, there is the possibility that North Korea may demandsupport anytime when the time is ripe."He said the government should set a fundamental solutionto deal with the rice surplus. "On the supply side, the government should reconsider policies thattrigger production of rice," he said. "The policies to promote rice consumption, on the otherhand, should continue from a mid- to long-term perspective."

[email protected]

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2015/11/123_191052.html

El Niño, Lando to cut 2015 palay output by 3.54%

by BusinessMirror - November 16, 2015Paddy-rice output for 2015 could settle at 18.3 million metric tons (MMT), 3.54 percent lowerthan the 18.97 MMT produced last year, according to the latest report from the PhilippineStatistics Authority (PSA).The PSA attributed this to the drought caused by El Niño and thedamage caused by Typhoon Lando (international code name Koppu) in top rice-producing provinces in the country.“Harvest area may contract by 1.58 percent to 4.66 million hectares this

year, from 4.74 million hectares last year. Yield per hectare may drop by 1.99 percent to 3.92metric tons (MT) this year, from 4 MT,” the report read.

Aside from El Niño, the PSA said the typhoons Egay (international code name Linfa) and Ineng(international code name Goni) had also made it difficult for farmers to increase palay output.The two typhoons hit the country in the third quarter of the year.“Furthermore, the damages brought by Lando on standing palay and corn crops may reduce the expected output for thefourth quarter,” the report read.The PSA said palay production in the second half of the yearcould go down by 5.81 percent to 9.97 MMT, from 10.59 MMT recorded last year. Harvest areamay contract to 2.6 million hectares from 2.64 million hectares, or by 1.51 percent, while yield per hectare may decline by 4.37 percent to 3.83 MT from 4.01 MT.“All other regions, aside from

the Bicol region, reported reductions in production and harvest area.

These were attributed to unrealized plantings as a result of delayed release and inadequateirrigation water, late occurrence of rains and some areas left in-fallow,” the report read.In thefourth quarter alone, the PSA said palay output could decline by 1.84 percent to 7.42 MMT, from7.56 MMT last year. The PSA attributed this to the prolonged dry spell and the damages caused by the typhoons.In the first quarter of 2016, the PSA said output would recover based onfarmers‟ planting intentions. Paddy-rice production is expected to go up by 0.31 percent to 4.38


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MMT, from 4.37 MMT recorded in January to March 2015.Meanwhile, the PSA said corn production for 2015 could go down by 2.8 percent to 7.55 MMT, from 7.77 MMT last year. Inthe second half of the year alone, corn output is projected to decline by 2.76 percent to 4.17MMT, from 4.29 MMT recorded in July to December 2014.Corn production in January to March2016 is projected to increase by 0.48 percent to 2.38 MMT, from 2.37 MMT posted in the first

quarter of this year.http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/el-nino-lando-to-cut-2015-palay-output-by-3-54/

Q3 PALAY OUTPUT CONTRACTS 16%

By Jed Macapagal November 16, 2015Palay production dropped 16 percent during the third quarter of the year, stalling agriculturegrowth to minimal 0.04 percent. Agricultural production rose by only 0.65 percent for the firstnine months of the year.Lower output resulted from the intense heat brought about by the El Nino weather phenomenon and the damage wrought by two typhoons. Data released by thePhilippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that country‟s agriculture sector in the third quarteronly grossed P336 billion at current prices, 3.23 percent lower than last year‟s P347 billion.

The crops subsector which contributed 44.54 percent to the total agricultural production declined by 4.86 percent during the period mainly because of palay output at 2.6 million metric tons (MT)which is 15.71 percent lower and corn output at 2.4 million MT, a 1.70 percent drop in the thirdquarter. At current prices, the subsector reached P172.4 billion decreasing by 8.09 percent fromlast year‟s record and a 1.69 percent drop for the first nine months of the year. The livestocksubsector which shared 18.45 percent in total agricultural production meanwhile grew by 3.25 percent as all its components posted increases with hog as the major contributor growing at 3.76 percent. Gross value of production amounted to P58.5 billion at current prices or 0.74 percenthigher from last year and a 3.92 percent growth in three quarters of the year. Production in the poultry subsector also expanded by 8.76 percent which contributed 17.23 percent to theagricultural gross output.

Production of chicken meat grew by 8.77 percent and chicken eggs by 9.91 percent. Gross valueamounted to P47.4 billion at current prices, up by 2.59 percent this year and a 6.32 percentincrease for the first nine months of the year. Fisheries also managed to grow by 1.80 percent inthe third quarter as it contributed 19.78 percent to total agricultural production. Growth wererecorded for milkfish, tilapia, tiger prawn, skipjack, yellowfin tuna and seaweed which propelled

the subsector to gross P57.7 billion at current prices, a 4.18 percent improvement from last year‟s performance. Gross value of production of fisheries for January to September 2015 however isstill down by 0.36 percent. Average farmgate prices went down by 3.27 percent during the thirdquarter and 4.27 percent lower for the first nine months. Prices were lower for crops at 3.39 percent, livestock at 2.43 percent and poultry at 5.67 percent. Fisheries was the only subsector torealize an improvement in the quarter as it went up by 2.33 percent.http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/business/q3-palay-output-contracts-16


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In its first phase, the MoU will focus on securing the supply of beef in Jakarta, which needed60,000 head of cattle per month, according to Amran, from the other five provinces. Theministry would use the new livestock vessel recently officiated by the President to transport asmany as 500 head of cattle to Jakarta, said Amran. (fsu)

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/11/16/govt-strengthens-prevention-commodity-price-fixing.html#sthash.hqd0VOMU.dpuf

Thailand to start sale of 2 mln T of spoiled rice this month

BANGKOK

Nov 16 Thailand's military government will begin auctioning 2 million tonnes of rotten rice bythe end of this month, looking to offload stockpiles of the staple grain built up under a previoussupport scheme for farmers.Thailand, the world's second biggest rice exporter after India, isholding about 13 million tonnes of rice bought at higher-than-market prices to help farmers, a

scheme that cost the previous government billions of dollars.Some 2 million tonnes of the storedrice that has been judged unfit for human or animal consumption is to be auctioned away forsuch industrial uses as producing ethanol.

"Within this week the foreign trade department at the ministry will announce the terms for

selling the ruined rice," said Chutima Bunyapraphasara, the commerce ministry's permanentsecretary.It will be the first time rotten rice has been sold from Thailand's stockpiles strictly forindustrial uses.Of the 13 million tonnes of rice Thailand still holds in its state warehouses,around half, or 6 million tonnes, is "below-standard or rotten", said a commerce ministrystatement.The commerce ministry plans to start this month's auction in lots of between 1,000 and6,000 tonnes, Chutima told reporters, with interested buyers able to inspect the stocks and submittheir bids by the end of the month.


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Analysts have said the rotten rice would be sold for far less than edible stocks.Since Thailand'smilitary government took power in 2014, it has auctioned off 5 million tonnes of rice throughseveral tenders, with sales worth about 5.2 billion baht ($145 million), the commerce ministrysaid.Thailand accounts for about a quarter of the global rice trade and so far this year hasexported around 8 million tonnes, earning the country around 127 billion baht ($3.5

billion).Thailand's goal to export 10 million tonnes of rice this year to regain its crown as topexporter will likely not be met, said the commerce ministry.India was the top rice exporter in2014, eclipsing Thailand after its multi-billion dollar subsidy scheme led to a massive build-upof rice in storage.

($1 = 35.98 baht) (Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Tom Hogue)http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/11/16/thailand-rice-idUKL3N13B2VJ20151116

Annual rice imports of 1.1m tons required in Iran: official Sunday, November 15, 2015

Tehran Times Economic DeskTEHRAN- Iran needs to imports 1.1 million tons of rice per annum, according to IranianDeputy Agriculture Minister for Planning and Economic Affairs AbdolmahdiBakhshandeh. Over three million tons of rice is consumed in Iran per year, of which about twomillion tons is produced inside the country and the rest is imported, the Mehr News Agency

quoted Bakhshandeh as saying on Saturday. Also, near 300,000 tons of rice is annuallyimported by Government Trading Corporation of Iran (G.T.C) in order to maintain thecountry‟s strategic reserves of the product, the official added. Iran‟s annual cereal production isestimated to rise to 19.8 million tons in 2015 from 19.1 million tons in 2014, according to a

report released by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in May.

The report forecasts Iran‟s annual wheat production will increase to 13.5 million tons this year

from 13 million tons the year before. On April 18, Bakhshandeh said Iran‟s agriculturalexports in the previous Iranian calendar year (which ended on March 20) rose by 27 percentcompared to its preceding year. Meanwhile, agricultural imports amounted to $12 billion, a 9 percent fall compared to its preceding year. Iranian Agriculture Minister MahmoudHojjati has said that by producing over 90 million tons of agricultural products per year, Iran isamong ten top countries in the world.

http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=250844

Second-crop farmers given govt warnings

Chularat SaengpassaThe Nation November 16, 2015 1:00 am2'No dam water for rice grown out of season'


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THE Royal Irrigation Department has issued writtenwarnings to farmers who illegally pump water from publicwaterways into their paddy fields - a move that reflects theseverity of imminent water shortage. "Their action is

against the law. They may face legal penalties. But fornow, we have decided to warn them first," thedepartment's director-general Suthep Noipairoj said a fewdays ago.He was referring to the 190,000 rai of paddy

fields now engaged in a second round of rice planting this year."We have limited water supply,"Suthep emphasised.As of November 1, four major dams for the Chao Phraya River basin had just 4.247 billion cubicmetres of disposable water. The amount was far below the over 6 billion cubic metres at the startof the dry season last year. In Thailand, the dry season officially runs from November 1 to April30.The country usually relies on rainfall during the wet season in storing water for use in the drymonths. However, water shortages have seriously affected the Chao Phraya River basin during

the rainy season this year.That is why authorities are now being strict about water-allocation.Suthep said all sides must comply with the water-allocation plan for the Chao PhrayaRiver basin, otherwise the imminent drought could pose a serious threat."All sectors mustcollaborate in saving water in a serious manner," Suthep said.His department has been closelymonitoring the water situation. Inflows into the four major dams have reached about 15.6 millioncubic metres a day, while usage totals 15.55 million cubic metres."When it comes to theagricultural sector, our focus is now on irrigating water for the fields of rice farmers who areworking on their farmland for the first time this year," he said.The Irrigation Department head said there were now about 1.33 million rai of such paddy fields in theCentral region. These fields belong to farmers who agreed to the government's plea to delay work on theirfields. They are expected to collect their harvest later this month.Suthep said the limited water supplymeant his department would not be able to ensure adequate water for paddy fields growing rice outside

the farming season.As soon as the department found that some rice farmers in areas north of the ChaoPhraya Dam had pumped water into second-season paddy fields, it issued written warnings."Farmersshould not forget that we need to allocate water for consumption and ecological systems too," Suthepexplained.He complained that even though officials had warned about the imminent water shortage formonths, many farmers had begun work on paddy fields outside the farming season."They in fact should

be cautious about water sources in their areas, and determine if there will be enough for their paddyfields," he said.Suthep said very few farmers had opted for alternative crops lately, despiterecommendations from various bodies, including the Agriculture Ministry that sent its officials to localfields.www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Second-crop-farmers-given-govt-warnings-30272999.html

16th november,2015 daily global,regional & local rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine

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