27th Feb.,2014 Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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TOP Contents - Tailored for YOU Latest News Headlines
Study: Straight tail crawfish were not dead and salt doesn't purge them Amira Nature Foods Ltd to Participate in the 3(rd) Annual UBS Global Consumer Conference Concise Analysis of the Chinese Rice Milling Machinery Industry Improved white ponni rice variety Rice Producers stepping up efforts to market rice in Central America Major rice-producing Asean members form regional group Acadia Parish to Rice Krispies M'sia and other demands keep Asia rice prices steady Rice farmers dealt another blow in ongoing drought Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Feb 27 Bangladesh to buy more domestic rice to boost reserves Govt eyes income from 1m-tonne G2G China rice sale Bulk buyers shy away from rice market B60bn 'siphoned to Hong Kong' in rice-pledging scam Lawyers acknowledge PM rice charge EC casts doubt on rice payment plan
NEWS DETAILS:
Study: Straight tail crawfish were not dead and salt doesn't purge them
Dave Cohen Reporting The LSU AgCenter is trying to clear up some long-held "crawfish myths." Researchers found salting crawfish before boiling does no good and the ones that come out with straight tails were not dead before they went in.Ray McClain, LSU AgCenter crawfish researcher at the Rice Research Station near Crowley says the straight tailed mudbugs were actually more likely to be alive before going into the boiling pot."Research at the LSU AgCenter showed that the degree of tail curl in cooked crawfish was not significantly different between crawfish alive at the time they were cooked and those that had been dead... prior to cooking," McClain explained. So why do some have straight tails when they come out of the boiling pot? Researchers says it may just be that another crawfish blocked their tail from curling or the mudbug was shoved up against the side of the pot and its tail couldn't curl."The results suggest that the age-old adage of avoiding straight-tailed crawfish at a crawfish boil, as a means of ensuring safety and quality, may not be reliable and certainly has little to do with knowing the living status of the animal at the time of cooking, McClain said.As for salting the crawfish before boiling them as a means of "purging" or causing the crustaceans to excrete anything inside of them... McClain says it doesn't work."Research at the LSU AgCenter has shown that the addition of salt to the wash water provides no significant advantage in cleansing crawfish despite the numerous claims to the contrary," McClain insisted.He says if you want to purge the crawfish, you have to set them aside with no food for an entire day."The only way to significantly reduce size and content of the intestinal tract is with a 12- to 24-hour freshwater purge, which is difficult and impractical for homeowners to do," McClain explained.He did note that washing crawfish for as little as 10 minutes in water helps remove mud and other debris.But, he says, "Does little to eliminate intestinal wastes... and salt appears to be of no benefit."
Amira Nature Foods Ltd to Participate in the 3(rd) Annual UBS Global Consumer Conference
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates--(BUSINESS WIRE)--February 26, 2014--
Amira Nature Foods Ltd (the "Company;" NYSE:ANFI), a leading global provider of packaged Indian specialty rice, today announced Karan A. Chanana, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Ashish Poddar, Chief Financial Officer, will present at the 3rd Annual UBS Global Consumer Conference on March 12, 2014 at 3:10 p.m. ET.Live audio of the presentation will be simultaneously webcast on the investor relations section of the Company's website at http://www.amirafoods.com/. The webcast of the presentation will be archived and available on the Company's website. About Amira Nature Foods Founded in 1915, Amira has evolved into a leading global provider of packaged Indian specialty rice, with sales in over 40 countries today. Amira sells Basmati rice, premium long-grain rice grown only in certain regions of the Indian sub-continent, under their flagship Amira brand as well as under other third party brands. Amira sells its products primarily in emerging markets through a broad distribution network. Amira's headquarters are in Dubai,
United Arab Emirates, and it also has offices in India, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
CONTACT: ICR
Katie Turner, 646-277-1200
Concise Analysis of the Chinese Rice Milling Machinery Industry

By Research and Markets
Published: Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014 - 3:47 am
DUBLIN, Feb. 26, 2014 -- /PRNewswire/ -'Concise Analysis of the Chinese Rice Milling Machinery Industry' is a professional and in-depth research report on the rice milling machinery industry in China.The report first provides basic information on the rice milling machinery industry, covering definitions, classification, application, industry chain structure and overview. Market analysis is provided for both the international and Chinese domestic situations including product and technology developments, competitive landscape analysis, key regions development status, trends and market comparisons. Development policies and plans are also discussed and manufacturing processes and cost structures analyzed. Import/export consumption, supply and demand figures and cost price and production values are also provided .A key feature of the report is its focus on 13 industry players providing company profiles, product specification, capacity production, price cost, production value and contact information. Up and downstream industry analysis is carried out for raw materials and equipment. Rice milling machinery marketing channels, industry development trends and proposals are analyzed as well as the feasibility of new investment projects. Finally the report offers overall research conclusions. Key Topics Covered: 1 Rice Milling Machinery Industry Overview 2 Rice Milling Machinery International and China Market Analysis 3 Rice Milling Machinery Industry Development Environmental Analysis 4 Rice Milling Machinery Development Policy and Plan 5 Rice Milling Machinery Manufacturing Process and Cost Structure 6 2009-2013 Rice Milling Machinery Productions Supply Sales Demand Market Status and Forecast 7 Rice Milling Machinery Key Manufacturers Analysis 8 Up and Down Stream Industry Analysis and Influence 9 Rice Milling Machinery Marketing Channels Analysis 10 Rice Milling Machinery Industry Development Trend 11 Rice Milling
Machinery Industry Development Proposals 12 Rice Milling Machinery New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis 13 China Rice Milling Machinery Industry Research Conclusions Companies Mentioned:

Bhler HUNAN XIANGLIANG Hubei Bishan Grain & Oil Equipment Hubei YONGXIANG Hunan Chenzhou JIANGSU HEXI MACHINERY MUYANG SATAKE MANUFACTURING Wufeng YANGZHOU ZHENGDA MACHINERY MANUFACTURE YUTAI GOLD AND GRAIN OIL MACHINERY Zhejiang QiLi Machinery Zhejiang Zhancheng Machinery
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/c5h6s4/china_rice
Improved white ponni rice variety

Ponni variety has been popular among Tamil Nadu famers for a long time but the origin and source from which it was developed is still not known.The variety is resistant to leaf yellowing (tungro virus), blast and bacterial blight diseases.Though the grain yield is less (4 - 4.5 tonnes from a hectare) than other commercial varieties, farmers preferred this variety owing to its fine quality and premium price in the market. Former name Initially, called mashuri kuttai the yield realised by farmers was very low due to admixtures and segregated population with the variations in crop duration ranging from 90 to 140 days.Plant breeders at Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute (TRRI), Aduthurai had collected 300 samples of seeds, from various locations in state, screened and finally selected three improved lines for further selection.After strenuous efforts the new improved white ponni was released in 1986 and even today finds ready acceptance from farmers. It is a 130-135 duration varirty and suitable for late samba/thaladi season in Cauvery delta.The improved variety was tested in 11 districts of which in eight districts it recorded higher yield of 5.8 per cent than IR 20 variety.
Yield It recorded 300 kg/ha more yield than traditional ponni and has yield potential up to 7.4 tonnes per hectare. It is suitable for raw and parboiled rice consumption.Besides excellent grain quality, other special features include its resistance to many diseases such as tungro virus, leaf yellowing, blast and bacterial leaf blight.It grows tall and well under restricted fertilizer use especially nitrogen application which should be limited to 75-100 tonnes per hectare depending upon the soil fertility and climate.Organic farmers mostly prefer this variety as it responds well under natural nutrients supply.
(Dr. R. Rajendran is presently Director- in- charge,Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, TNAU, Aduthurai 612 101, Tamil Nadu, Phone: 0435-2472108 and 2472098, email: dirtrri@tnau.ac.in) Keywords: ponni rice, tungro virus, grain yield, mashuri kuttai, Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, grain quality
Rice Producers stepping up efforts to market rice in Central America

U.S. rice farmers are coming off a year in which many of them produced record yields. But they also know that if they cant market their rice all the production practices they use will come to nought.President and CEO Dwight Roberts talked about what the U.S. Rice Producers Association is doing to increase rice sales in Central America in a speech at the National Conservation Systems Cotton & Rice Conference in Tunica, Miss. U.S. Rice Producers Association was one of the sponsors of the conference.Rice is such a unique commodity, said Roberts. In the United States, we grow a little over 3 million acres of rice, nothing to compare to the 90 -plus million acres of corn or the 11 million acres of cotton. But rice is that commodity around the world that governments protect and subsidize.Its a commodity that if the prices goes up a few cents per pound, they have riots in Thailand or Haiti or Nicaraugua. Its a commodity that is heavily protected an d subsidized in a number of countries. Farmers in Central America and Asia receive $500 per ton for paddy rice at the farm. If we had subsidies like those wed be growing rice in downtown New York.Roberts cited a new grain loading facility near Lake Charles, La., as an example of what rice farmers are doing to enable them to ship identity-preserved rice by rail to rice mills in Mexico. The facility, located in a former sugar refinery, was converted using funds provided
by farmers and aid from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture.
Major rice-producing Asean members form regional group

Category: Agri-Commodities 27 Feb 2014 Written by Alladin S. Diega TO bolster their position in the global rice trading, five members of the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), have finalized plans for the formation of the Asean Rice Federation (ARF), the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) said.In a two-day conference organized and hosted by the MRF, rice importing and exporting Asean member-countries agreed to form a regional grouping, which will further strengthen their position in
global rice trading, according to local reports from Yangon.MRF, a privately led organization, said these countries include Myanmar, Thailand, Laos PDR, Vietnam and Cambodia.The terms of the agreement will be presented in a minister-level meeting to be held in August, reports quoted MRF Secretary Soe Tun as saying, and added that the ARF will focus on regional and global food security, global rice market stability, mutual assistance for technological advancement and improving trade along with improving the lives of the rice farmers .The planned regional rice federation will include two of the top rice exporters in the region, Thailand and Vietnam, which account for around 40 percent of global rice trade. Thailand is keen to form the ARF and believes that it could help control global rice prices.Critics, however, doubt the feasibility of such a federation, noting that rice is a perishable commodity, and citing the lack of sufficient storage facilities in some Asean countries as another hurdle.The five Asean countries have annual combined export of 20 million tons of rice, and the intention of organizing the ARF is to boost rice price by 10 percent annually, the secretary of the Commerce Ministry of Thailand was quoted as saying by the Mynma Freedom Daily.Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are rice-exporting countries and Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam and Timor Leste are rice- importing countries of Southeast Asia
Acadia Parish to Rice Krispies

Updated: Feb 27, 2014 4:00 AM PST By Darren Robert -
To accurately look at the economic impact of rice farming in Acadia Parish, you need to start at the national level."If you purchase Rice Krispies today there's a very good chance that the rice was either grown in Louisiana or an excellent chance that the variety that led to that particular product was developed at this rice research station," says Steve Linscombe, Director of the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station.Linscombe says there's a more than 90 percent chance your Rice Krispies were grown in Acadia Parish and that figure may have been even higher in recent years."This past year in 2013 we had a little over 80,000 acres and we had by far the highest yield we've ever had on a per acre basis," says Linscombe. Officials are estimating the 2013 yield around 7,900 pounds per acrea parish and state record."Some of the neighbors and myself had some of the best crops we've ever seen," says Acadia Parish farmer Alan Lawson about the 2013 grow season.Lawson, a third generation farmer, says those high yields in recent years continue to rub off on other sectors of the parish rice economy."We spend a lot of money in the stores, so it has a trickledown effect of getting turned over many times in the economy," says Lawson.Linscombe says that affect onto the economy, just in Acadia Parish is worth about $90 million."You add the value added from milling and that adds up probably to $120 million, but then just as with anything you look at the multiplier effect in the community. It's huge. I mean it's a major economic engine for this region," says Linscombe.
M'sia and other demands keep Asia rice prices steady

HANOI: Asian rice prices were steady this week, supported by new demand from Malaysia, Africa and China, ahead of an expected pick-up in supplies from bumper crop harvests in Thailand and Vietnam, traders said on Wednesday.In Thailand, the world's third-largest exporter after India and Vietnam in 2013, rice exporters were loading shipments for African countries including Nigeria, Togo and Ghana under small deals signed last week, a Thai rice trader said.China, which scrapped a 400,000-tonne deal with Thailand early this month due to an anti-corruption investigation in the Southeast Asian nation, could secure another deal in March, a senior Thai government official said on Tuesday.In addition, Malaysia was looking to buy 300,000 tonnes of rice and has sought offer prices from Thailand, Vietnam, India and Pakistan, a state-run newspaper reported on Wednesday."Thailand is likely to secure the contract as it offers $380 a tonne, much lower than those offered by the other three countries," Vietnam Food Association ChairmanTruong Thanh Phong was quoted as saying by the Saigon Marketing newspaper. Phong could not be reached for comment.Thailand's common grade 5 percent broken rice jumped 14 percent on Friday from the previous day to $435-$440 a tonne, on a free-on-board (FOB) basis, and has stood at $430-$440 a tonne since Monday. <RI-THBKN5-P1>.In Vietnam, thin domestic stocks coupled with China's purchases and shipments heading to the Philippines has helped keep prices firm despite expectations that the current harvest will peak in mid-March, traders said."China has been buying strongly under deals delivered across the land border, so prices have not eased as expected," a trader at a foreign firm in Ho Chi Minh City said.Vietnam's 5 percent broken rice edged up to $380-$400 a tonne, FOB, from $380-$395 a week ago.It was not immediately clear how China's import demand from Vietnam would fare in 2014. Last year, China was Vietnam's top buyer, taking 3.6 million tonnes or more than 40 percent of its total rice exports, based on government and rice industry data. Colder-than-normal temperatures in early February has affected the country's largest-yielding Mekong Delta winter-spring crop, and the harvest peak will be delayed by two weeks to mid-March, traders said.Vietnam will be loading rice for the Philippines until mid-March under a contract of 500,000 tonnes signed last November.Vietnam's rice exports in January-February dropped 6.3 percent from a year ago to an estimated 749,000 tonnes, the government said on Wednesday, higher than an earlier agriculture ministry estimate of 702,000 tonnes. - Reuters
Rice farmers dealt another blow in ongoing drought

By David YeomansUpdated: Wednesday, February 26, 2014, 8:55 pmPublished: Wednesday, February 26, 2014, 4:29 pm
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality delayed a decision Wednesday that will affect the livelihoods of thousands of people in Southeast Texas.The meeting was intended to rule on a trigger level of the Highland Lakes dictating whether rice farmers will receive irrigation water this year.Instead, the TCEQ voted to delay the decision and re-visit the issue in about four months.In the meantime, rice farmers will not receive water from the Highland Lakes for this seasons crop.The rice industry employs thousands of people in Southeast Texas,
and this is the third consecutive year they have been cut off from irrigation water.With headquarters in the coastal community of Bay City, Joe Crane is a rice entrepreneur, employing 80 people on 1,200 acres.Ive been in rice farming ever since I was a teenager, Crane said.But lately This piece of ground has laid fallow, generating virtually no income to anyone, Crane said.Facing three years without LCRA water from the Colorado River, irrigation canals typically brimming this time of year are bone-dry.This third year here, Ill tell you as I stand here, Crane said, were going to have to lay people off.During a normal year, Joes operation could fill the massive storage containers at his headquarters with about 140 million pounds of rice. This year, however, hell only be able to produce about 25 percent of that.It is absolutely catastrophic, not only to myself but to the rest of the economy here in the lower basin, Crane said.By cutting rows in some of the flat rice fields, Joe will be able to plant a cotton crop a move that can salvage only some of the dry soil.Were going to do whatever it takes to stay in business until it rains again, Crane said. An example of the hard-headed mentality it takes to grow rice in Texas.You just have to take advantage of the good years, and suck it up in the bad years, Crane said. Thats what its about. And thats what were going to do. When its all said and done, I intend to still be standing here farming this ground. Taking a deeper look into how rice farmers will survive a third year without LCRA water, farmers like Joe Crane are able to plant alternative crops, such as cotton, on some of their rice fields to make up for lost money.But most of the flat, sandy soil in Southeast Texas wont support anything but rice leaving only about 25% of the land suitable for alternative crops.2011 was the last year water was released for agriculture.That year, downstream farmers used nearly a half-million acre feet of water. Thats more than twice as much as all cities used.
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Feb 27

Thu Feb 27, 2014 3:48pm IST Nagpur, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Gram and tuar prices in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) zoomed up again on good buying support from local millers amid tight supply from producing belts because of continuous rains. Sharp rise on NCDEX in gram and fresh hike in Madhya Pradesh pulses also pushed up prices, according to sources.
FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Desi gram reported sharp recovery on good festival buying support from local traders amid weak supply from producing regions because of rains.
TUAR * Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market matching the demand and supply position.
* Moong dal super best and moong dal chilka firmed up again on renewed demand from local traders amid thin arrival from producing bets because of unseasonal rains.
* 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 Gram Auction Gram Pink Auction Tuar Auction Moong Auction Udid Auction Masoor Auction Gram Super Best Bold Gram Super Best Gram Medium Best Gram Dal Medium Gram Mill Quality Desi gram Raw Gram Filter new Gram Kabuli Gram Pink Tuar Fataka Best Tuar Fataka Medium
Available prices 2,700-2,850 n.a. 3,900-4,000 n.a. n.a. n.a.
Previous close
2,600-2,850 2,100-2,600 3,730-3,910 6,100-6,300
4,300-4,500 2,600-2,800 3,750-3,900 3,750-3,900
n.a. 3,200-3,400 n.a. n.a. 3,200-3,350 2,800-2,850 3,000-3,500 7,900-10,300 7,700-8,100 6,300-6,500 6,000-6,100 3,200-3,400
3,200-3,250 2,900-3,000 3,000-3,500 7,900-10,300 7,700-8,100 6,300-6,500 6,000-6,100
Tuar Dal Best Phod Tuar Dal Medium phod Tuar Gavarani Tuar Karnataka Tuar Black Masoor dal best Masoor dal medium Masoor Moong Mogar bold n.a.
5,800-6,000 5,500-5,700
5,800-6,000 5,500-5,700
4,000-4,100 4,200-4,300 7,200-7,400 5,400-5,500 5,100-5,300 n.a. 9,700-9,950
4,000-4,100 4,200-4,300 7,200-7,400 5,400-5,500 5,100-5,300
9,700-9,950 9,300-9,500
Moong Mogar Medium best Moong dal super best Moong dal Chilka Moong Mill quality Moong Chamki best
9,300-9,500
8,600-8,900 8,000-8,300 n.a. n.a.
8,500-8,800 7,900-8,200
8,200-8,700
8,200-8,700 7,400-7,600 5,800-6,600 4,700-5,000
Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 7,400-7,600 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,600
4,700-5,000
4,000-5,000
4,000-5,000
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) Watana White (100 INR/KG)
3,100-3,200 3,300-3,400 3,300-3,400 4,400-4,700
3,100-3,200 3,300-3,400 3,300-3,400 4,400-4,700
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)
1,700-1,800 1,840-1,890
1,700-1,800 1,840-1,890 1,650-1,850 2,400-2,500 2,050-2,200
Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)
1,650-1,850 2,400-2,500
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,200 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) n.a. 3,000-3,600 n.a.
3,000-3,600 2,400-2,900
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,900 Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG) Wheat Best (100 INR/KG) Rice BPT new(100 INR/KG) Rice BPT old (100 INR/KG) Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG) 1,600-1,700 1,700-1,750 2,600-2,950 2,800-3,300 1,700-1,850 2,500-2,750
1,600-1,700 1,700-1,750 2,600-2,950 2,800-3,300 1,700-1,850 2,500-2,750
Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) Rice HMT new (100 INR/KG) Rice HMT Shriram (100 INR/KG) Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)
2,300-2,450 3,800-4,200 4,700-5,200 11,000-13,500
2,300-2,450 3,800-4,200 4,700-5,200 11,000-13,500 6,300-7,600
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,300-7,600 Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG) Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG) Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 5,500-6,000 5,200-5,600 1,400-1,600 1,700-1,800
5,500-6,000 5,200-5,600 1,400-1,600 1,700-1,800
WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 30.5 degree Celsius (86.9 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp. 17.9 degree Celsius (64.2 degree Fahrenheit) Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a. Rainfall : 13.3 mm FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Rains or thunder shower likely to occur in evening or night. Maximum and Minimum temperature likely to be around 31 and 18 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, butincluded in market prices.)
Bangladesh to buy more domestic rice to boost reserves

Ruma Paul, Reuters | Updated: 02/26/2014
Bangladesh will buy more rice locally in an effort to replenish reserves, while it has no plan to import the grain this year, the head of the state grains buyer said on Wednesday.Such procurement is crucial for the South Asian nation to feed its poor and keep domestic prices stable at a time when government reserves are at five-year lows."We are buying 400,000 tonnes of rice from local farmers this harvesting season, double the earlier purchase target," Ahmed Hossain Khan of the Directorate General of Food said."This time we are getting a good response from the farmers as we have raised the price of rice to 30 taka ($0.38) a kg from 26 taka a year ago to ensure a fair price for them," he said.The current food situation does not resemble that in 2008, when wheat and rice prices surged to record highs, or that in 2011, when Bangladesh became a major rice importer after its local procurement drive failed, he said. "We have no plan to import rice this year, though global rice prices are low," he added.Bangladesh, the world's fourth-biggest rice producer, consumes almost all its production at home. It aims to produce more than 35 million tonnes of rice in the current year, up from nearly 34 million in the previous year.Global rice supplies have increased sharply as the embattled government of Thailand has been liquidating its stockpiles in order to pay farmers and avoid further protests.Benchmark Thai rice prices fell as much as 15 percent last week.Rice is the main staple for Bangladesh's 160 million people, but wheat consumption is also rising due to economic growth and lifestyle changes. It often needs to import rice to cope with shortages caused by floods or droughts.Late in 2012, the government was considering lifting a four-year old ban on rice exports to support farmers as record crops and bulging domestic reserves pushed prices below production costs.But prices soared in January 2013, and the government backed off of scrapping the export ban. The government buys rice and wheat from local farmers to ensure a support price for them and builds stocks for welfare programmes and to meet any emergency needs. Its reserves have fallen to nearly 900,000 tonnes, the lowest in five years, from 1.4 million tonnes a year ago.Although it did not import rice over the last two years, Bangladesh was ranked as the fourth-largest importer of the grain by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2011, with a volume of 1.48 million tonnes.The state grains buyer, meanwhile, has moved to speed up imports of wheat, taking advantage of a slump in global prices.Global wheat prices fell 25.6 percent to $6.05 a bushel in 2013 due to oversupply, with benchmark Chicago futures still hovering around that level. TO bolster their position in the global rice trading, five members of the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), have finalized plans for the formation of the Asean Rice Federation (ARF), the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) said.In a two-day conference organized and hosted by the MRF, rice importing and exporting Asean member-countries agreed to form a regional grouping, which will further strengthen their position in global rice trading, according to local reports from Yangon.MRF, a privately led organization, said these countries include Myanmar, Thailand, Laos PDR, Vietnam and Cambodia.The terms of the agreement will be presented in a minister-level meeting to be held in August, reports quoted MRF Secretary Soe Tun as sayi ng, and added that the ARF will focus on regional and global food security, global rice market stability, mutual assistance for technological advancement and improving trade along with improving the lives of the rice farmers.
The planned regional rice federation will include two of the top rice exporters in the region, Thailand and Vietnam, which account for around 40 percent of global rice trade. Thailand is keen to form the ARF and believes that it could help control global rice prices.Critics, however, doubt the feasibility of such a federation, noting that rice is a perishable commodity, and citing the lack of sufficient storage facilities in some Asean countries as another hurdle.The five Asean countries have annual combined export of 20 million tons of rice, and the intention of organizing the ARF is to boost rice price by 10 percent annually, the secretary of the Commerce Ministry of Thailand was quoted as saying by the Mynma Freedom Daily.Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are rice-exporting countries and Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam and Timor Leste are rice- importing countries of Southeast Asia.
Govt eyes income from 1m-tonne G2G China rice sale

Petchanet Pratruangkrai The Nation. February 28, 2014 1:00 am The caretaker government has high hopes of bringing in some funding from the sale of 1 million tonnes of rice from the state stockpile via a government-to-government deal to pay what it owes farmers under the pledging programme.The rice sale would help speed up payments to farmers, as only one bidder showed up yesterday when the Finance Ministry opened the bidding for its Bt20 billion promissory notes (PN). An industry source said the Chinese government could sign an agreement for the deal in the next few weeks depending on the Thai government's readiness. The source said the G2G deal must be done with China's stateowned enterprise COFCO as the Thai government's counterpart. However, the deal should not be finalised in short. Still, the government is yet to seek the Election Commissions approval for the deal, as this is considered an obligation of the new government," said Surasak Riangkrul, director general of Department of Foreign Trade. Meanwhile, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) on Thursday agreed to set up "Farmer Assistance Funds" for temporary relief to the unpaid farmers. There will be three funds: one from donations, one interest-free, and a third that is expected to provide a return on investment, for which the BAAC will pay interest of 0.63 per cent per annum. BAAC president Luck Wajananawat said the bank projected receiving about Bt20 billion in donations and investments from those wanting to help the unpaid farmers. The funds will be open for donations and investment from March 10 to June 30, while payments should be able to reach farmers from March 10 until the end of the year. The BAAC will manage the funds transparently and should get some return for investors from rice sales or loans by the end of the year, Luck said. Minimum investment to each fund (except donations, for which there is no minimum) is set at Bt1,000. The BAAC will allocate initial investment capital worth Bt100 million from its own resources, from which it expects to earn no interest. The bank will also allocate Bt10 million from its central budget to advertise the project. A group of farmers yesterday gathered in front of the United Nations building on Rajdamnoen Avenue, while waiting to submit a petition to HM the King asking for the royal assistance. The payment could be further delayed as the Public Debt Management Office yesterday had a difficulty in finding the buyers of the eight-month PN. Several state enterprises were reluctant to join the bidding, fearing that it could violate a constitutional clause that a
caretaker government should not embark on recurring debt. It was not disclosed which who was the only bidder for the financial paper.
Bulk buyers shy away from rice market

OUR CORRESPONDENT KARNAL, FEBRUARY 27: With not much trading taking place in the market, prices of aromatic and non-basmati rice varieties remained unchanged on Thursday.Amit Chandna, proprietor of Hanuman Rice Trading Company, told Business Line that bulk buyers and retail traders are keeping themselves out of the market as they are reluctant to make fresh purchase on current levels.Market sentiments are weak following continuous fall and only need-based buying is taking place in the market, he said. It is hard to anticipate the markets futu re but it is unlikely to see any major alteration in the coming days. It may continue to rule around current levels with marginal alteration, said sources.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. Pusa -1121 (second wand) was at 7,100, Tibar at 6,150 while Dubar at 5,000 a quintal. In the non-basmati section, Sharbati (Steam) sold at 4,800 while Sharbati (Sela) q uoted at 4,500 a quintal. 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 February 27, 2014)
B60bn 'siphoned to Hong Kong' in rice-pledging scam

Corrupt rice-pledging officials have siphoned 60 billion baht of state cash to Hong Kong through an illegal money exchange network in Yaowarat, a rice miller has claimed. Published: 27/02/2014 at 04:06 PM Writer: Online Reporters Niphon Wongtra-ngarn, honorary president of the Thai Millers Association, said he had met with a banker who informed him that politicians and senior civil servants involved in the rice-pledging had skimmed around 60 billion baht from the programme in 2013, according to a report in Post Today.The banker claimed that corrupt officials used a system known as Phoi Khwan to channel cash and cheques through an operator in Yaowarat in exchange for money orders that could be redeemed in Hong Kong. The money would then be deposited in Hong Kong or transferred back to Thailand. The money exchange system provides a cheap alternative to formal transactions via financial institutions and avoids legal fees associated with transferring money overseas. It also circumvents scrutiny from the Bank of Thailand, which supervises unusually large transfers.Mr Niphon said the
rice industry believes around 80 billion baht was now in the hands of crooked officials involved in the ricepledging scheme, which is reported to have suffered around 300-400 billion baht in losses.
He argued that the rice-pledging scheme was wrong from the outset, since government mistakenly believed that holding rice in Thai stockpiles would help push up the global price of the grain.He warned that rice is a degradable product and that when Thailand refused to sell its stocks, other countries simply stepped in, meaning that the global rice price did not increase as predicted by ministers.Mr Niphon said that the initiative was also vulnerable to corruption from the start due to loopholes in the registration process for farmers, which led to inflated numbers of farmers and cultivation areas.Insufficient numbers of surveyors to inspect the quality of rice meant low quality produce had been sold to the scheme, he said, adding that some high quality rice had been removed from government warehouses and replaced with low quality stock.Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is accused knowing about corruption in the rice-pledging scheme and failing to stop it. Her management of the scheme is the subject of a National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) probe. The graft-agency said she ignored warnings that the rice scheme was fostering corruption and causing financial losses. She has been charged with dereliction of duty, which could lead to her removal from office and a fiveyear ban from politics.Ms Yingluck was scheduled to answer the charge at an NACC hearing on Thursday afternoon. She has assigned her legal team to meet the NACC instead, as she completes the second day of an official trip to the North.Norawich Lalaeng, a lawyer for Ms Yingluck, said the caretaker premier had given the legal team full authority to defend the charge and file a petition asking to examine facts and evidence in the case. He said Ms Yingluck was willing to cooperate with the NACC to establish the facts because the ricepledging scheme had been implemented for the benefit of the people.In a show of support for Ms Yingluck, progovernment red-shirts have been protesting outside NACC headquarters in Nonthaburi province since Wednesday.They chained up the gates to prevent officials from entering on Wednesday. The group allowed the office to reopen on Thursday morning but said they would seal the entrance to the office with the concrete in the afternoon, just as anti-government protesters had done at Government House.The flagship rice-pledging scheme has become increasingly fraught with problems since the House of Representatives was dissolved last year. Election law means the caretaker government is now unable to finance the project and officials have struggled to release rice in stockpiles quickly enough to generate sufficient money to pay farmers for produce sold into the scheme. Stockpiles are estimated to contain around 18 million tonnes of rice. with combined valued of around 130 billion baht. The caretaker government has made several bids to acquire the money it needs to pay farmers, many of whom have joined street protests to demand overdue payments be settled. Government attempts to sell bonds or promissory notes to commercial and state-run banks have failed, while efforts to secure funding from state-run enterprises have faced opposition from unions. Farmers are meanwhile camping out at the Commerce Ministry in Nonthaburi province to call for payment, as groups of growers from different provinces continue to stage protests in their local areas.A large group of rice growers from the central provinces threatened to descend on Suvarnabhumi Airport last week, to step up their protests for payments. They travelled part of the way to Bangkok but turned around after Ms Yingluck promised that long-overdue payments would be made this week.
Lawyers acknowledge PM rice charge

Published: 27 Feb 2014 at 16.32 Online news: Local News Two lawyers acting on behalf of caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra reported to the National AntiCorruption Commission (NACC) on Thursday to acknowledge charges for neglecting to stop corruption in the government's rice-pledging scheme.Norawich Lalaeng and Bancha Parameesanaporn met the NACC at its temporary office at the Nonthaburi Municipality with an assignment letter from the prime minister.The letter authorised the lawyers to acknowledge the NACC's charges on Ms Yingluck's behalf, to testify or submit a statement and evidence in her defence, and to request copies of case investigation reports for examination. Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is accused of knowing about corruption in the rice-pledging scheme and failing to stop it. The anti-graft agency said she ignored warnings that the rice scheme was fostering corruption and causing financial losses. She has been charged with dereliction of duty, which could lead to a five-year ban from politics.Ms Yingluck assigned her legal team to answer the charges at an NACC hearing, as she completed the second day of an official trip to the North.
EC casts doubt on rice payment plan

Contingency fund use 'risks charter breach' Published: 28 Feb 2014 at 01.02 Newspaper section: News
An election commissioner has questioned the legality of the governments bid to use the states contingency budget to pay off its debts to rice farmers.Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said on Thursday that along with its request for the Election Commission (EC) to approve the use of 20 billion baht from the budget, the caretaker government should explain whether the move would boost its popularity in the electorate. If this was the case, the spending would violate Section 181(4) of the constitution, which prohibits the use of any government resources that might affect an election outcome.Mr Somchai also asked the government whether the request would violate Section 181(3) of the charter, which prohibits a caretaker government from taking any action that would create a burden for the incoming government.He demanded a full explanation of plans for the entire 70-billion-baht contingency fund, as well as an outline of plans to sell pledged rice this year.The caretaker government must seek EC approval for the use of any special budget.The government is struggling to raise funds to pay rice growers who are demanding money owed to them since October for their pledged crop.The government owes about 875,900 farmers some 116 billion baht for their 6.7 million tonnes of pledged rice.The governments National Rice Policy Committee decided on Monday to seek 20 billion baht from the states contingency budget to make an initial round of payments to farmers.
In the meeting of the rice committee, a representative of the National Budget Bureau said the government s Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order had already sought 10 billion baht to pay riot police deployed to deal with anti-government protesters.If that request is approved, it would mean only 60 billion baht remains in the contingency budget.The budget authority also noted that the government had to save the fund for emergency cases until September, when the 2014 fiscal year ends.The representative recommended the spending for rice payments be capped at 20 billion baht.Luang Pu Buddha Isara, the abbot co-leading anti-government protests, led a group of rice farmers to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to request legal action be brought against the government for the payment delays.Protesters and rice growers laid siege at the office on Thursday to pressure it to comply with the request.OAG inspector-general Winai Damrongmongkolkul promised that officials would receive farmers complaints at their demonstration site on Chaeng Watthana Road on Friday. He also promised that public prosecutors would proceed with individual complaints of rice growers rather than combining their cases, which would delay the prosecution.Mr Winai said prosecutors were likely to handle complaints from about 500 rice farmers each week.Meanwhile, rice growers in Lop Buris Muang district vowed to march on Bangkok to protest against the payment delays.
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27th Feb.,2014 Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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27th Feb.,2014 Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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27th Feb.

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TOP Contents - Tailored for YOU Latest News Headlines

Katie Turner, 646-277-1200

Concise Analysis of the Chinese Rice Milling Machinery Industry

Published: Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014 - 3:47 am

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/c5h6s4/china_rice

Improved white ponni rice variety

Rice Producers stepping up efforts to market rice in Central America

Major rice-producing Asean members form regional group

Acadia Parish to Rice Krispies

M'sia and other demands keep Asia rice prices steady

Rice farmers dealt another blow in ongoing drought

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Feb 27

Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg

Available prices 2,700-2,850 n.a. 3,900-4,000 n.a. n.a. n.a.

2,600-2,850 2,100-2,600 3,730-3,910 6,100-6,300

4,300-4,500 2,600-2,800 3,750-3,900 3,750-3,900

3,200-3,250 2,900-3,000 3,000-3,500 7,900-10,300 7,700-8,100 6,300-6,500 6,000-6,100

4,000-4,100 4,200-4,300 7,200-7,400 5,400-5,500 5,100-5,300 n.a. 9,700-9,950

4,000-4,100 4,200-4,300 7,200-7,400 5,400-5,500 5,100-5,300

8,600-8,900 8,000-8,300 n.a. n.a.

8,200-8,700 7,400-7,600 5,800-6,600 4,700-5,000

3,100-3,200 3,300-3,400 3,300-3,400 4,400-4,700

3,100-3,200 3,300-3,400 3,300-3,400 4,400-4,700

Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)

1,700-1,800 1,840-1,890 1,650-1,850 2,400-2,500 2,050-2,200

Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)

Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)

1,600-1,700 1,700-1,750 2,600-2,950 2,800-3,300 1,700-1,850 2,500-2,750

2,300-2,450 3,800-4,200 4,700-5,200 11,000-13,500

2,300-2,450 3,800-4,200 4,700-5,200 11,000-13,500 6,300-7,600

5,500-6,000 5,200-5,600 1,400-1,600 1,700-1,800

Bangladesh to buy more domestic rice to boost reserves

Govt eyes income from 1m-tonne G2G China rice sale

Bulk buyers shy away from rice market

B60bn 'siphoned to Hong Kong' in rice-pledging scam

Lawyers acknowledge PM rice charge

EC casts doubt on rice payment plan

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