20th April Daily Global Rice E - Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Daily
Global
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine
Rice E-Newsletter
April 20 , 2015
V o l u m e 5, Issue I
PSA cuts rice, corn Q1 estimate

THE GOVERNMENT has cut grain production estimates for the last quarter, but the expected volumes
are still better than what was actually produced in 2014s comparable three months, according to a report
of the Philippine Statistics Authority-Bureau of Agricultural Statistics
Smelly rice fit for consumption Prices of gasoline decline for the second time this month NEDA
statement on March inflation Philippine March CPI declines to 2.4% but core CPI accelerates Prices of
fuel decline for the seventh time this yearThe decline could be attributed to contraction of harvest area
and drop in yield due to the adverse effects of typhoons Seniang and Amang, intense heat, insufficient
water supply, incidence of pests and diseases, and strong winds which resulted in lodging in some
provinces, the report read.
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As of March 1, first-quarter palay -- or unmilled rice -- production is expected to have hit 4.47 million
metric tons (MT), about 2.6% less than the 4.59 million MT estimated in January but still 3.9% better
than the 4.31 million MT actually harvested in 2014s comparable period.For corn, production last quarter
could have reached 2.41 million MT, 1.5% lower than the 2.44 million MT forecast in January, but still
5.7% more than the 2.28 million MT actual output a year ago.
This is the second PSA-BAS update on palay and corn output last quarter from the original 4.59 million
MT and 2.28 million MT respective forecasts released last January. The update as of Feb. 1 showed that
the government cut first-quarter production forecast of palay to 4.46 million MT and corn to 2.43 million
MT.
Actual palay and corn production data forms part of the regular Philippine agricultural report that is
expected to be issued a week before the release of the first-quarter gross domestic product data that, in
turn, is scheduled on May 28.The latest grain production estimates considered contraction in the harvest
area and yield of both crops, the PSA-BAS said. Palay harvest area may have contracted to 1.16 million
hectares (ha) in the first quarter from 1.17 million ha in 2014s comparable three months, while yield is
seen to have fallen to 3.85 MT/ha from 3.93 MT/ha. In the same comparative periods, harvest area for
corn may have dropped 0.2% to 718,000 ha from 720,000 ha, while yield may have dipped to 3.35 MT/ha
from 3.39 MT/ha.
The smaller harvest area and lower yield of both crops, the agency said, could be attributed to damage
from typhoons. The agency said typhoon Seniang had damaged crops in Capiz and Negros Occidental
in December last year, while typhoon Amang brought damage to Camarines Sur in January.The PSABAS also noted insufficient water supply and intense heat in the provinces of Iloilo, Tarlac, Camarines
Sur, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Aklan, Davao del Sur and Sarangani may have led to reduced yield
in both crops.Lower palay production may also be attributed to the infestation by stem borer in Sultan
Kudarat and South Cotabato.At the same time, the government said strong winds lodged crops in Quezon
and Sultan Kudarat that were otherwise already in reproductive stage.
Corn output is also seen to have been affected by rains in Cagayan, with much of the crop in flowering
stage.Insufficient use of fertilizer in Tarlac, infestation of rats in Sarangani and strong winds in Negros
Oriental that resulted in lodging were also noted by the agency.Other factors like floods in North
Cotabato and peace-and-order problems in Maguindanao that led to abandonment of farms may also have
contributed to lower production.The PSA-BAS said that around 579,000 ha of standing palay crop had
been harvested. Of the 1.44 million ha of the updated standing palay crop, 18.5% were still in the
vegetative stage; some 45.6% were at the reproductive stage; and 35.9% were at maturing stage.
For corn, 469,000 ha had been harvested. Around 21.9% of the 548,000 ha of updated standing corn crop
were in vegetative stage, some 35% were in reproductive stage and 43.1% were in the maturing stage.Last
year, total palay output increased 2.87% to 18.97 million MT, exceeding the 18.88 million MT target of
the government, as improving yields offset a decline in harvest area.Corn likewise surpassed the
governments 7.75 million MT target, with total production hitting 7.77 million MT last year, up 5.33%
from 2013.
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Japan, U.S. say made significant trade progress before sumit

TOKYO | BY KAORI KANEKO
Japan's Economics Minister Akira Amari (R) shakes hands with U.S. Trade Representative Michael
Froman ahead of their meeting in Tokyo April 19, 2015.
REUTERS/ATARU HARUNA
(Reuters) - The United States and Japan made significant progress in trade talks over the past
days, adding momentum to multilateral efforts toward a free-trade pact, both sides said on
Tuesday."Through these efforts, the gaps between the two sides have been substantially
narrowed," U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said after two days of talks with
Economy Minister Akira Amari.
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"But continued work is needed to ultimately resolve the outstanding issues."Amari told reporters
the long-running bilateral talks had made enough progress to be welcomed at a summit on April
28 between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Barack Obama -- the goal he had declared
for the ministerial talks."The negotiations are at the final stage," Amari said. "We will continue
to make utmost efforts toward an early agreement, maximizing our national interests."Progress in
the talks begun at the working level last week adds momentum to multilateral efforts toward a
free-trade pact, Froman said.
A bilateral deal is considered vital to a long-delayed deal in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
trade pact, as their economies account for 80 percent of the 12-nation group.The ministers
instructed their officials to work on the remaining issues of access to the Japanese rice market
and the U.S. car market, Amari said. He and Froman could meet again if necessary.Abe,
speaking on a news program late on Monday, said the discussion had narrowed to a few,
lingering items.Abe likened the talks to mountain climbing, saying there was "one, tough stretch"
to complete.
"We would like to redouble our efforts so that a deal can be reached," he said.Amari on Sunday
said Japan would not accept a U.S. demand to substantially expand its rice imports, while
pressing Washington to further open the U.S. car-parts market.Japan is set to allow a special
quota of about 100,000 tonnes a year for rice imports from its 11 TPP partners, the bulk of which
is expected to come from the United States, the Nikkei business daily said. The United States is
demanding roughly double the size of quota, the Nikkei said.Japan has sought immediate
abolition of a 2.5 percent tariff on U.S. imports of auto parts, but Washington, under pressure
from the politically powerful auto industry, wants to maintain auto-related tariffs as long as
possible, the newspaper said.
Prospects for the bilateral deal improved on Thursday, when senior U.S. lawmakers agreed on
the wording of a bill to give Congress a yes-or-no vote on TPP but not the power to alter a deal.
However, passage of the "fast track" bill, which Japan says is essential, remains far from
assured.Washington and Tokyo see strategic as well as economic value to a broad TPP deal as a
counterweight to rising China, which has not joined the group.
(Additional reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto, Kiyoshi Takenaka and Linda Sieg; Editing by
William Mallard and Janet Lawrence)
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FAO tips Thailand to regain status as No-1 rice exporter

The Nation April 17, 2015 1:00 am
Following years of bumper harvests, worldwide rice production last year experienced its first annual
contraction since 2009, while global prices for the grain remain soft, according to the first rice market
report of 2015, published by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation.The FAO has lowered its 2014
estimated global paddy production by 3.3 million tonnes since December, to 741.3 million tonnes (494.4
million tonnes of it milled), a level only 0.5 per cent below the record 2013 performance. The largest
downward revision related to Thailand, one of the world's leading rice exporters, where unseasonable
dryness leading to severe constraints in water availability for irrigation took a heavy toll on secondary
crop production, the April 2015 issue of the "FAO Rice Market Monitor" states.
While the dreaded effects of El Nino failed to materialise, a poor monsoon affected the main and
secondary crop cycles in India, another leading rice exporter, causing production prospects for the country
to deteriorate further."Thailand's rice production (paddy) declined by 2.7 per cent in 2014 to 34.3 million
tonnes (22.7 million tonnes of milled rice), due mainly to a decline of secondary crop outputs affected by
cuts in planted areas," said Hiroyuki Konuma, FAO assistant director-general and regional representative
for Asia and the Pacific."However, in 2015, Thailand is expected to increase production by 2.1 per cent,"
he added.The "Rice Market Monitor" predicts that, under more normal climatic conditions, this year will
see a modest recovery of around one per cent in world paddy output to 750 million tonnes.
"While nature was chiefly behind the lack of last season's growth, a prolonged period of falling prices
also played a role.Such low prices are encouraging several governments, especially in exporting
countries, to engage in less supportive production policies and to pay more attention to other
considerations, such as the negative environment impacts of rice cultivation, and the heavy budgetary
implications of holding bulging public stocks," said Konuma.
'Shift of emphasis'
"This shift of emphasis, which translated into constant or lower official procurement prices and more
stringent limits on rice cultivation, in part explains the modest pace of production growth forecast for
2015."Rice exports by India and Thailand surged late last year. The latest revisions for rice exports
indicate that India edged out Thailand to retain the position of top rice exporter, shipping an
unprecedented 11.3 million tonnes, only slightly ahead of Thailand's 11 million tonnes (milled).However,
the FAO report predicts that Thailand will regain the title of top exporter in 2015, when it is forecast to
export 11.2 million tonnes compared to 9.3 million tonnes for India.In spite of falling international prices,
many rice-importing countries continue to pursue policies to reach self-sufficiency in rice production.
Among the most prominent, Indonesia is forecast to reduce its imports by 25 per cent this year, the
Philippines by some 21 per cent, and Bangladesh by 36 per cent.Against that backdrop, export
competition for markets will intensify further in the course of the year.
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Sinograin subsidiary profits from rice subsidies -CCTV

Source: Reuters - Mon, 20 Apr 2015 04:22 GMT
Author: Reuters
BEIJING, April 20 (Reuters) - A northeast subsidiary of China Grain Reserves Corporation

(Sinograin), which manages the state grain reserves, is alleged to have illegally profited from
Beijing's rice subsidies, state media reported over the weekend.The granary in Liaoning province
is said to have bought cheap, low-quality rice for the state stocks instead new-crop grains to take
advantage of the prices set by Beijing to support farmers, according to a report by state television
CCTV.The granary made a 700 yuan ($113) per tonne profit by selling the low-quality rice at the
new crop price, said the report, citing a grains buyer who had taken some of the stock from the
granary.Sinograin's Beijing headquarters said in a statement on its website
(www.sinograin.com.cn) that it would investigate the allegations.
The CCTV report also said there had been collusion between sellers of old grains and granary
managers, and showed undercover footage of trucks said to be delivering old rice to the
granary.The allegations underscore concerns over the quality of China's state grain stockpiles,
which are currently at record volumes. Corn stocks held are equivalent to eight months of
domestic consumption.Sinograin's Henan branch was hit by a scandal in 2011 when local
granaries were accused of faking sales records to profit from subsidies on wheat prices. The case
involved more than 700 million yuan and implicated more than 110 local officials, with the
Henan branch chief sentenced to life in prison.Qiao Jianjun, the former director of Henan
Zhoukou Granary, escaped with about 300 million yuan, state media reported at the time. The
U.S. Justice Department in March this year indicted Qiao and his ex-wife, accusing them of
funnelling stolen money into the United States.
Frequent incidents of corruption involving Sinograin could lead Beijing to revamp its grain
stockpile scheme, say analysts. The scheme has pushed domestic prices to more than 30 percent
above global prices and led to large imports of less expensive overseas grains.Sinograin also
faces criticism over its stockpiling methods. A Wilmar International executive said during a
Beijing summit last year the state stockpiler's purchases of new-crop rice was leading rice mills
in the northeast to close down because they could not source sufficient grain.($1 = 6.2018
Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Niu Shuping and Dominique Patton; Editing by Tom Hogue)
APEDA NEWS
International Benchmark Price
Price on: 20-04-2015
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Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)
5650
Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)
4125
Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t)
3425
Greek provincial, CIF UK (USD/t)
1441
Greek Vostizza, CIF UK (USD/t)
1551
Argentine 85mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
4070
Australian extra light/light amber, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
4730
Chinese light amber, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
1975
Apricots
Currants
Honey
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 18-04-2015
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Dhing (Assam)
Fine
2600
3000
Aroor (Kerala)
Other
2700
2900
Bonai (Orissa)
Other
2000
2200
Amirgadh (Gujarat)
Other
1250
1950
Dhing (Assam )
Other
1500
1700
Haveri(Karnataka)
Local
1550
1590
Rice
Wheat
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Mango
1
Balugaon (Orissa)
Other
3000
3600
Sirhind(Punjab)
Other
2500
4000
Aroor(Kerala)
Other
3000
3200
Bargarh (Orissa)
Other
2000
2200
Aroor (Kerala)
Other
2200
2400
Sirsa(Haryana)
Other
1200
1500
Brinjal
Source:agra-net
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 19-04-2015
Product
Market Center
Price
Pune
277
Mysore
276
Nagapur
255
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package

Price on 17-04-2015
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Package: 50 lb cartons
Potatoes
1
Atlanta
Baltimore
Detroit
Colorado
Canada
Wisconsin
Russet
21
21.50
Russet
15
15
Russet
18
18.50
Package: 50 lb sacks
Cabbage
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1
2
3
Atlanta
Miami
New York
Florida
Georgia
Canada
8.50
Round Green Type
11
12
Round Green Type
Round Green Type
Package: cartons tray pack
Apples
1
Atlanta
Baltimore
Miami
Virginia
Washington
Michigan
Red Delicious
19
19
Red Delicious
22
22
Red Delicious
26
26
India Exports 10.81 Million Tons of Rice in First Eleven

Months of FY 2014-15, Up 8.5% from Last Year
Apr 20, 2015
India exported around 10.81 million tons of rice (including basmati
and non-basmati) in the first eleven months of FY 2014-15 (April March), up about 8.5% from around 9.96 million tons exported during
the same period in FY 2013-14, according to provisional data released
by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development
Authority (APEDA).In value terms, Indias total rice exports have
earned around Rs.43,722 crore (around $7.16 billion) during April
2014 February 2015, up about 2% from around Rs.42,733 crore (around $7 billion) earned during the
same period in FY 2013-14.
In USD terms, value of rice exports during the eleven-month period increased by about 2% y/y.India's
basmati rice exports have declined about 4% to around 3.3 million tons in April 2014 - February 2015
from around 3.44 million tons exported during the same period in FY 2013-14. In value terms, basmati
rice exports declined to about Rs.25,087 crore (around $4.12 billion) during the first eleven months of FY
2014-15, down about 5% from around Rs.26,515 crore (around $4.4 billion) earned in the same period in
FY 2013-14. In USD terms, Indias basmati rice exports declined by 6% y/y in April 2014 February
2015.
India's basmati rice exports were primarily impacted due to Iran's ban on rice imports since November
2014.Indias non-basmati rice exports in April 2014 - February 2015 increased to around 7.51 million
tons, up about 15% from around 6.52 million tons recorded in the same period in FY 2013-14. In value
terms, non-basmati rice exports earned about Rs.18,635 crore (around $3 billion), up about 15% from
around Rs.16,218 crore (around $2.67 billion) in the same period in FY 2013-14. In dollar terms, nonbasmati rice exports increased by 12%y/y during the ten-month period.
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Xi's visit to give impetus to China-Pakistan relationships

2015-04-20 10:38XinhuaEditor: Gu Liping
Pakistani Ambassador to China Masood Khalid gives an exclusive interview with Xinhuanet
before Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan. (Photo source: Xinhuanet photo)
Chinese President Xi Jinping's coming visit to Pakistan is of great significance in giving an
impetus to China-Pakistan relationships, Pakistani Ambassador to China Masood Khalid said
lately in an exclusive interview with Xinhuanet.[Special coverage]
The ambassador holds President Xi's visit will be a major
step to strengthen the ongoing cooperation which is diverse
and multi-layered, adding that he expects good result from
this visit.Masood Khalid added the vision of the "Belt and
Road" initiative is very far-sighted and promising.It is to
promote economic development, progress and common
prosperity. It is to reduce frictions, tensions and sources of
conflicts by setting up economic linkages and connectivity.
It's a long-term, future-perspective and positive vision, showing the wisdom of Chinese
leadership, he said.
The two sides are committed to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a key component of the
"Belt and Road" initiative. This bilateral two-way project will not only benefit China and
Pakistan, but also give positive economic momentum to other countries in this region.Talking
about the anti-terror efforts, the ambassador said Pakistan and China are on the same page to
combat terrorism, extremism and separatism. The two sides have cooperated in informationsharing and strengthened border control.President Xi's visit will give a big boost to ChinaPakistani relationships, he noted.
Strong Friendship
President Xi Jinping's visit symbolizes strong friendship between China and Pakistan. People of
Pakistan look forward to giving warm reception to President Xi, Masood Khalid said.The
bilateral relationship is not confined to that between the governments and the high levels, this is
rooted in the minds and hearts of the two peoples, he went on."If you come to Pakistan, you tell
anybody on the road that you're from China, they will warmly welcome you. That's a very
spontaneous and sincere reaction and response. Similar response I find in Chinese toward
Pakistani people." said the ambassador, noting that it has laid a solid base for consolidating the
two nations' relationships.
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The two sides cooperate in politics, economy, trade, culture, education, science and technology,
and people-to-people, culture-to-culture, government-to-government, intellectual and media
contacts.The ambassador expressed his gratitude to Chinese government's help to evacuate 176
Pakistani nationals from the war-torn Yemen. Pakistan also contributed to helping evacuate eight
Chinese students."It reflected our close bonds and close friendship. When facing difficult
situation, we give each other a hand, "he said.
Explore more ways of trade cooperation
The building of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor gives a momentum to bilateral trade. The
two sides have good architecture for cooperation, especially since the free trade pact was signed
and relevant policies implemented from 2008. Bilateral trade increased greatly, achieving a trade
volume of 15 billion U.S. dollars in 2014, the ambassador said.He pointed out that many areas of
trade cooperation are yet to be explored. For now, bilateral trade is mostly in traditional areas,
Pakistani rice, cotton and textiles for China's machinery, computers and telephones. Other areas
that contain new business opportunities could include fishery, textiles, precious stone and quality
fruits.He welcomed Chinese enterprises to run business in Pakistan and promised to help them
finding partners in various sectors.Still, creative ways of cooperation need to be explored and
implemented, he said
Scientists caution rice farmers in TN

LN REVATHY
COIMBATORE, APRIL 20:
The Centre for Plant Protection Studies at the Farm Varsity here has cautioned rice farmers about
the possible outbreak of pests and diseases due to abnormal weather and rains in different parts
of Tamil Nadu.Rice Blast: The possibility for outbreak of rice blast and brown leaf spots in
paddy is particularly high in the coastal rice growing belt. The symptoms appear as spindleshaped lesions with white to grey-green darker borders. The older lesions will be whitish with
necrotic borders. Delayed application of nitrogenous fertiliser and immediate spray of
carbendazim or tricyclazole or metominostrobin would help control the infestation, the
University has, in a statement said.
For control of brown spot disease, farmers are advised to spray mancozeb 2 to 3 times at 10 to 15
days interval based on the intensity of the disease.Brown Planthopper: This sucking pest can be
serious in areas where drainage problem is more. The insects multiply rapidly and suck the sap
from plant base. The field will appear burnt up and the typical damage symptom in plants called
hopper burn will be noticedWhile advising farmers to avoid resurgence causing and synthetic
pyrethroid group of insecticides, the farmer Varsity urges farmers to drain the water from the
field before spraying chemicals at the base of the stem for management of brown
planthopper.Rice Leaffolder: Leaffolder can be severe in the rice crop at the vegetative stage.
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The incidence, according to the Directorate of Plant Protection Studies, has already been
recorded in around 1000 hec (of rice fields) in Tirupur districtHighlighting the symptoms of
leaffolder infestation, the scientists point out that the larvae feeds on the leaves of rice by rolling
the leaves. The affected leaves will dry and in severe cases, the plant would wilt. While advising
farmers to apply chemical insecticides such as cartop hydrochloride or flubendiamide, the
Varsity experts say that light traps would help attract adult moth.Rice Stemborer: The stem borer
incidence would be more prevalent in the samba season crop and could occur during the dry spell
after the rains.The incidence can be noticed by the dead heart in young crops and white ear in
matured crops. The central shoot turns dry and the plant dies in the early stage of the crop. The
grains become chaffy.
(This article was published on April 20, 2015)
April 20, 2015 09:35:00 PM
Why we have to import rice

M.A.P. Insights
Rolando T. Dy
There are many misconceptions by Filipinos about the countrys rice industry. The most
notable is that our Southeast Asian neighbors sent students to the International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI) and the University of the Philippines in Los Baos, and these neighbors are
now exporting rice to us. Most Filipinos could not understand why the Philippines imports
rice, and not export. Here are some explanations.
First, IRRI trained scientists in all major rice-producing countries, not just the
Philippines. The IRRI has trained and worked with Vietnam, the Bangladesh Rice
Research Institute, the Malaysian Agriculture Research Institute, the Thai
Department of Agriculture and the Indonesia Agency for Agriculture Research as
early as the 1970s.In fact, the Philippine Rice Research Institute, created only in
1985, was late in coming. National rice research institutes are important in
developing varieties suited to different conditions. Just because IRRI is located in
the Philippines does not mean the Philippines has been favored by IRRI. IRRI has released more than a
thousand modern rice varieties in 78 countries since its founding in 1960.Second, the Philippines has been
a net rice importer for the last 50 years.
According to the Food and Agricultural Organization, from 1961 to 2011, the Philippines was an importer
for 40 years, and a significant exporter for only four years (1979-1981 and 1987). In 2012 to 2015, it also
imported rice. This is in part due to smaller rice areas and lower yields even in irrigated areas because of
water scarcity in the dry season.Third, the Philippines has less comparative advantage in rice production
compared to countries drained by the worlds large rivers: India, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. All
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are rice exporters in the process. Add to that the 20 typhoons that hit the country every year. Rice
production cost in the Philippines is higher than in Thailand, Vietnam and India.Fourth, exporting rice is a
major losing proposition. Today, the Philippines can export ordinary rice at the highest price of P18 per
kilo as compared to the current wholesale price of over P28 per kilo. The export price translates to at best
P9 per kilo at farmgate, way below the market price of around P15 per kilo.
Food security must be anchored in income. Sadly, the Philippines has the highest poverty incidence as
compared to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Tens of millions have little purchasing
power.While rice is the countrys major staple, there is need to diversify to other crops in order to boost
farm incomes for food security. The question that needs to be asked is whether we have invested enough
in other crops that could make a great difference in poverty reduction. These are coconut, coffee, cacao,
fruits, rubber, oil palm and aquaculture.Rolando T. Dy is the Vice-Chair of the M.A.P. AgriBusiness and
Countryside Development Committee, and the Executive Director of the Center for Food and
AgriBusiness of the University of Asia & the Pacific.
map@map.org.ph
rdyster@gmail.com
http://map.org.ph
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Opinion&title=why-we-have-to-importrice&id=106455
Indian farmer kick-starts two green revolutions

Written by Gene Hettel.
A while back, I read an interesting story extolling the merits of the new flood-tolerant rice,
Swarna-Sub1, in the newsletter of the Stress-Tolerant Rice for Africa and South Asia (STRASA)
project. The author, Manzoor Hussain Dar, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) senior
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associate scientist based in India, included two photos of the same farmer, Nekkanti Subba Rao,
in the same field on his Andhra Pradesh farm.
Spanning two Green Revolutions
I found this striking because the photos had been taken 42 years apart! One depicted a young 29year-old farmer in 1967 clutching a bundle of lush grain-laden panicles of IR8, the rice variety
that started the first Green Revolution (GR1.0) in the 1960s. The other showed a wizened 71year-old in 2009, still with a twinkle in his eyes and the same bright smile, in a similar pose.
However, this time, Mr. Subba Rao was grasping a bundle of panicles of Swarna-Sub1, a popular
variety (Swarna) made flood-tolerant by incorporating the SUB1 gene. Many have since
considered Swarna-Sub1 and other popular varieties with a SUB1 background to be the
launching pad for the second Green Revolution (GR2.0), which is being publicized to leave no
poor farmer behind (see Green Revolutions 2.0 & 3.0: No farmer left behind).
Well, the Rice Today staff needed to look no further for a cover photo subject to grace this issue,
which is celebrating 50 years of rice research in India. It was an easy decision. The 1967 photo
was on the cover of our October-December 2006 issue to observe the 40th anniversary of the
release of IR8 in Asia.
Mr. Subba Raos farming livelihood and his on-farm research have spanned the same period.
During this time, he has continuously collaborated with the All India Coordinated Rice
Improvement Project in testing new varieties, producing certified seeds, and establishing
beneficial links between scientists and farmers. Truly, this has made him an integral part of the
history of the Green Revolutions in India.
Testing and distributing IR8 and Swarna-Sub1
He proudly recalled that, in 1966, he was one of the first farmers to plant Taichung-Native 1
(TN1) for national demonstrations. TN1 was actually the first indica rice variety carrying the
semidwarfing gene, sd1, derived from Taiwanese variety Dee-geo-woo-gen, which is also a
parent of IR8. However, IR8 and subsequent IRRI varieties proved to be more disease resistant
and quickly replaced TN1.
In 1967, Mr. Subba Rao tested IR8 on his farm and supervised its first large-scale demonstration
and multiplicationon about 2,000 hectares near his home village of Atchantafollowing
instructions from the government of India. The next year, IR8 was planted on 1,600 hectares in
his village and the rest was history, with the seeds soon being distributed throughout the country.
So, in addition to being called Dhaan Pandit (rice expert) by his neighbors, he is also known by
the moniker Mr. IR8, which still resonates with many Indian farmers to this day.
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Dr. Dar, who coordinates research and seed upscaling and dissemination-related activities for
STRASA in stress-prone rainfed lowlands in South Asia, has had the privilege of working with
this pioneer farmer for the last 6 years. Mr. Subba Rao has been instrumental in promoting and
distributing Swarna-Sub1, he says. In fact, in 1979, he grew, tested, and inspired his
neighboring farmers to grow the original Swarna, even before it was officially released, because
of its highyielding and good eating qualities. After its release, Swarna covered the entire
Godavari Belt in India and continues to be the variety of choice among millions of farmers in
India and neighboring countries.
Unfortunately, Swarna yields often decrease during seasons with lots of flooding. So, Mr. Subba
Rao was especially excited when IRRI breeders incorporated the SUB1 gene into Swarna. It was
a dream come true.
Says Dr. Dar: Mr. Subba Rao evaluated Swarna and Swarna-Sub1 side by side in his field and
invited hundreds of farmers to come see the difference. Luckily, for observational purposes, the
seedlings got submerged that season and Swarna- Sub1 performed so much better than Swarna.
He distributed Swarna-Sub1 seed from his 2008 kharif harvest to other farmers, who multiplied
it during the rabi season 2008-09. This resulted in the spread of Swarna- Sub1 to nearly 1,000
hectares during the 2009 kharif season in a dozen surrounding villages.
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A farmer-scientist
In 2012, I gave him 1 kilogram of seed of Ciherang-Sub1, a short-duration, flood-tolerant
variety with high grain quality, says Dr. Dar. Not surprisingly, he multiplied it in the kharif
and also cultivated it during the following boro season. It had higher yield than other popular
rabi rice varieties and thus spread through hundreds of hectares in a few years and has become a
popular variety. Through the local university, he has also helped distribute 1,000 mini-kits of
Ciherang-Sub1 to the farmers before its release. Thats how he works.
I consider Mr. Subba Rao a scientist himself, says Dr. Dar. He is truly an inspiration to the
farmers in the area and has a large following. He is the best promoter around of the new
technologies and he creates a lot of awareness among the farmers.
No stranger to IRRI
In 1985, during IRRIs 25th anniversary, the Institute organized a multilevel symposium that
included scientists, political leaders, andmost importantly14 outstanding farmers identified
from 10 nations. Two Indians were in that group to visit the Philippines, Sardar Jagjit Singh Hara
from the Punjab (see In the Punjab: an outstanding farmer revisited) and Andhra Pradeshs own
Dhaan Pandit! Mr. Subba Rao and his fellow outstanding farmers generously shared their
experiences with IRRI scientists and scholars during that event. He was part of the group because
he was already averaging 8 tons per hectare on his 10-hectare farm back then in the mid-1980s.
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Science has a great role to play in helping farmers because the cost of cultivation continues to
increase and outbreaks of insect pests and diseases result in severe losses, he said to the
participants during the 1985 symposium. He added that community participation and proper
government policies could significantly influence returns.
Flash forward 29 years to 1 October 2014. Mr. IR8 was back at IRRI Headquarters in the
Philippines to mingle with more than 400 Filipino farmers during the Institutes Araw ng
Magsasaka sa IRRI (IRRI's Annual Farmers Day). He repeated his 1985 message to a new
attentive audience by sharing his experiences, practices, and insights. It is clear that he brims
with pride about his role in helping usher in both GR1.0 with IR8 and GR2.0 with Swarna-Sub1
and the even better varieties that are following.
He is always excited about innovative varieties and technologies, concluded Dr. Dar. I wish I
had a new product to give him every year because, through his network, we can best bestow
maximum benefits to the thousands of farmers in the region.
_________________________________________
Mr. Hettel is editor-in-chief of Rice Today and IRRI historian.
http://irri.org/rice-today/indian-farmer-kick-starts-two-green-revolutions?utm_source=IRRI+email+subscriptions&utm_campaign=b01d43db0bRiceToday_Weekly4_27_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c803adc7cf-b01d43db0b-40925885http://irri.org/rice-today/indian-farmer-kick-starts-two-greenrevolutions?utm_source=IRRI+email+subscriptions&utm_campaign=b01d43db0b-RiceToday_Weekly4_27_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c803adc7cfb01d43db0b-40925885
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Regional cooperation speeds up the release of rice varieties

Written by Lanie Reyes.
Rice farmers in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal will have faster access to newly developed highyielding climate-smart varieties. This is thanks to a regional seed cooperation agreement that
speeds up the release and dissemination of rice varieties to benefit farmers in the region.
Saves breeding time
The regional seed cooperation saves a lot of resources and the time required for a variety to be
released in one country. The time it takes from initial evaluation of a breeding line to the release
of a new variety could take between 3 to 6 years.
With this seed cooperation agreement, a rice variety that has been tested, approved, and
released in one country can be released in other countries without undergoing further testing and
evaluation, as long as they will be grown in similar agroclimatic conditions, says Abdelbagi
Ismail, principal scientist at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). The regional
cooperation system is the most suitable platform for the three countries because they share
similar agroecosystems and borders.
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How it all started
IRRI played a catalytic role to make the regional cooperation happen, says Dr. Ismail, who
also leads the Stress-Tolerant Rice for Africa and South Asia (STRASA) project. The Institute
convened the senior officials of the three countries through a meeting under STRASA.
The regional seed cooperation started when delegations from India and Bangladesh met in
February 2013. The delegation from India was headed by Ashish Bahuguna, secretary of
agriculture and international cooperation of the Ministry of Agriculture; Matia Chowdhury,
minister of agriculture, headed the Bangladeshi delegation, among other respective relevant
agencies, including Monzur Hossain, secretary of agriculture. From IRRI, the delegation was
headed by National Food Security Mission, deputy director general for communication and
partnerships.
Among other things, the two countries agreed to have a joint evaluation of improved rice
varieties for release in areas with similar agroclimatic conditions in both countries. Part of that
agreement provided for reciprocal acceptance of research data, including results of farmers
participatory varietal selection activities that are generated in one country to support varietal
release in the other country.
And, consistent with the goal of bringing the needed climate-change-ready varieties to farmers in
the shortest time possible, the two countries agreed on the promotion of prerelease multiplication
and demonstration of breeding lines and varieties at advanced stages of release to fast-track
awareness among farmers and to ensure a sufficient supply of breeder seed once a variety was
released. In relation to this, the two countries agreed to work together in formulating seed
protocols and guidelines that are compatible across countries.
On 18 October 2014, Nepal joined with the governments of Bangladesh and India to sign a
protocol on regional seed cooperation in a workshop on seed issues held in Kathmandu, Nepal.
A historic moment
This regional cooperation on rice varieties among the three countries was declared historically
significant by the agriculture executives.
Dr. S.M. Nazmul Islam, agriculture secretary of Bangladesh, believes that signing of this
regional agreement ushers in a new era of collaboration and cooperation that aims to help
improve the livelihood of the poor farmers in the region.Nepals agriculture secretary, Jaya
Mukunda Khanal, shares the same view. The cooperation has opportunities and options to
improve the livelihood of poor farmers in the region, he says. It will provide a platform to
share good practices among countries and the exchange of technologies and quality seed can help
attain higher rice productivity in the region.
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Mr. Bahuguna notes that, although the agreement covers only rice, it can be extended to other
crops later on. This cooperation is not limited to the seed sector and will lead to agricultural
development in the region, Mr. Bahuguna adds. For him, this cooperation can be expanded and
replicated to other parts of the world. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
can play a vital role in bringing in more countries to the platform.
Results to boot
The regional cooperation, even in its infant stage, has produced concrete results and has
demonstrated what can be achieved. In fact, several varieties released in one country are already
popular in another. For example, BR11, BRRI dhan 28, and BRRI dhan 29, which are modern
high-yielding rice varieties released in Bangladesh, are now widely grown in eastern India,
reports Mr. Bahuguna.
Indian varieties are now estimated to be planted on more than 21% of the rice area in
Bangladesh. Some Indian rice varieties, such as Swarna, Sarju 52, and Samba Mahsuri, are now
popular in Nepal.
As the initial implementation step of this agreement by India, several varieties released in
Bangladesh, such as BINA dhan 8, 10, 11, and 12, are recently notified for release in the Indian
states of West Bengal, Assam, and Odisha. These varieties will be evaluated for release in other
states also, but only for a yearas provided in the agreement.
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Sukha dhan 5 and 6, drought-tolerant varieties released in Nepal, are being considered for release
in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
The Indian government has been proactive in carrying out the regional cooperation agreement. In
fact, starting in 2015, the Department of Agriculture of India allotted 30% of its funds to
programs such as the National Food Security Mission and Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern
India to further promote climate-smart rice developed by STRASA.
According to Dr. Ismail, the regional seed cooperation was carried out smoothly not only
because these three countries share similar guidelines for varietal evaluation and release, but
because each country shares a similar goalthat is, delivering the technologies needed by
farmers.
Indeed, the success of the creation and the implementation of this regional seed cooperation
clearly demonstrate that partnerships and collaboration can accomplish the goals very rapidly. It
is hoped that, with IRRIs catalytic role and being a lead institute of the Global Rice Science
Partnership, more milestones can be achieved among the partners. In the future, this kind of
regional cooperation could help partners use resources efficiently as countries share relevant
information with one another.
_________________________________________
Ms. Reyes is the managing editor of Rice Today.
http://irri.org/rice-today/regional-cooperation-speeds-up-the-release-of-rice-varieties?utm_source=IRRI+email+subscriptions&utm_campaign=b01d43db0bRiceToday_Weekly4_27_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c803adc7cf-b01d43db0b-40925885
Nigeria: Umeofia - 'With Proper Incentives, Indigenous

Manufacturers Can Fully Support Our Economy'
Nigeria: On a New Road Infrastructure System
By Olawunmi Ojo
UmeofiaThe Nigerian tomato paste market, which has a few indigenous producers, is dominated by
imported products. Erisco Foods Limited is one of the indigenous producers. Following recent concerns
of sub-standard and adulterated products flooding the market, however, the President of the food
company, Eric Umeofia reassures consumers that its range of products remains one of the few in the
country certified good for consumption.Recently, the National Agency for Food and Drug
Administration, and Control (NAFDAC) began a series of consultative meetings with importers and
indigenous manufacturers of tomato paste in sachets and tins.
The meetings were called after a recent Tomato paste survey carried out by NAFDAC on imported
Tomato paste from China, revealed that 91 per cent of samples collected were substandard and below
prescribed quality standards and specification. Rather than contain the required percentage of raw tomato
in addition to other approved ingredients, a large quantity of the imported products were found to be
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stuffed with starch, corn flour and a generous dosage of unhygienic colour additive and preservatives.The
intent was to tackle the challenge headlong.
Among other steps, the move was to enable inspectors of the Agency visit more offices, factories and
warehouses of manufacturers and merchants; obtain information as regards importers' import frequency
and distribution network; and also obtain contact information of importers' manufacturers in China so as
to interface directly with them on production standards and requirements. "It may also lead to a national
recall of numerous substandard tomato paste in sachets and tins; destruction of such products in some
cases and more importantly, a massive consumer education," the Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul
Orhii had said.
In initiating the move and calling the meetings, Orhii stressed that given the wide acceptance of tomato
paste as food ingredient in the country and the food safety concerns and health challenges thrown up by
the substandard nature of samples tested, it had become expedient to regulate its safety and quality.There
are growing concerns that some of the unhygienic ingredients and colouring added to Tomato paste are
not easily broken down or flushed in the system. Rather, they get lodged and may have a connection with
rising incidences of unexplainable health conditions in Nigerians.To this end, Chief Eric Umeofia,
President and CEO, Erisco Foods Limited has reassured Nigerians that its products are very wholesome.
With a vision to be one of the largest indigenous Nigerian manufacturers of food products and a mission
to produce and package quality products for everyday use, Umeofia says Erisco Food' cardinal goal is to
be a one-stop provider of healthy food variants for Nigerian families.Giving an overview of its operations
and product lines, Umeofia explains: "Ric-Giko tomato paste is, today, our flagship brand. We began
operations in 2009, producing and marketing our first brand of Tomato Paste in sachets named Nagiko.
Soon after, we introduced Ric-Giko. We currently have three brands of tomato pastes in a range of five
tins and sachets. Ric-Giko comes in two variants: the classic, which is only tomato paste while the other
is a blend of tomato and pepper paste.
Nagiko and Erisco are the other tomato paste brands. We also have other products like Nagiko Sugar,
Nagiko Monosodium, Nagiko Basmati Rice in the market."We are currently expanding our product lines,
introducing new products into the market. Our goal is to be a one-stop provider of healthy food variants
for Nigerian families. Erisco Foods Limited is a member of Erisco Bonpet Group, which introduced the
very popular Erisco Bonpet Automatic Fire Extinguisher in 1995. We have since changed the face of fire
prevention in Nigeria and helped save Nigerian economy billions of Naira from preventable fire
incidents."Erisco Foods has an installed factory capacity of 240, 000 metric tonnes per annum (first
phase) in Oregun, Lagos state.
It is the first of its kind and largest tomato paste factory in Africa. Apart from producing and packaging its
own range of products in sachets and a range of five can size options, its production capacity is providing
genuine importers, packagers and bulk traders of tomato paste the opportunity to start getting their
products processed and packaged in the country without the pains of procuring scarce foreign exchange to
import packaged tomato paste from Europe and Asia.Erisco Foods' investments in the manufacturing
sector is in full endorsement and support of government's Transformation Agenda under the Nigerian
Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) and the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDP) which
are both geared towards achieving Nigeria's lofty industrialization goals. It also has plans to generate
direct and indirect employment of over 50,000 within the next three years, and has confidence that with
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the envisioned continuous execution of the right policies the food and agro-allied industry, it would
ultimately generate millions of jobs for teeming Nigerian youths.
USA Rice Promotions Target Growing Institutional Sector

in Mexico
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - Last year, USA Rice

conducted market research into theU.S. grown rice has
sparked Gomez's imaginationinstitutional sector in Mexico
with funding from USDA's Emerging Markets Program.
That research found that while the institutional sector as a
whole consumed more than twice the amount of rice as the
average Mexican, there were several middle-sized
companies that were willing to, and interested in, increasing
their usage of rice, if they could learn more.Last month,
USA Rice partnered with the Mexican government to
conduct a rice cooking competition here with employees
from the global technology company, Philips Corporation.
Nearly 20 contestants received cookbooks and recipe
brochures as educational and motivational materials, but
were then encouraged to get creative with their rice recipes
that had to feature U.S.-grown rice and would be presented
back to their co-workers."I am impressed by the infinite
possibilities that rice offers in the kitchen," said Rosa Elena
Rios Gomez, second place winner of the competition. "It is
an innovative ingredient that has sparked my imagination
and will certainly be a staple in my daily diet."The
competition was conducted by USA Rice in coordination
with the Centro de Seguridad Social Morelos (Social
Security Center Morelos) of the Mexican Social Security
Institute (IMSS). IMSS is a governmental organization that assists and protects the public health,
pensions, and social security in Mexico; it is the largest social institution in Latin America, and their
representatives were pleased with the event."This contest was extremely beneficial for the Philips
employees," said Noemi Chavez Flores, Director of the Social Security Center Morelos. "Thanks to USA
Rice, they now have learned that rice provides an easy, versatile, and fast way to prepare recipes that are
healthy and above all, delicious.""These events are great outreach for U.S.-grown rice because it not only
encourages institutional cafeterias to use more U.S. rice, it also helps show individuals what they can do
with U.S. rice at home," explained Jim Guinn, USA Rice's vice president of international promotion.
Contact: Sarah Moran (703) 236-1457
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Crop Progress: 2015 Crop 32 Percent Planted

WASHINGTON, DC -- Thirty-two percent of the nation's 2015 rice acreage is planted, according to today's U.S.
Department of Agriculture's Crop Progress Report.
Rice Planted, Selected States

Week Ending
State
April 19,
2014
April 12,
2015
April 19,
2015
2010-2014
average
Percent
Arkansas
27
21
28
44
California
Louisiana
77
74
79
79
Mississippi
14
29
38
36
Missouri
34
Texas
71
54
61
78
Six States
31
26
32
42
Mackay region's first commercial-sized rice crop almost

ready for harvest
QLD Country Hour
David Sparkes
PHOTO: Cane growers look at the first commercial rice crop in the Mackay region, which is almost ready for harvest. (David
Sparkes)
MAP: Mackay 4740
The Mackay region's first commercial-scale rice crop is almost ready for harvest.
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Media player: "Space" to play, "M" to mute, "left" and "right" to seek:00
AUDIO: Farmacist agronomist Robert Sluggett discusses the Mackay region's first commercial rice
crop (ABC Rural)
The doongara rice variety has been trialled on a much smaller

scale over the past seven years to determine if it can handle
the Queensland east coast's wet, humid conditions.However,
this is the first crop to be trialled on a commercial scale and
the project team were seeking answers to a number of
questions.Farmacist agronomist Robert Sluggett said the
success of doongara further north in the drier Burdekin
district could not paint a clear picture of how it would
perform around Mackay.PHOTO: The first commercial rice crop in the Mackay region is almost
ready for harvest. (David Sparkes)
"Given it's the first growing of it (on this scale in
Mackay), the major challenges and the major unknowns I
think really were around weed control," he said."All the
herbicides and the work that has been done with rice has
been done in southern Australia with paddy rice, where
the fields are flooded with water."When you bring the rice
out of the paddy and plant it in an overhead irrigated field,
that means the weed control challenges are so
different."The doongara rice variety was selected for the
Mackay region, partly because it can be grown on dry
land, rather than in a flooded paddy like most other rice crops.
The current crop covers 11 hectares on a cane property in Palmyra, just outside Mackay.Mr
Sluggett said the crop had grown well since it was planted in January.It will be harvested in May
and the grain will be taken to a SunRice mill 300 kilometres north in the Burdekin
district.SunRice, a grower owned company, is already processing rice harvested in the Burdekin
and marketing it domestically and internationally.Mr Sluggett says the financial returns per
hectare of rice are slightly higher than sugar cane, depending on the yields and prices at any
given time.About 40 sugar cane growers attended a field day on Friday to see the crop, with its
healthy batch of grain starting to appear.The aim of the project is to establish a second cash crop
that can be grown on the side by cane growers to supplement their income, particularly when
sugar prices are low.
Topics: rice, rural, mackay-4740
Cyclones force Madagascar to import 200, 000 tons of rice

Apr 18, 2015
Cyclones that hit Madagascar from January to March forced the island country to import 200,000 tons of
rice this year, an official has said.Official figures show that almost 20,000 hectares or rice fields in
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Madagascar were damaged after the passage of the tropical storm Chedza in January and the cyclone
Fundi in February followed by a period of heavy rainfall left by Cyclone Haliba in March.
Head of Madagascars national platform of rice, Andry Rakotovao, told
Xinhua in January that rice products in 2015 will go down by 15 to 20
percent due to floods.To avoid a shortage, Madagascar had to increase
its import of rice, said Rolland Ravatomanga minister of
Agriculture.This import was increased by 50,000 tons from what we
planned before to cope with eventual starvation, Ravatomanga
said.Rice is the staple food of Malagasy people. Every year, Madagascar had to import rice because of its
low production.The government says that with 590,000 sq.km of Madagascars surface, 36 million
hectares are farmlands but only 3 million hectares are exploited.The country produces around 5 million
tons of rice annually with 2 tons per hectare for its 22 million inhabitants.Official figures show it
imported 140,000 tons for the lean season 2014 and 300,000 tons in 2013 and the main exporter are
Thailand, Pakistan, India and Burma. Enditem
Source: XinhuaThai rice deals: Boonsong faces trial on June 29
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

CME Group (Preliminary): Closing Rough Rice Futures for April 20
Month
Price
Net Change
May 2015
$9.775
- $0.130
July 2015
$10.030
- $0.130
September 2015
$10.290
- $0.130
November 2015
$10.520
- $0.130
January 2016
$10.750
- $0.130
March 2016
$10.800
- $0.130
May 2016
$10.800
- $0.130
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Boonsong faces trial on June 29

Kesinee Taengkhieo
The Nation
BANGKOK: The Supreme Court has pencilled in June 29 to commence the first trial in the case
involving former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and 20 others in relation to alleged
corruption in government-to-government rice deals under the Yingluck governments controversial ricepledging scheme.All nine judges who were selected by the Supreme Court last month to read the case on
April 9 agreed unanimously to accept it for trial after the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG), as the
prosecutor, filed a suit against Boonsong and the 20 others, said Thanarerk Nitisenee, president of the
Supreme Courts Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.
The panel of judges had to consider if the case was within the jurisdiction of the court and whether to
accept it if it were, he said.The judges deemed the evidence was strong enough to bring the matter to trial,
he said.Thanarerk added that the first testimony in the trial was scheduled for 9.30am on June 29 and all
the defendants would have to show up at court on that day.He said the panel of judges, which included
him, had agreed to assign him to be the case holder.He said the trial would depend on evidence and be fair
for all parties.A source said that after the court accepted the case, none of the defendants petitioned for
bail.In relation to the case, the OAG submitted a National Anti-Corruption Agency writ at the court, plus
205 boxes of documents.
The OAG accused the 21 defendants of conspiring to commit offences as well as commit and support
malfeasance and corruption as defined by the Offences Relating to the Submission of Bids to State
Agencies Act 1999, the Criminal Code, and the Organic Law on Anti-Corruption Act.Some of these
offences carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of up to Bt35.2 billion.The lawsuit was
filed against three political office holders: Boonsong, former deputy commerce minister Poom Sarapol
and ex-secretary to the commerce minister Major Weerawut Watchanaphukka.It also named three civil
servants: former Foreign Trade deputy head Tikhumporn Natvaratat, former rice stock director
Akarapong Dipavajra, and former International Department chief Manas Sroyploy.Private sector
individuals named among the 21 accused include executives and directors of Siam Indica, a major ricetrading company
Bulog NTT to Absorb 15,000 Tons Local Rice

Posted, 2015-04-20
Indonesian Business Daily
Polish Food - Traditional Potato Pancakes (thick grate) - Polish Cuisine
National Logistics Agency (Bulog) East Nusa Tenggara targets to purchase 15,000 tons of rice from local
farmers in the region.
Indonesian Business Dai
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