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Pakistan worst affected by climate change Pakistan forms 15pc of global rice exports Rice institute in Los Baos to hold Manansala Day Re-examine rice importation policies, govt urged Document links DA, NFA chiefs to smuggling' Philippines Farmer Organizations Warn Public Over Quality of Rice Released by Customs Oryza White Rice Index Holds at $463 per Ton; Thailand Political Storm Continues Oryza Afternoon Recap Chicago Rough Rice Futures Shed Nearly 20 Cents per cwt on the Week as Buying Interest Fades Spain Paddy Rice Production Declines to 867,700 Tons in 2013; Down 3.5% from Previous Year India West Bengal State Lacks Funds to Procure Paddy Rice; Bihar State Announces Bonus on MSP of Paddy Rice Thailand Government Seeks State Council Approval for $4 Billion Loan to Pay Rice Farmers India Winter Rice Crop Planting Area Reaches 1.53 Million Hectares; Up 42% from Last Year Thailand Rice Sellers Increase Some of Their Quotes Today; Other Asia Rice Quotes Unchanged Oryza Quick Glance at World News
NEWS DETAILS:
Pakistan worst affected by climate change

By Amar Guriro
January 26, 2014
KARACHI: Agriculture is extremely vulnerable to climate change globally and in Pakistan, which is the one of the worst hit countries of climate change, agriculture is badly affected, said climate change experts and nature conservationists on Saturday. Addressing a conference on climate change organised by the Habib University, experts said water availability, food security and human healthcare were most likely to be negatively affected by climate change, ie, erratic weather patterns, changing rainfall trends and extreme weather events including floods which have been plaguing the countryside for the past few years. Experts also said that beside Pakistan, other developing countries, several of them in the Asia Pacific region, are also likely to face the brunt of the environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change. There are assertions that greenhouse gas emissions were a major factor in climate change; however, developing countries contribute only 10 percent of the annual global carbon dioxide emissions. In fact, Pakistan, the sixth most populous country in the world, ranks 135th in carbon dioxide emissions. Quoting recent report from the World Bank, climate change experts warned Pakistan of the existence of five major risks related to climate change. Those include rise in sea level, glacial retreats, floods, higher average temperature and higher frequency of droughts. These raise major challenges for current and future decision-making and have multifaceted impact on the economy, agriculture, water resources and urban management. Experts estimate the country incurs financial losses of $5.2 billion annually as a result of environmental degradation. The speakers added that Pakistan had witnessed devastating floods and droughts. The seesaw weather patterns are a new phenomenon but the term 'climate change' was neither widely recognised nor completely understood in the country. In fact, global warming and climate change is still seen as a global issue and policy makers and stakeholders in Pakistan have been unable to root it in the indigenous context. This hampers discussions
and consensus building on the subject and exacerbates the problem.Dr Bruce A McCarl, Regents Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University, while delivering the presentation, "Climate Change and Decision Making: An Economic and Agricultural Perspective" said as a result of climate change, there had been increases in rainfall intensity and dry periods between events and Pakistan suffered more than any place in the world. "Due to the impacts of the climate change, crop yield will reduce drastically by 2030 in many regions of the world," he said. He added that the number of the warmest years was increasing, which in turn accelerated evaporation from the ocean, increasing the annual rainfall. "But Pakistan has seen a decline in recent years," he said. "All 12 years since 2000 are among the 14 warmest years since 1879 and only one year during 20th century-1998-was warmer than 2012," he said, adding that the year 2012 was the 36th consecutive year with global temperatures above the 20th century average.Dr Muhammad Mohsin Iqbal, Head of Agriculture Section at Global Change Impact Studies Center, Islamabad Pakistan in his address, "Climate Change: Vulnerability of Pakistan and Impacts on Agriculture," said the growing season length of wheat and rice in Pakistan will be reduced as a result of climate change with negative effects on yield. He said the reduction was greatest in the semi-arid areas and rice seemed to be more sensitive to climate changes than wheat, as evidenced by greater yield reduction of rice under the same scenarios. Quoting data, he said Pakistan had continuously witnessed history's worst disasters since 2001. "Both irrigated and rain-fed agriculture were vulnerable to climate extreme events. "In 1949-50, the agriculture sector was contributing 53 percent in the country's GDP, which dropped to 31 percent during 1980-81, and during 2012-13 it has dropped drastically to only 21.4 percent."Dr Shoaib Zaidi, Dean of School of Science & Engineering, Habib University, Professor Ilan Chabay, Dr Balgis Osman-Elasha and Dr Heinz Gutscher of the University of Zurich also spoke.
Pakistan forms 15pc of global rice exports

January 25, 2014 OUR STAFF REPORTER CHINIOT Pakistan is exporting 70 percent of its rice production to various countries and it is 15pc of total world exports of the commodity, said Masood Iqbal, the chairman of Rice Export Association of Pakistan. Flanked by some rice exporters, he was briefing a delegation of Russian traders and importers at a rice mills here about the produce in Pakistan. Iqbal said that Pakistan is an agricultural country and rice is its third largest agricultural product after cotton and wheat. Pakistans rice is exported to a number of countries including Middle East, Europe and America, he said.Masood also said that REAP was the representative body of 1,500 rice exporters across the four provinces whose collective rice export was of 2 billion dollars in the last four years. Annual rice production of the country is 6.5 million tonnes out of which approximately 4.5 million tonnes is exported and it is about 70% of
total domestic production. Pakistan is 4th largest exporter of rice whose share in international exports is 15%, he said.On the occasion, the Russian traders said that rice is important part of Russian food and lions share of rice required by their country is imported from Pakistan. The rice imports from Pakistan in 2010-11 were 32,449 metric tonnes; in 2011-12, 34,420 metric tonnes and in 2012-13 were 27,206 metric tonnes, they said. The delegation also witnessed preparation and packaging of rice and quality control units. They vowed to increase rice imports from Pakistan and hoped that Pakistan would not compromise on quality and standard of production. An honorary shield was given to the Russian delegation at mills.
Re-examine rice importation policies, govt urged

By Tetch Torres-Tupas
INQUIRER.net
8:37 pm | Sunday, January 26th, 2014
AP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, PhilippinesA consumer group on Sunday called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to spearhead a review of the governments rice importation policies and procedures. In a statement, Action for Consumerism and Transparency for Nation Building (Action) said a re-examination of the governments regulatory policies towards the importation of rice is clearly overdue.Unless the legal loopholes are plugged, legitimate importers will be at the mercy of the whims of some government officials tailoring their interpretation of the law according to their own agenda/gains, Ryann Baccay, director of Action said.Action said the DOJs review should include the National Food Authorities (NFA) allowable rice imports in the country under the quantitative restriction (QR) quotas of the government, the private sector quota, the government to government rice trade, but should also recognize the rights, as well as, opportunities given to farmers cooperatives to import rice. While the NFA allowed farmer cooperatives to import rice (on the premise that they are the ones to be inadvertently affected by the entry of cheaper rice import thus needed to be protected), the government must have forgotten to give the farmers credit facilities to allow them to participate in the importations by themselves, the group said.Due to the volume of imports which needs huge capital, farmer cooperatives since year 2003 are forced to look for financiers or investors to avail themselves of the earning opportunities via rice importations, or worse, sell their import quota.This system which was allowed and encouraged to flourish for more than a decade, by no less than the government thru the NFA has attracted some legitimate businessmen forging agreements with some farmer cooperatives.But, Action noted, it has also been subject to abuse by smuggling syndicates.Action said, as it is, no specific restriction or legal obstruction that will prevent cooperatives to seek private financing or joint-venturing to benefit from their import quotas as long as they follow all the requirements of the NFA and the Bureau of Customs (BOC). Vice versa, there is also no impediment for some minor importers from cooperating or conducting business with farmer cooperatives. Had
the rules been clearer and definitive, legitimate businessmen would not have ventured into s uch, Action added.Action also called on the Senate (presently having an inquiry into rice smuggling) to pass necessary laws that will address the import problems of the cooperatives. The group also committed to support reforms that are underway, to eradicate not just smuggling of rice but other commodities as well which will affect the competitiveness of local farmers
Rice institute in Los Baos to hold Manansala Day

Artists and scientists join forces to preserve the two Manansalas By Lester Babiera:Philippine Daily Inquirer
10:21 pm | Sunday, January 26th, 2014
For over 50 years, staff and guests of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have had the pleasure of dining in the presence of two brilliant masterpieces by National Artist Vicente Manansala.In 1962, shortly after the IRRI facility in Los Baos was established, it commissioned Manansala to paint two murals. One was installed at its cafeteria and the other in its dining room. In commemoration of Manansalas 104th birthday, artists and art enthusiasts will join the scientific community at the IRRI headquarters on Jan. 29 to pay tribute to the late National Artist and his murals.The day-long event, Si Manansala at ang Masaganang Ani, will have a special viewing of the paintings, a symposium on the artists life and work, and a special exhibit. Manansala was a multi-awarded artist who became popular for his trademark Transparent Cubism technique. He was proclaimed National Artist in 1982, a year after he died.Twenty Filipino artists, some who knew Manansala personally and had worked with him directly, will be visiting the institute for sketching and painting sessions followed by an art market.Artists include Hermes Alegre, Rey Arcilla, Lito Balagtas, Cee Cadid, Cris Cruz, Buds Convocar, Ember Crisostomo, Fil de la Cruz, Anna de Leon, Rudolf Gonzales, Boy Mata, Nemesio Miranda, Francis Nacion, Roel Obemio, Al Perez, Omi Reyes, Ephraim Samson, Aner Sebastian, Migs Villanueva and Joseph Villamar. Featured speakers in the symposium at 2:30 p.m. are Manansalas granddaughter Ronna, herself an artist; Nemesio Miranda, head of the Committee on Visual Arts of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA); Ana Labrador, assistant director at the National Museum; Ben Vergara, National Scientist and trustee of the National Museum; and Maritess Pineda, president of the Friends of Manansala Foundation, Inc. (FMF).Production of limited-edition prints of the two Manansala paintings at IRRI will be launched during the event.In November 1984, the Manansala paintings at IRRI underwent preventive conservation. Almost 30 years later, IRRI is once again exploring options to protect the paintings, including relocation of the murals, and is working closely with the FMF, National Museum, and the NCCA. Contact Paul Hilario at tel. +632-5805600 local 2428, e-mail p.hilario@irri.org.
Document links DA, NFA chiefs to smuggling'

By Ding Cervantes, The Philippine Star Posted at 01/27/2014 7:36 AM | Updated as of 01/27/2014 7:36 AM ANGELES CITY Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and administrator Oscar Calayag of the National Food Authority (NFA) are being implicated in rice smuggling.The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said Alcala and Calayag made it appear that rice smugglers operate underground when, in fact, they had granted them import permits.Willy Marbella, KMP deputy secretary-general, said the NFA could not have issued import permits to rice importers if they do not know the people behind them. Rice smugglers and their dummies likewise cannot secure an import permit if they dont have connections to powerful and influential people like Alcala and Calayag, he said.Alcala and Calayags political role-playing is over. Calayags list shows that all along the NFA and the DA know the identity of rice smugglers because they are the ones who provided legal cover for them. Alcala and Calayag should now stop fooling the Filipino people.Marbella said the modus operandi of rice cartels and smugglers of using farmers cooperatives as dummies is an open secret inside the NFA.Obviously, this multimillion peso racket in the rice industry is happening with the blessings of the President for his favorite cabinet secretary, he said. The KMP furnished the media with a document that the NFA had submitted to the House of Representatives during the budget deliberations last year on the status of the importation of well-milled rice under the Country Specific Quota (CSQ) of 163,000 metric tons for the year 2013 undertaken by the private sector and farmers organizations.Signed by Calayag, the two-page document states: As of Sept. 3, 2013, we (NFA) were able to issue import permits (IP) to five entities out of 31 applicant importers.On top of the list of those import permits was Starcraft International Trading Corp. allegedly owned by Davidson Bangayan. Also in the list were San Miguel MPC, Bold Bidder Marketing and General Mdse., Inter-Continental Grains International Trading, Inc., and Kwin Rice Trading.The KMP said Bangayan was shown to be connected with Starcraft during the Senate committee on agricultures hearing last Wednesday.In the same hearing, Bold Bidder Marketing was mentioned by a Customs official for acquiring an injunction order from a court in Lemery, Batangas province even before the shipment ordered by the (Starcraft) company arrived, KMP said.The KMP said that the farmers-as-importers program is nothing but a legal cover (for) rice cartels and smugglers to corner the big bulk of rice importation.We demand that the DA and the NFA unmask the dummy farmer cooperatives in Calayags list and the rice cartels and smugglers behind them, Marbella said.The KMP said the current rice trade liberalization policy implemented by the government has turned the Philippines into a dumping ground of imported rice. With Michael Punongbayan, Czeriza Valencia
EXCLUSIVE RICE NEWS

Philippines Farmer Organizations Warn Public Over Quality of Rice Released by Customs
Jan 24, 2014
Agricultural organizations in the Philippines represented by Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) have raised concerns over the quality of allegedly smuggled rice that may soon enter the market after the Bureau of Customs released around 3.3 tons of rice recently following a court order.Sinag representatives say that the rice (allegedly smuggled from Vietnam) was seized at least five months ago, and has been left in unsafe and unsanitary container vans since then. They add that the quality and hygiene of the rice was not inspected before releasing the rice and the rice may be unsafe for consumption.Sinag says that the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Health (DH) should inspect the rice for food health and safety concerns before offloading it into the market. Sinag says that the rice should be checked for possible food-borne hazards including chemical contaminants like toxic and pesticide residues, heavy metals and infestation.The BOC has seized at least 48,000 tons of rice worth about P725 million (around $32,951 million) since September 2013 due to lack of import permits, according to the BOC deputy commissioner for intelligence.
Read related Oryza story: Philippines DA Implements Palayabangan: 10-5 Challenge to Curb Rice Smuggling
Oryza White Rice Index Holds at $463 per Ton; Thailand Political Storm Continues
Jan 24, 2014
The Oryza White Rice Index, a weighted average of global rice export quotes, finished the week at $463 per ton, unchanged from last week, down $1 per ton from last month and down $22 per ton from last year. The index has been hovering above support at $450 for the last 4 months but has been unable to advance due to Vietnam, India, and Pakistan competing for business and keeping quotes soft.The USDA has increased its
production forecast for 2013-14 global milled rice production. The new estimate is 471.1 million tons, about 500,000 tons higher than its December forecast. Thailand Thailand 5% broken rice quotes ended the week at $440 per ton, unchanged from the last week, but up about $15 per ton from a month ago and down about $115 per ton from a year ago. After months of criticism, Thailands National Rice Policy Committee has finally announced that it will not extend the government rice mortgage program, according to the Thai Public Broadcasting Service. The program will expire at the end of February and will not be renewed due to funding shortages. While this is largely welcomed news in Thailand, where public funds for the program are depleted many farmers havent received payments for their paddy in months, the global ramifications of this shift are unclear. With farmers looking to offload their paddy on the open market, Thai rice exports could bounce back, giving the rest of Asia a run for its money. The Thai government sold 148,940 tons of rice through the Agricultural Futures Exchange of Thailand (AFET) Wednesday, according to local sources. The Election Commission approved the Commerce Ministrys request to continue to sell rice from state stockpiles through the AFET and the Commerce Ministry will now target to sell 200,000-400,000 tons in each auction and is seeking further approval from the Commission to proceed with the government-to-government deal with China. Farmers blocked the Indochina intersection in Phitsanuloks Muang district on Thursday to protest the money the government owes them under the rice pledging scheme. They seek payment (plus interest) or their grains returned to them by the end of the month, threatening to join the Peoples Democratic Reform Committee in Bangkok and have threatened to withdraw support for candidates in the current government coalition parties if their demands arent satisfied.In an effort to pay rice farmers some of the money they are owed, the government is seeking approval from the Council of State to borrow 130 billion baht (about $4 billion). The National Anti-Corruption Committee will not charge caretaker Prime Minster Yingluck Shinawatra until after the general election on February 2. Pending the results of a current investigation, she may face charges that she was negligent in her duties or even corruption charges. Amidst fears that political unrest will result in interest rate cuts, bond investors purchased 32.6 billion baht ($991 million) of three-year securities at 3.14% on January 17. The funds will be used to refinance Bank for Agriculture debts, not to directly fund the countrys rice mortgage scheme. Local sources say that if domestic unrest escalates the military is likely to step in, possibly reenacting the military coup in 2006. India India 5% broken rice is today quoted about $410 per ton, unchanged from a week ago, but down about $5 per
ton from a month ago and down about $25 per ton from a year ago. Although there has been speculation by a government report in India that the country may have to begin importing rice by 2016-17, the latest data from the USDA projects that India will once again be the worlds largest rice exporter in 2013-14, and Indias Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) appears to agree. Production is expected to decline about 1% in 2013-14 and its total rice exports are expected to decline about 5%, but Indian rice exports are still expected to surpass Thai and Viet exports, thanks to firm demand for Indian basmati rice in the Middle East, the U.S. and Europe and the demand for non-basmati rice in Africa and Asia. This will be Indias third consecutive year as the top rice exporter since it lifted its ban on non-basmati rice exports in late 2011. The government of India estimates that it will need to procure about 61.4 million tons of food grains in order to effectively implement the recent Food Law. These 61.4 million tons represent an increase of about 20% from the five-year average and may translate to an additional 6-7 million tons of rice purchased by the government. Local sources are skeptical that the increased rice procurement will affect this year since most of the main crop has already been sold, but it may cause some increased purchases of future crops. Indias Finance Ministry has excluded milled rice from the agricultural produce category, making it eligible for a service tax of 12.36%. Unprocessed agricultural produce is excluded from the tax. With rice now subject to this tax, we expect prices in India to increase, although rice under the public distribution system (PDS) will remain unaffected since the Food Corporation of India (FCI) will absorb the additional costs. As of January 24, there are about 1.526 hectares of rice planted under Indias Rabi (winter) rice crop, an increase of about 42% from the same time last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. West Bengal, in eastern India, is seeking help from private rice millers to procure paddy from farmers and pay them. The government can delay payment to millers, something it cannot do with farmers; so the government is essentially taking credit from millers. The hope is that this early procurement on the private market by millers will strengthen prices and encourage farmers to reinvest in the boro season rice crop beginning at the end of January. However, farmers have been selling rice below the minimum support price (MSP). There is additional concern that farmers in West Bengal will sell their rice to the neighboring state of Bihar, where farmers are paid a bonus of about Rs. 250 per quintal (about $40 per ton). The outcome may be a shift of funding pressure from the government West Bengal to that of Bihar. Vietnam Vietnam 5% broken rice quotes today are shown about $405 per ton, unchanged from a week ago, but down about $10 per ton from a month ago and up about $20 per ton from a year ago. Chinas Customs General Administration (CGA) says that China imported around 2.24 million tons of rice in the calendar year 2013, down about 5% from around 2.36 million tons in 2012, estimated by China National Grain and Oils Information Center (CNGOIC). According to the CGA, China also exported around 478,370
tons of rice in 2013. Chinas rice imports declined in the second half of 2013. According to CGA data, China imported around 927,500 tons in July December 2013, compared to around 1.31 million tons of rice in January June 2013. China imported most of the rice from Vietnam in 2013 and Chinese importers cancelled several contracts in July - August, 2013, due to higher rice prices in Vietnam, according to rice traders in Vietnam. Vietnam is not alone in seeking rice business from China. On Wednesday, a senior agricultural official for China announced that the country is striving for self-sufficiency in grain production. Pakistan After representatives from REAP visited China to promote Pakistan rice, exporters are hopeful that exports to China will increase to as much as one million tons in the financial year 2013-14. Pakistan exporters have already struck deals to about $4 million worth of exports, and they are looking to increase them by 19-70% in FY 2013-14. Pakistan exported 1.41 million tons of rice July-December 2013, an increase of 9% from the same period in the previous year, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Pakistan 5% broken rice quotes ended the week at $395 per ton, down about $5 per ton from a week ago, and up about $10 per ton from a month ago and down about $35 per ton from a year ago. Brazil Brazil 5% broken rice ended the week at $665 per ton, unchanged from a week ago, but down about $20 per ton from a month ago. Conab announced that it sold about 66,362 tons of the 91,725 tons it offered in four different auction on January 22. About 22,8976 tons sold for an average price of 699 reals (about $297) per ton; about 2,000 tons sold for an average of about 680 reals (about $289) per ton; about 35,383 tons sold for an average of about 676 reals ($287) per ton; and about 6,082 tons sold for an average of about 631 reals (about $268) per ton. U.S. U.S. 4% broken rice quotes today shown about $590 per ton, unchanged from a week ago, but down about $5 per ton from a month ago and down about $22 per ton from a year ago. Chicago rough rice futures for March delivery dropped steadily this week, despite a few small recoveries. They ended the week at $15.425 per cwt (about $340 per ton). Rice farmers in Texas are still threatened by a drought. The Lower Colorado River Authority has cut off water to most farmers downstream for the previous two years and they are now facing a third year without water. The
LCRA issued an emergency order to approve raising the trigger to 1.1 million acre feet, or 54% capacity of the total system. This trigger means that unless major lakes like Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan reach 54% capacity by March 1, rice farmers wont get any water. Currently, Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan are at 38%. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will consider LCRAs request at its February 12 meeting, leaving rice farmers in limbo for a few more weeks. Other Markets: Cambodia 5% broken rice is today shown about $455 per ton, unchanged from a week ago, but down about $10 per ton from a month ago. Cambodia, who has been making a big push lately to increase their exports, is close to achieving its goal of one million tons of rice exported in 2015, according to the countrys Minister of Commerce. The country exported about 379,000 tons of rice in 2013, an increase of about 84% from 2012. The Ministry of Agriculture reports that total production for 2013 reached 9.3 million tons. Uruguay and Argentina 5% broken rice is today quoted about $630 per ton unchanged from a week and month ago, but up about $20 per ton from a year ago. According to the Iraq grain board acting director general, the country imported 1.3 million tons of rice in 2013, about 90-95% of its annual rice consumption. Iraq issued a tender to purchase 15,000 tons of basmati rice from India. Applications are due February 3. The government of Ghana still refuses to lift its ban on rice import via borders as the Association of GhanaCote dIvoire Rice Importers and Sellers (GISA) once again implore the country to ease the prohibition, citing possible starvation in Ghana as people cannot purchase the more affordable rice from Cote dIvoire and government supplies may not reach the impoverished in time.
Nigeria is striving to increase rice production for the 2014 dry season crop to about 1.6 million tons by helping farmers prepare for planting and improving market facilities for selling rice. This represents an increase of about 45% from the 1.1 million tons produced the previous year. Dry season crop usually accounts for about 40-45% of total rice production in the country and Nigeria is trying to achieve self-sufficiency in rice by 2015. The Philippines government will form an inter-agency team to help prevent rice smuggling into the country. The Bureau of Customs estimates that the country loses about P7 billion (about $154 million) annually due to rice smuggling and this new team with representatives from the Department of Justice, the Department of Agriculture, the National Food Authority, and the Bureau of Customs will help curb those losses. Farmer organizations in the Philippines have voiced concern over the quality of rice that was allegedly smuggled into the country, claiming that it was stored in unsanitary conditions. The Finance department in the Philippines revealed a list of the countrys top rice importers for 2013. Unsurprisingly, the National Food Authority (NFA) was number one, importing rice valued at a total of P4.356 billion (about $96 million). Because its a government entity, imports by the NFA are not taxed.
Producers in Italy are suffering from lower prices and decreased acreage. They blame a lack of price support, environmental restrictions, and low trade barriers. As of January 21, 43% (about 616,000 tons) of Italys total paddy rice has been sold to millers. Bulog, the state-owned logistics board in Indonesia, will buy about 3.85 million tons of rice from Indonesian farmers in 2013-14, an increase of about 6% from the previous year. Bulog is trying to procure enough rice to increase its current stocks of about 2 million tons, which will last until September. Paddy rice production in Spain for 2013 declined to about 867,700 tons. This is a decrease of about 3.5% from the previous year, according to Eurostat, and is largely due to decreased yields.
The Italian Government has confirmed its commitment in supporting the national rice growing sector in Europe: the goal is to cancel the possibility of unlimited zero-duty imports from Eba countries (Everything but Arms). President of parliamentary commission on agriculture, Roberto Formigoni, wrote on January 23 to head of Ente Risi Paolo Carr, reiterating that it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture to promote European and national rice production. In the past two years European prices of Indica rice varieties have steadily declined and local sources blame imports from Asia. A report issued on December 19 by Dg Agri, Management committee for the common organization of agriculture market, dealing with rice, confirms the alarm about imports from Eba countries: 55% of all Eba exports are potentially in competition with the local Indica rice production, which represents approximately one third of the total Eu rice production". According to European Union data, in 2012-2013 Eba countries exported to Europe 215,936 tons, and in 20132014, up to now, 84,942 tons, mostly milled and broken rice. In 2009-2010 the total amount was of 10,280 tons. In the 2013-2014 crop year imported milled rice has been acquired by France (24.6%) followed by Germany (24.2%), Belgium (18.9), the Netherlands (15.6%), Italy (6%), Spain (5.4%) and United Kingdom (5.2%).
Tags: Oryza White Rice Index (WRI)
Oryza Afternoon Recap Chicago Rough Rice Futures Shed Nearly 20 Cents per cwt on the Week as Buying Interest Fades
Jan 24, 2014
Chicago rough rice futures for March delivery settled 0.5 cents per cwt (about $0.11 per ton) lower at $15.425 per cwt (about $340 per ton). Rough rice futures finished lower today although the most active March contract settled only a tick lower. The market continues to only find light scaled down buying interest, and thus prices continue to slip. A nearby level of support appears to have been put in place as the market was unable to break below yesterdays session low of $15.400 per cwt (about $340 per ton). Traders will likely keep an eye on this
level early next week, as a break out to the downside could likely trigger additional technical selling. The other grains were mostly higher today with wheat noted as the only component to finish in the red; soybeans closed about 0.6% higher at $12.8475 per bushel; wheat finished about 0.8% lower at $5.6525 per bushel; and corn finished the day about 0.1% higher at $4.2950 per bushel. U.S. stocks fell sharply and Treasuries rallied on Friday as investors pulled money from emerging markets and other assets viewed as risky. After falling as much as 214 points, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was lately down 206.56 points, or 1.2%, at 15,990.79, down 2.8% for the week and 3.5% for the year. Off 1.9% for the week, and 2.4% since the end of 2013, the S&P 500 tumbled 25.30 points, or 1.4%, to 1,803.09, with industrial companies hardest hit and consumer staples the least weak of its 10 major sectors. The Nasdaq declined 67.4 points, or 1.6%, to 4,151.40, off 1.1% from the week-ago close and 0.6% for the year. The yield on the 10-year note fell 4 basis points to 2.743%; the dollar gained against the currencies of major U.S. trading partners. Gold is trading about 0.1% higher, crude oil is seen trading about 0.6% lower, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading about 0.1% higher at about 1:00pm Chicago time.Thursday, there were 752 contracts traded, up from 530 contracts traded on Wednesday. Open interest the number of contracts outstanding on Thursday increased by 214 contracts to 7,453.
Tags: U.S. rice market, U.S. rice prices
Spain Paddy Rice Production Declines to 867,700 Tons in 2013; Down 3.5% from Previous Year
Jan 24, 2014
Spains paddy rice production in 2013 has declined to around 867,700 tons, down about 3.5% from around 899,600 tons produced in 2012, according to Eurostat.The decline in Spains paddy rice production in 2013 is mostly due to a decline in rice yield. According to Eurostat, the average rice yield in Spain stood at around 7.7 tons per hectare in 2013, down about 4% from around 8 tons per hectare in the previous year. The area under rice cultivation in Spain stood at around 112,700 hectares in 2013, slightly down from around 112,800 hectares in 2012. Spain is the second largest rice producer in the EU and produces about 30% of around 2 million tons of rice (basis milled) produced in the EU.
Tags: Spain rice production
India West Bengal State Lacks Funds to Procure Paddy Rice; Bihar State Announces Bonus on MSP of Paddy Rice
Jan 24, 2014
Indias eastern state of West Bengal is planning to use private rice millers to procure paddy rice from farmers earlier than usual due to lack of funds with the government to procure paddy rice directly.Rice production in West Bengal was estimated to fall to around 13 million tons this year due to adverse weather conditions, but the state produced around 15.3 million tons. Meanwhile, government officials say that paddy rice procurement by government agencies stands at around 88,058 tons, which is just about 7% of the targeted 1.3 million tons. The government has also discontinued the Rs. 70 per quintal (about $11 per ton) bonus on paddy support price in 2012 due to lack of funds.Higher production and lower procurement have led to decline in paddy rice prices. Local sources say that farmers are forced to sell their paddy rice at around Rs. 1,280 per quintal (about $ 207 per ton) to private traders, which is down about 3% from the minimum government support price (MSP) of Rs. 1,310 per quintal (about $212 per ton). The West Bengal government says that early procurement of levy rice by millers will strengthen paddy prices and encourage farmers to re-invest in the boro season rice crop which begins in January-end. However, local sources say that the move by the government is to appease farmers ahead of general elections in April May 2014. Moreover, there are concerns that rice prices may increase in the state if farmers sell their paddy rice in the neighboring state of Bihar, where the state government has announced a bonus of Rs. 250 per quintal (about $40 per ton).The West Bengal government usually procures levy rice from millers after March, but wants to complete levy rice procurement before March this year. Under the levy rice policy, millers procure rice from farmers at MSP and government buys the rice from millers later for its welfare programs.
Tags: India rice prices, minimum support price (MSP), India rice procurement
Thailand Government Seeks State Council Approval for $4 Billion Loan to Pay Rice Farmers
Jan 24, 2014
The Thailand government has sought the approval from the Council of State over borrowing 130 billion baht (around $4 billion) to pay rice farmers under the rice mortgage program, according to local sources.Earlier this week, the cabinet approved the government's public debt restructuring plan which allows the government to borrow 143.24 billion baht (around $4.35 billion) to fund its rice mortgage program. However, the Finance Ministry wants the Council's decision over government borrowing to avoid complications. Local sources say that the government may be delaying seeking loans (and payments to farmers) because of the limited options it has to borrow funds. Banks have refused to lend money for the rice mortgage program, citing losses and unpopularity of the program. Earlier this year, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), which implements the rice mortgage program, rejected an offer to lend money to the government, and yesterday that the Krung Thai Bank (KBT) Board of Directors hinted that lending money to the government may be risky.The political crisis in Thailand has adversely affected rice farmers, with many farmers still waiting for government payments for their pledged rice. Farmers have set deadline of January 25, 2014 for the government to clear payments, and farmer protests have already begun across the country today over the delay in payments under the rice mortgage program. Read related Oryza story: Thailand National Rice Policy Committee Terminates Rice Mortgage Program
India Winter Rice Crop Planting Area Reaches 1.53 Million Hectares; Up 42% from Last Year
Jan 24, 2014
Planting area under Indias Rabi (winter) rice crop stands at about 1.526 hectares as of January 24, 2014, which is up about 42% from around 1.073 million hectares rice planted during the same time last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.Indias total Rabi planting area (including rice and other grains) stands at about 63.513 million hectares, up about 5% from about 60.339 million hectares recorded during this time last year.
Tags: India rice planting area
Thailand Rice Sellers Increase Some of Their Quotes Today; Other Asia Rice Quotes Unchanged
Jan 24, 2014
Thailand rice sellers increased their quotes for A1 super rice by about $5 per ton to about $310 - $320 per ton today. Other Asia rice sellers kept their quotes mostly unchanged. 5% Broken Rice Thai 5% rice (of new crop) is quoted around $435 - $445 per ton, about a $35 per ton premium over Viet 5% rice shown around $400 - $410 per ton. Thai 5% rice of the old crop is shown around $375 - $385 per ton. Indian 5% rice is quoted around $405 - $415 per ton, about a $15 per ton premium over Pak 5% rice quoted around $390 - $400 per ton. 25% Broken Rice Thai 25% rice (of new crop) is quoted about $390 - $400 per ton, about a $15 per ton premium over Viet 25% rice shown around $375 - $385 per ton. Indian 25% rice is quoted about $350 - $360 per ton, about a $5 per ton premium over Pak 25% rice quoted around $345 - $355 per ton. Parboiled Rice Thai parboiled rice of the old crop is quoted around $455 - $465 per ton. Indian parboiled rice is quoted around $395 - $405 per ton, about a $5 per ton discount to Pak parboiled rice quoted around $400 - $410 per ton. 100% Broken Rice Thai broken rice, A1 Super, of the old crop is quoted around $310 - $320 per ton, up about $5 per ton from yesterday and about a $45 per ton discount to Viet broken rice shown around $355 - $365 per ton. Indian broken sortexed rice is quoted about $295 - $305 per ton, about a $25 per ton discount to Pak broken sortexed rice quoted around $320 - $330 per ton.
Tags: Asia rice quotes, Thailand rice quotes, Vietnam rice quotes, Pakistan rice quotes, India rice quotes
Oryza Quick Glance at World News

Jan 24, 2014
Financial Times *Bitcoin has been tossed into the virtual gutter at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, as U.S. Treasury secretary Jack Lew warned the digital currency could be used to fund terrorism and predicted that regulation would put it out of business. *A broad range of jobs that once seemed beyond the reach of automation are in danger of being wiped out by technological advances, Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Google, warned on Thursday. *The Federal Bureau of Investigation has warned U.S. retailers they may face further cyber attacks after detecting 20 hacking cases in the past year that used the same malicious software that was deployed against Target over the Thanksgiving shopping season. *Capital spending by U.S. companies is expected to grow this year at its slowest pace for four years, in a sign of corporate caution over the outlook for global demand, according to Factset, a market data company that compiles a consensus of analysts forecasts. *Carl Icahn redoubled his challenge to Apples board on Thursday, calling the iPhone maker perhaps the most overcapitalized company in corporate history in a 3,000-word letter arguing for a $50 billion share buyback scheme. *China has overtaken India as the worlds largest gold consumer thanks to soaring purchases of jewellery, minted Panda coins, and small gold bars. According to the Thomson Reuters GFMS gold survey, the most widely followed report on the industry, Chinese demand reached 1,189.8 tons last year, a 32% year-on-year jump and a fivefold increase since 2003. *President Hassan Rouhani of Iran has asked a group of western oil majors to detail the conditions under which they would return to his country, as Tehran continues its drive to win back international business amid a thaw in sanctions. Wall Street Journal*U.S. officials say they are seeking assurances from Japan that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will not repeat a visit to a war shrine that angered China and South Korea and will ask Mr. Abe to consider reaffirming Tokyo's previous formal apologies over World War II in a bid to ease tensions in East Asia. *Thai antigovernment protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban took to the streets Thursday, defying the declaration of a state of emergency and collecting more funds from thick lines of demonstrators gathering to press cash into his hands. *India may be heading for a record wheat output this year with a prolonged spell of chilly weather interspersed with rains over the northern breadbasket region brightening the crop outlook, a senior government official said Thursday. *The U.S. Food and Drug Administration took another action against Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. on Thursday, prohibiting it from making or selling drug ingredients from its Toansa, India, plant for the U.S. market. *Bank of England Governor Mark Carney on Thursday said the U.K. central bank will look at a broad range of economic factors when assessing the need for higher interest rates, a sign that officials may be preparing to play down the link between BOE policy and falling unemployment. *Pakistan has imposed a temporary ban on gold imports to curb a sharp rise in smuggling, which threatens to put pressure on local foreign exchange companies. The countrys finance ministry said in a brief statement that
the temporary ban will be effective for 30 days and the move is based on credible reports indicating that a steep increase in import taxes on gold in a neighboring country has led to a surge in smuggling activity. *Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych, under growing pressure from Western leaders, proposed to free detained protesters in return for a temporary cease-fire but amid deep uncertainty that antigovernment demonstrators would accept the tentative deal. *Samsung, the world's biggest smartphone maker by shipments, saw growth at its mobile unit, which accounts for more than half of the company's profit, flattening and said fluctuations in the local currency hurt its earnings by 700 billion won ($651 million). It also incurred an 800 billion won one-time charge related to employee bonuses. New York Times*France will summon Ukraine's ambassador in Paris over recent violence in Kiev, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Friday. *The Obama administration intensified efforts on Thursday to counter what officials called a misimpression that the six-month nuclear agreement with Iran had opened the door to new economic opportunities with the country, emphasizing that nearly all sanctions remained in force and warning businesses not to engage in any deals still pending after the accords July 20 expiration. *China said Friday that it has begun issuing warnings to foreign military planes entering its self-declared air defense zone over the East China Sea, an indication of its determination to follow through on a measure already blamed for raising tensions in the region. *U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. said Thursday that the U.S. was willing to discuss how the criminal case against Edward J. Snowden would be handled, but only if Mr. Snowden pleaded guilty first. *Bank of England policymaker Martin Weale said interest rates could remain at their historic low for some time, despite a steeper-than-expected fall in unemployment, a newspaper reported on Friday. *A three-year study by the Pentagon has concluded that American intelligence agencies are not yet organized or fully equipped to detect when foreign powers are developing nuclear weapons or ramping up their existing arsenals, and calls for using some of the same techniques that the National Security Agency has developed against terrorists.
Tags: World news
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