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TOP Contents - Tailored for YOU
Latest News Headlines
Rice price falling in Asia
Asia rice prices set to fall as Thailand, Vietnam compete to sell
DA forecasts lower Q3 palay production
Vietnam suffers trade gap with China; imports to top $40bn by year-end
NCPO authorizes Commerce Min to ink rice deal with Philippines
S.Korea buys 9,090 T of rice for Dec
Delegation to promote more Thai rice imports by China
KBP to discuss paddy growers' issues today
TABLE-I ndia Grain Prices-Delhi-Sep 03
Thai Rice Shipments to West Africa Curtailed By Ebola Outbreak
Rice Dealers Postpone Demonstration
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Sep 03
Can New African Super Rice Defeat Hunger?
Gujarat rice millers look for automation
NFA suspends 32 South Cotabato rice retailers
Manila to buy more Thai rice
National Rice Month Promotional Item of the Week!
NEWS DETAILS:

Rice price falling in Asia

BANGKOK, Sept 3:
Asian rice prices are likely to fall over the next few weeks as Thailand and
Vietnam compete for demand from the Philippines and Indonesia, traders said
today.Traders expect the Philippines to ask for 500,000 tonnes of rice via a
tender or a government-to-government deal after Manila rejected all bids in an
Aug. 27 tender due to high prices.
Traders also expect Indonesia to seek up to 500,000 tonnes rice on top of the
175,000 tonnes it had agreed to buy from Thailand.Indonesia is about to seal the deal to buy 175,000 tonnes
rice with Thailand, but we still expected Indonesia to buy more and Vietnam is also keen to compete, said a


Bangkok-based trader.Even if the Philippines and Indonesian tenders do go to Thailand, the amount sought is
too small to support prices in a massively oversupplied market.Thailand is forecast to produce 28.5 million
tonnes of paddy in the current 2014/15 major crop, up from 28 million tonnes in the previous crop. Harvesting
is due to start in November.In a bid to cut inventories before the new supply comes in, the Thai government has
extended to next year a memorandum of understanding it signed with the Philippines government to sell rice,
said a senior official at the Thai commerce ministry.

Asia rice prices set to fall as Thailand, Vietnam compete to sell
by Reuters
September 3, 2014
Bangkok Asian rice prices are likely to fall over the next few weeks as Thailand and Vietnam compete for
demand from the Philippines and Indonesia, traders said on Wednesday.Traders expect the Philippines to ask
for 500,000 tonnes of rice via a tender or a government-to-government deal after Manila rejected all bids in an
Aug. 27 tender due to high prices.Traders also expect Indonesia to seek up to 500,000 tonnes rice on top of the
175,000 tonnes it had agreed to buy from Thailand.
Indonesia is about to seal the deal to buy 175,000 tonnes rice with Thailand, but we still expected Indonesia to
buy more and Vietnam is also keen to compete, said a Bangkok-based trader.Even if the Philippines and
Indonesian tenders do go to Thailand, the amount sought is too small to support prices in a massively
oversupplied market. The price of common grade 5 percent Thai white rice was at $430 per tonne on
Wednesday, down from last weeks $435, exporters said.
Thailand is forecast to produce 28.5 million tonnes of paddy in the current 2014/15 major crop, up from 28.0
million tonnes in the previous crop. Harvesting is due to start in November.In a bid to cut inventories before the
new supply comes in, the Thai government has extended to next year a memorandum of understanding (MOU)
it signed with the Philippines government to sell rice, said a senior official at the Thai commerce ministry.In
Vietnam, rice prices were barely changed amid trade thinned by a national holiday on Monday and
Tuesday.Vietnamese 5 percent broken grade was quoted unchanged at $450-$455 a tonne, free-on-board Saigon
Port.Another 25 percent broken rice stood at $410 a tonne, against $410-$415 a week earlier
DA forecasts lower Q3 palay production
by Ellalyn De Vera

September 3, 2014


The countrys palay production is expected to fall by about 300,000 metric tons (MT) in the third quarter
primarily due to delayed planting in some 77,000 hectares of farmlands nationwide.According to Department of
Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary for Field Operations Edilberto de Luna, also National Corn Program
director, the volume of palay from January to July 2014 increased to 8.378 million MT from 7.997 million MT
during the same period last year.This translates to 4.78 percent increase, which is equivalent to 400,000 MT of
palay, De Luna added.
However, for the third quarter palay production, Our estimate shows slight decrease. Instead of planting in
June, farmers opted to start their cropping calendar in July, which will be harvested by October he added.Due
to the delay in planting, De Luna said lean months, which should be until September is somehow extended
until mid-October. But that does not mean we have no harvest.July to September is the period when farmers
grow palay. It is also known as the season with lowest production.From around 3.3 million MT in July to
September 2013, we expect only 3 million MT at present, which is lower by 300,000 MT. This is due to the
delay in planting because it did not rain on schedule in about 77,000 hectares of rain-fed farmlands nationwide,
which translates to about 280,000 MT of palay, he explained.
We will experience a slight slide in palay production during the third quarter but we are already doubling our
efforts as we still have until September 15 to plant so it can still accrue in the 2014 production, he added.We
are only delayed for a month. Our mission is to catch up and recover in the 4th quarter. If we will not be able to
plant by September 15, then that will already be for the first quarter of 2015, he further said as the DA remains
optimistic that it can reach its 19.07 million MT target this year.One of the DAs catch-up plan is the
implementation of four major clusters for rice and corn (Cordillera Administrative Region, Regions 1, 2, 3;
Regions 4A, 4B, 5; Visayas; and Mindanao) to offset palay production losses.
Vietnam suffers trade gap with China; imports to top $40bn by year-
end
Posted on SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 Written by TUOITRENEWS LEAVE A COMMENT
Vietnam continued to log a trade deficit with China in the year to August, with imports expected to hit a
record high by the end of this year, data from the Ministry of Industry and Trade shows.

Vietnam shipped an estimated US$9.79 billion worth of exports to its
northern neighbor in the eight-month period, while imports rose 15.77
percent year-on-year to $27.06 billion, the ministry said in a report.The
trade deficit with China thus widened to more than $17 billion since the
beginning of the year.With imports from China surging on a consistent
basis and the last few months of the year, which traditionally feature high
demand, approaching, it is predicted that imports from China will reach


the $40 billion mark by year-end, the ministry said.Computers and electronic spare parts created the largest
export revenue for China, standing at $1.26 billion in the eight-month period, down 15.81 percent from the
same period last year.Crude oil came second, with export revenue topping $960.55 million, a strong 85.58
percent expansion.
On the Vietnamese export side, rice remained a stable commodity to be sent to China, with shipments worth
$721.74 million over eight months.While it was reported earlier last month that China had officially banned
cross-border rice trade with Vietnam, this ban did not have a serious impact on Vietnams rice exports, the
ministry noted.In the meantime, seven commodities imported from China had import turnovers worth more than
$1 billion. Imports of Chinese machinery topped $5 billion, whereas mobile phone spare parts stood at $3.71
billion.Vietnam has been considering ways to diversify its import markets and reduce material imports from
China since Beijing illegally stationed its Haiyang Shiyou 981 drilling rig in Vietnamese waters from May to
mid-July.
However, imports of Chinese raw materials have continued rising.Shipments of cloths and fabrics, for instance,
rose 24.06 percent year-on-year to $3.03 billion, whereas steel imports soared 26.88 percent to $2.07
billion.China is one of the countries that Vietnam has the largest trade deficit with, and the reliance is getting
increasingly heavier, a specialized agency of the Ministry of Industry and Trade said.Vietnams exports to
China have grown by an average of $800 million annually over the last three years, while imports have
expanded by $3-3.5 billion a year.
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NCPO authorizes Commerce Min to ink rice deal with Philippines
Date : 3 2557
BANGKOK, 3 September 2014 (NNT) The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has approved the
signing of a rice trade agreement between Thailand and the
Philippines while putting the Commerce Ministry in charge. A
resolution has been made by the NCPO to give full authority to
the Ministry of Commerce to strike a government-to-
government (G2G) contract with the Philippines on rice sales.


An authorization document is to be issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Commerce Minister or his
representative to take part in the signing. The content of the draft agreement is reportedly similar to that of the
previous one, except the expiration date which is extended to December 31, 2016. Under the contract, Thai
officials will be able to seek direct negotiations with the Philippine government as well as engage in reverse
auctions. Nonetheless, some details of the trade deal will have to depend on the rice market condition and rice
yields in both countries at the time of the signing. Prices will also be set based on the rates in the global market.

S.Korea buys 9,090 T of rice for Dec
Wed Sep 3, 2014 4:23am GMT
SEOUL, Sept 3 (Reuters) - South Korea bought 9,090 tonnes of non-glutinous Chinese origin rice for
December shipment via tenders closed on Aug. 26, the state-tun Korea Agro-Fisheries &
Food Trade said on its website. (www.at.or.kr)
Details of the purchases are as follows:
TONNES GRAIN TYPE SUPPLIER PRICE($/T) ARRIVAL
6,980 Milled Medium Daewoo Int'l $998.00 Dec. 31
or Short
2,110 Milled Medium Daewoo Int'l $997.00 Dec. 31
or Short

The agency passed on a tender for 10,000 tonnes of Milled Medium rice issued the same day. A source at the
agency said it was because conditions were unmet, but declined to elaborate.
* Note: The agency sought Japonica type and U.S. No.1 for the 6,980 T consignment, and U.S. No.3 for the
2,110 T consignment. The ports for arrival are Busan or Pyeongtaek.

(Reporting by Chris Lee; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)

Delegation to promote more Thai rice imports by China
September 3, 2014 3:16 pm


The Foreign Trade Department will lead a delegation of rice exporters to China to promote imports to
that country as part of its plan to release rice from government stockpiles and stabilise the price of the
commodity for the long term.
Thai rice exporters will join the China-Asean Expo in Nanning, capital of Guangxi in southern China, from
September 16-19 to promote imports.

The Nation
Junta approves rice trade agreement with Philippines
September 3, 2014 2:11 pm
The junta has approved the signing of a rice trade agreement between Thailand and Philippines while
putting the Commerce Ministry in charge of the deal.
The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has given full authority to the Commerce Ministry to strike
a governmenttogovernment (G2G) contract with Philippines on rice sales.An authorisation document is to be
issued by Foreign Ministry for the Commerce Minister or his representative to take part in the signing.
The content of the draft agreement is reportedly similar to that of the previous one, except for the expiration
date, which has been extended to December 31, 2016. Under the contract, Thai officials will be able to seek
direct negotiations with the Philippines government as well as engage in reverse auctions.

KBP to discuss paddy growers' issues today
September 03, 2014
RECORDER REPORT
Kisan Board Pakistan (KBP) has convened meeting of its rice board on Wednesday in the provincial metropolis
to discuss the issues faced by the paddy growers and delay in announcement of minimum purchase price by the
government. KBP Secretary General Malik Muhammad Ramzan Rohari said here on Tuesday that the rice crop
was near the harvesting stage but the government is yet to announce increase in its minimum purchase price.
He said that increase in rice support price is inevitable keeping in view the increase in the prices of fertilisers,
diesel and other agricultural inputs. To discuss these issues the Board had convened an emergent meeting of its
rice committee at KBP head office on Wednesday. The meeting would be chaired by the rice committee
chairman Aman Ullah Chattha while the participants are expected from the progressive rice growers and KBP
Punjab President Noor Elahi.


TABLE-India Grain Prices-Delhi-Sep 03
Wed Sep 3, 2014 2:51pm IST
Rates by Asian News International, New Delhi Tel: 011 2619 1464
Indicative Previous
Grains opening close
(in rupees per 100 kg unless stated)
----------------------------------------------------------
Wheat Desi 2,200-3,000 2,200-3,000.
Wheat Dara 1,900-2,700 1,900-2,700
#N/A
Roller Mill (per bag) 1,800-2,100 1,800-2,100.
Maida (per bag) 1,700-2,000 1,800-2,100.
Sooji (per bag) 1,700-1,900 1,700-1,900.
Rice Basmati(Sri Lal Mahal) 13,000-14,000 13,000-14,000.
Rice Basmati(Lal Quila) 13,000-15,000 13,000-15,000.
Rice Basmati(Common) 8,500-9,500 8,600-9,600.
Rice Permal 2,100-2,400 2,100-2,400.
Rice Sela 2,500-2,800 2,500-2,800.
I.R.-8 2,050-2,450 2,000-2,400.
Gram 2,550-3,750 3,550-3,750.
Peas Green 2,600-2,900 2,600-2,900.
Peas White 2,850-3,250 2,800-3,200.
Bajra 1,400-1,900 1,400-1,900.
Jowar white 1,650-1,750 1,650-1,750.
Maize 1,200-1,500 1,100-1,400.
Barley 1,350-1,750 1,350-1,750.
#N/A

Source: Delhi grain market traders.

(Bangalore Commodity Desk, +91-080 6677 3555,e-mail: commodities@reuters.com

Thai Rice Shipments to West Africa Curtailed By Ebola Outbreak

FILE - Thai workers unload rice from the truck of a farmer, at a rice collection center, in the northeastern
province of Roi Et, in Thailand.
September 03, 2014 2:05 AM
BANGKOK


The Ebola outbreak in Africa is beginning to have an
impact on agriculture and shipping as far away as Asia,
with Thailands rice industry among the first to
experience a serious impact.Africa is a major market
for Thailands rice, but the industry is finding it
difficult to meet demand.Exporters in Bangkok say
Africa consumes nine million tons of rice annually and
two-thirds of it is imported. But they are currently
unable to ship much of their crop to West African
ports.Operators of dry bulk vessels cannot find crews
to man their ships because of fears of possibly contracting the deadly Ebola virus, according to Vichai
Sriprasert, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association.
Merchants in West Africa are trying to build up stocks to meet the requirements during Christmas sales. They
have to buy now in order to have enough stock. But if we cannot find enough vessels to go there this would
jeopardize the whole trade situation, said Vichai.So far this year, Thailand, has shipped more than 3.3 million
tons of rice to Africa - a pace far ahead of last years total shipments of 3.75 million tons. The top destinations,
in terms of volume, are Benin, Cte d'Ivoire, South Africa, Cameroon, Mozambique and Nigeria, in that
order.Not being able to ship rice quickly during this peak season is creating a bottleneck, with Thai exporters'
warehouses already filled.
Vichai said that is creating a chain reaction in the rice industry all the way back to the farmers.We cannot
release the rice out of the warehouse and also cannot buy rice from the millers. And the millers' warehouses are
also filled up. If they cannot sell to exporters they also cannot buy from the farmers. The price of rice from the
farmer also has to drop because not too many people can afford to buy. There's no place to keep the stock,
explained Vichai.Asias rice could become even more in demand in weeks and months ahead, with the Ebola
outbreak expected to become worse before it improves.
The U.Ns Food and Agriculture Organization warns food in countries affected by the deadly virus has become
more expensive. The FAO says some African farmers cannot reach their fields and food imported by ship and
air is now unlikely to arrive as often.Vijay Satia, the former president of the All India Rice Exporters
Association, said he is confident Asias food cargo will still be able to reach African destinations, but at a
higher cost.People will ship their material to the alternative ports where this problem is less, maybe taking
their material by road or by rail. So costs of rice for the consumer can go up and price for exporters to the lower
side, said Vijay.


Shipping industry analysts say the problem of crews refusing to go to African ports is not yet at a crisis level,
although some seaports are losing traffic. But they describe dry bulk ship owners as growing increasingly
worried that if their vessels enter countries where Ebola is present, the next port of call may not allow their
boats to dock.The analysts say they have also not noted any serious disruption of shipments of major exports
such as bauxite, aluminum and iron ore from mineral-rich West Africa.But Nigerias Shipping Position
Daily newspaper reports European ship owners have increased freight rates for cargo and imposed surcharges
on crews coming into the West African countries battling Ebola.The World Health Organization says Ebola has
now killed more than 1,500 people in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
Rice Dealers Postpone Demonstration
September 2, 2014
Some imported rice being offloaded
The planned demonstration by members of the Small Scale Rice Dealers Association of Ghana (SSRIDA)
against the Ministry of Trade & Industry, which was expected to take place today, has been rescheduled, a
statement from SSRIDA has said.
The demonstration was rescheduled following a meeting with the Police on Friday, August 29, 2014.According
to the traders, the Police told them that they could not effectively protect the demonstrators on September
2.Yaw Korang, Coordinator, SSRIDA-GH said:
We, the National Executives of the Small Scale Rice Dealers Association, wish to inform our members
nationwide that we are in consultation with the Greater Accra Regional Command on the upcoming plans to
demonstrate against the Trade Ministrys policy on inland importation of rice, which has given monopoly to
foreign exporters of the commodity.Mr Korang said the executives would meet the Police today for the new
date to be communicated to members.
He said a July 17 directive by the then Minister of Trade, Haruna Iddrisu to reopen the Sampa Border Post in
the Brong Ahafo Region for members to do business has been grossly treated with contempt.He said as law-
abiding citizens, members were ready for instructions for a peaceful and successful demonstration against the
policies of the Ministry.The members were expected to converge on Obra Spot at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle
for the protest.
By Samuel Boadi


Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Sep 03
Wed Sep 3, 2014 3:05pm IST
Nagpur, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Gram prices in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and
Marketing Committee (APMC) showed upward trend on healthy festival season demand from local millers amid restricted
supply from producing belts. Weak monsoon in the region which activated stockists and fresh rise in Madhya Pradesh
gram prices also helped to push up prices, according to sources.
* * * *

FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Gram varieties ruled steady in open market on subdued demand from local traders amid
ample stock in ready position.

TUAR
* Tuar black quoted strong in open market on good festival season demand from local
traders amid thin supply from producing regions.

* Watana varieties moved down in open market on poor buying support from local traders
amid release of stock from stockists.

* In Akola, Tuar - 5,000-5,200, Tuar dal - 6,900-7,100, Udid at 7,200-7,300,
Udid Mogar (clean) - 8,000-8,500, Moong - 7,200-7,600, Moong Mogar
(clean) 8,700-9,400, Gram - 2,700-2,900, Gram Super best bold - 3,800-4,000
for 100 kg.

* Wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market
in thin trading activity, according to sources.

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

FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction 2,400-2,850 2,320-2,750
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction n.a. 4,500-5,250
Moong Auction n.a. 5,200-5,500
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800
Gram Super Best Bold 4,000-4,200 4,000-4,200
Gram Super Best n.a.
Gram Medium Best 3,700-3,850 3,700-3,850
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a.
Gram Mill Quality 3,650-3,725 3,650-3,725
Desi gram Raw 3,100-3,200 3,100-3,200
Gram Filter new 3,600-3,800 3,600-3,800


Gram Kabuli 8,000-9,500 8,000-9,500
Gram Pink 7,200-7,400 7,200-7,400
Tuar Fataka Best 7,500-7,700 7,500-7,700
Tuar Fataka Medium 7,200-7,350 7,200-7,350
Tuar Dal Best Phod 6,800-7,000 6,800-7,000
Tuar Dal Medium phod 6,500-6,700 6,500-6,700
Tuar Gavarani 5,350-5,500 5,300-5,500
Tuar Karnataka 5,550-5,750 5,550-5,750
Tuar Black 8,200-8,500 8,100-8,400
Masoor dal best 6,400-6,500 6,400-6,500
Masoor dal medium 6,100-6,250 6,100-6,250
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold 9,500-10,000 9,500-10,000
Moong Mogar Medium best 8,800-9,200 8,800-9,200
Moong dal super best 7,800-8,000 7,800-8,000
Moong dal Chilka 7,700-7,900 7,700-7,900
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 8,000-9,000 8,000-9,000
Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 8,200-8,700 8,200-8,700
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,400-7,800 7,400-7,800
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 6,800-7,200 6,800-7,200
Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 4,000-5,000 4,000-5,000
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 2,800-3,100 2,800-3,100
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,250-3,450 3,350-3,500
Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,250-3,350 3,400-3,500
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,300-4,800 4,500-5,000
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,200-1,500 1,200-1,500
Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,800 1,700-1,800
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,300-1,500 1,300-1,500
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,450 2,100-2,450
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,850-2,000 1,850-2,000
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 2,800-3,200 2,800-3,200
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 1,950-2,350 1,950-2,350
Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG) 1,200-1,300 1,200-1,300
Wheat Best (100 INR/KG) 1,500-1,800 1,500-1,800
Rice BPT (100 INR/KG) 2,850-3,350 2,850-3,250
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,650-1,850 1,650-1,850
Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG) 2,350-2,650 2,350-2,650
Rice HMT (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,000 3,800-4,000
Rice HMT Shriram (100 INR/KG) 4,600-5,450 4,600-5,450
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 10,500-13,500 10,500-13,500
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,300-10,000 7,300-10,000
Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG) 5,300-5,600 5,300-5,600
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,400-1,600 1,400-1,600
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,800 1,700-1,800


WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 31.3 degree Celsius (88.3 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
23.3 degree Celsius (73.9 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - nil, lowest - nil.
Rainfall : 0.6 mm
FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky. Maximum and Minimum temperature likely to be around 29 and 24 degree Celsius
respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available

(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)

ATTN : Soyabean mandi, wholesale foodgrain market of Nagpur APMC and oil market in Vidarbha will be closed
tomorrow, Wednesday, on the Mahalaxmi Poojan.

Can New African Super Rice Defeat Hunger?
By D.A. Barber AFKI OriginalPublished: September 2, 2014, 07:18am
Photo: International Rice Research Institute
An international team of researchers has mapped
the entire genetic code of wild African rice in an
effort to develop new super rice varieties that
are better able to cope with increasing
environmental stress and help solve global hunger
challenges.Until now, wild African rice had not
been fully utilized in terms of all the different
stress-tolerant traits it contains when hybrids
were developed for cultivation. But, according to
research published online in Nature Genetics July
28, rice production will soon be a whole lot
easier.Once you identify genes that are
associated with salt stress, heat stress, different
types of pathogens, then you can select the
optimal crosses to move forward to improve rice
production in Africa, or other countries for that
matter, research leader Rod Wing, director of


the Arizona Genomics Institute at the University of Arizona told AFKInsider.According to Wing, this means
being capable of crossing Asian and African rice species to develop all new varieties of rice with the traditional
high-yield traits of Asian rice and the new-found hardiness traits of African rice.
The announcement came just before the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute wrapped-up its
latest rice production training session which ended on August 15 for African researchers from Benin, Burkina
Faso, Congo, Cote d Ivoire, Kenya, Guinea, Mali, Tanzania, and Togo.
Super Rice?
Crossing Asian and African rice species the only domesticated rice species to develop more desirable hybrid
varieties is not new. But until now these efforts have been limited.Not all the combinations have been made
and the reason that we have a genome sequence is that we can now precisely identify the genes we want to cross
with Asian rice, Wing toldAFKInsider.For example, about 10 million of the poorest rice farmers in sub-
Saharan Africa and South Asia have already been given access to climate-smart rice varieties, according to the
International Rice Research Institute which helped to develop some of these hybrids.The Institutes Stress-
Tolerant Rice for Africa and South Asia (STRASA) project, initiated in 2007 in collaboration with AfricaRice,
has delivered several rice hybrids to the millions of farmers around the world, including 14 varieties in sub-
Saharan Africa.
That global project is being funded with $32.8 million by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for five more
years.But the rice varieties have been pretty much limited to high-yielding Asian-crossed varieties known as
NERICA or New Rice for Africa -with tolerance to flood and pest stresses. Rather than wild African rice,
NERICA is the rice now cultivated in Africa.So, the rice you would be eating would be primarily of Asian rice
genetic material over African genetic material, says Wing.It was Wing who led the effort to help sequence the
genome of Asian rice from 1998 to 2005 that enabled the discovery of hundreds of agriculturally important
genes, including genes for faster breeding and the ability for the plant to survive for up to two weeks underwater
during periods of flooding.
In fact, Wing and his collaborators will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the completion of the Asian rice
genome and the completion of the African rice genome at Novembers 12th International Symposium on Rice
Functional Genomics to be held in Tucson, Arizona.Wing says that the results of the sequencing of the African
rice genome means the emphasis now is on access to the yet untapped gene codes for traits that make African
rice more resistant to long periods of drought and high salinity in the soils.A big focus of the rice community
right now is what we call green super rice, Wing toldAFKInsider. The green means a rice that has less of
an environmental footprint; it requires less water, less fertilizer, less pesticides and can grow in more marginal
soils.
The super is higher yielding and more nutritious.Wings July research paper published online in Nature
Genetics was co-authored by Judith Carney, a professor in the Department of Geography and the Institute of the


Environment and Sustainability at UCLA.Carney is also the author of the 2001 book Black Rice, which
chronicles the history of rice cultivation along the rivers of West Africa and the role African rice played in the
lucrative rice production in the Carolinas during the period of slavery.The regional wealth created during that
period, Carney writes in Black Rice, resulted from the large number of slaves imported directly from the rice
area of West Africa who possessed knowledge of the crops cultivation.
But rice, as a staple food crop in Africa, dates back further.By 1460 the Portuguese had completed
reconnaissance of the Upper Guinea Coast, the densely populated region from Senegal to Liberia that would
serve as a major focus for the Atlantic slave trade. Over the next centuries European mariners would call this
region the Grain or Rice Coast after its specialized production of cereals, notes Carney in the book.Today, rice
remains a staple food in Africa and cultivated primarily along the Upper Guinea Coast region from Senegal to
Liberia.You find rice in flooded areas and you also have upland rice, which is more rain-fed rice, Wing
told AFKInsider. And then you have rice that grows in the mangroves, which is between the ocean and dry land.
The critical factor for rice production is sufficient rainfall to grow it or access to wetlands, such as coastal
estuaries, river floodplains, inland swamps, UCLAs Carney told AFKInsider.Carney, who has hands-on
experience with working with small, family rice farmers in West Africa, says rice cultivation can be labor-
intensive for these farmers because few people have access to machines and do the work with basic
agricultural tools like hoes.There are rudimentary milling machines, which eases the labor burden of removing
hulls for a marketable product. But I am referring principally to family farms, not emerging trends of larger
scale production evident in Mali by land leasing to other countries, Carney told AFKInsider
Gujarat rice millers look for automation
Three-day exhibition on rice machinery and processing technology is taking place in Ahmedabad from
September 5.
AHMEDABAD, SEPT 2:
Gujarats rice millers are looking for automation and modernisation in processing to improve product quality
and compete in the domestic and international market.Besides automation, the rice millers in state are also
looking at technology upgradation that will bring efficiency in sorting with colour sorting machinery, improved
quality for polishing and whitening of rice. Currently, the state houses about 1000 rice milling units, most of
which do not have modern processing technology.The cost of modernisation is high therefore it is not possible
for all rice millers to bring automation.
In the past five years, the cost of machinery has increased from Rs. 25 lakh to Rs. 2.5 crore. Small miller would
find it difficult to bring automation in this situation, said Ramanbhai Patel of Akhil Gujarat rice Mill owners
Association.A three-day exhibition on rice machinery and processing technology is taking place in Ahmedabad


during September 5-7. The Rice-Tech Expo, the 22nd international exhibition and conference on rice processing
technology will bring together machinery makers and rice millers to engage on a common platform."This
exhibition will help small millers to explore suitable technology at economical cost from various machinery
makers," added Patel.Over 70 companies from across India and overseas will participate in the exhibition,
which is being organised by Shiny Trade Exposition with support from rice millers bodies in Gujarat.
(This article was published on September 2, 2014)
NFA suspends 32 South Cotabato rice retailers
By: Philippine News Agency
September 3, 2014 11:55 AM
InterAksyon.com means BUSINESS
GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines -- The National Food Authority
has suspended the accreditation of 32 rice retailers in South Cotabato
province due to various violations.Guialudin Usman, NFA-South Cotabato
provincial manager, said Wednesday the suspensions were part of their
continuing intensified crackdown in the area against illegal rice trading in
the province.Violations range from rice diversion to overpricing and re-
bagging of NFA rice to commercial sacks.

The 32 violators will be penalized with suspension of their rice allocations from two weeks to two months,
depending on the degree of their violations, he said. The official said they earlier established the special Task
Force Kaayusan to strengthen their enforcement activities against illegal rice trading.The task force, which is
assisted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, launched surprise inspections on warehouses, rice
millers and rice outlets in the provinces 10 towns and lone city, he said.Usman said they also coordinated with
Koronadal City government for the utilization of its Civil Security Unit for monitoring.NFA-South Cotabato
has accredited 81 rice retailers in local public markets, 34 bigasan sa barangayoutlets and nine barangay food
terminal outlets.
NFA rice is available in local markets at P32 a kilo for the well-milled variety and P27 a kilo for regular well-
milled.Each of these outlets has a weekly allocation of 35 bags to 120 bags of NFA rice, depending on their
capitalization, Usman said.He said they are currently monitoring daily the operations of their accredited rice
retailers and outlets for possible policy and regulatory violations.
Manila to buy more Thai rice
Published: 3 Sep 2014 at 08.54
Newspaper section: Business
Writer: Chatrudee Theparat & Phusadee Arunmas


The military regime has approved a three-year plan under a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) to sell 1
million tonnes of rice annually to the Philippines from 2014-16. Yongyuth Maiyalap, spokesman for the
National Council for Peace and Order, said the Commerce Ministry would sign the MoU with Manila after
a previous MoU expired.
The MoU will allow Thailand to be eligible to participate in bidding to sell rice to the Philippines, which also
has similar arrangements with Vietnam and Cambodia under government-to-government (G2G) deals.The
government bid to sell rice to the Philippines three times in 2012 and 2013 but managed to sell only 120,000
tonnes in 2012 and 767,000 tonnes last year.Mr Yongyuth said the Philippines was expected to import 1.45
million tonnes of rice this year.In the first seven months, Thailand sold 126,866 tonnes to the Philippines, a
surge of 1,328% from 8,884 tonnes sold in the same period last year.
Charoen Laothamatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA), said the Philippines had
shifted to buying rice from Vietnam these last couple of years.The Thai government during that period had set
rice mortgage prices higher than market prices, making Thai grains less competitive, he said.Mr Charoen said
the Indonesian government had now agreed to buy 175,000 tonnes of white rice, mainly from new harvests,
under a G2G contract.The private sector will handle the delivery after an official pact is signed this week, he
said. Mr Charoen said the deal was a good sign for Thai rice shipments since Indonesia had halted rice
purchases from Thailand in 2012, citing substandard quality of the grains delivered. Indonesia's Bureau of
Logistics in July said it might import 250,000 to 500,000 tonnes of rice, depending on domestic production and
prices.
In the first seven months, Thailand shipped 5.62 million tonnes of rice overall, up by 55% year-on-year,
fetching 90.9 billion baht, up by 20.6%.Benin ranked as the top importer of Thai rice at 689,329 tonnes, up by
55.7% year-on-year, followed by China's 338,170 tonnes (up 227%), Ivory Coast's 325,558 tonnes (up 68.2%),
Nigeria's 321,955 tonnes (up 467%) and Cameroon's 281,905 tonnes (up 190%).The TREA said July's
shipments marked the highest of the year at 940,691 tonnes, up by nearly 40% year-on-year. August exports are
expected at 900,000 tonnes.

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Lack of proper food, exhaustion taking a toll on marchers
By Irfan Haider

ISLAMABAD: Raheela Babar has been coming to the hospital for the last several days.
The 44-year-old from Jhelum district has been participating in the PAT sit-in along with her family for almost three weeks.I
had to go to the Polyclinic hospital again today. What with this fever temperature and low blood pressure, it is becoming very
difficult for me to stay out in the open.She said she had to eat rice twice a day and was feeling weak due to unavailability of a
proper balanced diet.The doctor advised me to eat something else but it is very difficult to get a variety of food at the sit-in.

Participants fed up with eating rice every day

Like Raheela, Saleem Ahmed, 35, a resident of Jhang district, has also been participating in the PAT sit-in since


August 15.Though I am getting food regularly, it is difficult to eat the same thing every day.He said the
hardships of the participants of the sit-in were increasing day by day due to the unhygienic environment.I have
not taken a bath for three weeks because there is no proper place to wash oneself. I feel uncomfortable if I dont
bathe regularly, he added.Zafar Bokhari, 46, has come from Multan to take part in the PAT sit-in.
I am a human being and it is not possible to eat only rice, he said.Zafar also said he had been feeling
exhausted in the last a couple of days because his energy level was very low due to the lack of proper diet.He
said he was a schoolteacher in his native town and was receiving phone calls from his principal to return to duty
as schools have already opened in Punjab.Salma Shafi, 22, a resident of Lahore, is also a follower of the PAT
chief and has been with the marchers for the last three weeks.We are just given rice every day. Sometimes I
dont eat and feel very hungry all day.She said her mother was suffering from muscle pains, adding it was
difficult for the participants to continue their struggle against the government under such difficult
circumstances.Salma also said she felt tired all the time because it was difficult to sleep on the grass under the
open sky.
When contacted, a spokesman for PAT told Dawn that it was difficult for the party to arrange a variety of food
for the participants.The leadership believes that food should be distributed among the participants of the sit-in
to continue the struggle to bring a revolution in the country, he added.An employee of a food outlet in Blue
Area said some followers of the PAT chief had contacted them to order rice boxes for the participants of the sit-
in.
Medical specialist at the Polyclinic hospital, Dr Sharif Astori, said it was unfortunate that the participants were
compelled to live in such an unhygienic environment.He said hundreds of patients were approaching the
hospital on a daily basis with the complaints of different diseases like gastro, high temperature, throat and chest
infections.Eating rice on a daily basis causes different ailments such as low blood pressure, muscle pain, sugar
problems and a lack of protein and energy, he added.He suggested that the government and philanthropists
should set up medical camps at the sit-in venues to secure the human lives.
Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2014
Image:People queue up at a food distribution point outside Parliament House on Tuesday. Photo by Ishaque Chaudhry
For Advertising SPECS & RATES
Contact: Advertising Department
Mujahid Ali
mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2874

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