14th may,2020 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

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Centre sets up new body to promote rice exports
Vishwanath Kulkarni Bengaluru | Updated on May 12, 2020 Published on May 12, 2020
To give further impetus to rice exports, the Centre has set up a new body – Rice Export
Promotion Forum (REPF), under the aegis of the Agricultural and Processed Foods Export
Promotion Development Authority (Apeda).
Rice, both basmati and non-basmati variety, is the largest commodity in India‘s agri-export
basket. Shipments stood at $7.77 billion in 2018-19, with basmati exports at $4.72 billion and
non-basmati at $3.05 billion. Final export figures for 2019-20 are yet to be released by Apeda.
―Considering the importance of export of rice, its inherent potentials and the multifarious issues,
which are faced in the process, it is decided to constitute a Rice Export Promotion Forum,‖ an
Apeda notification said.
Stakeholders
The new body will comprise representatives from the rice industry, exporters, officials from
Apeda, Commerce Ministry, Agriculture Ministry and Directors of Agriculture from major rice
producing states such as West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Telangana, Andhra
Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

―The EPF will make concerted efforts to identify, document particulars and reach out to
stakeholders across the entire production/ supply chain of export of rice for increasing these
exports significantly to the global market, through various interventions,‖ the notification said.
EPF will monitor, identify and anticipate developments pertaining to production and exports and
recommend necessary policy measures. It will be in touch with rice producers, exporters and
other relevant stakeholders and hear their problems, and facilitate, support and provide solutions
to them.
Competitive edge
The move assumes significance as rice is the only agri-commodity from India currently that
maintained its competitiveness in the overseas market. The exports of other grains such as wheat
and maize are unviable due to the higher production costs.
India, the second largest produce of rice in the world, has been the largest exporter of the cereal
after the shipments of the non-basmati were allowed from 2011.
India‘s production has been going up steadily over the past several years. From around 96
million tonnes in 2010-11, rice production is seen touching a record 117.47 million tonnes in
2019-20, per Second Advance Estimates.
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/centre-sets-up-new-body-to-promote-rice-
exports/article31567848.ece
Local governments lead RCEF seed distribution
Provincial and local chief executives in 55 provinces and in almost 1,000 municipalities are spearheading
the immediate turn-over of certified inbred seeds to the rice farmers with the onset of the wet season.
―In these trying times, we‘ve seen the importance of farmers [in ensuring enough rice for our province].
This is why we‘re extending to them all our support the best way we can, such as providing them access
to high-quality inbred rice seeds from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Seed
Program,‖ Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco said.
Since March, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) has
engaged with a strengthened partnership among local government units (LGUs) to facilitate the

distribution under a special protocol.
―We are closely coordinating with our partners from DA-Regional Field Offices and LGUs for the proper
and safe conduct of the seed delivery and distribution activities,‖ Dr. Flordeliza Bordey, PhilRice deputy
executive director, said Limitations brought about by the measures provided under the country‘s new
normal required PhilRice branch stations and partner LGUs to find means to deliver the seeds without
drawing too much crowd.
In Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, the local government opted to do a house-to-house delivery of high-quality
inbred seeds to qualified farmers registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture
(RSBSA). The process was similar to the delivery of relief goods in which farmers were required to show
a coupon, on top of other requirements, before receiving their allotted bags of seeds.
The amount of seeds that farmers will receive depends on their farm size and common method of crop
establishment in their province. A seeding rate of 40kg/ha is recommended for provinces with

transplanting method. Qualified farmers can receive 1 bag (20kg each) of seed for every half hectare of
cultivated area up to a maximum of 6 bags for those who have rice fields larger than 2.5ha.
Meanwhile, farmers who are from provinces that mostly practice direct seeding method will receive 80kg
of seeds/hectare or 2 bags of seeds for every half hectare. These provinces include Bataan and Pampanga
in Central Luzon; Palawan in MIMAROPA; Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo in Western Visayas; North
Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat in SOCSKSARGEN; and Maguindanao in
BARMM.
As of April 30, PhilRice and its LGU partners have distributed more than 84,000 bags to about 21,000
farmers, covering roughly 24,000 ha.
Philrice News
Wellington businessman donates 22 tonnes of rice to
charities
Piers Fuller16:18, May 11 2020
Supplied
Tulsi restaurant owner Monty Patel has donated 22 tonnes of rice to charity.
Local reporting is vital to a thriving and connected community. Help us keep telling
Wellington's stories by making a contribution.
When Wellington businessman Monty Patel heard that foodbanks across the region were crying
out for supplies, he knew he was in a position to help.
His donation of more than 22 tonnes of brown basmati rice has the potential to be the staple
ingredient of tens of thousands of meals for hungry families across the region.
Patel owns the Tulsi Indian restaurant chain and a Wellington-based food manufacturing
business and said he "felt in his heart" that this was the right time to give back.
―I thought as a Kiwi and someone who always wanted to do something for my community, this
was a good opportunity to do something as this was a bad time for people who needed help."

He heard through one of the charities that some families were trying to squeak through the
weekend with no food and their food parcels were sorely appreciated when they came at the start
of the week.
Supplied
Ōhāriu MP Greg O'Connor with some of the tonnes of rice donated by Monty Patel and distributed by
Challenge 2000 youth organisation.
It really touched him, and he encouraged other Wellington companies to reach out to charities.
The rice would be worth more than $100,000 if purchased at the supermarket and was distributed
into approximately 40,000 food parcels.
With the help of Ōhāriu MP Greg O'Connor the rice has been finding its way into the hands of
charities across the Wellington region.
"I took it upon myself to call up the agencies and foodbanks in Wellington and got it out."
When Wairarapa-based Labour MP Kieran McAnulty heard there was some rice going he put his
hand up for foodbanks in his area.
"I was sort of like a kid at a party who had nothing and noticed another kid who had a bag of
lollies and just flogged some for himself."
Supplied
Elise Sadler and Lyn Tankersley of Masterton Foodbank gladly receive a tonne of rice transported free of
charge by Reisima Haulage to Wairarapa.
Masterton Foodbank co-ordinator Lyn Tankersley said the donation came at just the right time
because they had always received a lot of support from local supermarkets but pasta supplies
were low over lockdown.
"The rice has been fantastic and so needed at this time.

"As we have been distributing a lot more parcels we are getting more feedback and people have
been so appreciative. Some have told us they just wouldn't have been able to get through without
it."
The foodbank volunteers take a couple of cups of rice from the 20-kilograms sacks and put
around 500g in a bag to go into each food parcel.
Through the Wairarapa network they have managed to get the rice bags to all the towns and have
some going to Eketahuna soon.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/121471636/wellington-businessman-donates-22-
tonnes-of-rice-to-charities
Ilokano farmers respond to Covid-19 crisis
Batac City, Ilocos Norte – Farmers‘ group here under a project of the Department of Agriculture-
Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) helps vulnerable sectors affected by lockdown.

Rayuray Farmers‘ Agriculture Cooperative (RFAC) recently distributed 3kg of rice to about 200 persons
with disabilities and senior citizens through the group‘s community development fund and rice stock.
―We‘re about to launch one of our products but it was put on hold because of COVID-19. But there are
fellows more affected than us. This unexpected situation brought out compassion in our group,‖ RFAC
Chair Ruthbell Pammit said.Meanwhile, beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to the group.
―As senior citizens in this crisis, it‘s difficult for us to work and provide for our own essential needs. Our
choice is only to pray and wait for help. We thank the cooperative for helping us,‖ Isabelita Cacao said
Philrice
Ghana's Rice Farmers Might Benefit From COVID
Pandemic
By Stacey Knott
May 12, 2020 02:26 PM
FILE - Women sweep rice at a small processing plant in the northern Ghanaian town
of Bolgatanga, Feb. 1, 2008.
ACCRA, GHANA - Rice plays a huge role in diets in Ghana, from the famous West African
jollof rice to rice and stew - but most of these grains are imported.
In 2019, Ghana launched Eat Ghana Rice, a campaign aimed at supporting the local rice
industry, but imports still dominate.
Demand for local rice has been on the increase in Ghana as a result of the campaign. But in
markets across the West African nation, imported brands still dominate.
Rice industry insiders say locally grown grain may soon see a boost from an unexpected
supporter: the coronavirus pandemic.

With COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, some nations have temporarily banned
exports of the grain to ensure food security.
The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana says the bans have sent imported rice prices
soaring.
Samson Asaki Awingobit, the association‘s executive secretary, said ―During the lockdown
period, we saw that imported rice prices had gone high, so it has affected the Ghanaian
consumers. Of course, the cost of rice has gone up.‖
Awingobit said the high prices are making local rice more competitive, which could boost
Ghana‘s rice production and food security.
Rice experts say the average Ghanaian eats about 40 kilograms of rice per year and Ghana‘s
farmers meet about half the country‘s demand.
Aiming for self-sufficiency
Rice breeder Maxwell Darko Asante says the gap, and supply disruptions from the coronavirus
pandemic, show why more investment is needed in local rice.
―As science is driving the way we deal with this pandemic, it should apply to crop scientists as

well, where the government should begin to pay more attention to crop science and crop
research, and especially rice because we spend so much money importing rice,‖ Asante said.
Since 2017, Ghana has strengthened local food production through its Planting for Food and Jobs
program.
The program supplies subsidized rice seeds and fertilizer to Ghana‘s farmers to boost agriculture
and food security.
Ghanaian officials say the program is helping meet their target of boosting rice production to
self-sufficiency by 2023.
For the past decade, rice farmer Abena Abedi has worked with small-holder farmers to promote
Ghana‘s rice. She supports their planting and then buys, processes, packages, and markets the
local grain.
―The farmers have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that they can produce in abundance. If we
are able to develop more lowlands, if we are able to rehabilitate the irrigation schemes we have
available, if we are able to give stimulus packages to rice value chain drivers - they will be able
to buy the surplus off the farmers immediately and pay them,‖ she said.
Abedi said a jump in demand for local rice after last year‘s Eat Ghana Rice campaign proves the
market potential.
While the coronavirus pandemic has been disruptive, she said she hopes the outbreak will inspire
more support for rice farmers across Ghana as a buffer against food insecurity and a boost to the
local industry.
https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/ghanas-rice-farmers-might-benefit-covid-pandemic
Pakistan Weekly Market Monitor Report - 12 May
2020
Source
 WFP

Posted
13 May 2020
Originally published
12 May 2020
Attachments
 Download report(PDF | 575.78 KB)
HIGHLIGHTS
 Weekly average retail prices update as of 7 th May 2020 indicates overall the prices of staple
cereals and non-cereals foods experienced negligible to slight fluctuations except for live
chicken, with a significant price hike, when compared to the previous week‘s prices;
 Cereals: the retail prices of essential staple cereals (wheat, wheat flour, rice Irri-6 and rice
Basmati) remained stable. Overall, the average retail price of wheat decreased slightly while
the price of wheat flour increased slightly.

Whereas, the prices of rice Irri-6 and rice Basmati remained unchanged from the previous
week;
 Non-cereals: overall, the average retail prices of essential non-cereals registered a significant
increase in the price of live chicken, slight increases for eggs and pulse Mash, slight decreases
for pulses (Gram and Masoor) and negligible decreases in the prices of Pulse Moong and
sugar compared to their prices from the previous week;
 The average ToT negligibly decreased by 0.7% compared to the previous week.
https://reliefweb.int/report/pakistan/pakistan-weekly-market-monitor-report-12-may-2020
Rice Prices
as on : 14-05-2020 12:34:06 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
Arrivals Price
Current %
change
Season
cumulative
Modal Prev.
Modal
Prev.Yr
%change
Rice
Gadarpur(Utr) 2695.00 30.57 92645.00 2544 2664 -24.62
Mandya(Kar) 1136.00 72.12 3225.00 2280 2510 -
Bangarpet(Kar) 309.00 164.1 4003.00 2500 2000 -
Mysore (Bandipalya)(Kar) 291.00 - 542.00 2000 - -
Gondal(UP) 106.00 -1.4 5161.50 2400 2400 -2.04

Ghaziabad(UP) 100.00 42.86 1486.00 2700 2700 NC
Barhaj(UP) 66.00 3.12 7716.00 2520 2520 8.15
Mohamadabad(UP) 47.00 224.14 648.00 2460 2450 -
Shamli(UP) 46.00 15 641.90 2660 2670 -3.62
Vilaspur(UP) 45.90 5.52 1105.70 2590 2600 3.19
Naugarh(UP) 45.00 -13.46 3197.00 2520 2510 5.00
Madhoganj(UP) 42.00 5 2900.00 2430 2430 8.97
Firozabad(UP) 41.00 6.49 1019.10 2570 2590 -
Lakhimpur(UP) 40.00 -11.11 1782.00 2440 2420 5.17
Asansol(WB) 24.00 -4 816.89 2850 2850 -6.56
Durgapur(WB) 23.50 -6 728.85 2850 2850 NC
Dahod(Guj) 23.10 670 711.50 4300 4300 2.38
Puranpur(UP) 19.00 -49.33 1914.00 2600 2585 5.26
Basti(UP) 18.00 -18.18 1043.50 2550 2540 8.51
Sirsaganj(UP) 16.50 -2.94 641.50 2610 2600 -5.09

Balrampur(UP) 16.00 -27.27 617.00 2400 2400 4.35
Honnali(Kar) 15.00 -25 246.00 3000 3000 -
Gadaura(UP) 15.00 400 225.50 2300 2200 9.52
Sahiyapur(UP) 15.00 NC 1777.00 2540 2550 7.17
Jafarganj(UP) 10.00 -37.5 775.00 2400 2420 11.11
Indus(Bankura Sadar)(WB) 10.00 150 1005.00 2750 2750 1.85
Soharatgarh(UP) 9.00 -10 1361.70 2535 2530 4.75
Malur(Kar) 8.00 - 31.00 3116 - -1.02
Milak(UP) 5.00 -16.67 80.80 2590 2580 -
Badda(UP) 4.50 7.14 66.90 2350 2450 -
Jahangirabad(UP) 4.00 14.29 158.00 2650 2650 1.92
Buland Shahr(UP) 3.50 25 134.90 2655 2655 0.19
Mawana(UP) 3.00 NC 108.20 2618 2620 -
Achalda(UP) 3.00 -25 220.10 2500 2500 13.12
Perinthalmanna(Ker) 2.90 NC 17.40 3000 3200 7.14

Uluberia(WB) 2.80 NC 38.30 3000 3100 3.45
Lalganj(UP) 2.20 46.67 229.70 2300 2300 -
Muskara(UP) 1.60 14.29 47.70 2400 2300 6.19
Khair(UP) 1.50 50 55.00 2550 2560 -1.92
Wazirganj(UP) 1.50 25 33.70 2600 2610 -
Anandnagar(UP) 1.00 -37.5 180.50 2515 2525 7.02
Risia(UP) 0.70 16.67 61.10 2410 2420 -
Published on May 14, 2020
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article31580393.ece
PH has enough rice supply for entire year – DA
Robie de Guzman • May 13, 2020 • 93
FacebookTwitterShare
Filipino workers carry sacks of government-subsidized rice (NFA Rice) into a store selling
various rice brands at a market in Quezon City, east of Manila, Philippines, 04 October 2018.
EPA-EFE/ROLEX DELA PENA
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has reassured the public that the
country‘s rice supply remains sufficient for the entire year ―with a comfortable level of
inventory.‖

―Going into the lean months and onto December 31, 2020, we have enough supply of food, and
that includes our major staple – rice,‖ Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in a statement
issued on Tuesday.
―We remain consistent that our total projected supply of rice by end of December 2020 would be
17.994 million metric tons (MMT), while our total projected demand would be 14.668 MMT,
leaving a year-end inventory of 3.326 MMT,‖ he added.
With these projections, Dar said that the beginning inventory in January 2021 is seen to last for
94 days.
The DA estimated the projected 2020 year-end supply using three components, namely:
 Beginning stock in January 2020 or the surplus in December 2019;
 Total domestic palay production, from January to December 2020; and
 Total rice imports, January to December 2020, including the 300,000 MT to be imported
by the DTI‘s Philippine International Trading Corp. under a government-to-government
arrangement
The DA said that the respective figures are gathered by its field operations service (FOS) from
the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Bureau of Customs (BOC) on rice imports, other
relevant government agencies, and DA regional field offices (RFOs) in tandem with local
government units (LGUs), on palay production.
The PSA‘s supply utilization accounts of selected agricultural commodities showed that, of the
total rice demand, an average of only 88% serves as food or what is actually eaten, the remaining
12% is allotted for seeds, feeds and industrial uses.
―Hence, of the total projected demand of 14.488 MMT, the actual rice that would be consumed
as food would only amount to 12.9 MMT,‖ the department said.
Citing PSA report, the DA said that a Filipino consumes a total of 118.81 kilograms annually,
equivalent to 325.5 grams of milled rice daily.
With a current population of 108.66 million Filipinos, the country‘s total annual consumption
would amount to 12.9 MMT.
―We hope this will clarify issues on our rice supply, demand, and consumption situation. Again,
we assure the nation that the DA is doing its best to secure the country with enough and

affordable food for all. Our programs to make this happen are already in place to help our
farmers and fisherfolk,‖ Dar said.
The DA chief made the clarification following concerns on food supply amid the novel
coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis.
https://www.untvweb.com/news/ph-has-enough-rice-supply-for-entire-year-da/
Philippines to remain world's top rice importer
until 2021
The Philippines is expected to import around 2.5 million MT of rice in 2020 and 3.3 million MT
in 2021
Rappler.com
Published 8:15 PM, May 13, 2020
Updated 8:15 PM, May 13, 2020
RICE. Quezon City residents receive rice during the coronavirus lockdown. Photo by Darren Langit/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines will continue to be the world's top rice importer in 2020
and 2021 to meet demand of over 107 million people, while production of the staple is expected
to dip.
According to the Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report of the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Philippines and Brazil are projected to have production
declines, although modest, while the rest of the rice-producing countries will produce more.
The report noted that Southeast Asia will resume planting, while China will plant earlier than
expected. Worldwide, production is projected to hit more than 8 million tons, a new record.
The USDA said the Philippines is set to produce 11.4 million metric tons (MT) of rice in 2020
and 11 million MT in 2021.
Consumption is projected to hit 14.3 million MT this year and 14.5 million MT next year.

"With lower production and tighter stocks, larger imports are expected to enable consumption to
rise marginally," the USDA said. The Philippines is expected to import around 2.5 million MT of
rice in 2020 and 3.3 million MT in 2021.
"The 2019 rice tariffication law has made imports more available in the market, depressing
overall milled rice prices," the USDA added. (READ: Rice tariffication: Birth pains force
farmers' kids out of school)
Rice glut
The Philippine Department of Agriculture is aiming to produce 13.51 million MT of rice for
2020.
This would bring the country's rice self-sufficiency to 93% from 87% in 2019. If achieved, it
would be the country's highest palay output in at least a decade.
At the same time, the Philippines is also set to import some 300,000 MT of rice through a
government-to-government arrangement.
With an ambitious production goal and importation increasing, farmers warn that oversupply
would likely depress farmgate prices. (READ: [ANALYSIS] Plummeting rice prices: How will
our rice farmers cope?)
"Based on our computations, we will have an ending inventory by December 31 of this year of
3.9 million tons of rice, good for 110 days, if both these policies are pursued. This will create a
glut that will bring down prices during the main harvest season from September to November
this year and will even spill over to the dry season harvest from February to April next year,"
said Raul Montemayor, national manager of the Federation of Free Farmers.
https://www.rappler.com/business/260815-philippines-to-remain-world-top-rice-importer-2021
Australia could RUN OUT of local rice in just months after
droughts and panic-buying during the COVID-19 pandemic
sparked dramatic shortages
By KELSEY WILKIE FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
PUBLISHED: 02:10 BST, 13 May 2020 | UPDATED: 07:07 BST, 13 May 2020

Australia could run out of rice in a matter of months as suppliers struggle to keep up with demand
after years of devastating drought.
The looming rice shortage comes as demand for the household staple skyrocketed since the
outbreak of COVID-19.
Rob Massina, president of the Ricegrowers‘ Association of Australia, has warned that
supermarkets might be out of stock of Australian-grown rice by the end of the year, forcing
Australians to rely on imported rice instead.
He told Daily Mail Australia the price of rice would likely increase as a result.
'Australia, typically, domestically will consume about 200,000 tonnes of Australian rice. This year
we will be looking at only growing around 50,000 tonnes,' he said.
'There‘s a real risk by the end of this calendar year we will be out of Australian domestic rice on
Australian supermarket shelves.'

Australia could run out of rice in a matter of months as suppliers struggle to keep up with demand after
years of devastating drought
His warning comes after demand spiked for household staples such as rice, pasta and flour as panic
over the coronavirus outbreak set in.
Supermarket shelves were stripped bare in March, forcing chains to set buying limits for
customers.
Mr Massina said the country was also facing issues with supply as other countries were restricting
rice exports as a way of ensuring they can meet their own food supply.
'This obviously makes it more difficult to bring rice into Australia,' he said.
There has also been issues with rice production in Australia due to high prices for water in the
Murray-Darling Basin following years of drought, which has seen rice farmers plant their smallest
crops since the Millennium drought.

Water expert Maryanne Slattery told the Sydney Morning Herald it was unclear what the industry
would look like after the pandemic.
'We really should be seriously having a look at what we‘re using our water for and what we‘re
growing with the water we've got. I would advocate that our food security is paramount and that
we should be doing everything we can to ensure our food security.'
Spiraling water prices have seen wheat, rice and dairy farms completely decimated over the past
two years.
Foreign-owned almond and other nut plantations have been able to thrive as they can afford the
higher prices.
Ms Slattery said water could be redirected away from nuts, which are mostly being exported, and
given to rice and dairy.
'It would take an incredible amount of political will to do that. It‘s certainly throwing out the
existing order and really challenging property rights to water. But it‘s certainly conceivable if
governments had the will to do it.'
MURRAY-DARLING BASIN AUTHORITY'S
RESPONSE TO CLAIMS OF MISMANAGEMENT
There is no problem with our food security and it‘s mischievous and misleading for vested interest
groups to use COVID-19 to push their biased and incorrect positions. This is a time when
Australians should be banding together for the common good, not being needlessly divisive.
The MDBA knows how hard it has been for irrigation farmers and their communities first with
drought, then bushfires, and now COVID 19 challenging everyone.
These challenges have all come on top of much needed but painful water management reform
within the Basin over the past 10 years.
Farmers haven‘t grown much rice or other irrigated crops in the past two years because the
Murray-Darling Basin has experienced two to three years of extreme drought.

Rice is grown when water is cheap and plentiful. This is similar to the Millennium drought 12
years ago when very little rice was grown.
All remaining water in the system is owned by someone or is needed to keep the river running – to
now give it to some farmers takes it away from others who have paid to use that water in these dry
times.
It potentially pits farmer against farmer.
Basin governments have a fair plan for sharing water in dry times and all governments and
responsible irrigators are sticking to it. Australians have no cause for concern.
Water resource management is about sharing a scarce and nationally significant resource fairly and
balancing the needs of all values – economic, community, environmental and cultural.
Water is and must continue to be managed in the national interest for the benefit of future
generations.
Any attempts to alter the balance undermines years of bi-partisan water reform championed by all
governments and puts at risk the sustainability of the Basin now and into the future.
What’s driving water shortages in the Murray–Darling Basin
The ongoing and widespread drought is what‘s driving water shortages and high water prices
across the Basin. During 2019, Australia experienced the warmest year on record, and the driest
year in over 100 years. Despite recent rains, storages in the north are still at extremely low levels.
Large dams in the south have declined since 2016 receiving little winter or spring inflows during
that time. Water storages are sitting at just 27 percent and we need widespread and consistent rain
to turn these numbers around.
Because of the drought, irrigators with lower security and less reliable licence types haven‘t
received a water allocation from the state governments for the past two to three years. That‘s hard
on any business and their supporting community. Typically, irrigators with these less reliable
licences grow cheaper annual and opportunistic crops like rice when water is available.
Full statement at mdba.gov.au

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8313595/Australia-RUN-rice-end-year-COVID-19-
stockpiling.html
Cambodian rice exports burdened by power and transport
costs
Sorn Sarath / Khmer Times Share:
Rice workers in Phnom Penh. KT/Chor Sokunthea
The Ministry of Commerce and Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) are continuing
working to solve the long-running challenges of the Kingdom‘s high cost of electricity
and transportation in order to boost the country‘s rice industry. The meeting by the
ministry with participants from concerned parties such as the CRF and Cambodia
Agricultural Value Chain Programme (CAVAC) to discuss and examine the Rice
Export Cost Study (RECS) which found that the high cost of electricity and
transportation have remained big obstacles for the industry.
Sok Sopheak, the Ministry of Commerce‘s secretary of state, who chaired the
meeting, has urged relevant parties both private and state, to continue cooperating and
working together to solve issues in the rice sector.
The Ministry said that the main challenges for Cambodia rice exports include the high
cost of electricity, the high cost of transportation, fee costs at ports and the cost of
shipping from ports to the destinations.
However, Lun Yeng, CRF‘s secretary-general, said the challenges for the country‘s
rice sector are not new.
―The high cost of electricity and transportation have remained for a long time even
though the government has lowered some price, they are still higher than
neighbouring countries, so we find it hard to compete in the export market,‖ he said.

He said while the private sector is increasing its own ebnergy supply by installing
solar power, the government has not supported this approach. ―What the private sector
really needd from the government is to lower electricity costs,‖ he said.
However, Yeng expressed optimism that Cambodia‘s rice exports would keep
growing because of high demand in the global market, which has adversely affected bt
the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cambodia exported a total 230,948 tonnes of rice to the international markets in the
first quarter of this year, a 35 percent hike on the same three months last year,
according to a report from the CRF.
The CRF‘s report shows that of this figures, 44 percent of Cambodia‘s milled rice was
shipped to China, amounting to 101,345 tonnes. This represents a 35 percent increase
on the same period last year.
The RECS project has been proposed by the Ministry of Commerce under financial
and technical support by CAVAC to fact-finding the main challenges and strengths of
the Kingdom‘s competitiveness thein rice sector, according to the Ministry of
Commerce.
The study focused on Cambodia‘s competitiveness in rice sector, analysing on
production chain starting from cultivation, drying, milling and on to export, which
also include transportation and document processing for exports to the target markets
in the EU and other countries.
According to the Ministry, the result of this study will be submitted to the private
sector and concerned ministries.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50722616/cambodian-rice-exports-burdened-by-power-and-transport-
costs/
Cambodia allows resumption of white rice exports
 CAMBODIA
 Wednesday, 13 May 2020
4:30 PM MYT

PHNOM PENH, (Xinhua): Cambodia on Wednesday (May 13) allowed companies to resume
exporting white rice from next week, after banning it for more than a month to ensure local food
security during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The resumption was made at the request of the Cambodia Rice Federation and after the South-
east Asian country has detected no new Covid-19 cases for a month.
"At the request of the Cambodia Rice Federation, the Royal Government decided to allow the
resumption of white rice exports based on purchase orders from abroad, starting from May
20,2020 onwards," Economy and Finance Minister Aun Pornmoniroth said in a statement.
Cambodia exported a total of 300,252 tonnes of milled rice in the first four months of this year,
up 40.5 per cent over the same period last year, a government report said.
In another statement to the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia, Pornmoniroth said
the government encouraged factories to produce face masks, medical supplies, and personal
protective equipment for local demand and export.
Cambodia has so far recorded a total of 122 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 121 patients
cured, according to the Ministry of Health. - Xinhua
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/regional/2020/05/13/cambodia-allows-resumption-of-white-rice-
exports
Govt buys about 6,300 tons of rice in reserve from 40 companies
BUSINESS
PUBLISHED 13 MAY 2020
NILAR
Government started purchasing, inspecting, accepting and storing State rice reserves on
April 30, and about 6,300 tons of rice bought from 40 export companies have been stored
in five warehouses.

The Ministry of Commerce, in cooperation with Myanmar Inspection and Testing
Services Ltd and Myanmar Rice Federation, took charge of those tasks.
The Department of Trade has announced that in declaring export of rice, licensed
exporters must sell 10 percent of their amount declared to the government for State rice
reserves. The aim is to ensure local food security, price stability, farmers‘ income
improvement and increased exportation during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Companies need to sell and send 10 percent of the amount of rice and broken rice stated
in their export declarations to the designated State-owned warehouses before their export
or within one week after export.
If the companies fail to do so, they will have their export/import registrations revoked
and face legal action.
https://elevenmyanmar.com/news/govt-buys-about-6300-tons-of-rice-in-reserve-from-40-companies
Rice theft continues
Tapos Kanti Das | Published at 12:07am on May 13, 2020
Misappropriation of government rice, meant for distributing among the poor, continues though a
good number of local government representatives and rice dealers and traders were arrested since
the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.
The Local Government Division on Tuesday suspended an Awami League-backed union
parishad chairman in Habiganj and two members of separate unions in Rajshshi and Bhola for
their alleged involvement in government rice misappropriation.

With the latest suspension, a total of 55 elected local government representatives — 20 UP
chairmen, 33 UP members, one district council member and a municipal councilor— were
suspended since the coronavirus outbreak in the country, according to LGD officials.
Since COVID-19 outbreak, at least 60 people, many of them are ruling AL leaders, were arrested
so far for government rice theft.
Former advisor to the caretaker government M Hafiz Uddin Khan told New Age the situation
occurred as the offenders were politically blessed and were not punished exemplarily for
committing such offences earlier.
He said that the arrests and incidents of government rice thieving showed that theft by most of
those arrested continued for long and that their theft were detected now as the people, losing
their jobs due to shutdown, are now facing shortage of food and looking for relief or government
rice.
He suspected that the actual number of rice thieves might be much higher than those arrested.
Transparency International Bangladesh executive director Iftekharuzzaman said, ‗Those who are
involved in such heinous crime do not deserve to be treated as public representatives. They
should be banned from politics and public representation. The party they belong to should feel
humiliated and prosecute them for defamation of the party and the government. The law
enforcers should take due action against them instead of harassing reporters or social media users
for exposing such crimes.‘
‗The ACC should take action against them for accumulating illegal wealth at the expense of
public good. Only a good combination of such multi-pronged deterrent actions can stop and
prevent such crime,‘ he said.
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader at a virtual press conference on Monday
warned all concerned, including the AL leaders and activists, against irregularities in relief
distribution activities.
On Tuesday, the Local Government Division suspended Nurpur union Parishad chairman
Mukhlis Mia in Shayestaganj of Habiganj, Nimpara UP member Md Akbar Ali in Charghat
upazila of Rajshahi and Ahammadpur UP member Md Kamal Hossain in Charfasson upazila of
Bhola for irregularities in distributing relief materials.
Nurpur UP chairman Mukhlis is the assistant publicity secretary of Habiganj Sadar upazila AL
unit, New Age correspondent from Sylhet reported, quoting the party leaders.

The Anti-Corruption Commission has so far sued six union parishad chairmen, eight UP
members, a UP secretary and two government rice dealers for misappropriation of government
rice, sources in ACC said.
https://www.newagebd.net/print/article/106300
China hands out more grain import quotas to increase
purchases - sources
Hallie Gu, Dominique Patton
MAY 13, 2020 / 4:18 PM / UPDATED
BEIJING, May 13 (Reuters) - China is allocating more low-tariff import quotas for corn this year
and may expand its use of wheat quotas as it seeks to step up farm purchases from the United
States and meet a pledge to comply with global trade rules, according to three sources. China has
a 95% self-sufficiency target for its rice, corn and wheat consumption, but allows a certain
volume of imports through a tariff rate quota (TRQ) system.
The quotas allow importers to buy specified volumes with duties as low as 1%, compared with
65% without the quotas.
However the opaque system has been widely criticized by grain exporters who say Beijing does
not issue the promised volume of quota, limiting purchases from overseas.
As part of a Phase 1 trade deal with the United States in January, China pledged to allow for the
full use of its TRQs and it has issued more than 6 million tonnes of low-tariff corn quotas in
2020 so far, said two sources familiar with the matter.
The sources did not want to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.
That includes 1.5 million tonnes of quota issued in the last month, in addition to the batch issued
at the start of the year when most quota is normally allocated.
Beijing may issue a total of 7.2 million tonnes of corn quotas, added one of the sources, briefed
on the government plan, which would be the first time it has fully allocated its corn quota.
China‘s state planner, the National Development and Reform Commission, did not immediately
respond to a fax seeking comment out of office hours.

PLEDGE TO USE MORE QUOTA
Beijing sets annual corn quotas at 7.2 million tonnes every year, wheat quotas at 9.64 million
tonnes and rice at 5.32 million tonnes. The quotas do not specify any preferred origins.
With large portions of quota often going unused or being rolled into the following year, their
allocation alone is not enough to predict China‘s grain import intentions.
However, after losing a World Trade Organization case brought by the United States on its grain
quota system, China has also pledged to improve the way they are issued to ensure that more of
the quota is used.
―China needs to buy more American farm goods. One way to do it is to expand use of import
quota for grains like corn,‖ said a manager with a state-owned firm.
So far, in the first quarter of 2020, China‘s corn imports totalled 1.25 million tonnes, up 27.3%
on the same period a year ago, and came primarily from Ukraine, according to official data.
If quota were fully used, that would translate into $2.94 billion worth of wheat imports, and
$1.52 billion of corn at current prices, according to Reuters calculations.
China‘s wheat quotas have also been issued ―more widely‖ so far this year, said a source with a
state-owned company, which has helped boost wheat imports by 23.1% to 1.27 million tonnes in
the first quarter compared with the same period in 2019.
China used only a third of its wheat quotas last year. It stipulates that 90% of quota goes to state-
owned trading companies, leaving very little for the large number of privately owned millers.
But last year Beijing said non-state companies could apply for the state quota portion using a
state-owned trader as an agent. It also said all quota should be fully used ―based on market
conditions‖.
Reuters could not determine to what extent those changes are being implemented. But the source
said wheat imports may hit as much as 7 million tonnes this year.
―The government might release more quota, or urge buyers to use more of the quota,‖ he said,
adding that the grain could come from both the United States and other origins. (Reporting by
Hallie Gu and Dominique Patton; Editing by Alex Richardson)
https://www.reuters.com/article/china-grains-imports-quota/china-hands-out-more-grain-import-quotas-
to-increase-purchases-sources-idUSL4N2CV0CC

Cambodia to lift partial ban on rice exports on May 20
By
Thomson Reuters Foundation News
-
May 14, 2020
Cambodia will lift a partial ban on rice exports that had been put in place to ensure local food
security during the coronavirus crisis, the finance minister told exporters of the grain on Wednesday.
Finance Minister Aun Porn Moniroth wrote to the Cambodia Rice Federation to confirm the decision.
―I would like to inform (that) … the royal government has decided to allow exports of white rice
gradually starting from May 20, 2020, onward,‖ the letter said.
In full: https://www.marketscreener.com/RICE-3881394/news/Cambodia-to-lift-partial-ban-on-rice-
exports-on-May-20-30593215/
© 2020, All rights reserved.
https://english.cambodiadaily.com/business/cambodia-to-lift-partial-ban-on-rice-exports-on-may-20-
164010/
Logistics, water supplies affect rice planting
Issue Date: May 13, 2020
By Ching Lee
An agricultural aircraft flies rice seed over a field in Maxwell. Ideal weather conditions this season have
allowed farmers to prepare their fields early, but a shortage of a liquid fertilizer has slowed their progress.
Photo/Ching Lee

Ideal
planting conditions should have allowed rice farmers throughout the Sacramento Valley plenty
of time to prepare and seed their fields this spring, but short supplies of a liquid fertilizer have
slowed their progress, leaving some of them scrambling to make last-minute adjustments.
Most rice farmers use aqua-ammonia, a key source of nitrogen for their crop. The liquid fertilizer
is typically injected into the soil before water is released onto the field for planting. With
fertilizer distributors and dealers running low on aqua-ammonia at the height of rice-planting
season, farmers say they have had to make some tough decisions on whether to wait for new
shipments to arrive or switch to different and oftentimes more-expensive fertilizers that they're
not used to using.
Supplies of aqua-ammonia became tight when a container ship carrying anhydrous ammonia,
which goes into making the liquid fertilizer, became stuck in Fertinal, Mexico, due to an
outbreak of COVID-19, said Dan Stone, president and CEO of CALAMCO, the state's primary
supplier of anhydrous ammonia.

The Stockton-based cooperative obtains its anhydrous ammonia from Trinidad. The supply was
scheduled to arrive at the Port of Stockton in late April. To make the trip up the San Joaquin
River, the inbound ship first stops in Mexico to lighten its load and reduce its draft, Stone said.
The ship, however, could not unload because the processing plant that was to receive the load
was forced to evacuate 3,094 workers to prevent spread of the coronavirus, he added.
CALAMCO's supplier sent a second ship with product that was to come directly to Stockton late
last week, Stone said. From there, the anhydrous ammonia goes to various Northern California
facilities to be converted to aqua-ammonia.
Though getting the material to the different plants involves a mere two-hour drive from
Stockton, Stone said providing aqua-ammonia to farmers will depend on the timeline of the
various dealers and their backlog.
In Colusa County, rice farmer Kurt Richter said he and fellow farmers "have weather on our side
this year for the first time in a long time, and that's really nice." But because he doesn't have
enough aqua-ammonia for all his fields, Richter said he's "having to compromise our farming
practices" by using granular urea as an alternative, in hope of completing planting by May 25.
"We have to keep things moving or we're not going to finish on time," he added, "so I can't sit
around and wait for it to be perfect with the perfect fertilizer."
Farmers aim to finish planting by June 1, the cutoff date for those with crop insurance who need
to seek compensation for prevented planting. Planting after June 1 also runs the risk of pushing
harvest into the rainy season, which could wreck yields.
Sutter County farmer Steve Butler said he expected the fertilizer to become widely available
again this week, which would still give growers "plenty of time" to finish planting before June.
But with most of his planting already completed, Butler said he shifted to urea "in the interest of
getting everything planted." The weather allowed him to plant early this year, he said, noting that
his earliest fields—planted on April 18—are doing well.
Lack of rain this year meant Butler received just 75% of his water supply for farming, forcing
him to fallow about 25% of his rice acreage. Most farmers have crop insurance that covers
prevented planting by drought, he said, but those who have it won't turn a profit on their
unplanted acres.
"It'll cost every grower quite a bit of money," he said, "and depending upon the level of coverage
that you purchase, you may or may not even cover all of your fixed expenses."
Though he also faced a 25% cut in his water supply, Colusa County grower Alex Sutton said he
doesn't expect it will affect his rice acreage, some of which he's replaced with almonds and

walnuts. Because his tree crops use less water, it will allow him to shift water to his rice fields,
he said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture projected California rice acreage at 500,000 this year,
similar to the last two years. Growers say the 2020 projections likely did not account for acres
farmers will leave out due to reduced water supplies. They agreed acreage could be much lower
if not for March/April storms that helped bolster the snowpack and supplies in reservoirs.
In his region, Butte County grower Josh Sheppard said those last storms led to "serious rain
delay" that halted his field work for a week to 10 days, though he noted other parts of the valley
did not face the same difficulties. He received a full allocation of water and said he expects to
plant all his acreage.
"The prospects for farming rice look good," he said. "We've had better years, but the rice market
is healthy right now."
It helps that there's not much carryover rice from last year that will "compete with the new rice
that we're planting," Sheppard added.
Medium-grain Calrose rice—the predominant variety grown in the state—has been in "relatively
short supply and high demand," Butler said, adding, "it should be a good marketing year for
those growers who can plant enough acres to be profitable."
Yuba County grower Keith Davis noted how the pandemic has boosted sales of food staples such
as rice that have a long shelf life. As a farmer who also runs a grain elevator and rice dryer,
Butler said his operation has been "shipping rice as fast as we can ship it for the last month or
so," adding, "if there is such a thing as a positive impact from the shelter-in-place orders …
Calrose seems to be one of the products that's benefited from it."
But a concern, Davis said, relates to shortages of personal protective equipment, or PPE, which
his employees will need in the coming weeks when they perform ground applications of certain
chemicals.
"It could create a problem for us," he said. "Rural counties are trying to get things reopened, but
that doesn't mean the supplies and any of this stuff are going to be readily available."
Davis noted his employees go through three to four disposable Tyvek suits a day when they're
spraying, which is done for 30 days, and the few suits he's found so far would not last a week.
(Ching Lee is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. She may be contacted at clee@cfbf.com.)

Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm Bureau
Federation when reprinting this item.
https://www.agalert.com/story/?id=13987
411 Crore Bank Fraud By Ram Dev International Rice
Mill
May 12, 2020
Gurneel Kaur
No Comments
Another case of massive loan defaulter has come in the public eye after SBI reaches CBI for
complaint. Here‘s all about Rs 411 crore bank fraud by Ram Dev Rice Mill.
Fraud by Ram Dev International – Rice Mill
The Central Bureau of Investigation filed an FIR against the directors of Karnal based rice mill
and exporters. The CBI booked Mr Naresh Kumar (MD), Mr Suresh Kumar (Director) and Ms
Sangita (Director) for allegedly cheating a consortium of six banks for Rs 411 crores. The
defaulters already fled the country to Dubai according to sources before SBI complained to CBI.
Ram Dev Rice mill was engaged in the export of Basmati rice to the Middle East and European
countries. According to the complaint, the company has three rice milling plants, besides eight
sorting and grading units in Karnal district. Also, it has offices in Saudi Arabia and Dubai for
trading purposes.
The Report- Ram Dev International Rice Mill
The account became a non-performing asset on January 27, 2016. The banks conducted a joint
inspection of properties after eight months in August and October and found Haryana police
deployed there. An inquiry after that revealed that the directors had left the country. Besides,
they removed all the machinery from the old plants and fudged balance sheets to gain at the cost
of the bank‘s funds unlawfully. The case came into light when SBI ordered a special audit and
found falsified accounts of the accused.

No Investigation Due to the Lockdown
The CBI has not started the investigation process due to the coronavirus lockdown. However, the
agency will begin summoning the accused, in case they do not join the investigation. Ram Dev
International Rice Mill has cheated Rs 173.11 crores of SBI alone by way of unauthorised
removal of plant, machinery from factory premises, and showing loans from banks as a capital
infusion via circular movement of fund transfers.
Further, it owes Rs 76.09 crore to Canara Bank, Rs 64.31 crore to Union Bank of India, Rs 51.31
crores to Central Bank of India, Rs 36.91 crores to Corporation Bank and Rs 12.27 crores to
IDBI. In all, the list of economic offenders flying away from the country is long. However, the
CBI seems positive in getting Red Corner Notices against economic offenders soon.
Tags: bank fraud, canara bank, CBI, central bank of india, corporation bank, FIR, Fraud, IDBI,
karnal, loan defualter, non performing Assets, ram dev international, Ram Dev Rice Mill, SBI,
Union Bank of India
https://www.grainmart.in/news/411-crore-bank-fraud-by-ram-dev-international-rice-mill/
U.S.-Grown Rice Gets Canned by Craft Breweries
Around the Country
By Deborah Willenborg
ARLINGTON, VA -- American Craft Beer Week started in 2006 as a way to bring beer lovers
and retailers together in celebration and support of craft breweries and all that they contribute to
their communities. And while U.S.-grown rice has been an ingredient in commercial beer
production for a long time, craft breweries are using rice to deliver new and unique flavor
profiles.
Traditionally, when rice is used in beer production it lightens the color and body of the beer and
produces a much drier product in comparison to similar brewing ingredients like corn. Initially
the use of rice in brewing was all about the clean and dry drinkability, but the craft beer world is
utilizing rice as more of an adjunct ingredient -- a non-malt source of fermentable sugar that

boosts the alcohol in a beer while keeping it light on the palate.
In rice country, you can sample home-grown favorites like "Louisiana Lager" from Crying Eagle
Brewery in Lake Charles, Louisiana, "2nd Rodeo" at Lost Forty Brewing in Little Rock,
Arkansas, and "Farmers Light" from Farmers Brewing Company in Princeton, California.
"The nation's capital is not technically rice country, but you can get craft beer brewed with U.S.-
grown rice here, too," said Cameron Jacobs, USA Rice director of domestic promotion. "Thanks
to a connection we made during last fall's Think Rice Truck Tour and a rice trivia event at
Hellbender Brewing Company in the Fort Totten neighborhood that turned into a beer brewing
opportunity."
Hellbender partnered with Black Narrows Brewing Company of Chincoteague, Virginia, and
used Blanca Isabel Purple Rice grown in Louisiana to brew "Serves You Rice" a purple rice
saison with can art featuring rice fields, industry messaging, and Federation logos. In addition to
"Serves You Rice," which was available in six-packs, Hellbender also created another U.S.-
grown purple rice beer called "Social Rice-Olation," a slightly tart brett saison with a higher
alcohol content, available only in crowlers.
"Craft breweries do a lot to bolster the economy from using local ingredients to job creation to
providing community gathering places. And we really appreciate the fact that the local
ingredient many are using is U.S.-grown rice," said Jacobs.
USA Rice daily
Undue attention
The acting chairman of a group calling itself the Council of Patriots (COP‘s), Menipakei Dumoe
could be getting undue attention at the expense of Liberian authorities following his social media
post.
Mr. Dumoe in his post suggested that poor Liberians here need an AK47 riffle, a gun notorious
here during the country‘s nearly two decades of civil war to be taken seriously by the
government instead of a promised rice that has been long overdue.―We don‘t need free bags of
rice. I say we the poor in Monrovia need AK47s so our leaders can take us seriously,‖ Mr.
Dumoe wrote on Facebook.

Although Mr. Dumoe, a young promising political activist has said that his statement was
metaphoric, state securities here on Tuesday invited him for a conference to enable him provide
them a better understanding of his statement, but he was soon arrested and a search warrant
issued to search his home for arms or related documentation.
Under the previous regime of former president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, his comment would have
been described as someone seeking an ―undue attention,‖ but not under this regime.Police
searched Mr. Dumoe‘s home Tuesday, 12 May after he posted on social media that ―… we the
poor in Monrovia need AK47s so our leaders can take us seriously.‖
Mr. Dumoe did not deny making the post, but he claims he was being metaphoric, saying he is
not talking about using a physical weapon.His lawyer Cllr. Finley Karnga complained Tuesday
that his client was arrested, contrary to police‘s assurance that he should accompany his client to
the police headquarters in Monrovia for a conference.
Cllr. Karnga says he felt extremely betrayed and belittled on grounds that the ―police – lawyer
relationship‖ which he had relied upon to carry his client for the conference had been abused by
the authorities whose real plan to arrest his client was hidden.
He notes that the police had an intention to have his client arrested, but what they did was to put
him (Karnga) under the pretense that they were going for a meeting after which Dumoe would
have gone home.
Cllr. Karnga narrates that this has affected both his relationship with the police and his client,
especially given the way Dumoe was allegedly treated like a mere criminal when he got arrested,
handcuffed and taken in the back of a police truck.The lawyer insists that the metaphor that his
client used cannot be attributed to anything that is inflammatory, adding that Dumoe did not
mean the use of a physical weapon.
He calls on the police to ensure that all Dumoe‘s rights are accorded him under the Constitution,
urging that he be treated as a political prisoner, but not as a criminal.
Meanwhile Nimba County Rep. Samuel Kogar phoned in to a local radio station Tuesday
evening, condemning the police‘s action and said that as a law enforcement officer, you can be
courteous and enforce your law.
Rep. Kogar contends that what happened between Dumoe, his lawyer and the police was a form
of entrapment because the lawyer never knew the plan of the police and had gone along with his
client based on the police‘s assurance.The Nimba lawmaker states that everyone can be
presumed innocent under the law until something culpable is found which would then be the
ground for their arrest.

Kogar warns that if the police continue with these missteps, they will damage the image of the
government, thereby calling on them to desist because this is a democratic state.Additionally,
COP member Mr. Mo Ali says the statement on social media clearly was Dumoe‘s personal
statement, and not the Council of Patriots.
But he argues that he does not see any capacity in Dumoe to carry out a threat of such nature,
saying the government has got the right to do what it wants to do, but it should be done in the
confines of the law.
By Winston W. Parley
https://thenewdawnliberia.com/undue-attention/
India Grain: Spot basmati prices up on firm bulk demand;
maize falls
Tuesday, May 12
By Sampad Nandy
NEW DELHI – Prices of Pusa 1121 basmati paddy rose today across key spot markets as
demand from bulk buyers, including millers, was robust amid limited supply, traders said.
Arrivals are usually subdued at this time, as most farmers and stockists exhaust the stocks with
them. This year, restrictions on movement due to the lockdown have also limited supply,
Amritsar-based trader Ashok Sethia said.
Anticipation of a further extension in the nationwide lockdown is also seen pushing demand
from millers to procure more stocks for some weeks in advance, he said. Currently, the lockdown
is in place till Sunday. India has so far reported 70,756 COVID-19 cases, with deaths nearing
2,300.
Any sharp rise in prices at spot markets is unlikely due to the possibility of a decline in demand
from West Asian countries in the coming days despite Ramzan, Delhi-based trader Anand Goyal
said. Restrictions on movement due to the lockdown and recent steps by Iran to withdraw
subsidy on rice imports could also hit exports, Goyal said.
On the Indian Commodity Exchange, however, the May basmati paddy contract ended at
3,346 rupees per 100 kg, down 0.6%. The contract is seen trading between 3,321 rupees and

3,384 rupees per 100 kg during the next few sessions, Acumen Capital Managing Director
Akshay Agarwal said.
Prices of maize fell further in major spot markets as demand from feed makers remained
subdued, traders said. Arrivals in Nashik were pegged steady at 700-800 bags (1 bag = 100 kg)
and in Nizamabad, supply was largely unchanged at 700-800 bags.
Bulk purchases by the poultry industry and animal feed makers have been hit as consumption of
poultry products has declined due to rumours that broilers and eggs are carriers of COVID-19,
Nizamabad-based trader Amrutlal Kataria said.
An outbreak of African Swine Fever in Assam is also seen hitting demand in northeastern states
as culling pigs is the only option, he said.
A decline in feed consumption due to the virus may also hit demand for maize which is a key
component of animal feed in the region, Patna-based trader Avinash Kumar said. So far, over
13,000 pigs have died due to the virus in Assam.
Prices of mill-quality wheat in Jaipur were unavailable today as spot markets in Rajasthan are
shut. Traders in Rajasthan are protesting the state government's decision to impose 2% farmers'
welfare fee on the purchase of agricultural produce, particularly grains.
Markets in Indore and Kanpur were shut because of the lockdown.
Prices of the staple foodgrain are seen declining further in the coming days as the slower pace of
government procurement is exerting supply pressure on spot markets, Kota-based trader Aniket
Mehta said.
In Jaipur, prices of bajra were largely steady due to lack of triggers, traders said.
Following are today's prices of wheat, maize, paddy, and bajra in rupees per 100 kg, in key
wholesale markets, and the change from the previous day of trade:
Commodity Market Price Change
Wheat
Indore
1,830-1,860*
—
Wheat Jaipur 1,700-1,720* —
Maize
Nashik
1,400-1,450
(-)20-30
Maize Nizamabad 1,400-1,440 (-)20-30

Commodity Market Price Change
Pusa 1121 basmati paddy Amritsar 2,980-3,020 30-50
Bajra Jaipur 1,750-1,800 —
*Spot markets for wheat in Indore and Jaipur were shut today
End
Edited by Avishek Dutta
Cogencis Tel +91 (11) 4220-1000
Send comments to feedback@cogencis.com
This copy was first published on the Cogencis WorkStation
http://www.cogencis.com/newssection/india-grain-spot-basmati-prices-up-on-firm-bulk-demand-maize-
falls/
Philippines seeks extra 300,000 tonnes of rice imports
amid pandemic
Pio Maosaka Uncategorized May 12, 2020 1 Minute
The Philippines, the world‘s top rice buyer, is seeking to import another 300,000 tonnes of the
staple food to boost state stockpiles while battling the coronavirus pandemic and ahead of its
own lean season in the third quarter. The planned government-to-government deal would raise
the Southeast
— Read on ph.news.yahoo.com/philippines-ramping-rice-imports-boost-020749785.html
https://writingideasstoriespicturesandothers.wordpress.com/2020/05/12/philippines-seeks-extra-300000-
tonnes-of-rice-imports-amid-pandemic/

Rice supply adequate for 2020
By DA Published on May 12, 2020
QUEZON CITY, May 12 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) reassures the public that the
country‘s rice supply is adequate for the entire year with a comfortable level of inventory.
―Going into the lean months and onto December 31, 2020, we have enough supply of food, and
that includes our major staple – rice,‖ Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.
―We remain consistent that our total projected supply of rice by end of December 2020 would be
17.994 million metric tons (MMT), while our total projected demand would be 14.668 MMT,
leaving a year-end inventory of 3.326 MMT,‖ said the DA chief.
―This, in turn, serves as our beginning inventory in January 2021, which is good for 94 days‘
supply,‖ he added.
The DA estimated the projected 2020 year-end supply using three components, namely:
Beginning stock in January 2020 or the surplus in December 2019;
Total domestic palay production, from January to December 2020; and
Total rice imports, January to December 2020, including the 300,000 MT to be imported by the
DTI‘s Philippine International Trading Corp. under a government-to-government arrangement.
The respective figures are gathered by the DA‘s Field Operations Service (FOS) from the
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Bureau of Customs (BOC) on rice imports, other relevant
government agencies, and DA regional field offices (RFOs) in tandem with local government
units (LGUs), on palay production.
The PSA‘s supply utilization accounts of selected agricultural commodities showed that, of the
total rice demand, an average of only 88 percent (%) serves as food or what is actually eaten, the
remaining 12% is alloted for seeds, feeds and industrial uses.

Hence, of the total projected demand of 14.488 MMT, the actual rice that would be consumed as
food would only amount to 12.9 MMT.
Further, the PSA reported that on average, a Filipino consumes a total of 118.81 kilograms (kg)
annually. This is equivalent to 325.5 grams of milled rice daily.
With a current population of 108.66 million Filipinos, the country‘s total annual consumption
would amount to 12.9 MMT.
―We hope this will clarify issues on our rice supply, demand, and consumption situation. Again,
we assure the nation that the DA is doing its best to secure the country with enough and
affordable food for all. Our programs to make this happen are already in place to help our
farmers and fisherfolk,‖ Secretary Dar concluded. (ML/ DA)
https://pia.gov.ph/press-releases/releases/1041700
U.S.-Grown Rice Gets Canned by Craft Breweries Around
the Country
By Deborah Willenborg
ARLINGTON, VA -- American Craft Beer Week started in 2006 as a way to bring beer lovers
and retailers together in celebration and support of craft breweries and all that they contribute to
their communities. And while U.S.-grown rice has been an ingredient in commercial beer
production for a long time, craft breweries are using rice to deliver new and unique flavor
profiles.
Traditionally, when rice is used in beer production it lightens the color and body of the beer and
produces a much drier product in comparison to similar brewing ingredients like corn. Initially
the use of rice in brewing was all about the clean and dry drinkability, but the craft beer world is
utilizing rice as more of an adjunct ingredient -- a non-malt source of fermentable sugar that
boosts the alcohol in a beer while keeping it light on the palate.
In rice country, you can sample home-grown favorites like "Louisiana Lager" from Crying Eagle

Brewery in Lake Charles, Louisiana, "2nd Rodeo" at Lost Forty Brewing in Little Rock,
Arkansas, and "Farmers Light" from Farmers Brewing Company in Princeton, California.
"The nation's capital is not technically rice country, but you can get craft beer brewed with U.S.-
grown rice here, too," said Cameron Jacobs, USA Rice director of domestic promotion. "Thanks
to a connection we made during last fall's Think Rice Truck Tour and a rice trivia event at
Hellbender Brewing Company in the Fort Totten neighborhood that turned into a beer brewing
opportunity."
Hellbender partnered with Black Narrows Brewing Company of Chincoteague, Virginia, and
used Blanca Isabel Purple Rice grown in Louisiana to brew "Serves You Rice" a purple rice
saison with can art featuring rice fields, industry messaging, and Federation logos. In addition to
"Serves You Rice," which was available in six-packs, Hellbender also created another U.S.-
grown purple rice beer called "Social Rice-Olation," a slightly tart brett saison with a higher
alcohol content, available only in crowlers.
"Craft breweries do a lot to bolster the economy from using local ingredients to job creation to
providing community gathering places. And we really appreciate the fact that the local
ingredient many are using is U.S.-grown rice," said Jacobs.
Atlanta’s 50 Best Restaurants: Takeout Edition
These favorites are serving takeout, curbside pick-up, or delivery
ByMara Shalhoup
May 12, 2020
Tlayuda at Taquería La Oaxaqueña
Photograph by Cori Carter
With most restaurant dining rooms still shuttered due to the pandemic, we‘ve compiled a list
below of all the restaurants from last year‘s 75 Best Restaurants issue that are offering takeout,
curbside, or delivery. Be sure to check a restaurant‘s Instagram or website for its most up-to-date
info. While none of these 50 restaurants are prepared to reopen their dining rooms at the current

time, the more you‘re able to bring their food home now, the more likely they‘ll be around to
serve you in those dining rooms later.
Miller Union
The restaurant that topped our list of 75 Best Restaurants had closed its doors to the public for
several weeks, focusing on preparing meals for frontline medical workers. In the past few days,
though, Miller Union has started to offer a limited number of prix-fixe takeout meals. A recent
one included field pea hummus with roasted peppers, crudites and lavash, a salad of spring

vegetables, and marinated and grilled boneless chicken with new potatoes, spring peas,
asparagus, herbs, and parm. Spring is perhaps our favorite time to experience chef Steven
Satterfield‘s honest explorations of the modern South, and in this strangest of springs we‘re extra
grateful to be able to find comfort in his food. 999 Brady Avenue, Westside, 678-733-8550
Masterpiece
The average human tongue has 10,000 tastebuds, and we have discovered a way to stimulate
every one of them with just two bites of food. The first bite: Masterpiece‘s dry-fried eggplant
(Eggplant with Chilli Powder and Pepper Ash Powder), which sits at the pinnacle of every
iteration we‘ve encountered of the beloved Sichuan dish. The exterior is crackly-crisp and salty,
the interior creamy and sweet, the level of ma la (numbing spice) precisely calibrated with a
liberal but not obnoxious dose of fragrant, crunchy Sichuan peppercorns. The second bite:
Masterpiece‘s Dong Po Pork, a braised brick of pork belly lacquered in a mahogany-hued glaze
that tastes as if it were a syrup extracted from a mythical tree. The first bite will blow your mind
with its electric intensity. The second will transport you to another dimension of taste by
simultaneously mellowing and somehow extending the pleasure of the first. Both dishes—along
with the other 125 dishes on chef Rui Liu‘s extraordinary menu—are available for curbside
pickup. 3940 Buford Highway, Duluth, 770-622-1191
Sushi Hayakawa
Atsushi ―Art‖ Hayakawa is the most delightful character in Atlanta‘s food scene and a master of
his craft. Though you currently can‘t enjoy his banter while perched at his sushi counter,
splurging on his $185, 14-course, two-and-a-half-hour honkaku (authentic) omakase, you can
order $39 bento boxes, $48 sake hotate ikura donburi (salmon, scallop, and seasoned salmon
caviar over sushi rice), and private-cellar sake sets—all for curbside pickup. 5979 Buford
Highway, Doraville, 770-986-0010
Bacchanalia
Like Miller Union, Bacchanalia was not cooking for the public for weeks following the COVID-
19 outbreak—but in recent days started offering the type of takeout food that is quite capable of
lifting you out of the deepest, most isolating funk. For $100, choose your four courses, ranging
from Maine lobster with English pea and blood orange ponzu to Rohan duck with baby bok
choy, hedgehog mushrooms and apricot. Don‘t despair: Though you can‘t select from the cheese
cart, there‘s still a cheese course. In its 27 years of trailblazing fine-dining, Bacchanalia has
repeatedly proven itself to be one of our most adaptable restaurants. Now is no different. 1460
Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard, Westside, 404-365-0410
BoccaLupo
Chef Bruce Logue is a new breed of pasta royalty. Instead of confining himself to narrow
traditions, he creates cult favorites: black spaghetti with red shrimp, hot Calabrian sausage, and
scallions; extruded fettuccine with wild mushrooms and kale kimchi; and Carolina gold risotto

with lobster, white shrimp, and bronze fennel—all of which were on offer on a recent takeout
menu. 753 Edgewood Avenue, Inman Park, 404-577-2332
B’s Cracklin’ BBQ
Every cloud has a silver lining, even the cloud of smoke that began billowing from the roof of
B‘s Cracklin‘ last year, when a fire consumed Atlanta‘s best barbecue restaurant. For better or
worse, smoke and fire are integral to pitmaster/proprietor Bryan Furman‘s success. In 2015, his
first location in Savannah also burned down, and the amount of support he received back then
allowed him to reopen in four months. Of course, both smoke and fire are critical to preparing
his masterful, pecan wood–smoked ribs (cut from heritage-breed hogs raised in Georgia and
South Carolina) and brisket. While Furman and his wife and co-owner, Nikki, still have a new
location in the works, they opened a B‘s Cracklin‘ outpost in October in the new, BeltLine-
adjacent Kroger on Ponce. Now, you can get your B‘s fix at the same time you try to score toilet
paper. 725 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Old Fourth Ward, no phone
Kimball House
Yes, the oyster program is the best around—and though you can‘t order a dozen on the half shell,
you can take a dozen home to shuck yourself. And, depending on the night, you can go all out
with private-label caviar service and a 30-ounce ribeye (serves three) or go for the more modest
(but just as delicious) eight-piece fried chicken dinner with biscuits and sides such as heirloom
peas and braised greens. There will be a line, but it will be properly distanced, with highly
sanitized pickup and payment conducted through a window of the historic depot. 303 East
Howard Avenue, Decatur, 404-378-3502
Tiny Lou’s
After putting its takeout program on a hiatus of several weeks, Tiny Lou‘s is resurrecting its to-
go menu on May 14. If you didn‘t have takeout plans for Thursday, now you do. Chef Jeb
Aldrich‘s classically French food possesses far more restraint than that style suggests, which is
why Tiny Lou‘s quickly established itself as one of our very best new restaurants. Whatever you
order, don‘t skip dessert. Claudia Martinez is the rare pastry chef who can fashion a brown-butter
blondie that pays proper homage to Blondie herself, the downstairs lounge‘s most endearing star.
(We miss her, and the Clermont Lounge, as much as we miss the restaurants on this list.) 789
Ponce de Leon Avenue, Poncey-Highland, 470-485-0085
Pizza Jeans (at Root Baking Co.)
As with its sister operation, Root Baking Co., Pizza Jeans does just a few things (three pizzas, a
salad, a sandwich, breadsticks, a couple of sweets)—and does them exceedingly well. Formerly a
Friday night pop-up that Root held in its second-floor Ponce City Market space, Pizza Jeans was
about to permanently take over more of the space (with Root retaining a counter for selling its
glorious breads, sandwiches, and salads) when COVID-19 hit. Made with Root‘s naturally
leavened dough, Pizza Jeans‘ lightly charred, generously sized pies are some of the best in town.
Order on Zifty for delivery or online for curbside pick-up (be sure to enter the Ponce City Market

lot on North Avenue and park in front of Mountain High Outfitters; an employee will bring your
order to your car). Bonus: You can order a loaf of Root‘s sourdough, too. 675 Ponce de Leon
Avenue, Old Fourth Ward, 470-639-8046
Lazy Betty
Chef Ron Hsu is a man of juxtapositions. He‘s a Le Bernardin alum who came of age in his
immigrant parents‘ straightforward Chinese restaurants. And though in 2019 he opened the most
ambitious restaurant Atlanta has seen in several years, that doesn‘t mean his rarefied food is
short on fun. The takeout operation he runs with chef de cuisine Aaron Phillips is a different
beast than Lazy Betty‘s $125-and-up tasting menus, one that better suits the necessity to eat at
home. It‘s also more accessibly priced and is generously portioned—think $48 for a two-person
meal composed of bacon-crusted pork loin, apple-mushroom dressing, braised collards, roasted
Yukon golds, and Madeira pork jus. The equally delightful vegetarian option costs $10 less (also
for two) and recently featured roasted cauliflower with gremolata, spiced lentils, and charred
broccoli. 1530 DeKalb Avenue, Candler Park, 404-975-3692
El Tesoro
This oasis in a dusty gravel lot across from a members-only biker bar and behind Rudy‘s Auto &
Collision serves some of Atlanta‘s finest tacos, burritos, and tamales—and it now serves them
curbside, where you can pick up your preorder or place your order and wait. ―El Tesoro‖ means
―the treasure,‖ and the restaurant‘s owners have found one in Cristina Lugo Soto, a home cook
who hails from the Mexican coastal state of Guerrero and runs the kitchen with her daughter,
Mayra. Soto offers three tamale flavors—pork with green salsa, chicken with chipotle salsa, and
rajas with mushroom and squash—and if there‘s a more craveable masa in existence, we‘ve yet
to find it. The tacos come as tacos are supposed to, with supremely flavorful meat that requires
no embellishment aside from microdiced onion, a light shower of chopped cilantro, and a
squeeze of lime. Make sure you ask for the three housemade salsas with your order. 1374
Arkwright Place, Edgewood, 470-440-5502
Taquería La Oaxaqueña
You can fight us, but you won‘t change our minds: Taquería La Oaxaqueña is the best Mexican
restaurant in the metro area. Oaxaca is considered one of the culinary capitals of Mexico, and the
Oaxacan specialty that eaters have raved about for years at this Jonesboro gem is the tlayuda: a
large, grilled tortilla covered pizzalike with refritos, string cheese, avocado, lettuce, and your
choice of meat (pork sluiced in chili is tops). You‘ll also discover some of the finest tacos in
town here; handmade corn tortillas are folded around delicacies such as stewed beef cheeks,
tripe, and pork al pastor. Chicken tamales, flavored either with mole or salsa verde, have a
surprisingly delicate texture. Huaraches, the sandal-shaped boats of masa dough, are loaded with
rich meat. Take all of it home, and eat the leftovers for days. 605 Mount Zion Road, Jonesboro,
770-960-3010

D92 Korean BBQ
Though it‘s not currently offering its namesake dish, this intown sister joint to Duluth‘s beloved
9292 is offering curbside pickup of kimchi stew, four different bento boxes, and full-blown
dinners that serve two, three, or four people and include bulgogi, marinated pork neck, japchae,
soy-glazed peanuts, kimchi, pickled radish wrap, and steamed rice. 225 East Trinity Place,
Decatur, 404-514-6759
9292 Korean Barbecue
No, you can‘t take 9292‘s exemplary Korean barbecue experience home. But, even if you‘re not
getting your meat charred tableside, the takeout menu is still a good time. The flagship of a
growing mini-empire, including the almost-as-good D92 in Decatur, offers the same to-go menu
as its intown counterpart. Soon enough, you‘ll be able to resume the joy of watching the servers
navigate the labyrinth of semiprivate dining cubicles and arrive at just the right moment to flip
whatever cut of meat is sizzling on your mini charcoal grill. 3360 Satellite Boulevard, Duluth,
770-680-2951
Margherita in Detroit pie at Nina & Rafi
Photograph courtesy of Mia Yakel

Nina & Rafi
In 2015, Atlantans fell hard for New Jersey native Anthony Spina‘s O4W Pizza—and his square,
pan-cooked grandma pie in particular. When O4W moved to Duluth a year later, intowners went
into mourning. Now, just steps away from the shuttered location, Spina has returned with Nina &
Rafi, but grandma has stayed in Duluth. At Nina & Rafi, Spina‘s Detroit pie (thick and square
but light and airy) and his Super Margherita (a classic round) are meant to grab the spotlight. The
Detroit pie is actually the one that gives grandma a run for her money: The crust is like a cross
between a Sicilian and a cloud, and at its edges, there‘s a raised lip of absurdly addictive, burnt-
to-a-crisp cheese that will haunt you. It travels surprisingly well—though you‘ll probably eat at
least one piece in the car. 661 Auburn Avenue, Old Fourth Ward, 404-549-8997
La Mixteca Tamale House
This fast-casual, family-run, Oaxacan joint brings serious foodie cred to its far-flung suburban
location. Yes, La Mixteca is worth the drive to Suwanee. It specializes in all kinds of tamales
(perfected by the owner‘s mother), some sweet and others filled with various meats and moles,
as well as beautifully deconstructed tamale bowls. Note that the restaurant currently accepts
preorders only, by 7 p.m. the day before pickup; send your order to the numbers below and pay
via Cash App ($lamixtecatamalehouse) or over the phone. 1185 Old Peachtree Road, Suwanee,
678-253-4862 (text orders) 678-878-3483 (WhatsApp orders)
Canoe
If you haven‘t been to the 24-year-old riverfront restaurant in a while, you won‘t have forgotten
the view of the Chattahoochee (a view that, unfortunately, is unavailable at the moment). But
you might not recall how equally ravishing the food is. The special dinners on offer each night
start at $40 for two ($75 for four) for such meals as a Classic Fish Fry of flounder, Georgia
shrimp, calamari, and crab cakes, served with loaded tater tots, coleslaw, English pea and corn
succotash, and chocolate mousse. You can even order a bottle of the suggested wine paring (all
bottles are half price!), as well as a handful of a la carte apps, entrees, desserts, kid‘s meals—
even a bagel and smoked salmon spread for the following morning. 4199 Paces Ferry Road,
Vinings, 770-432-2663
Sotto Sotto
Riccardo Ullio‘s Inman Park stalwart turned 20 last fall, and there‘s a reason why Sotto Sotto
reached that rare milestone: It‘s our most consistent and satisfying Italian spot. Classic pasta
options—such as tortelli di Michelangelo Buonarroti, a 16th century recipe of veal, chicken, and
pork ravioli in a butter-sage sauce—are the kind of thing you want to eat forever. And we still
haven‘t found a risotto that can rival any of Ullio‘s four typically on offer. You can pick up that
tortelli and those risottos, as well as most of the regular menu, in a seamless curbside transaction.
This is the carb- and cream-loaded comfort a time like this demands. 313 North Highland
Avenue, Inman Park, 404-523-6678

Wood-grilled octopus with olives and capers at Kyma
Photograph by Caroline C. Kilgore

Kyma
The ocean-blue and gleaming-white temple known as Kyma, which means ―wave‖ in Greek, is
Buckhead Life Restaurant Group‘s brightest star. You can make a fabulous to-go feast out of
chef Pano Karatassos‘s nearly two-dozen shareable meze plates—in particular, wood-grilled
octopus with olives and capers, white beans stewed with tomatoes, and lamb pie. 3085 Piedmont
Road, Buckhead, 404-262-0702
La Grotta Ristorante Italiano
In the basement of an unassuming south Buckhead apartment building sits one of Atlanta‘s
oldest restaurants. La Grotta opened in 1978, and it‘s a welcome throwback to another time—
when white tablecloths still graced tables and truffles were shaved onto your plate tableside.
While you must currently forgo that regal service, La Grotta is embracing the times with an
expansive curbside menu (order at least a day in advance, if possible) and deeply discounted
wine to-go. 2637 Peachtree Road, Buckhead, 404-231-1368
Bon Ton
This relative newcomer to the Ponce corridor feels like it‘s been part of the street‘s eccentric
culture forever, and that‘s a high compliment. Co-owner Eric Simpkins, a longtime denizen of
Ponce, teamed up with Hieu Pham of Buford Highway‘s Crawfish Shack and Darren Carr of the
former Top Flr to create the perfect concept to fill Top Flr‘s void. Bon Ton is no doubt as cool as
its predecessor, and the Viet-Cajun menu is clever without being too much so: On its takeout and
delivery menu, you‘ll find the Bon Ton Banh Mi (choose fried shrimp, blackened catfish, or
cauliflower falafel), boiled and fried seafood platters, gumbo dinner for two, and zero-proof
cocktails—to which you‘re welcome to add booze. 674 Myrtle Street, Midtown, 404-996-6177
Poor Hendrix
Blink and you might miss this small storefront on a mostly residential stretch in East Lake. But
stylish, in-the-know neighbors have gravitated to this gem from chef Aaron Russell, whose
career includes influential stints at fine-dining bastions Seeger‘s and Restaurant Eugene (RIP).
Russell composes marvelous salads (recently, local lettuces, Manchego, peanuts, and pickled
green beans) and elevates desserts (recently, an orange–black pepper cake)—but he isn‘t above
serving wings and fries with ranch, all of which you‘re likely to find on his ever-changing
takeout menu. 2371 Hosea L. Williams Drive, East Lake, 404-549-8756
Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours
Everything about Chef Deborah VanTrece, whose personality is the clear inspiration behind her
restaurant‘s name, is original. She‘s quick to share her unfiltered opinion on the state of soul
food, black restaurateurship, and any other social issue you care to discuss (read more on her
COVID-19 survival strategy here). She also artfully builds on culinary traditions of black
Southerners: Her takeout and delivery menu includes graham cracker–crusted salmon with

creamy corn risotto. It‘s all twisted in the best possible way. 1133 Huff Road, Blandtown, 404-
350-5500
Argosy
Argosy is the rare restaurant that does more than it needs to—and does all of it well. The
gastropub‘s pizza might not be the most name-dropped in town, but the wood-fired crust and
Spotted Trotter–sourced toppings make it one of Atlanta‘s best. Order one to-go, or choose
from sandwiches, small plates, seasonal salads, snacks, house-made pickles, and a family meal
that‘s 100-percent sourced from Georgia farms; $55 feeds four and includes a four-pack of beers
from Argosy‘s sister brewpub, Sceptre Brewing Arts. There‘s also a rotating selection of take-
home cans and bottles from Argosy‘s superb beer list. 470 Flat Shoals Avenue, East Atlanta
Village, 404-577-0407
Busy Bee Cafe
Atlanta would be a lesser town without Busy Bee, which provided sustenance to Civil Rights
leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr. Since 1947, the woman-owned institution has reliably
served heaping helpings of soul food: smothered pork chops, oxtails, fried chicken, collards, and
cornbread dressing. Currently, you won‘t see old-school politicos and R&B stars alike crammed
into the tight quarters on the outskirts of Atlanta‘s HBCU complex—but you might see them
lined up outside for their takeout orders. 810 Martin Luther King Drive, AUC, 404-525-9212
Mandingo wrap at Tassili‘s Raw Reality
Photograph by Cori Carter
Tassili’s Raw Reality
There are 40 ounces of kale packed into the Mandingo wrap at Tassili‘s Raw Reality, which has
occupied the colorful ground floor of a two-story duplex in West End since 2011. Lest you scoff
at its $25 price tag, take note that this wrap could easily feed you for three days—and that it‘s so
magical you‘ll actually want to spend three days eating it. What makes it so good? Maybe it‘s the
superspicy, soy-marinated kale. Maybe it‘s the sweet coconut corn and the couscous flecked with
raisins and goji berries. Maybe it‘s the sticky-crunchy combination of hemp hearts, almonds, and
agave. Fewer mouths to feed? Various normal-sized wraps run from $9 to $14. Order online for
pick-up. 1059 Ralph D. Abernathy Boulevard, West End, 404-343-6126
Empire State South
After break of several weeks, Empire State South‘s takeout menu is back—this time offering
weekend feasts for preorder. The $85 meal serves two, and if chef Hugh Acheson‘s green garlic
agnolotti or pork osso bucco aren‘t convincing enough (they should be!), the option of
supporting Acheson—who‘s been a strong voice for the restaurant community during the
pandemic—is even more persuasive. Empire State South has challenged Atlanta‘s notion that

Southern food is something preciously preserved in the past, and it‘s one of the restaurants we
expect will lead the way in an uncertain future. 999 Peachtree Street, Midtown, 404-541-1105
The General Muir
There was once a time when you couldn‘t get a good matzo ball soup in town. Now, you can find
a sublime version—and take a quart of it home for $15. The General Muir has become
indispensable for its upscale Jewish deli–inspired menu: If you have a hankering for piled-high
pastrami on rye, there is no better place. In addition to those must-orders, there are six family-

sized meals on the takeout menu, priced between $27 to $39 and feeding three to six. And you
can have it delivered via DoorDash, too. 1540 Avenue Place, Emory, 678-927-9131
One Eared Stag
When chef Robert Phalen opened One Eared Stag back in 2011, Inman Park was a far sleepier
place. The neighborhood has since been transformed by an influx of restaurants, but One Eared
Stag‘s quiet corner retains its subdued charm. A taxidermied deer (yes, with a missing ear)
proudly looms over the handsome bar. The farmhouse-chic dining room has been converted to a
walk-up bodega; order local produce, marinated olives, and even bloody mary mix for pickup to
accompany your takeout meal, which should include the Dumpster Salad; Carolina Gold rice
with kimchi, pastured chicken, and benne seeds; and the inimitable fried chicken sandwich. 1029
Edgewood Avenue, Inman Park, 404-525-4479
La Tavola
For two decades, La Tavola has humbly enchanted Virginia-Highlanders—who are perfectly
happy keeping this underappreciated beauty all to themselves. If only every neighborhood could
be home to a high-quality Italian spot that harbors such a creative streak. Whether you‘re in the
mood for straightforward spaghetti and veal meatballs, classic saltimbocca, or take-and-bake
lasagna for four, the to-go menu is a godsend. 992 Virginia Avenue, Virginia-Highland, 404-873-
5430
No. 246
At this Ford Fry Italian spot, executive chef Drew Belline‘s textbook pasta runs the gamut from
cacio e pepe (the ultimate exercise in simplicity) to a gut-warming rigatoni Bolognese, both of
which are options on the family-style takeout menu. That menu includes seven pasta dinners,
seven pizzas, and three salads. You can‘t go wrong with any of it. 129 East Ponce de Leon
Avenue, Decatur, 678-399-8246
Clockwise from top: Jeow bong wings, laap, sticky rice and eggs, squid on a stick at Snackboxe
Snackboxe Bistro
Laotian food has long been overshadowed in Atlanta by the cuisine of neighboring Thailand. But
with the early 2018 opening of insta-hit Snackboxe in Doraville, followed by a second location at
the Battery, there‘s now an excellent representation of the cuisine right in our backyard. The
street food–inspired dishes, all of which are available for takeout (and limited delivery), are
vibrant with heat and acid, including a peerless laap, a spicy and tart meat salad more commonly
known by its Thai name, larb. 6035 Peachtree Road, Doraville, 770-417-8082; 925 Battery
Avenue, Cumberland, 678-324-1181

Heirloom Market BBQ
Heirloom is a love story—between its co-owners, wife and husband Jiyeon Lee and Cody
Taylor, and between the homestyle Korean cooking of her childhood and the homestyle Texan
cooking of his. The restaurant did not start out as an intentional crosscultural melange of
cuisines. In its earliest days, Heirloom was mostly concerned with straightforward, Texas-style
‘cue. As with all great love stories, the passion between miso paste and collard greens or kimchi
and coleslaw was almost accidental at first, but these pairings were clearly meant to be. The
mostly takeout operation has become even more efficient with curbside pickup, and you can
order delivery on DoorDash. 2243 Akers Mill Road, Cumberland, 770-612-2502
Community Q
Dave Roberts left fine dining in the mid-aughts to study the finer points of barbecue. Back then,
hoity-toity chefs hadn‘t begun to launch the kind of barbecue operations that source their meats
extra carefully and support organic farms. Opened in 2009 with several partners in a tight little
shopping center near Emory, Community Q offers moist and tender pulled pork that isn‘t

obnoxiously smoky, reliably robust St. Louis ribs, and ridiculously rich and creamy three-cheese
mac and cheese. It‘s best to place your takeout order a day in advance. 1361 Clairmont Road,
North Decatur, 404-633-2080
Taqueria del Sol
Photograph by Hannah Feiten Photography
Taqueria del Sol
Eddie Hernandez and Mike Klank opened the first Taqueria del Sol on the Westside in 2000,
cranking out crowd-pleasing $2 tacos. Twenty years and four additional locations later,
customers now line up to await pickup orders—for Hernandez‘s Southern-Mexican mashup
cuisine: fried-chicken tacos with lime-jalapeño mayonnaise, refried-bean enchiladas with a side
of turnip greens, and shrimp corn chowder. Want to learn how Hernandez does it? Pick up his

cookbook, Turnip Greens & Tortillas, which was one of our favorites of 2018. Multiple
locations
Rising Son
When Hudson Rouse, formerly of Home Grown, and his wife, Kathryn Fitzgerald Rouse, opened
this creative meat-and-three for breakfast and lunch in 2016, the crowds flocked. They came to
the adorable Avondale Estates storefront in part to order the vegetables—collards, kale, sweet
potatoes—that Hudson grows himself. The restaurant now offers daytime and early-dinner
pickup orders (recently fried chicken with black-eyed peas, collards, and mashed sweet
potatoes). Get a biscuit on the side. 124 North Avondale Road, Avondale Estates
Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q
In 2007, twin brothers Jonathan and Justin Fox opened their DeKalb Avenue restaurant. Thirteen
years later, the brothers‘ brisket is legendary, but just as epic are their over-the-top barbecue
offerings: the camp classic Frito Pie served in the actual chip bag, hickory-smoked jumbo wings
dressed in homemade sauce, and a nine-inch, smoked beef rib that looks like something a
caveman might devour. The entire menu is available for pickup (best to order a day in advance;
the crowds have hardly abated) and via DoorDash. The Fox brothers might be from Texas, but

they‘re essential architects of Atlanta‘s barbecue scene. 1238 DeKalb Avenue, Candler Park,
404-577-4030
Desta Ethiopian Kitchen
Desta is one of three Ethiopian restaurants at the corner of Briarcliff and Clairmont roads—
including the stylish and formidable Feedel Bistro. Despite the competition, it‘s still the best
place in town to score kitfo (raw, minced beef seasoned with chili powder and spiced butter) and
miser (red lentils stewed with cayenne, onion, garlic, and ginger), which is scooped up using
soft, spongy, fermented injera bread. The menu, which allows you to make decisions based on
how daring you are, demystifies Ethiopian cuisine, and it‘s available for takeout at both the
original and a second location at Emory Point, as well as for delivery via UberEats, DoorDash,
Grubhub, Postmates, and ChowNow. 3086 Briarcliff Road, Briarcliff Woods, 404-929-0011;
1520 Avenue Place, Emory, 404-835-2748
Taqueria Don Sige
Located behind a gas station in a tiny strip mall on the border of College Park and East Point,
Don Sige isn‘t known for its decor. Blond-wood picnic benches, brown tile, and burnt-orange
walls are what you get. The kitchen is pretty much a flat-top and a fryer, and they‘re happy to

sell you a cheeseburger. But ignore any misinformed impulses because you‘re here for traditional
tacos (chopped onion, cilantro, lime, and radish), irresistibly priced at $1.50 each (pollo is great,
but chorizo, camarones, and lengua are phenomenal). The spicy salsa verde isn‘t complex and
doesn‘t need to be, and the expertly wrapped burrito and liberally sauced steak fajita are as
flavorful as they are unfancy. You‘ll have a hard time spending more than $15 on your takeout
order, but that‘s not to say you won‘t enjoy the challenge. 1720 Vesta Avenue, College Park,
404-762-8084
Ruby red and golden beets, candied walnuts, meyer lemon yogurt at Aria
Aria
Whether the occasion is prom, an anniversary, an engagement, or a pandemic, Aria is up to the
challenge. Even if you can‘t visit the pewter-walled dining room, a modern and romantic
evocation of ancient Rome, you can channel it with Aria‘s simple and elegant takeout menu. The

14th may,2020 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

14th may,2020 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

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