1. Undedited Version
Riceplus Magazine
17th & 18th Feb.2014 RICE NEWS
Bank of Thailand Warns of Rise in
Household Debt Due to Delayed Payments to Farmers;
Is Government Misleading Public by Saying Banks
Have Offered Loans?
http://myanmarburma.biz
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Feb 14, 2014
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has warned over the possibility of the country's
average household debt to rise this year following delays in the
government's payments to farmers under the rice pledging scheme,
according to local sources.
The BoT Spokesperson says the delay in payments is signaling a decline in
the household sector's liquidity due to farmers' inability to pay for the
accumulated debts. She also hinted at rising interest rates in the coming
months.
The Caretaker Prime Minister yesterday said that the long-overdue payments
related to rice-pledging scheme will begin next week adding that several
millions of baht of loans were sanctioned to the government earlier by many
small and medium-enterprise banks. But this is surprising as the Krungthai
Bank (KTB) clarified that it has not lent any money to the government, but is
ready to lend money to rice exporters, traders and millers.
According to the Deputy Commerce Minister, the government has borrowed
a part of 130 billion (around $4 billion) needed to pay farmers from the
state-owned Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC). The
minister has not disclosed the exact amount and the BAAC has also not
made any announcements about the loan so far. Local sources say that the
government may be making false claims in response to a civil court case
filed against the Caretaker government by a group of fifty farmers
demanding about 19 million baht (around $582,483) in compensation.
2. The government is trying to sell rice from its stockpile as fast as possible.
The auctions of over 600,000 tons of rice this week drew a good response
and the government is planning to offload another 500,000 tons next week.
However, local sources say that the prices could be lower than the market
prices.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture and Cooperatives
Minister urged rice farmers not to conduct off-season cultivation in February
2014 as the amount of water stored in dams along the Chao Phraya River is
insufficient for such a water demanding activity. He stressed that farmers
who violated the request would lose their right to participate in the
government's next round of rice pledging scheme (if renewed) or any
assistance program.
Tags:
Thailand rice mortgage program, Thailand rice auctions
- See more at: http://oryza.com/news/rice-news/bank-thailand-warns-rise-household-debt-duedelayed-payments-farmers-government#sthash.lsHNwZyz.dpuf
Without “Creating Too Much Noise in the Media”
Indonesia Trade Minister Hopes to Resolve Rice
Import Concerns
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Feb 14, 2014
Indonesia's new Trade Minister has pledged to deal with the alleged nonspecialty rice imports from Vietnam as part of his short-term priorities.
The minister told local sources that he will provide transparent reports on
the matter within the time frame he has; that is up to November 2014 when
the government is expected to be dissolved before a new government is
formed.
The minister says he is working closely with the Finance Minister and the
Agriculture Minister and will fix the system if required. "We don’t want to
create too much noise in the media. The bottom line is, if the system is
wrong, we will fix it. If someone cheats, we will give sanctions,” he says.
Earlier this year, reports of import of about 16,000 tons of non-specialty rice
from Vietnam by private importers had raised concerns in Indonesia.
Indonesian law allows private companies to import only specialty rice. While
the state-owned logistics firm Bulog is permitted to import non-specialty
rice, it was alleged that private traders were allowed to import non-specialty
rice with all the necessary import permits and customs clearance.
3. Indonesia imports rice only through Bulog to ensure adequate supply to
meet local demand. The government's declaration that the country produced
40 million tons in 2013, which is about 5.4 million tons in excess of its
consumption needs of about 35 million tons, has caused concerns over the
non-specialty rice imports.
The country's former Trade Minister resigned last month citing interest in
joining politics. His statement that the Trade Ministry issued permits based
on suggestions from Agricultural Ministry, and the Agricultural Ministry's
denial has led to doubts over a possible abuse of identity or involvement of
some government officials in legalizing the shipments, local sources say.
The country's Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) has already said that it would
investigate the matter and would also question the former Trade Minister if
needed.
Tags:
Indonesia rice imports, Rice smuggling
- See more at: http://oryza.com/news/rice-news/indonesia-new-trade-minister-prioritizes-nonspecialty-rice-import-case#sthash.gQxOu5Mm.dpuf
Asia Rice Quotes Unchanged Today
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Feb 14, 2014
Vietnam, India and Pakistan rice sellers kept their quotes mostly unchanged
today. Thailand rice sellers are out today due to a holiday.
5% Broken Rice
Thai 5% rice (of new crop) was last quoted around $435 - $445 per ton,
about a $45 per ton premium over Viet 5% rice shown around $390 - $400
per ton.
Indian 5% rice is quoted around $415 - $425 per ton, about a $20 per ton
premium over Pak 5% rice quoted around $395 - $405 per ton.
25% Broken Rice
Thai 25% rice (of new crop) was last quoted about $390 - $400 per ton,
about a $25 per ton premium over Viet 25% rice shown around $365 - $375
per ton.
Indian 25% rice is quoted about $360 - $370 per ton, about a $10 per ton
premium over Pak 25% rice quoted around $350 - $360 per ton.
Parboiled Rice
Thai parboiled rice of the old crop was last quoted around $450 - $460 per
ton.
4. Indian parboiled rice is quoted around $400 - $410 per ton, about $5 per ton
discount to Pak parboiled rice quoted around $405 - $415 per ton.
100% Broken Rice
Thai broken rice, A1 Super, of the old crop was last quoted around $310 $320 per ton, about a $40 per ton discount to Viet broken rice shown around
$350 - $360 per ton.
Indian broken sortexed rice is quoted about $300 - $310 per ton, about a
$20 per ton discount to Pak broken sortexed rice quoted around $320 - $330
per ton.
Tags:
Asia rice quotes, Thailand rice quotes, Vietnam rice quotes, Pakistan rice quotes, India rice quotes
- See more at: http://oryza.com/news/rice-news/asia-rice-quotes-unchanged-today9#sthash.F9cBOgI3.dpuf
India Winter Rice Crop Planting Area Up 33% from
Last Year
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Feb 14, 2014
5. Area under India's Rabi (winter) rice crop planting stands at about 2.8
million hectares as of February 14, 2014, which is up about 33% from about
2.10 million hectares recorded during the same time last year, according to
the Ministry of Agriculture.
India’s total Rabi planting area (including rice and other grains) stands at
about 65.67 million hectares, which is up about 6% from about 62.14 million
hectares recorded during this time last year.
Tags:
India rice planting area
- See more at: http://oryza.com/news/rice-news/india-winter-rice-crop-planting-area-33-lastyear#sthash.uRCi2QrD.dpuf
India Rice Stocks in Central Pool Decline to 31.27
Million Tons; Down 12% from Last Year
6.
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Feb 14, 2014
7.
8. India’s rice stocks in the central pool as of February 1, 2014 has declined to
about 31.27 million tons (including a milled equivalent of around 22.054
million tons of paddy), down about 12% from about 35.38 million tons
recorded during the same time last year, according to the Food Corporation
of India (FCI).
However, month-over-month, India's rice stocks in the central pool are up
about 5% from last month's stocks of about 29.85 million tons, and current
rice stocks are more than double the required buffer and strategic reserve
norms of around 13.8 million tons for this time of the year.
Total food grain stocks (mostly wheat and rice) with the FCI have declined to
around 55.54 million tons as of February 1, 2014, down about 16% from last
year. Wheat stocks in the central pool at about 24.2 million tons are down
about 22% from last year.
Tags:
India rice stocks, Food Corporation of India (FCI)
- See more at: http://oryza.com/news/rice-news/india-rice-stocks-central-pool-decline-3127-milliontons-down-12-last-year#sthash.O2j74Rjd.dpuf
SRI Can Boost Rice Yield by Eight Times in Sierra
Leone, Researchers Say
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Feb 14, 2014
9.
10. Rice farmers in Sierra Leone will be able to achieve more than eight times
higher yield by using the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method of rice
cultivation, according to the Rice Research Coordinator, West Africa
Agricultural Productivity Program (WAAPP).
The SRI system, which aims at higher rice production with less usage of
chemical fertilizers, was introduced last year in some parts of Sierra Leone
on a trial basis. The WAAPP Coordinator told local sources that the system
uses organic fertilizers, known as kennel cake, and a single seedling, which
can yield approximately over 200 seeds per panicle, unlike a cluster of
seedlings used in the traditional farming system. He claimed that while the
farmers achieved a yield of 1.8 tons per hectare with the traditional system,
they could achieve around 15 tons per hectare with the SRI system.
However, the WAAPP coordinator says that the process is labor-intensive
since farmers have to plant each seedling patiently with sufficient space
between the seedlings to allow free flow of water. But he adds that since SRI
produces more rice with less seeds, farmers are satisfied. The WAAPP
Coordinator is planning to use SRI system throughout Sierra Leone in the
next season. He says that the country’s rice production would increase
significantly in the coming years.
Sierra is an importer of rice. According to the USDA, Sierra Leone’s rice
production is estimated at around 693,000 tons (milled rice basis) in MY
2013-14, down about 15% from around 819,000 tons produced in MY 201213. The area harvested is estimated at around 625,000 hectares, and yield
per hectare stands at around 2 tons per hectare. The country's domestic
consumption is estimated at around one million tons, while rice imports are
estimated at around 325,000 tons.
Tags:
Sierra Leone rice production, System of Rice Intensification (SRI)
- See more at: http://oryza.com/news/research-development/sri-can-boost-rice-yield-eight-timessierra-leone-researchers-say#sthash.rTWX59P4.dpuf
India States Receive 2012-13 ‘Krishi Karman’ Awards
for Higher Rice Production
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Feb 14, 2014
11. Two Indian states, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, have received this year’s
"Krishi Karman" awards for achieving higher rice production during the crop
year 2012-13 (October – September).
Chhattisgarh received the 2012-13 Krishi Karman Award for best
performance in paddy rice yield. According to government sources, the
average rice yield in the state increased to around 2.041 tons per hectare in
2012-13, up about 71% from around 1.75 tons per hectare in 2011-12.
Chhattisgarh produced around 6.28 million tons of rice in 2011-12, which is
about 6% of India’s total rice production of around 104.3 million tons. The
western state of Maharashtra, which produces around 2.8 million tons of rice
annually, was awarded with commendation prize for rice.
The northern state of Haryana won the Commendation Award for Sustained
High Productivity of Rice and Wheat for the year 2012-13. According to the
Haryana Agriculture Department, the state recorded all-time high rice
production at 3.98 million tons during the 2012-13 fiscal, which is about 4%
of India's rice production. Haryana was the highest contributor of food grains
(including both rice and wheat) to the Central Pool and ranks first among
states in basmati rice exports, according to local sources.
The central state of Madhya Pradesh won the award in large category (food
grain production more than 10 million tons), eastern state of Odisha won the
award in medium category (food grain production 1 to 10 million tons) and
12. Manipur won the award in small category (food grain production less than 1
million tons). In individual food grain crops, Chhattisgarh won the award for
rice, Bihar for wheat, Jharkhand for pulses and Andhra Pradesh for coarse
cereals.
Krishi Karman awards were instituted in 2010-11 by the Government of
India, Ministry of Agriculture. They are given to Indian states for their effort
and contribution towards increasing the country’s food grain production.
Tags:
India rice production
- See more at: http://oryza.com/news/rice-news/india-states-receive-2012-13-%E2%80%98krishikarman%E2%80%99-awards-higher-rice-production#sthash.sMHJSLrZ.dpuf
Oryza Overnight Recap – Chicago Rough Rice Futures
Remain Firm as Tight Fundamental Market Supports
Futures
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Feb 14, 2014
Chicago rough rice futures for March delivery are currently paused 4.5 cent
per cwt (about $1 per ton) higher at $15.755 per cwt (about $347 per ton)
as of 8:00am Chicago time. The other grains are seen higher this morning
ahead of floor trading in Chicago: soybeans are currently seen about 0.5%
higher, wheat was paused about 0.9% higher, and corn is noted about 0.4%
higher.
U.S. stock index futures fluctuated Friday, ahead of more economic data
which analysts fear may have been hit by the poor weather. On the
economic front, export prices rose 0.2 percent, while import prices ticked up
0.1%. Industrial output numbers for January will be published at 9:15 a.m.
ET, followed by the preliminary University of Michigan confidence report for
February at 9:55 a.m. Economists polled by Reuters expect industrial output
to have gained 0.3 percent. Consumer confidence is expected to hit 80.6
against the 81.2 reading in the prior month. Asia shares were mixed on
Friday, after subdued inflation data out of China. Chinese consumer inflation
rose an annualized 2.5% last month, but remained at a seven-month low.
Producer prices fell for the 23rd straight month. Shares in Europe were also
mixed, after better-than-expected euro zone growth data. Both Germany
and France grew faster than forecast in the final quarter of 2013, with their
economies expanding by 0.3% and 0.4% respectively. U.S. stock index
13. futures are currently trading near the flatline, gold is currently trading about
1.2% higher, crude oil is seen trading about 0.2% lower, and the U.S. dollar
is currently trading about 0.2% lower at 8:00am Chicago time.
Tags:
chicago rough rice futures
- See more at: http://oryza.com/news/cbot/oryza-overnight-recap-%E2%80%93-chicago-rough-ricefutures-remain-firm-tight-fundamental-market#sthash.OCF8dHVq.dpuf
India Government Projects 2013-14 Rice Production
at Record 106.19 Million Tons
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Feb 14, 2014
14. The Indian government says in its second advance estimates that rice
production in 2013-14 (October - September) is likely to reach a record
106.19 million tons, the highest ever on record and up about 1% from an
estimated 105.24 million tons produced in the previous year.
The government says that India’s total food grain production, which includes
kharif season (July – December) and rabi crops (November - March), in
2013-14 is likely to reach around 263.2 million tons (about 6 million tons or
2% higher from 2012-13) and production of many crops is likely to break
earlier records.
Local sources say that rice production is likely to get a boost this year helped
by a surging rabi (winter) rice crop and high market prices. According to the
agriculture ministry, India’s rabi rice area stands at around 2.8 million
hectares as of February 14, 2014, up about 33% from last year.
Higher production will help India maintain record rice shipments in 2013-14.
According to the USDA, India was the world’s largest rice exporter in 201213 with exports of around 10.9 million tons. The US agency estimates India’s
rice production in 2013-14 at around 103 million tons, against a
consumption of 95 million tons, while India’s exports are expected to reach
around 10 million tons in 2013-14. However, rice traders in India expect rice
exports to grow to around 11 million tons in 2013-14.
Government estimates are usually conservative, and the second advance
estimate for rice production in 2012-13 was around 101.8 million tons, down
about 3% or about 3.4 million tons from actual production of around 105.24
million tons.
Tags:
India rice production, Second advance estimate
- See more at: http://oryza.com/news/rice-news/india-government-projects-2013-14-rice-productionrecord-10619-million-tons#sthash.1CF2Dll6.dpuf
Oryza Rice Currency Analysis for Today – India Rupee,
Thai Baht Advance 0.8%
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Feb 14, 2014
U.S. dollar index was down -0.23% from the open today, when it traded at
80.134 at the close.
15. Euro was stronger +0.13% by the close, trading around 1.3699 by end of
day, after trading between an intraday high of 1.3715 and low of 1.3674.
Thai baht was stronger +0.83%, trading at 32.306 at the close of business.
Indian rupee was stronger +0.83% at 61.9300.
Brazilian real was +0.19% stronger than the open at today’s close, when it
ended at 2.3889 reais per dollar.
Pakistan rupee was +0.10% stronger at 104.8275.
Vietnamese dong was +0.04% stronger at 21100.
Mexican peso was +0.18% stronger today, when it traded at 13.2365 pesos
per dollar by the close of business today.
Chinese yuan was weaker -0.04%, trading at 6.0662.
Argentine peso was -0.24% weaker, trading at 7.8096 pesos per dollar.
Tags:
foreign exchange rates
- See more at: http://oryza.com/news/fx/oryza-rice-currency-analysis-today-%E2%80%93-indiarupee-thai-baht-advance-08#sthash.yljcOXVg.dpuf
Oryza Afternoon Recap – Chicago Rough Rice Futures
Close Higher on the Week, Despite Double Digit Dive
Today; Soybeans Slip While Corn, Wheat Climb
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Feb 14, 2014
Chicago rough rice futures for March delivery settled 12.5 cents per cwt
(about $3 per ton) lower at $15.585 per cwt (about $344 per ton). Rough
rice futures tumbled today as the market confirmed yesterday’s technical
forecast for a pull back from the recent highs. Prices made an initial attempt
to test yesterday’s high of $15.775 per cwt (about $348 per ton), but came
up a few cents short and quickly came under pressure as the bears piled on
the sell side. It is likely that traders took additional profit today, a fact that
16. will be confirmed by a drop in open interest which will be reported on
Tuesday. Today’s move has returned the market within the boundaries of
the Bollinger bands, with the upper Band noted at $15.680 per cwt (about
$346 per ton) today. Losses were limited by support provided by the 100day moving average, which was seen at $15.580 per cwt (about $344 per
ton) today. Despite suffering double digit losses today the market managed
to close 24.5 cents per cwt (about $5 per ton) higher this week, as prices
climbed from $15.340 per cwt (about $338 per ton) on Friday February 7 to
today’s settlement price. The other grains were finished mixed today with
soy products lower while corn and wheat finished the week on a positive
note; soybeans closed about 0.5% lower at $13.3750 per bushel; wheat
finished about 0.5% higher at $5.9850 per bushel; and corn finished the day
about 1% higher at $4.4525 per bushel.
U.S. stocks drifted higher Friday, with all three major averages on track for
their biggest weekly gain of the year, following a batch of economic data.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied nearly 100 points. The S&P 500
and the Nasdaq were also in positive territory. Among key S&P sectors,
telecoms lagged, while energy held small gains. On the economic front,
consumer sentiment was unchanged in early February at 81.2, according to
the preliminary reading of the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan.
Analysts polled by Reuters expected a February reading of 80.6. Meanwhile,
export prices rose 0.2%, while import prices ticked up 0.1%. Industrial
production declined 0.3% in January, against an expectation for a gain of
0.3%. Economists trimmed their forecasts for U.S. economic growth in the
first quarter of the year, with payroll expansion seen remaining somewhat
subdued, but they expect the pace of activity to pick up in the second
quarter. Gold is trading about 1.4% higher, crude oil is seen trading about
0.2% lower, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading about 0.2% lower at
about 1:00pm Chicago time.
Thursday, there were 1,377 contracts traded, up from 886 contracts traded
on Wednesday. Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on
Thursday decreased by 139 contracts to 8,074.
Tags:
chicago rough rice futures, U.S. rice prices, U.S. rice market
- See more at: http://oryza.com/news/cbot/oryza-afternoon-recap-%E2%80%93-chicago-rough-ricefutures-close-higher-week-despite-double-digit#sthash.72hllI5Q.dpuf
Oryza Afternoon Recap – Chicago Rough Rice Futures
Close Higher on the Week, Despite Double Digit Dive
Today; Soybeans Slip While Corn, Wheat Climb
17.
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Print
Feb 14, 2014
Chicago rough rice futures for March delivery settled 12.5 cents per cwt
(about $3 per ton) lower at $15.585 per cwt (about $344 per ton). Rough
rice futures tumbled today as the market confirmed yesterday’s technical
forecast for a pull back from the recent highs. Prices made an initial attempt
to test yesterday’s high of $15.775 per cwt (about $348 per ton), but came
up a few cents short and quickly came under pressure as the bears piled on
the sell side. It is likely that traders took additional profit today, a fact that
will be confirmed by a drop in open interest which will be reported on
Tuesday. Today’s move has returned the market within the boundaries of
the Bollinger bands, with the upper Band noted at $15.680 per cwt (about
$346 per ton) today. Losses were limited by support provided by the 100day moving average, which was seen at $15.580 per cwt (about $344 per
ton) today. Despite suffering double digit losses today the market managed
to close 24.5 cents per cwt (about $5 per ton) higher this week, as prices
climbed from $15.340 per cwt (about $338 per ton) on Friday February 7 to
today’s settlement price. The other grains were finished mixed today with
soy products lower while corn and wheat finished the week on a positive
note; soybeans closed about 0.5% lower at $13.3750 per bushel; wheat
finished about 0.5% higher at $5.9850 per bushel; and corn finished the day
about 1% higher at $4.4525 per bushel.
U.S. stocks drifted higher Friday, with all three major averages on track for
their biggest weekly gain of the year, following a batch of economic data.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied nearly 100 points. The S&P 500
and the Nasdaq were also in positive territory. Among key S&P sectors,
telecoms lagged, while energy held small gains. On the economic front,
consumer sentiment was unchanged in early February at 81.2, according to
the preliminary reading of the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan.
Analysts polled by Reuters expected a February reading of 80.6. Meanwhile,
export prices rose 0.2%, while import prices ticked up 0.1%. Industrial
production declined 0.3% in January, against an expectation for a gain of
0.3%. Economists trimmed their forecasts for U.S. economic growth in the
first quarter of the year, with payroll expansion seen remaining somewhat
subdued, but they expect the pace of activity to pick up in the second
quarter. Gold is trading about 1.4% higher, crude oil is seen trading about
0.2% lower, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading about 0.2% lower at
about 1:00pm Chicago time.
Thursday, there were 1,377 contracts traded, up from 886 contracts traded
18. on Wednesday. Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on
Thursday decreased by 139 contracts to 8,074.
Tags:
chicago rough rice futures, U.S. rice prices, U.S. rice market
- See more at: http://oryza.com/news/cbot/oryza-afternoon-recap-%E2%80%93-chicago-rough-ricefutures-close-higher-week-despite-double-digit#sthash.72hllI5Q.dpuf
Oryza Global Rice Quotes
February 17th, 2014
Long grain white rice - high quality
Thailand 100% B grade 460-470
↑
Vietnam 5% broken
395-405
↑
India 5% broken
415-425
↔
Pakistan 5% broken
395-405
↔
Cambodia 5% broken
450-460
↔
U.S. 4% broken 575-585
↔
Uruguay 5% broken
625-635
↔
Argentina 5% broken
625-635
↔
Long grain white rice - low quality
Thailand 25% broken
390-400
↔
Vietnam 25% broken
365-375
↔
Pakistan 25% broken
350-360
↔
Cambodia 25% broken 420-430
↔
India 25% broken
360-370
↔
U.S. 15% broken
550-560
↔
Long grain parboiled rice
Thailand parboiled 100% stxd
450-460
↔
19. Pakistan parboiled 5% broken stxd
405-415
India parboiled 5% broken stxd 400-410
↔
U.S. parboiled 4% broken
660-670
↔
Brazil parboiled 5% broken
590-600
↔
Uruguay parboiled 5% broken
NQ
↔
Long grain fragrant rice
Thailand Hommali 92% 945-955
↔
Vietnam Jasmine
↔
525-535
India basmati 2% broken
1515 -1525
Pakistan basmati 2% broken
NQ
Cambodia Phka Malis
↔
↔
895-905
↔
Thailand A1 Super
310-320
↔
Vietnam 100% broken
350-360
↔
Brokens
Pakistan 100% broken stxd
Cambodia A1 Super
320-320
365-375
↔
India 100% Broken stxd 300-310
↔
Egypt medium grain brokens
NQ
↔
U.S. pet food
470-480
↔
Brazil half grain 345-355
↔
Medium grain milled
U.S. Calrose 4% broken 620-630
Egypt medium grain 6% NQ
↔
↔
All prices USD per ton, FOB vessel, oryza.com
↔
↔
20. 18th Feb,2014
Govt’s investment-friendly policies offering tremendous opportunities:
PM
Tuesday, 18 February 2014 12:54
Posted by Parvez Jabri
93
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said the investment-friendly policies of the gover
nment are providing tremendous opportunities to the foreign and local investors.
The Prime Minister was talking to a five-member delegation of General Electric Company led by John G. Rice, Vice
President and CEO of the company.
The meeting discussed opportunities for public and private sector collaboration on infrastructure and energy projects,
with a particular focus on enhancing power generation, energy sector efficiency and power sector diversification.
John Rice highlighted the advanced technologies offered by General Electric Company to address the country's
requirements.
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said that General Electric had long association with Pakistan, as the
country had been benefiting from the experience and expertise of the company.
The Prime Minister was told that General Electric had been actively working towards completion of several power
generation projects including Nandipur (525 MW) and Guddu (747MW).
The Prime Minister highlighted the major power sector initiatives by the government and invited General Electric to
invest in other power projects in the pipeline.
He invited General Electric to extend its cooperation for various power projects such as Chichoki Malian Combined
Cycle Power Plant, Grange Power Limited Combined Cycle IPP and re-vitalization of GENCO-III Power Plants
located at Shahdara, Faisalabad and Multan.
The Prime Minister said that government had embarked upon the plan for the revival of Pakistan Railways for which a
package had been approved by the government. He invited the General Electric to avail this potential business
venture.
21. John Rice said his company was proud of its long history and the established partnerships with Pakistan.
He said the General Electric's key infrastructure projects would support current and future needs, and contribute
toward the economic development and progress of Pakistan.
Grow vegetables, fruits: rice breeder tells
Punjab farmers
Press Trust of India | Mohali
February 17, 2014 Last Updated at 20:11 IST
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With underground water table declining, international rice breeder Dr G S Khush today
asked Punjab farmers to cut down area under water-guzzling rice and switch over to vegetable and
22. fruit crops.
Punjab-born Khush, who has bagged several awards including World Food Price in 1996, also batted
for genetically-modified (GM) crops and stressed on entry of private players' participation in
marketing of crops.
"We cannot completely get out of wheat and rice. But we have to reduce some area under rice. We
have to diversify into crop like vegetables and fruits which are suitable for Punjab," Khush said,
while participating in the four-day agriculture summit here.
"There is a great demand for vegetables in Middle East,Europe, etc and farmers should go for these
crops," he said.
However, he said farm scientists are working on reducing water consumption level in rice crop.
Because of "overexploitation of underground water by state farmers for watering rice, the water
level in several blocks in Punjab has reached critical level".
During his 35 year career at International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines, Khush
spearheaded the programme for developing high-yielding disease- and insect-resistant varieties of
rice which ushered in green revolution.
More than 300 rice varieties developed under his leadership were released in Asia, Africa and Latin
America.
Acknowledging that marketing of crop was a major problem the farmers faced, Khush said that
private players should be encouraged to market crops grown in India.
"Marketing is a big problem here. Private sector and private entrepreneurs should be come in this
space," he said.
Batting for GM crops, Khush said that after carrying out proper testing, the crops should be allowed
to grow.
"GM crops are very safe. You have seen how Bt cotton has helped farmers and we have become net
exporters of cotton," he said.
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