1st june,,2016 daily global,regional & local rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016
www.ricepluss.com www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com
For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
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www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com
Vol 7,Issue V
June 1 ,2016

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Editorial Board
Chief Editor
 Hamlik
Managing Editor
 Abdul Sattar Shah
 Rahmat Ullah
 Rozeen Shaukat
English Editor
 Maryam Editor
 Legal Advisor
 Advocate Zaheer Minhas
Editorial Associates
 Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid
 Javed Islam Agha
 Ch.Hamid Malhi
 Dr.Akhtar Hussain
 Dr.Fayyaz Ahmad Siddiqui
 Dr.Abdul Rasheed (UAF)
 Islam Akhtar Khan
Editorial Advisory Board
 Dr.Malik Mohammad Hashim
Assistant Professor, Gomal
University DIK
 Dr.Hasina Gul
Assistant Director, Agriculture KPK
 Dr.Hidayat Ullah
Assistant Professor, University of
Swabi
 Dr.Abdul Basir
Assistant Professor, University of
Swabi
 Zahid Mehmood
PSO,NIFA Peshawar
 Falak Naz Shah
Head Food Science & Technology
ART, Peshawar
Today Rice News Headlines...
 Researchers, rice industries exchange information
 Rice Prices
 Vietnam's 2016 drought-hit rice output to fall 1.5 percent: government
official
 ‗Paddy to plate‘ rice report launched
 Growing paddy takes heavy toll on groundwater table
 PBIF CONCERNED OVER FALLING RICE EXPORTS
 Kohinoor Foods sees domestic sales, rice export order swelling in
FY17
 India a giant importer of energy, food, manufactured products‘
 Indian Rice Exporters Say Iran Government Killing Their Business
(Exclusive)
 Government bullish on farm growth on good monsoon hopes
 New gov‘t to curb rice import permit abuse
 Extreme Weather Causing Toxins in Food to Increase, Scientists Say
 USA Rice Continues Work to Open Trade with Cuba .
 Louisiana rice field day set for June 29 in Crowley
 Call to set up Rice Development Company
 China to Consider Rice Deal
 Vietnam's 2016 drought-hit rice output to fall 1.5 percent: government
official
 Rice export deal with Indonesia to be finalised soon: trade secretary
 Ancient rice and mung beans reveal Madagascan ancestors were from
South-East Asia
 Source-wise Irrigation in Bangaru Telangana
 Food review: Punjab Grill
 Wheat extend gains on increased offtake by flour mills
 Southeast Asia drought takes a backseat at World Economic Forum
ASEAN
 PhilRice warns farmers to brace for more wet weather
 New gov‘t to curb rice import permit abuse
 Farmers urged to plant before La Niña peaks
 Extreme Weather Increasing Level of Toxins in Food, Scientists Warn
 Cuba Formally Accepts Shipment of Missouri Rice
 APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1485

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News Detail...
Researchers, rice industries exchange information
By Fred Miller
FAYETTEVILLE — A new initiative to share scientific knowledge with rice processing
industries was announced during the annual Rice Processing Program Industry Alliance Meeting.
Hosted by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture in the nation‘s No. 1 rice
producing state, the meeting provides an arena for industry leaders and scientists to compare
notes, research and resources. More than 100 industry representatives, rice growers, equipment
suppliers and consultants attended this year‘s meeting, May 24-25.Ya-Jane Wang, professor of
food science, and Rusty Bautista, grain quality engineer at RiceTec, Inc., announced the
development of short courses offered by the Division of Agriculture‘s department of food
science.
The courses will be designed to transfer research-based knowledge about rice chemistry, quality
and applications to industry employees and rice farmers. Development of the courses is
sponsored by the American Association of Cereal Chemists International.―The courses will offer
knowledge to help improve rice production and processing,‖ Wang said. She added that the
courses will be a two-way street, allowing the industry to provide feedback about how division
research can help meet production and processing challenges.Meeting participants were given a
survey by which they could suggest priority needs the short courses could address.
Research and industry presentations during the meeting covered advances in rice production,
storage and processing practices, as well as consumer studies.―This is a signature event for our
program,‖ said Terry Siebenmorgen, University Professor of food science and director of the
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture‘s Rice Processing Program. ―Not only
does the industry support us with funding and equipment, but they also provide us important end-
user feedback.‖
Siebenmorgen said the Rice Processing Program team investigates a wide range of topics from
kernel development to consumer wants. The team‘s expertise includes plant physiology,
carbohydrate chemistry, process engineering, plant pathology and sensory analysis.With alliance
support, program scientists are tackling some of the biggest challenges in the rice industry. One
of the best examples of this partnership, Siebenmorgen said, has been the discovery and
understanding of the role nighttime air temperatures play in determining rice processing quality.
The entire Rice Processing Program team contributed to the many pieces of information that
collectively identified high nighttime air temperatures as the culprit, Siebenmorgen said, and the
Division of Agriculture‘s relationship with rice processing companies was a valuable asset
during their investigation.
— Fred Miller is with the U of A System Division of Agriculture.
- See more at: http://pbcommercial.com/news/area-digest/researchers-rice-industries-exchange-
information#sthash.SPBXF5Fo.dpuf

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Rice Prices
as on : 31-05-2016 08:10:36 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
Arrivals Price
Current
%
change
Season
cumulative
Modal
Prev.
Modal
Prev.Yr
%change
Rice
Chitwadagaon(UP) 420.00 -30 1330.00 2015 1940 1.26
Bangarpet(Kar) 312.00 -23.9 7493.00 1850 1850 NC
Bindki(UP) 150.00 100 3340.00 2290 2280 8.02
Goalpara(ASM) 108.10 11.79 1018.50 2050 1900 -
Azamgarh(UP) 105.00 16.67 4945.50 2200 2135 10.55
Mathabhanga(WB) 100.00 -9.09 4450.00 2150 2150 4.88
Kalipur(WB) 95.00 5.56 5521.00 2250 2200 15.38
Bareilly(UP) 88.00 -25.42 7687.60 2350 2300 13.53
Rampurhat(WB) 85.00 6.25 744.00 2120 2200 -
Pilibhit(UP) 84.00 -16 19182.00 2195 2190 0.92
Shahjahanpur(UP) 83.00 29.08 40732.20 2320 2240 15.42
Aligarh(UP) 80.00 -11.11 3540.00 2250 2240 19.68
Barabanki(UP) 78.00 -1.27 354.00 2080 2070 2.97
Coochbehar(WB) 76.00 -1.3 1617.00 2150 2150 4.88
Thodupuzha(Ker) 70.00 NC 2800.00 2650 2650 -8.62
Ballia(UP) 70.00 -12.5 7360.00 2010 1985 NC
Silapathar(ASM) 56.00 900 538.70 3000 3000 NC
Saharanpur(UP) 56.00 -17.65 5195.00 2230 2225 4.45
Mainpuri(UP) 55.00 -15.38 120.00 2060 2075 -
Partaval(UP) 50.00 42.86 1427.00 2110 2100 8.48
Balrampur(UP) 50.00 -14.53 1408.50 2110 2110 5.50
Rampur(UP) 46.00 15 570.50 2280 2270 9.09
Jorhat(ASM) 45.00 -18.18 1644.00 2700 2700 -3.57
Pandua(WB) 45.00 -10 2059.00 2650 2650 -1.85
Cachar(ASM) 40.00 NC 1870.00 2700 2700 NC
Lanka(ASM) 40.00 NC 2560.00 1750 1750 -1.41
Dadri(UP) 40.00 33.33 2034.00 2190 2200 2.34
Beldanga(WB) 40.00 -5.88 1942.50 2310 2310 0.43
Kolhapur(Laxmipuri)(Mah) 30.00 20 1803.00 3900 3900 -
Robertsganj(UP) 26.00 20.93 315.00 1840 1840 -1.08
Dhekiajuli(ASM) 25.60 -20 1001.60 1800 1960 -4.76

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Mekhliganj(WB) 21.00 -8.7 708.00 2075 2075 12.16
Lakhimpur(UP) 20.00 33.33 499.50 2215 2150 3.50
Lohardaga(Jha) 17.00 -34.62 964.00 1700 1850 -15.00
Kaliaganj(WB) 15.00 7.14 689.00 2200 2150 -6.38
North Lakhimpur(ASM) 13.80 56.82 1447.80 1900 1900 -
Pundibari(WB) 13.00 4 227.00 2100 2075 3.70
Raiganj(WB) 12.00 -7.69 851.50 2250 2200 -6.25
Bampada(Ori) 10.00 NC 200.00 2500 2500 NC
Barikpur(Ori) 10.00 100 155.00 2500 2400 NC
Kasganj(UP) 10.00 66.67 608.00 2120 2080 3.67
Champadanga(WB) 10.00 -37.5 860.00 2550 2500 NC
Deogarh(Ori) 9.00 NC 435.00 2500 2500 NC
Jeypore(Kotpad)(Ori) 8.60 28.36 79.60 5100 5100 24.39
Bolangir(Ori) 7.50 -11.76 266.70 2400 2200 NC
Tusura(Ori) 6.50 -18.75 298.00 2400 2200 NC
Karsiyang(Matigara)(WB) 6.50 18.18 123.70 2600 2600 -
Khairagarh(UP) 6.00 -25 401.00 2150 2150 6.97
Jeypore(Ori) 5.30 -63.7 310.80 610 325 -
Mirzapur(UP) 4.50 -10 1306.10 1975 1970 NC
Hailakandi(ASM) 4.00 NC 135.00 2700 2700 NC
Melaghar(Tri) 3.00 50 112.80 2100 2250 -10.64
Islampur(WB) 3.00 NC 282.90 2400 2450 14.29
Darjeeling(WB) 2.80 -6.67 76.80 2800 2800 3.70
Tileibani(Ori) 2.50 -16.67 21.50 2500 2500 NC
Fatehpur(UP) 2.50 -16.67 284.20 2210 2200 1.14
Balarampur(WB) 2.50 NC 70.80 2260 2270 -2.59
Khatauli(UP) 1.00 -50 31.00 2170 2150 3.33
Kasipur(WB) 1.00 -9.09 33.30 2200 2150 -4.35
Shillong(Meh) 0.80 NC 54.60 3500 3500 NC
RELATED
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article8672003.ece
APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1484
International Benchmark Price
Price on: 27-05-2016
Product Benchmark Indicators Name Price
Apricots
1 Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t) 4625

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3 Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t) 3625
Sultanas
1 Australian 5 Crown, CIF UK (USD/t) 3006
2 South African Orange River, CIF UK (USD/t) 2894
3 Turkish No 9 standard, FOB Izmir (USD/t) 1799
Wheat
1 ASX NSW Wheat Futures, (USD/t) 197
2 Black Sea, FOB Brazil (USD/t) 174
3 NYSE Liffe Feed Wheat Futures (USD/t) 156
Source: oryza, agra-net For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 28-05-2016
Domestic Prices Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product Market Center Variety Min Price Max Price
Maize
1 Amreli (Gujarat) Other 1715 2100
2 Haveri (Karnataka) Local 1450 1560
3 Barshi (Maharashtra) Other 1525 1525
Paddy(Dhan)
1 Dehgam (Gujarat) Other 1325 1425
2 Kasargod (Kerala) Other 1450 1550
3 Jajpur (Orissa) Other 1410 1500
Papaya
1 Jagraon (Punjab) Other 1500 2000
2 Jalore (Rajasthan) Other 1100 1400
3 Pataudi (Haryana) Other 2000 2000
Carrot
1 Sahaspur (Orissa) Other 900 1100
2 Nagpur (Maharashtra) Other 1200 1200
3 Solan (Himachal Pradesh) Other 1500 2000
Source:agmarknet.nic.in For more info
Egg Rs per 100 No
Price on 30-05-2016
Product Market Center Price
1 Ahmedabad 365
2 Delhi (CC) 340
3 Hyderabad 340
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 25-05-2016
Product Market Center Origin Variety Low High
Onions Dry Package: 50 lb cartons
1 Atlanta Colorado Russet 17 18.50

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2 Chicago California Russet 39.50 39.50
2 Detroit Idaho Russet 16.50 17.50
Cucumbers Package: cartons film wrapped
1 Atlanta Canada Long Seedless 13.50 15
2 Baltimore Netherlands Long Seedless 11.50 13
3 Detroit Canada Long Seedless 7 8.50
Grapes Package: 8.2 kg containers bagged
1 Baltimore Chile Red Globe 33 33
2 Dallas Chile Red Globe 29.50 30
3 San Francisco Chile Red Globe 31 33
Source:USDA
Vietnam's 2016 drought-hit rice output to fall 1.5
percent: government official
REUTERS
: 05/31/2016 12:32 GMT + 7
A farmer burns his dried-up rice on a paddy field stricken by drought in Soc Trang province in Mekong Delta
in Vietnam March 30, 2016.
Reuters
Vietnam's rice paddy output will likely fall this year for the first time since 2005 following the
worst drought in 90 years, but the decline will be limited as farmers expand planting in the
current and final crops, a government official said.
The Delta's winter-spring output fell 10.2 percent on last year, but total production could fall just 1.5
percent to 44.5 million tonnes, said Tran Cong Dinh, deputy head of the Agriculture Ministry's Crops
Department."So overall the annual paddy output will only be short by 700,000 tonnes," Dinh
told Reuters on the sidelines of an agriculture conference last Friday.Severe drought and sea water

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intrusion linked to the El Nino weather pattern in Vietnam's southern Mekong Delta food basket have
destroyed fruit, rice and sugar crops in the world's third-largest rice exporter after India and Thailand.
Vietnam grows three rice crops annually, of which the winter-spring crop is the biggest and its grain
is used mostly for export.
The country, which produced a record 45.21 million tonnes of paddy last year, exports around 30
percent of its output, mainly to China, the Philippines and Indonesia. Production last fell in 2005,
also due to drought.Salination has delayed planting of the summer-autumn crop, and Dinh cautioned
that planting of the third crop could be threatened by seasonal floods on the Mekong River.
Weather forecasters have warned of the possibility of a La Nina weather event, the counterpart of El
Nino, which could bring intense rains in the second half of 2016."Planting will have to be within the
dyke system to protect the crop," Dinh said.
Rice traders said the planting delay meant harvest times will vary in the Delta, which comprises 12
provinces and Can Tho city."The harvest will not peak at the same time so prices won't decline
much," said a trader at a foreign firm in Ho Chi Minh City said.Vietnam's benchmark 5-percent
broken rice eased this week to $370-$380 a tonne, free on board basis, from $375-$380/tonne last
week and a five-month high of $390 on March 25. Vietnam's rice exports this year will dip 4.45
percent from 2015 to 6.44 million tonnes, partly due to drought in the Delta, an analyst has said
http://tuoitrenews.vn/business/35100/vietnam-s-2016-droughthit-rice-output-to-fall-15-percent-
government-official
‘Paddy to plate’ rice report launched
By Jessica Mudditt
On Wednesday, 1 June 2016
Social enterprise Proximity Designs launched a report on 31 May titled ‗Paddy to Plate: the Rice
Ecosystem in Myanmar,‘ which aims to identify the roles at each stage of paddy production, the
factors that drive decision making in the sales chain, and the opportunities and challenges facing
a sector that is in a state of flux worldwide.Creative director and writer Lauren Serota told
Mizzima Weekly that the biggest challenge was ―the breadth of the topic area and really doing it
justice.‖
―Rice in Myanmar is such a deep and significant thing. So much of the language is rooted in
agricultural metaphors – it was really interesting to learn about the nuances. Our aim was to
strike a balance between being thorough and interesting – we wanted to make something that rice
nerds and consumers alike would enjoy reading,‖ she said.The fact that it has been created by a
team of designers and has a large visual component lends it to the category of coffee table book
as well as presenting a body of qualitative research in an accessible way, said Proximity Design‘s
co-founder and Chief Executive Jim Taylor.―We took a design lens to the rice sector; we wanted
to use our research as a foundational study and complement existing macro-economic research,‖
he said.

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Back in 1999, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) found that Myanmar has the
highest annual consumption of rice at 211 kilogrammes per person per year. Laos, Cambodia,
Vietnam and Bangladesh trail behind Myanmar‘s consumption rates, despite being among the
world‘s top consumers. According to UNDO, rice eaters and growers constitute the bulk of the
world‘s poor.When asked by Vicky Bowman of the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business
whether child labour had been found during the research process, Proximity‘s project lead and
writer Su Mon said that rice harvesting is ―back-breaking, even for an adult. I don‘t recall seeing
any children working.‖
―The thing that struck me the most is the interconnectedness of the process. It will take a
systemic change from a lot of different players to get to the point where paddy farmers are at a
level where they can consistently produce crops,‖ Ms Serota told Mizzima Weekly.The launch
was held at the Yangon Gallery in People‘s Park and included a panel discussion featuring three
rice experts, including Dr Duncan Bowden from Michigan State University. He presented a brief
comparative analysis of Myanmar‘s rice sector.―There‘s an amazing quote in the report… that
says that [one of the researchers] didn‘t meet a single young farmer who wasn‘t frustrated. The
future of the rice sector in Myanmar depends on changing that, so that young men and women do
see a future for their families. Then rice will have a future.‖
―Myanmar doesn‘t need to worry too much about the international market – there is a strong
demand for rice and competitors are struggling; they are struggling with issues such as climate
change and the overuse of soils. But it is essential for Myanmar to make it profitable for farmers,
and especially for young farmers.‖Fellow expert Daphne Khin Swe Swe Aye said that the
government‘s ad hoc policies of the past have held back the sector and contributed to high
poverty rates amongst Myanmar‘s agriculture workers.―Suddenly there were no exports for
months [following the floods during the last monsoon season] and then you lose the buyers. The

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government should not introduce ad hoc policies to solve problems in the short-term. There
needs to be a longer term approach and more research needs to be done.
And the research should be done on what farmers need – such as what types of seed they need –
not what a minister likes to do. I hope the new government will do that. It is also very easy to say
things, but implementation takes time. Schemes can be announced such as compensating farmers
for losing crops, but there is no follow-through. The government should be really careful about
announcing things before knowing whether they can be implemented.‖
She also said that Myanmar should work towards creating its own unique variety of rice, rather
than largely cultivating Chinese hybrids, as the costs of production tends to exceed profit
margins.
The report is available for K20,000 from Proximity’s Yangon office – contact via its Facebook
page. Or click here to download a free copy: http://www.proximitypublishing.org/paddytoplate
http://mizzima.com/business-domestic/%E2%80%98paddy-plate%E2%80%99-rice-report-launched
Growing paddy takes heavy toll on groundwater table
Aman Sood
Tribune News Service
Patiala, May 31
The failure of the state government to promote crop diversification is taking a toll on the depleting
water table. Two successive deficient monsoons in the past two years coupled with overexploitation
of groundwater to irrigate fields has added to the problem.A comprehensive data compiled by the
Agriculture Department, available with The Tribune, from 22 districts of the state shows that the
water level is falling every year. The pre-monsoon readings in some areas are alarmingly low. The
Hoshiarpur-2 block has the lowest water level recorded at 191 feet (58.40 m) followed by Sardulgarh
at 182 feet (55.54 m), 166 feet (50.80 m) in Patran and 162 feet (49.40 m) in Ropar.The data further
highlights how the shallowest water table recorded in Barnala is still 21 m while the water is
available at a mere 0.40 m in Ropar‘s Anandpur Sahib block. In Sangrur‘s Lehragaga block, the
shallowest in the district, water is 19.42-m low.In the waterlogging-affected districts of south Punjab
in Muktsar, the shallowest water depth is 1.40 m in Malout block while the deepest is 6.70 m in
Lambi. Further in Faridkot, another waterlogged district, the shallowest water level is 1.60 m while it
is 16.30 m in Kotkapura. In Ferozepur, the shallowest level is 3 m in Guru Har Sahai while the
deepest is 27.65 m in Zira Block.
―Poor efforts by the state government in bringing farmers out of the paddy cycle are now showing
their result. In addition, the government policy to release water tubewell connections for vote-bank
politics is sure to deepen the water crisis. Free power to the farm sector too leads to the misuse of
water,‖ claimed former chief engineer with the Irrigation Department Jaskaran Sandhu.―A weak
monsoon in the last two years has strained the groundwater more as the power subsidy in Punjab has
grown from Rs 4,778 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 5,484 crore in 2015-16. Though the power subsidy is
burdening the state exchequer, the state government continues to give it despite criticism by

11
agriculture experts who have been advising the government to do away with the subsidy and look for
alternative arrangements to save water,‖ claimed another senior expert on power.
As per the PSPCL top brass, at present, there are roughly 12.76 lakh tubewell connections in Punjab
and around 1.25 lakh connections more would be added by next year. However, the only good news
at present is the prediction of a normal or heavy monsoon this year.
Alarming readings
Data compiled by the Agriculture Department from 22 districts of the state shows that the water level
is falling every year. The pre-monsoon readings in some areas are alarmingly low. The Hoshiarpur-2
block has the lowest water level recorded at 191 feet (58.40 m) followed by Sardulgarh at 182 feet
(55.54 m), 166 feet (50.80 m) in Patran and 162 feet (49.40 m) in Ropar.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/growing-paddy-takes-heavy-toll-on-groundwater-
table/245071.html
PBIF CONCERNED OVER FALLING RICE EXPORTS
Staff Reporter
Karachi—President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), President AKIA,
Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI and former provincial minister Mian
Zahid Hussain expressed concern over falling rice exports. Government‘s attention can
strengthen to boost exports from the current over two billion dollars to USD four billion within
three years, he said. Mian Zahid Hussain said that government should immediately establish Rice
Development Company to cater for the basmati and non-basmati sectors, rice mills should be
given status of industry with zero rating, load shedding be reduced and tax relaxations should be
announced in the upcoming budget.
He said that repayment of export refinance should be increased from 180 days to 360 days and
fine on late repayment should be waived. Withholdings tax on rice exports should be reduced
from one percent to 0.25 percent while 3.5 percent tax on local purchase should be abolished, he
said. He said that duty should be waived on import of dryers and other equipment while import
should be allowed through Wagah border so that local exporters should re-export the commodity.
http://pakobserver.net/2016/06/01/pbif-concerned-over-falling-rice-exports/
Kohinoor Foods sees domestic sales, rice export order
swelling in FY17
Deepanshu BhandariHiral Desai
Kohinoor Foods Joint Managing Director Satnam Arora

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Kohinoor Foods has turned profitable in the January-March quarter. During FY16, the company
booked cash profit of ₹41 crore as against a loss of ₹72 crore, as basmati business grew 11 per
cent and non-basmati sales rose 21 per cent.
Speaking to Bloomberg TV India, Kohinoor Foods Joint Managing Director Satnam Arora says
domestic sales have gone up by 32 per cent while export orders book has swelled.
Kohinoor’s Q4 earnings have been impressive with a jump in profits even though income
has been stable. What’s led to the jump in profits?
Last fiscal, our turnover was ₹1,130 crore. Our basmati business has grown by 11 per cent, and
non-basmati by 21 per cent. Even the domestic sales have been gone up by 32 per cent. We have
increased sales everywhere. In FY15, our losses were about ₹72 crore whereas in FY16 we have
a cash profit of ₹41 crore. And the good thing is that we have been able to market Kohinoor

13
worldwide. The US, the UK, Canada and the UAE have been our main sources for branding and
it increased our margins and profitability. We are only concentrating on the Kohinoor brand.
As far as prices are concerned, what has been the average price per kilogram during Q4?
What’s the outlook on prices going ahead in FY17?
Prices keep on changing in the commodity market. But in case of brands, we can still book good
margin. As far as the market outlook is concerned, we do not see any drop in prices because we
still feel that the prices are low. And in brand, we definitely get a good margin because of the
brand value and customers‘ recall value for the brand.
We expect rice inventories in the top-three exporting countries to fall the most since 2003.
How are rice inventories panning out for you?
Since sales are strong and everybody wants Basmati brand, especially minimum 12-month-old
rice, we have no choice but to keep inventories. The customer requirement is: you charge a
margin but we need one-and-half-year old rice. So we keep all these inventories. And the good
thing is that if we have inventories, we can also sell large quantities as we have stock in hand. At
present, we have very good orders of about 60,000 tonnes. And we are exporting this. And even
in this quarter, results will be very positive.
There are reports that suggest that India and Indonesia may strike a deal on rice and this is
an opportunity to export close to 1 million tonnes of non-basmati rice. Do you expect any
gain out of this deal? What kind of gains are you looking at?
Our sales of non-basmati rice have increased by 21 per cent and this year our target is to increase
them by 100 per cent. We are growing very fast in the basmati rice segment also. We are also
growing very fast in the FMCG segment as well as the Kohinoor Food business. We have a new
food factory too. We expect our food sales to jump by 40-45 per cent.
There are some near-term headwinds for rice producers. Iran is likely to ban rice imports
from July 23. What impact will that have on your company?
In case of Iran, we are exporting quite a good quantity. They are sending orders and we are
shipping them before June 30. But we really don‘t know what the Iran government thinks about
it. They told us to ship everything before June 30. There is nothing new in it because their rice
crop comes after that. To justify their farmers, they close imports for 2-3 months. But as soon as
our new crop comes in October, they reopen imports. This way they help their farmers and our
market is also not disturbed.
(This article was published on May 31, 2016)
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/kohinoor-foods-sees-domestic-sales-rice-export-order-
swelling-in-fy17/article8673697.ece

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India a giant importer of energy, food, manufactured
products’
Bosco Dominique | TNN | Jun 1, 2016, 04.45 AM IST
PUDUCHERRY: Consul General of Indonesia Saut Siringoringo expressed optimism that bilateral trade
between India and Indonesia could expand to sectors like IT, education, health, pharma, auto and auto
parts, finance and textiles. In a free-wheeling interview with TOI, Siringoringo talked about meat exports
from India and how Indonesia is hooked to Indian films and entertainment content. Excerpts:
What are the main reasons for the decrease in bilateral trade between India and Indonesia?
There is a lot of scope for improvement when it comes to bilateral trade relations between the two
countries. Currently, we are trading only coal and crude palm oil; there is potential for trade in other
commodities too. India has a lot to offer Indonesia especially in areas of IT, education, health, pharma,
machineries and automotive sectors. The business partnership in sectors such as financing, automotive
and textile must be increased and strengthened as both countries have such huge markets in those sectors.
Indonesia has recently allowed import rice from India. Any other products that may be opened up
to Indian exports?
Importing buffalo meat from India is under discussion. It is buffalo meat under proposal, not beef. It is an
ongoing process. We are holding a massive expo in October this year. Last year more than 140
entrepreneurs from India had participated and this year we expect more. We will hold discussions and
take decisions on allowing import of more products from India during the expo.
What are main sectors that dominate bilateral trade between India and Indonesia?
India is a giant buyer of energy commodities, food commodities as well as manufactured products. The
main items of India's exports to Indonesia include petroleum products, telecommunication equipment and
parts, hydrocarbons and derivatives, oil seed, motor vehicle for goods transportation, animal feed, cotton
and alloy steel. India's imports from Indonesia include fixed vegetable fats and oil, coal, copper ores,
natural rubber, pulp and waste paper, alcohol and phenols, medicinal and pharmaceutical products,
fertilizers among others.
What are the emerging sectors for both sides that could enhance bilateral trade?
Potential areas of synergy include machine and hand tools, foundry and dies, electric motor and switches,
pumps and compressors, transmission towers and cement among others. There is also immense scope in
fields of science and technology, agriculture, ecological conservation and biotechnology.
Indonesia has been wooing Indian cine industry, right?
We have been holding familiarization trips for people involved in the cine industry from India. Currently
a team of 10 people are touring Indonesia. We also plan introduce such trips for journalists and film
operators to promote the country as an ideal film shooting destination.
What steps are being taken by Indonesia to help foreign investors, particularly Indian investors, do
business in the country? Any new proposal on the anvil?

15
The Indonesian investment coordination board launched a one-stop service centre to streamline
investment permits for all sectors. The board now gives 134 key permits that were earlier issued by 22
different ministries and agencies. This ensured faster processing and clearing. The government has also
unveiled 12 economic stimulus packages to boost economic growth through deregulation, tax incentives
and opening room for foreign investments.
Has Indian investment in Indonesia been growing?
Absolutely. Indian investment in Indonesia, which stood at US $11.6 million by 17 firms (that were
issued permanent licenses) in 2007 touched $57.1 million by 236 firms in 2015. Lately investment has
started flowing from Indonesia to India with one Indonesian company, the Salim Group, investing in real
estate and infrastructural projects. Samudra Shipping Line (Mumbai), Tanindo Seeds (Bangalore),
Indofood (Kerala) and a host of other Indonesian companies have established their strong base.
Are there any proposals to increase the frequency and number of flights between India and
Indonesia?
The absence of direct flights between the two countries since 1998 has considerably reduced the number
of visitors from both ends.Direct flights will certainly boost tourism sector. The Indonesian government is
now working to remove the deadlock. Indonesian national carrier Garuda Indonesia has expressed interest
to begin flights on India routes.
http://thenationonlineng.net/waiver-abuse-2/
Indian Rice Exporters Say Iran Government Killing Their
Business (Exclusive)
Indian rice exporters say they are finding it hard to keep their market in Iran because of a government ban
on rice imports by Tehran
Government bullish on farm growth on good monsoon hopes
PTI | May 31, 2016, 07.47 PM IST
Farm workers planting rice saplings in a paddy field in Odisha. (File photo)
NEW DELHI: India will "definitely" see higher foodgrain output and overall growth
in the agriculture sector in case the IMD prediction of a good monsoon "comes true",
agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh said on Tuesday.
Due to two consecutive drought years, the country's agriculture growth remained at
1.2 per cent in 2015-16, while it was negative at 0.25 per cent in the previous fiscal.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast above normal south west

16
monsoon rains for this year, which will boost planting of kharif crops like paddy from
next month. IMD has also said arrival of monsoon will be delayed by a week.
"If IMD forecast comes true, I am confident that foodgrain output will definitely
increase and overall agri-growth will also be higher," Singh said while briefing the
media on NDA government's achievements during two years in power. Good
monsoon rains coupled with higher minimum support price (MSP) to be soon
announced for kharif crops will encourage farmers and boost sowing operations, he
said.
In order to boost production in pulses and oilseeds, Singh said, "We had increased
MSP substantially last year. This time also, we will increase."
A final call on the agriculture ministry's proposal to hike MSP of pulses and other
kharif crops for 2016-17 will be taken up in the Cabinet meeting soon.
Bullish on farm sector growth this year, NITI Aayog member and agriculture expert
Ramesh Chand earlier in the day told PTI that "our agriculture growth will definitely
be more than 6 per cent. IMD has forecast good monsoon". He said a week's delay in
arrival of monsoon will not impact kharif sowing as pre-monsoon showers have hit
some states like Karnataka giving relief to drought-hit farmers.In view of better

17
monsoon forecast, the agriculture ministry is aiming to achieve a record 270.10
million tonnes of foodgrains production in 2016-17 crop year (July-June).
The country had last achieved a record output of 265.04 MT in 2013-14. However, the
production in 2014-15 and 2015-16 fell to 252.02 MT and 253.23 MT due to drought
in more than 10 states
New gov’t to curb rice import permit abuse
5/31/2016
BusinessWorld
INCOMING President Rodrigo R. Duterte‘s choice as Agriculture Secretary, Emmanuel F.
Pinol, said he will allow private traders to import rice after all, but will impose more rigid
safeguards against smuggling.―We will still allow imports from private traders,‖ said Mr. Pinol
in a phone interview over the weekend when sought to confirm his plan to ban private importers.
Mr. Pinol had said the directive came from the President-Elect.―What happened is that the
privilege [of importing] was abused. We will meet with them on Tuesday (today) and discuss
how they can import while keeping them from abusing the use of import permits,‖ Mr. Pinol
added.
President Benigno S. C. Aquino III recently signed a law imposing heftier fines on the large-
scale smuggling of agricultural products.
Mr. Pinol is set to meet in Davao City with rice millers and the National Food Authority (NFA)
to discuss the country‘s rice stock. He said the government should prepare for a possible rice
crisis on the back of one of the severest El Nino episodes the country has endured in years.
―This early, we‘ll look at the inventory of NFA, rice traders, and millers with the expected rice
shortage due to El Nino‖ said Mr. Pinol.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) forecast palay losses to hit 957,000 metric tons (MT) in the
first semester. The agency‘s latest report shows losses at 230,659 MT.
DA Undersecretary for Operations and Agribusiness and marketing Emerson U. Palad said the
DA ―[does] not see any possibility of a rice crisis.‖
―[B]ut considering the La Nina, that‘s something we cannot forecast,‖ he said.
The Philippine Statistics Authority - Bureau of Agricultural Research recently released its first
quarter production report showing palay output slumping by 9.97% to 3.9 million tons, lower
than the government forecast of 4.01 million tons
http://www.world-grain.com/news/news%20home/LexisNexisArticle.aspx?articleid=2595494667

18
Extreme Weather Causing Toxins in Food to Increase,
Scientists Say
By Kagondu Njagi on 31/05/2016
A rice mill worker holds up rice fallen onto the ground in Udon Thani, Thailand, September 16,
2015. Credit: Reuters/Jorge Silva/Files
Nairobi: As they struggle to deal with more extreme weather, a range of food crops are
generating more of chemical compounds that can cause health problems for people and livestock
who eat them, scientists have warned.
A new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says that crops such as
wheat and maize are generating more potential toxins as a reaction to protect themselves
from extreme weather.
But these chemical compounds are harmful to people and animals if consumed for a prolonged
period of time, according to a report released during a United Nations Environment Assembly
meeting in Nairobi.
―Crops are responding to drought conditions and increases in temperature just like humans do
when faced with a stressful situation,‖ explained Jacqueline McGlade, chief scientist and director
of the Division of Early Warning and Assessment at UNEP.
Under normal conditions, for instance, plants convert nitrates they absorb into nutritious amino
acids and proteins. But prolonged drought slows or prevents this conversion, leading to more
potentially problematic nitrate accumulating in the plant, the report said.

19
If people eat too much nitrate in their diets, it can interfere with the ability of red blood cells to
transport oxygen in the body, the report said.
Crops susceptible to accumulating too much nitrate in times of stress include maize, wheat,
barley, soybeans, millet and sorghum, it said.
Drought, then rain
Some drought-stressed crops, when then exposed to sudden large amounts of rain that lead to
rapid growth, in turn accumulate hydrogen cyanide, more commonly known as prussic acid, the
report said.
Prussic acid – one of the ingredients used in some types of chemical warfare – interferes with
oxygen flow in humans. Even short-term exposure can be debilitating for people, McGlade said.
Plants such as cassava, flax, maize and sorghum are most vulnerable to dangerous prussic acid
accumulation, the report said.
Cases of nitrate or hydrogen cyanide poisoning in humans were reported in Kenya in 2013 and in
the Philippines in 2005, McGlade said. In Kenya, two children died in coastal Kilifi after eating
cassava that had raised levels of prussic acid in it following extreme rainfall, according to local
media reports.
Aflatoxins, moulds that can affect plant crops and raise the risk of liver damage, cancer and
blindness, as well as stunting foetuses and infants, also are spreading to more areas as a result of
shifting weather patterns as a result of climate change, scientists said.
McGlade said about 4.5 billion people in developing countries are exposed to aflatoxins each
year, though the amounts are largely unmonitored, and the numbers are rising.
―We are just beginning to recognise the magnitude of toxin- related issues confronting farmers in
developing countries of the tropics and sub-tropics,‖ the report noted.
―As warmer climate zones expand towards the poles, countries in more temperate regions are
facing new threats,‖ it added.
In 2004, Kenya suffered severe outbreaks of aflatoxin poisoning, which affected more than 300
people and killed more than 100 following a prolonged drought, according to the International
Livestock Research Institute.
Europe at risk
The UNEP report said Europe will be at growing risk from aflatoxins in locally grown crops if
global temperatures rise by at least 2 degrees Celsius. The world is currently on a path to a more
than 3 degree Celsius temperature rise, scientists believe.
An increase in toxic compounds in crops is likely to impact heavily on the world‘s health system,
which are already struggling with the effects of food insecurity, Dorota Jarosinska of the World
Health Organization‘s European Center for Environment and Health said in an interview with the
Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Alex Ezeh, executive director of the African Population Health and Research Center, said the
increase in toxins in crops was a big concern.
―Toxic crops can lead to neurological diseases among humans but the greatest challenge is the
incidence of cancer,‖ he said in an interview.
The report proposes a list of eight ideas farmers and agricultural experts can adopt to try to limit
damage from more crop toxins, such as mapping contamination hotspots and building better
evidence about what is happening now with the toxins in their area.
Scientists also suggest that developing crop varieties designed to cope with extreme
weather could help reduce the levels of toxic chemicals in food.

20
―Research centres with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research are
developing seeds that are suitable in various regions that have been hit by climate change,‖
McGlade said.
http://thewire.in/2016/05/31/extreme-weather-causing-toxins-in-food-to-increase-scientists-say-
39616/
USA Rice Continues Work to Open Trade with Cuba
By Peter Bachmann
HAVANA, CUBA -- USA Rice Vice President of Government Affairs Ben Mosely spent last week here
as part of a delegation of members from the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba (USACC). Rice was by
far the most popular topic of discussion during the many meetings held with various departments of
Cuban government, farmer cooperatives, importing agencies, and the ports system. The group of more
than 30 U.S. agriculture representatives on the trip met with the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Trade and
Investment (MINCEX) to kick off their arrival to the island last Monday. This introductory and
welcoming meeting covered a broad discussion on the current laws and regulations restricting free trade
between the two countries as well as the commitment on both sides to continue efforts to achieve
normalized relations and bilateral trade.
On Tuesday, the group traveled to the Port of Mariel with officials from the Special Economic Zone to
learn about the rapidly developing port and the incentives being offered to foreign investors to operate in
the "free trading zone." Later that day the delegation visited with officials from the U.S. Embassy where
Mosely provided an update on USA Rice's efforts to persuade Congress to remove financing and
commercial barriers and the trading restrictions that will allow U.S. grown rice to competitively serve the
Cuban market.
At a meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture Mosely asked an official for assurances that the Cubans
would purchase U.S. rice when financing restrictions are removed and was told, "Simple math is the
assurance. Why would we pay more money for an inferior product that takes almost a month to receive
when we could instead purchase a superior product for less money and receive it in a matter of days?"
Mosely said, "I spend a lot of my time in Washington advocating for improved relations between the U.S.
and Cuba and often hear feedback from folks with a preconceived idea of what life is actually like in
Cuba. Getting the opportunity to see it firsthand was all it took to completely erase any notions in
Congress that the Cuban people don't want this embargo to be lifted."
Mosely concluded, "We've been slowly moving the needle with Congress but we have a lot of work left
to do. The Cubans are clearly ready to engage with us so the pressure is on the United States to see this
through. USA Rice is ready to help make this market a reality but it will need to be a collective effort by
all commodities, other businesses and industries, and humanitarian groups to get us to that point.
Louisiana rice field day set for June 29 in Crowley
May 27, 2016 Bruce Schultz, LSU AgCenter

21
 Broad range of rice-related topics to be covered.
 Cornell's Susan McCouch to speak on potential for advances in rice breeding.One of the world‘s
leading rice geneticists will speak at the annual field day at the LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey
Rice Research Station on June 29.Susan McCouch, of the Cornell University Department of Plant
Breeding and Genetics, will talk about the potential for advances in rice breeding.―Dr. McCouch
is highly respected internationally for her genetic work, and we are privileged to have her as a
speaker,‖ said Steve Linscombe, director of the Rice Research Station.McCouch developed the
first molecular map of the rice genome in 1988. She also has conducted extensive studies of rice
to help breeders identify genetic markers for rice traits including disease resistance, maturity,
yields and drought tolerance.The day will begin with field tours from 7:15 a.m. until 9 a.m.
Speakers will discuss their latest research on rice breeding, weed control, insect and disease
management, hybrid development and agronomy.
More research will be presented at a poster session until 10:30 a.m., and the indoor program
begins at 10:45 a.m.In addition to McCouch‘s remarks, Jackie Loewer, chairman of the
Louisiana Rice Research Board, will give an update on the board‘s projects.AgCenter economist
Michael Deliberto will provide details on the rice market, and Jimmy Guinn of USA Rice will
talk about the key long-grain rice markets.Ronnie Anderson, Louisiana Farm Bureau president,
will talk about Farm Bureau activities, followed by comments from LSU vice president for
agriculture Bill Richardson and LSU AgCenter associate vice president Rogers
Leonard.Linscombe said the field day is an opportunity for anyone in the rice industry to find out
about current issues in agriculture. ―This is our chance to show our stakeholders the work we are
doing for them.‖
http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/louisiana-rice-field-day-set-june-29-crowley
Call to set up Rice Development Company
May 31, 2016
KARACHI - President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) Mian Zahid
Hussain on Monday expressed concern over falling rice exports.Government‘s attention can
strengthen to boost exports from the current over two billion dollars to four billion dollars within
three years, he said.Mian Zahid Hussain said that government should immediately establish Rice
Development Company to cater for the basmati and non-basmati sectors, rice mills should be
given status of industry with zero rating, load shedding be reduced and tax relaxations should be
announced in the upcoming budget.He said that repayment of export refinance should be
increased from 180 days to 360 days and fine on late repayment should be waived.
Withholdings tax on rice exports should be reduced from one percent to 0.
25 percent while 3.
5 percent tax on local purchase should be abolished, he said.
He said that duty should be waived on import of dryers and other equipment while import should
be allowed through Wagah border so that local exporters should reexport the commodity.
Main Zahid Hussain called upon the government to take note of falling exports to China, Iran
and Kenya while Utility Stores Corporation should be asked to buy rice for the holy month of

22
Ramadan.He said that a little attention can transform Pakistan into a regional hub for rice trading
catering for the needs of China, Afghanistan, Middle East and Central Asian markets.
http://nation.com.pk/business/31-May-2016/call-to-set-up-rice-development-company
China to Consider Rice Deal
Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday asked China to consider Cambodia‘s rice stocks as part of its
effort to distribute food relief to other countries. The request was made during a meeting
between the premier and Ho Hau Wah, Vice-Chairman of the Chinese People‘s Political
Consultative Conference at the National Assembly.Mr. Hau Wah is a former Chief Executive of
the Macau Special Administrative Region of China and previously led about 100 Chinese
investors and entrepreneurs in a seminar in Cambodia to discuss the potential of agriculture and
tourism investments. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, a minister attached to the prime minister, said Mr.
Hun Sen noted that China had been giving food assistance to other countries, ―so Samdech [Mr.
Hun Sen] has suggested that China should use Cambodia as a rice stock for China to help other
countries.‖ ―This is one of the main requests by the prime minister. Now, China buys rice from
Cambodia at about 100,000 tons a year.‖
He added that the premier also said the World Food Program uses Cambodian rice stocks in its
aid distribution efforts and that China‘s acceptance to use Cambodian rice would benefit the
Kingdom‘s flailing agricultural industry.―This [request] is to help boost the agricultural sector of
Cambodia,‖ he said.―He [Mr. Hun Sen] is finding a market for Cambodia, especially with
powerful markets like China. If China choses Cambodia as a rice stock, it will be a good chance
for the Cambodia market.‖ In February, the Ministry of Commerce released a statement saying
about half of the country‘s rice millers and exporters went out of business last year and those
clinging on are likely to follow suit within two years unless the government injects capital into
the sector and takes measures to curb the flood of imported rice from Vietnam. Mr. Hau Wah
said he supported he premier‘s request, and said China would consider it, Dr. Kim Hourn
added.This year, the government confirmed Cambodia had four million tons of rice to export and
called on foreign backers to invest in the rice production sector in Cambodia.
Vietnam's 2016 drought-hit rice output to fall 1.5 percent:
government official
HANOI | By Ho Binh Minh
Vietnam's rice paddy output will likely fall this year for the first time since 2005 following the
worst drought in 90 years, but the decline will be limited as farmers expand planting in the
current and final crops, a government official said.The Delta's winter-spring output fell 10.2
percent on last year, but total production could fall just 1.5 percent to 44.5 million tonnes, said
Tran Cong Dinh, deputy head of the Agriculture Ministry's Crops Department."So overall the

23
annual paddy output will only be short by 700,000 tonnes," Dinh told Reuters on the sidelines of
an agriculture conference last Friday.Severe drought and sea water intrusion linked to the El
Nino weather pattern in Vietnam's southern Mekong Delta food basket have destroyed fruit, rice
and sugar crops in the world's third-largest rice exporter after India and Thailand.Vietnam grows
three rice crops annually, of which the winter-spring crop is the biggest and its grain is used
mostly for export.
The country, which produced a record 45.21 million tonnes of paddy last year, exports around 30
percent of its output, mainly to China, the Philippines and Indonesia. Production last fell in 2005,
also due to drought.Salination has delayed planting of the summer-autumn crop, and Dinh
cautioned that planting of the third crop could be threatened by seasonal floods on the Mekong
River.Weather forecasters have warned of the possibility of a La Nina weather event, the
counterpart of El Nino, which could bring intense rains in the second half of 2016. "Planting will
have to be within the dyke system to protect the crop," Dinh said.
Rice traders said the planting delay meant harvest times will vary in the Delta, which comprises
12 provinces and Can Tho city."The harvest will not peak at the same time so prices won't
decline much," said a trader at a foreign firm in Ho Chi Minh City said.Vietnam's benchmark 5-
percent broken rice eased this week to $370-$380 a tonne, free on board basis, from $375-
$380/tonne last week and a five-month high of $390 on March 25. <RICE/ASIA1>
Vietnam's rice exports this year will dip 4.45 percent from 2015 to 6.44 million tonnes, partly
due to drought in the Delta, an analyst has said.
(Reporting by Ho Binh Minh; Editing by Richard Pullin)
Rice export deal with Indonesia to be finalised soon: trade
secretary
India could ask the state-run FCI to sell around 1 million tonnes rice from its stockpile to
Indonesia, the world‘s leading rice importer
Manoj Kumar
Rice prices in Asia are hovering around their highest levels in two years. Photo: Reuters
New Delhi: India, the world‘s biggest rice exporter, will soon finalise a non-basmati rice exports
contract with Indonesia in a rare government-to-government deal, trade secretary Rita Teaotia
said on Monday, as rice prices started firming up following drought in key producing countries.
India could ask the state-run Food Corporation of India (FCI) to sell around 1 million tonnes rice
from its stockpile to Indonesia, the world‘s leading rice importer, industry officials said.
Rice prices in Asia are hovering around their highest levels in two years. Reuter
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/GOMwcJHn9Y6lhvTlmPZeOM/Rice-export-deal-with-Indonesia-to-be-
finalised-soon-trade.html
Ancient rice and mung beans reveal Madagascan ancestors were from South-
East Asia
By Ritwik Roy @ritwikroy1985 on May 31 2016 3:50 PM

24
A man travels in a boat to fish in a pond in the outskirts of the capital Antananarivo, in this October 30,
2013 file photo. Reuters/Thomas Mukoya
Scientists have unearthed ancient charred remains of mung beans and rice from Madagascar.
This is the first archaeological evidence that ancestors of people from Malagasy, an East-African
island, had South-East Asian origins. The findings of the study add to the linguistic and genetic
evidence that Austronesians made a dangerous journey across the Indian Ocean to colonise
Madagasy around 1,100 to 1,300 years ago.The study has been published in the journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS). Genetic studies have also revealed
that Southeast Asian ancestry co-mingled with African ancestry. However, archaeological
evidence such as pottery, which link these early populations with South-east Asia, has been
sparse.
Lead author Alison Crowther, a post-doctoral researcher in archaeology at the University of
Queensland, said that this is the reason scientists look at plant remains as foods are extremely
important people migrating from one land to the other stacked themselves with these foods for
the voyage. The heritage of Madagascar‘s human occupants has puzzled scientists for long. This
study sheds new light on the matter.
―Linguists have recognised for a long time that the languages that were spoken by the people of
Madagascar were not African in origin — which is what we might expect given the proximity of
Madagascar to Africa — but actually come from South-East Asia,‖ Cowther told the ABC.
Madagascar‘s 18 ancient settlements were excavated by the team of researchers on the East
African coast in Tanzania and Kenya. Offshore islands such as Comoros, Zanzibar and Pemba

25
were also excavated. An ancient 10th century trading port in north-west Madagascar, Mahilaka,
gave important clues as to the origins of the Malagasy as scientists uncovered the ancient mung
beans and rice. These Asian food crops did not arrive on the African mainland until 11th century.
One thing baffled the researchers, though. They found rice and mung beans on an 8th-10th
century site on the nearby Comoros Islands. This was unexpected as Comoros people speak
African languages. Crowther is also trying to find an answer how the South-East Asian people
came all the way to Madagascar across the Indian Ocean. He is almost certain that they made the
journey by water and not land.
―Amongst the material culture that they appear to have brought with them is the outrigger canoe,
and the outrigger canoe is today found in Madagascar, in the Comoros and in eastern Africa. The
outrigger canoe was a South-East Asian technology and yet it's not found anywhere else in the
intervening regions of the Indian Ocean, so it really does suggest that they came through a direct
maritime crossing,‖ Crowther added
http://www.ibtimes.com.au/ancient-rice-mung-beans-reveal-madagascan-ancestors-were-south-
east-asia-1517531
Source-wise Irrigation in Bangaru Telangana
THE HANS INDIA | May 30,2016 , 03:26 PM IST
Bangaru Telangana
Source-wise Irrigation:
The source-wise net area irrigated from 2008-09 to 2014-15 is shown in Table
below. Net area irrigated by wells was the highest in 2015-16 (Kharif) at 86.37
percent and fell to 74.83 percent in 2013-14 and increased to 81.87% in 2014-
15, while the area irrigated by canals has increased from 5.07 percent in 2012-
13 to 12.68 percent in 2013-14 and decrease to 10.08% in 2014-15. During the
given period, on an average, 76 percent of net irrigated area was through wells,
showing the heavy dependence on good irrigation.
Table: Percentage of Net Area Irrigated by source of Irrigation from 2008-09 to
2014-15 & 2015-16 Kharif
Year Net Irrigated Area
(Lakh Ha.)
Source-wise Net Irrigated Area (%)

26
Canals Tanks Wells
2008-09 18.28 11.55 13.03 72.09
2009-10 14.93 9.18 3.82 84.33
2010-11 20.04 15.76 11.87 69.63
2011-12 19.85 16.37 9.22 71.69
2012-13 17.74 5.07 8.91 83.77
2013-14 22.89 12.67 10.05 74.83
2014-15 17.26 10.08 5.62 81.87
2015-16 K 13.13 3.43 8.38 86.37
Source: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Hyderabad.
Irrigation Intensity: Irrigation intensity (ratio of gross irrigated area to net
irrigated area) under all sources of irrigation and wells is given in Table below.
Irrigation intensity under wells is 1.50 in 2014-15. Expansion in Gross and Net
area irrigated has taken place due to well irrigation.
Table 12: Gross and Net Irrigated Area and Irrigation Intensity from 2007-08 to
2014-15 & 2015-16 Kharif
GIA under NIA under Irrigation GIA under NIA under Irrigation
Year all sources all sources intensity wells wells intensity
(lakh ha.) (lakh ha.) (all sources) (lakh ha.) (lakh ha.) (wells)
2007-08 24.46 17.49 1.40 18.23 13.14 1.39
2008-09 27.21 18.82 1.45 19.814 13.17 1.50
2009-10 21.31 14.93 1.43 18.42 12.59 1.46
2010-11 29.99 20.04 1.50 21.11 13.96 1.51

27
2011-12 28.64 19.85 1.44 21.57 14.23 1.52
2012-13 25.57 17.74 1.44 22.07 14.86 1.49
2013-14 31.54 22.80 1.38 23.34 17.11 1.36
2014-15 25.29 17.26 1.47 21.16 14.13 1.50
2015-16 K 13.24 13.13 1.01 11.45 11.34 1.01
Source: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Hyderabad.
Telangana as the Seed Bowl of India
Seed is the basic and vital input that could increase crop yields substantially, provided good
management practices are followed with other inputs. Availability of diverse agro-climatic
regions with cool and dry weather conditions around the year made Telangana a congenial place
for cultivating crops for the production of quality seed. Since Hyderabad has excellent logistic
services facilities and strategically located in the middle of the country connecting East-West and
North-South, there is a high potential for the State to become a 'Seed Bowl of the Country'.
The State produces around 37.42 lakh quintals of seeds of various crops every year, consisting
paddy, hybrid paddy, maize, cotton and Bengal gram etc. At present, about 90-95% of hybrid
rice seed production is being taken up by different seed companies in Warangal and Karimnagar
districts. Nizamabad supplies 100 percent seed requirements of hybrid jowar and bajra for the
country.
Following are the potentials of the seed industry in Telangana:
• More than 60 percent of the nation's seed requirement is supplied from Telangana.
• All districts of Telangana are suitable for seed production.
• Production of seeds of all major crops.
• Cool and dry weather conditions help in enhancing the shelf life of seeds.
• Availability of efficient and economic seed processing plants and storage facilities.
• More than 400 seed companies are operating in and around Hyderabad

28
• presence of International, National and State institutes engaged in seed development such as,
National Seeds Corporation(NSC), International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid
Tropics(ICRISAT), Indian Institute of Rice Research(IRR), Indian Institute of Oilseeds
Research(IIOR), Indian Institute of Millets Research(IIMR) Telangana State Seeds Development
Corporation(TSSDC), Telangana State Seed Certification Agency(TSSCA), and State
Agricultural Universities.
Taking cognisance of the potentials, Government of Telangana has taken an initiative to develop
modern infrastructural facilities such as assured power supply, provision of irrigation, seed
storage godown and capacity building programmes for all stakeholders for the growth of the seed
industry in Telangana. The strategies followed by the Government include:
• Delineation of the suitable seed production clusters
• Strengthening of seed village programme
• Promoting seed production of millets, oilseeds, forage crops etc, as a social responsibility of
seed industry
• Adoption of non-traditional areas by the seed industry
• Revival of all State Seed Farms
• Support for developing post-harvest facilities like seed processing plants, storage and
transportation
• Explore the additional export potential
• Dedicated seed cell to co-ordinate all seed programmes
• Promotion of seed production co-operative societies
• Exploring the possibilities for development of Global Seed Valley/Hub
• Promotion of Public-Private Partnership in seed production.
The Department of Agriculture prepared a seed production plan for five years, which aims at
attaining 100 percent Seed Replacement Ratio (SRR) in coordination with the universities and
other agencies.The government has initiated all necessary steps to strengthen the seed chain by
involving various Research Institutions, Government Departments, and private seed producing
agencies
http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Telangana/2016-05-30/Source-wise-Irrigation-in-
Bangaru-Telangana/231451

29
Food review: Punjab Grill
The fine-dining Indian restaurant at the Venetian Village at The Ritz-Carlton in Abu Dhabi
shows us ho w it‘s done
The cynic in me scoffs when I hear about Indian fine-dining restaurants making a big deal about their
curries. It‘s a curry, folks. Calm down. Even if you sprinkle gold dust on it and serve it with a precious
spoon, the rich tomato gravy served at a posh place isn‘t going to taste vastly different from the one that‘s
served in a modest setting. But Punjab Grill at the Venetian Village at The Ritz-Carlton Grand Canal in
Abu Dhabi made me eat my words — one bite at a time. This palatial restaurant with a view of the well-
lit canal is the culinary equivalent of that kind aunt in your family who feeds you the best biryani, scoops
more on your plate and loves to pamper you endlessly.
My partner and I began our meal with paya ka shorba (mutton soup) and dal ka shorba (lentil
soup). Where do I begin with paya ka shorba — a delicate broth that‘s infused with great
flavours? A bowl with a mound of mutton materialised in front of me. Our waiter then brings a
pot of fragrant broth, light brown in colour, which is poured all over the tenderised meat. Any
foodie will tell you that it‘s easy to go wrong with this soup as the spices can be overpowering
and can make it taste medicinal. But not the one served at Punjab Grill. The chef has taken a
page out of the less-is-more philosophy and made it his own. My partner claimed that the
spinach pakodas (crispy spinach balls made out of gram flour batter) made his dal ka shorba the
best lentil soup that he has ever had in the UAE. It‘s a superlative compliment coming from him.

30
Alongside, they served us rotis (flat bread) filled with liver mince. Take a piece of that and scoop
a spoon of baingan bharta (scrambled eggplant) or masala hummus, and you may have just hit
appetizer gold.
We tried their Iftar menu (Dh195 per person) where there is generous variety in the kebab
platter. The crackling beetroot kebab with a dollop of peanut chutney in the middle was unusual,
but the unlikely union of red mash and nuts wasn‘t jarring. When you are in a Punjabi restaurant,
the measure of greatness lies in how well they do their bhatti da murg (chicken drumsticks
slathered in a spicy marinade). It‘s messy to eat since the chicken is always on the bone, but it‘s
worth getting your hands dirty for.
The galouti kebab, minced mutton placed on crispy discs, does what it says on the tin. It was soft
and melted upon touch. For the main course, try the bhindi do pyaaza (okra in tomato and onion
stir-fry). It isn‘t greasy and there‘s a delightful bite to the okra. Paired with spice-addled kulcha
(another Indian bread), it‘s a good way to march ahead. Another curry that you should try here is
the kheema chole, a blend of minced mutton and chickpeas. We found the jhinga makhani, butter
shrimp curry in tomato base with cardamom and fenugreek, overly sweet. But if you like your
curries stripped of their heat, this is your dish. Ideally, we would have stopped at this juncture.
But the service at Punjab Grill is warm and personal. Some may find it full-on, but we put that
down to the largeness of their hearts.
They are discreet yet attentive. Their Hyderabadi murg dum biryani was a testament to why this
wholesome dish of long-grain basmati rice and cooked chicken stands the test of time. We
rounded off the meal with shir qorma, a pudding made of fried vermicelli, milk and garnished
with nuts. Just like a biryani, slow cooked to perfection, every dish here is an ode to food that‘s
loving prepared and beautifully presented. Here‘s to the restaurant that convinced me that curries
in posh corners can also bowl you over.
Where: Punjab Grill, Venetian Village, The Ritz-Carlton Grand Canal, Abu Dhabi
Cost: Dh195 per person for the six-course Iftar set menu.
Contact: 02-3048071
Wheat extend gains on increased offtake by flour mills
PTI | May 30, 2016, 02.37 PM IST
New Delhi, May 30 () Wheat prices advanced by Rs 20 per quintal at the wholesale grains
market today on increased offtake by flour mills amid tight arrivals from producing belts.
However, other grains including rice basmati held steady in thin trade. Traders said increased
offtake by flour mills in the face of restricted supplies from producing belts mainly kept wheat
prices higher. In the national capital, wheat dara (for mills) rose further by Rs 20 to Rs 1,735-
1,740 per quintal. Atta chakki delivery followed suit and traded higher by a similar margin to Rs
1,740-1,745 per 90 kg. Atta flour mills, maida and sooji also enquired higher at Rs 930-940, Rs
990-1,000 and Rs 1,035-1,050 from previous levels of Rs 910-915, Rs 970-980 and Rs 1,000-
1,020 per 50 kg respectively.
Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal):

31
Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,360-2,600, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,735-1,740, Chakki atta (delivery)
Rs 1,740-1,745, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 275, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 275, Roller flour mill Rs
930-940 (50 kg), Maida Rs 990-1,000 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs 1,035-1,050 (50 kg).
Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,700, Basmati
common new Rs 5,700-5,900, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 4,600-5,500, Permal raw Rs 1,925-1,975, Permal
wand Rs 2,100-2,150, Sela Rs 2,600-2,700 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,800-1,825, Bajra Rs 1,630-1,635, Jowar
yellow Rs 1,850-1,950, white Rs 3,500-3,600, Maize Rs 1,500-1,510, Barley Rs 1,640-1,645. SUN KPS
SRK MR
Bookmark or read stories offline
Southeast Asia drought takes a backseat at World Economic
Forum ASEAN
Nyshka Chandran | @nyshkac
Monday, 30 May 2016 | 8:15 PM ETCNBC.com
Southeast Asia is suffering from the worst drought in more than 50 years but the issue looks set
to fall off the agenda at a key meeting of the region's political and financial leaders this week.
The two-day World Economic Forum (WEF) for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) kicks off in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, with heads of state from various ASEAN
member countries, including Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia slated to attend.
Taylor Weidman | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Cracked earth sits next to a pool of water at the dried up Mae Jok Luang reservoir in Chiang Mai,
Thailand, on April 23, 2016. An El Nino-induced drought across Thailand is parching crops, leading
market forecasters to reduce their production estimates.
The big topics on this year's official program include economic growth, trade, digital innovation,
infrastructure, and gender rights. But in a region where the bulk of citizens rely on agricultural
income, food security and weather challenges were noticeably absent from the agenda.

32
"Tackling the impact of drought in Southeast Asia is not on the WEF agenda and needs to be
addressed at ASEAN ministerial meetings to galvanize an ASEAN policy response," said Rajiv
Biswas, Asia-Pacific chief economist at IHS Global Insight, in an e-mail to CNBC.
The weather phenomenon known as El Nino has created a crippling heat wave and water
shortages across the region, with temperatures hitting well above 40 degrees Celsius. That
threatens dire economic losses for the ASEAN countries, with rice output plummeting in top
producers Thailand and Vietnam, which has seen around 230,000 hectares of rice ruined so far
this year, Reuters reported. As a result of the drought, the International Grains Council estimates
a 9 percent drop in global rice stocks to 473 million tons this year, from 479 million tons in
2015. During an informal meeting at last week's World Humanitarian Summit, ASEAN ministers
committed to conducting a thorough study on the situation to come up with solutions and
preventive measures. But economists like Biswas argue governments need to give higher priority
to policy responses to mitigate the impact of future droughts.
What’s needed
As climate change threatens resource security and availability, investment into research and
development can't be ignored, according to Matthew Morell, director-general of the International
Rice Research Institute.
"From 2010-2015, over 95 percent of funding for rice research came from non-ASEAN
governments, mostly from the West," he stated in a recent report. "ASEAN should seize the
opportunity to drive the next Green Revolution and secure its own future food needs through
increasing funding support for agriculture R&D."
Policymakers must also focus on boosting agricultural productivity, researchers at Singapore's
Nanyang Technological University warned in a note last week.
"The ASEAN region collectively has about 69 million hectares under arable agriculture and 44
million hectares under semi-permanent crops like palm oil and rubber but overall, the ASEAN
per capita arable land area is 0.12 hectare, among the smallest in the world."
<p>Is China at fault for Asia's dry spell?</p> <p>Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, all
connected by the Mekong River, are blaming China's dams for their current drought.
CNBC's Sri Jegarajah has more.</p>
The use of genetically modified crops can also aid governments to reduce net food imports and
become more self-sufficient, the note added. The authors pointed to data by the International
Service for the Acquisition of AgriBiotech Applications (ISAAA) that showed an average 68
percent increase in incomes and profits for 18 million small farmers who adopted biotech crops
during 1995-2014.
Increased collaboration between the public and private sectors is also needed, such as
agribusiness initiatives, to help small farmers towards entrepreneurship, the note said. These
initiatives can be partnerships between international organizations, companies, government
agencies and the ASEAN Secretariat, starting with corporate social responsibility projects and
leading to strong business alignments, it explained.
The use of farm insurance to protect incomes of farmers from the devastating effects of drought
is also essential, Biswas warned, referring to the rampant issue of farmer suicides across ASEAN
nations.
On a brighter note, the region's ambitious economic integration program, known as the ASEAN
Economic Community (AEC), is expected to herald fresh potential for food security solutions.

33
"Where successful, AEC mechanisms can create sustainable food systems and reduce
environmental stresses through best-practice collaboration, improving research, and creating
trade links that allow countries to play to better develop their natural capital," explained Jackson
Ewing, director of Asian Sustainability at non-profit think tank Asia Society Policy Institute, in a
report last week
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/05/30/southeast-asia-drought-takes-a-backseat-at-world-economic-
forum-asean.html
PhilRice warns farmers to brace for more wet weather
May 30, 2016 9:33 pm
by James Konstantin Galvez
With the onslaught of El Niño now officially over, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine
Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) on Monday alerted rice farmers to prepare for the rainy
season by using appropriate varieties and technologies in rice farming.PhilRice‘s Plant Breeding
and Biotechnology Division head, Dr. Norvie Manigbas, advised farmers to prepare for La Niña
weather conditions and plant varieties which stand at most 100 centimeter and with strong stems
that can withstand 40-60 kilometer-per-hour wind speed.
La Niña is a weather phenomenon which — in contrast to El Niño, which causes severe
droughts—brings intense rains. It often follows El Niño episodes.―Rainfed areas are also prone
to flooding. PhilRice have already identified rice varieties well suited for wetter weather
conditions as a result of La Niña,‖ Manigbas said.Varieties suited for wetter conditions are PSB
Rc18 (Ala), which can withstand 5-7 days of complete submergence; NSIC Rc194 (Submarino
1), which can survive, grow, and develop even after 10-14 days of complete submergence; and
PSB Rc68 (Sacobia), a submergence-tolerant and a drought-resistant variety.Other varieties
include PSB Rc14, Rc68, NSIC Rc9, and Rc222.
These varieties have the following maximum yield: 8.1 t/ha (RC18); 3.5 t/ha (Rc194); 4.4 t/ha
(Rc68); 6.1 t/ha (Rc14); and 10 t/ha (Rc222). They can also recover when submerged during
vegetative stage.―These are the maximum yields that the farmers could get under stressed
conditions,‖ Manigbas said.PhilRice also underscored the reduction of fertilizer application
level, reminding farmers that while fertilizers are beneficial to plants, in high amounts, they may
cause lodging.―Depending on soil analysis results and recommended nutrient requirement rates,
it is better to reduce fertilizer application rates by 20-30 percent in wet season,‖ Manigbas
explained.Under rainfed conditions, Manigbas encouraged farmers to practice synchronous
planting in their communities to reduce incidence of pests and diseases in a specific area, thus
minimizing yield loss.
Dry land preparation is also desired so farmers can do direct-seeding when the rain comes. With
this technique, the seeds will start to germinate within five days.Manigbas explained that under
irrigated lowland conditions, land preparation should be done at the onset of heavy rains so that
fields are well-soaked in water. Levees and dikes should be repaired to avoid water loss.Farmers
can use the wet bed or dapog method for seed establishment depending on field conditions.
PhilRice also suggested proper drainage to avoid flooding, and the use of machines during land

34
preparation, harvesting, threshing, and drying to save time and labor.PhilRice also recommended
drying of palay (rice) in flatbed dryers and on nylon nets or canvas for easier turnover when the
rain comes.
http://www.manilatimes.net/philrice-warns-farmers-to-brace-for-more-wet-weather/265110/
New gov’t to curb rice import permit abuse
INCOMING President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s choice as Agriculture Secretary, Emmanuel F. Piñol, said
he will allow private traders to import rice after all, but will impose more rigid safeguards against
smuggling.
―We will still allow imports from private traders,‖ said Mr. Piñol in a phone interview over the weekend
when sought to confirm his plan to ban private importers.Mr. Piñol had said the directive came from the
President-Elect.―What happened is that the privilege [of importing] was abused. We will meet with them
on Tuesday (today) and discuss how they can import while keeping them from abusing the use of import
permits,‖ Mr. Piñol added.
President Benigno S. C. Aquino III recently signed a law imposing heftier fines on the large-scale
smuggling of agricultural products.
Mr. Piñol is set to meet in Davao City with rice millers and the National Food Authority (NFA) to discuss
the country‘s rice stock. He said the government should prepare for a possible rice crisis on the back of
one of the severest El Niño episodes the country has endured in years.
―This early, we‘ll look at the inventory of NFA, rice traders, and millers with the expected rice shortage
due to El Niño‖ said Mr. Piñol.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) forecast palay losses to hit 957,000 metric tons (MT) in the first
semester. The agency‘s latest report shows losses at 230,659 MT.
DA Undersecretary for Operations and Agribusiness and marketing Emerson U. Palad said the DA
―[does] not see any possibility of a rice crisis.‖
―[B]ut considering the La Niña, that‘s something we cannot forecast,‖ he said.
The Philippine Statistics Authority -- Bureau of Agricultural Research recently released its first quarter
production report showing palay output slumping by 9.97% to 3.9 million tons, lower than the
government forecast of 4.01 million tons
Farmers urged to plant before La Niña peaks
Monday, May 30, 2016
By Ace June Rell S. Perez
THE odds seem not in the favor for the agriculture sector as farmers have to face another threat
this time caused by La Niña this year even when the sector has yet to recover from the wrath of

35
El Niño. With this, the regional office of the Department of Agriculture urged farmers to plant
soon. ―In preparation for La Niña phenomenon, we have list down strategies to mitigate the ill
effects of it and enable farmers to adapt by the methods, one of it is adjusting their planting
calendars, and we urged farmers to plant by next month (June) so they can harvest before the
peak of La Niña which is forecasted by the last quarter of 2016,‖ Joedel Leliza, DA Agriculturist
II and Disaster Risk Management overall report officer, said on Monday, May 30, during this
week‘s edition of Kapehan Sa Dabaw at the SM City-Annex.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration (Pagasa), La Niña is expected to start by July and will intensify by the last
quarter. Leliza said that if farmers will start planting corn and rice by June they can harvest by
September or early October, thus lesser damage is expected. La Niña, as defined by Pagasa-
Davao weather observer Roland Limana, is characterized by intense rainfall, strong monsoon
activity, and formation of more tropical cyclones, which means to say, the possibility of
flashflood and landslide.
Leliza bared that Carmen, Panabo City, Cateel, Banaybanay, Nabunturan, Monkayo and parts of
Tagum City including Busaon and Pagsabangan are identified as most affected areas once the La
Nina will onslaught. ―These cities and municipalities are low-lying areas and catchment basins,
all of these are near where the big rivers in the region are located,‖ he said adding that these
areas are also affected heavily by El Niño. Other Climate Change adaptation and mitigation
strategies prepared by DA-Davao during La Niña for rice are the planting of submergence-
tolerance rice varieties which can be sourced from Search Results Philippine Rice Research
Institute (Philrice) and International Rice Research Institute (Irri), repairing of dikes, drainage
and irrigation canals, draining of excess water from rice fields before and after heavy rains,
usage of windbreaks structures, using of mechanical dryers during weeks of non-stop rainfall,
floating garden, and practice rainwater harvesting and use small farm reservoir.
While for corn, the agriculture department has identified clearing canals, discouraging planting at
sloping areas, establishment of contours in sloping areas and establishment of canals in lowland
areas as measures in countering the effects of the phenomenon. But Eliza was quick to add that
these strategies are subjective based on the topography of the area. DA-Davao is continuing its
information dissemination programs on these phenomenon to enable farmers be fully aware on
the issues and challenges faced by the sector. When asked about how much budget did the
agriculture department earmarked for the La Nina preparation he said that they will still
maximize its regular annual budget. ―La Niña has one-time effects as compared to El Nino
wherein it will linger to how many months, with La Nina we are expecting minimal damages, but
we are doing all our efforts to counter its ill effects. The LGUs are preparing themselves for it as
we are all aware now about this phenomenon,‖ he said. ―We think that our regular budget is
enough to replenish the effects of La Nina,‖ Leliza added
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/business/2016/05/30/farmers-urged-plant-la-nina-peaks-
476620

36
Extreme Weather Increasing Level of Toxins in Food,
Scientists Warn
Reuters, Modified: May 31, 2016 12:01 IST
A rice mill worker holds up rice fallen onto the ground in Udon Thani, Thailand, September 16, 2015. REUTERS/Jorge
Silva/Files
As they struggle to deal with more extreme weather, a range of food crops are generating more of
chemical compounds that can cause health problems for people and livestock who eat them, scientists
have warned.
A new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says that crops such as wheat and
maize are generating more potential toxins as a reaction to protect themselves from extreme weather. But
these chemical compounds are harmful to people and animals if consumed for a prolonged period of time,
according to a report released during a United Nations Environment Assembly meeting in Nairobi.
"Crops are responding to drought conditions and increases in temperature just like humans do when faced
with a stressful situation,‖ explained Jacqueline McGlade, chief scientist and director of the Division of
Early Warning and Assessment at UNEP.
Under normal conditions, for instance, plants convert nitrates they absorb into nutritious amino acids and
proteins. But prolonged drought slows or prevents this conversion, leading to more potentially

37
problematic nitrate accumulating in the plant. If people eat too much nitrate in their diets, it can interfere
with the ability of red blood cells to transport oxygen in the body, the report said.
Crops susceptible to accumulating too much nitrate in times of stress include maize, wheat, barley,
soybeans, millet and sorghum, it said.
DROUGHT, THEN RAIN
Some drought-stressed crops, when then exposed to sudden large amounts of rain that lead to rapid
growth, in turn accumulate hydrogen cyanide, more commonly known as prussic acid, the report said.
Prussic acid – one of the ingredients used in some types of chemical warfare - interferes with oxygen flow
in humans. Even short-term exposure can be debilitating for people, McGlade said.Plants such as cassava,
flax, maize and sorghum are most vulnerable to dangerous prussic acid accumulation. Cases of nitrate or
hydrogen cyanide poisoning in humans were reported in Kenya in 2013 and in the Philippines in 2005,
McGlade said. In Kenya, two children died in coastal Kilifi after eating cassava that had raised levels of
prussic acid in it following extreme rainfall, according to local media reports.
Aflatoxins, molds that can affect plant crops and raise the risk of liver damage, cancer and blindness, as
well as stunting foetuses and infants, also are spreading to more areas as a result of shifting weather
patterns as a result of climate change, scientists said.McGlade said about 4.5 billion people in developing
countries are exposed to aflatoxins each year, though the amounts are largely unmonitored, and the
numbers are rising.
"We are just beginning to recognise the magnitude of toxin- related issues confronting farmers in
developing countries of the tropics and sub-tropics," the report noted."As warmer climate zones expand
towards the poles, countries in more temperate regions are facing new threats," it added.
In 2004, Kenya suffered severe outbreaks of aflatoxin poisoning, which affected more than 300 people
and killed more than 100 following a prolonged drought, according to the International Livestock
Research Institute.
EUROPE AT RISK
The UNEP report said Europe will be at growing risk from aflatoxins in locally grown crops if global
temperatures rise by at least 2 degrees Celsius. The world is currently on a path to a more than 3 degree
Celsius temperature rise, scientists believe.An increase in toxic compounds in crops is likely to impact
heavily on the world‘s health system, which are already struggling with the effects of food insecurity,
Dorota Jarosinska of the World Health Organization‘s European Center for Environment and Health said
in an interview with the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Alex Ezeh, executive director of the African Population Health and Research Center, said the increase in
toxins in crops was a big concern."Toxic crops can lead to neurological diseases among humans but the
greatest challenge is the incidence of cancer,‖ he said in an interview.The report proposes a list of eight

38
ideas farmers and agricultural experts can adopt to try to limit damage from more crop toxins, such as
mapping contamination hotspots and building better evidence about what is happening now with the
toxins in their area.Scientists also suggest that developing crop varieties designed to cope with extreme
weather could help reduce the levels of toxic chemicals in food."Research centers with the Consultative
Group on International Agricultural Research are developing seeds that are suitable in various regions that
have been hit by climate change,‖ McGlade said.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
http://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/extreme-weather-increasing-level-of-toxins-in-food-scientists-warn-
1413849
Cuba Formally Accepts Shipment of Missouri Rice
May 31, 2016 5:54 AM
BIGGS, CA - APRIL 25: Rice seeds are transfered to a bucket before being loaded onto a bi-plane from
Williams Ag Service for distribution over a rice field April 25, 2008 in Biggs, California. California rice
growers are in the midst of planting nearly 549,000 acres of rice throughout the Sacramento Valley as rice
consumers around the world face rice shortages and higher prices.
HAVANA (KMOX) – Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon announced that Cuba has accepted a 20-ton
shipment of long-grain rice grown and processed in Missouri.

39
There have been no U.S. rice sales to Cuba since 2008.
The rice will come from Bernie, Missouri, at the Martin Rice Company. Missouri is fourth
among U.S. states in rice production.
Nixon has been in Cuba since Sunday for scheduled meetings with Cuban government officials
in the area of trade and agriculture. He will return Wednesday.Nixon said Cuba could become a
significant export market for Missouri‘s rice growers, and he will meet with U.S. officials to
discuss increasing trade with the country.He also is scheduled to meet with Cuban officials,
speak at a business forum and visit a deep-water port.Cuba will be the fifth country Nixon has
visited in 2016.
http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2016/05/31/nixon-completes-rice-sale-from-missouri-to-cuba/
APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1485
International Benchmark Price
Price on: 27-05-2016
Product Benchmark Indicators Name Price
Apricots
3 Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t) 3625
Sultanas
1 Australian 5 Crown, CIF UK (USD/t) 3006
2 South African Orange River, CIF UK (USD/t) 2894
3 Turkish No 9 standard, FOB Izmir (USD/t) 1799
Wheat
1 ASX NSW Wheat Futures, (USD/t) 197
2 Black Sea, FOB Brazil (USD/t) 174
3 NYSE Liffe Feed Wheat Futures (USD/t) 156

40
Source: oryza, agra-net For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 28-05-2016
Domestic Prices Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product Market Center Variety Min Price Max Price
Maize
1 Amreli (Gujarat) Other 1715 2100
2 Haveri (Karnataka) Local 1450 1560
3 Barshi (Maharashtra) Other 1525 1525
Paddy(Dhan)
1 Dehgam (Gujarat) Other 1325 1425
2 Kasargod (Kerala) Other 1450 1550
3 Jajpur (Orissa) Other 1410 1500
Papaya
1 Jagraon (Punjab) Other 1500 2000
2 Jalore (Rajasthan) Other 1100 1400
3 Pataudi (Haryana) Other 2000 2000
Carrot
1 Sahaspur (Orissa) Other 900 1100
2 Nagpur (Maharashtra) Other 1200 1200
3 Solan (Himachal Pradesh) Other 1500 2000
Source:agmarknet.nic.in For more info
Egg Rs per 100 No
Price on 30-05-2016

41
Product Market Center Price
1 Ahmedabad 365
2 Delhi (CC) 340
3 Hyderabad 340
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 25-05-2016
Product Market Center Origin Variety Low High
Onions Dry Package: 50 lb cartons
1 Atlanta Colorado Russet 17 18.50
2 Chicago California Russet 39.50 39.50
2 Detroit Idaho Russet 16.50 17.50
Cucumbers Package: cartons film wrapped
1 Atlanta Canada Long Seedless 13.50 15
2 Baltimore Netherlands Long Seedless 11.50 13
3 Detroit Canada Long Seedless 7 8.50
Grapes Package: 8.2 kg containers bagged
1 Baltimore Chile Red Globe 33 33
2 Dallas Chile Red Globe 29.50 30
3 San Francisco Chile Red Globe 31 33
Source:USDA

1st june,,2016 daily global,regional & local rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

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