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20th january,2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine
1. 20th January, 2014
TOP Contents - Tailored for YOU
Latest News Headlines…
Bulog sets aside 365,000 tons of rice for disaster victims
Rice stocks sufficient for seven months: Bulog
Rice stocks sufficient, deputy minister says
PH expected to import rice anew to beef up stock
Finance Min meets BAAC over rice payment amid rejection
from labor union
National Food Authority: Importing rice without permits is
smuggling
Fears of a dry spell
Rice farmers urged not to do off-season farming
Iraq issues tender for at least 30,000 T rice
Thai farmers add to govt. woes with rice scheme protests
Foodgrain output to exceed 260 mt this year: Pranab
Thai rice farmers threaten 'final showdown' if demands not
met
Rice seen ruling range-bound
Samba paddy harvest begins in Tiruchi
TABLE-India Grain Prices-Delhi-Jan 20
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-Jan 20
Union: No GSB funding for rice scheme
Training programme seeks to boost rice production
Rice bond sale adds new risk
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2.
Commerce Ministry urges state banks to help pay for rice-pledging
People's Democratic Reform Committee - PDRC
NEWS DETAILS:
Bulog sets aside 365,000 tons of rice for disaster victims
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | National | Mon, January 20 2014, 11:30 AM
The State Logistics Agency (Bulog) has set aside 365,000 tons of rice to meet staple food needs in the country's
disaster affected regions, according to Bulog chief Sutarto Alimoeso.Alimoeso said in Jakarta on Sunday that Bulog
would provide 100 tons of rice for each of the regency/municipal city governments to meet the needs of residents
affected by floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions and droughts.For provincial governments affected by natural
disasters, Bulog will provide 200 tons of rice to meet local needs in the respective regions."There‟s no need to wait
for the issuance of a disaster alert status. If a local government finds a shortage of rice in its region, it can directly
ask for rice from Bulog," said Alimoeso as quoted by Antara news agency.He said the rice allocation would be taken
from the government's rice reserves, under the management of the Office of the Coordinating People's Welfare
Minister.The Bulog chief guaranteed that rice stocks were enough to meet needs for eight months.
Rice stocks sufficient for seven months: Bulog
, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Monday, August 09 1999
JAKARTA (JP): The State Logistics Agency (Bulog) has 2.7 million metric tons of rice in its warehouses,
sufficient to meet the nation's needs for six months to seven months, its chairman Rahardi Ramelan said on
Saturday. Rahardi, who is also the minister of industry and trade, was quoted by Antara as saying that Bulog's
high stock level was the result of two successive good harvests this year, as well as supported by imports. The
successful harvests mean adequate supply to the market and relativelystable prices, Rahardi said, adding that
Bulog has been spared from having to conduct market operations to stabilize prices the way it did last year. The
only market operations Bulog has had carried out since July is one specially designated for poor people who
have been badly hurt by the economic crisis, he said. Under this operation, rice is sold at Rp 1,000 per kg to
intended recipients.
Rahardi said Bulog needs 220,000 tons a month for this operation. Data from the Ministry of Industry and Trade
shows that the average priceof medium-quality rice in July was Rp 2,709.25 per kg, a 2.79 percent decrease
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3. from June. Consumers in Jayapura, Irian Jaya, have had to pay the highest at Rp 3,375, while people in
Pekanbaru, Riau, paid the lowest at Rp2,300 per kg, Antara reported. The Central Bureau of Statistics has
predicted that Indonesia's production of unhusked rice will reach 49.53 million tons in 1999, a 0.59 percent
increase from 1998. This year's output will still be 3.07 percent lower than the record 51.10 million tons
produced in 1996. Rahardi said Indonesia will still have to import rice this year, partly to meet the domestic
demand and partly to help maintain stable prices.
He declined to go into details of the amount and timing of imports, saying that Bulog would move cautiously
because of the likely impact Indonesia would have on the world rice market. Indonesia imported 4.8 million
tons of rice in the 1998/1999 fiscal year ending March 31 because of a series of harvest failures largely
attributed to bad weather. Given the huge size of Indonesia's imports, the world rice market has a tendency to
increase prices before the Indonesian government came to the market. ""It is not my intention to conceal
information about the rice tender process, but such exposure would affect prices. If world rice prices increase,
then it will hurt Bulog,"" he said. In July, Bulog appointed IndSingThai Trading of Singapore and King Sun Co.
of Hong Kong to supply a total 800,000 tons of rice from August to May.(02)
Rice stocks sufficient, deputy minister says
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Business | Mon, January 20 2014, 7:05 PM
Deputy Trade Minister Bayu Krisnamurthi says stocks of rice at the Cipinang rice market are sufficient to meet
demand for the next 11-12 days, despite a decline in supply during the last several days due to flooding.“There have
been disruptions in the distribution of rice due to the floods in Karawang and Cirebon, reducing supply to around
2,100 tons per day from 3,000 tons per day,” Bayu said in Jakarta on Monday, as quoted by Antara news agency.
He said current stocks of rice at the Cipinang rice market amounted to around 32,700 tons and additional supplies of
around 2,000 tons were expected, so that rice stocks in Jakarta and several other areas remained
sufficient.“Currently, rice stocks are still at a safe level, as seen from the trading price of rice, which rose by a less
significant amount,” he said.Indramayu‟s northern coastal highway (Pantura), which passes through Eretan
Kandanghaur and continues to Subang, remains cut off by floodwater. This has caused severe traffic congestion
between Cikamurang in Indramayu regency, West Java, and Subang, hampering the supply of rice to Jakarta.Overall,
Bayu said, the price of basic commodities were relatively stable.
Even if there were price increases, they would only be between 1 and 3 percent, he said.“What we should pay
attention to are fish and horticultural products because they have been the worst-hit by the current extreme weather,”
Bayu said. He said the ministry was continuing to monitor the price of basic commodities in 10 cities across
Indonesia. (ebf)
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4. PH expected to import rice anew to beef up stock
By Ronnel W. Domingo,Philippine Daily Inquirer
8:46 pm | Sunday, January 19th, 2014
The Philippines is expected to import more rice in 2014 than previously estimated as the government moves to
beef up its buffer stocks.The US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which keeps tabs on the global market,
has raised its projection on Philippines‟ importation by 200,000 tons to 1.4 million tons.The United States is
among the world‟s top exporters of milled rice while the Philippines is one of the world‟s top rice importers.The
USDA‟s Economic Research Service (ERS) said in its latest outlook report that the revised forecast was based
on data from the US Agricultural Office in Manila, which indicates that Malacañang wants to increase its
stockpile.The USDA-ERS, in a report issued in December, had also revised upward its projection for the
Philippines‟ importation by 100,000 tons.Back then, the revision was based on early estimates of losses caused
by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” and government announcements regarding additional imports.Shipments of a
500,000-metric-ton purchase from Vietnam that was arranged following a bidding last
Finance Min meets BAAC over rice payment amid rejection from labor union
Date : 20 มกราคม 2557
BANGKOK, 20 January 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Finance has discussed with the Bank for Agriculture
and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) over the plan to use the bank‟s liquidity to pay farmers in the rice
pledging scheme while the BAAC labor union has voiced strong objection to such a move. In his capacity as
BAAC Chairman, Deputy Finance Minister Tanusak Lek-uthai today convened with officials from the bank in a
bid to find methods to make overdue payment to a large number of farmers who participated in the rice
mortgage program and had yet to be reimbursed.
He said more clarity was expected in the near future and the 55-billion-baht fund to be borrowed from the
BAAC‟s liquidity in accordance with the government‟s plan would be paid out soon. Mr Tanusak urged the
troubled farmers to remain patient, assuring that all of them would receive their money. He added that he had
talked with BAAC executives and understood their worries about the government‟s use of the bank‟s liquidity
to clear the debt. He said the measure had been implemented before and it was necessary since all sides wished
to put an end to the problem as quickly as possible. The deputy minister vowed that both the capital and interest
would be repaid to the bank whenever the government regained its financial strength. In the meantime, the
BAAC labor union has made a declaration in regard to the 55-billion-baht borrowing. The union threatened to
sack the bank‟s board members and wear black to work as an act of civil disobedience unless the borrowing
plan was called off. It claimed the action would have nothing to do with the current anti-government movement
but would only seek to protect people‟s money deposited with the bank from being exploited.
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5. National Food Authority: Importing rice without permits is smuggling
January 20, 2014 10:03pm
Tags: Davao City
Only the National Food Authority (NFA) is allowed to import rice. Therefore, all shipments to rice importers
are considered smuggling unless given permits, NFA spokesman Rex Estoperez said Monday.On GMA News'
"Balitanghali" aired Monday, NFA spokesperson Rex Estoperez said the agency's authority to import rice is
based on Presidential Decree 4 and Republic Act 7178 or the Agricultural Tariffication Act.He said the
government confiscated rice shipments in Davao because the importer failed to complete the requirements to
import rice which include a permit to import as well as tariff documents from the Bureau of Customs.According
to the Bureau of Customs, the shipments consist of 3.3 tons of rice in 167 container vans, which are part of
nearly 2,000 container vans held by the bureau since September 2013 for lack of import permits.
Estoperez said rice importers need to complete the documents before shipping rice into the country.— Danessa O. Rivera/JDS,
GMA News
Fears of a dry spell
AHMAD FRAZ KHAN
Updated 2014-01-20 14:20:19
With Rabi season so far receiving exceptionally low rainfall from October
to December, and the meteorological forecast that the next three months
would hold the pattern, the agriculture cycle is in real trouble. According
to the meteorological data, the country received 28 per cent less rains
during October and December last year.The provincial variations were even
more disastrous resulting in Punjab suffering a 20 per cent rain shortage
whereas Sindh sustained 72 per cent deficit.
December was particularly harsh as national shortage rose to a horrendous 92 per cent, with Sindh suffering
at 97 per cent.The meteorological officials say the national loss would persist at above 30 per cent, with
regional variations taking additional toll. This rain loss would be on the top of frosty weather, which
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6. regularly pushes farm temperature below the freezing point during nights.To add third dimension to this
crisis is national canal water shortages, which are estimated at 16 per cent for the remaining Rabi season.
At this point of time, this three-dimensional crisis is causing huge concerns among the provincial planners
and farmers.Apart from fears that stem from individual orchards farmers, the emerging national worry is
now wheat – the staple. The anxiety particularly severe due to role that favourable weather played in wheat
production during the last one decade, especially in the last five years. It has been healthy showers during
January and February that helped the crop to improve yield. Relatively mild March capped each production
year in the last few years. These were healthy rains last year that generated a huge biomass on the crop and
led to initial mirage of a bumper yield.Apart from weather vagaries, what worsens the provincial planners‟
fears is the fact that even during these five good harvests, Pakistan has not been able to achieve around 24
million tonnes target.
If unfriendly climate, as farmers fear, takes 10 to 15 per cent toll on yield this year, the farmers would suffer
losses and Pakistan may have to import somewhere close to over two million tonnes of wheat this year. Even
with favourable wheather, import of over 800,000 tonnes of commodity has been incurred so far this year.
To make the matter worse, the import has not been able to stabilise the domestic market, which has been
precarious: in many parts of Punjab wheat price has touched Rs1,500 per 40Kg.Farmers claim they would be
left with two options, both exceptionally expensive. They either have to compromise on production or
supplement irrigation requirements with pumping out ground water. In either case, their cost of production
would go up substantially. Two diesel-driven watering would cost them around Rs8,000 per acre.The
Irrigation Department maintains that the rain pattern was part of its planning and it was on the basis of these
losses they calculated 16 per cent water shortage. The loss was factored in the calculation and later in
planning stages for canal operation. All canals that run through the frosty areas would get preference and so
would be canals that run through areas that take rain losses.
The department is alive to the situation and trying to contain losses to „some extent‟. However, they concede
that losses would be particularly high on over two million acres that fall in the rain-fed areas.These rain-fed
areas run another equally huge risk in gram crop, which falls fifth on national list after wheat (22 million
acres), cotton (eight million acres), rice (six million acres) and maize (three million acres). On average, it is
sown on 2.7 million acres, which is more than much celebrated cane crop, which covers only 2.2 million
acres. The gram crop is in real danger because of frost and lack of rain.
Incidentally, the crop falls in the most under-developed areas – Bhakkar, Jhang, Mianwali, Khushab and
Layyah – of the province, where farmers have very limited financial capacity to take losses.Apart from these
two major crop losses, mango, citrus and guava are also in for huge trouble. In fact, guava has already started
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7. disappearing from the market and mango and citrus are suffering on quality and size.These climatic
variations also call for more active planning.
Rice farmers urged not to do off-season farming
Date : 18 มกราคม 2557
BANGKOK, 18 Jan 2014 (NNT) - The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has called on farmers living along
the Chao Phraya River to refrain from off-season rice farming as the amount of rain this year is relatively
low. Deputy Director General Suthep Noipiroj said the amount of water being supplied from various dams into
the Chao Phraya would be sufficient only for the off-season rice cropping that started in November or
December last year. The volume would not be enough for another off-season farming to begin in February this
year. He emphasized that farmers would waste both time and money if they insisted on doing the second rice
crop. Moreover, he said, the interim government could not guarantee financial compensations for agricultural
loss, and neither could it ask for emergency assistance to solve disaster . According to the RID Deputy Director
General, a total of 6.72 million rai of land have already been planted with off-season rice, or 42% more than the
RID‟s target. Only 4.74 million rai of the rice plantations would be fed with irrigated water.
Iraq issues tender for at least 30,000 T rice
January 19, 2014 2:53 AM
BAGHDAD, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Iraq issued a tender to buy at least 30,000 tonnes of rice, from long-grain supplies
which can be sourced from the United States, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil, a trade ministry statement said on
Sunday.The closing date for the tender is Feb. 2, and offers must stay valid until Feb. 6. (Reporting by Ahmed
Rasheed; Editing by Pravin Char)
Thai farmers add to govt. woes with rice scheme protests
BANGKOK, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Some Thai rice farmers have threatened to switch sides and join protesters
trying to topple the government if they do not get paid for their crop, a worrying development for Prime
Minister Yingluck Shinawatra whose support is based on the rural vote.Anti-government protests, now in their
third month, have closed off parts of the capital in the latest instalment of Thailand‟s eight-year political conflict
that has seen sporadic outbreaks of violence.In a sign of the impact on Southeast Asia‟s second-biggest
economy, the Thai unit of auto giant Toyota Motor Corp said it might reconsider a planned $600 million
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8. investment, and even cut output, if the unrest drags on.A scheme under which farmers are guaranteed an abovemarket price for their rice has been a centrepiece of the government‟s programme but, as financing strains
mount, some are complaining they have been waiting three or four months to be paid.Prom Boonmachoey,
leader of a farmers‟ group in central Suphan Buri province, said a delegation would visit lawyers on Tuesday.
If there was no way to get compensation, thousands more would join the anti-government protests, he
said.“The Thai Lawyers Council is our consultant and it will help us file a lawsuit against the government,”
Prom told Reuters. If they cannot get payment, the farmers want their rice back so they can resell it, no matter
how low the price, he said.The protests in Bangkok pit the middle class and royalist establishment against the
mainly poorer supporters of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her brother, ex-premier Thaksin
Shinawatra, who was toppled by the military in 2006.The rural vote brought Yingluck‟s Puea Thai Party to
power in 2011 with a sweeping populist platform.But the rice programme that formed part of it meant that
Thailand, once the world‟s biggest rice exporter, was priced out of the global market.
It left the country with a mountain of unsold grain and the government‟s intervention scheme running into
funding problems.Small protests have been popping up around the rice-growing regions in the centre, north and
northeast. The latter two are Puea Thai strongholds, a worry for Yingluck ahead of a general election she has
called for Feb. 2, and which the opposition has said it will boycott.Her brother Thaksin is still adored by many
in the countryside for the policies he introduced such as cheap healthcare and loans for businesses in the
villages, and he is seen as the power behind Yingluck‟s government.He has chosen to live in exile in Dubai
rather than serve a prison sentence for abuse of power handed down in 2008. The protests in Bangkok since
November were sparked by a government attempt to force through a broad political amnesty that would have
allowed him to return home a free man.Although the protests have been mostly peaceful, violent incidents are
picking up.
One man was killed and dozens of people were wounded, some seriously, when grenades were thrown at antigovernment protesters in the city centre on Friday and Sunday.National Security Council chief Paradorn
Pattantabutr said on Monday the authorities were seriously considering imposing a state of emergency, and that
could be discussed on Tuesday by the body handling security matters related to the protests.The emergency
decree would give security agencies broad powers to impose curfews, detain suspects without charge, censor
media, ban political gatherings of more than five people and declare parts of the country off limits.
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9. Foodgrain output to exceed 260 mt this year: Pranab
PTI
President Pranab Mukherjee along with Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar during the inauguration of new facilities of Krishi Vigyan
Kendra (KVK) and IEP in Animal Husbandry in Baramati, Pune on Sunday.
NEW DELHI, JAN 19:
India‟s foodgrain production is expected to touch a record high and cross 260 million tonne this year, President
Pranab Mukherjee said today, during his visit to Baramati, the constituency of Agriculture Minister Sharad
Pawar.He also called for greater awareness about genetically modified (GM) crops to address public
concerns.He was speaking at a conference of vice chancellors of agricultural universities, directors of ICARs
and farmers in Baramati.Improve awareness and biotech education to allay public concerns on GM crops, said
the President.The President referred to the benefits that India has got through cultivation of Bt cotton and the
wide adoption of GM crops, though he said there was a need to pursue “these new technologies for the benefits
they provide.
”“The development of transgenic crop varieties having the
novel trait of insect resistance, herbicide tolerance and hybrid
production has led to significant cultivation of GM crops.
These crops currently occupy 170 million hectares in 28
developed and developing countries. In India, Bt cotton has
boosted production and enhanced export earnings,”
Mukherjee said.India is targeting record foodgrain production
in the current fiscal.Pointing out that the agriculture sector
was a part of a dynamic and increasingly globalised world
economy, he called for “the development and
institutionalisation of user friendly knowledge systems to
support decision making by various client groups.”“A greater
understanding of market intelligence mechanisms, good trade practices and legal aspects of the multilateral
trade regime and intellectual property rights is necessary,” the President added.The current record is 259 million
tonne production achieved in 2011-12, after which the production had slipped to 255 million tonne in 2012-13.
(This article was published on January 19, 2014)
Keywords: India, India foodgrain output, India foodgrain production
Thai rice farmers threaten 'final showdown' if demands not met
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10. The Nation/Asia News Network
Sunday, Jan 19, 2014
THAILAND - Rice farmers continued to
block the road in front of the Buri Ram
provincial government complex for the
second day running yesterday.They were
demanding that the government make
overdue payments under the controversial
rice-pledging scheme by January 25, along
with interest for the delay.If their demands
are not met, the farmers said they would sue
the government and escalate the protests,
culminating in a "final showdown".
Representatives of the 1,000-strong rally yesterday submitted their five-point resolution to provincial Governor
Thongchai Leu-adul.The letter said they had established the Buri Ram farmers' network as the coordinating
agency in their battle for justice.They have set January 25 as the deadline for the government to make the
overdue payments, the letter said.In addition, they are also demanding that the government pay interest on the
overdue payments by reducing the interest rate on farmers' debts at the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural
Cooperatives. The newly established Buri Ram farmers' network plans to sue the Cabinet for compensation if
the government fails to meet their January 25 deadline.
It is also threatening to escalate its activities, by joining other protesting farmers - bringing the situation "to the
level of a final showdown".Thongchai said he would report the farmers' demands to the government as soon as
possible after which the protesters dispersed.Meanwhile, some 800 rice farmers from five northern provinces
continued to block one lane of the Asia Highway 117 in Phichit's Bueng Na Rang district for the second day
yesterday, and vowed to remain until the government paid them for the pledged rice.They threatened to call for
the removal of the government if their demands were not met.Farmers from other districts of Phichit were also
invited to join their protest.Organisers said they planned to amass more than 10,000 protesters soon.
Rice seen ruling range-bound
KARNAL, JAN. 20:
The rice market witnessed a steady trend with the prices of aromatic and non-basmati rice ruling with nominal
fluctuation on their previous levels on Monday.In the absence of any major market-moving factors, rice prices
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11. have been ruling with nominal alterations, said Amit Chandna, Proprietor of Hanuman Rice Trading Company.
Despite some correction last week, rice prices are still ruling high and retail traders are keeping away from the
market, as they are reluctant to make fresh purchase on current levels, he said.Demand is generally low around
this time of the year and uncertain weather is also hitting the trade, he said.According to sources, the market
may continue to rule range-bound for the next few days.
In the physical market, Pusa-1121 (steam) sold at Rs 9,100-50 , while Pusa-1121 (sela) was quoted at Rs 8,075
a quintal. Pure Basmati (raw) was quoted at Rs 12,500. Duplicate basmati (steam) was sold at Rs 7,000. Pusa1121 (second wand) was sold at Rs 7,000, Tibar at Rs 6,000, and Dubar at Rs 5,000.
In the non-basmati section, Sharbati (steam) sold at Rs 5,000, while Sharbati (sela) was quoted at Rs 4,800 a
quintal. Permal (raw) was sold at Rs 2,300 , Permal (sela) at Rs 2,325 , PR-11 (sela) sold at Rs 2,900, and PR11 (raw) at Rs 2,820. PR14 (steam) was sold at Rs 3,200.
Paddy Arrivals
About 8,000 bags of different paddy varieties arrived at the Karnal Grain Market Terminal. About 5,000 bags of
Pusa-1121 arrived and went for Rs 4,200-50, 1,000 bags of Sharbati went for Rs 2,200, while 2,000 bags of PR
was sold at Rs 1,300-25 a quintal.
(This article was published on January 20, 2014)
Keywords: Rice market, steady trend, aromatic rice, non-basmati rice
Samba paddy harvest begins in Tiruchi
Farmers expect the yield to be normal this season; problem of labour shortage looms large
Harvesting of samba paddy has begun in Tiruchi district and is expected to reach the peak over the next couple
of weeks. Paddy has been raised on about 46,000 hectares (ha) in the district, including 37,000 ha in the canalirrigated delta areas, sources in the Agriculture Department said. Although the department was expecting
another 31,000 ha to be covered in the non-delta areas, about 9,000 ha was covered in these areas owing to the
absence of rainfall.Farmers in some parts of the district have already begun harvesting the crop over the last few
days and initial reports indicate the yield is normal.
“We are expecting the yield to be normal this season. Farmers are reporting a yield of 35 to 40 bags (of 60 kg)
at Panikampatti and neighbouring villages,” said R. Subramanian, deputy secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers
Welfare Association.Although the crop in some villages on the Tiruchi-Karur border was affected by rice blast
disease, farmers‟ representatives say there may not be much impact.“The disease was contained to a large extent
and there may be a slight drop in yield in a few villages. But for this, the yield is expected to be normal,” said
Puliyur A.Nagarajan, president, Tamil Nadu Horticulture Crop Producers Association. Harvesting will pick up
over the next few days and completed in about 15 days in most places, except in villages where farmers have
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12. gone in for a late crop, he said.However, the problem of labour shortage looms large. Given the shortage and
steep rise in wages, many farmers are opting for harvestors, which is much cheaper.
“For harvesting the crop in an acre manually, we have to give away seven or eight bags of paddy towards wages
which works out Rs. 7,000. Using machines is much cheaper, even if we were to hire private harvestors at a
maximum of Rs. 2,500 an acre,” said Mr. Subramanian.Concurring with the view, Mr. Nagarajan said hiring
machines from the Agricultural Engineering Department would be even cheaper.P. Ayyakannu, State vice
president, Bharathiya Kisan Sangam, wanted the Agricultural Engineering Department to make available at
least two harvestors a block for being rented by farmers during the harvest season.Sources in the department
said that currently four harvestors were available in the district and depending on the demand, additional
machines would be brought in from neighbouring districts.
Keywords: Samba paddy, Samba production, Tiruchi district, Tiruchi farmers, labour shortage, Agriculture Department, rice
blast disease
TABLE-India Grain Prices-Delhi-Jan 20
Mon Jan 20, 2014 3:03pm IST
Rates by Asian News International, New Delhi
Tel: 011 2619 1464
Indicative
Previous
Grains
opening
close
(in rupees per 100 kg unless stated)
---------------------------------------------------------Wheat Desi
2,100-3,000
2,000-3,000.
Wheat Dara
1,800-2,000
1,750-1,850.
Atta Chakki (per 10 Kg)
215-240
215-240.
Roller Mill (per bag)
1,900-2,100
1,825-2,025.
Maida (per bag)
2,000-2,100
2,000-2,100.
Sooji (per bag)
1,950-2,050
1,925-2,025.
Rice Basmati(Sri Lal Mahal) 12,200-14,500 12,200-14,500
Rice Basmati(Lal Quila)
12,000-14,500 12,000-14,500
Rice Basmati(Common)
8,500-9,500
8,500-9,500.
Rice Permal
2,100-2,400
2,000-2,300.
Rice Sela
2,900-3,100
2,900-3,100.
I.R.-8
1,875-2,025
1,875-2,025.
Gram
3,150-3,250
3,150-3,250.
Peas Green
3,050-3,550
3,100-3,600.
Peas White
2,850-3,050
2,850-3,050.
Bajra
1,300-1,650
1,300-1,650.
Jowar white
1,500-2,200
1,500-2,200.
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13. Maize
Barley
Guwar
1,400-1,600
1,350-1,425
3,300-3,900
1,425-1,625.
1,350-1,425.
3,300-3,900.
Source: Delhi grain market traders.
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-Jan 20
Mon Jan 20, 2014 3:09pm IST
Nagpur, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Gram prices in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee
(APMC)showed weak tendency on lack of demand from local millers amid high moisture content
arrival. Fresh fall on NCDEX and downward trend in Madhya Pradesh gram prices also affected
sentiment in thin trading activity, according to sources.
*
*
*
*
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Gram varieties reported higher in open market on renewed festival season demand from
local traders amid tight supply from millers.
TUAR
* Tuar gavarani quoted strong in open market on good buying support from local
traders amid thin supply from producing belts.
* Moong varieties touched to a record high in open market on increased demand from
local traders. Reports about weak production in this season and thin overseas supply
also pushed up prices.
* In Akola, Tuar - 4,100-4,200, Tuar dal - 6,200-6,400, Udid at 5,000-5,300,
Udid Mogar (clean) - 6,100-6,600, Moong - 7,000-7,200, Moong Mogar
(clean) 8,400-8,600, Gram - 2,600-2,700, Gram Super best bold - 3,600-3,800
for 100 kg.
* Wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market
in thin trading activity, according to sources.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
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14. FOODGRAINS
Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction
2,500-2,590
2,550-2,720
Gram Pink Auction
n.a.
2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction
n.a.
3,800-4,050
Moong Auction
n.a.
4,400-4,600
Udid Auction
n.a.
4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction
n.a.
2,600-2,800
Gram Super Best Bold
3,900-4,100
3,800-4,000
Gram Super Best
n.a.
Gram Medium Best
3,600-3,800
3,500-3,700
Gram Dal Medium
n.a.
n.a.
Gram Mill Quality
3,400-3,500
3,300-3,400
Desi gram Raw
2,900-3,000
2,800-2,900
Gram Filter Yellow
n.a.
n.a.
Gram Kabuli
7,900-10,300
7,900-10,300
Gram Pink
7,700-8,100
7,700-8,100
Tuar Fataka Best
6,600-6,800
6,600-6,800
Tuar Fataka Medium
6,100-6,300
6,100-6,300
Tuar Dal Best Phod
5,800-6,000
5,800-6,000
Tuar Dal Medium phod
5,400-5,600
5,400-5,600
Tuar Gavarani
4,500-4,600
4,400-4,500
Tuar Karnataka
4,550-4,650
4,550-4,650
Tuar Black
7,300-7,400
7,300-7,400
Masoor dal best
5,400-5,500
5,400-5,500
Masoor dal medium
5,100-5,300
5,100-5,300
Masoor
n.a.
n.a.
Moong Mogar bold
9,000-9,200
8,700-8,900
Moong Mogar Medium best
8,500-8,700
8,200-8,400
Moong dal super best
7,800-8,100
7,500-7,800
Moong dal Chilka
7,300-7,500
7,000-7,200
Moong Mill quality
n.a.
n.a.
Moong Chamki best
6,800-7,600
6,500-7,300
Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 6,800-7,000
6,800-7,000
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,400-6,200
5,400-6,200
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)
4,600-4,800
4,600-4,800
Batri dal (100 INR/KG)
3,800-4,600
3,800-4,600
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)
3,100-3,200
3,100-3,200
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)
3,200-3,300
3,200-3,300
Watana White (100 INR/KG)
3,200-3,300
3,100-3,200
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,500
4,200-4,500
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)
1,750-1,850
1,750-1,850
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15. Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,800-1,900
1,700-1,800
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)
1,700-1,900
1,700-1,900
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,150-2,500
2,150-2,500
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,100
2,000 -2,100
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a.
n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,700
3,200-3,700
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,800-2,900
2,800-2,900
Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG)
1,600-1,700
1,600-1,750
Wheat Best (100 INR/KG)
1,650-1,750
1,650-1,750
Rice BPT (100 INR/KG)
3,000-3,300
3,000-3,300
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG)
1,800-1,850
1,800-1,850
Rice Swarna Best (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,700
2,600-2,700
Rice Swarna Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,450
2,300-2,450
Rice HMT (100 INR/KG)
4,100-4,400
4,100-4,400
Rice HMT Shriram (100 INR/KG) 4,500-5,000
4,800-5,000
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 11,000-13,500
11,000-13,500
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,300-7,600
6,300-7,600
Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG)
5,500-5,800
5,500-5,800
Rice Chinnor Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,100-5,300
5,100-5,300
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)
1,400-1,600
1,400-1,600
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)
1,700-1,800
1,700-1,800
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 26.2 degree Celsius (79.2 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
15.0 degree Celsius (59.0 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : nil
FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and Minimum temperature likely to be around 28 and 16 degree
Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but
included in market prices.)
Union: No GSB funding for rice scheme
Published: 20 Jan 2014 at 12.39
Members of the labour union of the Government Savings Bank will fight against any decision allowing the
government to borrow GSB funds to finance the rice pledging scheme, the union said in a statement released on
Monday.The release of the statement was prompted by a report that the GSB would allow the government to
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16. use the people's deposits to pay farmers owed money under the rice pledging scheme."Dear fellow SGB staff
and employees, the union would like to assure you that we are duty-bound to protect our organisation and the
people's deposits with our honour and dignity. ''Whoever thinks about subverting our bank will certainly
meet doom. The union will fight to the end," the statement said.GSB director Voravit Chailimpamontri said the
report was not correct. The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BACC) is directly responsible
for the scheme, he said.The report might have derived from a misunderstanding, he said.
Training programme seeks to boost rice production
Published on Tuesday, 21 January 2014 00:53 ,Written by MARY RAMADHANI
THE Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives is holding ten-day training on supervision of rice
farming and storage, starting.According to the Deputy Director of Agricultural Mechanisation, Engineer Mark
Lyimo, the training involves 14 extension officers, 84 farmers from 14 different irrigation schemes from
regional committees of Mbeya, Morogoro, Tanga, Arusha, Iringa, Kilimanjaro, Manyara and Ruvuma."Rural
Urban Development Initiative (RUDI) will also participate in the training as private sectors are also encouraged
to get involved in improving agriculture in the country."Some of the issues to be discussed during the training
involve proper production, pressing out rice grains and its methods, proper preservation, packaging and
labelling the product focusing on the market," he added.
He also said that the main aim of the training is providing education to technical and extension officers and
farmers in irrigation schemes so that they can be able to use modern technology in production, harvesting and
storage; this will increase the value of rice products and add productivity to small farmers in irrigation areas in
the nation.Moreover, he said, another topic will cover better production methods of rice and proper usage of
modern machines in rice farming that will be provided by the government in 14 schemes under the Tanzania
Agricultural Sector Development Project (PHRD) project.He further added that the execution of the training is
part of the implementation of the Big Results Now (BRN) government plan in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food
Security and Cooperatives; where rice is one of the crops given priority in increasing productivity and profit.
Rice bond sale adds new risk
Published: 20 Jan 2014 ,Newspaper section: Business
The Finance Ministry has raised 32.6 billion baht from selling bonds to repay rice farmers, a move that puts the
caretaker government at risk of breaching election law.The notes were issued through the existing fund-raising
programme of the state-owned Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC).The book-building
process for the 2.865-year bonds occurred last Thursday, an informed ministry source said, adding that the
accepted coupon rate is 3.53%, the same rate as the BAAC's 37-billion-baht bonds sold earlier.The latest batch
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17. of the bonds is part of the bank's existing 75-billion-baht bonds guaranteed by the Finance Ministry and put on
sales last November, but only 37 billion baht was sold at the time.The BAAC will receive the proceeds from the
sale this Thursday to pay farmers who pledged paddy from the current main crop.
The Finance Ministry believes the sale does not violate Section 181 of the constitution, which prohibits a
caretaker government from spending money on new projects or creating debt burden for the next government.It
reasons the borrowing is part of the existing bond plan, which had been approved before the government
became a caretaker.Even though the sale could pose a threat to the Pheu Thai Party, it is a do-or-die situation, as
the party could lose many votes in the upcoming election if the rice farmers do not get paid.The troubled ricepledging scheme was initiated by the Yingluck Shinawatra government in 2011 to fulfil a campaign pledge.It
has since been criticised by academics and the opposition Democrats for corruption loopholes and hefty
losses.The programme buys paddy at 15,000 to 20,000 baht a tonne, 40-50% higher than market prices.Besides
the risk of breaching election law, the caretaker government may face more legal hurdles after the National
Anti-Corruption Commission found irregularities in the scheme and brought corruption charges against former
commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and his deputy Poom Sarapol.
The commission has also launched a probe against caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck for negligence of
duty.For the 2013-14 main crop from Oct 1 to Feb 28, a total of 10 million tonnes of paddy worth 100 billion
baht have been pledged so far, but only half the amount has been paid.As executor of the programme, the
BAAC ran out of money to pay farmers, while rice sales arranged by the Commerce Ministry has not brought in
enough money to repay them.Since the House dissolution on Dec 9, the Commerce Ministry has been reluctant
to proceed with the sales for fear of breaching election law.It has asked the Election Commission to approve
some government-to-government sales but said the reply, although giving it the green light, lacks clarity about
prices and delivery dates.The ministry has so far obtained 180 billion baht from rice sales, short of the target of
10 billion baht a month.
Commerce Ministry urges state banks to help pay for rice-pledging
Published: 20 Jan 2014 at 19.45,Online news: Local News
The Commerce Ministry is urging the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) to pay
another 100 billion baht to farmers owed money under the rice-pledging scheme since the initiative was
approved before parliament was dissolved at the end of last year.
Staff at the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives wore
black clothes in symbolic opposition to any use of the bank's liquidity to
finance the government's rice-pledging scheme. (Photo by Pattanapong
Hirunard).Caretaker Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Phuangrach
said the BAAC should act on behalf of government because the ricepledging project has generated income for the bank in the past and all
management and interests fees associated with any payments will be
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18. covered by the state.“The BAAC faces no risk at all and the bank will also get risk management fee. It is
necessary for the government to seek assistance, but this is not free assistance,” said Mr Yanyong.Mr Yanyong
also urged the union of Government Saving Bank (GSB) and Krungthai Bank "to think carefully” about their
stance on the rice-scheme.Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban on Sunday night warned People‟s
Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) rally-goers that the government may try to borrow cash from stateowned GSB or Krungthai to fund its ailing rice scheme.
Members of the GSB labour union on Monday morning issued a statement vowing to oppose any decision to
allow government to borrow GSB funds to finance rice-pledging.But GSB director Voravit Chailimpamontri
later made assurances that GSB funding would not be used for the cash-strapped initiative.Anti-government
protesters under the PDRC on Monday morning marched to the GSB headquarters in Saphan Kwai area to
pressure the bank not to allow its funds to be used in the rice-pledging scheme.
Also on Monday morning, BAAC staff wore black clothes to work at the bank's headquarters on KasetNavamin Road. They wore the sombre attire to air opposition to a rumour that senior managers are considering
using the bank‟s liquidity to finance the rice-pledging project. However, the bank's board meeting was called off
on Monday.Mr Yanyong said government had paid a total of 680 billion baht to farmers for rice crops from
2011 to 2013. The Commerce Ministry‟s Foreign Trade Department has sold rice stocks to the tune of 180
billion baht, he said, adding that it will continue to sell rice to countries including to China under governmentto-government contracts.
Farmers from Pichit, Nakhon Sawan, Sukothai, Kamphaengphet and
Phitsanulok meanwhile blockaded the Asia Highway for the fourth day in a
row, demanding that government make clear when they will receive money
owed to them under the rice-pledging scheme.A group of farmers in
Uttaradit blocked a road in the province for the same reason, while farmers
from Chainat and Chiang Rai went to their provincial halls to seek answers
on when they can expect to be paid for rice sold to government. Those in
Phetchabun also gathered to protest and call for overdue rice-pledging
scheme payments.Protesters blow whistles in front of the Government
Savings Bank to campaign against its funds being used to shore-up the rice-pledging scheme. (Photo by
Pornprom Sarttarbhaya).
People's Democratic Reform Committee - PDRC
January 19 at 5:28pm ·
Rice bond sale adds new risk: B32.6bn issue may breach election law (Bangkok Post excerpts, 20 Jan.
2014).The Finance Ministry has raised 32.6 billion baht from selling bonds to repay rice farmers, a move that
puts the caretaker government at risk of breaching election law. The notes were issued through the the existing
fund-raising programme of the state-owned Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC). The
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19. BAAC will receive the proceeds from the sale this Thursday to pay farmers who pledged paddy from the
current main crop. The Finance Ministry believes the sale does not violate Section 181 of the constitution,
which prohibits a caretaker government from spending money on new projects or creating debt burden for the
next for the next government.
It reasons the borrowing is part of the existing bond plan, which had been approved before the government
became a caretaker. Even though the sale could pose a threat to the Pheu Thai Party, it is a do-or-die situation,
as the party could lose many votes in the upcoming election if the rice farmers do not get paid. Besides the risk
of breaching election law, the caretaker government may face more legal hurdles after the National AntiCorruption Commission found irregularities in the scheme and brought corruption charges against former
commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and his deputy Poom Sarapol. For the 2013-14 main crop from Oct
1 to Feb 28, a total of 10 million tonnes of paddy worth 100 billion baht have been pledged so far, but only half
the amount has been paid.
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