26th may ,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
May 26 ,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...
 Dar orders availability of agricultural credit to farmers
 Teams formed to monitor Ramzan relief package, USC informs
Senate body
 Uganda Spends Shs367 Billion Monthly On Rice Imports - Official
 Asia Rice-Thai prices steady on limited supply, Vietnam rates ease
 Local farmers take part in rice farm research tour
 Rice, rice paradise?
 India’s Monsoon Seen Strongest in 22 Years as La Nina Looms
 Drought affected plantains and rice crops
 U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance Shares Consumer Research, a
Good Road Map Forward
 Rice growers wrap up near-normal planting season
 AIREA All India Rice Exporters Association : Yes, Rice Has Arsenic,
but Here's Why You Don't Need to Panic
 Rice sold on government auctions cannot be delivered because of
different qualities
 Govt hopes over 270-mn tonne foodgrains production in 2016-17
 IRRI warns of another rice shortage
 Ministry Finishes Valuing Rice Exporters
 New Philippine president to face early test over food security
 Drought and government inaction hit Cambodia’s rice industry hard
 Buying house in capital region takes willingness to beat asking price
 New Philippine president to face early test over food security
 M.L. Panadda honors outstanding agro-researchers
 Quick vegetable pulao by Indian cook Mallika Basu
 APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1480
 APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1481
 05/25/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report
 05/24/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report
News Detail...

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Dar orders availability of agricultural credit to farmers
 Islamabad
BY INP
After failure of crops of cotton, maize and rice that affected the GDP growth for the current
financial year, Federal Minister for Finance Senator Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting on Wednesday
to review the provision of agriculture credit, particularly by public sector banks to the farmers to
increase agriculture production. The secretary finance, deputy governor State Bank of Pakistan,
CEOs of National Bank of Pakistan and Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited and senior officials of the
ministry of finance attended the meeting.
In the meeting, issues pertaining to the agriculture sector, particularly losses incurred by the
agriculturists in respect of cotton and rice crops were discussed. It was also pointed out that the
mark-up rates charged on agriculture credit by the banks need to be reviewed. In view thereof,
the finance minister urged upon the public sector financial institutions like NBP and ZTBL to
review the mark-up rates for agriculture credit, particularly in view of the reduction in overall
policy rate recently announced by the State Bank of Pakistan.

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The heads of the banks assured that they would immediately finalise specific measures for
increasing availability of agricultural credit and rationalise mark-up rates which will enhance
agricultural growth in the country
http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/05/25/city/islamabad/dar-orders-availability-of-
agricultural-credit-to-farmers/
Teams formed to monitor Ramzan relief package, USC informs
Senate body
The Utility Stores Corporation (USC) informed the
Senate Committee on Industries and Production that it
has constituted as many as nine monitoring teams
besides designating 153 officials for effective
monitoring of Ramzan Package during the holy month
of Ramazan.The Senate Committee, which met here
under chairmanship of Senator Hidayatullah, was
attended by Senators Mrs Khalida Parveen, Chaudhry
Tanvir Khan, Mst Kalsoom Parveen, Mian Muhamamd
Ateeq Shaikh, Khanzada Khan and Mohsin Aziz.USC
Managing Director Gulzar Hussain Shah informed the
committee that the ministry of industries and
production would also constitute monitoring teams of other departments under its control to
ensure the relief reaches to the deserving.
In addition, a separate operation room will be set up at USC Head Office, Islamabad, to receive
complaints related to pricing, quality and non-availability of commodities at the outlets.
Hussain informed the committee that the USC would provide subsidy on 22 items to facilitate
people during the holy month.
Talking about the distribution system, he said that the subsidised items would be available on
5,455 utility store outlets all across the country. In addition, the items would also be made
available at 300 Ramazan Bazaars established all across Punjab.
He informed the committee that utility ghee/oil will be available from Rs 115-125 per kg
compared to 125-175 per kg market prices, dall channa would be available at Rs 120 per kg
compared to 150-160 per kg in the open market, dall moong (washed) at Rs 148 per kg compared
to Rs170-180 per kg while dall mash (washed) would be available at Rs273 per kg compared to
Rs280-290 per kg in the market.
Similarly, dall masoor would be sold at Rs115 per kg compared to Rs160-180 per kg in the
market, white gram at Rs115 per kg compared to Rs160-180 per kg in the market, Basen at

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Rs120 per kg against Rs155-160 per kg, black gram at Rs110 per kg against Rs140-145 per kg,
Sella broken at Rs40 per kg compared to Rs55-60 per kg whereas mash shell per kg would be
available at Rs258 compared to Rs270-280 per kg.
Likewise, Masoor (whole) would be provided at Rs120 per kg against Rs145-155 per kg, dates at
Rs160 per kg against 200-240 per kg, rice (super basmati) at Rs 72 per kg against Rs 80 to 100
per kg, rice (super sella) at Rs72 per kg against Rs80-100 per kg, broken rice would be available
at Rs48 per kg against Rs55-60 per kg, squashes and syrups (1500ml) at Rs265 against Rs295,
squashes and syrups (800ml) at Rs152 against Rs170, black tea at Rs603 per kg against Rs690
per kg, milk (tetra pack) at Rs102 liter kg against 110 per liter while all USC spices would be
available on 10 per cent discount.
The MD USC said that as much as Rs1751.13 million subsidy would be provided on these items
compared to subsidy of Rs 1134.272 million in 2015, Rs 1316.144 in 2014 and Rs 1795.791 in
2013.
http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/05/25/business/teams-formed-to-monitor-ramzan-relief-
package-usc-informs-senate-body/
Uganda Spends Shs367 Billion Monthly On Rice Imports
- Official
By Stephen Otage
Kampala — Uganda spends about $105m (Shs367b) every month in transport costs to import
rice from Pakistan, yet this money could improve the welfare of Ugandans, an outgoing minister
has said.While signing off a farming partnership between rice farmers in the country and
Kingdom Rice, a new rice milling factory on Tuesday in Namanve Industrial Park, outgoing
State minister for Investment Gabriel Ajedra said Uganda has no reason to continue being ranked
among poor countries of the world because the money Uganda loses to purchase and transport
food like rice that can be locally grown here, explains the amount of money we waste as a
country.
"Last week at the World Economic Forum, it was noted that in 2020, there is going to be a global
food crisis and interestingly, Uganda was mentioned among the six countries in the world which
can avert it if only they fixed their agricultural systems," he said.
Cost of transport
Explaining the Shs367b bill, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) commissioner customs field
services Stephen Magera, who attended the meeting said every month, URA receives 300,000
metric tonnes of rice imported from Pakistan and another 25,000 metric tonnes from Tanzania

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yet the cost of transporting a metric tonne of rice together with other logistical arrangement is
$350 (Shs1.2m) without the actual cost of the rice.
On the same day, Uganda Development Bank and Kingdom Rice signed a Memorandum of
Understanding in which the bank is going to capitalise the rice company to help it raise rice
production in the country.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201605260289.html
Asia Rice-Thai prices steady on limited supply, Vietnam
rates ease
Wednesday, 25 May 2016 21:07
Shoaib-ur-Rehman Siddiqui
HANOI: Thai rice prices held
steady at a two-year high on
limited supply as drought cut
output, while Vietnamese rice
eased slightly on expectations of
fresh grain, traders said on
Wednesday. Quotations for Thai
5-percent broken rice stood at
$418-$420 a tonne, free-on-
board (FOB) Bangkok,
unchanged from last week when
the prices hit the highest since
May 11, 2014. "Output is still
very low because of drought,
and it is hard to find rice to
buy," said Kiattisak
Kallayasirivat, a Bangkok-based
director at Ascend
Commodities-SA.
Limited stock should continue to drive prices further, which could in turn prevent fresh
purchases, he said. Kiattisak has forecast prices to rise to $500 per tonne over the next two
months. "Now that prices are at a two-year high, exporters are also holding on to their stocks," he
said.
"They see that prices are more likely to go up." Regional thin demand has also affected
Vietnam's rice exports, with the market near a standstill, even though export prices have eased as
the early harvest of the summer-autumn crop will bring fresh grain soon, traders said.

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A drop in demand from the Philippines and China affected Vietnam's grain sales, exporters said.
Vietnam, the world's third largest rice exporter after India and Thailand, will ship an estimated
2.35 million tonnes of the grain between January and May, down 2.1 percent from a year ago,
the Agriculture Ministry said on Wednesday.
China, which buys half of its annual rice imports from Vietnam, has been keeping its borders
shut to the Vietnamese grain since late March. The 5-percent broken rice, using winter-spring
grain, eased to $375-$380 a tonne, FOB Saigon Port, from $380-$385 last Wednesday, and
prices for the grade using summer-autumn grain also eased to $365-$368 a tonne, from $370-
$375 a week ago.
"The next harvest has not started so supply is tight, but the prospect of fresh rice coming soon
has helped soften the prices," a trader in Ho Chi Minh City said. Despite a slow export flow,
Vietnam's rice shipment is expected to pick up pace in the second half of 2016, mostly due to
China's purchase, which is often conducted late in the year, the Vietnam Food Association said.
China's rice imports in the October 2015/September 2016 crop year is forecast to jump 55
percent to 5.3 million tonnes, according to Shanghai JC Intelligence Co.
http://www.brecorder.com/markets/commodities/asia/298268-asia-rice-thai-prices-steady-
on-limited-supply-vietnam-rates-ease.html
Local farmers take part in rice farm research tour
Wednesday, May 25th 2016, 9:36 pm PKTThursday, May 26th 2016, 4:17 am PKT
By Liz Koh, Reporter

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Southwest Louisiana Rice Farm Research Tour (Source: Liz Koh/KPLC)
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA (KPLC) -
According to the LSU AgCenter, when it comes to rice production, Louisiana ranks third
nationwide."Our goal as researchers is to maintain and increase economic viability of this rice
industry as a whole," said Steve Linscombe, director of the LSU AgCenter Rice Research
Station.Linscombe and his team are making their rounds in north and south Louisiana to relay
their research findings to rice farmers.
Southwest Louisiana took part in a rice farm research tour Wednesday at Jimmy Hoppe's Farm
near Iowa.
"It's a good opportunity for the producers of the parish to come out and see the different varieties
grown here in their parish, on their soils. It's a good opportunity for the farmers to see what the
LSU AgCenter is doing on a local level," said Frances Guidry, LSU AgCenter's assistant county
agent.
The scientists discussed variety development updates, the control of weeds, fertilization along
with insects and diseases.
"One of the main functions of the rice research station is to develop new varieties for our rice
producers here in Louisiana and it's a very time consuming large project," said Linscombe. "On
average a new variety takes about seven years from the initial work we do is making a cross
between two current varieties and we have to go through at least about three or four generations
of segregation to get to the yielding stage. We want at least three years worth of yield data before
we'll make a decision on releasing a new variety."
Linscombe described a new variety as a specific type of long or medium-grain of rice.Even
though the process takes a while, researches hope the results will continue to open more doors
for economic opportunity in the area."It's extremely important, not only for rice producers but for
related industries, for fertilizer salesmen, for the rice mills, for exporting facilities. A lot of rice
goes through the Port of Lake Charles so it's a huge economic impact across the board for this
region of the state," he said.Paul Johnson is a rice grower from Welsh. He has farms in Jeff
Davis and Cameron parishes.
"I try to make every field day that I'm able to. Obviously this is a very busy time of the year for
us, but anytime I can come out here and learn something, I take the opportunity to," said
Johnson. "What really peaked my interests was the talk about the Provisia technology. With all
of the problems we're having with weeding and outcross rice, that's something to look forward to
in the future."
For more information about LSU AgCenter's research, click HERE.
http://www.kplctv.com/story/32062784/local-farmers-take-part-in-rice-farm-research-tour

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Rice, rice paradise?
The increase in wealth in Asia has led to a rise in the consumption of processed and refined food and has
resulted in diseases such as diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure becoming more common.
The Straits Times
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
The New Paper
By Tracy Low
The Health Promotion Board recently targeted white rice in its war against diabetes. Here's a
look at the nutritional value of five types of rice commonly available in Singapore
What is glycaemic index?
The glycaemic index (GI) refers to the ranking of different types of carbohydrates and how
quickly they increase one's blood sugar.
On a scale of 0 to 100, the GI is split into three levels: low (0 to 55), medium (56 to 69) and high
(70 to 100).
Low GI food raises blood glucose level more slowly than high GI food.
GLUTINOUS RICE

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Photo: RedMart
Also known as sticky rice, this rice is used to make the Thai dessert mango sticky rice and the
Chinese dumpling (bak chang).
Glutinous rice requires less water to grow and thus is primarily grown on lowlands and uplands.
Brands available: SongHe, New Moon, Sun Eagle, Jeon Won, PaddyKing
Nutritional information: Glutinous rice is gluten-free and has the highest GI level.
GI level: 86
CALROSE RICE

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Photo: RedMart
Originating from California, this medium grain rice can be used to make sushi. The "Cal" in
Calrose stands for California.

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Agricultural researchers developed the rice after World War II to meet particular conditions for
fertilising, pesticides, frugal use of water and mechanical harvesting.
Brands available: Australian Kangaroo and PaddyKing
GI level: 81
JASMINE RICE
Photo: RedMart

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Originating from South-east Asia, this long grain rice is probably the most common type of white rice eaten in most
households.
It is also known as khao hom mali (Thai for jasmine rice) and is imported mainly from Thailand.
This aromatic rice is commonly used in Asian cuisines.
Brands available: Royal Umbrella, SongHe, Golden Peony, New Moon, Golden Phoenix, Golden
Eagle, Double F.K. AAA
Nutritional information: High in starch content, raises blood sugar levels and insulin in blood.
People with diabetes should cut down their intake.
GI level: 78
BROWN RICE
Photo: RedMart

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Cultivated in various parts of South-east Asia, brown rice is an excellent source of fibre as it still
has its bran and germ.
It is often used as a healthy substitute for white rice and can be eaten with a variety of dishes.
Brands available: Heavenly, Golden Peony, New Moon, SongHe, Golden Phoenix, Origins
Healthfood, Naturel, Diamond G
Nutritional information: Good source of vitamins such as magnesium, vitamin B6 and
manganese, which contribute to maintaining healthy bone structure and metabolism.
GI level: 65
BASMATI RICE
Photo: RedMart
Considered as the "supergrain" of rice, basmati rice hails from the Himalayas in northern India
and Pakistan.
This long grain rice is commonly used in Middle Eastern, Indian and Persian cuisines such as
nasi briyani.

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Brands available: Kohinoor and Tilda
Nutritional information: High in carbohydrates and vitamins such as iron and B vitamins. It is
also free from gluten and cholesterol, and low in fat.
GI level: 64
All of the products mentioned are available online on RedMart.
The glycaemic index levels are provided by the Temasek Polytechnic's Glycemic Index Research
Unit.
Good and bad foods for diabetics
Click on thumbnail to view. Story continues after photos.
(Photos: NST, ST, Reuters, Shutterstock.com)
Low GI white bread to reduce diabetes risk
Biotechnology company Holista Colltech has come up with a formula for low glycaemic index
(GI) white bread, where the low sugar and carbohydrate content is aimed at reducing the risk of
diabetes.
Holista will partner Swiss speciality bakery ingredients supplier Veripan AG to manufacture the
new low GI bread, Panatura GI.
Holista said that its scientifically-based study confirms that white bread mixed with its
proprietary GI lite formula and Veripan's natural sourdough, Panatura, received a GI reading of
53, the lowest level achieved in clean-label white bread.
Holista chief executive Rajen Marnicka and Veripan chief executive officer Meiert Grootes hope
to make Singapore a launchpad in Asia for their low GI white bread.
Mr Grootes said that Singapore has the right infrastructure and a supportive government to create
the perfect environment for further research and development.
The partners are looking into producing other low GI food such as noodles and rice.
"A bowl of rice is equivalent to 10 teaspoons of sugar," said Dr Rajen, adding that "consumers
are uneducated about the dangers of rice".
SWEET

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"When ordering lunch, people order tea that is less sweet, but add more rice to their plate," said
Dr Rajen.
"They do not understand that essentially, rice is sugar."
The increase in wealth in Asia has led to a rise in the consumption of processed and refined food
and has resulted in diseases such as diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure becoming more
common.
Dr Rajen and Mr Grootes are focusing on the industrialisation of healthy carbohydrates and
maintaining price competitiveness of these foods.
"If you provide good pricing, there is no need for so much education to make the jump," said Dr
Rajen.
A consumer is more likely to switch to healthier products if the price is relatively lower.
- This story first appeared in The Business Times on May 24. It has been edited for length
http://yourhealth.asiaone.com/content/rice-rice-paradise#sthash.OSkvEmxz.dpuf
India’s Monsoon Seen Strongest in 22 Years as La Nina
Looms
Pratik Parija
May 24, 2016 — 4:45 PM PKT Updated on May 24, 2016 — 7:19 PM PKT
India is set for the highest monsoon rainfall since 1994 as the odds of a La Nina increase,
boosting planting of rice, corn and oilseed crops.The precipitation during the four-month rainy
season starting in June is seen at 109 percent of the average of about 89 centimeters (35 inches),
more than the 105 percent predicted in April, Skymet Weather Services Pvt., a New Delhi-based
private forecaster, said on its website on Tuesday. The forecast has a margin of error of 4
percent. That’s more than the 106 percent estimated by the state-run India Meteorological
Department.
The prediction for above normal downpour for the first time since 2013 is seen boosting
prospects of agricultural production and ease an acute drinking water shortage caused by back-
to-back droughts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is counting on a normal
monsoon to sustain economic growth and contain food costs after the lowest rainfall since 2009
hurt rice, corn, sugar-cane and oilseed crops last year.

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―The El Nino is tapering off and it will collapse after the onset of monsoon,‖ Jatin Singh,
Skymet’s chief executive said in the statement. ―There are more chances of getting into La Nina
in the later part of this year.‖
La Nina
The tropical Pacific Ocean is in a neutral state and outlooks suggest little chance of indicators
returning to El Nino levels, Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology said Tuesday. That means mid-
May marks the end of the event that reduced Indian rainfall, parched farmland in Asia and
curbed cocoa production in parts of Africa.
Weather watchers are now waiting for La Nina, a cooling of the tropical Pacific sometimes
thought of as El Nino’s opposite. La Nina typically brings more rain to parts of Asia, including
India. Based on the 26 El Nino events since 1900, about 50 percent have been followed by a
neutral year with 40 percent by La Nina, according to the Australian bureau.
QuickTake India's Monsoon
The monsoon affects both summer and winter crop sowing in India, and waters more than half of
all farmland. Rainfall was 14 percent below a 50-year average in 2015, following a 12 percent
shortfall in 2014, data from the meteorological department show. Rains will arrive in Kerala on
June 7 compared with the normal onset date of June 1, according to the weather office.
The area under various monsoon-sown grain crops is set to increase by as much as 20 percent,
boosting production to around 129 million tons to 130 million tons, Skymet said. The country
produced 124 million tons of food grain during the rainy season in 2015, according to farm
ministry data. Planting of soybeans, peanuts, pulses may climb while the area under cotton will
probably reduce marginally, and the area under sugar cane may remain the same as previous
year, Skymet said

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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-24/india-s-monsoon-rain-seen-strongest-in-22-
years-as-la-nina-looms
Drought affected plantains and rice crops
Santo Domingo.- International organization Oxfam, through its
Dominican Republic office, presented a report Wednesday on the
effects of the drought on plantain crops in the province of Bahoruco
and rice in San Pedro de Macorís, during 2015.According to
Oxfam’s Humanitarian Action Coordinator in the DR, Carlos
Arenas, the report ―Up to Our Necks in Drought‖ shows how last
year’s drought had a considerable effect on the rice and plantain
crops, leading to economic losses for low-income farmers.
He also commented that while the country was still suffering the effects of the drought just two months
ago, it is now experiencing flooding, which he described as "a demonstration of the consequences of
climate change."Arenas called on the authorities to work to mitigate the effects of drought and to reduce
the threat of climate change. The report was presented during an event held at the Sheraton Hotel.
http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/economy/2016/5/25/59410/Drought-affected-plantains-and-rice-
crops
U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance Shares Consumer
Research, a Good Road Map Forward
By Deborah Willenborg
CHICAGO, IL -- USA Rice participated in the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance's (USFRA)
second annual Research Workshop and first-ever Sustainability Summit here last week, where
exhaustive and interesting consumer research across the agriculture and food chain was shared.
USFRA surveyed 1,000 millennials (both parents and non-parents), general consumers, and a
group of influential consumers they term "Consumer Food Connectors," or CFCs. CFCs are 21-
65 years old, well-educated, interested in government policy and current events, and engaged in
advocacy activities related to food and the food industry on a regular basis. As such, USFRA
finds this subgroup, about 10 percent of the population, to be much more engaged and influential
on key ag and food issues.

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"The CFCs are an important audience for us all. They are more opinionated, and even though
they aren't always correct, they are a good indicator for us of where the general public will be in
the future," said Michael Klein, USA Rice vice president of marketing, communications, and
domestic promotion, who attended the event. "The USFRA research shows 54 percent of
consumers say they care about sustainability, but 72 percent of CFCs do so I'd expect this issue
to continue to grow in importance and visibility."
Klein went on to say that the challenge as demonstrated by the USFRA research, and USA Rice's
own consumer research, is that defining the concept of "sustainability" is no easy task.
"The USFRA research showed about half of consumers couldn't say what sustainability means
to them - even though they also say it's important," he said. "I'd say U.S. rice farmers are pretty
sustainable today - producing more rice on less land, with less water and energy, all while
providing critical wildlife habitat. But the USFRA research, asking about all farming and
ranching (not singling out rice), shows only about half of consumers believe today's practices are
sustainable."
Klein says the agriculture industry clearly has a long way to go but that the USFRA research is
invaluable in showing the path forward.

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"One thing I found particularly enlightening was the notion that consumers like looking forward,
but have a hard time looking back. When we say things like, 'we're borrowing this land from
future generations,' or that 'we intend to leave this land better for our children than it was when
we received it,' consumers connect and like it. But when we say things like, 'this farm has been
in my family for four generations - how could it not be sustainable?' they don't always get it."
USFRA researchers suggested this is because few consumers are a part of a family business that
old, but whatever the reason, the research does help find the sweet spot of communicating
positive ag messages with consumers.
Klein concluded, "As USA Rice works to broaden our understanding of consumer perceptions
and what drives consumer behavior, these findings coupled with our own, are quite useful."
USA Rice Daily
Rice growers wrap up near-normal planting season
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Tim Hearden
Capital Press
Published on May 24, 2016 4:25PM
Tim Hearden/Capital Press
A rice field near Williams, Calif., is prepared for planting in late April. Spring rains have given
most growers in the Sacramento Valley the water they needed for a near-normal planting season.
WILLIAMS, Calif. — Rice growers in Northern California are wrapping up what turned out to
be a near-normal planting season, as spring rains enabled them to boost acreage.
After the big storms in March, the state’s rice acreage will likely end up near 500,000, said
Charley Mathews, a Marysville, Calif., grower and USA Rice Federation executive committee
member.
That’s up significantly from the National Agricultural Statistics Service’s prediction in early
March that growers would seed rice on 427,000 acres, only 1 percent above the acreage seeded
last year.

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―Everything changed in about a two-week period,‖ Mathews said.
The early estimate was based on a survey of growers done before the March rains materialized,
Mathews said. Though many Northern California growers are getting their full allocations of
surface water this year, reduced prices and lingering uncertainty among water suppliers caused
farmers to initially be conservative in their planting plans.
Thanks to improved rainfall and recovering reservoirs, farmers now say they’re back to planting
more of a normal crop this season, the California Farm Bureau Federation reports.
The plantings come even though a global surplus in rice is still weighing down prices and
California farmers are facing more competition from farmers in other parts of the world growing
medium-grain rice, the Farm Bureau notes.
Rice averaged $376.05 per metric ton in April, up slightly from $370.48 in March but down
significantly from a peak of more than $600 per metric ton in 2011 and 2012, according to the
IndexMundi online data portal.
The near-normal plantings follow drought-diminished seasons in 2014 and 2015, when growers
in the Golden State planted 431,000 acres and about 370,000 acres, respectively, according to
NASS.
Growers encountered occasional showers during this year’s planting, but they didn’t put the
season significantly behind schedule.

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―Rain during the springtime is spotty as some areas get more than others,‖ Mathews said. ―I
think we’ll harvest on time. We’re a little later than last year planting-wise, but depending on
what the summer does I think we’ll be fine.‖
http://www.capitalpress.com/California/20160524/rice-growers-wrap-up-near-normal-planting-season
AIREA All India Rice Exporters Association : Yes, Rice Has
Arsenic, but Here's Why You Don't Need to Panic
05/25/2016 | 04:06am EDT
The report late last month that babies fed heavily on rice have higher concentrations of arsenic in
their bodies sent shivers through parents worldwide. It is true that rice naturally contains high
concentrations of arsenic relative to other grains, but overall, rice is not the new cigarette and an
easy cooking tip can minimize the amount of arsenic in grains generally and rice in particular.
And one can feed the kids rice, as long as one feeds the kids other things too.
It is true that arsenic is not benign. A Dartmouth study earlier this year found that eating even
low levels of the mineral by overweight women can reduce the birth weight and length of baby
girls, though their baby boys may be longer. Also, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says
that exposure to arsenic during pregnancy and in infancy can impair a child's performance on
certain developmental tests.
The FDA doesn't suggest that people forgo rice, but is belatedly proposing to cap the amount of
inorganic arsenic that rice-based baby food may contain. In contrast to organic arsenic (often
found in seafood, for instance), inorganic arsenic is not easily flushed from the body.
The Israeli consumption directives are broken down by inorganic (the more hazardous type) and
organic. In Israel, the Health Ministry has published detailed directives regarding maximal
permissible amounts of most heavy metals in different foods, including for babies and children.
Their directives cover inorganic arsenic in various categories of food and were most recently
updated this very month (the last update had been in 2009), the ministry told Haaretz.
Basically, the Israeli directives are the same as Europe's, it says. Arsenic, arsenic everywhere
Arsenic is a common mineral in the soil and water.
Some take up less, some take up more. Rice takes up more, relative to, for instance, millet and
quinoa. Consumer Reports found measurable levels of arsenic in almost all the 60 rice types it
checked, noting that the mineral is also found in rice pasta, drinks and cereals. The worst
offender is brown rice, which has the highest values of 'good' minerals of all the rices but also the
highest concentration of inorganic arsenic.
(Organic rice is supposed to have lesser amounts of pesticides, not natural toxins like arsenic, by
the way.) Processed foods made from rice, including baby food, also contain arsenic, which has
long been associated with heightened risk of bladder, lung, and skin cancer, as well as heart
disease and type 2 diabetes.

23
A rice vendor in Thailand, selling different species of rice, each of which commands a different
price. And each of which would have a different endemic concentration of arsenic.Reuters But
how serious is the danger? Should we forgo our biriyani and rice cakes? Not so fast. Cooking it
away 'It's easy to deal with arsenic. It's soluble in water,' points out Mariana Urbach, head
dietitian at Clalit Health Services. Whatever rice you're preparing, be it high-arsenic brown or
low-arsenic basmati, to minimize arsenic content, wash the rice first, Urbach says.
Cook six cups of water to one cup of rice, discard all the water during the process and replace it
with two cups of fresh water. Finish cooking. Rinse the finished product in yet more water. Ta
da. This cooking method will also discard some nutrients, but you can't have it all. And if you
can't be bothered to monkey with your rice? Putting things into proportion, the FDA estimates
that exposure to arsenic in rice and rice products causes about four cases of lung and bladder
cancer over the lifetime for every 100,000 Americans. In other words, the rice habit is
responsible for a fraction of 1% of America's lung and bladder cancer cases.
Meanwhile, in a draft guidance to baby cereal manufacturers, the FDA recommends equating
American restrictions on inorganic arsenic to European levels: no more than 100 parts per
billion. Should pregnant women abstain from rice, especially brown rice, despite its nutritional
kick? 'I think that rice can be part of a healthy diet,' Diane Gilbert-Diamond, assistant professor
of epidemiology at Dartmouth and lead author of 'Relation Between in Utero Arsenic Exposure
and Birth Outcomes in a Cohort of Mothers and Their Newborns from New Hampshire',
published in Environmental Health Perspectives, told Haaretz. 'But I think it's important to eat a
varied diet. Rather than only eating rice as a grain, pregnant women should eat a variety of grains
and foods, which can help minimize their health risk. It's the best way to get a combination of
nutrients as well.' For baby: Once a day Harvesting rice in Thailand: People love rice but rice
loves arsenic.
It now turns out that even low amounts of arsenic can affect birth weight.Bloomberg The FDA
stresses that it isn't suggesting people change their rice consumption habits. It is, the organization
says, just providing 'targeted information for pregnant women and infants to help reduce
exposure'. Note however, that feeding rice cereal to babies can be proportionally different than
feeding it to adults. Relative to body weight, rice consumption for infants in a meal - mainly in
rice porridges, drinks and cereal - can be about three times greater than for adults, the FDA
explains. Consumer Reports for recommends that babies average no more than one serving of
rice porridge a day, and that parents be diligent about giving them variety in their grains.
Question of origin You might prefer to buy a type of rice with lesser arsenic content. Good luck
figuring out which it is. First of all, bags of rice don't come with little DIY testing kits for toxins.
Secondly, in today's globalized world, we may not know where the bag came from.
Under Israeli law, a food importer must cite the country of origin on labeling. But we still can't
know in what part of that country the rice was grown or where the irrigation water comes from.
Is the water laden with arsenic? Does the land have other toxins, like Chernobyl has radioactive
ions in the soil, as Urbach points out? 'The source of rice imported to Israel is the same countries
that export rice to all the world markets,' the Health Ministry told Haaretz. 'Food products
imported to Israel are sampled and checked randomly for various contaminants, including heavy

24
metals, before their arrival in Israel.' So wash your rice first and cook it with lots of water. And
stay in proportion. Almonds are chock full of cyanide but Israelis eat them by the ton and death
by macaroon is not an issue
Rice sold on government auctions cannot be delivered
because of different qualities
By editor on 2016-05-25 Thailand
Rice sold on government auctions cannot be delivered because of different qualities
BANGKOK: — Rice traders who have won the auctions for government rice are unable to
take delivery of the grains because they do not meet the specifications specified in the the
bidding terms of reference, said Mrs Duangporn Rodpayat, director-general of the Foreign
Trade Department, on Tuesday.
She disclosed that the rice stored in some warehouses was different from type put on auction.
―For instance, we put on auction 5 percent rice but the buyers found out that the rice in the
warehouse was different. Or in the latest case, we put on auction sticky rice. But the buyers
found out they were rotten rice,‖ she said. Asked how come? Mrs Duangporn blamed the
warehouse owners and the surveyors for not checking the rice bought by the previous
government that were kept in their warehouses whether they met with the specifications or not.

25
Asked why the discrepancy was not detected before the auctions were staged by the government,
she admitted that officials concerned only made random inspection of the rice for auctions
because they could not examine all the rice in the warehouses.
However, she said that the Public Warehouse Organistion and the Market Organisation for
Farmers, the two state-owned organizations, had been told by the Commerce Ministry to address
the problem for the successful rice bidders.
She suggested that the warehouse owners and the surveyors would have to be held accountable
for the discrepancy on the qualities of the grains because the successful bidders would have to
export the rice to their customers within the timeframe as agreed upon.
Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/164651
Govt hopes over 270-mn tonne foodgrains production in
2016-17
IFFCO slashes price of DAP fertiliser by Rs 50 per bag to Rs 1,200 as a gift to farmers
Sanjeeb Mukherjee | New Delhi May 25, 2016 Last Updated at 20:04 IS
India hopes to produce a record
over 270 million tonnes of
foodgrains in 2016-17, almost 18
million tonnes more than the third
advanced estimate of 2015-16 if
monsoons turn out as per
expectation. According to
agriculture minister Radha Mohan
Singh, rice production has been
targeted at 108.50 million tonnes,
while wheat production has been
targeted at 96.50 million tonnes.
Wheat production in 2015-16 is
expected to be over 94 million
tonnes.Meanwhile, in a related
development, fertiliser major
IFFCO today slashed the price of DAP fertiliser by Rs 50 per bag to Rs 1,200 as a gift to the
farmers as the cooperative is entering its golden jubilee year. Di-ammonia phosphate (DAP) is
the most widely used fertiliser after urea.Iffco has five fertiliser plants in the country and it has a
combined capacity of 4.24 million tonnes of urea and 4.38 million tonnes of complex fertilisers.

26
http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/govt-hopes-over-270-mn-tonne-foodgrains-
production-in-2016-17-116052501609_1.html
IRRI warns of another rice shortage
By: Ronnel W. Domingo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
12:18 AM May 25th, 2016
The combined stock of milled rice held by the world’s top five exporters has gone down to the
bare minimum and the monsoon season setting in could push the world market toward another
supply shortage like in 2007 and 2008.Samerandu Mohanty, head of the International Rice
Research Institute’s social science division, Tuesday said the inventory of India, Thailand,
Vietnam, Pakistan and United States ―can’t go down further.‖Mohanty said the coming rainy
season—and especially the possible onset of La Niña—would test the mettle of these exporters.
―Right now, these countries were not restricting exports, they seemed to have learned their
lesson,‖ he said, referring to the cause of the shortage that caused a price spike almost a decade
ago.Mohanty recalled India and Vietnam restricting exports back then as stocks declined. This
caused prices to skyrocket as importers like the Philippines scrambled to secure supplies.―While
current supplies were still enough, we could not afford any more crop losses after losses due to
El Niño,‖ he said. ―The exporters could panic again, which would bring us back to a shortage
crisis.‖
Citing data from the United States Department of Agriculture, Mohanty said the top five
exporters’ combined inventory peaked at about 41 million tons in 2013.However, USDA data
showed the stock might shrink this year by 40 percent to 19 million tons from 32 million tons in
2015. This would mean the tightest supply situation since the crisis of 2007-2008.According to
the IRRI, addressing a repeat crisis required joint action among the different countries,
particularly the Asean+3 (the Philippines included) and India
http://business.inquirer.net/210544/irri-warns-of-another-rice-shortage#ixzz49kpzrL8W
Ministry Finishes Valuing Rice Exporters
Khmer Times/Chea Vannak
Wednesday, 25 May 2016
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has finished its evaluation of rice producers
and processors that have registered to export milled rice to China, checking to see if they comply
with the hygiene laws in China.Hean Vanhan, the director general of the ministry’s Agriculture
Department, said the ministry has sent a letter to Chinese authorities reporting the results of the

27
evaluation of rice producers, millers and processors and the next step is for Chinese officers to
come and audit those companies.Six officials from China’s General Administration of Quality
Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) will spend 14 days carrying out audits and
evaluations of registered rice producing companies, rice processors and warehouses, Mr. Vanhan
said.
Last December, China asked Cambodia to evaluate its rice exporters to determine whether they
adhered to the hygiene laws in China, because officials in the world’s second largest economy
did not trust all of the 71 rice exporters registered with the Ministry of Commerce.―During the
valuation period, we valued rice processors and warehouses, focusing on the standards required
under the hygiene laws in China,‖ Mr. Vanhan said.The ministry’s letter mentioned 36 rice
companies having complied with Chinese standards. A total of 24 of them were rice millers, four
were rice processors and eight were rice traders, he said.
―Now we are preparing to receive the Chinese officials on their visit to re-audit the more than
36 companies,‖ Mr. Vanhan said, adding that the visit would be made in the country’s harvesting
season, which runs from October to November.Sok Puthyvuth, the President of the Cambodia
Rice Federation, told Khmer Times recently that the CRF has been working to solve issues to
ensure Cambodian rice adheres to standards. The federation has enlisted international inspectors,
the CRF’s representatives and people from the government to make sure Cambodian rice
complies with standards to meet the purchasers’ demands, he said.
Mr. Puthyvuth said the audit will ensure Cambodian rice follows standards and conditions set by
China and will show China that Cambodia has new processing and producing companies to build
trust with them when they buy rice.According to the CRF, China ordered about 100,000 tons of
milled rice from Cambodia last year and another 100,000 tons this year, and the experts expect
that number to grow in the following years after the audit and evaluation
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/25397/ministry-finishes-valuing-rice-exporters/
New Philippine president to face early test over food security
By Reuters
Published: 08:01 GMT, 26 May 2016 | Updated: 08:01 GMT, 26 May 2016
By Enrico Dela Cruz
MANILA, May 26 (Reuters) - While Philippine elections this month were dominated by talk
about crushing crime, the next president faces another critical early test: ensuring there is enough
rice for the country's more than 100 million people.
The Philippine crop is suffering mounting drought damage, just as the country's big Asian rice
suppliers also suffer from an El Nino weather pattern.

28
In a country where rice accounts for about a quarter of the expenditure of the poor, any supply
disruptions are extremely sensitive. Big purchases by the world's third-biggest importer can also
send shockwaves through markets.
There are now concerns that potentially vital imports may be delayed as the incoming
administration of Rodrigo Duterte, who campaigned on making food available and affordable,
looks to overhaul policies and review existing state purchase plans.
"Now is the right time to import as prices are starting to trend up," said Bruce Tolentino, deputy
director general for communication at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
In 2008, lower Asian rice output also due to an El Nino prompted India to ban exports, sparking
panic measures in the Philippines - including ordering troops to supervise subsidised rice sales
and asking fast food chains to serve half-portions.
Manila also had to scramble to import more rice in 2014 after prices shot up due to typhoon crop
damage.
On May 13, Duterte's campaign spokesman Peter Lavina said an April plan to allow the state
buyer to import an additional 500,000 tonnes this year would be reviewed and the administration
would immediately talk to Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia on new deals.
Lavina said the aim was to make the country self-sufficient in rice within one to two years, but
would still allow imports until this was achieved.
Duterte's choice for agriculture minister, Emmanuel Pinol, has said the administration will bar
private traders from importing rice and put the task entirely in the hands of the state grains
agency, the National Food Authority (NFA), a move that some traders say could stall imports.
"Many traders were expecting the Philippines to make the large 500,000 tonnes purchase shortly
after approval was received, but no deals have happened, and this is really adding some intrigue
to the market," said James Fell, an economist at the International Grains Council in London.
NFA spokesman Angel Imperial said there was no urgent need to import given ample stocks.
April stocks can meet 99 days of consumption, up from March's 87 days, after the delayed
arrival of some rice imported last year.
Nonetheless, there are concerns that time is running out for deals to safeguard stocks in the lean
harvest season beginning in July as the new government will not officially take office until the
end of June.
"It will create supply problems if they don't buy until the end of June," said a Singapore-based
trader, who declined to be named as he was not authorised to speak to media.
RICE HARVEST SHRINKING

29
Local rice prices have largely been stable in recent months, after authorities aggressively boosted
state reserves following price spikes in 2014.
But the first-quarter rice harvest shrank nearly 10 percent from a year earlier to 3.9 million
tonnes.
"Some of the NFA's imported stocks are more than six months old so there's also a need for them
to immediately unload and then replenish," said Jaime Magbanua, president of the Grains
Retailers Confederation of the Philippines.
While an El Nino is now weakening, farm officials have warned of more crop damage later in
the year when La Nina, the counterpart of El Nino, could develop and bring intense rains.
"WATCHING THE PHILIPPINES"
With no import deals yet this year, the Philippines may need to boost 2016 imports to a six-year
high of 2 million tonnes, based on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts.
That is as much as 300,000 tonnes higher than the NFA's initial 2016 import estimate. It also
comes as countries such as Indonesia and Iran are increasing purchases and world rice
production is forecast to decline for the first time since 2010.
Thai rice prices hit a two-year high last week and have boosted prices in Vietnam, the main
supplier to the Philippines.
"Everybody is watching the Philippines' moves in the open market, which could trigger panic
among buyers," IRRI's Tolentino said.
(Additional reporting by Naveen Thukral in SINGAPORE; Editing by Ed Davies
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-3610280/New-Philippine-president-face-early-test-food-
security.html#ixzz49kvnWSDO
Drought and government inaction hit Cambodia’s rice industry
hard
POSTED ON: May 25, 2016 | Business and Focus Asean - Cambodia - Featured | By: Logan Connor and
Paul Millar
The effects of Cambodia’s recent drought will serve to exacerbate existing structural weaknesses
in the rice sector, say experts

30
Squatting on a lawn chair in front of her shop near Phnom Penh’s railway station, rice-vendor Ev
does not seem too concerned by the worst drought to hit Southeast Asia in more than 50 years.
Poker-faced, she brushes aside suggestions that the dry conditions could continue to put the
nation’s vulnerable rice industry at risk – a crisis the Cambodian government has done little to
address.
Much to grain: rice vendor Ev sits in her shop near Phnom Penh’s railway station. Photo: Paul Millar
―I never think about government support,‖ she said. ―The way I do my business only depends on
supply and demand.‖For the Kingdom’s struggling rice-export industry, though, the challenges
of the future are harder to ignore.Despite a rise in global rice prices of as much as 16%,
Cambodia’s fragile rice sector is in no position to take advantage of the high price its crop could
command.
Despite recent downfalls, the effects of the worst drought in half a century still bite. There is
simply not enough water for farmers to plant this year’s wet season crop. This comes on the back
of last year’s drought, when producers reached just over half the government’s target of 1m
tonnes.

31
For one of the world’s top ten rice exporters – and a country where about half of the population’s
livelihoods are estimated to depend on the rice sector – structural weaknesses continue to
undermine what could be a flourishing industry.
CEO of Battambang Rice Investment Company Kann Kunthy says the global price rise is far
from ideal for farmers struggling to keep up with increased demand.
―It’s not good because when you have drought, the yield is lower and the quality is not good,‖
says Kann. ―When you have a high price and the weather is good you can store some … but if
the weather is not good, you can get two tonnes at the highest price but the quality itself does not
justify the cost.‖
Structural inefficiencies and government negligence have exacerbated the drought’s effects.
According to the Asian Development Bank’s Chanthou Hem, Cambodia lacks the necessary
practical production systems, infrastructure and post-harvest mechanism. Added to this has ―a
weak link between seed producers, paddy growers and processors [millers] that will promote a
secure and profitable system,‖ he told Southeast Asia Globe in October.
High transportation costs, often cited as a common roadblock to commerce in the country, have
made things worse. And in Cambodia, rice millers pay roughly twice as much for electricity than
in Vietnam and Thailand.
Kann says that the government is not focused enough on the current rice predicament –
especially with the crucial commune and national elections coming up in 2017 and 2018
respectively. ―You can see from the government level they are more worried about the voting
itself than the industry, at least for the short term period,‖ he said.
Cambodia also lacks the low-interest loans, government subsidies and bolstered infrastructure of
its neighbouring countries. ―If you compare Cambodia to Thailand and to Vietnam, their
governments are proactive and they have a surplus of financial support,‖ said Kann.
―Because Cambodia is a less developed country, we don’t have a financial surplus to help us,‖
Kann added. ―And in order to make the Cambodian rice industry or the whole [agricultural
sector] competitive, they have to look at the energy costs, transportation logistics and financial
costs.‖
Song Saran, chairman of Amru Rice, the country’s biggest exporter, says that the rice industry
looks to the government to ―reduce the cost of logistics and the documentation and energy costs.
So we hope the government will help support us‖.
While rain showers are predicted for the next ten days, Cambodia’s Ministry of Water Resources
says that normal rain patterns will not return until July. Song agreed. ―Rain also may be delayed
until July, so we’ll see this drought continue,‖ said Song. ―It’s still two months and too long [to
wait] and the farmers and the rice industry will suffer more.‖

32
According to Gianpetro Bordignon, the World Food Programme’s country director for
Cambodia, the level of rice exports in recent years has been lower then the amount of marketable
crop produced by farmers.
―There is no reason why Cambodian rice should not be competitive to other purchases,‖ he said.
―It’s just an issue of other costs.‖On the local level, this means that rice vendors such as Ev and
her customers are hit with high prices, roughly 10% to 20% above the norm.But for Kann, the
price of further inaction is one the nation’s rice industry cannot afford to pay.―What is important
is to save the industry within a one- or two-year period,‖ he said. ―Because we won’t have a
future if you cannot survive the next two years.‖
http://sea-globe.com/cambodia-rice-industry/
Buying house in capital region takes willingness to beat
asking price
Carla Wilson | Times Colonist
May 25, 2016 06:00 AM
Real estate agent Mark Rice with the home he found for clients on Livingstone Avenue North in Saanich.
After a year of searching, Rice says, "it was an emotional win for all of us." Photograph By DARREN
STONE, Times Colonist

33
Tearful Denise got in the first hug, followed by husband Chris Elder. Both wrapped real estate
agent Mark Rice in a tight embrace.
It was a big moment for the couple. After a year of viewing more than 100 houses, they finally
found a home. They paid $750,000 for the three-bedroom house with a yard in the Mount
Douglas area — $75,000 over the asking price.
Denise is relieved their quest is over and that they will be able to return to normal activities such
as inviting friends over and talking about something other than house-hunting. ―We can start our
lives again because you kind of put it on hold.‖ The couple has been living in a one-bedroom
basement suite with their young son.
The Elders illustrate what buyers face in today’s competitive market, where bidding wars are the
new normal. Theirs was among six offers on the house.
Most open houses are busy events with steady streams of hopeful buyers. You may well
recognize those faces from previous open houses as inventory shrinks and competition heats up.
It’s now common for selling prices to easily beat listed prices.
Chris Elder said house hunting was pretty much a non-stop endeavour involving daily checks
with their agent and frequent viewings. Last week alone, Denise looked at eight houses. ―It’s
been what I do — I go to see houses.‖
She was determined not to buy a house without doing due diligence first, but said it takes
fortitude to stick with that viewpoint. The couple has spent about $3,000 on house inspections,
checking out everything from the state of a structure to its perimeter drains.
Their strategy paid off. The Elders take possession of their 1983-built home on June 24. They are
looking forward to living in the house with its sunny yard.
―It was an emotional win for all of us,‖ said Rice of Re/Max Camosun. ―We worked very hard
together for a long time.‖
Rice also hosted an open house on a Fernwood rental property last weekend and got 120 visitors.
That home was listed for $699,000 and received six offers. It was sold to one of those bidders for
$775,000 with conditions, which are due to come off on Friday.
Rice is seeing more rental properties come on the market because their owners already have a
place to live and are deciding to sell in the heated market.
Sales numbers have been breaking records in the capital region, creating a sellers’ market.One
couple who walked into Rice’s open house Saturday asked about the process of putting in an
offer. Sellers frequently allow people to view homes and then accept offers at a set date and time,
rather than taking offers as they come in.

34
―You list it, have an open house and sell it in a week [often well above asking] ... that’s the
market today,‖ said Rice.
A total of 1,286 properties sold in the Victoria Real Estate Board region in April. That was a
record number of sales for any month — and substantially more than the 840 properties sold in
the same month last year. The lack of inventory is providing the fuel. There were 2,594 active
listings for sale on the board’s Multiple Listing Service at the end of April — 34 per cent fewer
than the 3,945 active listings a year ago.
―As a consumer, it may pay to get creative, consider types of property and locations you may
have not originally identified,‖ board president Mike Nugent said. ―For example, condos and
townhomes may be an alternative for first-time buyers. Some locations in the Victoria area are
under less pricing pressure. Properties in the West Shore or Esquimalt are close to amenities,
share the same amazing weather as other nearby neighbourhoods.‖
At an open house on Bank Street, Matt Eide of Newport Realty said prospective buyers were
given five days to view the property to ―let everyone get through‖ before offers were being
considered. In the first hour of the open house on Saturday, 25 people came through. However,
―acceptable‖ offers didn’t materialize.
It was a different story the weekend before, when Eide and Ole Schmidt of Dutton’s Real Estate
co-listed a 1960s home on Killarney Road in Cadboro Bay for $699,000. It attracted 16 offers —
nine without conditions. The modest three-bedroom, two-bath home sold for $952,000 — an
incredible $253,000 over the asking price.
Eide said the property was purchased by a Vancouver buyer, but did not provide further details.
―Six months ago, you would have got the asking price,‖ said Eide. ―The market has changed.‖
Single-family houses with or without a suite in areas such as Fairfield, Oak Bay, Saanich East
and Gordon Head are among the most in demand, Eide said. With the core heating up, demand
has increased throughout the region. ―Everywhere is getting hot.‖
Spillover from Vancouver, where the average house price is more than $1 million, and healthy
economic indicators such as strong in-migration and a low unemployment rate are all helping
fuel the Greater Victoria housing market, Eide said.
North Vancouver renters Grady and Julie Harris are relocating to Greater Victoria to be closer to
family. They have each lined up jobs here and are seeking a house at a more affordable price
than in the Lower Mainland.
Their search has seen them catch the ferry for seven weekends so far. Family members here
watch over their two young sons while they attend open houses.
Grady is a real estate agent with Sutton Group and has worked with two buyers in Victoria who
have found homes.

35
―We have lost out on six offers,‖ said a pragmatic Julie. ―You just have to trust that the right
house is going to come up.‖
Julie, a teacher, said it helps that she does not get emotionally attached to a particular house they
are considering.
Jill Stainforth of Victoria was at an open house in Victoria on Saturday on behalf of younger
family members who are trying to enter the market. But she said they are finding it difficult to
find something affordable and adequate. In her case, she is listing a rental property for more than
initially expected, which makes her ―ecstatic.‖
The heat of the market has led some buyers to write offers without conditions and without having
a house checked by an inspector.
Building inspector Terry Chewka has been dropping by open houses to put the word out about
his new business. In some cases, buyers are so keen to purchase a home that they forgo an
inspection, he said.
In other cases, he’s called in after a sale to vet a house for insurance purposes. In one instance, he
was inspecting a house that was on the market when another inspector came in to check it out for
a different client.
cjwilson@timescolonist.com
http://www.timescolonist.com/business/buying-house-in-capital-region-takes-willingness-to-beat-
asking-price-1.2262425#sthash.49aITHmV.dpuf
New Philippine president to face early test over food
security
By Reuters
Published: 08:01 GMT, 26 May 2016 | Updated: 08:01 GMT, 26 May 2016
By Enrico Dela Cruz
MANILA, May 26 (Reuters) - While Philippine elections this month were dominated by talk
about crushing crime, the next president faces another critical early test: ensuring there is enough
rice for the country's more than 100 million people.
The Philippine crop is suffering mounting drought damage, just as the country's big Asian rice
suppliers also suffer from an El Nino weather pattern.

36
In a country where rice accounts for about a quarter of the expenditure of the poor, any supply
disruptions are extremely sensitive. Big purchases by the world's third-biggest importer can also
send shockwaves through markets.
There are now concerns that potentially vital imports may be delayed as the incoming
administration of Rodrigo Duterte, who campaigned on making food available and affordable,
looks to overhaul policies and review existing state purchase plans.
"Now is the right time to import as prices are starting to trend up," said Bruce Tolentino, deputy
director general for communication at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
In 2008, lower Asian rice output also due to an El Nino prompted India to ban exports, sparking
panic measures in the Philippines - including ordering troops to supervise subsidised rice sales
and asking fast food chains to serve half-portions.
Manila also had to scramble to import more rice in 2014 after prices shot up due to typhoon crop
damage.
On May 13, Duterte's campaign spokesman Peter Lavina said an April plan to allow the state
buyer to import an additional 500,000 tonnes this year would be reviewed and the administration
would immediately talk to Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia on new deals.
Lavina said the aim was to make the country self-sufficient in rice within one to two years, but
would still allow imports until this was achieved.
Duterte's choice for agriculture minister, Emmanuel Pinol, has said the administration will bar
private traders from importing rice and put the task entirely in the hands of the state grains
agency, the National Food Authority (NFA), a move that some traders say could stall imports.
"Many traders were expecting the Philippines to make the large 500,000 tonnes purchase shortly
after approval was received, but no deals have happened, and this is really adding some intrigue
to the market," said James Fell, an economist at the International Grains Council in London.
NFA spokesman Angel Imperial said there was no urgent need to import given ample stocks.
April stocks can meet 99 days of consumption, up from March's 87 days, after the delayed
arrival of some rice imported last year.
Nonetheless, there are concerns that time is running out for deals to safeguard stocks in the lean
harvest season beginning in July as the new government will not officially take office until the
end of June.
"It will create supply problems if they don't buy until the end of June," said a Singapore-based
trader, who declined to be named as he was not authorised to speak to media.
RICE HARVEST SHRINKING

37
Local rice prices have largely been stable in recent months, after authorities aggressively boosted
state reserves following price spikes in 2014.
But the first-quarter rice harvest shrank nearly 10 percent from a year earlier to 3.9 million
tonnes.
"Some of the NFA's imported stocks are more than six months old so there's also a need for them
to immediately unload and then replenish," said Jaime Magbanua, president of the Grains
Retailers Confederation of the Philippines.
While an El Nino is now weakening, farm officials have warned of more crop damage later in
the year when La Nina, the counterpart of El Nino, could develop and bring intense rains.
"WATCHING THE PHILIPPINES"
With no import deals yet this year, the Philippines may need to boost 2016 imports to a six-year
high of 2 million tonnes, based on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts.
That is as much as 300,000 tonnes higher than the NFA's initial 2016 import estimate. It also
comes as countries such as Indonesia and Iran are increasing purchases and world rice
production is forecast to decline for the first time since 2010.
Thai rice prices hit a two-year high last week and have boosted prices in Vietnam, the main
supplier to the Philippines.
"Everybody is watching the Philippines' moves in the open market, which could trigger panic
among buyers," IRRI's Tolentino said.
(Additional reporting by Naveen Thukral in SINGAPORE; Editing by Ed Davies
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-3610280/New-Philippine-president-face-early-test-
food-security.html#ixzz49lBcvavn
M.L. Panadda honors outstanding agro-researchers
ไม่มีรายการวีดีโอ Date : 26 พฤษภาคม 2559
BANGKOK, 26 May 2016 (NNT) - Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office
M.L. Panadda Diskul has presided over a seminar on rice research in 2014 at Maruay
Garden Hotel, Bangkok. During the event, M.L. Panadda also presented certificates of
honor to outstanding agro-researchers whose works were deemed helpful to the country’s
development and are recognized at both national and international levels.

38
The minister commented that the survival and sustainability of the agricultural sector depends on research
and new technologies, as they enabled agriculturists to respond to market demand efficiently. The event
also featured an exhibition of selected papers for academics, business operators, agriculturists and other
interested parties, as well as a forum for experts and those in the agricultural sector to exchange ideas and
share knowledge.
Information and Source
http://thainews.prd.go.th/CenterWeb/NewsEN/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNSOC5905260010029#sth
ash.I4101uOe.dpuf
Quick vegetable pulao by Indian cook Mallika Basu
 Mallika Basu
 Wednesday 25 May 2016

39
When time is of the essence and a pot of comfort is
badly needed, this delicately fragrant vegetable
pulao with hints of cinnamon and anise rises to the
occasion. I always have a sack of freshly frozen
mixed vegetables at home, and no matter what the
sack comprises it packs one-pot-meal punch in this
pulao, especially when served with a raita and
some pickle.Pulao originated in Persia, making its
way to India via Muslim invaders who formed the
long lasting Mughal Empire, leaving a lasting and
delectable impact on the cuisine of India. Pulao is
not to be confused with biryani, which is a far more aromatic, lavish and painstaking preparation
of layered meat and rice.
Ingredients (feeds 2)
• 1 cup raw Basmati rice
• Half tbsp ghee
• 1 inch cinnamon
• 1 star anise
• 1 black cardamom
• 1 bay leaf
• Half tsp whole cumin
• 1.5 cups mixed frozen vegetables
• 1 tsp salt
• Hot water
• 1 tsp oil
• 5 raw cashewnuts
Beetroot and coconut sauté by Indian cook Mallika Basu
Method

40
Place the rice in a sieve and wash it thoroughly until the water draining is clear not cloudy. Now
leave this to sit, while you heat a medium sized pan with the ghee on high.
When the oil is hot, drop the cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, bay leaf and cumin in. As they
sizzle up, mix in the rice sautéing the whole lot for a minute until the rice turns opaque white.
Now, add frozen vegetables, one and three quarter cups of hot water and stir through the salt.
Bring the whole lot back to boil. When it starts bubbling, lower the flame to a high simmer,
cover and cook for 10 minutes.
In 10 minutes, take the pan off the heat and leave it to sit for another five to 10 minutes for all
the moisture in the pan to dissipate and the rice to cool enough to be handled without its long
grains breaking. While it is sitting, warm the oil on medium in a small egg pan and sauté the
cashewnuts in it until golden.
To serve, tip the pulao onto a platter and drop the cashewnuts on top. Enjoy hot, although this
Vegetable Pulao reheats well too.
Mallika Basu is a London-based food writer, cookbook author and cookery
personality; quickindiancooking.com.
APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1480
International Benchmark Price
Price on: 23-05-2016
Product Benchmark Indicators Name Price
Apricots
1 Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t) 4625
2 Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t) 4125
3 Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t) 3625
Garlic
1 Chinese first grade granules, CFR NW Europe (UGX/t) 3500
2 Chinese Grade A dehydrated flakes, CFR NW Europe (USD/t) 4500

41
3 Chinese powdered, CFR NW Europe (USD/t) 3000
Ginger
1 Chinese sliced, CIF NW Europe (USD/t) 2150
2 Chinese whole, CIF NW Europe (USD/t) 2300
3 Indian Cochin, CIF NW Europe (USD/t) 2850
Source: oryza, agra-net For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 21-05-2016
Domestic Prices Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product Market Center Variety Min Price Max Price
Jowar(Sorghum)
1 Vankaner (Gujarat) Other 2055 2785
2 Vaduj (Maharashtra) Other 2200 2300
3 Theni (Tamil Nadu) Other 1440 1500
Maize
1 Haveri (Karnataka) Local 1400 1450
2 Deoli (Rajasthan) Other 1440 1691
3 Kasganj (Uttar Pradesh) Local 1600 1630
Mango
1 Pattambi (Kerala) Other 1500 2000
2 Dasuya (Punjab) Other 2500 3000
3 Kasinagar (Orissa) Other 2500 3000
Brinjal
1 Chala (Kerala) Other 2300 2358

42
2 Bargarh (Orissa) Other 1500 1600
3 Sainthia (West Bengal) Other 1430 1520
Source:agmarknet.nic.in For more info
Egg Rs per 100 No
Price on 23-05-2016
Product Market Center Price
1 Pune 425
2 Nagapur 370
3 Namakkal 410
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 20-05-2016
Product Market Center Origin Variety Low High
Onions Dry Package: 40 lb cartons
1 Baltimore Georgia Yellow 20 23
2 Chicago Nevada Yellow 34.50 34.50
2 Detroit Georgia Yellow 16 16.50
Carrots Package: 30 1-lb film bags
1 Baltimore California Baby Peeled 24 25
2 Chicago California Baby Peeled 22.50 23.50
3 Detroit California Baby Peeled 17 17.50
Apples Package: cartons tray pack
1 Baltimore Washington Red Delicious 30 30
2 Chicago Michigan Red Delicious 20 21

43
3 New York Washington Red Delicious 26 26
Source:USDA
APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1481
International Benchmark Price
Price on: 25-05-2016
Product Benchmark Indicators Name Price
Honey
1 Argentine 85mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t) 2140
Guar Gum Powder
1 Indian 100 mesh 3500 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t) 3700
2 Indian 200 mesh 3500 cps basis, FOB Kandla (USD/t) 1100
3 Indian 200 mesh 5000 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t) 2220
White Sugar
1 CZCE White Sugar Futures (USD/t) 825
2 Pakistani refined sugar, EXW Akbari Mandi (USD/t) 582
3 Thai VHP, FOB Thailand (USD/t) 505
Source: oryza, agra-net For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 25-05-2016
Domestic Prices Unit Price : Rs per Qty

44
Product Market Center Variety Min Price Max Price
Rice
1 Manjeri (Kerala) Other 2700 3700
2 Vadodara (Gujarat) Other 2800 3500
3 Samsi (West Bengal) Fine 2990 3020
Wheat
1 Haveri (Karnataka) Local 1600 1600
2 Alappuzha (Kerala) Other 1850 1975
3 Bonai (Orissa) Other 1525 1600
Mousambi
1 Bharuch (Gujarat) Other 2500 3000
2 Narnaul (Haryana) Other 2000 2500
3 Aroor (Kerala) Other 4000 4200
Onion
1 Sirhind (Punjab) Other 600 800
2 Angul (Orissa) Other 1400 1600
3 Jalore (Rajasthan) Other 800 1000
Source:agmarknet.nic.in For more info
Egg Rs per 100 No
Price on 25-05-2016
Product Market Center Price
1 Ahmedabad 405
2 Hyderabad 400
3 Nagapur 370

45
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
05/25/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report
Rice
High Low
Long Grain Cash Bids - - - - - -
Long Grain New Crop - - - - - -

46
Futures:
ROUGH RICE
High Low Last Change
Jul '16 1157.0 1122.0 1123.5 -33.5
Sep '16 1171.5 1148.0 1148.0 -30.5
Nov '16 1191.0 1170.0 1171.5 -27.5
Jan '17 1197.0 1197.0 1191.0 -26.5
Mar '17 1209.0 -24.5
May '17 1226.0 -27.0
Jul '17 1226.0 -27.0
Rice Comment
Selling accelerated today in the rice pit as futures gapped lower. Arkansas farmers have now
planted 98% of their intended acres. The question remains, though, will they stop there? The five
year average for this date is 89%, so if conditions remain favorable, the crop might get bigger, at
least 1.6 million acres are likely. This large crop could limit the upside potential of the market,
however, dry conditions in other rice growing regions of the world could provide support. July
continues to trend higher, but the chart has taken on a negative appearance. The market is now
testing trend line support near $11.20
05/24/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report
Rice
High Low

47
Long Grain Cash Bids - - - - - -
Long Grain New Crop - - - - - -
Futures: ROUGH RICE
High Low Last Change
Jul '16 1167.5 1156.5 1157.0 -4.5
Sep '16 1194.5 1179.0 1178.5 -3.0
Nov '16 1205.0 1200.0 1199.0 -2.0
Jan '17 1217.5 -1.5
Mar '17 1233.5 -3.0
May '17 1253.0 -3.0
Jul '17 1253.0 -3.0
Rice Comment
Rice futures were under pressure again today. Arkansas farmers have now planted 98% of their
intended acres. The question remains, though, will they stop there? The five year average for this
date is 89%, so if conditions remain favorable, the crop might get bigger, at least 1.6 million
acres are likely. This large crop could limit the upside potential of the market, however, dry
conditions in other rice growing regions of the world could provide support. July continues to
trend higher, but Friday's gap lower gave the charts a negative appearance. Trendline support is
near $11.20

26th may ,2016 daily global,regional & local rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

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