3rd february,2021 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter
1 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m
February 03 ,2021 Vol 2 Issue 13
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com
mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 92 321 3692874

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
 Zahid Baig(Business Recorder)
 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
Rice News Headlines…
 Pakistan seeks Belarus market
 Adopting Export-led Strategy for Sustainable Growth
 CBI raids FCI godowns in Moga
 FAS Programs Promote DelicioUS Ag Commodities
 Mayo Clinic research yields breakthrough in mobile
determination of QT prolongation
 Iran starts repaying basmati rice dues
 Telangana, AP units start exporting rice to China
 Cambodia generates over $30 million from milled rice exports
in January
 Rice farmers face market crisis
 Overview of India’s Major Exports & Imports
 Myanmar confident of sufficient rice, edible oil supplies
 Bid to lower tariffs on pork, rice imports divides solons
 Telangana, AP units start exporting rice to China
 Bayintnaung rice wholesalers halts trade to observe situation

Pakistan seeks Belarus market
KARACHI: Pakistan‟s Ambassador in Minsk Sajjad Haider Khan discussed trade and
investment opportunities with Honourary Consul of Greece and Romania in Minsk Pavel G
Topouzidis, a statement said on Tuesday.Topouzidis is also the Chairman of the Board of
Directors of Tabak Invest, and the owner of Korona Chain Stores.Highlighting the quality and
price competitiveness of Pakistani exportable commodities, Khan suggested that the Korona
Stores across Belarus should provide Pakistan an opportunity to export home textile products,
rice, Himalayan Pink salt products, Kinnow and denim products. Besides, potential for import of
tobacco and marble was also discussed.
Expressing gratitude for the briefing, Topouzidis assured of kick-starting import of basmati rice
and Himalayan salt products in the near future.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/784148-pakistan-seeks-belarus-market
Adopting Export-led Strategy for Sustainable Growth
An “exports first” approach requires the government to deliberately allocate resources toward
sectors that produce for the export markets at the expense of domestic consumption. Other Asian
economies have achieved socio-economic development following this path, Pakistan can do so
too with persistent focus and the right set of policies.
Magazine Desk
February 2, 2021
Pakistan is buzzing with positive vibes these days as the economy registers solid recovery
despite the ongoing second wave of COVID-19. In the first five months of this fiscal year, the
current account deficit has turned into a surplus. The Pak Rupee has strengthened against the US
dollar, large-scale manufacturing has grown over 7%, and worker remittances have crossed USD
2 billion for the seventh consecutive month.
Whereas some competing Asian economies are shut for business, Pakistan‟s exports have
recorded a turnaround to reach over USD 12 billion in the first half of the fiscal year 2021. So,
while there is plenty to rejoice, the big question is: will this be another boom-bust cycle, or will
Pakistan maintain this momentum to achieve consistent, export-led growth?

If Pakistan is to seize this opportunity and transform its economy on the back of higher exports,
it will have to make some tough calls for structural adjustments in four areas: agriculture, energy
security, trade liberalization, and productivity enhancement.
Agriculture: The way forward
Historically, agriculture has remained the mainstay of Pakistan‟s economy as it contributes over
21% to the GDP and employs around 45% of the labor force. Yet, the sector faces nagging
problems of low crop yields, poor quality seeds, improper nutrients‟ application, lack of
mechanization, and low agricultural R&D expenditure. The country‟s agricultural production is
focused on meeting domestic needs rather than being market-driven, and high-value-added, with
only surplus produce of rice, horticulture, cotton, and livestock sold globally.
South Korea presents a classic example of how a primarily agrarian economy transformed itself
into a leading industrialized nation by following a planned curve. In the 1950s & ‟60s, South
Korea taxed the agriculture sector by maintaining low grain prices and then, subsequently,
subsidized agriculture to ensure food security through domestic self-sufficiency.
Further, the South Korean authorities focused on reducing production costs through research and
development, increasing price support, and cheaper inputs, such as fertilizers. Over the last few
decades, the South Korean government has continued to invest in infrastructure development to
promote rural industrialization.
Pakistan has much to learn from the South Korean experience to improve the productivity of its
agricultural sector and rural incomes, which will help boost the national food security and grow
exports through the competitive supply of raw materials for the downstream industry. Like South
Korea, the journey must start with the much talked about broad-based land reforms to benefit
small farmers and attract investments in corporate farming in line with the government‟s vision.
The government must prioritize the promotion of higher seed quality, farming technology and
techniques, and water infrastructure. To encourage the balanced use of fertilizers and improve
agricultural output, the subsidy should only be provided on Phosphate, Potassium, and micro-
nutrients products. Also, targeted, value chain aggregated projects and cooperatives need to be
focused on to improve efficiencies and credit-worthiness of small farmers.
On the export front, Pakistan has the potential to gain substantial market share in meat, poultry,
fruits, and vegetables, while the government also foresees rice exports to surge to USD 5 billion
in the next five years. The Fertilizer Policy 2001 has encouraged PKR 162 billion investments in
capacity expansions and state-of-the-art production facilities by fertilizer manufacturers. Pakistan
is now self-sufficient in urea production and has the capacity to export more than 1 million tons
to earn valuable foreign exchange.

Energy sector gaps
Export-led growth and higher industrialization rates cannot be achieved by Pakistan till the
chronic problems faced by its energy sector are resolved. Due to the energy sector‟s
inefficiencies, Pakistan has one of the highest electricity tariffs in the region at around 12
cents/kWh.
As a result, the export sectors of China (7.5 cents/kWh), Vietnam (8 cents/kWh), and Bangladesh
(9 cents/kWh) are much more globally competitive and have become a growth engine for their
economies. To revive the power sector, the government must reform distribution and
transmission companies on a war footing, promote indigenous fuels, and work in partnership
with IPP investors to catalyze Pakistan‟s industrial growth and power demand.
These reforms will also remove market distortions, discourage rent-seeking behavior, and reduce
the discretionary power of regulators, all of which hamper the creation of a level playing field.
With domestic natural gas reserves dwindling, Pakistan must harness the full potential of Thar
projects and other renewable alternatives to ensure its energy security for uninterrupted industrial
activity.
Why brand building?
As highlighted by the World Bank in its recent note, the success of „Make in Pakistan‟ strategy
will depend on the country‟s readiness to „Sell to the World‟. Value addition and brand building
is the name of the game in the modern world, but this is where Pakistan has unfortunately
faltered the most.
Around 40% of Pakistan‟s exports are concentrated in a few Western markets, while 75% of
export value is derived from five product groups of cotton-based yarn, textiles and garments,
rice, leather and leather products, and sports goods. For higher value-added exports, it is critical
that import restrictions for raw materials required by manufacturing sectors are eased and
investments made in human capital and technology.
The local industry must obtain global quality certifications to make the products more
marketable. By 2030, Asia will represent 66% of the global middle-class and 59% of
consumption. Therefore, the key is to diversify – both in terms of destinations by gaining tax-
free market access to regional countries and marketing non-traditional products and services.
What led economic miracles elsewhere?
The economic miracle of Asian countries, like Korea, Thailand, and Singapore, is based on
higher productivity and labor efficiencies for improved global competitiveness. With

investments in research & development and automation, the highly skilled labor of these
economies converted imported raw materials and semi-finished goods into exportable high
value-added products.
The productivity of workers in Pakistan has remained relatively stagnant across manufacturing,
service, and agriculture sectors, while India and Bangladesh have increased in recent years. To
reverse this labor market inefficiency trend, Pakistan cannot afford to continue to neglect
technical and vocational training.
Simultaneously, the government must create an enabling environment to encourage private
sector investments to set up new industries and upgrade plant & machinery to benefit from
higher productivity levels. The “Digital Pakistan” agenda presents an opportunity to make a
concerted push towards a knowledge-based economy, upskilling labor force and promoting
exportable Information Technology-based services.
While recent figures show impressive gains by Pakistan in the global trade market, the
government has set itself a challenging target of increasing annual exports from USD 25 billion
to USD 150 billion by 2025. The progress on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
and Special Economic Zones will remain critical to achieving this vision. Moreover, the desire to
achieve export-led growth will require actions beyond slogans, rebates, and subsidies for the
local industries.
An “exports first” approach will require the government to deliberately allocate resources toward
sectors that produce for the export markets at the expense of domestic consumption. Other Asian
economies have achieved socio-economic development following this path, Pakistan can do so
too with persistent focus and the right set of policies.
https://www.globalvillagespace.com/adopting-export-led-strategy-for-sustainable-growth/
CBI raids FCI godowns in Moga
Grain samples taken for quality testing
Feb 03, 2021 07:00 AM (IST)
Moga, February 2
Following reports of substandard wheat and rice being exported to southern and eastern states for
distribution amongst the poor in the public distribution system (PDS) during the Covid-19
pandemic, sleuths of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) carried out fresh searches in at

least three warehouses of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) in Moga district during the past 24
hours.
Earlier, the CBI had conducted raids at more than 40 warehouses of the FCI and central
warehousing corporation and state procurement agencies on January 27 and 28 to collect
foodgrain samples.The CBI officials checked Soma-II, a modern storehouse of Soma Punjab
Warehousing Private Limited, at Saleena village and FCI warehouses at Baghapurana and Moga
to collect wheat and rice samples.
The CBI sleuths took samples to check the quality and quantity of the central-pool foodgrain
stocks pertaining to 2019-20 and 2020-21 stored at these facilities, a senior FCI official said.
There were also reports that taking advantage of the newly enacted central farm laws, hundreds
of rice millers in Punjab and Haryana had bought paddy in September and October from Uttar
Pradesh and other states at lower rates.
Intelligence inputs by the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB) had given reports to the Centre
that the millers were delivering substandard rice to the FCI in the central pool by conniving with
FCI officials and selling superior-quality rice in the market to earn profit by adopting unfair
practices.
Meanwhile, FCI officials said 50 per cent of the paddy procured in Punjab in 2020 had been
custom-milled and delivered in the central pool. The milling was still on, but delivery of rice to
the FCI was slow due to shortage of gunny bags. A rice miller in Moga said there was an overall
shortage of 30 to 35 per cent gunny bags in the state.
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/cbi-raids-fci-godowns-in-moga-207097
FAS Programs Promote DelicioUS Ag Commodities
By Sarah Moran
POLAND & GERMANY – A new promotion program recently launched by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) aims to tell the story of high-
quality U.S. food and drink products currently available on the European market.

Learn about the latest U.S. ag products available in Europe
The program, called DelicioUS!, provides cooperator groups, like USA Rice, a great opportunity
to connect with food industry representatives, retailers, and consumers across Europe in a cost-
efficient manner.
As part of this initiative, USA Rice joined the FAS post in Poland to educate Polish importers
and foodservice professionals on the benefits and application of U.S. rice.
“FAS Poland organized a creative, „live‟ virtual tasting where registered participants received a
portion of several dishes prepared with U.S. food products including rice, delivered by courier to
their homes,” said Eszter Somogyi, USA Rice director for Europe, Middle East, and Africa. “We
also took part in a video series on Facebook, as part of this initiative, recorded with a local
celebrity chef creating recipes with several U.S. food products. The episode featuring U.S. rice
was released last week, showing Asian-inspired recipes, like sushi, with U.S. rice and fish
products from the Alaska Seafood Institute.”
Parallel to this
effort, USA Rice collaborated with FAS Berlin on an article published on the DelicioUS!
website that highlights the U.S. rice industry‟s sustainability and conservation story.
Sustainability is an increasingly important topic among European consumers. As a result of the
COVID-19 pandemic, high income consumers are making more conscious choices about buying
food products that are not only good for themselves but also good for the environment.
“We are very excited to partner with European FAS posts in these efforts, and look forward to
working together to spread the word on the availability and high-quality of all types of U.S.
origin rice,” said Somogyi. “The program‟s tagline, “DelicioUS! -- United in Quality,” reflects

not only the diversity and quality of U.S. agricultural products produced by U.S. farmers, fishers,
ranchers, and foresters, but also the values of American agriculture.”
USA Rice Daily
Mayo Clinic research yields breakthrough in mobile determination
of QT prolongation
MAYO CLINIC
ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Researchers from Mayo Clinic and AliveCor Inc. have been using
artificial intelligence (AI) to develop a mobile device that can identify certain patients at risk of
sudden cardiac death. This research has yielded a breakthrough in determining the health of the
electrical recharging system in a patient's heart. The researchers determined that a smartphone-
enabled mobile EKG device can rapidly and accurately determine a patient's QTc, thereby
identifying patients at risk of sudden cardiac death from congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS)
or drug-induced QT prolongation.
The heart beats by a complex system of electrical signals triggering regular and necessary
contractions. Clinicians evaluate the heart's rate-corrected QT interval, or QTc, as a vital health
barometer of the heart's electrical recharging system. A potentially dangerous prolonged QTc,
which is equal to or longer than 50 milliseconds, can be caused by:
 More than 100 drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
 Genetics, including congenital long QT syndrome.
 Many systemic diseases, including even SARS-CoV-2-mediated COVID-19.
Such a prolonged QTc can predispose people to dangerously fast and chaotic heartbeats, and
even sudden cardiac death. For over 100 years, QTc assessment and monitoring has relied
heavily on the 12-lead electrocardiogram (EKG). But that could be about to change, according to
this research.
Under the direction of Michael Ackerman, M.D., Ph.D., a genetic cardiologist at Mayo Clinic,
researchers trained and validated an AI-based deep neural network to detect QTc prolongation
using AliveCor's KardiaMobile 6L EKG device. The findings, which were published
in Circulation, compared the ability of an AI-enabled mobile EKG to a traditional 12-lead EKG
in detecting QT prolongation.

"This collaborative effort with investigators from academia and industry has yielded what I call a
'pivot' discovery," says Dr. Ackerman, who is director of Mayo Clinic's Windland Smith Rice
Comprehensive Sudden Cardiac Death Program. "Whereby, we will pivot from the old way that
we have been obtaining the QTc to this new way. Since Einthoven's first major EKG paper in
1903, 2021 will mark the new beginning for the QT interval."
The team used more than 1.6 million 12-lead EKGs from over a half-million patients to train and
validate an AI-based deep neural network to recognize and accurately measure the QTc. Next
this newly developed AI-based QTc assessment ?the "QT meter" ? was tested prospectively on
nearly 700 patients evaluated by Dr. Ackerman in Mayo Clinic's Windland Smith Rice Genetic
Heart Rhythm Clinic. Half of these patients had congenital long QT syndrome.
The object was to compare the QTc values from a 12-lead EKG to those from the prototype
hand-held EKG device used with a smartphone. Both sets of EKGs were given at the same
clinical visit, typically within five minutes of each other.
The AI algorithm's ability to recognize clinically meaningful QTc prolongation on a mobile EKG
device was similar to the EKG assessments made by a trained QT expert and a commercial
laboratory specializing in QTc measurements for drug studies. The mobile device effectively
detected a QTc value of greater than or equal to 500 milliseconds, performing with:
 80% sensitivity This means that fewer cases of QTc prolongation were missed.
 94.4% specificity
This means that it was highly accurate in predicting who did not have a prolonged QTc.
"The ability to equip mobile EKG devices with accurate AI-powered approaches capable of
calculating accurately the QTc represents a potential paradigm shift regarding how and where the
QT interval can be assessed," says John Giudicessi, M.D., Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic cardiology
fellow and first author of the study.
"Currently, AliveCor's KardiaMobile 6L EKG device is FDA-cleared for detection of atrial
fibrillation, bradycardia, and tachycardia. Once FDA clearance is received for this AI-based QTc
assessment, we will have a true QT meter that can enable this emerging vital sign to be obtained
easily and accurately," says Dr. Ackerman. "Akin to a glucose meter for diabetics, for example,
this QT meter will provide an early warning system, enabling patients with congenital or
acquired LQTS to be identified and potentially lifesaving adjustments to their medications and
electrolytes to be made."

"This point-of-care application of artificial intelligence is massively scalable, since it is linked to
a smartphone. It can save lives by telling a person that a specific medication may be harmful
before he or she takes the first pill," says Paul Friedman, M.D., chair of the Department of
Cardiovascular Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. "This allows a potentially life threatening
condition to be detected before symptoms are manifest."
"Regularly monitoring for LQTS using KardiaMobile 6L allows for accurate, real-time data
collection outside the walls of a hospital," says David Albert, M.D., founder and chief medical
officer at AliveCor Inc. "Because LQTS can be intermittent and elusive, the ability to detect this
rhythm abnormality without a 12-lead EKG -- which requires the patient be in-hospital -- can
improve patient outcomes and save on hospital resources, while still providing the reliable and
timely data physicians and their patients need."
###
This research was sponsored by the Mayo Clinic Windland Smith Rice Comprehensive Sudden
Cardiac Death Program. Mayo Clinic; Zachi Attia, Ph.D.; Peter Noseworthy, M.D.; Dr.
Ackerman; and Dr. Friedman have a financial interest with AliveCor, Inc. related to this
research.
About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education
and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing.
Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news and Mayo Clinic Facts for
more information about Mayo.
About AliveCor
AliveCor, Inc. is transforming cardiological care using deep learning. The FDA-cleared
KardiaMobile device is the most clinically validated personal EKG solution in the world.
KardiaMobile provides instant detection of atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, tachycardia and
normal heart rhythm in an EKG. Kardia is the first AI-enabled platform to aid patients and
clinicians in the early detection of atrial fibrillation, the most common arrhythmia and one
associated with a highly elevated risk of stroke. AliveCor's enterprise platform allows third-party
providers to manage their patients' and customers' heart conditions simply and profitably using
state-of-the-art tools that provide easy front-end and back-end integration to AliveCor
technologies. AliveCor protects its customers with stringent data security and compliance

practices, achieving HIPAA compliance and SOC2 Type 1 and Type 2 attestations. AliveCor is a
privately held company headquartered in Mountain View, California. "Consumer" or "personal"
EKGs are EKG devices available for direct sale to consumers. For more information, visit the
AliveCor website.
https://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-02/mc-mcr012921.php
Iran starts repaying basmati rice dues
Indian companies start receiving payments stalled since 2019 from Iran for basmati rice exports.
Iran starts clearing basmati rice dues of Rs 1,700 crore.
Iran begins clearing basmati rice dues
The largest importer of basmati rice, Iran, has started clearing its dues to Indian basmati
exporters. Vinod Kaul, executive director of All India Rice Exporters Association, confirmed
that exporters have received around Rs 900 crores, which makes 52% of the total debt of Rs
1700 crores. Companies have been repaid through UCO and IDBI bank.
Rice exports to Iran decreased due to lack of assurance of payment.
Rice exports to Iran came down by 25% in the April-November period of 2020 because of non-
payment of dues. However, companies have started receiving remittances now, which will
hopefully increase basmati exports to the middle eastern country. Besides, a Sonepat based
exporter confirmed of receiving payments in dirham from Iranian agents based in Dubai. This is
a good sign as around 40% of rice trade with Iran occurs from January to March.
Demand for basmati soars from EU
The demand for basmati rice from EU soared 70% in FY 2020-21.Exports to EU has increased
10% in the past two months. Belgium, Italy and Netherlands have mainly contributed to the rise
in orders. Last year, India exported 1.32 million tonnes of basmati rice to Iran, earning Rs 8,846
crore. India produces around 7 million tonnes of basmati rice annually. Out of this, 60% is
exported and 40% is sold in domestic market. In all, exporters expect rice exports to increase
ahead of Navroz festive season, starting the New Year in Iran. Also, the new administration in
the US will hopefully lift the sanctions against Iran. This may also add to the orders.
https://www.grainmart.in/news/iran-starts-repaying-basmati-rice-dues/

Telangana, AP units start exporting rice to China
HYDERABAD: Millers from the Telugu states have started exporting broken rice to China. The
neighbouring country began importing rice from India for the first time in December last year
apart from its traditional suppliers like Pakistan, Vietnam and Myanmar. Out of 24 rice plants
selected in India for the exports, three are in the Telugu states. They are even gearing up to
export regular long grain rice, which farmers in Telangana see as a good opportunity.
“We are paid 350 dollars per tonne for broken rice,” Hiten, a rice exporter from Nizamabad said.
Out of three plants in Telugu states, one is in Nizamabad and two are in the East Godavari
district of Andhra Pradesh. The broken rice variety is used for making noodles and flour. The
low-quality rice is used as cattle feed. Chinese traders have now sought samples of long grain
rice from Indian exporters. “China plans to import about one million tonnes of rice, including
broken and long grain rice, from India this year. About 30% of the export will happen from
Telangana and AP, say exporters. “Telangana and AP have great potential as they have a second
crop of paddy.
Quality produce will be available from March,” National Rice Exporters‟ Association president
R Krishna Rao said. Exporters add that Telangana being close to ports, and cargo facilities being
good can turn the demand in China into a great opportunity. They say China‟s annual rice import
is five million tonnes. “But perception about Indian rice imports is low as there are proper
parameters internally for exports. We need to overcome these problems,” Rao said.
https://ricenewstoday.com/?p=123690
Cambodia generates over $30 million from milled rice
exports in January
Cambodia‟s gross revenue from rice exports in the first month of this year declined by 32.07
percent compared to the same period in 2019. Figures from the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF)
show that the Kingdom earned in total US$30.76 million from milled rice exports. In January, a
total of 34.032 tonnes of Cambodian milled rice were shipped to 28 countries around the world,
including China, 14 countries in the European Union, 2 countries in ASEAN, and 11 other
countries, and 36 companies engaged in the exports. According to CRF, fragrant rice takes
almost of the export, which 87.63 percent of the overall exports, including premium fragrant rice,
Sen Kra Ob, Organic Jasmine rice, and so on. Decline in rice exports in January, especially to
EU member states (down by nearly 60 percent), was mainly due to shipping problems and lack
of containers for rice, as well as heavy cargo, explained CRF, adding that there is not enough
space for pre-courier from Sihanoukville to transit to the mother vessel to Europe and the price is
up to 5 times. Phal Sophanith – AKP https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50809992/cambodia-
generates-over-30-million-from-milled-rice-exports-in-january/

Rice farmers face market crisis
By ISAIAH GWENGI | February 2nd 2021 at 15:02:02 GMT +0300
File Photo: Rice workers during harvesting time
Siaya, Kenya: Rice farmers in Usonga Location, Siaya County are stranded with more than
3,000 bags of rice due to a lack of market and storage space.
Everlyne Tabu Akumu said farmers embarked on massive production of rice after they were
promised by the Siaya County government of storage facilities and markets for their harvests.
"We got a bumper harvest but we are now stranded because we have nowhere to store the rice
and no market as was promised," said Akumu.
Speaking to Standard Digital at Siriwo village in the Sumba sub-location, the farmers said they
previously relied on customers from Uganda but were no longer coming to purchase the
commodity.
The rice farmers stated that since the advent of coronavirus and Ugandan elections, the
customers were no longer available.
"We are pleading with the County government of Siaya to move with speed and complete the
construction of the storage facility to enable us to keep our produce safely even as we struggle to
look for markets," added Akumu.
The farmers challenged the county government through the department of agriculture to fulfill its
promise and help them source the market for their produce.Siaya Agriculture executive Elizabeth
Odhiambo said the county was building a Sh19 million rice drying store and that it was near
completion."We were not looking for markets for the farmers' produce but creating linkages for
them," Elizabeth said, adding that the growers had no problem selling their harvests.He said the
farmers usually sell unprocessed rice to millers in Busia and Kisumu.
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2001402130/rice-farmers-face-market-crisis
Overview of India’s Major
Exports & Imports
Pub lished
February 3, 2021

By Bhupinder Singh
As a steadily growing economy in the east, the Indian economy is considered the world‟s 16th
largest exporter. India has exported USD 27.96B and imported USD 27.80B worth of goods and
services in 2020 with a USD 0.16B trade surplus. In the current FY, the exports and imports are
expected to grow to 6.9% each, with a trade deficit of USD 177.0B for merchandise.
India‟s BRIC economics is considered one of the rising national economies and helps become a
developed country. In 2020, India‟s major exports declined, including gems, jewelry, textiles,
rice, handlooms, and many more. According to the World Trade Organization, countries will see
a rise of 7.6% of trade in 2021. Let‟s explore more about major exports and imports from and to
India:
What Includes India‟s Top Exports List?
The top 10 exports from India contribute to over 59% of its global exports. Over the past 5 years,
India has seen dramatic growth in exports. Whether it is textile or rice exporters, the surge in
demand is seen by everyone previously. Certainly, rice exports from India are expected to rise by
6% in the upcoming year. Some of the major exports from India include the following:
 Refined Petroleum
India exported about 2.9 Trillion rupees of petroleum products in the Fiscal year 2020. As
compared to the previous year, there was a decrease in the value of exports by 17%. At the start
of the pandemic, petroleum exports were declined, but in October 2020, the economy saw a
prominent rise in trade.
 Drugs & Pharmaceuticals
India‟s Drugs & Pharmaceuticals export in FY 2020 was over 1.4 trillion rupees. Amidst the
pandemic, healthcare was the only sector that has seen an increase in trade than the previous
year. One of the largest providers of generic medicines was India. Due to this very reason, India
has seen a hike in exports of drugs and pharmaceuticals.
 Diamonds

Diamond exports have been worse affected in the past year. They have slimed by over 35 %
through September. Although, India‟s diamond exports contribute 20% to the world diamond
exports.
 Jewelry
75% of the world‟s gem and jewelry exports are from India. It employs over 4.6 million people
and contributes to 7% of the country‟s GDP. It is one of the fastest-growing sectors, which is
expected to rise double by the end of 2022.
 Basmati & Non-Basmati Rice
According to the All India Rice Exporter Association, India has exported over 7 million tonnes
of non-basmati rice in 2020 and is expected to double this year. In the last quarter of 2020, the
rise of 159% is seen in rice exports from India.
The major commodities exported from India also include iron, steel, cotton, aluminum, and
precious stones. The majority of Indian exports are destined to the United States, Germany,
China, UAE, and Hong Kong.
What Are India‟s Most Imported Commodities?
As a developing country, India imports several commodities from countries around the globe.
One of the most imported commodities is crude oil, which contributes USD 122 Billion in the
import amount. Other commodities include gold, diamonds, petroleum gas, and coal. Here are
some of the majorly imported commodities in India:
 Gold
Gold imports in India have seen a decline of 47%, which is said to be an impact of the
Coronavirus outbreak. Being one of the largest gold importers worldwide, the country imports
about 800-900 tonnes of gold every year.
 Coal Briquettes
India is one of the top importers of Coal and spends about billions of dollars every year. Out of
all the internationally traded commodities, Coal Briquettes are considered the 16th largest traded
product.
 Telephones
India imports telephones in higher numbers than its exports, which is roughly about 36 million
units. These imports are likely to decile in the upcoming years due to the proliferation of many
big telephone producing companies.
 Broadcasting Equipment
The imports of broadcasting equipment valued at 7.42 Billion in FY 2020. The top importer in
these commodities categories is the United States.
In order to survive in the unexpected economy, India has been following a robust approach. The
major exports from India are viable, and some commodities like basmati rice, petroleum have
seen a spike from the past five years.
https://recentlyheard.com/2021/02/03/overview-of-indias-major-exports-imports/

Myanmar confident of sufficient rice, edible oil supplies
Pa PaAung Loon
03 Feb 2021
A shop assistant pours palm oil into bottles at a shop in Kyauktada township, Yangon. Photo:
The Myanmar Times
Myanmar confident of sufficient rice, edible oil supplies
Demand for rice is rising in Myanmar as locals stock up on the commodity. Traders and
wholesalers said the panic buying – spurred by the declaration of a state of emergency –
has led to price hikes.
They added that rice exports are currently suspended but assured the public that, at present, there
is no shortage of rice in the country. “The rice market is very active right now because of
impulse buying as people are anxious. The prices of rice have gone up but there are still shops
selling it at regular prices. We have enough stocks of rice,” said Secretary of the Myanmar Rice

& Paddy Traders Association (MRPTA) U Aung Myint.He anticipates though, that demand will
fall quickly in the coming months.
“Rice can be stored for a long time. Transactions will decline in the next few months (as people
have already stocked up on rice). The Myanmar Rice & Paddy Traders Association requests
traders and rice millers to not inflate the price”, said U Aung Myint.
“We cannot inhibit the purchasing behaviors of the population. Some buy enough rice to last for
a month while others buy enough for a week”, he continued.
Prices for the popular Paw Hsan Hmwe rice have increased by up to K5,000 a bag while the cost
of other rice brands of different qualities have increased by approximately K2,000.
Meanwhile, Myanmar has also put in the necessary preparations to ensure that there will be no
shortage of edible oils in the country.
The Myanmar Edible Oil Dealers Association assured the public that there will be continued
supply of edible oil in light of the current political unrest.Approximately 50,000 tonnes of edible
oil will be arriving from January 29 to February 10 and there are currently no shortages in edible
oil, said U Paing Phyo Thant, the association's secretary.
A majority of Myanmar's edible oil is imported from Malaysia and Indonesia.U Paing Phyo
Thant said the association had used the state budget to purchase 12,000 tonnes of the commodity
when the COVID-19 pandemic first struck. These were then distributed to the states and regions
accordingly.
The political unrest which unfolded on February 1, however, did result in an increase in
prices.Members of the public were seen stocking up on necessities following the military
detainment of the country's president, U Win Myint, and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi, along with other senior figures from the ruling party in response to alleged poll fraud by the
Union Election Commission.
“People were buying food products in bulk yesterday morning. We have requested companies to
continue selling the oils with adjusted prices. We also opened the oil tanks and restocked to
ensure there is continued supply,” said U Paing Phyo Thant.
“We cannot predict if the prices will continue to rise because it depends on the foreign market. If
the prices increase in the foreign market then it will also increase domestically. But we plan to
keep selling the oils at a justified price while maintaining control of the situation,” he said.
Prices of other commodities are also on the rise.The price of the onions grown in Myitthar has
increased by K150 per viss. Lower grade onions are K150 to K200 more expensive as
well.Another reason for the increase in prices of these agricultural products is due to lower
supply.

Recently, Yangon only receives on average 25 vegetable trucks a day, said chair of the
Bayintnaung Wholesale Center U Khin Han. - Translated
Bid to lower tariffs on pork, rice imports divides solons
ByJovee Marie de la Cruz
February 3, 2021
A man In Las Pinas wet market cuts and weigh pork meat on Monday, February 1. President
Duterte has capped the prices of pork and chicken for 60 days in Metro Manila, Malacañang said
Monday, as consumers raised concerns over the rising cost of basic food items. Executive Order
LAWMAKERS are divided on the Executive Branch‟s proposal to lower tariffs on pork and rice
imports as a measure to stabilize domestic food prices.

During the joint hearing of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food and House Committee
on Trade and Industry, Deputy Speaker Weslie Gatchalian said the Department of Agriculture
should focus on how the agency will help and strengthen the local industry instead of reducing
tariffs.
“In reducing the tariffs and adjusting the MAV [minimum access volume], we are encouraging
importation, we are encouraging local businessmen to just proceed to importation and I think this
is wrong,” Gatchalian told Agriculture Secretary William Dar.
“The DA should look into long-term solutions on how to strengthen the local industry and
support all the stakeholders amid this pandemic,” the lawmaker added.
In the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform Chair Cynthia A. Villar
earlier told Dar that the senators are also in “unison” in opposing any moves to reduce tariffs on
food items.
But for his part, Secretary Dar said these proposals are only short-term solutions to address the
existing problem, saying the agency‟s “long-term solutions [include] enhancing and nurturing
local commodity industries and mix interventions [being implemented by the DA].”
Economist-lawmaker Stella Luz Quimbo of Marikina also said the solution to food inflation
requires a mix of policy responses, including reducing tariffs.
She said high tariffs and weak enforcement are among the factors driving smuggling. “Due to the
high tariff at 40 percent, importers prefer to just smuggle. With rampant smuggling, imported
meat will be too cheap and our local producers will not be able to compete, and government
loses out on tariff revenues,” she said.
If the government rationalizes tariff rates at lower levels, Quimbo said, “this is tantamount to
hitting two birds with one stone.
“Prices will fall and at the same time, importers will legitimately pay the tax,” she added.

Quimbo also recommended earmarking tariff revenues for subsidies for hog raisers and livestock
producers.
“These subsidies should be utilized to help local producers address recent supply shocks and
become more productive and competitive, especially against importers. Developing our domestic
production is needed for food security in the long term,” the lawmaker said.
Key issues
House Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairman Mark Enverga said the DA should also
first justify to Congress the basis of its proposed increase of MAV and lower tariffs.
“Would the cost of loss to the Acef [Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund] outweigh
the benefits? How would it impact the local hog industry? Does this ensure lower prices of pork
for the entire year? At how much? These are important issues that must be addressed [by the
DA],” said Enverga.
The DA filed two petitions last week before the TC for the reduction of most favored nation
(MFN) rates of pork and rice imports.
The DA petitioned to lower the tariffs for in-quota pork imports from 30 percent to 5 percent for
the first six months; and to raise it afterward to 10 percent for the succeeding six months.
The DA also petitioned to lower the out-quota tariff for pork to 15 percent for the first six
months and increase it to 20 percent for the next six months. Out-quota pork imports are slapped
with a 40-percent tariff.
In terms of rice, the in-quota tariff for rice imports or those within the minimum access volume is
at 40 percent, while those outside the MAV (out-quota) are at 50 percent.
Price freeze

Meanwhile, Dar told the committee that the 60-day price cap on pork and poultry products will
start on February 8.
“The price ceiling will effectively be enforced by February 8, 2021, by all the institutions
involved,” Dar said.
The DA said it is coordinating with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Metropolitan Manila
Development Authority (MMDA), and local governments to effect the efficient implementation
of the EO imposing mandated price ceiling on pork and chicken in the National Capital Region.
These include publication and announcement of EO 124 in all media platforms; printing of tarps
to be displayed in all public supermarkets in Metro Manila.
On Monday, President Duterte signed Executive Order 124 imposing a price ceiling for pork and
poultry products in Metro Manila.
Under the two-page issuance, the following pork products will have their prices capped at the
following rates: kasim/pigue, P270 per kilo; and liempo, P300 per kilo.
It also imposed a price ceiling for dressed chicken, at P160 per kilo.
EO 124 will remain valid for 60 days upon its effectivity after its publication.
Duterte said he signed the new issuance to ensure said food items remain affordable as the
country continues to reel from the economic slowdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/02/03/bid-to-lower-tariffs-on-pork-rice-imports-divides-
solons/
Telangana, AP units start exporting rice to China
Sribala Vadlapatla | TNN | Updated: Feb 3, 2021, 06:35 IST

TimesPoints
Telangana is the second biggest rice producer in the country
HYDERABAD: Millers from the Telugu states have started exporting broken rice to China. The
neighbouring country began importing rice from India for the first time in December last year
apart from its traditional suppliers like Pakistan, Vietnam and Myanmar.
Out of 24 rice plants selected in India for the exports, three are in the Telugu states. They are
even gearing up to export regular long grain rice, which farmers in Telangana see as a good
opportunity.
“We are paid 350 dollars per tonne for broken rice,” Hiten, a rice exporter from Nizamabad said.
Out of three plants in Telugu states, one is in Nizamabad and two are in the East Godavari
district of Andhra Pradesh.
The broken rice variety is used for making noodles and flour. The low-quality rice is used as
cattle feed. Chinese traders have now sought samples of long grain rice from Indian exporters.
“China plans to import about one million tonnes of rice, including broken and long grain rice,
from India this year. About 30% of the export will happen from Telangana and AP, say
exporters. “Telangana and AP have great potential as they have a second crop of paddy. Quality
produce will be available from March,” National Rice Exporters‟ Association president R
Krishna Rao said.
Exporters add that Telangana being close to ports, and cargo facilities being good can turn the
demand in China into a great opportunity. They say China‟s annual rice import is five million
tonnes. “But perception about Indian rice imports is low as there are proper parameters internally
for exports. We need to overcome these problems,” Rao said.
Bayintnaung rice wholesalers halts trade to observe situation
Pa Pa 02 Feb 2021
Workers pack rice at a warehouse in Bayintnaung Trading Centre. Photo: The Myanmar Times
Bayintnaung rice wholesalers halts trade to observe situation
Rice wholesalers in the country have stopped trade at wholesale centres and are keeping a
close eye on Myanmar’s political situation before deciding what to do.
U Than Oo, secretary of the Bayintnaung Wholesales Center, said all communication with their
delivery trucks have been cut off, as such they have no choice but to halt trade.

The rice delivered to the wholesales centre early in the morning has been sold. We reduced the
prices by K500 a bag so there would be no leftovers. We were selling until 7am. The selling and
buying at the wholesales centre stopped at 8am because we could no longer contact the incoming
delivery trucks and we could not arrange for the cargo to be unloaded at the centre.” he said.
The secretary said rice merchants are currently observing the situation and awaiting further
instructions.“There is some temporary cut off in communication and ATMs are not operating.
We don't know if there will be a curfew or something else. We need to evaluate the price of rice
in the local market as there are traders suspending their businesses. There is no rice arriving at
the wholesales centre. There are also traffic jams on the roads,” said U Than Oo.
Reports on February 1 said supermarkets and other markets in Yangon were experiencing
increased sales as people stocked up on food products and necessities during this time of
uncertainty.“Some retail shops have increased their prices but prices of (rice) has remained the
same. There are more buyers today compared to previous days. We need to observe the
situation,” said Daw Soe Soe, a housewife from Thingangyun township. – Translated
https://www.mmtimes.com/news/bayintnaung-rice-wholesalers-halts-trade-observe-
situation.html

3rd february,2021 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

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