10th february ,2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

10th February , 2014

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TOP Contents - Tailored for YOU

Latest News Headlines…
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Guv: No rice smuggling in Negros
Rice exports falter on illicit China trade
Thailand's security body warns of more violence
FDA warns against using Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice
Senate agri committee chair backs private rice imports ban
New publication for rice growers
Rice farmers protest as Thai government's funding woes mount
Thai Anti-government Protest Leader Arrested
Farmers seek ministry's aid on rice money
Red leader spearheads rice-purchase plan
Farmers marching to Justice Ministry, Defence HQ to demand rice payments today
Commerce Ministry to pay interest to rice farmers with central budget
Farmers to petition Justice Ministry over rice-scheme payment delay
The Myanmar Times: Rice exports falter on illicit China trade
Bangladesh. MY 2013/2014 Rice Production Projected to Rise Slightly

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Haryana gets award for high rice and wheat production
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Feb 10
TABLE-India Grain Prices-Delhi- Feb 08
Nigeria: Govt Targets Rice Export From 2017
Rice market to witness hand-to-mouth buying
More farmers ready to push for money from govt
Angry rice farmers abandon government talks
Farmers advised to stop planting rice
Farmers: Sell rice stockpiles
GPF scorns rice-bonds purchase
Traders: Old rice stocks unshippable
$50K federal bond set for 2 Chinese scientists accused in Kan.; 1 turned down for loan
Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice Recall: FDA Warns Against Recent Illnesses due to Product

 Myanmar rice companies benefit from Thai expertise
 Vow to turn BD into food grain exporting nation

NEWS DETAILS:
Guv: No rice smuggling in Negros
Monday, February 10, 2014

NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said that rice smuggling is not happening in the
province.He said that smuggling activities only happen in international ports like those in Cebu, Cagayan de
Oro, General Santos City, and in other major ports across the country.Ports in Negros Occidental, including
Bacolod City, cater mostly to inter-island vessels.The governor’s pronouncement came in the wake of the
Senate inquiry on rice smuggling.Meanwhile, the Bureau of Customs said the campaign of the government
against rice smuggling has gaining headway.The BOC has filed before the Department of Justice 22 rice-related
smuggling cases under its Run After The Smugglers (Rats) program in 2013.
The respondents were charged for violation of Section 3602 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines
and Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code.More than P1.2-billion worth of illegally-imported rice was seized
by the BOC last year.The BOC also cancelled the accreditation of 14 rice importers for not having enough
resources to warrant the importation of large volume of rice.The rice importers are Conquistar Marketing,
Dream the Dream Marketing, Happy Morning Enterprises, Kakampi Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Kapatiran
Takusa Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Malipampang Concerned Citizens Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Pinambaran
Farmers Producers Cooperative, Samahang Magsasakang Kampampangan at Katagalugan Multi-Purpose
Cooperative, Thunder Glutch Marketing, Ugnayang Magbubukid ng San Isidro, Inc., Vita Rose Marketing,
Dragon Clash Enterprises, Masagana Import Export and King Casey Trading.

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Customs Commissioner John Sevilla said they are committed to prosecuting traders who continue to import rice
illegally.Sevilla said that the practices are not only unfair to legitimate rice dealers and sellers, but also cause
harm to Filipino farmers.The BOC filed smuggling charges against the officials of the San Carlos MultiPurpose Cooperative for the unlawful importation of more than 28,000 sacks or rice with an estimated market
value of P34 million last February 6. (TDE with reports from PNA)

Rice exports falter on illicit China trade
By Zaw Htike | Sunday, 09 February 2014

Rice exports this year are set to fall to less than half of the government target of 3 million-tonnes as
traders are withholding stock from its trading partners in an attempt to secure more favourable prices
being offered by illicit Chinese importers, officials said.
Men load bags of rice onto a truck to be exported out of the country. Photo: Kaung Htet
U Lu Maw Myint Maung, joint
secretary general of the
Myanmar Rice Federation, told
The Myanmar Times, that
Myanmar exported nearly 1
million tonnes of rice through
the first nine months of the
fiscal year at the end of January,
falling short of the 1.01 million
tonnes of rice exported during
the
same
period
last
year.―Because of an unstable
local rice price, we have not
been able to speed up exports
during the rainy season, he said.
―If we had, Myanmar would
probably have been able to
export about 2 million tonnes
this year, because there is
enough reserve.
‖He said that traders are increasingly looking to sell rice through Shan State’s Muse border, alongside China’s
Yunnan Province, where they can earn as much as 28 percent more profit by dealing with tax-dodging
Chineseimporters.Though there is nothing illicit about local rice sellers trading over the borders, many Chinese
traders are subject to a 17pc import tax on all rice bought from Myanmar, a tax many choose not to pay, he said.
While they are then able to offer a better premium on imports, they also tend to not honour contacts and pay
significantly less than promised.―Local traders would not easily be able to reclaim their rice back because of the

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high transportation charges and would have to sell at the lower price,‖ U Lu Maw Myint Maung said. ―This led
to fluctuations in the local price, so that big exporters could not draw up contracts for as much as we
wanted.‖He said that the price of 25pc broken rice on the international market goes for US$315-$320 per tonne.
That is compared to the 2480 yuan ($404) the same rice is sometimes sold for through the Muse border. Five
percent broken rice, meanwhile, is sold for $405-$415 per tonne in the international markets, well short of the
2740 Yuan (about $446) per tonne it fetches along the Yunnan border.In an effort to deal with the problem, the
government has been in talks with Chinese authorities to try and formalise the rice trade, U Maung Aung, an
adviser to the Ministry of Commerce he told The Myanmar Times.―We have been trying to sign an MOU
[memorandum of understanding] with regional governments in China to permit importing rice from Myanmar
legally,‖ he said.―Although they have not permitted rice imports, market demand is very big, so they seize illicit
rice imports from Myanmar only sometimes,‖ he said.As a result, experts believe that the price being offered by
illicit traders in China would likely not begin to decrease until the end of the high trading season.
―The price [of rice exported to China] is not likely to go down until March as we are now exporting 3000 to
3500 tonnes of rice through Muse a day,‖ said U Thauk Kyar, an executive member of the Muse rice traders’
association.The fiscal 2012-2013 total of 1.6 million tonnes was the highest in 46 years, thanks to the demand
from China for exports via the newly booming Muse border post, which accounted for 60pc of the total 1.6
million tonnes exported last year, said U Lu Maw Myint Maung, adding that China has faced in increased
demand for quality rice over the past year.However, with Myanmar’s entry into the EU generalised system of
preferences last year, Myanmar traders have started to export to Europe, said U Lu Maw Myint Maung.―EU
traders can import rice from Myanmar without paying import taxes if they can prove the country of origin,‖ he
said.Former joint secretary of the Myanmar Rice Federation and rice exporter U Myo Thura Aye said that 10
EU countries, including Spain, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands, are now buying rice from Myanmar.
―We’re exporting 5000 tonnes a month to Europe and 20,000 tonnes to Africa,‖ he said, adding that a smaller
amount is going to the Philippines and Malaysia.In addition, Myanmar Agribusiness Public Corporation
(MACPO) announced last week that come May they will export up to 8000 tonnes of rice to Japan this year,
said U Soe Tun, the company’s director.―MAPCO is going to export … rice to Japan jointly with Japanese firm
Mitsui & Co after it won a tender of Japanese government to import rice,‖ he said, adding that they would start
importing 5pc broken rice at $470 per tonne.

Thailand's security body warns of more violence
The Nation/ANN, Bangkok | World | Mon, February 10 2014, 8:58 AM
World News

Thailand's National Security Council (NSC) yesterday warned of a possible escalation in violence as rice farmers
link up with anti-government protesters to mount pressure on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her crew to
step down.Thousands of farmers have vowed to rally today at the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence to

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demand not only that the government's rice-pledging scheme pay them, but also that the whole Cabinet step down to
let others solve the problem for them.Yingluck reportedly often works at this office instead of the Government
House after the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) sprang up and won solid support
from Bangkok residents.NSC secretary-general Paradorn Pattanatabut said flocks of farmers have now taken to the
streets to seek overdue payment and the PDRC is apparently keen on wooing them to its side.Some of the farmers
have already shown up on PDRC stages in the past few days and some of them have petitioned the anti-graft body to
investigate the controversial rice scheme and impeach the government.
The PDRC will today go on another fund-raising march to help the farmers' fight for their claim to payment after the
first such drive last Friday.The government's rice-pledging scheme now owes about 130 billion baht (US$4 billion)
to over 1 million farmers. The repeatedly postponed payments have made many farmers desperate and others
furious.Protesting farmers have come from many provinces, including some seen as the Pheu Thai Party's
strongholds.Northern Farmers Network chairman Kittisak Rattanawaraha said more than 10,000 farmers from his
zone have already headed to Bangkok to join the demonstration.Hundreds of farmers were seen leaving Phitsanulok
for Bangkok for the same cause."Violent incidents have often taken place at the PDRC rally site on Chaeng Wattana
Road," Paradorn said.This rally site is close to the Defence Permanent Secretary's Office, where the farmers will
converge today.Paradorn remained vague about whether Yingluck would meet with the farmers.
"If she does not come to the office, other ministers will directly talk to the farmers," he said.Caretaker Commerce
Minister Niwatthumrong Boonsongpaisan said he was ready to go to the farmers' rally site in front of the Commerce
Ministry, where they have camped out for days already."In fact, they don't even need to come to the Defence
Permanent Secretary's Office," he said.The government is now planning to consult the Election Commission (EC) on
the legality of using 1.2 billion baht from the central budget for the payment of interest to rice millers who agree to
accept farmers' certificates in the rice-pledging scheme as mortgages for loans.The government has been struggling
for months to secure a bridge loan to continue financing the rice-pledging scheme.After Yingluck dissolved the
House of Representatives on December 9, her government is just a caretaker and needs EC approval on several
issues.
Election Commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said on Facebook that there was no point in the government
consulting the EC on the interest payment proposal because the Cabinet has not yet issued a resolution on the
issue.Nipon Poapongsakorn of the Thailand Development Research Institute suggested that the government ask the
Council of State to approve a plan for the government to provide interest payments to commercial banks that agree
to
accept
the
farmers'
certificates
as
loan
collateral.
Caretaker Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Phuangrach said the ministry would release 1.2 million tonnes of
rice from the government's stocks on Thursday in the hope that it would earn 10 billion baht to pay off farmers for
the latest crop under the rice-pledging scheme, Nation Channel reported. Some 227,000 tonnes from 11 granaries in
eight provinces would be offered through the Agricultural Futures Exchange of Thailand, of which 167,000 tonnes

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will be 5-per-cent white rice and the rest jasmine rice.Some 460,000 tonnes will be sold through a general auction
and the remaining 500,000 tonnes to millers.Manus Kitprasert, president of the Thai Rice Millers Association, said
he would circulate letters to members to inform them that the government has proposed to sell rice to them."We are
ready to buy the rice from the government, but the rice we buy will be at the same prices as those set by the general
bidding," he said.

FDA warns against using Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice
February 10, 2014 |

Mars Foodservices recalls all lot numbers of Infused Rice linked to recent illness in Texas
Silver Spring, MD – The
FDA, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC),
and state and local officials
have been investigating a
cluster of illnesses associated
with Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice Mexican Flavor sold in 5- and 25pound bags.On February 7th, 2014, the FDA’s Coordinated Out
break Response and Evaluation Network (CORE) was notified of
a cluster of illnesses at three public schools in Katy, Texas.
Thirty-four students and four teachers experienced burning,
itching rashes, headaches and nausea for 30 to 90 minutes, before the symptoms went away. Uncle Ben’s Infused
Rice Mexican Flavor with the lot number 351EKGRV01, made by Mars Foodservices of Greenville, MS, was the
common food item eaten by ill students.
One of the recalled products

On December 4th, 2013, the Illinois Department of Public Health notified CDC of 25 children with similar skin
reactions following a school lunch that served an Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice product. North Dakota reported a similar
incident that occurred on October 30th, 2013. Three children in a daycare and one college student experienced
flushing reactions 45 minutes after consuming an Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice product.
Mars Foodservices is recalling all bags and all lot numbers of its Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice products produced in
2013:
 Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice Roasted Chicken Flavor (5- and 25-pounds)


Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice Garlic & Butter Flavor (5-pounds)



Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice Mexican Flavor (5- and 25-pounds)



Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice Pilaf (5-pounds)

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

Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice Saffron Flavor (5-pounds)



Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice Cheese Flavor (5-pounds)

Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice Spanish Flavor (25-pounds)
Although this product is not typically marketed to individual consumers, it may be available over the Internet and at
warehouse-type retailers.
Uncle Ben’s Brand Ready to Heat, Boxed, Bag or Cup products sold at grocery stores and other retail outlets are not
being recalled.
Investigation into this outbreak continues.


What are the Symptoms of Illness/Injury?
The symptoms associated with this illness include a red burning/itching rash, headache, nausea, and flushness of the
skin.The symptoms appear very shortly after consuming the rice product and pass within 30 to 90 minutes.

What Specific Products are being Recalled?

Mars
Foodservices
is recalling
all bags and
all
lot
numbers of
its
Uncle
Ben’s
Infused Rice
products
produced in
2013:


Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice Roasted Chicken Flavor (5- and 25-pounds)



Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice Garlic & Butter Flavor (5-pounds)



Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice Mexican Flavor (5- and 25-pounds)



Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice Pilaf (5-pounds)



Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice Saffron Flavor (5-pounds)



Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice Cheese Flavor (5-pounds)



Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice Spanish Flavor (25-pounds)

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

The products are sold to food service companies. However, they may be available over the Internet and at
warehouse-type retailers.

Who is at Risk?
People of any age can experience symptoms. The illnesses in Texas included people of different ages (children and
adults).

What Do Food Service Companies and Consumers Need To Do?
Food service companies and consumers who may have purchased the products should not use the rice, and should
return it to their distributor or point of purchase or dispose of it.

What Does the Product Look Like?
Photos of Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice products can be seen
here:http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm385323.htm.

Where is it Distributed?
The products are sold directly to food service companies that typically distribute to restaurants, schools, hospitals
and other establishments. The products have also been found over the Internet, including Amazon and warehousetype retailers, such as Sam’s Club.

Who Should be Contacted?
Contact your health care provider if you have sudden nausea, headaches or a burning/itching rash after eating Uncle
Ben’s Infused Rice products.
The FDA encourages consumers with questions about food safety to call 1-888-SAFEFOOD Monday through Friday
between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. eastern time, or to consult the fda.gov
website:http://www.fda.gov/Safety/ReportaProblem/ConsumerComplaintCoordinators/default.htm.

About the Food and Drug Administration
The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of
human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human
use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and
security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that
give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

Senate agri committee chair backs private rice imports ban
Philippine Daily Inquirer
8:01 am | Sunday, February 9th, 2014

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DIGOS CITY, Philippines—The chair of the Senate committee on agriculture and food said she supported
proposals to stop the issuance of import permits for rice as a means to stop its smuggling.
Senator Cynthia Villar. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Sen. Cynthia Villar, whose committee is investigating the rampant smuggling of rice and other agricultural
products, said private businesses, under the proposal made during one of her committee hearings, would no
longer have any role in the importation of rice.―The suggestion came from the Bureau of Customs (BOC),
and I agree with it. It will be much easier and simplified if the importation will be done only by the
government,‖ she said.She said that under the proposal, only the National Food Authority would be allowed to
import rice in anticipation of low supply during the lean months.
―It’s better than allowing the private sector [to import] because
by not doing so, smugglers would not have much opportunity
to do their foolishness,‖ Villar said.She said that while the ban
on private sector importation of rice had not been adopted, the
government could implement several measures to stop
smuggling.Among these, she said, is to stop the issuance of
import permits.―If there is no import permit, they should not
allow any shipment to come in. For the BOC, they could
simply confiscate shipments not covered by import permits,
and then the DOJ (Department of Justice) should file the
necessary charges,‖ she said.Villar added that only a serious
inter-agency campaign could put a stop to smuggling at this
point.
Villar said rice smuggling had become too serious a problem that it is not only the government losing from it
but also farmers, who get low prices for their produce because of the entry of imported rice.―The rice industry
said in 2012 that the 800,000 metric tons of rice that entered the country were smuggled and it translated to
revenue losses of P8.4 billion for the government. In 2013, there were about 20 million bags and we lost P10
billion,‖ she said.While farmers suffered the consequences of smuggling, Villar said the people behind it raked
in billions of pesos.―Smugglers made a lot of money from it,‖ she said.In Zamboanga City, rice trader Edna
Lucero Jaena, 60, said she was once a rice farmer in Bayog town in Zamboanga del Sur province but abandoned
farming because of the influx of imported rice.―My family would have starved if I did not shift to trading. In
farming, you spend so much and only get a few bucks,‖ Jaena said.She said the government’s lack of support
for rice farmers convinced her to abandon farming and shift to trading.―It’s easier to sell imported rice,‖ she
said. Reports from Allan Nawal, Julie Alipala and Williamor Magbanua, Inquirer Mindanao

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New publication for rice growers
Feb. 10, 2014, 1:33 p.m.

Rice growers will benefit from the new publication Rice field guide to pests, diseases and weeds in southern
NSW issued by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI).
DPI Research and Development Officer David Troldahl based at Yanco said this publication covers a variety of
topics and issues to assist rice growers to achieve increased production and higher yields.
―The guide is designed to assist rice
growers and advisors in south
eastern Australia to identify and
manage relevant pest, disease and
weed issues that are encountered in
rice crops in the region,‖ Mr
Troldahl said.―Available in this
quick guide are extensive descriptions, photographs, references and information on the potential threats to the
rice industry. ―To prevent crop damage it is important for growers to understand the life cycle and management
of pests such as bloodworms, water snails, leaf miners, locusts and grasshoppers.―Water snails are a major pest
of rice crops in southern NSW.―Damage typically starts to occur within three weeks of sowing in aerial sown
crops or after application of permanent water in drill sown crops.―The guide will assist growers to recognise and
manage diseases such as Damping off, Stem rot and Sheath spot.―Damping off diseases are the most significant
diseases to rice growers in south eastern Australia.
―These fungal diseases are present every year and may cause seed and seedling losses.―Weed management
strategies are outlined in the guide to prevent problem weed varieties from impacting on rice crops.―Some
exotic threats and noxious weeds are also displayed in the guide.‖Mr Troldahl said rice production is a vital
enterprise is southern NSW and forms the basis of many irrigated farming systems in the Murrumbidgee and
Murray Valleys.―The NSW rice industry leads the world in terms of crop yield and the sustainable, efficient use
of resources,‖ Mr Troldahl said.
To download a copy visit

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre/summer-crops/rice/field-guide
Image: Harvesting rice at Leeton

Rice farmers protest as Thai government's funding woes mount
BY AUKKARAPON NIYOMYAT AND AMY SAWITTA LEFEVRE
BANGKOK Mon Feb 10, 2014 7:09am EST

(Reuters) - More than 1,000 farmers protested
outside the Thai government's temporary
headquarters on Monday over the state's failure to
pay for rice bought under a subsidy scheme that
the caretaker administration admits it is struggling
to fund.The rice program was a signature policy of
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was
swept to power in 2011 with the help of millions
of rural votes, but has become one of the biggest
threats to her grip on power.The unrest among
farmers has opened a new front against Yingluck's
government, which has been facing off against a
Bangkok-based protest movement seeking to drive it from office for nearly three months.
One of the organizers of those protests was arrested on Monday, the first of the core leaders to be held since the
campaign to disrupt normal business in the capital began in November.The protests, which are still blocking
parts of Bangkok, have found much of their support from middle-class, urban taxpayers appalled at what they
see as corruption and waste in the rice scheme.Tarit Pengdith, head of the Department of Special Investigation
(DSI), Thailand's equivalent of the FBI, said protest leader Sonthiyarn Chuenruethai-naitham was being
detained by border patrol police on the outskirts of the city.
He was among 19 people against whom arrest warrants were issued last week for defying a state of emergency
that bans political gatherings of more than five people and gives authorities powers to detain suspects without
charge.DSI chief Tarit also said he would announce the names of 136 individuals and companies suspected of

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providing financial support to the protest movement at a news conference on Tuesday."We have strong
evidence that 58 of these firms have financially supported protests ... and will summon the remaining
companies and individuals to the DSI to explain themselves," Tarit told Reuters.
LIMITED POWERS
Troops stood guard behind a barbed wire fence at the Defense Ministry offices in northern Bangkok that have
been Yingluck's base since the protests forced her to relocate in January."Don't cheat farmers, Yingluck. If you
can't administer the country then get out because there are plenty of capable people willing to govern," one
farmer shouted through a loudspeaker.About 30 representatives of the farmers were allowed inside to meet
Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan and Finance Minister Kittirat Na-Ranong, but left after
less than half an hour telling reporters there had been no progress."We will not put up with this any longer,"
said Kittisak Ratanawarahal, president of the Network for Northern Farmers. "We will seize government rice
warehouses around the country so that the government can't swindle us anymore.
"Yingluck has led a caretaker administration since December, when she dissolved parliament and called a snap
election in an attempt to end the street protests, the latest installment in eight years of on-off political turmoil
that began with the ousting of her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, in a 2006 coup.Disruption to a February 2
general election prevented voting from being completed everywhere, and a new government cannot be installed
until vacant seats in parliament are filled.That could take months, leaving the caretaker administration to limp
on, hamstrung by limited spending powers.
The government lacks the power to transfer money from the central budget to pay for the rice it has committed
to buy from farmers, some of whom have not been paid for months. Big banks have refused to offer bridging
loans, unconvinced the government has the authority to seek them.Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong told the
farmers leaders' that the government had tried to borrow money from several banks over the past two weeks to
pay the farmers but was refused, according to a Reuters reporter present."We are doing everything in our power
... but none of them will release funds. There are groups intimidating these banks into not helping us," the
minister said.
NATURAL SUPPORTERS
Rice farmers have until now been natural supporters of Yingluck and her brother, Thaksin, who raised living
standards in the countryside with populist policies such as cheap healthcare when he was prime minister from

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2001.The farmers have kept their distance from the broader protest movement, whose leaders have been seeking
to make common cause with them."We are not yellow and we are not red," said a sign held up by one farmer,
referring to Thailand's colour-coded political divide. "We are only here to remind you about our rice.
"Ten people have been killed in sporadic clashes since the Bangkok protests began, although the last week has
been quieter with numbers at demonstrations dwindling.There was a reminder of the potential for violence on
Monday, however, when a crude "ping pong" bomb exploded wounding six city workers, two seriously, who
had been cutting trees near Phan Fa Bridge in the city's historic quarter."We cannot yet conclude whether the
device was intended to hurt protesters. It could have been hidden there for weeks," said Nopparut Chitman, a
police officer in charge of the case.(Additional reporting by Pracha Hariraksapitak;
Writing by Alex Richardson; Editing byRobert Birsel) nL3N0LF2JF

Thai Anti-government Protest Leader Arrested
VOA News
February 10, 2014

Thai police have arrested a top leader of antigovernment protests.Police say they arrested
Sonthiyarn Cheunruethainaitham on charges of
violating Thailand's emergency law.Department of
Special Investigations director-general Tharit Pengdit
said police will continue arresting protest leaders who
violate the special law. Authorities say arrest

warrants have been issued for 19 leaders of Thailand's antigovernment protests.Elsewhere in the Thai capital Monday, six
street cleaners were injured, two seriously, by a small improvised
bomb or a giant firecracker at a protest site.And earlier, hundreds
of farmers rallied outside Thailand's Justice Ministry in Bangkok
to demand overdue payment for rice sold in a government
subsidy program. Disruption by anti-government protesters of the

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February 2 snap election prevented voting from being completed in many locations. That means the government
remains a caretaker administration with limited spending powers until vacant seats in parliament can be filled. The
rice subsidy program, along with other populist policies, won the support of farmers, which helped Prime Minister
Yingluck Shinawatra's party a landslide election in 2011.The anti-government protest movement, which is trying to
topple the prime minister, is supported by the urban middle class who are angered by what they say is waste and
corruption in the rice program.At least 10 people have been killed and scores hospitalized during the political
upheaval.

Farmers seek ministry's aid on rice money
The Nation February 11, 2014 1:00 am

As anti-government protesters march in Bangkok to
raise funds to aid farmers in their quest for longdelayed payments under the rice-pledging scheme, a
protester in Ekkamai displays a sign made of
banknotes.Petition seeks indictment of Cabinet.The
Anti-government protest-leading monk Buddha Issara
yesterday led a group of rice-paddy growers to submit
a written plea to Justice Ministry permanent secretary
Kittiphong Kittayarak asking him to help investigate
the government's controversial rice-pledging scheme
and to indict the caretaker Cabinet over its alleged
failures.
The letter, signed by Ravi Roungruang, a representative of farmers, urged Kittipong to release money from the
rice programme to the farmers within a week. The ministry should check rice stocks to find out how much rice
remains in the project, the letter said. The ministry should also freeze assets of caretaker Prime Minister
Yingluck Shinawatra and her Cabinet members to pay farmers who joined the rice-pledging scheme, it
said.Justice Ministry deputy permanent secretary Thawatchai Thaikiew took the letter on behalf of Kittiphong
and told the farmers that the ministry would set up a screening committee to oversee the response to the
petition. If the farmers wanted the Cabinet members and concerned officials to face criminal charges of fraud,
they should notify police, Thawatchai said. If they wanted the Department of Special Investigation to take the
case, they should ask the agency's committee on special investigations to take it up, he said.
Buddha Issara said some 100 farmers had registered with the anti-government People's Democratic Reform
Committee (PDRC) to seek assistance. He asked farmers who had problems with the rice scheme to file their
names with the protesters in order to act as a group to pressure the government.Farmers throughout the country

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

have expressed their will to join the anti-government protest to pressure the government to cough up more
money from the scheme. In northeastern Ubon Ratchathani province, Youngyuth Navaniyom, a 45-year-old
farmer, said he had received no money from the project since pledging rice in November last year. Farmers
from three districts in the province who had the same problem agreed recently to travel to Bangkok to join the
anti-government protest, he said.Phuwanai Koboun from Ubon Ratchathani's Natan district said he was
supposed to get more than Bt100,000 from his pledged five tonnes of rice long ago. If the government could not
pay farmers, it should sell the rice to get money for the payments, he said.
However, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives' Khemmarat branch in the province said some
farmers in Ubon Ratchathani had received some payments from the rice scheme. Some Bt10 million was paid
last week, according to the bank's assistant manager Nilas Leunam. But the timing of the next round of payment
was uncertain, as the government has not yet fed the money into the system, he said.Farmers in northern
Uttaradit province have the same problem. They were running out of cash for daily consumption and for
investment in their next crop. Some have put their vehicles up as collateral to borrow cash from local lenders
while waiting for money from the government's scheme.

Red leader spearheads rice-purchase plan
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation February 11, 2014 1:00 am
Red Sunday group leader Sombat Boonngam-anong will raise funds to help buy rice from the stockpiles of the
troubled pledging scheme. Sombat said yesterday that two bank accounts would be created, one by the Mirror
Foundation and the other by the Duang Prateep Foundation, to help buy unsold rice from the government's
inventory.The Duang Prateep account will be used to purchase rice for needy children cared for by the
foundation.Rice purchased through the Mirror Foundation will be for personal consumption of the buyers.
Sombat said people would be able to stock many bags of rice that would last half a year or so.
He said he would work out the details with the government yesterday and make another announcement within
the next few days.Sombat called the move by the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee to
raise funds to help rice farmers a cynical attempt to exploit them in its effort to overthrow the caretaker
Yingluck Shinawatra administration and establish an unelected "People's Council". Many rice farmers in the
pledging programme have been unpaid for months, and protests have erupted independently of the PDRC
campaign."They're exploiting the farmers' sentiment," he said, referring to the PDRC. He also had a message to
rice farmers: "Don't be used by the PDRC. They're not truly sincere in helping you."Sombat acknowledged that
the rice scheme was encountering problems but would not call it a failure, as the intention was good. He said

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

whether the prime minister issued a public apology or not was up to her, but it was more important for the
government to get the money for the rice farmers quickly.

Farmers marching to Justice Ministry, Defence HQ to demand rice payments
today
Monday, 10 February 2014By MCOT

BANGKOK, Feb 10 – Farmers from
several provinces who have rallied at
the Commerce Ministry over the
weekend will petition the Justice
Ministry today to charge the
government with cheating by failing to
pay them for the rice they sold under
the rice pledging scheme.The farmers
also planned to move from the Justice
Ministry to the Permanent Secretary
for Defence Office to press caretaker
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to
take action on the overdue payments.
Ms Yingluck, who is concurrently caretaker defence minister, has occupied the Defence headquarters as her
temporary office since Government House has been seized by anti-government protesters.Ravee Rungruang,
leader of the Western Region Rice Centre, said more farmers from the eastern, central and western regions
planned to enter Bangkok today.Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, an Election Commission (EC) member, said on his
Facebook page that the Commerce Ministry wanted to withdraw Bt1.2 billion from the government’s central
fund as interest to rice millers who voluntarily pay farmers with rice-delivery receipts.The Commerce Ministry
said rice millers have agreed to help farmers on a friendly basis.Normally farmers who deliver rice to millers
are given receipts to be cashed at the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC).
The BAAC is, however, legally prohibited from lending to a caretaker government as it will become a financial
obligation for the next government.Mr Somchai said a Cabinet decision on spending from the central fund
would be required before the EC approves following through accordingly.The Commerce Ministry will not get
any reply from the EC if it directly sends the request without seeking Cabinet approval, he said.The EC will
consider the Cabinet’s request based on the urgency of the issue and whether it will pose a financial obligation
to the next government, he said.Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister/ caretaker Commerce Minister
Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan said he is ready to explain to demonstrating farmers and find a joint solution
without them having to protest at the Defence headquarters.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Commerce Ministry to pay interest to rice farmers with central
budget
Date : 9

2557

BANGKOK, 9 February 2014 (NNT) - Minister of Commerce Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan has agreed to
follow the Election Commission (EC)'s suggestion that the ministry spends its central budget to finance the rice
support program with approval from the EC. The budget was set at 1.2 billion baht. The minister said he had
assigned Deputy Minister of Finance Yanyong Phuangrach to be in charge of the central budget spending for
the rice subsidy scheme. The matter would be submitted to the Cabinet this Tuesday before the ministry asked
the EC for considerations, he said. The ministry plans to use the budget of 1.2 billion baht to pay interest to the
rice farmers who have not yet received their payments. Election Commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn earlier
said on his personal Facebook page that the ministry should ask for the EC's approval before spending the
central budget according to Section 181 (2) of the Constitition. He also suggested that the Cabinet should agree
with the budget spending first.

Farmers to petition Justice Ministry over rice-scheme payment delay
Date : 10

2557

BANGKOK, 10 February 2014 (NNT) - The network of farmers today gathered at the Justice Ministry to
submit a petition over the government’s delayed payment under the rice-pledging scheme. Rice growers from
20 provinces across the country who had been protesting at the Commerce Ministry today traveled to the Justice
Ministry to demand payments for the rice pledged. They plan to proceed later to the Ministry of Defense to call
for a meeting with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. People’s Democratic Reform Committee leader at
Chaeng Wattana site Buddha Issara expressed support for the farmer movement, saying his group would help
farmers escalate the protests demanding that they be paid within the next 7 days. The PDRC will also urge the
government to get rid of graft in the rice pledging scheme and to press government agencies to show
responsibility for massive losses incurred from the scheme.Legal counseling will also be provided to farmers as
the network of rice growers plans to file a lawsuit with the Civil Court against the government by February
12. Deputy Prime minister and Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisal has called an urgent
meeting at the ministry to devise a quick solution to the delayed payment issue.

Mon 10 Feb 2014

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Filed under: Business / Trade,News,Regional

Rice exports this year are set to fall to less than half of the government target of 3 million-tonnes as traders are
withholding stock from its trading partners in an attempt to secure more favourable prices being offered by
illicit Chinese importers, officials said.Men load bags of rice onto a truck to be exported out of the country.
Photo: Kaung HtetMen load bags of rice onto a truck to be exported out of the country.U Lu Maw Myint
Maung, joint secretary general of the Myanmar Rice Federation, told The Myanmar Times, that Myanmar
exported nearly 1 million tonnes of rice through the first nine months of the fiscal year at the end of January,
falling short of the 1.01 million tonnes of rice exported during the same period last year.
―Because of an unstable local rice price, we have not been able to speed up exports during the rainy season, he
said. ―If we had, Myanmar would probably have been able to export about 2 million tonnes this year, because
there is enough reserve.‖He said that traders are increasingly looking to sell rice through Shan State’s Muse
border, alongside China’s Yunnan Province, where they can earn as much as 28 percent more profit by dealing
with tax-dodging Chinese importers.Though there is nothing illicit about local rice sellers trading over the
borders, many Chinese traders are subject to a 17pc import tax on all rice bought from Myanmar, a tax many
choose not to pay, he said. While they are then able to offer a better premium on imports, they also tend to not
honour contacts and pay significantly less than promised.
―Local traders would not easily be able to reclaim their rice back because of the high transportation charges and
would have to sell at the lower price,‖ U Lu Maw Myint Maung said. ―This led to fluctuations in the local price,
so that big exporters could not draw up contracts for as much as we wanted.‖He said that the price of 25pc
broken rice on the international market goes for US$315-$320 per tonne. That is compared to the 2480 yuan
($404) the same rice is sometimes sold for through the Muse border. Five percent broken rice, meanwhile, is
sold for $405-$415 per tonne in the international markets, well short of the 2740 Yuan (about $446) per tonne it
fetches along the Yunnan border.In an effort to deal with the problem, the government has been in talks with
Chinese authorities to try and formalise the rice trade, U Maung Aung, an adviser to the Ministry of Commerce
he told The Myanmar Times.
―We have been trying to sign an MOU [memorandum of understanding] with regional governments in China to
permit importing rice from Myanmar legally,‖ he said.―Although they have not permitted rice imports, market
demand is very big, so they seize illicit rice imports from Myanmar only sometimes,‖ he said.As a result,
experts believe that the price being offered by illicit traders in China would likely not begin to decrease until the
end of the high trading season.―The price [of rice exported to China] is not likely to go down until March as we
are now exporting 3000 to 3500 tonnes of rice through Muse a day,‖ said U Thauk Kyar, an executive member
of the Muse rice traders’ association.
The fiscal 2012-2013 total of 1.6 million tonnes was the highest in 46 years, thanks to the demand from China
for exports via the newly booming Muse border post, which accounted for 60pc of the total 1.6 million tonnes

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

exported last year, said U Lu Maw Myint Maung, adding that China has faced in increased demand for quality
rice over the past year.However, with Myanmar’s entry into the EU generalised system of preferences last year,
Myanmar traders have started to export to Europe, said U Lu Maw Myint Maung.―EU traders can import rice
from Myanmar without paying import taxes if they can prove the country of origin,‖ he said.Former joint
secretary of the Myanmar Rice Federation and rice exporter U Myo Thura Aye said that 10 EU countries,
including Spain, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands, are now buying rice from Myanmar.

Mon 10 Feb 2014

Rice exports this year are set to fall to less than half of the government target of 3 million-tonnes as traders are
withholding stock from its trading partners in an attempt to secure more favourable prices being offered by
illicit Chinese importers, officials said.Men load bags of rice onto a truck to be exported out of the country. Men
load bags of rice onto a truck to be exported out of the country.
U Lu Maw Myint Maung, joint secretary general of the Myanmar Rice Federation, told The Myanmar Times,
that Myanmar exported nearly 1 million tonnes of rice through the first nine months of the fiscal year at the end
of January, falling short of the 1.01 million tonnes of rice exported during the same period last year.―Because of
an unstable local rice price, we have not been able to speed up exports during the rainy season, he said.
―If we had, Myanmar would probably have been able to export about 2 million tonnes this year, because there
is enough reserve.‖He said that traders are increasingly looking to sell rice through Shan State’s Muse border,
alongside China’s Yunnan Province, where they can earn as much as 28 percent more profit by dealing with
tax-dodging Chinese importers.
Though there is nothing illicit about local rice sellers trading over the borders, many Chinese traders are subject
to a 17pc import tax on all rice bought from Myanmar, a tax many choose not to pay, he said. While they are
then able to offer a better premium on imports, they also tend to not honour contacts and pay significantly less
than promised.―Local traders would not easily be able to reclaim their rice back because of the high
transportation charges and would have to sell at the lower price,‖ U Lu Maw Myint Maung said. ―This led to
fluctuations in the local price, so that big exporters could not draw up contracts for as much as we wanted.‖He

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

said that the price of 25pc broken rice on the international market goes for US$315-$320 per tonne. That is
compared to the 2480 yuan ($404) the same rice is sometimes sold for through the Muse border. Five percent
broken rice, meanwhile, is sold for $405-$415 per tonne in the international markets, well short of the 2740
Yuan (about $446) per tonne it fetches along the Yunnan border.In an effort to deal with the problem, the
government has been in talks with Chinese authorities to try and formalise the rice trade, U Maung Aung, an
adviser to the Ministry of Commerce he told The Myanmar Times.
―We have been trying to sign an MOU [memorandum of understanding] with regional governments in China to
permit importing rice from Myanmar legally,‖ he said.―Although they have not permitted rice imports, market
demand is very big, so they seize illicit rice imports from Myanmar only sometimes,‖ he said.As a result,
experts believe that the price being offered by illicit traders in China would likely not begin to decrease until the
end of the high trading season.―The price [of rice exported to China] is not likely to go down until March as we
are now exporting 3000 to 3500 tonnes of rice through Muse a day,‖ said U Thauk Kyar, an executive member
of the Muse rice traders’ association.
The fiscal 2012-2013 total of 1.6 million tonnes was the highest in 46 years, thanks to the demand from China
for exports via the newly booming Muse border post, which accounted for 60pc of the total 1.6 million tonnes
exported last year, said U Lu Maw Myint Maung, adding that China has faced in increased demand for quality
rice over the past year.However, with Myanmar’s entry into the EU generalised system of preferences last year,
Myanmar traders have started to export to Europe, said U Lu Maw Myint Maung.―EU traders can import rice
from Myanmar without paying import taxes if they can prove the country of origin,‖ he said.Former joint
secretary of the Myanmar Rice Federation and rice exporter U Myo Thura Aye said that 10 EU countries,
including Spain, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands, are now buying rice from Myanmar.

Bangladesh. MY 2013/2014 Rice Production Projected to Rise Slightly
10.02.2014

Marketing year (MY) 2013/2014 (May to April) rice production is projected to rise slightly to 34.6 million tons
on higher yields due to good weather.The MY 2013/2014 (July to June) wheat production forecast remains

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

unchanged at 1.26 million tons.MY 2013/14 wheat imports are unchanged at 3 million tons, and rice imports
should fall to 220,000 tons on expectations of a more price competitive Aman crop.According to the Ministry of
Food, as of the last week of December 2013 government rice (which include domestic and imported rice) and
wheat stocks were 676,000 and 293,000 tons. Numerous hartals and blockades caused rice prices to rise.

Haryana gets award for high rice and wheat production
Haryana Agriculture Minister Paramvir Singh received the Award from President Pranab Mukherjee
BS Reporter
February 10, 2014 Last Updated at 19:56 IST

Haryana has been conferred with the Commendation Awardfor Sustained High Productivity in Rice and Wheat
for the year 2012-13.Haryana Agriculture Minister Paramvir Singh received the Award from President Pranab
Mukherjee at the inaugural ceremony of the World Congress on Agro Forestry 2014 at New Delhi on
Monday.Singh said the award has been given to Haryana for achieving consistently high productivity in wheat
and rice and for being the second largest contributor of food grains to the Central Pool. He also said the state
ranks first in Basmati Rice export and has also promoted resource conservation technology in rice-wheat
system.

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Feb 10
Mon Feb 10, 2014 3:17pm IST
Nagpur, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Gram prices in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee
(APMC) reported strong on increased demand from local millers amid tight supply from producing
regions. Healthy rise on NCDEX and upward trend in Madhya Pradesh gram prices also boosted
sentiment, according to sources.
*
*
*
*
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Gram super best and medium best reported higher in open market on renewed festival
season demand from local traders amid weak supply from producing belts.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties firmed up in open market on increased buying support from local
traders amid weak overseas supply.
* Moong and Udid varieties reported strong in open market on good demand from local
traders amid tight supply from producing regions. Reports about weak production of
these commodities in this season also boosted prices.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

* In Akola, Tuar - 4,100-4,200, Tuar dal - 6,200-6,400, Udid at 6,000-6,300,
Udid Mogar (clean) - 7,000-6,200, Moong - 8,000-8,200, Moong Mogar
(clean) 9,400-9,600, Gram - 2,600-2,700, Gram Super best bold - 3,600-3,800
for 100 kg.
* Wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market in thin trading
activity, according to sources.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS
Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction
2,650-2,790
2,550-2,760
Gram Pink Auction
n.a.
2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction
3,900-4,000
3,900-4,000
Moong Auction
n.a.
4,400-4,600
Udid Auction
n.a.
4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction
n.a.
2,600-2,800
Gram Super Best Bold
3,800-4,200
3,700-4,200
Gram Super Best
n.a.
Gram Medium Best
3,600-3,750
3,600-3,700
Gram Dal Medium
n.a.
n.a.
Gram Mill Quality
3,200-3,400
3,200-3,400
Desi gram Raw
3,000-3,100
3,000-3,100
Gram Filter Yellow
n.a.
n.a.
Gram Kabuli
7,900-10,300
7,900-10,300
Gram Pink
7,700-8,100
7,700-8,100
Tuar Fataka Best
6,400-6,700
6,400-6,600
Tuar Fataka Medium
6,000-6,200
6,000-6,200
Tuar Dal Best Phod
5,800-6,000
5,700-6,000
Tuar Dal Medium phod
5,400-5,6700
5,300-5,600
Tuar Gavarani
4,000-4,100
4,000-4,100
Tuar Karnataka
4,250-4,350
4,100-4,200
Tuar Black
7,000-7,200
7,000-7,200
Masoor dal best
5,300-5,400
5,300-5,400
Masoor dal medium
5,000-5,200
5,000-5,200
Masoor
n.a.
n.a.
Moong Mogar bold
8,700-9,950
8,700-9,900
Moong Mogar Medium best
8,800-9,200
8,700-9,200
Moong dal super best
8,500-8,800
8,400-8,800
Moong dal Chilka
7,900-8,200
7,800-8,200
Moong Mill quality
n.a.
n.a.
Moong Chamki best
8,000-8,500
7,800-8,300
Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 7,200-7,600
7,100-7,400

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,600
5,500-6,300
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)
4,700-5,000
4,500-4,700
Batri dal (100 INR/KG)
3,800-4,600
3,800-4,600
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)
3,000-3,100
3,000-3,100
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)
3,250-3,350
3,250-3,350
Watana White (100 INR/KG)
3,200-3,300
3,100-3,200
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,500
4,200-4,500
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)
1,800-1,900
1,800-1,900
Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,880-1,925
1,880-1,925
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)
1,750-1,950
1,750-1,950
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,550
2,100-2,550
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,050-2,150
2,050-2,150
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a.
n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,600
3,100-3,600
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,900
2,500-2,900
Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG)
1,600-1,700
1,600-1,750
Wheat Best (100 INR/KG)
1,700-1,800
1,650-1,750
Rice BPT (100 INR/KG)
3,000-3,500
3,000-3,500
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG)
1,800-1,950
1,800-1,950
Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG)
2,600-2,900
2,600-2,900
Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG)
2,300-2,500
2,300-2,500
Rice HMT new (100 INR/KG)
3,800-4,200
3,800-4,200
Rice HMT Shriram (100 INR/KG) 4,800-5,000
4,800-5,000
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 11,000-13,500
11,000-13,500
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,300-7,600
6,300-7,600
Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG)
5,600-5,800
5,600-5,800
Rice Chinnor Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,200-5,500
5,200-5,500
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)
1,400-1,600
1,400-1,600
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)
1,700-1,800
1,700-1,800
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 32.2 degree Celsius (91.8 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
14.6 degree Celsius (58.3 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : nil
FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and Minimum temperature likely to be around 31 and 14 degree
Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but
included in market prices.)

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

TABLE-India Grain Prices-Delhi- Feb 08
Sat Feb 8, 2014 2:55pm IST
Rates by Asian News International, New Delhi
Tel: 011 2619 1464
Indicative
Previous
Grains
opening
close
(in rupees per 100 kg unless stated)
---------------------------------------------------------Wheat Desi
2,200-3,000
2,200-3,000.
Wheat Dara
1,825-2,025
1,800-2,000.
Atta Chakki (per 10 Kg)
215-240
215-240.
Roller Mill (per bag)
1,900-2,200
1,850-2,200.
Maida (per bag)
1,800-2,000
1,800-2,000.
Sooji (per bag)
1,900-2,000
1,900-2,000.
Rice Basmati(Sri Lal Mahal) 12,000-14,000 12,000-14,000
Rice Basmati(Lal Quila)
12,000-14,000 12,000-14,000
Rice Basmati(Common)
8,600-9,600
8,500-9,500.
Rice Permal
2,200-2,500
2,200-2,500.
Rice Sela
2,750-2,950
2,750-2,950.
I.R.-8
1,850-1,950
1,850-1,950.
Gram
3,320-3,635
3,300-3,600.
Peas Green
3,000-3,500
3,000-3,500.
Peas White
2,900-3,100
2,900-3,100.
Bajra
1,250-1,550
1,250-1,550.
Jowar white
1,300-2,200
1,300-2,200.
Maize
1,450-1,550
1,450-1,550.
Barley
1,400-1,000
1,400-1,000.
Guwar
3,500-4,000
3,500-4,000.
Source: Delhi grain market traders.

Nigeria: Govt Targets Rice Export From 2017
BY CRUSOE OSAGIE, 10 FEBRUARY 2014

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture weekend stated that Nigeria would be a net exporter of rice in 2017 due to the
massive increase in the milling capacity of rice in the country.The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina,
explained that the capacity for rice milling went up significantly by about 300 per cent, maintaining that the
springing up of new investments from local investors in the country, would ensure that rice importation ceases to
happen in the next four years.Adesina who was on a working visit to the Federal Institute of Industrial Research
Oshodi (FIIRO) stressed that Dangote's $300 million investment to produce rice locally is a welcome development,

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

pointing out that Nigeria is on its way to be self-sufficient in meeting its demand for rice and also a becoming a net
exporter of the food crop by 2017."I am delighted that people want to eat locally made rice.
When the President Goodluck Jonathan launched the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), he said Nigeria
has no business in importing rice. So we started, under his leadership two years ago, a rice transformation agenda for
Nigeria," he said.According to him, in 2012 dry season, Nigerian farmers in the North produced a record of 1.1
million metric tonnes of rice, which is about 37 percent of all the rice that the country needs to be self-sufficient."We
launched the dry season farm support programme in order for us not only to be producing during rainy season but
also in the dry season. Our expectation this year is that we would produce close to about 2.1 million metric tonnes of
rice in the dry season," he said."When the President announced this initiative, we were looking at targeting 400,000
farmers and as we speak, we are reaching about 600,000 farmers. Local investment has helped us in producing long
grain and quality fibre rice," he added.
He commended FIIRO's effort in replacing barley malting with sorghum saying that this move by the agency was
revolutionary."FIIRO is a very strategic institution and I feel it should be given a whole lot of fund to showcase its
technology to many of their farmers," he said.He also lauded FIIRO's High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) 20
percent inclusion in bread adding that, replacing 20 percent of the wheat input in bread making would put about
$240 billion in the pockets of Nigerian farmers.

Rice market to witness hand-to-mouth buying
OUR CORRESPONDENT
KARNAL, FEBRUARY 10:

The rice market witnessed a steady trend with prices of aromatic and non-basmati rice ruling flat on Monday on
restricted trading.With not much buying taking place in the market, rice prices were unchanged, said Amit
Kumar, proprietor of Ginni Rice. Following steady domestic demand and easy availability of stocks, retail and
bulk buyers are placing orders based on their requirement, he added.According to the trade experts, the market
may see only hand-to-mouth buying and prices may rule with marginal fluctuation for the next few days.
In the physical market, Pusa-1121 (steam) sold at ₹
9,200-50, while Pusa-1121 (sela) quoted at ₹
8,150. Pure
Basmati (Raw) quoted at ₹
12,500. Duplicate basmati (steam) sold at ₹
7,000. Pusa-1121 (second wand) was at
₹
7,050, Tibar at ₹
6,100 while Dubar at ₹
5,000.
In the non-basmati section, Sharbati (Steam) sold at ₹
5,000 while Sharbati (Sela) was quoted at ₹
4,800.
Permal (raw) sold at ₹
2,300, Permal (sela) at ₹
2,350 a quintal, PR-11 (sela) sold at ₹
2,900 while PR-11 (Raw)
was at ₹
2,800. PR14 (steam) sold at ₹
3,200 a quintal.
Paddy Arrivals

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

About 6,000 bags of different paddy varieties arrived at the Karnal Grain Market Terminal. About 5,000 bags of
Pusa-1121 arrived and went for ₹
4,200 while 1,000 bags of Sharbati went for ₹
2,230 a quintal.
(This article was published on February 10, 2014)
Keywords: Rice market, steady trend, aromatic rice, non-basmati

More farmers ready to push for money from govt
Published: 9 Feb 2014 at 16.30
Online news: Local News

More farmers have left their paddy fields and boarded buses and trains
to join their colleagues in Bangkok for a rally against the caretaker
government.Farmers rallying at the Commerce Ministry take turns on
the stage to attack the caretaker government on Sunday over its failure
to find money to pay for their pledged rice. (Photo by Seksan
Rojjanametakul).Seventy farmers from Tha Muang district in
Kanchanaburi got onto two buses headed for the Commerce Ministry
in the morning with a load of necessities from food, drinking water and clothes for a long stay in the capital.
Several hundred more from at least 10 other provinces hav e been at the ministry since Thursday.
Up north, 20 farmers from Phrom Phiram district in
Phitsanulok arrived in Bangkok by train on Sunday and
Thepthun Tiewtrakul, a People's Democratic Reform
Committee (PDRC) leader in the northern province,
warned the caretaker government that another 500
farmers from other districts will soon join them.Unpaid
farmers will call a rally on Monday by walking to the
Justice Ministry to demand justice from the caretaker
government. But the attention will be on their
convergence at the Office of the Permanent Secretary
for Defence in Muang Thong Thani, which is the main
meeting venue of caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck
Shinawatra. They are piling pressure on her to pay the money owed from the rice pledging scheme from up to
six months ago.Many farmers are in debt as they have no money promised by the caretaker government to pay

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

for fertiliser, insecticides and other expenses used for farming.Twenty farmers show banners calling for money
before boarding a train from Phitsanulok to Bangkok on Saturday night. (Photo by Chinnawat Singha)
Farmers in Tha Muang are already borrowing money from loan sharks for the next crop and for household
expenses, despite highly charged interest rates, one farmer, Somboon Chajai, said on Sunday.The caretaker
government is scrambling to get 130 billion baht to pay them. It hopes millers will give them a helping hand by
advancing 50% of the pledging contract amounts to affected farmers and the government would subsidise the
interest.Commercial banks have refused to loan money due to legal concerns over whether the money is
interpreted as debt incurred by the caretaker government for a future administration.Caretaker Commerce
Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan on Sunday tried to end the planned rally by farmers on Monday,
saying that he is attempting to hold talks with farm leaders to find a solution to their plight.
But farmer leader Wichien Phuanglamjiak said he did not expect money from millers given the amount needed
to pay famers and the legality of the caretaker government. ''There is only one solution to the money for unpaid
farmers. The government must find money for them,'' he said.The Pheu Thai Party has scheduled a meeting on
Monday with the farmer issue high on its agenda.Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said party members
will be in the meeting for a situation update on political problems after the election and the struggle of the party
to pay farmers so that they can go back to their political areas to explain to them.The rice subsidies policy has
faced criticism and warnings of possibly huge losses of money from the beginning from academics, rice experts
and the Democrat Party.''The crisis facing farmers demonstrates the disaster of populism policies,'' Suriyasai
Katasila, a PDRC member and the Green Politics coordinator, said.
He urged Ms Yingluck to give up power. It would prolong the suffering of farmers if she did not as the
caretaker government cannot find financial sources to pay them, he added.Deputy Pheu Thai spokesman
Anusorn Iamsa-ard on Saturday accused PDRC of pulling the strings behind the farmers' rally to put more
pressure on Ms Yingluck.But PDRC spokesman Akanat Promphan dismissed the allegation, saying the PDRC
had not seized on this opportunity to corner Ms Yingluck.The PDRC collected 9.2 million baht from donors in a
march on Friday to solicit funds for farmers to carry out their campaign for money from the caretaker
government. He plans another rally on Monday with hopes to receive up to 15 million baht from the two
marches to help them.The money received from the marches would not be given out as rice payments, PDRC
leader Suthep Thaugsuban said on Saturday night, adding that was a problem that the caretaker government had
to resolve.

Angry rice farmers abandon government talks

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Farmers' representatives stormed out of talks with the caretaker government after officials failed to give an
answer on when growers can expect to receive money owed to them for produce sold into the state ricepledging scheme.
About 500 farmers rally at the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence on Monday to demand a clear
answer on when they will be paid for pledged rice. (Photo by Seksan Rojjanametakul).Rawee Rungruang,
western province farming representative and leader of the negotiations, abandoned the talks at the Office of the
Permanent Secretary for Defence after meeting with caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Niwatthamrong
Boonsongpaisarn, caretaker Deputy Commerce Minister Nathawut Saikuar and caretaker PM's Office Minister
Varathep Rattanakorn.
Mr Rawee insisted the farmers he represents have no
political agenda, arguing that they are suffering as a
result of the caretaker government's inability to pay
them for pledged rice, and would return home
immediately if and when they received their
cash.Talks between the two parties went on for an
hour. Mr Rawee realised that officials were unable to
give an answer on when farmers could expect to
receive their money so walked out.The farmers
simply wanted to know when they would be paid for
their rice, he said. Before leaving the meeting, Mr
Rawee said he wanted the government to sell off the
rice it is holding in stockpiles - at any cost - in order
to get the money it needs to pay farmers.He added
that the country needs a new administration with the full authority to solve the problem, since the caretaker
government has no way of getting the money it needs to pay rice farmers.

Farmers announced via loudspeakers that they would mobilise growers from
across the country to seize rice warehouses, arguing that officials no longer have
the legitimacy to handle the rice in stock.An elderly farmer cries after learning
that the caretaker government cannot say when it will make payments for pledged
rice. (Photo by Seksan Rojjanametakul).The farmers then returned to their main
protest site in front of the Commerce Ministry.Mr Niwatthamrong said officials
desperately want to respond to the farmers' demands but are struggling with legal
problems and need to consult with the Election Commission - because it is against
the law for a temporary administration to create financial burdens on an incoming government. He pleaded for
sympathy and understanding from growers. Farmers had been paid 60 billion baht under the rice-pledging
scheme as of October 2013, he said.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

By November 2013, 63% of farmers had been paid for rice sold into the initiative, he added.But Mr
Niwatthamrong admitted that farmers have not been paid since December last year, when parliament was
dissolved in response to escalating anti-government street protests.Tomorrow, the caretaker cabinet would
consider a proposal to approve 712 million baht from the Central Fund to pay farmers. However, even with
cabinet approval, the payment must be first agreed by the EC as required by the royal decree on the general
election.The caretaker government still owes farmers 110 billion baht for the 2013/14 rice crop. Mr
Niwatthamrong said the government wants to pay growers but has been unable to sell sufficient rice.He added
that attempts to borrow money from commercial banks to pay farmers had been obstructed.Mr Varathep also
said the caretaker government had tried to seek loans to pay farmers over the past two weeks but had faced legal
obstructions and a lack of willingness from financial institutions.
Meanwhile, a farmer in Sukhothai died after hanging herself at home in tambon Ban Mai Sook Kasem of Kong
Krailat district on Monday morning. She had been waiting for the caretaker government to pay her for rice sold
into the subsidy scheme.The dead farmer was identified as Pensinee Thongchoi, 38, according to Pichai
Aunnartsak, kamnan of tambon Ban Mai Sook Kasem. Pensinee’s death follows the suicides of two other
farmers believed to have been suffering stress over financial problems caused by delays to rice scheme
payments. ―Farmers are experiencing extreme distress with no money to pay debts, eat on a daily basis or grow
new crops. They resort to loan sharks but are still not making ends meet. They can’t even afford to send their
children to school,‖ Mr Pichai said. ―Some cannot cope with the stress and hang themselves. We are very
saddened by this.‖

Farmers advised to stop planting rice
Newspaper section: News

Bangkok is at risk of
suffering from a
water shortage this
year if farmers in the
Central Plain defy
the Royal Irrigation
Department's (RID)
restriction
on
second-crop
rice
plantations., the RID
has
warned.
A

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

section of the Moon River that passes Buri Ram’s Satuk district has almost dried up, affecting farming and
fishing in the area. Villagers believe the drop in the water level results from climate change and the use of large
amounts of water for off-season cropping. Surachai Piraksa.
Water levels in two major dams have dropped to alarmingly low levels, it said.Farmers in the Central provinces
have already used an excessive amount of water — about one billion cubic metres more than the limit —
spokesman Thanar Suwattana said.This one billion cubic metres should have been kept for farm use when the
dry season starts next month, he added.He said off-season rice farming in the region has expanded to about
eight million rai, or two times higher than the department's limit of four million rai.As a result, a large amount
of water had be to be drawn from Bhumibol dam in Tak province and Sirikit dam in Uttradit province to feed
the paddy field.Mr Thanar said the irrigation officials had to continue to supply water to these farms, or the rice
would die which would be a heavy loss for the farmers, who had already suffered from the delayed payment
from their pledged rice.
"After this current harvest, I strongly recommend to farmers that they must not plant any more rice. If they plant
more rice, there will be insufficient water to feed the farm lands," Mr Thanar said, adding that excessive use of
water from dams would also affect people downstream, including tap water production for residents of
Bangkok."If the farmers do not cooperate, people living in Bangkok might face a water shortage this dry
season."Low water levels in the rivers will also lead to seawater intrusion which will cause severe ecological
impacts."Royal Chitradon, director of the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute, voiced a similar concern, saying water
levels in Bhumibol and Sirikit dams had dropped to record low levels in the same period.
Currently, Bhumibol dam has 6.55 billion cubic metres, or 49% of its capacity, while Sirikit dam has 5.1 billion cubic
metres, or 55% of its capacity.He said that low rainfall is the main cause of the water dropping to such a low level in the
two dams.However, he noted the water crisis in northeastern provinces is projected to be less severe than that in central
provinces as water levels in major dams are still high as a result of heavy rain last year.For example, Lam Takhong dam in
Nakhon Ratchasima has 80% of capacity, Chulabhorn dam in Chaiyaphum has 68%, and Uborat dam in Khon Kaen has
58%.While water levels in the dams are at relatively high levels, water levels in rivers, including the Moon and Mekong
rivers, had dropped sharply.The water level in the Mekong River was 14 metres below the bank over the weekend which
the locals said was "unusual" for this time of year.They suspected the water shortage was linked to the closure of a
Chinese dam upstream that is undergoing maintenance.Northeastern residents also observed the dry season began earlier
than usual this year.
During this time of the year, farmers still need water to feed their second crop of rice.Yukol Limlaemthong, caretaker
deputy prime minister and agriculture minister, said he had told the governors of 22 provinces in the region to forward his
message to local rice growers.He warned that if farmers defy his instruction and pump water into their paddy fields,
seawater will intrude and affect inland ecological systems, which would only harm them in the long run.He assigned the
Department of Agricultural Extension and Kasetsart University to advise farmers to grow plants that require less water or
do other kinds of jobs.Mr Yukol will seek a budget from the government to support the alternative occupational initiative
to try and help the farmers.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Farmers: Sell rice stockpiles

The caretaker government should start selling rice stored in its warehouses to quickly pay farmers who have
still not received money for pledged paddy, says a farmers' leader."The government will have to bring out 18
million tonnes of its rice stockpiles, separate the good from the rotten and sell it," said Prasit Boonchuey,
president of the Thai Farmers Association."The value of the rice to be sold should be about 100 billion
baht."Any sales made by the government would incur large losses since it paid farmers 40-50% more than
prevailing market prices for their paddy. More than 1 million farm households pledging grain worth 120 billion
baht are awaiting payment.If the government rejects the rice growers' demands, Mr Prasit added, it should step
down to allow others to sort out the problem.
He said more farmers from different provinces were heading to Bangkok over the weekend to join the mass
protest outside the Commerce Ministry to pressure the Yingluck Shinawatra administration to make overdue
rice payments quickly.Inability to meet its obligations under the rice scheme would be the final nail in the
government's coffin, said Witthaya Kaewparadai, a co-leader of the People's Democratic Reform Committee
(PDRC).A farmer listens to colleagues during a rally held on Friday at the National Anti-Corruption
Commission offices to demand investigations into the government's rice scheme.
Addressing protesters at the Lumphini stage on Saturday, he said the government would be forced to resign
within seven days."In seven days, the government will be pushed into the corner because of its rice-pledging
scheme and rice farmers will come out to shut down the entire country," Mr Witthaya said.The rice payments
have been overdue for several months. The caretaker administration no longer has the authority to tap new loans
in accordance with election law, funds for payments have run dry, and the Commerce Ministry can raise only a
small amount from the rice sales.The Council of State said the caretaker government could borrow up to 130
billion baht but banks so far have refused to lend because of the risk.Mr Witthaya, a former Democrat Party
MP, said the PDRC had never intervened in the farmers' protest as the government claimed. Protesters have
been collecting public donations which are to be given to rice growers as financial aid.PDRC secretary-general
Suthep Thaugsuban also dismissed the government’s claim that the PDRC was meddling in rice farmers'
movement.
"We're not politicising the rice farmers' movement because our fight is to oust the government and get rid of the
Thaksin regime to pave way for national reform," Mr Suthep told the Lumphini crowd.He said he would
continue to march to different areas of Bangkok to o raise money for the farmers. About 6 million baht had been
collected so far, he added.On Saturday morning, Mr Suthep held a seminar with public health representatives to
discuss national reform plans."Ideas on national reform should be crystallised within 18 months. If it's taking
too long, the Yingluck government will still try to cling on to power," he said."This is not about me trying to
take power from the government but the people want the country to move forward in the right direction."

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

GPF scorns rice-bonds purchase

The Government Pension Fund (GPF) reaffirmed on Monday that it has no plans to buy bonds offered by the
Finance Ministry to raise funds to pay struggling farmers who have yet to receive payment for grain they
delivered months ago to mills under the government's bankrupt rice pledging scheme.GPF secretary-general
Sombat Narawuthicha said the organisation has not even been invited to participate by by the caretaker
government and has no plans to do so. It was earlier reported that the Finance Ministry hoped to sell bonds
to the GPF, the Social Security Office and the Government Lottery Office to help raise the 130 billion baht
needed to meet payments to farmers registered under the Pheu Thai-led rice pledging scheme.
Mr Sombat said the GPF is not one of the Finance Ministry’s target buyers because it has limited liquidity. The
fund receives only around one billion baht monthly from its members, 200-800 baht from each member.He said
before the GPF invest in the caretaker administration’s bonds it would have to confirm that they are legitimate
and thoroughly examine all details, which it has not even seen yet.The fund has to be extra cautious when
considering the bonds because the rice pledging scheme is being heavily criticised, he added.The GPF would
maintain its fund management policy of 75% invested domestically and the rest internationally

Traders: Old rice stocks unshippable
Use grain for ethanol or animal feed
Newspaper section: Business

The government is being urged to take the harsh step of ridding itself of old rice stocks, which have long been
warehoused, and using them to produce either ethanol or animal feed, as a strenuous attempt to step up exports
in the short term is proving futile."The government should not focus solely on accelerating its rice exports to
fetch money to pay farmers, as it's impossible to sell 10 million tonnes of rice to raise 100 billion baht to repay
farmers," said Korbsook Iamsuri, a former president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA) and now
an honorary president."The government should therefore make some decisions on disposing of old rice stocks
instead of selling them. This may be emotionally tough to accept, but it's better than doing nothing."Newly
harvested grains are not a matter of concern, she said, because buyers mostly favour new rice.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Caretaker Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan said last week China cancelled its order for 1.2
million tonnes of rice because of a corruption probe.Chookiat Ophaswongse, an honorary president of the
TREA, said the government is likely to take up to five years to dispose of its rice stocks, now estimated at 20
million tonnes.Rice deteriorates in quality if kept for over three years, and shipments will not be easy now that
several nations are beefing up their own exports.Mr Chookiat noted relatively high stocks are now controlled by
the Thai government and India, where rice reserves are estimated at 30 million tonnes or more, plus anticipated
shipments from other producers such as Vietnam and Pakistan, so world rice prices are expected to fall
further.The price of Thai rice is apt to drop by US$30 a tonne in the first quarter of the year, he said.The price
of 5% Thai white rice is quoted at $430 a tonne, while Vietnamese rice trades at $395 a tonne.
The price of old Thai grains averages $370 a tonne.After a 3% decline in 2013, the London-based International
Grains Council (IGC) forecasts the global rice trade to rebound to 38.6 million tonnes in 2014, up 1.3 million
tonnes or 4% from the previous year's 37.3 million tonnes.The IGC says the global rice trade will receive a
boost in 2014 from higher shipments to Far East Asia (mainly China, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea,
Bangladesh, Japan and Malaysia).China is expected to buy 2.6 million tonnes in 2014, up from 2.5 million in
2013 and doubling the prior five-year average of 1.3 million tonnes.
Indonesia's rice imports are forecast to increase by 500,000 tonnes or 71% to 1.2 million tonnes in 2014, mainly
due to government efforts to build rice reserves. In the Philippines, rice imports are projected to reach 1.6
million tonnes in 2014, up 128% from 700,000 tonnes last year.Global rice production is expected to reach 470
million tonnes in 2014, up from 469 million last year, while global rice consumption is forecast at 471 million
tonnes, up from an estimated 467 million tonnes in 2013.Final stocks in 2014 are expected at 108 million
tonnes, down from beginning stocks of 110 million tonnes.TREA predicts Thailand will ship 7.5 million tonnes
of rice this year, up from 6.61 million last year. From that amount, it will rake in US$4.5 billion this year, up
from $4.42 billion last year.

$50K federal bond set for 2 Chinese scientists accused in Kan.; 1 turned down
for loan

KANSAS CITY, Kansas — A federal judge has approved bond for two scientists from China accused of
stealing trade secrets from an agriculture research facility in Kansas.A grand jury in December indicted
Weiqiang Zhang and Wengui Yan on one count each of conspiracy to steal trade secrets and theft of trade
secrets. Zhang was an agricultural seed breeder at Ventria Bioscience's facility in Junction City. Yan was a U.S.
Department of Agriculture research geneticist at the Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center in Stuttgart,
Arkansas They're accused of stealing Ventria rice seeds containing proteins used for therapeutic
purposes.Ventria was the only U.S. producer of those particular seeds and said if the seeds were stolen and the
technology compromised, "its entire research and development investment would be compromised," according

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

to the federal complaint against the two men. The company said its investment in developing the seeds ranged
up to $18 million.
Yan and Zhang were denied bond at their initial detention hearings in December, but were later granted new
hearings last month in federal court in Kansas City, Kansas.Prosecutors objected to bond for both men, saying
there would be no way to "reasonably assure" their appearance at upcoming hearings, and that Zhang lied to
investigators and had structured certain financial transactions in an apparent effort to avoid reporting them.In
federal court in Arkansas, where Yan's initial detention hearing was held, a magistrate initially declined Yan
bond, saying Yan had "considerable and somewhat mysterious sources of income."U.S. District Judge Carlos
Murguia, however, signed orders Jan. 31 for Zhang and Yan to be allowed release on $50,000 appearance
bonds, according to online court records.
Conditions of their release include handing over their passports, electronic monitoring and cancelling of all
credit cards except one with a $10,000 maximum.It was unclear Friday if Yan had been released. A lawyer for
Yan didn't immediately respond to messages seeking comment.Zhang, who remained in custody Friday, hadn't
been able to make the $50,000 bond because a bank wouldn't give his wife a second mortgage on their home in
northeast Kansas, according to court documents. In a motion filed Friday, Zhang's public defender, Thomas
Bartee, said Zhang's wife was turned down for the loan "due to concerns about Mr. Zhang's
creditworthiness."The motion, which asked the judge to modify the original order to allow Zhang to post bond
with money from something other than a second mortgage, said Zhang has other sources who can provide the
$50,000 appearance bond, including a brother-in-law in China and a friend at Purdue University.Zhang and
Yan, who have pleaded not guilty, each face up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000 on each count.
They're scheduled for a next appearance in federal court in Kansas City, Kansas, on Feb. 18.

Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice Recall: FDA Warns Against Recent Illnesses
due to Product
Several unusual illnesses in Texas, Illinois and North Dakota had been confirmed due to a lot of Uncle Ben's
Infused Rice produced in 2013, including the following, courtesy of a press release from the FDA:The
organization notes that these products were sold to food service companies that are typically distributed to
restaurants, hospitals, schools and other commercial establishments, with some of the products that still may be
available over the Internet and at warehouse-type retailers.According to the FDA, the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), and both state and local officials, they have all been investigating a cluster of
illnesses that include Uncle Ben's Infused Rice Mexican Flavor, sold in both 3- and 25-pound bags.
Officials note that the FDA's Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation Network (CORE) was notified
regarding a cluster of illnesses at three public schools in Katy, Tex. on Feb. 7, 2014. Many of those
experiencing issues due to the food often had symptoms that involved burning, itching rashes, nausea for 30 to
90 minutes and headaches.An outbreak of the health issue was also connected to 24 children with similar skin
reactions following a school lunch served Uncle Ben's Infused Rice product according to the Illinois

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Department of Public Health on Dec. 4, 2013.FDA tests have shown that the lunches contained high levels of
niacin or vitamin B3. Such overexposure can lead to red, itchy and dry skin. Larger doses can even result in
nausea, according to an FDA spokesperson."It appears that the reaction may be related to an excessive amount
of niacin enrichment of the product," said an Uncle Ben's spokesperson, courtesy of Food Safety News. "Tests
of samples of the product involved in the December incident indicated a higher than normal amount of niacin in
the product. Enrichment of rice with niacin is required under federal and state standards."

Myanmar rice companies benefit from Thai expertise
Thai rice companies are now exploring new joint venture opportunities with their Myanmar counterparts -- the
goal is to leverage on the untapped potential that Myanmar offers as a rice exporter. Myanmar was once the
world's top rice exporter, before military rule. YANGON: Rice in Myanmar is not just a staple food for its
people, it is also one of the country's key industries.It is believed that in 2011 alone, Myanmar's rice sector
contributed about 13 per cent of the country's GDP. That GDP figure will only grow provided Myanmar
partners other reputable international rice firms, like those in neighbouring Thailand.Nay Lin Zin, joint
secretary of the Myanmar Rice Millers' Association, said: "Nowadays, Thailand people very interested to invest
in Myanmar and to cooperate with us because of Thailand's political instability and the price of Thai rice,
(which is) higher than other competing rice exporting countries.
"In recent months, many Thai rice exporters have been
introducing their clients to Myanmar companies.Kyaw Myo
Htoon, director of the Ayeyar Hinthar Group of Companies,
said: "Their motivation for Thai traders is they want to maintain
relationship with buyers like the Chinese, because they are very
big... So in order to do that, they bring their buyers here to
introduce Myanmar rice to them."They help us to introduce the
Myanmar rice variety to the world market... Especially Chinese
buyers, they buy the Myanmar rice for industrial usage like making rice noodles, making rice wine as well as
they're mixing with other varieties of rice. They mix and sell it to Chinese consumers.
"Such collaborative efforts will also enable Myanmar to learn from their Thai partners' technological knowhow, paving the way for them to tap onto their neighbour's existing pool of rice consumers.Nay Lin Zin added:
"If the Thailand business can cooperate with us, we can give more money to our people, to our Myanmar
farmers and we can produce quality rice for a new market."I think after 2015 by cooperating with Thailand
business people, especially in the rice sector, I think we can promote our rice export and we can increase our
world ranking very soon."Rice traders said many are happy that Myanmar is now starting to export more rice
overseas. That is because 70 per cent of Myanmar's population live in rural areas and they are closely associated

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

with the rice industry.They say that if rice farmers are happy, that will snowball into other benefits, such as the
ability to purchase more expensive goods and in greater quantities.

Posted : 10 Feb, 2014 00:00:00 AA-A+
BRRI's annual research review begins

Vow to turn BD into food grain exporting nation
FE Report

The five-day 'Annual Research Review' of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) began Sunday with a
vow to turn the country into a food grain exporting nation.Agriculture minister Begum Matia Chowdhury
inaugurated the programme held at BRRI Auditorium in Gazipur where she urged the scientists for developing
more stress tolerant high yielding rice varieties (HYV).She said: "Domestic production could be increased
significantly by using modern HYV seeds."BRRI organised 'The Research Review 2012-13' where law maker
Md Jahid Ahasan Rassel spoke as the special guest.Executive chairman of the Bangladesh Agricultural
Research Council (BARC) Dr Md Kamal Uddin, director general of the Department of Agricultural Extension
Md Abu Hanif Mia were the guests of honour while agriculture secretary Dr S M Nazmul Islam chaired, a press
release said.
Begum Matia said the effort to increase production will be continued to fulfill the people's nutritional need
through attaining self-sufficiency in food production.She also said internal food storage capacity will be
enhanced to combat any disaster.She advocated for increasing subsidy in fertilizer, seeds and irrigation and for
providing agricultural loans at lower interest rate.BRRI director general Dr Jiban Krishna Biswas presented the
keynote which said BRRI developed 61 HYV rice varieties and 4 hybrid varieties."At present BRRI varieties
cover 80 percent of the total rice area that accounts for 90 percent of the total rice production of the country" he
said.The most popular BRRI developed high yielding Boro varieties were Brridhan 28 and Brridhan 29.In
Aman season BR11 is equally popular at the farm level. To meet the need of the hour BRRI is developing new
varieties with similar qualities, the paper said.To face the challenge of climate change in recent times BRRI has
developed a series of cold, submergence, drought and saline tolerant varieties that includes Brridhan 36, 40, 41,
51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 and 57.Among the most recent BRRI varieties, Brridhan 62 was released as the world's
first zinc enriched rice which is one of the most short durative Aman varieties having average life time of 100
days, the keynote said.

Contact For Advertisement: Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
+92 321 369 2874

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

10th february ,2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

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