11th march,2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

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Latest News Headlines…
 Philippines hosts 8th international rice-duck confab
 Arkansas rice update – May 9, 2013
 More medium-grain rice in Delta because of West water shortage?
 Philippines to Delay Rice Self-Sufficiency Goal
 NFA may import 800,000MT rice
 February rice stocks lowest in four months
 Delta rice yields highest in a decade
 Commerce Min to auction off more rice
 Kerala paddy farmers expect a bonanza
 Philippines Prepares for First Rice Harvest Since Haiyan
 Rice prices fall, coconut on rise in Kochi
 Philippines Feb rice stocks hit lowest in 4 mths, more imports likely
 Private sector snags 50,000-tonne rice deal with Haiti
 34 parties bidding in latest rice auctio
 Farmers paid after BAAC 'rice dump'
 Oryza Afternoon Recap – Chicago Rough Rice Futures Rally, but Settle off of Session High and Below
Nearby Technical resistance; Wheat Rockets Nearly 3%

NEWS DETAILS:
Philippines hosts 8th international rice-duck confab
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
BUTUAN CITY -- The Philippines is currently hosting the four-day 8th International Rice-Duck Conference at
the Almont Hotel's Inland Resort here.The conference will be a gathering of integrated rice-duck farming
system (IRDFS) experts and practitioners and development investors from all over Asia, to share and exchange
knowledge and innovations that highlight IRDFS as a climate-smart agriculture system and a social enterprise
business model for rural economic expansion and inclusive growth.Among the distinguished guests is Dr.
Takao Furono of Japan who is the founder of the IRDES network in Asia.Accordingly, Dr. Furono's first visit to
Mindanao was back in 1997 and his last visit was seven years ago in 2007.
He looks forward to learning about the many innovations in IRDFS that have happened in the country
since.During the last five years, the Integrated Rice-Duck Farming System or IRDFS experience in the
Philippines, as championed by the Philippine Agrarian Reform Foundation for National Development
(PARFUND), has increased rice productivity up to 9 tons per hectare, while reducing the cost of production by
30 percent.The average is only 4.2 tons per hectare using the conventional rice farming technologies.In
addition, IRDFS farmers gain extra income from the sale of duck meat and duck eggs, whether raw or processed
into salted egg or ―balut‖ a local delicacy that is in a very high demand.In the medium to long-term, the
adoption of IRDFS will contribute to the improving the quality of life of farmers, as evidenced by increased
savings and income, better family nutrition (chemical-free rice, duck meat and duck eggs), and a healthier
lifestyle brought about by less exposure to harmful chemicals.Among the provinces that are adopting IRDFS as
their strategy for increasing rice production in a sustainable manner are the provinces of Agusan del Sur and
Zamboanga del Sur.
Governor Adolph Edward Plaza of Agusan del Sur shall be sharing his ideas on making agriculture governance
work at the provincial level, while Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio Cerilles will be providing a provincial
outlook on IRDFS as adopted by the province of Agusan del Sur.Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr.
shall welcome the participants, while Rep. Valentina Plaza of the 1st District of Agusan del Sur will grace the
conference to share her congressional policy initiative on IRDFS.The participants will also get the chance to
visit a 2,500-head capacity duck breeder farm and a modern hatchery, as well as interact with the IRDFS
farmers and champions, including Mayor Deo Manpatilan Jr. of Esperanza, Agusan del Sur during an exposure
visit to a large-scale rice-duck farm in the said LGU.The 8th International Rice-Duck Conference is organized
by PARFUND with funding support from the Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF) and the Interchurch
Organization for Development Cooepration (ICOO) and in partnership with the Department of Agriculture
Regional Field Unit XIII. (PNA)

Arkansas rice update – May 9, 2013
BY JARROD HARDKE, RICE EXTENSION AGRONOMIST, ON MAY 9TH, 2013
May 9, 2013 No. 2013-7
Dr. Jarrod Hardke and Dr. Bob Scott
Planting Forecast
A week (mostly) without significant rain chances? I believe that qualifies as a drought these days. The getting
is still good for rice, so it’s time to make tracks if you can. The current forecast is for rain on Friday, with
models shifting from light accumulation (less than ½ inch) to now showing ½ to 1 ¼ inches with up to 2 inches
in some locations. Next week’s forecast is nothing but warm and sunny though, so plan accordingly. This
week’s USDA progress estimate came in at 48% of rice acres planted, but we should be able to make a big push
over the next two weeks given the forecast.
I have received several questions about yield predictions for this year based on the table I provided last week
showing yearly planting progress compared to eventual state yield. I did compare this year’s planting progress
to that of 2011 when we had a state average yield of 150 bu/A, which paled in comparison to last year’s record
of 166 bu/A. However, I believe the comparison between 2011 and 2013 stops at the planting progress
figure.In 2011 we accumulated 570 DD units from March 16 to April 30 compared to 336 over the same period
in 2013. Over the past thirty years the DD50 units we accumulate across the entire growing season are
surprisingly consistent.Looking at Table 1, you’ll find that from March 16 to July 15 over the past 30 years, our
DD50 unit accumulation has ranged from 2,004 units to 2,820 units. The most interesting part of that is that the
low occurred 30 years ago and the high occurred last year – interesting stuff. However, the average is 2,400
DD50 units and you can see that we remain surprisingly close to that on an annual basis. That tells me that our
lack of heat units so far suggests they are yet to come during the season. So our rice may not actually be as far
behind as the calendar might lead you to believe. There are still a lot of heat units waiting out there to make a
good rice crop.
Table 1. DD50 units accumulated from March 16 to July 15 each year.
Year
DD50
units Year
DD50
units
1983 2,004 1998 2,693
1984 2,280 1999 2,487
1985 2,442 2000 2,725
1986 2,541 2001 2,496
1987 2,543 2002 2,456
1988 2,358 2003 2,400
1989 2,254 2004 2,432
1990 2,203 2005 2,384
1991 2,653 2006 2,537
1992 2,253 2007 2,577

1993 2,240 2008 2,385
1994 2,459 2009 2,389
1995 2,447 2010 2,695
1996 2,398 2011 2,577
1997 2,160 2012 2,820
Picture 1. Time to get this train moving.
Water-seeded Rice
I’ve been hearing more talk of people water-seeding rice, especially on heavy soil that growers cannot seem to get dry
enough to drill. While not our ―go-to‖ way of doing things, it works if you do it the right way. If you are going to attempt
to water-seed fields where you originally planned to drill-seed, remember to take extra care when going this route. There
is a difference between water-seeding fields that have been prepared for it from the beginning and those fields where
you’re forced into it at the last minute. The success of water-seeded rice is greatly affected by soil surface conditions and
flood depth, not to mention the wind and weather conditions, at the time it is seeded.
A few recommendations on seeding rate if you choose to water-seed rice:
 Increase seeding rate by 30% over rate recommended for drill-seeded rice.
 Tillage considerations:
o No-till: increase additional 20%.
o Conventional tillage: increase additional 20% if poor seedbed preparation (ungrooved). No increase if
good seedbed preparation (grooved).
 Increase additional 10% if planting late (after June 1).
For more information on seeding rate recommendations, please see the 2013 RICESEED Update:
http://www.arkansas-crops.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Riceseed-Update-2013.pdf
2,4-D on Rice Levees
This Friday the Arkansas State Plant Board has taken action to help growers in the 10 counties (Clay, Cross, Greene,
Crittenden, Poinsett, Mississippi, St. Francis, Lee, Phillips, and Craighead) affected by the April 15th
ban on 2,4-D by
easing restrictions on the use of 2,4-D to control weeds on RICE LEVEES ONLY! This easing of the restrictions are on

levees only – all other restrictions on 2,4-D still apply. However, no permit is required and there is no cut-off date for
levee applications. This will help farmers in these areas specifically with pigweed control but will also make levee weed
control more economical in general.
Do not infringe on the other restrictions in place for 2,4-D. don’t forget that although levee applications are allowed, you
must still adhere to restrictions regarding distances and wind to sensitive species that were in place in addition to the
overall ban. This ban has been successful in reducing the occurrence of drift of 2,4-D to cotton. If these changes result in
abuse of the system, they could be put back into place in 2014. For more information please visit the Arkansas State Plant
Board website.
Use of Rice Seed Patented by the University of Arkansas
Several people have inquired about the patents that exist for University varieties such as Roy J and what the patents mean
for growers.
All rice varieties recently released by the UA Division of Agriculture are protected by plant variety protection certificates
and utility patents. Growers have permission to save harvested seed for planting on land that they own, rent, or
lease. However, harvested seed cannot be sold or transferred to anyone else for planting. All seed that is sold for planting
must be sold by variety name and it must be produced per Arkansas State Plant Board seed certification regulations. This
is required so as to protect the integrity of the varieties, the breeding program, and the Division.
Further Update on Treated Rice Seed
CruiserMaxx Rice label:
DO NOT use in water-seeded rice.
DO NOT broadcast by air.
NipsIt INSIDE label:
Dry seed only.
Aerial broadcast is not prohibited but seed must be covered with soil.
Dermacor X-100 label:
Dry seed only.
Aerial broadcast is not prohibited, but you MUST incorporate seed into the soil.
Apron XL label:
Aerial broadcast and water-seeding not prohibited.
Maxim 4FS label:

Dynasty label:
Release label:
Water-seeding not allowed. Aerial broadcast is not prohibited.
Please remember to carefully read all labels and follow all applicable directions, restrictions, and precautions listed
there.
Pest Alert: Aphids in Rice
There have been reports of aphid infestations showing up in seedling rice this year. For more information, please see the
article written by Dr. Gus Lorenz posted to the Arkansas Row Crops blog here: http://www.arkansas-
crops.com/2013/05/03/pest-alert-aphids-showing-up-in-arkansas-rice-fields/.
Picture 2. A lot going on in central AR.
Cold, Wet Weather Optimal for Herbicide Injury in Rice
Dr. Bob Scott provides some guidance on herbicide injury in rice due to our recent weather conditions. For more
information, please see his article posted to the Arkansas Row Crops blog here:
http://www.arkansas-crops.com/2013/05/03/cold-wet-weather-optimal-for-herbicide-injury-in-rice/.
Additional Information
Arkansas Rice Updates are published periodically to provide timely information and recommendations for rice production
in Arkansas. If you would like to be added to this email list, please send your request to jhardke@uaex.edu.

This information will also be posted to the Arkansas Row Crops where additional information from Extension specialists
can be found. Please visit the blog at http://www.arkansas-crops.com/
Acknowledgements
We sincerely appreciate the support provided by the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board for this publication.
The authors greatly appreciate the feedback and contributions of all growers, county agents, consultants, and rice industry
stakeholders.
More medium-grain rice in Delta because of West water shortage?
Mar 10, 2014Elton Robinson | Delta Farm Press
With water concerns in the Far West, could Delta farmers be planting more medium-grain rice this year? Higher medium grain rice prices due to
drought and lack of irrigation water in California’s Sacramento Valley could push medium grain acres higher in the
Delta this season, says USDA. Here’s more:
Rice
Reduced prospects for 2014-15 medium- and short-grain production in the Sacramento Valley of California due to
drought and reduced irrigation supplies have significantly raised medium grain prices in California, said USDA in its
March 10 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.Additionally, old-crop supplies of medium-grain rice in
California are drawing down thus tightening the current supply situation. Australia’s drought is also increasing
medium-grain prices as Australia is a primary U.S. export competitor.Meanwhile, USDA says long-grain rice prices
have strengthened as producers in the Delta in 2014 are expected to increase plantings of medium-grain rice and
plant less long-grain area, according to trade reports, due to an advantageous price differential between the two rice
classes.
However, there are reports that supplies of southern medium-grain rice seed are fairly tight which could restrict this
expansion.USDA also forecast rice imports 1 million hundredweight higher for 2013-14, to 22 million
hundredweight, all in medium- and short-grain rice. The rice export forecast was unchanged at 100 million
hundredweight, however 1 million hundredweight was shifted from rough rice to the milled- and brown-rice export
category.U.S. rice ending stocks for 2013-14 were projected at 28.3 million hundredweight, up 1 million from a
month ago, all in medium- and short-grain rice. Long-grain rice ending stocks were projected at 16.3 million
hundredweight, the lowest stocks since 2003-04.The forecast for global 2013-14 rice consumption was raised
700,000 tons to a record 474 million tons. World 2013-14 rice trade was raised slightly. Global 2013-14 ending
stocks are projected at 111.7 million tons, up 6.7 million from a month ago, and up 700,000 tons from 2012-13.

Soybeans
U.S. soybean exports for 2013-14 were raised 20 million bushels to a record 1.53 billion reflecting continued strong
sales and shipments through February. Soybean stocks are projected at 145 million bushels, down 5 million from last
month.Brazil soybean production is projected at 88.5 million tons, down 1.5 million tons mainly reflecting hot, dry
weather in the south when much of the crop was in the flowering and filling stages. Soybean production was also
reduced for Paraguay due to the extended period of hot, dry weather.
Cotton
The cotton export forecast was raised to 10.7 million bales based on strong activity in recent weeks. Ending stocks
were reduced to 2.8 million bales, resulting in a stocks-to-use ratio of 20 percent. World ending stocks are now
forecast at 96.8 million bales. Wheat
There are no changes to the 2013-14 U.S. all wheat supply and use projections this month. A 15-million-bushel
increase in projected hard red spring wheat exports was offset by a decrease for soft red winter wheat.
Global 2013-14 wheat supplies were raised slightly with an 800,000 ton increase in world production. European
Union exports were raised 1.5 million tons.
Corn
U.S. corn exports are projected 25 million bushels higher on stronger world imports and the rising pace of shipments
in recent weeks. Projected corn ending stocks were lowered 25 million bushels.
Philippines to Delay Rice Self-Sufficiency Goal
Looks to Import 800,000 Tons of Rice to Keep Already High Prices From Soaring
By CRIS LARANO
March 11, 2014 9:18 a.m. ET
MANILA—The Philippines is delaying for a year its goal of producing enough rice to meet domestic needs
after a typhoon and storm reduced rice harvests.President Benigno Aquino III set a goal of the country
becoming self-sufficient in the staple grain by 2015. The program is intended to help local rice farmers and

protect the country from global price shocks.The country's economic managers want to import 800,000 tons of
rice to keep rice prices—which are already higher than in the global market—from soaring, Agriculture
Undersecretary Dante de Lima told The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday. Mr. de Lima heads the rice self-
sufficiency program.Authorities fear that a further increase in rice prices could lead to a jump in inflation, as
happened during a rice shortage in 1995.Mr. de Lima said domestic production is expected to reach 98%
sufficiency at 19.06 million tons of unmilled rice this year.
But economic managers are demanding the increase in rice imports because they want an additional 90-day
buffer to try to ensure rice prices are stable to keep inflation in check.The Philippines had already decided on an
emergency importation of 500,000 tons of rice shortly after Typhoon Haiyan ravaged the central Philippines
and weeks after another storm, Nari, damaged rice crops in the main island of Luzon. Haiyan and Nari reduced
production of unmilled rice by a half-million tons.The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
estimates the Southeast Asian nation will import as much as 1.2 million tons of the grain this year after
importing as much as 2.8 million in 2008 and 1 million last year."Buffer stocks," stored rice to help the country
through hard times, are down because of the reduced rice production and increased withdrawal of rice from
warehouses of the state-owned National Food Authority to support disaster-relief efforts. Ideally, such stocks
should be kept at levels that could cover three months of consumption.
Mr. de Lima said the 800,000 tons will add to the 200,000 tons of rice that form part of last year's emergency
imports that have yet to arrive in the Philippines.Before 2013, the government only allowed 350,000 tons of
imports under the World Trade Organization's minimum access value, where a 40% duty is levied on imported
rice. Outside the MAV program, imported rice is levied a 50% tariff.The National Food Authority has yet to
make an official announcement for this year's importation, including the terms of the tender.Mr. de Lima said
the imported rice should arrive in the Philippines before the lean months that begin in July.Last week,
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said that any importation this year will be done under a government-to-
government deal. Vietnam won the bidding in November to supply the Philippines 500,000 tons of rice, beating
out Thailand.
Write to Cris Larano at cris.larano@wsj.com
NFA may import 800,000MT rice
By Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star) | Updated March 12, 2014 - 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is inclined to import
around 800,000 metric tons (MT) of rice this year for buffer
stocking during the lean season.Agriculture undersecretary Dante
Delima said an agreement has been reached within the National
Food Authority Council (NFA) for the importation of such
volume.―The economic managers see it crucial that the volume
should be imported to help stabilize prices,‖ said Delima.The
NFA, however, has yet to make a formal announcement on the mode of procurement.Agriculture Secretary
Proceso Alcala recently said any procurement this year under the omnibus minimum access volume (MAV)
would be done under government-to-government procurement.Only three countries presently have procurement
agreements with the Philippines. These are Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
The imported volume is programmed for delivery before the traditional lean season of July to September.The
NFA earlier opened to the private sector the application for the importation of 163,000 MT under the MAV
country-specific-quota.Under this allocation, rice may only be imported from the following source countries
with the respective allocations: Thailand (98,000 MT), India (25,000 MT), China (25,000 MT) and Australia
(15,000 MT).Alcala said that the government is now evaluating its production target for attaining rice self
sufficiency after a series of strong typhoons dented the country’s self-sufficiency target.―Self sufficiency is
determined at the end of the year but for now we have to address the demand during the lean months,‖ he
said.Alcala stressed that the country would not import more than what is necessary.
February rice stocks lowest in four months
OVERALL RICE stocks in the Philippines fell to their lowest in four months in February, data showed
yesterday, increasing pressure on Manila to import more of the national staple.
The country has been expected to ship in more rice to boost supply as it battles local prices that have risen for
seven straight weeks, with speculation rife on the timing and size of any tender.But the National Food Authority
(NFA), the Philippines’ grains procurement agency, said it had yet to finalize import plans.Purchases by the
Philippines, one of the world’s biggest rice buyers, could support falling prices elsewhere in Asia, with both
Vietnam and Thailand likely to bid aggressively for any new deal.Inventory in the Philippines fell 5.7% to 2.0
million tons as of Feb. 1, good for 59 days of national usage, from 2.12 million tons at the start of the year, the
Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) said in a report.The NFA’s stockpile rose 67.1% to 460,000 tons,

however, thanks to the partial delivery of rice purchased in November from Vietnam. But that was good for
only 14 days of consumption, below the mandatory 15 day-minimum.
While bumper harvests in other countries have stoked a global rice glut, prices in the Philippines have climbed
around 4% in the last few months after super typhoon Haiyan devastated key growing regions and as the
government clamps down on smugglers looking to avoid hefty taxes.Stocks in commercial warehouses fell
18.7% and those in households dropped 15.6%, the data showed.The average retail price of well-milled rice
rose 0.64% from a week ago to P40.63 per kilogram as of March 4, the BAS said in a separate report.Vietnam’s
official Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper yesterday quoted the Vietnam Food Association as saying that the
Philippines was gearing up to issue a tender to buy 800,000 tons of rice.
But Manila has yet to confirm any purchases beyond the 500,000 tons it bought from Vietnam in a government-
to-government deal in November."There is a lot of speculation but we haven’t really finalized anything at the
moment," said Dennis Arpia, a senior executive assistant at the NFA."But we have a mandate to boost and
maintain a healthy buffer stock."The NFA is mandated to maintain a 30-day buffer stock during the lean
growing season from July to September, double the level required at other times.The NFA can buy rice from
Vietnam, Thailand or Cambodia -- the only three countries with which it has government-to-government supply
agreements.An NFA spokesman last week confirmed media reports that Manila has since late January doubled
the amount of rice it has been releasing into domestic markets from stockpiles most days. The move is aimed at
curbing price gains.Meanwhile, Vietnam, the world’s number two exporter of the grain after India, has lowered
its price floor for exports of low-grade rice for the second time in a month to attract buyers amid the global
supply glut. -- Reuters
Delta rice yields highest in a decade
VietNamNet Bridge – Rice yields for the 2013-14 crop in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta have reached the highest level in a decade.
Winter-spring rice is harvested in the southern province of
Hau Giang. Rice yields for the 2013-14 crop in the Mekong
Delta have reached the highest level in a decade.With the
peak harvest season about to begin, rice fields have yielded
about 1 tonne per hectare higher than last year's winter-
spring crop.The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development's Plant Cultivation Department expects that
the delta will have an average yield of 6.5 tonnes per ha for
the winter-spring crop.However, farmers have been
harvesting an average yield of 6.5 -7.5 tonnes per hectare.In
some areas, including in Vinh Long Province's Tam Binh

District, Tien Giang Province's Cai Be District and Dong Thap Province's Thap Muoi District, farmers have
seen yields of up to 9-10 tonnes per hectare.
Besides high yields, farmers have also received good prices, earning high profits.Farmer Pham Van Bang in
Dong Thap Province's Cao Lanh District, who has earned a profit of more than VND300 million from 12ha of
rice, said the price of rice had been unstable over the past two years but had increased this year.Pham Van
Cong, who has harvested 4ha of rice in Hau Giang Province's Chau Thanh A District, said farmers were
confident prices would remain stable as traders were giving deposits to farmers to buy rice in advance.The
delta's provinces and Can Tho have harvested nearly half of their winter-spring rice crop areas, according to
local departments of agriculture and rural development.
The delta, which planted 1.6 million hectares in the winter-spring rice crop, is scheduled to complete harvesting
the crop in early May.Like several other provinces in the delta, Dong Thap has harvested the winter-spring rice
crop early, and has completed 50 per cent of the winter-spring rice area.Dong Thap is expected to complete
harvesting nearly all of its crops by the end of this month, according to the province's Department of
Agriculture and Rural Development.Although Dong Thap has been harvesting at a rate of about 40 per cent
slower than last year, this year's winger-spring crop has had less rice diseases, high yields and good prices, said
the province's Sub-department of Plant Protection.
High-quality rice
In this winter-spring rice crop, Dong Thap farmers have switched from growing IR 50404, which has high yield
and low quality, to more high-quality rice varieties.The areas of rice variety IR50404 in Dong Thap's southern
districts have fallen to 40 per cent of the districts' total rice area compared to 90 per cent last year, according to
the provincial Agriculture Extension Centre.
Nguyen Thanh Huong, the centre's director, said farmers were now more aware that they needed to plant high-
quality rice for export.For this winter-spring crop, the delta's provinces and Can Tho have developed more
large-scale rice fields that grow high-quality rice for export.Large-rice fields in Dong Thap cover 80,000ha this
year, compared to 2,400ha in 2008.
In An Giang Province, the area of large-scale rice fields is 16,000ha.Many farmers in An Giang have taken part
in production models like large-scale rice fields, in which farmers contract with export companies to grow high-
quality rice.By doing so, production costs have fallen by 10-20 per cent compared to traditional rice cultivation,
according to Doan Ngoc Pha, deputy director of the An Giang Department of Agriculture and Rural
Development.Farmers are able to sell their rice to these export companies at prices that are VND100-200 per
kilo higher than the market price.
Source: VNS
Commerce Min to auction off more rice
Tuesday, 11 March 2014By NNT

BANGKOK, 10 March 2014 The Ministry of Commerce is set
to auction over 500,000 tons of pledged rice today in a bid to
secure funds to pay back farmers in the rice-pledging
scheme. Interested exporters and businesses are invited to
participate in the bidding which will be held between 9AM and
4.30PM today.The rice stock will include 5 percent white rice
and 100 percent jasmine rice.The ministry earlier said that it
plans to auction off more than one million tons of milled rice
this month. The one million plus tons target includes over
516,000 tons of rice to be auctioned off through the Agricultural Futures Exchange of Thailand.Networks of
farmers from rice-growing provinces meanwhile continue to stay put at the ministry compound. The number of
protesters began to drop recently as many needed to return home for the annual planting season.Rice growers
will re-group again on March 12 and will hold discussions on their next move against the government.
Kerala paddy farmers expect a bonanza
Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation procures more than 70,000 tonnes
Farmers in Palakkad, Alappuzha and Thrissur have
pleasantly been surprised by what looks like a bumper
paddy crop this season, but some of them, specially those in
Palakkad, may not be able to reap the full benefits of the
high price for paddy being offered by the Kerala State Civil
Supplies Corporation (Supplyco) which has put a quantity-
per-hectare ceiling on procurement.Farmers in Palakkad,
who took to machine planting, have reported yields of about
nine tonnes a hectare. However, Supplyco ceiling for
procurement at Rs.19 a kg is 5.5 tonnes a hectare. But a
Supplyco official said that farmers in Palakkad would be
able to sell their entire harvest provided they produced a
certificate of production from their respective agricultural
officers.The official said that the ceiling had been imposed
to prevent cheaper paddy from neighbouring States like
Tamil Nadu being sold to the corporation. Supplyco offers
the highest procurement price for paddy in the country, the official claimed.
The high procurement price has made it attractive for unscrupulous elements to smuggle in paddy and sell it for
a profit, passing the consignments as local produce. Though small farmers would not be able to engage in such
operations, agents have been found indulging in it. Paddy sells between Rs.15 and Rs.16 a kg in the open
market in Kerala.
Kole area

Farmers in Thrissur’s Kol areas have also reported higher than normal yields this season. Most of Kuttanad is
expecting better yields this season despite the unusually dry conditions in December and January. Reports from
the area, where harvesting is about a week old, said the yield is in the vicinity of 7.5 tonnes a hectare.The
Supplyco procurement ceiling is 7.5 tonnes a hectare in Kuttanad and eight tonnes a hectare for Thrissur
Kol.The high procurement price has made farmers rush to Supplyco. The corporation has procured more than
70,000 tonnes of paddy this season and about 30,000 tonnes of this is from Palakkad. Procurement in
Alappuzha is more than 5,000 tonnes and in Thrissur it is more than 20,000 tonnes. Procurement in Kottyam
district has gone up to more than 12,000 tonnes.
Central to this season’s bumper crop is the Uma variety of paddy, developed by the Mankombu rice research
station of Kerala Agricultural University and released in 1998.A senior scientist at the Rice Research Station
told The Hindu on Sunday that researchers were yet to develop a variety that would out-yield Uma. The variety
was developed with the specific conditions in Kuttanad in mind, where excessive acidity and pest attacks are
major problems.The scientist said that yields have been up to eight tonnes a hectare during some of the past
seasons and this year the crop has been bit of a surprise because the climatic conditions appeared to be adverse
given that there were no rains in November-December. Occasional rain during these months helps wash out the
excessive acidity in the soil.
Keywords: Kerala paddy farmers, paddy procurement price, Kerala paddy bonanza, Supplyco, Kerala State
Civil Supplies Corporation
Philippines Prepares for First Rice Harvest Since Haiyan
Simone Orendain
March 11, 2014
BASEY, SAMAR PROVINCE,
PHILIPPINES — Some farmers in the
central Philippines are preparing for their
first rice harvest since last November’s
powerful super typhoon swept away their
fields and homes, and killed more than 6,200
people.Florencio de la Cruz said he had
harvested six tons of rice less than two weeks
before super typhoon Haiyan’s howling
winds blew off his storehouse roof and
brought soaking rain. The sun helped dry
some of the harvest and he was able to

recover a little.
Then late last year de la Cruz received rice seeds from the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture
Organization. The organization helped start the planting season in this part of the country where more than two
thirds of the population lives in poverty.De la Cruz said, nothing would have happened without the seed
program because they lost all their crops and even their house.De la Cruz expects to reap the new crop on
March 28. He has been farming rice on a one-hectare patch of land for more than 50 years. His family is
among the 44,000 that the Food and Agriculture Organization says has so far been helped by the seed
program.Late last year officials said 63,000 hectares of rice had to be replanted after Haiyan struck.Philippine
officials said the FAO contributed 52 percent of the required seeds, while the international community added
another 28 percent and the rest came from the government.
They said after typhoon Bopha struck the southern Philippines in 2012, the government’s seed stock was
depleted.On Monday FAO Director General Graziano da Silva inspected the seed program in Basey
municipality where de la Cruz lives. He said the farmers are receiving ―certified quality‖ seeds, which should
bring greater yields than what they have now. But he said the first batch of seeds was rushed out in less than
ideal conditions. ―Remember the typhoon came exactly in the moment that was close in the time for another
planting and we needed to do it in a week, two weeks and we did it. The most import is the result would be zero
if we did not provide those,‖ he said.Da Silva said under the circumstances the response from the international
community and other agencies in the Philippines was one of the quickest he has seen.He said the next step is to
make sure the farmers get a fair price for their rice crops, and that this would spur them to plant even more.
Agencies are also trying to recover the 33 million coconut trees that they say the typhoon
obliterated. Philippine Agriculture Department officials said on Thursday a massive coconut clearing operation
will get underway throughout the typhoon stricken region. The goal is get the trees replanted, which will then
need at least four years to mature and bear fruit. In the meantime, they plan to help coconut farmers plant fast-
growing crops like cassava and white corn.Image: A National Food Authority (NFA) worker makes an
inventory of rice stocks at a government rice warehouse in Taguig, Metro Manila, March 11, 2014.
Rice prices fall, coconut on rise in Kochi
File Photo: The price of red matta variety, ruling steady for a month, is selling at Rs. 32.93 a kg. However, the price of the variety had
fallen nearly 10 per cent during the period between March 2013 and now. File PhotoCoconut oil price has shot up nearly 84 per
cent from last March level of Rs. 83.57 a kg to Rs. 131.64 a kg in March this year

Aided largely by a good winter harvest, rice prices across the
spectrum of varieties are seen easing though the Andhra
White is ruling firm.Numbers from the Economics and
Statistics Department showed that the red matta variety,
ruling steady for a month, was selling at Rs. 32.93 a kg.
However, the price of the variety had fallen nearly 10 per
cent during the period between March 2013 and now.
Similarly, the price of local red variety had fallen more than
seven per cent over the last one year from Rs. 35.89 a kg to Rs. 33.22 per kg.The prices of chamba, punja and
other varieties too have fallen, the only exception being the red punja, the price of which had appreciated 3.13
per cent over the last one year.However, the white varieties have created a different trend during the last one
year.
The price of Andhra White variety appreciated 4.89 per cent over the last one year, selling at Rs. 31.77 a kg
against last year’s level of Rs. 30.29 a kg. The price of Palakkadan Jaya White too had appreciated more than
11 per cent from Rs. 30.63 a kg in March last year to Rs. 34.13 a kg during the current month.Coconut oil price
has shot up nearly 84 per cent from last March level of Rs. 83.57 a kg to Rs. 131.64 a kg in March this year. On
the other hand, branded groundnut oil price has dropped nearly 10 per cent during the year period.The price of
coconut oil has moved in tandem with raw husked coconut price, which has gone up nearly 86 per cent from Rs.
93.57 for ten pieces to Rs. 173.93 for 10 pieces.
Keywords: rice prices, coconut prices, Andhra White variety, Kochi rice prices
Philippines Feb rice stocks hit lowest in 4 mths, more imports likely
Mon Mar 10, 2014 5:30am EDT
By Erik dela Cruz
MANILA, March 10 (Reuters) - Overall rice stocks in the Philippines fell to their lowest in four months in February,
data showed on Monday, increasing pressure on Manila to import more of the national staple.The country has been
expected to ship in more rice to boost supply as it battles local prices that have risen for seven straight weeks, with
speculation rife on the timing and size of any tender.But the National Food Authority (NFA), the Philippines' grains
procurement agency, said on Monday it had yet to finalise import plans.Purchases by the Philippines, one of the
world's biggest buyers of the grain, could support falling rice prices elsewhere in Asia, with both Vietnam and
Thailand likely to bid aggressively for any new deal.
Inventory in the Philippines fell 5.7 percent to 2.0 million tonnes as of Feb. 1, good for 59 days of national usage,
from 2.12 million tonnes at the start of the year, the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) said in a report.The
NFA's stockpile rose 67.1 percent to 460,000 tonnes, however, thanks to the partial delivery of rice purchased in

November from Vietnam. But that was good for only 14 days of consumption, below the mandatory 15 day-
minimum.While bumper harvests in other countries have stoked a global rice glut, prices in the Philippines have
climbed around 4 percent in the last few months after Typhoon Haiyan devastated key growing regions and as the
government clamps down on smugglers looking to avoid hefty taxes.Stocks in commercial warehouses fell 18.7
percent and those in households dropped 15.6 percent, the data showed.The average retail price of well-milled rice
rose 0.64 percent from a week ago to 40.63 pesos ($0.92) per kilogram as of March 4, BAS said in a separate report.
COMING SOON?
Vietnam's official Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Monday quoted the Vietnam Food Association as saying the
Philippines is gearing up to issue a tender to buy 800,000 tonnes of rice.But Manila has yet to confirm any purchases
beyond 500,000 tonnes it bought from Vietnam in a government-to-government deal in November."There is a lot of
speculation but we haven't really finalised anything at the moment," said Dennis Arpia, a senior executive assistant
at the NFA."But we have a mandate to boost and maintain a healthy buffer stock.
"The NFA is mandated to maintain a 30-day buffer stock during the lean growing season from July to September,
double the level required at other times.The NFA can buy rice from Vietnam, Thailand or Cambodia - the only three
countries with which it has government-to-government supply agreements.An NFA spokesman last week confirmed
media reports that Manila has since late January doubled the amount of rice it has been releasing into markets from
stockpiles most days, looking to curb price gains.Meanwhile, Vietnam, the world's No. 2 exporter of the grain after
India, has lowered its price floor for exports of low-grade rice for the second time in a month to attract buyers amid
the global supply glut.
(Additional reporting by Ho Binh Minh in Hanoi; Editing by Joseph Radford)
Private sectorsnags 50,000-tonne rice deal with Haiti
gov’t looks to cinch similar pact
MARCH 11, 2014 · BY STAFF WRITER · 66 COMMENTS NEXT ARTICLE »
Guyana has finalised a 50,000 tonnes rice export deal with Haiti through the private sector and the first
shipment is being loaded along the Essequibo Coast this week.Meanwhile, with a large amount of rice on hand
from bumper harvests, government is trying to sew up another 50,000 tonnes deal with Haiti through the public
sector along with a small market in Belize, while aiming elsewhere.At a press conference held by the People’s

Progressive Party yesterday General Secretary Clement Rohee stated that Guyana was close to finalising a
100,000 tonnes rice export deal with Haiti.
Deputy Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Ricky Ramraj, told Stabroek News that the
Haiti deal was done through the private sector with SAJ Rice Mill at Burma, Mahaicony, acting as a
subcontractor for other millers.It will allow for weekly shipments of 1,200 tonnes to 1,500 tonnes of rice to
Haiti. Smaller millers will collaborate to supply SAJ with the amount necessary to meet the weekly shipment
quotas.Ramraj stated that a representative from Haiti will arrive in Guyana tomorrow to oversee the process and
to continue discussions with the government.The GRDB has been thrust into the responsibility of marketing
Guyana’s rice overseas, according to the General Secretary of the Rice Producers Association (RPA)
Dharamkumar Seeraj.Seeraj told Stabroek News that GRDB General Manager Jagnarine Singh was recently in
Belize to work out a rice export arrangement between the two nations to assist with the movement of over
100,000 tonnes of rice currently on hand in Guyana.He said that with the excess stock on hand and the slumping
global market prices, farmers will most likely have to settle for lower paddy prices in 2014.
The amount on hand was left after the major Venezuelan market quota was filled.He said that in the continued
efforts to find additional markets to export Guyana’s rice, the GRDB has had to take on that responsibility. He
said there was a lack of organized rice farmer and miller associations throughout Guyana that could take on this
responsibility. Seeraj was speaking on behalf of the RPA which is the premier representative of farmers in the
industry.Singh said it was his opinion that ―Belize is likely to be a small market for us…Belize is a rice
producing nation but whatever their need, whatever their shortfall will be depends on their level of production.
Our indication is that 3,000 to 5,000 tonnes will be the market…
‖Seeraj denied reports that Guyana was hoping to establish a 5,000-tonne-a-month deal with Belize stating that
right now any arrangements were dependent on Belize’s capacities. He said that Guyana has been able to ship
over 20,000 tonnes of rice that was left over from 2013, which saw rice production at an all-time high
exceeding 532,000 tonnes, to markets outside of Venezuela.The head of the RPA stated that while exports have
gradually been leaving Guyana there were still tonnes of rice that needed to be moved to allow for the influx
into the market of paddy from the 2014 first crop.He acknowledged that unfortunately for farmers 2014’s paddy
prices are not likely to be set at $4,000 per bag as traditionally expected.Seeraj told Stabroek News that some
millers were already pricing paddy at $3,100 to $3,400 per bag.He said the reality of the situation was since
Guyana signed on to the Venezuelan rice agreement in 2009 under the PetroCaribe oil deal farmers and millers
have gotten used to a high price market.He said that ―Our farmers have become accustomed to the high price
market and that obviously has implications.

The reality is your major markets are not going to be our major markets (forever). Our increased production has
changed, not the Venezuelan situation.‖ He continued that major markets globally including the rest of the
Caribbean and Europe will not be buying rice at high prices and will stick to global prices, which millers have
already realised.Globally speaking, Seeraj noted that per tonne of white rice millers can expect to sell at
US$515 to US$550; the European market calls for semi milled rice which means that Europe can import
globally for less than US$400 per tonne. Seeraj noted that the parboiled packaged rice made the most however
this was not Guyana’s sub section of the industry.
He said that with just under 100,000 tonnes of rice on hand since February of this year, millers cannot sell to
recoup the cost of buying paddy for $4,000 per bag in 2013.He noted that millers were concerned with their
profits and as a result that would trickle down to farmers. Guyana’s bumper harvest means that unfortunately
the market is saturated which does not give farmers and millers much leeway on prices.Seeraj said that ―the
reality is that I am saying, based on the situation, farmers can expect $3,400 to $3,800 per bag of paddy‖. He
added that just because that is the recommendation does not mean that millers will not try for lower prices in
order to recoup costs from 2013.He acknowledged that while rice was moving, since February to March,
Guyana had on hand just under 100,000 tonnes of rice to move.
In February, Stabroek News was made to understand that Jamaica may be open to higher rice imports.There has
been no confirmation of any ongoing talks from the Agriculture Ministry to suggest this was successful.The
bumper rice output was fuelled by the PetroCaribe deal with Venezuela but with a fixed quota of around
200,000 tonnes of rice it means that a lot of excess rice still has to be sold to other markets. Political unrest in
Venezuela has also raised concerns about the stability of the Venezuela deal.Rohee said yesterday that
Guatemala and Belize were also being courted as potential rice markets.
34 parties bidding in latest rice auctio
Published: 11 Mar 2014 at 02.26
Newspaper section: Business
A sharp fall in rice prices and flexible conditions have
drawn an overwhelming response from interested buyers
to the caretaker government's latest rice auction, with 34
bidders taking part.Interested buyers submit proposals to
buy rice from the government’s stockpile during a highly
active auction yesterday. Kitja Apichonrojarek.The
government yesterday put 500,000 tonnes of its stockpiled
rice up for bid as part of an effort to raise funds for
farmers.At the same time, rice traders submitted their

proposal to buy 517,000 tonnes of 5% white rice, 100% Hom Mali fragrant rice, provincial rice and broken
rice.The government's auction is the third held this year.
Participants in the bidding were the most numerous since the Yingluck Shinawatra government began selling
rice stocks through general auctions, with new traders joining the familiar giants.Manat Kitprasert, president of
the Thai Rice Millers Association, attributed the active turnout to the fall in rice prices and a further downward
trend."Cheaper rice prices make the government's rice stocks more appealing," he said.Prices for paddy with
15% moisture are now quoted at 7,500-7,800 baht a tonne, while 5% white rice trades at 12,500 baht a
tonne.Global prices for new 5% white rice are quoted at US$440 (14,245 baht) a tonne, while those for old
grains are $370 a tonne, closer to Vietnamese rates.Since launching the rice pledging scheme in 2011, the
government has called for bids 14 times to sell rice stocks through general auctions.The state has sold 3-4
million tonnes through general auctions and 13 million tonnes altogether, raising 173 billion baht.Those
proceeds pale next to the 870 billion baht the government spent on the scheme over the past three years.Surasak
Riangkrul, director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, said the government is committed to continuing
disposal of its rice stocks and plans to call a bid tomorrow to sell 200,000 tonnes via the Agricultural Futures
Exchange of Thailand.The government has sold 278,962 tonnes of rice through AFET since last October,
raising 3 billion baht.
Image:Interested buyers submit proposals to buy rice from the government’s stockpile during a highly
active auction yesterday. Kitja Apichonrojarek
Farmers paid after BAAC 'rice dump'
Published: 11 Mar 2014 at 19.11
Online news:
A group of disgruntled rice farmers unloaded more than 20 tonnes
of paddy at the headquarters of Bank for Agriculture and
Agricultural Cooperative (BAAC) on Tuesday, eliciting an
unexpected 192,000 baht payment from the bank.Farmers unloaded
their paddy at the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural
Cooperative headquarters on Phahon Yothin Road on Tuesday. The
bank later paid them 192,000 baht for the produce. (Photo by
Tawatchai Kemgumnerd).The farmers, led by protest monk Luang
Pu Buddha Issara, arrived at the bank on Tuesday afternoon. Luang
Pu said the farmers all held pledging tickets and wanted the bank to
pay them for their produce.Suwat Eiewchai, assistant manager at
the BAAC, met the farmers and informed them that the bank had set up three funds to help cash-strapped
farmers, currently holding more than 600 million baht. Mr Suwat said the bank would try to distribute the
money to farmers who had not yet received payment for pledged grains.

He added that the Foreign Trade Department was speeding up sales of rice stockpiles and would likely deliver
one billion baht to the bank in the near future.Mr Suwat then agreed to pay for the rice unloaded outside the
BAAC at a rate of 8,000 baht a tonne, meaning that the farmers were given 192,000 baht for the 24 tonnes of
paddy transported to the bank's HQ on two 10-wheel trucks.Prior to coming to the bank, Luang Pu led farmers
to the Department of Agricultural Extension situated inside Kasetsart University on Phahon Yothin Road.Luang
Pu said the department was hosting a meeting about rice-related businesses and farmers on Tuesday, but
growers were not actually invited to attend. He said his group decided to visit the department to seek the
opportunity to contribute their ideas and help draft an appropriate plan to assist farmers.
Oryza Afternoon Recap – Chicago Rough RiceFutures Rally, but Settle off of Session
High and Below Nearby Technical resistance; WheatRockets Nearly 3%
Mar 11, 2014
Chicago rough rice futures for May delivery settled 17 cents per cwt (about $4 per ton) higher at $15.380 per
cwt (about $339 per ton). Rough rice futures finished the day sharply higher after a last minute rally saw prices
move back toward the session high which had been charted out during morning trading. Despite the show of
impressive strength on the part of the bulls the late push was not enough to overcome nearby technical
resistance noted at $15.420 per cwt (about $340 per ton), provided by the 10-day moving average.
This point will likely come into play tomorrow with secondary resistance noted slightly higher in the $15.500
per cwt (about $342 per ton) range. A closing above this second layer of resistance would be seen as a key
technical development as doing so would place the market in positive trading territory, between the 20-day
moving average and the upper Bollinger band. The other grains finished with mixed results today; soybeans
closed about 0.4% lower at $14.1300 per bushel; wheat finished about 2.9% higher at $6.5900 per bushel; and
corn finished the day about 1.1% higher at $4.8325 per bushel. U.S. stocks turned lower on Tuesday, with the
S&P 500 further retreating from its record, as the ongoing crisis in Ukraine curbed enthusiasm for riskier assets.
Trading in a 86-point range on either side of neutral, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lately was off 41.52
points, or 0.3 percent, at 16,377.16, with 20 of its 30 components in negative turf. The S&P 500 shed 5.-2
points, or 0.3 percent, to 1,872.15, with telecommunications and energy losing the most and technology and
health care the best performing of its 10 major sectors. The Nasdaq declined 4.68 points, or 0.1 percent, to
4,329.76. Gold is trading about 0.5% higher, crude oil is seen trading about 0.9% lower, and the U.S. dollar is
seen trading unchanged at about 1:00pm Chicago time. Monday, there were 353 contracts traded, up from 279
contracts traded on Friday. Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on Monday increased by 106
contracts to 7,782.
For Advertising SPECS & RATES
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