Rice News_21 July 2020.pdf

21st July 2020 Daily Global Regional Local
Rice E-Newsletter
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com
Rice exports reach $2.1bn mark in FY20
Rizwan Bhatti Updated 21 Jul, 2020

KARACHI: Despite negative impact of COVID-19, rice exports maintained an
upward momentum and rose by some 5 percent during the last fiscal year
(FY20).
After the coronavirus pandemic, global economies including Pakistan facing
lower growth and the country's most exports registered a negative growth due
to slow demand.
According to the Federal Bureau of Statistics, in terms of value, Pakistan
earned all-time high foreign exchange amounting to $ 2.175 billion in FY20
compared to $ 2.069 billion, showing an increase of 5.12 percent or $106
million during last fiscal year.
In terms of quantity, during the period under review, rice exports moved up by
1.12 percent. Overall, Pakistan exported 4.166 million MTs of rice during July-
June of FY20 against some 4.12 million MTs in the corresponding period of
FY19.

During the last fiscal year, some 890,207 tons of basmati rice (including
basmati steam, basmati brown, basmati parboiled) and some 3.276 million
tons other varieties of rice (including 100 percent broken Irri-6, Irri-9) were
exported.
Commenting on the rice exports, Convener Rice Export Committee of
Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and
former chairman Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap) said that
despite COVID-19 and slow demand worldwide, Pakistan's rice exports posted
growth in a difficult time, when the country's remaining major exports were
moving down.
He said that during the initial months of the last fiscal year, rice exports were
posting healthy growth; however, the last four months were difficult for the
exporters due to COVID-19.
"It was a challenge for the exporters to maintain rice export growth after
Coronavirus pandemic and Pakistan's exporters with the support of ministry
of commerce successfully achieved all time rice exports," he added.
He informed that during the last year exporters could not travel abroad to
explore new markets and focused the previous market. Exporters have
planned some foreign tours during this fiscal year to find the new export
markets and achieve another milestone in the rice exports.
Currently, African countries, China, and European Countries are leading
buyers of Pakistani rice, which quality is much better compared to other
competitors like India, he mentioned.
Suleman informed that Kenya is the one of the largest buyer of Pakistani non
basmati rice and Pakistani have exported approximately 425,000 metric tons
of rice during the last fiscal year. "Iran is also a potential buyer of Pakistani
Basmati rice, but due to the non availability of banking channel, we are unable
to export rice to Iran", he mentioned.
Pakistan has limited access in the Chinese market due to quota system, but
Pakistan can increase its share with some concrete efforts. Pakistan's
government should ask China for up to one million tons rice quota, he
suggested.

In addition, Pakistan can enhance its rice export to Saudi Arabia, if they allow
the duty free import of Pakistani rice, he added.
Convener FPCCI committee said that Pakistan can achieve $5 billion mark
rice exports with improvement in rice crop and further focusing leading
markets like Africa and Europe. There is also need to renegotiate the Free
Trade Agreements with Indonesia and China to further enhance the rice
exports.
Talking about the domestic issues, he said that Pakistan's rice crop is facing
multiple challenges including Seed development, storage and higher cost of
production. The federal government should support the rice exports by
enhancing cultivation area and providing quality seeds to farmers for an
improved and higher crop yield, he demanded.
Suleman said that there is need to develop of new rice seed varieties to get a
more production and earn more foreign exchange. "The Reap has already plan
to increase the rice exports from $2 billion to $5 billion rice in next five years,
but it need government's attention and some serious efforts," he added.
In addition, in order to ensure the quality of rice grain, some quality standards
like other should be implemented in the domestic market, he suggested.
He also appreciated the rice exporters' efforts for increases in rice exports and
urged them for making more efforts to achieve another milestone in this fiscal
year (FY21). Minister of Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood is also supporting
exporters, he added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40006513/rice-exports-reach-21bn-mark-in-fy20
GI Act to provide legal protection to
local products, enhance exports‘
PM's adviser says Geographical Indications Law will ensure 'premium price' for
Pakistan's indigenous products in the int'l market
By

Staff Report
-
July 20, 2020
0
120
ISLAMABAD: The Geographical Indications (GI) Law will help protect Pakistani
products like Peshawari chappals, Multani pottery, Hunza apricots, Hala ajrak,
Kasuri methi, Chaman grapes and Turbat dates etc.

This was stated by Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment
Abdul Razak Dawood during a briefing to commerce ministry officials following
the meeting of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Commerce.
Talking about the objectives of GI Law, Razak Dawood said the law would
ensure that indigenous products of Pakistan get a premium price in the
international market. “Under this act, a wide range of products, including
basmati rice and mangoes, will be introduced in the international market as
national brands of Pakistan.”
The adviser noted that a lot of companies in the past used to sell Pakistani-
origin products without mentioning the country.
Pakistan had enacted Geographical Indications (Registration and Protection)
Act, which was pending for over 14 years, in March 2020. “The GI Act, 2020,
will also encourage Small and Medium Enterprises to expand their business
worldwide. The protection of geographical indications will boost exports and will
be helpful in supporting rural development in the country, enhancing the
livelihood of agriculture producers and skilled craftsmen,” the adviser stated.
“In addition, the marketing of GI products will enhance the secondary economic
activities in the GI region, which will boost regional economic development.”
At the end of the session, the advisor directed the ministry officials to
continuously follow up on the implementation of the GI Act and resolve any
issues in this regard so that the intended objectives could be achieved with
maximum benefits to the SMEs and local communities across the country.
https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/07/20/gi-act-to-provide-legal-protection-to-local-products-
enhance-exports/
Auction date set for machinery to be
purchased using RCEF
Published July 20, 2020, 10:00 PM
by Madelaine B. Miraflor
The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) had set
on August 4, 2020 the start of the actual bidding of machinery it is supposed to buy and
distribute using its Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) allocation.

PhilMech said that the bidding for RCEF-funded machinery, which should have been done
more than a year ago or immediately after the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) was passed,
will start on August 4 and will involve the purchase of nine types of farm machinery.
Pre-bidding already started this month and two machines are being featured in each bidding
session, according to the agency.
To recall, one of the crucial components of RTL, which allowed unlimited rice importation
in the country, is to make Filipino rice farmers competitive by giving them access to free
seeds and modern farm equipment to be funded by RCEF, the collection of tariffs from rice
imports.
RCEF is supposed to be injected with P10 billion annually from 2019 to 2024. Of this, P5
billion is allotted to mechanization.
However, due to bureaucratic bottlenecks, it took PhilMech more than a year to actually
withdraw this cash allotment and process the procurement.
PhilMech said the second pre-bidding conference for the first batch of machineries to be
procured under RCEF was held on July 14 for the supply, delivery, and testing of
Mechanical Rice Transplanters and Rice Reapers.
This conference discussed and explained procedures and instructions for bidding, including
eligibility requirements, technical, and financial components of the contract.
The bids for the Mechanical Rice Transplanters have 12 lots with an Approved Budget
Contract (ABC) of P637.47 million, while the ABC for the Rice Reapers, which has 6 lots,
is P132.51 million.
On July 10, PHilMech also conducted the pre-bidding for four-wheel-drive tractors with 27
lots and with

ABC of P2.84 billion, as well as for rice combine harvesters with 26 lots and ABC of P1.84
billion.
The pre-bid conference was held at PHilMech Auditorium and was streamed live via the
DA-PHilMech Facebook account. The Zoom application was also used for other bidders and
Bid Award Committee (BAC) members.
Strict protocols were observed for physically present participants in compliance for the
COVID 19 precautions, PhilMech said.
In June, PhilMech assured that the actual distribution of farm machinery funded under
RCEF will take place in August.
This is despite the lockdowns and quarantines imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
said PHilMech Executive Director Dr. Baldwin Jallorina Jr.
Right now, Philmech is still validating eligible RCEF beneficiaries, particularly farmers‘
cooperative and association (FCAs), in order to provide them with additional machines if
needed.
The FCAs who did not qualify in 2019 can apply for 2020 as long as requirements set by the
government are met, PhilMech Facility Management and Field Operations Division chief
Joel Dator said.
RCEF currently covers 957 municipalities in the country and for rice farmers to benefit
from the program, they should be part of the DA‘s outdated Registry System for Basic
Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).
As for RCEF‘s mechanization program alone, only rice farmers who are members of an
FCA who can benefit from it.
In the selection of beneficiaries, PhilMech has adopted the farm clustering and
consolidation strategy to ―achieve economies of scale that will pave the way to cost-

efficient operations, higher crop productivity and bigger farmers‘ incomes‖, Agriculture
Secretary William Dar said.
PhilMech has estimated farm mechanization can lower the cost of producing palay
(unmilled rice) by P1 to P2 per kilo.
https://mb.com.ph/2020/07/20/auction-date-set-for-machinery-to-be-purchased-using-rcef/
Potential of boosting Pakistan’s exports
Islamabad needs to establish ‘commercial consulate’ in Beijing to facilitate
exporters
China Economic Net
July 19, 2020

ISLAMABAD:
There are vast benefits of trade with China. Currently, China ranks as the second-
largest market for Pakistani products with a 7% share, while the US has a share of
16.7% in total exports. China is also the second-largest source of the country‘s
imports.
Owing to the free trade agreement (FTA), there has been a surge in exports to China.
The trade growth has increased by up to 26% because of the free trade policy from
19%.
The Chinese government has shown great interest in expanding trade with Pakistan.
It is hoping to import more goods from Pakistan. Vegetables and fruits are expected
to be imported by China.
Pakistan imports machinery but the industrial infrastructure requires a lot of
development to make cost-effective production possible.
In China, there is a huge demand for Pakistani mangoes, berries, potatoes, wheat,
rice and citrus fruit. The two countries are also working on developing genetically
engineered rice. Another big project is to build reliable supply chains for halal food.
Windows of opportunities
In China, there are specific opportunities for Pakistan in the agriculture sector as the
country is facing problems with the quality of its irrigated land area. There is a
growing shortage of it. For some crops, it is severe.
China prefers trade for its agrarian needs with Asian countries, such as Pakistan,
India, Thailand and Vietnam.
Rice trade between Thailand and China is difficult due to high tariffs. It was a
success for Pakistan that grabbed the opportunity and filled the market gap.
Pakistan, after being the top exporter of cotton to China, became the second largest
exporter of rice to Beijing.

Pakistan‘s Adviser on Commerce and Trade Abdul Razak Dawood sees the
possibility of expansion. Introducing new products is essential but expanding the
current product export volumes is equally important.
Sugar comes as a priority for Dawood. He notes that trade of several future items
will rise, which will further solidify the Pak-China geopolitical relationship.
There is another important area which covers minerals and precious stones. Under
the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, tariffs have been reduced
from 35% to 0%. Now, gold and copper reservoirs have also become a focus of
Chinese engineers as they have been discovered in Reko Diq.
China has expressed the possibility of importing CPEC-made products in the
agricultural and horticultural sectors, because of quarantine problems in the potential
importing nations.
Barriers and advantages
Dawood expressed the view that Pakistan would be trying its best to increase trade
with China. There are specific problems which come in the way of realising that.
Most of the Pakistani exports go to Europe and the US, but China is Pakistan‘s
biggest exporting destination. It is mostly raw material which Pakistan exports to
China. Cotton and hard chromium account for 66% of exports. This has not changed
for quite a long time.
There is a significant advantage that Pakistan has, unlike other nations trading with
China, which is the FTA. It offers the potential of growth for many Pakistani
products.
The FTA with China should give Pakistan an edge over other countries in several
potentially high profit-generating products such as textiles and sports. But the
country has been unable to take advantage of this substantial market because of non-
tariff barriers.
In most of these goods that have a huge potential, Pakistani exporters have failed to
make headway because of the non-tariff barriers.

The barriers noted by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) are time-consuming and
high-cost bureaucratic procedures, lack of commercial judiciary, lack of
transparency and non-standardised tenders.
Furthermore, there is a communication gap between the two countries, unlike
Pakistan‘s other trade partners. This creates hesitation among traders of both
countries because they are unable to understand each other‘s expectations and lack
trust because of the absence of a bridging factor.
Once a deal is dropped, or a bad experience happens, it becomes difficult for the
party at a loss to regain trust.
China is a big market, and sometimes it is seen that there is not enough supply on
the side of Pakistan. China demands imports because it has shortage in the labour
market. The high cost makes it difficult to compete with foreign competitors.
There is an issue of marketing. Pakistan needs to highlight the trade opportunities in
the CPEC project because many traders from both countries do not know sufficiently
about it. Due to this drawback, several opportunities remain out of the scope of local
and foreign-resident traders.
Several reports indicate the discomfort of Pakistani traders with the intensive
investigation of their products, which sometimes spoil the goods. This is because a
Pakistani product is not highly esteemed in China.
Suggestions
Pakistan is in a huge need to shift from exporting raw material and simple
manufactured goods to higher value-added products. In this way, the labour market
will benefit and growth will continue to expand.
It is advised that Pakistan needs to build a ―commercial consulate‖, separate from
the embassy in China. This will facilitate exporters to understand the Chinese
demand based on research of institutes, and will connect Chinese traders with
Pakistani counterparts.
It is also suggested that the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan should
allocate a budget for improving the branding and marketing of Pakistani goods.

It is hoped that the government will help traders in building efficient procurement
and distribution networks so that the quality of goods can be improved in the
Chinese customer‘s perception.
The article originally appeared on the China Economic Net
Published in The Express Tribune, July 20th
, 2020.
Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and
join in the conversation
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2255670/potential-of-boosting-pakistans-exports
FIA foils smuggling bid of drug in rice bags
A campaign has been launched by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Sindh-I
against hawala operators, smugglers, money launderers and other criminals.
A spokesman for the FIA Sindh said that the FIA‘s Corporate Crime Circle Karachi
raiding team conducted a raid on credible information that a psychotropic substance,
ketamine HCl, was being exported from Karachi to Antwerp, Belgium, under the
guise of rice export.
The raid was conducted in the Hussainabad area in the presence of federal inspector of
drugs. A truck no.TK-684 carrying a 20-foot container was intercepted in
Hussainabad, containing 18 metric tons of rice. The search of the container by the FIA
& FID (Drap) resulted in the recovery of 170 one-kilogramme packets of suspected
Ketamine HCl which was tactfully concealed in rice bags.
The Custom documents of consignment of rice i.e E-Form, invoice, GD, loading
program of shipping line were already prepared by the accused persons in the name of
the company, M/s Tedik Trading Co, Sialkot. The documents were to be entered in
Weebok after reaching the container at the port.

The rough value of the recovered Ketamine Hcl is more than $3,000 per kilogramme
and the total value of the seized substance has been estimated at $510,000. The
suspect, Dawoodur Rehman, was present on the spot during the raid. Upon
interrogation, he disclosed that the said consignment of ketamine HCL was being
exported to Antwerp, Belgium.
Accordingly, an FIR No.18/2020 was registered at the FIA, Corporate Crime Circle,
Karachi against Dawoodur Rehman, absconder Hifzur Rehman and others under the
Customs Act 1969 read with the section 109 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Since, the Customs Act, 1969 is a predicate offence of the Anti-Money Laundering
(AML) Act, 2010, therefore, a widespread money laundering investigation shall also
be initiated after identification and tracing of the proceeds of crimes.
The government of Belgium will also be approached to identify probable beneficiaries
of ketamine HCl. Further investigations are under way.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/689318-fia-foils-smuggling-bid-of-drug-in-rice-bags
Boosting agriculture
Reservoirs will help produce hydro-electricity, a relatively inexpensive
source of power
EditorialJuly 19, 2020
In Pakistan, the government has been providing subsidies to farmers on agricultural
inputs since the early 1960s to boost food production. For the ongoing financial
year, the federal government has announced a subsidy of Rs37 billion for famers on
fertilisers and other agricultural inputs, especially in view of the impact of the
coronavirus pandemic on the economy. Subsidy on financial assistance for setting up

tube-wells for agricultural purposes and on electricity consumption by such
irrigation devices will also likely be provided.
The subsidy package aims at boosting per hectare yield of major crops such as wheat
and cotton. Efforts are also being made to provide high-yield variety of seeds to
famers at subsidised rates. The government also plans to improve the canal system.
More efforts are to be made for water conservation. Now most of the rainwater goes
to waste as it flows into the sea, so big and small dams have been planned to be
built. The Diamir-Bhasha dam is one of the significant components of the strategy
aimed at overcoming water storage. The authorities have been stressing the need for
building big and small dams in the country like China. Reservoirs will not only
boost availability of water but will help produce hydro-electricity, a relatively
inexpensive source of power. The government is making all efforts to improve the
canal system and also to persuade farmers on the need for adopting efficient
management of water.
In Pakistan, the per hectare yield of major crops like wheat, cotton, rice and sugar
cane is much below that of China, the US, France and other developed countries. Per
hectare yield of cotton is 2.5 tons in Pakistan, which is 52 per cent of what it is in
China. Pakistan produces 3.1 tons of wheat per hectare while France gets a yield of
8.1 tons. Egypt‘s per hectare yield of sugar cane is more than 63 per cent higher than
Pakistan‘s. These facts make a strong case for increasing crop yields in the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 20th
, 2020.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all
updates on all our daily pieces.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2255661/boosting-agriculture
CLOSE FRAME
https://agriculture.einnews.com/article_detail/522030240/ZZ6WrXQxz2jChU8S?n=2&code=VuZLay2Yi
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ent=article

Auction date set for machinery to be purchased using
RCEF
imports.

is P132.51 million.
lots and with
billion.
needed.
Joel Dator said.

Rice exports primed for decade-low
PUBLISHED : 21 JUL 2020 AT 08:35
NEWSPAPER SECTION: BUSINESS
WRITER: PHUSADEE ARUNMAS
Thailand's rice exports are likely to plunge to 6.5 million tonnes this year, the lowest in a decade,
from an earlier projection of 7.5 million tonnes because of a spate of negative factors, says the
Thai Rice Exporters Association.
Chookiat Ophaswongse, the association's honorary president, said after a discussion with
Commerce Ministry officials including Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, the group
offered dim export prospects for the second half, and downgraded its rice forecast to only 6.5
million tonnes this year.
"Thailand's rice exports are hampered by a host of negative factors, be it the coronavirus crisis
that weakened global demand, a strong baht that makes Thai rice more expensive, or continued
drought cutting into production," said Mr Chookiat.

Thailand's benchmark 5% broken rice price is now quoted at US$520 per tonne, while rice from
Vietnam and India stands at $440-450 and $360 per tonne, respectively.
"Thailand's relatively more expensive prices have led buyers to opt for grains from our
competitors," he said.
In the first five months, Thailand shipped 2.57 million tonnes of rice, down 31.9% from the same
period last year, with an export value of 54.2 billion baht, down 13.2% for the same period.

The top five rice importers from Thailand for the period were the US (338,769 tonnes, up 41.2%
year-on-year), South Africa (231,412, down 12.6%), Angola (195,438, down 1.5%), China
(120,207, down 41.6%) and Japan (116,338, up 7.9%).
Mr Chookiat said for the second half of the year, Thailand is estimated to ship about 3.5 million
tonnes.
For the first half, he predicted 3 million tonnes shipped, while India and Vietnam are expected to
ship 5.5 million tonnes and 3.4 million tonnes, respectively. Thailand shipped 7.58 million
tonnes of rice worth 131 billion baht in 2019, down 32% and 25% from the previous year.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1954663/rice-exports-primed-for-decade-low

HANKS NAMED USA RICE CHAIR
Bobby Hanks, CEO of Supreme Rice
Mon, 07/20/2020 - 5:47pm
ARLINGTON, Virginia
Bobby Hanks, CEO of Crowley‘s Supreme Rice, has been named as the new chair of USA Rice.
New chairs for USA Rice, The Rice Foundation, the USA Rice Millers‘ Association (RMA), and
the USA Rice Merchants‘ Association were elected by their respective Boards of Directors
during annual meetings this week held via video conference calls.
All newly elected officers will assume their two-year posts on August 1.
Hanks takes over for Charley Mathews Jr., a rice farmer from Marysville, California, who has
been chair of the group since 2018.
"Bobby is going to make a great chair," Mathews said. "He is well versed in U.S. rice industry
issues and is a long-term member of USA Rice having joined in 1999 when he first acquired
Louisiana Rice Mill.‖
Hanks has served on numerous USA Rice committees, including past chair of the USA Rice
Millers‘ Association and current chair of the USA Rice International Trade Policy Committee.
"Under Charley‘s leadership over the past two years, USA Rice finally opened the world‘s
largest market – China – to U.S. rice. We also solidified relationships in Iraq, did great outreach
in Central America and Mexico, and received our largest ever grant from the federal government
to promote U.S., rice overseas," said Hanks. "He has represented USA Rice in markets around
the world, and made presentations at the annual Mexico trade mission and the annual
international promotion planning conference in Colombia in Spanish!
―Here at home,‖ Hanks added, ―Charley helped us notch wins for rice in domestic purchasing
programs and federal aid programs and lent his support to retail efforts. He also visited the White
House twice – something no USA Rice chairman has ever done.‖
David Petter was elected chair of The Rice Foundation. Petter, a fourth-generation rice farmer
from Stuttgart, Arkansas, replaces Frank Carey, who served as chair of The Rice Foundation for
two years.
Outgoing RMA Chair Keith Gray passed the gavel to Keith Glover, president and CEO of
Producers Rice Mill.
Ryan Carwell, vice president at Poinsett Rice and Grain, replaces Dick Ottis who helmed the
USA Rice Merchants‘ Association for six years.
―On behalf of USA Rice, I extend special thanks to our great board leaders who served with
distinction over the past two years – Charley, Keith, Dick, and Frank,‖ said USA Rice President
and CEO Betsy Ward. ―We are very grateful for their guidance and support.‖
https://www.raynetoday.com/news-local-agriculture/hanks-named-usa-rice-chair
USA Rice's Bachmann Named to USTR, USDA Trade
Advisory Committee
By Deborah Willenborg

WASHINGTON, DC -- Last week, U.S.
Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer
and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny
Perdue jointly appointed 25 new
members to serve on seven agricultural
trade advisory committees through
2024, including Peter Bachmann, USA
Rice vice president, international trade
policy.Bachmann was named to the
Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee
for Trade in Grains, Feed, Oilseeds and
Planting Seeds, replacing Bob
Cummings who retired from USA Rice
last year but remained an active member
on the Committee until new
appointments were made last week.
The committees are made up of industry
trade policy representatives from across
all agricultural sectors who provide
advice to federal agencies regarding
agricultural trade provisions within
existing and pending trade agreements
on both a broad and sector-specific
level. The committees typically meet
annually or semi-annually in-person and
frequently by phone for confidential
briefings. "I see this as an opportunity
to ensure that the collective voice of
U.S. rice farmers, millers, and
merchants is heard loud and clear in
Washington both before and during U.S. government trade negotiations," said Bachmann. "In
trade agreements, details are everything, and while there are many skilled staff at both USTR and
USDA, they rely on the trade advisory committees to ensure they get the details right."
USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward agrees. "Trade is such a vital part of our domestic rice
industry's business and it's even more important now, given the active and planned negotiations
with several countries where U.S. rice exports could be impacted. As an advisor on ag trade,
Peter will represent U.S. rice interests and provide policy makers with the latest, most accurate

industry information available."
In addition to representation on the grain sector's technical advisory committee, USA Rice is also
represented on the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee by Arkansas rice farmer and former
USA Rice chair, Dow Brantley.
Slimy invader attacks La. crawfish and rice farms
Never Miss A Story
Apple snail eggs are a common sight in area marshes. [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]
By Tristan Baurick / Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate
Posted Jul 19, 2020 at 7:08 PM
First it came for your wetlands. Now it‘s coming for your crawfish and your rice.
A foreign snail that appeared in Louisiana just over 10 years ago and quickly infested ponds,
bayous and streams in about 30 parishes has recently found its way to the farms that produce two
of the state‘s favorite foods.
The invasive apple snail has shut down harvest at some crawfish farms in Vermilion, Acadia and
Jefferson Davis parishes and has made its first devastating appearance in rice fields. In March,
the invasive mollusks wiped out a 50-acre field of rice, marking the first reported case of the
snail damaging the crop in Louisiana.
―Where it‘s hit ‘em, it‘s hit ‘em hard,‖ said David Savoy, a Church Point crawfish farmer and
chairman of the Louisiana Crawfish Promotion and Research Board. ―In Vermilion, it‘s so bad,
you pick up a trap and there‘s 5 to 10 pounds of them. It‘s horrible.‖
Attracted by the bait in traps, the snails crowd in, leaving little or no room for crawfish. At some
farms, apple snails are being caught in such high numbers — sometimes 12 crates per day — that
disposal of the thick-shelled snails is becoming a problem.
Some farmers have had to halt harvests and drain their ponds early, suffering revenue reductions
of as much as 50%, said Blake Wilson, an LSU AgCenter researcher.

―The impact on some of those farms, particularly where snail populations have been building for
years, has been immense,‖ he said.
Only about 10 crawfish farms have been affected, but new reports keep coming in.
Louisiana is by far the nation‘s biggest crawfish producer. The industry contributes more than
$300 million to the state economy each year and employs about 7,000 people, according to the
research board.
―If the problem spreads to the whole industry, economic impacts could be tens of millions of
dollars annually without effective control tactics,‖ Wilson said.
Those tactics are currently limited to pesticides. But what kills snails will also likely kill
crawfish.
Native to South America, the apple snail‘s first appearance in Louisiana was in a Gretna drainage
canal in 2006.
They‘re popular in the aquarium trade partly because they eat the algae that dirties tanks. But
they get quite big — sometimes growing shells 6 inches in diameter — and they often have a
strong, swampy odor. Their presence in the wild is likely due to aquarium owners dumping them
in ditches and ponds.
The snails stay below the water‘s surface and aren‘t often seen, but their bubblegum pink eggs
are hard to miss. In clusters of 200 to 600, the tiny eggs have become an all-too-common sight
on tree trucks and pilings just above the water line. Destroying the eggs is one of the best ways to
reduce their numbers.
The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries recommends people scrape the eggs off with a
stick and crush them, or at least knock them into the water. Be careful not to touch them because
the eggs contain a neurotoxin that can irritate skin and eyes.
The snails are edible but are known to carry rat lungworm, a parasite that can kill humans and
other mammals.
Rapid reproducers and voracious eaters, the snail overpopulates waterways and kills off habitat
important to native fish and other wildlife.

The snail‘s appearance in crawfish farms comes at a particularly bad time for the industry.
Crawfish have been hit with white spot syndrome, a deadly virus that was first discovered in
farmed shrimp in Asia in the early 1990s and first appeared in Louisiana 2007.
The coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll as well. The AgCenter reported that some crawfish
producers have been able to sell just 15% of their catch due to pandemic-related restaurant
closures and occupancy limits.
Scientists and farmers are perplexed about how the snail arrived in crawfish farms and why
certain farms are swarming with them.
―It‘s weird,‖ AgCenter researcher Greg Lutz said. ―It pops up in certain regions. You can have a
farm with nothing, and three or four miles down the road they‘re overrun.‖
It could be that the snails benefit from flooding. An Acadia Parish farm started having a snail
problem after its fields were flooded from a bayou linked to the Mermentau River, which is
loaded with apple snails.
The snail has been identified in just one rice field so far, but the potential for widespread
destruction is strong. It‘s a major pest for rice growers in Spain, Asia and Central America. In the
Philippines, the snail is considered a national menace, infesting about half the nation‘s rice fields
during the late 1980s.
The snail left almost nothing at the rice field near Rayne. Wilson estimated the field had two
snails per square foot.
―There was no trace of rice,‖ he said. ―If you didn‘t know better, you‘d think it was a snail
production farm.
w.houmatoday.com/news/20200719/slimy-invader-attacks-la-crawfish-and-rice-farms+
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin will launch this November
Marvelous Europe has announced that the upcoming Action/Simulation game developed by the
2-man team at Edelweiss, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, will launch physically and digitally
within Europe and Australia on the 20th November 2020 for the Nintendo Switch and
PlayStation 4.

In addition, Marvelous Europe has also announced plans for a physical Limited Edition
of Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 that will be sold on
the Marvelous Games Store and from selected retailers within Europe. This Limited Edition
will have an SRP of £49.99 / €59.99 with contents and pre-order availability to be announced at
a later date. A standard physical edition for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 will also be
available at selected retailers within Europe and Australia with an SRP of £34.99 / €39.99.
Key Features:
 Refined Side-scrolling Platform Action: Using farm tools as weapons, chain together
quick, heavy, and special attacks to take down demonic beasts while mastering the
magical ―divine raiment‖ will be essential to grapple distant platforms, evade danger, and
overcome powerful enemies.
 Detailed 3D Simulation-style Gameplay: Learn the ancient art of agriculture by following
detailed steps from planting to harvesting to cultivate the perfect crop. As a harvest
goddess, Sakuna‘s strength grows with each successful rice crop, with attributes such as
aesthetic and flavour directly correlating to her combat abilities.
 Creating a Home in the Wilderness: Sakuna‘s mortal companions make weapons,
armour, and meals for her using the materials and ingredients she gathers on her
adventures, and completing quests for them will unlock even more options.
 A Fresh Take on Japanese Mythology: The heroine is part of a pantheon of gods and
demons inspired by traditional Japanese mythology but featuring many unique twists.
The story and world are filled with lovingly rendered details, some familiar and some
completely original.
 Refined Side-scrolling Platform Action: Using farm tools as weapons, chain together
quick, heavy, and special attacks to take down demonic beasts while mastering the
magical ―divine raiment‖ will be essential to grapple distant platforms, evade danger, and
overcome powerful enemies.
 Detailed 3D Simulation-style Gameplay: Learn the ancient art of agriculture by following
detailed steps from planting to harvesting to cultivate the perfect crop. As a harvest
goddess, Sakuna‘s strength grows with each successful rice crop, with attributes such as
aesthetic and flavour directly correlating to her combat abilities.
 Creating a Home in the Wilderness: Sakuna‘s mortal companions make weapons,
armour, and meals for her using the materials and ingredients she gathers on her
adventures, and completing quests for them will unlock even more options.
 A Fresh Take on Japanese Mythology: The heroine is part of a pantheon of gods and
demons inspired by traditional Japanese mythology but featuring many unique twists.
The story and world are filled with lovingly rendered details, some familiar and some
completely original.
If you enjoy games and gaming and want more NEWS from the Gaming World
Click Here
https://invisioncommunity.co.uk/sakuna-of-rice-and-ruin-will-launch-this-novembe

BEPA Seals 100 Rice Mills In-violation Of
Environment Laws
Sun 19th July 2020 | 05:50 PM
ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Jul, 2020 )
:Balochistan Environmental Protection Agency (BEPA) has sealed 100 unauthorized rice
mills in the province for violating the environment laws.
The Director General BEPA issued orders to seal 10 illegal rice mills in Naseerabad
district, 6 in Sohbatpur district and 84 in Jaffarabad district.
Talking to APP, an official of the EPA Muhammad Khan Utmankhail said "No one will
be allowed to violate the Environment act 2012 and no concession will be given to the
violators. Strict action will be taken against illegal factories without permission of the
Environmental Protection Agency".
Muhammad Khan said that EPA has also imposed fines on dozens of industries across the
province for polluting the environments and violating the laws.
In Pishin district, 7 illegal crushing plants were sealed on the orders of Director General
of EPA. The EPA has also banned 16 industries in Hub, two in Chaghi and one in
Jafferabad district over polluting the environments.
The industries have been imposed Rs 50,000 each fine for violating the Environmental
Protection Act 2012 and all the industries concerned were required to pay the fine within
15 days of the action, he added.
In case of non-payment, action would be taken under Balochistan Environmental
Protection Agency Act 2012, he added.
He said that it was the duty of us to keep the environment clean and to protect the people.
Air pollution was a major problem which was causing dangerous diseases, he added
https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/bepa-seals-100-rice-mills-in-violation-of-en-978762.html
Rice Planting Plans Reduced for Kyushu in 2020

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries released an updated report on rice
projections for planting. Accordingly, three Kyushu prefectures (Saga, Kumamoto,
and Kagoshima) adjusted their plans from ―same as last year‖ (as of Apr. 2020) to
―less than last year.‖ In the entire Kyushu-Okinawa area, only Fukuoka Prefecture
plans to continue the same scale of planting as 2019. Despite the situation, the
ministry anticipates rice price drop due to a continued fall in consumption.
Sources: MAFF / AgriNews
Published: Jul 20, 2020 / Last Updated: Jul 20, 2020
https://www.fukuoka-now.com/en/news/rice-planting-plans-reduced-for-kyushu-in-2020/
Brown rice demand from industry buyers declines
July 20, 2020 | 12:03 am

PHILSTAR
DAVAO CITY — Supermarket sales for brown rice increased during the public health
emergency, making up for the drop in demand from corporate clients, according to Sun Made
Brown Rice producer Mindanao Agri Network Corp. (MANCOR).
Carlo C. Lorenzana, vice-president of MANCOR, said orders from major supermarket chains
were higher during the strict lockdown months between mid-March and May.
The company also tapped online shops Pacific Bay and Hometown Grocer for distribution.
―So we were able to partly make up for the dip in (big volume) trade sales, but not completely,‖
he said in an e-mail interview.
Mr. Lorenzana said the boost in retail demand allowed the company to stay on time with
payments to partner farmers, who needed cash as the lockdown coincided with the peak harvest
season.
―We are obligated to honor our agreements with them. The core of our social enterprise where
we assist farmers in planting premium palay (unmilled rice) for production of Sun Made
brown… and we purchase these palay directly from them,‖ he said.

He added that rice farmers in general did not feel the health and economic blow of the pandemic
as rural areas remained largely safe from the outbreak.
―Farmers in other areas were also able to increase the selling price of palay due to the high
demand brought about by the municipal ordinances during the lockdown that restricted the
selling of goods within their respective areas,‖ he explained.
MANCOR is currently exploring new revenue streams while adjusting to the health safety
protocols in both office and mill operations.
―We view things now as the ‗next normal,‘ meaning it‘s the next phase of life for the whole
world. So for our social enterprise, we need to adapt and evolve for the changing times,‖ Mr.
Lorenzana said. — Maya M. Padillo
www.bworldonline.com/brown-rice-demand-from-industry-buyers-declines
Rice importers face suspension on unused SPS-IC
ByJasper Y. Arcalas
July 20, 2020
RICE traders and importers who have unused sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance could
be suspended by the Department of Agriculture (DA) as about 60 percent of issued SPS-ICs in
the first half, covering almost 2 million metric tons (MMT), are unutilized to date.

Latest Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) data obtained and analyzed by the BusinessMirror showed
that only 1,803 SPS-ICs out of the 3,926 SPS-ICs issued from January to June have been used by
eligible rice importers as of July 10.
This corresponds to a total rice volume imported of about 1.347 MMT out of the 3.261 MMT
applied volume during the six-month period, BPI data showed.
About 2,123 SPS-ICs, which cover 1.914 MMT of rice, are yet to be used by registered and
eligible traders, importers, firms, cooperatives, and organizations, based on BPI data.
Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar has issued a new memorandum order (MO) reminding
importers that ―low utilization‖ of SPS-ICs could be ―grounds for rejection of application or their
suspension as importer.‖ ―Importers should regularly account and surrender any unused SPS-ICs
to BPI,‖ Dar said in his MO No. 30 dated June 4 but was made public on July 6.
―They are reminded that low utilization of applied SPS-IC can affect their track record and can
be grounds for rejection of application or their suspension,‖ Dar added.
Dar issued the new order to address the ―problem of low utilization‖ of SPS-IC for milled rice
and ―ensure availability of food‖ during this Covid-19 pandemic.
The new order required rice importers to submit additional requirements for the application of
SPS-IC which are 1) payment of certification of the consignment and 2) list of distribution
points/warehouse of the said consignment.
The additional requirements shall be attached to the importers‘ application together with
previous requirements of proforma/commercial invoice, GMO or non-GMO certification and
certificate of analysis for heavy metals, according to the MO.
In his order, Dar said failure to comply with the new requirements will result in rejection of the
traders and importers‘ application for SPS-IC for milled rice.
BPI data showed that the agency issued a monthly average of 654 SPS-IC while utilization by
importers was only at about 300 SPS-ICs per month.

In January, BPI issued 801 SPS-ICs but only 307 SPS-ICs were used, while in February, only
227 SPS-ICs were utilized by importers out of the 1,076 SPS-ICs issued to them.
Under the rice trade liberalization (RTL) law, interested rice importers shall secure a SPS-IC—a
document that certifies food and plant safety of the goods—from the BPI to be able to bring in
staple from abroad.
The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the RTL law stipulated that ―imported rice
should arrive before the expiration of the SPS-IC from BPI.‖
Furthermore, Dar issued MO No. 28, Series of 2019, that further specified the said provision of
the IRR of the law.
Based on his MO last year, the actual rice consignment ―must be shipped out from the country of
origin within the prescribed date in the approved SPS-IC and must arrive not later than 60 days
from the Must Ship Out Date.‖
Earlier this year, Dar ordered the voiding of all unused SPS-ICs for milled rice that were issued
last year as BPI data showed that some 1,752 SPS-ICs were unused at the end of 2019.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/07/20/rice-importers-face-suspension-on-unused-sps-ic/
Thai National Rice Policy Committee says rice prices for
2020-21 crop year will remain unchanged
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-17 23:28:30|Editor: huaxia
BANGKOK, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's National Rice Policy and Management Committee
(NRPMC) chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, announced on Friday that Thai rice
prices for the 2020-21 crop year will remain unchanged from those of the previous season.
The price guarantee policy will cover five types of Thai rice.
They are white rice paddy with 15 percent moisture, jasmine (Hom Mali) rice paddy, fragrant
Pathum Thani rice paddy with 15 percent moisture, glutinous rice paddy with 15 percent
moisture, and provincial fragrant rice paddy.

The price guarantee policy will also offer compensation to farmers if market prices fall below the
benchmark.
Meanwhile, the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said earlier this week that rice export prospects
looked grim in the second half amidst sluggish global demand caused by the COVID-19 crisis.
The association also said that Thailand was once the world's largest rice exporter by a wide
margin, but now is ranked third with 3.15 million tons shipped between Jan 1 and July 8, trailing
behind India at 4.65 million tons and Vietnam at 4.17 million tons.
Thailand in 2019 exported 7.58 million ton of rice, down 32 percent from the year before, with a
value of 131 billion baht (4.132 billion U.S. dollars), down 25 percent. Enditem
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-07/17/c_139220943.htm
Vietnam's rice exports may slide after one-month high
Chia sẻ | FaceBookTwitter Email Copy Link
20/07/2020 08:00 GMT+7
Rice exports were the only bright part in the picture of Vietnam‘s farm exports in the first six
months of the year. However, the achievements may not be upheld in the second half.
Reports show that though the total amount of farm exports reached 6.79 million tons, an increase
of 281,000 tons and 4.3 percent compared with the same period last year, Vietnam only had
revenue of $17.6 billion, a decrease of 2.3 percent because of sharp price drops.

In such conditions, the high turnover from rice exports was good news. With the export volume
of 3.54 million tons, a modest increase of 5.6 percent, Vietnam had turnover of $1.73 billion, a
significant increase of 19.4 percent.
The rice exports in May, when the quota mechanism was removed, made a great contribution to
the miracle. Around 954,000 tons of rice were exported in this month, a record in Vietnam‘s rice
export history.
The figure was 1.84 times higher than the average export volume of the remaining 5 months,
while the export price was 8.2 percent higher, at $516 per ton.
Nguyen Dinh Bich, a trade expert, in his article on Thoi Bao Kinh Te Sai Gon, commented that
the figures show two things.
First, the quota of 800,000 tons initially set by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) for
April and May exports was too low compared with the real export capacity of 1.46 million tons.

Rice exports were the only bright part in the picture of Vietnam’s farm exports in the first six
months of the year. However, the achievements may not be upheld in the second half.
Second, those who disagree on the quota scheme and oppose rice export restrictions, may be
right. Soon after the strict quota scheme was removed, Vietnam‘s rice exports bounced back in
May.
However, the bounce could not be maintained in June, which saw export volume drop by 50
percent compared with May and 24.7 percent compared with the same period last year. The
export price also slid.
The sharp fall in both export volume and export price in June was seen as a sign that the best
days are over and difficulties are ahead.
According to Bich, there are two reasons for this.
First, experts have warned of the strong competitiveness of Indian rice in the world market.
Thanks to plentiful water supply in the rainy season and the government‘s decision to increase
the rice purchase price, India is expected to obtain record high output this year. Its rice and wheat
stocks are very high.
Meanwhile, the state of global financial markets is causing the rice export price in US dollar to
become cheaper.
Second, Bich believes that Thailand will try every possible way to improve its competitiveness
in the market which will put more pressure on Vietnam‘s exports.
https://vietnamnet.vn/en/business/vietnam-s-rice-exports-may-slide-after-one-month-high-658389.html
Bac Lieu expands cultivation of world‘s best rice varieties

The Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu has decided to expand the cultivation of ST
24 and ST 25, two local rice varieties that rank among the world‘s best, this year.
ST 24 ranked third in the World‘s Best Rice Contest in 2017 and ST 25 topped the
contest last year.
For the 2020 summer – autumn rice crop, the province has undertaken field
demonstrations for growing the two varieties for the benefit of 60 households in five
districts and Gia Rai town on a combined area of 60ha.
After the crop is harvested, the area under the two varieties will be expanded to
3,500ha using the rice – shrimp rotation model this year, according to the provincial
People‘s Committee.
Under the rice - shrimp model, rice is grown in the rainy season and shrimp is bred in
the dry season on the same rice field. Both are clean since farmers use few chemicals
under the model.
The model will be adopted mostly in Hong Dan and Phuoc Long districts and Gia Rai
town.
The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and local
authorities will call on companies to tie up with farmers for growing the two rice
varieties and buying the output.
Besides the province‘s field demonstration models, farmers in many areas are also
growing ST 24 rice for the summer – autumn crop.
In Phuoc Long district, for instance, they are growing 500ha, according to the local
People‘s Committee.
Tran Quang Liem, Vice Chairman of the Phuoc Long District People‘s Committee,
said the district would work with the province‘s Agriculture Extension Centre to teach
farmers techniques to improve production.
In the 2019 rice crop during the rainy season, farmers planted ST 24 on 45ha in Phuoc

Long district and 120ha in Hong Dan district.
Luu Hoang Ly, director of the department, said ST 24 and ST 25 have many
advantages like being resistant to salinity and disease.
They provide average yields of 6.2 – 7.7 tonnes per hectare and offer farmers an
income of 30.8 – 38.5 million VND (1,330 – 1,660 USD) per hectare per crop since
they are highly popular varieties, he added.
https://vietnam.vnanet.vn/english/bac-lieu-expands-cultivation-of-worlds-best-rice-varieties/451877.html
Move to import rice following poor boro
procurement
Emran Hossain | Published: 01:10, Jul 18,2020
Despite a surplus rice production, the food ministry has sought advice from the prime minister on
importing rice saying that it may not procure enough rice to keep the rice market stable in the
COVID-19 crisis along with the floods.
The food ministry has recently sent a letter to the Prime Minister‘s Office as rice millers
apparently remained reluctant in supplying rice to the government at the current price.
Nearly three months into the boro rice and paddy procurement, the food ministry could achieve
only 28 per cent of its rice procurement target and 12 per cent of the paddy procurement target.
The government planned to buy 11.50 lakh tonnes of rice from millers at Tk 36 a kg and 8 lakh
tonnes of paddy at Tk 26 a kg by next month.
‗We shared with the Prime Minister our fear that we may not meet the procurement target and
sought her advice on building rice stock through import,‘ food secretary Mosammat Nazmanara
Khanum told New Age.
The food ministry move came after it announced that it was considering slashing the import duty
on rice if the procurement did not pick up soon.
Agricultural economists have long blamed the cumbersome procurement process behind farmers‘
reluctance in selling paddy to the government.

Agricultural economist Jahangir Alam demanded an explanation from the government as to why
it failed to procure rice from handpicked rice millers.
‗The government should have moved to procure through open tendering rather than opting for
import,‘ said Jahangir.
Bangladesh produced 3.80 crore tonnes of rice, far above its demand for around 3 crore tonnes,
he said.
‗There is no justification to import when there is a surplus production,‘ Jahangir said.
He said that the government was planning to spend money on rice import when the country‘s
farmers were in need of cash more than ever before because of the coronavirus crisis and the
devastating floods in the north.
The worsening floods in the northern districts are making it difficult for farmers to preserve rice
at home as deluge overtook vast areas.
Economist Md Asaduzzaman said that by repeatedly talking about import the government was
frightening the farmers to give away rice at a cheaper rate.
‗It gives farmers the message that time is running out for them to sell rice,‘ said Asaduzzaman.
He said that the rice millers would take advantage of the situation, convincing farmers of selling
rice at cheaper prices to secure their profit margin.
Rice growers hardly get return on their investment because of their complete dependence on
middlemen to sell their crop.
But agricultural economists have always advised the government against buying rice from the
millers to avoid many middlemen pocketing benefits that should go to farmers.
They warned that a continued fall in income might discourage farmers from growing the Aman
paddy next season.
Asad said that the food ministry should not be in a hurry to import rice because there was enough
rice in Bangladesh.
‗It may not be in the government‘s hand but it is in the country. The government should find a
way of buying the rice,‘ he said.
The government had a stock of 12.04 lakh tonnes of food grains until July 12.
The food secretary said that the stock should be around 20 lakh tonnes to keep the market stable.
The rice millers have been demanding an increase in the rice price by Tk 4 per kg.
https://www.newagebd.net/article/111443/move-to-import-rice-following-poor-boro-procurement

Panel okays price guarantee for rice
PUBLISHED : 18 JUL 2020 AT 04:00
NEWSPAPER SECTION: BUSINESS
WRITER: CHATRUDEE THEPARAT
The scheme offers guaranteed prices at the previous season's rates.
The National Rice Policy Committee chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday
approved a rice price guarantee scheme for the 2020-21 crop year, offering guaranteed prices at
the same rates as during the previous season.
Rachada Dhanadirek, a deputy government spokeswoman, said the annual 2020-21 scheme,
which will be implemented between Sept 1, 2020 and May 31, 2021, is expected to use a budget
of 85 billion baht.

Some 23.5 billion baht will be assigned to price guarantees, 56 billion baht to support
management and quality development costs for farmers, and 5.72 billion baht to subsidise the
interest rate for loans extended to stabilise domestic rice prices.
If 30.3 billion baht worth of loans to be issued by the state-owned Bank for Agriculture and
Agricultural Cooperatives is included, the scheme will total 115 billion baht, Ms Rachada said.
The scheme covers five main types of rice: white rice paddy with 15% moisture, hom mali rice
paddy, fragrant Pathum Thani rice paddy with 15% moisture, glutinous rice paddy with 15%
moisture and provincial fragrant rice paddy.
 Rice price guarantees unchanged
 Rice price scheme renewed
 Rice price guarantee
The rice price guarantee offers compensation if market prices fall below the benchmark.
Under the scheme, farmers will be offered 10,000 baht a tonne for white rice paddy with 15%
moisture, limited to 30 tonnes per family or 40 rai.
The guaranteed prices are set at 15,000 baht a tonne for hom mali rice paddy, limited to 14
tonnes per family or 40 rai; 11,000 baht a tonne of fragrant Pathum Thani rice paddy with 15%
moisture for a limit of 25 tonnes per family or 40 rai; 12,000 baht a tonne for glutinous rice
paddy with 15% moisture with a limit of 16 tonnes or 40 rai; and 14,000 baht a tonne for
provincial fragrant rice paddy with a limit of 16 tonnes per family or 40 rai.

Ms Rachada said the Commerce Ministry will propose the scheme for cabinet approval soon.
In a related development, the ministry reported to the committee that Thailand was the third-
largest rice exporter, with 3.15 million tonnes shipped, for the period of Jan 1 to July 8. India
was the world's top rice exporter in the period, with 4.65 million tonnes, followed by Vietnam
with 4.17 million tonnes.
Pakistan and the US were the fourth- and fifth-largest exporters at a respective 2.07 million and
1.61 million tonnes.
Charoen Laothammatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said earlier this week
that rice export prospects looked murky in the second half amid sluggish global demand caused
by the coronavirus crisis.
The association has set a full-year rice export target of 7.5 million tonnes but is scheduled to
adjust the target on July 22.
Thailand shipped 7.58 million tonnes of rice worth 131 billion baht in 2019, down 32% and 25%
from 2018.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1953336/panel-okays-price-guarantee-for-rice
Rice millers want govt to end Bernas‘ rice monopoly
Nora Mahpar

-
July 18, 2020 7:02 PM
The Malay Rice Millers Association is against Bernas‘ sole importer licence being renewed
when it expires next year. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: The Malay Rice Millers Association (PPBMM) has urged the government to
abolish the monopoly Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas) has on rice supply in the country after its
import licence expires in early 2021.
Its chairman, Tirmizi Yob, said if there are more players, it would lead to the healthy
development of the rice industry.
―For other industries, they give the approved permits (AP) to everyone.
―As a rice producer, we do not get any privileges from the government. If the padi is not enough,
damaged or is not of the required quality, the factory will face losses. The same goes for farmers.
―Many rice mills are being closed down due to losses, but the government does not seem to care
at all,‖ he told FMT.
Tarmizi said Bernas will however not experience the same situation as the company can cover
the losses incurred with its sole ownership of the AP.

―If more APs are given, companies like us have a better chance to survive,‖ he said.
Tarmizi said they had previously suggested to the government to open up 30% of rice quota to
Bumiputera companies, but the discussions were suspended after the change of government
earlier this year.
―I hope this new government is aware of the grievances of Bumiputera producers like us.
―The Bernas monopoly needs to be removed for greater competition,‖ he said.
Meanwhile, Padi Rescue, a coalition of NGOs representing rice farmers and wholesalers, agreed
that the sole right to import rice given to Bernas should be abolished and the industry should be
fully controlled by the National Paddy and Rice Board (LPN).
―Unlike other agricultural commodities such as chilli or vegetables, this industry must be
managed by government agencies as rice is one of the controlled items,‖ Padi Rescue
coordinator Nur Fitri Amir said.
Nur Fitri said private agencies such as Bernas must not be allowed to manage the rice industry as
they face a conflict of interest as they were motivated by profit.
He said as long as the government maintains Bernas‘ position as the sole importer, the target of
100% self-sufficiency level will not be achieved.
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2020/07/18/rice-millers-want-govt-to-end-bernas-
rice-monopoly/
Rice Prices
as on : 20-07-2020 06:18:48 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
Arrivals Price
Current %
change
Season
cumulative
Modal Prev.
Modal
Prev.Yr
%change

Rice
Bangalore(Kar) 3929.00 553.74 117601.00 4200 4200 -7.69
Mandya(Kar) 764.00 -6.26 17530.00 2080 1520 -
Varanasi(Grain)(UP) 135.00 NC 2197.00 2650 2640 11.34
Gondal(UP) 118.00 10.8 7376.50 2420 2420 -1.22
Dadri(UP) 110.00 22.22 1345.00 5950 5950 -
Bindki(UP) 100.00 -44.44 5440.00 2500 2500 10.62
Kalipur(WB) 82.00 NC 2933.00 2400 2400 NC
Choubepur(UP) 70.00 -22.22 1985.35 2550 2600 -4.67
Maur(UP) 46.00 -9.8 544.00 2590 2580 5.50
Kopaganj(UP) 46.00 -9.8 1505.00 2590 2580 5.93
Teliamura(Tri) 45.00 12.5 454.00 2800 2700 -3.45
Aligarh(UP) 45.00 NC 4112.00 2550 2550 0.39
Allahabad(UP) 45.00 28.57 2357.00 2525 2485 3.06
Azamgarh(UP) 45.00 18.42 5166.70 2575 2580 5.10
Mainpuri(UP) 45.00 32.35 3766.50 2576 2580 -2.05
Hardoi(UP) 40.00 60 8282.80 2470 2450 -3.52

Sindhanur(Kar) 38.00 52 301.00 1820 1925 1.11
Gorakhpur(UP) 37.00 2.78 849.70 2545 2525 -
Saharanpur(UP) 37.00 -2.63 2403.00 2730 2730 -6.19
Faizabad(UP) 35.00 -10.26 1406.00 2455 2450 3.37
Muradabad(UP) 35.00 16.67 1422.00 2630 2630 1.15
Bankura Sadar(WB) 35.00 -7.89 2134.00 2600 2600 8.33
Beldanga(WB) 35.00 -12.5 1390.00 2700 2700 5.88
Muzzafarnagar(UP) 33.00 10 4358.00 2780 2780 -5.76
Meerut(UP) 32.00 6.67 689.50 2785 2800 -6.23
Ghaziabad(UP) 30.00 -14.29 2455.00 2840 2840 -2.91
Khalilabad(UP) 30.00 NC 1670.00 2540 2540 12.89
Shamli(UP) 30.00 3.45 1072.40 2780 2770 0.72
Sehjanwa(UP) 30.00 50 2378.50 2590 2590 19.91
Firozabad(UP) 28.00 5.66 1529.60 2600 2625 -
Hapur(UP) 25.00 25 1032.00 2700 2660 -9.40
Mathura(UP) 25.00 4.17 2869.50 2560 2550 -0.39
Durgapur(WB) 24.00 -4 1111.75 2780 2770 5.70

Asansol(WB) 23.00 -8 1153.89 3100 3100 9.15
Vilaspur(UP) 21.00 5 1598.20 2630 2630 4.78
Sirsaganj(UP) 19.50 11.43 1049.50 2510 2550 -6.34
Balrampur(UP) 19.00 -20.83 1005.00 2450 2450 6.52
Utraula(UP) 19.00 31.03 406.70 2420 2420 -
Basti(UP) 18.00 -47.06 1591.50 2550 2590 5.37
Nawabganj(UP) 17.00 -5.56 696.00 2420 2420 51.25
Champadanga(WB) 16.00 -5.88 678.00 3200 3150 6.67
Etawah(UP) 15.00 15.38 2543.50 2530 2525 -4.53
Rampur(UP) 15.00 7.14 588.50 2630 2630 3.14
Kayamganj(UP) 15.00 50 1901.00 2510 2510 -4.92
Chorichora(UP) 15.00 -25 1393.00 2545 2540 6.71
Dahod(Guj) 14.30 308.57 931.00 4200 4200 -2.33
Bahraich(UP) 14.00 -7.89 1071.70 2460 2450 1.44
Farukhabad(UP) 13.00 -3.7 1072.50 2500 2500 -7.41
Banda(UP) 12.00 50 327.50 2430 2445 2.97
Etah(UP) 12.00 50 390.00 2550 2570 -0.39

Gazipur(UP) 12.00 NC 2090.00 3240 3240 0.93
Purulia(WB) 12.00 -25 204.00 2620 2640 4.80
Devariya(UP) 11.50 -4.17 1003.00 2570 2580 8.21
Paliakala(UP) 11.00 -45 561.50 2440 2430 5.63
Mawana(UP) 10.00 11.11 206.20 2775 2780 -
Karvi(UP) 10.00 42.86 578.00 2415 2450 1.68
Rasda(UP) 10.00 NC 472.00 2550 2540 1059.09
Indus(Bankura Sadar)(WB) 10.00 11.11 1148.00 2800 2800 1.82
Robertsganj(UP) 9.00 12.5 276.10 2460 2450 4.24
Mohamadabad(UP) 9.00 12.5 811.80 2480 2500 -
Raath(UP) 9.00 5.88 194.40 2350 2350 -
Fatehpur(UP) 8.80 17.33 2256.70 2510 2500 7.26
Holenarsipura(Kar) 8.00 -20 115.00 2100 2500 -
Atarra(UP) 8.00 -40.74 806.50 2425 2430 3.19
Ajuha(UP) 8.00 -11.11 341.00 2500 2480 4.17
Vilthararoad(UP) 8.00 14.29 314.00 2100 2100 NC
Barhaj(UP) 8.00 -90 9796.00 2590 2580 8.37

Bareilly(UP) 6.00 200 1942.00 2575 2575 4.04
Kannauj(UP) 6.00 9.09 444.10 2500 2500 -5.66
Raibareilly(UP) 5.50 -26.67 1510.00 2460 2460 12.33
Kasganj(UP) 5.00 -16.67 454.50 2560 2540 0.39
Nadia(WB) 5.00 NC 251.00 3700 3700 NC
Jahangirabad(UP) 4.50 28.57 224.50 2640 2640 -1.31
Mahoba(UP) 4.40 -2.22 436.60 2420 2430 6.84
Naanpara(UP) 4.40 4.76 648.70 2440 2450 9.91
Chandoli(UP) 4.00 -20 73.20 2575 2580 10.52
Mirzapur(UP) 4.00 NC 274.00 2650 2630 9.73
Milak(UP) 4.00 11.11 148.00 2610 2600 -
Kalyani(WB) 4.00 -60 84.00 3450 3500 1.47
Lucknow(UP) 3.60 -10 4952.60 6700 6700 143.64
Chhibramau(Kannuj)(UP) 3.60 5.88 586.90 2500 2500 NC
Tundla(UP) 3.50 16.67 256.50 2570 2565 -0.39
Fatehpur Sikri(UP) 3.20 6.67 126.70 2555 2560 -0.58
Auraiya(UP) 3.00 -14.29 242.10 2530 2530 -0.78

Achalda(UP) 3.00 -25 327.90 2500 2520 13.12
Mugrabaadshahpur(UP) 3.00 50 61.10 2510 2510 12.05
Kosikalan(UP) 2.80 NC 229.10 2550 2545 -0.78
Uluberia(WB) 2.80 3.7 52.80 2700 2700 -6.90
Chitwadagaon(UP) 2.50 -37.5 457.60 2550 2560 21.43
Ranaghat(WB) 2.50 NC 68.90 4200 4200 20.00
Akbarpur(UP) 2.00 33.33 383.10 2440 2435 3.39
Safdarganj(UP) 2.00 NC 75.50 1630 2410 -
Jhansi(UP) 1.60 6.67 143.40 2480 2480 4.42
Melaghar(Tri) 1.50 NC 59.70 2800 2700 3.70
Panichowki(Kumarghat)(Tri) 1.50 15.38 48.20 2970 2900 -
Baberu(UP) 1.50 7.14 77.80 2420 2440 8.76
Sonamura(Tri) 1.40 -22.22 63.20 2800 2800 -
Bangarmau(UP) 1.40 75 208.20 2460 2485 6.96
Alibagh(Mah) 1.00 NC 87.00 4200 4200 90.91
Murud(Mah) 1.00 NC 86.00 4200 4200 90.91
Lalganj(UP) 1.00 -16.67 267.80 2350 2350 -

Anandnagar(UP) 0.90 -10 209.10 2535 2540 12.67
Gurusarai(UP) 0.90 50 21.00 2485 2485 7.58
Bharuasumerpur(UP) 0.80 -68 23.40 2500 2500 28.21
Achnera(UP) 0.70 -12.5 38.90 2560 2560 -1.92
Kasipur(WB) 0.60 -7.69 1.85 2570 2620 -3.38
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article32139465.ece
Auction date set for machinery to be purchased using
RCEF

imports.
is P132.51 million.
lots and with
billion.

needed.
Joel Dator said.
SHARE YOUR VOICE:

Legacy vs price: Rice exports from Vietnam and India vie for ASEAN trade
post-COVID-19
By Pearly Neo
20-Jul-2020 - Last updated on 20-Jul-2020 at 01:23 GMT
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Vietnam and India are competing for ASEAN rice trade post-COVID-19, with the former having gained
advantage due to support from traditional partner Philippines, and the latter having come out ahead with
Malaysia in terms of price. ©Getty Images
RELATED TAGS: Rice, Vietnam, India, Asean
Vietnam and India are competing for ASEAN rice trade post-COVID-19, with the former having
gained advantage due to support from traditional partner Philippines, and the latter having come
out ahead with Malaysia in terms of price.
The Philippines is the world‘s largest importer of rice (between 7% and 14% of its requirements)
and had initially announced a government-to-government (G2G) deal in May this year to buffer
national stockpiles, with Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar saying that

discussions were in progress with Asia‘s biggest rice producers Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand,
India and Cambodia.
Government agency Philippine International Trading Corp (PITC) issued a tender earlier this
month for white rice imports with bids from India, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar, and
Myanmar had been in the lead to supply some 75,000 tonnes to the Philippines based on its bids
whereas India and Thailand bids were rejected.
However, the Philippines later announced in a June 24 statement that these import plans would
be cancelled given Vietnam‘s resumption of rice exports in May.
“[The G2G deal is] no longer necessary under the current situation [as supply issues] has been
properly addressed with the lifting of the rice export ban by Vietnam and the rice import arrivals
of around 1.3 million metric tonnes as of the third week of June,” said Dar.
“[By] no longer proceeding with the planned imports, the government will be able to generate
PHP8.5bn (US$170.4m) savings, a sum which can be tapped to support productivity-enhancing
activities in agriculture that can assist in ensuring food security for the country.”
Vietnam made headlines in March this year when it announced a rice export ban in what many
deemed to be a ‗protectionist‘ move threatening the global supply chain. The ban was a
particularly hard blow for the Philippines for which Vietnamese rice traditionally makes up some
90% of imports.
Vietnam moved to allow 400,000 tons of rice exports in April, followed by a complete lifting of
the ban in May after widespread criticism and mounting reports of rice spoiling or going to waste
due to the ban.
That Vietnam has managed to secure Philippines‘ rice trade is unsurprising given the legacy
relationship between both countries, but at a price range of US$405 to US$450 per tonne as of
June 25, in terms of price it is higher than global top exporter India at prices of US$373 to
US$378 per tonne – which has led it to lose out on trade from some other ASEAN countries such
as Malaysia.
Malaysia signed an agreement with India earlier this year to import a record 100,000 tonnes of
rice, around double the average volumes imported from India over the last five years at about
53,000 tonnes.
“[The lower prices India is offering for its rice] is making buying lucrative from India,” said
Olam India Rice VP Nitin Gupta told Reuters.
That said, it is also likely that political forces have come into play here – Earlier this year, India
issued bans on Malaysian palm oil imports after then-Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr
Mahathir Mohamad criticised India‘s actions in Kashmir, badly affecting its exports as India was
one of Malaysia‘s largest palm oil buyers.

Mahathir was later ousted by his successor Muhyiddin Yassin, and since then both countries
have been in discussions on solutions to repair the soured ties, and this could be one of them.
What about other countries?
According to data from Statista, India is the largest global rice exporter at 9.79 million metric
tonnes, and Vietnam is the third-ranked at 6.58 million metric tonnes.
At second place is Thailand at 7.56 million metric tonnes – but Thailand has been laying
relatively low as compared to India and Vietnam due to its current struggles with weather,
economical and quality issues.
Droughts in the country have led to a low supply which has driven rice prices up to between
US$514 and US$520 per tonne as of June 26, but most reports describe demand to be subdued
despite an initial strong rise during COVID-19.
Thai Rice Exporters Association President Charoen Laothammathat told Nation Thailand that in
April Thailand has exported over 640,000 tonnes of rice which was a 32.7% increase from
March – but expected exports to drop after this due to prices and returning competitors.
“[The] price of Thai rice is higher than that of competitors due to limited supply and
strengthening of the baht, [whereas] Vietnam, India and Pakistan have returned to the market,”
he said.
On the other hand, rice is also a main staple in Indonesia but the country has largely remained
out of top import and export lists as it struggles to decide whether or not to relax import
regulations via its controversial omnibus law.
The Indonesian government also plans to strengthen self-sufficiency as well as potentially look
to exporting rice by planting this across 2.2 million acres of land in Borneo, in what is now
peatland – but the project has also come under fire by various parties.
“Peatlands in general contain few nutrients,‖ Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) Basuki
Sumawinata told Mongabay.
“So if they are to be managed for rice fields, it will need thorough and serious technology, with
costs that we might not be able to imagine.”
In 1995, a project deemed the Mega Rice Project (MRP) was launched and failed spectacularly
due to soil conditions, and was in essence similar to the upcoming new project announced by
Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
This has led experts such as Sumawinata to fear that the new project will become a repeat of past
mistakes – the abandoned project area purportedly burns on a yearly basis.

“In the past, we wanted to open up a rice estate in 1970 in South Sumatra. That ended up in
failure. [And] then we wanted to open 2.5 million acres in 1995. Of that, where has rice
cultivation has been sustained on peatlands?”
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https://vietnam.vnanet.vn/english/bac-lieu-expands-cultivation-of-worlds-best-rice-varieties/

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