22nd September, 2016 Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

September 22,2016
Vol 7 , Issue 9
Daily
Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter
Global, Regional & Local

Rice E-Newsletter
www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com
Contact Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

Today Rice News Headlines...
Kharif crops facing irrigation water shortfall

UC endowed chair to boost rice research
State urged to adopt single rice seedlings
What will rice industry look like in 2025?
Rice Prices
09/21/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report
Cal-Cam Rice Growers Celebrate National Rice Month
Bitter Harvest for Rice Farmers
Assistant Professor Ehsan Shakiba studies breeding, genetics in
Stuttgart
PPP will ban importation of rice - Nduom
Agriculture Minister Blames Businesspeople for Rice Crisis
Milling wont start if admn does not sort out pending issues: CPRMA
Nueva Ecija to be a top farm-tourism destination in the Philippines
News Detail...
Kharif crops facing irrigation water

shortfall
Editorial Board
Chief Editor
Managing Editor
The Indus River System Authority has forecasted two percent shortfall for
current Kharif crops including cotton, rice, sugarcane, vegetables, fodder for
live stock and orchards over the protected existing uses of canal water in
each province under the 1991 water accord among the provinces.Talking to
Business Recorder, Punjab Irrigation Canal Regulator Eng. Husnain said that
as WAPDA did not allow IRSA to fill the gigantic Tarbela dam over the
mighty Indus to its full capacity up to 1550 ft during the current Monsoon
season 2016 owing to on-going construction work of accident prone Tunnel
Four Tarbela hydel power project.
Abdul Sattar Shah

Rahmat Ullah
Rozeen Shaukat
English Editor
Maryam Editor
Legal Advisor
Advocate Zaheer Minhas
Editorial Associates
Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid

Javed Islam Agha
Ch.Hamid Malhi
Dr.Akhtar Hussain
Dr.Fayyaz Ahmad Siddiqui
Dr.Abdul Rasheed (UAF)
Islam Akhtar Khan
Editorial Advisory Board
Dr.Malik Mohammad Hashim
Assistant Professor, Gomal

University DIK
Wednesday, September-21-2016
Hamlik
Dr.Hasina Gul
Assistant Director, Agriculture KPK
Dr.Hidayat Ullah
Assistant Professor, University of
Swabi
Dr.Abdul Basir
Assistant Professor, University of
Swabi
Zahid Mehmood
PSO,NIFA Peshawar
Falak Naz Shah
Head Food Science & Technology

2
ART, Peshawar

Consequently the reservoir could only be filled up to 1544 ft level resulting in the current
shortfall of irrigation water for the strategic Kharif crops. Engineer Husnain further said besides
below normal rains in the catchments of the rivers in September, the water flows in the four live
rivers have marginally decreased. The strategic 20,000 cusecs capacity Marala-Ravi link canal
that supplements water in the river Ravi has almost been closed. The water flow in the ChashmaJhelum link canal has also been cut down from 20,000 cusecs to 2,000 cusecs.
According to 20th September river water report of WAPDA: river Indus at Tarbela: Inflows
75900 cusecs and Outflows 105000 cusecs, Kabul at Nowshera: Inflows 17900 cusecs and
Outflows 17900 cusecs, Jhelum at Mangla: Inflows 14100 cusecs and Outflows 55000 cusecs,
Chenab at Marala: Inflows 27900 cusecs and Outflows 8000 cusecs.
Meanwhile in view of depleting water resources of the country IRSA held a high level meeting
with a World Bank delegation on Tuesday to chalk out a plan for reducing the huge waterline
losses. Senior representatives of the provinces also attended the meeting. Veteran water expert
and consultant to the Punjab government Eng M.H. Siddiqi represented the Punjab irrigation
department.
http://pakissan.com/english/news/newsDetail.php?newsid=31490
Farmers denied expected prices for paddy produce
G. Ravikiran
Paddy harvesting nearing completion at Pottepalem in Penna delta.- PHOTO: K. RAVIKUMAR
Millers not cooperating with officials on minimum support price

Paddy farmers have faced an unforeseen problem in Nellore district this season as they are not
able to get remunerative prices for their produce with the rice millers not coming forward to offer
minimum support price at the paddy purchase centres.
3
Though there were a few problems in getting water supply initially, the farmers raised paddy in
over 1.76 lakh acres with most of it concentrated in the Penna delta areas like Kovur and Alluru.

Despite the average yields per acre of cultivation, the farmers hoped for better prices so that they
would not incur losses. Their expectations of good prices because of lower yields also went
wrong.
As the season was drawing to a close, the farmers turned panicky and started selling the produce
in the fields itself without waiting to take the produce to the purchase centres to claim MSP. This
had turned to the advantage of the dealers and the representatives of the millers, who were
offering low prices.
Alluru Kishore Reddy, a farmer from Pottepalem, said they had not anticipated the problem this
season as the officials said necessary arrangements had been made for better prices at the
purchase centres throughout the district.
But the problems have cropped up and there are no good prices for the farmers. Millers are not
cooperative because of which the dealers are buying our paddy at low prices. We have no option
but to settle for this and we cannot wait till we get Rs. 12,350 MSP per putti (850 kg), Mr.
Kishore told The Hindu .
He had cultivated paddy in over 20 acres at Pottepalem village near Nellore. The yield was 35
bags (each bag 40 kg) per acre due to lack of adequate water supply and unfavourable weather.
Mr. Kishore said this had become a recurring problem but this time the farmers had to sell the
produce in fields itself at far lower prices. He said they would have waited if there was any hope
of getting MSP in the near future.

For the farmers, lack of remunerative prices was indeed a major blow what with their financial
conditions already turning grim considering the high interest loans they had taken from private
persons.The cost of cultivation also rose to anywhere to Rs. 30,000 per acre.
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/agriculture-minister-blames-businesspeople-rice-crisis-118304/
UC endowed chair to boost rice research

Tim Hearden
Capital Press
Published on September 20, 2016 4:03PM

Tim Hearden/Capital Press Different types of rice grow at the industry-supported Rice
Experiment Station in Glenn County, which often collaborates with the University of California
on projects. The UC is setting up a $1 million endowed chair for rice research.
DAVIS, Calif. An industry group has joined the University of California in setting up a $1
million endowed chair to pay for research into improving rice production and quality.
The UC and the California Rice Research Board are splitting the cost of the endowed chair,
which will have five-year terms.
The earnings from the endowment which will average $40,000 to $50,000 a year will help
UC Cooperative Extension and UC-Davis rice researchers who focus on such issues as weed,
disease and pest management, nutrient management and water conservation, officials said.
Therell be a process where different academics can submit proposals on what they would
intend to utilize those resources over a period of five years, said Chris Greer, the UCs vice
provost for Cooperative Extension. In most cases, were going to expect some sort of
collaborative project.
My guess would be were going to have one person whos the chair-holder and the funds will
be utilized to support collaborative, multidisciplinary work on a specific issue, he said.
Endowed chairs are fixtures at Harvard University and other top institutions as a way to fund
specific types of research. UC President Janet Napolitano announced in 2014 that she would seek
endowment partners for all of the universitys campuses and for Cooperative Extension.
Last fall, the UC and the California Pistachio Research Board established two endowed chairs of
$1 million each to fund studies on tree nut genetics, soil science and plant-water relations.
Glenda Humiston, the UCs vice president for agriculture and natural resources, said at the time
she was having discussions with several other groups about establishing similar funding streams
for other areas of agriculture.
Getting the highest quality and yields and dealing efficiently with pests and disease could be
critical for a rice industry whose acreage has declined in recent years because of drought-related
water shortages.
Rice growers in California have long been committed to research, having established the Rice
Experiment Station in Biggs more than a century ago and investing more per unit on research
than other rice-producing states. The Rice Research Board is funded through a grower
assessment of 8 cents per 100 pounds of harvested rice.

Dana Dickey, the research boards manager, said he hopes the endowed chair will help the
industry respond to issues that arise.
Over the long term, this provides a constant source of research funds that we can use for things
that concern the industry, Dickey said. Weve specifically narrowed the field of people who
can apply to farm advisers and specialists who work on rice. Its a fairly small group of
people who we are already committed to funding. This is an additional funding source for them
http://www.capitalpress.com/Research/20160920/uc-endowed-chair-to-boost-rice-research
State urged to adopt single rice seedlings

File photo
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of
Worawora Rice Limited, Mr Yaw Adu Poku, has
underscored the need for the country to adopt a
single rice seedlings for local rice production in
the country.That, he said, would help increase
consumption and encourage farmers to cultivate
more to enable the country to become the hub of
rice production within the West African sub
region.Speaking to the Graphic Business on the
sidelines of a rice workshop, Mr Opoku said the
consumption of local rice every year was
increasing, hence the state must capitalise on it in order to reap the results.
It is crucial for the country to adopt a single rice seedlings for local rice production in order to
complement the increasing patronage due to the improving packaging, absence of stones and
chaff in the cultivation of varieties similar to the imported ones, he said.
Although rice has become stable in the Ghanaian economy with a per capita consumption of
about 58 kilogrammes per head, and demand for milled rice for consumption estimated at 1.6
million metric tonnes, only 46 per cent of this is locally produced.He urged the government not
to see rice as just food to enhance food security but recognise the contribution of the crop to the
national economy through foreign exchange.
Strategies to reduce import
7
For his part, Mr Joseph Nyame, a local rice farmer, called on the Ministry of Food and
Agriculture to develop a strategy to reduce the import of the cereal into the country.A boost in
production and improvement in the packaging of the local rice would encourage increase

domestic patronage, thereby reducing the importation of rice, he advised colleague farmers.He
also bemoaned missed opportunities in the rice sector due to inaccurate consumer perceptions
about local rice, and he added that farmers could do more to dismiss such thoughts from the
minds of consumers.
Rice imports
It is estimated that Ghana imports between US$200 and US$400 million rice annually.
The amount is said to be one of the major factors that swells the countrys import bill, while
putting pressure on the local cedi which is consistently losing value against the United States
dollar.Due to the high demand for the cereal, particularly the perfumed brand, many business
people have found rice imports a lucrative venture and are importing from all sources around the
world.
On the other hand, the government has also found it an easy source to make some revenue and
has since 2010, reintroduced taxes on the importation of rice. The move has not only made the
importation of rice and its sale to the people more expensive but has also created the platform for
people
to
smuggle
the
cereal
into
the
country.
According to Food Security Ghana, two of the major motivators for smuggling rice are the high
import tariffs and, more importantly, the high differences between neighbouring countries duties
and taxes.
In the rice sector, a gap of 24.5 per cent exists between import duties as compared to Ghanas 37
per cent and Ivory Coasts 12.5 per cent, leading to massive smuggling on Ghanas western
border.
Ban on rice import
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI) has lifted the ban placed on inland
importation of rice by the ministry and Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade and Tourism.
The ban, which has been in force for about three years, prevented the importation of rice into the
country through the Elubo, Sampa and Nkrankwanta borders.The move was to curb the
numerous unfair trade practices such as evasion of import duties and other taxes, under
invoicing, infringement of trademarks and smuggling.
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/State-urged-to-adopt-single-rice-seedlings-471305
8

What will rice industry look like in 2025?
Preliminary estimate: August rains cost Arkansas $40 million-plus
Sep 21, 2016 David Bennett | Delta Farm Press
Preliminary damage numbers for Arkansas flooding released.

How will long-term trade, population and wealth shifts affect U.S. rice?
August rains hit many northeast Arkansas crops hard. This field is just south of Cord on
Highway 37 and was photographed Aug. 31.
The economic health of the
Arkansas rice crop -- both
immediate and long-term -- was
recently addressed by Eric Wailes.
Following abundant August rains
that led to floods and subsequent
crop quality issues, the University
of Arkansas economist and
colleagues say the state faces
damages to all agriculture of $40
million to $50 million.On rice
specifically, the report says By the
time the rain hit, harvest in the
states 1.58 million rice acres had only reached 2 percent. Northeastern Arkansas saw the
heaviest rain, with totals up to 12 inches. (Arkansas Extension rice specialist Jarrod) Hardke
estimated 40,000 rice acres were hard-hit, with the largest amounts in Randolph 15,000 acres;
and Craighead counties at 10,000 acres. Total losses for rice were estimated at up to $18.6
million.
Prior to the rains, the distinguished professor and L.C. Carter chair in the agricultural economics
and agribusiness, spoke at the Arkansas Rice Expo about what the rice industry could look like
in 10 years.
In early September, Wailes spoke to Delta Farm Press. Among his comments:
On the $50 million damage estimate for Arkansas agriculture

The estimate may be a bit conservative. We may be a bit high on some commodities and low on
others. There remains a lot of the harvest to go. The rains were an unusual event and hit as many
crops were just this side of harvest.
Northeast Arkansas flooding in during both planting and harvest seasons is rare. Weve had
huge rains during the planting season and huge rains during the harvest season. But its awful
(for a second floods) to happen pre-harvest just when much of the crop has been made.
Some serious decisions will have to be made in the coming days by producers, crop insurance
adjusters and agents. Theyll have to come up with reasonable approaches to harvest.
On hidden damages and a trickle-down
We also have to keep an eye on hidden damages. We wont know about the true costs of
deteriorated quality for some fields until the crop reaches the elevators or mills. Theres more
uncertainty in trying to nail down the damages for this event than in previous events where there
was more precise data or numbers in terms of acres lost, harvest lost.
Its already a bad year for equipment dealers because of low crop prices. Going into this season
we had projections of a near-record rice harvest and rice prices were down. Corn prices, bean
prices, wheat prices have all been down.
The more important story is the whole commodity price complex is relatively depressed. Thats
led to the whole crop/farm economy losing strength and has implications for input dealers, farm
credit, all of the components that make the farm economy work.
On what rice producers can expect in 2025
Its a big enough challenge figuring out what would happen going into this harvest. Again, we
were expecting a huge rice crop. I know millers and the rice industry in general about finding a
market. Now, with the latest crop condition report, upwards of 25 percent of the Arkansas rice
crop is rated as poor or very poor.
I dont want to say thatll help with the situation. Its terrible for those farmers whove suffered
various problems with the flooding. On the other hand, it does ease a bit pf the pressure on
having to locate the markets.
Longer term, we need to look at the main drivers of rice in general. Rice is one of the more
policy-distorted crops traded in world markets. We face large amounts of protectionism. That
was made clear in last years U.S. International Trade Commission report on the prospects of
U.S. rice exports. They noted a number of countries that have significant import barriers that
affect the opportunities for Arkansas and U.S. exporters.
10

Another driver is economic growth in developing countries. If you look at that long-term
projections and Im primarily talking about Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa were
talking about 4 to 6 percent annual GDP growth. Thats a very positive thing.
"Looking at the African markets, you have high population growth, high income growth and rice
is an ascendant food in many countries. Its a new, novel food that was once thought of as a
luxury good. But now its becoming affordable, certainly at the prices were currently facing.
ITS FREE! Stay informed on whats happening in Mid-South agriculture: Subscribe to Delta
Farm Press Daily.
More on global trade, and trade pacts, in the future
I think the total global trade market will increase by another 25 percent over the next 10 years.
What role the United States can play in that will be a function of how competitive we can be
with a number of countries and what happens in regard to trade policies.
There have been a lot of discussions about the TPP and whether its in the interest of the U.S.
rice industry. I believe the USDA and USTR have made fairly strong arguments for the TPP
looking at agriculture as a whole.
For U.S. rice, though, there is concern it would open up direct competition with Vietnam for the
Mexican market. That presents a challenge. Frankly, we should be able to maintain the Mexican
market against the Vietnamese, who have a clear disadvantage logistically in getting rice there.
Thats a paddy market and Vietnam typically doesnt export paddy and the United States does.
So, I dont know how strong a challenge that really is, although it certainly is there. If we
maintain the Mexican market, in 10 years it may be a 900,000 ton metric ton market.
Latin America may be another 900,000 ton metric market. We have a trade agreement with
Peru weve had a TRQ with them. Weve been successful meeting the TRQ, even going above
it last year, with Colombia.
Of course, were facing some direct competition out of Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil. The
United States will have to focus on developing and producing a competitive, high-quality rice
crop.
On exports to Cuba and China
If the Cuban market opens up it could be a 300,000 to 500,000 metric ton market. Thats a huge
opportunity. Id like to think in 10 years wed at least provide 300,000 metric tons to the Cuban
market. Its a country that will be looking for high-quality rice to feed the locals and the tourist
11

industry thats sure to thrive. Prospects are good but we need Congress to move on ending the
embargo and figuring out the financing of U.S. ag exports in Cuba.
Another market that will require strong, competitive pricing is China. There are some upscale
aspects -- we could provide rice for the middle- and upper-class grocery stores. That could be
200,000 metric tons.
The China market (wants) half medium-grain, half long-grain. We need to get a piece of that
action. The stumbling block is getting a phytosanitary agreement in place.
On rice and climate change
There are number of major importing countries Bangladesh among them that are vulnerable
in terms of their rice production, which is in lowland areas, coastal areas. The impact of climate
change that I see is it may expand imports into those countries and take some of the exportable
surplus from some of the traditional southeast Asian exporters like Vietnam, Thailand,
Myanmar, Cambodia, even India and Pakistan.
That would mean a potential vacuum, a potential opportunity, in the Middle East and subSaharan Africa.
Climate change will affect rice production in a number of countries. To the extent it doesnt
have a negative effect here in the United States we should be able to capitalize.
The Arkansas congressional delegation is doing its best to open the Cuban market. Rep. (Rick)
Crawford is leading that charge and I believe thats where Arkansas is aiming to really do
business.
To ensure we can do that, we must continue to invest in research and Extension activities. That
will really help make the Arkansas rice farmer productive and efficient and can making a living
through both the domestic and export markets.
http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/what-will-rice-industry-look-2025
Rice Prices
as on : 22-09-2016 12:25:14 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
12

Arrivals
Current
Price
%
Season
Prev. Prev.Yr
Modal
change cumulative
Modal %change
Rice
Gorakhpur(UP)
200.00 -17.01
7499.00
2150
2220
4.37
Mathabhanga(WB)
110.00
10
6710.00
2450
2450
25.64
Beldanga(WB)
50.00
NC
3088.00
2450
2450
5.38
Coochbehar(WB)
45.00
2.27
2103.50
2400
2400
15.94
Gazipur(UP)
26.00 -13.33
3184.50
2100
2060
3.96
Purulia(WB)
24.00
NC
2580.00
2420
2400
17.48
Cachar(ASM)
20.00
-50
3140.00
2200
2200
-18.52
Kolaghat(WB)
20.00
5.26
1249.00
2500
2500
4.17
Tamluk (Medinipur E)(WB)
16.00
-5.88
1202.00
2500
2500
4.17
Aroor(Ker)
10.00
400
244.70
7100
7500
-14.46
Dibrugarh(ASM)
8.60
13.16
1605.50
2450
2450
Robertsganj(UP)
8.00
23.08
820.00
2050
1985
10.22
Raiganj(WB)
7.50
7.14
1124.00
2750
2750
-5.17
North Lakhimpur(ASM)
6.80 -63.04
2071.00
1900
1900
NC
Chengannur(Ker)
6.50
-7.14
724.00
2400
2400
-4.00
Mirzapur(UP)
6.00
-25
1713.60
2095
1990
5.81
Darjeeling(WB)
3.50
9.38
125.00
2900
2900
7.41
13

Bonai(Bonai)(Ori)
0.60
NC
96.90
2500
2500
13.64
Ernakulam(Ker)
0.56
NC
14.94
3500
3500
7.69
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article9135600.ece
09/21/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report

Rice
High Low
Long Grain Cash Bids - - - - - Long Grain New Crop - - - - - -
Futures:
ROUGH RICE
High Low
Last Change
Nov '16 983.0 962.5 967.5 -22.0

Jan '17 1004.5 989.5 992.0 -21.5
Mar '17
1017.0 -21.0
May '17 1050.5 1050.5 1037.0 -21.5

Jul '17
1057.0 -21.5
Sep '17
1057.0 -21.5
Nov '17
1057.0 -21.5
14

Rice Comment
Rice prices continue to face difficulty maintaining gains. Prices moved lower today as the market
gave back all of yesterday's gains as prices are again testing support at recent lows. Rice needs
some positive demand new to help,the oversold market rebound as large supplies continue to
drag prices lower.
Retail Dietitians Encourage Shoppers to Think Rice for

NRM
By Deborah Willenborg
ARLINGTON, VA -- As more shoppers are seeking healthier lifestyles, grocery stores are responding
with health and wellness programs to meet their needs. In fact, ninety-five percent of stores employ
dietitians at the corporate, regional, and store levels, and these dietitians are developing nutrition
programs to help shoppers make healthy food choices, while at the same time supporting retail grocery
sales.
That's why this September, in support of National Rice Month (NRM), USA Rice is working with retail
dietitians to remind shoppers to Think Rice before, during, and after their shopping experience.
"USA Rice has created partnerships with retail dietitians providing them with quality content that makes
it easy to include U.S. rice in activities and supermarket communication channels," said Katie Maher,
15

USA Rice director of domestic promotion. "And USA Rice is already seeing results from this month's
efforts, with retail dietitian promotions logging more than 10 million consumer impressions to date.
Other efforts include in-store recipe samplings at ShopRite and United Supermarkets, and a broadcasted
recipe demonstration with Rouse's Chef Nino on Good Morning New Orleans local TV segment."
Dietitians also are encouraging shoppers to Think Rice when thinking healthy family meals. According
to Maher, "A particularly unique activity this month is USA Rice's participation in Kroger and The Little
Clinic's Wellness Festivals. Earlier this month, in Nashville and Columbus, hundreds of attendees visited
USA Rice's tasting and learning station staffed by one of The Little Clinic's registered dietitians, where
USA Rice's Brown Rice with Sizzling Chicken and Vegetables recipe was demoed, and recipe cards and
information distributed."
Maher added, "In addition to our planned partner promotions, dietitians at four other grocery stores - Big
Y, Country Market, Giant Eagle, and Martin's Supermarkets - have promoted NRM at no additional cost
to USA Rice. The bonus placements from those dietitians demonstrate the quality of USA Rice's
resources and also the benefit of working with this dietitian network to stretch our promotion dollars. All
told, this year's NRM retail dietitian program is shaping up to be another success!"
Cal-Cam Rice Growers Celebrate National Rice Month

By Randy Jemison
LAKE CHARLES, LA -Yesterday, the CalcasieuCameron
Rice
Growers
Association sponsored its 19th
annual National Rice Month
Cook-Off followed by a
luncheon hosted by the Port of
Lake Charles. Sixteen Family
and
Consumer
Science
students from area middle and
high schools competed in the
cook-off.
Each participant
received an electric rice
cooker from Farmers Rice
Mill here, and the Louisiana Rice Growers Association provided the contestants with a one-pound bag of
Louisiana-grown Jasmine rice.
"Although our growers are just coming off one of the most challenging harvests in memory because of
the floods and rain, we are always excited to see young folks interested in rice and it's place on the menu,"
said Adam Habetz, president of the Cal-Cam RGA.
16

Kiera Welker of S.J. Welsh Middle School took first place with her Shrimp Rice Patties with Gravy.
Second place went to Rachael McVey of Iowa High School for Crawfish Dressing, and third place to
Makayla Hodge of South Beauregard High School for Seafood Casserole. Evie Talbert Moss of Bluff
Middle School won "Heart Healthy" recognition for her Black-Eyed Pea Jambalaya.
USA Rice Daily, Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Bitter Harvest for Rice Farmers

Its almost 10 in the morning in Battambang provinces Bavel district and the blazing sun would
deter anyone from venturing too far from the cool comfort of their thatched huts in this ricegrowing area.But for many families whose livelihoods depend on rice farming, braving the
almost unbearable heat is a must if they want to make ends meet in one of the worst rice
seasons the country has seen. Farmers in Bavel district one of the biggest rice-growing areas in
Battambang province are reeling from the aftereffects of a prolonged drought that has resulted
in falling paddy rice harvests. They are also grappling with sharply plunging rice prices and, at
the same time, struggling to pay back loans taken out from banks and microfinance institutions.
The outlook is bleak.Soun Sarith, a 55-year-old farmer with four children, is spreading out his
just- harvested paddy rice on a large tarpaulin at the side of the road. The heat radiating from the
tarmac on the road will help dry his rice quickly.
A broker from the rice millers refused to buy my harvested rice because he said my price was
too high. Im waiting for other brokers to give me a better price. The prices offered are too low
and I have to feed my family, Mr. Sarith told Khmer Times.I heard the government has
promised to keep the price of paddy rice at 840 riel ($0.21) a kilogram. In reality, however, the
brokers for rice millers are offering us much lower than that, he added.Mr. Sarith said he was
disappointed with rice prices this year, but he did not have much of a choice.
With such low prices, I could leave my rice fields uncultivated and wait for prices to climb
before planting again.But if I do that, what will my family survive on? he asked.I could dry
and store my paddy rice and wait for the highest bidder to buy my harvest. But we dont have
proper warehouses and the rain will spoil my stored rice.He said it was only a matter of time
until he sold off his current rice stock.I cannot afford to wait any longer.On Monday, the Rural
Development Bank (RDB) announced that rice millers in the country will now be able to access
the governments promised emergency loan of $20 million to purchase rice from farmers in a bid
to prevent prices falling further.
17
RDB CEO Kao Thach said the governments $20 million emergency loan had been transferred
to the RDB yesterday after Prime Minister Hun Sen approved it on Friday.All rice millers in the
country who have their own warehouses and silos to store rice can now apply for the emergency

loan from the RDB, Mr. Thach told reporters at a press conference.Rice millers who do not
have warehouses or silos, the RDB CEO said, will still be eligible for the loan from the bank
provided they deposit their paddy rice to be milled at government warehouses, which in turn will
be used as a collateral for the loan.The government, Mr. Thach said, will provide loans to rice
millers of up to 70 percent of the total amount required to buy paddy rice from farmers and
would charge them an interest rate of eight percent a year.
Mr. Hun Sen yesterday called on all civil servants and private companies to help purchase rice
from farmers across the country.After the RDB announcement, I observed that there were many
government officials and traders and some companies purchasing rice from farmers. This
contribution is important to help farmers, said Mr. Hun Sen.Mr. Thach told Khmer Times that
so far that so far, after the RDBs announcement, companies and government officials purchased
between 300 and 400 tons of rice from government-run warehouses.But Sim Chhoun, chief of
the remote Svay Chhrom village in Bavel district, was less than optimistic with the RDBs
announcement.
My village is really far and we have to see rice millers or their brokers offering the government
price of 840 riel per kilo for our harvested paddy rice, he told Khmer Times.These millers
often go to other communes, bypassing us. After they have gone away, the rice traders will move
in, offering us a price of about 720 riel ($0.18s) a kilo.Often we have no choice but to sell at
this price.Horm Hy, a rice farmer in Bavel districts Kbal Spean village, was facing a similar
conundrum.I have loaded my harvested paddy rice in a motorized three-wheel cart and I am
driving it from one commune to another looking for rice millers offering 840 riel per kilogram. I
18

have not had any luck and the best I have been offered is 720 riel a kilogram. My family has to
eat and I have no choice, he said.I cannot store the rice because I dont have a proper
warehouse and the longer I keep it the quality will drop further. The worst case will be if no rice
miller wants to buy my harvest. Then Ill be in big trouble, added Mr. Hy.
A rice trader calling himself Tes Ra, however, had a different perspective of the current
predicament faced by rice farmers.Standing near a big truck where workers were loading paddy
rice from motorized three-wheel carts, he told Khmer Times that he bought rice from farmers at
a price that he could sell to the millers.If we buy at a high price, we are not sure if we can sell it
to the millers. It depends on the market price, which we have to follow, said Mr. Ra.Mr. Ra
blamed farmers for not adhering to industry standards and trying to sell broken paddy rice to
millers. He said this made it difficult for rice millers to offer higher prices to farmers.
Thov Vuthy, the managing director of Phov Thov Rice Miller in Bavel districts Bovil II village,
said his mill had a limited capacity and he could not purchase large quantities of paddy rice from
farmers.Dont get me wrong. We want to help out the farmers but we have limited capacity.
There is only so much paddy rice we can buy with our limited funds, he explained.In a recent
report, the World Banks International Finance Corporation (IFC) said rice mills in the country
should have farmers under contract to provide consistent rice quality and aim for near 100
percent capacity utilization at the mill.It is clear that ensuring high quality and reliable supply
form the basis for increased trade, said the IFC report.
Farmers in Battambang province's Bavel district spread out their freshly harvested paddy rice
on a large tarpaulin at the side of the road. The heat radiating from the tarmac will help to
quickly dry their paddy rice. KT/Mai Vireak
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/29992/bitter-harvest-for-rice-farmers/
Assistant Professor Ehsan Shakiba studies breeding, genetics

in Stuttgart
Wednesday
Posted Sep 21, 2016 at 1:41 PM
Editor's Note: This is the start of a series of question and answer articles highlighting local
scientists at Stuttgart's Dale Bumper's National Rice Research Center.
Name: Ehsan Shakiba
19

Education:
I received a bachelor of science degree in plant breeding and agronomy and master of science in
plant physiology at a university in Iran. After coming to the United States I got another master of
science degree and a Ph.D. in plant breeding and genetics at the University of Arkansas in
Fayetteville.
Field of study or expertise:
I am a plant breeder and geneticist currently working as an assistant professor in rice breeding
and genetics at the University of Arkansas. My field of interest is hybrid rice breeding.
Hometown:
I am originally from Isfahan, a historic and beautiful city in central Iran. I came to the U.S. about
15 years ago and became a U.S. citizen.
Family:
My wife, Cassia Oliveira, is from Brazil, and she is an assistant professor at Lyon College
located in Batesville. We have a 1-year-old son, Darius.
When did you become interested in rice research?
Prior to working on rice, I worked on soybean breeding for more than six years. I worked as a
postdoctoral associate at Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center focusing on identification
of agronomically valuable genes in wild rice genome that can be integrated into the Arkansas
elite cultivars. There are two equally important challenges facing a rice plant breeder: One to
increase seed yield that is important for rice producers, and two is to improve cooking quality,
which is important for consumers. Like many Asian countries, rice is an important dish in
Persian cuisine; therefore, we appreciate rice with good eating quality.
What courses did you take that steered you into the field that became your career?
A plant breeder needs to know some general knowledge about different agricultural subjects
such as physiology, weed science, agronomy, pathology etc. However the important courses
required for this field include genetics, molecular biology, plant breeding and statistics,
What do you do at UARREC?
I am a rice breeder and my area of interest is hybrid rice.
20

What are you currently working on or developing? And why?
Hybrid rice is commercially grown seeds resulting from a cross between two genetically distinct
parents. Rice is a self-pollinated plant and each flower contains both male and female organs. In
hybrid rice production one parent must be male, or sterile, and serve as a female parent.
Currently I am developing several male sterile lines female parent and testing them for
their level of sterility, cooking quality and combination ability with other cultivars that serve as a
male parent.
What are some of the collaborations with DBNRRC?
I know scientists at DBNRRC since I worked there for several years. I am collaborating with
some of them in several projects.
Do you have a support staff that assists you in your research? Who are they and what do
they do?
I am grateful working with intelligent and professional people. Dustin North who is a program
technician. He is also a graduate student in my program. Daniel Wood is our research agro
technician.
George Dunklin speaks to WERA group
PPP will ban importation of rice - Nduom

Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom
A future Progressive Peoples Party (PPP)
government will ban the importation of rice, the
2016 presidential candidate of the party, Dr Papa
Kwesi Nduom, has disclosed.According to him,
Ghana has more tracts of arable land suitable for
rice cultivation than the various countries from
where Ghana imports rice.Dr Nduom disclosed
this when he began a four-day tour of Accra
yesterday. The tour of the metropolis took the
PPP campaign team to the Madina Market, Weija, Gbawe, Trobu, as well as Ayawaso.
21
Hundreds defy rain

Hundreds of PPP supporters had, earlier in the day, defied a downpour to meet and interact with

the flag bearer of the PPP, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, at the Madina Market.The supporters who
included taxi drivers, market women, traders and some people who had just come to the market
to shop, abandoned their core mission and caused severe human traffic as they all gathered to
have a personal interaction with the PPP flag bearer.
Not even the heavy rain could deter them.
Dr Nduom was in the company of his running mate, Ms Brigitte Dzogbenuku, and other
executive members of the party, including the 2nd Vice-Chairperson, Berlinda Bulley, the
Executive Director, Richard Nii Armah, and the Policy Advisor, Kofi Asamoah Siaw.
Nduom to ban importation of rice
Addressing the people, Dr Nduom emphasised that a PPP-led administration would ensure that
the countrys local farmers were empowered to increase their yields through mechanisation and
financial support."The PPP is here to ask for your vote to ensure that our farmers, businessmen
and women get state support to expand their business and farms to create jobs for our teaming
unemployed youth, he stated.
To buttress his point, Dr Nduom indicated that all his hotels the Coconut Groove Hotels in
Accra, Elmina and Obuasi serve local rice.
"I have travelled extensively across the length and breadth of the country and I know what our
farmers, especially rice growers, go through just to get their produce milled," he lamented.
Why in politics
Dr Nduom indicated that he was not in politics to enrich himself but he was offering himself to
halt the dwindling fortunes of Ghana.Dr Nduom then used the opportunity to introduce the PPP
parliamentary candidate for the Madina Constituency, Rev. James Reynolds Boadi Baafi, to the
constituent
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/PPP-will-ban-importation-of-riceNduom-471262
Agriculture Minister Blames Businesspeople for Rice Crisis

by Kang Sothear | September 22, 2016 |
With the government scrambling to protect farmers from rapidly falling rice prices, Agriculture
Minister Veng Sakhon on Wednesday poured blame on the private sector for boosting competing
countries at the expense of Cambodia by importing products that could be sourced locally.
22

As rice farmers across the country have seen drastic dips in the value of their paddyfrom about
$250 per ton in mid-August to $193 last weekthe government stepped in with $27 million in
grants for rice millers in order to temporarily stabilize the market.
Agriculture Minister Veng Sakhon points to statistics on rice during a news conference in Phnom
Penh on Wednesday. (Siv Channa/The Cambodia Daily)
During a news conference at the Agriculture

Ministrys headquarters in Phnom Penh on
Wednesday, Mr. Sakhon said Cambodias
general failure to compete with its neighbors
in rice sales was due to a lack of innovation
and research by local businesspeople.
Regarding the private sector, they are
careless and not smart about competing in
business, he said. They are not smart
enough to compete regionally.Both Vietnam
and Thailand have gradually lowered the price
of their exported rice since 2012 in order to compete internationally, Mr. Sakhon said.
23

Cambodian businesspeople should study the market prices and what our friends around us are
doingwhat they are able to do and what we are not able to do. Because it is very unfortunate
that although we have customers, we make a loss, he said.
In Cambodia, there are factories established that produce food for fishes and food for other
animals, which require rice grains for production, he added. But businesses overlook the
possibility of using domestic riceor corn, or branto create these foods, and millers do not
advertise them properly. Businesses in Vietnam, on the other hand, take advantage of local
production, eliminating the cost of importing materials and keeping costs competitive on the
international market, Mr. Sakhon said. The agriculture minister said the private sector should
also step in to help farmers be more business savvy, boosting everyones profits.
Prime Minister Hun Sen, flanked by ministers, bodyguards and government officials, steers a
motorized plow in a rice paddy in Kandal province in 2013. (Sok Chamroeun)
If we keep allowing farmers to select seeds without technical knowledge and then we buy their
products, I think our businesses will lose, he said, adding that better use of fertilizers and
pesticides could also propel their yields. If we dont have clear measures like that, we could lose
customers, he said. The Royal Government needs to sit and think about the loopholes that we
can help Cambodias private sector resolve.
Lay Chhun Hour, CEO of City Rice Mill in Battambang province, said basic utility costs were
already stretching the private sector, and that the government needed to come up with a plan to
support long-term efforts to strengthen the countrys rice sector.
How can we be smart if the cost of electricityan important factor of productionis high? he
asked, citing significantly lower costs in neighboring countries. The government should also
provide high-yield paddy seeds, improve irrigation systems across the country to allow for
multiple harvests each year and raise taxes on rice imports, Mr. Chhun Hour said. All of these
measures would help us increase the competitiveness of the Cambodian rice sector.
sothear@cambodiadaily.com
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/agriculture-minister-blames-businesspeople-rice-crisis118304/
Milling wont start if admn does not sort out pending issues:
CPRMA
Source: The Hitavada
Date: 21 Sep 2016 11:47:24
Business Reporter,
DESPITE being the lifeline of milling activities across the State, Chhattisgarh Pradesh Rice
Millers Association (CPRMA) has shown its inability in milling untill an amicable solution is
24

reached on problems related to custom milling. After elaborate deliberations on major antimilling issues like percentage of out term ratio of yield, transportation rates and rates of sacks
during the general meeting here on Tuesday, the millers have unanimously decided that it is
impossible to commence milling till solution to the problems and policies of the government
related to milling for FY 2016-17 are resolved.
According to the President of CPRMA Yogesh Agrawal, the Union Governments directive on
67 per cent against the average out term ratio of yield of 55 per cent in the state has created
problem for the local millers. As such, the association has demanded for fixing out term ratio of
yield of each state based on the local conditions from the state as well as central government.
Agrawal further said that transportation issue has not been resolved till date. During the last
milling season same issue was raised with the state administration. But after an assurance of
resolving the transportation issue in the near future, the problem still persists and would be
against the interest of the millers in the coming milling season.
Similarly, the rate of sack has also been an important issue that needs immediate attention. Under
the existing policy, both millers and administration are at loss. As such the association has
suggested that based on the policy of the Central Government, a policy on full saved sack should
be framed which will benefit both millers and the administration, Agrawal added. part from
Yogesh Agrawal, Devraj Sankhla, Pramod Jain, mahavir Agrawal, Paras Chopda, Vijay Tayal,
Roshan Chandrakar, Mohan Agrawal, Naresh Somani, Kailash Agrawal, Suresh Kedia,
Bholaram Mittal, Manish Kedia, Vijay Kedia, Kamal Agrawal, K C Goel, Manoj Paliwal, Gopal
Modi, Ashwini Chandrakar, Ishwar Bhai along with aover 1000 mill owners were present on the
occasion
http://thehitavada.com/Encyc/2016/9/21/Milling-won-t-start-if-admn-does-not-sort-out-pending-issues-CPRMA.aspx
Nueva Ecija to be a top farm-tourism destination in the

Philippines
by Sheen Crisologo
September 22, 2016
Share4 Tweet0 Share1 Email0 Share75
Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija Farm tourism in the Philippines is being developed as a
relatively new way to attract tourists the same way to help farmers supplement their agricultural
25

income is soon to be a big-break to come in this province known by many as the Rice Granary
of the Philippines and the Food Bowl of Central Luzon.
PRODUCTS
OF
NORTHERN
AND
CENTRAL LUZON Native garlic, onions
and various other vegetables and spice crops
were showcased in the recent Hybrid Rice
Congress at the Philippine Rice Research
Institute (PhilRice) in Nueva Ecija. The exhibit
served as a reminder to rice farmers to consider
growing cash crops at the same time that they
are also growing rice. Cash crops provide the
farmers a diversified source of income from
farming.Recently, the first-ever tourism caravan
held at SM City Cabanatuan wherein Senator
Cynthia Villar made an announcement that Nueva Ecija will become one of the top Farm Tourism
Destination in the country is supported by the new law R.A. No. 10816, also known as the Farm
Tourism Development Act of 2016.
Farm tourism, as defined by the law, is the practice of attracting visitors and tourists to farm
areas for production, educational, and recreational purposes in which this province has existing
facilities and more to develop. said Villar in her message.
Farm Tourism Spots
Nueva Ecija as major contributor of rice in the country is continuously emerging through
research and development institution led by Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) located
at Science City of Munoz.
PhilRice visitors can walk-through the experimental fields, which highlight new technologies
and varieties, and long-term researches. They also appreciate art and culture at the Rice Science
Museum and gain better understanding on rice science at the gene bank; plant breeding
laboratory and screen houses; and engineering, mechanization, and post-harvest facilities
http://www.mb.com.ph/nueva-ecija-to-be-a-top-farm-tourism-destination-in-thephilippines/#4Y10TTjrJAKKoYst.99
26

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September 22,2016

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Global, Regional & Local

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Kharif crops facing irrigation water shortfall

Kharif crops facing irrigation water

Abdul Sattar Shah

Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid

Editorial Advisory Board

Dr.Malik Mohammad Hashim

Assistant Professor, Gomal

Assistant Director, Agriculture KPK

Falak Naz Shah

Head Food Science & Technology

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Farmers denied expected prices for paddy produce

Paddy harvesting nearing completion at Pottepalem in Penna delta.- PHOTO: K. RAVIKUMAR

Millers not cooperating with officials on minimum support price

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

UC endowed chair to boost rice research

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

State urged to adopt single rice seedlings

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Preliminary damage numbers for Arkansas flooding released.

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Tamluk (Medinipur E)(WB)

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

09/21/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report

Nov '16 983.0 962.5 967.5 -22.0

May '17 1050.5 1050.5 1037.0 -21.5

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Retail Dietitians Encourage Shoppers to Think Rice for

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Cal-Cam Rice Growers Celebrate National Rice Month

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

USA Rice Daily, Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Bitter Harvest for Rice Farmers

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Assistant Professor Ehsan Shakiba studies breeding, genetics

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

PPP will ban importation of rice - Nduom

Hundreds defy rain

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Agriculture Minister Blames Businesspeople for Rice Crisis

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

During a news conference at the Agriculture

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Date: 21 Sep 2016 11:47:24

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Nueva Ecija to be a top farm-tourism destination in the

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

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