All About Rice News

Daily Global Rice E-Newletter

1

For Blog & News Letter Advertisment contact to write : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com

www.ricepluss.com & www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com

Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter

Aug ,2015

Vol 5,Issue XIII

August 11 ,2015

Vol 5,Issue XIII

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter

All About Rice News

Daily Global Rice E-Newletter

2

State rice deal with China set for September 11 Aug 2015

NEWSPAPER SECTION: BUSINESS | WRITER: PHUSADEE ARUNMAS

A worker drives a forklift to load bags of rice at a processing plant in Ayutthaya province. The

government plans to sign deals to sell another 2 million tonnes of rice to China. WALAILAK

KEERATIPIPATPONG - +

Thailand is set to sign a government-to-government deal with China next month to sell 1 million

tonnes of rice, with delivery starting in December.Commerce Minister Chatchai Sarikulya said

after his return from China last week that the deal would be signed on Sept 13 or 14.The grains,

which are mainly new 5% white rice and Hom Mali fragrant rice, are part of 2 million tonnes of

rice for which Thailand and China signed a memorandum of understanding last December.The

contract will be made through the China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation,

the giant state enterprise that oversees rice imports, as a way of ensuring transparency.Gen

Chatchai said Thai authorities would discuss further with Chinese counterparts about the proper

period for the deal for the remaining 1 million tonnes to be signed.The transaction with China is

unrelated to an earlier deal for 1 million tonnes struck by the Yingluck Shinawatra government.

Thailand has already delivered 600,000 tonnes as part of that deal.

All About Rice News

Daily Global Rice E-Newletter

3

The present government has vowed to dispose of 17 million tonnes of rice in state stockpiles

accumulated from the previous government within two years, with 10 million tonnes to be sold

this year.

Since Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha took office, the Commerce Ministry has held eight bids

to speed up disposal of 18 million tonnes of state stocks. It has sold 3.88 million tonnes for 40.9

billion baht.The government now controls 14.3 million tonnes of rice, with 4.6 million

categorised as low-quality grains, 1.29 million as rotten and about 8 million dubbed as Grade P,

meaning its quality passes Commerce Ministry certification and it is a mix of Grades A and B.

In the first half of this year, Thailand shipped 4.457 million tonnes of rice, down by 4.7% to a

value of US$2.21 billion.

Nigeria was the largest importer of Thai rice at 475,362 tonnes, up by 105% year-on-year,

followed by the Philippines at 422,110 tonnes (up 255%), China at 361,106 tonnes (up 9%),

South Africa at 270,291 tonnes (up 17%) and the US at 226,497 tonnes (down 1.8%).

Govt to ship 10,000 tonne of rice bran after eased restrictions on

its bulk sale KI ANALYSIS

Aug 11, 2015

Following to the eased restrictions on rice bran oil bulk sale, Government is expecting to ship 10,000

tonne of rice bran oil this financial year which will be a boost to small rice millers.SEA Executive

Director B V Mehta stated: ―Lifting of the government restriction is a great boost to the industry and

will help small rice millers across the country. We expect to export 10,000 tonne rice bran oil during

All About Rice News

Daily Global Rice E-Newletter

4

this financial year‖.Mehta said SEA is now looking at new export destination for shipping of rice

bran oil, which fetches a premium over other edible oils.Also rice bran oil is considered healthier and

meets the recommendation of a well blended combination of SFA, MUFA and PUFA.

―There has been very good demand from countries like Japan and Thailand. We will also start

exploring new destinations like Australia, New Zealand, the US for exports of rice bran oil,‖ he

added.India was the highest producer of rice bran oil with an output of 9.5 lakh tonne in 2014-15,

followed by China with 2 lakh tonne and Japan 80,000 tonne.

http://www.khabarindia.in/govt-to-ship-10000-tonne-of-rice-bran-after-eased-restrictions-on-its-

bulk-sale/

Chef Chele Gonzalez Takes Back and Elevates the Humble Paella BY CAI SUBIJANO

AUGUST 11, 2015

All About Rice News

Daily Global Rice E-Newletter

5

The way people talk about carbs is kind of a bummer. And in a carbs-obsessed country like the

Philippines, it‘s difficult to adjust to the concepts of gluten-free, wheat-free, and protein-rich. And

while we do celebrate every new restaurant that champions a healthy lifestyle, we can‘t help but

embrace the ones that willfully don‘t.ArroZeria‘s new menu definitely features more than its fair

share of carbs. According to Chef Chele Gonzalez, he wanted to put the focus on their paella, while

introducing some new dishes, like the Fideua Callos, a paella cooked with thin noodles, garbanzo

beans, pork, and tripe; Arroz Gratinado Longaniza, house-made longganisa, broccoli, and garlic-rich

aioli in a rice dish that is run under a broiler; a refreshing and tender Salpicon de Pulpo (octopus)

bathed in capsicum and onion vinaigrette; Pimiento Rellenos, piquillo peppers stuffed with braised

oxtail; a classic Chorizo y Gambas; and Lengua Frita, deep-fried Angus beef tongue coated in

béchamel sauce and breadcrumbs.

ArroZeria opened its doors in Century City Mall earlier this year, backed by the same team

behind Vask and Gallery Vask: Chefs Chele, Ivan Saiz, and Keith Fresnido.At the launch of the new

menu, Chef Chele explained the vast difference between the way Filipinos enjoy the traditional rice

dish in comparison to Spaniards. As he puts it, we like it ―soft and wet,‖ and chunky with meats and

vegetables, while the Spanish manner is to enjoy it ―al dente and thin,‖ with more rice than meat. Of

course he says, ArroZeria will serve their paella both ways, according to how their customer likes it.

The Lengua Frita is deep fried angus ox tongue coated in béchamel and tartar sauce.

While we snacked

on tapas like the

Diabilito (spicy chorizo

in corn bread), the

Lengua Frita, Croquetas,

and Costillas Glaseadas

(glazed pork ribs on

mashed potato), the real

attraction were the large

pans of paella that

eventually made their

way into the main dining

area.In their quest to

make paella ―as close as

you can get to eating

paella in Spain,‖ the

All About Rice News

Daily Global Rice E-Newletter

6

team behind ArroZeria partnered with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños.

They brought samples of arroz bomba, the Spanish variety of rice typically used in paella and other

rice dishes, for the scientists to study. They determined that the Ifugao heirloom rice

variety tinawon had all the characteristics of bomba. (If you‘re a regular diner at Vask, you‘ll notice

that the Ifugao tinawon is the same variety that Chef Chele uses for his buro.)

The result is paella that tastes as authentic as if you were in the seaside city of Valencia. As each

separate grain of rice glistens, a thin layer crusts around the bottom and edges of the paellera. There

is a bite to the rice, al dente, each spoonful so flavorful that meat or seafood are superfluous.

Arrozeria. 4/F, Century City Mall, Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City. For reservations and inquiries,

call (0920) 974-4742 or e-mail info@arrozeriamanila.com.

http://preen.inquirer.net/11970/chef-chele-gonzalez-takes-back-and-elevates-the-humble-

paella#sthash.m1XbyFNw.dpuf

APEDA INDIA NEWS

International Benchmark Price

Price on: 10-08-2015

Product Benchmark Indicators Name Price

Apricots

1 Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t) 5875

2 Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t) 5125

3 Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t) 4125

Raisins

1 Californian Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK (USD/t) 2634

2 South African Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK (USD/t) 2337

Sultanas

All About Rice News

Daily Global Rice E-Newletter

7

1 Australian 5 Crown, CIF UK (USD/t) 2982

2 Iranian natural sultanas (Gouchan), CIF UK (USD/t) 1994

3 Turkish No 9 standard, FOB Izmir (USD/t) 2400

Source:agra-net For more info

Market Watch

Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 10-08-2015

Domestic Prices Unit Price : Rs per Qty

Product Market Center Variety Min Price Max Price

Rice

1 Jhagadiya (Gujarat) Other 1900 3060

2 Cachar (Assam) Other 2000 2500

3 Aroor (Kerala) Other 3000 3200

Wheat

1 Amirgadh (Gujarat) Other 1400 1430

2 Bonai (Orissa) Other 1450 1600

3 Sainthia (West Bengal) Other 1470 1490

Mango

1 Nilagiri (Orissa) Other 2500 3000

2 Haldwani (Uttrakhand) Other 1600 3500

3 Samsi (West Bengal) Other 1480 1520

Cauliflower

1 Palayam (Kerala) Other 2200 2500

2 Surat (Gujarat) Other 1500 1900

3 Nabha (Punjab) Other 1600 2500

All About Rice News

Daily Global Rice E-Newletter

8

Source:agra-net For more info

Egg Rs per 100 No

Price on 10-08-2015

Product Market Center Price

1 Pune 348

2 Chittoor 358

3 Hyderabad 324

Source: e2necc.com

Other International Prices Unit Price : US$ per package

Price on 10-08-2015

Product Market Center Origin Variety Low High

Onions Dry Package: 50 lb sacks

1 Atlanta Colorado Yellow 26.50 27.75

2 Dallas California Yellow 20 23.75

3 Detroit Washington Yellow 18 21

Cucumbers Package: cartons film wrapped

1 Atlanta Canada Long Seedless 9 10

2 Baltimore Canada Long Seedless 7 9

3 Miami Honduras Long Seedless 10 10

Apples Package: cartons tray pack

1 Atlanta Virginia Red Delicious 20 21

2 Dallas Washington Red Delicious 18.50 19

3 Miami Washington Red Delicious 23 25

Source:USDA

All About Rice News

Daily Global Rice E-Newletter

9

USA Rice Launches New Online Home

New website screengrab

Home Sweet Home

ARLINGTON, VA - USA Rice officially launched its new online home, www.usarice.com. The site has a

modern look and feel, is greatly slimmed down, streamlined, and fully functional on mobile devices."We

went through more than 15,000 pages of content to get rid of clutter and organize the information in a

logical way both on the front end for users, but also on the back end for staff," said Amy Doane who

worked on the new site's architecture. "The new site is light years ahead of where we were and we're

excited to improve this valuable tool for our members."

New Website

New and improved features

"Members told us local weather and market prices are among the most important pieces of information

they look for every day, so we added that to the home page," explained Katie Maher who led much of the

All About Rice News

Daily Global Rice E-Newletter

10

redesign. "Users click on the weather icon, enter their zip code one time, and the site will remember that

is the weather, radar, and forecasting you want."

Maher explained the site is now organized around the USA Rice Daily, that you are reading right now.

"The Daily and the tags associated with each story serve as the backbone of the new site, linking and

organizing information logically," she said. "Not only do we add stories every day, but we are also

working backwards, adding archived stories to give visitors a full picture of what each issue means for

rice and how that issue has evolved over time."

Maher added that members only sections, including RMA Online and USA Rice PAC, are up and ready

for use, and that any members having trouble logging in should request a password reset from their staff

liaison.

Contact: Michael Klein (703) 236-1458

Rice exporters worry about reduced demand from China

VietNamNet Bridge - China, the biggest Vietnam rice importer since 2012, hsa unexpectedly reduced imports in the first months

of the year, raising controversial predictions about the level of demand from the world’s most populous country.

With 95 million hectares, China‘s food crop growing area accounts for only 13.1 percent of crop area

worldwide, but with an output of 0.5 billion tons, China makes 20 percent of the total food produced in

the world.However, analysts said China faces three problems with its rice production.First, though China

has stopped the downward trend in the rice growing area and has maintained high productivity, food

security has fallen sharply.In 1970, rice accounted for 55.3 percent of the ‗food basket‘ of the country

(rice, wheat and maize). The proportion dropped dramatically to 29.8 percent in 2014. Counting only rice

and wheat, the proportion dropped from 72.5 percent 53.5 percent.Though Chinese favor rice, they now

use more wheat, a factor that has influenced the sharp rise in Chinese rice imports in recent years.

Second, the measures taken to restore the rice growing area to ensure food security has turned China into

a big rice importer as the world‘s rice price falls.According to the US Department of Agriculture, in 2005

China spent $2.559 billion to support domestic food production. Meanwhile, the figure soared to $30.21

billion in 2011 and $29.562 billion in 2014.A report showed that Chinese direct support to its farmers has

increased rapidly from $1.94 billion to $2.5 billion, which has contributed to the rise in rice prices.The

Chinese government has also supported Chinese farmers by raising the purchasing price of Japonica rice

2.56 times over an eight year period. As the domestic price is on the rise, Chinese are importing more rice

from other countries.Third, Chinese seem to favor less Chinese rice as imports are more competitively

priced.

Are there great opportunities for Vietnam rice?

All About Rice News

Daily Global Rice E-Newletter

11

It‘s

unclear if China will increase imports from Vietnam in the upcoming months. But according to FAO‘s

and USDA‘s prediction, the answer would be ‗yes‘ for two reasons. First, the rice sale prices are now at

the deepest low. Second, El Nino is expected to be stronger in upcoming months.However, a source said

that the government of China may not act as people assume. Since it failed to auction its rice stock

recently, it will force Chinese importers to commit to buy rice stocks in exchange for import quotas.

Dan Viet

Tags:Vietnam, rice exporters, Chinese demand, export turnover

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/138308/rice-exporters-worry-about-reduced-demand-from-

china.html

Marketing with Cuban flavor and first look at 2015 crop

next webinar topics Aug 10, 2015Delta Farm Press

Terry Harris has been selling rice for Riceland Foods‘ members for more than 30 years. During that time, he has made several trips to

Cuba and other U.S. rice-consuming countries, trying to find more markets for his farmers‘ product.

All About Rice News

Daily Global Rice E-Newletter

12

Terry Harris has been selling rice for Riceland Foods‘ members for more than 30 years. During that

time, he has made several trips to Cuba and other U.S. rice-consuming countries, trying to find more

markets for his farmers‘ product.

Eugene Young hasn‘t been around quite as long as Harris, but he has quickly learned the ropes of

forecasting acreage and production

for the USDA National Agricultural

statistics Service operation in

Arkansas and, more recently, in the

newly-created Delta Region.

ogether, they will be the presenters

for the next in the series of Food

and Agribusiness webinars being

conducted by the University of

Arkansas‘ Division of Agriculture.

Since 2014, the University‘s Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness has conducted

more than 40 webinars on topics ranging from the 2014 farm bill to the impacts of the El Nino

phenomenon.The next webinar, which will have the dual title of ―Rice Marketing with a Cuban

Flavor and other potential trade opportunities with Terry Harris‖ and ―A Look at the First Yield

Forecast for the 2015 Crop Year Production with Eugene Young,‖ will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday

(Aug. 13).

Dr. Bobby Coats, professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, is the

moderator for the webinar series. Forrest Laws, director of content for Farm Press Publications, is a

resource panelist for the webinar.

Terry Harris joined Riceland Foods in 1975 as a member of the Quality Control team. He held

several positions in the areas of quality control, quality assurance and mill scheduling until being

named export sales manager in 1981.He served in this position until 1990 when he was named vice

president export sales and marketing. In 2010, Harris was elected to the position of vice president

rice sales with responsibility for all rice sales for the cooperative. In October 2014, he was named

senior vice president for marketing and risk management, with responsibility for sales of all

commodities of the company as well as commodity risk management.

Eugene Young currently serves as regional deputy director for the USDA-NASS Delta Regional

Office. In 2010, he was promoted to the Arkansas field office deputy director.In 2013, with NASS

All About Rice News

Daily Global Rice E-Newletter

13

moving to a regional field office structure, he was promoted to regional deputy director in charge of

the estimation program for the Delta Regional office serving Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/marketing-cuban-flavor-and-first-look-2015-crop-next-webinar-

topics?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+August+11%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+Decem

ber+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for August 11

Month Price Net Change

September 2015 $11.790 - $0.070

November 2015 $12.070 - $0.060

January 2016 $12.365 - $0.050

March 2016 $12.565 - $0.050

May 2016 $12.810 + $0.010

July 2016 $12.810 + $0.010

September 2016 $11.950 UNCH

Thailand says to sell 1 million tonnes of rice to China Mon Aug 10, 2015 7:48am GMT

BANGKOK Aug 10 (Reuters) - China will buy 1 million tonnes of rice from Thailand, the Thai

commerce minister said on Monday, easing pressure on a military government struggling to shift

stockpiles of the grain accumulated under a previous farm-subsidy programme.Thai Commerce

Minister Chatchai Sirikalya, following a visit to China last week, said the country agreed to buy

All About Rice News

Daily Global Rice E-Newletter

14

1 million tonnes of rice to be delivered at year-end.Thailand, the world's second-largest rice

exporter, has about 14.5 million tonnes of rice in stockpiles built up under a generous rice

subsidy scheme run by a government that was overthrown by the military in May 2014.The rice

will be sold to China at market prices, said Chatchai, adding that the sale involved Hom Mali, or

Thai jasmine rice, and Thai 5-percent broken white rice."In the past week the commerce ministry

travelled to China and agreed with the Chinese government to do a government-to- government

sale and agreed to officially sell rice (to China)," Chatchai told reporters.Chinese government

officials did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment.

In December, Thailand said China would buy 2 million tonnes of rice after the two countries

signed a memorandum of understanding during a two-day regional summit in Bangkok.The deal

announced on Monday was part of that agreement, said Chatchai, adding that negotiations for the

sale of a further 1 million tonnes would begin in September.He said Thai government officials

would travel to Iran at the end of August to try to strike similar deals."Iran has expressed interest

in buying rice at the end of August," said Chatchai.

(Reportin

http://af.reuters.com/article/nigeriaNews/idAFL3N10L2KQ20150810?sp=true

Why is China Buying One Million Tons of Rice from

Thailand?

By Prashanth Parameswaran

Beijing is helping Thailand ease a large burden.

BANGKOK: — On August 10, Thailand’s Commerce Minister Gen Chatchai Sarikalya

announced that China and Thailand had reached a government-to-government agreement

for Beijing to buy one million tons of Thai rice.

The agreement is part of a broader memorandum of understanding (MoU) the two countries

reached last December for China to buy two million tons of rice from Thailand (See: ―Thailand

Turns to China‖). According to Chatchai, this particular sale involves Thai jasmine rice and

Thai-5 percent broken white rice and would be done using market prices. Negotiations for the

sale the other 1 million tons of rice to China under the MoU are expected to begin in September.

The deal is significant because it would allow Thailand – currently the world‘s second largest

rice exporter – to begin to ease the stockpiles of grain it accumulated under a graft-ridden rice-

pledging program under former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra…

Full story: http://thediplomat.com/2015/08/why-is-china-buying-one-million-tons-of-rice-from-

thailand/

All About Rice News

Daily Global Rice E-Newletter

15

http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/why-is-china-buying-one-million-tons-of-rice-from-thailand/111095/

Mozambique has annual deficit of 360,000 tons of rice AUGUST 11TH, 2015

Mozambique annually imports a

minimum of 360,000 tons of rice

to cover the deficit between

national consumption and

production, the national director

of Agriculture and Forestry said

recently.In 2014 Mozambique

recorded in annual consumption

of about 580,000 tons of rice,

based on imports of 360,000

tons and local production of

223,000 tons of husked rice and

343,000 tons of rough

rice.Mahomed Valá, quoted by daily newspaper Notícias, said the low rice production was

because of factors such as difficulty in accessing quality production processes, limited use of

mechanical means and difficulties in accessing credit.

Valá also said that use of traditional technologies, low water management capacity for water

management, weak soil levelling, adverse weather such as floods and drought are other factors

that have affected Mozambican rice production.Mozambique has 900,000 hectares of land for

potential rice production, of which only about 310,000 are being used, and more than half of this

potential is in Zambezia and Sofala provinces in the central region of the country.About 90% of

rice production is carried out by smallholders in rainfed conditions, with an average productivity

of 1.0 to 1.2 tons per hectare in rainfed systems and 2.8 and 3.5 tons per hectare when the land is

irrigated, noted Valá.Last week, farmers and the managers of hydraulics company Hidráulica de

Chókwè, in Gaza province, gathered in meeting to mark the end of the current rice production

season, in which they harvested about 15,000 tons.Of this amount just over 10,000 tons came

from rice sector producers while the remaining 5,000 tons were produced by family farmers,

through numerous small units in that area of Gaza province. (macauhub/MZ)

http://www.macauhub.com.mo/en/2015/08/11/mozambique-has-annual-deficit-of-360000-tons-of-rice/

Lack of rice supply from AP not to cause shortage: Minister

STAFF REPORTER

All About Rice News

Daily Global Rice E-Newletter

16

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob with Mayor K. Chandrika during the inauguration of the Onam Metro Peoples

Bazaar 2015 organised by the Supplyco in the city on Monday.— Photo: S. Mahinsha

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Anoop Jacob has denied reports that lack of supply of rice from Andhra

Pradesh (AP) will cause shortage of rice during Onam festival.Inaugurating the Onam metro fair of the Kerala

State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco) here at Putharikandam Maidanam on Monday, he said that the

State government had completed procurement of 37,000 tonnes of rice for the season.

Adequate steps

All About Rice News

Daily Global Rice E-Newletter

17

It had also taken adequate steps for open market intervention to stabilise the price of the commodity.If

sufficient Jaya rice was not available from Andhra, Matta rice will be distributed, he said.

Price reduced

Besides, price of rice sold at Supplyco outlets during Onam has been reduced from Rs.25 to

Rs.24 per kg.Coconut oil with subsidy will be priced at Rs.110 per kilo and sugar at Rs.22 per

kilo, he said.Branded items will be sold at Supplyco outlets during Onam at 30 per cent discount.

Further, all Maveli, stores will function without any break from August 23 to 27 from 9.30 a.m.

to 7 p.m., he said.

APL card-holders

Above Poverty Level cardholders attached to the South City Rationing Office will get 7 kilo of

parboiled rice and 2 kg of raw rice at Rs.8.90 per kilo this month, the Minister added.The

cardholders will also get 2 kg of wheat at Rs.6. 70 per kilo.APL subsidy cardholders will get 6

kg of parboiled rice and 2 kg of raw rice at Rs.2 per kg, and 2 kg of wheat at Rs.6.70 per kg.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/lack-of-rice-supply-from-ap-not-to-cause-

shortage-minister/article7524749.ece

River Indus continues to run in high flood

15:32 Aug 11, 2015 PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD: Federal Flood Commission (FFC) has said that River Indus is flowing in High Flood

in "Guddu-Sukkur" & "Sukkur-Kotri" Reaches.According to daily FFC report on Tuesday, it is at

Medium Flood Stage in "Chashma-Taunsa" Reach and Low Flood in "Tarbela - Kalabagh

All About Rice News

Daily Global Rice E-Newletter

18

Reach".River Kabul continues to flow in Low Flood in "Warsak - Nowshera Reach", while River

Swat is flowing in Low Flood at Charsadda Road. Other main rivers including Rivers Jhelum,

Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej are flowing normal.

Due to High Flood Situation in "Guddu-Sukkur" & "Sukkur-Kotri" Reaches, the low lying/riverine

areas along River Indus in Sindh Province would be affected.According to the Flood Forecasting

Division, Lahore, flow in River Sutlej at Ganda Singh Wala is likely to increase from 45,000- 55,000

cusecs on Thursday (afternoon).The actual river flows and reservoir elevations indicates that Tarbela

Dam is at Maximum Conservation Level of 1550.00 feet, whereas Mangla Dam is at elevation of

1237.85 feet, which is 4.15 feet below its Maximum Conservation Level of 1242.00 feet.

According to Flood Forecasting Division, Lahore, Seasonal Low continues to prevail over

Northwestern Balochistan. Weak moist current is penetrating into Punjab & Kashmir upto 3000

feet.As predicted by the Flood Forecasting Division, Lahore, mainly dry weather is expected over

most parts of the country during the next 24 hours.

However, isolated thundershowers may occur over Punjab (Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sargodha,

Gujranwala & D.G. Khan Divisions), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Kohat, Bannu & D.I. Khan Divisions)

and Northeastern Balochistan including upper catchments of Rivers Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and

Sutlej during the same period.Significant rainfall events as reported by the Flood Forecasting

Division, Lahore during the past 24 hours include; Zhob & Faisalabad = 25 mm each, Lahore

(Gulshan-e-Ravi = 24 mm, Shahi Qilla = 20 mm, Upper Mall = 17 mm, Shahdara = 15 mm,

Mughalpura = 12 mm & Misri Shah = 11 mm) and Sargodha (Airport) = 11mm. - APP

http://www.samaa.tv/pakistan/11-Aug-2015/river-indus-continues-to-run-in-high-flood

Rains over East as ‘low’ pops up in Bay

VINSON KURIAN

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUGUST 11:

As predicted, a low-pressure area has formed in the Bay of Bengal off the Andhra Pradesh-

Odisha coasts on Tuesday whose behaviour and lateral movement will be closely watched.India

Met Department expects the system to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast and in fact drive up the

monsoon flows for a couple of days (Thursday and Friday).

Rains spread

All About Rice News

Daily Global Rice E-Newletter

19

It would travel north and may weaken over

east Madhya Pradesh and southern parts of

Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and dissipate over

region by the weekend.The monsoon has

been active over Telangana, coastal

Karnataka and Kerala during the 24 hours

ending on Tuesday morning, a Met

Department update said.South-easterly

monsoon winds generated by the ‗low‘ from

the Bay of Bengal are fanning into north and

northwest India where a western disturbance

is checking in from across the

border.Already, the interaction between

opposing wind regimes is producing heavy

rain over central India, north-west India and

east India.

Overall deficit

This will continue in varying intensities over north, north-west and east India until the weekend,

according to the US Climate Prediction Centre.What this means is that large parts of peninsula,

which is reeling under a deficit of 21 per cent as of Tuesday, will be bereft of any significant rain

although isolated showers are forecast for some.The overnight rain over Telangana, Kerala and

coastal Karnataka has prevented the deficit for the country as a whole from deteriorating from

the nine per cent of the previous day.In fact, the peninsula managed to cut its shortfall by one

percentage point to 21 per cent. The deficit in central India is at nine per cent and in east and

northeast India, 11 per cent.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/rains-over-east-as-low-pops-up-in-

bay/article7526799.ece

Myanmar Flood Death Toll Tops 100, One Million Affected

World | Agence France-Presse | Updated: August 10, 2015 12:39 IST

All About Rice News

Daily Global Rice E-Newletter

20

File Photo: Apartments are destroyed following a landslide due to heavy rain in Harkhar, Chin State of Myanmar on

July 30, 2015. (Agence France-Presse)

HINTHADA, MYANMAR: The death toll from severe flooding across Myanmar has topped 100, state

media reported today, with nearly one million people affected as fears intensify for the country's crucial

rice bowl region.Floods from a heavy monsoon season have cut through swathes of South and Southeast

Asia in recent weeks, claiming hundreds of lives and displacing millions.

Myanmar, one of Asia's most impoverished countries, has been hit particularly hard by weeks of torrential

rain with 12 out of 14 states and regions suffering flooding.International aid has been stepped up in recent

days following an official government request for help.The Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper

today gave updated government figures, of "more than 100" dead and "nearly one million" people

affected nationwide by the inundations.More than 1.2 million acres (486,000 hectares) of rice fields are

currently under water, with more than 430,000 acres destroyed by the floods, the paper added.

Four regions have been designated disaster zones, with the cyclone-battered western state of Rakhine

particularly hard hit.In recent days fears have grown for rising waters in the the more downstream areas of

the Irrawaddy basin and its delta, two key agricultural areas close to the commercial hub Yangon.Citing

the weather bureau, the Global New Light of Myanmar said river levels had dropped slightly on Sunday

All About Rice News

Daily Global Rice E-Newletter

21

but "still remained above their designated danger levels".

Myanmar's previous junta government was accused of indifference in its sluggish response to Cyclone

Nargis in May 2008, a crisis which at least 138,000 people dead or missing.The country is set for a

general election in November and the floods have taken on a political dimension, with both the quasi-

civilian government and opposition -- led by Aung San Suu Kyi -- at pains to show they are reacting

speedily to the floods.

President Thein Sein was pictured visiting relief efforts on Sunday in the Irrawaddy region as army chief

Min Aung Hlaing made trips to the western states of Sagaing and Chin.But many of those hit by the

flooding appear not to be relying on government help, either trying to cope alone or turning to local

monasteries or community groups.Authorities have insisted that the election set for November 8 will go

ahead despite the floods, even as they try to assess the scale of the damage.

http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/myanmar-flood-death-toll-tops-100-one-million-affected-1205658

Joynagarer Moya wins G I tag

Jhilmil Mukherjee Pandey,TNN | Aug 11, 2015, 10.50 AM IST

KOLKATA : Here's a first from the world of Bengali sweets. Our very indigenous Joynagarer

Moya, sweet roundels made of a special kind of puffed rice and bound with jaggery, has won the

coveted G I (geographical indication) tag. While the decision was firming up since April, the

state government, which has been championing the cause of the moya, has just been intimated

about the crown. Naturally, the moya makers of South 24 Parganas Joynagar, are rejoicing. This

authentication tag attaches great prestige to the special sweet with a very short life that makes its

annual appearance only in winter.

Joynagarer Moya had to go through a stringent test and documentation process for two and a half

years before finally wresting the crown from the G I scientists in Chennai, who work as a wing

of the ministry of commerce and industries. The state department of science and technology,

which had applied for the G I tag is now enthused about winning the tag for its other two

applications - Mihidana and Sitabhog of Burdwan, which are presently being evaluated for a

final declaration towards the later part of the month. A GI tag is a name or sign used on certain

products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin.

India as a member of the WTO enacted the GI Act in 1999, which came into effect in September

2003. The GI tag ensures that none other than those registered as authorised users (or at least

those residing inside the geographic territory) are allowed to use the popular product name.

Darjeeling tea became the first GI tagged product in India. The Joynagarer moya was invented in

All About Rice News

Daily Global Rice E-Newletter

22

1929 by two confectioners of Bahura and Charan near Joynagar - Purna Chandra Ghosh and

Nitya Gopal Sarkar who sold their creation at their Sri Krishna Mistanna Bhandar. The secret lay

in the use of kanakchur rice, which is a special variety of winter rice grown locally.

This rice has a distinct aroma that is heightened when this rice is puffed up. Special gawa ghee

and nolen gur, also collected fresh locally, are then used to bind the khoi (puffed rice) into a

moya. Kanakchur rice cannot withstand chemical fertilizers. "Initially the Joynagar moya

makers, threatened by the plethora of fake and cheaper varieties that flood the market in winter,

tried to apply for the G I status on their own but faced several hurdles. So they approached the

state government for help.

We documented the regional history, lore, ingredients, authentic recipe, the formulae used by the

inventors and the list of makers at Joynagar who still follow the original process. The G I

scientists inquired and tested random samples for consecutive years before agreeing to give the

Joynagar er moya the coveted GI tag,""said Mahua Hom Chowdhury, scientist of the Patent

Information Centre of the WB State Council of Science and Technology, which is a wing of the

state's department of science and technology.

A total of 150 moya shops have been included in the G I tag as the only authentic makers. It

implies that the rest of the shops across the state who will still sell the moya are selling fake

stuff. It was after submitting the application for Joynagarer Moya that the state government

received appeals from the makers of sitabhog and mihidana of Burdwan too. "Our scientists

actually camped in Burdwan for months and along with officials of the district administration,

prepared separate dossiers for both mihidana and sitabhog.

We were stunned by the details," said an excited state minister for science and technology,

Rabiranjan Chatterjee. He was found basking in the glory of the Joynagarer Moya. "This is our

first sweet GI. We have also received GI for three Bengal varieties of mangoes - fazli, himsagar

and lakshman bhog," he said. The document prepared for mihidana and Sitabhog and submitted

to the GI office says that On February 10, 1904, Viceroy Lord Curzon visited Burdwan to confer

the title of maharaja on then king of Burdwan Vijaychanda. Bhairav Chandra Nag, a local sweet-

maker, had made the sitabhog and mihidana to mark the occasion. Mihidana is made from

Kaminibhog, Gobindabhog or Basmati rice.

The rice is mixed with besan and saffron and blended. The mix is poured into hot ghee through a

brass ladle with holes. The deep-fried saffron grains are then dunked in sugar syrup. Sitabhog on

the other hand is, cottage cheese or chhana and powdered rice rolled into a dough. It is broken

into tiny bits and fried in ghee, then soaked in sugar syrup.

THE TIMES OF INDIA