24th july (friday),2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

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

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July 24, 2015 Vol 5 ,Issue VII



Minister Warns Babus Over PDS Mess By Express News Service

Published: 24th July 2015 06:19 AM

Last Updated: 24th July 2015 06:19 AM

HYDERABAD: Finance and Civil Supplies minister E Rajender warned that the government

would take stern action against officials, if they are found colluding with the black-marketeers.At

a review meeting on Thursday, Rajender directed the officials to register cases under PD Act

against those who divert essential commodities intended to supply through public distribution

system. If any official is found colluding with the black-marketeers they would have to face

serious action, he said.

Officials informed the minister that they raided on several rice mills in Warangal and seized

1,620 quintals of PDS rice from millers who wanted to divert the same after re-cycling. The

millers were found diverting PDS rice to sell it for higher prices in the open market, the officials

informed.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/Minister-Warns-Babus-Over-PDS-

Mess/2015/07/24/article2937382.ece

Japan, U.S. eye compromise on rice ahead of TPP talks

12:38 am, July 24, 2015

The Yomiuri ShimbunNegotiations on raising the ceiling for the volume of rice imported from

the United States — the largest remaining issue in Japan-U.S. talks on tariffs in connection with

the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement — are approaching a settlement. As negotiations

enter the final phase, Japan and the United States are apparently showing their willingness to

compromise, from the perspective of aiming to achieve a high-level TPP deal at the ministerial

meeting to be held later this month.

Unprepared to leave the rice imports to transactions among private companies, the United States

is asking Japan to guarantee a volume of U.S. rice imports, in an effort to ensure an increase in

the amount. The two countries will speed up the process of last-minute negotiations from now

on.Based on rules set by the World Trade Organization, Japan uses the so-called minimum

access rice system, under which the nation imports a total of 770,000 tons of foreign rice per

year, including 360,000 tons from the United States, without applying a tariff. At present, the

focus of negotiations is to set up a special TPP quota, separate from the minimum access rice

system, and determine the amount by which the rice imports can be boosted.

For the special TPP quota, the United States is also seeking for Japan to guarantee imports of

U.S. rice as an obligation of the Japanese government, in the same manner as the minimum

access rice system.Japan, however, has insisted on leaving the exact volume to be determined by

private companies’ transactions. Under the Japanese formula, for example, it would be possible

http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/Minister-Warns-Babus-Over-PDS-Mess/2015/07/24/article2937382.ece

http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/Minister-Warns-Babus-Over-PDS-Mess/2015/07/24/article2937382.ece



for the actual import volume to remain at 50,000 tons despite an agreed quota of 80,000 tons.

Therefore, Washington is demanding concessions from Tokyo.Behind this is the fact that

differences in rice prices between Japan and the United States have been reduced due to the

yen’s continuing depreciation, among other reasons. Therefore, U.S. rice is losing its price-based

appeal for the food service sector and other industries in Japan.Meanwhile, if the Japanese

government agrees to guarantee rice imports, there is a possibility that the United States could

make a concession to reduce the volume of U.S. rice imports. Therefore, from now on, the

Japanese government is likely to explore measures that are advantageous for Japan.

Meeting in Maui

Chief negotiators from 12 countries involved in TPP negotiations will hold a meeting on the

island of Maui in Hawaii from Friday to Monday. Ahead of the ministerial session starting from

Tuesday, where participating countries aim to strike a broad deal at the meeting, chief

negotiators are trying to narrow as much as possible any differences of opinion on intellectual

property rights protections and other matters.

http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002307131

Ending Rice Importation 24 Jul 2015

Farmers at a rice farm

With the World Bank’s support for the FADAMA project to increase local capacity, the

importation of rice, a staple food in Nigeria may be a thing of the past. Solomon Elusoji writes It was the immediate past

Minister for Agriculture, who is

now the President, African

Development Bank (ADB), Dr.

Akinwumi Adesina, who told

Nigerians that about N30

billion have been lost by

Nigeria due to abuse and lack

of transparency in import

waivers on rice importation.

That naturally set the ball

rolling for a total revamp of

that sector of the economy.The

Senate then followed up by

asking the Central Bank of Nigeria to collaborate with the Nigerian Customs Service to retrieve

the N30 billion from the importers who are said to have manipulated due process and evaded the

payment of importation duty.What led to the waiver scandal was the inability of Nigerian rice

farmers to meet local demand for the staple food. Rice could be said to be the most consumed



staple food in Nigeria today. It is estimated that about N1 billion worth of rice is consumed daily

in Nigeria, and a majority of that is derived from imports.

The rice import bill for Nigeria, which was N123.61 million in 1980, rose to N9.72 billion in the

year 2000. In 2002, Nigeria even ranked among the top six largest world rice importers with total

milled rice import put at 1,251,718 tonnes.There is no doubt that such huge level of demand

provides immense opportunities for the production of rice and other activities along its value

chain. This was the opportunities that foreign countries producing rice have seen and which

informed the off-loading of rice from their stores into the country, what Dr. Adesina described as

―rice that has spent decades in the strategic grain reserve of these countries and that is not even

fit for animal consumption.

‖Adesina has been vociferous in his campaign that locally produced rice is more nutritious.It was

therefore a pleasant step in the right direction when the World Bank, through FADAMA,

identified rice as a priority staple food for support under the $200 million FADAMA III

Additional Financing (AF), which is aimed, among others at ramping up production and

increasing income of farmers operating within the catchment of the selected States and other

production areas engaged in priority staple foods, namely rice, cassava, sorghum, and

horticulture in Kogi, Kano, Lagos, Niger, Enugu and Anambra States.

The details of the implementation arrangement are outlined in the amended Subsidiary

Agreement of the Parent Project satisfactory in form and substance to the Association. The

amended Subsidiary Agreement has to be executed on behalf of the Recipient and the

Participating State concerned, as a condition of disbursement of additional finance in respect of

activities taking place in that those State.Lagos State has been selected for rice production under

the current project because of the success stories of FADAMA parent projects in the state.The

cooperation of the state government in prompt payment of its counterpart funding of the projects,

and the establishment of Eko Rice Mills by the state government at Imota-Ikorodu with a

capacity of 20, 000 metric tons per annum made that happened.

For instance, about 400 farmers are presently being prepared for the rice planting season in

Lagos State under the FADAMA III Additional Finance Project for which the Federal and Lagos

State Governments recently signed a $25 million agreement.Lagos State has a huge market, not

only because of its daily increasing population, but also because the States of South West rely

mainly on the Lagos market for the sales and purchase of agricultural produce. It is therefore the

commendable foresight of the World Bank and the Federal Government to have picked Lagos

State for this special support.

A visit to the Imota factory of Eko Rice Mills, which is producing unpolished rice revealed state-

of-the-art equipment in a hygiene and safety-conscious environment. The rice being produced is

very nutritious and is packed in bags of five, 25 and 50 killogrammes. The mill is presently

sourcing materials/paddy from two farm sites in Toga, Badagry and Itokin, all in Lagos State.



The AF, apart from boosting production and raising income of farmers, is also creating

employment in Lagos and neighbouring States. For example, a 10, 000 hectares of land has been

acquired in Ogun State for rice farming to feed the Eko Rice Mills.

The Lagos State Government has also introduced Rice-for-Job Programme, which is a sort of

empowerment programmes for youths who are encouraged to go into rice farming.Every year,

according to the Management Information System Officer for State FADAMA Office in Lagos,

Mr. Oladipo Azeez, the youths are trained in rice production and at the end of the training they

are supported by FADAMA with technical and financial aids, and advisory services to go into

rice production and to start their own farm. About 3, 000 youths participate in the programme,

while rice plantations have been established in Itokin, Egua, Imota and Badagry on the basis of

one hectare of land per farmer.The Eko Rice Mills, manned by Nigerian Engineers, has been

enjoying the yearly patronage of the Lagos State Government, especially during festive periods.

The patronages from other individuals and organisations have increased tremendously, as the

people have been educated and informed that locally produced rice is more nutritious, better and

even cheaper than the imported rice.

Mr. Azeez remarked: "we don’t even know how many years the imported rice has spent in their

stores and how many months on the sea before getting to our markets and finally the consumers.

Our own rice here is farm-fresh. This is last year’s harvest.‖

For example, the quality of a pack 500g of imported rice bought from one of the stores, when

tested, was below that of Eko Rice Mills, and worse still, it was sold for N1, 500, whereas the

5kg pack of Eko Rice goes for N1, 000. So, it does make a lot of economic sense to grow,

patronize and consume local rice, just as FADAMA III Additional Financing for Lagos rice

farmers makes a lot of development sense.On the success of FADAMA III, the FADAMA state

coordinator, Foluso Ajijola, noted that many projects were started and completed.

―Farmers were supported in the acquisition of productive assets and in their production lines.

Equipment for fisheries, livestock, and crops were purchased to increase farmers’ activities and

income.―Furthermore, fishing equipment, boats and engines were provided for fish farmers to be

able to go to high sea fir fishing, while many of the groups acquired cold rooms to store and

preserve their fishes. One of them is the five tons cold room of Agbelere FCA in Eti Osa LG. We

also have in Epe and other parts, while butchers have also been assisted with cold rooms and

market reconstruction,‖ he said.

Tags: http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/ending-rice-importation/215444/Featured, Importation, Life, Life and Style, RICE

Pakistan asks Kenya to lower import duty on rice

Facing surplus rice stocks of close to 1 million ton due to falling commodity prices in the

international market, Pakistan has asked Kenya to lower the import duty on Pakistani rice which is

affecting rice exports.Finance Minister Ishaq had a meeting with Kenyan High Commissioner Prof

Julius Kibet Bitok on Thursday. The minister highlighted the issue regarding enhancement in import

duty on Pakistani rice by Kenya and asked for a review of the matter.He said that enhancement of the

http://www.thisdaylive.com/go/search/?search=Featured

http://www.thisdaylive.com/go/search/?search=Importation

http://www.thisdaylive.com/go/search/?search=Life

http://www.thisdaylive.com/go/search/?search=Life+and+Style

http://www.thisdaylive.com/go/search/?search=RICE



duty was affecting Pakistani rice exports to Kenya. The matter regarding import of Kenyan tea in

Pakistan was also discussed with emphasis on efforts to ensure import through regular channels.It is

important to mention that Pakistani exporters use Kenya as a hub for exports to the Africa region.

Pakistani exporters are facing stiff competition from Indian, Thai and Vietnamese exporters.

Pakistan, for the last two years, has not managed to export its surplus rice and this year another

bumper crop of 7 million tons is expected which is estimated to increase the exportable surplus for

current 0.6 million tons to over 1 million tons.The lowering international commodity prices are

impacting the farmer, whose cost of production is estimated around Rs 70,000 per acre but in return

they are getting Rs 36,000 per acre. The government is under pressure to buy the surplus stocks from

the rice mills and export them on government to government basis to protect the farmers.

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/07/23/business/pakistan-asks-kenya-to-lower-import-duty-

on-rice/

APEDA News India

International Benchmark Price

Price on: 22-07-2015

Product Benchmark Indicators Name Price

Garlic

1 Chinese first grade granules, CFR NW Europe (USD/t) 2100

2 Chinese Grade A dehydrated flakes, CFR NW Europe (USD/t) 2000

3 Chinese powdered, CFR NW Europe (USD/t) 1800

Ginger

1 Chinese sliced, CIF NW Europe (USD/t) 4600

2 Chinese whole, CIF NW Europe (USD/t) 5100

3 Indian Cochin, CIF NW Europe (USD/t) 3000

Guar Gum Powder

1 Indian 100 mesh 3500 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t) 4470

2 Indian 200 mesh 3500 cps basis, FOB Kandla (USD/t) 1890

3 Indian 200 mesh 5000 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t) 2990

Source:agra-net For more info

Market Watch Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 23-07-2015

Domestic Prices Unit Price : Rs per Qty

Product Market Center Variety Min Price Max Price

Rice

1 Cachar (Assam) Other 2000 2500

2 Kheda (Gujarat) Other 1850 3300



3 Deogarh (Orissa) Other 2000 3000

Wheat

1 Amirgadh (Gujarat) Other 1400 1825

2 Alappuzha (Kerala) Other 1950 2050

3 Gumla (Jharkhand) Other 1950 2500

Pine Apple

1 Jagraon (Punjab) Other 1800 2000

2 Shillong (Meghalaya) Other 2000 2400

3 Chala (Kerala) Other 3300 3352

Cucumbar

1 Talalagir (Gujarat) Other 1500 1540

2 Chala (Kerala) Other 1700 1750

3 Nilagiri (Orissa) Other 1300 1500

Source:agra-net For more info

Egg Rs per 100 No

Price on 23-07-2015

Product Market Center Price

1 Ahmedabad 332

2 Chittoor 323

3 Mysore 310

Source: e2necc.com

Other International Prices Unit Price : US$ per package

Price on 23-07-2015

Product Market Center Origin Variety Low High

Potatoes Package: 50 lb cartons

1 Atlanta Colorado Russet 23.50 23.50

2 Chicago Idaho Russet 19 22

3 Detroit Wisconsin Russet 21 21.50

Cauliflower Package: cartons film wrapped

1 Atlanta California White 14 17

2 Chicago California White 15 17

3 Miami Mexico White 16 16

Grapefruit Package: 7/10 bushel cartons

1 Atlanta California Red 29 29.50

2 Baltimore California Red 23 26

3 Dallas California Red 20 20.75

Source:USDA

Have Scientists Found A Way To Feed The World Without

Warming The Planet?

BY NATASHA GEILING JUL 23, 2015 2:50PM

http://e2necc.com/

http://thinkprogress.org/?person=ngeiling

https://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=@ngeiling



CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK

Aside from corn, rice

might be the single most

important staple crop on

Earth. According to the

International Center for

Tropical

Agriculture, more than

3.5 billion people around

the world depend on rice

for at least 20 percent of

their daily caloric intake.

But rice is also a major

source of methane, a

potent greenhouse gas

that’s more effective, at

least in the short term, at

trapping heat than carbon

dioxide.

Now, scientists at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences think they’ve found a

solution: a high-yielding, low-methane type of rice that can cut methane emissions from rice

cultivation by up to 90 percent.To create the starchy, climate-friendly rice, the scientists

transferred a single gene from barley to rice that stimulates the production of starch in grain and

stems. According to the study, published this week in Nature, previous research has shown that

rice plants with smaller root systems tended to expel less methane than plants with larger roots,

and the scientists hoped that by emphasizing starch growth in the stems and grains, the rice

plants would naturally grow smaller root systems. Root systems in rice secrete the carbohydrates

created by photosynthesis — when rice paddies are flooded, the oxygen-devoid environment

provides the perfect breeding ground for methane-producing bacteria that feed on these

carbohydrates. By reducing the size of the rice plants’ roots, the scientists hoped that they could

curb the amount of methane produced in the fields.

To test how the modified rice plants fared in the real world, the scientists planted the rice in two

different fields in China, alongside conventional rice, which served as a benchmark. Over three

years, they measured the methane emitted by the plants in the fall and summer, near the end of

the growing season. They also took measurements of starch content in the plants’ stems, roots,

and seeds.

They found the modified rice plants extremely effective at producing starch and curbing methane

emissions. In the summer, when temperatures were highest, the modified rice cut methane

emissions to 0.3 percent of conventional rice. On average, the modified rice produced less than

10 percent the methane of conventional rice, while providing 43 percent more grain per

plant.In an essay in Nature that accompanied the study’s publication, Paul Bodelier, a researcher



at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology who was not directly involved with the study, called the

findings ―a tremendous opportunity for more-sustainable rice cultivation,‖ but cautioned that

large-scale trials are necessary before moving forward with full-scale commerical use. Without

more trials, Bodelier wrote, it’s difficult to know how the genetic modification impacts the rice

cultivar’s long-term chances for survival. It’s also important to study how the plant’s root system

impacts microbes in the soil — microbes that themselves contribute to the production and

consumption of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Bruce Linquist, a plant scientist at the University of

California at Davis, echoed Bodelier’s sentiment. The research is too preliminary to know for

sure how the genetic modification impacts methane production, Linquist said, and there is some

concern that smaller root systems might impact the plants’ ability to take up nutrients.Even if

further trials prove the efficacy of the modified rice, it faces huge hurdles in order to become

commercially viable. Largely in response to public distrust of genetically modified foods, no

genetically modified rice has ever been successfully used in commercial production. Golden

rice — a genetically modified strain of rice that contains beta carotene to combat malnutrition in

developing countries — was ready for full-scale use in 2002, but has faced staunch

opposition that has kept it from market for over a decade.

Despite public distrust — a January poll conducted by Pew found that 57 percent of

Americansthink genetically modified foods are generally unsafe to eat — nearly all scientific

evidence suggests that genetically modified foods pose no threat to human health.There is some

concern, however, about the environmental impact of genetically modified foods. Crops like

Roundup-resistant soy or corn have led to a marked increase in the use of herbicides in the

United States, though some studies have also shown that genetically modified crops have led to a

decrease in the use of some pesticides. Since the low-methane strain of rice isn’t bred to be

herbicide or pesticide resistant, this most likely won’t be an issue with this particular strain —

though the way that its root-system interacts with microbes in the soil is something to watch. http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/07/23/3683754/gmo-rice-climate-change/

IIRR scientist nominated to FAO panel on soils

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has nominated Brajendra,

working with Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR), as one of the 27 top global soil experts to

the panel of UNFAO-GSP Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS).Project Director

of ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, V. Ravindra Babu, said on Thursday that the third

plenary assembly held at FAO headquarters from June 22 to 24 has nominated Mr. Brajendra

here for a period of two years. The scientist has also been invited by UNFAO from Asia to

participate in the ITPS meeting to be held at Rome, Italy, from September 14 to 18 this year for

developing global soil partnerships pillars of action.Working as a senior scientist with IIRR here,

Mr. Brajendra has more than 15 years experience in research, developing soil technologies, soil

extension and popularising the sciences among the masses and making it accessible to the

common people, Mr. Ravindra Babu stated.

http://nau.edu/ecoss/news-and-events/press-releases/soil-microbes/

http://nau.edu/ecoss/news-and-events/press-releases/soil-microbes/

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-gmo-rice-methane-emissions-20150722-story.html

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/03/07/173611461/in-a-grain-of-golden-rice-a-world-of-controversy-over-gmo-foods

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/03/07/173611461/in-a-grain-of-golden-rice-a-world-of-controversy-over-gmo-foods

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/golden-rice-opponents-should-be-held-accountable-for-health-problems-linked-to-vitamain-a-deficiency/

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/25/sunday-review/golden-rice-lifesaver.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/25/sunday-review/golden-rice-lifesaver.html

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/01/29/5-key-findings-science/

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/01/29/5-key-findings-science/

http://www.psmag.com/health-and-behavior/scientific-debate-gm-foods-theyre-safe-66711

http://www.vox.com/cards/genetically-modified-foods/are-gmo-crops-good-or-bad-for-the-environment

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/07/23/3683754/gmo-rice-climate-change/



Post Comment

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/iirr-scientist-nominated-to-fao-panel-on-soils/article7459055.ece

Unlocking rice immune system will benefit humanity: Scientists

Washington, July 25 (IANS): Rice is a staple food for half of the world's population. To protect it against

deadly pathogens, a team of researchers has identified a bacterial signal that, when recognised by rice

plants, enables them resist a devastating blight disease.The team discovered that a bacterial protein called

―RaxX‖ activates a specific rice immune receptor protein named ―XA21‖.This activation triggers an

immune response against Xanthomonas oryzaepv.oryzae (Xoo), a pathogen that causes bacterial blight, a

serious disease of rice crops.

"Our results show that 'RaxX' - a small, previously undescribed bacterial protein - is required for

activation of immunity to Xoo,‖ said Pamela Ronald, plant geneticist for the US Department of Energy

(DOE)'s Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) and the University of California (UC) Davis.XA21 can detect

RaxX and quickly mobilise its defenses to mount a potent immune response against Xoo."Rice plants that

do not carry the XA21 immune receptor or other related immune receptors are virtually defenseless

against bacterial blight,‖ Ronald added in a paper that appeared in the journal Science Advances.

Pathogens of grass-type biofuel crops that would reduce the yield of fuel-producing biomass likely use

similar infection mechanisms to Xoo."Having identified the activator of XA21, we will be able to study

the rice immune system in far greater detail than ever before. This might help in the future engineering of

more disease-resistant grass-type biofuel crops,‖ explained Benjamin Schwessinger, a grass geneticist

with JBEI.Most plants and many animals can only defend themselves against a given disease if they carry

specialised immune receptors that sense the invading pathogen behind the disease.Rice is also a model

plant for perennial grasses which are prime feedstock candidates for the production of clean, green and

renewable cellulosic biofuels.

Just as bacterial blight poses a major threat to rice crops, bacterial infections of grass-type fuel plants

could present major problems for the future production of advanced biofuels.In addition to its

implications for future grass-type biofuel feedstocks, unlocking the rice immune system also holds

important implications for the worldwide supply of rice, the authors concluded.

http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=338819

If moral, political and scientific obstacles can be surpassed,

then this is a breakthrough

By NEOnline | IR

When a new variety of rice is announced, activists in Europe brace for a new fight against

Genetically Modified Foods and US manufacturers seek for a new market, preferably in Asia and

Africa. On Wednesday, the announcement was made in Paris by a team of Chinese, Swedish and

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/iirr-scientist-nominated-to-fao-panel-on-soils/article7459055.ece

http://www.neurope.eu/author/neonlineir/



US scientists, and everyone was willing to listen.Rice is a staple favored in some of the most

demographically expanding countries in the world. Billions of people eat rice, every day,

thousands of tons of it. This particular variety’s claim to fame is not merely that it promises to

feed more people, which it does.

This rice is good for the environment. In fact, it may be the single most important breakthrough

in the fight against global warming made in years, if politics, the ethical argument, and science

will allow (in that order). This rice emits less methane.The key are starchier grains that on the

one hand are more nutritious and, on the other, they can curb global warming. Rice emits

methane, a gas that makes up 16% of the greenhouse gases responsible for climate change.

Unlike coal, methane dies out faster once released to the atmosphere, but traps far more heat on

the Earth’s surface whilst up there.

Each year, rice paddies emit 25 to 100 million tones of methane. And as human grow more and

more of the staff each year, rice is turning into a climate liability of unbelievable

proportions.Since 2002, it was noted that the bulkier the grain of the rice plant, the less methane

emitted. Apparently, that is because starchier rice grains mean allow for less carbon to

transferred to the soil, where it is turned into methane via decomposition. Plants left to rot, stink.

Rather than focusing on farming practices, the scientists are now focusing on the rice itself. The

key, apparently was the addition of a barley gene, giving rise to a strain dubbed SUSIBA 2.

Three year of experimental cultivation in China indicates the strain emits significantly less

methane.As always, this ―groundbreaking‖ discovery comes with ethical issues to be addressed.

It is as yet unknown how the spread of this seed could affect rice plant survival and there is the

perennial issue of how safe GM crops are for human consumption. In addition, it is unknown

whether lowering the rate of carbon transferred to the ground by rice affects the ecosystem

otherwise.

http://www.neurope.eu/article/rice-against-climate-change/

Unlocking the rice immune system

Joint BioEnergy Institute study identifies bacterial protein that is key to protecting rice

against bacterial blight DOE/LAWRENCE BERKELEY NATIONAL LABORATORY

IMAGE: RICE IS A STAPLE FOR HALF THE WORLD'S POPULATION AND THE

MODEL PLANT FOR GRASS-TYPE BIOFUEL FEEDSTOCKS.

CREDIT: PHOTO BY ROY KALTSCHMIDT, BERKELEY LAB

A bacterial signal that when recognized by rice plants enables the plants to resist a devastating

blight disease has been identified by a multi-national team of researchers led by scientists with

the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) and the University of



California (UC) Davis.The research team discovered that a tyrosine-sulfated bacterial protein

called "RaxX," activates the rice immune receptor protein called "XA21." This activation

triggers an immune response against Xanthomonas oryzaepv.oryzae (Xoo), a pathogen that

causes bacterial blight, a serious disease of rice crops."Our results show that RaxX, a small,

previously undescribed bacterial protein, is required for activation of XA21-mediated immunity

to Xoo," says Pamela Ronald, a plant geneticist for both JBEI and UC Davis who led this study.

"XA21 can detect RaxX and quickly mobilize its defenses to mount a potent immune response

against Xoo. Rice plants that do not carry the XA21 immune receptor or other related immune

receptors are virtually defenseless against bacterial blight."Ronald, who directs JBEI's grass

genetics program and is a professor in the UC Davis Department of Plant Pathology, is one of

two corresponding authors of a paper describing this research in Science Advances, along with

Benjamin Schwessinger, a grass geneticist with JBEI's Feedstocks Division at the time of this

study and now with the Australian National University. The paper is titled "The rice immune

receptor XA21 recognizes a tyrosine-sulfated protein from a Gram-negative bacterium." (See

end of story for a complete list of authors.)

Rice is a staple food for half the world's population and a model plant for perennial grasses, such

as Miscanthus and switchgrass, which are prime feedstock candidates for the production of

clean, green and renewable cellulosic biofuels. Just as bacterial blight poses a major threat to rice

crops, bacterial infections of grass-type fuel plants could present major problems for the future

production of advanced biofuels. However, the mechanisms by which bacteria infect such

http://www.eurekalert.org/multimedia/pub/96210.php



grasses is poorly understood."Pathogens of grass-type biofuel crops that would reduce the yield

of fuel-producing biomass likely use similar infection mechanisms to Xoo," says Schwessinger.

"Having identified the activator of XA21, we will be able to study the rice immune system in far

greater detail than ever before.

As rice is the model for grass-type biofuel feedstocks, this might help in the future engineering

of more disease-resistant grass-type biofuel crops."Most plants and many animals can only

defend themselves against a given disease if they carry specialized immune receptors that sense

the invading pathogen behind the disease. In 2009, Ronald and her group identified a small

bacterial protein they named "Ax21" as the molecular key that binds to the XA21 receptor to

activate a rice plant's immune response. Diligent follow-up research by her group led to Ronald

retracting these results and continuing the search for the true key.

"We were ecstatic with our results in 2009 because identifying the molecule that XA21

recognizes provides an important piece to the puzzle of how the rice plant is able to respond to

infection," Ronald says, "but then it was back to the drawing board. Now we have the real XA21

activator."To uncover the true XA21 activator, Ronald and her collaborators studied mutations

around an operon known as "RaxSTAB." Operons are small groups of genes with related

functions that are co-transcribed in a single strand of messenger RNA."We hypothesized that the

activator of XA21 might be encoded in the proximity of the molecular machinery that we already

knew was involved in production of the activator," says Rory Pruitt, a member of Ronald's

research group and a co-lead author with Schwessinger of the Science Advances paper.

"One of these bacterial mutants had a deletion of a then unknown gene, now called raxX."Adds

Schwessinger, "When we looked more closely in this operon region we identified raxX as a

potentially expressed gene. This small gene stuck out as it was very well conserved in other

Xanthomonas that encode RaxSTAB but not conserved in any other bacteria that miss this

operon."In addition to its implications for future grass-type biofuel feedstocks, the revelation of

RaxX as the bacterial molecule that triggers the XA21-mediated immune response also holds

important implications for the worldwide supply of rice. The research team has shown that a

number of strains of the blight bacteria can evade XA21-mediated immunity because they

encode a variant of raxX alleles.

"Like prescribing the best vaccination for the flu each season by monitoring which flu strains are

going to be the most prevalent, it should be possible to screen wild Xoo populations in the rice-

growing regions of Asia and Africa for whether they encode RaxX alleles that are recognized by

XA21," says Schwessinger. "We can then inform farmers which rice varieties will be resistant to

those bacterial populations."Schwessinger also notes that several major human diseases involve

tyrosine-sulfated proteins, including HIV. However the precise role of tyrosine sulfation in

receptor binding and cell invasion is not understood."Understanding the RaxX/XA21 ligand-

receptor pair might help medical researchers better understand the role of tyrosine sulfation for

receptor binding in human disease," Schwessinger says. "This could lead to the development of

novel components that block the binding of specific tyrosine-sulfated proteins."

###



This research was supported by both the DOE Office of Science, the National Institutes of

Health, and the Human Frontier Science Program.In addition to Ronald, Schwessinger and Pruitt,

other co-authors of the Science Advances paper were Anna Joe, Nicholas Thomas, Furong Liu,

Markus Albert, Michelle Robinson, Leanne Chan, Dee Dee Luu, Huamin Chen, Ofir Bahar,

Arsalan Daudi, David De Vleesschauwer, Daniel Caddell,Weiguo Zhang, Xiuxiang Zhao, Xiang

Li, Joshua Heazlewood, Deling Ruan, Dipali Majumder, Mawsheng Chern, Hubert Kalbacher,

Samriti Midha, Prabhu Patil, Ramesh Sonti, Christopher Petzold, Chang Liu, Jennifer Brodbelt

and Georg Felix.Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory addresses the world's most urgent

scientific challenges by advancing sustainable energy, protecting human health, creating new

materials, and revealing the origin and fate of the universe.

Founded in 1931, Berkeley Lab's scientific expertise has been recognized with 13 Nobel prizes.

The University of California manages Berkeley Lab for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office

of Science. For more, visithttp://www.lbl.gov.DOE's Office of Science is the single largest

supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to

address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit the

Office of Science website atscience.energy.gov/.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-07/dbnl-utr072415.php

Beating hunger: This Emirati farmer shows how to grow

rice in the desert

Using hydroponics, Emirati farmer unveils exciting solution to curb hunger -- by growing rice,

pineapple, papayas, nectarines, oranges, black and blueberries and grapes without soil

Image Credit: WAM

Emirati Saleh Mohammad Yarouf Al Mansouri shows a rice variety he is growing using

hydroponics. He is one of exhibitors at the on-going Liwa Dates Festival 2015, an agricultural

event which ends on July 30.

PUBLISHED: 19:55 JULY 24, 2015

STAFF REPORTER

Western Region: Emirati Saleh Mohammad Yarouf Al Mansouri has demonstrated his amazing

green thumb by growing rice in the desert.On Friday, he exhibited an exciting experiment that

could potentially help beat hunger especially in the world's arid regions. He is planting rice in his

farm in Liwa, an oasis in the UAE's south-western region.And his new experiment is starting to

bear fruit using a water-efficient farming method called hydroponics.Al Mansouri has been

growing vegetables and fruits too, which he brought for everyone to see at the on-going Liwa

Dates Festival 2015, an annual event which ends on July 30.The Emirati farmer had been using

hydroponics to grow vegetables for years.Hydroponics is a branch of hydro-culture which

http://www.lbl.gov/

http://science.energy.gov/



employs a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions directly in water -- without

soil, according to the official agency WAM.

Many commercial farms in the UAE had been using

hydroponics for decades now to grow everything from

strawberries to celery for both local and export markets.But Al

Mansouri has now taken it to higher pitch -- by demonstrating

he can also grow and harvest rice too -- potentially helping

solve land and water scarcity for the cultivation of rice.The

International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), based in Los

Banos, Philippines, estimates that up to 20 million hectares of

irrigated rice fields may suffer from water scarcity by

2025.Japanese researchers at the Chiba University estimate that global production of rice, a

staple for much of Asia, must increase by more than 50 per cent before 2050 to satisty an

expected spike in demand by the world's growing population.

Experiment

The Emirati farmer said he started his experiments

back in 2010 by planting various types of

vegetables and other plants in his Liwa farm.As the

experiments proved to be a complete success, Al

Mansouri decided to grow the vegetables in

commercial quantities.At the festival, Al Mansouri

is exhibiting other fruits which he grew using the

same method -- such as pineapples, papayas,

nectarines, oranges, black and blue berries and

grapes.

Then he started planting rice and is now exhibiting

his hydroponic rice product samples at the agro-

industrial event.Al Mansouri's passion for

hydroponics makes him believe this modern food

production method could be used on a much larger

scale over the coming years, through the use of a

smart irrigation system.He also urged other farmers

to try and use it. "Some farmers," Al Mansouri said,

"believe this method is complicated and costly ... and

that is not true."Hay from rice could also potentially

boost local production of animal fodder, which could help the local dairy industry.

http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/environment/beating-hunger-this-emirati-farmer-shows-how-to-grow-rice-

in-the-desert-1.1555586

Huge rice import alarming, say lawmakers

http://www.esciencecentral.org/journals/feasibility-study-of-rice-growth-in-plant-factories-jrr.1000119.pdf



A vendor sells varieties of rice at a retailer shop in Makati, Metro Manila in the Philippines. The Philippines,

one of the world’s biggest rice importers, could ship in more to boost buffer stocks and keep local prices

stable because of an El Nino dry weather pattern now forecast to last until next year, potentially hurting the

local harvest.

10:37 PM 24 July2015

The Aquino administration has imported an alarming 2.1mn metric tonnes (MT) of rice this year

alone that would reduce prices of farm-gate palay (unhusked rice) to the detriment of farmers,

lawmakers said yesterday.Party-list Representatives Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate made

the warning in House Resolution 2231, which calls on the House Committee on Agriculture and

Food and the Special House Committee on Food Security to conduct a joint inquiry, in aid of

legislation, into the excessive importation of rice by the National Food Authority (NFA)

Council.The 2.1mn MT of rice import for 2015 is broken down into 500,000 MT procured by the

NFA from Thailand and Vietnam through two rounds of government-to-government

transactions, 250,000 MT programmed for the lean season, 250,000 MT reserve volume, 805,200

MT private sector imports from the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) and 300,000 MT

delivered this year from 2014 MAV.

The 805,200 MT private sector imports from the MAV came from China, India, Pakistan,

Australia, El Salvador, Thailand and Vietnam, among others, with the biggest chunk of 293,000

MT sourced from neighboring Thailand and Vietnam.―The 2.1mn MT in rice import for 2015 is

highly irregular and doubtful. Excessive importation jeopardises the livelihood of our farmers

nationwide. In fact, even the NFA admitted that importation would surely cause the farm-gate

prices of palay to go down from its current price pegged at P17 per kilo,‖ the resolution of the

lawmakers from Bayan Muna pointed out.Bayan Muna said the NFA made matters worse by



merely procuring 7,789 MT of palay for January-October 2014, a steep decline from the 365,582

MT palay procured in 2013.Director Edilberto de Luna of the Department of Agriculture’s

National Rice Programme said the NFA should at least buy 1mn MT of palay from farmers to

ensure the stability of farm-gate prices.―It is rather incomprehensible that the NFA managed to

[procure] excessive amounts of imported rice while reasoning out that they are hampered from

buying more palay from farmers due to lack of funding,‖ Bayan Muna pointed out.

―The government did not even assure farmers that they would take necessary measures to

stabilise the prices to ensure food security. Hence, should this excessive importation continue,

the public will be expecting another round of price hikes not only of rice, but other

commodities,‖ the lawmakers said.Moreover, Bayan Muna revealed that the Aquino

administration has been marred by low rice distribution based on NFA records.From a total rice

distribution of 1.7mn MT in 2010, the NFA only distributed 1.9 MT in 2011, 766,000 MT in

2012, 758,000 MT in 2013 and 1.2 mn MT in 2014.―Rice distribution is the capacity of the

government to judiciously disperse stocks, thereby ensuring sustainable rice inventories in

critical areas of the country.

This means that despite the Aquino administration attaining record-setting importation volumes,

the consuming public did not benefit from the same,‖ Colmenares and Zarate said.―It is the

primordial duty of Congress to partake in measures or actions that would ensure not only food

security to the public but also their protection from those who try to abuse our resources.

President Benigno Aquino 3rd himself questioned the excessive importation of rice during the

Arroyo administration. And yet, the situation worsened during his term,‖ the two lawmakers

added.

http://www.gulf-times.com/asean-philippines/188/details/448559/huge-rice-import-alarming,-say-

lawmakers

U.S. Sells Rice to Iran

ARLINGTON, VA -- In the weekly sales report released

yesterday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it was

announced that 60,000 MT of long grain rice was sold to Iran. The last shipment of U.S. rice to

Iran was in May 2013, a year in which the U.S. exported 126,000 MT of rice to that

country. U.S. sanctions toward Iran, like in Cuba, has an exception for food, but requires

licenses be obtained from the Treasury Department Office of Foreign Asset Control to complete

sales.

Room for U.S. rice



This sale follows closely on the heels of a similar 60,000 MT sale to Iraq, which was the result of

significant efforts and engagement of USA Rice with the U.S. State Department, the U.S.

Ambassador to Iraq, and the Foreign Agricultural Service."These sales could not have come at a

better time for rice farmers and the rice milling industry," said Betsy Ward, USA Rice President

& CEO. "With the current market situation, any added demand is most welcome."

Contact: Jim Guinn (703) 236-1474

USA Rice Meets with Taiwan Government Officials and USDA

about Rice Imports

Michael Rue

TAIPEI, TAIWAN -- Last week, Michael Rue, California rice producer

and chairman of USA Rice's Asia Trade Policy Subcommittee, and USA

Rice COO Bob Cummings met with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's

Foreign Agricultural Service employees stationed in Taiwan and with

officials from Taiwan's Agriculture and Food Agency (AFA) and the

Ministry of Economic Affairs to discuss ongoing concerns about access for

U.S. rice in Taiwan.When Taiwan joined the World Trade Organization,

officials agreed to import 64,634 MT (brown basis) of U.S. rice annually.

Approximately 45 percent is imported directly by AFA and the remainder

is purchased under a Simultaneous Buy-Sell system managed by AFA

officials.

Import tenders for U.S. and other origin rice often fail because the offered prices exceed a price ceiling

set by AFA. "We continued our discussion with AFA about the non-transparent nature of the price ceiling

mechanism and the problems this causes Taiwan in fulfilling its WTO obligations," said Michael Rue.

Taiwan did agree to hold an annual rice technical meeting with USA Rice members. Taiwan officials

mailto:[email protected]

tel:%28703%29%20236-1474



also expressed interest in joining the Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement following completion of

negotiations among the current 12 participants, including the United States.

Contact: Kristen Dayton (703) 236-1464

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for July 24

Month Price Net Change

September 2015 $11.045 - $0.065

November 2015 $11.310 - $0.065

January 2016 $11.580 - $0.065

March 2016 $11.780 - $0.065

May 2016 $11.970 - $0.065

July 2016 $11.970 - $0.065

September 2016 $11.980 - $0.065

Researchers use test plots to adapt recommendations Bruce Schultz7:02 p.m. CDT July 23, 2015

(Photo: Bruce Schultz/LSU AgCenter))

CONNECTTWEETLINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORE

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0014ZVYNiAZwHebvKNvLsk9p3wzmX6mMtW1A2hn8nrbq7X7XRc3lq9Eg-Q8H7NTfWDsfPuIx00iR3hA27mu4wPxv4AqYxLEV12iO9cqQk2S7LikD6TwBsKQhfjVfbp7lzazVxvuveJJZujY39gKoI0mEyFPAY7hojdNc8ezPhhEM45M6qQRgxMJnaLU-9FQSWAmlEZ1iGvNY4AIGoKlV0Nu77EAzUKh6EbVpA_9Kj9E6XShmzRvSAYPKwjDsSw0wtj55dS6qBefmEgRu5XjxHCmoVmAynnW4707qC_bvJiBIpaR70_xV2lS8-f1LvaCmQWVStWgeN8KXnG35OfyWjpYfci5eBB3A9dMWOG-o_x6hAzRbsAvuz0tbM1443a3wjWTtEFNKD4Yj9erFBh1vwhgRzkC7Q5cA-IwnY1VBZZf9k9YHP1WUWW57PgWwz0Oke2UYYRnCk-LWm_-igGMaYMTZKbEaAj9P9K8&c=Y2lalafiTUyNisYc5mZBuJJJgxOBxgceFqRIgVZaHL3AMNbFo6Du7A==&ch=zAju6ur4F_Td05o80xtvAazcT1gotWpbL3THFX0dIAJp-N7v31oOdQ==

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RAYVILLE – The differences in growing rice in north and south Louisiana create the need for

researchers to study how farmers can adapt their practices to fit the varied environments, an LSU

AgCenter expert said recently.Speaking at the Northeast Louisiana rice field day, LSU AgCenter

rice breeder Steve Linscombe said test plots on farmers’ land help test potential rice varieties to

see how the perform in different settings with varying soil types and climates.The field day was

held at the Woodsland Plantation south of Rayville where Linscombe has a series of test

plots.Among the rice included in the test plots are two lines that could become varieties this year,

he said.The line LA2134 has a yield potential similar or perhaps higher than CL151 with better

grain quality, better lodging resistance and more blast disease resistance, he said.

A seed increase grown in Puerto Rico has been planted in a 20-acre field at the LSU AgCenter

Rice Research Station near Crowley.Also up for consideration as a release is a medium-grain

line, LA2008, he said.Blast is a problem for some growers this year, although it is not as bad as

in 2012, Linscombe said. The severity may have been reduced this year because farmers are

using fungicides more effectively.Bacterial panicle blight has been found in the varieties CL111

and Jazzman 2, Linscombe said. Sheath blight problems are about average.Check-off funds paid

by farmers are essential for rice research and to buy equipment researchers need to do their work,

Linscombe said.

―These check-off funds are extremely valuable to bring new technology to the station.‖The new

rice breeder at the station, Adam Famoso, said he wants to use technology to screen new rice

lines earlier in the breeding process to obtain desired traits and to eliminate unwanted

characteristics.AgCenter rice specialist Dustin Harrell said this year’s growing season will be

remembered for heavy rainfall that kept soil wet and interfered with fertilizer applications.―Pre-

flood nitrogen has to go out on dry ground, or you’re going to lose much of that nitrogen,‖

Harrell said.AgCenter entomologist Sebe Brown said keeping levees clear of weeds can slow the

migration of stink bugs into a field.



Acephate cannot be used legally for stink bugs, and traces of the pesticide found on rice can be

rejected by overseas buyers.Stink bugs probably will become resistant to pyrethroids eventually,

Brown said. ―It’s not if, but when.‖Rogers Leonard, AgCenter program leader for plants and

soils, said the recent legislative session ended with a resolution of a potential funding crisis that

could have led to closures of AgCenter research stations and parish extension offices.Leonard

credited legislators for realizing the potential for disaster and voted for items they disliked to

prevent the drastic action. ―We will try to thank them as much as we can

http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/local/louisiana/2015/07/23/researchers-use-test-plots-adapt-

recommendations/30596725/?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+July+24%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C

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

Huge rice importation alarming – lawmakers July 24, 2015 11:45 pm

by LLANESCA T. PANTI, REPORTER

The Aquino administration has imported an alarming 2.1 million metric tons (MT) of rice this

year alone that would reduce prices of farm-gate palay (unhusked rice) to the detriment of

farmers, lawmakers said on Friday.Party-list Representatives Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate

made the warning in House Resolution 2231, which calls on the House Committee on

Agriculture and Food and the Special House Committee on Food Security to conduct a joint

inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the excessive importation of rice by the National Food

Authority (NFA) Council.

The 2.1 million MT of rice import for 2015 is broken down into 500,000 MT procured by the

NFA from Thailand and Vietnam through two rounds of government-to-government

transactions, 250,000 MT programmed for the lean season, 250,000 MT reserve volume, 805,200

MT private sector imports from the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) and 300,000 MT

delivered this year from 2014 MAV.The 805,200 MT private sector imports from the MAV

came from China, India, Pakistan, Australia, El Salvador, Thailand and Vietnam, among others,

with the biggest chunk of 293,000 MT sourced from neighboring Thailand and Vietnam.―The 2.1

million MT in rice import for 2015 is highly irregular and doubtful. Excessive importation

jeopardizes the livelihood of our farmers nationwide.

In fact, even the NFA admitted that importation would surely cause the farm-gate prices of palay

to go down from its current price pegged at P17 per kilo,‖ the resolution of the lawmakers from

Bayan Muna pointed out.Bayan Muna said the NFA made matters worse by merely procuring

7,789 MT of palay for January-October 2014, a steep decline from the 365,582 MT palay

procured in 2013.Director Edilberto de Luna of the Department of Agriculture’s National Rice

Program said the NFA should at least buy one million MT of palay from farmers to ensure the

stability of farm-gate prices.―It is rather incomprehensible that the NFA managed to [procure]

excessive amounts of imported rice while reasoning out that they are hampered from buying

more palay from farmers due to lack of funding,‖ Bayan Muna pointed out.

http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/local/louisiana/2015/07/23/researchers-use-test-plots-adapt-recommendations/30596725/?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+July+24%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email





―The government did not even assure farmers that they would take necessary measures to

stabilize the pricesto ensure food security. Hence, should this excessive importation continue, the

public will be expecting another round of price hikes not only of rice, but other commodities,‖

the lawmakers said.Moreover, Bayan Muna revealed that the Aquino administration has been

marred by low rice distribution based on NFA records.From a total rice distribution of 1.7 MT

million in 2010, the NFA only distributed 1.9 MT in 2011, 766,000 MT in 2012, 758,000 MT in

2013 and 1.2 million MT in 2014.―Rice distribution is the capacity of the government to

judiciously disperse stocks, thereby ensuring sustainable rice inventories in critical areas of the

country.

This means that despite the Aquino administration attaining record-setting importation volumes,

the consuming public did not benefit from the same,‖ Colmenares and Zarate said.―It is the

primordial duty of Congress to partake in measures or actions that would ensure not only food

security to the public but also their protection from those who try to abuse our resources.

President [Benigno] Aquino [3rd] himself questioned the excessive importation of rice during the

Arroyo administration. And yet, the situation worsened during his term,‖ the two lawmakers

added.

http://www.manilatimes.net/huge-rice-importation-alarming-lawmakers/203231/

NFA, groups to keep monitoring rice prices

By Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star) | Updated July 24, 2015 - 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines - The National Food Authority (NFA) it will continue to work with

groups that have been helping the agency monitor rice prices.―We are grateful for the support of

concerned groups and individuals who have partnered with us to monitor rice prices. The tips we

have received have helped us to identify which areas require more supplies and which do not,‖

NFA administrator Renan Dalisay said yesterday.Dalisay noted that rice prices have remained

stable at the onset of the lean season.Rice inflation has fallen to 2 percent from a high of 14

percent in August 2014.

A kilo of regular milled rice now retails for P37.30, P1.60 lower than the average prices in

January.Dalisay said an NFA project called ―Bantay Bigas‖ has allowed the NFA to coordinate

with all the other stakeholders including, but not limited to, farmers, millers, consumer groups,

retailers, local government units and civil society.―The NFA has personnel but like most

government agencies, our resources are limited. With volunteer groups like Kaya Natin, we’re

able to cover more areas and have more eyes and ears on the ground,‖ he said..The project has

encouraged other civil society groups, youth groups and local government units to participate in

efforts to ensure that rice remains affordable and accessible to every Filipino.―Such programs are

part of the NFA’s reform agenda, aptly named BIGAS, which hopes to involve the community

and other sectors in NFA’s various activities,‖ Dalisay added.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/07/24/1480403/nfa-groups-keep-monitoring-rice-prices

http://www.philstar.com/author/Czeriza%20Valencia/



Group warns against importing more rice

Agri-Commodities

by Mary Grace Padin - July 24, 2015

A non-governmental organization (NGO) on Friday warned the National Food Authority (NFA)

against pushing through with its plans to import more rice under the so-called minimum-access

volume (MAV) scheme.The Rice Watch and Action Network (R1) said allowing the private

sector to bring in an additional 805,200 metric tons (MT) of rice under MAV would be

―disastrous‖ for local rice farmers.―We all know that oversupply of imported rice will spell the

death of livelihood for our local rice farmers. The traders will exploit this situation to drive the

farm gate prices of palay at its lowest possible rate,‖ Lead Convenor of R1 Aurora Regalado said

in a statement.

The NFA has already imported a total of 750,000 MT of rice earlier this year. Including the

250,000 MT reserve volume on standby, the 805,200 MT private-sector importation under the

MAV scheme, and the 300,000 MT of rice imported under MAV in December last year, this

adds up to a total of 2.1 million MT of rice-importation plan for 2015.Rice imports that fall

within the MAV are slapped a lower tariff of 35 percent.NFA Administrator Renan B. Dalisay

said the government has not yet decided on putting on hold its purchase of an additional 250,000

MT of rice from foreign sources. The government is also not suspending the rice-importation

scheme under MAV.

―As of now, the importation under MAV will push through. Based on my own estimate, private

traders have applied for permits to bring in some 200,000 MT,‖ Dalisay said in a text message to

BusinessMirror.Dalisay said the NFA’s total rice inventory is currently at 773,038 MT, which is

sufficient for 25 days. He said this is below the 30-day buffer stock, which the NFA must

maintain during the lean months of July, August and September.For the week ending July 17, the

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said prices of regular-milled and well-milled rice remain

stable.―Prices were generally stable although movements in two trading centers were noted,‖

thereport read.

In Tacloban City, PSA data showed that the price per kilo of well-milled and regular-milled rice

dropped by P2 each. The report also noted that the prices of special rice and premium rice

declined by P5 per kilo and P1 per kilo, respectively. http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/group-warns-against-importing-more-rice/

Ministry postpones |the auction of rotten rice to next month

PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI,THE NATION July 25, 2015 1:00 am

THE COMMERCE Ministry has postponed until next month a planned auction of Grade C

(rotten) rice for industrial use, to ensure this lot has not been mixed up with good-quality rice

that would demand a better price.Commerce Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya said the

ministry would delay open bidding for 1.29 million tonnes of rotten rice in the government

stocks for a couple weeks.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/group-warns-against-importing-more-rice/



However, the ministry will maintain its plan to auction 450,000 tonnes of good-quality rice by

late July to increase the market supply as the drought cuts production.The ministry is cooperating

with the Thailand Development Research Institute, the National Farmers Council, and rice

surveyors to inspect the government's rice stocks.The ministry will set up a team to ensure that

no Grade C rice finds its way into batches meant for human consumption.

Given the high demand for rice amid the drought, the Commerce Ministry is confident that

Thailand will be able to export a total of 10 million tonnes this year as it expects rising demand

in many markets.In an upcoming trade mission to South Africa, the ministry will witness the

signing of a rice-purchase contract for the supply of about 700,000 tonnes from Thailand this

year.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Ministry-postpones-the-auction-of-rotten-rice-to-n-

30265182.html

Thai Commerce Ministry Set To Revise Exports Expectation

HANOI, July 24 (Bernama) -- The Thailand Ministry of Commerce is set to adjust the 2015

exports projection due to the global economy's uncertain recovery, and has ordered the

Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) to communicate with private companies on the release of in-

stock rice, reports Vietnam News Agency (VNA).The Minister of Commerce Gen Chatchai

Sarikulya has revealed that the Ministry will be revising this year's exports growth projection

down from previous forecast at 1.2 per cent, as Thai exports are still overshadowed by the

uncertainty of the global economy.

New projections will be concluded by next week.Regarding the government's release of in-stock

rice, the Commerce Minister has said that the DFT has been ordered to communicate with the

millers associations and exporters to discuss the plan's scope, in order to push the total exports of

Thai rice this year over 10 million tonnes.The principles for the release of 400,000-500,000

tonnes of good quality rice will be announced next week, while the ministry is also compiling the

principles for the release of another 1.29 million tonnes of poor quality rice to the industrial

sector.

Regarding claims by rice exporters stating that the purchasing price of rice in the market that

should be higher than the current price, the Minister of Commerce has said that the DFT has

been ordered to verify factual information on this matter, but he believes that the current price of

9,000 THB (US$285) per tonne is the proper price, in line with market mechanisms.He said that

the price of rice will continue to increase, but much of this depends on the market's demand and

supply.

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v8/wn/newsworld.php?id=1155120



Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-July 24 Nagpur, July 23 Gram and tuar prices moved down in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and

Marketing Committee (APMC) here on lack of demand from local millers amid poor quality

arrival.

Easy condition on NCDEX, fresh fall in Madhya Pradesh pulses and reports about beginning of

monsoon in the regions also pulled down prices, according to sources.

* * * *

FOODGRAINS & PULSES

GRAM

* Desi gram raw showed weak tendency in open market in absence of buyers amid ample

stock in ready position.

TUAR

* Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here matching the demand and supply

position.

* Rice HMT Shriram varieties recovered in open market on increased festival season

demand from local traders amid thin arrival from producing regions like

Chhasttisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

* In Akola, Tuar - 7,100-7,200, Tuar dal - 10,100-10,300, Udid at 9,500-9,900,

Udid Mogar (clean) - 11,000-11,400, Moong - 7,000-8,000, Moong Mogar

(clean) 9,800-10,100, Gram - 4,100-4,200, Gram Super best bold - 5,700-5,900

for 100 kg.

* Wheat, other varieties of rice and other commodities remained steady in open market

in thin trading activity, according to sources.

Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg

FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close

Gram Auction 3,800-4,430 3,800-4,590

Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600

Tuar Auction 6,700-7,400 6,700-7,550

Moong Auction n.a. 6,000-6,400

Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500

Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800

Gram Super Best Bold 6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200

Gram Super Best n.a.

Gram Medium Best 5,700-5,800 5,700-5,800

Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a.

Gram Mill Quality 5,350-5,550 5,350-5,550



Desi gram Raw 4,500-4,600 4,550-4,650

Gram Filter new 5,950-6,150 5,950-6,150

Gram Kabuli 5,600-7,100 5,600-7,100

Gram Pink 6,500-6,700 6,500-6,700

Tuar Fataka Best 10,600-10,850 10,600-10,850

Tuar Fataka Medium 10,200-10,500 10,200-10,500

Tuar Dal Best Phod 9,700-9,900 9,700-9,900

Tuar Dal Medium phod 9,200-9,500 9,200-9,500

Tuar Gavarani New 7,700-7,800 7,700-7,800

Tuar Karnataka 8,100-8,300 8,100-8,300

Tuar Black 11,000-11,300 11,000-11,300

Masoor dal best 8,000-8,300 8,000-8,300

Masoor dal medium 7,700-7,900 7,700-7,900

Masoor n.a. n.a.

Moong Mogar bold 9,500-10,500 9,500-10,500

Moong Mogar Medium best 8,800-9,200 8,800-9,200

Moong dal Chilka 8,800-9,200 8,800-9,800

Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.

Moong Chamki best 9,600-9,900 9,600-9,900

Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 11,200-11,800 11,200-11,800

Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 10,600-11,000 10,600-11,000

Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 9,200-9,600 9,200-9,600

Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 4,600-5,000 4,600-5,000

Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 3,300-3,400 3,300-3,400

Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,300-3,400 3,300-3,400

Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,200 3,100-3,200

Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,800 3,200-3,800

Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,400-1,500 1,400-1,500

Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,550-1,700 1,550-1,700

Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,300-1,500 1,300-1,500

Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,400 2,200-2,400

Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,100 1,900-2,100

Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,700 3,200-3,700

MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,550-2,850 2,550-2,850

Rice BPT New(100 INR/KG) 2,750-2,950 2,750-2,950

Rice BPT (100 INR/KG) 3,050-3,300 3,050-3,300

Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,600-1,750 1,600-1,750

Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,450 2,200-2,450

Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,700 2,500-2,700

Rice HMT new(100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,600 3,100-3,600

Rice HMT (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,200 3,800-4,200

Rice HMT Shriram New(100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,600 4,200-4,500

Rice HMT Shriram old (100 INR/KG) 4,700-5,100 4,500-5,100

Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,000-10,000 8,000-10,000



Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,000-7,500 7,000-7,500

Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,800 4,500-4,800

Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG) 5,100-5,500 5,100-5,500

Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,350 2,100-2,350

Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500

WEATHER (NAGPUR)

Maximum temp. 29.4 degree Celsius (84.9 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.

23.0 degree Celsius (73.4 degree Fahrenheit)

Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.

Rainfall : 23.1 mm

FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky. Rains or thunder-showers likely. Maximum and minimum

temperature would be around and 27 and 23 degree Celsius respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available

(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.) http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/07/24/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL3N1043LP20150724

Kenya asked to review import duty on rice July 24, 2015

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Thursday asked Kenya to review its decision of enhancing import

duty on rice, which is affecting the country’s commodity exports.Finance Minister Ishaq Dar

asked the Kenyan High Commissioner, Prof. Julius Kibet Bitok to review the matter of

increasing import duty on Pakistani rice by Kenya. The matter regarding import of Kenyan tea in

Pakistan was also discussed with emphasis on efforts to ensure import through regular channels.

Both sides agreed that all matters relating to trade and business cooperation could be taken up at

the long awaited Pak-Kenya Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) meeting which is to be held in

Pakistan. Finance Minister Dar asked Secretary Commerce to finalise the schedule of the Pak-

Kenya JMC in consultation with the Commerce Minister and convey the decision to the Kenyan

side through the Economic Affairs Division on priority.

The Kenyan High Commissioner requested Finance Minister for increasing number of medical

and engineering scholarships offered to Kenyan students by Pakistan. He said given the high

standard of education, a large number of Kenyan students were eager to get enrolled in Pakistani

educational institutions. The Minister directed Secretary EAD to accord due consideration to this

request. Both sides agreed that exchange of high level visits was imperative for furthering

bilateral relations, particularly the economic cooperation.

Korea keen to set up SEZ

Ambassador of Korea in Pakistan Dr Dong Jonghwan said that Korean companies are interested

to establish a Pakistan-Korean special economic zone in Agriculture farming and complete food

processing in Punjab - Pakistan.He made these remarks during his visit to Board of Investment

where he met with Minister of State/Chairman, Dr. Miftah Ismail and discussed and explore the



key areas of investment opportunities between Pakistan and Korea. Minister of State/Chairman,

Dr. Miftah Ismail highlighted the investment potential and opportunities available for Korean

investors / companies in Pakistan. Chairman BOI extended BOI’s full support to the Korean

companies for the establishment of SEZ in Pakistan.

The Secretary, BOI informed Korean ambassador about his visit to Korea in the start of this

month. He said that during his two -day visit, had a series of meetings with around 15 President

& CEO’s of various Korean companies and Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Korea. He

briefed the Korean companies with detailed discussions and induced them to make more

investment in the potential areas of Pakistan.He said that Korean investors were very much

interested to invest in Pakistan. At the end MOS/ Chairman, BOI thanked Dr. Dong Jonghwan,

Ambassador of Korea for visiting Board of Investment and appreciated his efforts and intention

to boost investment and economic relation between the two friendly countries

http://nation.com.pk/business/24-Jul-2015/kenya-asked-to-review-import-duty-on-rice

Guyana Considers Alternatives as Venezuela Oil Program

Wobbles by Andrew Rosati

July 24, 2015 — 9:43 AM PDT

Guyana is considering energy alternatives to the Petrocaribe program as Venezuela fails to meet

export quotas and tensions flare between the neighboring countries.―We are actively considering

other options,‖ Guyanese Finance Minister Winston Jordan said in an interview on

Wednesday.The small South American nation receives about half its fuel supply from the

Petrocaribe program, but fears the agreement could be affected by a diplomatic spat with

Venezuela over a longstanding border dispute, Jordan said. Guyana currently receives about

5200 barrels of fuel a day under the Petrocaribe program, though Venezuela has been unable to

meet some delivery quotas, he said.Relations between the South American neighbors have hit

their lowest point in recent years following Exxon Mobil Corp.’s announcement of a

―significant‖ oil discovery off Guyana’s coast in waters that Venezuela also claims as its

own.Venezuela has long contested that’s borders drawn in 1899 are invalid and claims nearly

two-thirds of Guyana’s as its own.Earlier this month, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro

recalled his ambassador in Georgetown for consultations and said he would review relations.

Venezuela will stop purchasing Guyanese rice in November when a bartering agreement for oil

payments expires, according to Guyana.Through the rice for oil deal, Jordan said Guyana

―sharply decreased‖ its Petrocaribe debt over the years to its current level of some $160 million.

―The oil dispute may have accelerated recent actions, and may have hardened stances,‖ he said.A

signature program of the late Hugo Chavez, Petrocaribe has sold about $28 billion to nations

across the Caribbean and Central America since its creation in 2005. Member countries finance

as much as half the price of the shipments at 1 percent to 2 percent interest over 25 years.Jordan

says Guyana had no plans of exiting Petrocaribe due to its generous terms, while remaining

cautious as no agreement had been signed for 2015.―This is a scenario where Venezuela has the

oil and we are buying the oil on an arrangement from them -- they could cut it off at any time.

You have to be prepared.‖

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-24/guyana-considers-alternatives-as-venezuela-oil-program-wobbles

http://www.bloomberg.com/authors/ASFv3NN53es/andrew-rosati

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