Paddy farmers in Andhra Pradesh are going to have a tough time in rabi season too. Lack of water in all the major reservoirs and severe shortage of power will make it difficult for the farmers to go for water-intensive paddy crop this time.
The Government officials have been advising the farmers to shun paddy this time and go for maize and other crops that require less water.
The sowing patterns so far clearly indicate a steady growth in the non-paddy crops. Paddy was sown in 88,000 hectares, just 50 per cent of the normal figure of 1.76 lakh ha. This is less than the last year’s position of 1.27 lakh ha. The State grows paddy in 15 lakh ha in the rabi season.
“Farmers in all the regions in the State are advised to raise irrigated maize and sunflower as an alternative rice as the groundwater turning scarce,” an official of Ministry of Agriculture said.
Yerneni Nagendranath, President of Farmers’ Federation of Andhra Pradesh, admits that the season was not favourable to grow paddy. “The Government has been claiming that it will give power for seven hours. But going by the availability, it is unlikely that we get not more than four hours. So, it is good for farmers either to avoid paddy or reduce the acreage in proportion to the availability of water and power,” he told Business Line on Sunday.
The Government had not released water under Nagarjunasagar and Sriramsagar in the kharif season. This situation is likely to continue in the rabi season too, if the levels in the reservoirs are any indication.
The storage level at Nagarjunasagar stands at 162 tmc (thousand million cubic feet ) as against 182 tmc recorded last year. The Sriramsagar reservoir reports 50 tmc (66 tmc).
Tuesday 11 December 2012
Quality not enough to support high rice for Thai rice in HK
Thailand cannot count on its reputation for producing high-quality rice and charge too much for it, as the global market is highly competitive and consumers are more willing to accept slightly lower quality to save money on this staple food, Hong Kong traders and Thai exporters agree.
Thailand's Hom Mali (jasmine) rice is losing a large share of the Hong Kong market, which has been one of its major importers, because its price is too high compared with competing varieties from other countries, mainly Vietnam and Cambodia, they said.
After meeting with the Thai Commerce Ministry recently, Kenneth Chan, chairman of the Rice Merchants Association of Hong Kong and vice chairman of the Hong Kong Rice Suppliers Association, said that if the price of Thai rice were US$100 (Bt3,063) per tonne lower, it would regain its lost market share.
"Hong Kong consumer behaviour has changed to lower-quality rice because of high prices of Thai rice and slowing economic growth. The Thai government should set a competitive price for rice, which should be lower than the current price by $100 a tonne in order to narrow the gap between Thai [rice] and its rivals," Chan said.
According to Thailand's Foreign Trade Department, the Kingdom's rice exports to Hong Kong dropped sharply year on year, by 20 per cent, to 177,176 tonnes in the first 10 months of 2012. Of this, about 121,076 tonnes was jasmine rice, or 85.4 per cent of the total volume. Thailand currently has 55 per cent of the Hong Kong rice market, a drop from 90 per cent in 2008.
Meanwhile Vietnam now holds 33 per cent of the Hong Kong rice market, a rapid rise from less than 20 per cent in 2008. Other major rice suppliers to Hong Kong are mainland China with an 8-per-cent share, then Pakistan, Australia and the United States with 2 per cent each.
Lawrence Chong, managing director of Season Rice and Food Holdings, said Thai rice was facing a difficult time due to its overly high price.
"Consumers' behaviour has been changing because Hong Kong people want to buy cheaper products, not only rice. Thailand needs to adjust [to the needs of] Hong Kong consumers to ensure that the country will be able to keep [its current] market share and regain the loss of market share next year," he said.
To promote Thai rice, Chong suggested that the country ensure competitive prices and target direct marketing activities at modern traders and restaurants. The Thai government should also advertise more about methods of preparing Thai rice dishes and prevent the contamination of quality with substandard varieties.
Vuttiphon Wanglee, managing director of Chaithip, a long-time exporter of Thai rice, said the government should focus on marketing and create a competitive price for the product.
Currently, Vietnamese fragrant rice is quoted at only $650 a tonne, while the price of Thai jasmine rice is $1,050.
Vuttiphon said some importers and local restaurants In Hong Kong needed to combine Thai rice with product from other countries to lower their costs.
Chaithip is a major bulk supplier of Hom Mali rice to Hong Kong, exporting about 20,000 tonnes annually.
Samphan Jantrakul, rice export manager of Toumi Foods and Products, said the price of pure Thai Hom Mali rice was 90 Hong Kong dollars (Bt355) for an 8-kilogram bag, while a mixture of Hom Mali and other grains went for HK$75-$80.
He expressed concern about reduced quality of Thai rice resulting in lower market share in the long run.
Toumi Foods and Products has shipped about 20,000-30,000 tonnes of rice to Hong Kong each year, but shipments have dropped by 10 per cent because of lower demand, Samphan said.
Thailand's Hom Mali (jasmine) rice is losing a large share of the Hong Kong market, which has been one of its major importers, because its price is too high compared with competing varieties from other countries, mainly Vietnam and Cambodia, they said.
After meeting with the Thai Commerce Ministry recently, Kenneth Chan, chairman of the Rice Merchants Association of Hong Kong and vice chairman of the Hong Kong Rice Suppliers Association, said that if the price of Thai rice were US$100 (Bt3,063) per tonne lower, it would regain its lost market share.
"Hong Kong consumer behaviour has changed to lower-quality rice because of high prices of Thai rice and slowing economic growth. The Thai government should set a competitive price for rice, which should be lower than the current price by $100 a tonne in order to narrow the gap between Thai [rice] and its rivals," Chan said.
According to Thailand's Foreign Trade Department, the Kingdom's rice exports to Hong Kong dropped sharply year on year, by 20 per cent, to 177,176 tonnes in the first 10 months of 2012. Of this, about 121,076 tonnes was jasmine rice, or 85.4 per cent of the total volume. Thailand currently has 55 per cent of the Hong Kong rice market, a drop from 90 per cent in 2008.
Meanwhile Vietnam now holds 33 per cent of the Hong Kong rice market, a rapid rise from less than 20 per cent in 2008. Other major rice suppliers to Hong Kong are mainland China with an 8-per-cent share, then Pakistan, Australia and the United States with 2 per cent each.
Lawrence Chong, managing director of Season Rice and Food Holdings, said Thai rice was facing a difficult time due to its overly high price.
"Consumers' behaviour has been changing because Hong Kong people want to buy cheaper products, not only rice. Thailand needs to adjust [to the needs of] Hong Kong consumers to ensure that the country will be able to keep [its current] market share and regain the loss of market share next year," he said.
To promote Thai rice, Chong suggested that the country ensure competitive prices and target direct marketing activities at modern traders and restaurants. The Thai government should also advertise more about methods of preparing Thai rice dishes and prevent the contamination of quality with substandard varieties.
Vuttiphon Wanglee, managing director of Chaithip, a long-time exporter of Thai rice, said the government should focus on marketing and create a competitive price for the product.
Currently, Vietnamese fragrant rice is quoted at only $650 a tonne, while the price of Thai jasmine rice is $1,050.
Vuttiphon said some importers and local restaurants In Hong Kong needed to combine Thai rice with product from other countries to lower their costs.
Chaithip is a major bulk supplier of Hom Mali rice to Hong Kong, exporting about 20,000 tonnes annually.
Samphan Jantrakul, rice export manager of Toumi Foods and Products, said the price of pure Thai Hom Mali rice was 90 Hong Kong dollars (Bt355) for an 8-kilogram bag, while a mixture of Hom Mali and other grains went for HK$75-$80.
He expressed concern about reduced quality of Thai rice resulting in lower market share in the long run.
Toumi Foods and Products has shipped about 20,000-30,000 tonnes of rice to Hong Kong each year, but shipments have dropped by 10 per cent because of lower demand, Samphan said.
India internal rice prices
The rice market witnessed a mixed trend on Monday. Prices of aromatic and sharbati varieties witnessed an uptrend while PR varieties declined on reduced offtake.
Expectations of an increase in demand pushed aromatic and sharbati varieties upwards, said Amit Chandna, proprietor of Hanuman Rice Trading Company. While slack demand coupled with the arrivals of new rice in the market dragged PR varieties down, he added.
“It is unlikely to see any major alteration in the prices of aromatic and non basmati rice this week,” said Amit Chandna.
In the physical market, Pusa-1121 (steam) went up by Rs 300 and sold at Rs 6,300-6,400 a quintal while Pusa-1121 (sela) sold at Rs 5,350 , Rs 50 up.
Pure basmati (raw) improved by Rs 250 and quoted at Rs 7,250 while pure basmati (sela) sold at Rs 6,600 a quintal, up Rs 100. Duplicate basmati (steam) traded at Rs 5,000-5,100.
On the other hand, PR-11 varieties eased by Rs 100, PR (sela) sold at Rs 2,450-2,550 while PR-11 (Raw) quoted at Rs 2,500. Price of Permal (raw) went down by Rs 50 and sold at Rs 2,050-2,200 while Permal (sela) went for Rs 2,100-2,200 , Rs 100 down.
Sharbati (steam) improved by Rs 200 and quoted at Rs 4,000 while Sharbati (sela) was at Rs 3,900 , up Rs 400.
PADDY ARRIVALS
About 15,000 bags of PR variety arrived and went for Rs 1,150-1,200 a quintal, Sharbati arrived with a stock of around 5,000 bags and quoted at Rs 1,750-1,850 , around 5,000 bags of DB variety arrived and sold at Rs 2,550-2,800.
About 20,000 bags of Pusa-1121 arrived and quoted at between Rs 2,750 and Rs 3,000, pure basmati paddy arrived with a stock of around 3,000 bags and sold at Rs 3,200-3,600.
Expectations of an increase in demand pushed aromatic and sharbati varieties upwards, said Amit Chandna, proprietor of Hanuman Rice Trading Company. While slack demand coupled with the arrivals of new rice in the market dragged PR varieties down, he added.
“It is unlikely to see any major alteration in the prices of aromatic and non basmati rice this week,” said Amit Chandna.
In the physical market, Pusa-1121 (steam) went up by Rs 300 and sold at Rs 6,300-6,400 a quintal while Pusa-1121 (sela) sold at Rs 5,350 , Rs 50 up.
Pure basmati (raw) improved by Rs 250 and quoted at Rs 7,250 while pure basmati (sela) sold at Rs 6,600 a quintal, up Rs 100. Duplicate basmati (steam) traded at Rs 5,000-5,100.
On the other hand, PR-11 varieties eased by Rs 100, PR (sela) sold at Rs 2,450-2,550 while PR-11 (Raw) quoted at Rs 2,500. Price of Permal (raw) went down by Rs 50 and sold at Rs 2,050-2,200 while Permal (sela) went for Rs 2,100-2,200 , Rs 100 down.
Sharbati (steam) improved by Rs 200 and quoted at Rs 4,000 while Sharbati (sela) was at Rs 3,900 , up Rs 400.
PADDY ARRIVALS
About 15,000 bags of PR variety arrived and went for Rs 1,150-1,200 a quintal, Sharbati arrived with a stock of around 5,000 bags and quoted at Rs 1,750-1,850 , around 5,000 bags of DB variety arrived and sold at Rs 2,550-2,800.
About 20,000 bags of Pusa-1121 arrived and quoted at between Rs 2,750 and Rs 3,000, pure basmati paddy arrived with a stock of around 3,000 bags and sold at Rs 3,200-3,600.
Monday 10 December 2012
Myanmar’s export of steamed rice
Myanmar’s export of steamed rice has reached about 1,500 tonnes every month amid increasing demands from different countries, a well-placed source of Myanmar Rice and Paddy Merchants Association (MRPMA) said.
Russia is the main importer of the rice.
Myanmar is currently exporting the steamed rice at the rate of US$515 per tonne, said Thaung Win of Shwe Zar Chi Company.
Pointing out the high demand for steamed rice, he said, “Actually, the demand is 3,000 to 4,000 tonnes per month.”
To meet the demand, more factories are being built, officials said.
The Ayeyarwady Region, which has steamed rice factories in Ainmel, Kyaiklett and Bokalay towns, is planning to raise the number of the factories to 9.
Russia is the main importer of the rice.
Myanmar is currently exporting the steamed rice at the rate of US$515 per tonne, said Thaung Win of Shwe Zar Chi Company.
Pointing out the high demand for steamed rice, he said, “Actually, the demand is 3,000 to 4,000 tonnes per month.”
To meet the demand, more factories are being built, officials said.
The Ayeyarwady Region, which has steamed rice factories in Ainmel, Kyaiklett and Bokalay towns, is planning to raise the number of the factories to 9.
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