The 2014 Louisiana rice crop is better than we expected "but not as good as last year," said Johnny Saichuk, LSU AgCenter rice specialist.
The crop had its hurdles with a cool spring and a wet, muddy harvest. But Steve Linscombe, director of the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station said the summer nights were not excessively hot, and that probably resulted in good yields and outstanding grain quality.
Linscombe said the 2013 crop year had perfect weather throughout the growing season, but the 2014 crop was challenged by weather at the start with a cool, wet spring, and a wet, muddy harvest. "In spite of that, our 2014 is going to be a good crop," he said.
Disease was not bad this year, even with heavy rainfall. The Rice Research Station recorded 33.6 inches of rain between May and August, compared to 13.2 inches for the same time period last year.
Linscombe said a large amount of south Louisiana acreage will be grown for a second crop, even though much of it was cut after the recommended Aug. 15 cutoff. "Some of the ratoon looks extremely good," he said.
Linscombe said more medium-grain rice was planted this year, in the range of 60,000-65,000 acres, because of the 150,000-acre reduction in California where drought resulted in a water shortage.
Linscombe said the usual decline in yields toward the late part of the harvest in south Louisiana was not as striking as usual. "The rice we were cutting in late August and early September was still yielding well. In the first week of September, we still had farmers cutting more than 60 barrels with good quality," he said.
Keith Collins, LSU AgCenter county agent in Richland Parish, said he first thought this year's crop in north Louisiana would be average. But as the harvest progressed, he has changed his mind.
"I think we're going to have an above-average crop," he said, adding that yields could be as good as last year's record crop.
He said many varieties are yielding just under 200 bushels with few reports of low quality milling.
But, he said, getting the crop out of the fields has been difficult with muddy conditions.
Keith Fontenot, LSU AgCenter county agent in Evangeline Parish, said the crop in his area has been good.
"We have had some producers who exceeded last year's crop," he said.
Fontenot said farmers are facing a stagnant market with low prices and not much rice being bought. "There's no movement of rice right now," he said.
Andrew Granger, LSU AgCenter county agent in Vermilion Parish, said the crop there resulted in above-average yields, but not quite as good as last year. But, he said, the wet harvest conditions have reduced the second crop for many farmers.
Rice prices are becoming an issue, making it difficult for some farmers to get financing for next year's crop, he said.
Tuesday 7 October 2014
Plan to improve all aspects of rice industry in Thailand
The Commerce Ministry will announce a "rice strategy" by the end of this month, aiming to improve the production, marketing and quality of Thai rice, while somehow improving farmers' lives without intervening in the "market mechanism".
Boonyarit Kalayanamit, director-general of the ministry's Internal Trade Department, said the plan was to ensure sustainable development for the entire rice industry from upstream to downstream.
"The rice strategy will emphasise how to increase farmers' incomes while focusing on innovation so that Thailand will be a centre for rice trading in Asean," he said.
The strategy will be outlined to government agencies, the private sector and farmers. It is expected to be ready this month to be proposed to Commerce Minister Chatchai Sarikulya and the Rice Policy and Management Committee.
The strategy is meant to solve long-term rice problems from the production stage to marketing. The government will set up rice-plantation zones while also encouraging farmers to grow other economic crops on land that is not suitable for rice.
The ministry will also support marketing and trading strategies, while avoiding intervention in the market mechanism.
Other strategies include creating fairness in rice trading, enhancing rice standards and the trading system, encouraging more rice consumption, increasing production efficiency, encouraging innovation in the rice industry, and developing the logistics system for rice.
Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said traders were very worried that the market price for rice will be low during the upcoming harvest season.
Thai rice production in the 2014-15 harvest season is expected to be 24 million tonnes of paddy. India will produce about 103 million tonnes of paddy. As demand for rice consumption in India will be 90 million tonnes, that country will still be a major export rival for Thailand next year.
Vietnam is projected to have output next year of 28 million to 29 million tonnes of rice, of which about 7 million to 8 million tonnes will be exported. Vietnam has also become a major rival for hom mali rice exports to many markets, including parts of Africa. This year, Vietnam could ship 1.2 million tonnes of fragrant rice to Africa, up from 900,000 tonnes last year.
Chookiat said Thailand's large stockpiles would put upward pressure on the competitiveness and downward stress on the rice price in the world market next year. However, this also depends on demand in many markets, including China, the Philippines and Indonesia.
Boonyarit Kalayanamit, director-general of the ministry's Internal Trade Department, said the plan was to ensure sustainable development for the entire rice industry from upstream to downstream.
"The rice strategy will emphasise how to increase farmers' incomes while focusing on innovation so that Thailand will be a centre for rice trading in Asean," he said.
The strategy will be outlined to government agencies, the private sector and farmers. It is expected to be ready this month to be proposed to Commerce Minister Chatchai Sarikulya and the Rice Policy and Management Committee.
The strategy is meant to solve long-term rice problems from the production stage to marketing. The government will set up rice-plantation zones while also encouraging farmers to grow other economic crops on land that is not suitable for rice.
The ministry will also support marketing and trading strategies, while avoiding intervention in the market mechanism.
Other strategies include creating fairness in rice trading, enhancing rice standards and the trading system, encouraging more rice consumption, increasing production efficiency, encouraging innovation in the rice industry, and developing the logistics system for rice.
Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said traders were very worried that the market price for rice will be low during the upcoming harvest season.
Thai rice production in the 2014-15 harvest season is expected to be 24 million tonnes of paddy. India will produce about 103 million tonnes of paddy. As demand for rice consumption in India will be 90 million tonnes, that country will still be a major export rival for Thailand next year.
Vietnam is projected to have output next year of 28 million to 29 million tonnes of rice, of which about 7 million to 8 million tonnes will be exported. Vietnam has also become a major rival for hom mali rice exports to many markets, including parts of Africa. This year, Vietnam could ship 1.2 million tonnes of fragrant rice to Africa, up from 900,000 tonnes last year.
Chookiat said Thailand's large stockpiles would put upward pressure on the competitiveness and downward stress on the rice price in the world market next year. However, this also depends on demand in many markets, including China, the Philippines and Indonesia.
El Nino Threatens Export Plans as Burma’s Rice Industry Revs Up
Hopes that Burma’s rice exports would reach 2 million tons this year look unlikely to be achieved due to the disruptive weather phenomenon known as El Nino, experts say.
Monsoonal rains needed to boost Burma’s late rice crop are expected to be lighter than usual due to the El Nino effect, leading to drier conditions.
Observers of the El Nino weather pattern, which occurs every few years due to warmer air currents generated in the Pacific Ocean, suggest it might be less severe than on previous occasions but could still disrupt various forms of agriculture across Southeast Asia. It could last until June 2015 and some meteorologists have suggested that December might be the worst month affected.
This year’s major wet season rice crops across Southeast Asia might escape the worst of El Nino, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Foreign Service said, “[but] dry season rice and corn crops, as well as palm oil, will become more vulnerable if El Nino develops and persists from October 2014 to April 2015.”
Burma exported 1.27 million tons of rice in 2013 and the Burma Rice Federation had said the figure for this year might reach the 2 million tons mark, boosted by higher demand from China and dislocation in the rice industry of rival exporter Thailand. However, even without any El Nino effect, the 2 million tons target is over-optimistic according to estimates made by the USDA.
The US agency predicted that rice production in Burma in 2014-2015 would most likely increase by 1 percent to 12.16 million tons, due to growing area expansion and improved water supply, and that rice exports would also be only marginally higher than last year—up about 1 percent to 1.31 million tons.
Burma’s government was “making an effort to provide farmers support in infrastructure development, mechanization [and] technology assistance,” the USDA said. But despite support programs, rice farmers in Burma could still not compete with other farmers in the region, including in Thailand and Vietnam, who received government support to compensate for lower prices, the agency said, citing trade sources.
Burma is forecast to be the fifth-largest rice producer in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region in the 2014-15 financial year —behind Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines. But of these four, only Vietnam and Thailand are exporters.
“On the surface, rice markets remain calm and stable, but underlying market sentiments are rapidly changing because of weather disruptions in many rice-growing nations,” market watcher and rice scientist Sam Mohanty of the International Rice Research Institute said in a recent assessment.
“The global rice market faces the possibility of a production shortfall in the major rice-growing regions in South and Southeast Asia and also in China because of El Nino events. So far, the market has been quite nonchalant about this possibility because of large buffer stocks in key rice-growing countries.”
India, China and Thailand are well stocked with rice to see them through any possible disruptions in supplies, Mohanty said.
Burma’s rice federation sees China as offering the best market for expanding Burmese exports in coming years. About half of Burma’s rice exports went to China in 2013, despite the fact that the exports are technically illegal as there is not yet a health standards agreement on rice in place between the two countries.
Monsoonal rains needed to boost Burma’s late rice crop are expected to be lighter than usual due to the El Nino effect, leading to drier conditions.
Observers of the El Nino weather pattern, which occurs every few years due to warmer air currents generated in the Pacific Ocean, suggest it might be less severe than on previous occasions but could still disrupt various forms of agriculture across Southeast Asia. It could last until June 2015 and some meteorologists have suggested that December might be the worst month affected.
This year’s major wet season rice crops across Southeast Asia might escape the worst of El Nino, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Foreign Service said, “[but] dry season rice and corn crops, as well as palm oil, will become more vulnerable if El Nino develops and persists from October 2014 to April 2015.”
Burma exported 1.27 million tons of rice in 2013 and the Burma Rice Federation had said the figure for this year might reach the 2 million tons mark, boosted by higher demand from China and dislocation in the rice industry of rival exporter Thailand. However, even without any El Nino effect, the 2 million tons target is over-optimistic according to estimates made by the USDA.
The US agency predicted that rice production in Burma in 2014-2015 would most likely increase by 1 percent to 12.16 million tons, due to growing area expansion and improved water supply, and that rice exports would also be only marginally higher than last year—up about 1 percent to 1.31 million tons.
Burma’s government was “making an effort to provide farmers support in infrastructure development, mechanization [and] technology assistance,” the USDA said. But despite support programs, rice farmers in Burma could still not compete with other farmers in the region, including in Thailand and Vietnam, who received government support to compensate for lower prices, the agency said, citing trade sources.
Burma is forecast to be the fifth-largest rice producer in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region in the 2014-15 financial year —behind Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines. But of these four, only Vietnam and Thailand are exporters.
“On the surface, rice markets remain calm and stable, but underlying market sentiments are rapidly changing because of weather disruptions in many rice-growing nations,” market watcher and rice scientist Sam Mohanty of the International Rice Research Institute said in a recent assessment.
“The global rice market faces the possibility of a production shortfall in the major rice-growing regions in South and Southeast Asia and also in China because of El Nino events. So far, the market has been quite nonchalant about this possibility because of large buffer stocks in key rice-growing countries.”
India, China and Thailand are well stocked with rice to see them through any possible disruptions in supplies, Mohanty said.
Burma’s rice federation sees China as offering the best market for expanding Burmese exports in coming years. About half of Burma’s rice exports went to China in 2013, despite the fact that the exports are technically illegal as there is not yet a health standards agreement on rice in place between the two countries.
Monday 6 October 2014
Thai govt sells over 50,000 tonnes of rice to private firms
The Thai government has approved the sale of more than 50,000 tonnes of rice from its stockpiles to private firms, a Commerce Ministry official said on Friday, as the authorities try to bring down huge stocks built up under a failed intervention scheme.
The rice was sold below the market price because it was old, Duangporn Rodphaya, head of the foreign trade department at the ministry, told Reuters, declining to give details. "The rice that is for sale is old, about two years old, so it has to be below the market price. But it's not way below the market. Private companies have additional costs to improve the quality. It's the same price we use for our tenders," she said.
The sales account for a fraction of the 18 million tonnes that Thailand had built up by this year under the intervention scheme, which effectively priced the grain out of world markets. An audit by the military government found that a fifth of that was either rotten or had gone missing.
Another official from the ministry, who declined to be named, said 59,600 tonnes of rice had been sold in the latest sale to four private companies for 570 million baht (S$22 million).
That would give an average price per tonne of around $295. It was unclear what grade of rice was sold. Benchmark five per cent broken rice is currently offered on the market at around US$425 (S$541) free on board.
The government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, which was ousted by the army in May, accumulated the stockpiles under a programme that paid farmers well above market rates for their produce.
The current government wants to offload the stocks to recover some of the cash spent, but the authorities want to carry out the sales gradually so as to avoid pushing prices much lower, Duangporn told reporters earlier this week.
The military-backed government has held two rice auctions and sold around 70,000 tonnes of rice in each.
Duangporn told the reporters a third would be held soon and that discussions for deals with the Chinese and Iranian governments were also in the works.
The rice was sold below the market price because it was old, Duangporn Rodphaya, head of the foreign trade department at the ministry, told Reuters, declining to give details. "The rice that is for sale is old, about two years old, so it has to be below the market price. But it's not way below the market. Private companies have additional costs to improve the quality. It's the same price we use for our tenders," she said.
The sales account for a fraction of the 18 million tonnes that Thailand had built up by this year under the intervention scheme, which effectively priced the grain out of world markets. An audit by the military government found that a fifth of that was either rotten or had gone missing.
Another official from the ministry, who declined to be named, said 59,600 tonnes of rice had been sold in the latest sale to four private companies for 570 million baht (S$22 million).
That would give an average price per tonne of around $295. It was unclear what grade of rice was sold. Benchmark five per cent broken rice is currently offered on the market at around US$425 (S$541) free on board.
The government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, which was ousted by the army in May, accumulated the stockpiles under a programme that paid farmers well above market rates for their produce.
The current government wants to offload the stocks to recover some of the cash spent, but the authorities want to carry out the sales gradually so as to avoid pushing prices much lower, Duangporn told reporters earlier this week.
The military-backed government has held two rice auctions and sold around 70,000 tonnes of rice in each.
Duangporn told the reporters a third would be held soon and that discussions for deals with the Chinese and Iranian governments were also in the works.
ASEAN integration seen to boost markets for Philippines organic rice produce
Prospects appear bright for the country’s organically-grown products with the integration by next year of the 10 member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Leo Cañeda, coordinator of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-led National Organic Agriculture Board, said producers of organic farm products could tap key cities or areas within ASEAN as primary target for market expansion when the region’s economic integration eventually rolls out.
He said products like organic high-value vegetables and rice produced in Region 12 or the Soccsksargen Region could take the lead in the export expansion.
The region comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.
“There’s so much opportunities and advantages for our organic farmers in the ASEAN economic integration,” he said at the opening of the four-day 1st Soccsksargen Region Organic Agriculture Congress and Trade Fair here on Wednesday.
But Cañeda said organic farmers or producers should be prepared and equipped with the proper skills and knowledge so they can properly market their products in the ASEAN.
He specifically cited the proper quality standards and other related requirements for organic export products.
ASEAN created a special task force last year to lead the development and promotion of the region’s standards on organic agriculture.
The task force is specifically working on the crafting of a common standard agreeable to and recognized by the ASEAN member-states to facilitate the trading of organic products in the region.
Region 12 has around 50 hectares of palay areas that are mainly producing organic premium rice varieties for exports.
Last year, the area’s organic rice producers have started exporting black rice and other colored, long grained and aromatic rice varieties to the Middle East and Singapore.
DA Region 12 is currently working for the entry of locally-produced premium rice to major markets in Russia, Italy, United States and other parts of the Middle East.
Leo Cañeda, coordinator of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-led National Organic Agriculture Board, said producers of organic farm products could tap key cities or areas within ASEAN as primary target for market expansion when the region’s economic integration eventually rolls out.
He said products like organic high-value vegetables and rice produced in Region 12 or the Soccsksargen Region could take the lead in the export expansion.
The region comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.
“There’s so much opportunities and advantages for our organic farmers in the ASEAN economic integration,” he said at the opening of the four-day 1st Soccsksargen Region Organic Agriculture Congress and Trade Fair here on Wednesday.
But Cañeda said organic farmers or producers should be prepared and equipped with the proper skills and knowledge so they can properly market their products in the ASEAN.
He specifically cited the proper quality standards and other related requirements for organic export products.
ASEAN created a special task force last year to lead the development and promotion of the region’s standards on organic agriculture.
The task force is specifically working on the crafting of a common standard agreeable to and recognized by the ASEAN member-states to facilitate the trading of organic products in the region.
Region 12 has around 50 hectares of palay areas that are mainly producing organic premium rice varieties for exports.
Last year, the area’s organic rice producers have started exporting black rice and other colored, long grained and aromatic rice varieties to the Middle East and Singapore.
DA Region 12 is currently working for the entry of locally-produced premium rice to major markets in Russia, Italy, United States and other parts of the Middle East.
Thailand Rice export volumes soar nearly 60% in first eight months
Rice exports in the first eight months of the year grew significantly, by almost 60 per cent year on year, to 6.59 million tonnes, thanks to strong demand in many markets and a high supply from government stocks, according to the Thai Rice Exporters Association.
The association reported that the value of rice exports also increased by 22.4 per cent year on year to Bt105.83 billion.
Chareon Charoen Laothamatas, president of the association, said demand had increased considerably since July this year, particularly for white rice in some African countries.
In the first eight months of last year, Thailand exported only 4.14 million tonnes of rice worth Bt86.47 billion.
In the JanuaryAugust period this year, Benin imported the most at 852,502 tonnes, followed by Nigeria with 474,561 tonnes, China with 432,220, Ivory Coast with 383,663 and South Africa with 335,529.
The association reported that the value of rice exports also increased by 22.4 per cent year on year to Bt105.83 billion.
Chareon Charoen Laothamatas, president of the association, said demand had increased considerably since July this year, particularly for white rice in some African countries.
In the first eight months of last year, Thailand exported only 4.14 million tonnes of rice worth Bt86.47 billion.
In the JanuaryAugust period this year, Benin imported the most at 852,502 tonnes, followed by Nigeria with 474,561 tonnes, China with 432,220, Ivory Coast with 383,663 and South Africa with 335,529.
Brazil grain and feed update
2013/2014 rice production is estimated at 8.3 mmt, a 3 percent increase from the
previous year. 2014/2015 production is forecast up 2 percent to 8.5 mmt on increased area. In the state
of Mato Grosso the increased area is attributed to the need to cultivate rice first when converting
degraded pastureland for other crops.
Rice Trade: 2013/2014 imports are estimated at 700,000 mt and exports at 900,000 mt, in line with
yearly trends. In August, Brazil shipped 31,500 mt of paddy rice to Turkey, despite onerous taxes and
transport costs. The rice industry sees this as success in expanding their global market share. The top
two destinations for Brazilian rice in 2014 are Venezuela and Cuba with 141,523 and 78,424 mt
respectively thus far. These two countries have constituted one third of rice exports between January
and August 2014.
Rice Consumption: Consumption remains steady with a slight upward trend due to population growth.
Average per person consumption is 41-43 kg per year and has held steady in recent years. Population
growth is expected to slightly outpace decreases in per capita consumption.
previous year. 2014/2015 production is forecast up 2 percent to 8.5 mmt on increased area. In the state
of Mato Grosso the increased area is attributed to the need to cultivate rice first when converting
degraded pastureland for other crops.
Rice Trade: 2013/2014 imports are estimated at 700,000 mt and exports at 900,000 mt, in line with
yearly trends. In August, Brazil shipped 31,500 mt of paddy rice to Turkey, despite onerous taxes and
transport costs. The rice industry sees this as success in expanding their global market share. The top
two destinations for Brazilian rice in 2014 are Venezuela and Cuba with 141,523 and 78,424 mt
respectively thus far. These two countries have constituted one third of rice exports between January
and August 2014.
Rice Consumption: Consumption remains steady with a slight upward trend due to population growth.
Average per person consumption is 41-43 kg per year and has held steady in recent years. Population
growth is expected to slightly outpace decreases in per capita consumption.
Paddy harvesting starts in Punjab, Haryana; late rains improve sentiment
Newly harvested paddy has started arriving in the markets of Punjab and Haryana while late rains have helped boost the area under the crop to more than last year's levels, developments that bode well for the supplies of the staple grain and food inflation.
Scanty rains in the first half of the June-September monsoon season had threatened to hurt this year's farm output, which is critical to the overall economy in a country where more than half the workforce is employed in agriculture. But rains had picked up in the second half, and though still this season's average rainfall is 12% below what is considered normal, water levels in reservoirs are better than their 10-year average. Late rains are likely to help keep soil moisture longer, benefiting winter crops such as wheat.
According to agriculture ministry data, total crop plantings at 101.93 million hectares for the week ended September 26 were still 2% below last year's level. Rice plantings at 37.48 million hectares were more than last season's 37.42 million hectares, but areas under coarse cereals, oilseeds, pulses and sugarcane were less.
Early-sown basmati and other rice varieties have started reaching mandis in the two northern grain-bowl states, ahead of the procurement season that begins on October 1. Farmers have also started harvesting other summer crops of cotton, soyabean and pulses.
Regional basmati exporters have already entered the market and are buying the 1509 basmati variety at Rs 2,450 a tonnes, said Raj Sood, a trader from the Khanna mandi in Punjab.
According to officials at Food Corporation of India, the government's grain procurement agency, it estimates to procure 30.05 million tonnes of rice this year. Of this, it is expected to buy 8.2 million tonnes from Punjab, 4.35 million tonnes from Chhattisgarh and 4.1 million tonnes from Uttar Pradesh. As of September 1, the country had adequate stock of 21.7 million tonnes of rice in its buffer and strategic reserve.
Exporters are, however, concerned that with the discontinuation of a 3% interest subvention scheme, they will not be able to export the same quantity as they shipped last time. Gurnam Arora, joint managing director of Kohinoor Foods, said global prices were weak and an incentive was necessary for the industry.
Data from the India Meteorological Department showed that two-thirds of the country's 36 sub-divisions received normal to excess rainfall this monsoon season. The country's major 85 reservoirs were filled to 79% of their total capacity of 155.05 billion cubic metres, down from 85% last year, but better than the 10-year average of 76%.
Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have less water in the their reservoirs than last year, the Central Water Commission said. The rainfall deficit has been worst in Haryana and west Uttar Pradesh at 56%, followed by Punjab at 50%.
Scanty rains in the first half of the June-September monsoon season had threatened to hurt this year's farm output, which is critical to the overall economy in a country where more than half the workforce is employed in agriculture. But rains had picked up in the second half, and though still this season's average rainfall is 12% below what is considered normal, water levels in reservoirs are better than their 10-year average. Late rains are likely to help keep soil moisture longer, benefiting winter crops such as wheat.
According to agriculture ministry data, total crop plantings at 101.93 million hectares for the week ended September 26 were still 2% below last year's level. Rice plantings at 37.48 million hectares were more than last season's 37.42 million hectares, but areas under coarse cereals, oilseeds, pulses and sugarcane were less.
Early-sown basmati and other rice varieties have started reaching mandis in the two northern grain-bowl states, ahead of the procurement season that begins on October 1. Farmers have also started harvesting other summer crops of cotton, soyabean and pulses.
Regional basmati exporters have already entered the market and are buying the 1509 basmati variety at Rs 2,450 a tonnes, said Raj Sood, a trader from the Khanna mandi in Punjab.
According to officials at Food Corporation of India, the government's grain procurement agency, it estimates to procure 30.05 million tonnes of rice this year. Of this, it is expected to buy 8.2 million tonnes from Punjab, 4.35 million tonnes from Chhattisgarh and 4.1 million tonnes from Uttar Pradesh. As of September 1, the country had adequate stock of 21.7 million tonnes of rice in its buffer and strategic reserve.
Exporters are, however, concerned that with the discontinuation of a 3% interest subvention scheme, they will not be able to export the same quantity as they shipped last time. Gurnam Arora, joint managing director of Kohinoor Foods, said global prices were weak and an incentive was necessary for the industry.
Data from the India Meteorological Department showed that two-thirds of the country's 36 sub-divisions received normal to excess rainfall this monsoon season. The country's major 85 reservoirs were filled to 79% of their total capacity of 155.05 billion cubic metres, down from 85% last year, but better than the 10-year average of 76%.
Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have less water in the their reservoirs than last year, the Central Water Commission said. The rainfall deficit has been worst in Haryana and west Uttar Pradesh at 56%, followed by Punjab at 50%.
Thursday 2 October 2014
Heavy rain hits Mekong Delta Vietnam rice harvest
Prolonged rains over the past week in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta have severely affected the harvest and quality of the summer-autumn rice crop.
The delta is entering peak harvest time for the crop, but harvesting has been slow, as ripe rice plants have been toppled by heavy rains and wind.
Pham Thi Ngot, who cultivates 0.6ha rice in Tam Binh District in Vinh Long Province, said more than 70 per cent of her plants had collapsed and must be harvested by hand.
Ngot said she was also short of workers as demand for farm help was high this season.
Heavy winds and rain have toppled about half of 27,000ha of ripe rice in Vinh Long Province, according to the province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Le Quang Thao, deputy chairman of the Xuan Hiep Commune People's Committee in Vinh Long's Tra On District, said: "The quality of harvested rice has declined, as many of the seeds have germinated."
Delta farmers have also had trouble sundrying their rice because of the rainy weather. In addition, there are not enough dryers on hand.
In Can Tho City, although farmers have harvested more than half of the city's 40,000ha of rice, few traders have bought the grain, citing low quality.
Rice companies have urged farmers to reduce the size of fields and plant only high-quality varieties.
The remaining cultivation areas should be switched to other cash crops, they said.
In Kieng Giang Province, the country's rice-production leader, heavy rains have also hindered harvesting.
Kien Giang's pump stations have been operating at full capacity over the past several days to draw water out of rice fields.
In addition, the price of hiring a worker to harvest one hectare of rice has gone up to VND500,000 (US$24).
Kien Giang has planted 230,000ha of rice for this summer-autumn crop.
In Hau Giang Province, farmers have harvested more than 25,000ha of 76,600ha of the summer-autumn crop, according to the province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Because of rains, farmers have been unable to dry rice and, as a result, the grain has germinated, leading to lower selling prices, according to the province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The delta is entering peak harvest time for the crop, but harvesting has been slow, as ripe rice plants have been toppled by heavy rains and wind.
Pham Thi Ngot, who cultivates 0.6ha rice in Tam Binh District in Vinh Long Province, said more than 70 per cent of her plants had collapsed and must be harvested by hand.
Ngot said she was also short of workers as demand for farm help was high this season.
Heavy winds and rain have toppled about half of 27,000ha of ripe rice in Vinh Long Province, according to the province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Le Quang Thao, deputy chairman of the Xuan Hiep Commune People's Committee in Vinh Long's Tra On District, said: "The quality of harvested rice has declined, as many of the seeds have germinated."
Delta farmers have also had trouble sundrying their rice because of the rainy weather. In addition, there are not enough dryers on hand.
In Can Tho City, although farmers have harvested more than half of the city's 40,000ha of rice, few traders have bought the grain, citing low quality.
Rice companies have urged farmers to reduce the size of fields and plant only high-quality varieties.
The remaining cultivation areas should be switched to other cash crops, they said.
In Kieng Giang Province, the country's rice-production leader, heavy rains have also hindered harvesting.
Kien Giang's pump stations have been operating at full capacity over the past several days to draw water out of rice fields.
In addition, the price of hiring a worker to harvest one hectare of rice has gone up to VND500,000 (US$24).
Kien Giang has planted 230,000ha of rice for this summer-autumn crop.
In Hau Giang Province, farmers have harvested more than 25,000ha of 76,600ha of the summer-autumn crop, according to the province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Because of rains, farmers have been unable to dry rice and, as a result, the grain has germinated, leading to lower selling prices, according to the province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Bangladesh rice output hits a record high
Rice production edged up to a new high last fiscal year due to an increase in yield in all three crops seasons for favourable weather and a more balanced use of fertiliser.
Production rose to 3.44 crore tonnes in fiscal 2013-14, from 3.38 crore tonnes a year ago, thanks to a record boro output.
Boro yield rose 1.6 percent year-on-year to 1.90 crore tonnes in fiscal 2013-14, according to a recent estimate by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
Despite the rise in output, imports started to show an upward trend in fiscal 2014-15 that began in July. Some 4,840 tonnes of rice were imported during July to September 28, according to data from the food ministry. During July to September 18 last year, 990 tonnes of rice were imported.
"Maybe some importers are bringing in rice from neighbouring countries to reap price benefits," said Abul Bashar Chowdhury, chairman of Chittagong-based BSM Group.
This was another year of increased rice yield despite falling cultivable land to grow the staple.
The country stands well above its annual food grain consumption requirement of less than three crore tonnes, according to a study by Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies.
The research organisation estimated that the daily per capita food grain consumption was 509 grams, including rice at 462 grams.
As a result, retail prices of rice have remained stable in the past couple of months. One of the main reasons behind this is a high level of global production of rice and wheat.
Food grain prices have been the lowest in recent years worldwide, Chowdhury said.
Banking on higher production and increased public stocks, the government has decided to export 50,000 tonnes of rice to Sri Lanka under a special arrangement.
The government decision comes at a time when damage to aman seedlings due to recurrent floods is feared to affect production.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said most farmers were able to replant the seedlings of the second biggest crop on their affected fields after the floods.
But recent floods in some districts have affected crops, mostly aman paddy, on 1.13 lakh hectares of land, said a senior official of the DAE, seeking anonymity.
The DAE targeted to bring 52.50 lakh hectares of crop land under aman cultivation. So far, 55.05 lakh hectares have come under transplantation, the official said.
"Farmers replanted more than 90 percent of the seedlings in the fields damaged by the floods. But the recurrence of the floods is more depressing," he said.
The DAE aims to ensure production of 1.34 crore tonnes of rice from aman cultivation. It also targets 24 lakh tonnes of the staple during the aus season by ensuring cultivation on 10.55 lakh hectares.
The US Department of Agriculture lowered its prediction on Bangladesh's rice harvest last month. It says Bangladesh may harvest 3.46 crore tonnes of rice in the current fiscal year, down from its previous projection of 3.48 crore tonnes.
Production rose to 3.44 crore tonnes in fiscal 2013-14, from 3.38 crore tonnes a year ago, thanks to a record boro output.
Boro yield rose 1.6 percent year-on-year to 1.90 crore tonnes in fiscal 2013-14, according to a recent estimate by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
Despite the rise in output, imports started to show an upward trend in fiscal 2014-15 that began in July. Some 4,840 tonnes of rice were imported during July to September 28, according to data from the food ministry. During July to September 18 last year, 990 tonnes of rice were imported.
"Maybe some importers are bringing in rice from neighbouring countries to reap price benefits," said Abul Bashar Chowdhury, chairman of Chittagong-based BSM Group.
This was another year of increased rice yield despite falling cultivable land to grow the staple.
The country stands well above its annual food grain consumption requirement of less than three crore tonnes, according to a study by Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies.
The research organisation estimated that the daily per capita food grain consumption was 509 grams, including rice at 462 grams.
As a result, retail prices of rice have remained stable in the past couple of months. One of the main reasons behind this is a high level of global production of rice and wheat.
Food grain prices have been the lowest in recent years worldwide, Chowdhury said.
Banking on higher production and increased public stocks, the government has decided to export 50,000 tonnes of rice to Sri Lanka under a special arrangement.
The government decision comes at a time when damage to aman seedlings due to recurrent floods is feared to affect production.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said most farmers were able to replant the seedlings of the second biggest crop on their affected fields after the floods.
But recent floods in some districts have affected crops, mostly aman paddy, on 1.13 lakh hectares of land, said a senior official of the DAE, seeking anonymity.
The DAE targeted to bring 52.50 lakh hectares of crop land under aman cultivation. So far, 55.05 lakh hectares have come under transplantation, the official said.
"Farmers replanted more than 90 percent of the seedlings in the fields damaged by the floods. But the recurrence of the floods is more depressing," he said.
The DAE aims to ensure production of 1.34 crore tonnes of rice from aman cultivation. It also targets 24 lakh tonnes of the staple during the aus season by ensuring cultivation on 10.55 lakh hectares.
The US Department of Agriculture lowered its prediction on Bangladesh's rice harvest last month. It says Bangladesh may harvest 3.46 crore tonnes of rice in the current fiscal year, down from its previous projection of 3.48 crore tonnes.
Wednesday 1 October 2014
Heavy rain hits Mekong Delta rice harvest
Prolonged rains over the past week in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta have severely affected the harvest and quality of the summer-autumn rice crop.
The delta is entering peak harvest time for the crop, but harvesting has been slow, as ripe rice plants have been toppled by heavy rains and wind.
Pham Thi Ngot, who cultivates 0.6ha rice in Tam Binh District in Vinh Long Province, said more than 70 per cent of her plants had collapsed and must be harvested by hand.
Ngot said she was also short of workers as demand for farm help was high this season.
Heavy winds and rain have toppled about half of 27,000ha of ripe rice in Vinh Long Province, according to the province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Le Quang Thao, deputy chairman of the Xuan Hiep Commune People's Committee in Vinh Long's Tra On District, said: "The quality of harvested rice has declined, as many of the seeds have germinated."
Delta farmers have also had trouble sundrying their rice because of the rainy weather. In addition, there are not enough dryers on hand.
In Can Tho City, although farmers have harvested more than half of the city's 40,000ha of rice, few traders have bought the grain, citing low quality.
Rice companies have urged farmers to reduce the size of fields and plant only high-quality varieties.
The remaining cultivation areas should be switched to other cash crops, they said.
In Kieng Giang Province, the country's rice-production leader, heavy rains have also hindered harvesting.
Kien Giang's pump stations have been operating at full capacity over the past several days to draw water out of rice fields.
In addition, the price of hiring a worker to harvest one hectare of rice has gone up to VND500,000 (US$24).
Kien Giang has planted 230,000ha of rice for this summer-autumn crop.
In Hau Giang Province, farmers have harvested more than 25,000ha of 76,600ha of the summer-autumn crop, according to the province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Because of rains, farmers have been unable to dry rice and, as a result, the grain has germinated, leading to lower selling prices, according to the province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The delta is entering peak harvest time for the crop, but harvesting has been slow, as ripe rice plants have been toppled by heavy rains and wind.
Pham Thi Ngot, who cultivates 0.6ha rice in Tam Binh District in Vinh Long Province, said more than 70 per cent of her plants had collapsed and must be harvested by hand.
Ngot said she was also short of workers as demand for farm help was high this season.
Heavy winds and rain have toppled about half of 27,000ha of ripe rice in Vinh Long Province, according to the province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Le Quang Thao, deputy chairman of the Xuan Hiep Commune People's Committee in Vinh Long's Tra On District, said: "The quality of harvested rice has declined, as many of the seeds have germinated."
Delta farmers have also had trouble sundrying their rice because of the rainy weather. In addition, there are not enough dryers on hand.
In Can Tho City, although farmers have harvested more than half of the city's 40,000ha of rice, few traders have bought the grain, citing low quality.
Rice companies have urged farmers to reduce the size of fields and plant only high-quality varieties.
The remaining cultivation areas should be switched to other cash crops, they said.
In Kieng Giang Province, the country's rice-production leader, heavy rains have also hindered harvesting.
Kien Giang's pump stations have been operating at full capacity over the past several days to draw water out of rice fields.
In addition, the price of hiring a worker to harvest one hectare of rice has gone up to VND500,000 (US$24).
Kien Giang has planted 230,000ha of rice for this summer-autumn crop.
In Hau Giang Province, farmers have harvested more than 25,000ha of 76,600ha of the summer-autumn crop, according to the province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Because of rains, farmers have been unable to dry rice and, as a result, the grain has germinated, leading to lower selling prices, according to the province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Thai government sells 70,000 T of rice from stocks in 2nd tender: official
The Thai government has sold another 70,000 tonnes of rice from the 140,000 tonnes it planned to sell in its second tender in September, a senior commerce ministry official said on Monday.
After the army took power in May and inspected rice stocks nationwide, state warehouses were estimated to hold around 18 million tonnes of rice, about a fifth of which was unlikely to be sold as it was believed to be missing and rotten.
The government said it aimed to sell around 100,000 tonnes of rice from stocks monthly, to gradually cut burdensome storage costs without depressing global prices.
"The 70,000 tonnes were awarded to 11 exporters who bid at prices close to market rates," said Duangporn Rodphaya, head of the commerce ministry's department of foreign trade, which oversees the government's sales of rice stocks.
The common grade Thai 5 percent broken white rice was offered at $440 per tonne.
In the first tender in August, the government sold 73,000 tonnes of rice out of 167,000 tonnes on offer, due to low bids.
Senior officials said the government is due to evaluate the quantity and quality of rice stocks next month to devise ways to deal with the grain and make up losses incurred by the previous government's money-guzzling rice buying scheme.
The rice support scheme helped bring former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to power in a landslide election in 2011 due to support from farmers, mostly in the remote areas of the country's northeast.
However, the scheme backfired when the government failed to sell rice to pay arrears to angry farmers, leading to months of protests that ended in a military coup in May.
After the army took power in May and inspected rice stocks nationwide, state warehouses were estimated to hold around 18 million tonnes of rice, about a fifth of which was unlikely to be sold as it was believed to be missing and rotten.
The government said it aimed to sell around 100,000 tonnes of rice from stocks monthly, to gradually cut burdensome storage costs without depressing global prices.
"The 70,000 tonnes were awarded to 11 exporters who bid at prices close to market rates," said Duangporn Rodphaya, head of the commerce ministry's department of foreign trade, which oversees the government's sales of rice stocks.
The common grade Thai 5 percent broken white rice was offered at $440 per tonne.
In the first tender in August, the government sold 73,000 tonnes of rice out of 167,000 tonnes on offer, due to low bids.
Senior officials said the government is due to evaluate the quantity and quality of rice stocks next month to devise ways to deal with the grain and make up losses incurred by the previous government's money-guzzling rice buying scheme.
The rice support scheme helped bring former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to power in a landslide election in 2011 due to support from farmers, mostly in the remote areas of the country's northeast.
However, the scheme backfired when the government failed to sell rice to pay arrears to angry farmers, leading to months of protests that ended in a military coup in May.
India Rice production in 2014 pegged at 88 million tonnes
As the four-month southwest monsoon season comes to an end on Tuesday, sowing of major kharif crops has picked up pace with the total area crossing 100 million hectares in 2014, a tad lower than last year's 104 million hectares.
Area under rice, the main foodgrain grown during the kharif season, was estimated at 37.48 million hectares, more than 37.42 million hectares in 2013, when India received normal rains. According to officials in the know, the incremental rise in paddy area is because of basmati planting.
Rice production is estimated to be 88.02 million tonnes in 2014, four per cent less than last year's figure, the agriculture ministry's latest data showed.
This showed the yield declined moderately during the period. The total kharif acreage this season was pegged at 101.92 million hectares, which is lower than the 104.46 million hectares acreage during the same time last year. Good retreating monsoon in some parts of north and central India boosted planting, officials said.
According to the government's first advance estimate, India's foodgrain production in 2014-15 kharif season is expected to fall by nine million tonnes to 120.27 million tonnes , compared to the same period last year, on account of uneven southwest monsoon in the first part of the 2014 season.
As on September 29, monsoon was about 12 per cent below normal, a big improvement from the 40 per cent deficit seen in July.
The biggest impact of erratic rains is expected to be on coarse cereals, pulses and groundnut.
The estimates show that coarse cereal production in the kharif season is expected to be around 27.05 million tonnes, against 31.25 million tonnes in 2013-14 - a fall of 13.4 per cent.
Production of pulses in the kharif season is expected to be 5.2 million tonnes against 6.02 million tonnes last year, while that of oilseeds is expected to be 19.66 million tonnes, down from last year's 22.40 million tonnes.
Meanwhile, the agriculture ministry data also showed that the area under cotton has also risen to 12.65 million hectares from 11.43 million hectares during the year ago period.
However, acreage of other major kharif crops as on September 26 is still lower than last year's level.
The area under coarse cereals currently stands at 18.23 million hectares, pulses at 10.10 million hectares, oilseeds at 17.75 million hectares, sugarcane at 4.87 million hectares and jute and mesta at 8.15 million hectares.
The area under these crops is still lower than the year-ago period because sowing operations got delayed due to late arrival of southwest monsoon. With kharif crops covered in less area, the overall production is expected to be affected.
Aiming to make up for the shortfall in some summer crops, the Centre had asked state governments to focus on 3.37 million hectares, which were left unsown due to delayed monsoon, during the rabi season.
The government has set a rabi production target of 94 million tonnes for wheat this year.
Area under rice, the main foodgrain grown during the kharif season, was estimated at 37.48 million hectares, more than 37.42 million hectares in 2013, when India received normal rains. According to officials in the know, the incremental rise in paddy area is because of basmati planting.
Rice production is estimated to be 88.02 million tonnes in 2014, four per cent less than last year's figure, the agriculture ministry's latest data showed.
This showed the yield declined moderately during the period. The total kharif acreage this season was pegged at 101.92 million hectares, which is lower than the 104.46 million hectares acreage during the same time last year. Good retreating monsoon in some parts of north and central India boosted planting, officials said.
According to the government's first advance estimate, India's foodgrain production in 2014-15 kharif season is expected to fall by nine million tonnes to 120.27 million tonnes , compared to the same period last year, on account of uneven southwest monsoon in the first part of the 2014 season.
As on September 29, monsoon was about 12 per cent below normal, a big improvement from the 40 per cent deficit seen in July.
The biggest impact of erratic rains is expected to be on coarse cereals, pulses and groundnut.
The estimates show that coarse cereal production in the kharif season is expected to be around 27.05 million tonnes, against 31.25 million tonnes in 2013-14 - a fall of 13.4 per cent.
Production of pulses in the kharif season is expected to be 5.2 million tonnes against 6.02 million tonnes last year, while that of oilseeds is expected to be 19.66 million tonnes, down from last year's 22.40 million tonnes.
Meanwhile, the agriculture ministry data also showed that the area under cotton has also risen to 12.65 million hectares from 11.43 million hectares during the year ago period.
However, acreage of other major kharif crops as on September 26 is still lower than last year's level.
The area under coarse cereals currently stands at 18.23 million hectares, pulses at 10.10 million hectares, oilseeds at 17.75 million hectares, sugarcane at 4.87 million hectares and jute and mesta at 8.15 million hectares.
The area under these crops is still lower than the year-ago period because sowing operations got delayed due to late arrival of southwest monsoon. With kharif crops covered in less area, the overall production is expected to be affected.
Aiming to make up for the shortfall in some summer crops, the Centre had asked state governments to focus on 3.37 million hectares, which were left unsown due to delayed monsoon, during the rabi season.
The government has set a rabi production target of 94 million tonnes for wheat this year.
Thailand Commerce Ministry pushes for expansion of organic rice cultivation
The Commerce Ministry is planning to increase the market shares of Thai organic rice in both domestic and world markets, to resolve the problems of falling rice prices and tap the rising popularity for health products among consumers.
Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade (DIT) Jintana Chaiyawannakarn has gone down to inspect an organic rice production farm owned by the Farm Suk Company in Saraburi central province.
According to Ms. Jintana, the farm provides a model for other organic rice growers to boost quality of their produce. She also said that the demand for organic rice is continuously on the rise, as a number of consumers have become increasingly cautious about their health.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kan Traithong, the owner of Farm Suk, revealed that the capital cost for an organic rice farm is only around 3,000 baht per rai since the crop does not require pesticides or chemicals.
Organic rice currently fetches a price of up to 10,000 baht per ton in the market. The high demand, both in local and international markets, has made organic rice an attractive source of investment.
Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade (DIT) Jintana Chaiyawannakarn has gone down to inspect an organic rice production farm owned by the Farm Suk Company in Saraburi central province.
According to Ms. Jintana, the farm provides a model for other organic rice growers to boost quality of their produce. She also said that the demand for organic rice is continuously on the rise, as a number of consumers have become increasingly cautious about their health.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kan Traithong, the owner of Farm Suk, revealed that the capital cost for an organic rice farm is only around 3,000 baht per rai since the crop does not require pesticides or chemicals.
Organic rice currently fetches a price of up to 10,000 baht per ton in the market. The high demand, both in local and international markets, has made organic rice an attractive source of investment.
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