7th april,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Gov’t requests to double rice exports to China Tue, 7 April 2015

Ananth Baliga

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter

April 7, 2015 V o l u m e 5, Issue I

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/author/ananth-baliga/77661



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The Ministry of Commerce is working with its Chinese counterparts to renew a rice trade

agreement, which will likely expire this month, and has requested to double the existing

100,000-tonne quota of rice Cambodia is currently able to export to China, a ministry spokesman

said yesterday.Minister Sun Chanthol, in a letter to the vice minister at the Chinese Ministry of

Commerce, has asked for the rise in rice export quota for the period of May 2015 to April2016.

The letter comes off the back of the successful implementation of the current 12-month quota

ahead of time. Cambodia had signed a one-year agreement last August to export 100,000 tonnes

of rice to China.

―The letter seeks support to increase the quota to 200,000 tonnes between China National

Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO) and [Cambodia] state-owned Green Trade

Company,‖ said Ken Ratha, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce.Ratha said the two

governments have a close relationship and that the ministry will leverage the successful

implementation of the current quota to have it raised. He added that extending the agreement is

key to increasing and diversifying the Kingdom‘s rice export destinations.―I think it is important

to open up the market and we will try to increase the volume of exports,‖ Ratha said. ―We will

keep going with the relationship and another MoU with the Chinese.‖China, in the past, had

expressed concerns over the quality and hygiene standards of Cambodian agricultural products,

but Ratha said the ministry had received no complaints from the Chinese government and that

the agreement has been a ―good achievement‖.

Song Saran, CEO of AMRU Rice Co, said it was important to extend the agreement as China,

along with Malaysia, are now Cambodia‘s biggest rice export destinations in Asia. But, he said

Cambodia would need to up its procurement to meet the added demand, as well as maintain

quality standards, ―Cambodia needs to find the good quality rice and supply China what China

needs,‖ Saran said.He added that diversifying export destinations, are critical to ―transforming

Cambodia‘s rice industry‖.―It is very, very important to renew the MoU with China, otherwise

we will not reach the one million tonnes target,‖ he said.David Van, advisor to the Cambodia

Rice Federation, told the Post on Sunday that the CRF has appealed to the minister of commerce

to let them act as signatory during the next round of quota negotiations, instead of Green Trade,

citing other food organisations that are in charge of similar arrangements.

―TREA in Thailand and Vinafood have both managed directly any quota with China and CRF is

advocating for the same approach so that we could fairly and transparently reallocate any quota

obtained among all CRF members accordingly,‖ said Van.Export figures released by the CRF

last week, showed that China was the biggest importer of Cambodian rice, importing 36,081

tonnes of rice, followed by Malaysia and France. Thanks largely to the boost in shipments to

China, the Kingdom increased its exports in March to 75,867 tonnes, doubling the 37,676 tonnes

produced in February.

Rice 2.0? The search for a more sustainable staple food Winifred Bird

Tuesday, April 7, 2015 - 1:00am

https://www.greenbiz.com/users/winifred-bird



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This article originally was published by Yale Environment 360 and is reprinted here with

permission.Ten thousand years ago, China‘s ancient inhabitants harvested the grains of wild rice,

a perennial grass growing up to 15 feet tall in bogs and streams.The grains were small and red,

maturing in waves and often shattering into the water. Their descendants transformed that grain

into the high-yielding annual crop that today feeds half the world‘s population.

When agronomist F.H. King toured China‘s meticulously maintained rice terraces in 1909, he

called the men and women who tilled them ―farmers of 40 centuries.‖ To him, they seemed to

have unlocked the secret to conserving soil and maintaining agricultural fertility

indefinitely.Today, with the climate changing and far more land under intensive cultivation, rice

farmers face a less certain future.In parts of Asia, melting glaciers threaten to dry up water

supplies for irrigated paddies, while higher temperatures and unpredictable rainfall stress rain-fed

fields. In uplands worldwide, where farmers grow rice on steep hillsides using slash-and-burn

techniques, fallow periods are growing shorter and severe erosion is undermining both

productivity and ecosystem health.

Sustainable upland farming

An international network of scientists is working toward a radical solution: perennial rice that

yields grain for many years without replanting.By crossing domesticated rice with its wild

predecessors, they hope to create deep-rooted varieties that hold soils in place, require less labor

and survive extremes of temperature and water supply. Plant breeders have been trying to do the

same for wheat, sorghum and other crops for decades.

http://e360.yale.edu/feature/perennial_rice_in_search_of_a_greener_hardier_staple_crop/2853/



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With rice, the vision finally is nearing reality. Chinese scientists are preparing to release a variety

that they say performs well in lowland paddies and, with more breeding work, eventually could

thrive on marginal land as well. ―This line of research foreshadows a more sustainable way of

raising crops in the uplands,‖ said Casiana Vera Cruz, an expert on upland agriculture at

the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines.She said the research

especially could affect women, because they are most often responsible for the hard work of

hand-planting rice each spring on small mountain farms.

The biggest strides are taking place in China, where geneticist Fengyi Hu and his colleagues at

the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences are completing nearly a decade of trials on

perennial rice varieties, including PR23 (PDF), a strain they claim yields harvests close to those

from conventional rice for four years or more.One agricultural company in Yunnan will test

PR23 and similar varieties on more than 1,500 acres this year, and researchers are trying out

PR23 in Laos as well. If Yunnan‘s government approves the new rice for widespread release to

farmers, it will be among the world‘s first perennial grains to be grown beyond experimental

fields.

Desmanthus4food via Wikipedia

Seeds of fertile, rhizomatous plants developed from a cross between Oryza longistaminata and

domestic rice by rice breeders at the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Hainan

Province, PRC.

Critics argue, however, that perennial grains

such as PR23 never will be able to feed the

world‘s growing population. Kenneth Cassman,

an agronomist at the University of Nebraska

whose work focuses on global food security,

said devoting a greater share of the world‘s

limited agricultural research funding to

perennial rice research would be a mistake. ―The

goal is not just to increase agricultural

productivity, the goal is to lift people out of

poverty and provide adequate nutrition and

health,‖ said Cassman, who worked at IRRI in

the mid-‗90s. ―And there‘s no way that low-

yielding perennial grains grown on small, marginal farms can lift anyone out of poverty.‖Instead,

he argues that farmers should grow drought-resistant trees or pasture — not grains — on steep

hillsides to stabilize soils, and scientists should focus on improving annual grain yields in

environments truly suited to them, such as flat fields with adequate water.

Fighting poverty and malnutrition

Nevertheless, those involved with the perennial rice research in China say it could have global

environmental implications. Millions of farmers in Asia and Africa grow rice in marginal upland

areas at the cost of massive soil loss (steep, unterraced rice fields in Laos, for instance, lose soil

around 20 times faster than the average global rate at which new soil forms).The same is true for

other crops on other continents. Half the world‘s population depends on marginal lands for food,

http://irri.org/

http://www.landinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/PF_FAO14_ch03.pdf



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according to a 2010 paper in Science, and annual plowing often degrades these fields further.

Meanwhile, population — and demand for grain — is growing rapidly.

One widely promoted answer is called ecological intensification, in which sustainable farming

techniques such as cover crops and polycultures are used to increase yields without expanding

the area of land under cultivation or the environmental harm it causes.But proponents of

perennial grains argue that agriculture needs a more fundamental fix — in essence, a shift away

from humanity‘s 10,000-year-old habit of clearing the ground each year and starting anew. ―So

many problems that we think of as being part of the package of agriculture — nutrient leakage,

soil erosion, carbon loss, weed invasion — are actually attributes of this highly disturbed

ecosystem,‖ said Timothy Crews, research director at the Land Institute in Kansas, founded in

1976 with the goal of developing grain fields that mimic prairies.

―They‘re very predictable in ecology. And yet, if you go out and you look at mature native

[grassland] ecosystems, you do not have those problems.‖Developing perennial versions of rice

and other grains is a difficult task, however. While domesticated annual grains pour 30 to 60

percent of their energy into producing seeds, perennial grasses divert much more toward building

roots for long-term survival.To boost perennial yields, Crews explained, plant breeders must

coax perennials to allocate a bigger slice of the energy pie to seed production. They also can take

advantage of the fact that perennials tend to have a larger energy pie to start with: They generally

start growing earlier than annuals each spring and photosynthesize sunlight for more days each

year.

Growing interest in perennial grains

For years, Land Institute staff were among only a scattering of scientists pursuing the

development of perennial grains. Recently, though, interest has grown significantly. In 2013 the

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations held an expert workshop

(PDF) on the topic, and is planning another this fall.The U.S. Agency for International

Development is investing in perennial sorghum research, and the Bill and Melinda Gates

Foundation is funding a study on the risks and benefits of perennial wheat, sorghum and pigeon

pea in five African nations. Still, progress is uneven due to differences in genetics, breeding

techniques, growing conditions and research interest for various grains. Perennial wheat — a key

crop at the Land Institute — remains decades from yield parity with annual wheat, according to

Crews. Perennial maize research is even farther behind.

Among major staples, only perennial rice is ―approaching reality,‖ according to the proceedings

of the 2013 FAO meeting. The first reports of crosses between perennial and annual rice

emerged in the 1980s. Inspired by these signs of success, IRRI established a breeding program in

the mid-1990s aimed at helping poor subsistence farmers combat erosion on steep slopes.It was

dropped in 2001 due to shifting research priorities, but by then, Dayun Tao, a geneticist at the

Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, had made the promising cross that eventually would

lead to PR23. This was a significant achievement. Perennial and annual rice are closely related

but distinct species, which makes crossing them difficult. Often, fertilization occurs but the

embryo is not viable. Tao used what plant breeders call ―embryo rescue,‖ a procedure that Crews

likens to placing a premature baby in an incubator. Once the plants got through that bottleneck,

future generations were able to reproduce normally.

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/328/5986/1638

http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/biodiversity/ecological-intensification/en/

http://www.landinstitute.org/

http://www.fao.org/3/a-i3495e.pdf

http://www.fao.org/3/a-i3495e.pdf

http://www.icrisat.org/newsroom/latest-news/happenings/happenings1591.htm

http://anrcom.msu.edu/anrcom/news/item/bringing_perennial_grain_crops_to_africa_is_aim_of_new_gates_foundation_fun



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Perennial rice soon ready to leave experimental fields

The next step for Tao and his colleagues, including Hu, was to improve the crosses and choose

the best ones. With funding from China‘s National Science Foundation and, more recently, the

Land Institute, they launched a series of field trials, using conventional growing practices in

typical lowland fields.Hu said PR23 and several other varieties are now good enough to release

to farmers in Yunnan, although he has not yet published any papers on their performance in peer-

reviewed journals. Perennial rice is by no means ready to withstand the rigors of poor soil, scant

water and extreme temperatures in the uplands, however. One challenge will be bringing in

genes that instruct the plant to become dormant and shut down leaf production during the dry

season to conserve water; another is adapting plants to the acid soils common in upland areas.

―As we go to more and more extreme environments, we‘ll have to develop better and better

materials with more traits to get them adapted,‖ said Len Wade, a perennial grain expert at

Australia‘s Charles Sturt University who is advising Hu‘s team and coordinating the trials in

Laos. ―So there‘s no one answer here. It takes a series of answers or a series of targets.‖ Yet

those further improvements are key, because the very places that most desperately need an

alternative to conventional rice also tend to have the toughest growing conditions. In the

mountains of northern Laos, for instance, farmers typically burn patches of forest in March or

April and scatter rice seed over the ashes.Before the plants have had a chance to grow strong

roots, heavy rains wash away soil and leach nutrients. Yields fall, weeds invade and farmers

move on after two to three years.

―Soil quality is decreasing very fast,‖ said Pheng Sengxua, a Lao agronomist involved in the

trials, which for now are taking place only in more favorable southern areas where the terrain is

flatter and soils better. ―The population has increased and the forest is being destroyed by upland

farmers. The Lao government wants to decrease upland farming systems like slash and burn to

reduce erosion and deforestation.‖ That has led to government interest in the new varieties from

China, which promise benefits that go beyond grain, Wade said. A rice crop that stayed in the

ground for years on end could conserve soil and provide hay, fodder and fuel during the dry

season, making it a key element of a sustainable farming system in hilly areas.

That vision — of a perennial rice tough enough to flourish in some of the world‘s most difficult

growing conditions — is still a distant one. But within the next few years, Chinese farmers could

have access to PR23, a variety unlike any other in the long history of rice farming. For the

perennial grains research community, that alone would be a significant milestone.

Rice Prices Succumb To Heavy Asian Supplies

World rice prices are plummeting amid high Thai government inventories and a smoothharvest in

Vietnam, according to media reports. The export price of Thai long-grain ricecomes to around $420 a ton,

down 5% from the recent February high and the lowest sincelast June. The Vietnamese harvest, which

began in late February, has weighed on themarket. Thailand amassed much of its inventories under a

government program that paid apremium for the rice. Stockpiles rose to around 20 million tons a year ago

and are said tobe around 15 million tons even now. The government is trying to sell them off, but

saleshave been sluggish. Thai export prices rose sharply last August, after exports were haltedfollowing

May's military coup, but have trended lower since sales resumed. The FAO AllRice Price Index dropped

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to around 219 points in March 2015. The index has been droppingover last few months- shedding 10%

since September 2014.

Powered by Commodity Insights http://www.indiainfoline.com/article/capital-market-commodity-futures-mid-session-commentary/commodities-buzz-rice-prices-succumb-to-

heavy-asian-supplies-115040700585_1.html#sthash.yC3kgJFB.dpuf

Rice harvest kicks off in Riverina with better-than-expected yields

THE WEEKLY TIMES

APRIL 08, 2015 12:00AM

Head start: Jeremy Morton, in a field of koshihikari rice being harvested at his farm near Moulamein, in NSW.

Picture: Andy Rogers

THIS year’s rice harvest results are better than expected for growers in the NSW Riverina.

Harvest started in mid-March and according to SunRice about 20 per cent of expected production

has been delivered so far.Michael Chalmers, harvesting at Wakool, east of Swan Hill, said he

was about a quarter through his family‘s 1060ha rice crop and he was surprised at the yields.Mr

Chalmers, who farms with his wife Felicia, parents, Rod and Linda, along with brother Peter said

their opus rice was yielding an average of 11 tonnes/ha.A cold snap in the critical growth period

of January had growers worried that yields would be reduced.―The yields have been generally

http://www.indiainfoline.com/article/capital-market-commodity-futures-mid-session-commentary/commodities-buzz-rice-prices-succumb-to-heavy-asian-supplies-115040700585_1.html#sthash.yC3kgJFB.dpuf

http://www.indiainfoline.com/article/capital-market-commodity-futures-mid-session-commentary/commodities-buzz-rice-prices-succumb-to-heavy-asian-supplies-115040700585_1.html#sthash.yC3kgJFB.dpuf



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good … I‘ve been pleasantly surprised given we had real concerns in January,‖ Mr Chalmers

said. ―We put extra water depth on our rice during the critical period, because it acts as a

temperature buffer.‖Mr Chalmers said some areas of his koshihikari variety were disappointing

and yielded about 7.5 tonnes/ha, which he attributed to lack of fertiliser in parts of this crop.BR

& C Agent senior agronomist Scott Burger, who is based at Barham, in NSW, said yields in his

district were about average, with the best about 11 tonnes/ha.

Rice harvest

Rice harvest is off and running in the NSW Riverina. Picture: Andy Rogers

http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/cs/Satellite?c=News_Rich_Media&cid=1227293924537&page=2&pagename=Foundation/News_Rich_Media/FDNiframe&site=WeeklyTimesNow



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Rice harvest is off and running in the NSW Riverina. Picture: Andy Rogers

He said his own paddock of reiki rice averaged 10.5 tonnes/ha, while the koshihikari rice of his

clients was yielding about 7.5 to eight tonnes/ha.Mr Burger said there had been a huge variability

in opus rice this year, which was averaging about nine to 10 tonnes/ha, but yield monitors were

reporting fluctuations between three and 14 tonnes/ha.At Moulamein, Jeremy Morton said his

22ha of koshihikari rice, a short grain Japanese-style rice, was achieving average yields of seven

to eight tonnes/ha and didn‘t appear to be affected by January‘s cool temperatures.

Mr Morton, who farms with his wife, Renee, and parents, Ian and Margaret, has reduced his rice

plantings this year. Three years ago he grew 500ha, which then dropped to 200ha two years ago,

then to 26ha last year.―I stopped growing rice on one farm because we had two years where we

were really badly affected by ducks, because when the rice is young they eat the seedlings,‖ he

said.He expected to increase rice plantings next year.SunRice said harvest should be completed

by the end of this month.

Gov’t requests to double rice exports to China

http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/cs/Satellite?c=News_Rich_Media&cid=1227293924537&page=3&pagename=Foundation/News_Rich_Media/FDNiframe&site=WeeklyTimesNow


www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine Page

10


The Ministry of Commerce is working with its Chinese counterparts to renew a rice trade

agreement, which will likely expire this month, and has requested to double the existing

100,000-tonne quota of rice Cambodia is currently able to export to China, a ministry spokesman

said yesterday.Minister Sun Chanthol, in a letter to the vice minister at the Chinese Ministry of

Commerce, has asked for the rise in rice export quota for the period of May 2015 to April2016.

The letter comes off the back of the successful implementation of the current 12-month quota

ahead of time. Cambodia had signed a one-year agreement last August to export 100,000 tonnes

of rice to China.―The letter seeks support to increase the quota to 200,000 tonnes between China

National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO) and[Cambodia] state-owned

Green TRADE COMPANY ,‖ said Ken Ratha, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce.

Ratha said the two governments have a close relationship and that the ministry will leverage the

successful implementation of the current quota to have it raised. He added that extending the agreement is

key to increasing and diversifying the Kingdom‘s rice export destinations.―I think it is important to open

up the market and we will try to increase the volume of exports,‖ Ratha said.―We will keep going with the

relationship and another MoU with the Chinese.‖China, in the past, had expressed concerns over the

quality and hygiene standards of Cambodian agricultural products, but Ratha said the ministry had

received no complaints from the Chinese government and that the agreement has been a―good

achievement‖.

Song Saran, CEO of AMRU Rice Co, said it was important to extend the agreement as China, along with

Malaysia, are now Cambodia‘s biggest rice export destinations in Asia. But, he said Cambodia would

need to up its procurement to meet the added demand, as well as maintain quality standards,―Cambodia

needs to find the good quality rice and supply China what China needs,‖ Saran said.He added that

diversifying export destinations, are critical to―transforming Cambodia‘s rice industry‖.―It is very, very

important to renew the MoU with China, otherwise we will not reach the one million tonnes target,‖ he

said.David Van, advisor to the Cambodia Rice Federation, told the Post on Sunday that the CRF has

appealed to the minister of commerce to let them act as signatory during the next round of quota

negotiations, instead of Green Trade, citing other food organisations that are in charge of similar

arrangements.

―TREA in Thailand and Vinafood have both managed directly any quota with China and CRF is

advocating for the same approach so that we could fairly and transparently reallocate any quota obtained

among all CRF members accordingly,‖ said Van.Export figures released by the CRF last week, showed

that China was the biggest importer of Cambodian rice, importing 36,081 tonnes of rice, followed by

Malaysia and France. Thanks largely to the boost in shipments to China, the Kingdom increased its

exports in March to 75,867 tonnes, doubling the 37,676 tonnes produced in February.

PHNOMPENH POST

http://en.vietstock.vn/2015/04/govt-requests-to-double-rice-exports-to-china-41-199606.htm

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/govt-requests-double-rice-exports-china

http://en.vietstock.vn/2015/04/govt-requests-to-double-rice-exports-to-china-41-199606.htm



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APEDA NEWS:

International Benchmark Price

Price on: 07-04-2015

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) 4170

2 Indian 200 mesh 3500 cps basis, FOB Kandla (USD/t) 1590

3 Indian 200 mesh 3500 cps technical grade, FOB Kandla (USD/t) 3625

Source:agra-net For more info

Market Watch

Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 06-04-2015

Domestic Prices Unit Price : Rs per Qty

Product Market Center Variety Min Price Max Price



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Jowar(Sorgham)

1 Amreli (Gujarat) Other 1205 3515

2 Theni (Tamil Nadu) Other 1280 1360

3 Pitlam (Telangana) Local 1200 1300

Maize

1 Amirgadh (Gujarat) Other 1430 1430

2 Koraput (Assam ) Other 1310 1330

3 Deoli(Rajasthan) Other 1350 1480

Pine Apple

1 Harippad (Kerala) Other 2500 2500

2 Sirhind(Punjab) Other 2000 3000

3 Nagpur(Maharashtra) Other 1000 3100

Brinjal

1 Chala (Kerala) Other 1700 1750

2 Banki (Orissa) Other 2800 3000

3 Sirhind(Punjab) Other 1000 1400

Source:agra-net For more info

Egg Rs per 100 No

Price on 06-04-2015

Product Market Center Price

1 Ahmedabad 272

2 Chittoor 278

3 Hyderabad 232



13


Source: e2necc.com

Other International Prices Unit Price : US$ per

package

Price on 06-04-2015

Product Market Center Origin Variety Low High

Onions Dry Package:50 lb sacks

1 Atlanta Washington Yellow 14 17

2 Baltimore Mexico Yellow 15 16

3 Detroit Nevada Yellow 15 15.50

Carrots Package: 20 1-lb film bags

1 Atlanta California Baby Peeled 18.50 21

2 Chicago California Baby Peeled 17 17.50

3 Dallas Arizona Baby Peeled 17.75 18

Grapes Package: 18 lb containers bagged

1 Atlanta Chile Red Globe 27 27.50

2 Baltimore Peru Red Globe 23 23

3 Chicago Peru Red Globe 18.50 22

Source:USDA

15-member Reap delegation leaves for Malaysia

April 07, 2015

RECORDER REPORT

A 15-member trade delegation of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap) headed by it

chairman Rafique Suleman proceeded to Malaysia and Phillippine. During the three days (April

http://e2necc.com/



14


6 to 8) visit to Malaysia, the delegation will have meetings with Minister of Agriculture & Agro-

Based Industry, government of Malaysia, officials of BERNAS, trade body of Malaysia, as well

as officials of various chambers, such as Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce (ACCCIM),

Kuala Lumpur Selangor Indian Chamber of Commerce (KLSICCI), Jasmine Food Corporation

and Syarikat Faiza.

Reap will also hold a biryani festival during the visit to Malaysia. In the second phase, the

delegation will visit Philippine from April 9 to 11 and will have meetings with the officials of

International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), National Food Authority (NFA) as well as officials

of Philippines Chambers of Commerce & Industry (PCCI). Rafique Suleman has thanked Trade

Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), officials of Pakistani High Commission in

Malaysia and Philippine for the excellent support and wonderful arrangements for the visit. He is

hopeful that this visit will produce fruitful results for the betterment of rice exports from Pakistan

and Pakistan will get a very handsome market share of both the countries. http://www.brecorder.com/agriculture-a-allied/183/1169784/

Iran Deal Roils Waters for Indian Commodity Exporters

Posted Editors on April 7th, 2015

By Biman Mukherji

A worker carries sacks of rice on his head at a Vichi Agro Products Pvt warehouse at a market in

Mumbai, India, Dec. 13, 2014. Iran is a top buyer of basmati rice from India. DHIRAJ

SINGH/BLOOMBERG NEWS

The prospect of a phased-in lifting of Western sanctions against Iran raised by last

week‘s preliminary nuclear agreement with Tehran has created uncertainty over the

fate of an oil-for-goods barter agreement involving rice, soymeal and other

products.Iran has been India‘s leading buyer of high-grade basmati rice and

soymeal, which has partly been helped because of the barter deal. That deal evolved as a means

for India to keep importing Iranian oil and pay for it in a way that would circumvent trade and

financial restrictions on Tehran.―We will have to wait and see,‖ said Arun Kumar Sampath

Kumar, an analyst with Frost & Sullivan. He said the situation could become learer after June 30

once the details of the nuclear deal between Iran and six Western powers are worked out.

If sanctions were lifted on Iran, it is likely to become easier for the nation to conduct trade for

crude based on dollar payments. However, any agreement with India will have to be negotiated

separately, as New Delhi has been eager to conserve precious dollars.For the year ended March

31, India‘s rice exports dropped about 5% to 10 million metric tons, according to Rajan

http://www.brecorder.com/agriculture-a-allied/183/1169784/



15


Sundaresan, executive director of All India Rice Exporters Association. He said lower purchases

by Iran, which has raised quality objections, were a large contributor to the fall.

.

Source: Iran Deal Roils Waters for Indian Commodity Exporters

Pakistan, Sri Lanka to increase bilateral trade to 1 bln USD Source:Xinhua Published: 2015-4-6 22:21:00

Pakistan and Sri Lanka on Monday agreed to increase annual bilateral trade volume to over one billion

US dollars from the present 460 million US dollars and to boost cooperation in various fields, Prime

Minister Nawaz Sharif and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said.Prime Minister Sharif and

President Sirisena were speaking at a joint news conference after holding official talks in Islamabad and

witnessing the signing of six agreements.The Sri Lankan President arrived in Islamabad on Sunday on his

first state visit to Pakistan since he assumed office in January.Nawaz Sharif said the agreements are aimed

at enhancing mutual cooperation in the fields of shipping, tourism, economic development, anti-narcotics,

disaster management and sports.

"These agreements will pave way for further expanding bilateral ties," the prime minister said.Cement,

sugar, cotton and basmati rice are the main Pakistani exports to Sri Lanka while Sri Lanka exports spices,

particularly black pepper, betel leaf, coconut and coconut byproducts, lentils and rubber to Pakistan.The

prime minister said both countries have similar view on almost all regional and international issues."We

also discussed cooperation in the field of defense besides other sectors,"Sharif said while speaking along

with the Sri Lankan President.He said Pakistan intends to maintain good relations with all neighboring

countries and give special priority to promote ties with Sri Lanka.

In his remarks, Sri Lankan President said his country intends to further increase trade volume with

Pakistan besides intensifying mutual cooperation for the benefit of people of both countries."We need to

further enhance people to people contact and joint research activities in various fields with Pakistan," he

said. He also invited Pakistan national carrier PIA to resume its flights for Colombo.The Sri Lankan

President expressed profound gratitude to Pakistan for extending support to eliminate terrorism from his

country.He invited Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to visit Colombo for further cementing Pak-Sri Lanka

relations.

Posted in: Diplomatic Channel

USA Rice Uses Government Programs to Amplify Message,

Expand Export Markets

http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2015/04/07/iran-deal-roils-waters-for-indian-commodity-exporters/?mod=WSJBlog

http://www.globaltimes.cn/world/diplomatic-channel/



16


Ghana promote that U.S. rice

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today the Federal

Register announced that the Commodity

Credit Corporation is inviting proposals for

the FY2016 Market Access (MAP), Foreign

Market Development (FMD), and Emerging

Market Programs. These cost-share programs

help expand commercial export markets for

American products and typically contribute a

significant portion of the USA Rice

Federation's international promotion budget.

"In the current fiscal year, USA Rice received

$4.2 million in MAP and FMD funds that enable us to conduct important marketing and promotional

work for all types and forms of U.S. rice in more than 30 countries," said USA Rice Vice President of

International Promotion Jim Guinn. "We can clearly demonstrate our successful trade servicing and

market promotion programs using the current funding, and will build on this as we submit a new

application for FY2016." Each year's allocation is the result of a competitive review of past program

performance and industry support for the promotion programs.

Approximately 90 cooperator groups compete for MAP/FMD funds, with new cooperator groups being

added each year.USA Rice's proposal, which is typically about 300 pages, is due by June 8, 2015. The

U.S. Department of Agriculture expects to award funds in October 2015."With the support of these

Foreign Ag Service (FAS) market development programs, U.S. agricultural exports last fiscal year

reached a record $152.5 billion. Those exports supported more than one million high-quality, good-

paying U.S. jobs" said FAS Administrator Phil Karsting.

Contact: Sarah Moran (703) 236-1457

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for April 7

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures



17


CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for April 7

Month Price Net Change

May 2015 $10.680 - $0.145

July 2015 $10.935 - $0.115

September 2015 $11.140 - $0.070

November 2015 $11.340 - $0.055

January 2016 $11.555 - $0.050

March 2016 $11.605 - $0.050

May 2016 $11.605 - $0.050

USA Rice Federation

New coconut rice cooking method claims to slash kilojoules

by Cathy Johnson

Cooking white rice with coconut oil and then cooling it in the fridge has been found to

drastically cut the kilojoules it contains and make your gut healthier, researchers told a recent

US scientific meeting.

ISTOCKPHOTO | ELENATHEWISE

A new rice cooking method, which could cut its kilojoules by as much as half, was one of the

sexier topics presented at a recent meeting of chemistry experts.The paper combined the hot

topics of carbohydrates (in this case, rice), coconut oil (touted by celebrities and others as a

miracle fat that can do everything from control sugar cravings to boost your immunity),gut

bacteria (the microbes in our intestines that are increasingly recognised as important in

preventing disease) and weight loss. (It also touched on food poisoning and flatulence.)

The new method involves adding a touch of coconut oil to rice (around a teaspoon for half a

cup of rice), which you then cook as you normally would, before cooling in the refrigerator for

about 12 hours.The cooking and cooling together increase the amount of a type of indigestible

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001TaY7EbauFUf3HmFHJlkfHsF2UPrI2-aeQLHYjlw8aWAqgwOyNpHr6BtIpubaufn8L_duMsbJrWgfnz7wgPQbSjUzAkYsgmde8bswrA0yqaVMpdStEN89iV_PeI4agHlE-atzHwnKSlKgXyUH_3N3aC0Zcm-Ivw9TCiIIC0rA4HWxE9HFoAYAsc6j2emoefImFBJ4cZj1A_wKVmznZ7AbyNTtXSb4IwigplyVYBLQvrpLshaxP2crVxqwWEimVbRSSM1A1zu9s7h3wM7-oI-EnJ4JkROc-fBojJq2t3m7LmYfFN0QVmgeYpxFwx6A6xoGFdD2ig7HrGARvBCwDQnZJa33ZVQF0TpCN3O5Px8RRfTvRWYCQuwHWBGGHocpKWg03eb_ZAUfDSJIv2vF3qnX1vDJz4ZMVlKvLH-zfVQYUX4CcvhMuRzs0--TCtaPp4fN2hYasHj0x5KZlXEyv4MityhaMFK5dF1X&c=5mbiOEdS7qiwNg9W-Ach0e4ZDAQ1_-sUUULOs1pbJEkA-qdAqgCEeA==&ch=CMF7dgk07a9-8IDKVwQuxwfEdLCtgS3u4pzEUBycxAM3RmXLpXXWtQ==

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-03/acs-nlr021915.php

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2014/12/02/4140586.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2014/12/02/4140586.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/health/thepulse/stories/2013/04/22/3737778.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/health/thepulse/stories/2013/04/22/3737778.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/health/library/stories/2014/10/16/4108508.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/health/features/stories/2013/09/24/3855151.htm



18


starch in the rice known as resistant starch.Since the body can't break down and absorb the

energy from resistant starch, you end up with low-cal rice. "If the best rice variety is

processed, we might reduce the calories by as much as 50 to 60 per cent", predicts team leader

Sudhair James, from the College of Chemical Sciences in Sri Lanka.

A healthy gut reaction

The researchers say people should be able to replicate the process at home, although the

results might vary depending on the type of rice used. Reheating the rice doesn't mean you

will lose the resistant starch (although you will need to take care to ensure you avoid food

poisoning).Rice with more resistant starch is healthier because this type of starch nourishes

good bacteria in the large intestine, keeping the gut healthy and reducing the risk of bowel

cancer. But be warned, these bacteria have the perhaps unwelcome side effect of producing

flatulence (farts).

Magic coconut oil?

Coconut oil was chosen largely because it is cheap and widely available in Sri Lanka, James

said.The oil enters the starch granules during cooking, changing their architecture so they are

no longer affected by digestive enzymes, he says. But it's possible other oils may work just as

well. They just haven't been tested yet.(For a summary of the limited scientific evidence

available on coconut's health effects in the body, see resources put together by the NZ Heart

Foundation (and supported by the Australian Heart Foundation) Coconut and the

heart, Evidence paper: Coconut oil and the heart and Q&A: Coconut oil and the heart)

Weight loss potential

Nutritionist Catherine Saxelby describes the research as "interesting" although very

preliminary.While the researchers say their work might ultimately result in a commercial

product sold as precooked low-cal rice ready to be reheated, Saxelby questions whether this

will have a major impact on weight loss."If you're eating rice twice a day every day and you

need to lose a bit of weight, then it is probably of interest," she says. However for most of us,





http://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/uploads/Coconut_position_statement_2014.pdf

http://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/uploads/Coconut_position_statement_2014.pdf

http://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/uploads/Evidence_paper_coconut_August_2014.pdf

http://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/uploads/QA_Coconut_2014.pdf

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/03/25/scientists-have-figured-out-a-simple-way-to-cook-rice-that-dramatically-cuts-the-calories/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/03/25/scientists-have-figured-out-a-simple-way-to-cook-rice-that-dramatically-cuts-the-calories/



19


white rice is not a major part of our daily food intake (and probably shouldn't be because it is

lower in nutrients than alternatives like brown rice or quinoa, she says).

In any case "it's still early days," she points out. "They've tested the rice, but they haven't

actually tested it on humans".Indeed the researchers themselves say more work is needed to

see if the changes they've seen have the expected effects on people's digestive

systems.Saxelby acknowledges most Australians eat less than a third of the amount of resistant

starch thought optimal for bowel health, but you can easily get more by eating legumes

(beans), uncooked oats, barley and whole grains.

Other ways to boost resistant starch

In Australia some grains with a higher resistant starch have already been incorporated into

breads and breakfast cereals sold in supermarkets for some years.But in these cases, the extra

resistant starch in the grains is a result of selective breeding.The final products are marketed

primarily for their health benefits and as easy ways to get children to eat more fibre without

them really noticing.It's also long been known that cold cooked potato (as in a potato salad)

has more resistant starch than hot cooked potatoes. The same phenomenon has been shown to

occur in cold cooked pasta.

A weapon to help fight obesity

The researchers' claim their cooking method has potential to reduce obesity rates, especially in

countries where rice is a staple.But Saxelby is sceptical, saying junk food and sedentary

lifestyles are a bigger contributor to obesity than rice.She admits though that there may be

some benefit for poorer communities where rice is a staple, and that rice with a higher

resistant starch content could be helpful in reducing the risk of diabetes.Resistant starch

reduces the rise in glucose after eating that has been linked to an increased risk of diabetes

(and which is problematic for those who already have diabetes). Several studies had suggested

eating a lot of white rice raises diabetes risk, she says.

Food poisoning warning

If you want to avoid food poisoning from eating pre-cooked rice, there are a few things you

need to keep in mind:

Cooked rice should be cooled quickly and not left at room temperature.

It should not be kept for more than three days in the fridge.

It needs to be reheated very thoroughly.

Cooked rice should never be reheated more than once.

For more info on the potential for rice to cause food poisoning see: Will cooked rice give

you food poisoning if it's not stored in the fridge?

The computer smaller than a grain of rice: Tiny PC could

invisibly monitor you and your home

Michigan Micro Mote is a complete computer system less that 5mm across

http://foodwatch.com.au/blog/carbs-sugars-and-fibres/item/resistant-starch-the-newest-fibre.html

http://foodwatch.com.au/blog/carbs-sugars-and-fibres/item/resistant-starch-the-newest-fibre.html

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-29629761

http://www.abc.net.au/health/talkinghealth/factbuster/stories/2009/01/27/2475255.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/health/talkinghealth/factbuster/stories/2009/01/27/2475255.htm



20


Contains solar cells that power the battery with ambient light

Can be equipped with cameras, temperature and pressure sensors

By MARK PRIGG FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

PUBLISHED: 20:39 GMT, 7 April 2015 | UPDATED: 20:52 GMT, 7 April 2015

It is the smallest computer in the world - and 150 of them can fit in a thimble.Called

the Michigan Micro Mote, to tiny technology is a complete computer system.Its inventors say it

can act as a smart sensor, and give everyday objects computing capabilities. +3

The Michigan Micro Mote is the smallest computer in the world, measuring less than 2mm across.

HOW IT WORKS

The Michigan Micro Mote contains solar cells

that power the battery with ambient light,

including indoor rooms with no natural sunlight,

allowing the computers to run perpetually.This

line of 'smart dust' devices includes computers

equipped with imagers (with motion detection),

temperature sensors, and pressure sensors. By

strobing light at a high frequency, the operator is

able to send information to the computer. Once

the Micro Mote processes the data, it is able to

send the information to a central computer via

conventional radio frequencies.

The Michigan Micro Mote is the first complete,

operational computer system measuring as small as two millimeters across. 'To be 'complete,' a

computer system must have an input of data, the ability

to process that data - meaning process and store it,

make decisions about what to do next – and ultimately,

the ability to output the data.' Professor David Blaauw

explained. 'The sensors are the input and the radios are

the output. The other key to being a complete computer

is the ability to supply its own power.'

The Michigan Micro Mote contains solar cells that

power the battery with ambient light, including indoor

rooms with no natural sunlight, allowing the computers to run perpetually.This line of 'smart

dust' devices includes computers equipped with imagers (with motion detection), temperature

sensors, and pressure sensors. They are the culmination of work initiated by Blaauw and

Sylvester on very low-power processing for millimeter-scale systems. A key breakthrough in the

size/power matchup came with the Phoenix processor in 2008.The Phoenix processor is

miniscule at 915 x 915µm2, and boasts ultra-low operating voltage and a unique standby mode

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=&authornamef=Mark+Prigg+For+Dailymail.com



21


that results in an average power consumption of only 500pW. (Consider that 1pW is the average

power consumption of a single human cell.)

Blaauw explained why Phoenix's extreme

energy efficiency is so important: 'As you

shrink down in size, the percentage of the

system tends to be dominated by the

battery. 'It's actually not hard to make chips

small, but it is hard to make them low

power. 'We could have very small chips, but

we'd still end up with really large

batteries.'This line of 'smart dust' devices

includes computers equipped with imagers (with motion detection), temperature sensors, and

pressure sensors.ne key application for this line of smart sensors lies in personal security and

information, its inventors say.

The solar system allows the computer to

work under indoor lights without ever having

to be charged.'With a 1mm2 solar cell

producing 20nW, the device can harvest

enough energy under ambient light to run

perpetually,' the team say.The device's standby

power consumption is 2nA. That's about a

million times less power than the average

mobile phone consumes while on standby, or

the comparative difference between the thickness of a sheet of paper and the length of a football

field.There are currently three different systems in the M3 family, focusing on several different

applications: sensing temperature, pressure, and taking images.'Down the road we want these

sensors to be able to talk to one another,' says Blaauw, 'and we're currently working to extend

their range to about 20m.'

+3The working computer is smaller than a

grain of rice programmed and charged via

light and could be used for a variety of

medical and industrial purposes.One key

application for this line of smart sensors lies

in personal security and

information.Numerous specks of technology

could be discretely placed to invisibly

monitor a home, business, or personal

device.'We found that a lot of people were

very interested in these devices, and that's

why we went with the modular or stacked approach.' Blaauw explained. 'It's the key aspect of our design.

If you need a different sensing modality you take out one sensor and replace it with another - like mix and

match tinker toys.'

Documents

7th april,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine