12th September, 2014 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Daily Rice E-Newsletter by Rice Plus Magazine www.ricepluss.
com
News and R&D Section mujajhid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874

12
th
September , 2014

TOP Contents - Tailored for YOU
Latest News Headlines
Customs generates P393.13-M from rice auction
India notifies farm subsidies to WTO, claims no breach of
limits
Mizoram to import rice from Myanmar
Rice supply remains stable in SurSur
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Sep 12
Standing crops, orchards spread over 200,000 acres of land
damaged in Punjab
Market Check: Japan - Facebook Growth and New Retail
Distribution
Weekly Rice Sales, Exports Reported
Japan Announces Results of 2nd Ordinary Import Tender in
FY2014
Pakistan offers one of worlds best investment regimes:
envoy
TABLE-Weekly update on India's summer crop planting
Price control, rice, export growth among urgent tasks for new
minister
Meet a scientist: Dr. Rolfe Bryant
Boro rice, paddy procurement period extended for one month
U.N.'S FOOD PRICE INDEX DROPS TO FOUR-YEAR LOW
Unusual host preference of a moth species could be useful for biological control
Whats NEW in RICE research?-News shared by PHILIPPINE RICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE (PhilRice)

Daily Rice E-Newsletter by Rice Plus Magazine www.ricepluss.com

Newsshare by Ricegrowers' Association of Australia
NEWS DETAILS:

Customs generates P393.13-M from rice auction
September 12, 2014 5:06pm
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Friday said it generated P393.13 million in revenues its highest earnings
generated via public auction from the sale of rice seized late last year.The sale of the seized rice totaling 315
container vans stored inside the Manila International Container Port (MICP) yard will also help reduce
congestion inside the countrys largest port.The BOC-MICP Collection District sold about 163,775 sacks of rice
through a public auction on Thursday, the agency said in an e-mailed statement Friday.BOC-MICP District
Collector Elmir Dela Cruz said the sale was 31 percent higher than the minimum floor price of P299.69 million
initially set.
We are pleased with the outcome of the auction which we conducted with utmost care and consideration for
transparency, accountability and compliance with policies and procedures," Glutinous (malagkit) rice was sold
at an average price of P56.93 per kilogram, while white rice was sold as an average of P36.10 per
kilogram.From a total of 16 bidders, three won the bidding for 4,679 metric tons (MT) of glutinous rice and
3,510 MT of white rice in eight lots.Four lots were won by Sta. Rosa Farm, three by Victor Del Rosario and one
by LOM Marketing. The winning bidders paid 50 percent of the bid price at the close of the auction and were
required to pay the remaining balance Friday.The rice was seized from Bold Bidder Marketing and San Carlos
Multi Purpose Cooperative from October to November 2013 for lack of required import permits from the
National Food Authority (NFA), which was subsequently forfeited in favor of the government.
Under the law, all importations of rice require import permits from the NFA, which regulates quotas to ensure
fair competition and the viability of the local rice industry.But lawyers representing Bold Bidder and Jade Bros.
Farm and Livestock, who were accompanied by Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) representatives, served a 20-day
temporary restraining order against the sale of the seized rice during the auction.In a two-page resolution signed
by Associate Justices Lovell Bautista and Esperanza Fabon-Victorino dated September 11, the CTAs Third
Division barred BOC from auctioning the rice shipment of Jade Bros. to prevent irreparable injury on the
petitioner while the case is still being heard.But the basis invoked by the rice traders is now moot and academic,
Customs Commissioner John P. Sevilla said in the same statement.


"We have always maintained that all imported rice without valid NFA permits is illegal and now that the World
Trade Organization has allowed the Philippines to keep imposing quotas on rice imports, this policy should be
very clear by now to all rice importers, he said.Proceeds from the auction will be held in trust by the BOC
since the rice is still subject of on-going cases in the CTA. Danessa O. Rivera/VS, GMA News

India notifies farm subsidies to WTO, claims no breach of limits
Trade minister Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters on Wednesday she
hoped that a permanent solution on the food subsidies issue will be
simultaneously implemented with the TFA. Photo: PTI New Delhi:
Ahead of resumption of negotiations in Geneva to end the stalemate
over the Bali agreement, India has notified its farm subsidies for six
years from 2004-05 to 2010-11 to the World Trade Organization
(WTO). India claims that it has not breached the permissible subsidy
levels under WTO rules. India had not notified its farm subsidies to the
WTO since 2003-04; updating the information is expected to help it answer rich nations complaints that it
doesnt comply with WTO notification requirements, a significant move even as it fights for a permanent
solution on food subsidies. As per the notification, in 2010-11, Indias aggregate measurement of support
(AMS) for rice, or subsidy for procurement of rice, has been calculated at $2.3 billion. WTO rules allow such
subsidy to be within 10% of the total value of paddy produced in the country. Without revealing the total
production figure, India has indicated to the WTO that its subsidy for rice is within the prescribed limit.
The commerce ministry had earlier communicated unofficially that its AMS for rice was around 7% of the total
value of paddy produced in 2010-11. Indias subsidies for wheat remained in the negative, against the
prescribed limit of 10%. Under WTO rules, the domestic price support is calculated as the difference between
the fixed external reference price prevailing between 1986-88 and the minimum support price (MSP) provided
by the Indian government. India announces MSP for as many as 23 crops but the subsidy is largely restricted to
paddy and wheat, where the amount of government procurement is huge.
As the government keeps increasing the MSP every year, the market-distorting subsidy limit according to WTO
rules keeps increasing, too, thus threatening to breach the 10% cap prescribed by it. Developing countries
including India argue that the reference period of 1986-88 is outdated and that they need to be given flexibility
to stock enough grains for the food security of millions of their poor. At Bali in December 2013, developed
countries agreed to find a permanent solution to this issue by 2017, until which time member countries would


not be able to challenge poor and developing countries through the WTO dispute settlement mechanism if they
breached the 10% cap.
Experts believe Indias farm subsidy calculations may be contested by developed countries. Indias subsidy
notifications will be minutely scrutinised and debated. According to some estimates, Indias paddy subsidies are
around 24% of the total value of paddy produced, well above the prescribed 10% limit, Devinder Sharma, a
food and trade policy analyst, said. India also notified to the WTO that its permissible farm subsidies which are
exempt from reduction commitments went up to $56.1 billion in 2010-11 from $16.9 billion in 2004-05. In
comparison, the farm subsidies of the US in 2009, the latest year for which it has notified data to the WTO,
stood at $101 billion.
Indias input subsidies which include fertiliser and electricity subsidies almost tripled during the notification
period, from $10.3 billion in 2004-05 to $29.1 billion in 20010-11. India also informed the WTO that the farm
loan waiver including provision of loan at concessional rates rolled out by the United Progressive Alliance
government in 2007-08 amounted to $13.3 billion. After the National Democratic Alliance government came to
power in May, India hardened its stand on the food subsidies issue and delayed implementing the trade
facilitation agreement (TFA) in July that aims to streamline goods movement across international borders.
It wants a permanent solution to the food subsidy issue to be implemented simultaneously with the TFA with
the latter expected to benefit developed countries more than developing ones. Following a month-long summer
break, the WTO has resumed its work in Geneva. WTO director general Roberto Azevdo has called a head of
delegation meeting on 15 September to chart out the future course of action. WTO spokersperson Keith
Rockwell said in an e-mail that Azevdo had asked members in July to pause and reflect during the summer
break on what should be the way forward. On the 15th, the DG will ask members to share their reflections with
the wider membership. In the meantime, the negotiating group chairs have already begun their consultations and
will continue them throughout the month, he wrote.
On Wednesday, Indias trade minister Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters that Indias stand is now much more
appreciated by WTO members and she is hopeful that a permanent solution on food subsidies issue will be
simultaneously implemented with the TFA.

Image: Trade minister Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters on Wednesday she hoped that a permanent solution on
the food subsidies issue will be simultaneously implemented with the TFA. Photo: PTI

Mizoram to import rice from Myanmar


Aizawl, Sep 12 (PTI) Mizoram would import rice from Myanmar to ensure supply of the foodstuff during the
'mega block' beginning from October due to widening of railroad between Lumding and Badarpur in Assam,
state Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister John Rotluangliana said here today.Rotluangliana
said the widening of the railroad was proposed to be completed by March 2015 but might be delayed

Rice supply remains stable in SurSur
Friday 12th of September 2014

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Sept. 12 (PIA) As the National Food Authority (NFA) provincial office
here headed by manager Gleen Echin gears up for the joint 20th Regional Anniversary celebration on
September 26 that will be held in Siargao Island for the first time with the theme Bigas ng NFA Para sa
Taumbayan, it was assured that the rice supply in Surigao del Sur remains stable.To date, Echin said that they
have a total of about 57,000 bags of buffer rice stocks in all of their three warehouses located in Cantilan and
the two cities of Tandag and Bislig.Meanwhile, she stressed that commercial rice are currently priced between
P43-P44 per kilo, the same price range that was noted early last month that posted a P1.00 drop in retail price
per kilo after shooting up to P45 per kilo or more for sometime based on NFA regular daily price monitoring.H

owever, NFA rice still carries the same price tag of P27 and P32 per kilo, respectively, for the regular and well-
milled, it was learned.In a related development, the said agency here has already set up 26 Bigasan Sa Palengke
(BSP) province-wide so far, Echin told. On the contrary, she pointed out that a total of five BSP were meted out
perpetual disqualification as NFA accredited outlets due to violation of the Deed of Undertaking (DOU), citing
those doing business in the towns of Marihatag, San Agustin, San Miguel, Cantilan, and in Barangay Aras-Asan
in Cagwait. (NGBT/Greg Tataro Jr., Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Sep 12
Fri Sep 12, 2014 3:44pm IST
Nagpur, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Gram prices in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committmee
(APMC) declined sharply on lack of demand from local millers amid profit-taking selling by
stockists at higher level. Easy condition on NCDEX and downward trend in Madhya Pradesh gram
prices also pushed down gram prices in weak trading activity, according to sources.

* * * *

FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Gram Kabuli recovered strongly in open market on renewed festival season demand from
local traders amid tight overseas arrival.


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

* Moong Mogar bold firmed up in open market here on increased seasonal demand from
local traders amid weak supply from producing regions.

* In Akola, Tuar - 5,000-5,200, Tuar dal - 6,900-7,100, Udid at 7,200-7,300,
Udid Mogar (clean) - 8,000-8,500, Moong - 7,200-7,600, Moong Mogar
(clean) 8,700-9,400, Gram - 2,700-2,900, Gram Super best bold - 3,800-4,000
for 100 kg.

* Wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market
in thin trading activity, according to sources.

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

FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction 2,200-2,740 2,200-2,840
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction n.a. 4,410-5,140
Moong Auction n.a. 5,200-5,500
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800
Gram Super Best Bold 3,900-4,200 3,900-4,200
Gram Super Best n.a.
Gram Medium Best 3,700-3,800 3,700-3,800
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a.
Gram Mill Quality 3,500-3,600 3,500-3,600
Desi gram Raw 2,850-2,950 2,850-2,950
Gram Filter new 3,600-3,800 3,600-3,800
Gram Kabuli 8,400-9,700 8,200-9,700
Gram Pink 7,200-7,400 7,200-7,400
Tuar Fataka Best 7,400-7,500 7,400-7,500
Tuar Fataka Medium 7,100-7,300 7,100-7,300
Tuar Dal Best Phod 6,700-6,900 6,700-6,900
Tuar Dal Medium phod 6,500-6,600 6,500-6,600
Tuar Gavarani 5,150-5,250 5,150-5,250
Tuar Karnataka 5,300-5,400 5,300-5,400
Tuar Black 8,200-8,500 8,200-8,500
Masoor dal best 6,600-6,700 6,600-6,700
Masoor dal medium 6,300-6,450 6,300-6,450


Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold 9,200-10,000 9,000-10,000
Moong Mogar Medium best 8,500-8,800 8,500-8,800
Moong dal super best 7,800-7,900 7,800-7,900
Moong dal Chilka 7,700-7,900 7,700-7,900
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 8,000-9,000 8,000-9,000
Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 8,500-8,800 8,500-8,800
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,400-8,000 7,400-8,000
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 6,900-7,300 6,800-7,200
Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 4,000-5,000 4,000-5,000
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 2,800-3,100 2,800-3,100
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,250-3,450 3,250-3,450
Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,250-3,350 3,250-3,350
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,400-4,900 4,400-4,900
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,200-1,500 1,200-1,500
Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,625-1,700 1,625-1,700
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,300-1,500 1,300-1,500
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,450 2,100-2,450
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,850-2,000 1,850-2,000
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 2,800-3,200 2,800-3,200
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 1,950-2,350 1,950-2,350
Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG) 1,200-1,300 1,200-1,300
Wheat Best (100 INR/KG) 1,500-1,800 1,500-1,800
Rice BPT (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,500 3,000-3,500
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,800-2,000 1,800-2,000
Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,700 2,500-2,700
Rice HMT (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,200 4,000-4,200
Rice HMT Shriram (100 INR/KG) 4,900-5,500 4,900-5,500
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 10,500-13,500 10,500-13,500
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,300-10,000 7,300-10,000
Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG) 5,400-5,700 5,400-5,700
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,400-1,600 1,400-1,600
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,800 1,700-1,800

WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 29.5 degree Celsius (85.1 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
22.3 degree Celsius (72.1 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : 42.4 mm
FORECAST: Cloudy sky. Rains may occur. Maximum and Minimum temperature likely to be around 32


and 23 degree Celsius respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available

(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)

Standing crops, orchards spread over 200,000 acres of land damaged
in Punjab
Friday, September-12-2014

The ongoing floods in various parts of Punjab have so far damaged standing crops and orchards standing over
200,000 acres of land impacting cotton, rice, sugarcane and other commodities, it has been learnt.Sources in the
Punjab Agriculture Department (PAD) told Business Recorder here on Thursday that confirmed figures,
however, would be made public after all the flood-hit districts constitute committees comprising officials from
revenue, agriculture and other departments for surveying the affected villages. 'Administration of all the
districts hit by floods have been asked to constitute these committees at the earliest for notifying the calamity hit
villages and preparing a final report of loss of crops, livestock, houses and lives for submission to the provincial
revenue board,' the sources added.

They said that keeping in view the damages and finalisation of the reports by survey committee a package for
support of the flood-hit areas will be announced by the government. They said survey in Gujranwala district had
been started and hopefully would be completed within a week. Agri Forum Pakistan Chairman Dr Muhammad
Ibrahim Mughal said that information reached to him through office-bearers of his organisation from different
flood-hit areas revealed that sugarcane crop standing over 70,000 acre had been damaged by the present
flood. It had also damaged paddy standing over 130,000 acres, cotton over 60,000 acres, vegetables, fodder and
fruits also hit over 30,000 acres of land accumulatively.Similarly, he claimed that from 700 to 800 poultry farms
and around 7,000 cattle heads had been disappeared from various flood-hit areas.

He said the recent flood had caused a loss of Rs 50 to 60 billion to the agricultural sector. Throwing light upon
the reason, Mughal said that quantum of water was not that much as compared to the losses caused to the
agriculture sector, just because the money allocated for repair and cleanliness of canals and other irrigation
infrastructure was misused by the Irrigation Staff. He alleged that Irrigation Staff had allowed the people to
carry out farming in the river beds and even people from bureaucracy were using river areas for farming and
earning money.

He said the loss could have been far less if this water had a smooth running. Agri Forum Pakistan urged the
government to carry out accountability of irrigation, flood control and disaster management departments for
avoiding such huge loss in future. He said that maintenance and repair of canals should not be carried out by the
irrigation department rather this should be given to FWO to ensure proper usage of money. He said the situation
had once again highlighted the need of construction of small and large dams in the country.


Meanwhile Kisan Board Pakistan (KBP) Chief Sardar Zafar Hussein has accused the rulers of showing an
indifferent attitude towards the growers who had suffered losses due to ongoing flood.He said crops of billions
of rupees had been destroyed because of flood in Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi and Sutluj rivers. Hundred of human
beings and thousands of cattle heads had lost their lives, but no body from the ruling party had given a
sympathetic hearing to the plight of growers sitting under open sky after this destruction. KBP also termed the
ongoing floods as 'water war' launched by the Indian government through releasing water in the rivers without
intimation to Pakistan. He said that the Board and other patriotic elements had time and again drew the attention
of Indian water aggression against Pakistan but our rulers had always turned a deaf ear to these calls.He urged
the government to take up this issue at international level and also announce a relief package for
the growers immediately.

Market Check: Japan - Facebook Growth and New Retail Distribution
Japanese Facebook page
Like Curry Like!
TOKYO, JAPAN - While trade negotiations to improve U.S. rice
access to Japan drag on, the USA
Rice Federation continues to
pave the way for the home-grown
grain.USA Rice's Japanese
Facebook page, translated as
"Curry LIKE!" has just passed a
fan milestone. The page now has
more than 14,000 fans and is the
second largest curry-based Facebook site in Japan.Curries are
very popular here, providing U.S.-grown rice with a natural
entre into the market," said Bill Farmer, USA Rice's director of
Asia programs. "We update the Facebook page with at least ten
recipes and five news items each month to ensure fresh content,
giving consumers a reason to visit often."Farmer says they are also at the tail end of a four-week promotion
offering Facebook fans a free sample of U.S. medium grain and a U.S. rice curry recipe book. He added that the
increased Facebook fan base has resulted in increased traffic to the USA Rice Japan website that contains


valuable nutritional information, additional recipes, and more. Speaking of U.S. medium grain, a new retail bag
product has recently been launched here
New rice packaing in Japan
Eat your vegetables...er, rice!
by Nishimoto Trading Co., Ltd., an international Japanese food company.

Nishimoto is taking a unique approach to marketing the product. Some rice is packaged and sold in the
traditional rice section, but they are also packaging some differently and displaying the product in fresh
vegetable sections with a message "rice to enjoy like a vegetable".

This twist on rice marketing follows several successful USA Rice promotional activities in Japan designed to
introduce Japanese consumers to new and creative uses for U.S.-grown rice, such as cold rice salads. (see USA
Rice Daily stories April 9, April 21, and August 14, 2014.)
"I think the availability of the one pound retail bags will help stimulate demand for U.S. medium grain rice
here," Farmer said. "We'll keep publicizing new recipes and uses and help this market grow however we can."

Contact: Michael Klein (703) 236-1458
Weekly Rice Sales, Exports Reported
WASHINGTON, DC -- Net sales of 32,000 MT for 2014/2015were down 43 percent from the previous week
and 55 percent from the prior 4-week average. Increases were reported for Mexico (7,800 MT), Ghana (7,000
MT), Honduras (5,300 MT, including 2,000 MT switched from unknown destinations and decreases of 200
MT), Costa Rica (4,000 MT), and Turkey (3,000 MT) according to today's Export Sales Highlights report..
Decreases were reported for unknown destinations (2,000 MT). Net sales reductions of 3,300 MT for 2015/2016
resulted as increases for Mexico (200 MT), were more than offset by decreases for Honduras (3,500 MT).

Exports of 19,700 MT were down 53 percent from the previous week and from the prior 4-week average. The
primary destinations were to Haiti (7,100 MT), Honduras (4,300 MT), Mexico (2,800 MT), Jordan (1,800 MT),
and Canada (1,300 MT).


This summary is based on reports from exporters from the period August 29-September 4.
Japan Announces Results of 2nd Ordinary Import Tender in FY2014
Japan Announces Results of 2nd Ordinary Import Tender in FY2014
Country
of Origin
Variety Number of
importers
Quantity
(MT)
Participated
bidders
Amount
of bids
(MT)
U.S.A Non-
glutinous
milled rice
(Medium
grain)

2

24,000

13

156,000
Thailand Non-
glutinous
milled rice
(Long grain)

3

18,000

25

150,000
Grand
total
5 42,000 38 306,000
Average
price for
successful
bids
JPY
87,596/MT

JPY
94,604/MT
(tax excl.)

(tax excl.)

Pakistan offers one of worlds best investment regimes: envoy
APP
September 12, 2014

ISLAMABAD: Pakistans Ambassador to Germany Syed Hasan Javed on
Thursday urged the German medium and small enterprises (SMEs) to invest in
Pakistan as it offers one of the best investment regimes in the world on foreign
investment.He was addressing the participants of a Pakistan Business Day
conference organised by the embassy under the aegis of Asia-Pacific Forum


Berlin, according to a message received here from Pakistans Embassy in Berlin, Germany.
The Ambassador said that a new Economic Forum with the name, GATE-Pakistan has been launched last
month, which would open a new era of long term mutually beneficial economic and trade partnership between
the two countries.Despite being faced with natural and man made disasters, Pakistan has been able to maintain a
sustained GDP growth rate of nearly 5% for six decades, Ambassador Javed added.

He presented a vivid picture of various natural resources, both explored and unexplored, that existed in Pakistan
and highlighted the importance of its location in geographical map of the world and concluded that Pakistan
was poised to become a hub of economic activities in the near future.Dr. Stefan Oswald, Director General,
German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development said that Pakistan and Germany had a
longstanding partnership that started with the signing of Bilateral Investment Treaty back in 1959.He said that
his Ministry had been extending support to Pakistan in the field of energy conservation measures and
improvement of energy related infrastructure including vocational training to improve the efficiency of the
existing system and overcome the energy crises in the country.

Rizwan Tariq, Commercial Counsellor, Consulate General of Pakistan, Frankfurt made a presentation on the
investment opportunities available in different sectors of Pakistan and the Investment Policy of the Government
for foreign investors.Dr. Uwe Greier, General Manager, Pakistan Promotion Office, Frankfurt highlighted the
innovative ways and means to promote business and trade activities between Pakistan and Germany.

Earlier the Vice President of the Asia-Pacific Forum, Berlin, Dr. Talat Mahmood welcomed the participants and
highlighted the various steps taken by the present Government in Pakistan to overcome the energy crises and
put the economy on right track.A documentary film, Indus, the River of Cultures and Mohenjo-Daro, was also
screened on this occasion.The Embassy put up an Info-Cultural Stall, where books and brochures on Pakistan,
Investment Policy, Economic Opportunities available for Foreign Investors and handicrafts from Pakistan were
put on display.The visitors to the stall were served with complimentary Biryani made of Pakistani Basmati
rice and spices.

TABLE-Weekly update on India's summer crop planting
Fri Sep 5, 2014 5:36pm IST
Sept 5 (Reuters) - Rice planting in India has crossed normal coverage, aided by a late revival of monsoon rains
in growing areas, the latest farm ministry update showed on Friday. But the latest coverage was lower than in
the year-ago period. The overall planting for most of the summer crops, except cotton and urd, lagged behind
the coverage area from a year earlier on this year's weak monsoon rains, the update showed on Friday.
Weather officials expect the monsoon rains to remain active over the next week.
Table below shows the area sown with major crops between June 1 and Sept. 5, in million hectares.


Figures are provisional.
---------------------------------------
CROP Normal Area 2014 2013
---------------------------------------
* Rice 34.64 36.06 36.41
* Corn 7.41 7.71 8.09

* Pulses 10.29 9.72 10.37
-Tur 3.54 3.48 3.78
-Urd 2.30 2.42 2.34

* Oilseeds 17.30 17.34 18.89
-Soybean 10.40 11.03 12.18
-Groundnut 4.25 3.58 4.23

* Cane 4.84 4.87 5.03
* Cotton 10.98 12.37 11.31
---------------------------------------
Source: Agriculture Ministry

Price control, rice, export growth among urgent tasks for new minister
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation September 10, 2014 1:00 am

Newly appointed Commerce Minister Chatchai Sarikalya and Deputy Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn
have a host of important issues to address, with urgent decisions needing to be made on some, and long-term
development plans needing to be drawn up in relation to others.Their priority tasks include controlling the cost
of living and goods prices, selling and managing huge rice stockpiles of up to 18 million tonnes, driving up rice
prices in the market and reducing the cost of production for farmers, and stimulating overall export growth.

The current retail price-freeze agreement between consumer-goods manufacturers and the Commerce Ministry
is scheduled to end in November. Santichai Santawanpas, deputy director-general of the Internal Trade
Department, said the agency would urgently seek the new ministers' consideration of whether to continue the
measure or allow goods prices to increase.The government will also have to take into consideration the
consequences of next year's rise in the rate of value-added tax, which will result in a higher burden for
consumers. It needs to consider carefully whether to allow prices to increase or to maintain the price-freeze
policy, which could damage manufacturers and traders.Moreover, the government needs to drive up and then
stabilise the prices of major crops - mainly rice, rubber, maize and cassava.

With the next main rice-harvest season starting in late October, the new ministers must consider their policy for
the crop carefully because, if the government continued to sell off its stockpile, market prices would fall - to the


detriment of farmers. However, if the government delayed selling rice, an enormous quantity in the warehouses
would continue to deteriorate in quality, besides which the authorities would have the added burden of handling
high stockpile costs.Chookiat Opaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said the
government needed to manage its rice stockpiles as well as ensure that prices for the new crop did not fall
significantly and hurt farmers.The deputy commerce minister is aware of the stockpile-management problem
and is consulting with exporters over how to promote Thai rice exports this year and next, he said."Apiradi has
called for the association's cooperation to outline strategies in promoting Thai rice exports.

The government needs to work closely with the private sector to manage rice stocks within a suitable period, as
well as prices, so that it does not face huge stockpiles and high operating costs," Chookiat said.The government
should also create a sustainable plan to stabilise rice prices and reduce farmers' production costs without any
subsidy measures, he added.On the broader front, overall Thai exports shrank by 0.42 per cent in the first seven
months of the year. The government therefore needs to find measures to stimulate shipments to the targeted
level of 3.5-per-cent expansion, or 1.9 per cent at the very least, for the full year.Amid the slowing global
economic recovery - mainly in China and Asean - and the approaching loss of Generalised System of
Preferences (GSP) tariff benefits in the European Union, the new ministers must rapidly find new creative
strategies and plans to drive Thai shipments.Paiboon Ponsuwanna, vice chairman of the Thai National Shippers
Council, said the government should look beyond this year's exports and draw up plans for next year's
performance.

Patchrintanakul, vice chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the government should find new
strategies to drive export growth. The resumption of negotiations over a free-trade agreement(FTA) between
Thailand and the EU is also needed, because the country will lose its GSP benefits by the end of this year, he
said.However, as it is a military-led government, the current administration may find it difficult to get the EU to
agree to further FTA talks at this time, he added.Another key task in Chatchai's and Apiradi's in-trays is how to
increase Thailand's competitive-ness with a view to facilitating trading and investment growth and turning the
Kingdom into an Asean hub.Additionally, the ministers need to solve the bad reputation that the country and
some industries have in regard to labour issues, given that the United States has downgraded Thailand to its list
of the worst countries for human trafficking.

The Commerce Ministry must also stringently suppress violation of intellectual property rights (IPR) as well as
enforce relevant laws, in order to show the government's sincerity in combating infringement and punishing
violators.Washington has for a number of years maintained Thailand on its Priority Watch List of countries it
deems to be weak in their efforts to solve IPR problems. Thailand is seen as lacking stringent laws to punish
violators, which has put at risk its GSP benefits for exports to the US.

Meet a scientist: Dr. Rolfe Bryant
Editor's Note: This is the sixth in a series introducing the scientists of the Dale Bumpers National Rice
Research Center

By Dawn Teer


dteer@stuttgartdailyleader.com
Posted Sep. 11, 2014 @ 4:45 pm STUTTGART
Meet Dr. Rolfe Bryant, research chemist.
Describe what you study and what you do at DBNRRC.
At DBNRRC I examine rice for its cooking and processing qualities. In other words, I
determine if new rice varieties will cook and taste according to consumer and industry
expectations. I also assist breeders in six states Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Arkansas, Missouri and California and evaluate several thousand breeding lines for
their cooking and processing qualities. This is done in order to select the best possible
selections for release as new varieties to farmers. We evaluate grain chemistry traits to
assure that new varieties have uniform cooking quality. One characteristic important
to the rice industry is amylose concentration, which is part of the rice grains starch
content and makes the rice sticky or fluffy when cooked. The higher the amylose
content, the less sticky it is. This is important in regards to the end use of the rice crop. For example the best
sushi rice has little amylose making it sticky, while parboiled rice, which is used in frozen and canned products,
has up to 24-26% percent amylose, and regular long grain table rice has about 21 percent amylose.
How did you get involved in this line of work?
After completing my PhD in food science at Alabama A&M in Normal, Alabama, I went to work for the US
Department of Agriculture in New Orleans, determining how rice could be used in making different products,
such as rice fries and rice milk. When a position became available here at the National Rice Research Center for
a scientist to study rice quality, I applied and the rest is history.
Did you always love science? What was your fascination with it that made you want to do the type of
work you do?
Yes, I always loved science and what fascinates me the most is answering the question, Why?. Why do things
behave the way they do? What causes things (like rice) to behave differently? What causes these changes? The
answer for the rice grain is in the chemical makeup.
What brought you to DBNRRC?
An opportunity to look inside the rice gain, chemically, in order to determine why different rice varieties cook
and process differently.
What project are you working on now?
One of my research projects is to determine the effect starch enzymes have on making rice chalky. Chalk is a
white spot in the rice that makes that kernel undesirable because it cooks and processes differently than the


nonchalky area of the rice kernel and causes breakage during milling which reduces the value of the
crop. Another project is looking at the impact of variable weather conditions on rice grain quality and how this
relates to starch biosynthesis.

Boro rice, paddy procurement period extended for one month
Move aims at achieving target
Talha Bin Habib
The government has extended its Boro rice and paddy procurement period for one month to achieve the target,
officials said. The ongoing Boro procurement drive started in May last and was supposed to end in August. he
government has extended the deadline until September as it could not fulfil the target on scheduled time due to
flash floods in some parts of the country.
"We extended the deadline till September 30 for fulfilling our Boro rice and paddy procurement target," Shaikh
Roka Mia, Additional Director (Procurement), Directorate General of Food told the FE. Earlier, the
government had fixed the target to procure 0.9 million tonnes of boiled rice while 0.1 million tonnes of non-
boiled rice and 0.15 million tonnes of paddy. The procurement price for per kg Boro rice this year has been
fixed at Tk 31 while non-boiled rice at Tk 30 and paddy at Tk 20 per kg.The production cost of paddy was Tk
17.50 per kg while that of rice Tk 26.50.
Last year, the government had procured paddy at Tk 18.50 per kg while rice at Tk 29.After the start of the
ongoing procurement drive the government has revised its target for procuring a total of 9, 65,000 tonnes
boiled rice as it reduced the target to procure paddy to 50,000 tonnes from the previous 0.15 million tonnes.
The government converted 0.1 million tonnes of paddy to 65,000 tonnes of rice out of its earlier declared
procurement target of 0.15 million tonnes of paddy.The total target for procuring Boro boiled and non-boiled
rice now stands at 1.065 millions tonnes (0.965 million tonnes boiled rice + 0.1 million tonnes non-boiled rice =
1.065 million tonnes).To fulfil the procurement target the government has signed contracts with 14,444 millers
to supply 0.99 tonnes of boiled rice while 618 millers will supply 0.1 million tonnes of non-boiled rice to the
government.
Till date the DG Food has procured 0.83 million tonnes of boiled rice, showing 86.52 per cent success for
achieving the target. It has already procured 69,785 tonnes of non-boiled rice. The rate of success for reaching
the target is 69.79 per cent, according to the official data.Last year the government had targeted to procure 0.9
million tonnes of rice and 0.15 million tonnes of paddy and that was fulfilled.The total food grains stock in the


country is now 1.49 million tonnes. Out of the quantity 1.14 million tonnes are rice while 0.34 million tonnes
are wheat and 10,098 tonnes are paddy, according to DG Food.
U.N.'S FOOD PRICE INDEX DROPS TO FOUR-YEAR LOW
Sep. 12, 2014
Source: U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) news release

FAO's monthly food price index registered another drop in August, continuing a 5-month downward run and
reaching its lowest level since September 2010. The index's August average of 196.6 points represents a
decrease of 7.3 points (3.6 percent) from July. With the exception of meat, prices for all of the commodities
measured by the index dipped markedly. Dairy led the pack, with FAO's sub-index for dairy products averaging
200.8 points in August, down 25.3 points (11.2 percent) versus July and 46.8 points (18.9 percent) compared to
a year ago - the result of abundant supplies for export coupled with reduced import demand. Russia's
prohibition at the beginning of the month on imports of dairy products from several countries helped depress
prices, while slackening imports of whole milk powder by China (the world's largest importer) also contributed
to market uncertainty.
FAO's price index for cereals averaged 182.5 points in August, down 2.8 points (1.5 percent) from last month
and 24.2 points (11.7 percent) versus August 2013. With 2014 being another record year for wheat production,
prices for the staple grain continued to slide in August, reaching their lowest value since July 2010. Similarly,
near-ideal growing conditions in key producing areas, coupled with abundant stocks, have seen maize prices
retreat to a 4-year low.

However rice bucked the trend in grains, with its prices rising in August, reflecting increased import demand,
lower-than-expected releases from stockpiles by Thailand, and unfavorable weather affecting some crops in
Asia. "Rice supplies appear to be ample world-wide, but stocks are very much concentrated in a small number
of countries, and often owned by governments. This means that these countries can very much influence world
prices, by deciding whether to let those supplies flow to the market or not," said FAO economist Concepcin
Calpe. "The fact that Thailand is still limiting sales of the huge rice volume held in public warehouses has been
one of the principal factors underpinning world prices in recent months."
Unusual host preference of a moth species could be useful for
biological control
Posted By News On September 11, 2014 - 3:30pm


A team of Iranian researchers from the Rice Research Institute of
Iran have discovered that Gynnodomorpha permixtana, a well-
known moth species from Europe and Asia, has changed its host
preferences in order to adjust to Iran's northern region
environmental conditions. The importance of this adaptation for
biological control of problematic weeds in rice fields and the
biology of the moth on new host plant have been described in the
open access journal Nota Lepidopterologica.The larvae of G.
permixtana have been so far reported to feed on the seeds and
flowers of plant species such as water-plantain, eyebright,
lousewort, bitter root and European yellow-rattle, which are weeds
commonly present across Europe and Asia. A new study of the
populations in northern Iran, however has revealed a new host -
Sagittaria trifolia, commonly known as arrowhead. This new
discovery suggests that climatic and environmental conditions in northern regions of Iran resulted in the choice
of a new new host plant, and provides an exciting insight into how adaptation mechanisms work. Arrowheads
are groups of problematic perennial broadleaf weeds that thrive in rice fields and waterways. Favorable climatic
condition after rice harvesting results in continued activity and thriving populations throughout the year.
This is part of rice field after harvesting that is heavily infested with arrowheads. Their white flowers making
them distinguishable from other weeds.
(Photo Credit: Atousa Farahpour Haghani)
The economic importance of this weed has prompted researchers from the Rice
Research Institute of Iran to seek for possible solutions for the management of
arrowhead. Their studies have revealed that the larvae of a certain moth species
feeding on the fruits and seeds of the problematic weed, can lead to a dramatic
decrease of its germination potential. After this discovery the moth was sent for
identification to Dr Leif Aarvik from the Natural History Museum, University
of Oslo, who have diagnosed the species as the commonly known G.
permixtana, which was in this case demonstrating a very uncommon host
preference. 'To our surprise, it looks like this moth chose new host plant in Iran.
This moth was reported in 2009 from the northern regions of the country, but its host plant was unknown. Its
usual host plants, such as water-plantain, also grow in Iran but peculiarly we couldn't find its damage symptoms
on them. That made this moth host range and biology in Iran rather mysterious at that point, and the recent
discovery of arrowheads as its preferred host in the region brings even more peculiarity in the story.'
commented the lead author of the study Atousa Farahpour Haghani a Phd student from, Rice Research Institute
of Iran.'Many factors can possibly influence host plant choice including food quality and quantity, climatic
conditions, synchronization, physiological conditions in both insect and food plant, genetic modifications etc.
Some of these factors are not stable and change in different environmental conditions, so an insect can change
its choice of food plant on the basis of seeking the most beneficial complex of factors. It seems that in the


northern regions of Iran, and luckily for rice crops, the problematic arrowheads present the best choice for G.
permixtana.' added Haghani.
This is a newly emerged moth resting on arrowhead infested fruits with its exuded exuvium that is partly
visible.
(Photo Credit: Atousa Farahpour Haghani)
Source: Pensoft Publishers

Whats NEW in RICE research?
PHILIPPINE RICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE (PhilRice) Telefax: (044) 456-0113 loc. 511 or 512
Maligaya, Science City of Muoz, 3119 Nueva Ecija E-mail: prri@email.philrice.gov.ph

New Mobile App for farming developed

Farming gets more high-tech with the mobile applications (app) being developed by information technologists in Nueva
Ecija, the countrys rice granary.Android mobile app that can do three functions: measure farm area, calculate fertilizer
needs, and assess nitrogen deficiency garnered the Most Innovative Application and the Special Jury Award during the
recent AGRI-Hackathon hosted by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).With this app, estimates will be
lessened. It is important for the farmers to know their exact farm area to optimize it; while fertilizer application must also
be accurate for crops health and to avoid unnecessary fertilizer expenses, developers Jermaine M. Germino and Michael
L.

De Guzman said.The mobile app also incorporated the principles of Leaf Color Chart (LCC) or the four-stripped plastic
ruler used in assessing nitrogen status of rice plant.Germino and de Guzman, instructors of the Nueva Ecija University
of Science and Technology (NEUST), said that instead of comparing the color of the leaves with the ruler, the farmer will
now take photos of the leaves for the app to analyze.In seconds, accurate assessment will be generated, they
said.Meanwhile, the E-Survey app by team Agrisive of the Central Luzon State University was given the Best Research
and Survey Management Application.

This application contains an e-form that respondents fill up based on the researchers information needs.The I-Tanim of
the I-Tech team from NEUST also received the Best Farmer Information Technology Application. I-Tanim is an e-book
in a single app containing the LCC, PalayCheck, tutorials on selecting seeds, and mini-encyclopedia on plant
disorders.The mobile applications are being further developed.AGRI-Hackathon is a competition for information


technologists to create either web or mobile app. Microsoft Philippines, Eqela, Blackberry, Freelancer, and PhilRice
sponsored the event.

Rice science museum re-launched
The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) re-launched the ten-year-old Rice Science Museum with the theme,
Lovelife with Rice during the recent 27th National Rice Research and Development Conference held in Nueva Ecija.This
modified, redesigned science museum serves as our springboard in building a Rice Science Exploratorium that we hope to
accomplish five years from now, Diadem Gonzales-Esmero, museum curator, said.While there are museums around the
country, she said a museum is yet to be intensively dedicated to spread the history, culture, arts and science behind the
Filipinos` staple. Collection in the re-launched museum is increased and expanded to retain its relevance in keeping the
cultural heritage and in fostering human development.

There`s undeniable value in establishing a rice science museum, especially if it will be realized into a Rice Science
Exploratorium. This one of a kind museum promotes rice history and its cultural importance, influences generations of
Filipinos to appreciate rice science on a different light, and encourages farming communities to practice modern rice
farming technologies, Gonzales-Esmero said.The museum curator said the Lovelife with Rice theme shows the intimate
connection between a farmer, research and development worker, and the ordinary passer-by with rice. She said that the
collections tell about the struggles of humans from the establishment of the Ifugao Rice Terraces, green revolution, until
the development of modern technologies, to improve its relationship with rice.Currently, the museum houses old and
modern farm implements, artworks, and interactives on rice structure, ecosystems, biodiversity, and crop
management.The establishment of Rice Science Exploratorium was approved in the Institute`s Board of Trustees Meeting
in July. With its approval, PhilRice hopes to generate support from the private and public sector advancing the arts and
culture, education, and social progress.

Dr. Segfredo Serrano, undersecretary for Policy, and Planning, Project Development, R&D, and Regulations of the
Department of Agriculture (DA); Edilberto de Luna, assistant secretary for Operations and DA National Rice and Corn
Program coordinator; Juliet Annanayo, vice mayor of Hungduan, Ifugao; and Roscoe Kalaw, head of Ifugao Cultural
Office, graced the unveiling of the new Rice Science Museum.

###

Pinoy farmers like Korean rice

Korean rice cultivars being tested in the Philippines are found to be acceptable for farmers in Region III.In a recent
sensory evaluation conducted in the Central Experiment Station of the Philippine Rice Research Institute, three Korean
rice cultivars received higher acceptable rating over the local Philippine rice variety.Miyang, Dasanbyeo, and Saegyejinmi
obtained an acceptable rating ranging from 85 to 87 percent from 100 farmers. Meanwhile, IR64, a Philippine variety
widely grown indica rice in South and Southeast Asia, received only 75 percent.The Korean rice cultivars are becoming
popular to Tarlac, Pangasinan, and Nueva Ecija farmers as demonstration trials show that they can yield from 6 to 10 t/ha.
IR64 yields 5 t/ha.
Dr. Norvie Manigbas, who handles the testing of these cultivars under the Korea Project on International Agriculture
(KOPIA), said that the cultivars are not intended to replace the local rice varieties.These cultivars are additional choices
for farmers who are in constant search for varieties that are high yielding and have good eating quality. They are always


looking for varieties that will be acceptable to the market, he said.Since 2010, the KOPIA project hosted at PhilRice is
being implemented with the Rural Development Administration of Korea and Department of Agriculture to assist the
country in increasing its rice production.

###


PhilRice prepares farmers for El Nio

Help the rice farmers cope with the onslaught of El Nio through adequate information.Philippine Rice Research Institute
(PhilRice), the country`s lead agency in rice science and development, had produced and rolled out information materials
on El Nio to equip the farmers with better chances of adapting to the warmer-than-usual phenomenon.Jaime A. Manalo
IV, Development Communication Division head, said print, modules, audio, and videos are uploaded in the agency`s
website and were distributed to the regional information officers of the Department of Agriculture across the
country.Manalo said that brochures and leaflets on El Nio-ready varieties and the science of the phenomenon, which was
explained in simple, non-technical way were also distributed.We know the power of information. Let`s make the farmers
be prepared! Download the materials from http://www.philrice.gov.ph/index.php?page=resources&page3=elnino and
share them in the social media, he said.Farmers in highly vulnerable areas are also informed through forum. In Isabela,
farmers were briefed on Alternate Wetting and Drying, a water-saving technology where rice fields are alternately flooded
and drained.Manalo also encouraged the rice tillers to contact the Farmers` Text Center (0920-911-1398) should they
want to know more about El Nio and the technologies that can reduce the losses brought about by the phenomenon.

###


Text may save rice plants

Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the country`s lead in rice research and development, is encouraging farmers
to avail of its SMS service to manage pests and diseases.

Rice blast, the world`s most prevalent disease reducing yield by 50 to 85 percent, may be expected in some fields in the
country as its occurrence is triggered by frequent rains and high relative humidity.

Thanks to PhilRice Text Center (09209111398)! I have now peace of mind as I now know how to manage rice blast this
wet season, Francisco C. Cerdana, 52 of Sultan Kudarat, said in Filipino.

Through the PhilRice Text Center, farmers can receive instant information on rats, tungro, bacterial leaf blight, bakanae,
and green leafhopper. Information on golden apple snail, rice black bug, leaf folder, and stem borer are also available.

To complement the SMS service, PhilRice pilot-tested a Text Aralan in Sultan Kudarat, in which registered farmers
received information on managing rice blast for a week.

This service is ok. Information are easy to understand and I saved time from going to the technicians office, farmer
Warly Ragual said.

Other than SMS, the PhilRice Text Center also handles transaction on PhilRice products and sends out weather advisory.

Think of the future`s survival, agri official urges researchers

With uncertainties brought about by trade liberalization and climate change, an official of the Department of Agriculture
(DA) challenged more than 500 rice workers to step up researches during the recent 27th National Rice Research and
Development (R&D) Conference held at Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).Our population had reached 100
million and when given opportunities and with proper investment, we can depend on our people as the most valuable
resource that will drive good economy. Priorities then must be given in saving our people from displacement and
calamities, said Dr. Segfredo R. Serrano, DA undersecretary for Policy, and Planning, Project Development, R&D, and
Regulations.Serrano emphasized the need to improve R&D activities so Filipinos can cope with the slow onset events of
climate change, which include increasing temperatures, rising sea level, and salinization.

Nothing is more important than the survival and future of our people, he said.Meanwhile, Edilberto de Luna, assistant
secretary for Operations and DA National Rice and Corn Program coordinator, said that R&D work is even heroic
because it can help solve poverty, malnutrition, and unemployment.In ensuring the future`s survival, de Luna said that
the supply of rice and other staples including white corn, sweet potato, cassava, and banana must be safe and nutritious.I
commend PhilRice for coming up with [researches] on green and smart farming, grain quality, biodiversity conservation,
and information and promotion delivery, de Luna said.

###


Water-saving technology to help farmers adapt to drought
Farmers need not panic about the impending drought that PAGASA projected. This is according to the Philippine Rice
Research Institute (PhilRice)-Isabela.There are ways to adapt to drought in case it happens, Arlina Golonan, PhilRice
researcher, said.One of these techniques is Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), a water-saving technology where rice
fields are alternately flooded and drained.Golonan said that this technology provides timely water needs of farms that do
not have enough water-supply and helps farmers save up to 30% water.PhilRice study reveals that farmers can reduce
water by 16-35% without decreasing grain yield.The Institute is conducting a technical briefing to explain this technology
as the Magat Dam, the source of irrigation for the fields of most Isabela farmers, cannot supply all the needed water.As
of last week, the water level is at 168 meters.
The level is way below the normal 175 meters for the dam to fully irrigate the province, Emiliano P. Camba, San Mateo,
Isabela Municipal Agriculturist, said.In San Mateo, Isabela alone, 1,503 ha out of 8,353 ha remains uncultivated due to
insufficient water for irrigation.The few instances of heavy rain in the past months gave only 2-5 meter water-level
increase in the dam according to Jimmy Rillon, Agricultural Technologist of San Mateo, Isabela. He explained that this is
still insignificant to fully irrigate rice areas especially those near tail-end irrigation canals.Should farmers learn and apply
AWD technology, then water will be enough for every rice field, Golonan said.For more information, please visit or
contact DA-PhilRice at Maligaya, Science City of Muoz, Nueva Ecija with telephone number (044) 456-0285 loc
511/512 or any PhilRice station near you. You may also visit their website at www.philrice.gov.ph or text your questions
to 0920-911-1398.

###

Last chance to be part of the Energy
Efficiency Pilot Program: applications
due 15 September, 2014
Are you interested in a technical investigation or an audit of your equipment to
identify opportunities to save money on your electricity bill? Do you meet the
criteria listed below?
If so, you may be eligible for a subsidised on-farm energy audit of your
irrigation equipment (groundwater pumps, river pumps, farm supply pumps or
pressurised on-farm irrigation equipment).


Cotton Australia, with NSW Irrigators' Council and the NSW Office of the
Environment and Heritage, have launched an Energy Saver program.
Applications are due by 15 September, 2014.
Eligibility criteria
To be considered for the project, an individual or corporation need to meet the
following criteria;
Based in NSW
Electricity bill greater than $70,000 a year (annual electricity
consumption above approximately 120MWh)
Electricity must be used for groundwater pumps, river pumps, farm
supply pumps or pressurised on-farm irrigation equipment
Farm must have no history of previous energy efficiency works
For more detailed information about the project, click here.
Alternatively, please contact:
Leah Ross, Cotton Australia: LeahR@cotton.org.au or 02 9669 5222
Stefanie Schulte, NSWIC: Stefanie@nswic.org.au or 02 9251 8466


Murrumbidgee Field Naturalists Club
Murrumbidgee Field Naturalists Club would like to invite you to
a presentation by Martin Odino on his work in the rice fields of
the Bunyala district of Western Kenya.
Date: Thursday, 18 September
Where: Leeton Library Yellow Room at 7:30pm.
Contact: Max OSullivan 6953 4726 if you would be
interested in attending Martin's presentation as arrangements for
seating need to be organised beforehand.
Over the past 3 years or more Martin has been working to stop
the indiscriminate poisoning of all bird species not just the pest
species that feed on the rice crops at Bunyala. Of major concern
are the migratory wading birds that use the rice fields as a
refueling site on their long flights from their breeding grounds in
Northern Europe to their summer feeding grounds in Southern
Africa. All of these birds are severely threatened by loss of
habitat and Martin is trying to educate the local rice growers to
protect these and other local species that fall victim to the
untargeted poisoning. He will be talking about his endeavours to
prevent the killing of so many of these birds and his attempts to
convince the local villagers of the need to protect those species
that cause little or no damage to their rice crops.
NSW Weeds Action Program Innovation Grants for Weeds
2014-15 call for submissions
It has just been announced that there is now over $1 Million
available for innovative projects addressing high priority weeds
in NSW. The new funding builds on the NSW Government's
$10.1 million NSW Weeds Action Program (WAP), which


addresses priorities of the NSW Invasive Species Plan. To date
there are 31 regional WAP projects in place covering most of
NSW and with nearly 200 partner organisations participating.
This is an open call to a range of organisations for new,
innovative project submissions addressing the criteria.
Project submissions must be lodged by email with the
Department of Primary Industries by Friday 26 September
2014 to admin.weeds@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Further information is available
at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-
weeds/weeds/legislation or you may contact your local DPI
Invasive Species Officer or email admin.weeds@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Rabobank Farm Experience Program
Rabobank Australia has always maintained a strong connection
with the communities in which it operates. Rabobanks Client
Council forums involve leading farmers and bank
representatives, who come together on a regular basis to discuss
trends and issues and how they impact farmers at a local level.
Key among the industry challenges identified and discussed by
the Client Council groups has been long-term industry capacity to
attract and retain youth in farming. The challenge of the urban-
rural divide is of great concern.
As a result, in partnership with its clients, Rabobank is piloting
the Farm Experience (FX) Program, an initiative enabling 12
urban students (aged between 15 and17-year-old) to experience
rural life for a week hosted by a farming family Rabobank
clients.
In early September, six students from Galston High School


(Western Sydney), will be hosted by three Western Riverina rice
growers families Trent and Jenny Gardiner, Peter and Erin
Draper and Peter and Kim OConnor. The students will have the
opportunity to shadow their hosts and then share the on-farm
experiences with fellow school mates upon their return.
The hosts will give the students as much on-farm experience as
possible and show them a clear picture of the day-to-day
activities on the farm. Given the visit timing, activities will
include irrigating, helping with the ground preparation work for
the summer cropping season and lamb marking. The hosts will
also show the students the technology involved in agriculture and
the different enterprises and will attend a sheep sale.
The FX program is a Rabobank Client Council initiative which
aims to address the urban-rural divide by increasing awareness of
farming, food and fibre production and the agricultural supply
chain. The students will also have the opportunity to learn about
different rural professions by visiting the local Rabobank branch
as well as find out about agricultural processing visiting the
Southern Cotton Gin, as well as Hutcheon & Pearce Machinery at
Griffith and Yenda Producers Co-op.
Through raising awareness about the wider career opportunities
associated with the industry, Rabobank hopes that the FX
program will promote agriculture as a career, thus contributing to
long-term industry sustainability.
Career Opportunities: Rice Agronomists, Rice Farm
Managers
Profile Silo (www.profilesilo.com) is an executive search firm,
specialised in global agricultural commodity supply chains.
A number of our clients (major international companies) are
expanding their "up-stream" asset base in various commodities,


including food crops, which entails the acquisition /
establishment of large-scale farms in various crops, in supply-
deficient or cost competitive countries.
We are currently looking for a number of senior rice farming
professionals (Agronomists, General Managers, Farm Managers),
for major multinationals establishing large-scale rice farms in
Africa (3000ha 20 000ha). The farms are mechanized, modern
farms and we are looking for suitably qualified and experienced
farming professionals to drive best-practice across farming
operations.
On offer are excellent expat packages and international career
progression opportunities.
For further information please contact Riaan Lazenby
at riaan@profilesilo.com or cellphone +27 82 294 2826.
BR&C Agents - helping you reach your full potential
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Agronomic services include:
On-farm visits
Paddock inspections for weeds, pests and diseases
Chemical, fertiliser and seed recommendations and supply
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12th September, 2014 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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12th September, 2014 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Rice E-Newsletter by Rice Plus Magazine www.ricepluss.

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