10th June (Wednesday), 2015 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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June 10 ,2015
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Ancient algae found deep in tropical glacier

Jun 10, 2015
The remains of tiny creatures found deep inside a mountaintop glacier in Peru are clues to the
local landscape more than a millennium ago, according to a new study by Rice University, the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Ohio State University. The unexpected discovery of
diatoms, a type of algae, in ice cores pulled from the Quelccaya Summit Dome Glacier
demonstrate that freshwater lakes or wetlands that currently exist at high elevations on or near
the mountain were also there in earlier times. The abundant organisms would likely have been
transported in air currents to the glacier, where they were deposited on its surface, dead or alive,
and ultimately became frozen within the glacial ice and persisted there for hundreds of years.The
study is the first to show the presence of diatoms in glacial ice from tropical regions. The
diatoms offer useful information about conditions in and around the Andes when they were
deposited on the ice.
The paper is the result of a unique collaboration among Rice chemists Ed Billups and Bruce
Brinson, Ohio State climatologist Lonnie Thompson and lead author Sherilyn Fritz, a
geoscientist at Nebraska. It appears this week in Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, a
journal published by the University of Colorado-Boulder.Of the four scientists, Billups, Brinson
and even Thompson had something in common with the focus of their study: They were all,
figuratively, fish out of water."I was the lucky latecomer to the group," said Fritz, who studies
diatoms from cores she and her students drill from South American lakebeds. "It's only because
Bruce was so observant and curious and did such a nice job on documenting the diatoms that it
happened at all."Over a long and storied career, Thompson has collected ice cores from many of
the world's hard-to-reach locations, including Quelccaya in 2003. The cores contain a climate
record that spans millennia, but Thompson's ability to pull hard data from his samples was
complicated by the sheer number he had preserved.
Thompson said the first record of diatoms in tropical glaciers "points to the potential of these
archives for investigating how not just diatoms but other life forms such as ancient microbes
survived, thrived and evolved under extreme conditions and under very different climatic
regimes."The collaboration began when Thompson visited Rice for a conference and struck up a
conversation with Billups, with whom he shares West Virginia roots. "We got to talking," said
Billups of their first encounter. "He knew we were working on carbon materials and said, 'You
know, sometimes my ice is black, and I think that's carbon.'" Billups, whose wide-ranging
research includes the study of all forms of carbon, suspected wind currents carried fullerenes
from forest fires to the mountaintop and offered to have a look.Thompson sent ice core filtrates
in silica filter paper that preserved the contents of water from three layers corresponding to the
years 1161 to 1176, 807 to 837 and 460 to 511 A.D.
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(The earliest samples tested for the study were from about 540 feet below the surface of the
18,000-foot mountain.) "When I looked at the samples, I thought, 'Whatever are we going to do
with these?'" Billups recalled."We realized they weren't appropriate for searching for fullerenes,"
said Brinson, a Rice research scientist.Brinson looked at the samples through a Rice electron
microscope and quickly recognized their significance. Rather than fullerenes, they contained
what the paper described as "a serendipitous byproduct": an abundance of diatoms, the study of
which is generally well outside the realm of either chemists or glaciologists."When we saw the
first diatom and realized it possessed periodic nanoscale structure, we knew we were
documenting irreplaceable snapshots in archeological time and space," Brinson said.
"Thompson was very excited about this," Billups said. "Diatoms are found in Arctic and
Antarctic ice, but he said nobody's ever found them in equatorial glaciers."Brinson hit the books
and identified many of the diatoms, which ranged in size from a few to 70 microns in length. "I
don't have a biological background, but I knew they were unique," he said. He also realized the
team needed a specialist.Thompson, who knew of Fritz's work in South America, suggested they
enlist her."There are diatoms in dust that is transported globally, and people have found them in
glaciers in Antarctica and Greenland, so my first thought was they'd be like those," Fritz said.
"But these are beautifully preserved, and most of the ecology we know about indicates they're
not from global diatom dust sources.
"Fritz said the diatoms' excellent condition suggested they hadn't traveled far. Most but not all of
them are species you would find in very dilute freshwater, either lakes or wetlands, and there are
lots of those in the tropical Andes at varied elevations," she said. The presence of Volvox, green
algae found in the two older samples, confirmed the diatoms' freshwater source.The study has
Fritz thinking about gathering diatoms from lakes near the ice cap to see how diatom populations
have changed over the centuries. "I've contemplated doing some more sampling, just because it's
an interesting question," she said. She does plan to have her students take a closer look at the
original samples, which Brinson sent her, "to do some quantitative counts, just to get a better
sense of the relative abundance of things."
The researchers wrote that continuing study of diatoms in relation to other materials found in the
ice core record could provide valuable information about local or even global environmental
change."I'm convinced there's no end to what you can find in these glaciers," Billups said."One
thing is clear," Thompson said. "The greatest scientific progress going forward will be made with
increased collaboration among many different disciplines. Unfortunately, these valuable ice
archives of our past are rapidly disappearing under the present climate conditions."
By Mike Williams
Source: Rive University
http://environmentalresearchweb.org/cws/article/yournews/61487
Pricey Loans to Blame for Slow Rice Exports: National

Bank
BY KANG SOTHEAR | JUNE 10, 2015
The high-interest loans that banks offer to rice millers will likely contribute to the countrys
failure to meet its goal of exporting 1 million tons of the crop by the end of the year, the head of
the National Bank of Cambodia said Tuesday.Speaking during an investment luncheon at the
Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh, National Bank Director-General Chea Serey said the
inability of millers to access funds means they cannot buy paddy to process for export.A lot of
our rice millers face difficulties in getting loans from the banks because the banks ask the millers
to use their land as collateral, Ms. Serey said. But the millers say they dont have land to use as
collateral because they just rent or lease it.
Banks, meanwhile, charge exceptionally high interest rates because they consider lending to
millers to be high risk, she said.Lun Yeng, secretary-general of the Cambodia Rice Federation,
which represents the countrys rice milling and export associations, said banks typically charge
between 10 and 12 percent for loans greater than $50,000 and at least 7 percent for loans of $1
million or more. For loans of less than $30,000, microfinance institutions usually charge between
2 and 2.5 percent.The point is that millers need revolving funds when they need to buy rice
paddy from farmers, while payments from exporters are generally late and their [millers]
collateral is placed at banks at the time they borrowed the money, he said.Millers also need the
money to purchase milling machines and build warehouses, he added.
According to Mr. Yeng, rice exports increased by 64 percent in the first five months of the year,
compared to the same period last year, totaling 243,025 tons.The increase in rice exports is
because rice was exported to China a lot after a deal was made for Cambodia to supply 100,000
[tons] to the country, he said.
sothear@cambodiadaily.com
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/pricey-loans-to-blame-for-slow-rice-exports-national-bank85299/
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Jun 10

Nagpur, June 10 Gram and tuar prices moved down in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and
Marketing Committee (APMC) here on poor buying support from local millers amid poor quality
arrival. Fresh fall on NCDEX, easy condition in Madhya Pradesh pulses and increased arrival
from
producing regions also pushed down prices, according to sources.
*
FOODGRAINS & PULSES

GRAM
* Desi gram raw recovered in open market on renewed demand from local traders. Fresh
enquiries from South-based plants also boosted prices.
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TUAR
* Tuar black reported strong in open market here on good demand from local traders
amid weak supply from producing regions.
* Major wheat varieties moved down in open market on lack of demand from local traders
amid increased supply from producing regions like Punjab and Haryana.
* In Akola, Tuar - 7,300-7,700, Tuar dal - 10,100-10,500, Udid at 9,100-9,600,
Udid Mogar (clean) - 10,700-11,100, Moong - 9,000-9,200, Moong Mogar
(clean) 10,700-11,100, Gram - 4,200-4,500, Gram Super best bold - 6,100-6,300
for 100 kg.
* Rice and other commodities remained steady in open market in poor trading
activity, according to sources.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS
Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction
3,600-4,480
3,500-4,530
Gram Pink Auction
n.a.
2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction
6,000-7,390
6,000-7,480
Moong Auction
n.a.
6,000-6,300
Udid Auction
n.a.
4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction
n.a.
2,600-2,800
Gram Super Best Bold
6,200-6,500
6,200-6,500
Gram Super Best
n.a.
Gram Medium Best
5,800-6,000
5,800-6,000
Gram Dal Medium
n.a.
n.a.
Gram Mill Quality
5,500-5,650
5,500-5,650
Desi gram Raw
4,550-4,650
4,500-4,600
Gram Filter new
6,000-6,100
6,000-6,100
Gram Kabuli
5,400-6,900
5,400-6,900
Gram Pink
6,400-6,600
6,400-6,600
Tuar Fataka Best
10,500-10,800
10,500-10,800
Tuar Fataka Medium
9,900-10,300
9,900-10,300
Tuar Dal Best Phod
9,500-9,700
9,500-9,700
Tuar Dal Medium phod
8,800-9,300
8,800-9,300
Tuar Gavarani New
7,400-7,500
7,400-7,500
Tuar Karnataka
8,000-8,100
8,000-8,100
Tuar Black
11,000-11,300
10,900-11,200
Masoor dal best
8,000-8,200
8,000-8,200
Masoor dal medium
7,500-7,900
7,500-7,900
Masoor
n.a.
n.a.
Moong Mogar bold
10,800-11,000
10,800-11,000
Moong Mogar Medium best
10,000-10,500
10,000-10,500
Moong dal Chilka
9,500-9,800
9,500-9,800
Moong Mill quality
n.a.
n.a.
Moong Chamki best
9,600-9,900
9,600-9,900
Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 11,400-11,700
11,400-11,700
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 10,500-10,800
10,500-10,800
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)

8,800-9,100
8,800-9,100
Batri dal (100 INR/KG)
4,200-4,400
4,200-4,400
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)
3,300-3,350
3,300-3,350
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)
3,400-3,500
3,400-3,500
Watana White (100 INR/KG)
3,100-3,150
3,100-3,150
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,500
3,600-4,500
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)
1,400-1,600
1,400-1,600
Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,550-1,650
1,550-1,750
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)
1,400-1,600
1,400-1,600
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,400
2,200-2,450
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,100
1,900-2,150
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a.
n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,600
3,100-3,700
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-2,900
2,800-3,000
Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG)
1,400-1,500
1,400-1,500
Wheat Best (100 INR/KG)
1,900-2,100
2,000-2,200
Rice BPT New(100 INR/KG)
2,700-2,850
2,700-2,850
Rice BPT (100 INR/KG)
3,000-3,200
3,000-3,200
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG)
1,600-1,850
1,600-1,850
Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG)
2,200-2,450
2,100-2,450
Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,800
2,500-2,800
Rice HMT new(100 INR/KG)
3,100-3,600
3,100-3,600
Rice HMT (100 INR/KG)
3,800-4,200
3,800-4,200
Rice HMT Shriram New(100 INR/KG) 4,100-4,500
4,100-4,500
Rice HMT Shriram old (100 INR/KG) 4,500-5,000
4,500-5,000
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,200-10,200
8,200-10,200
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,000-7,200
6,000-7,200
Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG) 4,700-4,900
4,700-4,900
Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG)
5,500-6,000
5,500-6,000
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)
2,200-2,450
2,200-2,450
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)
2,500-2,600
2,500-2,600
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 41.0 degree Celsius (105.9 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
29.4 degree Celsius (84.9 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : nil
FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Rains or thunder-showers likely towards evening or night.
Maximumand minimum temperature would be around and 43 and 29 degree Celsius
respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
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(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)
http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/06/10/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL3N0YW3MJ20150610
NFA-2 assures enough rice supply

June 10, 2015 By Merlito G. Edale Jr.
SANTIAGO CITY, Isabela, June 8 (PIA) - - The National Food Authority (NFA) here has assured the
public of stable rice supply for the coming lean months.Mario Gonzales, regional director, said they have
enough buffer stock of rice amid concerns that price of the staple food will increase as the lean harvest
season starts in July.Our rice stocks are enough for local consumers for three months and are enough to
stabilize any prize hike in the market, he said.He added that NFA accredited rice outlets regionwide have
also enough rice supply, making rice more affordable for consumers at P27 per kilo for regular milledrice while P32 per kilo for the well-milled rice.Gonzales urged the public not to waste food especially rice
at this time. (ALM/MGE/PIA-2 Isabela)
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/481433730841/nfa-2-assures-enough-ricesupply#sthash.XvvGrUeC.dpuf
Rice crop takes big hit, down 175K acres

Posted: Wednesday, June 10, 2015 12:10 am | Updated: 9:21 am, Wed Jun 10, 2015.
By Andrew Creasey/ acreasey@appealdemocrat.com
About 175,000 acres of rice land is going unplanted this year due to the drought, according to the
California Rice Commission.In all, an estimated 375,000 acres will produce the lowest planting
since 1991 for the $1 billion industry. The impact will reverberate through local economies and
wildlife habitat.This year's estimate represents a 31 percent reduction in acreage, surpassing the
2014 crop that was down 21 percent from the 550,000 acres usually planted in the Sacramento
Valley.The estimate is based on a survey of seed sales and is lower than a U.S. Department of
Agriculture prospective plantings survey from early March, which put the estimated 2015 rice
crop at 408,000 acres.
"The crop might be more than 375,000 acres, but it won't be what it was last year," said Tim
Johnson, president and CEO of the Rice Commission.The reduction in the crop could have an
economic impact of up to $300 million in lost value, said Eric Houk, an agricultural and nature
resource economist and professor at California State University, Chico.The reduction in acreage
also sharpens anxiety regarding the amount of habitat that will be available to the 5 million to 7
million ducks and geese that migrate into the Sacramento Valley in the winter."We count on
flooded acres of rice for habitat," said Mark Biddlecomb, executive director of the western
region of Ducks Unlimited. "If we don't have flooded fields, it could lead to disease outbreaks."
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Farmers on pins and needles about water supply

Rice farmers along the Sacramento River are suddenly uncertain about their water supply after
the revelation earlier this month that temperatures in Shasta Lake are higher than expected.
Now, those farmers nervously await word from the State Water Resources Control Board and the
Bureau of Reclamation about how those higher temperatures, which are harmful to the federally
protected winter-run salmon, could impact their diversions from the river."
We're on pins and needles," said Sean Doherty, a local rice farmer. "I don't know what will
happen, and that's the worst part: We're just sitting in limbo."The order from Tom Howard,
executive director of the water board, called for a delay in increases to the releases from Keswick
Dam and expires today.But there has been no word of a new operations plan for releases from
Shasta Lake, and farmers are looking at the possibility of another extension of the order
curtailing flows in the Sacramento River, said Lewis Bair, general manager of Reclamation
District 108."We told agency folks that their decisions could kill crops and prevent water from
being transferred. Let's hope they listen," Bair said.
Andrew Creasey
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/rice-crop-takes-big-hit-down-k-acres/article_033d7c3e-0f3c11e5-abba-1f705c077342.html
Sacramento Valley Rice Growers in Survival Mode

POSTED 5:58 PM, JUNE 9, 2015, BY LONNIE WONG
SACRAMENTO COUNTYRice growers in the Sacramento Valley just north of Sacramento say the drought has forced them
to cut down the size of their crops.Ive left out 150 acres of rice out of 600 acresits pretty
much survival mode, said Natomas Basin rice grower Mike Daddow.The California Rice
Commission says about 370,000 acres was planted this year, down from 500,00 acres, which is a
32 percent reduction.For my employees, it is a reduction of not only time of employment for
part-time people but over-time, which really affects them, Daddow said.Chico State
Agribusiness professor Eric Houk says less income not only affects rice related business but
other segments of the economy in the Northern California.
As we see lower incomes and less employment opportunities, those individuals will reduce their
spending in the economy, as well, Houk said.Surveys show that most Californians believe that
farmers use more than their fair share of water. That may be especially true of rice growers who
must flood their fields to plant their crop.But growers like Sean Doherty, who farms rice near
Knights Landing, says the heavy clay soil in the valley means water doesnt soak down into the
ground.
Instead the water in rice fields, which averages five inches in depth, can be recycled from field to
field. At the end of the season it drains back into the Sacramento River.Water that gets used at
the top of the valley will actually be reused three or four times going down through the river,
Doherty said.He says rice uses less water to produce than broccoli and carrots. Still growers have
fought the perception battle all during the drought. Right now, they are also treading water
business-wise.You wont make any money, hopefully if everything goes right, you wont lose
any money, and its as if the year never happened, Doherty said.Daddow does worry that a
smaller crop will force buyers to get rice from other producers, and he says its tough to attract
customers once you have lost them.
Vietnam cuts export price floor of 25% broken rice by

2.9% to $340 tonne
Reported by: `Customs Today Report June 10, 2015
HANOI: Vietnam has cut the export price floor for the 25 percent broken rice by 2.9 percent to
$340 a tonne, an industry body said, after the country submitted the lowest price in a rice tender
in the Philippines.The new floor came into effect on Monday, the Vietnam Food Association said
in a statement seen by Reuters.The Philippines agreed to buy 150,000 tonnes from Vietnam in a
tender on Friday and could import additional volumes to avert a potential spike in prices of the
staple if adverse weather threatens the local crop.Vietnam, the worlds third-largest rice exporter
after India and Thailand, had raised the price floor to $350 a tonne on June 1 before the tender.
http://www.customstoday.com.pk/vietnam-cuts-export-price-floor-of-25-broken-rice-by-2-9-to-340tonne-2/
Pricey Loans to Blame for Slow Rice Exports: National

Bank
BY KANG SOTHEAR | JUNE 10, 2015
The high-interest loans that banks offer to rice millers will likely contribute to the countrys
failure to meet its goal of exporting 1 million tons of the crop by the end of the year, the head of
the National Bank of Cambodia said Tuesday.Speaking during an investment luncheon at the
Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh, National Bank Director-General Chea Serey said the
inability of millers to access funds means they cannot buy paddy to process for export.A lot of
our rice millers face difficulties in getting loans from the banks because the banks ask the millers
to use their land as collateral, Ms. Serey said.
But the millers say they dont have land to use as collateral because they just rent or lease
it.Banks, meanwhile, charge exceptionally high interest rates because they consider lending to
millers to be high risk, she said.Lun Yeng, secretary-general of the Cambodia Rice Federation,
which represents the countrys rice milling and export associations, said banks typically charge
between 10 and 12 percent for loans greater than $50,000 and at least 7 percent for loans of $1
million or more. For loans of less than $30,000, microfinance institutions usually charge between
2 and 2.5 percent.
The point is that millers need revolving funds when they need to buy rice paddy from farmers,
while payments from exporters are generally late and their [millers] collateral is placed at banks
at the time they borrowed the money, he said.Millers also need the money to purchase milling
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machines and build warehouses, he added.According to Mr. Yeng, rice exports increased by 64
percent in the first five months of the year, compared to the same period last year, totaling
243,025 tons.The increase in rice exports is because rice was exported to China a lot after a deal
was made for Cambodia to supply 100,000 [tons] to the country, he said.
sothear@cambodiadaily.com
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/pricey-loans-to-blame-for-slow-rice-exports-national-bank85299/
FCI still bogged down by excess buffer stocks of rice, wheat

On June 1, food grain stocks with the Food Corporation of India usually
reach the years peak.
By: Sandip Das | New Delhi | June 10, 2015 1:12 am
On June 1, food grain stocks with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) usually reach the years
peak. This year too they had, but the stocks were still at their lowest level compared to the
corresponding periods in the last five years.The FCI had more than 61.8 million tonne (mt) of
grains on June 1, mostly consisting of rice and wheat. This was still way above strategic reserve
norm of 41.1 mt.
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The FCIs grain stocks have dropped to the current level from the record high of 82.4
mt reported in June 2012.After FCI virtually winded up wheat procurement drive for the
current marketing season by purchasing more than 27 mt from the farmers in the last two months
or so, the stock levels have gone up to more than 40 mt at the start of this month, though as per
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buffer norms, it should have a wheat stock of 27.5 mt onJuly 1.Sources told FE that while the
government has continued with the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) for wheat in nonprocuring states after April 1, the response has not been encouraging so far. Only 14,300 tonne
of wheat has been sold to bulk buyers under OMSS through weekly auctions since April 2015.
In the case of rice, the government agency has stock of 22.6 mt of grain which included rice yet
to be received from miller. The buffer stocks norm for July 1 prescribes a rice of stock of 13.5
mt.For the first time since the government launched open market sale of rice in April, only 7,300
tonne of rice has been purchased by grian traders and bulk buyers so far.The High-Level
Committee (HLC) for FCI restructuring chaired by former food minister Shanta Kumar in its
report earlier this year had observed during the last five years, on an average, buffer stocks with
FCI have been more than double the buffer stocking norms, costing the nation thousands of
crores of rupees loss without any worthwhile purpose being served.HLC had stated that the
current system is extremely ad-hoc, slow and expensive. A transparent liquidation policy is the
need of hour, which should automatically kick in when FCI is faced with surplus stocks than
buffer norms.Greater flexibility to FCI with business orientation to operate in OMSS and export
markets is needed, the committee had observed in its report.
http://www.financialexpress.com/article/markets/commodities/fci-still-bogged-down-by-excess-bufferstocks-of-rice-wheat/82404/
Lowest rainfall in 30 years prompts RID to tighten reins

on Thai rice cultivation
BY EDITORON 2015-06-10THAILAND
BANGKOK, 10 June 2015 (NNT) The Royal Department of Irrigation (RID) has revealed that
the off-season farming has left only 3.8 billion cubic meters of water for agricultural purposes
during the May October period, while rainfall hits a 30-year low.A meeting of the RIDs
committee to monitor and analyze the nations water management revealed that despite
government warnings, more than six million rai of land was farmed in the Chao Phraya and Mae
Glong river basins. RID Director-General Lertwirot Kowattana said that agriculture activities
during the drought crisis has consumed 1.2 billion cubic meters of water.The four national
reservoirs include the Bhumibol Dam, Sirikit Dam, Pa Sak Jolasid Dam, and the Khaew Noi
Bamrung Dan Operation and Maintenance Project.
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They have a combined 3.8 billion cubic meters left for agricultural use, falling short of the
departments target of five billion cubic meters.Reservoirs continue to sustain the off-season
farmland. However, rainfall has been unable to replenish water levels. The RID recorded the
lowest rainfall in 30 years.The department has urged farmers of 4.2 million rai that have yet to
begin planting rice to cease water consumption for agricultural use for 40 days, and wait for
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greater rainfall in mid-July.The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has been instructed to
inform farmers across 22 provinces in the Chao Phraya river basin of the governments water
policy.
http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/lowest-rainfall-in-30-years-prompts-rid-to-tighten-reins-on-thai-ricecultivation/96212/
Commerce Min. to sell stocked rice to low income earners
Date : 10 2558
BANGKOK, 10 June 2015, (NNT) - The Ministry of Commerce plans to sell rice in the
government's stockpile at affordable prices to low income earners, following Prime Minister
General Prayut Chan-o-chas instruction. According to General Chatchai, the proposed plan was
given the nod by the Cabinet during yesterdays session, adding that the details of the program
would be discussed with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative, the Ministry of Interior,
and the National Council for Peace and Order on Friday. Initially, the Commerce Ministry would
be tasked with selecting quality grain from the government warehouses before sending it to the
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to find manufacturers to process the rice. Then, the
Ministry of Interior will be in charge of selling the packed rice, with priority being given to low
income earners , said Gen. Chatchai.
http://thainews.prd.go.th/centerweb/newsen/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNECO5806100010004#sthas
h.CGhanIkd.dpuf
Pakistan wheat surplus to cool imports this year - trader

* Oilseed imports expected to rise-Bombi's Group
* Pakistan looking to Iran market for its rice
By Jonathan Saul
LONDON, June 10 (Reuters) - A wheat surplus in Pakistan is likely to mean little appetite for
imports this year, although it will purchase more oilseeds due lower crop prospects, a leading
local trader said.In November last year, Pakistan imposed a 20 percent import duty on wheat to
help protect local farmers from imports, leading to the cancellation of some of the import deals.
12
Anis Majeed, chairman of Karachi-based food commodities firm Bombi's Group, said Pakistan
was estimated to produce 25 million tonnes of wheat this year versus around 24 million tonnes
last year. Domestic wheat consumption was pegged around 22-23 million tonnes, he said."This
year, Pakistan will not make big imports because we have the crop and there is a surplus,"
Majeed said on a visit to London this week.The International Grains Council estimated
Pakistan's wheat production in the 2015-16 year at 25.0 million tonnes, versus 25.5 million
tonnes in 2014-15.In contrast, Pakistan was expected to import higher quantities of oilseeds
13
including canola, said Majeed, who is also chairman of the wholesale grocers' association of
Karachi, which is Pakistan's mercantile capital."If you calculate (oilseeds) ... altogether this year,
we are expecting to import about 1.5 to 1.6 million tonnes," he said.
"Last year was a little less - about 1.2 million tonnes and our crop was better than this
year."Majeed said Pakistan expected a good rice crop although exports were likely to be
tempered by slower demand."Pakistan's production is around 6.5 million tonnes annually - out of
which 3.5 million tonnes we export," he said."Prices have come down as the international market
has come down," he added. "Therefore, there could be a little less (exports) this year."Majeed
said rice exporters were looking to boost sales to Iran, a major consumer of Basmati grade
rice.Iran and six world powers are seeking to overcome remaining differences with a looming
self-imposed June 30 deadline to reach a deal over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme. The
timing of sanctions relief for Iran are among the disputes holding up a nuclear accord.
Majeed said there was already a border trade between Pakistan and Iran for rice - with the
business handled by local merchants along the border. A nuclear deal could enable other
exporters in Pakistani cities such as Karachi and Lahore expanding business."Iran can be good
partner of Pakistani rice and trade can be increased. But there are few difficulties of the
embargoes," he said.Majeed said a proposed wheat barter deal between Pakistan and Iran was
still being discussed.The deal, initially agreed in 2012, was to involve Tehran exporting fertiliser
and iron ore to Pakistan in exchange for wheat."The swapping ... has not been decided as yet," he
said. "They are working on it.
(Editing by William Hardy)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/10/pakistan-grains-idUSL5N0YW2FM20150610
Negros has rice oversupply'
BY PEACE S. FLORES
We have an oversupply of rice in Negros, Jesus Jimenez of the Negros Occidental Farmers and
Rice Millers Multi-purpose Cooperative, said yesterday.Due to the rice oversupply in the
province, the wholesale and retail prices of rice have gone down this year compared to 2014, said
Jimenez, who chairs the rice millers division of NOFARIMCO.Wholesale prices per sack went
down by P200 to P400 and retail prices by P2 to P4 per kilo, Jimenez said.Jimenez said that the
main reason for the oversupply was the rise in rice production in this year's third crop, NFA's
importation, and the abundance of imported rice entering the market through private retailers.
13
Prices of palay have also dropped resulting in cheaper rice, Jimenez said.Consumers may benefit
from this oversupply, but local rice farmers are suffering from lower profits, Jimenez added.The
NFA should minimize the release of its rice stocks during harvest time, and regulate importation
of rice from other countries and provinces, he added.*PSF
14
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2015/June/11/businessnews2.htm
Wont sell basmati rice at low rates, says millers body

Tribune News Service
Muktsar, June 10
Basmati rice millers today jointly decided that they would not sell steamed basmati rice at a
rate lesser than Rs 6,500 per quintal and sella basmati rice lesser than Rs 5,200 per quintal.The
rice millers said earlier, they were selling steamed basmati rice at Rs 4,350 per quintal and sella
basmati rice at Rs 4,300 per quintal but suffering huge losses.They have also decided to meet
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adaish Partap Singh Kairon tomorrow to seek a strategy for
basmati sowing and its consumption.
Ashish Kathuria, a spokesperson for Punjab Basmati Rice Manufacturers Association, said, It
has been observed that the area under the basmati cultivation has increased in the state in the
recent past. However, the decline in price has been proving to be a huge threat to the millers.
Farmers as well as the major importers and exporters are exploiting the millers by buying the
shelled rice at Rs 4,000 per quintal. However, last year, the price remained Rs 8,500 per
quintal.He added, We do not want to decrease the area under this crop but if we do not take
some measures, the price of basmati paddy 1121 will go even lower than Rs 1,800 per quintal
and this will affect farmers adversely.Meanwhile, the Punjab Basmati Rice Manufacturers
Association also decided to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek interest-free loan to the
industry for its survival.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/won-t-sell-basmati-rice-at-low-rates-says-millersbody/92387.html
A Nobel laureate's sexist remark sparks a conversation

about bias against women in the sciences
A scientist prepares to scan a root inside a laboratory at the International Rice Research Institute in the
Philippines.
Credit:
Cheryl Ravelo/Reuters
14
A sexist remark by Nobel laureate Tim Hunt provoked a swift reaction

from scientists men and women alike around the globe.
15
This story is based on a radio interview.Listen to the full interview.

Later Hunt offered an apology, but by then the
discussion had taken off, and it was no longer just
about the 72-year-old self-described chauvinist. "Of
course, I was disappointed that even today we're still
seeing these sorts of entrenched biases toward
women," says Dr. Heather Metcalf, director of
research and analysis with the Association for
Women in Science. "His comments show that even
with the best of intentions, that people carry around
biases that influence their attitudes and behaviors towards one another." Metcalf who directs,
coordinates and performs research and analysis surrounding gender and the science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce says there is a large body of research that
shows the impact of unconscious bias on the sciences.
"There are many examples, from hiring to promotion and tenure, to awards allocations, to
individual behaviors towards one another, to the culture and climate within our workplaces, to
resource allocation and writing of recommendation letters, evaluation and analysis of CVs and
other kinds of materials, and teaching evaluations how students evaluate professors in the
classroom. Bias is pretty pervasive."But Metcalf sees some progress in overcoming bias in the
sciences. "For example, through our awards project that we've been engaging with at AWIS, we
see that women are receiving more awards. owever, the way that bias works is that we have
expectations of people about gender, and what kinds of roles they should be satisfying, and then
also [expectations] about scientists, and what kinds of things are valued when we think of
scientists.
"Here's how it plays out. "Women receive disproportionate numbers of teaching, service, sort-of
'helping' awards," observes Metcalf, "because that's more in line with the gender role
expectations that we have for women." At the same time, Metcalf notes, women receive lower
numbers of scholarly and research awards. "They're not being valued as much for their
intelligences, and instead are being recognized for their communal work, or the 'helping' work
that they are doing."Sir Tim Hunt's remarks, and his apology, provided a teaching moment.
"While he owns that he may be a chauvinist or engaging in chauvinistic attitudes," says Metcalf,
"he doesn't really see why that's problematic. And that's why I'm saying that it's important to
focus on the larger system and see how that has a broader impact on the kinds of work that can
be done, and the kinds of people that can be doing that work."
http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-06-10/nobel-laureates-sexist-remark-sparks-conversation-about-biasagainst-women
15
16
World Rice Production

2015/2016
June 2015
This month the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that the World Rice
Production 2015/2016 will be 481.74 million metric tons, around 0.36 million tons less than the
previous month's projection.
Rice Production last year (*) was 476.13 million tons. This year's 481.74 estimated million tons
could represent an increase of 5.62 million tons or a 1.18% in rice production around the globe.
Rice Production by Country
(Values in Metric Tons)
China: 146,000,000
India: 104,000,000
Others: 40,440,000
Indonesia: 36,650,000
Bangladesh: 35,000,000
Vietnam: 28,200,000
Thailand: 19,800,000
Burma: 12,800,000
Philippines: 12,400,000
Brazil: 8,000,000
Japan: 7,900,000
United States: 6,954,000
Pakistan: 6,900,000
Cambodia: 4,900,000
Egypt: 4,600,000
Korea, South: 4,100,000
Nepal: 3,100,000
Next Update will be July 10, 2015.
https://www.worldriceproduction.com/?Referer=Newsletter
USA Rice and Coalition Urge COOL Reform

OTTAWA, CANADA - USA Rice joined 108 other agriculture and food businesses on a letter
to Member of Congress today urging support for H.R. 2393, a bipartisan bill to reform the
controversial Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) regulations. The World Trade Organization
(WTO) has consistently ruled against the United States on the COOL regulation, most recently
16
17
on May 29, paving the way for legal tariff retaliation by Canada, Mexico, and other countries.
The Canadian government here issued a preliminary list of targeted commodities and foods, and
rice is at the top with a 100 percent tariff threatened."If Congress doesn't fix COOL to bring it
into compliance with our international obligations, the cost to American business will be
staggering, and the rice industry could take a significant hit," said Betsy Ward, President & CEO
of USA Rice. According to the coalition letter, retaliatory tariffs could total more than $3.5
billion in just the first year. A vote on the bill, the Country of Origin Labeling Amendments Act
of 2015 is expected in the House this week. The Senate is yet to act on the issue.Canada is the
fourth largest market for U.S. rice, with imports last year valued at $185 million.
Contact: Michael Klein (703) 236-1458
USA Rice takes messages to the sky

50,000 Foot View of Rice from 35,000 Feet!
17
18
FORT WORTH, TX - Passengers on American Airlines and Frontier Airlines will be able to
learn a lot about rice this summer thanks to a unique partnership between USA Rice and the
airlines.The U.S. rice industry is being highlighted by Talk Business 360, the service that
produces original programming for the airlines. The two and a half minute video gives viewers a
quick primer on the rice industry - including where rice is grown, how much is exported, and
how efficient and environmentally responsible U.S. rice farmers are.
The video also includes interviews with Arkansas growers Jennifer James and Joe Rennicke and
Louisiana's Kevin Berken.The video will air on American Airlines on demand in First and
Business Class, and be available online as well. With only one cabin class on Frontier, the video
will be one of several playing for all passengers prior to take-off, and then be available to
passengers on demand in flight. The USA Rice video is expected to reach more than 750,000
passengers this summer.
Contact: Michael Klein (703) 236-1458
WASDE Report Released
18
19
WASHINGTON, DC-- U.S. rice 2015/16 supply and use balance sheets
are little changed from last month. All rice beginning stocks are raised
2.5 million cwt with long-grain rice stocks raised 0.5 million, and
medium- and short-grain stocks raised 2.0 million. All rice imports are
raised 0.5 million cwt to 25.0 million (all long-grain), up 2 percent from
revised 2014/15. Medium- and shortgrain exports are raised 2.0 million
cwt to 34.0 million as a large outstanding sales balance to Northeast Asia
in 2014/15 will likely be shipped in 2015/16. The large balance was caused in part due to work
slowdowns and stoppages at ports along the West Coast earlier this year. This labor dispute has
since been resolved, but a large backlog at the ports still exists.
Additionally, Turkey has not accepted some U.S. medium-grain rice shipments in 2014/15 for
phytosanitary reasons in recent months. The long-grain export projection is unchanged at 76.0
million cwt, but up 4 percent from the previous year. Long-grain ending stocks for 2015/16 are
raised 1.0 million cwt to 35.1 million, up 23 percent from 2014/15, and the largest since
WASDE-542-3 2010/11. Medium- and short-grain ending stocks are forecast at 11.0 million cwt,
unchanged from last month, but 24 percent below the previous year's revised estimate. The U.S.
2015/16 long-grain rice season-average farm price is projected at $10.00 to $11.00 per cwt,
unchanged from last month compared to $11.90 to $12.10 for the previous year. The combined
medium- and short-grain price is unchanged at $17.80 to $18.80 per cwt compared to $17.80 to
$18.20 for the year earlier. The 2015/16 all rice price is projected at $12.30 to $13.30 per cwt,
compared to $13.20 to $13.60 per cwt for 2014/15.
The California and Other States medium-and short-grain prices are unchanged from last
month. Global 2015/16 rice supply and use is little changed from a month ago. Global rice
production is projected at a record 481.7 million tons, 0.4 million below a month ago. Brazil's
rice crop is forecast at 8.0 million tons, down 0.3 million from last month, a result of a reduction
in area. This crop will not be planted until October-December 2015. The change is based mostly
on a reduction in the 2014/15 rice crop based on recent estimates from the government of Brazil.
Global consumption is nearly unchanged at a record 489.0 million tons. Global 2015/16 trade
(imports and exports) are also nearly unchanged from a month ago. World export projections are
raised slightly for Guyana and the United States. Global ending stocks are forecast at 91.4
million tons, down slightly from last month, down 7.2 million from the previous year, and the
smallest stocks since 2007/08. The global stocks-to-use ratio at 18.7 percent is unchanged from a
month ago, but down 1.7 points from the previous year, and the lowest since 2006/07.
Read the complete report here.

19
20
CCC Announces Prevailing World Market Prices
WASHINGTON, DC --The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit

Corporationtoday announced the following prevailing world market prices of milled and rough
rice, adjusted for U.S. milling yields and location, and the resulting marketing loan gain (MLG)
and loan deficiency payment (LDP) rates applicable to the 2014 crop, which will become
effective today at 7:00 a.m., Eastern Time (ET). Prices are unchanged from the previous
announcement.
World Price
MLG/LDP
Rate
Milled
Value
($/cwt)
Rough
($/cwt)
Rough
($/cwt)
Long-Grain
14.93
9.67
0.00
Medium-/ShortGrain
14.55
9.80
0.00
Brokens
9.01
----
----
This week's prevailing world market prices and MLG/LDP rates are based on the following U.S.
milling yields and the corresponding loan rates:
U.S. Milling Yields
Whole/Broken
(lbs/cwt)
Loan Rate
($/cwt)
Long-Grain
57.21/12.55
6.64
Medium-/Short-Grain
61.89/8.83
6.51
20
The next program announcement is scheduled for June 17, 2015.
21
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for June 10
Month
Price
Net Change
July 2015
$9.870
- $0.110
September 2015
$10.150
- $0.105
November 2015
$10.415
- $0.100
January 2016
$10.675
- $0.095
March 2016
$10.875
- $0.090
May 2016
$10.875
- $0.090
July 2016
$10.875
- $0.090
Loss of international rice market

June 10, 2015
RECORDER REPORT
21
It is somewhat odd to highlight the dwindling exports of the country and moan about their trend
when the government is bent upon taking credit for the increase in foreign exchange reserves and
stability in the exchange rate without a proper analysis of the factors behind such positive
developments. However, some exporters, of late, seem to be voicing their concerns about the
prevailing unsatisfactory conditions. President, Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum
(PBIF), Mian Zahid Hussain, for instance, has demanded of the government to bail out
the sinking rice sector otherwise the country may lose export market to India. Pakistan exports
rice, worth over two billion dollars per annum, but has been losing the export market for the last
two years, landing over one thousand rice mills into serious problems and risking millions of
22
jobs in this critical sector. Highlighting problems of rice growers and rice mills in the country,
President, Pakistan Rice Mills Association, Mukhtar Baloch also reiterated that the situation is
turning against Pakistan and in favour of India which has introduced its own brands.
He revealed that 3,000 rice mills are facing problems and more than 1000 mills are on the verge
of collapse that have failed to sell rice during the past two years. 0.35 million of rice bags are
lying unsold in only one district and mills are unable to repay loans, adding to increased interest
on past loans. During the current Kharif season, farmers are reluctant to sow rice as they are not
getting a fair price of their produce which would put the future of rice industry and agriculture
sector at stake. The observations of traders associated with rice exports would seem to be a very
fair commentary on the current market conditions of an important export item of the country
which has the potential to raise the value of overall exports significantly and contribute a lot to
the expansion of economic activity and job creation.
However, most of the recent developments indicate very clearly that Pakistan has failed to avail
the opportunity and missed the chances of expanding rice exports for one reason or the other.
Rice accounted for 11.3 percent of the total exports of the country in 2009-10 but its share fell to
only 7.6 percent by FY14. The situation in FY15 is also not likely to be much different due
mainly to a negative price effect in the international market. In fact, overall exports of the
country are also performing very poorly this year. Value of exports were targeted to grow by 5.8
percent to reach dollar 27.0 billion during 2014-15 due mainly to the grant of GSP Plus status, a
likely improvement in the energy supplies and an increase in trade with regional partners.
However, exports have already declined by as much as 5.0 percent during July-April, 2015
compared to the corresponding period last year and such a dismal trend should give sleepless
nights to policymakers of the country who still remain unfazed about the emerging situation.
The report of trading charges between the Finance Minister and the Minister of Water and Power
in this newspaper on 8th June, 2015 over the impact of energy supplies on the industrial sector in
a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister is of course unfortunate. The entire government
machinery, in our view, should jointly devote its energies towards enhancing energy supplies,
spurring industrial growth and accelerating exports so that the country could generate its own
resources to pay for the imports and eliminate its dependence on the IMF. However, while the
exporters are right in asking the government to re-evaluate its export policy framework, the
businesspeople are also required to improve their performance to compete in a highly complex
international market.
22
Of course, energy supplies and law and order situation have to be improved, a conducive
taxation and customs regime has to be provided and overvaluation of the Pak rupee should be
corrected but there is no reason for exporters to be complacent about the developments in the
world markets and always look to the government for support. It is hard to understand, for
instance, why Pakistani exporters cannot compete effectively and have an edge over Indian
exporters, when Pakistani rice and mangoes are rated relatively superior in quality in the
international market. Latest market technologies and imaginative ways could make a difference
in attracting foreign buyers and raising the sales of exportable items. A decline in exports this
year is such a bad news that all the relative stakeholders need to ponder over this unfortunate
development at the earliest.
23
http://www.brecorder.com/editorials/0:/1194537:loss-of-international-rice-market/?date=201506-10
Balochistan CM inaugurates Pakistan-Iran cargo train

* Dr Abdul Malik says business community of Balochistan would be major beneficiary of goods
train
June 10, 2015
QUETTA: Balochistan
Chief Minister Abdul
Malik
Baloch
on
Tuesday
inaugurated
Pak-Iran
goods
train.The train would
ply between Quetta and
Iranian city of Zahidan
once a week.Pakistan
Railways Chairwoman
Parveen
Agha,
Balochistan ministers
Sardar Raza Baraich,
Abdul
Raheem
Ziaratwal,
Nawab
Muhammad Khan Shahwani, Home Secretary Balochistan Akbar Hussain Durrani, CCPO Abdul
Razzaq Cheema and senior PR officials were present.
The CM said that business community of Balochistan would be major beneficiary of QuettaZahidan goods train.We request Federal Minister for Pakistan Railways Saad Rafique to make
Quetta-Taftan railway track fast by making it enable for increasing train speed from 40 km per
hour to 120 km per hour, he said.He said that the provincial government has already submitted a
proposal to the federal government to restore Sibi-Harnai railway track.
23
He recalled that he himself has travelled by train for several times when he was a student.
Twenty to thirty years back, travelling by train was very enjoyable but later, decline started to
be reported in Pakistan Railways, he said.Paying tributes to the federal minister for railways, he
said, Saad Rafique is captain of Pakistan Railways who made hectic efforts to bring
improvement in railways system. He said that Balochistan needed a better Railways transport
system.Earlier, Parveen Agha said that train was operational between Quetta and Taftan once a
month to provide ration, water and salaries to the employees and carrying out postal service.On
the directives of the federal government, we decided to start good train between Quetta and
24
Zahidan once a week in order to promote trade between Pakistan and Iran, she said adding that
more trains would also be run on this route.
Railways Quetta Division DS Mir Faiz Bugti said there were several problems on Quetta-Taftan
route, adding that the PR Ministry, however, took a better decision to start goods train on this
route to meet the demand made by traders community.He further said, We welcome the Federal
Minster for Railways decision to give Hard Area Allowance to railways employees.On
Monday, Federal Minister for Railways Saad Rafique had said that the train composition would
consist of 24 freight vans which would be extended up to 40 vans in the future and the train
would transport rice and other goods from Pakistan to Iran while it would bring sulphur, coal and
other chemicals from Iran to Pakistan.
He had said the train would bring 2,000 litres of oil from Iran initially which would be increased
up to 5,000 litres in future as the price of oil was about Rs14 to 15 per litre in Iran, adding the
train would be able to manage its expenses through this fuel.The minister had also said Pakistan
had informed Iran and Turkey that PR was ready to operate the Economic Cooperation
Organisation (ECO) train as soon as it receives green signal from these countries.He informed
media that the PR was now out of ICU and it was running purely on Pakistan Railways model.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/national/10-Jun-2015/balochistan-cm-inaugurates-pakistan-irancargo-train
Supplements and fine-tuning your childs diet can cure

allergy
24
Analysis show the infants who were having less commercially produced foods were less likely to
develop an allergy by age two. PHOTO | FILE
In Summary
An extreme elimination diet, especially
for a child, is gruelling, but that is the
route we needed to go in Melissas case.
In addition to a few supplements to heal
her gut, we started Melissa on a diet of
bone soup, stewed vegetables and brown
rice (the bone soup was made by boiling
goat bones for 72 hours and extracting
the marrow). Tiny Melissa was just eight
when she came to see me. I say tiny
because she was: not just in stature (she
was painfully skinny), but in her
demeanour too (she was like a small
mouse).
25
Melissa suffered from various allergies.Generally, allergies are not life-threatening. For Melissa
though, they were. The last time she had a little peanut, her throat swelled up and she had to be
rushed to hospital, otherwise she would have chocked to death. Her last encounter with eggs left
her covered with fluid-filled boils all over her body.However, her parents didnt bring her to see
me because of these reactions; rather, they brought her because there was little that Melissa could
eat.In addition to her egg and peanut allergy, Melissa also couldnt tolerate beef, beans, peas or
lentils.This meant that her daily diet was restricted to chapatti, rice, chicken, potatoes, cabbage
and bananas.Even with larger quantities of food, Melissa simply was not putting on weight.
What was going on?
EXTREME ELIMINATION
The first thing that we discovered during the course of the consultation was that Melissa often
suffered from diarrhoea she went three or four times a day and passed a fairly watery
consistency.This meant that something in the short list of foods she had been eating was irritating
her gut. This helped to explain why she found it difficult to absorb nutrients from her food and
put on weight.An extreme elimination diet, especially for a child, is gruelling, but that is the
route we needed to go in Melissas case. In addition to a few supplements to heal her gut, we
started Melissa on a diet of bone soup, stewed vegetables and brown rice (the bone soup was
made by boiling goat bones for 72 hours and extracting the marrow).Over the course of the next
few weeks, her stool began to firm up, and she started going only once a day.
Her energy also increased.As the weeks went by, we added cooked green grams (soaked
overnight) with basmati rice and ghee, all of which Melissa was able to tolerate.To replenish her
gut bacteria, we added a little whey (the water that separates when you make yoghurt). Next, we
added a little well-boiled liver.Six weeks after starting the treatment, Melissa was invited for a
birthday party, where she ate a piece of the birthday cake. Her mother was prepared for the
worst, but the only reaction was her face swelling up slightly. Recovery was well underway.
25
Next came the introduction of egg. We started with a little egg yolk (this is less allergenic than
egg white), then the whole egg yolk, and then after a couple of weeks, we tried the egg
white.Now, Melissa is able to handle proteins much better than she used to. Her mother has also
noted that a stubborn ringworm on Melissas scalp is also starting to clear up.Beef is next on our
list, followed by tiny amounts of peanuts. While peanuts can be mostly avoided, our goal is to
ensure that Melissa doesnt have an adverse reaction should some of her food contain peanuts.
Daily Nation
26
Rice Leadership Program accepting applications

The Rice Leadership Development Program provides a comprehensive understanding of
the rice industry, with an emphasis on personal development and communication skills.
By USA Rice Federation
Posted Jun. 9, 2015 at 3:27 PM

STUTTGART
The Rice Foundation is accepting applications for the 2016 Rice Leadership Development
Program. Rice producers or industry-related professionals between the ages of 25 and 45 are
eligible to apply for the program. The application deadline is Oct. 3.The Rice Leadership
Development Program provides a comprehensive understanding of the rice industry, with an
emphasis on personal development and communication skills. During a two-year period, class
members attend four one-week sessions designed to strengthen leadership skills through studies
of all aspects of the rice industry.
The class is comprised of five rice producers and two industry-related professionals chosen by a
committee of agribusiness leaders. The committee evaluates the applications of all candidates,
reviews letters of recommendation, and conducts personal interviews with the finalists.
Interviews will be conducted at the USA Rice Outlook Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, in
December.Additional information on the Rice Leadership Development Program and an
application form can be found on the USA Rice website.
http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/article/20150609/NEWS/150609617/-1/Opinion
Amira Nature Foods - Friend Or Foe?

Jun. 9, 2015 4:49 AM ET |
Summary
26
A growing company in a growing market with growing demographics and a low PE of 7.9.
27
Price growth same as for competitor KRBL (from 24.05 to 178.9 INR in 2 years).
Also expanding in premium markets like US and UK.When you see a company with revenue
CAGR of 28.3%, EBITDA CAGR 36.6% and EPS CAGR of 61.5% in the last 2 years and attach
to it a PE ratio of 7.9, you immediately ask yourself what is the catch. The goal of this article is
to uncover the catch and make an estimation of the possible effects of this catch on Amira Nature
Foods Ltd (NYSE:ANFI) in the long term.
About Amira
ANFI is a major international producer of packaged food, Indian specialty Basmati rice with
sales in over 60 countries. It generates the majority of its revenue through the sale of Basmati
rice, a long-grain rice grown only in certain regions of the Indian subcontinent, selling its
products, primarily in emerging markets, through a distribution network.Looking at what the
CEO Mr. Karan A. Chanana has to say about Amira's successes and failures, it is clear that he
has delivered on most of his statements in the past. In January 2013, when Amira's brand was
selling in 40 countries, he estimated that it will sell in 70 countries by 2017.
Today, the brand has already reached sales in 60 countries. There have been some delays in
certain projects like the debt issue where the attempted offering of $225 million Senior Secured
Second Lien Notes due in 2020 failed because of a short-selling attack by Prescience point
research. Consequently, the building of the new processing factory that would have enabled even
faster future growth was delayed. But the business model of Amira as it is now is working pretty
well and the earnings are growing. The company is expanding globally and last year increased its
revenue by 35%. Also a development that has worked was the increase of up to 15 distribution
centers in India to exploit the promising demographics and economic development in India. If
we estimate future projections like the goal of reaching 1 billion in revenues through the analysis
of past projections, we can be very confident in the current management team.
Possible catches - the cheapness of the Amira stock
As it is not an US company, investors find it difficult to trust a business from another part of the
world. It is very difficult to call your mate from college and ask about the building of some
distribution centre in north India. On the other hand, we can simply walk into department stores
and see the rice they sell. For me, those are stores like Tesco, Asda, Waitrose and Morrison in
the UK and for US readers it should be Costco (NASDAQ:COST) with new additions coming
month by month. This research aims to show that unfamiliarity can be a great play for investors.
The second issue is the financing problem that arose after missing the bond issue because of a
short-seller attack a few months ago.
27
This was quite unfortunate for Amira because of the relatively high interest rates in India, but
nothing that deteriorated the current situation that is very positive by itself. The way Amira does
business now by financing operations through a consortium of Indian banks works pretty well, so
a future possible lowering of the interest rate would only be beneficial.The third issue that is also
related to the second one is the continuous delays in finishing the new factory because of lack of
28
financing. The CEO promises updates on finishing factory in the next quarterly presentation. The
new factory would only improve the growth possibilities and future outlook for Amira.The forth
possible issue is the expected growth of the rice crop 2015 that will impact volume, thus lower
prices.
Also not such a bad thing because the consumer will get a better price and Amira will have the
opportunity to increase the margins and pass some of the price decreases to its customers.The
fifth issue is that the organic product is still not on US shelves. Here it has to be said that the
business model of Amira involves an aging process of more than 12 months, so it takes time for
the new product lines to reach its customers. It is understandable that Wall Street would like
everything immediately, but this gives the opportunity to more patient investors to buy a gem in
the making, and let it age to grasp all the flavors by letting it become older and better (the rice
and also the stock).
The CEO announced the organic product line on US shelves by the end of this year.The sixth
issue could be the possible diminishing demand from Middle East countries because of lower oil
prices and thus lower purchasing power. Amira wants to be a global player, and partly already is
one, so geographical diversification lowers specific geographical risks.The seventh reason can be
the very extensive global growth plans that might be overstretching the possibilities of Amira
and putting more risk, but 27 million of cash with 20 million more of available financing plus
negotiations for more finances should help, and a low debt-to-equity ratio makes this an unlikely
risk (Total debt/LTM adj. EBITDA = 2.0x).
A financial crisis that would hit the eastern markets might shake a little bit its financial position,
but again, with the growth going on in Asia, it is something unlikely to happen. The competitor
KRBL expects rice market volume to grow at a CAGR of 7% in India for the coming years.The
eighth reason can be that Amira is developing a brand strategy. You probably know of places
where the atmosphere is nicer, the coffee is better and much cheaper than at Starbucks
(NASDAQ:SBUX), but the brand is what attracts people to it. Amira is trying to create that
feeling in the premium Basmati rice growing segment. If it succeeds, we have in our hands a
stock that might be the one that we will be telling stories to our grandchildren. If it does not
succeed in creating a worldwide famous rice brand, it will probably be bought out by a large
corporation at a nice premium. So for the long-term investors, there is a win-win situation with
low possible downside risks at the current pricing.
Comparison with KRBL
28
KRBL is the world's largest rice miller and Basmati rice exporter. The company is quoted on the
NSE (Indian National stock exchange) and BSE (Bombay stock exchange). It operates in the
same market as Amira but without the global focus. The growth of the two companies has been
almost the same that can be seen in the following table. Here we have also to take into account
that the accounting currency for KRBL is the Indian Rupee and for ANFI the US dollar.
The depreciation of 18.9% in the period from January 2011 till December 2014 of the Indian
Rupee in relation to the US dollar makes ANFI's numbers look even more impressive.
Table 1. Growth comparison ANFI and KRBL
29
Source: ANFI and KRBL investor presentations. Data for KRBL is in thousands of Lacs and data
for ANFI in million USD.
But looking at the
graph
that
compares the stock
prices of ANFI and
KRBL since the
quotation of ANFI
on the NYSE, we
can see the same
pattern
up
to
February 17, 2014
which was the high
point of ANFI.
After that, with
only good news
from the company,
beating estimates
with growing revenues and earnings, the stock has not been the investors' favorite on the NYSE.
For KRBL, which is an Indian company quoted in India, the story is completely different where
the stock price has followed the developments in the business. It can be assumed that the same
will happen for ANFI, so now is a great opportunity to buy at this bargain prices.
Graph 1. Comparison of stock price movement ANFI and KRBL
Source: yahoo.com/finance
Conclusion
It is our opinion that all the possible risks are already calculated in the price and also
overestimated. Thus for now, we expect
Farmers urged to delay crops

29
Rice planting would 'deplete water supply'

10 Jun 2015 at 03:30
NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS | WRITER: APINYA WIPATAYOTIN
30
The government "urges" rice growers not to plant for at least six weeks because of what it claims
is unusually low rainfall in the Chao Phraya River basin. (File photo by Chanat Katanyu)
The Department of Royal Irrigation has urged rice farmers in the Chao Phraya River basin to
delay planting their crops due to water shortages. The department said crop plantations should be
delayed until the middle of next month due to unusually low rainfall.The department says water
reserves are sufficient for only the next 40 days.It also called on consumers to conserve water to
prevent more serious shortages.
30
Department chief Lertviroj Kowattana said experts have tweaked the water management plan
along the basin by reducing the amount of discharge from 57 million cubic metres per day to 30
million to 35 million cubic metres, due to lower than expected water storage levels in the four
main dams Bhumibol dam in Tak province, Sirikit dam in Uttaradit, Kwae Noi Bamrung Dan
dam in Phitsanulok, and Pasak Jolasid dam in Lop Buri.He also insisted there was enough water
stored for the public's daily consumption, meeting the ecological system's needs, agriculture and
industrial activity.But it would not be enough if the agricultural zone increased more than 2.8
million rai in the rainy season."There is only enough water for the current plantation zone. We
can not supply more water if there are more plantations," Mr Lertviroj said."We want farmers to
cooperate with us by helping conserve water. They should avoid increasing crop zones as we
only have enough water for use for 40 days," he said, adding he would ask for cooperation from
the military to help farmers better understand the situation.
31
Mr Lertviroj said the dams will not discharge any more water after 40 days as they need to keep
water at sensible levels.However, Mr Lertviroj believed normal levels of rain would start falling
in the middle of next month.According to the department, the amount of rainfall last month,
when the rainy season started, was 260 millimetres, or 30% lower than the 30-year average
amount of 396.6mm in the same period. Meanwhile, rainfall in the North last month was 47%
lower compared with the same period last year and rainfall in the Central Plains was 45%
lower.This has resulted in less water reserves in the four dams, particularly Bhumibol and Sirikit.
When officials checked Tuesday, usable water storage in Bhumibol dam was 457 million cubic
metres, or only 3% of usable capacity, and water storage in Sirikit dam was 831 million cubic
metres or only 9% of usable capacity."We will have no secondary plan if there is no rain after the
40 days expire but we are confident rain will return to normal levels after July," Mr Lertviroj
said.Department of Meteorology spokesman Boonthum Tanglumlert said the full extent of the
rainy season is expected to be known next month and August.He said there might be only one
storm this year, compared with an average of three monsoon storms annually during the rainy
season in previous years.
NCPO orders cheap rice for the poor

10 Jun 2015 at 08:00 947 viewed1 comments
NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS | WRITER: POST REPORTERS
The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has ordered the sale of cheap rice to lowincome people nationwide to help cut their cost of living.The order came at a joint meeting
between the NCPO and the cabinet on Tuesday, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha,
NCPO spokesman Winthai Suvaree said.The NCPO instructed state agencies to arrange the sale
of cheap rice possibly at community cooperative shops and military camps, he said.
Prayut: Concerns over political activities
31
Aside from helping low-income earners, the sale of cheap rice

could also help strengthen the community-level economy, Col
Winthai said.Col Winthai was also asked about predictions of a
water crisis, with many dams and reservoirs storing lower-thanusual levels of water.The NCPO would launch a campaign to
raise awareness about the importance of using water sparingly,
he said.Col Winthai said Gen Prayut had also expressed his
concerns over students carrying out political activities.Security
authorities had tried to avoid taking legal action against the
activists because they are young people whose future might be
affected if they are prosecuted.The students have been warned
and released previously without facing any legal action, he
said.But since they appeared to ignore the authorities' "good
intention" and continue to repeat their misconduct, Gen Prayut
said more "suitable" measures would have to be taken against them instead, Col Winthai
32
said.The NCPO spokesman also relayed Gen Prayut's message to the parents, saying if they
again fail to improve their children's understanding about obeying the law, the authorities would
be left with no choice but to take legal action.Get full Bangkok Post printed newspaper
experience on your digital devices with Bangkok Post e-newspaper. Try it out, it's totally free for
7 days.
APEDA NEWS (India)

International Benchmark Price
Price on: 10-06-2015
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)
5975
Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)
5375
Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t)
4375
Californian Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK (USD/t)
2620
South African Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK (USD/t)
2278
Australian 5 Crown, CIF UK (USD/t)
2967
Iranian natural sultanas (Gouchan), CIF UK (USD/t)
1792
Turkish No 9 standard, FOB Izmir (USD/t)
2058
Apricots
Raisins
Sultanas
Source:agra-net
32
For more info
Market Watch
33
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 10-06-2015

Domestic Prices
Product
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Amreli (Gujarat)
Other
1000
3000
Solapur (Maharashtra)
Other
1580
2000
Kota (Rajasthan)
Other
1411
1411
Amreli (Gujarat)
Other
1250
2370
Bellary (Karnataka)
Local
1268
1345
Kota(Rajasthan)
Other
1121
1290
Abohar (Punjab)
Other
1000
2000
Thodupuzha(Kerala)
Other
2500
2700
Nagpur(Maharashtra)
Other
2500
4000
Attingal (Kerala)
Other
3400
3800
Nilagiri (Orissa)
Other
2400
2600
Akluj(Maharashtra)
Other
2500
4000
Jowar(Sorgham)
Maize
Grapes
Carrot
33
Source:agra-net
For more info
34
Rs per 100 No
Egg
Price on 10-06-2015
Product
Market Center
Price
Pune
400
Chittoor
398
Hyderabad
362
Source: e2necc.com
Unit Price : US$ per
package
Other International Prices
Price on 10-06-2015
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
Onions Dry
Package: 50 lb sacks
Atlanta
California
Yellow
23
23
Chicago
Washington
Yellow
20
22
Dallas
Mexico
Yellow
21
24
Cauliflower
34
High
Package: cartons film wrapped
Atlanta
California
White
20.50
20.50
Miami
Mexico
White
18
18
New York
California
White
18
20
Source:USDA

10th June (Wednesday), 2015 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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1

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FCI still bogged down by excess buffer stocks of rice, wheat

Lowest rainfall in 30 years prompts RID to tighten reins

Commerce Min. to sell stocked rice to low income earners

Pakistan wheat surplus to cool imports this year - trader

Negros has rice oversupply'

Wont sell basmati rice at low rates, says millers body

A Nobel laureate's sexist remark sparks a conversation

A sexist remark by Nobel laureate Tim Hunt provoked a swift reaction

This story is based on a radio interview.Listen to the full interview.

World Rice Production

USA Rice and Coalition Urge COOL Reform

USA Rice takes messages to the sky

WASDE Report Released

Read the complete report here.

CCC Announces Prevailing World Market Prices

WASHINGTON, DC --The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit

The next program announcement is scheduled for June 17, 2015.

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

Loss of international rice market

Balochistan CM inaugurates Pakistan-Iran cargo train

Supplements and fine-tuning your childs diet can cure

Rice Leadership Program accepting applications

Posted Jun. 9, 2015 at 3:27 PM

Amira Nature Foods - Friend Or Foe?

Farmers urged to delay crops

Rice planting would 'deplete water supply'

NCPO orders cheap rice for the poor

Aside from helping low-income earners, the sale of cheap rice

APEDA NEWS (India)

Benchmark Indicators Name

Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)

Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)

Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t)

Californian Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK (USD/t)

South African Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK (USD/t)

Australian 5 Crown, CIF UK (USD/t)

Iranian natural sultanas (Gouchan), CIF UK (USD/t)

Turkish No 9 standard, FOB Izmir (USD/t)

For more info

Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 10-06-2015

Unit Price : Rs per Qty

For more info

Other International Prices

Package: cartons film wrapped

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