Rice

The State Government has directed all Collectors to ensure that rice for families under the newly launched State Food Security Scheme (SFSS) is distributed through e-PoS (Point of Sales) devices. Distribution of stocks at fair price shops will be made only through e-PoS devices. Manual mode of distribution can be resorted to only after approval from ADM, BDO or CSO with proper justification. While the fair price shops have been asked to complete distribution of rice for the months of October and November by October 25. As per the scheme, each beneficiary family will get five kg of rice per person at Re 1 a kilo. The rice would be released only to fair price shops which have valid FPS license for the financial year 2018-19.

This is higher by 1.74 million tonnes than the last year’s production of 97.50 million tonnes. Further, it is higher by 6.64 million tonnes over the average production of Kharif rice during the last five years.

FAO says India Jan-Sep avg export price of non-basmati rice up 5.8%.

Centre gives in-principle nod for rice procurement in Puducherry.

Iraq’s trade ministry said it bought 100,000 tonnes of wheat and 90,000 tonnes of rice in direct deals, outside of the international tendering process.Of the total, Iraq bought 50,000 tonnes of US wheat and 50,000 tonnes of Australian wheat.

Government of Chhattisgarh in Kharif season 2018 would commence its paddy and maize procurement at minimum support price through Primary Agriculture Credit Cooperative Committees from Foundation Day of State, November 1. Food and Civil Supplies officers intimated that in state under 1,333 primary committees 1998 procurement centres have been made and target of 75 lakh MT paddy is expected in current year. With increase in production of Maize the target has been kept as 40,000 tonnes is likely to be procured from farmers.

India is likely to produce a record 99-100 mln tn of rice in the 2018-19 (Jul-Jun) kharif season, up from 97.5 mln tn the previous year despite patchy rains. The government is likely to soon release its first advance kharif crop output estimates for 2018-19. Area under the crop has risen this year and weather is largely favourable. It is expected to boost the yield of the crop. Farmers across the country had sown paddy over 38.6 mln ha, up 2.4% from a year ago. While leading producer Uttar Pradesh saw a marginal fall in acreage from the previous year, key growers Punjab, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Haryana saw an increase.

Kharif paddy area up 2.3% on yr at 38 mln ha.

Maharashtra govt to sell 7,933 tn rice.

Rice stocks at the central pool September

Basmati Rice exports during April–July 2018

Govt expects rice procurement to touch 38 mln tn 2018-19.

Iran issues tender to buy 30,000 tonnes rice from India

Odisha farmers in deep water as rains damage crop fields

FAO says India Jan-Aug avg export price of non-basmati rice up 7%.

USDA arm pegs Thailand 2018-19 rice export down at 10.0 mln tn

Punjab’s output of rice in 2018-19 (Jul-Jun) kharif season is likely to rise 10% on year to 13.36 mln tn due to a rise in acreage and yield. Punjab is a major rice producing state. Cotton output in the state during the season is seen falling 18% on year to 1.30 mln bales (1 bale = 170 kg). Maize output is seen down 14% on year at 450,000 tn.The state has pegged total food grain output at 13.82 mln tn, compared with 12.69 mln tn last year. Total output of oilseeds is seen at 5,400 tn, against 5,600 tn the previous year.

China’s interest in buying non-basmati rice from India is likely to lend some support to the export industry. In June, China had allowed the import of rice from 19 mills in India. This followed a trade delegation from India visiting China to explore export opportunities for rice, sugar, and soy products to the country. A substantial increase in support price by the Centre in July, and a hike in duty for import of non-basmati rice by Bangladesh to 28% from 2% effective June, are expected to have negatively affected exports of the food grain.

Paddy output in Andhra Pradesh in the 2018-19 (Jul-Jun) kharif season is seen rising 1% on year to 7.6 mln tn due to a marginal rise in acreage.

Acreage under paddy crop across the country this kharif season was at 35.7 mln ha, down 0.7% on year. The area under paddy was, however, higher than the average 35.4 mln ha for the period. Also, the lag in acreage has reduced from 3% a fortnight ago. The slight fall in acreage can be attributed to lower sowing in key producing states of Assam, Bihar and Jharkhand, where weak monsoon rains hit planting. Paddy is a water-intensive crop and requires bountiful rains during sowing and transplantation of saplings from nursery to the fields. During Jun 1-Aug 26, the country received 633.1 mm rainfall, 7% below the normal weighted average of 678.1 mm, as per data from India Meteorological Department. Paddy sowing was also lower on year in Punjab at 3.04 mln ha as of Thursday. The Punjab government, along with rice millers, is working to create awareness among growers about pesticide-free rice. Rice millers have promised paddy growers in Punjab an additional 300-400 rupees per 100 kg if their produce is pesticide-free.