Rice

Karnataka aims to produce 3.1 million tonne of rice in 2017, up from 2.6 million tonne in the previous year.

Non-basmati variety Permal Raw was quoted down 75 rupees per 100 kg from previous close. And the steam variety of basmati rice of PUSA 1121 was unchanged.

Prices of rice basmati drifted lower at the wholesale grains market on tepid demand against sufficient stocks position. Sluggish demand from retailers weighed on rice basmati prices.

Sowing area under basmati paddy is likely to increase by 25% in 2017 on the back of favourable climatic conditions and forecast of normal rainfall this monsoon season.

Egypt, traditionally a rice exporter, has contracted to purchase 20,000 tonnes of Indian rice as per a cabinet statement on 03 May. Egypt govt statement did not explain why it had contracted to buy the rice. But in December, govt said it would import rice after cancelling a tender to buy locally produced rice when the bidding companies all offered higher prices than the govt had asked for. Egypt rice paddy production is estimated at 5.1 million metric tonnes in 2016 versus annual consumption of about 3.95 million tonnes, said USDA.

Iran is likely to produce 22.5 MMT of rice in 2017 compared to 21 MMT in 2016. For meeting its additional requirements of Basmati rice Iran depends on imports. The increase in production over the years is continuously reducing its dependency on imports. Iran imported 14.40 LMT in 2013-14, 9.66 LMT in 2014-15, 6.95 LMT in 2015-16 and 5.50 LMT during the first ten months of 2016-17 (April 2016 to January 2017) from India. It is estimated that in fiscal year 2016-17 Iran is likely to import 6.50 LMT of basmati rice from India. Therefore, Iran demand of basmati rice is likely to fall in coming year because increase in production.

To help meet national demand of around 5.2m tonnes in 2016, Nigeria imported 2.3m tonnes of rice last year, according to the UNs Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). This heavy reliance on external sources has seen Nigeria – currently the world second-largest importer of the grain after China – import around 17m tonnes of rice in the last five years, with the country spending an average of $5m per day on shipments of the grain, Audu Ogbeh, minister of agriculture and rural development, told international media earlier this year.

Chhattisgarh government has set a rice production target of 8.2 million tonne for 2017-18 (Jul-Jun), up 2% on year, Chhattisgarh is one of the largest rice producing states in the country and the grain accounts for the bulk of state kharif food grain output.

The IGC has kept the forecast for global rice output unchanged from previous month at 487 million tonne. The production estimate is higher than 483 million tonne produced in 2016-17.

Rice basmati prices dipped by rupees 100 per quintal at the wholesale grains market owing to slackened demand. Muted demand from retailers against ample stocks position led to decline in rice basmati prices. In the national capital, rice basmati Pusa-1121 variety fell by rupees 100 per quintal.

The exports of basmati rice from the country during the month of March 2017 increased by 154.28 percent as compared the exports of the corresponding month of last year. During month of March, about 45,745 metric tons of basmati rice worth $43.976m were exported as compared the exports of 17,412 metric tons valuing of $17.294m of same month last year.

After chia and quinoa, teff is the new superfood that is set to make an entry into the Indian farm sector. Teff, a drought-resistant rice, is a staple food crop of Ethiopia, and the grain dates to the Abyssinian civilisation. We had brought the seeds from the US Department of Agriculture four years ago and carried out trials in various locations, including areas around Mysuru, parts of Tamil Nadu and in Bagalkot, North Karnataka. Two of the 19 varieties are suitable for Indian conditions. The upcoming kharif season teff being planted in Karnataka. Grain has a potential to yield 200-250 kg per acre. Teff, a hardy crop, can be grown in both kharif and rabi seasons. It is suitable for districts with dry zones in Karnataka. The international wholesale prices of teff are around ₹650-700 a kg.

The Punjab government aims to reduce paddy acreage by nearly 8% in the state in the crop year starting June, and has been motivating farmers to switch to other crops.

Optimistic to set a record procurement of about 60 lakh metric tonne of paddy this year, Odisha government today said the rabi exercise would start from May 1. Optimistic to set a record procurement of about 60 lakh metric tonne of paddy this year, Odisha government today said the rabi exercise would start from May 1. It is targeted to procure total 60 lakh MT paddy in both kharif and rabi, this year.