Rice

Telangana farm department has raised its estimate for rice output to 5.56 million tonne in 2016-17 (Jul-Jun), from 4.57 million tonne projected in the second advance estimate. Output of rice in the previous year was 3.05 million tonne. Telangana is one of India leading producers of rice. According to the third advance estimate, output of maize, another major crop in the state, is expected to rise 65.8% to 2.9 million tonne this year because of higher acreage and yield. Total output of food grains is projected to rise to 9.06 million tonne, compared with 5.15 million tonne a year ago.

The National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India buy 1,500 tonne de-oiled rice bran through a reverse electronic auction. The commodity, used as cattle feed, will be bought on behalf of Karnataka Milk Federation. The federation, which has nearly 200 dairy cooperatives as members, has developed an online trading platform to purchase feed stock and sell dairy products

Rice production in Bangladesh is expected to increase 0.4% to 34.7 million tonnes in the 2017-18 marketing year, driven by higher yields in the region. Planted area for the country is forecast down 0.3%, to 11.7 million hectares, on lower Boro and Aus rice planted area. Farmers are reportedly switching to more profitable crops like maize, potato, jute, pulses and oilseeds. planted area for Aman rice (planted in July/August and harvested in November/December) rise to meet staple food demand and to avoid switching crops during the monsoon season. Rice imports for 2017-18 are forecast at 125,000 tonnes, up from 100,000 tonnes in 2016-17, on expectations of better pricing from regional suppliers.

Manila, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) will lead the creation of a task force to look into the nationwide inventory of rice stocks to counter allegations of a current shortage and speculation of possible importation despite a bumper harvest. The task force aims to prove that there is enough rice supply in the country and establish actual stock situation to allow the government to come up with correct statistics, which could be the basis of sound agricultural planning, particularly in terms of rice production. NFA is insisting on an immediate government-to-government importation of 250,000 metric tons (MT) of rice to boost the agency’s inventory. Latest data from the PSA showed that the country’s rice inventory in March declined by 19 percent to 2.18 million MT, from 2.67 million MT recorded a year ago. The agency reported that total rice inventory as of March was also five percent lower than the 2.3 million MT posted in February.

The country rice production in the first quarter may have expanded by 12.8 percent to 4.44 million metric tons (MMT), from 3.93 MMT recorded a year ago. Palay production for January-March 2017 may reach 4.44 MMT, 2.1 percent below the January 2017 round forecast of 4.53 MMT, but 12.8 percent higher than the previous year’s output of 3.93 MMT. The projected palay production in the first quarter of the year is higher than the actual first quarter output of 4.36 MMT recorded in 2015. In the January round of its survey, titled “Rice and Corn Situation Outlook”, the PSA said the probable increase in first quarter rice output is due to the expansion in harvest area. The continuous and heavy rainfall and strong winds that were experienced during the vegetative and reproductive stages of the crop in Capiz, South Cotabato, Leyte, Compostela Valley, Aurora, Aklan, Surigao Norte and Negros Oriental may cause production of these provinces to go down. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said harvest area in the January-to-March period may contract to 1.15 million hectares, from 1.16 million hectares, or by 0.9 percent. Also, yield per hectare may decline to 3.85 metric tons (MT), from 3.92 MT.

Rice export prices extended its upward trend in India on a stronger rupee, while Vietnam rates were stable amid a subtle market on low demand. India’s 5 percent broken parboiled rice prices RI-INBKN5-P1 rose by $7 per tonne to between $382 and $387 a tonne this week, as gains in the rupee forced exporters to raise prices despite sluggish demand. India, the world’s biggest rice exporter, mainly exports non-basmati rice to African countries and premier basmati rice to the Middle East. Its rice output could rise by 4.3 percent to a record high of 108.86 million tonnes in 2016/17. In Vietnam, the world’s third-largest rice exporter, market was quiet on low demand and unattractive rice prices amid worries over rainfall affecting grain quality. Abnormal rain in some harvesting areas has affected rice quality, but not too seriously. Vietnam’s rice exports are expected to plunge 23.9 percent annually to 1.19 million tonnes in the first quarter, after the grain shipments dropped 26.5 percent in 2016 due to lower output caused by climate changes. Thai benchmark 5-percent broken rice RI-THBKN5-P1 was quoted at $350-$365 a tonne free-on-board (FOB) Bangkok on previous close.

Government had 23.08 million tonnes rice in its stocks as of Apr 1, higher than 22.16 million tonnes a year ago. Prices of the non-basmati variety of rice, Permal Raw, were unchanged from previous close, while prices of the steam variety of basmati rice, Pusa 1121, were also unchanged in major spot markets.

Paddy purchase at the official purchase centers in the current yasangi [rabi] may not touch the expected levels despite high yield as large quantities of fine variety grain is being transported to Karnataka to be sold at a higher price. Grade-A type arrived early from Bodhan, Varni, Kotagiri and Beerkur and Grade-B (common class) from Nandipet, Armoor, Balkonda and so on arrived at centers. At some places, it is still in a flowering stage. About 403 tonnes of Grade-B variety was transported to centers. As many as 78 purchase centers (all under PACS) as against the total of 240 were opened. The centers under MEPMA-2, IDCMS-4 and IKP-22 are yet to be launched. There is no dearth of gunny bags to pack the grain and 15 lakh bags were already distributed to PACs. Another, 35 lakhs were on hand. Indent was placed for yet another 50 lakh bags. The Government agencies mostly purchase Grade-B variety that is called IR-1010 at the MSP of Rs. 1,470 per quintal. Fine categories such as Ganga and Kaveri are unlikely to reach these official centers in large quantities. The Government allotted paddy for custom milling to 57 mills and considering another six mills for the purpose.

The National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India buy 150 tonne of de-oiled rice bran through a reverse electronic auction. The commodity used as cattle feed, will be bought on behalf of Indian Immunological. The national federation has nearly 200 dairy cooperatives as its members, has developed an online trading platform to purchase feed stock and sell dairy products.

Dairy body to buy 150 tonne de-oiled rice bran.

Rice production in West Bengal may reach 173 lakhs million tonnes by 2017-18 from the current level of about 148 lakh MT through increased usage of high yielding varieties, improving soil drainage, spreading rice-fish culture and taking other such measures, apex industry body. This high increase in the production definitely drop in the prices.

Over production of rice lead to sharp drop in prices in West Bengal.

In 2016, assam produced 52 lakh metric ton of rice and this year expectation is to have paddy harvest of around 75 lakh metric ton as production curve is on the upward trend, despite the attack of swarming caterpillars in the initial stage.