Rice

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.

Basmati grown in Punjab this year is likely to witness a major reduction in use of pesticides and fungicides that lead to rejection of export consignments from India. Alarmed by hurdles in export of rice from India, the state government is reaching out to farmers through Gurugwaras, public meetings and social media to dissuade use of Acephate, Cabandazim, Thiamethoxam, Tricyclazole and Triazophos—chemicals responsible for higher residue level in rice.

Beijing has already cleared 19 Indian rice companies to buy rice from. India exports 4 million tons of aromatic basmati rice a year and expects that to grow 5% this year with the opening of the new market. The country ships another 8.5 million tons of non-basmati rice to international markets.

The Philippines will import an additional 132,000 tonnes of rice to boost stocks in southern provinces, where prices have surged in recent weeks amid limited supply. The plan approved by regulators includes the “immediate procurement” of 32,000 tons of the staple grain. The National Food Authority (NFA), the country’s food security agency that buys most of the country’s import requirements, will issue import permits for the balance of 100,000 tons after the usual bidding process.

Malaysia targets to achieve 80% self-sufficiency in rice by 2022, moving up from the current 70%.