Rice News (Unedited Version)

1. Rice issues: Research crucial to improving per acre yield,
says Khan
By Farhan Zaheer
Published: April 13, 2014
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Pakistan used to conduct research on seeds owing to which the quality was impressive. However, regional countries have
moved far ahead in the last few decades. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI: Pakistan’s per acre rice yield is improving but at a very slow pace. The country can only bring
noticeable change if the government restarts research on new seeds or allows the private sector to take that
initiative, said Engro Eximp Chief Executive Abdul Samad Khan.
“The country is going to see a growth in its rice production but it is below the desirable level. We
badly need new seeds to increase rice production as well as the exports,” said Khan in an interview
with The Express Tribune.
Engro Eximp, which deals in commodity trading, is part of Engro Corporation. The company owns a
100% stake in Engro Eximp Agriproducts Ltd, which is involved in procurement, processing and
export of rice to markets in the Middle East and the European Union.

2. Pakistan used to conduct research on seeds owing to which the quality seen was impressive.
However, in the last few decades, regional countries have moved far ahead in productive research,
cited as one of the causes why Pakistan’s rice production is not growing as it should be, he said.
Khan believes the use of quality seeds is the single largest factor that can transform the produce of
Pakistan. However, better usage of water and fertilisers are very important as well.
“We want to increase our seed distribution to enhance farmer income as well as ours,” he said, “We
have been very successful in educating farmers on water conservation, importance of good seeds and
better use of fertilisers.”
Owing to the use of quality seeds, the output of our farmers has improved, he said, adding that now
we get little by-product and more percentage of high quality long-grain basmati rice per acre.
Pakistan produces around 6-6.5 million tons of rice and exports more than half of the total produce.
Out of 2 million tons production of basmati, a high quality grade of rice that only grows in India and
Pakistan, the country exports 800,000-900,000 tons.
Eximp produces 100,000 tons basmati every year and exports about 70% of its produce. Although it
is the biggest exporter of basmati – because it operates the country’s largest rice-processing mill – it
is looking to enhance its capacity to 150,000 within the next three years.
The company plant is located on 67 acres in Muridke, the heart of the basmati growing area of
Punjab.
Since Pakistan and India are the only basmati growing countries, industry people usually compare
their per acre yield and price in the international markets.
According to Khan, Pakistan’s per acre basmati produce is not that low compared to India. For
instance, if Pakistan gets 35 maund per acre yield, India gets around 40 he informed.
“But the output of India’s top quality basmati rice is much better than Pakistan’s. The difference in
the output of the two countries is about 30%,” he added.
He stressed that Pakistan was lagging behind due to an alarmingly low expenditure on research.
India, on the other hand, is not only investing in rice but on seeds of other crops as well.
Unlike many Pakistan rice exporters, Khan does not think basmati varieties of Pakistan face
recognition issues in the world market.
“Our basmati varieties are recognised the world over and there is no issue here. But yes, India and
Pakistan need to sit and resolve the issue of geographic recognition once and for all.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th
, 2014.
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Pak fruits and rice are of best quality’
April 14, 2014
OUR STAFF REPORTER
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3. LAHORE - Inspector General National Highways & Motorway Police, Zulfiqar
Ahmad Cheema has said our country is our identity and home and if there is
anything wrong with it we have to set right. He was addressing to the teachers &
students of Allama Iqbal Medical College at Lahore. DIG N-5 Central, Mirza
Shakil Ahmad, Principle Allama Iqbal Medical College, Professor Dr Mahmood
Shukat and a large number of students attended the event. IG also imparted
useful information regarding the road safety to the students.
In his address Cheema said that there is no match to founders of Pakistan
Quide-i-Azam and Allama Iqbal and we should be proud of them. He said that
Poet of the East Allama Iqbal had exposed the hollowness of Western culture

4. and philosophy and portrayed the picture of Islam. He said Iqbal’s concept of
Khudi taught Muslims to acquire knowledge and prosper instead of waiting only
for the divine help. He further said no other leaders of 20th century can match the
charismatic personality of Quaid-i-Azam.
Inspector General said we have many things to be proud of namely
championship titles in sports, our nuclear capability, world sixth largest &
powerful army, brilliant professionals serving all over the world, four seasons,
best quality fruits and rice. He further said that Allah has bestowed Pakistan with
lot of natural resources. Inspector General said that our doctors are recognised
by the world as best professional doctors and even American Health Department
admitted that if Pakistani doctors leave America, it will create immense problem
for its health system. He said that our young generation is our powerhouse which
is not available to most of the countries of the world and the way Pakistani nation
especially youth responded during 2005 earthquake was appreciated all over the
world.
Zulfiqar Cheema said that we are living in democratic country in which all
segments of society including women have right of vote which is not available to
the citizens of many countries in the world. He told the students that education is
our weapon and we will defend our county with it. IG reminded students that
Quaid-i-Azam said that the responsibility of defending Pakistan is upon young
students. So, it is your responsibility to equip yourself with best of education and
defend your country, said IG. He further said that all these indicators show that
we are on the right direction and soon we will achieve prosperity, stability and
peace like Malaysia, Turkey and many other nations. The Principle Allama Iqbal
Medical College, Professor Dr Mahmood Shukat also shared his observation and
experience on road safety issue.
Thailand to benefit from growing world rice demand, market monitors say
The Nation April 14, 2014 1:00 am
Despite climatic shifts and natural disasters plaguing some rice producing countries, the 2013 season has
produced more rice than expected, adding to the ninth straight year of rice surplus or 'carry over,' the
UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reported recently.

5. And in terms of exports, Thailand is expected to capture much of the expected expansion in world
demand and remain the world's No.2 exporter after India in 2014.
As farmers in many countries begin the last harvests of the 2013 season, several countries have raised
their 2013 production estimates above those reported in November. They included China, India,
Pakistan and the Philippines, which had endured a number of climatic setbacks, but where damage to
crops was said to have been less severe than previously thought, according to the FAO's first Rice
Market Monitor (RMM) report for 2014.
Prospects also improved for Colombia, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Tanzania, while they
deteriorated for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Russia, according to the report.
"Overall, the revisions translated into a 3.5-million tonne upgrade of 2013 global paddy rice production
to 744.9 million tonnes (496.6 million tonnes, milled basis), which makes for a 1.1 per cent increase from
the previous season, and renewed again an historic world record harvest," said Hiroyuki Konuma, FAO
assistant director-general and regional representative for Asia and the Pacific.
While the damage caused by floods, storms and other erratic weather in Asia and the Pacific took a toll
in 2013, the report warns that, going forward, "climatic events affecting the development of 2014
season crops, such as the potential El Nino event, are also likely to influence market sentiment."
FAO's first global production forecast for 2014 predicts a third consecutive season of subdued growth.
"Global paddy production in 2014 could reach 751 million tonnes (500.7 million tonnes, milled basis), 0.8
per cent more than currently estimated for 2013," the RMM reports.
Based on the latest estimates, global rice stocks carried over into 2014 are set to rise for the ninth
consecutive year, reaching 180.5 million tonnes (milled basis), 1.5 million tonnes more than foreseen in
November, and 3.2 per cent above their opening level in 2013. Developing countries would be
responsible for the entire increase in stockpile.
Combined, the five major rice exporters (India, Pakistan, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam)
remain projected to end their individual 2013/14 marketing years with 3 per cent more on reserve, or
48.4 million tonnes.

6. Accelerated release of Thai rice
Much of this rice stock growth would reflect larger holdings in Thailand supported by an overall good
harvest and official procurement under the main-crop round of the 2013/14 paddy-pledging
programme. Nevertheless, reserves in the country are forecast to end down 1.1 million tonnes in 2014,
lower than previously envisaged, at 19.3 million tonnes, consistent with the country's improved outlook
for exports in 2014, following the accelerated pace of government stock releases since the latter half of
2013 and the suspension of the secondary crop round of the scheme.
Overall, three of the five major rice exporting countries (Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam) are expected
to continue to build up their reserves, but that will be compensated globally by a drawdown in the other
two major exporters, India and the United States. As a result of these changes, the world stock-to-use
ratio, a key indicator of food security, is predicted to rise from 35.7 per cent in 2012-13 to 35.9 per cent
in 2013-14. In light of the higher expected availabilities and sustained declines in Thai export quotations,
FAO anticipates Thailand to raise its level of exports to 8.7 million tonnes, 200,000 tonnes more than
last projected and 2 million tonnes above the 2013 poor performance.
"Given expectations of an overall ample supply in major exporting countries, these harvests could exert
additional pressure on export quotations. Against this backdrop, buying decisions will play an important
role. The government of the Philippines has already announced plans to conduct an import tender in
April," the report notes.
The return of other important buyers could mitigate the downward pressure on prices. According to
FAO's price sub-index, the price of high quality Indica rice declined by 2.4 per cent in March.
Among major rice importing countries, China is expected to renew its status as the world's No 1 rice
importer with imports expected to increase to 3.3 million tonnes in 2014, while the Philippines and
Indonesia are expected to increase their imports of rice by around 60 to 70 per cent in 2014 to 1.2
million tonnes and 1.1 million tonnes, respectively. Malaysia's rice import is projected to remain at the
level of 1.1 million tonnes this year.

7. "On the policy front, decisions in Thailand concerning government support to the rice sector will hold
particular sway, as will the pace with which officials continue the disposal of public stocks," the report
adds.
Since its last report in November, the RMM has lifted its estimate for global rice utilisation in 2013-2014
by one million tonnes to more than 490 million tonnes (on a milled basis), an increase of 2.5 per cent on
the previous year. That figure could rise to 502 million tonnes in 2014-2015. While human consumption
accounts for most of the increase (83 per cent), other uses, such as animal feed are also expected to
increase.
While surpluses continue to grow even with modest production increases, international trade in rice is
forecast to make a recovery in 2014.
"FAO is predicting that 2014 will experience a 5 per cent jump in international trade of rice," said
Konuma. "That is an increase of more than one-million tonnes on the 38 million tonnes foreseen just
four months ago - a new high."
On the supply side, ample availabilities in exporting countries, following large harvests and inventories,
are intensifying competition for markets. Amid sustained efforts to curb its public inventories, Thailand
is expected to capture much of the expansion in world demand.
"Larger deliveries by these countries would come at the expense of reduced exports by India, which
may, nonetheless, retain its number one position among exporters." According to the report, India is
expected to retain its No 1 rice exporter position in 2014 with estimated rice export of 9.5 million tonnes
in 2014, followed by Thailand (8.7million tonnes) and Vietnam (7.2 million tonnes).