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NFA rice import losses to hit P1.4B, say solons
Farmers back govt bonds to raise money for rice payments
Rice farmers will protest in large number again, destination not revealed
Urgent funding sought for farmers
Paddy harvest drops, rice prices rise
Vietnam rice deal ‘very transparent’
ATTENTION ARKANSAS RICE FARMERS: Vernie Hubert to Highlight Farm Bill Discussion
Group asks Administrative Court to halt rice scheme
Petition filed to stop rice-pledging scheme
India likely to export 18 mln tonnes rice, wheat in 2013/14 - govt adviser
Egypt says official suspected of corrupt rice deals, not wheat
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Feb 24
TABLE-India Grain Prices-Delhi- Feb 24
Pundits urge fast-tracking budget to pay rice farmers

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NFArice import losses to hit P1.4B, say solons
By Gil Cabacungan,Philippine Daily Inquirer
5:48 am | Monday, February 24th, 2014
MANILA, Philippines—Militant lawmakers on Sunday said the National Food Authority‘s losses from the
importation of millions of tons of overpriced rice from Vietnam since last year would hit P1.42 billion.Bayan
Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares said in a statement the NFA‘s recent purchase of one million metric tons
of rice from Vietnam for the country‘s buffer stock for the third quarter this year was overpriced by P899
million.Colmenares said the NFA had already lost P521 million from last year‘s overpriced purchase of 500,000
MT of Vietnam rice for buffer requirements in the first quarter this year.Colmenares cited the US Department of
Agriculture‘s Grains Report, which showed that the prevailing market price of rice was only $377.86 per MT
from Nov. 16 to 22 last year compared to the NFA‘s purchase from Vietnam at $462.25 per MT during the
same period.Bayan Muna Rep.
Carlos Zarate warned the overpriced rice would lead to higher prices later this year.Anakpawis party-list Rep.
Fernando Hicap said the NFA imports would ―flood the local market and compete with the rice produced by our
farmers because (the rice imports) would arrive during the harvest season from April to May.‖Colmenares said
Congress should investigate the NFA‘s buying decisions to determine whether the agency was acting in the best
interest of the people.―I think that it would be more prudent to hold the importation of the one million MT of
rice until all has been done to ensure that the Filipino people are not being duped,‖ said Colmenares.But an
agriculture industry alliance, the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag), defended the Department of
Agriculture‘s policy of keeping the NFA as the sole importer of rice amid warnings the Philippines could face
sanctions for continuing to impose quantitative restrictions on rice.
Sinag chair Rosendo So said in a statement the Philippines had 22 pending dispute cases with other members of
the World Trade Organization (WTO) and adding one more infraction—keeping its rice market closed to
foreign players to protect local players—would push it closer to being penalized by the global trading body.―If
we follow the assumptions of so-called trade experts, there would have been global trade chaos given the
number of cases filed by WTO-member complainants against each other. More than the Philippines, trade
sanctions and penalties should have long been imposed on the US and EU since both of them—including our
major trading partners—have hundreds of dispute cases between them,‖ So said.―Trade sanctions are never
imposed at the first instance. Under WTO rules, the losing defendant should instead bring its domestic policy in
line with the ruling,‖ So said.

Farmers back govt bonds to raise money for rice payments
Monday, 24 February 2014By MCOT
BANGKOK, Feb 24 – The Thai Farmers and Growers Association (TFGA) has give its support to the
government‘s move to issue bonds to raise funds for overdue payments to farmers from the rice pledging

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

scheme.The farmers from the central region also called on the anti-government People‘s Democratic Reform
Committee (PDRC) not to disrupt the issuance of state bonds, proposed last week by the Finance Ministry.
TFGA
leader
Wichian
Phuanglamchiak said farmers wanted
nothing but money for their rice but
the PDRC and its network have
obstructed government attempts to
secure money from any channel.―From
what the PDRC has done, how can it
say it is helping farmers?‖ he asked.He
said protesters should stop using
farmers as political hostages and the
PDRC should focus on other issues
instead of barring rice payments, if it
wanted to oust the government.Since
rice subsidies for paddy in the
2013/2014 crop will end on Feb 28, rice millers have pushed the paddy price down to only Bt6,000 per tonne,
and the price will plummet after this month, he said.Mr Wichian described as nothing new a proposal by Phra
Buddha Issara, a PDRC core leader, to set up a rice farmer council to protect farmers and look into their
welfare, saying the council will create rifts among Thai planters.―Thailand has had a grower council,
represented by growers in every field. A rice farmer council will create privilege to rice growers in the eye of
planters of other crops such as sugarcane, rubber, corn and tapioca,‖ he said.

Rice farmers will protest in large number again, destination not revealed
Published on February 24, 2014 by TFP
BANGKOK, 23 February 2014 (NNT) â€ ‖ Another mass rally by the farmer protesters at the Ministry of
Commerce has been set on 25 February 2014 to demand answers from the government about long-overdue rice
payments.Coordinator of the Farmersâ€ ™ Network Natthawat Chanin-ngam said the farmer protesters would
rally en masse again this Tuesday to press the government on payments in the rice pledging scheme after the
government promised that it would spend four billion baht/week to pay them.
Mr Natthawut however declined to disclose where the protesters would travel to, saying that they would meet
on Monday to plan their movements.Civil servants who worked at the Ministry of Commerce were allowed to
enter their office on Monday but they were prohibited from bringing a personal car to the ministry, said the
coordinator.The protesters have surrounded the Ministry of Commerce in Nonthaburi province since 19
February this year to protest against the government who owes them payments worth 130 billion baht in total.
( Suwit Rattiwan)

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Urgent funding sought for farmers
PIYANART SRIVALO
THE NATION February 25, 2014 1:00 am

THE NATIONAL Rice Policy Committee will today ask the Cabinet to allocate Bt10 billion to Bt20 billion
from the central budget as an urgent measure to help farmers owed payments under the rice-pledging
programme."The committee will further seek approval from the Election Commission if the Cabinet gives the
nod," caretaker Commerce Minister Niwatthumrong Boonsongpaisan said yesterday after chairing a meeting of
the committee.
The committee also accepted that because of the
government's caretaker role, it could not proceed
with the rice-pledging project for the second-crop
rice season beginning in June, which could affect
farmers'
incomes.Niwatthumrong
said
the
committee agreed to ask for a special budget from
the Cabinet to help farmers in the short term, while
the government would accelerate rice sales to raise
more money for them.For each of the four months
from last October to January this year, the
Commerce Ministry was able to return an average
Bt8 billion to the Finance Ministry after selling
about a million tonnes of rice a month. However,
Niwatthumrong accepted that its expected earnings from rice sales would not by themselves be enough to cover
the Bt110 billion or so still owed to farmers within a short period. The caretaker government needs to get
approval from the EC to issue bonds, and also for some budget allocations from the Cabinet.The ministry will
also continue to sell rice from its stockpiles totalling about a million tonnes a month for the farmers.
The government has about 12 million to 13 million tonnes of rice in the stockpiles, he said.Also yesterday, the
Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives held a board meeting to consider how to raise funds to help
the farmers. The meeting had not concluded by press time.Recently, it emerged that the BAAC might issue
promissory notes worth Bt80 billion to pay the farmers. The first batch was expected to be Bt20 billion. The
state-owned Vayupak Fund was reportedly one targeted purchaser of the notes.MFC Asset Management, one of
the Vayupak fund managers, said yesterday that the fund would follow its investment policy as designed
previously. The fund is allowed to invest in equities categorised in SET 50 listed companies and is able to hold

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

bonds as liquidity to manage its investment shift to equities more easily. "As of now, the Vayupak Fund, which
has two committees - regulatory and investment - has not called for a meeting. So the fund's investment policy
will be unchanged," said MFC first executive vice president Pannarat Bhanpato.

Meanwhile, Veera Vutthikongsiri-gool, senior executive vice president of Krungthai Asset Management,
another Vayupak fund manager, said the fund committee would have to see whether the BAAC's promissory
notes would offer an interesting yield and maturity period. However, he said that if the fund decided to invest in
the promissory notes, it would not mean that it would have to offload its investment in equities in order to buy
them. Sombat Narawutthichai, secretary-general of the Government Pension Fund, yesterday again denied a
rumour that the Finance Minister had an idea to ask the Finance Ministry might ask the GPF to invest in the
promissory notes issued by the BAAC to fund the government's rice project. Moreover, he insisted that the GPF
had not called for an urgent meeting of its board members to discuss the matter. "The next meeting, which is an
ordinary one, will take place by the end of March," said Sombat, adding that the fund's portfolio was now fully
invested.

Paddy harvest drops, rice prices rise
By Chathuri Dissanayake
An estimated 35 per cent drop in the paddy harvest expected in
the current season is showing an upward trend in the prices of
rice, Agriculture Ministry Secretary, R.M.D.B. Meegasmulla
said yesterday. He said the prevailing drought conditions had
affected the harvest in some of the main paddy growing
districts including, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala and Ampara.
With the prolonged drought affecting the paddy harvest, farmers in many areas have switched to alternate crops.
Farmers in this one-time paddy field in Anuradhapura are seen checking on their banana cultivation. Pic by
Indika Handuwala.
―We have enough paddy stocks for a few months, but as the market is controlled by private rice mill owners
there may be price fluctuations,‖ Mr. Meegasmulla said.The Ministry Secretary said there had already been a
small increase in the prices of rice.
However they hope to keep prices under control as the harvesting in Ampara was already under
way.Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said Sri Lanka might experience a shortage of rice if the
harvest from the next season also drops drastically.He said that in view of forecasts that the current drought
might continue for some time, instructions had been issued to the affected districts to switch from paddy

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

cultivation to alternate crops.According to the minister the Irrigation Department will not be able to supply
sufficient quantities of water needed for paddy cultivation.Relevant departments in the districts affected have
been told to cultivate crops such as green gram, soya beans and kidney beans. The ministry has also decided to
give a 50 percent subsidy to buy seeds needed, in an attempt to encourage the farmers to switch to alternate
crops.Some of the district secretariats have advised farmers in their areas to switch to alternate crops for the
coming season.
Anuradapura District Secretary, Mahinda Seneviratne said farmers had been advised to cultivate alternate crops
at least in part of their land if they wish to earn a profit from the next season.Mr. Abeywardena said the ministry
would take steps to ensure the farmers were paid a guaranteed price for their produce.The minister said there
was a good guaranteed price of rupees 80 for a kilogram of soya beans and the ministry would ensure high
quality seeds would be provided for the next season that seeds are readily available for the farmers and assured
the ministry would ensure the seeds are of high quality to avoid soya crop failure, which occurred last year due
to poor quality seeds.

Vietnam rice deal ‗very transparent‘
24.02.2014
THE National Food Authority on Sunday admitted ignoring a cheaper offer from the Thai government for the
500,000 metric tons of rice that it imported in 2013 to avoid ―endless bidding.‖NFA spokesman Rex Estoperez
also denied that the rice imported from Vietnam was overpriced by P521 million, insisting that the bidding
process was ―very transparent.‖―During the time of bidding, Thailand offered $475 per metric ton and Vietnam
offered $ 462.25. After the award, Thailand offered $462, which was no longer allowed. [Accepting the Thai
offer] would be unfair to the lowest bidder and if that‘s the case, the bidding would be endless,‖ Estoperez
said.―For example, Thailand offered $462 per metric ton and then Vietnam makes another offer and after that
Thailand again makes an offer--that‘s endless,‖ Estoperez added.But Senior Deputy Minority Leader Neri
Colmenares, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate and Anakpawis Rep.
Fernando Hicap lambasted NFA Administrator Orlan Calayag for violating the Procurement Act to favor
Vietnam‘s bid offer.―The transaction with Vietnam at face value is very suspicious. First, why should we get
from Vietnam when Thailand‘s offer is cheaper? Secondly, why didn‘t the NFA get the rice from the port
instead of having Vietnam deliver the rice to the various warehouses in the provinces?‖ Colmenares said.Hicap
also said Calayag violated the Procurement Act by failing to publish invitations for an international tender that
would have enabled other rice-producing countries such as Myanmar, India and Pakistan to participate.Based on
official government documents, copies of which were furnished the Manila Standard, the NFA opened on Nov.
26, 2013 the sealed bids of the Thai and Vietnamese governments for the 500,000-metric tons of white rice.
Cambodia was also invited but failed to make an offer.The rice import was to serve as a buffer stock for
December 2013 until March 2014, before the summer crop, which is normally harvested in April and May.
On the same day, the Thai government, through Director General Surasak Riangkul of the Department of
Foreign Trade Ministry of Commerce, invoked a memorandum of agreement it signed with the Philippine

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

government, allowing the Thais to make a counter-offer, official documents show.But Calayag ignored the Thai
government‘s offer and immediately awarded the contract to Vietnam on the same day that the sealed bid was
opened and the winner was announced.The Thai government offered a lower price of $462 per metric ton as
against Vietnam‘s winning offer of $462.25 or 25 cents less than Vietnam‘s.In a Nov. 26 letter to Calayag,
Riangkul said: ―Please refer to the MOA signed in June 2011 between the Royal Thai Government and the
Philippine Government, which states that ‗The Philippine Government shall invite the Royal Thai Government
to submit offers to the Philippine Government. The price, offered by Royal Thai Government shall be reviewed
and evaluated by the Philippine Government.‘―Should the price quoted be acceptable to the Philippine
Government, it shall accept the offer and proceed with the procurement of the commodity. If the price is not
acceptable, the Parties shall immediately proceed to negotiate an acceptable price until an agreement is reached.
The Parties shall endeavor to reach an agreement within a period of 10 days after the start of the negotiations,‖
Riangkul told Calayag.
―In this regard, after the disclosure of the bidding result for 500,000 MTs of white rice 25% brokens on
November 26, 2013, the offered price by the Thai side is slightly higher than the Vietnamese price offer. With a
view to realize G to G (Government to government) trade between the two countries under the MOA and to
support food security in the Philippines after the adverse effects from the typhoon, we would like to re-offer our
price, US$462 per MT for your consideration,‖ Riangkul said.Zarate said it was ―anomalous‖ that Calayag
sought the legal opinion of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel on Nov. 29, three days after the
contract was already awarded to Vietnam.On Dec. 5, Government Corporate Counsel Raoul Creencia sustained
the NFA position that the basis for bidding should be the Procurement Act, ―hence Thailand could no longer
lower its offer and negotiate thereafter,‖ as the MOA required.Colmenares said the deal with Vietnam would
also open the door to smuggling as Vietnam could deliver extra rice to ports or private warehouses on the way
to delivering to NFA warehouses.He added that Vietnam‘s charges for direct delivery to the NFA warehouses
also pushed up the total import price.
Estoperez, however, said delivery of rice to NFA warehouses had no cost to the government.―We availed of the
scheme that requires the seller to be responsible for making a safe delivery of goods to a named destination
(warehouse), paying all necessary expenses, like insurance, transportation expenses, spillages, shrinkages, short
landed costs, etc., but not the duty,‖ Estoperez said.But Colmenares said the NFA could have bought at $365
instead of $462.25 per MT if it took charge of delivery.He also said the NFA violated not only its agreement
with Thailand, but also the Procurement Act in favor of Vietnam.Estoperez said the bidding was done in the
presence of the media, the Commission on Audit and civil society groups, and dared critics to prove that the
Vietnamese rice was overpriced.―If they prove their allegations then punish those who are involved,‖ he said.

ATTENTION ARKANSAS RICE FARMERS: Vernie Hubert to Highlight
Farm Bill Discussion, Wednesday, February 26 in Brinkley, Arkansas
By US Rice Producers Association

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Published: Monday, Feb. 24, 2014 - 9:24 am
BRINKLEY, Ark., Feb. 24, 2014 -- /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the recent passage of the Agricultural
Act of 2014 (aka Farm Bill), the Arkansas Rice Growers Association is conducting an important and
informative meeting on Wednesday, February 26 at the Brinkley Convention Center in Brinkley,
Arkansas. Registration will start at 8:30am and the meeting will begin at 9:00am. Lunch will be served.An
excellent program for area rice farmers, the event will include the participation of Vernie Hubert, a well known
figure in the circles of agriculture on Capitol Hill.

The meeting will cover all the commodity provisions of the Farm Bill and will include an open discussion so
farmers have the opportunity to ask questions. Mr. Hubert has more than 25 years experience with and in the
federal government with a specific focus and expertise in agricultural policy. A senior staff professional in both
the US House of Representatives and the US Senate during this timeframe, Mr. Hubert served as the Minority
Chief Counsel to the US Senate Ag Committee and Majority General Counsel & Majority Deputy Chief
Counsel for the Senate Ag Committee. Prior to moving to the Senate, Mr. Hubert spent 20 years as a
professional staff member for the US House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture.
Mr. Hubert is currently employed by Cornerstone Government Affairs in Washington DC, an office that
specializes in agriculture policy and provide strategic advice and practical assistance with federal decisionmakers to develop solutions for today's challenges. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Mr. Hubert has a
law degree from St. Mary's University School of Law.Other important presentations for rice farmers include a
rice market report from Dennis DeLaughter of Vantage RM. A popular speaker at numerous conferences, Mr.
DeLaughter is a rice farmer himself and a member of the Chicago Board of Trade. He will take a look at the
current rice market and where he expects it will go in the next 12-24 months.Gary Billups of Crippen
International will introduce the PAZ rice quality sampling machine, a new technology for measuring rice grades
for consistent results.
The Arkansas Rice Growers Association has made an serious effort to find a more consistent method of grading
farmers' rice at the various locations where farmers sell their rough rice. There will be a PAZ machine for
demonstration.The program will also include Dr. Jarrod Hardke, an agronomist with the University of Arkansas
Rice Extension Service will talk about rice production and Paul Byrd, an attorney will discuss legal issues that

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

are important to farmers. ARGA's Greg Yielding will update the audience on the US-China rice protocol effort
and related activities of the US Rice Producers Association.The US Rice Producers Association, representing
rice farmers in Mississippi, Missouri, Texas, California, Arkansas and Louisiana, is the only organization solely
representing the views of U.S. rice farmers.
SOURCE US Rice Producers Association

Group asks Administrative Court to halt rice scheme
The Nation February 25, 2014 1:00 am

Civil networks sought a ruling from the Administrative Court yesterday to try to halt the government's
controversial rice-pledging scheme.They also want the court to force caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck
Shinawatra to order and conclude an investigation into what they said were irregularities and corruption in the
scheme within 30 days.Yingluck's Pheu Thai Party launched the populist rice-pledging scheme despite
warnings from various experts. "This scheme has incurred massive losses.

If it continues, it will
adversely hurt the country's
economy,"
Anti-Global
Warming
Association
president Srisuwan Janya said.
He represented 64 members of
the Organisation for Protection
of the Thai Constitution, plus
the Association for the
Protection of Consumers and
Farmers, in filing the petition
with the court.The petition
targets the PM the National
Rice
Policy
Committee,
commerce
minister
and
permanent secretary for the
Commerce Ministry. It is
alleged that they went ahead
with the scheme, accepting all

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

the rice at a price higher than market price and securing loans as a revolving fund for the project. As a result, the
domestic rice market became unusually distorted with a large amount of accumulated rice in the state's
stockpile.Irregularities and abuse of power in operating the scheme had resulted in bad impacts and damage to
consumers across the country, the petition said.Srisuwan asked the court to issue an injunction to stop the
scheme during the trial process. The court was also asked to order the defendants to make a list of the number of
farmers involved and the amount of money they were owed for their rice. It was asked that the defendants be
made to pay or give assets as payment to the farmers within 30 days after the court issues its order.

Petition filed to stop rice-pledging scheme
The Nation February 24, 2014 4:45 pm
The Stop Global Warming Association on Monday filed a petition to the Administrative Court, seeking the
judicial power to sanction the rice-pledging scheme.In the petition, filed on behalf of 64 consumers and farmers,
it said the pledging scheme, which quotes above-market prices, results in the compilation of huge stocks.
Deterioration in the quality hurts consumers and farmers and if allowed to proceed, the scheme would cause
harms to the economy.The petition named Yingluck, the National Rice Policy Committee, Commerce Minister
and Commerce permanent secretary as the defendants.

The plaintiff seeks the court‘s ruling that the scheme must be stopped and an investigation into Prime
MinisterYingluck Shinawatra over possible corruption be launched within 30 days. The court is also asked to
have the four defendants pay the unpaid debt to farmers. The plaintiff also asks for an injunction on the rice
scheme.Srisuwan Janya, president of the association, said that the petition is filed because the prime minister
insisted on proceeding with the scheme though the government has no money to repay farmers. The scheme has
cost losses and if proceeding, it will affect the overall economy.

India likely to export 18 mln tonnes rice, wheat in 2013/14 - govt
adviser
BY JO WINTERBOTTOM AND MAYANK BHARDWAJ
NEW DELHI Mon Feb 24, 2014 4:44pm IST

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Feb 24 (Reuters) - India is likely to export about 18 million tonnes of rice and wheat in 2013/14, the
government's adviser on farm prices said, as the world's second-biggest producer of these grains looks for ways
to handle another record crop.Ashok Gulati also suggested India should release 15-20 million tonnes of the
grains for open market sales to cut massive mounds of stocks and help ease food inflation.India, the world's
biggest rice and wheat producer after China, exported 22 million tonnes of the grains in the last fiscal year to
March 31, 2013 after New Delhi lifted a four-year-old ban on overseas shipments of the staples in late
2011."Exports of 2012/13 and likely exports this year mean 40 million tonnes of shipments.
You look at whatever historical data you have, India has never ever done that," said Gulati, chairman of the
Commission on Agricultural Costs and Prices.Gulati has advocated regular exports of rice and wheat from
India. Rising rice exports helped India replace Thailand as the world's top rice exporter and wheat shipments
picked up at the expense of rival suppliers Russia and Ukraine.Unlike wheat, India does not export rice from
government warehouses but shipments totalled about 10 million tonnes in 2012/13 and Gulati said they may be
11 million tonnes this year.Global wheat prices fell 25.6 percent to $6.05 a bushel in 2013 due to oversupply,
with benchmark Chicago futures still hovering around that level.Global rice supplies are seeing a sharp increase
as the embattled government of Thailand rushes to liquidate its stockpiles in order to pay farmers and avoid
further protests.Benchmark Thai rice prices fell as much as 15 percent last week.
BUMPER HARVESTS
Despite its export push, India sits on huge stocks of grains, thanks to bumper harvests since 2007. It took steps
to boost production after unfavourable weather conditions hit the 2006 wheat harvest, forcing India to import
large quantities from Australia at sky-high prices.Stocks at government warehouses are still 2.25 times more
than targets and lack of storage means much rots away even though India tries to provide cheap food to about
800 million."We have been recommending to the government to immediately liquidate 15-20 million tonnes of
rice and wheat. Holding on to such high stocks is unnecessary," said Gulati, who is about to leave office after a
nearly three-year term as the adviser.
The government buys rice and wheat from local farmers at a fixed price which is raised every year to encourage
production, build stocks to supply subsidised food and meet any emergency needs such as a sudden spike in
prices.Hefty production and higher purchases by the government inflate the subsidy bill, which the government
has pegged at 1.15 trillion rupees ($18.53 billion). Food Minister K.V. Thomas has said the subsidy could touch
1.3 trillion rupees, a major worry for the government as it tries to rein in public finances.Stocks are going to
swell further as India's harvest from the current crop year to June 2014 is forecast to be a record 263.2 million

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

tonnes of grains.Despite rising production, local prices of grains have jumped because government purchases
leave only a small surplus in the market.Domestic prices of rice and wheat combined rose 11.42 percent in
January from a year ago, helping to push up food inflation to 9.90 percent, government data showed. ($1 =
62.07 rupees) (Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)

Egypt says official suspected of corrupt rice deals, not wheat
Source: Reuters - Sun, 23 Feb 2014 08:34 AM
Author: Reuters
This May 28, 2008 file photo shows labourers transplanting rice seedlings in a paddy field in the Nile Delta
town of Kafr Al-Sheikh, north of Cairo. REUTERS/Nasser Nuri
(Adds background, details)
CAIRO, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Egypt referred an import official from the General Authority for Supply
Commodities (GASC) to administrative prosecutors on suspicion of corruption over local rice deals, not wheat,
the Supplies Ministry said on Sunday.Egypt is the world's biggest wheat importer, normally purchasing around
10 million tonnes a year, and any loss of confidence in that trade could have significant consequences for the
market.On Saturday, Supplies Minister Mohamed Abu Shadi had referred the head of the central import
administration at GASC to administrative prosecutors for suspected corrupt dealings with traders.
"The case has no relation at all with wheat, it is about dealings to purchase local rice from local traders in which
the official had extended traders' deadlines to 10 days instead of a week," ministry spokesman Mahmoud Diab
told Reuters but declined to name the man.GASC was not immediately available for comment.Abu Shadi also
sacked the head of the silos and storage holding company for failing to reach targets set for 2012/13.Saturday's
move came just days after two other senior GASC officials were removed, and marked another flashpoint after
deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi spent his year in power dramatically reducing wheat imports in a
failed attempt at self-sufficiency.Abu Shadi has said self-sufficiency needs swift action towards increasing
Egypt's wheat storage capacity from 1.5 million tonnes to 6 million tonnes. (Reporting by Shadia Nasralla and
Yasmine Saleh; Editing by Michael Georgy and Alison Williams)

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Feb 24
Mon Feb 24, 2014 3:35pm IST
Nagpur, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Gram prices in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC)
reported higher on good demand from local millers amid weak supply from producing belts.Renewed demand

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from South-based miller and healthy rise in Madhya Pradesh gram prices also boosted sentiment, according to
sources.
*

*

*

*

FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Gram mill quality recovered smartly in open market on good demand from local millers
amid restricted supply from producing regions. Reports about weak crop position in
this season because of unseasonal rains also activated stockists.
TUAR
* Tuar Gavarani firmed up in open market on increased buying support from local
traders. Weak overseas supply and upward trend in Madhya Pradesh tuar prices also
helped to push up prices.
* Jowar varieties declined in open market on poor demand from local traders amid
increased supply from producing regions.
* In Akola, Tuar - 3,900-4,000, Tuar dal - 6,000-6,200, Udid at 6,000-6,300,
Udid Mogar (clean) - 7,000-6,200, Moong - 8,000-8,200, Moong Mogar
(clean) 9,400-9,600, Gram - 2,600-2,700, Gram Super best bold - 3,500-3,700
for 100 kg.
* Wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market
in thin trading activity, according to sources.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS
Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction
2,830-2,990
2,790-2,900
Gram Pink Auction
n.a.
2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction
n.a.
3,820-3,900
Moong Auction
n.a.
6,100-6,300
Udid Auction
n.a.
4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction
n.a.
2,600-2,800
Gram Super Best Bold
3,800-4,000
3,800-4,000
Gram Super Best
n.a.
Gram Medium Best
3,400-3,600
3,400-3,600
Gram Dal Medium
n.a.
n.a.
Gram Mill Quality
3,300-3,400
3,200-3,300
Desi gram Raw
2,850-2,900
2,900-2,950

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Gram Filter new
3,200-3,500
3,200-3,500
Gram Kabuli
7,900-10,300
7,900-10,300
Gram Pink
7,700-8,100
7,700-8,100
Tuar Fataka Best
6,400-6,700
6,400-6,700
Tuar Fataka Medium
6,100-6,300
6,100-6,300
Tuar Dal Best Phod
6,000-6,150
6,000-6,150
Tuar Dal Medium phod
5,500-5,700
5,500-5,700
Tuar Gavarani
4,300-4,350
4,200-4,250
Tuar Karnataka
4,400-4,500
4,400-4,500
Tuar Black
7,200-7,400
7,200-7,400
Masoor dal best
5,400-5,500
5,400-5,500
Masoor dal medium
5,100-5,300
5,100-5,300
Masoor
n.a.
n.a.
Moong Mogar bold
8,700-9,950
8,700-9,950
Moong Mogar Medium best
8,800-9,200
8,800-9,200
Moong dal super best
8,500-8,800
8,500-8,800
Moong dal Chilka
7,900-8,200
7,900-8,200
Moong Mill quality
n.a.
n.a.
Moong Chamki best
8,200-8,700
8,200-8,700
Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 7,400-7,600
7,400-7,600
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,600
5,800-6,600
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)
4,700-5,000
4,700-5,000
Batri dal (100 INR/KG)
4,000-5,000
4,000-5,000
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)
3,100-3,200
3,100-3,200
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)
3,300-3,400
3,300-3,400
Watana White (100 INR/KG)
3,300-3,400
3,300-3,400
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,300-4,600
4,300-4,600
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)
1,700-1,800
1,700-1,800
Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,840-1,890
1,840-1,890
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)
1,650-1,850
1,650-1,850
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500
2,400-2,500
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,200
2,050-2,200
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a.
n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,600
3,000-3,600
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,900
2,400-2,900
Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG)
1,600-1,700
1,600-1,700
Wheat Best (100 INR/KG)
1,700-1,750
1,700-1,750
Rice BPT new(100 INR/KG)
2,600-2,950
2,600-2,950
Rice BPT old (100 INR/KG)
2,800-3,300
2,800-3,300
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG)
1,700-1,850
1,700-1,850
Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG)
2,500-2,750
2,500-2,750
Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG)
2,300-2,450
2,300-2,450

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Rice HMT new (100 INR/KG)
3,800-4,200
3,800-4,200
Rice HMT Shriram (100 INR/KG) 4,700-5,200
4,700-5,200
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 11,000-13,500
11,000-13,500
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,300-7,600
6,300-7,600
Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG)
5,500-6,000
5,500-6,000
Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG) 5,200-5,600
5,200-5,600
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)
1,300-1,500
1,400-1,600
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)
1,600-1,700
1,700-1,800
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 31.2 degree Celsius (88.2 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
17.8 degree Celsius (64.0 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : 1.7mm
FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Rain/Thunder Shower could occur. Maximum and Minimum temperature
likely to be around 29 and 16 degree Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)

TABLE-India Grain Prices-Delhi- Feb 24
Mon Feb 24, 2014 3:36pm IST
Rates by Asian News International, New Delhi
Tel: 011 2619 1464
Indicative
Previous
Grains
opening
close
(in rupees per 100 kg unless stated)
---------------------------------------------------------Wheat Desi
2,200-3,000
2,200-3,000.
Wheat Dara
1,825-2,060
1,825-2,060.
Atta Chakki (per 10 Kg)
215-240
215-240.
Roller Mill (per bag)
1,825-2,125
1,850-2,100.
Maida (per bag)
1,825-2,050
1,825-2,050.
Sooji (per bag)
1,800-2,000
1,850-2,000.
Rice Basmati(Sri Lal Mahal) 12,000-14,000 12,000-14,000.
Rice Basmati(Lal Quila) 12,000-14,000 12,000-14,000.
Rice Basmati(Common)
8,400-9,400
8,400-9,400.
Rice Permal
1,900-2,300
1,900-2,300.
Rice Sela
2,850-3,050
2,800-3,000.
I.R.-8
1,800-1,900
1,800-1,900.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Gram
Peas Green
Peas White
Bajra
Jowar white
Maize
Barley
Guwar

3,450-3,800
3,100-3,500
3,100-3,300
1,100-1,300
1,300-2,200
1,300-1,400
1,450-1,550
3,500-4,000

3,450-3,800.
3,100-3,500.
3,000-3,200.
1,100-1,300.
1,350-2,250.
1,300-1,400.
1,450-1,550.
3,500-4,000.

Source: Delhi grain market traders.

Pundits urge fast-tracking budget to pay rice farmers
Published: 23 Feb 2014 at 01.13
Newspaper section: News
The caretaker government should expedite the central budget to the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural
Cooperatives (BAAC) to make overdue payments to rice farmers, a forum has been told.The forum was told
this was a better option than issuing bonds that might cause legal complications.The Yingluck Shinawatra
government has proposed the state-run BAAC issue 100 billion baht in promissory notes to fill the 130 billion
baht for the delayed payments under the pledging scheme.Former BAAC vice-president Ennoo Suesuwan said
yesterday there were three main legally-viable payment options for the Yingluck government. The bond-issuing
idea would pose legal risks for BAAC authorities, he said.
The best option is allocation of the central budget to the BAAC, Mr Ennoo said, adding that the central budget's
sum had been approved before the House dissolution on Dec 9."The second option is for the government to
draw on unused budgets from various ministries to pay the farmers," he told the forum organised by the
Reforms Now Network and the National Farmers' Council (NFC). The third option was for the government to
sell the stockpiled rice in state warehouses to get the money to pay the farmers' debts, he said.Thai Bankers'
Association secretary-general Thawatchai Yongkittikul agreed the law did not allow the BAAC to issue the
bonds for that purpose.
The rice-pledging scheme needed to be resolved by the caretaker government, he said."Releasing rice stocks
should be done gradually. Of course, there might be some loss [incurred from rice sales], but it remains
understandable as long as we ensure there is no corruption," Mr Thawatchai said.Praphat Panyachatrak, the
NFC chairman and former deputy agriculture minister in the Thai Rak Thai government, conceded that the
problems in the rice-pledging scheme stemmed from the government's failure to secure loans for the BAAC
before the house dissolution.Somporn Isawilanond, an economist with the National Think Tank Institute, said
while the immediate problems with the delayed payments needed quick resolution, the authorities and the
politicians needed to fix the scheme's problems for the next set of crops as well.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

24th feb.,2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

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