28th january,2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

28th January , 2014

TOP Contents - Tailored for YOU
Latest News Headlines…
 Dismal drought news keeps flowing
 Per capita rice consumption hits all-time low in 2013: data
 Farmgate prices of palay stable at P21-22/kilo
 Trade Ministry Uncovers More Than 16,000 Tons of Illegal
Rice From Vietnam
 producer in the world, Indonesia’s rice imports average over 1
million tons annually.
 We want our rice back, plus compensation, angry farmers say
 World Rice News 01.28.2014
 Rice procurement may dip in cyclone-hit states
 TABLE-India Grain Prices-Delhi-Jan 28
 Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-Jan 28
 Ghana to reduce heavy rice imports

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

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

 Rice Import Ban and Trade Politics
 El Nino May Return as Models Signal Warming of Pacific Ocean
 NACC decides on 'speedy' PM rice probe
Anti-graft agency to probe Yingluck over rice scheme
Rice smuggling, WTO and Philippine law
Canada, Pakistan frown at India’s foodgrain exports, farm subsidies
CURING THE CAUSE RATHER THAN THE SYMPTOM: THE CASE OF RICE SMUGGLING
Rice traders propose TDAP, Reap to arrange basmati festival

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NEWS DETAILS:

Dismal drought news keeps flowing
By HEATHER HACKING — Staff Writer
POSTED: 01/27/2014 05:39:01 PM PST
RICHVALE — A year ago, farmers were waiting to hear any news about passage of the federal Farm Bill.This
week they're still waiting, and wondering if a renewed Farm Bill could help them through California's
drought.Northern Sacramento Valley rice growers gathered today in Richvale for their annual grower meetings,
one of four sponsored by UC Cooperative Extension."This year is really unprecedented," said Ted Trimble,
manager of Western Canal Water District, which receives surface water from the Feather River through the
State Water Project.California has had droughts in the past four decades, but the "big drought" of recent
memory has been the dry times of 1976-1977.Today and in the 1970s, a stubborn 2,000 mile-long ridge of high
pressure kept winter storms from reaching California.
As farmers brace for what might be the worst, many think the 2014 drought will be a more terrible natural
disaster."We have less precipitation than we did in 1977," Trimble said. "We have lower reservoir levels than
that year. We have way more population, way more planted acres and we have way more water dedicated to the
environment."So what should growers know as they wait for the planting season? Brace for the a dry
ride.Unless things change dramatically, growers will see intense water reductions in Northern California. The
amounts will vary depending on the terms of the water contracts.On Feb. 15 more defined numbers will be
released from the Department of Water Resources, Trimble explained.At the meeting Monday, Trimble told
growers that if water is curtailed, there won't be water transfers to other parts of the state. If water is available, it
will go to local growers.
"We also talked about groundwater. If supplies are curtailed, we will either idle acreage, or if growers have a
groundwater well, they will turn on wells."Each grower will need to do the math, check rice markets, and
decide how much acreage to plant. Pumping groundwater is expensive, and won't work for every farmer's
budget.The drought leaves everyone open for a lot of speculation, Trimble said.Many California rice growers
produce specialty rice varieties, and have spent years to form relationships with buyers. If the supply dries up,
those buyers could turn elsewhere, impacting growers for years to come.
Cattle ranchers may get help for drought
Meanwhile, help for cattle producers is likely on the way. Cattle ranchers usually expect green pastures this
time of year, where their cattle roam. Instead, cattle producers are shopping for alfalfa.Butte County
Agricultural Commissioner Richard Price said he expects a USDA drought declaration for Butte, Glenn and
nearby counties will help. He'll know more as drought assessments are made.What would also help would be

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passage of the federal Farm Bill.Even after the Farm Bill passes, agricultural leaders will need to read through
and determine what will be most useful to local growers. Price said in the past there have been programs for
orchards impacted by drought, including tree replacement program, loans and other financial assistance.
More drought news
Farmers who receive surface water along the Sacramento River are linked to the federal Central Valley
Project.Storage in the major six federal reservoirs in the state is about half what was stored a year ago, the
Association of Water Agencies reports. (Read full report here: http://goo.gl/lPmhVc).Based on rainfall and
water storage, the late February water allocation is likely to be 5 percent, which would tie for the record low,
ACWA reported.As of Sunday night, Lake Shasta was at 54 percent of average, and 36 percent of capacity.
To view dismal details of reservoir conditions: www.usbr.gov/mp/PA/water/
Lake Oroville had the same percentages as of Monday, http://goo.gl/7Ml3SI

Per capita rice consumption hits all-time low in 2013: data
2014/01/28 12:00

SEJONG, Jan. 28 (Yonhap) -- Per capita rice consumption among households in South Korea hit a record low
in 2013 as people consumed more instant foods and other alternative diets instead of the country's staple crop,
data showed Tuesday.The average annual consumption of rice per person fell to 67.2 kilograms last year, down
2.6 kilograms or 3.7 percent from the previous year's 69.8 kilograms, according to the data by Statistics
Korea.This marked the lowest level since related record-keeping started in 1963, when consumption was 105.5
kilograms. Compared with 1970 when consumption hit a record high of 136.4 kilograms, rice intake has fallen
by 49.3 percent.Daily rice consumption per person also dropped 3.8 percent to 184 grams last year, the data
showed.
"People tended to reduce rice consumption and diversify their diets with other alternatives including potatoes
and sweet potatoes. Growing consumption of instant foods and meat also played a part in reducing rice
demand," a statistics agency official said.The data showed that the per capita consumption of other grains
including corn, beans and potatoes jumped 11 percent on-year to 8.1 kilograms in 2013.Farming households
still consumed a much larger amount of rice than non-farming families last year.Per capita rice consumption
among farming households came to 118.5 kilograms last year, compared with 71.9 kilograms of rice consumed
by non-farming households, according to the data.Rice consumption by manufacturers declined 7.8 percent onyear to 526,140 tons last year as demand from food and alcoholic products shrank, the data showed."In
particular, rice consumption by alcoholic producers declined as they tended to opt for cheaper imported raw
materials such as Tapioca instead of expensive rice," the agency official said.

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Farmgate prices of palay stable at P21-22/kilo
By Ronnel W. Domingo;Philippine Daily Inquirer
4:42 am | Tuesday, January 28th, 2014

Farmgate prices of palay has remained stable at about P21 to P22 a kilo since October, showing no reason for
prices of milled rice to increase significantly, according to an umbrella group of agriculture organizations.The
Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) also said on Monday that if there were any such price spikes, these
would be the doings of rice smugglers and unscrupulous traders.“Prices have remained stable and the stocks of
milled rice from the harvest in October are already in warehouses and in the market,” said Sinag chair Rosendo
So. “If prices went up as described in the media, it means smugglers and the traders they are in cahoots with
want to show that prices are high to justify the need to import in huge volumes.
”Sinag is composed of more than 30 groups of rice, corn and vegetable farmers and traders, pork, livestock and
poultry producers, aquaventure groups and fertilizer and pesticide suppliers. It has been regularly issuing price
monitoring reports since October.The group said that since rice smuggling has been reduced last year compared
to previous years, farmers have been enjoying good prices for their produce.However, palay prices are lower
based on the Department of Agriculture’s own monitoring. According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics,
farmgate prices averaged at P18.49 a kilo in the Jan. 15 to 21 period.

Trade Ministry Uncovers More Than 16,000 Tons of Illegal Rice
From Vietnam
By Vanesha Manuturi on 8:00 pm January 28, 2014.
Category Featured, News
Tags: Indonesia rice production, rice imports, Vietnam,Vietnam Rice
Sragen, Central Java. The Trade Ministry has launched an investigation into the illegitimate entry of over
16,000 tons of Vietnamese rice into Pasar Induk Cipinang, a traditional market in Jakarta, last year.“We’re
looking into the matter to find where the problem started, ” said Deputy Trade Minister Bayu Krisnamurthi said
in Sragen, Central Java, on Tuesday .he issue began on Wednesday last week when a merchant in Pasar
Cipinang complained about imported goods in the market to visiting government officials.Previously assumed
to be a smuggling incident, the case became murkier when records from the customs office showed the rice
from Vietnam had all the required permits to enter Indonesian market.
Only state-owned logistics firm Bulog is allowed to import rice in an effort to maintain domestic prices.Private
companies are only allowed to import specialty rice — such as basmati rice or — and rice used as animal
feed.According to data from the customs office, there were 58 importers last year who obtained a permit
from Trade Ministry to handle specialty rice. Those importers recorded 83 activities in 2013, totaling 16,900

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tons of Vietnamese rice imported into the ports of Tanjung Priok and Belawan, in North Jakarta and North
Sumatra, respectively.The ministry confirmed the issuance of those 58 permits.“That’s correct. The numbers,
the tonnage — it’s all correct,” Bayu said. ”The issue is how did non-specialty rice from Vietnam become the
one that was distributed?”He added that the ministry would partner with customs in investigating the matter, but
did not elaborate.Despite being the third-largest rice producer in the world, Indonesia’s rice imports average
over 1 million tons annually.

We want our rice back, plus compensation, angry farmers say
The Nation January 28, 2014 1:00 am

A GROUP of farmers in Phitsanulok are demanding that
the government return paddy submitted to the
government's rice pledging scheme, plus financial
compensation for delayed payments for rice.Instead of
waiting for payment of Bt15,000 per tonne for paddy
from the tainted scheme, some 150 farmers said yesterday
they now want to get their paddy back to sell to normal
rice millers, who are ready to immediately give them
Bt9,000 per tonne."And because of the delay in payments
under the scheme, the government should pay affected
farmers Bt3,279 per rai of paddy fields as compensation,"
said Chatree Ampoon, a farmer leader in Phrom Phiram
district.The government has repeatedly postponed
payments to farmers who participated in the scheme in recent months.
The delay has forced many farmers to turn to loan sharks to get money.Some 150 farmers rallied at the
Indochina Intersection in Phitsanulok yesterday to press for their demands.Protests by farmers were also being
staged in several other provinces.Kittisak Rattanawaraha, who chairs the Network of Northern Farmers, said if
the government failed to pay farmers, it should no longer stay in power.
"We will rise against the government," he warned, adding that if his group managed to get money for a trip to
Bangkok, they might join the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) in its efforts to overthrow the
current administration.The PDRC has demanded that the caretaker government resign to pave way for reform
before an election. Its supporters have now occupied major intersections in the capital.In Tak, a number of
farmers have joined hands with PDRC supporters in blocking the City Hall. Lawyers showed up there yesterday
also to help farmers prepare lawsuits against relevant authorities over the troubled rice scheme, which has also
incurred massive financial losses.In Nakhon Ratchasima, farmers from some 20 provinces in the Northeast

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gathered yesterday to prepare their next move, after the government failed to respond to their demand last
Friday for immediate payment.The government is now struggling to secure a loan to finance the scheme, one of
the most controversial of Pheu ThaiParty's populist policies.

World Rice News 01.28.2014
28.01.2014

Rice traders have proposed Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and the Rice Exporters
Association of Pakistan (Reap) to organise a basmati festival to highlight the geographical identification (GI)
areas and those areas omitted inadvertently by the authority. The traders said that TDAP needed to reopen the
chapter of GI and revisit and review the GI to include the omitted basmati growing areas at the international
forum."
***
Excise office denies report of illegal rice import. The Directorate General of Customs and Excise has denied a
report that 16.9 tons of rice have been imported illegally from Vietnam. "The importation of the rice from
Vietnam has been carried out with recorded importation activities (83 times)," Susiwijono Moegiarso, a director
of the Customs and Excise Office, said here on Sunday.
***
After losing to Vietnam in the Philippine government’s auction to supply 500,000 metric tons of rice last
November, Thailand is still bent on bagging the supply contract, submitting a counter-offer that was lower than
Hanoi’s winning bid of $462.25 per MT, according to National Food Authority (NFA) documents. The NFA,
however, ignored Thailand’s lower offer of $462 per MT, which was 25 cents lower than Vietnam’s, saying it
would violate provisions of Republic Act No. 9184, the government’s procurement law.
***
Nigeria. Rice Import Ban and Trade Politics. Crusoe Osagie reviews the intrigues in the high wired
international trade politics surrounding Nigeria's decision to end the importation of rice by 2015. A market is
the means through which buyers and sellers are brought together, towards an efficient transfer of goods and
services. It must therefore be accessible to people with need and the means to pay for products tendered.In
Africa, Nigeria stands out as a nation with all the indices of a thriving market place, especially for imported
goods. It has a population of over 160 million people, who erroneously believe that commodities are not good
enough unless they are of foreign origin. it is also an economy driven by a thriving petroleum industry, which
oftentimes provides easy money for frivolous spending.

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

UkrAgroConsult based on data from brecorder, antaranews, inquirer, thisdaylive

Rice procurement may dip in cyclone-hit states
Some, including Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh, set to post an increase
Komal Amit Gera | Chandigarh
January 28, 2014 Last Updated at 22:35 IST

The unprecedented rain and three cyclones that hit the coastal eastern belt in
November and December might take a toll on paddy procurement in those parts
in 2013-14.The procurement was projected to touch 35 million tonnes due to a
good monsoon compared to 34.04 mt in 2012-13.However, some states expect
rises. An official in the agriculture department in Bhopal said Madhya Pradesh
(MP) was set to post a significant rise due to more planting and the Rs 150 a
quintal bonus by the state government above the Centre's minimum support price.
MP might procure 1.6 mt compared to 1.3 mt a year ago. Bihar expects to get
more. And, 2012-13 was a drought year for Tamil Nadu when 400,000 tonnes
were procured; this year's expectation is 1.5 mt.As the fourth advanced estimates
of the ministry of agriculture are yet to come, procurement agencies are relying
on the initial estimates from the food secretary in the preparatory meeting on
winter crops. Sources in the Food Corporation of India said actual procurement
might surpass the estimates.

TABLE-India Grain Prices-Delhi-Jan 28
Tue Jan 28, 2014 3:11pm IST
TABLE-India Grain Prices - Delhi - Jan 28
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
2,250-3,000.
Wheat Dara
1,800-2,100
1,850-2,050.
Atta Chakki (per 10 Kg)
215-240
215-240.
Roller Mill (per bag)
1,950-2,050
1,960-2,060.

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Maida (per bag)
1,900-2,100
1,900-2,100.
Sooji (per bag)
1,950-2,050
1,900-2,000.
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
8,500-9,500.
Rice Permal
2,100-2,400
2,100-2,400.
Rice Sela
2,800-3,000
2,800-3,000.
I.R.-8
1,900-2,000
1,850-2,025.
Gram
3,150-3,300
3,150-3,300.
Peas Green
3,050-3,550
3,050-3,550.
Peas White
2,800-3,000
2,800-3,000.
Bajra
1,250-1,550
1,250-1,550.
Jowar white
1,400-2,250
1,400-2,250.
Maize
1,420-1,450
1,420-1,450.
Barley
1,350-1,450
1,350-1,450.
Guwar
3,300-3,900
3,300-3,900.
Source: Delhi grain market traders.

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-Jan 28
Tue Jan 28, 2014 3:17pm IST
Nagpur, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Gram prices in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee
(APMC) moved down on poor demand from local millers amid poor quality arrival. Fresh fall on
NCDEX, downward trend in Madhya Pradesh gram prices release of stock from stockists also pushed
down prices in thin trading activity, according to sources.
*

*

*

*

FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Desi gram raw showed weak tendency in open market in absence of buyers amid good
supply from producing belts.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here matching the demand and supply from
position.
* Moong dal chilka firmed up in open market on good demand from local traders amid
thin arrival from producing regions.

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* In Akola, Tuar - 4,100-4,200, Tuar dal - 6,200-6,400, 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 - 3,600-3,800
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
2,520-2,720
2,550-2,8350
Gram Pink Auction
n.a.
2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction
n.a.
4,300-4,380
Moong Auction
n.a.
4,400-4,600
Udid Auction
n.a.
4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction
n.a.
2,600-2,800
Gram Super Best Bold
3,900-4,100
3,900-4,100
Gram Super Best
n.a.
Gram Medium Best
3,600-3,800
3,600-3,800
Gram Dal Medium
n.a.
n.a.
Gram Mill Quality
3,400-3,500
3,400-3,500
Desi gram Raw
3,100-3,200
3,150-3,250
Gram Filter Yellow
n.a.
n.a.
Gram Kabuli
7,900-10,300
7,900-10,300
Gram Pink
7,700-8,100
7,700-8,100
Tuar Fataka Best
6,800-7,000
6,800-7,000
Tuar Fataka Medium
6,200-6,400
6,200-6,400
Tuar Dal Best Phod
5,800-6,000
5,800-6,000
Tuar Dal Medium phod
5,400-5,600
5,400-5,600
Tuar Gavarani
4,400-4,500
4,400-4,500
Tuar Karnataka
4,500-4,600
4,500-4,600
Tuar Black
7,300-7,400
7,300-7,400
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
9,500-9,900
9,500-9,900
Moong Mogar Medium best
8,800-9,200
8,800-9,200
Moong dal super best
8,600-8,800
8,600-8,800
Moong dal Chilka
8,100-8,500
8,000-8,400
Moong Mill quality
n.a.
n.a.
Moong Chamki best
7,400-7,800
7,400-7,800

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 7,500-7,800
7,100-7,400
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,600
5,400-6,200
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)
4,700-4,900
4,600-4,800
Batri dal (100 INR/KG)
3,850-4,650
3,800-4,600
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)
3,000-3,100
3,000-3,100
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)
3,250-3,350
3,250-3,350
Watana White (100 INR/KG)
3,200-3,300
3,100-3,200
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,500
4,200-4,500
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)
1,750-1,850
1,750-1,850
Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,850-1,875
1,850-1,875
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)
1,700-1,900
1,700-1,900
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,050-2,550
2,050-2,550
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,100
2,000 -2,100
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a.
n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,600
3,100-3,600
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,900
2,500-2,900
Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG)
1,600-1,700
1,600-1,750
Wheat Best (100 INR/KG)
1,650-1,750
1,650-1,750
Rice BPT (100 INR/KG)
3,000-3,300
3,000-3,300
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG)
1,800-1,850
1,800-1,850
Rice Swarna Best (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,700
2,600-2,700
Rice Swarna Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,450
2,300-2,450
Rice HMT (100 INR/KG)
4,100-4,400
4,100-4,400
Rice HMT Shriram (100 INR/KG) 4,500-5,000
4,800-5,000
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)
5,500-5,800
5,500-5,800
Rice Chinnor Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,100-5,300
5,100-5,300
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)
1,400-1,600
1,400-1,600
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)
1,700-1,800
1,700-1,800
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 28.7 degree Celsius (83.7 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
11.5 degree Celsius (52.7 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - 80 per cent, lowest - 27 per cent.
Rainfall : nil
FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and Minimum temperature likely to be around 28 and 11 degree
Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Ghana to reduce heavy rice imports
Ghana is expected to drastically reduce its heavy rice imports in the next three years, the Minister of Food and
Agriculture, Mr Kofi Humado, has said.He said “so far, we have been able to engage some big time rice
growers in the southern Volta around the lower Volta River. Companies such as GADCO and AGROBRASE
are producing on a minimum of 4, 000 hectors.
”According to the Food and Agriculture Minister, the rice production by the two companies alone is closing the
gap, and noted that “If we are able to revive all the production centres along the Volta River and also support
some of the companies up north, we believe that in the next 3 years, we should close the production gap so that
Ghana will not have to rely heavily on rice imports.”Similar pledges have been made in the past but the
country’s import bill on rice continues to skyrocket.The situation raises the question about the government’s
level
of
commitment
to
ensuring
that
the
imports
are
reduced.
Rice imports

It is estimated that Ghana imports between US$200 million and US$400 million worth of rice annually.The
amount is said to be one of the major factors that swells the country’s import bill, while putting pressure on the
local cedi which is consistently losing value against the United States’ dollar.Due to the high demand for the
cereal, particularly the perfumed brand, many business people have found rice imports a lucrative venture and
are importing from all sources around the world.On the other hand, the government has also found it an easy
source to make some revenue and has since 2010, reintroduced taxes on the importation of rice.
The move has not only made the importation of rice and its sale to the people more expensive but has also
created the platform for people to smuggle the cereal into the country.According to Food Security Ghana, two
of the major motivators for smuggling rice are the high import tariffs and, more importantly, the high
differences between neighbouring countries’ duties and taxes.It said in the rice sector, a gap of 24.5 per cent
exists between import duties as compared to Ghana’s 37 per cent and Ivory Coast’s 12.5 per cent, leading to
massive smuggling on Ghana’s western border.Recently, the Ministry of Trade and Industry directed that all
imported rice through the border between Ghana and Cote d’ Ivoire should be seized but the directive was
short-lived as the latter retaliated by barring the export of cashew through its borders.
Mr Humado said “The only cereal we are not very self-sufficient in is rice and even with that, we are doing
about 55-60 per cent of our consumption needs locally.”He was optimistic about the move by the ministry to
reduce the imports, and noted that “even if we are still to rely on imports, it should be very minimal and
confined to specific varieties because maybe Ghanaians would prefer particular varieties, but generally, the
consumption
of
imported
rice
should
reduce.”

Cell # 92 321 369 2874

Rice quality and local consumption
One of the main reasons Ghanaians prefer imported rice to the locally grown ones is because of quality.
Imported rice is very well polished and perfumed as compared to the local ones, hence the high demand.It also
has to do with the varieties that are planted outside.Rice breeders in the country are optimistic that with the right
financial support from the government, they would be able to develop similar varieties to meet the taste of the
imported ones.
In a separate interview, Dr Kofi Dartey, a rice breeder at the Crop Research Institute (CRI), said some upland
rice varieties he developed were presently being taken through the milling test, after which they would be
replanted and a cooking test would also be conducted.“Once we are sure people like it, we will start the
multiplications.
Hence, we will take it to different locations to try the rice to ensure that there are no diseases to destroy them,”
he said.We want to ensure that the quality is good and the variety is also stable before we give it to farmers to
plant, he added.Mr Dartey said the country’s average rice production per acre stands at 1.5 tonnes, “but with
this upland rice, we expect to have three tonnes per acre. Additionally, if the rains are well targeted, a farmer
can get up to five tones.”
Rationale for breeding
“The main reason for breeding the upland rice it is to get the quality that we import. The next is to increase the
yields through further breeding,” he said.Dr Dartey said “The rice must be long, slender and, when cooked,
should not be hard. There are different types now but it is later that they will be narrowed down.”He said there
were presently more than 100 varieties planted on the farm being used for the experiment.

Challenge
Presently, there is only one mill being used which is not up to scratch and there is also no grader.But should
more mills and graders be made available, the situation will be turned around, according to Dr Dartey.“If all
those are not available, a good rice will never come out. Presently, it can go through only one polishing but the
imported ones go through several rounds of polishing,” he said.

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Rice Import Ban and Trade Politics
28 Jan 2014
Seized smuggled bags of rice
Crusoe Osagie reviews the intrigues in the high wired international trade politics surrounding Nigeria's
decision to end the importation of rice by 2015
A market is the means through which buyers and sellers are brought together, towards an efficient transfer of
goods and services. It must therefore be accessible to people with need and the means to pay for products
tendered.In Africa, Nigeria stands out as a nation with all the indices of a thriving market place, especially for
imported goods. It has a population of over 160 million people, who erroneously believe that commodities are
not good enough unless they are of foreign origin. it is also an economy driven by a thriving petroleum industry,
which oftentimes provides easy money for frivolous spending.
This profile in the past decades, has plunged Nigeria into the intricate problem of a dangerous dependence on
food supply from other countries to keep her teeming population from starvation.One food commodity for
which the Nigerian vulnerability is aptly displayed is rice. in the past three decades, this cereal crop for which
the Nigerian potential was never successfully developed, became one on which the country's food security is
hinged.At the moment, the country spends about one billion Naira each day to ensure that there is enough rice
to keep Nigerians from hunger, amounting to an unsustainable figure of nearly N365 billion spent yearly by the
country on rice consumption alone.
FG's Intervention

With the coming on board of the current minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi
Adesina, it was not long before this unsustainable practice was looked into critically.It was discovered that
Nigeria had become a dumping ground for all manner of rice from various countries of the world, with India
and Thailand leading the pack.The United States, being another major global rice producer, is believed by many
to be a major supplier to the Nigerian market. However, US envoys told THISDAY that the world power does
not sell any significant volume of rice to Nigeria on account of the fact that the market has been ambushed by
smugglers who make it impossible for legitimate US rice to compete in the Nigerian market.A survey of the
market however appears to provide contrary evidence to the information given by the US that it has no
significant stake in the Nigerian rice trade, considering the fact that all across the markets in major Nigerian

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cities, you find rice with American labels. Some of the products have their packaging materials designed with
the US red and blue 50-stared flag, while others bear the image of the eloquent US president, Barack Obama.
All these products were in turn dismissed by the United States consulate as products from other nations of the
world particularly Asia, who are just leveraging the success of the United States brand, to scam the
unsophisticated Nigerian consumer.The federal government of Nigeria has however set 2015 as the terminal
date for importation of rice into the country.Government believes the move will save the country from losing
N360 billion spent annually on rice importation and also create jobs for the unemployed youths.To help achieve
this goal, about N450 billion was set aside for commercial agriculture and the Bank of Industry was also
fortified with increased capital.
The federal government under the Agriculture Transformation Agenda (ATA) is aiming to create about 2.4
million jobs by 2015, through the prohibition of rice importation.US Faults Nigeria
Data from the United States Government obtained by THISDAY recently however punctured the claims by the
federal government that Nigeria could achieve self-sufficiency in rice production in the year 2015.A United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA) report, which the US consulate has now described as an unofficial
doccument, which was yet inconclusive when THISDAY obtained it, showed that rice farmers and millers in
Nigeria believe the decision to ban rice imports completely in 2015 could be counter-productive and require a
review to protect the interests of the local rice industry.According to the report, Nigeria’s rice imports in 201314 are estimated to reach around 3 million tonnes, about 3.4 percent higher than about 2.9 million tonnes of rice
imports between 2012-2013.
This is mainly because the projected increase in rice production in 2013-14 falls short of consumption
requirement.It noted that Nigeria’s rice production in 2013-14 is expected to reach around 2.7 million tonnes,
up by about 12.5 percent from previous year's production of about 2.4 million tonnes.However, the report noted
that rice consumption in Nigeria is projected to increase to around 6 million tonnes in 2013-14, up about 11
percent from around 5.4 million tonnes in the previous year.Responding to the USDA report, Special Adviser to
the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Olukayode Oyeleye, warned that whatever information
comes from the US with respect to rice should be taken with a pinch of salt, considering the fact that the US is
one of the biggest exporters of rice to Nigeria and the policy banning rice importation by 2015 will
therefore impact on them negatively."There is the likelihood of a political undertone to what is coming from
the US in Nigeria's quest for self-sufficiency in rice production and consumption.

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It is the same thing we expect to happen with our policy that targets reduced wheat importation," Oyeleye
said.He added that the ATA and GES were poised to end the nation's dependence on other countries of the
world for food and rice is no exception, stressing that under the schemes, government targets the production of
over 3million tonnes of rice and coupled with outputs from other rice farmers who are not in the scheme, the
country would not be needing rice from abroad in 2015.A statement from the Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO) recently noted that due to increased rice output in Nigeria and Ghana, global rice
production was forecast to outpace consumption in 2012/13, resulting in an upward revision of 5 million tonnes
in 2013 closing inventories..
"World rice carryover stocks are expected to rise by seven per cent, or 10 million tonnes, to a new high of
almost 170 tonnes, marking the eighth consecutive year of stock accumulation," FAO stated. "As a result, the
world rice stock-to-use ratio was forecast to rise to 35.5 percent in 2013."The federal government hiked rice
import tariffs sharply in the beginning of 2013 and is planning to ban rice importation completely by
2015.Government officials also disclosed that the move will help boost local production and save billions of
dollars for the economy. However, high tariffs have led to a surge in smuggling of rice in to the
country.According to the Nigerian Customs Service, rice worth about N27 billion (around $170 million) entered
the country illegally during the first five months of 2013 alone.Smuggled rice is seen as a major threat to the
development of Nigeria’s rice sector. According to local sources, while a bag of smuggled rice costs N6,500
(around $41), locally produced processed rice costs around N11,500 (around $72). Some Nigerian farmers have
raised concerns over the increase in smuggling of rice, which they say is due to the government decision to hike
rice import tariffs.
However, commodities market watchers say a complete rice ban in 2015 will be unfeasible as local production
cannot meet consumption demand.According to the watchers, about 40 per cent of rice consumption in Nigeria
is met by rice imports from India, Thailand and China, despite high tariffs. Farmers equally argued that the
government efforts such as agriculture loans should be directed to reach more farmers directly to help increase
production. Members of the Nigerian Rice Millers and Traders Association NRMTA have also expressed
concern that the government's efforts to improve local rice production are not seen in all production
stages.Millers claimed that while rice area in the country had increased by about 25 per cent from two million
hectares in 2012-13 to 2.5 million hectares in 2013-14, significant changes in processing and milling are
lacking.
Stakeholders Disagree with USA

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Stakeholders in the agricultural sector urged Nigerians and the Federal Government to disregard comments
from the USDA suggesting that Nigeria will not attain self-sufficiency in rice by 2015.Describing the
declaration as selfish, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS), Ken Ukaoha,
called on the federal government to move on with its scheme targeted at redeeming the nation from dependence
on imported rice to feed Nigerians.Nigeria currently spends about a billion Naira daily importing rice, a
development, which the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, says is helping
to put farmers to work in countries like the united states,
India and Thailand, while putting farmers out of work in Nigeria.According to the NANTS boss, all of the
nation's efforts must be channelled towards achieving food security in the country because "a country that
cannot depend on itself for the food with which its citizens are sustained is not truly an independent nation."He
explained that it is not the first time to hear such sweeping statements from United States, pointing out that the
same story had been told in the past concerning corn and wheat, simply because these commodities are export
revenue earners for them.
When a major importing nation is making good effort to disentangle itself from the import-dependence vicious
cycle, there are bound to be resistance from exporting countries like the US.Also calling for the disregard of the
USDA rice figures, Vice President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mines
and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr Dele Oye, urged the government to proceed in the pursuit of the 2015
deadline for the ban on rice importation, calling it an easy way out of the unnecessarily high cost of feeding
Nigerians.According to Oye, Nigeria has no business with food insecurity, due to the wide variety of food crops
that grow well and produce bountifully in the country's agroecology."Why do people always associate our
country's food security with rice? When did we begin to eat rice in this quantity? We are the highest producers
of Yam and Cassava in the world.
We produce maize, millet, guinea corn, plantain, coco yam, cowpea, soya beans, and various other staple food
crops in abundance. So, from where did they get the information that if we do not have enough rice, then our
people would starve? they cannot be father from the truth"The NACCIMA vice president explained that even if
local production of rice fails to meet local consumption of the commodity in Nigeria by 2015, all that will
happen is that people will switch from rice as their major source of carbohydrate to other sources such as garri,
yam, cocoa yam, plantain and millet among others.
Tags: Business, Nigeria, Featured Rice, Ban

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El Nino May Return as Models Signal Warming of Pacific Ocean

By Phoebe Sedgman and Eko Listiyorini Jan 28, 2014 1:38 PM GMT+0500
Photographer: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images
A lamb stands in a dry paddock on the 10,000 acre property owned by the Orr family on... Read More
An El Nino weather pattern, which can parch Australia
and parts of Asia while bringing rains to South America,
may occur in the coming months as the Pacific Ocean
warms, according to Australia’s Bureau of
Meteorology.Most climate models suggest the tropical
Pacific will warm through the southern autumn and
winter, the bureau said in a statement today.
Some models predict this warming may approach El
Nino thresholds by early winter, it said. Australia’s
autumn runs from March to May and winter is from
June to August.El Ninos, which are caused by the
warming of the Pacific, affect weather worldwide and
can roil agricultural markets as farmers contend with drought or too much rain.
An El Nino trend is likely to develop this year, Gavin Schmidt, deputy director of NASA’s Goddard Institute
for Space Studies in New York, said this month. It’s been almost five years since the last event, which typically
occurs every two to seven years, according to Indonesia’s Meteorological, Climatology and Geophysics
Agency.“Less spring rainfall for the east coast would be the major concern” for Australia, said Paul Deane, an
analyst at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. in Melbourne. “It increases the chance that we’re not
going to get trend wheat yields, that would be one of the risks. The other one would be on livestock, where
you’d have lower pasture growth.”
Food Costs

Global food costs tracked by the United Nations dropped 3.4 percent last year amid record wheat and corn
harvests. The price of Thai 5 percent broken white rice, an Asian benchmark, lost 23 percent to $450 a ton in
2013. Thailand, Vietnam and India are the world’s biggest rice exporters.In the U.S., milk futures climbed to a

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record this month amid drought in California, the biggest producer, while cattle also rallied to an all-time high
on lower domestic beef output. In Australia, abattoirs will increase slaughter by 5.6 percent to 8.9 million head
in the year ending June 30, boosting beef exports to a record, the government estimates.
“Most climate models surveyed by the bureau suggest the tropical Pacific Ocean will warm through the
southern autumn and winter,” the Melbourne-based office said. “Some, but not all, models predict this warming
may approach El Nino thresholds by early winter.” The next update is expected on Feb. 11.Depending on the
size of the El Nino, it may push 2014 and, more likely, 2015 up the rankings of warmest years on record, the
Goddard Institute’s Schmidt said on a conference call. The Earth’s warmest years, 2010 and 2005, were
associated with the weather pattern.El Ninos are associated with drier conditions in Australia, particularly in the
country’s east, according to the weather bureau. The pattern occurred in 2009-2010, 2006-2007 and 20022003, according to the bureau.“The last El Nino happened in 2009,” said Erwin Eka Syahputra, head of the
Climate Early Warning Unit at Indonesia’s meteorology agency in Jakarta. “The El Nino has a cycle period of
as fast as two years or the longest is seven years. So, if we look at that criteria, there is a possibility.”
To contact the reporters on this story: Phoebe Sedgman in Melbourne atpsedgman2@bloomberg.net; Eko
Listiyorini in Jakarta at elistiyorini@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Poole at jpoole4@bloomberg.net

NACC decides on 'speedy' PM rice probe
Published: 29 Jan 2014 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The nine-member National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) resolved
yesterday to carry out impeachment and criminal investigations against the
caretaker prime minister for failing to stop the loss-ridden rice-pledging scheme
introduced by her government.According to anti-graft commissioner and NACC
spokesman Vicha Mahakhun, the NACC will appoint itself as the probe
committee. The resolution is in response to a complaint from Democrat leader
Abhisit Vejjajiva that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in her capacity as the
chairwoman of the National Rice Policy Committee failed to stop the losses of
the rice-pledging policy, failed to release rice placed with the government and led
fake government-to-government rice sales.Mr Vicha said the NACC would finish the investigation quickly as
required by the constitution and it would inform Ms Yingluck of the resolution this week and ask if she plans to

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oppose it.The NACC usually assigns sub-committees to probe graft cases but the anti-corruption law allows it
to handle important cases by itself right away.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit yesterday urged the NACC to be impartial in politics, saying the
NACC in its rush to proceed with the case will send a signal to anti-government protesters to continue their
demonstrations."Several alleged corruption cases involving the Democrats have not made any progress. The
Pheu Thai Party is requesting the NACC be impartial and treat every case the same," said Mr Prompong,
referring to the GT200 explosives detectors scam, alleged corruption in the construction of Ratchaburi Hospital
and procurement under the Thai Khem Kaeng scheme as well as the construction of 396 police stations.Mr
Vicha denied the NACC is discriminating in its swift action against Ms Yingluck in comparison to its probe into
the alleged corrupt rice case under the previous government of Mr Abhisit.He said the Yingluck government
itself failed to supply the documents the NACC requested.

Anti-graft agency to probe Yingluck over rice scheme
Published: 28 Jan 2014 at 19.10
Online news: News

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on Tuesday
resolved to probe caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's
management of the controversial rice-pledging scheme.Caretaker
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra refuses to talk reporters after a
meeting with the Election Commission on Tuesday, 28 Jan. She is
now the target of a National Anti-Corruption Commission inquiry
over her role in managing the rice-pledging scheme. (Photo by
Chanat Katanyu).The inquiry by the anti-graft agency will seek
grounds to file formal charges and initiate impeachment
proceedings against the caretaker prime minister.The NACC met on
Tuesday to discuss Ms Yingluck and her alleged negligence of duty
in the rice-pledging scheme. The decision to probe the caretaker premier was reached at the meeting.NACC
spokesman Vicha Mahakun said Ms Yingluck will be formally informed of the inquiry next week so that she
can prepare to defend herself before a panel of NACC commissioners.

Ms Yingluck is being targeted for investigation over due to her alleged negligence as chairwoman of the
National Rice Policy Committee, he added.he decision comes after the NACC on Jan 16 launched formal
corruption charges against 15 suspects in connection with fake government-to-government rice deals with two

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Chinese firms. The suspects include former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and former deputy
commerce minister Poom Sarapol.The NACC investigated the sham rice deals and found no evidence that
Guangdong Stationery & Sporting Goods Import & Export Corp and Hainan Grain & Oil Industrial Trading Co
were authorised by the Chinese government to purchase rice under the government's pledging scheme. The antigraft agency also found no evidence that the 'sold' rice had been exported to China.All suspects will be given
the chance to defend themselves before officials forward the case for further legal proceedings, the NACC said.

Rice smuggling, WTO and Philippine law
By Ernesto M. Ordoñez
Philippine Daily Inquirer
4:41 am | Tuesday, January 28th, 2014
At the hearing on rice smuggling at the Senate last Jan. 22, some senators stated that whether rice smuggling
exists or not depends on whether we will follow Philippine Law or the World Trade Organization (WTO).As we
wait for the answer, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) declared that it would release the seized rice shipments
because of injunctions from three courts in Davao, Batangas and Manila ordering it to do so.These injunctions
were based on a WTO document that states that Philippine rice import restrictions expired on June 30, 2012.
Therefore, all rice shipped to the Philippines after this date do not need import permits and, consequently, are
not smuggled.
We will argue here that this is a misguided understanding of WTO. There is no contradiction between our WTO
commitment and Philippine law. I know this because of my background as former DTI and DA undersecretary,
presidential flagship secretary under the Office of the President, and vice president for Asia of the United
Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
WTO
It is necessary to understand WTO. I will quote here direct statements from the WTO website (www.wto.org).
WTO has given us the flexibility to extend this deadline. We have done so, and the import restrictions are now
in effect. The 2,000 smuggled rice containers seized by BOC are therefore smuggled. This should not be
released back to the smugglers, as what is happening today.The website states: “WTO is a rules-based, memberdriven organization—all decisions are made by the member-governments, and the rules are the outcome of
negotiations among members.” There is a special section in WTO called the “Agreement on Agriculture.” It
states that this agreement “allows some flexibility in the way commitments are implemented.” How is this
done?
The topmost WTO decision-making body is the Ministerial Conference. This “can take decisions on all matters
under any of the multilateral trade agreements.” As a private sector agricultural representative of the Philippine

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delegation to a previous WTO Ministerial Conference held in Hong Kong, I witnessed this firsthand. The most
recent one occurred last December 2013 in Bali, Indonesia.
Bali Package
The Ministers “adopted the Bali Package, a series of decisions made at streamlining trade, allowing developing
countries more options for providing food security, boosting least developed countries’ trade, and helping
development more generally.”Following the WTO objectives of food security and development, the Philippines
notified the WTO that it was extending rice import restrictions beyond the 2012 deadline. We exercised our
negotiating flexibility to extend this to 2017. Our official negotiations are now going on. At the Bali
Conference, this was recognized. There were no objections made.Therefore, the import restrictions mandated by
Philippine Law currently implemented by the BOC do not in any way contradict WTO. Perhaps, some
misguided elements should consult the WTO website, which records the WTO Bali Ministerial Conference
agreements to understand this better.
In addition, for us to lift rice import restrictions, a WTO member should bring this issue to WTO Dispute
Settlement, secure a decision against our stand, and wait until we amend our law to conform to this decision.
Not even one of these three steps has occurred. It is therefore very clear that rice import restrictions in the
Philippines fully recognized and accepted by WTO are in effect today. There is no contradiction between WTO
and Philippine Law.Since the three courts that ordered the injunctions may not be aware of this, they should
attend immediately to the Solicitor General’s Motions for Reconsideration. The BOC should stop releasing
these seized smuggled rice containers, which is making a mockery of the anti-smuggling drive. More
importantly, this release that we are witnessing today loses government revenues, endangers our food security,
damages the livelihood of three million rice farmers, and puts in reverse mode the inclusive growth strategy of
our government.
Competence
“Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.” Many rice farmers believe that much corruption has entered both the
executive and legislative branches of the government. But in addition to fighting this corruption, the farmers
contend that government should increase significantly its competence in dealing with issues such as rice
smuggling.Already, our farmer leaders have submitted documented charges to the Supreme Court and the
Ombudsman to protest this travesty of justice shown by the release of smuggled rice shipments back to the
smugglers. With increased government competence, it should no longer be necessary for poor farmers to risk
their safety and meager resources in fighting for what should have been given them if government competence
were at the desired level.
(The author is chair of Agriwatch, former secretary for presidential flagship programs and projects, and former
undersecretary for agriculture, trade and industry. For inquiries and suggestions, e-mail
agriwatch_phil@yahoo.com or telefax (02) 8522112.)

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Canada, Pakistan frown at India’s foodgrain exports, farm subsidies
AMITI SEN
WTO to take up questions on India’s wheat stocks, export price, rice subsidies
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 27:
Rice and wheat exporting countries have raised fresh concerns about India’s food stocks and farm subsidies at
the World Trade Organisation (WTO).This comes less than two months after Western countries promised India
that no action would be taken against it for breaching food subsidy levels prescribed by the multilateral body at
least for the next four years. The WTO’s Committee on Agriculture (CoA) will take up the questions raised by
Canada and Pakistan on India’s wheat and non-Basmati rice exports, existing levels of stocks and the subsidies
extended, in a meeting scheduled on January 29, a Commerce Department official told Business Line.Canada
has asked India to give details on the volume of wheat stocks held by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) in the
light of recent reports that the country would be exporting up to 20 lakh tonne of wheat due to surplus stocks.In
a representation to the CoA, Canada has also asked India to specify how it calculates the floor price (minimum
price) for wheat exports. “Reports (news) indicate that the Government of India has lowered the floor price for
wheat to $260 per tonne from $300 per tonne which is lower than the price of the same quality wheat from
Canada (and other countries) sold in the range of $270 to $275 per tonne,” the representation said.
WTO concession
India and a number of other developing countries have been granted a reprieve by the WTO against legal action
for breaching farm subsidy limits, fixed at 10 per cent of total produce, on items covered under the country’s
food security programmes.This was part of the deal struck at the WTO Ministerial meet in Bali, Indonesia, in
December. Members are now supposed to work on a permanent solution to the problem.India is likely to breach
the prescribed subsidy limits once it fully implements its Food Security Programme which offers 5 kg of
subsidised foodgrain to about two-thirds of its population.
The reprieve, however, would not be applicable if the subsidised foodgrain is released in the export market and
affects global prices. India is also obligated to supply all data related to production, pricing, procurement and
subsidies demanded by WTO members who would want to ensure that subsidised food was not distorting the
global market.A number of civil society organisations, such as Right to Food Campaign, Action Aid and Third
World Network, had earlier warned that the temporary reprieve, called the Peace Clause, would lead to
insufficient protection and onerous data sharing obligation.Pakistan, in its representation to the CoA, has asked
India to furnish details of rice exports in the last two years. It has also asked the country to clarify if all nonBasmati rice varieties were eligible for market price support. “India will get some time to reply to the
questions,” the official said.
(This article was published on January 27, 2014)

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Keywords: Rice and wheat expor, fresh concerns, food stocks, farm subsidies, World Trade Organisation
CURING THE CAUSE RATHER THAN THE SYMPTOM: THE CASE OF RICE SMUGGLING
Smuggling refers to the international trading of goods without paying the rightful custom duties. It can be
carried out in two forms: (1) outright smuggling or use of illegal trade channels; and (2) technical smuggling or
manipulation of trade declarations (Alano, 1984). Technical smugglers evade duties and taxes through
misdeclaration, undervaluation, or misclassification of a shipment. Misdeclaration is reporting an item as
something else that incurs lower tariff. Undervaluation is declaring a lower-than-actual value of goods for lower
taxes. Misclassification is incorrectly categorizing an item under a cheaper tariff heading. Both outright and
technical smuggling are resorted to in the case of rice. However, most of the apprehended ones are technical
smugglers.
News by Phil Rice
Tagged as: rice smuggling, rs4dm

Rice traders propose TDAP, Reap to arrange basmati festival
January 28, 2014
RECORDER REPORT

Rice traders have proposed Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and the Rice Exporters Association of
Pakistan (Reap) to organise a basmati festival to highlight the geographical identification (GI) areas and those areas
omitted inadvertently by the authority. The traders said that TDAP needed to reopen the chapter of GI and revisit and
review the GI to include the omitted basmati growing areas at the international forum." They stressed the need for
highlighting the fact that basmati is grown in many areas of the country and the Indian concept of narrowing the areas for
Pakistan is wrong. They said that India has identified areas in its own country stretching it fully but where Pakistani areas
were concerned it identified it deliberately by excluding actual traditional basmati growing areas.
This narrow minded approach of India has perturbed many basmati growers of Pakistan and they are surprised that TDAP
and Reap are silent on the issue and not advocating their cause. To patch up the matter and redress the grievance they
suggested that TDAP should now hold a basmati festival and invite buyers from the world and exhibit basmati grains
grown in different areas. Pakistan grows basmati and super basmati, which is aromatic and elongates on cooking, it is
tasty and liked and appreciated for making Biryani, Pullow, sweet dishes and in different countries of the world they make
their traditional dishes in Pakistani basmati rice, they added. A basmati exhibition of grains and basmati dishes will
highlight the rice grains of different areas in Pakistan, and will enable the stakeholders to show our basmati rice which is
really tasty and full of fragrant. They proposed TDAP that it should invite growers' representatives from every area of

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Pakistan and arrange and organise dishes made from basmati for the visitors and seek the help of the media to propagate
our lovely quality grains to all. The exhibition in festival style would also give an opportunity to the rice exporters to
exhibit their brands and build their brand image, they concluded.

For Advertising SPECS & RATES
Contact: Advertising Department
Mujahid Ali
mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
+92 321 369 2874

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