25th April, 2014 Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

25th April, 2014
TOP Contents - Tailored for YOU Latest News Headlines
Hong Kong Rice Imports Increase to 339,000 Tons in 2013; Up 9% from Previous Year USDA Post Projects Philippines MY 2013-14 Rice Imports at 2 Million Tons; Up 43% from Previous Year Pakistan Exports 2.4 Million Tons of Rice in July 2013 - March 2014; Earnings Up 21% from Previous Year Asia Rice Quotes Unchanged Today Philippines Domestic Rice Prices Reach Record High in January - March 2014 Argentina Exports 73,340 Tons of Rice in January - February 2014; Up 10% from Previous Year India Rice Exports May Decline to 8 Million Tons in FY 201415, Say Traders Oryza Overnight Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Shoot to Double Digit Gain Overnight as Grain Complex Turns Supportive India Rice Exports May Decline to 8 Million Tons in FY 201415, Say Traders India Weather Agency Forecasts Weak Monsoon in 2014 Oryza Afternoon Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Mount Last Minute Rally as Traders Weigh S&D Implications of Surprise Bump in Exports Oryza U.S. Rough Rice Recap - New Sales Give Market Shot in the Arm Globalization to Starvation? Why Our Global Food System May be More Oryza Global Rice Quotes Rice candidate says teamwork is key Organic farmers: Stop GMO rice commercialization
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News Detail
Hong Kong Rice Imports Increase to 339,000 Tons in 2013; Up 9% from Previous Year
Apr 24, 2014
Hong Kongs rice imports in 2013 have increased to around 339,000 tons, up about 9% from about 310,000 tons in 2012, according to the USDA Post.The Post says that the Hong Kong rice import market has changed significantly since its full liberalization in 2003. The government eliminated the 48-year-old rice import quota system in January 2003, and since then the number of rice importers in the country have more than tripled to 176 in 2014. Most of the rice importers in the country are fast-food caterers, retailers and importers of organic products.
Of the 176 importers, around 100 are active importers, and 10 of which import an average of 20,000 tons of rice per year and around 70 of the importers import less than 250 tons of rice per year.Hong Kong's rice suppliers have also changed between 2003 and 2013. According to the Post, Thailand accounted for 86% of total rice imports by Hong Kong in 2003, but it reduced to 46% in 2013. Meanwhile, rice imports from Vietnam accounted for 41% of total rice imports by Hong Kong in 2013, up from almost nothing in 2003. The Post says that rice imports from Vietnam started increasing after 2008, when Hong Kongs average rice import price increased by 36% during the global food crisis. In 2013, the average import price from Vietnam stood at $671 per ton compared to Thailand's price of $1,178 per ton, says the Post.The Post also says that Hong Kong rice importers often mix high quality rice with Vietnam's low quality rice to strike a balance between price and quality. However, some established importers still prefer Thai rice. Hong Kong also imports some short-grain and long-grain varieties from China.The Post says that per capita rice consumption in Hong Kong has declined to 45 kilograms per year in 2013, down about 8% from 49 kilograms per year in 2005 due to changes in eating habits. The Post says that diverse food choices and availability of international cuisine in Hong Kong have led to a gradual change in eating habits.
Tags: Hong Kong rice imports, Hong Kong rice consumption, Hong Kong rice prices, Hong Kong rice suppliers
USDA Post Projects Philippines MY 2013-14 Rice Imports at 2 Million Tons; Up 43% from Previous Year
The USDA Post says that rice imports by the Philippines are likely to surge to around 2 million tons in MY 2013-14 (July - June), up around 43% from the previous year, mainly due to high prices.The Post says that the Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Food Authority (NFA) have decided to import 800,000 tons of rice in 2014 to neutralize increasing rice prices and dampen inflation, and there is a possibility of an additional 200,000 tons of rice imports in 2014.The Post says that total rice imports in MY 2013-14 include: 350,000 tons under WTO commitments; 500,000 tons of licensed imports announced in late 2013; 600,000 tons representing partial deliveries of the recently announced 800,000 tons importation; and 550,000 tons of smuggled imports. The Post says that smuggling of rice has increased in 2013 due to high domestic tariffs (40% under MAV and 50% out of MAV), production costs and increasing milled rice prices. The Post estimates the volume of smuggled rice between 400,000 600,000 tons in MY 2013-14.The Post expects no significant change in overall rice imports in MY 2014-15, but expects the share of smuggled rice relative to overall import to decline from the previous year's level due to increase in legitimate rice imports in 2014. The USDA Post expects Philippines milled rice production to increase to about 11.89 million tons (18.88 million tons of paddy rice) in MY 2013-14, up about 4% from about 11.43 million tons (18.14 million tons of paddy rice) in MY 2012-13 due to increase in area harvested and better yields.The Post expects milled rice production in the Philippines to decline to 11.77 million tons (about 18.68 million tons of paddy) in MY 201415 due to increase in smuggled imports and crop diversification.
Pakistan Exports 2.4 Million Tons of Rice in July 2013 - March 2014; Earnings Up 21% from Previous Year
Pakistan has exported around 2.4 million tons of rice in the first nine months (July March) of the current fiscal year 2013-14 (July - June), which is down about 4% from around 2.5 million tons of rice exported during the same period in FY 2012-13, according to provisional data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).Pakist ans basmati rice exports in July 2013 March 2014 stood at around 443,561 tons, down about 7% from around 477,926 tons exported during the same period in the fiscal previous year. Pakistan's non-basmati rice exports in July 2013 March 2014 have also declined to around 1.94 million tons, down about 3% from around 2 million tons exported during the same period in the previous fiscal year.However, Pakistans rice exports are up in terms of value. Pakistan has earned about $1.7 billion from total rice exports in July 2013 March 2014, up about 21% from around $1.4 billion (using historical exchange rates) earned during the same period in FY 2012-13.Earnings from basmati rice exports in July 2013 March 2014 stood at around $474 million, up about 3% from around $460 million during the same period in the previous year, while non-basmati rice exports' earnings stood at around $1.2 billion, up about 30% compared to around $926 million (using historical exchange rates) in the same period in FY 2012-13. Pakistan exported about 3.4 million tons of rice worth about $1.92 billion in FY 2012-13.
Tags: Pakistan rice exports, Pakistan basmati rice exports, Pakistan non-basmati rice exports, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), Pakistan rice export earnings
Asia Rice Quotes Unchanged Today

Apr 24, 2014
Asia rice sellers kept their quotes mostly unchanged today. 5% Broken Rice Thai 5% rice (of new crop) is quoted around $375 - $385 per ton, about $10 per ton discount to Viet 5% rice shown around $385 - $395 per ton. Indian 5% rice is quoted around $420 - $430 per ton, about a $10 per ton premium over Pak 5% rice quoted around $410 - $420 per ton 25% Broken Rice Thai 25% rice of the old crop is quoted about $340 - $350 per ton, about a $15 per ton discount to Viet 25% rice shown around $355 - $365 per ton. Indian 25% rice is quoted around $375 - $385 per ton, about a $10 per ton premium over Pak 25% rice quoted around $365 - $375 per ton. Parboiled Rice Thai parboiled rice of the old crop is quoted around $415 - $425 per ton. Indian parboiled rice is quoted around $400 - $410 per ton, about $35 per ton discount to Pak parboiled rice quoted around $435 - $445 per ton. 100% Broken Rice
Thai broken rice, A1 Super, of the old crop is quoted around $305 - $315 per ton, about a $30 per ton discount to Viet broken rice shown around $335 - $345 per ton. Indian broken sortexed rice is quoted around $305 - $315 per ton, about a $20 per ton discount to Pak broken sortexed rice quoted around $325 - $335 per ton.
Tags: Asia rice quotes, Thailand rice quotes, India rice quotes, Pakistan rice quotes, Vietnam rice quotes
Philippines Domestic Rice Prices Reach Record High in January - March 2014
Average domestic rice prices in the Philippines have increased to record highs in the beginning of 2014, the highest levels since at least 2011.According to data from the Philippines Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), the average wholesale price of wellmilled rice (WMR) in the Philippines increased to about P37.78 per kilogram in January March 2014, up about 15% from about P32.76 per kilogram during the same period in 2013, while the average retail price of WMR increased to about P40.28 per kilogram in January - March 2014, up about 14% from about P35.29 per kilogram during the same period in 2013.Average wholesale price of regular-milled rice (RMR) increased to about P35.07 per kilogram in January - March 2014, up about 18% from about P29.72 per kilogram during the same period in 2013. Average retail price of RMR increased to about P37.05 per kilogram in January - March 2014, up about 16% from about P31.99 per kilogram during the same period in 2013, the BAS says.In terms of USD per ton (using historical exchange rates), the average wholesale price of WMR stood at about $845 per ton in January - March 2014, up about 5% from the same period in 2013. Average retail price of WMR increased to about $901 per ton in January - March 2014, up about 4% from the same period in 2013. Average wholesale price of RMR increased to about $785 per ton in January - March 2014, up about 7% from the same period in 2013. Average retail price of RMR increased to about $829 per ton in January - March 2014, up about 5% from the same period in 2013.The Philippines will import around 800,000 tons between May and August 2014 to maintain buffer stocks and control rice prices in the country.
Tags: Philippines rice prices, Philippines rice imports, Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), Regular-milled rice (RMR) prices, Well-milled rice (WMR) prices
Argentina Exports 73,340 Tons of Rice in January - February 2014; Up 10% from Previous Year
Apr 24, 2014
Argentina has exported around 73,340 tons of rice January - February 2014, up about 10% from around 66,575 tons exported during the same period in 2013, helped mainly by robust exports in January 2014, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture.In January 2014, Argentina had exported around 50,873 tons of rice (up about 38% from around 36,965 tons in January 2013) mainly due to demand in Brazil and Senegal. However, Argentinas rice exports have plunged in February, 2014 reaching around 22,467 tons, down about 56% from around 50,873 tons exported in January 2014, and down about 24% from around 29,610 tons of rice exported in February 2014. In February 2014, Argentina exported around 10,247 tons of rice to Venezuela (about 47% of total rice exports in February 2014), around 4,667 tons of rice to Bolivia (about 21%), around 3,106 tons of rice to Brazil (about 14%), around 2,153 tons of rice to Chile (about 10%) and 2,294 tons of rice to other destinations (10%).According to the USDA, rice production in Argentina is estimated at around 975,000 tons (basis milled) in MY 2014-15 (April March), against a consumption of 430,000 tons. The USDA estimates Argentina to export around 650,000 tons of rice in MY 2014-15.
Tags: Argentina rice exports, Argentina rice export destinations, Argentina rice production
India Rice Exports May Decline to 8 Million Tons in FY 2014-15, Say Traders
Apr 24, 2014
India's total rice exports are expected to decline to about 8 million tons in the fiscal year 2013-14 (April March), down about 24% from the record 10.5 million tons exported in the previous year due to growing competition from Thailand and Vietnam, according to Reuters.India was the world's top rice exporter in 2012 and 2013, but experts say that India may lose this position to Thailand soon. Experts say that Indias basmati
rice exports are likely to be stable at about 4 million tons but non-basmati rice exports may to decline to about 4 million tons (down 38% from previous year). Thailand and Vietnam have huge stocks and are selling rice at record low prices. Indian exporters say they cannot lower rice export prices further to compete with Thailand and Vietnam. Apart from low prices in Southeast Asia, Indias non-basmati rice exports to Nigeria are likely to drop due to the 110% import duty in Nigeria. Exporters also blame the strengthening of the rupee this year for declining exports.India's total rice exports in FY 2013-14 increased by about 4% from about 10.2 million tons in FY 2012-13 due to strong export demand for basmati rice. India's basmati exports reached around 4 million tons in FY 2013-14, up about 14% from about 3.5 million tons exported in FY 2012-13, according to data from the All India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA). AIREA says that India's non-basmati exports declined to about 6.5 million tons in FY 2013-14, down about 3% from about 6.68 million tons in FY 2012-13.
Tags: India rice exports, India rice production, Thailand rice exports, Vietnam rice exports
Oryza Overnight Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Shoot to Double Digit Gain Overnight as Grain Complex Turns Supportive
Apr 24, 2014
Chicago rough rice futures for Jul delivery are currently paused 10.5 cents per cwt (about $2 per ton) higher overnight at $15.405 per cwt (about $340 per ton) as of 8:00am Chicago time. The other grains are seen higher this morning ahead of floor trading in Chicago: soybeans are currently seen about 0.4% higher, wheat was paused about 1.4% higher, and corn is noted about 0.5% higher. U.S. stock index futures pushed higher on Thursday, supported by strong earnings and a durable goods number that was better than expectations. Durable goods orders rose 2.6 percent in March, ahead of a 2% estimate. Apple's blowout results Wednesday night also contributed. Outside of the corporate space, there will be weekly initial jobless claims at 8:30 a.m. ET. There will also be durable goods data for March. U.S. stock index futures are currently trading about 0.5% higher, gold is currently trading about 0.9% lower, crude oil is seen trading about 0.2% higher, and the U.S. dollar is currently trading about 0.1% higher at 8:00am Chicago time.
Tags: U.S. rice prices; U.S. rice market; Chicago rough rice futures
India Rice Exports May Decline to 8 Million Tons in FY 2014-15, Say Traders
Apr 24, 2014
India's total rice exports are expected to decline to about 8 million tons in the fiscal year 2013-14 (April March), down about 24% from the record 10.5 million tons exported in the previous year due to growing competition from Thailand and Vietnam, according to Reuters.India was the world's top rice exporter in 2012 and 2013, but experts say that India may lose this position to Thailand soon. Experts say that Indias basmati
rice exports are likely to be stable at about 4 million tons but non-basmati rice exports may to decline to about 4 million tons (down 38% from previous year). Thailand and Vietnam have huge stocks and are selling rice at record low prices. Indian exporters say they cannot lower rice export prices further to compete with Thailand and Vietnam.Apart from low prices in Southeast Asia, Indias non-basmati rice exports to Nigeria are likely to drop due to the 110% import duty in Nigeria. Exporters also blame the strengthening of the rupee this year for declining exports.India's total rice exports in FY 2013-14 increased by about 4% from about 10.2 million tons in FY 2012-13 due to strong export demand for basmati rice. India's basmati exports reached around 4 million tons in FY 2013-14, up about 14% from about 3.5 million tons exported in FY 2012-13, according to data from the All India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA). AIREA says that India's non-basmati exports declined to about 6.5 million tons in FY 2013-14, down about 3% from about 6.68 million tons in FY 2012-13.
Tags: India rice exports, India rice production, Thailand rice exports, Vietnam rice exports
India Weather Agency Forecasts Weak Monsoon in 2014

Apr 24, 2014
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), in its first stage operational forecasts for the southwest monsoon season (June September) rainfall, says that it is possible that rainfall this year is likely to be just "below normal" at 95% of the Long Period Average (LPA) of 89 centimeters.However, rainfall in India could drop to the "deficient" range considering IMDs model error of around 5%. According to the IMD, below 90% of LPA is considered deficient, between 90%-96% of LPA is considered below normal and between 96% 104% is considered normal. Several international weather agencies have warned that rainfall in India may be lower than normal this year due to a 60% chance of the emergence of the El Nio phenomenon in July. The IMD says that the ENSO (El Nio-Southern Oscillation) conditions in the equatorial Pacific continues to be neutral and so are Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) conditions over equatorial Indian Ocean. However, the IMD adds that the sub surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific have warmed to the levels generally observed prior to an El Nio event.The IMD is monitoring the sea-surface conditions over Pacific and Indian oceans and will issue its next forecast in June 2014.Indias main rice crop is planted in June and July and accounts for over 90% of total rice production of around 105 million tons. A weak monsoon this year could delay plantings and affect yield significantly.
Tags: Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), El Nio, Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), India rice production
Oryza Afternoon Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Mount Last Minute Rally as Traders Weigh S&D Implications of Surprise Bump in Exports
Apr 24, 2014
Chicago rough rice futures for Jul delivery settled 15.5 cents per cwt (about $3 per ton) higher at $15.455 per cwt (about $341 per ton). Rough rice futures made an about face today, rallying to erase losses sustained earlier this week and returning the market to levels in the middle of the current $15.200-$15.800 per cwt (about $335$348 per ton) trading range. Todays move indicates that the low of $15.085 per cwt (about $333 per ton) could act as a near-term low, with price rebounding from this level towards multiple layers of resistance noted around $15.500 per cwt (about $342 per ton). The market was mostly quiet for the majority of the trading session but a last minute rally saw prices shoot to double digit gains. Traders attribute the bounce to last minute position adjustments ahead of first notice day next week. Further fundamental support was likely derived from a surprisingly strong export sales report released this morning. The other grains finished the day mostly higher; soybeans closed about 0.4% higher at $14.7000 per bushel; wheat finished about 2% higher at $6.9650 per bushel, and corn finished the day about 0.4% lower at $5.0725 per bushel.
U.S. stocks fluctuated between gains and falls on Thursday as Apple's earnings and a better-than-expected durable-goods number were offset by concerns about escalating tension between Russia and Ukraine. Worries about Ukraine hit Germany's DAX equity index, which turned negative after reports quoting Russia's defense minister as saying Russian troops had begun military drills near the Ukrainian border. In a related development, the International Monetary Fund on Thursday said Ukraine had met conditions for a financial aid package, which will be reviewed on April 30 when the IMF board meets. After a 39-point rise and 49-point fall, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was lately up 17.48 points, or 0.1%, at 16,518.13. The S&P 500 also wavered, lately up 5.74 points, or 0.3%, at 1,881.13, with technology leading gains and telecommunications falling hardest among its 10 sectors. After rising as much as 50 points and falling 19, the Nasdaq was more recently up 30.83 points, or 0.8%, at 4,157.79. Gold is trading about 0.6% higher, crude oil is seen trading about 0.4% higher, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading about 0.1% lower at about 1:00pm Chicago time.Wednesday, there were 634 contracts traded, down from 1,257 contracts traded on Tuesday. Open interest the number of contracts outstanding on Wednesday increased by 141 contracts to 8,422.
Tags: U.S. rice prices; U.S. rice market; Chicago rough rice futures
Oryza U.S. Rough Rice Recap - New Sales Give Market Shot in the Arm
Apr 24, 2014
The U.S. cash market got a shot in the arm today on news that a US exporter sold a cargo to Venezuela; however, most analysts believe that the immediate impact on prices will be limited as the buyer likely covered the purchases needed prior to the announcement from the USDA.As of today, old crop offers were unchanged at $15.55 per cwt fob farm (about $343 per ton) for nearby shipment; however, most farmers are still looking to net at least $16.11 per cwt fob farm (about $355 per ton).
Old crop bids from larger mills increased to around $15.15 per cwt (about $334 per ton) for May delivery while bids for exporters could still be found around $15.40-$15.65 per cwt (about $340-$345 per ton), for the same delivery period, although there were reports of paddy trading as high as $15.85 per cwt (about $349 per ton) for prompt delivery. In the meantime, today the USDA reported that cumulative net export sales for the week ending on April 17th, totaled 70,200 tons, which was considerably higher than last week and slightly higher than the prior 4-week average. Increases were reported for the following destinations: 30,000 tons to Venezuela, 30,000 tons to unknown destinations, 6,200 tons to South Korea, 4,200 tons to Canada, and 3,900 tons to Mexico. There were also decreases of 5,800 tons reported for Japan and 2,000 tons for Turkey.U.S. rice exporters shipped 64,300 tons, which was higher than the previous week and slightly higher than the prior 4-week average. The primary destinations included: 26,700 tons to Japan, 13,500 tons to Turkey, 8,400 tons to Mexico, 6,700 tons to Honduras, and 3,400 tons Colombia.
Tags: U.S. rice prices; U.S. rice market
Globalization to Starvation? Why Our Global Food System May be More Vulnerable than Ever
Apr 24, 2014
Some consumers take pride in eating more globalized foods - including more wheat and meat products such as pizza, hamburgers, pasta and sushi - that were once very local, but are now shared globally; this may be especially true for developing nations where some people see such foods as more urban or comsopolitan then local traditional faire.While many of these food trends move from the developed world to the developing world (like pizza and hamburgers), others move the opposite direction (like aa berry, coconut). Increased and more efficient food production and supply channels have been lauded as providing people with these foods that may not have been available just years or decades ago, in some cases avoiding starvation or malnutrition. However, the interconnectedness of our increasingly globalized food system may have hidden vulnerabilities. A recent study by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) says, As experts have been suspecting for a while, peoples diets around the world have become very similar and in the past 50 years the world has come to rely increasingl y on just a few crops for most of its food supplies.While rice remains a top cereal, people in several countries are increasingly moving from rice to a wheat and meat-based diet due to changing lifestyles and economic growth. According to the CIAT study, many local crops that used to be important in Africa or Asia such as sorghum, millet, rye, sweet potato, cassava, and yam are being eaten less and less;the same could be said of rice as is seen in Japan, South Korea and several other Asian countries. Some major crops like soybeans and corn are mostly used for animal feed and energy production, a trend blamed on urbanization and economic development. Globalized food poses several health risks, but the real danger of relying upon just a few crops increases the risk of food crises. Similar to the concept of portfolio
diversification in finance, a diversified agriculture is more resilient to major threats like drought, insect pests, and diseases, all expected to worsen with climate change, says the study. And can we rule out a food crisis due to war, or war due to a food crisis?.Reversing this trend towards a seemingly standard globalized diet is difficult just look at all the photos on social media with people in nearly every country eating the same foods, like pizza. Sharing foods and relating with each other over food is a very human experience. This is all part of very powerful underlying socio-economic forces, including urbanization and rising incomes but also trade liberalization, improved commodity transport, multinational food industries, and food safety standardization. Prior to globalization, the risk was a local crop failure could endanger the lives of local people and trade was much more cumbersome and expensive. Now, relatively speaking, many consumers have the world at their fingertips but the vulnerability of the food system has become global. We take it for granted that we can go order a pizza because the restaurant assumes it can buy flour, and the flour mill is betting on a good wheat cropon the other side of the world. Investing in agricultural research and encouraging diet and crop diversity may help keep the global food system more flexible and strong, for generations to come.Improved information channels can also buffer some of the effects of shortages as the supply channel has time to adapt. In that spirit, we'd love to hear from you. Let us know what you think!
Tags: globalization, food systems, Rice, crop diversity, Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
Oryza Global Rice Quotes

April 25th, 2014 Long grain white rice - high quality Thailand 100% B grade 395-405 Vietnam 5% broken 385-395 India 5% broken 415-425 Pakistan 5% broken 410-420 Cambodia 5% broken 435-445 U.S. 4% broken 580-590 Uruguay 5% broken 620-630 Argentina 5% broken 615-625 Long grain white rice - low quality Thailand 25% broken 340-350 Vietnam 25% broken 355-365 Pakistan 25% broken 370-380 Cambodia 25% broken 410-420 India 25% broken 370-380
U.S. 15% broken
555-565
Long grain parboiled rice Thailand parboiled 100% stxd 415-425 Pakistan parboiled 5% broken stxd 435-445 India parboiled 5% broken stxd 395-405 U.S. parboiled 4% broken 660-670 Brazil parboiled 5% broken 590-600 Uruguay parboiled 5% broken NQ Long grain fragrant rice Thailand Hommali 92% 940-950 Vietnam Jasmine 495-505 India basmati 2% broken 1515 -1525 Pakistan basmati 2% broken NQ Cambodia Phka Malis 870-880 Brokens Thailand A1 Super 305-315 Vietnam 100% broken 335-345 Pakistan 100% broken stxd 325-335 Cambodia A1 Super 350-360 India 100% Broken stxd 295-305 Egypt medium grain brokens NQ U.S. pet food 470-480 Brazil half grain 345-355 Medium grain milled U.S. Calrose 4% broken Egypt medium grain 6%
1070-1080 NQ
All prices USD per ton, FOB vessel, oryza.com
Rice candidate says teamwork is key

Yon Savann, president of Bayon Cereal Company, talks to the Post from his house in Phnom Penh earlier this week. Vireak Mai Fri, 25 April 2014
Chan Muyhong
In March, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced the establishment of a national Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF). Soon after, the process of electing a president for the new peak body began. Five candidates applied for the CRFs top job including Yon Sovann, the president of agricultural exporter Bayon Cereal. This week, post reporter Chan Muyhong sat down with Yon Sovann one of the lesser-known but equally as enthusiastic candidates in the rice sector to talk about his reasons for standing in the May elections. Tell us about your company, Bayon Cereal? Bayon Cereal started in 2012 as a rice exporter. We export to distribution partners in EU countries such as Germany, the Netherlands and poland. Currently we export in small numbers because we have just started. in the first three months of 2014, Bayon Cereal has exported around 200 tonnes of milled rice. i will expand the volume once i gain more trust from buyers and rice millers. What did you do before venturing into rice? I was in charge of customs clearance from 1997 for a Taiwanese company who took orders and exported agricultural products between countries. So i gained all the experience from there. I came to be involved in rice exporting because one day a friend (buyer) told me they wanted to buy Cambodian rice. i told them, Yes, Cambodia has a lot of rice. Then things started. I asked them to send me their rice specification and immediately con-needed to produce rice for export. Why are you standing as candidate for the president position for CRF? We still need more human resources to improve the sector and i feel the urge to help. We lack someone who can find new markets and the industry is not working as a team yet. When it comes to big orders from buyers, no one dares to take the order because there is no one to oversee its progress or collect the rice needed to fill the order. For example, recently, Vietnam won the Philippiness rice auction, which awarded Vietnam a contract to sell white long grain rice for more than $400 per tonne. Cambodia can easily match that, but we did not join the auction because we didnt have a team in place to ensure that the orders will be delivered on time. as a result we fail to capture big markets. What is your opinion of the other candidates? What is important in being a leader is sticking to common interest principles and commitment to the improvement of the whole sector. industry knowledge can be learnt. as for my fellow candidates, those who do not own a rice miller or are exporters, their interests will not conflict with their job. Kith Meng, for example, his language ability and experience in leading business is enough to lead CRF. The other candidates do have more potential than i do, but my advantage is that i hold common interest principles.
If you are elected president, how do you plan to boost the sector? There are quite a few rice associations and federations, but they do not represent farmers and millers. The creation of the CrF allows both the rice and paddy rice sectors to work together to serve the common interests of everyone in the business. When a team focuses on common interests, i believe we can boost the market for all. My main goal is to increase the market for the millers and provide relevant information to them, good prices and market demand. also we are often absent at international rice industry events, so i will set up a team to promote us on the international stage. i will be bringing buyers to local rice millers and, if they need me to, help by working as a middleman in their dealings. i will look over the membership requirements, principles and mission of the CRF again. CRF should be an independent institution serving the common interest of the rice industry and be unbiased to any party, and nepotism should not be allowed. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Organic farmers: Stop GMO rice commercialization

Philippine Daily Inquirer 12:01 am | Friday, April 25th, 2014 DAVAO CITYMindanao organic farmers are calling for a stop to the proposed commercialization of genetically modified golden rice in the country as they celebrated Earth Day on Tuesday, saying its undetermined risks to health far outweigh its promised benefits.The golden rice is a major threat not only to the livelihood of organic farmers but also to the health of millions of Asian consumers who depend upon rice as their staple, said Geonathan Barro, advocacy officer of Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag unlad ng Agrikultura (Masipag)-Mindanao, a network of over 36,000 farmers and scientists nationwide.It really puts the health of people at risk, he said in a forum on Tuesday. Thousands of farmers in Mindanao signed a petition opposing the proposed commercialization of genetically modified rice during an international Earth Day forum here on Tuesday, said Ann Fuertes, executive director of the environment group Interface for Development Intervention.Fuertes said they were going to submit the petition to the Department of Agriculture office soon.If commercialization pushes through, golden rice would first be tested on Filipinos, making us the worlds virtual guinea pig for the genetically modified golden rice, Barro said.Barro said even the argument for golden rice could not stand on its own.
Propagating genetically modified rice as an answer to Vitamin A deficiency is totally impractical and unnecessary because farmers and children can get Vitamin A everywhere, just by growing yellow and green and leafy vegetables in their backyard. He showed studies indicating how the betacarotene content of the genetically modified rice is much lower compared to the betacarotene content of vegetables like carrots, malunggay and squash.There are so many sources of betacarotene around us that are for free, he said.But instead of promoting vegetable planting in schools, big agrocompanies are promoting genetically modified rice, he said.But why? Theyre the same companies engaged in big seed business, he said. He also cited studies showing how betacarotene content declines by 50 percent after cooking.
Barro said there has been no consensus among scientists worldwide that genetically modified rice has been proven safe. At least, 300 scientists around the world agree that GMOs have not yet been proven to be safe, Barro said.Farmers in Pili, Camarines Sur, uprooted the golden rice in its field testing site in August last year, in the same way that farmers also uprooted Bt Corn in the field testing site in Tampakan, South Cotabato, in 2001 and the Bt Talong in the UP Mindanao field testing site in Davao City in 2011.
Lawyer Lee Aruelo, associate of the Third World Network, said the process to commercialize the golden rice would take a lot longer, since the law requires the proponents to conduct a series of tests to prove that they are safe for humans.Dagohoy Magaway, a member of Go Organic Davao City, said commercialization would mean they would be planted in the country, which means there would be a very high risk that genes of the genetically modified rice would cross over the indigenous varieties diligently grown by organic farmers.This will destroy the purity of organic rice varieties, Magaway said during the forum intended to educate the public and generate public outcry against golden rice. Germelina Lacorte, Inquirer Mindanao
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25th April, 2014 Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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25th April, 2014 Daily Exclusive ORYZA E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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25th April, 2014

TOP Contents - Tailored for YOU Latest News Headlines

Asia Rice Quotes Unchanged Today

India Weather Agency Forecasts Weak Monsoon in 2014

Oryza Global Rice Quotes

U.S. 15% broken

All prices USD per ton, FOB vessel, oryza.com

Rice candidate says teamwork is key

Organic farmers: Stop GMO rice commercialization

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