21st March, 2016 Daily Global Regional, Local Rice E - Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter
March 21,2016
Vol 7 Issue III
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Today Rice News Headlines...
Editorial Board
Chief Editor
60,000 rice farmers to benefit from CBN agric loan in Kano
Ghana to become net-exporter of rice by 2020 Mahama

Korean rice and samgyetang might enter Chinese market next month
Agri department to allocate more land for khazan paddy crops
Debt fills Thailand's rice bowl
Drought exacts toll on crops in region
Scientists develop climate-smart rice varieties for Vietnam
Rice prices in Davao del Sur rise due to El Nio
Tanzanian rice swells yield from salty soil
Agri department to allocate more land for khazan paddy crops
APEDA RICE COMMODITY
03/21/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report
New Agreements for U.S.-Cuba Agriculture Sectors Announced
During Historic Visit
Star-Studded Food Service Seminar
Dry Season Rice Snapped up by Neighbor
Commodity Report-March 21
7 delicious ways to use leftover rice
Competition in Chile's rice market
Fijis rice producer welcomes Korean investor
Aspen Times Weekly: Cook, why don't you?
News Detail...
60,000 rice farmers to benefit from CBN agric
loan in Kano
No fewer than 60, 000 rice farmers in Kano State will benefit from the Central
Bank of Nigerias Anchor Borrowers Programme.Isa Bawa, the Organising
Secretary, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, RIFAN, in Kano State, said
this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday.According to
him, the programme will take off before the wet season farming to enable the
associationraise the required number of farmers.He said the Central Bank of
Nigeria, CBN, required no fewer than 100,000 registered farmers before
disbursing the fund.He recalled that the Federal Government inaugurated the
programme in November 2015 in Kebbi as part of effort to boost rice and
wheat production in the country.
Hamlik
Managing Editor
Abdul Sattar Shah

Rahmat Ullah
Rozeen Shaukat
English Editor
Maryam Editor
Legal Advisor
Advocate Zaheer Minhas
Editorial Associates
Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid

Javed Islam Agha
Ch.Hamid Malhi
Dr.Akhtar Hussain
Dr.Fayyaz Ahmad Siddiqui
Dr.Abdul Rasheed (UAF)
Islam Akhtar Khan
Editorial Advisory Board
Dr.Malik Mohammad
Hashim
Assistant Professor, Gomal

University DIK
Dr.Hasina Gul
Assistant Director, Agriculture KPK
Dr.Hidayat Ullah
Assistant Professor, University

of Swabi
Dr.Abdul Basir
Assistant Professor, University

of Swabi
Zahid Mehmood
PSO,NIFA Peshawar
Falak Naz Shah
Head Food Science &

Technology ART, Peshawar

March 20, 2016Premium Times
Photo Credit: Agro Nigeria
The CBN has set aside N40 billion for the implementation of the programme in the state. We are
trying to register at least 60,000 rice farmers so that the programme can start before the wet season,
Mr. Bawa said.He said the association had also discussed with officials of the bank on the
implementation of the programme which is expected to begin between now and May. We are
expected to have a minimum of 10 farmers and a maximum of 25 farmers in each cooperative.
According to him, each farmer cultivating one hectare of rice would collect fertiliser, herbicide,
pesticide and equipment chemical worth N250,000
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/nwest/200479-60000-rice-farmers-benefit-cbn-agric-loankano.html
Ghana to become net-exporter of rice by 2020 Mahama

Government has targeted to position Ghana as
a net-exporter of Rice by the year 2020,
President Mahama has said.President Mahama
who announced this during an address to a
select Committee of the Scottish Parliament in
Edinburgh as part of his four-day working
visit to that country said: Weve taken rice
from the production of 30-60% as I speak and
so gradually were reducing rice import to
Ghana.The importation of rice top the chart
of six commodities that the Ghanaian
economy has comparative advantage to
produce yet are imported in huge volumes into
the country, because of the high demand on the market.At least 1.5 billion dollars go into the

importation of these products annually, including rice but President Mahama has reiterated as
part of measures by government to reduce drastically the importation of rice, it will prop up local
production that will lead to a steady decline in imported rice.The price of imported rice has seen
continuous reduction of about 20 percent in February, according to ESOKO.ESOKO Ghana
Commodity Index has attributed the continuous decline in the price of imported rice to an
increase in demand for local rice by consumers
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Ghana-to-become-net-exporter-of-rice-by-2020Mahama-424576
Korean rice and samgyetang might enter Chinese market next

month
Posted March. 21, 2016 07:14,
Updated March. 21, 2016 07:25
Korean rice will be served on tables in Chinese homes in the beginning of next month at the
earliest as Chinese customs authority decided to issue sanitary certificate to 30 tons of Korean
rice that has been tied in the Shanghai customs.According to the Trade, Industry and Energy
Ministry's announcement made on Saturday, Minister Joo Hyung-hwan urged on Zhi Shuping,
director of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, to
solve the rice inspection issue as soon as possible during 'the 1st Korea-China Ministerial
Meeting on Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine' held on Friday in China. The
Korean government's initial expectation was that the customs clearance for the 30 tons of rice
exported to the Port of Shanghai at the end of January would be swiftly processed and soon be
available in Lotte Mart in Shanghai and nearby cities.
However, the clearance for the rice has not proceeded yet due to a non-tariff barrier called the
sanitary and phytosanitary measures.Export of Korean rice, samgyetang, and kimchi to China
that was agreed during the last meeting in November last year were more specifically discussed
in this ministerial meeting. The two countries agreed that Korea will start exporting samgyetang,
which has gained popularity from Chinese tourists, in the first half of this year. They also
reached an agreement on export of Korean seafood to China starting within this year, which
includes frozen cutlass fish, frozen butterfish, and two other kinds of seafood.Both countries
found a middle ground for solving non-tariff barrier issues on Korean food, medicine, and
electronics: Food and medicine that are certified for safety by Korean Ministry of Food and Drug
Safety will be automatically certified by the Chinese authorities as well. China will also take less
time to certify Korean electronics including TVs. "Korean electric car battery will be examined
for safety with Korean company's presence and later the Chinese government will decide
whether it will provide subsidy," a ministry official said
http://english.donga.com/List/3/all/26/528060/1
Agri department to allocate more land for khazan paddy

crops

TNN | Mar 21, 2016, 07.06 AM IST
Panaji: The agriculture department has claimed that about 2,485 hectares of khazan land has
been protected in the state. The department has plans to bring additional area under paddy
cultivation. By 2019-20, the department aims to have 600 hectares of additional area under
paddy cultivation.Khazan lands have been a major cause for concern, as many farmers in the
state have quit cultivating paddy due to the high cost of cultivation.In some areas, paddy under
khazan land is affected by the growth of mangroves caused due to the seepage of saline water
near breached bunds .An agriculture officer said the soil conservation wing of the department is
operating a scheme to repair breached bunds.
Paddy cultivation is being revitalized in a phased manner by providing salt tolerant paddy seed
'korgut' to farmers free-of-cost, and tractors are provided for tilling with a 50% subsidy.The
agriculture department also intends to provide high-yielding seeds to farmers. A new variety of
seed will be made available to farmers for trial during the coming kharif season, the official said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Agri-department-to-allocate-more-land-for-khazan-paddycrops/articleshow/51487574.cms
Debt fills Thailand's rice bowl
MARWAAN MACAN-MARKAR, Contributing writer

A rice farmer in Baan Plaboo cleans her latest harvest. (Photo: Marwaan Macan-Markar)

BAAN PLABOO, Thailand -- Phayu Longklan, a
rice farmer in Thailand's poor northeast, recently
sold a fifth of her land for 600,000 baht ($17,247)
to pay off debt. But she still needs to repay
200,000 baht in loans, mostly owed to the Bank
for Agriculture and Agriculture Cooperatives, a
leading government lender to rural communities.
The bank loans were used to buy farming
equipment, help pay for her three children's
education and acquire three motorcycles.
The
51-year-old is in a financial predicament, but, she
said, "I am not the only one.
There are four other families in her village -- a collection of bare wooden houses shaded by trees -- who
are also selling land to pay off debt. There are visible signs of the same, vicious debt cycle hitting farms
throughout Mahasarakham, the northeast province where Baan Plabuu is located. More than 40 "land for
sale" signs were spotted along a main road stretching 100km through paddy fields, many of them caked
with brown dust due to a severe El Nino-delivered drought. The country's traditional rice bowl is mired in
intensifying economic problems. Analysts see the land sales as a symptom of an expanding household
debt crisis that could plunge the region, home to a third of Thailand's 67 million inhabitants, into social
instability. United Nations' researchers estimate that the percentage of farmers owning land in Thailand
has dropped dramatically -- from 44% in 2004 to 15% by 2011.
Phayu Longklan still has debts to pay. (Photo: Marwaan Macan-Markar)
Rice growers owned 28% of Thailand's 24
million hectares of arable land as of 2013,
according to the government's Office of
Agriculture Economics. The current drought has
forced many indebted farmers to sell their land
due to crop failures. Farmers have accumulated
338.36 billion baht in debt, according to Local
Action Link, a think tank that focuses on
research into the current plight of Thai farmers.
Deepening debt
Phayu's village illustrates the scale of the problem. Baan Plaboo's 69 households are saddled with nearly
25 million baht in debt. Most of the loans from the BAAC were used to finance farming expenses and buy
household and consumer items, including pickup trucks. Boonpet Khotplabuu, 58, is struggling to pay
off a 300,000 baht loan that she used to buy a Toyota pickup to transport her produce.
The BAAC is
gravely concerned about the situation, said Theerada Namhai, founder of the Thai Baan Association, a

grassroots organization that supports social enterprise in villages. "The BAAC sent representatives to talk
about it when we had a meeting four months ago," she noted.
The BAAC's concerns are understandable. Last year, Thailand's ratio of household debt to gross domestic
product reached 84.2%, one of the highest levels in Southeast Asia. Household debt levels had already
grown from 45% in 2003 to 61% in 2009. In 2013, the average household debt in Thailand's northeast
was 78,648 baht, slightly lower than the national average of 82,572 baht, according to the OAE. But the
region's average monthly household income, at 19,181 baht, was also lower that the national average,
25,194 baht, according to the National Statistics Office.
The debt situation is much worse for rural
families, according to analysts. While the formal banking sector, including the BAAC and other state
lenders, account for more than 80% of the loans, many families "have gone to loan sharks," said Decharut
Sukkumnoed, an agriculture economy expert at Kasetsaart University in Bangkok. These lenders charge
exorbitant interest rates -- 2% every day for a 24-day loan, in some cases.
Boonpet Khotplabuu, who took out a loan to buy a Toyota pickup, has become a casualty of the
terminated rice subsidy scheme. (Photo: Marwaan Macan-Markar)
In 2015, nearly 150,000 farmers borrowed 21.59 billion baht from these lenders, according to the
Provincial Administration Department. Despite the heavy odds against them, farmers have not given up
hope of solving their debt problem. But the estimates of what they are paying varies, with some analysts
putting the debt servicing ratio at 50% per rural household and at 60% to 70% for the poorest homes.
Studies have shown that villagers are eager to borrow money to acquire pickup trucks, refrigerators and
television sets. "Being able to get loans is seen as something positive, and they perceive they are free to
enjoy an urban lifestyle," said Dusadee Ayuwat, a professor of sociology and anthropology at Khon Kaen
University.
Easy credit
This attitude reflects the easier availability of credit and a rise in monthly household incomes in the
northeast since 2000. Borrowing was also encouraged by the lavish subsidies offered to rice farmers by
the government of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, which was ousted by a military coup in
May 2014.
Under Yingluck's flagship rice-pledging scheme, introduced in late 2011, the government
strove to "buy every grain of rice" produced by Thai farmers at inflated market prices, with premium
jasmine rice going for 20,000 baht per ton. In the long term, the government was unable to keep funding
the expensive program and wound it up in early 2014 .
While it lasted, however, the program prompted farmers like Boonpet to borrow in the belief that her rice
harvest could earn 300,000 baht every year. The annual subsidies, which cost the government 120 billion
baht a year, fueled heavy consumer spending in rural areas, adding 1 percentage point to GDP growth,
according to the World Bank.
The resulting debt problems have proved a challenge for the military
government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who heads the National Council for Peace and Order,
the official name for the ruling junta. In late February, the junta launched a media blitz using glossy, fourpage advertising spreads in national newspapers to highlight its agenda to boost the country's slowing
economy, which grew 2.8% in 2015.

The government late last year also sought to help debt-ridden farmers with direct cash handouts, as well
as other financial schemes aimed at reviving rural consumer spending, which had slowed after the rice
subsidy was terminated.
The largess highlights the rising financial clout of rice farmers, who account
for 40% of the labor force despite agriculture contributing only 10% to GDP.
"Farmers are punching
above their weight, not as rice producers but as big consumers," said a foreign researcher at an
international financial services company, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "It all supports the idea
that their buying power is important for consumption and to boost growth." As the latest handouts start
to trickle down to debt-ridden farmers, some see another implication. The financial relief is not an act of
compassion, but a "cynical ploy," as one analyst put it, by the business community to revive sales in the
rural heartland. It reveals who the junta is really listening to.
http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Economy/Debt-fills-Thailand-s-rice-bowl
Drought exacts toll on crops in region

Above: Farmers in Vietnam trying to catch fish in an almost dry canal in Soc Trang. Thailand
and Vietnam are facing their worst drought in decades.PHOTOS: EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO
AGENCY, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
PUBLISHED
MAR 20, 2016, 5:00 AM SGT
Asia's farmers bear the brunt of harsh dry season, with no respite on immediate horizon
Tan Hui Yee Thailand Correspondent In Bangkok
Amid Thailand's worst drought in decades, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha last week visited
the north-eastern region grappling with parched farmlands and low water reserves.Parts of the
country are so dry that roads lining empty canals have collapsed. National park officials have
built ponds to sustain wildlife, while irrigation officials are pumping water from the dregs of a
dam. Bangkok's administrators last week announced they were cutting short April's Songkran
festival - which normally draws hundreds of thousands of tourists to one of the world's biggest
water fights.But the brunt of the drought has been borne by farmers, who have been forced to put
off dry season crops while the region is battered by unusually warm weather brought on by the
El Nino phenomenon.
Already, this climate cycle has taken its toll on the production of rice in Thailand, sugar in India,
as well as palm oil in Malaysia, with no respite expected until the later part of the year.Much of
the drought is a "carry- over effect" from reduced rainfall during last year's wet season, says Dr
Anond Snidvongs, a climate change expert on Thailand's national water policy committee. There
was not enough rain to fill the reservoirs and tributaries that feed farmlands this time of the year.
Thailand, the world's second largest rice exporter, registered a 4.6 million tonne or 14.5 per cent
drop in paddy production in the current crop year compared to the previous year. A December
report from the Office of Agricultural Economics shows paddy plantations have also shrunk by
10 per cent.
SLIDING OUTPUT

RICE: Thailand will produce 27.06 million tonnes of paddy in the current crop year, down
from 31.63 million tonnes in the previous year.
SUGAR: India will produce 346.4 million tonnes of sugar cane in this crop year, down from
362.4 million tonnes the previous year.
PALM: Malaysia produced 1.04 million tonnes of crude palm oil in February, down from
1.12 million tonnes in the same period last year.
Sources: Office of Agricultural Economics (Thailand), Department of Agriculture,
Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (India), Malaysian Palm Oil Board
In Vietnam, rising salinity of water in the Mekong delta has already destroyed more than
200,000 tonnes of rice, reported Radio Free Asia. Water levels of the Mekong River are at their
lowest since 1926, partly because of dams built upstream by countries like China and Laos.
In response to Vietnam's request, China last Tuesday sped up the discharge of water from the
Jinghong hydropower station in Yunnan province and said it would continue doing so until April
10.
In Malaysia, arid conditions have dented palm production. Statistics from the Malaysian Palm
Oil Board show palm yields have slipped, while the output of crude palm oil was just 1.04
million tonnes in February, down from 1.12 million tonnes in the same period last year .
Meanwhile, India's Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare expects sugar
cane production in this current season to drop by 16 million tonnes. India is the world's biggest
producer of sugar cane after Brazil.But while sugar cane-growing states face a rainfall shortage,
other parts of India have been hit by persistent rain and hail storms, cutting the country's wheat
crop by possibly 14 per cent, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India has
said.
PROACTIVE
We anticipated its effects as early as 2014. We also carried out various programmes to
mitigate the effects in a massive way.
MR HARI PRIYONO, Indonesia's Agriculture Ministry's secretary-general
REACTIVE
They tend to favour relief intervention.
DR LEOCADIO SEBASTIAN, a Vietnam-based regional programme leader for the

Consultative Group On International Agricultural Research
This could lead to the world's second largest wheat producer having to import the grain for the
first time in 10 years, said the industry body.Some other Asian countries are faring better.
Indonesia's production of milled rice last year grew by 6.4 per cent, and that of corn and soybean
also rose.The Agriculture Ministry's secretary-general Hari Priyono attributes this to good
preparation. "We anticipated its effects as early as 2014," he told The Sunday Times. "We also

carried out various programmes to mitigate the effects in a massive way. For example, we
rehabilitated irrigation networks, provided machines like tractors to farmers during the
harvesting and post-harvesting period, and supplied a lot of water pumps so they could optimise
available water sources during the extended drought."
Such long-term planning is unfortunately uncommon, say agriculture experts. Dr Leocadio
Sebastian, a Vietnam-based regional programme leader for the Consultative Group On
International Agricultural Research, says governments tend to be reactive. "They tend to favour
relief intervention."Despite the drop in global rice production, analysts do not expect prices to
rise significantly because stockpiles have bloated in recent years. The Thai government, for
example, was sitting on 12 million tonnes of rice last month, while Indonesia holds 1.6 million
tonnes.
Palm oil prices will rise but be reined in by subdued import demand from China and the
European Union, notes BMI Research firm in a report published this month.Meanwhile, a good
Brazilian sugar cane crop this season will moderate prices increases, says BMI's head of
commodities Aurelia Britsch.The bigger impact for now will be felt in rural communities. Thai
economist Witsanu Attavanich estimates the drought would cost the country 62 billion baht
(S$2.4 billion) in damage. In the Philippines, EL Nino has already wiped out at least 3.6 billion
pesos (S$105 million) from agricultural production. And some farmers have taken to hunting or
eating rats to survive.
Additional reporting by Arlina Arshad and Raul Dancel
CHINA RELEASES WATER TO PARCHED MEKONG COUNTRIES
A family looking for fish in a nearly dry canal in the southern Mekong Delta province of Soc
Trang, on March 8, 2016. PHOTO: AFP
BANGKOK China has embarked on an
unprecedented "water diplomacy" mission to
alleviate the drought in Laos, Myanmar,
Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam by
discharging massive quantities of fresh water
downstream from one of its dams in its
southern region.The emergency water supply
from the Chinese Jinghong hydropower
station will last till April 10, The Nation
newspaper reported yesterday.China had sent
letters to all four member countries of the
Mekong River Commission (MRC) on its plan
to help ease the shortage of fresh water in downstream countries. The MRC consists of Thailand,
Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, while China and Myanmar are dialogue partners.
10 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m

MORE HOT WEATHER AHEAD FOR MALAYSIA
Malaysians have been told to brace themselves for extremely hot weather for the rest of the
month. PHOTO: THE STAR/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK
PETALING JAYA Malaysians have been told to brace themselves for extremely hot weather,
particularly in the afternoons for the rest of the month.Weathermen expect today to be especially
stifling with the equinox, when the sun shines directly over the equator, and the heatwave caused
by the El Nino phenomenon.Malaysian Meteorological Department director-general Che Gayah
Ismail said the heatwave was expected to continue until the end of the month.
http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/drought-exacts-toll-on-crops-in-region
Scientists develop climate-smart rice varieties for Vietnam

March 20, 2016 in International, News
Scientists are developing more resistant varieties of rice to help farmers in Vietnam adapt to climate change,
amid the countrys worst drought in 90 years.
IRIN
The drought, as well as the related flow of saltwater upriver, has destroyed 159 000 hectares of
rice paddies and left almost one million people lacking drinking water, according to a new UN
report. Another half million hectares are expected to be damaged by mid-year.In line with its
work in other Asian countries, the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute
has been breeding high quality climate-smart rice varieties that mature quickly, can tolerate

salt, and are designed specifically for Vietnams Mekong Delta, Reiner Wassmann, the project
leader said.
The delta region, one of the worst-hit by the
drought, accounted for half the countrys rice
production and 90% of its exports last year. The
drought is linked to El Nio, which is disrupting
weather patterns around the world, while
saltwater intrusion occurs annually. But the
drought has made it worse: the saltwater arrived
about two months earlier than usual and has
extended around 25km further inland than
average because river levels were lower than any
year since record-keeping began one century
ago.In the midst of a drought in 2014, the
government urged farmers in the northern and
central regions to shift from rice to more
drought-resistant crops.Scientists say that this years emergency is only a taste of whats to
come, as climate change leads to more frequent and intense droughts and rising sea levels. Thats
bad news for rice farmers, as well as Vietnams economy and its 90 million people. Rice is a
staple at dinner tables throughout the country and an important export.
Only India and Thailand exported more rice than Vietnam last year, according to the
IRRI.Wassmanns team have also developed water management techniques to allow farmers to
reduce the risk of losing their crops, which can be destroyed if they are inundated with salt water
right before and right after flowering. In addition, to mitigate the risk from drought, IRRI
developed a cycle of draining and re-flooding paddies, which can save water use by as much as
25% while cutting the cost to farmers of pumping water for irrigation. Wassmann said he hopes
to secure funding to continue working in the delta and recommended that authorities fast-track
the development and delivery of short duration, good quality rice with enhanced salt
tolerance.Such strains and strategies will become more important as Vietnam plans to increase
rice production just as the effects of climate change become more severe.
Vietnam doubled rice production over the past two decades after being a net importer. In 2014,
the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced a national strategy to further
increase production. Research conducted in Vietnam also feeds into a larger IRRI programme
aimed at adapting rice farming to various aspects of climate change in different countries. For
example, IRRI has developed drought-tolerant varieties of rice being farmed in India, Nepal, the
Philippines and Bangladesh. Similar work is aimed at protecting against flooding: one variety of
rice is infused with a scuba gene to allow it to be submerged for two weeks. It is being grown
in flood-prone areas of countries like Myanmar, Laos and Indonesia. Scientists are also
transferring the gene into varieties of rice in Africa.
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/2016/03/20/scientists-develop-climate-smart-rice-varieties-for-vietnam/
Rice prices in Davao del Sur rise due to El Nio

By: Orlando B. Dinoy
@inquirerdotnet
Inquirer Mindanao
10:30 AM March 22nd, 2016
BANSALAN, Davao del Sur Prices of milled rice are on the uptrend in the province as the El
Nio continues to ravage farms.Prices of milled rice have also increased in this town, which
produces about 13 percent of the total provincial average rice output of 127,000 metric tons per
cropping season (figure still include that of the newly created province of Davao
Occidental).Rice dealer Modesta Porquiado said it has become difficult for rice millers to find
palay these days because of the dry spell. This has led to the rising prices of rice, she said. A
monitoring by the Philippine Daily Inquirer at the public market here showed that milled rice
prices have increased by an average of P2 per kilogram. For example, the so-called 7-tonner
variety now sells between P40 and P46 per kilogram, depending on the grade, from the previous
price of P38-44 per kilogram.
Ordinary rice now sells at P35 per kilogram from just P30 a few weeks back.But according to the
National Food Authority (NFA), even with the shortage of palay, the province has sufficient rice
stocks that can help residents overcome the effects of the El Nio phenomenon.Virgilio Alerta,
NFA Davao provincial manager, said more than 195,000 bags of imported rice have been in
stock at the at the NFA warehouse in Digos City alone. More rice will be made available to the
markets in the coming days because of the upcoming procurement of 300,000 bags for Southern
Mindanao, he said.Alerta said the NFA outlets were also told to start selling more NFA rice to
help consumers amid rising rice prices.At just P25-P27 per kilogram, the quality of NFA rice is
at least equal to that commercial rice varieties being sold in the markets, according to Alerta.
Davao del Sur Gov. Claude Bautista said the provincial government has already started
providing assistance to farmers in the province so that rice production could start amid the
drought.According to Bautista, the P16-million emergency fund drawn from the calamity fund is
being spent on water pumps, drought-resistant varieties and other forms of assistance. SFM
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/775594/rice-prices-in-davao-del-sur-rise-due-to-elni%c9%a6o#ixzz43cvQRpOK
Tanzanian rice swells yield from salty soil

Scientists in Tanzania have developed a high-yielding, salt-resistant rice variety that could benefit millions of
farmers across Africa.
dubbed SATO1, can yield several tonnes of rice per hectare even in salty ground
up from just 0.5 tonnes for traditional varieties that grow poorly in such soil, the researchers
say. Farmers are now able to produce six tonnes per hectare, the highest yield ever
The variety,

recorded in the history of rice production in the entire eastern and southern Africa
countries.
Sophia Kashenge, Chollima Agro-Scientific Research Centre, Tanzania

The rice is being used as part of a wider project that combines salt-tolerant varieties identified in
Japan after the 2011 tsunami with treatments designed to reduce salt concentrations in the earth.
The combination of better rice and soil treatment has led to the reclamation of 680 hectares of
land previously almost incapable of producing rice.The research is yet to be published in a
scientific journal, but the researchers say the land now supports 1,774 households in Ndungu, a
salt-prone area in Kilimanjaro district in northern Tanzania.Farmers are now able to produce six
tonnes per hectare, the highest yield ever recorded in the history of rice production in the entire
eastern and southern Africa countries, says Sophia Kashenge, a researcher at the Chollima
Agro-Scientific Research Centre in Tanzania, which managed the project.
As the water receded following the 2011 tsunami in Japan, farmers noticed that some rice plants
survived despite being inundated with seawater. Scientists had the foresight to collect these
samples for later testing, Kashenge explains.According to the Food and Agriculture
Organization, there are set to befour times as many people to feed in Africa by the end of the
century as there are now, so farmers will need to increase their food production.Tanzania has
seen its population increase from roughly eight million in the 1960s to nearly 45 million
today.The country also has one of the fastest growing urban populations in East Africa rising
by 4.7 per year, according to the government.

The expanding urban middle class prefers rice over other staples, and the agriculture ministry is
keen to ensure that local rice production can keep up with demand to discourage expensive
imports.But Mike Nenguny, a policy officer at the Kilimo Kwanza initiative, which supports
agricultural decision-making in northern Tanzania, says irrigation systems in the area are in poor
condition and would need to be repaired before rice can be grown at a larger scale.He adds that
farmers are constrained by water shortages, insufficient fertilisation because of cost and
availability, and plant diseases.I applaud the work of our local scientists for the development of
new SATO1 rice seed, but more support is needed to put our rice production on greater heights,
Nenguny says
http://www.scidev.net/global/farming/news/tanzanian-rice-swells-yield-salty-soil.html
Agri department to allocate more land for khazan

paddy crops
TNN | Mar 21, 2016, 07.06 AM IST
Panaji: The agriculture department has claimed that about 2,485 hectares of khazan land has
been protected in the state. The department has plans to bring additional area under paddy
cultivation. By 2019-20, the department aims to have 600 hectares of additional area under
paddy cultivation. Khazan lands have been a major cause for concern, as many farmers in the
state have quit cultivating paddy due to the high cost of cultivation.In some areas, paddy under
khazan land is affected by the growth of mangroves caused due to the seepage of saline water
near breached bunds .
An agriculture officer said the soil conservation wing of the department is operating a scheme to
repair breached bunds. Paddy cultivation is being revitalized in a phased manner by providing
salt tolerant paddy seed 'korgut' to farmers free-of-cost, and tractors are provided for tilling with
a 50% subsidy.The agriculture department also intends to provide high-yielding seeds to farmers.
A new variety of seed will be made available to farmers for trial during the coming kharif
season, the official said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Agri-department-to-allocate-more-land-for-khazan-paddycrops/articleshow/51487574.cms
APEDA RICE COMMODITY

International Benchmark Price
Price on: 17-03-2016
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Argentine 85mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
2310
Honey
1

2
2365
2420
South Africa, HPS 70/80 peanuts CFR main European ports (USD/t)
1875
South African, HPS 40/50 peanuts CFR main European ports (USD/t)
1000
Argentinean 38/42 runners, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
1485
CZCE White Sugar Futures (USD/t)
832
Kenya Mumias white sugar, EXW (USD/t)
691
Pakistani refined sugar, EXW Akbari Mandi (USD/t)
575
Peanuts
White Sugar
1
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 19-03-2016
Domestic Prices
Product
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Aroor (Kerala)
Other
3100
3300
Mangalore (Karnataka)
Fine
2600
3290
Sainthia (West Bengal)
Common
1750
1770
Amreli (Gujarat)
Lokwan
1450
1900
Gangavathi (Karnataka)
Local
1500
1500
Nagpur (Maharashtra)
Other
1450
1590
Kondotty (Kerala)
Other
2800
3000
Mumbai (Maharashtra)
Other
1000
2500
Fatehabad (Haryana)
Other
1800
2000
Cherthala (Kerala)
Other
1850
2000
Karad (Maharashtra)
Other
500
1000
Jatni (Orissa)
Other
1100
1300
Rice
Wheat
Guava
Onion
Source:agmarknet.nic.in
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 19-03-2016
Product
Market Center
Price
Pune
315
Hyderabad
290
Nagapur
287
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package

Price on 17-03-2016
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High

Potatoes
Package: 50 lb cartons
Atlanta
Colorado
Yellow
16
16.75
Chicago
California
Yellow
21
21
Miami
Idaho
Yellow
20
21
Cucumbers
Package: cartons film wrapped
Atlanta
Mexico
Long Seedless
11
Dallas
California
Long Seedless
13.50
15
Detroit
Canada
Long Seedless
9.50
Grapes
14
Package: 18 lb containers bagged
Atlanta
Peru
Red Globe
22.50
26
Chicago
Peru
Red Globe
20
20.50
Miami
Chile
Red Globe
17
20
Source:USDA
03/21/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report

Rice
High Low
Long Grain Cash Bids - - - - - Long Grain New Crop - - - - - -
Futures:
ROUGH RICE
High Low
Last Change
May '16 1052.0 1035.0 1037.5 -7.5

Jul '16 1076.0 1071.0 1064.5 -7.5
Sep '16 1091.5 1080.0 1080.5 -7.0
1092.0 -8.5
Nov '16
1106.5 -8.5
Jan '17
1107.0 -8.5
Mar '17
1107.0 -8.5
May '17
Rice Comment
Rice prices closed slightly lower today. The market continues to retreat despite wet conditions
that may impact supplies in 2016. The rice market remains under pressure from less than
impressive demand both in export market and domestically.
New Agreements for U.S.-Cuba Agriculture Sectors

Announced During Historic Visit
By Kristen Dayton
HAVANA, CUBA -- Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, who is traveling with President Obama on
his historic visit to Cuba this week, announced today that agricultural commodity groups receiving
funding from federal check-offs or U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Marketing Orders for
research and promotion activities are now able to use their resources in preparing for normalized trade
with the country. USA Rice promotion activities were not impacted by today's announcement because,
when conducting promotion activities in Cuba, USA Rice uses state-generated resources that are not
subject to federal check-off restrictions.
The U.S. government is still barred from spending appropriated funds, including Market Access
Programs (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD), on promotion programs in Cuba.
Prior to his departure, USA Rice armed Secretary Vilsack with rice industry priorities for trade with
Cuba including allowing U.S. financial institutions to extend credit to Cuban entities and support for
USDA reallocating funding to staff a Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) desk in Havana.

"The announcement today, like the White House announcements on liberalized travel from last week,
continues the momentum toward normalized commercial relations with Cuba," said Brian King, chairman
of the USA Rice Western Hemisphere Promotions Subcommittee. "We are looking forward to a USDA
presence at the U.S. Embassy in Havana. But there is much more to be done, and we need to Congress to
take action to remove the embargo once and for all."
While in Havana, Vilsack has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Cuban Minister
of Agriculture Gustavo Rodriguez Rollero, establishing a framework for sharing research between the two
countries.
Star-Studded Food Service Seminar

By Sarah Moran
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- Earlier this month, U.S.

rice was the highlight of a foodservice seminar,
"Mizrahi and Friends," at the Colegio Superior de
Gastronomia Culinary Institute where distinguished
international chefs cooked for an audience of
foodservice professionals, press, and special guests.
The organizer and star of the event, Chef Aaron
Mizrahi, grilled various cuts of U.S. meat served with
a delicious rice dish made with U.S.-grown rice and
emphasized the importance of selecting U.S. rice for
its nutritional value and superior quality.USA Rice
Chef Jorge Cuevas, who was also at the event, said,
"Traditionally, steak is served with potatoes so this
was a great opportunity to showcase the versatility of
rice. During the seminar, I talked about the benefits of
U.S. rice, explained proper cooking techniques, and
conducted a question and answer session for more than 100 guests."
Kisko Garcia, a Spanish chef with a Michelin star, and Eva Millan of Master Chef Spain fame,
prepared a host of specialized dishes using U.S. rice during the live cooking portion of the
program.Local press covered the event that trended on social media. Above is a link to an
Instagram video (in Spanish) of one of the chefs at the seminar explaining the superior qualities
of U.S. rice that make it the best choice for cooking.USA Rice has worked with this culinary
institute for the past 15 years, providing training to student chefs and a rice curriculum for professors.
riceinfo@usarice.com
Dry Season Rice Snapped up by Neighbor

Khmer Times / Sok Chan
Monday, 21 March 2016
Thirteen provinces across the country have finished harvesting their dry season rice and yields
have increased on last years crop, but local millers and exporters are concerned about the bulk
of the crop making its way to a neighboring country.While local rice millers and exporters are
concerned about the flow of rice to a neighboring country, a bigger concern for them is the lack
of clarity in the governments plans to solve the issues facing the rice sector loans to farmers
and millers and other important issues.A total of 13 provinces have finished harvesting rice
Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Speu, Kratie, Siem Reap, Preah
Vihear, Stung Treng, Svay Rieng, Oddor Meanchey, Kep, Kampot and Pailin and the amount
of rice harvested in the dry season has increased to 72,126 tons, a rise of about 17 percent on last
year, according to a report from the Ministry of Agriculture released last week.
Song Saran, the president of AMRU Rice, told Khmer Times that climate change, a lack of
capital and loans from banks and microfinance institutions to buy rice from farmers for stock and
processing were lacking and this has had a serious impact on rice millers and exporters. He said a
response from government has been slow and Vietnam had bought rice from farmers in various
provinces.We saw that Vietnam had purchased rice from Cambodia, which for us is a missed
opportunity to buy rice in the dry season this year, Mr. Saran said. I think the Cambodian Rice
Federation (CRF) could not do much at the moment, but we hope they can help before July or
August when we start harvesting more rice such as jasmine.
We should have a funding package beforehand to purchase rice for processing and export,
otherwise we will lose again, Mr. Saran said.The lack of a funding package has seriously hurt
us and Vietnam has a lot of money and has bought all the rice from Cambodia since March and
April last year. We still have rice to buy from farmers, but I think the dry season rice is over and
we are waiting for newly harvested rice in August or September, but we hope the funding
package arrives on time.
Last week the CRF had a meeting with the Commerce Ministry to seek a solution and will come
up with a formula or model to help the rice sector and will submit it to the government. The main
point the CRF stressed to the government was the need for a budget of $20 to $30 million to help
rice millers and exporters.

Deputy Director General of
Agriculture Hean Vanhan told
Khmer Times that it was good that
farmers had somewhere to sell
their rice after all their hard work.
He added that Cambodia should
not worry about the lack of a food
supply as the country produces
more than four million tons of rice
per year.From my point of view,
please stop thinking about banning
imports as we try our best to have
as many exports as we can to
neighboring countries under the
free flow of goods in the ASEAN
Economic Community (AEC). We
are afraid that our neighboring
countries will not accept our rice
and export their rice to Cambodia.
We should clear up that concern,
Mr. Vanhan said. Song Saran, the
president of AMRU Rice, told
Khmer Times that climate change,
a lack of capital and loans from
banks and microfinance institutions
to buy rice from farmers for stock
and processing were lacking and
this has had a serious impact on
rice millers and exporters. He said
a response from government has
been slow and Vietnam had bought
rice from farmers in various
provinces.
We saw that Vietnam had purchased rice from Cambodia, which for us is a missed opportunity
to buy rice in the dry season this year, Mr. Saran said. I think the Cambodian Rice Federation
(CRF) could not do much at the moment, but we hope they can help before July or August when
we start harvesting more rice such as jasmine. We should have a funding package beforehand to
purchase rice for processing and export, otherwise we will lose again, Mr. Saran said.The lack
of a funding package has seriously hurt us and Vietnam has a lot of money and has bought all the
rice from Cambodia since March and April last year. We still have rice to buy from farmers, but
I think the dry season rice is over and we are waiting for newly harvested rice in August or
September, but we hope the funding package arrives on time.Last week the CRF had a meeting
with the Commerce Ministry to seek a solution and will come up with a formula or model to help

the rice sector and will submit it to the government. The main point the CRF stressed to the
government was the need for a budget of $20 to $30 million to help rice millers and exporters.
Deputy Director General of Agriculture Hean Vanhan told Khmer Times that it was good that
farmers had somewhere to sell their rice after all their hard work. He added that Cambodia
should not worry about the lack of a food supply as the country produces more than four million
tons of rice per year.From my point of view, please stop thinking about banning imports as we
try our best to have as many exports as we can to neighboring countries under the free flow of
goods in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). We are afraid that our neighboring countries
will not accept our rice and export their rice to Cambodia. We should clear up that concern, Mr.
Vanhan said.
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/23018/dry-season-rice-snapped-up-by-neighbor/
Commodity Report-March 21
Published March 21, 2016
In todays commodity report we have the Weekly Rice Summary, California Shell Eggs: Daily
Egg Report, Shell Eggs: Daily National Egg Market and other commodity end of the day market
numbers.
Weekly Rice Summary
In California, medium grain milled rice prices steady to 2.00 lower.
Second heads and Brewers steady to weak. Rice by-products: Rice Bran
prices steady. Rice hulls spot trade not well tested.CME Rough Rice
settlements for Friday 18th, May 16 closed .095 lower at 10.45; Jul 16
closed .09 lower at 10.72. US dollar index on Friday settled at 95.09.
USDA National Weekly Rice Summary (.pdf) with all prices.
California Shell Eggs: Daily Egg Report
Benchmark prices are 27 cents lower for Jumbo, Extra Large and Large, and 24 cents lower for
Medium and Small. The undertone is lower. Retail and food service demand is moderate.
Offerings are moderate to heavy. Supplies are moderate to heavy. Market activity is slow.Shell
egg marketers benchmark price for negotiated egg sales of USDA Grade AA and Grade AA in
cartons, cents per dozen. This price does not reflect discounts or other contract terms.
RANGE
JUMBO
176
EXTRA LARGE
174
LARGE
167
MEDIUM
155
Shell Eggs: Daily National Egg Market
New York prices are steady on larger sizes, 3 cents lower on Medium. Regional prices are steady
with California prices 27 cents lower on Jumbo, Extra Large and Large, down 24 cents on
Medium and Small. The undertone is steady to weak. Offerings are moderate in the regions,
however moderate to heavy in California. Retail and distributive demand is moderate to good

entering the Easter week. Supplies are mostly moderate to heavy, while light to moderate in the
Southeast. Market activity is slow in California and moderate elsewhere. Breaking stock floor
stocks are moderate to heavy; breaking schedules are mostly full-time. Light type fowl offerings
are at least adequate for the light to moderate demand.
Check the March USDA Commodity Report Calendar for todays commodity reports released
by USDA.
Now Mondays Commodity Market ending market numbers for other commodities:
Corn
May Corn ended at $3.69 1/2 increasing 2 1/2 cents, July ended at $3.74 1/4 gaining 2 1/2 cents.
Soybeans
May Soybeans ended at 9.02 up 4 1/2 cents, July ended at 9.08 1/4 increasing 4 cents.
Wheat
May Wheat ended at $4.66 1/2, gaining 3 1/2 cents, July Wheat ended at $4.73 1/2 up 3 1/4
cents.
Rough Rice
May Rough Rice ended at 10.375 down 0.075, July ended at 10.645 decreasing 0.075.
Live Cattle
April Live Cattle ended at $138.35 decreasing $1.475 and June ended at $127.85 down $1.25
and
August
ended
at
$122.15
losing
$1.175.
Feeder Cattle
March Feeder Cattle ended at $163.375 losing $0.85 and April ended at $157.975 decreasing
$4.225
and
May
ended
at
$156.775
down
$3.925.
Lean Hogs
April Lean Hogs ended at $69.35 decreasing $2.10, May ended at $77.675 down $2.10
Class III Milk
March Class III Milk ended at $13.83 unchanged, April ended at $13.95 increasing $0.07 and
May
ended
at
$13.75
gaining
$0.12.
#2 Cotton
May #2 Cotton ending at 58.17 gaining 1.01, July ended at 58.08 up 1.02.
Sugar #11
May sugar #11 ended at 16.29 up $0.32 and July ended at 16.19 increasing $0.28.
Orange Juice
May Orange Juice ended at 127.90 gaining $0.15, July ending at 128.00 unchanged.
http://agnetwest.com/2016/03/21/commodity-report-march-21/
7 delicious ways to use leftover rice
FROM
The Week Staff

March 21, 2016
Even when your fridge is empty and sad, there somehow always seems to be a container of
leftover rice lurking in the back. Inevitably your delivery order came with more rice than you
needed, and instead of tossing it at the end of your meal, you decided to save it. You'd eat it
eventually, you told yourself.If you're still staring at that box of rice and feeling so uninspired
that you're considering ordering Seamless again, we're here to help you get out of this viscous
cycle. Leftover rice isn't a curse. In fact, for dishes like fried rice, it actually works better than
fresh rice.Here are seven ways to put your leftover rice to great use.
1. Fry it up
Day-old, dried-out rice is perfect for a warm, comforting bowl of fried rice, like this Kimchi
Fried Rice or Crab Fried Rice. You'll get a much better texture with rice made ahead of time.
2 Make arancini
These Italian rice balls might be one of the world's most underrated street foods. Use your
leftover rice to make fried gems like Paella Arancini orCarbonara Arancini.
3. The proof is in the pudding
Rice pudding might not be the sexiest dessert on the menu, but it's one of the most comforting. If
you start with cooked rice, the cooking time will be cut in half. Try it out in this Forbidden Rice
Pudding.
4. Stuff your peppers
Stuffed peppers don't have to be cool: They're just reliable staples you look forward to in your
dinner rotation. And they're a great use of your rice. Try these Avocado, Cucumber and Basmati
Salad-Stuffed Peppers.
5. Throw rice in soup
Rice can add some much needed texture and heft to soups. It's probably the easiest and most
satisfying way to rehydrate your grains. Recipes like thisChicken and Rice Soup with Young
Collard Greens, Parsnips and Rutabagawill fill you up without weighing you down.
6. Make a rice salad
Grain salads, like this Pickled Mushroom and Miso Brown Rice Salad, are all the rage. So take
that rice and add it to any combination of vegetables, legumes, cheese, you name it. You now
have lunch for the week.
7. Conjure up some congee
Don't be afraid of this comforting rice porridge. It's easier to make than you might think, and you
can definitely use your day-old rice for recipes like this Congee with Pickled Plums, Fried
Shallots and Chives. But asYotam Ottolenghi suggests, if you use leftover rice for congee, "make
sure you chill the leftover rice within one hour of making it and use within a day."
Tasting Table is a website and newsletter for culinary enthusiasts. We eat high and low to bring
you discerning dining, recipe, culinary events, gift guides, and food travel advice you can trust
along with news you can use from the world of food and drink.

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Competition in Chile's rice market

Chile is classified as a 'high-income' country by the World Bank and has a per capita GDP of
$22,346," explained USA Rice Vice President of International Promotion Jim Guinn, who is
participating in the trade mission. "It's an impressive economy that has really turned around. In
1990 the poverty rate was 40 percent, today it is 7 percent."
By Sarah Moran
USA Rice Federation
Posted Mar. 21, 2016 at 1:39 PM
SANTIAGO, CHILE
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack has brought his trade mission to Chile, the wealthiest country in
South America and the most prolific negotiator of free trade agreements."Chile is classified as a
'high-income' country by the World Bank and has a per capita GDP of $22,346," explained USA
Rice Vice President of International Promotion Jim Guinn, who is participating in the trade
mission. "It's an impressive economy that has really turned around. In 1990 the poverty rate was
40 percent, today it is 7 percent."This year however, Guinn says the economic growth rate is
projected at 2.2 percent, due principally to low commodity prices, especially copper, which
makes up about 50 percent of Chile's exports by value. Chile has entered into 23 trade
agreements covering 60 countries, including those in the newly negotiated Trans Pacific
Partnership (TPP).
The U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement came into force in 2004 and as a result, bilateral trade
between the two countries quadrupled in the first eight years of the agreement. In 2014 total U.S.
exports reached $16.5 billion, a $7 billion trade surplus for the United States, although U.S. rice
exports have held low and steady for the past five years.Unlike Peru, Chile is not a huge
consumer of rice. Their 17.6 million citizens consume about 29 pounds of rice annually per
capita, or 231,000 MT. Last year, domestic production in Chile was 164,000 MT and is
estimated at 172,000 MT for this year. Approximately 50-60 percent of that is imported, with the
lion's share going to Argentina (35 percent), Paraguay (25 percent), and Uruguay (13 percent). In
2015, U.S. exports, which were mainly medium grain, were 2,200 MT or about 1.5 percent of
total rice imports.

Guinn says 10-15 percent of the market is parboiled rice, a majority of the domestic crop is long
grain, and after touring a local supermarket here, he surmised that most of the rice imports also
are long grain."In my opinion, the opportunities for U.S. rice here will be in small quantities and
likely limited to U.S. medium grain or specialty rices," Guinn said. "The geographic proximity of
competing suppliers of long grain rice in MERCOSUR, whose prices are significantly lower than
U.S. prices, and the strength of the U.S. dollar, create considerable challenges for significant
gains in this market. However, I have additional meetings with the trade here before heading
home that may provide additional perspective on the opportunities for U.S. rice here in Chile.
http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/article/20160321/NEWS/160329987
Fijis rice producer welcomes Korean

investor
2016 March
Fijis sole but struggling rice producer, Rewa Rice Limited has welcomed the entry of Grace
Roads Limited, a South Korean investor built on Christians apocalyptic principles, into the local
rice industry.A miller for rice paddy, Rewa Rice Limited is a government-owned company that
buys paddy from farmers all over Fiji. Their mill is located in Dreketi, in Fijis northern island of
Vanua Levu. Company Manager, Ashrit Pratap says Grace Road farms will supplement rice
production in Fiji as Rewa Rice alone does not have the capacity to satisfy local demands. The
government aims to reduce rice imports and be fully self-sufficient by year 2020, said Pratap.
Therefore we do not see Grace Road as a competition but we see them as a partner to achieve
our aims to reduce imports and promote local rice. Grace Roads Group is a Korean Christian
group that made landfall in Fiji in 2014 with the aim of introducing and developing organic
farming in the country, and have built their own rice mill. President Daniel Kim says Fiji was a
good place for investment, and a greater place for their mission
http://islandsbusiness.com/ibi/component/k2/item/1480-fiji-s-rice-producer-welcomes-korean-investor
Aspen Times Weekly: Cook, why don't you?

A CONVENIENT TRUTH
Make food prep a breeze with these handy tips from Epicurious editor David Tamarkin of The
#Cook90 Challenge.Do a big shop every week. Attempting to buy ingredients la carte on
weeknights after work or when hungry is recipe for failure. Stay stocked on staples: washed
greens, frozen fish or shrimp, bread. Toast may be topped with virtually anything to create a

meal. Batch it. Cook a large quantity of grains such as quinoa, rice, and farro those that take
a while to cook, especially to store in the freezer. Get creative with leftovers. Tamarkin turns
everything into soup. Whiz leftover roasted vegetables, cooked beans, and meat with broth for a
quick, hot dish. When in doubt, put an egg on it.
Instant protein upgrade. Dont let the voice in your head get to you. Youre more skilled than
you think. Plan and focus. And remember that even food editors like Tamarkin struggle with
walking the talk.LAST NOVEMBER, before I moved to a new apartment, I made a strong effort
to clean out my pantry. A fresh start seemed appropriate. It worked, mostly: I ended up packing
just a couple of egg boxes, one full of spices, oils, vinegars, and other shelf-stable condiments
that tend to go the distance.
But now, every time I open the cabinet where these kinds of ingredients live in my new place,
Im reminded of a past shortcoming. A slender figure the shape of an old soda bottle stands at the
front corner, clear of the Lazy Susan that holds frequently used items. Its wrapped in a bright
blue label with Arabic lettering: pomegranate molasses.I ordered the tangy, sanguine syrup
online, one day inspired to prepare fesenjan, an Iranian chicken stew made with a thick gravy of
onion, ground walnuts, and this special sweet-tart ingredient. I even printed the recipe from the
New York Times Cooking website in anticipation of making it during the winter solstice, as is
customary. This was two and a half years ago.What happened to my motivation to tackle this
exotic dish for the last 30 months? This bottle of pomegranate molasses had become a relic of
my own kitchen inadequacy.
The fesenjan procedure isnt daunting. Hands-on time maxes out around half an hour, mostly the
dish bubbles away in a Dutch oven by itself. Rarely do I have four cups of walnuts, two pounds
of chicken, and a half-cup of grated butternut squash lying around, but I could go buy it if I
really wanted to. The flavor could be a crapshoot possibly sour and cloying at the same time.
Even if I halved the recipe, the leftovers! Ugh.David Tamarkin knows all about this he calls
it, the barriers to home cooking. In January, the editor of online recipe encyclopedia
Epicurious endeavored to cook every meal he ate for the entire month. He allowed himself three
cheat meals out of 90 hes human, after all otherwise, hed prep all food himself. The
original impetus was financial daily $4 breakfasts of pre-peeled hardboiled eggs, plus
multiple coffee breaks, in the Cond Nast cafeteria, followed by dinners in Manhattan, added up
to an obscene amount of discretionary income.
During the last week of his #Cook90 challenge, Tamarkin explains via the Food52 Burnt Toast
podcast that many common obstacles to cooking lack of money or access to grocery stores; an
uncompromising work schedule; children or a partner with different tastes; time and desire to
scout new recipes to break out of a rut dont apply to him. Yet while he feels confident in his
skills and calm in the kitchen, he isnt the kind of person to find magicin chopping
tomatoes.So, Tamarkin says, If I could cook every day and see what my barriers were, I would
understand the barriers my readers have. He wanted to become a better cook, too. One rule: he
must attempt three new cuisines each week.Tamarkin discovered that organization was his most
crucial excuse. If I dont meal plan and do a big weekly shop, Im not gonna be a good cook
that week because Im having a panic attack at 3p.m.about dinner, he says. (See more of his
tips, opposite page.).

Despite being a food editor, Tamarkin also struggled with motivation. He lamented feeling like
he spent a lot of time indoors, cooking. (That might be a biggie for Aspenites who would rather
grab a granola bar and get outside than spend daylight hours in the kitchen.) He drank more
winealone. He missed the social interaction of dining out; on Day 24 he broke down and used
his first cheat meal. He suffered critiques on social media, such as the Instagram naysayer who
questioned his choice of grilled cheese for breakfast.The challenge begs the question: What
constitutes cooking, anyway? Do morning smoothies count? What about toast? Assembling a
salad? Are we not home cooks if we eat eggs for dinner every night?
If Ive used my skills in the kitchen to feed myself, thats cooking, Tamarkin concluded on an
Epicurious blog documenting his #Cook90 experience.Then there are the chestnuts of drive and
inspiration often hard to summon, especially when actively sought after.Witness a listener
calling in for advice to The Splendid Table, NPRs popular culinary podcast: One of my goals
in 2016 is to try 12 new dishes from 12 different countries this year, she says. Suggestions on
cuisines, cultures to not miss?
Its personal, host David Leite replies. He suggests the woman take a radical, adventurous
approach.Buy a map of the world, tape it to your kitchen wall, Leite says. Blindfold your
husband and play pin the tail on the country. Wherever that pin lands is where youll cook from.
Its culinary travelyou can research and learn about it, and guess who becomes the expert on
Yemen cooking or South African cooking? You! And your circle of friends.
Hows that for a personal dare or supper club theme?
Cathy Erway of Not Eating Out in New Yorka 10-year-old blog chronicling her home-cooking
adventures since she began boycotting pricey restaurants, which led her to write a book, The
Art of Eating In approaches inspiration from another angle. Among her Reasons for Not
Eating Out: #1 Gimmicks, #22 Your Health, #52 To Better Experience the Seasons, #30 This is
Why Youre Not Fat, and #39 Because the Hair in My Food is Always Mine.
Ha!So, after watching Michael Pollans call-to-action Netflix series, Cooked, last week, I
stared down that bottle of pomegranate molasses for the last time. I plucked it from the cabinet
and picked up the other ingredients during my Sunday evening food haul. Finally, I made
fesenjan.As expected, Erway was right about the adrenaline rush once you start [cooking], the
momentum of which is much like a domino effect. In fact, I prepared chelo (steamed Persian
basmati rice) with crispy tadig crust to go with it.
Thank you for your interest in Daily Rice News! Our Researchers & Editorial Team work hard to share
their best News for analysis, please give them credit. Any reproduction of www.Ricepluss.com/
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com content requires written permission from us and clear reference
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21st March, 2016 Daily Global Regional, Local Rice E - Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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Today Rice News Headlines...

60,000 rice farmers to benefit from CBN agric loan in Kano

Ghana to become net-exporter of rice by 2020 Mahama

Abdul Sattar Shah

Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid

Editorial Advisory Board

Assistant Professor, Gomal

Assistant Director, Agriculture KPK

Assistant Professor, University

Assistant Professor, University

Falak Naz Shah

Head Food Science &

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Photo Credit: Agro Nigeria

Ghana to become net-exporter of rice by 2020 Mahama

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

Korean rice and samgyetang might enter Chinese market next

Agri department to allocate more land for khazan paddy

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Debt fills Thailand's rice bowl

MARWAAN MACAN-MARKAR, Contributing writer

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

Drought exacts toll on crops in region

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

DR LEOCADIO SEBASTIAN, a Vietnam-based regional programme leader for the

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

Scientists develop climate-smart rice varieties for Vietnam

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

Rice prices in Davao del Sur rise due to El Nio

Tanzanian rice swells yield from salty soil

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Sophia Kashenge, Chollima Agro-Scientific Research Centre, Tanzania

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

Agri department to allocate more land for khazan

APEDA RICE COMMODITY

Benchmark Indicators Name

Argentine 85mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

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Argentine 50mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

Argentine 34mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

Argentinean 38/42 runners, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)

CZCE White Sugar Futures (USD/t)

Kenya Mumias white sugar, EXW (USD/t)

Pakistani refined sugar, EXW Akbari Mandi (USD/t)

For more info

Unit Price : Rs per Qty

Sainthia (West Bengal)

For more info

Other International Prices

Unit Price : US$ per package

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Package: cartons film wrapped

Package: 18 lb containers bagged

03/21/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report

May '16 1052.0 1035.0 1037.5 -7.5

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New Agreements for U.S.-Cuba Agriculture Sectors