Rwanda’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) released new instructions for rice processing that formalizes national supply chain processes and linkages. The instructions mandate that only farmer cooperatives be allowed to sell and distribute rice to registered rice processing plants authorized by the MTI. http://allafrica.com/stories/201211060048.html
Export Pro-Actively to Deal With Grain Glut
One independent commodity analyst predicts the Government of India will hold more than 106 million tonnes of wheat and rice by July 2013 and urges for “aggressive export” to alleviate subsequent problems, including price inflation and risk of loss. The article argues that current inflated wheat prices are caused not by export activity, but rather […]
Scraping Together All the Rice We Waste
Some experts doubt the Philippines will reach its goal of self-sufficiency in rice production by the end of next year, saying it will take until at least 2020, but most likely longer. The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank agree that financing requirements for necessary infrastructure developments are too large and realistically unattainable. The […]
IRRI Signs Agreement with University of Illinois
The ADM Institute signed an MOU with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) on October 26th to open doors for collaboration in capacity-building and technology transfer in South Asian postharvest value chains and rice cropping systems. http://irri-news.blogspot.com/2012/10/irri-signs-agreement-with-university-of.html
Thai Rice Buying Slows as Govt Runs out of Storage Space
A Thai government intervention scheme for securing adequate storage for paddy (rice) farmers is currently facing challenges. Officials are requesting use of old airport warehouses to store the rice as production continues to increase. Controversy exists over whether the government can support the scheme by exporting the rice. Many millers are turning farmers away due to lack […]
Thailand Readies Airport Warehouse to Store Record Stocks of Rice
A Thai government intervention scheme for securing adequate storage for paddy (rice) farmers is currently facing challenges. Officials are requesting use of old airport warehouses to store the rice as production continues to increase. Controversy exists over whether the government can support the scheme by exporting the rice. Many millers are turning farmers away due to lack […]
Government Faces Storage Space Issue Ahead of Rice Procurement Season
At the start of the Indian procurment season, the government is still facing severe storage shortages. The large bumper crop is overwhelming current capacities that still hold much of last year’s procurement. Government reactions include plans to add more storage capacity, release additional grain to the open market, and export to neighboring nations. Meanwhile, significant amounts of grain continue […]
Vietnam Rice Farmers Urged to Build Storage Facilities
In Vietnam, rice farmers continue to face issues with storage, stable prices, and processing, making for an inefficient production chain responsible for 13% of rice postharvest losses. The government has admitted that its policy of buying up surplus rice to avoid price instability is not benefitting smallholder farmers but rather the trading middle man. Officials are […]
Cambodia: Forum on Loan Products and Banking Services Held for Rice Postharvest Sector
The Cambodia Postharvest Learning Alliance recently sponsored a forum on loan products and banking services in the rice postharvest sector. The forum included presentations on interventions for PHL, ‘business plans for piloting technologies with stakeholders’, and additional information on loan products and financial services. Attendees were stakeholders from all sides of the agricultural sector. http://irri-news.blogspot.com/2012/08/cambodia-forum-on-loan-products-and.html
Rs 15 bn Required for Uplift of Agri Sector: Member Export ICCI
Pakistan’s PHL losses are between 40-80%, as compared to that of the global benchmark. Wheat is 20% lower and non-basmati rice is 40% lower. Experts are estimating that 15 billion rupees are required to uplift the agricultural sector. http://www.onepakistan.com/finance/news/general/10220-rs-15-bn-required-for-uplift-of-agri-sector-member-export-icci.html