India – Indian rice steaming ahead
Source: Bangkok Post10/02/2012 – India’s rice exports will reach 4 million tonnes next month, putting even more pressure on Thailand to manage the government’s paddy mortgage scheme and stockpiles.
Philippines – 2013 duty-free rice imports seen lower
Source: Business World09/02/2012 – Duty-free rice imports that will serve as buffer are seen to substantially decrease next year should current production targets be met, an official said yesterday, even as the country gears up to become self-sufficient in producing the staple.
Bangladesh – Rice tackles drought
Source: CGIAR08/02/2012 – The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has successfully rolled out drought-tolerant rice in India, the Philippines,and Nepal – it is now Bangladesh’s turn to benefit from an improved rice harvest even when water becomes scarce.
New study sheds light on genetics of rice metabolism
Source: Science Codex08/02/2012 – A large-scale study analyzing metabolic compounds in rice grains conducted by researchers at the RIKEN Plant Science Center (PSC) and their collaborators has identified 131 rice metabolites and clarified the genetic and environmental factors that influence their production. The findings provide a natural way to bioengineer improved rice grain varieties by selectively…
Iran – iran defaults on rice payments to India
Source: Reuters07/02/2012 – Iranian buyers have defaulted on payments for about 200,000 tonnes of rice from their top supplier India, exporters and rice millers said on Tuesday, a sign of the mounting pressure on Tehran from a new wave of Western sanctions.
Philippines – Rice stocks down in January; 77-day inventory still ‘comfortable’
Source: Business World10/02/2012 – The country’s rice stock at the start of January was down 23.3% year on year, according to data released yesterday by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), a level declared as “comfortable” by an official.
Philippines – Repair of rice terraces to start this month
Source: Business World06/02/2012 – Rehabilitation of the internationally known rice terraces in the North will start by the end of this month given favorable weather conditions, an official said yesterday, with the project expected to be completed in three months.
Vietnam – Rice importers return survey prices
Source: Vietnam Net05/02/2012 – Le Truong Son, general director of Docimexco Dong Thap, said it is difficult to sign commercial contracts at present. Importers mainly come back to study prices, waiting for the peak harvest season of the winter-spring rice crop in late February and early March this year.