Pakistan – Five cotton, four rice varieties approved
Source: The News24/05/2013 – The Punjab Seed Council has approved five non-BT cotton and four new rice varieties for general cultivation in Punjab.
India – Global body to promote rice bran oil
Source: The Hindu Business Line23/05/2013 – Rice bran oil producers have decided to form an international organisation to create an awareness among consumers about the health advantages of using the oil.
Thailand – Source: Rice scheme losses look set to soar to B200bn
Source: Bangkok Post23/05/2013 – Losses from the government’s rice pledging scheme for the 2011-12 harvest year are estimated to reach 200 billion baht, far above the Finance Ministry’s earlier forecast of 70-100 billion baht, says a source.
China – Chinese rice mills investigated following reports of large-scale rice contamination
Source: The Washington Post21/05/2013 – Authorities are investigating rice mills in southern China following tests that found almost half of the staple grain in one of the country’s largest cities was contaminated with a toxic metal.
Pakistan – Pakistan eyes $1 billion rice export to China
Source: Business Recorder21/05/2013 – Soaring rice demand in China prompted Pakistan to estimate the commodity’s export growth to $1 billion to the neighbouring state alone….but the trade needs government’s priority, it is learnt. China has emerged as new rice exporting market for Pakistani traders and rice export to neighbouring country has witnessed a robust growth…
India – Rice seen ruling unchanged this week
Source: The Hindu Business Line20/05/2013 – The rice market may continue to rule around current levels with marginal fluctuations this week, said market experts.
Japan – Rice seeds sown in former Fukushima evacuation zone
Source: RT20/05/2013 – Farmers in Fukushima have started planting rice in the former radioactive no-go zone, as close as 15 km from the TEPCO plant which suffered a meltdown in March 2011. They intend to sell the grain for mass consumption.
China – High cadmiun levels found in Guangzhou rice
Source: South China Morning Post18/05/2013 – Nearly half the rice and rice products on sale in Guangzhou contain too much cadmium, a toxin and carcinogen that can damage the kidneys, a three-month investigation by the city’s food safety authorities found.
Thailand – Officials sure of rise in 2013 rice exports
Source: The Nation18/05/2013 – Despite sluggish global demand and reduced competitiveness, the Commerce Ministry is confident Thailand will be able to export 8.5 million tonnes of rice this year, generating US$ 5.7 billion (Bt169.4 billion) – 20 per cent higher than was achieved last year.
India – Rice market hit by uncertainty
Source: The Hindu Business Line16/05/2013 – It is hard to anticipate the rice market future currently and it is unlikely to see any major alteration in the next few days. The market may continue to rule around current levels with marginal fluctuations, said traders.