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Aug 5, 2015
Vol 5 ,Issue VIII
Page 1
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN) has challenged the validity of a 2012 study
on Golden Rice, because of not receiving sufficient evidence on the results of the study,
according to the Ecologist.The AJCN noted that since it did not receive sufficient evidence of
consent from parents of the children who were involved in the children, it has issued a retraction
to the paper.
Experts say the study may also be questioned as the children in the trial were fed with diets that
were unrealistically high in fat because the effectiveness of Vitamin A could be noticed only
with high amount of fat. However, the AJCN has not considered this argument for retracting the
study.
Genetically modified golden rice is considered to be rich in beta carotene, which is useful in
treating Vitamin A Deficiency in children. Environmentalists across the world have been
opposing the cultivation and commercialization of golden rice due to its negative impact on
environment. Currently the Indian Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is working to commercialize
golden rice as soon as possible.
Drought and water shortages have damaged around 1.5 million rai (around 240,000 hectares) of
main rice crop, or around 19% of 8 million rai planted (around 1.28 million hectares) in nearly
22 provinces of Central Thailand, Bloomberg quoted the Deputy Prime Minister as saying. The
main rice crop contributes to around 70% of the country's total rice outputThe Minister told
reporters that farmers usually plant rice in around 57 million rai (around 9.12 million hectares)
across Thailand between May and October citing data from the Office of Agricultural Economics
(OAE).
He noted that the government would assist farmers after assessing the intensity of damage. Last
month, the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE) has estimated that the output from 2015
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main rice crop to decline about 14% to around 23.3 million tons from around 27.1 million tons
last year.
Chicago rough rice futures for Sep delivery settled 6 cents per cwt (about $1 per ton) higher at
$11.455 per cwt (about $253 per ton). The other grains finished the day with mixed results;
Soybeans closed about 0.7% higher at $9.4225 per bushel; wheat finished about 1.1% lower at
$4.9325 per bushel, and corn finished the day about 0.6% higher at $3.7875 per bushel.
U.S. stocks traded mostly lower on Tuesday as investors eyed a continued sharp decline in Apple
and a slight recovery in oil prices after the prior day's plunge. The major averages traded in a
range, holding mildly lower after fluctuating around the flatline throughout the morning. The
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energy sector gave up early gains despite recovery in oil. Energy stocks fell 2% Monday,
following a more than 3.5% drop in West Texas Intermediate crude futures and 4.5% decline in
Brent futures, which fell below $50 per barrel for the first time since the end of January. On the
data front, June factory orders figures showed an increase of 1.8%.
On Wednesday, markets will be watching for the ADP employment report, which comes ahead
of the labor report on Friday. In Europe, equities closed slightly lower as low commodity prices
and energy stocks dented sentiment. In its second day of trading after reopening, the Greek stock
market opened down over 4%, but pared losses to end roughly 1.2% lower. The Dow Jones
Industrial Average traded down 13 points, or 0.07%, at 17,583. The S&P 500 traded up 0.50
points, or 0.02%, at 2,098, with utilities leading four sectors lower and materials the greatest
advancer. The Nasdaq traded up 2 points, or 0.04%, at 5,117. Gold is trading about 0.2% lower,
crude oil is seen trading about 1.2% higher, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading at about 0.2%
higher at about 1:00pm Chicago time.
Monday, there were 1,100 contracts traded, down from 1,553 contracts traded on Friday. Open
interest the number of contracts outstanding on Monday increased by 132 contracts to 8,947.
Chicago rough rice futures for Sep delivery are currently seen trading 3 cents per cwt (about $1
per ton) lower at $11.365 per cwt (about $251 per ton) during early floor trading in Chicago. The
other grains are seen trading higher this morning; soybeans are currently seen trading about 0.8%
higher, wheat is listed about 0.6% higher and corn is currently noted about 0.2% higher.
U.S. stocks traded in a range on Tuesday as investors watched Apple and eyed a slight recovery
in oil prices after the prior day's sharp decline. The major averages briefly attempted mild gains
soon after opening in the red. The energy sector gained half a percent to lead S&P 500 gains.
Energy stocks fell 2 percent Monday, following a more than 3.5% drop in West Texas
Intermediate crude futures and 4.5% decline in Brent futures, which fell below $50 per barrel for
the first time since the end of January. Oil output by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC) reached the highest monthly level in recent history in July, and production
could rise further if Iran achieves a plan to raise output by 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) as soon
as sanctions are lifted. On the data front, June factory orders figures are due at 10 a.m. ET.
Page 4
On Wednesday, markets will be watching for the ADP employment report, which comes ahead
of the labor report on Friday. In Europe, equities traded mixed as slipping commodity prices and
energy stocks dented sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average traded up 17 points, or
0.10%, at 17,614. The S&P 500 traded up 2 points, or 0.07%, at 2,099, with energy leading six
sectors higher and utilities the greatest laggard. The Nasdaq traded down 1 point, or 0.02%, at
5,113. Gold is currently trading about 0.2% higher, crude oil is seen trading about 2.2%
higher, and the U.S. dollar is currently trading about 0.1% lower at 9:00am Chicago time.
Heavy rains in India's Eastern states of West Bengal, Odisha and Manipur have damaged several
hectares of paddy fields raising concerns of lower production and higher prices, according to
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local sources.Over 200,000 hectares of paddy and vegetable fields have been damaged in West
Bengal, and a flood-like situation in northern Odisha is likely to affect more paddy fields. A
similar situation is persisting in Manipur as well.
The Director of the Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) noted that the crop is not in a very
bad position and damage could be reduced if fresh sowing can be undertaken in August using
short-duration paddy seeds. However, he said if farmers opt for a next round of sowing after
water recedes in the fields, there should be adequate rainfall for effective transplantation of
seeds.The CRRI Director noted that price hikes may be ruled out for now since the government
procurement is inadequate in some states and due to this, farmers are unable to sell their output.
Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a 16% deficit in the
rainfall during the second half (August-September) of the monsoon season (June-September),
according to local sources. It forecasts August to receive 10% deficit rainfall and a higher deficit
in September.
The Head of the long-range forecasting at IMD noted that India's north-west region may witness
highest deficit of around 15% in rainfall in the remaining season while central, and eastern India
are expected to receive heavy rains.
The CRRI Director added that it is too early to decide whether the rainfall deficit will impact rice
productivity. However, he noted that the government could assist farmers in areas that are more
likely to be affected by a dry spell. According to data from the Agriculture Ministry, total area
planting to India's 2015-16 Kharif (main) rice crop (June - December) stood at around 22.8
million hectares as of July 31, 2015, up about 6% from around 21.5 million hectares planted
during the same time last year.
Vietnam 5% broken
335-345
India 5% broken
385-395
Pakistan 5% broken
345-355
Myanmar 5% broken
400-410
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425-435
Uruguay 5% broken
535-545
Argentina 5% broken
530-540
350-360
325-335
315-325
350-360
445-455
375-385
415-425
555-565
545-555
Vietnam Jasmine
485-495
NQ
NQ
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835-845
320-320
Brokens
Thailand A1 Super
285-295
350-360
NQ
325-335
The Thai Commerce Ministry is planning to auction over 660,000 tons of stockpiled rice on
August 11, 2015, according to local sources.The Director-General of the Foreign Trade
Department told local sources that a total of 668,000 tons comprising 11 types of rice would be
auctioned on August 11. She note that the rice is currently stores in warehouses under the Public
Warehouse Organization and the Marketing Organization for farmers. Bidders are supposed to
submit documents on August 10 and the names of qualified bidders are schedule to be
announced on the morning of August 11 before the bidding process begins. Qualified bidders can
submit their bids until afternoon and the winners will be announced on the same day, according
to Ministry sources.
This is the fifth auction this year and ninth one after the military government took over in May
2014.The government sold around 3.88 million of rice raising around 40 billion baht (around
$1.15 billion) from the first eight auctions. The military government is still holding around 15.11
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million tons of rice in its stockpiles. It is planning to auction around 1.29 million tons of spoilt
rice for industrial use in this month
Planting for the ongoing 2015 secondary yala rice crop (March - September) in Sri Lanka has
reached record 497,552 hectares as of the June 30, 2015, according to data released by the Socio
Economics and Planning Centre of the Peradeniya Agriculture Department.The government
website reports that planting for the ongoing yala crop is highest so far and it is up about 59%
from last yala season and up about 22% from the five-year average. It also reports that the
planting is about 95% of the target.
Planting has reportedly exceeded the targets in Ampara, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa,
Kilinochchi, Vavunia and Mahaweli H, B,C, L and Udawalawa.
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Based on the planting pace, the government forecasts paddy output from the ongoing yala rice
crop at around 1.91 million tons, up about 67% from last year and about 28% higher from
average of last five yala seasons.Last month, the government of Sri Lanka planned to procure
about 120,000 tons of paddy from the ongoing yala rice crop. Harvested paddy is expected to
reach markets from early August.
The FAO forecasts Sri Lanka's total 2015 paddy output to increase about 21% to around 4.1
million tons (around 2.7 million tons, basis milled) from an estimated 3.4 million tons (around
2.3 million tons, basis milled) in 2014.USDA estimates Sri Lanka to produce around 2.85 million
tons of rice, basis milled (around 4.19 million tons, basis paddy) and import around 550,000 tons
in MY 2014-15 (October 2014 - September 2015).
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