Safety

Quite a lot to share this time round, so without any due, let's see what IRRI (Dec. 18) has come up with:

'After rigorous biosafety assessment, Golden Rice “has been found to be as safe as conventional rice" by the Philippine Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry. The biosafety permit, addressed to the Department of Agriculture - Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), details the approval of GR2E Golden Rice for direct use as food and feed, or for processing (FFP).

Reading the full press announcement, one notices that the Filipino procedure was just a formality it seems, If countries such as Australia, Canada, US and NZ have already verified the product, why should the Philippines lag? 
Because the prior mentioned countries will probably never ever consume the product, so their verification was easy. as suspected their approval opens the door for more approvals without carrying out significant checks. Just another step in failing to openly  discuss the strategy of giving GMO rice approval.

Range

Onwards.

There seems to be problems concerning prices on offer to farmers. The Phnom Penh Post (Dec. 11):

'Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday appealed to rice millers and paddy buyers not to lower prices and to secure better rates for farmers facing difficulties in the early harvest season.
The Cambodian Rice Federation (CRF) said the low prices were due to an influx of poor quality paddy in some areas'.

It doesn't seem to have helped. VOA (Dec. 20) entirely objectively notes this:

'The Cambodian Agriculture Ministry rejected criticism circulating on social media about farmers getting low prices for their rice in the paddy-producing provinces of Battambang, Pursat and Banteay Meanchey.
The ministry released a statement on Tuesday claiming that farmers receiving low rice prices were selling poor quality rice and that prices were still within an acceptable range. Ministry officials were also working with rice mills to procure as much rice as possible from farmers.
...
However, Yaing Saing Koma, an agricultural expert, said that rice prices were low mainly because rice export to European Union is declining.
The rice export to the EU has dropped from around 170,000 tons in 2018 to 120,000 tons in 2019 for the first eight months, according to representatives of rice millers. The rice sector was also hit with tariffs for exports to the European Union earlier this year, after Italy triggered safeguard mechanisms.
“The rice exports to the EU are dropping badly so it affects the profit of the rice milling companies. They are afraid to stock a lot of rice for export,” he said.
Earlier this month, the Cambodia Rice Federation said it needed $200 million in working capital to buy rice from the farmers on account of shrinking loans available in the financial sector, with government allocating only $50 million of the required capital'.

As above, the purchasers have said it's not their fault. The Khmer Times (Dec. 20):

'The Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) has fought back against claims that the current price of paddy is too low to sustain farmers’ livelihoods.
“Despite what people are saying on social media, the price of paddy has not decreased below market price. The current price is acceptable for farmers,” said CRF president Song Saran.
CRF comments follow viral posts on social media platforms claiming the current price level is insufficient to make a living.
...
He also suggested that the drop in the price of paddy may be the result of farmers planting lower quality varieties. He called on farmers to focus on “purer” rice types'.

A bit strange, this blame game. Surely if prices are lower, then this also spells better times for poorer citizens? A double edged sword?

Fortified
More then on the above mentioned loan scheme. The Phnom Penh Post (Dec. 8):

'The state-owned Rural Development Bank (RDB) has announced that it will distribute $50 million in loans to private rice millers to sustain the paddy market for farmers.
The Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) said the funds will be used to purchase nearly 300,000 tonnes of paddy during the post-monsoon harvest season, which ends at the beginning of next year.
The additional loans come after the CRF asked the government to provide $200 million in loans to rice millers late last month.
...
RDB CEO Kao Thach told The Post last week that capital shortage in the rice sector is between $200 million and $250 million. To help remedy the issue, he has called on commercial banks to lend more to the sector'.

Then some news on lesser rice related news from Khmer kingdom. The Phnom Penh Post (Dec. 9) looks at the evolving Chinese market:

'China has granted an additional 18 Cambodian rice millers approval to export rice into the country, bringing the total to 44, the Chinese Embassy in Phnom Penh said on Friday.
The additional rice exporters will help the Kingdom achieve its 400,000 tonne quota of rice to China starting next year, it said.
Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) vice-president Chan Sokheang said China’s decision comes after a CRF proposal to increase the Kingdom’s rice production capacity to supply the Chinese market.
...
According to an official report, in the first 11 months of this year, international rice exports totalled 514,149 tonnes. This was a 3.4 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, at 497,240 tonnes.
China was the Kingdom’s leading export market in the first 11 months of this year, with 195,242 tonnes. The EU imported 174,397 tonnes and the Asean region 69,239 tonnes. The remainder was exported to Africa and other destinations'.

Other markets. Phnom Penh Post (Dec. 3) on South Africa:

'Milled rice exporter Mekong Oryza Trading Co Ltd signed an export memorandum of understanding (MoU) with companies from Hong Kong and South Africa in Phnom Penh on Tuesday'.

Then concerning Nigeria, the Phnom Penh Post (Dec. 16):

'A Nigerian investor is looking to directly export rice from Pursat province to the west African country, citing the quality of Cambodia’s milled rice.
The investor’s representative, Mustapha Sammy Yaacob, the chief operating officer of SNZ Engineering Sdn Bhd, raised the subject at a meeting with Pursat provincial governor Mao Thonin on Sunday'.

Other snippets. Phnom Penh Post (Dec. 8) looks at contracts:

'Contract farming between community producers and rice millers or buyers brings growers great benefits, with an expanded market and more favourable prices, industry insiders have said.
Contract farming refers to an agreement between a company and an agricultural community regarding prices, quantities and standards of quality.
Signatures of Asia Co Ltd chairman and CEO Chan Sokheang told The Post on Thursday that contract farming in the paddy production sector would bring better prices for farmers than the market and ease concerns about market shortages and price fluctuations.
...
Signatures of Asia currently has contracts with 30 communities – consisting of nearly 4,000 families – in Preah Vihear, Banteay Meanchey, Stung Treng, Kampong Speu and Mondulkiri provinces, Sokheang said.
He said the high-quality phka malis paddy cost his company between 1,030 and 1,080 riel ($0.25 and $0.27) per kilogramme when bought from one such community on Thursday, while organic paddy goes for between 1,450 and 1,700 riel, which is slightly down on last year'.

Finally, the last bit on Cambodia's rice, the Phnom Penh Post (Dec. 19):

'The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) announced its collaboration on Thursday with a Cambodian company to provide rural students with micronutrient-enriched school meals.
The partnership will see the WFP and Green Trade Company blend fortified rice kernels with Cambodian white rice to support the school meals programmes organised by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport'.

Odd, this, as me thinks that this renders Golden Rice obsolete?

State

Thailand has some rice related concerns. Quality?  Bangkok Post (Dec. 1):

'Failing to win the prize as the world's best fragrant rice for two consecutive years has come as a wake-up call for Thailand to overhaul its research and development into Hom Mali rice varieties to catch up with the changing global demand for fragrant rice.
After winning the contest for five consecutive years, Thailand's Hom Mali (jasmine) rice was beaten last year by Cambodia's fragrant rice and this year by Vietnam's ST25 variety.
"It's about time that both the government and the private sector joined hands in a more serious effort to improve the quality of Thai rice to meet the global market's expectations," said Charoen Laothamatas, president of Thai Rice Exporters Association'.

Overall rice production is down.  Bangkok Post (Nov. 28):

'Thailand's annual paddy production for both the main and second crops is forecast at 27-28 million tonnes in the 2019-20 season, weighed down by a drop in production for the second crop because of flooding and drought.
Whichai Phochanakij, director-general of the Internal Trade Department, who on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the subcommittee handling reference prices for rice price guarantees, said paddy output from the second crop is estimated at just 3.5 million tonnes, down 54% from 7.75 million tonnes the previous season, due to drought and inadequate water supply from dams'.

The Nation (Nov. 28) notes how the government is sugar coating their rural policies:

'Speaking after a meeting with the rice price guarantee committee, the Department of Internal Trade’s director-general Wichai Phochanakit revealed on Wednesday (November 27) that 90 per cent of the rice grown in crop year 2019/2020 had been harvested, but the volume had decreased drastically due to drought and floods'.

More or less what the Bangkok Post (Nov. 25) previously reported on:

'The government has set aside 70 billion baht to shore up paddy prices, as the annual harvest is scheduled to flood the market this month.
Whichai Phochanakij, director-general of the Internal Trade Department, said the latest meeting of the subcommittee handling national rice policy and management chaired by Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit last week approved the schemes worth a combined 70 billion baht'.

Back on the prices subjects. Neighbour to the north (Laos) is also concerned, but to the opposite: rising prices. Phakhaolao reports (Nov. 14):

'The total yield is expected to be about 3.5 million tonnes – a downward slide from the original target of 4.4 million tonnes. Rising prices, shortages and storage issues, including difficulties in procuring rice, are worrisome for both the people and the state'.

Laos works outside world market (or nòt) thanks to their love of sticky rice. 

Derailed

Continuing on the same theme (what's happening with the neighbours), there's the never ending story of cleaning up your act. In this case is it acceptable to use what are increasingly believed to be harmful substances while maintaining you product is pure nature itself?

Concrete, use of paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos are to be axed in Thailand. Or not? Because this is after all Thailand, where anything goes.

Bangkok Post (Nov. 24) starts off:

'Opposition to the state's ban on three harmful herbicides looks set to escalate as farmers gear up to defy an order to hand over the chemicals to authorities amid plans for a rally on Tuesday.
The prohibition against the trade, use and possession of paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos -- announced late last month by the National Hazardous Substances Committee (NHSC) -- will take effect from Dec 1 but opponents are challenging its enforcement and have refused to follow orders as the deadline draws near'.

It works. The Nation (Nov. 27):

'Yielding to pressure from farmers and distributors, a government-established committee has recommended a six-month delay in the planned ban on hazardous agrichemicals paraquat and chlorpyrifos and limited continued use of a third, glyphosate.
Industry Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit said on Wednesday (November 27) the Hazardous Substance Committee he chairs voted unanimously to postpone the ban on two chemicals and allow continued use of the third. 24 committee members casted their votes while 5 were absent.
The committee had on October 22 recommended that all three be banned.
The Department of Agriculture announced in the government gazette on November 18 that the bans would take effect on December 1.
But Suriya declared on Wednesday the ban on paraquat and chlorpyrifos would be postponed to June 1 and “the use of glyphosate will follow the commitee's guideline annouced back on May 23, 2018”'.

Then the confusion. The Bangkok Post (Nov. 28):

'Public health authorities insisted on Thursday that the National Committee on Hazardous Substances neither lifted nor eased a ban on three toxic farm chemicals, as Industry Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit had said.Permanent secretary Sukhum Karnchanapimai and other senior health officials held a press conference at the ministry in Nonthaburi province on Thursday to refute Mr Suriya's announcement.On Wednesday Mr Suriya told journalists at the Industry Ministry that the new National Committee on Hazardous Substances had decided unanimously that day to lift the scheduled ban on the herbicide glyphosate and delay the ban on the herbicide paraquat and pesticide chlorpyrifos for six months from Dec 1'.

So despite no decision having been taken, a decision has been taken. Huh? Bangkok Post (Nov. 29) notes what's happening:

'BioThai, an anti-farm chemical pressure group, has alleged that "four major forces'' were behind the decision to scrap the ban on the herbicide glyphosate and delay the prohibitions against the herbicide paraquat and pesticide chlorpyrifos.
BioThai (Biodiversity & Food Sovereignty Action Thailand), which campaigned to have the chemicals banned, published an article titled "Analysis: 36 Days to derail the ban on glyphosate'' on its website on Thursday.
The group claimed the decision to derail the ban was the result of a joint effort by a Thai animal-feed producer, a group of herbicide producers, and two political parties in collusion with US entities'.

The Nation has more on this briefing.

Bangkok Post (Dec. 4):

'The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry still has no idea how it will handle three controversial toxic farm chemicals pending an official direction from the National Hazardous Substances Committee (NHSC).
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chalermchai Sri-on said on Wednesday that NHSC had not sent its official resolution from its Nov 27 meeting that reviewed a proposed ban on the herbicides paraquat and glyphosate and the pesticide chlorpyrifos.
When reporters asked Mr Chalermchai what his ministry was doing with the three toxic chemicals, he said he could not relay any instructions to any organisation under his supervision pending the official conclusion from the national committee'.

Green

Phnom Penh Post (Dec. 10) has a message on an overall trade issue:

'Two more provinces have been allowed to issue the certificate of origin (CO) Form D which makes it easier for exporters to apply from their locations. In future commerce departments in each province will carry out this function.
...
With provincial departments of commerce now being able to issue the form, the application process for a CO will take just 16 hours compared to 10 days to two weeks if applied at the ministry in Phnom Penh'.

Then to the fruits. The Phnom Penh Post (Dec. 1):

'Official mango exports from Cambodia to China could begin as soon as the beginning of next year after visiting experts concluded that the fruit grown in the Kingdom is of good quality.
Officials from the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) visited the Kingdom on November 24 to inspect Cambodian mango cultivation and determine whether to approve exports.
...
Vann Rithy, general manager of Angkor Mango, a mango buyer and exporter, on Sunday said that China is a large, high-demand and high-value market, and that official exports would greatly contribute to the growth of Cambodia’s economy.
The Kingdom’s mangoes are currently exported to China informally through Vietnam and Thailand.
“When official mango exports to China receive the green light, Cambodia will see a lot of benefits, particularly in regard to prices.
The previous need to export through neighbouring countries led to lower mango prices,” Rithy said.
He said the Kingdom would not be able to produce enough mangoes to meet the increased demand, but that yields are set to increase significantly as the approval of exports would encourage farmers in most provinces to plant more mango trees.
Chhay [Ngin Chhay, director-general of the General Directorate of Agriculture at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries] said there are currently around 60,000 to 70,000ha of mango plantations in the Kingdom'.

The Khmer Times (Dec. 20) chimes in:

'Mangoes could be one of the main agricultural products from Cambodia to be exported to foreign markets, providing high hopes for their current untapped farming potential, the government says, adding the sector is ready for new investment.
There is big scope because there are more than 100,000 hectares of land planted with the sweet, juicy fruit, which translates to at least 1 million tonnes harvested each season.
However, only a small percentage is currently exported because of poor facilities and technical knowhow for planting the trees.
...
Currently, mango fruits from Cambodia are exported to France, Spain, and Russia, Hong Kong, Thailand and Vietnam.
Last year, Cambodia exported about 50,000 tonnes of fresh mangoes to foreign markets, most of them shipped to Thailand and Vietnam.
South Korea will become a new market for mangoes by early next year, while the exporting company is working to progress the business as fast as it can'.

Phnom Penh Post (Nov. 20) on banana's:

'Yellow banana exports to China have grown since April when the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced that the fruit can be exported directly without relying on Vietnam as an intermediary, Longmate Agriculture Co Ltd director Hun Lak said on Wednesday.
He told The Post that besides expanding its exports to China, his company is seeking to export to Japan, South Korea and the Middle East.
“In Cambodia, the climate is favourable [for yellow bananas]. It is hot and humid, and the soil is fertile and well suited to the cultivation of bananas.
...
He said Cambodia exports an average of 60 containers of bananas a month to China at a median price of between $550 and $600 per tonne.
“We have officially received approved exporter status because Chinese customs authorities and companies recognise our banana standards,” he said.
So far this year, the Kingdom had exported 127,459 tonnes of yellow bananas to China since official direct exports to the Chinese market were authorised, a report from the ministry’s General Department of Agriculture said on Friday.
According to data from the General Department of Agriculture, from the third quarter of last year, three major yellow banana farms existed in Cambodia. They are located in Ratanakkiri, Kratie and Kampot provinces and have a total area of 4,996ha – all for export'.

The Phnom Penh Post (Dec. 19) on coconut, a very overlooked crop. China seems interested:

'Coconut Palm Group Co Ltd is planning to invest in coconut plantations and set up a factory in Cambodia to produce fruit juice, said its general manager Zhao Bo at a recent meeting with Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon.
The company is the biggest natural plant protein soft drink producer in China and specialises in processing tropical fruits such as coconuts.
...
The ministry said in 2016, coconut was cultivated on a total of 16,935ha in Cambodia, mainly in Preah Sihanouk, Kampong Speu and Kampot provinces.
...
Zhao said the Coconut Palm Group, located in Hainan, has annual revenues of $400 million and uses 600,000 coconuts a day in its production. The company also employs 6,000 workers and exports its juices to 38 countries.
The company, he said, was established 31 years ago, and in 2016, it paid 603 million yuan ($86.2 million) in taxes – 201 times more than it did in 1985. “Our company’s development has helped to promote the tropical fruits planting industry in Hainan,” Zhao said'.

Drop
Last chapter, ag issues in the wider region. Just a pair.
Phnom Penh Post (Dec. 15) reports on Vietnam's fruit trade:

'Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports dropped 0.6 per cent year-on-year to $3.5 billion in the first 11 months this year, data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) shows.
The drop was attributed to falling earnings from dragon fruit, which accounted for 31 per cent of total fruit exports, (down nine per cent), durian (down 17.4 per cent), coconut (down 35 per cent), longan (down 56 per cent) and watermelon (down 26.4 per cent)'.

Phakhaolao (Nov. 14) sees problems with the Lao coffee production:

'Champassak is suffering the effects of a 28 percent decrease in the price of coffee exports compared to last year, with the price now standing at 1,800 kip per kilogram compared to 2,500 kip. The province's Industry and Commerce Department said that in the first nine months of this year 17,993 tonnes of coffee was exported, a drop of 28 per cent compared to last year'. 

Scheisse

It seems to be all unravelling for Bayer on it's purchase of Monsanto. The Guardian (Sep. 4) notes:

'Germany has said it will phase out the controversial weedkiller glyphosate because it wipes out insect populations crucial for ecosystems and pollination of food crops.

The chemical, also suspected by some experts to cause cancer in humans, is to be banned by the end of 2023 when the EU’s approval period for it expires, ministers said.

Biologists have sounded the alarm over plummeting insect populations that affect species diversity and damage ecosystems by disrupting natural food chains and plant pollination'.

An unusual source, (the Common Dreams, Aug. 28) looked at the internal communications of Monsanto, which (at least in the past) seemed to have been lacking:

'Leaked emails from scientists working with agrichemical giant Monsanto feature company leaders in 2013 wishing they could "beat the shit out of" advocacy group Moms Across America. 

Moms Across America wrote an open letter asking Monsanto to discontinue the use of the pesticide glyphosate—which some research has tied to cancers—and to stop producing genetically modified seeds that was seen by company executives as a public relations disaster.

"I have been arguing for a week to beat the shit out of them and I have clearly lost," Monsanto's Dr. Daniel Goldstein wrote to University of Georgia crop scientist Wayne Parrott and University of Illinois biochemist Bruce Chassy. "We don't want to be seen as beating up on mothers."

The emails were released as part of litigation relating to the cancer-causing effects of glysophate against Monsanto's now-parent company Bayer'. 

Sought
Quite some news to share on Cambodia's rice industry.
Starting with organic production of rice. The Khmer Times (Sep. 4) notes how important organic rice exports to the EU are, in which Cambodia is a big-time player:

'Cambodia was the fifth largest exporter of organic rice to the European Union last year, with local companies confident exports will continue to rise in the coming years.

Demand for organic rice in the EU and other key markets like the United States, Australia, and China is soaring as consumers become more environmentally and health-conscious, key insiders said.

According to figures from the EU shared with the Cambodia Rice Federation, Cambodia exported 8,467 tonnes of organic rice to the bloc last year, representing 3.9 percent of all EU organic rice imports.

The US was the largest exporter of organic rice to the EU, accounting for almost 70 percent of the market. It was followed by Pakistan and India, with 10 and 9 percent, respectively.

Thailand came in at number four with 4.9 percent of the market (10,522 tonnes in exports).

Local rice exporters told Khmer Times that the amount of Cambodian organic rice shipped to the bloc has increased this year.

About 90 percent of all Cambodian exports of organic rice to the EU last year belonged to Amru Rice Cambodia.

...

Chan Pich, general manager of Signature of Asia, who last year exported 1,500 tonnes of organic rice to the EU, said demand for organic rice in the European Union grows about 15 percent every year.

“Cambodia’s organic rice is sought after in the EU because it has good quality and real traceability,” Mr Pich said.

According to Mr Pich, a tonne of organic jasmine rice fetches $1,500 while organic long-grain white rice sells for about $950 per tonne'.

Organics are  less affected by the increased tariffs on rice to the EU it appears, which are still being contended. The Khmer Times (Aug. 23):

'The Cambodian Rice Federation (CRF) yesterday asked the European Union to save the livelihoods of half a million families by halting the process to withdraw the Everything-but-arms scheme'.

But a few days later the same source (Aug. 27) notes a different strategy in regards to the increased tariffs:

'The Cambodia Rice Federation plans to meet with the European Commission to discuss the tariffs imposed on Cambodian rice earlier this year, according to a representative of the association.

However, CRF has yet to receive any response from Brussels regarding the complaint, Mr Yeng told Khmer Times.

Mr Yeng said the strategy is now to negotiate with the EU and to show European legislators that exports of Cambodian rice do not threaten the livelihoods of European farmers.

“In April, CRF filed a complaint with the EU. Now, we continue this work, but we will change our approach. We will meet with the EU and explain the issue because we believe that the EU is missing vital information that has led them to take the wrong course of action,” Mr Yeng said.

“Our rice is different from rice grown by farmers in Italy and Spain. We believe the decision to impose tariffs was based on a misunderstanding of the situation,” Mr Yeng added'.

It's questionable how much China will manage to pick up of the slackening trade with EU. The Khmer Times (Sep. 10):

'The Cambodia Rice Federation is confident the Kingdom will reach its milled rice export quota in the Chinese market, with the association emboldened by last week’s visit of China’s largest food processor, COFCO.

The Kingdom was unable to meet the quota last year, shipping just 170,000 tonnes out of the 300,000 allowed.

This year, however, things will be different, argued Lun Yeng, CRF secretary-general. Mr Yeng said that a delegation from Chinese firm COFCO arrived in Cambodia last week to “understand the situation” of rice production in Cambodia.

...

In the first half of 2019, Cambodia’s milled rice exports rose by 3.7 percent to 281,538 tonnes. Shipments to China represented 42 percent of all exports, about 118,400 tonnes'.

The overall strategy for the Cambodian rice industry (read exports) as exemplified by the Khmer Times (Aug. 15):

'The new board of the Cambodia Rice Federation yesterday vowed to grow the country’s rice exports to one million tonnes a year by 2022.

During the first meeting of the association since new leadership was elected last week, board members pledged to turn Cambodian rice into a globally recognisable brand and make the industry more sustainable, fair and transparent.

Song Saran, who is now the association’s president, said the priority will be to achieve one million tonnes in rice exports a year within the next three years.

...

Chan Sokheang, CEO of Signatures of Asia and a CRF board member, said, “We will work together to achieve the one-million-tonne target. Everyone wants to see this done.

“We must work as one to build a strong rice industry in Cambodia,” Mr Sokheang added.

The country’s exports of milled rice rose 3.7 percent during the first seven months of the year to reach 308,013 tonnes. China continues to be the Kingdom’s biggest market, purchasing 123,361 tonnes from January to July, a 40 percent increase'.

Finally some rice side news. AKP (Sep. 4):

'Agreement has been reached to build rice warehouses and silos in three provinces, which will contribute essentially to enhancing capacity of rice processing for exports to international markets.

The agreement was signed lately by Rice-SDP (Climate Resilient Rice Commercialisation Sector Development Programme) of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Rural Development Bank (RDB), and rice millers.

Under the agreement, selected rice millers will build rice warehouses and silos in three provinces of Battambang, Kampong Thom, and Prey Veng using US$10 million loan from the Asia Development Bank (ADB) through RDB'.

Hoarding

The Bangkok Post (Aug. 27) has an article on the Siam sticky rice woes:

'In a move to tackle rising glutinous rice prices, the government has ordered millers, traders and exporters to report their stocks by on Tuesday.

The Commerce Ministry will also call a meeting with millers and packaged rice producers on Wednesday to produce packed glutinous rice at a special price.

Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said he already ordered a nationwide inspection of glutinous rice to check hoarding and price gouging.

...

The domestic price of sticky rice rose sharply to 50 baht per kg from 35 baht last month.

The surge was attributed to the widespread drought and lower production over the last two years, as farmers shifted to grow more hom mali fragrant rice as the latter has a higher price.

...

"One of the urgent issues we are proposing the Commerce Ministry address is the smuggling of glutinous rice from neighbouring countries," said Mr Chookiat [Chookiat Ophaswonge, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association].

"Some foreign buyers have complained that their DNA tests have found Thai glutinous rice shipments are mingled with Vietnamese grains."

The free-on-board prices of Vietnamese glutinous rice are now quoted at about US$600 a tonne, while those of Thai glutinous rice amounts to $1,500, which is higher than Thai hom mali rice which remains at $1,200 a tonne'.

Aside from this Thai news, the major news from the Kingdom of Wonder is how the new junta will seek to entice farmers with what looks like a pledging scheme albeit with a different name. The Bangkok Post (Aug. 17):

'Paddy prices may be guaranteed at 10,000 to 14,000 baht a tonne for rice farmers initially, according to the commerce minister.

Jurin Laksanawisit said on Saturday that a joint meeting of officials, operators and farmers had agreed to set the prices of five types of paddy.

The output for each farming household varies by paddy type but the acreage per household for all five categories must not exceed 40 rai.

...

At the same time, he said, authorities would take steps to reduce production costs such as those for fertilisers, insecticides and harvesting fees. Other measures include promoting large-scale farming and the use of high-quality seeds, as well as buying general insurance for crops.

"Market demand will dictate production. Organic or GAP [Good Agricultural Practice] rice farming and special breeds will be promoted. In the long term, growers will be trained to become smart farmers, with the help of research, development and innovation," said Mr Jurin.

...

Its strong points are that, unlike the rival Pheu Thai Party's rice-pledging programme, it does not distort market mechanisms and corruption is generally minimal because the money is deposited directly to farmers' bank accounts.

One of the disadvantages of the programme is the government gets nothing in return for using a large budget to cover price differences, compared to the pledging programme in which rice can be kept for sale at a later date.

Besides, officials have to deal with rampant false claims about the sizes of rice fields by farmers seeking to be paid more. It also puts pressure on prices to rise because millers and others who buy the grain know the government will pay the price differences'.

Expectations
A major move in the alternatives for rice, the Khmer Times (Aug. 28) reports on Thailand closing the border for corn:

'Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce last week announced a ban on field corn imports coming through Ban Khao Din, in the border with Cambodia.

Ban Khao Din is an international border gate in Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province, which borders Battambang province.

In a statement, the ministry said the import ban will protect Thai farmers from potentially contaminated Cambodian goods, adding that Thailand produces enough corn to satisfy local demand.

“Starting the end of this month, imports of field corn will no longer be allowed through the border crossing with Cambodia,” the ministry said'.

Minor crops and some little heard of. For instance pomelo's. The Khmer Times (Sep. 5):

'Receiving Geographical Indication (GI) status has done little to increase sales of Koh Trong Pomelo outside Kratie province, farmers said.

The pomelo grown in Kratie’s Koh Trong commune last year became the third Cambodian product to obtain GI status, following in the footsteps of Kampot pepper and Kampong Speu’s palm sugar.

The fruit, however, has not gained much in popularity outside the province since, according to the Koh Trong Pomelo Producer Association, who owns 1,200 of the 2,000 pomelo trees in Koh Trong'.

Other fruity news. The Khmer Times (Sep. 5)

'Longmate Agriculture, one of five local companies allowed to export bananas directly to China, said they are on track to meet its goal of shipping 22,000 tonnes of the fruit by the end of the year.

Speaking to Khmer Times on Monday, Hun Lak, Longmate Agriculture director, said they have exported the fruit every month since the first shipment in early May.

“Our goal was to ship 22,000 tonnes of fresh yellow bananas to China and we are on course to meet that target,” he said, adding that small changes in yield due to weather conditions might slightly alter the total amount of fruit shipped in 2019.

...

Cambodia is expected to ship 130,000 tonnes of bananas to the Chinese market this year, the minister noted'.

Then the Khmer Times (Sep. 11) reports on the possibilities of exporting mango with the answer being as above: China.

'Mango is likely to be the next product that Cambodia exports directly to China, according to an official of the Ministry of Agriculture.

...

Mr Monyvuth [Ke Monyvuth, director of the ministry’s crop protection and SPS department] said on Tuesday that a team from China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine will visit Cambodia next month to conduct inspections at registered farmers.

“We expect that fresh mangoes will be the next agricultural product that Cambodia exports to China and we are now working to provide technical assistance to farmers to prepare for the requirements of the Chinese market,” Mr Monyvuth said.

In July, the ministry made public a list of the agricultural goods that are being prioritised for export to China. The list contained six items – fresh mango, longan, pepper, dragon fruit, fragrant coconut, and bird nests'.

Secure
Finally, the Kathmandu Post has an interesting article (Sep. 10) on farmers use of hybrid seeds (in all assorted crops) which is increasing.

"It’s not just local varieties of cauliflower that have been replaced by hybrid varieties from other countries. Most vegetables that the villagers grow come from imported hybrid seeds. And this is not limited to Bardev—it is happening across the country.

Just three decades ago, a majority of Nepali farmers relied on local indigenous seeds. Even until the 90s, Nepal was a seed exporting country. Today, according to agriculture scientists, more than 90 percent of vegetable seeds employed in the country are imported. Nearly 30 percent of maize seeds are imported, and around 15 percent of rice seeds are from other countries. As the number of vegetables and grains grown from imported hybrid seeds increases every year, scientists warn that this reliance on imports for something as sensitive to food security as seeds could have devastating consequences for the country’s agriculture sector—and for the genetic diversity of indigenous plants. “A country can never be food secure if it isn't seed secure,” said Madan Rai, seed specialist and agronomist. “Seed security is when farmers in the country have access to quality seeds at the right time and at reasonable prices. It's important that we as a country are self-sufficient on seeds to truly become food secure.”

...

But there have been several incidents of massive crop failure in the past. In 2013, paddy planted in 16 VDCs in Bhaktapur, amounting to 20,000 tonnes and worth Rs 80 million, was destroyed by “neck blast” and “bacterial leaf blight” diseases. Investigations revealed that the farmers had used DY 69--a Chinese hybrid variety--registered and recommended by the Seed Quality Control Centre under the Ministry of Agriculture Development in 2010. Bhandari was assigned to investigate the case, and his findings revealed the extent to which lack of information could hurt farmers. “The hybrid seed the farmers had used was recommended for the Tarai and Inner Tarai region, not Bhaktapur,” says Bhandari.

...

Some agro-scientists the Post spoke to said that depending solely on hybrid seeds isn’t good for the soil.“Hybrid seeds require a lot more nutrients than open-pollinated ones. So farmers have to use a lot of fertilisers, which accelerates the depletion of soil quality,” said Ghimire. “This is one of the long term serious negative impacts of using hybrid seeds.”Increased use of hybrid seeds will thus drive demand for pesticides and chemical fertilisers, and Nepal, which doesn't manufacture such fertilisers, will end up relying more on imports.

...

After decades of singular focus on hybrid seeds to increase agricultural productivity, there's a growing demand for crops produced from local varieties. “It's a fact that crops from hybrid seeds don't taste or smell as good as local varieties. Hybrid rice will never match the taste and smell of Pokhreli Jetho Budo, and the demand for local products are seeing an increase,” said Bhandari. “People are willing to pay more for local crops. Once there's demand, there will be supply.”

Exit

Not too much to report on this time round. 

Though lots on Monsanto slash Bayer. Nothing good for them, but suppose they can't be expecting that either.
Apologies that most of the forthcoming is from the Guardian; it does question whether my sources are balanced. Then again the opposing noises seem all to be hot air and sourced from company guidelines.

First off (Mar 19) with this:

'A federal jury in San Francisco found Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide was a substantial factor in causing the cancer of a California man, in a landmark verdict that could affect hundreds of other cases'.

Then (Mar. 27):

'A federal jury ruled that Monsanto was liable for a California man’s cancer and ordered the Roundup manufacturer to pay $80m in damages.
The ruling on Wednesday, which holds the company responsible for the cancer risks of its popular weedkiller [Roundup], is the first of its kind in US federal court and a major blow to Monsanto and its parent company, Bayer. A representative said Bayer would appeal'.

But more bad news (for Monsanto) was to follow (Mar. 29):

'One of the world’s most common pesticides will soon be banned by the European Union after safety officials reported human health and environmental concerns.
Chlorothalonil, a fungicide that prevents mildew and mould on crops, is the most used pesticide in the UK, applied to millions of hectares of fields, and is the most popular fungicide in the US'.

An opinion. The Guardian (Mar. 30):

'Following the recent courtroom victories, some have cheered the notion that Monsanto is finally being made to pay for alleged wrongdoing. But by selling to Bayer last summer for $63bn just before the Roundup cancer lawsuits started going to trial, Monsanto executives were able to walk away from the legal mess with riches. The Monsanto chairman Hugh Grant’s exit package allowed him to pocket $32m, for instance'.

In relating news (Apr. 8), though not necessarily attributable to either Monsanto or Bayer:

'Pesticides and antibiotics are polluting streams across Europe, a study has found. Scientists say the contamination is dangerous for wildlife and may increase the development of drug-resistant microbes.
More than 100 pesticides and 21 drugs were detected in the 29 waterways analysed in 10 European nations, including the UK. A quarter of the chemicals identified are banned, while half of the streams analysed had at least one pesticide above permitted levels'.

As an avid open and wild swimmer myself, this is particular poor news. Despite the appearances, we seem to encounter less and less natural worlds to enjoy.

Then finally (Apr. 11):

'A French appeals court has said US chemicals giant Monsanto was guilty of poisoning a farmer who said he suffered neurological damage after accidentally inhaling fumes from a weedkiller made by the company.
Paul François, a cereal farmer, had already won previous lawsuits against Monsanto, which was bought by Germany’s Bayer last year, in 2012 and 2015.
He said he fell ill in 2004 after being exposed to Lasso, a weedkiller containing monochlorobenzene that was legal in France until 2007 but had already been banned in 1985 in Canada and in 1992 in Belgium and Britain'.

Bloc(k)
Over to Cambodia

The Khmer Times (Apr. 1) notes:

'Local firms will no longer be charged value-added tax (VAT) on exports of agricultural goods, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced Friday.
The premier said dropping VAT charges on exports of agricultural products – including milled rice, corn, cassava, and pepper – will enhance the competitiveness of the agriculture and export sectors'.

All a no-brainer? Being in the export business myself, it comes as a surprise that VAT would have been charged at all. How on earth will you be competitive?

Concerning competition, the Phnom Penh Post (Apr. 5) looks at the most recent export figures:

'Despite losing its duty-free export status in the EU, the Kingdom’s rice exports saw a six per cent increase in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year, according to figures released by the Secretariat of One Window Service for Rice Export Formality.
Industry insiders said the increase is due to a rise in exports to China which offset the dip in EU sales.
The Secretariat’s report showed that rice exports in the first three months of 2019 reached 170,821 tonnes, a six per cent increase on the 161,115 tonnes exported in the same period last year.
Cambodia Rice Federation vice-president Hun Lak attributed the rise to new quotas implemented by the Chinese government that allowed the importing of up to 400,000 tonnes of tariff-free rice from Cambodia.

Reuters (Apr. 11) seems to know more than the local press on this:

'Cambodia has filed a challenge at the European Court of Justice against the European Union’s decision to impose import duties on Cambodian rice.
The bloc imposed tariffs for three years in January on rice from Cambodia and Myanmar to curb what it said was a surge in imports as a safeguard to protect EU producers such as Italy.
However, the Cambodian Rice Federation said on Thursday the safeguard measure did not relate to any unfair behavior and was based on broad generalizations and the flawed use of data'.

The region also seems very relaxed concerning rice news. Just this snippet from the Bangkok Post (Mar. 30):

'Thai rice exports declined in both volume and value in February, with blame falling on high prices relative to competitors, notably Vietnam, as well as the strong baht. Charoen Laothammatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said on Friday that outbound rice shipments totalled 687,560 tonnes in February, down 27.7% from the same month of last year, with exports worth 11.69 billion baht, down 23.5% year-on-year'. 

Prospects
Heading out of the rice related news, what's more that has drawn my attention and seems worthwhile to share?
Probably the most important news for Khmer ag exports is what Thailand seems to have on line for the smaller kingdoms produce. The Phnom Penh Post (Apr. 3):

'Thailand has put a restriction on agricultural product imports from neighbouring countries.
...
The Thai Department of Agriculture recently issued a notice on Cambodian cassava product imports, which requires all exporters to request import permission from Thailand and ensure the commodities be free of insects and various other organisms.
They must have a phytosanitary certificate and a certificate of origin for transport. The notice states that when the products arrive at the border gate if Thai authorities find a problem, the products will be returned or destroyed on the spot.
Kim Hout, the director of the Battambang provincial Department of Commerce, the province where cassava is mostly grown, on Tuesday said because Cambodia’s cassava is mostly exported to Thailand, there will be an inevitable impact.
However, he said: “As the cassava harvest is nearly finished, it will not seriously affect the farmers and exporters, but it will do so next season.”
According to Hout, about 90 per cent of cassava exports is sent to Thailand'.

More on the same crop and its potential. The Phnom Penh Post (Mar. 20):

'Cambodia produced more that 13 million tonnes of cassava last year, a drop on 2017 despite a six per cent increase in cultivation to 650,510ha nationwide, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
The data shows Cambodia produced 13,750,076 tonnes of cassava last year, a slight decrease from 13,817,262 tonnes in 2017. Cultivation increased six per cent from 612,861ha to 650,510ha.
A ministry official said he expects production to see an increase this year following the construction of a Kratie-based cassava processing factory, scheduled to be completed in May.
Ker Monthivuth, Department of Plant Protection Sanitary and Phytosanitary director under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, said the decrease in yield was due to climate change and pesticide damage'.

Then some features on lesser crops.
The Phnom Penh Post (Mar. 25) has an interview with Soeng Sopha, the general manager of Sela Pepper,

'What challenges do you face?
There are a lot of challenges in this field, such as farm management, technical, pesticide and financial controls, as well as a limited awareness of how to produce quality black pepper.
Farmers’ knowledge on how to manage their farms in a systematic way is in short supply – they merely farm by imitating each other without the proper use of techniques, pesticides, fertilisers and water economisation.
They also face other challenges such as financial limitations – they become disappointed with their farms when they cannot give them high yields, all while market prices are decreasing.
Another challenge we face is limited awareness on the local market of the quality of our black pepper. This makes it difficult for us to obtain support from local consumers and supermarkets.
We are also producers – we face high production costs and the high cost of logistics and importing packaging, which increases the price of our products and makes it hard to compete with local and international markets'.

Then palm sugar. The Phnom Penh Post (Apr. 5):

'Kampong Speu province’s sugar palm was registered as a protected product by the EU on Tuesday, according to a Confirel announcement.
Cambodia initially sent an application to register the name Skor Thnot Kampong Speu as a protected geographical indication (GI) to the European Commission on October 3, 2017, according to the Official Journal of the EU.
Initially scheduled to be registered in April last year, the application faced delays as EU law stipulated that a more refined definition of what constitutes Kampong Speu province sugar palm was required.
This is the second Cambodian GI product after Kampot province pepper was registered in February 2016'.

Finally some nut news from Vietnam. Vietnam plus (Mar. 26):

'Cashew prices are low at present, according to the Vietnam Cashew Association (Vinacas).
The price of fresh cashew nuts has recently stood at just 28,000-30,000 dong ($1.21-$1.29) per kg at farms in Binh Phuoc province and 30,000-32,000 dong for nuts delivered to factories. The price of dried cashews was about 36,000 dong per kg.
In the same period last year, the price was 40,000-42,000 dong per kg for fresh cashews and 50,000 dong per kg for dried cashews'.

Risky

The Guardian (Jul. 15) has an interesting article on what may lie ahead in terms of dealing with climate change directly. 
The study mentions does limit itself to maize, but one can imagine that if wheat would likewise become vulnerable, it could well have direct effect on rice / rice prices as rice will become a substitute crop:

'Governments may be seriously underestimating the risks of crop disasters occurring in major farming regions around the world, a study by British researchers has found.

...

The group found there is a 6% chance every decade that a simultaneous failure in maize production could occur in China and the US – the world’s main growers – which would result in widespread misery, particularly in Africa and south Asia, where maize is consumed directly as food.

...

Having studied the risks facing maize production, the group is now following up this work by studying climate impacts on the world’s other staple crops – in particular rice, wheat and soya beans – in order to assess how weather extremes could affect their production'.

Furthermore as most rice growing areas are grown in low lying  areas, indirectly higher rainfall and higher sea levels will affect rice output. A double whammy?

To confirm
A possible major breakthrough. Bangladesh may well be interested in Cambodian rice (Daily Star, Jul. 27), large scale. The only thing btw, counting in Cambodia's favour is it's lower price. The Khmer Times (Aug. 1) is pretty sure:

'Cambodia will reach an agreement with Bangladesh tomorrow for the kingdom’s rice to be exported to the South Asian country, according to an official in the Commerce Ministry.

“Under the deal, Bangladesh will import 1 million tonnes of milled rice from Cambodia for 5 years,” said Soeung Sophary, the ministry’s spokesperson yesterday'.

Other rice business news. The Phnom Penh Post (Jul. 12) reports on the exports obtained:

'Cambodian rice exports increased marginally during the first half of the year as export companies push to fulfil higher quotas destined for China.

Rice exports totalled 288,562 tonnes in the first six months of the year, an increase of 7.6 percent compared to the same time last year, according to the latest data published by the Secretariat of One Window Service for Rice Export Formality.

Exports to China accounted for 94,000 tonnes compared to France’s 37,000 tonnes and Poland’s 25,000 tonnes.

Despite the uptick in growth, Hean Vanhan, undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Agriculture, admitted that the figures showed a slow growth trend. He urged the private sector to increase capacity and secure more international orders to strengthen export potential'.

The China Daily (Jul. 8) chimes in but somehow is more upbeat:

'Cambodia exported 94,720 tons of milled rice to China in the first six months of 2017, up 101 percent compared to the same period last year, according to a government report on Friday'.

Elsewhere on the rice business front. The Phnom Penh Post (Jul. 12):

'Amru Rice, one of Cambodia’s largest rice exporters, signed a contract farming purchase agreement with 4,000 organic rice farmers in Preah Vihear province, reserving about $7 million to purchase nearly 20,000 tonnes of organic paddy during the upcoming harvest season, according to a press release yesterday'.

Then some sideline business. 
The Phnom Penh Post (Jul. 6) reports this curious note:

'The Preah Vihear Provincial Agriculture Department on Monday ordered its staff to help farmers by buying up invasive golden apple snails that are currently destroying their rice fields, according to the head of the department'.

While the Khmer Times (Jul. 3) shows how Sino-Cambodian rice business is dealt with:

'A feasibility study into the possibility of establishing a series of warehouses and kiln for rice farmers is exploring how to improve the quality of storage in the industry.

...

Mr Lak [vice president of Cambodia Rice Federation] could not confirm where the first warehouse and kiln will be located, but according to Jin Yu Hui, vice governor of Jilin province, Battambang is the priority area'.

Up
As is seen by the above the region has also been counting how much rice was exported in the first half of the year and simultaneously spinning some other rice news.

Vietnembreakingnews (Jul. 6) kicks off:

'Vietnam’s rice output during the winter-spring crop was estimated at 19.1 million tonnes, a year-on-year decrease of 1.5 percent, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development'.

Oddly the Bangkok Post (Jul. 6) reports on Vietnam:

'Vietnam has outlined plans to boost revenues from rice exports over the next decade by focusing on a higher quality product and selling more outside Asia.

The world's third-biggest rice producer wants to boost production of higher-quality 5% and 10% broken rice and decrease output of 15% broken rice, according to a paper published on the government's website.

...

Last year, the country's total rice exports fell by 27% to 4.8 million tonnes as it faced rising competition from Asian rivals, as well as policy changes in China and a fall in domestic production due to drought and high water salinity.

Exports rebounded 14% in the first half of this year to an estimated 2.96 million tonnes'.

Continuing with Vietnam, Vietnamnet (Jul. 9) reports which seems to disregard the above that already 4.8 million tonnes are being exported:

'Vietnam aims to export 4 million tonnes of rice in 2030 under a 2017-2020 rice export development strategy with a vision to 2030 recently approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc'.

What am I missing?
Then the Bangkok Post (Aug. 2) reports on Thailand: 

'Thailand is likely to export 11 million tonnes of rice this year, higher than its target, Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said on Wednesday.

"Thailand is negotiating rice deals with many countries such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh," Ms Apiradi told reporters.
"This will help improve Thai rice prices and push our export volume up to 11 million tonnes," she said.
Thailand, the world's second-biggest rice exporter after India, set an export target of 10 million tonnes for 2017.
It has exported 6.3 million tonnes of rice so far this year, an increase of 16% from the same period last year'.

Hurts
Away from the data news, the region has more to note on rice growing and business in general.
The Vientiane Times (Aug. 1) realizes that dealing with China is not so easy:

'Rice exports from Laos to China have been affected by the high standard conditions formulated by Chinese authorities, according to a leading Lao rice producer.
...

A Chinese company ordered 7,200 tonnes of rice last year but the country was unable to supply this amount as the standard required by Chinese buyers is very high, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce reported'.

Agriculture.com (Jul. 6) blames lower prices on the Thai junta's policy of pushing foreign workers out:

'"Prices have gone down because the baht has weakened," a trader in Bangkok said. The mass exodus of migrant workers since June 23 following the introduction of new labour regulations by the Thai military government has also hit the Thai rice industry with labour shortages.
"The shortage of workers at warehouses and at the docks has led to delay in the loading of shipment and this has hurt exporters' confidence in their ability to fulfil shipments," said another Bangkok-based rice trader.
More than half of the labour force in the Thai rice industry are migrant workers from neighbouring Cambodia and about three quarters of this workforce have left the country, said Chookiat Ophaswongse, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association.
The Thai government has since delayed parts of the new labour law, but many migrant workers have yet to return.
"Thai exporters hesitate to take new order because of the labour shortage and many potential international buyers are thinking twice about buying Thai rice because of this uncertainty," Chookiat said.
The labour shortage could raise the cost of production of Thai off-season crop, he said, which is expected to arrive from around August to September'.

Vietnamplus (Jul. 4) shares with us, news from Thailand:

'Thailand’s rice insurance scheme for this year’s first crop began on July 3 after it was approved by the cabinet last week.

The programme, worth 2 billion THB (around 58.84 million USD), will be run by the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC).

It is expected to be applied on 25-30 million rai (40.000- 48.000 square kilometres) of rice farmland and cover insurance for natural disasters, including floods, droughts, storms, cold, hail and fires'.

Counter
While the Thai nation is waiting to be brought up to terms with what punishment the junta will implement on it's democratic predessor (for a popular free hand-out to all rice farmers), The Nation (Jul. 15) opens up about current practices in the rice business:

'Govt accused of rice sale irregularities 
MEMBERS of the Pheu Thai Party have asked the Auditor General to investigate the government’s programme of rice auctions dating to the 2014 coup, alleging irregularities that have caused losses to the state.

The party members led by Yuttapong Charasathein, a former deputy minister of agriculture and Cooperatives, yesterday filed a complaint with the Office of the Auditor General over the alleged irregularities.

Chief among their concerns is that rice fit for human consumption had been declared low grade, and was auctioned off for animal feed and industrial purposes. The sale of rice stocks classified in that category fetched lower prices and, the MPs claim, resulted in reduced government revenue.

...

Deputy director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, Keerati Rushchano, yesterday denied an allegation made by the Pheu Thai members that that the irregularities in the government’s rice auctions had caused losses of around Bt10 billion.

He said department did not approve a bid to pay Bt11.25 per kilogram for food-grade rice at one auction because the offer did not meet minimum price threshold set by the authorities. While authorities approved Bt 6.10 per kilogram in a later round auction because the bulk of that rice was not food grade.

...

Meanwhile, Somporn Isvilanonda, a rice expert and member of the committee examining rice quality, said that the Pheu Thai politicians might be trying to play political games with their complaint to the Auditor General. He assured that the rice auctions were transparent'.

Extraordinarily the Bangkok Post (Jul. 19) follows suit and tries to expand on the Nation:

'Even though the military government has vowed to push for reforms in a number of key areas, it seems to have overlooked a critical issue also in need of reform: The management of the state's rice stockpiles.

...

For decades, the Department of Foreign Trade, under the Commerce Ministry, annually called for bids for state rice stocks to unload pledged rice kept in government warehouses under the rice subsidy policy of previous governments.

Scandals have similarly arisen regarding the ministry's rice-bidding scheme almost every year. Rice auctions under this government are no exception. So what, exactly, is going on?

Taking a closer look at the political interests as well as established personal connections within the realm of rice trading helps shed light on the problem.

Rice is always a valuable political commodity frequently exploited by politicians as a tool to woo votes from farmers. Moreover, numerous politicians or their relatives are rice traders or exporters themselves.

While there are many players in the domestic rice trade, many of them are in fact from the same group. For example, several companies participating in the same state auctions for agricultural products have been found to be subsidiaries of the same major rice-exporting corporations.

In addition, some major rice traders have strong ties with political players. They have long developed close relationships with state officials, potentially influencing their decision-making process.

...

A recent controversy over "the unfair disqualification" of a bidder in the latest round of rice auctions, exposed to the media by former Democrat MP Watchara Petchthong, is telling.

TPK Ethanol Co, earlier filed a complaint with the Central Administrative Court accusing the Department of Foreign Trade of unfairly disqualifying its winning bid in a 525,000-tonne rice auction in April, even though it offered the highest price.

The court late last month issued an injunction order to suspend the Department of Foreign Trade's auctions for 2.7 million tonnes of inedible rice which was meant to go to the animal feed industry.

In a written response to the company, the department said that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, as the national rice policy committee chairman, and Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Gen Chatchai Sarikulya, as the deputy chairman, had approved the disqualification.

The department's director-general Duangporn Rodphaya said TPK Ethanol had been ruled out because one of its managers served as a director at two companies which had been found to have breached a contract with the department 20 years ago in a cassava price-pledging scheme.

...

In response, TPK Ethanol executives submitted a letter to the Supreme Administrative Court countering the department's appeal.

The company claims the department's move was discriminatory and applied a "double standard", saying there were three other companies which were not eligible for the auction but were allowed to take part in it anyway.

The first company is comprised of a group of rice traders who were also found to have breached an auction contract last year under a different business entity. The company's board of directors is the same as those of the previous entity, the letter said.

The second company, it alleges, was implicated by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for its involvement in a corruption case related to the government-to-government rice trading scheme implemented by the former government. One of the company's directors is even a suspect facing charges by the NACC, the letter said.

The third one is a rice company which had a dispute with the department over rice auctions but was allowed to join the auction after registering itself under a new company name, said TPK Ethanol.

...

Another allegation, raised by some Pheu Thai Party members, regarding the rice bidding management scheme under this government, is also awaiting a clear-cut response.

Pheu Thai Party members, led by Yuttapong Charasathein, former deputy agriculture and cooperatives minister, accused the military government of selling 2.14 million tonnes of fragrant rice as animal feed at a knockdown price.

Some traders proposed to buy rice from the government at 11.25 baht per kilogramme but their proposals were declined. But the state later sold the rice at 6.10 baht a kilogramme. This problem existed in 18 warehouses, they claim.

This practice has caused heavy losses in the government's rice stock disposals, while the buck has been passed to the last government, they said.

Although the department claims that the rice was sold at such a low price because its quality had deteriorated and was thus inedible, it has yet to provide the public with a satisfactory answer'.

Bangkok Post (Jul. 31) notes :

'Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd has accused politicians and rice mill owners who are calling for a new inspection of rice stocks under the controversial rice-pledging scheme of being part of a politically-motivated movement. 

...

Previously, the owners of eight rice warehouses had called on the government to conduct a new round of quality checks on rice under the scheme, saying they weren't confident in the results of past

inspections conducted by officials. According to warehouse owners, normal rice was auctioned along with rice used for producing animal feed, which is a waste of money. They claimed they weren't aware of the government's intention to sell the rice as ingredients in animal feed until the days on which the auctions were held. They added their move should help prevent further losses that could be worth several billion baht'.

After this come a couple of examples and legal arguments'.

So even if convicted, it seems that there will be no end to popularizing and using rice as a stick with which to hit political opponents. Why I beg, should the government be meddling not only in setting prices but in trade as well?

Fairness
Back to Cambodia, where prices of corn have lead to protests. The Cambodia Daily (Jul. 17):

'After about 500 protesting farmers blockaded a national road in Battambang province last week, local authorities in neighboring districts are now making efforts to placate hundreds of other farmers also restless over depressed corn and cassava prices.

In Banteay Meanchey province’s O’Chrou district, district governor San Sien Ho said yesterday that he had been pre-empting possible protest by visiting local families and asking for patience, though he admitted there was little authorities could do.

...

On Thursday, corn farmers in Battambang’s Kamrieng district blocked National Road 57B for more than eight hours and called on the government to find a solution to their plight. The following day, farmers and local officials met for six hours, and tycoon Phou Puy offered to buy their corn and dry it himself. Farmers, however, said the offered price of 3.4 baht, or about $0.10, per kilogram wasn’t enough'.

Phnom Penh Post (Jul. 17) reports on the same:

'Farmers in two Battambang districts shut down major roads over the weekend, in protest of low corn prices, according to local officials.

Song Sopheak, Phnom Proek district police chief, said that around 100 families blocked the roads in his district on Saturday for more than two hours. Sopheak said the villagers drove tractors onto national roads 59B and 57, demanding authorities help negotiate a better price.

“They said this year the corn price is down, so they want the authority to help them negotiate with the broker. They said this year the broker only gives them 3.1 baht [around $0.09] per kilo of corn. So now the villagers want 3.4 baht, and the dealers agreed to buy with this price,” Sopheak said, adding that last year corn was sold for 4 baht per kilo.

Kim Ponlork, Sopheak’s counterpart in Kamrieng district, said around 100 villagers protested in his jurisdiction on Friday as well'.

Then the solution. The Cambodia Daily (Jul. 19):

'Following corn farmers’ protests over low prices last week, the Rural Development Bank has proposed using a government rice subsidy to purchase corn and shore up demand.

...

Yesterday, Kao Thach, the RDB’s chairman, said the bank’s board had met earlier in the day to discuss the proposal for corn, and it was now sending it to the Finance Ministry for approval. Last week, about 500 farmers in Battambang province’s Kamrieng district blocked a national road to protest low prices, and authorities met with corn traders hoping to negotiate better deals. The traders refused to budge, however, from the originally agreed price of 3.5 baht per kg, or about $0.10.

...

Many crops in Cambodia are produced for export to only a few markets, mainly Thailand or Vietnam, limiting farmers’ options when buyers’ demand flags, he said.

“They only come to buy from us when they don’t produce enough for their use,” Mr. Ngeth added. The issue was exacerbated by Cambodian farmers overproducing crops that did well the previous year, leading to an oversupply, he said. Un Sreyoun, a 40-year-old corn farmer from Kamrieng district, said she hoped for more local buyers to drive up corn prices.

“If more Cambodian traders came, Thai dealers would not dare to lower the price,” Ms. Sreyoun said.

But Mong Reththy, chairman of agro-industrial conglomerate Mong Reththy Group, said his company had bought 1,000 tons of corn from Battambang almost every day this year for his livestock feed factory, and argued that current prices were fair.

“The price [offered] is already good enough for the farmers. Good deal, indeed,” Mr. Reththy said'.

Spirited
Other non rice news.

The Phnom Penh Post (Jul. 27):

'In an agreement mediated by the International Finance Corporation’s watchdog mechanism, a controversial Vietnamese rubber firm has reached a deal with 11 ethnic minority villages affected by its Ratanakkiri operations to return nearly 20 community “spirit mountains”, restore streams filled or polluted by its activities and repair roads and bridges'.

One needs to note that those companies not with a World Bank interest, can cheat landowners fair and square, no worries.
Rubber is actually on the up. The Phnom Penh Post (Jul. 20):

'Cambodian rubber exports surged 37 percent during the first half of the year, compared to the same period in 2016, as the Kingdom’s rising harvest capacity coincided with firmer global demand for rubber products.

Local producers exported 70,000 tonnes of rubber during the first six months of 2017, compared to 51,000 tonnes during the same period a year earlier, an agriculture official said yesterday.

Pol Sopha, general director of the Rubber Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, said prices also improved during the first six months of the year, with the median export price on natural rubber rising 76 percent year-on-year to $1,771 per tonne. He said the improved prices should help plantation owners and farmers offset some of their losses from recent years, when prices nosedived on slower demand and a glut in world supply'.

An interesting article from the Phnom Penh Post (Jul. 6) on the pepper business:

'Cambodia rice mogul Song Saran, the CEO of one of the Kingdom’s top rice exporters, will diversify his agricultural business interests with the construction of a factory to clean and process locally grown pepper, he said yesterday.

The new factory is being built on 3,000 square metres of land in Memot district of Tbong Khmum province, which accounts for over 70 percent of Cambodia’s pepper harvest.

Its pepper cleaning and processing line is scheduled to open next month and reach its full capacity of 15 tonnes per day by January.

Saran, CEO of Amru Rice and three other sister companies engaged in rice production and export, said the new $400,000 factory is an investment by Amret Rungroeung Group Ltd, a trading firm he established in 2009.

...

He said the company would initially focus on processing black pepper, but it could eventually add separate production lines for other spices, such as ginger and turmeric.

“We’ll focus on black pepper first as we’ve seen the pepper industry grow very rapidly and we cannot depend only on Thailand and Vietnam as buyers,” he said. “We need to build up our own market and connect to the world.”

According to Saran, this will be only the second processing factory to set up in the pepper-growing region. Buyers in the EU and Dubai have already agreed to purchase shipments of 2,000 to 3,000 tonnes per year, he added'.

It's questionable whether or not Cambodia needs to scale up it's pepper business. But it seems inevitable.

Payback
Other crops, other problems. 
The Bangkok Post (Jul. 25) reports on the continuing saga of sugar:

'Sugar prices will be closely monitored despite the government's commitment to the World Trade Organization to free up the production and trading system of the commodity by December, says the Ministry of Commerce. 

Permanent secretary Wiboonlasana Ruamraksa said sugar is on the ministry's control list -- goods whose retail prices are not allowed to be increased -- and is expected to remain so after Dec 1 when the government is due to liberalise the sugar system'.

Bangkok Post (Jul. 10) is less enthusiastic on rubber:

'Discontent among southern rubber farmers against the government has grown even as the government explained it has done its best to ease their woes stemming from plummeting rubber prices.

Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said on Monday it was imperative that farmers understand world rubber prices were dictated by economic factors such as interest rates and oil prices. In the first five months of this year, exports of natural rubber jumped 63.6% to $2.8 billion. Rubber product exports such as tyres and gloves also surged 59% to $4 billion and the momentum continues, he said.

But southern farmers are taking issue with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who said last week 3 million rai of forests had been encroached to grow rubber trees, resulting in a glut'.

Vientiane Times (Jun. 27) has an insight on how coffee trade is undertaken:

'Dao-Heuang Group will seek to repay the money it owes the country’s coffee farmers as soon as possible after the company fell several months behind in payments for the raw beans. 

The company now owes farmers a total of 27 billion kip after it paid off significant debts according to the Champassak provincial Industry and Commerce Department.

...

The remaining 27 billion kip is owed to almost 2,000 farming families, he said.

Dao-Heuang Group is the largest coffee buyer in Laos, leaving many coffee growers with few alternatives to sell their product as demand from other companies remains limited. The company has confirmed that it will pay all money to farmers but not the timescale.

Coffee remains a key commercial export crop in Laos, and the nation’s product continues to be popular among people from home and abroad while increasingly well-accepted in the international market. The challenges for the industry carry on as the world price for coffee has dropped significantly over the past few months.

According to the Lao Coffee Association, robusta beans are down from US$2,100 in March to US$2,014 this month. 

Falls have been even more spectacular for the higher grade Arabica, which was selling at US$ 3,100 in March before falling to US$2,500 a tonne this month.

The value of coffee exports through the Lao Coffee Association has reached 21,000 tonnes worth more than US$50 million.

This figure is expected to increase in terms of volume and value for the current year'.