China
The Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has uncovered a gene network underlying the regulation of seed size in rice. The researchers found that a genetically defined cascade OsTIR1, OsIAA10, OsARF4, plays a role in controlling rice grain size, and thousand-grain weight on chromosome 3 (TGW3) phosphorylation of OsIAA10 regulates the trait by altering the corresponding auxin signaling.
Indonesia
Indonesian President Reported Adequate Rice Stocks, No Need for Imports (Mar 6)
In Jakarta, domestic food stocks are sufficient to meet the national needs as some regions of Indonesia are in the harvest season. The President of Indonesia announced that the import of products such as rice is not needed. Many food production areas in Indonesia will have their harvest season from February to March 2023.
Vietnam
The Export Price of Rice Increased by Nearly 10% Over the Same Period Despite a Decrease in Volume (Mar 6)
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam reported volume of rice exported was estimated at around 430K tons with a value of USD 231M in February. The volume of rice exported in the first two months of 2023 reached 789K tons with a value of USD 417M, a decrease of 18.8% in volume, and a drop of 10.8% in value over the same period in 2022. In the first two months of 2023, the average export price was USD 528.5/ton, a rise of 9.8% over the same period in 2022.
Brazil
Despite the Drought, Rice Harvest Advances in Rio Grande Do Sul (Mar 8)
The harvest in Rio Grande do Sul continues, despite the lack of rain in some areas. The National Supply Company (Conab) reported that in the producing regions, the rain volume was not enough to increase the level of the reservoirs but helped to reduce the salinization of water in the Northeast. In areas where irrigation management was possible, crop development is good, with adequate sunlight and little air humidity. However, in the areas most affected by severe drought farmers reported irreversible crop losses.
A Decline in All States Affected the Total Harvest of the Rice Crop (Mar 9)
The National Supply Company of Brazil (CONAB) reported the rice crop harvest would be the smallest in 26 years. The lack of profit margin affected the cultivated area, which reached more than 3M hectares 25 years ago, and now represents 1.4M, less than half.
Egypt
40K Tons of Rice Were Received From Farmers in Egypt (Mar 7)
The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade in Kafr El-Sheikh mentioned that the rice supply season, which ended last January, during which 40K tons of rice were received from farmers, while the area cultivated with rice is 240K feddans (249K Acres).
Kenya
Import of Duty Free Food in Kenya to Cushion Drought Effect (Mar 6)
The Kenyan government through the Kenya National Trading Association (KNTA), issued a duty-free exemption code for the importation of the following commodities: 150K MT of rice, 125K MT of cooking oil, 200K MT of sugar, 25K MT of wheat, and 80K MT of beans. This is due to the acute shortage of these commodities caused by the drought experienced in the country.
South Korea
Rice Cultivation Area Reduced by 37K Ha in South Korea’s Rice Price Stabilization Target (Mar 9)
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 8th that it would reduce the planting area by 37K hectares to achieve the proper rice cultivation area of 690K hectares this year. The purpose is to stabilize the price fluctuations, such as last year's rice price, which fell the most in 45 years, and then rose again during harvest season.