Top Rice News: Aush Harvest, Matta Rice and Japan Bill

Top rice news today highlights. Bangladesh’s Rangpur region expects a strong Aush rice harvest despite lower acreage, Kerala faces Matta rice prices crossing ₹60/kg amid supply constraints, and Japan passes a new law to stabilise rice supply after the 2024 shortages.

Rangpur Farmers Expect Strong Aush Rice Harvest Amid Favourable Conditions

In the recent years, Farmers in Bangladesh’s Rangpur agriculture region are expecting a strong Aush rice harvest during the ongoing Kharif-1 season, followed by bumper production. The short-duration, low-irrigation crop is being harvested as an additional crop before Aman rice cultivation begins. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) had set a target of producing 1,76,655 tonnes of clean Aush rice from 58,300 hectares. But farmers cultivated 55,270 hectares due to increased cultivation of maize, vegetables, and other crops. Farmers have harvested Aush rice from 14,184 hectares, producing 46,022 tonnes of clean rice with an average yield of 3.24 tonnes per hectare so far.

According to officials, Government support, including high-yielding seeds, fertilizers, training, and modern technology, has encouraged farmers to expand Aush cultivation despite climate multiple challenges. The crop helps in boosting rice production by utilising the period between Boro rice harvesting and Aman rice transplantation. Farmers in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, and Nilphamari districts are hopeful about a bumper harvest, supported by favourable weather and stable market prices for freshly harvested paddy

The Price of Matt Rice Cross ₹60/kg in Kerala Amid Supply Crunch

The price of Matta rice has increased as the retail price has crossed Rs 60 per kilogram. But last week, it was being sold at an average rate of Rs 52; now the price has suddenly surged by around Rs 10 . Though, there has been no increase in the white rice price. The reason behind the price hike is none other than the increase in paddy prices in paddy-producing states. Rs 32 per kg in Andhra Pradesh while Rs 33 and Rs 32 in Tamil Nadu and Karnakata. Apart from this, crops were damaged in Karnataka due to water scarcity. Mills allege that agencies that procured paddy on a large scale have hoarded stock to drive up prices. The bulk of matta rice sales occurs in South Indian states. At the same time, there has been no major increase in the price of white rice as the Food Corporation of India (FCI) is selling white rice to the open market at less than ₹30 per kilogram under the Open Market Sale Scheme. Rice Varieties like Jaya and Surekha are available in the open market at an average rate of ₹42. White rice is sourced from Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha.

Japan Passes a Bill to Stabilise Rice Supply After 2024 Shortages

Japan has passed a new bill to maintain the balance of rice supply after 2024 shortages. The bill to revise the staple food law was approved at a plenary session of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Diet. It cleared the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, last month. Now,

Farmers will be responsible for demand-driven rice production to help stabilize rice supply and demand. Responding to a severe shortage of rice and subsequent price surges in 2024, a provision on production adjustments was scrapped. The provision, which was based on the assumption that rice demand would decline, had remained in place even after the end of the "gentan" rice acreage reduction policy in 2018. The rice market turmoil was attributed partly to the government's failure to assess rice distribution accurately and make reliable supply and demand forecasts. It was reported that India is leading global rice production after record harvest earlier.