Weather slams grain production

Global rice paddy production for 2012 is forecast to drop by 7.8 million tonnes due to lower than normal rainfall in India.

However, world output will still be slightly above levels achieved in 2011, according to the July 2012 issue of the Rice Market Monitor released by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.

Global paddy production should reach 724.5 million tonnes (483.1 million tonnes milled), compared with the original forecast in April of 732.3 million tonnes (488.2 million tonnes milled).  The downward revision was mainly due to a 22 percent lower-than-average monsoon rainfall in India through mid-July, which is likely to reduce output in the country this season. Production forecasts were also lowered for Cambodia, Taiwan, North and South Korea and Nepal, all of which may see lower production in 2012.

In sharp contrast with trends observed in the maize and wheat markets, which have been rocked by widespread drought in the US, rice prices have remained surprisingly stable after gaining 2 percent in May. Amid abundant rice supplies and stocks , the likelihood of a strong price rebound in coming months is low, but the future of rice prices remains uncertain. Meanwhile, corn, wheat and similar grains have soared in price as the US drought maintains its grip.

Wanted: Drought resistant crops

With over 60% of continental US suffering drought it is perhaps no surprise Purdue University is promoting its work to find drought-resistance genes.

The search for these genes is focusing on tropical varieties of corn; the genes would be transferred to American corn varieties along with the drought tolerance they confer on plants. The desired equation is simple: maximum yield for minimum water use. As such, it is likely the most useful genes will be related to the control of transpiration -- the opening and closing of stomata on the leaf surface.

Meanwhile, the US droughts are forcing authorities to open up protected land to help farmers feed stock. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has authority to open up land under the voluntary Conservation Reserve Programme for emergency grazing.

According to US Drought Monitor data, 88% of US corn and 87% of US soybean crops are in drought-stricken areas. Global grain prices have soared over recent weeks.

Ancient Inca crop has its day

Evo Morales Ayma, President of Bolivia, will visit FAO on Monday 11 June for bilateral talks with FAO Director General José Graziano da Silva and a special session of the UN organization’s governing council focusing on Quinoa, the so-called South American “super grain.”

The United Nations has declared 2013 the International Year of Quinoa. An extremely nutritional grain-like crop with high protein and micronutrient levels, Quinoa was of major nutritional importance for pre-Columbian Andean civilizations, second only to the potato. The International Year of Quinoa aims to focus world attention on the role that the crop can play in contributing to food security, nutrition and poverty eradication.

As a crop, Quinoa is undemanding and altitude tolerant and is grown from coastal regions in Chile up to 4000m elevations in the Andes. Timing the harvest seems to be its trickiest element as timing it wrong can result in high yield losses due to shattering of the grains.