Wednesday
16 Feb 11
09.00

Opening and Introduction

• Welcome speech of Mr. Hiroyuki Konuma,  Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for

 Asia and the Pacific, FAO delivered by Mr. Man Ho So, Deputy Regional Representative

• Ms. Juejan Tangtermthong, Executive Director of AFMA
• Mr. Andrew Shepherd, FAO

Group photo

10.00

Coffee

10.30

Session 1: Future exchanges and Rice trading

Several recent reports have suggested that rice price formation could be improved, and volatility reduced, if there was an Asian futures market in rice. Others, notably most of the existing commercial traders, argue that lack of such a market was not the cause of rice price volatility and that volatility on world maize markets in 2007-08 was actually exacerbated by futures market trading. They also argue that a commodity market for rice would be made complex by the multiplicity of grades, standards, origins and varieties.
The panel is invited to consider whether a rice exchange should be promoted and, if so, how the concerns of the existing private trade can be addressed.

Chair: Dr. Larry Wong Chee Yoong, Institute of Strategic and International Studies, Malaysia
Panelists:

• Mr. Andrew Shepherd, FAO on ‘Background situation in the Region’
• Mr. Anjan Mandal, Head Agricultural Products, Indian Commodity Exchange on ‘Future Trading in Rice-An Asian Perspective’
• Mr. Thomas McMahon, CEO, Singapore Mercantile Exchange on ‘Futures Exchanges and Rice Trading’
• Dr. Nitus Patrayotin, Futures Specialist (Former President of AFET) on ‘Futures Exchanges and Rice Trading’

13.00

Lunch (@ ‘Next2  Cafe’)

14.00

Session 2: Promoting contract farming in the rice business

Mills, and the companies who buy from them, face an unreliable supply of rice, both in terms of the quantities and, particularly, qualities and varieties they would like to obtain. As a consequence of supply uncertainty it is not always easy for companies to enter into forward contracts on domestic and export markets. Contract farming has been widely used by companies to secure the supply of many other commodities, including food crops such as maize, but is rarely used for paddy.
Speakers are asked to consider the feasibility of promoting contract farming for the rice sector. What lessons can be learned from other commodities; what problems would need to be overcome in the rice sector?

Chair: Mr. Sein Win Hlaing, Vice-President, Myanmar Rice Industry Association
Panelists:

• Mr. Andrew Shepherd, FAO, Rome on ‘The role of contract farming’
• Dr. Larry Wong Chee Yoong on ‘ Myanmar Rice Industry: Rice Specialization Companies and Contract Farming’

16.00

Coffee

18.00

Welcome reception ( @ ‘Next 2 Cafe’)

TENTATIVE PROGRAM (Continue)

Thursday
17 Feb 11
09.00

Session 3: Improving collaboration within the marketing chain and between the marketing chain and the public sector

The crisis in 2007-08 led to considerable suspicion of the private sector, which tended to be blamed for events beyond its control. In some Asian countries traders and mills were raided by police amid allegations of “hoarding”.  While there seems to be a lack of understanding by the public sector of the role of the private sector there also appear to be major disagreements between actors within the rice value chain, with few formal mechanisms for improving communication either between chain actors or between chain actors and governments.
Speakers and panelists will explore mechanisms for developing trust at all levels by promoting communication between parties.

Chair:Mr.Andrew W. Shepherd, FAO, Rome
Speakers:

• Mr.Andrew W. Shepherd, FAO, Rome on ‘Experiences with commodity associations around the world’
• Dr. Mohammed Ismet, Agricultural Economic Adviser, BULOG, Indonesia on ‘Rice Price Policy in Indonesia, How to create contestable Rice Markets’

10.00

Coffee

10.30

Session 3: Improving collaboration within the marketing chain and between the marketing chain and the public sector (Continue)

Chair:Mr.Andrew W. Shepherd, FAO, Rome
Speakers:

• Mr.Jose D. Cordero, National Food  Authority, Philippines on Strategies in improving the Philippine Food Supply Chains under public-private collaborations
• Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, Assistant Director and Head Agriculture Industries and Natural Resources Division, ASEAN on ‘Food Security and Private Sector Engagement’

Comments from:
Mr. Sein Win Hlaing, Vice-President Myanmar Rice Industry Association
Mr. Md. Tofazzal Hossain, Director, Directorate of Food, Food Division, Government of Bangladesh

12.00

Lunch

13.00

Session 4: Improving post-harvest handling

It is widely recognized that there are significant losses in the rice post-harvest chain and many of these appear to be economically avoidable. Over the years there have been considerable efforts made to reduce losses but the high level of losses that still occur suggests that such efforts may have been largely ineffective. One reason for this may be that interventions have been targeted primarily at farmer level, with little attention being paid the needs of the value chain. For example, should on-farm drying be promoted or should drying by mills be encouraged? What can be done to reduce the high levels of losses in small-scale mills?
The panel is invited to consider whether an approach to post-harvest loss reduction that adopts more of a value chain focus is required and, if so, what the priority interventions should be.

Chair: Ms. Juejan Tangtermthong, AFMA
Speakers:

• Prof. Somchart Soponronnarit, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi on ‘Advanced Techniques for Producing High Quality Rice, Parboiled Rice and Accelerated Rice Aging’
• Mr. Martin Gummert, IRRI on ‘Improving Postharvest Handling’
• Dr. Liang Lingyun, Department of Distribution and Science, State Administration of Grain, China on ‘Rice Postharvest Handling in China’

15.00

Coffee

15.30

 Closing session: Promoting improvements in the Asian Rice Industry
Chair: Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, Assistant Director and Head Agriculture Industries and Natural Resources Division, ASEAN