Russia has agreed to restore to earlier levels, the import of coffee from India, which had been reduced by about 50% in the last one to two years, according to defense minister George Fernandes . Speaking at a public meeting here on Saturday, he said during his recent visit to Russia, he had brought to the notice of Moscow, that coffee imports had come down and it had affected growers, particularly in Karnataka. Admitting the decline in imports, the Russian government had agreed to reverse the trend and to send a delegation in this regard, he said.

Kuala Lumpur: Global soya oil prices have fallen because of the arrival of a new crop from South America, giving edible oil buyers more choice beyond the usually cheaper palm oil, industry sources said on Wednesday. Soya oil's premium to competitor palm oil, has narrowed to $60 a tonne this month from $135 in November because of fresh shipments from Brazil and Argentina, traders said. But freight brokers and traders said main consumers like India, China and Pakistan would still favor palm oil for shipping reasons.

FLORICULTURE exports to Europe are likely to remain flat this year at about 700 tonnes, according to a senior office bearer of the South India Floriculture Association(SIFA). The industry is being hit by rising competition from growers in African nations like Kenya, Uganda and south Africa. Typically European offtake ahead and during Christmas and New Year account for over 50% of the Indian floriculture exports. India earned over Rs 35 by exporting flowers

The golden yellow apples of the hybrid cashew produces bold nuts of export quality

Scientists at the Cashew Research Station of the Kerala Agricultural University at Madakkathara near Thrissur have developed a hybrid cashew variety with bold nuts and high quality. This hybrid has been released for commercial cultivation by the Kerala Agricultural University as 'Raghav', according to Dr. P. S. John, Associate Professor and Head of the research station.

The trees of this hybrid are of medium size, and they grow to a height of about 8.5 m. The flowering season commences in the middle of January, and the flowering duration is 70 days. The hybrid has high yield characters (best yield reported is 14.65 kg nuts per tree per year), with a bold nut size of 9.2 g and good export grade of W 210. The kernel weight is 2.27 g and the shelling percentage is 26.6. The apple is golden yellow with 58.92 per cent juice. The hybrid is propagated through vegetative means. Soft wood grafting is the best method of multiplication. The scion should be selected from the specific variety for graft production. It is well suited to laterite and red loamy soils. It has been found to do well in all the regions of Kerala excepting the high altitudes. The hybrid was included in the multi location trials (MLT) planted during 1986 under the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Cashew and was found suited to all cashew growing States of the country.

The grafts can be planted in moderately fertile soils. They should be planted in pits of 50 cm by 50 cm by 50 cm at an espacement of 7.5 m x 7.5 m. The pits are to be filled with topsoil and 5-10 kg well ripened farmyard manure. Liberal quantities of organic manure such as vermicompost and coirpith compost can be applied. The grafts should be planted after carefully removing he polythene tape covering the joint of the scion and rootstock. The graft union should be kept at least 2.5 cm above the ground level.

Staking should be done immediately after planting to avoid any damage to the young plants. The pits should be mulched, and the young plants should be provided with adequate shade during the scorching summer. Regular weeding should be taken up during August-September, and the plants should be periodically inspected for stem and root borer attack. This is particularly necessary in replanted cashew plantations. Organic manure can be liberally added to meet the nutrient demand of the growing plants. The best seasons for manuring are June-July and August-September. The incidence of die-back disease and tea mosquito bug should be addressed by using eco-friendly fungicides and botanical insecticides.