UP farmers left guessing as cane price war goes on
Uttar Pradesh farmers were again left in the lurch as ministers and mill owners slugged it out on what price to pay for sugarcane. While both the Centre and the state said the mill owners were ''making more profit than they were showing'', the mill owners said: ''They were in the red due to wrong government policies and unable to pay.''
During a meeting between the Central ministers and leading mill owners of the state, no agreement could be reached on payment of Rs 95 per quintal State Advisory Price (SAP) to farmers as the respective sides stuck to their stand, sources said.
Silkworms weave culinary magic
The world's second largest producer of silk, India, is lagging far behind China (the world's largest producer of silk) in exploiting sericulture business potential. The Chinese convert silkworm into mouth-watering delicacies. They prepare a delicacy out of the thin layer of skin shed by the silkworm. The worm sheds the skin four times in its life cycle ahead of weaving the cocoon. Similarly, they also make an aphrodisiac drink from silkworm moths.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, 31st March 2003
(Website : www.economictimes.com)
Cotton sales target
The Cotton Corporation of India, in an MoU with textile ministry, has committed sales of 9 lakh bales of cotton and profit before tax, interest and depreciation of Rs 25 crore for '03-04 financial year. In the MoU signed by Union Textile secretary and CCI CMD, the CCI has undertaken to bring down sundry debtors and increase its sales to private sector mills, process larger number of contamination free cotton bales. The CCI has also declared an interim dividend of 10% after a gap of almost 26 years.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, 27th March 2003
(Website : www.economictimes.com)
Palm Oil prices likely to fall if war breaks out
Malaysia's Palm oil futures prices may fall sharply if war erupts in Iraq because of high shipment charges affecting demand, while the world's top producers are stepping up output. The prices can fall to 1,300 ringgit($342.11).
Courtesy: The Economic Times, 19th March 2003
(Website : www.economictimes.com)
Kerala may lose 'top pepper producer' tag
Kerala is fast losing out its prime position as world's largest pepper producer to Indonesia and Vietnam, according to figures given by Kerala Planning Board's latest Economic Review. India continues to be the largest pepper producer with 20 % share in world production. Kerala, fabled for centuries as the land of 'black gold', accounts for 95% of the country's pepper production. Pepper export from India sharply declined to 19,250 tonnes in '00-01 from 42,803 tonnes in '99-00, the review said.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, 17th March 2003
(Website : www.economictimes.com)
Govt. clears import of 10 lakh bales of cotton
The Union textile ministry has allowed the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) to import 10 lakh bales of cotton during '02 - 03 season, in view of shortage of cotton in domestic market. Government sources said the permission to import 10 lakh bales of cotton has been given to CCI in keeping with the buffer import concept. Cotton prices have been rising inexorably for the last few months in the global market mainly due to a drastic fall in production in Australia. Domestic cotton prices have shown an year-to-year increase of 25-50% since February last.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, 14th March 2003
(Website : www.economictimes.com)
Lanka to buy potatoes from Markfed
Ceylon and overseas Traders of Sri Lanka will be buying 6,000 tonnes potatoes from Punjab Markfed for delivery from April onwards, this year, according to company director N Ganeshan. He said delivery will be at a fixed price which could be $140 - $150 a tonne after factoring in investment cost, interest rates, seasonal fluctuations in prices and storage overheads.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, 12th March 2003
(Website : www.economictimes.com)
Rabi crop output to be lower in Rajasthan
Drought and famine is not yet over in Rajasthan due to the failure of monsoon during the last kharif season and production of Rabi crops, is going to be just half as against last year's production in the state. Once the leading producer of mustard in the country, Rajasthan will have only 12 lakh tonnes of it as against over 20 lakh tonnes of the commodity in the last Rabi season.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, 11th March 2003
(Website : www.economictimes.com)
Agro food cos seek long-term growth plan
The agro food industry has called for an urgent coining of a long-term national plan for its growth. Welcoming the budget proposals to keep the processed food industry out of the excise duty net, the All India Food Preservers' Association said that the industry suffered losses to tune of around Rs 35,000 crore due to colossal wastage of produce.The Budget proposals provide for the development of infrastructure, especially roads, but what is needed more are food collection centers and market terminals whch should be viewed a nodal part of infrastructure.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, 7th March 2003
(Website : www.economictimes.com)
Organic Farming to get Rs 100-cr push
In its bid to organic cultivation in the country, the Union agriculture Ministry has drawn up a national project on Organic cultivation during the Tenth plan period, according to CR Hazra, the Union Agriculture commissioner. Mr. Hazra was speaking at the inauguration of the two-day national seminar on "Organic Farming with special reference to organic inputs". The national project would be implemented at a cost of Rs 100 crore, he added. The main components of the project include farming of standards, negotiating with different countries and putting in place a system of certification for organic products.
Courtesy: The Economic Times, 24th February 2003
(Website : www.economictimes.com)
India wants freedom to fix tariffs on Farm goods
India today demanded greater flexibility in agriculture tariffs in the WTO negotiations on agriculture to protect the interests of Indian Farmers. Talking to the newsman at the end of the informal meeting of WTO ministers here, commerce and industry minister Arun Jeitley said prticipation in the meeting had been very vital for India as several market access issues were taken up. " The foremost which concerns us immediately is agriculture. Whereas we are somewhat satisfied that issues of reduction of domestic support and export subsidies in the developed countries are a part of agricultural agenda."
Courtesy: The Economic Times, 17th February 2003
(Website : www.economictimes.com)
