All Rabi crops are at the harvesting stage. Harvesting of early sown gram, wheat and barley are in an advance stage in rainfed areas. The rise in temperature since the 2nd week of last month in North West India and adjoining parts of Central India is likely to have adverse impact on the wheat crop, especially in the late sown areas. Harvesting of wheat is almost complete in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka. In Madhya Pradesh, 60% to 70% of wheat has been harvested. In Western Rajasthan, harvesting of wheat is almost complete except in command area of Shri Ganga Nagar, Hanuman Garh and parts of the Bharatpur Division. In West Bengal, 50% of the area has been harvested in the northern part. Harvesting has also started in the southern part. In Bihar, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, the crop is at the maturity stage and in some areas, harvesting has started. In Assam, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, the crop is at the maturity stage.

Courtesy: PIB Press Release, 19^th Apr '04
(Website : http://pib.nic.in)

Good monsoon rains in India, as forecast by the weather office, will boost the country's farm output for the second straight year and prompt the government to allow unrestricted exports, industry officials said on Friday. The Meteorological Department predicted on Thursday a near normal monsoon during the June-September period. Good rains are vital to India's economic health, with the farm sector generating almost a quarter of its gross domestic product.

"It will become easier for the government to take a decision in favour of uninterrupted grain exports, as the stock situation may become comfortable after a good monsoon," D P Singh, chairman of the All India Grain Exporters' Association, told. India, which entered the global grain market with a bang three years ago to clear its bulging stocks, has been less active over the past year. It even stopped the sale of subsidised wheat and rice to exporters in August following a drop in its stocks.

Courtesy: Reuters, 16^th Apr '04
(Website : www.reuters.com)

India, the world's largest edible oil importer, exported 29,552 tonnes of groundnut oil in March, a trade body said on Wednesday. In the November-March period, the first five months of the current crop year, it exported 81,056 tonnes of groundnut oil, The Solvent Extractors' Association of India said in a statement. India, a traditional importer of palm and soybean oils, entered the global market this crop year, after a gap of about four decades, to sell groundnut oil following a surge in world prices.

"The export of groundnut oil has helped farmers...as export demand did not allow the price of groundnut to crash," the statement said. The rise in exports had encouraged farmers to expand the area under groundnut cultivation in the rabi season, it said. Rabi crops are sown in December-January and harvested in March-April.

Courtesy: Reuters, 14^th Apr '04
(Website : www.reuters.com)

The International Rice Research Institute and its research partners are undertaking new activities to improve productivity, profitability and sustainability of rice farming, director general of the institute, Ronald Contrell, said. He described a four-fold challenge: Developing more nutritious rice rich in essential micronutrients like iron, zinc, Vitamin A, and protein; a new type of dry-field rice that reduces the amount of water used in rice cultivation thereby helping mitigate Asia’s looming water crisis where farmers use unsustainable levels of up to 3,000 litres of water to produce 1 kg of rice; developing rice that withstands stresses such as drought or saline soils; and developing hybrid rice and other varieties that will provide higher yields for farmers and motivate private sector investment in developing improved varieties for farmers

Courtesy: The Economic Times, 12^th Apr '04
(Website : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com)

India is set for record harvests after the best monsoon in a decade and Asia's third largest economy is on the cusp of higher growth thanks to low interest rates and rising capital inflows. The government's quarterly economic statement released on Friday said prospects for the agriculture sector, which directly supports almost 70 percent of Indians, brightened considerably after last year's above normal June-September monsoon.

"The estimated food grains production this year is set to cross the peak performance of 212.02 million tonnes and is poised to touch 212.20 million tonnes," the statement said.

The report forecast oilseeds production at a record 24.9 million tonnes -- a shot in the arm for the world's largest importer of edible oils. The monsoon helped the economy post 10.4 percent year-on-year growth in the October-December quarter and most indicators suggest GDP could expand more than the targeted eight percent for the fiscal year to the end of March.

Courtesy: Reuters, 9^th Apr '04
(Website : www.reuters.com)

DESPITE the drought conditions and water crisis, the agricultural production in the Tamil Nadu has not posed much worry, thanks to crop diversification advocated among farmers, the State Agriculture Secretary, Mr R. Kannan said. According to him, the various strategies of crop diversification had yielded good results in terms of production except in paddy and sugarcane which are very much water-dependant.

The report prepared by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) has gone on record mentioning the positive trend in agriculture production. The area of cultivation for crops like potato has increased in the State and the report from neutral agencies like the CMIE pointed an increased production even in drought conditions, he added.

Courtesy: The Hindu Business Line, 04^th Apr '04
(Website : www.thehindubusinessline.com)

Domestic tractor sales in India are likely to grow by nine per cent in the year ended March 31, 2004, after three consecutive years of declines. As per estimates, the total sales during 2003-04 are expected to touch 188,000 units from 172,000 units sold in the previous year. During April-February 2003-04, sales went up 7.8 per cent to 165,000 units from 153,000 in the same period last year.

According to the Tractor Manufacturers' Association (TMA), the sales may reach 200,000 units during 2004-05 and 225,000 units during 2005-06 unless the country experiences a poor rainfall. According to TMA president R C Jain, "This year has been good for tractor makers as higher sales have also brought down the huge inventories they had previously." "The good rabi crop and expectations of a better kharif harvest will certainly help sales. On top of that, the sentiment has been good. Farmers have more cash in their hand. The availability of finance has also increased and interest rates have come down," he said.

Courtesy: Business Standard, 01^st Apr '04
(Website : www.business-standard.com)

The Indian economy, Asia's third-largest, expanded at a scorching double-digit pace between the October-December quarters of 2002 and 2003, powered by the farm and manufacturing sectors, partly thanks to pouring rain.

Government data showed the economy was 10.4 percent larger in the October-December quarter than a year earlier, accelerating from 8.4 percent growth in the year to the previous quarter. Analysts said the cracking growth in the year to the October-December quarter had continued in the current quarter as the full impact of farm-sector growth fed into the figures.

ECONOMY SPARKLES

The latest figures show the Indian economy grew faster than any other in Asia in the year through the October-December quarter, beating China's 9.9 percent growth in the same period. Farm sector output was 16.9 percent higher in October-December than a year earlier. Manufacturing output was 7.4 percent higher.

But analysts said the latest figures flattered India's performance, because output levels of a year earlier, especially for the farm sector, had been revised downwards. October-December 2002 GDP is now seen just two percent higher than a year earlier, compared with the statistics office's previous estimate of 2.3 percent. The farm sector in that period is now estimated as 9.8 percent lower than a year before. The previous estimated decline was 7.6 percent.

Courtesy: Reuters, 31^st Mar '04
(Website : www.reuters.com)

Indian farm scientists are busy these days drawing up strategies to chase the lucrative $36.89 billion global market for organic food. Experts feel that with the introduction of Indian concept of organic farming and promotion of its own brand image, the country will be able to carve out a substantial global market share. At present, Indian export of organic food is negligible - less than Rs 90 crore. The growing markets in US and in Europe can be targeted for exports, they said.

For the discerning, about a dozen research institutes are busy drawing plans for introducing a swadeshi concept of organic farming incorporating principles of 'Vedic Krishi', Homa therapy, bio-dynamic practice, 'Rishi Krishi', homeopathy, harnessing of cosmic energy and use of green manuring, compost, cow dung and urine, bio-fertilisers, vermi-compost, vermi-wash for ensuring soil fertility and use of bio-agents and bio-pesticides for control of pests.

"It is not true that organic farming decreases crop productivity in all cases. There are crops which respond well to organic farming. For instance we tried organic farming for sugarcane cultivation and the yield increased by 25 per cent. We, therefore, have to be selective in crops for organic farming. Our priority for organic farming will be particularly for the export-oriented crops. We have at present 12 research institutes and universities working on organic agriculture," said Dr Gautum Kalloo, deputy director-general of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Crops selected for organic farming for meeting the demand of premium export markets are Basmati rice, select fruits and vegetables, soyabeans, cashewnuts, species, medicinal herbs, spices, tea and coffee.

Courtesy: The Financial Express, 25^th Mar '04
(Website : www.financialexpress.com)

Demand for natural vanilla is growing all over the world. People in the southern Indian state of Kerala have discovered a new gold - natural vanilla grown on trees. Known as the prince of spices, vanilla is fetching better prices in the market than even gold. When Dr Gopinathan, an agricultural scientist, first introduced vanilla in Kerala about 10 years ago, there were not many takers.

But last year the crop failed in Madagascar due to flash floods, and the price of green vanilla beans shot to $70 a kilo. That is a hefty rise considering vanilla used to sell for $3 a kilogram in 1997. Today almost everyone in Kerala, from farmers and engineers to lawyers and housewives, is cultivating vanilla. Many have already become rupee millionaires.

Courtesy: BBC News, 26^th Feb '04
(Website : http://news.bbc.co.uk)

In a significant move towards making agriculture negotiations at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) surge forward, the G-20 alliance of developing countries has decided to meet European trade officials on February 12-13 in Geneva. The meeting will take place at the senior officials level and will be attended by commerce secretary Dipak Chatterjee.

The G-20 includes developing countries across the globe like Brazil, India, China, Argentina and South Africa. The developed countries annually subsidise their farmers to the extent of $360 billion. It is both in the form of export subsidies and domestic support.

Courtesy: The Financial Express, 30^th Jan '04
(Website : www.financialexpress.com)

India's agricultural and processed food exports are again witnessing promising growth this year after their 35 percent growth in 2002-03 to record a turnover of Rs.138.28 billion.

"The exports of agro and processed foods, especially animal products, are doing very well this year and we expect a growth of five to 10 percent during 2003-04," K.S. Money, chairman of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), said Wednesday at an awards ceremony.

But Commerce Minister Arun Jaitley noted that India's share in global agriculture produce trade was below two percent despite being a major producer of fruit and vegetables, milk, cashew and sugar.

With the WTO agreement opening new vistas of opportunity, Jaitley said India must strive to raise its share in export of agricultural and processed foods to 10 percent in a decade.

Courtesy: www.newkerala.com, 24^th Dec '03
(Website : www.newkerala.com)