Mango trade reels under US attack The mango exporters have been hit hard to major Gulf markets this season coming to virtual halt. Gulf countries account for 70% to 80% of exports and major markets are Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Oman. Exports to these destinations have been severely affected since the beginning of Iraq war and may resume only after the war comes to an end. Best quality Alphonsoes are available for Rs 1,000 per four dozen box in the wholesale market as against last years Rs 1,200-1,300. Courtesy: The Economic Times, 31st March '03 Productivity hiccups hit Kerala tea growers The woes of Kerala's tea section are showing no signs of an early solution and the problems are being compounded by a drop in output and productivity , in addition to the prevailing low prices for the commodity. According to the latest figures provided by the department of economics and statistics, Kerala's tea production has dropped from 69,132 tonnes in '00-01 to 66,090 tonnes in '01-02. Productivity also declined from 1,876 kg per hectare in '00-01 to 1,791 kg per hectare in '01-02, forcing several tea plantations in Kerala. Courtesy: The Economic Times, 28th March '03 Palm oil prices to dip as exports to Middle East hit Palm oil prices are expected to suffer a further set back this season, as its exports to the Middle East and European countries have been hit by the Iraq war. Additionally, India the larger buyer is unlikely to boost its purchases despite lower domestic production due to drought condition. Tight global edible oil supplies pushed up palm oil prices to an average of 1,364 ringgit ($358,95) a tonne compared with 895 ringgit in '01 , representing a 52.4% increase. During current year, Indian imports as well as prices are expected to be lower than earlier estimates as Indian demand is more price sensitive. Courtesy: The Economic Times, 27th March '03 American grapes make way into local market American grapes are increasingly making inroads into local market and are pegged to capture half of the imports segment of the commodity in the coming season along with five percent of the overall sales. Californian grapes did business of over 1,500 tonnes in the '02 season and expected to increase manifold to 2,500 tonnes in '03-04. Courtesy: The Economic Times, 25th March '03 Farm exports may not be hit if Gulf war is short India's agriculture exports to the big markets of Middle East and Africa will remain unscathed by the Iraq war as long as it doesn't last for more than 10 days and port remain open in Saudi Arabia and Jordan. India's wheat exports to Iraq, remain jinxed as shipments are now being diverted or held back at Dubai. Rice shipments are likely to be more affected if the war continues for more than a week. Kuwait, one of the biggest buyers of basmati, has already stopped all shipments from Feb end onwards to clear the ports. Courtesy: The Economic Times, 21th March '03 Karnataka to go for third crop in same year Farmers in north karnataka, used to growing two crops in a year, are now being encouraged to grow a third crop particularly in summer months. This type of cultivation called as summer cultivation is dependent on availability of irrigation facilities. The new project is a three way collaboration between the University of Agriculture Sciences, Dharwad, Shaswat Krishi Vigyan Kendra - a non government organisation, and the farmers in and around Nippani in north Karnataka. Courtesy: The Economic Times, 19th March '03 Eco-friendly teas to boost India's exports Tea exports from country could get major boost with upbeat over a new EU health guideline for marketing beverage overseas. The new EU law for imports of agricultural produce which comes into effect from July, bans the use of 320 different varieties of pesticides and fertilisers. The EU is aiming at achieving the lowest possible pesticide and fertiliser levels in agricultural products - the permissible pesticide content can not cross beyond 3 mg per kg of tea. Courtesy: The Economic Times, 17th March '03 Better pruning to boost fruit yield Indian orchardists need to adopt better pruning practices and be judicious in the use of chemicals, if they want to increase productivity, a noted horticultural consultant from the Netherlands has said. He said the apple yield in Himachal was only seven tonne per hectare as compared to 40 tonnes per hectare in Europe and it was 'pruning' that increased productivity. Courtesy: The Economic Times, 14th March '03 Essential Commodities Bill tabled in Rajya Sabha A Bill seeking to amend the essential commodities Act and empower government to issue orders to implement "regulated release" mechanism policy was introduced in Rajya Sabha today by food and civil supplies minister Sharad Yadav. As per the statement of objects and reasons of the Essential commodities (Amendment) Bill 2003, the recent challenge to the "regulated release" mechanism in courts had led to difficulties in operation, resulting in declining sugar prices. Courtesy: The Economic Times, 14th March '03 New varieties give a boost to India's potato exports India, the world's third largest producer of potato, has received encouraging response from countries in the neighborhood and in West Asia for its newer varieties of the tuber. HP Singh, horticulture commissioner said, "we hope to export around 10,000 tonnes of fresh potatoes this year, with UAE accounting for around 4,000 tonnes and Mauritius 900 tonnes. The response from these places to markets to varieties like Kufri Bahar, Kufri Chipsona I and II will considerably boost potato production in India." India's potato production is around 25m tonnes and estimated to be worth $610m. Courtesy: The Economic Times, 13th March '03 Veg oil availability to fall by 17.6% Vegetable oil availability would fall by 11.8 lakh tonnes or 17.6% to 55.4 lakh during the year '02-03 as against the previous years levels of 67.2 lakh tonnes. The drop in availability was due to the fall of major rabi oilseed crops which had declined by 20.3 % during the current oil year to 161.3 lakh tonnes as against 202.4 lakh during the last year, a Solvent Extractors Association of India release said. Courtesy: The Economic Times, 12th March '03 Sharp rise in edible oil prices to prevent record imports this year Imports of edible oils are unlikely to reach new high during the current season. Considering the sharp fall in indigenous oilseeds production this season, import of vegetable oils were earlier expected to scale a new peak of 49-50 lakh tonnes. The Union Agriculture ministry estimated overall vegetable oil availability of 55.4 lakh tonnes from indigenous sources against 67.2 lakh tonnes last year or a decline of 11.8 lakh tonnes. The import estimates of vegetable oils range between 46 and 48 lakh tonnes as against 44.25 tonnes last season. Thus, the entire shortfall of 12 lakh tonnes of oil is unlikely to be met by imports. Courtesy: The Economic Times, 11th March '03 Vegetable seeds ready to hop on to brand wagon Seminis Vegetable Seeds(India), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Seminis Inc. will promote the Seminis brand from March 13. It is also the global breeding center for Seminis Inc's coriander seed. With the March 13, Seminis will market the existing product under its own name. The company is targeting the domestic $119m vegetable seed market, offering its hybrid seeds. During the forthcoming season, the company plans to launch new products for most vegetables, including Mexican jalapeno for the export Market. Other product for export include okra for the Japan Market, eggplant, gourds and onion seeds to South East Asian markets. Courtesy: The Economic Times, 10th March '03 Soyameal exports may dip 40% in '02-03 India is fast losing its share in the oilmeals market that's largely concentrated in SouthEast Asia. Exports of soyameal, comprising more than 80% of the total oilmeals exports from the country, are expected to decline by over 40% during the current fiscal. If lower oilseeds production is any guide, exports are likely to suffer a further setback during '03-04. As against the export of 3m tonnes of oilmeals during '01-02, exports are unlikely to cross even 2m tonnes during the current year. Courtesy: The Economic Times, 7th March '03 Say it with flowers: Its time to join the brand wagon Floriculture may not have received the boost in the Budget that the Rs 300-crore domestic industry expected in order that agri-business fuel the eight percent GNP growth, but that has not deterred branding from catching on in the flower retail business. The Budget proposals have has announced the launching of a Rs 50 crore central scheme on high tech horticulture and precision farming with focus on crop diversification and adoption of sunrise tech. A five per cent cut in customs duty on refrigerated trucks was also thrown in as a concession to the objective of boosting horticulture and floriculture. Courtesy: The Economic Times, 7th March '03 Sugar up on buying spree A modest rise in medium sugar prices characterized the trading on the Vashi, mumbai wholesale market. The M-30 grade recovered some of its recent losses on fresh demand from retailers. Small sugar, held steady in a restricted trading. Medium sugar quality(M-30) inched up to Rs 1,188/1,230 per quintal from the last closing levels of Rs 1,185/1,228. However, Small sugar quality (S-30) closed unaltered at Rs 1,150/1,202 per quintal on narrow movements. Courtesy: The Economic Times, 5th March '03 Excise duty on edible oils may encourage adulteration The excise duty on edible oils is expected to add to the burden on consumers. The customs duty for import of edible oil was maintained but there will be an excise duty of 8% on branded refined edible oils and vanaspati in sealed containers for retail sale. It is in everybody's interest that consumer should get quality edible oils in packaged form so that there is no malpractice or adulteration. The burden of excise duty on refined edible oil and vanaspati would work out to be about Rs 45 to 50 per tin of 50 kg. Courtesy: The Economic Times, 3rd March '03
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