Agriculture
Check aflatoxin levels in groundnut urge experts
POLICY initiatives aimed at minimising aflatoxin contamination in groundnut are necessary to avoid fall in exports as well as reduce threats to public health, experts have suggested.
Aquaculture
ITC launches Web site for aqua farmers
THE ITC International Business Division (IBD) has launched a single point interface Web site to serve as a platform for aqua farmers in Andhra Pradesh and has drawn up plans to develop about 100 choupals in the State.
Commodities
Format for monthly oil import returns revised
IN an apparent bid to rein-in unscrupulous importers without the requisite qualification for availing of concessional rate of customs duty levied on crude vegetable oils for manufacture of vanaspati or refined oils, the Government has tightened the stock
intimation procedure.
Plantations
Spices exports plummet by Rs 508-crore
EXPORT of spices during the first nine months of the current fiscal declined by Rs 508.07 crore, signalling a sharp fall during 2000-01.
UPASI seeks Plantaion Labour Act repeal
HIGH labour cost of over 50 per cent in plantations compared to 10-12 per cent in manufacturing industries has had an adverse impact on the labour intensive plantations, according to the United Planters' Association of Southern India (UPASI).
North-East rubber output at 14,170 t
WIDESPREAD plantings by individual growers, the Public Sector Corporations and the Government departments have contributed to the fast growth of rubber cultivation in North-East region of the country. The extent of area under rubber has increased to 44,7
19 hectares now.
Tobacco body flays Govt's proposal
THE Tobacco Institute of India, a representative body of cigarette manufacturers, tobacco farmers and exporters, has expressed disappointment over the Centre's intention to introduce a comprehensive Bill in the Budget session to discourage the use of tob
acco products in the country.
Tea
Tea Board amends auction norms -- Siliguri auction centre likely to fall in line
THE Tea Board Chairman, as the licensing authority, has modified some of the new tea auction norms, taking note of the suggestions made by a cross-section of the tea trade. The changes were notified by Tea Board on February 1.
Good demand for CTC at Guwahati auction
GOOD demand prevailed for CTC categories on offer and prices closely followed quality. Best liquoring categories were slightly lower following decline in quality. Good and clean, grainy Assam brokens were firm to dearer while browner and fibrous sorts wi
tnessed a slightly easier trend. Fannings generally declined in value. Better cachar brokens were fully firm while the remainder tended slightly lower.
