COMMODITY EXCHANGES
Dena Bank loans on easier terms for M&M tractors
DENA Bank today informed that it has signed an MoU with Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd (M&M) to extend financial assistance to farmers buying M&M tractors. Against the norm of 15-25 per cent margin money, the bank will finance M&M tractors a More

RUBBER
Rubber declines as market loses steam
SPOT rubber prices surrendered gains on Wednesday. Trading volumes were insufficient to keep the prices firm and RSS 4 declined to Rs 52.50 from Rs 53.00 a kg on Tuesday. While the major grades recorded losses, ISNR 20 closed static on moderate ... More

TEA
Nilgiris small tea growers advised to collect subsidy
THE Nilgiris Small Tea Growers' Association has advised its members to collect the price subsidy from the factories to which they supplied the green leaf. "We have information from the Tea Board that the subsidy is being sent to the factories ... More

WATER
Water storage in reservoirs up
WATER availability in the 71 important reservoirs in the country is nine per cent higher than last year but it is still 11 per cent lower compared to the last ten year's average. According to the Central Water Commission, the water availability ... More

AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTIONS
`Why engage McKinsey for FCI recast?'
Comprehensive studies already done, say critics
THE practice of the Government hiring foreign consultants for policy-related projects is coming under increasing scrutiny, with critics calling it "superfluous expenditure of public money". The latest consultancy contract mired in controversy ... More

COIR

OILSEEDS & EDIBLE OIL
Gujarat groundnut output may touch 15 lakh t
AIDED by showers from the retreating monsoon in the last 10 days, the groundnut crop in Gujarat is likely to cross the 15-lakh-tonne-mark, although it is likely to stay far below last year's bumper harvest of 27.5 lakh tonnes. ``The rains over ... More

CASHEW
Delicious deal
Cashew kernels on sale in Kochi. With domestic demand for cashew on the rise, the product fetches prices higher than the international market rates. Exports have also been showing an upward trend so far during the current ... More

SPICES & CONDIMENTS
Spices Board to e-market vanilla, pepper, cardamom
IDBI will handle the financial transactions of the e-marketing . More

Rising pepper imports begin to tell on prices
THE arrival of large quantity of imported pepper appears to be pushing the prices down in the domestic market. Imports have gone up substantially so far this year. During January-August, 11,353.56 tonnes of pepper were imported through the ... More

EVENTS
`Rural credit, transport vital for farm growth'
PRICING water and electricity are the main challenges facing Tamil Nadu in the medium term to sustain development, according to the World Bank. Addressing a two-day World Bank workshop inaugurated here today, Mr Mohan Nagarajan of the World ... More