The Hindu Business Line : Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Food subsidy growth seen at 1.55 pc
Though the food subsidy bill is expected to grow in absolute terms in 2005-06, the annual rate of growth would hit a low of 1.55 per cent after a ten-year gap. It is expected to be at Rs 26,200 crore (budget estimates), against Rs 25,800 crore ... More

Call to rationalise support prices
The Union Government on Monday called for rationalisation of minimum support price (MSP) regime since it predominantly helps large farmers. It also called for discouraging State-level taxes imposed by foodgrain producing States such as Punjab and ... More

Wheat higher, despite claims
Imbalance in pulses continues
While Economic Survey has been guarded in its outlook that inflation rates are likely to remain within tolerance limits, prices of essential food commodities, especially wheat and pulses, have risen to levels that bring little comfort to ... More

Misplaced optimism?
Sugar output figures
"Availability and prices of sugar in the current season (2005-06) are expected to remain at reasonable levels," according to the Economic Survey which says sugar production during 2005-06 is expected to be 17.5 million tonnes (mt), up from around ... More

FERTILISERS

Fertiliser subsidy to exceed Budget estimates
Total subsidy may cross Rs 24,000 crore
Rising burden
Selling price of fertilisers remained constant since February 28, 2002 though input costs have increased rapidly.
Dept of fertilisers is formulating a revised policy for di-ammonium phosphate (DAP).
Wor king Group under the Chairmanship of Mr Y.K. Alagh formed for reviewing new pricing scheme. More

RUBBER

Rubber rises on better quotes
Spot rubber rates improved on Monday. Covering groups continued to offer better quotes though the international markets were in a mixed mood as TOCOM ended slightly weak in the near months. The presence of north Indian buyers was also felt in ... More

SUGAR

ISEC bags 50,000 t Pak sugar tender — Consignments to be sent from Mumbai, southern ports
TCP is likely to float another tender for 50,000 t
Global spot prices ruling at $450.50/t, little higher than domestic prices More

AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTIONS

ICRISAT partners CII in rural growth plan
Livelihood options
ICRISAT will soon join the developmental initiative launched in Dungarpur while CII plans to replicate the model elsewhere. More

COTTON

Cotton growers worried over likely duty cut
Growers of extra-long staple (ELS) cotton, a superior variety, are an unhappy lot because of falling prices. Despite a shortage in the market and strong world prices, domestic prices have been on a downturn last two months. They are now worried ... More

POULTRY

BIRD FLU EFFECT

Egg costs 50 paise now; chicken Rs 15/kg
The distress caused by the loss of market for the poultry sector was further pronounced today with both the layer egg and broiler sectors slashing the wholesale price further. The Namakkal-based National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) had ... More

Chicken, eggs back on Railway menu
Indian Railways today said it has allowed serving of eggs and chicken provided they have been handled as per the guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO). However, it has prohibited serving of half-boiled egg, fried eggs, omelette ... More

CDC supplies diagnostic reagents for bird flu investigation
Testing the outbreak
CDC reagents could test a series of avian flu virus variants to establish the type currently hitting India.
National Institute of Virology was sharing its data with the CDC about the outbreak of avian f lu in Navapur. More

AC to beat bird flu?
Consumer goods companies claiming that their products help improve the health of their consumers is nothing new. But how about saving a person from a deadly epidemic? Consumer electronics firm LG Electronics claims it has developed ... More

SPICES & CONDIMENTS

Low cardamom prices pose problems
Growers have little to plough back from lower returns
LOW prices for cardamom in the current season have created problems for the growers, leaving nothing for them to plough back to nurture their plantations. The average price during the current season is around Rs 200 a kg compared with the ... More

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