The Hindu Business Line : Friday, July 14, 2006

CULTIVATION
Agrarian distress
FOR WANT OF A PAIR OF BULLOCKS: Bheemrao Manigempure, a small farmer of Kadlabad village in Bidar district, Karnataka, with his son Shivasharanappa and daughter-in-law Saraswati. While the two men pull the plough, she helps them, sowing, ... More

INSIGHT
Farm sector needs soil revolution
Unless drastic steps are taken to improve soil fertility, India will not be able to take the great leap in food production to reach the target of 300 million tonnes by 2010. More

RUBBER
Row over dumping duty on EPDM rubber
Rubber goods industry opposes proposal More

Rubber prices mixed
Physical rubber rates were mixed on Thursday. Sheet rubber weakened on buyer resistance, as covering groups stayed back following sharp declines in the global markets. The grade closed at Rs 101and Rs 101.50 a kg against Rs 101.50 and Rs 102 ... More

SUGAR
Sugar steady
Sugar spot prices ruled steady on the Vashi wholesale market on Thursday on stray offerings. Small grade (S-30) was steady at Rs 1,830/1,870 a quintal over previous day, while medium grade (M-30) was down Rs 2 at Rs ... More

Dhampur Sugars undertakes expansion
Dhampur Sugar Mills Group is implementing expansion projects with an investment of Rs 863 crore. The first phase involving Rs 530 crore is already under implementation and would be completed before March 31 next year, according to a company ... More

TEA
Tea trade seeks anonymity in e-auctions
As Tea Board asks NSE.IT to come up with new model More

UK firm wants orthodox tea output raised
Offers to help Tea Board with promotional activities in Russia More

Weak trend at Kochi tea auction
A weak trend prevailed at the Kochi tea auction, which had 9,52,000 kg of dust tea on offer. Prices of CTC dust varieties fell by about a rupee when the auction opened. While bolder CTC declined by Rs 1-2,good liquoring varieties witnessed fresh ... More

GOLD & SILVER
Domestic gold rises; silver weakens
Gold moved up further on the local bullion market on Thursday on some buying interest amid firm overseas market, while silver prices weakened on some offering. Standard gold prices were up Rs 80 at Rs 9,770 for 10 gm from ... More

Mumbai to host gold convention
A gold convention to focus on exchange traded funds, demand/supply and risk management will be held in Mumbai during August 18-19. The convention in its third year will look at investment demand, market integration, risk ... More

METALS
Metals seen trading lower in 2007: Analysts
Reuters polls show prices are peaking; lead could gain More

OILSEEDS & EDIBLE OIL
Sustained buying props up edible oils
All major edible oils prices moved up further on the edible oil market on Thursday on sustained buying on ahead of a series festival. Castor oil ruled firm. Castor seed August contracts reacted at the higher level on some offering. Groundnut ... More

COCONUT & COPRA
Clarification
With reference to the photograph with the heading `SAFTA impact" which appeared in these columns on July 8, the Coconut Development Board's Chief Development Office, Mr Thomas Mathew M., clarifies that the import duty on coconut has not been ... More

CASHEW
Cashew exports drop on weak global demand
Slippage in volume, value & unit value realisation More

SPICES & CONDIMENTS
Pepper futures decline
Pepper futures declined on Thursday despite buying interest from investors and exporters. There was buying interest for NCDEX and NMCE delivered besides exporters were actively looking for spot pepper. The rupee was weak against the dollar. In ... More

HUMAN RESOURCES
FCS extended for commodity boards
The Government has approved the extension of flexible complementing scheme (FCS) applicable to scientists and technologists holding scientific posts in scientific and technology departments and engaged in scientific activities and services, to ... More

NATURAL CALAMITIES
Crops in Telangana face withering
Crops in over four lakh hectares, mostly in the Telangana region, face the threat of withering as monsoon rains continue to elude for over a month. "They face withering if there is no rainfall in the next 10 days," Ms Poonam Malakondaiah, ... More

Rs 71,000-cr package sought
The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, on Thursday sought a Rs 71,000-crore special package for the State to help the farming community. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, during the meeting, was told that 16 ... More