The Hindu Business Line : Wednesday, June 23, 2004

FARM CREDIT
Banks finalising schemes to implement farm package
COMMERCIAL banks have agreed to meet the farm lending target set by the Finance Minister. They are in the process of finalising specific schemes to help distressed farmers. These schemes will be announced in a week, said Mr V. Leeladhar, ... More

`Include branded pumpsets in farm loan package'
THE pump industry in Coimbatore region, which accounts for nearly 50 per cent market share for branded pumps catering to the agricultural sector, has sought inclusion of farm pumpsets in the credit package announced by the Union Finance Minister, ... More

INSIGHT
Good luck, Mr Sharad Pawar
Mr Sharad Pawar has vast administrative experience as a former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Defence Minister at the Centre. If he is serious about increasing private investment in agriculture, Mr Pawar must reform the agricutural marketing syste m and restore property rights, at least for the farmers. More

RUBBER
Rubber Board calls for user, grower meet tomorrow — As prices rise, stocks shrink to 9-year low
THE Rubber Board has called a meeting of all stake holders in the rubber industry on June 24 to assess the current situation as prices continue to rule high and stock have touched its lowest in nine years. The Rubber Board says the meeting is ... More

Rubber prices firm on spurt in global markets
THE spot rubber was almost steady on Tuesday. Though the covering group and purchase agents kept a low profile, the spurt in world markets helped the prices to remain firm. The only exception was ungraded rubber, which lost in the absence of ... More

TEA
Poor quality pulls down Coonoor tea prices
BUYERS continued to complain of low quality when a huge volume of 12.55 lakh kg of tea was offered for sale at the auctions conducted by the Coonoor Tea trade Association (CTTA) here. ``Almost 60 per cent of the dust category teas were ... More

DAIRY & DAIRY PRODUCTS
And quiet flows the milk
Following the introduction of entry tax for milk brought from outside, truck operators are taking by-routes such as Pollachi-Palakkad via Plachimada, as seen in the picture, to avoid check-posts on the highways. An estimated 10 lakh litres of ... More

CASHEW
Lack of clinical proof may bar cashew from FDA nut list
LACK of scientific evidence showing that cashew can reduce the risk of heart disease might turn out to be a hurdle for getting cashews included in the select list of nuts by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The US-based International ... More

SPICES & CONDIMENTS
Slight improvement in pepper prices
Spot pepper was up by Rs 100 a quintal at Rs 7,300 for MG 1 and Rs 7,000 for un-garbled as against Rs 7,200 and Rs 6,900 a quintal last Saturday. Futures also have shown some upward trend. July delivery was Rs 7,654 quintal on Tuesday as ... More

CO-OPERATIVES
Agreenco to invest Rs 233 cr in Kerala
THE Kerala State Agro Co-operative Ltd (Agreenco) is setting up a number of projects, including a pineapple processing unit and crumb rubber factory, across the State at an investment of Rs 233 crore. While the pineapple processing unit and ... More