CLIMATE & WEATHER
MET SIGNS
Wayanad and Kasaragode top monsoon deficit charts
WAYANAD (-35 per cent) and Kasaragode (-33 per cent) topped the district-wise monsoon deficit charts at the end of the 2004 season as Kerala once again ended up on the wrong side of normal (-22 per cent) in June-September precipitation. ... More

CULTIVATION
Extended monsoon seen aiding rabi crop
Low temperatures and raised moisture levels are what farmers need for a good rabi. The ongoing rains will yield just that. More

RUBBER
Rubber eases on restricted buys
AS covering groups and purchase agents restricted their purchases, rubber prices cooled down slightly on Tuesday. Export buying was also reported to be at a halt as the domestic prices moved up trimming the difference with the international ... More

AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTIONS
Nabard(Thiruvananthapuram) staff strike work
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The entire staff of the Thiruvananthapuram Regional Office of Nabard joined counterparts elsewhere in the country on a one-day strike on Tuesday. Functioning of all Nabard offices came to halt, according to Mr A.S.S. ... More

OILSEEDS & EDIBLE OIL
China, S. Asia brighten oilmeals export prospects
CHINA has increasingly begun to show interest in oilmeals from India and the solvent extraction industry sees a big market there. Besides, the solvent extraction sector is focussing on the South Asian region to increase demand and improve ... More

Malaysia eyeing value-added palm oil products shipment
MALAYSIA is now not only a major producer of palm oil but it has become a major producer of oleo chemicals. The Malaysian Government is looking at all possibilities to increase demand for palm oil and its products by widening its ... More

SPICES & CONDIMENTS
Vanilla buying begins inspite of resistance from growers
DESPITE major vanilla growers showing resistance to sell their produce, some of the major companies have already started buying green vanilla beans from farmers in Kerala and Karnataka. A Bangalore-based company has bought three tonnes of A ... More

AGRICULTURAL POLICY
AP plans to promote apiculture in a big way
THE Government is examining the prospects of promoting apiculture as an alternative livelihood to the farming community in the State. It has invited Kashmiri Apiarists, a private firm engaged in the processing and export of honey, from Punjab ... More

CO-OPERATIVES
Kerafed to launch a range of products
KERALA Kerakarshaka Sahakarana Federation Ltd (Kerafed), the apex cooperative federation of coconut farmers in the State, will soon introduce a range of new products such as coconut milk, coconut milk powder and coconut chips. Announcing this ... More

NATURAL CALAMITIES