The Hindu Business Line : Monday, March 03, 2008

FARM CREDIT
‘Loan waiver sends wrong message to borrowers’
Both Indian agriculture and the farmers are ailing. Growth rate in the agriculture sector has been a poor 2.6 per cent while the GDP is around 8.7 per cent and industrial and service sectors have touched double digit growth rates. During the ... More

Incentives for prompt loan repayments suggested
Coimbatore, March 2 While hailing the debt waiver and debt relief provided for the farmers in the Union Budget, the All India Co-Operative Bank Employees’ Federation suggests that the Government also consider providing relief to the ... More

BUDGET
Insurance cos set to launch special schemes for plantation crops
Premium subsidy likely to be around 50% More

Budget: Grain traders disappointed
The Tamil Nadu Foodgrains Merchants Association, while welcoming the Union Budget for 2008-09, has expressed disappointment over the non-reversal of service tax on lorry freight, imposed on traders. In a statement, the association, while ... More

Will the Budget package work for poor farmers?
Send in your responses to Sticklish@thehindu.co.in

PESTICIDES
Curb aflatoxin residues, chilli farmers told
Guntur, March 2 Chilli farmers in the country, especially in Andhra Pradesh, the major chilli producer, should be mindful of aflatoxin residues in the crop, as such residues adversely affect the exports of the crop, according to Mr R. Chandra ... More

TEA
Inadequate tea offerings at Kolkata, Siliguri
Kolkata, March 2 Last week there were no auctions at Kolkata and Siliguri due to inadequate offerings, according to J Thomas & Company Pvt Ltd. The small quantity of CTC leaf and dust teas on offer at Guwahati sold readily in line with ... More

Budget package boosts Coonoor tea prices
Coonoor, March 2 The Union Budget created a welcome ambience at Sale No: 9 of the auctions of the Coonoor Tea Trade Association (CTTA) here on Saturday, resulting in the prices looking up. Prices generally increased Rs 2 a kg over the ... More

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
Gold may test resistance levels
Comex gold futures ended higher on Friday after hefty gains during the week. Immediate resistance is at $985 followed by a crucial resistance point at $1,031. As we have been maintaining, going further into 2008 and beyond, we believe ... More

COIR
Coir Board hails I-T exemption
Kochi, March 2 The exemption of Coir Board from the purview of Income Tax Act on par with other commodity boards will help it to access funds for developmental activities, the Chairman of the Board, Mr A.C. Jose, has said. He thanked ... More

MARKETING
APMC licence: Traders seek Govt intervention
Mangalore, March 2 The traders from Bunder area in Old Mangalore have sought the intervention of the State to direct the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) in Mangalore to renew their licence for trading in the area. ... More

OUTLOOK
Gold price poised to top $1,000
Chennai, March 2 Gold continued its glittering run last week, gaining 3 per cent and towards the weekend, it was almost in a galloping mood. Helping gold were factors such as the four-month high inflation witnessed by the US, fall of the ... More

Lower acreage, frost hit rabi oilseeds output
Production estimated at 86 lakh tonnes More