INSIGHT
From Green to Grey Revolution
The flawed understanding of the harsh ground realities makes the policy-makers think that private companies can provide the much-needed impetus for increasing food production. If they could do the job, there was no need for a Green Revolution. Instea d of coming to the rescue of farmers, the Governments' intention of dismantling the food procurement system is a recipe for disaster. Farmers are being forced to face not only the vagaries of the monsoon but also the cruelty of markets, says . More

HORTICULTURE/FRUITS & VEGETABLES
Weekend Valentine's wilts rose exports — But ducks Dutch auctions to bloom `direct' on foreign shelves
A WEEKEND Valentine's Day has taken the sheen off Indian rose exports as sales plummeted by as much as 34 per cent even as local firms have managed to beach-head directly into top retail chains, such as Sainsbury, Tesco and Wal-Mart subsidiary ... More

RUBBER
Rubber turns weak
THE spot rubber prices turned weak on Monday. RSS 4 closed at Rs 49.75 against Rs 50 on Saturday. The trading activity was limited to a low profile in the absence quantum demand and supply. The March features at TOCOM for RSS 3 moved down to ... More

TEA
IBA drafts revamp plan for tea sector loans
THE Indian Banks' Association has advised banks that with respect to advances made to the tea industry, they should consider converting existing rupee loans into foreign currency denominated funding. In the relief package for the tea-sector ... More

Trade wants tea declared as national drink
IN an effort to outsmart competing rival beverages, tea industry is lobbying hard with the Union Government to announce tea as the National Drink of India and also mark a day as the National Tea Day. A formal proposal has already been submitted ... More

METALS
Copper prices flare up
COPPER spot prices in the domestic market have increased by 8 per cent or Rs 12 per kg within a week, following a firm trend on LME coupled with steady domestic demand. In Mumbai, copper wire bar prices strengthened to Rs 165 per kg on Monday ... More

COCONUT & COPRA
Model coconut project proves a hit in Vayalar
THE success story of the community-managed model coconut project in the Vayalar panchayat of Alappuzha district could encourage others to take up such ventures in the State. The model project aimed at increasing the income of poor coconut ... More

COFFEE
Mumbaiite bags Barista title
MR Sanjeev Kumar of Mumbai has won the Platinum Trophy at the annual India Barista Championship 2004, organised by The Speciality Coffee Association of India in Bangalore on Monday. He will represent India at the World Barista Championship in ... More

SPICES & CONDIMENTS
Ginger steady on good demand
GINGER prices continued to rule steady at higher levels on good demand and short supply. Good quality ginger fetched up to Rs 125 a kg while others were sold at Rs 85 to Rs 90 per kg. Availability has improved following supply from the ... More

WTO
`OECD farm subsidies taking toll on Third World farmers'
`UNFINISHED agenda' of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is what the developing countries including India would have to focus on in the ongoing negotiations. These include reduction of all forms of export subsidies, harmonisation formula to ... More