CULTIVATION
Samba cultivation picks up in Cauvery delta
THE agricultural operations like ploughing, raising nurseries and transplantation of crops are slowly picking up in the Cauvery delta districts of Thanjavur and Tiruvarur, thanks to the reach of water to tail-end areas coupled with ... More

AQUACULTURE
`Ship-breaking units will hurt shrimp hatcheries'
THE proposed ship-breaking units along the Kakinada coast will cause great harm to the ecological balance in the region and affect fisheries adversely, according to the AP Shrimp Hatcheries' Association. In separate statements sent to the Prime ... More

INSIGHT
Farm credit: Targets are fine, but more is needed
ON June 18, the Finance Minister, Mr Chidambaram, wrote a `Redeeming the Promise' letter to all Chief Ministers. The letter stated that `in 2003-04, the total flow of agricultural credit had been estimated to be Rs 80,000 crore;' and went on ... More

PLANTATIONS
UPASI CONFERENCE
Coffee, tea sector value loss up on rising input costs, falling returns
AS a prelude to its annual conference, UPASI (United Planters Association of Southern India) organises a session on plantation commodities every year. The session on tea had largely focused on marketing strategies and other aspects during the ... More

RUBBER
Rubber growers unhappy over falling prices
THE rubber plantation sector as a whole is unhappy over the recent developments, which led to a sudden fall in rubber prices. In reply to a question about the sharp decline in rubber prices following the liberalisation of rubber import and ... More

Spot rubber static in inactive market
THE physical rubber market was comparatively inactive on Monday. All major grades were static except RSS 5. According to dealers, inflow of raw material to the main marketing centres was at a low pace. Rubber futures for September ... More

TEA
Tea Board to seek Centre's help for re-planting
THE Tea Board Chairman, Mr N.K. Das, has stressed the need for examining the possibility of re-engineering the tea industry to make it globally competitive. Stating that these issues would be addressed in the stakeholders' conference slated for ... More

OILSEEDS & EDIBLE OIL
Kharif oilseeds harvest begins
KHARIF oilseed arrivals have begun, a little early this year. Reports from Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka suggest that harvest of the early sown varieties has started. In Maharashtra, as much as about 25,000 bags of soyabean are coming into ... More

Plea to include soyameal in farm produce scheme
THE Soyabean Processors Association of India (SOPA) has urged the Commerce Minister, Mr Kamal Nath, to include soyameal under the "Vishesh Krishi Upaj Yojana" or the Special Farm Produce Scheme. In a letter to Mr Nath, the SOPA President, Mr ... More

POULTRY
Broiler, egg rates lowered
BROILER producers and shell egg trade in Tamil Nadu have pruned farm-gate prices of their produce in anticipation of the approaching Tamil austere month of Purattassi (starting September 15) when the consumption of poultry products will ... More