The Hindu Business Line : Wednesday, March 16, 2005

NCDEX in pact with Tokyo Grain Exchange
NCDEX and Tokyo Grain Exchange (TGE) on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to assist one another in marketing and educational areas such as joint sessions on new products and services. NCDEX and TGE will also share information ... More

SEEDS

Seed industry seeks infrastructure status
THE Rs 4,000-crore Indian seed industry has sought infrastructure status for itself and removal of seeds from the purview of Consumer Protection Act 1986 and Essential Commodities Act. "Our industry is demanding a level playing field for ... More

RUBBER

Rubber rates increase on aggressive buys
Certain tyre companies were buying sheet rubber at Rs 53.50 a kg amidst low arrivals. But the covering groups seemed to be more aggressive offering better quotes to procure the raw material in the absence of quantum sellers. All the grades ... More

TEA

Tea production down 4 pc in 2004; imports rise over 200 pc
DURING 2004 Indian tea production dropped by more than four per cent but two major competitors, Kenya and Sri Lanka, have registered nominal growth compared to the previous year. According to statistics released by Indian Tea Association, ... More

COTTON

Buying interest likely to keep cotton firm
Inflows have already touched 195 lakh bales, while four lakh bales have been contracted for exports. More

SPICES & CONDIMENTS

Export cess hits turmeric trade in Guntur
THE transactions at the turmeric market yard at Duggirala in Guntur district - one of the major ones in the State - have been hit badly with the imposition of four per cent export cess by the State Government. The commercial tax ... More

Pepper prices steady on Vietnam drought
PEPPER prices ruled steady on reports of drought in Vietnam and procurement by Government, which has led to sharp decline in arrivals at the terminal market here. The State procurement agency, Kerala State Co-operative Marketing Federation ... More

Kerala Govt smells a rat in pepper import from Lanka
THE duty-free import of pepper from Sri Lanka has hit Kerala badly, the Agriculture Minister, Mrs K.R. Gouri Amma, told the State Assembly on Tuesday. She said the State Government had urged the Centre to insist on certification of origin for ... More

AGRICULTURAL POLICY

Govt hikes soya oil tariff rate to $535/t
THE Union Government has raised the tariff value of imported crude soyabean oil to $535 (Rs 23,300) a tonne from $485 (Rs 21,100) with immediate effect. The move is in line with the current trend in the global market, where soya products' prices ... More

WTO

Conclave begins on Friday in New Delhi — G-20 partners to evolve strategy on WTO issues
THE Group of 20, a pre-Cancun WTO ministerial alliance of big and small countries to safeguard their agricultural interests, is holding a two-day conclave here beginning on March 18 to take "a G-20 position" on WTO-related issues and come out ... More

FICCI moots stringent tariff procedures in WTO farm talks
THE Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has urged for a three-pronged approach for tariff conversion procedures under the ongoing WTO negotiations in agriculture. This is to give exports from developing countries ... More