The Hindu Business Line : Tuesday, July 18, 2006

RICE
Amira Foods enters domestic branded basmati segment
The Rs 300-crore Amira Foods Ltd is entering the domestic branded basmati rice market. "We plan to launch `Amira' brand in the domestic market soon. Within the next two years we plan to clock Rs 90-100 crore, selling up to 45,000 tonnes of ... More

WHEAT
Wheat output estimate pruned to 69.48 m tonnes
Fourth advance estimate pegs foodgrains production lower More

CLIMATE & WEATHER
Heavy rains likely during weekend in central parts, West Coast
9 meteorological subdivisions receive scanty rainfall More

AQUACULTURE
Shrimp exporters seek hike in ECGC cover
US anti-dumping duty hits exporters, shrimp farmers hard More

INSIGHT
Bt cotton and the price blight
Without going into the merits or otherwise of Bt cotton to stem the bollworm problem, the price of the seeds has created a storm on the fields. More

RUBBER
Spot rubber rules steady
The week opened with a steady note in physical rubber prices. RSS 4 closed at Rs 100 a kg both at Kottayam and Kochi as on Saturday. But the undercurrent was weak since major consuming industries continued to abstain the market expecting sheet ... More

SUGAR
Fresh bids invited for Arunachalam Sugars
Arunachalam Sugar Mills Ltd is on the block again, with the Official Liquidator calling fresh bids on orders of the Madras High Court. Bids are now being invited for the movable and immovable properties of Arunachalam Sugar Mills at ... More

Sugar firm
Sugar spot prices firmed up further at the Vashi wholesale market on Monday on continued buying interest. Small grade (S-30) was up Rs 7 at Rs 1,837-1,887 per quintal over previous day while medium grade (M-30) was up Rs 5 at Rs 1,880-1,945 per ... More

TEA
Replanting needs
LOW OUTPUT: An estate worker plucking tea leaves in a tea plantation near Sholayar, Kerala. Low productivity of various commodities has resulted in the need for re-plantation of the cash crops. The Centre has chalked out various programmes to ... More

GOLD & SILVER
Gold is investors' darling
Slew of factors make it attractive; may top $850 More

FOODGRAINS
`Need to expand foodgrains offered through PDS'
Could have multiple benefits, including food self-sufficiency, says Prof Swaminathan More

JUTE
Jute mill workers protest
Workers of three jute mills here staged a demonstration in front of the Collectorate on Monday in protest against the Government order (GO) banning strikes in the mills - East Coast, Aruna, and Bobbili - under the same ... More

OILSEEDS & EDIBLE OIL
Groundnut oil moves higher
Groundnut oil (tin) at Rajkot on Monday touched the Rs 800-mark on continued buying interest. Similarly groundnut oil raw in Mumbai also moved up further on sustained buying. Groundnut oil raw was up Rs 3 at Rs 525 per 10 kg. Refined soya oil was ... More

COCONUT & COPRA
Kerala coconut oil industry seeks Govt help for revival
`Coconuts be priced independent of coconut oil' More

SPICES & CONDIMENTS
Pepper futures soar on tight supply
Tight supply position in the world pepper market and the rupee going down to a three-year low against the dollar have placed the Indian pepper at an advantageous position raising the possibility of more exports in the coming days. These ... More

INTERVIEW
AVT Natural Products aims to become a global leader
Diversifies into a multi-product, multi-customer company More