The Hindu Business Line : Thursday, December 14, 2006

CULTIVATION
In troubled waters
FARMERS LET WATER into a paddy field near Thrissur. With the water requirement for traditional rice crop being 5,000 litres for a kg of grain, thrice the quantity to maize and wheat, sustainability of irrigated rice production in the country is ... More

HORTICULTURE/FRUITS & VEGETABLES
Safal to buy more mangoes from TN
ENHANCED SUPPORT More

RUBBER
Spot rubber prices improve
Spot rubber resumed the up trend on Wednesday. RSS 4 improved to Rs 86 and Rs 85.50 a kg respectively at Kottayam and Kochi from Rs 85 a kg on Tuesday. The market behaved quite differently under the influence of speculators during the session, ... More

SUGAR
Cane farmers want hike in procurement price
The Tamil Nadu Sugarcane Farmers' Association has demanded an increase in the procurement price of sugarcane to Rs 1,250 a tonne from Rs 1,025 per tonne. According to the State President, Mr N. Palanisamy, the recent increase of Rs 11 per ... More

TEA
7-week low offer at Coonoor tea acutions
A volume of 10.42-lakh kg has been catalogued for sale at the Coonoor Tea Trade Association auctions to be held here on Thursday and Friday. This is the lowest volume in the last seven weeks. It is 2.3-lakh kg lower than last week's offer, ... More

GOLD & SILVER
Gold may be range-bound during holiday season
The negative breakdown in the dollar during November has prompted renewed investor interest in gold, helping prices to recover from the lows reached in October. Going forward, gold prices are more likely to remain highly sensitive to dollar ... More

DAIRY & DAIRY PRODUCTS
Milk output poised to top 100 m tonnes
Indian milk output is poised to reach and breach the magical number of 100 million tonnes in 2007, thanks to the ongoing demand-side developments and supply-side promotions. India is world's single largest producer of milk since mid-1990s. From ... More

Milk production drive launched in Kerala
The State Government will soon implement what is being described as a `latter day White Revolution' through a tailor-made `ksheera dhara' project. Announcing this, the Chief Minister, Mr V. S. Achuthanandan, said at a function ... More

SPICES & CONDIMENTS
Vanilla prices losing flavour
On increased availability, limited buying More

Liquidation hits pepper futures
Introduction of addl margin on sellers fails to make any impact More

Mixed flavour
RISING PRICE, FALLING EXPORTS: Workers grading cardamom at a farm in Mepady in Kerala's Wayanad district. Cardamom prices have improved on good demand and lower production. The weighted average price of cardamom this season starting July has been ... More

AGRICULTURAL POLICY
Apt time to lift ban on sugar exports: Pawar
Govt open to suggestions of decontrolling industry More

EVENTS
Global meet on vegetables
About 200 scientists from the world over have gathered at ICRISAT to attend the first ever conclave on reviving the rich legacy of indigenous vegetables and legumes. Such foodstuff can help address problems of obesity and malnourishment alike. ... More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
`Rise in import of farm produce negligible'
More