The Hindu Business Line : Saturday, August 04, 2007

Bengal launches soil testing programme
Kolkata, Aug. 3 Expressing concern over the stagnancy in agricultural output, especially rice, both nationally and in West Bengal, the State Agriculture Minister, Mr Narendra Nath Dey, said here today that the State Government has launched a ... More

CLIMATE & WEATHER
Emerging rain spell may last a fortnight
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 3 The reviving monsoon promises at least a fortnight of action-packed spell, notwithstanding the odd storm brewing over the northeast Arabian Sea taking a likely westerly path, as Super Cyclone Gonu did in the early ... More

CULTIVATION
Kharif sowing gathers pace
Acreage of all crops barring paddy rises More

PESTS
Fruit rot disease may affect white arecanut output
40% production fall likely; rainfall hampers fungicide spraying More

SOCIAL SECURITY
Kerala sanctions funds for farm workers’ pension dues
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug. 3 The Kerala Government has sanctioned Rs 60.72 crore for settlement of pension arrears of agricultural workers.The arrears to be distributed cover nine months from November 2006 to July 2007, according to an ... More

INSIGHT
Scientists discuss evolving tech for farms in S. Asia, Africa
Seek to transform nature of agri markets More

HORTICULTURE/FRUITS & VEGETABLES
Cities consume Rs 60,000-cr fruits, vegetables annually
Chennai, Aug. 3 Indian cities consume fruits and vegetables worth Rs 60,000 crore a year. Trade and transport margins being around 45 per cent.Total consumption of fruits and vegetables in rural as well as urban areas has increased over ... More

PLANTATIONS
More buyers
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Fall in dry beans content hits cocoa prices
Kottayam, Aug. 3 Cocoa prices are ruling low following the drop in the percentage of dry beans. Prices have fallen to Rs 18-18.50 from Rs 22-24 a kg that prevailed before the onset of monsoon.Following severe rains in Kerala, the ... More

RUBBER
Supply fears dominate spot rubber market
Kottayam, Aug. 3 Spot rubber improved on Friday. The market sentiments were dominated by supply concerns and the prices firmed up amidst extremely thin volumes. RSS 4 closed better at Rs 90 and Rs 89.50 a kg against Rs 88.50 and Rs 89 a kg ... More

TEA
Firm trend at Kochi tea auction
Popular dust varieties were firm to dearer at the Kochi tea auction by Rs 1 to 2. Medium varieties remained steady, while plainer varieties eased. Firms such as A.V. Thomas and exporters to CIS countries operated selectively on good liquoring ... More

WATER
Reservoir levels above average
A more-than-satisfactory monsoon so far has resulted in water levels in major reservoirs of the country currently being 65 per cent higher than the average for the last ten years. As on August 2, the 78 major reservoirs monitored by the Central ... More

COTTON
Global cotton may gain more than expected
World trade likely to rebound to 9 million tonnes More

OILSEEDS & EDIBLE OIL
Crude palm stearin duty cut to 10%
Mumbai, Aug. 3 Customs duty on imported crude palm stearin (CPS), a key raw material for manufacture of soaps as also fatty acids and fatty alcohols, has been slashed to 10 per cent from 12.5 per cent from August 2.As per notification ... More

SPICES & CONDIMENTS
Bearish activities affect pepper
Indian pepper futures market fell on Friday on concerted bearish activities despite the fundamentals in the world market remained unchanged.Cell calls spreading messages that the prices would fall sharply said to have created strong ... More

RAILWAYS
IRFC raises Rs 1,200 cr through domestic bonds issue
New Delhi, Aug. 3 Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC), the fund mobilising arm of Indian Railways, has already raised about Rs 1,200 crore this fiscal by issuing bonds in the domestic market. The weighted average cost for these ... More

MARKETING
Road blockade
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