24 July, 2013

TNAU FELLOWSHIP
K. Gomathi, M.Tech. (Food Processing and Engineering) student of Tamil
Nadu Agricultural University, has been awarded the Post-Graduate
Scholarship by All India Council for Technical Education for an amount of
Rs. 8,000 per month for 24 months. Gomathi has worked on The Effect of
Ohmic Heating on Rheological Properties of Papaya Pulp under the
guidance

of

K.

Thangavel,

Professor,

Department

of

Agricultural

Processing, TNAU.
Dont just go green, grow green

Many Bangaloreans are turning to gardening to beat stress and veggie

prices

Proud gardener:Jayanagar resident Vijay Satish admires his handiwork.

PHOTO: NIHARIKA HEMA RAJ

Do tomatoes, instead of onions, bring tears to your eyes? Are you uneasy
about all those chemicals in your veggies? Do you ache to bring a green
relief from the concrete eyesores that hem you in? Perhaps a solution
could be turning a corner of your home into a kitchen garden.
Garden City has always had gardening enthusiasts. But, as gracious
homes with vast backyards make way for glass-and-chrome edifices,
Bangaloreans are looking at more modest spaces to have a go at
gardening. So todays green thumbs have a go at it through vegetable and
fruit patches they grow in their backyards, terraces and even balconies.
Kitchen gardens dont cost much and dont require a lot of time too.
Depending on the varieties you want to grow, just an initial investment of
Rs. 2,000 can get to started.
Jayanagar resident Vijay Satish says his organic garden meets 90 per cent
of his kitchen needs.
He is proud of his brinjal, cucumber, chillies, coriander, fenugreek,
tomatoes, beetroot, turnip, carrots and radish. I go to the market only for
potatoes and onions!
He even experiments with exotic varieties of vegetables like broccoli,
Chinese cabbage, brown zucchinis, purple capsicum to name a few. He
minimises the costs of his terrace garden by recycling almost everything he
can lay his hands on plastic sheets, disposal barrels, even noodles
cups. Ask him if having green fingers is a prerequisite, he replies: Its not
rocket science: anybody can do it. But gardening certainly requires
patience and self-motivation.
Online communities

Social networking sites like Facebook are proving to be a great boon for
enthusiasts who want to make their house greener but dont know where to
start. Members of online groups share their experiments, pictures and
techniques, creating a pool for newer members to learn from. Mr.
Laxminarayan, an active member of the group Organic Terrace Gardening
on Facebook, has been terrace-gardening for almost four years now. I
started it to reduce job stress.
His Facebook group boasts a membership of more than 5,900 almost
3,000 of them are from Bangalore members from across the country and
even abroad.
B.N. Vishwanath of the Garden City Farmers Trust observes the trend
really picked up after 2005 with a number of young doctors, engineers,
BPO employees and working couples wanted to experiment with greenery
in their homes. His NGO can be contacted on 9845627217.

URBAN RITES
Many Bangaloreans are turning to gardening to beat stress and veggie
prices
Driverless tractors till high-tech farm

Klaus Muenchoffphoto: AFP

As the harvest nears, the employees of German farmer Klaus Muenchhoff
are busy making the final checks on imposing tractors ready to roll into the
golden fields.
But these tractors are steel monsters with a difference driverless and
satellite-guided, they can operate on the fields with an accuracy of a few
centimetres.
Impervious to fatigue and indifferent to poor visibility, they reduce distances
travelled by each vehicle, saving their owner fuel costs and improving crop
yields.
The Muenchhoffs have tilled this 1,000 hectare farmland that grows wheat
and rapeseed for nearly 200 years.
However, his work has changed radically since he turned to precision
agriculture, which started in the United States in the 1980s and employs
cutting-edge technologies to separately manage each plot rather than
uniformly treat an entire field.
Besides the GPS guided tractors, Muenchhoff has set up optical sensors
that can measure the nutritional status of plots and scanners that assess a
plot's soil composition, thus reducing fertiliser consumption.
There is an ecological aspect, but the main focus is economic.
On his computer, he scrolls through charts, tables, digital maps and
satellite photos.
A problem is that the equipment still doesn't come cheap. Some high-tech
combine harvesters can cost up to half a million euros.
These innovations are feeding hopes of overcoming the challenge of
exploding global food needs expected in future.

Will the machines take over the farm one day?

I don't see that happening, said Muenchhoff. They facilitate the work,
that's all. They don't make decisions. I make the decisions.AFP
New portal for farmers launched

eFresh to connect farmers with prospective entrepreneurs

Good news for farmers and those engaged in food processing sector. A
new web portal eFresh, a multilingual portal, has been launched on
Tuesday to connect farmers with prospective entrepreneurs.
The web portal, billed as one stop source of information by its promoters,
has been designed to meet the requirements of all stakeholders in the food
chain from farmers to processors.
The portal would consist of technical information related to crops, including
soil testing, weather reports, crop information, irrigation facilities, food
safety and quality of primary produce. In addition, effort has been made to
incorporate use of hi-tech methods in horticulture, medicinal plants, plastic
mulching, nurseries and related information on the portal. eFresh managing
director Srihari Kotela, who announced the joint venture with ICICI-backed
IKP Centre for Advancement of Agriculture Practices, also announced the
launch of another portal eFreshtenders.com, aimed at bringing all live
tenders at one place in the exclusive domain of agriculture, food
processing, food safety and solar energy related projects floated by the
government.
Centres

The portal embarked upon setting up of farmers development centres in

different places, including Guntur, Karimnagar and Chittoor to educate
farmers on best practices with advice from 40 experts in the field
Probe into activities of organic farming mission
Minister of State for Agriculture Krishna Byre Gowda on Tuesday told the
Legislative Council the State government will order an inquiry into the
alleged irregularities of the Karnataka State Organic Farming Mission that
was constituted during the Bharatiya Janata Party regime.
Replying to Bharatiya Janata Party member Bhanuprakash during Question
Hour, the Minister said there were allegations of irregularities in utilising
grants worth Rs. 500 crore.
However, the irregularities had been checked to some extent by wise
bureaucrats by preventing the utilisation of the entire quantum of funds, he
said.
He accused the mission of adopting an exclusive policy rather than being
inclusive, while promoting the scheme among farmers. The mission had
about 300 groups of farmers per taluk. There were disparities as not all the
farmers were allowed to be part of this group, he alleged.
Instead of promoting a comprehensive organic farming system, the
mission only took up a few components of the system, he said and said
following various complaints, the mission had been transferred from the
Agriculture Department to the Horticulture Department and re-launched as
Amruthabhoomi project in 2012-13 itself, he said. It will now be critically
reviewed for ensuring better implementation, he said.

Looking for balance

The Minister announced that the government would now promote
sustainable agricultural practices involving a balance between organic and
inorganic farming depending upon the availability of resources. Agricultural
universities had been asked to work in this regard.
Kharif sowing completed on 1.88 lakh hectares

Chitradurga district has received 236.88 mm rainfall till date

As the district received good rainfall in the last one month, farmers have
completed sowing on 1,88,550 hectares of land, recording 52.6 per cent of
the targeted 3,58,500 hectares for kharif season, till July 22.
According to the Department of Agriculture, sowing had been completed on
34,872 hectares in Challakere taluk against the targeted 99,200 h. In
Chitradurga taluk, sowing completed on 49,143 h (66,500 h targeted) and
in Hiriyur, sowing completed on 14,627 h (49,200 h targeted). In Holalkere
taluk, sowing completed on 47,195 hectares (54,900 hectares targeted),
followed by Hosadurga taluk with sowing completed on 27,995 hectares
(60,500 hectares targeted) and Molakalmur taluk with sowing completed on
14,718 hectares (28,200 hectares targeted).
The target for jowar was 8,300 hectares, of which sowing had been
completed on 3,479 h.
Target for millets was 46,800 h and sowing completed on 8,085 h, and
target for maize was 83,100 h, of which sowing had been completed on
86,038 h. Target for Red gram was 14,000 h, while sowing had been
completed on 5,455 h. Till July 22, the district received 236.8 mm rainfall
against the normal 194.4 mm, followed by Challakere with 189.3 mm

(147.4 mm normal), Chitradurga with 406.6 mm (255.3mm), Hiriyur with

161.6 mm (174.8 mm), Holalkere with 339.8 mm (257.9 mm), Hosadurga
with 191.3 mm (178.3 mm), and Molakalmur with 131.8 mm (152.4 mm).
Plan to evict farmers opposed
Members of the Dalit Vimochan Manava Hakkugala Vedike and farmers on
Tuesday took out a procession and staged dharna outside the Deputy
Commissioners office here, seeking fulfilment of their various demands,
including the formation of a separate committee to look into a move by the
Forest Department to evict farmers from the land they are currently
cultivating. For over five decades, several Dalit families were cultivating
small pieces of agricultural land in many parts of the district and it was their
only means of livelihood.
As all members of these Dalit families were illiterates, they were fully
dependent on agriculture. However, recently, notices were issued to these
farmers stating that the land belonged to Forest Department and wanted to
plant saplings there. The officials had warned that if the farmers failed to
shift within the stipulated date, they would be forcibly evicted. If these
farmers were evicted, then they would be left without any means of
livelihood, they said.
They urged the State government to form a separate committee to look into
bagair hukum lands and take steps to issue property rights to Dalit farmers
cultivating the government lands. The government should take back the
land encroached by some influential people and money power. The State
government should instruct the officials to strictly implement the Prohibition
of Transfer of Certain Lands (PTCL) Act 1978 and protect the interests of

Dalit farmers. Later, they submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister

Siddaramaiah through Deputy Commissioner V.P. Ikkeri.
Farmers grievance meeting
The monthly farmers grievance meeting will be held at the Collectorate on
July 26. The meeting will be presided over by Collector T. Munusamy and
is scheduled to be held at 11.15 a.m., an administration release said.
Staff Reporter
Farmers seek more water
With the storage at the Mettur reservoir increasing fast thanks to the heavy
discharge from the Kabini dam in Karnataka over the past few days,
farmers dependent on the 17 irrigation canals here have appealed to the
State government to step up water release to save the horticulture crops.
At present, about 3,000 cusecs of water was being discharged from Mettur
to meet the drinking water requirements of towns and cities.
Farmers are now demanding that the quantum of release be doubled to
save the standing banana, betelvine, and sugarcane crops that are
irrigated by the 17 irrigation canals in Tiruchi, Karur, Namakkal, Salem, and
Erode districts.
The absence of flow in the Cauvery over the past six months has put
farmers of these horticulture crops under much stress and the crops in tail
end areas are already said to have withered.
Now that the storage at the Mettur dam is fast rising, we request the
government to release 6,000 cusecs of water to save the crops, said

Mahadhanapuram V. Rajaram, Working president of Cauvery Delta

Farmers Welfare Association.
As the water level at the Mettur dam is likely to touch 90 feet (against the
maximum level of 120 feet) in the next few days because of continuing
copious flow from Karnataka, the government is expected to take a
decision on releasing water for samba season soon for delta farmers.
5,000 acres to be brought under drip irrigation
Farmers under the well irrigation system in the district should come forward
to adopt drip irrigation in a big way to bring down the quantum of water use
and ensure economy in the usage of available water, said Darez Ahamed,
Collector, on Tuesday. Over 32,000 farmers irrigate their fields using well
water, he said at a motivation programme to sensitise farmers to drip
irrigation at Perambalur panchayat union office here on Tuesday.
Mr. Ahamed said that the government provides 100 per cent subsidy to a
tune of Rs. 1.85 lakh for raising crop using drip irrigation in five acres of
land. About 3,000 acres were covered under drip irrigation in the district
last year. It has been targeted to bring about 5,000 acres under drip
irrigation in the current year.
Farmers to stage symbolic protest
Farmers under the banner of Kuttanad Vikasana Samithi (KVS), an NGO,
wearing black badges will carry a body on artificial respiration' symbolising
the Kuttanad package from Mampuzhakari to Ramankary on AlappuzhaChanganasserry (AC) road here on July 24. Fr. Thomas Peeliyanickal,
executive director of KVS, said the works under the package have not been
implemented properly by the authorities.

Farmers rush to cultivate forest produce Ram patre

Mace of nutmeg is a spice product, also used by cosmetic, paint makers

Myristica dactyloides, a forest produce, is being cultivated by farmers in

Dakshina Kannada. PHOTO: YOGESH H.R.
Malabar nutmeg (Myristica dactyloides), a forest produce that is fast
disappearing, has now received the attention of both the government and
farmers for its conservation and cultivation.
Called ram patre in Kannada, its grafted saplings are now more sought
after by farmers for its commercial cultivation, said Anand Gowda, an
agriculturist of Harihara Pallathadkka village in Sullia taluk. Ram patre is
flower petals found inside the nuts (or fruit) of Malabar nutmeg tree.
The mace of the nutmeg is a spice product, also used by cosmetic and
paint industries.
Mr. Gowda said he has planted 300 grafted saplings in his arecanut and
coconut plantations as an inter-crop in the past nine years. Their age now
varied from three years to nine years. Of them, 200 trees are now yielding.
The grafted trees yielded in five years unlike the saplings (trees) raised
from seeds which took eight to nine years for yielding.
I harvested 84 kg of ram patre this year, he said. It fetched him Rs. 420 a
kg.

Mr. Gowda, who also manages Bhoomika Nursery in the village, said that
farmers from Shimoga district, Sirsi and Kundapura have been placing
orders for the saplings but he was unable to meet their demand.
He said that he took up its cultivation after mite blight hit his coconut
plantation a decade ago. In addition, he planted them in arecanut plantation
as a precaution as yellow leaf disease (YLD) has been fast spreading in
arecanut plantations in Sullia taluk though the disease has not hit his
arecanut plantation.
Mass cultivation of Malabar nutmeg could bring supplementary income to
farmers and save a bit and set off a part of the loses because of diseases
to arecanut and coconut, he said.
Why grafted saplings?
Mr. Gowda said that if one raised about 100 saplings from seeds,
according to his experience, 60 per cent of saplings were male ones, which
do not yield. Only 40 per cent female ones would yield. All the grafted
saplings planted by him have been yielding.
He said that the saplings raised from seeds grew very high and it required
a skilled worker to climb the tree for harvesting the fruits. But grafted ones
did not grow tall. Nine year old trees in my plantations are only 20 ft. in
height. They can be harvested without climbing them, he said.
Yogesh H.R., Deputy Director, Department of Horticulture, Dakshina
Kannada, said that another farmer Ravi Kedilaya at Ramakunja in Puttur
taluk has also done its mass plantation.
Mr. Yogesh said that it could be grown as an alternative to YLD-hit palms.
But the Horticulture Department does not have its saplings in its nurseries
and do not have any schemes for its promotion. There was no way of

identifying the nut-bearing and non-fruit bearing ones at the sapling stage.
It would be known only after it grew up.
Mr. Yogesh said that about 300 to 350 flowers of ram patre would make a
kg. P. Sridhar, Range Forest Officer, Puttur, said the Forest Department,
which raised 3,000 saplings from the seeds in its nursery at Puttur this
year, has planted all recently except 300 saplings in reserve forests in
Narimogaru, Anegundi, Kanakamajalu and Kannadkka, he said.

Facts about Malabar nutmeg

Malabar nutmeg is listed under threatened species category by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Forest Department wants to save the species whether they bear nuts or not
They are found in the forests in Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada,
Udupi, Kodagu, Hassan and Shimoga districts
The mace of the nutmeg is a spice product, also used by cosmetic and
paint industries
It is also known as kanaje ; It flowers in January and its nuts can he
harvested in April-May
No mechanism is now available to identify if a plant would bear fruit or not
No new agricultural colleges for two years, says Minister
Minister of State for Agriculture Krishna Byre Gowda on Monday informed
H.D. Revanna (JD-S) in the Legislative Assembly that no new agricultural
colleges would be opened for another two years as the government was
busy recruiting staff and providing other infrastructure for the colleges
already opened during the tenure of the Bharatiya Janata Party
government.

The Minister echoed what the Chief Minister had informed the member
earlier on another question that first grade colleges were opened,
especially in Hassan districts Holenarsipur taluk without proper financial
back up.
Mr. Krishna Byre Gowda said the process was on to recruit staff in the
colleges. Mr. Revanna said that more than 3,000 of the 5,000 posts were
vacant. He said Rs. 8,432.50 lakh and Rs.14,000 lakh were provided to
four farm universities for education and under the National Agriculture
Expansion scheme, respectively.
Foodgrains output declines, pulses touch record level
Foodgrains output this year (2012-13) has declined by 3.64 million tonnes
over the previous year. Drought in parts of some States last year adversely
impacted rice, wheat and coarse cereals harvest. Pulses production on the
other hand, has shown a remarkable improvement at 18.45 million tonnes
as against 17.09 million tonnes, the previous year.
The shortfall in food grains production is, however, likely to be made up in
the 2013-14 crop year with the kharif (paddy) sown area about 114 lakh
hectares higher so far than last year, owing to good southwest monsoon.
Sowing is still on in most States.
As per the fourth advance estimates released by Agriculture Ministry on
Monday, the total food grains output is 255.36 million tonnes as against
259.29 million tonnes last year. Rice output is 104.40 million tonnes
compared to 105.30 million tonnes last year, while rabi (wheat) production
is 92.46 million tonnes as against 105.30 million tonnes last year.

The wheat output estimates have been revised downwards from 93.2
million tonnes in the third estimates of the Ministry released in May. Still,
the Ministrys estimates are at variance with traders who claimed that the
output is still lower by about four million tonnes.
Procurement of wheat this season has been around 26 million tonnes
against a target of 44 million tonnes as private trade had entered the
market and purchased the grain.
The likely output of pulses has been revised upwards in the fourth
estimates to 18.45 million tonnes, which is higher than the target of 18.24
million tonnes. Pulses production last year was 17.09 million tonnes. The
higher output is attributed to handsome enhancement in the minimum
support price and a special thrust under the National Food Security
Mission. India traditionally imports about 3 to 3.5 million tonnes of pulses to
fill up the gap in demand and supply.
Coarse cereals at 40.06 million tonnes are lower than 42.01 million tonnes
produced in the 2011-12 crop year (July to June).
In oilseeds and commercial crops, the output of oilseeds is higher at 310.06
million tonnes over 297 the previous year. While cotton and mesta outputs
are lower, jute has done better than the previous year. Sugarcane output in
2012-13 is lower at 3389.63 lakh tonnes over 3610.37 lakh tonnes in the
previous year. This is due to severe drought last year in parts of
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.
No GM field trials till regulation gaps are addressed, says TEC final report
The final report of the Technical Expert Committee (TEC) set up by the
Supreme Court in a Public Interest Litigation on Genetically Modified

Organisms (GMOs) has said that it will not be advisable to conduct more
field trials till gaps in the regulatory system are addressed.
The report was much awaited as a representative of the Union Agriculture
Ministry (R.S. Paroda) was added on the panel after the submission of its
interim report in October last on the Courts directions at the behest of the
Ministry. The farm Ministry had objected to the absence of its
representative on the panel.
However, Dr. Paroda has not signed the report and there is no clarity on
whether he gave a dissenting note or his comments were annexed to the
report. He attended the meetings but did not attend the signing of the report
on June 30 in Chennai, The Hindu was told by a member of the panel. Dr.
Paroda was not available for comment.
In its final report, the TEC has suggested that the members of the
regulatory authority be free of conflict of interest, such a body be set up
under the Ministry of Environment or Health. There should be a secretariat
of dedicated scientists with area expertise.
Stakeholder participation, need, socioeconomic considerations, societal
impact, and sustainability should be some of the dimensions to be
incorporated in the risk assessment and this should be done at an early
stage in the risk assessment process.
There is a need to include chronic and trans-generational toxicity testing.
The single largest number of applications for field trials to the Genetic
Engineering Appraisal Committee is for Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis a
commonly occurring bacterium found in insect-rich habitats and soils)
transgenic (including food crops such as rice and a range of vegetables).

The TEC pointed out that the safety of Bt transgenics with regard to chronic
toxicity had not been established and this needs to be done before it can
be considered safe. In this regard, the largest deployment of transgenics
worldwide is in soybean, corn, cotton, and canola, all of which are used
primarily for oil or feed. Nowhere are Bt transgenics bring widely consumed
in large amounts for any major food crop that is directly used for human
consumption. The TEC found no compelling reason for India to be the first
to do so.
PG programmes of TNAU in the ODL mode
PG PROGRAMMES OF TNAU IN ODL MODE
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University will offer three post-graduate degree
programmes at the Directorate of Open and Distance Learning

ODL).

According to a release, MBA, M.Sc. (Sugarcane Technology), and M.Sc.

(Environmental Management) will be offered to those who have a degree
in any discipline.
Applications for these programmes are being issued and the last date for
submission of filled in applications is August 14. They can be downloaded
from the university website www.tnau.ac.in For details, contact 9489051046 / 94421-11048; or e-mail toodl@tnau.ac.in; or Director, ODL, TNAU,
Coimbatore 641003, the release adds.
Central team to study damage to coconut crop in Mysore division
Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has informed the former Prime
Minister and JD (S) national president H.D. Deve Gowda that a fivemember team would visit coconut plantations in the Mysore division. The

team headed by Horticulture Commissioner Gorakh Singh will study the

intensity of the damage to the crop and submit a report to the Department
of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC).
Mr. Deve Gowda, in his letter to Mr. Sharad Pawar on July 15, said that six
crore coconut trees spread over 11.7 lakh acres of land in Mandya,
Ramanagaram, Bangalore Rural, Tumkur, Hassan, Chikmaglur and
Chitradurga districts had been affected by disease. He also requested Mr.
Pawar to bail out both coconut and arecanut growers, who were on the
verge of committing suicide.
In his reply to Mr. Deve Gowda on July 19, Mr. Sharad Pawar said that the
team would make its recommendations to the DAC before July 28.
The team will study district-wise extent and intensity of disease-afflicted
coconut plantations, establish the causes and assess damage, suggest
prophylactic measures to contain the spread of disease and treatment of
affected coconut plantations, suggest ways to improve productivity of crop,
assess the number of affected coconut growers and provide an estimate
regarding the quantum of assistance required to replace affected coconut
trees, and recommend an action plan for replacement and rejuvenation of
coconut plantations.
In the Legislative Assembly, Revanna and K.M. Shivalinge Gowda (both
JD-S) raised the issue of dried up coconut trees. Law and Parliamentary
Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra replied that the Union government had
set apart Rs. 2,275.64 crore for coconut rejuvenation scheme, including Rs.
478.50 crore subsidy component.
Sugarcane R&D workers to meet

The 19th meeting of Sugarcane Research and Development workers of

southern Karnataka will be held at B.N. Bahadur Institute of Management
Sciences on Hunsur Road here on July 29 and 30. Sugarcane Breeding
Institute, Coimbatore; University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore;
Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya Sugarcane Research Institute, Mandya;
and the sugar factories from southern Karnataka have jointly organised the
meeting.
UAS vice-chancellor K. Narayana Gowda will deliver the introductory
address. Staff Correspondent
Focus on agri projects
The Chengalayi panchayat will launch various agricultural projects during
the 2013-14 financial year.
A press release issued here on Tuesday said that the panchayats
development plan for the year earmarked Rs.8.37 lakh
for paddy cultivation,
Rs.5.75 lakh for plantain cultivation and Rs.5.58 lakh for vegetable farming.
Awareness programmes and training classes would be conducted to
popularise agricultural activities,
the release said.
Special Correspondent
Forestry college closed
Classes at the Kerala Agricultural Universitys College of Forestry have
been suspended until further notice. Five students have been suspended
pending inquiry into charges of breach of discipline and preventing the
faculty from discharging their duties. The College was closed with effect
from 5 p.m. on July 22 following an agitation launched by a section of

students against disciplinary action against those allegedly involved in

clashes during the valedictory function of the KAU Arts festival held in the
last week of June. On Monday, a group of students barged into the room
of the Dean and pressed their demands in an aggressive manner. This
disrupted the functioning of college. A meeting of the staff council, urgently
convened in the chamber of the Dean, unanimously decided to close the
college indefinitely. Students have been asked to vacate the hostels,
stated an official release issued by the KAU.
Engagements
Kerala Agricultural University and Endowment Committee: Planning Board
member C.P. John to deliver eighth endowment lecture on Prospects of
Kerala agriculture in 21st century, at seminar hall, College of Agriculture,
Vellayani, 2 p.m.
Weather

INSAT PICTURE AT 11-30 hrs. Observations recorded at 8-30 a.m. on July

23
Max Min R TR
New Delhi (Plm)

32 26 9 314

New Delhi (Sfd)

33 26 1 386

Chandigarh

33 27 2 437

Hissar

35 27 0 234

Bhuntar

31 21 6 262

Shimla

23 17 3 449

Jammu

34 26 21 404

Srinagar

32 21 0 115

Amritsar

35 27 0 253

Patiala

33 27 0 441

Jaipur

32 26 0 277

Udaipur

32 24 14 361

Allahabad

33 27 24 528

Lucknow

30 25 48 476

Varanasi

36 27 10 340

Dehradun

32 23 5 1655

Agartala

36 26 9 438

Ahmedabad

34 23 30 440

Bangalore

26 20 1 309

Bhubaneshwar

31 24 14 453

Bhopal

27 24 3 650

Chennai

31 25 tr 299

Guwahati

34 26 1 488

Hyderabad

25 21 35 390

Kolkata

33 27 17 540

Mumbai

30 25 27 1514

Nagpur

30 25 14 922

Patna

35 28 1 155

Pune

26 22 6 403

Thiruvananthapuram 29 23 14 695
Imphal

32 23 6 429

Shillong

27 18 tr 481

The columns show maximum and minimum temperature in Celsius, rainfall

during last 24 hours (tr-trace) and total rainfall in mm since 1st June.
RAINFALL
South west Monsoon has been active over Himachal Pradesh and east
Rajasthan. The axis of Monsoon trough at Sea level chart passes through
Anupgarh, Sawai Madhopur, Tikamgarh and thence southeast-wards.
RAINFALL: Rain/thundershowers have occurred at most places over
Uttarakhand, at many places over Himachal Pradesh and east Rajasthan,
at a few places over west Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and at isolated
places over rest of the region. The chief amounts of rainfall in cm are: (5
cm and above) HIMACHAL PRADESH: Kangra Aero 20, Dharamshala 11,
Nurpur, Gohar and Jogindernagar 7 each, Kasog, Sundernagar, and
Shimla Aero 5 each, JAMMU AND KASHMIR: Katra 7 and Kathua 5,
PUNJAB: Ranjit Sagar Dam 9 , Madhopur 8 and Shahpur Kandi 5, EAST
RAJASTHAN: (6 cm and above) Chhoti Sadri 9, Dausa 8, Jhazapur,
Sahada, Dungarpur and Sapotra 7 each, Bhungra, Anta, Beir, Devel, Dug,
Jhalarapatan and Kota 6 each, WEST RAJASTHAN: Khivensan 6, Bhinmal

5, EAST UTTAR PRADESH: Kakrahi 11, Bansi 9 and Haidargarh,

Sawayajpur and Lucknow Airport 5 each and WEST UTTAR PRADESH:
Bareilly and Kalpi 5 each.
.

FORECAST

VALID

UNTIL

THE

MORNING

OF

25th

July

2013 : Rain/thundershowers may occur at many places over Jammu

division of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar
Pradesh and east Rajasthan. Rain/thundershowers may occur at a few
places over rest of the region outside west Rajasthan where it would be at
one or two places.
HEAVY RAINFALL WARNING: Heavy rainfall may occur at one or two
places over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on 25th July.. Heavy
rainfall may occur at one or two places east Rajasthan on 24th and 25th
July
FORECAST FOR DELHI AND NEIGHBOURHOOD VALID UNTIL THE
MORNING OF 25th July

2013: Generally

/thundershowers may occur in some areas

cloudy

sky. Light rain

Rs 2 as compensation for crop damage in Haryana

Rs 2 as compensation for crop damage? Yes, that is what one of the Green
Revolution states, Haryana, is offering its farmers as compensation for crop
damaged during 2011 rains.
TOI is in possession of cheques for such amounts issued to farmers by
the Haryana government as damages to farmers.
The crops, mainly wheat, were damaged due to waterlogging following
heavy rains in 2011. Following this, the state government had ordered a
special survey to assess the losses. However, after the survey and almost
two years' wait, several farmers received compensation cheques of
modicum amounts.
Satyanarayan and Tekchand, residents of Paharipur village in Jhajjar
district, were given Rs 2 and Rs 3 respectively as compensation for their
damaged crop.
A resident of Paharipur village, Vijender Singh, 40, who received a cheque
of Rs 30, told TOI on Tuesday that several farmers have decided not to
claim the amount as they would have to open a bank account to claim the
paltry sum. "Even photocopy of the cheque costs more than the
compensation amount. Not only this, for a bank account, we have to go to
the nearby town and we have to pay more travel charges than the

compensation money," he said.

"The rains had damaged wheat in 2.5 acres of our land. Now, each of the
six members in the family has received Rs 30 as compensation," said
Ranbir Singh, 50, another farmer from the same village.
"My nephew Sandeep and his five family members got cheques for Rs 6
each as damages for the wheat crop in one acre," he claimed.
Ramkishan, 60, explained the problems being faced by farmers in claiming
the compensation amount even for bank account holders. "My sister Prem,
who is married in Hui village in Bhiwani district, got a cheque for Rs 500.
But the bank officials returned the cheque stating that she had mentioned
her husband's name in the account while in the cheque, her father's name
is mentioned." Ramkishan said they have decided not to realize the cheque
as a new bank account would cost Rs 500.
The state government claimed that compensation has been distributed at
Rs 35,00 per acre. However, farmers alleged that revenue officials have
given compensation to a very small portion of their land from the total area
of damaged crops. "Our family got compensation for just two acres while
the rains had damaged crops in 6.5 acres," alleged Ramkishan.
Senior INLD leader and MLA from Ellenabad, Abhay Singh Chautala, has
termed it a cruel joke on the farmers. However, chief minister Bhupinder
Singh Hooda said his government had been giving highest compensation

to farmers in the country.

An official spokesperson said Rs 1.14 crore has been distributed to farmers
in 3,365 acres of land in Jhajjar district.
FCI confident implementing food security ordinance
State-run FCI today expressed confidence of successfully meeting
challenges of implementing food securityordinance.
The government earlier this month had promulgated an ordinance to
guarantee legal right over cheap foodgrains to 67 per cent of population.
"The implementation of the landmark Ordinance will throw a number of
challenges such as availability of rice and wheat, financial provisions,
manpower requirement and storage and movement of foodgrains. We are
fully prepared to meet the challenges and make it a success," FCI
Chairman and Managing Director C Viswanath said in a statement.
Food Corporation of India (FCI) procures foodgrains from farmers and
distributes the same through ration shops.
At present, the FCI has enough stock to meet the proposed requirement of
61 million tonnes foodgrains under the new food security programme.
As on July 1, FCI had foodgrains stock of 74 million tonnes, while storage
capacity was around 75 million tonnes till May this year.

Viswanath said, "We are in process of augmenting additional storage

capacity under Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee Scheme. Also, a capacity
of two million tonnes is planned in silos."
As for the financial implications, the FCI's working capital is likely to go up
to meet the requirements of maintaining the off-take of 61 million tonnes of
foodgrains with a buffer reserve of four months, he said.
For implementing such a mammoth scheme, FCI said it has already
embarked on a recruitment drive to meet the manpower requirement.
"We have already started a massive recruitment drive through Staff
Selection Commission for Category-III level. By this year-end, at least 7000
candidates are expected to join in this category," Viswanath said.
"Similarly, FCI is going to recruit 500 officers in Category-I and II. Also,
recruitment of nearly 8600 personnel in Category-IV Watch and ward staff
at the regional level is slated by the year-end."
FCI's sanctioned strength at present is 45,451, out of which the actual
number of men in position is 26,716 -- a shortfall of 18,735 staffers.
This apart, FCI has stepped up efforts for a better synchronisation with
Indian Railways for smooth movement of foodgrains to various parts of the
country.

Onion prices more than double to Rs 36-40/kg in metros

Onion prices have more than doubled to Rs 36-40 per kg in retail markets
of metro cities in last one year, adding to the woes of consumers already
burdened with overall price rise.
Currently, onion is being sold at Rs 36 per kg in retail markets of the
national capital and Rs 32 per kg each in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai,
according to the consumer affairs ministry that monitors prices of 22
essential food items.
In some markets, onion is being sold at more than Rs 40 per kg depending
on localities and quality, traders said.
Farmers take over disputed land
Social activist andNarmadaBachaoAndolan leader MedhaPatkaralong with
hundreds of farmers on Tuesday took possession of the disputed 85-acre
land in theShendra Industrial estate and started ploughingand sowing.
Terming the acquisition of cultivable land by a private pharma major for
industrial purpose as "state and corporate terrorism", Patkarhas now
demanded an SIT probe into each everyland acquisition that has taken
place in the city.
The land acquired under the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was a bone of
contention between farmers, Maharashtra Industrial Development
Corporation (MIDC) and a private pharma major. Farmers claimed that it
was fraudulently acquired and handed over to the private company.

In view of the situation, the district collectorate called an emergency

meeting of its senior officials that lasted till late in the evening, while the
Aurangabad rural police deployed extra force at the spot to prevent any
untoward incident. Patkar and the farmers even proposed to court arrest.
However, they were not arrested as neither the MIDC nor the private firm
company lodged a complaint of trespassing.
Patkar said, "We demand an SIT probe into the land acquisitions and
allotment process being practised by the MIDC in Aurangabad. If found
guilty of malpractices, strict action should be taken against MIDC officials.
We have received documents showing that the prime cultivable and fertile
land was fraudulently acquired by the MIDC and later handed over to a
private company. Moreover, the company has not started its operations on
the land even 5-6 years after acquiring it."
The protesting farmers claimed that 2.34 lakh hectares of cultivable land
has been acquired for various projects of MIDC and Jhalar Kshetra, which
will affect the lives of more than 300 farmers. They alleged that the land
was acquired without even consulting the villagers. Moreover, in the whole
deal, poor farmers are being cheated and treated badly, they alleged. The
farmers said that the industries do not require soft cultivable land and could
carry out their projects in rocky and non-cultivable barren land.
According to sources, the pharma company is engaged in the
development, manufacture and commercialization of pharmaceutical

products and has presence in over 30 countries. Despite repeated

attempts, the officials of the company could not be reached for comments.
Annasaheb Shinde, chief officer, MIDC, said, "No acquisition was done
illegally as the MIDC had acquired 902 ha in Shendra area in 1999.
Besides, the irrigation department acquired 45 ha in 2000, which later was
transferred to the MIDC after we paid them." He said the MIDC will not
approach the police against the farmers. "The land is currently under the
possession of the private pharma company. If they wish, they may
approach the police, but we are not going to lodge a complaint against the
farmers for trespassing," he added.
The agitators decided that further discussion on the issue would be done
on Wednesday.
Farmers' leader from south Karnataka left red-faced
Naragund/Navalgund: Farmers' leaders from south Karnataka had to face
embarrassing moments at Navalgund when they came to pay tributes to
farmer martyrs on Sunday.
KodihalliChandrashekhar, farmers' leader from old Mysore region, had
arrived to pay tributes to the 'Veeragallu' installed in the memory of two
farmers who were killed in police firing in 1980. But he was faced by local
farmers who took exception to the "lip sympathy of leaders from
south Karnataka". The farmers alleged that leaders from
South Karnataka did not respond to the calls for agitation given by farmers

in North Karnataka, even though the latter were responsive.

Chandrashekhar pacified the emotionally charged farmers and said that he
was committed to participate in all their issues. He subsequently addressed
a huge gathering of farmers.
Leaders from all political parties and farmers' organizations visited the
'Veeragallu' erected at Nargund and Navalgund and offered floral tributes.
The Martyrs' Day has also provided an opportunity to the opposition parties
to attack the ruling party for "neglecting farmers", and it has been an
occasion for the ruling party to reiterate its commitment to the cause of
farmers.
Those who paid tribute to the martyrs included Members of Parliament
Prahlad Joshi and PC Gaddigoudar, former minister Basavaraj Bommai,
Navalgund MLA NH Konaraddi, Naragund MLA BR Yavagal, MLA and
farmers' leader KS Puttannaiah, farmers leader Kodihalli Chandrashekhar,
HR Basavarajappa, Anasuyamma, JD(S) leader BV Somapur and others.
In addition to them, there were representatives of Karnataka Rakshana
Vedike, Akhila Bharathiya Vidyarthi Parishat and other organizations who
paid tributes to the martyrs.
Meanwhile, addressing a gathering after paying tributes to the martyrs'
memorial at Navalgund, MLA and farmers' leader KS Puttannaiah said he

would fight within and outside the Legislative Assembly for the
implementation of the Kalasa Banduri Nala project.
Market lies vacant, vendors invade lanes
A drive down the road that connectsAnandapur with EM Bypass is a
nightmare. Not because it is in a bad shape, but due to encroachment that
has taken over more than a fourth of the road on either side.
Traffic along the stretch, popularly referred to as Ruby Market, comes to a
halt once the vendors arrive in the morning. They return in the evening,
choking the road once again. This, despite the fact, that Kolkata Municipal
Corporation (KMC) has built an alternative market on a parallel lane.
The market on the road came up about 12 years ago, soon after Ruby
Hospital was set up. As residential complexes started coming up in the
area, more vendors moved in. "It takes about half an hour to cover the 2km stretch. Ideally, it should have taken a few minutes. It seems the
vendors will take over the entire road," said A Basu, a local resident.
Ananda Market, the alternative provided by KMC a decade ago, lies
vacant. "We had moved to the market but had very few buyers there since
it's in a deserted land. So, we were forced to return to the road," said
Gautam Laha, a fruit-seller.
Vending slots on the road are sold for anything between Rs 20,000 and Rs
50,000. The money goes to the union and the police, say vendors. Those
who can't afford to grease palms have to go from door-to-door delivering

goods.
Though vendors have now spilled over to the lanes adjoining the Kasba
Industrial Estate, a KMC official said: "It's sad that they have refused to
shift even after being provided with an alternative arrangement. Unless the
vendors cooperate with us, little can be done."
Onion prices decline marginally
The average wholesale prices inLasalgaon Agriculture Produce Market
Committee, the largest onion market in the country, witnessed a drop
of Rs 175 per quintal on Tuesday, amid rising apprehension that theCentral
government may ban exports to control the price rise. The market opened
on Tuesday after four days of holidays.
Average wholesale onion prices at Lasalgaon had reached a maximum of
Rs 2,450 per quintal last week, as compared to Rs 1,150 a quintal on June
4.
The average wholesale onion prices in various APMCs in the district, which
were in the range of Rs 2,425 to Rs 2,500 a quintal on July 18, declined to
Rs 2,275 to Rs 2,375 a quintal on Tuesday. The arrival of onions, which
was in the range of 5,000 quintals to 12,500 quintals on July 18, declined to
a range of 2,000 quintals to 10,625 quintals on Tuesday.
An official from Lasalgaon APMC told TOI, "The market reopened after four
days on Tuesday with a marginal drop in average wholesale onion prices

due to fears among traders that the Central government may impose a ban
on onion export to control price rise." The central government had imposed
a ban on onion export in 2010 to control prices which had reached a record
of Rs 3,800 a quintal in the wholesale market.
The average wholesale prices of onions in Lasalgaon APMC were recorded
at Rs 2,275 a quintal on Tuesday, against Rs 2,450 a quintal on July 18.
The minimum and maximum prices were recorded at Rs 1,400 and Rs
2,436 a quintal, respectively on Tuesday. The arrivals declined by 1,875
quintals to 10,625 quintals on Tuesday, against 12,500 quintals on July 18.
The average wholesale prices of onions in Pimpalgaon APMC were
recorded at Rs 2,300 a quintal on Tuesday, against Rs 2,500 a quintal on
July 18. The minimum and maximum prices were recorded at Rs 1,700 and
Rs 2,516 a quintal, respectively, on Tuesday. The arrivals declined by
6,000 quintals to 7,000 quintals on Tuesday, against 13,000 quintals on
July 18.
The average wholesale prices of onions in Yeola APMC were recorded at
Rs 2,375 a quintal on Tuesday, against Rs 2,425 a quintal on July 18. The
minimum and maximum prices were recorded at Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,475 a
quintal, respectively on Tuesday. The arrivals declined by 3,000 quintals to
2,000 quintals on Tuesday, against 5,000 quintals on July 18.

Govt dumps farmers commission proposal

The Agriculture Department has shelved the proposal to constitute a
farmers' commission as promised in the election manifesto of the
Samajwadi Party. After an exercise of over a year, Agriculture Minister Raja
Anand Singh said such a commission is not required.
Besides addressing the problems of the farming community, the
commission would have ensured remunerative prices of farmer's produce.
It was to submit its report to the state government within three months of its
constitution.
Raj Anand Singh had in May last year announced to constitute the
commission, saying it would also monitor the research being undertaken by
agriculture universities and other bodies of the state and keep an account
of their utility for farmers.
"The commission was announced but after an exercise of nearly 15
months, I am yet to get reasons for constituting it. I was informed by the
department that one such commission existed and was disbanded during
the Mayawati regime. It had 80 members," Raja Anand Singh .
The minister said it was ridiculous to reconstitute a farmers' commission
with 80 members. "It will not serve any purpose. Even the agriculture
experts in my department are not convinced about the constitution of a
farmers' commission. I think it is not required," he stated.
Regarding the purpose mentioned in the poll manifesto for constitution of
farmers' commission, the minister said that the department is already doing
the work. "It was to be related to fixing of prices of farmers' produce. We

have a separate price advisory committee which is headed by me and

includes cooperative minister Shivpal Yadav. We had already given our
recommendation to the central government for increasing minimum support
price (MSP) of various crops. The purpose is solved," he stated.
About the research work, the minister said a committee of agriculture
scientists from reputed institutes and even state agriculture universities are
working on it and giving recommendations to the Agriculture Department.
"We are in touch with eminent scientists and there are several such
committees in the Agriculture Department, so another farmers' commission
is not required. We are not going for it any more," he stated.

Weather-Chennai
Today's Weather

Tomorrow's Forecast

Wednesday, Jul 24
Max Min

Cloudy

Thursday, Jul 25
Cloudy

33o | 26o

Rain: 0

Sunrise: 05:52

Humidity: 70

Sunset: 06:38

Wind: normal

Barometer: 1005

Max Min
34o | 25o

Extended Forecast for a week

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Jul 26

Jul 27

Jul 28

Jul 29

Jul 30

34o | 26o

34o | 27o

35o | 27o

35o | 26o

35o | 26o

Cloudy

Overcast

Rain: 0

Overcast Overcast Overcast

Sunrise: 05:37

Humidity: 89 Sunset: 07:17

Wind: normal Barometer: 1000
Villagers give forest new lease of life
The 21-year-long drive of a group of tribals of Kakrana village has finally
borne fruit.

Residents of this nondescript village situated 40 km from Alirajpur, who

took up the charge of protecting the forest in their area at their own
expense instead of waiting around for government assistance, have
managed to turn the near barren forest into a green belt once again.
And they did so through sheer determination and courage in the face of
forest mafias, who had all but virtually chopped off the trees from the
jungles of Avadhah.
"We started the drive in 1992, when nearly all the trees of Avadhah were
cut illegally by those involved in wood smuggling. We realised that if the
logging is not timely contained, we will have to suffer as we are totally
dependent upon the forest," said Kemat Gewale, resident of the village.
After the concern, came the plan. The residents of the tribal-dominated
village started collecting money to save the trees from felling.
The 1000-odd residents of Kakrana appointed a chowkidar (guard) on a
monthly salary of R1200 and started a 'Save Forest' drive.
"We held a meeting and decided to save the trees. Subsequently, we
started collecting money. In between 1992-2000, we collected R30 per
month from each family in the village but later on it was raised to R400
annually," said Indra Singh (32), a private school teacher residing in the
village.
Thanks to two decades of constant vigil, the forest has once again turned
into a green belt. Taking motivation from the Kakrana experiment,
neighbouring villages have also initiated the drive in their areas.
Most of the trees are of Anjan (hardwickia binata) variety and leafs of this
tree are the only source of cattle fodder for the tribals.

According to an estimate, there are more than 5,000 trees around the
village.
The villagers have also planted hundreds of Neem trees.
Before 1992, the tribals of the village made no attempts to save the trees
because they believed that the trees belonged to the forest department and
hence they have no rights to interfere in illegal logging but soon they
realised that positive intervention is necessary.
The villagers then appointed a chowkidar who looks after jungles, spread
in a radius of 4 km.
The chowkidar is assisted by two people from the village, alternatively, for
resisting the illegal loggers of the area.
"This jungle is our life. I am guarding it for the last 15 years. I usually work
in the morning and evening with two other people who carry bows and
arrows. The aim is to save trees for villagers and animals," said Dillu, the
50-year-old guard.
Once a month all the villagers gather and discuss the current situation.
"If we get any information of tree logging the whole village gathers and
chases away the loggers," said Dillu.
"The village has set an example in the area. The work done by Kakrana
village is remarkable. We are planning to raise the village as a role model,"
said RS Sikarwar, divisional forest officer (DFO) of Alirajpur.

Drop in rainfall may hit Bengal rice transplantation

Delayed transplantation may affect productivity and quality of the crop.

A near 25-40 per cent drop in rainfall in the key rice growing districts of
Gangetic West Bengal so far during this year is likely to impact the paddy
transplantation activity this kharif season.
Transplantation is the process of transferring seedlings, which are grown in
seed-beds, into the field soaked with plenty of water. Typically, the process
of transplantation begins by July 10.
According to a senior official in the State agriculture department, nearly 1015 per cent of paddy transplantation is usually achieved by this time of the
year. However, this year, transplantation has been lower in most paddy
producing parts of the State.
Only five per cent of the transplantation work has taken place at Burdwan
while in Birbhum and Nadia, it is still lower at just about 1-2 per cent, the
official told Business Line.
West Bengal produces about 14.5 million tonnes of paddy each year in
three seasons aus, aman and boro.

The kharif paddy (aus and aman) output accounts for about 70 per cent of
paddy production in the state. Delayed transplantation could affect the
productivity and quality of the crop.
Lower Rains
Burdwan considered to be the rice bowl of the State received 25 per cent
lower rains than average this year. Rainfall has also been lower by 39 per
cent in Birbhum, 31 per cent in Nadia and 27 per cent in Hooghly,
according to a data provided by Express Weather. These four districts are
considered to be high productivity areas in terms of paddy cultivation.
The districts of North 24-Parganas, Murshidabad, Bankura, Malda, East
Midnapur, West Midnapur, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur and Howrah are
considered to be medium productivity areas. Except for Bankura, North 24
Parganas and North Dinajpur, rainfall is lower by 20-40 per cent in the
other districts falling under the medium productivity areas.
Production
The State Government has targeted to sow paddy on close to 42 lakh
hectare in 2013-14, similar to last years level.
However, the State expects to produce two per cent higher crop at around
110 lakh tonne this year as compared to 108 lakh tonne of aman paddy last
year.
If the rainfall improves then we expect a higher yield and better crop this
year, he said.
Anxious Farmers
Meanwhile, farmers in the State, who had suffered huge losses in 2012 due
to crash in open market price of paddy (below the minimum support price

levels) and poor procurement by rice mills at the support price, are keeping
their fingers crossed to get better prices for their produce this year.
The Centre has hiked the minimum support price for common grade paddy
by Rs 60 a quintal to Rs 1,310 for 2013-14 (July-June).
Currently we are getting close to Rs 1,380 in the open market. We just
hope that the rains improve so that we can get a better crop and sell them
at good prices this year, said Salauddin Mullah, a farmer of Boromuriya
village in Burdwan district of West Bengal.
2-day sugar technologists meet in Chennai
The South Indian Sugarcane and Sugar Technologists Association
(SISSTA) will hold its 43rd annual convention in Chennai during July 26-27.
The event comprises a 2-day seminar and an exhibition. Several industry
leaders are expected to participate including R. V. Vatnal, President
SISSTA; A. Vellayan, Murugappa Group; M. Manickam, President, South
Indian Sugar Mills Association; Ram Tyagarajan, Thiru Arooran Sugars;
and Palani G. Periasamy, Dharini Sugars and Chemicals. Mahesh
Kasirajan, Director of Sugar, and Tamil Nadu Cane Commissioner and
Benhar Mahesh Dutt Ekka, Commissioner of Sugar and Cane for Andhra
Pradesh, will deliver special address.
Rajshree Pathy, Rajshree Sugars and Chemicals, will be felicitated.
In the technical sessions, experts will present papers and discusstechnical
issues relating to cane and sugar, including cogeneration and engineering
aspects.
Rubber supply squeeze, price hike force tyre makers to look at imports
The tyre industry is looking at import of rubber on account of the squeeze in
domestic availability and rise in prices.

The Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) pointed out that

the domestic rubber prices are ruling 26 per cent more than international
prices and even at these levels, the required quantity and grade of natural
rubber is not available.
According to the association, the imports contracted now will be arriving
only in August or September and that might trigger an unwarranted
backlash from rubber producing interests.
In a communication sent to Union Commerce Minister, Chairman of ATMA
Anant Goenka, pointed out that tyre companies have no other option but to
import natural rubber in the present circumstances.
This disclosure, in advance, about imports is to ward off any allegations (as
in the past) that rubber imports by tyre companies are meant to depress the
domestic rubber market, he said.
We trust the Government would appreciate the compulsion of rubber
consumers for import as it is warranted by the current situation of serious
shortfall between domestic rubber availability and demand, he said.
Meanwhile, the Rubber Board has called for a meeting of stakeholders at
Kottayam on July 24 to assess the gravity of the situation.
In view of extremely limited availability of rubber and its spiralling prices,
tyre companies are finding it difficult to maintain production schedules,
ATMA said.
The tyre Industry accounts for nearly 2/3 {+r} {+d} (65 per cent) of total
rubber consumption in India. While domestic production/availability falling
short of consumption during lean production season (Feb-Sept) is an
expected trend, the prevailing situation of scarcity in the domestic market is
unprecedented, Goenka added.

In July, the domestic prices have gone up from Rs 181 to Rs 192, a sharp
increase of Rs 11 in a short span of 19 days.
On the other hand the international prices have come down from Rs 164 to
Rs 153 in the same period.
ATMA, therefore, requested for maintaining a strategic reserve of an
essential industrial raw-material such as rubber.
They pointed out that Chinese Government maintains a reserve of rubber
to meet the uncertainties in rubber availability and ensure that tyre
manufacturing operations remain unhindered.
ATMA has also reiterated that the Government may allow import of NR on
a Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) basis to ease the domestic availability situation.
Such a dispensation was granted in January 2011, when domestic
availability position warranted imports and 40,000 tonnes was allowed at a
concessional rate of customs duty.
Poor demand cools down groundnut oil

On the back of almost nil demand, groundnut oil price declined by Rs 10 a

tin. Cotton oil also declined . According to market sources, buyers are
waiting for more downfall in edible oil.
At Rajkot, groundnut oil loose was traded at Rs 965-970 for 10 kg,
Jamnagar line telia tin price was quoted at Rs 1,490-1,491 for 15 kg.
Groundnut oil new tin declined Rs 10 to Rs 1,705-1,710.
A retailer said that prices declined in the past few days but still demand
was very weak.
On the other hand, bulk buying from mills were also almost nil.
A miller said that since last two weeks, peanut export demand was very dull
so maximum stock was diverted to the mills for crushing which is
pressurising the groundnut oil price.
Cotton oil wash lost Rs 5 to Rs 610-613 for 10 kg while cotton oil new tin
was down by Rs 10 to Rs 1,080-1,090 for 15 kg.
About 8-10 tankers of cotton oil were traded from mills.
Spot rubber improves
Spot rubber improved despite declines in domestic futures on Tuesday.
Major manufacturers were reported to be buyers up to Rs 195 a kg for RSS
4 . The commodity moved up even further on panic covering purchases as
supply concerns continued to haunt the overall sentiments.
Sheet rubber flared up to Rs 198 (Rs 194), according to traders. The grade
improved to Rs 195 (Rs 193.50) both at Kottayam and Kochi as reported by
the Rubber Board.
August futures weakened to Rs 191.35 (Rs 195.96); September Rs 181.48
(Rs 185.60); October Rs 170.90 (Rs 175.35); November Rs 163.43 (Rs

166.80) and December to Rs 163 (Rs 166.06) on the National Multi

Commodity Exchange.
July futures closed at 249.5 (Rs 149.16) on the Tokyo Commodity
Exchange.
Spot rubber rates/kg were: RSS-4: 198 (194.00); RSS-5: 190 (188);
Ungraded: 180 (177); ISNR 20: 180 (177) and Latex 60%: 162 (158).
Rise in poppy seed prices likely as court extends stay on imports
Supply squeeze following a Court stay on import of poppy seeds from a
major supplying country appears to be pushing up the prices in the
domestic market as the demand is claimed to have outstripped the supply.
Upcountry trade sources told Business Line that there were no imports
from April while other origin crops would become available only from
September.
The indigenous production is claimed to be very small at a time when the
countrys annual demand is pegged at around 30,000 tonnes. As a result,
they said, huge shortages are likely leading to an upsurge in the prices in
the coming days raising the prices even to a level of Rs 600 a kg, they
claimed.
The trade said the stay by the Allahabad High Court on imports has been
extended and, hence, is still in force and that might lead to further squeeze
in supply.
The High Court, by its order dated July 19, 2013, has directed that the
case be listed for the appropriate Bench on August 8, 2013.
Interim order earlier granted shall remain in operation till then.

The Allahabad High Court had earlier issued an interim direction on May
16, 2013 to the Union Government and three others on a PIL that the
respondents not to allow any import of white poppy seeds from Country X
till the next date of listing, notwithstanding any licence or registration of any
import sale contract.
The matter will be listed on July 1, 2013 for further orders.
The court then observed that there would be no legitimate domestic
production of that country available for import till July, 2013 i.e., the next
harvest season.
India produced an estimated 18,374 tonnes of poppy seeds in 2012 and
against this it is estimated to be around 4,400 tonnes in 2013 following
reduction in area.
Availability, according to the trade, during the period from May 2012 to April
2013 was estimated at 10,576 tonnes.
The Indian Narcotic Control Board (NCB), Gwalior, is said to have granted
permits for cultivating in 5,700 hectares (ha) only this year against 24,000
ha last year.
Indian exports of alkaloids are to the US, Europe and Japan.
During 2010-11, the country exported 1,500 tonnes to the US, whereas in
2012-13, the US would purchase only 500 tonnes.
Japan also has reduced purchase from India from 1,200 tonnes to 400
tonnes, they said.
Given the reduction in sales of opium alkaloids during 2012-2013 and
2013-2014, the NCB has reduced cultivation Patta by 80 per cent. While
Pattas for cultivation of poppy in 2011-2012 were for 24,000 hectares, it is

now reduced to 5,700 ha in 2012-2013 and 2013-2014; only 20 per cent of

last year, trade sources said.
Neera extraction: Karnataka to amend Excise Act
The Karnataka Government has decided to amend the Excise Act, which
prohibits the ban on extracting Neera to make it a money spinner for
coconut farmers in the State.
The Coconut Development Board in a statement here said Karnataka Chief
Minister Siddaramaiah had stated this in the budget declaration related to
the activities of the Government on coconut. In addition to Neera, valueadded products from Neera such as palm syrup, palm jaggery and palm
sugar also would be promoted, he added.
For this purpose, Rs 1 crore has been allocated for Coconut Producers
Company to be formed with 25 per cent contribution towards
share/investment capital. As many as five coconut parks will be established
in the State for the production of value-added coconut products from
Neera.
Expert panel report on GM crops is anti-science, says industry
Bouquets as well as brickbats greeted the Supreme Court-appointed
Technical Expert Committees (TEC) report, which recommended
withholding of field trials of genetically-modified (GM) crops till the gaps in
the regulatory system were addressed.
Incidentally, one of the six members of the TEC R.S. Paroda is
supposed to have made a direct submission to the Supreme Court, which
has not been made public.

Terming the report as regressive and biased, The Association of Biotech

Led Enterprises (ABLE) said the TEC recommendation was a troubled
treatise that promised to push the countrys agriculture into an archaic age.
The industry believes the TEC report, besides being incomplete, is also
anti-science and anti-research and will severely dent the future of countrys
farmers besides destroying the domestic private and public sector
researchThis recommendation, if accepted by the Supreme Court, will
put our agricultural research back by decades and will severely hamper
progress, Ram Kaundinya, Chairman, ABLE AG, said in a statement. This
report by four members of TEC cant be considered complete as R.S
Parodas submission directly to the Supreme Court is yet to be made
public, N. Seetharama, Executive Director, ABLE AG, said
Reiterating its recommendation made in its interim report, the TEC said
there should be a moratorium on field trials for Bt in food crops (those that
are directly used for food) intended for commercialisation (not research)
until there is more definitive information from sufficient number of studies
as to the long term safety of Bt in food crops.
On the herbicide tolerant (HT) crops, TEC said HT crops would most likely
exert a highly adverse impact over time on sustainable agriculture, rural
livelihoods, and environment. The TEC finds them completely unsuitable in
the Indian context.
Also, on the genetic-modification of crops for which India is a centre of
origin such as rice, brinjal, mustard etc, the TEC recommended that
release of GM crops for which India is a centre of origin or diversity should
not be allowed.

Welcoming the report, the Coalition for GM Free India has written to the
Prime Minister urging that the Government act upon on the
recommendations of TEC. These recommendations are science-based and
well-reasoned. Therefore, we urge the Government of India to accept the
well-reasoned, reasonable and sound recommendations of the TEC and to
start overhauling the process of modern biotechnology regulation in India.
Vested interests should not be allowed to prevail and prevent the
acceptance of this report which is based on sound science, justice and the
principle of sustainability.
We look forward to the Union of India accepting these recommendations in
the Supreme Court and ensuring the delivery of justice, the Coalition said.
Traders divided over chana prospects

Amid slack demand and absolute decline in buying support, chana prices in
Indore mandis tumbled to a new low with chana (kanta) declining to Rs
2,850-2,900 a quintal.
Chana (desi) also declined to Rs 2,600-2,700, while chana masumi ruled at
Rs 3,300, chana (vishal) at Rs 2,700-2,800, while Kabuli Bitki ruled at Rs
2,800-2,900.
According to a section of traders, stockists and farmers unmindful of large
stock of imported chana from Australia lying on the Mumbai port had

stocked up chana with them in a large quantity hoping to sell it when prices
would go as high as Rs 4,000 a quintal.
According to Prakash Vora, an Indore-based chana trader, existing
conditions, weak demand, huge domestic stock and large stock of chana
with the NCDEX, may lead to further fall in chana prices. It would not be a
surprise, if chana prices in the coming days slip to as low as Rs 2,750 a
quintal, he added.
However, according to another trader Sanjay Agrawal, it is speculators who
have brought down chana prices to such a low purely with a motive to book
profit at higher rate in the coming days.
According to him, chana prices have already touched a record low and its
prices may see a rebound from its current level in the coming days.
However, given huge stock of domestic as well as imported Australian
chana on Mumbai port and bumper production of dollar chana (chickpea) in
the country this year and use of dollar chana as a substitute for the
manufacturing of besan, majority of traders here do not support any bullish
trend in chana prices in the coming days.
Chana dal (average) in Indore mandis was at Rs 3,400-25 , chana dal
(medium) at Rs 3,500-25 while chana dal (bold) declined to Rs 3,800-25.
Dollar chana ruled steady at Rs 3,800-4,400 on subdued demand.
On the other hand, weak export demand, dragged dollar chana prices by
Rs 100 a quintal in the past one week.
On Tuesday, dollar chana (42/44 count) in container ruled at Rs 5,500-25 ,
44/46 count at Rs 5,300-25, 46/48 count at Rs 5,100-25, while dollar chana
(58/60 count) ruled at Rs 3,600-25 a quintal.
Arrival of dollar chana on Tuesday declined to 7,000-8,000 bags.

Edible oils slip on selling pressure

Weak sentiment continued in edible oils market on Tuesday on poor

physical demand and bearish futures. Due to heavy rain in the city,
transportation services were disturbed and brokers - traders stayed away
from fresh activities.
Good prospects of higher kharif oilseed crops and weak closing of
Malaysian palm oil futures weighed on sentiments.
In Mumbai, with a thin volume about 150-200 tonnes in palmolein during
the day, activities remained subdued. Rapeseed and cotton oil dropped by
Rs 3 and Rs 5 for 10 kg each .
In local market during the day resellers offloaded about 150-200 tonnes of
palmolein at Rs 525-526 for ready delivery. Towards the days close,
Liberty was quoting palmolein at Rs 533 ex JNPT for August and Rs 535 ex
Shapur, super palmolein Rs 570 for July-August and super deluxe Rs 590.
Ruchi quoted palmolein at Rs 535 for July to September, soyabean refined
oil Rs 640 upto September and sunflower refined oil Rs 810 for JulyAugust. Allana was quoting palmolein at Rs 532-535 and super palmolein
Rs 570. Gokuls rates were Rs 535 for palmolein for July.

Soyabean arrivals were about 1-1.10 lakh bags and its prices were Rs
3,300-3,400 ex mandi and Rs 3,450-3,470 for plant delivery. Mustard
seeds arrivals were 75,000 bags and the prices were Rs 2,950-3,550.
Malaysia BMD crude palm oils August contracts settled lower at MYR
2,346 (MYR 2,355), September at MYR 2,285 (MYR 2,296) and October at
MYR 2,258 (MYR 2,272) a tonne.
The Bombay Commodity Exchange spot rates (Rs/10 kg) : groundnut oil
980 (980), soya refined oil 640 (640), sunflower exp. ref. 745 (745),
sunflower ref. 805 (805), rapeseed ref. oil 680 (683), rapeseed expeller ref.
650 (653) cottonseed ref. oil 635 (640) and palmolein 525 (525).
Limited supply, higher demand boost pepper

Pepper prices both futures and the spot moved up on tight supply
situation and the consequent limited activities. Karnataka, which was
offering at Rs 390-395 a kg delivered anywhere in India, has raised its price
to Rs 400-405 , market sources told Business Line. Primary dealers said
dealers from Tamil Nadu were buying from the doorsteps of growers in
Idukki at terminal market prices on cash and carry basis.
Add to these, there were reports of firmer market in Vietnam where the
stocks have been depleted to a great extent, they said. It has raised its

price for V Asta to $6,775 a tonne (fob) while Indonesia was offering at
$6,600 (fob). Sri Lanka has also raised its price for GL 525 pepper to
$5,900 (fob) Colombo and 500 GL to $5,850 (fob).
These reports have also aided the price rise. Arrivals continued to be very
thin and today only five tonnes of pepper arrived and seven tonnes were
traded.
Following raising of the matching margin from Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000 by the
India Pepper and Spice Trade Association (IPSTA) the Forward Markets
Commission has permitted it to raise the daily price band (fluctuation) to Rs
1,000 from Rs 500 a quintal and that is expected to come into force from
tomorrow, sources said. Aug, Sep and Oct contracts on the NMCE
increased by Rs 296, Rs 608 and Rs 146 respectively to the last traded
price (LTP) of Rs 40,900, Rs 41,200 and Rs 40,520 a quintal.
Total open interest decreased by 14 tonnes to 97 tonnes while total turn
over went up by 11 tonnes to 38 tonnes.
Spot prices shot up by Rs 300 to close at Rs 38,300 (ungarbled) and Rs
40,300 (garbled) a quintal on tight supply amid good demand.
Indian parity in the international market was at $6,950 (c&f) for Europe and
$ 7,200 a tonne (c&f) for the US, following weakening of the rupee against
the dollar.
According to an overseas report today, Vietnam's market is steady/firm
largely as a result of reports of heavy shipments during the first half of the
year, which include imports and re-exports. Indonesia is releasing limited
quantities of new crop. Buyers are reportedly watching closely. Stocks in
Brazil are very thin, and shippers have not made aggressive new crop
offers so far.

Upcountry orders keep turmeric stable

Spot turmeric prices were stable as some traders received upcountry

orders.
Because of the arrival of medium quality hybrid turmeric, all the 75 bags of
hybrid finger variety were sold, but the price has not improved and remains
at Rs 7,200 a quintal.
At the Erode Turmeric Merchants Association sales yard, the finger variety
was sold at Rs 3,799-6,573; the root variety Rs 3,596-5,850 a quintal.
Salem Hybrid Crop: The finger variety fetched Rs 5,895-7,200; the root
variety Rs 5,416-6,189. Of the arrival of 633 bags, 210 were sold.
At the Regulated Market Committee, the finger variety was sold at Rs
5,589-6,714; the root variety Rs 5,009-6,044. Of the 148 bags arrived, 145
found takers.
At the Erode Cooperative Marketing Society, the finger variety quoted Rs
5,211-6,734; the root variety Rs 5,119-6,112. Of the 517 bags arrived, 508
were sold.

At the Gobichettipalayam Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Society, the

finger variety fetched Rs 5,261-6,371; the root variety Rs 4,899-5,939. All
the 156 bags were traded.
Slack retail buying dissolves sugar

Sugar prices ruled flat on sluggish retailers demand due to heavy rain.
Due to disturbed train and other transportation services, presence of
buyers and retail brokers were thin.
Domestic futures market remained range-bound volatility as in physical
market supply outstrips demand, said observer.
A Vashi-based wholesaler said due to heavy rain in city from the morning,
most of the retail brokers and buyers stay away from the market as
transportation services were affected. Volume was thin with need-base
purchases. Less than expected demand from retailers bulk consumers
despite Ramzan and ample supply from mills in local market kept activities
routine since start of the month. No one wants to take risk of bulk buying as
market carries more than sufficient physical stocks. In near futures

sentiment will remain subdued or weak till new months demand give any
positive cues.
In Vashi market, arrivals were about 64-65 truck loads (of 100 bags each)
and local dispatches were restricted to about 58-60 truck loads.
Vashi market currently carries inventory of about 124-125 truck loads.
On Monday, about 15-16 mills sold 38,000-40,000 bags to local traders at
Rs 2,930-3,000 (Rs 2,930-3,000) for S-grade and Rs 3,030-3,220 (Rs
3,030-3,220) for M-grade.
Bombay Sugar Merchants Association's spot rates: S-grade Rs 3,0643,142 (Rs 3,064-3,142) and M-grade Rs 3,192-3,321 (Rs 3,192-3,321).

Naka delivery rates: S-grade Rs 3,020-3,080 (Rs 3,020-3,080) and Mgrade Rs 3,130-3,220 (Rs 3,130-3,220).

Range-bound trading seen in wheat futures

Wheat futures market may rule range-bound while dara wheat in physical
market may rule flat in coming days, said market experts.

Moderate buying kept dara wheat and flour prices unaltered, said Radhey
Shyam, a trade expert. Only need-based buying is taking place and any
major fluctuation in the prices is unlikely at present, he added.
In the physical market, dara wheat prices ruled flat and sold at Rs 1,470-75
a quintal. Mill delivery was at Rs 1,470 while delivery at the chakki was at
Rs 1,475.
Similarly desi wheat variety ruled flat at Rs 2,600-2,700.
On the NCDEX, wheat for August contracts improved by Rs 4 and traded at
Rs 1,570 with an open interest of 14,260 lots. The grain had touched a high
at Rs 1,577 earlier in the day. August contracts went down by Re 1 and
traded at Rs 1,575.
In the spot market, after witnessing a fall on Monday, wheat spot prices on
the exchange improved by Rs 2.5 and traded at Rs 1,485.
Flour Prices
Following a steady trend in wheat, flour too ruled flat and quoted at Rs
1,725. Similarly, Chokar ruled flat and sold at Rs 1,225 a quintal.

eFresh ties up with ICAAP to strengthen agri practices helping small

farmers
eFresh on Tuesday also launched another web portal
www.efreshtenders.com which brings to one place all live tenders
pertaining to agriculture, food processing
eFresh Portal Private Limited, an information source for all stakeholders in
the Indian food industry, has entered into a memorandum of understanding
with IKP Centre for Advancement in Agricultural Practices (ICAAP), a nonprofit organisation, for improving agricultural practices to benefit
small farmers.
eFresh also launched on Tuesday another web portal
www.efreshtenders.com, which brings at one place all live tenders
pertaining to agriculture, food processing and solar energy floated by
governments, institutions and organisations.
According to managing director Srihari Kotela, eFresh creates connectivity
between suppliers and buyers through the online trading platform. It also
links input suppliers with farmers, transporters, owners of packaging and
storage facilities, food processing units, wholesalers and retailers.
He told mediapersons that eFresh and ICAAP would together strengthen
small farmers in terms of productivity through implementation of good
agricultural practices by establishing farmers development centres (FDCs)
and expanding the Rythu Ratham programme.
Initially, Kotela said, five FDCs would be set up in the state at an estimated
cost of Rs 10 lakh each. Subsequently, these centres would be established
through the franchisee route. efresh earnings are mainly based on

subscriptions and advertisements.

ICAAP chief executive officer, Abdul Rahman Ilyas, said the Rythu Ratham
programme was helpful in providing various services like soil testing at the
doorsteps of farmers. ICAAP is keen to scale up this model, he added.
Pulses import bill to decline 25% on higher domestic output
Pulses import hit the record at 4.02 mn tonnes in 2012-13, an increase of
15% from the level of 3.50 mn tonnes in the previous year
Indias pulses import bill is set to decline 25 per cent this financial year due
to a record domestic output and an unabated fall in prices globally. The fall
in import will save around $730 million (Rs 4,350 crore) outflow.
Pulses import hit a record 4.02 million tonnes (mt) in 2012-13, an increase
of 15 per cent from 3.5 mt the previous year. But the import bill shot up
41.34 per cent to Rs 13,354 crore in 2012-13 from Rs 9,448 crore in the
previous year. The sharp increase in the bill was attributed to a staggering
13.6 per cent depreciation in the rupee against the dollar.
This year, however, import is set to decline by a minimum 0.50 mt or 13
per cent of the entire import quantity on bumper output estimates from local
sources. Coupled with that, pulses prices have fallen by at least 15 per cent
since April. Accumulatively, this will lower pulses import bill by 25 per cent,
said Bimal Kothari, vice-president of India Pulses and Grains Association
(IPGA) and owner of Pancham International Ltd, a Mumbai-based pulses
importer.
The ministry of agriculture has set a target of 19 mt of pulses output for this
year against 18.45 mt reported in the second advanced estimates on
Monday. Indias 40 per cent pulses output comes from the kharif crop,

while the remaining from the rabi season.

The monsoon has been favourable so far with over 50 per cent of 36
meteorological sub-divisions has reported normal to excess rainfalls. Given
that the trend continues in the rest of the period this monsoon season and
estimates for supportive soil moisture for rabi sowing, pulses output in India
may comfortably hit the record target of 19 mt, said Pravin Dongre,
president of IPGA and chief executive of the Indian subsidiary of Glencore,
one of the worlds largest commodity trading companies.
Domestic as well international prices of
pulses have slumped 15-20 per cent in the
last three months. All varieties of pulses
have fallen. Chana, for example, has
plunged to Rs 2,700 a quintal from Rs 3,000
a quintal in April. Tur and urad have also
declined proportionately to trade at around
Rs 3,200 a quintal.
Also, tur in Myanmar is quoted at $625 a tonne today, a decline of $125
from the level of $750 a tonne in April. Similarly, urad, chana and yellow
peas are currently quoted at $525 a tonne, $470 a tonne and $400 a tonne,
respectively, from $650 a tonne, $570 a tonne and $460 a tonne in April.
Kothari emphasises to increase yield which has been stagnated at 650
kg/hectare in India against the world average of 1,800 kg / ha. For this,
however, hybridisation is going on all across the country with research is in
progress to scale up pulses yield.

Ban on onion exports won't impact domestic prices

Horticulture body says prices to cool down in next few weeks
A section of the Department of Agriculture feels export curbs on onions
would have little impact on the prices of the commodity, as the price of
Indian onions is more than prices abroad and exportshave shown a slowing
trend.
Officials said Indian onions were priced at about $480 a tonne in the
international markets, while prices of onions from Pakistan and China stood
at $410 a tonne and $300-350 a tonne, respectively.
Therefore, to expect an export ban on onions to have a major impact on
domestic prices is unreasonable, as exports have already slowed because
of the price differential, said a senior official.
In June, India exported about 1,50,512 tonnes of onions, a 23 per cent fall
compared to May and a 9.01 per cent fall compared to April. In the AprilJune period, onion exports stood at 5,11,616 tonnes, worth Rs 776.47
crore, around 1.09 per cent less than in the corresponding period last year.
In 2012-13, exports stood at 1.82 million tonnes.
The official said domestic prices of onions were lucrative for traders and
farmers. Therefore, the tendency to export was low. A recent report by the
Nasik-based National Horticulture Research and Development Foundation
(NHRDF) said the current rise in onion prices was primarily due to the slow
release of stored onions by farmers, especially in Maharashtra, in
anticipation of better prices in the coming days.
It added the situation would ease in the next few weeks, as farmers would
be compelled to sell stored onions in the market, as losses would rise
because of high humidity conditions in Maharashtra. "The arrival of the new

crop from Andhra Pradesh, which will start from August, will also ease the
situation," NHRDF said.
"The Ramzan season is underway in most parts of West Asia, a big market
for Indian onions. Therefore, overall international demand is slack," said a
trader from a leading export house.
According to the Department of Consumer
Affairs, in the last month, the average retail
price across the country had risen Rs 10-20
a kg. In areas such as Siliguri, Indore,
Gwalior, Dehradun and Delhi, prices rose by
about Rs 20 a kg in the last month.
Alarmed by the sudden and sharp rise in
retail price of onions, the government is
believed to have been contemplating a ban
on exports as the option of increasing the Minimum Export Price (MEP) is
no longer available as the method was scrapped last year.
Few days back a PTI news report quoting an unnamed government official
said that the government was keeping a close watch on onion prices and
was considering various options including a ban on export to control prices.
Total onion production in 2012-13is expected to be 15-16 million tonnes,
almost the same as last year.
Potato gains by 3%, on strong demand
Speculators strengthened their positions, driven by strong demand in the
spot market

Potato prices climbed by 3% to Rs 669.90 per quintal in futures market

today as speculators strengthened their positions, driven by strong demand
in the spot market.
Tight stocks availability in physical market on less arrivals from producing
belts due to heavy rains further supported the upsurge in potato prices.
At the Multi Commodity Exchange, potato for delivery in September
climbed by Rs 19.50, or 3% to Rs 669.90 per quintal in business turnover
of 392 lots.
Potato for delivery in August also jumped up by Rs 16.30, or 2.30% to Rs
725 per quintal in 425 lots.
Market analysts said apart from rising spot market demand, tight stocks
positions on less arrivals from producing regions mainly pushed up potato
prices at futures trade.
Chana extend losses, down by 0.7% on subdued demand
Chana for delivery in September traded lower by 0.76%
Chana prices fell by 0.78% to Rs 2,806 per quintal in futures trade today as
speculators trimmed their positions, driven by subdued demand in the spot
market against adequate supplies.
At the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange, chana for delivery in
August fell further by Rs 22, or 0.78% to Rs 2,806 per quintal with an open
interest of 1,79,230 lots.
Similarly, chana for delivery in September traded lower by Rs 22, or 0.76%
to Rs 2,864 per quintal in 77,420 lots.
Chana prices at futures trade remained under pressure due to subdued

demand at spot markets against adequate supplies from producing regions,

market analysts said.
Cardamom extend gains, up 0.6% on rising demand
Cardamom for delivery in September edged up by 0.08%
Amid rising demand in the spot market and restricted arrivals from
producing belts, cardamom prices extended gains for the second straight
day by rising 0.60% at Rs 765.60 per kg in futures trade today.
At the Multi Commodity Exchange, cardamom for delivery in August gained
Rs 4.60, or 0.60%, to Rs 765.60 per kg in business turnover of 1,180 lots.
Similarly, cardamom for delivery in September edged up by 60 paise, or
0.08% to Rs 785 per kg in 269 lots.
Market analysts said besides rising demand in the spot market, tight
supplies on less arrivals from producing region, mainly influenced
cardamom prices at futures trade.
Mentha oil up 0.9% on strong industrial demand
Tight stocks availability in the physical market due to less arrivals from
producing region supported the uptrend
Mentha oil prices rose 0.92% to Rs 903 per kg in futures trading today as
speculators enlarged their positions, tracking a firm trend at spot market on
strong industrial demand.
Tight stocks availability in the physical market due to less arrivals from
producing region further supported the uptrend.
At the Multi Commodity Exchange, mentha oil for delivery in August gained
Rs 8.20, or 0.92%, to Rs 903 per kg in business turnover of 160 lots.

Similarly, the oil for delivery in July moved up by Rs 7.80, or 0.88% to Rs

890.50 per kg in 273 lots.
Market analysts said the rise in mentha oil at futures trade was mostly
attributed to strong demand from consuming industries in the spot market
amid lower arrivals from Chandausi in Uttar Pradesh mainly led to rise in
mentha oil prices at futures trade
Crude palm oil up 0.1% as demand picks up
Crude palm oil for delivery in August edged up by 0.08%
Crude palm oil prices moved up by 0.18% to Rs 503.60 per 10 kg in futures
market today as speculators enlarged their positions, driven by a rise in
demand in the spot market.
At the Multi Commodity Exchange, crude palm oil for delivery in July moved
up by 90 paise, or 0.18%, to Rs 503.60 per 10 kg in business turnover of
52 lots.
Similarly, the oil for delivery in August edged up by 40 paise, or 0.08%, to
Rs 498 per 10 kg in 127 lots.
Market analysts said increased positions created by speculators following
rising demand in the spot markets, mainly helped crude palm oil prices to
trade higher at futures trade.