1.   

India to produce 121.7 mt milk in 2011, says FAO

For the world food production sector that strives to keep pace with the growth in population, it's tougher times ahead what with widespread degradation of land and deepening scarcity of water resources over the years seriously eroding the production capacity across the globe. The population is projected to reach nine billion by 2050, but food production systems, on the other hand, have progressively been put to .....

2.   

Rice prices drop as buyers turn to India

Offer prices for rice from the world's top two exporters, Thailand and Vietnam, eased this week amid sluggish trade as most buyers were focused on much cheaper Indian cargoes, traders said on Wednesday. The benchmark 100 per cent B grade Thai white rice was at $610 per tonne, down from last week's $620, and the 5 per cent broken white rice held steady around $580-$590 a tonne, they .....

3.   

FDI in retail: Farmer bodies throw their weight behind retail FDI

Large farm lobbies are backing the government's decision to allow foreign supermarkets to set up shop in the country, saying it will shorten the supply chain and get growers a larger share of the final selling price. Most farmers, however, want the government to go a step further and make it mandatory for retailers to buy 75% of their produce directly from farmers, bypassing the .....

4.   

US blocks Indian basmati import over pesticide traces

The most prestigious market for Indian basmati rice, the USA, has put on hold all consignments of the rice being imported there. In a major setback to Indian basmati exporters, the US Food and Drug Authority has refused to accept basmati being exported to that country, on account of traces of pesticides found in the food grain. It is learnt that the FDA has refused to allow these basmati consignments to be released to .....