1.   

India-EU FTA likely by end of June, says commerce secy

Having discussed the fine prints of the India-European Union free trade agreement (FTA) with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the government is poised to seal the pact by the end of June. “Next week there are meetings (on the India-EU FTA) in Delhi ... we are working to close the deal by the end of June,” commerce secretary Rahul Khullar told The Indian Express.

2.   

Guar gum exports likely to be at record this year

Guar gum exports from India are expected to be at record high in the current year amid robust demand from oil producing countries. The soaring overseas demand is believed to spurt the prices of the commodity, which is used as a lubricant in exploration wells and also used for fracturing of oil wells.

3.   

Andhra Pradesh govt allows export of rice for two months

Andhra Pradesh today decided to permit export of raw rice from the state for a limited period of two months with periodic monitoring of price.The government also decided to permit export of boiled rice without any conditions, in a step aimed at ensuring minimum support price to farmers on their Rabi produce.

4.   

Europe Grains Wilt as England Has Hottest April in 352 Years

Dry weather in France and Germany and England’s hottest April in at least 352 years is threatening crops across the European Union, producer of a fifth of the world’s wheat.About 20 percent of average rain fell in the U.K. in April after a dry March, further reducing soil moisture, the Home- Grown Cereals Authority, an industry group, said in an e-mailed report.