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Rice production may surpass last year level: Pawar

Rice production in India is likely to be higher in the 2011-12 crop year as compared to 95.32 million tonne in the last year, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said today. "We will be able to produce more rice than last year," Pawar told reporters here. Unlike last year, the minister said rice producing states of the country -- Bihar, Chattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh -- have received good rainfall and this will boost .....

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Free Trade pact will grossly impact Indian dairy sector: Dairy players

The Indian dairy sector will be grossly impacted by the Union government's effort to include milk products within the domain of the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and New Zealand, feels a section of the Indian dairy industry. New Zealand, known as a dairy country, accounts for 95 per cent of milk exports and has a 35 per cent global market share in the .....

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Lab test report to pave way for Bt brinjal release

The government has ordered a laboratory test of to find out if genetically modified brinjal is fit for preparation of ayurvedic medicines, with a senior official saying its report in next two months could pave the way for commercial release of Bt brinjal. “Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) under Ministry of Environment and Forest has ordered for lab test to assess compositional .....

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Russians annually spending $5 bln for imported vegetables and potatoes

According to Fruit-Inform Project's estimates, Russian consumers annually spend about $5 bln for imported vegetables and potatoes. Moreover, the share of imports in Russian's consumption structure continues to grow notwithstanding solid investments in vegetable and potato production in 2005-2011. “We forecast that in the season 2011/12 Russia's vegetable imports will be lower in .....