1.   

India's Food Security Law to Cost More

India may require up to 1 trillion rupees ($20.44 billion) more than earlier planned to roll out a proposed food security program as the government has decided to expand the scope of the scheme that guarantees cheap foodgrains to the poor, the food minister said Tuesday. The expenditure is set to rise to 3.5 trillion rupees from the previous estimate of between 2.5 trillion rupees and 3.0 trillion rupees, said K.V. Thomas. This will comprise food subsidies of more than .....

2.   

USDA forecast: Global demand for frozen potato products up 5%

Global demand for frozen potato products (comprised mostly of frozen fries) is forecast up 5 percent from last year, according a recent report by the USDA. The rise in demand is due to strengthening economic growth from key importers and an expansion of fast food restaurants, especially in .....

3.   

Karnataka to seek Centre's help for Rs 3,000-cr crop loss

The Karnataka Government will soon seek support from the Centre as the estimated crop loss due to recent droughts in 100 talukas has crossed Rs 3,000 crore, Mr D.V. Sadananda Gowda, Chief Minister of Karnataka, said here on Tuesday. Mr Gowda, who inaugurated the 9th Knowledge Millennium Summit, organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham), said, “Agricultural growth in the State is .....

4.   

Devastating Khapra beetle is turning up in food shipments

Interceptions of two recent food shipments at the L.A.-Long Beach port containing Khapra beetles illustrate the heightened push by U.S. authorities to prevent the aggressive agricultural pest from reestablishing itself in the country. U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists found five live larvae, two dead adults and three skins of the beetle on Oct. 21 in shipments to .....