1.   

Union Minister Pawar Inaugurates ASEAN- India Agri Expo

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today inaugurated the ASEAN-India Agri Expo along with Ministers and representatives of the ASEAN member countries. The Exposition has been organised concurrently with the Second ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry meeting to showcase technologies of the region to further promote and intensify cooperation between India and ASEAN nations in agriculture, forestry and allied sectors.

2.   

RBI tweaks priority sector lending norms

Heeding the demand of bankers, the Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday revised priority sector lending norms. Loans up to Rs 2 crore to companies involved in farming and allied activities will be treated as lending for direct agriculture under priority sector lending (PSL) status. Also, credit to housing finance companies for onward lending for rehabilitation of slum dwellers and economically weaker sections will enjoy PSL status.

3.   

Anand Sharma miffed as EU delays giving India data-secure status

Commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma criticised the EU on Wednesday for dragging its feet on declaring India a data-secure country that would allow flow of sophisticated off-shore business to India from the European countries. Data-secure status is one of the primary demands made by India in its negotiations for a free trade agreement with the 27-member EU.

4.   

India set to open agri centre in South Africa

India is all set to open up its first offshore agriculture extension centre in Africa, which will help local farmers adapt to new seeds and other technologies for crop improvement. The maiden overseas Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) may be opened in South Africa within a few months, though the final decision will be taken after the finalisation of 12th plan, sources told Deccan Herald.