1.   

Prime Minister reviews foodgrain stock situation amid monsoon deficit

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today reviewed the foodgrains stock situation against the backdrop of deficient monsoon so far this year. "We reviewed the foodgrains situation, effect of monsoon failure, export, procurement, modernising public distribution system (PDS)," Food Minister KV Thomas told reporters after the meeting. "The situation on all these issues would again be reviewed after 15 days," he added.

2.   

Govt may review agri-commodities export policy in Aug

The government may review its export policy on farm commodities such as wheat, rice and sugar in August, when the monsoon situation gets clearer, Food Minister K V Thomas said Wednesday. "We should wait till August," Thomas told reporters on the sidelines of a conference when asked whether the government will review farm export policy in the backdrop of delayed monsoon rains.

3.   

Non-basmati rice drives agri exports up 97%

Exports of agricultural and processed food products nearly doubled in a year, thanks mainly to the freeing-up of non-basmati rice exports, but also reflecting the country’s potential as a destination for farm products. Exports of these items rose 97% to R82,480 crore during 2011-12 from R41,794 crore in the previous year, show data from Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda).

4.   

Anand Sharma pitches for interest rate cut to boost growth, exports

With inflation easing marginally to 7.25 per cent in June, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma today pitched for cut in interest rate by RBI in its month-end policy review to boost both growth and exports. "The cost of the credit has to be low so that the Indian industry remains competitive in the global context," Sharma said here. "I have always been an advocate of creating an environment where industry, the private sector, invest more," he said.