1.   

FCI's paddy procurement touches 20.32 mt

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has procured 20.32 million tonnes (mt) of paddy in the current procurement season, of the arrival of 26.03 mt as on December 22. According to officials, on the back of an expected bumper crop, the corporation has plans to procure a record of 35.30 mt in 2011-12. The procurement data includes the procurement by FCI, state agencies which procure for central pool and levy .....

2.   

Jaggery output hit as farmers divert cane to sugar mills for better price

Sugar mills are paying a higher amount to cane farmers and this has hampered jaggery production this year. But demand for jaggery is topping supply due to the upcoming Sankranti and Pongal festivals in January, resulting in an increase in jaggery prices across the country. Along with the less availability of cane for jaggery units, labour shortage and power cuts have affected jaggery production in Maharashtra and .....

3.   

Lowering of onion MEP fails to boost exports

Lowering of onion export prices to $250 a tonne has failed to boost its outbound shipment with China and Egypt continuing to dominate the international market by selling it at less than $200 a tonne. Onion exports from India dropped by nearly 37 per cent in November this year compared to the corresponding period of last year, sources in agri-cooperative NAFED, principal agency that grants no-objection certificate for onion .....

4.   

Tap bio-diversity in nature for better harvest

Over 800 farmers from across the district have gathered to hear Subash Palekar on the merits of his method of doing agriculture, which he describes as zero budget natural farming. And, he holds them in a thrall while explaining the pitfalls of chemical fertilizers. Pointing to his experience with adivasi cultivators of central India, he narrates how the bio-diversityin the nature is itself sufficient to provide micro-nutrients for the .....