1.   

Vice President Hamid Ansari stresses on accelerating growth of farm sector

Stating that agriculture plays an important role in country's rural development, Vice President Hamid Ansari today said there is a need to accelerate growth of farm sector to fuel the country's economic growth. He also called for a second green revolution to achieve and sustain the required agriculture sector growth rate. "Agriculture, obviously, plays an important role in rural development in the country.

2.   

India, Pak set to hold commerce secretary level talks

After the meeting of the India and Pakistan director generals of military operations after 14 years, the commerce secretaries of both countries are set to meet next month - in another major step towards normalization of relations between the two neighbors. Pakistan has proposed two sets of dates in the middle of January for their commerce secretaries to meet. India has yet to get back on the proposal, an informed source told agency.

3.   

Food Processing Sector Witnesses Fast Growth, Rising Exports in Recent Years

The food processing sector has witnessed fast growth, employment generation and export earnings in the recent past. In major indicators, the growth in this sector has been better than other industries and the economy as a whole. On its part, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries has contributed to encouraging investment into the sector, improving infrastructure, evolving better standards, removing bottlenecks and initiating R&D and skill development.

4.   

Export floor price for onion cut to $150/tonne

The Centre has further slashed the minimum export price for onions to $150 a tonne from the prevailing $350 a tonne to facilitate more shipments abroad. The latest reduction in the floor price is the third in as many weeks. The floor price for export has been reduced from $800 since December 10. The move follows a sharp decline in prices of the vegetable in the key growing regions of Maharashtra, where realisations by growers have slumped by about 50 per cent over the past four weeks.