1.   

Iraq buys 150,000 T rice from India, Pakistan

Iraq's state grain board has purchased about 150,000 tonnes of rice from Pakistan and India in an international tender for at least 30,000 tonnes which closed on Dec. 18 with offers remaining valid until Dec. 22, European traders said on Tuesday. It was for shipment between late January and February 2012. The award was said to have been split between four trading houses. A range of prices was paid with the lowest .....

2.   

Cold conditions may aid wheat, oilseeds & pulse

Cold weather conditions across northern and central India are expected to be beneficial for wheat, gram and mustard crops. However, ground frost conditions in many parts of the country could harm potato and other horticulture crops. The meteorological department has forecasted that cold wave conditions would prevail over parts of Punjab, Haryana, north Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and some parts of .....

3.   

Buying lifts chana, masoor

Chana and masoor gained on Tuesday on improved buying support. Chana (kanta) rose to Rs 3,350-3,375 a quintal (Rs 3,300-3,350) on improved buying support. Chana (desi) gained Rs 50 at Rs 3,275-3,300 a quintal (Rs 3,200-3,225). Similarly, chana dal gained on buying support to spot chana, with chana dal (average) being quoted at Rs 3,950-3,975 a quintal, chana dal .....

4.   

Record grain output in 2011 facilitates Bill

The agriculture sector performed exceedingly well in 2011, with record grain production of over 240 million tonnes giving enough leeway for the government to lift a ban on exports of wheat and non-basmati rice and introduce the food security bill in Parliament. Farmers’ long-standing demand for crop loans at a 4% rate of interest was met during the year, although with a rider that the facility would be available to onlythose farmers that pay their .....