With the focus of the fourth agricultural road map for Bihar, launched recently by President Droupadi Murmu, being on production of millets, a centre of excellence on millets and value chain has started functioning in the state.

The centre is working with a view to increasing the area, production and productivity of millets in the state. The Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU), Pusa, Bihar Agricultural University (BAU), Sabour, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the Bihar state agriculture department are all engaged in carrying out research of societal relevance.

 

RPCAU’s vice-chancellor P S Pandey said that over Rs 113 crore has been earmarked for this centre for a period of five years (2023-28). ICRISAT has been allotted a sum of Rs 68 crore and both RPCAU and BAU have been sanctioned Rs 7.50 crore each for the research work. The centre’s building at Gaya would be constructed by the state government at an estimated cost of Rs 30 crore, he said.

He added that the salient features of the project include development of high-yielding varieties of millets for different agro-climatic zones of Bihar and seed production of millets by institutions and through Farmers Producers’ Organizations (FPOs). The project also aims at developing location-specific crop production technologies and also developing farm machineries and primary processing and secondary processing machineries. The centre would work for the development of value chain, and market linkage of millets and capacity building, the VC said.

 

Head of RPCAU’s genetics and plant breeding department and project’s principal investigator (small millets) Shweta Mishra said the university has developed four varieties of finger millets (ragi), one variety each of foxtail millet (kangni) and proso millet (chena) and five varieties of Barnyard millet (sanwa) which are in seed chain. The university is also promoting cultivation of finger millet and proso millet as a summer crop. Besides, a number of other varieties of millets are in pipeline, she said.

 

She further added that the university has organized may awareness programmes for capacity building, seed production and value addition to millets. Two processing equipment have been developed and patented. Besides, many value-added products have been developed, of which one food formulation has got patent, she said.

Mishra said millets are climate resilient crops as they have a very low water requirement and very high water use efficiency. They can tolerate drought, high temperatures, salinity and can be easily grown in degraded soils without much effect on their yield.

In Bihar, finger millet, barnyard millet, proso millet, foxtail millet and pearl millet (bajra) are preferably grown by farmers. Many traditional food items are prepared from millets and consumed in Bihar, like madua ki roti, thekua, halwa, sanwa ki kheer, kauni ki khichdi, cheena ka madha, etc.

 

The government has reduced the floor price for basmati rice exports to USD 950 per tonne from USD 1,200 per tonne amid concerns that higher prices were hurting outward shipments.

 

In a communication to export promotion body APEDA, the Union Commerce Ministry has said 'it has been decided to revise the price limit for registration of contract for export of basmati rice from USD 1,200 per tonne to USD 950 per tonne.'

 

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has been directed to register only those contracts having value of USD 950 per tonne and above.

 

The government on August 27 decided not to allow exports of basmati rice below USD 1,200 per tonne to restrict possible 'illegal' shipment of white non-basmati rice in the garb of premium basmati rice.

 

India's total exports of basmati rice stood at USD 4.8 billion in 2022-23 in terms of price, while in volume terms it was at 45.6 lakh tonne.

 

Rice exporter associations have been demanding from the last two months to reduce this price, stating that India is losing its export market due to the tough price competition from neighbouring countries like Pakistan.

 

They have been also arguing that India's average export realisations in the last 2-3 financial years have been USD 800-900 per tonne.

 

On October 15, the food ministry had said the government is considering the industry's demand to reduce the floor price.

 

Based on representations received from the associations that the high FOB (free on board) value is adversely affecting the export of basmati rice from India, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal had attended a consultative meet with the basmati rice exporters, the food ministry had said in a statement.

 

Seeking to control retail prices of rice, the central government has been taking several steps to boost domestic supply.

 

In September last year, it banned exports of broken rice, while in July this year, it imposed restrictions on non-basmati white rice. A 20 per cent export duty was also slapped on par-boiled non-basmati rice.

 

With these curbs, India has imposed restrictions on all varieties of non-basmati rice.

 

As per the Foreign Trade Policy, APEDA is mandated to register all contracts for the export of basmati rice and then it issues registration-cum-allocation certificate for the export of basmati rice.

 

The basmati crop grown in kharif season has started arriving in the market and the decision to reduce the floor price will boost exports.

 

'Now, the new crop of basmati has started arriving and there is generally a decline in prices when the new crop starts arriving,' the food ministry had said while giving a rationale for the need for the review.

 

As per the final estimate, rice production is estimated to be a record 135.75 million tonnes in 2022-23 as against 129.47 million tonnes in the previous year.

 

According to industry, the average export prices of basmati rice stood at USD 850-900 per tonne in 2021 and 2022.

 

This year, it was around Rs 1,050 per tonne before the government's August 25 decision not to register contracts below USD 1,200 per tonne.

 

Basmati rice exporter GRM Overseas MD Atul Garg said the move will reinstate competitiveness of Indian basmati rice shipments in the global markets.

 

'Exporters are now working towards regaining the lost ground. As a result, the buying cycle is showing signs of getting the momentum back. The decision to cut MEP (minimum export price) of basmati rice will benefit all key supply chain stakeholders,' he said.

 

Rajya Sabha member from Punjab Vikramjit Singh Sahney, too, has urged the commerce ministry to cut the price.

 

On the decision, he said it is a big relief for exporters and farmers.

 

'There are almost 40 varieties of basmati rice ranging from USD 850-1,600 per tonne. Lower varieties of Basmati rice contribute to 70 per cent of the export market,' Sahney said.

About 700,000 metric tons of grain have been exported through Ukraine's new Black Sea export corridor since it began operating in August, the Ukrainian agriculture minister said.

Ukraine launched a 'humanitarian corridor' to release ships bound for African and Asian markets, and to circumvent a de facto blockade after Russia abandoned a deal this summer that had guaranteed its exports during the war.

 

A senior agricultural official said later that month it was considering using the route for grain shipments.

'During the operation of the new corridor, 38 ships entered the ports and more than 30 left, not all of them with grain, of course,' the agriculture ministry quoted Mykola Solsky as saying late on Monday.

 

'However, we managed to export almost 700,000 tons of grain.'

 

The export deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey collapsed in July as Russia declined to recognise it, saying its demand that sanctions on its grain and fertiliser exports be lifted had not been met.

Ukraine had been exporting up to 3 million tons a month of food via the corridor while it was operating, with its total food exports, including alternative routes, reaching up to 6 million tons per month.

 

Solsky said that in September Ukraine had also exported 2.3 million tons of agricultural goods from small Ukrainian river ports on the Danube River. He said overall food exports totalled 3.6 million tons last month.

'We need to export about 6 million tons per month to preserve our agriculture as a key sector of the economy,' Solsky said.

This volume of transportation can only be ensured by restoring the full operation of the country's deepwater ports in the Odesa region, he added.

'We see a trend towards an increase in the number of ships leaving our ports. We hope it will continue,' Solsky said.

Ukrainian agricultural producers this week said the new Black Sea corridor could enable exports of up to 2.5 million metric tons of food a month, almost offsetting the impact of Russia's decision to quit the U.N.-brokered deal.

Ukraine's shipping sources said more than 40 cargo vessels have entered the corridor so far.

Agriculture ministry data shows that as of October 23, Ukrainian grain exports were down 29.7% at 8.3 million tons in the 2023/24 July-June season so far.

Ukraine is expected to harvest 79 million tons of grain and oilseed in 2023, with 2023/24 exportable volumes of about 50 million tons, agriculture ministry estimates.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and industry stakeholders, has been actively identifying key products for the notification of Quality Control Orders (QCO). This endeavour has resulted in the development of over 60 new QCOs, encompassing 318 product standards, including seven standards related to Drums and Tins, read the press release by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

 

Drums are cylindrical containers employed for the packaging of powders, semi-solids, and liquids, primarily for transportation and storage purposes. Tins, on the other hand, are containers constructed from tin-coated sheet metal, commonly used for packing food items in various forms, including powders, semi-solids, and liquids. Drums and tins are vital for storing and transporting a wide range of substances, including toxic, flammable, and hazardous materials, and find applications in diverse sectors such as waste management, healthcare, and food services, read the press release.

 

Hence, ensuring the quality of drums and tins is essential to prevent leakages, adulteration, and fire hazards. On October 20, 2023, DPIIT issued the Drums and Tins (Quality Control) Order, 2023. This QCO encompasses seven Indian Standards, addressing different aspects of these containers, read the press release.

 

The move aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of manufacturing high-quality products, as he emphasized, 'With our people's ability and the nation's credibility, Indian products of top quality will travel far and wide. This will also be a true tribute to the ethos of Aatmanirbhar Bharat - a force multiplier for global prosperity.'

 

DPIIT is diligently working to establish a quality control regime in India for various industrial sectors, in collaboration with BIS, the industry, and other stakeholders. QCOs are expected to raise the manufacturing quality standards in the country, bolster the brand value of 'Made in India' products, and contribute to the development of a robust quality ecosystem, read the press release. It's important to note that the standards for any product are typically for voluntary compliance, unless the Central Government notifies them, making them mandatory through the Quality Control Order (QCO) under Scheme-I and Compulsory Registration Order (CRO) under Scheme-II of the BIS Conformity Assessment Regulations, 2018.

 

The objective behind notifying QCOs is to enhance the quality of domestically manufactured products, prevent the importation of sub-standard products into India, and safeguard human, animal, and plant health, as well as environmental safety, read the press release. The Drums and Tins QCO will become effective six months from its notification in the E-Gazette. To support small and micro industries, relaxations have been granted regarding timelines.

 

Small industries receive an additional three months, while micro industries are granted an additional six months for the QCO's implementation. Furthermore, an exemption has been provided for drums and tins containing powder, semi-solid, or liquid materials when imported into India, read the press release. The implementation of these QCOs is critical for consumer safety, enhancing manufacturing quality standards, and curtailing the influx of sub-standard products into India.

 

These initiatives, combined with the development of quality testing labs and product manuals, will contribute to building a robust quality ecosystem in India, aligning with the government's vision of developing world-class products and achieving an 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat', read the press release. Non-compliance with the BIS Act can result in penalties, including imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of at least Rs 2 lakh for the first offence.

 

For subsequent violations, the fine may rise to a minimum of Rs 5 lakh and extend to ten times the value of the goods or articles. 

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal attended the 7th Edition of Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh from 24th to 25th October 2023. He met several dignitaries from the host country of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) including the Energy Minister His Royal Highness (HRH) Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Salman Al-Saud, Commerce Minister His Excellency (H.E.) Majid bin Abdullah AlKassabi, and Investment Minister H.E. Khalid A. Al Falih.   

 

Shri Piyush Goyal addressed the 7th Edition of FII in one of the plenary sessions titled 'The Coming Investment Mandate'. He also co-chaired a conclave session on the theme 'From Risk to Opportunity: Strategies for Emerging Economies in the New Industrial Policy Era' along with the KSA Investment Minister. This was followed by a bilateral meeting where the two respective ministers deliberated expansion of investment across diverse sectors to foster economic growth and further enhance strategic partnership between the two countries. 

 

Shri Goyal also held bilateral meetings with KSA Commerce Minister H.E. Majid bin Abdullah AlKassabi, Industry and Mineral Resources Minister H.E. Bandar bin Ibrahim AlKhorayef, CEO NEOM Mr. Nadhmi Al Nasr, and Governor Public Investment Fund (PIF) H.E. Yassir Rummayyan. Discussions pertained to improvement in bilateral relations, especially in the field of commerce and industry.

 

The Minister participated in the Business Round Table organized at the Federation of Saudi Chambers, and highlighted the multiple opportunities offered by India. The growing trade between the two countries reached an all-time high of USD 52.75 billion in FY 2022-23. The conference aimed at further strengthening the economic partnership between the two countries. The Confederation of Indian Industry and the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the presence of the Minister to further enhance commercial partnership. 

 

Shri Piyush Goyal met Mr. Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank and prominent business leaders on the sidelines of the FII. He held interactive sessions with the Indian business leaders and the Indian community living in KSA, both constituting a respectable part of the Saudi economy. 

 

KSA is one of India’s most important strategic partners. Cooperation between the two countries can also be witnessed with the establishment of India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC). Established in 2019, it aims to enhance the relationship between the two countries and has two main pillars: the ‘Committee on Political, Security, Social, and Cultural Cooperation’ and the ‘Committee on Economy and Investments’. India is the fourth country with which Riyadh has formed such a partnership, after the UK, France, and China.

 

In this context, the presence of the Shri Goyal in the 7th FII laid the foundation for further enhancement of bilateral ties and cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

The Irish government wants to further deepen its strong economic and cultural relationship with India as part of its renewed Asia Pacific strategy launched this week, Deputy Prime Minister Micheal Martin has said. Ireland's Asia Pacific Strategy had a target of EUROS 100 billion in trade with the region by 2025, which has been exceeded two years ahead of time.

 

'We have a strong economic relationship but also a strong cultural relationship (with India),' Martin told reporters in Dublin on Tuesday.

 

'We want to deepen that and we're launching our Asia Pacific strategy to support our continued ambitions to expand across Asia Pacific, which will fuel economic growth into the future across the world,' Martin, also Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, said.

 

The Tanaiste, as the Deputy Prime Minister is known in Ireland, swapped roles with the country's Indian-origin Prime Minister (Taoiseach), Leo Varadkar, as part of their coalition arrangement at the end of last year.

 

In his role as Minister for Foreign Affairs, he is focussed on deploying the country's Global Ireland strategy and renewed the country's commitment to the Asia Pacific region within that strand this week.

 

India is a key aspect of the renewed Asia Pacific strategy, building on a new Consulate General in Mumbai as part of efforts to expand Ireland's footprint in the region.

 

Addressing a query on the US and UK stance in favour of Canada over the withdrawal of Canadian diplomats from India recently, Martin said that both countries must eventually find the capacity to engage over the issue and work things out.

 

It came after Canada said last week it had withdrawn 41 diplomats following an alleged Indian threat to unilaterally revoke their status amid strained bilateral relations over Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's claims of Indian agents being involved in the June murder of Canadian Sikh Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

 

It led to the US and UK siding with Canada to say the move impacted the effective functioning of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has strongly rejected the allegation of Indian involvement and also refuted any violation of the Vienna Convention in relation to the diplomats' exit.

 

'It would not be for Ireland to arbitrate or mediate between two major countries, they are two friends of Ireland,' said Martin.

 

'But we believe that India and Canada ultimately will develop the capacity to resolve this. I think it's in both their interests to do so. It is a challenging issue. But I don't have any doubt that over time, this will evolve and moderate, and we would like to think that all countries have the capacity to engage and work this out,' he said.

 

When asked about raising matters related to areas such as Manipur and Kashmir with India directly, the minister added that Ireland looks at issues through a human rights lens especially as it approaches its election to the UN Human Rights Council in a couple of years' time.

 

'It is a fundamental obligation of all states to uphold freedom of expression, freedom of opinion, vision, of fundamental rights, identity, and so forth. So, it's through those lens that we would discuss with other states specific issues,' he said.

The state government has zeroed in on 10 locations in 10 districts for setting up mini food parks in the state that was announced in the state budget of 2022-23.

The locations are Kalamassery (Ernakulam), Dharmadom (Kannur), Idukki (Idukki panchayat land), Kottarakara (Kollam), Ollur (Thrissur - land of Kerala Agriculture University), Vengara (Malappuram), Thiruvalla (Pathanamthitta - land under the possession of Traco cables), Kattakad (Thiruvananthapuram - land under KTU), Ettumanoor (Kottayam - land of Kottayam Spinning Mills) and Uduma (Kasaragod).

 

The minimum land requirement for setting up a ‘mini food park’ is 10 acres. Out of the 10 acres, the allottable land would be 7.5 acres (75%), while the remaining 2.5 acres will be earmarked for common facilities such as roads, drainage, park, sewage treatment unit, office, etc. Each of these parks are expected to accommodate about 25 units each at an average plot size of 0.30 acres per unit. The proposal to set up 10 mini food parks as a measure to enhance the facilities for processing and value addition of agricultural resources, was proposed by finance minister K N Balagopal in his budget speech of 2022. In the current year, Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for the purpose. The allocation for the parks was made from KIIFB funds.

The government had in April this year issued the sanction for setting up the parks and had entrusted Kinfra as the special purpose vehicle for the purpose. Kinfra has already prepared the prerequisites for setting up the parks as well as the facilities required in the park. The mini food parks aims at producing value-added products from the agricultural products that would yield more income to the farmers as well as reduce wastage.

 

3 parking facilities in Old Delhi to be operational in a month

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is set to open the multilevel parking facility at Chandni Chowk in a month's time. The facility, which has a capacity to accommodate 2,338 vehicles, will provide relief from congestion in the area. Equipped with modern facilities, such as CCTV and lifts, the project has been long delayed but is now nearing completion. Additionally, work is underway to improve parking facilities in neighboring areas, with another parking facility set to open in a month's time.

CR Park street food vendors ready for Durga Puja rush

During Durga Puja, Chittaranjan Park in Delhi becomes a popular destination for food lovers seeking Bengali cuisine. Street vendors and stalls increase prices and production to cater to the festive rush. Puchkas, ghugni, Mughlai paratha, bhetki fish fry, and various chops are among the popular dishes. Some vendors also extend their operating hours till 4am. While prices may go up, the abundance of authentic Bengali food attracts visitors like Jayanta Bhattacharya, who enjoys indulging in sweets and savory items during the festivities.

Karnataka high court's idea of parking at Cubbon Park irks many

A proposal by the high court to provide parking arrangements for public litigants in a 500-meter stretch of Cubbon Park has raised concerns among walkers, joggers, and heritage activists. The community is planning to raise the issue with the HC registrar-general, arguing for a traffic-free park for the well-being of citizens. The registrar-general has requested the police and relevant departments to create parking space and submit a compliance report. However, the proposal has been met with apprehension due to potential safety risks and the impact on the park's environment.

ICAR-IIHR (Indian Institute of Horticulture Research)  sees immense opportunity in the Cocoponics/Soilless culture – A new method of growing vegetables and medicinal herbs in terrace/ rooftop/ vertical gardening. This is because soilless system techniques have been integrated into horticultural production, maximising the efficiency in the use of water and nutrients.

 

In an age of climate change and environment degradation, soilless cultivation is gaining ground because of increasing scarcity of arable land and the increase in extreme weather conditions has led to a large proportion of crops, especially vegetables, being cultivated in protected soilless cultivation methods to provide people with sufficient and high-quality food.

 

The BESST-HORT (Business Entrepreneurship and Start-up Support through Technology in Horticulture) comprehends that soilless cultivation is a modern cultivation system of plants that uses either inert organic or inorganic growing substrates, mostly in combination with nutrient solution to supply nutrients to plants.

 

In this regard, it is organising  a one day hands on training program on 'Cocoponics/Soilless culture – A new method of growing vegetables and medicinal herbs in terrace/ rooftop/ vertical gardening' on October 27, 2023 at the ICAR-IIHR, Hesaraghatta Lake, Bengaluru. The programme according to the organisers includes theory, practical demonstration & discussion. The course director is Dr Kalaivanam. The course co-directors are Dr G Selvakumar, Dr MR Rohini, Dr Priti Sonavane. The course coordinator is Dr MV Dhananjaya and the BESST-HORT team.

 

The objective is to impart training on soilless culture, is because this  innovative approach has gained popularity in recent years, especially for growing vegetables and medicinal herbs on terraces and in other limited-space environments.

 

According to IIHR, soilless culture has found a place in urban and peri-urban areas of India, where limited space and soil quality issues are common. Indian farmers and gardeners use soilless culture to grow a wide range of crops, including vegetables, medicinal herbs, and even exotic plants. This method allows for the year-round cultivation of crops that may not thrive in certain climatic conditions.

 

Further, soilless culture techniques are seen as more water-efficient compared to traditional soil-based agriculture, a critical factor in a country like India, which faces water scarcity issues in many regions.

 

Research institutions, agricultural universities, and government initiatives have been promoting soilless culture methods and providing training to farmers and enthusiasts. This helps disseminate knowledge and expertise about these innovative growing techniques. Also commercial soilless culture  farms and greenhouses have been established in various parts of India, producing high-value crops and aiding the growth of the  economy.  In addition, the  use of soilless culture in India has also opened up opportunities for the export of fresh produce and medicinal herbs, as it allows for the production of high-quality, disease-free crops.

 

Despite the potential benefits, soilless culture faces challenges in terms of initial investment, energy costs, and the need for specialised knowledge. However, with time, more cost-effective and sustainable approaches are being developed to address these challenges. However, the  adoption of soilless culture in India varies from region to region, but is popular among progressive farmers. As technology and expertise continue to evolve, it's likely that soilless culture will play an increasingly important role in India's agriculture and horticulture sectors, said the experts.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday held discussions with his Saudi Arabian counterpart Majid bin Abdullah AlKassabi on ways to further promote trade ties between the two countries.

Goyal was in Riyadh for two days to attend the seventh edition of Future Investment Initiative (FII).

'Discussed how the robust India-Saudi trade ties can be further scaled to make global supply chains more resilient,' Goyal said on social platform X.

He also met Saudi Arabia Energy Minister Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Salman Al-Saud; Investment Minister Khalid A Al Falih; Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Bandar bin Ibrahim AlKhorayef; and Governor Public Investment Fund (PIF) Yassir Rummayyan.

 

Goyal talked about the multiple opportunities offered by India.

The bilateral trade between the countries stood at USD 52.75 billion in 2022-23 against USD 42.86 billion in 2021-22.

India received USD 3.22 billion in foreign direct investment from Saudi Arabia between April 2000 and June 2023.

The South Africa Poultry Association (Sapa) has welcomed the opening up of imports to fertile eggs for hatcheries including products such as powder and liquid eggs.

 

This comes after Minister of Agriculture Thoko Didiza announced that the government would allow imports of poultry products to ensure sufficient stock for the festive season.

 

Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development (DALRRD) spokesperson Reggie Ngcobo said the department is working with all stakeholders in the poultry industry and 'doing everything possible to contain the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) which is plaguing not only South Africa but other parts of the world.

 

'Since the 1st of September, the department has granted 115 permits for fertiliser eggs, 48 permits for egg powder, 2 406 permits for poultry meat and 24 permits for table eggs.

 

'A permit might be for a shipping container up to 10 000 tonnes,' Ngcobo said.

 

Sapa’s Egg Organisation general manager Abongile Balarane said these are 'good steps' to assist the industry during the crisis.

 

'Under normal circumstances, the South African Egg Industry has about 27 million hens that provide us with eggs daily.

 

'Unfortunately, about six million of those layer hens have been culled with another three million suspected to be affected,' Balarane said.

 

'As an industry, we have fully agreed to import a bulk of powder and liquid eggs which are mainly used for industrial purposes, and then channel all the available fresh table eggs to the consumers.

 

'This will assist us while we are rebuilding the flock size and waiting for vaccines to be allowed in South Africa.'

 

He said most SADC countries like Zimbabwe, Namibia, Angola, and Malawi which are bird-flu free can assist the industry in providing needed supplies.

 

'In 2017 during the previous avian influenza, we had poor, rotten eggs dumped on South Africa from South America.

 

Balarane said it resulted in reputational damage for the industry because consumers weren’t happy with poultry products.

 

He said this led to the revision of the current regulation R.345, which sets out clear rules for anyone wishing to import shell eggs and products into South Africa.

 

'The 40 days from the day of lay is to protect the consumer from poor quality eggs, refrigerated as low as +1 to +4 degrees celsius, from sea exporting countries.'

 

To immediately expose eggs to ambient South African temperatures increases the decline in quality, Balarane said.

 

South African eggs may not be sold after 40 days from the date of lay, the rule applies to all unpasteurised table eggs sold in South Africa.

 

Balarane said the call from frozen food importer/exporter, Hume International, for immediate legislative intervention by uplifting the 40-day rule under regulation R.345, and assurance for importers, is not supported by the poultry industry.

 

'Everyone must abide by the laws of the country.

 

'We call on DALRRD for immediate assistance to fast-track our discussions to open SADC countries that do not avian influenza at the moment.'

 

The general non-availability of eggs on South African shop shelves has triggered a sharp spike in the price of eggs where product is still available.

 

Freight News saw earlier this week at a retailer in Randburg, a tray of '30 large Farmhouse eggs' advertised for R136.99.

 

Prior to the current bird flu outbreak, such a tray would be priced between R90 and R100.

 

Some consumers say that although supply shortage has been touted as the reason for eggs becoming so expensive, sharp increases should be seen for what it is – price gouging.