Archive News

Back

From Date

To Date

Keyword

19 Sep, 2023 News Image

Malaysia to discuss rice export curbs with India.

Malaysia will talk to the Indian government to find a 'best solution' over the South Asian country's rice export restrictions, Malaysia's agriculture minister said on Monday, amid concerns over rising prices and supply shortages.

State-run Malaysian rice importer Bernas will also be negotiating with other suppliers like Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia, Mohamad Sabu told parliament.

Like other countries in Asia, Malaysia has seen lower supplies and an increase in rice prices in recent weeks as hot weather threatens harvests, with countries led by top exporter India restricting shipments to curb inflation and ensure food security.

Malaysia has asked rice millers in the country to increase their monthly production by 20% for a year, Mohamad said, adding that current domestic rice shortages were expected to be resolved within a month.

Malaysia currently has 900,000 metric tonnes in rice stockpiles, enough to cover the country's needs for four to five months, Mohamad said.

Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

19 Sep, 2023 News Image

India exporting wheat, rice to needy countries for their food security.

India is exporting wheat and rice to food insecure, vulnerable and neighbouring countries on their request to meet their demands, a senior government official said today.

In general, there is a ban on the export of wheat, broken rice and non-basmati white rice.

Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Santosh Kumar Sarangi said India has allowed exports of 3 lakh tonnes of wheat to Nepal on July 21 and 14,184 tonnes to Bhutan.

Similarly, the government has permitted the export of broken rice to Senegal (5 lakh tonnes), Gambia (5 lakh tonnes), Indonesia (2 lakh tonnes), Mali (1 lakh tonnes), and Bhutan (48,804 tonnes).

'The Government of India has the commitment that in case of food insecure, vulnerable countries and neighbouring countries request, it will provide with the required quantity of rice or wheat,' he said.

The government also allowed exports of non-basmati rice to Bhutan (79,000 tonnes), Mauritius (14,000 tonnes) and Singapore (50,000 tonnes) through the National Cooperative Exports Ltd (NCEL).

On September 9 last year, the government banned the export of broken rice to check rising retail prices and boost domestic supply.

On July 20, it banned exports of non-basmati white rice to boost domestic supply and keep retail prices under check during the upcoming festive season.

The wheat export was banned in May.

Source: dailyexcelsior.com

19 Sep, 2023 News Image

Bangladesh: Govt allows 4 companies to import eggs in a bid to bring prices down.

The four companies are: Mrs Mim Enterprise, Tiger Enterprise, Prime Energy and Arnob Trading, said a notification issued by the Ministry of Commerce on Sunday (17 September).

According to the notification, the companies can only import eggs from bird0flu and influenza-free countries.

The companies also must pay the determined taxes and show a bird-flu and influenza-free certification from the country where they are importing the eggs.

In August, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said egg imports would be allowed in coordination with the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock if the price does not come down soon.

The egg market became volatile a few months ago, but the price started to fall after the commerce ministry announced to monitor the market. Egg prices went as high as Tk15 each. The government set the price of an egg at Tk12.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim said the price of eggs should not be more than Tk12 a piece at the retail level as the production cost per egg is around Tk10.50.

Egg producers said before the pandemic, the daily production of eggs in the country stood at around five crore pieces. But during the pandemic, many farms have been closed due to chronic losses.

The Bangladesh Poultry Industry Central Council said the current daily egg production has fallen below four crore pieces due to the closure of many layer farms.

Market insiders have alleged that banking on the supply-demand gap, a class of unscrupulous traders are making extra profits. Even some farmers are selling eggs at higher prices.

Abu Luthfe Fazle Rahim Khan, senior vice president of the Breeders Association of Bangladesh, told The Business Standard, 'There is a big mismatch between demand and supply because we do not know what our actual demand is. Sometimes when the price is high, the production increases, and when the production is high, the price falls leaving producers in the lurch.'

'But despite the high production cost of eggs at present, the retail price should not be more than Tk13 a piece,' he added.

According to producers, feed prices have gone up due to rising prices of various ingredients, which increased the cost of production.

To reduce the cost, there are alternative ingredients for feed production, which traders want to import duty-free.

Source: tbsnews.net

19 Sep, 2023 News Image

Oilmeals export up by 25.74% in August.

Export of oilmeals increased to 3.54 lakh tonnes (lt) in August against 2.81 lt in August 2022, recording a growth of 25.74 per cent. According to Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA), the overall export of oilmeals stood at 19.45 lt during April-August 2023-24 as against 15.21 lt in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal, up by 27.85 per cent.

BV Mehta, Executive Director of SEA, said India was out priced in the international market in soyabean meal last year.

Stating that export revived during the current year, he said India exported 4.81 lt of soyabean meal during April-August of 2023-24 against 1.07 lt in the corresponding period of 2022-23.

Mentioning that export of rapeseed meal is performing much better, he said the country exported 11.55 lt rapeseed meal in the first five months of 2023-24 against 10.77 lt in April-Aug of 2022-23.

India exported 1.51 lt (2.04 lt) of ricebran extractions, and 1.46 lt (1.29 lt) of castorseed meal during the period. Referring to the ban on the export of de-oiled ricebran, he said the country annually exports 5-6 lt of de-oiled ricebran mainly to Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Thailand. During April-July of this year, the country exported about 1.5 lt of de-oiled ricebran.

However, the Government has prohibited export of de-oiled ricebran with effect from July 28 until November 30. This decision could have far-reaching negative consequences for domestic ricebran processors and export of de-oiled ricebran. 'Neighbouring countries are the major export destinations for many solvent extraction units in eastern states, including West Bengal, producing de-oiled ricebran,' he said.

Major importers

During April-August, South Korea imported 3.82 lt of oilmeals (4.52 lt) from India. This included 2.91 lt of rapeseed meal, 68,732 tonnes of castorseed meal, and 21,600 tonnes of soyabean meal.

Vietnam imported 2.85 lt of oilmeals (2.52 lt) from India during April-August. This included 90,540 tonnes of ricebran extraction, 1.44 lt of rapeseed meal, 49,044 tonnes of soyabean meal, and 748 tonnes of groundnut meal.

India exported 3.49 lt of oilmeals (3.17 lt) to Thailand during April-August. This included 3.37 lt of rapeseed meal, 6,115 tonnes of soyabean meal, 4,666 tonnes of ricebran extraction, and 701 tonnes of castorseed meal.

Bangladesh imported 3.82 lt of oilmeals (1.66 lt) from India during April-August. This included 27,771 tonnes of ricebran extraction, 1.90 lt of rapeseed meal, and 1.63 lt of soyabean meal.

Source: thehindubusinessline.com

19 Sep, 2023 News Image

FSSAI begins milk & milk products' survey across 766 districts, to submit report by December.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has started a nationwide surveillance study on milk and milk products this month, in a bid to curb adulteration of such items, an official of the country's apex food regulator said on Monday.

The exercise will continue till October, and the regulator is expected to submit its report to the Health Ministry by December, FSSAI Advisor (Quality Assurance) Satyen K Panda said.

'The surveillance survey will cover 766 districts across the country and over 10,000 samples will be collected during the exercise. Two agencies have been engaged for the purpose,' he told PTI.

'Quality Council of India, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the National Dairy Development Board will conduct the survey for FSSAI,' Panda said.

'The scope for the survey includes milk, khoa, chenna, paneer, ghee, butter, curd, and ice cream. The test parameters are adulterants, normal quality and compositional parameters, contaminants, antibiotic residues and microbiological indicators,' he said.

The study was initiated to assess milk and milk products sold in the country for compliance with Food Safety and Standards Regulations, and also to identify hotspots for adulteration. 'One of the objectives of the survey is to devise corrective action strategies,' Panda said.

The rationale behind choosing milk is its indispensable role in food culture either as a fresh fluid or as a processed dairy product, he said.

'We are hopeful of submitting a report on the findings of the survey to the health ministry by December,' Panda said.

The regulator has conducted five surveys on milk and milk items since 2011. FSSAI had, in 2022, conducted a milk survey in 12 states, including 10 where the Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) was prevalent. It also undertook the PAN India Milk Products Survey, 2020 to understand the true picture of the safety and quality of milk products being sold in the market during festivals.

In all, 2,801 milk product samples from organised and unorganised sectors were collected from 542 districts across the country for the 2020 study.

These products were tested for all the quality and safety parameters, including pesticide residues, heavy metals, crop contaminants and melamine.

Source: thehindubusinessline.com

19 Sep, 2023 News Image

NABARD-businessline Millets Conclave 2023. Millets production set to triple by 2030: Nabard Chairman.

Setting the tone for the future of millets in the International Year of millets, Shaji KV, Chairman, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) said the target is to triple their production to 45 million tonnes by 2030 and it is possible to do it.

'We are trying to bring back the area under millets which has dwindled,' he said.

Addressing Nabard-businessline Millets Conclave 2023, here on Friday, he said India accounts for 41 per cent of the global millets production. It accounts for 81 per cent of the arable land under millets in Asia.

The millets production target for the current year is at 17 million tonnes and is set to reach 45 million tonnes by 2030.

'Millets have a crucial role to play in the nutritional security of the country... With food security not a major concern now, we are looking at sustainability. Millets are efficient in fixing carbon and don’t need that much water and are also heat resistant ..the duration of the millets crop is less by 60 per cent compared to other cereals so the risk to the farmer is less and it’s time to renew millets cultivation,' he said.

According to him, improving per unit productivity of millets will help address rural distress and nutritional security. Besides, 50 per cent of the population is dependent on agriculture, which supports 17 per cent of GDP.

Talking about the role Nabard can play, he said, 'We are trying to take people out of pure agriculture activities to agri-processing. We are trying to rediscover co-operatives. Co-ops were the original FPOs.'

Shaji said there is a need to improve the yield gap between various geographies of millets cultivation. 'If yield gaps are bridged, productivity can be increased,' he said.

It also can be distributed through PDS, he said.

Nabard along with APEDA is opening a line of exports, Shaji said, adding that '?600 crore Nabard Fund is being utilised for promoting start-ups in millets. The funding is done through our subsidiary, Nabventures.'

Nabard is trying to create derivative products for FPOs through NCDEX and is working with RBI to redefine the Kissan credit card, looking at credit card innovations and making it not only for use in agriculture but also for farmers’ allied activities, he said.

In a virtual address, Himanshu Pathak, Director-General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), said, 'Millets have been a traditional food of India but had lost its sheen with more production of rice and wheat after the Green Revolution.'

Global production of millets is about 100 million tonnes from about 80 million hectares of land. Sorghum and pearl millets, the most important millets, comprise more than 90 per cent of area under production.

Keeping with the clean environment narrative, millets can fix carbon, nitrogen better. They adapt very well to lower soil fertility, he explained.

To promote millets, there are certain things to be done in the area of science, economics and also policy fronts, he added. In the area of science there is a need to develop high-yielding varieties with good practices to increase productivity and production. Over the last five years, ICAR has developed 133 varieties.

'Efforts of all stakeholders is required to create a win-win situation and let us sensitise the civil society in the International Year of Millets,' he said, adding, 'let us make way for millets to the main stream of crop cultivation.'

In his welcome address, businessline Editor Raghuvir Srinivasan said millets will have a crucial role to play in the country’s nutritional security.

In his special address, delivered virtually, APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev said India targets to export $100 million worth of millets by 2025. In the 2022-23 fiscal, millets exports were $75.43 million.

The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia make up 55 per cent of the export basket, while Nepal, Japan, Germany, Bangladesh and Egypt contribute 10 per cent.

Millets are crucial since 42 per cent of the people survive on starchy staples and 600 million are chronically undernourished, he said.

India contributes 20 per cent of global and 80 per cent of Asia’s millet production, Dev said. APEDA had conducted a number of events abroad and during the latest G-20 event to popularise millets.

APEDA and TrooGood are the associate partners of the event and NewsX is the TV Partner.

Source: thehindubusinessline.com

19 Sep, 2023 News Image

Hungary extends Ukrainian agricultural import ban.

The Hungarian government has extended and expanded a ban on Ukrainian agricultural imports.

The decision was announced by Hungarian Agriculture Minister Istvan Nagy on Saturday, 16 September.

Nagy highlighted the termination of the European Union's import restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural products on Friday night, 15 September, emphasising the necessity of maintaining the moratorium to address market disruptions, Xinhua news agency reported.

The government also proposed the establishment of a transit support fund to facilitate the distribution of Ukrainian agricultural products to destinations beyond Europe, thereby averting famine and potential migration waves.

Other Central European countries like Poland and Slovakia have rallied behind Hungary's stance, echoing the need to protect their farmers' interests.

Romania, however, remains cautiously observant, awaiting Ukraine's action plan before deciding on its course of action. Meanwhile, Bulgaria on Thursday agreed to resume import measures for Ukrainian agricultural products.

In May, the European Commission imposed a ban on grain exports from Ukraine to five European countries, namely Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary.

Earlier this week, officials from Poland and Hungary said their countries plan to extend the embargo on Ukrainian grain imports

Source: nationalheraldindia.com

19 Sep, 2023 News Image

High international participation at Anuga Dairy.

Under the roof of Anuga, the trade fair Anuga Dairy is the leading international trade fair for the milk and dairy industry. Good registration figures are being recorded for the coming edition of Anuga. Around 500 companies are taking part at this year's Anuga Dairy.

Among others, the following exhibitors are represented in Hall 10.1 of the Cologne fair grounds: Bayernland/DE, Caeseria Cioffi/IT, DMK/DE, Fayrefield/GB, Garmo/DE, Geris Dairy/NL, Goldsteig/DE, Granarolo/IT, Hochwald Foods/DE, Hoogwegt/NL, IN.AL.PI./IT, Milchwerke Schwaben/DE, Milcobel/BE, Nordex/DK, St. Paul/NL and Vandersterre/NL.

This year's Anuga Dairy boasts a very international line-up. In total, 24 country participations are taking part in the trade fair. Alongside Germany, the top countries of origin are above all Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and France. Further participations have been confirmed from among others Bulgaria, Denmark, Dubai, Estonia, Great Britain, Lithuania, Austria, Poland, Turkey, Ukraine, USA and Cyprus.

Particularly with a view to its key theme 'Sustainable Growth', Anuga is dedicating special attention to the 'Dairy Alternatives', the so-called milk alternatives, which are recording a stronger presence than in previous years, above all in the scope of Anuga Innovations. Plant-based milk and cheese alternatives are not only extremely popular among the consumers, they are also becoming increasingly more important for Anuga Dairy. Over 80 exhibiting companies will present plant-based and vegan alternatives at Anuga Dairy.

Regarding the classic milk and dairy products, the manufacturers are above all relying on new flavours like cheese enriched with green or red pesto or with a high protein content as well as on the implementation of regional ingredients such as herbs, meadow-grazed or hay milk as well as organic milk from grass-fed cows.

Source: fnbnews.com

18 Sep, 2023 News Image

India, Brazil begin talks to resolve sugar related trade dispute at WTO.

India and Brazil have started talks to mutually resolve a sugar related trade dispute at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and as part of the solution the South American nation may share ethanol production technology with New Delhi, an official said. Brazil is the largest producer of sugarcane and ethanol in the world. It is also a leader in the technology used for ethanol production.

'Few rounds of talks have been held as part of our efforts to resolve the dispute. We have also held inter-ministerial meetings here. Brazil is saying that they will share with us technology for ethanol (production). It is a positive thing,' the official said.

Ethanol is used to blend with oil to power vehicles. Use of ethanol, extracted from sugarcane as well as broken rice and other agri produce, will help the world's third largest oil consumer and importing country cut its reliance on overseas shipments. India currently is 85 per cent dependent on imports for meeting its oil needs. Also, it cuts carbon emissions. There is a target of 20 per cent ethanol blended petrol by 2025.

India would also have to offer something as part of the mutually agreed solution (MAS) to resolve the dispute at the Geneva-based multi-lateral body.

Recently India and the US have ended six trade disputes and have also agreed to terminate the seventh case. As part of the solution, while New Delhi removed retaliatory duties on 8 American products like apples and walnuts, the US is providing market access to Indian steel and aluminium products without levying extra duties.

The official said that India is also following a similar process for other complainants of the sugar dispute at the WTO.

In 2019, Brazil, Australia and Guatemala dragged India into the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism alleging that New Delhi's sugar subsidies to farmers are inconsistent with global trade rules.

A WTO dispute settlement panel on December 14, 2021, ruled that India's support measures for the sugar sector are inconsistent with the global trade norms.

In January 2022, India appealed against the panel's ruling at the WTO's appellate body, which is the final authority to pass rulings against such disputes. The appellate body, however, is not functioning due to differences in the countries on appointments of members of the body.

Brazil is the largest producer and exporter of sugar in the world. India is the world's second-largest producer.

Brazil, Australia and Guatemala, which are members of the WTO, had complained that India's support measures to sugarcane producers exceed the de minimis level of 10 per cent of the total value of sugarcane production, which according to them was inconsistent with the WTO's Agreement on Agriculture.

They had also flagged India's alleged export subsidies, subsidies under the production assistance and buffer stock schemes, and the marketing and transportation scheme.

According to WTO rules, a WTO member or members can file a case in the Geneva-based multilateral body if they feel that a particular trade measure is against the norms of the WTO.

Bilateral consultation is the first step to resolve a dispute. If both sides are not able to resolve the matter through consultation, either can approach the establishment of a dispute settlement panel. The panel's ruling or report can be challenged at the World Trade Organization's Appellate Body.

Interestingly, the appellate body of the WTO is not functioning because of differences among member countries to appoint members in this body. Several disputes are already pending with the appellate body. The US has been blocking the appointment of the members.

The bilateral trade between India and Brazil increased to USD 16.6 billion in 2022-23 as against USD 12.2 billion in 2021-22. Trade gap is in the favour of India.

During the 2021-22 sugar marketing year (October-September), India exported 110 lakh tonnes of sugar and became the second largest exporter of sugar in the world and earned about Rs 40,000 crore worth of foreign exchange.

For the current 2022-23 marketing year ending this month, the Centre allowed export of 61 lakh tonnes of sugar. Mills have already shipped 60 lakh tonnes.

The Centre is yet to decide on exports for the next 2023-24 marketing year, starting next month. As the current sugar season (October-September) 2022-23 is coming to an end, India has already crossed sugar production of 330 lakh tonnes, excluding the diversion of about 43 lakh tonnes for ethanol production.

The blending of ethanol with petrol has increased to 10 per cent in 2021-22 marketing year from just 1.53 per cent in 2013-14. To achieve the target of 20 per cent by 2025, about 1,016 crore litres of ethanol would be required. About 334 crore ethanol would be required for other usage.

WTO member countries can resolve disputes outside the dispute settlement mechanism and later inform the multi-lateral body about the same.

Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

18 Sep, 2023 News Image

Rice sowing area surpasses 409 lakh hectares.

The Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare has released progress of area coverage under kharif crops as on 15th September 2023.

Area: In lakh hactare

pib.gov.in

S. No.	Crop	Area Sown
S. No.	Crop	2023	2022
1	Rice	409.41	398.58
2	Pulses	121.00	127.57
a	Arhar	43.21	45.81
b	Urdbean	32.25	32.97
c	Moongbean	31.34	33.81
d	Kulthi	0.36	0.35
e	Other pulses	13.83	14.62
3	Shri Anna cum Coarse cereals	183.11	181.48
a	Jowar	14.22	15.68
b	Bajra	70.89	70.49
c	Ragi	8.85	9.31
Back to First Prev … 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 … Next Go to Last