TODAYFARMNEWS13.10.2012A.M

H i g h C o u r t b a r s a d j u s t i n g c r o p i n s u r a n c e s um t o w a r d s l o a n s

TheMadrasHighCourthassaidthatauthoritiesshouldnotadjusttheinsurancesumtobepaidtofarmersforcroplosstowardsloanstheyhaveobtained,pendingthehearingofawritpetitionbyanagriculturistsassociation’sCuddaloredistrictunit.

TheFirstBench,comprisingChiefJusticeM.Y.EqbalandJusticeT.S.SivagnanampassedtheinterimorderonawritpetitionbyC.Arumugam,districtsecretary,ThamizhagaUzhavarMunnani,Chidambaram.

Thepetitionersaidthatallprimaryagriculturalcooperative(PAC)bankswereaffiliatedtotheCuddaloreDistrictCentralCooperativeBank(CDCCB),whichaloneprovidedfundstothem.

AgriculturistsobtainedpoliciesfromtheAgriculturalInsuranceCompanyofIndia(AIC),Chennai,forpossiblecroploss,eitherduetobadweatherorothernaturalcalamities.

Thepremiumpayablewouldbedeductedfromtheloanamountsbeingadvancedbytheprimaryagriculturalcooperativebankstofarmers.ThepremiumwouldbepaidtotheAIC.

Whenevercropsfailed,theinsurancesumwouldbepaidtofarmersthroughtherespectivePACbanks.

Mr.ArumugamsaidthattheentireCuddaloredistrictwasdevastatedbythecyclone‘Thane’,inDecember2011.Cashcropsandshort-termcropswerecompletelydamaged.

TheAICassessedthelossandfixedtheinsurancesumpayabletofarmers.TheCDCCBhadreceivedthesumgivenbyAIC.Insteadofdirectingthedisbursementofthecompensation,theCDCCBhaddirectedallitsconstituentPACBankstodebittheinsuranceamounttowardsdischargeofthefarmers’loans.

Thepetitionersaidthiswastotallyinbreachoftrustandtothedetrimentoffarmersindistress.Theassociationhadrequestedtheauthoritiestotakeactionforreleasingtheinsurancesum.TherepaymentoftheloanitselfistocommenceonlyafterDecember31thisyear.ThustheCDCCBhadcommittedanillegality,hesaid.

Thepetitioneraskedthecourttotakeactionagainstthedistrictcooperativebankforwithholdingthesumandaconsequentdirectiontoreleasethecompensation.

TheGovernmentPleadersoughttimetogetinstructions.TheBenchorderedthatthematterbepostedafterthreeweeks.Inthemeantime,pendingthehearingofthewritpetition,theauthoritiesshouldnotadjusttheinsurancesumtowardstheloan,itsaid.

T om a t o f a r m e r s d um p p r o d u c e

TomatofarmersinKinathukadavu,whotaketheirproducetothewholesalemarket,havestarteddumpingitasthepricehasplummeted.AccordingtoT.ChinnasamyaliasChinnu,atomatotrader-cum-farmer,thecurrentpriceofakgofthevegetablevariesfromRe.1toRs.5dependingonthequality.

Themarket,hesays,seesaninflowofaround100tonnesifthemonsoonisgood,orbetween30and50tonnesifthemonsoonisbad.Atpresenttheflowisaround40tonnes.

Thoughthetomatoinflowisless,thepriceisstillatrockbottombecausethetradersfromKeralawhousuallythrongthemarkethavealmoststoppedcoming.TheygettheirtomatoesfromGundlupet,Karnataka,andthatworkstotheireconomicadvantageasthetransportcostisless.

Mr.ChinnasamysaysthatthetransportationcostofabasketoftomatoesworksouttoRs.5.FromCoimbatoreitworksouttoaroundRs.15.

HewantstheStateGovernmenttostartworkonthepromisedcoldstoragefacility.AgricultureMinisterS.Damodaran,whoincidentallyhailsfromthearea,laidfoundationforthefacilityacoupleofmonthsago.

Inacalendaryear,thelocalityseesfarmersraisethe90-daycroponnearly25,000acres.SourcesintheHorticultureDepartmentsaythattheyhavenotyetreceivedanyinformationonfarmersdumpingtheirproduce.

SourcesintheAgricultureMarketingDepartmentsaythattheyhavewrittentotheRevenueDepartmentforpermissiontoenterthelandtotakeupthework.Theywereexpectingordersanytimetostartworkonthecoldstorageproject.

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S am b a h a r v e s t : t a i l - e n d a r e a s f a c i n g b l e a k p r o s p e c t

Indireneed:AdriedcanalatMayiladuthuraiawaitingtheCauverywater.

AstheCauverywaterhasnotreachedthetail-endareas,thesambacropsthathavecomeupduetodirectsowingareindangerofwitheringshortly,saysAarupathiP.Kalyanam,generalsecretaryofFederationofFarmersAssociationsofDeltaDistricts.

Thetail-endareascouldnotgetwaterbecausethemaximumquantumthathasbeenreleasedfromtheMetturdamisaround18,000cusecssofarsincethedamwasopenedforirrigationonSeptember17.DespitethepromiseoftheChiefMinistertoensurepowersupplyforagriculturefor12hoursaday“wedonotgetpowerevenforafewhours.”Thuseventhetransplantedseedlingsarefacingableakprospect.

HetoldTheHinduthatitisimperativethatatleastabout24,000cusecs(twothousandmillioncubicfeet)isreleaseddailyfromtheMetturdamforthenext40days.

Atthesametime,thepromiseof12-hourpowersupplyshouldbehonouredinletterandspirit.“Otherwisesambacultivationisgoingtobeextremelydifficult,”headded.

ReferringtotherefusalofKarnatakatoreleasewatertoTamilNaduasdirectedbytheCauveryMonitoringCommitteeonThursday,hesaidtheCentralgovernmentisnowleftwithnootheroptionbuttoinvokeArticle355toforceKarnatakatocomplywiththeorder.

OrifthatwerealsotoproveineffectiveitshouldinvokeArticle356anddismisstheKarnatakagovernment.

AlltheKarnatakareservoirsshouldbebroughtunderthecontroloftheCentralgovernmentinabidtoensurewaterforTamilNadu.

Stopbuyingr ice

fromKarnataka

TamilagaEriMatrumAatrupasanaVivasayigalSanghamhasappealedtotheStategovernmentandricemerchantstoavoidbuyingricefromKarnatakainordertoexpressfarmers’protestagainsttheintransigentattitudeoftheKarnatakagovernmentinreleasingwaterforsambacultivation.

Inastatementhere,StatepresidentoftheassociationP.Viswanathanhasalsourgedallthefarmers’associationstostagedemonstrationsinfrontofalltheCentralgovernmentofficesintheStateinabidtoforcetheCentralgovernmenttoensurewaterfordeltairrigation.

RecountinghowKarnatakarefusestopayheedeventotheSupremeCourtandtheCauveryRiverAuthorityheadedbythePrimeMinister,hehasassertedthattheCentralgovernmentisleftwithnootheralternativebuttoinvokeArticle356anddismisstheKarnatakagovernment.

Besides,armyshouldbedeployedtoreleasewaterfromKarnatakatoTamilNadu.Hedemandedthatatleasttwothousandmillioncubicfeet(tmcft)waterbereleasedtoTamilNaduforthedeltairrigationfromOctober15toNovember15.

HesuggestedthattheelectricitygeneratedatNeyveliandtheligniteproducedthereshouldnotbeprovidedtoKarnatakatomakeitunderstandthatnationalassetsarenotthepropertyofanysingleStatebutshouldbesharedbyall.

B a n k u n i o n s e e k s f u n d f o r a g r i c u l t u r e i n f r a s t r u c t u r e

AllIndiaCooperativeBankEmployeesFederation(AICBEF)hasappealedtotheCentralgovernmenttoallocateRs.2.5lakhcroreinaperiodofthreeyearstoensureimprovementsinagricultureinfrastructure.

InamemorandumtoPrakashBakshi,ChairmanoftheNationalBankforAgricultureandRuralDevelopment(NABARD),whohasbeennominatedastheChairmanfortheExpertCommitteeonShort-termCooperativeCreditStructure,P.Balakrishnan,generalsecretaryofthefederationpointedoutthatinIndiatheyieldperacreisthelowestintheworld.“Ourfarmersarenotabletoraisemorethanthreetonnesperacreonanaverageeitherwheatorpaddy,whereasinmostoftheAsiancountriesandtheUS,itissevento11tonnes.Ourfarmerscangrowmorecropsonlyifthereisuninterruptedflowofwater,andsupplyofgoodmanureandgoodseeds,forwhichtheGovernmentshouldallocatesubstantiallytoensureimprovementsinagricultureinfrastructure”.

HealsosubmittedthatcroploanassistancegivenbyNABARDin2006wasat2.5percent.Nowithasbeenenhancedto4.5percent.Itshouldbereversedto2.5percentandtheremustbe80percentrefinanceforagriculturaloperationsbyNABARD.Andtothatextenttheremustbeenhancementinbudgetaryallocationsforagriculturalfinance,hepleaded.

Eventhoughthecooperativebanksaremorethan100yearsoldandtheircontributiontowardsagriculture,ruraldevelopmentandpromotionofagro-basedindustriesisimmense,therearecertaindeficienciespersistinginthecooperativecreditsystem,Mr.Balakrishnansaid.Heurged

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theCentralgovernmenttoensurefunctionalviabilityoftheShortTermCooperativeCreditStructure(STCCS).TheremustbeeffectivesupervisionofthePrimaryAgriculturalCooperativeSocieties(PACS)withregardtopassingontherecoveriestothehigherfinancingagencies.Wherevernecessary,PACSmaybeconsolidated,hesuggested.Allthecooperativebanksshouldbeencouragedtogoinforself-sustenanceandself-reliance.Cooperativebanksshouldbemotivatedtogoinforimprovedtechnologyupgradation.

Allofthemshouldbemotivatedtoembracecorebankingsolution,RealTimeGrossSettlement,NationalElectronicFundsTransferfacilities,e-bankingservice,etc.,andtheremustbeprofessionalmanagementsinallthecooperativebanks.

Cooperativebanksshouldbemotivatedtogowiththedynamismofthebankingindustry.

NABARDshouldensureelectiontothecooperatives,wherethecooperativesareunderbureaucraticcontrol.

Aboveall,theGovernmentofIndiashouldrepealtheamendmentbroughttoSection80-PoftheIncome-TaxActandshouldfreethecooperativebanksfromincome-tax.Theremustbeimmediaterecruitmenttofillupthevacanciesincooperativebanks.Otherwisemanycooperativeswillfailwithoutexception.TheremustbeproperHRpolicyinthecooperativebanksandNABARD’sinitiative,inthisbehalfshouldbediscussedandfinalizedwiththeemployees’unionsineachState.

D i r e c t i v e t o c a n e f a r m e r s

CollectorP.Sankarhassaidinareleasethatcooperative,publicsectorandprivatesugarmillsinVelloredistricthavebeenpermittedtoprocuresugarcanefromunregisteredcanefieldsintheirregisteredareasundertheSugarcaneControlAct,1966inordertohelpthemtoachieve100%sugarrecoveryduringthecurrentyear.

Incasethemillsarenotinterestedinprocuringsugarcanefromunregisteredfieldsintheirareas,farmersoftheunregisteredfieldscansupplycanetootherregisteredsugarmillswithinthedistrictorState,providedtheyobtainaNo-ObjectionCertificate(NOC)fromthesugarmillsconcerned.FarmersdesirousofobtainingNOCshouldsubmitapplicationstothesugarmillsconcerned.ThemillswouldissueNOCwithin14days,failingwhichthefarmerscouldapplytotheCommissionerofSugars,Chennai-35.ThegovernmenthasbannedthesupplyofcanefromaregisteredareatosugarmillslocatedinotherpartsofthedistrictorStatewithouttheNOC.

D e b t , h u n g e r s t a l k t r i b e s a s p a d d y c r o p w i t h e r s

Nanja”cultivationfailsinWayanad

“Nanja”paddycultivationkeepsthewolffromthedoorforthetribalpeopleofWayanad.Butthistime,theirgambleonthemonsoonhasfailed,andhungerstaresthemintheirface.

GloompervadestheChekadihamlet,asettlementontheKerala-KarnatakaborderinsidetheSouthWayanadforestdivision.Ingoodtimes,thelabourofthepeopleontheirsmallholdingswouldhavegiventhematleastenoughtoeat.Butnotthisyear.Thedroughthasshrivelledallhopes.

SuryaNarayanan,49,ofValiyaAiradiinthehamlet,cultivatedthescentedGandhakasalapaddyandthetraditionalValichoorivarietyonhisonehectareoflandashedoeseveryyear.

Buttherainkeptawayandthepaddywitheredaway.HehadincurredadebtofRs.60,000,borrowedfromfinancialinstitutions,forthecultivationofthepaddyandanother0.2hectareofginger.

Thegingerwasharvestedprematurelyandsoldatalowpriceafterwildelephantstoredownthecrop.Mr.SuryaNarayanansaidthathehadabetterfortunewithpaddyinthepreviousyearwiththetimelyrainandhecouldrepayhisloanontime.Butthisyear,hewasworriedabouthowtorepaytheloan.

Manyfarmersinthehamletareinasimilarpredicament.Closeto150farmers—90tribaland60otherfarmers—cultivatedthescentedandtraditionalricevarietiesasusualon90hectaresofland.

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“Lastyear,wecultivatedpaddyon120hectaresbyutilisingwaterfromthecheck-damontheMudavankarastream,butthisyear,themonsoondidnotfillupthestream,”K.N.Viswanathan,president,ChekadiPadashekharam,thelargestPadashekharaminPulpallygramapanchayat,says.

Thecultivatedareahasshrunk,andtheyhavenohopeofgettinganythingworthwhilefromthe20hectaresonwhichpaddyhasbeenraised.TheperennialKabaniriverflowsbesidethehamlet,butwithnoirrigationproject,thepricelesswaterdoesnotcometothehelpofthetribalpeople.

ThefateofthefarmersinareassuchasSasimala,Madappallykunnu,Channothkolly,VadikkadavuandKappisiteinMullamkollyandPulpallygramapanchayatsissimilar.

“Wehadcultivatedpaddyon40hectaresofthe60hectaresunderthesamithithisyear,”BobanofOveliyil,presidentoftheSasimalaPadashekharam,says.Thedroughtdestroyedhalfofitandiftheraindoesnotshowanyurgency,allhopeswilldryup.

Theopenwellsandstreamshavestartedtodryoutevenbeforetheadventofwinter.Thepoorrainhasaffectedcoffee,ginger,cardamomandpeppercropstoo,sourcessay.

F e e d s u b s i d y f o r M a l a b a r f a r m e r s

TheMalabarregionoftheKeralaCooperativeMilkMarketingFederation(Milma),onFriday,announcedaconsideratesubsidyforfarmerstopurchasecattlefeednowbeingmarketedthroughvariouscooperativesocieties.

TheofferwillbeavailableonlytofarmersintheMalabarregion.

MilmawouldsupplythecattlefeedproducedinitsplantstofarmersfromOctober14atRs.650persack,whichisRs.200lessthantherevisedpricetobeeffectivefromthatday.

P.P.GopinathaPillai,chairmanoftheMalabarRegionofMilma,toldpresspersonshereonFridaythattheamounttobegivenassubsidywouldberealisedfromtheannualprofitofMilma.OverRs.180lakhwouldberequiredtomaintainthissubsidy,andpermonth,4,500tonnesofcattlefeedwouldbesuppliedtothefarmerslinkedtothefederation,headded.Mr.Pillaipointedoutthatitwasjustatokenofconsiderationforthefarmerswhowerestrugglingtocontinueinthefielddespitealladversities.

Farmers’welfare

K.T.Thomas,ManagingDirectorofMilmainMalabarregion,saidRs.4.60ofthetotalincreaseofRs.5inthepriceofmilkwoulddirectlygotothefarmers.Theremainingamountwouldbeequallydividedamongthemilkcooperativesocietiesanddistributionagents,hesaid.

Mr.ThomassaidMilmawasnotgeneratinganyunfairprofitsbysnatchingawaywhatwasduetothefarmersasittotallyfocusedontheirwelfare.“Atpresent,1,020milkcooperativesocieties,comprisingaroundonelakhfarmers,effectivelycooperatewiththefederation,andcontribute4.6lakhlitresofmilkaday,”headded.

DamodaranNair,generalmanageroftheMalabarregionofMilma,saidthesubsidynowofferedtothefarmerswouldbereviewedafterthreemonths.“Ameetingwilldiscussallpossiblemeasureswithregardtocontinuingthesubsidyifitwasmanageablewiththetotalturn-over,”hesaid.

C a l l t o c h e c k c o n v e r s i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d

Leaderofanti-PoscostirgivenreceptioninThrissur

RIGHTSOFFARMERS:AbhaySahoo,leaderoftheanti-Poscostruggle,beingaccordedareceptionbytheAITUCinThrissuronFriday.

Conversionofagriculturallandshouldbepreventedatanycost,AbhaySahoo,leaderoftheanti-Poscoagitation,hassaid.

ThePoscoPratirodhSamgramSamiti(PPSS),ledbyhim,hasbeenspearheadinganagitationagainstaproposed$12billionsteelplantbytheSouthKoreansteelmajorPoscoinJagatsinghpurdistrictofOrissa.

AddressingareceptionaccordedtohimbytheAllIndiaTradeUnionCongress(AITUC)attheThekkeGopuraNadahereonFriday,Mr.Sahoosaidthatnoforceshouldbeallowedtodestroytheagrarianeconomy.

“ThePPSS,AITUCortheCommunistPartyofIndiaisnotagainstindustrialisation.Thecountryneedsindustrialisation,butitshouldnotbeatthecostofdestroyingagriculture,thelivelihoodofalargenumberofpeople.Handingoverfarmlandtocorporatescannotbejustified,”hesaid.

Hesaidtheanti-POSCOstrugglehadprovedthatdemocratic,broad-based,non-violentmovementscouldbeeffective.

“Inall,208falsecaseshavebeenfoistedagainst1,435PPSSactivistsinthepastsevenyearsandfourmonths.Fifty-threefalsecaseshavebeenregisteredagainstme.Mysonshavebeen

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implicated.Thepolicehaveresortedtofiringandlathichargeagainsttheactivists.ButthePPSShasneverpaidbackinthesamecoin,”hesaid.

HerecalledtheagitationinDhinkiagramapanchayatlastJunebychildrenofPPSSactivists.

“Thechildrenfearlesslyfaced32platoonsofarmedsecuritypersonnel.Whichstrugglecanbemoredemocraticandnon-violent?AmoveforfreshlandacquisitionforthePoscoprojectison.ThePPSSplanstointensifyitsagitation.ItwillnotstoptillPoscoleavesOrissa,”hesaid.

V.S.SunilKumar,MLA,CPIdistrictsecretaryC.N.Jayadevan,andpartyleadersK.P.RajendranandA.N.Rajanwerepresentatthereception.

O v e r 1 , 7 0 0 c e n t r e s t o b e s e t u p f o r p a d d y p r o c u r em e n t

Centresbeinglocatedclosetothefarmersfortheirconvenience:Minister

GovernmenthasincreasedtheMSPbyRs.170overthatoflastyear:SridharBabuMSPforcommonvarietyisRs.1,250aquintal,GradeAvariety,Rs.1,280

WithpaddyarrivalsfortheKharifmarketingseasonsettobeginfromOctober18,thegovernmentissettingup1,779purchasecentresintheStatetoensurefarmersgettheminimumsupportpriceforpaddy.

ThegovernmentalsoincreasedtheMSPbyRs.170overthatoflastyearandannounceditwellinadvance.TheMSPforcommonvarietyisRs.1,250aquintal,GradeAvariety,Rs.1,280aquintal.

Forthefirsttime,incentivepriceforeightvarietiesoffinericewasannouncedatRs.1,500toencouragefarmerstotakeupcultivationoffinevarietyofpaddyandbridgethedemand-supplygapforthisvariety.

MinisterforCivilSuppliesD.SridharBabutoldmediapersonshereonFridaythatthepurchasecentreswerebeinglocatedclosetothefarmersfortheirconvenienceandifrequiredmorewouldbeopened.“TheaimistoseethatnofarmersellshisproduceatlessthanMSP.LastyearStateagenciesprocured23lakhtonnesofpaddy,”Mr.SridharBabusaid.About100purchasecentreswouldbesetupforfinevariety.

FarmerswhodidnotgetMSPcouldcomplaintotollfreenumber18994252977,hesaid.InKharif,paddycultivationwastakenupin22.57lakhhectaresincludingpreferredvarietyinsevenlakhha.Theyieldwasexpectedtobearound107lakhtonnes.

Underthedecentralisedprocurementpolicy,theStateforthefirsttimewoulddirectlyprocurericefromthemillersinsevendistrictsforsupplytothePDS.

T r a i n i n g s e s s i o n h e l d f o r m em b e r s o f F a rm e r s ’ C l u b

Alocalorganisation,Nestham,incollaborationwiththeNationalBankforAgricultureandRuralDevelopment(NABARD),organisedatrainingprogrammeformembersofFarmers’ClubatG.Kondurumandal.Theobjectiveoftheprogrammewastoengagefarmersindevelopmentofagricultureandalliedactivitiesandruraldevelopment.

Keyfactors

MandalAnimalHusbandryofficerNarasimhaRaosaidanimalhealthanddairymanagementwerekeytofarmers’progressinruralareas.

MandalAgricultureOfficerRamesh,wasalsopresent.

TheconceptofFarmers’Club,earlierknownasVikasVolunteerVahini(VVV),waslaunchedbyNabardin1982topropagatethefiveprinciplesof‘Developmentthroughcredit’.

Credit faci l i ty

Thethrustisonuseofcreditinaccordancewiththemostsuitablemethodsofscienceandtechnology,adherenceofthetermsandconditionsofthecreditpolicy,skilfulworktoenhanceproductionandproductivity,inculcateinthefarmersthehabitofsavingandpromptrepaymentofloaninstalments.

Farmers’Clubsaregrassrootslevelinformalforumsoffarmers,organisedbyruralbranchesofbankswiththesupportoffinancialassistanceofNabardforthemutualbenefitofthebanksconcernedandthevillagefarmingcommunity/ruralpeople.

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W a t e rm e l o n a n d w e i g h t m a n a g em e n t

STUDYWatermelonsmayhelppreventheartattacks

FORWEIGHTLOSSWatermelonPhoto:NAGARAGOPAL

ResearchersincludingoneofIndianoriginhavesuggestedthatadailysliceofwatermeloncouldhelppreventheartdiseasebyhaltingthebuild-upof‘bad’cholesterol.Scientistswhocarriedoutthestudyonmice,whichwerefedahigh-fatdiet,foundthatthefruithalvedtherateatwhich‘bad’low-densitylipoprotein(LDL)accumulated.LDLisaformofcholesterolthatleadstocloggedarteriesandheartdisease.ResearchersfromPurdueUniversityintheUSalsofoundthateatingwatermelonregularlyhelpedtocontrolweightgainandresultsinfewerfattydepositsinsidethebloodvessels.Theybelievethesecrettowatermelon’shealth-boostingpropertiesliesincitrulline,achemicalfoundinthejuice.Althoughthelatestinvestigationshowednosignificanteffectsonbloodpressure,itdidrevealwatermelonshadapowerfulimpactonotherheartriskfactors.Fattydiets,lackofexerciseandsmokingareallkeyriskfactors.Cholesterolisatypeoffatproducedbytheliverthatisessentialtohelpthebodyproducehormones,absorbvitaminDandmakebiletodigestfoods.Itistransportedinthebloodbytiny‘couriers’,calledlipoproteins.LDLcarriescholesterolawayfromtheliveranddumpsitinmajorbloodvessels,whereitcancausealife-threateningblockage.HighDensityLipoprotein(HDL)hasthejoboftransportingcholesterolbacktothelivertobesafelydisposedof.Thelateststudysuggeststhatwatermelonjuicecouldhelp.Researchersfedtwogroupsofmiceahigh-fatdietbutgaveone,watertodrinkand,theother,watermelonjuice.Theytrackedtheirhealthforseveralmonthsandattheendoftheexperimentfoundthatthemicegivenwatermelonjuicehad50percentlessLDLthanthoseonwaterdespiteeatingthesamediet.Theyalsoweighedanaverageof30percentless,buttheirbloodpressurewasnodifferent.

"Wedidn’tseealoweringofbloodpressure.Buttheseotherchangesarepromising,”theDailyMailquotedresearchleaderDrShubinSahaassaying.ThestudyhasbeenpublishedintheJournalofNutritionalBiochemistry.

A d d f r e s h n e s s t o u r b a n g a r d e n s w i t h n a t i v e p l a n t s N.ChandramohanReddy

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Versatile:Mostofthenativeplantsarelessexactingintermsofwaterrequirementandcare.–Photos:N.ChandramohanReddy

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Mostoftheornamentalexoticplantsusedingardensrequireutmostcarefortheirsustainedsurvival,whereasmaintainingthenativeplantsiseasier.Besides,thelandscapewouldbecomestalewiththeuseofthesameoldexoticsineverygarden,saysN.ChandramohanReddy

Allcivilizationsoftheworldbeganonthebanksofriversandlakes.Hencemostofthepresenturbansettingsoncewerethecentresofrichnaturalhabitatswithabundantresourcesofwater

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andsoilnutrients.Duetocontinuousdestructionandfragmentationofhabitats,theseareashavebecomebarrenandimpoverished.Whenitcomestothegreeningoftheseurbandeserts,verylimitedvarietyofplantspeciesarepickedusuallyforthepurposeofaestheticappeal.Theselandscapedareasarepoorqualityhabitatsbecausetheycontainlowplantdiversitylackingcomplexvegetationstructure.Birdandbutterflyspeciesthatrequirehealthyhabitatscontainingadiversityofplantscannotsustaintheirpopulationsinthesesterilelandscapes.

Nativevs.exotic

Generallywedonotcaremuchabouttheoriginoftheplantsusedingardens,astheiraestheticvalueasexpressedinshowyfoliageandspectacularbloomsisgivenmorepreferencewhilechoosing.Ifthenativityoftheplantsiscounted,wewillbeleftwonderingthatmorethan95%oftheplantsareexotics(plantswhicharenotnativetoourregion).Thoughtheissueof‘nativeplantsvs.exoticplants’ishighlydebatable,itisafactthattherearemanyadvantageswithnativeplantsovertheexoticones.Indiahasgreatdiversityofplantspecieswithmanytypesofforesthabitatsinvariousagro-climaticregions,andthereisnodearthofnativeplantswhichcanmatchtheexoticornamentalplantsinaestheticappeal.

Gardenplantcharacters

Whileselectinganyplantforthegarden,wegenerallyexpectcertaindesirablecharacterssuchasevergreennature,compactcrown,attractivefoliage,colourfulflowers,coppicevigour(abilitytothrownewshoots),andappealingbranchingpattern.Sincetherearepopularexoticplantswithmostofthesecharacters,availableeasilywiththelocalnurserymen,weuseonlythoseplantsrepeatedly.

Thoughthereisnothingwronginusingtheexoticplants,therearecertainproblemswithsomeofthem.Sometimestheexoticsmayposedangertothenativehabitatsbybecominginvasive(Lantanaisonesuchplant)ortheymaynotsupportnativebirds,butterfliesandotherwildlife.

Mostoftheornamentalexoticplantsusedingardensrequireutmostcareforthesustainedsurvival,whereasmaintainingthenativeplantsiseasier.Besides,thelandscapewouldbecomestalewiththeuseofthesameoldexoticsineverygarden.Mostofthenativeplantsarelessexactingintermsofwaterrequirementandcare,astheyareadaptedtolocalpests,climateandsoilconditions.Diversityofplantspeciesisalwayspreferablewithnativeplantstoaddfreshnessandvarietytothegarden.

Nativeplantsarewaterwise

Waterhasbecomescarceandboughtathighcostinurbanareasanddevelopinglow-water-usegardenutilisingaestheticallyappealing,anddrought-tolerantnativeplantsisthebestmeasuretoconservewater.Xeriscape,awater-efficientlandscapeconcept(publishedearlierinthiscolumn)withpotentialtoreplacetraditionallandscapepracticesmainlyfocusesontheusageof

aestheticallyappealingnativeplantsinplaceofexoticspecies,asmostoftheexoticsaregenerallywater-thirstyandmoredemandingintermsofmoistureandnutrients.

Thereisgoodchoiceofnativeplantsforlandscapingurbanareas.Manynativeshrubsandtreesproduceshowyflowersandbrilliantfoliageandsomeofthedeciduousspeciesifplantedingardensmayturnevergreenduetolessercompetitionandmorecarewhencomparedtotheirnaturaldryhabitat.Nativeplantscanbeeasilypropagatedthroughseeds,whereasmanyexoticplantsandtheircultivarsdonotproducefruitsandseedsandtheyhavetobepropagatedonlybyvegetativemeans.Onemustrememberthefactthatplantsfromseedarehardierandlivelonger.

Ontheotherhand,somenativeplantsmayfaceadversegrowingconditionsiftheyareplantedincities.Aplantthatthriveswellinthenaturalhabitatorcountrysidemaynotbeabletosurvivetheheatandautomobileexhaustifitisplantedalongacityroad.Hencecarefulselectionofhardynativeplantswhichcanwithstandthevagariesofurbanenvironmentisneededforvarioussituationsandlocationslikepollutedareas,rockyandshallowsoilconditions,andshadedplaces.

Ecologistssaythatthespeciesextinction,whichhasbecomerampantduetotheurbanisationanddegradationofforesthabitats,canbepreventedbyintroducingthemintothehorticulturetrade.Thisisevidentbythefactthatmanyplantswhichareextinctintheirnativehabitataresurvivingingardens.Thusthenativeplantsnurturedingardenscanpotentiallyaidconservationbycontributingtogeneticdiversityandbufferingthespeciesfromextinction.

Besidestheadvantageofrequiringlesscare,theadditionofmanynativeplantsinthelandscapecanimprovetheurbanenvironmentbyhavingmorenumberofnativewildlifewhichhelpsinbalancingthepopulationofurbanpestslikemosquitoes,cockroaches,flies,andrats.

N a t i v e p l a n t s a r e l e s s d em a n d i n g m a i n t e n a n c e - w i s e N.ChandramohanReddy

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Myriadoptions:Gardenswithnativeplantsprovidemorevariety.–Photo:N.ChandramohanReddy

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Nativeplantshaveevolvedwithanimals,fungiandmicrobestoformacomplexnetworkofmutualrelationships,thusstrikingaperfectbalanceintheeco-systemtheysustain,writesN.ChandramohanReddy

Whoiswateringthemillionsofplantsintheforests,supplementingthefertilizersandtakingcareofthepests?Whentheforestplantsdonotmakemanydemands,whydothegardenplants?Can’twemimictheforestsituationinourgardens?Havingthoseforestplantsinourgardenistheanswertoallthesequestions.Asthenativeplantshaveadaptedthemselvestotheclimate,geologyandhydrology,andevolvedaccordingtothelocalconditionsoverthousandsofyears,theyarenotexacting.Alsotheseindigenousplantshaveco-evolvedwith

animals,fungiandmicrobes,toformacomplexnetworkofmutualrelationshipsandmakeperfectbalanceintheeco-systemtheysustain.

Designingnativelandscape

Beforedecidingthedesignofthelandscape,onehastoassessthefactorsoflocalitylike–lightavailability,drainagepattern,soildepthanditscharacters,siteterrain,irrigationfacility,speciesgrowingnaturallyinthesurroundings;andaccordinglyfinalisethetypeofthelandscapewhichcanmatchthesite.Sincemanyoftheurbanopenspacesarebarrenandsterilewithnogoodsoil(inmostofthesituationsthegroundisfilledwithconstructiondebrismixedwithplastics),cleaningtheareaandsoilamendmentmaybeneededtohavegoodgrowingmediafortheplants.

Plantselect ion

Byobservingnativeplantsintheirnaturalhabitat,onecanlearnabouttheculturalrequirementsandgrowthhabitsofvariousspecies.Wecanchooseplantsbasingonthesoil,lightandwaterrequirement,locationinwhichtheplanttobeplacedandsize,shape,textureandtypeoffoliageandblooms.Alsotheselectionshallbebasedonwhattypeofgardenweintendtodevelop–wild-flowergarden,butterflygarden,birdgarden,screengarden,treegrove,fruitgardenorpondgarden.

Whateverweplantitisthecommercialavailabilityofnativeplantspeciesinlocalnurseriesthatwilldeterminewhichplantswemayuseinthelandscape.Asofnow,sourcingmanyofthenativeplantsisverydifficultincommercialorforestnurseries,becausethereisnodemandfortheminornamentallandscaping.Butthingsmayimprovewiththeincreasedawarenessonthe‘naturescape’developmentprojectsinfuture.

Characterist icsmaygetaltered

Thenativeplants,whichhaveadaptedtotheclimate,soil,andinteractionswithotherplantsandanimalsmayfacecertainadversegrowingconditionsinthecityenvironment,changeinthechemicalcharacteristicsofsoil,decreaseinsoilorganicmatter,increaseinshadeduetothehigh-risestructures,interferencefrompollution,invasiveweedsandphysicaldamage,increasedsupplyofnutrientsespeciallywhenirrigationissourcedfromtheurbanlakestomentionafew.Duetothischangedenvironment,thecharacteristicsofthespeciesmaygetalteredintermsofthefoliage,flowers,timeoffloweringandformoftheplant.

Sincenativeplantsrequirelesscare,therewillbesavingsoftime,energy,money,waterandotherresourcesinmaintainingthelandscape.Thesegardensprovidemorevarietyinplantspeciesandoffermyriadalternativestothesameoldexoticspecies.Alsothelandscapelooksdifferentwithmorediversity,notonlyintermsofplantspeciesbutalsothevisitingbirdsandbutterflies,whichaddcolourandvibrancytothegarden.

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(Theauthorisaforestofficer,presentlyAdditionalCommissioner(Parks)inGHMCandcanbecontactedat‘nchandramohanreddy@

I m p o s e a n t i - d um p i n g d u t y o n i m p o r t e d r e d g r am

TheStateunitoftheCommunistPartyofIndia(Marxist)hasurgedtheUniongovernmenttoimposeanti-dumpingdutyonimportedredgram,toprotecttheinterestofredgramgrowersinthecountry.

U.Basavaraj,CPI(M)Statesecretariatmember,whoisalsovice-presidentofKarnatakaPrantaRaithaSangha,toldpresspersonsonFridaythattheCabinetmeetinghereonOctober18shouldtakeadecisiononseekinganti-dumpingdutyof40percentonimportedredgram.

HesaidimportofmorethanonecrorequintalsofredgramfromAfricaandothercountrieswouldresultincrashinpricesofredgramintheIndianmarket.RedgramwasbeingimportedatRs.35perkg,headded.

Forredgramgrowersinthedistrict,Mr.Basavarajsaid,thisseasonhadbeengood,unlikeforotherselsewhereintheState,whichwasreelingunderdrought.However,importofredgramhadshocked,hesaid.

HesaidtheUniongovernmentshouldincreasetheminimumsupportpriceofredgramtoRs.5,000perquintal,andalsoopenaregionalofficeoftheNationalAgriculturalCooperativeMarketingFederationofIndiaLtd.(NAFED)inGulbargadistrict.Mr.BasavarajsoughtatleastRs.200crorefortheRedGramDevelopmentBoardtodiversifyitsactivities.

TheCabinetmeetingshouldtakeadecisiononproviding500acresoflandforapulsesresearchstationandextendadditionalfinancialsupporttotakeupresearchanddevelopmentondiseaseresistantredgramvarieties.

R e p l a c e c o s t l y a p p l e s w i t h c h e a p e r e g g s

6,500boiledeggsweredistributedfreeofcostaspartofWorldEggDaycelebrationinNamakkalonFriday.

“WewillsoonmakearepresentationtothePrimeMinisterandChiefMinisterstoincludeegginthenoonmealscheme,”saidR.Nallathambi,presidentoftheTamilNaduPoultryFarmersAssociation.

HewasspeakingatafunctiontomarkWorldEggDayorganisedbyKemin–aU.S.-basednutritionalingredientmanufacturer–hereonFriday.“TheTamilNaduGovernmenthasmadeeggapartoftheNutritiousNoonMealSchemebecauseithasunderstoodtheimportanceofegg,whichisrichincalcium,proteinandVitamin-A,”headded.

Dr.R.KulandaivelofThangamHospitalspokeon“OvercometheMalnutritionthroughEggNutrition.”Hesuggestedthatthosevisitingpatientsathospitalscouldgiveeggstothepatientsinplaceofapples.“AnapplecostsaboutRs.25andgiveslessproteincomparedtowhattwoeggsthatcostaboutRs.8cangive,”hesaid.

“WecalleggexpensivewhenitisRs.4,butwedon’thesitatetobuyanimportedtinofproteinextractedfromeggthatcostsaboutRs.1,500.Eggisalsorichinalbumin.InmanycaseshumanalbuminisboughtatRs.2,000toRs.3,000abottlewhenpatientsundergoingsurgerydon’thavetherequiredalbuminlevelinblood.Thiscanbeavertedifheconsumesaneggeveryday,”headded.

Consumingeggwouldnotleadtoheartattack,hesaidaddingthatthosesufferingfromheartailmentsandhighcholesterolshouldnotconsumeegg.

Dr.K.A.Duraisamy,DeanoftheVeterinaryCollegeandResearchInstitute(VC&RI),saidthatconsuminganeggadaywouldprotecttheconsumersfromeye-relatedproblems.“Eggcontains6gmofproteinincludingaminoacidsthatareessentialforthedevelopmentofthebrain,”hesaid.

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SamrajJeyachandran,seniorvice-presidentofKemin,saidthattheeggindustryinthecountryaccountsfor0.74percentoftheGrossDomesticProduct.“Theeggindustryprovidesdirectemploymentto3.2millionpeopleandindirectemploymenttoabout20millionpeoplewhocultivatefeedforthechicken.

About6,100croreeggsareproducedayearinthecountryandthisisexpectedtoincreaseto10,000croreeggsin2020.

Later6,500boiledeggsweredistributedfreeofcosttothepeopleaspartoftheawarenessprogramme.

M am a t a o p p o s e s r e t a i l F D I d u e t o n a t i o n a l am b i t i o n ’

QuestioningTrinamoolCongresschairpersonandWestBengalChiefMinisterMamataBanerjee’scampaignagainsttheCentre’sdecisionallowingforeigndirectinvestment(FDI)inmulti-brandretail,theStateCongressleadershipsaidhereonFridaythattheprotestswereaimedatfulfillingher“higherpoliticalambitions”atthenationallevel.

“She(Ms.Banerjee)canclearlysaythatFDIinmulti-brandretailwillnotbeapplicabletotheState.Whatisthepurposeforcampaigningagainsttheissueintheentirecountry?Surelyherhigherpoliticalambitionsatthenationallevelmustbethereason,”StateCongresspresidentPradipBhattacharyasaid.

TheStateCongressreleasedadocument“FDIinmulti-brandretail--economicreformsfortheinterestofthecountry”andsaidthepartywillcampaignacrosstheStatetodispelmisconceptionsontheissue.

Partyworkerswillcampaignagainstatthegrassrootsagainstthe“falsepropaganda”beingspreadagainstthereformsoftheUPAGovernment,hesaid.

Mr.BhattacharyasaidMs.Banerjee’sprioritybeforeconcentratingonnationalissuesshouldbetoprotecttheinterestsoftheState.

“ItissurprisingthatthosewhodonothaveablueprintforthedevelopmentoftheWestBengalareshowingconcernsabouttheentirecountry,”hesaid.

ClaimingthereareenoughchecksintheproposaltoallowFDIinmulti-brandretail,hesaidtheinterestofsmalltraderswillnotbeaffected.

“WhatarethealternativeeconomicpoliciesoftheTrinamoolandtheLeftpartieswhoareopposingthemove?”heasked.ObservingthatFDIinmulti-brandretailwillbenefitfarmers,Mr.BhattacharyasaiditwillendthedependenceoftheState’ssmallandmarginalfarmersonmiddlemen.

ReferringtotheclosureofvariousindustriesintheStateaswelltheincreasingloansontheStategovernment’sexchequer,Mr.BhattacharyasaidtheStatewasheadingforacompletedisaster.“Thosewhocriticiseothersshouldfirstlookatthemselves.”

TODAYFARMNEWS13.10.2012A.M

W e a t h e r

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TODAYFARMNEWS12.10.2012P.M13.10.2012A.M

1 2 t h o c t 2 0 1 2 P .M

S t a t e s t o l d t o am e n d c o o p e r a t i v e s o c i e t i e s A c t

CharanDasMahant,MinisterofStateforAgriculture

TheCentrehasaskedstategovernmentstoamendtheirrespectiveStateCooperativeSocietyActintunewiththeConstitution(97thAmendment),2011beforeFebruary14nextyear.

“IhavealreadywrittentoChiefMinisters/LtGovernorsofstates/UnionTerritoriestoamendtheirrespectiveCooperativeSocietiesActintunewiththeConstitutionalAmendmentwithinthestipulatedtime,”CharanDasMahant,MinisterofStateforAgriculturesaidheretoday.

SpeakingatanationalconferenceontheConstitution(97thAmendment)Act,2011,organisedbytheNationalCooperativeUnionofIndia(NCUI),theministerurgedtherepresentativesfromstatesandunionterritoriestoexpeditethechanges.

Elaboratingfurther,MahantsaidthattheobjectiveoftheConstitutionalAmendmentistoensurethatthecooperativesocietiesinIndiafunctioninademocratic,professional,autonomousandeconomicallysoundmanner.

Withanetworkofaboutsixlakhcooperativesocietiesandamembershipofabout24.92crore,thecooperativemovementinthecountryhasemergedasoneofthelargestintheworld,headded.

“Thecooperativesectorprovidesdirectandselfemploymenttoabout23.86millionpeopleandithasbeentheendeavourofthegovernmenttoevolveanappropriatepolicyandlegislativeframeworktocreateenvironmentconducivetothehealthyandsoundgrowthofcooperatives,”Mahantadded.

R R I I ’ s t r a i n i n g p r o g r amme TheRubberResearchInstituteofIndia(RRII),Kottayam,willhostaninternationaltrainingprogramme,organisedbytheSpecialistGrouponPhysiologyofInternationalRubberResearchandDevelopmentBoard(IRRDB),fromOctober15-28.Thethemeofthetrainingis

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‘PhysiologicalandMolecularBasisofBreedingforTolerancetoBioticandAbioticstressesinHevea’.Representativesfrom13naturalrubberproducingcountriessuchasIndia,China,Indonesia,Malaysia,Thailand,Cambodia,Coted’Ivoire,Guatemala,Myanmar,Nigeria,thePhilippines,SriLankaandVietnamwillattendthistwo-weektrainingprogramme.DrJamesJacob,RRIIDirector(Research)andIRRDBVice-Chairman,willbethecoursedirectoroftheprogrammewhichprecedestheInternationalRubberConference(IRC)scheduledtobeconductedatKovalamfromOctober29-31.—Aravindan

S p o t r u b b e r s a p s o n g l o b a l c u e s

RubberpricesslippedfurtheronFriday.Theoverallweaknessinthecommodityandthewidegapbetweenthedomesticandglobalquoteswerethecriticalfactorswhichtookthelocalmarkettolowerlevels.Accordingtoobservers,therewasnotmuchimprovementinarrivalsastheweatherisstillunfavourableforproductionevenaftertheresumptionoftappinginmostplantationareas.

SheetrubberdeclinedtoRs188(189)akg,accordingtotraders.ThegradeclosedweakatRs188.50(189)akgatKottayamandKochi,asreportedbytheRubberBoard.

TheOctoberseriesslippedtoRs190.50(190.98),NovembertoRs185.40(185.96),DecembertoRs184.26(184.90),JanuarytoRs186(186.16)andFebruarytoRs186.55(188.39)akg,whilethemostdistantMarchseriesremainedinactiveontheNationalMultiCommodityExchange.

RSS3(spot)droppedtoRs173.62(174.46)akgatBangkok.TheOctoberfuturesweakenedto¥257.5(Rs173.42)from¥259.7akgduringthedaysessionandthento¥252.6(Rs170.16)inthenightsessionontheTokyoCommodityExchange.

Spotrateswere(Rs/kg):RSS-4:188(189);RSS-5:180(182);ungraded:173(174);ISNR20:170(171)andlatex60percent:123(123.50).

C o o n o o r t e a t u r n o v e r r i s e s 4 . 1 7% Thisweek’sturnoverattheauctionsoftheCoonoorTeaTradeAssociation,whichconcludedonFriday,haspostedanincreaseof4.17percentoverlastweek.Thishashappeneddespitesellingalowervolumebecauseofanincreaseinprice,revealsananalysisofthemarketreports.TheaveragepricedroppedtoRs84.03akgfromRs84.61.Thishelpedtheoff-taketoriseto11lakhkgfrom10.48lakhkg.Thiswasthehighestvolumesoldinfiveweeks.Consequently,theturnoverincreasedtoRs9.24crorefromRs8.87crorelastweek.ThismeantthattheturnoverroseRs37lakhor4.17percentinoneweek.Thiswasthehighestturnoverinamonth.Thisweek,about78percentoftheofferwassoldagainst81percentlastweek.

I n a u s p i c i o u s p e r i o d m a k e s c u t f l o w e r s l o s e f r a g r a n c e

Cutflowerspriceshavecrashedby50percentinBangaloreduetopithrupaksha(inauspiciousperiod)andentryofnewsmallgrowers.“Flowerpriceshavedippedsharplyforthelasttwo-threeweeksonaccountofpithrupaksha-inauspiciousperiod-toconductanyHinduceremonies,”saidJayaprakashRao,GeneralSecretary,SouthIndiaFloricultureAssociation.

Normally,flowerpricesattheInternationalFlowerAuctionBangalore(IFAB)tradearoundRs2.50-3astem.Butduetoinauspiciousperiod,priceshavecomedownandaretradingatRs1.30-1.50.FlowerpriceswereimpactedsimilarlyduringtheinauspiciousJune-Julyperiod,butthentheyruledbetweenRs2andRs2.50astem.CutflowerdemandfromotherscitiessuchasHyderabad,ChennaiandCoimbatoreisalsolowduetosamereasonofinauspiciousmonth.

Growersarewaitingforpost-Novemberperiodforregularsalestopickup.AfterNovember,growersgetclearfivemonthsofcontinuoussalesincludinglucrativeValentineDaysales.“Thisyearwithrainatregularintervalbackedwithadequatesunlighthasledtogoodproduction.Arrivalsattheauctionplatformstoodaround8-10lakhstemsagainstthenormaloutputofaround6-8lakh,”saidRao.TheStateHorticultureDepartmentsaidflower-growingregionsofDoddaballapurandHosurareanearBangalorehavegotadequaterainsinceAugust-September..

N e w g r o w e r s

Inadditiontolowprices/salesduetoinauspiciousperiod,themarkethasalsobeenimpactedbyentryofnewsmallfarms/growers.LuredbysubsidytogrowersundertheNationalHorticultureMission(NHM)andtheNationalHorticultureBoard(NHB),manygrowershavemushroomedinandaroundBangalore.Withoutquantifyingthenumberofnewgrowers,Raosaid:“Themarketiswitnessingabout10-15percentadditionalflowersenteringthemarket.”

M a l a y s i a t o l o w e r e x p o r t d u t y o n c r u d e p a l m o i l VishwanathKulkarni

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TocapturemoremarketshareandtakeonrivalIndonesia

KualaLumpur,Oct12:

MalaysiahasdecidedtoreduceexportdutyoncrudepalmoilfromJanuary1,toboostshipmentsandbringitsproductsataparwithrivalIndonesia.

Malaysia,thesecondlargestpalmoilproducer,alsoexpectsapick-upinexportstoIndiaonrisingdemand,saidYusufBasiron,ChiefExecutiveOfficerofMalaysianPalmOilCouncil(MPOC).

Thecountryexportedabout1.9milliontonnes(mt)toIndiatillend-Septemberthisyear,registeringa58percentyear-on-yeargrowth.

Lastyear,MalaysianpalmoilexportstoIndiastoodat1.66mt,accountingforabout21percentofIndia’simports.Indonesiaaccountedfortheremaining81percentofatotalof8.1mtimportedintoIndiain2011.

Withtheproposedreductionindutyfromthecurrent23percenttoaroundeightpercent,effectiveearlynextyear,MalaysiahopestogetbackitsmarketshareincountriessuchasIndia.

“WewereabigplayerinIndiabeforeIndonesiabecamebig.IndianbuyerspreferredtobuyfromIndonesiabecauseoflowerprices,”BasirontoldagroupofvisitingIndianjournalistsonatripsponsoredbyMPOC.

HesaidthatthedemandfromcountriessuchasIndiaandChinacontinuestoriseongrowingconsumption.India,currently,isthethirdlargestmarketforMalaysia,afterChinaandPakistan.

Theproposeddutycut,approvedbytheMalaysianCabinetonFriday,willnotonlymakethecountry’spalmoilexportsmorecompetitive,butwouldalsohelpcheckthedeclineinprices.TheMalaysianCabinethasalsodecidedtoabolishduty-freeexportquotasfromJanuary1.

Crudepalmoilpriceshaddeclinedbyaboutathirdoverpast11months,sinceIndonesiadroppeditsexportdutiesfrom23percentto10percent.

AccusingIndonesiaofundercuttingprices,Basironsaidsuchalowdutystructurewasnotsustainable.ThedropinCPOpriceshasledtovalueerosionofcloseto20billionMalaysianringittoraround$7.5billion,hetoldaPalmOilTradeAwarenessSeminarorganisedbyMPOC.

Besides,ithasalsoledtoaninventorybuild-upofaround2.48milliontonnesinMalaysiaasofendSeptember,agrowthof17percentoverAugust.

N a t u r a l r u b b e r c o n s um p t i o n r i s e s 6% i n A p r i l - S e p t

Arawnaturalrubbersheetrolledintoafunnel

NewDelhi,Oct12:

Naturalrubberconsumptioninthecountryroseby6percentto5.02lakhtonnesinthefirsthalfofthecurrentfinancialyear.

Itsproductionrosemarginallyby1percenttoabout3.96lakhtonnesduringthesameperiod,accordingtotheRubberBoarddata.

Thecountryconsumed4.76lakhtonnesofnaturalrubberandproduced3.91lakhtonnesinthe2011—12fiscal.

Naturalrubberimportroseby24percentto1,12,640tonnesintheApril—Septemberperiodof2012—13fiscalfrom91,186tonnesinyear—agoperiod,whileexportsfellby59percentto7,466tonnesfrom18,083tonnesinthesameperiod.

InSeptember2012,theconsumptionofnaturalrubberroseby9percentto81,500tonnesfrom74,870tonnesinSeptemberlastfiscal,whereastheoutputwasupmarginallyby2percentto82,000tonnesfrom80,200tonnesinthesameperiod.

India’snaturalrubberimportsroseby16percentto14,779tonneslastmonthfrom12,763tonnesintheyear—agoperiod.

However,exportsdeclinedby78percentto1,053tonnesinSeptemberthisyearfrom4,785tonnesinSeptember2011.

O r t h o d o x t e a r u l e s e a s y a t N . I n d i a s a l e

AsSaleNo.40forCTC/dustandorthodoxcouldnotbecompletedlastweekatKolkataauctionduetolinkfailure,itwasheldthisweek.TheaveragepriceoforthodoxwasRs203.84akgandofCTCRs142.68,accordingtoJ.Thomas&CompanyPrivateLtd,theteaauctioneers.

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Thetotalofferings(packages)thisweekwere4,60,166comparedwith4,26,696inthecorrespondingsaleofthepreviousyear.

TheofferingsatKolkataauctioncomprisedCTC/dust1,56,423(1,03,190),orthodox32,888(37,931)andDarjeeling7,060(5,722).Theofferingsattwoothercentreswere:Guwahati1,43,031(1,56,906)andSiliguri1,20,764(1,22,947).

LiquoringAssamCTCleafgradessoldirregularlyaroundlastlevels,whiledustswerefirmtodearer.Theremainderwasirregularlylower.

BetterDooarssoldatfirmtodearerrates,whiletherestwasirregular.TataGlobalwasthemainstayandtherewasfairsupportfromHindustanUnileverontheleafteasandactiveenquiryforthedusts.

WesternIndiadealersoperatedontheliquoringsorts.NorthIndiaandlocalsectionswereselective.Exportersoperatedonthelargerbrokensandfannings.

DuetoalinkfailureatKolkatalastweek,theCTCleafanddustsaleswerecarriedforwardtothisweek.

Orthodoxofferingsmetwithgoodgeneraldemandandsoldateasierrates.TherewasgoodsupportontippyandliquoringvarietiesfromContinentalbuyers.ExporterstotheCISwereactive.

Darjeelingwholeleafgradesmaintainedlevels,whilebrokensandfanningsdeclinedowingtoreducedexportenquiry.TataGlobal,HindustanUnileverandtraditionalexporterswerethemainstay.Localdealersoperatedforcheaperbrokensandfannings.

A n d h r a P r a d e s h f o r e c a s t s p a d d y o u t p u t o f 1 0 7 l a k h t o n n e s

AsthekharifseasonclosesinAndhraPradesh,theStateGovernmenthasforecastpaddyproductionof107lakhtonnes.

Ofthis,thepublicagencieswouldprocure13.71lakhtonnes.TheStatewouldsetup1,170procurementcentres.

ThesecentreswouldprocurepaddyatRs1,250aquintalforthegeneralvarietyandRs1,280forthegradeAvariety.

Forsuperfinevarieties,theStatehasannouncedaspecialpriceofRs1,500.

V o l a t i l e f u t u r e s f r e e z e s p o t e d i b l e o i l s t r a d e

Mumbai,Oct.12:

EdibleoilstradingcametoastandstillonFridayinMumbaiinviewofavolatilefuturesmarket.Sincestockistshadcoveredtheneedintheearlierpartoftheweek,theytoodidnotfeelthenecessitytotradeontheoilsandoilseedmarket.

Ontheotherhand,importedpalmoleinremainedsubdued,whilesoyabeanrefinedoilextendedgainsbyRs5onFridayfollowingglobalcues.Highvolatilityindomesticandglobalfuturesmarketsweighedonthephysicalmarket.TightavailabilityofwashcottonseedoilandlowerarrivalsofnewcropspushedupcottonrefinedoilbyRs3andrapeseedoilbyRs10for10kg.GroundnutoilrosebyRs5despiteweakreportsfromSaurashtra–RajkotwheregroundnutoilTeliatinruledsteadyatRs1,780andloose10kgdeclinedbyRs10toRs1,170.Palmoleinandsunfloweroilwereflat.

Malaysiancrudepalmoilfuturescrashedintheearlierpartofthedaybutlaterthenear-monthfuturesrecoveredandclosedhigher..

Towardstheday’sclose,LibertywasquotingpalmoleinatRs524forOct15-Nov15,superpalmoleinRs581,soyarefinedoilRs658.RuchiquotedpalmoleinatRs520forOct20-Nov30,superpalmoleinRs581,soyarefinedoilRs655andsunflowerrefinedoilRs700.Allana’srateswereRs522forpalmoleinandRs575forsuperpalmolein.

OntheNationalCommoditiesandDerivativesExchange,soyabeanrefinedoilNovemberfutureswasdownbyRs2.85toRs647.90,DecemberwasRs649.10(Rs654.20)andJanuarywasRs654(Rs659.20).

Malaysia'scrudepalmoi l NovemberfuturessettledhigheratMYR2,480(2,453),whileDecemberclosedloweratMYR2,500(2,523)andJanuaryatMYR2,542(2,586)atonne.

TheBombayCommodityExchangespotrateswere(Rs/10kg):groundnutoil1,140(1,135),soyarefinedoil655(650),sunflowerexp.ref.645(645),sunflowerref.700(700),rapeseedref.oil835(825),rapeseedexpellerref.805(795)cottonref.oil675(672)andpalmolein521(521).

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S u g a r t e n d e r r a t e s d r o p o n c o n t i n u o u s s e l l i n g

Mumbai,Oct.12:

ThesugarmarketwasmixedatVashionFriday.SugarS-gradedeclinedbyRs10aquintalonhigherliquidationbystockists,whiletheM-gradeincreasedbyRs10assellingpressureeased.

NakaratesforM-gradedeclinedbyRs20.

TenderratesdroppedbyRs10-15oncontinuoussellingbyproducers.

DemandinphysicalmarketwasslightlyweakduetomiddlemonthbuttraderswerepositiveaboutimprovementinretailersdemandfromnextweekaheadofNavratriandDasara.

AVashi-basedwholesalersaidamplesupplyfrommillscontinuedinthemarketwhichledtoinventorybuilding.Thereisnoliftingpressureonstockistsnow.

Hesaidthatasmillstenderratesdropped,pricesatupperlevelisexpectedtostabilisecurrentlevel.

InVashimarket,spotpriceshavedeclinedbyRs90-100andatmillleveltheyhaveslidbyRs100-150aquintalthismonth.

InVashimarket,arrivalswereabout68-70truckloads(eachof100bagsofquintaleach)andlocaldispatcheswereabout65-66loads.

OnThursday,about16-17millsofferedtendersandsold78,000–80,000bags(eachof100kg)tothelocaltradersintherangeofRs3,340-3,430(Rs3,360-3,430)forS-gradeandRs3,440-3,540(Rs3,450-3,550)forM-grade.

TheBombaySugarMerchantsAssociat ion'sspotrates:S-gradeRs3,512–Rs3,541(Rs3,522–Rs3,581)andM-gradeRs3,572-3,701(Rs3,562-3,701).

Nakadel iveryrates:S-gradeRs3,480-3,510(Rs3,470-3,520)andM-gradeRs3,520-3,620(Rs3,540-3,640).

N . I n d i a c o n t i n u e s t o p r e f e r N i z am a b a d t u r m e r i c

Erode,Oct.12:

Turmericexportersarestillwaitingforfreshupcountryorders.

“Theexportersanticipatedfreshorderslastmonthitselfbutitdidnothappen.Instead,merchantsinNorthIndiapreferstocksfromSangliandNizamabadduetocheaperavailability.Now,exportersarewaitingfortheordersbeforeOctober15andhence,noexporterisbuyingthestock,”saidR.K.V.Ravishankar,President,ErodeTurmericMerchantsAssociation.

OnlystockistsarebuyingtheturmericbyquotingRs5,600-6,000aquintal.Iftheystoptheprocurement,pricesmaycomedowntoRs5,000-5,500.

Now,onlymediumvarietyturmericarrivesinthemarketforsale,sobuyersarequotingalowerprice.

Traderssaidmanyfarmersareretainingtheirproduce.Itissaidthatmorethan15lakhbagsofturmericarewithfarmers.Thiswillbebroughttothemarketnextyearforsale.

AttheErodeTurmericMerchantsAssociationsalesyard,thefingervarietyturmericwassoldatRs4,011-5,839aquintal,therootvarietyRs3,721-5,219.

SalemHybridCrop:ThefingervarietywassoldatRs4,919-6,400androotvarietyRs4,799-5,274.Ofthe736bags,192weresold.

AttheRegulatedMarketingCommittee,thefingervarietywassoldatRs4,693-5,869;therootvarietyRs4,489-5,296aquintal.Ofthe815bagsarrived,657weresold.

AttheErodeCooperativeMarketingSociety,thefingervarietywassoldatRs5,069-6,238,therootvarietyRs4,739-5,400.

Allthe810bagsfoundtakers.

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AttheGobichettipalayamAgriculturalCooperativeMarketingSociety,thefingervarietywassoldatRs5,050-5,829,therootvarietyRs4,410-5,259.Ofthearrivalof243bags,234weresold.

C o t t o n w i l t s o n t e p i d b u y i n g b y m i l l s

Rajkot,Oct.12:

CottonpricesdeclinedtodaybyRs300-400acandy(of356kg)onthebackofhighersuppliesprojectedbytheUSDAandslackdemandfromthemills.

Accordingtomarketsources,cottonpricemaycontinuetodeclinefurtherbyendofthismonth.

NewcropofferedatRs32,500-33,200inGujarat.TheAgradeS-6cottonwasatRs33,500-34,000andBgradecottonatRs33,000-33,500.

PricesofV-797ruledatRs27,000-27,500.

About12,000-13,000bales(of170kgeach)arrivedinGujaratand25,000-27,000balesarrivedinIndia.

NewcropfetchedRs32,000-33,000acandyinMaharashtra.

TheAgradecottonlowmicronairewasatRs32,500-33,000Agradehighmicronairecotton29+MMquotedat33,000-34,000.

KapasorrawcottonwastradeddownbyRs10-15toRs800-835amaund(of20kg)inRajkot.

CottonfuturesinNewYorkfelltouchedtheir3-weeklowonThursdayaftertheUSDepartmentofAgricultureraisedits2012/13globalendingstocksforecastforthefibretoarecordhighforathirdconsecutivemonth.

Whileconsumptionwasthinning,thedataindicatedthatUS,ChineseandIndianproductionofcottonwereallexpectedtogoup.

ThebenchmarkDecembercottonfuturesinNewYorkweredown1.5percentat71.02cents/lb.

W e a k a r r i v a l s , b u y i n g s u p p o r t l i f t p u l s e s

Indore,Oct.12:

EnthusiasticbuyingsupportinpulsesandweakarrivalshaveliftedpricesofalmostallthepulsesandpulseseedsinIndoremandisinthepasttwodays.

However,masoor(bestquality)prices,whichhadrisentoRs3,500aquintalonWednesdayonimprovedqueriesandslackarrival,slippedtoRs3,475ondeclineindemand.Masoor(medium)ruledstableatRs3,250-3,300.

AccordingtoPrakashVora,masoorpricesinthecomingdayswilllikelytoremainrange-boundbetweenRs3,300-3,500,givenavailabilityoflargestockofimportedmasoorinthemarket.

Butatthesametime,thereisalsoapossibilityofmasoorpricesgoingupbyRs100-200aquintalwithfurtherriseindemandduringthecomingfestiveseason,saidanothertrader.Riseinbuyingsupportinspotmasoorhasliftedmasoordal(average)toRs3,925-50,masoordal(medium)atRs4,025-50,whilemasoordal(bold)ruledatRs4,100-4,125.

ImproveddemandandweakarrivalshavealsolifteduradpricesinlocalmandisbyRs200aquintalinthepasttwodayswithpricesofurad(bestquality)atRs3,600-3,800aquintal,whileurad(medium)ruledatRs3,100-3,500.

Similarly,improvedbuyingsupportaheadoffestivalseason,hasalsolifteduraddal(medium)atRs4,300-4,400(Rs4,200-4,300),uraddal(bold)atRs5,100-5,200(Rs4,900-5,000),whileuraddal(mongar)wasRs5,800-6,200aquintal(Rs5,800-6,100).

Similarlystrongbuyingsupportinpulsesandriseinarrivalofbetterqualitymoonghavealsoliftedmoongpriceswithmoong(bestquality)rulingatRs5,000-5,200aquintal,whilemoong(medium)ruledatRs4,200-4,300a.

32

Givenriseindemandinthebestqualitymoong,itspricesmayzoomtoRs5,500aquintalinthecomingdays,saidatrader.

M a r g i n a l f a l l i n p e p p e r f u t u r e s

Thepeppermarketdeclined,albeitmarginally,onFridayonincreaseinarrivalsandreportsofeasieroverseasmarketsandallthecontractsendedslightlybelowthepreviousday’sclosing.

About50tonnesoffarmgradepepperarrivedandweretradedatRs406,410,413and415akgdependinguponthequality,gradeandareaofproduction.

Addedtothis,latestreportsfromotheroriginsindicatedeasiermarketswithoffersatfarbelowtheIndianparity.Besidesmoreandmorematerialisbeingdepositedintheexchangeplatformandexchangestockshavegoneupto4,179tonnes.Thesefactorsreportedlypushedthemarketdown,marketsourcestoldBusinessLine.

Peppermarkedforstaggereddeliverysofarhasreached1,574tonnes.UpcountrydemandcontinuestobemetbysuppliesbystockistsbasedinRajasthan,theysaid.

OctcontractontheNCDEXdecreasedbyRs90tothelasttradedprice(LTP)ofRs43,850aquintal.NovandDeccontractsalsodroppedbyRs80andRs135respectivelytotheLTPofRs43,800and43,300aquintal.

T u r n o v e r

Totalturnoverincreasedby549tonnestocloseat1,858tonnes.Totalopeninterestwentupby157tonnestocloseat7,530tonnes.

Octopeninterestdecreasedby202tonnestocloseat1,642tonneswhilethatofNovandDecincreasedby206tonnesand126tonnesrespectivelyto4,339tonnesand1,128tonnesshowingswitchingoverandadditionalbuying.Andyetthemarketdropped.

SpotpricesremainedunchangedonmatchingdemandandsupplyatthepreviouslevelsofRs40,600(ungarbled)and42,100(garbled)aquintal.

Indianparityintheinternationalmarketwasat$8,500atonne(c&f)forEuropeand$8,800atonne(c&f)fortheUS.

M a i z e p r i c e s f i r m u p o n t i g h t s u p p l i e s o f U S c o r n

Chennai,October12:

Maize(corn)pricesgainedmarginallyonFridayinlinewiththeriseincornpricesintheglobalmarket.CornfuturessoaredonThursdayfollowingreportsoftightsuppliesbytheUSDepartmentofAgriculture(USDA).

InitsmonthlycropreportreleasedonThursday,theUSDAestimatedthecorncroptobe10.706billionbushels(of25.40kgeach),downslightlyfromthe10.727billionbushelsitprojectedlastmonth.Theharvestwouldbethenation'ssmallestinsixyears.Cornyieldhasbeentrimmedto122bushelsahectarefrom122.8bushelsamonthago.ThatwouldmarkthelowestyieldintheUSsince1995.

WithUScornproductiondownforthethirdyearinarow,usagewillbetightenedtremendously.Exportsareforecastat1.15billionbushelsin2012-13,thelowestin37years.Meanwhile,cornimportsareforecastat75millionbushels,threetimestheaverage.

Thisprojectionofunusualtightsuppliesandloweryieldandacreagehassentpricesnorth.UScornfuturesontheCBOTsurgedmorethan5percenttoathree-week-highonThursday.CBOTDecembercornfuturesgained38-1/4cents,at$7.75/bushel.

OntheNCDEX,maizeforOctoberdeliverycreptup0.14percenttoRs1,396aquintal.NovemberandDecembercontractsinchedupby1percenteachtoRs1,308andRs1,336.

InthespotmarketatDavangere(Karnataka),maizewasquotedatRs1,408.35aquintal.

B r e n t c r u d e j um p s t o $ 1 1 6 p e r b a r r e l

CrudeoilmarketextendedgainsinAsiantradetodayasbetter-than-expectedUSinitialjoblessclaimsandrisingtensionsinWestAsiabuoyedprices,analystssaid.

NewYork’smaincontract,lightsweetcrudefordeliveryinNovember,rose29centsto$92.36abarrelandBrentNorthSeacrudeforNovemberdeliveryadvanced10centsto$115.81.

CrudecontinueditsovernightrallyashopesofaUSeconomicrecoveryroseontheimprovingjobspicture,whileWestAsianructionscontinuedoverTurkey’sinterceptionofaSyrianAirjet,analystssaid.

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“Yesterday’simprovementininitialjoblessclaimsmeantthateconomicdatasupportedriskassets,”saidJasonHughes,headofpremiumclientmanagementinIGMarketsSingapore.

“TheescalationintensionsbetweenTurkeyandSyriameantoilgainedbackallofthepreviousday’slosses,”headded.

NewclaimsforUSunemploymentinsurancebenefitsplungedunexpectedlylastweekto339,000,thelowestlevelsinceFebruary2008,attheoutsetoftheGreatRecession,theLaborDepartmenthadreportedyesterday.

H e a v y r a i n s f o r e c a s t f o r T N , K e r a l a

HeavyrainhasbeenforecastoverKeralaandTamilNaduduringnexttwodaysaheadofthearrivalofNorth-Eastmonsoonor‘monsooninreverse.’

AnextendedforecastforthenextsevendayssaidthatrainorthundershowerswouldlashmanyplacesoverextremesouthpeninsularIndia.

H E AV I ER I N T N

OneortwoplacesovercoastalTamilNaduareexpectedtowitnessheavyrains,theIndiaMeteorologicalDepartment(IMD)said.Meanwhile,globalforecastssaideasterlywindshavebroughtNorth-EastmonsoonoverSouthChinaSeaandtheGulfofThailand,justtotheeastofAndamanSea.

VestigesofpredecessorSouth-WestmonsoonprevailoverAndamanSea,butshouldsoongivewayforeasterliesblowinginfromtheGulfofThailand.

AndamanSeaisthegatewayforNorth-Eastmonsoon.An‘easterlywave’willhelpreversetheflowsheretobeingeasterlywindsoverthenextfewdays.

Overpeninsulareastcoast,atrough(elongatedareaoflowpressure)layextendedinreadinessfromOdishatosouthKerala.

I N I T I A L L Y WEAK

ItfeaturedacycloniccirculationoversouthKeralaandadjoiningTamilNadu,whichhasbeentriggeringbriefwetspellsonFriday.TheClimatePredictionCentreofUSNationalWeatherServicessuggestsseasonalrains(North-Eastmonsoon)maynotdriveuptofullstrengthoverpeninsularIndiaandsouth-eastBayofBengalatleastuntilOctober23.

Ashadbeenforecast,thewithdrawalofpredecessorSouth-WestmonsoonallonasuddengatheredpaceonFriday.

ItsignedofffromUttarPradesh,MadhyaPradesh,Gujarat,northArabianSea,Bihar,Vidarbha,partsofJharkhand,Chhattisgarh,Marathawada,madhyaMaharashtra,Konkan,GoaandcentralArabianSea.

E X I T P HASE

ThewithdrawallinepassedthroughForbesganj,Hazaribagh,Champa,Bramhapuri,Nanded,PuneandAlibagh.

ConditionsarefavourableforfurtherwithdrawalfromJharkhand,Chhattisgarh,Maharashtra,partsofWestBengal,Sikkim,thenortheasternStates,Odisha,AndhraPradesh,KarnatakaandcentralArabianSeaduringnextthreedays.

O p e n i n t e r e s t l i m i t s r e s t o r e d i n s o y b e a n , r e f i n e d s o y o i l

Withthecutinopeninterest(OI)inwidelytradedagriculturalcommoditieshurtinggrowth,theForwardMarketsCommission(FMC)hasrestoredthepre-cutpositionlimitintwooffouragricommoditieseffectivethisWednesday.

OpenpositionorOIisthemaximumquantityatradercanholdinhisaccountforfuturesactions.Toreducevolatilityinsoybean,refinedsoyoil,chanaandrapeseed/mustardseed,thecommodityderivativesmarketregulatorhadcuttheOIlimitsforbothclientsandmembers.Ithadalsorestricted

tradersfromholdingmorethanaspecifiedquantityofthesecommoditiesacrossallexchanges.ThismeansthequantityofOIwasreducedfrom“individualexchanges”to“acrossallexchanges”.

Theoverallclient-wisemaximumOIinsoybeanandrefinedsoyoilwascutto20,000tonnesand17,000tonnesonApril10from30,000tonnesand25,000tonnes,respectively.Forthenearmonth,itwasbroughtdownto5,400and4,000tonnesfrom8,000tonnesand6,000tonnes,respectively.

Theoverallmember-wiseaggregatelimitforallcontractshasnowbeenrestoredto150,000tonnesfrom100,000tonnesearlierinsoybeanandto85,000tonnesfrom125,000tonnes

36

earlierinrefinedsoyoilcontracts.“TheriseinOIwouldbringmoredepthinthemarket,wheretraderswouldhaveadditionalquantitytohedgetheirrisk,”saidDilipBhatia,chiefexecutiveofAceDerivatives&CommodityExchange.

Soybean,akharifcrop,iscurrentlybeingharvested.TheSoybeanProcessors’Associationestimatesanewrecordinoutputat12.5milliontonnesascomparedto11mtlastyear,despiteatwo–monthdelayinmonsoonrainfall.Hence,thescenarioforsoybeanandrefinedsoyoilisclear.

Apparently,FMChasnotrestoredOIinchanaandRMseed,thetworabicropsinwhichsowingiscurrentlyon.Theregulatormightbewaitingforaclearindicationofoutputforafinaldecisioninthesetwocommodities.Meanwhile,pricevolatilityinallfourcommoditieshadcomedowninthepastsixmonths,withfrequentregulatoryinterventions.

AccordingtoNaveenMathur,associatedirectorofAngelBroking,thenearmonthaswellasaggregateopenpositionlimitswerereducedforsoybeanandrefinedsoyoilinApriltocurtailtheexcessvolatilityandtoavoidcorneringofstocks.

However,consideringthenormalconditionsinthepasttwomonths,FMChasagainrevisedthesepositionlimitsupward.Thiswoulddefinitelyhelpinbringingmoreparticipationand,thereby,depthinthemarket,headded.

BACKTONORMAL

Applicablefrom

Apri l 10,‘12

Apri l 10,‘12

(Clientlevel)

BeforeApri l 10,

‘12(Clientlevel)

Near-month

Applicablefrom

Apri l 10,‘12

(Clientlevel)

Near-month

Applicablefrom

Apri l 10,‘12

(Clientlevel)

Applicablefrom

Oct10,‘12

(Clientlevel)

Applicablefrom

Oct10, ‘12(Clientlevel)

Overal l Near-month Overal l Near-month

Chana 15,000 20,000 3,000 4,000 Nochange Nochange

RMseed 15,000 25,000 4,200 7,000 NoChange NoChange

Soybean* 20,000 30,000 5,400 8,000 30,000 8,000

Refinedsoyoil* 17,000 25,000 4,000 6,000 25,000 6,000

*Thelimitshavebeenmadeexchange-wiseandnotacrossexchanges(Figuresintonnes)

ForchanaandRMseed,thelimitsarestillacrossexchanges

TODAYFARMNEWS13.10.2012A.M

J e e r a p r i c e s f a l l o n r i s i n g a r r i v a l s , p r o f i t b o o k i n g

eerapricescameunderpressureasarrivalsincreasedinthespotmarket.JeerapricesfellbyRs15-20per20kginspot,

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whilethesamerecordedadeclineinthefuturesmarketduetoprofitbookingbymarketparticipants.

However,accordingtomarketsources,thedownfallinjeerapricewaslimitedasdemandforexportaswellasindomesticsideremainedsteady.AtUnjha,mediumqualityjeeragainedbyRs15-20totradeatRs2,420-2,520per20kgonFriday,whilebestqualityrawjeerastoodatRs2,715-2,815per20kg.Arrivalsstoodat5,000bagsandtradedaround6,000-7,000bags.

JeeraforNovemberdeliverytouchedalowofRs14,225andtradedlowerbyRs42.50atRs14,382.50per100kgwithanopeninterestof16,641lotsonNationalCommodityandDerivativesExchange(NCDEX).

NCDEXDecemberjeeracontractfellbyRs45toRs14,715perquintalwithanopeninterestof8,913lots.NCDEXaccreditedwarehousesjeerastocksgainedby60tonnesto9294tonnes.

AccordingtoMumbai-basedKediaCommodity,Jeerapricesremainedweakasfarmersincreasedtheirsuppliesinthespotmarket,takingadvantageoftherecentriseinprices,butfreshoverseasenquiriessupportedprices.

"Downsideappearslimitedontheheelsofrecedingcarryoverstocksagainststrongdemandfromexporters.TheexportdemandofjeeraremainedstronginlocalmarketsduetoweaksuppliesfromSyriaandTurkey,"AjayKumarKediaofKediaCommoditymaintained.

Thetotaljeerastocksarecurrentlyestimatedataround400,000-500,000bags,downalmost300,000bagsfromthelastyearinthesameyear.

SeniortechnicalstrategistofLakshmishreeCommoditiessaid,"AbreachofRs14,500levelsandifitsustainsthatlevel,jeeracanheadtoRs15,500innearterm.IthasbeenonfallingvolumesandtherallyfromthelowsofRs13,500ispickingvolumesnearthebreakoutpoint,whichisaclearsignofbullishness.WerecommendabuyonJeeraNovembercontractaboveRs14,500fortargetsofRs15,500initiallywhichwillbereviewedaroundRs15,500levels.TradersshouldmaintainstopbelowRs14,100levels."

Accordingtomarketssourcesabout75percentexportstargethasalreadybeenachieved.

TODAYFARMNEWS13.10.2012A.M

F l o w e r b u s i n e s s a l l s e t t o b l o om a c r o s s T r i c h y

TRICHY:TheSrirangamwholesaleflowermarketinTrichy,knownforitsfamousgarlands,isgearingupforanincreaseinflowersalesfromthestartoftheNavaratrifestivalthatisroundthecorner.FlowersalessawadeclineduringtheTamilmonth'Purattaasi'whennotemplefestivalandauspiciousfunctionstakeplaceathomes.Interestingly,thereisalwaysademandforflowersirrespectiveofrate.

Thisflowermarkethasbeensatisfyingtheneedsofpeopleformanydecades.FlowerslikeJasmine,Champanki,Chrysanthemum,wildjasmineandPichiaremadeavailableformakinggarlandstooffertodeities.Srirangamgarlandsareuniquefortheirprecision.ThesegarlandsaremadeusingbananatreefibrebytyingViruchi(red),Champak(white)andMaruvamorThulasiorSaamanthi(white)flowers.

Eventhoughthegarlandsareusuallymadewiththeseflowersinallplaces,Srirangamgarlandsarewelcomedfortheirquality.

However,flowersaleshavenotbeenimpressiveinthecurrentmonthasitisconsideredinauspicioustoholdfestivalsintemplesandfunctionsathomes.Hencetheflowerpriceisundercontrolasofnow.ButitisexpectedtoskyrocketonceNavarathribeginsonOctober16.

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"WholesalersinthemarketarereceivingflowersfromEttarai,Thoppu,KuzhumaniandMannachanallurinTrichydistrictaswellasfromSalemandBangalore.WearegettingRs150toRs200for1kgofJasmine.PeoplecannowgetJasmineforRs10per100buds.Butthepricewouldgoupshortly.AkgofJasminewillcostRs1,000approximatelyduringNavaratri.Likewise,therateofothervarietiesofflowerswouldalsobehiked.Nevertheless,people,especiallywomen,lovetowearthem,"saidPArunachalam,aflowervendorfromSrirangam.

Healsosaid,"Thoughpeoplealwayslikeflowers,cultivationinTrichydistricthasdeclinedduetolabourshortageinthefields.SinceflowersareimportedfromBangaloreandSalem,weareabletodobusiness.Moreover,thereisalwaysademandinthemarketforManoranjitham,SenbagamandPaarijathamflowerswhichareknownfortheirfragrances."

AshoprunbyVRajuinthemarketbringspridetotheSrirangamwholesalemarketashehasbeensupplyingapproximately40kgof'Viruchi'flowertotheTirumalaTirupathiDevasthanam(TTD)forpoojasdaily.Inadditiontothat,asmanyas30speciallydesigned'Sigamani','Saligramam'and'Thirubababaram'garlandsarebeingsenttoTTDtwiceaweek.

"IamproudtosendflowersfromourshopinSrirangamtoTTDforthepast10years.WeconsideritvirtuoustosendflowerstoLordVenkatachalapathy,"saidRaju.

"Nowadays,mostmodern-daywomenrefrainfromwearingflowers.Flowersarebeingusedforpoojasasalargenumberofpeopleprefertogototemplesinsearchofpeaceofmind.Manyofthemuseflowersfordecorationsathome.Earlier,fullmoondayandnewmoondaywerechosenforpoojas.Oflate,peoplearechoosing'TheipiraiAshtami'(theeighthdayafterthenewmoonday)asperinstructionsfromastrologers.So,themarketforflowersisalwaysgood,"addedRaju.

R e n o v a t i o n w o r k s a t G o k u l am d i a r y f a r m t o b e g i n s o o n MALAPPURAM:DevelopmentworksattheGokulamcattlefarmnearVengadinMalappuramwillbeginsoonasthespecialcommitteeappointedbythehighcourthasaskedtheGuruvayurDevaswomBoardtocompletetheworkinatime-boundmanner.ThecommitteehasapprovedthemasterplanfordevelopmentofthefarmatameetingheldatthedistrictcollectorateonThursday.Thecommitteehasaskedthedevaswomboardtosubmitareportontheprogressoftheworkatthenextmeetingofthecommittee.Thecommitteecomprisesagricultureandanimalhusbandryofficials,districtcollector,policerepresentatives,advocatesandmembersnominatedbythehighcourt.DeputycollectorPKVenugopalakuruppresidedoverthemeeting.ThedecisiontorenovatethefarmandtocategorizethecattleinthefarmbasedontheirageandprovideseparatesheltersforeachcategoryofcattlewastakenataspecialmeetingconvenedbythecommitteeatGokulaminJune,afterthevisitofhighcourtjudgeKVinodChandrantothefarm.

ThemeetinghadalsoaskedthedevaswomboardtoresolvetheissueofstaffshortageinthefarmanddecidedtoseekthehelpofemploymentexchangesinKozhikode,KochiandThiruvananthapuramtorecruitpeople.Thecommitteehadearlierrecommendedthegovernmenttoappointafarmmanagerwiththerankofassistantagricultureofficertorunthedailyactivitiesofthefarmastheexistingmanagementappointedbythedevaswomboardwasfoundincapabletorunthefarm.

T om a t o e s t o g e t t a s t i e r w i t h v i n t a g e f l a v o u r Scient is tshavediscoveredthegenesthat in f luenceflavourandcolour in wi ldandtradi t ional tomatovar iet ies .Thediscoverycouldmakemoretomatoestastelikeheirlooms,saidtheinternationalresearchteamheadedbyaUniversityofCalifornia,Davis,plantscientist.ThefindinghassignificantimplicationsfortheU.S.tomatoindustry,whichannuallyharvestsmorethan15milliontonsofthefruitforprocessingandfresh-marketsales."Thisinformationaboutthegeneresponsibleforthetraitinwildandtraditionalvarietiesprovidesastrategytorecapturequalitycharacteristicsthathadbeenunknowinglybredoutofmoderncultivatedtomatoes,"saidAnnPowell,abiochemistinUCDavis'DepartmentofPlantSciencesandoneoftheleadauthorsofthestudy."Nowthatweknowthatsomeofthequalitiesthatpeoplevalueinheirloomtomatoescanbemadeavailableinothertypesoftomatoes,farmerscanhaveaccesstomorevarietiesoftomatoesthatproducewellandalsohavedesirablecolourandflavourtraits,"shesaid.Fordecades,plantbreedersinthetomatoindustryhaveselectedvarietiesthatareuniformlylightgreenbeforetheyripen,inordertoproducetomatoesthatcanbeharvestedatthesametime.However,thischaracteristicisaccompaniedbyanunintendedreductioninsugarsthatcompromisestheflavourofthefreshfruitanditsdesirabilityforprocessing.Powell'sUCDavisresearchteambeganstudyingthegenesinfluencingtomatofruitdevelopmentandripeningafterspendingtwosummersscreeningtomatoplantsfortranscriptionfactorsthatmightplayaroleinbothfruitcolourandquality.Transcriptionfactorsareproteinsthatregulategenes,orturnthemonandoff.Thesefactorsthemselvesaremanufacturedorexpressedbygenes.

42

TheUCDavisresearcherswereparticularlyinterestedintomatoestheyobservedinthefieldthatwereunusuallydarkgreenbeforetheyripened.PartneringwithresearchersatCornellUniversityandinSpain,whoweremappingregionsofthetomatogenome,thescientistsdiscoveredtwotranscriptionfactors,calledGLK1andGLK2,whichcontrolthedevelopmentofchloroplasts.Chloroplastsarethestructuresintheplantcellsthatenableplantstophotosynthesize,convertingtheenergyofsunlightintosugarsandothercompoundsthatinfluenceflavourandcolour.TheresearchersscouredacollectionofmutantandwildspeciesoftomatoesestablishedatUCDavisbythelateProfessorCharlesRickbeginninginthe1950s.TheydiscoveredthatdarkgreentomatoesthatnaturallyexpressGLK2producedripefruitwithincreasedlevelsofsugarsorsolublesolids,importantforprocessingtomatoes,aswellashigherlevelsofthehealth-promotingcompoundlycopene."Naturepresentsnumerousimportantgenesandtheirvariants,likeuniformripening,thatbreedersemploytofacilitatetheneedsofgrowers,processorsandconsumers,"saidJimGiovannoni,aUSDAplantmolecularbiologistwiththeBoyceThompsonInstituteatCornellUniversity."Understandingthegenesresponsibleforthesecharacteristicsfacilitatesthechallengingprocessofbreedingcropsthatmeettheneedsofallcomponentsofthefood-supplychain,"headded.ThestudywillbereportedintheJune29issueofthejournalScience.

D e - c o n t r o l s u g a r s e c t o r , s a y s p a n e l NEWDELHI:FoodministerKVThomasonFridaysaidhisministrywilltakeatime-bounddecisionontheRangarajanpanel'srecommendationfordecontrollingthesugarsector.Apanel,chairedbyPrimeMinister'sEconomicAdvisoryCouncilchairmanCRangarajan,releasedareportonFridayrecommendingthatmajorgovernmentcontrolsonthesugarsectorbedoneawaywith."Thereporthasbeensubmittedtotheprimeminister.Wewilltakeatime-bounddecisiononceitisexaminedbythePMOandcomestous,"Thomastoldthemedia.

Pushingforreforms,theRangarajanpanel,whichincludessevenotherexperts,recommendedthatthegovernmentletmillsselltheirproduceintheopenmarketandstoppurchaseofsugarfromindustryatbelowmarketpricesforrationshopsupplies.Atpresent,millsareobligatedtosupply10%oftheirproductionatcheapratestothegovernment.Thecommittee,setupbythePMinJanuary,advocatedthatmillsshare70%oftheirrevenuewithsugarcanefarmersbutrecommendedagainstanybanonexport-import.Releasingthereport,Rangarajansaid,"Thereisawholegamutofregulationsrelatedtothesugarsector...sugarislikeanyothercommodity,thereisnoneedtohavecontrols.Levysugarobligationandadministrativecontrolonnon-levysugarneedtobedispensedwithimmediately."Overalongerperiodofreform,thepanelhasadviseddoingawaywithcaneareareservationandminimumdistancecriteria.Italsopushedforremovalofcontrolsonby-productssuchasmolasses.Previousattemptstodecontrolthesectorfellthrough,thelastonebeingin2010.

T h e p o l i t i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e o f m a n g o e s a n d b a n a n a s

RobertVadra'stweetabout'mangopeople'ina'bananarepublic'unfairlyaccusinghimofhavingdoneshadydealswithamajorpropertydeveloperhascreatedastorminatutti-frutticup.BothTeamKejriwalandtheBJPhavetakennotonlytheFirstSon-in-LawoftheNationbutalsotheCongresstotaskforhissupposedlydisparagingreferencetothecountry'saamadmias'mangopeople'andhiscomparingIndiatoa'bananarepublic'.

ABJPspokespersonhasaskedtheCongressifitagreeswithVadra'sfruitydescriptionofIndiaandIndians.Butsofar,nooneseemstohavesoughttofindoutfromthearchetypalaamadmiwhetherhefeelsslightedatbeingtranslatedintoa'mangoman'.Indeed,insteadoffeelinginsultedtheaamadmimightwellfeelflatteredatbeingequatedwithwhatisoftencalledthe'kingoffruits',varietiesofwhich-suchasthealfonso-sellforastronomicalpriceswayoutofreachofaamadmi'saampockets.

AparallelcasewasthatofShashiTharoor'stweetedreferenceto'cattleclass'travel,whichaccordingtosomeneedlesslyraisedpoliticalhackles.Consideringthesacredstatusaccordedtothe'gaumata'inIndia,'cattleclass'travellersmightbedeemedtobeevenmoreprivilegedthanthoseinfirstclass,particularlyifthecarriertheyareusinghappenstobethegovernment-runAirIndia,whichisarguablyinternationalaviation'smostnotablyexploitedmilchcow.

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Similarly,beingcalleda'bananarepublic'maybenobadthing.Whilethetermderivesfromapejorativereferencetosmalltropicalcountrieswhosemainexportisthefruitwhichbelongstotheplantainfamily,intheIndiancontextthebananaplaysakeyroleinseveralsocialandreligiousceremoniesandassuchhasauspiciousconnotations.Whilethephraseto'gobananas'denotesalackofmentalbalance,thefruitinquestionislargelywhatyoumakeofit,ascorroboratedbyaremarkattributedtoRajivGandhiwhenhewasprimeministerthatinordertoraiseIndianproductivity'humkoyehbhibananahaiaurwohbhibananahai'.

Atatimeofsoaringfoodprices,however,politiciansareunderstandablycharyofreferencestofruitsandvegetables,knowingonlytoowellthatthepathtoelectoralvictoryisstrewnwithslipperybananaskinsandthatpublicdispleasureattheirperformancecanemphaticallybeexpressedbythethrowingoftomatoes,preferablyoftherottenvariety.Allsaidanddone,India's'mangopeople'knowtheironionsandareonlytooawarethatgivenhalfachance,orevenless,theirnetaswouldhavethemallbeturnedintopumpkins,thelocalnameforwhichiskaddu,acolloquialismforagullibleyokel.