Cargill should quit India, says RFSTE
The multinational giant in the seed sector, Cargill should immediately quit India, demanded the noted activist, Vandana Shiva of the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology.

Monsoon hits Rajasthan kharif crop
Things are slipping out of hand with the gruelling delays affecting the kharif crops in Rajasthan. Nothing could be said at this stage in regard to the final picture, as the rains have failed to prop up the sowings.

World rapeseed output to fall in 2000-01
Global oilseed prices have started to recover from 1999-00 based on switching of farmers to grains or other crops at the expense of the oilseeds. This recovery is likely to be stretched to 2000-01, subject to weather conditions, production and demand factors. Information as of May 2000 suggest a decline in harvested area of 10 major oilseeds by 1.1 million hectares in 2000-01.

Tax anomalies harm edible oils: SEA
The edible oil industry has demanded that the new agricultural policy should correct tax anomalies being faced by the sector. It has also called for policy decisions to encourage farmers to switch over to oilseeds crop from rice and wheat crop.

Palm oil futures to generate Rs 300 cr
The turnover from the palm oil futures are expected to generate huge chunk of revenue for the government. The estimates as per the experience of the various economies where vibrant futures markets are in operation, reveals that the turnover will be five times the normal trade turnover through organised exchanges.Coconut Oil: possible antiviral agent
Can coconut oil reduce the viral load of HIV patients? Initial trials have confirmed that coconut oil or monolaurin has an anti-viral effect that reduces the viral level in HIV-AIDS patients to undetectable levels, University of the Philippines,' Emeritus professor of pharmocology Conrato S Dayrit said.

BOOE to start oil futures from Aug 18
Trading in futures of RBD palmolein, groundnutoil and sunflower oil will for the first time be kicked off finally on August 18 at the Bombay Oilseeds and Oils Exchange (BOOE), Vashi, Navi Mumbai. The total number of commodities futures traded on the BOOE will hereafter be nine, with trading in futures of castorseed (domestic) and castoroil (international) already in place.

Pig iron prices slide back to normal
Domestic pig iron prices are once again declining from the peak reached about a month ago as Indian Iron & Steel Co Ltd (Iisco), a major supplier of foundry grade pig iron to local foundries, has resumed production at its closed hot metal plant. BBA: glorious past; confused future
Fifty years ago, The Bombay Bullion Association (BBA) was inaugurated by the then chief minister of the unified Bombay State, BG Kher. The BBA had all the know-how for forward trading with traders rings and brokers offices housed in the building.

Derivatives trading enters India
Derivatives trading has been a new introduction to the Indian markets. It is, in a sense promotion and acceptance of market economy, that has really contributed towards the growing awareness of risk and hence the gradual introduction of derivatives to hedge such risks.

Tata Steel to enter minerals production
Tisco's decision to get more active in mining of iron ore, coal ,chrome and perhaps manganese, and consider it as a core activity, where it has lots of expertise, signals new possibilities in the world minerals trade particularly iron ore.

Oil shoots up on low stocks
Oil prices roared higher on Thursday to end within a stone's throw of $31 amid mounting concern over the United States fuel stocks now languishing at 24-year lows. Prices were given further upward momentum by signs that Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) kingpin Saudi Arabia was not initially offering major oil companies extra supplies in September as it had done this month.

`Tech-Mission' for horticulture sector
The centre would soon launch a Rs 250 crore technology mission in the north-east to give a boost to the horticulture sector in the region, a senior official of the Union ministry of agriculture said on Friday.

Pesticide prices down 30 per cent
The sales of pesticides during April to June this year has declined by around 40 per cent from its levels last year, thanks to erratic and less than expected rains for more than a fortnight. This has resulted in pesticides prices decline by around 30 per cent.

EICA notches up unsettled trades
A Small number of bulls and bears on the East India Cotton Association (EICA), Mumbai, have notched up unsettled trades amounting to Rs 5.5 crore while trading in the September delivery of Indian Cotton Contract (ICC).

Goods export quotas go abegging
Ready goods export quotas for cotton yarn, for the allocation of which applications were invited by the authorities last month, appear to have received dismal response with the result that these quotas still go abegging.

Cotton handloom sector in tough times
Heavy competition from the powerloom and the mill sector seems to be affecting the export performance of cotton handloom sector even during this year. For, the overall export performance of this sector during the period April-June 2000 has declined to $96.25 million, against $106.27 million during April-June 1999.

Kolhapuris make international debut
The humble `Kolhapuri' footwear is becoming a globe trotter and dollar spinner thanks to the initiative of National Leather Development Programme , Central Leather Research Institute and Ascent, a NGO.