The Hindu Business Line : Saturday, July 17, 2004

FARM CREDIT
Rescheduling of farm loans to lift credit offtake
CREDIT offtake of most banks is expected to increase with bankers preparing for large rescheduling of farm loans for the current financial year. The rescheduling of loans would allow farm borrowers an extension in repayment with revised ... More

CLIMATE & WEATHER
Wet spell to continue in Kerala
THE forecast of isolated heavy rain in Kerala will hold for July 17 (Saturday) too, with most places in the State and Lakshadweep recording rain on Friday. Outlook for the two subsequent days did not indicate any significant change. On Friday, ... More

RUBBER
As domestic, global price band widens — Rubber imports under OGL could turn viable
THE widening price difference between natural rubber prices in the domestic and international markets has reached such an extent that it looks cost-effective for consumers to import rubber even under the open general license (OGL), after paying ... More

Rubber prices remain static
AMIDST moderate rains in the plantation areas, the domestic spot rubber prices were almost static on Friday. Buyers absorbed the narrow arrivals but were not prepared to enhance the quotations. The futures market followed the steady trend ... More

SUGAR
Mills seek change in raw sugar import norms
Currently, raw sugar can be brought into the country only on prior import condition. The mills say the conditions could be relaxed as uncertainty prevails on the production front. More

FOODS & FOOD PROCESSING
Safeguard probe into sago imports
DOMESTIC producers of starch (other than wheat and potato starch), modified starches and manioc (Cassava, Tapioca)-based sago can now look forward to some relief against the surge in imports of these items. The Director General (Safeguards) has ... More

COTTON
World cotton prices may decline on higher output
INCREASED area, production, consumption and end-stocks, but lower volume of trade and weakening prices are forecast for the world cotton market in 2004-05. In particular, China is heading for a significant rebound in production, which is expected ... More

Jhunjhunwala is EICA President

SPICES & CONDIMENTS
Cardamom crop hopes improve on good rains
GOOD monsoon rains in the cardamom growing regions in Kerala in the recent weeks have improved the prospects of a better crop next season from the regions, which have not been affected by the drought. Idukki district has about 70 per cent of ... More

NATURAL CALAMITIES
Another farmer ends life in AP
VISAKHAPATNAM: V. Venkata Ramana (43), a farmer at Venkupalem village in the Anakapalle mandal of Visakhapatnam district, committed suicide on Thursday night unable to bear the debt burden, according to the police. The police officials, ... More