Reservoirs swell; crops and power to gain

Water levels in India's main reservoirs rose above average on Thursday, the first time since end July, reducing the risk to crops from a failed monsoon and boosting hydro power supply. Reservoirs had filled up to 57 per cent of capacity by Thursday, just over the 10-year average of 56 per cent for India's 81 biggest reservoirs at this time of the year, government data showed. Farm Minister Sharad Pawar told parliament last week that the country's wheat output was likely to surpass last year's record 80.6 million tonnes.

Centre has scrapped import duty on rice till Sep 2010

The Centre has scrapped import duty on rice till September 2010 to augment domestic supply, as the twin-impact of drought and floods have deepened fears of a dip in output by as much as 16 million tonnes this year.

"It is notified that the customs duty (70 per cent) on rice has been scrapped till September 2010," a senior official with the Central Board of Excise and Customs said.

Rice knowledge management portal.

With a view to providing information on all aspects of rice, the Directorate of Rice Research (DRR) would soon launch a comprehensive rice knowledge management portal.

Taken up under the National Agricultural Innovation Programme (NAIP), the portal is aimed at strengthening research, extension, farmers, private sub-systems, and networks. “We hope that the constant flow of information would contribute to the overall rice development in the country,” Dr B.C. Viraktamath, Project Director of DRR, said at an NAIP information flow meeting held at Rajendranagar.

Fertiliser Ministry asked to ensure adequate fertiliser supply

After facing a shortage of over 23 lakh tonnes of fertilisers in the Kharif season this year, the Agriculture Ministry has asked the Fertiliser Ministry to make sure that farmers do not face any problems during the coming Rabi season.

"The Department of Fertilisers has been requested to make suitable arrangements for meeting the fertiliser requirement for the ensuing Rabi 2009-10 season," a senior official with the Agriculture Ministry said.

Kharif crops are sown during June-September, while the Rabi season begins from October and continues till January.

Source:ptinews

The country is estimated to require 262.91 lakh tonnes of fertiliser for the 2009-10 Rabi season, which is slightly more the year-ago period, he said, adding the demand has been assessed after consultation with the states and the industry.

The urea demand is estimated to be at 143.75 lakh tonnes (LT), Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) at 57.