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Research: Soy milk makes strong bones in piglets

India's milk consumption to rise to 150 mn tonnes: IDA

Livestock marks shift in agriculture

Feature: ORGANIC CERTIFICATION

Indian Scenario: Agmark certification

Maize Futures To Remain Supportive In The Coming Days

AP farmers turn to palm oil, maize as sugar turns bitter

Egg tumbles as winter comes to an end

Dairy sector seeks duty cuts on equipment, machinery

Kerala govt to up exports of ornamental fish

Cows on grass prefer herbs as a side dish

Government to Enhance Aquaculture with New Policy

India Ups Imported Milk Requirements

Methionine rule affects organic poultry farmers

Egg price hiked on increased offtake

Steps Needed to Increase Local Poultry Output

India to control foot & mouth disease for increasing livestock, says Rawat

US: AFBF opposes antibiotic restrictions in poultry feeds

India could show the way in organic farming in 30 years

US Poultry, Egg Exports Set Records in 2011

WTO ruling to help Indian shrimp get out of US anti-dumping duty net

Cattle-feed subsidy may be raised

Japan, world's top corn importer, buys more US corn

Frozen shrimps drive growth in seafood exports

Lower oilseeds crop may prove a challenge to contain inflation

Marine product exports rise 3.48% in Apr 2011-Jan 2012

Seafood exporters seek expansion of quarantine infrastructure


Research: Soy milk makes strong bones in piglets
01 Feb 2012

Scientists are taking a close look at the effects that soy-based formula, cow's-milk formula, and mother's milk have on bone development in infants.

Very little is known about the short- and long-term effects of soy formula on bone health, but a series of studies funded by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is helping to fill in the knowledge gap.

One early investigation provided a comprehensive comparison of bone formation in piglets that were fed either sow's milk, or soy or cow's-milk formula.

The scientists chose pigs as the animal model because the pig digestive system is generally regarded as being closest to that of humans.

In general, the work suggests that soy-formula-fed piglets may have the best quality bone, and that soy may enhance bone formation by directly affecting the BMP2 (short for "bone morphogenesis protein") signalling pathway.

Signalling, or messaging, initiated by BMP2 is essential for building and reforming of bone. This study was the first to spotlight soy's relative influence on initiating BMP2 signalling.

All About Feed
India's milk consumption to rise to 150 mn tonnes: IDA
Jan 31 2012

Demand for milk in India will rise by 29 per cent to 150 million tonnes in the next five years on account of the rising population, an industry body said.

The country is estimated to have produced 116 million tonnes of milk in 2011, Indian Dairy Association (IDA) N R Bhasin told reporters here."Keeping in view the rising population, India would need around 150 million tonnes of milk by the end of the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-17)," Bhasin said.

Speaking at a curtain-raiser for the annual dairy industry conference, Bhasin added that the requirement of milk in the next 10 years would be about 200-210 million tonnes.

IDA is organising the annual conference to focus on the development of a national strategy for dairy development in the near future.

"The conference this year is being organised in the national capital from February 2-5 and the focus this year is 'Indian Dairying: Perspective 2020'," Bhasin said.

Around 1,800 delegates are expected to participate in the conference, including participants from the European Union and the US, he added

Indian Express
Livestock marks shift in agriculture
Agriculture sector undergoes a historic change as livestock surpasses the economy of foodgrains

Feb 01, 2012, 00:54 IST
Policy makers in India are finally acknowledging a structural shift in the agriculture sector they have been noticing for a decade. Economic contribution of livestock is today more than that of foodgrain crops. Traditionally, of the three components of the sector—crops, livestock and fisheries—crops drove the growth, and foodgrains are a major part of it. As a result, policy and programmes focused on crops.

When in 2002-03, monetary contribution of livestock surpassed that of foodgrains, policy makers ignored it as a temporary coping mechanism of the poor in the face of sluggish agriculture due to repeated droughts. But livestock contribution has since remained higher by 5-13 per cent, says Pratap Singh Birthal, principal scientist at the National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research. In fact, both livestock and fisheries components have been growing faster than the crops component for a decade. A report for the upcoming 12th Five Year Plan in December accepted this shift by recognising livestock as the engine of agriculture growth.

Livestock now controls a quarter of the agriculture gross domestic product (GDP). In 2010-11, it generated outputs worth Rs 3,40,500 crore (at current prices). This was 28 per cent of the agriculture GDP and about five per cent of the country’s GDP. “The total output from livestock was higher than the value of foodgrains (Rs 3,15,600 crore) and fruits and vegetables (Rs 2,08,800 crore), and this is going to go up substantially,” estimates V K Taneja, vice-chancellor of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Science University in Ludhiana.

After livestock, paddy is the next highest contributor to the agriculture GDP, says A Rajasekaran, senior manager with the National Dairy Development Board at Anand in Gujarat. In 2009-10, output from livestock was 2.5 times the value of paddy and more than thrice the value of wheat, as per the Central Statistical Office data. “Animals are natural capital, which can be easily reproduced to act as a living bank with offspring as interest, and an insurance against income shocks of crop failure and natural calamities,” says Taneja.

Livestock output is the fastest growing among the three components. Its contribution to the total output of the agriculture sector increased from 15 per cent in 1981-82 to 26 per cent in 2010-11. “This provided a cushion to agriculture growth,” says Birthal. The rate of growth of livestock output has, however, slowed down. In 1980s, its growth rate was 5.3 per cent—almost twice that of the crops. This declined to 3.6 per cent in 2000s but is still 1.5 times the rate of growth of the crops component.

Driving livestock growth are changes in the utility of livestock for farmers and in food consumption pattern. Importance of livestock as the “draught power” has declined due to mechanisation of agricultural operations and declining farm sizes. Use of dung is also being replaced by chemical fertilisers. At the same time, consumption of livestock products like eggs, milk and meat is increasing due to rise in the income of the booming middle class, both in urban and rural areas. Between 1983 and 2004, the share of animal products in the total food expenditure increased from 21.8 per cent to 25 per cent in urban areas and from 16.1 per cent to 21.4 per cent in rural areas.

“Small and marginal farmers, landless labourers and women are more dependent on livestock for supplementing incomes and generating gainful employment in rural areas,” says M M Roy, director, Central Arid Zone Research Institute and member of the working group set up by the Planning Commission to deal with the animal husbandry and dairy sector for the 12th Five Year Plan.

Policy makers are taking a serious note of this new economy. It is now seen as a major support for the crops sector to project decent overall agriculture growth. For example, a note of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister on fiscal outlook for 2010-11, estimated an optimistic agriculture growth based on the growth in the livestock economy. Despite the drought of 2009, growth in the livestock sector will ensure that the agriculture sector growth will be stabilised, it stated. “The livestock sector is expected to emerge as an engine of agriculture growth in the 12th Plan and beyond in view of rapid growth in demand for animal food products,” says the report of the working group on animal husbandry and dairy. Livestock has assumed the most important role in providing employment and income generating opportunities, says Roy. While crops still employ the maximum people, employment in livestock is fast catching up.

Rise of the livestock sector has implications for poverty. “Rural poverty is less in states where livestock contributes more to farm income,” concludes the Planning Commission report. Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat and Rajasthan are a case in point. Mostly, marginal farmers and those who have quit farming are joining the livestock business. About 70 per cent of the livestock market in India is owned by 67 per cent of the small and marginal farmers and by the landless, says Roy. One way, prosperity is now more dependent on per capita livestock ownership than on farms. “This implies that the growth of the livestock sector would have more effect on poverty reduction than the growth of the crops sector,” adds Birthal.

But this is not the full potential of the sector. Absence of policy focus has stifled the sector that caters to the poorest. India’s livestock productivity is 20-60 per cent lower than the global average. Deficiency of feed and fodder is the biggest factor responsible for 50 per cent of the total unrealised production potential, followed by inadequate breeding and reproduction, and increasing diseases among animals.

As livestock is less prone to global warming and climate change, it can be considered more reliable than rain-fed agriculture, says N G Hegde, an expert on livestock and rain-fed agriculture. But livestock receives only 12 per cent of the total public expenditure on the agriculture and allied sector and four-five per cent of the total institutional credit flow into the sector. Hardly six per cent of the livestock are insured. The only Centrally sponsored scheme on livestock extension, with a budget of Rs 15 crore in 2011-12, is yet to spend a penny. “Adoption of livestock-related technologies is poor because of absence of animal husbandry extension network,” says Taneja. During the 11th Plan it was decided to establish the Indian Council of Veterinary and Animal Science Education and Research. It is yet to take off. The working group for the 12th Plan has repeated the suggestion.

Business Standard
Feature: ORGANIC CERTIFICATION
February 02, 2012

Background

 Organic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and control pests on a farm. Organic farming uses fertilisers and pesticides but excludes or strictly limits the use of manufactured (synthetic) fertilisers, pesticides (which include herbicides, insecticides and fungicides), plant growth regulators such as hormones, livestock antibiotics, food additives, and genetically modified organisms.

Organic agriculture is the oldest form of agriculture on earth. Technological progress during World War II resulted in post-war innovation in all aspects of agriculture, leading to advances like large-scale irrigation, fertilisation, and the use of pesticides. But these inorganic methods have had serious side-effects over time such as pollution of water bodies from washed away fertilisers, decreased nutrient availability and low organic matter content of soil, health problems to animals and humans etc. thus it is required to adopt an appropriate approach suitable to our requirements which is not at the expense of ecology, environment and well being of people. Hence, the need for organic agriculture. It is also one of the approaches to meet the objective of sustainable agriculture which is the need of the hour.

Organic agricultural methods are internationally regulated and legally enforced by many nations, based in large part on the standards set by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), an international umbrella organisation for organic farming organisations established in 1972.

IFOAM defines the overarching goal of organic farming as “Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved.."

Since 1990, the market for organic products has grown from nothing, reaching $55 billion in 2009 according to Organic Monitor (www.organicmonitor.com). This demand has driven a similar increase in organically managed farmland. Approximately 37,000,000 hectares (91,000,000 acres) worldwide are now farmed organically, representing approximately 0.9 per cent of total world farmland (2009) (see Willer/Kilcher 2011).

Indian Scenario: Agmark certification
Internationally and nationally, standards regulate production methods and in some cases final output for organic agriculture. Standards may be voluntary or legislated. But certification of products/process may be described as what confidence in organic agriculture rests on. An organised system of inspection and certification supported by regulations enables to build a confident consumer community. Thus, Government of India has implemented the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). The NPOP proposes to provide an institutional mechanism for the implementation of National Standards for Organic Production, through a National Accreditation Policy and Programme. The NPOP includes the policies for development and certification of organic products and provides national standards for organic products and processes. The standard for NPOP provides information on standards for organic production, systems criteria & procedures for accreditation of certifying bodies, the national organic logo and the regulations governing its use.

India has been exporting certified organic foods for some years now and the demand is gradually on the rise with respect to domestic markets too. Keeping in view the growing demand and to check fraudulence in organic production, the Ministry of Agriculture, GoI, launched the notification “Organic Agricultural Produce Grading and Marking Rules, 2009” in 2009. Thus organic agricultural produce may now be graded and certified under Agmark. Agmark is the accreditation body and the Agricultural Marketing Adviser issues the certificate of authorisation to certification agencies authorising them to certify organic farms, products and process, to grade and mark organic agricultural produce. Any accredited inspection and certification agency under the NPOP is eligible for the grant of certificate of authorisation under these rules by applying with complete documentation as prescribed in the guidelines. These authorised inspection and certification agencies in turn certify the agricultural produce of operators/grower groups as organic.

Requirements

The quality of the produce must be as provided in the NPOP. It must also comply with residue levels of contaminants as provided in the FSSAR rules. The requirements for method of packing and labelling of agricultural produce has been prescribed. Some of the packing requirements include use of food grade packing material, employing approved additives for manufacturing packaging films etc. the label of the produce must be provided with the person/company legally responsible for the production with the grade designation mark securely affixed to each package as approved. The ink used for marking must not contaminate the produce.

Grade designation

The grade designation for such certified agricultural produce will be “Agmark India Organic.” The grade designation mark consists of Agmark India Organic Insignia which is a design incorporating the name of the commodity, certificate of authorisation number and the grade designation. The mark may be affixed to products or used on packaging or promotional material or in context of advertising activities.

Name of the Commodity…………
 Grade: Agmark India Organic

This decision of ministry of agriculture enables farmers, farmer groups and processing units use Agmark Organic Certification for their products. This ensures organic produce that are sold in the domestic market to comply with India's organic agriculture regulation - NPOP as well as grading and marking rules under Grading and Marking Act 1937.

Certification procedure & fee

The procedure of certification is generally provided by the authorised inspection and certification agency. Typically, the process of certification involves review of operator’s application by agency, pre-inspection procedures, farm inspection by agency, sampling procedures & lab analysis, post-inspection and evaluation. Post this, the decision of certification is taken and communicated to the operator.

The fee structure for the certification process will be devised from the components namely the application fee, travel and inspection cost, assessment and report preparation (man-day cost) and issue of certificates.

The charges are fixed in the following categories annually, namely:-

i) Grower groups (small and marginal farmers);
ii) Co-operatives and cottage industries;
iii) Large farmers, estates and exporters;
 iv) Medium- and large-sized processors.

Documentation

The guidelines issued by Agmark for the organic certification enlists in detail the documents required to be submitted by operators/grower groups to the AICA as listed below:

1. Duly filled in Form-3 and Form-5. 2. Self-attested copies of the proprietorship declaration/partnership deed/memorandum and articles of association/bye-laws of society, etc. 3. Blue print or neatly drawn sketch of the premises (where the commodity shall be graded and packed) showing all dimensions duly signed by the authorised person of the firm. 4. Following declarations on non-judicial stamp paper of minimum Rs 5 in the prescribed proforma – III. a. Ownership of premises. b. Ownership of proposed Trade Brand Label (TBL). c. Use of proposed TBL only on the packages graded under Agmark. d. Use of ecofriendly packaging material of food grade quality as permitted in Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955, and use of only approved additives (given in Appendix 6 of the National Programme for Organic Production) in manufacturing of packaging films. 5. Copy of the consent letter from the legal owner of the premises, in case, the premises is not owned by the applicant and taken on rent/lease. 6. Specimen copy of the proposed Trade Brand Label of each commodity. 7. Medical fitness certificates issued by the Registered Medical Practitioner certifying that the workers engaged in the handling of the product in the various operation, are free from communicable and contagious diseases. 8.Consent letter from the permitted printing press to print Agmark India Organic Insignia.

Market potential – (India)

With the change in dietary need and enhanced income coupled with awareness for health there is a growing appreciation for organic products. Many of the hotels consume green food grown under the contracts. Organically labelled fruits and vegetables are also appearing on some of markets. Since India has much larger area, which have used minimal pesticides and chemical where potential for conversion exist, organic movement has taken a root in many of the states and there is growing demand especially in cities and market is expected to grow more than 20 per cent annually. It is envisaged that 20 per cent of production shall be organic in 5 years.

Organic farming provides long-term benefits to people and the environment. Awareness and education in Western countries has brought about an unprecedented demand for organic foods. There is a need in India for public information and education to encourage more appreciation for organic foods and certification will support and enhance the consumer confidence.

The Food Safety and Standard Authority India (FSSAI) has introduced the new category of food as ‘Organic Food’ as per Section 22 and thus in coming days the organic food will have huge potential.

Food & Beverage News
Maize Futures To Remain Supportive In The Coming Days
Feb 02, 2012

Maize futures are likely to witness some buying from lower levels due to robust export demand of maize in the current year along with receding supplies in major mandies.

Market sources suggested that waning supplies of maize in international market along with cheap prices of domestic maize at international market might witness strong gains in domestic maize exports in the current marketing season ( October- September 2011-12). Traders estimated that the India's maize export is likely to scale record highs to 33-33.50 lakh tonnes, up almost 7% from the last year . This is mainly due to cost advantage of domestic maize against international prices.

Technically, NCDEX February futures are likely to gather some buying at lower levels at around Rs. 1190-1200 per quintal while resistances are likely at Rs. 1250-1265 per quintal in the coming days.

Indiaofline
AP farmers turn to palm oil, maize as sugar turns bitter
Growing edible oil demand, lower recurring costs offer hope

Feb. 2, 2012

IFarmers never lose hope. If one crop fails, they quickly turn to another. Sugarcane growers in Andhra Pradesh, who declared a crop holiday, are not going to stop farming next season. Instead, they are switching to palm oil, maize and sunflower.

Farmers in water-rich Andhra area expect that over 30 per cent of sugarcane area would be converted to these crops.

“Palm oil plantation looks lucrative as demand for edible oil is growing. It has a longer life of up to 30 years, saving recurring investment costs for farmers,” Mr Sharma, a sugarcane farmer from Krishna district, toldBusiness Line.

Mr O.P. Goenka, an edible oil industry expert and former President of the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FAPCCI), acknowledges this development.

“We are hearing this from farmers. This augurs well for the country that is spending huge amounts of foreign exchange on edible oil imports. However, we do not know how much of land is being shifted to palm oil. This will go a long way in sourcing edible oil domestically,” he said.

Conflicting views

While the Government is claiming that sugarcane area has gone up by 11 per cent following huge gains from ratoon crop (crop from sprouts of previous crop), farmers say that the reality is completely different.

“Sugarcane farmers are not happy. They are disgusted with poor returns. They are looking at alternatives. Some of them have already switched (over to other crops),” Mr Sharma said.

Sugarcane was grown in 2 lakh hectares in 2010-11. Despite a fall of 23 per cent in plantation that shrunk the fresh area to 82,000 ha (1.07 lakh ha), growth of 65 per cent in ratoon crop at 1.18 lakh ha (71,622 ha) increased overall area, the Government argued.

The State Agricultural Plan for 2011-12, however, pegged the area down at 1.70 lakh ha.

Maize, sunflower

Telangana, the major sugarcane growing area, too is witnessing a shift.

“They are looking at sunflower and maize as alternatives in Telangana. Sugar factories here are struggling to get cane here this season itself,” Mr P. Appireddy, Convener of Telangana Sugarcane Farmers' Association, said.

According to him, sugarcane area in the State plummeted to sub-one lakh hectares level from about 2.40 lakh hectares in 2006-07.

Farmers' organisations have projected a total crushing of 110 lakh tonnes of cane this year as against 120 lakh tonnes last year.

Business Line
Egg tumbles as winter comes to an end
Chennai, Feb. 2:

Egg, that was on the boil a month ago, has now cooled following buyer resistance and the end of winter, particularly in South India.

To perk up poultry consumption, the National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC), Namakkal zone, has decided to slash the price of egg by 10 paise to Rs 2.35 a piece.

It touched a record Rs 3.13 in December as the cold wave in the North and intensification of Thane cyclone in the South pushed up demand for poultry products.

Industry sources attributed the price cut to buyer resistance as well as the clearing of inventories that piled up duringPongalseason when usually stocks get accumulated (as schools remain closed for at least three days and fewer trucks ply between Tamil Nadu and neighbouring States).

Mr P. Selvaraj, Zonal Chairman of the NECC, Tamil Nadu, said that the onset of cold wave in North India was the main reason for record prices during the fag end of 2011. The seasonal market attracted an average 25 lakh eggs a day of Namakkal's average daily production of 2.75 crore eggs.

“Consumption of eggs usually goes up in the winter. Now that the rains are over and the end of winter in sight, we see a lag in offtake and hence we have slashed prices,” he added.

Meanwhile, NECC has trimmed the price for layer birds to Rs 29 a kg (Rs 32) while the Broiler Coordination Committee's rate for cull birds is up by Rs 3 a kg to Rs 48.

Business Line
Dairy sector seeks duty cuts on equipment, machinery
Feb. 3,2012
In a bid to promote the processing and packaging of milk in the country, the dairy sector has sought exemption of excise duty and value added tax (VAT) on equipment and machinery in the upcoming Union Budget.

Besides, the industry has also sought a uniform VAT rate on all milk products at 4 per cent that could help drive consumption of such products.

The Indian Dairy Association believes that duty exemption on equipment and machinery will encourage more investments in processing and packaging of milk and milk products. Only 15 per cent of the milk produced in the country is processed and packed, thereby leaving scope for adulteration, unhygienic handling and distribution. About 46 per cent of the milk produced is in liquid form.

MAT EXEMPTION

The IDA also suggested income tax exemption for co-operative unions at the district and State levels to promote dairying in rural areas. Besides, it has also said that the all new dairies and cold chain that qualify for income tax exemption could be further exempted from the minimum alternate tax (MAT), which is about 20 per cent of the book profits.

Further, the dairy sector has also sought the status of agriculture sector, as it has large potential to generate rural employment.

AGRI STATUS

Such a move would also help the dairy sector avail term loans from banks and financial institutions at a concessional rate of 4 per cent, which is currently available for the agriculture sector alone.

The IDA has also demanded that fiscal incentives available for the food processing sector such as reduced excise and customs duties and income tax relief should be extended to the dairy sector.

As cattle feed prices have shot up by over 40 per cent in the past one year due to hike in prices of oilmeals, de-oiled cake and molasses, the IDA has suggested that VAT and other duties on molasses used in cattle feed could be abolished. Such a move would provide relief to the farmers.

The IDA has also recommended that the Government fix a special quota for supply of molasses from sugar mills to the co-operative cattle feed plants. It has also suggested that export of all oilmeals should be discouraged by imposing an additional export duty of 20 per cent ad valorem.

Business Line
Kerala govt to up exports of ornamental fish
Feb 07, 2012

The Kerala government has firmed up plans to ramp up exports of ornamental fish in a big way, even as the Centre is targeting to increase this ‘highly-potential’ business by five per cent during the next financial year.

Speaking to mediapersons here on Monday, minister for fisheries and ports, K Babu, said that the state had chalked out plans to increase the exports as there was good demand for ornamental fishes like ‘Miss Kerala’.

The government has also decided to announce an aquaculture policy for the development of the sector soon. It has appointed a technical committee for drafting the same.

Babu said that the satellite aqua farm, being set up at Neyyar in Thiruvananthapuram, would be commissioned soon. A similar farm at Kadungallore in Ernakulam district has already commenced operations.

The government has now planned to make Kerala as a major hub of aquaculture and will set up aquaculture farms for cultivating ornamental breeds at various locations of the state.

Babu said that India contributed 0.08 per cent to the Rs 70,000-crore global ornamental fish market. The Union government has planned to enhance the country’s share to 5 per cent in the near future in which Kerala’s contribution will be significant, he added.

“The state government has also formed a special task force to submit reports on aquaculture in traditional paddy fields like Pokkali in Ernakulam district and Col farms in Thrissur district. Frequent virus infection to fish and shrimp in these farms has upset the farmers and the task force will study the issue and submit reports,” Babu said.

Kerala exports ornamental fishes worth Rs 35 lakh every year, to various West Asian countries and the US.

International aqua show

The Kerala government will organise the 6th India International Aqua Show in Kochi from February 10. The five-day event will have 120 stalls and will see the participation of countries like the US, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore and the Maldives.

The show will also showcase various accessory products like fish meal, medicines and machinery. There will be an international seminar on various aspects of aquaculture and the ornamental fish industry.

Business Line
Cows on grass prefer herbs as a side dish
08 Feb 2012

Scientists from Aarhus University have studied a selection of herbs and their potentially beneficial effects in cows.

Grazing cows do not just automatically move to the next patch of grass for their meal. If possible, they will choose a meal containing different kinds of herbs.

A varied diet helps to cover the nutrient requirements of the animals and to maintain their resistance to disease and parasites. The different herbs also have an effect on the milk and meat quality produced.

What are the benefits of the individual herbs

There is very little documentation in literature on the many alternative plants that farming historically has made use of or that occur naturally in permanent pastures.

“We have therefore reviewed the available knowledge about alternative plants that could potentially be used in organic productions,” explains scientist Klaus Horsted from Aarhus University.

“The ambition with the literature review was to acquire more knowledge about the effect of the herbs on health, productivity and milk quality as part of a larger project on the effect of pasture composition on milk production.”

Herbs are healthy

The scientists have reviewed literature on the herbs garden burnet, nettle, chicory, sainfoin, cock’s head, birdsfoot trefoil, ribwort plantain, dill, fenugreek, caraway, dandelion, parsley and medick.

During the literature review they focused on different plant ingredients, but primarily different phenolic compounds (particularly tannins), phytoestrogens and essential oils.

It appears that a moderate tannin content in the feed can sometimes have a positive effect on animal productivity and health, for example via the effect on protein degradation and to overcome parasite infections.

And there are other compounds in field herbs that can have a positive effect on health, for example for fighting bacterial infections or aiding digestion.

The different mixtures of compounds in the herbs can also affect the quality of the animal product such as the milk quality.

Platform for further investigations

Of all the herbs, chicory is the most studied. It has turned out to be a useful crop in grazing systems, partly because animals like it and eat relatively large quantities of it.

“Sainfoin and plantain also deserve a closer study. The other herbs have not been scrutinised quite as closely but have previously been used to feed livestock and could be used for this again both in connection with grazing and as feed supplements in preserved forage,” the scientists state in their report.

All About Feed
Government to Enhance Aquaculture with New Policy
February 07, 2012

INDIA - The state government proposes to come up with a state aquaculture policy to enhance cultured fish production in the state.

The reports that the fisheries department has put forth the proposal for cabinet approval. It has also come up with a government order notifying the setting up of a 11-member expert panel to propose recommendations for an effective policy.

The names of international aquaculture expert M N Kutty as the chairman of the panel and the fisheries joint director as the panel convenor has been proposed. The other names have not been finalised but experts from universities and fishery institutions will be among the members.

"A policy is needed to look at ways to enhance fish production in the state, which has a high potential for aquaculture. Yet Kerala's contribution is less than two per cent of the country's production," said fisheries minister K Babu.

He said there were a lot of pokkali farms (paddy cultivated in water with low salinity) that also had aquaculture and added, "We need to promote inland fisheries culture".

The government is also looking at the resources, fields that can have only one crop at a time and also the leasing policy for fish farming. "At present, the land can be leased for just one year. But no bank lends loan for such a short lease period. So, the policy will look into such issues," said Mr Ajayan, joint director, fisheries department, Thiruvananthapuram. He said there were factors of pollution and inland fisheries development that needed to be looked into, and rules formulated accordingly.

"We have to look at the zonation of water bodies and Kol wetlands to identify where aqua farming can be done," said C Mohanakumaran Nair, pro-vice-chancellor, Kerala Fisheries University. On the problems of aquaculture in the state, he said there were several environmental and socio-economic aspects that would need serious discussions.

TheFishSite News
India Ups Imported Milk Requirements
February 09, 2012

The Indian government has issued a draft notification proposing veterinary certificates for the import of milk and milk products from various countries including the US.

The notification was sent to the WTO on January 31, 2012. The comment period ends on March 31, 2012.

The certificate will confirm that in the milk imported:

 no animal rennet has been used;

that a heat treatment has been used to destroy pathogenic organisms;

that the cows were not administered with Bovine Growth Hormones (BGH) / Bovine Somatotropin Hormone (BST/rBST)

that the cows were not treated with estrogen within the last ninety days before milk was drawn;

and that the milk does not contain pre-formed bacterial toxins such as those produced by bacteria belonging to Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium botulinum and enterogenic Escherichia coli

TheCattleSite News
Methionine rule affects organic poultry farmers
09 Feb 2012

The US Department of Agriculture published on February 6, 2012 a proposed rule that would continue the allowance of synthetic methionine in organic poultry production but at reduced levels from the current allowable levels.

The current allowance for synthetic methionine expires on October 1, 2012 and allows 4 pounds per ton (2 kg/t) of feed for laying chickens; 5 pounds per ton (2.5 kg/t) of feed for broiler chickens; and 6 pounds per ton (3 kg/t) of feed for turkeys and other poultry.

The proposed rule would permit organic poultry producers to use synthetic methionine after October 1, 2012 at maximum levels of 2 pounds per ton (1 kg/t) for laying hens and broiler chickens and 3 pounds per ton (1.5 kg/t) for turkeys and all other poultry.

Methionine is classified as an essential amino acid, and is required for proper cell development and feathering. Poultry animals cannot biologically produce methionine on their own.

The proposed rule reflects the recommendations of the National Organic Standards Board, an independent body of organic industry and stakeholder representatives that advises the Secretary of Agriculture on aspects of the USDA organic regulations.

The board determined that the proposed reduced levels of synthetic methionine, developed in consultation with animal welfare experts and nutritionists, are sufficient for poultry maintenance, but do not enhance animal growth.

The recommendation is designed to continue to provide for the basic maintenance requirements of organic poultry, satisfy consumer preference to reduce synthetic methionine use, and allow the organic poultry industry time to research and develop commercially sufficient sources of allowable natural methionine.

All about feed
Egg price hiked on increased offtake
Feb. 9, 2012

The price of an egg has been raised to Rs 2.46 from last week's Rs 2.35 by the National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC), Namakkal zone, following a rise in consumption.

Egg prices, after scaling a record Rs 3.13 a piece last December, cooled owing to buyers' resistance and winter coming to an end. To perk up poultry consumption, the NECC slashed the price to Rs 2.35 last week.

Industry sources toldBusiness Linethat this move (the price cut) has lifted off-take and hence the industry wanted to cash in on the demand and hiked prices gradually.

Egg production in Namakkal, the country's poultry hub , stood at 3.07 crore in January this year against 2.74 crore during the same period a year ago. The cold wave in North India was the main reason for prices to touched a record during the fag end of last year. The seasonal market attracted an average 25-35 lakh eggs a day of Namakkal's average daily production.

exports

With the exports dwindling slowly, the industry is focussing on the home turf.

Meanwhile, NECC has retained last week's prices for layer birds at Rs 29 a kg while the Broiler Coordination Committee's rates for cull birds is down by Rs 3 a kg to Rs 45.

Business Line
Steps Needed to Increase Local Poultry Output
February 13, 2012

JAMMU & KASHMIR, INDIA - Jammu and Kashmir can save the Rs 1,400 crore it spends annually on importing mutton and poultry if measures are taken to increase the local production, Minister for Sheep and Animal Husbandry, Aga Syed Ruhulla said.

"The state is importing mutton and poultry worth more than Rs 1 billion annually, which can be saved once the local production is increased," Mr Ruhulla said.

According to Moneycontrol.com, he said the state government is encouraging the youth for setting up sheep, goat rearing farms by way of providing financial incentive besides expert advice.

He added that there is a need to reach out to people and motivate them for establishing units in this sector. He called upon the officers to adopt latest breeding technology for increasing mutton and poultry production.

Mr Ruhullah said that efforts are being initiated to increase milk production in the state, although state is able to meet the local needs but the need of the hour is to take it to the point where the state can export or make byproducts from it.

The minister asked officers to ensure that the cases sent to banks for financing are cleared within a time bound manner. In case there is any difficulty in getting cases cleared from the bank, the same should be brought into the notice of higher authorities who will take up matter with the bank authorities, he said.

Describing Sheep and Animal Husbandry as the most commercially viable sector, the Minister said that educated youth need to be motivated towards it. He said this will not only provide employment to them but also create avenues for others to earn their livelihood.

ThePoultrySite News
India to control foot & mouth disease for increasing livestock, says Rawat
February 14, 2012

India is committed to control foot and mouth disease (FMD) to increase the productivity of livestock sector, according to Harish Rawat, minister of state for agriculture and food processing industries.

He was speaking at the inaugural session of three-day International Conference on Scientific Developments and Technical Challenges in the Progressive Control of FMD, in the national capital on Monday. According to the minister, controlling the disease will help in improving the livelihood of small, marginal and resource-poor farmers.

Rawat said, “The biggest impediment to growth of the livestock sector is the prevalence of Foot and Mouth Disease in the country after Rinderpest. This adversely affects the performance of the animals, resulting into direct economic losses, to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore per annum. Apart from this, presence of FMD has badly affected export potential of the livestock industry. There is a trade barrier, preventing export of livestock and their products, to the countries, which are free from this disease. The indirect losses, due to reduced work capacity, such as abortions, subsequent infertility and sterility, which cause reduced milk production, have not been quantified. One of the most significant achievements of this sector is the eradication of Rinderpest and Contagious Bovine Pleuro-Pneumonia from the country.”

The minister said, “India is producing about 300 million doses of trivalent vaccine per annum and the demand is expected to go up to 600 to 800 million doses in next 3 to 5 years. Indian Veterinary Research Institute is trying to set up a new plant in its Bangalore campus under PPP mode with an estimated capacity of 100-150 million doses.”

Referring to research and development activities carried out by ICAR, Rawat said, “During the last more than 50 years in FMD, ICAR has made the country self-sufficient, for the requirements of the FMD control programme in the area of diagnosis, surveillance and monitoring. Two institutions of ICAR, the project directorate on FMD at Mukteswar, and the Bangalore Campus of Indian Veterinary Research Institute, are working exclusively on this major disease, and providing all the required technical support to the DADF and the state governments, for the implementation of the FMD control programme.”

The minister said that for ensuring the maintenance of disease-free status, and to be compatible with the standards, laid by the OIE, a world animal health organisation, major health schemes have been initiated, to support the animal health programmes in the states. In order to control the economically important livestock diseases, and to undertake the obligatory functions, related to animal health in the country, the Central government is implementing various schemes for control of these diseases.

Animal husbandry, dairy development and fisheries sectors play an important role in the national economy, as well as in the socio-economic development of the country. It is predicted that livestock will contribute, more than half of the total agricultural income, in the next two decades, besides providing cheap nutritional food, to millions of people. It provides, not only essential proteins and nutritious human diet through milk, eggs, meat etc., but also plays an important role in utilisation of non-edible agricultural by-products, and utilisation of raw materials, such as hides and skins, blood, bone, fat etc.

According to estimates of the Central Statistical Office, the value of output from livestock and fisheries sectors together at current prices was about Rs 4,08,386 crore during 2009-10. It was Rs 3,40,473 crore for livestock sector and Rs 67,913 crore for fisheries.

Minister of state for agriculture Dr Charan Das Mahant was also present at the inaugural session. Secretary, department of animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries Rudhra Gangadharan; secretary, DARE and DG, ICAR Dr S Ayyappan; and Dr Juan Lubrot, chief veterinary officer, FAO; also addressed the conference.

The conference has been jointly organised by the ICAR, DADF and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and attended by 600 partners from across the world. Senior officials of ICAR, FAO, vice-chancellors of state agricultural universities, directors of animal husbandry department of state governments, representatives of industry and veterinary professionals were also present.

Food & Beverage News
US: AFBF opposes antibiotic restrictions in poultry feeds
14 Feb 2012

The American Farm Bureau Federation is lobbying Congress to oppose legislation that will restrict the use of antibiotics in livestock and poultry feeds.

In their letter the organisation stated “the Farm Bureau and its members use antibiotics carefully, judicially and according to label instructions to treat, prevent and control disease in their flocks and herds.”

Although there is a case for Veterinarians to administer antibiotics applying appropriate professional and ethical considerations, there is little support in Congress to retain antibiotics to promote growth or for preventive purposes.

The statement continued, “further, data indicates development of antibiotic- resistant bacteria in animals is stable and food-borne bacterial resistance in humans is declining” according to the AFBF President Bob Stallman. These contentions can be challenged by extensive research relating to the epidemiology and mechanisms of drug resistance. The most fallacious comment in the submission is that “using antibiotics to keep animals healthy reduces the incidence of food-borne pathogens in meat.”

It is anticipated that the US will follow the EU and place additional restrictions on growth promoting antibiotics irrespective of scientific evidence, since consumer perception mitigates against continued use of these products.

World Poultry
India could show the way in organic farming in 30 years
Country's organic products exports valued at $400 m

Nuremberg (Germany), Feb. 15:

The world's largest annual organic products event, BioFach 2012, began here with a sharp focus on India and its products.

“Millions of small and marginal farmers practise organic farming by default.

This is because they do farming in rain-fed areas and cannot afford modern agriculture that encompasses using fertilisers and pesticides,” said Mr Asit Tripathy, Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Commerce.

Changes were happening in Indian agriculture with mechanisation, corporatisation and contract farming, but in the last 10 years, the Indian Government has woken up to the potential of organic farming, he said.

Indian organic products exports currently are valued at $400 million and the target was to top $1 billion by 2015, he said.

“The $400 million makes up just 16 per cent of organic products produced in India,” Mr Tripathy said, adding that the domestic organic market was growing.

“Domestic organic products are competing against mainstream products in supermarkets in India,” he said.

With the setting up of National Project for Organic Farming, the Government was trying to launch organic certification programme for the domestic market. Default forums have been asked to set up a group of 500 farmers and encourage them to take up certification of their products, he said.

India is the ‘Country of the Year' at BioFach 2012 and there is a strong presence of 51 manufacturers, including in textiles, at the fair.

Besides Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, the Tea Board and Spices Board are also participating.

Earlier in his address, Dr Ulrich Maly, Mayor of Nuremberg, said that a meeting of network of organic cities in Germany would be held during BioFach.

Dr Gerd Mueller, German Secretary for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, said that Germany was attempting to expand organic cultivation to another 10,000 farms to meet the increasing demand.

Dr Felic Prinz zu Lowenstein, Chairman of Federation of Organic Enterprises in Germany, said organic farming can provide food security and feed the world.

He said that India could show the way in organic products in 30 years, especially in sustainable agriculture and food safety.

Mr Andrew Leu, President of UN's IFOAM, said the current focus was on food security and poverty reduction. “If this has to be achieved, logically the focus should be small growers who make 70 per cent of farming in the world,” he said.

Business Line
US Poultry, Egg Exports Set Records in 2011
February 15, 2012

US - For US poultry and egg exports, 2011 was a record-breaking year, with significant gains in both quantity and value across the board, according to trade data released last week by the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.

Some highlights:

 Combined export value of US poultry and eggs set a new record in 2011 of $5.1 billion, a 17 per cent increase over 2010.

 Total US poultry export value last year also established a new record, $4.91 billion, 17 per cent ahead of 2010.

 Total US poultry export quantity of more than 3.9 million metric tons was the second-highest ever, up nearly 6 per cent, trailing only the record year of 2008.

 Exports of US broiler meat in 2011 – excluding chicken paws – set records in both quantity and value, reaching 3.2 million tons valued at $3.6 billion, up from 2010 by 3 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively.

 US turkey exports last year also registered record highs of 319,015 tons valued at $599.5 million, up 21 per cent and 29 per cent, respectively.

 Total US egg exports (table eggs, plus processed egg products calculated as shell-egg equivalents) last year reached 220.5 million dozen, up 7 per cent, the second-highest on record.

 Value of US egg exports hit $194.7 million, up 12 per cent, setting a new record high.

  Exports of chicken paws in 2011 reached 346,048 metric tons, an increase of 13 per cent from the previous year. Export value set a new record at $502.1 million, up 8 per cent.

"It's obvious from the data that exports are growing in importance for the US poultry and egg industry," said Jim Sumner, president of the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC). "We expect this growth trend will continue well into the future as our industry becomes more price-competitive, as USAPEEC continues to develop new markets for our products, and as economies around the world, particularly in emerging markets, continue to grow."

Broilers – Although US broiler meat shipments in 2011 to several key markets, Russia, Ukraine and Cuba included, were down significantly, increased exports to other destinations, such as Hong Kong, Korea, Iraq, Mexico, Angola, and Canada helped to drive the overall increase.

Shipments to Hong Kong increased 20 per cent to 234,769 tons, while exports to Korea jumped 54 per cent to 108,154 tons. Exports to Mexico rose by 4 per cent to 457,574 tons, while shipments to Canada climbed 12 per cent to 142,039 tons. Exports to Angola reached 164,007 tons, up 11 per cent, while shipments to Iraq (including transshipments via Turkey) were 144,983 tons, up 15 per cent.

Also, broiler shipments to other markets such as the UAE, China, Philippines, Haiti, Japan, Singapore, Jordan, Chile, Gabon, and Kazakhstan also increased significantly from the previous year. Of the total chicken paw exports, 90 per cent were shipped to Hong Kong, up 28 per cent from 2010, while 8 per cent were shipped to China, down 41 per cent from the previous year.

Total exports of US broilers (including paws) in 2011 were 3.5 million tons valued at $4.2 billion, up 4 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively. Of the total, 43 per cent went to the top five markets of Hong Kong, Mexico, Russia, Angola, and Canada.

Turkeys – Turkey exports to Mexico, the top market for US turkey, climbed to 180,996 tons, up 24 per cent. Other key markets include China, 37,588 tons, up 12 per cent; Hong Kong, 17,194 tons, up 53 per cent; and Canada, 10,280 tons, up 7 per cent.

Of the total US turkey meat exports, 79 per cent went to the top five markets, with shipments to Mexico alone accounting for 57 per cent. Table Eggs – For table eggs, exports in 2011 were 82.8 million dozen valued at $77 million, up 12 and 28 per cent, respectively, thanks largely to increased shipments to Hong Kong and Japan. Export value reached an all-time high.

Of total shipments, 86 per cent were shipped to the top five export markets – Hong Kong, Canada, the U.A.E., Japan, and Netherlands Antilles.

Egg Products – Export value of US processed egg products in 2011 set a record at $117.7 million, up 4 per cent from the previous year.

Shipments to Japan, the top export market for US egg products, rose by 55 per cent to $62.3 million, accounting for 53 per cent of the total global export value. Export value to the European Union declined by 40 per cent to $20.405 million, while export value to Canada decreased 20 per cent to $8.164 million. Export value to the top five markets totaled accounted for 84 per cent of the total.



Figure 1 - US broiler (including paws) exports since 1990. Source: USDA/FAS GATS database.



Figure 2 - US turkey exports since 1990. Source: USDA/FAS GATS database.



Figure 3 - US exports of table eggs and egg products (in shell-egg equivalents) since 1990. Source: USDA/FAS GATS database.

ThePoultrySite News Desk
WTO ruling to help Indian shrimp get out of US anti-dumping duty net
Kochi, Feb. 16:

Indian shrimp exporters are hoping to get out of the US anti-dumping duty net. In a notification dated February 14, the International Trade Administration coming under the US Department of Commerce said that they will be doing away with zeroing methodology on imports. This, the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) said, could be first step in getting out of the US anti-dumping duty for Indian shrimp exports.

The US Department of Commerce's move comes in the wake of several adverse rulings from the World Trade Organisation. Countries including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, EU, Japan, Mexico, South Korea and Thailand had taken the process of zeroing to the WTO and were relieved of the need to pay anti-dumping duty for their exports to the US. The Government of India was yet to take the issue to the WTO and Indian shrimp exporters had been paying anti-dumping duties on their shrimp consignments all this while, SEAI sources said.

Zeroing is the practice under which a very small percentage of the country's exports are sold at sub-fair value prices because of some extraneous consideration or other - often under distress conditions. Under the previous practice, the US Customs used to zero in on these consignments and charge all consignments from that exporter with anti-dumping duty. This practice was deemed unfair by the WTO and countries which had approached it earlier were granted relief.

In earlier judgments, the WTO had ruled that the US was violating global trade rules in using its controversial “zeroing” method to impose anti-dumping tariffs on shrimp from Vietnam. The decision by a three-member panel of WTO was one among several such rulings in which zeroing had been found illegal under WTO agreement. The panel said the US had acted inconsistently with provisions of the Anti-Dumping Agreement and the GATT and said the US should bring its calculation method in line with the two agreements.

Now the US Department of Commerce has recommended revocation of the practice, SEAI said. They said that India would have got relief earlier if the Government had taken the matter to the WTO. Successive administrative review of Indian shrimp imports to the US was found to carry sub-minimus status; the anti-dumping duty level would be 0.5 per cent or less. Indian shrimp exports to the US would not have carried the anti-dumping duty burden in the absence of zeroing, SEAI sources said.

But for the current move of the US Department of Commerce to abide the WTO ruling, India would have had to pay anti-dumping until March 2014 when the results of the Seventh Administrative Review would have been published, SEAI said. We are currently paying anti-dumping duty of 1.69 per cent on shrimp exports to the US.

Business Line
Cattle-feed subsidy may be raised
February 18, 2012

Minister for Dairy Development K.C. Joseph said that the government was seriously considering increasing the subsidy on cattle feed. He said this while inaugurating the district dairy farmers meet and seminar at Anchal near here on Friday. The Minister said that various schemes would be implemented during the 12th Five Year Plan to increase milk production in the State. The aim was to attain self sufficiency in milk production. He said that the increase in the price of milk had come as an encouragement to dairy farmers. After the milk price was raised, milk production in the State had gone up by 25 per cent. Yet the State continued to import about 7 lakh litres of milk a day. To help dairy farmers, the State government had requested the Union government to bring dairy sector under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. The government had also suggested to the bankers to extend to the dairy farmers loans provided to the agricultural sector. He wanted the grama panchayats to ensure that the MGNREGS was utilised for constructive purposes rather than mere creation of jobs.

The Hindu
Japan, world's top corn importer, buys more US corn
28 Feb 2012
Japan has stepped up its corn purchasing, buying from the US for April-June, following a delay in Ukraine shipments.

Japan has purchased 1.8 million tonnesof US feed-grade corn for April-June shipment stepping up purchases from the world's top exporter after a delay in this quarter's shipments from Ukraine, trading executives said.

The country is the world's top importer, buying around 3.3 million tonness of feed grade corn alone every quarter.

"It covered more than 45% of its January-March needs with European buys, but the bulk of its purchases for April-June have been from the U.S.," an executive said on the sidelines of a grain conference.

All about feed
Frozen shrimps drive growth in seafood exports
Feb. 27: 2012

The higher contribution of shrimp exports to the overall seafood products export is supporting growth of the sector, according to Ms Leena Nair, Chairman, Marine Products Export Development Authority.

In the current 2011-12 financial year, up to January, estimates show that frozen shrimp exports grew 22 per cent more in quantity as compared with the corresponding period in the previous year with exports at 1.59 lakh tonnes (1.30 lakh tonnes); valued at Rs 6,928 crore (Rs 4,957 crore). The growth in value is nearly 40 per cent.

During the year, South-East Asia has emerged the largest export destination replacing the European Union that has moved to the second place. However, there is an element of concern as exports to the South-East means that the Indian product is being further processed and re-exported. Indian exporters are losing out on these margins, Ms Nair said.

Efforts are on to add value further, she said. Against the overall seafood exports of $2.8 billion in 2010-11, exports in the current fiscal are likely to exceed $3.5 billion.

Mr Elias Sait, Secretary-General, Seafood Exporters Association of India, said while the rupee-dollar movement had contributed to the growth in overall value, there had been a real increase quantitatively in frozen shrimp exports.

The industry is looking at expanding value addition.

Budget expectation

The seafood processors are hoping for measures to bring down the costs for the farmers and processors. Reduction in import duties on aquaculture equipment like aerators, and specific inputs like feed were some of the major demands, he said.

The seafood industry representatives were addressing media persons on the eve of the inauguration of the 18{+t}{+h}India International Seafood Show to be held on February 28.

The event coincides with the 40{+t}{+h}year of operations of the MPEDA and the SEAI. Over 210 exhibitors will be showcasing their products with more than 1,100 foreign delegates expected to participate in the event. A major contingent from Japan, with over 100 delegates, is expected, he said.

Business Line
Lower oilseeds crop may prove a challenge to contain inflation
Feb. 28: 2012

According to the Agriculture Ministry's second advance estimate issued on February 3, the crop size is 75 lakh tonnes, well below the target of 81.9 lakh tonnes.

Last year (2010-11), according to government's final estimate, rapeseed/mustard output reached a record 81.8 lakh tonnes. Simply put, according to the government, this year's rapeseed/mustard crop is down by 6.8 lakh tonnes.

However, the oilseeds trade has other ideas. Several traders this correspondent spoke to mentioned that the crop size would be about 55 lakh tonnes. But these are at best guesstimates, and may have been driven by trading positions.

The Solvent Extractors' Association of India, based on a recent crop survey, has estimated the crop size at 62.6 lakh tonnes. This is 5.9 lakh tonnes less than last year's 68.5 lakh tonnes. The apex body of the nation's oilseeds trade and industry, the Central Organisation is yet to hold its rabi oilseeds seminar where crop estimate is arrived at.

While the actual crop size may be a matter of debate, what emerges from the foregoing is that both the Government and trade estimates this season point to a decline of anything between 5.9 lakh and 6.8 lakh tonnes in rapeseed/mustard production. This translates to over two lakh tonnes of oil.

Even going by the Government estimate, a disconcerting feature is that the overall oilseeds production during 2011-12 is set to decline by a sizeable 20 lakh tonnes, equivalent to roughly six lakh tonnes of oil. Groundnut shows a sharp decline of 13.2 lakh tonnes to 69.4 lakh tonnes. There is also apprehension that the soyabean crop estimate of 120.7 lakh tonnes may have been slightly overstated. So, in the coming months, vegetable oil availability is most likely to get tighter. This has implication for market prices. Edible oils have a high weightage in the consumer price index. May, June and July are summer months when traditionally vegetable oil consumption falls. But these months are crucial because of the southwest monsoon – forecast, onset and progress.

Already there are apprehensions of some abnormality in rainfall in the ensuing season. It is also expected that the base effect of food inflation felt in recent weeks will soon start to wane. Strident rise in crude oil prices is likely to lift vegetable oil prices globally. These challenging times call for utmost caution on the part of policymakers and attention to the emerging situation. Speculative tendencies need to be curbed strongly and consumer welfare advanced.

Business Line
Marine product exports rise 3.48% in Apr 2011-Jan 2012
Feb 29, 2012

Chennai: Exports of marine products from April 2011 to January 2012 have registered a growth of 3.48% in quantity, 25.55% in rupee value and 20.96% in US dollar realisation, compared to the same period last year.

The unit value realisation has also improved by 16.89%, according to the latest Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) statistics. As per the provisional export figures for April 2011-January 2012, the Indian seafood exports have increased by R850 crore from R12,901.47 crore in 2010-11 to R13,753.43 crore.

In dollar terms, exports have touched $3 billion during the period. MPEDA released the figures in Chennai on the eve of 18th International Seafood Show 2012 being organised in association with Seafood Exporters’ Association of India (SEAI).

The exports of frozen shrimps and fish have registered a positive growth both in volume and value, while South East Asia, Japan and the US have become key markets for Indian seafood. Significantly, South East Asia became top consumer of Indian marine products with a market share of 25.44%, valued at $ 745.65 million.

EU ranks second with a share of 22.41%, followed by the US (18.62%), Japan (13.70%), China (7.35%), Middle East (4.72%) and other countries (7.76%). However, exports of China have shown a drastic decline both in quantity and value terms.

In the export basket, frozen shrimp continued to be the major item accounting for 50.75% of the total US dollar earnings. Shrimp exports during the period increased by 21.89%, 39.75% and 36.16% in quantity, rupee value and dollar value respectively.

Exports of frozen shrimp to the US has registered a growth of 41.83% in volume, 46.04% in rupee value and 43.67% in dollar terms. Similarly, frozen shrimp exports to Japan also showed an increase of 13.32%, 23.32% and 20.77% in volume, rupee and dollar terms. Exports of Vannamei shrimp during the period increased tremendously by 263%, 314% and 300% in quantity, rupee and dollar terms respectively, when compared to the same period an year ago period, said the MPEDA statement.

The second largest item in the export basket, fish, accounted for a share of about 39.86% in quantity and 19.13% in dollar earnings. Accordingly, frozen fish exports during the period increased by 7.49% in quantity and 15.17% in dollar earnings. While frozen squid and cuttlefish exports decreased in quantity but showed an

increase in value terms both in rupee as well as in dollar terms, said the MPEDA statement.

The dried items export declined by 36.60% in quantity, 48.14% and 50.71% in rupee and dollar value respectively, the chilled items exports improved in value but decreased in volume. Live items exports have gone down both in dollar value as well as in volume when compared to the same period last year.

The Financial Express
Seafood exporters seek expansion of quarantine infrastructure
Chennai, Feb. 28:

Quarantine infrastructure for the import of brood stock for aquaculture has to be immediately expanded for sustained growth of shrimp exports, according to Mr Elias Sait, Secretary-General, Seafood Exporters Association of India.

The imported brood stock, the mother shrimps of the‘vannamei'species of shrimps, is essential for the hatcheries here to produce high quality, disease-free shrimp seeds for supply to farms. But a shortage of quarantine infrastructure was hampering imports of brood stock and consequently, the supply of seeds to the farms.

Shrimp shipments

Shrimp exports account for over 22 per cent of the total quantity of seafood exports of 7.04 lakh tonnes and contribute nearly half the value of $3-billion seafood exports. Shrimp exports have grown over 70 per cent in the last three years to touch Rs 6,928 crore as of Januaryin the current year. Such a growth can only be sustained by adequate infrastructure facilities.

The industry is also facing concerns of high transaction costs, import of farm materials and inadequate incentives for exports. These need to be addressed for the growth of the sector, he said.

Mr Sait was addressing the inaugural session of the International Seafood Show 2012. Over 1,000 delegates from some of the leading export markets for India are attending the event which will be on till March 2.

The Tamil Nadu Governor, Dr K. Rosaiah, said that the seafood processing sector should target becoming a global leader in exports. Quality and scale of operations should be expanded to meet global competition.

Value-addition

Ms Leena Nair, Chairperson, Marine Products Export Development Authority of the Commerce Ministry, said that seafood exports this year are set to cross over $3 billion. However, the industry needs to concentrate on value-added processing to fully exploit the potential.

Business Line

                                                                

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