The ministry attributed higher food prices to dearer imports as supply disrupted from some of major import sources. In addition, increased global demand for agricultural products, fuelled by rising living standards in emerging economies and higher bio-fuel production worsened the supply disruptions. This led to rise in prices of rice and cereals, vegetables and dairy products. The minister was responding to questions regarding the increase in consumer prices and the impact of rising...

Their focus ranges from alfalfa seed to winegrapes, but the 63 agricultural marketing programs operating in California all aim to help farmers and ranchers improve and sell their crops. A University of California study says the marketing boards and commissions devote more than two-thirds of their overall budgets to advertising and promotion. The study says a more recent trend involves commodity groups underwriting health and nutrition studies on the crops they represent. Two public-private...

Driven by high oil prices, many crops are turned into biofuels and this would increase the prices of these and other crops that are intended to feed people. Another suggestion was for rice mills to stock paddy rice - not polished rice - to preserve quality. They say it should instead channel the funds to research and development to increase yields and added value, as Thailand needs to maximise the use of its limited plantation areas. At a Krungthep Turakij seminar last week on agricultural...

According to officials, import tax on rice has been eased. It is expected that the country would import 75,000 metric tonnes in two varieties by the end of this month. Sri Lanka to import rice from India. India has decided to export 6,000 rice metric tonnes to Sri Lanka at the request of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The contracted stockpile of Ponni Samba rice which was kept back in Tuticorin and Chennai ports following a ban by the Government is likely to be exported to Sri Lanka by next...

It would subsidize what are now already rich agribusiness interests to produce already surplus staple crops to the tune of $26 billion over the next five years. The FRESH Act would instead focus on conservation, equity and a new taxpayer-supported insurance program that will pay out only when real farmers hit a rough spot of weather or market conditions beyond their control. The Senate Agriculture Committee version, like the one that passed the House, would at least put some income limits...