Coarse grain prices and monsoon in India
The first week of June saw the first rally in prices of coarse cereals. Almost all the coarse cereals traded were at prices higher than in last week of May 2005.
Pearl Millet (Bajra) prices of different varieties reportedly were averaging between a low of 129 to a high pf 155 per MT. (Average $140 per MT). At the state level; Bajra was traded at highest value in Gujarat at $142 per MT, while in Karnataka the commodity sold for a lowest value of $120 per MT.
Maize prices were also reported higher than the last week and crossed the $200 per Mt limit in Gujarat, were stocks of yellow maize were reported to be traded at $201 per MT. Prices in other markets were ranging from a high of $147in Rajasthan to a low of $109 per MT in Bihar, where stocks are still coming in regularly. The Future markets also reported small gains. June supplies were traded at $123, while for July and August the values were $126 and $133 per MT respectively. US corn prices were reported little soft and CBOT closed at $2.185 per bushel ($86.00 per MT). FOB values (US Gulf) would be close to $103 per MT
Barley prices also showed an upward trend and the average prices based on different varieties available were traded at an average price of $130 per MT, which was higher than the last week average of $126 per MT. Within the states, Barley prices were highest in Punjab and the commodity was traded at $149 per MT. The lowest prices was in Haryana at $132 per MT.
Sorghum prices also went up and the hybrid sorghum which was trading at $112 per MT till few weeks back was traded at $123 per MT. Also prices in Gujarat went up by $20 to $178 per MT. US prices (FOB US gulf) are reported to be at $107 per MT.
As the commodity prices are going up, Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) in its annual forecast had projected the agriculture output to be higher by 3%, a one percent increase when compared to last year. This is based on the assumption that the monsoon would be near normal and the more quality seeds will be distributed this fiscal (2005-06).
Another report by the Centre for Mathematical Modelling and Computer Simulation has forecast lower rains in the first half of the monsoon season. According to the report, the monsoon is likely to be deficient by 34%. Its earlier forecast was for a 22% excess rainfall. In April the forecast by the meteorological department was for a 98% rainfall during Southwest monsoon. What would happen to agriculture will be a big question this year. India has a four month monsoon season and a large part of agriculture is dependent on monsoon.
Making consumers aware about safe meat handling
Providing safe food and meat to the consumers should be a priority and this is possible by following principals of GMP, GHP, HACCP in the place of slaughter and during supply to retail counters. While the company will try to do its best to make safe meat and meat products available to its consumers, the consumers also need to be made aware on how to maintain quality of meat and cook meat. Though the meat would leave the processor in good shape and will also be taken home is good condition, mistakes often happen in kitchen during storage and cooking leading to quality deterioration, bad product and sickness.
The American Meat Institute Foundation, National Chicken Council and National Turkey Federation have released a brochure which aims to bridge this key knowledge gap among consumers: the proper internal temperature to ensure safety.
The brochure addresses important strategies for ensuring food safety, including:
• Keep hot foods hot and colds foods cold — bacteria multiply when foods reach the temperature "mid-range."
• Don't cross contaminate — separate raw and cooked foods and wash any items that have touched raw meat and poultry, like cutting boards and utensils, with hot soapy water following use.
• Discard marinade used on raw meat and poultry.
• Use a clean plate to remove cooked foods from the grill. Never use the same plate that held raw meat and poultry unless it has been thoroughly washed in hot soapy water.
New research has indicated that colour is not a good indicator of doneness and that instant-read thermometers must always be used.
The brochure may be downloaded using the link given below:
http://www.meatsafety.org/safehandling/Brochuresafehandling.pdf
While in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh barbequed chicken (chicken tikka) and products from minced meats (minced meat kababs) are widely cooked and relished, it is always thought that the cooking method makes such products safer, which is not the case. Many a times it is seen that the meat remains raw from inside, with juices flowing. Whole, intact muscle cuts of meat and poultry are sterile inside and bacteria remains on the outside. However, when these cuts are ground, external bacteria can be distributed throughout the product, making it imperative ground meat and poultry is cooked thoroughly.
Use of proper systems during processing, retailing and handling during cooking will make products more safe.
Big growth in crop biotechnology expected
Bio Economic Research Associates, or bio-era™, a leading independent research and advisory firm providing analysis on the future of the global bio economy has released a new research report, entitled “Agbiotech 2005: Regional Trends in Adoption and Acceptance”
The report summarizes recent developments in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, North America and Europe—with in-depth coverage of key countries in each region, especially for rapidly developing countries in Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.
Key Findings of the report include:
• New biotech policies likely to be introduced this year in India and China will be of tremendous importance to the future of GM crops and agriculture in Asia. GM crop acceptance is growing much faster in developing world, but there are controversies and opposition. If these controversial issues can be taken care of, companies and governments will be able to win sufficient public confidence to open the way for much greater and more rapid value creation. Most important the farmers will benefit from these news policies
• New legislation, regulations, and commercial agreements coming into place in 2005 in Latin America and Asia make this a momentous year for agricultural biotechnology. The frameworks now being put in place will pave the way for significant further expansion of GM crops in these regions. But key stakeholder groups, still have the potential to shift the trajectory of events.
• Based on an evaluation of technical, commercial, and regulatory factors affecting the business environment for GM crops, Bio era rates the United States, South Africa, Paraguay, Egypt, Canada, Brazil, and the Philippines as the nations most supportive of GM crop development.
• Despite the growth in GM crop adoption in some regions, the possibility of uniformly open markets for GM crops is fading. Regulations governing GM crops and food products in Europe and Japan remain highly restrictive, even as central governments take formal steps toward new GM crop approvals. These regulations cast a long shadow into the international market for key crops.
In a related development, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has called for shorter regulatory approval of crop biotechnology meant for exports (through export zones), while ensuring that there is no leakage into the domestic market.
The confederation is of the view that export opportunities through SEZ/AEZ in crop biotech should be encouraged by following a shorter regulatory approval of one year duration while ensuring that there is no leakage into domestic environment of the GM crop meant for export.
The chamber is of the view that the laws should be harmonized to ensure a world-class regulatory and patent regime. Also the biotech laws need to be harmonized with the Draft Food Safety and Standards Bill 2005.
Amit Sachdev
Representative
U S Grains Council, India
bluecross303@gmail.com
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