Commodity Update
At the end of the year, we need to understand one fact that the markets be in bullion, stocks, commodities or real estate, peaked. Most of this was due to easy availability of funds. Looking at two of the commodities
Barley
The week started with fairly high prices touching $196 per MT (at market yards), which by mid week had risen to $ 200 per MT. Some varieties did show a drop in prices due to quality issues. The trend of high prices is likely to continue, till the new crop comes into the market, which will be in April 2006.
Reports available indicate a better barley crop in 2006 and the market will see a drop in prices. In the year 2004, the area under barley was 0.773 million ha, which this year (2005) is up by 5.56% to 0.816 million ha.
The malt industry though specifies the varieties, but due to the poor availability, it should buy what is available in the market and most times, there is no varietal purity.
Corn
The week started with a mixed note, with some varieties touching a high of $140 - $142 per MT at the market yard and staying the at the same level till mid week and ending lower. Sone varieties did start low at $112 per MT, but achieved a high at $139 by mid week and went down by the end of the week. The average prices though remained same at $129-130 per MT though out the week.
Prices in the production states particularly in Karnataka are ruling at a very low level ($106-108 per MT) at the market yard and the state is fulfilling the requirements of states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat to a large extent. Reports available also indicate movement of large quantities of corn to Bangladesh as well to fulfil its requirements. The poultry industry in Bangladesh is growing at overt 25% and the demand of corn is about 900 TMT and more than 50% of its requirement is met from India.
The market year for corn 2005-06 started on a high note and prices in all the areas have remained high all through the season except in Karnataka, where the production was very good. In all other areas production was higher and highly unlikely that the prices will come down in the year as the demand increases.
The highest average price of corn in Dec 2004 was $121 and the lowest being $113.5 per MT at the end of the month. In Dec 2005, the lowest was $122 per MT and the highest $130 per MT, which is about 14% higher than last year prices at the same time.
On Dec 30, 2005 the corn at CBOT closed at $2.15 per bushel ($84.62 per MT), similar to to last week closing of $84.37 per MT. The FOB value (US Gulf) would be close to $106 per MT.
Rabi Planting
As on Dec 25, 2005, Wheat & Barley planting is reported up 2.5% and 5.56% respectively. Planting of Corn and Jowar is down by 3.5% and 5.76% respectively. In addition Rice planting is also down by 1.88% from last year.
Delivery Costs
Currently all commodities in India are bagged and transported by trucks, which are in most cases overloaded. The new directive from the honourable Supreme Court, would not over loading of trucks, which would mean increase in freight rates and ultimately cost of commodities at the end users point.
Is Europe going soft on Biotech?
A draft note circulated by European Commission last week authorises contamination of biotech products in organic agriculture. The new draft allows 0.9% GM contaminated agriculture product to be labelled as organic, which is contrary to the current legislation.
Another report also indicates that WTO has ruled in favour of US challenge of EU import restrictions which do not allow sale of biotech foods in United Kingdom and European Union states. Based on the ruling, biotech products will be available in UK and EU and food processors in US, Canada, Argentina and Australia will be allowed to sell processed foods containing biotech products in UK and EU. The products could be corn chips, tortillas, bread products, biscuits and ready meals. The reports says, “WTO has decided that attempt by EU nations to slow approvals for GM (biotech) foods or ban them outright – amounts to illegal restraint of free trade”.
In the year 2005 as per USDA data, EU (25) purchased Corn Gluten meal HS code 2303100010 worth $26.77 million, Corn Gluten Feed HS code 2303100020 worth $199 million and Soybean Meal HS code 2304000000 worth $16.36 million. More information is available on the following link.
http://www.fas.usda.gov/ustrdscripts/USReport.exe
The CGM, CGF and SBM are used to feed the poultry and livestock and the products are not labelled as on date.
New laws to safeguard the interest of consumers and the environment
Now that Delhi government has banned street slaughter, Ministry of Food Processing Industries has included frozen and chilled chicken under Meat Food Products Order (MFPO) wing and Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board (DAMB) plans to set up a state of the art poultry processing plant for Delhi, there are more things that need to be done to safe guard the interests of consumers.
In an interesting move recently Ireland’s Department of Agriculture has banned disposal of food waste including raw meat, fish and poultry waste in sanitary land fills. As per the new law the food businesses must ensure that they have the necessary procedures in place to dispose the material correctly by rendering. The E.U. Animal By-products Regulation sets rules to safeguard public and animal health by ensuring the safe handling and disposal of animal by-products not intended for human consumption.
By-products include raw meat, raw fish, and former foods of animal origin when they are no longer intended for human consumption from retailers, distributors, wholesalers, and food manufacturers. Catering waste, defined as waste from restaurants and kitchens, including central and household kitchens, is not included in this definition.
In the explanatory notes it is mentioned that in order to safeguard public and animal health, waste raw meat, fish, and poultry must be kept separate from other general waste by having separate containers for the storage of the two types of waste. If they are not kept separate they must all be dealt with as raw animal by-products and cannot be land filled.
Currently in India, most of the wastes from municipals slaughter facilities (large and small animals) and from shops doing poultry slaughter is picked by municipal trucks or packed in bags and is disposed of at the city land fills, which are the breeding ground of diseases. Though it is the responsibility of the municipal corporations to dispose of this waste properly, it is seldom done.
Another law that takes effect in EU from Jan 01, 2006 is the ban on use of antibiotics as growth promoters. This is the final step to tackle the emergence of bacteria and other microbes resistant to antibiotics, due to their overexploitation or misuse.
As per the commission, it is a necessity considering public health and will effectively address the problem of micro-organisms becoming resistant to treatments that the population has relied on for years. Animal feed is the first step in the food chain, and so a good place to start. Antibiotics can now be used only for veterinary purposes.
In India there is currently no law which mandates a withdrawal period for feed containing antibiotics before the birds (chicken) is sent to the market or to the processing plants.
By adopting good management practises and proper bio-security it will be possible to tackle some of the emerging problems and other can be tackled by proper vaccination and antibiotics can used when ever required. But in order to safeguard the rights of consumers and also human and animal health, it will be necessary to enact laws as above.
May the New Year bring more opportunities knocking on your doors and may success & happiness be yours.
Wishing you a very happy and a prosperous new year 2006 !!
Amit Sachdev
Representative
U S Grains Council, India
bluecross303@gmail.com
December 31, 2005
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Friday, December 23, 2005
Corn prices remain high; Health benefits from Barley; Meat Consumption in US on the rise
Corn prices remain high
As we enter the last week of the year 2005, it seems the corn prices are going to end on a high note. Looking at the prices same time last year, corn was traded at the market yards across the states on an average all India value of Rs.5251 ($118) per MT, while this year same time the average all India price is Rs.5805 ($129) per MT. This price is about 10.55% higher than last year at the market yard.
Just to compare prices of some varieties in the third week of Dec 2004 and Dec 2005
Deshi Red $ 125 in Dec 2004 and $ 135 in Dec 2005
Yellow $ 125 in Dec 2005 and $ 132 in Dec 2005 (it reached $142 on 21 Dec 2005)
Uttar Pradesh, which at one time produced a sizable crop, reports a down trend and the crop is expected to be down by approximately 35%. Other states which are expected to produce less than last year are Rajasthan (down by 30%), Punjab (down by 35%), Gujarat (down by 12%). The only states which have produced more than last year are Andhra Pradesh (up by 38%) and Karnataka (up by 40%), but these high productions are not enough to cover the gap. Despite the increase in production in these two states, the prices of corn are ruling higher in Andhra Pradesh as well as Karnataka, indicating a higher demand from other states.
While in the world situation, USDA has increased the corn export number for China from 3 MMT to 6 MMT, but this has not decreased the grain prices in China. Grain output in China is expected to have jumped by more than 10 million metric tons to over 480 million tons, as per the National Development and Reform Commission. It is reported that a favorable weather also boosted the bumper crop last year.
Grain yield is expected to average 4.449 tons a hectare from 2001 to 2005, higher than 4.424 tons during the 1995-2000 period.
Profitability in grain planting in China has decreased this year due to rising prices for agricultural inputs, such as fertilizer, but it still can be regarded as one of the best years, judging by historical standards
Health benefits from Barley
There are two main types of dietary fiber - soluble and insoluble. The main difference between the two is how they move through the digestive tract. Insoluble fiber, also known as roughage, moves through the digestive tract mostly undisolved. Soluble fiber (beta glucan) mixes with liquid and binds to fatty substances to help remove them from the body.
Studies show soluble fiber (beta glucan) is effective in lowering blood cholesterol and has also been shown to be beneficial in slowing the absorption of sugar, which, for people with diabetes, may help decrease the need for insulin. Barley and oats are the only two edible grains that contain significant levels of beta glucan.
Studies show that insoluble fiber is beneficial in lowering the risk of bowel disorders and colon cancer.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that barley consumption can help reduce coronary heart disease. Whole grain barley and certain dry milled barley grain products are appropriate sources of beta-glucan soluble fiber and can help in coronary heart disease. Barley listed as eligible sources of beta-glucan soluble fiber include whole grain barley (dehulled or hulless), and certain dry milled barley products, i.e., pearl, flakes, grits, meal, flour, beta-glucan enriched meal fractions and bran and will now be eligible for health claim.
Meat Consumption in US on the rise
It is projected that the per capita meat consumption in US will increase in coming years. Looking at a two year trend the major increase is expected in broiler meat consumption which is increase from 38.23 kg in 2004 to 38.64 kg in 2005 and further jump to 39.46 in 2006. Consumption of pork is expected to decrease from 23.26 kg in 2004 to 22.54 kg in 2005 and increase little bit to 22.67 kg in 2006. Beef consumption is also expected to decrease from 29.98 kg in 2004 to 29.89 kg in 2005 and again increase to 30.70 kg in 2006.
The reason for the increase in consumption of poultry meat is attributed to healthy eating and shift to white meat, which can be converted into more versatile convenient products.
The total meat (red and poultry) is expected to decrease marginally from 100.37 kg in 2004 to 99.83 kg in 2005 and increase further to 101.51 in 2006.
In India per capita broiler meat availability was 1.65 kg in 2004, which is projected to increase to 1.78 kg in 2005 and further increase to 1.89 kg in 2006. This is based on the increase in the broiler population by 10% per year.
Amit Sachdev
Representative
U S Grains Council, India
bluecross303@gmail.com
December 23, 2005
As we enter the last week of the year 2005, it seems the corn prices are going to end on a high note. Looking at the prices same time last year, corn was traded at the market yards across the states on an average all India value of Rs.5251 ($118) per MT, while this year same time the average all India price is Rs.5805 ($129) per MT. This price is about 10.55% higher than last year at the market yard.
Just to compare prices of some varieties in the third week of Dec 2004 and Dec 2005
Deshi Red $ 125 in Dec 2004 and $ 135 in Dec 2005
Yellow $ 125 in Dec 2005 and $ 132 in Dec 2005 (it reached $142 on 21 Dec 2005)
Uttar Pradesh, which at one time produced a sizable crop, reports a down trend and the crop is expected to be down by approximately 35%. Other states which are expected to produce less than last year are Rajasthan (down by 30%), Punjab (down by 35%), Gujarat (down by 12%). The only states which have produced more than last year are Andhra Pradesh (up by 38%) and Karnataka (up by 40%), but these high productions are not enough to cover the gap. Despite the increase in production in these two states, the prices of corn are ruling higher in Andhra Pradesh as well as Karnataka, indicating a higher demand from other states.
While in the world situation, USDA has increased the corn export number for China from 3 MMT to 6 MMT, but this has not decreased the grain prices in China. Grain output in China is expected to have jumped by more than 10 million metric tons to over 480 million tons, as per the National Development and Reform Commission. It is reported that a favorable weather also boosted the bumper crop last year.
Grain yield is expected to average 4.449 tons a hectare from 2001 to 2005, higher than 4.424 tons during the 1995-2000 period.
Profitability in grain planting in China has decreased this year due to rising prices for agricultural inputs, such as fertilizer, but it still can be regarded as one of the best years, judging by historical standards
Health benefits from Barley
There are two main types of dietary fiber - soluble and insoluble. The main difference between the two is how they move through the digestive tract. Insoluble fiber, also known as roughage, moves through the digestive tract mostly undisolved. Soluble fiber (beta glucan) mixes with liquid and binds to fatty substances to help remove them from the body.
Studies show soluble fiber (beta glucan) is effective in lowering blood cholesterol and has also been shown to be beneficial in slowing the absorption of sugar, which, for people with diabetes, may help decrease the need for insulin. Barley and oats are the only two edible grains that contain significant levels of beta glucan.
Studies show that insoluble fiber is beneficial in lowering the risk of bowel disorders and colon cancer.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that barley consumption can help reduce coronary heart disease. Whole grain barley and certain dry milled barley grain products are appropriate sources of beta-glucan soluble fiber and can help in coronary heart disease. Barley listed as eligible sources of beta-glucan soluble fiber include whole grain barley (dehulled or hulless), and certain dry milled barley products, i.e., pearl, flakes, grits, meal, flour, beta-glucan enriched meal fractions and bran and will now be eligible for health claim.
Meat Consumption in US on the rise
It is projected that the per capita meat consumption in US will increase in coming years. Looking at a two year trend the major increase is expected in broiler meat consumption which is increase from 38.23 kg in 2004 to 38.64 kg in 2005 and further jump to 39.46 in 2006. Consumption of pork is expected to decrease from 23.26 kg in 2004 to 22.54 kg in 2005 and increase little bit to 22.67 kg in 2006. Beef consumption is also expected to decrease from 29.98 kg in 2004 to 29.89 kg in 2005 and again increase to 30.70 kg in 2006.
The reason for the increase in consumption of poultry meat is attributed to healthy eating and shift to white meat, which can be converted into more versatile convenient products.
The total meat (red and poultry) is expected to decrease marginally from 100.37 kg in 2004 to 99.83 kg in 2005 and increase further to 101.51 in 2006.
In India per capita broiler meat availability was 1.65 kg in 2004, which is projected to increase to 1.78 kg in 2005 and further increase to 1.89 kg in 2006. This is based on the increase in the broiler population by 10% per year.
Amit Sachdev
Representative
U S Grains Council, India
bluecross303@gmail.com
December 23, 2005
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Commodity prices show no sign of relenting; Properly cooked poultry meat does not pose a threat of AI infection; Will it help to register poultry floc
Commodity prices show no sign of relenting
The commodity prices in India show no signs of relenting. The demand of corn is up as the placement of poultry is up. As demand of processed food, paper and pharmaceuticals is also on the rise, the demand from the starch sector is also going up, putting pressure on prices.
The prices on Friday, Dec 16, 2005 for some of the varieties were as under:
Deshi Red, Rs.6130 ($138) per MT; Gajjar, Rs.5440 ($122) per MT; Hybrid Yellow, Rs.6320 $142) per MT; Kesari, Rs.6050 ($136) per MT. The above prices are at the market yard will need to add another 12-16% on top to cover cost of packing, transport etc. Last year same time the average price was Rs.5500 ($ 124) per MT. This year the prices are higher by 8%.
Barley requirement too has shown an uptrend, with large breweries coming to India. By a conservative estimate the requirement of the malt sector is about 250,000 – 300,000 tons per year. The current prices at market yard are ranging from Rs.8620 – Rs.8960 ($194 - $201) per MT. Last year same time the average price was Rs.6770 ($ 152) per MT. This year the price is about 29% higher tan last year. The industry also believes that the production of barley was much lower than 1.4 MMT as estimated by Government of India, which has pushed the prices much higher. With still three and a half months to go before the new crop comes in, it will be the survival of the fittest for the malting sector as the prices will tend to go up.
Most of the end users for barley and corn are of the opinion that prices this year started on a higher note and are likely to remain higher in coming months.
Commodity prices in US moves little higher. Corn for March delivery closes at $2.07 per bushel ($81.47 per MT) a tad higher than Dec 09 close of $80.28 per MT. For May delivery corn closed at $85.01 per MT a little higher than Dec 09 close of $83.72 per MT.
Properly cooked poultry meat does not pose a threat of AI infection
Reports from WHO and other organizations indicate Avian Influenza though is effecting more of poultry birds in Asia, it won't be a worldwide threat until the virus is able to spread easily from person to person. It is not a monster as it is made to be.
In order that a pandemic starts, three things must happen:
* Development of a new strain/sub starin of virus
* Its spread to humans and causing serious illness, and
* Its easy spread in humans
The current strain of the virus currently effecting Asia and parts of Europe has made the first two steps, but has not shown to move to the third step as per the experts. It has so far infected about 130 people and in the last 2 years some 70 people have dies due to the infection.
At present there is no pandemic like situation anywhere in the world and the virus does not spread easily between people. Almost all of the human cases have involved people who had direct contact with infected birds and may have had a low immune response.
In order to ally any fears amongst the consumers about avian influenza, FAO and WHO have said that it is safe to eat chicken and other poultry products when they are properly cooked.
As per the report, there is no risk that consumers will be exposed to the virus via the handling or consumption of poultry or poultry products within any areas where there is no avian influenza outbreak in poultry.
Cooking of poultry (e.g., chicken, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea-fowl) at or above 70°Celsius throughout the product, so that absolutely no meat remains raw and red, is a safe measure. To date there is no epidemiological evidence that people have become infected even after eating contaminated poultry meat that has been properly cooked.
Reports available confirm that human cases of avian influenza acquired their infection during the home slaughtering and subsequent handling of diseased or dead birds prior to cooking. FAO and WHO emphasize that in the process of killing and preparing a live bird for food, slaughtering poses the greatest risk of passing the virus from infected or diseased birds to humans.
Most strains of avian influenza virus are mainly found in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts of infected birds--and not in the meat. However, highly pathogenic viruses, such as the H5N1 strain, spread to virtually all parts of an infected bird, including meat. Proper cooking at temperatures at or above 70°C in all parts of the product inactivates the virus.
When a diseased bird is slaughtered, defeathered and eviscerated, virus from the bird can transfer to humans through direct contact. Infected poultry excrete virus in their secretions and feces. Exposure might also occur when the virus is inhaled through dust and possibly through contact with surfaces contaminated with the virus.
In areas where marketing of live birds is common, the practices of home slaughtering, defeathering, and eviscerating increase the exposure to potentially contaminated parts of a chicken. These practices, therefore, result in a significant risk of infection in areas with outbreaks in poultry.
Recommended good hygienic practices to reduce exposure to the virus in areas with outbreaks in poultry include:
* No birds from flocks with disease should enter the food chain.
* Do not eat raw poultry parts, including raw blood, or raw eggs in or from areas with outbreaks in poultry.
* Separate raw meat from cooked or ready-to-eat foods to avoid contamination.
* Do not use the same chopping board or the same knife.
* Do not handle both raw and cooked foods without washing your hands in between, and do not place cooked meat back on the same plate or surface it was on prior to cooking.
* Do not use raw or soft-boiled eggs in food preparations that will not be heat treated or cooked.
* Keep clean and wash your hands. After handling frozen or thawed raw poultry or eggs, wash your hands thoroughly with soap. Wash and disinfect all surfaces and utensils that have been in contact with the raw meat.
* Cook thoroughly: Thorough cooking of poultry meat will inactivate the virus. Either ensure that the poultry meat reaches 70°C at the center of the product ("piping" hot) or that the meat is not pink in any part. Egg yolks should not be runny or liquid.
Will it help to register poultry flocks and farms?
In order to safeguard the interest of farmers and the consumers and also maintain the growth of the industry, will it help if the poultry farms and flocks are registered? The question has been asked many times in India and possibly the answer every time has been, it may not be possible to do it when the farmers are small and un-organized.
United Kingdom has started a campaign and plans to register all flocks, which will help in gathering the information about birds on commercial premises to get a better picture of size, type and proximity of flocks. In UK, even those keeping 50 birds on commercial scale will need to register their flocks by February 2006.
In India, a plan was mooted in 1996 and the registration of parent farms and hatcheries was started, but was a non starter. In order to get a correct picture of the production capabilities, it will be a good idea to start the registration of integrated operations, wherein the parent company provides the information about their contract growers along with the capacity and location. The individual farmers can be asked to register their farms and flocks in the second phase. The registration would do three things:
1. Provide a correct picture on the placements
2. Will be easy to project raw material requirements
3. Could help in managing any potential disease threat
If you have any comments on this topic, please feel free to send the same to me
Amit Sachdev
Representative
U S Grains Council, India
bluecross303@gmail.com
December 17, 2005
The commodity prices in India show no signs of relenting. The demand of corn is up as the placement of poultry is up. As demand of processed food, paper and pharmaceuticals is also on the rise, the demand from the starch sector is also going up, putting pressure on prices.
The prices on Friday, Dec 16, 2005 for some of the varieties were as under:
Deshi Red, Rs.6130 ($138) per MT; Gajjar, Rs.5440 ($122) per MT; Hybrid Yellow, Rs.6320 $142) per MT; Kesari, Rs.6050 ($136) per MT. The above prices are at the market yard will need to add another 12-16% on top to cover cost of packing, transport etc. Last year same time the average price was Rs.5500 ($ 124) per MT. This year the prices are higher by 8%.
Barley requirement too has shown an uptrend, with large breweries coming to India. By a conservative estimate the requirement of the malt sector is about 250,000 – 300,000 tons per year. The current prices at market yard are ranging from Rs.8620 – Rs.8960 ($194 - $201) per MT. Last year same time the average price was Rs.6770 ($ 152) per MT. This year the price is about 29% higher tan last year. The industry also believes that the production of barley was much lower than 1.4 MMT as estimated by Government of India, which has pushed the prices much higher. With still three and a half months to go before the new crop comes in, it will be the survival of the fittest for the malting sector as the prices will tend to go up.
Most of the end users for barley and corn are of the opinion that prices this year started on a higher note and are likely to remain higher in coming months.
Commodity prices in US moves little higher. Corn for March delivery closes at $2.07 per bushel ($81.47 per MT) a tad higher than Dec 09 close of $80.28 per MT. For May delivery corn closed at $85.01 per MT a little higher than Dec 09 close of $83.72 per MT.
Properly cooked poultry meat does not pose a threat of AI infection
Reports from WHO and other organizations indicate Avian Influenza though is effecting more of poultry birds in Asia, it won't be a worldwide threat until the virus is able to spread easily from person to person. It is not a monster as it is made to be.
In order that a pandemic starts, three things must happen:
* Development of a new strain/sub starin of virus
* Its spread to humans and causing serious illness, and
* Its easy spread in humans
The current strain of the virus currently effecting Asia and parts of Europe has made the first two steps, but has not shown to move to the third step as per the experts. It has so far infected about 130 people and in the last 2 years some 70 people have dies due to the infection.
At present there is no pandemic like situation anywhere in the world and the virus does not spread easily between people. Almost all of the human cases have involved people who had direct contact with infected birds and may have had a low immune response.
In order to ally any fears amongst the consumers about avian influenza, FAO and WHO have said that it is safe to eat chicken and other poultry products when they are properly cooked.
As per the report, there is no risk that consumers will be exposed to the virus via the handling or consumption of poultry or poultry products within any areas where there is no avian influenza outbreak in poultry.
Cooking of poultry (e.g., chicken, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea-fowl) at or above 70°Celsius throughout the product, so that absolutely no meat remains raw and red, is a safe measure. To date there is no epidemiological evidence that people have become infected even after eating contaminated poultry meat that has been properly cooked.
Reports available confirm that human cases of avian influenza acquired their infection during the home slaughtering and subsequent handling of diseased or dead birds prior to cooking. FAO and WHO emphasize that in the process of killing and preparing a live bird for food, slaughtering poses the greatest risk of passing the virus from infected or diseased birds to humans.
Most strains of avian influenza virus are mainly found in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts of infected birds--and not in the meat. However, highly pathogenic viruses, such as the H5N1 strain, spread to virtually all parts of an infected bird, including meat. Proper cooking at temperatures at or above 70°C in all parts of the product inactivates the virus.
When a diseased bird is slaughtered, defeathered and eviscerated, virus from the bird can transfer to humans through direct contact. Infected poultry excrete virus in their secretions and feces. Exposure might also occur when the virus is inhaled through dust and possibly through contact with surfaces contaminated with the virus.
In areas where marketing of live birds is common, the practices of home slaughtering, defeathering, and eviscerating increase the exposure to potentially contaminated parts of a chicken. These practices, therefore, result in a significant risk of infection in areas with outbreaks in poultry.
Recommended good hygienic practices to reduce exposure to the virus in areas with outbreaks in poultry include:
* No birds from flocks with disease should enter the food chain.
* Do not eat raw poultry parts, including raw blood, or raw eggs in or from areas with outbreaks in poultry.
* Separate raw meat from cooked or ready-to-eat foods to avoid contamination.
* Do not use the same chopping board or the same knife.
* Do not handle both raw and cooked foods without washing your hands in between, and do not place cooked meat back on the same plate or surface it was on prior to cooking.
* Do not use raw or soft-boiled eggs in food preparations that will not be heat treated or cooked.
* Keep clean and wash your hands. After handling frozen or thawed raw poultry or eggs, wash your hands thoroughly with soap. Wash and disinfect all surfaces and utensils that have been in contact with the raw meat.
* Cook thoroughly: Thorough cooking of poultry meat will inactivate the virus. Either ensure that the poultry meat reaches 70°C at the center of the product ("piping" hot) or that the meat is not pink in any part. Egg yolks should not be runny or liquid.
Will it help to register poultry flocks and farms?
In order to safeguard the interest of farmers and the consumers and also maintain the growth of the industry, will it help if the poultry farms and flocks are registered? The question has been asked many times in India and possibly the answer every time has been, it may not be possible to do it when the farmers are small and un-organized.
United Kingdom has started a campaign and plans to register all flocks, which will help in gathering the information about birds on commercial premises to get a better picture of size, type and proximity of flocks. In UK, even those keeping 50 birds on commercial scale will need to register their flocks by February 2006.
In India, a plan was mooted in 1996 and the registration of parent farms and hatcheries was started, but was a non starter. In order to get a correct picture of the production capabilities, it will be a good idea to start the registration of integrated operations, wherein the parent company provides the information about their contract growers along with the capacity and location. The individual farmers can be asked to register their farms and flocks in the second phase. The registration would do three things:
1. Provide a correct picture on the placements
2. Will be easy to project raw material requirements
3. Could help in managing any potential disease threat
If you have any comments on this topic, please feel free to send the same to me
Amit Sachdev
Representative
U S Grains Council, India
bluecross303@gmail.com
December 17, 2005
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Indian agriculture scenario and commodity prices; Why is there growth in biotech crops in US – A study
Indian agriculture scenario and commodity prices
Reports indicate a dip in agriculture production. From an average of 4.7 percent growth in the eighth five year plan in agriculture, the growth in agriculture has dipped to 1.2 percent in the first three years of the tenth five year plan (2002-2007). Also if reports are correct, there has been a steep decrease in the number of people involved in agriculture. In 1971 almost 71 percent of the population was engaged in cultivation, in 1991 it dropped to 66 percent in in 2002 only 60 percent of the Indian population is engaged in cultivation. This is based on a National sample survey Organizations household and liability survey 2005.
As the agriculture production is dependent on monsoon, which has been playing taunt last year, reports indicate, India may not have enough wheat to fulfil the requirements of its growing population. Analysts believe India would need to import almost 2 MMT of wheat by April 2006 to cover the deficit. If one goes by the record, Food Corporation of India (FCI) will start the fiscal year 2006 in April with just 1 MMT in its godowns as against 4 MMT as per the norms.
Food Corporation of India (FCI) and Ministry of Agriculture have always maintained that there is a healthy situation on the wheat front and FCI has taken a position on Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT). The big question though is, if imports of wheat do happen as the commodity is required, will the duty be removed? Currently wheat imports attract a duty of 50 percent. Current prices of wheat in South India, are Rs.10,500 ($245) per MT.
As FCI has taken a future potion on wheat and will possibly import, there could be possibility to import maize also as GOI should not be averse to import these commodities to safeguard the interest of end-users (poultry farmers and starch manufacturers) and the consumers. The price of maize is going up and current prices at Nizamabad are ruling at Rs.5600 ($126) per MT. AT various other markets like Bangalore, Hyderabad and south India, the prices are close to Rs.5800 ($130) per MT. The red variety and kesari variety are available in the range of Rs.5800 ($130) to Rs.6125 ($137) per MT at the market yard.
Looking at the US prices, the markets closed at $2.0375 per bushel ($80.20 per MT) on Dec -09, a little higher than the $79.88 per MT on Dec 02. The FOB prices for Dec/Jan delivery was $102 per MT (US Gulf), while the FOB (PNW) was $115 per MR for the same. In 2005, the US corn crop is the second largest in the history.
More details about US commodity prices are available at
http://www.grains.org/buying/market_perspectives/mp_12-09-05.pdf
Why is there growth in biotech crops in US – A study
A study conducted by US National centre for Food and Agriculture Policy indicates that the US farmers are adopting biotechnology derived crop varieties with greater confidence and ease as these crop increase the benefits to the farmers, environment and the consumers.
In 2004, a total of 118 million acres (47.2 million ha) was planted by US farmers, an increase of 11% over 2003. The study examined six biotech crops planted in the United States in 2004 — maize, soybeans, cotton, papaya, canola and squash — and the study is based on data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and surveys of crop specialists.
Environmentally, biotech crops also reduced pesticide use by 34%, (7,000 tonnes) over 2003. Their adoption increased the food production by 3 million tons, providing an additional $ 2.3 billion to the net returns to US growers.
According to the study, insect-resistant crops produced the greatest yield increase among the crops studied. While insect-resistant traits increased production, herbicide-resistant varieties generated the greatest reduction in production costs by reducing the amount of pesticide needed and lowering costs associated with hand weeding and mechanical cultivation. herbicide-resistant varieties cut costs by U.S.$1.8 billion and reduced pesticide use.
It is not only the economic and production benefits that accrue from the biotech crops, it is also reduced the need to plow the fields (using no-till method), thus leaving there soil undisturbed, reducing soil erosion and pesticide run-off.
The complete study, "Biotechnology-Derived Crops Planted in 2004 — Impacts on U.S. Agriculture," which came out in early Dec 20005 can be found at
http://www.ncfap.org/whatwedo/pdf/2004biotechimpacts.pdf
Amit Sachdev
Representative
U S Grains Council, India
bluecross303@gmail.com
December 12, 2005
Reports indicate a dip in agriculture production. From an average of 4.7 percent growth in the eighth five year plan in agriculture, the growth in agriculture has dipped to 1.2 percent in the first three years of the tenth five year plan (2002-2007). Also if reports are correct, there has been a steep decrease in the number of people involved in agriculture. In 1971 almost 71 percent of the population was engaged in cultivation, in 1991 it dropped to 66 percent in in 2002 only 60 percent of the Indian population is engaged in cultivation. This is based on a National sample survey Organizations household and liability survey 2005.
As the agriculture production is dependent on monsoon, which has been playing taunt last year, reports indicate, India may not have enough wheat to fulfil the requirements of its growing population. Analysts believe India would need to import almost 2 MMT of wheat by April 2006 to cover the deficit. If one goes by the record, Food Corporation of India (FCI) will start the fiscal year 2006 in April with just 1 MMT in its godowns as against 4 MMT as per the norms.
Food Corporation of India (FCI) and Ministry of Agriculture have always maintained that there is a healthy situation on the wheat front and FCI has taken a position on Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT). The big question though is, if imports of wheat do happen as the commodity is required, will the duty be removed? Currently wheat imports attract a duty of 50 percent. Current prices of wheat in South India, are Rs.10,500 ($245) per MT.
As FCI has taken a future potion on wheat and will possibly import, there could be possibility to import maize also as GOI should not be averse to import these commodities to safeguard the interest of end-users (poultry farmers and starch manufacturers) and the consumers. The price of maize is going up and current prices at Nizamabad are ruling at Rs.5600 ($126) per MT. AT various other markets like Bangalore, Hyderabad and south India, the prices are close to Rs.5800 ($130) per MT. The red variety and kesari variety are available in the range of Rs.5800 ($130) to Rs.6125 ($137) per MT at the market yard.
Looking at the US prices, the markets closed at $2.0375 per bushel ($80.20 per MT) on Dec -09, a little higher than the $79.88 per MT on Dec 02. The FOB prices for Dec/Jan delivery was $102 per MT (US Gulf), while the FOB (PNW) was $115 per MR for the same. In 2005, the US corn crop is the second largest in the history.
More details about US commodity prices are available at
http://www.grains.org/buying/market_perspectives/mp_12-09-05.pdf
Why is there growth in biotech crops in US – A study
A study conducted by US National centre for Food and Agriculture Policy indicates that the US farmers are adopting biotechnology derived crop varieties with greater confidence and ease as these crop increase the benefits to the farmers, environment and the consumers.
In 2004, a total of 118 million acres (47.2 million ha) was planted by US farmers, an increase of 11% over 2003. The study examined six biotech crops planted in the United States in 2004 — maize, soybeans, cotton, papaya, canola and squash — and the study is based on data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and surveys of crop specialists.
Environmentally, biotech crops also reduced pesticide use by 34%, (7,000 tonnes) over 2003. Their adoption increased the food production by 3 million tons, providing an additional $ 2.3 billion to the net returns to US growers.
According to the study, insect-resistant crops produced the greatest yield increase among the crops studied. While insect-resistant traits increased production, herbicide-resistant varieties generated the greatest reduction in production costs by reducing the amount of pesticide needed and lowering costs associated with hand weeding and mechanical cultivation. herbicide-resistant varieties cut costs by U.S.$1.8 billion and reduced pesticide use.
It is not only the economic and production benefits that accrue from the biotech crops, it is also reduced the need to plow the fields (using no-till method), thus leaving there soil undisturbed, reducing soil erosion and pesticide run-off.
The complete study, "Biotechnology-Derived Crops Planted in 2004 — Impacts on U.S. Agriculture," which came out in early Dec 20005 can be found at
http://www.ncfap.org/whatwedo/pdf/2004biotechimpacts.pdf
Amit Sachdev
Representative
U S Grains Council, India
bluecross303@gmail.com
December 12, 2005
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