South Asia News Letter

Vol. 5, No. 18 (April 9 - 15, 2007)

Regoverning Markets (www.regoverningmarkets.org) is a global research and policy support programme that aims to advice public and private sector organizations on approaches that can anticipate and manage the impacts that dynamic changes in local and regional agri-food markets are having on small-scale producers.

This weekly newsletter gives you news stories appearing in the newspapers in the 7 South Asian Countries that are members of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).  This is purely for academic purposes and any citation should be referred to original sources.

Service sector rides high on retail boom Monday, April 09,2007, The Times of India

NEW DELHI: India's booming economy, growing middle class and increasing disposable income is fuelling a retail boom in the country. And, following close on the heels of this boom are cold-chain suppliers, software providers and educational institutes that are expected to benefit directly from it.

The rapid growth of modern retailing, especially in food and groceries, calls for an organised cold chain infrastructure. India is one of the largest producers of fruits and vegetables in the world. Moreover, India's food market is valued at $70 billion, which is doubling every three years.

Govt ready to expand retail window , 27 Dec, 2006, TIMES NEWS NETWORK

NEW DELHI: Government looks set to make an attempt at partially opening up FDI in retail in select segments such as electronics, stationery, sports goods and building equipment. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is learnt to have asked the commerce ministry to prepare a note for the cabinet. The PM's directive came when commerce minister Kamal Nath raised the issue at a recent meeting. Matters have since moved swiftly, with the commerce ministry starting consultations with the department of consumer affairs.

Cargills Food City: Most valued retail brand in Sri Lanka, http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/03/14/fin10.asp Daily News Sri Lanka

BRAND STRENGTH:Cargills Food City has been hailed the most valued retail brand in Sri Lanka for 2006, with the company being placed third in the top-ten list of the most valued brands, behind Dialog Telekom and DCSL.

Price reduction of essential food items Monday, April 09,2007, DAILY NEWS

COLOMBO: Easing the burdens of the consumers during the festive season Co-operative Ministry has taken swift measures to reduce the prices of few essential food items.

Minister of Cooperatives M. Najeeb Abdul Majeed said that the Cooperative Ministry has taken steps to sell essential items at reduced prices during the festival period as per the Mahinda Chinthana.

Floriculture is getting popular Tuesday, April 10,2007, THE HIMALAYAN TIMES

KATHMANDU: Floriculture is no more a leisure pursuit, as it has become a lucrative business with people's changing lifestyle and growing demands for various occasions.
Cultivation of flowers or any kind of ornamental plants till a decade back was limited to personal pleasure and was not foreseen as a potential industry or business. Till five years ago, Ne-pal was a net importer of many types of flowers and floriculture products but the scenario has significantly changed with the increase in domestic market and commercial production.

7.5 m litres of milk go waste annually Tuesday, April 10,2007, THE HIMALAYAN TIMES

KATHMANDU: The representatives of Central Dairy Co-operative Association Limited Nepal (CDCAN) have claimed that some 7.5 million litres of milk go waste every year, thus causing a loss of some Rs 13 crores to the farmers CDCAN president Dhaka Ram Aryal yesterday informed the newly appointed minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Man Bahadur Biswokarma, that the provision of milk holiday has largely discouraged dairy farmers to continue their job.

Ill effects of farmer subsidies Friday, April 13,2007, Daily Mirror

COLOMBO: The Central Bank has said that agriculture subsidies are not beneficial instead the Government should explore policy initiatives aimed at increasing farmer income. The Central Bank's thinking as well as advise is contained in its Annual Report for 2006. "Policy initiatives aimed at increasing farmer income would be more beneficial than providing subsidies," the Bank had said.

Farmers attend Dzongkhag level RNR expo Thursday, February 01,2007, BBS

THIMPHU: Around 500 farmers and farmers' group members from the seven Gewogs of Balam, Sherimuhung, Chaskhar, Drametse, Narang and Thangrong participated in a two day Dzongkhag level RNR expo. The event was conducted at Murung Drang under Ngatshang Gewog, Mongar.

During the two day expo inter-Gewog RNR quiz competition, improved breed cattle show and milk competition and cattle buyer and seller competitions were organized.

Rice, onion import harms Takhar growers Thursday, March 29,2007, PAJHWOK

TALUQAN: Imports of rice and onions have caused a severe blow to the local market in northern Takhar province, where farmers complain that the imports have greatly hampered their sales.

Farmers in many districts, including Dasht-e-Qala and Khwaja Baha-ud-din, have stopped growing rice due to abundant import of rice from neighboring pakistan. Muhammad Ishaq, one of the farmers in Dasht-e-Qala district told Pajhwok Afghan News he had 60 acres of rice on his farm and earned a good income, but because of the imports from Pakistan, his sales had greatly fallen.