South Asia Newsletter, Vol. 5, No. 20 (April 24 – 30, 2007)

Govt
may double farm subsidy Monday, April 30,2007 NEW AGE

DHAKA: The government is likely
to double the amount of farm subsidy in the next budget to help the farmers
make up for their losses due to the recent price hike of diesel used for
irrigation, said finance ministry sources. A meeting of the resource committee
of the finance ministry on Sunday also asked the agriculture ministry to
finalise the modality to distribute the subsidy for diesel-run irrigation pumps
among the farmers.

Tomato
rotting in Dinajpur Monday, April 30,2007 THE
DAILY STAR

DHAKA: At least 50
mounds of tomato are rotting in wholesale markets Dinajpur a day due to lack of
preservation facilities and poor transportation system. Cultivation of the vegetable
is increasing in the district but farmers are becoming disheartened as there is
no facility to preserve and sell the perishable commodity, according to farmers
and Dinajpur Agriculture Extension Department (AED) officials.

Regulated prices to be
announced Monday, April 30,2007 Daily Mirror

COLOMBO: The government will on Tuesday announce the
regulated prices of essential items for the next month. Consumer Affairs
Minister Bandula Gunawardane said they wanted the consumers to know the
wholesale prices so that they could identify unjustifiable pricing of items in
the retail business in their respective areas. “According to new price
regulations, some items will be higher in price than the last month and vice-versa,”
he said. The Minister said they would also make it compulsory for every trade
outlet to display a price list from Tuesday.

$ 40 m boost for tea
small holders Wednesday, April 25,2007 Daily
Mirror

COLOMBO: The Cabinet paper presented
by the Plantation Industries Minister, D.M. Jayaratne to launch a development
project at a cost of US$ 40.2 million for the Tea Small Holders Enterprise
Development Programme has been approved. Out of this amount $ 22.5 million will
be provided by the international agricultural fund. An allocation of Rs. 266.25
Million has been made in the 2007 Budget, At present 73% of the national Tea
production is contributed by Tea Small holders.

Japan's grant for poor
farmer Thursday, January 25,2007 KUENSEL

THIMPHU: The government of Japan has
extended a grant assistance of 240 million yen to the government of Bhutan for
underprivileged farmers. The Exchange of Notes to formalise the extension of
the grant was concluded at a ceremony held Wednesday at the Royal Bhutanese Embassy,
New Delhi, India.

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.

Govt not to divulge
details of GM trials Monday, April 23,2007 The Times of India

NEW DELHI: In an era of transparency, the government has
been less than candid on issues of public health. It has, despite an SC order,
avoided explicitly mentioning the "implications and biological
results" of field trials of genetically modified crops. In fact, it has
questioned the competence of the court to decide matters of 'science and
technology'.

Youth Farmer Villages proposed Saturday,
April 21,2007 Daily News

COLOMBO: The Government has planned to empower the 32,800
youth labour force in the country by setting up Youth Farmer Villages at each
Divisional Level. A survey has already been conducted on the current hardships
and problems of unemployed youth in the country.

Agro
exhibition organised in Kabul Monday, April 23,2007 PAJHWOK

KABUL: The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock is going to
organise a two-day agriculture exhibition on April 23 in this capital city.
More than 85 local and international companies are expected to participate in
the exhibition, aimed to promote the country's agriculture products and find a
suitable market for it in the outside world.

India
to import 5 mn tonne of wheat,

Indian
Express

NEW DELHI: Despite expectations of a bumper
crop, India is readying to import up to 5 million tonnes of wheat this year to
maintain its buffer stock as well as to feed the weaker sections through
targeted public distribution system and other welfare schemes.