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Govt
considering banning export of skimmed milk powder
New Delhi: The Central government is considering
banning exports of skimmed milk powder (SMP).
The
Agriculture Ministry has already sought information from
all State co-operative dairy federations on their existing
export commitments and stock position of SMP as well as
whole milk powder (WMP).
Bulk
SMP prices in Delhi are currently ruling at Rs125-126
a kg, against around Rs90 at this time last year. Since
2001-02, prices have doubled to converge towards world
levels.
SMP
prices in Western Europe are quoting at $3,050-3,200 per
tonne free on board, a $950 per tonne jump over last year.
The prices have risen mainly due to drought conditions
in Australia and lower-than-projected milk volumes in
New Zealand, coupled with the phased reduction in farm
subsidies by the EU.
Hardening
global prices have given a boost to domestic dairies and
farmers and during 2005-06, 47,334 tonnes of SMP worth
Rs420 crore were exported and another 10,903 tonnes (Rs282
crore) of casein - a milk protein powder concentrate -
was exported.
The
major SMP/casein exporters include the Delhi-based Sterling
Agro Industries, VRS Foods and Mahaan Proteins, Dynamix
Dairy Industries at Baramati and Cepham Milk Specialities,
Patiala. The co-operative federations in Tamil Nadu (Aavin),
Karnataka (Nandini) and Rajasthan (Saras) also exports
limited quantities of SMP.
The
country annually produces roughly 1.5 lakh tonnes (lt)
of bulk SMP/WMP, with Amul alone accounting for some 40,000
tonnes.
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Engg
sector emerges largest exporter
New Delhi: The engineering sector has emerged as
the largest contributor to the country's merchandise exports,
ahead of gems and jewellery with exports crossing $13
billion during April-October period of the fiscal, an
increase of 29 pc as compared with the corresponding period
last year.
During
the last financial year, engineering exports registered
a growth of 25.5 pc amounting to $20.34 billion and $16.2
billion in 2004-05, he said, according to an official
release.
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Funds
allocation for rural areas may rise by 14 pc
New Delhi: Funding for rural areas is expected
to rise in the forthcoming Union Budget. The annual plan
of the rural development ministry is slated to go up by
14 per cent from Rs24,025 crore in 2006-07 to Rs27,369
crore in 2007-08.
The
Budget is also expected to increase allocation for the
departments of women and child development, family welfare,
and drinking water supply, among others.
In
addition, the Planning Commission has approved a grant
of Rs11,300 crore for the National Rural Employment Guarantee
(NREG) Scheme for 2007-08, the same as the amount allocated
for the current financial year.
The
commission has also proposed to extend the scheme to another
50 districts, besides the existing 200. However, a few
centrally sponsored schemes, valued at Rs260 crore, will
be dropped.
Rs650
crore is expected to be allocated for rural road development,
Rs3,150 crore for rural housing, and Rs6,550 crore for
miscellaneous projects.
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Trai
to get more powers
New Delhi: The communications and IT Ministry headed
by Dayanidhi Maran is mulling giving the Telecom Regulatory
Authority of India (TRAI) more powers to take action against
operators providing poor quality of service.
TRAI
has proposed a slew of measures including increasing the
tenure of the chairperson and other board members to five
years from the present term of three years and powers
to impose punitive measures against operators who violate
quality of service norms. Sources indicated that TRAI
might be given more teeth to address consumer issues such
as quality of service.
The
telecom regulator has also sought to amend the TRAI Act
to allow Board members and the chairperson to take up
employment with other government agencies after demitting
office.
As
per the existing law, a TRAI Board member cannot seek
employment in Central or State Government and other statutory
authorities.
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