India's FTAs' Problems + NANO TECH & GMOs + UNDP Report + APAARI-GFAR-CTA

[Guest guest]

In This NEWS Bulletin ******************************* 1. Vanaspati traders seek review of duty structures in FTAs On GMOs - 2. Tech-savvy Indian President advocates nano use, favours transgenic route for farm research UNDP Report - 3. India at 126th position on Human Development Index 4. Report questions Mumbai’s claim of safe water coverage 5. .....Says water and sanitation are under-financed in India On APAARI-GFAR-CTA Partnership 6. Farmers to get international help to market their products -- Vanaspati traders seek review of duty structures in FTAs http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=146062 Posted online: Friday, November 10, 2006 at 0104 hours IST ASHOK B SHARMA NEW DELHI, NOV 9 : The producers of hydrogenated vegetable oil, vanaspati, have alleged that duty-free of the finished products under free trade agreements (FTAs) with Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan and 78.2% duty on import of the raw material, crude palm oil (CPO) from these countries have jeopardised the interests of the industry. They have urged that the “penal duty” of 78.2% on imports of crude palm oil from these countries be reduced to 20% on actual user condition by the industry. In future trade arrangements, industry products and byproducts should be kept out of perview. In a memorandum to the finance minister P Chidambaram and the commerce minister

Kamal Nath, the executive director of Indian Vanaspati Producers’ Association (IVPA) IV Mehra said, “Under the free trade agreements with Nepal and Sri Lanka vanaspati, margarine and bakery shortening are against zero duty. These are the products produced by vanaspati industry in the country. Therefore, the industry is adversely affected by cheap imports of these finished products.” Added to this painful situation, Mehra said that the domestic vanaspati industry cannot import crude palm oil from these two countries against zero duty. The import of crude palm oil from Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka attracts a penal customs duty of 78.2%. Pointing out the advantageous position of the vanaspati producers in these exporting countries, Mehra said that they were able to import cheap crude palm oils. In Nepal import of crude palm oil is duty free, while in Sri Lanks it attracts a nominal duty of $ 25 per tonne. The IVPA’s member added that the Nepalese and Sri Lankan industry were able to produce vanaspati at a cost of over Rs 13,000 per tonne lower than that in India. “They were, therefore, able to sell their products in India at around Rs 4,000 a tonne lower than the leading Indian brands,” he said, added that manufacturers and exporters in these countries make a hefty profit of Rs 8,000 a tonne. He alleged that about 35% of the vanaspati consumed in country were from duty-free imports and those smuggled through illegal channels. This has led to lower capacity utilisation (about 20%) by the domestic units and closure of about 148 units.-------------- Tech-savvy Kalam advocates nano use, favours transgenic route for farm research http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=146025 ASHOK B SHARMA ECONOMY BUREAU Posted online: Friday, November 10, 2006 at 0000 hours IST NEW DELHI, NOV 9: The tech-savvy President APJ Abdul Kalam called for use of nano and transgenic technologies as part of the multi-dimensional approach to farm research for facilitating second green revolution in the country. Inaugurating a seminar on re-orienting agricultural research to meet the millenium development goals organised by the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) in Delhi on Thursday, the president suggested select areas for researches in agriculture, using nano technology. He identified areas like the use of nano-porous zeo-lies for slow-release and efficient doses of

water and fertilisers for plant and of nutrients and drugs for livestock. He also suggested use of nano-capsules for herbicide delivery and nano-sensors for soil quality and for plant health monitoring. “Application of nano-technology which is knocking at our door in food processing are nano-composites for plastic film coating used in food packaging, anti-microbial nano-emulsions for applications in de-contamination of food equipment, packaging or food processing,” he said. On use of plant genomics, Kalam said this has opened up new avenues to modulate gene _expression so that the plant can be converted into proficient genotypes or varieties to be used as bio-factories for producing useful protiens, therapeutic molecules, nutritional compositions and stress tolerant crops to meet the needs in an eco-environment friendly manner. The president informed that research group under K

Veluthambi at Madurai-based Kamraj University has identified three anti-fungal genes. This group has developed 30 transgenic rice lines using these genes which overcomes rice blast disease and sheath blight disease. He said a group of scientists have given intensive training to the farmersof Bihar for using genetically modified seeds to suit the soil, fertiliser use and proper water management. Kalam also had a word on organic farming, which has resulted in 500% increase in income among horticulture and livestock farmers in Uttaranchal.--------- India at 126th position on Human Development Index http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=146019 ASHOK B SHARMA ECONOMY BUREAU Posted online: Friday, November 10, 2006 at 0000 hours IST NEW DELHI, NOV 9: The Indian economy may be growing at a scorching 8%-plus growth rate, but the country has managed to move just a notch up to rank 126 among 177 countries on the Human Development Index, according to a report released by the United Nations on Wednesday. The Human Development Report by the United Nations places China way ahead of India at 81. China has moved up four ranks compared with its 85 position last year. Pakistan, though behind India at 135, has seen an increase of nine notches since last year. Brazil and Russsia ranked 69 and 65, respectively. The index measures achievements in terms of life expectancy, educational attainment and adjusted real income. Despite India’s

marginal improvement, the report pointed out that the country’s spending on rural sanitation has increased four-fold while the spend on rural water supply has doubled since 2002. The picture on achieving the Millennium Development Goals for water and sanitation levels was mixed, the study pointed out. Norway, Iceland, Australia, Ireland and Sweden, among 177 countries, have occupied the top five slots. Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, Mali, Sierra Leone and Niger are on the bottom of the list. According to the report, Bangladesh has moved up two ranks to 137 while Sri Lanka has maintained its position at 93. Maldives, at 98, slipped by two points. Nepal too saw a decline of two notches and has been placed at 138 position. Bhutan occupied the 135th position, down by one notch compared to one year ago. Honk Kong has been placed at 22nd position. With the stagnation of the Sub Saharan countries, the gap

between the richest and poorest nations is widening. Eighteen of the worlds poorest countries with a total population of 460 million are doing worse on most key human development indicators, the study suggested. It may be noted that the index is based on 2004 data and does not include the 17 UN member states. Countries like Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia have also not been considered due to lack of sufficient data. The report indicated that among the developed nations, Japan ranked 7th, the US 8th, France 16th, Britain 18th and Germany 21st.--------- Report questions Mumbai’s claim of safe water coverage http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=146020 ASHOK B SHARMA ECONOMY BUREAU Posted online: Friday, November 10, 2006 at 0000 hours IST NEW DELHI, NOV 9: Mumbai, the financial capital of India and the fifth largest city in the world, has some bad news in store. The Human Development Report has questioned its claim of being able to provide a 90% coverage of safe water. The report has pointed out that about half of Mumbai total population estimated at 18 million, lives in Zopadpattis and their residents do not figure in the municipal data. The report has indicated that millions of poor people are missing from national statistics. The slum residents in Mumbai, live in environment that poses a daily health threat, the report underlined. It is estimated that there is only one toilet for every 1,440 people in the city. Dharavi, a vast slum situated near the international

airport, is home to almost one million people. In the rainy season streets, lacking drainage, becomes channels for filthy water. People in areas like Dharavi rely on wells, tankers or even unsafe sources for their drinking water. In cases of chawls, residents make do with rusting pipes, leaking taps and degraded storage tanks. “In a typical case, 15 families share one tap that works for two hours a day,” the report added.- ...Says water and sanitation are under-financed in India http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=146021 ASHOK B SHARMA ECONOMY BUREAU Posted online: Friday, November 10,

2006 at 0000 hours IST NEW DELHI, NOV 9: Water and sanitation are under-financed compared to military spendings in India, the Human Development Report stated. According to the report, there should be adequate funds for such basic amenities. The crisis in water and sanitation is the main crisis for the poor. “Almost two in three people lacking access to clean water survive on less than $2 a day, with one in three living on less than $1 a day,” it said. More than 660 million without any sanitation live on less than $2 a day and more than 385 million on less than $1 day, it added. The study pointed out that people living in slums of cities like Mumbai, Jakarta and Nairobi faced shortages of clean water while those living in high income suburbs had sufficient water not only for household needs but also for their lawns and even for topping up their swimming pools. High income households use far more water than poor households. In Mumbai and Dar-es-Salam (Tanzania) per capita water use is 15 times higher in high income suburbs linked to the utility than in slum areas, the report pointed out. That apart about 40% of water in cities like Delhi, Dhaka and Mexico City is wasted through leaking pipes or even sold illegally, resulting in low revenues for public providers. This in turn fuels a vicious cycle of deteriorating assets, low revenue collection, water losses, low investment and further infrastructure deterioration.--------- From The Fields - in THE INDIAN EXPRESS Farmers to get international help to market their products http://www.indianexpress.com/story/16307.html ASHOK B SHARMA Posted online: Friday, November 10, 2006 at 0000 hrs New Delhi, November 9: Marketing of agro products in the country is set to get a boost with international organisations designing an effective plan for the purpose. The Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI) has prepared concept papers on linking farmers to market (LFM). The Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) have committed themselves to strengthening their collaboration in the area of information and knowledge exchange in farm research and development. “This collaboration by global partners is necessary for the success of LFM,”

APAARI executive secretary and former director-general of Indian Council of Agricultural Research RS Paroda said. According to Paroda, access to information, partnership of stakeholders, capacity building of farmers are the issues which need to be addressed on priority. “Fortunately the expanding internal markets in different countries and globalisation of agriculture offer new options, provided LFM approach is adopted and necessary technical backstopping for the post-harvest technology is provided,” he said. Realising the importance of LFM, APAARI had organised a discussion on PHT for ensuring food security and value addition for enhanced income in Bangkok in 2004 and later convened a working group meeting to review the recommendations of the meeting and to suggest initiatives for strengthening LFM applications in the Asia-Pacific region. Paroda said that the success of LFM would largely depend on enhanced

capacity at the national level for technological advances, new cost effective and resource-saving processes that add value to the products and appropriate knowledge of markets associated with the ability of farmers to get themselves organised. All these, he said would demand agricultural innovations -- both on-farm and off-farm -- so that the producer-consumer chain is strengthened for the desired benefits to all concerned. LFM would also require greater R & D efforts in agriculture linked to PHT, farm diversification around low-volume high-value crops and products, market intelligence and deployment of IT in agriculture. APAARI has developed partnership with Indian farmers. The leader of Bharat Krishak Samaj, Krishan Bir Chaudhary, who was associated with the APAARI discussions, said: “LFM concept can be of use only if farmers are able to dictate their terms and not the marketing agencies. More attention

should be paid to crops which ensure food security.” GFAR official Adel-El Beltagy said that Young Professionals’ Platform on Agricultural Research for Development has been launched to facilitate more inter-disciplinary and participatory approach which would be more responsive to community needs, more action-oriented and development driven. “We need more young people so that we can move faster in achieving the UN Millenium Development Goals for poverty eradication,” he said. ---

Find out what India is talking about on - Answers India Send FREE SMS to your friend's mobile from Messenger Version 8. Get it NOW