Looking to ample possibilities in the food processing sector efforts are being made to increase the income of the farming community by effective coordination among industrialists, policy makers, technology experts and financial institutes. The state cabinet recently approved food processing policy. The first priority of the government is to encourage the industrialists and to give several concessions to them. This initiative of the government in this sector is welcome.

A company that has 1,600 farmers families as shareholders - report of Savvy Soumya Mishra from Raipur This summer if you use a prickly heat powder manufactured by Emami think of Agricon Agropreneurs Limited. The Raipur-based public limited company supplies mentha, a common ingredient in many beauty products, to the cosmetic major. Set up two years ago, Agricon has given farmers much-needed clout in their dealings with cosmetic companies.

The rise in fuel prices will mean costlier vegetables and fruits. The disparity in wholesale and retail prices will see a big jump in the coming days, say industry experts. The hike in diesel prices may make vegetables costlier by just 10-50 paise a kg, but in reality, the consumer would end up paying as much as Rs 10 extra, says S P Singh of Indian Federation of Transportation Research and Training. Some farmers, like those growing tomatoes around Delhi, are likely to be hit.

Mangoes being sold in Siliguri. (Kundan Yolmo) Siliguri, June 1: Mangoes from Malda are ready to arrive in Siliguri. With jamaishashthi (a ceremony for sons-in-law) round the corner, people were disappointed when the produce from the nearby district eluded the town even in the last week of May. Traders of Siliguri Regulated Market, however, said the fruit will be in the shops in the next few days.

JORHAT

THE expanded farm debt waiver plan cleared by the Union Cabinet on Friday is unlikely to bring cheer to the farmers in Vidarbha, the ground zero of agrarian crisis in the state.

Authorities fail to come to the rescue of farmers, orchardists THE recent hailstorms which hit major parts of Kashmir valley and the upper reaches of Jammu region and damaged the crops wherever sowing operations are nearing completion should send alarming signals in the corridors of power. But unfortunately, things do not appear to have moved anyone in the government despite the fact that the farming community has been crying loudly to take note of their losses. Heavy rains coupled with hailstorm was fourth in less than a

To boost agriculture production and to raise the socio economic conditions of the rural people of Reasi district who are mainly dependant on agriculture and allied services, the government has earmarked an allocation of Rs. 294.60 lakh for the current financial year under agriculture and allied services sector for Reasi district. It was disclosed by the District Development Commissioner, Reasi Sanjeev Verma in a meeting held here at Reasi the other day.

It will be more greenery for Lalbagh Botanical Gardens as the horticulture department has embarked upon a special tree exchange programme, to add to the parks existing diversity on the lines of animal exchange plans undertaken by zoos of the country. Though the City's lung space is shrinking, the silver lining is that under this programme, the park will get over 3,000 trees from every nook and corner of the world. "We already have about 7,500 trees of 1,854 species. Now another 850 species will arrive,' Dr M Jagadish, Deputy Director, Lalbagh Botanical Gardens told Deccan Herald.

Planning Commission yesterday fixed Nagaland's annual plan size for 2008 -09 at Rs 1,200 crore, including an additional Central assistance of Rs 150 crore for its special projects. The plan size was fixed at a meeting between State Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia at a meeting here, according to an official release.