Silk exports shrink as pandemic hits demand
Shipments of silk products have taken a major beating as the Covid pandemic has shrunk the demand in key markets of Europe and the United States, exporters said.
The exports are down by 28 per cent in dollar terms during the April-September period this year over corresponding last year. Shipments stood at $79.16 million or ₹591.72 crore during April-September as against $111.19 million or ₹791.89 crore in the same period last year.
Farmers developing own soya, onion seeds worry companies
An increasing number of soybean and onion farmers deciding to develop seed plots, so that they don’t have to buy seeds from private seed companies, has the seed industry worried.
Maharashtra agriculture department is encouraging farmers to develop their own soya seeds and not depend on seed companies, considering the farmers’ complaints about early germination failure of soyabean seeds in July this year. The share of private seed companies in soya seed distribution in Maharashtra is about 60 per cent, according to industry players.
Lockdown effect: India heading for massive shortfall in tea output this year
Despite a marginal increase in September, indications are clearly that India is heading for a massive shortfall in tea output this calendar over 2019 essentially due to lockdown.
“Tea Board has now revealed the data for September which shows that the production rose marginally by 2.10 million kg (mkg) to reach 187.90 mkg from 185.80 in September 2019”, Rajesh Gupta, Compiler of ‘Global Tea Digest’ told BusinessLine.
