Chandigarh: Despite the delayed monsoon in the region, official agencies in Punjab are all set to begin paddy procurement in the state Monday (Oct 1). They are hoping to procure a record 150 lakh tonnes of paddy this season, an official said Sunday. “The state government is fully geared up to [...]

Shimla: No more rotten apples and sweeter profits! That is how cultivators in Himachal Pradesh, a major fruits and vegetable basket, visualise the larger impact of the entry of global supermarket chains like Carefour and Costco into India. Not here, the brouhaha over the recent decision to allow up to [...]

New Delhi:  If a lot can happen over coffee, a lot more can happen over a chat as Swedish sommelier Cecilia Oldne discovered after striking up a conversation with the owner of one of India’s largest vineyards eight years ago. Now the head of international business and the global brand [...]

New Delhi: The government will further strengthen food safety in the country by introducing standards regulations to bring quality of Indian food items at par with international quality levels, a senior official said Friday. “The new norms and the policies for standardisation are in place and we have consulted all [...]

Shimla: The BJP government in Himachal Pradesh Wednesday slammed the central government’s decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail, saying imported apples would ruin the state’s Rs.2,000-crore apple industry. “The state is already facing tough competition from China, the US and other European countries as they are marketing apples at [...]

 Shimla: Fetching good returns to those who have taken to its cultivation, Khandari and Bhagva Anar (Pomegranate) varieties are proving to be bread earner fruits to many farmers in Bajaura-Bhunter belt of Kullu valley. The exotic variety of Khandari Anar has adapted very well to the soil structures of Kullu [...]

Shimla: Dashing hopes of garnering high rates, apple growers are a disgruntled lot as market prices have crashed by one-third in the last week and arrival volumes in the local markets have thinned out. “From a price band of Rs 2500 to 3000 for a 22 Kg box of quality [...]

Shimla: Agro commodities trading house Adani Agrifresh plans to procure 22,000 tonnes of apples in Himachal Pradesh this season, a company official said Sunday. “This year’s procurement will start from Aug 16,” Deputy General Manager Sanjay Mahajan said. He said the apple crop this year was good and the company [...]

Agartala: Tea production in the organised sector is declining in India due to ageing bushes and little investment and the country may have lost 50 million kg of tea in the past 10 years. At the same time it is rising in small holdings which account for nearly 28 percent of [...]

Palampur: It is a poultry bird that does not fly but ensures a steady income. Now a second emu-rearing farm has come up in Himachal Pradesh. Ever since the farm was set up in this town in Kangra district in May, it has become a centre of attraction for young and [...]