Demand-supply gap to widen as rubber output falls

The natural rubber (NR) output in 2009-10 dropped 3.8 per cent to 8,31,400 tonnes from 8,64,500 tonnes in the previous financial year. But, consumption rose 6.8 per cent to 9,30,565 tonnes from 8,71,720 tonnes in 2008-09, indicating a widening demand-supply gap.

According to the Rubber Board, the consumption increased due to a rise in demand from the tyre sector. While major companies like Ceat, JK and Bridgestone Tyres commissioned capacity-expansion plans last year, Birla, Apollo and TVS Sri Chakra Tyres installed new plants. The board said expansion might continue this year as well.

The board’s provisional estimates show the total rubber stock in the country as on March 31, 2010 was 2,48,000 tonnes, as against 1,96,230 tonnes the previous year. But, these figures are not in line with the reality of the local market facing shortage of the commodity. Local traders and farmers believes the stock is in the range of 1,25,000-1,50,000 tonnes.

Consequently, rubber imports also increased 118.7 per cent in 2009-10 to 1,70,048 tonnes, as against 77,762 tonnes the previous year. The increase in imports can be attributed to the price difference in the domestic and international markets. Global prices were lower by almost Rs 17-18 a kg than the domestic prices in the first half of financial year 2009-10.

Courtesty : Business Standard

Rubber output slips, consumption surges

Rubber production slipped 3.8 per cent during 2009-10 even as consumption surged. The industry is, however, relieved that the earlier deficit of over eight per cent in production has been partly made up during the lean wintering months. The very attractive prices in the market have resulted in extensive tapping even in the adverse weather situation, sources in the Rubber Board said.

Despite the fall in overall deficit during recent months, prices are likely to remain firm in the short to medium term, said Mr N. Radhakrishnan, former President of the Cochin Rubber Merchants Association. The prices are unlikely to rise further unless it is driven by global price surge or excessive speculative activity in the domestic market, he added.

Global trends

Global price trends were dictated by China, India and Malaysia which together account for more than 45 per cent of the global consumption of natural rubber. While these three are major consuming countries in the region, China and India are considered the pace setters of global demand and price trends.

During the first two months of the current year, import by China surged 63 per cent for natural rubber and 118 per cent for compound rubber. In Malaysia, import of natural rubber rose 34 per cent. During the same period, India posted a 17 per cent growth in consumption of natural rubber and over 100 per cent growth in imports.

The high production in India which was evident during the last couple of months continued in March with production growing to 50,650 tonnes from 48,300 tonnes last year. Meanwhile, fuelled by the growing installed capacity in the tyre industry, rubber consumption for the month grew to 79,500 tonnes (74,200 tonnes). The Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association has pointed out that the capacity in the tyre sector is poised to more than double in the year ahead and consumption will maintain its brisk pace.

Demand-supply gap

Provisional figures for 2009-10 show that production fell to 8,31,400 tonnes (8,64,500 tonnes). Meanwhile, consumption for the year accelerated 6.8 per cent to 9,30,565 tonnes (8,71,720 tonnes). The demand-supply gap has been met through surging imports.

Imports for March were up by over 50 per cent at 10,136 tonnes. But demand-supply deficit was more manifest in the imports for the year as a whole. Imports during 2009-10 were up 119 per cent at 1,70,048 tonnes (77,762 tonnes). The high level of imports was mainly on account of production shortfalls.

Although exports have more than doubled in March, overall export performance for the year as a whole has been lower. Exports fell by close to 50 per cent 23,764 tonnes (46,926 tonnes). Rubber stock continued to be the silver lining for industry. Stocks stood at 2,48,000 tonnes against 1,96,230 (the actual fig available on the image above) tonnes last year.

Courtesy : Thehindubusinessline

Analysis of Indian Rubber Statistics on spread sheets

The analysis of data provided in these spreadsheets are not availble in any other media. The higher stock with Growers are a lime lie on the higher prices in Domestic market. The -Ve missing is another lie by mathematical errors which means publishing higher stocks than real. When the prices are higher production will increase, because latex is getting through tapping. It is not like other crops which provides fruits, flowers etc.

Fasting at the Martyr’s Square, Palayam.  This is the main event organised jointly by various organisations from all districts under the banner of the Kerala Agriculture-Environmental Collective.  Important personalities including the Minister for Agriculture, Sri Mullakara Rathnakaran, Other Ministers, Poetess and Environmentalist Sugathakumari, Chairman, KSBB, Dr V S Vijayan, Prominent film personalities, writers, poets, social activists, scientists, farmers, environmentalists, students, consumer organisations etc will participated.
Minister calls for nation-wide struggle against GM crops

PROTEST: A hunger strike observed by the Kerala Agriculture-Environment Collective before the Martyrs’ Column in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday as part of a nation-wide agitation against the government move to permit commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal.

Thiruvananthapuram: Minister for Agriculture Mullakkara Ratnakaran has called for a nation-wide consensus in the struggle against genetically modified crops in India.

Addressing a day-long hunger strike organised by the Kerala Agricultural and Environment Collective before the Martyrs’ Column here to protest against the move by the government of India to permit commercial cultivation of Bt.Brinjal, he said the introduction of GM crops would affect the food sovereignty of the country.

“India does not need GM crops to achieve food security; we only have to ensure that our farmland and farmers are protected,” he said. Millions of hectares of farmland are diverted for other purposes.

Reversing the trend is crucial in the drive for food security, GM crops are not.” The Minister said GM crops would lead to the loss of seed sovereignty.

“Driven by profit motives, global corporates are out to make India a laboratory for GM crops with little regard for health hazards. Protecting farmland and encouraging farmers is the only solution to this problem,” he added.

Poet and activist Sugathakumari, poet O.N.V Kurup and chairman of the Kerala State Biodiversity Board V.S. Vijayan spoke.

The hunger strike was organised as part of a nation-wide agitation against Bt.Brinjal.

The All India Kisan Sabha, DYFI, Sakhi, Thanal, Mahila Samakhya Society, Organic Farmers’ Committee, Ore Bhoomi Ore Jeevan, Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi, Abhaya, AIYF, Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad, Kerala Sthree Vedi, Kerala Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation, Solidarity Youth Movement, All India Solidarity Peace Council, People’s Union for Civil Liberties, Chilla, Zero Waste Centre, Progressive Forum, SUCI, and the Thiruvananthapuram Jilla Upabhoktru Samithi took part in the hunger strike

Courtesy – The Hindu

Hundreds stage fast against Bt Brinjal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: ”In Japan, there was a move by the government to import genetically modified soyabean. The people strongly objected  to it and the government had to give up the move,’’ said Katsuko Nakano, an artist from Japan, who was seen at the venue of the one-day fast staged here on Saturday to stop introduction of Bt Brinjal and to protect the food sovereignty of the country.With a black scarf around her head and a pink umbrella that she shared with social scientist Saradha Mani, Katsuko Nakano could not stop herself from attending the protest, after she heard about it from a friend. Neither could film actor Rohini, who joined in a little late. “I could not become part of it in Tamil Nadu, so I thought I will do it here,’’ she said.Rohini, incidentally, along with Revathy has just finished a film on the issue called `Kathirikkai’.  The film, intended to create an awareness on the ill-effects of the toxic brinjal, was released a couple of days ago in Tamil Nadu.It was indeed quite an interesting mix of people from various walks of life at the Martyr’s Square where Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran inaugurated the fast a little way behind schedule. Mullakkara, obviously happy that Kerala is taking a lead in the campaign against GM crops, said that many other states would soon follow suit in banning GM crops.  The function was graced by the presence of poets ONV Kurup and Sugathakumari and Biodiversity Board chairman Dr V.S. Vijayan.Mararikulam panchayat president Priyesh Kumar joined in the fast here, as he could not be in Alappuzha. Many of the protestors wore a badge which read `I am on a fast’ and a chain of brinjals around their necks. Even the incense sticks, in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s picture, were stuck on plump green brinjals. An interesting poster at the venue read: “Genetically modified food are likely to be on your plate soon – 100 percent side-effects guaranteed.’’  Farmers, government officials, senior citizens, teachers, artists and a few students took part in the satyagraha, unmindful of the blistering sun. In the evening, MBS choir gave a performance which was followed by a candle-light oath-taking to protect India’s food sovereignty. The various organisations which took part in the protest include the All-India Kisan Sabha, AIYF, Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi, Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad, Kerala Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation, Jaiva Karshaka Samithi, AIPSO, Progressive Forum, PUCL, KSSF, Swadeshi Jagran Manch, Solidarity Students Movement, Thanal, Abhaya, SEWA., SAKHI, OEOL, Kerala Mahila Samakhya Society, Kerala Sthree Vedi, Zero Waste Centre and Chilla.

Courtesy – Expressbuzz

A chat with the famous Freelance Journalist K.Govidankutty a sweetener.
Govindan: i would like to visit your farm one of these days…you know there is a great poem of walt whitman..saying

What all hurdles you have to overcome from the very first day you entered the Kerala political scene. The allegations like “never been in Kerala before”, “no knowledge of Malayalam” etc are some of them. The proof that the common voters of Trivandrum never cared about all these allegations can be seen from the fact that they elected you to the parliament with a majority close to 1 lakh votes. By making you a candidate of Congress party from Trivandrum Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi were blessing the people of Trivandrum who were fed up with inept politicians.

Your increasing number of followers (media also has played a role in it) in Twitter has made so many people nervous. The “Cattle Cow” reference has taken you to more heights in Twitter. You should be “thanking Kanchan Gupta” for that. Now Twitter community has made you the “brand ambassador of Twitter in India”. Now so many people fear that the followers in Twitter may become a vote bank for you. It is the proof of your ability that you are able to develop a vote bank that is not based on religion, caste or politics.

We were thrilled by your message that once people elect their representative he should belong to the entire people of the constituency. We heard the statements of second string leaders of Congress party about your “cattle class” and “holy cow” tweets. They made you say an unnecessary sorry for a crime you never did. Even a farmer like me can understand that we should not translate those words “literally”.

Next time when you contest from Trivandrum you don’t need banner or cut-outs during the election time. You may be able to campaign using Computer, Twitter and black berry. Hopefully development in technology will make this happen. Next time you come to Kerala you may please spend some time with the twitter community in Trivandrum like you spend time with Delhi bloggers.

New Delhi. In an exclusive chat with Faking News before leaving for Ghana and Liberia, two of the most poorest counties of the world where he would have no choice but to live in austerity, Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor clarified his ‘cattle class’ remark, claiming that he didn’t use it to disrespect the aam aadmi (common man) of India. Tharoor blamed “jackasses” among Indian media and political class for misinterpreting and misrepresenting his tweet. >>>>READ MORE

Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor “tweeted” his apology around midnight on Thursday night to all those hurt by his “cattle class” remark. Tweeting from Liberia, Mr. Tharoor’s apology came a day after the Congress publicly reprimanded him for stating that he would travel “cattle class in solidarity with all our holy cows” in a message posted on the micro-blogging site Twitter.

Having learnt “belatedly of fuss over my tweet” in reply to a journalist’s question whether he would travel “cattle class” to Kerala, Mr. Tharoor said the phrase cattle class was used by the scribe and he had only repeated it.

Further, according to the Minister, “it’s a silly expression but means no disrespect to economy class travellers, only to airlines for herding us in like cattle.”

Of the view that many had misunderstood him, Mr. Tharoor, in another tweet, observed that he had been told it sounds worse in Malayalam; especially when said out of context. “I now realise I shouldn’t assume people will appreciate humour. And, you shouldn’t give those who would wilfully distort your words [given] an opportunity to do so.”

In yet another reply to a query he got from one of his 1, 69,096 followers on Twitter, the Minister said: “Holy cows are not individuals but sacrosanct issues or principles that no one dares challenge. Wish critics would look it up.”

Courtesy: The Hindu