Maize prices rise in key spot markets.

Maize futures on the NCDEX ended higher due to good demand from buyers for the new crop. The May contract of rabi maize ended at 1,407 rupees per 100 kg, up 0.8% from previous close.

NCDEX coriander up on short covering, low output.

Futures contracts of coriander on the NCDEX were up as investors covered their short positions after prices fell to a five-week low of 6,900 rupees per 100 kg on Tuesday. A 2,420-tn decline in open interest in the May contract indicated short covering. The most active May contract on the NCDEX traded up 0.2% from the previous close.

Coriander prices fall in Ramganj on higher arrivals.

Prices of coriander were down in Ramganj as arrivals were higher. In Ramganj, a key wholesale market in Rajasthan, the Badami variety of coriander and the Eagle variety both down 100 rupees from previous close. Arrivals in Ramganj were pegged at 20,000 bags (1bag=40kg) up 7,000 bags from the previous day.

NCDEX cotton oilcake down on weak demand, spot cues.

Futures contracts of cottonseed oilcake on the NCDEX fell because of weak demand in physical markets. The most active May contract of cottonseed oilcake on the NCDEX was down 0.5% from the previous close. In Akola, the benchmark market in Maharashtra, cottonseed oilcake and in Kadi, Gujarat, both down 20 rupees from previous close. Cheaper alternatives for cattle feed such as mustard feed and guar feed weakened the demand for cottonseed oilcake.

Punjab pegs year to Jun cotton output up 220% on year.

Cotton crop 1.26 millon bales vs 393,000 bales year ago. Cotton output in Punjab, among the largest producers of the fibre, is estimated to rise a sharp 220% on year to 1.26 millon bales (1bale=170 kg) in 2016-17 (Jul-Jun) because of higher acreage and better yield Cotton output in the state had fallen last year after the crop was severely attacked by white fly.

Govt officials say no plans to hike import duty on wheat to 25%.

The government does not plan to hike import duty on wheat to 25% from the current 10%. There was no immediate need to raise the duty, as prices were above the minimum support price in most market. Procurement was progressing well and the harvest this year was also good. The government had on Mar 28, imposed 10% customs duty on import of wheat to prevent fall in prices following a bumper crop in the country this year.

Ukraine farmers started 2017 maize sowing.

Ukraine says 94 packet of spring grains sown so far. Farmers have also started 2017 maize sowing, seeding 341,000 hectares, or 8 percent of a planned 4.5-million-hectare area. A week ago, the ministry saw the planted area at 4.4 million hectares. Farmers have sown 31,000 hectares of soybean out of a planned 1.9 million hectares this year. They have also sown 1.3 million hectares of sunflower, or 24 percent of the expected area of 5.4 million hectares, and 263,000 hectares of sugar beet, or 90 percent of the forecast.

DA task force sets inventory of rice stocks.

Manila, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) will lead the creation of a task force to look into the nationwide inventory of rice stocks to counter allegations of a current shortage and speculation of possible importation despite a bumper harvest. The task force aims to prove that there is enough rice supply in the country and establish actual stock situation to allow the government to come up with correct statistics, which could be the basis of sound agricultural planning, particularly in terms of rice production. NFA is insisting on an immediate government-to-government importation of 250,000 metric tons (MT) of rice to boost the agency’s inventory. Latest data from the PSA showed that the country’s rice inventory in March declined by 19 percent to 2.18 million MT, from 2.67 million MT recorded a year ago. The agency reported that total rice inventory as of March was also five percent lower than the 2.3 million MT posted in February.