Onion, potato & tomato output drops slightly in 2017-18

Production of onion, potato and tomato has fallen marginally in the 2017-18 crop year ended June 30. As per the ministry’s third advance estimate, onion output is likely to be around 22 million tonnes (MT) during the reported period, lower than 22.4 MT in 2016-17. Similarly, potato production is estimated to remain flat at 48.5 MT as against 48.6 MT in 2016-17, while tomato output is projected at 19.4 MT as against 20.7 MT earlier. However, the overall production of vegetables is estimated to be higher by one per cent to 179.7 MT over the previous year, the data showed. In case of fruits, the output is projected at 97 MT, higher by 4.5 per cent from the previous year.

Nafed to begin disposal of 13k tonne buffer onion stock

National Agriculture co-operative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed), which procured onions from Lasalgaon and other wholesale markets in the state over the past four months is now set to dispose nearly 13,000 tonnes of the buffer stock from its various storage facilities across Nashik district.

Jaipur barley up on demand from poultry feed sector

Prices of barley rose in Jaipur due to improved demand from poultry feed sector amid negligible supply. In Jaipur, the benchmark market, the coarse grain was sold for 1,610 rupees per 100 kg, up 10 rupees. Barely two-three bags (1 bag = 85 kg) have been arriving in markets due to low stocks with farmers, and the new crop will only be available from March. However, sluggish demand from malt manufacturers, the key consumers, capped sharp gains in prices.

Chana prices dn in Delhi on subdued dal millers buys

Prices of chana fell in Delhi due to subdued demand from dal millers. In Delhi, the benchmark market, prices of chana were down by 50 rupees. However, arrivals of chana declined. Prices of chana are likely to increase in the coming days owing to sluggish sales of government-procured stocks.

Govt source says pulses buffer stock 1.2-1.3 mln tn.

Currently, buffer stocks of pulses are at 1.2-1.3 mln tn and the government has no plan to increase it to the 2.0-mln-tn limit in coming months. Buffer was created around three years back to safeguard consumers from the brunt of sharp spike in prices due to shortage in physical markets. As currently markets are well-supplied due to record production in last couple of years and due to hopes of bumper output this year, the government has no immediate plan to build a buffer to its limit of 2 mln tn in near future. At 1 mln tn, tur accounts for the maximum share in the buffer stock.

USDA arm sees Myanmar 2018-19 pulses output down 14% at 3.8 mln tn

The US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service sees Myanmar beans and pulses 2018-19 output down 14.2% on year at 3.8 mln tn. Output of the pulses in the country is estimated to decline as the Myanmar government has urged the farmers to reduce production of some pulses such as urad and tur and shift to other crops such as seed corn, soybeans, green gram, dry season rice and sesame. About 80-90% of the total tur production and 60-70% of urad is exported to India, and the domestic wholesale prices depends mostly on India’s demand. In March last year, India had imposed a 10% customs duty and in August imposed quantitative restriction of 200,000 tn on tur and 300,000 tn on urad and moong annually, to curb cheaper imports. The restrictive policy by the Indian government has led to a sharp drop in the exports of pulses from Myanmar.

USDA arm sees Myanmar 2018-19 pulses output down 14% at 3.8 mln tn.

The US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service sees Myanmar beans and pulses 2018-19 output down 14.2% on year at 3.8 mln tn. Output of the pulses in the country is estimated to decline as the Myanmar government has urged the farmers to reduce production of some pulses such as urad and tur and shift to other crops such as seed corn, soybeans, green gram, dry season rice and sesame. About 80-90% of the total tur production and 60-70% of urad is exported to India, and the domestic wholesale prices depends mostly on India’s demand. In March last year, India had imposed a 10% customs duty and in August imposed quantitative restriction of 200,000 tn on tur and 300,000 tn on urad and moong annually, to curb cheaper imports. The restrictive policy by the Indian government has led to a sharp drop in the exports of pulses from Myanmar.

India Spot wheat prices up in Indore, Kota.

Prices of wheat increased around 25 rupees per 100 kg in the key wholesale market of Indore in Madhya Pradesh due to good demand from flour mills and bakery product manufacturers. Wholesale price of mill quality wheat in Indore was at 2,025 rupees per 100 kg. In Kota market, price of the food grain was at 1,900-1,925 rupees per 100 kg, up 10-15 rupees from the previous session. Food Corp of India sold 115,200 tn of wheat in the eighth round of auctions under the open market sales scheme for 2018-19 (Apr-Mar).

Dec 18 CBOT Wheat closed at $5.18 3/4, down 9 1/2 cents.

Wheat futures saw Turnaround losses of 8 to 9 1/2 cents in the CBT and KC contracts, with MPLS down 4 to 6 cents. September showed thin trade. Crop Progress report indicated that 93% of the US spring wheat crop was harvested as of Sunday, 8% faster than the average. The winter wheat crop was shown at 5% planted, even with the normal pace and last year. Ahead of the monthly USDA report, projecting the USDA will trim new crop world ending stocks for wheat by 1.37 MMT to 257.58 MMT. The French wheat crop is estimated at 34.55 MMT, down 5.5 MMT from their August number.

Australia’s wheat output in 2018-19 season seen down 10% at 19.1 mil mt.

Australia was expected to produce 19.1 million mt of wheat in the 2018-19 (October-September) season, down 10% from 21.2 million mt in 2017/18. The decline in estimate is primarily attributed to reduced crop prospects from exceptionally unfavourable seasonal conditions in Queensland, New South Wales and parts of Victoria and South Australia. In New South Wales, the well below average rainfall during the planting window resulted in much less area planted to winter crops than was initially intended. As a result, wheat production is forecast to fall by 44% to 2.5 million mt in 2018-19.In Queensland, the dry conditions and low levels of soil moisture reduced potential yields with wheat production forecasted to be around 525,000 mt, down 23% from the previous harvest. South Australian wheat production is forecasted to fall by 10% to 3.7 million mt due to 13% decline in average yield. Timely rainfall in early spring will be critical to ongoing crop development in many cropping regions in eastern states (including South Australia) because of low levels of soil moisture.