Voluntary Report - public distribution

**Date:** 12/23/2003

**GAIN Report Number:** IN3124

IN3124

**India**

**Agricultural Situation**

**Weekly Highlights & Hot Bites, #52**

**2003**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Chad R. Russell

U.S. Embassy, FASNEWDELHI

**Prepared by:**

A. Govindan, Santosh Kr. Singh

**Report Highlights:**

\*Starbucks revs up India plans\*, \*Laws for safer use of pesticides
likely\*, \*Stern action against spurious seed sale\*, \*Government
calls for research in transgenic crops\*.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

New Delhi \[IN1\]

\[IN\]

Welcome to Hot Bites from India, a weekly summary of issues of interest
to the U.S. agricultural community. The report includes information that
has been garnered during travel within India, reported in the local
media, or offered by host country officials and agricultural analysts.
Press articles are included in this report. Significant issues will be
expanded upon in subsequent reports from this office.

DISCLAIMER: Any press summary contained herein does NOT reflect USDA's,
the U.S. Embassy's, or any other U.S. Government agency's point of view
or official policy.

# STARBUCKS REVS UP INDIA PLANS

The Starbucks Corporation is reviving its plans for entering India. The
company is expected to actively scout for prime real estate in metro
markets in the next few months, and plans to open its first store in the
next 12-14 months. Starbucks has identified Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai
as the potential entry points for the chain in India. Starbucks is
presently working on the franchisee model, although acquiring an Indian
coffee pub remains a possibility. (Source: Business Line 12/20/03)

# 

# LAWS FOR SAFER USE OF PESTICIDES LIKELY 

To further make the use of pesticides safe, the government wants the
tolerance limits to be standardized before the pesticide is marketed. As
the maximum residue limits (MRLs) were not established for all the
pesticides currently used in India, the government has established MRLs
for fifty more pesticides. For new pesticides, the Health Ministry will
set the residue limit at the time of their registration. Stating this in
the *Rajya Sabha* (Upper House of the Parliament), Health and Family
Welfare Minister, Ms. Sushma Swaraj, said the government is considering
an integrated food law for curtailing and specifying residue limits of
pesticides in food products. (Source: Business Line & Pioneer, 12/23/03)

*Post Comment*: See GAIN IN3115 on recently reported MRLs for
pesticides.

# STERN ACTION AGAINST SPURIOUS SEED SALE

Agriculture Minister Rajnath Singh has issued strict instructions to the
concerned authorities to take penal action against those who sell
spurious seeds. This follows reports that some agricultural
universities, research bodies, and private traders in the state of
Gujarat are selling spurious seeds to farmers. (Source: Financial
Express, 12/20/03)

# GOVERNMENT CALLS FOR RESEARCH IN TRANSGENIC CROPS 

The Indian government is proposing a research project covering twelve
transgenic crops by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The
project would focus on specially targeted trait improvements such as
resistance to insects and pests, tolerance to abiotic stresses, and
extending the shelf life. The crops covered include corn, pigeon pea,
chickpea, soybeans, cotton, rapeseed, tomato, banana, and potato.
Calling for increased human resource development in the biotechnology
sector to cater to the R&D needs in the country, Agriculture Minister,
Rajnath Singh, said that transgenics in particular offered new
opportunities for agriculture to increase productivity and reduce
adversities. (Source: Economic Times, 12/20/03)

**RECENT REPORTS SUBMITTED BY FAS/NEW DELHI**

  ----------- --------------------------------------- -------------------
  **REPORT    **SUBJECT**                             **DATE SUBMITTED**
  \#**                                                

  IN3122      Weekly Highlights & Hot Bites, #51      12/19/03

  IN3123      Grain and Feed Update - January         12/23/03
  ----------- --------------------------------------- -------------------

**WE ARE ON THE NET**

We are available at
[http://www.usembassy.state.gov/posts/in1/wwwh43.html]{.underline} or
visit our headquarter's home page at
[http://www.fas.usda.gov]{.underline} for a complete selection of FAS
worldwide agricultural reporting.

**FAS/NEWDELHI EMAIL**

To reach us at FAS/New Delhi, email us at
[Agnewdelhi@usda.gov]{.underline}.