Vietnam, the world's No.2 coffee producer after Brazil, may carry over a record high of more than 300,000 tonnes of stocks to the current crop year from the 2013-2014 season that ended in September, according to traders' estimates. Vietnam's next season is expected to start in earnest later this month, said the traders.
Major global wheat exporting countries Russia and Ukraine targeting to increase the grain plantings this winter, aided by favourable weather conditions and earnings from summer crops, despite the Ukraine crisis, officials and analysts said. Farmers in Russia are supported by the high domestic grain prices, which are up year-on-year.
Soybean planting in Argentina is expected to climb slightly from the record 20 million hectares sown with the oilseed last season, according to crop analysts. A bigger soybean harvest from Argentina, the world's 3rd largest exporter, would put downward pressure on prices already trounced this year by a United States bumper crop.
The export of castor oil from India has declined because of poor international demand. According to the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA), India exported 168,428 tonnes of castor oil during the April-July 2014 period, down 26,976 tonnes from 195,404 tonnes exported during the corresponding period in 2013.
Western Disturbance that has been affecting the northern parts of country has now moved towards further east. According to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, this weather system has brought rainfall in Uttarakhand, while the maximum temperatures in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab have dropped slightly.
As on October 25, Srinagar recorded maximum temperature of 19.1°C, which was below by 2°C. Similarly Amritsar and Chandigarh witnessed maximum temperature of 29.6°C and 30.2°C, respectively, which was again 1°C below normal.
As per the latest forecast by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, another fresh Western Disturbance is expected to affect North India October 28 onwards. In view of this weather system, night temperatures will rise, while the maximums will experience a drop.
This system might also have an interaction with the cyclonic circulation, which will be passing through somewhere between Karachi, Pakistan and Kandla coast in Gujarat by October 29. This activity will affect the weather over entire northwest India.
As per Skymet, Delhi might observe some rain on October 31 and November 01 in view of the system.
Western Disturbances become frequent during winters and are responsible for affecting the weather in the region to a large extent. These system after approaching the region usually stay for 1-2 days and give short spells of rain. These systems are called Western Disturbance due to their movement from west to east.
In a big relief to Mumbaikars, the city has witnessed a significant drop in the maximum temperatures. As on October 25, the city recorded maximum temperature of 29°C.
For the past few the days, the city has been observing maximum temperatures above the normal of 34°C. Mumbai recorded maximum temperature of 35.7°C on October 24, 37.2°C on October 23, 36.8°C on 22 and 37 on October 21.
According to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, the reason behind the sudden drop in the day temperatures is the depression system which is prevailing in Arabian Sea and has been causing light to moderate rainfall over several parts of Maharashtra.
At present, the system is over west central and adjoining southwest Arabian Sea and is approximately 1400 km southwest of Mumbai.
As per the forecast by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, the maximum temperature will hover around 30s for the next 24 hours due to thick clouds and light rain, before it returns to normal.
The easterlies wind in the city has been keeping maximum temperature above the normal. However, the wind direction post the passing of this system will change to westerlies, bringing the temperatures to normal.
The low pressure system that is prevalent in Arabian Sea has now intensified into a depression. According to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, the system is expected to further intensify into a deep depression in next 24 hours and further into a cyclonic storm.
At present, the system is over west central and adjoining southwest Arabian Sea and is approximately 1400 km southwest of Mumbai.
As a result entire Maharashtra will witness light to moderate rainfall during the next 24-48 hours. As per Skymet Meteorology Division in India, the maximum temperature will drop and hover around 30°C.
Further, the system is likely to move in west northwest direction and reach southern parts of Oman. After reaching Oman coast, the system may re-curve in northerly to northwesterly direction due to the upper level diversion. Post this, it will reach somewhere between Karachi, Pakistan and Kandla coast in Gujarat by October 29.
This system then might bring rainfall over most parts of Gujarat, western parts of Rajasthan, south Punjab and even south Haryana by October 30.
Earlier this month on October 12, a severe cyclonic storm Hudhud had battered the east coast of India. It had made landfall in Visakhapatnam with maximum sustained winds of upto 190 kmph. Hudhud had triggered massive rainfall in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
Northeast Monsoon continues to be active over south peninsular region. Several parts of Kerala, South Interior Karnataka and parts of Tamil Nadu have been receiving moderate rainfall over the past few days.
According to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, rain will intensify over northern parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in next 24 to 48 hours. Andhra Pradesh will also observe light to moderate rain over some parts.
In Kerala, places such as Kochi and Kozhikode have witnessed 58 mm and 43.3 mm of rainfall, respectively in the span of last 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu witnessed light to moderate rainfall with Parangipettai recording 44 mm of rain, Vellore 3.5 mm, Chennai 0.8 mm, Adirampattinam 21.4 mm, Coonoor 6.3 mm, Kodaikanal 7.1 mm, and Nagapattinam 6.6 mm. Puducherry also recorded 7.9 mm of rainfall.
As per the forecast by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, western parts of Tamil Nadu will witness rain and thundershowers in next 24 hours, while eastern and coastal areas of the state will receive light rain.
The Northeast Monsoon season from October to December is the time when the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala receive their bulk of rain.
This trend of rainfall in South India is expected to continue for some more days as the Northeast Monsoon is likely to remain active.
The Northeast Monsoon mainly affects five regions in the southern peninsula- coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and south interior Karnataka, bringing spells of heavy rainfall in these regions.
Exports of small & large cardamom during April-July 2014, showed a decline of 5% to755 tonnes & 17% to 115 tonnes respectively, according to the latest data from the Spices Board of India. Important markets for cardamom are Vandanmendu, Bodinayakanur, Kumily, Thekkady, Kumbum and Pattiveeran Patti in Kerala.
Wheat is the major rabi crop in India. Now farmers are engaged in the land preparation activities for sowing of wheat. Indian Government is likely to increase the minimum support price (MSP)of wheat to endorse the planting of the staple crop in more area during the rabi season. The MSP may be hiked by Rs 50 to Rs 1,450 per quintal.
India has contracted to export up to half a million tonnes of soymeal at $430 - $475 a tonne to kick off shipments in the new crop year, with traders expecting annual overseas sales to touch last year's levels. India sold nearly 2.2 million tonnes of soymeal in the year to Sep 2014, about 40 percent lower than the previous year.
Rabi maize crop sowing is started in the key producing states of India. According to the recent reports of Agriculture Ministry of India, rabi maize is sown on 0.23 lakh hectare across the country. Last year at the same time rabi maize area was 0.10 lakh hectare across the country. In India maize cultivated in all the seasons kharif, rabi and summer.
