UN official calls biofuel production ‘a crime against humanity’
BERLIN, April 14, 2008 (AFP) - Massive production of biofuels is "a crime against humanity" because of its impact on global food prices, a UN official said …
Agriculture
Sri Lanka poultry breeder shifts to modern facility
April 13, 2008 (LBO) – Poultry breeder Three Acre Farms Limited (TAFL) plans to relocate some of its operations to a facility which is being fitted with …
Sri Lanka tea trade online transactions on the rise
April 04, 2008 (LBO) – The volume of transactions on Sri Lanka's automated tea export document processing system is on the rise but the number of …
Sri Lanka tea board says no to legal exports of ‘refuse’ tea
April 02, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's Tea Board has turned down an appeal by export firms to ship tea below government stipulated standards, saying it no …
United States and Sri Lanka’s Hayleys in high value farming
Mar 27, 2008 (LBO) – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is teaming up with Sri Lanka's Hayleys group to lift rural …
Cambodian PM bans rice exports to halt spiraling costs
PHNOM PENH, March 26, 2008 (AFP) - Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday banned rice exports in a bid to halt the staple food's spiraling prices, …
Sri Lanka should liberalize edible oil imports: coconut exporters
Mar 23, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's exporters of value added coconut products are asking to authorities to free edible oil imports, so that profits from oil …
Sri Lanka paddy crop under water; quality drops and high prices likely
Mar 21, 2008 (LBO) – Torrential rains lashing Sri Lanka during an ongoing crucial harvest season is likely to lower the quality of rice but keep prices …
Sri Lanka plantation privatization, branding behind export surge
March 18, 2008 (LBO) – The privatization of Sri Lankan tea estates and branding were largely responsible for the industry's export earnings exceeding a …
Oil price hits record above 105 dollars
LONDON, March 6, 2008 (AFP) - Oil prices surged past 105 dollars for the first time on Thursday as traders reacted to a surprisingly sharp fall in US crude …
Sri Lanka tea growers set for party as prices soar
March 3, 2008 (AFP) - The tea industry in Sri Lanka, the world's second biggest exporter of the crop, is looking forward to good times again as prices soar on …
Sri Lanka gets $22mn UNDP grant to develop coconut industry
Feb 21, 2008 (LBO) – The United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) is to grant Sri Lanka 22 million dollars to develop the coconut industry, officials from …
Sri Lanka coconut palms hit by deadly yellowing disease
Feb 20, 2008 (LBO) – A bacteria spreading the lethal yellowing disease on coconut palms has entered Sri Lanka destroying more than 200,000 trees in the …
Sri Lanka plans draconian new laws to curb coconut farmers; new disease threatens crop
Feb 19, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is planning draconian new laws to limit the rights of coconut farmers to put land to alternative uses and cut import duty …
Sri Lanka tea prices seen staying strong
Feb 14, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan tea prices are forecast to stay strong this year because of international supply disruptions caused by the violence in …
Sri Lanka’s Baurs goes deeper into infant food
Feb 14, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's diversified A. Baur & Company has launched a new powdered milk brand to boost its share in the premiumn infant milk …
Sri Lankan cloves prices stabilize after tumble
Feb 13, 2008 (LBO) – Prices of Sri Lankan clove have stabilized after a sharp fall last month, a senior official has said. But growers are expected to …
Sri Lanka says tea exports earned record billion dollars
Feb 7, 2008 (AFP) - Sri Lanka earned a record one billion dollars from tea exports last year despite a drop in volumes, the island's tea board said Thursday. …
Sri Lanka needs more agricultural investment to boost productivity, cut poverty: World Bank
Jan 29, 2008 (LBO) – The World Bank says Sri Lanka's agriculture needs more investment to diversify into high value products and boost productivity in …
Sri Lanka’s tea output dips in 2007, prices up
Jan 25, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's tea production for 2007 fell by six million kilograms to 304 million kilograms as bad weather and the lagged effects of …