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Here is an exclusive interview of K P Magudapathy, Head - Cocoa Operations,with Cadbury that is pioneering Cocoa operations in India

1. Who pioneered cocoa cultivation in India? Where did it all begin?

Though cocoa is believed to have been introduced into Sri Lanka and India in the 18th century, Cadbury introduced the first ever cocoa plantation project in India in 1965 through a demonstration farm at Chundale in Wyanad district of Kerala.

2. Since then how many states have adopted cocoa cultivation?

Majority of the cocoa cultivation takes place in Kerala. In addition, Cadbury has also initiated cocoa cultivation in coastal Karnataka and parts of Tamil Nadu gradually extending its wings to the large state of Andhra Pradesh.

3. What are the benefits of growing cocoa as a crop?

Cocoa is an ideal intercrop in coconut, arecanut and oil plam. Cocoa grows well in the interspaces between coconut or arecacnut which otherwise is unused land. Research at the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) and practice at farms have proven that cocoa and coconut complement each other.

Moreover, cocoa is less labour intensive compared to other horticultural crops. This enables the farmer to earn an additional income without much investment. Another important aspect of cocoa is that it is a perennial crop with peaks in April to June and September to November enabling the farmer to earn during the monsoon season when there is no other income from his farm.

4. How does Cadbury help in Cocoa cultivation?

Cadbury has a team of 42 technically qualified and experienced professionals located strategically in all the cocoa growing areas of South India.

From offering cocoa seedlings at subsidized prices to the farmers to free technical advice on the cultivation practices, Cadbury ensures its participation in every stage of cocoa cultivation. Cadbury's cocoa department produces over 20 lakh hybrid seedlings annually and distributes seedlings to farmers in Kerala, Andhra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

5. Does Cadbury provide any technical assistance to the farmers?

Cadbury's technical staff travel all over the Cocoa growing areas giving farmers advice and assistance in all aspects of Cocoa cultivation. Cadbury's technical team advises and assists the farming community on all aspects of cultivation like planting, upkeep, pest & disease control, organic farm practices, fertilizer application, harvesting and post harvest processing.

6. How does Cadbury reach out to the farmers?

Cadbury adopts an innovative training approach through seminars and field demonstrations similar to FFS (farmers field school) developed by FAO to impart knowledge about Cocoa cultural practices to farmers. It is an interactive and knowledge oriented approach to improve farm management increasing productivity and farmers' income. Farmers are encouraged to share their experience for the benefit of all. The challenge is to reach more farmers and motivate them to take up cocoa cultivation. It is heartening to note that knowledge transfer has taken place to over 65000 Cocoa farmers through the committed team. The testimony of this lies in the fact that the productivity per tree in India at over 1.1 kg is among the best in the world.

Will Duggal get any assignment ?

Will Home Secretary V K Duggal get post retirement job on April 1 ?.Informed sources rule out the possibility of his getting any important assignment.One rumour says that Duggal is joining the PMO in the Secretary rank. One can only wait and watch.

Jha resigns ?

Grapevine has it that Saroj Kumar Jha has put in his papers. He is 1990 batch IAS officer of Orissa cadre.

Likhi to be Director Banking !

Ms Sukriti Likhi is being tipped to be Director Banking in the Government of India. She is 1993 batch IAS officer of Haryana cadre.

Rodrigues threatens to quit ?

General (Retd.) S.F. Rodrigues Governor Punjab is not favourably inclined regarding naming of Indian Home Secretary Viond Duggal as his successor. As the grapevine
has it, he has threatened to resign if Mr.Duggal was appointed Governor of Punjab.

Virk repatriated to Maharashtra

Former Punjab DGP S S Virk is reported to have been repatriated to the parent Maharashtra cadre.Will the 1970 batch IPS officer Virk go to Maharashtra ?.

Gupta joins as JS Revenue

L K Gupta has taken over as Joint Secretary Revenue in the Government of India. He is 1987 batch IAS officer of Manipur-Tripura cadre.

Mathur is Member (Traffic) Rly Board

Vinoo Narain Mathur has taken over as new Member Traffic, Railway Board and ex-officio Secretary to Government of India. Mathur took charge from S.B.Ghosh Dastidar who retired on Wednesday.
( We said this on March 7 )

Corruption and Rajasthan

Vasundhara Raje Government is not keen to check corruption.Post of Lokayukta in Rajasthan has been lying vacant for the last 27 months.And the opposition is silent.

Pushpakaran is Director Personnel

N K Pushpakaran has joined has Director in the Department of Personnel. He is 1982 batch CSS officer.

Mohanty to return UP

Pradeep Kumar Mohanty is returning to the parent Uttar Pradesh cadre after completion of deputation tenure in Uttaranchal. He is 1985 batch IAS officer.

MEA officials miffed

Officials in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) have been very upset with Indian Consul General of Dubai because his almost indifferent attitude during the recent visit of H.H.Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Makhtoum Vice President & Prime Minister of the UAE & Ruler of Dubai to Delhi.Amabassador of India in Dubai reportedly took extra pains in giving interviews to global media highlighting importance his tour to India.However,the Consul General of India who has recently moved from the US refused to even talk to media or business community in Delhi.

Chhering Targay to assume charge on April 2

Chief Secretary designate of Andamans Chhering Targay would assume his new charge on April 2,2007.He is 1976 batch IAS officer of UT cadre.

Spl meeting for empanelment of Bihar cadre IAS official?

Rumours are agog in the bureaucratic circles that a special meeting for the empanelment of a Bihar cadre 1976 batch IAS official, AB Prasad, was held on feb 23. The meeting pertained to his empanelment for Additional secretary level. And it was reportedly at the behest of the Administrative Reforms Commission Chairman, Verappa Moily.

Empanelment of 1977 batch IAS officers

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is all set to clear the empanelment list of 1977 batch IAS officers to the rank of Additional Secretary in the Government of India in a week or two.Those who reportedly figure in the list are Mssrs D K Mittal, G C Chaturvedi,Dr Noor Mohammad,Ms Loretta Mary Vas,P K Sinha,Dr Jacob Thomas,Jagan Mathews,M Haleem Khan,Subhash Kumar,P K Pradhan,Dr Sabsachi Sen,G Bala Chandran,J P Singh,P K Tripathy,Shumsher K Sherrif ,M V P C Shastry,Jannat Hussain,Surajit Mitra,J M Mouskar,Alok Parti,K C Mishra, Krishna Mohan,R N Senapati,Chinmay Basu,S S Brar,Sundraram Krishna,C K Mathew,P K Deb,Alok Rawat,U Sarangi, Rakesh Kackar ,Dr M Sarangi,Ajay Bhattacharya,Vishwapati Trivedi, O P Rawat,D R S Chaudhry,M K Roy,Padamvir Singh,Subodh Kumar,Girish B Pradhan,R N Jha,S K Chaudhry,Sudhir Kumar, B A Coutinho,C S Suranjana, K Jose Cyriac,Naven Masood, R K Mathur,B B Mohanty and A K Jain..

66 new Commissioners of Income-Tax

The CBDT has ordered promotion of 66 officers to the rank of Commissioners of Income Tax.

IAS and IPS reshuffle inAP soon

A major IAS and IPS reshuffle is expected to take place in Andhra Pradesh next month.

IPS changes in Madhya Pradesh

K S Rathore will be new SP Satna.D P Gupta has been made Commandant Ujjain.D K Arya has been appointed SP Rajgarh .Solomon Yash Kumar Mini has been moved to Katni as SP.

FORUM

IRS demand for higher pay-scales

As per media reports Indian Revenue Service officers association in a presentation before Pay Commission have sought pay scales higher than
all other services on the ground that they are a revenue earning service and therefore a cut above the rest. If this type of reasoning devoid of any logic were to be pursued further ,it would amount to saying that very little or no salary be paid to personnel of defence forces as they spend maximum revenue.Infact all services associations who appear before Pay Commission to demand higher pay scales be asked to enter into an integrity pact and sign MOU undertaking to weed out corrupt ,inefficient and those who misuse government resources for personal gains in a time bound manner.For some people government service is a licence to loot the people of India.

Reward and productivity and performance be linked closely.Let savings on account of reduction in government jobs be not get nullified because of pay increase of a section of government servants.If all their perks are properly monetised,it will become clearly obvious why many still want to join government service.Now when conduct rules are found hopelessly inadequate in cubing corruption, ineffiency and misuse of government resources let peer pressure be given a chance to weed out all those responsible for present state of affairs.

Sudhir Chopra

RTI Act yet to deliver--

It is unfortunate that the RTI Act has not been able to instill the required standards of transparency and accountability in the govt organizations in spite of passing of 1 1/2 year after promulgation. The simple provisions of the Act are deliberately not followed by the Bureucracy who either does not supply the information at all, or makes delay in its supply or even put conditions that prevent information seeker from utilising it. It is sad that the landmark legislation is considered as an hinderance in smooth functioning of the government departments by many. I dont think that disclosing the name of an honest officer who is facing vigilance cases even due to being falsely implicated would in any way harm his or her image.The harm to the image will depend on the outcome of the cases.
The RTI becoming so popular, it will be even better if you dedicate a separate page for views on RTI on this site.

Shobhana Mishra

Assocham data is not correct

According to a press release of Assocham they have suggsted to the MoD to lease out 17lakh acres of 'unutilised' defence land in the 62 cantonmants for 'development of retail out-lets for defence related products' and 'bio-farming'. Its a pity that a paper presented by a highly respected body like Assocham to the highest authority in MoD has been based on totally inaccurate data. For one thing Assocham doesn't seem to be knowing the difference between acres and hectares as the extent of vacant land is given as 17lakh acres at one place and hectares at another. It is also unaware that 17 lakh acre (the figure is also wrong)is not the land inside cantonments but bulk of it is in the deserts tracks called field firing ranges and the location simply doesn't permit its use for 'retailout-lets'. They also seem unaware that bulk of the unutilised land (which is certainly far less than the projected 17 lakh acres or hectares is in the form of verdant forests painstakingly preserved by the defence and cantonment authorities for over 200 years in the hill stations like Ranikhet, Almora, Nainital, Chakrata, Darjeeling and Shillong etc. It would have been better had Assocham consulted the professional managers of defence Estates before writing their paper so that at least basic data would have been somewhere near truth.

N N Ojha

Aaj Ki Aawaz

IBN's Pesphology,
Is nothing but 'fakeology'!!

What they've done is just guess the vote share as per caste … 'guessology',
This is IBN's Psephology!!!

Their own so called survey damns SP Sarkar on vital matters,
As per this Survey SP's reputation should be in tatters!!!

There's a huge disconnect in the survey carried out,
Fact is SP ka hogaa UP mein rout!!!

But then Sardesai and gang know for their 'fakelogy' there's no accountability,,
Wish for such blatant lies we could fix the responsibility!!

Will Dal and Channa scandals be Kamalnath's Waterloos???
Could be by the growing boos!!!

Just shows Congress's insincerity……. croc tears while heart was jumping with joy,
See with its mascot , Aam Aadmi, how they toy!!!

After Mr. Q, Mr. L (Laloo), Mr. A (Amrinder) now we have a Mr. K… Kamalnath,
Iss ne maari hai Aam Aadmi ke stomach pe laath!!

Rahul as UP CM????
Why when the guy is positioning himself as India 's PM!!!

Basically UP is too big to manage,
The size of UP is the reason why Sarkaar after Sarkaar karti hai UP ko mismanage!

And this abnormal size also gives it abnormal importance …… not correct,
Carving out two more States from UP is the only way to correct!!!

Seems Congress has made it clear to Amrinder that he better come back,
And stop showing the Akalis his back!!

After saying he's undergoing tests now he says his tests are over and he's ready to return,
Seems the warning has worked….. must have been very stern!!

And what's the use of raiding New Moti Mahal…… no element of surprise left,
Amrinder must have 'cleaned the house' before he left!!!

Amrinder's new ploy is that he'll come back but stay in Delhi or Dochi….out of sight,
In both these places Badal cannot use his might!!!

IB and RAW are looking into Amrinder's Pakistani connection.... his saheli,
There are reports that Amrinder was warned that she's ISI ki chelli (Punjabi for follower)!!

Akalis should come out with a White Paper on the Finance position,
Because as per rumors Punjab 's Treasury is in indisposition!!

Fact is that Amrinder Sarkaar pushed Punjab deeper into debt,
Akali Sarkaar is struggling for basic expenses to be met!!!

Besharam Pawar says, "Balasahib is fibbing when he says that I'll become PM one day",
Fact is the way things are going not for very long in Delhi will Pawar stay!!!

Flop as BCCI President and Agriculture Mantri,
The way things are going in Delhi he won't even get the job of a Santri!!!

Now Besharam Pawar says that we The People of India are to blame,
Our high expectations spoiled the Indian Team's game!!!

He says they got stressed out and suffered from performance anxiety… what a lie???
Besharam Pawar ke excuses no one is going to buy!!

Fact is all the lights during the ads made these fools go blind,
And the money made them go light in the mind!!!

They forgot cricket and immersed themselves in fun and games,
Forgetting what actually got them fame and money was the biggest shames!!!

Besharam Pawar will also blame us for Atta and Dal shortage...Indians eat too much,
Besharam Pawar's thinking is such!!!

Till he does not accept responsibility and resign I will use the Besharam title for him,
Because of him in more than one way our cup of woe is flowing over the brim!!!

Bharat Kumar

Aaj_ki_aawaz@yahoo.com

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CORPORATE

Arun Balakrishnan to take over on April 2

Arun Balakrishnan Director Director (Human Resources), is set to take over as Chairman & Managing Director(CMD) of the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) on April 2,2007.His successor is yet to be named.

Dismissal of Bank officer recommended

The CVC has recommended dismissal from service of S N Mahapatra an official of the Union Bank of India.

Pathak to retire

Director Western Region of the INDIAN R N Pathak is retiring by this month end.

CIL pays Rs.699.72 crore more,as dividend

Coal India Limited (CIL) of which Chairman is Partha S.Bhattacharya has paid Rs.699.72 crore as second and final installment of Dividend to Indian on 27 March, 2007.
Earlier on 12 March 2007, CIL had paid an interim dividend of Rs.800.28 crore, thus making it a total of Rs.1500 crore paid to Government of India as dividend in the fiscal 2006-07. This would constitute 23.75% of the paid up equity of Rs.6,316 crore. Last year CIL paid Rs.1263 crore as dividend which was 20% of the equity.

Meanwhile, CIL and four of its profit making subsidiary companies namely, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, Sambalpur; Northern Coalfields Limited, Singruali; South Eastern Coalfields Limited, Bilaspur and Western Coalfields Limited, Nagpur have been conferred 'MINI RATNA' status. This was after CIL and the companies met the eligibility and classification conditions as laid down by Department of Public Enterprises (DPE).The newly accorded status provides more financial and operational autonomy to these companies.

Nayak is GM of OTV

Chittaranjan Nayak has been appointed general manager of the OTV in Orissa.