India grants duty concession to US on just 5 lakh tonnes of DDGS under trade pact
New Delhi (PTI): India has granted a quota-based duty concession on only 5 lakh tonnes, which is equivalent to just 1 per cent of the total consumption of dried distillers' grains (DDGS), under the first phase of the bilateral trade pact, an official said.
The official said that DDGS will supplement domestic feed availability and help meet rising demand without diverting food grains from human consumption.
"Animal feed domestic consumption is 500 lakh tonnes, whereas the quota given to the US is only 5 lakh tonnes, which is equivalent to only 1 per cent of total consumption," the official said, adding imports of this grain reduce corn and soyabean imports for feed purposes.
Access to DDGS will reduce feed cost volatility, protecting poultry, dairy, aquaculture, and livestock producers and helping contain food inflation.
The grains will also reduce pressure on domestic corn and soybean markets, supporting the availability and affordability of staple food grains.
"India's feed demand growth is large, structural and long-term. Only 1 per cent quota of DDGS imports is a pragmatic, low-risk measure. It diversifies small quantities of imports to the US, reduces corn and soyabean imports for feed, supports livestock growth, stabilises prices, and aligns with national food security and export objectives," it added.
India's demand for animal products is increasing rapidly due to population growth, rising incomes, and urbanisation.
This has led to a corresponding increase in demand for animal feed, particularly corn (200 lakh tonnes) and wheat (65 lakh tonnes) soybean meal (62 lakh tonnes), which together account for nearly two-thirds of total feed consumption (500 lakh tonnes).
Domestic feed supply is increasingly constrained by limited arable land and productivity gaps.
Feed demand is projected to grow faster than domestic supply, making imports necessary by the early 2030s under all realistic growth scenarios.
India imported soybean meal (15 lakh ton) in 2021 due to domestic price pressures.
Currently imports more than 6 lakh tonnes of animal feed (key suppliers- Sri Lanka, China, USA, Thailand, Nepal), 6 lakh tonnes of soyabean (key suppliers- Niger, Togo, Benin, Mozambique) and 9 lakh tonnes of corn (key suppliers- Myanmar, Ukraine, Singapore, UAE).
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Delhi: Father, son held for killing 19-year-old woman in suspected honour killing
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has arrested a man and his son for allegedly murdering his 19-year-old daughter in west Delhi's Hari Nagar area, an official said on Friday.
The case first came to light on April 1 after a PCR call was received around 2 pm, alleging that a woman had been killed by her family members and her body was being taken for last rites, he said.
The accused, identified as Mohammad Maneer (55), a vegetable vendor, and his son Meraj Ali (19), were arrested in connection with the case, the officer said.
The victim had been in a relationship with a man from her native place for the past two years, which was opposed by her father, Maneer and brother Meraj, he said.
"When the girl did not end the relationship despite objections, the family killed her," the officer said.
On April 1, the police said that when their team reached the spot, they found that the woman's body was being taken for burial.
Acting on the input, the burial process was stopped over suspicion of honour killing.
"Police intercepted the family members and took possession of the body," he said.
Police said that the man who had made the PCR told them that the woman was in love with his cousin.
During the inquiry, police also interacted with the PCR caller, who said his cousin, a friend of the deceased, had informed him about the situation and suspected foul play, prompting him to alert the police control room.
The body of the woman was subsequently shifted to the mortuary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for preservation and postmortem.
Police said that both the crime team and the forensic science laboratory (FSL) team were called to inspect the scene and collect evidence.
Police said that, as per the postmortem report, the cause of death was identified as smothering, indicating that the woman was suffocated.
A preliminary inquiry also revealed that the family had initiated preparations for the last rites soon after the woman's death, raising suspicion about the circumstances.
Initial investigation pointed to the family's opposition to the woman's relationship.
"The family members of the woman saw her with the man, and she was taken back home. We got to know that she was beaten up and even locked inside the house for some days," a source said.
Further investigation into the matter is underway, police added.
