IRRI to release new variety of rice
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Manila, Phillipines, will soon release a new rice variety with a potential yield of four to five tonnes per hectare. Dr R K Singh, National coordinator, IRRI, said a new variety, `golden rice', developed recently, was genetically engineered to produce high level of `beta sarotene', the precursor of vitamin A which provides necessary nutrients including iron and copper. The rain-fed rice variety has shown excellent results during field trials, Singh told reporters here on Thursday. Meanwhile, five more varieties of rain-fed rice are in the advanced stage of research at the Narendra Dev Agriculture University, Faizabad, Dr B B Singh, dean, agriculture faculty, said.

Mr R K Singh said the University, which was one of the nine research centres of IRRI, in India, had made good progress in different projects. He, however, expressed concern that funds to IRRI from US and other European countries had decreased considerably.

Marathi agricultural encyclopedia
The first volume of an agricultural encyclopedia, first of its kind in the Marathi language will be released on 6 November, 2000. The agriculture encyclopedia is being brought out by the Bharatiya Sankritikosh Mandal which plans to come out with a total of 15 other volumes of the agricultural encyclopedia covering each and every aspect related to agriculture. The encyclopedia contains thorough study of related agricultural sciences. It has given physical description of each and every herbal plant, in all major languages, the usage of the herb, its history, the contents, the environment needed for it, how to plant it, its trading value as well as pictures of the herbs. The expenditure of each volume is expected at Rs three lakh and the mandal has planned to come out with such encyclopedia in sixteen other languages, total cost of which is expected to be at Rs 7.20 crore.

Subdued trend in bullion market
Subdued trend continued at the local bullion market and both precious metals after fluctuating narrowly in both ways, ended lower due to poor demand and weak overseas advice ahead of the Bank of England's 25-tonne bullion acution, during the week ended November 4. Silver .999 opend on a firm note at Rs 7990 per kg, moved narrowly between Rs 7940 and Rs 8010 during the week, tracking the overseas movement and finished the week at Rs 7940, showing a net decline of Rs 40 from the Rs 7980 of the previous week-end.

Raw silver also opend higher at Rs 7880 per kg gradually declined towards the week-end to close Rs 20 lower at Rs 7835, as compared with Rs 7855 of the previous week. In yellow metal, standard mint gold and 22-carat resumed lower at Rs 4510 and Rs 4170 per ten gm, further drifted lower towards the end of the week on slack demand and weak overseas advice, and closed at the week's low of Rs 4470 and Rs 4135 per 10 gm, shedding Rs 60 and Rs 55 respectively from the previous week's close of Rs 4530 andRs 4190. Ten-tola gold biscuit opened the week at Rs 52,500 moved between Rs 52,300-52,600 during the week before closing at the week's low of Rs 52,300, sharply lower by Rs 500 from the previous week's close of Rs 52,800.In the overseas bullion market, London gold also dropped sharply to around $ 264.65 per troy ounce as against $268.65 of the previous week-end.