Connect with:
Friday / November 22. 2024

logo
mobile-logo
Home2020January
Agro Universities, R&D

The theme of meeting was “Development of Citrus in North-Eastern Region”.

The ICAR-Central Citrus Research Institute (CCRI) erstwhile ICAR-National Research Centre for Citrus (NRCC), Nagpur, Maharashtra organized the three-day “National Citrus Meet – 2020” at the Regional Research Centre for Citrus, Biswanath Chariali, Assam from 10th to 12th January, 2020. The meet was organized in collaboration with the Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Assam; Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal and ICAR-Research Complex for North-Eastern Hill Region, Umiam. The theme of meeting was “Development of Citrus in North-Eastern Region”.

The Chief Guest of the inaugural session, Dr K.V. Prabhu, Chairperson, PPV&FRA stressed on the need for properly registering the citrus varieties. He urged the scientists to develop the techniques for identifying the admixtures. Dr Prabhu emphasized on giving the priority to the North Eastern Region being Centre of Origin for Citrus, germplasm collection and cataloguing.

 Dr A.K. Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Sciences), ICAR urged for focusing on the productivity enhancement and value-added products from citrus. He emphasized on green but, low cost technologies for doubling the farmers’ income.

Dr Ashok Bhattacharya, Vice-Chancellor, AAU; Dr. B.K. Kandpal, Director, ICAR-Research Centre for North-Eastern Hills Region and Dr. R.N. Barman, Associate Dean, BNCA, Biswanath Chariali also marked their presence as the Guests of Honour during the occasion.

Earlier, Dr M.S. Ladaniya, Director, ICAR-CCRI highlighted the various Institutional activities of the ICAR-CCRI and ICAR-RRCC in the recent years. He stated that the Institute will provide first-hand information and all details about the cultivation, marketing and post-harvest management of citrus fruits in the North-Eastern Region.

 Dhrubajyoti Das, Deputy Commissioner, Biswanath marked his presence as the Chief Guest along with Abdul Jalil, Director, Department of Horticulture & Food Processing, Government of Assam; Shri Mangthiana, Joint Director (Horticulture), Mizoram as the Guests of Honour.

The dignitaries also released the “Souvenir & Abstracts” and Extension Bulletin on “Improved cultivation practices for Khasi mandarin in Mizoram” during the inaugural session. The Citrus Diversity Show displayed the wide varieties of citrus fruits (commercial and wild) from eight North Eastern States.

A total of 150 delegates including Citrus Experts, Horticulturists, State Agricultural Department Officials, Krishi Vigyan Kendra Subject matter Specialists & Programme Coordinators, Development Agencies, University faculties, scientists, students and farmers participated in the meeting.

The theme of meeting was “Development of

Machinery - Pre-harvesting, Machinery – Post-harvesting, R&D, Trade

Gro Tech line of solution is calibrated to help sugarcane growers in saving labor, water, time and fuel.

VST Tillers Tractors, pioneers in manufacturing of tillers and compact tractors in India, has launched Gro Tech – a new line of solution which aligns with the government of India’s vision of doubling farmer’s income.

As per reports, VST Gro Tech line of solution is being offered to sugarcane farmers which is tailor-made to optimize productivity and thereby boost sugarcane yield. In-addition, Gro Tech line of solution is calibrated to help sugarcane growers in saving labor, water, time and fuel. Importantly, the initial investment needed to get the Gro Pro line of the solution running on the ground with all implements is expected to be 50 % lesser in comparison with Higher HP Tractor. 

During the launch of Gro tech, Sr Vice President of VST Jujhar Singh Virk said, “VST’s innovative products and simplified farm solutions will help sugarcane growers in improving productivity and helps in reduction of several costs including labor, farm inputs, cultivation, and harvesting. 

During the launch of Gro tech, Sr Vice President of VST Jujhar Singh Virk said, “VST’s innovative products and simplified farm solutions will to help sugarcane growers in improving productivity and helps in reduction of several costs including labor, farm inputs, cultivation, and harvesting. 

“As part of Gro Tech solution, we are happy to offer VST Shakti Viraat MT 270, a fuel-efficient compact tractor, and is positioned as complete sugarcane mechanization solution that is projected to increases productivity up to 20 per cent with an innovative method of farming”, he added.

Moreover, VST SHAKTI MT 270 is built with a fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engine, Power steering, Oil-immersed brakes, Smart Hydraulics, Ultra cooling radiator,   automatic depth, and draft control and best in class with minimum turning radius assures better coverage with less fuel consumption.  VST Grotech used along with Earthing up equipment will result in cost reduction by 50% over conventional method and help in reducing the land preparation cost by 30% by Using Subsoiler, MB plow and Cultivator.

The mechanization solution of VST Grotech bridges the gap between low returns from small landholdings and the higher cost of labor and inputs through better use of  technology & affordable solutions. Further, he added, VST GROTECH line of solution helps aspiring farmers to cross the threshold at ease by increasing productivity.  Moreover, it offers many more benefits to Sugarcane farmers which lead to an increase in productivity by 20 per cent.

Gro Tech line of solution is calibrated

E-commerce, Packaging & Labelling, R&D

Produce treated with Apeel has a protective layer of plant-based materials that slows down water loss and penetration by oxygen.

The German retail organization EDEKA Group is featuring citrus treated with Apeel Science’s shelf-life extender in select stores.

Nationwide introduction of Apeel-treated oranges and clementines in EDEKA’s German stores is anticipated by the end of the year 2020, according to a news release.

As per the release, EDEKA and Netto Marken-Discount stores previously launched avocados with Apeel’s protective coating at select German stores at the end of 2019.

Apeel’s coating will be used on EDEKA World Wildlife Fund oranges (1.5-kilogram bag), EDEKA Selection oranges “NavelGold” (1-kilogram bag) and EDEKA Selection “ClemenGold” clementines (750-gram bag).

Consumers will find the citrus in selected EDEKA stores in northern Germany and North-Rhine Westphalia, as well as at Netto branches in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony, according to the release.

Apeel Sciences investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Viking Global Investors, Upfront Ventures, S2G Ventures, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UK Department for International Development, and The Rockefeller Foundation.

Produce treated with Apeel has a protective

Agro chems – Fertilizers, R&D

The conference aims to connect farmers, FPOs, cooperatives, fertilizer players, researchers and other people whose concerns lie in the fertilizer sector.

 SMART Fertilizers Conclave is going to be held at VAMNICOM, Pune on 28th and 29th February 2020. The primary focus of the conference will be innovations in fertilizers, thoughtful use of fertilizers and need of policy reforms in the sector. The vision of this conference is to connect farmers, FPOs, cooperatives, fertilizer players, researchers and other people whose concerns lie in the fertilizer sector.

One of the main highlights of this conclave is to connect approximately 1000 modern farmers and promote balanced and sustainable use of fertilizers to face the future challenges looming in the field of agriculture. This conference also aims at promoting the latest innovations and technologies in fertilizers and providing opportunities to farmers to network with government executives, industry leaders, dealers and other stakeholders in the sector. 

With the ongoing debate on whether to use chemical or organic fertilizer, the conference will also be touching the realms of the present and future of organic and natural fertilizers. With the increasing use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, many farmers believe that the natural fertility of the soil is vanishing and this has put fertilizers into bad light thereby, many fertilizer companies might be getting low business. So, to clear out misconceptions among the farmers about using fertilizers, this conference will take the responsibility to touch such topics. As more and more progressive farmers will join the event, the conference will be able to convey the message more clearly across the nation. 

The expected output of the conclave is to create awareness about the balanced use of fertilizers, bridging gaps between policymakers and industries and give a push to innovations in technologies in the sector through the deliberations.  

The venue, VAMNICOM, Pune is a Grant-in-aid institution under the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, and Government of India.  The institute has great infrastructure and provides a favourable environment for the management of such agri-related conferences. 

The conference aims to connect farmers, FPOs,

Agro chems – Fertilizers, E-commerce, Machinery - Pre-harvesting, Machinery – Post-harvesting

This addition complements current fertilizer application products and provides Unverferth with a complete lineup for agricultural retailers and farmers.

Unverferth Manufacturing Co., Inc. announces the purchase of Force Unlimited of Oelwein, Iowa, an innovative manufacturer of the Pro-Force pull-type and truck-mounted spreaders. The product line includes single- and multi-bin models with user-friendly, adjustable spinners that provide uniform, prescription rate application of granular fertilizers, cover crops, poultry litter and compost on croplands.

Force Unlimited founder, Stan Duncalf, commented, “As an established, highly regarded company, Unverferth Manufacturing has demonstrated their sincere desire to grow the Pro-Force line with expanded distribution and continued new product development. They will also provide the added manufacturing capabilities for continued sales growth and maintaining high-quality manufacturing and aftermarket support for the products I have nurtured for the last 17 years.” Duncalf will be joining the Unverferth team, focusing on product research and development.

Stated Larry Unverferth, company president, “We look forward to continuing the successes of Stan’s innovative single- and multi-bin spreaders and expanding his vision to make the best, most innovative lineup of dry fertilizer spreaders for greater crop yields while reducing the environmental impact. This addition complements our current fertilizer application products and provides Unverferth with a complete lineup for agricultural retailers and farmers.

 

The top-of-the line, Pro-Force spreaders are manufactured with 304 stainless steel for the greatest oxidation resistance with precision machined parts for accurate variable rate fertilizer application. Additional information about the current product line-up can be found at forceunltd.com.

This addition complements current fertilizer application products

E-commerce, Packaging & Labelling, Supply Chain

The automated bulk packaging solutions cut food loss in the food service sector.

The US foodservice industry is discovering the benefits of receiving fresh green bean supplies in lean, modified atmosphere bulk packaging (MAP) newly developed by sustainable packaging experts StePac, Ltd. The company’s advanced solution under the brand name Xtend® targets food waste in the foodservice supply chain and delivers added benefits of preserving the quality, crispiness, and glossy green colour of fresh green beans while maintaining full fresh flavour. Stepac will showcase this innovative solution at the upcoming Fruit Logistica in Berlin, February 5-7, hall 26, booth #D10.

Green beans are grown extensively in South Florida and Tennessee, with peak season from November to May. A large percentage of the green beans are packed and shipped to the foodservice industry. But fresh green beans have a short shelf life of around 8 to 12 days. Dehydration, a common post-harvest problem, causes the pods to shrivel and become limp from progressive weight loss and plastic packaging is often used to reduce this waste.

However, excess moisture generated in standard packaging aggravates decay and russeting — reddish-brown spots that result from chilling injury when beans are stored at 5-7.5°C (41-45°F). Foodservice outlets must discard food supplies that do not meet specifications for appearance and quality and are rendered unfit for consumption.

 

StePac developed modified atmosphere packaging films inbuilt with ideal water vapour transmission rates (WVTR) that eliminate the excess moisture from fresh green bean packaging, mitigating risk of decay and reducing sensitivity to russeting. The company’s proprietary solution also preserves the crispiness and glossy green colour of fresh green beans and prevents excessive weight loss caused by dehydration.

 

Food waste is an estimated $100bn problem within the hospitality sector alone, reports Winnow, producers of a device that monitors food waste in commercial kitchens. “Food waste in the foodservice sector is a major challenge, affecting the entire global food value chain,” notes Gary Ward, Ph.D., Business Development Manager for StePac. “Our technology offers a solution for helping curb that waste and enhancing the quality of the produce reaching the kitchens. It also isn’t limited to green beans but extends to a range of other vegetables, such as peas, carrots, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and others that are freshly bulk packed exclusively for the foodservice sector.”

 

StePac’s packaging solutions can help increase the shelf life of green beans and other vegetables, often by as much as 50-100%, and allows foodservice providers to serve vegetables cooked from higher quality fresh produce, more sustainably and with reduced waste.

 

StePac offers a range of films that cater to nearly every requirement. In addition to Xtend carton liners, its ground-breaking Xflow™ films, with their patented sealing layer, have facilitated applicability for automated packaging, such as vertical form-fill and seal (VFFS) packing. This lets the packaging of green beans and other vegetables meet the demands of high turnover facilities and is already gaining momentum within facilities in regions of the US, especially Florida.

 

“The new Xflow packaging supports high-speed, high-throughput automated packaging lines for fresh vegetables; supports distributors and growers; and better meets the needs of hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and other institutions across the US,” adds Ward. “Foodservice sites can receive enhanced quality produce while enjoying the benefits of reduced labor costs.”

 

This solution for automated packing of fresh green beans for foodservice applications adds to the comprehensive portfolio of packaging solutions StePac offers for fresh vegetables. The portfolio includes bulk carton liners, preformed bags (including standing pouches for retail applications) as well as films for VFFS, flowpack and topseal for retail packaging formats.

 

 

About StePac:

StePac specializes in functional packaging for fresh produce. Its globally recognized brands include Xtend, Xgo™, Xflow™ and Xbloom™ modified-atmosphere/modified-humidity packaging solutions. These solutions reduce weight loss, slow respiration and aging, and inhibit microbial decay, while prolonging storability and shelf life. They are supported by a wealth of post-harvest expertise for enhanced performance and sustainability. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson Matthey, plc, UK.

The automated bulk packaging solutions cut food

E-commerce, R&D, Trade

It will provide engineering services to help cultivation and processing facilities optimize production, maximize bottom line profits.

Root Engineers, a professional engineering firm specializing in the cannabis industry, is continuing to expand its engineering and design services to cannabis facilities nationwide. The firm is now licensed to operate in 12 states across the United States, and plans to add more to the list in 2020.

“We are excited to work in cannabis communities across the country and share our expertise with business owners in the industry,” said Laura Breit, CEO of Root Engineers. “While our headquarters is located in Oregon, we also hold licenses in many other states to provide engineering services to help cultivation and processing facilities optimize production, maximize bottom line profits, and provide the operational infrastructure to help our clients grow their businesses.”

 Cannabis facility design project

Root Engineers is licensed to offer its market-leading engineering, design and consulting services for cannabis companies in Oregon, California, Washington, Nevada, Idaho, Colorado, Montana, Michigan, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Illinois. The company’s experienced team of licensed professional engineers has completed more than 100 cannabis facility design projects by providing superior mechanical, electrical, plumbing and process engineering solutions.

Root Engineers will work to obtain licensure in any state and encourages potential clients to reach out from any state. The process to secure a new state license typically only takes two to three weeks.

About Root Engineers

Root Engineers, a division of established firm ColeBreit Engineering, is a team of licensed professional engineers providing engineering, design, and consulting services for cannabis cultivation and processing facilities across the country. Root Engineers began building partnerships in its home state of Oregon in 2014 with growers, architects, contractors and investors. With more than 100 years of combined engineering experience and more than 100 cannabis and hemp projects in its portfolio, Root Engineers is a market leader in engineering services including mechanical, electrical, plumbing and process engineering.

It will provide engineering services to help

Agro Universities, R&D

The MoU aims at initiating the knowledge partnership for establishing the secondary agriculture unit to develop the skills like latest technologies. 

 The ICAR-Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research (DMAPR), Anand, Gujarat signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat recently. 

Dr Satyajit Roy, Director, ICAR-DMAPR emphasized on the importance of the partnership program that would help in triggering the framing of indigenous technologies of the medicinal plants. This would be a step forward in the sustainable collection and cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants in the country. 

Dr T.R. Ahlawat, Associate Director of Research, Centre for Advanced Agricultural Sciences and Technology (CAAST), New Delhi opined that MoU would be beneficial medicinal farming community in the country.

The MoU aims at initiating the knowledge partnership for establishing the secondary agriculture unit to develop the skills like latest technologies in the different spheres of secondary agriculture, capacity building, competency development, product development and its commercialization for the students and farmers.

The MoU aims at initiating the knowledge

E-commerce, Machinery - Pre-harvesting, Machinery – Post-harvesting, Trade

The MoU aims to explore the marketing of VST products through the channel in the global market. 

 

 

VST Tillers Tractors Limited, a leading manufacturer of agricultural multipurpose power tillers and tractors in India signed a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with ZETOR TRACTORS a.s. from Czech Republic manufacturers of tractors, and other equipment. Zetor Tractors is a brand of tractors, trademark and Czech manufacturer based in Brno, Líšeň. The company deals in farming tractors and tractor components.

 This MoU is signed for the joint development of higher HP tractor, which would further lead to a joint venture for sales and marketing of these products both in India and internationally. Both companies possess years of experience in their respective fields and have now given a nod to the joint product development, manufacturing and business plan for tractors with horsepower greater than 36 HP for Indian as well as for the global markets.

 In this MoU, these critical aspects have been given stress:

The MoU is to promote the joint development of products.

The MoU is signed allowing VST to manufacture tractors at its new higher horsepower manufacturing facility

The MoU is signed to promote the marketing of the jointly developed products in both India and the global markets through a JV between VST Tillers Tractors Ltd. and ZETOR TRACTORS a.s. In India, the jointly developed products would be sold through VST channel partners while Zetor channel partners will handle the marketing in the international market.

 

 

 

The MoU aims to explore the marketing

Acts & Schemes – Centre, AgroPolicy, Trade

As Brazil is one of the most important trading partners of India in the entire LAC (Latin America and Caribbean) region trade between the two countries will grow to USD 15 billion by 2022. 

The visit of President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, is a sign of the growing importance of the India – Brazil bilateral partnership said Union Minister of Commerce and Industry & Railways, Piyush Goyal, during his address at the inaugural session of the India-Brazil Business Forum held in New Delhi.

 He hoped that as Brazil is one of the most important trading partners of India in the entire LAC (Latin America and Caribbean) region trade between the two countries will grow to USD 15 billion by 2022.

 The 15 MoUs signed during the visit of the President of Brazil shows the power of democracy, demography, leadership, the talent pool available in India, India’s market and the aspirations of one billion Indian citizens for a better life said the Commerce and Industry Minister. The MoUs of cooperation that have been signed during the presidential visit on investments, trade facilitation, social security, agriculture, defense and double taxation makes this the most productive visit by a Brazilian Head of State. 

Commerce and Industry Minister hoped that investments will also grow in the sectors of clean energy, startups, railways and creation of value chains between India and Brazil where goods may be semi assembled in one country and finished in another. Piyush Goyal informed that the entire Indian Railway will be fully electrified by 2024 and by 2030 the railway network in India will run completely on clean energy with zero emission. 

Commerce and Industry Minister welcomed the announcement made during the visit of President of Brazil to India for visa free travel between the two countries. He added that visitors for business and tourism between two countries will benefit greatly from this. 

Commerce and Industry Minister also urged that the India – Brazil Business Leader’s Forum may be activated and reconstituted to make it more relevant and contemporary to businesses in both countries.

Commerce and Industry Minister hoped that India’s services in wellness sector like Yoga and Ayurveda will further grow as Brazil has a strong community of Yoga and Ayurveda practitioners. Brazil has an association of Ayurveda (ABRA), a nonprofit association with offices in 9 states of Brazil and members all over Brazil and the third International Congress on Ayurveda was held from 12 to 15 March 2018 in Rio de Janeiro. The conference saw participation of more than 4000 delegates, including many from India. 

India and Brazil share close relationship at the bilateral level as well as plurilateral fora like BRICS, BASIC, G-20, IBSA, and International Solar Alliance and in larger multilateral bodies like UN, UNESCO and WIPO stated Commerce and Industry Minister. He further said that the decade long bilateral strategic partnership is based on a common global vision shared democratic values and a commitment to foster economic growth with social inclusion for the welfare of the people of both countries.

 

As Brazil is one of the most

Agro chems – Pesticides, R&D

This is the first time that the EPA has approved crop protection products on hemp since the crop became legal to grow under the 2018 Farm Bill. 

Marrone Bio Innovations Inc. (MBI), an international leader in sustainable bio- protection and plant health solutions, today announced that two of its bio-fungicide products — Stargus and Regalia — have been approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for indoor and outdoor use on hemp plants. 

Stargus and Regalia improve hemp plant quality and yield, as well as treat and protect hemp plants from a range of diseases, including powdery mildew, Botrytis bud rot, Sclerotinia white mold, Fusarium rots and wilts and other fungal and bacterial diseases. This is the first time that the EPA has approved crop protection products on hemp since the crop became legal to grow under the 2018 Farm Bill.

 “With more than $1.1 billion in revenues in 2018, the hemp market is projected to more than double by 2022,” says Pamela Marrone, CEO and founder of Marrone Bio Innovations. “This is an exciting opportunity for Marrone Bio to extend our business into a rapidly growing market, which will only continue to grow as the acres continue to expand. With Stargus and Regalia now approved at the federal level for hemp, we are well positioned to grow alongside this burgeoning market.” 

Chemical pesticides dominate today’s $60 billion global pesticides market, but the fastest-growing category of crop inputs is biologicals. When integrated into crop production and pest management programs, biologicals — including Stargus and Regalia — can offer higher-quality crops and better yields. Both products are applicable for organic farming as well.

 The bacteria in Stargus work by colonizing plant root hairs, leaves and other plant surfaces, thereby preventing establishment of fungal and bacterial pathogens. The Stargus bacteria also produce natural compounds that inhibit detrimental bacterial, fungal growth and spore germination. Further, the Stargus bacteria trigger immune responses in the plant to ward off diseases and increase both growth and yield, creating a healthier and stronger plant. 

MBI’s Regalia Biofungicide, based on a plant extract, delivers better yield and improved harvest quality. Regalia helps to increase crop performance by stimulating a plant’s innate ability to fight diseases. This fungicide offers preventative activity and early control of yield-robbing diseases, resulting in increased marketable yield and top profit on every acre.

 MBI is now pursuing state approvals under the Regalia and Stargus labels, with hemp uses added, to ensure product availability for the 2020 growing season.  Please check the following website https://marronebio.com for regular updates on state approvals and product information.

 

 

This is the first time that the

E-commerce, Finance, R&D, Trade

The new investment  will enable Naïo Technologies to further capitalize on its position as a leader in agricultural robotics and reach the next level of technology maturity in order to prepare the robots for mass production.

 

The Escalquens-based startup Naïo Technologies, specialized in agricultural robots, has recently announced the closing of a €14 million funding round led by Bpifrance. Impact investor Pymwymic and its historical shareholders, Demeter and Capagro, flanked Bpifrance in this investment round. 

The French company, founded in 2011 by robotic engineers Aymeric Barthes and Gaëtan Séverac, manufactures and markets agricultural solutions in close collaboration with farmers. Their weeding robots respect both the environment and man: they provide a solution to assist farmers in their daily work, reduce the strenuous physical workload and limit the use of chemical weedkillers.

 Nearly 150 robots (called Oz, Dino and Ted) are already deployed at farms and vineyards both in Europe and in the United States. The promise of contributing to more sustainable agricultural practices, combined with the company’s ability to demonstrate market readiness over the past 18 months, have contributed to the successful closing of this funding round. Continuously innovating allows the company to handle different crops types. To do so, Naïo Technologies has developed a standard navigation system for agricultural robots. This navigation system can be implemented on any off-road robot which allows to address many crop types. 

This new investment round will enable Naïo Technologies to further capitalize on its position as a leader in agricultural robotics and reach the next level of technology maturity in order to prepare the robots for mass production. 

“In the next 10 years, there will be robots in every fields of Europe and North America. We recognize that the challenge is very ambitious, but we are convinced that we can meet it alongside our partners and stakeholders. Our goal is to ensure the ecological and social transition to sustainable agriculture” says Gaëtan Séverac, co-founder of Naïo Technologies. 

“We are very proud to announce our investment in Naïo Technologies as pioneer in agricultural field robotics. Naïo enables farmers to transition their farms using the rise in precision farming and sustainable farming, and allows them to meet both customer demand and current and forthcoming regulatory constraints regarding the limitation of chemical inputs in the fields,” says Laura Panquet, Ecotechnologies Fund of Bpifrance.

The new investment  will enable Naïo Technologies

Acts & Schemes – Centre, E-commerce

Total horticulture production in 2019-20 is expected to be 313.35 million tonnes (mt), about 0.84 per cent higher than 2018-19, according to first advance estimates released by Department of Agriculture recently.

Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare has released the Final Estimates of 2018-19 and 1st Advance Estimates of 2019-20 of Area and Production of various Horticulture Crops. These are based on the information received from different State/UTs and other source agencies.

As per the final estimates,  released recently , the total horticulture production of the country in 2018-19 was estimated to be 310.74 mt, only marginally higher than the previous year.

Vegetables production was estimated to be around 183.17 mt, while fruits production was estimated to be around 97.97 mt.

In 2019-20, fruits production is expected to be lower by 2.27 per cent in 2019-20 over 2018-19. It is mainly due to loss in production of grapes, banana, mango, citrus, papaya and pomegranate.

Vegetables production, on the other hand, is projected to be higher by 2.64 per cent than the year before, thanks to increase in output of onions, potatoes and tomatoes.

Onion production is expected to be 24.45 mt (increase of 7.17 per cent) compared to 22.82 mt in 2018-19.

Potato production is expected to be 51.94 mt an increase of 3.49 per cent. It was 50.19 mt in 2018-19.

Tomato production is expected to be 19.33 mt (increase of 1.68 per cent) compared to 19.01 mt last year.

Total horticulture production in 2019-20 is expected

AgroPolicy, Dairy, Finance, R&D

The project JK BovaGenix is an initiative of JK Trust.

JK Trust, promoted by Raymond’s CMD, Gautam Hari Singhania, engaged in livestock breed improvement through its pioneering project in embryo transfer with in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), has received a grant of Rs 4.83 crore under the Union government’s Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), as reported by FNB News.

In 2014, the government launched RGM to develop and conserve indigenous breeds of cattle through selective breeding. The scheme comprises of two components: National Programme for Bovine Breeding (NPBB) and National Mission on Bovine Productivity (NMBP).

“This government has given considerable attention to animal husbandry.   Prime Minister Narendra Modi too is also completely aware about our programme. We received Rs 4.83 crore for a three-year period spanning April 2019 to March 2022 as the ministry is impressed with our work,” said Dr Shyam Zawar, chief executive officer, JK Trust,

The Trust is now keen to make inroads into Karnataka which is among the leading milk producers in India. Talks are on with private breeders in Karnataka. The Holstein Friesians (HF) breed of dairy cattle from Punjab are high milk producing varieties. “We are looking at cattle from Karnataka as IVF recipients of these cows from Punjab. University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, and ISKCON which has 17,000 cows have also evinced interest in our work,” said Dr Zawar.

 

“As the largest NGO in animal husbandry in India, we operate in around 35,000 villages across 11 states providing the services of artificial insemination to the rural farmers so as to improve the genetic breed and enhance milk production,” he added.

India’s animal reproduction scene was not that developed until JK Trust chipped in its expertise. Normally a cow produces one calf in a year. But with IVF, we have produced 14 calves from the Gir breed donor cow named ’Radha’ in a span of one year for the first time in India. Between April to September 2019, we have also been able to ensure 56 IVF pregnancies from the Gir donor cow, Gauri. Of these 56 pregnancies, 38 were performed at JK Trust IVF centre near Pune and the remaining were at the farmers sheds across India. These calves are expected to be delivered anytime from January to June this year, according to him.

Although, India is one of the largest milk producing countries globally, the per capita availability of milk is poor as compared to global standards. Hence with IVF, India can maintain less number of dairy cattle which are genetically superior to produce more milk. “This is one way to decrease the number of non-productive animals with less pressure on grazing and feeding cattle,” noted Dr Zawar.

Stating that India dairy farmers need access to good breed of cattle, Dr Zawar said, “There was need for training in bovine IVF. In this regard, JK Trust had approached the government to offer a month of training in IVF under its guidance to produce embryos.”

The project JK BovaGenix is an initiative