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Seeds, World

ISF will host a virtual congress on June 8-10 which will bring together industry leaders and experts 

Just as farmers must continue to plant seed and steward the land, the companies and organizations behind that quality seed must continue to operate and innovate. That’s why the International Seed Federation will host a Virtual Congress, powered by Seed World, June 8-10.

 The issues and priorities of importance to the international seed industry haven’t faded in the face of this global pandemic; one can easily argue that they’re being exacerbated — making the need for a meeting even more critical for seed professionals around the world. 

“The International Seed Federation, as the voice of the private seed sector, is not staying silent,” says Michael Keller, ISF Secretary General. “Even with our postponement of our World Seed Congress 2020 in South Africa, we continue to engage in an inventive way on topics that continue to be important, if not even more critical, during this time. It cannot be business as usual.” 

The ISF Virtual Congress will bring together industry leaders and experts, who will be live and ready to interact and answer your questions. After the live event, information from the virtual congress will be accessible June 11-17. 

“We’ve long supported ISF, the international seed industry and those businessmen and women whose livelihoods depend on it,” says Shawn Brook, president of Issues Ink and publisher of Seed World. “We’re excited to offer our top-of-the-line virtual platform to help convene some of the worlds foremost in seed, food and agriculture.” 

There will be no cost to register, and registration opens today, May 15. Visit govirtual.worldseed.org for more information and to register.

ISF will host a virtual congress on

E-commerce, Seeds

It will strengthen and focus Corteva’s offering for customers who buy seed through retail locations, beginning with the 2021 sales season. 

Corteva Inc. announced its new go-to-market structure for seeds in the U.S. retail market. These changes are part of Corteva Agriscience’s Multi-Channel, Multi-Brand strategy for the U.S., which serves customers based on their buying preferences through a segmented route-to-market approach. They will strengthen and focus Corteva’s offering for customers who buy seed through retail locations, beginning with the 2021 sales season.

 Corteva is introducing Brevant seeds in the U.S. for sale exclusively through retail, focused in the Midwest and Eastern Corn Belt. Brevant seeds was successfully launched in 2018 in nine countries outside the U.S. following the merger between Dow and DuPont. This bold, high-performance brand will expand retail’s access to Corteva’s genetics, technology and traits and will drive growth and collaboration with Corteva Agriscience Crop Protection. In the U.S., Brevant will replace Mycogen Seeds as Corteva’s primary U.S. retail-focused brand, bringing retail customers a new, and agile way of doing business with Corteva. Brevant seeds will be available for planting in 2021.

 Based on customer buying preferences in the Southern, Southwestern and Western U.S. Markets, Corteva is bringing focus and simplicity to its offer by providing corn and soybeans through a single brand in these geographies – Pioneer brand. Corteva will expand the number of retailers offering Pioneer in select geographies and will retire Terral Seeds and the REV brand. PhytoGen cottonseed will continue to be offered for sale through our existing retailers and distribution partners. A unified Pioneer and PhytoGen sales team will serve customers in the Mid-Southern and Southeastern U.S and support both brands. 

 “Corteva Agriscience is committed to delivering innovative, industry-leading products to our customers through their preferred channels,” says Judd O’Connor, president, U.S. Commercial Business for Corteva Agriscience. “U.S. growers who prefer the retail experience will now have greater access to our seed products, creating new opportunities for their farms, and for our company to grow.”  

About one-third of U.S. farmers purchase their seed inputs through retail, which is also the primary route-to-market for Corteva Agriscience Crop Protection product sales.  

“We have accelerated the pace of innovation to create the richest pipeline in the industry and we are making it simpler to do business with Corteva,” says Brian Barker, multi-channel seed brand leader for Corteva Agriscience. “We are bringing a winning offer to retail partners backed by dedicated and focused sales and support teams.” 

As previously announced, Corteva will continue to serve U.S. farmers through four regional corn and soybean seed brands in the U.S., including Dairyland Seed, Hoegemeyer, NuTech and Seed Consultants, which are strong in their respective markets. Pioneer will remain the company’s global flagship seed brand with an industry-leading, unique product portfolio and agency route-to-market approach. The company will also maintain the AgVenture brand with its independent network of regional seed companies, the Alforex brand and build its trait and genetics licensing business. Each seed brand within Corteva will have a broad, strong portfolio unique to its geography and market demands that will continue to be fed by Corteva’s leading Research and Development program and the full capabilities of the company. 

The majority of employees and dealers who supported Terral Seeds and Mycogen Seeds will have alternative positions or dealership opportunities with Corteva.

 Corteva is committed to ensuring a smooth transition, and will honor program, product and service obligations for existing seed orders and the 2020 growing season. Farmers, dealers, retailers and distributors should contact their local seed representative or account manager for additional information. 

It will strengthen and focus Corteva’s offering

Agrotech, Machinery – Post-harvesting

 Ville held the post of Director, Sales Valtra EAME (Europe, Africa, Middle East) in the seven years prior to joining Case IH. 

Case IH has announced the appointment of Ville Mansikkamäki to the role of Vice President Case IH Europe. He will follow Thierry Panadero, who has taken up the position of Head of CNH Industrial’s Agriculture Europe Commercial Operations. 

Announcing the appointment, Panadero stated: “I am delighted to welcome Ville to our company. His 20 years of solid international experience in various sales, marketing, customer support and spare parts roles will make a valuable contribution to the success and development of Case IH in Europe.”

 Mansikkamäki graduated from the Rauma Institute of Technology in Finland with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Logistics, Materials and Supply Chain Management. He joined Valtra Inc as Customer Service Manager in 2001 and subsequently gained an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degree from the University of Jyväskylä. After a number of roles within Valtra Inc and its parent, Agco Corporation, he held the post of Director, Sales Valtra EAME (Europe, Africa, Middle East) in the seven years prior to joining Case IH. 

His appointment forms part of a wider re-organization within CNH Industrial under its ‘Transform 2 Win’ corporate development strategy, which will allow its five operating segments to achieve their full potential and transform the Group’s overall structure. This approach will maximise management focus and flexibility, align investment priorities and incentives, meet the respective business needs of each segment, and optimise CNH Industrial’s cost and capital structure. This will put it in an even stronger position to drive profitable growth through significant investments into its products, technologies, operations, employees and channels.

 Within the Transform 2 Win strategy, Case IH intends to strengthen its position in Europe as a provider of a full line of powerful, reliable, highly-productive products and industry-leading technology to enhance farmers’ efficiency and productivity.

 Ville held the post of Director, Sales

Acquaculture, Agro Universities

Food and Agricultural Organization published “Food and gear loss from selected gill net and trammel net fisheries of India”. 

The Central Institute of Fisheries Technology’s (CIFT) work on ‘Food and fishing gear loss’ — the first attempt from the country in the area of fishing gear loss — has got appreciation from the Food and Agricultural Organization and published by the world food body as “Food and gear loss from selected gill net and trammel net fisheries of India”.

This is the first work from India on assessment of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) which is a major problem leading to “ghost fishing”.

It is estimated that around 6.40,000 tonnes of all fishing gear (approximately 10 per cent the total usage) is lost or discarded in the oceans annually, in bad weather or when nets get stuck to the rocky bottom.

The result was the outcome of a FAO-funded project on ‘Assessment of fish and gear loss from selected gill net and trammel net fisheries of India’ taken up by CIFT in October 2016 and the report of which was submitted in March 2018 on its successful completion.

The project was led by CIFT in collaboration with Integrated Coastal Management, Kakinada, said CN Ravishankar, Director, CIFT. 

The published work presents information on the types, causes and levels of losses, as well as technological, social, environmental and policy options to reduce losses from fishing and post-harvest operations in selected gill net and trammel fisheries of the country. 

A research team led by Saly N Thomas, Principal Scientist, CIFT, undertook the study collecting data from 12 locations and 583 fishing vessels across the country

Food and Agricultural Organization published “Food and

Agro Universities, R&D

About 300 scientists from various parts of the country participated in the virtual meeting. 

 The ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad organized the Virtual 55th Annual Rice Research Group Meeting in recent.

In his inaugural address through Video Conferencing, Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & DG (ICAR) emphasized on the importance of digital platform in facilitating the much needed participation of senior officials of ICAR as well as experts in all the All India Coordinated Research Projects Meetings for ensuring an effective outcome. Highlighting the country’s self-sufficiency in food production which ensured feeding the large population despite the serious COVID-19 situation, the Director General accentuated on the enhanced rice production that has also given the confidence to explore diversion of its use for bio-ethanol production. 

Emphasizing on the Production Oriented Survey of ICAR-IIRR that should help in guiding policy makers in rice sector, Dr Mohapatra suggested for utilizing the hybrid rice production strategy to enhance the rice productivity. He stressed on encouraging the young researchers towards hybrid rice research. The DG also accentuated on the need for working more effectively in the areas of nitrogen use efficiency, critical analysis of water use, pre-breeding as well as speed breeding, multiple pest resistance and harmonious integration of IPM research in different Institutes.

 Dr Tilak Raj Sharma, Deputy Director General (Crop Science), ICAR emphasized on one of the target areas for further research that was to provide effective package of practices for direct seeded rice areas in the North-Western India. Dr Sharma also stressed on the need for human resource development towards strengthening the ICAR’s functioning. 

Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr Dipak Maithi, Director, ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Odisha highlighted about the AICRIP’s genesis and its contributions towards the service of rice farming community, despite the challenges of climate change, low income and other issues.

 Dr S.R. Voleti, Director, ICAR-IIRR briefly presented the highlights of research progress during 2019 under the AICRIP. About 300 scientists from various parts of the country participated in the Virtual 55th ARRGM.

About 300 scientists from various parts of

Acts & Schemes – Centre, Dairy

 Fund aims to support private investment in dairy processing, value addition and cattle feed infrastructure. 

Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for Self-Reliant India amidst Corona crisis, the centre and Agriculture Ministry has come up with many new reforms and initiatives in the farming sector. In the 3rd tranche of measures on the mega economic stimulus to tackle the coronavirus crisis, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced different plans to strengthen Agriculture Infrastructure Logistics, Capacity Building, Governance and Administrative Reforms for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Processing Sectors. 

Support private investment in dairy processing

An Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund of Rs. 15,000 crore will be set up, with an aim to support private investment in dairy processing, value addition and cattle feed infrastructure. Incentives will be given for establishing plants for the export of niche products. 

Beekeeping initiatives – Rs 500 crore

The government will implement a scheme for Infrastructure development related to Integrated Beekeeping Development Centres, Collection, Marketing and Storage Centres, Post-Harvest & value Addition facilities etc. The scheme will also include implementation of standards & developing a traceability system, capacity building with thrust on women, development of quality nucleus stock and bee breeders.

This will lead to an increase in income for 2 lakh beekeepers and quality honey to consumers. 

National Animal Disease Control Programme

Moreover, the government has launched “National Animal Disease Control Programme” to ensure 100% vaccination of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and pig population (total 53 crore animals) for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and for brucellosis.

National Animal Disease Control Programme for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis launched with total outlay of Rs. 13,343 crore to ensure 100% vaccination of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and pig population (total 53 crore animals) for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and for brucellosis. Till date, 1.5 crore cows & buffaloes tagged and vaccinated.

 

 Fund aims to support private investment in

Acquaculture, Agro Universities, R&D

The GIS database would be helpful for the authorities and policy makers to monitor the daily activities and help them easily understand the fish landing centers 

 

 

 ICAR-CMFRI launches GIS based info of vicinity of fish landing centres to COVID-19 hotspots. The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi launched a novel initiative for enabling the online GIS tracking of the Marine Fish Landing Centres and their proximity to the COVID-19 hotspots in the different maritime states. The online GIS-based database depicting the vicinity of marine fish landing centres to the COVID-19 hotspots in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka would become crucial in monitoring the activities at various marine fishing landing centres in the country on a daily basis. 

The database offers visualization of the marine fish landing centres in the states in various colour groups in accordance with their geographical proximity with the COVID-19 hotspots / containment zones within the coastal Districts, identified by the government. These Centres have been categorized in different groups according to their distance with the hotspots. The information is updated on daily basis based on the information received from the respective State Governments.

 The first category requiring the priority in taking precautionary measures includes fish landing centres located within 3 Kms of the hotspot. The landing centres at a distance of 3 to 5 Kms with the hotspots fall in the second category, whereas, the third category includes the landing centres at a distance of 5 to 10 Kms from the identified hotspots.

 Practical utility of the initiative 

The GIS database would be helpful for the authorities and policy makers to monitor the daily activities and help them easily understand the fish landing centres where strict safety measures are to be imposed and fish harbors where safety measures could be relaxed. This can be identified simply by a click at the info graphics published by the ICAR-CMFRI at its website: www.cmfri.org.in. This will help the concerned authorities for strategic execution of safety measures in accordance with their vicinity to the COVID-19 hotspots.

The GIS database would be helpful for

E-commerce, Finance, Poultry

The seed funding round saw the participation of investors like Tracxn Labs, Angellist, Tri-Deep Capital, founders of Letstransport 

  Agritech startup Eggoz, which is into the business of egg production, has raised ₹2.5 crore from investors to fund its expansion plans.

 Founded in December 2017, the start-up is a full-stack egg producer of nutrition-rich eggs. It operates a network of poultry farms in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. 

Eggoz has raised ₹2.5 crore as part of its seed funding. It had earlier secured ₹1.2 crore from a clutch of angel investors. The seed funding round saw the participation of investors like Tracxn Labs, Angellist, Tri-Deep Capital, founders of Letstransport, and angel investors along with existing investors – Narendra Sankar, Sunil Mishra, and Vishal Sharma, the company said.

 Eggoz has so far sold over two crore eggs and has more than 1, 00,000 birds under management. It has developed a new farming model for small-scale commercial egg farming. 

With Eggoz’s technology and integration platform, farmers can rear flock sizes starting from 500 birds at the affordable initial investment and less land requirement, said Uttam Kumar, founder of the company.

 With these efforts, Eggoz poultry farming is one of the most profitable and stable businesses to generate allied income for many marginal farmers as well as to fulfil protein-enriched food requirement of the growing population, Kumar added.

Eggoz works with farmers at several locations in north India, using nutritional engineering and technology.

Abhishek Goyal, Founder of Tracxn Labs, said: India’s egg supply chain is largely unorganised. There is an opportunity for a player to implement best practices in production and create a trustworthy consumer brand. We were quite impressed by the founding team passion for solving this market.

 

The seed funding round saw the participation

Acts & Schemes – Centre, E-commerce

 Funds will have a huge multiplier impact and contribute towards doubling of farmer’s income in the years ahead 

 

  Commenting on the third tranche of economic package announced by the Finance Minister in recent, Dr Sangita Reddy, President, FICCI said, “Our anna-datta finally get their due and FICCI thanks the Prime Minister and Finance Minister for ushering in a new dawn in the agriculture sector of the economy. The spate of governance reforms announced by the government will finally unshackle Indian agriculture and liberate the Indian farmer who until now was largely tied to a few buyers in terms of selling the produce.” 

“The Essential Commodities Act had outlived its utility and by bringing a change in this the government has ensured that investments in the agri-value chain will get a boost. Additionally, the announcement on introducing a central law to free up inter and intra-state trade of agri-products will help farmers in getting a better price for their produce and we hope that all states will adopt this in right earnest,” added Dr Reddy. Agriculture is the only product where the producer (farmer) have to sell to only through a fixed channel which is the APMC. This new law and act will be a significant boost to the farmer.  

 In its Fiscal Response Strategy, FICCI had recommended large scale investments to be made in strengthening the agri-infrastructure. The package announced today moved the needle in that direction. Be it Rs 1 lakh crore fund to be set up for improving the farm gate infrastructure or the Rs 10,000 crore scheme announced to support micro-food enterprises or Rs 15,000 crore animal husbandry infrastructure development fund, all of these will have a huge multiplier impact and contribute towards doubling of farmer’s income in the years ahead. These will ensure that the wastages in farm produce are minimised, there is greater processing and farmers get better price for the produce. 

“The government has recognised the important role being played by Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and by giving these a major push, we can expect much stronger market linkages being provided to farmers as FPOs are in tune with the market realities and what is being demanded at any given point of time. Additionally, the thrust laid on dairy sector is also welcome as every 1 lakh litre of additional dairy capacity created leads to generation of as many as 6000 jobs,” added Dr Reddy. 

The creation of a legal framework to provide farmers with certainty with regard to the offtake and pricing even before sowing is started is an indication that government is serious about promoting contract farming whose benefits we have already seen in certain parts of the country. Connecting farmers with food processing companies, aggregators, bulk buyers etc. helps in improving certainty of sales as well as get other benefits like provision of better seeds and new technologies. 

With India being amongst the world’s largest livestock holders, 100% vaccination for our pashu-dhan will not only boost livestock health but also improve the global demand and perception of the products being safe. Bee keeping initiatives will ensure additional and alternative source of income opportunity for farmers particularly women in rural areas.

 Funds will have a huge multiplier impact

E-commerce

SafalFasal offers technological and financial solutions to help the farm sector to keep food and supply chain rolling. 

 

Global digital payment solutions leader BPC and its SME marketplace, SafalFasal, have supported more than 75,000 Covid-hit farmers across India by offering technological and financial solutions to help the farm sector keep food and supply chain rolling, during and after the lockdown phase. The company has successfully extended formal financing to the farming industry by creating an easy credit line via NBFCs. 

With the COVID-19 exposing new vulnerabilities on the agriculture sector, crops and livestock prices, vital advice and mentoring are being extended from multiple institutions backing SafalFasal, including Tanager, Bayer, Coromondal, Greaves and other reputed domestic and international players. These relationships have helped farmers match with buyers and ecosystem partners and create contingency plans. 

SafalFasal provides linkage to credit providers and also serves as a platform to access suppliers and trade with merchants and distributors, in an end-to-end ecosystem. BPC has shared pilot phase results run between January 1, 2020 and March 31, from this new digital platform, which showcases how SafalFasal has helped Indian farmers. Working with ICICI Bank, as well as microfinance institutions and P2P lenders, SafalFasal provides farmer producer organisations (FPOs) and retailers with instant access to digital finance to support farmers previously excluded from the formal economy and immediately pay them for their produce. Over time, FPOs build a financial profile that enables more accurate credit scoring, improving the rate for them, while reducing the risk for the lender. 

The platform has already seen US$64,000 in transactions, exceeding target by 150 percent. SafalFasal has enabled access to business credit to farmer producer organisations to make immediate payment to farmers for their produce thereby easing the financial needs of farmers. 

“In the last three weeks of the pilot we had to act fast with the unexpected challenge of COVID-19,” said Debarshi Dutta, EVP and Global Head of SafalFasal. 

“Reinforcing our mission, SafalFasal was able to provide farmers with invaluable guidance to overcome the new challenges facing them including a broken supply chain. Farmers know they are not alone when they are a part of the Marketplace. Our model has proven to be a lifeline to help farmers digitalise their services at a time when online purchasing and payments have accelerated dramatically,” Dutta added. 

SafalFasal has facilitated food security by educating farmers on how they can ensure business continuity while not exposing themselves to the virus. The team at SafalFasal has also been focused on gathering all requirements for the next sowing season for inputs and preparing the ground for credit support, so that the marketplace is able to weather the impact of the pandemic. 

In addition to this, it is also helping farmers prepare for the post-confinement rise in demand, by working with all ecosystem players to ensure an agile plan is in place to strategically deliver produce to their destination using multiple shipping methods and locations.

 The closed-loop trading environment forges critical market linkages, by also serving as a digital trading platform for farmers to market their goods to local merchants and distributors. Access to credible advisors including Tanager, Bayer, Coromondal, Greaves and other domestic and international players provides farmers with guidance and negotiating power to guarantee they can sell crops at the optimum price and repay their loans.

“Farmers form the backbone of India’s economy yet many of them – including women farmers – are invisible to banks, credit organisations and buyers, said Jane Loginova, COO at BPC. “The SafalFasal Marketplace model puts farmers on a level playing field with the whole agricultural value chain, giving them a voice, negotiating power and financial access to the real economy,” Loginova added.

 The ambition for SafalFasal is to geographically expand India to 200,000 farmers and achieve US$33 million in transaction value in the financial year 2020-2021. Using BPC’s SME Marketplace solutions, the wider mission is to positively impact the lives of 10 million producers across the globe within the next five years. 

BPC and SafalFasal are calling for financial institutions, investors and partners to collaborate to gain new access to untapped markets in India and beyond.

SafalFasal offers technological and financial solutions to

Acts & Schemes – Centre

  It will be provided for funding agriculture infrastructure projects at farm-gate and aggregation points.

In a move to strengthen infrastructure in agriculture, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday announced setting up of Rs 1 lakh crore agri infrastructure fund for farm-gate infrastructure.

Financing facility of Rs 1, 00,000 crore will be provided for funding agriculture infrastructure projects at farm-gate and aggregation points. Impetus for development of farm-gate and aggregation point, affordable and financially viable post-harvest management infrastructure,” said Sitharaman.

Scheme for MFE

She also announced a Rs 10,000 crore scheme for formalisation of Micro Food Enterprises (MFE). The scheme will be launched to help 2 lakh MFEs by adopting cluster-based approach such as mango in Uttar Pradesh, kesar in Jammu & Kashmir, bamboo shoots in North-East, chilli in Andhra Pradesh, tapioca in Tamil Nadu. This fund would help in reaching untapped export markets in view of improved health consciousness.

Observing the lack of adequate cold chain and post-harvest management infrastructure in the vicinity of farm gate causes gaps in value chains, Sitharaman said that the fund will be created immediately.

Sitharaman informed the media that the government procured farm produces worth Rs 74,300 crore (as per Minimum Support Price) to improve liquidity for farmers.

She also said that funds transfer worth Rs 18,700 crores has been done under PM KISAN Samman Yojna in the past 2 months and PM Kisan Bima Yojna claims totaling 6,400 cr cleared in last 2 months.

The existing micro food enterprises, farmer producer organisation, self-help groups (SHGs) and cooperatives will be supported. The scheme is expected to improve health and safety standards, integration with retail markets among others.

Rs 20 crore for aquaculture

Sitharaman announces Rs 20,000 cr for aqua culture, infrastructure for fisheries to help raise fish production, exports. 

Herbal Cultivation

To promote herbal cultivation in India, the government has committed Rs 4,000 crore. The move is aimed at increasing herbal cultivation to 10 lakh hectare in 2 years. A corridor of medicinal plants will also come up across banks of River Ganga. 

In a major announcement, the government extended Operation Greens from Tomatoes, Onion and Potatoes (TOP) to all fruits and vegetables. Operation Greens was a project aimed to stabilise the supply of tomato, onion and potato crops (TOP crops) in India, as well as to ensure their availability around the country, year-round without price volatility. 

Rs 500 crore for beekeeping

Rs 500 cr allocated for beekeeping initiatives to benefit 2 lakh beekeepers in rural areas, says Sitharaman.

The announcement is part of the third tranche of the Rs 20 lakh crore economic package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.

 

  It will be provided for funding

Agrotech

Ahrens will oversee all divisions of the U.S. sales division and identify new market strategies 

 

 

In a diverse and challenging market environment, being responsive to dynamics are important factors to continue to grow and support the UPL business. At the start of the new fiscal year, UPL announces changes to its U.S. leadership team to support those efforts. 

Brian Ahrens has been named Head of U.S. Ag Sales. In this role he will oversee all divisions of the U.S. sales division and identify new market strategies to further UPL’s growing U.S. manufacturing business.

“Brian’s broad leadership experience and passion for our industry will continue to drive our momentum and vision for the future,” says Vicente Gongora, Head of UPL, North America. “We are happy to continue to live our purpose of promoting from within and congratulate him on his new role.” 

Ahrens has worked in various roles within the organization, most recently as the lead for the Professional Products Team.

He succeeds Brian Cardin, who requested to step aside from his position after nearly 10 years of leading the U.S. sales team. Cardin will lead the Key Account Manager team, reporting directly to Ahrens. Throughout his tenure, he has helped grow the company into a top-tier manufacturer in the U.S. market. He will use that depth of experience to focus on further developing UPL’s expanding distribution network.

 “I’d like to thank Brian Cardin for his tireless work in helping me bring UPL to where we are today. This kind of change is a clear demonstration that we live our values by promoting internal talents such as Brian Ahrens while respecting personal aspirations with Brian Cardin,” says Vicente Gongora. 

Ahrens, Cardin and Gongora plan to work closely together to further strengthen the sales team to meet the growing needs of UPL in the U.S. moving forward.

 

Ahrens will oversee all divisions of the

Acts & Schemes – Centre, Agro chems – Pesticides, Agrotech

 Currently India has 50 mounted sprayers and have placed orders of 60.  

India has placed an order of 50 ultra-low volume sprayers with the UK to control the menace of migratory locust, which is looming large this kharif season. On Wednesday, Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister for Agriculture, interacted with representatives of the pesticide industry to take stock of preparedness plan of the country to prevent a locust attack in the upcoming days.

 Scientists at the Locust Warning Organisation (LWO) had reported sighting of the desert locust from Jaisalmer and Sriganganagar districts of Rajasthan on April 11. Locusts are normally seen in India between July and August. This year, not only did they appear much earlier, but were also seen in swarms rather than in isolation. At present, large swarms are active in East African countries, and have devastated their standing crops of wheat, sorghum, and maize, among others. If left unchecked, the migratory pests can wreak havoc across many districts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Punjab. 

Last year, India had reported the sighting of locusts for the first time in the last 26 years. Between May last year and February this year, about 4.03 lakh hectares were treated from mostly December onwards. Unseasonal rain had propelled the unrestricted growth of the pest in the Arabian Peninsula, and the insects had also come to attack large tracts of land in Pakistan and India. This year, multiple swarms are active in the Horn of Africa, which have already started migrating to other areas.

 Commonly used organophosphate pesticides like Malathion (96 per cent ultra-low volume aerial application) is used to control the pest. Mounted sprayers are used to treat areas of infestation with the chemical. India, at present, has 50 such vehicles and have placed orders of 60 or more such sprayers, which are expected to arrive soon. Till Wednesday, 16,415 hectares of the districts of Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Sriganganagar, Ajmer, Barmer and Pali in Rajasthan, as well as Fazilka in Punjab have been treated for the pest. 

Ten Locust Circle Offices of the Government of India, located in Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Phalodi, Barmer, Jalore, Churu, Nagaur, and Suratgarh districts of Rajasthan, as well as Palanpur and Bhuj districts in Gujarat, are working in scheduled desert areas of more than two lakh square km in India. The locusts are monitored, surveyed and controlled in coordination with the concerned state agricultural departments, as well as district administrations. In addition, pest control in crops is being done by the agricultural departments and concerned state governments.

 Currently India has 50 mounted sprayers and

Acts & Schemes – Centre

 It aims to save farmers from high-interest rates generally charged by money lenders in the unorganized sector. 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced concessional credit boost worth Rs 2 lakh crore for 2.5 crore farmers via Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) issued by the Centre. She said that “A special drive will be undertaken to offer concessional credit to PM-Kisan beneficiaries via Kisan Credit Cards. Fishermen & Animal husbandry farmers would also be included in this drive”. 

About 2.5 crore farmers across the country will be covered and will benefit from the credit flow of about Rs 2 lakh crore. The minister indicated that around 25 lakh new Kisan Credit Cards are in the pipeline for small & marginal farmers. It must be noted that Kisan Credit Card is a government scheme that aims to save farmers from high-interest rates generally charged by money lenders in the unorganised sector. 

The incentive on crop loans provided till March has also been extended till 31st May to support farmers, Finance Minister said while sharing details of the 2nd phase of the economic stimulus package worth Rs 20 lakh crore announced by PM Modi on Tuesday.

 Sitharaman told that three crore farmers with farm loans of Rs 4.22 lakh crore availed the benefit of three-month loan moratorium. The announcements made by Finance minister today focussed on small farmers, migrant workers, street vendors and small traders.

While commenting on government’s announcement of credit boost for farmers, Ajay Kakra, Leader – food and agriculture, PwC India said, “The initiative boost credit of 2 lakh crore to increase coverage of 2.5 lakh farmers under KCC will surely increase the credit umbrella and help increase their liquidity issue given the acute cash crunch during Covid 19 situation.”

He also added that , Additional Emergency Working Capital(EWC) fund of INR 30000 crores from NABARD can come very handy to farmers for managing post-harvest operations for Rabi or pre-season operations for Kharif season during the covid situation when the entire food supply chain is looking forward towards increasing liquidity.

 

 

 It aims to save farmers from high-interest