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E-commerce, Machinery – Post-harvesting

Promises seamless power for emission free, noiseless farming in India

Sonalika, India’s fastest growing tractor brand has raised curtains from India’s first field ready electric tractor ‘Tiger Electric’. The latest technology marvel from the farmer centric brand has been designed in Europe and developed in-house with proven aggregates to deliver seamless power as well as emission free, noiseless farming in India and across the globe. 

 The innovative, high quality battery of Tiger Electric tractor can be fully charged with a regular home charging point in 10 hours, which reduces the effort of frequent travelling to petrol pumps for refuel.

 Raman Mittal, Executive Director, Sonalika Group, said, “Sonalika Tractors has always been at the forefront of innovation and continue to offer best in class technology to the farmers across the globe, especially Europe and USA. Our promise to every Indian farmer to constantly provide technological evolutions to enhance farm productivity and profitability comes packaged with Tiger Electric, where we have bridged the gap between concept and being field-ready, while keeping pace with global benchmarks in farm mechanisation technology. Tiger Electric operations is no different than regular tractor making it farmer friendly while cutting off the fuel cost. Tiger electric has the same global technology marvel which is offered to European and American farmers.”

Promises seamless power for emission free, noiseless

Dairy

A special drive has been undertaken to provide concessional credit to PM-KISAN beneficiaries

The Prime Minister has announced for setting up of Rs 15000 crore Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) under the AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan stimulus package. AHIDF has been approved for incentivizing investments by individual entrepreneurs, private companies, MSME, Farmers Producers Organization (FPOs) and Section 8 companies to establish (i) the dairy processing and value addition infrastructure, (ii) meat processing and value addition infrastructure and (iii) Animal Feed Plant.

Furthermore, Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme (NAIP) for 20,000 bovines per district for 600 districts in the country was recently launched by the Government in September, 2019 which is one of the largest such programmes with 100 per cent Central assistance for undertaking breed improvement. Under ’Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme’ Phase I, 76 lakh bovines have been covered, 90 lakh AIs performed and more than 32 lakh farmers have been benefitted. The NAIP Phase-II has been initiated from 1st August 2020 in 604 districts (50,000 animals per district). So far, under NAIP Phase-II, 2.64 lakh AIs performed and 1.73 lakh farmers have been benefited.

Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has introduced a new component “Interest subvention on Working capital loans for Dairy sector” as one of the component under its scheme “Supporting Dairy Cooperatives and Farmer Producer organizations engaged in dairy activities” (SDC&FPO). Under the interest subvention component of SDCFPO scheme so far Rs 100.85 crore has been approved as interest subvention amount against eligible total working capital loan amount of Rs 8031.23 Cr for milk unions as on 16.10.2020.

Further, a special drive has been undertaken to provide concessional credit to PM-KISAN beneficiaries through Kisan Credit Cards. Animal Husbandry & Dairying farmers have been included in this drive. This will enable such farmers to gain access to institutional credit at the concessional interest rate. 2.5 crore farmers will be covered and will benefit from credit flow of about Rs 2 lakh crores.

 

A special drive has been undertaken to

AgroPolicy, Thailand

‘Taste of India’ campaign organized in Bangkok

In a bid to boost the export potential of India’s agricultural and processed food products exports, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export (APEDA) had organised a Virtual Buyer Seller Meet (BSM), in association with the Indian Embassy in Thailand, on December 21, 2020. The meet brought together key stakeholders from the respective Governments and trade on a common platform for strengthening strategic cooperation between India and Thailand in Agri Food Sector.

This Virtual-BSM with Thailand is the 13th in the series of such events organized by APEDA with various countries.

During the Virtual-BSM, presentations were made by of Trade Associations from India on potential product for exports to Thailand such as grapes, pomegranate, vegetable, Dairy Products and other Ready to Eat products. The Thailand Trade Associations and importers explained their requirement or standards for agri imports from India.

The Virtual BSM was followed by a ‘Taste of India’ Campaign in Bangkok.  Indian grapes, pomegranate, pomegranate arils, vegetable, Dairy Products and other Ready to Eat products were sent by APEDA and same were displayed.  Wet Sampling of Basmati Rice Biryani, fresh grapes and pomegranate have also been organized during the Taste of India Campaign. 

APEDA took a lead to organize Virtual BSM to provide a platform to the exporters and importers of India and Thailand.

Ever since the COVID pandemic, there is an increased shift of focus towards the Middle East, South East, and Western trade partners by India for creating new opportunities for alliance in the agricultural and processed food sector.

‘Taste of India’ campaign organized in BangkokIn

Agrotech, China

Six GMO Phytase elite commercial corn hybrids have completed production trials

Origin Agritech Ltd., an agriculture technology company based in China, has announced that it is updating shareholders on recent developments out of China regarding the path to GMO commercialization in the country and also on the status of the approval process for its different seed traits.

Origin Agritech commends the government on this move toward GMO positive and stands by ready, as one of the top GMO seed companies in China, to rise to the challenge of supplying farmers with outstanding GMO corn and soybean seeds to facilitate this huge transformation of agriculture in China. These GMO seeds were developed with different traits to increase yields, reduce the need for insecticides, increase herbicide tolerance, salinity tolerance and to make the plant drought tolerant.

Origin Agritech’s various corn and soybean traits include the following:

  • GMO Phytase Corn. Six GMO Phytase elite commercial corn hybrids have completed production trials and are waiting for variety approval.
  • An herbicide tolerance corn.
  • A double stack of insect resistance and herbicide tolerance corn-First Generation.
  • A double stack of insect resistance and herbicide tolerance corn-Second Generation.
  • An herbicide tolerance soybean. Status: Approaching middle test.

Six GMO Phytase elite commercial corn hybrids

AgroPolicy, IT

The FRUITS Portal is integrated to the BHOOMI Package of the Karnataka State for fetching and validating the land details 

The Government of Karnataka launches “FRUITS” (Farmer Registration and Unified Beneficiary Information System) Portal, a project of e-Governance Department.

Delivering the key note address, A Manimekhalai, Executive Director, Canara Bank, said, “The FRUITS Portal is integrated to the BHOOMI Package of the Karnataka State for fetching and validating the land details.  One other important facility of this Portal is online creation of charge by which visit of farmers to Sub-Registrar Office is avoided.”

Rajeev Chawla, Additional Chief Secretary,e-Governance, Government of Karnataka informed that this is the latest initiative from the Government of Karnataka to bring all the farmers in the State with land and other details to a single Portal.  In this Portal, all the farmers will be registered and given a FID Number.

Using this number, the Financial Institutions and Lending Institutions can access the land details of the farmers as well as their borrowings and take a quick decision on lending to the farmers depending on their requirements.  It is hoped that Bankers will find this initiative, a very useful one.  He also lauded Canara Bank for agreeing to take up the Project on a pilot basis.   Once the same is found successful, all other Financial Institutions will be brought on to the Portal so that at one place, all the data pertaining to the loans of the farmers will be available.

Niraj Verma, Chief General Manager & Head of Karnataka Regional Office, NABARD said, “FRUITS Portal is the first of its kind in the country wherein the land and other details of all the farmers in the State are being captured and he hoped that this Project should serve as a role model to other States in the country.  Karnataka, being the IT Hub of the country, always had tech-enabled initiatives and this FRUITS Portal is one such proposal from the Government.” 

 

 

The FRUITS Portal is integrated to the

AgroPolicy

 The Ag Minister outlined the various measures and reforms undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare during the last six years 

Interacting with members of the International media from the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar explained that the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act 2020 and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities Amendment Act 2020 are the biggest agricultural reforms in the country so far. The reforms will provide farmers market freedom, encourage entrepreneurship, access to technology and they will transform agriculture. 

 During the interaction, officials of the Agriculture Ministry explained in detail the provisions under the Farm Acts and how they will benefit the farmers and lead to the betterment of Indian agriculture in the new eco system.  The Minister said that enacting the reform laws was not an overnight decision but it has gone through more than two decades of deliberations, suggested by numerous experts and recommendations by varied committees/groups.

Regarding MSP the Minister said that MSP is an administrative decision and it will continue.  The Modi Government has shown its commitment to MSP very clearly with multiple hikes and multi-fold increase in procurement, including in the 2020-21 Kharif season.  Modi government announced MSP hikes based on the formula that farmers will get at least 1.5 times the cost of production. This was a promise made and delivered.

The Agriculture Minister outlined the various measures and reforms undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare during the last six years such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).  He said that Indian agriculture has come a long way from food scarcity to food surplus. Every effort is being made to create an eco-system of farmer friendly policies to see that the sector goes from strength to strength.

 

 

 

 The Ag Minister outlined the various measures

North America

Matrix Meats to develop key strategic relationship within cultivated meat market

Ohio-based Matrix Meats, Inc., the leader in the development of industry enabling nanofiber scaffolds for the cultivating of meat products reported the completion of its seed-stage round on 22 Dec 2020. This funding, which was oversubscribed, will allow the company to expand its scientific, manufacturing, and business development teams, intensify the acquisition of customer/partners and further develop key strategic relationships within the cultivated meat market.

The Seed Stage round was led by Unovis Asset Management and further supported by CPT Capital, Siddhi Capital, Clear Current Capital, and a special purpose vehicle (SPV) led by the Ikove Startup Nursery Fund. Matrix Meats was born of a joint venture partnership between the Ikove Startup Nursery and Nanofiber Solutions and have active development relationships with 14 cultivated meat producers from 7 countries.

Matrix Meats’ CEO Eric Jenkusky stated, “We believe that our technology is an integral part of allowing the cultivated meat market to mature. Our innovative and programmable electro-spun nano-fiber scaffolds which replicate the extracellular matrix of living organisms is backed by 50 awarded and pending patents. We will be expanding our efforts to assist our client/partners with accelerating their path to market.”

“Our technology allows us to control a number of variables in the manufacturing of the scaffolds such as fiber diameter, alignment, porosity, degradation rates as well as the addition of flavor, vitamins, minerals or growth factors,” said Dr Jed Johnson, Chief Technology Officer, Matrix Meats, Inc.

Matrix Meats to develop key strategic relationship

Acts & Schemes – Centre, Start ups

The awards will be given in 49 areas classified into 15 broad sectors such as Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Drinking Water, FinTech, Food Processing, etc. 

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is launching the second edition of the National Start-up Awards (NSA) 2021. Acknowledging the efforts, initiatives and resilience demonstrated by the startups over the period of unprecedented challenges during the pandemic, additional categories have been introduced to NSA 2021. It also aims to recognise innovations focussed towards indigenisation of key products essential for realisation of an AatmaNirbhar Bharat. The applications for the awards are open till January 31, 2021. 

The awards for start ups will be given in 49 areas classified into 15 broad sectors. The 15 sectors are Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Drinking Water, Education and Skill Development, Energy, Enterprise Systems, Environment, FinTech, Food Processing, Health and Wellness, Industry 4.0, Security, Space, Transport and Travel.  In addition, there are six special awards for stratups from educational institutions, making impact in rural areas, women entrepreneurs, potential for import substitution, innovation for combatting COVID-19 and content delivery in Indic languages. It will also reward exceptional incubator and accelerator as key building blocks of a robust start up ecosystem.

 A cash prize of INR 5 lakh each will be awarded to the winning start up in each area. The winner and two runners up will also be given opportunities to present their solutions to relevant public authorities and corporates for potential pilot projects and work orders. They will also be given priority for participation in various national and international start up events. A cash prize of Rs 15 lakh each will be awarded to one winning incubator and one winning accelerator as well.

 

The awards will be given in 49

Agrotech

The certification is granted based on a Trust Index Survey and a culture audit by Great Place to Work (GPTW) Institute

INI Farms, India’s leading farm-to-home Ag-tech fruit brand has been recognised among India’s Best Workplace by the Great Place to Work® Institute. It is the first and only horticulture company in India to be certified by Great Place to Work® Institute.

INI Farms has earned this recognition based on a rigorous assessment independently conducted by Great Place to Work® Institute for creating a Great Place to Work for all employees. INI Farms is a mid-size organisation that has 200 employees and works with over 300 indirect workforce.

The certification is granted based on a Trust Index Survey and a culture audit by Great Place to Work (GPTW) Institute. Every year, more than 10,000 organizations from over 60 countries partner the Great Place to Work Institute for assessment, benchmarking and planning actions to strengthen their workplace culture. The Institute’s methodology is considered as the gold standard for defining great workplaces across business, academia and government organizations.

Speaking on receiving the GPTW certification, Purnima Khandelwal, Chief Executive Officer, INI Farms said; “We are deeply honoured to be certified as a great place to work. This certification is a reflection of the work culture at INI Farms and the dedication of our entire team who have worked hard even in this unprecedented pandemic situation. While the covid-19 pandemic stress tested all organisations, our team stepped up their efforts to support our customers, business and community. This certification is dedicated to the entire INI Farms team that helped us achieve this”.

INI Farms manages and controls the process right from growing to supplying the fruit across its distribution network. Stringent quality checks at Kimaye’s automated pack house ensure only the best quality fruits reach the end-consumers.

The certification is granted based on a

AgroPolicy

The agricultural sector accounts for almost 15 per cent of the Indian economy

The United Steelworkers (USW) union in District 3 stands in solidarity with farmers and their families in India who are protesting against legislation recently passed by the Indian government that deregulates farming in India.

Stephen Hunt, Steelworkers director for Western Canada said, “Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi must immediately repeal the law that sparked one of the biggest farmer protests in recent history.”

The agricultural sector accounts for almost 15 per cent of the Indian economy and employs around half of the 1.3 billion people who inhabit India.

“This law will now give free rein to large distributors to take over small farms, which will destroy the lives of millions of farmers. We cannot allow big companies to exploit workers by eliminating guaranteed tariffs on products like rice and wheat”, added Hunt.

The Steelworkers also condemn the acts of violence committed by the Indian government on farmers and the millions of activists who demonstrate peacefully across India. Steelworkers are proud of their solidarity with farmers who stand together against these injustices.

“It is appalling to see the government permit police brutality including the use of tear gas and water cannons. The Indian government must stop using violence and engage in meaningful dialogue with farmers,” said Hunt.

The agricultural sector accounts for almost 15

Japan

The report describes the implications in detail

The Regulatory CBD Report: No distinction between Cannabis and Hemp in Japan, has been recently added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering. According to the report, the Cannabis Control Act in Japan does not make any distinction between cannabis and hemp, nor does it refer to any permitted level of THC content for hemp cultivation.

While there is a licensing regime in place, it appears to be unclear and as such has apparently had a fairly negative impact on cultivators and a once booming industry. This report provides an overview of the current framework, covering all areas from cultivation and processing to import and export, a tricky subject in the country.

Japan’s CBD and hemp market report not only attempt to navigate through some of the more problematic areas of the law, such as import and export, but it also provides a detailed analysis of extracts, finished products including food, cosmetics, and vaping, and both medical and recreational cannabis laws.

 

The report describes the implications in detail

AgroPolicy, Agrotech

Over time the government has taken several measures to make farming remunerative and the latest set of reforms only contribute to this effort. 

Commenting on the recent farm sector reforms that have been introduced by the government, Uday Shankar, President, FICCI said, “There was a need to reorient the approach taken towards the farm sector from merely focusing on production targets to creating opportunities for higher income realisation for the farmers. The latter required measures to reduce the cost of cultivation, improve productivity levels and enhance price realisation for agri-produce. Over time the government has taken several measures to make farming remunerative and the latest set of reforms only contribute to this effort.”

“The farm sector reforms have been introduced amid one of the biggest disruptions that we ever experienced. The farm reforms are progressive and part of a comprehensive package to bring the nation’s economy and growth back on track,” he added.

“A section of the farmers may be concerned as they would be required to do business in a different way which they are not accustomed to. It is therefore important to fully address their apprehensions and assure them that these reform measures are aimed to improve their prospects and enhance the ease of doing agri-business in the country,” said Shankar.

 T R Kesavan, Chairman, FICCI National Agriculture Committee and Group President (Corporate Relations & Alliances), TAFE Ltd said that revitalization of the farm sector through strengthening of market linkage for farmers’ produce, enhancing productivity through access to technology and making agriculture processes more efficient and smarter is the need of the hour. 

 

 

 

Over time the government has taken several

Dairy, North America

The company furthers its commitment to farming practices that help mitigate climate change

Danone North America, the purpose-driven food & beverage leader with a diverse portfolio of dairy and plant-based brands, continues to expand its regenerative farming program, currently the most comprehensive regenerative agriculture dairy program in the US. The company unveiled its year three results from its multi-year, multi-million-dollar soil health research program on 22 Dec 2020. Launched in 2017, the soil health initiative brings together experts and academics to build best-in-class soil health programs to benefit farms and communities across the Danone North America portfolio. Now completing its third year, the research program has nearly tripled to more than 82,000 acres, inclusive of 28,000 organic acres, across the US and Canada, and has recently expanded into almond orchards in the central valley of California.

The goal of Danone’s soil health initiative is to improve the organic matter in soils leading to increased carbon sequestration and improved yields, reduce chemical use, restore biodiversity, and enhance soil water holding capacity, leading to improved farm economic resilience over the long-term. In year three of the five-year soil health program, Danone North America evaluated progress with a focus on five key areas of regenerative agriculture: Soil Health, Biodiversity, Water, Carbon and Economy & Productivity. The company partners with Sustainable Environmental Consultants and its EcoPractices platform to conduct an in-depth field-level sustainability analysis and reporting on soil health and related goals leading to continuous improvement on enrolled farms. The year three assessment revealed key performance updates for the following environmental impact areas:

  • Protecting and restoring soil
  • Fostering biodiversity with species, varieties and wildlife
  • Preserving and protecting water systems
  • Reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions and sequestering carbon
  • Ensuring ongoing viability

The company furthers its commitment to farming

World

GCL was recently recognized by USDA as one of USDA Rural Development’s 2020 top commercial lending partners

Greater Commercial Lending (GCL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Greater Nevada Credit Union (GNCU), was recently recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as one of USDA Rural Development’s 2020 top commercial lending partners. GCL also ranked the highest in the US for the USDA Business & Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program for 2020. GCL has consistently ranked as one of the top national USDA lenders year-after-year. 

Bette Brand, USDA undersecretary for rural development, announced that USDA partnered with 181 commercial lenders to invest $2.1 billion in rural communities and businesses in fiscal year (FY) 2020. GCL partnered with USDA to obligate $295 million in rural communities during FY 2020. 

Concurrently, GCL assisted or participated in an additional $157 million in loans from many of the top USDA commercial lending partners during the last fiscal year. GCL secured a record-breaking $205 million in obligated loans, a record also previously held by GCL in 2018 at more than $136 million. The B&I program was designed to assist rural businesses obtain needed credit to help save and create jobs in America. 

GCL was recently recognized by USDA as