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E-commerce, Machinery – Post-harvesting

Increase in Kharif sowing area , bountiful monsoon and  good rural cash flows contributes the growth in increased sales  

 
 
Registering 69 percent growth, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.’s Farm Equipment Sector (FES), a part of the USD 19.4 billion Mahindra Group, sold 23,503 tractors in the domestic market in August 2020 as as against 13,871 tractors sold in August 2019.
 
Total tractor sales — domestic as well as exports — during August 2020 were at 24,458 units, as against 14,817 units for the same period last year. The company recently announced its tractor sales numbers for August 2020.
 
Commenting on the performance, Hemant Sikka, President – Farm Equipment Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra said, “We have sold 23,503 tractors in the domestic market during August 2020, a growth of 69 percent over last year. On the back of highest ever sales in July, we have clocked yet another highest ever sales in August. The tractor industry growth continues to remain strong in August. This is primarily on account of continued positive sentiment, due to increase in Kharif sowing area, thereby indicating a bumper harvest, bountiful monsoon, good rural cash flows and base effect.”
 
“We expect rural sentiments to remain positive and translate into robust tractor demand as we move into the festive period. In the exports market, we have sold 955 tractors, a growth of 1 percent over last year,” Sikka added.  

 

 
 

Increase in Kharif sowing area , bountiful

Agro Universities, Live Stock, R&D

The MoU aims at collaboration in teaching, research and extension activities for the welfare of livestock farmers of Punjab state.   

Guru Angad dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Indian Council of Agricultural Research- Central Institute of Post-Harvest and Engineering Technology, (CIPHET) Ludhiana for collaboration in teaching, research and extension activities for the welfare of livestock farmers of Punjab state. MOU was signed by Dr. JPS Gill, Director Research, GADVASU and Dr R K Singh, Director CIPHET in the presence of Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor, GADVASU and other officers of the university and scientists of CIPHET.  

Dr. Inderjeet Singh highlighted the importance of engineering in the livestock sector to improve the automation in dairy and poultry farms. He asserted the engineers to develop the low-cost buffalo milking machine and mechanical scrapers for cleaning in the dairy farms. Dr. Singh emphasized the role of engineering in small scale dairy and meat processing units. Dr. R K Singh ensured complete cooperation in this regard and asserted that both the institutes will start collaborative research projects on pertinent issues. Further he stressed the need of sharing research facilities and expertise of both the institutes to harness the synergy for the welfare of the livestock farmers and society.   

Dr Gill informed the house that both the institutes are already collaborating in various activities of teaching and research. Such collaborations will further strengthen their research outcome. GADVASU is working day and night to improve the production, animal health and income of the livestock and fish farmers of the state. Dr. Narsiah and Dr. Deep Yadav, scientists from CIPHET were also present on the occasion.   
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

The MoU aims at collaboration in

India, Trade

These harvest delays would further result in Indian mills producing sugar more slowly at a time

With the increasing spread of coronavirus worldwide, millions of migrant workers needed for the harvest have been scared to travel anywhere; which has led to the potential delay in the harvest of sugarcane crops.

Relying on migrant workers to travel across the nation could become a major factor for the harvest delays. These harvest delays would further result in Indian mills producing sugar more slowly at a time when Brazilian sugar production will be winding down and large producer Thailand is harvesting its smallest crop in 10 years, reducing the availability of sugar in the global market.

B B Thombare, president of the West Indian Sugar Mills Association (WISMA), said “We are anticipating some delays at the beginning of the season. Many things depend on how much work is available at the local level and the spread of coronavirus in October.”

According to the government, mechanization accounts only for about 5% of the work in a nation that employs nearly 50 million sugarcane farmers and 700 factories. India, that produces 370 million tonnes of cane annually is the second most worldwide behind Brazil.

The larger mechanization of Brazil has helped it cope with the pandemic and keep its cane harvest. Whereas in India most of the cane farming is done manually in very small areas.

Sugar mills have been approaching cane harvester producers like CNH industrial to add machines before the start of the crushing season in October.

These harvest delays would further result in

Agro chems – Pesticides, E-commerce, Europe

The plant aims to provide cutting-edge innovations to farmers all around the world  

Syngenta Group has opened its first major manufacturing facility since the formation of the Group in June 2020. This step marks a major strategic investment in the Group’s Crop Protection business. It is also an important building block in the Group’s overall strategy to drive growth, upgrade delivery and continue market leadership in crop protection. The plant had formerly been operated by pharmaceutical company Novartis and 70 employees will be retained within Syngenta Group.

Erik Fyrwald, Syngenta Group CEO: “We are proud to announce the launch of our newly acquired world-class facility in Muttenz on Wednesday. This investment enhances our crop protection strategy of accelerating growth and demonstrates our confidence in our crop protection innovation pipeline. It also reinforces our commitment to Switzerland.”

The new 23,000 square metre site in Muttenz provides several highly flexible, multi-purpose production lines to develop new ingredients and intermediates. It is located near the Group’s technical development center in Münchwilen, which will facilitate the transition of new products from pilot plant to full scale manufacture.

“This acquisition further reinforces Switzerland’s role at the center of our new technology introductions globally. This multipurpose asset is ideal for supporting highly technical production processes, and the location of the new plant fits perfectly into our existing portfolio. We had recognized the need for additional manufacturing capacity to support the introduction of new products, so we are pleased that we can positively address this now,” says the Head of Syngenta Group’s Crop Protection business, Jon Parr. “In these challenging times, we are especially pleased to be able to protect jobs and welcome 70 highly-skilled existing plant employees. We look forward to benefiting from their deep expertise in the future.” While the transfer of ownership took place on September 1, 2020, operations are scheduled to commence in Q1, 2021.

The acquisition also demonstrates Syngenta Group’s ongoing endeavors to amplify its strong presence in Switzerland, where the Group is headquartered. The entire crop protection development pipeline in Switzerland is to be strengthened by this strategic purchase. Syngenta Group is confident that Switzerland will remain a reliable location for the Group, as an innovative company: from headquarters to R&D and manufacturing, offering good and flexible working conditions and open borders for the import of raw materials, its workforce and for exporting goods. The Muttenz site will be a key contributor to the achievement of high sustainability standards in the Group’s operations, supporting the overall Group goal of reducing its carbon footprint by at least 50%, reducing water intensity by 20%, and reducing waste intensity by 20%, all by 2030.

 

 

 

The plant aims to provide cutting-edge innovations

Trade, World

YugAgro showcases agri machinery, equipment for crop production  

Russia’s annual agricultural trade show ‘YugAgro’ will be held this year between November 24-27 in Krasnodar in southern Russia. The event showcases over 710 Russian and international exhibitors, representing companies working in the field of agricultural machinery, equipment and materials for crop production. In 2019, the event attracted 18,610 visitors from 47 countries looking to source new products and services for their businesses.

For over two decades, YugAgro has been at the forefront of Russian crop production and is Russia’s most important agricultural event. International agricultural technology manufacturers from over 35 countries are expected to converge in Russia and transact business with Krasnodar’s key buyers.

Over 710 companies from across the globe, including Claas, Rostselmash, KUHN, ROSAGROTRADE, Corteva Agriscience, Syngenta, FMC, Bayer Crop Science, will be showcasing their latest crop farming solutions and technologies on the market.

 

YugAgro showcases agri machinery, equipment for crop

Dairy, E-commerce

According to FICCI, average procurement of milk by cooperatives increased by 7 per cent for Q1 FY21 compared with the same period last year.

 

 

 

 

Dairy cooperatives continued to source milk from dairy farmers, possibly in volumes higher than usual, which led to oversupply of milk in the market. The slump in institutional demand was somewhat gradually offset by rise in demand from retail consumers as at-home consumption of food increased.

One of the main challenges the cooperatives had to experience in Q1 (first quarter) FY21 (financial year) was the increase in procurement of milk. They procured milk not only from their producer members but also from dairy farmers that before lockdown were supplying milk to private dairies and unorganised players. As per one of the top players in the market, they sourced around 30 per cent more milk compared to prior months.

Private, small and unorganised dairy players either stopped or reduced their operations. This happened mainly because of a steep drop in demand for milk and its products from hotels, restaurants and cafes (HoReCa) segment, sweet shops and tea stalls. Dairy cooperatives, due to their commitment to source milk continued to procure it despite a challenging business environment. According to FICCI, average procurement of milk by cooperatives increased by 7 per cent for Q1 FY21 compared with the same period last year.

Many dairy cooperatives had to alter their supply chains for ensuring uninterrupted supply of milk to consumers. It is estimated that the supply of milk improved significantly by 18 per cent from 288 lakh litre per day (LLPD) on March 27, 2020 to 340 LLPD as on June 14, 2020.

SMP and Butter

During the lockdown, as the majority of cooperatives continued to procure additional milk from dairy farmers, the surplus stock of milk had to be converted into milk products such as SMP and butter. The production of SMP rose from 51,153 tonne in Q1 FY20 to 69,276 tonne in Q1 FY21, a 35 per cent increase. Similarly, the production of butter saw a 26 per cent Q-o-Q rise to 26,066 tonne in Q1 FY21, from earlier 20,670 tonne in Q1 FY20.

According to FICCI, average procurement of milk

Agro chems – Fertilizers, E-commerce

After months of high volume sales, demand slackens

 
Sales of fertilizers in India has dropped to 6.9mn tonnes in August this year, in comparison with 7.6mn tonnes in 2019 during the same period. Sales of urea, Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) , Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium (NPK) , Muriate of potash (MOP) and Single Super Phosphate (SSP) have reportedly fallen. 
 
However, fertilizer sales had beaten 2019 figures by 42 percent in January-July, 2020, before plummeting again in  August.
 
 
Phosphates-based products such as DAP and NPK sales at 923,000 tonnes and 1.3mn tonnes in August, eclipsing last year’s levels. But sales of urea, the most widely consumed fertilizer in India, were 4.01mn tonnes last month, down from 4.67mn tonnes a year earlier.
 
Ample rainfall and additional acreage for cultivation had pushed domestic fertilizer sales in the beginning of the year. 
 
Crop sowing this Kharif season, running from April-September, was at 102mn hectares by mid-August, up by 8.5 percent on a year earlier.
 
August fertilizer sales had, however, begun to slow down. 
 
 
 
source: Argus Media

After months of high volume sales, demand

Agrotech, E-commerce

 It aims to help farmers under FPOs across four States to improve yields, quality and earnings

Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation Limited (DFPCL) has announced a tie-up with Samunnati, a specialised agri value chain-enabler that offers customised financial, co-financial and non-financial solutions to stakeholders across the agri value chain.

With this tie-up, DFPCL will offer crop-based advisory to help farmers under FPOs across four States to improve yields, quality and earnings. The tie-up will also facilitate access to farm credit at affordable rates. As per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the FPOs will be able to access crop-based advisory and agri-inputs through DFPCL along with the customised finance options through Samunnati.

DFPCL’s Crop Nutrition Business President Mahesh Girdhar said in the press statement, “Armed with the required information and scientific knowledge of crop nutrition, DFPCL will guide the FPOs and associated farmers under the Samunnati umbrella for a better yield and with a mission to transform their lives for the better.”

“We have been working with 500 FPOs across 19 States in India with a mission to make markets work for smallholder farmers. We believe this partnership will enable FPOs and their farmer members gain access to timely inputs and capacity building/ advisory services, ultimately creating better incomes and livelihood,” said Anil Kumar SG, Founder and CEO, Samunnati.

 

 It aims to help farmers under FPOs

E-commerce, R&D, Seeds

Poncho XCseed treatment and Relenya seed treatment, both recently registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

 

BASF is expanding its cereal seed treatment portfolio with the introduction of Poncho XCseed treatment and Relenya seed treatment, both recently registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These products are now commercially available through local retailers for use in the 2021 winter wheat growing season.

“The addition of these new products enhances our cereals seed treatment portfolio and offers growers a broader range of solutions to combat early-season insect and disease pressure,” says Rebecca Noble, product manager, Seed Treatments. “This lineup of products will allow cereal growers to not only start strong but provide an added boost in performance they haven’t experienced before.”

Poncho XC is the latest addition to the Poncho family of products. Previously known for its strong legacy of protecting corn – Poncho XC features the same long-lasting and fast-acting insect protection from the start – but created for cereals.

Relenya offers cereal growers a powerful new seed-applied tool for disease and resistance management. Powered by Revysol fungicide, a new active ingredient and the first and only isopropanol-azole of its kind in the market, Relenya will protect the seed and root zone from pathogenic fungi during the early development of the plant.

Poncho XC and Relenya join Stamina F4Cerealsbase fungicide seed treatment. Together these products will offer cereal growers broad-spectrum insect control, fungus control as well as a performance boost from Relenya.

In addition to Relenya and Poncho XC, BASF expects to launch a new seed treatment for cereal growers to eliminate wireworms. Pending EPA registration, BASF is eager to introduce Teraxxa seed treatment, featuring the new broflanilide active ingredient, which has demonstrated rapid insect mortality across all species and developmental stages of wireworms. 

 

Poncho XCseed treatment and Relenya seed treatment,

E-commerce, Machinery – Post-harvesting

ROLLANT 520RF & MARKANT 650 set new standards of straw baling in India

 In a landmark development, CLAAS India, a 100% subsidiary of German agri-machinery conglomerate CLAAS KGaA, recently announced the virtual launch of its new range of straw balers, highlighting CLAAS’ contribution to the cause of crop residue management and effort taken to adapt to the new normal. During this first of a kind virtual agri-machinery launch, CLAAS introduced two of its most advanced straw balers – MARKANT 650 high-pressure square baler and globally renowned ROLLANT 520RF round baler. 

Equipped with extended draw bar and dual drive shaft, MARKANT 650 has a wide straw pick-up span of 1.85 m with pick-up height adjustment via control cable from the tractor cab (hydraulic optional). To prevent damage, it comes fitted with slip clutch and shear bolt. The legendary CLAAS Knotter (patented since 1921) provides stable knots in the bales under all crop conditions. This knotter is suitable for different kinds of binding material and can be easily adjusted for different baling lengths. MARKANT 650 has storage capacity of 10 twine spools that allows longer working duration without the need of refill. The twine box is placed in such a manner that it is easily accessible for the operator.

ROLLANT 520RF, with pick-up width of 2.1 m, a rugged design and reliability in the most challenging operating conditions, has established itself as the world’s top-selling straw baler. Reinforced rollers, intelligent chain lubrication and ROTO FEED system ensure that it stays that way. In the ROTO FEED system, a high-performance rotor draws the forage in, accelerates it into the fixed chamber and ensures very high compaction. Its intelligent lubrication system tensions and lubricates the drive chains automatically and adjusts the quantity of oil to requirements.

During the exciting launch event,  Mrityunjaya Singh, Managing Director, CLAAS Agricultural Machinery Pvt Ltd. stated, “CLAAS India strongly believes that technological intervention can help in reducing impact on the environment generated from crop stubble burning. Our new series of straw balers esp. the ROLLANT 520RF, are the appropriate solution for making bales in adequate sizes which makes them ideal for the ethanol and biogas plants in India that use crop residue as raw material.”

Dr Jens Oeding, Regional President Asia, CLAAS Group, also highlighted, “we are continually striving to bring new technologies that can benefit Indian farming community with improved productivity and higher earnings. With the launch of ROLLANT 520RF round baler, CLAAS has reinforced its commitment to enhance efficiency of farming in India. These balers would provide the opportunity to farmers to earn from waste crop residue, which would otherwise be burnt thereby causing tremendous damage to the environment”.

 

 

ROLLANT 520RF & MARKANT 650 set new

Agro chems – Pesticides, Australia, E-commerce

Entrust Organic to help organic growers manage pest problems 

 

 

Corteva has launched a new insecticide Entrust Organic in response to the growing demand In Australia for softer and sustainable product for its organic certification, favorable environmental profile making it ideally suited to many Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems.

A naturally derived product based on metabolites produced by fermentation of a naturally occurring soil organism, it has received regulatory approval by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) in July 2020. 

Corteva’s Marketing Manager for Horticulture and Insecticide Nick Koch, said, “Entrust organic belongs to a unique insecticide group known as the ‘Spinosyns’, a group 5 insecticide for resistance management, shared only by two other products, Success Neo and Delegate insecticide”. 

“The introduction of Entrust Organic offers organic growers a new resistance management tool for the selective control of some of Australia’s most damaging pests. As with all insecticides it is beholden on users to rotate between different chemical Modes of Action (MoA) in accordance with label directions to prevent the onset of resistance,” he added.

Entrust Organic offers growers’ effective control of several damaging Lepidoptera species including Diamondback moth, Heliothis, Cluster caterpillar, Light brown apple moth and many other caterpillar pests including loopers. It also controls Western flower thrip, leaf miner and Cherry slugs (Diptera). 

With more 80 registered crops to choose from, It is suitable for crops including brassica vegetables, cucurbits, culinary herbs, vegetables (fruiting, leafy, root, tuber, stalk and stem), legumes, avocados, berries, citrus, grapes, pomefruit, stone fruit, and tropical fruit crops

 

Entrust Organic to help organic growers manage

E-commerce, Machinery - Pre-harvesting

 The company records sales of  8,205 tractors as compared to 4,560 sales in the same period last year.

 

 
 

Sonalika Tractors has beaten its last month record and registered highest ever domestic growth of 80 percent in August 2020 with 8,205 tractors as compared to 4,560 sales same period last year.

India’s one of the leading tractor manufacturers ,Sonalka Tractors, has beaten its last month record and registered the highest ever domestic growth of 80 percent in August 2020 with 8,205 tractors as compared to 4,560 sales in the same period last year. It continued its growth trajectory by surpassing estimated industry growth of 73 percent in the month. Overall sales — domestic plus exports — stood at 10,206 tractors in the month as compared to 6,412 tractors in the same period last year.

Highlighting the performance, Raman Mittal , Executive Director, Sonalika Group , said, “The demand for tractors is on upsurge and I am happy that we are able to meet the growing demand. I am very proud to share that in August-20 we have recorded the highest ever domestic growth of 80 percent with overall sales at 10,206 tractors, making it the 4th consecutive month for us to have achieved a new record high and beating estimated industry growth of 73 percent. Our cumulative growth (April-Aug-20) of 27.1 percent is the highest in the entire tractor industry, making us secure No. 1 position in domestic growth.” 

Commenting on the upcoming festive season,Mittal said, “The demand is expected to remain healthy, kindled by higher Kharif sowing (8 percent higher sowing) and good monsoons (1 percent higher rainfall this year vs. normal rainfall) coupled with increasing preference of farmers towards mechanisation. Farm mechanisation penetration in India stands at an average of 45 percent for the entire crop cycle from seed bed preparation to harvesting. Farmers are majorly oriented towards application-based farming like puddling, mulching, baler application, orchards and horticulture. Paddy being the major Kharif crop, there has been a demand rise for customised tractors to address the specialised needs. Along with the demand for tractors, there is an increased demand for specialised implements as well.”  
 
 
 
 

 The company records sales of  8,205 tractors

Environment, Finance

Initiative designed to achieve financial return with positive impact on world’s biodiversity

With the goal to be the world’s largest natural capital manager, HSBC Global Asset Management has entered into a joint venture with Pollination Group, a specialist climate change advisory and investment firm, to establish an asset manager dedicated to natural capital themes.

Christof Kutscher who will be named executive chairman of the joint venture said the new asset manager will target institutional investors with funds investing in a diverse range of projects that will ’preserve, protect and enhance nature over the long-term’.

A first fund, intended to be launched in the middle of next year, would look to raise up to $1bn (€830m) followed by a carbon credit fund at up to $2bn, HSBC GAM said in a statement.

It said that natural capital investing provided exposure to projects focused on nature, including sustainable forestry, regenerative and sustainable agriculture, water supply, blue carbon (carbon captured by oceans and coastal ecosystems), nature-based bio-fuels, or nature-based projects that generate returns from reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“To reach the goals set in the Paris Agreement we need to originate and fund new approaches that protect nature, at scale,” said Martijn Wilder AM, co-founding partner at Pollination. 

 

Initiative designed to achieve financial return with

E-commerce, Seeds, Trade

 The deal aims to accelerate the commercialization of its hemp-related breeding platform  

 
 
 
 
 

Arcadia Biosciences, Inc. announced it has completed the purchase of Oregon-based Industrial Seed Innovations (ISI) specializing in organically grown, high CBD feminized hemp seed and seedlings.

With this acquisition, ISI’s portfolio of strong performing, federally compliant hemp varieties have become part of Arcadia’s GoodHemp line of hemp seeds, transplants and extracts. ISI’s popular Umpqua and Rogue seed varieties each bring unique and highly desirable characteristics to further differentiate Arcadia’s GoodHemp catalog.

“We are carefully designing our seed portfolio to respond to the unique challenges hemp growers face across the U.S. based on climate, geography and both state and federal regulations,” Arcadia CEO Matt Plavan says. “With these new varieties, we will have an even more robust catalog of seed solutions, as well as the field knowledge of ISI’s talented team.”

The deal solidifies Arcadia’s plans to accelerate the commercialization of its hemp-related breeding platform and establish a research and development facility in the Pacific Northwest, a key hemp production area.

In order to service existing ISI customers and Arcadia’s growing cohort of elite hemp cultivators, the company has deployed a multigenerational team of five regional GoodHemp sales agronomists to support existing growers and expand Arcadia’s seed offerings to new territories. This includes states with recent USDA-approved hemp plans including Florida, Arizona, Minnesota, Texas and Mississippi.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 The deal aims to accelerate the commercialization