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E-commerce, R&D

It is useful for winemakers for destemming and sorting system of premium-red varietals

 New Holland presented at SITEVI 2019, the Combi-Grape™ is a new sorting system available only on the Braud 8030L compact grape harvester. This system offers an intermediate harvest quality between a standard destemmer and the Opti-Grape™. It has been developed to meet the needs of winemakers looking for a destemming and sorting system of premium-red varietals. 

Since 2002, all New Holland Braud grape harvesters can be fitted with a destemmer, a feature that has undergone continuous improvements over the last two decades, and is now able to process every grape variety, every yield in every part of the world.

The Opti-Grape, launched in 2013, was the first New Holland Braud on-board sorting table. It features a destemmer, two sorting tables with rollers and an air-cushion sorting system to perfectly clean the harvest. This system delivers the best harvest quality ever achieved on board a grape harvester.

 Pierre Cayrouse, Grape Harvester Product marketing specialist for Grape Harvesters at New Holland France, says: “The Combi-Grape combines harvest quality and simple operation. We have chosen the best performance/quality ratio on our compact machine so that our customers working in private cellars continue to enhance their production while improving the quality of the harvest.

“Processing the grapes can be done directly, without crushing the harvest and with exceptional cleanliness. Our machine is perfectly sized for the needs of medium-sized vineyards. The controls are at the driver’s fingertips, making operation easy! The 8030L Combi-Grape is a concentrate of Braud know-how,” he adds.

A smart and compact sorting table

The new Combi-Grape features a sorting table with specific rollers under a standard destemmer. The receiving conveyors feed the grapes into the destemmer. The stems are expelled at the back of the machine. All the free grapes and the MOG (Material Other than Grape) fall on the sorting table, which features open rollers that allow the grapes to fall into the hopper. Leaf pieces and petioles are guided by the rollers to the side of the machine and drop down to the floor.

The Combi-Grape is able to remove all the petioles inside the harvest, delivering a higher crop quality compared to the standard destemmer. 

The sorting table was built to work in very diverse conditions. Depending on the crop varieties, it can process grapes of different sizes. The operator can adjust from the cab the distance between rollers from 14 mm to 23 mm. The roller speed can be controlled from the multifunction handle to adapt the system’s capacity to the yield. The sorting table can slide to the side of the machine to facilitate daily washing operation. aaThe Combi-Grape works on the Braud 8030L in most conditions and grape varieties.

It is useful for winemakers for destemming

E-commerce, Trade

Attractive prices in overseas markets increased the profit of pineapple growers 

Pineapple growers in Tripura are a happy lot as they were able to sell their pineapples to a buyer in Dubai thanks to the Common Service Centre (CSC), an initiative of the Digital Agriculture platform as part of Digital India.

While they were able to fulfil large orders from Dubai last year, the lockdown had created uncertainty this year with regards to availability of labour and also because of dry weather.

Farmers were staring at the grim prospect of having to sell their pineapples at low prices in the local market. Pineapples, especially the Queen Pineapple variety, is one of the major fruit crops of the state.

Sharing the news on his official Twitter handle, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad wrote ‘Pineapples from Tripura got a buyer in Dubai through the digital agriculture platform of CSC’.

The farmer who used to sell pineapples in local markets at a very low price has got a very attractive price for his produce. CSC is a pan-India network and provides access points for delivery of essential public utility services, social welfare schemes, healthcare, financial, education and agriculture services to both B2B and B2C customers.

 

 

Attractive prices in overseas markets increased the

E-commerce, IT

 It provides an efficient, time saving, user friendly software for the aquaponics growers worldwide.

 

 

Aquaponics AI, a social-impact aquaponic technology company has released their cloud based data management and visualization solution. Designed to improve the way aquaponics growers grow, Aquaponics AI provides an efficient, time saving, user friendly software for the rapidly increasing number of aquaponics growers worldwide. 

“We started Aquaponics AI with the goal to unleash every aquaponic grower’s superpowers,” said Daniel Robards, cofounder and CBDO. “As growers ourselves, we experienced the frustration of aquaponics being years behind digitally as other farming methods. Now growers can simplify their data, understand their system and become more insightful growers.”

Working with the aquaponic community in the development stage, Aquaponics AI has quickly become the leading solution to help farms, home growers and STEM educators transform data into actionable insights. Aquaponics AI users love collaborating, seeing live data, accessing the latest research, and gaining timely insights into their systems. 

In addition to being the forerunner in Aquaponic technology, they also have invaluable libraries for fish, plants, and diseases, as well as calculators for managing aquaponic systems. A mobile application, IOT sensor connectivity, big data and advanced analytics are in development for future release to empower stakeholders in the aquaponic industry. 

 Aquaponics AI is the leading provider of cloud based aquaponics software. A data and intelligence-driven approach to growing with Aquaponics enables small and large farms to simplify data, understand their system and become better growers. With Aquaponics AI, growers can leverage key data insights to increase overall success and impact

 It provides an efficient, time saving, user

Agro Universities, R&D

Use of the husk could significantly reduce methane emissions

 

The patent bagged by the ICAR-National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bengaluru on the use of Tamarind seed husk to ameliorate enteric methane emission in ruminants is a giant step towards reducing the enteric methane emission in livestock.

 The research team led by Dr Raghavendra Bhatta, Director, ICAR-NIANP found that the tamarind seed husk contains 13 percent to 15 percent of tannins (a natural polyphenolic compound) and is highly effective in the modulation of rumen fermentation. 

The systematic studies in different livestock species have established that about 17 percent to 20 percent in enteric methane emission is achievable by inclusion of Tamarind Seed Husk in the ruminant diet, without any adverse effect. 

Grown in more than 50 countries worldwide, the tamarind (Tamarindus indica, commonly known as Imli in Hindi) has deep roots in the culinary heritage across India. 

The country alone annually produces more than 98 thousand metric tonnes of tamarind. Its seed is roasted for removing the dark brown outer covering and the white coloured seed is used for extraction of starch. 

The Tamarind seed husk is an agricultural waste and is used as a manure and sometimes, biomass fuel in replacement to wood. The husk is relatively inexpensive and costs only Rs 3 to 4 per kilogram.

 

Use of the husk could significantly reduce

E-commerce, R&D, Seeds

It will initially  release five grain sorghum hybrids with early to medium maturity to fit most soil types. 

 

With growing demand for sorghum, growers now have the advanced technology to achieve their crop production goals with igrowth from Alta Seeds. As the first commercially available herbicide-tolerant technology for grain sorghum, igrowth will give growers the ability to realize the full potential of their sorghum acres in 2021. 

Alta Seeds’ igrowth delivers the advanced crop technology that sorghum growers need to meet growing demand. Advanta Seeds was the first to discover this unique, non-GMO imidazolinone (IMI) tolerance technology. With successful launches in Argentina and Australia, Advanta is now offering this technology through its premium seed brand, Alta Seeds, to the U.S. market. 

This product will be revealed to growers in a virtual field day experience on July 8, 2020. To register, visit http://altaseeds.advantaus.com/igrowth/. Additional in-field demonstrations will occur on August 18, 2020, in Enid, Oklahoma, and September 2, 2020, in Larned, Kansas. 

“The igrowth technology is a game changer, delivering the advanced crop technology that sorghum growers need to meet growing demand, improve crop production and maintain a profitable ROI,” says Tanner Antonick, regional sales manager – central U.S., for Alta Seeds. “For the first time, sorghum growers have the option for both grass and broadleaf control that can be applied either pre-emergence or post-emergence. It’s a huge breakthrough that will allow for a cleaner, more profitable harvest.” 

The igrowth production system includes a companion herbicide, IMIFLEX, which is expected to receive registration from the Environmental Protection Agency in late 2020. Research trials show IMIFLEX provides effective residual control of yield-robbing broadleaf and grass weeds in pre-emergent and post-emergent applications. Field trials show IMIFLEX can be tank-mixed with other herbicides, which helps lessen the dependence on a single active ingredient for effective weed control. 

Igrowth is a non-GMO technology, discovered through advanced genetic screening of Advanta’s elite germplasm. This naturally occurring tolerance means no DNA from other species or plants were introduced into the igrowth sorghum genome and igrowth has global market acceptance. When paired with the companion herbicide, the igrowth technology reduces the number of weeds competing for water and nutrients in the soil, allowing the sorghum crop greater access to crop inputs. 

“The igrowth hybrids have been proven in numerous environments, including dryland and irrigated acres, for performance and yield,” Antonick says. “Growers will be able to select the igrowth sorghum hybrid that best suits their locale and growing practices, appealing to growers of both high- and low-input acres.”

Alta Seeds is planning to initially release five grain sorghum hybrids with early to medium maturity to fit most soil types. Approximately 20 grain and forage hybrids are in the igrowth pipeline, with adaptability to primary sorghum growing regions.

 

It will initially  release five grain sorghum

Acts & Schemes – Centre, Dairy, Live Stock

Rs 15,000 ‘Pashudhan’ program help increase milk production and export and employment 

The central government announced an allocation of Rs 15,000 crore to bolster India’s animal husbandry and livestock sector, or ‘pashudhan’, and an interest subvention of up to 3% to private players for setting up of dairy, poultry and meat processing units.

The government announced an allocation of Rs 15,000 crore to bolster India’s animal husbandry and livestock sector, or ‘pashudhan’, and an interest subvention of up to 3% to private players for setting up of dairy, poultry and meat processing units. With it, the country now also looks to ramp up export and dairy production as Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to push for self-reliant Bharat and boosting exports. “Rs 15,000 ‘pashudhan’ program is opening for the first time for everyone. This will also help increase milk production and export and will also generate employment for lakhs of people,” cabinet minister Prakash Javadekar said on Wednesday in the cabinet briefing. 

This announcement is part of the Rs 21 lakh crore economic package that was announced by PM Modi to help the country tide over the coronavirus crisis, animal husbandry minister Giriraj Singh said.

India is the largest dairy producing country in the world and it is also the biggest milk consuming nation. The dairy sector has been pushing for protectionism and saving the interest of domestic dairy farmers for a while. Industry leaders such as Amul had also asked the government to not allow milk imports from countries such as New Zealand which are milk surplus nations. The government also has for some time been pushing to increase India’s dairy sector. In the Budget 2020-21 as well, it had said that it aims to take India’s milk processing capability to double of the current levels. The country processes about 53.5 million metric tonnes, and the same will be scaled up to 108 million metric tonnes by 2025, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said in her maiden budget. This will also increase per capita consumption and milk availability. Announcements were also made to improve the animal husbandry sector as well.

 

Rs 15,000 ‘Pashudhan’ program help increase milk

Acquaculture, E-commerce

Rajeev Ranjan was speaking at FICCI webinar on ‘Developing Competitiveness in Fisheries Sector’ 

 

 

 Rajeev Ranjan, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Govt of India, said that sustainable development is key to increasing the competitiveness in the fisheries sector. “Reducing post-harvest losses in fisheries to less than 10% is extremely important,” he added. 

Speaking at FICCI webinar on ‘Developing Competitiveness in Fisheries Sector’, Ranjan said, “Per capita consumption in India is substantially low in fisheries compared to global levels. Therefore, development of domestic market and increasing per capita consumption needs a focused approach.” He added that investment in fishing harbours, value addition and promotion of Mariculture will boost the sector. 

Venkat R Nekkanti, Managing Director, Nekkanti Sea Food, said, “The country has set an ambitious fish production target of 22mn MT by 2025 which signifies adding 10mn MT in the next 5 years.” He added that on demand side, it is imperative to widen domestic consumption base with a strong thrust on value-added products. Nekkanti stressed that we took 35 years to add the last 10mn MT production and it is time to do meticulous planning.

  Shashikant Singh, Director, Agriculture & Natural Resources, GRID, PwC, said, “Sustainable practices coupled with emphasis on Fishtech & requisite infrastructure augmentation along with domestic market development is the key to boost the fisheries sector.”

 

Highlighting the need to promote sustainable models in this sector, Devleena Bhattacharjee, Founder & CEO, Numer8 Analytics said, “Development of efficient supply-chain, controlling wastages and building strong traceability mechanism in partnership with private sector, is crucial for future growth of fisheries sector.” She added that sustainable fishing practices should be promoted and subsidies should be awarded to farmers adhering to sustainable fishing methods.   

Hemendra Mathur, Chairman, FICCI Task Force on Agri startups & Venture Partner, Bharat Innovation Fund said, “New age innovations connecting fishermen with the markets can go a long way in transforming the sector.”

 FICCI-PwC promulgated Ten-point agenda to enhance competitiveness in fisheries sector: 

  1. Incentivise private sector for establishment of brood banks / facilities to improve availability and genetics of Brood stock. 
  1. Forging Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in development of integrated value chain infrastructure – Mega Fisheries parks. 
  1. Enabling sustained and inclusive growth of sector through promotion of Fish Farmer Producer Companies (FFPCs). 
  1. Establishment of PPP based Aqua Skill Development Centres (ASDCs) to create sustained employment opportunities in sector. 
  1. Introducing efficiency through PPPs for establishing Modern Integrated Fish Harbours (MIFH). 
  1. Modernizing FISHCOPFED to a state-of-the-art institution with end to end modernized & revamped support to the sector. 
  1. Augmenting domestic market development activities through value chain interventions and suitable partnerships. 
  1. Promoting “fishTech” to improve Efficiency, Traceability and Sustainability (ETS) in supply chain. 
  1. Promoting “Ease of Doing fisheries Business” in the sector to unleash the private investment potential. 
  1. Aligning sectoral growth with goals of Blue economy: Promoting economic growth, social inclusion and improvement of livelihoods.

 

 

Rajeev Ranjan was speaking at FICCI webinar

Agro chems – Chemicals, E-commerce, Finance

 Morocco based OCP Group to invest $46.5M in Zuari Farmhub Limited

The fertilizer company Zuari Agro Chemicals traded on a negative note during Monday’s trading session after the company announced a consolidated net loss of Rs304.60cr for the March 2020 (Q4FY20) quarter. The latest Q4 net loss has widened from a year ago same period where the loss stood at Rs255.17cr. 

The top-line also witnessed a downward trend with total income coming at Rs1, 031.93cr in the quarter as against Rs2, 001.30cr in the corresponding period of the previous year.

In its financial audit report, Zuari Agro said, “Due to significant delays in receipt of subsidy from the Government of India in earlier periods, a drought-like situation in our key marketing area in earlier periods there was a consequent deterioration of the Company’s liquidity position, which led to elongation of the working capital cycle of our Company.” 

Also, Zuari was not able to pass on the increase in the prices of the raw materials to the farmers which contributed to the cash flow mismatch and reduced financial flexibility of the company, on account of which, it has a net current liability position of Rs1, 506.22cr as of March 2020. 

These factors, Zuari informed, “Adversely impacted company’s cash flow, debt positions, delay in repayment of loans on the contractual maturity date, recall of loans from two lenders due to non-meeting of a covenant breach, the downgrading of their rating to (ICRA) D and prolonged shut down of its plants for different periods during the year.” 

On Covid-19 impact, Zuari Agro said, “The agriculture and fertilizer sector remain relatively unaffected on the demand side, the Company’s operation has not been affected significantly on account of COVID-19 despite some issues relating to non-availability of labour and supply chain disruptions.”

In its meeting held on Sunday, the company’s board gave in-principle approval for the sale of the fertilizer plant at Goa to Paradeep Phosphates Limited (PPL). After the year-end, the Morocco-based OCP Group expressed an interest to invest in Zuari Farmhub Limited (ZFL) of $46.5M in ZFL, subject to the completion of confirmatory due diligence by OCP. The Company has accepted the offer. 

Currently, the company and OCP hold 50% each of the total equity capital of Zuari Maroc Phosphates Private Limited (ZMPPL) and ZMPPL holds 80.45 % of the Share capital of PPL.

Apart from this, the company has announced waiver of recovery of excess remuneration paid to Sunil Shetty, Managing Director for the financial year FY20 subject to further regulatory approvals.

 Morocco based OCP Group to invest $46.5M

E-commerce

Dairy sector was largely unaffected, while livestock sector reported losses as consumption declined

India’s agriculture business sector which has been deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the first half of 2020 (H1 20) is expected to rebound in the second half (H2 20) according to analytics firm Fitch Solutions. The full nationwide lockdown imposed by the government from March 25 to April 30 brought all activities to a complete halt. 

Even though restrictions were slowly eased from May in different states, production and trade has been disrupted due to transportation restrictions and labour shortages. While the dairy sector has remained steady, business in the livestock sector has declined mainly because of drop in consumption. 

Trade, in general, has decreased significantly in H1 20, especially with rice and sugar exports and palm oil imports. But it is expected to rebound strongly in H2 20 as demand increases due to low stock and lower international prices. Overall, Fitch expects total trade volume of 2020 to be in line with that of 2019 or even lesser because of how trade was impacted in H1 20.

 

Dairy sector was largely unaffected, while livestock

Agro chems – Fertilizers, E-commerce, Finance

In 2019-20, the company’s PAT declined by 77.76 per cent to Rs 109.65 crore as compared to Rs 493.13 crore in FY19. 

Gujarat State Fertilizer and Chemicals (GSFC) posted a 36.82 per cent decline in consolidated profit after tax for the March quarter at Rs 61.85 crore. The Company’s PAT for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal stood at Rs 97.91 crore, it said in a BSE filing. 

Total income for the quarter under review dropped 6.46 per cent to Rs 1,874.49 crore from Rs 2,004.05 crore earlier. For the full fiscal 2019-20, the company’s PAT declined by 77.76 per cent to Rs 109.65 crore as compared to Rs 493.13 crore in FY19.Total income fell 8.06 per cent to Rs 7,904.49 crore from Rs 8,598.20 crore in 2018-19.

Meanwhile, the company informed the exchange that its board has decided to discontinue manufacturing operations of its fibre unit in Surat, Gujarat.

“The company is planning to set up a new project at its polymers unit. For its Fibre Unit, the company is evaluating various options to utilise existing land and infrastructure facilities available there, including development of a logistic park or suitable project for which a consultant is being appointed,” it said.

In 2019-20, the company’s PAT declined by

Seeds, World

 Coles is Managing Director of Valley Seeds Pty Ltd. and  a past Director of the Australian Seed Authority 

Australian seedsman and business leader Donald Coles has succeeded Eduard Fito as President of the International Seed Federation (ISF), the 10th person to hold the position since the merging of FIS and ASSINSEL in 2002. He will serve a term of two years.

Donald Coles was former First Vice President of the ISF Executive Committee from 2018-2020. Eduard Fito will continue to serve on the ISF Executive Committee as Past President for another two years.

 “The role of agriculture in the steady supply of quality, healthy food has been greatly highlighted during the COVID-19 crisis. Today seed is widely recognized as an essential good and a key element in food production,” says Coles. “This gives us further determination to ensure the efficient movement of quality seed in order to continue to deliver benefits to the entire value chain. In addition, it is very important to ensure continued innovation. New plant breeding methods can continue to contribute solutions to the global challenge of building sustainable food systems in the face of climate change as well as meeting an ever growing consumer demand for quality, healthy food. Seed creates food in a matter of weeks.” 

Donald Coles is Managing Director of Valley Seeds Pty Ltd. and is a past Director of the Australian Seed Authority. In 2012, he was elected President of the Australian Seed Federation. He has held national positions within Australian Government agencies and affiliated bodies such as the Gene Technology Regulator. 

His career of over 40 years spans supply chain management, quality assurance systems, retailing and retail supply. During this time, he has been directly involved in breeding new plant varieties, specifically the development, maintenance and auditing of trial protocols for forage, turf seed and cereals. 

“Changing leadership from various regions and seed sectors provides an excellent dynamic for ISF and is a showcase of the diversity that ISF represents. With the new leadership under Donald Coles we will prepare, in these unprecedented times, a clear way forward based on the upcoming renewal of the ISF Key Strategic Objectives 2021-25 and the recognition of seed as the essential element of food production,” says Michael Keller, ISF Secretary General.

 

 

 Coles is Managing Director of Valley Seeds

E-commerce, North America, Seeds

It will enable Sakata’s world-class breeder network to combine Danziger’s genetics 

Sakata Seed America announces the acquisition of the blocky bell pepper breeding program from Danziger “Dan” Seeds Ltd of Israel.

The purchase entitles Sakata to all existing assets of Danziger’s blocky bell pepper breeding program and will further solidify Sakata’s prominent position in the global pepper market. The acquisition, which includes several existing commercial varieties in the market, will enable Sakata’s global, world-class breeder network to combine Danziger’s genetics with existing Sakata blocky bell pepper advancements and bring more outstanding products to market. 

“We’re very excited to tap into this resource to better serve the blocky bell pepper market, not only in USMCA, but globally, as well,” states Bryan Zingel, Senior Sweet Pepper Product Manager for Sakata. “Danziger has an exceptional breeding program and commercial variety portfolio focused on the Mexico mid-tech market, as well as U.S. growers utilizing high tunnel and shade cover growing practices.”

Danziger developed its blocky bell pepper varieties using fast-track computational breeding technology from seed breeding specialist, Equinom Ltd., an ag-tech seed innovator that integrates cutting-edge technology with data-driven breeding methodology. The technology enables the company to breed non-GMO varieties with high levels of accuracy and efficiency.

Micha Danziger, CEO of Danziger Seeds, said, “Here at Danziger, we are very happy that our pepper varieties are now in the hands of Sakata, as we are convinced that Sakata will do a great job in maximizing the potential of our breeding program and varieties to create value for Sakata, the pepper growers and consumers around the world.”

Sakata’s Senior Director of Research and Development, Jeff Zischke, played a key role in the company’s strategic acquisition of the program. “Sakata has a global network that can expand and amplify this blocky bell pepper program worldwide. We look forward to advancing these exceptional genetics to build a more comprehensive pepper program for the global market.”

Sakata Seed America will call upon its extensive network of global affiliates to continue to develop the program to its fullest potential and increase its reach. All existing Danziger commercial varieties will be made available to the industry via Sakata Seed America, effective immediately.

It will enable Sakata’s world-class breeder network

Interaction

The ongoing lockdown has added new dimensions to the problems faced by the rural sector, particularly, the all-important farm division.

 At the same time, it has thrown several opportunities to carry out the long-pending reforms the agriculture field has been waiting for. It means impetus should be given on upgradation of farm infrastructure and the farming style through digitization and mechanisation as the manual labour market is disrupted.  

As many labourers, who had migrated to cities, are struggling to return to their villages when they are most needed during the harvesting of Rabi crops as well as later for the farm activities during Kharif season. As a part of Covid-19 relief package, the Modi government has announced Rs 1.5 trillion package for farm sector to strengthen infrastructure and logistics to help value addition. However, in short-term, the non-availability of labourers would have profound impact on the agricultural activities, so subsequently on the crop yield and thus jeopardizing food security.

Dr. Shivendra Bajaj, Executive Director, Federation of Seed Industry of India, said, “the national shutdown has created an unprecedented situation. Majority of labourers that also include landless farmers are stuck in cities though the government has been trying its best to transport them back to their upcountry homes. The sudden shortfall in manual labour-force — when the monsoon is just one or two weeks from its scheduled arrival — can disrupt the pre-sowing as well as sowing activities during crucial kharif season. In such scenario, farmers can rely on farm machinery and equipment to offset the need of labourers. Also, use of information technology, good quality of seeds and other inputs along with government assistance can provide farmers with adequate support to deal with the negative effects arising out of the coronavirus pandemic.”      

According to 2011 census, majority of migrant labourers (over 450 million, which have definitely increased over the years) hail from northern and eastern parts of the country, who migrated to western and southern state for manual work. Now, the loss of jobs, stuck wages of these migrant workers have beseeched the reverse migration to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which are the biggest sources of migrant workers, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal among others. Yet, millions of labourers have stranded in different states.

Moreover, significant rural population migrate to other states and union territories such as Punjab, Haryana, Ladakh to work as labourers in the farm-fields. In areas where commercial crops are cultivated, the daily wages are reported to have gone up substantially as the labourers required for harvesting have left for their native places amid coronavirus crisis. And looking at the mental and physical stress the migrant labourers must be facing in getting transported to their villages, they would not be ready to migrate back easily in near future. So, the labourers that are required to carry out farm works such as tilling, ploughing land and later for intensive sowing part seem to be distributed disproportionately. In such difficult times, the responsibility to tackle the farm related challenges lies with farmers, governments, agri- product companies alike. 

To begin with, farm mechanisation can supplement lack of labour. Farmers must be urged to adopt digital and mechanised ways to grow crops. Different government schemes such as the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM) Rashtriya Krish Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) can be used to get financial assistance and guidance to buy or rent farm machinery and equipment. For effective implementation of social distancing, the Union Agriculture Ministry has already issued guidelines for smooth supply of such machinery to farmers. In addition, it has given exemptions till end of this year on different tests that are required to procure of tractors, power tillers, combine harvesters and other self-propelled agricultural machinery.

The impact of Covid-19 on economy is set to be devastating and no sector is going to be spared. However, the impact on agriculture sector would be complex and varied. Besides farm mechanisation, farmers can opt for good quality seeds, optimum use of crop inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides to protect their crops from other unforeseen threats that may arise during the coronavirus crisis. All this would also contribute to the efforts of the government to double farmer’s income by 2022. The ongoing heath emergency offers farmers an opportunity to adopt state-of-the-art farm management practices, which are laced with assortment of technology including hybrid seeds, big data analytics, artificial intelligence, geo-tagging & satellite monitoring. The time is ideal for farmers to jump the bandwagon to become competitive internationally.

The ongoing lockdown has added new dimensions

E-commerce

Bad weather conditions and fewer tourists during the pandemic affected sales by 60-80 percent 

The hilly state of Himachal Pradesh is known for its apple orchards and in the past few years its farmers had shifted focus to Cherry cultivation due to its high demand and numerous health benefits. However, this year the farmers had to bear the brunt of Covid-19 induced drop in sales of around 60 to 80 percent. 

This was a sudden and unprecedented loss for growers in the now ‘cherry bowl’ areas of  Kandiyali, Kumarsen, Narkanda, Baghi, Thanadhara, according to Durgu Verma, a cherry farmer from Kandiyali village in Shimla. This year, the lower sales can be attributed to the fewer numbers of tourists visiting the state due to Covid-19 related travel restrictions and lockdown.  

According to Verma, one of the farmers in Kandiyali had sold Rs 20 lakh worth of cherries but was able to get only 30 percent cost for the produce. Bad weather conditions had, earlier in the year, badly hit the farmers. However, due to the Covid-19 situation, despite reporting a bumper crop this year, they are seeing a lowering in the prices for their produce. While a 1 kg box of cherries used to fetch prices between Rs 300 and 500, the present prices are as low as Rs 30 to Rs 100. 

Farmers in some areas were unable to transport their produce due to curfew and lockdown and consequently the cherry crop got damaged. 

 

Bad weather conditions and fewer tourists during