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IT, R&D

The landmark international study was led by Dr Rajeev Varshney from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics in Hyderabad

A massive international research effort has led to the development of a genetic model for the ‘ultimate’ chickpea, with the potential to lift crop yields by up to 12 per cent. The research consortium genetically mapped thousands of chickpea varieties, and the UQ team then used this information to identify the most valuable gene combinations using artificial intelligence (AI).

 

Professor Ben Hayes led the UQ component of the project with Professor Kai Voss-Fels and Associate Professor Lee Hickey, to develop a ‘haplotype’ genomic prediction crop breeding strategy, for enhanced performance for seed weight.

 

The landmark international study was led by Dr Rajeev Varshney from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics in Hyderabad. The study confirmed chickpea’s origin in the Fertile Crescent and provides a complete picture of genetic variation within chickpea. 

 

“We identified 1,582 novel genes and established the pan-genome of chickpea, which will serve as a foundation for breeding superior chickpea varieties with enhanced yield, higher resistance to drought, heat and diseases,” Dr Varshney said.

 

Professor Hayes said the UQ team used the data to model a chickpea with perfect genetics for seed weight, a trait linked to yield.

 

FastStack combines AI with genomic prediction technology to identify the combinations of genes most likely to improve crop performance.

 

UQ plant breeder and crop geneticist, Associate Professor Lee Hickey, said the global demand for protein-rich pulses was increasing.

 

“Improving the productivity of chickpea for Australia offers opportunities for our farmers to supply local food industries and export markets,” he said.

 

“Using this AI-generated chickpea model for increased seed weight in the field will be challenging, given the number of generations it will take in cross-breeding for optimal chickpea genetics, and the impact of different environments and management practices on crop growth.

 

Dr Hickey said new genomic breeding approaches, including the haplotype model, are expected to redefine chickpea breeding strategies for developing high-yielding and nutritious chickpea varieties.

Chickpea is an important rotation crop in farming systems, as it is self-fertilising for nitrogen, reducing the need for nitrogen fertiliser.

The landmark international study was led by

Agrotech, Machinery - Pre-harvesting, Machinery – Post-harvesting

Launches CODE, an innovative and affordable farm mechanisation solution for farmers

Swaraj Tractors, part of the Mahindra Group, launched CODE, a revolutionary new multi-purpose farm mechanisation solution to transform horticulture farming in India. 

 

An indigenously designed farm mechanisation solution, CODE is conceived with the idea of eliminating the drudgery of labour involved in horticulture farming. The narrowest and the lightest ride-on machine, CODE will revolutionise horticulture farming in India allowing farmers to carry out inter-culture operations in narrow rows for various vegetable and fruit crops. Additionally, the shorter turning radius of this machine provides better manoeuvrability in smaller farms cultivating horticulture crops. 

 

 

Launches CODE, an innovative and affordable farm

Agrotech, China, Supply Chain

Nisun will apply its digital technologies to the agricultural supply chain, using the Internet, Internet of Things, and other technologies

Nisun International Enterprise Development Group, a provider of innovative comprehensive solutions has signed a supply chain cooperative agreement with Haikou Jinlvguo Fruit Production & Marketing Cooperative. Under this agreement, the two parties will cooperate in the field of the agriculture supply chain.

According to the agreement, utilising its supply chain management capabilities, Nisun will help connect Haikou Jinlvguo at the upstream of the supply chain with reliable sales channels to increase Jinlvguo’s sales volume and market shares. Through this cooperation, Nisun will apply its digital technologies to the agricultural supply chain, using the Internet, Internet of Things, and other technologies to incorporate modern logistics and financial technology into the supply chain. As such, Nisun will serve as a bridge between core enterprises and the market, helping to establish a comprehensive platform in the agricultural supply chain for sharing upstream and downstream information on product market supply and demand, transactions, prices and other information.

“The integration of digital technology and the agricultural industry will reshape the business model of the agricultural supply chain,” commented Xiaoyun Huang, Chairman and CEO, Nisun International. “Nisun will explore the logistics, capital flow and information flow in the supply chain, using the relationship between the core enterprise and the principal supply chain to improve the credit capacity of other members, prevent misinformation, and improve the industrial chain, helping those in low credit groups obtain loans. This change will also promote further cooperation in the supply chain management and resource sharing among Nisun and core enterprises in the upstream and downstream of supply chains.”

Nisun will apply its digital technologies to

Agro chems – Pesticides, Agrotech, China, Nature

The XAG V40 and P40 are fully autonomous drones that can conduct mapping, spraying, and broadcast on farm

China-based XAG, the trailblazers of agriculture robotics and AI, has launched V40 and P40 Agricultural Drone globally, bringing digital agriculture into more rural areas with an ageing population and weak infrastructure. The XAG V40 and P40 are fully autonomous drones that can conduct mapping, spraying, and broadcast on the farm. The drones are designed in supporting farmers’ transition to climate-smart practices, driving greater growth with lower carbon footprints and less agrochemical.

The V40, as the flagship model of XAG V Series Agricultural Drone, is a milestone in getting farmers connected to the digital age. It is the first tilting twin-rotor unmanned flying platform of its kind in agriculture to find the right balance between precision, performance, and efficiency. As an upgraded model of the classic P Series agricultural drone, XAG P40 is more compact, flexible, and easy to transport with four arms.

The V40 Agricultural Drone is an award-winning design that embodies XAG’s understanding of agriculture, farmers, and society. The V40 has a more concentrated wind field that contributes to an effective spray width of up to 10 metres. With multiple aerodynamic optimisations, its spray penetration is over twice that of a traditional multi-rotor drone, making drops penetrate more precisely into dense crop canopies. This provides stronger protection against weeds, diseases, and insect pests to close the yield gap.

Both V40 and P40 Agricultural Drone are built with a highly modular design that can significantly reduce the barriers of farmers to embrace digital agriculture. They support three different task systems – XAG RevoSpray, RevoCast, and RealTerra, which allows farmers to use the same platform for collecting digital field maps, sowing seeds, and controlling crop diseases.
 

The XAG V40 and P40 are fully

AgroPolicy, Sustainable Energy

The move is likely to help in reducing pending arrears of cane farmers

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has given its approval for fixing higher ethanol prices derived from different sugarcane-based raw materials under the EBP Programme for the forthcoming sugar season 2021-22 during ESY 2021-22 from December 1, 2021, to November 30, 2022.

 

The approval has been given for the following:

(i) The price of ethanol from C heavy molasses route be increased from Rs 45.69 per litre to Rs 46.66 per litre,

(ii) The price of ethanol from B heavy molasses route be increased from Rs 57.61 per litre to Rs 59.08 per litre,

(iii) The price of ethanol from sugarcane juice, sugar/sugar syrup route be increased from Rs 62.65 per litre to Rs 63.45 per litre,

(iv) Additionally, GST and transportation charges will also be payable.

(v) Government has decided that Oil PSEs should be given the freedom to decide the pricing for 2G ethanol as this would help in setting up advanced biofuel refineries in the country. It is important to note that grain-based ethanol prices are currently being decided by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) only.

 

The approval will not only facilitate the continued policy of the government in providing price stability and remunerative prices for ethanol suppliers but will also help in reducing the pending arrears of cane farmers, dependency on crude oil imports and will also help in savings in foreign exchange and bring benefits to the environment.

 

The decision to allow Oil PSEs to decide the price of 2G ethanol would facilitate setting up advanced biofuel refineries in the country.

 

All distilleries will be able to take benefit from the scheme and a large number of them are expected to supply ethanol for the EBP Programme.

The government has been implementing Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme wherein Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) sell petrol blended with ethanol up to 10 per cent. 

 

Further, to kick-start the Second Generation (2G) ethanol programme (which can be produced from agricultural and forestry residues, e.g. rice and wheat straw/corn cobs and Stover/bagasse, woody biomass), a few projects are being set up by Oil PSEs taking financial assistance from the Government’s ’Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana’ approved by the CCEA in the past. These projects are likely to start commissioning from the ensuing ESY 2021-22.

 

The move is likely to help in

Environment, Supply Chain, Trade

Various government and non-governmental organisations have launched incentive schemes to motivate farmers to grow these crops

Indians have been enjoying exotic mushrooms, tangy kiwis, green olives, fresh broccoli, dragon fruit and many other items. These items have been gaining popularity in recent times among the urban population and gourmet hotels, eateries.

 

While they are imported from all over the world, India too has begun its production as the market grew significantly. The Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu produces the finest quality of lettuce, while freshly grown avocados can be found in Himachal Pradesh.

 

India is the second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world, and at the same time, it is a significant market for gourmet products.

 

In 2018, India imported fruits and vegetables worth $3 billion while in 2019, the figure dropped to $1.2 billion. The growth of international food in India is being closely followed by the domestic production of international foods, which itself is growing at 14-16 per cent. The Government of India announced to provide seeds and saplings of exotic food ingredients to local farmers, to promote this small yet significant sector. Among fruits, those that are imported in large quantities include Japan’s Fuji apples and other varieties of green apples, red grapes, dates, berries, kiwi fruit, different types of mandarin oranges, pomelo, and several other varieties of citrus fruits. India has a diverse climate, which means that some apples are easier to replace than others. Lal Ambri apples, a variety of Fuji from Jammu and Kashmir, are cultivated by Indian farmers. This hybrid variety is a result of cross-breeding Delicious Red apples with the Himachal Pradesh Ambri breed. It grows throughout the year and is used for making jams, jellies, and desserts. 

 

Similarly, Dragon Fruit was introduced in India in 1990 and farmers were drawn to it because it seemed profitable and required fewer inputs to grow. Dragon fruit cultivation has surged in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Gujarat, and many northeastern states, including Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The fruit is very popular in urban areas due to its high nutritional value.

 

India imports a huge range of vegetables from countries such as the US and Australia, including broccoli, iceberg lettuce, coloured capsicum, asparagus, celery, parsley, Brussel sprouts, zucchini, and cabbage. Farmers grow these vegetables all year long, not just during the growing season. Various government and non-governmental organisations have launched incentive schemes to motivate farmers to grow these crops. Haryana, Maharashtra, and Karnataka have become home to farms that produce exotic greens.

 

Other exotic fruits cultivated in India include Kiwis. The largest production of this fruit takes place in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Kerala. Berry production is also on the rise. Strawberry plantations cover the lush green hills of Nainital, Dehradun and Mahabaleshwar.

 

India’s new-age farmers also produce exotic vegetables, fruits, grains, and other food products. Exotic salad greens are being grown in aquaponic systems as well for a rapidly expanding high-end customer base.

 

Exporters and retailers are seeing an increase in demand for exotic fruits and vegetables due to the well-travelled and affluent Indian consumer base. 

 

 


Various government and non-governmental organisations have launched

AgroPolicy, Packaging & Labelling

The mandatory packaging norms approved for Jute Year 2021-22 provide for 100 per cent reservation of the food grains and 20 per cent of sugar to be compulsorily packed in jute bags

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has approved reservation norms for mandatory use of jute in packaging for the Jute Year 2021 -22 (July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022) on November 10, 2021. The mandatory packaging norms approved for Jute Year 2021-22 provide for 100 per cent reservation of the foodgrains and 20 per cent of sugar to be compulsorily packed in jute bags.

 

The reservation norms in the present proposal would further protect the interest of domestic production of raw jute and jute packaging material in India, thereby, making India self-reliant in consonance with Aatmnirbhar Bharat. Reservation for packaging in jute packaging material consumed around 66.57 per cent of the raw jute produced in the country (in 2020-21). By bringing into effect the provision of the JPM Act, the Government will provide relief to 0.37 million workers employed in jute mills and ancillary units as well as support the livelihood of around 4.0 Million farm families. Besides, it will help protect the environment because jute is natural, bio-degradable, renewable and reusable fibre and hence fulfils all sustainability parameters.

 

The jute industry occupies an important place in the national economy of India in general and the Eastern Region in particular i.e. West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It is one of the major industries in the eastern region, particularly in West Bengal.

 

The reservations norms under JPM Act provide for direct employment to 0.37 million workers and four million farmers in the Jute Sector. JPM Act, 1987 protects the interest of Jute farmers, workers and persons engaged in jute goods’ production. 75 per cent of the total production of the Jute Industry is Jute Sacking Bags of which 90 per cent is supplied to the Food Corporation of India (FCl) and State Procurement Agencies (SPAs) and the remaining is exported/sold directly Government of India purchases Jute sacking bags worth approximately Rs. 8,000 crore every year for packing of foodgrains, hence ensuring a guaranteed market for the produce of Jute Farmers and Workers.

 

The average production of jute sacking bags is about 30 lakhs bales (9 lakh MT) and the government is committed to ensuring complete off-take of the sacking production of the jute bags in order to protect the interest of jute farmers, workers and persons engaged in the jute industry.

The mandatory packaging norms approved for Jute

Agro Universities, AgroPolicy, Agrotech

The objectives of the initiative are promoting nutritional awareness, education and behavioural change in rural areas involving farm women

A programme on Nutrition Smart Village will be initiated to strengthen the Poshan Abhiyan. The new initiative aims to reach out to 75 villages across India through the network of All India Coordinated Research Project on Women in Agriculture (AICRP-WIA) which is in operation at 13 centres in 12 states of India besides the coordinating institute located at Bhubaneswar. The information was provided by Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar while addressing an event organised by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research in New Delhi.

 

Under the initiative, a total of 75 villages will be adopted by AICRP centres and ICAR-CIWA, for which the AICRP centres will adopt five villages each with the remaining to be adopted by ICAR-CIWA with an aim to develop 75 Nutri-Smart villages.

 

The objectives of the initiative are promoting nutritional awareness, education and behavioural change in rural areas involving farm women and school children, harnessing traditional knowledge through the local recipe to overcome malnutrition and implementing nutrition-sensitive agriculture through homestead agriculture and nutri-garden.

 

During the event, Tomar released three publications. The publications are Technology profile of food products, Work participation and women in agriculture in India and Gender-Sensitive Agri-Horti Cropping System Model for addressing livelihood nutrition and entrepreneurship.

 

Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Kailash Choudhary and Shobha Karandlaje, Secretary, Agriculture, Sanjay Agarwal, Secretary, DARE, Dr Trilochan Mohapatra also addressed the event.

 

The objectives of the initiative are promoting

Agro chems – Chemicals, Finance

The animal feed business resulted a growth of 21 per cent

Godrej Agrovet has reported its financial performance for the second quarter and half year ended September 30, 2021, of the financial year 2021-22. The company reported consolidated total income and consolidated profit before tax of Rs 2,159.7 crore and Rs 149.8 crore, respectively. For the half-year ended September 30, 2021, the company reported consolidated total income and consolidated profit before tax of Rs 4,162.9 crore and Rs 287.2 crore, respectively.

For the animal feed business, it was one of the best quarterly performances with segment results growing by 21 per cent, supported by volume growth, the introduction of new products and R&D benefits realisation. Vegetable oil benefitted from higher oil prices and increased efficiencies and posted excellent segment results of Rs 78 crore for the second quarter which was a 1.9x increase year-on-year. Profitability of standalone crop protection business declined by 24 per cent due to erratic and inconsistent rainfall which reduced application opportunities of agrochemicals. Segment results were also impacted by inflation in raw material prices which could not be absorbed resulting in lower margins.

In the food businesses, higher input and procurement costs impacted the performance in the current quarter. The dairy subsidiary, Creamline Dairy registered a lower EBITDA profit of Rs.4.1 crore due to an increase in the milk procurement costs. The performance of our poultry and poultry products business improved in the second quarter after a challenging first quarter as end-product prices improved. As a result, Godrej Tyson Foods registered an EBITDA of Rs 10.1 crore in Q2 FY22.

The animal feed business resulted a growth

AgroPolicy, IT, Sustainable Energy

The one-stop platform will showcase updates, news, programmes, list of exhibitors, companies, and services involved

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries Malaysia (MAFI) announced the soft launch of its new microsite, http://www.mafi-events.com in conjunction with Sustainable Agriculture Week that will take place at the Malaysian Pavilion in EXPO 2020 Dubai, from February 20 to 26, 2022.

 

The microsite serves as a dedicated one-stop platform to showcase updates, news, programmes, list of exhibitors, companies, and services involved in Sustainable Agriculture on Week 21 of the expo with MAFI as the host.

 

“We have plenty of exciting offers that we would like to share with the world during Sustainable Agriculture Week. We are pleased with the fact that through the newly developed microsite, visitors would be able to access any information related to sustainable agriculture in Malaysia despite not being able to attend the expo physically. The microsite also serves as an important business engagement tool that connects visitors to companies and agencies that are involved in Sustainable Agriculture Week,” said Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries, YB Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee during the soft launch of the microsite.

 

“With the microsite, we aim to inform, educate, and communicate with people globally to further drive sustainable agriculture. Thanks to the microsite, we expect to establish strong engagement and strategic partnerships throughout our participation at the expo,” he added.

 

Microsite visitors may find more about the exhibitors and participating companies of Sustainable Agriculture Week by browsing through the companies’ information, product brochures, and informative videos. The microsite showcases the focus areas of sustainable agriculture that will be highlighted during the expo, which includes biodiversity to wellness, smart urban farming and solutions, waste-to-wealth, and other areas. 

 

Visitors may also engage in business matching and keep abreast of programmes organised by MAFI throughout Week 21 at the expo, including product and cooking demonstrations, pocket talks, and networking cocktails. Visitors can expect regular updates on MAFI’s microsite, including the latest news, events, and MAFI-related programmes.

 

The one-stop platform will showcase updates, news,

Finance, IT

Reduces farm loan NPAs and eases collections with digitisation

Spocto Solutions has ventured into the agricultural sector with its Kisan Pay BOT, a one-stop solution for the banks and farmers. Launched in early 2021, Spocto has transformed self-pay for 2.5 million farmers in India. It has successfully bridged the digital divide by connecting farmers with loan repayments. 

 

The first-of-its-kind innovative application reads farmer data, details like collection timing, due date, analysing and augmenting with the use of machine learning, behavioural and psychographic information with the use of AI to reach out to the customers in their own desired language. With this, the life of farmers has become easier for loan payments reducing travel to the nearest bank branch for cash payment and thus helping them to adopt digital payment modes enhancing financial literacy and driving inclusion. 

 

The data is enriched with behavioural and psychographic information arrived at with the use of proprietary AI-based Machine learning algorithms. The process allows Spocto to reach out to farmers at their preferred timing, through their preferred communication channel in the language they prefer thus increasing their propensity to pay within the due date.

 

The product is currently available in 18 regional languages and offers digital payments over 9 platforms in 100 dialects. 

Reduces farm loan NPAs and eases collections

Finance

The acquisition will be beneficial for the company in many ways and it will increase the company’s revenue by Rs 150 crore approximately

Best Agrolife Ltd (BAL), a leading player and one of the largest manufacturers of agro-inputs, is going ahead with the acquisition of the Plant & Machinery, and stock of a formulation unit through a cash deal of Rs 10.22 crore. Owned by one of its partner firms, the unit is situated at Phase-1, SIDCO Industry Complex, IGC Samba, Jammu & Kashmir.

The Board of Directors of the company approved the proposal at its meeting held on November 10, 2021. The company has initiated and executed an agreement for the same and expects completion of this process by December 21, 2021, or such other date as may be mutually agreed between the parties.

The acquisition will be beneficial for the company in many ways and it will increase the company’s revenue by Rs 150 crore approximately. The unit will not only help the company to extend its geographical coverage to serve the farmers better but will also add formulation capacity of 8000 KL/MT per annum. This plant will be specifically dedicated to proprietary formulations like WG, SC, and EC. Above all, it has its state-of-art formulation Research & Development facility to support the development of new products niche formulations.

Previously, the promoters holding in the company increased by 3,21,000 equity shares. Due to this development, the promoter’s share capital in the company has now gone up by 1.36 per cent.

The acquisition will be beneficial for the

Agrotech, Finance

The global market is expected to garner $6,244.5 million by 2028

A new report on the global agriculture drones market by Research Dive states that the market is expected to garner $6,244.5 million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 19.2 per cent from 2021 to 2028. Growing demand for food supply, rising implementation of precision farming techniques, and increasing venture funding in making of drones are boosting the growth of the global agriculture drones market. Furthermore, a growing preference for enhanced data analytics to streamline agricultural processes in sustainable farming practices is projected to give rise to profitable opportunities for market growth during the forecast period. However, the dearth of standardization of communication interfaces and rules and regulations on flying commercial drones in residential areas is expected to hinder the market growth.

 

The abrupt rise of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the growth of the global agriculture drones industry. The pandemic has surged the need for agriculture drones as the demand for food supply has increased drastically amidst the pandemic. However, the closure of drone manufacturing companies and price drop in food prices is restricting farmers from adopting agricultural drones during the pandemic period, which is hampering the market growth to a certain extent.

 

The report segments the global agriculture drones market into type, technology, application, and region. Among type segments, the rotary sub-segment is expected to grab a major share of the market and garner $3,448.6 million during the forecast period. The crop spray sub-segment is projected to observe accelerated growth by garnering $748.1 million by 2028. Among the technology segment, the autonomous drones sub-segment is projected to observe rapid speedy growth by garnering $2,244.0 million by 2028. 

 

The report analyses the global agriculture drone market across several regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and LAMEA. Among these, the North American region market is expected to lead the global market by garnering a revenue of $2,172.4 million during the estimated timeframe.

 

The global market is expected to garner

Agrotech, Finance

The platform will utilise the latest capital infusion to strengthen its tech offerings for farmers and uStore partners and increase its uStore network

Unnati Agri, a fintech-driven agriculture service platform, has raised Rs 60 crore in a Series A funding round from Incofin Investment Management, NabVentures, and Orios. Unnati will utilise the fresh capital to augment its tech infrastructure and increase its uStore network.

 

Unnati is enhancing its technology platform by adding a wide range of new features to its farmer and retailer apps, including the introduction of AI-led features related to farm diagnostics, farming lifecycle management, supply chain management for partners etc. The company is investing heavily in AI and Machine Learning platforms for bringing the latest digital tools to farmers and uStore partners. 

 

As a part of its network augmentation, the platform is also looking at geographical expansion to Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and further expansion in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra. Unnati aims to create five million ‘farmpreneurs’ by enabling them with relevant digital tools to power their farming business. Unnati is planning to invest heavily in farmer-focused initiatives in future. The transaction has been supported by Sumeet Seraf of Equity360.

The platform will utilise the latest capital