Connect with:
Monday / March 10. 2025

logo
mobile-logo
Home2021 (Page 15)
Environment, Interaction, Sustainable Energy

The programme includes six courses and will be held across New York, Austin and London

Diligent Corporation, the global leader in SaaS governance, risk and compliance (GRC) has announced the launch of Diligent Climate Leadership, the first phase in the Diligent ESG Leadership Certification programme. The programme has been designed to help corporate directors and C-level executives be better equipped to oversee climate risk and strategy for their companies.

Created in collaboration with industry experts, the programme is available as a self-paced e-learning experience. The programme includes six courses with video panel sessions featuring subject matter and industry experts, curated readings, interactive exercises, and online networking among participants. Glass Lewis, long-time partners with Diligent, is collaborating on the curriculum and course design.

The courses can be completed in six weeks, and participants have up to six months to complete all coursework. Events will take place across New York, Austin and London.

The programme is restricted to current board members and C-suite level executives and starts February 1, 2022. The deadline to sign up for the first cohort is January 14, 2022. The registration fee is $3,500 per person.

The programme includes six courses and will

Agro Universities, AgroPolicy, Sustainable Energy, Water

Urges farmers to practice integrated farming to ensure water conservation

Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare virtual inaugurated the administrative building of ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Patna, Bihar from Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.

 

Tomar urged to link the small and marginal farmers with the Farmers’ Producers’ Organizations (FPOs) for the betterment and empowerment of the farming community. He also encouraged the farmers to practice integrated farming to ensure water conservation. He also accentuated the need to attract more youths to adopt agricultural and farming practices.

 

Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR) stated that the role of ICAR-ATARI, Patna is to disseminate and strengthen the agricultural technological support to the KVKs of Bihar and Jharkhand.

 

Delivering the welcome address, Dr Randhir Singh, ADG (Agricultural Extension), ICAR highlighted the pivotal roles played by the Council in apprising the small and marginal farmers about the various employment opportunities in fisheries, honeybee farming, etc. He also accentuated the ICAR and its KVKs’ efforts for the promotion of Singhara and Makhana Cultivation in Bihar.

 

Dr Anjani Kumar, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Patna proposed the vote of thanks.

Urges farmers to practice integrated farming to

Agro chems – Fertilizers, AgroPolicy

The minister informed about the fertiliser dashboard that has been operational for the past about two months, and the Control Room which has been working 24*7 for effective coordination

Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizer Dr Mansukh Mandaviya virtually reviewed the status of fertiliser availability across the country with state agriculture ministers. Agriculture ministers from 18 states participated in the review meeting.

Noting that management of fertiliser requirements of the farmers and agriculture sector was the collective responsibility of the Centre and states, Dr Mandaviya expressed gratitude towards the states for collaborative efforts during the past few months to tide over the enhanced demand from farmers for DAP. There has been seamless coordination between the Union Chemicals and Fertilizer Ministry and the states as a result of collective efforts, he added.

He informed the state ministers of the fertiliser dashboard that has been operational for the past about two months, and the Control Room which has been working 24*7 for effective coordination between states and the Centre for ensuring adequate fertiliser availability in various districts. He urged the states to monitor requirement/supply daily on the ‘Fertilizer Dashboard’ for more effective and productive fertiliser management.

The Union Minister stated that it is important for the states to aggressively prevent any diversion of urea to industry (such as veneer, plywood etc.) to ensure adequate availability for the agriculture sector. He informed that as a result of aggressive and effective monitoring by the state administration, the movement of fertiliser across the borders from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar has been prevented.

“Let us also explore options and promote the use of alternative fertilisers such as nano urea and organic fertiliser which protect the soil and are more productive; less amount of nano urea will be used contrary to the quantity used at present and contribute to higher nutrient use efficiency,” said Dr Mandaviya.

IFFCO has started production of nano urea and the work on nano DAP is ongoing, the Union Minister informed.

The minister informed about the fertiliser dashboard

AgroPolicy, Sustainable Energy

The cow-dung based units will be a role model for sustainable employment

The unique Khadi Prakritik Paint developed by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) using cow dung as raw material has been adopted by the state governments of Chhattisgarh and Haryana as a model of sustainable employment. A total of 31 Prakritik Paint manufacturing units – 25 in Chhattisgarh and six in Haryana – will be set up by the respective state governments soon, for which technology transfer agreements have been signed with KVIC. Chhattisgarh government signed the MoU with KVIC recently in presence of the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel. 

 

The first Prakritik Paint unit in Haryana has been set up at Pinjore near Chandigarh where over 6000 litres of Prakritik Paint has already been produced. Another five paint manufacturing units will be set up by March 2022. The Chhattisgarh government, in addition to the 25 paint manufacturing units, will also set up 75 units for manufacturing Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC), which is a major component of the Prakritik Paint. 

 

These new paint manufacturing units will have a capacity of producing 500 litres of paint every day. The 31 new Prakritik Paint units in the two states will produce approx. 50 lakh litres of paint annually while creating nearly 500 direct employments supporting several other allied sectors. KVIC’s Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute (KNHPI), Jaipur, which has developed the Prakritik Paint, will provide training to the skilled workers from these states in making the cow dung paint. 

 

KVIC Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena said Khadi Prakritik Paint is an effective model of sustainable employment and that Chhattisgarh and Haryana will set examples for other states to set up cow dung-based Prakritik Paint units. 

 

“Khadi Prakritik Paint is an eco-friendly and cost-effective product with great potential of creating sustainable employment and increasing the income of farmers. The prime objective of developing cow-dung paint is employment generation which is the basic premise of Khadi. The cow dung purchased from farmers and cow sheds for manufacturing of Prakritik Paint will create additional income of nearly Rs 30,000 per animal per year,” Saxena said. 

The cow-dung based units will be a

AgroPolicy, Animal Health, Dairy

The stakeholder workshop addressed the revision of the National Action Plan for 2022-2025

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, organised a National Stakeholder workshop on the National Action Plan to combat Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR).

 

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week is held every year from November 18-24. The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, with support from Food and Agriculture Organization, plans to review and revise the NAP for 2022 to 2025 for the livestock sector. The stakeholder workshop addressed the revision of the National Action Plan for 2022-2025 with a special focus on Anti-Microbial Resistance activities implementable through the animal husbandry sector.

 

The inauguration session of the workshop was addressed by Parshottam Rupala, Minister, Fisheries Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Dr Loganathan Murugan, Minister of State of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Atul Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Upamanyu Basu, Joint Secretary, (Livestock Health), TomioShichiri, FAO Country Representative, India, Dr Hirofumi Kugita, OIE, Regional Representative, Japan, JatindraNath Swain, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, and Dr Praveen Malik, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Govt of India. The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying shared concerns of AMR in aquatic animals as well as livestock and committed towards effective implementation of the One Health framework.

 

The technical sessions witnessed discussion on improving awareness and understanding of AMR through effective communication, education, and training, strengthening knowledge and evidence through surveillance, reducing the incidence of infection through effective infection prevention and control, optimising the use of antimicrobial agents in health, animals, and food, promoting investments for AMR activities, research, and innovations, and strengthening India’s leadership on AMR. The workshop saw the participation of experts from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Indian Council of Agriculture Research, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, National Centre for Disease Control, World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, World Organisation for Animal Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, World Bank, Poultry Associations, International Livestock Research Institute, State Animal Husbandry Departments, Veterinary Universities, Central disease Diagnostic Laboratories, among others. A special issue of the Indian Journal of Comparative Microbiology Immunology and Infectious diseases focused on AMR was released at the workshop. 

 

The stakeholder workshop addressed the revision of

Agro Universities, Foodgrains

In this Sali season IRRI under APART provided 60 kg of Manipuri black rice, 30 kg of Kalamalifula and 22 kg of Kalavati amongst few selected farmers of Goalpara district in Assam. 

 

 IRRI(International Rice Research Institute) in collaboration with Government of Assam under the World Bank funded Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation project (APART) has started its production by introducing new black rice varieties from different States of India. In this Sali season IRRI under APART provided 60 kg of Manipuri black rice, 30 kg of Kalamalifula and 22 kg of Kalavati amongst few selected farmers of Goalpara district in Assam.  The Manipuri black rice variety is introduced from Manipur whereas other two black rice varieties namely Kalamalifula and Kalavati were introduced from Odisha.

The seeds of these varieties were sown on a total area of 17.6 bighas of land comprising of Manipuri black rice in 10 bigha, Kalavati in 3.6 bigha and Kalamalifula in 4.0 bigha. The crop is expected to be harvested within next one week.

These demonstrations are aimed to link the farmers with the buyers for higher returns and to make available of good quality seed for future use. With the current demand of the black rice segment in the markets due to its high nutritional value and health benefits, IRRI under APART aims at increasing areas under black rice production in coming days.

“IRRI has also introduced the crop cafeteria of the premium quality rice (PQR) varieties along with the indigenous rice varieties for comparative analysis, evaluation and selection. The purpose of crop cafeteria is to provide an opportunity to the farmers and extension functionaries to select the best performing varieties of their preference for further adoption on their fields,” told Dr. Kanwar Singh, Resident Coordinator & Senior Associate Scientist-II, IRRI.

In this Sali season IRRI under APART

Agro Universities

A total of 16 agriculture, horticulture and soil conservation officers; scientists from PAU and its Krishi Vigyan Kendras attended the course

The Skill Development Centre, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), organised a two-day online training course on Precision Technologies for Fruits and Vegetables for In-service candidates. A total of 16 agriculture, horticulture and soil conservation officers; scientists from PAU and its Krishi Vigyan Kendras attended the course.
 
Dr Kuldeep Singh, Associate Director (Skill Development), informed that the course was designed to provide information to increase environmental performance while improving yields and reducing inputs and costs.
 
Dr Kiran Grover, Principal Extension Scientist (Food & Nutrition) and Course Coordinator divulged the course details and highlighted that implementing agricultural innovations is a key for coping strategies in the context of climate change and food security.
 
Dr Mahesh Kumar Narang Principal Extension Scientist-cum-Head (Farm Machinery & Power Engineering) and Technical Coordinator observed that precision farming is information and technology-based agricultural management system that help the farmers to optimise resources and inputs to increase profitability.
 
Dr Nilesh Biwalkar Senior Scientist, Department of Soil & Water Engineering explained the micro-irrigation methods to save water in agriculture and boost crop yield.

A total of 16 agriculture, horticulture and

Dairy, Supply Chain, Sustainable Energy

The company has a diverse product portfolio spanning multiple product categories including chilled milk, UHT milk, yoghurt products and plant-based milk

Farm Fresh Berhad has been recognised as one of Asia’s Best Performing Companies, at the Asia Corporate Excellence & Sustainability Awards 2021, organised by MORS Group. Farm Fresh is Malaysia’s leading integrated and home-grown dairy company in a strong and fast-growing Malaysian dairy market. The company places great importance on sustainable and humane farming in its upstream dairy operations, coupled with fresh, pure and natural dairy ingredients with no usage of preservatives and colourings in its production process, whilst delivering innovative dairy products to its customers via a multi-channel distribution strategy which includes its successful and socially impactful home dealer network. 

 

The company has a diverse product portfolio spanning multiple product categories including chilled milk, UHT milk, yoghurt products and plant-based milk. Farm Fresh has been at the forefront of innovation and has pioneered the introduction of new products such as Kurma (palm date) milk, which has been met with unprecedented demand. It is also the first local company to introduce Kurma (dates) milk, lactose-free milk, A2-protein organic milk and has recently launched its banana milk.

 

The company aims to create shared wealth and value in its business activities and the communities within which it operates. Their farms in Malaysia are the first in Asia to receive the Certified Humane Raised and Handled certification, which means that the dairy products that come from their farm meet the precise, objective standards for the humane treatment of farm animals. Farm Fresh believes that the best fresh milk comes from happy cows.

 

Farm Fresh has also created a positive community impact in the upstream and downstream segments of the dairy industry. The company has improved the livelihood of local farmers by paying fair prices for their milk, ending decades of mistreatment of local dairy farmers who were underpaid for their milk, and has also transformed the lives of more than 2,500 families across Malaysia, by engaging them as micro-entrepreneurs through the home dealership programme.

 

“The ACES award means greatly to us as the internationally recognised award is testament to the high standards that we have set for ourselves in terms of being a successful business both financially as well being a leader in promoting sustainable business practices. This award will further motivate us to do what’s right and positive for our staff, community and environment,” Loi Tuan Ee further added.

The company has a diverse product portfolio

Agro chems – Fertilizers, Agro chems – Pesticides, China, Environment

The advanced facility currently produces Acephate, a wide-spectrum, low toxicity insecticide

ADAMA has commenced operations at its new manufacturing site in Jingzhou, Hubei Province, following a comprehensive three-year relocation and upgrade process, bringing the site to global best-in-class safety and environmental standards.

The new, purpose-built site, in an approved industrial zone, is a key component in ADAMA’s global manufacturing layout and is expected to deliver significant operational efficiencies and cost reductions.

The advanced facility currently produces Acephate, a wide-spectrum, low toxicity insecticide, and its intermediate DMPAT, securing ADAMA’s leading global position in this key molecule. While the new site has only recently resumed production, the company expects output levels to gradually ramp up over the coming months. The transformed new site is also designed to accommodate additional new molecules emerging from the Company’s strong development pipeline.

The new, advanced site includes a state-of-the-art wastewater facility, a thermal oxidation system for the elimination of emissions and odours, and is designed to meet the highest international HSE standards.

The advanced facility currently produces Acephate, a

Agrotech, Sustainable Energy

The brand was recognised for its stellar contribution towards sustainable agriculture practices

Organic India, a leading multinational organic product manufacturing company, was bestowed the Outstanding Sustainable Farmer Income Enhancement (Mid Corporates) Award at Agri Summit & Awards organised by FICCI on November 18, 2021.
 
Based on the theme, Envisioning Smart and Sustainable Agriculture, the summit brought policymakers and value chain players on a common platform to deliberate practical and scalable strategies for smart and sustainable agriculture. The distinguished participants discussed and recommended practical pathways for the promotion and adoption of best practices for sustainable agriculture on a large scale and to generate awareness of existing solutions available for pursuing smart agriculture.

Dr Ashok Dalwai, CEO, NRAA, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt of India handed over the award to Balram Singh, Chief Operating Officer, Organic India, for the brand’s outstanding contribution towards the development of sustainable agriculture practices that have contributed to an increase in farmers’ income.

Singh said, “Organic India is committed to improving the livelihood of small and marginal farmers of India as per our ethos of inspiring, promoting and supporting true wellness and respect for all beings and Mother Nature. Our focus has always been on doing business sustainably and establishing an ecologically sustainable model. Our growth is aided by the progressive policies of the government that are empowering the entire industry. Therefore, this recognition gives a huge boost to our confidence.”
 

The brand was recognised for its stellar

Agro chems – Fertilizers, Agrotech

Mahadhan Croptek’s single granule provides essential nutrients of an NPK fertilizer with Zn, B, Mg, S and micronutrients

Smartchem Technologies Limited (STL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deepak Fertilisers And Petrochemicals Corporation Limited (DFPCL), announced the formal launch of its innovative fertiliser – ‘CROPTEK’ for onion growers under its flagship brand Mahadhan. STL is one of India’s leading manufacturers of Nitro-Phosphate Fertiliser and Bentonite Sulphur and the market leader in the water-soluble and speciality fertiliser category. 

 

‘Mahadhan Croptek’ is the foremost brand for onion progressive farmers who use secondary nutrients and micronutrients in Maharashtra and Karnataka. It is the first and unique crop-specific crop nutrition solution having essential primary, secondary and micronutrients required by the onion crop. 

 

‘Mahadhan Croptek’ means ‘Crop Technology’ and refers to the innovative ‘single granule complete solution’ technology being introduced by Mahadhan in India with Mahadhan’s Nutrient Unlock Technology which unlocks nutrients from single granules of Mahadhan Croptek and improves their uptake into the Onion Crop. Mahadhan Croptek is thus a Giant Leap in Crop Nutrition Technology in India.

 

The idea was conceptualized about five years back followed by a series of trials across various locations. The product was extensively tested in the fields of more than 450 farmers for over three cropping seasons since 2019. 

 

Over 150 dealers, 50 progressive onion farmers from key onion growing districts witnessed the ‘Mahadhan Croptek’ launch. 

Mahadhan Croptek’s single granule provides essential nutrients

Agro Universities, Agrotech, R&D

Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR) underlined the advantages of precision farming in improving the crop yield by 30 per cent, cost reduction by 40 per cent and risk reduction by 70 per cent

Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR) inaugurated the First Steering Committee Meeting of ’ICAR-Network Programme on Precision Agriculture (NePPA)’ organised by the ICAR-Indian Institute of Water Management, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

 

In his inaugural address, Dr Mohapatra appreciated the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi and other Partner Institutes’ initiatives in bringing the NePPA to the present shape. The Director-General accentuated the combined efforts of multi-disciplinary investigators for successfully fulfilling the NePPA’s objectives which would cater to the farming community’s needs for ensuring food security.

 

Dr Mohapatra underlined the advantages of precision farming in improving the crop yield by 30 per cent, cost reduction by 40 per cent and risk reduction by 70 per cent. The need for reducing the yield gap of crops through the practice of innovative techniques of precision farming was also emphasised by the DG.

 

The Director-General released the ICAR-IIWM various publications during the occasion.

 

In his address, Dr Suresh Kumar Chaudhari, Deputy Director General (Natural Resource Management & Agricultural Engineering), ICAR & Chairman, Steering Committee stressed the need for innovative methods of precision farming for enhancing the water and nutrient use efficiency, thereby, enhancing the crop yields.

 

Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr Atmaram Mishra, Director, ICAR-IIWM, Bhubaneswar, Odisha outlined the main objectives of the Meeting. The senior officials of ICAR and its Institutes also participated in the Meeting.

 

About 60 participants including the Delegates from ICAR-NRRI, ICAR-CIFA, ICAR-CIWA, ICAR-FMD, ICAR-IIHR-CHES, ICAR-CTCRI, ICAR-DPR, ICAR-IIPR and Principal Investigators of NePPA from 15 ICAR Institutes participated in the meeting.

Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & Director

AgroPolicy, Supply Chain, Trade

The overall export of APEDA products increased from $10,157 million in April-October 2020 to $11,651 million in April-October 2021.

In a major boost to export prospects of agricultural produce, India has registered a significant surge in export of agricultural and processed food products in the April-October period of the current Financial Year, 2021-22, in comparison to the corresponding seven-month period of last fiscal, 2020-21.

According to the Quick Estimates released by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S), the overall export of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) products witnessed 14.7 per cent growth in terms of USD during April-October 2021 over the same period of the previous year.

The overall export of APEDA products increased from $10,157 million in April-October 2020 to $11,651 million in April-October 2021.

This rise in exports has been achieved notwithstanding COVID-19 restrictions. The significant rise in agri-exports is seen as a testimony of the government’s commitment to increase farmers’ income through giving thrust on boosting exports of agricultural and processed food products of the country.

The significant jump in exports of agricultural and processed food products during the first seven months of the current fiscal is in continuation of growth in exports witnessed in the financial year 2020-21.
The export of rice, which recorded a positive growth of 10.5 per cent, increased from $4777.35 million in April-October 2020 to $5278.95 million in April-October 2021.

The export of other cereals increased from $274.98 million in April-October 2020 to $509.77 million in April-October 2021 and the export of meat, dairy and poultry products increased from $1978.6 million in April-October 2020 to $2286.32 million in April-October 2021.

“We continue to focus on creating infrastructure for exports from eastern, north-eastern regions and hilly states, where infrastructure was earlier not adequate,” said Dr M Angamuthu, Chairman, APEDA.

The overall export of APEDA products increased

Agrotech, Finance

The company has reported a total income of Rs 1381.9 crores

AgriScience company PI Industries has posted a net profit / (loss) of Rs 229.6 crores for the period ended September 30, 2021, as against net profit / (loss) of Rs. 187.2 crores for the period ended June 30, 2021. It posted a net profit of Rs.217.6 crores for the period ended September 30, 2020.

 

The company has reported a total income of Rs 1381.9 crores during the period ended September 30, 2021, as compared to Rs 1221.5 crores during the period ended June 30, 2021. It reported a total income of Rs 1191.3 crores during the period ended September 30, 2020.

 

It has reported a total income of Rs 2603.4 crores during the half-year ended September 30, 2021, as compared to Rs 2259.6 crores during the half-year ended September 30, 2020.

 

The company has posted a net profit of Rs 416.8 crores for the half-year ended September 30, 2021, as against a net profit of Rs 363.1 crores for the half-year ended September 30, 2020.

 

The company has reported a total income