Connect with:
Thursday / March 28. 2024
Home2022September (Page 6)

In a move aimed at boosting export of agricultural and food products from Ladakh, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry through its export promotion body APEDA is in process of handholding of Apricot value chain stakeholders to enhance export from Ladakh under the brand ‘Ladakh Apricot’.

It is expected that the initiatives of APEDA towards export promotion of Apricots and other agri-products would give a fillip to overall development of the region. The export promotion strategy of APEDA places major focus on canopy management of the apricot orchard/trees obtain a uniform and better-quality harvest of apricots. It would help in sustained marketing, product development, research and development (R&D), enhancement of traceability and brand promotion of apricot, which is one of the important fruit crops of Ladakh and is locally known as ‘Chuli’.

APEDA, in association with UT of Ladakh, is also facilitating towards development of export infrastructures such as setting up of integrated pack house facilities with grading lines, pre-cooling units with cold storages and insulated/refrigerated transportation up to packhouse/exit ports, common infrastructure facilities such as pre-shipment treatment facilities e.g. irradiation, Vapor Heat Treatment, Hot Water Dip Treatment for compliance with Phyto-Sanitary requirements of importing countries.

APEDA is also focusing on strengthening packaging for fresh apricots, transport protocol and Brand Promotion ‘Ladakh Apricots’ for better price realization of apricots of trans-Himalayan Ladakh, which are known for their better quality.

Work on obtaining GI tag for Ladakh apricot is also in process. Notably, bulk of the apricot produced in Ladakh is consumed locally and only a small quantity of it is sold in dried form.

Given that logistics support plays a key factor in export promotion of any product, APEDA is working towards the augmentation of logistics support apricots too through air on the lines of market linkage scheme – PARVAZ and by road to nearest international exit ports for streamlining the exports from the region.

In a move aimed at boosting export

Event will bring together the entire vertical farming and urban agriculture value chain under one roof – for two power-packed networking days.

Adopting tech-driven urban agriculture and vertical farming is critical where the world requires transition specially to deal with two major issues: climate change and food insecurity. India, although a developing country, is pacing fast with the incorporation of the modern style of agriculture.

The third edition of the Global Vertical Farming Show – GVF 2022, will be held on 29th and 30th November 2022 at Welcome hotel by ITC, New Delhi. After the successful conclusion of its previous edition in the UAE region, Global Vertical Farming Show – GVF 2022 is a trailblazing event which will bring together the entire vertical farming and urban agriculture value chain under one roof – for two power-packed networking days. It is an extremely exclusive event that aims to bring change and development to the region by bringing stakeholders from all over the world.

Vertical Farming service providers, Urban Agriculture firms, LED light providers, Government Bodies, Consultants, Ag-Tech, Agribusiness, Food, Logistics, Project Developers, Investors, Financial Institutions, and other essential industry stakeholders will be present at the show. AgroSpectrum is the media partner of Global Vertical Farming Show – GVF 2022.

To know more about the event and registration click on: https://verticalfarmingshow.com/registration.html

Event will bring together the entire vertical

Precision Agriculture and usage of technology has gained a lot of traction in the recent past. Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Former Director General, Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR said that this technology in the agriculture sector must gain pace as it would help twin causes of achieving reasonable growth and maintaining ecological balance at the same time.

Dr Mohapatra added, “To avoid ship to mouth syndrome of 1950-60s, it is paramount to enhance our agriculture production at a faster pace than growth in demand due to continuous rise in population. Usage of technology and precision agriculture practices would help us in enhancing production on one hand and maintaining ecological balance. Amid ever-increasing environmental concern, sustainable practices are the need of the hour and technology will play a key role in it.”

He also asked the Agrochemical Federation to work for awareness of the farmers to purchase the right and genuine agri inputs with GST bills and also how to use and when to use agrochemicals.

Precision Agriculture and usage of technology has

Aleph Farms, the first cultivated meat company to grow steaks directly from non-genetically engineered animal cells, has nnounced that it has been officially recognized by the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) as an Innovation Sprint Partner. As part of this innovation sprint, $40 million is being invested in cellular agriculture R&D over the next five years through Aleph Farms. 

It will introduce its products into global markets as soon as regulatory processes conclude and approvals are finalized. 

Cultivated meat is also far more efficient than cows at converting feed into meat. By requiring 95% less land, cultivated meat opens up new opportunities for land use, including producing more food and re-wilding habitats for biodiversity, the latter of which further reduces emissions.

“Enhancing food security via cellular agriculture empowers communities and fosters regional cooperation, spurring economic growth in the process. This is why we are especially proud to be allocating these R&D funds as an AIM for Climate Innovation Sprint Partner,” said Didier Toubia, co-founder and CEO of Aleph Farms. “With cellular agriculture, humanity is better equipped to overcome significant food-related challenges and bring agricultural systems back into balance.”

Aleph Farms, the first cultivated meat company to

Ravi Singh, head of wheat improvement and rust research at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), has received the V S Mathur Memorial Award 2022 for outstanding contribution in the field of wheat crop improvement from the Society for Advancement of Wheat and Barley Research (SAWBAR).

Singh received the award from T. R. Sharma, Deputy Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and G. P. Singh, Director of the Indian Institute for Wheat and Barley Research (IIWBR) at ICAR.

As recipient of the award, Singh delivered a lecture during the 61st All India Wheat and Barley Research Workers’ Meet in Gwalior, India, on August 29. He highlighted and praised the partnership between India and CIMMYT as essential for accelerating gains in wheat yield despite the stresses of climate change thanks to improved resilience in new varieties and earlier sowing.

“The ICAR-CIMMYT wheat improvement partnership remains crucial for delivering new varieties with higher rates of genetic gain in farmers’ fields to enhance productivity, climate resilience, disease resistance and nutrition while meeting market needs,” he said.

Successes of the partnership include integrated breeding with a common agenda, commercialized varieties that are adapted to flexible sowing dates including early sowing, diverse and durable resistance to rust diseases, adoption of wheat blast resistant varieties in large areas, biofortified and high-quality varieties, and the move towards mainstreaming of zinc (Zn) biofortification.

Singh also paid homage to the award’s namesake, as VS Mathur’s “wheat varieties once occupied fields of many millions of farmers and provided food and nutrition to many more millions throughout India and beyond”.

Ravi Singh, head of wheat improvement and

The Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) has requested various States like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana Rajasthan, Kerala to organise workshop/seminars on importance of consuming Fortified Rice in the sensitive areas of tribal belts and districts that have populations vulnerable to Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Anaemia.

This initiative has been carried out by organising workshops by the Government of Gujarat at Meril Academy.

Various people gave presentations which was followed by a Panel discussion by technical experts and officials from Food Corporation of India and Department of Food & Public Distribution. The programme is covered by several leading local newspapers in Gujarat. 

At the end of the workshop, there was general consensus regarding the positive impact of rice fortification in Government schemes and its significant contribution to the country’s nutritional security strategy.

The Department of Food and Public Distribution

Biome Makers, a global AgTech leader, announces a strategic partnership with DISAGRO®, the largest provider of agriculture solutions in Latin America, based in Guatemala. DISAGRO® is aligning itself with technology providers, like Biome Makers, to bring the latest innovative technology to market and help recover soil health.

This licensing agreement between DISAGRO® and Biome Makers will enable Biome Makers to expand its reach to 11 new Latin American markets, including Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Dominican Republic, and Belize, ensuring that the standard for soil health analysis, BeCrop®, is accessible and available to all stakeholders. 

BeCrop® technology is the first digital soil technology platform with the largest global database of 10M taxonomic references of soil microorganisms, delivering a functional crop-specific analysis of the soil microbiome. The technology decodes soil biology and provides user-friendly data-fueled insights about farmland’s underground bioactivity.

This agreement will elevate DISAGRO®’s reach in soil health and analytics with a new and improved wet lab, which will open in 2023. Positioning a physical lab in Latin America will provide quicker results and enable growers and advisors to make better agronomic decisions in the field.

“At DISAGRO®, we encourage innovation in agriculture by delivering the most cutting-edge technology in the world to our customers. That is why the alliance made with Biome Makers and the integration of BeCrop® technology to AgritecGEO® services reaffirm our commitment to improving conditions and information for optimizing resources, precise task execution, and greater knowledge of the crops,” states Estuardo Jara, DISAGRO Marketing Corporate Director.

Biological soil testing and analysis is a sustainable farming practice. DISAGRO® hopes to provide further insights for growers into adopting regenerative agricultural practices that positively impact soil health on the farm.

“Biome Makers is inspired by the work DISAGRO® does for the farming communities in Latin America. This partnership is a huge step to providing advanced biological soil analytics to growers in the region, empowering them to optimize inputs, saving time and money, and ultimately improving the health of their farmland, crop quality, and yield,” said Adrian Ferrero, CEO and Cofounder at Biome Makers.

Biome Makers, a global AgTech leader, announces

A series of pre-launch events and initiatives were organised recently by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on the MyGov platform to create awareness and a sense of participation in the country around the ancient and forgotten golden grains.

The MyGov platform has become a very important and successful medium for raising awareness through organisations of various competitions. The engagement on MyGov will play an important role in helping to make it a people’s movement. 

A series of pre-launch events and initiatives

ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal under the All India Network Programme on Organic Farming Centre, held a Mass awareness campaign on “Cow-Compost-Carbon and Climate under Theme: Organic/Natural Farming” as a commemoration of 75 years of India’s Independence.

The  aim of the Mass Awareness Campaign was to create awareness and  importance of cow and composting to enrich the soil with carbon, which links to mitigate climate change.

An interactive session with farmers was also held during the programme and more than 250 participants including farmers, scientists, students, extension workers, and other officials, participated in the virtual platform program.

ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal under

At the recently held Centre-State Science Conclave in Ahmedabad experts discussed plausible technological interventions for processing, product development, sustainability, and export orientation that could improve farmers’ income.

A need for adaptation of technologies like ICAR-FUSICONT technology for medium and high-density plantations to bridge the yield gap, increase productivity, and collaboration to expand the online market places is needed. 

The expert panellists at the agriculture session of the conclave organized by the Department of Science & Technology, deliberated on challenges and their plausible solutions for improving agricultural income. 

At the recently held Centre-State Science Conclave

For the first time in the country in the current season, experts at the Indian Merchants’ Chamber (IMC) webinar closely examined the progress of southwest monsoon, planted area and crop status. Forecast of the harvest size of major Kharif crops – covering rice, pulses, coarse cereals, oilseeds, cotton and sugarcane – was presented. The production of major crops is likely to be slightly below last year’s level and well below the season’s target set by the government. This was stated during a webinar organised by IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry in association with NCDEX IPFT. 

Looking at lower area coverage and lack of precipitation in key growing states in eastern India (UP, Bihar, Gangetic West Bengal, and Jharkhand) rice production is expected to decline from last year’s 111.8 million tonne to 100-102 million tonne in the current season. 

Pulses to fall to 8.4 million tonnes from 10.5million tonnes, Oilseeds to fall to 21.5 – 22.5 million tonnes from 23.9 million tonnes. 

Overall, the harvest size of major crops is set to be smaller than last year’s, except cotton. Which is in the target range of 335 to 345 lakh bales, the target was set for 370 lakh bales. 

For the first time in the country

Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat, who is also a deep-rooted researcher, has shared some of the Agritech innovations developed by him with Union Minister of State (IC) Ministry of Science and Technology; Minister of State (IC) Ministry of Earth Science; MoS of Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions Dr Jitendra Singh, at Raj Bhavan. 

Devvrat, who is a great votary of natural farming as a way to avoid the ill effects of chemicals used in conventional farming, said that he has launched a PhD programme in Natural Agriculture by Gujarat University at the Indian Institute of Sustainability (IIS), which will cover various aspects like rural management, environment management, innovation, Agri-entrepreneurship, Agribusiness and Value Chain Management.  He also endorses the idea of an integrated approach to promote Agri-tech Start-ups to make farming easy and more profitable. Dr Jitendra Singh also informed Acharya Devvrat the success of Purple Revolution in J&K is now being replicated in other hilly States with similar climatic conditions like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and in North-Eastern States as a pilot project

Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat, who is also

According to the provisional data released by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S), the overall export of agricultural and processed food products increased to USD 9598 million in April-July 2022 from USD 7397 million over the same period of the last fiscal. The exports of agricultural and processed food products rose by 30 percent in the first four months of the current Financial Year 2022-23 (April-July) in comparison to the corresponding period of FY 2021-22.

For the year 2022-23, an export target of USD 23.56 billion has been fixed for the agricultural and processed food products basket and an export of USD 9.59 billion has already been achieved in the first four months of the current fiscal. The initiatives taken by the Government have helped in achieving 40 per cent of the total export target for the year 2022-23 in the first four months of the current fiscal.

In 2021-22, agricultural and processed food products were exported to the tune of USD 25.6 billion, which was around 51 per cent of India’s total agricultural goods exports of more than USD 50 billion.

As per the DGCI&S provisional data, fresh fruits & vegetables registered four per cent growth, while processed fruits and vegetables recorded a significant growth of 51 percent (April-July, 2022) in comparison to corresponding months of the previous year. In April-July, 2021, fresh fruits and vegetables were exported to the tune of USD 498 million that increased to USD 517 million in the corresponding months of the current fiscal. Exports of processed F&V jumped to USD 665 million in four months of the current fiscal from USD 441million in the corresponding months of the previous year.

Basmati Rice exports witnessed a growth of 29.13 percent in the first four months of FY 2022-23 as its export increased from USD 1214 million (April-July 2021) to USD 1567 million (April-July 2022), while the export of non-Basmati rice registered a growth of 9.24 per cent in first four months of current fiscal. Non-basmati rice export increased to USD 2086 million in the first four months of the current fiscal from USD 1910 million in the corresponding months of the previous year.

The export of meat, dairy & poultry products increased by 11.69 per cent and the export of other cereals recorded a growth of 22.26 percent in four months of the current fiscal. The dairy products alone recorded a growth of 61.91 percent as its export rose to USD 247 million in the first four months of the current fiscal from USD 153 million in corresponding months of the previous year.

Other cereals’ export increased from USD334 million in April-July 2021to USD 408 million in April-July 2022 and the export of livestock products increased from USD 1279 million in April-July 2021 to USD 1428 million in April-July 2022.

As per the DGCI&S data, the country’s agricultural products exports had grown by 19.92 per cent during 2021-22 to touch USD 50.21 billion. The growth rate is significant as it is over and above the growth of 17.66 per cent at USD 41.87 billion achieved in 2020-21 and has been achieved in spite of unprecedented logistical challenges in the form of high freight rates and container shortages, etc.

According to the provisional data released by

To promote the consumption of Millets and in view of their health benefits, the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) has directed all its offices to introduce and promote millets in their canteens and for meetings. This is a welcome initiative to encourage consumption of millets due to its health benefit. Millets may be included as one of the snacks/Biscuit made up of millets (having main raw material as millet) such as Ragi Biscuits/Cookies/ladoos and baked millet chips etc. as snacks to be serve in the meetings. Millet/Ragi Dosa, Millet mix vada, Millet mix Puri and Idli /ragi ladoo etc with Millet as the main raw material have been recommended to be used in the Canteens and as much as possible, locally available millet-based products should be used.

To promote the consumption of Millets and in