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Allied Industry, Bamboo industry, Country, India, Interaction, Sustainability

To develop multipurpose products at low cost from bamboo lab should be set up in the state.

“Bamboo farmers will become richer than sugarcane farmers, when bamboo will be used in different products. Bamboo crop can be a cash crop in Maharashtra, said Sudhir Munguntiwar, Forest Minister of Maharashtra in a Bamboo conference organized at the 13th Agrovision exhibition. Nitin Gadkari Union minister Road Transport and Highways, Pasha Patel; Farmer leader, Sharad Gadakh Vice Chancellor of Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Agriculture University, Ravi Boratkar, Organising Secretary of Agrovision and Publisher of AgroSpectrum magazine, C.D. Mayee, Chairman, Advisory committee Agrovision and other delegates were present at the conference. 

Munguntiwar said,” There is a proposal for diesel production from bamboo in the pipeline. If we become successful in using bamboo as a wood, there will be less tree cutting. There is a need of setting up bamboo lab in Maharashtra state to develop multipurpose products at low cost from bamboo. The State Government of Maharashtra has set up Bamboo Research and Training Centre in Chandrapur. This year Bamboo Centre has made rakhis from bamboo and those rakhis were sent to London worth rupees 10 thousand.  State Government also plans to plant bamboo trees alongside Nalha in the Manarega scheme. The Ministry of Forest has planted more than four thousand bamboo trees in the state.

“Bamboo economy can be developed in India like China; China has Rs 50 lakh crores of the bamboo economy. Bamboo can be cultivated on wasteland”, said Nitin Gadkari. In one acre of land 200 tonnes of bamboo can be produced in two years of cultivation. Now ethanol production from bamboo is also possible we should increase bamboo plantations in the state which can create more jobs in the agriculture sector, he added.

Prof. Charu Chandra Korde from IIT Mumbai, Ashis Gharai, architecture Lalit Davate gave presentations on different use of bamboo.

To develop multipurpose products at low cost

Acquaculture, AgroPolicy, Cold Storage, Environment, India, Interaction, Sustainability

India should develop fishing boats that can operate on methanol, ethanol, and electricity.

“The blue economy is the future and India’s blue economy should reach up to 60 lakh crores”, said Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister Road Transport and Highways in a conference on ‘Development of fisheries in Vidarbha region’ organised at the 13th Agrovision annual agricultural exhibition in Nagpur. Atul Patane, Secretory of Fisheries Department of Maharashtra, Dr Ashish Paturkar, Vice-chancellor Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Sunil Mendhe, Member of Parliament, President of Agro Vision Foundation, Organising Secretary of Agrovision and Publisher of AgroSpectrum Ravi Boratkar, Dr C.D. Mayee, Chairman, Advisory committee and other delegates were present for this conference.  

Gadkari emphasised the policy regarding ethanol and methanol-fuelled and electric fishing boats. India should develop fishing boats that can operate on methanol, ethanol and electricity. The use of these boats can help in reducing expenses and pollution. Like food-producing companies fish producing companies must be established in Vidarbha. The fishing economy of Vidarbha should grow wealthy and increase up to 50,000 crores rupees said Gadkari. He also gave instructions to the fisheries department to develop an aquarium of the international level in Nagpur.   

Secretory of the Fisheries Department of Maharashtra, Atul Patane said, “Fish tank management and commercial aquarium courses should start in Maharashtra which is having huge job potential. Fish farming in Vidarbha has a large potential. If the Government of Maharashtra creates basic infrastructure for fish farming in Vidarbha, it will grow at a large scale”.

Dr Ashish Paturkar, Vice-chancellor Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University said that like the marine water fishing act, the government must make a freshwater fishing act. Due to the lack of the freshwater fishing act lot of farmers are farming the banned fish which causes environmental harm. Maharashtra also should get processing and cold storage units for fisheries.       

India should develop fishing boats that can

AgroPolicy, Agrotech, Interaction

In the four days agriculture exhibition cum event around 450 stalls have been set up and a wide range of workshops on various current topics in agriculture will be held with the main conference.

Shivraj Chauhan, Chief Minister Madhya Pradesh (MP) state, chief guest of 13th Agrovision inaugurated central India’s largest agricultural event 13th Agrovision on Friday at PDKV ground Dabha in Nagpur. In the four days of Agro exhibitions around 450 stalls have been set up and a wide range of workshops on various current topics in agriculture will be held with the main conference. The theme of 13th Agrovision ‘Future Farming- Food, Fodder and Fuel’ is showcased through different stalls of latest agri-technology and special pavilions.

The event was graced by the dignitaries Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister Road Transport and Highways, Dr Sharad Gadakh, Vice Chancellor, Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth Nagpur, Ravi Boratkar, Organizing Secretory Agrovision, Dr C D Mayee Chairman, Advisory Board Agrovision, Devendra Parekh, President Vidarbha Economic Development Council, Dr Ashutosh Paturkar Vice Chancellor, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University Nagpur and Ramesh Mankar, Organising Secretory Agrovision.

Chauhan applauded the Agrovision for educating and empowering farmers through interactive workshops and conferences.

Chauhan informed the audience that MP government has implemented 5 key points strategy for the growth of agriculture sector in Madhya Pradesh. The key strategy includes:

1.Increasing production

 2. Reducing production cost

3. Providing better prices for agri produce

 4. Providing compensation to farmers for any natural calamity

 5. Use of latest agri- technology for farming.

He informed that MP has highest production of 1 crore 39 lakh metric tonnes wheat in 2021 which is the impact of 5 key points strategy. In order to reduce the financial burden of farmers, MP government has provided 0 per cent interest loan facility for farmers. In addition to this, MP government has also provided compensation of Rs 30,000 per hectare to the farmers who have lost more than 50 per cent of their production due to natural calamity.

Chauhan also added that MP government has started the use of remote sensing technology to measure the loss of farmlands due to natural calamities to provide appropriate compensation to farmers. We have increased the irrigated land from 7.5 lakh hectares to 45 lakh hectares till 2022 by using modern farming methods. We have set target of bringing 65 lakh hectares land under rogation by 2026.

New partnership models

While commenting on the new age farming, Chauhan said that we have encouraged partnerships between farmers, private companies and state government for increasing profitability of farmers. In recent ITC company signed contract with farmers in MP for the cultivation of medicinal plants such as Tulsi and Ashwagandha on 5,000-hectare land. Such type of partnership can provide good renumeration to farmers.

“Madhya Pradesh government is also helping farmers and private companies for providing essential facilities for agri-food processing, branding and marketing. We are constantly analysing the market scenario about demand and supply of agri produce and guiding the farmers for the cultivation of food crops and other crops”, Chauhan said.

We have increased the agriculture growth rate from 4 per cent to 22.7 in last few years by using innovative technologies in agriculture and providing financial support to farmers, he added.

In the four days agriculture exhibition cum

Agro Universities, AgroPolicy, Agrotech, Environment, India, Interaction, Nature, Organic, Sustainability

With the help of Agrovision, a permanent market will be developed for organic farm products at the Convention Centre.

India’s first International Convention centre for Agriculture in the name of former Agricultural Minister Dr Punjabrao Deshmukh will be set up at the Grounds of Punjabrao Deshmukh Agricultural University in Nagpur. A proposal of 150 corers rupees has been sent to the Union Agriculture Ministry. Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister Road Transport and Highways announced this on Friday in Nagpur. He was speaking at the inaugural function of the ‘13th Agrovision’ central India’s largest agricultural exhibition in Nagpur. Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chauhan was the chief guest of the function. In the four days of Agro exhibitions around 450 stalls have been set up and a wide range of workshops on various topics will be held with the main conference. The theme of this year’s Agro Vision is ‘Food Fodder and Fuel’- Agriculture of the future.

Gadkari said, “Farmers from Vidarbha will get all the information about the training of the agriculture sector, at the convention center and farmers can take benefit of this and can increase their income. With the help of Agro Vision, a permanent market will be developed for organic farm products.”  He added.

Indian oil has launched two plants in Panipat one is producing ethanol and the other is a bio-bitumen plant from rice straw. The production capacity of the ethanol plant is 1 lakh liter and 150 tonnes of bio-bitumen per day. If India began producing 80 lakhs tonnes of bio bitumen from rice straw, there is no need to import bio bitumen.

Gadkari added this is a big change in northern India specifically Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh where the burning of rice straw causes pollution. Now instead of burning, rice straw will be used to produce ethanol and bio bitumen. The roadways department requires bio-bitumen, around 50 lakh tonnes of bitumen is manufactured in India, and we import 25 lakh tonnes of bitumen. Indian Oil setting up one more plant of bioethanol in Assam. Ethanol can be produced from bamboo, and farmers will become energy providers and will not remain food providers.   

Gadkari also informed that all vehicles belonging to the Indian Government which has completed 15 years will be scrapped, and a policy regarding this has been sent to the states. All states should apply the policy.

President of Agro Vision Foundation, Organising Secretary of Agro Vision and Publisher of Agro Spectrum Ravi Boratkar said, for the last 13 years Agro Vision exhibitions have been organised to educate and train farmers. Various workshops have been conducted during the four days of the Agro Vision exhibition. Farmers are being educated on Modern technology in farming, vertical farming, organic farming, poultry, and sericulture at Agro Vision.

Member of Parliament Krupal Tumani, MLA Samir Meghe, Pankaj Bhoir, Vice Chancellor of Punjabrao Deshmukh Agricultural University Dr Sharad Gadakh, SGM of State Bank of India Shantanu Pendasy, Shantanu Gupta from IOCL, Gitish Gandhi, C.D. Mayee and other delegates were present at the occasion.

With the help of Agrovision, a permanent

North America

Investment to support and encourage families and individuals to eat more healthfully

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announces an investment of $59.4 million to support the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Programme’s (GusNIP) Produce Prescription and Nutrition Incentive programmes designed to encourage families and individuals to eat more healthfully by increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

GusNIP programmes strive to improve dietary health through increased consumption of fresh produce, improve individual and household food security, and reduce health care use and associated costs. GusNIP Nutrition Incentive programmes provide incentives at the point of purchase among income-eligible consumers participating in USDA’s SNAP and income-eligible consumers participating in other USDA nutrition assistance programs. 

“Since its creation in 2019, GusNIP projects have increased access to healthy foods, and this investment serves to ensure that even more consumers can provide fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables for their families,” said Dr. Dionne Toombs, Acting Director of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

“In fact, as a result of additional funding provided through the American Rescue Plan Act, NIFA is expanding our reach to many first-time program applicants from underrepresented communities nationwide,” he adds.

Investment to support and encourage families and

World

Study provides critical information about key genes and processes controlling root branching in response to limited water availability, 

Plant scientists from the University of Nottingham have discovered a novel water sensing mechanism that they have called ‘Hydro-Signalling’, which shows how hormone movement is linked with water fluxes.

Researchers have discovered how plant roots adapt their shape to maximise their uptake of water, pausing branching when they lose contact with water and only resuming once they reconnect with moisture, ensuring they can survive even in the driest conditions. Using X-ray micro-CT imaging researchers were able to reveal that roots alter their shape in response to external moisture availability by linking the movement of water with plant hormone signals that control root branching.

The study provides critical information about the key genes and processes controlling root branching in response to limited water availability, helping scientists design novel approaches to manipulate root architecture to enhance water capture and yield in crops.

Dr Poonam Mehra, postdoctoral fellow, from the School of Biosciences explains: “When roots are in contact with moisture, a key hormone signal (auxin) moves inwards with water, triggering new root branches. However, when roots lose contact with moisture, they rely on internal water sources that mobilises another hormone signal (ABA) outwards, which acts to block the inwards movement of the branching signal. This simple, yet elegant mechanism enables plant roots to fine tune their shape to local conditions and optimise foraging.”

Study provides critical information about key genes

Agro chems – Pesticides, White paper, World

Regulatory reform to provide guidance to the UK’s Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

The World BioProtection Forum (WBF) has launched its much-anticipated white paper this week, providing an authoritative compilation of global expert recommendations on regulatory reform that will provide guidance to the UK’s DEFRA as they revise biopesticide regulations in line with the drive for better regulation, nurturing green technologies and overhauling the UK regulatory environment through the government’s Brexit Freedom Bill.

The white paper, which is entirely based on the knowledge, views and opinions of international experts comprising the WBF Biopesticides Reform Working Group, provides a comprehensive compilation of expert advice and recommendations for regulatory reform. The white paper was written for the UK’s Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), which will be considering the content as they pursue the objective of improving biopesticide regulations and the UK government’s Brexit Freedom Bill goal to develop new laws and regulations that best fit the needs of the UK, by the end of 2023.

“Sustainable agriculture is going to have to be a part of solving the climate crisis we are facing,” said Dr Minshad Ansari, Chairman of the WBF. “But lengthy, complicated, and often unsuitable regulatory requirements for new sustainable solutions have created big obstacles – blocking or delaying the availability of new biocontrol products for many years. Our hope is that, by supporting DEFRA, we will finally be able to achieve a sensible risk assessment process that nurtures our sector and allows innovation to flourish. Our greatest hope is that other countries and regions will also consider DEFRA’s great work as a basis for further reforms.”

Dr Sarah Harding, Communications Advisor to the WBF and one of the white paper authors of the white paper, said, “It is absolutely vital that regulators across the world finally accept and reflect the fact that biocontrol solutions are not conventional chemical pesticides, and their evaluation processes need to be adapted to separate biologicals and chemicals. In our discussions with DEFRA to date, they have been extremely positive about the need for change, and open to discussions that we hope will lead to a world-leading biopesticide/bioprotectant regulatory system.”

Regulatory reform to provide guidance to the

India

To encompass all aspects of training, setting up of seed production/nursery facilities and devising appropriate location-specific farming methods

The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Chennai signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Andhra Pradesh as a knowledge partner for providing technical services in marine fisheries and mariculture.

As part of the agreement, the Institute would provide technical backstopping on various aspects of seaweed farming to identified fisherfolk and entrepreneurs as an alternate enterprise. The technical assistance would encompass all aspects of training, setting up of seed production/nursery facilities and devising appropriate location-specific farming methods.

The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy graced the occasion.

To encompass all aspects of training, setting

Agro chems – Pesticides, Company News, India, Thailand

Launches two Indigenously Manufactured CTPR-Based products

India’s leading agrochemical company, Best Agrolife Limited (BAL) organised a Mega Distributors’ Meet and launched two new revolutionary CTPR-based formulations – Citigen and Vistara in Pattaya, Bangkok. BAL is the first Indian agrochemical company to manufacture CTPR technical indigenously while contributing to the GOI’s Make in India mission and showcasing the country’s capabilities to the international agricultural scenario. The meet was exclusively held for the distributors from Maharashtra and more than 170 distributors attended this event.

Vimal Alawadhi, Managing Director of Best Agrolife Ltd., said, “We are raising the bar of innovation with every new product launch. Best Agro has invested heavily in enhancing its research and development capabilities. As is the case with each of our products, the newly launched Citigen and Vistara provide highly effective and affordable solutions to pest control in agriculture. While on the one hand, these will be a boon for the farmers and enhance their productivity, they will also provide our distributors and dealers with a marketing edge.”

Citigen (Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 per cent W/W SC) is a broad-spectrum insecticide with exceptional insecticide efficacy, longer rain fastness, and low mammalian toxicity. Other than sugarcane and rice, Citigen is highly recommended for controlling pests of cabbage, cotton, tomato, chili, soybean, brinjal, pigeon pea, Bengal gram, black gram, bitter gourd, okra, maize, and groundnut crop. It acts on Ball worms, stem borers, fruit borers, gram pod borers, stem flies, tobacco caterpillars, and pod borers.

Vistara (Chlorantraniliprole 0.4 per cent GR) prevents the build-up of shoot borer and stem borer populations in paddy and sugarcane and protects growers from incurring losses due to low crop yield and thereby maximising output. Due to its high insecticidal potency and novel mode of action, it effectively controls pests that are resistant to other insecticides. Due to its low dosage, it is safe for the environment as well.

There is extensive usage of CTPR (Chlorantraniliprole) based products, and its market size is more than Rs 2000 crore at present, which is a total of 8 per cent of the pesticide market.

Launches two Indigenously Manufactured CTPR-Based productsIndia’s

Agrotech, India, Start ups

So far, 1055 agri-startups selected during FY-2019-22 to 2022-23 and Rs 10932.24 lakhs grants recommended

Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, (Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare) interacted with farmers at the Precision Farming Development Centre created under National Committee on Precision Agriculture & Horticulture (NCPAH). He also visited the RKVY- RAFTAAR Agri-start up Agribusiness Incubator (R-ABI) and the Integrated Beekeeping Development Centre (IBDC) at the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU), Coimbatore.

Government of India has setup 22 Precision Farming Development Centres (PFDCs) in all the agro climatic zones of the country with an aim to develop and disseminate regionally differentiated technologies on Precision Farming such as Micro Irrigation and hi-tech agriculture (vertical farming, hydroponics aeroponics, protected cultivation, plasticulture) and to maximise production and productivity per unit area to enhance the socio-economic conditions of farmers and end users. These 22 PFDCs are located in State/Central Agricultural Universities (SAUs), ICAR Institutes and IITs.

So far, 1055 agri-startups during FY-2019-22 to 2022-23 have been finally selected by different knowledge partners and agribusiness incubators of DA&FW and Rs 10932.24 lakhs as grants in aid has been recommended.

Under TBI, TNAU, Coimbatore, three Cohorts of Agriprenuership Orientation Programme (AOP) & Start-up Incubation Programme (SAIP) has been completed successfully and 300 Star-ups have been trained. 41 Startups have been provided with grant of Rs. 3.87 crore.

So far, 1055 agri-startups selected during FY-2019-22

India, Start ups

One stop platform to facilitate mentorship for startups

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has launched a call for startup applications for registration on the MAARG portal, the National Mentorship Platform by Startup India.

To further boost the Indian startup ecosystem, currently ranked 3rd largest globally, Startup India is focused on catalysing the startup culture and building a strong and inclusive ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship in India. In this context, MAARG portal – Mentorship, Advisory, Assistance, Resilience and Growth, is a one stop platform to facilitate mentorship for startups.

The objectives of the MAARG portal are: to provide sector focused guidance, handholding, and support to startups throughout their lifecycle, to establish a formalised and structured platform that facilitates intelligent matchmaking between the mentors and their respective mentees and to facilitate efficient and expert mentorship for startups and build an outcome-oriented mechanism that allows timely tracking of the mentor-mentee engagements. 

The MAARG Portal is being operationalised in three phases,

Phase I: Mentor Onboarding – Successfully launched and executed, 400+ expert mentors are onboarded across sectors, Phase II: Startup Onboarding – DPIIT is launching the onboarding of startups on the MAARG Portal, Phase III: MAARG Portal Launch and Mentor Matchmaking – Final launch where the mentors will be matched to the startups DPIIT has initiated onboarding process of startups under Phase II. 

One stop platform to facilitate mentorship for

India, Start ups

To spread awareness about Indian millets and engage with other nations for a successful and impactful global celebration of IYOM 2023

As a pre-launch to India’s year-long grand celebration of ‘International Year of Millets (IYOM) 2023’, the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) hosted a special ‘millet luncheon’ with the Ambassadors/High Commissioners of different countries appointed to India, in New Delhi.

Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Agriculture Minister and Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister shared the vision of the Government for successful celebration of IYOM 2023.

With the aim to generate mass awareness, increase production, productivity and strengthen the Millet value-chain towards enhanced Millet consumption, accepting Government of India’s proposal, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYOM).

The key objective of the luncheon is to spread awareness about Indian millets and engage with other nations for a successful and impactful global celebration of IYOM 2023.

A video showcasing the miraculous impact of Millets on consumers, farmers and the mother earth will be shown at the beginning to make the delegates walk through a visual journey of the ‘Super grain’.

The lunch included an elaborate curated Millet spread to highlight the diversity of Indian Millets & variety of Millet cuisines. Alongside the millet culinary experience and formal interaction, around 30 Millet based Indian startups will participate in an exhibition at the event venue to showcase various food products, including ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook millet items.

To spread awareness about Indian millets and

Agro chems – Pesticides, Agrotech, Award, Company News, Middle East countries

Company plans to expand into additional markets across Latin America, following Araddo® successful 2021 launch in Brazil.

Israel based crop protection company ADAMA was recently recognized for its innovative Araddo® herbicide, winning the prestigious award for Best Formulation Innovation at this year’s IHS Markit Crop Science Forum and Awards. The news comes as ADAMA registers Araddo® for sales in Paraguay and plans to expand into additional markets across Latin America, following its successful 2021 launch in Brazil.

Farmers in Latin America are increasingly concerned about the spread of three weeds – Conyza, Sourgrass and Goosegrass – which are advancing across agricultural areas and showing signs of resistance to glyphosate and other herbicides. Araddo®, a pre-crop, burndown dual-mode herbicide, effectively controls grasses and broadleaf weeds such as these and helps overcome the growing resistance problem. This innovative mixture for soybean, corn, and wheat crops, enables farmers in Brazil, and now Paraguay, to achieve higher crop yields.

“We are thrilled to be recognized for our ground-breaking Araddo®, which is the first to combine ACC’ase Inhibition and Auxin herbicidal modes of action, overcoming the chemical degradation between the two active ingredients. Our focus on cutting-edge formulations technologies enables us to bring differentiation to our portfolio and add value to the farmers,” said Alexandre Pires, Head of Marketing of ADAMA Brazil.

Previously, the common use of Auxins required a safety interval of 10 to 30 days between application and planting. However, Araddo® allows farmers to spray and plant immediately, benefiting from gains in time and the ability to take advantage of the best possible planting window, resulting in higher productivity.

Company plans to expand into additional markets

Acts & Schemes – Centre, Cold Storage, India, Packaging & Labelling, Supply Chain, Uncategorized

 New integrated pack houses will help farmers in increasing horticulture export

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar the inaugurated 30 Integrated Pack Houses across the state at Aterna village in Sonipat (Haryana).  Haryana’s Agriculture Minister Dalal welcomed Union Agriculture Minister Tomar in Haryana. He said that Haryana is a state of farmers. No other state has as many schemes as the Haryana government has brought for the farmers. This includes Crop Insurance Scheme, Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojana, purchase of crops on MSP, proper arrangement of mandis etc. He said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Manohar Lal, pack houses have been established in the state through FPOs. This will benefit the farmers.

 Dalal said that cold stores, pack houses are being established in the state. The world’s largest vegetable market is being set up in Gannaur, which will be spread over 5500 acres. It will cost Rs 10,000 crore to make it. This will provide employment to thousands of people.

Tomar said that India is an agricultural country. The importance and priority of agriculture has been accepted by the Central and Haryana Government. History is witness that the village economy has supported in the recession. The world had stopped at the time of Corona. Knowing the problems of the farmers, the central government bought the crop by setting up more purchase centres. That year the sowing of the farmers crop was more than the previous years. The export of agricultural products stood at Rs.4.4 lakh crore.

 New integrated pack houses will help farmers