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India, Sugar industry

Of the over 5000 LMT sugarcane produced, 35 LMT sugar was diverted to ethanol production

India emerges as the world’s largest producer and consumer of sugar as well as the world’s 2nd largest exporter of sugar. 

A record of more than 5000 Lakh Metric Tons (LMT) sugarcane was produced in the country out of which about 3574 LMT of sugarcane was crushed by sugar mills to produce about 394 LMT of sugar (Sucrose). Out of this, 35 LMT sugar was diverted to ethanol production and 359 LMT sugar was produced by sugar mills. 

A watershed season for Indian Sugar Sector as all records of sugarcane production, sugar production, sugar exports, cane procured, cane dues paid and ethanol production were made during the season.

Another shining highlight of the season is the highest exports of about 109.8 LMT that too with no financial assistance which was being extended upto 2020-21. Supportive international prices and Indian Government Policy led to this feat of Indian Sugar Industry. These exports earned foreign currency of about INR 40,000 crore for the country.

The success story of sugar industry is the outcome of synchronous and collaborative efforts of Central and State Governments, farmers, sugar mills, ethanol distilleries with very supportive overall ecosystem for business in the country.

Of the over 5000 LMT sugarcane produced,

Company News, Finance, North America

The divested business is set to operate as an independent company called Envu

Bayer has completed the sale of its Environmental Science Professional business to the international private equity firm Cinven, after the two companies had entered into a corresponding agreement in March. The conditions for closing the transaction – including the receipt of regulatory approval – have now been met. The purchase price for the business, which generated sales of approximately 600 million euros in 2021, amounts to 2.6 billion U.S. dollars (2.6 billion euros).

The divested business is set to operate as an independent company called Envu. The business is a global leader offering solutions to control pests, disease and weeds in non-agricultural areas such as vector control, professional pest management, vegetation management, forestry, and turf and ornamentals. It is headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, United States, and is active in over 100 countries. Nearly 900 employees in total will transfer from Bayer to Envu.

“In Cinven, we have found a strong new owner with a firm commitment to the long-term growth potential of the business and to its people,” said Rodrigo Santos, member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG and head of the Crop Science Division. “At the same time, we can concentrate on our core agricultural business and the successful implementation of our growth strategy in the Crop Science Division.” Bayer will use the net proceeds from the transaction to reduce its net financial debt.

“Envu is a global leader in a highly attractive and critical industry. We thank Bayer for the trust they have placed in Cinven and plan to build on the strong foundations established by Bayer by significantly investing in it,” said Pontus Pettersson, Partner at Cinven. “Cinven is excited to build an independent, focused company and is well positioned to continue to drive innovation and accelerate growth, including the delivery of digital and data-enabled solutions, and to extend the product portfolio further by creating innovative and sustainable solutions for its customers.”

The divested business is set to operate

Company News, Dairy, Sustainability, Uncategorized

Ecological Laboratories, Inc. (ELI), a world-wide leader in environmental waste water management, is expanding its global distribution network in the farm waste sector. Near-term expansion will include the countries of Brazil, Denmark, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Poland, and building on Asian partnerships. This network, together with the recent ELI acquisition of TOMCO Chemical in the USA, has reached to greater than 800 animal husbandry producers servicing more than 1 crore pigs and cattle globally.

Elaborating on the commercial bioformulations of its product Microbe-Lift IND & Microbe-Lift/SA, the company said it contains a select consortium of live bacterial cultures that exhibit anaerobic oxidation capabilities. The product will allow animal producer to solve challenges such as odor, pump-out consistency/consistent fertility grade, flies, crusting and sludge build-up, H2S toxicity and related corrosive effects.

George Meserole, Vice President of International Sales Operations for Ecological Labs stated, “Currently we are in the strong position to selectively engage with global partners who share our vision on utilising natural bacterial products.  These products allow the farm operators to transition away from less efficient methods used.” Ecological Laboratories will focus on identifying on-farm distribution partners in Belgium/Netherlands, Canada, Mexico and Germany in Q4 2022-2023.

Ecological Laboratories, Inc. (ELI), a world-wide leader

AgroPolicy, Foodgrains, India

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited in New Delhi to boost the initiative visioned by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promote Millets towards celebration of the International Year of Millets 2023.

DA&FW and NAFED will collaborate in key areas like facilitating advisory support to manufacturers/processors of millet-based products to develop value-added millet-based commodities; on-boarding of start-ups, inclusive of start-ups empaneled with Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR); formation of FPOs specifically for developing a range of millet-based products; promote and market millet-based products through the network of NAFED Bazaar Stores and other institutions linked with NAFED as well as installation of Millet based Vending Machines at various locations across Delhi-NCR; and dispensing millet-based products that shall assist in establishing the focus on millet-based commodities.

Both organizations will work together for the promotion and marketing of millet-based products, keeping in view the initiative of “International Year of Millets (IYOM)-2023” proposed by the Government of India to the United Nations, which is to be celebrated across the world. As India is gearing up to bring millet back on the global map, they will build support and organize, promote, market, and forge effective market linkages for millet-based products to maximize the value capture and millet-based commodities across the country.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agro chems – Pesticides, Company News, India

Company estimates the market size of the CTPR combination products to around Rs 800 crore in India

Natco Pharma Limited announced the launch of two Chlorantraniliprole (CTPR) pesticide formulated combination products under the brand names NATVOL: Chlorantraniliprole 8.8 per cent + Thiamethoxam 17.5 per cent SC; and NATLIGO: Chlorantraniliprole 9.3 per cent + Lambda-cyhalothrin 4.6 per cent ZC.

Both products are broad-spectrum, foliar insecticides used across wide range of crops. Syngenta markets these combination products under brand names Voliam Flexi® and Ampligo®. We estimate the market size of the CTPR combination products to around Rs 800 crore in India.

NATCO is the first company, after Syngenta, to launch above mentioned CTPR combination products in India. It follows on the heels of indigenously manufactured CTPR formulation 18.5 per cent SC launched by NATCO recently under brand name NATGEN. NATCO has challenged FMC for revocation of their patents for these combination products that are marketed by Syngenta, and the case is pending before the High Court of Delhi. NATCO is committed to bringing high quality agrochemical products at affordable prices to farmers across India.

Company estimates the market size of the

Agrotech, Company News, India, R&D, Sustainability

Inaugural session was centred around “Agriculture Transformation during ‘Amrit Kaal’ – Role of Crop Protection”

CropLife India, one of the leading associations of domestic and multinational R&D driven crop science companies, organised a two-day national conference on the occasion of its 42 AGM, which witnessed the congregation of the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, agriculture ministers from the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telengana and Karnataka, senior government officials, experts and industry leaders.

The theme of the conference was “Sustainable Growth of Agriculture for Self-Reliant India” and the inaugural session was centred around “Agriculture Transformation during ‘Amrit Kaal’ – Role of Crop Protection”. A special plenary session on the “Perspectives of State Governments” focussed on the achievements in agriculture in the four key states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telengana and Karnataka.

In his inaugural address, Kailash Choudhary, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, shared that “There is utmost need to employ the latest technology for agriculture and enhance farmer awareness about the same. Drone technology can play a big role as it offers multiple benefits like spraying of agrochemicals, determination of amount of fertilisers and nutrients to be used, among others.”

Surya Pratap Shahi, Minister of Agriculture, Government of Uttar Pradesh, opined that the crop protection industry should continue to develop greener chemistries for sustainable growth. He also invited the crop protection industry to invest in Uttar Pradesh which is on a trajectory towards becoming a food basket of the country as well as the world.

Commenting on the resources required for boosting agriculture, S. Niranjan Reddy, Minister of Agriculture, Government of Telangana, said, “The biggest task of mankind is to keep the soil healthy for better human health and wellness. Water conservation is essential for agriculture and Telengana is the first state to implement Watershed program in 1983-84. Under Mission Kakatiya, 46000 water tanks and water bodies in Telangana have been restored. Due to concerted efforts, water has brought about the biggest revolution in Telangana.”

Kamal Patel, Minister of Agriculture, Government of Madhya Pradesh, said, “Madhya Pradesh has been taking many key initiatives like insurance to safeguard the interests of small holder farmers and make the farmers self-reliant”. Patel also invited industry to work with the state government on stewardship and other initiatives.

B. C. Patil, Minister of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka, said, “The Karnataka government has increased the reservation of students from the families of farmers in admissions to B.Sc. Agriculture, from 40 per cent to 50 per cent. The total number of reserved seats for this category of students in agriculture universities is 1230 while the total intake is 2460 in the state.”

Dr K. C. Ravi, Chairman, CropLife India, said, “There is a need for a predictable, stable and science-based policy and regulatory regime for the proper growth of the crop protection sector; which promotes innovation and new product introduction to address the current and upcoming challenges faced by farmers while paving the way with introduction of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and drones.”

CropLife India is an association of 16 R&D driven member companies in crop protection and jointly represent 70 per cent of the market and are responsible for 95 per cent of the molecules introduced in the country.

Inaugural session was centred around “Agriculture Transformation

Agrotech, Company News, India, Machinery – Post-harvesting

With Kharif crop harvest starting soon and crop prices holding firm, the sentiment is positive

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd’s Farm Equipment Sector (FES), part of the Mahindra Group, has announced that its domestic tractor sales were at 47,100 units for September 2022 as against 39,053 units during the same period last year.

The total tractor sales including domestic and exports during September 2022 were at 48,713 units, as against 40,331 units for September 2021. Exports for the month stood at 1,613 units.

Commenting on the performance, Hemant Sikka, President – Farm Equipment Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said, “We have sold 47,100 tractors in the domestic market during September 2022, a growth of 21 per cent over last year. This is our highest ever sale in a month. Demand remained strong during the month owing to festive boost, which we expect to continue in October as well. With Kharif crop harvest starting soon and crop prices holding firm, the sentiment is positive. Above normal monsoon has improved the reservoir levels, leading to high moisture content in the soil, which is very positive for higher food grain production in the upcoming Rabi season. In the exports market, we have sold 1,613 tractors with a growth of 26 per cent over last year”.

With Kharif crop harvest starting soon and

Company News, Finance, India, Start ups

Considering low penetration of crop insurance, expansion of weather insurance products is imperative

Bengaluru-based nurture.farm, India’s leading AgTech start-up, has partnered with HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company, a leading general insurance company in India, to further enhance and expand its insurance solutions for the 2.3 million farmers on its platform.

Farmers face varied types of risks at every stage of the farming cycle. The risks range from weather anomalies adversely impacting their crop productions, personal health risks due to the nature of work, and price fluctuations in the commodities market, leading to huge revenue loss for the farmers. Most farmers do not opt for insurance due to expensive premiums and the tediousness associated with paperwork.  Owing to the widespread nature of this issue, nurture.farm aims to offer its insurance solutions to nearly 2 million farmers in 2022-23, and will continuously innovate to provide risk mitigation solutions to enhance farmer resilience.

 Pranav Tiwari, CTO of nurture.farm, said, “The low insurance penetration in India is a cause of much grief for our farmers who have to face all kinds of risks like pests, weather, price volatility, misfortune on the field, etc. The lack of product offerings and insurance solutions that protect them against these risks leaves them financially vulnerable and susceptible to exploitation. Our partnership with HDFC ERGO aims to alleviate farmers’ distress associated with losses due to untimely and unfavourable conditions during the farming life cycle. This association will help us get closer to our vision of making farmers resilient and delivering sustainable outcomes to the farming community of India.”

Commenting on the partnership, Hiten Kothari, Appointed Actuary, HDFC ERGO, said, “At HDFC ERGO, we are committed to bringing in innovative insurance solutions for the rural community to provide financial security and also encourage sustainable farming. Considering the low penetration of crop insurance, expansion of weather insurance products is imperative. We firmly believe in nurture.farm’s vision and look forward to a long and productive collaboration.”

Considering low penetration of crop insurance, expansion

Company News, Dairy, India, Start ups

Experience centre showcases both packaged and unpackaged products

Sid’s Farm, a premium D2C dairy brand based out of Telangana, announces the inauguration and commencement of its first-ever store-cum-experience centre in the presence of Shaik Ghouse Mohiddin, Additional Chief Construction Engineer, DRDO, Ministry of Defence, GoI. This immersive and retail destination offers customers the opportunity to both purchase and consume Sid’s Farm’s high-quality, healthy, and pure products in the well-appointed and carefully designed store. Located within the premises of the DRDO Township in Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad, the centre intends to provide its services to more than 2,000 residents, spread across all ranks and staff, in the locality.

A distinguishing feature of the experience centre is its product mix which is a combination of both packaged as well as unpackaged items. Customers can additionally take advantage of doorstep delivery from this store should they like to do so. The unique store-cum-experience centre will be catering to bulk demands as well and to this end also offers catering support supplies to its customers. Quality and customer focus are the two unchanging pillars of Sid’s Farm operating code.

Dr Kishore Indukuri, Founder, Sid’s Farm said, “We have for long now been catering to more than 15,000 customers at their doorsteps every morning. While we encourage our customers to visit our farm, plant, and laboratory on Saturdays to see the effort we put in to ensure pure and clean milk free from antibiotics, hormones, and preservatives, we feel that this experience centre would be the perfect peek into our quality and processes for a much larger audience. We are extremely thankful to DRDO, Ministry of Defence, for allowing us this opportunity and the space on-campus. We intend to aggressively increase the count of such stores across the city in the coming days.”

Experience centre showcases both packaged and unpackaged

India, Interaction, Machinery - Pre-harvesting

State officials chalk out a comprehensive action plan for effective control of paddy stubble burning during the ensuing season

Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare attended a farm demonstration on crop residue management at village Rangian in Kharar tehsil, District SAS Nagar, Punjab and interacts with farmers.

The objectives of the Crop Residue Management (CRM) Scheme includes :-

– Protecting environment from air pollution and preventing loss of nutrients and soil micro-organisms caused by burning of crop residue.

– Promoting management of crop residue by retention/incorporation into the soil or collection for further utilisation through the use of appropriate mechanisation inputs.

– Promoting Farm Machinery Banks for custom hiring of crop residue management machinery to offset the adverse economies of scale arising due to small landholding and high cost of individual ownership.

– Creating awareness among stakeholders through demonstration, capacity building activities and differentiated Information, Education and Communication strategies for effective utilisation and management of crop residue.

Dr Likhi puts emphasis on effective control of paddy stubble burning during the ensuing season, the States should  chalk out a comprehensive action plan at micro level, establish a mechanism to ensure effective utilisation of machines, promote use of bio-decomposer in a complimentary mode with the CRM machines, promote ex-situ utilisation of straw by way of mapping demand from adjoining industries like biomass based power plants, bioethanol plants etc.

State officials chalk out a comprehensive action

Agro Universities, India

Scientists play a key role in making Madhya Pradesh a leading state in agriculture

The 59th Foundation Day function of Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University, Jabalpur was held online and the Chief Guest, Narendra Singh Tomar said on the occasion that if Madhya Pradesh has emerged amongst the leading states in the field of agriculture today, the role of Agricultural University, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Indian Council of Agricultural Research lies at its strong foundation.

Tomar said that the Jabalpur Agricultural University is known across the country as an Institute of Excellence and this is a matter of pride for the people of the state working in the agriculture sector. Ever since this university was established in the year 1964, it has made a great contribution in advancing and upgrading the agricultural sector in the state. Madhya Pradesh has repeatedly received the prestigious Krishi Karman Award in the field of agriculture. 

Tomar said that farmers have to depend on nature in spite of the availability of sufficient resources. In this regard, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has provided a shield to the farmers in the form of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. Claims worth INR 1.22 lakh crore has been settled against crop loss to farmers during the last 6 years.

Scientists play a key role in making

Agro chems – Chemicals, India, Sustainability

The improved Basmati rice varieties pave the way for sustaining India’s leadership in Basmati rice exports across the world

The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) held the ‘Kisan Sampark Yatra’ in the rice growing region of Haryana and Punjab to obtain farmers’ feedback on the three newly released IARI Basmati varieties. IARI had distributed 1 kg per acre seeds of the newly developed disease resistant Basmati rice to farmers during the Krishi Vigya Mela held at Pusa, New Delhi earlier this year for cultivation.

Dr AK Singh, Director, IARI said farmers were advised not to sell the produce of these seeds in the market, instead provide it to other farmers so that the new varieties could multiply and be grown in larger volumes.

Basmati rice is an export commodity with annual forex earning of  INR 25,053 crores during 2021-22. Pusa Basmati rice varieties namely, Pusa Basmati 1121, Pusa Basmati 1509 and Pusa Basmati 6 occupy more than 90% of the area under Basmati rice cultivation in GI area of Basmati rice in India and account for more than 90 percent of the Basmati rice exports from India. 

Bacterial blight and blast are the most devastating diseases in Basmati rice which cause significant yield losses as well as affect the Basmati grain and cooking quality. Conventionally, these diseases are managed by use of chemicals like streptocyclin and tricyclazole.

Through concerted research, ICAR-IARI develop an improved version of these three Basmati rice varieties with inbuilt resistance to Bacterial blight and blast diseases with the aid of molecular marker assisted breeding resulting in development and release of Pusa Basmati 1847, Pusa Basmati 1885 and Pusa Basmati 1886 in 2021. The three improved Basmati rice varieties with resistance to both Bacterial blight and blast diseases, will pave the way for sustaining India’s leadership in Basmati rice exports across the world, said Dr AK Singh.

The improved Basmati rice varieties pave the

Dairy, India, Live Stock

MBS will also offer specially customised financial services to dairy farmers associated with Dairy Co-operative Societies (DCS) in the dairy value chain.

Extending banking services in the rural hinterland of Assam, Manipal Business Solutions (MBS) partners with Assam Rural Infrastructure and Agricultural Services Society (ARIAS) to deepen financial inclusion in the region, and the grant signing ceremony was held in Guwahati in presence of, Roshni Aparanji Korati, IAS, State Project Director, ARIAS Society.

Rural citizens are currently traveling miles to deposit a cheque or simply withdraw cash from their bank account, to address this challenge and bridge the urban-rural divide, MBS will reach the last mile and offer financial services such as savings, deposits, withdrawal, and micro pensions to farmers, landless agriculture labourers, tenant farmers, and sharecroppers in the rural regions of Assam.

Under this collaboration, MBS will enable the digitalisation of the dairy value chain in focused districts of Assam. The company will also offer specially customised financial services to dairy farmers associated with Dairy Co-operative Societies (DCS) in the dairy value chain.

MBS will work closely with the leading financial intuitions to offer tailor-made products such as cattle loans, livestock insurance, personal loans, savings and investment services, payments, etc. for dairy farmers. These financial services will be delivered through the Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCS), and FPOs at the village level to reduce credit and transaction costs.

Kamaljeet Rastogi, CEO, Manipal Business Solutions said “MBS in its objective of digitising the dairy value chain will reach out to more than 1 lakh dairy farmers in Assam. Thereby aiming to digitise 1000+ Crore dairy payments annually.” 

MBS will also offer specially customised

Agrotech, India, Opinions, R&D

 By Suraj Nair, Lead (TechSprouts), Ankur Capital

How do we feed 10 billion people worldwide by 2050? Sounds simple enough? Produce more food, right? Sadly, it isn’t as straightforward as it seems. Agriculture is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), uses the largest amount of water sources and is one of the highest polluting activities. Simply growing more food is unsustainable. So, let’s start answering the question by putting things in perspective:

There is ample evidence to suggest that we are already growing enough food to feed more than 10 billion people. Despite this, hunger exists. The problem is not so much about food production as it is about a lack of efficiency in agri-food systems across the board.

Further, climate change is sending global climatic systems into a state of flux and rapid change. Agriculture is extremely sensitive to shifting weather patterns, droughts, excessive rain and other climatic aberrations, which makes it acutely sensitive to the effects of climate change.

Systemic inefficiencies in agri-food systems are associated with various parts of the value chain, ranging from agri-inputs to crop development and final food production. Traditionally, addressing these inefficiencies has involved the use of digital technologies to collect and distribute data and improve the value chain with data-driven decision making.

However, the last decade has seen the advent of synthetic biology as a new innovative approach towards improving agri-food systems. Furthermore, synthetic biology can not only address inefficiencies, but also make agriculture more climate-resilient.

What is the synthetic biology approach?

Vitamin A deficiency is a major health issue across the world, more so in countries limited to rice as their staple food. Two scientists in the 1990s decided to find a disruptive solution to this. They fortified the rice with beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, by genetically engineering the conventional rice crop. Known as the Golden Rice Project, this is a great example of the synthetic biology approach, wherein natural biological systems are engineered to result in certain desired outcomes.

Using advanced techniques in genetic engineering, systems biology and bioengineering, synthetic biology provides disruptive innovative solutions for the most complex problems in the agri-food value chain–developing biological stimulants and pesticides, advanced crop development with climate resistant traits and efficient food production.

While this seemed impossible just a decade ago, synthetic biology has seen a major transformation. DNA sequencing and gene synthesis costs have reduced by more than 100x and faster gene sequencing techniques such as NGS have been developed. All this has led to a significant increase in the data on genomics. This data is being used to develop specific interventions in the agri-food value chain.

To read more click on: https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

 By Suraj Nair, Lead (TechSprouts), Ankur CapitalHow