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India, Schemes - Govt

Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, recently inaugurated the sixth State Centre of Coconut Development Board at Junagadh in Gujarat. Tomar also inaugurated the 24th World Coconut Day celebrations. 

During his address, Tomar said that along with coconut cultivation, processing and marketing is also growing in our country and India is becoming a leading player in coconut exports. Through the board, the farmers cultivating coconut are getting benefits of the government’s schemes and along with increasing their income, they are also contributing to the country’s economy.

On the occasion of the World Coconut Day this year, Tomar congratulated the National Award and Export Excellence Award winners of Coconut Development Board and also addressed the farmers gathered in Kochi, Kerala through video conference.

Tomar elaborated that the central government is working continuously with the states to increase the cultivation and processing of coconut. The schemes are being implemented meticulously through the Coconut Development Board. He said that the cultivation of coconut is a very good farming practice and its growth will increase the benefits drawn by farmers and the country as a whole.

The function was organised by Junagadh Administration and Coconut Development Board wherein Dr. Vijayalakshmi Nadendla, joint secretary and board president, Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare delivered the welcome address.

Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister for Agriculture

Agrotech, Company News, Finance, India, Start ups

Company plans to develop the “Suite42 Standard” in the food processing ecosystem and pilot cross border trade exports

Suite42, a B2B food processing platform, announced today that it has raised USD 4.3 million in Seed funding. The round was co-led by Omnivore and Orios Venture Partners, with participation from Titan Capital, All in Capital, Pointone Capital, and prominent angel investors including Sujeet Kumar (Udaan).

Suite42 provides contract manufacturing solutions for food processing, serving diverse B2B clients across the FMCG, agribusiness, and grocery industries. Despite the rapid increase in demand for branded food products, most food brands in India struggle with reliable manufacturing. At the same time, India has more than 40,000 food processing units that suffer from multiple inefficiencies including low-capacity utilisation, lack of quality standardization, high wastage, and limited access to working capital financing.

Suite42 plans to use the Seed funding for talent acquisition, developing the “Suite42 Standard” in the food processing ecosystem, launching raw material financing, and piloting cross border trade (exports). In the next 18 months, the startup plans to work with various B2B clients including e-commerce, D2Cs, and FMCG brands, as well as 2000 modern trade outlets across multiple cities.

Based in Bangalore, Suite42 was founded in 2022 by Rahul Ratan, Ramakrishna Cheruku, Chethan S, and Shriram S. Rahul and Ramakrishna are IIT graduates who were previously working with Udaan and Microsoft, respectively.

Rahul Ratan, Co-Founder and CEO of Suite42, commented, “We are excited to start our journey of potentially redefining the food processing industry in India. Our mission is to empower food manufacturers in India by leveraging technology and building efficient and standardized processes. Consequently, brands and consumers will have access to premium products and ingredients at affordable prices.”

Jinesh Shah, the Managing Partner of Omnivore, said, “The sector is highly unorganized with deep inefficiencies. Less than 5 per cent of India’s agricultural output is processed, preventing realization of profits across the value chains.”

Vinit Bhansali, Senior Vice President at Orios Venture Partners, said, “Suite42 is building a platform to digitize the back end of a food brand from procurement to packaging. The team is targeting a massive TAM and manages the entire supply chain for the brand.”

Company plans to develop the “Suite42 Standard”

Agro chems – Chemicals, Company News, India

The program has registered more than 4000 Sahbhaagis across India and is now focusing on empowering more women and youth Agri-entrepreneurs

Bayer, a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of healthcare and agriculture, announced its plan to scale up its Sahbhaagi program to empower rural women and youth with an aim to develop a comprehensive agricultural ecosystem. The ‘Bayer Sahbhaagi Program’ was launched in 2019 and today the program has more than 4000 Sahbhaagis across India. This initiative creates unique opportunities for rural entrepreneurs to partner with Bayer, explore alternate demand generation routes and enhance Bayer’s reach to farmers.

Sahbhaagi is a rural micro-entrepreneurship development model which empowers farmers, women and rural youth to become an advisor and recommend right solutions to smallholder growers. The scale-up of the Sahbhaagi program will include adding more Sahbhaagi partners to create a strong network of outreach and engagement with farmers across India, and anyone above the age of 18 with knowledge of agriculture and access to a smartphone is eligible to become a Sahbhaagi. In addition to enrolling young Agri-entrepreneurs, Bayer understands the major role women play in shaping their families and the agriculture value chain. Their role as influencers in buying decisions makes them the perfect partners to scale up the program.

The program will be further fueled by the adoption of smartphones and evolving digital technologies that have created new touchpoints with farmers. The Sahbhaagis have been trained and equipped to recommend the right solutions to smallholder farmers as per local farm conditions. The smallholder growers get access to Bayer products digitally with the assistance of the Sahbhaagi This program is currently active in 24 states, across more than 470 districts and 1980 sub-districts.

Speaking about the program, Simon-Thorsten Wiebusch, Country Divisional Head – Crop Science Division of Bayer for India, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka said, “In our broad effort to transform agricultural practices for the benefit of local communities, we aim to provide opportunities to micro-entrepreneurs to encourage sustainable and responsible farming and support rural productivity. Bayer will continue to work closely with these Sahbhaagis to create a sustainable ecosystem in their villages, adopting the latest agricultural and farming practices, learning the technical know-how of Bayer products and offering customized crop and product advisory to farmers.”

Bayer has also set up a toll-free number 18001204049 to provide more details to the rural population and facilitate enrollment in the Sahbhaagi program.

The program has registered more than 4000

Agro chems – Chemicals, Company News, India, Inputs

It aims to fight white grub, thrips and aphids in groundnut; grey weevil, mealy bug, jassids, whitefly, thrips and aphids in cotton; and termite and early shoot borer in sugarcane crop. 

Hyderabad based FMC India, an agricultural sciences company has announced its portfolio expansion with three new products in support of Indian farmers to achieve better yields through good quality produce and an improved soil profile.

Commenting at the launch event, Ravi Annavarapu, President, FMC India, said, “FMC India has served Indian farmers for more than three decades, and we are committed to enabling their prosperity, while contributing to the sustainability of Indian agriculture.”

Talstar® Plus insecticide is a novel broad-spectrum premix that provides protection against sucking and chewing pests which are a big pain point for Indian farmers of groundnut, cotton and sugarcane crops. The product gives farmers a superior tool to fight white grub, thrips and aphids in groundnut; grey weevil, mealy bug, jassids, whitefly, thrips and aphids in cotton; and termite and early shoot borer in sugarcane crop. 

Petra® Biosolution is a new generation customized solution powered by reactive carbon technology to improve the physical and biological properties of soil. It provides crops with the much-needed head start by mobilizing the applied phosphorus in the soil. Fortified with organic matter, Petra® Biosolution acts as a source of food for soil microbes, while facilitating nutrient uptake, improving soil texture and enhancing soil fertility. It is easy to use, suitable for majority of crops, and creates a solid foundation for healthy soil, root and plants.

Cazbo® crop nutrition, a specialty micronutrient solution, effectively nourishes crops by supplementing essential elements like calcium, zinc and boron, and working to correct multiple deficiencies and related disorders in most crops. It provides better efficiency compared to traditional calcium solutions when utilized in appropriate dosage and at the right stage of the crop growth cycle. Cazbo® crop nutrition promises to contribute significantly to improved fruit quality and storage potential of the crop.

FMC India has also partnered with Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (Hyderabad) on a Model Village Program to promote sustainable agricultural practices.

It aims to fight white grub, thrips

Agrotech, Company News, India, Start ups

 The advisory board will offer guidance leveraging their expertise in the fields of agriculture, supply chain design, public policy, finance, ecosystem building, and technology

Bengaluru based Ninjacart, India’s leading agri-startup that leverages technology and data to organize the Indian agriculture ecosystem, forms an Advisory Board, comprised of Industry veterans and experts, to strengthen its ambition of revolutionizing the agriculture ecosystem in India.

The advisory board will offer guidance leveraging their expertise in the fields of agriculture, supply chain design, public policy, finance, ecosystem building, and technology. Board members will support Ninjacart’s efforts to improve its efficiency, contribute to the development of infrastructure, and broaden its horizons to engage with institutions and stakeholders. Additionally, the advisory board will provide assistance in developing long-term strategies and anticipate challenges along the ambitious path and suggest mitigation measures to avoid them.

The advisory board comprises a diverse group of professionals bringing deep expertise and decades of real-world experience to the table that will help Ninjacart in achieving its goal of revolutionizing the agricultural ecosystem in India.

 J. Satyanarayana – Former IT Secretary, Govt of India said, “I am pleased to be on the advisory board of Ninjacart, a company that is led by the vision of transforming the agriculture value chain.”

Prakash Bakshi – Former Chairman of NABARD said, ‘‘Post production value chain has been the weakest link in Indian agriculture, especially in fruits and vegetables. Ninjacart seeks to bring in efficiencies through improved logistics resulting in better market prices and consequent higher farm gate prices.”

 Anand Sinha – Retd Deputy Governor of RBI said, “Ninjacart has shone in the agritech space brightly and has leveraged technological advancements in the best possible manner”.

 Nandakumar – Former Food & Agriculture Secretary, Govt. of India said, “Ninjacart has been a disruptor in the agri-tech space. Its growth graph has impacted the industry positively. It is an absolute pleasure to be on an advisory board for them, especially now that it has decided to expand globally. With such an expert board being constituted”.

Commenting on forming the advisory board, Kartheeswaran K K, COO & Co-Founder of Ninjacart said, “ We are honoured to have distinguished members in our advisory board who have a deep knowledge of India’s business and agricultural landscape, who will support us in organizing the agri ecosystem and make this vision a reality by believing in our technological expertise and core values”.

 The advisory board will offer guidance leveraging

Company News, India, Machinery – Post-harvesting

The tractor major has also become a pioneer in horticulture mechanisation by recently introducing CODE by Swaraj, a multi-purpose farm machine

Swaraj Tractors, part of Mahindra Group, one of the leading brands in the Indian Tractor industry, rolled out its 20th Lakh tractor from the company’s Plant in Mohali, Punjab on Tuesday. This milestone is a testament to the customers’ trust and confidence in the brand Swaraj.

Harish Chavan, CEO, Swaraj Division, M&M Ltd rolled out the 20th lakh tractor in a special ceremony attended by employees. Speaking on the occasion he said, “This achievement has further cemented brand Swaraj’s reputation of being reliable and one of the fastest growing brands in the domestic tractor market over the past few years. We are thankful to all our customers and stakeholders for their wholehearted support towards the growth of this brand.”

Since its inception in 1974, the first milestone of 10 lakh tractor production was achieved in 2013. Now within a span of just nine years, we have accomplished 20 Lakh tractor production in 2022, which is a testimony of the faster growth of the brand Swaraj. What makes this achievement more remarkable is the fact that this has come when the industry was going through unforeseen challenges due to the pandemic in the last couple of years.

 Hemant Sikka, President, Farm Equipment Sector, M&M Ltd said, “This journey to reach the 20 Lakh production mark today has been challenging and exciting for us. We are happy that over the years Swaraj has been able to make a significant contribution to the lives of Indian farmers. Going ahead we look forward to providing more agri-based solutions and enabling mechanisation. This achievement is another stepping stone towards living our purpose of Transform farming and enriching lives”.

Swaraj manufactures tractors in the range of 15HP to 65HP and provides complete mechanisation solutions. The tractor major has also become a pioneer in horticulture mechanisation by recently introducing CODE by Swaraj, a multi-purpose farm machine. Currently, Swaraj has two fully functional tractor manufacturing plants, its own Foundry & R&D all located in Punjab, while another new manufacturing plant of Swaraj is also coming up in the state.

The tractor major has also become a

Agrotech, India

 

By

Rajesh Aggarwal, Managing Director, Insecticides (India) Limited

Following the liberalisation of drone restrictions in 2021, the industry received a huge boost with the announcement in this year’s Union Budget of Drone Shakti, a new integrated office in the Ministry of Civil Aviation to allow speedier growth, coordination, and approvals for drones. The government is currently supporting a number of drone entrepreneurs in order to increase their use across industries. Kisan Drones are already being utilised for crop assessments, land records, and insecticide spraying, and are projected to usher in a new era of technology in agriculture and farming. Drones with Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and remote sensing capabilities are becoming increasingly popular due to their numerous benefits.  

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Drones in agriculture

Drone technology has received the greatest attention due to its versatility and is seen as the agrarian sector’s future. Drones not only improve overall performance, but they also help farmers to overcome a variety of other obstacles and get several benefits from precision agriculture. They fill the void left by human mistake and inefficiency in traditional farming practices, with the market for agricultural drones expected to reach $5.7 billion by 2025, growing at a 35.9 percent CAGR.  The goal of implementing drone technology is to eliminate any uncertainty or guesswork and instead focus on accurate and dependable data.

 Farming is influenced by external elements such as weather, soil conditions, and temperature. A farmer can use an agriculture drone to adapt to different settings and make informed decisions. Crop health, crop treatment, crop scouting, irrigation, field soil analysis, and crop damage assessments are all aided by the information obtained. Drone surveys help farmers increase agricultural yields while reducing time and costs.

Role of drones in crop protection and productivity enhancement

 Spraying of agrochemicals

Drones are already being tested for use in the cotton-growing region of the country for spraying pesticides to reduce pests that would otherwise be handled by agricultural labourers, which is very time consuming and is also not uniform. Drones not only lessen the risk of unintended fume inhalation, but also expedite pest management by covering more areas in less time. The primary advantage of using a drone is that it will consume less insecticide and provide greater precision throughout the application process.

 Controlling the Locust Swarm

The majority of countries fighting locust swarms rely heavily on organophosphate insecticides. In India, drones have been stationed in Rajasthan to ensure that the spraying is done efficiently. Drones can spray insecticides across a 2.5-acre area in under 15 minutes. The use of drones to battle locust swarms is a quick, safe, and practical solution.

 Crop Health Surveillance and Monitoring

Tracking the health of the vegetation and spotting bacterial/fungal diseases early on is critical. Plants that reflect various quantities of green light and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) light can be identified by agriculture drones. This information is used to create multispectral images that can be used to track crop health. Crops can be saved if they are monitored closely and any faults are discovered quickly. In the event of crop failure, the farmer can document the losses in order to file proper insurance claims.

 Agricultural drones equipped with multispectral and RGB sensors can also identify weeds, diseases, and pests in farm regions. The exact amounts of chemicals required to combat these infestations are known as a result of this research, which reduces the farmer’s costs.

 Monitoring of Irrigation

Drones with hyperspectral, thermal, or multispectral sensors detect areas that are too dry or require the farmer’s attention. Irrigation monitoring yields calculations of the vegetation index to help realize the health of crops and emitted heat/energy. Drone surveys aid in bettering water usage and uncovering irrigation problems.

Soil Analysis in the Field

Farmers can use the drone survey to learn more about the soil conditions on their land. Multispectral sensors capture data that can be used for seed planting patterns, field soil analysis, irrigation, and nitrogen management. Farmers can thoroughly examine their soil conditions using precise photogrammetry/ 3D mapping.

 Drone-planting systems have already been developed that allow drones to shoot pods, seeds, and essential nutrients into the soil. Not only does this technique cut expenses by over 85 per cent, but it also improves consistency and efficiency. 

Tracking livestock

Farmers can use the drone survey to keep track of not only their crops but also their cattle’s movements. Thermal sensor technology aids in the recovery of missing animals and the detection of injury or illness. Drones are capable of performing this duty well, and this contributes significantly to the development of vegetation.

 ByRajesh Aggarwal, Managing Director, Insecticides (India) LimitedFollowing

Agro chems – Chemicals, Company News, R&D

GSP Crop Science, a leader in the agrochemical business and India’s first company to develop the SE formulation in its R&D centre, has received an exclusive patent for its synergistic suspo-emulsion formulation of Pyriproxifen and Diafenthiuron (branded GSP SLR 525 SE Formulation) by the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trademarks, which is a subordinate office under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion.

The patent was granted for an insecticide formulation which would control the deadly effect of whitefly insects in the country. As per the statistics, approximately 1.35 hectare of coconut and oil palm in India are affected by whiteflies. It also seriously impedes the ability of farms to process cotton harvests.

GSP’s new insecticide formulation SLR 525 SE is effective on the plant surface due to its fast and evenly spreading and translaminar action. Being a water-based solution, it eliminates the harmful effects of solvents used in EC formulation on the environment.

On winning this patent, Bhavesh Shah, Managing Director, GSP Crop Science Pvt Ltd, said, “After almost eight years of blood, sweat and tears with the help of our R&D and legal team, GSP has been granted a patent for a combination product that will be of great advantage to the farmers. Our product SLR 525 which helps fight pest attack of whitefly in vegetables and cotton in all stages – is the first of its kind in the Indian market. We project this molecule to generate revenue of almost Rs 400 crore yearly within the next few years. We expect the market for this product to grow even further.”

GSP Crop Science Pvt Ltd – is amongst the leading manufacturers of agrochemicals in India and produces a wide range of “technical” and “formulations” of insecticides, fungicides, herbicides (crop protection solutions) and plant regulators for Indian agriculture and farmers’ community.

With a financial turnover of Rs 1200 crore annually and four manufacturing units in Gujarat and Jammu & Kashmir, the company comprises more than 70 branded products – which gets marketed through a network of 5,000 distributors, over 30,000 dealers and 34 depots in India and exports to 25 countries.

GSP Crop Science, a leader in the

Agrotech, Horticulture, Vegetables

Addressing the seventh International Exhibition and Conference EIMA Agrimach India 2022 in Bengaluru, Shobha Karandlaje, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said that with India becoming a food surplus country, the Indian farmer needs affordable machinery and technologies to expand production and come up with value-added products with export potential,

The three-day conference cum exhibition was inaugurated by Karandlaje, Murugesh R Nirani, minister of large and medium industries, and Muniratna Naidu, minister for horticulture and planning & statistics, Government of Karnataka.

Speaking on the occasion, Karandlije noted that the country’s robust cereals, fruits and vegetable production are at 314 and 334 million metric ton respectively. However, she said, “What the country needs now is affordable and quality food processing, agri-marketing and agri-export avenues.”

Karandlaje encouraged equipment manufacturers and technology developers to manufacture food processing machinery to check the rampant wastage of agriculture and horticulture produce in the absence of value addition. She said that instead of wasting, the food could be exported to nations with limited food production avenues.

During the event, Nirani highlighted that increased efforts were needed for technology improvement, adoption, and exports. In addition, the minister encouraged foreign industry participants to introduce affordable mechanised farming, given the small land holdings in the state. 

The other dignitaries who spoke during the conference included K Ullas Kamath, chairman, FICCI Karnataka State Council; TR Kesavan, chairman, FICCI National Agriculture Committee; Alessandro Malavolti, president, FederUnacoma; Shivayogi C Kalasad, secretary to government, agriculture department, Government of Karnataka; Dr S Rajendra Prasad, vice-chancellor, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, and Ravindra Agrawal, chairman, Agriculture Sub-Committee, FICCI Karnataka State Council.

EIMA Agrimach India 2022 has registered participants from more than 40 countries and is expected to witness the presence of over 10000 farmers, industry and foreign delegates, investors, agriculture researchers, and students.

Addressing the seventh International Exhibition and Conference

India, Middle East countries, Organic

The Government of Manipur and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) recently organised an in-store export promotion programme in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) for harnessing the export potential of naturally grown, organic certified fresh pineapples of North-Eastern Region (NER).

The ‘in-store promotion show’ of organic certified fibre rich Kwe variety of pineapples from Manipur, was organised at the Lulu hyper market, Dubai’s largest supermarket in association with Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) of Government of Manipur. The event is a part of the government’s strategy to promote locally produced agricultural products in the international markets.

MOMA has supported the sourcing of pineapples directly from the farmers of Manipur. They are procured from Thayong Organic Producer Company Ltd in Imphal East district, Manipur. On the occasion, APEDA chairman Dr M Angamuthu stressed on promoting processed form of value-added pineapple to sustain in the global export market for a longer time period.

“We need to focus on promoting pineapple sourced from farmers in processed form in the Gulf countries through Lulu Group. It will help farmers in better price realisation of their produce,” elaborated Dr Angamuthu. The event was also graced by P Vaiphel, additional Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur. With a production of 134.82 metric tonne (MT) in 2020-21, Manipur ranks sixth in pineapple production having a share of 7.46 per cent in total production in India.

The Government of Manipur and the Agricultural

Agro chems – Pesticides, Horticulture, India, Seeds

Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, visited the Indo-Dutch, Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Vegetables at Baramati, District Pune, Maharashtra and interacted with the farmers. The main objective of setting of the CoE is to establish a demonstration hub for vegetable production and transfer of technologies to the extension workers and farmers in the region through their training and capacity building. These techniques include protected cultivation, hydroponics, improved seeds and quality planting material, fertigation, Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), etc.

The CoE facilitates the training of various level of officers, NGOs, private entrepreneurs and paves a way to develop value chain, promote employment generation and market intelligence to maximise income of farmers.

A total of seven Centres of Excellence (CoEs) of Indo-Dutch collaboration have been approved so far in four states.  Out of them, two are completed in the state of Maharashtra and five are at various stages of completion. Beside these seven CoEs, there are three private centres as well.  All these centres are operational in the states of Maharashtra, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala and Karnataka with a specific focus on horticulture crops, fruits, vegetables, potatoes and flowers.

Dr Likhi also visited the Dutch Green house at CoE, KVK Baramati which aims to maximise the crop production from less resources like water, pesticides, manpower etc., which not only adds value to the entrepreneurs but also increases the quality of the produce being residue free. The main focus of this green-house is on demonstrating technologies under protected cultivation. The additional secretary also reviewed the activities of the centre at Baramati wherein detailed presentations were made by the ten centres and agri start-ups working in the region. It focused on innovations and technologies being used by them to cut down the transaction costs and create better market linkages for farmers growing fruits and vegetables. Dr. Likhi directed all the stakeholders to ensure that the technological demonstrations being practiced in the seven CoEs should be widely disseminated in the villages surrounding the centres to extend its benefits to the small and marginal farmers for practicing profitable agriculture

Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of

Agrotech, Company News

Syngenta Group, a leading provider of agricultural science and technology has announced strong financial results for the second quarter and first half of 2022. The group’s Q2 sales increased 24 per cent to $9.2 billion, up $1.8 billion year-on-year. Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortisation (EBITDA) for the same period increased 39 percent to $1.7 billion, driven by launches of innovative products and services, increased productivity and prices that offset higher costs.

The company’s H1 sales stood at $18.1 billion, up $3.7 billion, 25 percent year-on-year. EBITDA for the same period was recorded as $3.5 billion, 32 percent higher year-on-year.

Syngenta Group’s double-digit sales growth in the second quarter and the first half of 2022 was backed up by strong demand for the company’s products and services that help farmers successfully grow crops to address global food security and mitigate the effects of climate change by providing healthy, nutritious, and affordable food.

The Switzerland-based company continued to promote the transition to a regenerative food production system, playing its part by accelerating innovation to nurture and restore soil health, biodiversity, climate and water systems, while enhancing productivity and farmer economics. Further, Syngenta Group is working with other companies in the agriculture value chain, including food companies and retailers, to progress regenerative agriculture.

Syngenta Group China delivered strong growth with a total sales of $5.3 billion in H1 2022. The sales of Modern Agriculture Platform (MAP) nearly doubled to $1.8 billion, thus surpassing its sales for the year 2021. During the same period, the group’s China arm opened 48 new MAP centers, expanding the company’s capabilities to serve farmers. The average sales per center of the 540 MAP centers across China were up 38 per cent year-on-year, helping farmers increase their crop quality and yield while lowering environmental impact.

The EBITDA margin of Syngenta Group improved by 1.1 percentage points from a year earlier to 19.5 percent in H1 2022. Synergy-driven sales in the first six months more than doubled to $0.7 billion, with a profit contribution that increased to $0.3 billion.

Syngenta Group, a leading provider of agricultural

Agrotech, Company News, India, Transportation

New Holland Agriculture, a brand of CNH Industrial, has launched Blue Series SIMBA and its entry in the sub 30HP compact tractor segment in India, at the 7th EIMA Agrimach Expo 2022 in Bengaluru. Introduced as a part of the brand’s Blue Series range, the tractor is designed for specialty applications such as spraying, rotavation and inter-row cultivation in vineyards, orchards, sugarcane and cotton fields etc. The first lot of 21 tractors was handed over to customers at the launch.

Speaking at the occasion, Raunak Varma, MD and country head, CNH Industrial – India & SAARC, said, “As a company, we want to offer a full spectrum of farm equipment and mechanisation solutions for our customers. With the Blue Series SIMBA, we are now providing our customers with a range of compact tractors for specialty applications.”

Powered by a three-cylinder 29HP Mitsubishi Engine, the Blue Series SIMBA 30 is focused on higher power and fuel efficiency in the segment. It also offers the benefit of a narrow track and features nine forward and three reverse gears along with side shift transmission modes, oil-immersed brakes, a 750 kg hydraulic lift capacity and automatic depth and draft control (ADDC).

The tractor offers a semi-flat platform, floor mat and heat shield with optimised operator seat height. It also features a neutral safety switch and differential lock that helps to manoeuvre the tractor safely and easily in any condition and on all surfaces. Blue Series SIMBA 30 features a four-wheel drive front axle and is equipped with an adjustable rim tyre option to reduce the overall width of the machine. For easy maintenance purposes, the tractor features a dry type air cleaner with clogging sensor that warns the operator when the air filter is clogged.

The all-new Blue Series SIMBA 30 is currently available in Maharashtra and Karnataka at New Holland Agriculture dealerships and would soon be made available in other markets.

New Holland Agriculture, a brand of CNH

Company News, India, R&D

India’s premier research institute IIT-Kanpur has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Niche Agriculture & Pharmaceuticals Limited (NAPL), a company engaged in agricultural activities and formulation of advanced medicines, for research on cultivation of ‘Cannabis’ and its usage in pharma and bioengineering. The collaboration will focus on research, development, and consultancy studies in the fields of mutual interest.

By partnering together, the two organisations are setting the groundwork for reorganising the indigenous cannabis plant and creating new hemp cultivars that adhere to international regulations. The development of new hemp-based treatments will help doctors address the rising rates of cancer, epilepsy, migraine, chronic pain, arthritis, and insomnia in India.

The MoU was signed by Professor Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur and Harisharan Devgan, Chairman of Niche Group of Companies, in the presence of senior professors, researchers, and other faculty members. Speaking on the partnership, Karandikar said that it will lay the foundation for better research and development in the biotech industry. “Cannabis has been widely accepted in Indian culture through the ages, yet we have limited knowledge about this holy plant,” he further added.

Elaborating on the MoU, Devgan said, “This collaboration will not only grant access to a whole new range of medicinal formulations, but it will also offer people affordable medical treatment for chronic health problems. We are focusing on improving cooperation in the field of hemp cultivation and bioengineering and implementing technologies like tissue culture with IIT-Kanpur for research and development, and exchanging academic materials and publications for the formulation of hemp-based and other medicines for chronic diseases.”

India’s premier research institute IIT-Kanpur has inked