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Company News, Finance, India

The company targeting a goal of Rs 3600 million for the Agro Products Division for the current fiscal year, as compared to the Rs 2000 million accomplished during the last fiscal.

Vikas Lifecare Limited’s Agro Products Division has bagged fresh orders worth Rs 155 million to be executed within the Q2 2023-24. Vikas Lifecare Limited Agro Products Division has achieved Rs 480 million Sales before bagging this fresh order and the company targeting a goal of Rs 3600 million for the Agro Products Division for the current fiscal year, as compared to the Rs 2000 million accomplished during the last Fiscal.

Vikas Lifecare Limited is poised to scale up the Agro Products business and is eyeing Export Orders too. The company is also looking out for appropriate opportunities for Backward Integration for the Agro Products considering and evaluating proposals for establishing or acquiring Rice processing facility by 2024-25. These facilities will help elevate the scope of business and will add to the company’s performance in the national as well as international markets with better sales volumes backed by better profit margins for Vikas Lifecare Limited.

The company targeting a goal of Rs

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

The campaign will be conducted through service delivery vans providing high end-to-end service and spares support, based on analysing equipment health.

Mahindra & Mahindra Farm Equipment Sector (FES), a part of the Mahindra Group, has introduced a special door-to-door service campaign for its range of Rice Transplanters and the Combine Track Harvester in Karnataka. Available from May 29 to June 10, the door-step service campaign aims to ensure peak performance of customers farm machinery for the upcoming season.

Mahindra’s door-step service campaign will be conducted through service delivery vans providing high end-to-end service and spares support, based on analysing equipment health, while highlighting issues that require immediate action. Through the service campaign Mahindra will also assist customers with replacement and rectification of crucial parts like engines, transmissions etc., affordably at the customers door step.

Kairas Vakharia – Senior Vice President, Farm Machinery, M&M Ltd., “At Mahindra we aim to drive affordable and accessible services, beyond products, for easy implementation of farm mechanisation technologies in India, and Mahindra’s special door-to-door service campaign is one such initiative, to delight our customers in Karnataka, a key state for paddy. Through this service, we want to ensure customer convenience by reducing their transit time significantly, while also ensuring optimal operation of their equipment, right before the crucial harvesting & sowing period. Having already received an encouraging response for our service so far, we will soon launch this initiative in other markets as well.”

Through Mahindra’s door step service campaign, customers can also pre-book appointments via a dedicated helpline number by calling 8888044448. Mahindra will also provide customers with best-in-class service through Mahindra’s dealer and authorised workshops across Karnatata, through mechanics specially trained for this machinery, while also training operators in paddy nursery preparation and raising awareness around machine usability, safety & simple maintenance.

‘Made in India’ at Mahindra’s first exclusive farm machinery plant in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, both the Combine track harvester and Mahindra’s range of rice transplanters are based on technologies from Mitsubishi Mahindra Agricultural Machinery, Japan, Mahindra’s Centre for Excellence in the rice value chain. Both products offer world-class performance and operational ease, while also increasing potential grain yield, drudgery reduction, while saving on time and cost related to paddy farming.

The campaign will be conducted through service

Agrotech, Company News, India, Start ups, Supply Chain

Through this MoU, WayCool Foods will provide technical solutions for seeding and expansion of the IITM Pravartak’s RASA stack.

WayCool Foods, India’s largest food & agri-tech platform, entered into a strategic partnership with IITM Pravartak to expand the offerings for farmers under IITM’s RASA (Regenerative Agriculture Sustainable Architecture) tech stack. WayCool Foods, with its deep knowledge and on-ground expertise, will further enhance the agri-stack by providing innovative agri-focused solutions to create a strong ecosystem for regenerative agriculture in India. The MoU signed in the city will also enable both, WayCool Foods and IITM Pravartak, to synergise their offerings for the benefit of the farmers by helping them move towards a sustainable model of agriculture.

Through this newly signed MoU, WayCool Foods will provide technical solutions for seeding and expansion of the RASA stack. It will also offer its domain knowledge of the agri supply chain – from soil to sale and further strengthen the design and structuring of the agri-stack. The partnership will also aim to accumulate and disseminate knowledge amongst farmers about sustainable agri-practices.

Commenting on the occasion, Karthik Jayaraman, Managing Director – WayCool Foods, said, “Partnership with IITM Pravartak will further boost our continuing efforts towards driving adoption of regenerative agriculture amongst Indian farmers. Our on-field experience has demonstrated commercial benefits to farmers when they adopt regenerative agri practices thereby improving their income and profitability. IITM Pravartak’s RASA Stack is one of the country’s best-in-class and comprehensive agri-stacks for regenerative farming. We are confident that synergies between WayCool Foods and IITM Pravartak will provide farmers with access to the most advanced technologies equipping them to take proactive measures to combat climate change as the Indian farmer prepares to feed the world.”

IITM Pravartak developed and built The RASA Tech Stack in 2022. The tech-stack will aid the farmers in monitoring and fine-tuning their cultivation and harvest process proactively to realise maximum benefits. The stack will comprehensively address the entire Farm-to-Kitchen cycle, including pre-cultivation, cultivation, harvest, storage/shipment, marketing, and payment.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with WayCool Foods on this exciting initiative, which forms the basis of our economy,” said IITM Pravartak CEO, Dr M.J.Shankar Raman. “Through this collaboration, we hope to create innovative solutions that can address some of the key challenges faced by the farming and agriculture industry today. By leveraging sensor technology and data science techniques, we believe we can help improve crop yield, reduce waste, and increase farmers’ income. This will also create new opportunities for growth and innovation in this space.”

Through this MoU, WayCool Foods will provide

Acquaculture, Company News, Live Stock, World

ELOXIRAS, which is based on electrochemical oxidation, is an innovative process for the treatment and reutilisation of marine and brackish water

MMC First Process and APRIA Systems have entered into a strategic partnership to offer solutions for good and reliable water quality in the aquaculture industry. The aim of this partnership is to introduce a new solution to the market that solves one of the key challenges with RAS systems with variations in water quality.

The agreement brings together MMC First Process’s unique competence and track record in fish handling solutions, and APRIA Systems’ exhaustive knowledge in water treatment and their cutting-edge water treatment solution ELOXIRAS.

ELOXIRAS, which is based on electrochemical oxidation, is an innovative process for the treatment and reutilisation of marine and brackish water. It has been developed to improve the productivity, profitability, efficiency, and environmental impact of marine RAS systems.

ELOXIRAS removes nitrogen compounds (including ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates) and organic matter while simultaneously providing in-situ disinfection in one single stage. The farmers and fish handling operators are offered a predictable and stable water quality for the fish, giving a competitive alternative to the industry for increased fish welfare and reduced environmental impact, explains Pedro Gomez, CEO of Apria Systems.

-ELOXIRAS clearly has the potential to be a game changer in the aquaculture industry, says Eivind Vinje, VP of R&D in MMC First Process, and continues; we were very impressed with APRIA Systems and the extent of R&D, testing and verification that has been done during development and commercialization of ELOXIRAS. The solution is applicable to a wide array of RAS systems, ranging from live fish carriers operating in closed circulation over large distances, to land-based post-smolt facilities and holding tanks. The benefits are extensive compared to traditional methods, so we are very excited to bring this unique solution to our customers. It is a perfect extension to our existing water treatment products, such as the efficient CO2 degasser and oxygenation system, because we can now remove ammonia and provide a complete water treatment solution, Vinje concludes.

 ELOXIRAS is a one-of-a-kind solution for fish welfare. The turnkey solution will provide significant advantages to customers to ensure water quality independently of water temperature, sudden changes in biomass densities, short-time operations or water exchange limitations. We believe these are key features contributing to our customers’ competitive position in the aquaculture market” says Pedro Gomez

ELOXIRAS, which is based on electrochemical oxidation,

Company News, People, Poultry, World

He began his career as a project engineer for poultry facilities at Hispano Suiza T.E. S.L. Agroindustrial in Spain

Hendrix Genetics has announced the appointment of Pelayo Casanovas as managing director for its layers business unit. In this role, Pelayo will lead the layers of the business unit in executing the company’s plans to provide value at every stage of the egg value chain with proven product performance.

Casanovas holds a master’s degree in poultry science. He began his career as a project engineer for poultry facilities at Hispano Suiza T.E. S.L. Agroindustrial in Spain, which was focused on coloured broilers. For the last 20 years, Casanovas held various senior and executive management positions at Cobb Vantress. He comes to the company’s organisation with many years of international experience working in Europe (UK, NL), China and the USA and has in-depth knowledge of poultry breeding, operations, technical service, and sales.

He began his career as a project

Agrotech, Company News, R&D, World

The collaboration is being driven by the renowned scientific advisor Dr Baharuddin Salleh and includes Aquilaria inoculation and post-inoculation product development

Agroforestry Group has announced the expansion of its Aquilaria programme through its collaboration with a Malaysian research and development company. The collaboration is being driven by the renowned scientific advisor Dr Baharuddin Salleh and includes Aquilaria inoculation and post-inoculation product development. In terms of inoculation, it is aimed at specifically improving the success, speed and yield of agarwood within inoculated trees. Each stage in the inoculation process requires a different mixture of compounds with Agroforestry Group investing heavily in finding an optimal balance of performance enhancement and cost minimisation. 

Paul Martin, Managing Director of Agroforestry Group, stated, “We are delighted to have further strengthened our research and development programme with this collaboration of ours. This marks a significant milestone for us as we approach the final stages of our inoculation research programme for Aquilaria trees that were planted in 2018 and 2019. The expansion of our programme is crucial as it allows us to safeguard our ongoing research and development efforts while also extending our focus to post-inoculation product development. This includes the creation of tea, fragrances, and various other Aquilaria-based products.”

Martin further emphasized the immense value of the partnership, by highlighting the decades of experience that renowned Aquilaria expert, Dr. Baharuddin Salleh provides to the company. Dr Baharuddin Salleh, a distinguished researcher and author, formerly served as a Professor of Plant Pathology & Mycology at the University Sains Malaysia (USM) and boasts an impressive portfolio of over 100 published works. His expertise and contributions will be instrumental in the progress of Agroforestry Group’s initiatives in the field of Aquilaria research and development.

The collaboration is being driven by the

Climate, Company News, World

The credits were issued by the Climate Action Reserve (CAR), a globally trusted carbon market offset registry

AgriCapture is issued the first-ever avoided grasslands conversion carbon credits in Texas through a partnership with the property’s landowner and the Texas Agricultural Land Trust to protect soil carbon and ensure that the property’s native grasslands will not be converted. 

The credits were issued by the Climate Action Reserve (CAR), a globally trusted carbon market offset registry, to a Bailey County ranch. Located in the High Plains of the Texas Panhandle, the area is recognised by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a New Dust Bowl Zone, where preserving native grassland habitats and preventing land use conversion is especially critical.

“We are proud to deliver the first avoided grasslands conversion carbon credits in the history of the state of Texas and thrilled that AgriCapture’s programs will unlock significant value for Texas landowners,” says Kam Kronenberg, AgriCapture Board Member and Texas landowner.  

 Based in Nashville, AgriCapture was created by a group of agriculture specialists, passionate environmentalists, and economists to combat climate change through sustainable agriculture. AgriCapture verifies Climate-Friendly agricultural practices on farms, ranches, and grasslands to track environmental benefits and boost profitability for agricultural partners across the country.

AgriCapture’s Avoided Grasslands Conversion Project is dedicated to protecting native grasslands and ranches from conversion to cropland, allowing the land to naturally sequester carbon, and prevent agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To facilitate the generation of carbon credits, AgriCapture methodically collects data on soil types, vegetative cover, land use history, and ranch operations to submit for registry verification and credit issuance under CAR’s Grasslands Protocol. The AgriCapture team quantifies avoided GHG emissions and monitors ranch operations to protect underground carbon storage.

The Texas Agricultural Land Trust (TALT) partnered with AgriCapture on the Bailey County project and holds the conservation easement that will protect the land from being converted or developed. The easement contains provisions that make the property eligible to receive carbon credits for sequestering and storing soil carbon, as well as eliminating emissions that would be associated with crop production. 

“We believe this bellwether project could result in future carbon credit revenue streams for agricultural landowners in Texas and beyond,” said Chad Ellis TALT CEO.

The credits were issued by the Climate Action

Company News, Finance, India

Best Agrolife Board has also recommended a dividend of 30 per cent (Rs. 3 per share), which is a 50 per cent jump over last year

Best AgrolifeLimited recorded revenue of Rs. 1746 crores increased by 44 per cent in FY 2022. Best Agrolife Board has also recommended a dividend of 30 per cent (Rs. 3 per share), which is a 50 per cent jump over last year. The company reported financial results for the Quarter and Year ended March 31st, 2023.

Commenting on results, Vimal Alawadhi, Managing Director, Best Agrolife Limited, said, “I am delighted to inform you that we have delivered strong revenue from operations of Rs. 1,746 cr. which is a robust growth of 44 per cent over FY22. Our constant focus on introducing innovative products to cater to farmer’s needs has resulted in BAL introducing many specialised combination products including a patented novel combination Ronfen in FY23 which drove growth during the year. We have also expanded our margins by 427 bps during the year which was driven by a change in product mix.

Q4FY23 was difficult for the industry at large due to higher channel inventory and excess supply from China at lower prices. Best Agrolife was also affected by this as its branded product portfolio is more focused on the Kharif season. The company is working towards introducing more branded products which are focused on the Rabi season which will improve the breadth of the portfolio and will also make the portfolio more balanced which is currently skewed more towards the Kharif season.

Overall, the company has an exciting product pipeline ready to be launched in FY24 which is in line with its strategy of introducing more patented and specialised combination products which will help continue strong growth momentum as well as improve the margins in FY24.”

Best Agrolife Board has also recommended a

Acquaculture, AgroPolicy, Live Stock, World

The approval of the law recognising ancestral and artisanal fishing is a historic milestone that guarantees the protection of this zone

Peru has just achieved an important victory in the protection of the five nautical miles along its coasts. The approval of the law recognising ancestral and artisanal fishing is a historic milestone that guarantees the protection of this zone, benefiting over 50,000 artisanal fishermen who provide 80 per cent of the fish that feeds the Peruvian population.

It is worth noting that the first five nautical miles play a fundamental role in the life cycle of marine species inhabiting the Peruvian sea and are highly productive. These waters host the main upwelling systems in the ocean, providing vital nutrients for the reproduction and growth of the hydrobiological resources that sustain Peruvian fishing. Protecting this area is essential to preserve the abundance of our fishing resources and guarantee the employment of hundreds of thousands of Peruvians.

The law recognises the first five nautical miles adjacent to the Peruvian coast as a protection zone and establishes the following measures:

Prohibits large-scale fishing within the 5-mile area, without exceptions (this prohibition existed only at the regulatory level and was subject to exceptions).

Prohibits mechanised purse-seiners of any size in the first 3 miles.

Orders the fishing authority to approve a list of the fishing gear that will be allowed in the area, which must exclude any gear harmful to the habitat.

The law also establishes a new classification for commercial fishing, which differentiates artisanal fishing (with a predominance of manual work), from small-scale fishing (with medium-sized boats that use mechanised fishing gear). This will make it possible to design differentiated management measures for both fleets, according to their fishing power and impact on the ecosystem.

Finally, the law also includes the express mandate for the fishing quotas to be established respecting biological reference points that ensure sustainability and that must be defined by the scientific authority. In addition, it orders to take measures to recover overexploited species.

The approval of the law recognising ancestral

Agrotech, Finance, Sustainability, World

ESG investors are expected to drive capital flows to help farmers overcome livelihood and other barriers to adopting environmentally friendly smart technologies

Stakeholders are establishing ethos to bolster environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance in the smart agriculture industry. Forward-looking players are enriching the lives of producers and consumers through sustainable innovation to minimise environmental footprint. State-of-the-art technologies, including precision farming, automation, sensors and cloud computing, have become the next big thing in the agriculture industry. ESG investors are expected to drive capital flows to help farmers overcome livelihood and other barriers to adopting environmentally friendly smart technologies.

Governing bodies and watchdogs have vouched for building resilience for people, agricultural food systems and sustainability to augment agricultural productivity and incomes. An unprecedented spike in the global population and shifting diets have spurred the demand for smart agriculture to manage cropland, forests and livestock.

A feature story on the World Bank website claimed that acute food insecurity in 2023 could overtake the food crisis witnessed in 2007-2008. With agriculture being prone to climate change, weather variability, soaring temperature and invasive crops have elicited challenges and opportunities for investors and other stakeholders. The World Bank infers that agriculture produces around 19–29 per cent of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

ESG investors are expected to drive capital

AgroPolicy, Animal Health, Dairy, Live Stock

The training was organised as a part of the capacity-building programme with the objectives to educate and create awareness and enhance the knowledge and skill of the trainees about Mithun husbandry practices

Indian Council of Agricultural Research- National Research Centre (ICAR-NRC) on Mithun organised a five-day hands-on training on Mithun Husbandry Practices for Veterinary Field Assistant (VFA) trainees from Veterinary Field Assistant Training Institute, Medziphema.

A press release by ICAR-NRC on Mithun stated that the training was organised as a part of the capacity-building programme with the objectives to educate and create awareness and enhance the knowledge and skill of the trainees about Mithun husbandry practices so that the whole Mithun farming community would be benefited.


The training covered both practical and theory, wherein scientists delivered lectures on various topics like care and management of different categories of Mithun, selection, breeding feeding and fodder resources management for Mithun, health, reproductive management and other topics.


During practical class, the students witnessed routine farm activities, animal handling, identification of animals, collection of samples and other activities including detection of heat, semen collection and milking in Mithun. The training programme was co-ordinated by Dr Sapunii Stephen Hanah, Dr J. K. Chamuah, Dr H. Lazampuia and Dr Kobu Khate of the institute.

The training was organised as a part

Acquaculture, AgroPolicy, India, Live Stock, R&D

This invention focuses on creating an effective and efficient system and method for achieving captive maturation and year-round multiple breeding of Golden Mahseer

ICAR- Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal received a patent for the invention, ‘System for Year-Round Repeated Breeding and Higher Robust Fry Production of Golden Mahseer.’ This invention, led by Dr M.S. Akhtar, Senior Scientist, and his team (Dr Ciji Alexander, Dr Rajesh M, and Dr Debajit Sarma) at the ICAR-DCFR, offers a ray of hope for the Golden Mahseer (Tor putitora) population, potentially reversing its status from ‘Endangered’ to ‘Abundance’ in the near future.

This invention focuses on creating an effective and efficient system and method for achieving captive maturation and year-round multiple breeding of Golden Mahseer in indoor compact tanks with separate male and female rearing to enable multiple breeding cycles, resulting in higher fecundity and increased fry production. It involves providing specific conditions to mimic breeding and grazing grounds, utilising maturation diets, and carefully controlling temperature and photoperiod at different stages of hatchery operations. Importantly, this climate-friendly invention conserves water resources and exhibits the potential to rehabilitate the Golden Mahseer population.

ICAR-DCFR has successfully commercialised the technology to M/s. Das and Kumars Pvt. Ltd., Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, through ICAR-Agrinnovate. This marks a significant milestone in translating the issue-based research breakthrough into practical applications, thereby expanding the reach and influence of ICAR-DCFR’s invention.

This invention focuses on creating an effective

Acquaculture, AgroPolicy, Live Stock

Union Minister of Fisheries launched the 6th Phase of  Sagar Parikrama in Andaman & Nicobar Islands

The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India launched Phase VI programme of the Sagar Parikrama, program on 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The Sagar Parikrama program has been organised through a pre-decided sea route covering coastal states/Union Territories. The two-day Phase VI was organised at Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the Union Territory of India, which started from Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA) – Marine Product Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Kodiyaghat, Port Blair to understand the Domestication of Tiger Shrimp Project.

Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying in the presence of Keshav Chandra, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Andaman &Nicobar, Dr L.N Murthy, National Fisheries Development Board, grace the occasion.  The Sagar Parikarma would be proceeding towards the other locations like Panighat Fish landing centre, VK Pur Fish Lending Centre, Hutbay, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Islands etc.

While addressing the occasion, Rupala recognised the critical role of fish farmers in meeting the growing demand and the invaluable contributions of our fishermen and fish farmers who tirelessly work to provide a vital source of food and sustenance. Rupala emphasised sustainable fishing practices that increase productivity and minimise environmental impacts. Union Minister informed that due to the high demand of fishermen from all over the country to support them in improving their livelihood, the Prime Minister established a separate department of fisheries and from 1950 to 2014 the investment in the fisheries sector was of around Rs 3,681 crore. After that, the government introduces the schemes such as PMMSY, FIDF and others with a budget of approx. Rs. 32,000 crore. has been made for developing the fisheries sector by understanding the ground realities.

The Union Minister interacted with the beneficiaries such as fish farmers and fishermen present at the event. Many beneficiaries shared their ground-level experiences with Parshottam Rupala and highlighted their issues as well as appraised for the tremendous contribution that the KCC and PMMSY scheme has introduced in the life of fishermen and fishing communities.

Union Minister of Fisheries launched the 6th

Agro chems – Pesticides, Agrotech, Company News, India

New Galaxy® NXT herbicide features dual mode of action technology to control grasses and broadleaf weeds in soybean crops.

FMC, a leading agricultural sciences company, announced the launch of drone spray services in the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. The company also launched Galaxy® NXT, a novel herbicide for soybean crops, one of the most cultivated crops in the state.

The new herbicide and drone spray service were launched in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, in the presence of Mark Douglas, President and Chief Executive Officer of FMC Corporation and Pramod Thota, President of the FMC Asia Pacific region. A live demonstration of self-propelled boom spray services, which are expected to be introduced throughout the country in the next three months, was also conducted successfully in farmers’ fields.

Approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the government body responsible for the regulation of air transport services in India, the drone service is expected to improve farm productivity while reducing the need for manual labour. Agricultural unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) allow more control over spray uniformity and coverage, as well as improve the precision with which crop protection products like FMC’s premium and farmer-trusted brands Coragen® insect control and Benevia® insecticide are applied. Each spray drone can treat three to four acres in about 15 minutes, making the spraying job easier and more efficient. Using UAVs will also protect farmers from climatic risks like dehydration and heat stroke. FMC India has also been running customized training programs for farmers, advocating optimal use of input resources across crops grown in India. The spray services are available via the FMC India Farmer App in regional languages for ease of accessibility.

“FMC’s move is in line with the Indian government’s inclusive reforms to onboard drone and other spray services to modernize agriculture in the country,” said Ravi Annavarapu, President, FMC India. “Adoption of technology is critical to ensure crop protection and food security. India is at the forefront of innovating food systems, and this progress is best displayed in the state of Madhya Pradesh, which is market-driven, tech-positive and farmer-centric. Madhya Pradesh, one of the first states where FMC has introduced spray services, demonstrates our commitment to providing access and training to promote rural entrepreneurship. At the same time, we are pleased to offer innovative solutions for production of soybean ahead of the kharif season and will continue to contribute to the growth of the agriculture sector in Madhya Pradesh.” Annavarapu also added, “Through the launch of spray services to enable farmers in Madhya Pradesh to use our range of insecticides on various crops and the launch of a new product Galaxy® NXT herbicide for soybean growers, we are well equipped to meet the requirements of our partners and we will continue to localize and customize our services across the spectrum.”

New Galaxy® NXT herbicide features dual mode