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Dairy, India, Live Stock, Sustainability

The dairy farmers took the pledge and thanked the Government for outlining the way forward by giving them the cherished goal of making the country a global leader

On the occasion, the dairy farmers members of 22 Milk Producer Companies (Farmer Producer Organisations which embody principles that are similar to Cooperatives) came together and committed themselves to: ‘Make India Dairy of the World by increasing India’s share of the total world production’; ‘Provide quality milk and milk products to consumers by sourcing milk even from the remotest part of the country’; ‘Provide a competitive price to farmer members through a fair and transparent process of milk collection and making payments in their respective bank accounts’ and ‘Increase milk productivity through breed improvement programs and better animal management practices’. 

Meenesh Shah, Chairman of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and it is subsidiary NDDB Dairy Services, which is at the forefront of driving India’s efforts towards an apex global position in milk production, said, ‘The world dairying community only months’ back paid rich tributes to rural India and dairy farmers at the World Dairy Summit 2022. We are part of this proud community of milk producers and are working on numerous initiatives for enhancing production and productivity in India towards making the dream of the Prime Minister a reality.’

In colourful events from distant Tirupati to coastal Gujarat to the spreads of Rajasthan to the hinterlands of UP and Bihar, the dairy farmers took the pledge and thanked the Government for outlining the way forward by giving them a cherished goal of making the country a global leader to attain the target of 33 per cent market share in the decade to come. 

It is pertinent to note that India’s collective drive towards ‘Dairy of the World’ has women empowerment ingrained into it, as out of 22 Milk Producer Companies supported by NDS, 15 have all-women membership and all the Producer Directors on their Boards too are women. These 22 MPCs spread across 130 districts in 9 states of the country, have 8.7 Lakh members and 71 per cent of them are women. 

The dairy farmers took the pledge and

Finance, Foodgrains, Sustainability, Water, World

Farmer-to-farmer humanitarian effort unites industry partners worldwide to raise funds and support the farmers of Ukraine

EarthDaily Agro, a division of geospatial analytics provider EarthDaily Analytics Corporation, announced the support for Farmerhood, a global charitable collective comprised of leading agricultural companies to provide humanitarian relief to Ukrainian farmers amidst the ongoing disruptions to their livelihoods caused by Russian military aggression.

“It’s impossible to overstate the impact of the war in Ukraine,” said Dave Gebhardt, General Manager of EarthDaily Agro. “Ukrainian farmers, who are struggling to stay afloat through Russia’s invasion, are a powerful example of the continued impact this ongoing crisis is creating. The need for support is pressing, and in response, EarthDaily Agro has mobilised a group of leading agriculture partners, all united in standing with Ukraine.”

Through the program, Ukrainian farmers with up to 1,200 acres (500 hectares) located in regions impacted by war are eligible to receive sustaining services to support their critical work as they grapple with the challenges of hostile military invasion. Funds raised through the program provide support to Ukrainian farmers across five key focus areas:

Agricultural inputs such as seeds and crop protection

Precision farming services that support the efficient use of limited resources

Fuel to enable field operations

Restoration to help repair facilities and machinery

Financial support to cover additional needs such as rent, salaries and taxes

EarthDaily Agro’s contributions to Farmerhood include best-in-class analytics services to help Ukrainian farmers monitor crop health, use resources efficiently and detect early warning signs of negative environmental trends — ultimately helping the farmers of Ukraine maximise the yields to keep their operations afloat and support food security both in their own communities and across the world-at-large.

“Around the world, a shared camaraderie exists between farmers,” Gebhardt said. “Farming is one of the most challenging careers a person can choose, and that creates a bond that can’t be broken no matter where you live. As an individual who grew up on a family farm myself, I am immensely proud to support our farming brothers and sisters in Ukraine through Farmerhood.”

Farmer-to-farmer humanitarian effort unites industry partners worldwide

AgroPolicy, Horticulture, Schemes - NABARD, Sustainability, Vegetables

The GI-tagged products in Nagaland include: Naga Mircha (King Chilli); Naga Tree Tomato; Naga Sweet Cucumber and Chakhesang Shawl

North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC), under the Ministry of Development of Northeast Region (DoNER), has authorised 250 Naga Sweet Cucumber and Tree Tomato farmers in Nagaland to use NERAMAC processed Geographical Identification (GI) certification.

GI awareness programme was held in Kohima. GI initiative is part of the Government of India’s broader efforts to promote sustainable agriculture, protect the rights of farmers and enhanced the country’s agricultural exports.

A short presentation was made about the work being undertaken by NERAMAC in the North Eastern Region in general and Nagaland in particular. About 100 Naga Tree Tomato and Naga Sweet Cucumber farmers attended the seminar.

Tiakala Ao, general manager of NABARD Kohima said GI is a form of intellectual property rights that identifies a product originating from a specific geographical location, possessing qualities, reputation or characteristics that are attributable to that location. Therefore, she said GI protection can play a significant role in promoting and safeguarding the traditional and unique products of a region.

Tiakala informed that at present the GI-tagged products in Nagaland include: Naga Mircha (King Chilli); Naga Tree Tomato; Naga Sweet Cucumber and Chakhesang Shawl.
Horticulture department director, Meyasashi, give a presentation on Naga Tree Tomato and Naga Cucumber, explaining the advantages of these products.

The GI-tagged products in Nagaland include: Naga

AgroPolicy, Agrotech, Animal Health, Live Stock, Poultry

The MoU is aimed at promoting an Inter-Organisational knowledge exchange, and facilities sharing in the areas of common interest

ICAR- National Institute of Animal Nutrition and & Physiology, Bangalore signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Karnataka Poultry Farmers and Breeders Association (KPFBA). The KPFBA is an apex body, representing poultry farmers & breeders of Karnataka. It was established in 1991 to promote the development of poultry breeding and farming in Karnataka, where occupation is a major activity. The KPFBA collects and exchange information pertaining to poultry breeding and farming with farmers, businesses, educational, research institutions, and other organizations in Karnataka and the rest of India.

The MoU was signed by Dr Raghavendra Bhatta, Director, ICAR-NIANP, Bangalore, and Dr Sushanth Rai Bellipady, KPFBA, President, KPFBA on behalf of their respective Organisations.

The MoU is aimed at promoting an Inter-Organisational knowledge exchange, and facilities sharing in the areas of common interest.

Dr Bhatta appraised the poultry research initiatives at ICAR-NIANP and invited mutual areas of interest from the members of KPFBA present on the occasion. He further emphasised that ICAR-NIANP has state-of-the-art facilities for feed and mineral analysis, in ovo nutrition.

Dr Rai expressed the need for active collaboration between the researchers and the poultry sector and promised to share the commercial flock facilities for evaluation of the technologies developed by the Institute.

The MoU is aimed at promoting an

Agrotech, Company News, R&D, World

UPL will use Biome Makers’ BeCrop Test technology in a series of global trials across multiple locations and cropping systems to gain further insights into its inputs’ modes of action.

UPL Ltd, a global leader in sustainable agriculture solutions, has announced a partnership with Biome Makers, a globally recognized agtech leader, to deepen understanding of the positive impact of UPL’s natural biosolution inputs on soil health.

UPL will use Biome Makers’ BeCrop Test technology in a series of global trials across multiple locations and cropping systems to gain further insights into its inputs’ modes of action. The data received from these trials will guide future product development and allow growers to make more informed decisions about their farming practices.

Drew Wolter, Technical Development Manager for UPL, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Biome Makers to conduct these trials as part of our OpenAg commitment to collaboration. Healthy soil is vital to the future of sustainable agriculture, garnering further insights into how our natural biosolution inputs can improve soil health will ensure we continue to empower farmers to grow more food, more sustainably.”

Adrián Ferrero, Biome Makers’ CEO, said: “Our mission at Biome Makers is to improve soil health and provide companies the tools they need to equip farmers with the right solutions. Input companies around the globe are using BeCrop Technology to understand the impact of their products on the soil microbiome. Partnering with UPL aligns with our mission, and we are excited to work together to advance the understanding of soil functionality.”

UPL will use Biome Makers’ BeCrop Test

AgroPolicy, Foodgrains, India, Sustainability

The focus of the training was to provide hands-on training on the Production protocol of biocontrol agents for the management of Fall armyworm

A five-day training programme on the Production protocol of biocontrol agents for the management of Fall armyworm was organised at ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bengaluru for seven officials from Nepal and Bangladesh.

The training was sponsored by USAID, under the Feed the Future Nepal Integrated Pest Management Program (FTFNIPM) and Feed the Future Bangladesh Integrated Pest Management (IPMA) program funded by USAID.  

The focus of the training was to provide hands-on training on the Production protocol of biocontrol agents for the management of Fall armyworm.

Dr S. N. Sushil, Director, ICAR-NBAIR chaired the inaugural and valedictory program. In his address, he emphasised that closer working with neighbouring countries is essential to ward off the threat due to alien invasive pests. He also emphasised the importance of regional cooperation in the field of pest identification and sustainable management of invasive pests.

The training programme will enable the participants to set up production units or fine-tune the methodologies adopted at existing units in their respective countries.

The focus of the training was to

Agrotech, Company News, Finance, India, Institutions, Start ups

The two companies will hold a 50-50 % stake in the new company under the JV.

Noida based Leads Connect Services, a premier agritech data, risk management, and financial services company, and Ensuredit, an AI-based platform that brings efficiency to the insurance distribution cycle, are delighted to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic joint venture (JV) named ‘Leads Ensuredit Private Limited’.

The collaboration harnesses the power of technology, data analytics, and industry insights to improve the financial resilience of farmers and agribusinesses by developing tailored insurance products that help with enhanced risk management.

Leads Connect has been a leading force in pioneering inventive solutions for the agricultural sector, catering to the diverse requirements of farmers, agribusinesses, and financial institutions. It has brought about a paradigm shift in agricultural financing, ensuring effortless access to capital and financial services for farmers throughout the country.

Ensuredit, an established platform-as-a-service (PaaS) insurtech provider in India, has positively impacted millions of individuals and businesses, transforming the insurance industry through state-of-the-art technological solutions.

The collaboration combines the proven expertise and capabilities of both organisations. It creates a dynamic fusion of agricultural knowledge, agri-research, disaster risk management, and an understanding of insurance technology to provide a short- and medium-term product roadmap for farmers and agribusinesses.

The primary objective of the joint venture is to build a futuristic insurtech infrastructure that will provide comprehensive insurance solutions and drive innovation in the agri-insurtech sector. In the initial phase following the formation of the joint venture, the focus will be on expanding service offerings in national and international markets.

Both Leads Connect Agritech and Ensuredit are committed to the success of the JV and will provide all resources to ensure its growth and development. Furthermore, Leads Ensuredit plans to hire an initial core team of 7 to 8 people, which will be expanded based on business growth needs.

Amit Boni, CEO of Ensuredit, commented, “We are thrilled to partner with Leads Connect in this exciting joint venture. The signing of the MoU and the alliance are history in the making.

By springboarding on each other’s strengths, we’ll be offering unique value to the sector. With Leads Ensuredit, we aim to make a positive impact by providing farmers with innovative agri-fintech solutions that enhance their productivity, mitigate risks, and improve the overall ecosystem.”

Navneet Ravikar, Chairman & Managing Director, Leads Connect Services, expressed great enthusiasm about the joint venture, stating, “Leads Ensuredit represents an unprecedented opportunity to transform the agricultural landscape by leveraging the power of agritech, fintech, and insurtech. By combining our agricultural expertise with Ensuredit’s technological prowess, we are confident that we can deliver ground-breaking financial inclusion that will empower everyone and contribute to the sector.”

The two companies will hold a 50-50

AgroPolicy, Finance, Microfinance, Sustainability

With a corpus of INR 250 crore, AAIF is a unique sector-specific fund that will mainly invest in small and medium enterprises in Assam

Caspian Impact Investment AdviserPvt. Ltd. (Caspian Equity) signed an MoU with Assam Rural Infrastructure and Agricultural Services (ARIAS) Society, an autonomous body under the Government of Assam. Under the partnership, ARIAS will be the anchor investor for the Assam Agribusiness Investment Fund (AAIF), which will be managed by CaspianEquity as the fund manager. With anchor funding from the World Bank through Assam Rural Infrastructure and Agricultural Services (ARIAS) Society, AAIF will operate as a Category II Alternative Investment Fund registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

The Assam Agribusiness Investment Fund (AAIF) is planned with a corpus of INR 250 crore and aims to strengthen the rural ecosystem, foster agricultural productivity, and increase employment opportunities in the state through risk capital investments in SMEs.

With a corpus of INR 250 crore, AAIF is a unique sector-specific fund that will mainly invest in small and medium enterprises in Assam, India. The fund will support high-growth and high-impact agribusiness SMEs for vibrant and resilient agribusiness/agri-food value chains in Assam

With a corpus of INR 250 crore,

AgroPolicy, Foodgrains, India, Supply Chain, Sustainability, Warehousing

The Ministry of Cooperation will implement a pilot project in at least 10 selected districts of different states

The Union Cabinet approved the constitution and empowerment of an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) for the facilitation of the World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in the Cooperative Sector through the convergence of various schemes of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Ministry of Food Processing Industries.

In order to ensure time-bound and uniform implementation of the Plan in a professional manner, the Ministry of Cooperation will implement a pilot project in at least 10 selected Districts of different States/ UTs in the country. The Pilot would provide valuable insights into the various regional requirements of the project, the learnings from which will be suitably incorporated for the country-wide implementation of the Plan.

An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) will be constituted under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Cooperation, with the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Minister of Food Processing Industries and Secretaries concerned as members to modify guidelines/ implementation methodologies of the schemes of the respective Ministries as and when the need arises, within the approved outlays and prescribed goals, for facilitation of the ‘World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector’ by the creation of infrastructure such as godowns, etc. for Agriculture and Allied purposes, at selected ‘viable’ Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).

The Plan would be implemented by utilising the available outlays provided under the identified schemes of the respective Ministries.

The plan is multi-pronged – it aims to address not just the shortage of agricultural storage infrastructure in the country by facilitating the establishment of godowns at the level of PACS.

National Level Coordination Committee will be formed within one week of the Cabinet approval. Implementation guidelines will be issued within 15 days of the Cabinet approval.

A portal for the linkage of PACS with Govt. of India and State Governments will be rolled out within 45 days of the Cabinet approval. Implementation of the proposal will start within 45 days of the Cabinet approval.

The Ministry of Cooperation will implement a

Agrotech, Company News, India, Logistics, Supply Chain

This one-stop digital platform has enlisted every stakeholder involved in the agricultural ecosystem-from loaders to exporters.

SLCM, a global post-harvest Agri-Logistics company, has launched its proprietary listing platform under Agri Reach Application. This platform has enlisted every stakeholder involved in the agricultural ecosystem-from Loaders, Truckers, Warehouses, Financers, Packaging Material Providers, Traders, Processors, Retailers, and Millers to Exporters. It aims to provide a one-stop destination akin to a shopping complex but for those in the field of agriculture, making it ideal for those seeking in-house solutions for all their agri-needs.

Currently, the platform has 100,000+ listings, and the goal is to increase this to 500,000+ by the end of the financial year. Besides just mere listing, the platform provides complete details of the offerings of each category with a backend to ensure a culmination of an inquiry into the physical delivery of the service /product. 

The platform ensures highest standards of transparency in terms of information availability and accessibility. This element is an integral part of SLCM’s initiative to integrate and standardize an otherwise scattered sector. The platform utilizes advanced technological tools like AI, ML, and Data Analytics while ensuring that the user experience is optimized and easy.

While the listing platform is immediately accessible through the mobile apps that can be downloaded from Google & Apple store, whereas the web portal is scheduled to go live soon. The brand has also planned BTL activities, including social media awareness through YouTube videos, WhatsApp, distribution of flyers, and more.

Through this endeavour, SLCM proposes to create a ‘highway’ to ‘complete digitization,’ enabling agriculture stakeholders to streamline their day-to-day operations by leveraging the power of this cutting-edge platform. Simply put, this platform is an embodiment of the Phygital initiative of SLCM.

Prashant Sharma, the Head of the Technology division, said, “This cutting-edge platform sets itself apart by leveraging technological innovation and offering a comprehensive solution to all stakeholders in the agricultural ecosystem. With a focus on seamless integration and user-centric design, our platform transforms the listing experience, providing complete details of each category and facilitating close collaboration and networking of different agri services and products. This opens up further avenues for future changes in the ecosystem, laying the foundation for enhanced efficiency and collaboration within the agricultural sector”.

Sandeep Sabharwal, Group CEO of Sohan Lal Commodity Management, said, “Technology and innovation are the cornerstones of SLCM. This platform will allow the desired service to reach those working on the ground by bridging the gap between their offerings and the digital ecosystem. From the bottom up, this platform will assist in building an online directory of all stakeholders and participants in the sector.”

This one-stop digital platform has enlisted every

AgroPolicy, India, Sustainability, Water

Till date about 81 per cent more than the area covered during pre-PDMC 8 years

A National Workshop on Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) was organised by the Department of Agriculture& Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India discussed with the stakeholders the various approaches which can be adopted for increasing penetration of micro irrigation in the country. Participants from various Ministries/ Department of Central Government, States and UTs, Irrigation Industries, Startups working in the water management sector and Farmers Producer Organisations were present in the event.

Manoj Ahuja, Secretary, of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) inaugurated the event. He emphasised the adoption of technologies in the implementation of the programmes and focused on enhancing micro-irrigation coverage and thereby increasing overall efficiency and water productivity of agriculture for ensuring the food and nutrition security of the country and incomes of the farmers, particularly in rainfed areas. Dr Himanshu Pathak, Secretary, of the Department of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE) also addressed the inaugural session. He urged all participants to make efforts to adopt micro-irrigation on a large scale to reduce the water footprint of the agriculture sector.

Franklin L Khobung, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare explained in detail the Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) Scheme and the progress made so far. It was informed that the Department of Agriculture, Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) from  2015-16 in all the States of the country which focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at the farm level through Micro Irrigation viz. Drip and Sprinkler irrigation systems. An area of 78 lakh ha has been covered under Micro Irrigation from 2015-16 to till date which is about 81 per cent more than the area covered during pre-PDMC 8 years. The Government has been focusing on increasing water productivity in agriculture and thereby sustainable agriculture and incomes of farmers. A Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) with a corpus of Rs. 5000 Crore has been created with NABARD during 2018-19 with the major objective to facilitate the States in mobilising the resources to provide top-up/additional incentives to farmers for incentivising micro irrigation beyond the provisions available under Per Drop More Crop as well as innovative integrated projects including projects in the Public Private Partnership (PPP) for expanding Micro-irrigation. A Budget announcement has been made to double the initial corpus of the Micro Irrigation Fund under NABARD, by augmenting it by another Rs. 5,000 crores.

During the programme, five Best Gram Panchayats from the States of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu were recognised for their efforts in high micro-irrigation adoption and best practices in the water management sector.

Till date about 81 per cent more