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Malaysia, Supply Chain, Sustainability, Vegetables

FedEx volunteers will be engaged in planting, harvesting, sorting of vegetables and distributing, as well as garden maintenance

FedEx Express (FedEx), a subsidiary of FedEx Corp and one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, collaborated with the sustainability-focused environmental organisation Treat Every Environment Special (TrEES) to provide fresh vegetables to disadvantaged communities in Malaysia.

From August to October 2023, FedEx is working with TrEES to establish a 1,000-square feet community garden in the Klang Valley. FedEx volunteers will be engaged in planting, harvesting, sorting of vegetables and distributing, as well as garden maintenance. In August the first batch of volunteers consisting of 23 FedEx team members kick-started the program by planting vegetables in the garden.

“We are privileged to be able to use our resources to support underserved communities in urban areas that are facing poor living conditions and socio-economic challenges,” said Tien Long Woon, Managing Director, FedEx Express Malaysia. “By farming vegetables and delivering them to households, we hope to improve their well-being and promote a healthier lifestyle, while reinforcing the importance of protecting the environment. Throughout our three decades in Malaysia, we have been committed to positively impacting customers, the market and our communities.”

This program is part of the FedEx Cares global community engagement program underpinned by our cultural value of Committing to Do Good. Progress in key areas of our FedEx corporate social responsibility initiatives, including pillars such as Community Engagement, Global Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Logistics can be found in the latest FedEx Cares Report.

FedEx volunteers will be engaged in planting,

Acquaculture, AgroPolicy, India, Live Stock

Amendment Act enables lakhs of small marginal aquaculture farmers to avoid possible need for obtaining Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances from multiple agencies.

The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023 passed by both Houses of the Parliament of India. The Government intends to reiterate that the coastal aquaculture and activities connected therewith are permitted activities within the (Coastal Regulation Zone) CRZ under the CRZ notifications. The Amendment Bill provides that the registration granted under Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act shall prevail and be treated as valid permission under CRZ Notification with the express intention of enabling lakhs of small marginal aquaculture farmers to avoid the possible need for obtaining CRZ clearances from multiple agencies.

Specific exemption has been granted under the CAA Act, through this amendment for the establishment of aquaculture units like hatcheries, Brood stock multiplication centres (BMC) and Nucleus Breeding Centres (NBC) within the No Development Zone (NDZ) [200m from the HTL] of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ).

The principal Act has a provision of imprisonment for a period up to 3 years for carrying out coastal aquaculture without registration. This appears to be a very harsh punishment for an offence of purely civil nature and hence the amendment bill replaces the same with suitable civil instruments such as penalty in line with the principle of decriminalizing civil transgressions.

The Amendment Bill provides for broad basing “coastal aquaculture” to comprehensively cover all activities of coastal aquaculture under the purview of this Act and to remove the ambiguity existing in the Principal Act between the farm and other verticals of coastal aquaculture. This is likely to ensure that no coastal aquaculture activity is left out of the ambit of the Act and operate in an environmentally hazardous manner.

The Government intends to promote ease of doing business in coastal aquaculture by fine tuning some of the operational procedures of Coastal Aquaculture Authority. The present amendment provides for effecting changes to the certificate of registration in case of changes in ownership or size of the activity and for providing new certificate in case of mutilation, damage or loss of certificate etc. It also provides for condoning the delay in applying for renewal of registration with compounded fee which was absent in the principal Act.

The Amendments expressly empower the Authority to appoint Committees which can contain experts, stake holders and public representatives for the efficient discharge of its duties and performance of its functions under Act.

Disease prevention is key to success of coastal aquaculture. Hence, Government intends to create facilities that produce genetically improved and disease-free stocks for use in coastal aquaculture. Such facilities, that is Hatcheries, Brood stock Multiplication centers and Nucleus Breeding Centers can be established only in areas having direct access to seawater and the Government intends to enable and facilitate them. Simultaneously, Government also intends to prevent use of antibiotics and pharmacologically active substances in coastal aquaculture by making express provisions in the Act.

Government envisages introducing global best practices such as mapping and zonation of aquaculture areas, Good Aquaculture Practices, quality assurance and safe aquaculture products, and to facilitate ease of doing business without diluting the core principles of environment protection through introducing suitable provisions in the Act. These will promote production and productivity, traceability, increased competitiveness and entrepreneurship along the value chain and exports in coastal aquaculture sector in a sustainable manner and will lead to sustained raise in incomes and employment in rural areas along the coast.

The Amendment Bill has new provisions for empowering the Coastal Aquaculture Authority to better regulate the activities connected with coastal aquaculture for coastal environment compliance. The amendment bill provides for fixing or adopting the standards for emission or discharge of effluents from coastal aquaculture units, making the owner liable to pay the cost of demolition and cost of damage to the environment, if any, as assessed by the Authority in the true spirit of Polluter Pays Principle and prohibits coastal aquaculture in the ecologically sensitive areas or the geo-morphological features.

Amendment Act enables lakhs of small marginal

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

Swaraj 8200 Wheel Harvester’s intelligent system offers real-time information to machine owners, including live location tracking, business parameters tracking such as acres harvested.

Swaraj Tractors, a rapidly growing tractor brand in the country and a part of the Mahindra Group, today launched – ‘Swaraj 8200 Wheel Harvester’, featuring best-in-class fuel economy and industry-first technologically advanced features.

This latest offering from Swaraj carries forward the brand’s legacy of Power and Reliability, promising superior harvesting capabilities while ensuring minimal grain loss and higher grain quality and providing remarkable acreage per hour.

One of the industry-first features of ‘Swaraj 8200’ is its intelligent system, offering real-time information to machine owners, including live location tracking, business parameters tracking such as acres harvested, road kilometres travelled and fuel consumption. This information facilitates better decision-making and operational efficiency.

In addition to vehicle service and health alerts, AdBlue level indicators and engine alerts enable real-time monitoring for equipment owners, farmers and rental entrepreneurs, maximizing the machine’s use and profitability. This also enables proactive maintenance while minimizing downtime.

Manufactured in the company’s own state-of-the-art facility spread over 23 acres, Swaraj 8200 Wheel harvester is also fitted with a highly fuel- efficient, in-house TREM-IV complaint engine.

Its ergonomic design ensures better driving comfort, minimises fatigue during long hours of operation. Furthermore, operators receive personalized support through a dedicated relationship manager and app-based video calling, ensuring prompt and convenient doorstep service.

Hemant Sikka, President Farm Equipment Sector-M&M Ltd, stated, “Introducing the ‘Swaraj 8200 Wheel Harvester’ marks a significant step towards our strategic focus on Farm Machinery & poised to propel exponential growth within this sector. The debut of this intelligent machinery stands as a testament to our unwavering dedication to modernizing agriculture and enabling farmers with latest technology.”

Harish Chavan, CEO – Swaraj Division, M&M Ltd, said, “Swaraj is committed to empowering farmers with superior mechanized solutions to achieve maximum yields and profits in line with our Farm Equipment Sector’s purpose of Transform farming and Enrich Lives. Swaraj 8200 Wheel Harvester is a testament to our dedication to customer centricity, nurturing modern farming practices and sustainable agriculture.”

Swaraj 8200 Wheel Harvester’s intelligent system offers

AgroPolicy, India, Sustainability

The minister informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply that eight states, namely Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Tamil Nadu, were involved

Narendra Singh Tomar, Agriculture Minister stated in Parliament that eight states, led by Andhra Pradesh, have implemented natural farming on about 4.09 lakh hectares of land.

The minister informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply that eight states, namely Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Tamil Nadu, were involved.

The Centre has been promoting natural farming since 2019-20 through a sub-scheme called Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP) under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana.

‘Tomar said that eight states have implemented natural farming on a 4.09 lakh hectare area.

About 1 lakh hectares of land have been converted to natural farming in various states across India, including 99,000 hectares in Madhya Pradesh, 85,000 hectares in Chhattisgarh, 84,000 hectares in Kerala, 24,000 hectares in Odisha, 12,000 hectares in Himachal Pradesh, 3,400 hectares in Jharkhand, and 2,000 hectares in Tamil Nadu.

Natural farming is chemical-free and based on the integrated agriculture and animal husbandry approach using livestock and local resources. The method relies on on-farm biomass recycling with major stress on biomass mulching and the use of on-farm cow dung-urine formulations from local livestock.

The minister informed the Lok Sabha in

Animal Health, Company News, Dairy, Goat farming, India, Live Stock, Start ups

Gramik is also planning to conduct various educational meetings in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra to educate the cattle herders about the importance of using supplements.

 Gramik, India’s first Peer Commerce in AgriTech is set to tap the growing cattle industry in India after setting a benchmark in the agricultural industry. The platform is launching three cattle food supplements – ‘Doodh Sagar’, ‘Heifer Mix’, and ‘Urja Pashu PoshakAahar’ in August 2023.

The new range of products is launched with a vision to help the livestock farmers of India gain an edge in the industry to make acquiring quality cattle food supplements accessible at affordable prices. 

Raj Yadav, Founder & CEO of Gramik said, “Young animals, especially, need a nutrient-rich diet to support their rapid growth and development. Nutrients like protein, calcium, and phosphorus are essential for building strong bones, muscles, and organs. The newly launched cattle feed supplements by Gramik are a result of extensive research and considerate discussions with farmers on the problems they face in procuring high-quality supplements for cattle at affordable rates in the marketplace.”

India is the country with the largest number of milk-producing bovines in the world, producing over 187 million tonnes of milk each day, and contributing 27 per cent of the agricultural GDP in India. Thus, to help the Indian farmers increase the milk production capacity of dairy animals, a feed supplement – ‘Doodh Sagar’ is launched, which will provide the lactating cattle with essential nutrients like carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and fatty acids.

Another revolutionary product, ‘Heifer Mix’ is one of a kind mineral mix for young female cattle – heifers to provide them with proper nutrition and support weight gain in them. The third innovative solution, ‘Urja Pashu Poshak Aahar’ has been launched to provide dairy animals with energy, while also keeping the animals’ reproductive health and emotions in check.

Adding value to the supplement, the packaging of the products comes with essential directions and advice on the suggested quantities according to various age groups of animals. Gramik is also planning to conduct various educational meetings in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra to educate the cattle herders about the importance of using supplements and maximizing the benefits reaped out of them.

Gramik is also planning to conduct various

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agro chems – Fertilizers, Agro chems – Pesticides, Company News, Finance, Inputs, World

The fall in sales is mainly driven by lower volumes and prices for glyphosate-based products in North and Latin America as well as in Europe/Middle East/Africa.

Bayer has published detailed results for the second quarter of 2023, after having already communicated key figures for the three-month period and lowering its outlook for full-year 2023 in a July 24 news release. The revised guidance was mainly due to a significant further decline in sales of glyphosate-based products at the Crop Science Division.

Sales in the agricultural business (Crop Science) fell by 18.5 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.) to 4.924 billion euros, mainly driven by lower volumes and prices for glyphosate-based products. This effect particularly impacted business in North and Latin America as well as in Europe/Middle East/Africa and resulted in a 45.6 percent decrease in sales (Fx & portfolio adj.) at Herbicides. Excluding the glyphosate business, Crop Science sales were level with the previous year (Fx & portfolio adj.), as higher prices were offset by lower volumes. Sales at Corn Seed & Traits rose by 10.6 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.), largely thanks to higher prices in all regions as well as increased acreages in North America. Business at Fungicides was level with the prior-year quarter (Fx & portfolio adj.). Sales at Soybean Seed & Traits were down 9.3 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.), mainly due to decreased acreages and a decline in license revenues in North America.

EBITDA before special items at Crop Science fell by 58.5 percent to 725 million euros, primarily due to the decline in sales of glyphosate-based products. Higher prices in the rest of the business and cost savings only partially compensated for this effect. Earnings were also diminished by a mainly inflation-related increase in the cost of goods sold and a negative currency effect of 96 million euros (Q2 2022: positive currency effect of 215 million euros).

The fall in sales is mainly driven

Agrotech, Climate, Company News, Finance, North America

Pledge includes the company’s initiatives supporting smallholder farmers, youth, and advancements in climate-smart technologies and digital tools for farmers in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

FMC Corporation, a leading global agricultural sciences company has announced a $30.5 million commitment to the Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge. The Pledge, which emerged from the UN Food Systems Summit Action Track 1, is a call for companies to align their business initiatives and investments with a global movement to end hunger by 2030. FMC’s commitment includes the company’s ongoing efforts to improve the productivity and incomes of smallholder farmers, provide training and development opportunities for rural women and youth, and advance digital and precision technologies for farmers across Asia, Africa and Latin America.

“We are increasingly concerned by the growing number of people around the world facing acute food insecurity and believe companies like FMC have an obligation to use our resources and expertise to develop real solutions to the hunger crisis,” says Julie DiNatale, vice president and chief sustainability officer. “FMC’s commitment to the Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge further aligns our investments with continuous efforts to support farmers, secure the future of food and achieve the goal of Zero Hunger by 2030.” 

Key Elements of FMC’s Pledge

A substantial part of FMC’s commitment is in precision agriculture technology to help farmers adapt to increasingly unpredictable growing conditions, including changes in weather patterns that bring new and evolving pest pressures. Through its pledge, FMC will invest in launching its Arc™ farm intelligence platform on farms across Cameroon, Burkina Faso, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Philippines, Colombia and Mexico through 2030. Arc™ farm intelligence provides farmers real-time data and insights about the scope and scale of pest pressure on their crops, allowing them to proactively treat pest outbreaks before they lead to widespread crop damage. The platform and all necessary field monitoring equipment are provided at no cost to the farmer, which is part of FMC’s commitment to ensuring smallholder and historically underserved farmers have access to advanced solutions that improve their productivity and resilience.

Smallholder farmers are at the center of FMC’s commitment to the Pledge. They are a vital part of the food production system globally and an increasingly important farmer segment in Asia Pacific, contributing to economic stability and food security within the region. FMC will invest part of its overall commitment in the company’s Sustainable, Transformational Initiative toward Development (STRIDE) program, a unique initiative launched in India, Pakistan and the Philippines to increase smallholder farmer access to innovative crop protection technologies and extension services to improve their yields, grow their incomes and enhance their quality of life. The program, which centers on technology, knowledge-building and community engagement, will directly impact more than 175,000 smallholder farmers across the region within a three-year period.

FMC’s remaining commitment includes investments in additional partnerships and programs, including a development initiative in Kenya that will train young people to provide extension services to smallholder farmers in the region. Partnering with G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, FMC is training rural women in India in beekeeping as a sustainable source of income. And in Brazil, FMC’s partnership with Traive, a fintech startup company, is helping small- to medium-sized farmers access credit to purchase vital crop inputs.

Pledge includes the company's initiatives supporting smallholder

Agrotech, R&D, World

Enko provides thought leadership and innovation to help address global concerns and shape policy as a centre for nature and climate partner

Enko, the crop health company, today announced that it has expanded its engagement with the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Innovator Communities with an invitation to be a WEF Global Innovator. Enko has been a WEF Technology Pioneer since 2021 and now joins 400+ of the world’s leading start-ups to positively shape our shared future within the WEF’s Centre for Nature and Climate.

According to the WEF, “Global Innovators are among the most impactful and innovative start-ups in the world. They are actively engaged in the Forum’s efforts to advance global collaboration across the forum’s 10 Centres serving to benefit global society.”

Enko continues to answer the call for solutions to aid in more sustainable increases in food production by addressing key pests and diseases devastating yields for farmers globally. Their innovative use of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and drug discovery approaches allows for the design of novel, safe and effective crop protection, and comes at a time when many regions of the world are struggling to produce sufficient food for their people. As part of this new Forum engagement, Enko will engage alongside a community of innovators coordinated by WEF to craft a sustainable future that will positively impact food security around the world.

“We are pleased to continue engaging Enko in the Forum’s Innovator communities,” says Verena Kuhn, Head of the Innovator Communities at the World Economic Forum. “Finding sustainable and inclusive ways of feeding the world’s population is one of the challenges that the Forum’s Centre for Nature and Climate is tackling, and Enko can provide valuable insights on this and is innovating novel ways for farmers to help achieve this goal.”

Enko provides thought leadership and innovation to help

Agrotech, Award, India, IT, R&D

The Krushi Care app is utilised by over 12,000 farmers and features a catalogue of more than 500 products

Esteemed technology expert Sujata Roychowdhury recently received the Maharashtra Business Icon Award for her outstanding achievements in the agriculture sector. She has made significant strides in the Agriculture Technology Sector by building Krushi Care App for farmers. Her groundbreaking contributions have not gone unnoticed, as she has recently been bestowed with the prestigious ‘Maharashtra Business Icon Awards 2023’ in the category of ‘Outstanding Leadership in Product Growth and Innovation for Agricultural Technology Solutions’.

Krushi Care App, also known as the Farmer App, is an innovative and comprehensive mobile application designed to revolutionise the agricultural sector. To solve the problems that farmers encounter, the Krushi Care software integrates cutting-edge technology, including IoT, data analytics, and real-time monitoring. The programme provides cognitive insights and predictive analytics to help farmers make data-driven decisions for improved outcomes. This is made possible by the integration of AI-based algorithms. It is a game-changer for the agricultural community. It empowers farmers to make informed decisions, connect with potential buyers and sellers, access vital resources, and stay updated with the latest industry developments.

Through the programme, farmers may get weather forecasting services, allowing them to properly plan their activities and adjust to shifting weather conditions. Additionally, the app analyses the health of the soil and uses artificial intelligence to optimise nutrient management practices based on nutrient content, pH levels, and other variables. With its user-friendly interface, comprehensive features, and commitment to the success of farmers, the app is poised to revolutionise the way agriculture is practised, ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for farmers across the nation. Currently, the Krushi Care app is utilised by over 12,000 farmers and features a catalogue of more than 500 products, catering to the needs of over 55 villages throughout Maharashtra.

The Krushi Care app is utilised by

Animal Health, Company News, Finance, India

Revenue from operations up 73 per cent to Rs 87.85 crore in Q1FY24.

Hester Biosciences Limited, one of India’s leading animal health company, manufacturing vaccines and health products has reported consolidated net profit of Rs 6.71 crore in Q1FY24 ended June 2023 as against net profit of Rs. 3.56 crore in Q1FY23, growth of 88 per cent. Company reported revenue from operations of Rs. 87.85 crore for the Q1FY24, growth of 73 per cent Y-o-Y as compared to revenue of Rs. 50.70 crore in Q1FY23. Operating profit during Q1FY24 ended June 2023 was reported at Rs. 14.36 crore, 93 per cent growth Y-o-Y from Rs 7.43 crore in Q1FY23. EPS for Q1FY24 was reported at Rs. 7.89 per share.

Consolidated results include operations of subsidiaries from Nepal and Tanzania. Hester Nepal had a turnover of Rs. 6.54 Crore primarily from exports of vaccines with overall Net Profit of Rs. 3.67 Crore during Q1 FY24. Hester Africa has registered export sales of Rs.  1.76 Crore.

Animal Healthcare Division

The Animal Healthcare division grew by 93 per cent. The increase in domestic sales of this division is attributed to:

1. A boost in demand for Goat Pox Vaccine (GPV) consequent to the Government advisory to carry out the annual preventive vaccination program for Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in cattle as well as towards the sale of PPR vaccine towards the National PPR Immunization program of Government of India.

2.  The continued growth in sales of health products resulting from the earlier investments in expansion of sales force, territorial expansion and new product introductions.

Poultry Healthcare Division

The Poultry Healthcare division experienced de-growth of 13% in sales of Q1. Domestic sales continued to be hit due to by the recession in the poultry industry, though it is now showing an upward trend.

Petcare Division

Petcare division which was launched last year, has registered promising sales of Rs. 0.80 Crore in Q1 FY24. Petcare products have been well received in the market as reflected by a steady upward trend in month-on-month sales.

Revenue from operations up 73 per cent

AgroPolicy, India, Vegetables

Bediya chilli mandi in Khargone district is the second-largest chilli market in India

The Madhya Pradesh horticulture and food processing department has applied for geographical indication (GI) tags for 46 state speciality products to aid in their worldwide promotion.

As part of the government’s ‘One District, One Product’ initiative, Nimar’s distinctive crop, Khargone Red Chillies, is already making a splash in foreign markets with 46 other products.

According to the local media Khargone district’s red chillies will receive special product status during Vikas Parv.

The Khargone’s chillies are among 46 special horticulture products in the state. A mission is underway to achieve this. The district cultivated chillies on 46556 hectares in 2023.

Bediya chilli mandi in Khargone district is the second-largest chilli market in India. The market has gained recognition for its high-quality chilli crops, leading to an increase in business expectations.

The Department of Horticulture and food processing conducted a survey of horticulture products in various districts of the state on Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s instructions.

Bediya chilli mandi in Khargone district is

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

Partnership aims to revolutionise Soybean crop monitoring across 51 districts using advanced satellite surveillance and AI-powered technology.

 Arya.ag, India’s leading agritech platform has announced a strategic partnership with The Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) to enhance and streamline crop monitoring for Soybean across 51 districts. The collaboration will leverage Arya Ag’s cutting-edge satellite surveillance product, Prakshep, and its Artificial Intelligence “VaMa” powered by multiple data sources.

As part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), SOPA will receive dynamic information, rich datasets, maps, and data-enriched secure APIs for their subscribed districts, spanning Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. The integration of Arya.ag’s state-of-the-art technology will enable SOPA to remotely scout its districts, detect anomalies, and track farm growth seamlessly through a user-friendly web/mobile application provided by Arya.

The partnership between Arya.ag and SOPA exemplifies the power of innovation and collaboration to impact India’s agricultural landscape positively. By utilising Arya.ag’s Prakshep and VaMa solutions, SOPA aims to enhance crop yields, facilitate data-driven decision-making, and drive sustainable agricultural practices.

“We are very honoured to become SOPA’s satellite surveillance partner.  Through this partnership, Arya.ag and SOPA would leverage deep tech capabilities for real-time monitoring of the Soybean crop across the country. Our satellite surveillance product, Prakshep, combined with the power of Artificial Intelligence ‘VaMa’, will empower SOPA to make informed decisions for strengthening the soybean value chain,” said Chattanathan Devarajan, Co-founder at Arya.ag.

“SOPA, as a leading association in the soybean processing industry, recognises the transformative potential of Arya.ag’s technology to drive efficiency and sustainability in agriculture. Arya’s promising technology will add value to SOPA’s crop surveillance report.  The collaboration promises to enhance crop productivity, optimise resource utilisation, and foster sustainable practices across the soybean value chain,” said D.N. Pathak, Executive Director at SOPA.

Partnership aims to revolutionise Soybean crop monitoring

Agrotech, Company News, Horticulture, India, Start ups, Vegetables

The partnership aims to empower farmers with precision agriculture techniques using UAV drones equipped with hyperspectral, multispectral and thermal sensors.

Gurgaon based agritech startup BharatRohan Airborne Innovations Private Limited, a pioneer in agri-tech drone services, has announced a transformative partnership with the Smart Village Movement. This collaboration is set to revolutionize ginger farming in Meghalaya, by reducing their crop losses and improving their income and livelihoods. The project will leverage advanced drone-based hyperspectral imaging and data-driven insights, ensuring affordability for smallholder farmers.

The partnership aims to empower farmers with precision agriculture techniques using UAV drones equipped with hyperspectral, multispectral and thermal sensors, capable of detecting minute changes in crop health. This real-time data enables farmers to make timely interventions to improve crop yield and quality. Moreover, the initiative promotes sustainable, residue-free ginger production, which will incentivize farmers with premium prices by creating better linkages for the export markets, enhancing income opportunities and economic growth for the local farming communities.

“Our drones are equipped with hyperspectral imagery, provide real-time data and precise crop health assessments, enabling swift adaptation to shifting climate patterns. We believe in creating a sustainable agricultural ecosystem by producing residue-free, better-quality produce,” said Rishabh Choudhary, CTO & Co-Founder of BharatRohan.

Megha Raju, Project Lead at BharatRohan, highlighted the critical role of the collaboration: “Integrating UAV hyperspectral technology into smallholder ginger farming in Meghalaya, our collaboration becomes crucial in providing farm specific actionable advisory, supplying high quality agri-inputs and promoting sustainable and profitable agricultural practices.”

Vivek Shah, CEO of Smart Village Movement, also voiced his enthusiasm: “As a facilitator to take technologies and business models in rural markets, SVM looks forward to the pilot with BharatRohan in addressing the pain points and aspirations of farmers. Our experience to drive other drone-enabled use cases gives us great anticipation to propel the prospects in the agricultural sector as well. The outcomes of this would be key to understanding the technology readiness and resilience in unique conditions like dense clouds, high rainfall and the topography of Meghalaya, but most profoundly, to witness demand in villagers adapting to such innovations would be of essential value to our model.”

The partnership aims to empower farmers with

AgroPolicy, Horticulture, Supply Chain, Trade

The state faces tough competition from other turmeric-producing states such as Telangana and Maharashtra

Turmeric fields in the West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya are attracting businessmen from India and abroad. The region’s Lakadong turmeric, considered the world’s best, is now in the news due to its freshness and curcumin content, which is used for pharmaceutical purposes and fetches a premium price.

After five years of implementing Mission Lakadong, local turmeric production in Meghalaya has transformed into a profitable economic activity with increased trade and farming opportunities. As a result, the state has been able to expand its exports to countries like the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Despite this success, the state faces tough competition from other turmeric-producing states such as Telangana and Maharashtra.

If we compare the production of turmeric, it is seen that many other states surpass Meghalaya in terms of quantity. However, when it comes to quality, the situation is reversed. The West Jaintia Hill district cultivates three varieties of turmeric – Lachen, Lasain and Lakadong. While the first two have only four to five per cent of curcumin, Lakadong has an average of seven per cent curcumin. This variety is grown only by the locals of this small district, which is bordered by Bangladesh and Assam. Any efforts to grow this variety elsewhere have resulted in a sharp decline in its curcumin content.

The Meghalaya government launched ‘Mission Lakadong’ in 2018 to promote the cultivation and sale of turmeric. This involved appointing a nodal officer and working with groups such as Trinity Sio and Life Spice Processing Cooperative Society to find new markets and branding opportunities for farmers.

The state faces tough competition from other