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Agribusiness, India, Interaction, Live Stock, Poultry

Narendra Pasuparthy, CEO & Founder, Nandu’s in exclusive conversation with AgroSpectrum shares his views on the current status of the meat sector in India.

Operating primarily in Bengaluru, Nandus operates nearly 50 stores in the city, adhering to an omnichannel model that encompasses in-store retail, home delivery, e-commerce website, app, call center orders, and various e-commerce platforms. In February 2023, Nandus reached the revenue milestone of Rs 100 crore, solidifying its position as India’s most successful and organised omnichannel meat retail brand. Poised to be a market leader in India’s growing meat retail industry, the company is set to expand its business-to-consumer (B2C) and D2C presence, further strengthening its operational foundation. Narendra Pasuparthy, Chief Farmer, CEO & Founder, Nandu’s in exclusive conversation with AgroSpectrum reveals the current status of the meat sector in India.

What is Nandu’s contribution to enhance the contract livestock farming sector in India?

A legislative framework governing agricultural agreements did not become effective until 2020, despite the fact that contract farming has been common in India for decades. This has cleared the way for more investments, the development of new markets, and improved financial stability for farmers in the cattle sector. We at Nandu’s think this teamwork strategy has great potential.

At Nandu’s, we’ve made it our mission to provide the farming community with a reliable means of subsistence ever since we opened our doors in 2016. At this time, 300 farmers are dedicated to working just with Nandu’s. Regardless of fluctuations in the market or other factors impacting production efficiency, our farmers are protected by integration farming contracts, which guarantee that they will not incur any risk.

The farmers contribute their work and infrastructure, and Nandu’s covers all the costs of chocks, chicken feed medications, and veterinarian support, so that the farmers’ community can be economically stable. It’s mutually beneficial. With proper implementation, contract farming has the potential to greatly increase productivity while safeguarding farmers’ interests.

Do you feel that contract farming will change the entire ecosystem of livestock farming in India by infusing more tech driven solution into this sector?

I believe that technology plays a significant role. Smart automation, improved inventory management, and data-based decision-making are three areas that have seen a technological explosion in recent years. Our capacity to offer full product traceability across the whole supply chain, from chicken rearing to final customer delivery, is a direct result of the technological advancements made possible by our farm-to-fork meat brand management.

But we don’t think tech-driven solutions will cause the ecosystem to undergo its most significant transformation. It everything comes down to people. An increasingly important part of India’s agricultural economy, the poultry business employs almost three million people.

Due to their lack of financial stability, many farmers experienced severe economic hardship and the loss of their livelihood during the epidemic. One way to offer such safety net is through contract farming. Despite the stress caused by the pandemic, our farmers report that their work is easier and more financially gratifying now. And that impacts every part of the ecology.

What are the major challenges livestock farmers face while enrolling in for contract farming?

The farmers’ biggest obstacle is getting over their aversion to collaborating with big corporations like Nandu’s. But we’ve found that farmers like it when you’re forthright and honest in your interactions with them, and when you truly care about what’s best for them.

A high mortality rate and low productivity are the results of working with low-quality chicks and feed, which most independent livestock farmers use. This puts their entire investment at danger. No matter how many hours a farmer puts in, this has an unpredictable effect on their yield, their profit, and their ability to provide for their families.

In addition to providing farmers with high-quality feed, chicks, and technical assistance for chicken growth, Nandu’s also offers intensive training in good farming practices, prompt veterinary services, and state-of-the-art technology to track flocks and outputs.

What inputs are required for the growth of contract livestock farming in India?

At Nandu’s, we take great care to partner with farmers that share our values and are committed to doing what’s right so that our business can thrive. We give them the technical and veterinary help they need in a timely manner and work closely with them. Our chicks are of such high quality that we spare the farmers any unnecessary stress, allowing them to focus on improving their operations and increasing their output. Thanks to our flocks’ exceptional performance, our farmers are able to increase their annual crop yield, which in turn boosts their income. Neither unreasonable requests nor hasty judgements have been made. In order to accomplish our common objectives, we collaborate.  We do all of this on a regular basis so that the contract farming sector in India may have the feed it needs to expand.

Aside from this, looking at the bigger picture, this industry needs specific advancements in order to grow. Contract farming can only be successful with well-developed infrastructure, which includes transportation networks, cold storage, processing facilities, and farm facilities. Enhancing efficiency, decreasing post-harvest losses, and guaranteeing the quality and safety of animal products can be achieved through investments in infrastructure development. Farmers that engage in contract farming must have easy and affordable access to banking and credit services. Credit for inputs, working capital, and infrastructure investment are just a few examples of the unique financial products and services that banking institutions could create for contract farmers.

What are the growth strategies and plans of the company for FY 24-25?

The expansion of Nandu’s India’s network of contract farmers will be the primary emphasis of the company in order to further boost the inventory of livestock goods. The identification of new regions for contract farming partnerships, the recruitment of additional farmers into its network, and the provision of training and support to those farmers are all potential steps in this direction. Utilising new livestock products or value-added products, the company will investigate the possibility of diversifying its product line through the introduction of new items. Investing in technology and innovation will be a top priority for Nandu’s India in order to improve efficiency, improve product quality, and reduce costs. One example of this would be the implementation of digital solutions for farm management, the adoption of precision farming techniques, or the investment in research and development for new technology. The organisation is going to make efforts to optimise its supply chain in order to enhance its efficiency, decrease its expenses, and guarantee that products will be delivered on time. Streamlining logistics processes, making investments in cold chain infrastructure, and putting inventory management systems into place are all potential steps in this direction.

By Nitin Konde

Narendra Pasuparthy, CEO & Founder, Nandu's in

Agro Universities, Animal Health, India, Live Stock, R&D

Zanskari breed of horses is known for their ruggedness, ability to withstand extreme cold climates, work tirelessly, and carry loads at high altitudes.

Continuing their success in producing foals through Embryo transfer, Scientists at the Equine Production Campus, Regional Station of ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Bikaner for the first time in the country have produced a Zanskari horse foal using Embryo transfer technology.

To produce the viable embryo, fresh semen from a Zanskari stallion has been used for artificial insemination and the embryo was recovered through flushing from the mare at 6.5 days after ovulation. The recovered embryo was transferred to the estrus-synchronised surrogate mare. The mare delivered a healthy female foal on 23rd April 2024. The birth weight of the foal was 28 kg.

The team led by Dr TR Talluri, Equine Production Campus, ICAR-NRC on Equines, Bikaner has also successfully vitrified 18 Marwari horse embryos and 3 Zanskari horse embryos till now and currently, studies are in progress to revive the cryopreserved embryos and transfer them into surrogate mares.

Zanskari, a native pony breed of Leh-Ladakh in Trans-Himalayan region of India is well adapted to high-altitude regions. This breed of horses is known for their ruggedness, ability to withstand extreme cold climates, work tirelessly, and carry loads at high altitudes. According to 20th Livestock Population Census, the total population size of Zanskari is 6660 and comes under the endangered category. There is an urgent need to conserve this precious breed in the country. In this endeavour, ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar is working strenuously to conserve the breed and has standardised the technology of embryo transfer in equines.

Congratulating the team of Scientists, Dr. TK Bhattacharya, Director, ICAR-NRC on Equines said that the need of the hour is to conserve the indigenous population of horses which are under the threatened or endangered category. He further elaborated that ‘Raj-Zanskar’ is the first Zanskari horse foal produced through Embryo transfer technology in the country.

Zanskari breed of horses is known for

Agrotech, Company News, Digital Technologies, Farm Mechanisation, Machinery - Pre-harvesting, Machinery – Post-harvesting, World

The Case IH FieldOps mobile and web app is currently in its final stages of development and testing, with a full release expected later in the year.

Case IH is unveiling the FieldOps app, a new all-in-one mobile and web solution purposefully designed for farmers to connect, view and manage their operation.  FieldOps provides real-time access to agronomic, machine, and operational data, connecting farmers to their machines, fields, teams and partners and empowering them with actionable insights.

The new FieldOps app comes at a critical time with the exponential growth of connected machines. Driven by the digitization of agriculture, connected machines allow farmers to access vehicles through the cloud to drive more profitable and productive operations. These also allow dealers additional access to better service machines, minimizing downtime and maximizing operational efficiency.  The Case IH FieldOps mobile and web app is currently in its final stages of development and testing, with a full release expected later in the year.

There is still, however, severe limitations for those in remote areas of the globe in connecting their machines and operations. Without a mature cellular or terrestrial network for these remote operators to utilize, their options for digitization and connected fleets are significantly restricted. 

Case IH has taken a significant step in enhancing connectivity options for operators worldwide. Through a strategic collaboration with Intelsat, a renowned leader in satellite communications for over 60 years, Case IH is ensuring that operators, regardless of their location, can fully utilize the functionalities of Case IH FieldOps with consistent and reliable internet access.

“At Case IH, we prioritise the seamless integration of precision technology for our customers,” said Marco Lombardi, head of Case IH EMEA. “With Case IH FieldOps, we have created a centralised digital platform that simplifies access to data, enabling operators to make data-driven decisions, ultimately driving operational success.”

“Case IH FieldOps was developed by farmers, for farmers,” added Lombardi. “We worked directly with customers, incorporated their feedback, and developed streamlined processes that make sense for them and the way they work. The resulting platform is intuitive and easy-to-use from beginning to end.”  

The Case IH FieldOps mobile and web

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Fertilizers, Company News, Europe, Finance

Total deliveries up 12 per cent with European deliveries up 37 per cent from Q1 FY23.

Yara reported first-quarter EBITDA1 at USD 435 million compared to USD 487 million in first quarter 2023. Net income was USD 16 million (USD 0.07 per share) compared with USD 105 (USD 0.41 per share) a year earlier.

First-quarter 2024 highlights:

  • EBITDA1 down 11 per cent from 1Q23 mainly due to lower prices
  • Total deliveries up 12 per cent with European deliveries up 37 per cent from 1Q23
  • Reduced GHG emission intensity with implementation of key projects
  • Healthy demand growth and limited capacity additions indicate tightening supply-demand balance longer term

“This quarter’s results are down from same quarter last year as increased deliveries are offset by lower prices. Meanwhile, I am pleased to see that our efforts to decarbonize is yielding results. This is crucial to future-proof our business and be able to meet growing demand for low-carbon solutions”, said Svein Tore Holsether, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Despite strong urea supply in 2023, prices are generally demand-driven with positive production margins for even swing producers. With farmer incentives at normal levels and 10-year consumption growth trending at 1.9 per cent per annum, demand fundamentals are supportive for upcoming seasons. While the peak of new capacity additions is now behind us, urea supply is currently strong primarily due to increased production in India and China. However, industry consultant projections show significantly lower supply growth from 2024 onwards. Combined with strong demand fundamentals, this indicates a tightening supply-demand balance longer term.

“Total nitrogen imports to Europe are declining as European production is ramping up. However, Russian urea imports to Europe reached an all-time high last season and currently account for almost one third of total urea imports to the EU. While raw material sanctions and price pressure is taking a double toll on European industry, Russia is gaining market influence. That not only endangers European industry and the green transition, but it also makes European food production more vulnerable,” said Holsether.

The energy transition, climate crisis, and food security remain top priorities globally. With its leading food solutions and ammonia positions, Yara is uniquely positioned to drive these transformations. Yara’s strategy is focused on further strengthening operational resilience and flexibility, and profitable growth in low-carbon solutions. This will support the transformation of the global food system, generate long-term growth opportunities, and drive progress towards Yara’s ambition of growing a nature-positive food future.

Total deliveries up 12 per cent with

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

Given the current market environment, the Group remained focused on measures to improve operational efficiency and productivity to offset lower volumes and prices.

Syngenta Group today announced financial results for the first quarter of 2024. Sales for the first quarter 2024 were $7.4 billion, down $1.8 billion or 20 percent (-18% at CER), compared to a strong first quarter 2023. First quarter 2024 EBITDA decreased 34 percent (-26% at CER) from prior year to $1.2 billion.

Sales in the first quarter of 2024 continued to be impacted by industry-wide channel destocking in Crop Protection as distributors and retailers further reduced inventories in response to the pressure to lower working capital in the higher interest rate environment.

Given the current market environment, the Group remained focused on measures to improve operational efficiency and productivity to offset lower volumes and prices. EBITDA margin for the Group was 16.7 percent versus 20.2 percent in the first quarter 2023.

Syngenta’s Crop Protection, driver of approximately 40 percent of Syngenta Group’s sales, declined amidst a still challenging crop protection market. ADAMA also recorded a weaker first quarter compared to Q1 2023 in a challenging environment for suppliers of post patent active ingredients, with the business downturn in Asia Pacific (excluding China) and Europe greatly affecting the comparison. Syngenta Seeds overall was 8 percent lower than in the first quarter last year but showed strong growth in Vegetables Seeds, Flowers and in China.

Syngenta Group China saw a sales decline of 18 per cent versus last year’s record first quarter. Its Seeds business maintained its growth and the branded formulation crop protection business showed further growth on the back of recently launched products. The sales decline was partially offset by a better business mix and cost reductions.

Given the current market environment, the Group

Agribusiness, Company News, India, People, Supply Chain, Warehousing

Arora is EM of Central Vigilance Commission and Former Director General Military Engineer Services.

 Sohan Lal Commodity Management (SLCM) Group, India’s largest Agri-logistics player and warehouse service provider for agricultural commodities, has announced the appointment of former Director General, Military Engineer Services, Arvind Kumar Arora, as an Independent Director.

 Arvind Kumar, a veteran techno-legal professional, who played a key role in bolstering the defence infrastructure of the country, brings to the SLCM’s board more than 45 years of 360⁰ experience in public Infrastructure, monitoring Integrity in public procurement, vigilance, dispute resolution and corporate governance.

His appointment complements SLCM’s growth journey, which is propelling transformational changes in the Indian Agri space. Welcoming the stalwart on board, SLCM Group CEO, Sandeep Sabharwal stated, “SLCM Group wholeheartedly welcomes Arvind Kumar as an Independent Director. He has in-depth knowledge of government departments, PSUs and private players, thus bringing an unparalleled experience to our group. The directors, management team and I greatly look forward to working with him and continuing to deliver SLCM’s mission to transform post-harvest management in the Agri domain with cutting-edge technologies & solutions, empowering our farming fraternity with easy financial services and enabling food security for all.”

About his latest role at SLCM Group, Arvind Kumar expressed, “I am honoured to be joining SLCM which has cemented its leadership position in the Agri industry. My experience at the Ministry of Defence along with public infrastructure execution, procurement, vigilance, dispute resolution and corporate governance will ensure that we create great strategies for the Agri sector. The ultimate goal is to elevate the Agri industry with the help of technology and ensure that every stakeholder can reap its benefits.”

Notably, Arvind Kumar has, post his retirement, held pivotal positions in several government committees, and has been entrusted with several responsible assignments by the Government of India. His post-retirement stints include working with CPSUs, including serving as Independent Director of BEML Limited, a category-1 Mini Ratna Central PSU and Independent External Monitor for Department of Telecom, CPWD and HLL Infratech Services as nominated by Central Vigilance Commission for monitoring integrity pact of high value Government contracts. He currently serves on the Arbitral panels of a large number of High Courts, Arbitration Institutions and Government Organizations, besides being on the panel of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways as Independent Quality Auditor for Highways and Border roads.

 

Arora is EM of Central Vigilance Commission

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Chemicals, Agro chems – Fertilizers, Agro chems – Pesticides, Company News, Finance, India

 Company posted PAT of Rs 209 Crores for Q4 vs Rs 262 Crores in Q4 of previous year, registering a decline of 20 per cent.

Coromandel International Limited, India’s leading Agri solutions provider is in the business of Fertilisers, Crop Protection Chemicals, Bio products, Specialty Nutrients, Organic Fertilizer and Retail. The Company has reported the financial results for the quarter and year ended 31st March 2024.The Board of Directors of Coromandel International Limited had approved the financial results of the company for the quarter and year ended 31st March 2024. The Board has recommended final dividend of Rs. 6 per share for the financial year 2023-24.

Highlights – Standalone Results:

 Quarter 4 FY 23

• Total Income in Q4 was at Rs. 4,027 Cr vs Rs. 5,519 Cr in Q4 of previous year, registering a decline

of 27 per cent.

• EBITDA for Q4 was Rs. 269 Cr vs Rs. 399 Cr in Q4 of previous year, registering a decline of 33 per cent.

• PAT for Q4 was Rs. 209 Cr vs Rs. 262 Cr in Q4 of previous year, registering a decline of 20 per cent.

For the Year

• Total Income for the year ended 31st March 2024 was at Rs. 22,308 Cr vs Rs. 29,784 Cr over

previous year, registering a decline of 25 per cent.

• EBITDA was Rs. 2,401 Cr vs Rs. 2,918 Cr in previous year, registering a decline of 18 per cent.

• PAT was Rs. 1,719 Cr vs Rs. 2,035 Cr in previous year, registering a decline of 16per cent.

Review of Businesses

Nutrient and Allied Business

The Revenue for the quarter ended March 2024 was at Rs. 3,358 Cr as against Rs. 4,881 Cr during Q4 of Previous Year. Profit before interest and tax for the quarter was Rs. 248 Cr vs Rs. 339 Cr for the quarter ended March 2023.

The Revenue for FY23-24 was at Rs. 19,749 Cr compared with Rs. 27,162 Cr in the previous year. Profit before interest and tax for the year was Rs. 2,176 Cr vs Rs. 2,594 Cr in the previous year.

Crop Protection Business

The Revenue for the quarter ended March 2024 was at Rs. 564 Crores as against Rs. 610 Cr during Q4 of Previous Year. Profit before interest and tax for the quarter was Rs 63 Crores vs Rs. 89 Cr for the quarter ended March 2023.

The Revenue for FY23-24 was at Rs. 2,454 Crores compared with Rs 2,617 Cr in the previous year. Profit before interest and tax for the year was Rs. 288 Cr vs Rs 358 Crores in the previous year.

Commenting on the financial results, Arun Alagappan, Executive Vice Chairman, Coromandel International Ltd. said, “FY2023-24 was marked by a challenging business environment as sub normal monsoons and lower reservoir levels in Coromandel’s key operating markets impacted the agri-inputs consumption. Further, the sharp corrections in subsidy rates in second half of the year coupled with global headwinds in Crop Protection resulted in margin pressure. Despite this, Coromandel adapted well to register a satisfactory performance and has taken progressive steps to strengthen its operations during the year. Fertilizer Plants operated at higher capacity at 95 per cent levels and improved its backward integration capabilities. Crop Protection registered a strong 20 per cent volume growth across the international and domestic markets and plans to introduce new molecules through captive and in-licensing arrangements. Retail stores improved its farm level outreach and is expanding its footprint in new markets in FY25. Company has also scaled up its drone spraying services and during the year covered 25000+ acres.

As part of its diversification strategy, the Company forayed into Speciality chemicals by leveraging its existing infrastructure and continued its engagement on CDMO opportunity. Investment in drone company Dhaksha is progressing well with a strong order book of around Rs 250 crores from Defence and Agriculture segments.

Going forward, the company is committed to strengthen its core businesses and invest in novel technologies and adjacent opportunities. The forecast of an above normal monsoon and correction in NBS rates bodes well for the industry and we expect the market fundamentals to improve in the coming period.

 Company posted PAT of Rs 209 Crores

AgroPolicy, India, R&D, Seeds, Textile industry

To enhance cotton production, a pilot project was initiated in 2023-2024, introducing technologies like HDPS, Closer Spacing planting, and Production technology for ELS cotton.

 India needs to focus on R&D and improved cultivation methods to meet the rising cotton demand in the textile industry at a time when the fiber crop is serving as a cornerstone in supporting the livelihoods of approximately 6 million farmers and an additional 40-50 million individuals involved in related activities, said Raghavan Sampathkumar, Executive Director, Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII).

He pointed to what Chandrakant Patil, Minister of Textiles, Government of Maharashtra, wrote in an article recently highlighting that the country stands at the cusp of becoming a global textile powerhouse, with numerous states like Maharashtra, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu spearheading policy initiatives to establish textile parks. The aim is to propel the industry towards a projected $250-billion in textile production by 2030. 

Sampathkumar said the textile industry is undergoing a significant transformation with initiatives like the PLI Scheme for Textiles, Kasturi Cotton Bharat program, National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), SAMARTH, and PM MITRA, development of 11 exclusive textile parks, strengthening the textile value chain through technological upgradation and so on. With over 45 million skilled workers, the textile sector is significant for employment and economic growth in India.

To boost India’s textile sector’s global competitiveness, promoting cotton cultivation is paramount as approximately 74 per cent of the apparel exported from India is made of cotton. Yet, with cotton being the primary source, there are key challenges and concerns that both the government and industry need to acknowledge and address, Sampathkumar said.

Firstly, the cotton industry requires revitalization through increased production and strengthening of the value chain. With the introduction of Bt Cotton, India saw a significant surge in cotton production from 10 to nearly 40 million bales annually between early 2000s and FY2014, transforming into a leading producer. Cotton production in India increased steadily and rather steeply from 2004-05 onwards primarily due to a sharp rise in yield. However, continuously evolving challenges of pests and diseases, weeds, salinity and soil degradation, and climate aberrations are causing stagnation post-FY2015, with production at 36.2 million bales in FY2022. Hence, the cotton industry in India is currently at crossroads and there is an imminent need to find innovative solutions through scientific research.

Research on pests particularly pink bollworm, several diseases, herbicide-tolerance enable more efficient control against these challenges, reducing manual labor and potentially increasing yields. All these present enormous opportunities for sustainable growth. However, to achieve the above, there should be an imperative on promoting new concepts like High Density Planting System, to increase yields and improve profitability. It’s crucial for both government and private sectors to collaborate in adopting and promoting innovative technologies to boost yield and farmers’ income, Sampathkumar added.

To enhance cotton production, a pilot project was initiated in 2023-2024, introducing technologies like High Density Planting System (HDPS), Closer Spacing planting, and Production technology for ELS cotton. HDPS has shown promising results, with Maharashtra farmers reporting a threefold yield increase. It involves denser sowing, boosting light interception, boll production, and yield while optimizing nutrient and water use and suppressing weed growth. Popularizing such practices will increase overall cotton production, realizing the state’s aspiration to drive the Indian textile industry’s growth story.

Biotechnological interventions are even more crucial amidst such pressing issues and can help improve cotton yield and production. Despite significant efforts by both the central and state governments and the advancements made possible by Bt-cotton, India’s seed sector in general but cotton in particular, grapples with numerous challenges. For example, public perception issues on genetically modified crops fueled by unfounded fear mongering are resulting in significant and prolonged delays, procedural complexities, and in ambiguity hindering investments in research and development. Without research, it must be noted that no solutions can ever be found, pointed Sampathkumar.

To surmount these challenges and move towards regaining India’s glory as a major global cotton producer, a cohesive effort is needed involving policymakers, scientists, farmers, and the industry players to come together to formulate robust unbiased policies, raise public awareness on science-based technologies, and promote sustainable agricultural cultivation methods. India should strengthen its research capabilities, with streamlined policies & regulations. Collaboration among stakeholders is crucial and by leveraging new technologies including biotechnology, and new systems like HDPS, India can enhance its cotton productivity and meet the growing demand for cotton for the textile industry.

To enhance cotton production, a pilot project

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Climate, Company News, Digital Technologies, Start ups

The ClimateLens Monitor Yield Outlook provides weekly insights to help anticipate & mitigate supply risk from extreme weather.

ClimateAi, the world’s first climate resilience platform that applies powerful machine learning to climate risk forecasting, announced the public launch of its latest product offering, ClimateLens Monitor Yield Outlook. This new solution offers climate-driven yield forecasts for key commodity crops, including corn, potato, canola, oats, hops, soybeans, sorghum, wheat and barley, as well as insights into the climate factors driving the variability.

Today’s extreme weather and climate events continue to pose significant disruptions for food and agriculture supply chains, as we have seen recently with cocoa prices skyrocketing due to drought in South Africa, or soybean production taking a hit in the midwestern US and South America. These disruptions cause costly ripple effects, creating challenges for farmers’ livelihoods, companies sourcing key inputs, and global agricultural trade.

“We continue to see extreme weather, from heat and droughts to excessive moisture, wreak havoc on our global food supply,” said Himanshu Gupta, CEO of ClimateAi. “This volatility will only increase year over year, so it is imperative that both businesses and governments understand the impact on production, imports, exports, and food prices with enough time to react.”

Monitor Yield Outlook draws on ClimateAi’s 6+ years of experience providing patented seasonal and sub-seasonal weather forecasts and depth of agronomic risk expertise across more than 50 customers. This new product formalizes yield forecasting initiatives that have proven valuable for a number of global customers, whose successes with ClimateAi’s yield outlooks drove the company to scale up their offering. One such customer is Japanese multinational brewing and distilling company, Suntory, who have been using ClimateAi’s forecasts to gain insights into climate risk to corn yield.  Brian Golden, Suntory’s Head of Global Supply Solutions, commented, “The yield tool is very insightful for us and a quicker way to understand impacts. Understanding county level yield predictions of different commodities is quite impactful for us.”

The product offers weekly yield outlooks from planting through harvest for key production countries, states, and specific sourcing locations, surfacing the key climate risk factors contributing to yield with models uniquely calibrated by crop and region. Monitor Yield Outlook offers more frequent updates and increased actionability over public reports or consultants, allowing sourcing and procurement professionals to drive more effective contracting strategies, anticipate key drivers of sourcing risks, and take early action in commodity markets.

The ClimateLens Monitor Yield Outlook provides weekly

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Drones

The Drones4Rice Project will craft standardised protocols for drone applications of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides for rice production in the Philippines.

Aimed at leveraging the power of drone technology to boost farmers’ productivity and sustainability, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) have launched the Drones4Rice Project during the Inception Workshop held at the IRRI Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna on 16-17 April 2024.

The Drones4Rice Project will craft standardized protocols for drone applications of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides for rice production in the Philippines. Implementing optimized protocols and streamlined regulations will enable the private sector to scale affordable drone services to farmers. The initiative holds significant potential for elevating farmers’ productivity, income, and resilience by advocating precision agriculture and sustainable rice farming practices.

The project also plans to set up a drone-based system to monitor crops, and map weeds and nutrient levels in rice fields to develop a new method for adjusting nutrient and weed management during the growing season, as well as scaling up sustainable drone-based precision farming technologies and finding ways to adopt them widely at the farm cluster level.

Drones serve various agricultural purposes, including irrigation planning, crop health monitoring, damage assessment, soil health analysis, and fertilizer and pesticide application. Equipped with advanced sensors, they can provide real-time data to detect moisture levels, assess crop health, and optimize resource management, helping enhance productivity and reduce labor costs.

Across Asia, drones are employed in agricultural regions of China and Japan and are increasingly gaining traction in neighboring nations like Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. In the Philippines, use of drones in agriculture is at its early stages and this multi-stakeholder partnership aims to accelerate access to this technology by smallholder farmers.

One of the reasons cited for the large difference in rice production cost between the Philippines and major rice exporting countries is labor cost – accounting for about a third of the total rice production costs. Mechanization and a shift toward precision agriculture can significantly drive the rice production cost to go down.

“Precision agriculture, including the use of drone technology, can optimize input usage like seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, leading to higher yields and cost efficiency,” said IRRI Senior Scientist Stephen Klassen, one of the project leads.

“Drones4Rice emphasizes the rice industry’s need to adapt to emerging trends and technologies, with digital transformation being a key strategy of the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program. It is crucial for our industry to stay current,” Engr. Christopher V. Morales, DA Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development, said during the event.

The Drones4Rice Project will craft standardised protocols

Agbiologicals, Agro Universities, Biofertilizers

TERI also inaugurated a new facility for production of Bio nano fertiliser with a capacity of 40 lac litre per annum.

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in collaboration with Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited, launched ‘Uttam Pranaam’ – Bio nano Phosphorous, a significant product towards fostering self-reliance in the agricultural sector. ‘Uttam Pranaam’, an innovative solution that not only aligns with the PM-PRANAM programme’s emphasis on nano-fertilisers but also embodies the spirit of indigenous innovation and sustainability. TERI’s commitment to enhancing agricultural productivity while ensuring environmental safety resonates with the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat, where farmers have access to cutting-edge technologies for sustainable and profitable farming practices.

Collaboration brings forth bio nano Phosphorous fertiliser, promising enhanced productivity, reduced environmental impact, and empowerment for farmers nationwide. Nano fertilisers with their tiny size improve plant uptake and nutrient assimilation by up to 95 per cent. By reducing the use of conventional fertilisers up to 25-30 per cent, nano fertilisers enhance the crop yield and resistance to stress.

TERI also inaugurated a new facility for production of Bio nano fertiliser. With a capacity of 40 lac litre per annum, the facility is one of its kind where nano fertilisers would be produced using a biological process and a disruptive fermentation technology. The capacity can easily be scalable to 2 crore litre per annum within just a short period of 3 months. The facility was inaugurated by Dr Dhawan and her team from TERI, accompanied by Mr Vinay Pal Jain, Managing Director, Hindustan Rasayan Private Limited. The launch of ‘Uttam Pranaam’ Bio nano Phosphorous fertiliser by TERI and Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited marks a transformative step towards sustainable agriculture, echoing India’s commitment to innovation and self-reliance in the agricultural sector.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI, said, “These fertilisers will help to reduce the GHG emissions which are adversely impacting the environment. Green fertilisers are an alternative that the world is looking for, and nano fertilisers offer this opportunity. TERI is proud to have come up with a product that will help the planet reduce the GHG emissions.”

Ashish Srivastava, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited, unveiled the product highlighting, “Uttam Pranaam is not just a fertiliser; it’s a game-changer. Its biologically safe formulation doesn’t just reduce energy consumption, it revolutionizes it. By significantly slashing transportation costs, this innovation becomes more than just cost-effective; it becomes the catalyst for empowerment in the hands of our farmers.”

Bio nano Phosphorous has been developed by Dr Pushplata Singh and her team from TERI’s Deakin Nano Biotechnology centre. The launch of the Bio nano Phosphorous, under the brand name, ‘Uttam Pranaam’, launched in Bhatinda, Punjab, marks a significant milestone in agricultural innovation. As Punjab boasts a progressive farming community, this launch serves as a beacon of hope and opportunity for farmers nationwide. It sets a precedent for the adoption of advanced agricultural technologies across the country, promising increased productivity, sustainability, and prosperity for farming communities nationwide.

TERI also inaugurated a new facility for

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Chemicals, AgroPolicy, India, Singapore, Trade

Ethylene oxide is not a banned product in Singapore, since it is allowed to be used in the sterilisation of spices.

Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI) is concerned with the spate of media reports alleging presence of “pesticide residues” in certain brands of spices exported from India to Singapore and Hong Kong. The “alleged pesticide” in this case is “Ethylene oxide”. CCFI would like to assert that the chemical “Ethylene oxide” is not registered as a pesticide in India under the provisions of the Insecticide Act 1968, and Rules thereof. Ethylene oxide, a gas, is used as an industrial chemical.

Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI) is an apex trade body for the Indian crop protection industry. Its members account for 70 per cent of India’s export of agrochemicals worth $5.5 bn in 2022.

“We reiterate the fact that Ethylene oxide is neither registered nor allowed to be used as a pesticide in India. It is an industrial chemical of economic importance. When it comes to the cancer-causing potential of Ethylene oxide, it is as hazardous as Alcohol according to the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). If Ethylene oxide is to be banned on this count, then all types of alcohol must be banned, too”, said CCFI in the statement.

For centuries, India has been the “land of spices”. India is the world’s largest producer, consumer and exporter of various spices. For CY 2023, India exported spices worth $3.7 bn. Mountains should not be made from a molehill. Parts per million (ppm) level of the chemical Ethylene oxide cannot be used as a ploy to bring down our trade.

CCFI stated that it is our duty to safeguard the Indian spice industry from incorrect, biased, and motivated negative campaigns aimed at tarnishing its image. We urge the Indian government authorities to publish a factual report in this regard to create right awareness. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) “Ethylene oxide is a colourless, highly reactive, and flammable gas widely used as an intermediate in the production of various chemicals. It is also used for fumigation and sterilization of medical equipment and food stuffs”.

According to the American Chemistry Council (ACC) “Ethylene oxide (EO) is a versatile building block compound that’s used to help make countless everyday products. EO plays an important role in the development of batteries for electric vehicles, in natural gas purification, as well as in the creation of derivatives that aid drilling at oil and gas wells.

Another important use of EO is for the sterilization of medical equipment, including personal protective equipment used by healthcare professionals and hospitals.  It is estimated that EO sterilizes 20 billion medical devices each year, helping to prevent disease and infection.”

It is clear that Ethylene oxide is primarily produced and used for industrial purposes. Ethylene oxide also occurs naturally in the body due to its conversion from ethylene.

Ethylene oxide is not a banned product in Singapore, since it is allowed to be used in the sterilization of spices. The Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) for Ethylene oxide under Singapore’s Food Regulation is 50 ppm.

Data from the Centre for Food Safety, Hong Kong shows that between January and April 2024 they have found residues of Ethylene oxide above the permissible levels in 4 samples of spices – one from USA, one from Indonesia, one from India and another from Hong Kong itself. 

Ethylene oxide is not a banned product

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Company News, Digital Technologies, India, Start ups

The company has shipped 50 sprayers for Kharif 2023 and delivered up to 60 per cent chemical savings for farmers.

In a breakthrough for the Asian agri-tech market, India-based deep-tech start-up Niqo Robotics has commercialized AI-assisted agrochemical spraying also known as spot spraying for the first time in the continent. The company shipped its flagship AI spot sprayers called Niqo RoboSpray™ across Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. The 50 units deployed have sprayed over 90,000 acres this Kharif season. With a focus on cotton and chili crops this season, the company has served over 1800 farmers and saved up to 60 per cent in chemical costs using their AI technology.

AI-based spot spraying is an environmentally and financially sustainable alternative to broadcast spraying. The current practice of broadcast spraying involves indiscriminate spraying of chemicals like pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides on farmlands without differentiating between target plants and soil. This chemical-intensive and climate-hostile method drives up input costs for farmers and poses significant risks to soil health, food safety, and the health of farm communities.

Niqo spot sprayers use a proprietary AI camera built with deep learning models to differentiate between target and non-target areas to selectively spray the right dosage of chemicals only on the plant, without spraying the soil. This plant-level target spraying saves up to 60 per cent in chemical input, maximizing ROI for farmers and limiting chemical pollution on-farm ecosystems. The company also carried out 218 internal efficacy trials to confirm that spot spraying maintains the agrochemical’s effectiveness in protecting against pests. This study has been externally validated by a leading agricultural university and is due for publication soon.

Niqo offered spot spraying as a service through village-level entrepreneurs in the Akola, Guntur, and Khammam regions making the technology accessible to farmers. Farmers who have availed the benefits of Niqo spot spray reported up to 60 per cent chemical cost savings in the early stages of spray without any compromise on efficacy.

“Global food future hinges on how quickly tech-enabled sustainable practices like spot spraying can be adopted at scale. At Niqo we have built a commercially viable spot spray technology that is accessible to farmers and reliable for rugged farm operations. This has allowed us to scale making us a frontrunner in spot spray technology, globally. There is immense pride in driving this progress right here in India” said, Jaisimha Rao, Founder & CEO of Niqo Robotics.

The company has shipped 50 sprayers for

Agrotech, Collaborations, Company News, Digital Technologies, India, Inputs, Supply Chain

The partnership will support farmers in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the first phase of execution.

 Bayer, a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of healthcare and agriculture, announced its partnership with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)’s Common Service Center (CSC-SPV), a strategic cornerstone of the National e-governance plan which aims to usher rural India into a digitally empowered era and foster a knowledge-based economy. The strategic collaboration aims to provide Indian farmers with access to quality agri-inputs through digital capability building and strengthen rural livelihoods and farm incomes. The partnership will support farmers in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the first phase of execution. Besides access to the entire range of Bayer’s agri-solutions from seed to harvest, farmers can also avail of crop-specific agronomic advisory through CSC’s online platform.

As part of the MoU, Smallholder farmers will be able to access timely crop advisory, transfer of good agricultural practices and access to premium Bayer products through CSC’s online portal. Gram Unnati will facilitate farmer mobilization and ensure market linkages. Together, Bayer and CSC-SPV aim to empower over 500,000 (0.5 million) smallholder farmers over the next two years. To facilitate easy access to quality inputs, agronomic support, and encourage agri-technology knowledge transfer based on the latest practices, Bayer will also nurture agri-entrepreneurs by leveraging village-level entrepreneurs of CSCs from within the local communities. The newly announced partnership follows an ongoing pilot engagement project running between Better Life Farming centres and CSC in Jharkhand’s Lohardega district since late 2020.

Simon-Thorsten Wiebusch, President, Bayer South Asia said, “Smallholder farmers are vital in ensuring food and nutritional security in the country and Bayer is dedicated to empowering them through the expansion of access to essential agricultural inputs and expert agronomic guidance, driven by digital innovation and collectivization. Our association with the Government of India’s Common Service Center and Gram Unnati will help bring us closer to our shared goal of empowering farmers as we bridge the gap to remote farming communities, promote financial literacy and foster an entrepreneurial spirit leading to optimized resource utilization, and maximizing farm potential to enhance their livelihoods sustainably.”

Sanjay Rakesh, MD & CEO, CSC-SPV said, “We are excited to collaborate with Bayer and strengthen our e-commerce platform to scale support to smallholder farmers through our technology-powered ecosystem. By leveraging our synergies with Bayer Crop Science Limited, we envision sustained enhancements in rural agriculture within the identified centres. This partnership will enable last mile access to tailored solutions, to better support the rural community and agri-entrepreneurs.”

Aneesh Jain, Founder & CEO, Gram Unnati said: “We are extremely delighted to work with Bayer CropScience and CSC e-Governance to play the role of a key facilitator in this ground-breaking association. We are already developing a system with CSC e-Governance to enable farmers to sell their end produce through the VLE network. This collaboration will enable farmers to get timely access to high quality agri inputs, thus further improving their crop quality and yields too.”

The CSC scheme, a collaborative e-governance platform, is part of the Digital India programme. The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) aims to facilitate the delivery of government, private and social sector services to Indian citizens through the CSC network. It supports linkages, connecting villages in India through high-speed internet and scaling the delivery of products & services to reach the last mile.

The partnership will support farmers in Telangana,