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Agribusiness, India, Logistics, Supply Chain, Transportation

 International cargo tonnage amounted to 662,258 metric tonnes, recording 9 per cent y-o-y growth. Top commodities included automobiles, pharma and perishables.

 Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) handled an impressive one million tonnes of air cargo in fiscal year 2023-2024, achieving a milestone. The achievement underscores AAHL’s robust operational capabilities and strategic growth in the aviation industry.

Demonstrating solid growth, AAHL facilitated a remarkable 10,13,115 metric tonnes of cargo in FY 2023-24, capturing an impressive 30.1 per cent market share. This represents a significant 7 per cent y-o-y increase compared to the previous fiscal, when the total cargo tonnage was 9,44,912 metric tonnes.

In FY 2023-2024, AAHL’s cargo operations were predominantly international – 65 per cent of the cargo managed was international. This showcases AAHL’s efficiency in managing worldwide operations while maintaining a robust domestic presence. The international cargo tonnage amounted to 6,62,258 metric tonnes, recording a notable 9 per cent y-o-y growth compared to the previous fiscal’s 6,06,348 metric tonnes.

The cargo operations were driven by commodities, including automobiles, pharmaceuticals, perishables, electricals/electronics, and engineering goods. They were efficiently handled across the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Mumbai), the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (Ahmedabad), the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (Lucknow), the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, the Mangaluru International Airport, the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (Guwahati) and the Jaipur International Airport.

The major international destinations for cargo included Germany, Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Reflecting on the achievement, Arun Bansal, CEO, AAHL, said, “At Adani Airport Holdings Limited, we have been consistently setting new benchmarks for operational efficiency. The cargo terminals have achieved a remarkable milestone, handling over 1 million tonnes this fiscal year. This achievement solidifies our position as key facilitators in both international and domestic airfreight operations in India.”

The following highlights from fiscal year showcase 2023-2024 AAHL’s journey:

Mumbai international airport witnessed the highest recorded volumes for the fiscal year in March 2024.

  • The airport received 2 major awards:
  • Cargo Airport of the Year – Region India at Air Cargo India 2024.
  • The Best Cargo Airport – Efficiency & Digitization at the India Cargo Awards 2023.
  • Notable additions of new freight operators: Challenge Group, CMA CGM Air Cargo, Air Pace, Kenya Airways, Indigo, and Uganda Airlines.
  • SACT at Mumbai implemented 100 per cent virtual account usage by trade partners, taking a major step towards digitization in domestic cargo operations.
  • Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (Ahmedabad) successfully handled Indigo’s first A320 neo freighter on 18 May, 2024
  • International cargo operations at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (Lucknow) achieved the highest-ever volume of 700 tonnes in March 2024.

 International cargo tonnage amounted to 662,258 metric

Agro Universities, Foodgrains, R&D, Sustainability

This model explicitly aims to transform agricultural byproducts, like rice straw, into products like organic fertilizer, animal feed, or even mushrooms.

Can Tho City Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), held a launching ceremony for the circular agricultural economic model from straw and visited the pilot model field of the “Sustainable Development of One Million Hectares of High Quality and Low-Emission Rice Associated with Green Growth in the Mekong River Delta By 2030”.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Yvonne Pinto emphasized that Vietnam is the third largest rice-exporting country in the world but is vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Therefore, IRRI is committed to collaborating and sharing technology solutions to help farmers reduce costs, increase production profits, and aim for low-emission agriculture and green growth.

After the New Green Farm, IRRI successfully replicated the rice straw-based circular economy model at the Tien Thuan Agricultural and Service Cooperative in Thanh An commune. Accordingly, IRRI signed and handed over a self-propelled organic fertilizer mixer to the cooperative to help farmers process rice straw into organic fertilizer. IRRI also provided training on production techniques for cooperative members to develop a business model of organic fertilizer from straw.

 Nguyen Cao Khai, Director of Tien Thuan Cooperative, excitedly shared that he believes that this model will change people’s old farming habits and contribute to improving their income. At the same time, through training sessions and demonstrations, the farmers will receive answers from experts and clarify the benefits of producing organic fertilizer from rice straw, helping people confidently apply this model.

 Tran Thai Nghiem, Deputy Director of Can Tho DARD, stressed that the locality will continue to promote the development and replication of the circular agricultural economic model, especially the management and use of rice production byproducts. At the same time, the locality will create conditions for farmers in districts in Can Tho City to grasp information and access technologies, equipment, and mechanical machinery for collecting and processing straws. Farmers can produce organic fertilizer and serve production to increase income and reduce emissions.

After the launching program, the participants visited the model farm under the 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice program. IRRI Scientist Dr. Nguyen Van Hung showcased mechanized direct seeding with fertilizer deep placement as a core feature of the One-Million-Ha program, highlighting its benefits for reducing seed rate, fertilizer use, and postharvest losses while increasing rice yield.

This model explicitly aims to transform agricultural

Agribiotechnology, Agribusiness, Agrotech, Trade, World

This new biocontrol technology is expected to introduce chlorin-based photosensitiser to the global market as a biocontrol solution for integrated pest management.

Nutrien Ag Solutions has announced the acquisition of Suncor Energy’s AgroScience assets, which consists of several patented and patent pending technologies in the area of biocontrol. The acquisition is aligned with Nutrien Ag Solutions’ strategy to invest in novel, patented, and effective biocontrol technologies through its Loveland Products business. The proprietary technology for use in the global agriculture industry aims to offer a new mode of action, plus advantages in resistance management. Categorised as a biocontrol tool, research and field-trial data show the technology as having market-competing potential in delivering efficacy, stability, and economic value comparable to traditional synthetic crop protection inputs.

“We’re excited to further develop this new technology which is expected to help accelerate Loveland Product’s efforts in delivering a broader range of solutions that aim to help maximize yields,” says Casey McDaniel, Vice President of Loveland Products. “As the biocontrol market grows, we believe farmers will increasingly demand bio-based solutions that work within existing management practices to achieve bottom-line benefits in yield and efficiency and support efforts to improve sustainability.”

“We believe that biologicals are important next-step tools for elevating the potential in every field. In the coming months and years, we aim to bring more of these types of offerings to market under the Loveland brand or partner brands for farmers of all scales and in all geographies.”

The new chlorin-based photosensitizer formulations are expected to launch in certain global markets by 2025. Product submissions to the EPA in the U.S. are anticipated by 2026. Nutrien Ag Solutions plans to market these products as part of the Loveland Products portfolio.

This new biocontrol technology is expected to

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Collaborations, Company News, India, Soil Health

The MoU will enable Coromandel to bring advanced nutrition and crop management practices to Maharashtra based on the soil information and farm advisories provided by ICAR-NBSS&LUP.

The ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP), Nagpur signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Coromandel International Limited (CIL), a leading manufacturer of Fertilisers, Crop Protection Chemicals and Specialty Nutrient products on 13th June 2024. This collaboration aims to enhance the dissemination of improved soil test-based crop nutrition management to benefit the farmers in Maharashtra, particularly in the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions. This partnership will focus on soil test-based datasets generated by NBSS&LUP and best nutritional management solutions provided by Coromandel for better soil health and to improve crop productivity of the region. This partnership further aims to foster better coordination, research exchange, and support for the farming community.

During the MoU signing ceremony, Dr. N.G. Patil, Director of ICAR-NBSS&LUP, Nagpur, highlighted the Bureau’s mandate and activities across its five regional centres. He emphasized the goal-oriented developmental approach to provide farmers with advisories based on land parcel information using soil data from the Land Resource Inventory (LRI).

Sankarasubramanian S, Executive Director of Nutrient Business, Coromandel International Limited, signed the MoU on behalf of Coromandel. He emphasised the need for balanced nutrition management based on soil test data for betterment of farmer community. He desired this partnership to extend to other parts of Maharashtra and India by providing soil based digital solutions generated by ICAR-NBSS&LUP for making optimum fertilizer recommendations through site-specific nutrient management. Heads of RSA, SRS and LUP Divisions and Principal Scientists from ICAR-NBSS&LUP, and Madhab Adhikari, Vice President, Sales & Marketing and Dr. Binaya Kumar Parida, Chief Agronomist from Coromandel International were present in the MoU signing event.

The MoU will enable Coromandel to bring advanced nutrition and crop management practices to Maharashtra based on the soil information and farm advisories provided by ICAR-NBSS&LUP. As part of this project, site-specific nutrition demonstrations and farmers’ awareness programs will be conducted. The validated results will be used to develop Decision Support Systems (DSS) through mobile applications for crop choices and nutrient management. During the signing event, several other common scientific and farmer-centric issues for collaboration between the two organizations were discussed, including drone-based research for precision agriculture, carbon farming, and climate-smart agriculture.

The MoU will enable Coromandel to bring

AgroPolicy, Animal Husbandry, Goat farming, India, Live Stock, Poultry

Livestock Census will be conducted with the use of mobile technology and further transmitting the data online.

A workshop cum training on Pilot Survey of 21st Livestock Census organised at Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh under the Chairpersonship Jagat Hazarika Advisor Animal Husbandry Statistics Division of DAHD, Govt. of India with the senior officers of States/UTs and certain members of Technical Committee constituted for 21st Livestock Census.

The 21st Livestock Census is due in 2024 and will be conducted in participation of all the States/UTs during the period of Sept-Dec, 2024 with the use of mobile technology and further transmitting the data online. The enumeration will be done in all villages and urban wards. Various species of animals (cattle, buffalo, Mithun, yak, sheep, goat, pig, horse, pony, mule, donkey, camel, dog, rabbit and elephant), poultry birds (fowl, duck and other poultry birds) possessed by the households, household enterprises and non-household enterprises will be counted at their site, breed-wise with their age, sex.

Since breed-wise data of animals will also be collected, ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) presented the State wise latest breed list for various species and also highlighted the technique to identify the breed in the field.

Apart from the uses of statistics produced from Livestock Census for implementation of various programme of Livestock Sector, it is also used for National Indicator Framework (NIF) of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Jagat Hazarika, Advisor (Statistics), Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, B. P. Mishra, Director, ICAR-NBAGR, Sh. V. P. Singh, Director DAHD Govt. of India, Anil Chandra Deori, Director, Govt. of Assam, Dr Danjan Longri, Director, AHV & DD Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, Dr (Mrs.) F. S. Thakar, Director, Govt. of Gujrat, Dr Manjunath S. Palegar, Director, Govt. of Karnatka, R. N. Singh, Director, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh and Dr Hana Tama, District Nodal Officer  Govt. of A.P. and other Senior Members of  Union and State Governments were  present in the occasion. 

Livestock Census will be conducted with the

AgroPolicy, Finance, India, Schemes - Govt

More than 9.26 Cr. farmers will receive the benefits amounting to over Rs 20,000 crore.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 17th instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme on 18th June 2024 at Varanasi in which more than 9.26 Cr. farmers will receive the benefits amounting to over Rs.20,000 crore. The Prime Minster will also distribute the certificates to more than 30,000 SHGs trained as Krishi Sakhis to work as para extension worker.

Krishi Sakhis are chosen as agriculture para-extension workers because they are trusted community resource persons and experienced farmers themselves. The Krishi Sakhis have already received extensive training in various agricultural practices, making them well equipped to support and guide fellow farmers effectively. As on date, over 34,000 Krishi Sakhis out of 70,000 have been certified as Para-extension Workers.

The event will be attended by Anandiben Patel, Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Agriculture Minister and several State Ministers. More than 2.5 Cr. Farmers will join the event including those at 732 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), over 1 lakh Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, and 5 lakh Common Service Centres across the country.

On the 50 selected Krishi Vikas Kendras (KVKs), special event is being organized where good number of farmers will join the event. On these centers, several Union Ministers will also visit and interact with the farmers. The farmers will also be sensitized about the good agricultural practices, new emerging technologies in the agricultural field, practicing climate resilient agriculture, etc. They will also be educated how to check their PM-KISAN beneficiary status, payment status, how to use Kisan-eMitra Chatbot, etc. Union Ministers will also distribute certificates to the trained Krishi Sakhis of the area.

PM-KISAN scheme launched on 24th February 2019 to supplement the financial needs of all land-holding farmers subject to certain exclusion criteria of higher income status. Financial benefit of Rs 6,000/- per year in three equal instalments, every four months, is transferred into the bank accounts of farmers’ families across the country through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. Till now over Rs 3.04 lakh crores has been disbursed to more than 11 Crore farmers across the nation and with this release, the total amount transferred to the beneficiaries since the inception of the scheme will cross well over Rs 3.24 lakh crores.

More than 9.26 Cr. farmers will receive

Agribiotechnology, Agribusiness, Agrotech, Company News, Digital Technologies, Inputs, R&D, World

Each blockbuster is expected to contribute more than 500 million euros of the over 32-billion-euros peak sales potential in the R&D pipeline – unparalleled across the global agricultural industry.

 Bayer aims to launch ten blockbuster products in the next ten years to support farmers worldwide, the company announced at its 2024 Crop Science innovation update in Chicago. Each blockbuster is expected to contribute more than 500 million euros of the over 32-billion-euros peak sales potential in the R&D pipeline – unparalleled across the global agricultural industry. Farmers will benefit from new technologies that will help them produce more while restoring nature through innovations that power regenerative agriculture.

Unparalleled R&D pipeline with over 32 billion euros peak sales potential includes transformative technologies like the new broad-acre herbicide Icafolin, the biotech version of the Preceon Smart Corn System, fourth-generation corn rootworm technology, fourth- and fifth-generation soybean herbicide tolerance traits as well as third- and fourth-generation insect protection traits. Promoting and scaling regenerative agricultural practices are key to producing more while restoring nature – with R&D and digital technologies being key enablers . As the global innovation leader for agriculture, Bayer is demonstrating how its solutions can support food security and mitigation of climate change

Bayer is on its way to scale regenerative agriculture on more than 400 million acres globally by the middle of the next decade. The company considers regenerative agriculture as an outcome-based production model, with improving soil health as a key component, leading to increased resilience. Other key aspects include increased productivity; adaption and mitigation of climate change through reductions in greenhouse gas emissions; increased carbon sequestration in the soil; maintaining, preserving or restoring on-farm biodiversity; conserving water resources through improved water retention, reduction in water run-off, as well as improved social and economic well-being of farmers and their communities. In addition, Bayer is capitalizing on the opportunity to double its accessible market to more than 200 billion euros, driven by global market growth and investments into ag-adjacent spaces like biofuels, crop fertility, as well as digital platforms and marketplaces.

“Agriculture needs to change for the better, there’s no relying on what has been working in the past. We deliver a combination of unmatched innovation that goes hand in hand with key regenerative practices to help address two of the biggest challenges of our time: ensuring food security for a growing population and fighting climate change,” said Frank Terhorst, Head of Strategy and Sustainability at Bayer’s Crop Science Division.

Bob Reiter, Head of R&D, added: “The age of single and isolated technologies is over. We are focusing on closely connected agricultural systems that combine seeds, traits, crop protection and digital solutions in a smart way to benefit the farmers and the environment. To this end, we are leveraging key technology platforms like gene editing, precision breeding, small molecules and biologicals to deliver products that farmers need to make agriculture more productive while reducing the carbon footprint and fostering biodiversity at a global scale.”

Each blockbuster is expected to contribute more

Agribusiness, Farm Mechanisation, Finance, India

 The onset of the Kharif season, company has recorded 13,338 overall tractor sales in May 2024.

Leading player in farm mechanisation sector, Sonalika Tractors announced that company has recorded 13,338 overall tractor sales in May 2024 with 5.2 per cent growth in the domestic market, beating industry growth.

Monsoon has already hit the Indian shores and forecasts suggest an above-average rainfall, thereby keeping alive hopes of agri-powered economy and farmers for increased farm output. Sonalika Tractors has been aggressively moving ahead in FY’25 and optimised all its strategies and energies towards customising new-age technologies for Indian farmers, said the company in release.

Raman Mittal, Joint Managing Director of International Tractors Limited, expressed his excitement about the company’s performance, stating, “We are thrilled to record 13,338 overall tractor sales in May 2024 and continue to outperform the domestic industry. The onset of the Kharif season has brought some buoyancy in tractor buying, and we are pleased to see the gradual shift towards farm mechanization in India.”

The company’s wide range of heavy-duty tractors, spanning from 20 to 120 HP, is designed to deliver supreme customer satisfaction and cater to the diverse needs of farmers. With the monsoon season already underway and forecasts suggesting above-average rainfall, the agriculture sector is poised for a promising year.

To further support farmers, Sonalika has launched its latest “June Jackpot” offer, which aims to make heavy-duty tractors more affordable and accessible, promoting farm mechanization across the country.

 The onset of the Kharif season, company

Agbiologicals, Agribusiness, Company News, Herbicides, North America

U.S. EPA approved an amendment to the label of INTERLINE herbicide to include Camelina.

Yield10 Bioscience, Inc., an agricultural bioscience company, announced that UPL Ltd.  has received U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) approval to amend the label language of INTERLINE® Herbicide to include the oilseed Camelina sativa (“Camelina”). This approval allows Yield10’s glufosinate-tolerant Camelina to be sprayed with INTERLINE®, a glufosinate containing herbicide, providing farmers with a much-needed method to control broad leaf weeds during Camelina field production. INTERLINE is marketed and sold by UPL, a global provider of sustainable agricultural solutions.

Camelina, a member of the Brassicaceae plant family, is available in both spring and cold-tolerant winter varieties. Use of the Camelina crop is currently ramping up commercially in North America as a potential source of feedstock oil for the biofuel industry. Yield10 is also progressing commercial development of Camelina as a potential platform crop for producing new seed products including engineered omega-3 oils for use in human nutrition, animal feed and aquaculture.

“We appreciate the efforts of the UPL team to add Camelina to the INTERLINE herbicide label,” said Kristi Snell, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer and Vice President of Research of Yield10. “Having methods to control broad-leaf weeds is essential to enabling the large-scale adoption of Camelina as a commercial crop in North America. Yield10 has engineered both spring and winter varieties of Camelina for glufosinate tolerance. We anticipate that INTERLINE will give Camelina farmers access to a widely used herbicide solution that supports farm profitability and crop health.”

Yield10 is a leader in the development of Camelina, including glufosinate-tolerant varieties. USDA-APHIS’s Biotechnology Regulatory Services (“BRS”) determined in November 2023 that Yield10’s glufosinate tolerant Camelina is not subject to regulation under 7 CFR part 340 regulations after the Company submitted a Regulatory Status Review Request (“RSR”) under the SECURE Rule. This ruling allows Yield10’s glufosinate tolerant varieties to be grown and bred in the United States. The recent EPA label amendment allows growers to spray INTERLINE on glufosinate tolerant Camelina varieties in the US under state registrations.

U.S. EPA approved an amendment to the

Agribusiness, Farm Mechanisation, Foodgrains, India, Machinery - Pre-harvesting

Farmers can also avail of prompt doorstep service that can be monitored via a new user-friend app called ‘Mahindra Saathi,’ ensuring quick and easy services on the go.

 Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.’s Farm Equipment Sector (FES), part of the Mahindra Group, and the world’s largest tractor manufacture by volume, has launched a new 6 row paddy transplanter called the Mahindra 6RO Paddy Walker in state name.

Following the successful introduction of the 4RO walk behind transplanter (MP461) and 4RO ride-on (PLANTING MASTER PADDY 4RO) in Maharashtra the new Mahindra 6RO Paddy Walker will boost Mahindra’s presence in the rice transplanting technology space, where the company already enjoys market leadership. With paddy as a key crop, Maharashtra is renowned for its world-class rice and as an early adopter of rice mechanisation technologies, with high-quality rice grown in several parts of the state. The new solution enables water preservation, lower environmental impact, including lower labour cost compared to an otherwise labour-intensive techniques, while also improving overall profitability related to rice farming.

The new Mahindra 6RO Paddy Walker provides for excellent operator efficiency and is engineered for precision and efficient transplanting, setting new benchmarks in paddy farming. Manually operated, the new transplanter is compact in design and is easy to manoeuvre in confined spaces, for uniform transplanting simultaneous in six rows, in a single pass. With a focus on power, reliability and performance, the new paddy transplanter boasts a highly durable gearbox and powerful engine with a capacity of 4-litres. This guarantees higher output and lower fuel consumption, maximising productivity in paddy cultivation, as well as extended service intervals.

With a 2-year payback period and a minimum operating area of just 200 acres, the new rice planter offers excellent prospects for rental businesses as well. Available through Mahindra’s extensive farm machinery dealer network in Maharashtra farmers can also avail of prompt doorstep service that can be monitored via a new user-friend app called ‘Mahindra Saathi,’ ensuring quick and easy services on the go. The new Mahindra 6RO Paddy Walker, as well as Mahindra’s entire range of rice transplanters will also be offered with best-in-class financing options from Mahindra Finance and Sriram Finance. 

Farmers can also avail of prompt doorstep

Agribusiness, Finance, India, Start ups

In its first ESOP buyback, 153 team members, which includes senior vice presidents to field teams, were benefited.

Agritech DeHaat announced that company has issued employee stock ownership plan ESOPs. To date, DeHaat has issued ESOPs worth over Rs 100 crore ($12 million) to more than 200 individuals. In its first ESOP buyback, 153 team members, which includes senior vice presidents to field teams, were benefited.

DeHaat’s gross revenue grew 54.2 per cent to Rs 1,965 crore in FY23 from Rs 1,274 crore in FY22. The company said that its revenue from operations increased 40 per cent to Rs 2,700 crore while losses was reduced by 50 per cent in FY24. The firm aims to achieve full year profitability during FY25.

DeHaat is a marketplace for the agricultural sector which offers distribution of high-quality agrarian inputs, advisory, lending, and market linkages for selling their produce. Founded in 2012 by Kumar, Amrendra Singh, Shyam Sundar, and Adarsh Srivastav, Patna and Gurugram-based DeHaat is a full-stack business-to-farmer (B2F) platform, offering end-to-end agricultural services to farmers. Its services include the distribution of high-quality agri-inputs, customised farm advisory, access to financial services, and market linkages for selling their produce.

DeHaat’s consistent growth and unparalleled performance to empower Indian farmers for over a decade has been only possible because of the commitment and efforts of our team. The ESOP buyback program demonstrates our dedication to our employees, and we are glad to generate wealth creation opportunities, said the company in the statement.

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In its first ESOP buyback, 153 team

Agbiologicals, Collaborations, World

 The partnership will significantly foster agricultural biological innovation worldwide by connecting top-tier biocontrol industries and their technology scouting for rapid commercialisation.

The World BioProtection Forum (WBF) and the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) are delighted to announce the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that sets the stage for a dynamic partnership aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture and biocontrol products and technologies. The MoU, signed in Swansea, Wales, marks the beginning of a collaborative effort that leverages the strengths and expertise of both organisations to foster innovation and growth in the agricultural sector.

Key elements of the partnership include:

Innovation and R&D: Access to collaborative research and international trials enables both organisations to stay at the forefront of Agricultural biological innovations, ensuring their offerings are cutting-edge and highly marketable.

Regulatory Advocacy: Collaborative efforts to advocate for favourable policy reforms can significantly reduce market entry barriers, fostering a conducive environment for products and services.

Global Scouting and Collaboration: ICFA, through its group organisations, will work with WBF to scout for bio-input products, technologies, and companies worldwide for potential mergers, acquisitions, collaborations, or licensing agreements.

Strategic Alliances: By engaging with industry leaders and innovators within WBF and ICFA, organisations can forge partnerships that accelerate product development and market penetration, driving profitability.

Market Expansion: The WBF and ICFA global network offers unparalleled opportunities for market intelligence and entry into untapped regions, enhancing competitive edge.

Training and Conferences: The parties will jointly organise training programs, meetings, symposia, conferences, and regulatory campaigns related to their mutual interests.

Event Hosting: ICFA or its group organisations, such as Agriculture Today Group (ATG) and International Agriculture Consulting FZ-LLC, Dubai (IACG), will host the Annual World BioProtection Summit and Awards (AWBSA). These events will be organised globally by ICFA and WBF.

Dr. Minshad Ansari, Chairman and Founder of WBF, said, “This new global alliance between WBF and ICFA will significantly foster agricultural biological innovation worldwide by connecting top-tier biocontrol industries and their technology scouting for rapid commercialisation. This initiative is uniquely positioned to accelerate the global agbio market.

Dr M J Khan, Chairman of ICFA, said, “This partnership with a global biocontrol association, WBF, brings a tremendous opportunity to advance sustainable agriculture practices in India and globally. By combining our resources and expertise, we can drive significant progress in biocontrol technologies, benefiting farmers and the environment alike.”

This partnership represents a significant step forward in the global effort to enhance sustainable agricultural practices and biocontrol technologies. WBF and ICFA are excited about the opportunities this collaboration will bring and look forward to achieving significant milestones together.

 The partnership will significantly foster agricultural biological

AgroPolicy, Fruits, Horticulture, India, Supply Chain, Trade, Transportation

ICAR- CCARI provided essential technical support for post-harvest management and development of sea protocol for the MD 2 pineapple produced in the Sindhudurg district of the Konkan region in Maharashtra.

In a significant stride for India’s fresh fruit export sector, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, facilitated the successful export of the first consignment of MD 2 variety pineapples to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The consignment, comprising 8.7 metric tons (650 boxes) of the prized MD 2 pineapples, was ceremoniously flagged off by Chairman, APEDA, Abhishek Dev, in the presence of senior officials from APEDA and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR CCARI).

“This marks a pivotal moment in India’s agricultural export history, showcasing our ability to produce and supply premium quality pineapples to global markets,” said Shri Abhishek Dev. “The MD 2 variety is renowned for its exceptional sweetness and quality, and we are thrilled to introduce it to the UAE market”, he said.

The MD 2 pineapple, also known as “Golden Ripe” or “Super Sweet,” has become the gold standard in the pineapple industry, with significant cultivation in countries like Costa Rica, the Philippines, and Thailand.

ICAR- CCARI provided essential technical support for post-harvest management and development of sea protocol for the MD 2 pineapple produced in the Sindhudurg district of the Konkan region in Maharashtra. A private firm successfully grew this variety on 200 acres in partnership with local farmers, ensuring optimal quality and yield.

The harvested pineapples were meticulously graded, sorted, packed, and stored in Panvel, Navi Mumbai. From there, the consignment was transported to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) for its onward journey to the UAE.

APEDA continues its dedicated efforts to promote the export of fresh fruits and vegetables from India. This first trial shipment of MD 2 pineapples signifies a substantial addition to APEDA’s export basket, enhancing India’s presence in the global market.

ICAR- CCARI provided essential technical support for

Acquaculture, India, Industry Reports / Analysis, Trade

Higher revenues and lower procurement costs will help Indian shrimp exporters sustain operating margin around 7 per cent this fiscal, according to CRISIL.

Indian shrimp exporters will see revenues grow 8-10% this fiscal as demand from key importing nations recovers and realisations improve. The revenue growth will be despite the higher duties for Indian exporters in the United States (US) and locational advantages enjoyed by key competing nations.

Higher revenues and lower procurement costs will help Indian shrimp exporters sustain operating margin around 7 per cent this fiscal, despite supply chain disruptions and higher logistics costs because of geopolitical uncertainties.

Credit profiles will remain healthy as debt remains in check because of improving cash accrual, prudent working capital management and limited capital expenditure (capex) due to surplus capacities. An analysis of 69 shrimp exporters rated by CRISIL Ratings, accounting for almost two-thirds of the industry’s revenues, indicates as much.

India, Ecuador and Vietnam account for around two-thirds of global shrimp exports, while the US, China and Japan consume more than half of the global produce.

In the past two fiscals, Ecuador surpassed India to become the largest shrimp exporter, backed by higher acreage, favourable climate and significant investments to improve the genetic quality of brood stock. Ecuador also benefited from its proximity to the US and the European Union as Asian exporters grappled with higher logistics costs amid container shortages.

That said, recent investigations by the US Department of Commerce (USDOC)1 with regards to countervailing duty (CVD) and anti-dumping duty (ADD) on shrimp exporting nations could have a bearing on their competitiveness.

Himank Sharma, Director, CRISIL Ratings, said, “Indian shrimp exporters stand to benefit as demand improves for two reasons. First, lower channel inventories at importers’ end, who had reduced purchases in the past few months, will need to be replenished. Second, higher spending on discretionary and food items, as economic outlook improves for Western economies (the key consumers), will drive-up volume and realisations for exporters. Volume and realisations of Indian shrimp exporters will go up in tandem by 4-5 per cent each, driving the revenue growth.”

Albeit, the final determination of CVD for Indian exporters and the key competing nations, along with the outcome of ADD investigations by the USDOC on Ecuador and Indonesia, will be monitorable. A higher ADD for the competing countries could be a shot in the arm for Indian exporters.

Procurement costs for Indian shrimp players will reduce this fiscal because of better production vis-à-vis last fiscal, when the summer crop had taken a hit due to sudden rise in temperatures early in the season. Thus, higher revenues and lower procurement costs, this fiscal, will keep operating margins stable at around 7 per cent, despite increased logistics costs due to geopolitical tensions.

Working capital requirement will moderate as purchase costs reduce. To add, surplus processing capacities available with Indian exporters will limit capex, which will reduce dependence on external borrowings.  Nagarjun Alaparthi, Associate Director, CRSIL Ratings, said, “Strong cash flows kept the balance sheets of shrimp exporters comfortable in the past decade. As debt addition remains muted this fiscal, and cash generation will improve due to better revenues and stable operating margin, gearing and interest coverage will improve. Credit profiles, thus, will strengthen over

Higher revenues and lower procurement costs will