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Agribusiness, Biofuel industry, Company News, Sustainability, Sustainable Energy, World

 Company will be able to cover 95 per cent of its energy requirements at the site from renewable sources in the future.

Boehringer Ingelheim inaugurated a biomass power plant at its Ingelheim site on Monday. With the new power plant, Boehringer Ingelheim is optimising its energy supply and protecting the environment at the same time: Around 50,000 tons of CO2 are saved per year. The CO2 emissions of the site’s own energy generation are reduced by 70 per cent. In total, the company is investing EUR 205 million in sustainable infrastructure projects in Ingelheim and will be able to cover 95 per cent of its energy requirements at the site from renewable sources in the future.

The Vice Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors, Michael Schmelmer, described the commissioning as a “significant milestone” for Boehringer Ingelheim and explained: “Part of our sustainability goals is to protect natural resources so that our earth remains a place worth living in for people and animals. With an environmentally friendly and more independent energy supply, we are ensuring stable production in order to be able to deliver medications for patients worldwide.”

The ceremonial inauguration was attended by the German Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck and Rhineland-Palatinate Environment Minister Katrin Eder.

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck said, “The decarbonization of all areas of our economy is necessary in order to achieve global climate targets on the one hand and a reduction in energy imports on the other. Boehringer Ingelheim is a good example of this. The company uses renewable energies for production. It trains and attracts talents as an attractive employer. Last but not least, it invests heavily in research and development, thus contributing to better healthcare and future proofing of the site.” Biomass is an important source of renewable energy and is considered almost CO2 neutral.

The waste wood used as fuel in Ingelheim is a waste product. It comes from the Rhine-Main area and is controlled according to strict quality standards.

Further measures for CO2 neutrality by 2030

The company has set itself the goal of making its business operations CO2 neutral by 2030. To this end, many individual projects are being implemented to save energy worldwide. By constructing more energy-efficient buildings, for example, the company has so far been able to save around 25% percent of its energy needs per square meter of floor space in Ingelheim. In Ingelheim, the company has also been operating its own solar park since 2023. Several other Boehringer Ingelheim sites are already certified as carbon neutral, for example in Dortmund (Germany), Gainesville (USA), Zhangjian (China) or Sant Cugat (Spain).

 Company will be able to cover 95

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

This partnership will allow FarmERP to collaborate with leading companies and government organizations, providing them with the advanced technology.

FarmERP, a global leader in cutting-edge sustainable technology solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with Seiyaj Tech, tech company based in Saudi Arabia which focused on localising green energy technologies from top international companies. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in Riyadh, aims to expand FarmERP’s influence and impact in Saudi Arabia, leveraging Seiyaj Tech’s extensive business network and local expertise.

Saudi Arabia’s agriculture sector faces unique challenges, including extreme weather, water scarcity, and limited resources. FarmERP, with over 12+ years of experience in the Gulf region and extensive operations in Saudi Arabia, has developed tailored solutions to meet the specific needs of the region’s agribusinesses. This partnership will allow FarmERP to collaborate with leading companies and government organizations, providing them with the advanced technology necessary to thrive in these challenging conditions.

Seiyaj Tech boasts a distinguished history of partnerships with major Saudi Arabian government entities and prominent players in the private sector. Renowned for their delivery of advanced software and hardware solutions, Seiyaj Tech empowers clients to achieve scalable growth. Through collaborations with leading global technology providers, they tailor cutting-edge solutions that meet specific local market requirements. This strategic alliance with FarmERP will notably expand their influence, strengthening efforts to advance agritech in the region. This aligns closely with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious objectives for sustainable development and food security, underscoring their commitment to transformative technological solutions.

Hussein Ali Al Khars, CEO of Seiyaj Tech, added, “Our partnership with FarmERP aligns perfectly with our commitment to bringing advanced technological solutions to Saudi Arabia. We look forward to working together to provide more robust and valuable offerings to our customers, ultimately enhancing & upgrading the agritech landscape in Saudi Arabia.”

Embodying cutting-edge technology, FarmERP’s platform integrates precision farming techniques and AI-powered FarmGyan advisories. These innovations are meticulously crafted to enhance resource efficiency, boost crop yields, and foster sustainable agricultural practices, especially tailored to thrive in Saudi Arabia’s demanding environmental landscape.

Sanjay Borkar, CEO and Co-founder of FarmERP, furthermore commented by saying, “This collaboration with Seiyaj Tech marks a significant step forward in our mission to transform agriculture in the region. With over a decade of proven expertise in the Gulf, FarmERP is well-equipped to address the unique challenges faced by Saudi Arabia’s agribusinesses. Together, we aim to drive innovation and support Saudi Vision 2030 for a sustainable agricultural future.”

This partnership will allow FarmERP to collaborate

Agro Universities, Environment, Soil Health, World

The joint Partnership will play a pivotal role leading effort to coordinate, grow, and strengthen the VACS movement across a wide range of public and private stakeholders.

An initiative to build resilient agrifood systems grounded in diverse, nutritious, and climate-adapted crops grown in healthy soils, today marked another milestone through a new partnership between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and CIMMYT, a CGIAR Research Center.

FAO and CIMMYT signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a Partnership for the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) initiative.  The joint Partnership will play a pivotal role leading effort to coordinate, grow, and strengthen the VACS movement across a wide range of public and private stakeholders.

“By joining forces with the CGIAR and CIMMYT, we bring together our collective capacities to build a strong momentum and platform to advance the VACS,” said FAO’s Director-General QU Dongyu. “VACS effectively brings together the Four Betters set out in the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life – leaving no one behind.”

“Our 2030 Strategy focuses on strengthening agrifood systems to increase nutritional value and climate resilience,” said CIMMYT’s Director General, Bram Govaerts. “We are proud to stand united, through VACS, with FAO, whose excellent track record on policy work and networking with national governments will help equip farmers with resilient seed and climate-smart cropping systems that regenerate, rather than degrade, the soils on which their diets and livelihoods depend.”

Launched in 2023 by the U.S. Department of State in partnership with the African Union and FAO, the VACS movement aims to build sustainable and resilient agrifood systems by leveraging opportunity crops and building healthy soils to enhance agricultural resilience to climate change and improve diets. Nutrient-rich and traditional crops like sorghum, millet, cowpea, and mung bean are vital for food security and nutrition under climate change but have seen little attention so far. VACS recognizes the interdependence of crops and soils: Crops need good soil to be productive, and different crops can only be sustainably grown on some types of land. 

Since its launch the VACS initiative has supported many activities including the Quick Wins Seed Systems Project in Africa, which promotes the adoption of climate-resilient dryland grains and legumes and helps smallholders access seeds of local nutritious crops like pearl millet, finger millet, and mung bean, and connects them with markets and agri-services. Meanwhile, the VACS Fellows programme trains African breeding professionals, strengthening regional agrifood systems. In Central America, InnovaHubs partner with CGIAR, Mexico, and Norway to connect farmers with markets, technologies, and high-quality seeds. FAO, through its work, including as part of the International Network on Soil Fertility and Fertilizers (INSOILFER) and the Soil mapping for resilient agrifood systems (SoilFER) project, assists members with the implementation of sustainable and balanced soil fertility management for food security and to promote actions to enhance the link between nourished healthy soils and opportunity crops.

Leveraging on the expertise and mandates of both CIMMYT and FAO, the new joint VACS Partnership will support, coordinate and amplify the impact of all stakeholders of the VACS movement, public and private, through the following functions:

  • Strategy: The Partnership will develop and maintain a VACS strategy, including by defining its mission, objectives, and approach.
  • Resource Mobilization: The Partnership will work with public and private sector donors to increase investments in VACS-aligned work.
  • Donor and Implementer Coordination: The Partnership will coordinate work among major VACS donors and implementers, including by coordinating the VACS Implementers’ Group.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: The Partnership will strengthen ties across public and private stakeholders to catalyse action in support of VACS, including by coordinating the VACS Community of Practice and the VACS Champions program.
  • Shaping the Policy Environment: The Partnership will coordinate the development of a VACS policy agenda and work to advance it at the local, national, and multinational levels.
  • Communications: The Partnership will elevate the importance of diverse crops and healthy soils as a fundamental means of advancing a range of sustainable development goals.
  • Results Management: The Partnership will develop and maintain a results management framework to track progress in achieving VACS objectives.

The joint Partnership will play a pivotal

Agro Universities, India, R&D

NIC Kolkata has developed a proof of concept to detect various diseases of Cardamom leaves from the leaf images using AI based models.

National Informatics Centre (NIC), Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India and Spices Board, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India has signed the memorandum of Understanding for the project named Development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) aided tools for detection and Classification of Large cardamom diseases.

National Informatics Centre (NIC) has created the Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence (CoE-AI) in NIC Kolkata to develop AI based solutions and integrate it with e-Governance applications and has developed a proof of concept to detect various diseases of Cardamom leaves from the leaf images using AI based models.

As per the MOU, the pictures of diseases-free leaves as well as leaves with diseases will be provided by the spices board to NIC. The images will be processed in NIC’s AI lab of NIC Kolkata. Using the information so extracted, the Artificial Intelligence tools will be trained to identify cardamom leaves with diseases.

MOU was signed by Sanhita Bhattacharjee, Scientist F and Additional State Informatics Officer, West Bengal and Dr A.B. Remashree Director (Research & Finance) from Spices board in the presence of Dr L.P.Sharma, State Informatics Officer (Sikkim) and his team from NIC Sikkim and many other officers from spices Board, ICRI and NIC participating in Virtual Mode. The work is initiated under the patronage of Shermishta Sengupta, Deputy Director General of NIC.NIC Sikkim, Spices Board and NIC Kolkotta was in discussion for the last three months for finalization of this MOU.

NIC Kolkata has developed a proof of

Agribusiness, Company News, Digital Technologies, IT, Taiwan

FarmiSpace has expanded its support to Southeast Asia, offering solutions for tropical and subtropical crops such as oil palm, banana, mango, and pineapple.

Taiwan based DataYoo, a leading agritech company, is transforming precision agriculture with its innovative FarmiSpace platform. By harnessing high-resolution satellite data, DataYoo empowers global farmers to optimise resources, boost yields, and promote sustainability through data-driven decision-making.

As global agriculture faces challenges from climate change and resource scarcity, FarmiSpace has expanded its support to Southeast Asia, offering solutions for tropical and subtropical crops such as oil palm, banana, mango, and pineapple, helping farmers worldwide adopt precision agriculture for a sustainable future.

With features like digital field management and AI crop recognition, FarmiSpace empowers farmers globally, boosting yields and sustainability. FarmiSpace offers unparalleled precision with 3×3 meter resolution satellite data, surpassing competitors’ 10×10 to 250×250 meter resolutions. This precision allows farmers to monitor their fields daily, detecting subtle changes in crop health, water stress, and growth patterns.

The platform’s features include:

  • Digital field management: Farmers can digitally map their fields, set planting cycles, and track crop progress.
  • Advanced warning system: Custom alerts notify farmers of potential issues before they escalate.
  • AI-powered crop recognition: Automatic identification of crop types and distribution.

DataYoo’s impact extends beyond individual farms. In Guatemala, the company has partnered with Misión De Taiwán, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and local organizations to establish weather stations and experimental fields. By integrating data from multiple sources, DataYoo has helped local farmers.

The company’s predictive models boast an impressive accuracy rate of 80 per cent to 99.8 per cent. This capability allows governments to anticipate potential crop failures and take proactive measures to ensure food security.

DataYoo’s success stories include:

Increased broccoli yields by 32 per cent.

Developed local corn growth models.

Increased crop growth rates by 119 per cent by precision irrigation.

Reduced uneven growth from 33.27 per cent to 7.52 per cent by data-driven pest management.

Increased watermelon yields by 27 per cent.

This year, DataYoo aims to help Guatemalan farmers increase crop yields by over 10 per cent, save at least 50 per cent on irrigation water, and reduce carbon emissions by 560 kg/hectare.

DataYoo’s innovation has earned global acclaim, with an invitation to 2024 WTO Forum, affirming its leadership the AgTech industry.

“FarmiSpace is the ideal platform for farmers who want to adopt technology, combining technological applications with traditional practices to help farmers stay competitive in the market,” says Dafne, an agricultural expert working with DataYoo in Guatemala.

FarmiSpace has expanded its support to Southeast

Agro Universities, Foodgrains, R&D, Sustainability

It focusses on ensuring the long-term viability of advancements in rice production and value chains across the region.

With the APART’s closure approaching, IRRI and partners are starting to discuss a comprehensive exit strategy that will ensure the continuation and sustainability of the technologies and practices introduced by the project for the rice value chain in Assam.

The Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART) will conclude in 2024. To ensure the continuity of its impact, the Assam Rural Infrastructure and Agricultural Services (ARIAS) Society and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) are collaborating on a transition plan that focuses on ensuring the long-term viability of advancements in rice production and value chains across the region.

APART, funded by the World Bank, has been instrumental in promoting climate-resilient agriculture and enhancing regional rice productivity. Key to its success has been the introduction of stress-tolerant rice varieties (STRVs) that benefited more than 400,000 farmers in Assam. These varieties, engineered to withstand floods, droughts, and other stressors, provided agricultural resilience, promoted mechanized farming practices, and improved labor productivity and efficiency.

Through APART, over 4,500 training programs were conducted for nearly 160,000 farmers, 32 per cent of whom were women. These programs empowered the learners to adopt modern agricultural technologies, such as mechanized direct seeding of rice, mechanical transplanting, harvesting through reapers and combine harvesters, and using axial flow and open drum threshers for threshing, which encouraged the project’s sustainability.

Through the project, IRRI also developed a Web-GIS Portal and the Rice-based Cropping System Knowledge Bank, offering valuable resources for informed decision-making and knowledge sharing.

Strategies to ensure the continuation of these achievements were discussed in a meeting co-organized by the ARIAS Society and IRRI. Senior officials from various government departments participated.

In her address, Aruna Rajoria, Agriculture Production Commissioner to the Government of Assam, highlighted the need for integrating government schemes to support the project’s long-term sustainability. She said, “Collaboration between the state government, Assam Agricultural University (AAU), other state agencies, and IRRI is critical to maintain the momentum of technology adoption and ensure the sustainability of activities initiated as part of this project.”

As ARIAS Society and IRRI work towards the transition, the emphasis remains on advancing agricultural transformation within Assam’s rice-based agri-food systems, highlighting the role of innovative technologies and collaborative efforts in fostering progress and development.

It focusses on ensuring the long-term viability

Agribusiness, Company News, Finance, Funding, India, Start ups

The funding will be used to scale operations, enhance product development, and expand the company’s market presence.

Gocarin Industries Pvt. Ltd., a pioneering startup in the agri-tech sector, announced that it has secured Rs 49 lakh in funding from KIIT Technology Business Incubator (TBI) under the prestigious BIRAC Leap programme.

The funding comes as a part of the central government’s initiative to support innovative startups and bolster the entrepreneurial ecosystem in India. BIRAC Leap, an initiative under the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), aims to accelerate startups with potential for high impact and scalability.

The funding will be used to scale operations, enhance product development, and expand the company’s market presence, further solidifying Gocarin Industries’ position as a leader in the agri-tech industry.

Dr Ramanuj Panda, a Founder and CEO of Gocarin Industries, expressed his enthusiasm about this milestone: “We are honoured to receive this support from KIIT TBI and BIRAC. This funding will be instrumental in driving our mission to revolutionize the agricultural industry by empowering farmers with cutting-edge technology solutions. The validation from such esteemed institutions is a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication.”

Gocarin Industries has been at the forefront of providing innovative solutions to farmers, helping them improve productivity and sustainability. The infusion of funds will enable the company to enhance its product offerings, expand its reach, and continue to innovate in the agri-tech space.

KIIT TBI, known for its robust incubation support and mentorship, has been a catalyst for numerous successful startups. The BIRAC Leap programme, specifically designed for high-potential startups, will provide Gocarin Industries with not just financial support but also strategic guidance and mentorship.

“We believe in the vision and potential of Gocarin Industries. Their commitment to leveraging technology to solve real-world problems in agriculture aligns perfectly with the objectives of the BIRAC Leap programme,” said Dr Mrutyunjay Suar, CEO KIIT TBI, DG (R&D) KIIT University, Chairman BCKIC.

The funding will be used to scale

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Company News, Farm Mechanisation, India, Machinery - Pre-harvesting, Machinery – Post-harvesting

The centre will provide world-class skill development, followed by on-job training opportunities for rural youth and women.

VEDIC-Mahindra Skill Development Centre was inaugurated today at the Ordnance Factory in Ambajhari, in the presence of Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport & Highways. Established as a collaborative effort between VDIA (Vidharbha Defence Industries Association), Yantra India Ltd., and Mahindra Tractors, the centre will address the challenges faced by rural youth and promoting skill development in the Vidharbha region.

The event also witnessed the presence of Dinesh Rai, Founder Chairman, Alliance of Indian MSMEs (AIM) & Former Secretary, MSME, GOI, Gurudutt Ray, officiating Chairman & Managing Director, Yantra India Ltd., Mr. Nachiket Kodkani, Sr. VP – Mfg., CME, SCPC & Quality, Mahindra Tractors, Kapil Chandrayan, Consultant NSDC, Vipin Itankar, IAS, District Collector Nagpur and Mr. Dilip V. Gondnale, Chairman, VEDIC (Vidharbha Engineering Design & Innovation Centre) along with other dignitaries.

Speaking on the occasion, Vikram Wagh, Chief Executive Officer, Mahindra Tractors said, “At Mahindra, we believe that by providing world-class skill development, we can create numerous opportunities for rural youth and women, enabling them to build successful careers and address the challenges of rural India, while contributing to the nation’s growth. The inauguration of the Skill Development Centre, ‘VEDIC-Mahindra SDC’ in Nagpur, is a testament to that objective and a major milestone in Mahindra Tractors’ continued thrust toward transforming lives and strengthening communities.”

As Mahindra Tractors celebrates 60 years of leadership in the domestic market and a milestone of 40 lakh tractors sold, the establishment of this centre underscores the company’s commitment to rural prosperity across the country through youth empowerment. This initiative aligns with Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on skill development as a national priority to leverage India’s unique demographic dividend.

Through VEDIC-Mahindra SDC, Mahindra Tractors will bring unmatched industry expertise in tractor and farm machinery, together with a commitment to excellence in skill development. The centre is particularly focused on skilling rural youth from the Vidarbha region, paving the way for multiple potential career opportunities across the ecosystem, including sales and service roles at dealership locations and assembly roles at manufacturing plants.

Mahindra Tractors has curated a unique curriculum covering skill development across tractor service, sales, and assembly, delivered by the best trainers in this field. Students will also have access to the most modern technical equipment and hands-on experience in various aspects of tractor-related skills.

The centre will provide world-class skill development,

Uncategorized

 In Karnataka, the top Kharif onion producing State, sowing is completed in 30 per cent of its targeted area of 1.50 lakh hectare, and sowing is making good progress in other major producing States.

Good and timely monsoon rains this year has provided big boost for kharif crops, including onion and other horticultural crop like tomato and potato. As per the assessment of Ministry of Agriculture with the State Governments, the area targeted for kharif sowing of major vegetables namely, onion, tomato and potato have seen significant increase over last year.

The availability of onion in domestic market is comfortable notwithstanding marginally lower production of onion in rabi-2024 season as compared to the production last year. Onion crop is harvested in three seasons: rabi in March-May; kharif in September-November and late kharif in January-February. In terms of production, rabi crop accounted for roughly 70% of the total production while kharif and late kharif together constitute 30%. Kharif onion plays important role in maintaining price stability during the lean months of between rabi and peak kharif arrivals.

The target area under Kharif onion this year is 3.61 lakh hectare which is 27 per cent higher than last year. In Karnataka, the top Kharif onion producing State, sowing is completed in 30 per cent of its targeted area of 1.50 lakh hectare, and sowing is making good progress in other major producing States.

The onion currently available in the market is rabi-2024 crop, harvested during March-May 2024. The estimated rabi-2024 production of 191 lakh tonnes is sufficient to meet the domestic consumption of about 17 lakh tonnes per month and continued restraint on export within 1 lakh tonnes per month. Further, dry weather condition prevailing during and after rabi harvest this year is observed to have helped in lowering storage loss of onion. Onion prices are stabilising as the quantity of rabi onion released in the market by farmers is increasing with higher mandi prices and onset of monsoon rains which increases the chances storage loss due to high atmospheric moisture.

Though potato is essentially a Rabi crop, some quantities of Kharif potatoes are produced in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Kharif potato harvest during September to November augments the availability in the market. The area under Kharif potato this year is targeted to increase by 12% over last year. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have covered almost the entire targeted sowing area while sowing in Karnataka and other States are in good progress. As per DAFW data, 273.2 lakh tonnes of Rabi potato had been stored in cold storage this year which is sufficient to meet the consumption demand. The prices of potato regulate the rate at which it’s released from the cold storages during the storage period from March to December.

As per Ministry of Agriculture’s assessment with State Government, the targeted kharif tomato area this year is 2.72 lakh hectare as against 2.67 lakh hectare sown last year. Crop conditions are reported to be good in major producing areas of Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh and Kolar in Karnataka. In Kolar, picking of tomatoes have started and will hit the market in within few days from now. As per feedback from District Horticultural officials in Chittoor and Kolar, tomato crop this year is substantially better than last year. Kharif tomato areas are set to increase substantially over last year in major producing States of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

 In Karnataka, the top Kharif onion producing

Acquaculture, Agro Universities, India, R&D, Start ups

The MoU was inked to evaluate the utility of Loopworm’s products in shrimp and Asian seabass.

ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai signed a MoU with the team of M/s. Loopworm, an insect biosciences and bio manufacturing startup firm based in Bangalore to evaluate the utility of insect-based protein and oil in aqua feeds.

Loopworm is India’s largest insect-based protein and fat producer with a processing capability of 6,000 MT insects annually. Protein and fat are the costliest nutrients in the aqua feed. With the rapid expansion of aquaculture, there is a growing demand for high-quality protein and oil in the aqua feed. Finding nutritionally appropriate and sustainable alternatives to fishmeal and fish oil is an applied research area that added many options to the aqua feed ingredient basket. Recently, insects have received significant attention as a new ingredient for aqua feed since they show many advantages such as low environmental impact, the ability to grow on by-products with better feed conversion efficiency, and a low risk of transmitting zoonotic infections.

The MoU was inked to evaluate the utility of Loopworm’s products in shrimp and Asian seabass. Ankit Alok Bagaria, Co-founder and CEO of Loopworm, emphasised plans for cost-effective production and scaling up the insect protein and oil. The event was organized by the Institute Technology Management Unit, ICAR-CIBA, and SIC, ITMU.

The MoU was inked to evaluate the

AgroPolicy, India, Supply Chain, Transportation

 Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority handled 567,392 TEUs in June 2024, an increase of 19 per cent year-on-year.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) handled 1,688,145 TEUs from April 2024 to June 2024 compared to 1,526,284 TEUs in the same period last year, an increase of 10.60 percent. JNPA handled 567,392 TEUs in June 2024, an increase of 19 percent year-on-year. There is also a remarkable increase in the rakes share. In June 2024, containers handled through rakes were 86,333 TEUs, an increase of 17 per cent compared to 73,707 TEUs in June 2023, mentioned an official release.

 “We are delighted to share that JNPA has continued its growth trajectory with significant increase in handling TEUs. This quarterly performance is a testament to JNPA’s efforts to reduce logistics costs and time by providing efficiency in EXIM and ease of doing business. I must say that this quarter has been very fruitful for JN Port as we also received the cabinet’s approval for the mega port project of Vadhvan, which is going to be a game changer for the Indian Maritime sector”, Unmesh Sharad Wagh, Chairman, JNPA said in the statement.

“This project is a catalyst for strengthening economies of scale and transcending the conventional way of port operations in India. We also completed our 35 years of establishment and have been thriving ever since.” The port will comprise nine container terminals, each 1,000 metres long, four multipurpose berths, including the coastal berth, four liquid cargo berths, a Ro-Ro berth, and a Coast Guard berth. The project involves the reclamation of 1,448 hectares of area in the sea and the construction of 10.14 km of offshore breakwater and container/cargo storage areas. The project will create a cumulative capacity of 298 million tonnes per annum, including around 23.2 million TEUs of container handling capacity.

 Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority handled 567,392 TEUs

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Company News, North America, R&D

Agdia’s new AmplifyRP® XRT assay provides growers from multiple cropping systems with varying levels of expertise with a powerful diagnostic tool.

 Agdia, Inc., a leading provider of plant diagnostic products and services, announced the introduction of an assay for detection of Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus on their popular AmplifyRP® XRT platform. Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV) is a Polerovirus of emerging importance to cucurbit growers worldwide. This virus was initially characterized in France in 1992 and has since spread to regions of cucurbit production around the world, resulting in yield reductions of up to 50% during severe outbreaks. Surveys indicate that CABYV is one of the most widespread viruses infecting cucumbers throughout European greenhouses and has seemingly been present in Asia and the Mediterranean basin for several decades. Limited, yet concerning outbreaks of CABYV have occurred in Africa, South America and the U.S. High disease incidence, wide host range, virulence and vector ubiquity have combined to make CABYV a significant concern for global cucurbit production.

In addition to most cultivated species of cucurbits, CABYV is known to infect beet, chickpea, faba bean, lettuce, passionfruit and tomato. Moreover, several weedy species in Amaranthaceae, Brassicaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Lamiaceae and Malvaceae function as virus reservoirs in the absence of cultivated hosts.

Successful management of CABYV in fields and greenhouses is complex, utilising multiple strategies, including exclusion of virus sources and vectors, vector management and disruption of vector activities. Genetic resistance has been identified in cucurbit spp.; however, the resistance genes in crops other than melon have not been characterized and are not commercially available.

Accurate and timely diagnosis of plants infected with viruses is paramount to successful management throughout the growing season, including the establishment and transplanting phases. And Agdia’s new AmplifyRP® XRT assay for detection of Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus provides growers from multiple cropping systems with varying levels of expertise with a powerful diagnostic tool. AmplifyRP® XRT technology promotes the rapid amplification and detection of nucleic acid targets, DNA or RNA, while maintaining a single operating temperature of 42oC. The AmplifyRP® XRT products achieve target sensitivity and specificity comparable to qPCR while having clear advantages over the lab-based technology. AmplifyRP® XRT products do not require a nucleic acid purification step, as crude sample extracts are prepared using a simple extraction buffer and tested directly. When paired with Agdia’s AmpliFire® isothermal fluorometer, the XRT system is a rapid, user-friendly tool that can be implemented in the field or the lab by personnel with limited experience in molecular diagnostics.

Agdia states their new assay for CABYV will detect several known isolates from around the world. Moreover, the assay was validated against a comprehensive panel of potential cross reactors, including viruses known to infect cucurbits and cause similar symptomology. The only cross reactor identified was Melon aphid-borne yellows virus. This product was developed to be used with leaf, petiole and stem tissue. The introduction of Agdia’s new AmplifyRP® XRT assay expands their catalog to 28 products on this platform.

Agdia’s new AmplifyRP® XRT assay provides growers

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

The company sold 14,062 tractors in the domestic market in June’24 which translates to sales growth of 16.6 per cent.

Sonalika Tractors, leading tractor export brand announced that the company has achieved a new historic milestone in Q1 FY ’25. The business achieved its best-ever Q1 total sales of 41,465 tractors, the highest-ever overall market share of 14.4 per cent (estimated) as well as recorded 2X growth over industry performance. The company sold 14,062 tractors in the domestic market in June’24 which translates to sales growth of 16.6 per cent and a market share gain of 1.4 percentile points, which is highest among all tractor brands.

Commenting on the brand’s record performance, Raman Mittal, Joint Managing Director, International Tractors Limited, said, “We are elated to achieve our best ever Q1 performance in FY ’25 with the highest ever overall sales of 41,465 tractors and highest ever Q1 overall market share of 14.4 per cent (est.) as well as recorded 2X growth over industry performance. This is powered by a staggering June ’24 domestic market performance of 14,062 tractor sales, marking a record sales growth of 16.6 per cent and market share gain of 1.4% percentile points, both being the highest among all the tractor brands.”

Mittal also added that early arrival of the monsoon in India has brought in positive sentiments in the Indian agri sector as Kharif acreage has picked up by over 30 per cent in FY’25. La Nina conditions are likely to pick up pace in the second half of the monsoons and should cover up the on-going deficiency in the monsoon precipitation. Our teams collaborate effectively to brainstorm, design and develop new farm-tech machinery that makes farming more sustainable and are more than keen to play a leading role in the overall progress of our farmers.

The company sold 14,062 tractors in the

Agro Universities, India, Water

The MoU was signed to inventories, characterise, and map the land, soil & water resources through detailed land resource inventory for watersheds in Jharkhand.

ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning Signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Jharkhand State Watershed Mission, Govt. of Jharkhand for the project Land Resource Inventory of Three Selected Watersheds, Jharkhand (under PMKSY 2.0), for Land Use Planning using Geospatial Techniques.

The MoU was signed to inventories, characterise, and map the land, soil & water resources through detailed land resource inventory for three selected watersheds in Ranchi, Khunti, and Deoghar districts in Jharkhand.  The project, supported by the Jharkhand State Watershed Mission, aims to provide detailed information and maps on land, soil, and water in selected watersheds. The LRI-based land evaluation and site-specific land management strategies will aid planners and stakeholders in developing suitable land use models for future sustainability and ecosystem profitability.

Awadh Narayan Prasad, Joint Secretary, Department of Rural Development, Dr Lakhan Lal Mahato, State GIS Expert, JSWM, N. K. Mishra, State Technical Expert, JSWM, Govt of Jharkhand, and other Officials from the Rural Development department of were present during the programme.

The MoU was signed to inventories, characterise,