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Agribusiness, Agrotech, Award, Company News, India, R&D, Start ups

 The AgTech Award recognises Innoterra for innovation in global pandemic crop disease management.

Innoterra has been honoured with the ‘Most Innovative AgTech’ award at the 6th Edition of the FICCI Agri Startup Awards 2024 for its groundbreaking bio-vaccine product, BanacXin. Innoterra BioScience was honoured at the award ceremony for its significant contributions to combating critical fungal diseases in crops, including Fusarium Wilt TR4 and Sigatoka.

BanacXin, a product of Innoterra’s bioscience business, is recognized for its revolutionary nature-derived microbial solution that has undergone rigorous multi-location and multi-season testing in India and the Philippines. This solution addresses the urgent need to sustain the banana supply chain and trade economics, which are severely impacted by pandemic fungal diseases.

Dr. Anup Karwa, Managing Director of Innoterra BioScience, said, “Receiving this national recognition from FICCI is a significant honour that propels us to further innovate. BanacXin’s success is a testament to the Innoterra Group’s commitment to leveraging bioscience for sustainable agriculture. This award reaffirms our role in developing effective disease management solutions that enhance global food security.”

Lorenzo Marconato, Managing Director, Head of International Business, added, “This award is a milestone that highlights Innoterra’s leadership in agri-biotech innovation. Anup’s vision and leadership have been pivotal in driving our mission of integrating advanced biological solutions into farming practices worldwide.”

Innoterra’s application and subsequent pitch to the esteemed FICCI jury highlighted the sustainability, efficacy, and innovative approach of BanacXin. This award not only celebrates Innoterra’s current achievements but also sets a dynamic course for future projects aimed at expanding the scope of biologically based treatments for a variety of crops affected by fungal pathogens.

The FICCI recognition motivates Innoterra to accelerate the innovation-driven development and commercialization of biologicals. Such initiatives will enhance the disease management regimes used by farmers and growers, integrating novel approaches to develop and commercialize enhanced natural biological formulations.

 The AgTech Award recognises Innoterra for innovation

Agribusiness, Agrotech, North America, R&D, Water

 The Goanna Ag GoField® technology solution leverages field sensors, satellite imagery, weather forecasts, and crop data to enable precise irrigation.

Cargill is partnering with Australian company Goanna Ag on a new pilot project focused on advancing irrigation efficiency on cotton fields in the Mississippi Delta. The project will introduce a state-of-the-art technology that aims to transform how and when farmers water their fields, optimizing crop yields, reducing water withdrawals and lowering operational costs. The program is initially available to a select number of cotton growers in Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi.

“Through our partnership with Cargill we are thrilled to offer program participants with solutions to improve water-use efficiency, reduce costs and promote long-term, sustainable outcomes.”

“Major retail brands have set goals related to water and are increasingly looking to supply chain partners like Cargill for data-backed sustainability solutions. This pilot project underscores Cargill’s commitment to helping our customers meet those ambitions to advance sustainable agriculture and water conservation,” said Matt Dunbar, managing director of Cargill’s cotton business. “By integrating advanced irrigation technology, we aim to bolster the resilience of cotton farming in the Mississippi Delta while conserving one of our most precious resources—water.”

Goanna Ag, a leader in on-farm irrigation management operating in Australia and the U.S., brings over 20 years of experience and data driven insights to the project. The Goanna Ag GoField® technology solution leverages field sensors, satellite imagery, weather forecasts, and crop data to enable precise irrigation. This innovative approach helps farmers optimize their water use, contributing to both increased crop yields and significant water conservation.

Participants in the pilot receive installation of the GoannaAg GoField® technology and personalized training to optimize irrigation timing tailored to their specific soil and crop conditions.

Goanna Ag’s proven methodologies and easy to use tools can help cotton growers improve water-use efficiency, boosting crop yields, essentially delivering more crop per drop,” said Derek Brazda, vice president, U.S. sales and operations, GoannaAg. “Through our partnership with Cargill we are thrilled to offer program participants with solutions to improve water-use efficiency, reduce costs and promote long-term, sustainable outcomes.”

This pilot project aligns with Cargill’s global water ambition to enable restoration of 600 billion litres of water and reduction of 5,000 metric tons of water pollutants in water-stressed regions by 2030.

The Mississippi Delta region–home to the third largest area of irrigated cropland in the U.S.—is experiencing a significant decline in groundwater-levels, which poses a threat to water availability in the region, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. With more precise irrigation scheduling, this project is expected to maximize farmer yields while reducing the pressure on aquifer resources.

With approximately 70% of the world’s freshwater withdrawals used for agriculture, innovative partnerships and solutions are critical to producing food sustainably and meeting the demands of a growing global population.

 The Goanna Ag GoField® technology solution leverages

AgroPolicy, Agrotech, Start ups

  The RISE Accelerator will focus on start-ups and MSMEs with technologies and solutions that enhance agricultural productivity.

The Atal Innovation Mission – in partnership with CSIRO, Australia – is inviting applications from start-ups and MSMEs from India and Australia for the Climate Smart Agritech cohort of the India Australia Rapid Innovation and Start-up Expansion (RISE) Accelerator – a program designed to support businesses aiming for international expansion between the two countries. This marks a significant milestone in fostering innovations that address India and Australia’s most pressing shared challenges in the agriculture sector.

Commencing in October 2024, the Climate Smart Agritech cohort of the RISE Accelerator will focus on start-ups and MSMEs with technologies and solutions that enhance agricultural productivity and resilience in the face of growing climate variability, resource scarcity and food insecurity.

The program is particularly interested in start-ups and MSMEs with solutions that prioritise farmer needs, priorities, and on-farm practices.  The RISE Accelerator program – launched in 2023 – has been instrumental in supporting start-ups and MSMEs in validating, adapting, and piloting their technologies for new markets. With the introduction of the Climate Smart Agritech cohort, the focus is now on agritech start-ups and MSMEs with solutions that enhance agricultural productivity and resilience in the face of growing environmental challenges.

Tamara Ogilvie, Program Director, CSIRO said, “India and Australia share common agricultural challenges, but the scale and diversity of our farming operations are unique. This cohort will enable participants to achieve product-market fit in diverse markets, and rapidly scale their solutions to meet global demands”.

Over the course of the nine months of the accelerator program, the selected start-ups and MSMEs will benefit from a blend of self-paced online learning and in-person sessions, including immersion weeks in both India and Australia. These sessions will offer deep market insights, one-on-one coaching, and mentorship from subject matter experts and industry professionals. The program is designed to facilitate connections with potential partners and customers, boosting the chances of success in new markets. The program will also involve field trials and technology pilot in the latter half.

Highlighting the importance of the program, Pramit Dash, Program Lead, AIM stated, “by fostering innovation and providing a platform for start-ups to scale their solutions, the RISE Accelerator program not only addresses the immediate challenges in the agriculture sector but also ensures that farmers can access and adopt resilient practices tailored to their specific needs”

The program’s latest round seeks novel solutions to tackle critical agricultural challenges, including boosting productivity, reducing emissions and optimising natural resource use.

Applications for the RISE Accelerator close on 15 September 2024. 

There is no charge for start-ups / SMEs to participate in the program, with a number of opportunities to travel between Australia and India. Selected start-ups / SMEs may also be eligible for up to Rs 45 lakhs in non-equity grant. For more information and to apply, please visit https://riseaccelerator.org/

  The RISE Accelerator will focus on start-ups

Agro Universities, Agrotech, India, R&D

The technology aimed to reduce the import of clonal rootstocks from other countries and a major step towards the Viksit and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

The Institute Technology Management Unit of ICAR-Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar, organised a Technology Transfer Meeting where the ‘Robust and high throughput apple clonal rootstock multiplication technology under controlled/open conditions for enhancing domestic supply and reducing the import of apple rootstocks” was transferred to 13 nursery growers and progressive farmers of Himachal Pradesh and 7 of Jammu & Kashmir, by signing a Memorandum of Understanding. The technology aimed to reduce the import of clonal rootstocks from other countries and a major step towards the Viksit and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

The vertical expansion through air layering has been accomplished in commercially important clonal rootstocks, including (M9-Pajam, M-9-T337, M-9-T339, MM-106, MM-111, B-9, P-22, and M-27) by using this technique. The technology involves the induction of the wound, followed by the supplementation of suitable media and phytohormones at a specified time and position. Through this technology, an additional four to five good-quality rootstocks within one year will be obtained, which thus increases the multiplication rate significantly and saves time. One more additional benefit of this technology is that under greenhouse conditions, a rootstock attains a sufficient girth, above (6 mm) and becomes available for budding (95% success rate in budding) during the current year only, and thus budded plants can be produced directly in the rootstock nursery, saving time and cost significantly.

Dr. M. K. Verma, Director, ICAR-CITH, chaired the meeting along with the scientists of the Institute, farmers, and nursery growers from different regions of the country, both in hybrid mode. The technology was licensed to 13 growers with a license fee of Rs 5000/= for 8 years.

Dr. Wasim H. Raja, lead developer of the technology, highlighted the importance of the technology and its benefits, as it promotes the vertical expansion of the nursery and the number of plants per unit area can be increased 4 times, utilizing very little input cost.

The technology aimed to reduce the import

Agribusiness, Company News, India, Start ups

 It aims to support startups which includes strategic mentoring, field pilot opportunities, rural distribution access, climate impact evaluation guidance, and technical assistance for carbon projects.

SBI Foundation and Villgro announced the launch of the ‘Innovators for Bharat’ portfolio, supporting 9 agricultural start-ups with equity seed funding. SBI Foundation, under its flagship SBIF LEAP (Livelihood and Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program), unveiled the ‘Innovators for Bharat’ initiative last year, which collaborates with high-impact incubators providing support to start-ups working to address the most pressing development challenges in the country. Partnering with Villgro, one of India’s foremost social enterprise incubators, in September 2023, the initiative introduced the Agri-tech Cohort under Innovators for Bharat. The goal of this Cohort is to identify and support Startups working on cutting-edge solutions to improve agricultural productivity, build climate resilience and sustainability for the agriculture sector in India, taking their innovations to the ground.

Through their support for 9 startups, SBI Foundation and Villgro aim to surpass the goal of benefiting 10,000 farmers by not only enhancing livelihoods and incomes but also bringing 60,000 acres of land under sustainable cultivation and preventing 15,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

The initiative is supporting these startups addressing crucial points across the agriculture value chain:

Bharat Rohan: Utilizes drone-based hyperspectral imagery to offer farm advisory, optimizing soil health, yields, and profitability.

RAAV Techlabs: Offers near-infrared technology devices for objective testing of quality parameters in produce, thereby reducing food losses.

Navork Innovations: Tackles post-harvest losses with a plant extract-based formulation that extends the shelf life of highly perishable produce like mushrooms and bananas.

Marut Drones: Provides drones and software for multiple farming services, including spraying, direct seeding, crop health monitoring, and advisory.

GreyMatter (Upaz): Supplies farmers with high-quality inputs and affordable credit through a ‘Community Commerce and Financing Model’ integrating microfinance and services across the agriculture value chain.

Carbon Masters: Implements a circular economy solution converting organic waste into Bio-CNG and organic fertilizers.

Raheja Solar: Develops renewable energy-based solar dryers to reduce post-harvest losses and processes and sells its own dried food using produce bought back from farmers.

Ekosight: Provides a portable soil testing device for assessing soil quality and offering accurate advice on fertilizer application and precision farming.

Pasidi Panta: Develops an end-to-end commodity value chain service for farmers, focusing on residue-free chili production using Integrated Pest Management.

Support provided to these companies includes strategic mentoring, field pilot opportunities, rural distribution access, climate impact evaluation guidance, and technical assistance for carbon projects. Additionally, the program helps startups develop financially stable models, secure debt financing, and raise awareness about their innovations.

“This programme serves to reinforce our commitment to strengthening India’s agriculture sector – a bedrock of the nation’s heritage and economy. This year’s Independence Day echoes the spirit of ‘Viksit Bharat’ – a vision of a progressive, inclusive and empowered India. In light of this, Innovators for Bharat, seeks to harness the entrepreneurial spirit of our country’s startups. Beyond financial support, we will provide the selected startups access to our network of banking experts for mentorship, Civil Society Organizations and other key stakeholders,” said Sanjay Prakash, Managing Director, SBI Foundation.

“This programme was launched with a strong focus on climate-resilience and sustainability. These are both imperative to safeguard the country’s agriculture sector from increasingly variable weather patterns stemming from climate change. Combining Villgro and SBI Foundation’s synergies has allowed us to onboard unique start-ups with innovative technologies addressing challenges across the agricultural value chain. We are excited to gear up our efforts in supporting these startups as we enter the second phase of the programme and move closer to our goal of building climate resilience while impacting 10,000 farmers,” adds Srinivas Ramanujam, CEO, Villgro.

In the second leg of this program, SBI Foundation and Villgro will be supporting another 5 enterprises with Grant capital with a view to unlocking innovative finance through their partners in the financial ecosystem.

 It aims to support startups which includes

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Fertilizers, Agrotech, North America

The company has partnered with Toros Agri, a leading fertilizer manufacturer and distributor in the European market.

Phospholutions Inc, a growth stage sustainable fertilizer startup, has reached a significant milestone in commercializing its flagship RhizoSorb® technology to produce more affordable and sustainable phosphorus fertilizers at commercial scale. The company has partnered with Toros Agri, a leading fertilizer manufacturer and distributor in the European market, as the first commercial-scale producer of RhizoSorb®, touted as The Next Generation of Phosphorus Fertilizer™. 

The partnership was formed after Phospholutions received investment during their Series A funding round from Tekfen Ventures, the corporate venture arm of Tekfen Holding, including ownership of Toros Agri.

Founded in 2016, Phospholutions has achieved a remarkable milestone with the completion of a commercial pilot in January followed by a full-scale production run in April. This achievement is especially significant for the North American and European markets, where RhizoSorb-based fertilizers are being introduced. It also represents their first major production partnership. RhizoSorb is promoted as a more economical replacement for conventional fertilizer products and is derived from ammoniated phosphate fertilizer production methods. This collaboration represents a significant leap toward offering a sustainable alternative for the world’s second most essential nutrient for global food production.

Ahmet Eren, president of Toros Agri commented, ″RhizoSorb® technology offers a unique opportunity to enhance the fertilizer production process with its simplicity and seamless integration along with the technology’s marketable advantages to customers. ″

Following the pilot production run in January, Phospholutions publicized a life cycle analysis showcasing a reduction in the carbon emissions when compared to monoammonium phosphate (MAP) fertilizers by 45.2%. This analysis compared RhizoSorb produced in Turkey and imported into the United States to domestically manufactured MAP for the use in corn production.

RhizoSorb® is a dry granular phosphorus fertilizer formulated to increase phosphorus efficiency in the soil utilizing a novel plant-driven nutrient release mechanism based on a chemical gradient rather than environmental conditions.  While its appearance resembles other dry granular fertilizers, RhizoSorb effectively reduces the rate of applied phosphorus needed to achieve the yield potential for row crops such as corn, as proven throughout the company’s five years of academic and on-farm field trials. 

 Sinan Uzan, President and Founder of Tekfen Ventures, commented ″The partnership between Toros and Phospholutions marks a significant milestone for both companies leading the way in the development and marketing of industry-first technologies for the agricultural market. Our mission at Tekfen Ventures is to invest and enable new technologies like RhizoSorb to change legacy industries like agriculture. ″

The two companies are on the second year of product performance trials in Turkey in crops such as corn and wheat. Phospholutions and Toros are enthusiastic about extending their partnership as they aim to enhance production capacities and offer a phosphorus fertilizer that is more affordable and sustainable to the market.

The company has partnered with Toros Agri,

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Chemicals, Company News, India, R&D

The Company aims to register and sell these products in India and global markets.

 Jaipur based Agrow Allied Venture, a strong technical product manufacturing Company, announced addition of two new herbicidal technical (actives) to its crop protection range fostering its commitment to provide distributors and growers with significant crop protection products and solutions for the markets. The Company aims to register and sell these products in India and global markets.

The first one is Haloxyfop-R-methyl ester, belonging to the class of aryloxyphenoxyproponic acid herbicides (commonly called “FOP”). The Company is now actively engaged in manufacturing Quizalop-ethyl and Clodinafop-propargyl Technical. In near future, under this series we will also be manufacturing Propaquizafop and Cyhalofop-butyl Technical.

Haloxyfop-R-methyl ester:

Haloxyfop R-Methyl ester is a selective and systemic post emergent herbicide. It provides effective control in wide range of annual and perennial grass weeds in Soybean, Cotton, Black gram, summer fallow, grain, legume, onion, oilseed crops, lucerne, clover pasture and seed crops, forestry, bananas, citrus, grapes, pineapples, pome and stone fruit, pyrethrum, tropical fruit and nut crops.

Haloxyfop-R-Methyl ester is a member of the aryloxyphenoxy propionate group of herbicides. The product has the acetyl CoA carboxylase inhibitor mode of action. It inhibits the growth of meristematic tissues. It is absorbed by the foliage and roots, which is translocated to meristematic tissues. It is a fatty acid synthesis inhibitor that works by inhibiting Acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACCase). It has low use rate, versatile uses in both winter and summer crops.

The second Technical is Topramezone belonging to Pyrazole group of HPPD inhibitor herbicide.

This year, Company has already started manufacturing two more HPPD inhibitor herbicides from the Triketone group, viz. Mesotrione and Tembotrione Technical.

Topramezone:

Topramezone belongs to the phenyl pyrazolyl ketone family of herbicides. Its mode of herbicide action is inhibition of an enzyme 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) that controls carotenoid biosynthesis.  It is a selective post emergent herbicide for corn.  It is rapidly metabolised by corn to non-active substances. It gets absorbed through the roots and shoots of the weeds and it starts working immediately. Weeds stop taking nutrients from soil and in 10 to 12 days, it controls weeds from their roots. It effectively controls narrow leaf and broad leaf weeds in corn field while ensuring complete safety of the crop.

The Company has also started the construction of its new technical plant with an investment of approx. Rs. 150 Crore. and the launch of new products are a result of Company’s committed investment in Research and Development. The Company is focused on investing in new De-patented products. All these new products will help the Company in maintaining the growth and healthy bottom line. The Company is looking forward to further expand its portfolio with launch of new range of technical products this year.

The Company aims to register and sell

Agribusiness, Company News, India, People

Anupam has extensive experience of over 34 years brings immense value in marketing of AgriInputs products.

Dhanuka Agritech announced that Anupam Pal has been appointed as Senior Management Personnel under the designation Vice President- Marketing (National Marketing Head) of the Company with effect from 29th July 2024.

In his new role in the Company, he will be responsible for driving impactful strategies in the Marketing Function. Anupam’s expertise will be instrumental in managing the overall product portfolio at Dhanuka leading the marketing of existing products and propelling new products introduction.

Anupam Pal has extensive experience of over 34 years brings immense value in marketing of AgriInputs products. He has worked in the areas of Product Management, Brand Management, and Building & Execution of Business Growth Strategies in Companies like FMC, DuPont, HOECHST, etc. Anupam’s expertise is pivotal in managing overall product portfolio at Dhanuka leading marketing of existing products and propelling new products introduction. 

Anupam holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Marketing from ICFAI Business School in the year 2008 after his B.SC (Agriculture) from Assam Agriculture University. He also completed Executive Development Program in Digital Marketing in the year 2021, from the XLRI, Jamshedpur.

Anupam has extensive experience of over 34

AgroPolicy, India, Supply Chain, Trade

The fig juice, produced by Purandar Highlands Farmers Producer Company Ltd. garnered significant attention in the international market.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the export of India’s first ready-to-drink fig juice, made from GI-tagged Purandar Figs to Poland. This milestone shipment, flagged off by Chairman APEDA, Abhishek Dev in the presence of all stakeholders, departed on August 1, 2024, via Hamburg port in Germany. This event marks a significant achievement in promoting India’s unique agro-products on the global stage.

The journey of this innovative fig juice began at the APEDA Pavilion during the SIAL 2023 held in Greater Noida, New Delhi. The international trade showcase provided a platform for the product’s initial introduction to the global market. The fig juice, produced by Purandar Highlands Farmers Producer Company Ltd. garnered significant attention and won an award at the event, highlighting its potential in the international market.

APEDA’s continuous support and assistance have been instrumental in the development and export of this product. Since the first export of fresh GI-tagged Purandar Figs to Hamburg in 2022, APEDA has worked closely with smallholder farmers. The product, which has been granted a provisional patent, represents a significant innovation in the agricultural sector.

The fig juice was also showcased at Macfrut 2024 in Rimini, Italy, with the support of APEDA, further expanding its global reach. The event saw a positive response from buyers, including an inquiry from MG Sales SP in Wroclaw, Poland, which led to this landmark export.

This achievement not only showcases the potential of Indian agro-products but also underscores the importance of research and development in enhancing the value of agricultural exports. This achievement highlights the potential of Indian agro-products and the crucial role of FPCs in promoting sustainable agricultural practices and exports.

The fig juice, produced by Purandar Highlands

AgroPolicy, Agrotech, Digital Technologies, India

 The system comprises a user-friendly mobile app and a web portal, ensuring accessibility for all farmers

Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister inaugurated the National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS) in New Delhi. This digital initiative by Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare utilises cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to offer timely and precise pest management advisories. The system comprises a user-friendly mobile app and a web portal, ensuring accessibility for all farmers. By leveraging real-time data and advanced analytics, NPSS enables accurate pest identification, monitoring, management.

Farmers will greatly benefit from NPSS as it provides quick solutions to pest attacks and crop diseases, reducing crop losses and thus improving productivity. The system’s comprehensive pest incidence data and automated advisories will empower farmers with actionable insights, helping them make informed decisions and take proactive measures to protect their crops.

The launch of NPSS marks a significant step forward in modernising agriculture in India, enhancing food security, and supporting sustainable farming practices. This initiative underscores the Government’s commitment to leveraging technology for the welfare of farmers and the advancement of the agricultural sector.

Chauhan highlighted that through NPPS, the farmers will be able to know different types of insecticides and pesticides and save their crops from their harmful effect. On the occasion, Chauhan also interacted with many farmers who are the beneficiaries of the various schemes being implemented by the Central Government. Around Five Hundred farmers were present in the event.

 The system comprises a user-friendly mobile app

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Finance, Funding, India

Technologies such as sensor-based irrigation, automated weather stations, drone applications, and machine learning-based decision support systems will be showcased on the new demo farm.

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, has secured a grant of Rs 1.25 crore from Punjab & Sind Bank (PSB) under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of a ‘Digital Technology Park’ was signed in the presence of Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, PAU Vice-Chancellor, and Swarup Kumar Saha, MD and CEO of PSB. The initiative under the project titled “Futuristic Farming: Demonstrating Cutting-Edge Agri-Techniques for Resource Conservation,” is a major step forward in advancing agricultural practices through innovation.

Discussing PAU’s evolution, Dr S.S. Gosal emphasized the university’s regional impact. About the pact, he affirmed, “This initiative marks a significant step in our mission to boost agricultural productivity and sustainability. By integrating precision farming technologies, we aim to conserve essential resources and reduce environmental impacts. Our collaboration with Punjab & Sind Bank reflects the importance of public-private partnerships in advancing agriculture.” Technologies such as sensor-based irrigation, automated weather stations, drone applications, and machine learning-based decision support systems will be showcased on the new demo farm, he added.

S.K. Saha lauded Punjab Agricultural University for shaping the nation’s agricultural landscape and inspiring farmers to embrace technology-driven innovations. He expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, noting that it mirrors Punjab & Sind Bank’s commitment to sustainable agricultural development. Saha emphasized that the bank’s investment aims to enhance both farmers’ welfare and environmental conservation. He believed the innovative techniques being implemented would set a new standard for agriculture in India and beyond. Mr. Chaman Lal Shienhmar, PSB’s Field General Manager, Chandigarh, called the initiative a way of giving back to the region’s farmers.

Dr. S.S. Chahal and Dr. N.S. Malhi commended the innovative project, mentioning that it would align agricultural education with the National Education Policy (NEP 2020). They remarked that the project’s comprehensive approach and advanced technologies would create a paradigm shift in agricultural practices. Dr. M.I.S. Gill, PAU Registrar, observed that integrating cutting-edge technologies in farming goes beyond immediate benefits. He opined that the project would serve as a model for other regions facing similar challenges, demonstrating the potential of technology to transform agriculture sustainably.

Dr Ajmer Singh Brar, the PAU scientist who prepared the proposal, spotlighted the practical benefits of these technologies. A decision support system integrating machine learning algorithms will further enhance the project’s impact. The data and recommendations regarding sensor-based automated irrigation will be accessible to farmers through a cloud-based application, empowering them to make informed choices and improve productivity.

The collaboration between PAU and PSB signifies a shared vision of a sustainable and prosperous agricultural future. The event was coordinated by Dr Vishal Bector, Associate Director (Institution Relations), PAU.

Technologies such as sensor-based irrigation, automated weather

AgroPolicy, Agrotech, Digital Technologies

Krishi-DSS, was unveiled as a powerful tool to empower stakeholders with real-time data-driven insights on weather patterns, soil conditions, crop health, crop acreage and advisories.

Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare organised a conference on “Space-Driven Solutions for Agricultural Transformation in India” the pivotal role of space technology in propelling India’s agricultural sector towards unprecedented growth and development. The conference also marked the launch of the digital geo-spatial platform, Krishi-Decision Support System, a significant milestone in the country’s agricultural innovation landscape by Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Bhagirath Choudhary in the presence of Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Dr Devesh Chaturvedi.

Krishi-DSS is a first-of-its-kind geospatial platform specifically designed for Indian agriculture. The platform provides seamless access to comprehensive data including satellite images, weather information, reservoir storage, groundwater levels and soil health information, which can be easily accessed from anywhere at any time.

Krishi-DSS includes several advanced modules designed to support comprehensive agricultural management. From the vast expanse of fields to the smallest soil particle, Krishi-DSS has it covered.

With crop mapping and monitoring, we will be able to understand cropping patterns by analysing parcel-level crop maps over the different years. This information helps in understanding crop rotation practices and promotes sustainable agriculture by encouraging the cultivation of diverse crops.

Drought monitoring will help to stay ahead of the drought, which gives near real-time information on various indicators i.e. soil moisture, water storages, crop condition, dry spells etc, while crop weather watch will keep us informed about how weather is impacting the crops, crop harvest status, crop residue burning etc.

With Field parcel segmentation, we will be able to accurate field parcel units which will help in understanding each parcels unique needs, cropping patterns for targeted interventions.

One nation-one soil information system gives a comprehensive soil data at your fingertips i.e soil type, soil pH, soil health etc. Soil data will help us in assessing crop suitability and land capability for implementing soil water conservation measures.

Ground truth data library of Krishi-DSS will foster innovation by providing essential resources like ground truth data and spectral libraries for different crops to the researchers and industry.

From flood impact assessment to Crop insurance solutions and many more, Krishi-DSS is a holistic solution. It’s about empowering our farmers, informing our policies, and nourishing our nation.

By integrating various data sources available on the Krishi Decision Support System (DSS), various farmer-centric solutions can be developed such as right individual advisories to farmers, early disaster warning like Pest attack, Heavy rain, Hailstorm etc.

Krishi-DSS, was unveiled as a powerful tool

AgroPolicy, India, Opinions, Seeds

  FSII emphasises the urgent need for a comprehensive, balanced, and forward-looking national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops, as recommended by the Supreme Court.

The recent launch of 109 high-yielding, climate-resilient, and biofortified crop varieties by Prime Minister Narendra Modi indicates a significant advancement in Indian agriculture. These innovative crops, engineered to thrive even under challenging climatic conditions such as droughts, are poised to significantly boost farmers’ productivity within the next three years, thereby strengthening the nation’s food and nutrition security.

 While commenting on release of high-yielding seed varieties by Government, Ajai Rana, Chairman, Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) and CEO & MD, Savannah Seeds said, “The seed industry enthusiastically applauds this initiative and emphasizes the urgent need for a comprehensive, balanced, and forward-looking national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops, as recommended by the Honourable Supreme Court. Such a policy is crucial for fully realizing the transformative potential of biotechnology in agriculture, ensuring that Indian farmers can harness these innovations for sustainable growth and enhanced food security. The time has come for a unified national GM policy to streamline regulatory processes, encourage innovation, and drive progress in agricultural biotechnology for the greater good of the nation.”

  FSII emphasises the urgent need for a

Agro Universities, AgroPolicy, India

Starting from the academic year 2024-25, a total of 50 fellowships (10 per year) will be awarded to students from ASEAN member countries for a master’s degree in agriculture and allied sciences.

The ASEAN-India Fellowship for Higher Education in Agriculture and Allied Science was launched by Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the presence of Union Ministers of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Bhagirath Choudhary and Ram Nath Thakur in ICAR, PUSA, New Delhi.

This initiative will expose students to cutting-edge research offered by Indian agricultural universities in their master’s programmes, preparing them for future innovations. Additionally, long-term degree courses in India can help researchers from both regions stay connected for a long time and better understand agriculture-related issues in ASEAN and India.

Starting from the academic year 2024-25, a total of 50 fellowships (10 per year) will be awarded to students from ASEAN member countries for a master’s degree in agriculture and allied sciences. This project has been approved for funding under the ASEAN-India Fund for five years, covering fellowships, admission fees, living expenses, and incidental expenses for the students. It will also help students from ASEAN member countries receive quality research-based education, bringing India and the ASEAN community closer together and providing a platform for intercultural and international exchange of knowledge among students from ASEAN countries.

Chouhan applauded that the ICAR has been at the forefront of shaping and ensuring the quality of agricultural education in India. It sets the rules, policies, and standards to ensure that agrarian education thrives across the country and contributes to sustainable development in this sector. Currently, around 135 international students are pursuing their degrees at various agricultural universities. India has maintained a strong partnership with ASEAN member countries since the establishment of ASEAN. ASEAN is the cornerstone of India’s ‘Act East Policy’ and the ‘Indo-Pacific Vision’ built upon it. India fully supports ASEAN unity, ASEAN centrality, and ASEAN’s outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

The agriculture minister stated that the ASEAN-India fellowship aims to support postgraduate studies in various emerging fields of agriculture and allied sciences. Participating Indian faculty members will be facilitated with introductory visits to ASEAN member countries to aid ASEAN capacity-building which will promote the development of a pool of expert human resources in ASEAN for the growth of agriculture and allied sciences, he added. He emphasised that the long-term degree courses in India can help researchers from both regions stay connected for a long time and better understand agriculture-related issues in ASEAN countries and India. Josel F Ignacio, Ambassador of Philippines to India and also India’s (ASEAN) Country Coordinator, emphasised that the programme will promote the development of a pool of expert human resources in ASEAN for the growth of agriculture and allied sciences. He also highlighted the spirit of collaboration and mutual growth that this ASEAN-India Fellowship Programme embodies

Starting from the academic year 2024-25, a