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Allied Industry

The country’s alcoholic beverages exports stood at over Rs 2,200 crore in 2023-24 major export destinations being UAE, Singapore, Netherlands, Tanzania, Angola, Kenya and Rwanda

With the global demand for Indian spirits growing at a healthy rate, the government is planning to promote both Indian alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in the international markets and is eyeing USD one billion (about Rs 8,000 crore) exports in the next few years. The commerce ministry’s arm APEDA (Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) said that India currently ranks 40th in the world for alcoholic beverage exports. As per estimates, the country has huge unrealised export potential.

The authority, as part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative, has been targeting to increase exports of Indian spirits to major foreign destinations. “It is potentially eyeing USD 1 billion in export revenue over the next few years,” it said in a statement on Wednesday.

The country’s alcoholic beverages exports stood at over Rs 2,200 crore in 2023-24. The major destinations include UAE, Singapore, Netherlands, Tanzania, Angola, Kenya and Rwanda.

APEDA also said that Diageo India (United Spirits Ltd.) is set to launch ‘Godawan’, in the United Kingdom. It is a single-malt whisky made in Rajasthan.

Commenting on the USD one billion target, Vinod Giri, Director General, the Brewers Association of India said that huge potential is there in the different countries for Indian products.

“While the single-malt will play a greater role in making India’s reputation as a high-quality whiskey producer, the volumes will come from beverages which are more palatable taste-wise and price-wise such as premium Indian whiskeys and premium rum,” he said. price-wise
Giri added that huge export potential is there in the US, Africa and Europe.

He suggested the government to urge states to include the element of export promotion in state excise policies.

The country's alcoholic beverages exports stood at

Climate, Collaborations, Environment, Institutions, R&D, Soil Health, Sustainability

The initiative seeks to provide farmers with reliable seed access, attract a new generation to the agricultural sector, and offer comprehensive training opportunities to ensure sustainable and efficient rice cultivation

Leaders from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) met with Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat of the Thailand Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) to discuss advancing collaborative efforts in rice research and development. The IRRI delegation, led by Director General Dr. Yvonne Pinto, Asia Director Dr. Jongsoo Shin, and Country Representative Dr. Bjoern Ole Sander, focused on enhancing human resource development and knowledge transfer to farmers, as well as preparing the grounds for a Host Country Agreement between Thailand and IRRI.

The discussions underlined the importance of advancing sustainability and enhancing food security in Thailand and the broader Southeast Asia region. As rice consumption continues to rise, Thailand’s rice production faces growing challenges. To address these, the country aims to strengthen support for rice farmers by improving access to high-quality rice seeds. With a large network of community seed centers already established, efforts are underway to expand the capacity of these centers further. The initiative seeks to provide farmers with reliable seed access, attract a new generation to the agricultural sector, and offer comprehensive training opportunities to ensure sustainable and efficient rice cultivation.

IRRI has been a longstanding partner to Thailand for over 50 years, working on initiatives to assist the country’s rice sector through innovative solutions and capacity-building programs. Thailand’s transformation from food insufficiency to becoming a leading premium rice exporting country, producing approximately 25 million tons of rice by 2022, is a testament to its strong agricultural partnership and development efforts.

“Thailand has participated in planning, policy-making, and knowledge from IRRI and other partners to further develop Thailand’s rice research and development, and can be transferred to farmers, government officials, and the private sector, increasing the competitiveness of Thai rice, creating direct economic value from rice exports, and providing opportunities for Thai academics to disseminate their rice research to be known and recognized internationally,” said Minister Pinyosinwat.

IRRI’s representatives highlighted the institute’s readiness to assist the MOAC in enhancing its technical capabilities and to offer tailored training programs for leadership in sustainable agriculture to national departments in agriculture and rice production.

It was noted by the convening parties that Thailand could serve as a regional training hub for rice research and production by taking advantage of its robust agricultural infrastructure and geographic positioning in Southeast Asia, supported by the expertise and outreach of IRRI’s global network for innovation and knowledge exchange, particularly in neighboring Southeast Asian countries.

The discussion extended into providing support to Thailand on reducing its greenhouse gas emissions as defined in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) by 2030 and achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

To realize a closer collaboration between IRRI and Thailand, it was acknowledged by both parties that establishing a Host Country Agreement will be crucial as a formal operational framework that provides guidance for mutual benefits and direction.

The initiative seeks to provide farmers with

Agribusiness, Environment, Investments, Sustainability

In the EU a SAF mandate begins in 2025 that will require fuel uplift at EU airports to contain at least 20 per cent SAF by 2035 and 70 per cent by 2050

Corteva Inc. announced a collaboration with bp on the companies’ shared intent to form a crop-based biofuel feedstock joint venture (JV).

The JV envisaged by Corteva and bp would produce and deliver crop-based biofuel feedstocks to help meet the anticipated growth in demand for ‘sustainable aviation fuel’ (SAF).

A number of countries around the world have, or are in the process of implementing, mandates or tax incentives to promote the decarbonization of the aviation sector. In the EU a SAF mandate begins in 2025 that will require fuel uplift at EU airports to contain at least 20 per cent SAF by 2035 and 70 per cent by 2050.

To help meet this demand, Corteva and bp have executed a non-binding memorandum of understanding, with the intent of forming a JV that would aim to progressively scale up volume, reaching delivery of one million metric tons per year of biofuel feedstocks for SAF production by the mid-2030s.

Corteva plans to contract with farmers in North and South America, and Europe, to grow proprietary Corteva mustard seed, sunflower and canola feedstocks well-suited for SAF production. These crops are integral to large scale agriculture around the world. The JV would aim to introduce new cropping systems to produce oil that meets EU RED III criteria, and qualifies for US Low Carbon Intensity policy incentives, while creating a new revenue stream for farmers.

“This partnership is proof positive that agriculture can continue to be part of the solution to the world’s decarbonization opportunities, including by leveraging Corteva’s technology, global scale, and unique grower relationships. We are excited at the prospect of partnering with bp to help the European airline industry become more sustainable while giving farmers a new source of income,” said Corteva Chief Strategy Officer, Brook Cunningham.

“We see great potential in a partnership with Corteva – together, we are well positioned to deliver value through leveraging Corteva’s technology and grower relationships and bp’s refining and trading capabilities,” said Emma Delaney, executive vice president, customers & products, bp.

The two companies anticipate finalising definitive agreements in 2025 with the target operational date for the JV later in the year.

In the EU a SAF mandate begins

Agro Universities, India, R&D, Sustainable Energy, Water

The solar-powered equipment, designed and fabricated in-house, is an affordable solution priced at under Rs 200,000, making it ideal for rural farming communities.

ICRISAT was granted its first industrial design in India for a Solar-Powered Water Hyacinth Harvester developed by a team of scientists. The harvester is simple, affordable, and can be efficiently managed by semi-skilled or unskilled personnel.

The solar-powered equipment, designed and fabricated in-house, is an affordable solution priced at under Rs 200,000, making it ideal for rural farming communities that cannot afford sophisticated machinery costing 10 times as much. It offers substantial benefits, including 50–60 per cent savings in cost, time, and labour, while prioritising using clean energy.

Water hyacinth infestations in rural ponds disrupt ecosystems, harm fisheries, and block canals. Their rapid growth and long-lasting seeds make eradication difficult. Just 8–10 plants can proliferate into over 600,000 plants within 6–8 months.

Chemical and biological removal of the weed have proved expensive and effective only in the short term. The only way to control the weed sustainably is through periodic harvesting, either manually or mechanically.

Dr Stanford Blade, Director General-Interim of ICRISAT, commended the team behind the mechanical harvester, stating, “Water hyacinth infestation is a global environmental challenge. This cost-effective harvester reflects ICRISAT’s dedication to creating environment-friendly solutions tailored to the needs of rural communities that are also technologically and economically sustainable.”

Turning Waste into Wealth

ICRISAT’s harvester, categorized as agricultural machinery, was developed as part of the project “Sustainable Valorisation of Water Hyacinth Biomass through Aerobic Composting as a Rural Enterprise—A Waste to Wealth Initiative,” supported by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha, India.

“Experiments conducted by ICRISAT demonstrate that 72,000 kg of water hyacinth biomass can be mechanically harvested from a 3-acre (1.2-hectare) pond in just 2–3 days by a team of two or three people. In contrast, manual harvesting requires 10–20 laborers and takes 18–20 days to complete,” said Dr ML Jat, Research Program Director of Resilient Farm and Food Systems, ICRISAT.

“Local stakeholders, especially women self-help groups (SHGs), can play a key role in converting biomass into compost, fish feed, or handmade paper. These women-led enterprises can generate alternative livelihoods and boost inland fisheries, creating significant socio-economic and environmental impacts,” said Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha.

The people behind the innovation

Dr Aviraj Datta, the project’s principal investigator, led the development of the harvester, ably supported by ICRISAT staff Dr Mangi Lal Jat, Dr Ramesh Singh, Hari Om Singh, Santhosh Kumar Raja, Yogesh Kumar, and Jinith Mahajan.

The ICRISAT Intellectual Property (IP) office facilitated the evaluation and filing of the application with the Design Registry, India, ensuring due diligence throughout the process.

The solar-powered equipment, designed and fabricated in-house,

Agrotech, R&D, Soil Health, Sustainability, World

The report shows that nearly 1.4 billion hectares of land are already impacted by salinity, with an additional one billion hectares at risk due to the climate crisis and human mismanagement.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has released its first major global assessment of salt-affected soils in 50 years. The report shows that nearly 1.4 billion hectares of land (just over 10 percent of the total global land area) are already impacted by salinity, with an additional one billion hectares at risk due to the climate crisis and human mismanagement.

The Global Status of Salt-Affected Soils report was presented during the International Soil and Water Forum 2024 in Bangkok. The event, co-organized by FAO and Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, discussed an action plan for halting and reversing soil degradation and water scarcity.

Excessive salinity reduces the fertility of soils and severely impacts environmental sustainability. In the countries most affected by this issue, salinity stress can lead to crops yield losses – such as rice or beans – of up to 70 percent.

This comes at a time when there is an urgent need to boost food production to feed a growing global population. The report estimates the area of salt-affected soils at 1 381 million ha (Mha), or 10.7 percent of the total global land area. It further estimates that 10 percent of irrigated cropland and 10 percent of rainfed cropland are affected by salinity, although uncertainty remains high due to limited data availability. Models of global aridity trends indicate that, under the existing trend of temperature increase, the affected area may increase to between 24 and 32 percent of the total land surface. The vast majority of aridification is expected to occur in developing countries.

Today, 10 countries (Afghanistan, Australia, Argentina, China, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, the United States, Iran, Sudan, and Uzbekistan) account for 70 percent of the world’s salt-affected soils.

The drivers of salinisation are both natural and induced by humans

The climate crisis is increasing aridity and freshwater scarcity. Rising sea levels are projected to place more than one billion people in coastal zones at risk of progressive flooding and salinisation by the end of the century. Additionally, global warming is contributing to salinisation through the thawing of permafrost.

Inadequate agricultural practices also play a significant role. These include irrigating crops with poor-quality water, inadequate drainage, deforestation and the removal of deep-rooted vegetation, excessive water pumping in coastal and inland areas, the overuse of fertilisers, de-icing agents, and mining activity.

Global freshwater use, in particular, has increased sixfold during the last century, contributing to groundwater salinisation due to the overexploitation of aquifers for irrigation purposes.

Call for action

Since salt-affected soils account for at least 10 percent of land, their sustainable management is crucial to meet growing food demands.

The report offers a series of strategies for managing salt-affected soils sustainably. Mitigation strategies include mulching, using interlayers of loose material, installing drainage systems and improving crop rotations. Adaptation strategies include breeding salt-tolerant plants (such as halophytes, which flourish in mangrove swamps, tropical sand and cliff shorelines, and even salt deserts) and bioremediation – using bacteria, fungi, plants or animals to remove, destroy or sequester hazardous substances from the environment.

By highlighting the critical link between sustainable soil management, water quality, and food production, “the report outlines strategies for the recovery of agricultural salt-affected soils, including emerging fields like saline agriculture and salinity bioremediation,” Lifeng Li, Director of FAO’s Land and Water Division, and Jorge Batlle-Sales, Chair of the International Network of Salt-affected Soils (INSAS), wrote in its Forward.

The report also calls for a legal framework at the national and international levels to safeguard natural saline ecosystems and ensure the sustainable management of agricultural soils under irrigation, particularly in areas at risk of salinisation. The main goal is to protect productivity, quality, and overall soil health, ensuring food quality and quantity for future generations.

The report shows that nearly 1.4 billion

AgroPolicy, Foodgrains, India, Supply Chain

In order to manage the overall food security and to prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation, the Government has imposed stock limits on Wheat applicable to Traders/Wholesalers, Retailers, Big Chain Retailers and Processors in all States and Union Territories.

Government of India keeps a close watch on the prices of wheat and takes suitable appropriate interventions to ensure price stability for the consumers in the country. A total production of 1132 LMT of wheat was recorded during Rabi 2024 and there is ample availability of wheat in the country.

In order to manage the overall food security and to prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation, the Government of India imposed stock limits on Wheat applicable to Traders/Wholesalers, Retailers, Big Chain Retailers and Processors in all States and Union Territories. The Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs (Amendment) Order, 2024 was issued on 24 June 2024 and revised on 09 September 2024 and was applicable for all States and Union Territories.

As part of continuous efforts to moderate prices of wheat, Central Government has decided to revise the Wheat Stock limit applicable until 31st March 2025 as under:

EntitiesExisting Wheat Stock LimitRevised Wheat Stock Limit
Trader/ Wholesaler2000 MT1000 MT
Retailer10 MT for each Retail outlet.5 MT for each Retail outlet.
Big Chain Retailer10 MT for each outlet and (10* total number of outlets) MT at all their depot.5 MT for each outlet subject to maximum quantity of (5 multiplied by total number of outlets) MT stock at all their outlets & Depots put together.
Processor60% of Monthly Installed Capacity (MIC) multiplied by remaining months of FY 2024-25.50% of Monthly Installed Capacity (MIC) multiplied by remaining months till April 2025.

All wheat stocking entities are required to register on the wheat stock limit portal (https://evegoils.nic.in/wsp/login) and update the stock position on every Friday. Any entity which is found to have not registered on the portal or violates the stock limits will be subject to suitable punitive action under Section 6 & 7 of Essential Commodities Act,1955.

In case the stocks held by above entities are higher than the above prescribed limit, they shall have to bring the same to the prescribed stock limits within 15 days of issue of the notification.

The Department of Food and Public Distribution is maintaining a close watch over the stock position of Wheat to control prices and ensure easy
availability in the country.

In order to manage the overall food

Agrotech, China, Company News, Start ups

 It aims to accelerate the growth of early-stage FoodTech and AgTech startups by providing access to cutting-edge technology, venture capital partners, financial backing, and expert business advisory.

Bangalore based Ninjacart, India’s leading agri-tech startup has announced the launch of its Ninjacart Startup Program. This agri-tech-focused startup program aims to accelerate the growth of early-stage FoodTech and AgTech startups by providing access to cutting-edge technology, venture capital partners, financial backing, and expert business advisory.

With nearly a decade of experience in transforming agricultural ecosystems, Ninjacart has collaborated with global agri-tech innovators to optimize supply chains and address distribution challenges. The Ninjacart Startup Program leverages this expertise to help startups scale faster, drive change, and lead the future of food distribution.

The Ninjacart Startup Program offers four key benefits to participants:

Access to Ninjacart’s Advanced Technology: Ninjacart’s industry-leading, cutting-edge technology offers startups access to a focused suite of supply chain management proprietary tools to drive growth or enhance operational efficiency. Growth tools include demand forecasting, sales management, pricing intelligence, campaign management, and customer app. Operational tools include procurement, inventory management, workforce management, logistics, and catalogue management.

Pitch to VC Partners: Startups will have the chance to present to top VC partners such as Syngenta Group Ventures and Base Capital on Demo Day, scheduled for February 2025.

Financial Backing: Ninjacart offers credits up to $50,000 to offset platform and implementation fees during the first six months of participation.

Expert Business Advisory: Participants will gain access to Ninjacart’s domain expertise in building scalable supply chains for fresh produce, meat, and staples, offering tailored guidance to shorten their path to profitability.

The program is open to emerging startups founded in 2020 or later, with up to $1 million in funding, operating outside India. Eligible startups must be post-revenue and focused on innovating the food supply chain.

“At Ninjacart, we’ve always believed in the transformative power of technology to solve critical supply chain inefficiencies,” said Kartheeswaran KK, Co-Founder and CEO, Ninjacart. “The Ninjacart Startup Program is designed to empower innovators who are driving systemic change in food systems. By offering our expertise, technology, and network, we aim to help startups accelerate their startup journey and propel the collective transformation of the global agriculture ecosystem.”

 It aims to accelerate the growth of

Company News

ITC, present in around 22 states through FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations) and working on 20 crops, has plans to expand and deepen it further

ITC is expanding its network of FPOs, further aiming to connect one crore farmers in the next 4-5 years and scaling up sourcing of fruits and vegetables through this platform, said its Agri Business Division CEO S Ganesh Kumar.

ITC, present in around 22 states through FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations) and working on 20 crops, has plans to expand and deepen it further in states including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Bihar.

Besides, ITC is working on expanding the reach of its super app MAARS — a phygital’ initiative with FPOs through which it is providing personalised advisories to farmers from weather forecast to sales of crops at mandi prices, supply of seeds and fertiliser and services as soil testing to helping them get credit from banks.

Through MAARS (Metamarket for Advanced Agriculture Rural Services), ITC is also enhancing agricultural practices to small farmers through technology aggregation, AI-enabled solutions, AgTech and an e-marketplace for commodities and inputs.

“This agri stack and the FPO collectivization is today, at about 1,600 and our ambition is to take it to 4,000 and 10 million farmers in next 4 to 5 years, S Ganesh Kumar told PTI.

ITC is now expanding these FPOs beyond the purchase of traditional crops such as wheat, paddy, maize, soya, chilli and cumins to green peas, mangoes, fruits and green vegetables through a cluster-based approach, he added. These FPOs, formed through the collectivisation of small and marginal farmers for handling agri-related activities, have now become a centre of economic activities in those regions and now ITC is trying to integrate them with the benefits of modern technology and science. Here ITC’s endeavour, under its NexGen Agri vision, is to make small farmers aware of the probable impact of climate change on crop zones and durations, the need for soil rejuvenation, and the importance of crop rotation etc.

“They get the benefits of science, the better inputs in terms of seeds and various other inputs at all the crop stages, supported with an agri tech solutions MAARS,…” he said adding “now farmers are also realising that technology is benefiting them and their economic activity is increasing.”

ITC is the largest corporate house working directly with farmers, helping them improve the productivity and quality of various crops. Its revenue from the ‘Agri Business’ division was at Rs 16,124 crore in FY24, contributing nearly one-fifth to its total revenue.

“At present, around 40 per cent of ITC’s agri procurement from relevant hubs of the 10 states where MAARS has been rolled out, is sourced through MAARS,” he said.

Under NexGen Agri’s vision, which is a part of the ITC Next Strategy, it is also integrating MAARS with startups, where viable agritech solutions will provide efficient grassroots solutions.

It is also encouraging smart practices such as broad bed furrow, use of technology as drones for efficient use of fertiliser and resilient varietals, soil conservation and water stewardship under its Climate Smart Agri initiatives.

“I also believe that as we work closely with the farmer, we will be able to extend more value into that system, in upgrading their produce into residue-free, organic where there are premiums…and introduce varieties, he said.

ITC started the brand Aashirvaad, which is now an over Rs 6,000 crore brand, by directly sourcing wheat from farmers, through its e-choupal network. Now ITC has emerged as the second largest purchaser of wheat after the government-led agencies.

According to Ganesh, this is a win-win situation and “that is how we will be able to build our brands around the theme of quality in the FMCG space.

Now besides Aashirvaad, several of its own in-house brands as Bingo, Farmland, B Natural, Sunrise, Sunfeast etc are part of ITC’s demand-driven agri value chain.

These are our farm level crop connects that we have built over 23-25 years when our FMCG portfolio was launched as a back end support and over a period of this journey, it has also evolved from e-Chaupal to FPOs. Today, we have about 1,660 FPOs with 1.7 million farmers, said Ganesh. Through MAARS, ITC has brought price transparency by connecting the various Mandi price.

“The marriage of all this helps us give precise local, hyper-local solutions to farmers’ problems. Apart from that, relationships that we have built with the agricultural institutes of this country in bringing in good quality seeds and introducing new varieties…have benefited local farmers,” he added.

Through MAARS, ITC is looking to help the farmer with technologies as artificial intelligence (AI). It is in the process of collecting data.

Our software is at a nascent stage, but we will keep layering and collecting the data. The five, seven years of data of a particular geography will definitely help in giving the farmer a better solution in the years to come because it is predictive in that sense,” he said.

ITC, present in around 22 states through

Agribusiness, Funding, Microfinance

As of March 31, more than 18.74 crore Indian farmers have agricultural debt commitments across the states of Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka

Around 18.74 crore farmers had farm loan obligations as of March 31, with Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka leading the loan outstanding, the Parliament informed on Tuesday.The data, presented by Agriculture Minister Ramnath Thakur in a written reply to MPs, showed that all 37 states and union territories have bank accounts of farmers taking farm loans.

Tamil Nadu topped the list with 2.88 crore farmers having outstanding loans, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 1.88 crore, and Karnataka with 1.62 crore farmers, it said. The minister clarified that the central government has not announced any farm loan waiver between 2019 and 2024, though several state governments have implemented their own loan waiver schemes.

Additionally, no state has requested additional funds or support for farmer relief programmes, he added.

As of March 31, more than 18.74

Agribusiness

Lachit Thamoung, a progressive mushroom farmer from Juna IV village in Namsai district, Arunachal Pradesh, was honored with the ‘Millionaire Farmer of India District Award’

Lachit Thamoung, a progressive mushroom farmer from Juna IV village in Namsai district, Arunachal Pradesh, was honored with the ‘Millionaire Farmer of India District Award’ . The award ceremony, organized by Krishi Jagran in collaboration with ICAR, was organized from 1st-3rd December 2024, at the ICAR Pusa Mela Ground. The event recognized million-dollar farmers worldwide, with nominations invited from all Indian districts through ICAR institutes. Thamoung was nominated by ICAR-KVK, Namsai.

Starting with a small mushroom unit producing just 10 kg of spawn, Lachit now operates a unit that produces 300 kg of mushrooms annually, including Milky and Oyster varieties. His processing unit is certified by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India for producing value-added mushroom and meat products. Lachit is also committed to empowering local youth and women, offering training and resources to help them set up mushroom farms.

This recognition highlights Lachit’s dedication to scientific farming methods, agricultural innovations, and his efforts to inspire and mentor others in the farming community. His award serves as motivation for him and others to embrace entrepreneurial ventures in agriculture.

Lachit Thamoung, a progressive mushroom farmer from

Acquaculture, Agro Universities, Allied Industry, Collaborations, India, R&D

ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today with Ms. Agrocel Industries Pvt. Ltd., Kachchh, Gujarat, to conduct contract research on assessing the effectiveness of the natural mineral mix product “AQUALAABH”

ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today with Ms. Agrocel Industries Pvt. Ltd., Kachchh, Gujarat, to conduct contract research on assessing the effectiveness of the natural mineral mix product “AQUALAABH” and its variants in shrimp aquaculture at its Navsari Gujarat Research Centre (NGRC) in Navsari, Gujarat. Agrocel is a leading Indian mineral, specialty chemicals, plant and animal nutrition company and leader in India’s bromine-based marine chemical industry. “AQUALAABH” is a seawater based natural mineral mix produced by the company in Kachchh for application in shrimp farming.

Dr Kuldeep K Lal, Director, ICAR-CIBA, stressed the importance of such collaborations between private companies and research institutes. The MoU was signed for scientific evaluation and validation of the product using ICAR-CIBA’s expertise in the sector.

ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai signed

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Climate, Collaborations, Environment, R&D, Soil Health, Sustainability

Twenty-three agricultural scientists from six countries in Asia and Africa participated in a hands-on workshop to enhance their skills in using modern modeling tools. The aim was to build participants’ capacity to analyze the complexities of mixed farming systems and devise sustainable solutions

The workshop, held from 25 to 29 November at ICRISAT Headquarters, was organized by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) under the CGIAR Initiative on Sustainable Intensification of Mixed Farming Systems (SI-MFS). It was conducted in collaboration with the ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research (IIFSR) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT).

The goal of the workshop was to promote the sustainable intensification of mixed farming systems by integrating systems thinking, incorporating environmental, economic, and social dimensions into bundled solutions, and using tools like Crop-Livestock Enterprise Modeling (CLEM) and Farm Design. These approaches help evaluate solutions, understand trade-offs and synergies, and support resilient, inclusive, and profitable smallholder farming.

Dr Santiago Lopez Ridaura, co-lead of the CGIAR’s SI-MFS, highlighted the complexity of small-scale farms, which often feature a diverse mix of crops, intercrops, livestock, and both on-farm and off-farm enterprises. He emphasized the need for an interdisciplinary approach to understanding system dynamics and trade-offs.

Highlighting the progress in India, Dr Sunil Kumar, Director of ICAR-IIFSR, spoke about the 75 prototype models developed for various zones and the importance of bridging the lab-to-land gap while aligning with policies. “Scaling solutions requires understanding on-the-ground constraints and strong policy backing,” said Dr Sunil Kumar, referencing their upcoming International Conference on 28 February 2025.

Dr Stanford Blade, Director General-Interim and Deputy Director General-Research at ICRISAT, stressed the need for balanced interventions. “A single intervention can sometimes unintentionally disrupt other parts of the system. Utilizing systems tools is essential for analyzing trade-offs and achieving sustainable, balanced solutions,” said Dr Blade.

Dr ML Jat, ICRISAT’s Research Program Director for Resilient Farm and Food Systems, emphasized the importance of scaling farm-level innovations to the landscape level and designing carbon-neutral farming systems.

Dr Shalander Kumar, Deputy Global Research Program Director of Enabling Systems Transformation, highlighted the workshop’s collaborative nature.

The International Training Workshop on Modern Approaches in Systems Analysis for Designing Actionable Systemic Strategies Towards Sustainable Mixed Farming Systems brought together scientists from CGIAR institutions and National Agricultural Research Systems from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Laos, Malawi, and Zimbabwe.

Participants also visited smallholder farms in Latur, Maharashtra, to observe the practical applications of ICRISAT’s work.

Twenty-three agricultural scientists from six countries in

Collaborations, Institutions, R&D, Vegetables

India’s first ginger variety ‘IISR Surasa’ developed exclusively for use as a vegetable, has been released by the ICAR and the Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR)

ICAR and Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR) have launched India’s first ginger cultivar, “IISR Surasa,” which was created specifically for vegetable usage. The “IISR Surasa,” created by IISR through a farmers’ participatory breeding program with the intention of helping ginger growers, is a non-pungent cultivar with superior organoleptic qualities that make it more appealing when eaten. It can produce up to 24.33 tons per hectare when grown scientifically, giving the grower steady output. John Joseph, a farmer in Kodancherry, Kozhikode, provided the researchers with the variety’s original rhizome. Over a six-year period, the IISR scientific team conducted extensive testing and trials on the accession with his permission.

The variety has demonstrated consistent yield throughout the trials, guaranteeing consistent and high output. Farm experiments of the variety have been conducted in areas of Kerala, Nagaland, and Odisha. The growing of Surasa in Kerala has recently received approval from the Kerala State Varietal Release Committee. The rhizomes of Surasa have a creamy golden center and are plump and robust. Because of its low fiber content and roughly 21% dry recovery rate, it’s perfect for creating dry ginger as needed. Additionally, the cultivar is perfect for growing in polybags. The principal researcher for Surasa, Dr. C.K. Thankamani, Principal Scientist at IISR, claims that the variety is ideal for commercial use due to its outstanding qualities and bold rhizomes.

Farmers will have restricted access to this variety’s planting material beginning with the upcoming May–June planting season. Dr. N.K. Leela, Dr. T.E. Sheeja, Dr. K.S. Krishnamoorthy, Dr. D. Prasad, Dr. Sharon Aravind, and Dr. S. Mukesh Shankar are members of the research team that created IISR Surasa.

India’s first ginger variety ‘IISR Surasa’ developed

Opinions, Sugar industry

The highlight of the event was recognizing an award-winning farmer from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, for excelling in the Sugarcane category with Dhanuka’s unique offerings.

Dhanuka Agritech, a leader in agricultural innovation, was honored to support the sugarcane category at the prestigious 3-day Millionaire Farmers of India (MFOI) event. This landmark event brought together the brightest minds and hardworking hands of the agricultural community, celebrating their dedication and achievements.

At the event, Dhanuka Agritech candidly showcased its innovative agricultural solutions to a wide and diverse audience of farmers, experts, and stakeholders from across India. The highlight of the event was recognizing an award-winning farmer from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, for excelling in the Sugarcane category with Dhanuka’s unique offerings. His remarkable contributions to the sector have set a benchmark of excellence and innovation in farming practices.
The Millionaire Farmers of India (MFOI) Awards is a prestigious event that brings together farmers, agricultural innovators, and leaders from around the world to shape the future of farming. India’s economy and strength are built on the hard work of its farmers, though their efforts are often overlooked. This event aimed to recognize farmers who have transformed agriculture through innovation, resilience, and sustainable practices.

The achievements of the award- winning farmer stand as a powerful example of how innovation can transform agriculture. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to him and all the other awardees, whose exceptional contributions inspire us all.” said Chairman Emeritus Dr. R.G Agarwal – Dhanuka Agritech Ltd. Dhanuka Agritech takes pride in being a partner in the journey of Indian farmers, striving to create a brighter, more sustainable future for agriculture. The company applauds the farming community and extends its support for their continued success in achieving their milestones in the times ahead.

The highlight of the event was recognizing