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

Through this new integration, users of CLAAS equipment can bring their machine data into CropX for visualization, analysis, and creation of variable rate application tasks.

CropX, the leading global platform for precision agronomy, announced a new powerful digital connection with CLAAS, a global manufacturer of agricultural machinery. Through this new integration between CropX’s agronomy platform and CLAAS’ digital farm and fleet management platform, users of CLAAS equipment can bring their machine data into CropX for visualization, analysis, and creation of variable rate application tasks.

A new integration between CropX’s agronomy platform and CLAAS’ digital farm and fleet management platform, users of CLAAS equipment can bring their machine data into CropX for visualization, analysis, and creation of variable rate application tasks

A new integration between CropX’s agronomy platform and CLAAS’ digital farm and fleet management platform, users of CLAAS equipment can bring their machine data into CropX for visualization, analysis, and creation of variable rate application tasks

The CropX agronomic farm management system combines data gathered from satellites and the field with agronomic knowledge and advanced AI-assisted machine learning to offer a comprehensive understanding of what is happening in the soil. Users get a snapshot of field conditions and receive recommendations on irrigation timing and quantity, nitrogen leaching, and fungal disease crop protection. In addition, users can import data from the world’s most popular agricultural machinery brands, of which CLAAS is the latest. The data can be visualized and used to create maps for variable rate application of seeding, fertigation, and irrigation, and harvest yield maps can be added for planning future seasons.

CLAAS is a major agricultural machinery manufacturer based in Germany. The company produces combines, self-propelled forage harvesters, tractors, loaders, agricultural balers and grassland harvesting machines as well as cutting-edge agricultural information technology.

Taha Ghaznavi, Global SVP of Product at CropX, said, “With this integration, CropX continues to expand the universe of farming machinery that can connect to the CropX system. Data integration is the key to unlocking value from data sets, enabling advances in precision agriculture.”

“With CLAAS Connect and the new interface with CropX, we offer our joint customers enhanced interoperability between systems,” said Wolf-Christian von Wendorff, SVP of Global Digital Solutions at CLAAS. “The seamless integration of agronomic data into the CropX platform enables customers to boost their productivity through informed decision-making, thereby enhancing the efficiency of practices such as irrigation.”

Through this new integration, users of CLAAS

Agbiologicals, Agribusiness, Company News, Fungicides, R&D

Gilboa™ was submitted for registration in 2023 and is expected to be approved in Great Britain in 2027 and the EU in 2029. Subsequent registrations are planned for additional territories.

ADAMA Ltd., a leading global crop protection company, announced its plan to introduce a novel fungicidal Active Ingredient, Gilboa™, targeting key cereal and oilseed rape diseases including Septoria, Ramularia, and Sclerotinia. The company has submitted this innovative molecule to the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC), where it is expected to be assigned to a new mode of action group for cereals. This innovation will offer European farmers a valuable resistance management tool, enabling the use of Gilboa™-based fungicides in conjunction with, or instead of, existing fungicides.

Gilboa™ was submitted for registration in 2023 and is expected to be approved in Great Britain in 2027 and the EU in 2029. Subsequent registrations are planned for additional territories.

In the past five years, EU farmers have lost access to 68 conventional pesticide active ingredients due to regulatory changes. Moreover, it has been some years since a new molecule targeting Septoria in wheat, Ramularia in barley, or Sclerotinia in oilseed rape has been introduced to market. Unlike existing solutions, many of which are based on SDHI and DMI’s, Gilboa™ targets a different pathway. This new approach offers farmers an innovative way to tackle serious fungal diseases while enhancing crop quality.

“Based on our extensive field trials, Gilboa™ is a major game-changer for cereal farmers in Great Britain, Europe and globally,” said Florian Wagner, EVP Portfolio and Innovation at ADAMA. “Based on its mode of action, this new chemistry exemplifies ADAMA’s leadership in developing advanced solutions to protect cereal crops while reducing the risk of resistance development.”

“We expect Gilboa™ to be a standout solution to challenges faced by farmers worldwide,” said Gaël Hili, President and CEO at ADAMA. “Farmers today need more diverse and effective tools in their toolkit, and Gilboa™ delivers exactly that. By complementing ADAMA’s existing portfolio of cereal fungicides, it provides growers with a broader range of solutions to manage disease pressure more effectively. This aligns with our strategy to deliver innovative solutions that address growers’ evolving needs, improve disease management, and support sustainable agriculture.”

Gilboa™ was submitted for registration in 2023

Agribusiness, Finance, India, Interaction

In an exclusive interview with AgroSpectrum, Sanjiv Phansalkar, Founder, Vikas Anvesh Foundation a research organisation supported by Tata Trust touches on the key points that can expand the Famer Producer Organisations’ network across the country.

What are the current needs of the FPOs?

Many FPOs lack the necessary funds to operate. Companies that sell agricultural inputs, especially seeds and pesticides, offer great profits and lenient trade terms, prompting everyone to become an input supplier. While this may work in the near term, it is far from a sustainable plan.If FPOs can find a way to boost the economic productivity of their members’ resources, they will not only help them but also ensure the organisation’s long-term sustainability. With the rapid expansion of road connectivity almost everywhere and the near universal access to digital public infrastructure, the inflated claims about abnormally high profits produced by merchants have mostly faded from the perspectives of inputs and outputs.

Working on aggregation alone while sticking with the same suppliers or customers can only lead to small price reductions on inputs or increases in members’ income from outputs. Consequently, the only way to make a genuine and long-term impact on the welfare of members is to boost resource production. This is what the members truly need. The challenge lies in the FPO’s ability to anticipate these needs, optimise its resource utilisation, and cultivate a diverse range of business relationships with its members that not only ease their transition but also enable the FPO to generate sufficient revenue to sustain its operations.

How Board engagement in FPOs can be improved to get it more aligned?

When considering the long-term viability of an institution, board involvement in FPO is likely to yield positive results. It is commonly acknowledged that the Board plays a crucial role in strengthening member loyalty and coherence, but unfortunately, FPO administrators sometimes assume that this responsibility belongs solely to the Board members. They have persisted through the years of trading goods and services in the neighbourhood markets because they are individual members of the farming community. It is necessary to take advantage of their social network, as well as their knowledge and insights.

The key is to approach them in a way that isn’t condescending, but rather as a partner in exploring and engaging with the marketplace and making business decisions. In addition to giving the Board and, by extension, the FPO members a greater stake in the company’s success, this will increase the managers’ access to market data. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) clarify the who, what, when, and how of an ongoing organisation’s business procedures. They provide some stability and aid the company as it climbs the learning curve to greater efficiency. A solid grasp of the business is necessary for process setup. This could be time-consuming for a newly formed FPO.

How can the entire financial system working in the FPO cycle can be refurbished to support its smooth functioning? 

There has to be a fightback against the government’s strategy, which is to get FPOs to take huge fixed assets through Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFRTI) or similar programmes. But it has good reasons behind it. Working capital is essential for every commodity firm. This necessity is drastically increased for commodities with a seasonal production schedule. Therefore, operating capital must be prioritised while using the few resources available with the FPO. Second, depreciation, interest payments, fixed charges (for power connection), security expenditures, etc. all rise in tandem with fixed investments. The company is more vulnerable to higher operational leverage as a result of these increased fixed expenses. To remain viable, it is best to avoid increasing operational leverage, since most commodity markets are hazardous and margins are small. 

The FPO should avoid investing in fixed assets and instead focus on doing processing and similar tasks on an operating lease or as-needed basis.

What are the ways forward for FPOs to achieve their set goals?

Until it has enough experience, a strong member base that can guarantee a steady volume of business, and the financial stability to invest in expanding its distribution network and brand, the FPO must withstand pressure and ambition to enter the small consumer pack market and completely forgo building its own brand for a number of years. First and foremost, the FPO needs to concentrate on being in the market every day. Just this will make it possible for other market participants to notice it and take it seriously. Being in the market just occasionally is a surefire way to be taken advantage of by other competitors.

The FPO must have some control over when members schedule production and harvest their produce if they want to be present at the market every day. It is best to carefully evaluate and interact with the market in a graded approach because these factors are interrelated and will be perceived to have financial ramifications for both the FPO and the members. It is a good idea to involve the Board in decisions related to this. Above, an effort has been made to identify several facets of the FPO’s operations and offer a particular strategy and set of actions that ought to be implemented right now.

By Nitin Konde

In an exclusive interview with AgroSpectrum, Sanjiv

Agro Universities, India, R&D, Textile industry

ICAR-CICR has initiated the process for the expression of interest for licensing these four patented technologies for commercial use through the Institute Technology Management Unit (ITMU) and Agrinnovate of ICAR.

The scientists of the ICAR- Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur, have developed four novel Bacterial-based volatile attractant formulations for the management of sucking pests (Whiteflies, Aphids, and Thrips) and attraction of beneficial insects in cotton. Three-year large-scale field studies and multi-location evaluation in 15 AICRP (Cotton) centers proved that the attractants developed can effectively manage cotton-sucking pests through their attraction to YST. The attractant formulations CICR-BVW, CICR-BVA, CICR-BVT, and CICR-BVBI recorded attraction efficiencies of 168%, 189%, 175%, and 268% over control (only YST) for whiteflies, aphids, thrips, and beneficial insects, respectively. The attractants are eco-friendly and cost-effective, do not cause any harmful effects on cotton plants, soil nutrient status, and soil biology, and can reduce chemical usage and pest resurgence in cotton; thus, they have wider commercial application prospects in agriculture.

ICAR-CICR has initiated the process for the expression of interest for licensing these four patented technologies (Indian Patent Nos. 541777, 546146, 553413, and 554409) for commercial use through the Institute Technology Management Unit (ITMU) and Agrinnovate of ICAR.

Sucking pests (whiteflies, jassids, aphids, and thrips) cause significant yield and quality losses in cotton. Farmers largely depend on conventional groups of insecticides to manage sucking pests, which upon continuous use resulted in pest resistance to insecticides, the resurgence of minor pests, the decline of natural enemies, and environmental pollution, apart from increased production costs. Although yellow sticky traps (YSTs) are popular mechanical control options for sucking pests, further enhancement of the attraction of sucking pests to YSTs is useful. In this context, farmers are looking for alternative eco-friendly and cost-effective sucking pest management options.

ICAR-CICR has initiated the process for the

Acquaculture, Agro Universities, Animal Husbandry, Collaborations, India, Live Stock, Poultry, R&D

The collaboration aims to develop and validate testing methods for banned and regulated compounds, including antibiotics, in meat and meat products.

The ICAR–National Meat Research Institute (NMRI) in Hyderabad has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Waters India Private Ltd., a leading science and technology company renowned for its analytical instruments, particularly in chromatography and mass spectrometry. This collaboration aims to develop and validate testing methods for banned and regulated compounds, including antibiotics, in meat and meat products. Additionally, the NMRI has partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, for further research collaborations.

During the signing ceremony, Dr S. B. Barbuddhe, Director of ICAR-NMRI, emphasised that this initiative will significantly enhance the food safety efforts in our country and will greatly contribute to ensuring the quality and safety of animal-sourced foods for consumers.

The National Research Centre on Meat (NRCM), the research arm of ICAR-NMRI, is a premier institution focused on addressing challenges in the meat sector. Its mission is to modernise the industry by developing innovative technologies for meat production, processing, and utilisation. These efforts benefit not only meat producers and processors but also consumers by promoting safe and sustainable practices.

The collaboration aims to develop and validate

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

Lead, a toxic and persistent pollutant, poses a grave threat to marine ecosystems and human health.

ICAR-CIFT has made a significant breakthrough in developing environmentally friendly alternatives to toxic lead-based sinkers used in fishing nets. Initial experiments using materials such as stainless steel have shown promising results, paving the way for a sustainable solution to replace lead in fishing operations.

Lead, a toxic and persistent pollutant, poses a grave threat to marine ecosystems and human health. Its continued use in fishing sinkers has led to mounting concerns globally, with some countries already banning lead-based sinkers and baits to mitigate environmental risks. Recognising this issue, CIFT has submitted its findings and recommendations to the Ministry of Fisheries, seeking approval to implement these alternatives on a national scale.

“This initiative aligns India’s fishing practices with global environmental standards while safeguarding the country’s seafood export market,” stated Dr M P Remesan, Head of the Fishing Technology Division at ICAR- CIFT.

Fishing nets such as purse seines often require over 1,000 kilograms of lead, while trawls use up to 70 kilograms. Fishermen report that prolonged use of these sinkers results in significant wear and tear within 6 months. This contamination can potentially affect marine life.

Fishermen’s organisations have voiced their concerns, and have petitioned Union Fisheries Minister George Kurian, urging the government to prioritize the adoption of eco-friendly alternatives and provide support for transitioning away from lead-based systems.

CIFT’s innovative approach to developing sustainable fishing technologies marks a crucial step in protecting marine ecosystems and ensuring the long-term viability of India’s fishing industry. By embracing these advancements, India can secure a healthier future for its fisheries and meet international environmental standards.

Lead, a toxic and persistent pollutant, poses

Acts & Schemes – Centre, Agribusiness, AgroPolicy, Collaborations, Inputs, Institutions, Interaction, Investments, R&D, Schemes - Banks, Schemes - Govt

Government assures farmers to receive subsidized fertilizers in adequate quantities

Union Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while addressing the Rajya Sabha, emphasized that the Congress had previously denied farmers the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops. In contrast, the Central Government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has consistently increased the MSP over the last decade. Chouhan assured that the Central Government will continue to purchase crops from farmers at the MSP, reaffirming the government’s commitment to farmers’ welfare. Chouhan stated that the government will not only fix the Minimum Support Price (MSP) at more than 50% of the production cost but also procure the produce from farmers. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is committed to ensuring beneficial prices for farmers. He highlighted that in 2015, the ministry was renamed as the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, marking a significant shift towards prioritizing farmers welfare, which was previously lacking.

Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar affectionately bestowed a new title upon Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, calling him “Kisano Ke Laadle” during the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha. While responding to agriculture-related queries, Chairman Dhankhar praised Minister Chouhan, noting that the man revered as the brother of beloved sisters will now also be cherished as the brother of farmers. Dhankhar expressed confidence that the energetic minister will fulfill his responsibilities in accordance with his name ‘Shivraj.’ He formally declared, “From today, I have given you a new name – Kisano Ke Laadle.”

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan assured that the farmers’ produce will be purchased at the minimum support price. Our government will fix an MSP of more than 50% and will also purchase the produce. He stated that this is Narendra Modi’s government, Modi’s guarantee is to fulfill the promise. He further said that when the congress was in power, they had said that they cannot accept the recommendations of the MS Swaminathan Commission. In 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government decided that MSP rates will be fixed by adding 50% profit on the cost. When the congress government was in power, they never gave more than 50% profit to the farmers on cost, but we are committed, we are committed that we will buy the crops of the farmers by giving at least more than 50% profit.

Union Minister said that Modi’s government work with a lot of foresight. Welfare and development of farmers is the top priority of Prime Minister Modi. There has been an unprecedented increase in the budget allocation for agriculture. Till 2013-14, it was only Rs 21900 crore , which has now increased to Rs122528 crore . We have six priorities for farmer welfare – we will increase production, reduce the cost of production, give fair price for the production, if there is any loss in the crop, we will compensate for it through Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, we will diversify agriculture and by taking them towards natural farming, we will increase the income of farmers so that farmers will not be in a position to demand loan waiver again and again. “We believe in increasing income. I will utilize all my strength and capabilities to serve our farmers and improve the agricultural landscape”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to develop India, and we have created a roadmap to achieve this goal. We are committed to leaving no stone unturned in fulfilling this vision.”

“Chouhan stated that the government provides not only fertilizers but also subsidies to support farmers. Recently, a substantial subsidy of Rs 194000 crores was allocated to farmers. This enables farmers to purchase essential items like urea and DAP at lower prices. Notably, the government led by Shri Narendra Modi has achieved a significant milestone by offering subsidies on bags costing Rs 2100. By providing subsidies to farmers across India, the government ensures timely availability of fertilizers, a commitment that will continue in the future. We are actively promoting awareness about the harmful effects of excessive and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi shares these concerns, and as a result, we are shifting our focus towards organic and natural farming practices. However, Shri Chouhan assured that our government remains committed to providing subsidized fertilizers to farmers. We have consistently made adequate amounts of fertilizers available and will continue to do so in the future. Our goal is to strike a balance between promoting sustainable farming practices and ensuring that our farmers have access to the resources they need.

Government assures farmers to receive subsidized fertilizers

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

The proceeds from this Green Bond will be used for financing climate smart agriculture solutions across different agriculture value chains in the country.

Samunnati, a leading agri value chain enabler, achieved a landmark milestone with the successful issuance of its first-ever Rs 50 crore Green Bond, a landmark achievement for climate financing in the Indian Agriculture sector.  Northern Arc Capital, a leading digital lending platform, has been the primary subscriber for this issuance.

The proceeds from this Green Bond will be used for financing climate smart agriculture solutions across different agriculture value chains in the country, this pioneering effort aligns perfectly Samunnati’s mission to empower smallholder farmers and promote sustainable development.

 “We have successfully raised Rs 50 crore through the issuance of Green Bonds. This is a significant milestone Samunnati’s team has achieved so far towards sustainable finance and environmental responsibility. The funds raised will support adoption of climate-smart agriculture solutions across different agriculture value chains in the country. Partnering with Northern Arc Capital marks a significant step towards empowering rural communities and building a greener future. Northern Arc’s subscription underscores the confidence they have placed in Samunnati’s vision and reinforces the collective efforts toward creating a positive environmental impact”, said Anil Kumar, CEO and Founder of Samunnati.

This Green Bond issuance not only marks a significant milestone for Samunnati but also sets a precedent in the agriculture sector. By leveraging innovative financial instruments, Samunnati aims to accelerate climate action in Indian agriculture.

Samunnati is paving the way for the future of the Indian agriculture landscape with its long-term, community-centric approach to sustainability initiatives and programs. By blending awareness with on-ground execution, enabling financial inclusivity, and harnessing the power of technology and data, Samunnati is setting a benchmark for addressing the challenges of climate change. This forward-looking strategy not only supports the immediate needs of farmers but also lays the foundation for resilient and sustainable agricultural growth, ensuring that Indian agriculture thrives amidst changing climate.

The proceeds from this Green Bond will

AgroPolicy, Digital Technologies, India

A Farmer ID is a unique digital identity of farmers based on Aadhaar, linked dynamically to the State’s land records system.

The Government of India achieved a landmark milestone in demonstrating the way forward in creating the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) under the Digital Agriculture Mission announced on the 2nd of September 2024. On 5th December 2024, Gujarat became the first State in the country to generate Farmer IDs for 25 per cent of the targeted number of farmers in the State. This breakthrough represents a significant step towards creating a comprehensive standards-driven digital agriculture ecosystem as a part of the ‘Agri Stack initiative’ of the Government of India.

A Farmer ID is a unique digital identity of farmers based on Aadhaar, linked dynamically to the State’s land records system, which means the Farmer ID gets automatically updated with the changes in the land record details of an individual farmer.

The Farmer ID, along with the crop sown data being captured digitally under the Digital Agriculture Mission, is intended to provide the following farmer-centric benefits:

  • Simplified and seamless access to Government schemes
  • Streamlined paperless and contactless crop loans and credit that can be processed within an hour
  • Personalised agricultural extension services tailored to the farmer’s need
  • Direct and transparent benefit transfers
  • Enhanced market connectivity
  • Improved financial inclusion

The digital identity will also serve as a transformative tool for actionable insights and informed policy making to develop innovative farmer-centric solutions, ensuring efficient agricultural service delivery and creating a digital ecosystem for agriculture transformation, aiming to improve farmers’ incomes while focusing on sustainable agriculture.

A Farmer ID is a unique digital

Agribusiness, Allied Industry, Biofuel industry, Carbon Farming, India, Sustainability

The International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) is a voluntary scheme that is applicable for the bioeconomy and circular economy for various sectors. 

Epsilon Carbon, a global leader in manufacturing of high-quality Carbon Black, announced that its Karnataka, India manufacturing plant receives the prestigious International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) Plus certification.

The International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) is a voluntary scheme that is applicable for the bioeconomy and circular economy for various sectors.  All kinds of biomass, waste and residues, non-biological renewables, and recycled carbon materials can be certified under ISCC PLUS.

This certification recognises Epsilon’s remarkable strides in building sustainable, traceable, and climate-friendly supply chains. Few key achievements include generating 11 per cent of energy from waste recovery processes, a 10 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity, a 3.3 per cent reduction in energy intensity compared to FY 2022-23, a 6 per cent reduction in water use intensity, and implementing a waste heat recovery plant that has contributed to a 15.7 per cent reduction in Scope 1 emissions and a 14 per cent reduction in Scope 2 emissions. These efforts reflect Epsilon Carbon’s comprehensive approach to emissions reduction, and energy recovery, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while solidifying the company’s role as a trusted provider of sustainable and circular raw materials to its customers.

Vikram Handa, Managing Director, Epsilon Carbon said “With increasing demand from both domestic & international customers for sustainable products, this ISCC PLUS certification for Epsilon Carbon gives us an opportunity to support our customers better. Epsilon’s focus on sustainability and circularity, and innovations toward a net-zero carbon emissions world, will provide sustainable products to the industry, further fulfilling our commitment to sustainability and circularity”.

The International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC)

Agribusiness, Bamboo industry, Company News, India

 The company plans to source bamboo from southern and western parts of India, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Chhattisgarh, through farmer producer organisations.

Amwoodo, a Kolkata-based company specialising in plastic-free bamboo alternatives, is set to establish its second manufacturing facility in southern India, likely in Karnataka. The new plant will be a state-of-the-art unit with the capacity to produce 10 tonnes of bamboo products, complementing its existing 30,000 sq ft facility in West Bengal.

Founder and Director Agni Mitra shared that the company plans to source bamboo from southern and western parts of India, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Chhattisgarh, through farmer producer organizations (FPOs). In the eastern regions, Amwoodo works with 17 FPOs and 11 Association of Producer Organizations (APOs) to procure bamboo from states like Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Nagaland.

Mitra mentioned that company source bamboo from certified plantations in the Northeast and East India, known for producing high-quality bamboo. Processing is done at strategically located facilities to minimise logistics costs and environmental impact.

Launched in 2019 with the help of Avijit Rajak and Sourav Dey, Amwoodo views bamboo as a sustainable solution to global deforestation. Bamboo grows rapidly, regenerates naturally, and can be harvested without killing the plant, making it a viable alternative to traditional timber. The company highlights bamboo’s ability to sequester carbon efficiently and improve soil health.

Amwoodo recently launched its direct-to-consumer marketplace, “Ecoconsious,” offering eco-friendly lifestyle products. The marketplace is integrated with the company’s existing eCommerce brands, such as Imeco, Dencrus, and Shaveco, focusing on reducing plastic dependency.

In addition to creating sustainable products, Amwoodo provides employment to over 1,200 people, collaborating with local farmers and artisans in Northeast and East India. The company trains and compensates these artisans fairly, ensuring they have steady income while reviving traditional crafts and fostering regional development.

By promoting bamboo-based products, Amwoodo helps reduce the environmental burden of single-use plastics. Bamboo, being carbon-negative, supports the company’s mission to offset carbon emissions and promote sustainable practices.

 The company plans to source bamboo from

Agribiotechnology, Environment, Oilseeds, Sustainability

BARC developed high yielding non-GMO varieties using radiation-based mutation breeding techniques, to “revolutionize” agriculture across India

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, has introduced eight new high-yielding, climate-resilient varieties of wheat, rice and oilseeds, it said on Friday. Developed using radiation-based mutation breeding techniques, these non-GMO crop varieties are set to “revolutionize” agriculture across India, the BARC said in a statement here.

The new varieties — five cereals and three oilseeds — are tailored to diverse agricultural conditions and were launched in collaboration with state agricultural universities. Speaking at the launch, Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary of the non-GMO crop varieties (DAE) and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, highlighted BARC’s significant contribution in enhancing farmer incomes and boosting food and nutritional security.

Vivek Bhasin, Director, BARC, called these varieties a “boon for farmers” due to their early maturity, disease resistance, climate resilience, salt tolerance, and higher yields compared to existing options. India’s wheat production faces challenges from rising temperatures, especially during the grain-filling stage. For the first time, BARC has developed wheat varieties, he said. The Trombay Jodhpur Wheat-153 (TJW-153) was developed in collaboration with Jodhpur Agriculture University for Rajasthan. TJW-153 is heat-tolerant, ensuring stable yields despite early or terminal heat stress. It is resistant to fungal diseases like blast and powdery mildew, which significantly reduce yields, and is ideal for Rajasthan’s arid conditions, the BARC said.

Trombay Raj Vijay Wheat-155 (TRVW-155) was developed in collaboration with Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Gwalior, for Madhya Pradesh. It has enhanced zinc and iron content, better ‘chapati’-making quality, and resistance to fungal diseases such as blast and powdery mildew. Rice variety Bauna Luchai-CTLM was developed with IGKV, Raipur, for Chhattisgarh. Bauna Luchai is a dwarf, early-maturing variety with lodging resistance (doesn’t topple in rain or wind), retains the soft-cooked quality while achieving a 40 per cent higher yield than its parent Luchai landrace. The Sanjeevani rice variety launched by the BARC is derived from the Layacha rice landrace. Sanjeevani is rich in more than 350 phytochemicals known for therapeutic and medicinal properties, boosting immunity and antioxidant responses, the BARC said. Developed for Chhattisgarh in collaboration with IGKV, Raipur, it addresses the growing demand for health-enhancing rice varieties.

The Trombay Konkan Khara variety is designed for Maharashtra’s saline coastal soils. It achieves 15 per cent higher grain yield under saline conditions. Developed in collaboration with Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, it allows rice cultivation in previously non-arable brackish soils. The other new crop varieties launched by the BARC are Trombay Jodhpur Mustard-2 (TJM-2), Trombay Latur Til-10 (TLT-10) and Chhattisgarh Trombay Mungfali (CGTM) oilseeds.

BARC developed high yielding non-GMO varieties using

Agbiologicals, Agribusiness, Agro chems – Fertilizers, Company News, India

The factory will manufacture both biological and chemical crop protection and plant nutrition products (including Insecticides, Herbicides & Biologicals).

Chennai based fertiliser company Tropical Agro has announced its plan to establish a state-of-the-art factory in Kharagpur, West Bengal. With an investment of Rs 50 crores, this facility will not only enhance the company’s production capacity but also solidify its commitment to creating sustainable livelihoods for farmers. The current investment for the Kharagpur facility is financed through internal sources and bank funding.

The Kharagpur factory, spread across 4 acres, is strategically located to optimise Tropical Agro’s supply chain. By reducing logistics costs and delivery times, the facility ensures that essential crop inputs reach even the remotest regions promptly, safeguarding agricultural productivity. The ground-breaking ceremony has already been completed, and construction will commence in December 2024, with an expected completion by July 2026.

The factory will manufacture both biological and chemical crop protection and plant nutrition products (including Insecticides, Herbicides & Biologicals). This aligns with the company’s goal to cater to growing market demands while promoting sustainability.

West Bengal, a pivotal market for Tropical Agro, contributes 10 per cent of the company’s sales turnover. This new venture reinforces the company’s dedication to supporting the agricultural sector in the region by providing user-friendly, economically viable, and resource-efficient products that cover the entire crop cycle—from seed treatment to post-harvest.

In line with Tropical Agro’s sustainability initiatives, the Kharagpur factory will focus on leveraging regional strengths by hiring predominantly local talent. This approach not only fosters economic growth in the community but also reinforces the company’s vision of empowering the community. The factory is expected to generate employment for approximately 300 individuals.

To meet increasing demand, Tropical Agro is also planning to establish a new factory in Gujarat and relocate its existing facility in Ambattur to a high-tech factory in Chayya, Tamil Nadu. These expansions aim to enhance production capabilities and target higher turnover.

The factory will manufacture both biological and

Agribusiness, AgroPolicy, Finance, India

This will enhance coverage of small and marginal farmers in the formal credit system.

The Reserve Bank of India enhanced the collateral-free agriculture loans limit to Rs 2 lakh per borrower from the existing Rs 1.6 lakh. At present, banks are required to extend collateral-free agriculture loans up to Rs 1.6 lakh per borrower. This limit was enhanced from Rs 1 lakh, set in the year 2010 to Rs 1.6 lakh in the year 2019. Keeping in view the overall inflation and rise in agricultural input costs since then, it has been decided to raise the limit for collateral-free agriculture loans from Rs 1.6 lakh to Rs 2 lakh, RBI stated in its monetary policy statement on developmental and regulatory policies. This will enhance coverage of small and marginal farmers in the formal credit system. The enhanced limit also applies to loans for allied agricultural activities, according to the RBI.  

Shaktikanta Das, Governor, in his address after the completion of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting mentioned, “Taking into account the rise in agricultural input costs and overall inflation, it has been decided to increase the limit for collateral-free agriculture loans from rupees 1.6 lakh to rupees 2 lakh per borrower; this will further enhance credit availability for small and marginal farmers.”

The apex bank will issue a separate circular to notify the enhancement scheme of the collateral-free loan shortly. A collateral-free business loan is a financing system where the farmers do not need to pledge assets as security for getting loans. The last time the limit for collateral free agriculture loans was revised in 2019 by the central bank, when it was raised from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 1.6 lakh.

This will enhance coverage of small and